DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31444#0273
OF THE INVINCIBLE ARMADA. 26:
men was alsembled in.the Netherlands, and kept in readiness to
be trantported into England. The duke of hrma employed all
the carpenters whom he could procu e, either in Flanders or
in Lower Germany, and the coasts of.the Baltic;' and he built
at.Dunkirk, and Newport, but elpecially at Antwerp, a great
number of boats and hat bottomed veAels, for die tran porting
os his infantry and cavalry. The molt renowned nobdity and
princes of Italy and Spain were ambitions of sharing in the
honour of this great enterprixe. Don Amadreus ofSavoy, Dorr
John ofMedicis, VetpaAan Gonzaga, dukeofSabionetta, and
the duke ofPastrana, hastenedto join the armv under the duke
of Parma. About two thouland volunteers in Spain, many os
them men of family, had inlisled in the lervice, No doubt was
-entertained, but inch vast preparations, conducted by officers
of luch conlummate Till, must Anally be successful. And
the Spaniards, ostentatious os their power, and elevated with
vain hopes, had already denominated their navy the
News of thele extraordinary preparations soonreachedthe
court of London; and notwithssanding the secrecy of the Spa-
nish council, and their pretending to employ this force in the
Indies, it was eaAly concluded, that they meant to make some
effort against England. The Queen had foreseen theinvaAon ;
and Anding that the must now contend sor her crown with the
whole sorce of Spain, she made preparations for reAstance; nor
was she terriAed with that power, by which, all Europe ap-
prehended,the muft of necesAty be overwhelmed. Her force in-
deed scemed very unequal to reAst so pot ent an enemy. AJ.1 the
Bailors in England amounted at that time to about fourteen
thouland men. The Axe os theEnglish shipping was,in general,
so Anall, that, except a sew of the Queen's ships of war, there
were not four veAels belonging to the merchants which ex-
ceeded four hundred tons. The royal navy conAsted only of
twenty-eight sail, nißny os which were of small Axe; none os
them exceeding the bulk os our largest frigates, and most of
them deterving rather the name of pinnaces than of ships.
The only advantage of the English Aeet conAsted in the dexte-
rity and courage ostheseamen, who, being accustomed to sail
in tempestuous leas, and expole themlelves to all dangers, as
much exceeded in this particular theSpanilh mariners, as their
veAels were inferior in Axe and force to those of that nation. AH
the commercial towns os England were required to surnidi
ships for reAufercing this lmall navy; and they dilcoverc^
R 3 on
men was alsembled in.the Netherlands, and kept in readiness to
be trantported into England. The duke of hrma employed all
the carpenters whom he could procu e, either in Flanders or
in Lower Germany, and the coasts of.the Baltic;' and he built
at.Dunkirk, and Newport, but elpecially at Antwerp, a great
number of boats and hat bottomed veAels, for die tran porting
os his infantry and cavalry. The molt renowned nobdity and
princes of Italy and Spain were ambitions of sharing in the
honour of this great enterprixe. Don Amadreus ofSavoy, Dorr
John ofMedicis, VetpaAan Gonzaga, dukeofSabionetta, and
the duke ofPastrana, hastenedto join the armv under the duke
of Parma. About two thouland volunteers in Spain, many os
them men of family, had inlisled in the lervice, No doubt was
-entertained, but inch vast preparations, conducted by officers
of luch conlummate Till, must Anally be successful. And
the Spaniards, ostentatious os their power, and elevated with
vain hopes, had already denominated their navy the
News of thele extraordinary preparations soonreachedthe
court of London; and notwithssanding the secrecy of the Spa-
nish council, and their pretending to employ this force in the
Indies, it was eaAly concluded, that they meant to make some
effort against England. The Queen had foreseen theinvaAon ;
and Anding that the must now contend sor her crown with the
whole sorce of Spain, she made preparations for reAstance; nor
was she terriAed with that power, by which, all Europe ap-
prehended,the muft of necesAty be overwhelmed. Her force in-
deed scemed very unequal to reAst so pot ent an enemy. AJ.1 the
Bailors in England amounted at that time to about fourteen
thouland men. The Axe os theEnglish shipping was,in general,
so Anall, that, except a sew of the Queen's ships of war, there
were not four veAels belonging to the merchants which ex-
ceeded four hundred tons. The royal navy conAsted only of
twenty-eight sail, nißny os which were of small Axe; none os
them exceeding the bulk os our largest frigates, and most of
them deterving rather the name of pinnaces than of ships.
The only advantage of the English Aeet conAsted in the dexte-
rity and courage ostheseamen, who, being accustomed to sail
in tempestuous leas, and expole themlelves to all dangers, as
much exceeded in this particular theSpanilh mariners, as their
veAels were inferior in Axe and force to those of that nation. AH
the commercial towns os England were required to surnidi
ships for reAufercing this lmall navy; and they dilcoverc^
R 3 on