piece, for not changing, and not taking fire ; and that the
ladles and sponges be ready at hand. Every ship shall carry
two boats-lading of stones, to throw to profit, in the time of
fight, on the deck, forecastle, or tops, according to his burden ;
and shall carry two half-pipes, to fill them with water in the
day of battle, and repart them among the ordnance, or other
places as shall be thought necessary, and nigh unto them old
clothes and coverings, which, with wetting, may destroy any
kind of fire." The wildfire was to be entrusted only to those who
understood well how to use it, " otherwise it might happen to
great danger ". That there might be no excuse for neglecting
these orders on pretence of ignorance concerning them, they
were to be publicly read, thrice a week, in every ship, by the
purser.
Meantime Elizabeth and her wakeful ministers were well
aware of the danger, and seeing it in its whole extent, they
prepared to meet it with right English spirit. The lord lieu-
* Had then the wildfire, which was still in use, been derived from
that of the Greeks, that vinegar was thought necessary for quenching
it?
62 ENGLISH SEAMEN
tenants of the several counties were required, by circular
letters from the queen, to "call together the best sort of
gentlemen under their lieutenancy, and to declare unto them
these great preparations and arrogant threatenings, now burst
forth in action upon the seas, wherein every man's particular
state, in the highest degree, could be touched in respect of
country, liberty, wives, children, lands, lives, and (which was
specially to be regarded) the profession of the true and sincere
religion of Christ. And to lay before them the infinite and un-
speakable miseries that would fall out upon any such change,
which miseries were evidently seen by the fruits of that hard
and cruel government holden in countries not far distant. We
do look," said the queen, " that the most part of them should
have, upon this instant extraordinary occasion, a larger pro-
portion of furniture, both for horsemen and footmen, but
especially horsemen, than hath been certified ; thereby to be
in their best strength against any attempt, or to be employed
about our own person, or otherwise. Hereunto as we doubt
not but by your good endeavours they will be the rather con-
formable, so also we assure ourselves, that Almighty God will
so bless these their loyal hearts borne towards us, their loving
sovereign, and their natural country, that all the attempts of
any enemy whatsoever shall be made void and frustrate, to
their confusion, your comfort, and to God's high glory." *
Letters also were addressed by the council to the nobility,
because, in the directions given of late years for mustering,
arming, and training all persons, there had been no special
ones to the nobles, her Majesty having " certainly supposed
that it was the natural disposition of the nobility, without
direction, to be armed, both for themselves and for furniture
of horsemen and footmen, according to their ability. The
council, therefore, having a more certain knowledge than by
common report, of what preparations were made beyond the
* Strype, App. L.
LORD HOWARD OF EFFINGHAM 63
seas, very likely for the offence of this realm, required each
lord, to whom this communication was addressed, to receive it
as one whom her Majesty trusted, and as an argument of
special love. And in regard thereof," the letter proceeds,
" we do not doubt but that your lordship, with all the speed
you can possible, will be furnished with armour and weapon
meet for your calling ; and of your servants and able tenants
that are not already enrolled in the general musters of the
country as special trained persons, to make as many horsemen
as you can, both for lances and light horsemen. And for the
more increase of horsemen, for want of sufficient number of
great horse or geldings, we think your lordship may do well
to increase your number, if you shall provide able men with
petronels upon horses of smaller stature." *
A contemporary relates, that " all the noblemen in the
realm, from east to west, from north to south, excepting such
only as could not be absent from their charge in the country,
and some few that were not able to make forces according to
their desire, came to the queen, bringing with them, according
to their degrees, and to the uttermost of their power, goodly
bands of horsemen, both lances, light horsemen, and such
other as are termed carbines or argelatiers, lodging their bands
round about London, and maintaining them in pay at their
own charges. And of these noblemen, many showed the
bands of their horsemen before the queen, in the fields afore
her own gate, to the great marvel of men ; for that the
number of them was so great, and so well armed and horsed,
that, knowing they were no parcel of the horsemen limited
in every country, it was thought there had not been so many
spare horses of such valour in the whole realm, except the
north part towards Scotland, whose forces consist chiefly of
horse." The first who presented himself and his retainers to
the queen was a Roman Catholic peer, the Viscount Moun-
* Strype, iii., part ii., pp. 13, 14.
64 ENGLISH SEAMEN
tague, who at this time professed his resolution, " though he
was very sickly, and in age, to live and die in defence of the
queen and of his country, against all invaders, whether it were
pope, king, or potentate whatsoever ; and in that quarrel to
hazard his life, his children, his lands, and goods. And to
show his mind agreeably thereto, he came personally himself
before the queen with his band of horsemen, being almost 200,
the same being led by his own sons ; and with them a young
child, very comely, seated on horseback, being the heir of his
house, that is, the eldest son to his son and heir : a matter
much noted of many, to see a grandfather, father and son at
one time on horseback, afore a queen, for her service." *
The clergy also were called upon by the primate, Arch-
bishop Whitgift. " Being members," he said, " of one and
the self-same commonweal, and embarked in the like common
danger with others, if not more, in respect of our calling and
public profession of religion, whereby we are also bound to go
before others, as well in word as good example ; we are,
therefore, to remember, and advisedly to weigh with our-
selves what dutiful forwardness against these extraordinary
imminent dangers, of very congruence, is expected at our
hands for the defence of our gracious sovereign, ourselves, our
families, and country. And, beside the very good expecta-
tion of the best, the stirring up of those which otherwise are
but slow to further such service, and the discouraging of the
common enemy, our willing readiness herein will be a good
means also to stop the mouths of such as do think those
temporal blessings, which God hath in mercy bestowed upon
us, to be too much ; and, therefore, spare not in grudging
manner to say that themselves are forced, to their great
charges, to fight for us, while we live quietly at home, without
providing any munition in these public perils." He required
the bishops, therefore, as the letter of the council required
* Copy of a letter, etc. (Harl. Muse., 8vo ed. , ii., p. 76).
65
him, "effectually to deal with those of their cathedral churches,
and other beneficed men in their dioceses, but especially such
as were of better ability, for the furnishing of themselves with
lances, light horses, petronels on horseback, muskets, calivers,
pikes, halberds, bills, or bows and arrows, as in regard of their
several abilities might be thought most convenient : and he
desired them, by all good persuasions, to move such ecclesias-
tical persons to be ready with all free and voluntary provision
of man, horse, and furniture. This present necessary service,"
he said, " being no great charge, and so expedient for every
one to have in readiness, for the defence of his own person,
house, and family, upon any sudden occasion." *
The appeal from such a queen to such a nation was an-
swered with just and enthusiastic loyalty. The city of London
set an example worthy of London, such as the metropolis then
was. When its aid was asked, the Lord Mayor requested that
the council would state what would be deemed requisite. Ac-
cordingly, 5000 men and fifteen ships were required. The
Lord Mayor asked two days for deliberation, and then, in the
name of the city, prayed that the queen would accept of
twice those numbers. Six thousand were immediately trained
arid regimented, being armed with muskets, pikes, calivers,
and bills : the other 4000 were armed and put in readiness,
and 10,000 more were reported as able men. The artillery
company, which had originated about three years before,
proved singularly useful now. At that time, " certain gallant,
active, and forward citizens," says the old historian of London,
" having had experience, both abroad and at home, voluntarily
exercised themselves and trained others, for the ready use of
war ; so that there were almost 300 merchants, and others of
the like quality, very sufficient and skilful to train and teach
common soldiers the managing of their pieces, pikes, and
halberds, and to march, countermarch, and ring. These
* Strype's Whitgift, book iii., App. No. 38.
5
66 ENGLISH SEAMEN
merchants met every Tuesday to practise all points of war.
Every man by turn bore orderly office, from the corporal to
the captain. Some of them had now charge of men in the
great camp, and were generally called captains of the artillery
garden." Most erroneously had Cardinal Allen, and the King
of Spain, and the Pope judged, when they thought that
Elizabeth and the English nation were to be intimidated by a
display of overpowering force, and denunciations " that the
realm should be invaded and conquered, that the queen
should be destroyed, and all the nobility and men of reputation,
of honour, and wealth, who should obey her, and defend her,
and would withstand the invasion, should, with all their
families, be rooted out, and their places, their honours, their
houses, and their lands bestowed upon the conquerors ! " For
" these things were universally so odiously taken, that the
hearts of all sorts of people were inflamed, some with ire,
some with fear ; but all sorts, almost without exception, re-
solved to venture their lives for the withstanding of all
manner of conquest ". The people, firmly devoted as they
were to their magnanimous and excellent queen, were, by such
insolent threats, " thoroughly irritated," says a contemporary,
" to stir up their whole forces for their defence against such
prognosticated conquests: so that, in a very short time, all
her whole realm, and every corner, were furnished with armed
men, on horseback and on foot ; and those continually trained,
exercised, and put into bands, in warlike manner, as in no
age ever was before in this realm. There was no sparing of
money to provide horse, armour, weapons, powder, and all
necessaries ; no, nor want of provision of pioneers, carriages,
and victuals, in every county of the realm, without exception,
to attend upon the armies. And to this general furniture
every man voluntarily offered, very many their services person-
ally without wages, others money for armour and weapons, and
to wage soldiers : a matter strange, and never the like heard
of in this realm or elsewhere. And this general reason moved
LORD HOWARD OF EFFINGHAM 67
all men to large contributions, that when a conquest was to
be withstood wherein all should be lost, it was no time to
spare a portion." *
There were some who advised the queen to place no reli-
ance upon any means of maritime defence, but to expect the
enemy's coming, and "welcome him with a land battle," as
her father had resolved to do when he was threatened with
invasion by a superior fleet ; and as was intended in the time
of the French Armada, in Richard II. 's reign. But Elizabeth,
though her reliance was not upon any human strength, knew
the worth of her seamen, and omitted none of those means
of defence with which God and nature had provided her.
The command of the whole fleet she gave to Charles, Lord
Howard of Effingham, who had been appointed lord high
admiral three years before, on the death of the Earl of Lin-
coln, Edward Clinton. t That office "seemed to have become
almost hereditary in the Howard family. The queen had a
great persuasion of his fortunate conduct, and knew him to be
of a moderate and noble courage, skilful in sea matters, wary
and provident, valiant and courageous, industrious and active,
and of great authority and esteem among the sailors." Him
she sent early in the year to the western coast with the main
body of the fleet ; Drake, who was her vice-admiral, joined
him here, and Hawkins and Frobisher (great names in naval
history) were in this division. Lord Henry Seymour, second
*Copy of a letter sent out of England (Harl. Muse., 8vo ed., vol. ii.,
63, 64). The editor of this collection must have cast a careless eye over
this letter, or he would not have supposed that it had really been written
by a Papist in the Spanish interest.
"One strange speech," says the writer, " that I heard spoken, may be
marvelled at, but it was avowed to me for a truth, that one gentleman in
Kent had a band of 150 footmen which were worth in goods above 1 50,000 J.
sterling, besides their lands. Such men would fight stoutly before they
would lose their goods " (p. 65).
t Camden, 325.
68 ENGLISH SEAMEN
son of the Duke of Somerset, was ordered to lie off the coast
of Flanders with forty ships, Dutch and English ; blockade
the enemy's ports there ; and prevent the Prince of Parma
from forming a j unction with the Armada from Spain. Ten years
before this time the royal navy consisted of no more than twenty-
four ships of all sizes, the largest being of 1000 tons, the smallest
under 60 ; all the ships throughout England of 100 tons and
upwards were but 135, and all under 100 and above 40 tons
were 656.* But if the ten years which had elapsed had done
little toward the augmentation of the royal navy, it had added
more than any preceding century to the maritime strength
of the country in that race of sailors which had been trained
up in adventurous expeditions to the new world. The whole
number of ships collected for the defence of the country on
this great occasion was 191, the number of seamen 17,472,
the amount of tonnage 31,985. Eighteen of these ships were
volunteers. There was one ship in the fleet (the Triumph)
of 1100 tons, one of 1000, one of 900, two of 800 each, three
of 600, and five of 500, five of 400, six of 300, six of 250,
twenty of 200 : all the rest were smaller. But, in the
Armada, though there were only three ships that exceeded in
size the Triumph, there were no fewer than 45 between 600
and 1000 tons burden ; and though the English fleet out-
numbered the Armada nearly by sixty sail, its tonnage
amounted not to one-half of that of the enemy, t
For the land defence, somewhat more that 100,000 men
were called out, regimented and armed, but only half of them
were trained. Of these the cavalry, with the pioneers,
amounted to 14,000. This was exclusive of the force upon
the borders, and of the Yorkshire force, which was reserved
for service northward. Twenty thousand men were disposed
along the southern coast ; an army of 45,000 was collected
* Campbell, i., 334.
t Charnock, vol. ii., 15, 17. Turner, 667.
LORD HOWARD OF EFFINGHAM (59
under the Earl of Hunsdon to guard the queen's person, who,
in case of the invaders' success, if she escaped from that
malignant treason which had so often threatened her life, was
to have been placed at the Pope's disposal. The band of
pensioners was attached to this army. Another was formed
at Tilbury under Leicester : it consisted of 1000 horse, and
22,000 foot ; and 2000 troops were requested and obtained
from Holland to act with this force, which was specially
intended to engage the Prince of Parma, it being understood
that London was the point for which he would immediately
aim. " The Hollanders," says Stowe, " came roundly in, with
threescore sail, brave ships of war, fierce and full of spleen,
not so much for England's aid, as in just occasion for their
own defence ; these men foreseeing the greatness of the
danger that might ensue, if the Spaniards should chance to
win the day, and get the mastery over them ; in due regard
whereof their manly courage was inferior to none." Both
sides of the river were fortified under the direction of Federico
Giambelli, an Italian deserter from the Spanish service, who
invented the famous fire-ships, or rather floating mines,
employed against the Prince of Parma over the Scheldt at
the siege of Antwerp. Gravesend was fortified, and western
barges brought thither with the twofold intent of constructing
a bridge like that of Antwerp, for blocking the river, and
affording a passage for horse and foot between Kent and
Essex, as occasion might require. Arthur, Lord Grey of
Wilton, Sir Francis Knolles, Sir John Norris, Sir Richard
Bingham, and Sir Roger Williams were appointed, as ex-
perienced soldiers, to consult upon the best means of defence.
They advised that the most convenient landing-places for the
enemy, whether coming from Spain, or from, the Low Countries,
should be well manned and fortified, " namely, Milford Haven,
Falmouth, Plymouth, Portland, the Isle of Wight, Ports-
mouth, that open coast of Kent which we call the Downs,
the Thames mouth, Harwich, Yarmouth, Hull. And that the
70 ENGLISH SEAMEN
trained bands all along the maritime counties should meet in
arms upon a signal given, to defend the said parts, and do
their best to prohibit the enemy's landing. And if the enemy
did land, to lay all the country waste round about, and spoil
all things that might be of any use to them ; that so they
might find no food but what they brought with them on their
shoulders ; and to busy the enemy night and day with con-
tinual alarms, so as to give them no rest ; but not to put it to
the hazard of a battle, till more commanders with their com-
panies were come to them one commander being nominated
in every shire." *
The bull, Cardinal Allen's treasonable appeal to the English
Romanists, and the opinion confidently expressed in Spain,
that they would, as soon as Spanish aid afforded them
opportunity, cast off the queen's yoke, and attempt something
memorable for her destruction, f had rendered them objects of
suspicion ; and there were evil counsellors who argued that
the Spaniards abroad were not so much to be feared as the
Papists at home ; that no invasion would be attempted were
it not in reliance upon their co-operation ; and, therefore, that
for the sake of public safety, the heads of this dangerous party
ought to be taken off; alleging, as an example, that in Henry
VIII. 's time, when, at the v Pope's instigation, the emperor
and the King of France were about to invade England, their
intention was abandoned as soon as he had put to death the
persons whom he suspected of favouring it. This Elizabeth
justly condemned as wicked counsel : on account, however, of
the general murmurs, she thought it prudent not only to
secure the priests and seminarists, but to commit some of the
principal laity to custody, part in Wisbeach Castle, others in
the bishop's palace at Ely. | This was not an indiscriminate
* Camden, 406. f Strype, vol. iii., p. 33.
J Camden, 406. Copy of a letter, etc., 66. Strype's Whitgift, i., 528-
530.
LORD HOWARD OF EFFINGHAM 71
measure, nor can it be judged from the event to have been a
needless one ; for, after the failure of the Armada, when they
might have been enlarged upon signing a bond, they took
exception at a clause in it, engaging " for their good behaviour
to the queen and the state," because, they said, it seemed to
touch them in credit ; they offered a form of their own, which
was properly suspected of some mental reservation ; and, in
fact, three of the persons who were thus committed were
afterwards engaged in the Gunpowder Plot.
While all human means for defence were provided by the
queen and her wise ministers, they did not neglect to implore
that aid without which all human means would have been un-
availing. A form of prayer, " necessary for the present time
and state,'' was set forth, and enjoined to be used on Wednes-
days and Fridays every week, in all parish churches. " One of
these prayers deserves," says Strype, " to be recorded, in
eternal memory of this imminent national danger : " it ran
thus : " O Lord God of Hosts, most loving and merciful
Father, we, Thy humble servants, prostrate ourselves before
Thy Divine Majesty, most heartily beseeching Thee to grant
unto us true repentance for our sins past ; namely, for our un-
thankfulness, contempt of Thy word, lack of compassion
toward the afflicted, envy, malice, strife and contention among
ourselves, and for all other our iniquities. Lord, deal not
with us as we have deserved : but of Thy great goodness and
mercy do away our offences ; and give us grace to confess and
acknowledge, O Lord, with all humble and hearty thanks,
Thy wonder iiil and great benefits which Thou hast bestowed
upon this Thy Church and people of England, in giving unto
us, without all desert on our part, not only peace and quiet-
ness, but also in preserving our most gracious queen, Thine
handmaid, so miraculously from so many conspiracies, perils,
and dangers. We do instantly beseech Thee, of Thy gracious
goodness, to be merciful to Thy Church militant here upon
earth ; and, as at this time, compassed about with most strong
72 ENGLISH SEAMEN
and subtle adversaries. And, especially, O Lord, let Thine
enemies know, and make them confess, that Thou hast re-
ceived England (which they, most of all for Thy Gospel's
sake, do malign) into Thine own protection. Set, we pray
Thee, O Lord, a wall about it, and evermore mightily defend
it. Let it be a comfort to the afflicted, a help to the oppressed,
a defence to Thy Church and people persecuted abroad. And,
forasmuch as Thy cause is now in hand, we beseech Thee to
direct and go before our armies, both by sea and land. Bless
and prosper them, and grant unto them, O Lord, Thy good
and honourable success and victory, as Thou didst to Abraham
and his company against the four mighty kings ; to Joshua,
against the five kings, and against Amalek ; and to David,
against the strong and mighty-armed Goliath ; and as Thou
usest to do to Thy children when they please Thee. We ac-
knowledge all power, strength, and victory to come from
Thee. Some put their trust in chariots, and some in
horses ; but we will remember Thy name, O Lord our God !
Thou bringest the counsel of the heathen to nought, and
makest the devices of the people to be of none effect. There
is no king that can be saved by the multitude of an host ;
neither is any mighty man delivered by much strength.
Therefore we pray unto Thee, O Lord ! Thou art our help
and our shield ! " * " This," says Strype, " we may call a
prayer of faith, in regard of the strong hopes of success to be
granted to this kingdom professing the Gospel." And such
is the emphatic and scriptural language in which the prayers
of the Church of England have always been composed ; such
the sober and earnest devotion which they breathe ; such the
spirit of Christian humility in which they are conceived.
History never impresses itself so strongly on the imagination
as when, in great emergencies, it presents us with the hopes
and feelings of the people in their own words. Never, indeed,
* Strype, vol. iii., p. ii., 15-17.
LORD HOWARD OF EFFINGHAM 73
had England been threatened with an equal danger since the
Norman conquest ; that was a danger of which there was no
general apprehension throughout the nation ; nor was it in
itself so formidable ; and even the evils which it brought upon
the Anglo-Saxon people were light in comparison with the
horrors of a Romish persecution, and a war such as that which
was then raging in the Netherlands, when there were no
such defensive advantages as the Netherlanders possessed in
their strong places and the nature of their country. If ever
national prayers proceeded from the heart of a nation, it was
at this momentous crisis. One of the most passionate was
framed in these words : " For Preservation and Success against
the Spanish Navy and Forces. O Lord God, Heavenly
Father, without whose providence nothing proceedeth, and
without whose mercy nothing is saved ; in whose power lie