English were not to be allowed to perfect their preparations. Victory being the gift of God, Medina Sidonia was to see to it that crime should not disgrace the Armada,[1] and especially that there should be no blasphemy on board the ships. If committed, blasphemy was to be severely punished, lest all, for suffering so great an iniquity, should incur divine vengeance.
Then the strategical plan was unfolded. "When you have received my orders," ran the instructions, "you will put to sea with the whole Armada, and proceed direct for the English Channel, up which you will sail as far as the point of Margate, there opening communication with the Duke of Parma, and ensuring him a passage across."[2] While still on his voyage, Medina Sidonia was to keep up a correspondence with Parma: and, to facilitate this, the king promised to forward a cryptographic code. In view of the possibility of the ships being dispersed by bad weather, places of rendezvous were appointed. The coasts of France and Flanders, on account of their shallows, were to be carefully avoided.[3] On the other hand, the English coast was to be closely followed. An English fleet might create a diversion; but Medina Sidonia was, nevertheless, to continue his voyage, and not to seek an encounter with the enemy afloat. If, however, Drake should pursue closely, he was to be attacked.[4] He was also to be attacked if he were fallen in with near the mouth of the Channel. For Philip was of opinion that only part of the English fleet would be with Drake. In case the Armada should sight the enemy off the point of Margate, "even if Drake's and the Admiral's squadrons were found to be united," the Spaniards would still be in superior force; and, neglecting neither the weather gauge nor any other possible advantage, might attack and hope for victory.
The king issued no special directions as to the order of battle. That was to be formed as circumstances might dictate. He reminded the admiral, however, that the English, on account of their superiority in artillery, would seek to fight at long range. The Spaniards, therefore, should endeavour to get to close quarters. The English, it was also said, mounted their guns so that they could
- ↑ Duro, doc. 94, p. 6.
- ↑ Ib., doc. 94, p. 7. Parma was in the Netherlands.
- ↑ The old belief in England was that the Spaniards had been instructed to hug the French coast.
- ↑ Duro, doc. 94, p. 9. Philip seems to have specially feared Drake, who in the previous year had "singed the King of Spain's beard."
