disperse him, if he accepted action, as Recalde felt sure he would. But it has already been shown that Philip preferred that Parma's passage should be managed without a battle. If there should be no fight, continued Recalde, the fleet was to proceed to the Downs,[1] and thence reach out a helping hand to the forces at Dunquerque. The next measure was to be the taking of such precautions as would enable Parma's army to safely reach England, landing at the place which Parma should designate as being the most suitable for the purpose,
If we may trust Recalde's impressions, the orders then in force prescribed neither that the junction should be effected off Margate, nor that Medina Sidonia and Parma, after their junction, should proceed thither. Indeed, he himself offered suggestions as the most suitable place, declaring that it should be one as little as possible removed, either northward or southward, from the mouth of the Thanes. Margate would, of course, be such a place; but, if Margate had already been specified to him as the point selected, Recalde would scarcely have written as he did. Parma's passage would, he thought, probably occupy several days, for cavalry was to be sent over; and as all could not cross at once, the transports would have to make at least two trips. After Parma had crossed successfully, it would be necessary, according to Recalde, to seek a port in England for Medina Sidonia's fleet. He suggested several, and expressed the opinion that even if the Spaniards beat the English fleet, the latter would hardly be reduced to so impotent a condition as not to be able to again appear at sea in fighting trim.
As has thus been indicated, the details of the original plan were not adhered to. The plan seems, in fact, to have been modified little by little until not Margate, but the coast of Flanders became the immediate destination of the Armada. For, on July 20th, the day before the first action with the English, Medina Sidonia[2] wanted to remain off the Isle of Wight until Parma's preparations should be so far advanced as to admit of a junction being effected as soon as the Armada should arrive at some place in the neighbourhood of Dunquerque. It is clear that the admiral then no longer thought of proceeding first of all to Margate Road. Had he
