more probably due to the fact that it was St. Dominic's Day, and that Medina Sidonia had specially devoted himself to that saint,[1] in whose honour the Armada had from early morning been dressed with flags.
The official English story in 'A Relation of Proceedings,'[2] is continued as follows: —
"On Saturday [July 27th], in the evening,[3] the Spanish fleet came near unto Calais on the coast of Picardy, and there suddenly came to an anchor over against, betwixt Calais and Calais Cliffs; and our English fleet anchored short of them, within culverin shot of the enemy.
"The Spaniards sent notice of their arrival presently unto the Duke of Parma, but, because there should be no time detracted to permit their forces to join, the lord admiral, the 28th of July, 1588, about midnight, caused eight ships[4] to be fired and let drive amongst the Spanish fleet; whereupon they were forced to slip or cut cables at half and to set sail. By reason of which fire the chief galleass[5] came foul of another ship's cable and brake her rudder, by means whereof he was forced the next day to row ashore near the haven's mouth and town of Calais; whereupon the lord admiral sent his long boat, under the charge of Amyas Preston,[6] gentleman, his lieutenant, and with him Mr. Thomas Gerard[7] and Mr. [William] Harvey,[8] together with other gentlemen, his lordship's followers and servants, who took her[9] and had the spoil of her. There entered into her above one hundred Englishmen. And for that she was aground and sewed[10] two foot, and could not be gotten off, they left her to Monsr. Gourdan, Captain of Calais, where she lietlh sunk.[11]
"Now that the Lord Henry Seymour and Sir William Wynter were joined with us, our fleet was near about one hundred and forty sail,[12] of ships, barks and pinnaces, etc. During the time that this galleass was in taking by the lord admiral,[13] Sir Francis- ↑ Duro, doc. 171, p. 281.
- ↑ Cott. MS. Julius, F. x. 111-117.
- ↑ Lord Henry Seymour and Sir William Wynter joined the commander-in-chief that evening off Calais at about 8 P.M. S. P. Dom. ccxiv. 7; ccxiv. 2.
- ↑ While Howard was discussing this scheme with Wynter, the Ark narrowly escaped being run down by the Bear and three other ships. S. P. Dom. ccxiv. 7. Carleton says that the fireships were commanded by Yonge and Prowse.
- ↑ The San Lorenzo. She became a complete wreck.
- ↑ Wounded on this service; commanded an expedition to the Spanish Main in 1595; was captain of the Ark in the expedition to Cadiz in 1596, when he was knighted.
- ↑ Probably created Baron Gerard in 1603. If so, eldest son of Sir Gilbert Gerard, Master of the Rolls.
- ↑ Knighted at Cadiz in 1596; captain of the Bonaventure in 1597.
- ↑ Captain William Coxe, of the Delight, was the first to board her. He seems to have been killed in the fight off Gravelines. S. P. Dom. ccxiv. 7.
- ↑ "Sewed two foot," i.e., aground in water two feet too shallow to float her.
- ↑ Don Hugo de Moncada, commanding the galleasses, was killed in this fight. Gourdan drove the English away.
- ↑ "There were but fifteen of these which bore the burden of the battle." Carleton: 'Thankful Remembrance.'
- ↑ Howard committed an error in wasting time over the stranded galleass; for Medina Sidonia and Parma were so close to one another, that it had become imperative to concentrate all efforts for a decisive victory over the Armada.
