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NOVEMBER

The Pope had excommunicated Queen Elizabeth and declaring her "illegitimate" and a "usurper" of the English throne, he gave it to Philip whom he called the "Defender of the Christian Faith." Philip was to hold it as "tributary and feudatory to Rome."
     On May 28th, 1588 the first galleons were launched. For three days the ships put to sea. The Armada consisted of 130 ships in addition to transports --150 vessels in all. Sixty-four were galleons, the largest ships built at the time. One weighed 1500 tons, and another 1200 tons. Several weighed 1000 tons. A total of 60,000 tons set sail. Their ribs were lined with planks 4 feet thick, and were believed to be bullet-proof. The twelve principal ships had been baptized with the names of the 12 Apostles. The St. Peter led.
     On board the Armada were 8000 sailors, and 25,000 soldiers; 2000 galley slaves, and Don Martin Allacon, the Administrator and Vicar General of the "holy Office" of the Inquisition; and 290 monks and priests. In addition to carrying 2650 cannon, and provisions for six months, the holds of the ships carried instruments of torture to suppress the English "heretics" who dared defy the authority of Rome. The Pope, Sixtus V, had given Philip 1000 ducats to equip the fleet and promised him one million crowns more. The Spanish king himself had invested 50,000 ducats and held another 2 million in reserve. The fleet had been blessed by the Pope, "Christ's Vicar on Earth."
     The plan was that Alexander Parma, Spain's greatest general, would rendezvous with the Spanish fleet with an army of 100,000 more troops from the Spanish Netherlands, and at a given signal, he would stage a massive invasion leading the victorious army in a triumphal march into London. It had been rumored abroad, however, that the year, "1588" was to be a year "most fatal and ominous unto all estates," and the death of the Marquis Santa Cruz on the eve of the embarkation cast an inauspicious sign upon the ill-fated campaign. He was Spain's ablest ship captain with 50 years experience, and who had been appointed to command the Armada. Thus the "Iron Duke," as he was called, was replaced by the Duke of Medina Sidonia, who on account of his vast wealth, was known as "The Golden Duke." Before the Armada could make the English coast, one galleon sank and two other ships were lost to the shores of France when a gale rose.
     On Friday, July 29th, the first ships were sighted off the southwestern coast of England known as the "Lizard." Their crescent formation stretched for 7 miles! Beacon fires blazed the alarm from the Lizard to Falmouth, to Dodman Point, to Griffin Head and on to Rame Head. When the news reached Plymouth, Sir Francis Drake was bowling on the green behind the Pelican Inn. He was in the company of Lord Howard, England's High Admiral, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Richard Grenville, Martin Frobisher, and others. When the messenger came announcing the approach of the enemy, Drake, whose turn it was, calmly replied, "There will be time to finish the game, and then we will go out and give the dons a thrashing." By evening 60 ships sailed out of Plymouth Harbor in defense of their country's independence, and the freedom of religion.
     The Royal Navy numbered only 28 ships. The Royal Army numbered 87,000 men that of Wales 45,000 and London readied 20,000 more. These forces were divided into three armies. A force of 22,000 foot soldiers, and 2000 cavalry was stationed at Tilbury under the Earl of Leicester to defend London. The Queen herself appeared here on horseback in military regalia, and declared she would rather die in battle than survive the ruin of the Protestant church and the slavery of her people. A second army of 28,900 men was set in defense of the Queen; while a third force of 27,400 heavy horse and 1900 light cavalry were to guard the coast at points deemed likely for the invasion. The queen dispatched 34 ships with 6000 men. London provided 30 more ships. Lord Howard was sent to travel the Channel with 17 ships, while a second squadron of 15 ships under Lord Seymour was sent to Dungenness to intercept Parma. Drake commanded 30 privateer ships.
     The English fleet sailed down the Channel, but not until the next day did they sight the Spanish galleons through the haze. The first encounter did not occur until Sunday, July 31st, off the coast of Plymouth. It was the first of three such gun duels. The light English ships would fire a shot, or a broadside, then retreat sailing into the eye of the wind; then return to torment and cripple the invaders. They were able to discharge 4 shots to every one the Spanish could discharge. The bulky, unwieldy galleons could not compete with the smaller, English ships which escaped at will out of the range of their guns. When the Spanish tried to engage in a pitched battle, the English commanders politely declined, and continued to nip the heels of the galleons. Boats came from port carrying men and supplies to reinforce the English fleet, and as night fell, beacon fires were set to show where the battle raged.
     Suddenly, the "Capitana", the largest, most luxurious ship in the Armada, collided with the "Santa Catalina." Pedro de Valdez, Commander of the "Capitana" was the only Spanish officer in the Armada who was well acquainted with the English Channel. Also on board was Vice Admiral Juan Martinez, de Recaldo. Martin Frobisher cannonaded her until night. In the morning she surrendered to Drake's ship the "Revenge" and was towed into Torbay. The prize contained tons of gunpowder and much treasure, and both Captain de Valdez and Vice Admiral de Recaldo hostages.
     When the captain of the rear galleon chided his master gunner for the events of the day, the gunner, a Fleming, went to the powder magazine and thrust in a burning match, as he leaped through the porthole into the sea. The ship exploded carrying the paymaster and 200 soldiers into the air. The hulk remained, and was seized by the English in the morning with its treasure and much ammunition that had not ignited. Thus on the first day of battle the Armada lost two flag ships, 450 officers and men, the Paymaster, and 100,000 ducats in gold!
 

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