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554

THE CAMPAIGN OF THE SPANISH ARMADA.

[1588.

upon the seas with all his forces, and we in the view of them. Then I doubt not but that you would hear that we would make his enterprise very unpleasant to him. But with sorrow I speak it, I am afraid that they will keep me from the baths of Bath by their long detraction, where I meant to have been to seek health by the beginning of May next."

Drake was another of those who advised and longed for an energetic offensive. Writing on March 30th to the Council,[1] he said: —

"If her Majesty and your Lordship thinks that the King of Spain meaneth any invasion in England, then doubtless his force is and will be great in Spain; and thereon he will make his groundwork or foundation, whereby the Prince of Parma may have the better entrance, which, in mine own judgment, is most to be feared. But if there may be such a stay or stop made by any means of this fleet in Spain, that they may not come through the seas as conquerors — which, I assure myself, they think to do — then shall the Prince of Parma have such a check thereby as were meet."

But he added that the ships had not enough powder on board for more than a day's, or a day and a half's fighting, and that more ought to be sent to them; "for it importeth but the loss of all." Nor did he underrate the importance of increasing the active navy. To the queen, on April 13th, he wrote: —[2]

"If your Majesty will give present order for our proceeding to the sea, and send to the strengthening of this fleet here four more of your Majesty's good ships, and those 16 sail of ships with their pinnaces which are preparing in London, then shall your Majesty stand assured, with God's assistance, that if the fleet come out of Lisbon, as long as we have victual to live withal upon that coast, they shall he fought with. ... God increase your most excellent Majesty's forces both by sea and land daily; for this I surely think, there was never any force so strong as there is now ready or making ready against your Majesty."

Drake continued to press his opinion[3] that the Spaniards should be met and fought off their own shores. On April 28th he again wrote to the queen: "These great preparations of the Spaniard may be speedily prevented as much as in your Majesty lieth, by sending your forces to encounter them somewhat far off, and more near their own coasts."

But the Channel was to be the scene of England's defence. This, however, was not the desire of the naval commanders. Writing to Burghley[4] on May 23rd, the Lord High Admiral related what had so far been done.

"Upon Tuesday last," he says, "being the 21st of this instant, the wind serving exceedingly well, I cut sail at the Downs, assigning unto my Lord Henry Seymour
  1. ↑ S. P. Dom. ccix. 40. From Plymouth.
  2. ↑ Ib., ccix. 89. From Plymouth.
  3. ↑ Ib., ccix. 112.
  4. ↑ Ib., ccx. 28. From Plymouth.
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