< Page:Royalnavyhistory01clow.djvu
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

1588.]

LACK OF PROVISIONS.

555

those ships appointed to stay with him on the Narrow Seas; and so parting companies the same morning athwart of Dover, and with a pleasant gale all the way long, came and arrived this day, being the 23rd, about eight of the clock in the morning, at this port of Plymouth, whence Sir Francis Drake came forth with sixty sail very well appointed to meet with me; and so, casting about, he put with me into the haven again, where I mean to stay there two days to water our fleet, and afterwards, God willing, to take the opportunity of the first wind serving for the coast of Spain, with intention to lie on and off betwixt England and that coast to watch the coming of the Spanish forces."

When, on May 28th, Howard again wrote to Burghley[1] the fleet was, contrary to the commander-in-chief's expectations, still at Plymouth.

"I have received a letter," he said, "from my man Burnell,[2] whom I left to come after us with the ten ships with victuals. I perceive by his letter that the ships, and also the victuals, be nothing in that readiness that I looked they should be in, nor as Mr. Quarles[3] did promise me; for he did ensure me that within seven or eight days at the farthest they should be dispatched after my departure from the Court, which was the 14th of this month. Burnell's letter unto me beareth date of the 20th, and signifieth unto me that Mr. Quarles and Mr. Peter told him that it would not be ready to depart in 12 or 14 days after; and besides that the ships were in no readiness that should bring it, and that there would be no mariners gotten for them. ... We have here now but 18 days' victual, and there is none to be gotten in all this country; and what that is to go withal to sea, your Lordship may judge."

He had already learnt that the Armada was to have sailed with the first fair wind; and, realising the danger of delay, expressed his intention of sailing, short of stores though he was, "for go we will, though we starve"; seeing that he did not know whether the Spaniards were bound for England, Ireland, or Scotland. "I believe surely," he added, "if the wind hold here but six days, they will knock at our door. If they do so, the fault is not ours; for I hope we have lost not one hour nor minute of time, nor will suffer any after to be lost." And in a second letter[4] of the same day he said: "There is here the gallantest company of captains, soldiers, and mariners that I think ever was seen in England. It were pity they should lack meat, when they are so desirous to spend their lives in her Majesty's service."

Walsyngham on June 9th, at the queen's direction, wrote[5] to Howard, desiring him not to cruise, as he had intended, so far to

  1. ↑ S. P. Dom. ccx. 35.
  2. ↑ Francis Burnell, of Acton Burnell. He was then captain of the Mary Rose, and later joined the Ark. From one branch of his family are descended the Italian Actons, and Lord Acton; from another, Captain John Coke Burnell (1883), R.N.
  3. ↑ James Quarles was Baeshe's successor in the Victualling Department.
  4. ↑ S. P. Dom. ccx. 36.
  5. ↑ Ib., ccxi. 8.
This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.