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556

THE CAMPAIGN OF THE SPANISH ARMADA.

[1588.

the southward as Bayona,[1] since the Spaniards, by taking a westerly course, might circumvent him and "shoot over to this realm" during his absence. Howard received this command on June 14th, and was much embarrassed by it, Drake, Hawkyns, Frobiser, and, in fact, all the most experienced captains, being in favour of endeavouring to meet the Spaniards as near as possible to their own coasts, where, it was then the admiral's conviction, they intended to remain while the English wore themselves out and expended their supplies.[2] Howard remonstrated vigorously.

"If," he said, "we had been on their coast, they durst not have put off, to have left us on their backs; and when they shall come with the south-westerly wind, which must serve them if they go for Ireland or Scotland, though we be as high as Cape Clear, yet shall we not be able to go to them as long as the wind shall be westerly. And if we lie so high, then may the Spanish fleet bear with the coast of France, to come for the Isle of Wight; which for my part, I think, if they come to England, they will attempt. Then are we clean out of the way of any service against them. But I must and will obey; and am glad there be such there as are able to judge what is fitter for us to do than we here."

On June 19th, Howard was still waiting at Plymouth for supplies.[3] Nor had they reached him by June 22nd,[4] when he wrote: —

"If they come not, our extremity will be very great, for our victuals ended the 15th of this month; and if that Mr. Darell[5] had not very carefully provided us of 14 days' victuals, and again with four or five days' more, which now he hath provided, we had been in some great extremity. ... Men have fallen sick, and by thousands fain to be discharged, and others pressed in their stead."

At about that time the Lord High Admiral naturally became exceedingly anxious, and on June 22nd, being still at Plymouth, he wrote to Walsyngham:[6]

"I am very sorry that her Majesty will not thoroughly awake in this perilous and most dangerous time. ... I put out on Wednesday to the sea in hopes to have met with some of our victuallers, but on Friday we were put in again with a southerly wind. I hope now shortly we shall hear of our victuals, for the wind doth now serve them. I pray God all be well with them, for if any chance should come to them we should be in most miserable case. For the love of God let the Narrow Seas be well strengthened, and the ships victualled for some good time."
  1. ↑ "The isles of Bayona." Bayona is near the south point of Galicia, and numerous islands lie off the coast to the northward of it.
  2. ↑ S. P. Dom. ccxi. 18. From on board the Ark in Plymouth Sound. S. P. Dom. ccxi. 26 (June 15th), also from the Ark in Plymouth Sound.
  3. ↑ Ib., ccxi. 37. Howard to Walsyngham.
  4. ↑ Ib., ccxi. 45. Howard to the Council.
  5. ↑ Marmaduke Darell, victualling agent for the navy. He was knighted in 1603.
  6. ↑ S. P. Dom. ccxi. 46.
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