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It consisted of six squadrons of sixty fine large ships； the
smallest being of 700 tons。 Besides these were four gigantic
galleasses； each carrying fifty guns； four large armed galleys；
fifty…six armed merchant ships； and twenty caravelsin all； 149
vessels。 On board were 8000 sailors； 20；000 soldiers； and a
large number of galley…slaves。 The ships carried provisions
enough for six months' consumption； and the supply of ammunition
was enormous。
On the other side was the small English fleet under Hawkins and
Drake。 The Royal ships were only thirteen in number。 The rest
were contributed by private enterprize； there being only
thirty…eight vessels of all sorts and sizes； including cutters
and pinnaces； carrying the Queen's flag。 The principal armed
merchant ships were provided by London； Southampton； Bristol； and
the other southern ports。 Drake was followed by some privateers；
Hawkins had four or five ships； and Howard of Effingham two。 The
fleet was； however； very badly found in provisions and
ammunition。 There was only a week's provisions on board； and
scarcely enough ammunition for one day's hard fighting。 But the
ships； small though they were； were in good condition。 They
could sail； whether in pursuit or in flight； for the men who
navigated them were thorough sailors。
The success of the defence was due to tact； courage； and
seamanship。 At the first contact of the fleets； the Spanish
towering galleons wished to close； to grapple with their
contemptuous enemies； and crush them to death。 〃Come on！〃 said
Medina Sidonia。 Lord Howard came on with the Ark and three other
ships； and fired with immense rapidity into the great floating
castles。 The Sam Mateo luffed； and wanted them to board。 〃No！
not yet！〃 The English tacked； returned； fired again； riddled the
Spaniards； and shot away in the eye of the wind。 To the
astonishment of the Spanish Admiral； the English ships approached
him or left him just as they chose。 〃The enemy pursue me；〃 wrote
the Spanish Admiral to the Prince of Parma； 〃they fire upon me
most days from morning till nightfall； but they will not close
and grapple； though I have given them every opportunity。〃 The
Capitana； a galleon of 1200 tons； dropped behind； struck her flag
to Drake； and increased the store of the English fleet by some
tons of gunpowder。 Another Spanish ship surrendered； and another
store of powder and shot was rescued for the destruction of the
Armada。 And so it happened throughout； until the Spanish fleet
was driven to wreck and ruin； and the remaining ships were
scattered by the tempests of the north。 After all； Philip proved
to be； what the sailors called him； only 〃a Colossus stuffed with
clouts。〃
The English sailors followed up their advantage。 They went on
〃singeing the Ring of Spain's beard。〃 Private adventurers fitted
up a fleet under the command of Drake； and invaded the mainland
of Spain。 They took the lower part of the town of Corunna；
sailed to the Tagus； and captured a fleet of ships laden with
wheat and warlike stores for a new Armada。 They next sacked
Vigo； and returned to England with 150 pieces of cannon and a
rich booty。 The Earl of Cumberland sailed to the West Indies on
a private adventure； and captured more Spanish prizes。 In 1590；
ten English merchantmen； returning from the Levant； attacked
twelve Spanish galleons； and after six hours' contest； put them
to flight with great loss。 In the following year； three merchant
ships set sail for the East Indies； and in the course of their
voyage took several Portuguese vessels。
A powerful Spanish fleet still kept the seas； and in 1591 they
conquered the noble Sir Richard Grenville at the Azoresfifteen
great Spanish galleons against one Queen's ship； the Revenge。 In
1593； two of the Queen's ships； accompanied by a number of
merchant ships； sailed for the West Indies； under Burroughs；
Frobisher； and Cross； and amongst their other captures they took
the greatest of all the East India caracks； a vessel of 1600
tons； 700 men； and 36 brass cannon； laden with a magnificent
cargo。 She was taken to Dartmouth； and surprised all who saw
her； being the largest ship that had ever been seen in England。
In 1594； Captain James Lancaster set sail with three ships upon a
voyage of adventure。 He was joined by some Dutch and French
privateers。 The result was； that they captured thirty…nine of
the Spanish ships。 Sir Amias Preston； Sir John Hawkins； and Sir
Francis Drake； also continued their action upon the seas。 Lord
Admiral Howard and the Earl of Essex made their famous attack
upon Cadiz for the purpose of destroying the new Armada； they
demolished all the forts； sank eleven of the King of Spain's best
ships； forty…four merchant ships； and brought home much booty。
Nor was maritime discovery neglected。 The planting of new
colonies began； for the English people had already begun to
swarm。 In 1578； Sir Humphrey Gilbert planted Newfoundland for
the Queen。 In 1584； Sir Waiter Raleigh planted the first
settlement in Virginia。 Nor was the North…west passage
neglected； for in 1580； Captain Pett （a name famous on the
Thames） set sail from Harwich in the George； accompanied by
Captain Jackman in the William。 They reached the ice in the
North Sea； but were compelled to return without effecting their
purpose！ Will it be believed that the George was only of 40 tons；
and that its crew consisted of nine men and a boy； and that the
William was of 20 tons； with five men and a boy？ The wonder is
that these little vessels could resist the terrible icefields；
and return to England again with their hardy crews。
Then in 1585； another of our adventurous sailors； John Davis； of
Sandridge on the Dart； set sail with two barks； the Sunshine and
the Moonshine； of 50 and 35 tons respectively； and discovered in
the far North…west the Strait which now bears his name。 He was
driven back by the ice； but； undeterred by his failure； he set
out on a second； and then on a third voyage of discovery in the
two following years。 But he never succeeded in discovering the
North…west passage。 It all reads like a mysterythese repeated；
determined； and energetic attempts to discover a new way of
reaching the fabled region of Cathay。
In these early times the Dutch were not unworthy rivals of the
English。 After they had succeeded in throwing off the Spanish
yoke and achieved their independence； they became one of the most
formidable of maritime powers。 In the course of another century
Holland possessed more colonies； and had a larger share of the
carrying trade of the world than Britain。 It was natural
therefore that the Dutch republic should take an interest in the
North…west passage； and the Dutch sailors； by their enterprise
and bravery； were among the first to point the way to Arctic
discovery。 Barents and Behring； above all others； proved the
courage and determination of their heroic ancestors。