s benediction, and even his money, to
the Spaniards when there was a chance that they would succeed. And
their chances, in the summer of 1588, seemed very good. The Armada
was stronger, though not much stronger, than the English fleet; but
the army that was to be landed at the mouth of the Thames was
immeasurably superior to the English. This was so evident that Philip
was dazzled and listened to no advice. They might have sailed for
Cork and made Ireland a Spanish stronghold. They might have supplied
Farnese with the land force that he required to complete the conquest
of the revolted provinces, putting off to the following year the
invasion of England. When they came in sight of Plymouth, Recalde,
one of the victors of Lepanto, and Oquendo, whose name lasted as long
as the Spanish navy, for the ship of the line that bore it was sunk in
Cervera's action, demanded to fight. But the orders were peremptory
to sail for Dunkirk and to transport Farnese to Margate. The Armada
made the best of its way to Gravelines, where they were attacked
before Farnese could embark, and the expedition failed.

An American writer, meditating upon our history at Battle, on the spot
where Harold fell, once expressed his thought in these words, "Well,
well, it is a small island, and has been often conquered." It was not
conquered in August 1588, because Drake held the narrow seas. The
credit was not shared by the army. And it may be a happy fortune that
the belated levies of Tilbury, commanded by Leicester, never saw the
flash of Farnese's guns. For the superiority of Spain was not by sea,
nor the greatness of England on land. But England thenceforth was
safe, and had Scotland in tow. Elizabeth occupied a position for
which her timorous and penurious policy, during so many years, had not
prepared the world. She proposed terms to Philip. She would
interfere no more in the Low Countries, if he would grant toleration.
Farnese entered into the scheme, but Philip refused. The lesson of
the Armada was wasted upon him. He did not perceive that he had lost
Holland as well as England.

The revolt of the Netherlands created a great maritime power; for it
was by water, by the dexterous use of harbours, estuaries, and dykes,
that they obtained independence. By their sea power they acquired the
trade of the Far East, and conquered the Portuguese possessions. They
made their universities the seat of original learning and original
think