of the Royal Ark conferred the honour of knighthood on each
for his gallantry in the action of the previous day. Medina Sidonia, on
his part, was again despatching messenger after messenger to the Duke of
Parma, asking for small shot, pilots, and forty fly-boats, with which to
pursue the teasing English clippers. The Catholic Armada, he said, being
so large and heavy, was quite in the power of its adversaries, who could
assault, retreat, fight, or leave off fighting, while he had nothing for
it but to proceed, as expeditiously as might be; to his rendezvous in
Calais roads.

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

Inquisitors enough; but there were no light vessels in The Armada

CHAPTER XIX. 1588, Part 2.

Both Fleets off Calais--A Night of Anxiety--Project of Howard and
Winter--Impatience of the Spaniards--Fire-Ships sent against the
Armada--A great Galeasse disabled--Attacked and captured by English
Boats--General Engagement of both Fleets--Loss of several Spanish
Ships--Armada flies, followed by the English--English insufficiently
provided--Are obliged to relinquish the Chase--A great Storm
disperses the Armada--Great Energy of Parma Made fruitless by
Philip's Dulness--England readier at Sea than on Shore--The
Lieutenant--General's Complaints--His Quarrels with Norris and
Williams--Harsh Statements as to the English Troops--Want of
Organization in England--Royal Parsimony and Delay--Quarrels of
English Admirals--England's narrow Escape from great Peril--Various
Rumours as to the Armada's Fate--Philip for a long Time in Doubt--He
believes himself victorious--Is tranquil when undeceived.

And in Calais roads the great fleet--sailing slowly all next day in
company with the English, without a shot being fired on either side--at
last dropped anchor on Saturday afternoon, August 6th.

Here then the Invincible Armada had arrived at its appointed
resting-place. Here the great junction--of Medina Sidonia with the Duke
of Parma was to be effected; and now at last the curtain was to rise upon
the last act of the great drama so slowly and elaborately prepared.

That Saturday afternoon, Lord Henry Seymour and his squadron of sixteen
lay between Dungeness and Folkestone; waiting the approach of the two
fleets. He spoke several-coasting vessels coming from the west; but they
could give him no information--strange to say--either of the Spaniards
or, of his own countrymen,--Seymou