g of Spain was, that the armada should sail
to the coast opposite to Dunkirk and Newport; and having chased away all
English or Flemish vessels which might obstruct the passage, (for it was
never supposed they could make opposition,) should join themselves with
the duke of Parma, should thence make sail to the Thames, and having
landed the whole Spanish army, thus complete at one blow the entire
conquest of England. In prosecution of this scheme, Philip gave orders
to the duke of Medina, that in passing along the Channel, he should sail
as near the coast of France as he could with safety; that he should by
this policy avoid meeting with the English fleet; and, keeping in view
the main enterprise, should neglect all smaller successes which might
prove an obstacle, or even interpose a delay, to the acquisition of a
kingdom.[***]

* Camden, p. 545.

** Strype, vol. iii. Append. p. 221.

*** Monson, p. 1.

After the armada was under sail, they took a fisherman, who informed
them that the English admiral had been lately at sea, had heard of the
tempest which scattered the armada, had retired back into Plymouth and
no longer expecting an invasion this season, had laid up his ships, and
discharged most of the seamen. From this false intelligence the duke
of Medina conceived the great facility of attacking and destroying
the English ships in harbor; and he was tempted, by the prospect of so
decisive an advantage, to break his orders, and make sail directly for
Plymouth; a resolution which proved the safety of England. The Lizard
was the first land made by the armada, about sunset; and as the
Spaniards took it for the Ram Head near Plymouth, they bore out to sea
with an intention of returning next day, and attacking the English navy.
They were descried by Fleming, a Scottish pirate, who was roving in
those seas, and who immediately set sail, to inform the English admiral
of their approach;[*] another fortunate event, which contributed
extremely to the safety of the fleet. Effingham had just time to get out
of port, when he saw the Spanish armada coming full sail towards him,
disposed in the form of a crescent, and stretching the distance of seven
miles from the extremity of one division to that of the other.

The writers of that age raise their style by a pompous description of
this spectacle; the most magnificent that had ever appeared upon the
ocean, infusing equal terror and admiration into the minds of al