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CHAPTER IV.

THE INVINCIBLE ARMADA" MAKES ITS APPEARANCE.

"HROUGH the early summer of 1588, all England

THROUG

was kept in a state of suspense, daily expecting to hear tidings of the Armada, which seemed to be unaccountably delayed. There was cause for this delay, however. I have told you that the great Spanish fleet set sail on the 29th of May: but it had not proceeded far before a great storm arose, and scattered the ships. Four of them, and large ones too, sank to the bottom of the sea, with all on board; and all the rest were so damaged by the storm that they had to put back into different ports to be repaired and refitted. This was the first check the invaders experienced; and when it was known in England, you may suppose it gave encouragement to those who trusted in God, to believe that "by terrible things in righteousness," He was answering their earnest prayers, and to pray yet more earnestly, if possible, that He would send full and complete deliverance to the threatened land.

It would have been well if the proud king of Spain had seriously considered, and acted upon the consideration, that this disappointment was an indication of God's displeasure, and a forerunner of greate: calamities unless he turned from his unrighteous course: that, to use the words of Scripture, God was already whetting His sword and bending His bow, and making it ready against the persecutors. But no

such thoughts entered into King Philip's mind. On the contrary, I suppose he fancied he was doing God service in making war against England, and in preparing to exterminate all English heretics. At any rate, the storm which had dispersed his fleet, only made him the more savage and determined; so that, as soon as the losses and damages had been repaired, the Invincible Armada once more set out on its voyage.

While the Armada was thus delayed, the principal part of the English fleet was gathered together at Plymouth, under the command of Lord Howard, who was its admiral. For vice-admiral, or second in command, there was Sir Francis Drake, who was a skilful and gallant seaman, and a brave Englishman. Under these were other experienced leaders, whose names are now remembered in history for the deeds they performed. Among them were John Hawkins, who was rear-admiral of the fleet; Martin Frobisher, an excellent navigator and discoverer, who commanded the largest of the queen's ships, the Triumph; Sir Walter Raleigh, who was a great favourite of Queen Elizabeth; with many others, from the most noble families of England.

All these, with the captains and officers and seamen of the fleet, were, for two months or more, fretting at having nothing to do, and wearying themselves at guessing why the Invincible Armada did not make its appearance as it must have done on its entrance into the English seas. To pass away the time, the English officers indulged in various recreations on shore. Among these was the game of bowls.

One day in July, Admiral Drake and other officers were on a bowling-green near to Plymouth, enjoying their amusement, when a man burst in upon them, almost breathless with speed, to tell them that the Armada was at last really come. It had been seen by the captain of a small vessel, when out at sea, and he had hastened to Plymouth to tell the news. This captain's name was Fleming, and he had no very good character; for he was a privateer by profession, which is but another name for a sea-robber. There was no reason to suppose, however, that he had given a false report; and orders were accordingly sent in great haste to all the ships of the fleet to be ready to leave their moorings.

"There's an end of our game, then," said one of the bowlers, when the message reached those on the green.

"No such thing," said Admiral Drake; "there will be plenty of time for us to finish our game, and to beat the Spaniards afterwards."

Accordingly, the game was played out; and then the bowling party hastened to their boats. The common sailors who were on shore had already been recalled to their duty; and before evening the English fleet was standing out to sea, waiting the approach of the enemy, who was not yet in sight. At the same time beacon-fires were kindled up all along the coast; for you must know that among other precautions against being taken by surprise, the English government had caused great piles of wood to be built up a mile or two distant from each other, on the high grounds and cliffs, all the way from the Land's End in Cornwall to the mouth of the Thames; and other parts of the