History of the United Netherlands, 1588c | Page 4

King's suggestion that a
feint might be made by way of besieging some few places in Holland
or Zeeland. The whole matter in hand, he said, had become as public as
possible, and the only efficient blind was the peace-negotiation; for
many believed, as the English deputies were now treating at Ostend,

that peace would follow.
At last, on the 28th, 29th, and 30th May, 1588, the fleet, which had
been waiting at Lisbon more than a month for favourable weather, set
sail from that port, after having been duly blessed by the Cardinal
Archduke Albert, viceroy of Portugal.
There were rather more than one hundred and thirty ships in all, divided
into ten squadrons. There was the squadron of Portugal, consisting of
ten galleons, and commanded by the captain-general, Medina Sidonia.
In the squadron of Castile were fourteen ships of various sizes, under
General Diego Flores de Valdez. This officer was one of the most
experienced naval officers in the Spanish service, and was subsequently
ordered, in consequence, to sail with the generalissimo in his flag-ship.
In the squadron of Andalusia were ten galleons and other vessels, under
General Pedro de Valdez. In the squadron of Biscay were ten galleons
and lesser ships, under General Juan Martinet de Recalde, upper
admiral of the fleet. In the squadron of Guipuzcoa were ten galleons,
under General Miguel de Oquendo. In the squadron of Italy were ten
ships, under General Martin de Bertendona. In the squadron of Urcas,
or store-ships, were twenty-three sail, under General Juan Gomez de
Medina. The squadron of tenders, caravels, and other vessels,
numbered twenty-two sail, under General Antonio Hurtado de
Mendoza. The squadron of four galeasses was commanded by Don
Hugo de Moncada. The squadron of four galeras, or galleys, was in
charge of Captain Diego de Medrado.
Next in command to Medina Sidonia was Don Alonzo de Leyva,
captain- general of the light horse of Milan. Don Francisco de
Bobadilla was marshal-general of the camp. Don Diego de Pimentel
was marshal of the camp to the famous Terzio or legion of Sicily.
The total tonnage of the fleet was 59,120: the number of guns was 3165.
Of Spanish troops there were 19,295 on board: there were 8252 sailors
and 2088 galley-slaves. Besides these, there was a force of noble
volunteers, belonging to the most illustrious houses of Spain, with their
attendants amounting to nearly 2000 in all. There was also Don Martin
Alaccon, administrator and vicar-general of the Holy Inquisition, at the
head of some 290 monks of the mendicant orders, priests and familiars.
The grand total of those embarked was about 30,000. The daily expense
of the fleet was estimated by Don Diego de Pimentel at 12,000 ducats

a-day, and the daily cost of the combined naval and military force
under Farnese and Medina Sidonia was stated at 30,000 ducats.
The size of the ships ranged from 1200 tons to 300. The galleons, of
which there were about sixty, were huge round-stemmed clumsy
vessels, with bulwarks three or four feet thick, and built up at stem and
stern, like castles. The galeasses of which there were four--were a third
larger than the ordinary galley, and were rowed each by three hundred
galley-slaves. They consisted of an enormous towering fortress at the
stern; a castellated structure almost equally massive in front, with seats
for the rowers amidships. At stem and stern and between each of the
slaves' benches were heavy cannon. These galeasses were floating
edifices, very wonderful to contemplate. They were gorgeously
decorated. There were splendid state-apartments, cabins, chapels, and
pulpits in each, and they were amply provided with awnings, cushions,
streamers, standards, gilded saints, and bands of music. To take part in
an ostentatious pageant, nothing could be better devised. To fulfil the
great objects of a war-vessel--to sail and to fight--they were the worst
machines ever launched upon the ocean. The four galleys were similar
to the galeasses in every respect except that of size, in which they were
by one-third inferior.
All the ships of the fleet--galeasses, galleys, galleons, and hulks--were
so encumbered with top-hamper, so overweighted in proportion to their
draught of water, that they could bear but little canvas, even with
smooth seas and light and favourable winds. In violent tempests,
therefore, they seemed likely to suffer. To the eyes of the 16th century
these vessels seemed enormous. A ship of 1300 tons was then a
monster rarely seen, and a fleet, numbering from 130 to 150 sail, with
an aggregate tonnage of 60,000, seemed sufficient to conquer the world,
and to justify the arrogant title, by which it had baptized itself, of the
Invincible.
Such was the machinery which Philip had at last set afloat, for the
purpose of dethroning Elizabeth and establishing the inquisition in
England. One hundred and forty