page_title: 3rd Spanish Armada
section_title: Interceptions and landings
hierarchical_section_title: 3rd Spanish Armada / Execution / Interceptions and landings
caption_attribution_description: English: Panoramic of Sandy Haven beach near Milford Haven, looking out to the Cleddau estuary
context_page_description: The 3rd Spanish Armada, also known as the Spanish Armada of 1597, was a major naval event that took place between October and November 1597 as part of the Anglo–Spanish War. The armada, which was the third attempt by Spain to invade or raid the British Isles during the war, was ordered by King Philip II of Spain in revenge for the English attack on Cadiz following the failure of the 2nd Spanish Armada the previous year due to a storm. The Armada was executed by the Adelantado, Martín de Padilla, who was hoping to intercept and destroy the English fleet under Robert Devereux the 2nd Earl of Essex as it returned from the failed Azores expedition. When this was achieved, the Armada would go on to capture either the important port of Falmouth or Milford Haven and use those places as a base for invasion.
  When the Spanish arrived in the English Channel, however, they were dispersed by a storm which scattered their fleet. Even so, some ships did push on and even landed troops on the English and Welsh coasts.
context_section_description: One Spanish ship dismasted by the storm was captured off the Scilly Isles by an English pinnace. Even though it sank on its way to Penzance, the prisoners, including its captain, master, and purser, were brought in and sent to Falmouth. Here the English captain reported that the Spanish fleet was some thirty leagues off the Scilly Isles. In addition the Spanish prisoners had with them letters and plans on their rendezvous at Falmouth. This was the first indication of the Armada off the Cornish shores and immediately the Privy Council met. However, the evidence from only one ship was not enough. Also, the English fleet had not yet arrived; they could only send orders, pay, and supplies to the fleet in hope that it would return in time. The few ships in the area, including the Vanguard, were immediately sent, and the Queen's cousin, the Earl of Ormond, was given command of all military forces in Ireland in case the Spanish ships decided on landfall there. Elizabeth herself was told of the Spanish fleet on 26 October, two days after opening Parliament.
  
  The storm had a huge effect on the Spanish fleet; several ships were swept up much further north of Cornwall to the Welsh coast. The Spanish captains then rendezvoused as instructed. Three Spanish ships came near Pembrokeshire and headed towards Milford Haven, the secondary objective. The forty-ton caravel Nuestra Senora Buenviage was driven ashore by the storm in Milford Haven, where she was captured and then plundered. She had gold and silver aboard, and the Welsh militia fought over it, with a man wounded. Another vessel was beached near Aberdyfi on 26 October; the 120-ton Bear of Amsterdam. Poor navigation meant that she had missed Milford Haven but had sailed via the Dyfi Estuary instead. They landed men ashore but were ambushed by the Merionethshire Militia having lost two killed and four captured. They then retreated back to their ship but were unable to leave due to lack of wind. Off Caldey Island, a Spanish treasure ship from Dunkirk had run aground, but disorder among the locals allowed the ship to escape. The main Spanish force landed 700 elite soldiers on a beach near Falmouth, and dug in, waiting for reinforcements. Welsh and English militia began to arrive in large numbers (although poorly armed), but the Spanish fleet was still hopelessly dispersed. With no hope of reinforcement, the Spanish re-embarked in the dark, after just two days ashore.
caption: Panoramic of Sandy Haven beach near Milford Haven - a few Spanish ships ended up around here
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