New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-09

| benches Of the slaves. These vessels were gOr-
geously decorated, and were very wonderful to
behold. There were splendid state apartments,
cabins, cbapels, and pupits in each, and they
were amply provided with awnings, cushions,
steamers, standards, gilded saints, and bands of
musc-excellently adapted TO take part in an os-
tentatOus pageant, but for sailing and fighting
the great object Of q war vessel-tbey were the
worst machines ever launched on the ocean. All
the ships OF the feet were 30 encountered with
tOp.bamper, and 30 oyerweghted in proportion
to their draught of water, that they could bear
but little canvas, even with smooth seas and
| light winds, and of course were likely to suffer
in violent tempests.
The plan of the expedition was very simple.
Medina SdoDia was to proceed straight from
Lisbon to Calais roads, where he was to wait
for the Prince Of Parma, who was to come forth
from Newport Sluys, and Dupkirk, with his 1900
veterans, and assume the chief command OF the
whole expedition. They were then to cross the
channel ~ Dover, land the army Of Parma, re.
enforced with 5000 Spaniards from the feet, and
with these $4,000 men, Alexander was to march
" OuCt upon IObuOu. bloh'bo biu~h'e va" w
seize and fortify the Ise of Wight guard the
entrance Of the harbor against the approach of
the Dutch aud English fleets, and after the con-
quest of England, proceed at once to ireland.
The ships of the Armada consumed nearly
three weeks in sailing from Lisbon to the neigh
borhood Of Cape Finisterre. Here they were
overtaken BY tempest, and were scattered al
% h NJ linda md Of
the squadron of galeys, Que was sunk in the sea;
two of the others were conquered by their own
slaves, and the fourth with difficulty rode out the
gale and joined the rest Of the feet which ulti-
mately re-assemblcd at Corunna. They remained
q month in that port, repairing damages and re-
cruitng, and on July ~, the Armada again set
sal. Six days later, the Spaniords took sound
ings, thirty leagues from the Sicily Islands, and
on Friday, July 90, they had the fret glimpse of
the land Of promise presented to them by Sixtus
V. Of which they had at last come TO take pos
session. On the same day aud night, ten thou
sand beacon fires from the Lands End to Mar
gate and from the Isle Of Wight 10 Cumberland,
gave warning TO every Englishman that the en-
envy was at hand. Before morning, sixty Of the
best English ships were warped out Of Plymouth
harbor; the next day, July 30, there was Light
southwest wind with mist and drilling rain, but
by three in the afternoon the two fleets could des-
CRY and count each other through tie haze. BY
nine O'Clock July 81 the fleets had their frat
meeting on the Cornish coast There were lB
sail of the Spanisrds, Of which ninety were large
ships, and sixty seven of the English. The long
expected Armada presented pompous, almost
theatrical appearance. The ships seemed arranged
for pageant, in honor Of victory already Won
Disposed Ia form of crescent the horns Of
which were seven miles ssunder, those gilded
floating castles, with their gaudy standards and
their martial music moved slowly along The chan
mel, with an air of ndolent pomp. Their cap
n-general, the golden Duke, stood ia his private
shot- proof fortress on the deck Of his great
galleon, surrounded by generals Of infantry, and
colonies Of cavalry, VINO knew az Little as him
self OF naval matters. The English vessels, on
the other hand were for the most part, Light,
swirl, and easily handled, sailing round and round
those unwieldy ganeonS, hulks and galleys rowed
by fettered slave.gaDga The superior seaman
ship of the English, commanded BY such expe-
rienced captains AZ Drake, Frobisher, and Ilsw-
kins, enabled them to gain the advantage on the
frat encounter. They at once obtained the
weather.gage, and cannonsded the enemy at in
teryals with considerable effect, easily escaping
at will from the range Of the stately and slug
gish Armada. I'VE mad some small fight with
them that Sunday afternoon said Hawkins.
Tie Spanish commander hoisted the royal
standard at the fore, and the whole feet ga.nly
offered general battle. The Englah closely pur-
sued the hees Of the enemy, but confined tier
attack TO the rear guard. A running fight wac
thus kept UP along the coast in full view OF
Plymouth, whence boats with reenforcemonts and
volunteers were porpetuaIy coming to the English
ships, until the battle had quite drifted out Of
reach Of the town.
Meantime the commander Of the Andalusian
squadron having 20. bis gpleon into collision
with two or three spanish ships successively,
had Mt last carried away his foremost close to
the deck, and rs be lay crippled and helpless,
the Armada slowly deserted him. Night was
coming On. the sea ran high, and the English
were ready to grapple with him, but no Stten-
ton was paid to his signals Of distress. The
cDptain-general cooly abandoned him to his fate,
aud the next morning, after brave attempt at
resistance, he surrendered his weasel.
This was an unlucky beginning for the Twin
chile Armada. They had been out.naneuvered,
Out-sailed, and thoroughly maltreated by their
antagonists, without being able 20 inhict single
blow in return TIE next day, Monday August
/, orders we're given to accept every chance Of