The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-19

low countries, all eXcelences were still COM
biled-her own Leicester. Worse appoint
ment could not possibly have been made, but
even Leicester was lifted into kind of hero
by the excitement of the moment. He was
not coward, and not entirely q fool. Tilbury
had been chosen as the place where the force
was to assemble which was intended to cover
London. It was the lowest spot where the
Thames could be easily crossed, and 1t was i'm
possible to say on which side Of the river the
enemy might choose to approach. Leicester
flew at once to his post there, and so far he
had fulfilled his duty, thath had sixteen thou
sand men with him at Tllbury, with thirty
thousand forming rapidly in his rear out Of
the musters OF the midland counties, before
Parma could have advanced. under the most
favorable circumstances, within days march
of London.
Meanwhile, on the night Of the l9th-90th,
while the Armada was SILL some Leagues 10
fresh into Plymouth Sound, the Queens ships
and few of the privateers were warped out
behind the shelter of Mount Edgecombe. All
hands went mcrrily to work; vessel after YES
sci was brought to moorings behind Ram
Head, so placed that they could fetch clear to
the sea; and by Saturday morning, when the
Spanards were first sighting the coast of Corn
wall, forty soil were lying ready for action un-
der the headland.
The day wore on; noon passed, and nothing
had been seen. At length, towards three In
the afternoon, the lookout men on the hill
reported O line of sails on the western horizon,
the two wings being first visible, which were
gradually seen to unite as the centre rose over
the rim of the sea. On they swept in broad
crescent, slowly, for the air was light; and as
the hulls showed clear, it was seen that the
report had not exaggerated the numbers said
to be coming. A hundred and fifty, large and
small, were counted and reported to Lord
Howard; few stray tenders bound for Flan-
ders having sought the company and protec-
tion OF the mighty escort.
The English ships at once weighed, but
showed themselves as little as they could.
The evening was cloudy, with the wind hang
ing to the land. 1t was growing dusk when
the Armada opened Plymouth; and then, for
the first time, Medina Sidonia perceived that
Howard was prepared for him, and that If he
wished It he could not enter the sound with
out an action. There was not light enough
for him to measure his enemy's strength. He
saw sails passing continually between his fleet
and the land, and vessels tacklng and manGll-
wiring; but confident In his overpowering force,
he sent up signals to lie for the night, and to
prepare for general action at daybreak. @
Abont two o'clock, the moon rose with a
clear sky-a gibbous moon, no more than halt
circle, but by the light Of 1t the Spaniards per-
ceived that sixty or seventy ships had glided
out behind them, and were lowering at their
rear Just out Of cannot-shot.
The dawn was still, but towards 8 o'clock
the breeze freshened from the west The Ar
mazda made soil and attempted to close. To
Medina Sidonia's extreme astonshment, 1t
seemed at the pleasure Of the English to leave
him, or allow him to approach them, as they
chese. The high-towered, broad-boWed gal
Icons moved like Thames barges piled with
hay: while the sharp low English sailed at once
two feet to the Spaniard's one, and shot away
as II by magic in the eye of the wind. 1t was
as If q modern steam fleet was engaged With
squadron of the old-fashioned three-deckers,
choosing their own dstanceand fighting or moi
| fighting, as suited their convenience.
The action opened with the Ark Raleigh, car
rying Howard's flag, and three other English
ships, whose names the Spaniards did moi
know, running along their entire rear line, FIR
ing successfully into each galleon as they pass
ed, then wearing round and returning over the
same course The San Matteo luffed into the
wind as far as she could, inviting them to
board, but they gave her their broadsldes
second time and passed on.
Astonlshed and confounded, as well by the
lnannuvring as by the raptdity of the fire, the
Spanish officers could not refuse their admira
tlon. They knew that they were Inferior a
sea, bnt how Inferior they had not realized
The English were firing four shots to one, anc
|
not touch them. Such artillery practice ant
ships so handled had never been seen. Al0nzt
da Leyva in the huge Rata attempted to cross
the Ark Raleigh. Howard kept away as If Il
meet him, but ran by, again fired into the Sar
Matteo, which was lying head to wind unable
to move. and swept on upon his way.
The rest OF the English ships were now en-
gagged on the same conditions. The actor
continued through the whole forenoon, the
Spanlards making efforts to close, and always
failing. Conscious Of their disadvantage, the.
still fought bravely. $50 far as we see," Wrot.
Drake, Nthey mean to sell their lives will
blows" But they had been farried and sur
prised Being to lecward. and leaning over Il
the wind, the shots had flown high, and hat
scarcely touched the English ships atall, while
they had themselves suffered considerably
The Biscayan flagship, the San Juan. had he
mizzen-mast shot through ir two places, man!
spars carried away, the captain wounded, ant
fifteen men killed Oquendo had specially dis
tinguished himself, being present wherever thu
danger was greatest. driving back into actor
vessels which were inclined to finch, but a
the wind held, neither he nor any one coul
change the fortunes OF the day, or enable tn,
Spaniards to hurt an enemy whom they coulc
not touch, and the rest Of the English fee
coming out of tho harbor, Medina Sidonia sig
nailed to make sail up channel, Martinez d.
Recalde covering the rear with the squadron
Of Blscay.