THE SPANISH ARMADA

Many will be aware that Queen Elizabeth of England, the first of that name, was a Protestant not a Roman Catholic. She was seen by a Europe dominated by Papal power from Rome as an anathema, an abhorrence against God, and therefore the duty of all faithful Catholic Christians was to bring England and her heretic queen back into the welcoming fold of the Catholic Church or, to kill them. One result of this policy was the attempted invasion of England by King Philip II of Spain, who, in 1588, launched a great fleet of some 130 ships loaded with munitions, weapons and soldiers that were to rendezvous with reinforcements in Holland. If such a meeting could be achieved, the resulting force might well have changed history, but a combination of circumstances prevented it, and the Spanish Armada, as it has become called, was forced to make a retreat back towards Spain by whatever means it could. In England meanwhile, the nation had been mobilised to the best of its ability. Troops had been mustered at most possible invasion beaches and other strategic locations, and ships from almost every seaport called upon to aid in the nation’s defence. It was at this time that arguably the most poignant words ever spoken by an English monarch are alleged to have been made by Elizabeth to her troops at Tilbury, here, seldom quoted in their fullest form are her words:

“My loving people, we have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear! I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore, I am coming among you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved in the midst of heat of the battle, to live or die among you all, to lay down for my God, for my Kingdom, and for my people, my honour and my blood even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think it foul scorn that Parma, or Spain, or any prince of Europe should dare to invade the borders of my realm, to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and we do assure you, on the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the mean time, my Lieutenant General shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject, not doubting but your obedience to my General, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my Kingdom, and of my people.”

For a very full description of the Armada campaign see:

http://www.britishbattles.com/spanish-war/spanish-armada.htm

In Kingston upon Hull there survives evidence of impressment from 1588 when this land was under threat from the Spanish Armada. It was a time of dire peril for the nation, and every resource was called upon to defend it. This included the requisitioning of ships and men from every seaport on the south, east and even west coasts. At Hull, they did their duty to the best of their ability (presumably) and provided both ships and men to help harry the Spanish fleet as they fought their way northwards towards their eventual doom and destruction along the western coasts of Scotland and Ireland:

“…the xxvth of this p’nte month of Apryll ti Ioyne with her ma’ties navie on the Seas, or to be otherwyse Imployed as we shall receive further direction from yo’r hono’res or from the Lo: Admyrall of Englande./ maye yt therfore please yo’r good LL’s to be advertysed, that before the receipt of the LL’s said Letter, all the marryners now in the Towne any way able to serve to the number of nyntye fower were and are pressed, the vjth of this p’nte moneth to serve in her ma’ties

navye by Chrystpfer Chapman by vertew of a Comyssion vnder the great Seale of England dyrected to Iohn Hawkyns dated at westmynster the ij of febrewarie in the xxijth yeare of her ma’ties Reigne, …. Therof as becometh good & dewtyfull Subiectes [new hand] vpon further Directtion from yo’r LL.and warrant for takinge of such shipps and men as shalbe thought meit w’thall other furnyture .... .... And thus most humbly we take o’r leaves Kingston vpon Hull

the vijth of Aprill / 1588 /

[HCA BRL/85a; Hull City Archive; original transcription by Helen Good]

It may be prudent at this juncture to offer some form of translation of the above Elizabethan English:

… the 25 th of this present month of April to join with her Majesty’s navy on the Seas, or to be otherwise employed as we shall receive further direction from your honours or from the Lord Admiral of England. May it therefore please your good Lordships to be advised that before the receipt of the Lordship’s letter, all the mariners now in the town [of Kingston upon Hull RGH], and any way able to serve, to the number of ninety-four, are pressed, the 6 th of this present month, to serve her Majesty’s navy, by Christopher Chapman, by virtue of a Commission under the Great Seal of England, directed to John Hawkins and dated at Westminster, the 2 nd of February in the 22 nd year of her Majesty’s reign …. Thereof as becomes good will, and dutiful subjects, [new hand RGH] upon further direction from your Lordships and warrant for taking of such ships and men as shall be thought meet withal other furniture …. And thus most humbly we take out leaves, Kingston upon Hull, the 7 th April, 1588.

A subsequent letter tells of some apprehension at Hull concerned that their ships and men had not been provided in the time required of them, regardless of the apparent good will to do so. It also hints that the ships provided were not seaworthy; otherwise it would not have been necessary to employ so many shipwrights (carpenters), so perhaps Hull was not as forthcoming as it should have been:

To the L. highe

admyrall of englande

Our dewties to your good L Humblye remembered Pleaseth it the same to be advertised that in p’te discharge of our moste bownden dewties and in accomplishment of the contentes of the LL of her maties moste honorable Pryvie Counselles letter to vs directed we have furnished and sett forthe to be employed in her Ma’ties servyce vpon the Seas two Shippes and one Pynnace w’ch had bein readie for that servyce longe before this tyme butt that at the receipte of their LL. sayd letter their was not heare to be had fytte shippes or maryners by reason of the absence of the Shippes vpon their traffique and a presse then maid of the maryners by one xpofer Chapman, as we then certyfied their LL. / Yet as shortelie after as their weare Shippes retorned from London and Newcastell We dyd w’th all expedicion prepare twoe shippes and a Pynnace of ye best and moste fitt for that s’vice that were beinge at ?hand Which we wold have Don at the firste if by anie meanes possible we might , and for the spedier dyspatche of them we hyred all the Shipp carpenters in this towne and w’thin twentie myles thereof. / The xxvtie of Aprill instante we receyved by the handes of Cuthbert Stillingfleett one of the messengers of her ma’ties chamber yo’r L precept for the same Shipps and Pynnace to be in a readynes at Gorende the xxvijth of this present monethe to attend vpon your L and to receive further direction, before the receipte whereof and sythence we haue vsed all expedicion possible, whereof we humblye beseiche yo’r good L. to accepte and to impute the slacknes in this servce to the lacke of servyceable Shippes and maryners at the firste the trewe and onelie cawse thereof w’ch yf it shalbe your L. pleasure we shall evidentlie prove. The names of the two Shipps and Pynnace their burdens, the names of their Capptaynes and maisters and in what sorte they are furnyshed ys p’tyculerlie sett downe in a note heare inclosed, /

And sowe

humblie take our leaves, beseichinge thalmightye to preserve

your L in longe health W’th moche encrease of honour

Kingston vpon Hull the xxixtie of Aprill 1588.

Your L. Humble at Comaundementes

[HCA BRL/85 Hull City Archives; original transcription by Helen Good]

To the Lord High Admiral of England,

Our duties to your good Lordship humbly remembered, please it the same to be advised that in part discharge of our most bounden duties and in accomplishment of the contents of the lordships of her Majesty’s most honourable Privy Council’s letter to us directed we have furnished and set forth to be employed in her majesty’s service upon the seas, two ships and one pinnace which had been ready for that service long before this time but that the receipt of their lordships said letter there was not here to be had fit ships or mariners by reason of the absence of the ships upon their traffic and a press then made of the mariners by one Christopher Chapman as we then certified their lordships. Yet as shortly after, as there were ships returned from London and Newcastle, we did with all expedition, prepare two ships and a pinnace of the best and most fit for that service that were being at hand, which we would have done at the first if by any means possible we might, and for the speedier dispatch of them, we hired all the ship carpenters in this town and within twenty miles thereof. the 25 th April instant we received by the hands of Cuthbert Stillingfleet, one of the messengers of her Majesty’s chamber, your precept of the same ships and pinnace to be in readiness at Gorende the 27 th day of this present month to attend upon your lordship and to receive further direction, before the receipt whereof and since, we have used all expedition possible, whereof we humbly beseech your good lordship to accept and impute the slackness in this service to the lack of serviceable ships and mariners at the first true and only cause thereof, which if it shall be your lordship’s pleasure we shall evidently prove. The names of the two ships and pinnace, their burthens, the names of their captains and masters, and in what sort they are furnished is particularly set down in a note here enclosed.

And so humbly take our leave beseeching the Almighty to preserve your lordship in long health, with much increase in honour

Kingston upon Hull, 29 th day of April 1588

Records suggest only one name of the three vessels from Hull; that of the Marigold, of some 150 tons burthen with seventy men onboard, and captained by Francis Johnson. Marigold was listed as a coaster under the overall command of Lord Henry Seymore.

The Great Bard himself, William Shakespeare, made reference to the pressing of men for the navy when in about 1600 he published Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, when Marcellus asks of Horatio “Why such impress of shipwrights, whose saw task does not divide the Sunday from the week”

[Hamlet, William Shakespeare, Act 1 Scene 1 ]

Designed by Richard Hayton 2008
email richard@yorkshirehistory.com