Page:Royalnavyhistory01clow.djvu/602

 perceives that the leading idea of the expedition was that if the English fleet should follow Medina Sidonia, it was to be dispersed, so that, the Channel being cleared, Parma could cross it. If the English fleet should not appear, or if it should appear and be decisively defeated, the minor details of subsequent operations would present no difficulties, provided that a secure harbour or anchorage could be found for the Armada, and that Parma should have favourable weather for his passage. The actions fought before the arrival of the Armada off Calais imperilled the carrying out of the leading idea. It is not astonishing that the scheme of minor details, vague as it was even before the first action, became afterwards hopelessly confused.

So much for the general plan of operations. The preparations in Spain may now be returned to. And, first of all, Medina Sidonia's general orders to his fleet demand attention. They laid stress upon the religious aspect of the expedition. The people were to understand that they were participating in a crusade. Their behaviour must be worthy of their holy aims.

All, high and low, must realise, above all things, that the king undertook the expedition mainly for the service of God, and for the leading back to the bosom of the Church of souls subjected to the enemies of the Holy Catholic faith. Lest they should forget these aims, the people, before proceeding on board, were to humbly confess, and to receive the Sacrament. No one in the fleet, on pain of severe punishment, was to "idly make use of the name of our Lord, or of our Lady, or of the Saints." Even less sinful exclamations were to be punished, apparently by stoppage of the offender's ration of wine. As men swear most lightly while at play, certain games were to be forbidden, and others were to be played as little as possible. In no case was play by night to be permitted.

During the entire duration of the expedition, and for a month afterwards, all contentious questions, challenges, and so on, were, upon pain of death, to be referred to Medina Sidonia. This rule applied to all, great as well as small. Loose women were not to be suffered on board the ships. Every morning at sunrise,