Page:Royalnavyhistory01clow.djvu/607

 the same day Hawkyns appealed to Walsyngham for bold and decisive action.

"Having of long time seen," he wrote, "the malicious practices of the papists combined generally throughout Christendom to alter the government of this realm and to bring it to papistry, and consequently to servitude, I have a good will from time to time to do and set forward something as I could have credit to impeach their purpose. But it hath prevailed little, for that there was never any substantial ground laid to be followed effectually. ... If we stand at this point in a mammering and at a stay, we consume, and our Commonwealth doth utterly decay. ... We have to choose either a dishonourable and uncertain peace, or to put on virtuous and valiant minds, to make a way through with such a settled war as may bring forth and command a quiet peace." He went on to recommend, "that there be always six principal good ships of her Majesty's upon the coast of Spain, victualled for four months, and accompanied with some six small vessels, which shall haunt the coast of Spain and the islands, and be a sufficient company to distress anything that goeth through the seas. And when these must return, there would be other six good ships, likewise accompanied, to keep the place. ... For these six ships we shall not break the strength of the navy; for we shall have a sufficient company always at home to front any violence that can be anyway offered unto us. ... And therefore I conclude that with God's blessing and a lawful open war, the Lord shall bring us a most honourable and quiet peace, to the glory of His Church, and to the honour of her Majesty and this realm of England."

On February 29th, Howard learnt that the Armada was about to sail from Spain. He had recovered from his dejection, and, writing to Burghley, said:

"If I may have the four great ships come to me in time, and 20 good hoys, but with 20 men apiece, which is but a small charge, and each of them but with two iron pieces, I doubt not but to make her Majesty a good account of anything that shall be done by the Spanish forces, and I will make him wish his galleys at home again. ... I protest before God, and as my soul shall answer for it, that I think there were never in any place in the world worthier ships than these are, for so many. And as few as we are, if the King of Spain's forces be not hundreds, we will make good sport with them. And I pray you tell her Majesty from me that her money was well given for the Ark Ralegh, for I think her the odd ship in the world for all conditions; and truly I think there can no great ship make me change and go out of her. We can see no sail, great nor small, but how far soever they be off, we fetch them and speak with them."

And Sir William Wynter, writing on February 28th, to the Principal Officers of the Navy after the winter had tried the fleet, spoke with equal enthusiasm of the vessels.

"Our ships," he said, "do show themselves like gallants here. I assure you, it will do a man's heart good to behold them; and would to God the Prince of Parma were