John Stack: Armada

The English were far superior to the Spanish in artillery skills. Estimates of their rate of fire are between one and three rounds-per-gun-per-hour. On the Spanish side it is closer to one round-per-gun-per- day . Also much of the Spanish fire came from their lighter, more easily serviced guns. When Medina Sidonia sent a dispatch to Parma requesting supplies he asked for 4, 5 and 10 pound shot only. The larger guns were barely fired at all and both the manifests of the ships that returned to Spain, and that wrecks explored off Ireland reveal that they expended only a small fraction of their heavier shot in battle.

Ultimately, the Spanish were defeated by a number of factors. Their plan of campaign as imposed by Philip was fatally flawed, they were out-sailed and out-gunned by the English and the weather conditions were rarely in their favour. Neither side lacked bravery and conviction. It is possible that had the Armada reached home safely and in good order they might have restocked and made a second attempt to link up with Parma. The casualties suffered on the Irish coast however turned defeat into disaster. At least forty ships were lost and those that did return were badly battered by the unseasonably harsh weather.

The English fleet too suffered their greatest casualties after the battle. Disease quickly spread amongst the crews and in some ships over fifty per cent of the men were lost. Elizabeth and her Privy Council did little to help with Burghley hoping that, ‘by death, by discharging of sick men, and such like … there may be spared something in the general pay.’ Howard remarked that it ‘would grieve any man’s heart to see them that have served so valiantly die so miserably.’

The English triumphed over the Spanish Armada and although victory was achieved by a very narrow margin, it was enough to embolden both the English and the Dutch to continue their wars against the dominant empire in Europe. Further campaigns were launched by both sides in subsequent years. The English, hoping to build on their victory of 1588, sent a fleet into Spanish waters in 1589. Led by Drake the venture ended in disaster and irreparably damaged his reputation. The Spanish dispatched two more Armadas, in 1596 and 1597, only to have both driven back by storms. A peace was finally concluded in 1604, after the deaths of Elizabeth I and Philip II.

Note: The dates referred to throughout the book are based on the Gregorian calender.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to my agent, Bill Hamilton, for his unswerving support and advice, and all the team at AM Heath, in particular Jennifer Custer, Kate Rizzo Munson, Vickie Dillon and Charlie Brotherstone.

Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers ; my editor Katie Espiner, who seeks the heart of every chapter and the soul of every character, and to Louise Swannell, Kiera Godfrey and Louisa Joyner.

Thanks to all who support me in Cork; Ann Luttrell, Ben Cuddihy, Tony Sheehan of the Triskel Arts Centre, Joe McNamee, Martin MacAree, and I greatly acknowledge the support of Cork County Council in the writing of this book.

Thanks to my Mum and Dad, Gerard and Catherine, whose unfailing support I hope I never take for granted, and to my Mum- and Dad-in-law; John and Frances Moran, for their endless generosity.

A special thanks to Pam Moran, who watches over our children and ensures they have all their hearts’ desire, and to my brother, Colm, who has given me both time and space to write this book. Thanks to all in my family; Karen, Pam, Paul, Fiona and Doreen.

Lastly, thank you to Adrienne, for sharing this journey with me through uncharted waters, for your courage, fortitude and love, and to my children, Zoe, Andrew and Amy.

Also by John Stack

Ship of Rome

Captain of Rome

Master of Rome

Copyright

HarperCollinsPublishers

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Published by HarperCollins Publishers 2012

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Copyright © John Stack 2012

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