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1597]

NEW ATTACK ON SPAIN.

113

the entreaties of Essex, and gave permission for another attack upon Spain. It was said that Philip was fitting out a new Armada wherewith to invade England. Ralegh wrote a paper on these reports, called Opinion on the Spanish Alarum, in which he discussed the best means for defending the coast, but expressed his doubts as to the possibility of the King of Spain being in readiness for so great an undertaking. was as eager as anyone for an attack upon Spain. A fleet was fitted out, of which Essex was appointed admiral and general-in-chief, whilst Lord Thomas Howard commanded one squadron, and Ralegh another. A Dutch squadron also joined the fleet.

A Spanish fleet was supposed to be preparing in Ferrol, a port on the north coast of Spain, for a descent upon Ireland, where the Spaniards hoped to find plenty of support from the disaffected Irish. The object of Essex and Ralegh was to attack Ferrol, to destroy the ships there, and also to intercept a rich fleet of Indiamen on its way to Spain. The departure of the English fleet was delayed for a long while by contrary winds. They set sail on the 10th of July, 1597, and fell in with a tremendous storm, which lasted five days. "The storm so increased," writes Ralegh, "and the billows so raised and enraged as we could carry no sail. . . . On Saturday night we made accompt to have yielded ourselves up to God." The fleet had to put back to Plymouth much

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disabled. One by one the ships came in, each in a more miserable condition than the last. Essex would not return till he was in imminent peril of sinking in the sea. Ralegh, on reaching Plymouth, wrote to Cecil his fears "that my Lord General himself will wrestle with the seas to his peril, or (constrained to come back) be found utterly heart-broken." Essex was in truth much cast down by these reverses. But the ships were repaired, though they had been so severely damaged that Ralegh wrote of them: "We shall not be in any great courage for winter weather and long nights in these ships."

Contrary winds prevailed for some time; but, on the 18th August, at last a fresh start was made. A few days after starting, the fleet was again scattered by another storm. Ralegh and his squadron were missing, and the wind blew straight out of Ferrol, which made any further undertaking against that place hopeless. The next thing to be done was to attempt the capture of the fleet of Indiamen, and for this purpose Essex sailed to the Azores, hoping to meet Ralegh there.

Ralegh meanwhile had been spending an anxious time; for his ship had been damaged in the storm. He wrote to Cecil: I have never dared to rest since my wrecks, and, God doth judge, I never for these ten days came so much as into bed or cabin." Essex contrived to send to Ralegh by a pinnace a message to follow him to the islands, and there at last they met again off the Island of

1597]

THE ISLAND VOYAGE.

115

Flores. Sir Christopher Blount, a bitter opponent of Ralegh's, and certain other officers, had been doing their utmost to excite Essex's anger against Ralegh, by making all kinds of insinuations as to his doings. Sir Arthur Gorges, who was with Ralegh, gives an account of their meeting, and says "that the Earl seemed the joyfullest man living for our arrival." He told Ralegh "the many conjectures and surmises that had been vented of his absence, and withal named to him some of those men who had taxed him secretly with strange reports, yet pretended to love him." According to Gorges, Essex felt very high esteem for Ralegh. "In his (Essex's) greatest actions of service, and in the times of his chiefest recreations, he would ever accept of his counsel and company before many others who thought them

selves more in favour."

From information brought to him by a pinnace just come from the Indies, Essex judged it unlikely that the fleet of Indiamen would pass that way. He therefore determined to take possession of some of the islands, and lay them waste, as they were the chief places where the Spanish ships coming from the Indies rested and refreshed themselves. Essex and Ralegh were to attack the Isle of Fayal, which had the best fort; whilst others of the islands were attacked by other commanders. Ralegh's men were still busy getting in water and refreshing themselves on land, when Essex sailed for Fayal, bidding Ralegh follow as

soon as possible. Ralegh followed in all haste, and reached Fayal before Essex. He found it to be a fine town, pleasantly situated on the shore, with a strong citadel. The inhabitants, as soon as they saw the hostile ships, began to take measures for their safety, sending their women and children, and as much property as possible, up into the country.

Ralegh's men were impatient for the attack; but Ralegh knew that Essex would think his dignity deeply wounded if they began before he arrived. They waited two days, their impatience hourly increasing: they were in want of fresh water, and it seemed weary work to wait there, cooped up in their little ships, when before them lay a fair town and a most delightful country, abundantly provided with all they needed. Besides this, the delay was diminishing their chance of booty, by giving the inhabitants time to carry off their property. At last, after two days, Ralegh called a council of war, and then it was agreed, after much debating, to wait one day more, and then, if Essex did not come, to make the attack.

The next day was the fourth after their arrival at Fayal, and still Essex did not come; so Ralegh proceeded with two hundred and sixty men to effect a landing. Some of the Netherlanders who had arrived wished to assist him, but Ralegh would not hear of it. As his boats drew near the shore they were greeted with such a shower of shot from the citadel that the men grew dismayed. Even

1597]

RALEGH TAKES FAYAL.

117

Ralegh's reproachful outcries could not urge them on till he ordered his boatmen to row his own barge full upon the rocks, bidding those follow him who dared. At last a landing was effected, and then they were joined by some of the Dutch soldiers, so that Ralegh had about six hundred men under his command. He determined to advance straight upon the town and fort, instead of trying to gain an easier entrance by a circuitous march; for the day was hot, and his men were in urgent need of supplies. As he advanced however, his men, to Ralegh's great distress, began to break their ranks under the enemy's fire. He determined to try and make others brave by doing that which they dared not do. Accompanied only by eight or ten men, he went forward to discover the best way to mount the hill. All the while the shot of the enemy flew thick about him. Arthur Gorges, who was with him, had his left leg shot through with a musket ball, and Ralegh himself was shot through his breeches and doublet sleeves in two or three places.

Sir

When he had found out all that he wanted he gave orders for his men to follow him. He expected an engagement outside the town, but the enemy retired at his approach; and on entering the town he saw that the inhabitants had fled, taking with them all they could. The English found it a very pleasant town, with beautiful gardens full of fruit and plenty of fresh water. Here they reposed all night. The next morning before break of day

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