Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: PORTSMOUTH /fORTUHO PLYMOUTH SCILLY -ttZARD DISPERSES FLEX.T V CKUISE OF THE SPANISH ARMADA rals in Howard's inner council of war. "Howard," says Thomas Fuller, "was no deep-seaman, but he had skill enough to know those who had more skill than himself and to follow their instructions." As far as was possible for a commoner, Drake exercised command. On the morning of the 31st the Armada swept slowly past Plymouth in what has been described as a broad crescent, but which, from a contemporary Italian description, seems to have COUT t Mlklfl AXAO VANG UAH P PlIaMT WUMB ATA ,, . RAAOAZOMA ft f IIMM AN JUAH "sam MARTI ..... . ' From Pigafctta's Discorso sopro 1'OrdiManxa dell' Armata Catkolico (Corbett's Drakt, Vol. ll, p. 213). Original "eagle" Formation Of The Armada, Prorably Adopted With Some Modifications And Showing The Influence Of Galley WarFARE , been the "eagle" formation familiar to galley warfare, in line abreast with wide extended wings bent slightly forward, the main strength in center and guards in van and rear. Howard was just completing the arduous task of warping his ships out of the harbor. Had Medina attacked at once, as some of his subordinates advised, he might have compelled Howard to close action and won by superior numbers. But his orders suggested the advisability of avoiding battle till he had joined with Parma; and for the Duke this was enough. As the Armada continued its course, Howard fell in astern and to windward, inflicting serious injuries to two ships of the enemy rear. A week of desultory running battle ensued as the fleets moved slowly through the Channel; the English fighting "loose and large," and seeking to pick off stragglers, still fearful of a general action, but taking advantage...