An Account of the several plots, conspiracies, and hellish attempts of the bloody-minded papists against the princes and kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland from the reformation to this present year 1678 as also their cruel practices in France against the Protestants in the massacre of Paris, &c. : with a more particular account of their plots in relation to the late civil war and their contrivances of the death of King Charles the First of blessed memory.

The Spanish Armada.

IN the Year 1588, was set out by the King of Spain for the Conquest of England the Invincible (as they called it) Navy. For this purpose the Duke of Parma had an Army in Flanders, of one hundred and three Companies of Foot, and three thousand Horse, among which were seven hundred English Fugitives, the Bull of Pius Quintus, for Excom∣municating Q. Elizabeth, is renewed by Sixtus Quintus, and a plenary Indulgence granted to all, who would joyn against England. The Queen prepared a Navy also, and makes the Lord Charles Howard Ad∣miral, and sends him into the West, to joyn with Sir Francis Drake, Vice-Admiral, Henry Seymor, second son to the Duke of Somerset, with 40 Ships, English and Dutch, is appointed to stop Parma's com∣ing forth; upon the Land Southward, were placed 20000 Men, ano∣ther Army of 22000 Foot, and a 1000 Horse at Tilbury, under Leice∣ster; another Army guarded the Person of the Queen, consisting of 34000 Foot, and 2000 Horse, under Henry Lord Hunsdon. The Council of War, decreed that all places commodious to land in, should be strengthened with Men and Ammunition, which places should be defended with the Trained-Bands in the Maritime Countries, to hinder the Enemies landing; if he should land, then they should waste the Country round about, that he might find no more relief than he brought, and that they should keep him in continual Alarms. To secure the Queen at Home from Papists, some were committed to Wisbitch Ca∣stle. There was in the mean time a Treaty of Peace from the Spaniards, even till the Fleet was almost come to the English Coast. The Spanish Fleet consisted of 130 Ships, 19290 Souldiers, Mariners 8350, chain∣ed Rowers 2080. Great Ordnance 2630. They loosed out of the River of Tagus; three of their Ships by the help of David Guin an English Ser∣vant, and the Turkish Rowers, were carried into France, the rest of this mighty Fleet, was by God's help overthrown and dispersed, with eight Fire-ships, made to cut their Cables, weigh their Anchors, and flie confusedly, and the Admiral Gallyasse was taken; when they began again to gather together, they were battered and torn, divers of them perishing in the Sea: So a Navy three years in preparing, was over∣thrown in a Month, many of their Men being slain and drowned, di∣vers

of their Ships sunk and taken (not 100 Englishmen lost, and but one Ship) driven about Scotland, Oroades, and Ireland, much Im∣paired, and returned with shame, God's Name be honoured.