Anno 1588.
King Philip had in readiness a mighty Fleet at Lisbon to revenge the Death of the Inno∣cent * 1.1 Queen of Scots, and the many Wrongs done to himself. The Marquis of Sancta Cruz was appointed Admiral; but he dying in the midst of all these Preparations, the Duke of Medina Sidonia was substituted in his place. He set sail in June with fair Weather; and having turned Cape Finisterre, off of Corun̄a a violent Storm so scattered and disabled the Fleet, that they could not put to Sea again till September. At length it came to the Coast of Flanders, the English Fleet always hovering upon their skirts, whose Cannon, and the many Sand Banks much endangered our Fleet. Some Ships were taken by the Enemy, and many sore battered by their Shot. For which reason, endeavouring to return home round the North of Scotland, many Ships perished in that stormy Season, and long Voyage. Be∣sides, the extremity of the Cold, and want of Provisions, consumed most of the Men, so that very few Ships, and a small number of Mariners and Soldiers, returned to several Ports of Spain. Thus Humane Designs are disappointed by a superior Power. Doubtless the Flower of all the Spanish Soldiers was lost in this Expedition, and God by this Disaster punished the many Sins of this Nation.
The King of France resolved to punish the Duke of Guise, as Head of the League, and by * 1.2 that means to curb the rebellious Parisians, who supported him. To this purpose he brought into the City 4000 Foreigners. The Duke of Guise also came, relying on the fa∣vour of the Multitude, who immediately taking Arms, drove out the Strangers, and forced the King himself to retire. Soon after the King published an Edict, approving of all that the Duke of Guise had done, and after that another for assembling the States or Parliament; and laying hold of that opportunity, put to Death the Duke of Guise, and the Cardinal his Brother, imprisoning several others who had a hand in the League.