Read The Spanish Armada Online
Authors: Robert Hutchinson
Tags: #History, #Europe, #Great Britain, #Military, #Naval, #General
The Spanish Armada (51 page)
almain rivets
Light body armour, replaced by the
CORSLET
.
argosy
Large merchant ship, its name derived from
Ragusino
, modernday Dubrovnik in Croatia.
armour
Worn from the thigh upwards by officers, pikemen and heavy cavalry.
arquebus
See
HARQUEBUS
.
arroba
Spanish measurement of liquid volume equivalent to 3.5 gallons (15.91 litres).
barque
Three-masted sailing vessel, square-rigged on the fore and main masts with a fore-and-aft spanker sail rigged on the mizzen.
boom
Floating barrier of large tree-trunks, chained together, to bar entry by attacking ships to harbours or rivers.
bowsprit
Long wooden spar projecting forward from a ship’s bows to which extra sails are secured.
brigantine
Small two-masted oared
GALLEY
.
butt
A large cask. Capacity varied but may be estimated at 108 gallons (477 litres).
cable length
Measurement of distance stretching 100
FATHOMS
(188 m), equal to 10 per cent of
NAUTICAL MILE
(0.188 km).
caliver
Short-barrelled shoulder-fired firearm, superseding the
HARQUEBUS
.
cannon
Muzzle-loaded ordnance with 7.25 in (18.42 cm) calibre bore, firing roundshot of between 30–50 lbs (13.61–22.68 kg) at ranges of between 300
and 2,000 yards (274.32–1,828.8 m).
See
also:
CULVERIN
,
DEMI-CANNON
,
DEMI-CULVERIN
,
DRAKE
,
FALCON
,
FOWLER
,
MINION
,
MUSKET
,
SAKER
,
SERPENTINE
and
SLING
.
caravel
Lightly-armed three-masted ship rigged with
LATEEN
sails, of between 80 and 130 tons (81.28–132.09 tonnes)
displacement.
carrack
Three- or four-masted ship type developed in late fifteenth century for service in the Atlantic with tall superstructures at the bow and stern.
GALLEONS
were developed from this design of merchant ship.
corslet
Breast and tasset plates protecting the upper half of the body and the thighs, replacing the flexible
ALMAIN
RIVETS
.
cromster
Dutch shallow-draught ship displacing 200 tons (203.21 tonnes) armed with
CULVERINS
and
DEMI-CULVERINS
.
culverin
Muzzle-loading ordnance with 5.25 in (13.34 cm) calibre, firing shot of about 18 lbs (8.16 kg) at ranges of between 400 and 2,400 yards
(365.76–2,194.56 m).
See
also
CANNON
,
DEMI-CANNON
,
DEMI-CULVERIN
,
DRAKE
,
FALCON
,
FOWLER
,
MINION
,
MUSKET
,
SAKER
,
SERPENTINE
and
SLING
.
currier
Larger calibre shoulder-fired firearm that fired short arrows or quarrels.
dagg
An early form of single-shot pistol.
demi-cannon
Ordnance with a calibre of 6.25 ins (15.88 cm), firing a 32 lb (14.52 kg) shot between 320 and 1,700 yards (292.61–1,554.48 m).
See
also
CANNON
,
CULVERIN
,
DEMI-CULVERIN
,
DRAKE
,
FALCON
,
FOWLER
,
MINION
,
MUSKET
,
SAKER
,
SERPENTINE
and
SLING
.
demi-culverin
Ordnance with 4.25 in (10.8 cm) calibre, firing shot weighing about 9 lbs (4.08 kg) over ranges of between 400 and 2,500 yards
(365.76–2,286 m).
See
also
CANNON
,
DEMI-CANNON
,
CULVERIN
,
DRAKE
,
FALCON
,
FOWLER
,
MINION
,
MUSKET
,
SAKER
,
SERPENTINE
and
SLING
.
dice-shot
Sharp pieces of iron scrap fired by ships’ guns as an antipersonnel munition, particularly to defeat enemy boarders.
drake
Short gun similar to
CULVERIN
.
See
also
CANNON
,
DEMI-CANNON
,
CULVERIN
,
DEMI-CULVERIN
,
FALCON
,
FOWLER
,
MINION
,
MUSKET
,
SAKER
,
SERPENTINE
and
SLING
.
falcon
Small cannon of 2.5 ins (6.35 cm) calibre, firing shot of 3lbs (1.36 kg) weight.
fanega
Spanish measurement of dry volume equal to two bushels (70.48 litres).
fathom
Measurement of depth, equal to six feet (1.88 m), originally derived from the distance between the fingertips of a man standing with his arms
outstretched.
felucca
Small Spanish
LATEEN
-rigged sailing vessels, used for reconnaissance and carrying dispatches.
flyboat
Fast two-masted gunboat, displacing 140 tons (142.25 tonnes) or less, capable of operations in shallow waters.
fore-and-aft-rig
Sails set along the line of ship’s keel.
fowler
Light breech-loading gun used close-range against enemy crews.
galleass
Three-masted ship developed from a large merchant galley,
propelled by sails and up to thirty-two oars, each worked by five
rowers, sitting side by side on wooden benches.
galleon
Ocean-going ship with three or four masts evolved from carrack in second half of sixteenth century, displacing between 450 and 1,500 tons
(457.22–1,524.07 tonnes). Lower superstructures and lengthened hulls provided additional stability in heavy seas. Sometimes termed
GREAT SHIPS
in English
documents.
galley
Shallow-draft ship with
LATEEN
sails running on one or two masts, with banks of oars on each side. Highly manoeuvrable and, with
ordnance mounted in bows and stern, effective gun platforms, but poor performers in northern waters. Galleys made their final appearance in naval warfare in the Russo-Turkish war at the Battle
of Chesma on 5 July 1770, between Anatolia and the island of Chios in the eastern Mediterranean, although galleys were used by the Knights of Malta during Napoleon’s siege of Valetta in
1798.
great ships
See
GALLEON
.
horse
Contemporary collective noun for cavalry, whether
LANCES
or
LIGHT HORSE
.
hoy
Coastal vessel of around sixty tons (60.96 tonnes). The name is derived from the Middle Dutch
hoey
.
hulk
Large three-masted, wide-beamed cargo ship.
jack
Protective leather jacket for infantry, often with metal plates sewn on.
knot
Measurement of a vessel’s speed equal to one
NAUTICAL MILE
(1.852 km) an hour.
lances
Heavy cavalry, wearing three-quarter armour and armed with lance, sword, pistol and dagger.
last
Measure of gunpowder equivalent to 24 barrels, each holding 100 lbs (45.36 kg).
lateen sail
Large triangular sail on a long yard, mounted
FORE-AND-AFT
. Still used on Arab dhows.
league
Measurement of distance, equal to three
NAUTICAL MILES
(5.556 km).
lee
The side of a ship or an area of water sheltered, or away from the wind.
leeward
The direction away from the wind, or down-wind.
levanter
Large sailing ship built for service in the Mediterranean.
light horse
Cavalry with only light personal protection, armed only with a spear and pistol.
luff
Windward side of a vessel. To ‘luff’ is to steer its bows round to the wind.
lunula
Spanish Armada’s crescent-shaped battle formation, adopted to protect its supply ships during passage up English
Channel.
militia
Citizen force of partially trained soldiers, funded by English counties.
minion
Small gun of 3.25 in (8.26 cm) calibre, firing a 4 lb (1.81 kg) shot between 300 and 1,600 yards (274.32–1,463.04 m).
See
also
CANNON
,
DEMI-CANNON
,
CULVERIN
,
DEMI-CULVERIN
,
DRAKE
,
FALCON
,
FOWLER
,
MUSKET
,
SAKER
,
SERPENTINE
and
SLING
.
morion
Visorless helmet with curved brim.
musket
Light breech-loaded gun in swivel mounting, sometimes firing large arrows as anti-personnel weapon. Alternatively, a heavy matchlock firearm, 4.5 feet
(1.37 m) long, fired from the shoulder but employing a forked rest because of its weight. Superseded the
CALIVER
.
nautical mile
Measurement of distance 6,076 ft in length (1,852 m) equal to one minute of arc along the long meridian.
patache
Larger Spanish version of
PINNACE
, displacing up to 180 tons (182.89 tonnes). Sometimes also called
ZABRAS
.
petronel
Cavalry pistol.
pike
Long-spear like weapon, 16–18 ft (4.88–5.49 m) long used by infantry to defend against cavalry attack. Those carried on ships were much
shorter.
pipe
A large wooden cask holding 105 gallons (477 litres) of water or wine.
pinnace
Two-masted vessel, displacing up to 70 tons, sometimes with oars, used for reconnaissance and carrying dispatches. The Spanish version is
PATACHE
or
ZABRA
.
prize
An enemy ship captured at sea. Proceeds from the sale of the vessel and its contents were shared amongst the officers and crew of the ship that captured
it, proportionally to their rank.
quintal
A measurement of weight, equal to 102 lb (46.28 kg).
Queen’s ships
English Royal Navy ships, funded by the exchequer.
run before the wind
To sail in the same direction as the wind.
saker
Small gun of 3.25 in (8.26 cm) calibre, firing a 5 lb (2.27 kg) shot, between 330 and 1,700 yards (301.75–1,554.48 m).
See
also
CANNON
,
DEMI-CANNON
,
CULVERIN
,
DEMI-CULVERIN
,
DRAKE
,
FALCON
,
FOWLER
,
MINION
,
MUSKET
,
SERPENTINE
and
SLING
.
serpentine
Light breech-loaded gun.
See
also
CANNON
,
DEMI-CANNON
,
CULVERIN
,
DEMI-CULVERIN
,
DRAKE
,
FALCON
,
FOWLER
,
MINION
,
MUSKET
,
SAKER
and
SLING
.
sling
Type of small gun, used against enemy crews at close quarters.
See
also
CANNON
,
DEMI-CANNON
,
DRAKE
,
CULVERIN
,
DEMI-CULVERIN
,
FALCON
,
FOWLER
,
MINION
,
MUSKET
,
SAKER
and
SERPENTINE
.
socorro
A designated battle group of Spanish ships, deployed to reinforce areas of danger to the Armada formation.
tack
To sail obliquely against the wind.
tercios
Spanish army unit, or large regiment, with 3,000 men.
urca
Round-hulled tub-like freight ship.
warp
To move a becalmed ship by hauling on the anchor cable. The anchor is then moved forward by the ship’s boat, dropped ahead and the process
repeated.
weather gauge
A position to
WINDWARD
to other ships, advantageous in battle. When a vessel has to beat to windward, it heels under the
pressure of the wind, restricting its gunnery. However, if a ship has the weather gauge, when it turns downwind to attack, it may alter course at will and is able to bring its port and
starboard batteries to bear on its enemy.
windward
Or ‘weather’: upwind from a point of reference.
zabra
See
PINNACE
.
Prologue
1
TNA, SP 12/1/7. Printed in Loades,
Elizabeth I
, pp.36–7 and Starkey,
Elizabeth
, pp.241–2, where it is cogently
argued that her speech was made on 17 November rather than the traditionally accepted date of three days later. Elizabeth had arranged for her agent, Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, to inform her of
Mary’s death but his journey to Hatfield was delayed. When he arrived, his news was ‘stale’. See: Strickland,
Lives of the Queens of England
, vol. 3, p.102.
2
Feria Dispatch
, p.336.
3
Naunton,
Fragmenta Regalia
, p.7; Strickland, op. cit., vol. 3, p.102.
4
For more information about this disease, called the
sudor Anglicus
, see: Mark Taviner, Guy Thwaites and Vanya Grant, ‘The
English Sweating Sickness 1485–51: A Viral Pulmonary Disease’,
Medical History
, vol. 42 (1998), pp.96–8 and by the same authors, ‘The English Sweating
Sickness’,
New England Jnl of Medicine
, vol. 336 (1997), pp.580–2.
5
CSP Spain
, vol. 4, pt 2, pp.881–2. Mary’s voice was said to be ‘rough and loud like a man’s’ and could
be heard some distance away.
6
CSP Domestic Henry VIII
, vol. 10, p.51.
7
Succession to the Crown: Marriage Act 1536; 28 Henry VIII
cap
. 7.
8
Succession to the Crown Act: 35 Henry VIII
cap.
1.
9
Somerset,
Elizabeth I
, p.13.
10
Mumby,
Girlhood of Queen Elizabeth
, p.29.
11
CSP Spain
, vol. 10, p.206.
12
In early August 1553, one of her officials wrote a memorandum for Mary, inquiring how she ‘is answered of lead and bell metal of
abbeys, colleges and suchlike: what remains and where . . . How the jewels, plate, ornaments, goods and chattels of dissolved monasteries, colleges and chantries and of all persons attainted since
4 February 1536 are answered’ (TNA, SP 11/1/22). In April 1554, she had £10,000 in
proceeds from the sale of church bells available to pay royal debts (TNA, SP
11/4/6).
13
The religious houses re-founded by Mary were: the Observant Franciscan friars adjacent to Greenwich palace (April 1555); Westminster Abbey
(November 1556); the Charterhouse at Sheen, Surrey (January, 1557); the Bridgettines at Syon, Middlesex (April 1557); the Dominican Nuns at King’s Langley, Hertfordshire (June 1557); the
Savoy Hospital (November 1556), between the City of London and Westminster and the Fraternity of Jesus within St Paul’s Cathedral, London. The houses at Greenwich and the Savoy had been
founded by Mary’s grandfather, Henry VII in 1499 and 1505. See: Rex,
The Tudors
, p.160.
14
CSP Venice
, vol. 6, p.1074.
15
CSP Spain
, vol. 11, p.220–1.
16
CSP Venice
, vol. 6, p.1058.
17
Ibid., p.1058.
18
The execution took place on 6 July 1554. See: Machyn,
Diary
, p.66. See also Neale,
Queen Elizabeth
, p.48.
19
TNA, SP 11/4/2. Damaged but in Elizabeth’s hand. Missing portions have been supplied from an eighteenth-century copy in BL Harleian
MS, 7,190, article 2, ff.125
r
–126
r
.
20
CSP Spain
, vol. 13, pp.166–7 and
CSP Domestic Mary
, fn. p.53. High tide on 17 March 1554 came at one o’clock
in the afternoon, so she must have written the letter at around noon at Westminster.
21
Somerset, op. cit., p.53.
22
Marcus
et al., Elizabeth I: Collected Works
, p.48.
23
Machyn,
Diary
, p.60.
24
News of Elizabeth’s release was included in an account of events at court sent by Robert Swift the younger to the Earl of Shrewsbury
on May: LPL, MS 3,206, f.263.
25
Marcus
et al.
, op. cit., p.46.
26
The title ‘King of Ireland’ was created by Henry VIII in 1542 after he was excommunicated and was therefore not recognised by
the Catholic states. Pope Paul IV issued a papal bull recognising Philip and Mary as King and Queen of Ireland on 7 June 1555.
27
Rex, op. cit., p.155.
28
Neale, op. cit., p.56; Somerset, op. cit
.
, pp. 64–5. A thousand copies of the seditious pamphlet had been seized by Sir
William Gerard, Lord Mayor of London.
29
Worsley & Souden,
Hampton Court Palace
, p.44.
30
CSP Venice
, vol. 6, p.1548.
31
CSP Spain
, vol. 13, pp.372–3.
32
Loades,
Mary Tudor
, pp.380–3.
33
Porter,
Mary Tudor: The First Queen
, pp.404–5.
34
Feria’s Dispatch
, pp.331, 335.
35
Philip II to the Princess Dowager of Portugal; Brussels, 4 December 1558.
CSP Spain
, vol. 13, p.440.
36
CSP Spain
, vol. 13, p.441. The first list included the ‘French robe of cloth of gold, adorned with crimson velvet and
thistles of curled gold’ which Philip wore on his wedding day on 25 July 1554 at Winchester Cathedral. There was also the velvet cap, decorated with precious stones and pearls, which he noted
was ‘sent to me by the queen in the house where I spent the night before entering London [on 18 August 1554] and I wore it on my head on that occasion’. Another item was ‘a dagger
which the Queen gave his majesty in England, complete with its stones and chain and the sheath with its stones and pearls, nothing being missing, enclosed in a case’. Philip added this
comment: ‘This was sent to me by the Queen with Lord Pembroke one Garter day [23 April].’
37
TNA, SP 12/1/7; printed in Marcus
et al.
, op. cit., pp.51–2.
38
CSP Spain (Simancas)
, vol. 1, p.7.
39
Rex, op. cit., p.185.
40
Mary I was also short-sighted, so much so that she could not ‘read or do anything else without placing her eyes quite close to the
object’, Hayward,
Annals of the first four years of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth
, fn. p.7.
41
Hayward, op. cit., p.7.
42
Philip II to Count de Feria: Brussels, 10 January 1559.
CSP Spain
(Simancas)
, vol. 1, pp.22–3; Somerset, op. cit., p.136.
43
Memorandum from Count de Feria to Philip II; London, late February 1559;
CSP Spain (Simancas)
, vol. 1, p.35.
44
de Feria to Philip II; London, 19 March 1559.
CSP Spain (Simancas)
, vol. 1, p.37.
45
Neale, op. cit., p.79.
46
Elizabeth of Valois was the third of Philip’s four wives. His first was Maria Manuela, daughter of John III of Portugal, who died in
1545. Their only offspring was Carlos, Prince of Asturias, who died unmarried in 1568. His second was Mary I of England. After Elizabeth died following a miscarriage in 1568, he married his niece
Anne of Austria in 1570. This marriage produced four sons and a daughter. Three
sons died young and the fourth, Philip, succeeded his father in 1598.
47
Somerset, op. cit., p.135. For Elizabeth’s address on 10 February 1559 to Parliament on her determination to remain single, see:
TNA, SP 12/2/22.
48
Rex, op. cit., p.185.
49
1 Elizabeth
cap.
1.
50
1 Elizabeth
cap.
2.
