List of ships of the English Armada
The English Armada, also known as the Counter Armada, was an attack fleet sent against Spain by Queen Elizabeth I of England that sailed on April 28, 1589, during the undeclared Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) and the Eighty Years' War under Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Norris with three tasks:
- Destroy the battered Spanish Atlantic fleet, which was being repaired in ports of northern Spain
- Make a landing at Lisbon, Portugal and raise a revolt there against King Philip II (Philip I of Portugal) installing the pretender Dom António, Prior of Crato to the Portuguese throne
- Take the Azores if possible so as to establish a permanent base.
None of the objectives were achieved.[1][2][3][4] The attempt to restore the Portuguese Crown from Spain was unsuccessful, and the opportunity to strike a decisive blow against the weakened Spanish Navy was lost. The expedition resulted in very heavy losses in English lives and ships, and depleted the financial resources of England's treasury, which had been carefully restored during the long reign of Elizabeth I, Its failure was so embarrassing that, even today, England barely acknowledges it ever happened.[5] Through this lost opportunity, Philip was able revive his navy the very next year, sending 37 ships with 6,420 men to Brittany where they established a base of operations on the Blavet river. The English and Dutch ultimately failed to disrupt the various fleets of the Indies despite the great number of military personnel mobilized every year. Thus, Spain remained the predominant power in Europe for several decades.[6]
List of Squadron Commanders[edit]
- Sir Francis Drake, commander of the Squadron of the Revenge and admiral of the fleet
- Sir John Norris, commander of the Squadron of the Nonpareil and general of the army
- Thomas Fenner, vice-admiral and commander of the Squadron of the Dreadnought
- Edward Norris, John's brother, commander of the Squadron of the Foresight
- Roger Williams, commander of the Squadron of the Swiftsure
Composition of the fleet[edit]
As recorded on the list of April 8 1589 o.s.[a], there were Royal galleons, English armed merchantmen, Dutch flyboats, pinnaces and other ships for a total of 180 vessels broken down thusly:[7]
| Assignment | Ships |
|---|---|
| Troops and mariners | 115 |
| Baggage | 33 |
| Horses | 10 |
| Victuals | 10 |
| Munitions | 2 |
| Support | 3 |
| Pioneers | 7 |
The list of April 9 o.s. names 84 ships divided amongst five squadrons each with "near about 15 flyboats", which would give a total of about 160.[8] However, in the payment list of September 5, 1589 o.s. naming 102 ships that returned, there are 33 ships named that were not on the April 9 o.s. list.[9] Those 33 ships were not flyboats hence they should be added to the 160 from the April 9 o.s. list. With expectations of sizable profit and this expedition being mostly commercial, and last minute additions being made up until the fleet sailed on April 28, one cannot really give a precise total number of ships but at least 193 can be documented. Nevertheless, what is rather telling is a February 15, 1591 o.s. notice to the Lord High Treasurer of England, Burghley, wherein the number of vessels was "180 and other ships".[10] It's not outside the realm of possibility that the number "reached nearly two hundred sail."[11] Furthermore, of the 84 ships on the April 9 o.s. list that set sail, only 69 appear on the September 5 o.s. list, thus, according to Wernham, 17 ships were lost. But the number of those not listed and failed to return is unknown. In addition to the 69 that are known to have sailed and returned, another 33 returned with them; most of them medium sized. Considering the number of boats that sailed, many of them small, it must be the case that the losses among these small boats was extremely high. So, without any more precise information, a figure of 70-90 ships lost does not seem exaggerated.[12]
| Complement | Men |
|---|---|
| Soldiers | 17,390 |
| Cavalrymen | 95 |
| English mariners | 3,200 |
| Dutch mariners | 900 |
| Pioneers | 295 |
| Ship captains, officers and servants | 1,500 |
| Total | 23,375 |
In the April 8 o.s. list, there were two different figures recorded for the number of men participating in the expedition. The first, 23,375, is what most historians and authors have used however at the end of this document, the total number of men had increased to 27,667.[13] A critical analysis of the document reveals the figure of 23,375 is illusory,[14] especially when below the signatures of Drake and Norris, and the confirmation of the Lord High Treasurer Burghley, there's the following postscript:
Signed J. Norris, F. Drake. Endorsed by Burghley as 8 April 1589. The numbers of men for the army and of ships and of foot at end in his hand 27,667.[15]
The September 5 o.s. payment list goes on to state that 3,722 men survived of which 1,042 received some pay.
Ships of the Squadrons[edit]
The fleet was divided into five squadrons as listed below. Each squadron included fifteen (15) flyboats which were not named in any of the known lists.
Squadron of The Revenge[edit]
The "first" squadron consisting of seventeen named ships and fifteen flyboats led by admiral Francis Drake on the flagship Revenge.
| Name | Home Port | Tons | Captain | Survivors | Fate | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenge | Her Majesty's | 500 | Francis Drake | 200 |
|
The Revenge served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Tiger | London | 200 | Captain John Young | 60 |
|
The Tiger, formerly Sea Dragon, served against the 1588 Armada. John Young served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Bark Reynolds | London | 200 | Reynold Goldingham | 60 |
|
|
| Prudence | Portsmouth | 200 | Captain Riddelsden | 60 |
|
The Prudence served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Veyntyard (Vynearde, Vineyard) | London | 180 | Captain Dale | 40 |
|
The Vineyard served against the 1588 Armada. Captain Dale served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Gift of God | Harwich | 160 | Captain Troughton | 50 |
|
|
| Daniel | Yarmouth | 190 | Captain Christopher Piggot | 24 |
|
The Daniel served against the 1588 Armada. Christopher Piggot served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Centurion | London | 260 | John Fisher | 60 |
|
The Centurion served against the 1588 Armada. John Fisher served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Thomas | Plymouth | 150 | Captain Martin | Lost | ||
| Gift | Dover | 72 | Captain Neale | Lost | ||
| Primrose | Portsmouth | 140 | Captain Weynold | 30 |
|
Captain Weynold served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Manuel (Emmanuel) | Dartmouth | 120 | Captain Wilson | Lost | ||
| Mayflower | Bricklersea | 100 | Captain Bringborne | 16 |
|
The Mayflower served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Diana | Hampton | 90 | Captain Webbe | Lost | ||
| Greyhound | Plymouth | 40 | Captain Crockeham | 16 |
|
|
| Advice | Her Majesty's | 50 | Samuel Foxcroft | 20 |
|
The Advice served against the 1588 Armada. Samuel Foxcroft served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Susan | Aldeburgh | 140 | Captain Clifford | 30 |
|
|
| 15 Flyboats | NA | NA | NA | MIA | No record of their return |
Squadron of the Nonpareil[edit]
Seventeen ships and fifteen flyboats led by general of the army John Norris.
| Name | Home Port | Tons | Captain | Survivors | Fate | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpareil | Her Majesty's | 500 | Captain Sackville | 200 |
|
Formerly called the Philip & Mary, the Nonpareil served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Samaritian | London | 200 | Captain Lylley | 40 |
|
|
| Roger and Catherine | Newcastle | 100 | Captain Fowler | 20 |
|
|
| James | Ipswitch | 180 | Captain Bynder | 20 |
|
|
| William | Ipswitch | 160 | Captain Boyer | 16 |
|
The William of Ipswitch served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Mayflower | Yarmouth | 190 | Captain Bringborne | 30 |
|
|
| Golden Nobel | London | 240 | Captain Adam Seager | 60 |
|
The Golden Nobel served against the 1588 Armada. Adam Seager served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Fortune | Plymouth | 150 | Captain Williams | Lost | ||
| Mary Jarman | Lynn | 100 | Captain Bailey | 30 |
|
|
| Godspeed | Hampton | 140 | Captain Cotton | Lost | ||
| Gift of God | Hampton | 120 | Captain Richeman | Lost | ||
| William | Lynn | 72 | Captain Barthridge | Lost | ||
| Golden Hind | London | 50 | Captain William Adams | Lost | This is not the same Golden Hind that Drake used to circumnavigate the world, it was on exhibition in Deptford at the time. The Golden Hind served against the 1588 Armada. William Adams served against the 1588 Armada. | |
| Phoenix | Dartmouth | 100 | Captain Champernon | Lost | The Phoenix served against the 1588 Armada. | |
| Red Lion | Ipswitch | 160 | Captain West | 16 |
|
The Red Lion served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Gregory | London | 180 | Captain Ambrose Mannington | 40 |
|
Ambrose Mannington served against the 1588 Armada. |
| The Bark Taylor | London | 150 | NA | 30 |
|
|
| 15 Flyboats | NA | NA | NA | MIA | No record of their return |
Squadron of the Dreadnought[edit]
Seventeen ships and fifteen flyboats led by captain Thomas Fenner, vice-admiral.
| Name | Home Port | Tons | Captain | Survivors | Fate | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dreadnought | Her Majesty's | 400 | Captain Thomas Fenner | 160 |
|
The Dreadnought served against the 1588 Armada. Thomas Fenner served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Edward Bonaventure | London | 300 | Captain Thomas Baker | 100 |
|
The Edward Bonaventure served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Toby | Harwich | 200 | Captain John Cordinall | 40 |
|
John Cordinall served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Tiger | Plymouth | 200 | Captain William Hawkins | 50 |
|
Sir William Hawkins served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Pelican | Aldeburgh | 180 | Captain Appleton | 30 |
|
|
| William | Wells | 160 | Captain Madeley | 16 |
|
|
| Crescent | Dartmouth | 190 | Captain Gifford | Lost | The Crescent served against the 1588 Armada. | |
| Salomon | London | 210 | Captain James Lancaster | 58 |
|
The Salomon, a.k.a. Salmon, served against the 1588 Armada. James Lancaster served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Susanne | Blackeney | 130 | Captain Whitehand | 25 |
|
|
| Bartholomew | Exmouth | 140 | Captain Rainsford | Lost | The Bartholomew served against the 1588 Armada. | |
| William and Joan | Lynn | 130 | Captain Kelly | 30 |
|
|
| Antelope | Plymouth | 120 | Captain Haulse | 24 |
|
Captain Haulse served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Nightingale | Plymouth | 120 | Captain Triggs | Lost | The Nightingale served against the 1588 Armada. | |
| White Lion | Bristol | 100 | Captain Horwell | 29 |
|
The White Lion served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Relief | Portsmouth | 80 | NA | Lost | ||
| Mary Katherine | Ipswitch | 150 | NA | 16 |
|
|
| Tiger | Lee | 140 | Captain Jobson | 30 |
|
|
| 15 Flyboats | NA | NA | NA | MIA | No record of their return |
Squadron of the Swiftsure[edit]
Sixteen ships and fifteen flyboats led by captain Roger Williams.
| Name | Home Port | Tons | Captain | Survivors | Fate | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiftsure | Her Majesty's | 360 | Captain Goring | 160 |
|
The Swiftsure served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Toby | London | 300 | Captain Osborne | 60 |
|
The Toby served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Hopewell | Orford (Orphanate) | 200 | Captain Jervis Wild | Lost | The Hopewell served against the 1588 Armada. | |
| Gift | Dartmouth | 250 | Captain Ar. Gifford | 50 |
|
|
| Greyhound | Aldeburgh | 180 | Captain Walt. Pullison | 30 |
|
The Greyhound served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Charity | Newcastle | 160 | Captain Anthony Potts | 36 |
|
Anthony Potts served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Minion | Fowey | 150 | Captain Atkins | 30 |
|
|
| Valentine | Blackeney | 160 | Captain Endicke | 25 |
|
|
| Bark Selenger | London | 200 | Captain Sellinger | 40 |
|
The Bark Selenger served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Antelope | Lynn | 150 | Captain Burword | 15 |
|
|
| John Trelany | Plymouth | 120 | Captain George Drake | 20 |
|
|
| George Bonaventure | Blackeney | 130 | Captain Barker | 25 |
|
The George Bonaventure served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Handmaid | Bristol | 80 | Captain Laughton | 25 |
|
The Handmaid served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Edward Bonaventure | Cichester | 70 | Captain Ed. Fenner | 12 |
|
Edward Fenner served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Emmanuel | Harwich | 200 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Grace of God | London | 140 | NA | 30 |
|
|
| 15 Flyboats | NA | NA | NA | MIA | No record of their return |
Squadron of the Foresight[edit]
Seventeen ships and fifteen flyboats led by captain Edward Norris.
| Name | Home Port | Tons | Captain | Survivors | Fate | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foresight | Her Majesty's | 300 | Captain William Winter | 120 |
|
The Foresight served against the 1588 Armada. William Winter served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Merchant Royal | London | 400 | Captain Robert Flick | 100 |
|
The Merchant Royal served against the 1588 Armada. Robert Flick served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Elizabeth | Yarmouth | 200 | Captain Musgrave | 40 |
|
Captain Musgrave served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Minion | Plymouth | 200 | Captain Cripps | Lost | The Minion served against the 1588 Armada. | |
| Mayflower | Lynn | 150 | Captain Alex Musgrave | 40 |
|
The Mayflower served against the 1588 Armada. Alex Musgrave served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Seraphim | Dartmouth | 220 | Captain Norwood | 40 |
|
|
| Bark Bonner | Plymouth | 150 | Captain Vaughan | 30 |
|
The Bark Bonner served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Rubyon (Ruben) | Dover | 140 | Captain Nealls | 30 |
|
|
| Unicorn | Bristol | 150 | Captain Johnson | 33 |
|
The Unicorn served against the 1588 Armada. Captain Johnson served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Francis | Fowey | 140 | Captain Dyer | Lost | The Francis served against the 1588 Armada. | |
| William | Plymouth | 120 | Captain Crosse | 25 |
|
The William served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Bark Hawkins | London | 120 | Captain Josias | 30 |
|
The Bark Hawkins served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Bark Parnell | Bricklersea (Briquelsey) | 100 | Captain William Furthor | 20 |
|
|
| Hearty Anne | Chatham | 60 | Captain Heron | 15 |
|
The Hearty Anne served against the 1588 Armada. |
| John | Newhaven | 30 | Captain John Pinfold | 12 |
|
|
| William | Ipswitch | 200 | Captain Forth | 30 |
|
The William served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Unity | London | 120 | NA | 25 |
|
|
| 15 Flyboats | NA | NA | NA | MIA | No record of their return |
Additional ships[edit]
These ships were named on the Sep. 5 o.s. list but not on the April 9 o.s. list. William Fenner was in command of the HMS Aid but didn't lead a squadron.
| Name | Home Port | Tons | Captain | Survivors | Fate | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aid | Her Majesty's | 240 | Captain William Fenner | 80 |
|
The Aid served against the 1588 Armada. William Fenner served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Blessing | Portsmouth | 80 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Brownfish | Hoorn | 150 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Crested Eagle | Hamburg | 200 | NA | 30 |
|
|
| Desire | London | 10 | NA | 6 |
|
|
| Elizabeth Drake | NA | 30 | NA | 16 |
|
The Elizabeth Drake served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Flyboat of Mr. How | NA | 60 | NA | 16 |
|
|
| Flying Hart | Wering | 150 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Fortune | Aldeburgh | 100 | NA | 20 |
|
The Fortune of Aldeburgh served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Fortune | Danzig | 300 | NA | 30 |
|
|
| Fortune | Hamburg | 200 | NA | 30 |
|
|
| Fortune | London | 100 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Francis | Liverpool | 100 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Gift | Lynn | 100 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Grace of God | Dover | 110 | NA | 25 |
|
|
| Greyhound | London | 80 | NA | 16 |
|
|
| Hope | Hamburg | 200 | NA | 40 |
|
|
| Hopewell | London | 80 | NA | 25 |
|
|
| Lion | Elsinore | Illegible | NA | 30 |
|
|
| Lion | Edam | 200 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Little Francis | NA | 10 | NA | 6 |
|
|
| Ma. Flyshborne | NA | 60 | NA | 12 |
|
|
| Merlin | Her Majesty's | 50 | Ralph Bostock | 30 |
|
|
| Moonlight | London | 60 | NA | 12 |
|
|
| Murrayon | Hamburg | 200 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Myninge Lorel | NA | 200 | NA | 40 |
|
|
| Red Lion | Newcastle | 140 | NA | 30 |
|
|
| Relief | London | 20 | NA | 10 |
|
|
| Sea [illegible] | Hamburg | 200 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Speedwell | NA | 60 | NA | 12 |
|
The Speedwell served against the 1588 Armada. |
| Spreadeagle | Emden | 200 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Susan | London | 100 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Swan | NA | 10 | NA | 6 |
|
|
| Young Froe | Lübeck | 300 | NA | 20 |
|
|
| Diana | London | 80 | NA | 16 |
|
The Diana served against the 1588 Armada. |
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Throughout the Catholic world, the Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian calendar in October 1582 which corrected a 10-day error. England didn't adopt it until 1752 so all English State papers have Julian dates. Dates on original English source documents will be indicated herein with the suffix "o.s." for old style.
References[edit]
- ^ Gorrochategui Santos, Luis (2018). English Armada: The Greatest Naval Disaster in English History. Oxford: Bloomsbury. pp. 245–246. ISBN 978-1350016996.
- ^ R. O. Bucholz, Newton Key. Early modern England 1485–1714: a narrative history (John Wiley and Sons, 2009). ISBN 978-1405162753 p. 145
- ^ John Hampden Francis Drake, privateer: contemporary narratives and documents (Taylor & Francis, 1972). ISBN 978-0817357030 p. 254
- ^ Fernández Duro, Cesáreo (1972). Armada Española desde la Unión de los Reinos de Castilla y Aragón. (in Spanish) Museo Naval de Madrid, Instituto de Historia y Cultura Naval, Tomo III, Capítulo III. Madrid. p. 51
- ^ Gorrochategui Santos, Luis (2018). English Armada: The Greatest Naval Disaster in English History. Oxford: Bloomsbury. pp. 245–246. ISBN 978-1350016996.
- ^ J. H. Elliott. La Europa dividida (1559–1598) (in Spanish), Editorial Critica, 2002. ISBN 978-8484326694 p. 333
- ^ Wernham, R. B. (1988). The Expedition of Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Drake to Spain and Portugal, 1589. Aldershot: Temple Smith for the Navy Records Society. p. 346. ISBN 0566055783.
- ^ Wernham, R. B. (1988). The Expedition of Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Drake to Spain and Portugal, 1589. Aldershot: Temple Smith for the Navy Records Society. pp. 336–338. ISBN 0566055783.
- ^ Wernham, R. B. (1988). The Expedition of Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Drake to Spain and Portugal, 1589. Aldershot: Temple Smith for the Navy Records Society. pp. 338–341. ISBN 0566055783.
- ^ Wernham, R. B. (1988). The Expedition of Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Drake to Spain and Portugal, 1589. Aldershot: Temple Smith for the Navy Records Society. p. 297. ISBN 0566055783.
- ^ Hume, Martin (1896). The Year After the Armada: And Other Historical Studies. London: T. F. Unwin. p. 26.
- ^ Gorrochategui Santos, Luis (2018). English Armada: The Greatest Naval Disaster in English History. Oxford: Bloomsbury. pp. 246–248. ISBN 978-1350016996.
- ^ Wernham, R. B. (1988). The Expedition of Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Drake to Spain and Portugal, 1589. Aldershot: Temple Smith for the Navy Records Society. p. 346. ISBN 0566055783.
- ^ Gorrochategui Santos, Luis (2018). English Armada: The Greatest Naval Disaster in English History. Oxford: Bloomsbury. pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-1350016996.
- ^ Wernham, R. B. (1988). The Expedition of Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Drake to Spain and Portugal, 1589. Aldershot: Temple Smith for the Navy Records Society. p. 346. ISBN 0566055783.
Bibliography[edit]
- Hume, Martin (1896). The Year After the Armada: And Other Historical Studies. London: T. F. Unwin.
- Gorrochategui Santos, Luis (2018). English Armada: The Greatest Naval Disaster in English History. Oxford: Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1350016996.
- Wernham, R. B. (1988). The Expedition of Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Drake to Spain and Portugal, 1589. Aldershot: Temple Smith for the Navy Records Society. ISBN 0566055783.