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List of ships of the English Armada

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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:

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

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  • 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

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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

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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
  • Ship returned home
  • 56 men received their pay
The Revenge served against the 1588 Armada.
Tiger London 200 Captain John Young 60
  • Ship returned home
  • 36 men received their pay
The Tiger, formerly Sea Dragon, served against the 1588 Armada.
John Young served against the 1588 Armada.
Bark Reynolds London 200 Reynold Goldingham 60
  • Ship returned home
  • 9 men received their pay
Prudence Portsmouth 200 Captain Riddelsden 60
  • Ship returned home
  • 44 men received their pay
The Prudence served against the 1588 Armada.
Veyntyard (Vynearde, Vineyard) London 180 Captain Dale 40
  • Ship returned home
  • 28 men received their pay
The Vineyard served against the 1588 Armada.
Captain Dale served against the 1588 Armada.
Gift of God Harwich 160 Captain Troughton 50
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Daniel Yarmouth 190 Captain Christopher Piggot 24
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
The Daniel served against the 1588 Armada.
Christopher Piggot served against the 1588 Armada.
Centurion London 260 John Fisher 60
  • Ship returned home
  • 39 men received their pay
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
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Captain Weynold served against the 1588 Armada.
Manuel (Emmanuel) Dartmouth 120 Captain Wilson Lost
Mayflower Bricklersea 100 Captain Bringborne 16
  • Ship returned home
  • 1 man received his pay
The Mayflower served against the 1588 Armada.
Diana Hampton 90 Captain Webbe Lost
Greyhound Plymouth 40 Captain Crockeham 16
  • Ship returned home
  • 17 men received their pay
Advice Her Majesty's 50 Samuel Foxcroft 20
  • Ship returned home
  • 17 men received their pay
The Advice served against the 1588 Armada.
Samuel Foxcroft served against the 1588 Armada.
Susan Aldeburgh 140 Captain Clifford 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 17 men received their pay
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
  • Ship returned home
  • 68 men received their pay
Formerly called the Philip & Mary, the Nonpareil served against the 1588 Armada.
Samaritian London 200 Captain Lylley 40
  • Ship returned home
  • 11 men received their pay
Roger and Catherine Newcastle 100 Captain Fowler 20
  • Ship returned home
  • 1 man received his pay
James Ipswitch 180 Captain Bynder 20
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
William Ipswitch 160 Captain Boyer 16
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
The William of Ipswitch served against the 1588 Armada.
Mayflower Yarmouth 190 Captain Bringborne 30
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Golden Nobel London 240 Captain Adam Seager 60
  • Ship returned home
  • 27 men received their pay
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
  • Ship returned home
  • 5 men received their pay
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
  • Ship returned home
  • 1 man received his pay
The Red Lion served against the 1588 Armada.
Gregory London 180 Captain Ambrose Mannington 40
  • Ship returned home
  • 17 men received their pay
Ambrose Mannington served against the 1588 Armada.
The Bark Taylor London 150 NA 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 10 men received their pay
15 Flyboats NA NA NA MIA No record of their return

Squadron of the Dreadnought

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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
  • Ship returned home
  • 24 men received their pay
The Dreadnought served against the 1588 Armada.
Thomas Fenner served against the 1588 Armada.
Edward Bonaventure London 300 Captain Thomas Baker 100
  • Ship returned home
  • 46 men received their pay
The Edward Bonaventure served against the 1588 Armada.
Toby Harwich 200 Captain John Cordinall 40
  • Ship returned home
  • 9 men received their pay
John Cordinall served against the 1588 Armada.
Tiger Plymouth 200 Captain William Hawkins 50
  • Ship returned home
  • 9 men received their pay
Sir William Hawkins served against the 1588 Armada.
Pelican Aldeburgh 180 Captain Appleton 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 6 men received their pay
William Wells 160 Captain Madeley 16
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Crescent Dartmouth 190 Captain Gifford Lost The Crescent served against the 1588 Armada.
Salomon London 210 Captain James Lancaster 58
  • Ship returned home
  • 47 men received their pay
The Salomon, a.k.a. Salmon, served against the 1588 Armada.
James Lancaster served against the 1588 Armada.
Susanne Blackeney 130 Captain Whitehand 25
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Bartholomew Exmouth 140 Captain Rainsford Lost The Bartholomew served against the 1588 Armada.
William and Joan Lynn 130 Captain Kelly 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 4 men received their pay
Antelope Plymouth 120 Captain Haulse 24
  • Ship returned home
  • 23 men received their pay
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
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
The White Lion served against the 1588 Armada.
Relief Portsmouth 80 NA Lost
Mary Katherine Ipswitch 150 NA 16
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Tiger Lee 140 Captain Jobson 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 23 men received their pay
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
  • Ship returned home
  • 40 men received their pay
The Swiftsure served against the 1588 Armada.
Toby London 300 Captain Osborne 60
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
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
  • Ship returned home
  • 1 man received his pay
Greyhound Aldeburgh 180 Captain Walt. Pullison 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 10 men received their pay
The Greyhound served against the 1588 Armada.
Charity Newcastle 160 Captain Anthony Potts 36
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Anthony Potts served against the 1588 Armada.
Minion Fowey 150 Captain Atkins 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 1 man received his pay
Valentine Blackeney 160 Captain Endicke 25
  • Ship returned home
  • 1 man received his pay
Bark Selenger London 200 Captain Sellinger 40
  • Ship returned home
  • 25 men received their pay
The Bark Selenger served against the 1588 Armada.
Antelope Lynn 150 Captain Burword 15
  • Ship returned home
  • 2 men received their pay
John Trelany Plymouth 120 Captain George Drake 20
  • Ship returned home
  • 13 men received their pay
George Bonaventure Blackeney 130 Captain Barker 25
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
The George Bonaventure served against the 1588 Armada.
Handmaid Bristol 80 Captain Laughton 25
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
The Handmaid served against the 1588 Armada.
Edward Bonaventure Cichester 70 Captain Ed. Fenner 12
  • Ship returned home
  • 2 men received their pay
Edward Fenner served against the 1588 Armada.
Emmanuel Harwich 200 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • 3 men received their pay
Grace of God London 140 NA 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 20 men received their pay
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
  • Ship returned home
  • 13 men received their pay
The Foresight served against the 1588 Armada.
William Winter served against the 1588 Armada.
Merchant Royal London 400 Captain Robert Flick 100
  • Ship returned home
  • 44 men received their pay
The Merchant Royal served against the 1588 Armada.
Robert Flick served against the 1588 Armada.
Elizabeth Yarmouth 200 Captain Musgrave 40
  • Ship returned home
  • 2 men received their pay
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
  • Ship returned home
  • 2 men received their pay
The Mayflower served against the 1588 Armada.
Alex Musgrave served against the 1588 Armada.
Seraphim Dartmouth 220 Captain Norwood 40
  • Ship returned home
  • 4 men received their pay
Bark Bonner Plymouth 150 Captain Vaughan 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 23 men received their pay
The Bark Bonner served against the 1588 Armada.
Rubyon (Ruben) Dover 140 Captain Nealls 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 10 men received their pay
Unicorn Bristol 150 Captain Johnson 33
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
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
  • Ship returned home
  • 1 man received his pay
The William served against the 1588 Armada.
Bark Hawkins London 120 Captain Josias 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 25 men received their pay
The Bark Hawkins served against the 1588 Armada.
Bark Parnell Bricklersea (Briquelsey) 100 Captain William Furthor 20
  • Ship returned home
  • 6 men received their pay
Hearty Anne Chatham 60 Captain Heron 15
  • Ship returned home
  • 3 men received their pay
The Hearty Anne served against the 1588 Armada.
John Newhaven 30 Captain John Pinfold 12
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
William Ipswitch 200 Captain Forth 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 8 men received their pay
The William served against the 1588 Armada.
Unity London 120 NA 25
  • Ship returned home
  • 15 men received their pay
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
  • Ship returned home
  • 4 men received their pay
The Aid served against the 1588 Armada.
William Fenner served against the 1588 Armada.
Blessing Portsmouth 80 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Brownfish Hoorn 150 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • 2 men received their pay
Crested Eagle Hamburg 200 NA 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 2 men received their pay
Desire London 10 NA 6
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Elizabeth Drake NA 30 NA 16
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
The Elizabeth Drake served against the 1588 Armada.
Flyboat of Mr. How NA 60 NA 16
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Flying Hart Wering 150 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • 1 man received his pay
Fortune Aldeburgh 100 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
The Fortune of Aldeburgh served against the 1588 Armada.
Fortune Danzig 300 NA 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 4 men received their pay
Fortune Hamburg 200 NA 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 1 man received his pay
Fortune London 100 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Francis Liverpool 100 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • 1 man received his pay
Gift Lynn 100 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • 2 men received their pay
Grace of God Dover 110 NA 25
  • Ship returned home
  • 5 men received their pay
Greyhound London 80 NA 16
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Hope Hamburg 200 NA 40
  • Ship returned home
  • 1 man received his pay
Hopewell London 80 NA 25
  • Ship returned home
  • 5 men received their pay
Lion Elsinore Illegible NA 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 13 men received their pay
Lion Edam 200 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Little Francis NA 10 NA 6
  • Ship returned home
  • 2 men received their pay
Ma. Flyshborne NA 60 NA 12
  • Ship returned home
  • 3 men received their pay
Merlin Her Majesty's 50 Ralph Bostock 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 4 men received their pay
Moonlight London 60 NA 12
  • Ship returned home
  • 5 men received their pay
Murrayon Hamburg 200 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Myninge Lorel NA 200 NA 40
  • Ship returned home
  • 1 man received his pay
Red Lion Newcastle 140 NA 30
  • Ship returned home
  • 19 men received their pay
Relief London 20 NA 10
  • Ship returned home
  • 6 men received their pay
Sea [illegible] Hamburg 200 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Speedwell NA 60 NA 12
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
The Speedwell served against the 1588 Armada.
Spreadeagle Emden 200 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • 2 men received their pay
Susan London 100 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • 12 men received their pay
Swan NA 10 NA 6
  • Ship returned home
  • None of the men received their pay
Young Froe Lübeck 300 NA 20
  • Ship returned home
  • 2 men received their pay
Diana London 80 NA 16
  • Ship returned home
  • 3 men received their pay
The Diana served against the 1588 Armada.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^
    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]
  1. ^ Gorrochategui Santos, Luis (2018). English Armada: The Greatest Naval Disaster in English History. Oxford: Bloomsbury. pp. 245–246. ISBN 978-1350016996.
  2. ^ R. O. Bucholz, Newton Key. Early modern England 1485–1714: a narrative history (John Wiley and Sons, 2009). ISBN 978-1405162753 p. 145
  3. ^ John Hampden Francis Drake, privateer: contemporary narratives and documents (Taylor & Francis, 1972). ISBN 978-0817357030 p. 254
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ Gorrochategui Santos, Luis (2018). English Armada: The Greatest Naval Disaster in English History. Oxford: Bloomsbury. pp. 245–246. ISBN 978-1350016996.
  6. ^ J. H. Elliott. La Europa dividida (1559–1598) (in Spanish), Editorial Critica, 2002. ISBN 978-8484326694 p. 333
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Hume, Martin (1896). The Year After the Armada: And Other Historical Studies. London: T. F. Unwin. p. 26.
  12. ^ Gorrochategui Santos, Luis (2018). English Armada: The Greatest Naval Disaster in English History. Oxford: Bloomsbury. pp. 246–248. ISBN 978-1350016996.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Gorrochategui Santos, Luis (2018). English Armada: The Greatest Naval Disaster in English History. Oxford: Bloomsbury. pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-1350016996.
  15. ^ 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.