The Lady Penelope by Varlow Sally

Author:Varlow, Sally [Varlow, Sally]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781780121604
Publisher: Andre Deutsch Ltd
Published: 2009-02-01T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

January–December 1596

“With best forewinds guide the journey, speed the victory”

– Elizabeth I, 3 June 1596

Essex’s daring raid on the Spanish port of Cadiz in the summer of 1596 would be his finest hour. It brought back memories of Sir Francis Drake’s brilliant attack nine years before, when he “singed the King of Spain’s beard” by firing Philip’s warships in the same harbour. And it showed, to Penelope’s joy, that a Devereux was the queen’s chief military commander. Throughout the previous year Essex grew increasingly frustrated as Elizabeth ignored his intelligence that Spain was preparing a fresh invasion. Antonio Pérez in France had been intercepting letters and sending Essex warnings of war. Yet “Roberto il Diavolo”, as Pérez nicknamed Cecil, encouraged Elizabeth to do nothing, and the queen and Essex were at loggerheads. Penelope, writing to Robert Cecil in July to obtain a favour for the bearer of her letter, explained, “my brother’s own troubles make him unfit” to help secure a favour. Cecil knew about Essex’s differences with Elizabeth and Penelope had no need to elaborate.

After the Spaniards mounted a small summer raid on Cornwall, the queen’s views began to change and during the winter there was a flood of reports from Europe that Spain was gathering another armada. Even in Turkey Elizabeth’s ambassador was aware of “a mighty army the King of Spain made against the Queen”. Some of King Philip’s growing fleet of galleons might be needed to escort the Spanish treasure fleets, loaded to the gunnels with gold and silver, sugar and spices, from the East and West Indies. They were sitting ducks for buccaneers like Drake and Ralegh. But Philip was mobilizing an army as well as ordering new vessels to be built with all haste. Some rumours said his target was Calais; others said Brittany and Ireland, where France and England were most vulnerable.

The Irish rebels, led by the Earl of Tyrone, were increasingly militant. The last thing Elizabeth wanted was Spain supporting them and she swiftly ordered her own armada and army to make ready. In March 1596 it was reported across the Continent that England was on stand-by for war. The Earl of Cumberland was sent to Ireland to prevent the Spaniards joining Tyrone’s rebellion, and to bring Tyrone a prisoner to London. And on 18 March Elizabeth signed a joint commission to Essex and lord admiral Charles Howard to be “our Lieutenants General and Governors of our whole navy and army upon the sea at this present”. In theory Lord Howard had authority at sea, while Essex was commander-in-chief on shore. English agents abroad were briefed to leak the story that one hundred ships were ready to sail for the West Indies to reinforce Drake’s fleet, which had been causing havoc with Spanish ships and settlements around Havana and Puerto Rico.

In fact, “El Drago” was about to sleep in his last hammock “slung atween the round shot in Nombre de Dios bay”. He would harry the Spaniards no more. After several

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