Perhaps the Armada, keeping together, has returned upon the enemy, and given a good account of itself, with the help of the Lord.

So I still promise myself that you will have performed your part in the enterprise in such wise as that the service intended to the Lord may have been executed, and repairs made to the reputation of all; which has been so much compromised." And the King's drooping spirits were revived by fresh accounts which reached him in September, by way of France.

He now learned that the Armada had taken captive four Dutch men-of-war and many English ships; that, after the Spaniards had been followed from Calais roads by the enemy's fleet, there had been an action, which the English had attempted in vain to avoid; off Newcastle; that Medina Sidonia had charged upon them so vigorously, as to sink twenty of their ships, and to capture twenty-six others, good and sound; that the others, to escape perdition, had fled, after suffering great damage, and had then gone to pieces, all hands perishing; that the Armada had taken a port in Scotland, where it was very comfortably established; that the flag-ship of Lord-admiral Howard, of Drake; and of that "distinguished mariner Hawkins," had all been sunk in action, and that no soul had been saved except Drake, who had escaped in a cock-boat.

"This is good news," added the writer; "and it is most certain." The King pondered seriously over these conflicting accounts, and remained very much in the dark.

Half, the month of September went by, and he had heard nothing--official since the news of the Calais catastrophe.