But It Was Neither The Report Of The Attendance Of These Armies, Nor
The Opinions Of The People, Nor Anything
Else, that could daunt or
dismay the courage of our men, who, grounding themselves upon the
goodness of their cause
And the promise of God to be delivered from
such as without reason sought their destruction, carried resolute minds
notwithstanding all impediments to adventure through the seas, and to
finish their navigation maugre the beards of the Spanish soldiers. But
lest they should seem too careless and too secure of their estate, and
by laying the whole and entire burden of their safety upon God's
Providence should foolishly presume altogether of His help, and neglect
the means which was put into their hands, they failed not to enter into
counsel among themselves and to deliberate advisedly for their best
defence. And in the end, with general consent, the Merchant Royal was
appointed Admiral of the fleet, and the Toby Vice-Admiral, by whose
orders the rest promised to be directed, and each ship vowed not to
break from another whatsoever extremity should fall out, but to stand
to it to the death, for the honour of their country and the frustrating
of the hope of the ambitious and proud enemy.
Thus in good order they left Zante and the Castle of Grecia, and
committed themselves again to the seas, and proceeded in their course
and voyage in quietness, without sight of any enemy till they came near
to Pantalarea, an island so called betwixt Sicily and the coast of
Africa; into sight whereof they came the 13th day of July, 1586.
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