Knight's Captive (16 page)

Authors Note

The Galleon ship, the
Neustra Senora del Rosario
was captured as described after a collision with another ship that meant
her mast was damaged. The rest of the Armada continued on without her and she
was captured by Drake. The
Rosario
didn’t founder. I used artistic
licence here, basing the incident of the loss of another ship that was likely
blown up by accident. Around 300 prisoners were held in the Old Barn in Torre
Abbey. Though the officers were treated well, the rest were not. After rioting
from the locals, many of the prisoners were put back on their ship to live off
their meagre rations. The fate of these men is mostly unknown. Negotiations
appeared to have taken over a year and records of their fates fade away. Many
of the Spanish did bring their wives and fiancées with them, expecting to be
able to settle in England. It is said the ghost of one such woman who had been
disguised as a man to prevent her from being parted from her fiancé haunts the
Old Barn to this very day.

Speech given by Queen Elizabeth
I at Tilbury during the invasion

My loving people,

We have been persuaded by some that are careful
of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for
fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my
faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear. I have always so behaved myself
that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal
hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as
you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved,
in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay
down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood,
even in the dust.

I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble
woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England
too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should
dare to invade the borders of my realm: to which rather than any dishonour
shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general,
judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.

I know already, for your forwardness you have
deserved rewards and crowns; and
We
do assure you in
the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the mean time, my
lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a
more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general,
by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly
have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my
people.*

*Transcript from the British Library.