The Spanish Armada - 1588

During the first 25 years of the reign of Elizabeth I, the massive earthworks built during the reign of Mary (1553-8) had been allowed to fall into disrepair. After the breach with Spain in 1584, the Earl of Warwick, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, asked for 19 guns with powder and shot to be sent to Harwich. In November 1587 it was estimated that £1288 was needed for 'the most easy fortifying of the town of Harwich, following for the most part, the old decayed trenches'.

In 1588, it is recorded that the new defences had been constructed 'with not less than 46 great guns on them', and there were 17,000 men there.

When the Armada was first sighted off the Lizard on July 29th, the main English fleet, under Lord Howard of Effingham, assembled at Portsmouth. His flagship, Ark Royal, was commanded by Captain Thomas Gray of Harwich, whose daughter, Josian, was the second wife of Christopher Jones, Master of the Mayflower. His brother, John Gray, was Master of Drake's ship, Revenge.

Ipswich and Harwich had been forced to provide at their own expense three merchantmen, the William, the Katherine and the Primrose. These were attached to a small division under Lord Henry Seymour, which was lying off Dunkirk, watching the forces of the Duke of Parma, intended for the invasion of England.

When, after a running fight up the Channel, the enemy took shelter at Calais on August 6th, Seymour joined Howard, and we may assume that the local ships took part in the action off Gravelines on August 8th. While Howard pursued the Spaniards as far as the Firth of Forth, Seymour was ordered to return to the Channel, and on August 11th was in the Rolling Grounds outside Harwich, bringing news of the great victory. The official report was sent from Harwich to Tilbury on August 17th, when Howard arrived with 35 ships and despatched the Earl of Cumberland by horse.