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From: "David Stick" <>
Subject: Re: [CON] Mousehole raid 1595 (part 2)
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 16:37:08 +0100
References: <200103251310.f2PDAdr23336@tot-tr.proxy.aol.com>


Well done, Alan!
See Listers, this is the sort of quality OPC we have in our list.
How about some of this in your family history?{joke}
Thanks for your efforts.
David Stick

St Austell Cornwall



CFHS No. 9826

OPC for Tywardreath

Researching: Stick, Vian, Sloggett, Blight & Colliver in Cornwall
Jones in Montgomeryshire and Flintshire
Hanford/Hannaford in Monmouthshire and Devonshire
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Trevarthen" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 3:17 PM
Subject: [CON] Mousehole raid 1595 (part 2)



This is the second part of the account of the Mousehole raid
(Extracted from A.L. Rowses 'Tudor Cornwall')



During the years 1595 to 1597 the war at sea woke up again and large-scale
operations were resumed as in the years 1586 to 1589. ... Drake was called
out from his retirement and placed, with Hawkins, in command of another
expedition, their last, to that familiar scene of their activities where
they had made their début thirty years before. The expedition accomplished
little; both Drake and Hawkins died upon it and were buried at sea; disease
ravaged the fleet. In April 1596 several of their ships reached Falmouth in
great want and distress.

A new generation had come to the fore: that summer (Lord) Essex and (Walter)
Ralegh made their brilliant attack upon Cadiz, in which the city was
captured and of which the effect was to temporarily bankrupt King Philip of
Spain.

(Soon however) with infinite labour and cost, in altogether more
unfavourable conditions, the indomitable, obstinate Philip was preparing
another great armada to reduce the heretic country. (England). In October
it set sail: the revenge for Cadiz. In England something similar to the
measures of 1588 (The date of the most well known of the Spanish Armadas --
there were several) was put into force. There was to be a royal army at the
centre around Queen Elizabeth I, to which Cornwwall and Devon were to
contribute 2000 men.

It was not necessary: the Protestant winds which saved us in 1588 repeated
their good work in 1596, no doubt to the perplexity of devout catholics. The
armada was struck by fierce gales off Finisterre; a number of fine galleons
were lost and hundreds of good fighting men.

Undismayed, like something termite in the habit of his mind, Philip went on
gathering what remained for another effort next year.

At Plymouth, Gorges (the military Governor) raised his garrison to 100, and
while under his supervision many more hundreds of pounds were spent upon the
fortifications of Plymouth Citadel The strain was being felt: notification
was given that there would not be sufficient out of the revenue of Devon and
Cornwall to meet his half-yearly charges, now amounting to £900.

Ralegh and Essex were fitting out another joint expedition at Plymouth, this
time for the Azores, to intercept the Plate fleet. Meanwhile information was
coming into the west country of the renewed preparations in Spanish
harbours: an armada of 100 sail. It was thought that, as in 1588, they
would be heading for Calais.

In the Azores, the English fleet of Ralegh and Essex just missed the Plate
treasure fleet bound for Spain: the narrowest escape King Philip had had.
Essex and Ralegh quarrelled bitterly, and, their fleet battered by the gales
of that summer and in no condition to fight, made for home.

Two days before they left, the Adelantado weighed anchor from Ferrol (Spain)
and with all his armada kept company Owith greatjoy¹ until within
twenty-five leagues from the Scilly Isles off Cornwall. Then it transpired
what his objective was: not Calais at all, but Falmouth. His instructions
were a new and elaborated version of the great Menendez¹s plan of the
seventies: to seize, fortify and garrison Pendennis Castle at Falmouth, then
take his fighting ships to the Scilly Isles, wait there, and destroy the
English ships returning from the Azores.

If successful in this, he was with the other half of his forces, some
10,000 men, to march eastward and capture Plymouth. It was an ambitious
plan, and some part of it might have achieved success. But again the
anti-Catholic, anti-Spanish winds of the Channel prevented it being put to
the test. It was October when the armada put out; it was within two days¹
sail of Land¹s End when the autumn gales struck it and forced it to turn
back.

Ralegh and Essex on landing were shocked to learn how narrow had been their
and their country¹s escape.

The immediate consequence of it, when the objective of the armada was bit by
bit learned, was that the fortification of Pendenis Castle was undertaken in
real earnest. (Lord) Essex gave his opinion that it was not defensible as
it was against an army landed, and that an engineer should be employed to
make the ground better to resist fire. It was reported that the Adelantado
had meant to establish himself on the headland and turn it into an island by
cutting the narrow neck of the peninsula.

At the moment of danger, Ralegh had drawn 500 levies into Pendennis; it was
a great strain for a poor county. When it had passed Godolphin wrote him:
OOur country poor people do and will much repine at the burden of
maintaining these small forces, of 400 or 500 at Penryn for guard thereof,
which guard to the intended force is of ineffectual moment¹.

He suggested a further garrison to lie in readiness about Truro. OBut what
speak I of beggarly country aid against princes¹ royal armies, which cannot
but by our prince¹s purse and munition be resisted?¹

That put the gist of the matter in a sentence. The strain of defence, the
constant responding to calls on levies, maintaining them in service, was
becoming too much for Cornwall's resources; the English government would
have to come to the rescue. To its credit, it did. The 500 levies were
allowed to go home; in their place the government sent two companies of
professional (mercenary) soldiers from the Low Countries to Pendenis, and
three to Plymouth; and hard pressed as it was financially, it maintained
them.

Regarding Ralegh -- His power so close to the English throne, and possession
of highest offices in Cornwall, (Lord Lieutenant, and Lord Warden of the
Stannaries) came to an end with the Queen¹s life. (Elizabeth I). Parker
published the proclamation of King James, Owhich with a general joy and
applause was then received and so continues¹. The accession of James meant
peace. To the war-weary, overburdened county of Cornwall, it must have come
as a blessed relief: the end of the fighting Elizabethan age.

End of extracts from A.L. Rowse's 'Tudor Cornwall'
________

There is another book that really captures the savour of these times. It is
a historical novel about the Killigrew family of Falmouth and the action is
set partly in Falmouth and partly in Spain. It is by Winston Graham (The
Poldark author), and is called 'Grove of Eagles'

Alan


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