This article is a part of all information about the Spanish Armada. Here is the complete list.
How was Spain before sailing of Armada?
How was Prince Phillip? What was his policy?
When did the Spanish armada sail?
When did England know about Armada?
How was the early fight between the Spanish and the English?
How did the battle with Spanish armada progress?
How did the Dutch help in fight with Spanish Armada?
How was the Chase, fire and final countdown?
How was England’s resistance against the armada?
What was the significance of British defeating the Spanish armada?
The Anxiety and Anxiousness
Contents
The news that the Spanish Armada had left the coast and started sailing, caused great buzz and the illustrious English naval and army men were anxious to get more news and information about it. In fact, this episode is generally referred to as ” Waiting for the Spanish Armada”. One of the most interesting and vivid pictures has been given by Canon Kingsley. He gave the pictures and portraits of the powerful and ambitious navy men and their naval base. In one of the pictures, we can see Sir Walter Raleigh. He was an English Adventure enthusiast and a great writer. He is very famous in the history of English literature and was also quite famous for his chiselled looks. He had very pointed features and he found a colony near Roanoke Island.
The Spanish Armada Alarm Beacon
In one of the pictures, we can see Lord Sheffield and his uncle, Sir Richard Grenville. They can be seen standing and gazing. This picture is quite famous as is called the picture of Spanish Armada alarm beacon. The picture is proof of the gallant and valiant styles of the English men. One of the interesting things to note here is the role played by Sir Walter Raleigh in the Armada. In the year 1588, Raliegh was actively involved in the war and put up a brave defence against the Spanish at Devon. He was found to marry Bess in 1589 and was imprisoned in a tower and later beheaded.
The Backdrop
The Spanish Armada had created anxiety and fury in the minds of English men. It was considered to be invincible and was a huge base of around 130 ships. The Spanish naval base was very huge and powerful. They had made quite a preparation to attack the English coasts and ships. But England also left no stone unturned. They kept a very keen eye and maintained a close watch on the Spanish fleet. It is rightfully thought that the weather and climate supported the English men. The storms were completely against the Spaniards. This delayed the attack and gave England a fairly good amount for preparation. They added many more ships to the fleet and gathered many arms and ammunition to defend the attack.
A Critical Juncture
This juncture in the history has been enacted many times by the name of the play as The Spanish are coming. It had characters like Queen Elizabeth, the first, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake (he is shown playing a game of bowls). He was waiting for the Spanish Armada to arrive and it is said that he insisted to finish his game of bowls before the battle that ensued in 1588. This is quite interesting and appealing and many writers have written on this episode in much detail. There is a famous picture which shows him playing the game.
The Final Episode
All in all the waiting of the Armada is seen as a very crucial phase before the battle actually began as it shows the perplexity and anxiousness of both the sides and particularly the Englishmen. This is a very dramatic point and has been given a lot of significance. In fact, this is also referred to as Waiting of the Spanish Armada by the English and how they planned their strategy to repel and defeat the invasion. They had very strategically planned the entire act and very formidably defended themselves. They left no stone unturned to make the Spanish Armada a fiasco. So, the entire chapter is based on the climax when on July 21 st, 1588, Spanish Armada leaves for England along the English channel where the English are kept to be waiting. This is of great historic importance and can be seen as an episode just before the attack.
