The Confident Hope of A Miracle

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The Story of the Armada as Never Before - Rated
Like everyone else, I knew the schoolchild's history of the attempted invasion and the way it was repulsed. But the intricacies of the actual events - the political chicanery, the attempted invasion and the aftermath - are here set down in intricate detail and in an absorbingly readable style so that even for non-historians like myself, this is a rivetting read.

The King of Spainýs ýEnterprise of Englandý... - Rated
This is a fascinating book detailing the melodramatic sea battle between the English and Spanish navies during the high-summer of that most infamous of all years in English history; 1588!

This book is an interesting and very detailed account of the Spanish Armada during that year, a summer every bit as important as the Battle of Britain was in 1940. For, as in 1940 against the Germans, England was in peril of being invaded and subjugated by a foreign power.

It covers all the action in the English Channel, the failed Spanish attempt to link up with the Spanish army in the Spanish Netherlands and the Armada's subsequent wrecking on the way home.

English Queen Elizabeth's miserly attitude to the supply and provision of her ships and sailors is exposed too. Overall, she doesn't receive a very flattering portrait; coming across as distant from the action and somewhat greedy for Spanish booty in the way she pestered her sea captains. Not quite the legend we've come to believe...

Flamboyant and charismatic English heroes such as Francis Drake, John Hawkins and Lord Charles Howard are also mentioned and come off as far more attractive characters. They're talented and patriotic Englishmen who do all within their means to hinder the Spanish invasion, despite often having to fight against stubborn and ignorant superiors in the English government, far away in London.

The Spanish are also detailed in an unbiased way, giving us a much better understanding of their actions and decisions. Contrary to the simplified, popular history version of events, the Spanish weren't incompetent, but intelligent and resourceful soldiers and sailors. They tried their best in the circumstances, but were handicapped by an overly complex plan, dodgy weather, persistent English resistance and sheer bad luck!

The Armada's disastrous wrecking on the rocks of Ireland in late 1588 is also documented. After the Spanish fled the English Channel and the English Navy, they sailed around neutral Scotland and then many weakened ships were wrecked on the jagged rocks of eastern Ireland. The fate of these miserable wretches was being attacked by local Irish or occupying English soldiers who were fearful of an attempted Spanish landing.

The whole Ireland episode of quite sad really, for most Spaniards shipwrecked there were captured, robbed, killed, ransomed or otherwise harshly treated. But then again, it was war and if the Spanish had succeeded in landing in Kent with their huge invasion force, they'd have undoubtedly killed many Englishmen. So it has to be viewed within context...

This book also has illustrations of contemporary English playing cards, printed and sold after the Spanish Armada had failed to invade England and had limped home in a ruinous state. They interestingly portray various Armada scenes, but should be viewed within context as English propaganda; after all, England and Spain were at war.

Anyway, this book is an enthralling and engaging read for anyone wanting to know about King Phillip's attempt to invade and subdue England with his infamous 'Enterprise of England' in 1588.

In fact, I'd personally rate it as the best book I've read on the subject for its historical details and engaging writing style.

If you want a good book about this subject, buy this one as it's well worth a read...