Mattingly’s The Armada is the seminal nonfiction account of the epic 16th-century clash between the England of Queen Elizabeth I and the Spanish Empire of King Philip II.
The author was extremely thorough in his research and analysis. His work contains compelling insights and quality prose. The book inspired me to write a dramatized account of the battle within the historical fiction genre, which I have just completed after a year of focused effort.
This will be the capstone to my series of nautical fiction novels that are set in the Age of Sail.
In August of 1588, a Spanish fleet of 130 ships departed from La Coruña under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia. Its purpose was to rendezvous with the Spanish army at the Dutch port of Sluys. At this point, the fleet was to act as a screen while the Spanish army was shuttled across the English Channel in barges. Upon landing, the Spanish invasion force - the finest professional army in the world led by the finest military commander in Europe - would march to London, seize the crown from Elizabeth, avenge the execution of her Catholic Majesty…
Every serious researcher who seeks clarity about specific historical events understands the value of primary source material, and I was happy to stumble across this treasure trove.
The editor and his assistants diligently researched every surviving official record from the 16th Century pertaining to the Battle of the Spanish Armada, and they compiled a series of official letters written by actual protagonists and eyewitnesses.
The magnitude of the battle is summarized by the editor in his introduction: "The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588…[was] one of the decisive battles of the world…it marks alike the approaching downfall of Spain and the rise of England as a great maritime power.”
I frequently tapped into this critical resource while researching and writing my novelized account of the battle.
These are chiefly 'State Papers' in the narrow sense of records of the English Secretary of State, but include other English government documents from the Public Record Office and the British Museum. Vol I covers December 1587 to July 1588.
On 19 May 1588 the Spanish Armada set sail from Lisbon. 130 ships and carried 2,500 guns and 30,000 men. The fleet was not sighted off the Lizard until 29 July 1588 as the Armada was forced by poor weather and a lack of supplies into Corunna. This book, the very first published by the Navy Records Society, in 1894,…
His two-volume series about the colorful Elizabethan privateer and admiral, Sir Francis Drake, resonated with me because I have featured Drake in my series of nautical fiction novels. Not only did the author showcase Drake’s contributions to the Battle of the Spanish Armada, but he provided a big-picture analysis of every aspect of that epic clash.
This book was a go-to because it provided me with the granular details that I needed to write an accurate and compelling interpretation of the battle. My goal as a writer has always been to both entertain and educate the reader, so I always seek the best available resources to support my writing projects.
""Drake and the Tudor Navy V1"" is a historical book written by Julian S. Corbett. The book is a detailed account of the rise of England as a maritime power during the Tudor period, with a focus on the role of Sir Francis Drake in this process. The author provides an in-depth analysis of the development of the Tudor Navy, the naval strategies employed by the English, and the various battles and conflicts that took place during this era. The book also explores the political and economic factors that contributed to England's maritime success, including the impact of the Reformation…
An English sea-captain sailing to plunder a Spanish treasure fleet faces the elements, internal discord and a squadron of war galleons lurking in his path. If he prevails, rewards and retribution await in the wilds of the New World.
Voyage of Reprisal draws on the author’s extensive research and presents a careful reconstruction of life at sea aboard an Elizabethan war galleon. Charismatic characters come alive, from crude sailors to arrogant lords. The pains, joys, sorrows, and hopes of the age are explored aboard a 16th century privateer.
