In my last Tudor post, we followed the Spanish Armada of 1596, when King Philip II attempted another expedition against England, only for a violent storm to scatter his ships. Despite losing vessels, men and valuable supplies, Philip was determined to try again. In 1597, he prepared another fleet, and this time the Spanish came alarmingly close to the English coast.
Philip’s plan was to land troops at Falmouth in Cornwall, establish a military base and threaten Plymouth. He also hoped that English Catholics might support the invasion and rise against Elizabeth I. However, there was little reliable evidence that England’s Catholic population would welcome a foreign army, something Philip’s advisers appear to have overestimated.
Around 136 vessels were assembled, carrying approximately 9,000 soldiers and 4,000 sailors. The expedition was commanded by Don Martín de Padilla, who had also led the unsuccessful Armada of 1596. Preparations were delayed by unfavourable winds, and the fleet did not finally leave the Spanish coast until October 1597.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth had sent Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, on an expedition towards the Azores, accompanied by commanders including Sir Walter Raleigh. Their aim was to attack Spanish interests and intercept valuable shipping returning from the Americas. Unfortunately, the expedition achieved little, and with so many English warships away, the south-western coast was left particularly vulnerable.
With Essex’s ships absent, Philip had an opportunity to strike. The Spanish fleet initially made good progress across the Bay of Biscay, approaching the waters off Cornwall. Some historical accounts place the vessels within approximately 30 miles of the Lizard, although the surviving evidence differs over their precise position.
The fleet was making progress when the weather turned. A violent gale struck the Spanish ships, bringing powerful winds and dangerous seas that scattered the vessels across the Atlantic. For several days, the commanders struggled to maintain formation, until Padilla finally abandoned the expedition and ordered a return to Spain.
Although most of the fleet eventually reached safety, several ships were lost or driven onto the coasts of Cornwall and Wales. One vessel, the Nuestra Señora Buen Viaje, reached Milford Haven, where the English recovered sailing instructions that revealed important details about the Spanish plans.
Philip had even gone as far as preparing a proclamation in English, intended to be issued if his troops landed. It promised protection for private property and favourable treatment for those who supported the invasion, while also appealing to Catholics dissatisfied with Elizabeth’s religious settlement. The proclamation was designed to win support beyond England’s Catholic population, but it was never issued.
What I find particularly interesting is how late the warning reached Elizabeth’s government. On the 26th of October 1597, news of the Spanish fleet’s approach reached the royal court, prompting urgent preparations for defence. By then, the storm had already forced the Spanish to abandon their expedition.
England had known that Spain was preparing military operations, but the immediate danger to Cornwall had taken the government by surprise. With much of the English fleet away and coastal defences poorly prepared, a successful Spanish landing could have created a very serious problem for Elizabeth.
The Armada of 1588 is remembered as one of the great events of Elizabeth’s reign, but it certainly did not end Spain’s attempts to challenge England. The expedition of 1597 came much closer to the English coast than many people realise, and once again the weather played a decisive part in preventing Philip’s plans from succeeding.
Philip II died on the 13th of September 1598, but the war between England and Spain continued under his son, Philip III. Peace would not finally come until 1604, after Elizabeth’s death.
Had you heard about the Spanish Armada that nearly reached Cornwall in 1597, or did you think the defeat of 1588 had ended the threat?
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Image info:
A Coloured Chart of Falmouth Haven and the River Fal, c.1590-1600. Unknown artist. British Library, Cotton Augustus I.i, folio 37. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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