nt to the throne who the attempt was madefor. In the mid 1580s, it was clear that a direct military confrontationbetween England and Spain was unavoidable in the near future. Word reached London that the Spanish king, Philip II, had started toassemble together an enormous fleet that would sail to the Netherlands, andjoin forces with a waiting Spanish army led by the duke of Parma. Afterjoining forces, this fleet would proceed to invade and probably conquer thenow protestant England. The always conservative queen reluctantly had authorized sufficientfunds to maintain a fleet of maneuverable, well-armed fighting ships, towhich other ships from the merchant fleet would be added. In July 1588, the "Invincible Armada" reached the English water andthe queen's ships. In one of the most famous naval encounters of history,the queen's ships defeated the enemy fleet, which then in an attempt toreturn to Spain, was all but destroyed by terrible storms. At the time when the Spanish invasion was expected, Queen Elizabethdecided to review in person, a detachment of soldiers assembled at Tilbury.She was dressed in a white gown and a silver breastplate and she rodethrough the camp and proceeded to deliver a celebrated speech. Some of hercouncilors had cautioned her against appearing before a large and armedcrowd. But she told them that she would not distrust her faithful andloving people. Also, she was not afraid of Parma's army. At this time, she says, "I know I have the body of a weak and feeblewoman, but I have a heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of Englandtoo." She then promised, "in the word of a Prince." Francis Bacon wrote, a few years after Elizabeth's death, "Sheimagined, that the people, who are much influenced by externals, would bediverted by the glitter of her jewels, from noticing the decay of herpersonal attractions." Bacon's cynicism reflects the darkening tone of thelast decade of Queen Elizabe...
