of minor importance, added intensity to the national
quarrel. Sir William Stanley, whose account of the battle
of Glenmalure we lately quoted, went over to Philip with
1,300 English troops, whom he commanded as Governor of
Daventer, and was taken into the counsels of the Spanish
sovereign. The fleet for the invasion of England was on
a scale commensurate with the design. One hundred and
thirty-five vessels of war, manned by 8,000 sailors, and
carrying 19,000 soldiers, sailed from the Tagus, and
after encountering a severe storm off Cape Finesterre,
re-assembled at Corunna. The flower of Spanish bravery
embarked in this fleet, named somewhat presumptuously
"the invincible armada." The sons of Sir James Fitzmaurice,
educated at Alcala, Thomas, son of Sir John of Desmond,
with several other Irish exiles, laymen, and ecclesiastics,
were also on board. The fate of the expedition is well
known. A series of disasters befell it on the coasts of
France and Belgium, and finally, towards the middle of
August, a terrific storm swept the Spaniards northward
through the British channel, scattering ships and men
helpless and lifeless on the coasts of Scotland, and even
as far north as Norway. On the Irish shore nineteen
great vessels were sunk or stranded. In Lough Foyle,
one galleon, manned by 1,100 men, came ashore, and some
of the survivors, it is alleged, were given up by O'Donnell
to the Lord Deputy, in the vain hope of obtaining in
return the liberation of his son. Sir John O'Doherty in
Innishowen, Sir Brian O'Ruarc at Dromahaire, and Hugh
O'Neil at Dungannon, hospitably entertained and protected
several hundreds who had escaped with their lives. On