SPANISH ARMADA

Task 1:

How useful do you think this information would be to the English government?

This information was really useful for the English government, because without this information, the English army wouldn’t have been prepared enough for the Spanish invasion

Why were there more soldiers than sailors?

Because thanks to the information received by the letter, the English government knew the number of sailors of the Spanish Armada, and could answer with more men.

Task 2:

How do you think the news that the Spanish Armada had been sighted was able to reach Lord Howard so quickly when he was at Plymouth, over a hundred miles away?

The kings had a private message service, in which delivery courier where distributed in a ordinated kilometer patron so that it can go from courier to courier and cross the map faster that with only one.

Why do you think Howard complained to Walsingham about the wind?

Because his ship took more time because of the wind blowing in the not-wished direction

Howard says that the Spanish fleet was ‘soe strong’. What made it strong?

The impressive galleons, which were big and modern, with a lot of sailors and provisions in it.

Task 3:
According to Hawkins, what was the main problem for the English fleet in the battle near Portland?

Why was the ‘fyring of ships’ a turning point in the fighting?

Because it really hindered the spaniards

Does Hawkins think that the English have a chance to beat the Spanish Armada?
Yes, he thinks that the English showed a great courage and discipline in the fight. He also believes that god is in their favour.

What is causing the biggest problem to the Spanish ships?

A great ship from the galleons of Portugal.

Does Hawkins seem confident that the Spanish have been defeated?

No. Although he counts the numerous losses of the spaniards, he also tells with a little fear their back up.

Why did the English chase the Spanish as they sailed towards Scotland?

They want to see their landing and powder usage.

Task 4:
The Spanish Armada fought the English fleet for two days without losing any ships. What happened next that changed this?

6 of their ships were set on fired because of a cable friction the spaniards caused themselves.

Why was it a good thing that the Spanish plans were stopped?

Because if not, they would probably land in England and attack the cities, apart from the damage they are already dealing to the british ships.

If you could change one thing to give the Spanish a better chance of winning what would it be and why?

I would change the weather into a calm one. The Spanish dealt a lot of damage to the English when the weather was good. They have enough sources to fight incredibly well, but the just got bodied by the bad conditions.

The English celebrated their victory with a medal saying ‘God Blew and they were Scattered’ – how would the Spanish have explained their defeat?

They would probably blame it to the weather and to their partners for being, in some cases, really unconscious and silly on the ship.

Task 5:

• Santa Cruz, the Spanish admiral who was to lead the Armada, died and the man who took over, the Duke of Medina Sidonia, had very little experience: English benefit
• The Armada set sail on 28 May but bad weather forced the ships to go back into port for repairs: God help
• The Armada kept a very strong crescent shaped formation which protected the smaller ships as they sailed up the Channel and the English were unable to make a proper attack: English benefit
• The Armada was supposed to sail up the channel to the Netherlands and collect the Duke of Parma with an army to invade England. However, the Spanish army was attacked and could not get to the ships in time: English benefit
• The weather was very bad during the Battle of Gravelines and the storms got worse as the Spanish sailed towards the North Sea: God help
• The English were constantly complaining that they were short of gunpowder, cannon balls, food etc.: No success-cause reason
• Bad weather continued as the Spanish ships sailed up around the coast of Scotland and down the coast of Ireland on their way home, so that only half the Armada actually got back to Spain: God help

Task 6:

First of all, this was a religious battle, so some events of the fighting, specially the ones that human can’t control, can be interpreted as God acts. The English had a handicap, and the Spanish were fighting quite well and with a lot of powder. However, the weather got worse and made the Spanish lost all of their advantage. As a consequence, God helped the English people defend their religious ideas.