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size, that issue incessant flapping sounds from a thousand billowing sails. Add to this symphony of war the ships’
decks, broadcasting a cacophony of shouted orders to thousands of sailors readying themselves for the engagement with the enemy. It is a wondrous and unforgettable spectacle! Te disciplined crescent shape of the
formation manoeuvres in brisk winds, approaching the Scilly Isles aſter nearly a month away from Spain. Te Armada had departed from A Coruña
Drake & The Armada/English ships and the Spanish Armada, August 1588
locate the doors. The results of further far-reaching and life-changing discoveries,
entangle the story’s characters in Sinclair’s obsessions, ruthless nature and illegal arms business, resulting in a swathe of criminal activity that builds to a shocking and unforeseen conclusion.” From 16th-century accounts, Drake had a friendly relationship
with Don Pedro de Valdés. Drake ensured Don Pedro and two of his fellow officers from the Rosario were not imprisoned in the Tower of London by his queen, but in pleasant quarters at Wayneflette Tower in Esher. Drake ensured that Don Pedro was supplied with wine, oils, other provisions and extra money. Whilst at Wayneflette Tower, Don Pedro helped Richard Percyvall to compile the first Spanish-English dictionary. In 1589 the Nuestra Señora del Rosario was towed over 350 miles
from Dartmouth to London’s Chatham docks. She was dry-docked, then her eventual ignominious fate was to be sunk reinforcing a wharf on the River Medway. The last surviving object from the Rosario – a carved and gilt
bedstead, disassembled from Don Pedro de Valdés’ cabin – can be seen in Sir Francis Drake’s Buckland Abbey home. The building was originally a Cistercian abbey, dissolved by Henry VIII in 1540; the north and south transepts once removed, had new floors added into the nave, central tower and presbytery. Although the novel reaches back through history to create a modern
mystery tale, Peter has used his research to imagine here the fate of those aboard the ship as it is captured and brought into the River Dart.
T
he year is 1588. My rebellious insides are wanting to continue ridding themselves of a rushed meal of weevil- infested porridge and hard biscuits. My stomach broadcasts its discomfort - discomfort mixed in equal proportions
in the north coast of Spain, on the 26 May 1588, with 130 ships and in total, 30,000 men commanded by the 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia. Aſter battling vicious storms traversing the treacherous Bay of Biscay, the formation lost many ships, including Mediterranean galleys and galleasses unsuitable for long, ocean voyages. Te Duke, who was chosen by our King Philip II to lead the Armada, is not a sailor and knows nothing of naval warfare. He condemned too many men to the deep with his ill-choice of ships. Te Rosario sails are full of a brisk south-
west wind, causing good progress into what the English call the ‘Narrow Sea’ (the English Channel). Te bright sunlight makes me shield my eyes as I spy the lush-green hills of the Cornwall coast on 30 July 1588 and lit signal beacons, that I am assuming will continue to London to announce our arrival to the hated protestant-English queen. On Sunday 31 July, our ships with over 8,000
sailors and 19,000 soldiers onboard, continue past Cornwall and enter Devon waters, seven and a half leagues off the English coast. My name is Juan Azarola, senior clerk of the
Unfortunately,
even with my scant knowledge of sailing, I fear many of our Armada crews are not professional sailors
with a gnawing apprehension and growing fear of my probable date with death; I know that forthwith we will be engaging the English fleet and beginning the invasion of England! Standing on the deck of my ship, which boasts 46 bronze cannon, I
smell the fresh, salty air. I survey the formation of our vast, and grand Spanish Armada - an awe-inspiring sight of magnificent galleons of every
administrative staff on board the fourth largest Armada nao. My ship, christened the Nuestra Señora del Rosario, is a flagship commanded by Don Pedro de Valdés. My job is to record and tabulate every detail of the Rosario’s manifest and crew - I can tell you senor de Valdés is in charge of 37 officers, 49 sailors, 31 boys and a contingent of 300 soldiers and assorted nationalities – in total, we have 451 souls on board. It may surprise you to know that I include eight Englishmen in the ship’s company - I have no idea why they are on a Spanish warship! Unfortunately, even with
my scant knowledge of sailing, I fear many of our Armada crews are not professional sailors, being not proficient at traversing vast expanses of ocean, nor manoeuvring at
close quarters with other ships. It is the middle of the aſternoon, and, dear
Lord, I am proved correct! Two disasters befall my Rosario! First, the smaller San Juan
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