SIDELIGHTS ON HISTORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20290, 24 December 1927, Page 8

SIDELIGHTS ON HISTORY

EARLY ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS. Written for the Otago Daily Times by E. H. S. Miller. I. ELIZABETHAN JOURNALISM. Imagine a newspaper report of the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 ! To many people tne idea appears fantastic, for one unconsciously associates the famous names of Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher with a period in English history when the public service of a newspaper was non-existent. Yet a compact and creditable report of tho battle with the great Armada was printed and circulated among the citizens of London three days after tho engagement had taken place. To be sure, tho newspaper was a modest publication. It was titled the English Mercuric, under which was printed, in tho manner of an after-thought—“lor the Prevention of False Reports.” It contained four pages of thin and scrappy paper, about 12 inches by 10 inches in size. Nevertheless, it was a full-blown newspaper, and the printing was excellent, while a seal of importance was placed on the production by the legend—” Published by Authorise ” —which appeared on tho title pa'gc. Referring to the English Mercuric, the Encyclopoedia Britannica says: It was at one time believed that the curliest regular English newspaper was the English Mercuric of 1583, but the falseness of this was pointed out bv Thomas \Y atts, of the British Museum, in 1839. We may, however, regard the Mercune as one of tho first publications to interest tho people in prominent affairs of the day, and particulaj* importance is attached to the number that was issued following the battle with the Armada, and during the days when England was threatened with invasion by a vast army gathered under the banner of the Church of Romo.” To modern eyes the report of the battle is painfully abbreviated, bjit it must be remembered that in those days paper was scarce, and facilities for communication were insignificant. The account of the battle supplied to tho loyal subjects ol Queen Elizabeth at their breakfast tables was, therefore, no longer than a modern newspaper’s report of a city fire It was dated ” Whitehall, July 23d, 1588,” and ran as follows:

Early this morning arrived a messenger at Sir Francis Walsingham’s office with letters o£ the 22nd from the Lord High Admiral on board the Ark-Roya , containing the following material advices. , . , ~ . On the 20th of this instant Captain Fleming, who had been ordered to cruiso in the chops of the channel for discovery, brought advice into Plymouth that ho had descried the Spanish Armada near the Lizard, making for the entrance of the channel with a favourable gale. Though this intelligence was not received till near 4 in the afternoon and the wind at that time blew hard into the Sound, yet by the indefatigable care and diligence of • the Lord High Admiral, the Ark-Royal, with 5 of the largest frigates, anchored out of the harbour that very evening. The next morning, the greatest part of her Majesty’s fleet got out to them iney made, in all, about 60 sail, divided into four squadrons, commanded by his Lordship in person, Sir Francis Drake, Viceadmiral, and the Rear-admirals Hawkins and Frobisher. But about I in the afternoon they came in sight of the Spanish Armada 2 leagues to the westward of the Eddistone, sailing in the form of a half-moon, the points whereof were 7 leagues asunder. By the best computation, that oould be made on the sudden (which the prisoners have since confirmed), they cannot be fewer than 150 ships of all sorts; and several of them called galleons and galleasses, are of a size never seen before in our seas, and appear on the surface of the water like floating castles. But the sailors were so far away from being daunted by the number and strength of the enemy, that as soon as they were discerned from the top-mast-head, acclamations of joy resounded through the whole fleet. The Lord Hiph Admiral observing his general alacrity, after a Council of War had been held, directed the signal of battle to be hung out. We attacked the enemy’s rear with the advantage of the wind; the Earl of Cumberland, in the Defiance, gave first fire: My Lord Howard himself was next engaged for about 3 hours with Don Alfonso de Leyva in the St. Jaques, which would certainly have struck, if she had not been seasonably rescued by Ango de Noncada. In the meantime, Sir Francis Drake and the two Rear-admirals, Hawkins and Frobisher, vigorously attacked the enemy’s foremost ships commanded by Vice-admiral Recalde, which were forced to retreat, much shattered, to the main body of their fleet, whore the Duke de Medina himself commanded. About sunset wo had the pleasure of seeing the invincible Armada fill all their sails to get away from us. The Lord Admiral slackened his, in order to expect the arrival of 20 fresh frigates, with which he intends to pursue the enemy, whom we hope, by the grace of God, to prevent from landing one man on English ground. In the night the St. Francis galloon, of which Don Pedro de Valdez was captain, fell in with Vice-admiral Drake, who took her after a stout resistance. She was disabled from keeping up with tile rest of the fleet, by an accident, which happened to her, of springing her foremast. She carries 50 guns and 500 men, both soldiers and mariners. The captors found on board 5000 gold ducats, which they shared amongst them, after bringing her into Plymouth.

Such was tho newspaper report of an heroic emprise and a great danger averted. If it is to bo accepted as a trustworthy description, it shows clearly that, although tho great storm which followed the battle was tho real saviour of England, tho efforts of a puny fleet were sufficient to keep tho Armada at sea long enough for the wind to complete tho rout. Tho Mercuric was a live little journal, and even in those troublous times when Franco was a bitter enemy, it possessed an Ostend correspondent. In the same issue ho reported as follows: — Ostend, July 27th N.S.—Nothing is now talked of in these parts but the intended invasion of England. His Highness, the Prince of Parma, has completed his preparations, of which the following account may bo depended upon as exact and authentic. . . .

He goes on to describe in great detail tho army assembled for the invasion and tho plans for tho crossing of the channel. Expressions of anxiety on behalf of England’s safety are contained in messages from London’s military headquarters. These are tempered by that optimism that is characteristic of the Englishman when faced with grave danger, and the following sample is typical:—

Such preparations have been long made, by her Majesty’s foresight for tho defence of the Kingdom, that (setting aside tho common accidents of war) no great danger is to be apprehended though the Spaniards should land in any part of it; since besides the two camps at Tilbury and Blackheath, large bodies of militia are disposed along tho coastunder experienced commanders, with proper instructions how to behave, m case a descent cannot bo prevented till a greater force can be drawn together. . .

The venerable novvspa,per closes with a message from Queen Elizabeth urging the people to rely on God’s providence and tho goodness of her cause. At the foot of the last page is the line— “ Imprinted at London by Christ. Barker, Her Highness s Printer, 1588.”