Last night, the Victory, along with the rest of our fleet of about a hundred, ripped through the gleaming waves, on the course to defending our honor, our country, and our faith. For a month we waited apprehensively at Plymouth for news of the Spanish fleet. They say it was detained by truculent storms even before it left its own waters. The weather certainly has not been amiable recently. Well, this afternoon, while war was brewing, and while Sir Francis Drake was playing bowls at the Plymouth Hoe, the ships were sighted off The Lizard, Cornwall. I was conversing with a soldier while we were heaving anchor, and he told me that Drake in fact had subsequently said, "There is plenty of time to finish the game and beat the Spaniards." While I admire his confidence, it is somewhat disconcerting to be pitted against the greatest naval power on earth. .
Our main strategy will be to fight at a distance, as the Spaniards are notorious for their ramming and boarding schemes. The Spanish indeed possess mighty vessels, but we are not without prospect. Their ships, though numerous and powerful, are slow and cumbersome. Ours are furnished with speed and agility, with towering fore and stern castles, and our preponderant gunnery is certainly superior to their comparatively primitive artillery. However, they have an entire army aboard, while we do not. We must not let them get close. The instant they are given the opportunity to board our ships, they will surely slaughter us, and to them it shall be divinely warranted. Indeed, the Catholics have already made a travesty of the Christian religion, and now King Philip has apparently obtained Papal authority to overthrow our blessed queen. In any case, our religious orientation is probably the least of Philip's concerns. More likely, the Spaniards are vexed because we have been privateering a large dent in their treasuries. I don't think I could to bear to see England subjugated by Catholics.
