Five thousand Spaniards had been killed; a much larger number lay wounded or ill; twelve of the most important ships were lost; provisions failed them; the fresh water was nearly all spent. One of the galleons ran aground at Fair Isle, in the Shetlands, where relics are still kept, and the dark complexions of the natives show traces of Spanish blood. The "Florida" was wrecked on the coast of Morven--where her shattered hulk lies yet. Medina made his way between the Faroe Isles and Iceland, fled out to the high seas, and toiled past Ireland home. The rest of the fleet tried to reach Cape Clear. Forty-one were lost off the coast of Ireland: many driven by the strong west wind into the English Channel, where they were taken, some by the English, some by the Rochellois: a few gained Neubourg in Normandy. Out of 134 ships, above eighty were total wrecks. So ended the Invincible Armada. England fought well. But it was not England who was the conqueror, [Note 5] but the south wind and the west wind of God. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note 1. This was the same Duke of Guise who took an active part in the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew. He was assassinated at Blois, December 23, 1588--less than six months after the invasion of the Armada. Note 2. The Greeks did not reckon by kalends. The Romans, who did, when they meant to refuse a request good-humouredly, said jokingly that it should be granted "in the Greek kalends." Note 3. The name of Fleming's vessel does not appear. Note 4. I am not responsible for this translation, nor have I met with the original. Note 5. No one was more thoroughly persuaded of this than Elizabeth herself. Thirteen years afterwards, at the opening of her last Parliament, the Speaker thought proper to remark that England had been defended from all dangers that had attacked her by "the mighty arm of our dread and sacred Queen." An unexpected voice from the throne rebuked him. "No, Mr Speaker: by the mighty hand of God." CHAPTER FIVE. THE WRECK OF THE "DOLORIDA." "And therefore unto this poor child of Eve The thing forbidden was the one thing wanting, Without which all the rest were dust and ashes." "Heardst ever the like of the gale this night, Barbara?" asked Blanche, as she stood twisting up her hair before the mirror, one morning towards the close of August. "'Twas a cruel rough night, in sooth," was the answer. "Yet the wind is westerly. God help the poor souls that were on the sea this night! They must have lacked the same." "'Twas ill for the Spaniard, I reckon," said Blanche lightly. "'Twas ill for life, Mistress Blanche," returned Barbara, gravely. "There be English on the wild waters, beside Spaniards. The Lord avert evil from them!" "Nay, I go not about to pray that ill be avoided from those companions," retorted Blanche in scorn. "They may drown, every man of them, for aught I care."