Queen _Elizabeth_, it may well be supposed, could not help being extremely anxious about the issue of the great and dreadful Preparations that were going on, to deprive her of her Crown and Dignity, and perhaps of her [28]Life. This inclined her more readily to embrace some Overtures of Peace, made to her by the _Spaniard_[29]: But it being soon found out that they were intended only to lull her asleep, and induce her, by depending upon a Peace, to be careless of her own Defence; and moreover, _Henry_ III King of _France_ sending her Word, [30]she ought to stand upon her Guard; she did not therefore rely much on the Negociations in hand, but took all proper Measures for securing herself, and protecting her Dominions. Her Situation was indeed very melancholy, and her Fears well grounded: For she was without so much as one Ally abroad, except the _United-Provinces_, which themselves wanted Assistance; and at home she had a factious and discontented Party, ready to join with the Enemy: But, by the Assistance of Heaven, by her good Management, and the sincere Affection of the Generality of her People, she surmounted all Difficulties, and came off Conqueror. When she was sure the _Spaniards_ Preparations were design’d against her, that she might not be taken unprovided, she fitted out as strong a Fleet as she possibly could; and herein so great was the Diligence of her Subjects, [31]that though her Preparations were begun but about the 1st of _November_ 1587, yet her Fleet was ready to put to Sea by the 20th of _December_ the same Year. [32]_Charles_ Lord _Howard_ of _Effingham_, High Admiral of _England_, a Person of great Prudence and Bravery, was appointed Commander in Chief of this whole Fleet. His Instructions were, To repair to the Westward, in conjunction with Sir _Francis Drake_ Vice-Admiral, and Captain _John Hawkins_, and Captain _Martin Frobisher_ Rear-Admirals: At the same Time, the Lord _Henry Seymour_, second Son of the late Duke of _Somerset_, had Orders to lye on the Coast of _Flanders_, with forty _English_ and _Dutch_ Ships (the latter under the Command of _Justin_ of _Nassau_, Admiral of _Zealand_) to prevent the Duke of _Parma_’s putting out to Sea with his Forces.