In the mean time, the Lord _Howard_ having continued a good while upon the Narrow Seas between _England_ and _Flanders_[48], sent Sir _Francis Drake_ towards the Western Coasts, with about fifty Sail, great and small; intending to follow himself, with a stronger Force, if there should be Occasion. For the present he remained in the _Downs_, with the Lord _Henry Seymour_ his Vice-Admiral, where they had under their Command twenty Ships belonging to the City of _London_, with several other Vessels fitted out by the Coast-Towns, from the _Thames_ to _Newcastle_. But News being brought of the Armada’s being ready to put to Sea, the Admiral left the Lord _Henry Seymour_ with a convenient Number of Ships, to watch the Duke of _Parma_’s Motions; and setting Sail on the 21st of _May_, with about thirty Vessels of all Sorts, arrived on the 23d at _Plymouth_. Here he was joined by Sir _Francis Drake_, whom he constituted his Vice-Admiral, and whose Squadron, by the Addition of some Vessels from the Western Ports, amounted now to sixty Sail. The Lord _Howard_, upon his Arrival at _Plymouth_, gave Orders for the Victualling, and putting in Readiness, the whole Fleet, which now consisted in all of about ninety Ships and Barks. As soon as it was ready he put out to Sea, and cruized at the Channel’s Mouth, between _Ushent_ and _Scilly_, looking out for the _Spanish_ Fleet. He thus continued cruizing for several Days, sometimes upon the Coast of _France_, and sometimes upon that of _England_; and, at last, hearing nothing of the _Spaniards_, returned to _Plymouth_, for a new Supply of Victuals, and other Necessaries. Mean while, fourteen _Spanish_ Ships were discovered between _Ushent_ and _Scilly_, which were afterwards known to have been separated from the rest of the Fleet by the late Storm. But before they could be met with by any _English_ Ships, they had a Northerly Wind, which carried them back to the _Groyne_; where, and at the neighbouring Ports, the whole Fleet took in their Soldiers and Warlike Provisions.