Manuscript, in a single hand, of a collection of descriptions of voyages and naval engagements between the English and Spanish, including those led by Sir Francis Drake; George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland; Lord Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk; Sir Walter Raleigh; Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex; and others. Each entry begins with a list of ships and the names of their commanders, followed by a narrative of the events of the naval conflict, which include details of short rations; discussions of tactics; occasional criticism of both English and Spanish commanders; and descriptions of maneuvers in battle. Monson's own name appears on some of these lists as ship commander under Cumberland and Essex, as well as within the narratives.
Alternative Title:
Sir William Mounson's sea voyages
Description:
Binding: stitched. and This work was printed in 1682 as the first part of "Magalopsychy, A true and exact account of the wars with Spain..."
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--Foreign relations--Spain, Great Britain--History--Elizabeth, 1558-1603, Great Britain--Politics and government--1558-1603, and Spain--Foreign relations--Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Cumberland, George Clifford, Earl of, 1558-1605, Drake, Francis, Sir, 1540?-1596, Essex, Robert Devereux,--Earl,--1566-1601, Great Britain.--Royal Navy, Monson, William,--Sir,--1569-1643, Raleigh, Walter,--Sir,--1552?-1618, Spain.--Armada, and Suffolk, Thomas Howard,--Earl,--1561-1626
Manuscript on paper, in a single secretary hand, of historical observations and political analysis of developments in Anglo-Dutch relations from the reign of Queen Mary Tudor into the reign of Charles I. Written from a pro-Catholic and pro-Spanish point of view, the work laments the spread of Protestantism and religious discord in both countries, takes a highly negative view of the revolt of William, Prince of Orange, and charges the Dutch with ingratitude toward the English, who find the Dutch competing with them in the fisheries and in trade despite all of their lavish support of Orange and his allies. The last section of the manuscript returns to the subject of Queen Elizabeth's long reign and vividly describes "the difference of tymes" between the beginning of her reign and its sorrowful end.
Description:
Binding: contemporary full calf, rebacked; both covers stamped in gilt with Monson's initials to the left and right of four small foliate gilt toolings. and Sir William Monson (1569-1643) began his naval career as a privateer, served in the English fleet sent against the Armada, and sailed with the Earl of Essex on the expedition to Cadiz. In 1604 he was named Admiral of the Narrow Seas by James I. A covert Roman Catholic, Monson received a secret annuity from Spain; when this came to light in 1616, he was briefly imprisoned in the Tower and dismissed from office. During the 1620s and 1630s his advice was sought concerning the establishment of a North Sea fishery, and he wrote a series of tracts on the history and state of the Navy.
Subject (Geographic):
England, Great Britain, and Netherlands
Subject (Topic):
Fisheries -- Economic aspects -- Great Britain -- Early works to 1800
