August 1586 August 1587 May 1588
Attack in Bay of Cadiz by Spanish Armada reaches
MQS arrested for her Elizabeth reluctantly signs Spanish Armada with 130
Francis Drake against England on border of
involvement death warrant of MQS ships and 30,000 men
Spanish naval forces Plymouth
begin to set sail from
[Spanish fleet destroyed, [French decide to sail off
Tagus estuary heading for
and supplies were to Calais and England
English Channel
destroyed or captured. followed into the Wind]
Delayed Spanish plans to
invade England by more
than a year]
August 1588
1593 1589 England enjoy victories
Act of Seditious Portuguese Expedition Isle of Portland,
Secretaries made August 1591 1590 [Spanish victory as English Gravelines, Flanders
Puritanism an offence Robert Devereux, Earl of Francis Walsingham dies withdraw with heavy
[gave authorities the power Essex leads an English and Robert Cecil becomes losses. Failure of
to imprison, banish and army in support of Secretary of State (later Portuguese Uprising =
even execute suspected Protestant Henry IV of promoted to privy council Spanish fleet retains
separatists France at Siege of Rouen in 91) capability to wage war]
August 1594 July 1596
Tyrone Rebellion in Ireland 1595 Huge expedition launched
Wanted to support Spanish Francis Drake and John against Spain
1594
due to Armada Hawkins depart from 1596 [17 naval ships and 47
Bad Harvest
[Essex’s signed diplomacy England on final voyage to Worst Harvest of Century warships, led by Essex,
with Tyrone but loses it Spanish Main resulting in Howard and Raleigh, sack
and executes Essex in both their deaths Cadiz and capture a
1601 rebellion] Spanish treasure ship,
costing Philip 12 million
ducats]