Battle of Cornwall
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Cornwall was a Spanish raid in Cornwall
in 1595 during the Anglo-Spanish war of 1585-1604
. It was the only attempted Spanish raid of the area since Fernando Sánchez de Tovar
's destruction of English coastal towns in the 14th century.
, with 3 companies of arquebusiers (about 400 men in total), four galleys (Capitana, Patrona, Peregrina and Bazana) from the fleet under Pedro de Zubiaur
. He sailed from Port Louis
, Brittany
, on 26 July. After calling at Penmarch
, they sank a French barque
manned by an English crew and with a cargo for Britain, in the belief that the vessel could compromise their mission. Amésquita forces eventually landed at Mount's Bay
, Cornwall on 2 August. Amésquita was guided by English turncoat Richard Burley of Weymouth. The English militia
s, which formed the cornerstone of their anti-invasion measures and numbered several hundred men, threw down their arms and fled in panic. Only Francis Godolphin, Deputy Lord Lieutenant
of Cornwall and commander of the militias along with 12 of his soldiers stood to offer some kind of resistance. In two days the Spanish took all they needed, burning Penzance
and the villages of Mousehole
, Paul
, Newlyn
as well as taking the cannon from forts in the area and re-mounting them on their fleet. The town of Penzance had also been bombarded by the Spanish galleys; 400 houses were destroyed and three ships were sunk.
At the end of the campaign a traditional Catholic mass was held on English soil and, on re-embarking soon afterwards on 4 August, the force's commander promised to build a church on its site once England had been defeated. He then left all his prisoners ashore and evaded a fleet sent against them under Francis Drake
and John Hawkins
. On 5 August Amézquita met a Dutch squadron of 46 ships, sinking two of the Dutch ships and suffering the expedition's only Spanish casualties (20 men killed) before the rest of the Dutch ships escaped. He then stopped at Penmarch for repairs and finally arrived back at Port Louis on 10 August in triumph.
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
in 1595 during the Anglo-Spanish war of 1585-1604
Anglo-Spanish War (1585)
The Anglo–Spanish War was an intermittent conflict between the kingdoms of Spain and England that was never formally declared. The war was punctuated by widely separated battles, and began with England's military expedition in 1585 to the Netherlands under the command of the Earl of Leicester in...
. It was the only attempted Spanish raid of the area since Fernando Sánchez de Tovar
Fernando Sánchez de Tovar
Fernando Sánchez de Tovar or Fernán Sánchez de Tovar was a significant Castilian soldier and Admiral of the Middle Ages.-Soldier of Castile:...
's destruction of English coastal towns in the 14th century.
Landings
The expedition to England was entrusted to Carlos de AmésquitaCarlos de Amésquita
Carlos de Amésquita was a Spanish naval officer of the 16th century. He is remembered for an action whilst on a routine patrol, known as the Battle of Cornwall, during the Anglo-Spanish War 1585–1604....
, with 3 companies of arquebusiers (about 400 men in total), four galleys (Capitana, Patrona, Peregrina and Bazana) from the fleet under Pedro de Zubiaur
Pedro de Zubiaur
Pedro de Zubiaur, Zubiaurre or Çubiaurre was a Spanish soldier and sailor of the Anglo-Spanish War who started his naval career in 1568 and won several victories over the English for Philip II of Spain, the most famous of them during the relief of Blaye...
. He sailed from Port Louis
Port-Louis, Morbihan
Port-Louis is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Port-Louis are called in French Port-Louisiens.-References:* * -External links:* * *...
, Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, on 26 July. After calling at Penmarch
Penmarch
Penmarc'h or Penmarch is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. It lies 18 km south-west of Quimper by road.-History:...
, they sank a French barque
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
manned by an English crew and with a cargo for Britain, in the belief that the vessel could compromise their mission. Amésquita forces eventually landed at Mount's Bay
Mount's Bay
Mount's Bay is a large, sweeping bay on the English Channel coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom, stretching from the Lizard Point to Gwennap Head on the eastern side of the Land's End peninsula. Towards the middle of the bay is St Michael's Mount...
, Cornwall on 2 August. Amésquita was guided by English turncoat Richard Burley of Weymouth. The English militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
s, which formed the cornerstone of their anti-invasion measures and numbered several hundred men, threw down their arms and fled in panic. Only Francis Godolphin, Deputy Lord Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Cornwall and commander of the militias along with 12 of his soldiers stood to offer some kind of resistance. In two days the Spanish took all they needed, burning Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
and the villages of Mousehole
Mousehole
Mousehole is a village and fishing port in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately 2½ miles south of Penzance on the shore of Mount's Bay.The village is in the civil parish of Penzance...
, Paul
Paul, Cornwall
Paul is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated two miles south of Penzance and one mile south of Newlyn.The village of Paul is represented on Penzance Town Council...
, Newlyn
Newlyn
Newlyn is a town and fishing port in southwest Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Newlyn forms a conurbation with the neighbouring town of Penzance and is part of Penzance civil parish...
as well as taking the cannon from forts in the area and re-mounting them on their fleet. The town of Penzance had also been bombarded by the Spanish galleys; 400 houses were destroyed and three ships were sunk.
At the end of the campaign a traditional Catholic mass was held on English soil and, on re-embarking soon afterwards on 4 August, the force's commander promised to build a church on its site once England had been defeated. He then left all his prisoners ashore and evaded a fleet sent against them under Francis Drake
Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the...
and John Hawkins
John Hawkins
Admiral Sir John Hawkins was an English shipbuilder, naval administrator and commander, merchant, navigator, and slave trader. As treasurer and controller of the Royal Navy, he rebuilt older ships and helped design the faster ships that withstood the Spanish Armada in 1588...
. On 5 August Amézquita met a Dutch squadron of 46 ships, sinking two of the Dutch ships and suffering the expedition's only Spanish casualties (20 men killed) before the rest of the Dutch ships escaped. He then stopped at Penmarch for repairs and finally arrived back at Port Louis on 10 August in triumph.