The Last Armada – Queen Elizabeth, Juan del Águila, and Hugh O`Neill: The Story of the 100–Day Spanish Invasion

As thunder crashes and lightning rakes the sky, three very different commanders line up for a battle that will decide the fate of a nation. General Juan del Águila has been sprung from a prison cell to command the last great Spanish armada. His mission: to seize a bridgehead in Queen Elizabeth's England and hold it. Facing him is Charles Blount, a brilliant English strategist whose career is also under a cloud. His affair with a married woman edged him into a treasonous conspiracy--and brought him to within a hair's breadth of the gallows. Meanwhile, Irish insurgent Hugh O'Neill knows that this is his final chance to drive the English out of Ireland. For each man, this is the last throw of the dice. Tomorrow they will be either heroes or failures. These colorful commanders come alive in this true story of courage and endurance, of bitterness and betrayal, and of drama and intrigue at the highest levels in the courts of England and Spain. An Account Of The Final Great Naval Battle Between England And Spain Details General Juan Del Águila's Attempt To Invade Elizabeth I's England, Strategist Charles Blount's Efforts To Redeem Himself Against Charges Of Treason, And Irish Insurgent Hugh O'neill's Final Effort To Drive The English Out Of Ireland. A Note On The Text -- Tinker, Tailor ... Soldier -- 'haste, Haste, For Your Life' -- The Man Born Without Fear -- 'for God, All Difficulties Must Be Overcome' -- Sailing To God Or The Devil -- The Invasion -- 'i Will Never See My Homeland Again' -- Trust In God And Keep Your Powder Wet -- 'iacta Est Alea- The Die Is Cast' -- Curses Like Thunderbolts -- The Lord Of Beara And Bantry -- Confessions And Conspiracies -- 'crested Plumes And Silken Sashes' -- Digging For Victory -- The Taking Of Rinjora Castle -- 'the Most Bloody And Treacherous Traitor' -- There Will Be No Retreat -- Cold As Stone, Dark As Pitch -- Stella And The Centaur -- That Wondrous Winter March -- A Direct Hit On Don Juan -- Hell At Spaniards' Point -- 'let Us Settle This In A Single Combat' -- The Battle Of Castlehaven -- 'send Us Home Some Greyhounds' -- The Great Persuader -- 'they Died By Dozens On A Heap' -- A Meeting In The Fastness Of Wood And Water -- 'my Lord, Is It Time To Arm' -- 'the Day Of Trial': The Battle Of Kinsale -- Wondering Why -- Honourable Terms, Or A Thousand Deaths -- 'a Barbarous Nation For Which Christ Never Died' -- Dossier Of Treason -- A Dead Juan Walking -- The Trial -- The Aftermath -- Legacy. Des Ekin. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 351-413). Ireland: Christmas Eve, 1601. As thunder crashes and lightning rakes the sky, three very different commanders line up for a battle that will decide the fate of a nation. General Juan del guila has been sprung from a prison cell to command the last great Spanish armada. His mission: to seize a bridgehead in Queen Elizabeth's England and hold it. Facing him is Charles Blount, a brilliant English strategist whose career is also under a cloud. His affair with a married woman edged him into a treasonous conspiracyand brought him to within a hairs breadth of the gallows. Meanwhile, Irish insurgent Hugh ONeill knows that this is his final chance to drive the English out of Ireland. For each man, this is the last throw of the dice. Tomorrow they will be either heroes or failures. These colorful commanders come alive in this true story of courage and endurance, of bitterness and betrayal, and of drama and intrigue at the highest levels in the courts of England and Spain.