22 JANUARY 1887, Page 23

The Story of the Spanish Armada. (Nelson and Sons.)—This volume

contains a history of the great expedition and its defeat, with lists of the two armaments that were Opposed in the Channel. We have also an account of the two great conspirators, Philip and Pope Sixtus, the latter as he is described by Olivarez, not at all in a flattering way. The Vicar of Christ, according to the Ambassador of the Most Catholic King, had "neither charity, good manners, nor intelligence in him," and was "so notorious a liar that nobody believed a word he said." Two ballads by Thomas Delany, very tedious it must be owned, and a song of the period, which has at least the merit of being contained in a single page, have been added.