The English Historical Review contains a most interesting article by
Mr. Miller Christy on " Queen Elizabeth's visit to Tilbury in 1588." The Queen went by barge to Tilbury on August 8th, stayed the night at Arderne Hall, and next day reviewed her twenty thousand troops, who were encamped on the hill beside West Tilbury Church. Mr. Christy shows that until that day no one ashore knew what had happened to the Armada since it was driven from Calais in disorder on July 28th. Howard's despatch on his pursuit of the Spaniards reached the Queen as she was dining after the review. At the same time came a report that Parma had embarked his great army on his transports and was making for England, and for some days there was great anxiety on this account. The Queen's visit to the camp, which put the troops in good heart, was thus not a mere ceremonial function, performed when all danger was known to be past. Elizabeth appealed to the patriotism of her people at what seemed to her a critical moment, just as Maria Theresa at the outset of her reign appealed to the loyalty of her Magyars.
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