Holy League, and for about seven years following there was peace with France.

The naval events of the peace were neither lmmerous uor important, the most striking of them being, perhaps, the transport by Vice-Admir;fi Sir 5Villiam Fitz-Willialn of Henry VIII. to Calais in 1590 to meet Francis I. of Frauce ou the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Some notice of the ships engaged ou that occasion will be found in the previous chapter.

The war recommenced in 1599, Englmd ag;dn allying herself with the emperor. Vice-Admiral Sir William Fitz-William was at once sent to sea with a fleet of twenty-eight sail to protect English commerce and anuoy French trade, which he effectually did. Another squadron of seven ships went to the Firth of Forth, and, as a precautionary measure, burnt such Scots vessels as lay there. A little later, on June 8th, a great compliment was paid to England and to her Lord High Admiral, by Surrey's appointment as Commnauder-in-chief of the combined fleets of Euglaud and the Empire. The emperor's patent to Surrey, signed iu Londou, after reciting that Henry had fitted out a fleet "under the command of the most illustrious Thomas, Earl of Surrey, our most dear cousin, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, Lord High Admiral of Englmd. 5Vales, lrland, Normandy, Gscony, and Aquitaine," and that it had been determined that the English and Imperial fleets were to act together, and that one captain-general was better than many, gave the command of the whole o the said Admiral of England, he o exercise exactly the same power and authority over fie Imperial as over his oxxui fleet.

Sailing immediately after the receipt of this p;tent, Surrey, with the colnbined fleet, appeared off Cherbourg, and, lauding on June 13th, executed a rapid raid on the neighbouring country. After having returned to Portland, he recrossed the Channel, and on July 1st, landed near Morlaix, and took and sacked that town. He also bm'nt seventeen sail of French ships, and then carried a great amount of booty to Southampton, leaving Sir William Fitz-William to cnfise in the Channel. At Southampton, Surrey found the emperor waiting for a passage to Spaiu. His nn[jesty and suite emharked on hoard the fleet on July 6th nd were conveyed without mishap o Santarider.

Including, apparently, the ships later taken into the navy, as the Bark tIvrlaix,

.llay Urace, and 11rk o' Bouloge. lh,y. 5ISS. 14, Bk. xxii. A.