The Spanish Armada in the Strait of Dover, 1588, 1600-10 (gouache on vellum)

Creator: Flemish school Inscribed in French in the cartouche, 'ARMEE NAVALE DESPAIGNE SURNOMEE INVINCIBLE VAINCUE PAR LES ANGLOIS LE 22 JUILLET 1588' with the royal arms and initials (IR) of James I. The image combines various Armada events, the OS date referring to the battle off Portland. Beacons burn on the English coast (right) where defending soldiers bear Elizabeth I's personal standard. Lord Howard's 'Ark Royal' flies his standard as Lord Admiral in the middle distance with the fireship attack to the left. In the left foreground a small Dutch vessel attacks Spanish ships. This is the more elaborate of two such miniatures known. While the colouring suggests a Flemish hand the French title and the English royal arms suggest it may have been a Dutch diplomatic gift to James I.