Page 70 - 1992 - XVIII Congresso Internazionale di Storia Militare

DAVID C CHANDU!ll
bue whoUy uncrained. The corps of Tudor Yeomen of the Guard (an elice force
thar in the l are 15 50s included cavalry and anillery as weU as arquebusicrs and
pikemen of che royal bodyguard ro a rotai of some 9000 meo) were the only cruly
bactle-ready formarions, bur rhere was no "srandiag army" worrh che name; and
there is scanr evidence ro suggesr thac the srandard of English higher leadership
on land was really comparable co that of Parma and his war-hardened generals.
Bue they were never pur co che rese on Englisb soiL A presumably Protesta ne
Deity ..... blew with his breach", and the threac of invasion passed away - as
ic was co again, in 1803-5 and noc leasc in 1940.
Thus Spanish power was successfuUy challenged by tbe Dutch, English and
(co a !esser degree) the French Huguenors, and the lberjan power-base ofEuropean
and above aiJ overseas empire was threarened ar leasr co some degree - and resisrance
ro ics politica!, economie and missionary pretensions encouraged in the New World
·or che Americas, the Wesr and Easc lndies. Henri Hausser was righe co name bis
volume in the 'Grands Civilisarions' series La Prépontkraflte E.Jpngnole, and nor La
Suprematie ...
To end on a happier note, roday Anglo-Spanish hisrorical cooperarion is far
more soundly-based, as rh e fine 1988 quadcenttnnial joinr Anglo-Spaaish rhree-pacr
TV production, The Sptmish Armada demonsrrared.
One day, who knows,?, perhaps both Engli.sbmen and Spaniards may see che
Gibralrar issue in rh esame colera m lighr, now thar both counrries are fellow-members
of the Eu.ropean Communiry. Bue, as Sr. Augusrine prayed for immuniry from che
remptations of the flesh (and no doubc Baroness Lady Margaret Thaccher cominues
co pray ar the presenr rime over d1e subjecr ofEuropean unity) ..... Dear God,
preserve me from my imperfections, bue nor just yer!" Perhaps 2004 AD may be
soon enough - or 2704 for the maner of tbar.