The Spanish Armada did carry some English soldiers and sailors
When we think of the Spanish Armada of 1588, we typically imagine a straightforward conflict: Catholic Spain versus Protestant England, foreign invaders against patriotic defenders. But history is rarely that simple, and my new novel Traitor explores one of the conflict’s most fascinating complications: the English Catholics who sailed with the Spanish fleet.
Who were the Real English “Traitors”?
While my protagonist Edward Comyn is fictional, he represents a very real historical dilemma. Many English Catholic families had lost everything under Elizabeth I’s religious reforms. Some, particularly those who had thrived under Mary Tudor’s brief Catholic restoration, lost lands and titles, when Elizabeth came to power.
For these families, the Spanish Armada wasn’t an invasion — it was a liberation. Thy hoped King Philip II would restore their properties and positions if the invasion succeeded. This wasn’t mere bribery; it was a chance to reclaim what they saw as rightfully theirs.
Doubt and Faith. Englishmen with the Spanish Armada must have experienced both
A look at the Spanish Armada beyond the History Books
Traitor follows Edward Comyn from the storm-scattered Armada to the wild Scottish Highlands, where he must navigate clan politics, betrayal, and his own conflicted loyalties. What do we know of the many Spanish ships that were wrecked around Scotland’s coast, and what happened to the survivors?
There is no documentary evidence of Highland clans holding a ship for ransom. However, given the lawless nature of the Highlands and the opportunistic character of many clan chiefs, it’s entirely plausible. These were people who regularly raided each other’s territories. Why wouldn’t they see a stranded Spanish ship as a golden opportunity?
Adventure, Romance, and Moral Complexity to the background of the Spanish Armada
While Traitor is historical fiction, it’s also a rollicking adventure story. There are dangers at sea, sword fights and wrestling matches, treacherous betrayals and unexpected alliances. Edward’s journey takes him from Spanish galleons to Highland castles, from Edinburgh’s royal court to Yorkshire’s countryside.
At its heart, this is a story about identity and belonging. What makes someone a traitor? Is it loyalty to country, to faith, to family, or to personal conscience? Edward must grapple with these questions while surviving storms both literal and metaphorical.
The cover of Traitor, where an Englishman sails with the Spanish Armada
For Readers Who Love…
If you enjoy Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series or Philippa Gregory’s Tudor novels, Traitor offers the same combination of historical authenticity, compelling characters, and page-turning action. It’s perfect for anyone who loves historical fiction that doesn’t shy away from moral complexity.
Traitor is available now on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions. Dive into a world where loyalty is complicated, survival is uncertain, and redemption comes at a price. For more, see my previous blog post, an Elizabethan Adventure.