While researching my ancestors on my mother's side, I was treated to a "totally" unsupported" story that they included a survivor from the Armada, shipwrecked on the Dorset coast, who was rescued and married locally. His name may have been de Fancia, anglicised to Fancy or Fancey. ( My great-great grandmother was Jane Fancy, born in Portland in 1831, and there are many Fancy's in Dorset) I accept that it may be a total mare's nest, but has anyone encountered this or similar tales? The second major encounter with the Armada did take place off Portland Bill in 1588, and it is possible, I suppose, that wreck survivors were able to escape the more rigorous sorts of Tudor justice. Cheers Roy in Ottawa.

I remember that story from my school days - given as the reason for some Portlanders having a decidely Mediterranean/Spanish swarthiness. Of course, that could just hav e been a good excuse! I do remember reading somewhere that Spanish survivors were imprisoned on Portland after the failure of the Armada. Sue