to treat with the Prince of Parma who pretended a Commission for that effect but they were delayed from time to time and when they proposed any thing by one pretence or other it was delayed till at last they heard of the Spanish Fleets being near England at which time they having safe conduct from the Prince of Parma were glad to return in safety This Armado which had the Popes special Blessing in token of its holy Warfare had 12 of its Ships called by the names of the 12 Apostles their Ships being of such size that they floated like Castles upon the Waves set sail May 20. out of the River Taye steering its course towards the Groin in Galizia the Place appointed for assembling but whilest they were sailing thither a storm arose whereby they were dispersed several of them were disabled besides 3 Portugal Gallies which were driven on the Coasts of Bayon in France and by the valor of one David Guin an English Slave and the help of other Slaves were delivered into the hands of the French About the same time the English Fleet in all about 100 Ships whereof 15 were Victuallers and 9 Voluntiers of Devonshire Gentlemen hearing that the Spaniards were ready to sail set forth of Plimouth to meet and fight them by the way but before they reached the Syllies they were driven back by tempest to Plimouth only some of their Scouts descried some of the Spanish Ships that were dispersed News being brought that the Spaniards were in distress the Lord Admiral Howard taking advantage of the first fair Wind lanched forth July 8th and bore his Sails almost within sight of the Coast of Spain purposing to surprize their Ships but the Wind suddenly turning South and he wisely foreseeing the disadvantages of his staying there returned to Plimouth At the same time it was confidently reported that the Spanish Fleet could not set forth that Year and our Queen was so confident thereof that she ordered 4 of her biggest Ships to be brought to Chatham but our Admiral foreseeing the hazard of it wisely retarded it which was a singular Providence for the Spanish Fleet entred the Channel July 11th where Anchoring they sent to the Prince of Parma to signifie their Arrival and require him in the Kings name to forward his Charge for that service July 20. At noon they were descried by the English which was a surprizal to them most of their Men being ashore Nevertheless our undaunted Admiral towed forth such Ships as he could get in readiness into the Sea When they were got out they saw the Spaniards Ships with lofty Towers in Front like a half Moon they seemed to make for Plimouth but yet steered their course by towards Calice the English suffering them to pass by that they might chase them in the Rear with a fore-right Wind. July 21. The English Admiral sent before him a Pinnace to denounce War by discharging her Ordnance himself following in the Ark Royal set upon the Admiral he thought but Alonzo de Leva's Ship where they had a fierce Encounter Soon after Drake Hawkins and Forbusher came up playing with their Ordnance on the hindmost Squadron of the Enemies commanded by Rechalde who did all he could to stay his Men from flying till his own Ship battered with shot with difficulty was drawn into the Main Fleet. At which time the Duke of Medina gathered together his Fleet and kept on his intended course towards Callice and caused them to gather themselves up close in form of a half Moon But our English Admiral having maintained a hot fight for 2 hours thought it best to desist the pursuit there being not above 30 of their Ships come up yet In this fight the Katharine a Spanish Ship being sorely battered was taken into the midst of the Fleet to be repaired And an huge Ship Biscaie of Don Oquendo's in which was a great part of the Kings Treasure was fired by a Flemish Gunner for being misused by them but the Fire was quickly quenched All this while the Spaniards declined fighting walling in the rest with their strongest Ships in which posture they made a flying March towards Calice and a great Gallion wherein was Don Pedro de Valdez Vasquez de Silva Alenzo de Saias and other Noblemen being battered with English shot in avoiding it fell foul of another Ship whereby she lost her Fore-mast and could not keep up with the rest and was cast behind But night coming on our Admiral past her supposing there was nothing left in her and fearing to lose sight of the Spaniards he followed the Lanthorn of the Spaniards which he thought was carried as was appointed by Sir Francis Drake but he was pursuing 2 Ships he thought Spanish but when he came up to them he found they were Friends and so dismissed them Yet by this mistake of his the greatest part of the Fleet wanting his light was forced to lye still so that he and the rest could not fetch up our Admiral till next day July 22th Sir Francis Drake espied the aforesaid Gallion and sent forth a Pinnace to command them to yield Valdez answered that they were 430 and himself was Don Pedro and stood on his honour the other replyed if he did not yield forthwith he should know Drake was no Dastard Pedro hearing that it was Sir Francis Drake instantly yielded himself and coming aboard Sir Francis Ship protested they would have died before they had yielded to any save him whom Mars and Neptune alwaies attended and whose civility to the Conquered had often been experienced Sir Francis to requite his Complements placed him at his own Table and lodged him in his own Cabine the rest he sent to Plimouth where they remained Prisoners till their Ransom was paid The same day Michael de Oquendo Vice-Admiral of the Fleet his Ship was on Fire the upper part of it being burnt but the Gunpowder in the hold not taking Fire the Ship fell into the Hands of the English and was carried in to Plimouth All this day the Admiral spent in setting his Fleet in order appointing every Ship his Station commanding them on pain of Death not to desert it and sent one to the Prince of Parma to acquaint him with his Condition July 23. early the Spaniards taking the benefit of a Northerly Wind turned about against the English but the English being nimbler than they turned Westwards and quickly recovered the Wind of them and all that day battered those Wooden Castles The fight was variable whilst on the one side the English bravely rescued the London Ships and on the other the Spaniards as stoutly delivered Richalde most of the Spanish shot flew over the English without hurting them but the English never discharged a shot on the Spaniards but did Execution The English Admiral would not hazard a fight by grappling with them as some had advised knowing they had a strong Army in the Fleet besides the strength of their Ships which could not but
at extreme disadvantage be boarded This day besides other remarkable losses the Enemy sustained a great Venetian Ship with other Smaller were taken by the English and the Spaniards gathered themselves into a round their greatest Ships standing outmost to guard the battered Ships July 24th the 4 great Galliasses fought with some English Ships who galled the Enemy with their shot But our Men wanting Powder the Admiral sent some Ships to fetch supply In the mean while it was ordered by a Council of War that the English Fleet should be divided into 4 Squadrons and the Admiral was Chief Sir Fracnis Drake led the 2d Capt. Hawkins the 3d and Capt. Forbusher the 4th July 25th at the Isle of Wight there was a sharp Encounter The St. Ann a Portugal Gallion was set upon by some English Frigates to whose rescue came 3 Galliasses which the Admiral and Lord Tho. Howard charged so that they could scarce save her It was reported that this day the Spanish Admiral was grievously rent with great Ordnance and had been near taken had not 2 Ships come up to her after whose coming they set upon the English Admiral but she made her escape The Spanish Admiral sent again to the Prince of Parma to joyn his Fleet with them and send them supply July 26. the English Admiral to encourage his Captains bestowed the Order of Knighthood on several that had behaved themselves courageously And it was resolved by all that they would no more assail the Enemy till they came to the Strait of Calice where the Lord Henry Seimour with his Ships waited their coming And so far was this Armado from terrifying the English Coasts that they hired Ships from all parts on their own Charges and came to our supply of whom were the Earl of Oxford Northumberland Cumberland with several other Gentlemen July 27. the Spanish Fleet setting forward anchored before Calice intending to joyn with the Prince of Parma's Forces at Dunkirk The English followed hard upon them and cast Anchor within Culvering shot of them consisting now of 140 Sail the Lord Hen. Seimour and Capt. Winter having joyned them From hence once more the D. of Medina sent to the Prince of Parma and several of the Spanish Nobility went ashore among whom was the Prince of Ascoli the Kings Base Son who returned no more his Ship was afterwards cast away on the Irish Coast The Prince of Parma being by them persuaded that the Spaniards had the better conceived great hopes of his future Advancement yet his joy was but short for the next Evening he had news of the Spaniards bad success And indeed he could not in that Juncture assist them for his Boats leaked his Provisions failed and his Seamen withdrew from him as also he could not get out by reason of a considerable Fleet of Dutch well furnished that lay before Dunkirk and Newport In the mean while Queen Elizabeth ordered the Lord Admiral to take 8 of his worst Ships and fill them with Combustible matter and to charge their Guns with Bullets Stones Chains c. which was accordingly done and on Sunday July 28. at 2 a Clock in the Morning they were let drive amongst the Spaniards under the Guidance of Yong and Prowse who having fired their Trains and returned such a sudden Thunderclap was given that the Poor Spaniards were wonderfully amazed and to avoid this danger had no other Remedy but to cut their Cables and drive at Random where they had several Disasters some of them fell foul upon another others ran aground on the Sands and some of them fell into the English's Hands In this surprizal the Duke of Medina ordered the whole Fleet to weigh Anchor to avoid the danger which done to return to their Station and he accordingly gave a signal to the rest to do it by discharging his great Guns but in this Consternation the Warning was heard but by a few the rest being scattered July 29. After this disaster the Spaniards in the best order they could came over against Graveling where the English deprived them of the conveniency of Calice Road and kept them from supply out of Dunkirk And Drake and Fenner incessantly discharged their Guns on them as also the Lord Admiral and others On the other hand the Duke of Medina Leva c. at last got clear of the Shallows yet most of their Ships were pitifully torn and shot through besides several that were sunk The Gallion St. Matthew coming to rescue the St. Philip was together with the other miserably torn with shot by Seimour and Winter and afterwards driven near Ostend and at last taken by the Dutch Francisco de Toledo a Colonel over 32 Bands his Ship proved so leaky that he with some others left her the Ship afterwards was taken by the Flushingers The Spaniards disappointed of their brave Designs were now content to defend themselves and the Wind turning S. W. they passed Dunkirk the English following them close And the English Admiral dispatched the Lord Henry Seimour to the Coast of Flanders to stop the Prince of Parma's coming out and to joyn with the Hollanders there July 31. early the N. W. Wind blew hard and the Spanish laboured to recover the Narrow Strait but were driven towards Zealand The English gave off the Chase as seeing them near Ruin But the Wind turning S. W. and by W. they got clear of the Shallows and that Evening called a Council wherein it was resolved to return into Spain by the Northern Passage And thereupon they directed their Course Northward and the English followed them to prevent their landing in Scotland Yet most thought they would return again whereupon our Queen with a Masculine Courage viewed her Army at Tilbury and walking through the Ranks with a Truncheon in her Hand wonderfully encouraged all of them But the Spaniards betook themselves to an absolute Flight and bended their Course towards Norway and being now freed of the English consulted seriously what to do they were tender of the Popes credit feared the wrath of King Philip that the Glory of the Spaniards would be laid in the Dust The Invincible Armado became a Scorn if they returned so into Spain On the other hand they considered that 5000 Souldiers were slain many maimed 12 of their greatest Ships sunk lost or taken their Cables Masts or Sails cut rent and broken their Provisions failing c. which things considered they concluded to go quickly to Spain And knowing that the King of Scots would not supply them nor the King of Norway they cast all their Horses and Mules over Board to spare their fresh Water And so steering their Course to sail about Cathenes and the Coast of Ireland they steered between the Orcades and the Isles of Farr unto 61. deg North. Lat. from whence the Duke of Medina with his best stored Ships took Westwards over the Main towards Biscay and at last arrived in Spain where he was deposed from all his Authority discharged the
morning our Captain designed to go a Fishing and going aboard the Swan he desired his Brother to go with him who desired him to stay alittle and he would immediately attend him Our Captain perceiving the Carpenter had fulfilled his desire demanded of them why their Bark was so deep Whereupon his Brother sent one down to the Steward to know what was the matter who going down immediately alarum'd them with news that the Ship was full of Water Whereupon all hands were set to work but all in vain Our Captain consulting with them about it found that despairing of saving her they referred to him what should be done And therefore he proposed to them that he would go into the Pinnace till such time as a Frigate were provided and that his Brother should be Captain in the Admiral and the Master should be also there with him instead of this which seeing she could not be saved he would have fired that the Enemy might not have her but first that every one should take out of her what they lacked or liked This was put in execution that night and so our Captain had his desire having now men enough for his Pinnaces The next day we resolved to seek out a fit place in the Sound of Dorienne where we might leave our Ship at Anchor undiscovered by the Enemy that so the Enemy imagining us departed we might better follow our purposes with our Pinnaces And accordingly we departed for the said Sound and in 5 days reached it where we stayed 15 days keeping very close that our Enemies might think we were departed Here we were not Idle but besides our trimming and fitting our Pinnaces he caused us rid a Plat of Ground to build us Houses for our Lodging wherein the Negroe was serviceable to us As also at spare times we had several sorts of recreations as every man fancied After the fifteen days expired our Captain leaving the Ship with his Brother took 2 Pinnaces for Rio Grand and passing by Carthagene when we were within 2 Leagues of the River we Landed to the Westwards on the Main Where seeing some Indians they asked us what we would have and knowing we desired fresh Victuals they brought us some for which courtesie our Captain sufficiently rewarded them Thence we departed to Rio Grand where we entred at 3 in the Afternoon From thence till night we rowed up the stream making but small progress We moared our Pinnaces to a Tree that night by reason of a huge shower of Rain with Terrible Claps of Thunder which is usual there and continues about three quarters of an hour after which it was very calm and then we were infested with Flies called Mushitos like our Gnats which bite spitefully our best remedy against them was Juice of Lemons At Break of day we departed up the River where we espied a Canow with 2 Indians fishing in the River but we spoke not to them for being descried nor they to us thinking us Spaniards Afterwards we espied certain houses on the other side the River And a Spaniard which kept those houses thinking us his Country men made a Smoke for a sign to us to turn that way but when we drew near him he saw his mistake and so fled from his houses which were 5 in number full of white Rusk Bacon with several other Provisions to serve the Fleet returning to Spain With store of this we loaded our Pinnaces and hastned our departure by reason of intelligence we had of certain Indians that the Frigats 30 in number which usually transport Merchandise out of Spain to Cartagena thence to these houses and so in Canows up to Nueva Reyno and return in Exchange Gold Treasure and Commodities of that Kingdom were not returned from Cartagena since the first report of our being there Sep. 10. As we returned to our Pinnaces the Spaniards sent down the Indians of Villa del Rey with Bows and Arrows against us but we rowed down the Stream one League and Anchored till the morning then we got to the Mouth of the River where we unladed our Provisions cleansed our Pinnaces and took it in again and then went Westward Sep. 11. Between Cartagena and Tolou we took 5 or 6 Frigats laden with Victuals we set the Men at liberty having heard all we could of 'em keeping only two of the Frigats well stored with Victuals Three days after we arrived at Port-plenty where we built 4 Store-houses to keep our Provision in several Leagues asunder that if the Enemy should surprize any one we might be furnished by another our Negroes being very useful to us in this Work At this time Captain John Drake fortunately found out the Symerons as he rowed aloaf the Shore by the direction of our aforesaid Negroe Diego who calling to the Symerons dealt so effectually with them that he gave and received two men as pledges of Fidelity appointing a meeting next day at a River midway between the Cabezas and our Ships called Rio Diego These two being well qualified men did with all reverence declare to our Captain their great joy conceived by his arrival as knowing him to be an Enemy to the Spaniards and therefore were ready to assist him against their Enemies to the utmost and that their captain did then stay at the mouth of Rio Diego to attend his pleasure and that they would have come by Land to this place but that the way is very troublesome by reason of steep Mountains deep Rivers and thick Brakes desiring therefore our Captain would take order about it Our Captain weighing their Speech with former Intelligence and comparing it with their great kindness towards his Brother resolved with his Brother and the two Symerons in his two Pinnaces to go towards the River which he did that night ordering the rest of their company to follow them next morning because there was a place of great safety The safety of it consisted not only that it was a fruitful Countrey and that no Spaniards were there but especially that it lyeth among a great many goodly Islands full of Trees where though there be Channels yet there are such Rocks and Shoals that no man can enter by night nor by day without discovery whereas our Ship might lye hidden within the Trees Sep. 14. The next day we met with them at the aforesaid place the rest being at a miles distance After we had entertained them and received testimonies of their good will we took 2 more of them into our Pinnaces leaving our 2 men with them appointing a meeting with them and some more at the River Guana So we departed towards our Ship Sept. 16. Two days after we found her being much damnified by tempest And having repaired her Sept. 18. Our Captain sent a Pinnace towards the bottom of the Bay to found out the Channel for the bringing her in and the next day got her safe into the best Channel it was 5 miles distant from the Cativaas betwixt the Island
with Pillage and hasting to go before us lost himself in the Woods and as we afterwards knew he was taken by the Spaniards that night and upon Torture shewed them where we hid our Treasure We marched all that day and the next to Rio Francisco to meet our Pinnaces but when we came thither we saw seven Spanish Pinnaces Whereupon we were afraid that they had taken or spoiled ours our Captain having given them strict charge to repair thither But the night before there having fallen much Rain and the Wind contrary and boysterous our Pinnaces could not come thither whereby they were preserved from the danger of falling into the Spaniards hands who had been sent on purpose to take our Pinnaces upon their hearing that we intercepted the Treasure our Captain fearing lest having taken our Pinnaces they had forced our Men by Torture to confess where his Frigat and Ships were yet he comforted us when we were fearing the worst said to us It is no time now to fear but rather to hast to prevent that which is feared And suppose the Enemy to have taken our Frigats yet it would require time to examine Mariners and to execute their resolution before which time we might get to our Ships tho not by Land yet by Water Let us therefore make a Raft with Trees that are happily brought down the River this last Storm and put our selves to Sea I will be one who will be the other John Smith offered himself and two Frenchmen that could swim well and a Symeron especially Pedro who was left behind because he could not Row The Raft was fitted and a Sail of Bisket Sack prepared An Oar was shaped out of a young Tree to serve for a Rudder Our Captain at his departure promised that if it pleased God he got safe aboard his Frigat he would in despite of the Spaniards get them all aboard Thus they sailed three Leagues sitting continually up to the Waste in Water and at every Surge of the Waves to the Armpits whereby their Skins were much fretted At last they see the two Pinnaces to our Captains great joy who knowing them chearfully declared to the rest that they were our Pinnaces and that all was safe But the Pinnaces not seeing the Raft nor suspecting any such matter and Night and Wind growing on were forced to turn into a Cover behind the Point to stay that night Which our Captain seeing put his Rafter a shore and ran by Land about the Point where he found there who upon sight of him made as much hast to have him Aboard as being afraid he was chased by the Enemy seeing him thus running and attended by so few But when he was got Aboard he rid them of their doubts shewing them a Quoit of Gold thanking God that our Voyage was made And he told the Frenchmen that their Captain with two of his Men were left behind sore wounded but it should be no disadvantage to them That night our Captain Rowed to Rio Francisco where he took in the rest with the Treasure and by dawning of the Day sailed back to our Frigat and from thence to our Ship and then divided the Gold and Silver equally betwixt the French and English About a fortnight after having taken all necessaries out of our Ship into our Frigat and given her to the Spaniards we had detained all this time we set out with the French Ship Riding some days by the Cabezas In the mean time our Captain sâ—â—… twelve of our Men with sixteen Symerons to try if they could liberate the French Captain that was taken or at least bring away the Treasure we had hid John Oxnam and Thâ— Sherwell were intrusted with it For they would by no means hazard our Captain who yet conveyed them ashore at Rio Francisco where he received one of the Frenchmen who having escaped the Spaniards waâ— now coming towards our Pinnace he told us that within half an hour after our departure the Spaniards overtook them and took his Captain and his companion but that he escaped by reason he cast away all his carriage and that thereby he made himself fit for flight As for our Silver we hid he thought it was all carryed away for near 2000 Spaniards and Negroes were digging up all the ground thereabout for it Notwithstanding this our Men went to the place and for all the narrow search that was made brought back to our Frigate 13 Bars of Silver and some Quoits of Gold Now we purposed to go homewards and our Captain in order thereunto designed to look for a sufficient Ship to carry so much Victuals as might serve for our Voyage The French-men having formerly gone from us met with us again and were very loth to leave us but accompanied us to St. Bernards and would further but that we heard the Fleet was ready to Sail for Spain riding near Cartagena Thus we departed from them passing by Cartagena in fight of all the Fleet with a Flag of St. George in the Main Top of our Frigate with Silk Streamers and Ancients down to the Water Sailing forwards till night when we lay off and on bearing small Sail. About Midnight we took a Frigate come from Rio Grand of 25 Tuns laden with Maiz Hens and Hogs with some Honey which was then very useful as reviving our crazed People The next morning we set the Prisoners ashore and without stop Sailed to the Cabezas where we hove all our lading ashore and brought our Frigats on the Carine and new tallowed them Being ready to depart we burnt our Pinnaces that the Symerons might have the Iron work and our Captain desired Pedro with some others of them to take what they had a mind to in the Ship promising to with-hold nothing from them without which we could subsist in our Voyage and that he would look out some Silks and Linnen for their Wives which while he was choosing out of his Trunks Pedro espyed the Cymeter the French Captain had given him and had a great mind to it and being loth to ask our Captain for it himself he desired another to do it for him promising him a Quoit of Gold for his pains and that he would give our Captain 4 other great Quoits Our Captain being accordingly moved for it though unwilling to part with it yet willing to gratifie him that had deserved so well gave it him He was exceedingly rejoyced hereat declaring that he would present his King with it who he knew would make him a great man for it and in requital he desired our Captain to accept four pieces of Gold Our Captain received it in most kind sort but put it not to his own private use but caused it to be cast to the whole adventure saying that it was reason that they which bare part of his burthen in setting him to Sea should share in the profit Thus we took our leave of that People setting over to the Islands of and thence towards Cape St.
went a little from us and pierced hie Leg with an Arrow till the Blood streamed hereby signifying his unfeigned Love They were in all that conversed with us about 50. In the Southermost part of this Bay there is a fresh Water River wherein are a great many Islands of which some have such store of Seals as would mantain an Army of men others are in like sort replenished with Foul. We could not perceive that People had any Boats or Canows to come to these Islands Their Victuals for ought we saw they eat raw They go all Armed with Bows an Elve long with Arrows of Reeds and headed with Flint-stone Artificially cut and fastened This Bay by reason of plenty of Seals we called Seal Bay for we killed 200 in one hour And being now well provided we Sailed thence June 3. towards the Pole Antarctick June 12. we Anchored in a little Bay and stayed 2 days discharging our Caunter the Christopher which we laid up here June 14. We departed and kept our course till the 17th then we Anchored in a Bay in 50 deg 20 min. distant not above a degree off the mouth of the Streights through which lay our way to the South Sea Here our General altered his course and steered Northward to seek after our Ship we had lost because that if we entred the Streight without them it would go hard with them And next day being June 19. towards night within a few Leagues of St. Julian we found her and because both Ship and men were distressed by weather our General bare into St. Julian June 20. that he might repair her and refresh them It standeth in 49 deg 3 min. South Lat. and hath on the South side of the Harbor picked Rocks and in the Harbor many Islands Being come to Anchor our General with some of his Company rowed further in a Boat to find out a place for Watering At his landing 2 of the Inhabitants by Magellane called Patagous or Pentagours from their huge stature and strength visited him seeming to rejoyce at his arrival taking great pleasure in seeing Mr. Oliver Master Gunner of the Admiral shoot an English Arrow trying to shoot with him but were far short of him Another of these came up and checkt his fellows for their familiarity with us and dealt with them to become our Enemies which our General and his men not suspecting used them as before and one Robert Winter shooting an Arrow at length his Bow-strings broke which they seeing fearing that more than our other weapons took courage and coming behind them while they suspecting nothing were going towards their Boat shot at him who had the Bow that he might not string it again and wounded him in the Shoulder whereupon he turning about was with another Arrow shot through his Lungs yet he fell not And the Master Gunner discharging his Calliver which miscarried was slain outright In this extremity our General behaving himself Wisely and Couragiously ordered his men to shift from place to place encroaching upon the Enemy and to use their Targets and other weapons for their defence and to break as many Arrows as they could come by knowing that their Arrows being spent they could have them at their pleasure And he himself shooting off the Calliver dispatched the beginner of the quarrel who had killed our Master Gunner whereby the courage of his partners was abated so that they were glad to save themselves by flight Our General chose rather to depart than take revenge that he might save one of his men who was dangerously wounded who notwithstanding dyed 2 days after he was carried aboard Our Gunners Body being left ashore that night our General next day with his Boat well manned went ashore to fetch it which they found lying where it was left but stript of his outer Garment and an Arrow stuck in his right Eye Both these Bodies were decently interred in one Grave Magellane rightly termed them Giants for they differ from the common sort of men in Stature Bigness Strength of Body and Hideousness of Voice but they are not so monstrous or Giant like as reported there being some English men as tall as they But the Spanish cruelties have made them more monstrous in mind than they are in Body and inhospitable to Strangen Notwithstanding the terror they conceived of us so quench't their heat that they forgot revenge and seeming to repent of the wrong done us suffered us to do what we would for 2 months space without molestation To this evil received of them a greatr was devised among our selves but it was detected and prevented in time which if it had taken our General and his faithful Friends had been murthered to the final frustrating of our whole design This Plot had been contrived at Plimouth and was discovered to our General there yet our General gave no credit to it as being a person he had such affection to And therefore afterward he not only continued his favour to this suspected person but used him as his bosom friend And he was often offended at them who discovered the Treachery to him But at length perceiving his lenity did no good and that his Ambition was not allyed he resolved to call his practices in question before it were too late And therefore assembling his Captains he had him before them where the Gentleman knowing himself Guilty shewing great remorse for his unkind dealing besought them to execute justice upon him Whereupon they all adjudged him worthy of death This judgments was held ashore in one of the Islands of that Port which in memory of that was called the Island of True Justice and Judgment He desired to receive the Sacrament before his death which was granted And John Fletcher Preacher of the Fleet administred it to him Our General likewise communicating with him afterwards they dined together as lovingly as ever they had done and took their farewel as they had only been going a Journey After dinner the sentence was executed upon him he shewing great remorse for that heinous crime and great signs of devotion at his death Afterwards we buried him setting a Mill-stone we found there broke in two at his head and feet and engraved thereod the names of our men that were buried and a memorial of our Captains name in Latine After he was executed our General discharging the Mary our Portugal Prize being leak defaced her and having Watered and Trimmed our Ships and reduced our Fleet to 3 Ships besides our Pinnaces we departed this Port Aug. 3. and set our course for the Streight S. W. Aug. 20. We fell with the Cape near which is the entrance into the Streight by the Spaniards called Capo Virgin Maria appearing at 4 Leagues distance with steep gray Cliffs full of black Stars against which the Sea beating represents the spouting of Whales the highest Cape being like Cape Vincent in Portugal At this Cape our General caused his Fleet in homage to our Soveraign Lady the Queens
of defence that if they attempted any thing against us might we prevent it When they came near us they gave us a general Salutation after which he that bare the Scepter spake aloud what another whispered him in the ear for half an hour which was ended with a general Amen and all the rest save the Children came down the Hill setting themselves in their former order Being come near us the Scepter-bearer with a stately carriage began a song dancing thereto as also did the King and all the rest save the Women who danced but did not sing Our General perceiving their simple meaning ordered that they might have free entrance they entring continued their Song and Dance a pretty while their Women following with their Baskets their faces c. torn as aforesaid Afterwards they made a sign to our General to sit down and the King with others made several Speeches esiring him by signs to take upon him the Kingdom and afterwards with one consent they set the Crown upon his Head with other Ceremonies honouring him by the name of Hyoh ending the Solemnity with Songs and Dances These things our General accepted of taking them in the Name and to the Use of Her Majesty The Ceremonies ended the common People of them leaving the King with our General went among our People and finding such as pleased their Fancies which commonly were the youngest of us they enclosing them round offered sacrifices Crying with lamentable shreeks weeping scratching and tearing the flesh off their Faces After our necessary businesses were dispatched our General with some of his Company went up into the Land to be better acquainted with the Nature and Commodities of their Country The Inland we found to be of a very fruitful soyl Stored with all things fit for man particularly fat Deer in great numbers There were likewise a strange sort of Conies their heads and bodies like other Conies but smaller their Tails like that of a Rat and their Feet like the Paws of a Mole Under their Chins on each side they have a Bag into which they gather their meat when their Bellies are full to feed their young or sorve themselves another time Their Skins are of great account for their Kings Holy-days coat is made of them This Country our General called Albion from the White Banks which lye toward the Sea Before our departure thence our General caused to be set up a Plate of Brass nailed to a Post with her Majesties name and picture and Arms on a Sixpence the day and year of our Arrival and of their resigning the Kingdom into Her Majesties hands as a Monument of Her Majesties Right and Title to that Kingdom And now the time of our departure approaching those People who had formerly so much joy in our Company were now sorrowful and dejected beyond all measure all their former joy being metamorphosed into Mourning at the report of our departure July 23. They took a sorrowful Welfare of us entreating us to remember them in our absence and to return to them and immediately ran up to the tops of the Hills to keep sight of us as long as they could making Fires on all hands Near this place lye some Islands which we called the Islands of St. James where we had a great many Seals and Birds Our General now considering that the cold encreased the Sun being now nearer the South left off his design of finding passage through the Northern parts and therefore with consent of the rest bent his Course for the Moluccaes and sailed without sight of Land for 68 days space and Sept. 30. came to some Islands lying in 8 deg North. Lat. As soon as we were perceived a great number of Canows came towards us bringing with them Coquo's Fish Potato's c. Their Canows as most of the Moluccaes are made of one Tree hollowed within with great art very smooth their Prow and Stern were of one fashion yielding inward very high and hanged full of glistering shells on each side their Canows lay out 2 pieces of Timber to keep them from overwhelming The People have the nether part of their ears cut round hanging down on their Cheeks the Nails on some of their Fingers were an Inch long and their Teeth black as Pitch the colour whereof they use to renew with a certain Powder The first Company of those Canows began to Traffique with us peaceably entreating us to go nearer the shore that they might easilier prey upon us But these passing away others came that discovered their Natures for when they got any thing in their hands they would neither give recompence nor restore it and being rejected for their bad dealing they began to resent it throwing stones at us which they had brought on purpose whereupon our General caused let fly a great Gun at the noise of which they frightned leapt out of their Canows into the Water and diving under the Keel of their Boat stayed there till we were gone a good way from them and then recovered their Canows and made hast to the shore Notwithstanding we were afterwards troubled with others of the same gang and could not be rid of them till we made them smart And so we left this Island Octob. 23. naming it the Island of Thieves and Octob. 16. fell with 4 Islands in 7 deg 5 min. North. Lat. Octob. 21. we anchored at the biggest of them called Mindanao Oct. 25. we passed by the Island Talao and to the Northward of it saw 3 Islands Teda Selan Saran and Nov. 1. we past the Isle Suaro in 1 deg 30 min. and Nov. 3. came in sight of the Moluccaes They are 4 high picked Islands very fruithful yielding abundance of Cloves East from them lyes a great Island called Gillola We intended to go to Tidore but coasting an Island of the King of Terenat's his Deputy came off to us who entreated our General to stay at Terenate for that his King would be glad of his coming and would assist him to his utmost Power whereas if he went to Tidore inhabited by Portugals he would find them deceitful and besides that then his King would not receive us as being at enmity with them Hereupon our General next Morning came to an anchor there and sent a Messenger to the King with a Velvet Cloak for a present signifying to him that he desired to be supplyed with necessaries for which he would give him other goods and likewise that it was by persuasion of his Viceroy that he came thither But before this the Viceroy had spoke to the King on our behalf shewing how beneficial an Alliance with us would be to him and how discouraging to his Enemies Whereupon the King immediately sent the Viceroy with others of his Nobles to our General to shew him that he was ready to do any thing for us that lay in his power upon our Prince's account and that he would shortly visit us in our Ship By that time they came to us our
honour of our Queens Coronation day In the mean while the Lieut. Gen. stayed upon the Hill with most of his Forces till the Town was quartered out for lodging the Army which done every Captain took his own Quarter and in the evening kept susficient Guard to prevent danger Here we stayed 14 days taking such spoils as the place afforded but found no Treasure The Situation of St. Jago is in Form like to a Triangle having on the East and West sides 2 Rocky Mountains on the top of which were built some Fortifications one the South side is the Main Sea and on the North a Valley between the aforesaid Mountains the Valley and Town grow very narrow between the 2 Clifts In the midst of the Valley cometh down a Brook of fresh Water which hard by the Sea maketh a Pond very convenient for Watering The Valley at the Towns End is wholly converted into Gardens and Orchards wherein are diverse sorts of Herbs Fruits and Trees among which are the Cocoes and Plantens The Cocoes have a hard shell and green Husk over it bigger than a mans 2 Fists of the shell drinking Cups are made within this shell is a white Rine resembling the White of an Egg when it is hard boyled and within that a Water whitish and clear about a half Pint which are very cool and as some say restorative The Planten groweth in Cods like to Beans but bigger and when it is ripe the meat of it becometh yellow and is very pleasant While we abode here a Portugal came hither with a Flag of Truce to whom Capt. Sampson and Goring were sent as they came to him he asked of what Nation they were and being told he asked if there were Wars between England and Spain they answered our General could best satisfie him in that and proffered him safe conduct if he would go to him but he refused pretending he was not sent by his Governor Then they told him that if his Governor would consult his own or his Countreys good his best course were to present himself to our General Sir Fancis Drake whereby he might assuredly find favour otherwise within 3 days we would march over the Land and prosecute them with Fire and Sword Nov. 24. The Gen. Lieut. Gen. with 600 Men marched to Sancto Domingo a Village 12 Miles within the Land where the Governor Bishop and better sort lodged but found it abandoned After we had stayed a while we marched homewards as we were on our way we saw the Enemy both Horse and Foot though not of such Force as to encounter us Nov. 26. Our General ordered the Army to be embarqued into their Ships and Capt. Goring and Lieut. Tucker with 100 Foot were ordered to make a stand in the Market place till our Forces were all embarqued the Vice-Admiral waiting to take them aboard And also our General ordered Capt. Sampson with a Party to seek out such Munition as was hidden in the ground at the Town of Praie having been promised to be shewed it by a Prisoner taken the day before When they came thither the Prisoner failed of his promise and they searching all suspected places found a Piece of Ordnance of Iron and another of Brass In the afternoon our General anchored the Fleet before Praie and went ashore and caused us burn the Town and afterwards embarqued the same night and put off to Sea Southwest Before our departure from St. Jago the Gen. administred the Oath of Supremacy to the Souldiers as also an Oath for every man to do his utmost for the service of the Action and to obey the Orders of the Gen. and his Officers All the time of our being here none of the Spaniards came near us the cause of which we conjecture was the fresh remembrance of Injuries they had done some of our Countreymen by reason whereof we left tokens of our discontent From hence we put over to the West Indies and in our way were afflicted with a grievous distemper whereof above 300 died in a few days This sickness seised our People with extream heat and a burning Ague and those that escaped suffered a great diminution in their strength and wits In 18 days space we had sight of the Island of Dominica which is inhabited by a savage People who go all naked their Skin is coloured with paint of a reddish Tawney personable and strong men they admit little converse with the Spaniards yet they used us very kindly helping us with necessaries they brought us store of Tobacco as also a kind of Bread called Cassado very white and savory made of the Roots of Cassania for which we gave them Glass coloured Beads c. From hence we went to the Westwards of St. Christophers Island where we spent some days of Christmass but could see no Inhabitants Here it was unanimously resolved to proceed to Hispaniola And by the way we met a small Frigat bound thither which we took and having examined the Men one of them informed us that it was a barren Haven and the Land well fortified with a Castle so that we could not land within 10 Miles of the City to which place he promised to conduct us Hereupon we went on all this night in our Voyage and the General put himself into the Bark Francis as Admiral and in the Morning we came to the aforesaid place 10 Miles Westward of Domingo When we were landed our General returned to his Fleet committing the Charge of us to the Lieut. Gen. We marched at 8 a Clock and at Noon we approached the Town where those of the better sort about 150 Horse began to present themselves but we so played upon them with our small shot that they soon retreated so that we had leave to proceed towards the two Gates of the Town that were next the Sea They had manned them both and planted their Ordnance and also some Troops of small shot in Ambuscado by the way side We divided our whole Force being 1200 to attack both the Gates Their Ordnance was no sooner discharged on us doing but small execution but our Lieut. Gen. advanced with all speed to prevent their recharging and notwithstanding their Ambuscadoes we quickly entred the Gates and forthwith repaired to a spacious Square before the great Church whither also came Capt. Powel with the other Party This place we fortified and stayed here all day After Midnight they that were in the Castle hearing us at the Gates forsook it some flying others taken Prisoners Next day we quartered through the Town and kept this Town a Month. One day as we stayed here the Gen. sent on Message to the Spaniards a Negroe Boy with a Flag of White this Boy meeting unhappily with some Spaniards they struck him through the Body with one of the Horsemen staves the Boy notwithstanding returned to our General and after he had declared it to him died forthwith in his presence Whereat our General was so incensed that he caused two Friars then
chased a Spanish Frigat and on the 11th brought it to our General The same day our General commanded all our sick Men to be carried ashore and to be lookt to in best sort we could Jan. 22. We departed back towards Nombre de Dios and came to Porta Vella Jan. 27. on which day Sir Francis Drake died whose Death was much lamented His Interment was thus His Corps being laid in a Coffin of Lead he was let down into the Sea the Trumpets in doleful manner sounding all the while and all the Cannons in the Fleet were discharged We stayed here till Feb. 8. In this Harbor they were beginning to build Houses again The day before we departed the Enemy took 6 of our Men. Feb. 18. we departed hence we took our course for Gemico North and by West Feb. 2. we descried some Islands called Gourdanes distant from Porta Vella 200 Leagues and West from Gemico To the East they are high Land to the West low we sailed to the Cape of Corenthus Feb. 27. we passed the Shoals to the West of this low Land one of our Ships being in danger and Mar. 1. we saw 20 of the Kings Men of War and afterwards fought with them 2 Hours and worsted them we plyed the Vice-Admiral so hard that if she had not fled she had sunk and another that was with her her Powder took Fire Next day we sailed to Cape St. Anthony Thirteen of them following us when they came nigh us we sent 2 Ships to them but they made away May 4. we came to St. Anthony distant from Cape Corenthus 18. Leagues thence to Havana 80 Leagues thence to the Gulf. The same day we saw Cape Florida N. W. and by N. from us and afterwards entred the Gulf in Length 100 Leagues and passed it next night March 9. we past the Barmuthies April 8. 1596. we came to the Islands of Flowers and Cores inhabited by Portugals here we watered and in short time after arrived at England A Brief RELATION Of the Spanish Invasion TO conclude we shall give you a Brief account of the defeat of the Spanish Armado being this worthy Gentlemen served in Her Majesties Fleet set out against it The King of Spain being importuned by the Pope and some English Fugitives to attempt a conquest of England entred into consultation about the manner of it The Marquess of St. Cruce who was to command the Armado and the Prince of Parma were for first surprizing some Sea Port Town in Holland or Zealand But others alledged that it would be easier to seize some Port in England which latter was approved of And in order thereto he set forth the Armado being in all 130 Ships containing 57808 Tun wherein were 845 Mariners 19295 Souldiers and 2088 Galley Slaves and were provided with 220000 of Bullets and great Shot of Powder 4200 Kintals each Kintal 100 l. weight of Lead for Bullets 1000 Kintals of Match 1200 Kintals 7000 Musquets 10000 Halberts and Partizans with store of Murthering Pieces Double Cannon and Field Pieces with all other Provisions necessary for accomplishing their design The Marquess of Sancta Cruce dying Don Lodovicos Peros Duke of Medina Sidonia was made General in his Place Joh. Martinez de Richalde was Admiral Don Francisco Bovadille Mareschal Don Martin Alcaron was Vicar-General for the Inquisition attended with 100 Jesuites Cardinal Allen was appointed Superintendent of Ecclesiastical Affairs in England The Prince of Parma also built flat bottomed Ships in Flanders for carrying of Horses with Bridges fitted to ship and unship the Horses he set men at work to make the River navigable from Antwerp to Gaunt and Bridges and laded 300 Boats with Munition and Victuals 200 more not so big as the former lay ready at Newport Haven and 37 Men of War at Dunkirk with all other Provisions requisite to carry on the design He had lying near Newport under the Command of Camillo 30 Companies of Italians 2 of Walloons and 8 of Burguignons At Dyxmew he mustered 80 Companies of Netherlanders 60 of Spaniards and 60 of High-Dutch and 700 Fugitive English commanded by Sir William Stanley who were in great contempt Nor was Stanley nor the Earl of Westmorland and others who offered their service heard but barred all access and rejected as Traiters to their Countrey At Conick also he had 4000 and at Watene 900 Horse commanded by the Marquess of Guast To this Land service came the Duke of Pastrana the King of Spain's supposed Base Son the Marquess of Bourgon one of Duke Ferdinands Sons with others of like Quality Pope Sixtus Quintus was very forward in this design dispersing his Indulgences and Pardons to all that contributed thereto and promised likewise to give a Million of Gold the one half presently the other when any notable Haven in England should be won but with this Proviso that England should be held as Feudatory to the See of Rome Queen Elizabeth hearing of these great Preparations having first represented her case to God and implored his Protection she provided what force she could The Charge of her Navy she committed to Charles Howard of Effingam Lord Admiral of England Her Vice-Admiral was the Famous Sir Francis Drake who were sent to the West of England She appointed Henry Lord Seimour second Son to the Duke of Somerset to lye upon the Coasts of Flanders with 40 Ships to prevent the Prince of Parma's joyning his strength with the Armado She ordered the Land-forces to be mustered appointing Duilley Earl of Leicester Lieut. 20000. whereof were disposed along the South Coast She had also 2 Armies one consisting of 1000 Horse and 22000 Foot encamped near the Mouth of the Thames where the Enemy purposed to land the other led by the L. Hunsdon consisting of 34000 Foot and 2000 Horse which were to guard her Person Arthur Lord Grey Sir Francis Knolles Sir Rich Bingham and Sir Roger Williams were appointed to consult for Managing the Land service They advised that all commodious landing Places should be manned and fortified and that the Trained Bands throughout the Coast shires should meet upon signal given to hinder the Enemies Landing And in case they should land that they should lay all the Countrey about Waste that the Enemy might have no Food but what they brought from their Ships and that they should continually busy the Enemy with Alarms but not hazard a Battle till greater Force were got together Some also suggested that the Papists at home were more to be feared than the Spaniards abroad whereupon some of them were imprisoned Directions also were sent to the Deputy of Ireland how to demean himself in this imminent danger In the midst of these Preparations the King of Spain to cast a mist over her Majesties Eyes importuned for a Peace and at last prevailed so far that a Treaty of Peace was entred upon our Queen notwithstanding Resolving to treat with her Sword in her Hand And in Febr. she sent her Commissioners into Flanders