Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
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A00296
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A true relation of a brave English strategem practised lately vpon a sea-towne in Galizia, (one of the Kingdomes in Spaine) and most valiantly and succesfully performed by one English ship alone of 30. tonne, with no more than 35. men in her. As also, with two other remarkeable accidents betweene the English and Spaniards, to the glory of our nation.
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1626
(1626)
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STC 10419; ESTC S118018
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6,110
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16
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cut in the middle and such Wine and Beere offered them as they were furnished with This Entertainment carrying away all suspition with it Captaine Quaile inuited the Spanish Captaine and the rest of his company to his Cabbin In passing to which the Spanish Commander espied a peece of Ordnance at which starting backe and not halfe well pleased demanding why it lay there Quaile excused it and said that was all the protection they carryed about them to defend them from dangers and so with as much Cunning as hee could hee drew by complement and disguised faire language all the Spaniards into his Cabbin whither with good words he welcommed them and saluted them with Cannes of Wine which whiles they were tossing albeit the Spaniard is the most temperate drinker in the world and Captaine Quaile with his foote giuing a knocke for more That signe of the foot was a watch-word to fetch vp all his Marriners who crying St. George appeared in their full number euery man armde with a chargde Pistoll and short Sword drawne in his hand The Spaniards astonished at this vnexpected surprisall seeing no remedy yeelded themselues and so were all taken prisoners an assurance being giuen them by the English Captaine vpon the oath of a Souldier his honour and the faith of an English-man which to an Enemy he scornes to breake not a Spaniard there should be in any danger for his life so they would be quiet and silent otherwise Death Certaine Fishermen were all this while round about them at their labour yet perceiued nothing With all speed therefore that possibly could bee vsed Captaine Quaile and his Lieutenant making their Prisoners sure Manned out the two Spanish Skiffes with his English Muskatiers euery one of them lying downe in the Skiffes flat on his belly none that might be mistrusted being seene but such onely as Rowed the two Skiffes Then with great Circumspection attended vpon by a resolution to meete Death face to face they landed themselues and actiue as fire suddenly with little or no danger at all surprized the Platforme and with the same dexteritie were Masters of the Fort for the act being quicke as lightning so amazed the Spaniards that it tooke from them all apprehension not onely of feare but preuention or acknowledgement of that danger which trod vpon their heeles So that Captaine Quaile what with his owne successe and the others astonishment in a short time and without resistance seized vpon the Ordnance of the Plat-forme which turning and discharging vpon the Towne and his owne Barke likewise giuing fire to her Pieces on the other side Away ranne the people to the number of Two hundred persons besides Women and Children At the noise of these sudden terrours the Fishermen likewise cutting their Nets hastened as fast as they could to shore hauing more care to saue themselues than to catch any Fish and so flying vp into the Countrey the Towne was left naked and letten to new Land-lords Who meeting no Spaniards willing to be their Tenants and the English-men themselues being loath to tarrie amongst such bad neighbours they rifled both the Fort and the Towne and had the Pillaging of both for Eight houres together In which time they hurried to their Ship any thing that was of value and besides the abundance of much riches they brought away the Ordnance of the Fort the Bell out of the Church and the Challice and so without wrong to their persons putting their Spanish Prisoners into their owne Skiffes to shore they sent them with a warlike triumphing Farwell from their owne Pieces and are now with much honour arriued in England If this Example noble Country-men cannot giue you sufficient Incouragement doe but looke backe into the former Ages and take a briefe suruay what Honourable attempts exploits vndertakings and stratagems haue in forraigne Countries beene enterprized and atchieued by the English when braue Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster c. beeing but a Subiect without borrowing or charging of the Kings treasures out of his owne Purse and Coffers and assisted by his Friends and such voluntary Gentlemen as craued dependance vpon his Fortunes without Presse or compelling any man beating vp his Drummes leauied so sufficient an Army that with it hee Conquered all Spaine remoued the Vsurper and reinstated the expulsed Don Pedro and after by Interchangeable Marriages made himselfe and successiue Issue compettitors and allies to the Crowne and Dignitie Imperiall Of what Honours our Nation haue purchased from the French euen their owne Chronicles without the flatterie of ours giue ample and sufficient testimonie Witnesse the Battailes of Poytiers and Cressie fought by the Inuincible Souldier for the great terrour which hee brought into France called the Blacke Prince who with Inimitable valour Courage vndaunted and expedition almost beyond humaine apprehension against infinite oddes and nothing on his owne partie to incourage him saue want of number and disaduantage of place yet notwithstanding not onely desrouted their mightie Armies killing many and defeating all But brought the King Dolphin and all the Prince peeres of the land Prisoners and presented them at the feete of his Father The Scotch King taking the aduantage of the King of Englands then being in France who lay at Calice made Inrodes and Incursions into this Land whom the Queene Philip then destitute of all her Nobilitie and Gentry as being then with the King her Husband in France met with an Army of Priests Husbandmen Artificers and some few Gentlemen gaue him Battaile vanquisht his Armie tooke him Prisoner and added one thing more to the eternizing of her Husbands and Sonnes famous and renowned valours I omit the great Battaile fought by Henry the Fift at Agincourt with many others and least I be taxed of too great a digression returne to the former discourse by me promised and I make no question by you expected In Lisbone not long since The 2. Honour of our Nation a young Marchant who for diuers respects desires to haue his name concealed being in the company of certaine Donnes and falling in discourse about the valour of seuerall Nations they so farre exceeded in the hyperbolies of their owne praise that they blusht not to affirme that one Spaniard was able to beate two English-men out of the Field which they in their braggadesme inforced so farre that though the rest were silent this young Gentleman not able to conceale a true English spirit after some retort of language there made a protestation That if it pleased the Gouernour to giue him leaue hee himselfe would vndertake making choise of his Weapon to fight singly against three of the proudest Champions they would produce against him to cut off Circumstance the Chalenge was accepted the Gouernour prepared the combitants with the time and place appointed a great confluence of people assembled where one young Merchant armed onely with his Sword and a Spanish Pike in the lists appeared who by the three aduersaries was boldly and resolutely
A TRVE RELATION OF A BRAVE ENGLISH STRATAGEM PRACTISED lately vpon a Sea-Towne in Galizia one of the Kingdomes in Spaine and most valiantly and succesfully performed by one English Ship alone of 30. Tonne with no more than 35. Men in her AS ALSO With two other remarkeable Accidents betweene the English and Spaniards to the glory of our Nation Printed for Mercurius Britannicus 1626. A true Relation of a braue English stratagem practiced lately vpon a Sea-towne in Galizia one of the Kingdomes in Spaine and most valiantly and succesfully performed by one English Ship alone of 30. Tonne with no more than 35. men in her With two other Remarkable Accidents betweene English and Spaniards to the glorie of our Nation YOu shall here louing Countrymen receiue a plaine full and perfect Relation of a stratagem brauely attempted resolutely seconded with bold English spirits and by them as fortunately Executed vpon our Enemies the Spaniards Who albeit vpon what Kingdome soeuer they once set but footing they write Plus vltra deuouring it vp in conceipt and feeding their greedy ambition that it is All their owne yet this great golden Fagot of Dominion may haue many sticks plucked out of it if cunning fingers goe about to vndoe the Band as by this Galizian Enterprize may appeare A pregnant testimony hereby being giuen that if the great Warriours of the Sea would ioyne together and Thunder all alongst the Spanish Coasts the Castâ—lian Kingdomes might easily be shaken when so poore a handfull of our English being spread before one of their Sea-townes was the fore-runner of so terrible a storme to all the Inhabitants Such a braue mustering of all the Gods of the Ocean in one conjoyned Armie would quickly make the great Donnes to alter their proud and insolent Poesie of Non sufficit orbis the world is too little to fill their belly when the East-Indies lies vpon one of their Trenchers and the West vpon another yea and compell them to dwell quietly at home in their owne hot barren Country of Spaine contented with a dinner of a few Oliues a handfull of Reisins and such poore trash not intruding into other Kings Territories especially these fruitfull ones of ours to eate vp our fat Beefes Veales Muttons and Capons Victuals too good for such insatiable feeders when whole Countries might they swallow downe their fill are nothing to be devoured at one meale Come forth therefore you Renowned English and by the example of a few Country-men of yours plough vp the furrowes of your Enemies Seas and come home laden as they haue done with spoyles honours victorie and rich purchased Prizes Feare not to fight albeit fiue Kings bring their men of Warre into the field for you haue a Iosua to stand vp in your defence and to bid them battell And when you goe to draw your Swords or to discharge your Cannons against the Iron ribbes of the Armadoes of this Potent and bloody Enemie Pray vnto the Lord toward the way of the Citie which he hath chosen and toward the house which in that place is built vp for his Name and Hee in heauen will heare your prayers and supplications and judge your cause and deliuer these wilde Boares and Bulls of Tariffa into your Toyles To arme you for Action for your Countrie for your Fames for Wealth and the credit of your Nation whensoeuer it pleaseth God that you put to Sea may you be prosperous and speed no worse than these haue done whose story I am now going to set downe One Captaine Quaile borne in Portsmouth desiring to attempt something for the honour of England and benefit of himselfe and followers by the Licence and authority of those in England who might giue him leaue got a Barke of Plimouth which by him and his friends was sufficiently furnished with Men Victuals and Munition the Barke being but 30. tunne and the men in her to the number of 34. or 35. This Captaine and the resolute Gyng with him went merrily to Sea and sailed too and fro without fastening vpon any purchase answerable to their expectation or defraying such a Charge as they and their Ship had beene at Their fortunes in England were not great and if they should returne home without some exploits their estates would be lesse Hereupon the Captaine discouering his minde to his Lieutenant whose name was Frost they two after consultation betweene themselues perswaded the rest of their company to trye their vttermost aduentures rather than like Cowards to goe backe who hearing the Captaines resolution were on fire to follow him through all dangers happen whatsoeuer could And so they clapped hands vpon this desperate bargaine yet protesting and seriously vowing not to turne Pyrats thereby to make booty either of their owne Country-men or friends to the State Good hope thus and a prosperous winde filling their Sayles they houered along by the Coast of Galizia which lyes vpon the head of Portugall to the Northward In passing by which the Shippe being cleere and the shores quiet the Captaine commanded them to cast Anchor before a certaine Towne called Cris which had a Plat-forme or Fort with Ordnance to defend it and this was done at Noone-day Then he being perfect in the French tongue wrote a Letter in that Language to the Gouernour or Captaine of the Fort importing thus much That they were poore distressed French-men driuen thither by some Turkish men of Warre and flying to them as to their friends for succour pretending their greatest want to be Wood for firing and fresh Water to relieue them of both which necessaries they knew that place aboundantly stored and for which they would giue any reasonable content Thus ryding at Anchor in sight of the Towne and their Cock boate being lost in a storme they had no other deuice to conuey the Letter to the Spanish Commander than by sending a Sayler vpon an empty Hogshead with an Oare in his hand to guide him to Land he being very skilfull both in the French and swimming The Spaniards seeing a man making to them in that strange manner thought verily they were men distrest indeed and thereupon Manning out of a Skiffe to meet and receiue him they tooke him in The Letter spake his businesse to the Spanish Captaine who talking further in the French to the Marriner and being thereupon certainely assured of their distresse determined to sell to them such commodities as they wanted at as deere a rate as he could and for that purpose commanded another Skiffe to bee Manned out with certaine Spaniards who suspecting nothing hastened to goe aboard the Pinnace with their Captaine in company In the meane time Captaine Quaile had shut his Port-holes close and hid his Ordnance discouering not aboue fiue men vpon the Hatches who seemed to carry sickly faces and weake bodyes and were all vnarmde The Spaniards are joyfully embraced and welcomed such poore victuals as they had aboard were with arguments of much loue set before them Holland Cheeses were