Armie led by the Illustrious and victorious Prince Alexander Farnesius Duke of Parma and Deputie of the Catholike King with all the forces they can gather that they may assist the said depriuation and punishment of the parties afore said and the restitution of the holy Catholike Religion declaring that all which shall show themselues disobedient to this Mandate shall not escape deserued punishments Be it knowne further to all men that it is not the purpose of his Holinesse the Catholike King or the said Dukes Highnesse in this Expedition to oppresse the said Kingdomes or thereof to make conquest or to alter the Lawes Priuiledges or Customes thereof or to depriue any man there of his libertie or life except the rebellious and contumacious or to bring any change besides that which shall be iudged fit by common voyces of his Holinesse the Catholike Maiesty and the States of that Kingdome to the restoring and continuing of the Catholike Religion and the punishment of that Usurper and her adherents Certifying and securing all that all controuersies which may happen by the depriuation of that Woman whether they shall arise about priuate mens affaires or about the Royall Succession or betwixt the Clergy and Laity or whatsoeuer other discords they shall be all compounded and decided according to the Lawes Iustice and Christian equitie without any iniury or damage Neither shall it onely bee prouided conueniently that the Catholikes which haue suffered so many euills be not spoyled but fauour is also granted to all others which being penitent shall submit themselues vnto the Chiefe Commander of the Army And whereas by due information made wee are giuen to vnderstand that there are many innocents which through ignorance of Christian Faith hauing falne haue hitherto erred onely of ignorance being neuerthelesse reckoned amongst Heretikes wee purpose not at all to punish such persons but to inâ—ure patiently till by conference of learned men and good sound counsells they may be better instructed touching the truth and not shew themselues obstinate but desirous to preuent the effusion of Christian bloud and destruction of Countries which may be expected by the resistance of some wicked principall aduersaries Therefore by these Presents wee declare that it is not onely lawfull for all as well publike as priuate persons besides those which haue vndertaken this Expedition to lay band on the said Vsurper and other her adherents to take them and deliuer them to the Catholike side but also this deed shall bee esteemed of vs for a faithfull and singular seruice and shall be recompenced with very great rewards according to the qualitie of the persons taken or betrayed All others also which heretofore haue giuen ayde or shall hereafter assist to the punishment of the euill and the restitution of Catholike Religion in those Kingdomes shall receiue their reward and recompence increased by vs in Dignities and Honours as their good and faithfull seruice to the Common-wealth shall desire Wherein as much as may be care shall be had that reckoning and respect be holden of the antient and honourable Houses and Stockes of the said Kingdomes Lastly free accesse and safe conduct by these Presents is granted to all men which will ioyne themselues to the Catholike Armie and will bring thereto prouision furniture of warre and other necessaries full and liberall satisfaction is promised for all things which for the seruice and commoditie of the said Armie shall be supplied by them And all are admonished and plainly commanded that they doe their vtmost indeuour and diligence that by their meanes cause may bee remoued of vsing force in punishing those which shall neglect this Precept Further more the Holy Father in his fatherly loue and singular affection to this Expedition out of the Spirituall Treasure of the holy Church which is committed to his custody and dispensation doth liberally grant plenary Indulgences and remission of Sins to all those which shall bring any aid or fauour to the depriuation and punishing of the said persons and the reformation of both Kingdomes to wit after due penance Contrition and Confession had according to the Lawes of God and Men and the receiued custome amongst Christians NOw that all might bee carried more closely and that this Expedition might seeme made against the Low-countries rather then the English a solemne meeting was appointed first neer Ostend after at Bronckburg in Flanders for a treaty of peace with the Queene of England Henry Earle of Derby the Lord Cobham Sir Iames Croft D. Dale D. Rogers were sent Richardot plainly said that he knew not what might be put in practise in the meane time against England But the Prince and he being demanded if their were any enterprise of inuading England they vtterly denied any thoughts therof Count Aremberg Campignie Richardot Maes Garnier were the Princes Delegates and professed that they had sufficient Commission for treaty of peace First a truce was propounded by the English and by them â—eâ—â—ed Then the English required that the ancient leagues betwixt the Kings of England and the House of Burgundy might be renewed and confirmed that the Low-countrimen might iniov their priuiledges and libertie of conscience that Spaniards and forraine forces might be remoued that neither they nor their neighbours should haue cause to feare and then the Queene would redeliuer her foure Cautionary Townes They whiled them with such answere as suted to their purposes and long adoe was made in weauing and vnweauing Penelopes web till the Spanish Armada was vpon the Coast and the very Ordnance proclaimed in their eares a surcease from further illusions Then did Parma dismisse them pulled off his Visor vncasing the Fox and truly appearing in the Lions skin But let vs now come to take view of this Fleet and the preparations made for it The King of Spaine hauing with small fruit aboue twenty yeeres together waged warre against the Netherlands after deliberation with his Counsellours thereabout thought it most conuenient to assault them once again by Sea which had bin attempted sundry times heretofore but not with forces sufficient Vnto the which expedition it stood him now in hand to ioine great puissance as hauing the English people his professed enemies whose Iland is so situate that it may either greatly helpe or hinder all such as faile into those parts For which cause he thought good first of all to inuade England being perswaded by his Secretary Escouedo and by diuers other well experienced Spaniards and Dutchmen and by many English fugitiues that the conquest of that Iland was lesse difficult then the conquest of Holland and Zealand Moreouer the Spaniards were of opinion that it would be farre more behoouefull for their King to conquer England and the Low countries all at once then to bee constrained continually to maintaine a warlike Nauie to defend his East and West Indie Fleets from the English Drake and from such like valiant enemies And for the same purpose the King
that as throwes of a grieuous trauell they brought forth a Virgin both Truth to the Church and Queene to the State the one a fruitfull Mother to the soules the other to the wealth honour domesticke peace forraine victories and Nauall glorie of the English Nation This renowned Queene eight and thirty yeeres after vnable to alter that decree of the windes which now seemed themselues and forced Calis to become Spanish would try their windy fidelity in another expedition and prepared a strong Fleet to inuade the Spanish coast The charge whereof she committed to the Lord Robert Earle of Essex and the Lord Charles Howard Lord high Admirall of England who came vnto Plymmouth about the beginning of May 1596. being there accompanied with diuers other noble Peeres as the Earle of Sussex the Lord Thomas Howard the Lord Herbert the Lord Warden Sir Walter Raleigh the Lord Marshall Sir Francis Vere the Lord Burk Don Christopher yong Prince of Portugall yong Count Lodouick of Nassaw and the Admirall of the Hollanders Sir Iohn Vanderfoord besides many other most worthy Knights and Gentlemen of great worth attending vpon this most honorable Action It pleased them there to make their aboade for the time of that moneth aswell for the new furnishing and reuictualing of her Maiesties Royall Nauie as also for the expecting of some other ships which were to come from diuers places of the Realme and were as yet wanting Before their departure from Plymmouth it pleased their Lordships to publish in Print and make knowne to all the world especially to such as it concerned and that both in the Latine French Dutch English and Spanish tongue what were the true iust and vrgent causes that at this time prouoked her Maiestie to vndertake the preparing and setting forth of this so great a Nauie namely the King of Spaines preparations against her who had before whiles hee treated of peace Anno 1588. prepared to inuade her coast and now also to that purpose daily encreased his Nauie If therefore any should furnish the Spaniard with munition and prouisions they should expect what force could doe for all others of whatsoeuer Nation they aduised them to forsake the Spanish and Portugall Ports or to ioyne with the English for their owne security they hauing no quarrell in this designe but against the Spaniard Thus then all things being in a very good order and well appointed the most holy name of our Omnipotent God being most religiously and deuoutly called vpon ' and his blessed and sacred Communion being diuers times most reuerently and publikely celebrated being furnished with one hundred and fiftie good saile of ships or thereabout In the name of the most high and euerliuing God the first day of Iune they embarked themselues weighed Ancre and hoysed vp faile and put to Sea onward their iourney from the Sownds of Plymmouth to shew her Maiesties religious intendments in this exploit I haue thought good to adde here a Prayer made by her selfe as was reported and vsed as it was fitted for that designe MOst Omnipotent maker and guide of all our worlds masse that eâ—ely searchest and fadomest the bottome of all our hearts conceits and in them seest the true originals of all our actions intended thou that by thy foresight doest truely discerne how no malice of reuenge nor quittance of iniurie nor desire of bloudshed nor greedinesse of lucre hath bred the resolution of our nâ—w set out Army but a heedefull care and wary watch that no neglect of fees nor ouer-suretie of harme might breede either danger to vs or glory to them these being the grounds wherewith thou doest enspire the minde we humbly beseech thee with bended knees prosper the worke and with best forewindes guide the iourney speede the victory and make the returne the aduancement of thy glory the triumph of their f 〈…〉 e and surety to the Realme with the least losse of the English bloud To these deuout petitions Lord giue thou thy blessed grant The ninth of the same moneth comming something neere to the North Cape in a manner in the same altitude or not much differing which was about 43. degrees and something more yet bearing so as it was impossible to be descried from the land There it pleased the Lords to call a select Councell which was alwaies done by hanging out of a Flagge of the Armes of England and shooting off a great warning peece Of this select or priuie Counsell were no moe then these The two Lords Generall the Lord Thomas Howard the Lord Warden Sir Walter Raleigh the Lord Marshall Sir Francis Vere Sir George Cary Master of the Ordnance Sir Coniers Clifford and Sir Anthony Ashley Clarke of the said Counsell And when it pleased the Lords Generall to call a common Counsell as of tentimes they did vpon weighty matters best knowne to their honours then they would cause another kinde of Flag to be hanged out which was the red Crosse of S. George and was very easie to be discerned from the other that appertained onely to the select Counsell and so often as this Flag of S. George was hanged out then came all the Masters and Captaines of all the ships whose opinions were to be demanded in such matters as appertained vnto the said select Counsell It was presently concluded that our course in sailing should forthwith be altered and that we should beare more into the West for some purposes to them best knowne At that instant many Letters of instructions were addressed and sent to euery particular Master and Captaine of the Ships What the contents of those Letters of instructions were it was not as yet knowne vnto any neither was it held meete to be enquired or knowne of any of vs. But vnder the titles and superscriptions of euery mans particuler Letter these words were endorsed Open not these Letters on paine of your liues vnlesse wee chance to be scattered by tempest and in that case open them and execute the contents thereof but if by mishap you fall into your enemies hand then in any case cast them into the Sea sealed as they are It should seeme that these Letters did containe in them the principall place and meaning of this entended action which was hitherto by their deepe foresights kept so secret as no man to my knowledge eiâ—her did or could so much as suspect it more then themselues who had the onely managing thereof All this while our ships God be thanked kept in a most excellent good order being deuided into fiue squadrons that is to say The Earle of Essex the Lord Admirall the Lord Thomas Howard the Lord Warden Sir Walter Raleigh and the Admirall of the Hollanders All which squadrons albeit they did euery day separate themselues of purpose by the distance of certaine leagues as well to looke out for such ships as were happily vnder saile as also for the better procuring of Sea-roome yet alwayes commonly either that day or the next day toward euening they
the Forefight without entring any one man tooke opportunitie to free her selfe And now both ships companies beeing entred into the Fore-cheynes the Fore-castle was so high that without any resistance the getting vp bad â—â—â—ne difficult But heere was strong resistance some irrecouerably falling by the boâ—rd aâ—◠〈…〉 ssault continued an houre and an halfe so braue a bootie making the men fight like Dragons till the Fore-castle being gained the Portugals stowed themselues in holds The English now hunted after nothing but pillage and were readie to goe to the eares about it each man lighting a Candle the negligence of which fired a Cabbin in which were sixe hundred Cartrages of Powder The rumour hereof made them all readie to forsake the Carrike when Captayne Norton with some others with buckets of water aduentured the quenching of that fire Feare of leake by the fight and neernesse of the shoare were great parts of his care All these dangâ—rs freed contention about so rich a pillage was welnigh kindling in the Commanders beeing so diuersly commanded and employed but Sir Iohn Burroughes pretending the Queenes name Captayne Norton yeelded that hee should take care of the Carricke which he accordingly repayred lands about eight hundred Negros on Coruo detaynes the ordinary Saylers commits the Gentlemen to a ship of the Eaâ—le of Cumberlands to goe whether they would who escaped not a second rifling by other Englishmen of warre which tooke from them thus negligently dismissed nine hundred Diamonds besides other odde ends The Earle of Cumberland had notice by a Pinnasse sent from Captayne Norton twentie dayes before the Carricke came into England and had Commission from the Queene for her safe harbouring Hardly she escaped the Rockes of Silly the Tigre also participating in that danger and came to Dartmouth being so huge and vnweldie a ship as shee was neuer remooued out of that Harbour but there laid vp her bones His Lordships share would haue amounted according to his employment of ships and men to two or three Millions but because his Commission large enough otherwise had not prouided for the case of his returne and substituting another in his place some adjudged it to depend on the Queenes mercie and bountie Neyther yet by reason of some mens imbezelling had her Majestie the account of the fifth part of her value and the Earle was faine to accept of sixe and thirtie thousand pounds for him and his as out of gift THe next yeere 1593. his Lorship procured two ships Royall the Golden Lion Admirall commanded by himselfe the Bonaduenture Vice-admirall and therewith employed the Backe Chaldon the Pilgrime the Anthonie and the Disconerie which three last when hee came to the Coast of Spaine hee sent for the West Indies Hee tooke from the protection of fourteene great Hulkes two French ships of Saint Malowes which then held for the league and vâ—â—re therefore reputed in state of Spaniards of great value one of which he carried with him and sent the other into England The Spaniards hauing intelligence set forth an Armada against him which waited for him at the Ilands and the Earle hearing of their beeing at Flores and within fiue leagues of them lighted on a ship which they had sent to descry which before shee could recouer her fleet he tooke He learning by these that the Spanish fleet trebled the force of his hauing kept company with them one day quitted them and kept tenne or twelue leagues distant from them three weekes In which space he fell sicke beyond hope of life without returne or refreshing from the shoare Captayne Monson with much hazard procured him some refreshing from Coruo and leauing the rest of the ships which tooke one Prize after hee returned for England this proouing the most gainfull Voyage which he made before or after THe Anthonie of one hundred and twentie tunnes commanded by Captayne Iames Langton Pilot Antonio Martino a Spaniard which had long liued in those Indies and wel acquainted with those Ports the Pilgrime of one hundred tunnes commanded by Captayne Francis Slingsbie Diego Petrus a Spanish Pilot and the Discouerie these three after fare well solemnely taken and giuen by shot on all hands shaped their Course for the Antillas and fell with the Iland of Saint Lucia there and at Matinnio refreshing themselues three dayes they concluded to attempt the taking of the Rancherias which are the Pearle-fishings of Margarita contayning sixe or seuen seuerall small Villages which for that purpose they inhabit but not aboue one of them at once when their fishing failes there remouing to another and so by course hauing emptie houses standing alway readie for that purpose The Pearles for more safetie are monethly carried to the Towne of Margarita three leagues from the waters side They kept out of sight all day for feare of discouerie and at night landed and visited two emptie Rancherias but taking a Spaniard which then came thither in a Boate with two Indians they made him their guide to the inhabited Rancheria fiue leagues off commanding the Boates to row along the shoare and not to double the point till euening The two Captaynes with eight and twentie men marched by land in the heat which with want of water much annoyed them They came thither in the beginning of the night and agreed to assault the place in three places at once notwithstanding their small numbers lest they should gather head any where The Spaniards at first thought it had beene some false alarme of the Gouernour and bid away with this iesting but finding it earnest hastily fled to the woods Thus did they take the Towne with some two thousand pounds value in Pearle besides what other pillage the Souldiers gate Their weapons they brake for feare of pursuite In the morning they went aboord the fishing Boats and tooke their Oysters gotten the night before and gate aboord their ships much in suspense for them not knowing of this sudden enterprize the fifth day after they had gone from them The shippes now comming before the Towne demanded ransome for their houses and Canoas to redeeme which from destruction they gaue two thousand Duckets in Pearle But Caruels of aduice hauing euery-where giuen intelligence of them at Cumana they found them on their guard and returned not without losse Thence they coasted Terra F 〈…〉 ma till they came to the Ilands of Aruba and Corresao where they landed and refreshed themselues Thence to Rio de Hache which they thought to haue taken but found the enemy ready for them with other intelligence that they had carried their goods into the Mountaynes They therefore set saile for Hispaniola came to Cape Tuberone and thence to the Bay of Saint Nicholas and thence to Fort Plat and others on the North side thence to Mona and so Sauona where they watered againe in this manner The Iland is low destitute of any Spring and to the Sea a small
zeale by her to aduance Christianitie I was present when my Honorable Reuerend Patron the L. Bishop of London Doctor King entertained her with festiuall state and pompe beyond what I haue seene in his great hospitalitie afforded to other Ladies At her returne towards Uirginia she came at Grauesend to her end and graue hauing giuen great demonstration of her Christian sinceritie as the first fruits of Virginian conuersion leauing here a godly memory and the hopes of her resurrection her soule aspiring to see and enioy presently in heauen what here shee had ioyed to heare and beleeue of her beloued Sauiour Not such was Tomocomo but a blasphemer of what he knew not and preferring his God to ours because he taught them by his owne so appearing to weare their Deuill-lock at the left eare hee acquainted mee with the manner of that his appearance and beleeued that this Okee or Deuil had taught them their husbandry c. Powhatan was at this time of their comming gone Southwards for feare as some thought least Opachancanough his brother should ioyne with the English against him His age was not so great as some haue reported they reckoning euery Spring and Autumne for distinct yeeres Tomocomo was as wise in computation of his sailing reckoning each night when hee expected they should haue anchored by the shoare as another day Hee is said also to haue set vp with notches on a stick the numbers of men being sent to see and signifie the truth of the multitudes reported to his Master But his arithmetike soone failed and wonder did no lesse amaze him at the sight of so much Corne and Trees in his comming from Plimmouth to London the Uirginians imagining that defect thereof here had brought vs thither But let vs returne to Captaine Smiths Relations The new Gouernour applied himselfe to the readiest way of gaine in planting Tobacco and though Sir Tho. Dale had caused much Corne to be planted yet the new supplies easing them of that superfluitie hee sent to the Chickahaminies for the tribute Corne which Sir Thomas Dale and Captaine Argall had conditioned with them but receiued a bad answere Whereupon hee gathered a hundred men and twelue of them were slaine twelue others captiued and returned to Iames Towne with three Boats laden with corne of which one hasting to bring the newes was ouerset and eleuen men together with the goods drowned Captaine Spelman by his language did them good seruice This together with the league which they had with Opachankanough enemy to the former put them so in feare that ours followed their labours quietly and other Nations also brought them prouisions and would hunt for them Captaine Yeardly is taxed for suffering two of his Sauages to vse the Peece in their game and therein to grow expert a thing reported to haue beene practised by some others Yet whiles hee staied in the gouernment they liued quietly with the Sauages but grudges grew amongst themselues A. 1617. Captaine Yeardly returned for England after the arriuall of Captaine Argall sent thither to be deputie Gouernour Captaine Argall was sent in the George and with Capt. Hamor his Vice-Admirall in May 1617. arriued at Iames Towne where hee found things in much disorder which hee sought to redresse Their cattell were now well encreased and both of their owne growing and from the Sauages they had store of Corne A. 1618. happened a great drought and such a cruell storme of haile that it did much hurt to their Corne and Tobacco The Magazine that came in the George being fiue moneths in her passage proued badly conditioned To supply them the Company furnished and set forth in Aprill a Ship of two hundred and fiftie tunnes with two hundred people The Lord De-la-war went therein and at the Iland of Saint Michael was honourably feasted Departing from thence they were long troubled with contrary windes in which time many fell sicke thirtie died one of which was that honourable Lord of noble memory The rest refreshed themselues on that Coast of New England with Fish Fowle Wood and Water and after sixteene weekes spent at Sea arriued in Virginia The Ship called the Treasurer not long after came thither with fortie Passengers before the other Ship was gone They now had vsed the Plow and reaped good Corne and they writ for more Plow-haruesse to be sent them Richard Killingbeck with foure others going to trade secretly with the people of Chickahaminias either for reuenge of some before slaine in Captaine Yerdlyes expedition or for couetousnesse of their goods were assaulted by the Sauages one of which had a Peece furnished and therewith shot Killingbeck dead the rest also were all slaine stripped and spoyled Other murthers also were done by other Sauages which Opachankanough excused by ignorance and for the former hee sent a basket of earth in token of the gift and possession of that Towne where they dwelt to Captaine Argal desiring him not to reuenge the fault of a few which for feare of reuenge were fled to the Woods on their innocent neighbours Sam. Arg. Io. Rolfe Master Rolfe writ Iune 15. 1618. that Powhatan died in Aprill before Itopatan his second brother succeeded who with Opachanckanough had confirmed the league with the Colony May 11. happened at Iames Towne in the night a terrible storme which lasted about halfe an houre and poured downe hailestones eight or nine inches about A. 1619. Sir Edwin Sands being chosen Treasurer Captaine Yerdley was knighted and sent Gouernour into Virginia A little Pinnace had arriued some twelue dayes before him in which Captaine Argall returned leauing in his place Captaine Nathaniel Powel As for their digusts giuen the Company in their apprehension by Captaine Argall I am not fully informed or lust to bee the Informer Sir George Yerdly arriuing Aprill 18. filled the Colony with ioyfull hopes of better successe at his arriuall and I freely acknowledge the Treasurers great study and care was worthy had God so pleased of better enents then by vnexpected accidents haue since happened Captaine West Captaine Powel Master Pory Master Rolfe Master Wickam Master Macock were added to the Councell A Pinnace of Captaine Bargraue another of Captaine Lawnes and a third of Master Euans and the Marget of Bristol arriued Some scandalous Letters which laid a false imputation on the Countrey caused enquiry to bee made where by men of best experience was found that an industrious man not otherwise imployed may well husband foure Acres of Corne and one thousand Plants of Tobacco of which many to haue much neglect the goodnesse in suffering too many leaues to grow on one stalhe and many Tobaccomongers in England are said to sell the best of it in other names calling all their trash Virginian and so at once rob both England and Virginia Iune 25. the Triall came in with Corne and Cattell The Gouernour and Counsell caused Burgesses to be chosen in all places
rather by reason of the continuall constant relations of all those Sauages in Virginia of a Sea and the way to it West they affirming that the heads of all those seuen goodly Riuers the least whereof is greater then the Riuer of Thames and Nauigable aboue an hundred and fiftie miles and not aboue sixe or eight miles one from another which fall all into one great Bay haue their rising out of a ridge of Hils that runnes all along South and North whereby they doubt not but to find a safe easie and good passage to the South Sea part by water and part by Land esteeming it not aboue an hundred and fiftie miles from the head of the Falls where we are now planted the Discouerie whereof will bring forth a most rich Trade to Cathay China Iapan and those other of the East Indies to the inestimable benefit of this Kingdome Moreouer the Letters of Master Iohn Berkley sometimes of Beuerstone Castle in the Countie of Glocester a Gentleman of an Honourable Family likewise certifie that a more fit place for Iron-workes whereof he was made Master and Ouer-seer then in Virginia both for Wood Water Mynes and Stone was not to be found And that by Whitsontide the Company might relye vpon good quantities of Iron made by him which also by Letters from Master George Sandys the third of March last was confirmed with this farther description of the place called The falling Creeke to be so fitting for that purpose as if Nature had applyed her selfe to the wish and direction of the Workman where also were great stones hardly seene else-where in Uirginia laying on the place as though they had beene brought thither to aduance the erection of those Workes The Letters of the French Vignerous or Vine-men procured out of France and sent ouer into Uirginia did likewise assertaine that no Countrey in the World was more proper for Vines Silke Rice O liues and other fruits then Virginia is and that it far excelled their owne Countrie of Languedocke the Vines of diuers sorts being in abundance naturally ouer all the Countrey They scarsly beleeued those fruits to be Grapes till they had opened them and seene their kernels such was their bignesse They are in loue with the Countrey and hauing planted some cuttings of Vines at Michaelmas last in their Letters affirme that these bare Grapes alreadie this Spring to their great wonder as being a thing they suppose not heard off in any other Countrie A taste of Wine made of the wilde Grape they last yeere sent with hope to send a good quantitie this next Vintage and that the Mulbery trees where they abode were in wonderfull abundance and much excelling both in goodnesse and greatnesse those of their owne Countrey of Languedocke and that those Silke-wormes they haue prosper exceeding well and some Silke they hope to send this yeere there wanting nothing to set vp that rich Commoditie but store of hands wherewith England doth abound Of the fruit of which Mulbery trees as of a Plumme there plentifully growing they would make wholsome Drinkes for the Colonie and people there Opachankanough doted on a house which the English had built for him of our fashion hee dwelled therein shewed it to his owne people and strangers with pride keeping his Keyes charily and busying himselfe with locking and vnlocking the doores sometimes a hundred times in a day admiring the strangenesse of that Engine a Locke and Key Hee gaue the English leaue to seate themselues any where on his Riuers where the Natiues are not actually seated and entred into further couenants of amity for reciprocall defence mutuall transportation discouery of mines c. They report also of Copper Peeces presented to Opachank which Copper is gathered at the foote of the Mountaines where they digge a hole in the ground in which they put the oare and make thereon a great fire which causeth it to runne into a masse and become malleable neither haue they any tooles but smooth stones for that purpose This seemed strange to ours which heard the English Copper passeth eleuen fires His Maiesties gracious Letter to the Earle of South-hampton Treasurer and to the Counsell and Company of Virginia here commanding the present setting vp of Silke workes and planting of Vines in Virginia RIght trusty and welbeloued We greete you well whereas We vnderstand that the Soyle in Virginia naturally yreldeth store of excellent Mulberry trees We haue taken into Our Princely consideration the great benefit that maâ— grow to the Aduenturers and Planters by the breede of Silkewormes and setting vp of Silkeworkes in those parts And therefore of Our gracious Inclination to a designe of so much honour and aduantage to the publike We haue thought good as at sundry other times so now more particularly to recommend it to your speciallcare hereby charging and requiring you to take speedy order that our people there vse all possible diligence in breeding Silkewormes and erecting Silke-workes and that they rather bestow their trauell in compassing this rich and solid Commodity then in that of Tobacco which besides much vnnecessary expence brings with it many disorders and inconueniences And for as much as Our seruant Iohn Bonoell hath taken paines in setting downe the true vse of the Silkeworme together with the Art of Silkemaking and of planting Vines and that his experience and abilities may much conduce to the aduancement of this businesse We doe hereby likewise require you to cause his directions both for the said Silkeworkes and Vineyards to be carefully put in practice thorowout our Plantations there that so the worke may goe on cheerefully and receiue no more interruptions nor delayes Giuen vnder Our Signet at our Pallace of Westminster the ninth day of Iuly in the twentieth yeare of our Raigne of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the fiue and fiftieth WINDEBANK To Our right trusty and right welbeloued Cousin and Councellour HENRY Earle of South-hampton Treasurer of our Plantation in Virginia and to Our trusty and welbeloued the Deputy and others of Our said Plantation Virginia The Treasurour Counsell and Company of Virginia to the Gouernour and Counsell of State in Virginia residing AFter our very harty commendations His Sacred Maiesty out of his high wisedome and care of the noble Plantation of Virginia hath beene graciously pleased to direct his Letters to vs here in England thereby commanding vs to aduance the setting vp of Silkworkes and planting of Vineyards as by the Copy herewith sent you may perceiue The intimation of his Maiesties pleasure we conceiue to be a motiue sufficient to induce you to imploy all your indeuors to the setting forward those two Staple Commodities of Silke and Wine which brought to their perfection will infinitely redound to the honour benefit and comfort of the Colony and of this whole Kingdome yet we in discharge of our duties doe againe renew our often and iterated Instructions and inuite you cheerefully to fall vpon
we haue found to be almost needelesse Our great Ram-Goate was missing fifteene dayes in October and came home well againe and is yet well with vs. If the industry of men and presence of domesticall Cattle were applied to the good of this Countrey of New-found-land there would shortly arise iust cause of contentment to the inhabitants thereof Many of our Masters and Sea-faring men seeing our safetie and hearing what a milde winter we had and that no Ice had bin seene fleeting in any of the Bayes of this Countrey all this yeare notwithstanding that then met one hundred and fifty leagues off in the Sea great store of Ilands of Ice doe begin to be in loue with the Countrey and doe talke of comming to take land here to inhabit falling in the reckoning aswell of the commoditie that they may make by the banke fishing as by the husbandry of the Land besides the ordinary fishing At the Greene Bay where some of our Company were a fishing in Nouember they report there is great store of good grounds without woods and there is a thousand acres together which they say may be moâ—ed this yere There is great store of Deere whereof they saw some diuers times and twice they came within shot of them and the Greyhound who is lustie had a course but could not get vpon them But neerer vnto Cape Razo Reuonse and Trepasse there is great quantitie of open ground and Stagges It is most likely that all the Sackes will be departed out of England before the returne of this our Barke which shall not make any matter because I am now of opinion that nothing should be sent hither before the returne of the Ships from fishing For as concerning sending of Cattle it will be best that it be deferred vntill the next Spring And concerning Victuals in regard of the quantity we haue of it remaining of old together with that that is come now as with the dry fish that here we may be stored with I am in good hope there will not want any to last till this time twelue moneths And according to the victuals which shall be found at the end of the fishing the number of persons that shall remaine here all the next winter shall be fitted that there shall not want notwithstanding about Alhollantide or the beginning of December a Ship may be sent such a one as our Fleming was with Salt from Rochel for at any time of the winter Ships may as well goe and come hither as when they doe especially before Ianuary This Summer I purpose to see most places betweene Cape Rase Placentia and Bona vista and at the returne of the fishing Ships to entertaine a fit number of men to maintaine here the winter and to set ouer them and to take the care of all things here with your patience one Master William Colton a discreete yong man and my brother Philip Guy who haue wintered with me and haue promised me to vndertake this charge vntill my returne the next Spring or till it shall be otherwise disposed of by you and then together with such of the company as are willing to goe home and such others as are not fit longer to be entertained here I intend to take passage in the fishing Ships and so returne home And then betweene that and the Spring to be present to giue you more ample satisfaction in all things and to take such further resolution as the importance of the enterprise shall require wherein you shall finde me alwayes as ready as euer I haue bin to proceeds and goe forward God willing And because at my comming home it will be time enough for mee to lay before you mine opinion touching what is to be vndertaken the next yeare I will forbeare now to write of it because you should be the sooner aduertised of our welfare and because such of the Company as are sent home both for their owne good and that the vnprofitable expence of victuals and wages might coase I haue laden little or nothing backe that the said Company might the better be at ease in the hold Onely there is sent three hogsheads of Charcoles where Numero 1o. is they are of Burch no. 2o. is of Pine and Spruce no. 3o. is of Firre being the lightest wood yet it maketh good Coles and is vsed by our Smith I send them because you shall see the goodnesse of each kinde of Cole Also I send you an Hogshead of the Skinnes and Furres of such Beasts as haue bin taken here the particulers whereof appeare in the Bill of lading While I was writing I had newes of the Vineyard the Ship which you send to fishing to haue bin in company with another Ship that is arriued on this side of the Banke and that the Master intended to goe to Farillon or Fer-land God send her in safety So praying God for the prosperity of your Worships and the whole Company with hope that his diuine Maiestie which hath giuen vs so good a beginning will alwayes blesse our proceedings my dutie most humbly remembred I take my leaue Dated in Cupers Coue the sixteenth of May 1611. I haue also a Iournall of the winde and weather from the latter end of August 1611. till Iune 1612. written by Master William Colston and deliuered to Master Iohn Guy Gouernour of the English Colony in Newfoundland at his returne from England thither Iune the seuenth 1612. By which it appeareth that the weather was somewhat more intemperate then it had beene the yeare before but not intolerable nor perhaps so bad as we haue it sometims in England Their Dogges killed a Wolfe Otters Sables c. Captaine Easton a Pirat was troublesome to the English and terrible to the French there of whom I haue added this Letter for the Diarie of the weather and occurrents each day would be very tedious To Master IOHN SLANY Treasurer and others of the Councell and Company of the New-found-land Plantation the twenty nine of Iuly 1612. RIght Worshipfull by my last of the seuenteenth of Iune I wrote you of the estate then of all matters here by the Holland Ship which I hope is long since safely arriued together with Master Colston who hath I doubt not made by word of mouth full relation of all matters Because the proceedings of one Captaine Peter Easton a Pirate and his company since are most fit to be knowne before I touch our Plantation businesse you shall vnderstand what they haue bin vnto this time vntill the seuenteenth of this present the said Captaine Easton remained in Harbor de Grace there trimming and repairing his Shipping and commanding not onely the Carpenters of each Ship to doe his businesse but hath taken victuals munition and necessaries from euery Ship together with about one hundred men out of the Bay to man his Ships being now in number six He purposed to haue before he goeth as is said cut of the land fiue hundred men while he remained there
of Codfish it is well knowne vnto you Salmons Eeles Mackarell Herrings Lance Caplin Dog fish Hollibuts Flowkes Lobsters Crabs and Muskles All and more then all these are here in great plentie very good and sweet meat The wild fruit and berries are small Peares Cherries Nuts Resberries Strawberries Barberries Dewberrics Hurtleberries with others all good to eate Many faire Flowers I haue seene here which I cannot name although I had learned Gerrards Herball by heart But wild Roses are here both red and damaske as fragrant and faire as in England All our Corne and Seedes haue prospered well and are already growne almost to perfect maturitie c. THE SECOND PART OF THE TENTH BOOKE CHAP. X. Diuers Warlike Fleets set forth to Sea against the Spaniards by our English DEBORA Queene ELIZABETH of Glorious memory Her manifold Deliueries and Victories LOI the Man whose Mâ—se 〈…〉 s'd on Plantations New England Virgin Bermude Newfound-landed Lawrell for oliue take and make Relations Of Armes Harmes Fights Frights Flights Depopulations Romes Buls Spaines broyles Irelands 〈◊〉 Traitors branded GOD Angels Winds Seas Men Elizas Glory Conspire Shee outlines Death â—n Heauen in Story HAile greatest of English Names Glorious ELIZABETH Nor may wee after thy voyage and peregrination out of this World vnto thy true and heauenly home Country forget the great Acts of thy earthly Pilgrimage Thou wast indeed the Mother of English Sea-greatnesse and didst first by thy Generalls not salute alone but awe and trrrifie the remotest East and West stretching thy long and strong armes to India to China to America to the Peruvian Seas to the Californian Coast and New Albions Scepters Thou mad'st the Northerne Muscouite admire thy Greatnesse Thou gauest name to the North-west Straits Meta Incognita and the Southern Negros and Ilands of the South-vnknowne-continent which knew not humanitie were compelled to know Thee Thou imbracedst the whole earthly Globe in thy Maritime Armes thou freedst England from Easterlings and Lumbards borrowed legs and taughtst her not onely to stand and goe without helpe but become helpe to our friends and with her own Sea forces to stand against yea to stand vpon and stampe vnder feet the proudest of her foes Thou wast a Mother to thy Neighbours Scots French Dutch a Mirrour to the remotest of Nations Great Cumberland twelue voyages before recited are thine and the fiery vigor of his Martiall Spirit was kindled at thy bright Lamp quickened by the Great Spirit of ELIZABETH Drake Candish Iohn and Richard Hawkins Raleigh Dudley Sherley Preston Greenuile Lancaster Wood Raimund Leuison Monson Winter Frobisher Daâ—â—es and other the Star-worthies of Englands Sphere whose Planet-courses we haue before related acknowledge ELIZAS Orb to be their First and highest Mouer How many Royall Fleets did shee set forth In the yeeres 85. and 87. those vnder Sir Francis Drake before mentioned as that also in 95. vnder him and Sir Iohn Hawkins another Fleet 1590. vnder Sir Iohn Hawkins and Sir Martin Frobisher to the Ilands also 1591. the Iland Fleet vnder the Lord Thomas Howard now Earle of Suffolke that 1592. by Sir Iohn Burroughs and Sir Robert Crosse when the Madre de Dios was taken and another Carrike burnt An. 1594. Shee sent forth a Fleet to Brest where Frobusher was slaine Another 1599. vnder the Lord Thomas Howard A. 1600. vnder Sir Richard Leuison a Fleet to the Ilands 1601. another to Ireland A. 1602. vnder Sir Richard Leuison and Sir William Manson and another vnder the same Commanders 1603. as bequeathing in her fatall extreames Marine Actions and Glory to her Successour These and other her Sea-glories I purpose not here to dilate hauing already handled some of them but haue singled from the rest the actions of 88. 89. 96. and 97. praemising somthing as a Preface of the great deliuerances which God vouch safed that Virgin Queen That Church which is mystically called The woman drunken with the bloud of Saints had begun to persecute her from her birth Pope Clement the sixt decreeing against her Mothers mariage and Pope Paul the third thundring a terrible sentence against her Fathers Soueraigntie And although King Henry had first enacted against his daughters and after for them by Parliamentary authoritie yet when King Edward which vsed to call her his sweet sister Temperance was dead there wanted not some which extruded both the sisters and obtruded another succession Queene Mary dispersing that storme raised another wherein shee was exposed to the columnies of fairesoule-mouthed sycophants which would haue stained the reigne of that Queene otherwise branded as short bloudy vnfortunate with the slaughter of that Royall Virgin Story and others saying That in vaine the boughs of Heresie were lopped off if the Root were suffered to continue Long and straight imprisonment shee indâ—red and was forced by them to Masse Confession and externall profession of that Romish Catholiâ—â—sme which perhaps had not diuerted her enemies designe had not the peruersâ—st of her enemies Gardiner beene auerted by his owne death and had not also King Philip with the Spaniards enuied to the French so rich an Inheritance as by Queene M 〈…〉 death without â—ssue which could scarsly from her sicke and aged body be expect was likely to fall vpon Queene Mary of Scotland betrothed to the Dolphin of France whereby the Spanish greatnesse already embroyled enough was likely to bee ouermatched by the French increased with addition of three mightie Kingdomes Queene Mary dying and Cardinall Poole with many Prelates as it were attending her exequies with their owne with generall applause Shee was acknowledged Queen Her first care was to restore Religion notwithstanding the dangers thence incompassing her shee also reiected the mariage with King Philip whereof hee had treated with her by the Earle of Feria his Embassadour promising to procure thereunto the Popes dispensation neither admitted shee the offered match of Charles sonne to Ferdinand the Emperour and when Henry the French King by the Guisians was perswaded to challenge England to his sonne and daughter in law causing them to vse her title Francis Mary by the Grace of God King and Queene of Scotland England and Ireland and prepared Warres against her God tooke him out of the world being s 〈…〉 e at a Talt sport The new King and Queene continued their former challenge Title and Ensignes which gaue no small occasions of those euills which afterwards inuolued her breeding a great d 〈…〉 gust betwixt those two greatest Ladies which Christendome had both Heires to an absolute Souereigntie Shee expelled the French out of Scotland stablished the affaires of Ireland procured armour and weapons out of Germany caused much Artillery to bee cast of Brasse and Iron new Mynes of Brasse being sound at Keswicke and the stone Calammaris vsefull for Brasse-workes found here also prouision for Gunpowder was first at her commandement made here at home Barwicke fortified the Nauie furnished the Sea Townes imitating her example and increasing
dayly in Nauall forces answered by Martiall Spirits for Land and Sea seruice Thus did God blesse her that had glorified him in establishing his Truth notwithstanding the pouertie of the State at her entrance deepely indetted by her predecessours and the saint friendship or professed enmitie of Rome and all her disciples Thus shall it bee done to the Woman God will honour and more then thus for what was all the time of her reigne but vicissitudes of Treasons Warres and manifold externall and internall broyles and yet in an admirable working of Diuine Grace when had England so long and flourishing peace at home or glory and renowme abroad as if hee which brought light out of darknesse would permit all such contrary workings to bee the object of his goodnesse the fewell and materialls of her greatnesse Arthur Poole the fourth yeere of her reigne abused the greatnesse of his bloud with other conspirators to the Guisâ—â—n purposes but taken and sentenced receiued not bloudie reward from her mild and mercifull hand Pope Pius the fift denounceth her excommunicate discharging her Subiects from loyaltie and alleageance and arming them against her Ridolfi a Florentine playes the Merchant of Popish wares the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland take armes the Duke of Norfolke is entangled the French and Spaniard are perswaded by the Pope who promised also if need were to ingage to this purpose all the goods of the Sea Apostolike Chalices Crosses and holy Vestments Uitellius is commanded to inuade England with an Army from the Low-countries but God protected ELIZABETH and her Enemies abroad were disappointed the Traitors at home falling into their owne pit About the same time Edmund and Peter brethten to the Earle of Oâ—â—ond were busie in Ireland to inflame which rebellion Mendoza came out of Spaine but before it brake forth into any great combustion it was extinct Don Iohn of Austria enters next vpon the Stage for I omit Barues and Muthers Sir Henry Percie the B. of Ross his attempts and other Acts and Arts sauouring more of the Foxe then the Lion and pretended a peace whiles hee intended the deliuerance of the Scottish Queene and marrying her to make himselfe King of England and Scotland by helpe of fugitiues and fauour of the Pope and Guisians and in the midst of his warlike preparations suddenly dieth When Pius his impious curses had thus proued blessings hee deceaseth and Gregory his successour in the Papacie and malice to Queene ELIZABETH the great Founder of Seminaties gaping for no lesse then a Kingdome to his base sonne Iames Boncompagnâ— treateth with the Spaniard who had swallowed England also in his conceit Thomas Stukley an English fugitiue promiseth Ireland to the Popes bastard who in recompence giues him the titles of Marquesse of Lagen Earle of Wexford and Caterlough Vicount of Morough and Baron of Ross all places of note in Ireland and made him Generall of eight hundred Italian Souldiers the King of Spaine paying their wages But Sebastian King of Portugall which should haue conducted the Spanish forces against England being intangled with an African Expedition procured Sâ—â—cley to goe thither with him where both lost their liues And the Spaniard was now diuerted from English designes to those neerer of Portugall there imploying the forces intended against vs. Doctor Nicolas Sanders playeth the next part who hauing written in defence of the Popes visible Monarchy Ecclesiasticall and belched out the fowlest slanders of Queen ELIZABETHS parentage that Hell could deuise would make his writings visible by his deeds and with Iames Fitz Moricâ— an Irish Traitor hauing obtained to be the Popes Nuntio with a banner consecrated at Rome and some forces out of Spaine entreth Ireland there fortifieth and winneth Desmond to his partie San Ioseph 〈…〉 followeth with seuen hundred Italians and Spaniards with Armour for fiue thousand Their Fort is taken Fitz moricâ— first and after the Earle with many others slaine Sanders runnes mad and wandering vp and downe in the Woods and Mountaines dieth miserably the Country is pacified and ELIZABETH preuaileth The Seminaries Schooles of Treason were now erected at R 〈…〉 and Rhemâ—â— to become worse then that Troian Hoâ—se Cells of desperate Eâ—issaries incâ—ndaries of their owne Countrey Campion and others suffer seditious Bookes are written against the Queene whereby S 〈…〉 râ—ill was instigated to kill her Mendoza the Spanish Embassadour was commanded to depart out of England hauing practised with Throckmorton and others about an inuasion of the Land and to remoue the Queene About the same time in manner miraculously traiterous projects came to light by certaine papers of one Creighâ—â—â— a Scottish Iesuite who being taken by Dutch Pirates tare them and threw them into the Sea which would not bee accâ—ssary to Iesuiticall plots but by the helpe of the winde brought them backe to the Ship which being deliuered to Sir William Wade were ioyned again and reuealed new plots of the Pope the Spaniard and Guisians to inuade England Whereupon an Association was made by many thorow the Kingdome binding themselues by their hands and seales to prosecute all such to death as should attempt any thing against the life of the Queene Cardinall A 〈…〉 for the English Catholikes Ecclesiasticall Inglefield for the Larkes the Bishop of Rosse for the Queene of Scots were said to haue agreed to depriue the Queene and to disinherite King IAMES as a fauoâ—â—er of Heresie c. A. 1585. Doctor Parry whom Queene ELIZABETH had before pardoned his life being heartned by Ragazonius the Popes Nuntio in France and absolued in the Popes name by the Cardinall Comensis vndertooke to kill the Queene being thereunto incouraged by Allens booke teaching that excommunicated Princes may bee dispoyled of liues and Scepters His partner reueales him and his mischiefe lighted on himselfe Henry Earle of Northumberland brother of Thomas before executed at Yorke slew himselfe in the Tower and the Lord Chancellour three dayes after in the Starre Chamber declared that he had beene committed for traiterous deuises against the Queene and State the particulars whereof were then opened by the Atturney Popham seeking to set free the Queene of Scots to destroy the Queene and the Religion to haue dealt with Charles Paget termed Mope about these things with the inuasion of England c. The Burkes rebellion in Ireland fell out that yeere and many broyles which cost three thousand their liues at one time the title Mac-William in Connagh extinguished and the insolence of the Ilanders betwixt Scotland and England repressed The Spaniard arrested the English Ships in his Ports whence the Expeditions of the Earle of Cumberland and Sir Francis Drake before mentioned tooke their beginning and the Warres betwixt the two Kingdomes A. 1586. that prodigions plot of Sauage Balard Babington and the rest of that bloudy crue conspiring to kill the Queene was detected and the plotters were executed In 87. the French Embassadour a Guisian conferred
Shot returned backe for England leauing behinde them certaine Pinasses onely which they enioyned to follow the Spaniards aloofe and to abserue their course And so it came to passe that the fourth of August with great danger and industry the English arriued at Harwich for they had beene tossâ—d vp and downe with a mighty tempest for the space of two or three dayes together which it is likely did great hurt vnto the Spanish fleet being as I said before so maimed and battered The English now going on shoare prouided themselues forth with of Victuals Gunpowder and other things expedient that they might be ready at all assayes to entertaine the Spanish fleete if it chanced any more to reâ—urne Bu â—eing afterward more certainely informed of the Spaniards course they thought it best to leaue them vnto those boisterous and vncouth Northren Seas and not there to hunt after them The Spaniards seeing now that they wanted foure or fiue thousand of their people and hauing diuers maimed and sicke persons and likewise hauing lost ten or twelue of their principall ships they consulted among themselues what they were best to doe being now escaped out of the hands of the English because their victuals failed them in like sort they began also to want cables cordage ankerâ— masts sailes and other nauall furniture and vtterly despaired of the Duke of Parma his assistance who verily hoping vndoubtedly expecting the return of the Spanish fleet was continually occupied about his great preparation commanding abundance of ankers to be made and other necessary furniture for a Nauy to be prouided they thought it good at length so soone as the winde should serue them to fetch a compasse about Scotland and Ireland and so to returne for Spaine For they well vnderstood that commandement was giuen thorowout all Scotland that they should not haue any succour or assistance there Neither yet could they in Norway supply their wants Wherefore hauing taken certaine Scottish and other fisherboats they brought the men on boord their owne ships to the end they might be their guides and Pilots Fearing also least their fresh water should faile them they cast all their horses and mules ouer-boord and so touching no where vpon the coast of Scotland but being carried with a fresh gale betweene the Orcades and Faar-Isles they proceeded farre North euen vnto 61. degrees of latitude being distant from any land at the least 40. leagues Here the Duke of Medina Generall of the Fleet commanded all his followers to shape their course for Biscay and he himselfe with twenty or fiue and twenty of his ships which were best prouided of fresh water and other necessaries holding on his course ouer the maine Ocean returned safely home The residue of his ships being about forty in number and committed vnto his Vice-admirall fell neerer with the coast of Ireland intending their course for Cape Clare because they hoped there to get fresh water and to refresh themselues on land But after they were driuen with many contrary windes at length vpon the second of September they were cast by a tempest arising from the South-west vpon diuers parts of Ireland where many of their ships perished And amongst others the ship of Michael de Oquendo which was one of the great Galliasses and two great ships of Venice also namely la Ratta and Belanzara with other 36 or 31. ships more which perished in sundry tempests together with most of the persons contained in them Likewise some of the Spanish ships were the second time carried with a strong West wind into the channell of England whereof some were taken by the English vpon their coast and others by the men of Rochel vpon the coast of France Moreouer there arriued at Newhauen in Norm andy being by tempest inforced so to doe one of the foure great Galliasses whereby they found the ships with the Spanish women which followed the Fleet at their setting forth Two ships also were cast away vpon the coast of Norway one of them being of a great burthen howbeit all the persons in the said great ship were saued insomuch that of 134 ships which set saile out of Portugall there returned home 53. onely small and great namely of the foure Galliasses but one and but one of the foure Gallies Of the 91. great Galleons and Hulkes there were missing 58. and 33. returned of the Pataches and Zabraes 17. were missing and 18. returned home In briefe there were missing 81. ships in which number were Galliasses Gallies Galeons and other vessels both great and small And amongst the 53. ships remaining those also are reckoned which returned home before they came into the English channell Two Galeons of those which were returned were by misfortune burnt as they rode in the hauen and such like mishaps did many other vndergoe Of 30000. persons which went in this expedition there perished according to the number and proportion of the ships the greater and better part and many of them which came home by reason of the toiles inconueniences which they sustained in this voiage died not long after their arriuall The Duke of Medina immediately vpon his returne was deposed from his authority commanded to his priuate house and forbidden to repaire vnto the Court where he could hardly satisfie or yeeld a reason vnto his malicious enemies and backbiters Many honorable personages and men of great renown deceased soone after their returne as namely Iohn Martines de Ricalde with diuers others A great part also of the Spanish Nobility and Gentry employed in this expedition perished either by fight diseases or drowning before their arriuall and among the rest Thomas Perenot of Granduell a Dutchman being Earle of Cantebroi and son vnto Cardinall Granduell his brother Vpon the coast of Zeland Don Diego de Pimentell brother vnto the Marquesse de Tamnares and kinsman vnto the Earle of Bencuâ—ntum Calua and Colonell ouer 32. bands with many other in the same ship was taken and detained as prisoner in Zeland Into England as we said before Don Pedro de Valdez a man of singular experience and greatly honoured in his country was led captiue being accompanied with Don Uasques de Silua Don Alonzo de Sayas and others Likewise vpon the Scottish Westerne Isles of Lewis and Ila and about Cape Cantyre vpon the maine land there were cast away certaine Spanish Ships out of which were saued diuers Captaines and Gentlemen and almost foure hundred souldiers who for the most part after their shipwracke were brought vnto Edenborough in Scotland and being miserably needy and naked were there cloathed at the liberalitie of the King and the Merchants and afterward were secretly shipped for Spaine but the Scottish Fleete wherein they passed touching at Yarmouth on the coast of Norfolke were there staied for a time vntill the Counsels pleasure was knowne who in regard of their manifold miseries though they were enemies winked at their passage Vpon the
and necessary way to be held against him and therefore more importing then the warre in the Low-countries I doubt not but this voyage hath sufficiently made knowne what they are euen vpon their owne dunghill which had it bin set out in such sort as it was agreed vpon by their first demand it might haue made our Nation the most glorious people of the world For hath not the want of eight of the twelue Peeces of Artillery which were promised vnto the Aduenture lost her Maiesty the possâ—ssion of the Groine and many other places as hereafter shall appeare whose defensible rampiers were greater then our battery such as it was cold force and therefore were left vnattempted It was also resolued to haue sent 600. English Horses of the Low-countries whereof wee had not one notwithstanding the great charges expended in their transportation hither and that may the Army assembled at Puente de Burgos thanke God of as well as the forces of Portugall who fore-ran vs six dayes together Did we not want seuen of the thirteen old Companies which we should haue had from thence foure of the ten Dutch Companies and six of their men of Warre for the Sea from the Hollanders which I may iustly say wee wanted in that we might haue had so many good Souldiers so many good ships and so many able bodies more then wee had Did there not vpon the first thinking of the iourney diuers gallant Courtiers put in their names for Aduenturers to the sum of 10000. li. who seeing it went forward in good earnest aduised themselues better and laid the want of so much money vpon the iourney Was there not moreouer a round summe of the aduenture spent in leâ—ying furnishing and maintaining three moneths one thousand fiue hundred men for the seruice of Berghen with which Companies the Mutinies of Ostend were suppressed a seruice of no small moment What misery the detracting of the time of our setting out which should haue beene the first of February did lay vpon vs too many can witnesse and what extremitie the want of that months victualls which wee did eat during the moneth wee lay at Plimouth for wind might haue driuen vs vnto no man can doubt of that knoweth what men doe liue by had not God giuen vs in the end a more prosperous wind and shorter passage into Galitia then hath been often seene where our owne force and fortune reuictualled vs largely of which crosse winds that held vs two dayes after our going out the Generalls being weary thrust to Sea in the same wisely chusing rather to attend the change thereof there then by being in Harbour to lose any part of the better when it should come by hauing their men on shoare in which two dayes twentie fiue of our Companies shipped in part of the Fleet were scattered from vs either not being able or willing to double Ushant These burdens layed vpon our Generalls before their going out they haue patiently endured and I thinke they haue thereby much enlarged their honour for nauing done thus much with the want of our Artillery 600. Horse 3000. Foot 20000. li. of their aduenture and one moneths victualls of their proportion what may be coniectured they would haue done with their full complement For our instruction against them who had almost seduced you from the â—â—ue opinon you hold of such men you shall vnderstand that Generall Norris from his booke was trained vp in the warres of the Admirall of France and in very young yeeres had charge of men vnder the Earle of Essex in Ireland which with what commendations hee then discharged I leaue to the report of them who obserued those seruices Vpon the breach betwixt Don Iohn and the States he was made Colonell Generall of all the English Forces there present or to come which he continued two yeeres he was then made Marshall of the Field vnder Conte Hobenlo and after that Generall of the Army in Frisland at his comming home in the time of Monsieurs gouernment in Flanders he was made Lord President of Munster in Ireland which he yet holdeth from whence within one yeere hee was sent for and sent Generall of the English Forces which her Maiestie lent then to the Low-countries which he held till the Earle of Leicesters going ouer And he was made Marshall of the Field in England the enemy being vpon our Coast and when it was expected the Crowne of England should haue beene tried by battell All which places of Command which neuer Englishman successiuely attained vnto in forraine warres and the high places her Maiestie hath thought him worthy of may suffice to perswade you that hee was not altogether vnlikely to discharge that he vndertooke What fame Generall Drake hath gotten by his iourney about the world by his aduentures to the West Indies and the scourges hee hath laid vpon the Spanish Nation I leaue to the Southerne parts to speake of But to answere the reports which haue beene giuen out in reproach of the Actors and Action by such as were in the same let no man thinke otherwise but that they who fearing the casuall accidents of Warre had any purpose of returning did first aduise of some occasion that should moue them thereunto and hauing found any whatsoeuer did thinke it sufficiently iust in respect of the earnest desire they had to seeke out matter that might colour their comming home Of these there were some who hauing noted the late Flemish wars did find that many young men haue gone ouer and safely returned Souldiers within few moneths in hauing learned some words of Art vsed in the wars and thought after that good example to spend like time amongst vs which being expired they began to quarrell at the great mortalitie that was amongst vs. The neglect of discipline in the Armie for that men were suffered to bee drunke with the plentie of Wines The scarsitie of Surgions The want of carriages for the hurt and sicke and the penury of victualls in the Campe It hath beene proued by strickt examinations of our Musters that we were neuer in our fulnesse before our going from Plimouth 11000. Souldiers nor aboue 2500. Mariners It is also euident that there returned aboue 6000. of all sorts as appeareth by the seuerall paiments made to them since our comming home And I haue truely shewed you that of these numbers very neere three thousand forsooke the Armie at the Sea whereof some passed into France and the rest returned home So as wee neuer being 13000. in all and hauing brought home aboue six thousand with vs you may see how the world hath beene seduced in beleeuing that we haue lost 16000. men by sicknesse If at home in the eyes of your Iustices Maiors Preachers and Masters and where they pay for euery pot they take they cannot be kept from their liquor doe they thinke that those base disordered persons whom themselues sent vnto vs as liuing at home without rule who hearing of
from the Generall â—lowne vp by mine the company was drawne away During the time we lay in the Road our Fleet began the second of Iune and so continued six dayes after to fetch in some Hulks to the number of threescore of Dansik Stetin Rostock Lubeck and Hamburgh laden with Spanish goods and as it seemed for the Kings prouision and going for Lisbâ—â— their principall lading was Corne Masts Cables Copper and Waxe amongst which were some of great burthen wonderfull well builded for sailing which had no great lading in them and therefore it was thought they were brought for the Kings prouision to reinforce his decaied Nauie whereof there was the greater likelihood in that the owner of the greatest of them which carried two misnes was knowne to be very inward with the Cardinall who rather then he would be taken with his ships committed himselfe vnto his small Boate wherein he recouered Saint Sebastians into the which our men that before were in flie-boates were shipped and the Flie-boates sent home with an offer of Corne to the value of their hire But the winde being good for them for Rochel they chose rather to loose their Corne then the winde and so departed The Generall also sent his Horses with them and from thence shipped them into England The third of Iune Colonell Deuereux and Colonell Sidney being both very sicke departed for England who in the whole iourney had shewed themselues very forward to all seruices and in their departure very vnwilling to leaue vs that day we embarked all our Army but lay in the road vntill the eight thereof The sixt-day the Earle of Essex vpon receit of Letters from her Maiesty by them that brought in the victuals presently departed towards England with whom Sir Roger Williams was very desirous to goe but found the Generals very vnwilling he should do so in that he bare the next place vnto them and if they should miscarry was to command the Army And the same day there came vnto vs two small â—â—arkes that brought tidings of some other ships come out of England with victuals which were passed vpwards to the Cape for meeting with whom the second day after we set saile for that place in purpose after our meeting with them to goe with the Iles of Azores the second day which was the ninth we met with them comming backe againe towards vs whose prouision little answered our expectation Notwithstanding we resolued to continue our course for the Ilands About this time wâ—â— the Marchant Royall with three or foure other ships sent to Peniche to fetch away the companies that were leâ—â— chere but Captain Barton hauing receiued Letters from the Generalâ— that were 〈◊〉 ouerland was departed before not being able by reason of the enemies speedy marching thither either to bring away the artillery or all his men according to the direction those letters gaue him for he was no sooner gone then the enemy possessed the Towne and Castle and shot at out ships as they came into the road At this time also was the Ambassadoor from the Emperor of Marocco called Reys Hamet Bencasamp returned and with him M. Ciprian a Gentleman of good place and desert who sent from Don Autoniâ— and Captaine O 〈…〉 y from the Generals to the Emperour The next morning the nine Gallâ—â—â— which were sent not fiue daies before out of Andaluzia for the strengthening of the Ruer or Lisbâ—â— which being ioyned with the other twelue that were there before though we lay hard by them at Saâ—nt Iulians durst neuer make any attempt against vs vpon our departure from thence 〈◊〉 returning home and in the morning being a very dead calme in the dawning thereof fell in the winde of our fleet in the vttermost part whereof they assailed one stragling Barke of Plimmouth of the which Captaine Cauerley being Captaine of the land company with his Lientenant the Master and some of the Marriners abandoned the ship and betooke them to the ship-boats whereof one in which the Master and the Captaine were was ouer 〈…〉 with the Gallies and they drowned There were also two Hulkes stragled far from the strength of the other ships which were so calmed as neither they could get to vs nor we to them though all the great ships towed with their Boats to haue relieued them but could not be recouered in one of which was Captaine Miâ—shaw with his company who fought with them to the last yea after his ship was on fire which whither it was fired by himselfe or by them we could not well discerne but might easily iudge by his long and good fight that the enemy could not but sustain much losse who setting also vpon one other Hulke wherein was but a Lieutenant and he very sicke wereby the valour of the Lieutenant put off although they had first beaten her with their artillery and attempted to boord her And seeing also one other Hulke a league off a sterne of vs they made towards her but finding that she made ready to fight with them they durst not further attempt her whereby it seemed their losse being great in the other fights they were loath to proceede any further From 〈◊〉 day till the nineteenth of Iune our direction from the Generall was that if the winde were Northerly we should plie for the Azores but if Southerly for the Iles of Bayon We lay with contrary windes about that place and the Rocke till the Southerly winde preuailing carried vs to Bayon among whom was Sir Henry Norris in the Ayde who had a purpose if the Admirals had not come in with some 500 men out of them all to haue landed and attempted the taking of Vigo The rest of the fleet held with generall Drake who though he were two dayes before put vpon those Ilands cast off againe to Sea for the Azores but remembring how vnprouided he was for that iourney and seeing that he had lost company of his great ships returned for Bayon and came in there that night in the euening where hee passed vp the Riuer more then a mile aboue Uigo The next morning wee landed as many as were able to fight which were not in the whole aboue two thousand men for in the seuenteene dayes we continued on boord wee had cast many of our men ouer-boord with which number the Colonell generall marched to the Towne of Uigo neere the which when hee approached he sent Captaine Anthony Wingfield with a troupe of shot to enter one side of the same who found vpon euery streâ—tes end a strong barricade but altogether abandoned for hauing entred the Towne he found but one man therein but might see them making way before him to Bayon On the other side the Towne entred Generall Drake with Captaine Richard Wingfield whose approach on that side I thinke made them leaue the places they had so artificially made for defence there were also certaine ships sent with the Vice-admirall to lye close before
seuen miles in circuit at the foot fashioned it is vpward like an Hiue and the top therof most commonly to be discerned within and aboue the clouds This Mountaine hath in it by report many great hollow Caues and deepe Vaults and it is credibly reported that oftentimes it breathes out flames and sparkes of fire as doth the Mountaine Aetna Also at the bottome of this Mountain towards the East there is a great Spring of Fresh-water which is seen many times to issue out flakes and stones of fire with great violence and of the number and bignesse of the stones that are throwne out by the force and source of this Spring and what huge workes they make of the multitudes of them they confidently doe tell strange wonders which I will neither affirme nor deny but leaue indifferent to credit as men list Fayall is so called of Faya which in the Portugues signifieth a Beech Tree wherewith that Iland is said to abound But yet I saw there more store of Iuniper and Cedar then of any other Wood or Timber For Aire and Soyle it is as pleasant and fruitfull as any of the other Ilands and in it are some fiue Townes with many pretie Villages and in this Iland there are yet remaining certaine families of the Flemish race Gratiosa is so called of the exceeding fruitfulnesse of the Soyle and pleasant temper of the Ayre Flores of the abundance of Flowers that grow in it Cueruo of the multitude of Rauens and Crowes breeding therein And that Iland doth also breed Horses Saint Maries Saint Georges and Saint Michaels were so called of those Saints names vpon whose dayes they were first discouered for such is the custome of many Nauigators and especially of the Spaniards and Portugues so to call those Landes that they first make by the Saints day and name wherein they are discouered And these three Ilands for temper and fruitfulnesse are suteable with the others But Saint Michael is the greatest of them all Tercera the strongest and Saint Maries the neerest to the Coast of Spaine But now as wee come neerer to our intended purpose for the better vnderstanding thereof I thinke it very necessary and pertinent somewhat to speake of the chiefe Commanders as well by Sea as by Land and also of the number of our Ships and Souldiers together with the proiect and designe of that iourney then vndertaken for the seruice of her late Maiestie and the Honour of our Nation It is therefore to be vnderstood that Robert Deuereux late Earle of Essex Master of the Horse and Ordnance and Knight of the Garter First commanded in chiefe as well Admirall of the Nauie by Sea as Generall of the Armie by Land His Vice-Admirall was the Lord Thomas Howard Knight of the same Order and second Sonne to the last Thomas Duke of Norfolke a Nobleman much honoured and beloued and of great experience in Sea seruice His Reare-Admirall was Sir Walter Raleigh Knight Captaine of her Maiesties Guard Lord Warden of the Stanneries and Lieftenant of Cornwall For the Land seruice his Leiftenant Generall was Sir Charles Blunt Lord Mountioy Knight of the Garter Gouernour of Portsmouth and a man in high fauour with her late Maiestie His Marshall of the Field was Sir Frauncis Vere Knight a great Souldier and Coronell Generall of the English Forces in the Low-Countries The Master of the Ordnance Sir George Carew Knight Leiftenant of the Ordnance of the Kingdome of England His Sergeant Maior Sir Ferdinando Gorges Knight Gouernour of the Forts of Plimouth The Coronell Generall of the Foot Sir Christopher Blunt Knight The Treasurer of the Armie Sir Hugh Biston Knight one of her Maiesties Receiuers Generall in the Principalities of Walles with all other Officers designed to places requisite that were needful by Land or Sea now too long to rehearse And yet of all the Noblemen I will as neere as I can record their names particularly but craue pardon if I faile in the precedencie of their places The Earles of Essex Rutland and Southampton the Lord Howard the Lord Audley the Lord Gray the Lord Mountioy the Lord Rich and the Lord Cromwell But the particular names of all the Land Captains that had charge I could neuer come to the knowledge of much lesse can I marshall them orderly in this discourse And therefore I will passe to the number of the Ships in generall and therein name some particulars of the chiefe and principall Vessells of the Royall Nauie with their Captaines The whole Nauie which was diuided into three Squadrons viz. The Admirall his Squadron The Vice-Admirall his Squadron and the Reare-Admirall his Squadron consisted of 120. sayle or thereabout whereof sixtie were good men of Warre and gallant Ships the rest Victuallers and Ships of Transportation Of her Maiesties owne Ships the number was eighteene or nineteene and these were their names The Merhoneur Admirall whereof Sir Robert Mansfield was Captaine The Due Repulse Vice-Admirall whereof Master Middleton was Captaine The Wast Spite Reare-Admirall whereof my selfe was Captaine The Garland the Earle of Southampton commanded The Defiance wherein the Lord Mountioy was shipped had for Captaine Sir Amias Preston The Saint Mathew to Sir George Carew Master of the Ordnance The Mary Rose to Sir Francis Vere Marshall whose Captaine was M. Iohn Winter The Dread-nought Sir William Brooke was Captaine of The Nonparellia Sir Richard Luson was Captaine of The Bonouenture Sir William Haruey was Captaine of The Antelope Sir Thomas Vauisâ—r was Captain of The Rainbow Sir William Mounson was Captaine of The Swiftsure Sir Gilly Mericke was Captain of The Golden Lion was sent after for a supply The Hope whereof was Captain The Foresight whereof Sir Carew Reignall was Captaine The Saint Andrew whereof Master Marcellus Throckmorton was Captain The Tramontana whereof young Master Fenner was Captain The Moone whereof Sir Edward Michelboorne was Captaine Besides that there were some other of her Maiesties small Pinnaces that attended the Fleet. The residue or the Fleet aforenamed consisted of the best shipping of London and other Port-Townes of the Kingdome with sundry stout Vestells belonging to some Lords and Gentlemen that were Aduenturers in this Voyage There were also added to this Nauie tenne sayle of good men of Warre sent from the States of the Low-Countries to attend her Maiesties Fleet in this seruice vnder the conduct of one Mounsier de Duneincorde well manned and furnished The Land Army besides Saylers that might be afforded and spared vpon occasion of landing consisted of six thousand able men well appointed with ten Peeces of Artillery for the Field and Battery with all necessary Vtensils fit for them The proportion of victuals was for four months at large allowance double apparell both for Souldier's and Mariners In this Armie there went Knights Captaines and Gentlemen voluntaries fiue hundred at the least as gallant parsonages and as brauely furnished as euer the
drawing little water and ouercharged with mightie Ordnance in a furious high wrought Sea And now also others found and felt the mischiefe of weake built Vessells and of rotten Tackle For this extreamitie of weather was so great as that wee were all one after another forced backe againe some into Plimouth and diuers into other Harbours on that Coast so extreamely shaken and beaten as that the Admirall was in danger to haue foundred in the Sea hauing many leaks broken out vpon him and his mid-ship beame shiuered in sunder And yet as wee vnderstood after some three or foure of the formost of our Fleet whereof the Earle of Southampton in the Garland was said to be one did recouer â—ight of the North-Cape but yet forced to returne againe to Plimouth And many of our Gentlemen and Knights with this boysterous and bitter entertainment on the Seas returned extreame weake and lay dangerously sicke long after Insomuch that some of them dyed thereof at Plimouth and were there honourably buried by the Generall Some also were so much weakened and distempered as that they were not able to recouer strength to put to the Seas againe as Sir Ferdinando Gorges our Sergeant Maior in whose place our Generall did appoint Sir Anthony Sherly and Sir Carew Reignalls Captaine of the Foresight so seuerely weakned with Seas sicknesse as that his charge was deliuered ouer to Sir Alexander Ratcliffe a very forward and gallant young Gentleman who not long after was slaine in the Warres of Ireland with Sir Conniers Clifford Gouernour of Connaugh And amongst others in the beginning of this bitter storme our Treasurer Sir Hugh Biston was also so extreamely afflicted with Sea sicknesse and in so great hazard of life as that out of the Wastspite wherein he was shipped he was imbarked into a Caruell of our traine to returne for England seeing his weake body vnable to vndergoe the resolution of his mind And I thinke this losing of our Treasurer in the beginning was an ominous presage of the losse of the infinite Treasures which afterward so vnluckily past by and escaped vs. Wee being thus with contrary winds and extreamitie of weather beaten backe into seuerall Hauens and yet at last meeting at Plimouth except some few Ships of transportation that were driuen vpon the Coasts of France Wales and Ireland with some of our Bands of Souldiers we fell to repairing of our Ships and to amend those inperfections which the Seas and stormes had discouered But withall were inforced to abate a great part of the first proportion of our Armie as well through the defects of the Admirall his Ships and others as also for the waste and expence which wee had made of our drinke and victuals by the leaking of the Caske and by the abundance of Salt-water which was taken in during the storme to the wetting and spoyling of many of our prouisions Besides that much of our beare aboard those Victuallers that followed our Fleet with diuers other prouisions was very vile and vnsauoury of it selfe by the great abuse of the Victuallers and London Brewers as well for the carelesse brewing as for the vnseasonable stinking Caske which they deliuer a fault much vsed among them and too much tolerated considering the infinite raâ—e and gaines they make of selling Thames water beyond all good order and proportion But as God would at that instant when wee had discharged our Ships of that vnseruiceable poisonous drinke there came very happily into Plimouth for a supply a tall prize laden with Spanish Canary Wines which was distributed amongst the Fleet to make Beuerage And in this sort vsing all industry and diligence for the setting afâ—ote of our storme-beaten Nauie wee so fitted our selues againe within eight or ten dayes as that wee were readie for a new fortune But yet this violent and dangerous tempest had so cooled and battered the courages of a great many of our voung Gentlemen who seeing that the boysterous winds and mercilesse Seas had neither affinitie with London delicacie nor Court brauery as that discharging their high Plumes and imbroydered Cassockes they secretly retired themselues home forgetting either to bid their friends farewell or to take leaue of their Generall And here by the way a little to digresse I thinke it not amisse iustly to reprehend and taxe our Nation for their vnproper and vaine manner of going to the Warres and especially those that had neuer seene seruice For bee hee poore or rich when hee first prepares to goe to serue hee will take more care and be at more cost to prouide himselfe of a roysting Feather and a â—lynckant Coat then to bee furnished either of fit Armes or of necessary clothing to keepe out wet and cold whereby they come both to the Sea and Field seruice rather like Maskers then Souldiers as men apter to bring spoyles for the Enemy then to conquer or win honour from him And yet at the last the wanting of their needfull habiliments in times of extreamitie doth make them truly to finde their owne errour and superfluous vanitie in those idle and fruitlesse toyes whereof I could wish a reformation as well for the bettering of our seruice as also for abating such needlesse expences Such were the garish troupes and gilded Armies of Darius abounding in pompe and delicacy whose millions of effeminate Persians were euer dispersed and defeated by handfulls of the poore and hardie Macedonians So were the steele edged Souldiers of that renowned Hanniball metamorphosed into Cowardise and Sloth after they had once relished the pride and delicacies of Capua for their conquests euer after declined So was also that famous M. Anthonius ouerthrowne and vanquished when he left the strict martiall discipline of his owne victorious Countrey and fashioned his Forces according to the brauery and luxury of Egypt to obserue the humour of Cleopatra who had vtterly corrupted and weakned the courage both of him and his legions with vanities excesse and idlenesse And such in our dayes were the glorious glistring French troupes led by the Duke of Ioyeuse being for the most part compounded of the gallant Courtiers and dancing Minions of Henry the Third French King of that name but beaten and ouerthrowne at the Battell of Couttras by the valiant King of Nauarr and an handfull of his poore Hugonotes as they then termed them Farre otherwise was the wont and manner of those worthy Romans that by their wisdome and valour made themselues famous and Lords ouer the World whose glorious examples wee doe more willingly read then follow They going a warfare departed Rome in obedience and strictnesse of Martiall discipline in sâ—briâ—tie of diet and attire fitted with Armes like men that knew that Iron and Steele were mastring mettalls ouer Gold and Siluer and hauing atchieued and performed their enterprises returned then home in triumph in glory and in pride shining in the spoyles and riches of their vanquished Enemies and adorned
the manuer and fashion of great Estates and Commaunders in the â—ars to giue out and pretend many things that indeed they intend not as well to make their names the more famous and terrible as also many times to amaze the world with false Alarums thereby either to hold their true purposes the more secret or at least to giue them the better speed and passage by diuerting the Enemyes A custome neither new nor vsuall and therefore not repeated as any extraordinary obseruation Iâ— this sort all things being ordered and repaired and our Generall returned with full Commission and resolution to proceed his Lordship in stead of the Merehoneur which was so weakened and disabled as that shee could not goe forth againe this iourney shipped himselfe in the Dewrepulse which was Vice-Admirall and our Vice-Admirall tooke vnto himselfe the Lyon in liew of the other And on Wednesday being the seuenteenth of August 1597. a little before sunne setting wee wayed our Ancors and set sayle but with much labour got out of Plimouth Road being forced to vse our Two-boates to set vs cleere of the Harbour the winde being somewhat slacke and scant Notwithstanding afterwards a sea-boord wee finding the weather more faâ—ourable held our course for the North cape and the three and twentieth of August wee fell athwart the Bay of Alchasher and at last bare full in with it The which course the Master of our Ship called Broadebant much disliked thinking it very inconuenient and perillous for so great a Fleet so wilfully to be imbayed vpon an Enemies Coast but yet followed the Generalls course The foure and twentieth of the same moneth being Bartholmew day wee met a soule storme in that Bay most extreamly violent for the time but lasted not aboue fiue or sixe houres In which storme the S. Matthew whereof Sir George Carew Master of the Ordnance was Captaine two houres before day falling into an head Sea hauing her Spright-sayle out brake ouer-boord her Bolt-spright and Fore-mast close to the Partners which for the Ships safetie was cut from her side In the Fore-top foure Mariners were drowned keeping their watch there and the fall of the Masts broke two Ancors and carried the third into the Sea vpon which disaster according to the manner of the Sea some Ordnance was discharged and many Lanternes hanged vpon the shrowdes to giue notice of her distresse in the night But after day light the Garland whereof the Earle of Southampton was Captaine drew neere to her succour who beholding with griefe the miserable estate that this Ship was in and likely to bee worse for that her Mayne Mast with the Ships rowling had loosened it selfe in the Partners and in danger to breake in the step which if it had done it would presently haue sunke her The Earle though hee was not able to take all the men out of her into his owne Ship being in number about seuen hundred persons yet hee was desirous and carefull to preserue as many as hee might And to that end sent his Pinnace to Sir George Carew praying him and as many as hee would select of his Company to come vnto him which noble offer of his Lordship the Master of the Ordnance as hee had reason thanfully receiued but hauing a more tender care of the losse of his Honour then of the hazard of his life would not forsake the Ship but made election rather to run the fortune of the rest of his company then to prouide for the particular safetie of himselfe and some other Captaines and Gentleman of good qualitie whereof hee had store This answere being returned the Earle was yet vnsatisfied and being desirous to saue as many as his Ship could well receiue and especially those of the better sort sent his Pinnace to the Saint Matthew againe perswading them not wilfully to lose themselues But the Captaine perseuered in his former resolution and when some gallant men of his company would gladly haue taken the Earles offer and haue left their consorts to their fortune Sir George Carew would in no wise suffer a man to depart because it should bee no discomfort to the rest but openly protested that both hee they and the Ship would altogether runne on fortune Whereupon the Earle seeing that his staying longer with the Saint Matthew could in no sort giue her men reliefe and fearing by staying too long to be farre ingaged in the Bay of Alchasher and to loose his Admirall followed the Fleet. These braue resolutions haue beene also vsed heretofore oftentimes by such as haue commanded in the Royall Ships and sometimes by the Admiralls themselues And it is well knowne to many Sea-men liuing at this day that Edward Earle of Lincolne High Admirall of England a valiant man and worthy Gentleman in the time of Queene Elizabeth being in seruice on the Narrow Seas with her Royall Nauie chanced in a tempest to fall with his Ship athwart a sand whereby shee was in great danger to bee bulged and lost whereupon the Captaine and Master of the Ship perswaded him in that extreamitie and danger to take the benefit of his Pinnace and saue himselfe aboord the next of the Fleet. But the Earle according to his honourable mind openly vowed and protested that no danger should cause him to leaue his company in distresse that for his loue had followed him to the Seas Besides said hee I honour the Queene my Mistresse so much to bring her word that I haue saued my selfe and lost her Ship and therefore let vs do our best to saue altogether for at this banquet wee will all drinke of one cup. Whereâ—n as hee gaue himselfe great glory and reputation so it seemed that fortune fauoured his vertue and courage for in the end with diligence and labour beyond all hope the Ship came safe off These extreamities and hazards on the Sea bring to my minde an accident worthy the relating and a piece of seruice not vnprofitable for Sea-men in like cases to bee obserued and this it is In the Queenes raigne about the time that the Pope and the King of Spaine sent forces into Ireland to ayd the Earle of Desmond who then rebelled in Munster there was sent to the Seas a Fleet of her Maiesties Ships whereof Sir Iohn Parrot was Admirall in the Reuenge and Sir William Gorges my Father in the Dread-naught Vice-Admirall who when they had performed their seruice on the Coast of Ireland and other places in their returne homewards the Vice-Admirall chanced to take an English Priate whose name was Deriuall a very valiant and skilfull Mariner This Deriuall the Admirall tooke aboord his owne Ship and kept him prisoner in the Bilbowes But so it fortuned that a great storme arising in the Narrow Seas the Fleet was scattered and Sir Iohn Parrats Shippe ranne vpon a Sand where a good time shee did dangerously beate hauing strucken all his Sayles and with euery Billow was like to bee
of Iuly Guisians fearâ—d Taâ—â— conqâ—â—st The 27 of Iuly The Spaniards ancre before Caleis Prince of Ascoli his good fortune The 28. of Iuly The 29. of Iuly The 30. of Iuly States Fleete Enâ—lish Hispaniolâ—zed traitors The Spaniards vaine opinion concerning their own fleet Sea-stratagem The 28. of Iuly The Galliasse of Hugo de Mon cada cast vpon the shoalds before Caleis M. Amias Preston 〈…〉 antly boordeth the Galliasse Moncada slain 50000. duckets The great fight before Greueling the 29. of Iuly Englishs ships aduantage Gods prouident mercies to the English Three Spanish ships sunke in the fight Two Galeons taken and carried into Zeland A small ship cast awaâ— abâ—ut Blankenberg The dishonorable flâ—gh of the Spanish nauy the prudent â—duiâ—e of the L. Admiral Our want of Powder Bullets pâ—â—clâ—ime th 〈…〉 u 〈…〉 of Gods present power merciful both deliuerance and victory Thâ— Enâ—lish return home 〈◊〉 the pursuit of the Spaniards the 4. of Aug. The Spaniards consult to saile round about Scotland Ireland and so to returne home Horses cast ouer-boord The ship wrack of the Spaniards vpon the Irish coast Of 134. ships of the Spanish fleet there returned home but 53. D. of Medina Ricaldes death Spaniards pittied Spaines general losse New coines stamped for the memory of the Spaniards ouerthrow The people of England and of the vnited prouinces pray fast and giue thankes vnto God The Kings wise speech Epinitian or triumph all verses Ad serenissimam Elizabetham Anglia Reginam Theodor. Beza * Like lips like lettuce A blind Balladmaker fit Homer for Achillian conquests By a Letter of Diego Peres chiefe Post-master of Logrono dated the second of September 1588. Copie of a letter that Iohn Gamarra wrote from Rean the 31. of August of the same yeere Copie of a Letter that Pèdro de Aluâ— did write from Roan the first of September of the same yeere Aduise from London which the Embassador of our Souereigne Lord the King resident in Parris had from thence By a Letter of the chiefe Post master of Burdeux written to the French Embassadour the 2. of Sept. 1588. Relation of that which haâ—h passed till this day the fifth of Sept. 1588. till three of the clock in the aâ—ternoon knowne by the relations and aduice come to his Maiestie from the happy Fleet wherof is Generall the Duke of Medina in the conquest of England A briefe rehearsall of the English exploits in this voyage Generall Noâ—râ—â— and Generall Drake Genâ—rall Norris his Martiall eduâ—ation and employments Earle of Essex his worthy Acts. Our men land within a mile of the Gâ—â—ine the 20. of April Intemperate drinking cause of sicknesse Nâ—â— voyage to England intended Gallion burnt Dangerous fire Vndermining Prouisions brought in Tower falleth Conde de Andrada his Armie The notable ouerthrow giuen to the Spaniards at Puente de Burgos Earle of Essex comes to them They land at Peniche Peniche taken They march towards Li 〈…〉 Good discipline Want of 〈◊〉 Some died with drinking water Earle of Essex his attempt They come to the suburbs of Lisbon Houses burnt by the Portugallâ— Colonell Bret flâ—ine Their retrait and chase by E. Essex Gen. Drakes comming Cascaiâ— forsaken Ships taken Consultation Don Antonies promises frustrate They mâ—â—h frpm Lisban The riches that they might haue gotten at Lisbon Desire of the English to fight Feare of the enemies Castle of Cascais yeelded Sixtie Hulkes brought Cardinall Albert after married to the Infanta and Ruler of the Spanish Port of the Low Countries Morocco Embassadour Bayon Vigo taken Borsis burned Vigâ— burned Their returne to Plimmouth * M. Hackluit had published the large report of this Voyage written byone emploied therin out of which I haue taken that which serued our purpose * Q. Mary said before her death that if they opened her they should finde Callis in her heart French and Flemming takeÌ„ and dismissed Hamburgers taken Letters taken Irishmans intelligence They arriue at Cadiz Some which professe martiall knowledg blame the not landing thâ— first day and sâ—y the weather serued but the scruple oâ— sunday and other pretences lost a million of wealth Doues lighting The Spanish Fleete The fight betwixt the two Fleetes Spanish losse Two Apostles forced to preach English Flemmish mischance The English land Bad way The English enter the town * I haue bin told by some of great worth then in this action that they heard the Lord Admirall affirme that he was 68. yeers old or between that and 70. who yet liueth 1624. crowned with siluer haires and golden raies of glorious acts The Castle deliuered Spaniards E 〈…〉 their ships Cadiz described My Sexton T. Rowly yet liuing hath often told me that he had the rifling of a Iewellers or Goldsmiths house and in his returne gaue and sold for toâ—es many Stones which by his description seemed Rubies of great bignes whereof he had his hatfull which proued not worth an angel to his ignorant simplicity neuer ordained to be rich Sir Iohn Winkfield buried Iune 21. 22. 27. Cadiz 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the L Admirall his letters Faraon burnt Crossed with windes and stormes Danger of the Admirallship They put in to Plimmouth Sicknesse Order to discharge land forces Their 〈◊〉 â—oâ—th the second 〈◊〉 Leake remedies Cape Finisterre Enterprise of Feroll uerthrowne The Rocke South Cape Tercera Victuals sent after them False aduise of a smal Pinnace comming from the Indies Note Mistaking The Indian Fleet rec 〈…〉 uer the Rode of Tercera Three Spanish Ships taken Want of prouisions Punta delgada in S. Michael Punta de la Galera They land nee Villa Franca October the fifteenth Their returne A Carack ran her selfe on the Rocks A Ship of Brasil taken * Charles * Of these Ilands see before Linschotens obseruations to which I haue added this Authors description as containing somwhat therin omitted This booke was written A. 1607. and dedicated to that great hope of Great Britaine Prince Henry the Epistle to him and the Preface I haue omitted in regard of our long volume I haue not added a word of mine but the Title and Marginall Notes nor defalked any of the Authors after my wont in others not to make their writings mine but â—hine the tediousnesse in so often repetitions by often relators and the superfluities being such as would deterre the Reader The Discourses I haue vsually put in another letter to distinguish them from the History the one the Eyes obseruations the other the Minds and both worthy both thine eyes and minds best obseruation Hee added also Notes touching the Naâ—â—e Royall which are worthy the noting but perhaps not to be permitted to euery vulgar and notelesse eye Sometim 〈…〉 veritas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Paines may cause paines and busie labour may reap the reward of a busie body I am loth to buy repentance Fayall Gratiosa Flores Cueruo S. Maries c. Commanders names and chiefe officers Noblemen imployed in this seruice The Nauie consisting of three Squadrons and