Island of Fayall some months after the surprizing of those Ships formerly mentioned The Castle yielded us 45 Pieces of Ordinance great and small We sacked and spoiled the Town and after ransomed it and so departed These Summer Services and Ships of Sugar proved not so sweet and pleasant as the Winter was afterwards sharp and painful For in our Return for England we found the Calamity of Famine the Hazard of Shipwrack and the Death of our Men so great that the like befell not any other Fleet during the time of the War All which Disasters must be imputed to Captain Lister's Rashness upon whom my Lord of Cumberland chiefly relyed wanting Experience himself He was the man that advised the sending the Ships of Wine for England otherwise we had not known the Want of Drink he was as earnest in persuading our Landing in the Face of the Fortifications of St. Maries against all Reason and Sence As he was rash so was he valiant but paid dearly for his unadvised Counsel For he was one of the first hurt and that cruelly in the Attempt of St. Maries and afterward drowned in the Rich Ship cast away at Mounts Bay Sir John Hawkins and Sir Martin Forbisher their Voyage undertaken Anno 1590. Ships The Revenge The Mary-Rose The Lyon The Bonaventure The Rainbow The Hope The Crane The Quittance The Foresight The Swiftseur Commanders Sir Martin Forbisher Sir Iohn Hawkins Sir Edward Yorke Capt. Fenner Capt. George Beeston Capt. Bostock Capt. Burnell FRom the Yeear 1585. untill this present Year 1590. there was the greatest possibility imaginable of enriching our Nation by Actions at Sea had they been well followed the King of Spain was grown so weak in Shipping by the Overthrow he had in 1588 that he could no longer secure the Trade of his Subjects Her Majesty now finding how necessary it was for her to maintain a Fleet upon the Spanish Coast as well to hinder the Preparations he might make against Her to repair the Disgrace he received in 1588. as also to intercept his Fleets from the Indies by which he grew Great and Mighty She sent this Year 1590. Ten Ships of her own in two Squadrons the one to be Commanded by Sir John Hawkins the other by Sir Martin Forbisher two Gentlemen of tried Experience The King of Spain understanding of this Preparation of hers sent forth 20 Sail of Ships under the Command of Don Alonso de Bassan Brother to the late Famous Marquess of St. Cruz. His Charge was to secure home the Indian Fleet and Carrecks But after Don Alonso had put off to Sea the King of Spain becoming better advised than to adventure 20 of his Ships to 10 of ours sent for Don Alonso back and so frustrated the Expectation of our Fleet. He likewise made a Dispatch to the Indies commanding the Fleets to Winter there rather than to run the hazard of coming Home that Summer But this proved so great a Hind'rance and Loss to the Merchants of Spain to be so long without Return of their Goods that it caused many to become Bankrupts in Sevil and other places besides which was so great a weakening to their Ships to Winter in the Indies that many years hardly sufficed to repair the Damage they received Our Fleet being thus prevented spent seven months in vain upon the Coasts of Spain and the Islands but in that space could not possess themselves of one Ship of the Spaniards and the Carrecks upon which part of their Hopes depended came Home without Sight of the Islands and arrived safe at Lisbon This Voyage was a bare Action at Sea though they attempted Landing at Fayal which the Earl of Cumberland the year before had taken and quitted but the Castle being re-fortified they prevailed not in their Enterprize And thence forwards the King of Spain endeavored to strengthen his Coasts and to encrease in Shipping as may appear by the next ensuing Year Two Fleets the one by Vs under the Lord Thomas Howard the other by the Spaniards Commanded by Don Alonso de Bassan Anno 1591. Ships The Dfiance The Revenge The Nonperil The Bonaventure The Lyon The Foresight The Crane Commanders The Lord Thomas Howaad Sir Richard Greenvile Vice-admiral Sir Edward Denny Capt. Crosse Capt. Fenner Capt. Vavasor Capt. Duffeild HER Majesty understanding of the Indian Fleets Wintering in the Havana and that Necessity would compell them home this Year 1591. she sent a Fleet to the Islands under the Command of the Lord Thomas Howard The King of Spain perceiving her Drift and being sensible how much the safety of that Fleet concerned him caused them to set out thence so late in the Year that it endangered the Shipwrack of them all chosing rather to hazard the perishing of Ships Men and Goods than their falling into our Hands He had two Designs in bringing home this Fleet so late One was he thought the Lord Thomas would have consumed his Victuals and have been forced Home The other that he might in the mean time furnish out the great Fleet he was preparing little inferior to that of 1588. In the first he found himself deceived For my Lord was supplied both with Ships and Victuals out of England and in the second he was as much prevented For my Lord of Cumberland who then lay upon the Coast of Spain had Intelligence of the Spaniards putting out to Sea and advertised the Lord Thomas thereof the very Night before they arrived at Flores where my Lord lay The day after this Intelligence the Spanish Fleet was discovered by my Lord Thomas whom he knew by their Number and Greatness to be the Ships of which he had warning and by that means escaped the Danger that Sir Richard Greenvile his Vice-admiral rashly ran into Upon View of the Spaniards which were 55 Sail the Lord Thomas warily and like a discreet General weighed Anchor and made Signs to the rest of his Fleet to do the like with a purpose to get the Wind of them but Sir Richard Greenvile being a stubborn man and imagining this Fleet to come from the Indies and not to be the Armado of which they were informed would by no means be persuaded by his Master or Company to cut his main Sail to follow his Admiral nay so head-strong and rash he was that he offered violence to those that councelled him thereto But the Old Saying that a wilful man is the Cause of his own Woe could not be more truly verified than in him For when the Armado approached him and he beheld the Greatness of the Ships he began to see and repent of his Folly and when it was too late would have freed himself of them but in vain For he was left a Prey to the Enemy every Ship striving to be the first should board him This wilful Rashness of Sir Richard made the Spaniards triumph as much as if they had obtained a Signal Victory it being the first Ship that ever they took of Her Majesties and
commended to them by some English Fugitives to be the very best she had but their Joy continued not long For they enjoyed her but five days before she was cast away with many Spaniards in her upon the Islands of Tercera Commonly one Misfortune is accompanied with another For the Indian Fleet which my Lord had waited for the whole Summer the day after this mishap fell into the Company of this Spanish Armado who if they had staid but one day longer or the Indian Fleet had come home but one day sooner we had possest both them and many millions of Treasure which the Sea afterward devoured For from the time they met with the Armado and before they could recover home nigh an hundred of them suffered Shipwrack besides the Ascention of Sevil and the double Fly-boat that were sunk by the side of the Revenge All which was occasioned by their Wintering in the Indies and the late Disambogueing from thence For the Worm which that Country is subject to weakens and consumes their Ships Notwithstanding this cross and perverse Fortune which happened by means of Sir Richard Greenvile the Lord Thomas would not be dismayed or discouraged but kept the Sea so long as he had Victuals and by such Ships as himself and the rest of the Fleet took defrayed the better part of the Charge of the whole Action The Earl of Cumberland to the Coast of Spain 1591. Ships The Garland of her Majesties Seven other Ships of his and his Friends Commanders The Earl of Cumberland Capt. under him Capt. Monson now Sir William Monson THE Earl of Cumberland keeping the Coast of Spain as you have heard while the Lord Thomas remained at the Islands and both to one end viz. to annoy and damnifie the Spaniards though in two several Fleets the Earl found Fortune in a sort as much to frown upon him as it had done upon the Lord Thomas Howard In his Course from England to the Spanish Coast he encountred with divers Ships of Holland which came from Lisbon wherein he found a great quantity of Spices belonging to the Portugalls So greatly were we abused by that Nation of Holland who though they were the first that engaged us in the War with Spain yet still maintained their own Trade into those parts and supplied the Spaniards with Munition Victuals Shipping and Intelligence against us Upon my Lord's Arrival on the Coast of Spain it was his hap to take three Ships at several times one with Wine which he unladed into his own and two with Sugars which he enjoyed not long no more did he the Spices which he took out of the Hollanders For one of the Ships of Sugar by means of a Leak that sprung upon her was forced to be cast off and the men with much difficulty recovered the Shore and saved their Lives The other being sent for England and tossed with contrary Winds was for want of Victuals forced into the Groyn where they rend'red themselves to the Enemies mercy The Spices were determined to be sent for England and a Ship appointed for that purpose with other Ships to guard her and Captain Monson was sent on Board her to the Islands of the Burlings with a Charge to see her dispatched for England But the other Ships not observing the Directions which were given them and the Night falling calm early in the Morning this scattered Ship was set upon by six Gallies and after a long and bloody Fight the Captain and the Principallest men being slain both Ship and Spices were taken but whether it was the respect they had to the Queen's Ship which was Admiral of that Fleet or Honor to my Lord that commanded it or Hope by good Usage of our men to receive the like again I know not but true it is that the ordinary men were treated with more Courtesie than they had been from the beginning of the Wars My Lord of Cumberland considering the Disasters that thus befell him and knowing the Spanish Fleet 's readiness to put out of Harbor but especially finding his Ship but ill of Sail it being the first Voyage she ever went to Sea he durst not abide the Coast of Spain but thought it more Discretion to return for England having as you have heard sent a Pinnace to my Lord Thomas with the Intelligence aforesaid A Voyage undertook by Sir Walter Rawleigh but himself returning left the Charge thereof to Sir Martin Forbisher Anno 1592. Ships The Garland The Foresight with divers Merchants Ships Commanders by Sea Sir Walter Rawleigh Capt. Cross and other Sir Walter went not but Sir Martin Forbisher Commander by Land Sir Iohn Borought SIR Walter Rawleigh who had tasted abundantly of the Queen's Love and found it now began to decline put himself upon a Voyage at Sea and drew unto him divers friends of great Quality and others thinking to have attempted some place in the West Indies and with this resolution he put out of Harbour but spending two or three days in fowl Weather Her Majesty was pleased to command his Return and to commit the Charge of the Ships to Sir Martin Forbisher who was sent down for that purpose but with an express Command not to follow the Design of the West Indies This suddain Alteration being known unto the rest of the Captains for the present made some Confusion as commonly it happens in all voluntary Actions Their General leaving them they thought themselves free in point of Reputation and at liberty to take what course they pleased Few of them therefore did submit themselves to the Command of Sir Martin Forbisher but chose rather each one to take his particular Fortune and Adventure at Sea Sir Martin with two or three other Ships repaired to the Coast of Spain where he took a Spaniard laden with Iron and a Portugal with Sugar He remained there not without some danger his Ship being ill of Sail and the Enemy having a Fleet at Sea Sir John Boroughs Captain Cross and another stood to the Islands where they met with as many Ships of my Lord of Cumberland's with whom they consorted After some time spent thereabouts they had sight of a Carreck which they chased but she recovered the Island of Flores before they could approach her but the Carreck seeing the Islands could not desend her from the Strength and Force of the English chose rather after the men were got on Shore to fire her self than we the Enemy should reap Benefit by her The Purser of her was taken and by Threats compell'd to tell of another of their Company behind that had Order to fall with that Island and gave us such particular Advertisement that indeed she fell to be ours In the mean time Don Alonso de Bassan was furnishing at Lisbon 23 of those Gallions which the Year before he had when he took the Revenge he was directed with those Ships to go immediately to Flores to expect the coming of the Carrecks who had order to fall with that
of this her Fleet and the weakness of Porto Ricom to possess themselves of that Treasure and the rather for that it was not much out of their way to Nombre de dois It is neither Years nor Experience that can foresee and prevent all mishaps which is a manifest Proof that God is the Guider and Disposer of Mens Actions For nothing could seem more probable to be effected than this later Design especially considering the Ability and Wisdom of the two Generals and yet was unhappily prevented and failed in the Execution For there being five Frigats sent out of Spain to fetch this Treasure from Porto Ricom in their way it was their hap to take a Pinnace of the English Fleet by whom they understood the Secrets of the Voyage and to prevent the Attempt of Porto Ricom they hastened thither with all speed whilst our Generals lingred at Quadrupa to set up their Boats and at their Arrival so strengthened the Town with the Souldiers brought in the Frigats that when our Fleet came thither not expecting Resistance they found themselves frustrate of their Hopes which indeed they themselves were the occasion of in managing their Design with no more Secresie This Repulse bred so great a Disconceit in Sir John Hawkins as it is thought to have hastened his days and being great and unexpected did not a little discourage Sir Francis Drake's great Mind who yet proceeded upon his first resolved Design for Nombre de dios though with no better Success For the Enemy having knowledge of their coming fortified the Passage to Panuma and forced them to return with loss Sir Francis Drake who was wont to rule Fortune now finding his Error and the difference between the present strength of the Indies and what it was when he first knew it grew melancholly upon this Disappointment and suddenly and I hope naturally died at Nombre de dios where he got his first Reputation The two Generals dying and all other Hopes being taken away by their Deaths Sir Thomas Baskervile succeeded them in their Command and began now to think upon his return for England but coming near Cuba he met and fought with a Fleet of Spain though not long by reason of the Sickness and Weakness of his Men. This Fleet was sent to take the Advantage of ours in its Return thinking as indeed it happened that they should find them both weak and in want but the swiftness of our Ships in which we had the Advantage of the Spaniards preserved us You may observe that from the year the Revenge was taken untill this present year 1595. there was no Summer but the King of Spain furnished a Fleet for the guarding of his Coasts and securing of his Trade and though there was little fear of any Fleet from England to impeach him besides this in the Indies yet because he would shew his greatness and satisfie the Portugal of the care he had in preserving their Carrecks he sent the Count of Feria a young Nobleman of Portugal who desired to gain Experience with 20 Ships to the Islands but the Carrecks did as they used to do in many other years miss both Islands and Fleets and arrived at Lisbon safely The other Fleets of the King of Spain in the Indies consisted of 24 Ships their General Don Bernardino de Villa nova an approved Coward as it appeared when he came to encounter the English Fleet but his Defects were supplied by the Valor of his Vice-admiral who behaved himself much to his Honor His Name was John Garanay The Earl of Essex and the Lord Admiral of England Generals equally both by Sea and Land Anno 1596. Ships The Repulse The Ark-royal The Mere-honor The Warspite The Lyon The Rainbow The Nonperil The Vauntguard The Mary Rose The Dreadnought The Swiftsuer The Quittance The Tremontary with several others Commanders The Earl of Essex Capt. under him Sir Will. Monson The Lord Admiral Capt. under him Ames Preston The Lord Thomas Howard Sir Walter Rawleigh Sir Robert Southwell Sir Francis Vere Sir Robert Dudley Sir Iohn Wingfield Sir George Carew Sir Alexander Clifford Sir Robert Crosse Sir George Clifford Sir Robert Mansfield Capt. King THE first of June 1596. we departed from Plymouth and our Departure was the more speedy by reason of the great pains care and industry of the 16 Captains who in their own Persons labored the Night before to get out some of their Ships riding at Catwater which otherwise had not been easily effected The Third we set Sail from Cansom Bay the Wind which when we weighed was at West and by South instantly cast up to the North East and so continued untill it brought us up as high as the North Cape of Spain and this fortunate beginning put us in great hopes of a lucky Success to ensue We being now come upon our Enemies Coast it behoved the Generals to be vigilant in keeping them from Intelligence of us who therefore appointed the Litness the True Love and the Lion's Whelp the three chief Sailors of our Fleet to run a Head suspecting the Spaniards had some Carvels of Advice out which they did usually send to discover at Sea upon any Rumor of a less Fleet than this was made ready in England No Ship or Carvel escaped from us which I hold a second Happiness to our Voyage For you shall understand hereafter the Inconvenience that might have happened upon our Discovery The 10th of June the said three Ships took three Fly-Boats that came from Cadiz 14 days before by them we understood the State of the Town and that they had no suspition of us which we looked on as a third Omen of our good Fortune to come The 12th of June the Swan a Ship of London being commanded as the other three to keep a good way off the Fleet to prevent discovery she met with a Fly-boat which made Resistance and escaped from her This Fly-boat came from the Streights bound Home who discovering our Fleet and thinking to gain Reputation and Reward from the Spaniards shhaped her Course for Lisbon but she was luckily prevented by the John and Francis another Ship of London commanded by Sir Marmaduke Darrel who took her within a League of the Shore and this we may account a fourth Happiness to our Voyage The first as hath been said was for the Wind to take us so suddainly and to continue so long For our Souldiers being Shipped and in Harbor would have consumed their Victuals and have been so pester'd that it would have endangered a Sickness amongst them The Second was the taking all Ships that were seen which kept the Enemy from Intelligence The Third was the intercepting of the Fly-Boats from Cadiz whither we were bound who assured us our coming was not suspected which made us more careful to hail from the Coast than otherwise we should have been They told us likewise of the daily expectation of the Gallions to come from St. Jacar to Cadiz and of the
Merchant-men that lay there and were ready bound for the Indies These Intelligences were of great moment and made the Generals presently to contrive their business both by Sea and Land which otherwise would have taken up a longer time after their coming thither and whether all men would have consented to attempt their Ships in Harbor if they had not known the most part of them to consist of Merchants I hold very doubtful The Fourth and fortunatest of all was the taking of the Fly-boat by the John and Francis which the Swan let go For if she had reached Lisbon she had been able to make report of the number and greatness of our Ships and might have endangered the loss of the whole Design she seeing the course we bore and that we had passed Lisbon which was the place the Enemy most suspected and made there his greatest preparation for Defence But had the Enemy been freed of that doubt he had then no place to fear but Andulozia and Cadiz above the rest which upon the lest warning might have been strengthned and we put to great Hazard he might also have secured his Ships by towing them out with Gallies and howsoever the Wind had been might have sent them into the Streights where it had been in vain to have pursued them or over the Bar of St. Lucar where it had been in vain to have attempted them And indeed of the good and ill of Intelligence we had had sufficient experience formerly Of the good in 1588. For how suddainly had we been taken and surprized when it we lest suspected had it not been for Captain Flemming Of the ill in the year before this by the Spaniards taking a Barque of Sir Francis Drake's Fleet which was the Occasion of the Overthrow of himself and the whole Action The 20th of June we came to Cadiz earlier in the morning than the Masters made reckoning of Before our coming thither it was determined in Council that we should land at St. Sebastians the Westermost part of the Land and thither came all the Ships to an Anchor every man preparing to land as he was formerly directed but the Wind being so great and the Sea so grown and four Gallies lying too to intercept our Boats there was no attempting to land there without the hazard of all This day was spent in vain in returning Messengers from one General to another and in the end they were forced to resolve upon a Course which Sir William Monson Captain under my Lord of Essex advised him to the same morning he discovered the Town which was to surprize the Ships and to be possessors of the Harbor before they attempted landing This being now resolved on there arose a great Question who should have the Honor of the first going in My Lord of Essex stood for himself but my Lord Admiral opposed it knowing if he miscarried it would hazard the Overthrow of the Action besides he was streightly charged by Her Majesty that the Earl should not expose himself to Danger but upon great necessity When my Lord of Essex could not prevail the whole Council withstanding him he sent Sir William Monson that night on Board my Lord Admiral to resolve what Ships should be appointed the next day to undertake the Service Sir Walter Rawleigh had the Vaward given him which my Lord Thomas Howard hearing challenged in right of his place of Vice-admiral and it was granted him but Sir Walter having Order over night to ply in came first to an Anchor but in that distance from the Spaniards as he could not annoy them And he himself returned on Board the Lord General Essex to excuse his coming to Anchor so far off for want of Water to go higher which was thought strange that the Spaniards which drew much more Water and had no more Advantage than he of Tide could pass where his could not But Sir Francis Vere in the Rainbow who was appointed to second him passing by Sir Walter Rawleigh his Ship Sir Walter the second time weighed and went higher The Lord General Essex who promised to keep in the midst of the Fleet was told by Sir William Monson that the greatest Service would depend upon three or four Ships and Sir William put him in mind of his Honor for that many Eyes beheld him This made him forgetful of his Promise and to use all means he could to be formost in the Fight My Lord Howard who could not go up in his own Ship the Mere honor betook himself to the Nonperil and in respect the Rainbow the Repulse and Warspight had taken up the best of the Channel by their first coming to an Anchor to his grief he could not get higher Here did every Ship strive to be the headmost but such was the narrowness of the Channel as neither the Lord Admiral nor any other Ship of the Queens could pass on There was Commandment given that no Ship should shoot but the Queens making account that the Honor would be the greater if the Victory were obtained with so few This Fight continued from Ten till Four in the Afternoon The Spaniards then set Sail thinking either to run higher up the River or else to bring their other Broad Sides to us because of the heat of their Ordnance but howsoever it was in their floating they came a ground and the men began to forsake the Ships Whereupon there was Commandment given that all the Hoys and Vessels that drew least Water should go unto them Sir William Monson was sent in the Repulse Boat with like directions We possess'd our selves of the great Gallions the Matthew and the Andrew but the Philip and Thomas fired themselves and were burnt down before they could be quenched I must not omit to describe the manner of the Spanish Ships and Gallies riding in Harbor at our first coming to Cadiz The four Gallions singled themselves from out the Fleet as Guards of their Merchants The Gallies were placed to flank us with their Prows before Entry but when they saw our Approach the next morning the Merchants ran up the River and the Men of War of Port Royal to the Point of the River brought themselves into a good Order of Fight moving their Ships a Head and a Stern to have their Broad Sides upon us The Gallies then betook themselves to the Guard of the Town which we put them from before we attempted the Ships The Victory being obtained at Sea the L. General Essex landed his men in a Sandy Bay which the Castle of Poyntull commanded but they seeing the Success of their Ships and mistrusting their own strength neither offered to offend his Landing nor to defend the Castle but quitted it and so we became Possessors of it After my Lord 's peeceable Landing he considered what was to be done and there being no place from whence the Enemy could annoy us but the Bridge of Swasoe which leadeth over from the main Land to the Island by our making good
die than receive Indignity of a Repulse My Lord of Essex much against his Will was forc'd to yield unto these Reasons and desist from that Enterprise About this time there was a general Complaint for want of Victuals which proceeded rather out of a desire that some had to be at home than out of any necessity For Sir William Monson and Mr. Darrel were appointed to examine the Condition of every Ship and found seven weeks Victuals Drink excepted which might have been supplied from the Shore in Water and this put the Generals in great hope to perform something more than they had done The only Service that was now to be thought on was to lie in wait for the Carrecks which in all probability could not escape us though there were many Doubts to the contrary but easily answered by men of Experience But in truth some mens desires homeward were so great that no Reason could prevail with or persuade them Coming into the height of the Rock the Generals took Council once again and then the Earl of Essex and the Lord Thomas Howard offered with great earnestness to stay out the time our Victuals lasted and desired to have but 12 Ships furnished out of the rest to stay with them but this would not be granted though the Squadron of the Hollanders offered voluntarily to stay Sir Walter Rawleigh alleadged the scarcity of Victuals and the Infection of his Men. My Lord General Essex offered in the Greatness of his Mind and the Desire he had to stay to supply his want of Men and Victuals and to exchange Ships but all Proposals were in vain For the Riches kept them that got much from attempting more as if it had been otherwise pure want though not Honor would have enforced them to greater Enterprises This being the last Hopes of the Voyage and being generally withstood it was concluded to steer away for the North Cape and afterwards to view and search the Harbors of the Groyn and Ferrol and if any of the King of Spain's Ships chanced to be there to give an Attempt upon them The Lord Admiral sent a Carvel of our Fleet into these two Harbors and aparrelled the men in Spanish Cloaths to avoid Suspicion This Carvel returned the next day with a true Relation that there were no Ships in the Harbors And now passing all places where there was any hope of doing good our Return for England was resolved upon and the 8th of August the Lord Admiral arrived in Plymouth with the greatest part of the Army And the Lord General Essex who staid to accompany the St. Andrew which was under his Charge and reputed of his Squadron two days after us the 10th of August where he found the Army in that perfect Health as the like hath not been seen for so many to go out of England to such great Enterprises and so well to return home again He himself rid up to the Court to advise with her Majesty about the winning of Callis which the Spaniards took the Easter before Here was a good opportunity to have re-gained the Ancient Patrimony of England but the French King thought he might with more ease re-gain it from the Spaniard who was his Enemy than recover it again from us who were his Friends My Lord Admiral with the Fleet went to the Downs where he landed and left the Charge of the Navy to Sir Robert Dudley and Sir William Monson In going from thence to Chatham they endured more foul Weather and contrary Winds than in the whole Voyage besides A Voyage to the Islands the Earl of Essex General Anno 1597. Ships The Mere-honor After in the Repulse The Lyon The Warspite The Garland The Defiance The Mary Rose The Hope The Matthew The Rainbow The Bonaventure The Dreadnought The Swiftsuer The Antelope The Nonperil The St. Andrew Commanders The Earl of Essex Capt. under him Sir Robert Mansell The Lord Thomas Howard Sir Walter Rawleigh The Earl of Southampton The Lord Mountioy Sir Francis Vere Sir Richard Lewson Sir George Carew Sir Will. Monson Sir Will. Harvey Sir Will. Brooke Sir Gilly Merick Sir Iohn Gilbert he went not Sir Tho. Vavasor Capt. Throgmorton HER Majesty having Knowledge of the King of Spain's drawing down his Fleet and Army to the Groyn and Ferrol with an intent to enter into some Action against Her and that notwithstanding the loss of thirty six Sail of his Ships that were cast away upon the North Cape in their coming thither He prepared with all possible means to revenge the Disgraces we did him the year last past at Cadiz Her Majesty likewise prepared to defend her self and fitted out the most part of her Ships for the Sea but at length perceiving his Drift was more to afright than offend her though he gave it it out otherwise because she should provide to resist him at home rather than to annoy him abroad She was unwilling the great Charges she had been at should be bestowed in vain and therefore turned her Preparations another way than that for which she first intended them The Project of this Voyage was to assault the King of Spain's Shipping in the Harbor of Ferrol which the Queen chiefly desired to do for her own Security at home and afterwards to go and take the Islands of Tercera and there to expect the coming home of the Indian Fleet. But neither of these two Designs took that effect which was expected For in our setting forth the same day we put to Sea we were taken with a most violent Storm and contrary Winds and the General was seperated from the Fleet and one Ship from another so that the one half of the Fleet were compelled to return home and the rest that kept the Sea having reached the Coast of Spain were commanded home by order of the Lord General Thus after their return they were to advise upon a new Voyage finding by their Ships and Victuals they were unable to perform the former Whereupon it was thought convenient all the Army should be discharged for the prolonging of the Victuals except a thousand of the prime Souldiers of the Low Countries which were put into her Majesties Ships that they might be the better prepared if they should chance to encounter the Spanish Elect. Thus the second time they departed England though not without some danger of the Ships by reason of the Winter 's near approach The first Land in Spain we fell withal was the North Cape the place whither our Directions led us if we happened to lose Company being there descried from the Shore and not above 12 Leagues from the Groyn where the Spanish Armado lay We were in good hopes to have enticed them out of the Harbor to fight us but spending some time thereabouts and finding no such Disposition in them it was thought fit no longer to linger about that Coast lest we should lose our opportunity upon the Indian Fleet therefore every Captain received his Directions to stand his
Tremontary The Acatice Pinnaces Gallies Hoyes 10 Commanders The Lord Admiral Sir Francis Drake Vice Admiral The Lord Thomas Howard The Lord Sheffeild Sir Robert Southwell Sir Martin Forbisher Sir Iohn Hawkins Capt. Crosse. Capt. Reyman Capt. George Beeston Capt. Thomas Fenner The Lord Henry Seymore Sir William Winter Capt. Fenton Sir Henry Palmer Capt. Barker Capt. Fenner Capt. Hawkins Capt. Bostock Capt. Ashley NOtwithstanding the great spoil and hurt Sir Francis Drake did the year past in Cadiz Road by intercepting some part of the Provisions intended for this great Navy the King of Spain used his utmost endeavours to revenge himself this year lest in taking longer time his Designs might be prevented as before and arrested all Ships Men and necessaries wanting for his Fleet and compell'd them per force to seave in this Action He appointed for General the Duke of Medina Sidonia a man imployed rather for his Birth than Experience for so many Dukes Marquesses and Earls voluntarily going would have repined to have been commanded by a man of less quality than themselves They departed from Lisbon the 19th day of May 1588 with the greatest pride and glory and least doubt of Victory that ever any Nation did but God being angry with their insolence disposed of them contrary to their expectation The directions from the King of Spvin to his General were to repair as wind and weather would give leave to the Road of Callice in Piccardy there to abide the coming of the Prince of Parma and his Army and upon their meeting to have opened a Letter directed to them both with further Instructions He was especially commanded to sail along the Coasts of Brittany and Normandy to avoid being discovered by us here and if he met with the English Fleet not to offer to fight but onely seek to defend themselves But when he came athwart the North Cape he was taken with a contrary wind and foul weather and forced into the Harbour of the Groyne where part of his Fleet lay attending his coming As he was ready to depart from thence they had intelligence by an English Fisherman whom they took Prisoner of our Fleets late being at Sea and putting back again not expecting their coming that year insomuch that most part of the Men belonging to our Ships were discharged This Intelligence made the Duke alter his Resolution and to break the Directions given him by the King yet this was not done without some difficulty for the Council was divided in their Opinions some held it best to observe the Kings Command others not to lose the opportunity offered to surprize our Fleet unawares and burn and destroy them Diego Flores de Valdos who had the command of the Andalusian Squadron and on whom the Duke most relied because of his experience and judgment was the main man that persuaded the Attempt of our Ships in Harbour and with that resolution they directed their course for England The first Land they fell with was the Lizard the Southermost part of Cornwall which they took to be the Rams Head athwart Plymouth and the night being at hand they tacked off to Sea making account in the morning to make an Attempt upon our Ships in Plymouth But whilest they were thus deceived in the Land they were in the mean time discovered by Capt. Flemminge a Pyrat who had been at Sea pilfering and upon view of them knowing them to be the Spanish Fleet repaired with all speed to Plymouth and gave warning and notice to our Fleet who were then riding at Anchor whereupon my Lord Admiral hastned with all possible expedition to get forth the Ships and before the Spaniards could draw near Plymouth they were welcomed at Sea by my Lord and his Navy who continued fight with them untill he brought them to an Anchor at Callice The particulars of the Fight and the Successes thereof being things so well known I purposely omit While this Armado was preparing Her Majesty had from time to time perfect intelligence of the Spaniards Designs and because she knew his intent was to invade her at Sea with a mighty Fleet from his own Coast she furnished out her Royal Navy under the Conduct of the Lord High Admiral of England and sent him to Plymouth as the likeliest place to attend their coming as you have heard Then knowing that it was not the Fleet alone that could endanger her safety for that they were too weak for any Enterprize on Land without the assistance of the Prince of Parma and his Army in Flanders therefore she appointed 30 Sail of Holland Ships to lie at an Anchor before the Town of Dunkirk where the Prince was to imbarque in Flat-bottom'd Boats made purposely for the Expedition of England Thus had the Prince by the Queens Providence been prevented if he had attempted to put out of Harbour with his Boats but in truth neither his Vessels nor his Army were in readiness which caused the King ever after to be jealous of him and as 't is supposed to hasten his end Her Majesty notwithstanding this her vigilant care to foresee and prevent all danger that might happen at Sea would not hold her self too secure of her Enemy and therefore prepared a Royal Army to welcom him upon his Landing but it was not the will of God that he should set foot on English ground the Queen becoming Victorious over him at Sea with little hazard or bloudshed of her Subjects Having shewed the Design of the Spaniards and the course taken by Her Majesty to prevent them I will now collect the Errors committed as well by the one as by the other as I have promised in the beginning of my Discourse As nothing could appear more rational and likely to take effect after the Duke had gotten intelligence of the state of our Navy than his design to surprize them unawares in Harbour he well knowing that if he had taken away our strength by Sea he might have landed both when and where he listed which is a great advantage to an Invader yet admitting it had took that effect he designed I see not how he was to be commended in breaking the Instructions given him by the King what blame then did he deserve when so ill an event followed by his rashness and disobedience It was not the want of Experience in the Duke or his laying the fault upon Valdes that excused him at his return but he had smarted bitterly for it had it not been for his Wife who obtained the Kings favour for him Before th' Arrival of the Ships that escaped in this Voyage it was known in Spain that Diego Flores de Valdes was he who persuaded the Duke to break the Kings Instructions whereupon the King gave commandment in all his Ports where the said Diego Flores de Valdes might arrive to appreheud him which was accordingly executed and he carried to the Castle of Sancta Andrea and was never seen or heard of after If the Kings Directions
the place being subject to contrary Winds In the mean while the better part of the Victuals would have been consumed and they would have remained there in so desperate a Condition as they would have been forced to have fired one half of the Fleet for the bringing home of the rest for being as they were yet after the Army was imbarqued for England many died of Famine Homeward and more would have done if the Wind had took them short or if by the Death of some of them the rest who survived had not been the bettr relieved And besides all these Casualties and Dangers the Adilantado was then in Lisbon with the Gallies of Spain and how easily he might have annoyed our Fleet by towing Fire-ships amongst us We may suppose the Hurt we did the Spaniards the Year before in Cadiz Road and greater we had done them had we had the Help of Gallies It was a wonder to observe every man's Opinion of this Voyage as well those that were Actors in it as others that staid at Home some imputing the Overthrow of it to the Landing at the Groyn others to the Portugalls failing us of those Helps and Assistances which were promised by Don Antonio and others to Sir Francis Drake's not coming up the River with his Fleet. Though any of these three Reasons may seem probable enough and the Landing at the Groyn the chiefest of the three yet if we weigh truly the Defect and where it was it will appear that the Action was overthrown before their setting out from Home they being too weakly provided of all things needful for so great an Expedition For when this Voyage was first treated of the Number of Ships was nothing equal to the Proportion of Men Wherefore they were forced to make Stay of divers Easterlings which they met with in our Channel and compelled to serve in this Action for the Transportation of our Souldiers and though these Ships were an Ease to our Men who would have been otherwise much pestered for want of Room yet their Victuals were nothing augmented but they were put aboard the Ships like banished men to seek their Fortunes at Sea it being confessed that divers of the Ships had not four days Victuals when they departed from Plymouth Another Impediment to the good Success of this Voyage was the want of Field-Pieces and this was the main Cause why we failed of taking Lisbon For the Enemies Strength consisting chiefly in the Castle and we having only an Army to countenance us but no means for Battery we were the Loss of the Victory our selves For it was apparent by Intelligence we received that if we had presented them with Battery they were resolved to parly and by Consequence to yield and this too was made use of by the Portugalls as a main Reason why they joyned not with us And there is as much to be said on the Portugalls behalf as an Evidence of their good Will and Favor to us that though they shewed themselves forward upon this Occasion to aid us yet they opposed not themselves as Enemies against us Whereas if they had pursued us in our Retreat from Lisbon to Cask Cadiz our Men being weak sickly and wanting Powder and Shot and other Arms they had in all probability put us to a great Loss and Disgrace And if ever England have the like Occasion to aid a Competitor in Portugal we shall questionless find that our fair Demeanor and Carriage in this Expedition towards the People of that Countrey have gained us great Reconciliation among them and would be of singular Advantage to us For the General strictly forbad the Rifling of their Houses in the Country and the Suburbs of Lisbon which he possess'd and commanded just Payment to be made by the Souldiers for every thing they took without Compulsion or rigorous Usage And this hath made those that stood but indifferently affected before now ready upon the like Occasion to assist us A Voyage undertaken by the Earl of Cumberland with one Ship Royal of her Majesties and six of his own and of other Adventures Anno Dom. 1589. Ships The Victory The Margaret And Five other Commanders The Earl of Cumberland Capt. Christopher Lister Capt. Monson now Sir William Monson Vice-Amiral AS the Fleets of Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Drake returned from the Voyage of Portugal my Lord of Cumberland proceeded upon his towards that Coast and meeting with divers of that Fleet relieved them with Victuals who otherwise had perished This Voyage was undertaken at his and his Friends Charge excepting the Victory a Ship Royal of the Queen's which she adventured The Service performed at Sea was the taking of three French Ships of the League in our Channel and his encountring upon the Coast of Spain with Thirteen Hulks who made some Resistance Out of these he took to the Value of 7000 l. in Spices belonging to Portugal From thence he crossed over to the Island of Terceras and coming to St. Michaels with Boats he fetched out two Spanish Ships from under the Castle which the same Night arrived out of Spain In this Course from thence to Flores he took a Spanish Ship laden with Sugars and Sweet-meats that came from the Maderas Being at Flores he received Intelligencence of divers Spanish Ships which were in the Road of Fayal whereupon he suddainly made from that Island where Captain Lister and Captain Monson gave a desperate Attempt in their Boats upon the said Ships and after along Fight possessed themselves of one of them of 300 Tuns Burden carrying Eighteen Pieces of Ordidinance and Fifty Men. This Ship with one other came from the Indies two of the rest out of Guiney and another was Laden with Woad which that Island affords in great Plenty who putting from thence to Sea and coming to the Island of Graciosa after two days Fight yielded us by Composition some Victuals Off that Island we likewise took a French Ship of the League of 200 Tuns that came from New-found-land Afterwards Sailing to the Eastward of the Road of Terceras in the Even-we beheld 18 Tall Ships of the Indies entring into the said Road one whereof we after took in her Course to the Coast of Spain She was laden with Hides Silver and Cochineal but coming for England she was cast away upon the Monnts Bay in Cornwall being valued at 100000 l. Two other Prizes of Sugar we took in our said Course to the Coast of Spain esteemed each Ship at 7000 l. and one from under the Castle of St. Maries to the same Value There was no Road about those Islands that could defend their Ships from our Attempts yet in the last Assault we gave which was upon a Ship of Sugars we found ill Success being sharply resisted and two parts of our Men slain and hurt Which Loss was occasioned by Captain Lister who would not be persuaded from Landing in the View of their Forts The Service performed by Land was the taking of the
of which Bridge there would be no way left for the Gallies to escape us He sent three Regiments under the Command of Sir Conniers Clifford Sir Christopher Blunt and Sir Thomas Garret to the Bridge who at their first coming were encountred by the Enemy but yet possess'd themselves of it with the loss of some men but whether it was for want of Victuals or for what other reasons our men quitted it I know not and the Gallies breaking down divers Arches pass'd it and by that means escaped My Lord dispatched a Messenger to my Lord Admiral intreating him to give Order to attempt the Merchants that rode in Port Royal for that it was dangerous to give them a Night's respite lest they should convey away their Wealth or take example by the Philip and Thomas to burn themselves This Message was delivered by Sir Anthony Ashley and Sir William Monson as my Lord Admiral was in his Boat ready with his Toops of Seamen to land fearing the Lord General Essex should be put to Distress with his small Companies which were but three Regiments hastened by all means to second him and gave order to certain Ships the next day to pursue him Seeing I have undertaken to shew the Escapes committed in any of our English Voyages such as were committed here shall without Fear or Flattery appear to the Judicious Reader Though the Earl of Essex his Carriage and Forwardness merited much yet if it had been with more Advisement and less Haste it would have succeeded better And if he were now living he would confess Sir William Monson advised him rather to seek to be Master to the Ships than of the Town for it was that would afford both Wealth and Honor For the Riches in Ships could not be concealed or conveyed away as in Towns they might And the Ships themselves being brought for England would be always before mens Eyes there and put them in remembrance of the greatness of the Exploit as for the Town perhaps it might be soon won but probably not long enjoyed and so quickly forgotten And to speak indifferentiy by the Earl's suddain Landing without the Lord Admirals Privity and his giving Advice by a Message to attempt the Ships which should have been resolved of upon mature Deliberation no doubt the Lord Admiral found his Honor a little Eclipsed which perhaps hastened his Landing for his Reputation sake whenas he thought it more advisable to have possess'd himself of their Fleet. Before the Lord Admiral could draw near the Town the Earl of Essex had entred it and although the Houses were built in that manner as that every House served for a Platform yet they were forc'd to quit them and to retire into the Castle My Lord at last in despite of the Enemy gained the Market place where he found greatest Resistance from the Houses thereabouts and where it was that that Worthy Gentleman Sir John Wingfield was unluckily slain The Lord General Essex caused it to be proclaimed by Beat of Drum through the Town that all that would yield should repair to the Town-House where they should have promise of Mercy and those that would not to expect no Favor The Castle desired Respite to consider untill the morning following and then by one general Consent they surrend'red themselves to the two Lord Generals Mercies The Chief Prisoners Men and Women were brought into the Castle where they remained a little space and were sent away with Honorable Usage The noble treating of the Prisoners hath gained an everlasting Honor to our Nation and the General 's in particular It cannot be supposed the Lord Generals had leisure to be idle the day following having so great business to consider of as the securing the Town and enjoying the Merchants Ships Wherefore for the speedier dispatch they had Speech with the best men of the City about the Ransom to be given for their Town and Liberties 120000 Duckets was the Summ concluded on and for Security thereof many of them became Hostages There was likewise an Overture for the Ransom of their Ships and Goods which the Duke of Medina hearing of rather than we should reap any profit by them he caused them to be fired We found by Experience that the destroying of this Fleet which did amount to the value of six or seven Millions was the general impoverishing of the whole Country For when the Pledges sent to Sevil to take up money for their Redemption they were answered that all the Town was not able to raise such a Summ their Loss was so great by the loss of their Fleet. And to speak truth Spain never received so great an Overthrow so great a Spoil so great an Indignity at our Hands as this For our Attempt was at his own Home in his Port that he thought as safe as his Chamber where we took and destroy'd his Ships of War burnt and consumed the Wealth of his Merchants sack'd his City ransomed his Subjects and entred his Country without Impeachment To write all Accidents of this Voyage were too tedious and would weary the Reader but he that would desire to know the Behavior of the Spaniards as well as of us many confer with divers English men that were redeemed out the Gallies in exchange for others and brought into England After we had enjoyed the Town of Cadiz a Fortnight and our men were grown rich by the Spoil of it the Generals imbarqued their Army with an intent to perform greater Services before their Return but such was the Covetousness of the better Sort who were inriched there and the fear of Hunger in others who complained for want of Victuals as they could not willingly be drawn to any farther Action to gain more Reputation The only thing that was afterwards attempted was Pharoah a Town of Algarula in Portugal a place of no Resistance or Wealth only famous by the Library of Osorius who was Bishop of that place which Library was brought into England by us and many of the Books bestowed upon the new erected Library of Oxford Some Prisoners were taken but of small account who told us that the greatest Strength of the Country was in Lawgust the chief Town of Argarula twelve miles distant from thence because most part of the Gentlemen thereabouts were gone thither to make it good expecting our coming This News was acceptable to my Lord of Essex who preferred Honor before Wealth And having had his Will and the Spoil of the Town of Pharoah and Country thereabouts He Shipped his Army and took Council of the Lord Admiral how to proceed My Lord Admiral diverted his course for Lawgust alleadging the place was strong of no Wealth always held in the nature of a Fisher-Town belonging to the Portugals who in their Hearts were our Friends that the winning of it after so eminent a place as Cadiz could add no Honor though it should be carried yet it would be the Loss of his best Troops and Gentlemen who would rather to
Course into 36 Degrees there to spread our selves North and South it being a heighth that commonly the Spaniards sail in from the Indies At this time the Lord General complained of a Leak in his Ship and two days after towards midnight he brought himself upon the Lee to stop it Sir Walter Rawleigh and some other Ships being a head the Fleet and it growing dark they could not discern the Lord General 's Working but stood their Course as before directed and through this unadvised working of my Lord they lost him and his Fleet. The day following Sir Walter Rawleigh was informed by a Pinnace he met that the great Armado which we supposed to be in the Groyn and Ferrol was gone to the Islands for the Guard of the Indian Fleet. This Pinnace with this Intelligence it gave us Sir Walter Rawleigh immediately sent to look out the General My Lord had no sooner received this Advice but at the very instant he directed his Course to the Islands and dispatched some small Vessels to Sir Walter Rawleigh to inform him of the suddain Alteration of his Course upon the News received from him commanding him with all Expedition to repair to Flores where he would not fail to be at our Arrival At the Islands we found this Intelligence utterly False For neither the Spanish Ships were there nor were expected there We met likewise with divers English men that came out of the Indies but they could give us no assurance of the coming home of the Fleet neither could we recive any Advertisement from the Shore which made us half in despair of them By that time we had watered our Ships and refreshed our selves at Flores Sir Walter Rawleigh arrived there who was willed by the Lord General after he was furnished of such Wants as that poor Island afforded to make his repair to the Island of Fayal which my Lord intended to take Here grew great Questions and Heart-burnings against Sir Walter Rawleigh For he coming to Fayal and missing the Lord General and yet knowing my Lord's Resolution to take the Island he held it more advisable to land with those Forces he had than to expect the coming of my Lord For in that space the Island might be better provided whereupon he landed and took it before my Lord's approach This Act was held such an Indignity to my Lord and urged with that Vehemence by those that hated Sir Walter that if my Lord though naturally kind and flexible had not feared how it would have been taken in England I think Sir Walter had smarted for it From this Island we went to Graciosa which did willingly relieve our Wants as far as it could yet with humble intreaty to forbear landing with our Army especially because they understood there was a Squadron of Hollanders amongst us who did not use to forbear Cruelty wherever they came and here it was that we met the Indian Fleet which in manner following unluckily escaped us The Lord General having sent some men of good Account into the Island to see there should be no Injury offered to the Portugals he having passed his word to the contrary those men advertised him of four Sail of Ships descried from the Shore and one of them greater than the rest seemed to be a Carreck My Lord received this News with great Joy and divided his Fleet into three Squadrons to be commanded by himself the Lord Thomas Howard and Sir Walter Rawleigh The next Ship to my Lord of the Queen's was the Rainbow wherein Sir William Monson went who received direction from my Lord to steer away South that Night and if he should meet with any Fleet to follow them carrying Lights or shooting off his Ordnances or making any other Sign that he could and if he met with no Ships to direct his Course the next day to the Island of St. Michael but promising that Night to send 12 Ships after him Sir William besought my Lord by the Pinnace that brought him this Direction that above all things he should have a care to dispatch a Squadron to the Road of Angra in the Tercera's For it was certain if they were Spaniards thither they would resort Whilst my Lord was thus contriving his Business and ordering his Squadrons a small Barque of his Fleet happened to come to him who assured him that those Ships discovered from the Land were of his own Fleet and that they came in immediately from them This made my Lord countermand his former Direction only Sir William Monson who was the next Ship to him and received the first Command could not be recalled back Within three hours of his Departure from my Lord which might be about 12 of the Clock he fell in company of a Fleet of 25 Sail which at the first he could not assure himself to be Spaniards because the day before that number of Ships was missing from our Fleet. Here he was in a Dilemma and great perplexity with himself for in making Signs as he was directed if the Ships proved English it were ridiculous and he would be exposed to scorn and to respite it untill morning were as dangerous if they were the Indian Fleet For then my Lord might be out of View or of the hearing of his Ordnance Therefore he resolved rather to put his Person than his Ship in Peril He commanded his Master to keep the Weather-Gage of the Fleet whatsoever should become of him and it blowing little Wind he betook himself to his Boat and rowed up with the Fleet demanding of whence they were They answered of Sevil in Spain and asked of whence he was He told them of England and that the Ship in fight was a Gallion of the Queen 's of England single and alone alleadging the Honor they would get by winning her his Drift being to draw and entice them into the Wake of our Fleet where they would be so entangled as they could not escape they returned him some Shot and ill Language but would not alter their Course to the Tercera's whither they were bound and where they arrived to our misfortune Sir William Monson returned aboard his Ship making Signs with Lights and Report with his Ordnance but all in vain For my Lord altering his Course as you have heard stood that Night to St. Michaels and passed by the North side of Tercera a farther way than if he had gone by the way of Augra where he had met the Indian Fleet. When day appeared and Sir William Monson was in hope to find the 12 Ships promised to be sent to him he might discern the Spanish Fleet two miles and a little more a Head him and a Stern him a Gallion and a Pinnace betwixt them which putting forth her Flaggs he knew to be the Earl of Southampton in the Garland The Pinnace was a Frigat of the Spanish Fleet who took the Garland and the Rainbow to be Gallions of theirs but seeing the Flag of the Garland she found her Error and
sprang a loof thinkink to escape but the Earl pursued her with the loss of some Time when he should have followed the Fleet and therefore was desired to desist from that Chase by Sir William Monson who sent his Boat to him By a Shot from my Lord this Frigat was surk and while his Men were rifling her Sir Francis Vere and Sir William Brook came up in their two Ships who the Spaniards would have made us believe were two Gallions of theirs and so much did my Lord signifie to Sir William Monson wishing him to stay their coming up for that there would be greater hope of those two Ships which there was no doubt but we were able to Master than of the Fleet for which we were too weak But after Sir William had made the two Ships to be the Queen's which he ever suspected them to be he began to pursue the Spanish Fleet afresh but by reason they were so far a Head of him and had so little way to sail they recovered the Road of Tercera but he and the rest of the Ships pursued them and himself led the way into the Harbor where he found sharp Resistance from the Castle but yet so battered the Ships that he might see the Masts of some shot by the Board and the men quit the Ships so that there wanted nothing but a Gale of Wind to enable him to cut the Cables of the Hawsers and to bring them off Wherefore he sent to the other 3 great Ships of ours to desire them to attempt the cutting their Cables but Sir Fra. Vere rather wished his coming off that they might take a Resolution what to do This must be rather imputed to want of Experience than Backwardness in him For Sir William sent him word that if he quitted the Harbor the Ships would tow near the Castle and as the Night drew on the Wind would freshen and come more off the Land which indeed proved so and we above a League from the Road in the morning We may say and that truly there was never that possibility to have undone the State of Spain as now For every Royal of Plate we had taken in this Fleet had been two to them by our converting it by War upon them None of the Captains could be blamed in this Business All is to be attributed to the want of Experience in my Lord and his flexible Nature to be over-ruled For the first hour he anchored at Flores and called a Council Sir William Monson advised him upon the reason following after his Watering to run West spreading his Fleet North and South so far as the Eastern Wind that then blew would carry them alleadging that if the Indian Fleet came home that Year by computation of the last light Moon from which time their disimboguing in the Indies must be reckoned they could not be above 200 Leagues short of that Island and whensoever the Wind should chop up Westernly he bearing a slack Sail they would in a few days overtake him This Advice my Lord seemed to take but was diverted by divers Gentlemen who coming principally for Land Service found themselves tired by the tediousness of the Sea Certain it is if my Lord had followed his Advice within less than 40 hours he had made the Queen owner of that Fleet For by the Pilot's Card which was taken in the Frigat the Spanish Fleet was but 50 Leagues in traverse with that Eastern Wind when my Lord was at Flores which made my Lord wish the first time Sir William Monson repaired to him after the Escape of the Fleet that he had lost his Hand so he had been ruled by him Being met Aboard Sir Francis Vere we consulted what to do and resolved to acquaint my Lord with what had happened desiring his Presence with us to see if there were any possibility to attempt the Shipping or surprize the Island and so to possess the Treasure My Lord received this Advertisement just as he was ready with his Troops to have landed in St. Michaels but this Message diverted his Landing and made him presently cast about for the Islands of the Tercera's where we lay all this while expecting his coming In his Course from St. Michaels it was his hap to to take three Ships that departed the Havana the day after the Fleet Which three Ships did more than countervail the whole Voyage At my Lord's meeting with us at Tercera there was a Consultation how the Enemies Ships might be fetched off or destroyed as they lay but all men with one consent agreed the impossibility of it The attempting the Island was propounded but withstood for these reasons the difficulty in Landing the strength of the Island which was increased by fourteen or fifteen Hundred Souldiers in the Ships and our want of Victuals to abide by the Siege Seeing then we were frustrate of our Hopes at the Tercera we resolved upon landing in St. Michaels and arrived the day following at Punta Delgada the Chief City Here my Lord imbarqued his small Army in Boats with offer to Land and having thereby drawn the Enemies greatest Force thither to resist him suddainly he rowed to Villa Franca three or four Leagues distant from thence which not being defended by the Enemy he took The Ships had order to abide in the Road of Delgada for that my Lord made account to march thither by Land but being on Shore at Villa Franca he was informed that the March was impossible by reason of the high and craggy Mountains which diverted his purpose Victuals now grew short with us and my Lord General began discreetly to foresee the danger in abiding towards Winter upon these Coasts which could not afford him an Harbor only open Roads that were subject to Southern Winds and upon every such Wind he must put to Sea for his safety He considered that if this should happen when his Troops were on Shore and he not able to reach the Land in a Fortnight or more which is a thing ordinary what a desperate case he should put himself into especially in so great a want of Victuals And so concluding that he had seen the end of all his Hopes by the Escape of the Fleet he imbarqued himself and Army though with some difficulty the Seas were now grown so high By this time the one half of the Fleet that rid in Punta Delgada put room for Villa Franca and those that remained behind being thought by a Ship of Brazile to be the Spanish Fleet she came in amongst them and so was betrayed After her there followed a Carreck who had been served in the like manner but for the hasty and indiscreet weighing of a Hollander which made her run a Shore under the Castle when the Wind lessened Sir William Monson weighed with the Rainbow thinking to give an Attempt upon her notwithstanding the Castle which she perceiving as he drew near unto her she set her self on fire and burned down to the very Keel She was a
Ship of 1400 Tuns Burden that the year before was not able to double the Cape of bona Esperansa in her Voyage to the East Indies but put into Brazile where she was laden with Sugars and afterwards thus destroyed The Spaniards who presumed more upon their Advantages than Valors though themselves in too weak a Condition to follow us to the Islands and put their Fortunes upon a days Service but subtilly devised how to intercept ns as we came Home when we had least Thought or Suspicion of them and their Fleet that was all this while in the Groyn and Ferrol not daring to put forwards while they knew ours to be upon the Coast their General the Adelantada came for England with a Resolution to land at Falmouth and fortifie it and afterwards with their Ships to keep the Sea and expect our coming home scattered Having thus cut off our Sea Forces and possessing the Harbor of Falmouth they thought with a second supply of 37 Levantisco's Ships which the Marquess Arumbullo commanded to have returned and gained a good footing in England These Designs of theirs were not foreseen by us For we came Home scattered as they made reckoning not 20 in number together We may say and that truly that God fought for us For the Adalantada being within a few Leagues of the Island of Silly he commanded all his Captains on Board him to receive his Directions but whilst they were in Consultation a violent Storm took them at East insomuch that the Captains could hardly recover their Ships but in no case were able to save their Boats the Storm continued so furious and happy was he that could recover home seeing their Design thus overthrown by loss of their Boats whereby their means of Landing was taken away Some who were willing to stay and receive the farther Commands of the General kept the Seas so long upon our Coast that in the end they were taken others put themselves into our Harbors for Refuge and Succor and it is certainly known that in this Voyage the Spaniards lost eighteen Ships the St. Luke and the St. Bartholomew being two and in the rank of his best Gallions We must ascribe this Success to God only For certainly the Enemies Designs were dangerous and not to be diverted by our Force but by his Will who would not suffer the Spaniards in any of their Attempts to set footing in England as we have done in all the Quarters of Spain Portugal the Islands and both the Indies The Lord Thomas Howard Admiral to the Downs from whence be returned in one Month Anno 1599. Ships The Elizabeth Ionas The Ark Royal The Triumph The Mere-honor The Repulse The Garland The Defiance The Nonperil The Lyon The Rainbow The Hope The Foresight The Mary Rose The Bonaventure The Crane The Swiftsuer The Tremontary The Advantage The Quittance Commanders The Lord Thomas Howard Sir Walter Rawleigh Sir Fulke Grivel Sir Henry Palmer Sir Tho. Vavasor Sir Will. Harvey Sir Will. Monson Sir Robert Cross Sir Richard Lewson Sir Alexander Clifford Sir Iohn Gilbert Sir Tho. Sherley Mr. Fortescue Capt. Troughton Capt. Ionas Capt. Bradgate Capt. Slingsby Capt. Hoer Capt. Reynolds I Cannot write of any thing done in this Year of 1599. For there was never greater Expectation of War with less Performance Whether it was a Mistrust the one Nation had of the other or a Policy held on both sides to make Peace with Sword in Hand a Treaty being entertained by consent of each Prince I am not to examine but sure I am the Preparation was on both sides very great as if the one expected an Invasion from the other and yet it was generally conceived not to be intended by either but that ours had only relation to my Lord of Essex who was then in Ireland and had a Design to try his Friends in England and to be revenged of his Enemies as he pretended and as it proved afterwards by his Fall Howsoever it was the Charge was not so great as necessary For it was commonly known that the Adalantada had drawn both his Ships and Gallies to the Groyne which was not usually done but for some Action intended upon England or Ireland though he converted them after to another use as you shall hear The Gallies were sent into the Low Countreys and pass'd the Narrow Seas while our Ships lay there and with the Fleet the Atalantada pursued the Hollanders to the Islands whither he suspected they were gone This Fleet of Hollanders which consisted of 73 Sail were the first Ships that ever displayed their Colors in War-like sort against the Spaniards in any Action of their own For how cruel soever the War seemed to be in Holland they maintained a peaceable Trade in Spain and abused us This first Action of the Hollanders at Sea proved not very successful For after the Spoil of a Town in the Canary's and some Hurt done at the Island of St. Ome they kept the Sea for some seven or eight months in which time their General and most of their Men sickned and died and the rest returned with Loss and Shame Another Benefit which we received by this Preparation was that our Men were now taught suddainly to Arme every man knowing his Command and how to be commanded which before they were ignorant of and who knows not that sudden and false Alarms in an Army are sometimes necessary To say truth the Expedition which was then used in drawing together so great an Army by Land and rigging so great and Royal a Navy to Sea in so little a space of Time was so admirable in other Countreys that they received a Terror by it and many that came from beyond Sea said the Queen was never more dreaded abroad for any thing she ever did French-men that came Aboard our Ships did wonder as at a thing incredible that her Majesty had rigged victualled and furnished her Royal Ships to Sea in 12 days time And Spain as an Enemy had reason to fear and grieve to see this suddain Preparation but more when they understood how the Hearts of Her Majesty's Subjects joyned with their Hands being all ready to spend their dearest Blood for her and her Service Holland might likewise see that if they became insolent we could be assoon provided as they nor did they expect to find such celerity in any Nation but themselves It is probable too that the King of Spain and the Arch-Duke were hereby drawn to entertain Thoughts of Peace For as soon as our Fleet was at Sea a Gentleman was sent from Brussells with some Overtures although for that time they succeeded not However whether it was that the intended Invasion from Spain was diverted or that her Majesty was fully satisfied of my Lord of Essex I know not but so it was that she commanded the suddain Return of her Ships from Sea after they had layn three weeks or a month in the Downs Sir Richard Lewson to the Islands Anno Dom. 1600. Ships