it Whereupon I made semblance as if I had been more willing to hear him than before hoping by that means to cause him to deliver his minde to some other that might be witness thereof with me wherein nevertheless I failed After all this on Saturday last being the sixth of February between the hours of five and six in the afternoon Parry came to my Chamber and desired to talk with me apart whereupon we drew our selves to a window And where I had told Parry before that a learned man whom I met by chance in the fields unto whom I proponed the question touching her Majesty had answered me that it was an enterprise most villanous and damnable willing me to discharge my self of it Parry then desired to know that learned mans name and what was become of him saying after a scornful manner No doubt he was a very wise man and you wiser in believing him and said further I hope you told him not that I had any thing from Rome Yes in truth said I. Whereunto Parry said I would you had not named me nor spoken of any thing I had from Rome And thereupon he earnestly perswaded me estsoons to depart beyond the Seas promising to procure me safe passage into Wales and from thence into Britain whereat we ended But I then resolved not to do so but to discharge my conscience and lay open this his most traiterous and abominable intention against her Majesty which I revealed in sort as is before set down Edmund Nevil After this confession of Edmund Nevil William Parry the 11th day of February last being examined in the Tower of London by the Lord Hunsdon Lord Governour of Barwick Sir Christopher Hatton knight Vicechamberlain to her Majesty and Sir Francis Walsingham Knight principal Secretary to her Majesty did voluntary and without any constraint by word of mouth make confession of his said Treason and after set it down in writing all with his own hand in his Lodging in the Tower and sent it to the Court the 13th of the same by the Lieutenant of the Tower The parts whereof concerning his manner of doing the same and the Treasons wherewith he was justly charged are here set down word for word as they are written and signed with his own hand and name the 11th of February 1584. The voluntary Confession of William Parry in writing all with his own hand The voluntary Confession of William Parry Doctor of the Laws now Prisoner in the Tower and accused of Treason by Edmund Nevil Esquire promised by him with all faith and humility to the Queens Majesty in discharge of his Conscience and Duty towards God and her Before the Lord Hunsdon Lord Governour of Barwick Sir Christopher Hatton Knight Vicechamberlain Sir Francis Walsingham Knight principal Secretary the 13th of February 1584. Parry IN the year 1570. I was sworn her Majesties servant from which time until the year 1580. I served honoured and loved her with as great readiness devotion and assurance as any poor subject in England In the end of that year and until Midsummer 1582. I had some trouble for the hurting of a Gentleman of the Temple In which action I was so disgraced and oppressed by two great men to whom I have of late been beholden that I never had contented thought since There began my misfortune and here followeth my woful fall In July after I laboured for licence to travail for three years which upon some consideration was easily obtained And so in August I went over with doubtful minde of return for that being suspected in Religion and not having received the Communion in twenty two years I began to mistrust my advancement in England In September I came to Paris where I was reconciled to the Church and advised to live without scandal the rather for that it was mistrusted by the English Catholiques that I had Intelligence with the greatest Councellour of England I staied not long there but removed to Lions a place of great Traffick where because it was the ordinary passage of our Nation to and fro between Paris and Rome I was also suspected To put all men out of doubt of me and for some other cause I went to Millain from whence as a place of some danger though I found favour there after I had cleared my conscience and justified my self in Religion before the Inquisitor I went to Venice There I came acquainted with father Benedicto Palmio a grave and a learned Jesuite By conference with him of the hard state of the Catholicks in England and by reading of the Book De persecutione Anglicana and other discourses of like argument 1 I conceived a possible mean to relieve the afflicted state of our Catholicks if the same might be well warranted in religion and conscience by the Pope or some learned Divines I asked his opinion he made it clear commended my devotion comforted me in it and after a while made me known to the Nuntio Campeggio there resident for his Holiness By his means I wrote to the Pope presented the service and sued for a Pasport to go to Rome and to return safely into France Answer came from Cardinal Como that I might come and should be welcome I misliked the warrant sued for a better which I was promised but it came not before my departure to Lions where I promised to stay some time for it And being indeed desirous to go to Rome and loth to go without countenance I desired Christofero de Salazar Secretary to the Catholick King in Venice who had some understanding by conference of my devotion to the afflicted Catholicks at home and abroad to commend me to the Duke di Nova Terra Governour of Millain and to the County of Olivaris Embi then Resident for the King his Master in Rome which he promised to do effectually for the one and did for the other And so I took my journey towards Lyons whither came for me an ample Passeport but somewhat too late that I might come and go in verbo Pontificis per omnes jurisdictones Ecclesiasticas absque impedimento I acquainted some good Fathers there of my necessity to depart towards Paris by promise and prayed their advises upon divers points wherein I was well satisfied And so assuring them that his Holiness should hear from me shortly it was undertaken that I should be excused for that time In October I came to Paris where upon better opinion conceived of me amongst my Catholick Country-men I found my credit well setled and such as mistrusted me before ready to trust and imbrace me And being one day at the Chamber of Thomas Morgan a Catholick Gentleman greatly beloved and trusted on that side amongst other Gentlemen talking but in very good sort of England I was desired by Morgan to go up with him to another Chamber where he brake with me and told me that it was hoped and looked for that I should do some service for God and his Church I answered him
which were then weak and unfortified are since so strengthened as it is bootless to undertake any Action to annoy the King of Spain in his West Indies And though this Voyage proved both fortunate and victorious yet considering it was rather an awakening than a weakning of him it had been far better to have wholly declined it than to have undertaken it upon such slender grounds and with so inconsiderable Forces The second Voyage of Sir Francis Drake to the Road of Cadiz and towards the Islands of Tercera Anno 1587. Ships Commanders The Elizabeth Bonaventure Sir Francis Drake General The Lyon Sir William Borrough Vice Admiral The Rainbow Capt. Bellingam The Dread-nought Capt. Thomas Fenner HER Majesty having received several Advertisements that while the King of Spain was silent not seeking revenge for the injuries the Ships of Reprisal did him daily upon his Coasts he was preparing an invincible Army to invade her at home She thereupon sought to frustrate his designs by intercepting his Provisions before they should come to Lisbon which was their place of Rendezvouz and sent away Sir Francis Drake with a Fleet of 30 Sail great and small 4 whereof were her own Ships The chief Adventure in this Voyage besides those 4 Ships of Her Majesties was made by the Merchants of London who sought their private gain more than the advancement of the Service neither were they deceived of their expectation Sir Francis Drake understanding by two Ships of Middleborough that came from Cadiz of a Fleet with Victuals Munition and other habiliments for War riding there ready to take the first opportunity of a wind to go to Lisbon and joyn with other Forces of the King of Spain he directed his course for Cadiz Road where he found the Advertisement he received from this Ships of Middleborough in every point true and upon his arrival attempted the Ships with great courage and performed the Service he went for by destroying all such Ships as he found in Harbour as well of the Spaniards as other Nations that were hired by them and by these means he utterly defeated their mighty Preparations which were intended against England that year 1587. The second Service performed by him was the assaulting the Castle of Cape Sacre upon the utmost Promontory of Portugal and three other strong Holds all which he took some by force and some by composition From thence he went to the mouth of the River of Lisbon where he anchored near Caske Cadiz which the Marquess of St. Cruze beholding durst not with his Gallies approach so near as once to charge him Sir Francis Drake perceiving that though he had done important Service for the State by this fortunate Attempt of his yet the same was not very acceptable to the Merchants who adventured onely in hope of Profit and preferred their private gain before the security of the Kingdom or any other respect Therefore from Caske Cadiz he stood to the Islands of Tercera to expect the coming home of a Carreck which he had intelligence wintered at Mosambique and consequently she was to be home in that moneth And though his Victuals grew scarce and his Company importuned his return home yet with gentle Speeches he persuaded and so much prevailed with them that they were willing to expect the issue some few days at the Islands and by this time drawing near the Island of S. Michael it was his good fortune to meet and take the Carreck he looked for which added more Honour to his former Service and gave great content to the Merchants to have a profitable Return of their Adventure which was the thing they principally desired This Voyage proceeded prosperously and without exception for there was both Honour and Wealth gained and the Enemy greatly endamaged The first Action undertaken by the Spaniards was in 1588 the Duke of Medina General who were encountered by our Fleet the Lord Admiral being at Sea himself in person Ships Commanders The Ark Royal The Lord Admiral The Revenge Sir Francis Drake Vice Admiral The Lyon The Lord Thomas Howard The Bear The Lord Sheffeild The Elizabeth Jonas Sir Robert Southwell The Triumph Sir Martin Forbisher The Victory Sir John Hawkins The Hope Capt. Crosse The Bonaventure Capt. Reyman The Dread-nought Capt. George Beeston The Nouperil Capt. Thomas Fenner The Rainbow The Lord Henry Seymore The Vanntguard Sir William Winter The Mary Rose Capt. Fenton The Antilope Sir Henry Palmer The Foresight  The Ayde Capt. Barker The Swallow  The Tyger Capt. Fenner The Scout  The Swiftsure Capt. Hawkins The Bull  The Tremontary Capt. Bostock The Acatice  Pinnaces Gallies Hoyes 10 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 Spain 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
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 Commanders The Victory The Earl of Cumberland The Margaret Capt. Christopher Lister And Five other 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 Mounts 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 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 Commanders The Revenge Sir Martin Forbisher The Mary-Rose Sir John Hawkins The Lyon Sir Edward Yorke The Bonaventure Capt. Fenner The Rainbow Capt. George Beeston The Hope  The Crane Capt. Bostock The Quittance  The Foresight Capt. Burnell The Swiftseur  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 outs sent
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 confinued 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 posses'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 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 of 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
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 sight 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 sunk 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 reasons 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 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 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 weighted 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 thought 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 us 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 sought 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 he returned in one Month Anno 1599. Ships Commanders The Elizabeth Jonas The Lord Thomas Howard The Ark
MEGALOPSYCHY BEING A Particular and Exact ACCOUNT Of the last XVII Years OF Q. Elizabeths Reign Both MILITARY and CIVIL The First written by Sir William Monson one of the Queens Admirals The Second written by Heywood Townsend Esq WHEREIN Is a True and Faithful Relation of all the Expeditions Attempts Designs Successes and Errors both of the English and Spanish Wars from the Year 1585 to the Queens death With a Full Account of the eminent Speeches and Debates c. in the said time To which is added Dr. Parry's Tryal in the Year 1584. All written at the time of the Actions by Persons eminently Acting therein LONDON Printed for W. Crooke and sold by W. Davis in Amen Corner M.DC.LXXXII A TRUE and EXACT ACCOUNT OF THE Wars with Spain In the REIGN of Q. ELIZABETH Of Famous Memory BEING The Particulars of what happened between the English and Spanish Fleets from the Years 1585 to 1602. SHEWING The Expeditions Attempts Fights Designs Escapes Successes Errors c. on both sides With the Names of Her Majesty's Ships and Commanders in every Fleet. Being a Patern and Warning to Future Ages Never Printed before Written by Sir William Monson who was a Captain in most and Admiral of several of those Fleets in the said Wars and Dedicated to his Son LONDON Printed for W. Crooke and sold by W. Davis in Amen Corner M.DC.LXXXII TO THE READER By way of Advertisement YOu have here put into your hands a Piece of English History of a time of great Actions You will hardly meet more Truth in any History than you will find in this All circumstances considered there could not in any thing be greater opportunities of Truth they being written by Persons of Eminent Characters and Considerable Actors in the same times These very Authors Wise and Heroick Actions make no inconsiderable part of the History it self The First is a Relation of the Military Transactions of the Nation for nigh Twenty Years beginning Anno Domini 1585 from which time to Queen Elizabeths death there was yearly set out a Fleet against the Spaniards with a full Account of all the Expeditions Stratagems Attempts Successes and Miscarriages that happened in that War on both sides wherein is shewed the Valour and Heroick Acts of those great Souldiers that were so plenty in that Age as Cumberland Suffolk Essex Sheffeild Drake Rawleigh Hawkins Forbisher Carlee Burroughs Bellingham Fenner Southwell Crosse Seymour Crosse Winter Beeston Palmer Barker Bostock Sackvile Goring Norris Williams Leicester York Greenvile Vavasor c. And Sir William Monson the Author of this who was Admiral in several of the said Expeditions against the Spaniards and also a Member in her last Parliaments The second part is the full and exact Account of the Four last Parliaments both Lords and Commons of Queen Elizabeth taken from the original Records of their Houses by Heywood Townsend Esquire a Member thereof with the particular Speech and Behaviour of the Wife and Learned Statesmen Lawyers c. which that time was fo fruitful of viz. Egerton Burleigh Buckhurst Cecill Walsingham Hatton Bacon Rawleigh Hobby Crooke Coke Moore Fortescue Pophan Yelverton Finch Maynard Spelman Wentworth Hobart Manwood Jones Digby Caesar Anderson Winch c. With other passages of History in those times that is runs contemporary with Sir William Monsons Relation both together being the Account of the Military and Civil State of Affairs of nigh 20 Years of the last part of Queen Elizabeths Reign being the most eminent time of Action in all her Government With Sir William Monsons Directions and Advice to his Son by way of Dedication to excuse it s not coming forth sooner may be to avoid such Offences which must necessarily be given by a faithful and exact Historian that writes of the present Age when the Parties are living that were Actors in it it may by this time be supposed that such Objections against its now coming forth may be over You have added at the end of this the Tryal Condemnation and Execution of Dr. Parry for a Conspiracy against the said Queen written also at the time of his Tryal and Execution So that what is here offered for thy use is nothing but what was written at the time of the Action or by the Persons who were Actors and of such Quality that it is quite out of all suspicion there should be the least Falshood in this it being never at all designed for the publick in the life-time of the Authors Therefore neither Profit nor Honour did the Authors expect although their exact and careful Accounts of Truth must be no small benefit to the curious Reader There is lately published a small Book of 1 s. 6 d. price called The Connexion being choice Collections of some principal matters in King James his Reign and passages betwixt this Book and Rushworth Nalson and the rest that begin at King Charles I. Sir WILLIAM MONSON TO HIS Son JOHN Dear Son THE Custom of Dedicating Books hath been ancient and they have been usually dedicated either to Great Persons for protection or remuneration or to Familiars out of friendship and affection or to Children in respect of nature and for admonition And to this end it is that to you I commend the reading of the Discourse following that so beholding the 18 years War by Sea which for want of years you could not then remember and comparing them with the 18 years of Peace in which you have lived you may consider three things First that after so many pains and perils God hath lent Life to your Father to further your Education Secondly what proportion his recompence and rewards have had to his Services Lastly what just cause you have to abandon the thoughts of such dangerous and uncertain courses and that you may follow the ensuing Precepts which I commend to your often perusal And in the first place I will put you in mind of the small Means and Fortune I shall leave that you may rate your Expences accordingly and yet as little as it is 't is great to me in respect I attained to it by my own endeavours and dangers and therefore no body can challenge Interest in it but my self though your Carriage may promise the best possibility Beware you presume not so much upon it as thereby to grow disobedient to your Parents for what you can pretend to is but the privilege of two years of age above your younger Brother and in such cases Fathers are like Judges that can and will distinguish of offences and deserts according to truth and will reward and punish as they shall see cause And because you shall know it is no rare or new thing for a man to dispose of his own I will lay before you a Precedent of your own House that so often as you think of it you may remember it with fear and prevent it with care The Great Grandfather of your Grandfather was a Knight by Title and John by name which name we desire