see all the solemnitie The Emperor comming out of his Pallace there went before him the Metropolitan Archbishops Bishops and chiefest Monkes and Clergie men with very rich Copes and Priestes garments vpon them carying pictures of our Ladie c. with the Emperours Angell banners censers and many other such ceremonious things singing all the way The Emperour with his nobilitie in order entred the Church named Blaueshina or Blessednes where prayers and seruice were vsed according to the maner of their Church that doâ—e they went thence to the Church called Michael the Archangell and there also vsed the like prayers and seruice and from thence to our Lady Church Prechista being their Cathedrall Church In the middest thereof was a chaire of maiestie placed wherein his Auncestors vsed to sit at such extraordinarie times his robes were then changed and most rich and vnualuable garments put on him being placed in this Princely seate his nobility standing round about him in their degres his imperiall Crowne was set vpon his head by the Metropolitane his Scepter globe in his right hand his sword of Iustice in his left of great riches his 6. Crownes also by which he holdeth his kingdomes were set before him and the Lord Boris Pheodorowich was placed at his right hand then the Metropolitan read openly a booke of a small volume with exhortations to the Emperour to minister true Iustice to inioy with tranquilitie the Crowne of his auncestors which God had giuen him and vsed these words following Through the will of the almighty without beginning God which was before this world whom we glorifie in the Trinitie one onely God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost maker of all things worker of all in all euery where fulfiller of all things by which will and working he both liueth and giueth life to man that our only God which enspireth euery one of vs his only children with his word to discerne God through our Lord Iesus Christ and the holy quickning spirit of life now in these perilous times establish vs to keep the right Scepter and suffer vs to raigne of our selues to the good profit of the land to the subduing of the people together with the enemies the maintenance of vertue And so the Metropolitaâ— blessed and layd his crosse vpon him After this he was taken out of his chaire of Maiestie hauing vpon him an vpper robe adorned with precious stones of all sorts orient pearles of great quantitie but alwayes augmented in riches it was in waight two hundred pounds the traine and parts thereof borne vp by 6. Dukes his chiefe imperiall Crowne vpon his head very precious his staffe imperiall in his right hand of an vnicornes horne of three foot and a halfe in length beset with rich stones bought of Merchants of Ausburge by the old Emperour in An. 1581. and cost him 7000. Markes sterling This Iewel M. Horsey kept sometimes before the Emperor had it His scepter globe was caried before him by the prince Boris Pheodorowich his rich cap beset with rich stones and pearles was caried before him by a Duke his 6. Crownes also were caried by Demetrius Iuanowich Godonoua the Emperors vncle Mekita Romanowich the Emperors vncle Stephan Vasiliwich Gregory Vasiliwich Iuan Vasiliwich brothers of the blood royal Thus at last the Emperor came to the great Church doore and the people cried God saue our Emperour Pheodor Iuanowich of al Russia His horse was there ready most richly adorned with a couering of imbrodered pearle and precious stones saddle and all furniture agreeable to it reported to be worth 300000 markes sterling There was a bridge made of 150. fadome in length three maner of waies three foote aboue ground and two fadome broad for him to goe from one Church to the other with his Princes and nobles from the presse of the people which were in number infinite and some at that time pressed to death with the throng As the Emperour returned out of the Churches they were spred vnder foot with cloth of gold the porches of the Churches with red velvet the bridges with scarlet and stammell cloth from one church to another and as soone as the Emperor was passed by the cloth of gold veluet and scarlet was cut and taken of those that could come by it euery man desirous to haue a piece to reserue it for a monument siluer and gold coyne then mynted of purpose was cast among the people in great quantitie The lord Boris Pheodorowich was sumptuously and richly attired with his garments decked with great orient pearle beset with al sorts of precious stones In like rich maner were appareled all the family of the Godonouaes in their degrees with the rest of the princes and nobilitie whereof one named Knez Iuan Michalowich Glynsky whose robe horse and furniture was in register found worth one hundred thousand markes sterling being of great antiquitie The Empresse being in her pallace was placed in her chaire of Maiesty also before a great open window most precious and rich were her robes and shining to behold with rich stones and orient pearle beset her crowne was placed vpon her head accompanied with her Princesses and Ladies of estate then cried out the people God preserue our noble Empresse Irenia After all this the Emperour came into the Parliament house which was richly decked there he was placed in his royall seat adorned as before his 6. crownes were set before him vpon a table the basin and ewer royall of gold held by his knight of gard with his men standing two on each side in white apparell of cloth of siluer called Kindâ—y with scepters and battle axes of gold in their hands the Princes and nobilitie were all placed according to their degrees all in their rich roabs The Emperour after a short oration permitted euery man in order to kisse his hande which being done he remoued to a princely seate prepared for him at the table where he was serued by his nobles in very princely order The three out roomes being very great and large were beset with plate of golde and siluer round from the ground vp to the vaâ—ts oâ—e vpon the other among which plate were many barrels of siluer and golde this solemnitie and triumph lasted a whole weeke wherein many royall pastimes were shewed and vsed after which the chiefest men of the nobilitie were elected to their places of office dignitie as the Prince Boris Pheodorowich was made chiefe Counseller to the Emperor Master of the horse had the charge of his person Liuetenant of the Empire and Warlike engins Gouernor or Liuetenant of the Empire of Cazan and Astracan and others to this dignitie were by Parliament and gift of the Emperor giuen him many reuenues and rich lands as there was giuen him and his for euer to inherite a prouince called Vaga of 300. English miles in length and 250. in bredth with many townes and great villages populous and wealthy his yeerely reuenue out of that
victuals and that we lacked nothing of the Emperors allowance the other to see that we should not goe out of the house nor suffer any man to come vnto vs in which they left nothing vndone that belonged to their charge But specially he that looked to our persons so straightly handled vs that we had no small cause to doubt that some euill had bene intended vnto vs. No supplication sute or request could take place for our liberty nor yet to come to his presence Hauing passed ouer 17 weeks in this sort the Emperour sendeth word that we should be ready against Tuesday the 20 of Februarie at eight a clocke in the morning The houre being come that I should goe to the Court the two gentlemen Pristaues as they call them came vnto me apparelled more princely then before I had euer scene them They presse vs to depart and mounted vpon their owne horses and the Ambassador vpon such a one as he had borrowed his men marching on foot to their great griefe The Ambassadour being my selfe was conueyed into an office where one of the chancellors doeth vse to sit being there accompanied with the â—â—o foresayd gentlemen I taried two long houres before I was sent for to the Emperor In the end message being brought that the Emperour was set I was conueyed by my gentlemen vp a paire of staires thorow a large roome where sate by my estimation 300 persons all in rich attire taken out of the Emperors wardrobe for that day vpon three ranks of benches set round about the place rather to present a maiestie then that they were either of quality or honor At the first entry into the chamber I with my cap gaue them the reuerence such as I iudged their stately sitting graue countenances and sumptuous apparell required and seeing that it was not answered againe of any of them I couered my head and so passing to a chamber where the Emperor was there receiued me at the doore from my two gentlemen or gouernors two of the Emperors counsellors and shewed me to the Emperor and brought me to the middle of the chamber where I was willed to stand still and to say that which I had to say I by my Interpretor opened my message as I receiued it from the Queene my Mistresse from whom I came at whose name the Emperor stood vp and demanded diuers questions of her health and state whereunto answere being made he gaue me his hand in token of my welcome and caused me to sit downe and further asked me diuers questions This done I deliuered her Maiesties present which was a notable great Cup of siluer curiously wrought with verses grauen in it expressing the histories workmanly set out in the same All being sayd and done as appeared to his contentment he licenced me and my whole company to depart who were all in his presence and were saluted by him with a nod of his head and sayd vnto me I dine not this day openly for great affaires I haue but I will send thee my dinner and giue leaue to thee and thine to go at liberty and augment our allowance to thee in token of our loue and fauor to our sister the Queene of England I with reuerence tooke my leaue being conueyed by two other of greater calling then those that brought me to the Emperors sight who deliuered me to the two first gentlemen who conducted me to the office where I first was where came vnto me one called the Long duke with whom I conferred a while and so returned to my lodging Within one houre after in comes to my lodging a duke richly apparelled accompanied with fiftie persons ech of them carying a siluer dish with meat and couered with siluer The duke first deliuered twenty loaues of bread of the Emperors owne eating hauing tasted the same and deliuered euery dish into my hands and tasted of euery kinde of drinke that he brought This being done the duke and his company sate downe with me and tooke part of the Emperors meat and filled themselues well of all sorts and went not away from me vnrewarded Within few nights after the Emperor had will to speake secretly with me and sent for me in the night by the Long duke The place was farre off and the night colde and I hauing changed my apparell into such as the Russes do weare found great in commoditie thereby Hauing talked with him aboue three houres towards the morning I was dismissed and so came home to my lodging where I remained aboue six weeks after before I heard againe from the Emperour who went the next day to Slouoda the house of his solace After the end of which sixe weeks which was about the beginning of April the Emperour returned from Slouoda aforesayd and sent for me againe to make repaire vnto him And being come I dealt effectually with him in the behalfe of our English merchants and found him so graciously inclined towards them that I obtained at his hands my whole demands for large priuileges in generall together with all the rest my particular requests And then he commended to my conduct into England a noble man of his called Andrew Sauin as his Ambassadour for the better confirmation of his priuileges granted and other negotiations with her Maiesty And thus being dispatched with full contentment the sayd Ambassadour and my selfe departed and imbarked at S. Nicholas about the end of Iuly and arriued safely at London in the moneth of September following A copie of the priuiledges granted by the right high and mightie Prince the Emperour of Russia c. vnto the right worshipfull fellowship of English merchants for the discouerie of new trades and hither sent by Thomas Randolfe esquire her Maiesties Ambassadour to the sayd Emperour and by Andrew Sauin his Ambassadour in the yere of our Lord God 1569. ONe God euerlasting and without and before the beginning the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost the blessed Trinitie our onely God maker and preseruer of all things and replenisher of all things euery where who by thy goodnesse doest cause all men to loue the giuer of wisedome our onely Mediatour and leader of vs all vnto blessed knowledge by the onely Sonne his word our Lord Iesus Christ holy and euerlasting Spirit and now in these our dayes teachest vs to keepe Christianitie and sufferest vs to enioy our kingdome to the happy commodity of our land and wealth of our people in despight of our enemies and to our fame with our friends We Iohn Vasiliwich by the grace of God great lord Emperour and great duke of all Russia Volodemer Moscouia Nouogrod Emperour of Cazan Tuersky Vgorsky Permisky Vadsky Bulgaria and many others lord and great duke of the Low countreys of Nouogrod Chernigosky Resansky Polotsky Rastow Yeraslaue Bealosera Owdorsky Condinsky and all Siberland great commander of all the North parts lord of Leâ—â—land and many other Northward Southward and Westward Whereas our sister
princes There came also Ambassadors from the Emperor of Almaine the Pole the Swethen the Dane c. And since his coronation no enemie of his hath preuailed in his attempts It fell out not long after that the Emperor was desirous to send a message to the most excellent Queene of England for which seruice he thought no man fitter than M. Ierome Horsey supposing that one of the Queenes owne men and subiects would be the more acceptable to her The summe of which message was that the Emperor desired a continuance of that league friendship amitie and intercourse of traffique which was betweene his father and the Queens maiestie and her subiects with other priuate affaires besides which are not to be made common Master Horsey hauing receiued the letters and requests of the Emperour prouided for his iourney ouer land and departed from Mosco the fift day of September thence vnto Otuer to Torshook to great Nouogrod to Vobsky and thence to Nyhouse in Liuonia to Wenden and so to Riga where he was beset and brought foorthwith before a Cardinall called Rageuil but yet suffred to passe in the end From thence to Mito to Golden and Libou in Curland to Memel to Koningsburgh in Prussia to Elbing to Dantzike to Stetine in Pomerland to Rostock to Lubeck to Hamborough to Breme to Emden and by sea to London Being arriued at her maiesties roiall court and hauing deliuered the Emperors letters with good fauour and gracious acceptance he was foorthwith againe commaunded to repasse into Ruffia with other letters from her maiestie to the Emperor and prince Boris Pheodorowich answering the Emperors letters and withall requesting the fauour and friendship which his father had yeelded to the English merchants and hereunto was he earnestly also solicited by the merchants of London themselues of that company to deale in their behalfe Being thus dispatched from London by sea he arriued in Mosco the 20. of April 1586. and was very honorably welcommed And for y t merchants behoofe obtained all his requests being therein specially fauoured by y e noble prince Boris Pheodorowich who alwayes affected M. Horsey with speciall liking And hauing obtained priuiledges for the merchants he was recommended from the Emperor againe to the Queene of England his mistresse by whom the prince Boris in token of his honorable and good opinion of the Queens maiestie sent her highnesse a roiall present of Sables Luzarns cloth of gold and other rich things So that the Companie of English merchants next to their thankfulnes to her maiestie are to account M. Horseis paines their speciall benefit who obtained for them those priuileges which in twentie yeeres before would not be granted The maner of M. Horseis last dispatch from the Emperor because it was very honorable I thought good to record He was freely allowed post horses for him and his seruants victuals and all other necessaries for his long iourney at euery towne that he came vnto from Mosco to Vologda which is by land fiue hundred miles he receiued the like free and bountifull allowances at the Emperors charge New victuall and prouision were giuen him vpon the riuer Dwina at euery towne by the kings officers being one thousand miles in length When he came to the new castle called Archangel he was receiued of the Duke Knez Vasili Andrewich Isuenogorodsky by the Emperors commission into the Castle gunners being set in rankes after their vse where he was sumptuously feasted from thence hee was dispatched with bonntifull prouision and allowance in the Dukes boat with one hundred men to rowe him and one hundred Gunners in other boats to conduct him with a gentleman captaine of the Gunners Comming to the road where the English Dutch and French ships rode the gunners discharged and the ships shot in like maner 46. pieces of their ordinance so he was brought to his lodging at the English house vpon Rose Island And that which was the full and complete conclusion of the fauour of the Emperor and Boris Pheodorowich toward M. Horsey there were the next day sent him for his further prouision vpon the fea by a gentleman and a captaine the things folowing 16. liue oxen 70. sheepe 600. hens 25. fâ—itches of Bacon 80. bushels of meale 600. loaues of bread 2000. egs 10. geese 2. cranes 2. swans 65. gallons of mead 40. gallons of Aquauitae 60. gallons of beere 3. yong beares 4. hawkes Store of onions and garlike 10. fresh salmons A wild bore All these things were brought him downe by a Gentleman of the Emperors and another of prince Boris Pheodorowich were receiued in order by Iohn Frefe seruant to M. Horsey together with an honorable present and reward from the prince Boris sent him by M. Francis Cherry an Englishman which present was a whole very rich piece of cloth of gold a faire paire of Sables This Gentleman hath obserued many other rare things concerning those partes which hereafter God willing at more conuenient time and laisure shall come to light Pheodor Iuanowich the new Emperors gracious letter of priuilege to the English Merchants word for word obtained by M Ierome Horsey 1586. THrough the wil of the almightie and without beginning God which was before this world whom we glorifie in y e Trinitie one only God the father the sonne and the holy ghost maker of all things worker of all in all euery where fulfiller of all things by which will and workingâ— he both loueth and giueth life to man That our onely God which inspireth euery one of vs his onely children with his word to discerne God through our Lord Iesus Christ and the holy quickning spirit of life now in these perilous times Establish vs to keep the right Scepter and suffer vs of our selues to raigne to the good profite of the land and to the subduing of the people together with the enemies and to the maintenance of vertue We Pheodor the ofspring of Iohn the great Lord Emperor king and great prince of all Russia of Volodemeria Moscouia and Nouogrod king of Cazan king of Astracan Lord of Plesko and great prince of Smolensko of Tuer Yougoria Permia Viatsko of Bolghar and others lord and great prince of the land of the lower Nouogrod Chernigo Rezan Polotsko Rostow Yeraslaue the White lake Liefland Oudor Condensa and Ruler of all Siberia and all the North-side and lord of many other countries I haue gratified the merchants of England to wit sir Rowland Haiward and Richard Maâ—tin Aldermen sir George Barnes Thomas Smith esquire Ierome Horsey Richard Saltonstall with their fellowes I haue licensed them to saile with their shippes into our dominion the land of Dwina with all kind of commodities to trade freely and vnto our kingdom and the citie of Mosco and to all the cities of our empire of Moscouia And the english merchants sir Rowland Haiward his societie desired vs that we would gratifie them to trade into our kingdom of Moscouia and into our
for the ayding helping and protecting of her Maiesties merchants by the order and commaundement of our Lord and king his Maiestie And to that ende I haue giuen order to all our authorised people to bee carefull ouerthem and to defende them in all causes and to giue them free libertie to trafficke at their owne willes and pleasures It may bee that your merchants doe not certifie you the trueth of all things nor make knowen vnto your honour my readinesse to protect them And howe my Letters and Commissions are sent to all authorised people for them that they shoulde ayde and assist them according to the tenour of my Letters to all others that bee in authoritie vnder the said Officers or otherwise Also your honour writeth of the debarring of your merchants at the Sea port from their accustomed libertie of enterchangeable trafficke and bartar Touching which complaint search and inquisition hath bene made and commaundement giuen that your Queenes Maiesties merchants at the Seaside and in all places where the trade is doe not sustaine any domage or hinderance hereafter but that they shal be at libertie without any hindering or letting either in the Mosco the Treasurehouse or else where by any of our authorised people but absolutely to bee at free libertie at their owne will and pleasure And also I will continue to be their protectour and defendour in all causes by our Lorde and kings Maiesties order and commaundement as it shal be knowen and certified you by your people resident here in the Mosco Written in our Kings Maiesties royall citie of Mosco from the beginning of the world 7101â— yeere in the moneth of Ianuary A most gracious Letter giuen to the English Merchants Sir Iohn Hart and his company by Theodore Iuanowich the King Lord and great duke of all Russia the onely vpholder thereof THe onely God omnipotent before all eternitie his will be done without ende the Father Sonne and holy Ghost we glorifie in Trinitie Our onely God the maker of all things and worker of all in all euery where with plentifull increase for which cause he hath giuen life to man to loue him and to trust in him Our onely God which inspireth euery one of vs his holy children with his word to discerne good through our Lord Iesus Christ and the holy quickning spirit of life now in these perilous times establish vs to keepe the right sâ—epter and suffer vs to reigne of our selues to the good profit of the land and to the subduing of the people together with the enemies and to the mainteinance of vertue We the great Lord king and great duke Theodore Iuanouich of all Russia the onely vpholder of Volodimer Mosco and Nouogrod King of Casan and king of Astracan Lord of Vobsco and great duke of Smolensko of Otuer Vghorie Permia Viatski Bulgari and other regions great duke also of Nouogrod in the lowe Countrey of Chernigo of Rezan Polotski Rostoue Yaruslaue Bealozero and of Liefland of Vdorski Obdorski Condenski and commaunâ—er of all the Countrey of Siberi and of the North parts and Lord ouer the Countrey of Iuerski Grusinski and King ouer the Countrey of Igorski and ruler ouer many other kingdomes and Lordships more Our princely Maiestie at the request of our brother in lawe Boâ—is Feodorowich Godenoua our seruant and Master of our horses generall Comptroller of our house and gouernour of the Lordships and kingdomes of Casan and Astracan vnto the English merchants Sir Iohn Hart knight sir William Webbe knight Richard Salkenstow Alderman Nicholas Moseley alderman Robert Doue Wilâ— Garrowe Iohn Harbey Robert Chamberlaine Henry Anderson Iohn Woodworth FraÌ„cis Cherry Iohn Merrick Christopher Holmes hath graciously giuen leaue to come go with their ships into our kingdome territories of Duina with all kind of commodities at their pleasures to trafficke froÌ„ the seaside to our roial city of Mosco in al other cities townes countries and territories of our whole kingdom of Mosco vpon the humble petition and sute of the saide English merchants sir Iohn Hart and his company wee haue giuen them leaue to passe and trafficke into all parts of our dominions and territories of Mosco and to our inheritance of Nouogrod and Plesco with their wares and commodities without paying any custome or dueties We the great Lord king and great duke Theodore Iuanowich of all Russia haue firmely giuen and graunted vnto the aforesaide English merchants sir Iohn Hart and his company for the loue we beare to our deare sister Queene Elizabeth we I say of our gracious goodnes haue giuen leaue to trauel and passe to our royal seat of Mosco and to all the parts of our kingdome with all kinde of commodities and to trafficke with all kinde of wares at their owne pleasure without paying any custome of their said wares To you our Customers we wil and command not to take any maner of custome of the said merchants and their company neither for entering weying nor passing by or through any place of our territories nor for custome of iudgement by Lawe or for their person or persons nor any duties ouer bridges or for certificats or processes or for conducting ouer any streames or waters or for any other customes or dueties that may be named we wil and straitly commaund you not to take any of them in any wise Prouided alwayes that the saide merchants shall not colour any strangers wares nor bring them into our countrey nor fauour them colourably nor sel for any stranger To you our subiects also we coÌ„mand not to meddle or deale with any wares of strangers colourably nor to haue them by you in keeping nor to offer to sel their coÌ„modities but themselues to sel their owne coÌ„modities in change or otherwise as they may or can And in al townes cities countreys or any part of our dominions and territories it shal be lawful for the foresaid merchants and their company to sell or barter away their owne commodities in change or otherwise for or at their pleasure as they will And whensoeuer the said merchants or any of them come into our territories of great Nouogrod or Plesco or to any other parts of our kingdome with their wares by vertue of these our Maiesties letters we straitly charge and command you our Captaines generals and all other that be authorised or in office to suffer the aforesaid merchants to passe and repasse and to take no kinde of custome or dutie of them or any of their goods howsoeuer it may haue name nor in no place else where they shal come in all our kingdome Likewise if they sell not nor buy no wares you shall take no custome but suffer them quietly to passe where they will with their goods Of our gratious goodnes and meere goodwill we haue giuen the said merchants leaue to trafficke throughout all our kingdomes and in all townes and cities with all maner of wares and commodities without paying any custome or dutie Wheresoeuer they shal
a man sorrowe to death For true it is sir Francis Drake died of the fluxe which hee had growen vpon him eight dayes before his death and yeelded vp his spirit like a Christian to his creatour quietly in his cabbin And when the Generall shall suruey his losse he shall finde it more then the losse of the English and the most of his destroyed by the bullet but the death of Sir Francis Drake was of so great comfort vnto the Spaniard that it was thought to be a sufficient amendes although their whole fleete had beene vtterly lost Thirdly the Generall doth say of his owne credite and not by intelligence from any Indian or other that on the eleuenth of March last he met the English fleete at the I le of Pinos being fourteene good shippes who although they had the winde of him yet he set vpon them three times with all their shippes but the English fleete fled and refused to fight shooting now and then a shot but especially the Viceadmirall THis third lie of the Generall Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda whose name for the proliritie thereof may be drawen somewhat neere the length of a cable hath no colour of protection but it hath a iust proportion in measure to the lies of olde Bernardino de Mendoça his countreyman concerning the ouerthrowe of hir Maiesties Nauie in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred eightie and eight For except Don Bernaldino the Generall did purpose to winne the wheâ—stone from Don Bernardino de Mendoça the olde Spanish lyer I cannot coâ—iecture why he should write to his countrey for a truth that he chased the English Nauie with nine shippes and did three seuerall times giue the onset to the English fleete who being fourteene good shippes as he saith did flie and refuse to fight considering that the Spanish Uiceadmirall if he be liuing and many other can witnesse the contrarie who fighting like a true valiant man departed from the fight with a torne and battered shippe to saue her from sinking Neither can I imagine that there is any one in the Spanish fleete Don Bernaldino excepted that will say they were lesse then twentie sayle of shippes when they met the English fleete and the Spanish Nauie can witnesse that they receiued such store of bullets from the English fleete that they were glad to depart and in despight of them the English nauie did holde their determined course And taking a viewe of the Spanish fleete the next day their number was not aboue thirteene ships which did argue that they were either sunke or fled to harbour to saue themselues Fourthly the General saith that the English fleete fled away and left their oares for haft behind them in the sea IT was strange that they should leaue behinde them oares in the sea suhence there was not in the English fleete either Galley or Galliasse which required the vse of oares as for the oares of their ship-boates and other such small vessels they had slowed them aboord their shippes and were no impediment vnto them but most necessarie for them to vse and therefore not likely they would cast them ouerboord But it is more likely that the Generall fell into some pleasant dreanie at Sea wherein he did see a false apparition of victorie against the English and for lacke of matter did set this downe in his letter for newes of his countrey It is sinne to belie the Deuill and therefore the Generall shall haue his right the letter is so well contriued and yet with no great eloquence but with such art that there are not many more lines then there are lies which shewed that there are wonderfull and extraordinarie gifts in the Generall but I am perswaded if Don Bernaldino had thought that his letter should haue beene printed he would haue omitted many things conteined in the letter for the Doctor did vse him somewhat hardly in the wing the letter openly and more in suffering it to bee printed for friendes may like good fellowes send lies one to the other for recreation and feed their friends with some small taste thereof so it be kept close without danger to incurre the title of a lying Generall But as the matter is now handled through the simplicitie of the Doctor I cannot see but the Generall Don Bernaldino is like to carrie the title equally twixt both his shoulders Fiftly the Generall doth say in his printed letter that notwithstanding all the diligence he could vse he could not cause the English fleete to stay nor come neere them nor discharge one harquebuze or peece of artillerie but fled away as fast as they could ANd this lie also he doth not receiue by intelligence from any other but himselfe was an eye-witnesse in the action which made him bold to sende this with the rest into his countrey for current newes but herein Don Bernaldino was more bolde then wise for the torne and battered sides of his Galeons being compared with her Maiesties shippes and others that serued in that fight doe declare that his ships receiued at least two bullets for one Neither can it be concealed but his owne countreymen if any do fauour truth may easily see the losse and late reparations done vnto the kings fleete sithence they did encounter with the English Nauie whensoeuer they that remaine shall arriue in Spaine But the Generall seemeth to be a very good proficient in his profession and wareth somewhat bold treading the true steps of olde Bernardino de Mendoça and yet Mendoça was somewhat more warie in his lies for he had sometime the colour of intelligence to shadowe them but the Generall growing from boldnesse to impudencie maketh no scruple to say that the English Nauie fled as fast as they could without discharging any harquebuze or peece of artillerie when as the battered sides of his ships doe returne the lie to his face For in this conflict Don Bernaldino did behaue himselfe so valiantly that he was alwayes farthest off in the fight and had so great care of his owne person that he stoode cleare from the danger of musket or any small shot and durst not approch whereas our Generall was the foremost and so helde his place vntill by order of fight other shippes were to haue their turnes according to his former direction who wisely and politikely had so ordered his vangarde and rereward that as the manner of it was altogether strange to the Spaniarde so might they haue bene without all hope of victorie if their Generall had bene a man of any iudgement in sea-fights I knowe no reason why the English Nauie should flie from him for the Spaniarde may put all the gaine in his eye that euer he did winne from the English Peraduenture some silly nouice of our countrey meeting the Generall in Spaine and hearing a repetition of so many sillables in one name as Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda might thinke them to be wordes of
coniuration and for feare of raysing a spirit might flie from him as from the Deuill or some simple Indian slaue hearing the like repetition of his long and tedious name might suppose it to be an armie of Spaniards and for feare runne away but the commanders and captaines of the English Nauie were men of such resolution that no Spanish bragges could dismay them for they haue often met them with their Pikes in their Spanish beardes nor the countenance of Don Bernaldino quaile them although hee were acowered in his gilt leather buskins and his Toledo rapier Sixtly the Generall saith in his letter that notwithstanding their flying away so fast the English left them one good ship well manned who tolde him that Drake dyed in Nombre de Dios in which ship were one hundred and fortie men and fifteene noble captaines of the best sort THe Generall Don Bernaldino like a resolute Spaniarde hauing already gone ouer his shooes maketh no danger to wade ouer his bootes also and as he hath begunne so hee both conclude I maruaile that he did not in writing his discourse remember this old saying that is A liar ought to haue a good memorie It were much better for him in mine opinion to reuoke the testimonie which he saith he had from the Englishmen concerning Sir Francis Drake his death at Nombre de Dios and stand to the intelligence receiued from the silly Indian slaue as it appeareth in his first lie for without all doubt there is no English man that will say if he haue his right senses that he dyed at Nombre de Dios for they all knowe the contrarie neither can the General auouch that he receiued intelligence from any English man that after the death of Sir Francis Drake they did elect for Generall Colonel Quebraran as he doth most falsely affirme in the latter ende of his vaine and friuolous letter seeing that this name was strange vnknowen to any in the English Nauie Neither do I imagine that any of those which the Generall saith he hath taken were so forgetfull as not to remember their Generals name But without all doubt this addition of so new and strange a name to the English Generall doth prooue that Don Bernaldino is not vnfurnished of a forge and storehouse of lies from whence as froÌ„ an euerflowing fouÌ„taine he sendeth forth lies of al sorts sufficient for his own store and great plentie to furnish his friends the Generall was much beholding to his godfathers who gaue him the name Bernaldino which we in English doe take to be plaine Barnard which name hath as it were a kinde of priuilege from being sharpely reprehended when the partie is thought to erre for it is a common saying amongst the schoolemen that Bernardus non videt omma viz. Barnard seeth not all things when he doth dissent from their opinions the which fauour we could be content to yeeld to Bernaldino for the name sake if he were not taken with so many manifest and impudent lies neither doe I thinke that Sennor Bernaldino will say that he sawe all that he hath written be it spoken in councell for shaming the Generall for is there any man so voide of reason as to thinke that any Englishman being demanded of his Generals name would write or spâ—ake Quebraran for Baskeruil So much difference there is in the sound of the sillables as there is no affinitie at all or likelihood of truth But such are the Generals rare gifts be it â—pokâ—n to his small prayse that we Englishmen must of force confesse that the Generall hath giuen a proud onset to carrie the whetstone from Sennor Bernardino de Mendoça neither will the hundred and fortie men and fifteene noble Captaines which he saith he did take of whom he might haue benâ— rightly informed of their Generals name acquit him of lying forgerie for giuing the name of Quebraran to the English Generall As for the good shippe well manned which he saith the English left them after the fight I am perswaded he hath no man to witnesse that lie for the ship was separated by weather from the English fleete in the night thirteene dayes before the fight with the Spanish Nauie and neuer to any mans knowledge came more in sight of the English fleete If the Spanish ship by chance did take the saide well manned ship as they call her I doubt not but they haue the ship the hundred and forty men and the fifteene noble Captaines to shew But euermore I gesse the Spanish reckoning will fall short when it is examined for the fifteene noble Captaines will prooue as I take it but three whose losse I grieue to thinke on Neither did the Spaniards gaine them by valour or we loose or leaue them for cowardise as most vntruely this bragging lier hath certified But the Generall like a prouident man to make his fame and credite the greater with his Prince and countrey taketh vpon him amongst other his miracles performed before the English fleete by way of amplification to make small matters seeme great as a little shooe to serue a great foote and finding that it can hardly be brought to passe he doth so stretch the leather with his teeth that it is readie to breake and yet notwithstanding al this will not serue his purpose for the printing of the letter doth marre the play and bringeth such matter in question as the Generall doth wish might be concealed and were he not of so drie and cholerick a complexion as commonly Spaniards are he would blush for very shame in publishing so impudently such manifest vntruthes For sithence his meeting with the English fleete at the I le of Pinos there hath bene by the worthie English Generals an honourable expedition from England into the Continent of Spaine where amongst other exploites hauing taken the citie of Cadiz in the sacke thereof was found some of Don Bernaldino his printed letters which comming to the handes of a captaine that serued in Sir Francis Drakes last voyage to the West Indies he hath thought very fit in regard of the slanders to the English Nauie contained in the saide letter to quote the errors that the trueth onely may appeare to all such as haue a desire to be rightly informed of such accidents as befell them in this late voyage to the West Indies and this may suffise to show Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda his great iudgement in amplyfying small matters or of nothing to make in shewe somewhat And now hauing thus farre informed you of the trueth in reproofe of the slanderous false and vntrue reports of this glorious lying Generall with a true disproofe to some of the grossest of his lies I will leaue him with the rest of his lying letter and the circumstances therein contained to your censures who in discretion may easily discerne the same And haue here following plainely and truely set downe the course and order of our whole