march vp the hils and to incounter their idolatrous enemies But vpon good consideration this enterprise was staied and some 300. soldiours sent into the same valley where 3. daies before our people had beene suddainly compassed intrapped and slaine by the Spaniards Our soldiours being come to the valley aforesaid found no resistance neither could once see a spaniard but found a smal peece of brasse about a fadome long and two barrels of gunpowder and when our souldiours perceiued that there was no good to bee done forbearing to mount the hils because they had no commission so to do with such thinges as they had they returned into the towne The euening now approching the Generall commanded to carry aboord the ships such goods as they had there found and digged out of the ground which was accordingly done and accomplished among which things were three brasse peeces some bels and other goods Sunday the 18. of Iuly we remained at anchor in the road of the Iland Gomera Munday the 19. of Iuly remaining yet in the Iland Gomera and seeing that the Spaniardes continued in their secret holes and dens of the mountaines wee set fire on the towne and as neere as we could burnt down all places as Cloisters churches hermitages and houses remaining yet in the towne vntill it was noone After that all this was accomplished we the vnited soldiours forsooke the towne and presently the Lord General with al his company went aboord the ships Thus we left the Iland Gomera burning which was neuer before done by any nation The Spaniardes seeing that the soldiours were departed out of the Iland with all speed possible in great heapes came running out of their secret caues and holes to quench the fire like as they of Allegona in the Iland of great Canaria before had done Wednesday the 20. of Iuly we lay stil in the road before Gomera in this time 2. of our soldiours were put into captain Cloiers ship and in lew of them we receiued out of his ship 2. others which were hurt with two Spaniards The summary or briefe declaration of the Admirals departing towardes the West Indies After that the Generall had left the Ilands he giueth order to the fleete taketh his leaue of all the Captaines and officers in most honorable sort he aduanceth the voyage to the West Indies with his Nauy the rest of the ships returne into the low Countries euery one from whence he came AFter that the Iland of great Canaria was by the vnited soldiours taken and won by force of Armes and the Iland Gomera conquered for sundry reasons they were forsakeÌ„ after they had caried to their ships such things as they found fired the townes churches cloisters and houses and rased their Castles The Lord Generall commanded all Captaines and officers of the fleete to resorte vnto him aboord his ship The same principals being come accordingly he welcommed them and shewed them al friendship he could thanking them for their good and faithfull endeuours which they had shewed in this seruice which he performed with a singular oration praying Almighty God that he woulde vouchsafe to be his only loadsman merciful defender in all his enterprises to the honor of his name and happy successe of the vnited Netherlandish prouinces After this the lorde Generall againe in most friendly sort and kind speeches perswaded desired all the saide captaines and officers alleadging many reasons and examples to perseuer in their good beginning of true and faithfull seruice for God and for their good Lords and principall magistrates the honorable gentlemen and states of the vnited Netherland to the good liking of their valiant high borne gentleman gouernour General prince Mauritz their principall lorde and commander c. with these and such like matters the daie was spent Wednesday the 21. of Iuly the wind was northerly The lord Generall commanded all the captaines and officers to resort vnto him and in most curteous maner againe the second time tooke his leaue of them all ordaining and appointing in his place as Admirall Generall ouer all those shippes which were to returne home the valiant captaine Ian Gerbrantson desiring and straightly charging them al there present to shew all obedience and duty vnto him as to his owne person and that they should make his minde knowne to all others which had not beene there present After these speeches and leaue taken the Admirall Ian Gerbrantson put out the princes colours in the maine top and the honorable gentleman Peter von der Doest presentlie caused the princes flag also to be spread and as soone The Nethâ—â—landish 〈◊〉 diuide thâ—â—selues intoâ—â—â— companiâ—â— whereof 〈◊〉 one returâ—â—â— homewarâ— and the oâ—â—â—â— proceedeâ— for the wâ—â—â— Indians as the sunne was southwest all the ships at one instant waied their anchors hoised their sailes taking leaue nowe the thirde time one of an other in most braue and triumphant sort and in this maner departed the one from the other The lord General with his fleet set this course south southwest with 36. ships and the Admirall Ian Gerbrantson ran east by the wind with 35. ships with intent to returne home Wednesday the 18 of August sixteene ships of our fleet which were sent to returne home being in company together in the latitude of 36. degrees and 10. minutes the wind southwest sailing northeast before it was noone we perceiued 2 strange ships vnder saile comming out of the northwest towards Two Spaâ—â—â—â— prizes takâ—â— whom we made and at afternoone we ouertooke them and made them our prises they were both Spaniardes the one was a small Barke and came from Cape de Blanco in 21. degrees loaden for Woluis in the Condate where they dwelled In the same ships was a marchant of Cyuill with 47. men each of their ships hauing two cast peeces and euery man his musket but they made no shewe of defence or offending There was also found laden in the same ships sixty thousand drie hides or skins esteemed to bee worth 6000. duckets as they reported there were also found two bags with mony in the one was 11. hundred single rials and in the other 10. hundred forty single rials with two Buts of traine oile and two barrels of gum Arabique Thursday the 19 day we the abouesaid 16. ships were together beside the two spanish ships 4. ships of war of north Holland 4 ships of Warres of Zeland and one ship of war of the Maze the captain wherof was Antony Leonardson al the rest were victualers The wind west northwest we sailed northeast and by north in 36. degrees and 45. minutes The captaines had beene all aboord the Admirall in councell aduising what were best to bee done in this matter of the Spaniards prises Saturday Sunday the 21. and 22. of August our said fleet of 18. ships kept yet together we found our selues to bee in 39. degrees 6. minuts The sun south and by west the winde blew vp at west north west wee sailed north northeast and north and by east Lysborne was east of vs. Munday the sixt of September the winde westerly we ran east at noone wee sounded the depth was 50. fadome water we found small white shels with needles therein in the hight of 49. degrees 20. minuts the sun southwest wee had sight of Vshant we ran northeast and by north Tuesday the 7. of September the sun east south east wee saw England a mighty blustering gale of winde from the south southwest wee sailed north north east The sunne southwest came to lande at Gawstert Afterwarde wee turned and sailed east south east In the euening it blewe so much winde that wee were forced to strike our maine top mast and we ranne the whole night with two courses by the wind Wednesday the 8. of September the foule weather continued the sunne east and by south we had sight of the I le of Wight north northwest of vs and ranne the whole day east northeast with the foresatle by the wind as the euening approched we saw Beuersier in the night and second quarter we passed by Douer Tursday the 9. of September as soone as the daie began to appeare it was calme weather and darke the sun southeast we lay still before Newport all the ebbe The wind easterly in the afternoone the wind came northwest we set saile againe running al night by the wind with our foresaile Friday the 10. of September 1599. by the break of day wee were before the Maze the sun southwest we arriued by the helpe of Gods mercy and grace before the Brill Since then there is arriued at Texell another ship of war whereof one Cater of Amsterdam was captain the wich was seuered from the fleet in this voiage by tempest and thought to be lost The said captaine met with some prises and in company of two english shippes tooke a Caruell of Aduiso verie richly laden comming out of India and hauing more men then the english shared halfe of the goods with them and so came home this present month of Octob. FINIS
THE CONQVEST of the Grand Canaries made this last Summer by threescore and thirteene saile of shippes sent forth at the command and direction of the states generall of the vnited prouinces to the coast of Spaine and the Canarie-Isles with the taking of a towne in the I le of Gomera and the successe of part of the saide fleete in their returne homeward Which set saile for Spaine the 25 of Maie and returned home the 10. of Septemb. 1599. AT LONDON Printed by P. S. for William Aspley dwelling in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Tygers head 1599. A true report of a voyage made this last Summer by a fleete of 73. shippes sent forth at the commande and direction of the states generall of the vnited Prouinces to the coast of Spaine and the Canarie-isles TVesday the 25. daie of Maie the wind being Northe and Northeeast we in the fleete of Roterdam being 20. saile of ships the sunne beeing southewest and by west came before Flushing and ankered neere vnto Cleiburch our generall at his comming found the fleetes of North Holland and Zeland ready Wednesday the 26. daie wee remained there at anchor Thursday the 27. day of Maie we tooke into our ships by the Generals commandement two gentlemen and foure souldiours Friday the 28. of May 1599. the wind being northerly we waied our anchors and sailed from the Weelings with 73 ships hauing faire weather setting our course west southwest Wee had 3. Admirals in this fleete whereof the chiefe Admirall was the ship of William Derickson Cloper wherein was imbarked the honourable gentleman Peter Van Doest being generall of the fleete This ship was called the Orange carying in her top a flag of Orange colour vnder whose squadron were certaine Zelanders with some south and north Hollanders Ian Geerbrantson caried the white flag vnder whom the Zelanders and ships of the Maze were appointed And Cornelius Gheleinsō of Vlyshing wore in his maine top the blew flag vnder whom were appointed certaine ships of the Maze with some north Hollanders Thus were wee deuided into sundry squadrons but to what ende it was so done it is to me and many others vnknowne Saturday the 29. of Maie hauing sight of Callis the ships lay to the lee ward staied for the rereward The Lord generall shot off a peece and afterward hung out the princes flag in signe that the captains shold come aboord him presently al the captains entred into their boates rowed aboord the General at which time were two pinnaces sent out of the fleet whereof one was the Generals Pinnace but vnto what place they sailed wee were altogether ignorant And when the boates rowed from the Generall some of them went aboord the victualers and tooke out of them certaine fire-workes The sunne southwest the Generall discharged an other peece of ordinance and put out the Princes flag wherevpon presently the captaines went aboord him and when our captaine returned he had in his hande a letter closed vp which hee brought from the Generall and wee imagined that euery captaine had receiued the like and then wee sailed altogether toward the higth of Blacknesse where wee anchored which caused vs greatly to wonder seeing we had so faire a wind but we perceiued afterwards that this was done to the ende we should there abide the comming of the great new ship of Amsterdam for the soldiours which were appointed for her were all with vs in a ship of our company Sunday the 30. of Maie where lying at anchor al that night the next morning we set saile altogether hauing the winde at north east wee set our course west north west the weather being faire The same morning our captain read vnto vs those very articles which before had bin read vnto vs in the prince Mauritz his Court and afterwards we altogether and with one accord were sworne to the keeping of them At noone wee were neere vnto Beuersier hauing a fine gale out of the east north east the euening was calme the formost shippes slacked their sailes attending the comming in of the hindermost Wednesday the ninth of Iune by the breake of daie we were hard vnder the coast of Spaine neere to Viuero the winde being westerly we sailed north west and by north and north northwest the sunne southwest and by west we were ouer against the cape Ortegael we sailed north west and by north to fetch the wind we were in 44. degrees 20. minuts at twilight we had the foresaid Cape of vs about 5. miles south west and by west Thursday the 10. of Iune the winde being at east south east wee directed our course towardes the shore and might certainly discerne that it was the Ortegall coast of Ortegall we bore in west southwest directly with the land and ordered all thinges as if we presently should haue had battell and about noone wee had fight of the Groyne namely the tower which standeth neere the Groine Friday the 11. of Iune at the breake of day the winde being at north east and by east sixe of our ships sailed forwarde south southwest meaning to enter the Groine and there to learne how al things stood The sunne being southeast Cape Prior was east from vs wee bare south presently after we spied two boates comming out of Veroll to learn what ships we were the rather because that the day before they had seene our fleete at sea we sailed by the wind and lay in the wind to stay for their comming The one doubting vs woulde not come neere vs the other boat also durst not approch neere vs wee called to one of the Spaniardes saying wee came from Hamborch laden with cordage other goods desiring and praying him to let vs haue a Pilot to bring vs into the Groine wherewith the boate came aboord vs so that by our great haste and policie we got one Spaniard the other which remained in the boate would not come into our ship but presently thrust off their boate making all possible speede to get from vs. Hauing nowe gotten this Spaniarde hee was presently deliuered into the handes of the Generall who confessed that there were about 4000. souldiours come into the towne with certaine horsemen 36. waggons with money and 300. pipes of wine to furnish the Spanish fleet that he lay the night past in the Groine and was the kings seruant The sun south south west we came with our whole fleete before the Groyne where wee The whole fleet commeth before the Groine found the great newe ship of Amsterdam vnder the Towne At 12. 13. and 10. fadome we cast anchor so that wee might behold much people both on the shoare vpon the wals of the town From the castle town both they shot mightily with their great ordinance into our fleet so that there were aboue 200. cannon shot discharged wherewith some of our ships were hit but not one man lost and little hurt done otherwise There lay an other castle east ward from
for the enemy had three brasse peeces lying vpon the strand and many people were there gathered together where our souldiours shoulde land Nowe as soone as the Generall with the most parte of the long boates were come together they all at one instant rowed toward the shore maintaining for a while the fight on both sides with their shot But the General perceiuing that the enemie woulde not abandon the place with a baliant courage made to the shore and altogether leaping into the water vp to the middle maintained the fight with the enemy Notwithstanding the enemy no lesse couragious would not yet leaue the strond so that some of our souldiours mariners lost their liues before the enemy would retire for the place was discommodious and hard to lande but most of the enemy were slaine to the number of 30. or 36. and the Gouernor his right leg was shot off sitting on his horse The lord General Peter von der Doest leaping first on land was thrust in his leg with a pike and had in his body 4. wounds more and was in great danger to haue lost his life but that one of the soldiours slewe the Spaniarde which meant to haue don it but his wounds were of small moment and his ancient bearer was slain with a shot the Lieutenant Generall was shot in his throte captaine Kruyc in the heade 4. soldiours were slain 15. hurt in the generals pinnace before they could come to land But when our people now with one courage all together rushed vpon the enemie leauing their ordenance behinde them they forsooke the strond and ran together into the town carying with them their Gouernour whose leg was shot off he was a Knight of the order of the crosse and leauing behind them 36. deade carcases on the strond were presently by our people ransacked and our dead people buried Our men now hauing won the strond put themselues presently in battell ray the empty boates returned to the ships but after our people had taken the strond the castle did neuer shoot shot After the boates were returned aboord presently they rowed againe to the shore full of soldiours our people being all landed they which for Twenty fâ—â—â— companieâ— strong of tâ—â— NetherlnÌ„â—â— the first time had coÌ„mandement set vs in 7. troupes or battalions being xxiiii companies strong of soldiours and Mariners with twentie foure Almeientes At which time we marched a little forward twenty one a brest and standing altogether in battell The first castle taken suddainly three mariners came running to the Generall which had bin at the castle telling him that the Spaniards desired to deliuer him the castle so their liues goods might be saued the generall with some of the captaines and souldiours went first thither and presently the castle was deliuered into his possession hoping on his pitty and mercy and leauing behind them all the great ordenance namely 9. peeces of brasse 6. Iron peeces also al their weapoÌ„s In the castle were about 80. Spaniards some cannoniers some soldiors and some people of the countrey for the defence thereof beside powder shot and match accordingly for the artillery and also thirty small peeces or caliuers Also wee founde 58. prisoners the rest were slaine with shot in the fury and some were run away The prisoners which our people had taken in the road with two Barkes and a ship sunke with our ordenance as they lay all 3. hard before the castle were sent altogether aboorde the ships except 3. of the principals which the lord General reserued by him to the end he might the better knowe the state of all things Presently 80. soldiours were sent into the castle who tooke down the kings flag and set vp the princes colours At the same instant two Negros were brought to the General which were fetched out of the mountains they said that they had lien there a sleepe and knew nothing of any matter But now when it began to wax dark we marched altogether a great way towards the town 4. companies of soldiors approched hard vnder the towne and other 4. coÌ„panies had the rereward those of the Maze with the Amsterdammers remained a pretty way from the towne vnder the hils and the Zelanders with the north Hollanders lay neere the waters side so wee remained al that night in order of battell Sunday the 27. of Iune after we had now stood al night in battel order early in the morning we marched w h al our 7. troupes hard vnder the town of Canarie where we remained a while in that order but because they of the castle which lieth to the towne shot so mightily among vs 2 of the troupes retired vnder a hill where we were a little freede from the castle for while our people stood imbattailed before the town the castle did vs great hurt for somtimes they shot fiue or sixe men with one shot ere we could entrench our selues before the castle but after they perceiued that our people had made a small trench against the shot of the castle they placed on the hill fiue or sixe small peeces of brasse called falconets which shoote about a pounde of pouder and sometimes they shot boules of wood wherewith in the beginning they slew manie of our people so aduantagiouslie had they placed their ordenaunce to shoot among vs. Ten or twelue of our Souldiours ranne vp the hill whereof the enemy tooke one and presently cut him in foure peeces Our people seeing that they so tyranouslie dealte with them about the euening tooke a Spaniarde prisoner and vsed him after the same maner The lorde Generall perceiuing that many men were slaine with the ordenance caused fiue peeces of brasse to bee brought from the castle which we had taken the daie before and toward the euening we beganne to make a battery and the same euening brought into it three peeces whereof two were placed presentlie to play vppon the Castle and the hill but that euening were but fiue or sixe shotte made While that our men made the batterie and planted or placed the ordenaunce the enemy placed his ordenance in counter-battery and before our battery could be finished and the ordenance placed many of our men were shot among whoÌ„ Peter vanden Eynde commissioner had his leg shot off whereof he died within three daies after After that it was dark al they which lay there before the towne were againe set in order of battel 15. on a ranke and so remained all that night The 28. of Iune early in the morning euery man retired to his quarter and then were two peeces more brought to the battery which also were presently placed on the Rampire and so wee began to shoot against the castle with 4. peeces and with the fifth we plaied vpon the small ordenance which lay vpon the hils The enemy in the castle laid manie sackes of wooll and placed many tonnes or barrels filled with stones vpon the castle walles supposing