A LIBELL OF
Spanish Lies:
FOVND AT THE
Sacke of Gales, discoursing the fight in
the West Indies, twixt the English Nauie
being fourteene Ships and Pinasses, and
a fleete of twentie saile of the king
of Spaines, and of the death
of Sir Francis Drake.
With an answere briefely confuting the
Spanish lies, and a short Relation of the fight according
to truth, written by Henrie Sauile Esquire,
employed Captaine in one of her Maiesties
Shippes, in the same seruice against
the Spaniard.
And also an Approbation of this discourse, by Sir
Thomas Baskeruile then Generall of the English fleete in that seruice:
Auowing the maintenance thereof, personally in
Armes against Don Bernaldino, if hee shall take
exceptions to that which is heere
set downe,
Touching the fight twixt both Nauies, or
iustifie that which he hath most falsely reported
in his vaine Printed letter.
A false witnes shall not bee unpunished, and he that
speaketh lies shall perish.
LONDON
Printed by Iohn Windet, dwelling by Pauls Wharfe
at the signe of the Crosse Keyes, and
are there to be solde. 1596.
TO THE COVR-
teous Reader.
Hereas, Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Avellaneda, Generall of the Spanish fleete, hath by his Printed letters published to the worlde diuers vntruthes, concerning our fleete and the Commaunders thereof, seeking therby his owne glorie, and our disgrace; I haue taken upon me (though of many least able) to confute the same, the rather for that the printed Coppie came first into my hands, hauing my selfe beene Captaine of one of her Maiesties shippes in the same voyage: Take this therfore (gentle Reader) as a token of my dutie and loue to my Countrie and Countrie-men, And expect onely a plaine truth, as from the pen of a Souldier, and Nauigator: Which if you take in good parte, may draw me shortly to a greater labour, by publishing vnto you our whole voyage.
He true Coppie of a letter found at the sacking of Cales, written by Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Avellaneda, Generall of the king of Spaine his Nauie in the west Indies, sent vnto Doctor Peter Flores, President of the Contracton house for the Indies, and by him put in Print, with priueledge: wherein is declared manye vntruthes, and false reports, tending to the disgrace of the seruice of her Majesties Nauie, and the Commaunders thereof, lately sent to the west Indies, vnder the Commaund of Sir Frances Drake, and Sir John Hawkins Generals at the Sea; and Sir Thomas Baskeruile Generall at land: with a confutation of diuers grosse lies and vntruthes, contayned in the same letter: together with a short relation of the fight according to the truth.
COPIA DE VNA
Carta, q embio Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Avellaneda, General dela Armada de su Magestad, embiada al Doctor Pedro Florez Presidente dela casa dela Contratacion de las Yndias, en que trata del sucesso de la Armada de Yngla-terra, despues que pattio de Panama, de que fue por general Francisco Draque, y de su muerte.
E Cartageua di cuenta a. V. m. como fali del puetto dela ciudad de Lisbona, en busca de la armada Ynglesa, aunque por la mucha priessa, ne se pudierou reparar tambien los Galeones como fuera necessario, y conel tiempo se perdio uno, y por desgracia se quemo un Filibote, y aviẽdo andado muchos dias en busca del enemigo, hasta que llegue a Cartagena, don de auiendo tomado el parecer de Don Pedro de Acuna Governador y capitan general de aquella ciudad, porque tenia mucha necessidad de agua, y reparar los Navios por que venian faltos della, me detuue en aquel puerto, a dovde tuve noticia por un Aniso, que Francisco Draque murio en nombre de Dios, depena de aver perdido tantos Baxeles y gente, aunque despues se supo mas por estenso, y aviẽ do dado a. V. m. cuenta de lo que hafta alii afuce dido agora la doy de que sali de aquel puerto a dos de Março, y tome laderrota dela Hauana, donde entendi hillarlo, y aviendo hecho la diligencia posible. Lunes a onze del dichomes, alas dos despues de medio dia, al salir dela Ysla de Pinos, enla ensenada de Guaniguanico, tope cõ el que yva con catorze Nauios muy buenos, sueme arrimãdo a el, aun que tenia el viento por fuyo, y el Almiranta q̃ yua mas al viento cõ orros dos Nauios commenço arrimarfele, y aunque vino sobre ella con todos los suyos tres vezes, no fue parte acei carſele para quequi siesse enuestir, los que estaumos mas apartados fuymos dando bordos acercandonos hasta jugar la artilleria, Mosqueteria, y Arcabuzeria delos mas dellos, en lo qual el ricibio m uy conocido dano, el lo hiza conelartilleria como suele, y particularmente el Almiranta, y en reconociendo la volũtad con que a el nos arrimauamos, con mas diligencia deloque se puede creer se desembaraço de todosponiendose en huy da, dando las velas, dexando en le mar todas las Lãchas que traya. Yo le segui con nueve Navios toda la noche, y con quatro mas to do el dia hasta hazerle doblar el cabo de san Anton, y tomar la rota de la Canal de Bahama conforme alas instruciones de su Magestad, siruio de poco el verme con menos numero de Navios, ni todas las diligencias que se hizieron, para que se inclinafe a esperar ni abordar, ni tirar un Arcabuz, ni una pieça, porque el se dlo la diligencia que pudo, porque sus Navios los ania reduzido a la mitad y los mejores, y estos acabaua de reparar en Puerto Belo, donde se estuvo mas de quarenta dias, y ansi veniã muy reparados y yo saque los mios desbaratados, que no me dio eltie polugar para adere çarlos. A que navego dos meses y medio, y traygo la capitana que desdeque parti de Cartagena no an parado las bombas, y el dia que sali me ie arrimo ura Zabra con esta necessidad; la Almirã ta y los demas Navios vienen conel misino trabajo, perosin embargo, por lo que yo vi en los enemigos; era muy conocida la ventaja que nos hazia, y mucha dicha seria apoderarse delfino es hallarlo sobre el Ferro. Con todo esso me an dexado un Navio muy bueno en las manos con muy buena gente, la qual dize como murio el Draq̃ en nombre de Dios y que va por general dela dicha armada Ynglesa, el Coronel Quebraran, y por el poco lugar que se a dado no an podido tomar: Agua; lena, nì carne, y van de manera que no se como an de llegar a Ynglaterra. Entre la gente deuen de ser ciento y quarenta, y quinze nobles capitanes delo mejor de alli, y algunos ricos segun se echa de ver enellos. No se ofrece otra cosa: nuestrose nōr guarde a. V. m. como puede y yo desseo. Dela Hauana. 30. de Março; de 1596. Años.
Don Bernaldino Dalgadillo
de Auellaneda.
L Licencia do Don Juan Bermudes ê Figueroa, Tenientemayor de Assistente desta ciudad de Seuilla ysu tierra, que hago oficio de Asistente della por ausencia, de su Señoria del Conde de Priego, Doy licencia a Rodrigo de Cabrera, para que pueda imprimir la Relaciõ dela muerte de Francisco Draque. I a qual haga por dos meses, y por ellos no lo imprima otro alguno. Sopena de diez mil marauedis para la camara de su Magestad. Fecha en Seuilla a quinze de Mayo, de mil y quinientos y nouenta y seys años.
- Por su mandado
- Gregoria Gutierrez.
- Escriuano.
- Gregoria Gutierrez.
- Por su mandado
THE SPANISH
Letter Englished.
Rom Cartagena, I gaue relation vnto you, how I parted from the Cittie of Lisbone, in the pursuite of the English Armie: although for the great hast the Gallions could not be so wel repaired as was needfully and with foule weather one was lofty and a Fly-boate was burnt, and having fayled many daies in pursuite of the enemie, untill I arriued at Carthagena, whereas hauing taken the aduise of Don Pedro de Acunia, Gouernour of the Cittie, and Captaine generall; for wee had great neede of water, and to repaire our Shippes, we stayed in that port, wheras I had intelligence by an Indian, that Frances Drake dyed in Nombre de Dios, for verie griefe that hee had lost so many Barkes and men, as was afterwardes more manifestlye knowne: And having giuen you a relation of all that happened hitherto: Now I let you understand, that I left this Port the second of March, and toke our course towards the Hauana, where I thought to have founde the English fleet, & also used all the diligence possible: upon Munday the eleauenth of the said Months about two of the clocke in the afternoone, at the issue of the Isle of Pinas in the entrance of Guaniguanico, I met with the English fleete, being fourteen everie good Shippes, I drew towards them although they had the winde of us, & our Admirall who bore up towardes the wind, with other two Shippes began to draw neere them, and although we set thus uppon them, three times with all their Shippes, yet would they not set againe uppon us, and those of our men which were farthest off cryed to them amaine, being both within shot of Artilleriey Muskats and Caliuers, whereby they received evident hurt by vs: They shot off now & then at vs, and especially their Admirall, and seeing our resolution how sharpe we were bent towards them, they with all expedition and speede possible prepared to flie awaie, hoysing Sayles and leaving their Oares for hast in the Sea: but I followed them, with nine Shippes all the night following, and with fower more the next daye, till I made them double Saint Antonies point, and so I tooke the course towards La Canet de Bahamet, according to the instructions from his Majestie: It little auailed us to bee seene, with lesse number of Shippes, neither yet all the diligence we could vse, could cause them to staye or come neere us, nor to shoote off one Hargabush or peece of Artillerie for they fled away as fast as they could, and their Shippes were wel diminished, and that the best parte of them, therest they repaired in the port Bella, whereas they were about fourtie daies before, and so by that meanes they were all well repaired, and our Shippes verie foule, because the time would not permit vs to trimme them: I have failed two Monethes and a halfe in the Shippe called the Capitana, sithence we departed from Carthagena, we have not repaired their Pumps nor clensed them: And the same daie I departed thence, my Shippes were all foule with Barnacles, our Admirall and the rest of our Shippes haue the like impediment, but no great hinderance vnto us for ought I could perceiue by our enemies: It is manifest what advantage they had of vs, and by no meanes was it possible for vs to take them, vnlesse wee could have come to deale with them with fire and sworde, Neverthelesse they left vs one good ship behind for our share, welmanned, which tolde me that the Drake dyed in Nombre de Dios, and that they have made for Generall of the English fleete, the Colonell Quebraran, and also by meanes of the small time being streightly followed by vs they had no opportunitie to take either water, woode or flesh, and they are also in such bad case, that I know not how they will bee able to arriue in England, the number of men we have taken are about 140. and 15. Noble Captaines of their best sort, and some of them rich, as well may appeare by their behauiour: I haue no other thing to write at this time. Our Lord keepe you who best can, & as I desire. From the Hauana the 30. of March. 1596
Don Bernaldino Delgadillo
de Avellaneda.
HE Licenctat Don Iohn Barmudes of Figueroa Leiuetenant of the Assistantes of the Cittie of Cyuill, and the prouince thereof, who doth supplie the Office of the Aſsiſtant in the absence of the Right Honourable the Earle of Priego. Giue license to Roderigo de Cabriera to Imprint the Relation of the death of Fraunces Drake, which onely he may doe for two Monthes, and no other to Imprint the same within the saide terme, vpon paine of ten thousand Marauedis for his Maiesties Chamber. Giuen in Cyuill the 15. of May. 1596.
Figueroa.
By his Assigne Gregorie
Gutierrez Notarie.
His letter of the Generall Don Bernaldino sent into Spaine declaring the death of Sir Fraunces Drake and their supposed victorie; was altogether receiued for an vndoubted truth, and so pleasing was this newes vnto the Spaniard, that there was present comandement giuen to publish the letter in Print, that all the people of Spaine might be partakers of this common ioy: The which letter Printed in Cyuill, bearing date the xv, of May, 1596. came to the hands of Henrie Sauile Esquire who being employed in that seruice for the west Indies, and Captaine of her Maiefties good Shippe the Aduenture, vnder the conduct of Sir Fraunces Drake, and Sir Iohn Hawkins, Hath caused the said Printed letter to bee translated into English. And that the impudencie of the Spanish Generall may the more plainely appeare, the said Henrie Sauile doth answere particularly to euerie vntruth in the same letter contained, as heereafter followeth.
THE
ANSWERE TO
The Spanish letter.
The Generals first newes, and his best news is in part lying newes.
He Generall sente this newes into his Country cõfirmed with his hand and seale of Armes: It is the first newes in his letter, and it was the best newes that he could send into Spaine. For it did ease the stomackes of the timerous Spaniardes greatly to heare of the death of him, whose life was a scourge & coutinuall plague vnto them: But it was a pointe of great simplicitie, & scarcely beseeming a Generall, to tie the credite of his reporte locally to any place vppon the report of a silly Indian siaue. For it had beene sufficient to haue said, that Fraunces Drake Was certainly dead, without publishing the lye in Print, by naming Nombre de Dios: for it is most certaine Sir Fraunces Drake dyed twixt the Island of Scouda, and Porte-bella: But the Gencrall being rauished with the suddaine ioy of this report as a man that The Generall seemeth to wante friendes in Courte, sending such great newes to a priuate Doctor.hath escaped a great daunger of the enemie, doeth breake out into an insolent kind of bragging of his valour at Sea, and heaping one lye vpon another, doth not cease vntill he hath drawne them, into sequences, and so: doth commende them vnto Peter the Doctor, as censour of his learned worke.
Thing verie strange that the General or the Indian, whõ hee doth vouch for his lye, should haue such speculation in the bodye of him whome they neuer saw, as to deliuer for truth vnto his Countrie, the verie cause or disease whereof hee dyed: And this second report of his is more grosse then the fist. For admit the mistaking of the place might bee tollerable; notwithstanding, this precise affirming the cause of his death, doth manifestly prooue that the Generall doth make no conscience to lye. Don Bernal dino doth lye impudently.And as concerning the losse of any Barkes or men in our Nauie, by the valour of the Spaniard before Sir Fraunces Drake his death, wee had none (one small Pinesse excepted) which we assuredly know was The successe of the kings fiue Frigots.taken by chaunce falling single into a fleete of fiue Frigots (of which was Generall, Don Pedro Telio,) neere vnto the Island of Dominico, and not by the valour of Don Bernaldino: the which fiue Frigots of the Kings afterwards had but ill successe , for one of them we burnt in the harbour of S. Iohn Portrico, and one other was sunck in the same harbour, and the other three were burnt amongst many other Shippes at the taking of Cales: This I thinke in wise mens iudgements, will seeme a seely The cerain cause herof Sir Frances Drake dyed.cause to mooue a man sorrowe to death. For true it is, Sir Fraunces Drake dyed if the Flixe which hee had growne vppon him eight daies before his death, and yeelded vp his spirite like a Christian to his creatour quietly in his Cabbin. And when the Generall shall suruey his losses, 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 Fraunces 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.
His third lye of the Generall Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Avellaneda, (whose name for the prolixitie thereof maye be drawne somwhat neere the length of a Cable) hath no colour of protection, but it hath a iust A payre of Spanish Lyers. proportion in measure to the lyes of olde Barnardino de Mendozza his Countrieman, concerning the ouerthrow of her Maiesties Nauie in the yeare 1588. for except Don Barnaldino the Generall, did purpose to winne the whetstone from Don Barnardino de Mendozza the olde Spanish lyer: I cannot coniecture why hee should write to his Countrie for a truth, that hee chased the English Nauye with nine Shippes, and did three seuerall times giue the onset to the English fleete, who being fourteene good Shippes (as he faith) did flye and refuse to fight, being that The Spanish Viceadmirall a man of vallour.the Spanifh Viceadmiral (if he be liuing) and manye 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 saye they were lesse then twentie sayle of Shipps when they met the English fleet: And the Spanish Nauy can witnesse that they receiued such store of Bullets from the English fleete, that they were glad to The number of the Spanish Shippes after the fight.depart, and in despight of them the English Nauie did holde their determined course: And taking a view of the Spanish fleete the next day, their number was not aboue thirteene Shippes, which did argue that they were either sunke, or fled to harbour to saue themselues.
T was strange that they shoulde leaue behinde them Oares in the Sea, being there was not in the English fleete either This lie was made in the Generals owne forge. Gally or gallyasse, which required the vse of Oares, as for the Oares of their ship-boates and other such small vessels, they had stoed them aboarde their Shippes, and were no impediment vnto them, but most necessarie for them to vse,and therfore not likely they would cast them ouerboard: But it is most likely, that the Generall fell into some pleasent dreame at Sea, wherein hee did see a false apparition of victorie against the English, & for lacke of matter did set this downe in his letter for newes to his countrie: It is sinne to belye the Deuill, and A commendation of the Generalltherefore the Generall shal haue his right, the letter is so well contriued, (and yet with no great eloquence) but with such art, that ther are not many more lines, then there are lyes, which sheweth 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, hee woulde haue omitted many thinges contained in the letter, for the Doctor did vse him The Generall doth practise to lye, for recreation.somwhat hardly in shewing the letter openly, and more in suffering it to be Printed: for friends may like good fellowes send lyes 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 tytle of a lying Generall: But as the matter is now handled throgh the simplycitie of the Doctor, I cannot see but the General Don Bernaldino, is like to carrie the tytle equally twixt both his shoulders.
Nd 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 send this with the rest into his Countrie for currant newes: But herein Don Bernaldino was more bolde then wise, for the torne and battered sides of his Gallyons, being compared with her Maiestes Shippes, and others that serued in that The torne sides of the Spanish Shippes doe condemne Don Bernaldino of lying. fight, doe declare, that his Ships receiued at least two bullets for one. Neither can it be concealed but his owne Countriemen (if any do fauour truth) may easily see the losse, and late reparations, done vnto the Kings fleete sithence they did encounter with the Englifh Nauie, whensoeuer they that remaine shall arriue in Spaine: But the Generall seemeth to bee a verye good proficient in his profession, and waxeth somewhat bolde, treading the true steppes of old Barnardino de Mendozza, and yet Mendozza was somewhat more warie in his lyes, for he had sometime the colour of intelligence to shadow them, but the Generall growing from boldnes to impudencie, maketh no scruple to say, that the English Nauie fled as fast as they could without discharging any Hargebush or peece of Artillerie, when as the battered sides of his ships Note the valoure of Don Bernaldino.do returne the lye to his face: For in this conflict Don Bernaldino did behaue him-selfe so valiantly, that he was alwaies farthest of in the fight, & had so great care of his owne person that he stoode cleare frõ the danger of Muskat or any smal shot, & durst not approach, whereas our generall was the foremost, & so held his place, The order of the English Nauie.vntill by order of fight other ships were to haue their turnes, according to his former direction, who wisely & pollitickly had so ordered his vangarde, & reregarde,that as the maner of it was altogether strange to the Spaniard, so might they haue bene without all hope of victorie, if their General had beene a man of any iudgement in Sea fights: I know no reason why the Engliih Nauie should flye from him, for The Spaniard cannot bragge of his gaine.the Spaniard may put all the gaine in his eye that euer he did winne from the English: Peraduenture some siely nouice of our country meeting the general in Spaine, and hearing a repetition of so many sillables in one name , as Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda, might thinke them to be words of Coniuration, & for feare of raysing a Spirit, might flie from him as from the Deuill, or some simple Indian flaue hearing the like repetition of his long and tedious name, might fuppose it to be an Armie of Spaniards, and for feare runne awaye: But the commaunders and Captaines of the English Nauie, Spanish bragges are of no value with the English.were men of such resolution, that no Spanish bragges coulde dismaye them, for they haue often met them with their Pikes in their Spanish beardes. Nor the countenaunce of Don Bernaldino quaile them, although he were acowtred in his gilt Leather buskins, and his Toledo Rapyer.
Don Bernaldino very resolute.
He Generall Don Bernaldino like a resolute Spaniarde hauing alreadye gonne ouer his shoes, maketh no dannger to wade ouer his Boates also: and as hee hath begun so he doth conclude, I maruaile that hee did not in writing his discourse remember this olde saying; that is, A lyar ought to haue a good memorie: It were much better for him in mine opinion to reuoke the testimonie which hee saith he had from the Englishmen, concerning Sir Fraunces Drake his death at Nombre de Dios, and stande to the intelligence receiued from the siely Indian slaue, as it appeareth in his first lye, for without The indian slaue, is the best shadow, to the Generals lyeal doubt, there is no Englishman that wil say (if he haue his right fences) that he dyed at Nombre de Dios, for they all knowe the contrarie: Neither can the Generall avouch that he receiued intelligence from any English man, that after the death of Don Bernaldino his rare gift in coyning a new and strange name.Sir Fraunces Drake hey did elect: for Generall Colonell Quebraran, as he doth most falsly affirme in the latter end of his vaine and friuolous letter, being that the name was straunge, and vnknowne to any in the English Nauie. Neither doe I imagine that any of those which the General saith he hath taken were so forgetfull as not to remember their generals name. But without all doubt this addition of so new, and straunge a name to the English Generall, doth proue that Don Bernaldino is not vnfurnished The Generals storehouse of lyes.of a forge & storehouse of lyes, from whence as from an euerflowing fountaine, he sendeth forth lyes of al sorts sufficient for his owne store, and greate plentie to furnish his friends: The General was much beholding to his godfathers who gaue him the name Barnaldino, which we in English do take to be plaine Barnard, which name hath as it were a kind of priueledge from being sharply reprehended The schoolemen of nodestie do vse this kinde of reprehension, when they doe thinke the Autor to erre.when the party is thought to erre: for it is a common saying amongst the Schoolemen that Barnardus non videt omnia, viz. Barnard seeth not all thinges, (when he doth dissent from their opinions) the which fauour wee coulde bee content to yeelde to Bernaldino for the name sake, if he were not taken with so many manifest and impudent lies, neither doe I thinke that Signior Bernaldino will say that he saw all that he hath written, be it spoken in councell for shaming the General, for is there any man so voide of reason as to thinke? That any Englishman being demaunded of his Generals name, would write or speake Quebraran for Baskeruile, somuch difference there is The difference twixt Quebraran and Baskeruile.in the sound of the sillables, as there is no affinitie at all, or likelihoode of truth: But such are the Generals rare gifts, (be it spoken to his small praise) that we Englishmen must of force confesse that the Generail hath giuen a proude onset to carrie the whetstone from Signior Barnardino de Mendozzai: Neither will the 140. men & 15. noble Captaines (which hee saith hee did take, of whome he might haue beene The Generall conuicted of lying and forgery.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 hee hath no man to witnesse that lye, for the ship was seperated by weather from the English fleete in the night thirteene daies before the fight, with the Spanifsh Nauie, & neuer to anye mans knowledge came more in sight of the sEnglifh fleete, if theThe Generall maketh great brags in taking a distressed Ship, which is supposed not to strike one blow. Spanifh Shippes by chaunce did take the said wel manned Shippers they cal her) I doubt not but they haue the Shippe, the 140. men, and the 15. noble Captaines to shew: But euermore I gesse the Spanish reckoning will fall short when it is examined, for the fifteene noble Captaines will proue (as I take it) but three, whose losse I grieue to thinke on: Neither didThe fifteene noble Captaines according the generals lying occupation, with proue but three. the Spaniards gaine them by valour, or we loose or leaue them for cowardise, as most vntruely this bragging lyer hath certified. But the Generall like a prouident man, to make his fame and credite the greater with his Prince and country, doth take vpon him (amongst other his miracles perfourmed before the English fleet) by way of amplification to make small matters seeme great, as a little shoe to serue a great foote, and finding that it can hardly be brought to passe, he doth stretch the Leather with his teeth that it is ready to breake, and notwithstanding, all The Printing of the letter doth shame the Generall.this will not serue his purpose, for the Printing of the letter doth marr the play, and bringeth men matter in question, as the Generall doth wish might be concealed, and were he not of so dry and cholericke complexion, as commonly Spaniards are, he would blush for very shame Don Bernaldino of an excellent complexionin publishing so impudently such manifest vntruthes. For sithence his meeting with the English flee at the Isle of Pinas, there hath beene by the worthie English Generals, an honourable expedition from England into the Continent of Spaine, The first discouery of the Generals Printed letter.where amongst other exploits hauing taken the Cittie of Cales, in the sacke thereof was found some of Don Bernaldino his Printed letters: & comming to the hands of a Captaine that serued in the voyage to the west Indies, he hath thought very fit (in regard of the slaunders to the English Nauie contained in the saide letter) to quote the errors, that the truth onely may appeare, to all such as haue a desire to bee rightly informed of such accidents, as befell the in this late voyage to the west Indies: and this may suffice to shew Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Avellaneda his greate The Generals great skill in amplifying.iudgement in amplifying small matters, or of nothing to make in shewe seeme somewhat. And now hauing thus farre informed you of the truth in reproofe of the slaunderous, false, and vntrue reports of this glorious lying Generall, with a true disproofe to some of the grossest of his lyes, 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 heere following plainely and truely set downe the course and order of our whole fight after we met.
THE MEETING
Of our Englifh Nauie and the
Spanish fleete, and the order
of our encounter.
Vnday the first of March, according to our computation, wee scryed the Iland of Pinas, wher haling in for the westerne parte thereof, thinking there to haue watered, being within fower leagues of it Southerly, we sent in three The first discouerie of the Spanish fleete. of our Pinnasses to discouer the harbour, and to founde afore vs, about one of the clocke in the afternoone; the same day we discouered a fleete of twentie sayles, and deeming them to bee the Spanish fleete, wee kept our loofe to get the winde, but their Viceadmiral with diuers other ships went about to cut off our Pinnasses, so that our Generall with some other of our Shippes, was forced to tacke about vpon the larbour tacke, and so ranne in towards the land keeping the winde, so as we recouered our Pinnasses, which forced the enemies Shippes to tacke about, and to take the aide of their fleete, and being come neere vnto them they shot at vs, wee still approched, hauing our close fights vp, our flagges, ensignes and streamers displayed, our men orderly placed in each quarter, but forbare our fight vntill our Generall began, and gaue vs warning to come in and fight, by shooting off a great peece, according to his former directions, so being within Muskat shot, the The incounter twixt the English and the Spanish Ships.Viceadmirall of the Spanish fleete came neerest vnto vs, to whom our Viceadmirall Iohn Traughton Captaine of the Elizabeth Bonaduenture gaue fight, betwixt whome there was the greatest volee of small shot changed that lightly hath bene heard at Sea, which cõtinued a long halfe hower. In which time the Spanish fleete came into sight, our Generall Sir Thomas Baskeruile being in the Garland whereof Humphrey Reignolds was Captaine, being the next Shippe vnto the Elizabeth Bonaduenture, bare vp to the enemie, playing with her great Ordinance hotly vntill she came within Muskat shot: Ionas Bodenham Captaine of the Defiance, and Henrie Sauile Captaine of the Aduenture, came likewise into fight with thẽ: After the Garland (being within Muskat shot) played her part and made good fight for the space of an hower. The Defiance bare vp likewise and had her turne, after came the Aduenture again within Muskat shot, who hauing chaunged many a great Bullet, with them before, renewed his fight, and continued it an hower with small shot. Then came Thomas Drake Captaine of the Hope, who last of all had his turne. Thus had all the Queenes Shippes their course: The Marchants Shippes with other small vessels being without the Queenes Shippes shot when they saw opportunitie: After the enemie finding no good to be done, (being well beaten) fell from vs, the Aduenture, playing vppon them with her great Ordinaunce, madeThe Spanish Viceadmiral can witnesse, what success they had in this fight. three of the last shot at them: Their Viceadmiral with diuers others of their Ships, were so beaten, that they left off the fight, and were forced to lye in the winde, for that they durst not lye of either board by reason of their many and great Leakes, which they had receiued by our greate shot. The Generall with the rest of their fleete, tacking about fell in our wake, thinking; to get the winde, which in theThe English Admirall carried his Creset light, notwithstanding the enemie was vppon his brode side. beginning we sought to hinder. But our General seeing that in holding the winde we should shoote our selues into the Bay, gaue them the winde. All that night they kept themlelues vppon our broade side notwithstanding our Admirall carryed his Cresset light all night: hauing greate care of our smallest Shippes: This fight continued about fower howers til it was neere night, in the which fight, thanks be to God, there was slaine so fewe persons of our English fleete as I thinke the like conflict hath not beene performed with The English receiued little losse in this conflict.so little losse of men: What harme befell the Spaniards in their fleete I leaue to your iudgements . Yet our eyes can witnesse their Shippes were sore beaten and raked thorough, whereby there was such falling backe and lying by the Lee to stoppe their leakes, as some of them were driuen to haste awaye, and rather to runne on shore to saue themselues then sincke in the Sea: Besides within two howers after our fight with them, wee saw one of their great Shippes on fire which burnt into the Sea, and all the Sterne of another of their Shippes blowen vp: And in the morning a Shippe of our fleete was runne so neere the land, that to double the Cape current hee must of necessitie tacke about & fall in the wake of the enemie, which caused our Generall in the Garland and the Defiance to tacke about, which two ships forced the three Shippes of the enemies which Were put forth to take our Shipp, or else to cause her runne on grounde) to returne to their fleete to saue themselues, hoysing all their sayles for haste: This morning they were faire by vs hauing the winde of vs, being but thirteene sayle of The remainder of the Spanish fleete were but thirteene sayles.their twentie to be seene, then we stroke our toppe sayles thinking to haue fought with them again, which they perceiuing tacked about from vs, & after that neuer durst nor would come neere vs: What became of the rest of their fleet we know not, but true it was that they were in great distresse mightily beaten and torne, by hauing receiued many Bullets from vs. All this day wee had fight of them, but they shewed little will to fight or come neere vs, so we keeping our course west, and by North, about fixe of the clocke at night lost the sight of them. And this is a true discourse of our fight with the Spanish fleete. The which the Author
heere of will iustifie with the aduentrue of his life, against any Spaniard seruing in that action, that shal contradict
the same.
FINIS.
THOMAS BASKERVILE KNIGHT,
His approbation to this Booke.
Thomas Baskeruile Knight, Generall of her Maiesties late Indian armado in the late conflict had betweene the Spanish fleete and vs, hauing perused the Spanish letter written by Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda, General of the King of Spaines Nauie, and also hauing perused Captaine Henry Sauile his answeres vnto the six exceptions in the Generals letter with his discourse of the manner of our fight with the Spanish sleete, do say, that the said Henry Sauile hath answered the letter, and set downe the order of the fight sincerely according to truth for testimonie of which I haue hereunto set my hand.
And if Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda the General shal take any exceptions to this my approbation, or stand in the iustification of his lying letter written to Doctor Peter Flores, President of the Contraction house for the Indies, and by him for Bernaldinoes glorie lately put in Printe: I then saye that hee falsely lyed, and that I will maintaine against him with whatsoeuer Armes he shall make choyce of, And because the kingdomes wherein we abide are enemies, by reason of which there is no meanes in either of them, to maintaine that I haue written, Let him make choice of any indifferent kingdome, of equall distance from either Realme, and I will there be ready to maintaine as much as I haue written: But if by my imployments into Fraunce, I be so stayed by her Maiesties Commaundementes, that I cannot out of that Realme meete him in anye other, I cannot see why hee shoulde take anye exception to that, considering the equalitie of the place, and that the Armies of both our Princes be there resident.
FINIS.
[LONDON : F. SHOBERL, PRINTER, 51, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET.]
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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