some of our prisoners desired to be set on shore vpon the Ilandes, hoping
to be from thence transported into England, which libertie was formerly by
the Generall promised: One Morice Fitz Iohn, sonne of olde Iohn of Desmond,
a notable traytour, cousin german to the late Earle of Desmond, was sent to
the English from shippe to shippe, to perswade them to serue the King of
Spaine. The arguments hee vsed to induce them were these. The increase of
pay which he promised to be trebled: aduancement to the better sort: and
the exercise of the true Catholique Religion, and safetie of their soules
to all. For the first, euen the beggerly and vnnaturall behauiour of those
English and Irish rebels, that serued the King in that present action, was
sufficient to answere that first argument of rich pay. For so poore and
beggerly they were, as for want of apparell they stripped their poore
Countrey men prisoners out of their ragged garments, worne to nothing by
sixe months seruice, and spared not to despoyle them euen of their bloody
shirtes, from their wounded bodies, and the very shooes from their feete; A
notable testimonie of their rich entertainment and great wages. The second
reason was hope of aduancement if they serued well, and would continue
faithfull to the King. But what man can be so blockishly ignorant euer to
expect place or honour from a forraine King, hauing no other argument or
perswasion then his owne disloyaltie; to be vnnatural to his owne Countrey
that bred him; to his parents that begat him, and rebellious to his true
Prince, to whose obedience he is bound by oath, by nature, and by Religion?
No, they are onely assured to be employed in all desperate enterprises, to
bee helde in scorne and disdaine euer among those whom they serue. And that
euer traitour was either trusted or aduanced I could neuer yet reade,
neither can I at this time remember any example. And no man coulde haue
lesse becommed the place of an Orator for such a purpose, then this Morice
of Desmond. For the Erle his cosen being one of the greatest subiects in
that kingdom of Ireland, hauing almost whole Countreis in his possession;
so many goodly Manners, castles, and lordships; the Count Palatine of
Kerry, fiue hundred gentlemen of his owne name and family to follow him,
besides others (all which he possessed in peace for three or foure hundred
yeeres) was in lesse then three yeeres after his adhering to the Spaniards
and rebellion, beaten from all his holdes, not so many as ten gentlemen of
his name left liuing, himselfe taken and beheaded by a souldier of his owne
nation, and his land giuen by a Parliament to her Maiestie, and possessed
by the English: His other cosen Sir Iohn of Desmond taken by Master Iohn
Zouch, and his body hanged ouer the gates of his natiue Citie to be
deuoured by rauens: the thirde brother Sir Iames hanged, drawne, and
quartered in the same place. If hee had withall vaunted of his successe of
his owne house, no doubt the argument would haue mooued much, and wrought
great effect: which because, hee for that present forgot, I thought it good
to remember in his behalfe. For matter of Religion it would require a
particular volume, if I should set downe how irreligiously they couer their
greedy and ambicious pretenses, with that veile of pietie. But sure I am,
that there is no kingdome or commonwealth in all Europe, but if they be
reformed, they then inuade it for religion sake: if it bee, as they terme
Catholique, they pretend title; as if the Kings of Castile were the
naturall heires of all the world: and so betweene both, no kingdome is
vnsought. Where they dare not with their owne forces to inuade, they basely
entertaine the traitours and vagabonds of all Nations: seeking by those and
by their runnagate Iesuits to winne parts, and haue by that meane ruined
many Noble houses and others in this lande, and haue extinguished both
their liues and families. What good, honour, or fortune euer man yet by
them atchieued, is yet vnheard of, or vnwritten. And if our English Papists
doe but looke into Portugall, against which they haue no pretense of
Religion, how the Nobilitie are put to death, imprisoned, their rich men
made a praye, and all sorts of people captiued; they shall finde that the
obedience euen of the Turke is easie and a libertie, in respect of the
slauerie and tyrannie of Spaine. What haue they done in Sicill, in Naples,
Millaine, and in the Low countreis; who hath there bene spared for Religion
at all: And it commeth to my remembrance of a certaine Burger of Antwerpe,
whose house being entred by a company of Spanish souldiers, when they first
sacked the Citie, hee besought them to spare him and his goods, being a
good Catholique, and one of their owne partie and faction. The Spaniards
answered, that they knew him to be of a good conscience for himselfe, but
his money, plate, iewels, and goods were all hereticall, and therefore good
prize. So they abused and tormented the foolish Fleming, who hoped that an
Agnus Dei had bene a sufficient target against all force of that holy and
charitable nation. Neither haue they at any time as they protest inuaded
the kingdomes of the Indies and Peru, and elsewhere, but onely led
thereunto, rather to reduce the people to Christianitie, then for either
gold or Emperie. When as in one onely Island called Hispaniola, they haue
wasted thirtie hundred thousand of the naturall people, besides many
millions else in other places of the Indies: a poore and harmelesse people
created of God, and might haue bene wonne to his knowledge, as many of them
were, and almost as many as euer were perswaded thereunto. The storie
whereof is at large written by a Bishop of their owne nation called
Bartholomew de las Casas, and translated into English and many other
languages, intituled The Spanish cruelties. Who would therefore repose
trust in such a nation of ravenous strangers, and especially in those
Spaniards which more greedily thirst after English blood, then after the
liues of any other people of Europe, for the many ouerthrowes and
dishonours they haue receiued at our hands, whose weakeness wee haue
discouered to the world, and whose forces at home, abroad, in Europe, in
India, by sea and land, wee haue euen with handfulles of men and shippes,
ouerthrowen and dishonoured. Let not therefore any English man, of what
religion soeuer, haue other opinion of the Spaniards, but that those whom
hee seeketh to winne of our Nation, he esteemeth base and trayterous,
vnworthy persons, or vnconstant fooles: and that he vseth his pretense of
religion, for no other purpose but to bewitch vs from the obedience of our
naturall Prince, thereby hoping in time to bring vs to slauery and
subiection, and then none shall be vnto them so odious, and disdayned as
the traitours themselues, who haue solde their Countrey to a stranger, and
forsaken their faith and obedience contrarie to nature and religion; and
contrarie to that humane and generall honour, not onely of Christians, but
of heathen and irreligious nations, who haue alwayes sustayned what labour
soeuer, and embraced euen death it selfe, for their countrey, Prince, or
common wealth. To conclude, it hath euer to this day pleased God to prosper
and defend her Maiestie, to breake the purposes of malicious enemies, of
forsworne traytors, and of iniust practises and inuasions. She hath euer
beene honoured of the worthiest kings, serued by faithfull subiects, and
shall by the fauour of God, resist, repell, and confound all whatsoeuer
attempts against her sacred person or kingdome. In the meane time let the
Spaniard and traytour vaunt of their successe, and wee her true and
obedient vassals guided by the shining light of her virtues, shall alwayes
loue her, serue her, and obey her to the end of our liues. [Footnote: The
most complete collection of contemporary documents relating to this
interesting episode, is to be found in "_The Last Fight of the Revenge_",
privately printed, Edinburgh, 1886 (GOLDSMID'S BIBLIOTHECA CURIOSA.)]
* * * * *
A particular note of the Indian fleet, expected to haue come into Spaine
this present yeere of 1591. with the number of shippes that are perished
of the same: according to the examination of certaine Spaniards lately
taken and brought into England by the ships of London.
The fleete of Noua Hispania, at their first gathering together and setting
foorth, were two and fiftie sailes. The Admirall was of sixe hundred
tunnes, and the Vice Admirall of the same burthen. Foure or fiue of the
shippes were of nine hundred and 1000 tunnes a piece, some fiue hundred,
and some foure hundred and the least of two hundred tuns. Of this fleet 19
were cast away, and in them 2600 men by estimation, which was done along
the coast of Noua Hispania, so that of the same fleet there came to the
Hauana but 33 sailes.
The fleete of Terra Firma were, at their first departure from Spaine,
fiftie sailes, which were bound for Nombre de Dios, where they did
discharge their lading, and thence returned to Cartagena, for their healths
sake, vntill the time the treasure was readie they should take in, at the
said Nombre de Dios. But before this fleete departed, some were gone by one
or two at a time, so that onely 23 sayles of this fieete arriued in the
Hauana.
At the Hauana there met
33 sailes of Noua Hispania.
23 sailes of Terra Firma.
12 sailes of San Domingo.
9 sailes of the Hunduras.
The whole 77 shippes, ioyned and set sailes all together at the Hauana, the
17 of Iuly, according to our account, and kept together vntill they came
into the height of thirtie fiue degrees, which was about the tenth of
August, where they found the winde at Southwest chaunged suddenly to the
North, so that the sea comming out of the Southwest, and the wind very
violent at North, they were put all into great extremitie, and then first
lost the Generall of their fleete, with 500 men in her; and within three or
foure dayes after, an other storme rising, there were fiue or sixe other of
the biggest shippes cast away with all their men, together with their
Vice-Admirall.
And in the height of 38. degrees, about the end of August, grew another
great storme, in which all the fleet sauing 48. sailes were cast away:
which 48. sailes kept together, vntill they came in sight of the Ilands of
Coruo and Flores, about the fift or sixt of September, at which time a
great storme separated them: of which number fifteene or sixteene were
after seene by these Spanyards to ride at anchor vnder the Tercera; and
twelue or foureteene more to beare with the Island of S. Michael; what
became of them after that these Spaniards were taken cannot yet be
certified; their opinion as, that very few of thee fleet are escaped, but
are either drowned or taken. And it is other waies of late certified, that
of this whole fleete that should haue come into Spaine this yeere, being
one hundred twentie and three sayle, there are arriued as yet but fiue and
twentie. This note was taken out of the examination of certaine Spaniardes,
that were brought into England by sixe of the ships of London, which tooke
seuen of the aboue named Indian Fleete, neere the Islands of the Açores.
* * * * *
A report of Master Robert Flicke directed to Master Thomas Bromley, Master
Richard Staper, and Master Cordall concerning the successe of a part of
the London supplies sent to my Lord Thomas Howard to the Isles of the
Azores, 1591.
Worshipfull, my heartie commendations vnto you premised: By my last of the
twelfth of August from this place I aduertised you particularly of the
accidents of our Fleete vntill then. It remayneth now to relate our
endeuours in accomplishing the order receiued for the ioyning with my Lorde
Thomas Howard, together with the successe wee haue had. Our departure from
hence was the seuenteenth of August, the winde not seruing before. The next
day following I caused a Flagge of Counsell to be put foorth, whereupon the
Captaines and Masters of euery shippe came aboord, and I acquainted them
with my Commission, firmed by the Right honourable the Lordes of her
Maiesties Counsell, and with all the aduertisements of Sir Edward Denny, of
my Lordes determination to remaine threescore leagues to the West of Fayal,
spreading North and South betwixt thirtie seuen and a halfe or thirty eight
and a halfe degrees. And not finding him in this heighth to repaire to the
Isles of Flores and Coruo, where a Pinnesse of purpose should stay our
comming vntill the last of August, with intent after that day to repaire to
the coast of Spaine, about the heigth of The Rocke, some twentte or thirtie
leagues off the shoare. The which being aduisedly considered of hauing
regard vnto the shortnesse of time, by reason of our long abode in this
place, and the vncertainety of the weather to fauour vs, it was generally
holden for the best and securest way to meete with my Lorde, to beare with
the heigth of The Rocke, without making any stay vpon the coast, and so
directly for the Islands which was accordingly fully agreed and performed.
The 28 day wee had sight of the Burlings, and the 29 being thwart of
Peniche, the winde seruing vs, without any stay we directed our course West
for the Islands. The 30 day we met with Captaine Royden in the Red-Rose,
sometime called the Golden Dragon, separated from my Lorde of Cumberland in
a storme: who certified vs of 50 sayles of the Spanish kings Armadas to be
gone for the Ilands, but could not informe vs any newes of my Lord Thomas
Howard, otherwise then vpon presumption to remaine about the Islandes, and
so wee continued our course the winde standing with vs.
The 4 of September we recouered Tercera, and ranged along all the Islands,
both on the South and North sides the space of foure dayes: during which
time it was not our hap to meete with any shipping, whereby either to
vnderstand of my Lord, or of the Indian Fleete: hereupon we directed our
course to the West from Fayal, according to the instructions of Sir Edward
Denny. The 11 day in the plying to the Westwards we descried a sayle out of
our maine toppe, and in the afternoone betweene two and three of the clocke
hauing raysed her hull, the weather became calme, so that the ship could
not fetch her. I sent off my Skiffe throughly manned, furnished with shot
and swords, The Cherubin, and the Margaret and Iohn doing the like. Vpon
this the sayle stood off againe, and the night approching, our boates lost
her and so returned. In this our pursute after the sayle the Centurion
being left a sterne, the next morning wee missed her, and spent that day in
plying vp and down seeking her. And for as much as euery of the ships had
receiued order, that, if by extremity of weather or any other mischance
they should be seuered from our Fleete, they should meete and ioyne at
Flores, we, according to the instructions of Sir Edward Denny, proceeded to
the finding of my Lord Thomas Howard, being in the heigth appointed and not
able to holde the same by reason of extreme tempestes which forced vs to
the Isles of Flores and Coruo, which we made the 14 day in the morning, and
there also ioyned againe with the Centurion, whose company before we had
lost: who declared vnto vs that the 12 day, being the same day they lost
vs, they met with fiue and forty sailes of the Indian Fleete. The same
night, vpon these newes we came to an anker betweene Flores and Coruo, and
the morow following at the breake of day, a flagge of Counsell being put
out, the Captaines and Masters came abord me: where, for the desire to
vnderstand some tidings of my Lord, as also the supplying of our want of
water, it was thought good to send our boats furnished on shore, vnder the
conduct of Captaine Brothus, and then it was also ordered after our
departure thence to range along the Southsides of the Islands to the end we
might either vnderstand of my Lord, or else light on the Indian fleete; and
in the missing of our purpose to direct our course for Cape Sant Vincente.
The boates, according to the foresayd determination, being sent on shoare,
it chaunced that the Costely ryding vttermost in the roade, did weigh to
bring her selfe more neere among vs for the succour of the boates sent off,
and in opening the land discouered two sayles, which we in the roade could
not perceiue: whereupon shee gaue vs a warning piece, which caused vs to
waue off our boates backe, and before they could recouer our shippes, the
discryed ships appeared vnto vs, towardes the which we made with all haste,
and in a very happie hour, as it pleased God. [Sidenote: A violent storm.]
In that wee had not so soone cleared the lande, and spoken with one of
them, which was a Barke of Bristoll, who had also sought my Lorde in the
heigths appointed and could not finde him, but a violent storme arose, in
such manner, as if we had remained in the roade, we had beene in daunger of
perishing: and the same extremely continued during the space of threescore
houres. In which storme I was separated from our Fleete, except the
Cherubin and the Costely, which kept company with mee. And so sayling among
the Ilands, I viewed the roade of Fayal, and finding no Roaders there, went
directly for the Isle Tercera.
The nineteenth day in the morning comming vnto the same with intent to edge
into the Road, a tempest arose and scanted the winde, that we could not
sease it: from the which being driuen we fell among certaine of the Indian
Fleete, which the sayde storme dispersed, and put them from the road:
whereupon my selfe with the other two ships in companie gaue seuerall
chases, and thereby lost the company each of other.
[Sidenote: A Portugall Prize taken.] In following our chase aboue noone we
made her to strike and yeelde, being a Portugall, laden with hides,
salsa-perilla and Anile. At this very instant we espied another, and taking
our Prise with vs followed her, and somewhat before night obtayned her,
named the Conception, Francisco Spinola being Captaine, which was laden
with hides, Cochonillio, and certaine raw silke. And for that the seas were
so growen, as neither with boate nor shippe they were to bee boorded, we
kept them till fit opportunitie. [Sidenote: A rich West-Indian Prize
taken.] The same night a litle before day there happened another into our
company, supposing vs by our two prizes to be of their Fleete, which we
vntill the morning dissembled.
The 20 day in the morning, the sayle being shot somewhat a head of vs,
hauing a speciall care for the safe keeping of the two former, we purposed
to cause our Prizes to put out more sayle thereby to keep them neere in
giuing chase to the other: vnto the which the Master would not hearken nor
be perswaded, but that they would follow vs: by the which his wilfulnesse
by such time as we had caused the other to yeelde, and sent men aboord, the
Conception, Francisco Spinola Captaine being brought a sterne, and hauing
gotten the winde of vs, stood off with all her sayles bearing, so as we
were forced to make a new chase of her: and had not the winde enlarged vpon
vs we had lost her. In the pursute before we recouered her and brought our
selues againe in company of our other Prizes, the whole day was spent, and
by this meanes we lost the oportunitie of that day, the weather fitly
seruing to boord the Portugall Prize, which was in great distresse, and
made request to take them being readie to sinke, and, as we well perceiued,
they ceased not to pumpe day and night: the which ship to all our
iudgements the same night perished in the sea.
The one and twentie day the Conception, whereof Francisco Spinola was
Captaine, being also in a leake, and the same still increasing
notwithstanding the continuall pumping, in such sort as not to be kept
along aboue water, I tooke and discharged out of her two and forty chestes
of Cochonillio and silkes, and so left her with 11 foote water in holde and
her furniture and 4700 hides, vnto the seas.
The other prize which we haue brought into the harborough is named Nostra
Sennora de los remedios, whereof Francisco Aluares is Captaine, laden with
16 chests of Cochonillio, certaine fardels of raw silke, and about 4000
hides. Vpon the discharge of the goods your worships shall be particularly
aduertised thereof.
In the boording of the prizes the disorder of the company was such, as that
they letted not presently besides the rifling of the Spaniards to breake
open the chests and to purloyne such money as was in them: notwithstanding
that it was ordered at convenient leasure to haue gone on boord my selfe,
and therein the presence of three or foure witnesses to haue taken a iust
account thereof, and the same to haue put in safe keeping, according to the
effects of articles receiued in this behalfe.
And whereas there were also certaine summes of money taken from the company
which they had thus purloyned and embeseled, and the same with some other
parcels brought aboord my ship, amounting vnto 2129 pezoes and a halfe, the
company as pillage due vnto them demanded to haue the same shared, which I
refused, and openly at the maine maste read the articles firmed by my Lord
Treasurer and my Lord Admirall, whereby we ought to be directed, and that
it was not in mee any way to dispose thereof, vntill the same were finally
determined at home. Hereupon they mutinied and at last grew into such
furie, as that they would haue it or els breake downe the cabbine, which
they were also readie to put into practise, whereby I was forced to yeeld,
least the Spaniards which we had abord being many perceiuing the same,
might haue had fit opportunitie to rise against vs, which, after their
brawles were appeased, they sought to haue put into execution.
By the last aduise from Castile the Generall of the kings Armada which is
lately come to sea hath receiued commaundement to ioyne his Fleete with
those of the Indies, and for to stay altogether at Tercera vntill the 15 of
October: for that 6 pataches with 7 or 8 millions of the kings treasure
will come by that time, or els they stay their comming from Hauana vntill
Ianuary next, or the kings further pleasure therein to be knowen. These
pataches are said to be of 300 tuns the piece, and to cary 30 pieces of
brasse, and also of saile reported to haue the aduantage of any shipping.
There perished of the Indies Fleete sunke in the sea before there comming
to Flores 11 sailes, whereof the General was one, and not one man saued.
And it is by the Spaniards themselues presupposed that the stormes which we
had at Flores and at Tercera haue deuoured many more of them, whereof in
part we were eye witnesses. And so what by the seas and our men of warre I
presume that of 75 sailes that came from Hauana, halfe of them will neuer
arriue in Spaine.
The 11 day of October at night we came to anker in the sound of Plimouth,
and the next morning with our Prize came into Cattewater: for which God be
thanked: for that a vehement storme arose, and with such fury increased, as
that the Prize was forced to cut ouer her maine maste: otherwise with the
violence of the storme, her ground tackle being bad, she had driuen on
shore: which was the most cause that moued me to put in here; intending now
here to discharge the goods without further aduenture, and haue certified
thus much vnto my Lord Admirall, and therewith also desired to vnderstande
the direction of the Lords of the Counsell together with yours, insomuch as
my Lord Thomas Howard is not returned. How the rest of our consorts which
were seperated from vs by weather haue sped, or what Prizes they haue
taken, whereof there is much hope by reason of the scattering of the West
Indian Fleete, as yet we are able to say nothing. And thus expecting your
answere, and for all other matters referring me vnto the bearer Captaine
Furtho, I end. Plymouth the 24 of October 1591.
Your worships louing friend
Robert Flicke.
* * * * *
A large testimony of Iohn Huighen van Linschoten Hollander, concerning the
worthy exploits atchieued by the right honourable the Earle of
Cumberland, By Sir Martine Frobisher, Sir Richard Greenuile, and diuers
other English Captaines, about the Isles of the Açores, and vpon the
coasts of Spaine and Portugall, in the yeeres 1589, 1590, 1591, &c.
recorded in his excellent discourse of voiages to the East and West
Indies, cap. 96. 97. and 99.