The Spanish letter.
_First whereas the Generall doth say, that_ Fraunces Drake _dyed
at_ Nombre de Dios, _as he had intelligence by an Indian._
[Sidenote: _The Generals first newes, and his best news is in part
lying newes._]
[Sidenote: _The Generall seemeth to wante friendes in Courte, sending
such great newes to a priuate Doctor._]
THe 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 & continuall 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_ slaue. 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 Generall being rauished with
the suddaine ioy of this report as a man that 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.
[Illustration: (banner, start of section)]
_Secondly, The general doth write vnto the doctor, that_ Frances
Drake _dyed for verie griefe that hee had lost so many Barkes and
men._
[Sidenote: _Don Bernaldino doth lye impudently._]
[Sidenote: _The successe of the kings fiue Frigots._]
[Sidenote: _The certain cause wherof Sir Frances Drake dyed._]
A _T_hing verie strange that the General or the _Indian_, who 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 first. 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. And as concerning the losse of any
Barkes or men in our Nauie, by the valour of the Spaniard before S_ir
Fraunces Drake_ his death, wee had none (one small Pinnesse excepted)
which we assuredly know was 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
cause to mooue a man sorrowe to death. For true it is, S_ir Fraunces
Drake_ dyed of 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.
[Illustration: (banner, start of section)]
_Thirdly, The generall doth say of his owne credite, and not by
intelligence from any_ Indian _or other, that on the eleauenth of
March last hee met the English fleete at the Isle of_ Pinas, _being
fourteene good Shippes, who although they had the winde of him,
yet hee set vppon them three times with all their Shippes, but the
English fleete flled, and refused to fight shooting now and then a
shot, but especially the Admirall._
[Sidenote: _A payre of of Spanish Lyers._]
[Sidenote: _The Spanish Viceadmirall a man of vallour._]
[Sidenote: _The number of the Spanish Shippes after the fight._]
THis 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 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 saith) did flye and refuse to fight, being that the Spanish
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 _S_panish 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 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.
[Illustration: (banner, start of section)]
_Fourthly, The generall saith, that the English fleete fled awaye,
and left their Oares for haste behind them in the Sea._
[Sidenote: _This lie was made in the Generals owne forge._]
[Sidenote: _A commendation of the Generall_]
[Sidenote: _The Generall doth practise to lye, for recreation._]
IT was strange that they shoulde leaue behinde them Oares in the
Sea, being there was not in the English fleete either 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 pleasant 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 therefore 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 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.
[Illustration: (banner, start of section)]
_Fiftly, The generall doth say in his Printed letter, that
notwithstanding all the diligence he could vse, hee coulde not
cause the English fleete to staie nor come neere them, nor
discharge one Hargebush or peece of Artillerie, but fled away as
fast as they could._
[Sidenote: _The torne sides of the Spanish Shippes doe condemne Don
Bernaldino of lying._]
[Sidenote: _Note the valoure of Don Bernaldino._]
[Sidenote: _The order of the English Nauie._]
[Sidenote: _The Spaniard cannot bragge of his gaine._]
[Sidenote: _Spanish bragges are of no value with the English._]
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 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 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 English Nauie, whensoeuer
they that remaine shall arriue in S_paine_: 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 do returne the lye to his face: For in
this conflict _Don Bernaldino_ did behaue himselfe 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, 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 English Nauie should flye from him, for 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
S_paine_, 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_ slaue hearing
the like repetition of his long and tedious name, might suppose it
to be an Armie of Spaniards, and for feare runne awaye: But the
commaunders and Captaines of the English Nauie, 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.
[Illustration: (banner, start of section)]
_Sixtly, The generall saith in his letter, that notwithstanding
their flying away so fast, the English left them one good Shippe
well manned, who told him that the_ Drake _dyed in_ Nombre de Dios,
_in which Shippe were one hundred and fourtie men, and fifteene
noble Captaines of the best sorte._
[Sidenote: _Don Bernaldino very resolute._]
[Sidenote: _The Indian slaue, is the best shadow, to the Generals
lye._]
[Sidenote: _Don Bernaldino his rare gift in coyning a new and
straunge name._]
[Sidenote: _The Generals storehouse of lyes._]
[Sidenote: _The schoolemen of modestie do vse this kinde of
reprehension, when they doe thinke the Author to erre._]
[Sidenote: _The difference twixt Quebraran and Baskeruile._]
[Sidenote: _The Generall conuicted of lying and forgery._]
[Sidenote: _The Generall maketh great brags in taking a distressed
Ship, which is supposed not to strike one blow._]
[Sidenote: _The fifteene noble Captaines according the generals lying
occupation, will proue but three._]
[Sidenote: _The Printing of the letter doth shame the Generall._]
[Sidenote: _Don Bernaldino of an excellent complexion._]
[Sidenote: _The first discouery of the Generals Printed letter._]
[Sidenote: _The Generals great skill in amplifying._]
THe 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 S_ir 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 al doubt, there is no Englishman that wil say (if he haue
his right sences) 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 _Sir
Fraunces Drake_ they 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 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 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_, so much difference there is
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 Generall hath giuen a proude onset to carrie the whetstone
from _Signior Barnardino de Mendozza_: Neither will the 140. men &
15. noble Captaines (which hee saith hee did take, of whome he might
haue beene 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 Spanish Nauie, & neuer to anye mans knowledge came more in
sight of the English fleete, if the Spanish Shippes by chaunce did
take the said wel manned Shippe (as 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 did
the _S_paniards 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 this will not serue his
purpose, for the Printing of the letter doth marr the play, and
bringeth such 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 in publishing
so impudently such manifest vntruthes. For sithence his meeting with
the English fleet at the Isle of _Pinas_, there hath beene by the
worthie English Generals, an honourable expedition from England into
the Continent of Spaine, 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 thẽ in this late voyage to the west
_Indies_: and this may suffice to shew _Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de
Avellaneda_ his greate iudgement in amplyfying 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.
[Illustration: (banner, start of section)]
THE MEETING Of our English Nauie and the _Spanish fleete, and the
order_ of our encounter.
[Sidenote: _The first discouerie of the Spanish fleete._]
[Sidenote: _The incounter twixt the English and the Spanish Ships._]
[Sidenote: _The Spanish Viceadmiral can witnesse, what success they
had in this fight._]
[Sidenote: _The English Admirall carried his Creset light,
notwithstanding the enemie was vppon his brode side._]
[Sidenote: _The English receiued little losse in this conflict._]
[Sidenote: _The remainder of the Spanish fleete were but thirteene
sayles._]
MVnday 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 of our Pinnasses to discouer the harbour,
and to sounde 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 _S_panish 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 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 fight, our Generall S_ir 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, made 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. _T_he Generall with the rest of their
fleete, tacking about fell in our wake, thinking to get the winde,
which in the 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 themselues 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 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 _S_hippes 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 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 sight of them, but they shewed little will to
fight or come neere vs, so we keeping our course west, and by North,
about sixe 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 heereof will iustifie with the aduentrue of his life, against
any Spaniard seruing in that action, that shal contradict the same.
_FINIS._
_Henrie Sauile._
[Illustration: (banner, end of section)]
[Illustration: (banner, start of section)]
THOMAS BAS-
KERVILE KNIGHT,
His approbation
to this Booke.
I 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 fleete, do say, that the said_ Henrie
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._