The fight continued so hott on both sides, that the artillery and
muskets never ceased playing. Our contraries, towards the evening,
determined the third time to lay us abourd, with resolution to take us
or to hazard all. The order they set downe for the execution hereof,
was, that the captaine (or admirall) should bring himselfe uppon our
weather bowe, and so fall abourd of us, upon our broad side: and that
the vice-admirall should lay his admirall abourd uppon his weather
quarter, and so enter his men into her; that from her they might enter
us, or doe as occasion should minister.
The captaine of the vice-admirall being more hardy then considerate, and
presuming with his shippe and company to get the price and chiefe
honour, wayted not the time to put in execution the direction given, but
presently came [The Spaniards pay deerely for their rashnesse.] abourd
to wind-wards uppon our broad side. Which, doubtlesse, was the great and
especiall providence of Almightie God, for the discouraging of our
enemies, and animating of us. For although shee was as long, or rather
longer then our shippe, being rarely[217] built, and utterly without
fights or defences; what with our muskets, and what with our fire-works,
wee cleered her decks in a moment, so that scarce any person appeared.
And doubtlesse if we had entred but a dozen men, we might have enforced
them to have rendred unto us, or taken her; but our company being few,
and the principall of them slaine or hurt, we durst not, neither was it
wisedome, to adventure the separation of those which remained: and so
held that for the best and soundest resolution, to keepe our forces
together in defence of our owne.
The vice-admirall seeing himselfe in great distresse, called to his
admirall for succour; who presently laid him abourd, and entred a
hundreth of his men, and so cleered themselves of us.
In this bourding, the vice-admirall had at the least thirtie and sixe
men hurt and slaine; and amongst them his pilote shot through the body,
so as he died presently. [And take a new resolution.] And the
admirall also received some losse, which wrought in them a new
resolution, onely with their artillery to batter us; and so with time to
force us to surrender, or to sinke us; which they put in execution: and
placing themselves within a musket shott of our weather quarter, and
sometimes on our broad side, lay continually beating upon us without
intermission; which was, doubtlesse, the best and securest determination
they could take; for they being rare[218] shippes, and without any
manner of close fights, in boarding with us, their men were all open
unto us, and we under covert and shelter. For on all parts our shippe
was musket free, and the great artillery of force must cease on either
side (the shippes being once grapled together), except we resolved to
sacrifice our selves together in fire. For it is impossible, if the
great ordinance play (the shippes being bourded), but that they must set
fire on the shippe they shoote at; and then no surety can be had to free
himselfe, as experience daily confirmeth. For a peece of artillery most
properly resembleth a thunderclap, which breaking upwards, or on the
side, hurteth not; for that the fire hath scope to dispence it selfe
without finding resistance, till the violence which forceth it taketh
end, and so it mounts to its center: but breaking downe right or
stooping downwards, and finding resistance or impediment, before the
violence that forceth it take end, being so subtill and penetrable a
substance, passeth and pierceth so wonderfully, as it leaveth the effect
of his execution in all points answerable to his levell and nighnesse.
For if the clouds be nigh the earth (as some are higher, some lower),
and breake down-wards, the violence wherewith the fire breaketh out is
such, and of so strange an execution, that men have beene found dead
without any outward signe in their flesh, and yet all their bones burnt
to dust. So the blade of the sword hath beene found broken all to
peeces in the scabard, and the scabard whole without blemish: and a
cristall glasse all shivered in peeces, his cover and case remaining
sound; which commeth to passe for that in the flesh, in the scabard, and
in the case, the fire being so subtile of nature, findeth easie passage
without resistance; but the bones, the blade, the cristall, being of
substance more solide, maketh greater resistance, and so the fire with
the more fury worketh the more his execution in its objects. As was
seene in the Spanish admirall (or captaine), after my imprisonment,
crossing from Panama to Cape San Francisco, a rayo (for so the Spaniards
call a thunder-clappe), brake over our shippe, killed one in the
fore-toppe, astonished either two or three in the shroudes, and split
the mast in strange manner: where it entred it could hardly be
descerned, but where it came forth, it drave out a great splinter before
it; and the man slaine, was cleane in a manner without signe or token of
hurt, although all his bones turned to powder; and those who lived and
recovered, had all their bodies blacke, as burnt with fire: which
plainly declareth and confirmeth that above said, and may serve to judge
in such occasions of persons hurt with thunder; for if they complaine of
their bones, and have little signe of the fire, their hazard of death is
the greater, then when the fire hath left greater impressions outward.
The fire out of a cloude worketh like effect, only where it leveleth
directly, as experience daily teacheth; killing those who are opposite,
hurting those who are neere, and only terrifying those who are further
distant.
In like manner the peece of ordinance hurteth not those which stand
aside, nor those which stand a slope from his mouth, but those alone
which stand directly against the true point of his levell: though
sometimes the winde of the shott overthroweth one, and the splinters
(being accidents), mayne[219] and hurt others. But principally where
the peece doth resemble the thunder clappe, as when the ships are
bourded: for then, although the artillery be discharged without shott,
the fury of the fire, and his piercing nature is such, as it entreth by
the seames, and all parts of the ships sides, and meeting with so fit
matter as pitch, tarre, ocombe, and sometimes with powder, presently
converteth all into flames.
For avoyding whereof, as also the danger and damage which may come by
pikes and other inventions of fire, and if any shippe be oppressed with
many shippes at once, and subject by them to be bourded; I hold it a
good course to strike his fore and mayne yards close to his decke, and
to fight with sprit-saile and myson, and top-sayles loose: so shall he
be able to hinder them from oppressing him.
[Pollicies to avoid bourdings.]
Some have thought it a good pollicy to launce out some ends of mastes or
yards by the ports or other parts: but this is to be used in the greater
shippes; for in the lesser, though they be never so strong, the waight
of the bigger will beate out the opposite sides and doe hurt, and make
great spoyle in the lesser. And in bourding, ordinarily the lesser
shippe hath all the harme which the one shippe can doe unto the other.
[Disputes concerning ships of trade.]
Here is offered to speake of a point much canvassed amongst carpenters
and sea captaines, diversly mainetained but yet undetermined: that is,
whether the race[220] or loftie built shippe bee best for the merchant,
and those which imploy themselves in trading? I am of opinion that the
race shippe is most convenient; yet so as that every perfect shippe
ought to have two deckes, for the better strengthening of her; the
better succouring of her people; the better preserving of her
merchandize and victuall; and for her greater safetie from sea and
stormes.
[Concerning the prince his shippes.]
But for the princes shippes, and such as are imployed continually in the
warres, to be built loftie I hold very necessary for many reasons. First
for majestie and terrour of the enemy; secondly, for harbouring of many
men; thirdly, for accommodating more men to fight; fourthly, for placing
and using more artillery; fiftly, for better strengthening and securing
of the shippe; sixtly, for over-topping and subjecting the enemy;
seventhly, for greater safeguard and defence of the ship and company.
For it is plaine, that the ship with three deckes, or with two and a
halfe, shewes more pomp than another of her burthen with a decke and a
halfe, or two deckes, and breedeth greater terror to the enemy,
discovering herselfe to be a more powerfull ship, as she is, then the
other; which being indeed a ship of force, seemeth to be but a barke,
and with her low building hideth her burthen. And who doubteth that a
decke and a halfe cannot harbour that proportion of men, that two
deckes, and two deckes and a halfe can accommodate to fight; nor carry
the artillery so plentifully, nor so commodiously. Neither can the ship
be so strong with a decke and a halfe as with two deckes; nor with two,
as with three; nor carry her masts so taunt; nor spread so great a clue;
nor contrive so many fightes, to answer one another for defence and
offence. And the advantage the one hath of the other, experience daily
teacheth.
[All ships of warre are not to be low built.]
In the great expedition of eightie eight, did not the _Elizabeth Jonas_,
the _Triumph_, and the _Beare_, shew greater majestie then the _Arke
Royall_ and the _Victorie_, being of equall burthens? did they not cause
greater regard in the enemy? did they not harbour and accommodate more
men, and much better? did they not beare more artillery? And if they had
come to boord with the Spanish high-charged ships, it is not to be
doubted but they would have mustred themselves better, then those which
could not with their prowesse nor props, have reached to their wastes.
The strength of the one cannot be compared with the strength of the
other: but in bourding, it goeth not so much in the strength, as in
weight and greatnesse. For the greater ship that bourdeth with the
lesser, with her mastes, her yardes, her tacklings, her anchors, her
ordinance, and with her sides, bruseth and beateth the lesser to peeces,
although the lesser be farre stronger according to proportion.
The _Foresight_ of his Majesties, and the _Daintie_, were shippes in
their proportions farre more stronger then the carake which was taken by
them and their consorts, anno 92: for she had in a manner no strong
building nor binding, and the others were strengthened and bound as art
was able to affoord; and yet both bourding with her, were so brused,
broken, and badly handled, as they had like to have sunke by her side,
though bourding with advantage to weather-wards of her. But what would
have become of them if she should have had the wind of them, and have
come aboord to wind-ward of them? In small time, no doubt, she would
have beaten them under water.
Anno 90, in the fleet under the charge of Sir John Hawkins, my father,
comming from the south-wards, the _Hope_, of his Majesties, gave chase
to a French ship, thinking her to be a Spaniard. She thought to have
freed her selfe by her sailing, and so would not availe, but endured the
shooting of many peeces, and forced the _Hope_ to lay her abourd; of
which issued that mischiefe which before I spake off. For in a moment
the French ship had all her mastes, yards, and sailes in the sea, and
with great difficultie the _Hope_ could free herselfe from sinking her.
In the self-same voyage, neere the ilands of Flores and Corvo, the
_Rainbow_ and the _Foresight_ came foule one of another; the _Rainbow_,
being the greater shippe, left the _Foresight_ much torne; and if God
had not beene pleased to seperate them, the lesser, doubtlesse, had
sunke in the sea; but in these incounters they received little or no
hurt. The boording of the _Rainbow_ and _Foresight_, as I was enformed,
proceeded of the obstinacie and self will of the captaine or master of
the _Foresight_, who would not set sayle in time, to give sea roome to
the other, comming [Particular respects must give place to the
generall.] driving upon her, for that she was more flotie.[221] This
pride I have seene many times to be the cause of great hurt, and is
worthy of severe punishment: for being all of one company, and bound
every one to helpe and further the good of the other, as members of one
body, there ought to be no strayning of courtesie; but all are bound to
suppress emulation and particular respect, in seeking the generall good
of all, yea, of every particular more ingeniously then that of his owne.
But in equitie and reason, the le-ward shippe ought ever to give way to
the weather most, in hulling or trying, without any exception. First,
for that shee advantageth the other in hulling or trying; which is
manifest, for that shee to wind-wards drives upon her to le-wards.
Secondly, for that the windermost shippe, by opening her sayle, may be
upon the other before shee be looked for, either for want of steeridge,
not being under way, or by the rowling of the sea, some one sea casting
the shippe more to le-wards then ten others. And thirdly, for that the
windermost shippe being neere, and setting sayle, is in possibilitie to
take away the winde from her to le-wards comming within danger. And this
by way of argument, for a hull and under-sayle in stormes and fayre
weather, in harbour, or at sea.
Humanitie and courtesie are ever commendable and beneficiall to all,
whereas arrogancie and ambition are ever accompanied with shame, losse,
and repentance.
[Arrogancy of a Spanish generall.]
And though in many examples, touching this point, I have beene an eye
witnesse, yet I will record but one, which I saw in the river of
Civill,[222] at my comming out of the Indies amongst the galleons loaden
with silver. For their wafting, the king sent to the Tercera, eight new
galleons, under the charge of Villa Viciosa; who entring the barre of
Saint Luar joyntly, the shippes loaden with silver, anchored in the
middest of the river in deeper water, and the wafters on either side,
neere the shoare. The admirall of the wafters rode close by the galleon
in which I was, and had moored her selfe in that manner, as her streame,
cable, and anchor, overlayed our land-most. And winding up with the
first of the flood, shee her selfe in one of her cables, which together
with the great currant of the ebbe, and force of the winde which blewe
fresh, caused her to drive, and to dragge home her anchors; and with
that which overlay ours, to cause us to doe the like. Whereupon, on both
sides was crying out to veere cable: we, for our parts, had lost all our
cables in the Terceras, saving those which were a-ground, and those very
short, and vered to the better end. The admirall strained courtesie,
thinking the other, though loaden with silver, bound to let slippe one,
so to give him way; and the generall standing in his gallery, saw the
danger which both shippes ranne into, being in a manner bourd and bourd,
and driving upon the point of the shoare: yet he commanded to hold fast,
and not to vere cable, till he was required and commanded in the kings
name, by the captaine of our shippe; protesting, the damage which should
ensue thereof to the king and merchants, to runne upon the admirals
accompt; and that in his shippe he had no other cable but those which
were aground, and that they had vered as much as they could: which the
generall knowing, and at last better considering, willed to vere his
cable end for end, and so, with some difficultie and dispute, the punto
was remedied; which if he had done at first, he had prevented all other
danger, inconvenience, and dispute, by only weighing of his cable and
anchor after the gust was past, and letting it fall in a place more
commodious: whereas, his vaine glory, stoutnesse, and selfe-will, had
put in great perill two of the kings shippes, and in them above two
millions of treasure. And it may be, if he had beene one of the ignorant
generalls, such as are sometimes imployed, whereas he was one of best
experience, I doubt not, but they would have stood so much upon their
puntos,[223] as rather then they would have consented to vere theyr
cables (for that it seemed a diminution of authoritie), they would
rather have suffered all to goe to wracke, without discerning the danger
and damage.
[Doubts and objections resolved.]
But to returne to my former point of advantage, which the greater shippe
hath of the lesser, I would have it to be understood according to
occasion, and to be understood of ships of warre with ships of warre; it
being no part of my meaning to mainetaine that a small man of warre
should [And the duty of a small ship against a greater.] not
bourd with a great shippe which goeth in trade. For I know, that the
war-like shippe that seeketh, is not only bound to bourd with a greater,
but were shee sure to hazard her selfe, shee ought to bourd where any
possibility of surprising may be hoped for. Witnesse the Biscaine
shippes of five hundreth tunnes, taken by shippes of lesse then a
hundreth. Such were those which were taken by captaine George Reymond,
and captaine Greenfield Halse; both wonne by bourding and force of
armes. And did not Markes Berry, with a shippe of foure-score tunnes, by
bourding and dent of sword, take a shippe which came from the Nova
Hispania, of neere foure hundreth tunnes? To recount all such as have
beene in this sort taken by our countreymen, as also those of great
worth they have lost, for not hazarding the bourding, were never to
make an end. Yet discretion is ever to be used; for a man that in a
small barke goeth to warre-fare, is not bound to bourd with a carake,
nor with a shippe which he seeth provided with artillery and other
preventions far above his possibilitie.
[Vain-glory of the Spanish.]
The Spaniards confesse us to advantage them in our shipping, and
attribute all our victories to that which is but a masse of dead wood,
were it not managed and ordered by art and experience; affirming, that
if we came to handie strokes and bourding, they should goe farre beyond
us, which to any person of reasonable understanding, cannot but seeme
most vaine-glorious; for we leave not to bourd with them upon occasion,
when otherwise we cannot force them to surrender: but I conclude it to
be great errour, and want of discretion in any man, to put himselfe, his
shippe, and company in perill, being able otherwise to vanquish his
enemy.[224]
This imagination, so vaine and so voyde of ground, hath growne from the
ignorance of some of our common sort of marriners and vulgar people,
which have beene prisoners in Spaine: who being examined and asked, why
her Majesties shippes in occasions bourd not, have answered and enformed
that it is the expresse order of her Majestie and counsell, in no case
to hazard her shippes by bourding; yea, I have knowne some captaines of
our owne (to colour their faint proceedings), have averred as much,
which is nothing so. For in the houre that her majestie or counsell
committeth the charge of any of her shippes to any person, it is left to
his discretion to bourd or not to bourd, as the reason of service
requireth. And therefore let no man hereafter pretend ignorance, nor for
this vanitie leave to doe his duty, or that which is most probable to
redound to the honour and service of his prince and countrey, and to
the damage of his enemy. For in case he excuse himselfe with this
allegation, it cannot but redound to his condemnation and disreputation.
And I assure all men, that in any reasonable equalitie of shipping, we
cannot desire greater advantage, then we have of the Spaniards by
bourding. The reasons why, I hold it not convenient to discourse in
particular; but experience and tract of time, with that which I have
seen amongst them, hath taught me this knowledge; and those who have
seene their discipline, and ours, cannot but testifie the same.