A Libell of Spanish Lies Found at the Sacke of Cales
9781465681997
213 pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
FRom Cartagena, I gaue relation vnto you, how I departed from the Cittie of Lisbone, in the pursuite of the Englishe Armie: although for the great hast the Gallions could not be so wel repaired as was needfull, and with foule weather one was lost, and a Fly-boate was burnt, and hauing sayled many daies in pursuite of the enemie, vntill 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 hauing giuen you a relation of all that happened hitherto: Now I let you vnderstand, that I left this Port the second of March, and toke our course towards the Hauana, where I thought to haue founde the English fleete, & also vsed all the diligence possible: vpon Munday the eleauenth of the said Month, 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 fourteene verie good Shippes, I drew towards them although they had the winde of vs, & our Admirall who bore vp towardes the winde, with other two Shippes began to draw neere them, and although we set thus vppon them, three times with all their Shippes, yet would they not set againe vppon vs, and those of our men which were farthest off cryed to them amaine, being both within shot of Artillerie, Muskats and Caliuers, whereby they receiued euident 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 leauing 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 Maiestie: It little auailed vs to bee seene, with lesse number of Shippes, neither yet all the diligence we could vse, could cause them to staye or come neere vs, 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, the rest 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 haue sailed two Monethes and a halfe in the Shippe called the Capitana, sithence we departed from Carthagena, we haue 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 vs for ought I could perceiue by our enemies: It is manifest what aduantage they had of vs, and by no meanes was it possible for vs to take them, vnlesse wee could haue come to deale with them with fire and sworde.
