The true and perfecte newes of the woorthy and valiaunt exploytes, performed and doone by that valiant knight Syr Frauncis Drake not onely at Sancto Domingo, and Carthagena, but also nowe at Cales, and vppon the coast of Spayne. 1587.

The true and perfect Newes of the worthy and valiant exploytes atchiued and doone by that valiaunt Knight, Syr Frauncis Drake.

TRyumph O England and reioyce, And prayse thy God vncessantly For thys thy Queene that pearle of choyse Which God doth blesse with victory. In Countryes strange both farre and néere, All raging foes her force doth feare.

Yée woorthy wights that doo delighte, To heare of Nouels straunge and rare, What 〈…〉〈…〉 by a famous Knight May please you marke I shall declare. Such rare exploytes performde and doone As none the like hath euer woone.

First call to minde howe Gedeon,* 1.1 But with thrée hundred fighting men The Medians hoste he ouercame A thousand to eche one of them. He did suppresse Idolatry The Lord gaue him the victory.

So likewise by Gods mighty hande Syr Frauncis Drake by dreadfull sworde Did foyle hys foes in forraine lande, Which did contemne Christes holy word. And many Captiues did sette frée Which earst were long in misery.

Twenty fiue Ships were then preparde, Fifteene Pinnasses braue and fine Well furnished for his safegarde Preuenting foes that would him tyne. With Masters good and Marriners 〈◊〉〈◊〉 As euer tooke charge I dare compare.

The best Nauigators in this lande Conferde with him vnto thys ende. By thys famous knight to vnderstand Theyr valors to atchieue and wende In Countryes straunge beyond the sea, If God permit who can say nay.

The Bonauenture a shyp royall Cheefe Admirall then of the fléete Sir Frauncis Drake chiefe Generall As by desertes he was most méete. Most worthy Captaynes of hand and hart In thys boon voyage then tooke hys part.

The Primrose next, Uize-Admirall Appointed by theyr best deuise Captayne Frobisher Uize Generall A valiant Captayne ware and wyse. Captayne Carelell they did ordayne, Liefetenant Generall on the mayne.

The Ayde a royall shyppe and hotte The Gallien wyll conuict her foes, The Sea-Dragon she spares no shott The Talbott barkes where ere she goes The Whyte Lyon her foes wyll smart And all the rest wyll take her part.

At Plimmouth they remayned a space, Till all their Ships were furnished: Their gouernment, good fame and grace, Throughout the Realme is published. Their sayles displaide the Seas t'atchiue. September, Anno eighty fyue.

Before which month was fully doone, At Bayon first they did ariue: The Towne perforce they might haue wonne, But they pretended not to striue, By Parlée then they did agrée: The Generall vsed them courteously.

The men of Vigo in raging ire, Then made great bragges them to molest: Yet in the ende at theyr desire, He graunted them theyr owne request. For he was loth these Townes to inuade: For hindring of our Marchants trade.

Then setting sayle from thence in hast, To the Canaries swift they flye: Thrée hundred Leagues by count were past, Ere they the Towne of Palme came nie. These proude Townesmen enuying theyr fléete, Th•••• shot at them in great despite.

Let not these Townesmen be to bolde, I wish them not to bragge or vaunt: Twas not theyr Gunnes nor force that could, Once make our English harts to daunt. If wynde and waues had not so wrought: Full déerely they theyr pride had bought.

This famous fléete sayles on their way, To Sancto Yuago they were bent: Short of this Towne thrée leagues I say, Twelue hundred men on shore were sent. On Nouember the seauentéene day, With Captaines stoute to kéepe the way.

Their noble Generall sayles about, But all the fléete rode néere the ••owne: Most valiant Captaines with souldiours stoute, Then marching foorth through vale and downe. To méete their Generall in the morne As it was pointed earst beforne.

Their foes hauing intelligence They were beset by sea and land: They dare not prooue experience, The Drake by force for to withstand. They fled that night and durst not stay Preuenting so theyr Enemies pray.

Then in the morne rathe as the sunne, The towne they entred valiantly: From place to place the Souldiours runne, Séeking to finde commoditie. Both coyne and plate some chaunst to find Which they had hid and left behind.

Of victualles there they founde good store, With wine and suger of the best: Then quietly praise God therefore, They made a worthy victors feast, Their Masking robes of costly price Our men for bréeches did deuise.

Fouretéene dayes they kept this towne, With honour, fame, and victory: Theyr Idoll gods eche where puld downe, With all theyr fond Idolatry. With brasse Ordenaunce of good weight: They ballast their ships which were light.

Two little townes in the same Ile, Th'one Domingo, th'other Pray: These men theyr Fryers did beguile They left theyr Townes and ranne away. The Fryers thought they would haue fought To holde theyr Masse, as they them taught.

For they had promist them before If that they wo••ld fight for theyr masse: For all theyr sinnes they had in store, They should be pardoned more and lesse. But they so sore did feare the Drake They let theyr Fryers stand to stake.

The Marriners this while prouide, For victuals and fresh water store: All thinges were brought aboorde that tyde As their Maisters wild them before. To Parlée then they did refuse, Whereby they wrought theyr owne abuse:

The Generall minding to depart Commaundes his men in hast aboorde Then lifting vp both handes and hart, Most thankfully they praise the Lord. For giuing them such victory: Without bloodshed or ieoperdie.

A long course then from thence they runne, Nine hundreth Leagues or they did stay: To one straunge Ile at length they come, Where sauadge people bare the sway. Though wyld and nakte, yet nothing straunge: Theyr trifles for nifles faine would chaunge.

In fifty leagues sayling from thence, Straunge Ilands more they did descry: Then Hispaniola came in presence, With Sancto Domingo presentlie. The chéefe Citty for theyr behooue: Where they their valor ment to prooue.

Their Generall then prudently, Preuenting the perrill of his men: The gaynest way for their safetie, With discréete heads concluding then One thousand men should martch by land With Captaines stout to guide their band.

Taking leaue of their Generall, After the court'sey of merry England: On Gods most holy name they call, To strength them with his mightie hande. They martched foorth then in their way Their Generall sayles about by Sea.

When néere this Towne our men were séene A troupe of Horsemen issued out: And vaunted brauely on the gréene, Minding to compasse them about. Our fore winges helpe with their small shot: Made them retire to saue theyr coate.

Their Ordenaunce plast amid their gate, Whereas they thought our men would venter: Though daungerous, no way saue that, So easie was for them to enter. Their foes discharge a péece or twayne: Yet as God would but two were slayne.

Courage, courage, our Captaines crie, Good Souldiours now lets fight like men: Then all at once ranne valiantly, Their shot discharged, with weapons then, They lay one loade on either side: Though fiue to one▪ yet durst not bide.

Their Gunner priming of his péece, Sawe them come running in a rage. Let Linstocke fall, away he flées, And all the rest as for a wage, To saue theyr liues if it might bée: Our English Souldiers made them flée.

Their Generall busied all this while, His shippes ancoring before the Towne: His Gunners and theyr mates likewise, With thundring shot then made them frowne. They battered both at Towne and fort: And in the fielde none dared to sporte.

Then for theyr Ladies helpe they pray, Miserecordia how chaunceth this: Our Fryars said no Masse to day, For want of leasure they did misse. Their Gods likewise they did desire: But Saint Domingo could not heare.

Then sore afrayd they gan to trudge, Some with fardle and some with packe: Unto the Woods for theyr refuge, To shroud themselues they did not slacke. The General landes without annoy: His Captaines then met him with ioy.

They entred the Towne then valiantly, And tooke possession of the same: And spred their Ensignes triumphantly, Great valours they atchiue by fame▪ * 1.2Then trumpets sound the Souldiours shift: They prayse God for their New yéeres gift.

Theyr enemies fled with such great hast, They left their rostmeate on the spit: Hennes and Chickins well crombd and baste, Tables couered ready to sitte. Wine and suger they found good store: Their guests were come vnlooked for.

Their beds were made their Chambers drest, The Curtines drawne braue and fine Theyr parrell brusht and finely prest Sir you shall choose but this is mine. Some Iewels were hid in walles and chest, Then some they found and some they mist.

By good aduise and gouernment, Thys towne one month they then possest Theyr famous dames by Rulers sent, With costly presents of the best Praying the Generall courteously He would vouchsafe spare theyr Citty.

The Marriners the while prouide, For victualles and fresh water swéete: With other commodities beside, Which was conuaide aboord the fléete. Commaundement then was giuen straight way: All men aboorde without delay.

Then presently they sayled thence, To one ritch Iland they were bent: But winde and storme turnd their pretence, And other course then they inuent. With Carthagena they set at last: Where all theyr fléete their Anchors cast.

This towne was strong, well fenst about, Foure hundred souldiours vnder pay: Foure hundred Indians in a scoute, Besides their townesmen in aray. For they had newes the Drake would come: And they thought sure to be his doome.

Theyr forte well mande and fortressed, Fiue Sconces wherein good Ordenaunce was: Thrée Gallies then were amplified, With fiftéene péeces of good Brasse. Full little then they feared the Drake: For they thought sure to make him quake.

One mischéefe more they doo deuise, Whereby they thought to spoyle our men: Many poysoned prickes in sundry wise, Amidst their way they fastened then. To pricke their shinnes they did purpose: But the Lord God did that disclose.

Nine hundred men were set one land, And marching foorth then all by night: Untill they came vnto the strande, Where prickes with poysoned heades were dight. The water lowe as Gods will was: Twixt strand and seas they safely passe.

Then in the morne before daylight. They came full in theyr Enemies face: Then all at once with force and might, They ran vppon them in a race. For all their force and thundring shot: One of theyr Sconces soone they got.

As God shut vp the Lyons Iawes, From noying his Prophet Daniell: And eke preserued from tyrantes pawes, The thrée children of Israell. And saued them in the Ouen so hotte: So he conuayd away their shotte.

Our Captaines then most valiantly. To courage their Souldiours for to fight: Did ieoperd themselues then formostlie, Which made their enemies dread their might. Boldned souldiours, put foes to shame: To winne their countrie honour and fame.

From Sconce to Sconce then they retyre. Theyr lofty harts right soone were quailde: They left their holdes and fled for feare, Then with theyr héeles they best preuaile. And as they fled straung newes they tell: These be no men but féendes of hell.

Their Ordenaunce and artillerie, Which in their holdes did then remaine Our men atchiue with victory The Towne like c••se they won certaine. Their Ensignes then they did display: Upon theyr walles none ••urst say nay.

The Souldiours then séeke for their pray, Some for their bellyes likewise did care: Though breakefast sharpe now care away, Their dinners swéete and wholesome fare. Bread and victuals they found good store: With wine and suger as erst before.

They made a Sconce amidst the stréete, And plast great Ordenaunce in the fame To charge the watch when't came to night, To daunt their foes their rage to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Being shot o•• their thundring ••ound▪ So shooke theyr Church, the roofe fell d••wne.

This Towne also they kept a space, And eke the Fryery there beside: These Townesmen then with humble grace, Besought the Generall at that tide. To release their towne he would vouchsaue And they would gyue what he would haue.

All things prouided orderly, And brought vnto the waters side Munitions and artillerie, Was all imbarked at that tide, The Marriners without delay: These thinges aboorde with spéede conuay.

The Generall with his company, Then in a Frigat ••••tlie plaste: And all his Souldiours in a route, In Pinnasses with him then past. The Castle which first did them annoy: As they past by they did destroy.

Then when aboord their shippes they come, They were receyued ioyfully: A peale of Gunnes with thundring soun••, For one houre space euen pearst the skie. Theyr Drumes strooke vp their Trumpets soūd Theyr victories which doo abound.

Their yardes a crosse hoyst at the toppe, Theyr Anchors wayde then presently: Theyr sayles displayd, their good ships loppe, The Mariners standes their tackling by. Eche Helme belayd with good respect: As skilfull Maisters did directe.

Recording then their victories, Which they had wonne by Gods great might: And eke the sundry ieoperdies: They had escaped day and night. They yéeld God thankes most hartely: Both for his ayde and victory.

Then homeward as their course did lie, At sundry Iles they put a shore: Their former wantes for to supply, With victuales and fresh water store. At Florida they did ariue: Saint Augustine for to atchiue.

These townesmen trusting in their strength, Then fiercely set against the Drake: Yet he and's men preuaile at length, When they were faine theyr towne forsake, Which when he had possest with fame: Upon humble sute releast the same.

This towne they wan most valiantly, As they did all the rest before: The Lord was still their victory, Whose name be praysed euermore. And yeeld to Drake his due and right: Let fame extoll this noble knight.

His rare attempts performed and doone, With honour, fame and victory: The like before who euer wonne, That you can call to memorie. Therefore I pray for Englandes sake: The Lord preserue the noble Drake.

When siedge is layd to towne or forte, And then the same bée yéelded straight: The valour's then of small report, And the exploites of no great waight. But where with force they bide the brunt: Theyr conquestes are of great account.

Vlisses with his Nauie great, In ten yéeres space great valour wonne: Yet all his time did no such feate, As Drake within one yéere hath doone. Both Turke and Pope and all our foes: Doo dread this ••rake where ere he goes.

After he had such ••alours wonne, And ouercame the enemie: To merry England he wo••ld returne, The pleasants land in, Christientie. At Portesmouth then by Gods good grace: With all his fléete 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in short space.

When tidinges came vnto the Courte, Sir Frauncis Drake was newe came home: Her highnes hearin•• this report, Her grace was glad that he was come. And all her Lords with one accord For hys safe returne praysed the Lord.

To Portesmouth then there did resort, Right worshipfull from Citty and towne: This Knight to welcome to the porte, With honor, fame and great renowne. His valiant Captaines and gentles bloode, They welcomed home with ioyfull moode.

His entertainement at the Courte, With his Captaines of worthy fame: I néede not stand to make report, Sith brute eche where hath spred the same. Yet once againe for Englands sake: Pray God spéede well the noble Drake.

His valiant minde, his secrete skill, By flying Fame eche where is spred: His loyall loue his méere good will, To Quéene and Realme both séene and read. Sith God is dooer of the same: Let vs all prayse his holy name.

Through him he got great victories, Through him he did his foes dismay: Through him he scapt great ieoperdies, And perrill both by Land and Sea. Who hath preserued by his great might: Our Quéene and realme yéeres twenty eyght.

God saue our Quéene of merry England, His sacred word long to maintaine: Her Graces Nauie and royall bande, Through his good grace may long remaine. Lord blesse her counsell and kéepe them aye: With all true Subiects night and day.

Finis

quoth Thomas Greepe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iosua cap. 3.
• * 1.2

  The towne wonne on New yeres Day.