What course is to be taken to preuent these mischiefes
TO dispatch Carauels with all possible diligence to the viceroyes and gouenours of the In∣dias, aduertising them of the newes of the English army, that they may be prouided, and make themselues ready for them. Albeit, considering the number of ships which haue bene set foorth out of England, I assure my selfe, that some part of them are gone out of those parts vn∣to Newfoundland.* 1.1 For the Queene hath taken carefull order to send to intercept the ships of the fishermen that goe to Baccalaos. And it is lik••wise to be thought that shee hath done the like for the intercepting of the fleet of the Indies.
And consid••ring that according to our intelligence out of England, aboue fourescore shippes, and the army of Drake haue bene set foorth from thence, it is meete that his maiestie should pre∣pare another army to seeke the English fleete,* 1.2 and to fight with it, commanding that the Galeons which belong to the crowne of Portugall, and those of his maiestie which lye in the riuer of Si∣uill bee prepared to send against them, and to giue them the Carena, that they may bee in a rea∣dinesse for any voyage howe long soeuer it bee: And likewise to arrest a Galeon of the Duke of Florence, which is very well armed and furnished with great ordinance, and passed lately from Alicante toward Cadiz, and to make vp the number of fortie great shippes,* 1.3 which are to bee had in Biscay and Guipuscoa: and that beeing rigged, armed and set in good order, they bee victualled for eight moneths, and that foorthwith there bee leuied a thousand mariners of Catalunna and Genoa to bee diuided among the Fleete, and bee conducted, as they were for the Fleete of Terçera:* 1.4 furthermore that sixe thousande souldiers bee leuied, giuing com∣maundement to presse a greater number, to the ende that these may bee able men for seruice.
Moreouer it is needfull for this armie that 20. pataches be brought from Biscay, and 20. Aza∣bras from Castro. That the pataches bee from 50. to 60. tunnes: and that the Azabras bee like those which were in the expedition to Terçera.
That sufficient prouision be made of artillerie, powder, match, and lead, and harquebuzes, mus∣kets, and chosen pikes for the keeping of the coast.
It is also meete to prouide another army of two ships of 400. tunnes apiece,* 1.5 and other foure of 200. tunnes, and foure pataches and a thousand souldiers, besides mariners.
Hauing seene and considered that the Englishmen with their marchants ships onely that tra∣uerse these seas haue made such hauocke in two moneths, and that it is to bee thought that they will doe the like against the fleetes which goe and come from the Indies:* 1.6 it is expedient, that as by order in time of peace the fleete hath an Admirall and Uiceadmirall, that now it should haue two more at the least in eche Fleete: and neuerthelesse they are to bee wafted home with an armie.
In mine opinion all these prouisions ought to bee made onely in regard of the English army, and the rest of the ships which haue bene set out of that kingdome.