The copie of a letter sent out of England to Don Bernardin Mendoza ambassadour in France for the King of Spaine declaring the state of England, contrary to the opinion of Don Bernardin, and of all his partizans Spaniardes and others. This letter, although it was sent to Don Bernardin Mendoza, yet, by good hap, the copies therof aswell in English as in French, were found in the chamber of one Richard Leigh a seminarie priest, who was lately executed for high treason committed in the time that the Spanish Armada was on the seas. Whereunto are adioyned certaine late aduertisements, concerning the losses and distresses happened to the Spanish nauie, aswell in fight with the English nauie in the narrow seas of England, as also by tempests, and contrarie winds, vpon the west, and north coasts of Ireland, in their returne from the northerne isles beyond Scotland.

The examination of Pierre Carrea Flemming.

HE saith that in the ship that he came hither in called Saint Iohn a Galliō of nine hundred tonnes, besides Iohn Mar¦tin de Ricalde, there are fiue Captaines, Don Iohn de Lune, Don Gomes de Galanezar, Don Pedro de Madri, the Count of Parades, Don Felice, and there is also an Italian Marquesse of Piemont called the Marquesse of Faruara.

He saith also, that the Admirall after such time as the fight was at Callice came not out of his bed, vntill this day seuen

nights in the morning that they ranne vpō the shore.* 1.1 He saith his Admirall is of Biskeye either of Bilbo or Allerede, and of lxii. yeares of age, and a man of seruice. He saith, that there were in this nauie of the old souldiers of Naples vnder the con∣duct of Don Alonso de Sono & of the old souldiers of Sicile vn∣der the conduct of Don Diego de Piementell•• whose ship was lost néere Callice. There was also Don Alonso de Leua maister of the cāp of the Cauallery of Millan: he saith, there is a bastard sonne of King Phillips of xxviii. yeares of age in this Fleete in the ship with the Duke, called the Prince of Ascule in Italie, who passed from thē in a Pinnace about Callice as he tooke it.

By other Aduertisements of the fourteenth of September, it is certified to the Lord Deputie of Ireland, from the Earle of Tyron being at his Castle of Dongannon that vpon intelli∣gence brought to him of the landing of certaine Spaniards in the North of Ireland, he sent two English Captaines with their bandes towardes them, to the nomber of an hundred and fiftie, who found them at Sir Iohn Odogherties towne called Illagh,* 1.2 and there discouering their nomber to be aboue six hundred, did that night encamp within a musket shot of them, and about midnight did skirmish with them for the space of two houres, in which skirmish the Spanish Lieutenant of the field and twentie moe of the Spaniardes were slaine, be∣sides many that were hurt.

The next day following they did offer skirmish agayne to the Spaniardes, whereupon they all yelded, and so as priso∣niers were caried to Dongannon to the Earle, who meant to send them to the Lord Deputie, being iudged to be men of good value and one thought to be a man that hath had some great charge and conduct of men for many yeares, whereof the Lord Deputie will geue knowledge as soone as they shall be brought to Dublin.

There may be some errours in the writing of the Spanish names in English, because the same are written by way of interpretation, but there is no errour in the nom∣bring of the persons that are either dead or aliue.

26. September. 1588.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Admirall after the sight at Callice came not out of his bed in seauen weekes and more.
• * 1.2

  Sixe hundred Spaniards as¦saulted by one hundred and fifty Englishe, vanquished & taken priso∣ners.