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THe second of October Anno 1589. at the Towne of Villa da•• Praya, in the Iland of Tercera, two men being in a field hard without the towne were killed with lightning. The ninth of
the same month there arriued in Tercera 14. Ships, that came from the Spanish Indies, laden with Cochenile, Hides, Gold, Siluer, Pearles, and other rich wares. They were fifty in company, when they departed out of the Iland of Hauana, whereof, in their comming out of the Channell, eleuen sunk in the same Channell by foule weather, the rest by a storme were scattered & seperated one from the other. The next day there came another Ship of the same company, that sailed close vn∣der the Iland, so to get into the Road; where she met with an English Ship, that had not aboue three cast Peeces, & the Spaniard twelue. They sought a long time together, which we being in the I∣land might stand & behold: wherupon the Gouernor of Tercera sent two Boats of Musketiers to helpe the Ship; but before they could come at her, the English Ship had shot her vnder water, and we saw her sinke into the Sea, with all her sailes vp, and not any thing seene of her about the wa∣ter. The Englishmen with their Boate saued the Captaine and about thirty others with him, but [ 10] not one peny worth of the goods, & yet in the Ship there was at the least to the value of 200000. Ducats in Gold, Siluer, and Pearles, the rest of the men were drowned, which might be about 50. persons, among the which were some Friers and women, which the Englishmen would not saue. Those that they had saued they set on land; & then they sailed away. The 27. of the same month, the said 14. Ships hauing refreshed theselues in the Iland, departed from Tercera towards Siuil, and comming vpon the coast of Spaine, they were taken by the English Ships, that lay there to watch for them, two onely excepted which escaped away, & the rest were wholly carried into England.
About the same time the Earle of Cumberland, with one of the Queenes Ships, and fiue or six more, kept about those Ilands and came oftentimes so close vnder the Iland, and to the Road of [ 20] Angra, that the people on land might easily tell all his men that he had aboord, and knew such as walked on the Hatches: they of the Iland not once shooting at them, although they might easily haue done it, for they were within Musket shot both of the Towne and Fort. In these places he continued for the space of two Moneths, and sailed round about the Ilands, and landed in Gratiosa and Fayael, as in the description of those Ilands I haue already declared. Here he tooke diuers Ships and Caruels, which he sent into England: so that those of the Iland durst not once put forth their heads. At the same time about three or foure dayes after the Earle of Cumberland had beene in the Iland of Fayael, and was departed from thence, there arriued in the said Iland of Fayael six Indian Ships, whose Generall was one Iuan Dory••s: and there they discharged in the Iland fortie Millions of Gold and Siluer. And hauing with all speede refreshed their Ships, [ 30] fearing the comming of the Englishmen, they set saile, and arriued safely in Saint Lucas, not mee∣ting with the enemy, to the great good lucke of the Spaniards, and hard fortune of the English∣men; for that within lesse then two daies, after the Gold and Siluer was laden again into the Spa∣nish Ships, the Earle of Cumberland sailed againe by that Iland; so that it appeared that God would not let them haue it, for if they had once had fight thereof, without doubt it had beene theirs, as the Spaniards themselues confessed.
In the moneth of Nouember, there arriued in Tercera two great Ships, which were the Admi∣rall and Viceadmirall of the Fleete laden with Siluer, who with stormy weather were seperated from the Fleete, and had beene in great torment and distresse, and ready to sinke; for they were forced to vse all their Pumps; so that they wished a thousand times to haue met with the Eng∣lishmen [ 40] to whom they would willingly haue giuen their Siluer, and all that euer they brought with them, onely to saue their liues. And although the Earle of Cumberland lay still about those Ilands, yet they met not with him, so that after much paine and labor they got into the Road be∣fore Angra, where with all speed they vnladed, & discharged aboue 5. Millions of Siluer, all in pee∣ces of 8. and 10. pound great: so that the whole Ray lay couered with plates & Chests of Siluer, full of Ryals of eight, most wonderfull to behold: each Million being ten hundred thousand Du∣cats, besides Pearles, Gold, and other stones, which were not registred. The Admiral & chief com∣mander of those Ships and Fleete called Aluuro Flores de Quiniones was sicke of the Neapolitan disease, and was brought to land, whereof not long after he dyed in Syuilia. He brought with him the Kings broad Seale and full authority to be Generall & chiefe commander vpon the Seas, and of all Fleets or Ships, and of all places & Ilands, or Lands wheresoeuer he came: whereupon the Gouernor of Tercera did him great honor, and betweene them it was concluded, perceiuing the [ 50] weaknesse of their Ships, and the danger of the Englishmen, that they would send the Ships empty with Soldiers to conuey them, either to Siuil or Lisbone, where they could first arriue, with aduise vnto his Maiesty of all that had past, and that he would giue order to fetch the Siluer, with good and safe conuoy. Wherepuon the said Aluaro Flores staied there, vnder colour of keeping the Siluer, but specially because of his disease, and for that they were afraid of the Englishmen. This Aluaro Flores had alone for his owne part aboue fifty thousand Ducats in Pearles, which he shewed vnto vs, and sought to sell them, or barter them with vs for Spices, or bils of exchange. The said two Ships set saile with three or foure hundred men, as well Soldiers as others, that came with them [ 60] and not one man saued. Tke Vice-admirall cut downe her Mast, and ranne the Ship on ground out of India, and being at Sea had a storme, wherewith the Admirall burst and sunke in th•• Sea, hard by Sentuual, where it burst in peeces, some of the men sauing themselues by swimming, that brought the newes, but the rest were drowned.
In the same moneth, there came two great ships out of the Spanish Indies, and being within halfe a mile of the Road of Tercera, they met with an English shippe, that after they had fought long together, tooke them both. About seuen or eight moneths before, there had beene an En∣glish ship in Tercera, that vnder the name of a Frenchman came to traffique in the Iland, there to lade wood, and being discouered was both ship and goods confiscated to the Kings vse, and all the men kept prisoners: yet went they vp and downe the streets to get their liuings, by labouring like slaues, being in deed as safe in that Iland, as if they had beene in prison. But in the end vpon a Sunday all the Sailers went downe behind the Hils called Bresill: where they found a Fisher∣boat, whereinto they got, and rowed into the Sea to the Earle of Cumberlands ship, which to their great fortune chanced at that time to come by the Iland, and anchored with his ships about [ 10] halfe a mile from the Road of Angra, hard by two small Ilands, which lye about a Bases shot from the Iland, and are full of Goats, Buckes, and Sheepe, belonging to the Inhabitants of the Iland of Tercera. Those Saylers knew it well, and thereupon they rowed vnto them with their Boats, and lying at Anchor that day, they fetched as many Goats and Sheepe as they had neede of: which those of the Towne and of the Iland well saw and beheld, yet durst not once go forth, so there remayned no more on Land but the Master, and the Merchant, of the said English ship. This Master had a Brother in Law dwelling in England, who hauing newes of his brothers im∣prisonment in Tercera, got licence of the Queene of England, to set forth a ship, therewith to see if he could recouer his losses of the Spaniards, by taking some of them, and so to redeeme his bro∣ther, that lay prisoner in Tercera, and he it was, that tooke the two Spanish shippes before the [ 20] Towne. The Master of the ship aforesaid, standing on the shore by me, and looking vpon them, for he was my great acquaintance, the shipss being taken, that were worth three hundred thou∣sand Duckets, he sent all the men on Land sauing only two of the principall Gentlemen, which he kept aboord, thereby to ransome his brother: and sent the Pilot of one of the Indian ships that were taken, with a Letter to the Gouernour of Tercera: wherein he wrote that hee should deli∣uer him his brother, and he would send the two Gentlemen on Land: if not, he would saile with them into England, as indeed he did, because the Gouernour would not doe it, saying that the Gentleman might make that suite to the King of Spaine him selfe. This Spanish Pilot we bid to supper with vs, and the Englishmen likewise, where hee shewed vs all the manner of their fight, much commending the order and manner of the Englishmens fighting, as also for their courteous [ 30] vsing of him: but in the end the English Pilot likewise stole away in a French ship, without pay∣ing any ransome as yet.
In the moneth of Ianuary 1590, there arriued one ship alone in Tercera, that came from the Spanish Indies, and brought newes, that there was a fleet of a hundred ships which put out from the Firme Land of the Spanish Indies, and by a storme were driuen vpon the Coast called Florida, where they were all cast away, she hauing only escaped, wherein there were great riches, and many men lost, as it may well be thought: so that they made their account that of two hundred and twentie ships, that for certaine were knowne to haue put out of Noua Spaigna, Santo Do∣mingo, Hauana, Capo verde, Brasilia, Guinea, &c. In the yeere 1989. to sayle for Spaine in Portu∣gall, there were not aboue fourteene or fifteene of them arriued there in safetie, all the rest being [ 40] either drowned, burst or taken.
In the same Moneth of Ianuary, there arriued in Tercera fifteen or sixteene ships that came from Siuilia, which were most Flie-boats of the low Countries, and some Brittons that were arrested in Spaine: these came full of Souldiers, and well appointed with munition, to lade the siluer that lay in Tercera, and to fetch Aluares de Flores, by the Kings commandement into Spaine. And be∣cause that time of the yeere there is alwayes stormes about those Ilands, therefore they durst not enter into the Road of Tercera, for that as then it blew so great a storme, that some of their ships that had anchored, were forced to cut downe their Masts, and were in danger to bee lost: and among the rest a ship of Biscay ranne against the Land, and was stricken in pieces, but all the men saued themselues. The other ships were forced to keepe the Sea, and separate themselues one [ 50] from the other, where winde and weather would driue them, vntill the fifteenth of March: for that in all that time they could not haue one day of faire weather to anchor in, whereby they in∣dured much miserie, cursing both the siluer and the Iland. This storme being past, they chanced to meete with small English ship of about fortie tunnes in bignesse, which by reason of the great wind could not beare all her sailes: so they set vpon her, and tooke her, and with the English flagge in their Admirals sterne they came as proudly into the Hauen, as if they had conquered all the Realme of England: but as the Admirall that bare the English flagge vpon her sterne, was entring into the Road, there came by chance two English ships by the Iland, that paid her so well for her paines, that they were forced to cry Misericordia, and without all doubt had taken her, if she had beene but a mile further in the Sea: but because she got vnder the Fortresse, which al∣so [ 60] began to shoot at the Englishmen, they were forced to leaue her, and to put further into the Sea, hauing slaine fiue or sixe of the Spaniards. The Englishmen that were taken in the small ship were put vnder hatches, and coupled in bolts, and after they had beene Prisoners three or foure dayes, there was a Spanish Ensigne-bearer in the ship, that had a brother ••••••ine in the ••••eet that came for
England, who as then, minding to reuenge his death, and withall to shew his man-hood to the English Captiues, that were in the English shippe, which they had taken, as is aforesaid, tooke a Ponyard in his hand, and went downe vnder the Hatches, where finding the poore Englishmen sitting in bolts, with the same Ponyard he stabbed sixe of them to the heart: which two others of them perceiuing, clasped each other about the middle, because they would not bee murthered by him, threw themselues into the Sea, and there were drowned. This act was of all the Spani∣ards much disliked and very ill taken, so that they carried the Spaniard prisoner vnto Lisbone, where being arriued, the King of Spaine willed he should be sent into England, that the Queene of England might vse him as she thought good: which sentence his friends by intreatie got to bee reuersed, notwithstanding he commanded he should without all fauour bee beheaded: but vpon a good Friday, the Cardinall going to Masse, all the Captaines and Commanders made so great [ 10] intreatie for him that in the end they got his pardon. This I thought good to note, that men might vnderstand the bloudie and honest mindes of the Spaniards, when they haue men vnder their subiection.
The same two English ships, which followed the Spanish Admirall, till hee had got vnder the Fort of Tercera, as I said before, put into the Sea, where they met with an other Spanish ship, being of the same fleete, that had likewise beene scattered by the storme and was only missing, for the rest lay in the Road: this small ship the Englishmen tooke, and sent all the men on shore, not hurting any of them: but if they had knowne, what had beene done vnto the foresaid En∣glish Captiues, I beleeue they would soone haue reuenged themselues, as afterward many an in∣nocent [ 20] soule payed for it. This ship thus taken by the Englishmen, was the same that was kept and confiscated in the Iland of Tercera, by the Englishmen that got out of the Iland in a fisher∣boat (as I said before) and was sold vnto the Spaniards, that as then came from the Indies, where∣with they sailed to Saint Lucas, where it was also arrested by the Duke, and appoined to goe in company to fetch the siluer in Tercera, because it was a shippe that sayled well: but among the Spaniards fleete it was the meanest of the Company. By this meanes it was taken from the Spaniards, and carried into England, and the Owners had it againe, when they least thought of it.
The nineteenth of March, the aforesaid ships, being nineteene in number, set saile, hauing la∣den the Kings siluer, and receiued in Aluaro Flores de Quiniones, with his company, and good prouision of necessaries, Munition and Souldiers, that were fully resolued (as they made shew) [ 30] to fight valiantly to the last man, before they would yeeld or lose their riches: and although they set their course for Saint Lucas, the wind draue them vnto Lisbone, which (as it seemed) was willing by his force to helpe them, and to bring them thither in safetie: although Aluaro de Flores, both against the wind and weather would perforce haue sailed to Saint Lucas, but being constrained by the wind, and importunitie of the Sailers, that protested they would require their losses and damages of him, he was content to saile to Lisbone: from whence the siluer was by Land carried into Siuilia. At Cape Saint Vincent, there lay a Fleet of twentie English shippes, to watch for the Armada, so that if they had put into Saint Lucas, they had fallen right into their hands, which if the wind had serued they had done. And therefore they may say that the wind [ 40] had lent them a happie Voyage: for if the Englishmen had met with them, they had surely beene in great danger, and possibly but few of them had escaped, by reason of the feare wherewith they were possessed, because Fortune or rather God was wholly against them. Which is a sufficient cause to make the Spaniards out of heart, to the contrarie to giue the Englishmen more courage, and to make them bolder for that they are victorious, stout and valiant: and seeing all their en∣terprizes doe take so good effect, that thereby they are become Lords and Masters of the Sea, and need care for no man, as it well appeareth by this briefe Discourse.
In the month of March 1590. There was a Blasing Starre with a taile seene in Tercera, that continued foure nights together, stretching the tayle towards the South.
In the moneth of May, a Caruell of Fayael arriued at Tercera, in the Hauen or Road of An∣gra, laden with Oxen, Sheepe, Hennes, and all other kinds of victuals, and full of people, which [ 50] by a storme had broken her Ruther, whereby the Sea cast her about and therewith she sunke, and in her were drowned three children, and a Frier Franciscan, the rest of the men saued themselues by swimming, and by helpe from the shore, but all the Cattle and Hennes came drowned to land: the Frier was buried with a great Procession and Solemnitie, esteeming him for a Saint, because he was taken vp dead with his Booke betweene his armes: for the which cause euery man came to looke on him as a Miracle, giuing great Offerings to say Masses for his soule.
The first of August the Gouernor of Tercera, receiued aduise out of Portugall and Spaine, that two yeeres before the date of his Letters, there were sayled out of England twelue great shippes well appointed, with full resolution to take their iournie, seuen of them into the Portugall Indies, [ 60] and the other fiue to Malacca: of the which fiue, two were cast away in passing the Straits of Magellanes, and three sayled to Malacca: but what they had done there, was as then not knowne. The other seuen passed the Cape de bona Speranza, and arriued in India, where they put into the Coast of Malabares, but let them goe againe: and two Turkish Gallies, that came
out of the Straits of Mecca or the Red Sea, to whom likewise they did no hurt. And there they laded their ships wis Spices, and returned backe againe on their way: but where or in what place they had laden, it was not certainely knowne, sauing onely that thus much was written by the Gouernour of India, and sent ouer Land to Uenice, and from thence to Madrill.
The seuenth of August, a Nauie of English ships was seene before Tercera, beeing twentie in number, and fiue of them the Queenes ships: their Generall was one Martin Frobisher, as wee after had intelligence. They came purposely to watch for the fleet of the Spanish Indies, and for the Indian ships, and the shippes of the Countries in the West: which put the Ilanders in great feare, specially those of Fayael, for that the Englishmen sent a Trumpet to the Gouernour to aske certaine wine, flesh, and other victuals for their money, and good friendship. They of Fayael did [ 10] not onely refuse to giue eare vnto them, but with a shot killed their Messenger or Trumpetter: which the Englishmen tooke in euill part, sending them word that they were best to looke to themselues, and stand vpon their guard, for they meant to come and visit them whether they would or no. The Gouernour made them answere, that he was there, in the behalfe of his Ma∣iestie of Spaine and that he would doe his best, to keepe them out, as he was bound: but no thing was done, although they of Fayael were in no little feare, sending to Tercera for aide, from whence they had certaine Barkes with Powder and Munition for warre, with some Bisket and other necessary prouision.
The thirtieth of August, we receiued very certaine newes out of Portugall, that there were eightie ships put out of the Carunho, laden with Victuals, Munition, Money, and Souldiers, to [ 20] goe for Britaine to aide the Catholikes and Leaguers of France, against the King of Nauarre. At the same time, two Netherland Hulkes, comming out of Portugall to Tercera, beeing halfe the Seas ouer, met with foure of the Queenes shippes, their Generall beeing Sir Iohn Hawkins, that stayed them, but let them goe againe, without doing them any harme. The Netherlanders repor∣ted, that each of the Queenes ships had eightie Peeces of Ordnance, and that Captaine Drake lay with fortie ships in the English Channell, watching for the Armie of Carunho: and likewise that there lay at the Cape Saint Vincent tenne other English ships, that if any ships escaped from the Ilands, they might take them. Those tidings put the Ilanders in great feare, lest if they fai∣led of the Spanish fleete, and got nothing by them, that then they would fall vpon the Ilands, be∣cause they would not returne emptie home, whereupon they held straight watch, sending ad∣uise [ 30] vnto the King what newes they heard.
The first of September, there came to the Iland of Saint Michael a Portugall ship, out of the Hauen of Pernanbuco, in Brasilia, which brought newes that the Admirall of the Portugall fleet, that came from India, hauing missed the Iland of Saint Helena, was of necessitie constrained to put in at Pernanbuco, although the King had expresly vnder a great penaltie forbidden him so to doe, because of the Wormes that there doe spoile the ships. The same ship wherein Bernaldine Rybero, was Admirall, the yeere before 1589. sayled out of Lisbone into the Indies, with fiue ships in her company, whereof but foure got into India, the fift was neuer heard of, so that it was thought to be cast away: The other foure returned safe againe into Portugall, though the Ad∣mirall was much spoiled, because he met with two English ships, that fought long with him, and [ 40] slue many of his men, but yet he escaped from them.
The fift of the same moneth, there arriued in Tercera, a Caruell of the Iland of Coruo, and brought with her fiftie men that had beene spoyled by the Englishmen, who had set them on shore in the Iland of Coruo, being taken out of a shippe that came from the Spanish Indies, they brought tydings that the Englishmen had taken foure more of the Indian ships, and a Caruell with the King of Spaines Letters of aduise for the ships comming out of the Portugall Indies, and that with those which they had taken, they were at the least forty English ships together, so that not one Barke escaped them, but fell into their hands, and that therefore the Portugall ships comming out of India, durst not put into the Ilands, but tooke their course vnder fortie and fortie two de∣grees, [ 50] and from thence sailed to Lisbon, shunning likewise the Cape Saint Vincent, otherwise they could not haue had a prosperous iourney of it, for that as then the Sea was full of English ships. Wherupon the King aduised the fleet, lying in Hauana, in the Spanish Indies ready to come for Spaine, that they should stay there all that yeere till the next yeere, because of the great dan∣ger they might fall into by the Englishmen, which was no small charge and hinderance to the fleet, for that the ships that lie there doe consume themselues, and in a manner eate vp one ano∣ther, by reason of the great number of people, together with the scarcitie of all things, so that many ships chose rather, one by one to aduenture themselues alone, to get home, then to stay there: all which fell into the Englishmens hands, whereof diuers of the men were brought into Tercera, for that a whole day we could see nothing else, but spoyled men set on shore, some out of one ship some out of another, that pittie it was to see, all of them cursing the Englishmen, and [ 60] their owne fortunes, with those that had beene the causes to prouoke the Englishmen to fight, and complayning of the small remedie and order taken therein by the King of Spaines Officers.
The nineteenth of the same moneth, there came to Tercera a Caruel of Lisbon, with one of the
Kings Officers, to cause the goods that were saued out of the ship, which came from Malacca, (for the which we stayed there) to be laden, and sent to Lisbon. And at the same time there put out of the Carunha one Don Alonso de Bassan, with fortie great ships of warre to come vnto the I∣lands, there to watch for the fleet of the Spanish and Portugall Indies, and the goods of the Ma∣lacca ship being laden, they were to conuoy them all together into the Riuer of Lisbon: but being certaine dayes at Sea, alwayes hauing a contrary wind they could not get vnto the Ilands: only two of them that were scattered from the fleet, they presently returned backe to seeke them: in the meane time the King changed his minde, and caused the fleet to stay in India, as I said before: and therefore he sent word vnto Don Alonso de Bassan, that hee should returne againe to the Ca∣runha, which he presently did (without doing any thing, nor once approching neere the Ilands, [ 10] sauing only the two foresaid ships, for he well knew that the Englishmen lay by the Iland of Cor∣uo, but he would not visit them: and so he returned to the Hauen of Carunha, whereby our goods that came from Malacca, were yet to ship, and crussed vp againe, forced to stay a more fortunate time, with patience perforce.
The three and twentieth of October, there arriued in Tercera a Caruell, with aduise out of Portingall, that of fiue ships, which in the yeere 1590. were laden in Lisbon for the Indies, foure of them were turned againe to Portingall, after they had beene foure moneths abroad, and that the Admirall, wherein the Vice-roy called Mathias de Alburkerke sailed, had only gotten to India, as afterward newes thereof was brought ouer Land, hauing beene at the least eleuen monethes at Sea, and neuer saw Land, and came in great misery to Malacca. In this ship there died by the [ 20] way two hundred and eightie men, according to a note by himselfe made, and sent to the Car∣dinall at Lisbon, with the names and surnames of euery man, together with a description of his Voyage, and the misery they had indured: which was only done, because he would not lose the gouernment of India: and for that cause he had sworne either to lose his life, or to arriue in In∣dia, as indeed he did afterwards, but to the great danger, losse and hinderance of his company, that were forced to buy it with their liues, and onely for want of prouision, as it may well bee thought: for he knew full well that if he had returned backe againe into Portingall, as the other ships did, hee should haue beene casheered from his Indian Regiment, because the people began alreadie to murmurre at him, for his proude and loftie minde. And among other things that shewed his pride the more, behind aboue the Gallery of his ship, he caused Fortune to be painted, [ 30] and his owne Picture with a staffe standing by her, as it were threatning Fortune, with this Poesie, Quero que vencas, that is, I will haue thee to ouercome: which beeing read by the Cardinall and other Gentlemen (that to honour him aboord his ship) it was thought to be a point of ex∣ceeding folly. But it is no strange matter among the Portingalls, for they aboue all others must of force Let the Foole peepe out of their sleeues, specially when they are in authoritie: for that I knew the said Mathias de Alberkerk in India, being a Souldier and a Captaine, where he was e∣steemed and accounted for one of the best of them, and much honoured, and beloued of all men, as behauing himselfe courteously to euery man: whereby they all desired that he might be Vice-roy. But when he once had receiued his Patent with full power and authoritie from the King to be Vice-roy, hee changed so much from his former behauiour, that by reason of his pride, they all [ 40] began to feare and curse him, and that before he departed out of Lisbon, as it is often seene in ma∣ny men that are aduanced vnto state and dignitie.
The twentieth of Ianuary, Anno 1591. there was newes brought out of Portingall into Ter∣cera, that the Englishmen had taken a ship, that the King had sent into the Portingall Indies, with aduise to the Vice-roy, for the returning againe of the foure ships that should haue gone to India, and because the ships were come backe againe, that ship was stuffed and laded as full of goods as possible it might be, hauing likewise in ready money fiue hundred thousand Duckets in Rials of eight, besides other wares. It departed from Lisbone in the moneth of Nouember 1590. and met with the Englishmen, with whom for a time it fought: but in the end it was taken and carried into England with men and all, yet when they came there the men were set at libertie, and retur∣ned [ 50] into Lishone, where the Captaine was committed Prisoner: but hee excused himselfe, and was released, with whom I spake my selfe, and he made this report vnto me. At the same time also they tooke a ship that came from the Myne laden with Gold, and two ships laden with Pepper, and Spices that were to saile into Italie, the Pepper onely that was in them, being worth 170000. Duckets: all these ships were carried into England, and made good prize.
In the moneth of Iuly, An. 1591. there happened an Earth-quake in the Iland of S. Michaell, which continued from the six and twentieth of Iuly to the twelfth of August: in which time no man durst stay within his house, but fled into the fields, fasting and praying, with great sor∣row for that many of their houses fell downe, and a Towne called Villa Franca, was almost cleane razed to the ground all the Cloysters and houses shaken to the earth, and therein some [ 60] people slaine. The Land in some places rose vp, and the Cliffes remooued from on place to ano∣ther, and some Hils were defaced and made euen with the ground. The Earthquake was so strong, that the ships which lay in the Road, and on the Sea, shaked as if the World would ha••e turned round: there sprang also a Fountaine out of the earth, from whence for the space of foure dayes,
there flowed a most cleare water, and after that it ceased. At the same time they heard such thunder and noise vnder the earth, as if all the Diuels in hell had beene assembled together in that place, wherewith many died for feare. The Iland of Tercera shooke foure times together, so that it seemed to turne about, but there happened no misfortune vnto it. Earthquakes are common in those Ilands, for about twenty yeares past there happened another earthquake, where in a high Hill that lyeth by the same towne of Villa Franca, fell halfe downe, and couered all the towne with earth and killed many men.
The fiue and twentieth of August, the Kings Armada, comming out of Farol arriued in Terce∣ra, being in all thirty Ships, Biskates, Portugals, and Spaniards: and ten Dutch flye-boates, that were arested in Lisbone to serue the King, besides other small Ships Pataxos, that came to serue as messengers from place to place, and to discouer the Seas. This Nauie came to stay for, and con∣uoy [ 10] the S••••ps that should come from the Spanish Indies, and the flye-boates were appointed in their returne home, to take in the goods that were saued in the lost Ship that came from Ma∣lacca, and to conuoy it to Lisbone.
The thirteenth of September the said Armado arriued at the Iland of Coruo, where the Eng∣lishmen with about sixteene Ships, as then lay, staying for the Spanish Fleete: whereof some or the most part were come, and there the English were in good hope to haue taken them. But when they perceiued the Kings Army to be strong, the Admirall being the Lord Thomas How∣ard, commanded his Fleete not to fall vpon them, nor any of them once to seperate their Shippes from him, vnlesse he gaue commission so to doe: notwithstanding the Vice-Admirall, Sir Rich∣ard Greenfield, being in the Ship called the Reuenge, went into the Spanish Fleete, and shot a∣mong [ 20] them, doing them great hurt, and thinking the rest of the company would haue follow∣ed: which they did not, but left him there, and sailed away; the cause why they could not know: which the Spaniards perceiuing, with seuen or eight Ships they boorded her, but she withstood them all, fighting with them at the least twelue houres together, and sunke two of them, one being a new double Flie-boate of twelue thousand tunnes, and Admirall of the Flie-boates, the other a Biscaine: But in the end, by reason of the number that came vpon her, she was taken, but to their great losse; for they had lost in fighting, and by drowning aboue foure hundred men; and of the English were slaine about a hundred, Sir Richard Greenfield himselfe being wounded in his braine, whereof afterwards he died. He was borne into the S••ip called the Saint Paul, wherein [ 30] was the Admirall of the Fleete Don Alonso de Barsan: there his wounds were drest by the Spa∣nish Surgeons, but Don Alonso himselfe would neither see him, nor speake with him: all the rest of the Captaines and Gentlemen went to visite him, and to comfort him in his hard fortune, wondring at his courage and stout heart, for that he shewed not any signe of faintnesse nor chang∣ing of colo••r. But feeling the houre of death to approach, he spake these words in Spanish, and said; Here dye I Richard Greenfield, with a ioyfull and quiet minde, for that I haue ended my life as a true Souldier ought to doe, that hath fought for his Countrey, Queene, Religion, and honour, whereby my Soule most ioyfull departeth out of this body, and shall alwayes leaue behinde it an euerlasting fame of a valiant and true Soldier, that hath done his duetie, as hee was bound to doe. When he had finish∣ed these or such other like words, he gaue vp the Ghost with great and stout courage, and no man [ 40] could perceiue any true signe of heauinesse in him.
This Sir Richard Greenfield was a great and a rich Gentleman in England, and had great yeare∣ly reuenewes of his owne inheritance: but he was a man very vnquiet in his minde, and greatly affected to warre; in so much as of his owne priuate motion he offered his seruice to the Q••eene. He had performed many valiant acts, and was greatly feared in these Ilands, and knowne of euery man; but of nature very seuere, so that his owne people hated him for his fiercenesse, and spake very hardly of him: for when they first entred into the Fleete or Armado, they had their great saile in a readinesse, and might possibly enough haue sailed away; for it was one of the best Ships for saile in England; and the Master perceiuing that the other Ships had left them, and fol∣lowed not after, commanded the great saile to be cut, that they might make away: but Sir Rich∣ard [ 50] Greenfield threatned both him, and all the rest that were in the Ship, that if any man laid hand vpon it, he would cause him to be hanged, and so by that occasion they were compelled to fight, and in the end were taken. He was of so hard a complexion, that as hee continued a∣mong the Spanish Captaines while they were at dinner or supper with him, hee would carouse three or foure Glasses of Wine, and in a brauery take the Glasses betweene his teeth, and crash them in peeces, and swallow them downe, so that often times the bloud ran out of his mouth without any harme at all vnto him: and this was told me by diuers credible persons that many times stood and beheld him. The Englishmen that were left in the Ship, as the Captaine of the
Souldiers, the Master and others were dispersed into diuers of the Spanish Ships that had taken them, where there had almost a new fight arisen betweene the Biscaines and the Portugals; while each of them would haue the honour to haue first boorded her, so that there grew a great noise and quarrell among them, one taking the chiefe Ancient, and the other the Flagge, and the Cap∣taine and euery one held his owne. The ships that had boorded her were altogether out of order and broken, and many of their men hurt, whereby they were compelled to come into the Iland of Tercera, there to repaire themselues: where being arriued, I and my chamber-fellow, to heare some newes went aboord one of the Ships being a great Biscaine, and one of the twelue Apo∣stles, whose Captaine was called Bertandono, that had bin Generall of the Biscaines in the fleete that went for England. He seeing vs, called vs vp into the Gallery, where with great curtesie [ 10] he receiued vs, being as then set at dinner with the English Captaine that sat by him, and had on a sute of blacke Veluet; but he could not tell vs any thing, for that he could speake no other language but English and Latine, which Bartandono also could a little speake. The English Cap∣taine that he might come on land with his weapon by his side, and was in our lodging with the Englishman that was kept prisoner in the Iland, being of that ship whereof the sailers got away, as I said before. The Gouernour of Tercera bad him to dinner, and shewed him great curtesie. The Master likewise with licence of Bartandono came on land, and was in our lodging, and had at the least ten or twelue wounds, as well in his head, as on his body, whereof after that being at Sea, betweene Lisbone and the Ilands he died. The Captaine wrote a Letter, wherein he de∣clared all the manner of the fight, and left it with the English Merchant that lay in our lodging, [ 20] to send it to the Lord Admirall of England. The English Captaine comming to Lisbone, was there well receiued, and not any hurt done vnto him, but with good conuoy sent to Sentuual, and from thence sayled into England, with all the rest of the Englishmen that were taken prysoners.
The Spanish Armie staied at the Iland of Corus till the last of September, to assemble the rest of the Fleete together: which in the end were to the number of one hundred and forty sayle of Ships, partly comming from India, and partly of the Army, and being altogether ready vnto saile to Tercera in good company, there sodainly rose so hard and cruell a storme, that those of the Iland did affirme, that in mans memory there was neuer any such seene or heard of before: for it seemed the Sea would haue swallowed vp the Ilands, the water mounting higher then the [ 30] Cliffes, which are so high that it amaseth a man to behold them: but the Sea reached aboue them, and liuing fishes were throwne vpon the land. This storme continued not onely a day or two with one winde, but seuen or eight dayes continually, the winde turning round about, in all places of the compasse, at the least twice or thrice during that time, and all alike, with a con∣tinuall storme and tempest most terrible to behold, euen to vs that were on shore, much more then to such as were at Sea: so that onely on the Coasts and Clifts of the Iland of Tercera, there were aboue twelue Ships cast away, and not onely vpon the one side, but round about it in euery corner: whereby nothing else was heard but complaining, crying, lamenting, and telling here is a ship broken in peeces against the Cliffes, and there another, and all the men drowned: so that for the space of twenty dayes after the storme, they did nothing else but fish for dead men, that [ 40] continually came driding on the shore. Among the rest was the English ship called the Reuenge, that was cast away vpon a Cliffe neere to the Iland of Tercera, where it brake in a hundred pee∣ces, and sunke to the ground, hauing in her seuenty men Gallegos, Biscaines, and others, with some of the captiue Englishmen, whereof but one was saued that got vp vpon the Cliffes aliue, and had his body and head all wounded, and he being on shore brought vs the newes, desiring to be shriuen, and thereupon presently died. The Reuenge had in her diuers faire Brasse Peeces, that were all sunke in the Sea, which they of the Iland were in good hope to weigh vp againe the next Summer following. Among these Ships that were cast away about Tercera, was likewise a Flie-boate, one of those that had bin arested in Portugall to serue the King, called the White Doue. The Master of her, was one Cornelius Martenson of Schiedam in Holland, and there were in her one hundred Souldies, as in euery one of the rest there was. He being ouer ruled by the [ 50] Captaine, that he could not be Master of his owne, sayling here and there at the mercy of God, as the storme droue him, in the end came within the sight of Tercera: which the Spaniards per∣ceiuing, thought all their safety onely to consist in putting into the Road, compelling the Ma∣ster and the Pilot to make towards the Iland, although the Master refused to doe it, saying, that they were most sure there to be cast away, and vtterly spoiled: but the Captain called him drunk∣ard, & Heretick, and striking him with a staffe, commanded him to do as he would haue him. The Master seeing this, and being compelled to doe it, said: well then my Masters, seeing it is the desire of you all to be cast away, I can but loose one life; and therewith desperately he sailed to∣wards the shoare, and was on that side of the Iland, where there was nothing else but hard stones [ 60] and Rockes, as high as Mountaines, most terrible to behold, where some of the Inhabitants stood with long ropes and corke bound at the end thereof, to throw them downe vnto the men, that they might lay hold vpon them and saue their liues; but few of them got so neere, most of them being cast away, and smitten in peeces before they could get to the wall. The Ship sailed in this
manner (as I said before) towards the Iland, and approaching to the shoare, the Master being an old man, and full of yeares, called his Sonne that was in the ship with him, and hauing imbra∣ced one another, and taken their last farewell, the good old father willed his Sonne not to take care for him, but seeke to saue himselfe: for (said he) sonne, thou art yong, and may haue some hope to saue thy life, but as for me it is no great matter (I am old) what become of me, and there∣with each of these shedding many teares, as euery louing father and kinde childe may well con∣sider; the ship fell vpon the Cliffes and brake in peeces, the Father on the one side, the sonne on the other side falling into the sea, each laying hold vpon that which came next to hand, but to no purpose; for the sea was so high and furious, that they were all drowned, and onely foure∣teene or fifteene saued themselues by swimming, with their legges and armes halfe broken and [ 10] out of ioynt; among the which was the Masters sonne, and foure other Dutch Boyes: the rest of the Spaniards and sailers, with the Captaine and Master were drowned: whose heart would not melt with teares to behold so grieuous a sight, specially considering with himselfe that the grea∣test cause thereof was the beastlinesse and insolency of the Spaniards, as in this onely example may well be seene: whereby may be considered how the other ships sped, as we our selues did in part behold, and by the men that were saued did heare more at large, as also some others of our Countrimen that as then were in the like danger can well witnesse.
On the other Ilands the losse was no lesse then in Tercera; for on the Iland of Saint George there were two Ships cast away: on the Iland of Pico two Ships: on the Iland of Gratiosa three ships, & besides those there came euerywhere round about diuers peeces of broken ships, & other [ 20] things fleeting towards the Ilands, wherewith the Sea was all couered most pittifull to behold. On the Iland of Saint Michael, there were foure Ships cast away, and betweene Tercera and Saint Michaels; three more were sunke, which were seene and heard to crie out, whereof not one man was saued. The rest put into the Sea without Masts, all torne and rent: so that of the whole Fleete and Armado, being one hundred and forty ships in all, there were but thirty two or thir∣ty three ariued in Spaine and Portugall, yea and those few with so great misery, paine and labour, that not two of them arriued there together, but this day one, and to morrow another, next day the third, & so one after the other to the number aforesaid. All the rest were cast away vpon the Ilands, and ouerwhelmed in the sea: whereby may be considered what great losse and hinderance they receiued at that time: for by many mens iudgements it was esteemed to be much more [ 30] then was leftby their Armie that came for England, and it may well be thought, and presumed, that it was no other but a iust plague purposely sent by God vpon the Spaniards, and that it might truely be said, the taking of the Reuenge was iustly reuenged vpon them, and not by the might or force of man, but by the power of God, as some of them openly said in the Isle of Tercera, that they beleeued verily God would consume them, and that he tooke part with Lutherans and He∣retickes: saying further, that so soone as they had throwne the dead body of the Viceadmirall Sir Richard Greenfield ouer-boord, they verily thought that as he had a diuellish Faith and Reli∣on, and therefore the Diuels loued him, so he presently sunke into the bottome of the Sea, and downe into Hell, where he raised vp all the Diuels to the reuenge of his death: and that they brought so great stormes and torments vpon the Spaniards, because they onely maintained the [ 40] Catholike and Romish Religion: such and the like blasphemies against God, they ceased not open∣ly to vtter, without that any man reproued them therein, nor for their false opinions, but the most part of them rather said and affirmed, that of truth it must needes be so.
As one of those Indian Fleetes put out of Noua Spaigna, there were fiue and thirty of them by storme and tempest cast away and drowned in the Sea, being fiftie in all, so that but fifteene esca∣ped. Of the Fleete that came from Santo Domingo, there were foureteene cast away, comming out of the Channell of Hauana, whereof the Admirall and Viceadmirall were two of them: and from Terra Firma in India, there came two ships laden with Gold and Siluer, that were taken by the Englishmen, and before the Spanish Armie came to Coruo, the Englishmen at times had taken at the least twenty ships, that came from Saint Domingo, India, Brasillia, &c. and all sent into [ 50] England. Whereby it plainly appeareth, that in the end God will assuredly plague the Spani∣ards, hauing already blinded them, so that they haue not the sence to perceiue it, but still to re∣maine in their obstinate opinions: but it is lost labour to striue against God, and to trust in man, as being foundations erected vpon the sands, which with the winde are blowne downe and o∣uerthrowne, as we daily see before our eyes, and now not long since in many places haue eui∣dently obserued: and therefore let euery man but looke into his owne actions, and take our Low-Countries for an example, wherein we can but blame our owne sinnes and wickednesses, which doth so blinde vs, that we wholly forget and reiect the benefits of God, continuing the seruants and yoke-slaues of Sathan. God of his mercy open our eyes and hearts, that wee may know our onely health and Sauiour Iesus Christ, who onely can helpe, gouerne, and preserue vs, and giue vs [ 60] a happy end in all our affaires. By this destruction of the Spaniards, and their euill successe, the la∣ding and shipping of the goods that were saued out of the ship that came from Malacca to Ter∣cera, was againe put off; and therefore wee must haue patience till it please God to send a fitter time, and that we receiue further aduise and order from his Maiestie of Spaine.
All this being thus past, the Farmers of Pepper and other Merchants that had their goods in Tercera, which were taken out of the lost ship that came from Malacca, seeing that the hope of any Armada, or any ships in the Kings behalfe to be sent to fetch it, was all in vaine: they made request vnto his Maiesty, that he would grant them licence euery man particularly to ship his goods in what ship he would at his owne aduenture, which in the end, after long suite, was gran∣ted, vpon condition that euery man should put in sureties, to deliuer the goods in the Custome∣house at Lisbone, to the end the King might be paied his custome, as also that the goods that should be deliuered vnto them in Tercera, should all be registred: whereupon the Farmers of Pepper, with other Merchants, agreed with a Flushinger, to fetch all the Cloues, Nutmegs, Mace, and other spices and goods that belonged vnto them, the Pepper onely excepted, which [ 10] as then the King would not grant to lade. The same Ship arriued in Tercera about the last of Nouember, and because it was somewhat dangerous, being the latter end of the yeare, we laded her with all the speede we could, for as then the coast was cleare of Englishmen. To be short, this Flushinger being laden with most part of the goods, sauing the Pepper that was left behinde, we set saile for Lisbone, passing some small stormes, not once meeting with any ship, but onely vpon the coast where we saw ten Hollanders, that sailed with Corne towards Ligorne, and other places in Italie, and so by Gods helpe vpon the second of Ianuary, Anno 1592. we arriued in the Riuer of Lisbone, being nine yeares after my depar∣ture from thence, and there I staied till the month of Iuly, to dispatch, such things as I had to doe, and vpon the [ 20] seuenteenth of the same month, I went to Sentuual, where certaine Hollanders lay, with whom I went for Holland.
C. 99.
40. Millions, if the number be true.
Fiue Millions.
〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Sir M. Frobisher.
1589.
Note.
1590.
280. men die in one ship, in one Voyage, by one mans vanitie.
1591.
Earthquake most terrible.
Prodigies.
Sir Richard Greenuile. See Ha••. Tom. 2. This Storie penned by Sir Walter Raleigh. There were but six of these Shippes the Queenes: and Sir Richard Greenuile staid to recouer his men on shore; 93. of his men were sicke. He scorned to flye as the Master counseiled (which had beene better) and thought to made way thorow their squadrons, and made some spring loose till the great∣nesse of the S. Philip of 1500 tuns being in the winde of him, becalmed his sailes; so that the Re∣uenge could not feele her sailes nor helme, and was boorded by the S. Philip and foure o∣thers. These were beaten off, and fifteen seuerall Arma∣das assailed her. All her Powder was spent to the last barrell; nor had first aboue 100. sound men to sustaine to the brunt. Yet she endured fifteene houres fight, fifteene Armadas by turne, 800. shot, many entries, 53. sailes of men of warre, and 10000. men to doe this. After all this, Sir R. Greenfield now wounded, commanded [ 60] to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vp the Ship, but the Captaine intreating to the contrary, the Master was sent, vnknowne to Sir R Greenfield, to treat a com∣position with ••••zan the Generall, who yeelded their liues to be saued, and to be sent for England, the better so••t to pay ransome, but free meane time fromprison and Gallie. Almost 1000. of the enemies were slaine in this sight. Thus haue I giuen you the briefe of Sir Walters report also, to make this storie compleate.
Great storme.
Great hurts.
Reuenge reuen∣ged with the losse of aboue 100. other ships of the Spaniards attending her fates: as great a blow as 88.
Note.
Caiaphas pro∣phesieth. God taketh part wi••h Lu∣therans.
So then the gates of hell preuaileth a∣gainst their faith.
Two Ships of treasure taken by the English, and 20. others of the Indian Fleete.
1592,