Henry Savile

“ The Coppye of a letter, which Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda, General of the king of Spaine his Armie, sent vnto Doctor Peter Flores, President of the contraction house for the Indies, wherein hee maketh mention of the successe of the English Armie, after they departed from Pannama, wherof was General Frances Drake, and of his death. ”

“ The Defiance bare vp likewise and had her turne, after came the Aduenture again within Muskat shot, who hauing chaunged many a great Bullet, with them before, renewed his fight, and continued it an hower with small shot. Then came Thomas Drake Captaine of the Hope, who last of all had his turne. ”

“ Sixtly, The generall saith in his letter, that notwithstanding their flying away so fast, the English left them one good Shippe well manned, who told him that the Drake dyed in Nombre de Dios, in which Shippe were one hundred and fourtie men, and fifteene noble Captaines of the best sorte.
Don Bernaldino very resolute.He Generall Don Bernaldino like a resolute Spaniarde hauing alreadye gonne ouer his shoes, maketh no dannger to wade ouer his Boates also: and as hee hath begun so he doth conclude, I maruaile that hee did not in writing his discourse remember this olde saying ”

“ Neither can the Generall avouch that he receiued intelligence from any English man, that after the death of Don Bernaldino his rare gift in coyning a new and strange name.Sir Fraunces Drake hey did elect: for Generall Colonell Quebraran, as he doth most falsly affirme in the latter end of his vaine and friuolous letter, being that the name was straunge, and vnknowne to any in the English Nauie. ”

“ I haue taken upon me (though of many least able) to confute the same, the rather for that the printed Coppie came first into my hands, hauing my selfe beene Captaine of one of her Maiesties shippes in the same voyage: Take this therfore (gentle Reader) as a token of my dutie and loue to my Countrie and Countrie-men, And expect onely a plaine truth, as from the pen of a Souldier, and Nauigator: Which if you take in good parte, may draw me shortly to a greater labour, by publishing vnto you our whole voyage. ”

“ The Spanish letter.
First whereas the Generall doth say, that Fraunces Drake dyed at Nombre de Dios, as he had intelligence by an Indian. The Generals first newes, and his best news is in part lying newes.He Generall sente this newes into his Country cõfirmed with his hand and seale of Armes: It is the first newes in his letter, and it was the best newes that he could send into Spaine. ”

“ Thus had all the Queenes Shippes their course: The Marchants Shippes with other small vessels being without the Queenes Shippes shot when they saw opportunitie: After the enemie finding no good to be done, (being well beaten) fell from vs, the Aduenture, playing vppon them with her great Ordinaunce, madeThe Spanish Viceadmiral can witnesse, what success they had in this fight. ”

“ All that night they kept themlelues vppon our broade side notwithstanding our Admirall carryed his Cresset light all night: hauing greate care of our smallest Shippes: This fight continued about fower howers til it was neere night, in the which fight, thanks be to God, there was slaine so fewe persons of our English fleete as I thinke the like conflict hath not beene performed with The English receiued little losse in this conflict.so little losse of men: What harme befell the Spaniards in their fleete I leaue to your iudgements . ”

“ Their Viceadmiral with diuers others of their Ships, were so beaten, that they left off the fight, and were forced to lye in the winde, for that they durst not lye of either board by reason of their many and great Leakes, which they had receiued by our greate shot. The Generall with the rest of their fleete, tacking about fell in our wake, thinking; to get the winde, which in theThe English Admirall carried his Creset light, notwithstanding the enemie was vppon his brode side. beginning we sought to hinder. ”