Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 15.djvu/222

 of our voyage.

A day or two after the taking of this ship, we put in within the Isles of Bayon, for lacke of fauourable wind: where wee had no sooner ankered some part of the fleete, but the Generall commanded all the pinnesses with the shipboats to be manned, and euery man to be furnished with such armes as were needful for that present seruice; which being done, the Generall put himselfe into his gallie, which was also well furnished, and rowing towards the city of Bayon, with intent, and the fauour of the Almighty to surprise it, before we had aduanced one halfe league of our way, there came a messenger being an English merchant from the Gouernour, to see what strange fleet we were, who came to our General, conferred a while with him; and after a small time spent, our Generall called for Captaine Sampson, and willed him to go to the Gouernour of the citie, to resolue him of two points. The first, to know if there were any warres betweene Spaine and England. The second, why our marchants with their goods were embarged or arrested. Thus departed captain Sampson with the said messenger to the citie, where he found the gouernor and people much amazed of such a sudden accident.

The Generall with the aduice and counsell of M. Carleil his Lieutenant generall, who was in the galley with him, thought not good to make any stand, till such time as they were within the shot of the citie, where they might bee ready vpon the returne of Captaine Sampson, to make a sudden attempt if cause did require before it were darke.

Captaine Sampson returned with his message in this sort. First, touching peace or warres the Gouernour said he knew of no warres, and that it lay not in him to make any, hee being so meane a subieet as he was. And as for the stay of the merchants with their goods, it was the kings pleasure, but not with intent to endomage any man. And that the kings counter-commandement was (which had bene receiued in that place some seuennight before) that English merchants with their goods should be discharged: for the more verifying wherof, he sent such merchants as were in the towne of our nation, who traffiqued those parts: which being at large declared to our General by them, counsell was taken what might best be done. And for that the night approched, it was thought needful to land our forces, which was done in the shutting vp of the day, and hauing quartered our selues to our most aduantage, with sufficient gard vpon euery