Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 15.djvu/269



INTERCEPTED BY SHIPPES OF THE WORSHIPFULL MASTER IOHN WATTES WRITTEN FROM DIUERSE PLACES OF THE ISLANDES AND OF THE MAINE LAND AS WELL OF NUEUA ESPANNA, AS OF TIERRA FIRMA AND PERU, CONTAINING MANY SECRETS TOUCHING THE AFORESAID COUNTREYS, AND THE STATE OF THE SOUTH SEA, AND THE TRADE TO THE PHILIPPINAS.

A relation of a memorable fight made the 13. of Iune 1591. against certaine Spanish ships and gallies in the West Indies, by 3. ships of the honorable sir George Carey knight, then marshall of her Maiesties houshold, and captaine of the Isle of Wight, now lord Hunsdon, lord Chamberlaine, and captaine of the honourable band of her Maiesties Pensioners.

The 13. of Iune 1591. being Sunday, at 5. of the clocke in the morning we descried 6. saile of the king of Spaine his ships. Foure of them were armadas, (viz the Admirall and viceadmirall of 700. tuns apeece, and the other 2. of 600. apeece) and the other 2. were smal ships, each of them about 100. tuns. We met with them off the Cape de Corrientes, which standeth on the Iland of Cuba. The sight of the foresaid ships made vs ioyfull, hoping that they should make our voyage. But assoone as they descryed vs, they made false fires one to another and gathered their fleet together, lying all close by a wind to the Southwardes. We therefore at 5. of the clock in the morning (the wind being at East) hauing made our prayers to almighty God, prepared our selues for the fight: And (in hope they had bene of the Cartagena fleete) wee bare vp with our admirall and viceadmiral, to determine of the combate for the better direction thereof. Our parle being ended, our admiral, viceadmiral, and the Hopewel gaue their admiral the prow, bringing themselues to leeward of him. We in the Content bare vp with their viceadmiral, and (ranging along by his broadside aweather of him) gaue him a voley of muskets and our great ordinance: then comming vp with another small ship ahead of the former, we hailed her in such sort, that shee payd roome. Thus being in fight with the