Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 15.djvu/351



Thirdly, the Generall doth say of his owns credits, and not by intelligence from any Indian or other, that on the eleuenth of March last he met the English fleete at the Ile of Pinos, being fourteene good shippes: who although they had the winde of him, yet he set vpon them three times with all their shippes: but the English Fleete fled, and refused to fight, shooting now and then a shot, but especially the Viceadmirall.

This third lie of the Generall Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda (whose name for the prolixitie thereof may be drawen somewhat neere the length of a cable) hath no colour of protection, but it hath a iust proportion in measure to the lies of olde Bernardino de Mendoça his countreyman, concerning the ouerthrowe of hir Maiesties Nauie in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred eightie and eight.

For except Don Bernaldino the Generall did purpose to winne the whetstone from Don Bernardino de Mendoça the olde Spanish lyer; I cannot coniecture why he should write to his countrey for a truth, that he chased the English Nauie with nine shippes, and did three seuerall times giue the onset to the English fleete, who being fourteene good shippes (as he saith) did flie and refuse to fight; considering that the Spanish Viceadmirall (if he be liuing) and many other can witnesse the contrarie: who fighting like a true valiant man, departed from the fight with a torne and battered shippe to saue her from sinking.

Neither can I imagine that there is any one in the Spanish Fleete (Don Bernaldino excepted) that will say they were lesse then twentie sayle of shippes when they met the English fleete: and the Spanish Nauie can witnesse that they receiued such store of bullets from the English fleete, that they were glad to depart, and in despight of them the English nauie did holde their determined course: And taking a viewe of the Spanish fleete the next day, their number was not aboue thirteene ships, which did argue that they were either sunke or fled to harbour to saue themselues.

Fourthly, the General saith, that the English fleete fled away, and left their oares for hast behind them in the sea.

It was strange that they should leaue behinde them oares in