Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 15.djvu/357

 [*Sidenote: The incounter betwixt the English and the Spanish ships.]

winde, so as we recouered our Pinnesses: which forced the enemies shippes to tacke about, and to take the aide of their fleete, and being come neere vnto them they shot at vs; we still approched, hauing our close fights vp, our flags, ensignes and streamers displayed, our men orderly placed in each quarter, but forbare our fight vntill our Generall beganne, and gaue vs warning to come in and fight, by shooting off a great peece, according to his former directions: so being within musket shot, the Viceadmirall of the Spanish fleete came neerest vnto vs, to whom our Viceadmirall Iohn Traughton Captaine of the Elizabeth Bonaduenture gaue fight, betwixt whom there was the greatest voley of small shot changed that lightly hath bene heard at Sea, which continued a long halfe houre. In which time the Spanish fleete came in to fight. Our Generall Sir Thomas Baskeruill being in the Garland (whereof Humphrey Reignolds was Captaine, being the next shippe vnto the Elizabeth Bonaduenture) bare vp to the enemie, playing with his great ordinance hotly vntill he came within musket shot. Ionas Bodenham Captaine of the Defiance, and Henrie Sauile Captaine of the Aduenture, came likewise in to fight with them. After the Garland being within musket shot played her part, and made good fight for the space of an houre, The Defiance bare vp likewise and had her turne: after came the Aduenture againe within musket shot, who hauing changed many a great bullet with them before, renewed his fight, and continued it an houre with small shot. Then came Thomas Drake Captaine of the Hope, who last of all had his turne. Thus had all the Queens shippes their course: The marchants ships with other small vessels being without the Queens ships, shot, when they saw opportunitie.

After the enemie finding no good to be done (being well beaten) fell from vs, the Aduenture playing vpon them with her great ordinance, made three of the last shot at them: their Viceadmirall with diuers others of their ships, were so beaten that they left off the fight, and were forced to lie in the winde, for that they durst not lie of either boord by reason of thier many and great leakes, which they had receiued by our great shot. The Generall with the rest of their fleete tacking about, fell in our wake, thinking to get the winde, which in the beginning wee