THE COPY OF A LETTER SENT FROM SEA BY A GENTLEMAN, WHO WAS EMPLOYED in discovery on the coast of Spain by appointment of the Generals of our English Fleet, to a worshipful friend of his.  
Advertising him of such things as he came to knowledge of in the same discovery.  
·ANCHORA· SPEI·   printer's or publisher's device 
Imprinted at London by Richard Field dwelling in the Black Friars. 1589.   

To the gentle Reader.  
Having gotten a Copy of this Letter (gentle Reader) I thought good to make thee partaker of the same by publishing it in print: that thereby thou, and as many as wish well unto the state of England, may according to our duty thank our God, that hath so mercifully delivered us from our proud enemies, and showed his judgement upon them beyond our expectation, and further than we could almost have wished. For of the proud Spanish Fleet appointed for our overthrow, containing so many ships in number, so well in all respects furnished, that they could desire nothing that seemed to be wanting: there returned very few, and those so sore afflicted, that the most of their men died either before or shortly after their return, utterly disapppointed of their intent, and having lost the greatest part of their provision. Moreover we may hereby perceive what great good hope we have to conceive (God giving assistance) of the intended voyage. There is great hope they will scarce well brook the coming of the Fleet, sith they can hardly abide some one or two of our English ships.  
R. F.   

THE COPY OF A LETTER SENT BY A GENTLEMAN FROM SEA TO A WORSHIPFUL FRIEND OF HIS.  
RIGHT worshipful having been employed by my General's Sir john Norris and Sir Francis Drake upon the coast of Spain for discovery, and now being safely arrived (thanks unto the Almighty) I thought it my duty to acquaint your worship with such news as I have learned in my voyage, hoping that as you were wont, you will excuse my presumption. I sailed the fourth of February last, and coasting along by Biskay, at the Groin I took a ship of Biskay laden with stones, for the building of a fort at Vigo within the North Cape. In the which there came a merchant of Lisbon as passenger from Saint Sebastian's, whom I have brought with me. And as concerning the last Fleet, he saith, that of all the ships and carvels of the Spanish Fleet there are come home but nine and thirty, whereof four and twenty are riding in a river by Saint Sebastian's, fourteen in the Groin, and one in Lisbon, but most of all the men that came home died immediately at their landing, and the two chief commanders of the ships being sent for to the Court, died, as it is thought of poison before they had passed two days journey from Saint Sebastian's. Also the Duke of Medina is banished the Court for ever and certain customs of his confiscate to the holy house. Also the King doth with all speed fortify the sea coasts, especially in Portugal, and hath erected a bulwark in the market place of Lisbon. He hath made no provision of shipping, but only a Fleet of galleys which are now in the straits, and came down for the defence of his own country. He doth grievously take the death of his men, for they were the chief soldiers of all his forces in Italy and else where. All these I have conferred with others that have fallen into my hands since, and found it to be a perfect truth. From the Groin I came to the rock at Lisbon, where I found a bark of Plymouth and two other Pinnaces chased by four Galleys and a Frenchman of war, who was consorted with the galleys, who as soon as they saw my ship, the bark began to fight with them, & had shot the Frenchman twice through, which at the first discharging of my broad side, sunk down right in the sea, within one quarter of an hour. The galleys made all the hast they could to recover Cast Cales, being a little within the mouth of the harbour, but we had so fine a gale of wind, that we made two of them carry the third between them, and recovered again one Argosy laden with Candie wines, which was the barks prise but the galleys had recovered her, but now she is in Plymouth and eight and forty men in her, all Greeks, except two Portugese's: she is come but to a reasonable market. And as concerning our Fleet, I hope we shall be in Portugal within this month at the furthest, where no doubt (God aiding us) we shall make a wonderful prosperous voyage, for they tremble at the sight of three English ships, and are all in a mutiny, not knowing whether it were best to receive the King again or to withstand our power: but I think they will not honour us so much as to let us win their country by the sword. Thus meeting at sea with the Bark Bear, bound for London, and for that I do not know how soon I shall return, I have thought it my duty to advertise your worship of these news, to whom I send a dozen of Spanish blades to dispose at your pleasure, committing your worship to th'Almighty.  
From sea this twelfth of March. 1588. Your Worships wholly to command, T. F.