The Primrose of London, with her valiant adventure on the Spanish coast, being of the burden of 150. Tun.  
Declaring the manner how 97. Spaniards came aboard the same ship, the course of the skirmish, and how by their valiancy they discomfited them. Whereunto is added the copy of the kings commission for the imbarment of all English Ships. Truly published by Humphrey Mote.  
¶ Imprinted at London for Thomas Nelson. 1585.   

The valiant adventure of the Primrose.  
IT is not unknown unto a few, what danger our English ships have lately escaped, how sharply they have been entreated, & how hardly they have been assaulted: so that the valiancy of those that managed them is worthy remembrance And therefore in respect of the courageous attempt & valiant enterprise of the ship called the Primrose of London, which hath obtained renown, I have taken in hand to publish the truth thereof, to the intent that it may be generally known to the rest of the English ships, that by by the good example of this the rest may in time of extremity adventure to do the like: to the honour of the realm, and the perpetual remembrance of themselves: The manner whereof was as followeth.  
Upon Wednesday being the 26. day of May last past, the ship called the Primrose, being of 150. Tun, lying without the Bay of Bilbo, having been there two days there came a Spanish Pinisse to them, wherein was the Corregidor and six others with him: these came aboard the Primrose, seeming to be Merchants of Byskie, or such like, bringing Cherries with them, and spoke very friendly to the master of the Ship, whose name is Foster, and he in courteous wise bade them welcome, making them the best cheer that he could: as beer, beef, and biscuit, wherewith that ship was well furnished: and being thus in banqueting with the master, four of the seven departed in the said Pinnisse, and went back again to Bilbo: the other three stayed, and were very pleasant for the time: But M. Foster misdoubting some danger, secretly gave speech that he was doubtful of these men what their intent was, nevertheless he said nothing, nor seemed not in one onward wise to mistrust them at all. Forthwith there came a shipboate wherein was 70. persons, being Merchants, and such like of Bisky: and besides this boat, there came also the Pinnisse which before had brought the other three, in which Pinnisse there came 24. as the Spaniards themselves since confessed. These made towards the Primrose, and being come thither, there came aboard the Corregidor with three or four of his men: but M Foster seeing this great multitude, desired that there might no more come aboard, but that the rest should stay in their boats, which was granted: nevertheless, they took small heed of these words, for on a sudden they came forth of the boat, entering the ship, every Spaniard taking him to his Rapier which they brought in the boat, with other weapons, and a Drum wherewith to triumph over them. Thus did the Spaniards enter the ship, plunging in fiercely upon them, some planting themselves under the deck, some entering the Cabbens, and a multitude attending their prey. Then the Corregidor having an officer with him which bore a white wand in his hand, said to the master of the ship: Yield yourself, for you are the King's prisoner: whereat the master said to his men, We are betrayed. Then some of them set daggers to his breast, and seemed in furious manner as though they would have slain him, meaning nothing less than to do any such act, for all that they sought was to bring him & his men safe alive to shore: whereat the master was amazed and his men greatly discomfited to see themselves ready to be conveyed even to the slaughter: notwithstanding some of them respecting the danger of the master, and seeing how with themselves there was no way but present death if they were once landed among the spaniards, they resolved themselves either to defend the master, and generally to shun that danger, or else to die and be buried in the midst of the sea, rather than to suffer themselves to come into the tormentor's hands, and therefore in very bold and manly sort some took them to their javelins, lances, boarspears, and shot, which they had set in readiness before, and having 5 calivers ready charged, which was all the small shot they had, those that were under the hatches or the grate, did shoot up at the Spaniards that were over their heads, which shot so amazed the Spaniards on the sudden, as they could hardly tell which way to escape the danger, fearing this their small shot to be of greater number than it was: others in very manly sort dealt about among them, showing themselves of that courage with boarspears and lances, that they dismayed at every stroke two or three Spaniards. Then some of them desired the master to command his men to cease and hold their hands, but he answered that such was their courage in defence of their own lives, that they would slay them and him also: and therefore it lay not in him to do it. Now did their blood run about the ship in great quantity, some of them being shot in between the legs, the bullets issuing forth at their breasts, some cut in the head, some thrust into the body, and many of them very sore wounded, so that they came not so fast in on the one side, but now they tumbled as fast over board on both sides with their weapons in their hands, some falling into the sea, and some getting into their boats, making haste towards the City. And this is to be noted, that although they came very thick thither, there returned but a small company of them, neither is it known as yet how many of them were slain or drowned, only one English man was then slain, whose name was john Tristram, and 6 other hurt. It was great pity to behold how the Spaniards lay swimming in the sea, and not able to save their lives, four of them taking hold of the ship, were for pity sake taken up again by M Foster and his men, not knowing what they were: all the Spaniards bosoms were stuffed with paper, to defend them from the shot, and these four having some wounds were dressed by the surgeon of the ship. one of them being the Corregidor himself, who is governor of a hundred Towns and Cities in Spain, his living by his office, better than 600 pound yearly. This skirmish happened in the evening about six of the clock, after they had laden 20. Tun of goods and better out of the said ship: which goods was delivered by two of the same ship, whose names were john Burrell, and john Brodbanke, these being on shore were stayed, and are yet remaining there, God comfort them, for they are now in prison.  
After this valiant enterprise of 28. English men against 97. Spaniards, they saw it was in vain for them to stay and therefore set up sails, and by God's providence avoided all danger, brought home the rest of their goods, and came thence with all erpedition, and God be thanked, arrived safely in England near London on Wednesday being the 8. day of june, 1585. In which their return to England, the spaniards that they brought with them offered 5●0. Crowns to be set on shore in any place, and seeing that the master would not do it, they were content to be ruled by them, and craved mercy at their hands. And after Master Foster demanded why they came in such sort to betray and destroy them, to whom the Corregidor answered, that it was not done only of themselves, but by the commandment of the King himself, and calling for his hose which were wet, did pluck forth the King's Commission, by which he was authorised to do all that he did: The Copy whereof followeth, being translated out of Spanish.  

¶ THE KING.  
LIcentia de scober my Corregidor of my sigrias of Bisky, I have caused a great fleet to be put in readiness in the haven of Lisbon, and the river of civil. There is required for the soldiers armour, victuals, and munition, that are to be employed in the same great store of shipping of all sorts against the time of service, and to the end there may be choice made of the best upon knowledge of their burden and goodness: I do therefore require you, that presently upon the arrival of this carrier, and with as much dissimulation as may be, that the matter may not be known until it be put in execution: take order for the staying and arresting (with great provision) of all the shipping that may be found upon the coast, and in the ports of the said segnoury: excepting none of Holland, Zealand, Esterland, Germany, England, and other Provinces that are in rebellion against me, saving those of France which being little, and of small burden and weak, are thought unfit to serve the turn. And the stay being thus made, you shall have a special care that such merchandise as the said ships or hulks have brought whether they be all or part unladen may be taken out, and that the armour, munition, takels, sails, and victuals may be safely bestowed, as also that it may be well foreseen, that none of the ships or men may escape away. Which things being thus executed, you shall advertise me by an express messenger of your proceeding therein. And send me a plain and distinct declaration of the number of ships that you shall have so stayed in that coast and parts, whence every one of them is which belongs to my Rebels, what burden and goods there are, & what number of men in every of them, and what quantity they have of Armoury, Ordinance, munition, victuals, tacklings and other necessary, to the end that upon sight hereof, having made choice of such as shall be fit for the service, we may further direct you what ye shall do. In the maane time you shall presently see this my commandment put in execution, and if there come thither any more ships, you shall also cause them to be stayed and arrested after the same order, using therein such care and diligence, as may answer the trust that I repose in you, wherein you shall do me great service. Dated as Barselonia the 29. of May.   
And thus have you heard the truth and manner therof-wherein is to be noted the great courage of the master, and the loving hearts of the servants to save their master from the danger of death: yea, and the care which the master had to save so much of the owner's goods as he might, although by the same the greatest is his own loss in that he may never travel those parts any more without the loss of his own life, nor yet any of his servants: for if hereafter they should (being known) they are like to taste of the sharp torments which is there accustomed in their hellish, alias holy house. And as for their terming English ships to be in rebellion against them, it is sufficiently known by themselves, and their own conscience cannot deny it, but that with love, unity, and concord, our ships have ever been favourable unto them, and as willing to pleasure their King, as his subjects any way willing to pleasure English passengers.  
The God of heaven preserve the queens majesty of England, who liveth and ruleth in mercy, love, peace, and unity, putting up all wrongs whatsoever: God grant her highness long to reign over England in health, as she hath long continued, and God grant that her enemies, and all traitors to her highness may come to confusion, Amen.  
FINIS.