A TRUE REPORT AND DESCRIPTION of the taking of the Island and Town of S. Mary's, by a Ship of Amsterdam, and four English Pinnasses. 1599  
Translated out of Dutch into English.   embellished fleur de lis 
VBIQVE FLORET  
LONDON Imprinted by john Wolf. 1600.   

A true report and Description of the taking of the Island and Town of S. Mary's, by a ship of Amsterdam and four English Pinnasses.  
AFter that the great and mighty fleet, set forth and furnished by the united Provinces (in the year of our Lord 1599) against the king of Spain and his countries, under the conduct and command of the noble Lord Peter van Does, Admiral and General of the same, had set sail, and put themselves forwards on their no less valiant than successful voyage (which God with his omnipotent hand always vouchsafeth to guide and protect in all their lawful attempts:) it so chanced, that upon the 10. of june, there strayed from the fleet, a ship of Amsterdam, wherein was Captain Garret johnson Cater, who in crossing to and fro, to recover a sight of the fleet, for about the space of three weeks, happened upon the first of july to descry near unto the Island of Saint Mary four small sails, which afterwards he perceived to be four small English Pinnasses, whereof the biggest was of the burden of thirty lasts, the lesser about seven lasts, and the other two accordingly. Being all these four Pinnasses together furnished with nine cast pieces, and could make out amongst them one hundred men, (when that they knew them to be all friends, and that the Captains had been aboard one of the other) after their mutual greetings and welcomes used at sea, the English Captains gave Ca●taine Cater intelligence, how that they lay in wait for a bark lying under S. Mary's Island, which they said was rich●y laden, containing a great treasure, and that with his aid and help they might easily take her. Whereupon the said Cater promised them his good help, and furtherance to fetch the bark from the shore, if so it were, that by his assistance they might take her: but it was told him by the Captain of the greater Pinnace that it would be impossible to take the bark, without that first they took the Island itself. Whereupon after deliberation taken with them (being able to furnish out in all, nine score men, which the said Captain said would suffice to take the Island) they resolved to assault the same with their men. And having made the said Captain Cater their Admiral, they altogether bended their course towards the Island, and the same day entered under the town, preparing themselves to give the assault the next day.  
The second of july, being the visitation of the blessed virg●n Marie, they shot very strongly with four gr●at pieces out of Captain Cators ship upon the town of S. Marry: mean while the men began to be ●owed a shore, being all well appointed and prepared to skirmish, taking their course Eastwards to the Island, to fall upon the same in the low ground, but they could not do it, by reason of the great number of the inhabitants upon the shore, which easily might have hindered their landing. Wherefore Captain Cater after due consideration thought it requisite to send two of the English pinnasses, with eight or ten men towards the west side of the said Island, the which with plying up and down, should seem to assault the Island on that side, himself going also in his boat, with some of his men, rowing towards the West side of the Island: whereupon they were shot at by some Spanish soldiers with Muskets, which lay there upon the flat land, and afterwards the same day they shot mightily with a great piece upon the pinnasses, all which was done to that end, that the soldiers which were occupied on the West side of the Island, should not withdraw themselves to the East side thereof to resist their assault there: which otherwise without doubt th●y would have done.  
Our men now being landed in the East part of the Island, after a small skirmish and little trouble, (by God's help) won the Island: for the Spaniards on the East side being assaulted suddenly and unlooked for, fled immediately: so that our men took not only the above named bark, but also had the whole Island and the Town to their will and disposition.  
Which done, the said Captain Cater by advise of the English Captains, set a ransom on the Island, commanding the chief inhabitants thereof to bring them a certain sum of Ducats.  
Upon the 4. of july they forsook the Island again, because there was no good road to ride in, as also because that the Westerly wind began to rise strongly from the shore, so that they should have been in some peril if they had stayed.  
Thus was the Island and Town of S. Mary's won and taken, after they had lain there three days.  
They might well have kept the same, if they had thought it to have been any thing advantageous, or profitable for them.  
The chief of the Island being by them demanded what the reason was that so lightly they yielded the Island: answered, that they knew God was displeased with them, that he would punish them for their sins, and that therefore they thought it in vain to resist.  
To the Almighty God be infinite praises for this and many other victories granted unto us, and be it his blessed will to continue the same, and to bless all our lawful enterprises, to the praise, honour, and glory of his holy name, and the salvation of our souls.  
Perused by me Garret johnson Cater.  
FINIS.