THE Valiant and most laudable fight performed in the straits, by the Centurion of London, against five Spanish Galleys.  
Who is safely returned this present month of May. Anno. D. 1591.   

❧ The valiant and most laudable fight performed on the Sea, by the Centurion of London.  
IN the month of November last passed, there were sundry Ships appertaining to several Merchants of London, which were rigged and fraught, forth with merchandise, some for Spain, and some for sundry other places of traffic, who together having wind and wether, which oft-time fell out very uncertain, arrived safely in short space, at such places as they desired, among whom was the Centurion of London, a very tall Ship of burden, yet but weakly manned, as appeareth by this History ensuing; wherein God showed a most wonderful accident of his merciful love and favour towards them, giving them the victory, and delivering them from the hands of their Enemies, at such time as it was thought unpossible for them to escape.  
This aforesaid Ship called the Centurion, safely arrived at Marseelis, where after they had delivered their goods, they stayed about the space of five weeks, and better, and then took in lading, intending to return to England.  
Now when the Centurion was ready to come away from Marseelis, there were sundry other ships of smaller burden, entreated the Master thereof, whose name is Robert Bradshaw, dwelling at the Lime-house, to stay a day or two for them, until they were in a readiness to departed with them, thereby persuading them, that it would be far better for them to stay and go together in respect of their assistance, then to departed of themselves without company, and so happily for want of aid fall into the hands of their Enemies in the Spanish Galleys. Upon which reasonable persuasion, notwithstanding that this Ship was of such sufficiency as they might hazard her in the danger of the Sea, yet they stayed for those little Ships according to their request, who together did put to Sea from Marseelis, and vowed in general not to fly one from another, if so they should happen to meet with any Spanish Galleys, being resolute rather to fight it out, then once to be taken by the Spaniards to endure their accustomed cruelty.  
These small Ships accompanied with the Centurion, sailing along the coast of Spain, was upon Ester day last in the straits of jebualtare suddenly becalmed, where immediately they saw sundry Galleys make towards them, in very valiant and courageous sort: the chief Leaders and Soldiers in those Galleys, bravely appareled in silk coats, with silver whistles about their necks, and great plumes of Feathers in their Hafs, who with their calivers, shot at the Centurion so fast as they might: so that by ten of the clock and somewhat before, they had boarded the Centurion, who before their coming, had prepared for them, and intended to give them so sour a welcome as they might. And thereupon having prepared their close fights, & all things in a readiness, they called upon God, on whom only they trusted: and having made their prayers, and cheered up one another to fight so long as life endured, they began to discharge their great Ordinance upon the Galleys, but the little Ships durst not come forward, but lay aloof, while five Galleys had hoardward them, yea and with their grappling irons made their Galleys fast to the said Ship called the Centurion.  
The Galleys were grappled to the Centurion in this manner, two lay on one side, and two on another, and the Admiral lay full in the stern, which galled & battered the Centurion so sore, that her main Mast was greatly weakened, her sails filled with many holes, and the Mizzen and stern made almost unserviceable.  
During which time there was a sore and deadly fight on both sides, in which, the Trumpet of the Centurion, sounded forth the deadly points of war, & encouraged them to fight manfully against their adversaries: on the contrary part, there was no warlike Music in the Spanish Galleys, but only their whistles of silver, which they sounded forth to their own contentment: in which fight many a Spaniard was turned into the sea, and they in multitudes came crawling and hung upon the side of the ship, intending to have entered into the same, but such was the courage of the Englishmen, that so fast as the Spaniards did come to enter, they gave them such entertainment, that some of them were glad to tumble alive into the sea, being remediless for ever to get up alive. In the Centurion there was in all, of men and boys, forty and eight, who together fought most valiantly, and so galled the enemy, that many a brave and lusty Spaniard lost his life in that place.  
The Centurion was fired five several times, with wild fire and other provision, which the Spaniards threw in for that purpose: yet God be thanked, by the great and diligent foresight of the Master it did no harm at all.  
In every of the Galleys there was about five or six hundredth Soldiers: who together with the shot, spoiled, rend, and battered the Centurion very sore: shot through her main Mast, and slew four of the men in the said ship, the one of them being the Master's mate.  
Ten other persons were hurt, by means of splinters which the Spaniards shot: yea, in the end when their provision was almost spent, they were constrained to shoot at them hammers, and the chains from their slaves, and yet God be thanked, they received no more damage: but by spoiling and over wearying of the Spaniards, the Englishmen constrained them to ungrapple themselves, and get them going, and sure if there had been any other fresh ship or succour to have relieved and assisted the Centurion, they had slain, sunk, or taken all those Galleys and their Soldiers.  
The Dolphin lay a loof of and durst not come near, while the other two small ships fled away, so that one of the Galleys went from the Centurion and set upon the Dolphin, which ship immediately was set on fire with their own powder, whereby both men and ship perished: but whether it was with their good wills or no, that was not known unto the Centurion, but sure if it had come forward, and been an aid unto the Centurion, it is to be supposed that it had not perished.  
Five hours and a half this fight continued, in which time both were glad to departed only to breath themselves, but when the Spaniards were gone, they never durst return to fight: yet the next day six other Galleys came and looked at them, but durst not at any hand meddle with them. Thus God delivered them from the hands of their enemies, and gave them the victory: for which they heartily praised God, and are now safely arrived in London.  
FINIS.  
Present at this fight, Master John Hawer Merchant, and sundry other of good account.