A true Report of the gener●●… Imbarrement of all the English Ships, under the domin●●● of the king of Spain: and of the dangerous adventure, a●● wonderful deliverance, of a Ship of London called the Viol●● being of the burden of 130. Tun: by the especial prouid●●●● of God, from the violence of spaniards, at a Port called 〈◊〉 Sebastian in Biskay: which adventure was enterprised 〈◊〉 25. of May 1585. and was finished the 29. of the same month, without hurt either to men, or Ship.   warship 
LONDON Imprinted by john Wolf for Thomas Butter, and are to sold at his shop near S. Augustine's gate, 1585.   

I Have offered here unto thy sight (Gentle Reader) some kind of taste, such as it is, of the general Imbarment of all our English Ships now wrongfully withheld, ●●●…lt the Ports of Spain, from our countrymen, by their kings Commission. For me, being a poor English subject, omnium postremissimus, to define, or search the cause it appertaineth not: only of this am I sure, that no such trouble, or adverse perturbation happeneth at any time unto god's people, which his provident wisdom doth not determine, both foreséeinge the beginning, the cause, the means, and continuance, and limiting the end or escape out of the same. Wherein neither chance, nor fortune, nor luck, nor disposition of man hath mastery, but only the government of the lords providence. It is but folly therefore to be moved with the unrighteous course of this wicked world: for we see that even from the beginning the wicked brood of the Serpent have always whetted their teeth against the woman's seed: and that the children of darkness sometimes vex, sometimes persecute, sometimes prevail against the children of light. Howsoever the cause hereof proceedeth, whether for the punishment of our sins here in this life, or for our vigilant watch, or for our trial of faith, or for discovery of wicked and hollow hearts, or in fine for confusion of the adversary: this is certain it is the Lords doing, as the trouble, so the deliverance, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Prophet David found the experience hereof in the desert of Maon: whom Saul and Doeg, and whole armies compassed in on every side, they hemmed him in, and came about him like stinging hornets: but yet unlooked for, when he thought himself lost, yea when the gates of death had taken hold upon him, the Lord of his especial grace delivered him, and set his feet in a large room. For God had sworn by his holiness he would not fail David. And how can it be, but that the same our God having likewise in the same promise through Christ reconciled us his servants unto him, and bound himself unto us, yea even the force, and power likewise of all his creatures, for he hath all power in his own hand, how can it be, but that he doth and will protect especially, yea and wonderfully his servants, that truly fear, and believe in his holy, blessed, and almighty name.  
This spiritual goodness, and lively feeling of faith, because it wanteth in the children of this world, where God wonderfully buildeth, they wilfully pluck down, and in reaching a natural compass, they over reach themselves, trusting and who lie depending upon their worldly policy, and devise. Hereby they have confidence in the strength of their own hand, but distrust in deed that our God is sufficient almighty, and so by hook, or by crook, and extraordinary means perform their unrighteous will, but use violence & force against their Christian Faith. But whatsoever is rightly good, that, is of God, and what God will have performed in performance thereof he worketh always like unto himself, for he is good: and therefore whatsoewer is of him and his government it is finished by good means, and hath his success profitable, and good: as for the contrary, though it seem good and profitable for the time, according as they would have it, yet in final account, it proveth mere loss, and utter confusion, as they justly deserve it.  
In these actions lieth the trial of faith, and in such extremities, or baits of temptation is discerned the note, and difference of good spirits, and bad minded men. The one seeketh help, and thrusteth, or shooveth his will and purpose forward to some, though simple proof, and that with injuries, wickedness, and shipwreck of conscience: the other waiteth the lords leisure, with long, faithful, and patiented looking till he come. As the Hen over her Chickens, so doth the Lord over these his servants spread his wings, and especial providence: for he covereth them as with a cloud in the heat of the day, and guideth them as a pillar of light in darkness, he is unto them a springing well in time of drought, and a safe, or easy path and way in extreme danger, yea through armies of men, and main floods of the red Sea.  
The exploit lately attempted, and performed by some of our countrymen Merchants, and Mariners, and chief encouraged thereunto by Roland randal master Gunner of the same Ship, who lately, and most happily escaped the violence and bondage of the Spaniards doth sufficiently declare the same. For whereas certain English Ships, the number as yet uncertain, are at this present generally through all the dominion of Spain imbarred, and arrested by King Philip's Commission to his use and service, when and where, and against whom it shall best please him, and are to that end watchfully and strongly guarded that none should scape, our men spoiled of their force, and power: it pleased notwithstanding the Lord our God most wonderfully, when all hope was past, to deliver a Ship of London called the Violet from the rage, and tyranny of their oppressors: the truth whereof is thus as followeth.  
The 25. of May last past this present year of our Lord 1585. the aforesaid Ship called the Violet, with eight other Ships were at road in the Harbour or Quince of S. Sebastian. The Ship was in burden of 130. Tun: which but a little before having unbarcked her Merchandise, was now bound to England again, and had to that end received in threescore Tun. The English men in the Ship being thus occupied about their freight, and the master Gonner Roland randal being on land, there came unto them the Chorage of Door, the Captain of the Town, so called, with the kings Commission to stay the Ship, & take the sails a shore: which they supposing to have sufficiently performed, they departed.  
The next day they came aboard again, and called for a note of the furniture and shot. The master Gunner espying such a number in the Ship, plied him thither, and after many speeches he gave a note thereof, but not in such sort, and so fully as they were furnished indeed. Certain English Merchants came a board the same time to make merry, but this news was to them a bitter sauce for their good cheer. The note of the shot that then was given was 8. Kalicuers, & 8. cast pieces, which they would have had away, but that M. Young became bound for the stay of the same and the Ship. The same day we heard that the Primrose M. Bonds Ship had escaped. Which escape so encouraged us, considering the great suit we had made to get our discharge and could obtain no favour, that every man in the Ship bound himself to other to stand to all extremities, and when time and wind served, either to lose our lives, or find a passage: Emboldened the rather by the forwardness of randal the master Gunner, who left nothing unassayed, or unready for his part.  
The spaniards albeit they had surprised all our sails, as they thought, with sufficient bonds, yet for more security they enuirened us with force by sea & by land: 6000. men within and without the walls were attendant on this service: three nights before our adventure, besides them that gave assault, as you shall understand in the verses following. But yet it pleased God to give us a gale of wind for passage, and so we adventured our liberty through the midst of our enemies, who made a wonderful shooting and crying, O Anglois, Anglois.  
After which our escape, a Pinnase followed us with a Flag of Truce, wherein the Captain had sent an English Merchant with letters for our return: binding the same merchant in 18000. crowns not to escape. This merchant and other Spaniards coming aboard our Ship found, as they said sufficient power to withstand all their force, and so were glad to departed with answer as followeth in the verses.  

THe day and year aforesaid was,  
at Saint Sebastian:  
The Violet of London stayed  
both Ship and also man.   

The Captain of the High Castle,  
with Soldiers of his train.  
In Ship with kings Commission  
took sails from yard amain.   

They thought they had caught all our sails  
yet took but one away:  
Our main corpse and a drabiler,  
the rest aboard did stay.   

As Ship in Quince then moared was,  
by three kables full fast:  
This news to hear was strange to us,  
and made us all aghast.   

Conuited was a board on Ship  
that present day at noon  
divers, with merchants Englishmen  
whose merriment soon was done.   

The wind then being contrary  
resistance was in vain:  
And therefore armed with patience  
our hands perforce refrain.   

Yea more than so: bonds must be made  
that all things be forth coming:  
Then George Young merchant of the Town,  
was bound unto the king   

In body, goods, and all he had  
encompassed in a strait:  
If Ship did scape, that then he should  
remain a Spanish bait.   

The Ship continued stayed four days,  
without hope of release:  
No way was found for help, but care  
did more, and more increase.   

For spaniards plied with cruel force  
to guard on every side:  
Inraught we were as birds in cage  
bereft of wind, and tide.   

Their Ordinance great on Tower walls,  
were bend against our Ship:  
And Soldiers in a great Bisken  
their small shot well did keep.   

A great Pinnase of twenty Tons  
likewise a loof there lay:  
Y fraught with fifty Soldiers shot  
our English Ship to stay.   

What more, than fifty Soldiers were  
placed on the Blocks hard by:  
With Hatgabushes' ready priest  
in watch there did they lie.   

They planted fifty Soldiers more  
upon the Rocks by West:  
And on the Blocks that there do lie  
our Ship for to infest.   

On watch tower, and upon the wall  
were set a hundred more  
Of Soldiers shot, with Hargabushes  
our English Ship to gore.   

And if perhaps we scape all this  
yet is the Castle strong:  
With hot and roaring Cannons force  
to lay our Ship a long.   

In fine, the Harbours outlet is  
but narrow for the place:  
With Rocks, and Western raging seas  
all hurtful in such case.   

Thus have you heard the dangers great  
wherein our Ship did lie:  
Right happy men you may us think  
that now our Ship should fly.   

For Ship in all unreadiness is  
this nine and twentieth of May:  
Therefore unlike for to escape  
at breaking of the day.   

And no preparing was to be  
before the time present:  
Therefore to have it well applied  
was every man's intent.   

What than? when earthly hope was past  
we called upon the Lord:  
And humbled down our woeful hearts  
in prayers with one accord.   

That he would still be unto us  
our God and stretch his hand:  
To rid us from the power and thrust  
of this same cursed land.   

It pleased the Lord of his good grace  
to hear our woeful cry:  
And in good tune a gale of wind  
he sent us prosperously.   

Now cheer my hearts, the Master said  
the wind doth serve our turn:  
Be yare my mates and fellows all,  
or else we are undone.   

Bring over Kable to Kapstene,  
veer both, or other fast:  
Out end for end: give Ship the way,  
bring sales to yard, be priest.   

Then did the slaves in Biskin cry,  
Hola nave, adonda voye  
O Anglois, Anglois, Anglois,  
beginning to annoy.   

Pit, pat Kalievers thundered thick  
good fellows cut our kable  
In haste, and hoist our foresail, shoot  
as fast as you are able.   

When once we passed the great Biskine  
and somewhat set at large:  
From out the Block, and watch tower came  
a second cry, and charge.   

O Anglois, Anglois, Latherunes  
o atarra arma:  
O Diabilo the Anglois  
arma, arma, arma.   

The Pinnase that on other side  
did lie with soldiers there:  
Was gone before our going out  
and did not come us near.   

Now was out foresail, and myssine  
with toretopsaile also  
Set rucking with our boat a head  
amain our Ship did go.   

The great shot strait from off Town walls  
did rage on every side:  
The Block shot, Rock shot, and Watchtower  
their deadly force have tried.   

At last the thundering Cannon shot  
did roar from Castle high:  
We shrunk not from our tackeling though,  
'twas time for us to ply.   

Than hoist our main topsail aloft  
being set with other three:  
And so were like to run on Rocks  
tween fear, and hope of glee.   

But God out God, who from the shot  
preserved us: From the Blocks  
Did shield our London Violet  
likewise from dangerous Rocks.   

Praised be God our Lord therefore  
who is of mighties most  
For that he hath defended us  
from Spanish bloody coast.   

At last aloof we spied full fast  
a Pinnase to us bend:  
Which to our sight a Flag of truce  
did willingly present.   

Strike Topsail quoth our Master then  
to approach let's give them leave:  
Perhaps of their or our ill speed  
some News we shall receive.   

Their message stood upon three points  
of Flattery, Threats, and Pity:  
A seemly song for Spanish lips  
to catch some fools unwitty.   

The first that if we would return  
a pardon we should have:  
And freedom large, as erst before,  
the king our lives should save.   

For so the Captain General  
had sworn full solemnly:  
Upon God's Sacrament, say they,  
believe it verily.   

If not, two Biskins with their shot  
and thousand men likewise:  
And other Sips with Pinnaces  
should quickly us surprise.   

And than our Ship, our Goods, our Lives  
confiscate should remain:  
Unto the King, out Bail likewise  
and Merchant should sustain   

The loss of Goods, and liberty,  
and live as Captives thrall:  
Besides a thousand mischiefs should  
to us and them befall.   

When this would not prevail, halas  
Anglois, our men must die:  
Who placed in Biskin for your stay,  
have let you safely fly.   

Besides our Captain of the Town,  
had rather lose this day  
A hundred thousand Ducats, than  
your Ship should thus away.   

Their letters and their glozing speech  
they both had this effect.  
A bootless parley, our short Avaunt  
did easily them reject.   

We heard, said we, in harbour late  
the cause of this our stay:  
Forsooth our Ship, and shot should serve  
the king for his own prey.   

And that our Ship should serve his use  
even where it pleased his Grace:  
And we beg homeward, or take up  
in Spain a Captives place.   

What spaniards? think that we be men  
and loath to lose our own:  
Our lives shall rather buy our escape  
than wife, and children moan.   

Avaunt therefore: do what you can,  
dispatch your Ships with speed:  
As for your King, your power and laws  
we pass them not a reed.   

This answer once received, forthwith  
the Pinnase made away:  
Our masters then with cheerful hearts  
unto us all 'gan say.   

Our Ship you have preserved this time  
we thank your manly hearts:  
Our Ship though ours, yet now your gift,  
who stoutly played your parts.   

The spaniards yet made no reply  
we no return have seen:  
Therefore all praise be to the Lord  
God save our noble Queen.   
FINIS.  
R. D.