A LIBEL OF Spanish Lies: FOUND AT THE Sack of Caies, discoursing the fight in the West INDIES, twixt the English Navy being fourteen Ships and Pinasses, and a fleet of twenty sail of the king of Spain's, and of the death of Sir Francis Drake. With an answer briefly confuting the Spanish lies, and a short Relation of the fight according to truth, written by Henry Savile Esquire, employed Captain in one of her majesties Ships, in the same service against the Spaniard. And also an Approbation of this discourse, by Sir Thomas Baskervile, than General of the English fleet in that service: Avowing the maintenance thereof, personally in Arms against Don Bernaldino, if he shall take exceptions to that which is here set down, Touching the fight twixt both Navies, or justify that which he hath most falsely reported in his vain Printed letter.  Proverb. 19 ver. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. 
LONDON Printed by john Windet, dwelling by Paul's Wharfe at the sign of the Cross Keys, and are there to be sold. 1596.   

 celestial model   

TO THE COVERteous Reader.  
WHereas, DON BERNALDINO DELGADILLO de AVELLANEDA, General of the Spanish fleet, hath by his Printed letters published to the world divers untruths, concerning our fleet and the Commanders thereof, seeking thereby his own glory, and our disgrace; I have taken upon me (though of many least able) to confute the same, the rather for that the printed Copy came first into my hands, having myself been Captain of one of her majesties ships in the same voyage: Take this therefore (gentle Reader) as a token of my duty and love to my Country and Countrymen, And expect only a plain truth, as from the pen of a Soldier, and Navigator: Which if you take in good part, may draw me shortly to a greater labour, by publishing unto you our whole voyage.  
Henry Savile.   
THe true Copy of a letter found at the sacking of Cales, written by Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Avellaneda, General of the king of Spain his Navy in the west Indies, sent unto Doctor Peter Flores, Precedent of the Contraction house for the Indies, and by him put in Print, with privilege: wherein is declared many untruths, and false reports, tending to the disgrace of the service of her majesties Navy, and the Commanders thereof, lately sent to the west Indies, under the Command of Sir Frances Drake, and Sir john Hawkins Generals at the Sea; and Sir Thomas Baskervile General at land: with a confutation of divers gross lies and untruths, contained in the same letter: together with a short relation of the fight according to the truth.  


COPIA DE una Carta, ●embio Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda, General dela Armada de su Magestad, embiada all Doctor Pedro Florez Presidente dela casa dela Contratation de las Yndias', en que trata del sucesso dela Armada de Ynglaterra, despues que pattio de Panama, de que fue por general Francisco Draque, y de sumuerte.  
DE Cartageva di cuenta a. V m. common sali del puetto dela ciudad de Lisbona, en busca de la armada Ynglesa, aunque por la mucha priessa, no se pudierou reparar tambien los Galeones common fuera necessario, y conel tiempo se perdio uno, y por desgracia se quemo un Filibote, y a viendo andado muchos dias en busca del enemigo, hasta quellegue a Cartagena, don de aviendo tomado el parecer de Don Pedro de Acuna Governador y capitan general de aquella ciudad, porque tenia mucha necessidad de agua, y reparar los Navios por que venian faltos della, me detwe en aquel puerto, a doude tuve noticia por un Aniso, que Francisco Draque murio en number de Dios, de pena de aver perdido tantos Baxeles y gente, aunque despues se supo mas por estenso, y avien do dado a. V m. cuenta de lo que hasta alli a sucedido agora la doy de que sali de aquel puerto a dos de Março, y tome la derrota de la Havana, donde entendi hallarlo, y aviendo hecho la diligencia possible. Lunes a onze deal dicho mes, alas dos despues de medio dia, all salir dela Ysla de Pinos, enla ensenada de Guaniguanico, tope con elque yva con catorze Navios muy buenos, fueme arrimando a el, aun que tenia el viento por suyo, y el Almiranta q̄ yua mas all viento con orros does Navios commenço arrimarsele, y aunque vino sober ella con todos los suyos tres vezes, no fue part acei carsele para quequi siesse enuestir, los que estavamos mas apartadoes fuymos dando bordoes acercandonos hasta jugar la artilleria, Mosqueteria, y Arcabuzeria delos mas dellos, en loveless qual el recibio m vy conocido dano, ello hiza conel artilleria common suele, y particularmente el Almiranta, y en reconociendo la voluntad con que a el nos arrimavamos, con mas diligencia delo que se puede creer se desembaraço de todosponiendose en huyda, dando las velas, dexando en le mar todas, las Lan chas que traya. you'll segui con nueve Nauios toda la noche, y con quatro mas todo el dia hasta hazerle doblar el cabo de san Anton, y tomar la derrota de la Canal de Bahama conform alas instruciones de su Magestad, siruio de poco el verme con menos numero de Navios, ni todas las diligencias que se hizieron, para que se inclinase a esperar ni abordar, ni tirar un Arcabuz, ni una pieça, porque el se dlo la diligencia que pudo, porque sus Navios los ania reduzido a la mitad y los mejores, y estos acabava de reparar en Puerto Belo, donde se estuvo mas de quarenta dias, y ansi veniam muy reparados y yo saque los mios desbaratados, que no me dio el tiepo lugar para adereçarlos. A que navego does meses y medio, y traygo la capitana que desde que parti de Cartagena no an parado las bombas, y el dia que sali me ie arrimo ura Zabra con esta necessidad; la Almiran ta y los demas Navios vienen conel mismo trabajo, perosin embargo, por lo que yo vi en los enemigos; era muy conocida la ventaja que nos hazia, y mucha dicha seria apoderarse delsino es hallarlo sober el Ferro. Con todo esso me an dexado un Navio muy bueno en 'las manos con muy buena gente, lafoy qual dize common murio el Draq̄en number de Dios y que va por general dela dicha armada Ynglesa, el Colonel Quebraran, y por el poco lugar que se a dado no an podido tomar: Agua; lena, ni carne, y van de manera que no se common an de llegar a Ynglaterra. Entre la gente deuen de ser ciento y quarenta, y quinze nobles capitanes delo mejor de alli, y algunos ricos segun se echa de ver enellos. Not senior ofrece otra cosa: nuestrose nōr guard a. V m. common puede y yo desseo.  
Dela Havana. 30. de Março; de 1596. Anos. Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda.   

EL Licenciado Don ivan Bermudes ê Figueroa, Tenientemayor de Assistente desta ciudad de Sevilla ysu tierra, que hago oficio de Assistente della por ausencia, de su Senoria del Conde de Priego, Doy licencia a Rodrigo de Cabrera, para quepueda imprimir la Relation dela muerte de Francisco Draque. I a qual haga por does meses, y por ellos not lo imprima otro alguno. Sopena de diez mill maravedis para la camara de su Magestad.  
Fecha en Sevilla a quinze de Mayo, de mill y quinientos y noventa y seys anos. El Licenciado Don juan Bermudez e Figueroa. Por su mandado Gregoria Gutierrez. Escrivano.   

THE SPANISH Letter Englished.  
The copy of a letter, which Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda, General of the king of Spain his Army, sent unto Doctor Peter Flores, Precedent of the contraction house for the Indies, wherein he maketh mention of the success of the English Army, after they departed from Pannama, whereof was General Frances Drake, and of his death.  
FRom Cartagena, I gave relation unto you, how I departed from the City of Lisbon, in the pursuit of the English Army: although for the great hast the Galleons could not be so well repaired as was needful, and with foul weather one was lost, and a Flyboat was burned, and having sailed many days in pursuit of the enemy, until I arrived at Carthagena, whereas having taken the advise of Don Pedro de Acunia, Governor of the City, and Captain general; for we had great need of water, and to repair our Ships, we stayed in that port, whereas I had intelligence by an Indian, that Frances Drake died in Number de Dios, for very grief that he had lost so many Barks and men, as was afterwards more manifestly known: And having given you a relation of all that happened hitherto: Now I let you understand, that I left this Port the second of March, and took our course towards the Havana, where I thought to have found the English fleet, & also used all the diligence possible: upon Monday the eleventh of the said Month, about two of the clock in the afternoon, at the issue of the Isle of Pinas, in the entrance of Guaniguanico, I met with the English fleet, being fourteen very good Ships, I drawn towards them although they had the wind of us, & our Admiral who boar up towards the wind, with other two Ships began to draw near them, and although we set thus upon them, three times with all their Ships, yet would they not set again upon us, and those of our men which were farthest of cried to them amain, being both within shot of Artillery, Muskats and Calivers, whereby they received evident hurt by us: They shot off now & then at us, and especially their Admiral, and seeing our resolution how sharp we were bend towards them, they with all expedition and speed possible prepared to fly away, hoisting Sails and leaving their Oars for haste in the Sea: but I followed them, with nine Ships all the night following, and with four more the next day, till I made them double Saint Antony's point, and so I took the course towards La Canet de Bahamet, according to the instructions from his Majesty: It little availed us to be seen, with less number of Ships, neither yet all the diligence we could use, could 'cause them to stay or come near us, nor to shoot off one Hargabush or piece of Artillery, for they fled away as fast as they could, and their Ships were well diminished, and that the best part of them, the rest they repaired in the port Bella, whereas they were about forty days before, and so by that means they were all well repaired, and our Ships very foul, because the time would not permit us to trim them: I have sailed two Months and a half in the Ship called the Capitana, sithence we departed from Carthagena, we have not repaired their Pumps nor cleansed them: And the same day I departed thence, my Ships were all foul with Barnacles, our Admiral and the rest of our Ships have the like impediment, but no great hindrance unto us for aught I could perceive by our enemies: It is manifest what advantage they had of us, and by no means was it possible for us to take them, unless we could have come to deal with them with fire and sword. Nevertheless they left us one good ship behind for our share, well manned, which told me that the Drake died in Number de Dios, and that they have made for General of the English fleet, the Colonel Quebraran, and also by means of the small time being straightly followed by us, they had no opportunity to take either water, wood or flesh, and they are also in such bad case, that I know not how they will be able to arrive in England, the number of men we have taken are about 140. and 15. Noble Captains of their best sort, and some of them rich, as well may appear by their behaviour: I have no other thing to writ at this time. Our Lord keep you who best can, & as I desire.  
From the Havana the 30. of March. 1596 Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda.   

THe Licenciat Don john Bermudas of Figueroa Lieutenant of the Assistants of the City of civil, and the province thereof, who doth supply the Office of the assistant in the absence of the Right Honourable the Earl of Priego. Give licence to Roderigo de Cabrierae to Imprint the Relation of the death of France's Drake, which only he may do for two Months, and no other to Imprint the same within the said term, upon pain of ten thousand maravedis for his majesties Chamber.  
Given in civil the 15. of May. 1596. The Licenciat Don John Bermudes of Figueroa. By his Assign Gregory Gutierrez Notary.   
THis letter of the General Don Bernaldino sent into Spain declaring the death of Sir France's Drake and their supposed victory; was altogether received for an undoubted truth, and so pleasing was this news unto the Spaniard, that there was present commandment given to publish the letter in Print, that all the people of Spain might be partakers of this common joy: The which letter Printed in civil, bearing date the xv. of May, 1596. came to the hands of Henry Savile Esquire who being employed in that service for the west Indies, and Captain of her majesties good Ship the Adventure, under the conduct of Sir France's Drake, and Sir john Hawkins, Hath caused the said Printed letter to be translated into English. And that the impudency of the Spanish General may the more plainly appear, the said Henry Savile doth answer particularly to every untruth in the same letter contained, as hereafter followeth.   

THE ANSWER TO The Spanish letter.  

First whereas the General doth say, that France's Drake died at Number de Dios, as he had intelligence by an Indian.  
THe General sent this news into his Country confirmed with his hand and seal of Arms: 
The General's first news, and his best news is in part lying news.  It is the first news in his letter, and it was the best news that he could sand into Spain. For it did ease the stomachs of the timorous Spaniards greatly to hear of the death of him, whose life was a scourge & continual plague unto them: But it was a point of great simplicity, & scarcely beseeming a General, to tie the credit of his report locally to any place upon the report of a silly Indian slave. For it had been sufficient to have said, that France's Drake was certainly dead, without publishing the lie in Print, by naming Nombre de Dios: for it is most certain Sir France's Drake died twixt the Island of Scouda, and Porte-bella: But the General being ravished with the sudden joy of this report as a man that hath escaped a great danger of the enemy, 
The General seemeth to want friends in Court, sending such great news to a private Doctor.  doth break out into an insolent kind of bragging of his valour at Sea, and heaping one lie upon another, doth not cease until he hath drawn them into sequences, and so doth commend them unto Peter the Doctor, as censor of his learned work.   

Secondly, The general doth writ unto the doctor, that Frances Drake died for very grief that he had lost so many Barks and men.  
A Thing very strange that the General or the Indian, whom he doth vouch for his lie, should have such speculation in the body of him whom they never see, as to deliver for truth unto his Country, the very cause or disease whereof he died: And this second report of his is more gross than the first. For admit the mistaking of the place might be tolerable; notwithstanding, this precise affirming the cause of his death, doth manifestly prove that the General doth make no conscience to lie. 
Don Bernaldino doth lie impudently.  And as concerning the loss of any Barks or men in our Navy, by the valour of the Spaniard before Sir France's Drake his death, we had none (one small Pinnace excepted) which we assuredly know was taken by chance falling single into a fleet of five Frigates (of which was General, 
The success of the kings five Frigates.  Don Pedro Telio,) near unto the Island of Dominico, and not by the valour of Don Bernaldino: the which five Frigates of the Kings afterwards had but ill success, for one of them we burned in the harbour of S. john Portrico, and one other was sunk in the same harbour, and the other three were burned amongst many other Ships at the taking of Cales: This I think in wise men's judgements, will seem a silly cause to move a man sorrow to death. 
The certain cause whereof Sir Frances Drake died.  For true it is, Sir France's Drake died of the Flix which he had grown upon him eight days before his death, and yielded up his spirit like a Christian to his creator quietly in his Cabin. And when the General shall survey his losses, he shall find it more than the loss of the English, and the most of his destroyed by the Bullet: But the death of Sir France's Drake was of so great comfort unto the Spaniard, that it was thought to be a sufficient amendss, although their whole fleet had been utterly lost.   

Thirdly, The general doth say of his own credit, and not by intelligence from any Indian or other, that on the eleventh of March last he met the English fleet at the Isle of Pinas, being fourteen good Ships, who although they had the wind of him, yet he set upon them three times with all their Ships, but the English fleet fled, and refused to fight shooting now and then a shot, but especially the Admiral.  
THis third lie of the General Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Avellaneda, (whose name for the prolixity thereof may be drawn somewhat near the length of a Cable) hath no colour of protection, but it hath a just proportion in measure to the lies of old Barnardino de Mendozza his Countryman, 
A pair of Spanish Liars.  concerning the overthrow of her majesties Navy in the year 1588. for except Don Barnaldino the General, did purpose to win the whetstone from Don Barnardino de Mendozza the old Spanish liar: I cannot conjecture why he should writ to his Country for a truth, that he chased the English navy with nine Ships, and did three several times give the onset to the English fleet, who being fourteen good Ships (as he says) did fly and refuse to fight, being that the Spanish vice-admiral (if he be living) and many other, 
The spanish Vice-admiral a man of valour.  can witness the contrary, who fight like a true valiant man, departed from the fight with a torn and battered Ship to save her from sinking. Neither can I imagine that there is any one in the Spanish fleet (Don Bernaldino excepted) that will say they were less than twenty sail of Ships when they met the English fleet: And the Spanish Navy can witness that they received such store of Bullets from the English fleet, that they were glad to departed, 
The number of the Spanish Ships after the fight.  and in despite of them the English Navy did hold their determined course: And taking a view of the Spanish fleet the next day, their number was not above thirteen Ships, which did argue that they were either sunk, or fled to harbour to save themselves.   

Fourthly, The general says, that the English fleet fled away, and left their Oars for haste behind them in the Sea.  
IT was strange that they should leave behind them Oars in the Sea, being there was not in the English fleet either Galley or gallyasse, 
This lie was made in the Generals own forge.  which required the use of Oars, as for the Oars of their shipboates and other such small vessels, they had stowed them aboard their Ships, and were no impediment unto them, but most necessary for them to use, and therefore not likely they would cast them overboard: But it is most likely, that the General fallen into some pleasant dream at Sea, wherein he did see a false apparition of victory against the English, & for lack of matter did set this down in his letter for news to his country: It is sin to belie the Devil, and therefore the General shall have his right, 
A commendation of the General  the letter is so well contrived, (and yet with no great eloquence) but with such art, that there are not many more lines, than there are lies, which showeth that there are wonderful and extraordinary gifts in the General: But I am persuaded if Don Bernaldino had thought that his letter should have been Printed, he would have omitted many things contained in the letter, for the Doctor did use him somewhat hardly in showing the letter openly, 
The General doth practise to lie, for recreation.  and more in suffering it to be Printed: for friends may like good fellows sand lies one to the other for recreation, and feed their friends with some small taste thereof, so it be kept close, without danger to incur the title of a lying General: But as the matter is now handled through the simplicity of the Doctor, I cannot see but the General Don Bernaldino, is like to carry the title equally twixt both his shoulders.   

Fiftly, The general doth say in his Printed letter, that notwithstanding all the diligence he could use, he could not 'cause the English fleet to stay nor come near them, nor discharge one Hargebush or piece of Artillery, but fled away as fast as they could.  
ANd this lie also he doth not receive by intelligence from any other, but himself was an eye-witness in the action, which made him bold to sand this with the rest into his Country for currant news: But herein Don Bernaldino was more bold than wise, for the torn and battered sides of his Gallyons, being compared with her Majesty's Ships, and others that served in that fight, 
The torn sides of the Spanish Ships do condemn Don Bernaldino of lying.  do declare, that his Ships received at lest two bullets for one. Neither can it be concealed but his own Countrymen (if any do favour truth) may easily see the loss, and late reparations, done unto the King's fleet sithence they did encounter with the English Navy, whensoever they that remain shall arrive in Spain: But the General seemeth to be a very good proficient in his profession, and waxeth somewhat bold, treading the true steps of old Barnardino de Mendozza, and yet Mendozza was somewhat more wary in his lies, for he had sometime the colour of intelligence to shadow them, but the General growing from boldness to impudency, maketh no scruple to say, that the English Navy fled as fast as they could without discharging any Hargebush or piece of Artillery, when as the battered sides of his ships do return the lie to his face: 
Note the valour of Don Bernaldino.  For in this conflict Don Bernaldino did behave himself so valiantly, that he was always farthest of in the fight, & had so great care of his own person that he stood clear from the danger of Muskat or any small shot, & dared not approach, whereas our general was the foremost, & so held his place, until by order of fight other ships were to have their turns, 
The order of the English Navy.  according to his former direction, who wisely & politicly had so ordered his vanguard, & rearguard, that as the manner of it was altogether strange to the Spaniard, so might they have been without all hope of victory, if their General had been a man of any judgement in Sea fights: I know no reason why the English Navy should fly from him, 
The Spaniard cannot brag of his gain.  for the Spaniard may put all the gain in his eye that ever he did win from the English: Peradventure some seely novice of our country meeting the general in Spain, and hearing a repetition of so many syllables in one name, as Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda, might think them to be words of Conjuration, & for fear of raising a Spirit, might fly from him as from the Devil, or some simple Indian slave hearing the like repetition of his long and tedious name, might suppose it to be an Army of Spaniards, and for fear run away: But the commanders and Captains of the English Navy, 
Spanish brags are of no value with the English.  were men of such resolution, that no Spanish brags could dismay them, for they have often met them with their Pikes in their Spanish beards. Nor the countenance of Don Bernaldino quail them, although he were acowtred in his gilded Leather buskins, and his Toledo Rapier.   

Sixtly, The general says in his letter, that notwithstanding their flying away so fast, the English left them one good Ship well manned, who told him that the Drake died in Number de Dios, in which Ship were one hundred and forty men, and fifteen noble Captains of the best sort.  
THe General Don Bernaldino, 
Don Bernaldino very resolute,  like a resolute spaniard having already gone over his shoes, maketh no danger to wade over his Boats also: and as he hath begun so he doth conclude, I marvel that he did not in writing his discourse remember this old saying; that is, A liar aught to have a good memory: It were much better for him in mine opinion to revoke the testimony which he says he had from the English men, concerning Sir France's Drake his death at Number de Dios, and stand to the intelligence received from the seely Indian slave, as it appeareth in his first lie, 
The Indian slave, is the best shadow, to the General's lie  for without all doubt, there is no English man that will say (if he have his right senses) that he died at Number de Dios, for they all know the contrary: Neither can the General avouch that he received intelligence from any English man, that after the death of Sir Frances Drake they did elect for General Colonel Quebraran, 
Don Bernaldino his rare gift in coining a new and strange name.  as he doth most falsely affirm in the latter end of his vain and frivolous letter, being that the name was strange, and unknown to any in the English Navy. Neither do I imagine that any of those which the General says he hath taken were so forgetful as not to remember their general's name. But without all doubt this addition of so new, and strange a name to the English General, doth prove that Don Bernaldino is not unfurnished of a forge & storehouse of lies, 
The General's storehouse of lies.  from whence as from an everflowing fountain, he sendeth forth lies of all sorts suffcient for his own store, and great plenty to furnish his friends: The General was much beholding to his godfathers who gave him the name Barnaldino, which we in English do take to be plain Barnard, which name hath as it were a kind of privilege from being sharply reprehended when the party is thought to err: for it is a common saying amongst the Schoolmen that Barnardus non videt omnia, 
The schoolmen of modesty do use this kind of reprehension, when they do think the Author to err.  viz. Barnard seethe not all things, (when he doth dissent from their opinions) the which favour we could be content to yield to Bernaldino for the name sake, if he were not taken with so many manifest and impudent lies, neither do I think that signor Bernaldino will say that he see all that he hath written, be it spoken in council for shaming the General, for is there any man so void of reason as to think? That any Englishman being demanded of his General's name, would writ or speak Quebraran for Baskervile, so much difference there is in the sound of the syllables, 
The difference twixt Quebraran and Baskervile.  as there is no affinity at all, or likelihood of truth: But such are the General's rare gifts, (be it spoken to his small praise) that we Englishmen must of force confess that the General hath given a proud onset to carry the whetstone from signor Barnardino de Mendozza: Neither will the 140. men & 15. noble Captains (which he says he did take, of whom he might have been rightly informed of their general's name) acquit him of lying forgery, 
The General convicted of lying and forgery.  for giving the name of Quebraran to the English General: as for the good Ship well manned, which he says the English left them after the fight, I am persuaded he hath no man to witness that lie, for the ship was separated by weather from the English fleet in the night thirteen days before the fight, with the Spanish Navy, & never to any man's knowledge came more in sight of the English fleet, 
The General maketh great brags in taking a distressed Ship, which is supposed not to strike one blow.  if the Spanish Ships by chance did take the said well manned Ship (as they call her) I doubt not but they have the Ship, the 140. men, and the 15. noble Captains to show: But evermore I guess the Spanish reckoning will fall short when it is examined, for the fifteen noble Captains will prove (as I take it) but three, whose loss I grieve to think on: 
The fifteen noble Captains according the generals lying occupation, will prove but three.  Neither did the Spaniards gain them by valour, or we lose or leave them for cowardice, as most untruly this bragging liar hath certified. But the General like a provident man, to make his fame and credit the greater with his Prince and country, doth take upon him (amongst other his miracles performed before the English fleet) by way of amplification to make small matters seem great, as a little shoe to serve a great foot, and finding that it can hardly be brought to pass, he doth stretch the Leather with his teeth that it is ready to break, and notwithstanding, all this will not serve his purpose, 
The Printing of the letter doth shame the General.  for the Printing of the letter doth mar the play, and bringeth such matter in question, as the General doth wish might be concealed, and were he not of so dry and choleric complexion, as commonly Spaniards are, he would blush for very shame in publishing so impudently such manifest untruths. 
Don Bernaldino of an excellent complexion  For since his meeting with the English fleet at the Isle of Pinas, there hath been by the worthy English Generals, an honourable expedition from England into the Continent of Spain, 
The first discovery of the General's Printed letter.  where amongst other exploits having taken the City of Cales, in the sack thereof was found some of Don Bernaldino his Printed letters: & coming to the hands of a Captain that served in the voyage to the west Indies, he hath thought very fit (in regard of the slanders to the English Navy contained in the said letter) to quote the errors, that the truth only may appear, to all such as have a desire to be rightly informed of such accidents, as befallen them in this late voyage to the west Indies: and this may suffice to show Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Avellaneda his great judgement in amplifying small matters, 
The General's great skill in amplifying.  or of nothing to make in show seem somewhat. And now having thus far informed you of the truth in reproof of the slanderous, false, and untrue reports of this glorious lying General, with a true disproof to some of the grossest of his lies, I will leave him with the rest of his lying letter, and the circumstances therein contained to your censures: who in discretion may easily discern the same. And have here following plainly and truly set down the course and order of our whole fight after we met.    

THE MEETING Of our English Navy and the Spanish fleet, and the order of our encounter.  
MVnday the first of March, according to our computation, we scryed the Island of Pinas, where haling in for the western part thereof, thinking there to have watered, being within four leagues of it Southerly, we sent in three of our Pinnasses to discover the harbour, 
The first discovery of the Spanish fleet.  and to sound afore us, about one of the clock in the afternoon; the same day we discovered a fleet of twenty sails, and deeming them to be the Spanish fleet, we kept our loof to get the wind but their vice-admiral with divers other ships went about to cut off our Pinnasses, so that our General with some other of our Ships, was forced to tack about upon the larbour tack, and so ran in towards the land keeping the wind, so as we recovered our Pinnasses, which forced the enemy's Ships to tack about, and to take the aid of their fleet, and being come near unto them they shot at us, we still approached, having our close fights up, our flags, ensigns and streamers displayed, our men orderly placed ●n each quarter, but forbore our fight until our General began, and gave us warning to come in and fight, by shooting off a great piece, according to his former directions, so being within Muskat shot, 
The encounter twixt the English and the Spanish Ships.  the Vice-admiral of the Spanish fleet came nearest unto us, to whom our Vice-admiral john Traughton Captain of the Elizabeth Bonaduenture gave fight, betwixt whom there was the greatest volley of small shot changed that lightly hath been herded at Sea, which continued a long half hour. In which time the Spanish fleet came into fight, our General Sir Thomas Baskervile being in the Garland, whereof Humphrey Reignolds was Captain, being the next Ship unto the Elizabeth Bonaduenture, bore up to the enemy, playing with her great Ordinance hotly until she came within Muskat shot: jonas Bodenham Captain of the Defiance, and Henry Savile Captain of the Adventure, came likewise into fight with them: After the Garland (being within Muskat shot) played her part and made good fight for the space of an hour. The Defiance bore up likewise and had her turn, after came the Adventure again within Muskat shot, who having changed many a great Bullet, with them before, renewed his fight, and continued it an hour with small shot. Then came Thomas Drake Captain of the Hope, who last of all had his turn. Thus had all the Queen's Ships their course: The merchants Ships with other small vessels being without the Queen's Ships shot when they see opportunity: After the enemy finding no good to be done, (being well beaten) fallen from us, the Adventure, playing upon them with her great Ordinance, 
The Spanish Vice-admiral can witness, what success they had in this fight.  made three of the last shot at them: Their Vice-admiral with divers others of their Ships, were so beaten, that they left off the fight, and were forced to lie in the wind, for that they dared not lie of either board by reason of their many and great Leaks, which they had received by our great shot. The General with the rest of their fleet, tacking about fell in our wake, thinking to get the wind, 
The English Admiral carried his Creset light, notwithstanding the enemy was upon his broad side.  which in the beginning we sought to hinder. But our General seeing that in holding the wind we should shoot ourselves into the Bay, gave them the wind. All that night they kept themselves upon our broad side, notwithstanding our Admiral carried his Cresset light all night: having great care of our smallest Ships: This fight continued about four hours till it was near night, in the which fight, thanks be to God, there was slain so few people of our English fleet as I think the like conflict hath not been performed with so little loss of men: What harm befallen the Spaniards in their fleet I leave to your judgements. 
The English received little loss in this conflict.  Yet our eyes can witness their Ships were sore beaten and raked through, whereby there was such falling back and lying by the Lee to stop their leaks, as some of them were driven to haste away, and rather to run on shore to save themselves then sink in the Sea: Besides within two hours after our fight with them, we see one of their great Ships on fire which burned into the Sea, and all the Stern of another of their Ships blown up: And in the morning a Ship of our fleet was run so near the land, that to double the Cape current he must of necessity tack about & fall in the wake of the enemy, which caused our General in the Garland and the Defiance to tack about, which two ships forced the three Ships of the enemies which were put forth to take our Ship, or else to 'cause her run on ground) to return to their fleet to save themselves, hoisting all their sails for haste: This morning they were fair by us having the wind of us, being but thirteen sail of their twenty to be seen, 
The remainder of the Spanish fleet were but thirteen sails.  than we struck our top sails thinking to have fought with them again, which they perceiving tacked about from us, & after that never dared nor would come near us: What become of the rest of their fleet we know not, but true it was that they were in great distress mightily beaten and torn, by having received many Bullets from us. All this day we had sight of them, but they showed little will to fight or come near us, so we keeping our course west, and by North, about six of the clock at night lost the sight of them. And this is a true discourse of our fight with the Spanish fleet. The which the Author hereof will justify with the adventure of his life, against any Spaniard serving in that action, that shall contradict the same.  
FINIS.  
Henry Savile.   

THOMAS BASKERVILE KNIGHT, His approbation to this Book.  
I Thomas Baskervile Knight, General of her majesties late Indian armada in the late conflict had between the Spanish fleet and us, having perused the Spanish letter written by Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda, General of the King of Spain's Navy, and also having perused Captain Henry Savile his answers unto the six exceptions in the General's letter with his discourse of the manner of our fight with the Spanish fleet, do say, that the said Henry Savile hath answered the letter, and set down the order of the fight sincerely according to truth, for testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand.  
And if Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda the General shall take any exceptions to this my approbation, or stand in the justification of his lying letter written to Doctor Peter Flores, Precedent of the Contraction house for the Indies, and by him for Bernaldinoes' glory lately put in Print: I then say that he falsely lied, and that I will maintain against him with whatsoever Arms he shall make choice of. And because the kingdoms wherein we abide are enemies, by reason of which there is no means in either of them, to maintain that I have written. Let him make choice of any indifferent kingdom, of equal distance from either Realm, and I will there be ready to maintain as much as I have written: But if by my employments into France, Ibe so stayed by her majesties Commandments, that I cannot out of that Realm meet him in any other, I cannot see why he should take any exception to that, considering the equality of the place, and that the Armies of both our Princes be there resident.  
FINIS.  
Tho. B.   

 Galleon