A TRUE NARRATIVE OF The late SUCCESS which it hath pleased God to give to some part of the Fleet of this COMMON-WEALTH Upon the SPANISH cost, AGAINST The King of Spain's West-India Fleet In its Return to CADIZ: Being the Substance of several LETTERS writ and sent by the Generals of the Fleet upon this occasion.  
 blazon or coat of arms of the Commonwealth of England  


October the 4th, 1656.  
ORdered by the Parliament, That this Narrative be forthwith Printed and Published.  
Hen: Scobell, Clerk of the Parliament.    
London, Printed by Henry Hills and John Field, Printers to His Highness the Lord Protector, 1656.   

A true Narrative of the late Success which it hath pleased God to give to some part of the Fleet of this Commonwealth, upon the Spanish cost, against the King of Spain's West-India Fleet, in its return to Cadiz; being the substance of several Letters writ and sent by the Generals of the Fleet upon this occasion.  
SEven Ships in the service of the King of Spain( being four of the Kings own Fleet, and three Merchants) coming from the West-Indies, most of them richly laden with Gold, Silver, Pearl, and other Commodities: viz. The Admiral Don Marquis deal Porto, General; Vice-Admiral a Gallion, Don Francisco De Esquevel, Commander; the Rear-Admiral a Gallion, Don Francisco deal Hayo, Commander; a Ship commanded by Captain John Rodrigues cauldron; a Ship commanded by Captain John De la Torre; another small man of War, and a Vessel of Advice from the Vice-Roy of Mexico to Spain: They did in Fifty eight days proceed so far as within a few Leagues of Cadiz, without making Land, or touching at any place during the Voyage, having in their way betwixt the Western Islands and Masagam in afric, seized upon a small Portugal as prise; by whom, receiving a false Information, That the Spaniards had beaten the English Fleet from off their cost a month before, they sailed with much confidence towards Cadiz, as not expecting opposition.  
The greatest part of the English Fleet were at this time gone to the Bay of wires in Portugal( where they arrived the Eleventh of September last) to recruit their wants, and to be in a way of further Orders; the Generals leaving behind them a Squadron of six or seven Ships( to have an eye upon Cadiz) under the command of Captain Stainer, Captain of the Speaker frigate: which Squadron, on the Eighth of September last, plying to Sea, being forced thither by a strong Westerly wind, did at the evening of the day discover the said Spanish Fleet five or six Leagues to the Westward of Cadiz; and the approach of the night denying opportunity of present action, they endeavoured to fall in with them the next day, which accordingly they did about Nine of the clock in the morning,( they seeming to the Spaniards to be Fisher-Boats) but there being a fresh Galt that night, all but Three of the Squadron were to the Leeward, and could not presently come in; and finding it to be the Spanish Fleet come from the Indies, the Speaker, the Bridgwater and the Plymouth frigates( not thinking it advisable to stay for the rest of the Squadron, they being within Four Leagues of Cadiz) engaged with the Fleet, and a sharp Dispute there was betwixt them: The Admiral being a small Ship, and it being conceived that the placing of the Flag upon her, might be in policy to divert them from attending the Ships of better value, they slighted her, and suffered her( with the Portugal prise) to go into Cadiz Bay, where( it's said) she was run on shore, and sunk, being reported to have in her Six hundred thousand Pieces of Eight: The Vice-Admiral being reported to have in her Six hundred thousand Pieces of Eight; besides, in jewels and Plate, upon the account of the Marquis of Badex, to the value of Five hundred thousand Pieces of Eight; having fought Six hours, was taken by our Ships, and after set on fire by the Spaniards themselves, and so burnt down and sunk; and in her were destroyed One hundred and ten men, the principal of whom was the Marquis of Badex, who, with his Wife and eldest Daughter, were burnt: The Rere-Admiral was taken, and remains in our possession: The Ship under command of Captain John Rodrigues cauldron, which was said to have in her, Sugar, Tobacco and Plate, to the value of Six hundred thousand Pieces of Eight, was taken, and in the bringing off, was by an accidental Fire burnt and sunk: The Ship under command of De la tower, Twelve thousand West-India Hides, and some quantities of Sugar, is taken and in our possession: The small man of War having in her the like Lading with the last mentioned, and the Adviso-vessel being of no force or Lading, are said to escape into gibraltar. The value of what is taken and possessed, is not justly known, but by the calculation of the Spaniards, there are taken and lost, about Nine Millions of Pieces of Eight, besides the said Ships and their Lading: There are many Prisoners taken, Three hundred and fifty being found in the Rere-Admiral, and about Ninety saved out of the Vice-Admiral, among whom there are, the eldest Son, a younger Son, and Two Daughters of the said Marquis( besides a child): as also Don Diego De Villa Alva, the Governor of the Havanna, and several others of quality, and Spanish Merchants. And as all this was done without the loss of one Vessel of the English, so it pleased the Wisdom of God to choose to effect so great a work by a little Force, as also by suffering the Enemy to be foolishly ensnared into a presumptuous Confidence, by an Enemies Information, on which they so relied, that they neglected the haling of a Vessel which came from St. lucre, and might have informed them of the truth.  
By this Narrative, We see that the Lord whose Right hand hath been heretofore so Glorious in power for the help of his poor People in these Nations, in the time of their saddest Dangers, when their Enemies at home expected to have satisfied their lusts in their ruin, hath again appeared on their behalf, in this day of their need, by blowing with his Wind, and causing the Sea to cover their Enemies abroad, so that they have sunk as led into the mighty Waters; which gives abundant cause to say, Who is like unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously! And as the eminency of this mercy in weakening the common enemy of Religion,( the King of Spain, with whom this Commonwealth is engaged in a just and necessary War) and in encouraging and strengthening the hands of his Servants, in a vigorous prosecution of that Engagement, is much heightened by the freeness of it( being extended to us, a Froward, unbelieving and unthankful People, who had just cause, rather to expect from the Lord a renewing of his stroke, and to be still kept under his Rebukes, then that he should return to us in loving-kindeness and tender-mercy, as he hath done in this late Dispensation) So also is this Mercy the more magnified, by the suteableness and seasonableness of it, when his people were laid low in their own thoughts and expectations, and lower in the eyes and hearts of some that were lookers on; so that We have cause in some measure to say with the Psalmist, Lord; thou hast been favourable to thy Land, thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob, thou hast taken away thy wrath, thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.  
And as We have cause to remember his Goodness, so occasion is hereby also given to his People, to aclowledge his sovereignty, and the unsearchableness of his judgements. He doth whatsoever he pleaseth both in Heaven, and in Earth, the Sea, and in all deep places; and for this end, that men may learn to fear before him, He will render Vengeance to his Enemies, and his Salvation is nigh to them that trust in him: both which deserve to be had in everlasting remembrance, and to render him fearful in Praises.  
Therefore, His Highness and the Parliament looking upon themselves and all the People of God in these Nations, as obliged to all humble returns of praise and acknowledgement to the Lord, who hath been thus with them in their necessity, have thought fit to appoint Wednesday, being the Fifth of November next, to be observed and kept as a Day of public Thanksgiving for the Mercies vouchsafed as aforesaid, in all places within England, Scotland and Ireland: And do order that the Ministers of the several Congregations, do on the Lords-day next before the said Fifth day of November, give notice hereof in their several Churches and chapels; And upon the said Fifth day of November, red this Narrative and Order before the Sermon, for the better stirring up of the Hearts of the People to praise God in respect thereof.   

Saturday, October the 4th 1656.  
ORdered by the Parliament, That this Narrative be forthwith printed and published.  
Hen: Scobell, Clerk of the Parliament.