Part 1
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE
This book is a faithful reproduction of the original book printed around 1600, including all the printing errors of that edition, and this etext maintains that careful reproduction. No spelling or punctuation corrections have been made, and minimal spacing adjustments have been made, in order to preserve the historical value of the original work.
The diacritical ~ (tilde) mark is sometimes used in this book on the letters a, e, o, u and q. These will display, using the Unicode combining tilde diacritical, on this device as: ã, ẽ, õ, ũ, q̃.
The long-s ſ has been replaced by s throughout the etext.
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
The subsequent facsimile is made from the original in the possession of the donor.
Only five copies of it appear to be known: three of these are in public libraries, and two of the three are more or less imperfect: one of them wants four pages, and of the other some of the marginal notes have been cut away, and a portion of a leaf destroyed.
The contents, besides their value in an historical point of view, are of interest in reference to the biographies of two such men as Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins, both of whom perished in the course of the enterprise to which the pamphlet relates.
J. P. C.
A LIBELL OF
Spanish Lies:
FOVND AT THE
Sacke of Cales, discoursing the fight in the West INDIES, twixt the English Nauie being fourteene Ships and Pinasses, and a fleete of twentie saile of the king of Spaines, and of the death of _Sir Francis Drake_.
With an answere briefely confuting the Spanish lies, and a short Relation of the fight according to truth, written by _Henrie Sauile_ Esquire, employed Captaine in one of her Maiesties Shippes, in the same seruice against the Spaniard.
And also an Approbation of this discourse, by Sir _Thomas Baskeruile_, then Generall of the English fleete in that seruice: Auowing the maintenance thereof, personally in Armes against _Don Bernaldino_, if hee shall take exceptions to that which is heere set downe,
Touching the fight twixt both Nauies, or iustifie that which he hath most falsely reported in his vaine Printed letter.
Prouerb. 19. ver. 9.
_A false witnes shall not bee vnpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish._
LONDON
Printed by _Iohn Windet_, dwelling by Pauls Wharfe at the signe of the Crosse Keyes, and are there to be solde. 1596.
TO THE COVR- teous Reader.
_WHereas_, DON BERNALDINO DELGADILLO de AVELLANEDA, _Generall of the Spanish fleete, hath by his Printed letters published to the worlde diuers vntruthes, concerning our fleete and the Commaunders thereof, seeking therby his owne glorie, and our disgrace; I haue taken vpon me (though of many least able) to confute the same, the rather for that the printed Coppie came first into my hands, hauing my selfe beene Captaine of one of her Maiesties shippes in the same voyage: Take this therfore (gentle Reader) as a token of my dutie and loue to my Countrie and Countrie-men, And expect onely a plaine truth, as from the pen of a Souldier, and Nauigator: Which if you take in good parte, may draw me shortly to a greater labour, by publishing vnto you our whole voyage._
Henrie Sauile.
THe true Coppie of a letter found at the sacking of Cales, written by _Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Avellaneda_, Generall of the king of Spaine his Nauie in the west _Indies_, sent vnto Doctor _Peter Flores_, President of the Contraction house for the _Indies_, and by him put in Print, with priueledge: wherein is declared manye vntruthes, and false reports, tending to the disgrace of the seruice of her Maiesties Nauie, and the Commaunders thereof, lately sent to the west _Indies_, vnder the Commaund of _Sir Frances Drake_, and _Sir Iohn Hawkins_ Generals at the Sea; and S_ir Thomas Baskeruile_ Generall at land: with a confutation of diuers grosse lies and vntruthes, contayned in the same letter: together with a short relation of the fight according to the truth.
_COPIA DE VNA Carta, q̃ embio Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda, General de la Armada de su Magestad, embiada al Doctor Pedro Florez Presidente de la casa de la Contratacion de las Yndias, en que trata del sucesso de la Armada de Ynglaterra, despues que pattio de Panama, de que fue por general Francisco Draque, y de su muerte._
DE Cartageua di cuenta a. V. m. como sali del puetto dela ciudad de Lisbona, en busca de la armada Ynglesa, aunque por la mucha priessa, ne se pudierou reparar tambien los Galeones como fuera necessario, y conel tiempo se perdio uno, y por desgracia se quemo un Filibote, y aviẽdo andado muchos dias en busca del enemigo, hasta que llegue a Cartagena, donde auiendo tomado el parecer de Don Pedro de Acuna Gouernador y capitan general de aquella ciudad, porque tenia mucha necessidad de agua, y reparar los Nauios por que venian faltos della, me detuue en aquel puerto, a doude tuve noticia por un Aniso, que Francisco Draque murio en nombre de Dios, de pena de auer perdido tantos Baxeles y gente, aunque despues se supo mas por estenso, y aviẽdo 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 Hauana, donde entendi hillarlo, y aviendo hecho la diligencia posible. Lunes a onze del dicho mes, alas dos despues de medio dia, al salir dela Ysla de Pinos, en la ensenada de Guaniguanico, tope cõ el que yva con catorze Nauios muy buenos, fueme arrimãdo a el, aun que tenia el viento por suyo, y el Almiranta q̃ yua mas al viento cõ orros dos Nauios commenço arrimarsele, y aunque vino sobre ella con todos los suyos tres vezes, no fue parte acei carsele para quequi siesse enuestir, los que estaumos mas apartados fuymos dando bordos acercandonos hasta jugar la artilleria, Mosqueteria, y Arcabuzeria de los mas dellos, en lo qual el ricibio muy conocido dano, el lo hiza con el artilleria como suele, y particularmente el Almiranta, y en reconociendo la volũtad con que a el nos arrimauamos, con mas diligencia de lo que se puede creer se desembaraço de todos poniendose en huyda, dando las velas, dexando en le mar todas las Lãchas que traya. Yo le 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 conforme alas instruciones de su Magestad, siruio de poco el verme con menos numero de Nauios, 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 Nauios los ania reduzido a la mitad y los mejores, y estos acabaua de reparar en Puerto Belo, donde se estuvo mas de quarenta dias, y ansi veniã muy reparados y yo saque los mios desbaratados, que no me dio el tiepo lugar para adereçarlos. A que nauego dos 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 Almirãta y los demas Nauios 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 del sino es hallarlo sobre el Ferro. Con todo esso me an dexado un Nauio muy bueno en las manos con muy buena gente, la qual dize como murio el Draq̃ en nombre de Dios y que va por general dela dicha armada Ynglesa, el Coronel 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 como 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. No se ofrece otra cosa: nuestrose nõr guarde a. V. m. como puede y yo desseo. Dela Hauana. 30. de Março; de 1 5 9 6. Años.
_Don Bernaldino Dalgadillo de Auellaneda._
EL Licenciado Don Iuan Bermudes ê Figueroa, _T_enientemayor de Assistente desta ciudad de Seuilla ysu tierra, que hago oficio de Assistente della por ausencia, de su Señoria del Conde de Priego, Doy licencia a Rodrigo de Cabrera, para que pueda imprimir la Relaciõ dela muerte de Francisco Draque. I a qual haga por dos meses, y por ellos no lo imprima otro alguno. Sopena de diez mil marauedis para la camara de su Magestad. Fecha en Seuilla a quinze de Mayo, de mil y quinientos y nouenta y seys años.
El Licenciado Don juan Bermudez e Figueroa.
_Por su mandado Gregoria Gutierrez. Escriuano._
THE SPANISH
_Letter Englished_.
The Coppye of a letter, which _Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda_, General of the king of Spaine his Armie, sent vnto Doctor _Peter Flores_, President of the contraction house for the _Indies_, wherein hee maketh mention of the successe of the English Armie, after they departed from _Pannama_, wherof was General _Frances Drake_, and of his death.
_FRom_ Cartagena, _I gaue relation vnto you, how I departed from the Cittie of_ Lisbone, _in the pursuite of the Englishe Armie: although for the great hast the Gallions could not be so wel repaired as was needfull, and with foule weather one was lost, and a Fly-boate was burnt, and hauing sayled many daies in pursuite of the enemie, vntill I arriued at_ Carthagena, _whereas hauing taken the aduise of_ Don Pedro de Acunia, _Gouernour of the Cittie, and Captaine generall; for wee had great neede of water, and to repaire our Shippes, we stayed in that port, wheras I had intelligence by an_ Indian, _that_ Frances Drake _dyed in_ Nombre de Dios, _for verie griefe that hee had lost so many Barkes and men, as was afterwardes more manifestlye knowne: And hauing giuen you a relation of all that happened hitherto: Now I let you vnderstand, that I left this Port the second of March, and toke our course towards the_ Hauana, _where I thought to haue founde the English fleete, & also vsed all the diligence possible: vpon Munday the eleauenth of the said Month, about two of the clocke in the afternoone, at the issue of the Isle of_ Pinas, _in the entrance of_ Guaniguanico, _I met with the English fleete, being fourteene verie good Shippes, I drew towards them although they had the winde of vs, & our Admirall who bore vp towardes the winde, with other two Shippes began to draw neere them, and although we set thus vppon them, three times with all their Shippes, yet would they not set againe vppon vs, and those of our men which were farthest off cryed to them amaine, being both within shot of Artillerie, Muskats and Caliuers, whereby they receiued euident hurt by vs: They shot off now & then at vs, and especially their Admirall, and seeing our resolution how sharpe we were bent towards them, they with all expedition and speede possible prepared to flie awaie, hoysing Sayles and leauing their Oares for hast in the Sea: but I followed them, with nine Shippes all the night following, and with fower more the next daye, till I made them double_ Saint Antonies _point, and so I tooke the course towards_ La Canet de Bahamet, _according to the instructions from his Maiestie: It little auailed vs to bee seene, with lesse number of Shippes, neither yet all the diligence we could vse, could cause them to staye or come neere vs, nor to shoote off one Hargabush or peece of Artillerie, for they fled away as fast as they could, and their Shippes were wel diminished, and that the best parte of them, the rest they repaired in the port_ Bella, _whereas they were about fourtie daies before, and so by that meanes they were all well repaired, and our Shippes verie foule, because the time would not permit vs to trimme them: I haue sailed two Monethes and a halfe in the Shippe called the_ Capitana, _sithence we departed from_ Carthagena, _we haue not repaired their Pumps nor clensed them: And the same daie I departed thence, my Shippes were all foule with Barnacles, our Admirall and the rest of our Shippes haue the like impediment, but no great hinderance vnto vs for ought I could perceiue by our enemies: It is manifest what aduantage they had of vs, and by no meanes was it possible for vs to take them, vnlesse wee could haue come to deale with them with fire and sworde. Neuerthelesse they left vs one good ship behind for our share, wel manned, which tolde me that the_ Drake _dyed in_ Nombre de Dios, _and that they haue made for Generall of the English fleete, the_ Colonell Quebraran, _and also by meanes of the small time being streightly followed by vs they had no opportunitie to take either water, woode or flesh, and they are also in such bad case, that I know not how they will bee able to arriue in_ England, _the number of men we haue taken are about 140. and 15. Noble Captaines of their best sort, and some of them rich, as well may appeare by their behauiour: I haue no other thing to write at this time. Our Lord keepe you who best can, & as I desire. From the_ Hauana _the 30. of March. 1596_
Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda.
THE _Licenciat Don Iohn Barmudes_ of _Figueroa_ Leiuetenant of the Assistantes of the Cittie of _Cyuill_, and the prouince thereof, who doth supplie the Office of the Assistaunt in the absence of the Right Honourable the _Earle_ of _Priego_. Giue license to _Roderigo de Cabriera_ to Imprint the Relation of the death of _Fraunces Drake_, which onely he may doe for two Monthes, and no other to Imprint the same within the saide terme, vpon paine of ten thousand Marauedis for his Maiesties Chamber. Giuen in _Cyuill_ the 15. of May. 1 5 9 6.
The Licenciat Don Iohn Bermudes of Figueroa.
_By his Assigne_ Gregorie Gutierrez _Notarie._
THis letter of the Generall _Don Bernaldino_ sent into _Spaine_ declaring the death of _Sir Fraunces Drake_ and their supposed victorie; was altogether receiued for an vndoubted truth, and so pleasing was this newes vnto the _S_paniard, that there was present cõmandement giuen to publish the letter in Print, that all the people of S_paine_ might be partakers of this common ioy: The which letter Printed in _Cyuill_, bearing date the xv. of May, 1596. came to the hands of _Henrie Sauile_ Esquire who being employed in that seruice for the west _Indies_, and Captaine of her Maiesties good Shippe the _Aduenture_, vnder the conduct of S_ir Fraunces Drake_, and _Sir Iohn Hawkins_, Hath caused the said Printed letter to bee translated into English. And that the impudencie of the Spanish Generall may the more plainely appeare, the said _Henrie Sauile_ doth answere particularly to euerie vntruth in the same letter contained, as heereafter followeth.
THE
ANSWERE TO
The Spanish letter.
_First whereas the Generall doth say, that_ Fraunces Drake _dyed at_ Nombre de Dios, _as he had intelligence by an Indian._
[Sidenote: _The Generals first newes, and his best news is in part lying newes._]
[Sidenote: _The Generall seemeth to wante friendes in Courte, sending such great newes to a priuate Doctor._]
THe Generall sente this newes into his Country cõfirmed with his hand and seale of Armes: It is the first newes in his letter, and it was the best newes that he could send into _Spaine_. For it did ease the stomackes of the timerous Spaniardes greatly to heare of the death of him, whose life was a scourge & continuall plague vnto them: But it was a pointe of great simplicitie, & scarcely beseeming a Generall, to tie the credite of his reporte locally to any place vppon the report of a silly _Indian_ slaue. For it had beene sufficient to haue said, that _Fraunces Drake_ was certainly dead, without publishing the lye in Print, by naming _Nombre de Dios_: for it is most certaine _Sir Fraunces Drake_ dyed twixt the Island of _Scouda_, and _Porte-bella_: But the Generall being rauished with the suddaine ioy of this report as a man that hath escaped a great daunger of the enemie, doeth breake out into an insolent kind of bragging of his valour at Sea, and heaping one lye vpon another, doth not cease vntill he hath drawne them into sequences, and so doth commende them vnto _Peter_ the Doctor, as censour of his learned worke.
_Secondly, The general doth write vnto the doctor, that_ Frances Drake _dyed for verie griefe that hee had lost so many Barkes and men._
[Sidenote: _Don Bernaldino doth lye impudently._]
[Sidenote: _The successe of the kings fiue Frigots._]
[Sidenote: _The certain cause wherof Sir Frances Drake dyed._]
A _T_hing verie strange that the General or the _Indian_, who hee doth vouch for his lye, should haue such speculation in the bodye of him whome they neuer saw, as to deliuer for truth vnto his Countrie, the verie cause or disease whereof hee dyed: And this second report of his is more grosse then the first. For admit the mistaking of the place might bee tollerable; notwithstanding, this precise affirming the cause of his death, doth manifestly prooue that the Generall doth make no conscience to lye. And as concerning the losse of any Barkes or men in our Nauie, by the valour of the Spaniard before S_ir Fraunces Drake_ his death, wee had none (one small Pinnesse excepted) which we assuredly know was taken by chaunce falling single into a fleete of fiue Frigots (of which was Generall, _Don Pedro Telio_,) neere vnto the Island of _Dominico_, and not by the valour of _Don Bernaldino_: the which fiue Frigots of the Kings afterwards had but ill successe, for one of them we burnt in the harbour of S. _Iohn Portrico_, and one other was sunck in the same harbour, and the other three were burnt amongst many other Shippes at the taking of _Cales_: This I thinke in wise mens iudgements, will seeme a seely cause to mooue a man sorrowe to death. For true it is, S_ir Fraunces Drake_ dyed of the Flixe which hee had growne vppon him eight daies before his death, and yeelded vp his spirite like a Christian to his creatour quietly in his Cabbin. And when the Generall shall suruey his losses, he shall finde it more then the losse of the English, and the most of his destroyed by the Bullet: But the death of _Sir Fraunces Drake_ was of so great comfort vnto the Spaniard, that it was thought to be a sufficient amendes, although their whole fleete had beene vtterly lost.
_Thirdly, The generall doth say of his owne credite, and not by intelligence from any_ Indian _or other, that on the eleauenth of March last hee met the English fleete at the Isle of_ Pinas, _being fourteene good Shippes, who although they had the winde of him, yet hee set vppon them three times with all their Shippes, but the English fleete flled, and refused to fight shooting now and then a shot, but especially the Admirall._
[Sidenote: _A payre of of Spanish Lyers._]
[Sidenote: _The Spanish Viceadmirall a man of vallour._]
[Sidenote: _The number of the Spanish Shippes after the fight._]
THis third lye of the Generall _Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Avellaneda_, (whose name for the prolixitie thereof maye be drawne somwhat neere the length of a Cable) hath no colour of protection, but it hath a iust proportion in measure to the lyes of olde _Barnardino de Mendozza_ his Countrieman, concerning the ouerthrow of her Maiesties Nauie in the yeare 1588. for except _Don Barnaldino_ the Generall, did purpose to winne the whetstone from _Don Barnardino de Mendozza_ the olde Spanish lyer: I cannot coniecture why hee should write to his Countrie for a truth, that hee chased the English Nauye with nine Shippes, and did three seuerall times giue the onset to the English fleete, who being fourteene good Shippes (as he saith) did flye and refuse to fight, being that the Spanish Viceadmiral (if he be liuing) and manye other, can witnesse the contrarie, who fighting like a true valiant man, departed from the fight with a torne and battered Shippe to saue her from sinking. Neither can I imagine that there is any one in the _S_panish fleete (_Don Bernaldino_ excepted) that will saye they were lesse then twentie sayle of Shipps when they met the English fleet: And the Spanish Nauy can witnesse that they receiued such store of Bullets from the English fleete, that they were glad to depart, and in despight of them the English Nauie did holde their determined course: And taking a view of the Spanish fleete the next day, their number was not aboue thirteene Shippes, which did argue that they were either sunke, or fled to harbour to saue themselues.
_Fourthly, The generall saith, that the English fleete fled awaye, and left their Oares for haste behind them in the Sea._
[Sidenote: _This lie was made in the Generals owne forge._]
[Sidenote: _A commendation of the Generall_]
[Sidenote: _The Generall doth practise to lye, for recreation._]
IT was strange that they shoulde leaue behinde them Oares in the Sea, being there was not in the English fleete either Gally or gallyasse, which required the vse of Oares, as for the Oares of their ship-boates and other such small vessels, they had stoed them aboarde their Shippes, and were no impediment vnto them, but most necessarie for them to vse, and therfore not likely they would cast them ouerboard: But it is most likely, that the Generall fell into some pleasant dreame at Sea, wherein hee did see a false apparition of victorie against the English, & for lacke of matter did set this downe in his letter for newes to his countrie: It is sinne to belye the Deuill, and therefore the Generall shal haue his right, the letter is so well contriued, (and yet with no great eloquence) but with such art, that ther are not many more lines, then there are lyes, which sheweth that there are wonderfull and extraordinarie gifts in the Generall: But I am perswaded if _Don Bernaldino_ had thought that his letter should haue beene Printed, hee woulde haue omitted many thinges contained in the letter, for the Doctor did vse him somwhat hardly in shewing the letter openly, and more in suffering it to be Printed: for friends may like good fellowes send lyes one to the other for recreation, and feed their friends with some small taste thereof, so it be kept close, without danger to incurre the tytle of a lying Generall: But as the matter is now handled throgh the simplycitie of the Doctor, I cannot see but the General _Don Bernaldino_, is like to carrie the tytle equally twixt both his shoulders.
_Fiftly, The generall doth say in his Printed letter, that notwithstanding all the diligence he could vse, hee coulde not cause the English fleete to staie nor come neere them, nor discharge one Hargebush or peece of Artillerie, but fled away as fast as they could._
[Sidenote: _The torne sides of the Spanish Shippes doe condemne Don Bernaldino of lying._]
[Sidenote: _Note the valoure of Don Bernaldino._]
[Sidenote: _The order of the English Nauie._]
[Sidenote: _The Spaniard cannot bragge of his gaine._]
[Sidenote: _Spanish bragges are of no value with the English._]