INTERCEPTED BY SHIPPES OF THE WORSHIPFULL MASTER IOHN WATTES WRITTEN FROM DIUERSE PLACES OF THE ISLANDES AND OF THE MAINE LAND AS WELL OF NUEUA ESPANNA, AS OF TIERRA FIRMA AND PERU, CONTAINING MANY SECRETS TOUCHING THE AFORESAID COUNTREYS, AND THE STATE OF THE SOUTH SEA, AND THE TRADE TO THE PHILIPPINAS.
A relation of a memorable fight made the 13. of Iune 1591.
against certaine Spanish ships and gallies in the West
Indies, by 3. ships of the honorable sir George Carey
knight, then marshall of her Maiesties houshold, and
captaine of the Isle of Wight, now lord Hunsdon, lord
Chamberlaine, and captaine of the honourable band of
her Maiesties Pensioners.
The 13. of Iune 1591. being Sunday, at 5. of the clocke in
the morning we descried 6. saile of the king of Spaine his ships.
Foure of them were armadas, (viz the Admirall and viceadmirall
of 700. tuns apeece, and the other 2. of 600. apeece) and the
other 2. were smal ships, each of them about 100. tuns. We
met with them off the Cape de Corrientes, which standeth on the
Iland of Cuba. The sight of the foresaid ships made vs ioyfull,
hoping that they should make our voyage. But assoone as they
descryed vs, they made false fires one to another and gathered
their fleet together, lying all close by a wind to the Southwardes.
We therefore at 5. of the clock in the morning (the wind being
at East) hauing made our prayers to almighty God, prepared our
selues for the fight: And (in hope they had bene of the Cartagena
fleete) wee bare vp with our admirall and viceadmiral, to determine
of the combate for the better direction thereof. Our
parle being ended, our admiral, viceadmiral, and the Hopewel
gaue their admiral the prow, bringing themselues to leeward of
him. We in the Content bare vp with their viceadmiral, and
(ranging along by his broadside aweather of him) gaue him a
voley of muskets and our great ordinance: then comming vp
with another small ship ahead of the former, we hailed her in
such sort, that shee payd roome. Thus being in fight with the
