after the wind scanted with a great storme, in which we lost the Bonauenture, and the Little Iohn, they bearing on head. Then we stood with our larbord tacked Eastsoutheast.
The 19 we were in 29 degrees our course Eastnortheast. The 21 we had a great stormie gale of winde and much raine but large. And then all the rest of our fleete fell asterne except the Hope, which bare a head: so that there kept no more with the Admirall, but the Defiance, the Aduenture, and the Phenix.
The 28 we were in 39 degrees, and stood away for Flores, which the 8 of April we saw, and the 9 came to an anker on the Southside, where we watered because the Defiance when we came in had but two buts of water. We bartered with the Portugals for some fresh victuals, and set here on shore at our comming away out of the Admirall our two Portugall Pilots; which sir Francis Drake caried out of England with him.
The 10 being Easter-eue at night we set saile the winde seruing vs to lie some slent in our course. That night and Easter day we had much raine: the winde came vp at Northeast, wee beate it vp some 30 leagues to the Eastward, and then about to the West, and so againe to the East, and tryed, and the next boord to the West. On Thursday towards night, being the 16 wee had sight of Coruo againe, wee tryed all that night: and on Friday towards night we came to an anker to the Westward of the point of Santa Cruz vnder Flores: but before midnight we draue, and set saile the next day standing away northeast. About three of the clocke in the afternoone the winde came vp againe at North. On Sunday the 19 by two of the clocke in the afternoone we had made 20 leagues an East way: and then the winde came vp a good gale at Northwest, and so Northeast with a flowne sheete we made the best way we could: but being dispersed by bad weather we arriued about the beginning of May in the West parts of England. And the last ships which came in together to Plimmouth were the Defiance, the Garland, the Aduenture, and the Phenix.
A letter sent from Hauana in Cuba from the general of the fleete Iohn de Orimo to the king of Spaine the 18 of October 1590, touching the building of certaine excellent Frigats, &c.
It may please your maiestie that at the date hereof one of the
