fauour truth) may easily see the losse, and late reparations, done vnto the kings fleete, sithence they did encounter with the English Nauie, whensoeuer they that remaine shall arriue in Spaine.
The order of the English Nauie.
The order of the English Nauie.
Spanish brags are of no value with the English.
But the Generall seemeth to be a very good proficient
in his profession, and waxeth somewhat bold, treading the true
steps of olde Bernardino de Mendoça: and yet Mendoça was
somewhat more warie in his lies, for he had sometime the
colour of intelligence to shadowe them: but the Generall growing
from boldnesse to impudencie maketh no scruple to say, that the
English Nauie fled as fast as they could without discharging any
harquebuze or peece of artillerie, when as the battered sides of
his ships doe returne the lie to his face: For in this conflict Don
Bernaldino did behaue himselfe so valiantly, that he was alwayes
farthest off in the fight, and had so great care of his owne person,
that he stoode cleare from the danger of musket or any small
shot, and durst not approch: whereas our Generall
was the foremost, and so helde his place, vntill by
order of fight other shippes were to haue their turnes,
according to his former direction: who wisely and politikely had
so ordered his vangarde, and rereward, and as the manner of it
was altogether strange to the Spaniarde, so might they haue bene
without all hope of victorie, if their Generall had bene a man of
any iudgement in sea-fights: I knowe no reason why
the English Nauie should flie from him: for the
Spaniarde may put all the gaine in his eye that euer
he did winne from the English: Peraduenture some
silly nouice of our countrey meeting the Generall in Spaine, and
hearing a repetition of so many sillables in one name, as Don
Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda, might thinke them to be
wordes of coniuration, and for feare of raysing a spirit, might flie
from him as from the Deuill: or some simple Indian slaue
hearing the like repetition of his long and tedious name, might
suppose it to be an armie of Spaniards, and for feare runne away:
but the commanders and captaines of the English Nauie were
men of such resolution, that no Spanish bragges could
dismay them (for they haue often met them with
their Pikes in their Spanish beardes) nor the countenance
of Don Bernaldino quaile them, although hee
were acowtred in his gilt leather buskins, and his Toledo
rapier.
