AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1580-82. 



sending of those souldiers to every of those Ports, and 

 the strengthening of them, was done by commandement 

 from the king of Spaine, who wrote also by them to the 

 general of his fleete, giving him in charge so to doe, 

 as also directing him what course he should keepe in his 

 comming home into Spaine, charging him in any hand not 

 to come nigh to the yles of A9ores, but to keepe his 

 course more to the Northward, advertising him withal, 

 what number and power of French ships of warre, and 

 other, Don Antonio had at that time at Ter^era, & 

 the yles aforesaid : which the general of the fleete wel 

 considering, and what great store of riches he had to 

 bring home with him into Spaine, did in all very dueti- 

 fully observe and obey : for in trueth he had in his said 

 fleete 37. saile of ships, and in every of them there was 

 as good as 30. pipes of silver one with another, besides 

 great store of gold, Cochinilla, sugars, hides, and Cana 

 Fistula, with other Apothecary drugs. This our general, 

 Don Pedro de who was called Don Pedro de Guzman, did providently 

 Guzman. ^^^ order for, for their most strength and defence, if 

 neede should be, to the uttermost of his power, and 

 commanded upon paine of death, that neither passenger 

 nor souldier should come aboord without his sword and 

 harquebush, with shot and powder, to the end that they 

 might be the better able to encounter the fleete of Don 

 Antonio, if they should hap to meete with them, or any 

 of them : and ever as the weather was faire, the said 

 general would himself go aboord from one ship to 

 another, to see that every man had his ful provision 

 according to the commandement given. Yet to speake 

 truely what I thinke, two good tall ships of warre would 

 have made a foule spoile amongst them. For in all this 

 fleete there were not any that were strong and warlike 

 appointed, saving only the Admiral, and Vice-admiral : 

 And againe over and besides the weakenesse and the ill 

 furnishing of the rest, they were all so deeply laden, that 

 they had not bene able (if they had bene charged) to have 

 held out any long fight. Wel, thus we set saile, & had 



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