A NOTE OF THE INDIAN FLEET a.d. 



i 591. 



of August, where they found the winde at Southwest 

 chaunged suddenly to the North, so that the sea comming 

 out of the Southwest, and the wind very violent at 

 North, they were put all into great extremitie, and then 

 first lost the Generall of their fleete, with 500 men in 

 her ; and within three or foure dayes after, an other 

 storme rising, there were five or sixe other of the biggest 

 shippes cast away with all their men, together with their 

 Vice-Admirall. 



And in the height of 38. degrees, about the end of 

 August, grew another great storme, in which all the fleet 

 saving 48. sailes were cast away: which 48. sailes kept 

 together, untill they came in sight of the Islands of 

 Corvo and Flores, about the fift or sixt of September, 

 at which time a great storme separated them : of which 

 number fifteene or sixeteene were after seene by these 

 Spanyards to ride at anchor under the Tercera ; and 

 twelve or foureteene more to beare with the Island of 

 S. Michael ; what became of them after that these 

 Spaniards were taken cannot yet be certified ; their 

 opinion is, that very few of the fleet are escaped, but 

 are either drowned or taken. And it is otherwaies of 

 late certified, that of this whole fleete that should have 

 come into Spaine this yeere, being one hundred twentie [H. ii. 176. 

 and three sayle, there are arrived as yet but five and 

 twentie. This note was taken out of the examination of 

 certaine Spaniardes, that were brought into England by 

 sixe of the ships of London, which tooke seven of the 

 above named Indian Fleete, neere the Islands of Acores. 



[A report 

 55 



