LINSCHOTEN'S LARGE TESTIMONY a.d. 



1589-91. 

 They of Fayal did not onely refuse to give eare unto 

 them, but with a shot killed their messenger or trum- 

 peter : which the Englishmen tooke in evill part, sending 

 them word that they were best to looke to themselves 

 and stand upon their guard, for they ment to come and 

 visite them whether they would or no. The Governour 

 made them answere, that he was there in the behalfe of 

 his majestie of Spaine, and that he would doe his best 

 to keepe them out, as he was bound : but nothing was 

 done, although they of Fayal were in no litle feare, 

 sending to Tercera for aide, from whence they had 

 certaine barkes with pouder and munition for warre, with 

 some bisket and other necessary provision. 



The 30 of August we received very certaine newes 

 out of Portugal, that there were 80 ships put out of 

 the Groine laden with victuals, munition, money and 

 souldiours, to goe for Britaine to aide the Catholiques 

 and Leaguers of France against the king of Navarre. At 

 the same time two Netherland hulkes comming out of 

 Portugall to Tercera being halfe the Seas over, met with 

 4 of the Queenes ships, their Generall being sir John 

 Hawkins, that staied them, but let them go againe 

 without doing them any harme. The Netherlanders 

 reported, that each of the Queenes ships had 80 pieces 

 of Ordinance, and that captaine Drake lay with 40 ships 

 in the English chanell watching for the armie of the 

 Groine : and likewise that there lay at the Cape S. 

 Vincent ten other English ships, that if any ships escaped 

 from the Hands, they might take them. These tidings 

 put the Ilanders in great feare, least if they failed of the 

 Spanish fleete and got nothing by them, that then they 

 would fall upon the Hands, because they would not 

 returne emptie home, whereupon they held streit watch, 

 sending advise unto the king what newes they heard. 



The first of September there came to the Hand of S. 

 Michael a Portugall ship out of the haven of Phernam- 

 buck in Brasile, which brought newes that the Admirall 

 of the Portugall Fleet that came from India, having 



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