THE TAKING OF TWO SPANISH SHIPS 



The maner of the taking of two Spanish ships 

 laden with quicksilver & the Popes bulles, 

 bound for the West Indies, by M. Thomas 

 White in the Amity of London. 1592. 



He 26 of July 1592, in my returning 

 out of Barbary in the ship called the 

 Amity of London, being in the height 

 of 36 degrees or thereabout, at foure 

 of the clocke in the morning we had 

 sight of two shippes, being distant from 

 us about three or foure leagues : by 

 seven of the clocke we fetched them up, and were 

 within gunshot : whose boldnesse, having the king of 

 Spaines armes displayed, did make us judge them rather 

 ships of warre, then laden with marchandise. And as 

 it appeared by their owne speeches, they made full 

 account to have taken us : it being a question among 

 them, whether it were best to cary us to S. Lucar, 

 or to Lisbon. We waved ech other a maine. They 

 having placed themselves in warlike order one a cables 

 length before another, we began the fight. In the which 

 we continued, so fast as we were able to charge and 

 discharge, the space of five houres, being never a cables 

 length distant either of us from other. In which time 

 we received divers shot both in the hull of our ship, 

 masts, and sailes, to the number of 32 great, besides 

 500 musket shot and harquebuzes a crocke at the least, 

 which we tolde after the fight. And because we per- 

 ceived them to be stout, we thought good to boord 

 the Biscaine, which was on head the other : where lying 

 aboord about an houre. and plying our ordinance and 

 small shot; in the end we stowed all his men. Now 

 the other in the flieboat, thinking we had entred our 

 men in their fellow, bare roome with us, meaning to have 

 layed us aboord, and so to have intrapped us betwixt 

 them both : which we perceiving, fitted our ordinance 



103 



A.D. 

 1592. 



