THE TAKING OF THE < MADRE DE DIOS ad. 



out strong for the West India : to impeach him, and 

 to ranconter his force he appointed this fleet ; although 

 looking for the arrivall of his East Indian caraks, he first 

 ordained those ships to waft them from the Acores. But 

 perswading himselfe, that if the fleet of sir Walter Ralegh 

 did go for the West India, then the Hands should have 

 none to infest them but small men of warre, which the 

 caraks of themselves would be well able to match ; his 

 order was to Don Alonso de Bacan brother to the 

 Marques of Santa Cruz, and Generall of his armada, to 

 pursue sir Walters fleet, and to confront him, what 

 course soever he held. And that this was true, our men 

 in short time by proofe understood : for sir John 

 Burrough, not long after the taking of his last prize 

 the flieboat, as he sailed backe againe towards the rest 

 of his company, discovered the Spanish fleet to sea-ward 

 of him : which having likewise espied him betwixt them 

 and the shore, made full account to bring him safe into 

 Spanish harbour ; and therefore spred themselves in such 

 sort before him, that indeed his danger was very great : 

 for both the liberty of the sea was brought into a narrow 

 straight, and the shore being enemy could give him no [II. ii. 196.] 

 comfort of reliefe : so that trusting to Gods helpe onely 

 and his good saile, he thrust out from among them in 

 spight of all their force, and to the notable illusion of all 

 their cunning, which they shewed to the uttermost, in 

 laying the way for his apprehension. But now sir John Sir John Bur- 

 Burrough having happily escaped their douches, finding rou & in f eat 

 the coast guarded by this fleet, and knowing it was but fp^/f/Jf 

 folly to expect a meeting there with sir Martin Frobisher 

 (who understanding of this armada aswell as himselfe, 

 would be sure not to come that way) beganne to shape 

 his course to the Acores according to sir W. Raleghs 

 direction, and came in sight of S. Michael, running so The He o/S. 

 neere by Villa Franca, that he might easily discerne the Michael. 

 shippes lying there at anker. Divers small caravels both Divers small 

 here and betv/eene S. Georges and the Pike in his course s// ^ s ta ^ en - 

 toward Flores he intercepted ; of which no great intelli- 



109 



