A.D. 

 1590. 



18 ships 

 builded In 

 Cuba against 

 England. 



Acapulco the 

 harbour where 

 the ships lie 

 that goe for 

 China. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



not afraid to come and dare us at our owne doores. 

 Our journey to goe for England is most certaine in 

 the yeere 1592. Here are making with great expedi- 

 tion 18 ships, which are called Frigats for that effect. 

 They are very strong shippes, and will drawe but very 

 litle water, whereby they may enter amongst the shoulds 

 on the banckes of Flanders : they are builded the 

 higher because here is great store of timber and excel- 

 lent good and incorruptible. It is reported that the 

 fleete will depart from hence in February, by reason 

 that at that time the Englishmen are not departed out 

 of their owne countrey. And thus I rest, from this 

 Island of S. Christopher in Havana this present day 

 on S. Lukes even; the 17 of October 1590. 

 Your Worships servant, 



John de Porva Canavates. 



A letter from Mexico, of Sebastian Biscaino to 

 his Father Antonio Biscaino in Corchio in 

 Spaine, touching the great profit of the trade 

 to China, and somewhat of M. Thomas 

 Candish. Written the 20 of June 1590. 



Aving written to your worship by a friend 

 of mine at large, nowe I will bee some- 

 what short. And this is onely to give you 

 to understand, that foure moneths past, I 

 came from China, and landed in Aca- 

 pulco, 70 leagues from Mexico, which 

 is the harbour where the ships that goe 

 downe to China lye : and all the marchants of Mexico 

 bring all their Spanish commodities downe to this 

 harbour, to ship them for that countrey. It is one of 

 the best harbours in all Nueva Espanna; and where 

 the ships may ride most safely without all kinde of 

 danger. For it lyeth under a necke of land, and behind 

 a great point. And in this harbour here are foure great 

 ships of Mexico of 600 and 800 tunnes a piece, which 



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