VALIANT FIGHT OF THE ^CONTENT' ad. 



1591, 



the Southwards. We therefore at 6. of the clock in the 

 morning (the wind being at East) having made our 

 prayers to almighty God, prepared our selves for the 

 fight : And (in hope they had bene of the Cartagena 

 fleete) wee bare up with our admirall and viceadmiral, 

 to determine of the combate for the better direction 

 thereof. Our parle being ended, our admiral, vice- 

 admiral, & the Hopewel gave their admiral the prow, 

 bringing themselves to leeward of him. We in the 

 Content bare up with their viceadmiral, and (ranging 

 along by his broad side aweather of him) gave him a 

 voley of muskets and our great ordinance : then comming 

 up with another small ship ahead of the former, wee 

 hailed her in such sort, that shee payd roome. Thus 

 being in fight with the little ship, we saw a great smoke 

 come from our admiral, and the Hopewel & Swallow 

 forsaking him with all the sailes they could make : where- 

 upon bearing up with our admiral (before we could come 

 to him) we had both the small ships to windward of us, 

 purposing (if we had not bene too hotte for them) to 

 have layd us aboord. Thus (the fight continuing be- 

 tween us and them 3. houres) we were forced to stand 

 to the Northwards, the Hopewel and the Swallow not com- 

 ming in all this while to ayd us, as they might easily 

 have done. Our admirall by this time being in %ht 

 with their viceadmiral, and another great ship of theirs, 

 stood off to sea with his topgallant saile, and all the sailes 

 he could make : then might the Hopewel & the Swallow 

 have payd roome to second him, but they failed him as 

 they did us, standing off close by a wind to the Eastward. 

 All this time we were forced to the Northwards with 2. 

 of their great ships and one of their small. They having 

 a loom gale (wee being altogether becalmed) w^ both their 

 great ships came up faire by us, shot at us, and on the 

 sudden furled their spritsailes & mainsailes, thinking that 

 wee could not escape them. Then falling to prayer, we 

 shipped our oars that we might rowe to shore, & anker 

 in shallow water where their great ships could not come 



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