VALIANT FIGHT OF THE 'CONTENT' ad. 



1591- 

 the fleete of Tierra firma, and of Sivil : with that they 



bid us amaine English dogs, and came upon our quarter 

 star-boord : and giving us five cast pieces out of her 

 prowe, they sought to lay us aboord : but wee so galled 

 them with our muskets, that we put them from our 

 quarter. Then they winding their gallie, came up into 

 our Sterne, and with the way that the gallie had, did so 

 violently thrust in the boordes of our Captaines cabbin, 

 that her nose came into it, minding to give us all their 

 prowe, and so to sinke us. But wee being resolute, so 

 plyed them with our small shot, that they could have no 

 time to discharge their great ordinance : and when they 

 began to approch, wee heaved into them a ball of fire, and 

 by that meanes put them oifF: whereupon they once 

 againe fell asterne of us, and gave us a prowe. Then 

 having the second time put them off, wee went to prayer, 

 and sang the first part of the 25. Psalme, praysing God 

 for our safe deliverance. This being done, we might see 

 2. gallies and a frigat all three of them bending them- 

 selves together to encounter us : hereupon we (eftsoones 

 commending our estate into the hands of God) armed 

 our selves, and resolved (for the honour of God, her 

 Majestic, and our countrey) to fight it out till the last 

 man. Then shaking a pike of fire in defiance of the 

 enemie, and weaving them amaine, we bad them come 

 aboord : and an Englishman in the gallie made answer, 

 that they would come aboord presently. So managing 

 ourselves to our furniture, and every moment expecting 

 the assault, wee heard them parle to this effect, that they 

 determined to keepe us companie till the morning, and 

 then to make an end with us : then giving us another 

 shot from one of the gallies, they fell asterne. Thus 

 our fight continued with the shippes and with the gallies, A fight from 

 from seven of the clock in the morning till eleven at 7- ^^/^^ 

 night. Howbeit God (which never faileth them that ^YY^^at\Lht. 

 put their trust in him) sent us a gale of winde about two 

 of the clocke in the morning at Eastnortheast, which was 

 for the preventing of their crueltie, and the saving of our 



181 



