A.D. 



1596. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



ships, which did argue that they were either sunke or 

 fled to harbour to save themselves. 



'^The transla- 

 tion of the 

 Spanish word 

 Lanchas is 

 here mistaken. 



This lie was 

 made in the 

 Generals own 

 forge. 



Fourthly, the General saith, that the English fleete fled 

 away, and left their *oares for hast behind them in 

 the sea. 



IT was strange that they should leave behinde them 

 oares in the sea, sithence there was not in the English 

 fleete either Galley or Galliasse, which required the use 

 of oares : as for the oares of their ship-boates and other 

 such small vessels, they had stowed them aboord their 

 shippes, and were no impediment unto them, but most 

 necessarie for them to use, and therefore not likely they 

 would cast them overboord : But it is more likely, that 

 the Generall fell into some pleasant dreame at Sea, wherein 

 he did see a false apparition of victorie against the 

 English, and for lacke of matter did set this downe in 

 his letter for newes to his countrey : It is sinne to belie 

 the Devill, and therefore the Generall shall have his 

 right : the letter is so well contrived, and yet with no 

 great eloquence, but with such art, that there are not 

 many more lines, then there are lies, which shewed that 

 there are wonderfull and extraordinarie gifts in the 

 Generall : but I am perswaded if Don Bernaldino had 

 thought that his letter should have beene printed, he 

 would have omitted many things conteined in the letter : 

 for the Doctor did use him somewhat hardly in shewing 

 the letter openly, and more in suff^ering it to bee printed : 

 for friendes may like good fellowes send lies one to the 

 other for recreation, and feed their friends with some 

 small taste thereof, so it be kept close, without danger 

 to incurre the title of a lying Generall : But as the 

 matter is now handled through the simplicitie of the 

 Doctor, I cannot see but the Generall Don Bernaldino 

 is like to carrie the title equally twixt both his 

 shoulders. 



256 



