THE VOYAGE TO CADIZ ad. 



1596. 

 the Lord Thomas Howard, the Lorde Warden Sir 

 Walter Raleigh, the Lord Martiall Sir Francis Vere, 

 Sir George Gary master of the Ordinance, Sir Coniers 

 Clifford, and Sir Anthony Ashley, Clarke of the sayde 

 Counsell. And when it pleased the Lords Generall to [I. 609.] 

 call a common Counsell (as often times they did upon 

 weightie matters best knowen to their honours) then 

 they would cause an other kinde of flagge to be hanged 

 out, which was the Redcrosse of S. George, and was 

 very easie to be discerned from the other that apper- 

 tained onely to the select Counsell, and so often as this 

 flagge of Saint George was hanged out, then came all 

 the Masters and Captaines of all the ships, whose 

 opinions were to be demaunded, in such matters as 

 appertayned unto this sayd select Counsell : It was 

 presently concluded, that our course in sayling should 

 foorthwith be altered, and that we should beare more 

 into the West, for some purposes to them best knowen. 

 At that very instant many letters of instructions were 

 addressed and sent to every particular Master and Cap- 

 taine of the Ships : What the contentes of those letters 

 of instructions were it was not as yet knowne unto any, 

 neither was it held meet to be enquired or knowen of 

 any of us. But under the titles and superscriptions of 

 every mans particuler letter these words were endorsed. 

 Open not these letters on pain of your lives, unles we 

 chance to be scattered by tempest, and in that case open 

 them, and execute the contents thereof : but if by mis- 

 hap you fall into your enemies hand, then in any case 

 cast them into the sea, sealed as they are. It should 

 seeme that these letters did conteine in them the 

 principall place and meaning of this entended action, 

 which was hitherto by their deepe foresights kept so 

 secret, as no man to my knowledge either did, or coulde 

 so much as suspect it, more then themselves, who had 

 the onely managing thereof. A conceite in my judge- 

 ment of greatest moment in the world, to effect any 

 matter of importance. I meane, to entertaine those two 

 IV 241 Q 



