A REPORT OF A WORTHY FIGHT a.d. 



1586. 



could crave for the furnishing of their shippes, tooke 



their leave of him, and of the rest of their friendes, that 



were resident in Alger, and put out to Sea, looking to 



meete with the second army of the Spanish king, which 



waited for them about the mouth of the Straights of 



Gibraltar, which they were of necessitie to passe. But 



comming neere to the said Streight, it pleased God to 



raise at that instant a very darke and mistie fogge, so 



that one ship coulde not discerne another, if it were 40. 



paces off: by meanes whereof, together with the notable 



faire Easterne winds that then blewe most fit for their 



course, they passed with great speed through the Streight, 



and might have passed with that good gale, had there 



bene 500. Gallies to withstand them, and the aire never 



so cleare for every ship to be seene. But yet the Spanish The second 



Gallies had a sight of them when they were come within s P amsh fi ee ! e 



t^t, -iri 11 r 1 • tying in zvaite 



3. English miles or the towne, and made arter them in f or t ^ e 

 all possible haste, and although they saw that they were English. 

 farre out of their reach, yet in a vaine fury and foolish 

 pride, they shot off their Ordinance, and made a stirre 

 in the Sea as if they had bene in the midst of them, 

 which vanitie of theirs ministred to our men notable 

 matter of pleasure and mirth, seeing men to fight with 

 shadowes, and to take so great paines to so small 

 purpose. 



But thus it pleased God to deride, and delude all the 

 forces of that proud Spanish king, which he had provided 

 of purpose to distresse the English, who notwithstanding 

 passed through both his Armies, in the one, little hurt, 

 and in the other nothing touched, to the glory of his 

 immortall Name, the honour of our Prince and Countrey, 

 and the just commendation of ech mans service per- 

 formed in that voyage. 



[The returne 



57 



