a.d. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1586. 



about to offer any such injurie to English Marchants, 

 who as they were farre from giving offence to any man, 

 so they would be loath to take an abuse at the handes of 

 any, or sit downe to their losse, where their abilitie was 

 able to make defence. And as touching his commande- 

 ment aforesaide, for the acknowledging of duetie, in such 

 particular sort, he told him, that where there was no 

 dutie owing, there none should be performed, assuring 

 him that their whole company and shippes in generall, 

 stood resolutely upon the negative, and would not yeeld 

 to any such unreasonable demaund, joyned with such 

 imperious and absolute maner of commanding. Why 

 then, said he, if they wil neither come to yeeld, nor shew 

 obedience to me in the name of my king, I wil either 

 sinke them or bring them to harbor, and so tell them 

 from me. With that the frigat came away with M. 

 Rowit, and brought him aboord the English Admiral 

 againe according to promise : who was no sooner entred 

 in, but by and by defiance was sounded on both sides : 

 the Spaniards hewed off the noses of the Gallies, that 

 nothing might hinder the levell of the shot, and the 

 English on the other side couragiously prepared them- 

 selves to the combat, every man according to his roome, 

 bent to performe his office with alacritie and diligence. 

 In the meane time a Cannon was discharged from the 

 Admirall of the gallies, which being the onset of the 

 fight, was presently answered by the English Admiral 

 with a Culvering : so the skirmish began, and grew hot 

 and terrible, there was no powder nor shot spared : ech 

 English ship matched it selfe in good order against two 

 Spanish Gallies, besides the inequalitie of the frigats on 

 the Spaniards side : and although our men performed 

 their parts with singular valure, according to their 

 strength, insomuch that the enemie as amased therewith 

 would oftentimes pause and stay, and consult what was 

 best to be done, yet they ceased not in the midst of 

 their businesse to make prayer to Almighty God the 

 revenger of al evils, and the giver of victories, that it 



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