a.d. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1586. 



which was put into their handes, they failed not to enter 

 into counsell among themselves, and to deliberate ad- 

 visedly for their best defence. And in the end with 

 generall consent, the Marchant Royall was appointed 

 Admirall of the fleete, and the Tobie Viceadmiral, by 

 whose orders the rest promised to be directed, and ech 

 shippe vowed not to breake from another, whatsoever 

 extremitie should fall out, but to stand to it to the 

 death, for the honour of their Countrey, and the 

 frustrating of the hope of the ambitious and proud 

 enemie. 



Thus in good order they left Zante and the Castle of 

 Graecia, and committed themselves againe to the Seas, 

 and proceeded in their course and voyage in quietnes, 

 without sight of any enemie, till they came neere to 

 Pantalarea, an Island so called, betwixt Sicilie, and the 

 coast of Africke: into sight whereof they came the 13. day 

 of July 1586. And the same day in the morning about 

 7. of the clocke they descried 13. sailes in number, 

 which were of the Gallies, lying in waite of purpose for 

 them, in and about that place. As soone as the English 

 ships had spied them, they by and by according to a com- 

 mon order, made themselves ready for a fight, layed out 

 their Ordinance, scoured, charged, and primed them, dis- 

 played their ensignes, and left nothing undone to arme 

 themselves throughly. In the meane time, the Gallies more 

 and more approched the ships, and in their banners there 

 appeared the armes of the Isles of Sicilia, and Malta, 

 being all as then in the service and pay of the Spaniard. 

 Immediatly, both the Admirals of the Gallies sent from 

 ech of them a frigate, to the Admiral of our English 

 ships, which being come neere them, the Sicilian frigat 

 first hailed them, and demanded of them whence they 

 were ? They answered that they were of England, the 

 armes whereof appeared in their colours. Whereupon 

 the saide frigat expostulated with them, and asked why 

 they delayed to sende or come with their Captaines 

 and pursers to Don Pedro de Leiva their Generall, to 



5° 



