THE ESCAPE OF THE 'PRIMROSE' a.d. 



1585. 



Commission, by which he was authorized to doe all that 

 he did : The Copie whereof followeth, being translated 

 out of Spanish. 



The Spanish kings commission for the generall [II. ii. "4.] 

 imbargment or arrest of the English, &c. 



LIcentiat de Escober, my Corigidor of my Signorie 

 of Biskay, I have caused a great fleete to be put 

 in readinesse in the haven of Lisbone, and the river of 

 Sivill. There is required for the Souldiers, armour, 

 victuals, and munition, that are to bee imployed in 

 the same great store of shipping of all sortes against 

 the time of service, and to the end there may be choise 

 made of the best, upon knowledge of their burden and 

 goodnesse ; I doe therefore require you, that presently 

 upon the arrivall of this carrier, and with as much dis- 

 simulation as may be (that the matter may not be knowen 

 untill it be put in execution) you take order for the 

 staying and arresting (with great foresight) of all the 

 shipping that may be found upon the coast, and in 

 the portes of the sayd Signorie, excepting none of 

 Holand, Zeland, Easterland, Germanie, England, and 

 other Provinces that are in rebellion against mee, saving 

 those of France which being litle, and of small burden 

 and weake, are thought unfit to serve the turne. And 

 the stay being thus made, you shall have a speciall care 

 that such marchandize as the sayd shippes or hulkes 

 have brought, whether they be all or part unladen, may 

 bee taken out, and that the armour, munition, tackels, 

 sayles, and victuals may be safely bestowed, as also that 

 it may be well foreseene, that none of the shippes or men 

 may escape away. Which things being thus executed, 

 you shall advertise me by an expresse messenger, of 

 your proceeding therein : And send me a plaine and 

 distinct declaration of the number of ships that you 

 shall have so stayed in that coast and partes, whence 

 every one of them is, which belong to my Rebels, what 

 burthen & goods there are, and what number of men 



VI 417 2D 



