SIR FRANCIS DRAKE a.d. 



1587. 



Plimouth in the moneth of April towards the coast of 

 Spaine. 



The 16. of the said moneth we mette in the latitude 

 of 40. degrees with two ships of Middleborough, which 

 came from Cadiz ; by which we understood that there 

 was great store of warlike provision at Cadiz & there- 

 about ready to come for Lisbon. Upon this informa- 

 tion our Generall with al speed possible, bending 

 himselfe thither to cut off their said forces and provisions, 

 upon the 19. of April entered with his Fleet into the 

 Harbor of Cadiz : where at our first entring we were 

 assailed over against the Towne by sixe Gallies, which [II. ii. 122.] 

 notwithstanding in short time retired under their for- 

 tresse. 



There were in the Road 60. ships and divers other 

 small vessels under the fortresse : there fled about 20. 

 French ships to Port Real, and some small Spanish 

 vessels that might passe the sholdes. At our first com- 

 ming in we sunke with our shot a ship of Raguza of 

 a 1000. tunnes, furnished with 40. pieces of brasse and 

 very richly laden. There came two Gallies more from 

 S. Mary port, and two from Porto Reale, which shot 

 freely at us, but altogether in vaine : for they went 

 away with the blowes well beaten for their paines. 



Before night we had taken 30. of the said ships, & 

 became Masters of the Road, in despight of the 

 Gallies, which were glad to retire them under the Fort : 

 in the number of which ships there was one new ship 

 of an extraordinary hugenesse in burthen above 1200. 

 tunnes, belonging to the Marquesse of Santa Cruz being 

 at that instant high Admiral of Spaine. Five of them 

 were great ships of Biskay, whereof 4. we fired, as they 

 were taking in the Kings provision of victuals for the 

 furnishing of his Fleet at Lisbon : the fift being a ship 

 about 1000. tunnes in burthen, laden with Iron-spikes, 

 nailes, yron hoopes, horse-shooes, and other like neces- 

 saries bound for the West Indies we fired in like maner. 

 Also we tooke a ship of 250. tunnes laden with wines 



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