196 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



■wifh. a sea running as high as heaven, so that neither could our 

 hawsers stand the strain, nor could sails be of any service, so that the 

 three ships were driven ashore on a strand of fine sand, surrounded by 

 immense cliffs, something never before seen, and such that in the 

 space of an hour the three ships went to pieces, and of their crews not 

 more than 300 escaped, while more than 1000 were drowned, amongst 

 them being many noblemen, chief officers, gentlemen and other 

 persons of their suits. Don Diego Enriquez met his death in a most 

 miserable manner ; for, frightened by the heavy sea that was running 

 and which passed clear over the vessels, he took to the ship's boat 

 which had a deck, and along with him went the son of the Count de 

 Yilla Pranca and two other Portuguese gentlemen having on their 

 persons more than 16,000 ducats' worth of jewels and coin. Having^ 

 got into it, and having stowed themselves away beneath the deck, 

 they ordered the hatch to be closed and caulked, whereupon, as they 

 were casting off, more than 70 of the survivors, wishing to reach land,, 

 threw themselves into the boat. At that moment a big sea came on,, 

 which completely covered it and carried away these people, and then 

 the boat went whirling about with the heavy sea, until it was cast 

 ashore, where it brought up, keel upwards, and in such a condition, 

 that the gentlemen who were inside the hatches, died there. Having 

 remained thus for a day and a-half, there came along some natives 

 (salvajes) who took to turning the boat over, in order to strip her of 

 the iron fittings and nails, and breaking open the hatch, they took 

 out the dead bodies, Don Diego Enriquez dying in their hands, and 

 stripped them, taking all the money and jewels that they found on 

 them, and then threw the bodies aside without any attempt whatsoever 

 at burial. His lot was so singular, and what I describe to you so 

 perfectly true, I have been anxious to inform you of it in order that 

 you may know what was the death that this gentleman met with. It 

 would not be reasonable did I not tell you of my good luck and how 

 I reached the shore, it was thus : I mounted on the highest part of 

 the stern of my ship, having recommended myself to God and to our 

 Lady. Erom that point I surveyed the pitiful scene that lay before 

 me, many being drowned in the very vessel, others throwing them- 

 selves into the raging sea, and sinking without again coming to the 

 surface, others onboard the ships calling aloud for help, and imploring 

 God's aid. The captains cast into the sea their chains and "escudos" 

 (cadenas y escudos), while many again the immense seas caught up on 

 board the ships and carried them away. As I stood viewing but too 

 distinctly this scene, I knew not what to do, nor what step to take. 



