RELACION DEL VIAGE que ha hecho desde el puerto de la Coruña la Armada Real de S. M. de que es General el Duque de Medina Sidonia, y lo que en el le ha sucedido.

A NARRATIVE of the VOYAGE of the ROYAL ARMADA, from the Port of Corunna, under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia; with an account of the events which took place during the said voyage.

(11th July.)* Friday, 22nd July.—The Duke put to sea with the whole Armada from the port of Corunna, the wind being south-west; and for some days we made good progress with the same wind.

Monday, 25th July.-Seeing that the Armada was pursuing its voyage with favourable weather, the Duke dispatched Captain Don Rodrigo Fello for Dunkirk, to apprize the Duke of Parma of his coming; and to learn the state of affairs in that quarter, as well as the situation which would be most convenient for their junction.

Tuesday, 26th July.—The day began with a dead calm and thick weather, which continued till noon. The wind then changed to the northward, and we held our course east until midnight; when the wind became west-north-west, with heavy showers, which continued through the day and night. This day we lost sight of the head galley, the Diana; which, it was said, returned into port, on account of her making much water.

Wednesday, 27th July.-The same wind continued, but more fresh, and with a heavy sea, until midnight. In consequence of the weather, many ships of the Armada parted company, and amongst them, the three other galleys.

* The dates in the MS. are according to the old style. By deducting 11 from each day they correspond precisely with our

own.

Thursday, 28th July. At daybreak it was fair, with sunshine, and less wind and sea than on the preceding day. The ships of the Armada being counted, it was found that there were forty missing, and the three galleys. The Duke gave orders for sounding, and we found ourselves in 75 fathoms, 30 leagues distant from the Scilly Islands. Three pataches (small vessels) were immediately dispatched: one to the Lizard Point, to see whether the missing ships might be there, and to order them to wait for the Armada; another to make the land and reconnaitre it; and the third to go to the rear, to give orders for all vessels to carry a press of sail; and also to see whether any of the missing ships might be astern, and if so, to hasten them up.

Friday, 29th July.-We continued our course with a westerly wind. The vessel which had been dispatched for the Lizard returned, and reported that Don Pedro de Valdes was a-head with the missing ships, that he kept them together, and that he should wait with them for the Armada. In the evening all the ships of the Armada joined company, excepting the Capitana of Juan Martinez, under the Maestre de Campo Nicolas Isla, and the three galleys, of whose course nothing was known. This same day the coast of England was seen; said to be the Lizard.

Saturday, 30th July.-At day-break the Armada was very near the land, from which it was discovered, and the fire and smoke beacons were lighted. In the afternoon the Duke sent Ensign Juan Gil in a zabra with oars, towards the shore. In the evening several ships were seen, but the weather being thick, with small rain, they could not be counted. Ensign Juan Gil returned at midnight, bringing four English fishermen in a bark; they said that they belonged to Falmouth, and that they had seen the English fleet sail this afternoon from Plymouth, with the Admiral of England and Drake (Draques).

Sunday, 31st July.-At day-break we were off Ply

mouth, and the wind had changed to west-north-west. Sixty ships were discovered to windward; and eleven others (amongst which were three large galleons) to leeward, in shore. The latter maintaining a running fire with some of our ships, worked to windward, and joined their fleet. The Armada was formed in order of battle, and the flag-ship hoisted the royal standard at the fore-top-mast-head. The enemy's fleet passed, cannonading our van under Don Alonzo de Leyva, who returned their fire from some of his ships; and they then attacked our rear division under the Admiral-General Juan Martinez de Recalde; who, not to shrink from his post, awaited their coming up, although he saw the ships of his division joining the main body of the Armada. The enemy attacked him, and kept up so heavy a fire on his ship, without boarding, that they disabled her, cutting up her rigging, and lodging two shot in her foremast. She was supported by the Grangri, belonging to the rear division, the galleon San Mateo under Don Diego de Pimentel, Maestre de Campo, and the galleon San Juan, of the division of Diego Florez, commanded by Don Diego Enriquez, son of the Viceroy, Don Martin Enriquez. The flag-ship took in her foresails, slackened the ropes, and lying to, waited to receive Juan Martinez into the line; upon which the enemy drew off, and the Duke got the Armada together; not being able to do more on this occasion, as the enemy had gained the wind: their vessels were well fought, and under such good management that they did with them what they pleased. In the evening Don Pedro de Valdez ran on board the ship Catalina of his division, and split his bowsprit and foresail; he fell into the centre, to repair the damage. The Armada continued until 4 P.M. endeavouring to gain the wind of the enemy; at this hour the powder-barrels of the flag-ship of Oquendo took fire, and blew up the two decks and the poop. The Paymaster-General of the Armada was on board this ship,

with part of the money of his Majesty. The Duke, perceiving her situation, tacked towards her, firing a gun, that the Armada should do the same, and ordered boats to be sent to her assistance. The fire was extinguished; the enemy, who were advancing towards the ship, stopped on seeing our flag-ship making for her; and she was covered, and placed in the body of the Armada. In consequence of the tacking, the foremast of the ship of Don Pedro de Valdes fell on her main-yard; the Duke went to her assistance, and wished to take her in tow; but there were so much wind and sea, that notwithstanding every exertion, it could not be done. In the meanwhile, we were remaining with furled sails; and night coming on, Diego Florez represented to the Duke that if he lay to for that ship, the Armada, which was getting much a-head, would lose sight of him, and he would undoubtedly find himself in the morning with only half the Armada; that with an enemy so near at hand, the safety of the whole Armada was not to be hazarded for a single ship; and that in his opinion by continuing to lie to, the object of the expedition would be sacrificed. In compliance with this representation, the Duke ordered Captain Ojeda to remain by the disabled ship, with his own, and with four pataches, the flag-ship of Don Pedro, the ship of Diego Florez, and a galley, to endeavour to tow her, or to take out her crew; but it was not possible to do either, on account of the wind and sea, and the darkness of the night. The Duke pursued his voyage, advancing with the Armada, and attending to its keeping together and during the night, the wounded and the burnt were taken out of the flag-ship of Oquendo, although both the sea and the wind increased much.

Monday, 1st August. (22nd July.)—The Duke gave orders that Don Alonzo de Leyva should pass with the van division to join that of the rear; forming the two divisions into one; with the three galleasses, and the galleons, San

Mateo, San Luis. Santiago, and that of Florence of the squadron of Portugal, in all forty-three ships, amongst the best of the Armada, to withstand the enemy, and to prevent their disturbing our junction with the Duke of Parma. The whole of the Armada was thus formed into two divisions only; the Duke himself proceeding with the van, and Don Alonzo de Leyva having the charge of the rear," during the time that Juan Martinez was employed in putting his ship to rights. The Duke summoned to him all the Sargentos Mayores, and ordered them to proceed, each in a patache, to place the Armada in order; so that each ship should keep the position assigned to her in the new order of sailing, communicated to her in writing: and he further gave them written orders, directing that in case any ship did not observe the order and quitted her post, the captain should forthwith be hanged; the Sargentos Mayores taking the Provosts with them for that purpose; and for the better execution of the order, they were distributed, three in the van, and three in the rear division. The same day, at eleven, the captain of the flag-ship of Oquendo came and reported to the Duke that she was sinking, and could no longer be navigated; upon which the Duke ordered the crew and the money of his Majesty to be taken out, and the ship to be sunk. In the evening, the Duke dispatched Ensign Juan Gil in a patache for Dunkirk, to apprize the Duke of Parma of his progress.

Tuesday, 2nd August (23rd July).—The morning was fair. The enemy's fleet was seen to leeward, steering for the land, and making every effort to get to windward of us. The Duke tacked towards the shore, striving to keep the wind, and to prevent the enemy from gaining it; and he was followed by the galleasses of the van division; and by the rest of the Armada, at some distance. The enemy, observing that our flag-ship stood in shore, and that they should not be able to gain the wind in that direction, stood