The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 07: England's Naval Exploits Against SpainHakluyt, Richard
History
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 07: England's Naval Exploits Against Spain
Hakluyt, Richard
Discoveries in geography -- English; Voyages and travels
But it was neither the report of the attendance of these armies, nor the
opinions of the people, nor any thing else, that could daunt or dismay the
courages of our men, who grounding themselues upon the goodnesse of their
cause, and the promise of God, to bee deliuered from such as without reason
sought their destruction, carried resolute mindes, notwithstanding all
impediments to aduenture through the Seas, and to finish their Nauigations,
maugre the beards of the Spanish souldiers. But least they should seeme too
carelesse, and too secure of their estate, and by laying the whole and
entire burden of their safetie vpon Gods prouidence, should foolishly
presume altogether of his helpe, and neglect the meanes which was put into
their handes, they failed not to enter into counsell among themselues, and
to deliberate aduisedly 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, whatsoeuer
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 Græcia, and committed
themselues 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
wherof they came the 13. day of Iuly 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
common order, made themselues ready for a fight, layd out their Ordinance,
scoured, charged, and primed them, displayed their ensignes, and left
nothing vndone to arme themselues 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 seruice
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 Leiua their Geuerall, to
acknowledge their duty and obedience to him in the name of the Spanish
king, Lord of those seas? Our men replied and said, that they owed no such
duetie nor obedience to him, and therefore would acknowledge none, but
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