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
Now when the Centurion was ready to come away from Marseils, there were
sundry other shippes of smaller burden which entreated the Master thereof,
(whose name is Robert Bradshaw, dwelling at Lime-house) to stay a day or
two for them, vntill they were in a readinesse to depart with them, thereby
perswading them, that it would be farre better for them to stay and goe
together in respect of their assistance, then to depart of themselues
without company, and so happily for want of aide fall into the hands of
their enemies in the Spanish Gallies. Vpon which reasonable perswasion,
notwithstanding that this shippe was of such sufficiencie as they might
hazard her in the danger of the Sea, yet they stayed for those litle
shippes; according to their request, who together did put to Sea from
Marseils, and vowed in generall not to flie one from another, if they
should happen to meete with any Spanish Gallies.
These small shippes, accompanied with the Centurion, sayling along the
coast of Spaine, were ypon Easter day in the Straight of Gibraltar suddenly
becalmed, where immediatly they saw sundry Gallies make towards them, in
very valiant and couragious sort: the chiefe Leaders and souldiers in those
Gallies brauely apparelled in silke coates, with their siluer whistles
about their neckes, and great plumes of feathers in their hattes, who with
their Caliuers shot at the Centurion so fast as they might: so that by 10.
of the clocke and somewhat before, they had boorded the Centurion, who
before their comming had prepared for them, and intended to giue them so
soure a welcome as they might. And thereupon hauing prepared their close
fights, and all things in a readinesse, they called vpon God, on whom onely
they trusted: and hauing made their prayers, and cheered vp one another to
fight so long as life endured, they beganne to discharge their great
Ordinance vpon the Gallies, but the little shippes durst not come forward,
but lay aloofe, while fiue Gallies had boorded them, yea and with their
grapling irons made their Gallies fast to the said shippe called the
Centurion.
The Gallies were grapled to the Centurion in this maner, two lay on one
side and two on another, and the Admirall lay full in the stern, which
galled and battered the Centurion so sore, that her maine Maste was greatly
weakened, her sailes filled with many holes, and the Mizzen and sterne made
almost vnseruiceable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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