1585.

Que se avituallen los castillos desta ciudad, ribera, y comarca, y provean de polvere, cuerda, y plomo, y lo demas tocante el artilleria, como lo he pedido en las relaciones, que he embiado a su Magestad en 7 de março deste anno 1585. Que se provean las galeras por quatro meses y vengan otras seys de Espanna a este Rio con 120 soldados por galera, para que los pueden repartir, en las ocho que estan aca. Y en caso que esto se ay, que le armada Inglesa no passe a las Indias, y se ocupen en lo deste Reyno, porque havre navios de Ingleses, que acuden a lo uno y a lo otro, sera forçoso hazer otra armada para lo de las Indias, de doze naos, quatro patajes, y mil y quinjentos soldados.

Todo esto, me paresce, conviene al servicio de su Majestad, se prevega y apercibiese con mucha diligencia y cuidado, proveiendo del dinero necessario para ello, sin que se aguarde lo uno a lo otro, sino que todo se haga sin deserirlo: Remitiendo me en todo a mejor parescer. Hecha en Lisboa a 26 de Otubre de 1585.

Annos.

The opinion of Don Alvaro Baçan, Marques of Santa Cruz, and high Admirall of Spaine, touching the armie of sir Francis Drake lying at the Isles of Bayona in Galicia, written in Lisbon the 26 of October after the account of Spaine in the yere 1585.

TH

Hat which it seemeth unto me, that the English army may doe, if they seeke to passe unto the West Indies, and enter into the South sea (as Francis Drake hath done once before) with their thirty ships and galeons, and many pinnesses and shalops with oares, which they have with them, and 5000 men of warre, which may be which they of Bayona thinke to be in the fleete, is as done by passing followeth. by the river

The damage

of Jenero into the South sea.

They may take their course to the river of Jenero, which is on the coast of Brasil in 23 degrees to the

South of the Equinoctial line. It is an haven capable of many ships and very safe, where there is water, wood and flesh and likewise Drake may have corne of Maiz in a towne two or three leagues from the sayd haven, which is called S. Vincente.

And because the course is by the Isles of Madera, the Canaries, and Cape verde, he may sacke those Islands, the time serving him for that purpose.

1585.

From Bayona to the Isle of Madera, with the Northerne Madera. winds which now wil begin to blow, when the Westerne winds be past, which presently doe blowe because that it beginneth to raine on the coast of Spaine, the fleete may run in 6 daies, and from thence to the Canaries Canaries. in foure, and from the Canaries to the Isles of Cape The Isles of Verde in eight, which all together make eighteene dayes: Cape Verde. and he may stay as much time more as shall serve him to sacke the Islands in.

He may saile from Cape Verde to the river of Jenero The river of in 40 dayes, which in the whole amount unto two Jenero. moneths. So that the fleete remaining all this moneth

of October on the coast of Galicia, it may come to the river of Jenero in the end of December.

an Island in

At the entry of the bay of the river of Jenero there 4 fort may is a flat low Island where a fort may very easily be made, bee builded on wherein above 500 men may be left: and placing his the mouth of artillery therein, he may keepe the haven, & the fort the river of wil be able to hold out all assault, because that on the Jenero. Southwest and Northeast sides are two chanels whereby the ships come into the haven: wherein Francis Drake may repaire his army, and leave there some people, and depart with so much of the rest as shal seeme good unto him to enter into the South sea, & go on upon his voyage to the streight of Magelan, which is 550 leagues from the foresaid haven, and standeth in 52 degrees The citie of & a halfe toward the South, and may enter by the Lima easie to bee taken, streight into the South sea all the moneth of February; though it have & so may to goe to the citie of Lima, otherwise called though it have the citie de los Reys, which standeth on the sea coast tants.

The streight

of Magelan.

2000 inhabi

having two thousand inhabitants in it. But in respect that they be no warlike people nor exercised in armes, and because the place is open and without fortresse & artillery, he may take and sacke it, and make himself master on the land, & afterward taking those ships which are in that sea, our people can have no succour of ships out of Spaine, but by the streight of Magelan, which is a long way about.

It is also very credible that he will be able to take Panama.

If he seeke not to take this course he may divide his army into two parts, & sacke the Isle of S. Domingo, Puerto Rico, the coast of Tierra firma unto Cartagena and Nombre de Dios.

And from the river of Chagre, which is fifteene leagues from Nombre de Dios, he may send his footemen in shalops with oares and in the vessels which carrie goods up and downe the river, whereof there are above fiftie there, and passe up to the lodging of the Crosses, called in Spanish Venta de Cruzes, which is five leagues from Panama, which because it is an unwalled towne may easily be taken.

And Havana also will bee in great danger, which albeit it have a fortresse, yet it is but little and weake, and bringing his great ordinance on shore hee may take the same with great facilitie.

And besides these domages which he may do, according to this discourse, it will not be the least to cut off the navigation of the Indies, to take the West Indian fleet, if they chance to be there.

What course is to be taken to prevent these mischiefes.

O dispatch Caravels with all possible diligence to the viceroyes and governours of the Indias, advertising them of the newes of the English army, that they may be provided, and make themselves ready for them. Albeit, considering the number of ships which have bene set

>

I

1

1585.

true, as since found in the office of the

Admiralty.

foorth out of England, I assure my selfe, that some part Sir Barnard of them are gone out of those parts unto Newfoundland. Drake tooke For the Queene hath taken carefull order to send to 17. sailes of the Spanish intercept the ships of the fishermen that goe to Baccalaos. and Portugall And it is likewise to be thought that shee hath done fishers rethe like for the intercepting of the fleet of the Indies. turning from And considering that according to our intelligence out of Newfoundland, 1585. England, above fourescore shippes, and the army of Drake His intellihave bene set foorth from thence, it is meete that his gence was too majestie should prepare another army to seeke the English fleete, and to fight with it, commanding that the Galeons which belong to the crowne of Portugall, and those of his majestie which lye in the river of Sivill bee prepared to send against them, and to give them the Carena, that they may bee in a readinesse for any voyage howe long soever it bee: And likewise to arrest a Galeon of the Duke of Florence, which is very well armed and furnished with great ordinance, and passed lately from Alicante toward Cadiz, and to make up the number of fortie great shippes, Fortie great which are to be had in Biscay and Guipuscoa: and that ships to be provided. beeing rigged, armed and set in good order, they bee victualled for eight moneths, and that foorthwith there bee levied a thousand mariners of Catalunna and Genoa to bee divided among the Fleete, and bee conducted, as they were for the Fleete of Terçera: furthermore that sixe thousande souldiers bee levied, giving commaundement to presse a greater number, to the ende that these may bee able men for service.

Moreover it is needfull for this armie that 20. pataches be brought from Biscay, and 20. Azabras from Castro. That the pataches bee from 50. to 60. tunnes : and that the Azabras bee like those which were in the expedition to Terçera.

That sufficient provision be made of artillerie, powder, match, and lead, and harquebuzes, muskets, and chosen pikes for the keeping of the coast.

1583. Ter

Zera was won

by the Marques of Santa Cruz.

It is also meete to provide another army of two ships Another army of 400. tunnes apiece, and other foure of 200. tunnes,

of ten sailes.

1585.

The Indian

fleete to be strengthened with 4. ships

of warre.

What pro

vision is to be

made if Don

and foure pataches and a thousand souldiers, besides mariners.

Having seene and considered that the Englishmen with their marchants ships onely that traverse these seas have made such havocke in two moneths, and that it is to bee thought that they will doe the like against the fleetes which goe and come from the Indies: it is expedient, that as by order in time of peace the fleete hath an Admirall and Viceadmirall, that now it should have two more at the least in eche Fleete: and neverthelesse they are to bee wafted home with an armie.

In mine opinion all these provisions ought to bee made onely in regard of the English army, and the rest of the ships which have bene set out of that kingdome.

But in case that Don Antonio should come with an armie, and should seeke to invade this kingdome, these provisions following would be needefull.

That warning be given to the Conde de Beneventa, to the Marques de Soria, to the Conde of Altamira, Antonio should to the Conde of Monterey, to the Marquesse of Zerraluo, and to the rest of the Lordes and Knights, which are to have order to bee in a readinesse, against hee come unto this kingdome.

come with an

army.

[III. 534.]

An armie of

14. gallies to be provided.

That the people also be trained of the cities of Toro, Zamora, and Salamanca, to bee ready to succour the countrey betweene the rivers of Doro and Minno: and the people of Estremadura and Sivilla are likewise to bee trained to be ready to succour the citie of Lisbon, and the countrey about the same.

Also that the castles of this citie, river and territorie be victualled and provided of gunpowder, match and lead, and all things else belonging to the artillerie, as I have requested in the relations which I sent unto his majestie the 7. of March of this present yeere 1585.

That the gallies be furnished for foure moneths: and