Captain Nicholas Downton.
The firing and sinking of the stout and warlike Carrack, called Las Cinque Llagas or The Five Wounds [of the Cross at Calvary, usually called the Stigmata] by three tall ships set forth at the charges of the Right Honourable [George Clifford] the Earl of Cumberland and his friends.
IN the latter end of the year 1593, the Right Besides these three ships; there was a Pinnace, called the Violet, or the Why not I? Honourable [George Clifford,] Earl of Cumberland, at his own charges and his friends', prepared three tall ships, all at [an] equal rate and either [each] of them had [the] like quantity of victuals and [the] like number of men: there being embarked in all three ships, 420 men of all sorts.
The Royal Exchange went as Admiral [Flag Ship]; wherein Master George Cave was Captain. The May Flower, Vice Admiral, [was] under the conduct of [Captain] William Anthonie. And the Sampson, the charge whereof, it please his Honour to commit unto me, Nicholas Downton.
The directions were sent to us to Plymouth; and we were to open them at sea.
The 6th of April 1594, we set sail in the Sound of Plymouth, directing our course toward the Coast of Spain.
The 24th of the said month, at the Admiral's direction; we divided ourselves East and West from each other, being then in the height of 43° [North]: with commandment at night to come together again.
The 27th, in the morning, we descried the May Flower and the little Pinnace [the Violet] with a prize that they had taken; being of Vianna [do Castello] in Portugal, and bound for Angola in Africa. This Bark was of 28 tons; having some 17 persons in the same. There were in her, some 12 butts of Galicia wine; whereof we took into every ship a like Commodities fit for Angola. part: with some Rusk in chests and barrels, with 5 butts of blue coarse cloth, and certain coarse linen cloth for Negroes' shirts; which goods were divided among our Fleet.
The 4th of May, we had sight of our Pinnace and the Admiral's shallop: which had taken three Portugal Caravels; whereof they had sent two away, and kept the third.
The 2nd of June, we had sight of St. Michael, [one of the Azores].
The 3rd day, in the morning, we sent our small Pinnace, which was of some 24 tons, with the small Caravel which we had taken at the Burlings, to range the road [harbours] of all the Islands; to see if they could get anything in the same: appointing them to meet us W.S.W. 12 leagues from Fayal. Their going from us was to no purpose. They missed coming to us, when we appointed: also we missed them, when we had great cause to have used them.
The 13th of June, we met with a mighty Carrack of the East Indies, called Las Cinque Llagas, or The Five Wounds. The May Flower was in fight with her before night. I, in the Sampson, fetched her up in the evening; and (as I commanded to give her the broad side, as we term it) while I stood very heedfully prying to discover her strength; and where I might give counsel to board her in the night, when the Admiral came [should come] up to us; and, as I remember, at the very first shot she discharged at us, I was shot in a little above the belly; whereby I was made unserviceable for a good while after, without [the Portuguese] touching [hurting] any other for that night.
Yet, by means of an honest true-hearted man which I had with me, one Captain Grant, nothing was neglected.
Until midnight, when the Admiral came up; the May Flower and the Sampson never left, by turns, to ply her with their great ordnance: but then Captain Cave wished us to stay till morning; at what time each one of us should give her three bouts with our great ordnance, and so should clap her aboard.
But indeed it was long lingered in the morning, until ten of the clock, before we attempted to board her. The Admiral laid her aboard in the mid ship: the May Flower coming up in the quarter, as it should seem, to lie at the stern of the Admiral on the larboard side.
[William Anthonie] the Captain of the said May Flower was slain at the first coming up: whereby the ship fell to the stern of the out-licar of the Carrack; which, being a piece of timber, so wounded her Foresail, that they said they could come no more to [the] fight. I am sure they did not; but kept aloof from us.
The Sampson were aboard on the bow [of the Carrack]; but having not room enough, our quarter lay on the [Royal] Exchange's and our bow on the Carrack's bow.
The Exchange also, at the first coming, had her Captain, Master [George] Cave, shot in both the legs; the one whereof he never recovered: so he, for that present, was not able to do his office; and, in his absence, he had not any that would undertake to lead out his Company to enter upon the Enemy.
My friend, Captain Grant, did lead my men on the Carrack's side; which, being not manfully backed by the Exchange's men, his forces being small, made the Enemy bolder than he would have been: whereby I had six men presently slain, and many more hurt; which made them that remained unhurt to return aboard, and [they] would never more give the assault. I say not but some of the Exchange's men did very well: and many more, no doubt, would have done the like, if there had been any principal man to have put them forward, and to have brought all the Company to the fight; and not to have run into corners themselves. But I must needs say that their ship [the Carrack] was as well provided for defence as any that I have seen.
And the Portugals, peradventure encouraged by our slack working, played the men; and had Barricadoes made where they might stand without any danger of our shot. They plied us also very much with fire, so that most of our men were burnt in some place or other: and while our men were putting out the fire, they would ever be plying them with small shot or darts. This unusual casting of fire did much dismay many of our men, and made them draw back as they did.
When we had not men to enter; we plied our great ordnance much at them, as high up as they might be mounted: for otherwise we did them little harm. And by shooting a piece out of our forecastle, being close by her, we fired a mat on her beak-head: which [fire] more and more kindled, and ran from thence to the mat on the bowsprit; and from the mat, up to the wood of the bowsprit; and thence to the topsail-yard; which fire made the Portugals abaft in the ship to stagger, and to make show of parlé. But they that had the charge before, encouraged them; making show that it might easily be put out, and that it was nothing. Whereupon again they stood stiffly to their defence.
Anon the fire grew so strong that I saw it [to be] beyond all help; although she had been already yielded to us. Then we desired to be off from her, but had little hope to [have] obtained our desire. Nevertheless we plied water very much to keep our ship well. Indeed I made little other reckoning for the ship, myself, and divers hurt men; [but] then to have ended there with the Carrack: but most of our people might have saved themselves in boats. And when my care was most, by GOD's Providence only, by the burning asunder of our spritsail-yard with [its] ropes and sail, and the ropes about the spritsail-yard of the Carrack, whereby we were fast entangled, we fell apart; with [the] burning of some of our sails which we had then on board.
The Exchange also, being further from the fire, afterward was more easily cleared; and fell off from abaft.
As soon as GOD had put us out of danger, the fire got into the Fore-castle [of the Carrack]; where, I think, was store of Benjamin [the gum Benzoin] and such other like combustible matter: for it flamed and ran all over the Carrack in an instant, in a manner. The Portugals leapt overboard in great numbers.
Then sent I, Captain Grant with the boat; with leave to use his own discretion in saving of them. So he brought me aboard two Gentlemen:
The one, an old man, called Nuno Velio Pereira which, as appeareth by the Fourth Chapter in the First Book of the worthy History of [Jan] Huyghen van Linschoten, was Governor of Mozambique and Cefala [Sofala] in the year 1582 [See English Garner III, 27, 28.]: and since that time, had been likewise a Governor in a place of importance in the East Indies. And the ship [a Carrack], wherein he was coming home, was cast away a little to the east of the Cape of Buona Speranza [Cape of Good Hope]: and from thence, he travelled overland to Mozambique; and came, as a passenger, in this Carrack.
The other was called Bras Carrero, and [he] was Captain of a Carrack which was cast away near Mozambique; and [he] came likewise in this ship for a passenger.
Also three men of the inferior sort we saved in our boat. Only these two we clothed, and brought into England. The rest, which were taken up by the other ships' boats, we set all on shore in the Isle of Flores: except some two or three Negroes; whereof one was born in the Mozambique, and another in the East Indies.
This fight was open off the Sound between Fayal and Pico; six leagues to the southward.
The people which we saved told us, That the cause why they would not yield was because this Carrack was for the King; and that she had all the goods belonging to the King in the country [India] for that year in her; and that the Captain of her was in favour with the King; and at his [next] return into the Indies, should have been Viceroy there.
And withal this ship was nothing at all pestered; neither within board, nor without: and was more like a Ship of War than otherwise. Moreover, she had the ordnance of a Carrack that was cast away at Mozambique, and the [Ship's] Company of her: together with the [Ship's] Company of another Carrack that was cast away a little to the eastward of the Cape of Buona Speranza. Yet through sickness, which they caught at Angola, where they watered; they said, They had not now above 150 white men: but negroes, a great many.
They likewise affirmed that they had three Noblemen and three Ladies in her: but we found them to differ in most of their talk.
All this day [14th June 1594] and all the night she burned: but, next morning, her powder, which was lowest, being 60 barrels, blew her abroad; so that most of the ship did swim in parts above the water.
Some of them say, That she was bigger than the Madre de Dios; and some, That she was less. But she was much undermasted, and undersailed [carrying too little sail]: yet she went well for a ship that was so foul.
The shot which we [in the Samson] made at her in great ordnance, before we lay her aboard, might be at seven bouts [broadsides] which we had, and 6 or 7 shot at a bout, one with another, some 49 shots. The time we lay aboard [the Carrack] might be two hours. The shot which we discharged [while] aboard the Carrack, might be [that of] some 24 sakers.
And thus much may suffice concerning our dangerous conflict with that unfortunate Carrack.
The last of June [1594], after long traversing of the seas, we had sight of another mighty Carrack; which divers of our Company, at the first, took to be the great San Philip, the Admiral [or Flag Ship] of Spain; but the next day, being the 1st of July [1594], fetching her up, we perceived her indeed to be a Carrack: which, after some few shot bestowed upon her, we summoned to yield; but they, standing stoutly to their defence, utterly refused the same.
Wherefore, seeing no good could be done without boarding her, I consulted what course we should take in the boarding. But by reason that we, which were the chief Captains, were partly slain, and partly wounded, in the former conflict; and because of the murmuring of some disordered and cowardly companions: our valiant and resolute determinations were crossed. And, to conclude a long discourse in few words, the Carrack escaped our hands.
After this, attending about Corvo and Flores for some West Indian purchase [booty], and being disappointed of our expectation; and victuals growing short, we returned to England: where I arrived at Portsmouth, the 28th of August [1594].
Footnotes
[5] By noon, or one of the clock, of that day, being the 3rd of August [1592], the Dainty came near her so that the Gunner, whose name was Thomas Bedome (being a proper tall man: and had very good aim at anything, and good luck withal), desired the Captain [Thomson] he might give them a shoot: to let them understand that they were Englishmen; and, under Her Highness, Commanders of the Seas.
The Captain (having great care; and not willing to have any shoot shot in vain) commanded him to forbear till they should come nearer her; which was not long: when the Captain commanded him to do his best; and carousing a can of wine to his Company, encouraged them to begin the fight.
And coming up, [he] hailed them, after the manner of the sea; and commanded them to strike for the Queen of England: which they no sooner refused, but the Gunner, being ready, gave fire to two whole culverins in her chase; and racked and tore her pitifully.
Bearing up with them, [we] gave them the whole [broad] side; and boarded them presently: who resisted most courageously, and put us off again.
Thus continued the Dainty in fight a pretty while before any others could come to help her.
In which time, she laid her aboard three several times, tore her Ancient [Flag] from her Poop, and slew her Captain [?]. And more harm had done them: but that, by chance, a shot bare their Foremast by the board; which they were compelled to splice again, to their great trouble.
The Seaman's Triumph. [30th September] 1592.
[6] The next was Her Majesty's good Ship, the Foresight; whose Commander for that Service was Captain [Sir Robert] Crosse (a man well approved in marine causes, and far hath adventured): who with his ship laid her aboard, and very valiantly assailed them; and was most stoutly by the Spaniards also repulsed.
Insomuch that the brave Captain, of whose men, many were weak; and yet being loath Her Majesty's Ship should be shaken off without victory, fired the Carrack: rather wishing her to be burnt, than the enemies to enjoy her. But the proud and lofty-minded Spaniards, standing on their resolute points, returned the fire again, or some other: which three times was kindled [on board the Foresight]; to the great cumber of Captain Crosse and his Company, that would not so leave them.
This dangerous conflict between these ships endured [a] long time. Which the Phœnix of Portsmouth perceiving...being of 60 tons or thereabouts...left her for a time; standing with their Admiral and Vice-Admiral, which were the Tiger and the Sampson: and coming up with them, declared unto them the hardy fight of the Foresight; who presently bare up with them all the night. The Sampson, being the first, coming up with the Carrack, gave her the whole broadside: and shutting up into the Foresight's quarter, entered his men into her.
Captain Norton, that brave and worthy Gentleman, laid her also aboard, having the Tiger with him.
And so [all three crews] entered together, being 100 men at the least, all resolutely minded. At whose entrance they yielded so great a cry as the dismayed Portugals and Spaniards could not bethink themselves what course to take to help themselves: in such a maze were they stricken, although they were [originally] 800 strong, all well-appointed and able men; and of ours but 100. But standing thus, as men amazed, at length [they] yielded themselves vanquished.
The Seaman's Triumph. [30th September] 1592.
[7] They gan to consult, What were best to do with the prisoners, which were many? And finding their great scarcity of victuals; and not knowing what weather they might have; nor how it might please GOD with good wind to prosper them: it was concluded to ship as many of them as they might; and to send them for Lisbon. This they fully determined; and provision was made of a Bark of Dover, which they met: the Fleet taking in her men, and such provision as they had in her; and embarked the Spaniards and Portingals, with their Negroes, whereof were many. And gave them, with them, store of victuals; and so gave them leave to depart; detaining none but the principalest of them.
The Seaman's Triumph. [30th September] 1592.
[8] The conflict ended, it were a world of wonder to recount unto you the true reports, how our men bestirred themselves in searching and prying into every corner of her as far as they might: as they might well do, having with so great danger overcome her. The sight of the riches, within the same contained, did so amaze the Companies (that were within board of her: and that still came from every ship; being desirous to see what GOD had sent them, after so long and hot a fight) that many of them could not tell what to take; such was the store and goodness thereof.
Yea, he that had known what [the] things had been worth, in a little room might have contrived great wealth. For it is credibly reported that some younkers happened to find many Jars of Civet, which is of great worth; and [it having been] of some long time closely kept was cause, when they opened the same, it yielded no savour: and they, ignorant and not knowing what it should be, thinking it but trash, as it came to their hands, heaved it overboard. Many other things were so spoiled [destroyed] for want of knowledge; when every man had sufficient, and that not one had cause to complain.
The Seaman's Triumph. [30th September] 1592.
