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.