In the whole 77 ships, which joined and set sail together, at the Havana, the 17th of July, according to our account, and kept together until they came into the height of 35 degrees, which was about the tenth of August, where they found the wind at south west, changed suddenly to the north, so that the sea coming out of the south west, and the wind very violent at north, they were put all into great extremity, and then first lost the General of their fleet, with 500 men in her; and within three or four days after another storm rising, there were five or six other of the biggest ships cast away with all their men, together with their Vice-Admiral.
And in the height of 48 degrees about the end of August, grew another great storm, in which all the fleet saving 48 sails were cast away: which 48 sails kept together, until they came in sight of the Islands of Coruo and Flores, about the 5th or 6th of September, at which time a great storm separated them; of which number 15 or 16 were after seen by these Spaniards to ride at anchor under the Tercera; and twelve or fourteen more to bear with the Island of S. Michael’s; what became of them after that these Spaniards were taken, cannot yet be certified; their opinion is, that very few of the fleet are escaped, but are either drowned or taken. And it is otherwise of late certified, that of this whole fleet that should have come into Spain this year, being 123 sail, there are as yet arrived but 25. This note was taken out of the examination of certain Spaniards, that were brought into England by six of the ships of London, which took seven of the above named Indian fleet, near the Islands of Azores.
FINIS
“It may be truly said that the commandment of the sea is an abridgement or a quintessence of a universal monarchy.”