1596. Chap. XIII. A briefe and true report of the Honorable Voyage unto Cadiz, 1596. of the overthrow of the Kings Fleete, and of the winning of the Citie, with other accidents, gathered out of Meteranus, Master Hackluyt* and others. [IV. x. 1927.] have taken *M. Hackluit had published Fter that Callis had beene taken by the large Cardinall Albert, Archduke of Austria, report of this Voyage which afterwards by Papall dispensation written by one married the Lady Isabella Eugenia Clara emploied Infanta, who yet governeth the Belgians therein: out which acknowledge the Spaniard, Queene of which 1 Elizabeth thought it fitter to invade the that which Spaniard at home, then to expect his forces here. The served our said Cardinall (and Archduke of Austria) had planted purpose. his unexpected siedge before Callis, and begun his unwelcome battery on Wednesday the 17. of April 1596. and the Towne desired truce for foure and twenty houres, which was rejected, whereupon they yeelded themselves presently upon condition of life and goods saved, and sixe dayes truce to be given them, with liberty either to stay in the Citie, or to goe to the Castle; and if the King of Navarre (Henry the fourth, the French King) did not in that space relieve them, they were to yeelde the Castle. Most of them betooke themselves to the Castle, and left their empty houses to the Conquerours. The night before the truce expired, they began to shoot at the Spaniards, who had now made so fatall preparations, that the next day, April 24. before noone they had beaten downe the wals and entered, the Governour of the Towne and divers others being slaine, Queene Elizabeth meane while had prepared aide, and the Souldiers and Ships at Leigh in Essex, were detained by the windes, which then were Easterly, and instead of carrying the English thither, brought hither the terrible thunders of the Spanish Ordnance; insomuch, that I have heard that they shooke the looser glasse out of the windowes in Dover and filled the shoares of Essex & Kent with the hideous reports of Calis her unavoidable ruine. And thus in so short time the Cardinall won that ancient Port, by Strabo called Itium, by Ptolomey Gessoriacum (as Meteranus collecteth) which had cost the English eleven moneths siedge, before they, under Edward the third, tooke it, An. 1346. They held it 202. yeers; at which time Francis Duke of Guise, in the unhappy daies of Queen Mary, and by reason of her unluckie joyning with the Spaniards in their warres against the French, recovered it in a few dayes unlooked for battery to the French, and therewith tooke* not that Towne alone, but the joy of life also from that unfortunate Queene; both which seeming disasters were the price of Englands faire purchases, both gaine and liberty in the dispersing of that Spanish cloud which from the time of the match had hovered over us, and of the concomitant Antichristian Papall Mists, which was a smoake from the bottomlesse pit to them which received it, and a fire to them which refused it of what degree soever and in that as throwes of a grievous travell they brought forth a Virgin, both Truth to the Church, and Queene to the State; the one a fruitfull Mother to the soules, the other to the wealth, honour, domesticke peace, forraine victories, and Navall glorie of the English Nation. This renowned Queene, eight and thirty yeeres after, unable to alter that decree of the windes which now seemed themselves, and forced Calis, to become Spanish; would try their windy fidelity in another expedition, and prepared a strong Fleet to invade the Spanish coast: The charge whereof she committed to the Lord Robert Earle of Essex, and the Lord Charles Howard Lord high Admirall of England, who came unto Plymmouth (about the beginning of May 1596.) being there accompanied with divers other noble Peeres, as the Earle of Sussex, the Lord Thomas Howard, the Lord Herbert, the Lord Warden Sir Walter Raleigh: the Lord Marshall Sir Francis Vere: the Lord Burk, Don Christopher yong Prince of Portugall, yong Count Lodovick of Nassaw, and the Admirall of the Hollanders, Sir John Vanderfoord: besides many other most worthy Knights and Gentlemen of great worth attending upon this most honorable Action: It pleased them, there to make their aboade for the time of that moneth, aswell for the new furnishing and revictualing of her Majesties Royall Navie: as also for the expecting of some other ships, which were to come from divers places of the Realme, and were as yet wanting. Before their departure from Plymmouth, it pleased their Lordships to publish in Print, and make knowne to all the world, especially to such as it concerned, and that both in the Latine, French, Dutch, English, and Spanish tongue, what were the true, just, and urgent causes, that at this time provoked her Majestie to undertake the preparing and setting forth of this so great a Navie, namely the King of Spaines preparations against her, who had before whiles hee treated of peace, Anno 1588. prepared to invade her coast, and now also to that purpose daily encreased his Navie. If therefore any should furnish the Spaniard with munition and provisions, they should expect what force could doe: for all others of whatsoever Nation they advised them to forsake the Spanish and Portugall Ports, or to joyne with the English for their owne security, they having no quarrell in this designe but against the Spaniard. Thus then, all things being in a very good order and 1596. [IV. x. 1928.] 1596. well appointed, the most holy name of our Omnipotent God being most religiously and devoutly called upon, and his blessed and sacred Communion being divers times most reverently and publikely celebrated: being furnished with one hundred and fiftie good saile of ships, or thereabout: In the name of the most high and everliving God the first day of June they embarked themselves, weighed Ancre, and hoysed up saile, and put to Sea onward their journey from the Sownds of Plymmouth, to shew her Majesties religious intendments in this exploit. I have thought good to adde here a Prayer made by her selfe (as was reported) and used, as it was fitted, for that designe. Ost Omnipotent maker and guide of all our worlds masse, that onely searchest and fadomest the bottome of all our hearts conceits, and in them seest the true originals of all our actions intended: thou that by thy foresight doest truely discerne, how no malice of revenge, nor quittance of injurie, nor desire of bloudshed, nor greedinesse of lucre hath bred the resolution of our now set out Army, but a heedefull care, and wary watch, that no neglect of foes, nor over-suretie of harme might breede either danger to us, or glory to them: these being the grounds wherewith thou doest enspire the minde, we humbly beseech thee with bended knees, prosper the worke, and with best forewindes guide the journey, speede the victory, and make the returne the advancement of thy glory, the triumph of their fame, and surety to the Realme, with the least losse of the English bloud. To these devout petitions Lord give thou thy blessed grant. The ninth of the same moneth comming something neere to the North Cape, in a manner in the same altitude, or not much differing, which was about 43. degrees, and something more, yet bearing so, as it was impossible to be descried from the land. There it pleased the Lords to call a select Councell, which was alwaies done by hanging out of a Flagge of the Armes of |