24 Sept.
Guerra, 221. |
439. Statement made by the Purser Pedro Coco Calderon, of the
events which happened to the Royal Armada commanded by
the Duke of Medina Sidonia, from the time it left Corunna,
where it had taken refuge from the gales it encountered after
it sailed from Lisbon.
The Armada sailed from Corunna on the 22nd July, with 151
vessels, as follows :—
23 galleons,
43 ships,
26 hulks,
4 galleasses,
4 galleys,
20 pataches,
10 zabras,
11 caravels,
10 pinnaces ;
the total tonnage being 62,278 tons, the soldiers and sailors on
board numbering in all 30,000 men.
Sail was put on, and in light weather the Armada set its course
for the Scilly Isles, nine leagues from the bay of St. Michael's and
Mount's Bay in England.
On Monday, 25th July, a strong wind sprang up, and the Armada
continued on its course. Tuesday, 26th, the day of St. Anne, the
galleys and the ship "St. Ana," the flagship of Juan Martinez de
Recalde, were missing. The captain of the latter was Juan Perez
de Mucio, and she carried 98 sailors, the Maestre de Campo, Nicolas
Isla, with 284 soldiers, the Purser Pedro de Igueldo, and it is said
50,000 ducats in gold belonging to the King.
On the 30th July the Lizard was sighted, and the Armada
continued on her voyage until five o'clock, in the afternoon, at which
time it was abreast of Cape Gudiman (?) four leagues from land.
An English pinnace approached to reconnoitre, and Captain Ojeda
with his ship and some pinnaces gave chase until she ran inshore.
At nightfall we discovered the enemy's fleet to leeward, but as it
was already late, and the weather was thick, we could not reconnoitre
it. The Duke ordered Captain Uceda to go through the Armada
during the night, giving instructions for the ships to be put into
order of battle, as the enemy would be upon us in the morning.
The Duke then gave orders for sail to be shortened, and remained
awaiting him. At about two o'clock in the morning, when the moon
came out, the enemy set sail and gained the wind of us, leaving five
ships cruising in sight of us to make us think that the rest of his
fleet was there.
On the morning of Sunday, 31st July, the enemy's fleet being then
to windward of us, the Duke made an appearance of attacking the
port. The wind was westerly and the bows of the Duke's flagship
were luffed as close to the wind as possible, whilst the enemy's fleet,
with the wind astern, bore down upon us. They had 20 great
galleons, from 500 to 800 tons burden, and 50 of from 200 to 300
tons, extremely well armed, rigged, and handled. In order not to
expose his rearguard the Duke was obliged to put about and form
order of battle to await the enemy. They came towards us in very
good order, and two of their vessels approached from the direction
of their port for the purpose of reconnoitring us, after which they
sailed towards their flagship. The latter then struck her foresail,
and from the direction of the land sent four vessels, one of which
was the vice-flagship, to skirmish with our vice-flagship and the
rest of our rearguard. They bombarded her and the galleon "San
Mateo," which, putting her head as close up to the wind as possible,
did not reply to their fire, but waited for them in the hope of
bringing them to close quarters. The "Rata," with Don Alonso
de Leyva on board, endeavoured to approach the enemy's vice-flagship,
which also allowed herself to fall off towards the "Rata," But they
could not exchange cannon shots, because the enemy's ship, fearing
that the "San Mateo" would bring her to close quarters, left the
"Rata" and bombarded the "San Mateo." In the meanwhile the
wind forced Don Alonso de Leyva away, and he was prevented from
carrying out his intentions, but he exchanged cannon shots with
others of the enemy's ships.
The Duke's flagship most distinguished herself this day, as she
was engaged the greater part of the time, and resisted the fury of
the whole of the enemy's fleet. Juan Martinez de Recalde, like the
skilful seaman he was, collected all his ships whilst protecting his
rearguard, and engaging at the same time eight of the enemy's best
ships. The Duke, seeing that the enemy would not come to close
quarters, proceeded on his voyage. Juan Martinez de Recalde's
foremast was pierced by two shots, the mainstays destroyed, as was
his main-top stay, and Captain Pedro de Ycaina and others were
wounded. Miguel de Oquendo's flagship also distinguished herself
this day and the ensign of Captain Priego had his leg carried away by
a ball. During this morning certain ships basely took to flight, until
they were peremptorily ordered by the flagship to luff and face the
enemy. The skirmish finished at mid-day without further damage,
the Duke recognising that the enemy's intention was not to come to
close quarters, but only to bombard us, took advantage of the fresh
westerly wind and continued on his voyage. At five o'clock on the
same day Pedro de Valdés's flagship ran foul of the "Santa Catalina,"
a ship of the same squadron, and broke the bowsprit of the flagship,
and snapped the stay of the foremast, which fell upon the mainmast
Don Pedro fired a gun for aid, and the Duke put about in the
direction of the injured flagship, and lay to in order to await her.
Don Pedro also lay to, and some ships and two galleasses shortened
sail to help him. But in consequence of the heavy sea they could
not venture to send a hawser on board of him. The Duke then
sent two pataches to take off the crew, but when they came alongside
Don Pedro refused to abandon his ship, as he said he could repair
her. When the Duke learnt this, the Armada being so far advanced,
he was obliged to proceed on his voyage, and two hours afterwards
three or four shots were heard. Nothing further is known of Don
Pedro, except that the enemy captured his ship. This flagship had
the following persons on board :—General Don Pedro de Valdés,
Captain Vicente Alvarez, owner of the ship, 128 sailors, 50,000
ducats belonging to his Majesty, Captain Don Alonso de Zayas, and
122 soldiers of the company of Don Antonio de Heria, with 20 of
Don Juan de Ibarra's company.
On the same day, at two o'clock in the afternoon, shortly after the
disaster to Don Pedro de Valdés, the "San Salvador," the vice-flagship
of Oquendo's squadron, blew up, by reason of the powder which
had been brought on deck for the fighting. It is said that Captain
Priego had beaten a German artilleryman, who went below, saying
that one of the pieces had got wet, and would have to be discharged.
He fired the piece and then threw the port fire into a barrel of powder.
Both of the after decks were blown up, killing over 200 men,
including Ensign Castañeda, who was on the watch ; and the ship
was rent both in the bows and the stern. Many of the men jumped
into the sea and were drowned, but the principal persons were
saved in four pataches, which were sent by the Duke. Paymaster
Juan de Huerta, his staff papers, and some money in his charge,
were saved. She (the "San Salvador") continued her voyage with
great difficulty until Monday, 1st August, in the morning, when the
Duke ordered the people to be taken out of her and the ship sunk.
The captain, however, was badly wounded, and the men in a hurry
to abandon the ship, so that there was no one to sink her ; besides
which, she had many wounded and burnt men on board, who could
not be rescued as the enemy was approaching. It is believed that
the enemy will have put a hawser on board and towed her to a port
on the coast. Pedro Coco Calderon, chief purser on the Armada,
received on the flag hulk Captain Villaviciosa and about 34 burnt
men. On this day the Duke despatched, in a patache, Ensign Juan
Gil to Dunkirk, with a letter to the duke of Parma, informing him
of the whereabouts of the Armada, and asking where the two forces
should join. On board the said ship (i.e., the "San Salvador") there
were 64 seamen ; Captain Pedro de Priego, who was badly burnt,
and had 94 soldiers ; Captain Don Francisco de Chaves, who was
unhurt, and had 133 soldiers ; Captain Geronimo de Valderrama,
with 92 soldiers, he was also unhurt ; Captain Juan de Villaviciosa,
Vice-Admiral of the squadron, was burnt.
On Tuesday, 2nd August, we were near the the Cape of Plymouth,
when the day dawned with a easterly wind, the enemy's fleet being
consequently to leeward of us. The Duke steered towards them
with the intention of engaging them, but the enemy clapped on
all sail and fled. The wind being light, and the enemy's ships
swifter than ours we were unable to give them chase. On this
day the Duke appointed to command Don Pedro de Valdés's
squadron Don Diego Enriquez, son of the viceroy of Peru. The
skirmishing on Tuesday was very severe, the Florentine galleon
"San Medel" greatly distinguishing herself, as did also the hulks
(two gunners on which were burnt in consequence of neglecting
to sponge out their piece), and the galleasses, and especially the
Duke's flagship, which for an hour and half engaged the enemy's
fleet alone. She was afterwards reinforced by Oquendo's flagship,
which managed to join her and help her gallantly in her brave
fight. The Duke's flagship fired over 80 shots from one side only,
and inflicted great damage on the enemy. The latter shot at the
Duke at least 500 cannon balls, some of which struck his hull, and
others his rigging, carrying away his flagstaff and one of the stays
of his mainmast. The skirmish lasted from dawn until ten o'clock
in the morning, during which time we were trying to come up with
them. At that hour the wind shifted to the south, which enabled
the enemy to gain the wind, and the renewed firing then lasted until
three in the afternoon. The flagship of the squadron put about, and
discharged a gun as a signal for the other ships to approach her,
but as she was so far to windward of the rest of the Armada she
could not be reinforced so speedily. Two of our artillerymen were
killed during the skirmish, in consequence of their neglecting to
sponge out their pieces. When the enemy saw the defiance offered
to them by the squadron flagship, they left her, and attacked the
rest of our boats. Don Alonso de Leyva made great efforts to
come up with the enemy, but he was unable to do so, as he was
too far to the leeward. The galleon "San Marcos" bravely engaged
the enemy. This ship carries the marquis de Peñafiel, Don Felipe
de Cordova, brother of the marquis de las Navas, Don Martin de
Alanzon, Administrator-General of the Hospital Service, and other
great personages. The Duke saw that the enemy continued to
attack our rearguard, and selected 41 of the best ships and the
four galleasses to form the rear, and then proceeded on his voyage.
On Wednesday, the 3rd, at dawn, our Armada was abreast of the
Isle of Wight, and the enemy's fleet bombarded our rearguard for
an hour, the galleasses "Capitana" and "Zuñiga" distinguishing
themselves. The wind then fell light and the enemy, fearing the
galleasses, remained two leagues from our Armada.
On Thursday, the 4th, the weather was calm, and the hulks
"Santa Ana" and "Doncella" fell astern. The enemy attacked
them with some of their ships, which they towed within range.
They would certainly have captured the hulks if Don Alonso de Leyva,
with his flagship and the two galleasses from the rearguard, had
not gone to their assistance. The wind then freshened a little and
the skirmishing began with the galleasses. The flagship with the
vanguard, came to their assistance, and finding her alone, with the
galleass "Patrona" to windward of the line of battle, the enemy
selected some of the best ships in his fleet to deliver a combined
attack on the flagship, the rest of his vessels being left to engage
the rearguard. The plan would have succeeded if Oquendo had not
kept so close a luff, and sailed towards the flagship with other vessels
following him, thus covering her and receiving the chief brunt
of the attack, which was very heavy. Two men were killed in the
fore-castle of the flagship ; and the enemy's flagship, with some other
vessels, drifted far to leeward, in consequence of the rudder of the
former being injured and useless. Ten longboats from the other
ships took her in tow, and, the wind freshening, our flagship and
other ships sailed towards her ; but she got out so swiftly that the
galleon "San Juan" and another quick sailing ship—the speediest
vessels in the Armada—although they gave chase, seemed in comparison
with her to be standing still. This being seen by the Duke,
and the weather being fair, he proceeded on his voyage. The
fighting on this day was as severe as that of Tuesday, and when it
was ended the Duke despatched Captain Pedro de Leon to the
duke of Parma to give him an account of events, and to request a
fresh supply of shot.
On Friday, the 5th, the wind fell calm before dawn, the enemy
always being on our rear, and we remained motionless all day. At
four o'clock the Duke despatched the pilot Domingo Ochoa with letters
to the duke of Parma. The enemy now appeared to have 160 sail,
he having been joined by ... (fn. 5) with two vice-flagships
and two flagships.
On Saturday, the 6th, the wind was blowing from the south-west,
the weather being heavy with showers. Our Armada was within
sight of the coast of France, off Boulogne, the enemy being a league
behind us. The intention of the Duke was to anchor abreast of
Calais with the wind astern, and accordingly at low tide the Armada
brought up at six o'clock in the evening at the place indicated ; the
enemy also anchoring about a league to windward of us, he having
now been joined by John Hawkins, (fn. 6) with 38 sail, which, it was
understood, came from Dover, three of them galleons and the
rest small ships. This brought up his fleet to 160 sail. On this
day the Duke sent a letter to the governor of Calais by Captain
Pedro de Heredia, who found him on the shore in a coach with his
wife, watching to see whether there would be a battle. At night
the weather fell light, and at dusk the same evening the master
and pilot of the hulk "San Pedro el Menor" deserted to the enemy's
fleet. Their names were Simon Henriquez and Juan Isla. On
Sunday, the 7th, the weather was calm until five in the morning,
when it freshened, with showers. At dawn Captain Rodrigo Tello
de Guzman arrived in a frigate (fragata) from the duke of Parma,
bringing a letter for the Duke ; and on this day was sent the
Inspector-General Don Jorge Manrique to Dunkirk, for the purpose
of discussing certain matters of the fleet with the Duke (of Parma).
The steward, Pedroso, and Paymaster Juan de Huerta, were also
sent to Calais with 6,000 ducats in gold to buy victuals and
medicines for the Armada. The duke also despatched his Secretary,
Geronimo de Arceo, to Dunkirk, to urge the duke of Parma to send
with all speed the 30 or 40 flyboats which had been requested
by the pilot Ocboa. At midnight on Sunday the enemy set adrift,
with their sails set and the tide in their favour, eight ships with
artificial machines on board, which came towards us all in flames,
burning furiously in the bows, with the mainsails and foresails
set, and the rudders lashed. They continued to burn towards
the stern until the day was well advanced ; but did no harm,
except to dislodge our fleet. The galleass "Capitana," which was
near the Duke's flagship, fired a shot warning our ships to avoid
them, and the Duke ordered our cables to be cut, the Armada
then sailing in a northerly direction. When we slipped our anchors
some of our ships ran foul of the galleass "Capitana," and she, being
unmanageable, the tide carried her ashore. She had on board Don
Hugo Moncada with 134 sailors, 312 oarsmen ; Captain Luis Macian,
with 130 soldiers of his company ; and Captain Juan Perez de Loaisa,
with 105 soldiers.
The same day the prince of Ascoli, with three servants and a
chaplain, took a patache and (first picking up Major Juan Juarez
Gallinato from his ship) went to Flanders. (fn. 7)
On Monday, the 8th, the galleass already mentioned grounded
under the fort at Calais, to escape from the enemy's fleet, which
shot many times at her. The Armada anchored two leagues from
the port of Calais, with the intention, at daybreak, of recovering the
position and picking up our anchors and cables. At dawn on
Monday, accordingly, we set sail with that object. The flagship was
alone with Oquendo's flagship and the "San Marcos," the galleon
"San Juan," of Diego Flores' squadron, and the galleon "San Mateo"
being at some little distance away ; the Armada not having collected,
although gun signal had been given to that effect. The enemy then
opened a heavy artillery fire on our flagship at seven o'clock in the
morning, which was continued for nine hours. So tremendous was
the fire that over 200 balls struck the sails and hull of the flagship
on the starboard side, killing and wounding many men, disabling and
dismounting three guns, and destroying much rigging. The holes
made in the hull between wind and water caused so great a leakage
that two divers had as much as they could do to stop them up with
tow and lead plates, working all day. The crew were much exhausted
at nightfall with their heavy labours at the guns, without food.
The galleon "San Felipe," of Portugal, with the Maestre de
Campo, Don Francisco de Toledo, on board, was on this day surrounded
by 17 of the enemy's ships, which directed against her a
heavy fire on both sides and on her stern. The enemy approached
so close that the muskets and harquebusses of the galleon were
brought into service, killing a large number of men on the enemy's
ships. They did not dare, however, to come to close quarters, but
kept up a hot artillery fire from a distance, disabling the rudder,
breaking the foremast, and killing over 200 men on the galleon.
This being noticed by Don Diego de Pimentel, he brought his
galleon, "San Mateo," to the wind, and bravely went to the rescue.
Then some of the enemy's ships attacked him, and inflicted much
damage upon him with their artillery. One of the enemy's ships
came alongside the galleon, and an Englishman jumped on board,
but our men cut him to bits instantly. In the interim the Duke's
flagship and the vice-flag hulk ("San Salvador"), with Purser
Pedro Coco Calderon on board, luffed up as close as possible, and
went to the aid of the galleon. The hulk in question, with the
Duke's flagship, engaged an Admiral's and a commodore's flagships
of the enemy, her bows, side, and half her poop, being exposed for
four hours to the enemy's fire, during which time she received no
aid. She had a number of men killed and wounded, and her hull,
sails, and rigging so much damaged that she was obliged to change
her mainsail. She leaked greatly through the shot holes, and finally
the "Rata" came to her assistance, distinguishing herself greatly.
On board the "Rata" there fell, killed by a shot, Don Pedro de
Mendoza, son of the Commander of Castelnuovo, Naples, and other
persons. They had to defend themselves against three flagships, a
vice-flagship, and ten or twelve other war vessels. This engagement
lasted from six o'clock in the morning until four o'clock in the
afternoon, the galleon "San Juan" suffering very severely, as also
did the "San Marcos." Don Felipe de Cordoba, son of Don Diego,
his Majesty's Master of the Horse, had his head shot off.
The Duke's flagship lost 40 soldiers, and Sergeant Juan Carrasco,
Alonso de Orozco, and others. The "San Juan de Sicilia," which
carried Diego Enriquez Tellez (marginal addition in orignal :—"and
Diego Enriquez, who succeeded to the command of Pedro de
Valdés's squadron, also fought bravely in this engagement"),
suffered to such an extent that every one of her sails had to be
replaced. Don Pedro Enriquez, who was also on board the "San
Juan de Sicilia," had a hand shot away in this fight, and the ship's
company generally behaved with great gallantry.
We sailed between Dover and Calais, in the direction of Norway,
with a W.N.W. wind. The enemy inflicted great damage on the
galleons "San Mateo" and "San Felipe," the latter having five of her
starboard guns dismounted ; and an Italian gunner, who was afterwards
killed, spiked one of her great guns. In view of this, and
that his upper deck was destroyed, both his pumps broken, his
rigging in shreds, and his ship almost a wreck, Don Francisco de
Toledo ordered the grappling hooks to be got out, and shouted to
the enemy to come to close quarters. They replied, summoning him
to surrender in fair fight ; and one Englishman, standing in the
maintop with his sword and buckler, called out "Good soldiers that
ye are, surrender to the fair terms we offer ye." But the only
answer he got was a gunshot, which brought him down in sight of
everyone, and the Maestre de Campo then ordered the muskets and
harquebusses to be brought into action. The enemy thereupon
retired, whilst our men shouted out to them that they were cowards,
and with opprobrious words reproached them for their want of
spirit, calling them Lutheran hens, and daring them to return to
the fight. There were on board this "San Felipe" Captain Juan
Gordon, who was killed, and 108 seamen ; the aforementioned
Maestre de Campo, with 111 soldiers of his own company ; Captain
Pedro Nuñez de Avila, with 72 soldiers ; Captain Velasquez, with 113
soldiers ; Captain Lorenzo Godoy (who remained sick at Corunna),
had on board also 72 soldiers, and eight musketeers of the same
regiment. The captains and ensigns were saved, but 60 soldiers were
killed and 200 wounded. At seven o'clock in the evening of the said
day the "San Felipe" fired shots for aid to be sent to her, and the
hulk "Doncella" went to her. She found the galleon sinking, and took
on board 300 of her men. Captain Juan Poza, who was with them,
said that the hulk was going down. The Maestre de Campo replied
that if that were the case they had better be drowned in the galleon
than in the hulk, and they both went back to her. The galleon
"San Mateo" had her hull so riddled that she was also in a sinking
condition, the pumps being powerless to diminish the water. At six
o'clock in the morning, therefore, she came alongside the flagship
and asked for help. The Duke sent a diver who stopped some of
the leaks, but in the end the galleon was obliged to drop astern
with the "San Felipe," and their subsequent fate is unknown ; but
it is said they ran aground on the banks, there being no port near
where they could take refuge. The "San Marcos" had on board
the Maestre de Campo, Don Diego Pimentel, Juan Iñiguez de Medrano,
her captain, 150 seamen, and 116 soldiers of the Maestre de Campo's
company, 109 soldiers with Captain Francisco Marques, and 120
soldiers with Captain Martin de Avalos, with volunteers and others.
Admiral Juan Martinez (de Recalde), with the aid of two Levantine
ships, skirmished with 10 of the enemy's great ships and made them
retire, as they dared not come to close quarters. The Armada ran
during that evening between England and Flanders, with the enemy
still harassing our rearguard, we being in such great danger of
running on the banks that it was only by a miracle we were not
lost.
We learnt that the enemy had orders from the Queen, that, on
pain of death, no ship of theirs was to come to close quarters with
any of ours. At sunset a heavy sea rose, driving us towards the
banks. At this time we observed that the ship "Maria Juan," of
the squadron of Juan Martinez de Recalde—Captain Pedro de
Ugarte—was signalling for assistance, as she was going down. Her
crew had taken to the spars and rigging, and she had lost her
mizenmast and rudder. The Duke sent the aid requested, but it
was only possible to save one boatload of men, for she sank, to the
great sorrow of everyone. She carried 92 seamen and 183 soldiers.
On Tuesday, the eve of St. Lorenzo, we still kept on the same
course with the same wind, the enemy continuing a cannon shot
in our rear. The flagship was sailing abaft of the rearguard, in
consequence of having one of her anchors down, her lead having
only marked seven fathoms, and she being near the banks, 12 leagues
from the Channel. There therefore appeared to be no hope for her ;
either she must fall into the hands of the enemy or run on the banks.
At this time the Duke noticed that Oquendo was sailing towards him
and said to him "Señor Oquendo, what shall we do? We are lost!"
to which Oquendo replied "Ask Diego Flores (fn. 8) . As for me, I am
going to fight, and die like a man. Send me a supply of shot."
But God succoured us in our distress, as He always does, and changed
the wind in our favour, so that our flagship got free of the banks,
and left the enemy behind. We sailed on all day under light sail,
and the Duke summoned to his flagship Don Alonso de Leyva, Juan
Martinez de Recalde, the chief Maestre de Campo, Don Francisco de
Bobadilla, and several pilots and seamen. General Diego Flores
de Valdés suggested that the Armada might put about and return
to Calais, but it was resolved that it should set its course for Spain.
Captain Alonso de Benavides and Captain Vasco de Carbajal asked
Purser Calderon what course that was ; to which he replied that it
would be a tremendously laborious one, for we should have to sail
round England, Scotland, and Ireland, 750 leagues, through stormy
seas almost unknown to us, before we could reach Corunna.
He (i.e., the Purser Coco Calderon) then took careful stock of the
bread and water on board—for everything else was lacking,
especially on this hulk (i.e., the vice-flag hulk "San Salvador").
On Wednesday, the 10th, San Lorenzo's day, we sailed on towards
Norway with wind astern.
On Thursday, the 11th, the Armada put on sail, and beat up in
the direction of Scotland, in latitude 54° N. The enemy's fleet now
numbered only 90 vessels, which continued to follow us. It is to
be concluded from this that their ships had suffered much, and had
been obliged to put into port to refit. The Duke on this day ordered
Don Cristobal de Avila, captain of the hulk "Santa Barbara," to be
hanged ; and condemned to the galleys other ship captains, as well
as reducing some soldier-officers. It is said that this was because on
the day of the battle they allowed themselves to drift out of the
fight.
On Friday, the 12th, the Armada was in 55° N., off a shoal on the
German coast, in nine fathoms of water. At ten o'clock that morning
a despatch boat came to the enemy, and they slackened sail, putting
about and sailing towards London at two o'clock that afternoon. On
this day the Duke appointed to be Major of the Entre Douro e Minho
Regiment Lope Gil, in the place of Juan Juarez Gallinato, absent. (fn. 9)
On Saturday, the 13th, the Armada continued on its voyage, the
Duke ordering that only eight ounces of bread and half a pint of
wine, with one pint of water, was to be served out to each soldier.
He also offered 2,000 ducats to a French pilot if he would conduct
him to a Spanish port.
On this day Purser Pedro Coco Calderon sent a paper of observations
to the Duke, which was very welcome to him and his Council.
The purser was thanked for his remarks with regard to the voyage
of the Armada, etc. ; and, with regard to the hospital delicacies and
medicines, which he had so carefully preserved in the artillery-pharmacy,
on board his hulk, with the intention of selling them,
and he was begged to send some to the Duke's ship, as they were so
urgently needed. The purser immediately did so, sending some rice
for the sick, which present was greatly esteemed ; and the Duke
begged him to do the same for all the ships which had been
engaged, and which would send to his hulk for the supply. At
the same time the Duke gave orders for the future voyage of the
Armada.
On the 13th, and until the 18th, we experienced squalls, rain, and
fogs, with heavy sea, and it was impossible to distinguish one ship
from another. It was therefore necessary to divide the fleet into
separate groups. On the 19th the Armada again collected, and
we found ourselves near the galleon "San Marcos," the Duke's
flagship, and thirteen other vessels. The purser (Calderon), then
supplied Juan Martinez (de Recalde) with a quantity of delicacies,
and tried to do the same for the galleon "San Marcos," but was
prevented by the rough sea. We looked anxiously for the "San
Juan de Sicilia," on board of which was Don Diego Enriquez Tellez,
son of Don Fadrique Enriquez, Grand Commander of Alcantara,
who had fought so bravely. She had been so much damaged that
not a span of her sails was serviceable ; and as we could not find
her, it is feared she may be lost. The weather being very heavy
that night, we lost sight of Juan Martinez (de Recalde) and all the
ships that followed him ; this hulk continuing her voyage alone,
through squalls and fogs. On the 22nd we discovered the main
body of the Armada. On the same date, we being to the windward
of the Armada, we discovered three ships, which Vice-Admiral
Villaviciosa chased with the vice-flag hulk ("San Salvador"). He
overhauled them, and they shortened sail and were captured ; but
as they were German vessels, coming from Lisbon, we let them go
again.
On the 24th Purser Calderon went on board the galleon "San
Martin," and the Duke asked him what latitude we were in, to
which he replied, in 58½° N. The Duke then summoned Diego
Flores de Valdés and the pilot, to whom he had promised the
2,000 ducats—he being a friend of the purser—and by examining
the chart it was found that the purser was right. The purser
urged that, on all accounts, it was advisable to give a wide berth to
the coast of Ireland, but Diego Flores opposed this, although the
French pilot was of the same opinion as the purser. The Duke,
however, adopted the advice and took leave of the purser, ordering
him to distribute the sick amongst the other ships of the fleet, and
duly supply victuals for them from the ships which had any to
spare. There was extreme scarcity in the fleet, and when the
weather served the purser agreed to send 50 lbs. of rice to every
ship that had any wounded or sick on board.
The Duke asked the purser whether he had heard anything of
Don Alonso de Luzon, as he had not seen him for 13 days, although
he had sent the despatch boats to seek him. The purser replied
that he had not, nor of the galleon "San Marcos" and the other
13 vessels from which he (the purser) had parted company two
days before, under the command of Juan Martinez de Recalde. He,
therefore suspected that he (Recalde) had allowed himself to drift
towards Iceland or the Faroe Isles, which belong to Denmark ; Iceland
being in 65° N. and Faroe in 62° N. He was dreadfully in need of
everything, and his (Recalde's) ship in a very injured state. These
islands have good harbours, and there are German merchants there
who have trade with Spain.
From the 24th to the 4th September we sailed without knowing
whither, through constant storms, fogs, and squalls. As this hulk
could not beat to windward it was necessary to keep out at sea, and
we were unable to discover the main body of the Armada until the
4th September, when we joined it.
A despatch boat came from Oquendo's flagship for delicacies,
which were supplied to him. When we asked what ships were
missing, we were told that 14, with Juan Martinez (de Recalde), had
been lost sight of, but now this hulk had appeared there were 13 short.
The Duke, we were informed, had gone on board the galleon "San
Juan de Avendaño," under the command of Diego Flores, in consequence
of the great number of sick on board the "San Martin."
On this day, as we were sailing to leeward of the body of the
Armada, we saw the ship "Villafranca" of Oquendo and another
Levantine ship fall away towards the Faroes and Iceland. These
ships were far to the leeward of us.
From the 5th to the 10th, when this hulk again sighted some
ships (which, however, the heavy sea prevented us from joining), we
continued to make for Cape Clear, always working to windward,
breaking our tackle and making a great deal of water.
On the west coast of Ireland this hulk found herself near an island
10 leagues (in extent?), the sea running strongly towards the land,
to the great danger of the hulk. The purser ordered her to tack to
the northwest, which took her 30 leagues distant, and it is believed
that the rest of the Armada will have done the same. If not they
will certainly have lost some of the ships, as the coast is rough, the
sea heavy, and the winds strong from the seaward.
On the 14th this hulk was off Cape Clear, in 51° N., but did not
sight it, and thence set her course for Corunna, running S.S.W.
On Wednesday, 21st, St. Matthew's Day, the weather being thick,
we discovered the welcome sight of land, but could not recognise it
until afternoon. We then saw four vessels, one of them a flagship.
They passed on their way towards the Brittany coast, doubtless
from Lisbon ; but we wished to avoid them, and consequently did
not inquire. The land turned out to be the rocks of San Cebrian,
but the wind rising strongly in the S.W., we were unable to make it,
although we made great efforts to do so for the rest of the day, and
eight hours of the night. The S.W. wind blew so violently that we
were obliged to fall away towards the Biscay coast. There was not
one drop of (fresh) water in the hulk, and though both pumps had
to be kept going, day and night, they were unable to gain upon the
leaks.
On the 22nd, in the afternoon, we sighted a dismasted ship, which
fired a gun. No reply being given she fired another, and at nightfall
came to reconnoitre us. It was the "Nuestra Señora de Juncal" of
Don Pedro de Valdés's squadron ; one of the best ships in the
Armada, with three captains of infantry on board. She reported
that she was much damaged, with many sick, and entirely without
food ; and asked our whereabouts. We told them off the Asturian
coast, and instructed them to follow us to Santander, but the pilot
did not believe this, and said we were six leagues from Cizarga and
12 leagues from Corunna, whereas we were really more than 50. He
had not reckoned on the furious currents on this coast, and on the
strength of the wind. He therefore beat towards the land to
reconnoitre it well.
On the morning of the 23rd, in calm weather, we sighted another
hulk, which followed in our wake with the other ship. We entered
the port of Santander that night, and there I found the Duke had
already arrived, but was very ill, though delighted at my arrival, as
he had quite given me up for lost, he having left me far to leeward
in latitude 58° N.
Pedro Coco Calderon.
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