YOu shall here (louing Countrymen) receiue a plaine, full, and perfect Relation, of a stratagem brauely at­tempted, resolutely seconded with bold English spirits, and by them as fortunately Executed vpon our Enemies, the Spaniards: Who, albeit vpon what Kingdome soeuer they once set but footing, they write Plus vltra, deuouring it vp in conceipt, and feeding their greedy ambition that it is All their owne; yet this great golden Fagot of Do­minion may haue many sticks plucked out of it, if cunning fingers goe about to vndoe the Band: as by this Galizian Enterprize may appeare.

A pregnant testimony hereby being giuen, that if [Page 2] the great Warriours of the Sea would ioyne toge­ther, and Thunder all alongst the Spanish Coasts, the Cast [...]lian Kingdomes might easily be shaken, when so poore a handfull of our English being spread before one of their Sea-townes, was the fore-runner of so terrible a storme to all the Inhabitants.

Such a braue mustering of all the Gods of the O­cean in one conjoyned Armie, would quickly make the great Donnes to alter their proud and insolent Poesie, of Non sufficit orbis (the world is too little to fill their belly, when the East-Indies lies vpon one of their Trenchers, and the West vpon another; yea, and compell them to dwell quietly at home, in their owne hot barren Country of Spaine, contented with a dinner of a few Oliues, a handfull of Reisins, and such poore trash; not intruding into other Kings Ter­ritories, (especially these fruitfull ones of ours,) to eate vp our fat Beefes, Veales, Muttons, and Capons, (Victuals too good for such insatiable feeders,) when whole Countries (might they swallow downe their fill) are nothing to be devoured at one meale.

Come forth therefore you Renowned English, and by the example of a few Country-men of yours, plough vp the furrowes of your Enemies Seas, and come home laden (as they haue done) with spoyles, honours, victorie, and rich purchased Prizes.

Feare not to fight, albeit fiue Kings bring their men of Warre into the field, for you haue a Iosua to stand vp in your defence, and to bid them battell.

And when you goe to draw your Swords, or to discharge your Cannons against the Iron ribbes of [Page 3] the Armadoes of this Potent and bloody Enemie, Pray vnto the Lord toward the way of the Citie which he hath chosen, and toward the house which in that place is built vp for his Name, and Hee in hea­uen will heare your prayers and supplications, and judge your cause, and deliuer these wilde Boares, and Bulls of Tariffa into your Toyles.

To arme you for Action, for your Countrie, for your Fames, for Wealth, and the credit of your Na­tion, whensoeuer it pleaseth God, that you put to Sea, may you be prosperous, and speed no worse than these haue done, whose story I am now going to set downe.

One Captaine Quaile borne in Portsmouth, desiring to attempt something for the honour of England, and benefit of himselfe and followers, by the Licence and authority of those in England who might giue him leaue, got a Barke of Plimouth, which by him and his friends was sufficiently furnished with Men, Victuals, and Munition: the Barke being but 30. tunne, and the men in her, to the number of 34. or 35.

This Captaine and the resolute Gyng with him went merrily to Sea, and sailed too and fro, without fastening vpon any purchase, answerable to their ex­pectation, or defraying such a Charge, as they and their Ship had beene at. Their fortunes in England were not great, and if they should returne home with­out some exploits, their estates would be lesse. Here­upon the Captaine discouering his minde to his Lieutenant whose name was Frost, they two (after consultation betweene themselues) perswaded the rest of their company to trye their vttermost aduentures, [Page 4] rather than like Cowards to goe backe, who hearing the Captaines resolution, were on fire to follow him, through all dangers, happen whatsoeuer could. And so they clapped hands vpon this desperate bargaine, yet protesting, and seriously vowing not to turne Py­rats, thereby to make booty either of their owne Country-men or friends to the State.

Good hope thus, and a prosperous winde filling their Sayles, they houered along by the Coast of Gali­zia, which lyes vpon the head of Portugall, to the Northward. In passing by which, the Shippe being cleere, and the shores quiet, the Captaine comman­ded them to cast Anchor before a certaine Towne called Cris, which had a Plat-forme, or Fort with Ordnance to defend it; and this was done at Noone-day.

Then, he being perfect in the French tongue, wrote a Letter in that Language to the Gouernour or Cap­taine of the Fort, importing thus much, That they were poore distressed French-men, driuen thither by some Turkish men of Warre, and flying to them (as to their friends) for succour: pretending their grea­test want to be Wood for firing, and fresh Water, to relieue them, of both which necessaries, they knew that place aboundantly stored, and for which they would giue any reasonable content.

Thus ryding at Anchor in sight of the Towne, and their Cock boate being lost in a storme; they had no other deuice to conuey the Letter to the Spanish Commander, than by sending a Sayler vpon an emp­ty Hogshead, with an Oare in his hand to guide him [Page 5] to Land, he being very skilfull both in the French, and swimming.

The Spaniards seeing a man making to them in that strange manner, thought verily they were men distrest indeed, and thereupon Manning out of a Skiffe to meet and receiue him, they tooke him in.

The Letter spake his businesse to the Spanish Cap­taine, who talking further in the French to the Marri­ner, and being thereupon certainely assured of their distresse, determined to sell to them such commodi­ties as they wanted, at as deere a rate as he could: and for that purpose commanded another Skiffe to bee Manned out with certaine Spaniards, who suspecting nothing; hastened to goe aboard the Pinnace, with their Captaine in company.

In the meane time Captaine Quaile had shut his Port-holes close, and hid his Ordnance: discouering not aboue fiue men vpon the Hatches, who seemed to carry sickly faces, and weake bodyes, and were all vn­armde. The Spaniards are joyfully embraced and welcomed: such poore victuals as they had aboard were with arguments of much loue set before them: Holland Cheeses were cut in the middle, and such Wine and Beere offered them, as they were furnished with.

This Entertainment carrying away all suspition with it, Captaine Quaile inuited the Spanish Captaine and the rest of his company to his Cabbin. In passing to which, the Spanish Commander espied a peece of Ordnance; at which starting backe, and not halfe well pleased, demanding why it lay there, Quaile ex­cused [Page 6] it, and said, that was all the protection they car­ryed about them, to defend them from dangers: and so with as much Cunning as hee could, hee drew by complement, and disguised faire language, all the Spaniards into his Cabbin: whither with good words he welcommed them, and saluted them with Cannes of Wine, which whiles they were tossing (albeit the Spaniard is the most temperate drinker in the world) and Captaine Quaile with his foote giuing a knocke for more; That signe of the foot was a watch-word to fetch vp all his Marriners; who crying St. George, appeared in their full number, euery man armde with a chargde Pistoll, and short Sword drawne in his hand.

The Spaniards astonished at this vnexpected surpri­sall, seeing no remedy, yeelded themselues, and so were all taken prisoners: an assurance being giuen them by the English Captaine vpon the oath of a Souldier (his honour) and the faith of an English-man, which to an Enemy he scornes to breake, not a Spaniard there should be in any danger for his life, so they would be quiet and silent, otherwise Death.

Certaine Fishermen were all this while round a­bout them at their labour, yet perceiued nothing.

With all speed therefore that possibly could bee vsed, Captaine Quaile and his Lieutenant making their Prisoners sure, Manned out the two Spanish Skiffes with his English Muskatiers, euery one of them lying downe in the Skiffes flat on his belly, none (that might be mistrusted, being seene) but such onely as Rowed the two Skiffes.

[Page 7]Then, with great Circumspection (attended vp­on by a resolution to meete Death face to face) they landed themselues, and (actiue as fire) suddenly with little or no danger at all, surprized the Plat­forme, and with the same dexteritie were Masters of the Fort: for the act being quicke as lightning, so amazed the Spaniards, that it tooke from them all apprehension not onely of feare, but preuention, or acknowledgement of that danger which trod vpon their heeles. So that Captaine Quaile, what with his owne successe and the others astonishment, in a short time, and without resistance, seized vpon the Ordnance of the Plat-forme, which turning and dis­charging vpon the Towne, and his owne Barke like­wise giuing fire to her Pieces on the other side, A­way ranne the people, to the number of Two hun­dred persons, besides Women and Children. At the noise of these sudden terrours, the Fishermen likewise, cutting their Nets, hastened as fast as they could to shore, hauing more care to saue themselues than to catch any Fish; and so flying vp into the Countrey, the Towne was left naked, and letten to new Land-lords. Who meeting no Spaniards wil­ling to be their Tenants, and the English-men them­selues being loath to tarrie amongst such bad neigh­bours, they rifled both the Fort and the Towne, and had the Pillaging of both, for Eight houres to­gether. In which time, they hurried to their Ship any thing that was of value, and besides the abun­dance of much riches, they brought away the Ord­nance [Page 8] of the Fort, the Bell out of the Church, and the Challice: and so (without wrong to their per­sons) putting their Spanish Prisoners into their owne Skiffes, to shore they sent them, with a warlike, tri­umphing Farwell from their owne Pieces, and are now with much honour arriued in England.

If this Example noble Country-men cannot giue you sufficient Incouragement, doe but looke backe into the former Ages, and take a briefe suruay what Honourable attempts, exploits, vndertakings, and stratagems, haue in forraigne Countries beene en­terprized and atchieued by the English, when braue Iohn of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, &c. beeing but a Subiect, without borrowing or charging of the Kings treasures, out of his owne Purse and Coffers, and assisted by his Friends and such voluntary Gen­tlemen, as craued dependance vpon his Fortunes, without Presse or compelling any man, beating vp his Drummes, leauied so sufficient an Army, that with it hee Conquered all Spaine, remoued the V­surper, and reinstated the expulsed Don Pedro, and after by Interchangeable Marriages, made himselfe and successiue Issue, compettitors and allies to the Crowne and Dignitie Imperiall.

Of what Honours our Nation haue purchased from the French, euen their owne Chronicles, with­out the flatterie of ours, giue ample and sufficient testimonie: Witnesse the Battailes of Poytiers and Cressie, fought by the Inuincible Souldier (for the [Page 9] great terrour which hee brought into France) called the Blacke Prince, who with Inimitable valour, Cou­rage vndaunted, and expedition almost beyond hu­maine apprehension against infinite oddes, and no­thing on his owne partie to incourage him, saue want of number and disaduantage of place, yet not­withstanding, not onely desrouted their mightie Armies, killing many and defeating all. But brought the King Dolphin, and all the Prince peeres of the land Prisoners, and presented them at the feete of his Father.

The Scotch King, taking the aduantage of the King of Englands then being in France, who lay at Calice, made Inrodes and Incursions into this Land, whom the Queene Philip then destitute of all her Nobilitie and Gentry, as being then with the King her Hus­band in France) met with an Army of Priests, Hus­bandmen, Artificers, and some few Gentlemen, gaue him Battaile, vanquisht his Armie, tooke him Pri­soner, and added one thing more to the eternizing of her Husbands and Sonnes famous and renowned valours.

I omit the great Battaile fought by Henry the Fift at Agincourt, with many others, and least I be taxed of too great a digression returne to the former dis­course by me promised, and I make no question by you expected.

In Lisbone not long since, The 2. Ho­nour of our Nation. a young Marchant (who for diuers respects desires to haue his name concea­led, being in the company of certaine Donnes, and [Page 10] falling in discourse about the valour of seuerall Na­tions, they so farre exceeded in the hyperbolies of their owne praise, that they blusht not to affirme, that one Spaniard was able to beate two English-men out of the Field, which they in their braggadesme inforced so farre, that though the rest were silent, this young Gentleman not able to conceale a true English spirit, after some retort of language, there made a protestation, That if it pleased the Gouer­nour to giue him leaue, hee himselfe would vnder­take, (making choise of his Weapon) to fight singly against three of the proudest Champions they would produce against him; to cut off Circum­stance, the Chalenge was accepted, the Gouernour prepared the combitants, with the time and place appointed: a great confluence of people assembled: where one young Merchant, armed onely with his Sword and a Spanish Pike in the lists appeared, who by the three aduersaries was boldly and resolutely charged: but God and his good Cause defended him so well, that the Combate continued not long, till one of them he had layd dead at his foote, and hauing receiued from them some few scratches, with the losse of a small quantitie of blood, but with­out danger, hee so actiuely and resolutely behaued himselfe against the suruiuors, that they after di­uers wounds from him receiued begin to quaile in their former courage, and fight more faintly and further off, which the Gouernour perceiuing, com­manded the Combat to cease, and withall to guard him [Page 11] the English-man from the furie of the displeased multitude, who could haue found in their hearts to haue pluckt him in peeces, where calling him vp to him conueyed him safe to his house, and after much commendation of his valour, very nobly secured him to his Ship, wishing him for his owne safety to be seene no more ashoare, whose counsell he follow­ed; and since with much Enuy from them, and great Honour to vs, he is arriued in his owne Coun­trey.

I desire to be tedious in nothing, but will ac­quaint you with another Exploit, no lesse remarke­able then the former, performed in the beginning of this last Moneth Aprill, and thus it was:

A worthy Gentleman one Captaine Warner, The 3. Ho­nour. with two small Pinaces was bound towards some part of the West Indies, neither of them being of aboue 30. Tonne burthen: He being thus at Sea, was chased by a tall man of Warre a Dunkirker, who came to­wards them as if shee meant to ouer-runne them at once and bury their ruines in the bottome of the O­cean, which Warner perceiuing, pretended to make away with one of his Pinaces, as if hee purposed to saue a stake and leaue the other to the enemies furie and spoyles. The Dunkirker not able to fasten on both at once, tooke the aduantage of the first, in­tending when hee had seazed her to make like prise of the other, hales her, boards her: his Saylers and Souldiers being all greedy of bootie neglect their [Page 12] owne Ship, onely busying themselues in the rifling of the other, where I leaue them all busie at worke; which Warner perceiuing, and not willing to slacke so good an opportunitie, takes the aduantage of the winde, suddenly casteth about and seazeth vpon the Dunkirks Ship, whose men were most of them a­board his other Pinace; boards her, takes her, mans her, and now being armed with her strength Commands both his other Pinace, and all the Ene­mies aboard her, by which Stratagem, hee not one­ly ransomed his owne, but subdued his Enemies, made prize both of Ship and goods, and tooke all the men Prisoners. A noble incouragement to all the braue Captaynes and Commanders of our Na­tion, to striue to Imitate him in his resolution and valour.

And thus worthy Country-men you see that not­withstanding the proud braues of the publike Ene­my their scandals and calumnies, with all the asper­sions of disgrace that their malice can deuise, to cast vpon our Kingdome and Countrey, maugre their Inuasions threatned on Land, or their nauall try­umphs boasted at Sea; how the great Creator of all things, in whose sight pride, vaine-glory, and ambi­tion are abominable, can when hee please by the hand of the youngman Dauid, stoope the stiffe-neck of the strongest Goliah. And noble Country-men may these few Incouragements put into you the an­tient Courage of your ancestours, whose memories through all Seas, Nations, and Languages, haue [Page 13] beene and euer shall bee Sacred to all posterities. Now is the time of acting, and to shew your selues as you haue beene euer, Held and esteemed braue in attempting, and bold in performing, and so without question your expeditions shall bee successefull, as the fame of your vertues Immortall.