The opinion of Don Alvaro Bacan, Marques of Santa
Cruz, and high Admirall of Spaine, touching the armie
of sir Francis Drake lying at the Isles of Bayona in
Galicia
, written in Lisbon
the 26 of October after the
account of Spaine in the yere 1585.
THAT which it seemeth unto me, that the English army
may doe, if they seeke to passe unto the West Indies, and
enter into the
South sea (as Francis Drake hath done once
before) with their thirty ships and galeons, and many
pinnesses and shalops with oares, which they have with
them, and 5000 men of warre, which they of Bayona
thinke to be in the fleete, is as followeth.
They may take their course to the river of Jenero, which
is on the coast of Brasil
in 23 degrees to the South of the
Equinoctial line. It is an haven capable of many ships
and very safe, where there is water, wood and flesh: and
likewise Drake may have come of Maiz in a towne two or
three leagues from the sayd haven, which is called S.
Vincente.
And because the course is by the
Isles of Madera, the
Canaries, and
Cape verde, he may sacke those Islands,
the time serving him for that purpose.
From Bayona to the
Isle of Madera, with the Northerne
winds which now wil begin to blow, when the Westerne
winds be past, which presently doe blowe because that
it beginneth to raine on the coast of Spaine, the fleete
may run in 6 daies, and from thence to the Canaries in
foure, and from the Canaries to the
Isles of Cape Verde
in eight, which all together make eighteene dayes: and
he may stay as much time more as shall serve him to
sacke the Islands in.
He may saile from
Cape Verde to the river of Jenero in
40 dayes, which in the whole amount unto two moneths.
So that the fleete remaining all this moneth of October on
the coast of Galicia
, it may come to the river of Jenero in
the end of December.
At the entry of the bay of the river of Jenero there is a
flat low Island where a fort may very easily be made,
wherein above 500 men may be left: and placing his
artillery therein, he may keepe the haven, & the fort
wil be able to hold out all assault, because that on the
Southwest and Northeast sides are two chanels whereby
the ships come into the haven: wherein Francis Drake
may repaire his army, and leave there some people, and
depart with so much of the rest as shal seeme good unto
him to enter into the
South sea, & go on upon his voyage
to the streight of Magelan, which is 550 leagues from the
foresaid haven, and standeth in 52 degrees & a halfe
toward the South, and may enter by the streight into the
South sea all the moneth of February, & so may to goe to
the citie of Lima
, otherwise called the citie de los Reys,
which standeth on the sea coast having two thousand
inhabitants in it. But in respect that they be no warlike
people nor exercised in armes, and because the place is
open and without fortresse & artillery, he may take and
sacke it, and make himself master on the land, & afterward taking those ships which are in that sea, our people
can have no succour of ships out of Spaine, but by the
streight of Magelan, which is a long way about.
It is also very credible that he will be able to take
Panama.
If he seeke not to take this course he may divide his
army into two parts, & sacke the
Isle of S. Domingo,
Puerto Rico, the coast of Tierra firma unto Cartagena
and Nombre de Dios.
And from the river of Chagre, which is fifteene leagues
from Nombre de Dios, he may send his footemen in
shalops with oares and in the vessels which carrie goods
up and downe the river, whereof there are above fiftie
there, and passe up to the lodging of the Crosses, called
in
Spanish Venta de Cruzes, which is five leagues from
Panama, which because it is an unwalled towne may easily
be taken.
And Havana
also will bee in great danger, which albeit
it have a fortresse, yet it is but little and weake, and
bringing his great ordinance on shore hee may take the
same with great facilitie.
And besides these domages which he may do, according
to this discourse, it will not be the least to cut off the
navigation of the Indies, to take the West Indian fleet, if
they chance to be there.
What course is to be taken to prevent these mischiefes.
To dispatch Caravels with all possible diligence to the
viceroyes and governours of the Indias, advertising them
of the newes of the English army, that they may be
provided, and make themselves ready for them. Albeit,
considering the number of ships which have bene set
foorth out of England
, I assure my selfe, that some part
of them are gone out of those parts unto Newfoundland
.
For the Queene hath taken carefull order to send to intercept the ships of the fishermen that goe to Baccalaos.
And it is likewise to be thought that shee hath done the
like for the intercepting of the fleet of the Indies.
And considering that according to our intelligence out
of England
, above fourescore shippes, and the army of
Drake have bene set foorth from thence, it is meete that
his majestie should prepare another army to seeke the
English fleete, and to fight with it, commanding that the
Galeons which belong to the crowne of Portugall, and
those of his majestie which lye in the river of Sivill bee
prepared to send against them, and to give them the
Carena, that they may bee in a readinesse for any voyage
howe long soever it bee: And likewise to arrest a Galeon
of the Duke of Florence, which is very well armed and
furnished with great ordinance, and passed lately from
Alicante
toward Cadiz
, and to make up the number of
fortie great shippes, which are to be had in Biscay
and
Guipuscoa: and that beeing rigged, armed and set in good
order, they bee victualled for eight moneths, and that
foorthwith there bee levied a thousand mariners of
Catalunna and Genoa
to bee divided among the Fleete,
and bee conducted, as they were for the Fleete of Tercera:
furthermore that sixe thousande souldiers bee levied,
giving commaundement to presse a greater number, to the
ende that these may bee able men for service.
Moreover it is needfull for this armie that 20. pataches
be brought from Biscay
, and 20. Azabras from Castro
.
That the pataches bee from 50. to 60. tunnes: and that
the Azabras bee like those which were in the expedition to
Tercera.
That sufficient provision be made of artillerie, powder,
match, and lead, and harquebuzes, muskets, and chosen
pikes for the keeping of the coast.
It is also meete to provide another army of two ships
of 400. tunnes apiece, and other foure of 200. tunnes,
and foure pataches and a thousand souldiers, besides
mariners.
Having seene and considered that the Englishmen with
their marchants ships onely that traverse these seas have
made such havocke in two moneths, and that it is to bee
thought that they will doe the like against the fleetes
which goe and come from the Indies: it is expedient, that
as by order in time of peace the fleete hath an Admirall
and Viceadmirall, that now it should have two more at the
least in eche Fleete: and neverthelesse they are to bee
wafted home with an armie.
In mine opinion all these provisions ought to bee made
onely in regard of the English army, and the rest of the
ships which have bene set out of that kingdome.
But in case that Don Antonio should come with an armie,
and should seeke to invade this kingdome, these pro
visions following would be needefull.
THAT warning be given to the Conde de Beneventa, to
the Marques de Soria, to the Conde of Altamira, to the
Conde of Monterey, to the Marquesse of Zerraluo, and to
the rest of the Lordes and Knights, which are to have
order to bee in a readinesse, against hee come unto this
kingdome.
That the people also be trained of the cities of Toro
,
Zamora
, and Salamanca
, to bee ready to succour the
countrey betweene the rivers of Doro
and Minno: and
the people of Estremadura
and Sivilla are likewise to bee
trained to be ready to succour the citie of Lisbon
, and the
countrey about the same.
Also that the castles of this citie, river and territorie be
victualled and provided of gunpowder, match and lead,
and all things else belonging to the artillerie, as I have
requested in the relations which I sent unto his majestie
the 7. of March of this present yeere 1585.
That the gallies be furnished for foure moneths: and
that sixe more bee brought from Spaine to this river of
Lisbon
with an hundred and twentie souldiers for ech
gallie, that they may be devided among the eight gallies
which remaine here.
And in case it fall out that the armie of the English
goe not for the Indies, but occupie themselves upon this
kingdome, (for there may be English ships, which may
attend the one and the other) we shal be enforced to make
another armie, besides that for the Indies, of twelve ships,
foure pataches, and a thousand five hundred souldiers.
In mine opinion all this is meet for his majesties service
to be foreseene to be made ready with great diligence and
care, and to provide money needfull for the same, without
neglecting the one or the other, but that all these things
be done without delay: Referring my selfe in all things to
those of wiser judgement. Written in Lisbon
the 26 of
October, 1585.
