A Svmmarie and Trve Discovrse of Sir Frances Drakes VVest Indian Voyage by Bigges

After our going hence, which vvas the fourteenth of September, in the
yeare of our Lord, one thowsand fiue hundred eightie and fiue: & taking
our course towardes Spaine, vve had the winde for a fewe daies somevvhat
skant, and sometimes calme. And being arriued neere that part of the
coast of Spaine, vvich is called the Moores, vvee happened to espie
diuerse Sailes, vvich kept their course close by the shore, the vveather
being faire and calme. The Generall caused the Vizeadmirall to goe vvith
the Pinnaces vvell manned to see vvhat they vvere, vvho vpon sight of
the said Pinnaces approching neere vnto them, abandoned for the most
part all their shippes (being Frenchmen) laden all vvith salt, and bound
homewardes into France, amongst vvhich shippes (being all of small
burthen) there was one so vvell liked, vvhich also had no man in her, as
being brought vnto the Generall, he thought good to make stay of her for
the seruice, meaning to pay for her, as also accordingly performed at
our returne: vvhich Barke vvas called the Drake. The rest of these
shippes (being eight or nine) vvere dismissed vvithout any thing at all
taken from them. Who beeing aftervvardes put somevvhat further off from
the shore, by the contrarietie of the vvinde, vve happened to meete
vvith some other French shippes, full laden vvith Newland fish, beeing
vpon their returne homewarde from the saide New found land: vvhom the
Generall after some speech had vvith them, (and seeing plainely that
they vvere Frenchmen) dismissed vvithout once suffering any man to goe
aboord of them.

The day follovving standing in vvith the shore againe, vve discried an
other tall ship of twelue score tunnes or theraboutes, vpon vvhom
Maister Carleill the Lieuetenant generall being in the Tygar, vndertooke
the chase, vvhome also anon after the Admirall follovved, and the Tygar
hauing caused the saide straunge shippe to strike her sayles, kept her
there without suffering anye bodie to goe aboorde vntill the Admirall
vvas come vp: vvho foorthwith fending for the Maister, and diuerse
others of their principall men, and causing them to be seuerally
examined, found the Shippe and goodes to be belonging to the
inhabitantes of Saint SEBASTIAN in Spaine, but the Marriners to bee for
the most parte belonging to Saint IOHN de LVCE, and the Passage. In this
ship was greate store of dry Nevvland fish, commonly called vvith vs
Poore Iohn, vvhereof aftervvards (being thus found a lavvfull prize)
there vvas distribution made into all the shippes of the Fleete, the
same being so new and good, as it did verie greatly bestead vs in the
whole course of our voyage. A day or two after the taking of this ship,
vve put in within the Isles of BAYON, for lacke of fauourable vvind,
where we had no sooner anckered some part of the Fleete, but the
Generall commaunded all the Pinnaces with the ship boates to be manned,
and euerye man to be furnished with such armes as vvas needefull for
that present seruice; vvhich being done, the Generall put himselfe into
his Galley, vvhich was also well furnished, and rowing towardes the
Citie of BAYON; with intent, and the fauour of the Almightie to supprise
it. Before we had aduaunced one halfe league of our way, there came a
messenger beeing an English Marchant from the Gouernour, to see what
straunge Fleete we were, who came to our Generall, and conferred a while
with him, and after a small time spent, our Generall called for Captaine
Sampson, and willed him to goe to the Gouernour of the Citie, to resolue
him of two pointes. The first, to knowe if there were any warres
beetweene Spaine and England. The second, vvhy our Merchantes with their
goodes were imbarred or arrested. Thus departed Captaine Sampson with
the saide Messenger to the citie, vvhere he found the Gouernour and
people much amazed of such a suddaine accident.