PREFACE.

I observe theire great good luck as well as care in keeping the ennemy(as the French doe us at this day) from haveing any intelligence of theiremotions by sendeing scouts (afore the fleete) that sayl well, which facili-tated theire afterwards success, as well as theire (by chance) comeing toCadiz early in the morning.

Here I finde great loss of time (a whole day) by the two generalls, withequal power, being in severall shipps, theire debateing (by messages) whatto doe at a time when they ought to have been upon action.

Togethere with theire not falling uppon the Spanish fleet as soon as theycame into port.

Theire departing from the bridge, and (by it) letting the gallys gett awayuppon pretence of want of victualls, when it was to be doubted but that itarose by our men’s drinking too much wine, or being too greedy for plunderat the town. This appeares a great fault, since the gallys could not getaway before they brake downe two or more arches of the bridge.

Theire not following Sir William Monson’s good advice, to take all theenemys shipps first, was through want of seamanshipp: by not doeing itwas lost a great treasure.

Flow but Sir Walter Raleigh’s conduct was questioned, for want of sea-manshipp, by his anchoring too soone.

Flad our fleete had but two fire shipps, they might have destroyed thegalleons at theire first onset at Puntall, but through the want of them lostsix houres.

Here I finde a gunner all complaint for w r ant of victuals, raised out of adesire to be at home, rather than out of any real necessity, all the fleet have-ing then seaven weeks victualls aboard, drink excepted, which might havebeen supplyed by water.

At this time staying for the carracks w-as left off, against the judgementof (tarpawling) men of experience, noe reason being able to prevaile withthe gentlemen captaines to stay.

VoL. I.

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