A particular note of the Indian fleet, expected to have
come into Spaine this present yeere of 1591. with the
number of shippes that are perished of the same:
according to the examination of certaine Spaniards
lately taken and brought into England by the ships of
London.
THE fleete of Nova Hispania, at their first gathering
together and setting foorth, were two and fiftie sailes.
The Admirall was of sixe hundred tunnes, and the Vice
Admirall of the same burthen. Foure or five of the
shippes were of nine hundred and 1000 tunnes a peece,
some five hundred, and some foure hundred and the least
of two hundred tuns. Of this fleet 19 were cast away,
and in them 2600 men by estimation, which was done
along the coast of Nova Hispania, so that of the same
fleet there came to the Havana but 33 sailes.
The fleete of Terra Firma were, at their first departure
from Spaine, fiftie sailes, which were bound for Nombre
de Dios, where they did discharge their lading, and
thence returned to Cartagena, for their healths sake,
untill the time the treasure was readie they should take
in, at the said Nombre de Dios. But before this fleete
departed, some were gone by one or two at a time, so
that onely 23 sayles of this fleete arrived in the Havana.
| At the Havana there met | 33 sailes of Nova Hispania. |
| 23 sailes of Terra Firma. |
| 12 sailes of San Domingo. |
| 9 sailes of the Hunduras. |
The whole 77 shippes, joyned and set sailes all together
at the Havana, the 17 of July, according to our account,
and kept together untill they came into the height of
thirtie five degrees, which was about the tenth of August,
where they found the winde at Southwest chaunged
suddenly to the North, so that the sea comming out of
the Southwest, and the wind very violent at North, they
were put all into great extremitie, and then first lost
the Generall of their fleete, with 500 men in her; and
within three or foure dayes after, an other storme rising,
there were five or sixe other of the biggest shippes cast
away with all their men, together with their ViceAdmirall.
And in the height of 38. degrees, about the end of
August, grew another great storme, in which all the fleet
saving 48. sailes were cast away: which 48. sailes kept
together, untill they came in sight of the
Islands of
Corvo and Flores, about the fift or sixt of September,
at which time a great storme separated them: of which
number fifteene or sixeteene were after seene by these
Spanyards to ride at anchor under the Tercera; and
twelve or foureteene more to beare with the
Island of
S. Michael; what became of them after that these
Spaniards were taken cannot yet be certified; their
opinion is, that very few of the fleet are escaped, but
are either drowned or taken. And it is otherwaies of
late certified, that of this whole fleete that should have
come into Spaine this yeere, being one hundred twentie
and three sayle, there are arrived as yet but five and
twentie. This note was taken out of the examination of
certaine Spaniardes, that were brought into England by
sixe of the ships of London, which tooke seven of the
above named Indian Fleete, neere the
Islands of Acores.
