The Spaniards Raid on Mousehole in the year 1595
As
reported in the state papers of the Reign of Elizabeth 1st of England.
Vol.CCLIII.
Monday 9pm July 21. 1595
26.
Thos. Lukie and Wm. Psakowe to Sir Fras.Godolphin:
Tuesday
July 22. 1595 Falmouth
27.
Thos. Lukie to Sir Frau. Godolphin: Upwards
20 sail were about the
Wednesday
July 23 1595. Plymouth
29.
Sir Frau. Drake and Sir John Hawkins to Sir Robt. Cecil: We have not written
earlier, having nothing of importance to tell. We are hastening our despatch,
so to avoid charge. Now our men
are together; with gentlemen, soldiers, and mariners they are (two lines
missing at bottom of the page)
Wednesday
July 23 1595. St Mawes Fort.
30.
Hanibal Vyvyan to Sir Frau. Drake and Sir John Hawkins, Generals of
Noted
by Sir Fras. Drake and Sir John Hawkins that this letter came to hand as the
post was ready to take his horse, and that some captains are getting ready to
go westward. Endorsed (by
Cecil), “Hannibal Vyvyan,
from the fort of Falmouth, to Sir Fras. Godoiphin, advertising the burning of
divers towns.”
Wednesday
July 23. 1 o’clock On the Green beyond Penzance
31.
Sir Frau. Godolphin and Thos. Chiverton to Sir Frau. Drake and Sir John
Hawkins, generals of the forces now at Plymouth
“Four
galleys are at anchor before Mousehole, their men landed, and the town and
other houses in the country thereabouts are fired. No more of the fleet are in
sight; 50 or 60 were seen Monday evening and yesterday, athwart of Falmouth.
Pray consider what is to be done both for safety and defence.
P.S
About 200 men have assembled; we attend the coming of more, so as
July 23. / Aug. 2.
32. Edm. Palmer to the Lord High Admiral. I wrote you 18 July, and intended
to have waited upon you personally, but have since altered my mind, and shall
not leave until the departure of the King’s ships to the Passage. Subiacoe
came back from Bluett 28 July, having landed such monies and provisions as he
carried, and brought back some horses, pigs, &c., as also general Don
Diego Brochero, who was in the galleys there, and who landed in the Passage
Road, and went post to the Court at Madrid; when he returns, he will go as
general of six sail and four pinnaces, now in the Passage, and bound for Lisbon
to join those there.
Their
pretences are to follow Sir Frau. Drake, who they understand has gone to sea;
when they are gone, the coast will he clear of men-ofwar, till other ships
of the King are built. ‘They go but weakly provided, and have stayed 14
large merchantmen bound for Seville, to keep them company till they arrive, at
Lisbon, when those there....... (again there are three lines missing
from the bottom of the page).
...........grief
to them. Shatteo Martin was beheaded 20 July; his body lay on the scaffold 24
hours, when it was buried; his head stands most honourebly on one of the gates
of the city where he should have brought in the Spaniards, and the rest of his
mates’ heads and quarters in the like order; they used him royally, bareheaded,
he with the hangmen were in a cart, and a rope about his neck, and so was
carried through all the chief streets in the city, with 300 or 400 arquebusiers
waiting on him. A great quantity of letters were found in his house, from the
Viceroy of Navarre and Don Juan d’Idiaques, the Kings chief secretary, as
from the Cardinal; some were in plain writing and others in cipher, and he had
burnt many. He and his mates had laid their plots for betraying the city. He
was the means that brought me in disgrace with the Lord Treasurer and Mr. Vice
Chamberlain, although I have always served my Prince loyally. There are more
consorts of Shatteo Martin’s who are not yet taken, and some have fled.
On
19 July, Joseph Jackson went to the frontiers of Spain, with letters out of
England to Rollestone, who met him on the French shore, where they were both
taken prisoners by a gentleman of the country, but were set at liberty two or
three days after. I understand they both much depend on my Lord of Essex, by
Mr. Bacon’s means, but if his Lordship knew what knaves they are, he would
not trust them. Rollestone has spoken villainous words of Her Majesty. He has
a stipend out of England, which Jackson pays him. I have never had anything,
and am grieved to see strangers and traitors made so much of, and receiving such
large stipends; but a friend In the Court is better than a pound in a man’s
purse. I hope Her Majesty’s favour; I intend to see her shortly, and will
leave as soon as the ships have left the Passage. The Prince of Ascole has not
as yet found his accusers, and in the end all will be nothing for Don Pedro de
Medeles and other nobles are in the dance. Nothing passes in England but the
Spaniards have intelligence of it, which is sent by some Dutchmen in London to
Middleburg, and thence to Antwerp as merchants’ letters. All speed is used
for despatching the King’s ships lying in the Passage, as well as those at Lisbon.
Following the raid by the Spaniards they put on shore English prisoners that they had taken on their voyage over.
Friday July 25 1595.
88.
Examinations of Englishmen, taken by the Spaniards, and landed in Mounts Bay,
out of the four galleys of Bluett, before Sir Fras. Godolphin and Thomas Saint
Aubin, viz., -
Barnaby.
Loe, of Ipswich, mariner. Was taken with his ship three weeks since near
Brittany, by Peter Seviore, and carried into Bluett. Seviore’s fleet then
consisted of seven ships, the admiral being a galleon with 32 cast pieces. The
vice-admiral was a ship of 140 tons, and carried 20 pieces pf brass ordnance;
he had brought 500 soldiers, with a store of treasure for the soldiers’ pay,
&n, from Passage to Bluett, and then returned with his fleet, to be
general of a navy of 100 sail bound for Lisbon, but where else he knows not.
The shipping at Bluett consists of four galleys, whereof Charles de Messe is general, and three or four other men-of-war, of 100 to 100 tons burden, which carry but small ordnance, but are full of soldiers and mariners. Each of these galleys carries five pieces in its prow, and 590 men, and for this voyage had 400 soldiers out of Don John's regiment, besides 200 others; they can land 150 men at a time with their eight pinnaces and gondells, and can row 10 leagues a day, against a good gale of wind.
The
intention in employing these galleys was to have gone to Scilly, Guernsey,
and Jersey, but the wind was contrary; they would have stayed longer to do
more spoil to this country, had they not stood in fear of Sir Fras.
Drake’s fleet. There is a good store of treasure in the galleys, which was
to be employed for pay, and for corrupting of some, and they had 3,000
crowns from the town of Penmark, to save them from spoil. In coming hither,
they took a French bark, laden by an Englishman, which they sunk to avoid
Intelligence of their coming. After they had burned Penzance and other
villages, they had mass the next day on the Western Hill by a friar, where
they vowed to build a friary when they had conquered England.
Their
vice-admiral sprung a leak, and they were distressed for want of water, and
had a mind to venture to land for some, if the wind had not come good for
their departure; if it change so as to serve them, they will assuredly bear
for Scilly or for Guernsey or Jersey.
They
have an Englishman, Capt. Burley of Weymouth, with them, whom they esteem ;
he sits next the captain. He said that if Her Majesty was not at extraordinary
charge in keeping good forces, the King of Spain, who by his treasure is so
strong, would land such a power as should overcome the land; that those four
galleys, with two others, would be yearly sent to spoil the weak places of
this realm, and the isles adjoining, and that they might return again this
summer. The charge of. the new fortifications being built by Fountenella, a
Frenchman, at Doer Nenys, in Poldavy Bay, is supported by the King of Spain,
for these galleys bring the victuals for the building thereof, and
Fountenella has lately cruelly murdered 800 peasants of that country,
alleging he will first so weaken them that they shall not grow again too
strong for him, and will afterwards hang them by their purses. Also,
Examination
of Robert Kettell, sailor, and bark master of Liverpool. Has been compelled
to serve in these galleys as pilot for 14 weeks, so as to bring them into
Scilly. They have four or five pinnaces at Bluett, which they often send
forth with Englishmen in them, to get intelligence from England, and by this
means have continual advice. Care should be taken for the defence of Scilly;
they have determined to take Surlingham; they intended to have gone to St.
Ives and Padstow, and so further into the North Channel ; they have wanted
fresh water these two days, and would have adventured for it had not the
wind come northerly, and so allowed them to depart. Thinks they will return
shortly, and next year with a stronger fleet, but they first intend to take
Scilly.
With
note by Sir F. Godolphin. These prisoners further confessed that these galleys
stopped an Irish bark, but only took one butt of wine from her, which they
paid for, and used the men very favourably, so that it appears there is a
mutual affection between them and the Irish. I gather by the desire these
Spaniards have to Scilly, that if they can possess it, they will keep their
galleys there under the fort; from their present attempt I observe that the
principal want is two good pieces to beat them from the road, and a better
store of powder. bullets and match, with some skilfill and valiant leaders,
which will be needful in all places where the Spaniards may do hurt in their
landing.
July 25.
34.
Copy of the exainination of Barnaby Loe. [1 3/4 pages .)
Sunday July 27 1595.
36.
Examination of John Ashley of Dartmouth, merchant, before Robert Martin,
mayor. Came from Roscoe, 26 July. A French bark arrived there reports 200
Spanish ships and galleys to be riding at anchor at Ferrol, bound for England,
where they intend landing 2,200 men; three other Spanish ships also arrived at
Ferrol from Ireland, and delivered munition, powder, shot &c. to the
enemy; they would all be ready to sail within 15 days.
Monday July 28 1595. Plymouth
41.
Sir Thos. Baskerville ,to the Council. Notwithstanding the enemy has
retired, and their numbers were so small that there was
If any captain of judgment had been there to conduct the people, with only 200 men, and had accosted the enemy in flank, the country would have been saved from spoil and fire, and without any loss; had they attempted it whilst the enemy followed the spoil in the sacking of the towns, their disorder would have undoubtedly overthrown them.
Tuesday July 29 1595. Plymouth:
42.
Sir Fras. Drake to Lord Burghley. Thanks for your letter. Sir Thos Gorges
desires to come up, to inform Her Majesty and your