DOn Carlos de Ybarra with the Navie of Guarde of the Indies which he governeth, set forth from Cadiz the 29 of Aprill this yeare 1638. with fewer Sea-men and men of Warre then hee had done former­ly, having remained in Spaine with seaven Galle­ons to carry his Majesties Plate in them, and the Plate of particular men.

Hee arrived at Cartagena the 12 of Iune, and the 21 of the same, he set forth towards Puerto Ve­lo, where he arrived the 29 of the foresaid moneth.

On the 15 of Iuly hee set foorth from that Port with the said Plate. He arrived at Cartagena on the first of August, amidst calmes and contrary windes.

There opening his Commission hee found a di­rection, which his Majesty had sent unto him from [Page] Spaine, together with a Letter under his Royall hand, dated the 28 of May of the said yeare, and Signed by Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras, in which he advertised him; That there were set forth from Holland tenne tall Ships, with direction, that they should leave in Brasill, men and Munition, and passe to the coasts of Terra Firma and Havana, to meet with this Navie, and that there would bee joyned with the said Navie of the Hollanders 14 Ships, which were already upon those coasts of Terra Firma and Havana, and these forces being so much superiour to those, which the said Don Carlos went withall, his Majesty charged him deeply, that hee should have a care to dispose the matter so, that the Enemy might not meet him, and that if hee did, he might find that resistance and valour, which might be expected: And that considering the small For­ces, which Don Carlos had on his side, hee had or­dained, that foure Vessels should bee made ready to come to his ayde; also charging him, to apply con­venient meanes to free this Treasure from the Ene­my, and that hee should be carefull in like manner, concerning that which came from New Spaine, ta­king care of both businesses according to the hope conceived of his prudence and valour; and that he should consider, how fit it was, hee should returne into Spaine this yeare, in regard of the necessity there was of this Treasure.

Don Carlos having seene both the Direction and Letter, commanded all the places of the Souldiers throughout the Army to be setled so farre as might be, for he wanted many men, and to prepare the sea­ven [Page]Galleons the best he might, giving necessary di­rections for battaile, assigning withall the standing which each one was to hold.

Hee departed from Cartagena on the 7 of Au­gust, towards the Port of Havana (a resolution few would have undertaken) holding it for certaine, that he was to meet with the enemy, who was so strong. It was only the zeale, with which he serveth his Ma­jesty, and the avoyding of winterings, as hee hath done these yeares past, in which hee hath governed this Navie.

On the 23 of August, hee arrived at the Cape de Corrientos, where he found Letters of the Gover­nour of Havana, written eleven dayes before, in which he affirmed, that there were not above sea­ven or eight Ships, which sayled in that coast, vpon the 26 of August, he arrived at Pan de Canānas, which is twelve Leagues from Havana; and on the 30 of the said Moneth, riding above the said Pan de Canā ­nas, by reason the weather was contrary to the going to Havana▪ There were discovered that eve­ning seaventeene sayles, which went towards the Land, & the day following being the 31 of the fore­said month, there was discovered in the morning the Navie of the Enemy, which made towards this of ours. Then Don Carlos set vp the Royall standard, and discharged a peece, which was a signall of Bat­taile, that every one might take his place; and that the Pinasse De la Margarita, might doe the same, which had met him at the Cape de Corrientos; and with top sayle, and foresayle, and with sayle of bolt­sprite extended at length, he went towards the Ene­my, [Page]who disposed his Navie in forme following.

The Admirall, and three others of the greatest Ships, amongst which one great one bore a streamer came vpon our Admirall. The Vice-admirall, and other two Ships came against the Vice-admirall of our Navie, and the other Ships against the rest of our Galleons. The enemies Admirall lay aboord ours, putting his boltsprite through the fore-mast, shee had many men hidden aloft, a thing which hath not beene seene in a Holland Ship, shee lay a­boord of vs two houres having taken the wind, with resolution to put forth men into our Ship. She had three tyres of Artillery, two principall, and those of the fore-castle, which in all were 54 Pieces. The weight of the Bullets was fifty, and 25, and 20 pounds: this is notorious by many bullets of these kinds, shot by the Enemy, which are now heaped together in this our Admirall. Shee gaue three shots with her Artillery, and many with her Muskets; and in the interim the other three Ships, which came with her, stood discharging their Artillery from their sides, and poope at our Admirall. Don Carlos had then given order, that no Musket, nor Artillery should be discharged, till hee should give notice. He gaue notice, when the Enemies Admirall came to boord him; the Artillery was discharged thrice, and many times the Musketiers, which was disposed in good order. The enemy received so much hurt hereby, that cutting of ropes and other preparations he disaboorded vs, and fled, and Don Carlos pursued him, so farre as was sufficient, that this might be understood. The enemy set our Ad­mirall [Page]on fire fiue times, and still it was quenched; shee received a great number of shot both below, and above, sixe and twenty persons were slaine, and fifty hurt, and amongst the rest Don Carlos himselfe, who going about to take a ball of Wild-fire, which they had cast secretly at his feet, it broke and woun­ded him in the face, arme, and thigh, and yet for all this, he left not his place, giving necessary directi­ons for that which was in hand, the wounds not being of such confideration, as to make him for­beare standing on his feet. Amongst those that were wounded, and slaine, there were persons of much e­steeme. The Captaine of the Sea, and Warre, and the Gentlemen passengers, and comerades of Don Carlos deserved much that day, for the valour which they shewed. The Viceadmirall of this our Armada was boorded with the Viceadmirall of the enemy, figh­ting with her, and other two ships, and in freeing her selfe from her, the Viceadmirall of the Enemy came to our Admirall on the lee-side, and gaue her a great shot which was answered with another. The Vice­admirall of this our Nauy, lost the sayle of her bolt sprite, and the yard of her fore-mast, and had a fire kindled in her, which was hard to quench; In all Don Pedro de Vsua shewed well his valour, who was wounded. From the Galleon in which was Sancho de Vrdanivia, who without direction put 2 streamers on his top, whereby he gaue occasion to the enemy to shoote at her with greater care, they tooke away the boltsprit at one shot. The other Galleons of this our Armada stood fighting with those of the enemy with such valor, as may be conceived of such Cap­taines, [Page]as those were, which commanded them.

This fight continued more then eight houres, and in the evening the nauy of the enemy united it selfe, the Admirall taking downe the Standard, and dis­charging a Piece, and having stood crosse to our Armada above the winde more then an houre, they tooke resolution to flye, spreading all their sayles, and we followed them; not being able to goe to la Havana because the winde was contrary, wee went making severall bounds, now this, now that way from Pan de Canānas to Las Mesas de Muriel, untill the third of September, when the enemy was discove­red in the morning, and came in the same order with 13 ships to fight again with this our Armada, which defended it self with the same resolution, as before, the Admirall of the enemy came to encounter with this our Armada; she had no men above covered o­ver, but they were apparelled in white canvas, shee gaue two shots of Artillery, and was answered with other two, and we followed her, untill we were for­ced to turne to seeke out Sancho de Vrdanivia, who had stayed longer behind then all the rest, whereby the greater number of the enemies ships passing by him, they stood shooting at him, so that this our Admirall was forced to come vp to him, and the o­ther ships of the enemy stood discharging at ours, and ours at theirs without boording any.

There was wounded in this encounter Don Pablos. de Contreras, who was Captaine of one of the seaven Galleons; and Captaine Facinto Melendos, who was Commander of another, and hee sent mee word, that in this Shippe there were slayne, [Page]and wounded more than thirty. This encounter continued more than eight houres; there were in this our Admirall 26. persons wounded, and slaine; and amongst them some of speciall note. Com­ming to speake with Sancho de Vrdanivia, hee said, that his Galleon had a great leake, and his mastes were torne with shot, and that hee was un­furnished. Don Carlos took presently into his Gal­leon the plate which he carried of his Majesties, & of other particular men, and sent him men, from his Admirall, & gave direction to the Marquese de Car­deronsa, and to the Admirals Lievetenant Ivan de Campos, that each of them should send him men out of their ships; and presently the day follow­ing in the morning, Sancho de Vrdanivia sent a note to Don Carlos, signifying unto him, that his masts and yards were torne with shot, and that by no meanes hee could sayle, and that in the first and second time of his fight, there were slaine and wounded more than thirty persons; and that wee were over against the Port de Ca­nannas; and that his Pilot told him, that hee could put him in there, it being a ship of small burthen, and would save the artillery, chests of Indico, and other things which hee carried. Pre­sently there was a peece of Ordinance discharged, and a Flagge of Counsell set up, whereupon all assembled, and hearing the Pilot speake, they agreed that hee should goe to the Port, and there should save all that hee could. And San­cho de Vrdanivia being departed to performe [Page]that which was determined; the Admirals Lieve­tenant Ivan de Campos, Don Gaspar de Garaca Captaine of sea and warre of this our Admi­rall, and others of the Assembly, said, that it was convenient, that this Armada should goe to Nova Espania, and the case seeming so farre different from that which Don Carlos was char­ged withall, which was to goe to the Havana; opposing this conceit, they answered all with out-cries, that hee should not take upon his shoulders so heavy a burthen; yeelding reasons as afterwards shall bee said, so much in favour of his Majestie, and of the good of the Commence. Don Carlos tooke resolution to goe forth of the Admirall, and take with him the whole Assembly into the Galleon of Don Pablos de Contreras, where was, and came embarked Don Ivan de Ca­ravajal, of the Royall Counsell of his Majesty for the Indies, and Generall Visitor of the Au­diences of Linia, and of Las Charcas, and ha­ving heard the one and the other, his vote ex­pressed in writing was, that it was very con­venient for the service of his Majestie to goe to Nova Espania; because thereby they should se­cure his Plate, and the Plate of private persons; that the wind was contrary for Havana, and faire for Noua Espania; that the change of the Moone would bee within three dayes, and that those seasons of September had been alwaies evill upon those Costs; that any of the six Galleons which remained, separating herselfe, the enemy would [Page]take her, that our forces were small, those of the enemie grew greater, seeing besides those, which they had in their Navie, with which they had given battaile twice, they expected foure ships more, which went to joyne with them, and that they were to consider the want of the ship of Sancho de Vrdanivia: and the rest of the Captaines, who were present, declared, that they had spent halfe their bullets and powder, with which they departed from Spaine; and that they conceived that the Enemy would re­turne once, yea many times to fight with our said Armada; and that in fighting two or three times, there would bee left neither bullets for the artillerie, nor powder; a dammage so well knowne, and unremediable: and that there might bee feared some bad successe to all this Armada, or to a part of it; and that their wintering would be certaine in Havana, because they were to enter into it late, and could not departe, by reason they were to repaire the ships, which for the most part had beene ill handled; and that the enemie, would not de­part from the mouth of the Port, till the win­ter were farre gone on; and that it was con­venient to make this Winter in Nova Espania, where all was secured, and the Fleet of Nova Espania, was thought for certain not to have departed, because it was conceived that his Ma­jestie had sent thither the same direction, which hee had done to Don Carlos; and that there [Page]the ships might bee repaired, and furnished with provision, powder, and bullets. Many other rea­sons were alledged, which although they see­med very strong, and convenient to Don Carlos, & Don Pedro, de Vsna, neverthelesse they were of opinion they should incite the enemy on the way to Havana. Yet Don Pedro de Vsna being come to his ship, and having seene the foure ships, which were joyned to the enemie, and other three, which appeared from the top, and went in like manner to joyne themselves with the said Navie, which consisted in all of twenty foure ships; hee sent a message by Don Diego de Gues Captaine of sea and war, and of the Vice-admirall, unto Don Carlos, telling him, that accidents did change the condition of businesses, and seeing the forces of the enemie were so great, and ours so small, it seemed good to him to follow the common advise of all; and Don Carlos agreed thereunto, and gave necessary directions for each one to hold their course for Nova Espania, the Galleon of Sancho de Vrdanivia remaining in the said Port de Canannas in the sight of this our Armado, unseene by the Navy of the enemie, which remained as it seemed to all with much hurt and losse of men. And the next day being the fifth of this present moneth in the evening, the enemies Navie appeared, consisting of 24. ships, and stood in the wind of this our Armado, and that night the lanternes had lights set up in them in our Admirall, and Vice-admirall, [Page]that the enemie, if he desired to returne to fight, with this our Armado, might know where we were; and the next day following in the mor­ning they appeared not, nor were they seene any more. Our voyage was secure, and on Friday, being the foure and twentieth of September, we arrived at the Port of Saint Ivan de Lua, where wee found the Fleet of Nova Espania, her Generall Don Martin de Vrbea, with generall content one of another for having performed so great a ser­vice for his Majestie; for both the Armado and and Fleet were joyned together, and the Plate also of both Kingdomes, belonging to his Majesty, and particular men; the enemy likewise sent a­way with losse. From this place wee indeavour to depart the soonest wee may, making ready the ships, as well those of the Fleet, as the Gal­leons. His Majesty is informed of all by two ad­vertisments duplicated; to the end he may order and command what shall please him; for from this time unto the setting forth of this Armado, there will bee space to answer to these two adver­tisements, and in case no other direction come, Don Carlos will go on in the pursuit of his voyage, with the Armado and Fleet for Spaine.

With Licence in Sevil by Nicolas Rodriguez, in the street of Genua, this yeare 1638.