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 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 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, 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 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, 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, 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 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 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 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, 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.