RIGHT worshipful hauing bene emploied by my Generals Sir Iohn Norris and Sir Frauncis Drake vpon the coast of Spaine for discouerie , and now being safely arriued ( thanks vnto the Almightie ) I thought it my duetie to acquaint your worship with such newes as I haue learned in my voyage , hoping that as you were wont , you will excuse my presumption . I sayled the fourth of Februarie last , and coasting along by Biskay , at the Groine I tooke a ship of Biskay laden with stones , for the building of a fort at Vigo within the North Cape . In the which there came a marchant of Lisbone as passenger from Sainct Sebastians , whome I haue brought with me . And as concerning the last Fleete , he sayth , that of all the ships and caruels of the Spanish Fleete there are come home but nine and thirtie , whereof foure and twentie are riding in a riuer by Sainct Sebastians , foureteene in the Groine , and one in Lisbone , but most of all the men that came home died immediatly at their landing , and the two chiefe commaunders of the ships being sent for to the Court , died , as it is thought of poison before they had passed two dayes iourney from Sainct Sebastians . Also the Duke of Medina is banished the Court for euer and certaine customes of his confiscate to the holy house . Also the King doth with all speede fortifie the sea coasts , especially in Portingale , and hath erected a bulwark in the market place of Lisbone . He hath made no prouision of shipping , but only a Fleete of gallies which are now in the Straights , and came downe for the defence of his owne countrey . He doth grieuously take the death of his men , for they were the chiefe souldiers of all his forces in Italie and else where . All these I haue conferred with others that haue fallen into my hands since , and found it to be a perfect truth . From the Groine I came to the rocke at Lisbone , where I found a barke of Plymouth and two other Pinnaces chased by foure Gallies and a Frenchman of warre , who was consorted with the gallies , who as soone as they saw my ship , the barke began to fight with them , & had shot the Frenchman twise through , which at the first discharging of my broade side , sunke downe right in the sea , within one quarter of an hower . The gallies made all the hast they could to recouer Cast Cales , being a litle within the mouth of the harbour , but we had so fine a gale of winde , that we made two of them carie the third betweene them , and recouered againe one Argosie laden with Candie wines , which was the barks prize but the gallies had recouered her , but nowe she is in Plymouth and eight and fortie men in her , all Greekes , except two Portingales : she is come but to a reasonable market . And as concerning our Fleete , I hope we shall be in Portingale within this moneth at the furthest , where no doubt ( God ayding vs ) we shall make a wonderfull prosperous voyage , for they tremble at the sight of three English ships , and are all in a mutenie , not knowing whether it were best to receaue the King againe or to withstand our power : but I thinke they wil not honour vs so much as to let vs winne their countrey by the sword . Thus meeting at sea with the Barke Beare , bound for London , and for that I do not know how soone I shall returne , I haue thought it my duetie to aduertise your worship of these newes , to whom I send a dozen of Spanish blades to dispose at your pleasure , committing your worship to th' Almighty .