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 Canannas , which is twelve Leagues from Havana ; and on the 30 of the said Moneth , riding above the said Pan de Canannas , 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 Vice-admirall 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 Canannas 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 .