First whereas the Generall doth say , that Fraunces Drake dyed at Nombre de Dios , as he had intelligence by an Indian .

THe Generall sente this newes into his Country confirmed with his hand and seale of Armes : The Generals first newes , and his best news is in part lying newes . It is the first newes in his letter , and it was the best newes that he could send into Spaine . For it did ease the stomackes of the timerous Spaniardes greatly to heare of the death of him , whose life was a scourge & continuall plague vnto them : But it was a pointe of great simplicitie , & scarcely beseeming a Generall , to tie the credite of his reporte locally to any place vppon the report of a silly Indian slaue . For it had beene sufficient to haue said , that Fraunces Drake was certainly dead , without publishing the lye in Print , by naming Nombre de Dios : for it is most certaine Sir Fraunces Drake dyed twixt the Island of Scouda , and Porte-bella : But the Generall being rauished with the suddaine ioy of this report as a man that hath escaped a great daunger of the enemie , The Generall seemeth to wante friendes in Courte , sending such great newes to a priuate Doctor . doeth breake out into an insolent kind of bragging of his valour at Sea , and heaping one lye vpon another , doth not cease vntill he hath drawne them into sequences , and so doth commende them vnto Peter the Doctor , as censour of his learned worke .

Secondly , The general doth write vnto the doctor , that Frances Drake dyed for verie griefe that hee had lost so many Barkes and men .

A Thing verie strange that the General or the Indian , whom hee doth vouch for his lye , should haue such speculation in the bodye of him whome they neuer saw , as to deliuer for truth vnto his Countrie , the verie cause or disease whereof hee dyed : And this second report of his is more grosse then the first . For admit the mistaking of the place might bee tollerable ; notwithstanding , this precise affirming the cause of his death , doth manifestly prooue that the Generall doth make no conscience to lye . Don Bernaldino doth lye impudently . And as concerning the losse of any Barkes or men in our Nauie , by the valour of the Spaniard before Sir Fraunces Drake his death , wee had none ( one small Pinnesse excepted ) which we assuredly know was taken by chaunce falling single into a fleete of fiue Frigots ( of which was Generall , The successe of the kings fiue Frigots . Don Pedro Telio , ) neere vnto the Island of Dominico , and not by the valour of Don Bernaldino : the which fiue Frigots of the Kings afterwards had but ill successe , for one of them we burnt in the harbour of S. Iohn Portrico , and one other was sunck in the same harbour , and the other three were burnt amongst many other Shippes at the taking of Cales : This I thinke in wise mens iudgements , will seeme a seely cause to mooue a man sorrowe to death . The certain cause wherof Sir Frances Drake dyed . For true it is , Sir Fraunces Drake dyed of the Flixe which hee had growne vppon him eight daies before his death , and yeelded vp his spirite like a Christian to his creatour quietly in his Cabbin . And when the Generall shall suruey his losses , he shall finde it more then the losse of the English , and the most of his destroyed by the Bullet : But the death of Sir Fraunces Drake was of so great comfort vnto the Spaniard , that it was thought to be a sufficient amendes , although their whole fleete had beene vtterly lost .

Thirdly , The generall doth say of his owne credite , and not by intelligence from any Indian or other , that on the eleauenth of March last hee met the English fleete at the Isle of Pinas , being fourteene good Shippes , who although they had the winde of him , yet hee set vppon them three times with all their Shippes , but the English fleete fled , and refused to fight shooting now and then a shot , but especially the Admirall .

THis third lye of the Generall Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Avellaneda , ( whose name for the prolixitie thereof maye be drawne somwhat neere the length of a Cable ) hath no colour of protection , but it hath a iust proportion in measure to the lyes of olde Barnardino de Mendozza his Countrieman , A payre of Spanish Lyers . concerning the ouerthrow of her Maiesties Nauie in the yeare 1588. for except Don Barnaldino the Generall , did purpose to winne the whetstone from Don Barnardino de Mendozza the olde Spanish lyer : I cannot coniecture why hee should write to his Countrie for a truth , that hee chased the English Nauye with nine Shippes , and did three seuerall times giue the onset to the English fleete , who being fourteene good Shippes ( as he saith ) did flye and refuse to fight , being that the Spanish Viceadmiral ( if he be liuing ) and manye other , The spanish Viceadmirall a man of vallour . can witnesse the contrarie , who fighting like a true valiant man , departed from the fight with a torne and battered Shippe to saue her from sinking . Neither can I imagine that there is any one in the Spanish fleete ( Don Bernaldino excepted ) that will saye they were lesse then twentie sayle of Shipps when they met the English fleet : And the Spanish Nauy can witnesse that they receiued such store of Bullets from the English fleete , that they were glad to depart , The number of the Spanish Shippes after the fight . and in despight of them the English Nauie did holde their determined course : And taking a view of the Spanish fleete the next day , their number was not aboue thirteene Shippes , which did argue that they were either sunke , or fled to harbour to saue themselues .

Fourthly , The generall saith , that the English fleete fled awaye , and left their Oares for haste behind them in the Sea.

IT was strange that they shoulde leaue behinde them Oares in the Sea , being there was not in the English fleete either Gally or gallyasse , This lie was made in the Generals owne forge . which required the vse of Oares , as for the Oares of their ship-boates and other such small vessels , they had stoed them aboarde their Shippes , and were no impediment vnto them , but most necessarie for them to vse , and therfore not likely they would cast them ouerboard : But it is most likely , that the Generall fell into some pleasant dreame at Sea , wherein hee did see a false apparition of victorie against the English , & for lacke of matter did set this downe in his letter for newes to his countrie : It is sinne to belye the Deuill , and therefore the Generall shal haue his right , A commendation of the Generall the letter is so well contriued , ( and yet with no great eloquence ) but with such art , that ther are not many more lines , then there are lyes , which sheweth that there are wonderfull and extraordinarie gifts in the Generall : But I am perswaded if Don Bernaldino had thought that his letter should haue beene Printed , hee woulde haue omitted many thinges contained in the letter , for the Doctor did vse him somwhat hardly in shewing the letter openly , The Generall doth practise to lye , for recreation . and more in suffering it to be Printed : for friends may like good fellowes send lyes one to the other for recreation , and feed their friends with some small taste thereof , so it be kept close , without danger to incurre the tytle of a lying Generall : But as the matter is now handled throgh the simplycitie of the Doctor , I cannot see but the General Don Bernaldino , is like to carrie the tytle equally twixt both his shoulders .

Fiftly , The generall doth say in his Printed letter , that notwithstanding all the diligence he could vse , hee coulde not cause the English fleete to staie nor come neere them , nor discharge one Hargebush or peece of Artillerie , but fled away as fast as they could .

ANd this lie also he doth not receiue by intelligence from any other , but himselfe was an eye-witnesse in the action , which made him bold to send this with the rest into his Countrie for currant newes : But herein Don Bernaldino was more bolde then wise , for the torne and battered sides of his Gallyons , being compared with her Maiestes Shippes , and others that serued in that fight , The torne sides of the Spanish Shippes doe condemne Don Bernaldino of lying . doe declare , that his Ships receiued at least two bullets for one . Neither can it be concealed but his owne Countriemen ( if any do fauour truth ) may easily see the losse , and late reparations , done vnto the Kings fleete sithence they did encounter with the English Nauie , whensoeuer they that remaine shall arriue in Spaine : But the Generall seemeth to bee a verye good proficient in his profession , and waxeth somewhat bolde , treading the true steppes of old Barnardino de Mendozza , and yet Mendozza was somewhat more warie in his lyes , for he had sometime the colour of intelligence to shadow them , but the Generall growing from boldnes to impudencie , maketh no scruple to say , that the English Nauie fled as fast as they could without discharging any Hargebush or peece of Artillerie , when as the battered sides of his ships do returne the lye to his face : Note the valoure of Don Bernaldino . For in this conflict Don Bernaldino did behaue himselfe so valiantly , that he was alwaies farthest of in the fight , & had so great care of his owne person that he stoode cleare from the danger of Muskat or any smal shot , & durst not approach , whereas our generall was the foremost , & so held his place , vntill by order of fight other ships were to haue their turnes , The order of the English Nauie . according to his former direction , who wisely & pollitickly had so ordered his vantgard , & reregarde , that as the maner of it was altogether strange to the Spaniard , so might they haue bene without all hope of victorie , if their General had beene a man of any iudgement in Sea fights : I know no reason why the English Nauie should flye from him , The Spaniard cannot bragge of his gaine . for the Spaniard may put all the gaine in his eye that euer he did winne from the English : Peraduenture some siely nouice of our country meeting the general in Spaine , and hearing a repetition of so many sillables in one name , as Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Auellaneda , might thinke them to be words of Coniuration , & for feare of raysing a Spirit , might flie from him as from the Deuill , or some simple Indian slaue hearing the like repetition of his long and tedious name , might suppose it to be an Armie of Spaniards , and for feare runne awaye : But the commaunders and Captaines of the English Nauie , Spanish bragges are of no value with the English. were men of such resolution , that no Spanish bragges coulde dismaye them , for they haue often met them with their Pikes in their Spanish beardes . Nor the countenaunce of Don Bernaldino quaile them , although he were acowtred in his gilt Leather buskins , and his Toledo Rapyer .

Sixtly , The generall saith in his letter , that notwithstanding their flying away so fast , the English left them one good Shippe well manned , who told him that the Drake dyed in Nombre de Dios , in which Shippe were one hundred and fourtie men , and fifteene noble Captaines of the best sorte .

THe Generall Don Bernaldino , Don Bernaldino very resolute , like a resolute Spaniarde hauing alreadye gonne ouer his shoes , maketh no daunger to wade ouer his Boates also : and as hee hath begun so he doth conclude , I maruaile that hee did not in writing his discourse remember this olde saying ; that is , A lyar ought to haue a good memorie : It were much better for him in mine opinion to reuoke the testimonie which hee saith he had from the English men , concerning Sir Fraunces Drake his death at Nombre de Dios , and stande to the intelligence receiued from the siely Indian slaue , as it appeareth in his first lye , The Indian slaue , is the best shadow , to the Generals lye for without al doubt , there is no English man that wil say ( if he haue his right sences ) that he dyed at Nombre de Dios , for they all knowe the contrarie : Neither can the Generall avouch that he receiued intelligence from any English man , that after the death of Sir Frances Drake they did elect for Generall Colonell Quebraran , Don Bernaldino his rare gift in coyning a new and straunge name . as he doth most falsly affirme in the latter end of his vaine and friuolous letter , being that the name was straunge , and vnknowne to any in the English Nauie . Neither doe I imagine that any of those which the General saith he hath taken were so forgetfull as not to remember their generals name . But without all doubt this addition of so new , and straunge a name to the English Generall , doth proue that Don Bernaldino is not vnfurnished of a forge & storehouse of lyes , The Generals store-house of lyes . from whence as from an euerflowing fountaine , he sendeth forth lyes of al sorts suffcient for his owne store , and greate plentie to furnish his friends : The General was much beholding to his godfathers who gaue him the name Barnaldino , which we in English do take to be plaine Barnard , which name hath as it were a kind of priueledge from being sharply reprehended when the party is thought to erre : for it is a common saying amongst the Schoolemen that Barnardus non videt omnia , The schoolemen of modestie do vse this kinde of reprehension , when they doe thinke the Author to erre . viz. Barnard seeth not all thinges , ( when he doth dissent from their opinions ) the which fauour wee coulde bee content to yeelde to Bernaldino for the name sake , if he were not taken with so many manifest and impudent lies , neither doe I thinke that Signior Bernaldino will say that he saw all that he hath written , be it spoken in councell for shaming the General , for is there any man so voide of reason as to thinke ? That any Englishman being demaunded of his Generals name , would write or speake Quebraran for Baskeruile , so much difference there is in the sound of the sillables , The difference twixt Quebraran and Baskeruile . as there is no affinitie at all , or likelihoode of truth : But such are the Generals rare gifts , ( be it spoken to his small praise ) that we Englishmen must of force confesse that the Generall hath giuen a proude onset to carrie the whetstone from Signior Barnardino de Mendozza : Neither will the 140. men & 15. noble Captaines ( which hee saith hee did take , of whome he might haue beene rightly informed of their generals name ) acquit him of lying forgerie , The Generall conuicted of lying and forgery . for giuing the name of Quebraran to the English Generall : as for the good Shippe well manned , which he saith the English left them after the fight , I am perswaded hee hath no man to witnesse that lye , for the ship was seperated by weather from the English fleete in the night thirteene daies before the fight , with the Spanish Nauie , & neuer to anye mans knowledge came more in sight of the English fleete , The Generall maketh great brags in taking a distressed Ship , which is supposed not to strike one blow . if the Spanish Shippes by chaunce did take the said wel manned Shippe ( as they cal her ) I doubt not but they haue the Shippe , the 140. men , and the 15. noble Captaines to shew : But euermore I gesse the Spanish reckoning will fall short when it is examined , for the fifteene noble Captaines will proue ( as I take it ) but three , whose losse I grieue to thinke on : The fifteene noble Captaines according the generals lying occupation , will proue but three . Neither did the Spaniards gaine them by valour , or we loose or leaue them for cowardise , as most vntruely this bragging lyer hath certified . But the Generall like a prouident man , to make his fame and credite the greater with his Prince and country , doth take vpon him ( amongst other his miracles perfourmed before the English fleet ) by way of amplification to make small matters seeme great , as a little shoe to serue a great foote , and finding that it can hardly be brought to passe , he doth stretch the Leather with his teeth that it is ready to breake , and notwithstanding , all this will not serue his purpose , The Printing of the letter doth shame the Generall . for the Printing of the letter doth marr the play , and bringeth such matter in question , as the Generall doth wish might be concealed , and were he not of so dry and cholericke complexion , as commonly Spaniards are , he would blush for very shame in publishing so impudently such manifest vntruthes . Don Bernaldino of an excellent complexion For sithence his meeting with the English fleet at the Isle of Pinas , there hath beene by the worthie English Generals , an honourable expedition from England into the Continent of Spaine , The first discouery of the Generals Printed letter . where amongst other exploits hauing taken the Cittie of Cales , in the sacke thereof was found some of Don Bernaldino his Printed letters : & comming to the hands of a Captaine that serued in the voyage to the west Indies , he hath thought very fit ( in regard of the slaunders to the English Nauie contained in the saide letter ) to quote the errors , that the truth onely may appeare , to all such as haue a desire to bee rightly informed of such accidents , as befell them in this late voyage to the west Indies : and this may suffice to shew Don Bernaldino Delgadillo de Avellaneda his greate iudgement in amplyfying small matters , The Generals great skill in amplifying . or of nothing to make in shewe seeme somewhat . And now hauing thus farre informed you of the truth in reproofe of the slaunderous , false , and vntrue reports of this glorious lying Generall , with a true disproofe to some of the grossest of his lyes , I will leaue him with the rest of his lying letter , and the circumstances therein contained to your censures : who in discretion may easily discerne the same . And have heere following plainely and truely set downe the course and order of our whole fight after we met .