Sir Francis Drake's West Indian Voyage, 1585-86 by Keeler Mary Frear;

Author:Keeler, Mary Frear;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hakluyt Society

Document 11

A SUMMARIE AND TRUE DISCOURSE OF SIR FRANCES DRAKES WEST INDIAN VOYAGE. Wherein were taken, the Townes of Saint Iago, Sancto Domingo, Cartagena & Saint Augustine. Imprinted at London by Richard Field, dwelling in the Blacke-Friars by Ludgate. 1589.7

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT D'EVREUX, EARLE OF ESSEX AND EWE, VISCOUNT of Hereford and Bourchier, Lord Ferrers of Chartley, Bourchier and Louaine, Maistcr of the Queens Maiesties horse, and knight of the most honorable order of the Garter, T.C. wisheth increase of all honour and happinesse.1

Right Honorable, hauing by chaunce recouered of late into my handes (after I had once lost the same) a copie of the Discourse of our late West Indian voyage, which was begun by Captaine Bigges,2 who ended his life in the said voyage after our departure from Cartagena, the same being afterwardes finished (as I thinke) by his Lieutenant Maister Croftes,3 or some other, I knowe not well who. Nowe finding therein a most true report of the seruices and other matters which happened in the sayd voyage, the sight whereof is wonderfully desired by manie honest and well disposed persons. I haue presumed to recommend the publishing thereof, vnto your Lordships protection and fauour, for these two causes. The one, for that your Lordships Honourable disposition is in the knowledge of all men that know your selfe, most thirstingly affected to embrace in your owne person, the brauest enterprises, if the time would once affoord anie such fit occasion as might be agreeable to her Maiesties resolution: who wisely (and long may she do it) gouerneth all things to the greatest aduantage of her selfe and people. The other, because my selfe hauing bene a member in the sayd actions, and was Lieutenant of Maister Carleils owne companie, whereby I can well assure the truth of this report:1 I thought it my bounden duetie, hauing professed my seruice to your Lordship before all men, to dedicate the same rather vnto your Lordship then to anie other. And although it be nowe a yeare and a halfe sithence the voyage ended, whereby some man will say, that it is nowe no newe matter:2 yet the present time considered, how doubtfull some of our meaner sort of people are of the Spanish preparations, I thinke this Discourse a very fit thing to be published, that they may see what great victories a fewe English men haue made vpon great numbers of the Spaniardes, euen at home in their owne countreyes. The beholding whereof will much encourage those, who by fame and bare wordes are made to doubt much more then there is cause why they should. Vpon which point, as there may be much sayd: so my selfe being no Discourser, do desire to be held excused therein: and therefore doe onely commend the trueth of this report vnto your Lordship: which will be also auowed by diuers Captaines that were in the sayd voyage. And so in all humblenesse do take my leaue, readie to do your Lordship all faithfull seruice.

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