"We Are Persuaded The Reader Will Feel A Secret Joy In Contemplating The
Great Figure This Nation Made In These Heroic Times; Owing To That
Universal Zeal To Promote The Commerce And Glory Of England, Which Then
Prevailed Among The Ministers Of The Crown, As Well As The People At
Large.
We presume likewise, that this pleasure will be not a little
enhanced by the consideration that these particulars were
Written by a
foreigner, who is held in great reputation for his judgment and
fidelity, and who has sounded the praise of our countrymen even beyond
what has been done by our own historians. On the other hand, the reader
will be no less concerned to find what immense treasures some of our
adventurers lost, by unaccountably missing the fleets of which they went
in search, when at the same time they were so near them, that it seemed
almost impossible they should escape. This shews, after all, how
uncertain is the meeting of ships at sea, and that two great fleets may
sail almost close to one another, without having the least
suspicion." - _Astley._
* * * * *
The 22d of July 1589, about evening, being near the islands of Flores
and Corvo, we perceived three ships making towards us, which came from
under the land and put us in great fear, for they came close to our
admiral and shot diverse times at him and at another ship of our
company, whereby we perceived them to be English, for they bore the
English flag at their main-tops, but none of them seemed above 60 tons
burden.
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