on the Island of Teneriff, laying him before he reasons that
incuced him to it, which they all approved of, and a favorable
Gile [unr] at the time presented to carry us thither. On the
is follwing in the evening we discovered Land, supposed
to be Point Negro, but being thick and hazy, could not certainly
make it til Noon the next day, whereby the Enemy had
longer notice of our being on the Coast, then we designed he
should before we came to Action.
On Monday the twentieth of April one thousand six hundred
Fifty seven, we were by [unr] of day fair in the off in of
Sancta Cruz, and as soon a [unr] was light, perceived by a signed
from one of our Friggors a head, that the West India Fleet
were in the bay. Whereupon, after a short conference how to
order the attempt, and earnest seeking to the Lord for his
presence, we fell in amongst them, and by eight of the clock
were all at Anchor, some under the Castle and Forts, and others
by the ships sides, at we could birth out [unr] to keep
clear on of another and best annoy the Enemy.
They had there five or six Gallenons (whereof were Admiral,
Vice-Admiral, and Rere-Admiral, with their Standard and
Flags aloft) and other considerable Ships making up the number
of sixteen, some having Goods brought from the Indies
still on board them, others had taken in Goods and Provisions
to carry back again: Most of them were furnished with Brass
Ordnance, and (as we have been informed since) had their
full companies of Seamen and Souldiers kept continually on
board them, from their first coming thither, which was about
the beginning of February last, their General himself in all the
time lying but one night out of his Ships they were mon[unr]ed
close along the thore, which lies in the manner of a Semicircle,
commanded, as far as the Ships rid, by the Castle, and
surrounded besides with six or seven Forts, with almost a continued
line for Musqueteers and great shot, as the Ground between
admitted; And we were forced to come so near to do
our work, that many of the men we have slain and wounded,
were shot by the Musqueteers from the shore; Notwithstanding
it plased God that in sour hours time their men were