it was determined that 12 Sail of the bigest frigots the Reer
Admiral Commanding them should first make the assault, it
being left to he Commanders Discretion whether they would
bring their ships to an Anchor or not, the rest of the fleet were
to follow f[unr]er the dispute was begun, the whole fleet came to
an Anchor, and in this particular thing Captain Eustace Smith
did much further the victory, who so soon as he came on board
from the Council of war (having told his officers what was
determined) made fail end stood into the Spanish Fleet, and
brought his ship to an Anchor in the thickest of them, and first
began the dispute, the Spariards were 16 great ships, 13 of
them came from the West-Indies, the other 3 were outward
bound, they had brought their ships within command of musquot
shot of their works which were very strong; the whole
bay being rounded with 3 brest works one within the other, and
that next the ward side had stone forts for great Guns, very
near adjacent one to the other, and at one part a strong Casile,
all which made the Spaniard think himself impregnable, and
he scorned all that thought herwise; yet it pleased God to
give us a compleat victory over them for that of the sixteen
not one Remained. After we had destroyed the shopping we
plyed our Guns upon their forts, and beat them from some
of them; The Spaniards at the first offer plyed their business
closly but liked not the continuence of it: for whether it
was that we should not take their ships, or whether it were by
accident, their Admiral and Vice Aamra soon blew up, and
then they began to forsake their ships, and as may as could,
saved themselves by boats or swimming; the rest, some fell into
our hands some perished by fire, and some by water; seven
or eight or their ships we had possession of, but they were either
disabled with shorts, or by them set on fire; so that wa
could not got any of them off: By that time it was three a
clock, every ship of theirs war destroyed; and by the closing
of the day-light, our whole fleet was in safety under sail, To
the Great Ichovah, be ascribed all praise, and thankful acknowledgments
for so great a mercy vouchsafed to the English
Nation.