“A few days later official advice of the preparations in England was brought to the island in a despatch-boat.  Governor Juarez, General Sancho, and the commander of the local infantry held a council, in which it was resolved to land the artillery from the dismasted ship and sink her and another vessel in the channel at the entrance to the harbor, while defenses should be constructed at every point where an enemy could attempt a landing.  The plan was carried out under the direction of General Sancho, who had ample time, as no enemy appeared during the next seven months.

“On the 13th of November 5 Spanish frigates arrived under the command of Pedro Tello de Guzman, with orders from the king to embark the treasure forthwith and take it to Spain; but Tello, on his way hither, had fallen in off Guadeloupe with two English small craft, had had a fight with one of them, sank it, and while pursuing the other had come suddenly in sight of the whole fleet, which made him turn about and make his way to Puerto Rico before the English should cut him off.  From the prisoners taken from the sunken vessel he had learned that the English fleet consisted of 6 line-of-battle ships of 600 to 800 tons each, and about 20 others of different sizes, with launches for landing troops, 3,000 infantry, 1,500 mariners, all well armed and provided with artillery, bound direct for Puerto Rico under the command of Sir Francis Drake and John Hawkyns.

“Tello’s 5 frigates made a very important addition to the island’s defenses.  Part of his men were distributed among the land forces, and his ships anchored in the bay, just behind the two sunken ships.

“All was now ready for a determined resistance.  General Sancho had charge of the shore defenses, Admiral Gonzalo Mendez de Cauzo commanded the forts, Tello, with his frigates and 300 men, defended the harbor.  The bishop promised to say a mass and preach a sermon every day, and placed a priest at every post to give spiritual aid where necessary.  Lastly, despatch-boats were sent to la Espanola and to Cuba to inform the authorities there of the coming danger.

“The defensive forces consisted of 450 men distributed at different points on shore with 34 pieces of ordnance of small caliber.  In the forts there were 36 pieces, mostly bronze ordnance, with the respective contingent of men.  On board of Tello’s frigates there were 300 men.

“General Sancho, after an inspection of the defenses, assured the governor that the island was safe if the men would but fight.

“At daybreak on the 22d of November the English fleet hove in sight.  The call to arms was sounded, and everybody,” says the chronicler, “ran joyfully to his post.”

A caravel with some launches showing white flags came on ahead, sounding, but on passing the Boqueron were saluted with a cannon shot, whereupon they withdrew replacing the white flags by red ones.