[Footnote 391:  This expression seems to mean, that he forced them to run below.—­E.]

[Footnote 392:  That is, bore down upon him.—­E.]

He then commanded the captains and masters to come on board the Amity, where they were examined and placed in safe custody; after which he sent some of his own men on board both ships to strike the sails and man them.  There were found in both, 126 persons alive, with eight dead bodies, besides those that had been cast overboard.  This victory was obtained by 42 men and a boy, of whom two were slain and three wounded.  The two prizes were laden with 1400 chests of quicksilver, marked with the arms of Castile and Leon, besides a vast quantity of bulls or indulgences, and ten packs of gilded missals and breviaries, all on the kings account.  Also an hundred tons of excellent wine, intended for the supply of the royal fleet; all of which Captain White brought shortly afterwards to Blackwall in the river Thames.

By this capture of quicksilver, the king of Spain lost for every quintal a quintal of silver, that should have been delivered to him by the mine-masters in Peru, amounting in value to L.600,000.  There were likewise 2,072,000 bulls for living and dead persons, intended for the use of New Spain, Yucatan, Guatimala, Honduras, and the Philippine islands, taxed at two ryals each; besides 18,000 bulls at four ryals; amounting in all to L.107,700:  So that the total loss to the king of Spain was L.707,700, not reckoning the loss and disappointment by the mass-books and wine.

SECTION XVI.

Narrative of the Destruction of a great East India Carak, in 1594, written by Captain Nicholas.  Downton[393].

In the latter end of the year 1593, the right honourable the earl of Cumberland, at his own charges and those of his friends, fitted out three ships of equal size and rates, having each the same quantity of provisions and the same number of men.  These were, the Royal Exchange, which went as admiral, commanded by Captain George Cave; the May-flower, vice-admiral, commanded by Captain William Anthony; and the Sampson, which my lord was pleased to commit to me, Nicholas Downton.  In all the three ships there were embarked 420 men of all sorts, or 140 in each.  Besides these, there, was a pinnace:  called the Violet, or Why-not-I.

[Footnote 393:  Hakluyt, III. 14.  Astley, I 250.]

Our instructions were sent to us at Plymouth, and we were directed to open them at sea.  The 6th of April 1594, we set sail from Plymouth sound, directing our course for the coast of Spain.  The 24th, being then in lat. 43 deg.  N; we divided ourselves east and west from each other, on purpose to keep a good look out, with orders from our admiral to close up again at night.  In the morning of the 27th, we descried the May-flower and the little pinnace, in company with a prize they had taken belonging to