Simancas: May 1588, 1-10 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 4, 1587-1603. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1899.

'Simancas: May 1588, 1-10', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 4, 1587-1603, (London, 1899) pp. 275-286. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol4/pp275-286 [accessed 25 April 2024]

May 1588, 1-10


	Ships.		Tonnage.	Guns.	Soldiers.	Sailors.	Total.

1 May. Bill Cotton Vesp. CVIII. English.	279. Statement of the Ships, &c., of the Armada under the Command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia.
					Ships.	Barks.	Tons.
	The Squadron of the Galleons of Portugal				10	2	7,476
	Squadron of John Martinez de Recalde, of the province of Biscay				10	4	6,566
	Squadron of Pedro de Valdez, of Andalusia				10	1	8,302
	Squadron of Mignel de Oquendo, of Biscay				10	4	6,891
	Squadron of Martin de Bertondona, ships of Italy				10	0	7,756
	Squadron of hulks in charge of Juan de Medina				22	0	9,960
	Squadron of Don Antonio Hurtado de Mendoza				4	19	1,545
	Squadron of Diego Flores de Valdez, galleons, &c., from St. Lucar				14	4	8,564
	Squadron of Alonso Flores from Santa Maria				0	13	150
					93	47	57,910
	Galleys 4. Galleasses 4.
	Men on the ... barks					6,587	(Sailors?)
	Men ...					18,262	(Soldiers?)
	... four galleys					1,325
	... (fn. 1)					402
						27,778
	Biscuit bread					85,872	quintales.
	Pipes of wine					13,760	pipes.
	Bacon					7,279	quintales.
	Cheese					3,467	quintales.
	Fish					6,173	quintales.
	Rice					2,875	quintales.
	Beans and peas					7,236	fanegas.
	Sweet oil					11,270	arrobas.
	Vinegar					24,878	arrobas.
	Pipes of water					10,625	pipes.
	Note.—The quintal is 100 lbs., the arroba of oil or vinegar 3½ gallons, the fanega of beans, 2 bushels.
8 May. Paris Archives, K. 1567.	280. Bernardino De Mendoza to the King. After closing the accompanying despatches, I saw the Nuncio, who told me that some months ago his Holiness had requested the King (of France) to represent to the queen of England how advantageous it would be for her to become a Catholic ; the reason of the step being that the Pope had news that she might cede to similar persuasions. This King wrote to his ambassador to inquire whether the Queen showed any disposition this way, and the reply he sent was that Treasurer Cecil had caused the idea to be brought before the Pope, through certain spies, pretended Catholics whom he maintained in Rome ; (fn. 2) in order to gain time and cool his Holiness towards your Majesty's enterprise. The Pope had again signified through Cardinal Joyeuse that it would be well for the King again to approach the Queen on the subject by means of a special ambassador, and Secretary Villeroy had spoken to the Nuncio about it. He (Villeroy) said that it would be no good for the King to send a special embassy for the purpose, unless it were given out that the object of the embassy was to offer succour to the queen of England, which would disturb matters here more than ever, and he asked the Nuncio to write to his Holiness to this effect. I said that, so far as offering help to the queen of England was concerned, that had been done from here already, as he (the Nuncio) knew ; and the King refused to send the envoy as the Pope asked him to do, in order to avoid pledging himself not to assist the Queen. The Nuncio replied that there was a great deal in what I said. (Relates the great fear of the king of France at the expected approach of Guise. Great precautions for the King's safety).—Paris, 8th May 1588.
	281. Bernardino De Mendoza to the King. I caused Miss Curle to write to (Miss) Kennedy what I told your Majesty, and although the letter arrived and (Miss) Kennedy has written to me twice, she does not acknowledge receipt of it. She says that she understands that your Majesty, out of respect for the late queen of Scots, had given her companion Curle a pension, and as her (Kennedy's) services were no less worthy, she doubted not that your Majesty would reward her in the same way ; and she asks me to use my good offices to this effect, without listening to the reports that might have reached me that she was married to the former steward of the Queen. Even if this were true he was a person of quality, who had always been loyal to the Queen. It is quite clear from this that they are engaged, and as the steward is a heretic whom the queen of Scots greatly wished to convert, I am afraid that (Miss) Kennedy will not leave Scotland. Pending the receipt of your Majesty's instructions as to what I am to say to her, I will reply that if she had stayed here, I intended to petition your Majesty to show her some favour, but as she is in a country where the Catholic religion is not practised, after she had been the servant of one who had suffered for the cause, I could not venture to appeal to your Majesty on her behalf. I will give orders for the representatives (guarantors) of Charles Arundell to be paid the 2,000 crowns, which your Majesty desires them to be paid in discharge of the conscience of the queen of Scots, as well as the two months and 25 days of his pension for his debts. With regard to the other 1,000 crowns which remain to be paid, the archbishop of Glasgow is trying to have the debt proved by the creditor. I sent the earl of Morton and Colonel Semple to Flanders, as I wrote to your Majesty, and I have a letter from Semple, dated 16th ultimo, from Dunkirk. He says they were embarking that night with fair weather, and if any change took place he would let me know. As I have heard no more, I conclude they have continued their voyage with a favourable wind, as I know that ships that left Scotland at the same time had contrary weather. I have received two letters from Robert Bruce, copies of which I enclose in the general despatch (fn. 3).—Paris, 8th May 1588.
	282. Bernardino De Mendoza to the King. The Spaniard Pedro de Santa Cruz, who has left England, and from whom I sent your Majesty a letter, brought me the letter for Esteban Lercaro, which I enclose in the general despatch, in order that your Majesty may have it opened. It is from Marco Antonio Messia, a Genoese, whom the marquis de Santa Cruz sent to England to report. (fn. 4) Pedro de Santa Cruz reports verbally to me what he wrote in his letter ; and at the request of Marco Antonio conveys to me, for transmission to your Majesty, that in his opinion the Isle of Wight is the most convenient part for the Armada to come to. He also begs me to write to him regularly under disguise of commercial names and terms, because, as he receives very few letters, the English were becoming suspicious that he had not any real business there. He is intimate with Horatio Pallavicini, who told him in great secresy that the Queen had no fleet fit to resist the Spanish Armada ; and that it had therefore been decided to let the Spaniards land, and that Drake, after having burnt the Spanish ships, should land his men, as is set forth in the advices enclosed. They also report that the Queen is certain of being able to get the king of Scotland delivered to her by the Scots of the English faction at any moment she likes. Santa Cruz has gone by way of Nantes, and I have instructed him to go to Don Martin de Idiaquez as soon as he arrives in Spain, to report verbally what Marco Antonio had told him.—Paris, 8th May 1588.
	283. Bernardino De Mendoza to the King. Julio reports in a letter from London, of the 20th ultimo, that M. de Foi, who had arrived as a special envoy from Bearn to the Queen, had submitted the following three points to her :—First, his (Bearn's) thanks to her for her goodwill and help extended to him ; secondly, to excuse the small effect attained by the heretic German army in France ; and, thirdly, to beg her to join with the German Princes in assisting him with another levy. Walsingham told Julio that the Queen replied that she was very glad that Bearn was so grateful for what she had done, but, with regard to the second point, she would not hear of the excuses, as she did not know whether Bearn or the Frenchmen who guided the German force ought to present them. To the third point she replied that matters in France were not at present in such a condition, nor was she in a position to render discussion on the point possible. With that she dismissed him without granting his request, or absolutely refusing it. M. de Foi was starting for Strasbourg. There was little hope in England of the peace negotiations. Walsingham had confessed to Julio that they had done very wrong in wasting time over them, and they were in such a state as neither they nor their forefathers had ever been in before. This was said in words that demonstrated the alarm they feel. I hear from the new confidant that Horatio Pallavicini writes in the same tone to the English ambassador here, on behalf of the Treasurer, and says how hardly pressed they are. Even if the Queen had to help in raising the German levies it was best, he said, that they should not come before October or November. The Treasurer told Julio that if he had remained two days longer weeping for his mother, who had died, the rest of the Council would have despatched Drake, who would now delay until the 24th April, which is the 4th May in our style, unless something fresh occurred with regard to the Spanish fleet. They write to the English ambassador here, telling him to be vigilant in obtaining news about it.—Paris, 8th May 1588.
	284. Bernardino De Mendoza to the King. I have news from England subsequent to the reports of the 20th ultimo, already conveyed to your Majesty, saying that neither Drake nor the four Queen's ships that were fitting out had sailed. Orders had been sent to Drake to leave on the 24th April—4th May by our calculation—but the new confidant tells me it was not certain that he would go. The English ambassador publishes here that the city of London has offered the Queen 20,000l. in cash, to increase her fleet by 20 ships, and to raise 10,000 men who were to be held ready for service whenever she might require them. (fn. 5) It may be concluded that the ships will not be ready to accompany Drake if he sails at the time stated. M. de Foi, Bearn's envoy, had left for Germany to attend the meeting of Protestant Princes at Strasbourg, where it was expected that the king of Denmark would also be present. The queen of England was sending thither to represent her, Sidney, the brother of Philip Sidney who died in Flanders. I have received from Scotland the accompanying reports, and just as I am closing the despatch, I have had handed to me advices from London of 26th. In conformity with them an Italian who left London on the date mentioned concludes that Drake would sail on the 4th May, although there was no certainty of it. They are short of many things which will be necessary for them to continue the war. The French ambassador in London writes under date of 28th ultimo, that Drake's fleet was daily diminishing, and the Admiral, although he had received reinforcements of men, had but few ships.—Paris, 8th May 1588.
8 May. Paris Archives, K. 1568.	285. Bernardino De Mendoza to the King. Since closing my despatches I have news from England, dated 2nd instant (N.S.), saying that Drake and the Lord Admiral were to sail for Spain with 80 sail, to seek your Majesty's Armada, whilst Winter remained in the Channel with 50 well armed vessels to hold in check the duke of Parma. The new confidant tells me that on the 29th the Admiral was at Court, and it was said that he was going post to Plymouth. It was therefore considered that he could not sail so quickly as they said. The friend of Pedro de Santa Cruz has sent an answer to what I wrote to him, and forwards to me the enclosed paper for Lisbon, which your Majesty will have opened to learn the news he gives. Both Drake's and Winter's fleets will, according to all accounts, be smaller than is stated.—Paris, 8th May 1588.
8 May. Paris Archives, K. 1567.	286. Bernardino De Mendoza to Martin De Idiaquez. The letter I received for the duke of Parma was forwarded instantly by a trustworthy person. I thank you warmly for your action in having the English ships arrested. You will see by the reports from Scotland how they trade under the name of that Hunter, and that the King's letters are only a cloak for it. This will be explained by the man who will go with the proofs. He is one Alexander Scott, who also discovered last year a great quantity of English goods, which from their character it was impossible could be Scotch. I trust you will keep a hand in the business. Scott is starting by way of Nantes to explain the whole matter. He says one of the ships sailed from Scotland, where she had loaded the English goods, but the other two sailed from Norwich, where they had taken their cargo on board. The representatives of the queen of England met those of our King on the 21st ultimo, a half league from Ostend, but I have no news as to the result. I have not received letters from the duke of Parma for some time.—(In an autograph note Mendoza begs the Secretary not to leave him without money. He has so many people depending upon him who must be satisfied).—Paris, 8th May 1588.
9 May. Estado, 455.	287. Full Statement of the Armada sailing from Lisbon Sent to the King by the Duke of Medina Sidonia. (fn. 6)
	Galleon, "San Martin," fleet flagship		1,000	48	300	177	477
	" "San Juan," fleet vice-flagship		1,050	50	321	179	500
	" "San Marcos"		790	33	292	117	409
	" "San Felipe"		800	40	415	117	532
	" "San Luis"		830	38	376	116	492
	" "San Mateo"		750	34	277	120	397
	" "Santiago"		520	24	300	93	393
	" "Florencia"		961	52	400	86	486
	" "San Cristobal"		352	20	300	78	378
	" "San Bernardo"		352	21	250	81	331
	Zabra, "Augusta"		166	13	55	57	112
	" "Julia"		166	14	44	72	116
	12 ships.		7,737	347	3,330	1,290	4,620
	Biscay Squadron under Admiral Juan Martinez de Recalde.
	"Santa Ana," flagship		768	30	256	73	329
	"Grangrin," vice-flagship		1,160	28	256	73	329
	"Santiago"		666	25	214	102	316
	"La Concepcion de Zubelzu"		486	16	90	70	160
	"La Concepcion de Juanes de Cano"		418	18	164	61	225
	"Magdalena"		530	18	193	67	260
	"San Juan"		350	21	114	80	194
	"Maria Juan"		665	24	172	100	272
	"Manuela"		520	12	125	54	179
	"Santa Maria de Montemayor"		707	18	206	45	257
	Patache, "Maria de Aguirre"		70	6	20	23	43
	" "Isabela"		71	10	20	22	42
	" "Miguel Suso"		36	6	20	26	46
	" "San Esteban"		96	6	20	26	46
	14 ships.		6,567	238	1,937	863	2,800
	Galleons of Castile under Admiral Diego Flores de Valdes.
	Galleon, "San Cristobal," flagship		700	36	205	120	225
	" "San Juan Bautista"		750	24	207	136	243
	" "San Pedro"		530	24	141	131	272
	" "San Juan"		530	24	163	113	276
	" "Santiago el Mayor"		530	24	210	132	343
	" "San Felipe y Santiago"		530	24	151	116	267
	" "Ascencion"		530	24	199	114	313
	" "Nuestra Senora del Barrio"		530	24	155	108	263
	" "San Medel y Celedon"		530	24	160	101	271
	" "Santa Ana"		250	24	91	80	170
	Ship, "Nuestra Senora de Begoña"		750	24	174	123	297
	" "Trinidad"		872	21	180	122	302
	" "Santa Catalina"		882	24	190	159	349
	" "San Juan Bautista"		650	24	192	93	285
	Patache, "N.S. del Socorro"		75	14	20	25	45
	" "San Antonio de Padua"		75	14	20	46	66
	16 ships.		8,714	384	2,458	1,719	4,177
	Andalusian Squadron under Don Pedro de Valdes.
	Ship, "N.S. del Rosario," flagship		1,150	46	304	118	422
	" "San Francisco," vice-flagship		915	21	222	56	278
	Galleon, "San Juan"		810	31	245	89	334
	"San Juan de Gargarin"		569	16	165	56	221
	"La Concepcion"		862	20	185	71	256
	Hulk, "Duquesa Santa Ana"		900	23	280	77	357
	"Santa Catalina"		730	23	231	77	308
	"La Trinidad"		650	13	192	74	266
	"Santa Maria del Juncal"		730	20	228	80	308
	"San Bartolomé"		976	27	240	72	312
	Patache, "Espiritu Santo"		70		33	10	43
	11 ships.		8,762	240	2,325	780	3,105
	Guipuzcoan Squadron under Miguel de Oquendo.
	Ship, "Santa Ana," flagship		1,200	47	303	82	385
" "N.S. de la Rosa," vice-flagship		945	26	233	64	297
" "San Salvador"		958	25	321	75	396
" "San Esteban"		736	26	196	68	264
" "Santa Marta"		548	20	173	63	236
" "Santa Barbara"		525	12	154	45	199
" "San Buenventrura"		379	21	168	53	221
" "La Maria San Juan"		291	12	110	30	140
" "Santa Cruz"		680	16	156	32	188
Hulk, "Doncella"		500	16	156	32	188
Patache, "Ascencion"		60	9	20	23	43
" "San Bernabé		69	9	20	23	43
12 ships.		6,991	247	1,992	616	2,608
Squadron of Levantine ships under Martin de Bertondona.
"La Regazona," flagship		1,249	30	344	80	424
"La Lavia," vice-flagship		728	25	203	71	274
"La Rata Coronada"		820	35	335	84	419
"San Juan de Sicilia"		800	26	279	63	342
"La Trinidad Valencera"		1,100	42	281	79	360
"La Anunciada"		703	24	196	79	275
"San Nicolas Prodaneli"		834	26	374	81	355
"La Juliana"		860	32	325	70	395
"Santa Maria de la Vison"		666	18	236	71	307
"La Trinidad de Scala"		900	22	307	79	386
10 ships.		7,705	280	2,780	767	3,527
Fleet of Hulks under Juan Gomez de Medina.
"Gran Grifon," flagship		650	38	243	43	286
"San Salvador," vice-flagship		650	24	218	43	261
"Perro Marino"		200	7	70	24	94
"Falcon Blanco," mayor		500	16	161	36	197
"Castillo Negro"		750	27	279	34	313
"Barca de Amburg"		600	23	239	25	264
"Casa de Paz Grande"		650	26	198	27	225
"San Pedro," mayor		581	29	213	28	241
"El Sanson"		500	18	200	31	231
"San Pedro Menor"		500	18	157	23	180
"Barca de Anziqne" (Dantzic)		450	26	200	25	225
"Falcon Blanco," Mediano		300	16	76	27	103
"San Andres"		400	14	150	28	178
"Casa de Paz," chica		350	15	162	24	186
"Ciervo Volante"		400	18	200	22	222
"Paloma Blanca"		250	12	56	20	76
"La Ventura"		160	4	58	14	72
"Santa Barbara"		370	10	70	22	92
"Santiago"		600	19	56	30	86
"David"		450	7	50	24	74
"El Gato"		400	9	40	22	62
"Esayas"		260	4	30	16	46
"San Gabriel"		280	4	35	20	55
23 ships.		10,271	384	3,121	608	3,729
Pataches and Zabras, (fn. 7) commanded by Don Antonio Hurtado de Mendoza.
"Nuestra Señora del Pilar," flagship		300	11	109	51	160
"La Caridad" (English)		180	12	70	36	106
"San Andres" (Scotch)			12	40	29	69
"El Crucifijo"		150	8	40	29	69
"Nuestra Señora del Puerto"		55	8	30	33	63
"La Concepcion de Carasa"		70	5	30	42	72
"Nuestra Señora de Begoña"		64		20	26	46
"La Concepcion de Capetillo"		60	10	20	26	46
"San Jeronimo"		50	4	20	37	57
"Nuestra Señora de Gracia"		57	5	20	34	54
"La Concepcion de Francisco de Latero"		75	6	20	29	59
"Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe"		70		20	42	62
"San Francisco"		70		20	37	57
"Espiritu Santo"		75		20	47	67
"Trinidad" (zabra)			2		23	23
"Nuestra Señora de Castro"			2		26	26
"Santo Andres"			2		15	15
"La Concepcion de Valmaseda"					22	22
"La Concepcion de Somanila"					31	31
"Santa Catalina"					23	23
"San Juan de Carasa"					23	23
"Ascencion"					23	23
22 ships.		1,131	91	479	774	1,093 (fn. 8)
Galleasses of Naples, under Don Hugo de Moncada.
Galleass, "Capitana" (San Lorenzo)			50	264	124	386 (?)
" "Patrona" (Zuñiga)			50	178	112	290
" "Girona"			50	169	120	289
" "Napolitana"			50	264	112	376
4 ships.			200	873	468	1,341
Galleys of Portugal, under Don Diego de Medrano.
Galley, "Capitana"			5		106
" "Princesa"			5		90
" "Diana"			5		94
" "Bazana"			5		72
4 with 888 oarsmen.					362	362
General Summary of the entire Armada.
	Ships.	Tonnage.	Guns.	Soldiers.	Sailors.	Total.
Squadron of Galleons of Portugal.	12	7,737	347	3,330	1,293	4,623
Squadron of Biscay	14	6,567	238	1,937	863	2,800
Squadron of Castile	16	8,714	384	2,458	1,719	4,171 (?)
Squadron of Andalucia	11	8,962	240	2,327	780	3,105 (?)
Squadron of Guipuzcoa	14	6,991	247	1,992	616	2,608
Squadron of Levantine Ships.	10	7,705	280	2,780	767	3,523 (?)
Hulks	23	10,271	384	3,121	608	3,729
Pataches and Zabras	22	1,121	91	479	574	1,093 (?)
Galleasses of Naples	4		200	773	468	1,341 (?)
Galleys	4		20		362	362
Oarsmen					2,088
						(fn. 9) 29,453
Note.—Appended to the above document there is an extremely long list of the names of all the gentlemen adventurers and officers on the Armada, with the number of servants by whom each one was attended. As the list in its entirety has been published by Captain Fernandez Duro in "La Armada Invencible" it is not considered necessary to reproduce it here. It may, however, be interesting to give the following particulars :— There were 116 gentlemen adventurers, of whom 62 were noblemen. Four of the adventurers appear to be English, one Irish, and one German. There were 456 servants to the gentlemen adventurers. Don Alonso de Leyva (who was to take supreme command in case of the death or disablement of Medina Sidonia) and the prince of Ascoli (the supposed son of Philip II.) having respectively 36 and 39 servants.
There were 238 salaried officers unattached, attended by 163 servants. Of these officers the following appear to have been Irish or English :— Sir Maurice Geraldine. Edmond Stacy. Sir Charles O'Connor. Sir Thomas Geraldine. Tristram Winglade (?). Richard Burley. Robert Lario (?). John Burner. Sir Peter Marley. Patrick Kinford. Diego O'Dore. Robert Riford. Richard Seton. William Stacy. Edward Riford (?). Frederick Patrick. Henry Mitchel. Sir Robert Daniell. Thomas Vitres (?), an Irish priest. The artillery staff consisted in all of 167 men ; the hospital staff of 62 men, with five physicians and five surgeons. Four priests were attached to the hospital staff. There were also 180 monks and friars on the fleet. The regular troops on the Armada were organised into seven regiments of about 25 companies, each consisting of about 100 men. The six Maestres de Campo, or Colonels, namely, Don Diego de Pimentel, Don Francisco de Toledo, Don Alonso de Luzon, Nicolas Isla, Don Agustin Mexia and Gaspar de Sosa (the seventh regiment being composed of detached companies) appear each to have commanded a company, in addition to having a general control of his regiment. The total number of companies was estimated at 172, each under a captain and ensign, and the aggregate of the rank and file is placed at 18,973 men. The household of the duke of Medina Sidonia consisted of 22 gentlemen and 50 servants. An immense quantity of spare stores is specified as having been taken on the fleet ; amongst other things 8,000 leather bottles, 5,000 pairs of shoes and 11,000 pairs of sandals, 20 gun-carriages for battery artillery, 3,500 spare cannon balls for the same, 40 artillery mules, waggons, limbers, harness, &c., 7,000 harquebusses, 1,000 muskets, 10,000 pikes, and a great number of all sorts of sappers' tools.
9 May. Gucrra, 221.	288. Summary Statement of the Vessels that compose the most fortunate Armada, which His Majesty has ordered to be collected in this Port of Lisbon, the Commander-in-Chief of which is the Duke Of Medina Sidonia ; together with the Soldiers, Sailors, Pilots, Munitions, Provisions, and other necessaries therein, and the period of time for which the said provisions will last. There will go in the Armada 130 ships, as follows :—
	Galleons and ships of war						65
	Hulks from 300 to 700 tons burden						25
	Dispatch boats (pataches) from 70 to 100 tons						19
	Zabras (Biscay smacks), two being large ones belonging to the Portuguese Crown						13
	Galleasses						4
	Galleys						4
							130
	The total tonnage of the above ships is 57,868 tons.
	Caravels taken for the service of the Armada						10 caravels.
	Armed faluas with six sailors in each						10 faluas.
	There are taken in all 2,431 pieces of ordnance, namely, 1,497 bronze pieces of various calibres, many of them being cannous or half-culverins and pedrero (stone-shooting) cannons, and 934 cast iron guns						2,431 guns.
	Balls for the said guns						123,790 balls.
	Powder for cannon and small-arms						5,175 quintals ; all harquebuss powder.
	Lead for the harquebusses						1,238 quintals.
	Harquebuss fire match						1,151 "
	Men going in the said Armada.
	Spanish soldiers						16,973 men.
	Portuguese soldiers						2,000 "
	Volunteers (Gentlemen adventurers)						124 "
	Mariners						8,052 "
	Volunteers' servants						465 "
	Officers unattached						238 "
	Servants to the same						163 "
	Gunners						167 "
	Hospital staff						85 "
	Religious of various orders						180 "
	Gentlemen of the Duke's household						22 "
	Servants of the Duke's household						50 "
	Inspector-General and financial staff						17 "
	Servants of the Inspector-General						50 "
	Officers of justice						19 "
	Total number of persons on the Armada						28,605 "
	In the galleasses and galleys						2,088 "
	Total strength						30,693 "
	Stores. (fn. 10)
	Biscuit						110,000 quintals.
	Wine						14,170 pipes.
	Bacon						6,000 quintals.
	Cheese						3,433 "
	Fish of all sorts						8,000 "
	Rice						3,000 "
	Beans and chickpeas						6,320 fanegas.
	Oil						11,398 arrobas.
	Vinegar						23,870 "
	Pipes of water						11,870 pipes.
	Which stores will suffice the Armada for six months.
	Commander-in-Chief and Principal Officers. Duke of Medina Sidonia, Commander-in-Chief. Don Alonso Martinez de Leiva, Commander-in-Chief of the Cavalry of Milan. Juan Martinez de Recalde, General of the Biscay fleet, Admiral of the whole Armada. Diego Flores de Valdes, General of the galleons of Castile. Pedro de Valdes, General of the Andalusian fleet. Miguel de Oquendo, General of the Guipuzcoan fleet. Martin de Bertondona, in charge of the Levantine ships. Juan Gomez de Medina, commanding the hulks. Don Hugo de Moncada, commanding the four galleasses. Diego Medrano, commanding the four galleys. Don Antonio Hurtado de Mendoza, General of the despatch boats.
10 May. (N.S.) Paris Archives, K. 1568. French.	289. Advices from London. Drake has not yet sailed. He is awaiting 20 ships from London and six from Bristol. He is extremely negligent in guarding his ships ; 1,000 of his men have mutinied for want of pay. The 20 London ships will not be ready in three weeks. It is said that the Admiral will join Drake, and that they will have together 100 sail. It is said that Mr. Winter will guard the Flemish seas with 40 or 50 ships, and they are depending upon the men of Holland and Zeeland, who will help them if necessary. The Lord Chamberlain, governor of Berwick, (fn. 11) had travelled three days towards London when he was countermanded by the Queen, and returned to Berwick. The Queen seems to be very jealous and afraid of the king of Scotland. Great stores of horses and muskets are being collected here, and it is said that we shall be as well supplied with muskets as the Spaniards. In consequence of some news she recently received from Paris, the Queen became unwell, and almost had an attack of palpitation of the heart.