Croftes, or some other, I know not well who. Now finding therein a most
true report of the seruices and other matters which happened in the said
voyage, the sight whereof is wonderfully desired of manie honest and
well disposed persons. I haue presumed to recommend the publishing
thereof, vnto your Lordships protection and fauour, for these two
causes. The one, for that your Lordships honourable disposition is in
the knowledge of all men that know your selfe, most thirstingly affected
to embrace in your owne person, the brauest enterprises, if the time
would once afford anie such fit occasion, as might be agreeable to her
Maiesties resolution: who wisely (and long may she do it) gouerneth all
thinges to the greatest aduantage of her selfe and people. The other,
because my selfe hauing bene a member in the said actions, and was
Lieutenant of Maister Carleils owne companie, whereby I can well assure
the truth of this report: I thought it my bounden duetie, hauing
professed my seruice to your Lordship before all men, to dedicate the
same rather vnto your Lordship then vnto any other. And although it be
now a yeare and a halfe sithence the voyage ended, whereby some man will
say, that it is now no new matter: yet the present time considered, how
doubtfull some of our meaner sort of people are of the Spanish
preparations, I thinke this Discourse a verie fit thing to be published,
that they may see what great victories a fewe English men haue made vpon
great numbers of the Spaniardes, euen at home in their owne Countries.
The beholding whereof will much encourage those, who by fame and bare
wordes are made to doubt much more then there is cause why they should.
Vpon which point, as there may be much said: so my selfe being no
Discourser, do desire to be held excused therein; and therefore doe
onely commend the trueth of this report vnto your Lordship: which will
be also auowed by diuers Captaines that were in the said voyage. And so
in all humblenesse do take my leaue, readie to do your Lordship all
faithfull seruice._

Your Lordships souldier
and humble seruant

THOMAS GATES.

[Illustration: decorative page header]

_