The New Hampshire Gazette

Some Account of Cadiz, and its Reduction formerly.

It being expected that Admiral SAUNDERS will attack Cadiz, the following Account may be acceptable to our Readers.

When this Place was attacked by the English in 1596, it was easily reduced. The particulars of that glorious expedition are thus related by Sir Walter Relegh: It was resolved by the Lord Admiral, and the Earl of Essex, that the town should be first attempted, that both the Spanish galleons and gallies, together with the forts of Cales, might not at once beat upon the English fleet. The Earl proposed to make his descent on the West side of Cales, which at last, was judged too dangerous an attempt; and it was then agreed to enter the Port. Sir Walter led the attack with seven ships of war, twelve London ships, and some fly boats. There were ranged under the wall of Cales, on which the sea beat, 17 gallies, which lay with their prows to flank their entrance as the English passed towards the galleons. There was a fort, called the Phillip, which beat and commanded the harbour. There were also ordnance which lay along the curtain, upon the walls towards the sea; besides several other pieces of culverin, which scoured the channel. Notwithstanding as soon as the Spanish Admirals saw the English approaching, they also set sail, and anchored under the fort of Puntal, in a strait of the harbour which leads towards Porto Real. The Spaniards had four ships of war, two great galleons, three frigates, the three Admirals of New Spain, and forty other great ships; with which they hoped to defend the entrance, the place being no broader from point to point than those in effect stretched over as a bridge, and had besides the fort of Puntal to their guard. Sir Walter was first saluted by fort Phillips, afterwards by the ordnance on the curtain, and lastly by all the gallies but the English warped close up, and the Spanish ships ran aground, tumbling into the sea heaps of soldiers, thick as if coals had been poured out of 8 sacks in many ports at once, some drowned and some sticking in the mud. The four Spanish ships were all burnt, sunk or taken. This being happily finished, the English prepared to land the army, and attempt the town, in which there were about 2000 burghers, 150 soldiers, and 800 horse. The horse men rushed out to resist the landing, but were soon repulsed, and were so closely followed, that the English carried the town with sudden fury and little loss. The city was plundered, and was very rich in merchandize, plate and money. Many rich prisoners were given to the land commanders, some of whom were ransomed for 16,000 ducats, & some for 20,000 besides great houses of Merchandize. The Spanish merchants offered two millions of ducats to spare a fleet of ships bound to the East Indies, which were said to be worth twelve millions, and lay in Port Real road, where they could not escape; but the Duke of Medina caused all the fleet of merchantmen to be set on fire, so that the galleons, frigates, &c. except two which were taken, together with all the fleet of New Spain, were all reduced to Ashes. Such is the account of the reduction of Cadiz, given by Sir Walter Relegh.

The city of Cadiz contains about 2000 houses, and 90,000 inhabitants; it is the centre of all the American trade, where the galleons take in their loading, and return with the treasures and rich merchandize of Peru and Mexico.