Földvári Books

Inventory of a Captured Ship Likely From Drake’s Counter Armada

[Drake, Francis]; [Norris, John]; [Arano de Balencegui, Martin]; [Hurtado de Mendoza, Hernando]; [Ezquibel, Juan de]

[Relacion de lo que se inventario en quinze de septiembre de mil quinientos y ochenta nueve por el veedor contador Martin Arano de Balencegui. Por orden del capitán general D. Hernando (H)urtado de Mendoça en la Urca nombrada que esta en el Puerto del Pasaje (Puerto del Pasaje de San Sebastián), enviada por Juan de Ezquibel que la tomo con las dos zabras de S.M. en la Isla de Ugente (Ouessant/Ushant)]. Relasáon. de lo que se ynbentario en quinze de setiembre. de millquinientos y ochenta y nueve Por el beedor. y contador. mnarano de balencegui Por orden del capp.an General Don Hernando Urtado Demendoca. en la Urca nombrada que esta en el Puerto del Pasaje, ynbiada. Por Juan Dezquibel. que Latomo. con las dos zabras Desumag en Laysla de Ugente.

Puerto del Pasaje [de San Sebastián]: September 15, 1589. Manuscript in Spanish. Written on 3 pages. Signed by Martin Arano de Balencegui. 1 bifolio. Folded once. Chipped at the edges, small holes at folding. Overall in very good condition.

Inventory of a captured urca, supposedly one of the English Armada.

This 16th-century manuscript, titled “List of what was inventoried on September fifteenth, one thousand five hundred and eighty-nine by the accountant supervisor Martin Arano de Balencegui. By order of Captain General D. Hernando Hurtado de Mendoça in the named urca that is in the port of Pasaje, sent by Juan de Ezquibel who took it with the two zabras of H.M. on the island of Ushant,” details an inventory conducted on September 15, 1589, by Martín Arano de Balencegui, under the orders of General Captain Hernando Hurtado de Mendoça (or Fernando Hurtado de Mendoza; 1556–1629).

The document pertains to a 200-ton urca or galleon stationed at Puerto del Pasaje, which was captured near Ushant by Juan de Ezquibel. Ezquibel is likely the same person who later became an admiral and the first governor of Maluku (Moluccas) in 1606. The manuscript comprises two sheets, written on three sides, and is signed at the end by Martín Arano de Balencegui, who was a supplier to the Navy, inspector, and accountant for the King's war personnel in the province of Guipúzcoa.

The inventory is divided into two sections. The first provides a detailed list of the ship's structural components, masts, rigging, and various pieces of equipment. The second section enumerates the artillery and supplies, including a cast iron cannon weighing about 700 pounds, four stone-throwers (pedreros), a significant quantity of salt, anchors, cables, and other maritime equipment.

Given the date of the manuscript, the listed military equipment, the historical context, and the mentioned locations, it is strongly surmised that the captured ship was part of the Counter Armada. The Counter Armada, also known as the Drake–Norris Expedition, was an English naval campaign led by Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Norris in 1589. After failing to capture Lisbon in June 1589, the English fleet faced significant challenges during their return journey. By late June and early July, several ships were lost or captured due to storms and Spanish attacks along the northern coast of Spain and France.

This manuscript is especially significant and rare, as documents detailing the Counter Armada are exceedingly scarce, particularly those concerning the fleet's return journey.

.

Price: €8,000.00