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Sunday 4 September 2011

The Spanish navy at the battle of Downs in 1639 according to a Dutch pamphlet

In 1639 was at The Hague a pamphlet published dealing with the composition of the Spanish fleet at the battle of Downs that same year. The Spanish fleet suffered heavily and lost several ships. The correct title in Dutch is "Korte ende oprechte Verclaringe van de Spaensche Vloote, onder het Commando van den Spaenschen Admirael Don Anthonio d'Oquendo etc.". It's available at the Royal Library at The Hague pamphlet no. 4623. The names of the ships are in Dutch spelling.

List of all galleons and ships of the Spanish fleet, commanded by Don Anthonio d'Oquendo, scattered at Downs, etc.

Galleons: Don Antonio de Ocquendo, Sint Iago, 54 guns, 800 last, Admiral Don Andres de Castro, Sint Antonio, 42 guns, 600 last, Admiral Francisco Feyo de Sottomayor of Galicia, Sint Iago de Galicia, 32 guns, 500 last. Prisoner at The Hague, The former admiral Don Lope Offez, ship Teresa (also called Terresa and Tiresa, from Portugal), 62 guns, 1200 last, La Capitana belonging to the squadron of Sint Iosephe, Sinte Christa de Burgos, 40 guns, 600 last, Sint Ieronimo, admiral of the same squadron, 30 guns, 600 last, Sint Augustini, 30 guns, 600 last, Sint Gregorio Serenissima Senora de Leoro, 30 guns, 600 last and the Sint Ambrosio, 30 guns, 600 last.
Squadron of Italy: El Orfeo, 44 guns, 600 last, El Angel, 30 guns, 400 last, two pinnaces, Sint Antonio and Sint Paulo, 32 guns, 160 last, Laquila Imperial, 34 guns, 400 last, El Haniel, 30 guns, 500 last, Sint Iuan Baptista, 28 guns, 450 last and Sint Miguel, 24 guns, 400 last

From Dunkirk: admiral Sint Savador, 40 guns, Vice-admiral, 36 guns, Scherpenheuvel, Sint Vincent, Sint Francisco, Sint Iereon, Sint Nicolas, Sint Domingo, with another 6 warships and six frigates.

Other ships of the Kingdom: El Grand Alexandro, 36 guns, 600 last, Sint Pedro Grande, 36 guns, 550 last, La Famas, 24 guns, 300 last, Sint Iago d'Espana, 25 guns, 300 last, Sint Iago de Portugal, 25 guns, 300 last, Captain de Masiurada, private with two other private royal ships, 30 guns, the other two one with 24 guns, 500 last and the other two? of 300 last.

Of those ships were the first night 14 sent to Dunkirk: Sint Marcos, 20 guns, 300 last,
El Pine, 18 guns, 250 last, Sint Domingo del Rey de Polonica, 20 guns, 400 last, La Polonia Apul, 20 guns, 250 last, Sint Ian Evangelista, 20 guns, 250 last, Sint Iago Viejo de Particular, 18 guns, 250 last, 6 fluytes unarmed, with troops, The Esgenen van Sueden, 18 guns, 250 last and 2 frigates with one pinnace.