"A treatise of all sea causes" by William Monson (Hardwick MS 50)

This scribal manuscript was made in 1624 and has the autograph of "W Devonshire" on the cover. The title page reads: "A treatise of sea causes containing a goodly observation of the English and Spanish fleets that were set forth one to annoy the other, from the year 1585 that the war with Spain began until the year 1602 that king James made his happy entrance into this kingdom, showing the designs, escapes, and errors on both sides with the names of the Queen's ships and commanders - By W. M who has done it to better his experience, being a warning to those that shall read them to prevent the like errors hereafter - collected this present year of our Lord God 1624."

Alternatively titled: "A Treatise of All the Sea Voyages in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I with the names of the ship and the commanders, voyage, escapes, errors for future warning." The next page contains a dedication to the author's son.

The treatise includes: a voyage of Sir Francis Drake to the West Indies 1585; first action by the Spaniards 1588 wherein the Duke of Medina was General; the action of Portugal 1589; a voyage undertaken by the Earl of Cumberland with one of her majesties ships and six of his own; Sir John Hawkins and Sir Martin Frobisher voyages 1590; Lord Thomas Howard 1591, was sent with a squadron to the Azores which was to waylay the Spanish treasure fleets from America; Earl of Essex and the Capture of Cádiz in 1596; Sir Richard Lawson and Sir William Monson into Narrow Sea to keep a continued force upon the Spanish Coast 1603.

A printed version appeared in 1682, London, printed for W. Crooke, and sold by W. Davis in Amen Corner.

Mention of this copy is made in the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, Third Report (1872) p.43.

Sir William Monson was born in 1569 and first went to sea at 16. In 1588, as a lieutenant of the Charles, he took part against the Spanish Armada. He subsequently served under the Earl of Cumberland in various expeditions, with Essex against Cadiz, where he was knighted, and was constantly at sea until falling into disgrace in 1615. He died in 1643.