Rations for the Spanish Armada

In a document from the Simancas Archives dated 12^th April 1588 the VII Duke of Medina Sidonia gives the captains of the ships of the Invincible Armada, based at Lisbon and ready for the invasion of England, instructions as to food and drink rations for the sailors.

Each man is to receive half a pound of biscuit a day, or two pounds of fresh bread on days when the biscuits are not given out.

(Imagen BBC)

As to wine, this will consist of one third of an azumbre (a measure, a little over two litres) of Sherry, or Lamego (Upper Douro), Monzon (Douro, near Oporto), Pajica (?) or Condado (Huelva), but only a pint of Candia (Liguria, Italy) as it is stronger, and it should be accompanied by double the quantity of water.

The first wine to be distributed shall be Condado or Lisbon, then the Lamego or Monzon. The Sherry and the Candia shall be the last to be distributed, since they better survive a sea voyage.

The document ends with a warning to the ships’ captains that no barrel of Condado or Lisbon which goes off, due to keeping it, will not be refunded, and will be charged at the same price as Sherry.

(Info JL Jimenez)