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Transcript from Historical Manuscripts Commission, Calendar of the Manuscripts of the Most Honourable The Marquess of Salisbury [. . .], 24 vols (London 1883-1976) Volume 10, p. 36
He states that he was born at Dedsham in Suffolk, of Nicholas Gifford and Joan his wife, the daughter of one Winson, a Sussex man; and that, before his departure from England, he was a merchant.
About 5 years ago he sailed with Sir Francis Drake as captain of the barque John Trelawny of Plymouth; but this barque becoming leaky and being old was purposely run ashore, and he was shipped on the Helpe of London, captain Henry Duffell, in the company of Thomas Bridges and eighty other Englishmen. In this ship he and the rest were taken prisoners and carried in different Spanish ships to the Havana, where they stayed 5 months. Thence they were taken to St. Lucar and so to Seville, where he remained a prisoner until the week before Christmas last, after their style. He having some liberty given him to recover a sickness which was broken out in his face and head, made his escape in a boat down the river...