〈…〉 not daring as we had great experience to 〈…〉 so much as once to arise from their 〈…〉 layed till it with all the rest be 〈…〉 strength of nature able to help it self 〈…〉 hath nature afforded them that the heat of their own bodies being exceeding great it perfecteth the creature with greater expedition and in shorter time then is to be found in many other places As for the causes of this extremity they seem not to be so deeply hidden but that they may at least in part be guessed at the chiefâ—â— of which we conceive to be the large spreading of the Asian and American continent which somewhat northward of these parts if they be not fully joyned yet seem they to come very neer one to the other From whose high and snow-covered mountains the north and northwest winds the constant visitants of those coasts send abroad their frozen nimphs to the infecting of the whole aire with this insufferable sharpnes not permitting the Sun no not in the pride of his heat to dissolve that congealed matter and snow which they have breathed out so nigh the Sun and so many degrees distant from themselves And that the north and north-west winds are here constant in June and July as the north wind alone is in August and September we not only found it by our own experience but were fully confirm'd in the opinion there of by the continued observations of the Spaniards Hence comes the generall squalidness and barranness of the country hence comes it that in the mid'st of their summer the snow hardly departeth even from their very doors but is never taken away from their hils at all hence comes those thick mists and most stinking foggs which increase so much the more by how much higher the pole is raised wherein a blind pilot is as good as the best director of a course For the Sun striving to perform his naturall office in elevating the vapors out of these inferiour bodies draweth necessarily abundance of moisture out of the sea but the nipping cold from the former causes meeting opposing the Suns indeavors forces him to give over his work imperfect and instead of higher elevation to leave in the lowest region wandring upon the face of the earth and waters as it were a second sea through which its own beams cannot possibly pierce unlesse sometimes when the suddain violence of the winds doth help to scatter and breake through it which thing happeneth very seldom and when it happeneth is of no continuance Some of our marriners in this voyage had formerly been at Wardhouse in 72 deg of north lat who yet affirmed that they felt no such niping cold there in the end of summer when they departed thence as they did here in those hottest moneths of June and July And also from these reasons we conjecture that either there is no passage at all through these northern coasts which is most likely or if there be that yet it is unnaâ—igable Adde hereunto that though we searched the coast diligently even unto the 48. deg yet found we not the land to trend so much as one point in any place towards the East but rather running on continually northwest as if it went directly to meet with Asia and even in that height when we had a franke wind to have carried us through had there been a passage yet we had a smooth and calm sea with ordinary flowing and reflowing which could not have been had there been a Frete of which we rather infallibly concluded then conjectured that there was none But to return The next day after our coming to anchor in the aforesaid harbor the people of the country shewed themselves sending off a man with great expedition to us in a canow Who being yet but a little from the shore and a great way from our ship spake to us continually as he came rowing on And at last at a reasonable distance staying himself he began more solemnly a long and tedious oration after his manner using in the delivery thereof many gestures and signs moving his hands turning his head and body many wayes and after his oration ended with great shew of reverence and submission returned back to shoar again He shortly came again the second time in like manner and so the third time when he brought with him as a present from the rest a bunch of Feathers much like the Feathers of a black crow very neatly and artificially gathered upon a string and drawn together into a round bundle being very clean finely cut and bearing â—n length an equall proportion one with another a speciall cognizance as we afterwards observed which they that guard their Kings person weare on their heads With this also he brought a little basket made of rushes and filled with an herb which they called Tabah Both which being tyed to a short rod he cast into a boat Our generall intended to have recompenced him immediately with many good things he would have bestowed on him but entring into the boat to deliver the same he could not be drawn to receive them by any means save one hat which being cast into the water out of the ship he took up refusing utterly to meddle with any other thing though it were upon a board put off unto him and so presently made his return After which time our boat could row no way but wondring at us as at gods they would follow the same with admiration The 3. day following viz. the 21 our ship having received a leake at sea was brought to anchor neer the shoar that her goods being landed she might be repaired but for that we were to prevent any danger that might chance against our safety our generall first of all landed his men with all necessary provision to build tents and make a fort for the defence of our selves and goods and that we might under the shelter of it with more safety whatever should befall end our business which when the people of the country perceived us doing as men set on fire to war in defence of their country in great hast and companies with such weapons as they had they came down unto us yet with no hostile meaning or intent to hurt us standing when they drew neere as men ravished in their mindes with the sight of such things as they never had seen or heard off before that time their errand being rather with submission and feare to worship us as gods then to have any war with us as with mortal men Which thing as it did partly shew it self at that instant so did it more and more manifest it self afterwards during the whole time of our abode amonst them At this time being willed by signs to lay from them there bowes and arrows they did as they were directed and so did all the rest as they came more and more by companies unto them growing in a little while to a great number both of men and women To the intent
were absent Thence having furnished our selves to our content we continued our course November 1. still Northwest as we had formerly done but in going on we soon espied that we might easily have been deceived and therefore casting about and steering upon another point we found that the generall maps did erre from the truth in setting down the coast of Peru for 12. deg at least to the Northward of the supposed strait no lesse then is the Northwest point of the compasse different from the Northeast perceiving hereby that no man had ever by travell discovered any part of these 12. deg and therefore the setters sorth of such descriptions are not to be trusted much lesse honored in their false and fraudulent conjectures which they use not in this alone but in divers other points of no small importance We found this part of Peru all alongst to the height of Lima which is 12. deg South of the line to be mountenous and very barren without water or wood for the most part except in certain places inhabited by the Spaniards and few others which are very fruitfull and commodious After we were once again thus fallen with the land we continually coasted along til we came to the height of 37. deg or thereabout finding no convenient place of abode nor likelihood to hear any news of our ships we ran off again with an Island which lay in sight named of the Spaniards Mucho by reason of the greatnesse and large circuit thereof At this Island coming to anchor Novem. 25. we found it to be a fruitfull place and well stored with sundry sorts of good things as sheep and other cattell maize which is a kinde of grain whereof they make bread potatoes with such other roots besides that it is thought to be wonderful rich in gold and to want no good thing for the use of mans life The inhabitants are such Indians as by the cruel most extream dealing of the Spaniards have been driven to fly from the maine here to relieve and fortifie themselves With this people our Generall thought it meet to have traffique for frew victuals water and for that cause the very same night of our arrivall there himself with divers of his company went a shoare to whom the people with great courtesie came down bringing with them such fruits and other victuals as they had and two very fat sheep which they gave our Generall for a present In recompence whereof we bestowed upon them again many good and necessary things signifying unto them that the end of his coming was for no other cause but by way of exchang to traffique with them for such things as we needed and they could spare and in particular for such as they had alreadie brought down upon us besides fresh water which we desired of them Herein they held themselves well contented and seemed to be not a little joyfull of our coming appointing where we should the next morning have fresh water at pleasure withall signifying that then also they would bring us down such other things as we desired to serve our turns The next day therefore very early in the morning all things being made ready for traffique as also vessels prepar'd to bring the water our generall taking great care for so necessary provision repaired to the shoare again and setting a land two of his men sent with them their Barâ—icoes to the watering place assigned the night before Who having peaceably past on one half of the way were then with no small violence set upon by those traitorous people and suddenly slain and to the end that our generall with the rest of his company should not only be stayed from rescuing them but also might fall if it were possible into their hands in like manner they had layed closely behind the rocks an ambushment of as we guessed about 500 mer armed and wel appointed for such a mischief Who suddenly attempting their purpose the rocks being very dangerous for the boat and the sea-gate exceeding great by shooting their arrows hurt wounded every one of our men before they could free themselves or come to the use of their weapons to do any good The generall himself was shot in the face under his right eye close by his nose the arrow piercing a marvellous way in under basis cerebri with no small danger of his life besides that he was grievously wounded in the head The rest being nine persons in the boat were deadly wounded in divers parts of their bodies if God almost miraculously had not given cure to the same For our chief Surgeon being dead and the other absent by the loss of our vice-admirall and having none left us but a boy whose good will was more then any skil he had we were little better then altogether destitute of such cunning helps as so grievous a state of so many wounded bodies did require Notwithstanding God by the good advice of our Generall and the diligent putting too of every mans help did give such speedy wonderful cure that we had all great comfort thereby and yeilded God the glory thereof The cause of this force and injury by these Ilanders was no other but the deadly hatred which they bear against their civil enemies the Spaniards for the bloudy and most tirannous oppression which they had used towards them And therefore with purpose against them suspecting us to be Spaniards indeed and that the rather by occasion that though command was given to the contrary some of our men in demanding water used the spanish word aqua sought some part of revenge against us Our generall notwithstanding he might have revenged this wrong with little hazard or danger yet more desirous to preserve one of his own men alive then to destroy 100. of his enemies committed the same to God wishing this only punishment to them that they did but know whom they had wronged and that they had done this injury not to an enemy but to a friend not to a Spaniard but to an Englishman who woud rather have been a patron to defend them then any way an instrument of the least wrong that should have beene done unto them The weapons which this people use in their wars are arrows of Reeds with heads of stone very brittle and indented but darts of a great length headed with iron or bone The same day that we receiv'd this dangerous affront in the afternoon we set saile from thence and because we were now nigh the appointed height wherein our ships were to be looked for as also the extremity and crasie state of our hurt men advising us to use expedition to finde some convenient place of repose which might afford them some rest and yeild us necessary supply of fresh victuals for their diet we bent our course as the wind would suffer us directly to run in with the main Where falling with a bay called Philips bay in 32. de or thereabout
they willingly inforced upon us though it were never so necessary or needfull for themselves to keep They are a people of a tractable free and loving nature without guile or treachery their bows and arrows their only weapons and almost all their wealth they use use very skilfully but yet not do any great harm with them being by reason of their weakeness more fit for children then for men sending the arrow far off nor with any great force and yet are the men commonly so strong of body that which 2. or 3. of our men could hardly beare one of them would take upon his back and without grudging carry it easily away up hil and down hill an English mile together they are also exceeding swift in running and of long continuance the use whereof is so familiar with them that they seldome goe but for the most part run One thing we observed in them with admiration that if any time they chanced to see a fish so neer the shoare that they might reach the place without swiming they would seldome or never misse to take it After that our necessary businesses were wel dispatched our generall with his gentlemen and many of his company made a journey up into the land to see the manner of their dwelling and to be the better acquainted with the nature commodities of the country their houses were all such as we have formerly descrbed and being many of them in one place made severall villages here and there The inland we found to be far different from the shoare a goodly country and fruitful soil stored with many blessings fit for the use of man infinite was the company of very large and fat Deer which there we saw by thousands as we supposed in a herd besides a multitude of a strange kind of conies by far exceeding them in number their heads and bodies in which they resemble other Conies are but small his taile like the taile of a Rat exceeding long and his feet like paws of a Want or Moale under his chin on ether side he hath a bagge into which he gathereth his meate when he hath filled his belley abroade that he may with it either feed his young or feed himself when he lifts not to travaile from his burrow the people eate their bodies and make great account of their skins for their Kings holidayes coat was made of them This country our Generall named Albion and that for two causes the one in respect of the white banks and cliffes which lie toward the sea the other that it might have some affinity even in name also with our own country which was sometime so called Before we went from thence our generall caused to be set up a monument of our being there as also of her Majesties and successors right and title to that kingdome namely a plate of brasse fast nailed to a great and firm post whereon is engraven her graces name and the day and yeare of our arrivall there and of the free giving up of the province and kingdome both by the king and people into her Majesties hands together with her highnesse picture and arms in a piece of sixpence â—ntrant English money shewing itself by a hole made of purpose through the place underneath was likewise engraven the name of our Generall c. The Spaniards never had any dealing or so much as set a foot in this country the utmost of their discourses reaching onely to many degrees Southward of this place And now as the time of our departure was perceived by them to draw nigh so did the sorrows and miseries of this people seem to themselves to increase upon them and the more certain they were of our going away the more doubtfull they shewed themselves what they might doe so that we might easily judg that that joy being exceeding great wherewith they received us at our first arrivall was clean drown'd in their excessive sorrow for our departing for they did not only loose on a suddain all mirth joy glad countenance pleasant speeches agility of body familiar rejoycing one with another and all pleasure whotever flesh and bloud might be delighted in but with sighs and forrowings with heavy hearts and grieved minds they powred out wofull complaints and moanes with bitter teares and wringing of their hands tormenting themselves And as men refusing all comfort they only accounted themselves as castawaies and those whom the gods were about to forsake so that nothing we could say or doe was able to ease them of their so heavy a burthen or to deliver them from so desperate a strait as our leaving of them did seem to them that it would cast them into Howbeit seeing they could not still injoy our presence they supposing us to be gods indeed thought it their duties to intreat us that being absent we would yet be mindfull of them and making signes of their desires that in time to come we would see them again they stole upon us a sacrifice and set it on fire ere we were a ware burning therein a chaine and a bunch of feathers We laboured by all meanes possible to withhold or withdraw them but could not prevaile till at last we fell to prayers and singing of Psalms whereby they were allured immediately to forget their folly and leave their sacrifice unconsumed suffering the fire to goe out and imitating us in all our actions they fell a lifting up their eyes and hands to heaven as they saw us doe The 23. of July they took a sorrowfull farewell of us but being loath to leave us they presenly ran to the tops of the hils to keep us in their sight as long as they could making fires before and behind and on each side of them burning therein as is to be supposed sacrifices to our departure Not far without this harborough bid lye certain Islands we called them the Islands of Saint James having on them plentifull and great store of Seals and birds with one of which we fell July 24. whereupon we found such provision as might competently serve our turn for a while we departed again the day next following viz. July 25. And our Generall now considering that the extremity of the cold not only continued but increased the Sun being gone father from us and that the wind blowing still as it did at first from the northwest out off all of finding a passage through the northern parts thought it necessary to loose no time and therefore with generall consent of all bent his course directly to runne with the Islands of the Moluccas And so having nothing in our view but aire and sea without sight of any land for the space of full 68. days together we continued our course through the main Ocean till September 30. following on which day we fell in kenne of certain Islands lying about eight degrees to the Northward of the line From these Islands presently upon the discovery of us came a great number of canows
country is very pleasant and seemeth to be a fruitfull soyle Being afterwards driven to fall with this place again we had great acquaintance familiarity with the people who rejoyced greatly in our coming and in our friendship in that we had done them no harm But because this place was not fit or convenient harbor for us to do our necessary business niether yet to make provision of such things as we wanted as Water Wood and such like we departed thence the 15. of May. At our departure thence we held our course South and by West and made about 9. leagues in 24. houres bearing very little saile that our fleet might the easier get up with us which by reason of the contrary winds were cast a stern of us In 47. deg 30. min. we found a bay which was faire safe and beneficiall to us very necessary for our use into which we haled and anchored May 17. and the next day May 18. we came further into the same bay where we cast anchor and made our abode full 15. dayes The very first day of our arrivall here our generall having set things in some order for the dispatch of our necessary busines being most carefull for his 2. ships which were wanting sent forth to the southward Captain Winter in the Elizabeth vice-admiral himself in the Admiral going forth northvvard into the sea to see if happily they might meet vvith either of them at which time by the good providence of God he himself met with the Swan formerly lost at our departure from the river of Plate and brought her into the same harbor the same day where being after unloaden and discharged of her fraight she was cast off and her iron work other necessaries being saved for the better provision of the rest of the remainder was made firewood and other implements which we wanted But all this while of the other ship which we lost so lately in our extremity we could have no newes While we were thus imployed after certain dayes of our stay in this place being on shoare in an Island nigh unto the main where a low water was free passage on foote from the one to the other the people of the country did shew themselves unto us with leaping dancing and holding up of their hands and making outcries after their manner but being then high water we could not go over to them on foot Wherefore the generall caused immediatly a boat to be in readiness and sent unto them such things as he thought would delight them as knives bels bugles and whereupon they being assembled together upon a hill half an English mile from the waters side sent down two of their company running one after the other with a great grace traversing their ground as it seemed after the manner of their wars by degrees descending towards the waters side very swiftly Notwithstanding drawing nigh unto it they made a stay refusing to come neer our men-which our men perceiving sent such things as they had tyed with a string upon a rod and stuck the same up a reasonable distance from them where they might see it And assoon as our men were departed from the place they came and took those things leaving in stead of them as in recompence such feathers as they use to weare about their heads with a bone made in manner of a toothpick carved round about the top and in length about six inches being very smoothly burnished Whereupon our Generall with divers of his Gentlemen and company at low water went over to them to the maine Against his coming they remained still upon the hill and set themselves in a rank one by one appointing one of their company to run before them from the one end of the rank to the other and so back again continually East and West with holding up his Hands over his Head and yeilding forward his body in his running toward the rising and setting of the Sun and at every second or third turne at the most erected his body against the midst of the rank of the people lifting himself vaulting-wise from the ground towards the Moon being then over our heads signifying thereby as we conceived that they called the Sunne and Moon whom they serve for gods to witnesse that they meant nothing towards us but peace But when they perceived that we ascended the hill apace and drew nigh unto them they seemed very fearfull of our comming Wherefore our Generall not willing to give them any way any occasion to mislike or be discomfited retyred his company whereby they were so allured and did so therein confirm themselves of us that we were no enemies neither meant them harm that without all fear divers came down with great speed after us presently entring into trafique with our men notwithstanding they would receive nothing at our hands but the same must be first cast upon the ground using this word zussus for exchange toytt to cast upon the ground And if they misliked any thing they cryed coroh coroh speaking the same with ratling in the throat The wares we received from them were arrows of reeds feathers and such bones as are afore described This people go naked except a skin of furre which they cast about their shoulders when they sit or lie in the cold but having any thing to do as going or any other labour they use it as a girdle about their loyns They weare their haire very long but lest it might trouble them in their travell they knit it up with a roll of Ostrich feathers using the same rolls and haire together for a quiver for their arrows and for a store house in which they carry the most things which they carry about them Some of them within these rolls stick on either side of their heads for a sign of honour in their persons a large and plain feather sheweth like horns afar off so that such a head upon a naked body if Divels do appeare with horns might very nigh resemble Divels The whole bravery and setting out themselves standeth in painting their bodies with divers colours and such works as they can devise Some wash their faces with sulphure or some such like substance some paint their whole bodies black leaving only their necks behind and hefore white much like our Damosels that weare their squares their necks and breasts naked Some paint one shoulder black another white and their sides and legs interchangeably with the same colours one still contrary to the other The black part hath set upon it white moons and the white part black Suns being the marks and characters of their gods as is before noted They have some commodity by painting of their bodies for the which cause they use it so generally and that I gather to be the defence it yeildeth against the piercing and nipping cold For the colours being close laid on upon their skin or rather in the flesh as by continuall renewing of these juces which are
their healths much impaired thereby neither was it that this chanced in the night alone but the day following carried with it not only the marks but the stings and force of the night going before to the great admiration of us all for besides that the pinching and biting aire was nothing altered the very ropes of our ship were stiffe and the raine which fell was an unnaturall and frozen substance so that we seemed rather to be in the frozen Zone then any way so neer unto the sun or these hotter climates Neither did this happen for the time only or by some sudden accident but rather seems indeed to proceed from some ordinary cause against the which the heate of the sun prevails not for it came to that extremity in sailing but 2. deg farther to the northward in our course that though sea-men lack not good stomacks yet it seemed a question to many amongst us whether their hands should feed their mouths or rather keep themselves within their coverts from the pinching cold that did benum them Neither could we impute it to the tendernesse of our bodies though we came lately from the extremity of heate by reason whereof we might be more sensible of the present cold insomuch as the dead and senlesse creatures were as well affected with it as our selves our meat as soon as it was removed from the fire would presently in a manner be frozen up and our ropes and tackling in few dayes were grown to that stifnesse that what three men before were able with them to perform now six men with their best strength and uttermost endeavour were hardly able to accomplish whereby a sudden and great discouragement seased upon the minds of our men and they were possessed with a great mislike and doubting of any good to be done that way yet would not our generall be discouraged but as well by comfortable speeches of the divine providence and of Gods loving care over his children out of the scriptures as also by other good and profitable perswasions adding thereto his own cheerfull example he so stirred them up to put on a good courage and to quit themselves like men to endure some short extremity to have the speedier comfort and a little trouble to obtain the greater glory that every man was as throughly armed with willingnesse and resolved to see the uttermost if it were possible of what good was to be done that way The land in that part of America bearing farther out into the west then we before imagined we were neerer on it then we were aware and yet the neerer still we came unto it the more extremity of cold did sease upon us The 5. day of June we were forced by contrary winds to run in with the sâ—â—are which we then first descryed and to cast anchor in a bad bay the best road we could for the present meet with where we were not without some danger by reason of the many extream gusts and flaws that beat upon us which if they ceased and were still at any time immediately upon their intermission there followed most vile thick and stinking fogs against which the sea prevailed nothing till the gust of wind again removed them which brought with them such extremity and violence when they came that there was no dealing or resisting against them In this place was no abiding for us and to go further North the extremity of the cold which had now utterly discouraged 〈◊〉 would not permit us and the winds directly bent against 〈◊〉 having once gotten us under saile againe commanded us to the southward whether we would or no. From the height of 48. de in which now we were to 38. we 〈◊〉 the land by coasting along it to be but low and reasonâ—â—â— plaine every hil whereof we saw many but none very 〈◊〉 though it were in Iune and the Sun in his neerest apprâ—ach unto them being covered with snow In 38. deg 30. min. we fell with a convenient and fit harborough and June 17. came to anchor therein where we continued till the 23. day of July following During all which time notwithstanding it was in the height of Summer and so neere the Sun yet were we continually visited with like nipping colds as we had felt before insomuch that if violent exercises 〈◊〉 â—ur bodies and busie imployment about our necessary labâ—râ— had not somtimes compeld us to the contrary we could very well have been contented to have kept about us still our winter clothes yea had our necessities suffered us to have kept â—â—r beds neither could we at any time in whole foureteen dayes together find the aire so cleare as to be able to take the height of Sun or star And here having so fit occasion notwithstanding it may seem to be besides the purpose of writing the history of this our voyage we will a little more diligently inquire into the causes of the continuance of the extream cold in these parts as also into the probabilities or unlikelihoods of a passage to be found that way Neither was it as hath formerly been touched the tenderness of our bodies coming so lately out of the heat whereby the pores were opened that make us 〈…〉 of the colds we here felt in this respect as in many others we found our God a provident Father and careful physitian to us We lacked no outward helps nor inward comforts to 〈◊〉 Fortifie nature had it been decayed or weakned in us neither was there wanting to us the great experience of our Generall who had often himself proved the 〈◊〉 the burning zone whose advice alwayes prevailed much to the preserving of a moderate temper in our constitutions so that even after our departure from the heat we alwaies found our bodies not as sponges but strong hardned more able to beare out cold though we cam out of excess of heat then a number of chamber companions could have been who lie on their Featherbed till they go to sea or rather whose teeth in a temperate aire do beat in their heads at a cup of cold Sack and sugar by the fire And that is was not our tendernes but the very extremity of the cold it self that caused this sensibleness in us may the rather appear in that the naturall inhabitants of the place with whom we had for along season familiar entercourse as is to be related who had never been acquainted with such heat to whom the country aire climate was proper in whom custome of cold was as it were a second nature yet used to come shivering to us in their warm furs crowding close together body to body to receive hâ—â—t one of another and shelting themselves under a 〈◊〉 bank if it were possible and as often as they could labouring to shroud themselves under our garments also to keep them warm Besides how 〈◊〉 deformed appeared the face of the 〈…〉 trees without leaves and the ground 〈…〉 those moneths of June and July The
therefore that this peace which they themselves so willingly sought might without any cause of the breach thereof on our part given to be continued and that we might with more safety and expedition end our businesses in quiet our Generall with all his company used all means possibly gently to intreat them bestowing upon each of them liberally good and necessary things to cover their nakednesse withall signifying unto them we were no gods but men and had need of such things to cover our own shame teaching them to use them to the same ends for which cause also we did eate and drink in their presence giving them to understand that without that we could not live and therefore were but men as well as they Notwithstanding nothing could perswade them nor remove that opinion which they had conceived of us that we should be gods In recompence of those things which they had received of us as shirts linnen cloth c. they bestowed upon our generall and divers of our company diverse things as Feathers Cawls of network the quivers of their arrows made of Fawns-skins and the very skins of beasts that their women wore upon their bodies Having thus had their fill of this times visiting and beholding of us they departed with joy to their houses which houses are digged round within the earth and have from the uppermost brims of the circle clefts of wood set up and joyned close together at the top like our spires on the steeple of a church which being covered with earth suffer no water to enter and are very warm the doore in the most part of them performs the office also of a chimney to let out the smoake it s made in bignesse and fashion like to an ordinary scuttle in a ship and standing slopewise their beds are the hard ground only with rushes strewed upon it and lying round about the house have their fire in the middest which by reason that the house is but low vaulted round and close giveth a marvellous reflexion to their bodies to heate the same Their men for the most part go naked the women take a kind of bulrushes and kembing it after the manner of hempe make themselves thereof a loose garment which being knit about their middles hangs down about their hips and so affords to them a covering of that which nature teaches should be hidden about their shoulders they weare also the sikn of a deere with the haire upon it They are very obedient to their husbands and exceeding ready in all services yet of themselves offring to do nothing without the consents or being called of the men As soon as they were returned to their houses they began amonst themselves a kind of most lamentable weeping and crying out which they continued also a great while together in such sort that in the place where they left us being neer about 3. quarters or an English mile distant from them we very plainly with wonder and admiration did heare the same the women especially extending their voices in a most miserable and doleful manner of shreeking Notwithstanding this humble manner of presenting themselves and awfull demeanour used towards us we thought it no wisdome too far to trust them our experience of former Infidels dealing with us before made us carefull to provide against an alteration of their affections or breach of peace if it should happen and therefore with all expedition we set up our tents and entrenched our selves with walls of stone that so being fortified within our selves we might be able to keep off the enemy if they should so prove from coming amonst us without our good wills this being quickly finished we went the more cheerfully and securely afterward about our other businesse Against the end of two dayes during which time they had not again been with us there was gathered together a great assembly of men women and children invited by the report of them which first saw us who as it seems had in that time of purpose dispersed themselves into the country to make known the newes who came now the second time unto us bringing with thrm as before had been done Feathers and bags of Tobalâ— for presents or rather indeed for sacrifices upon this perswasion that we were gods When they came to the top of the hill at the bottome whereof we had built our fort they made a stand where one appointed as their chief speaker wearied both us his hearers and himself too with a long and tedious oration delivered with strange and violent gestures his voice being extended to the uttermost strength of nature and his words fall so thick one in the neck of another that he could hardly fetch his breath again as soon as he had concluded all the rest with a reverend bowing of their bodies in a dreaming manner and long producing of the same cryed oh thereby giving their consents that all was very true which he had spoken and that they had uttered their mind by mouth unto us which done the men laying down their bowes upon the hill and leaving their women and children behind them came down with their presents in such sort as if they had appeared before a God indeed thinking themselves happy that they might have access unto our generall but much more happy when thew say that he would receive at their hands those things which they so willingly had presented and no doubt the thought themselves neerest unto God when they sate or stood next to him in the mean time the women as if they had been desperate used unnaturall violence against themselves crying and shreeking pitâ—ously tearing their flesh with their nailes from their cheâ—k in a monstrous manner the bloud streaming down along their brests besides spoyling the upper parts of their bodies of those single coverings they formerly had and holding their hands above their heads that they might not rescue their brests from harm they would with furie cast themselves upon the ground never respecting whether it were clean or soft but dashed themselves in this manner on hard stones knobby hillocks stocks of wood pricking bushes or what ever else lay in their way itterating the same course again and again yea women great with child some nine or ten times each and others holding out till 15. or 16. times till their strength failed them exercised this cruelty against themselves a thing more grievous for us to see or suffer could we have holpt it then trouble to them as it seemed to doe it This bloudy sacrifice against our wils being thus performed our generall with his company in the presence of those strangers fell to prayers and by signes in lifting up our eyes hands to heaven signified unto them that that God whom we did serve and whom they ought to worship was above beseeching God if it were his good pleasure to open by some means their blinded eyes that they might in due time be called to the knowledge of him the true and
when we were all gathered together upon the Plaine some two little miles from the Towne the Lievetenant Generall thought good not to make attempt till day light because there was not one that could serve for Guide or giving knowledge at all of the place And therefore after having well rested even halfe an houre before day he commanded the Army to be divided into three speciall parts such as he appointed whereas before we had marched by severall Companies being thereunto forced by the naughtinesse of the way as is aforesaid Now by the time we were thus ranged in a very brave order daylight began to appeare and being advanced hard to the Wall we saw no Enemie to resist whereupon the Lieuetenant Generall appointed Captaine Sampson with thirty shot and Captaine Barton with other thirty to go downe into the Towne which stood in the Valley under us and might very plainly be viewed all over from that place where the whole Army was now arrived and presently after these Captaines was sent the great Ensigne which had nothing in it but the plaine English Crosse to be placed tovvards the Sea that our Fleet might see Saint Georges crosse florish in the Enemies fortresse Order was given that all the Ordinance throughout the town and upon all the Platformes which vvas above fifty Peeces all ready charged should be shot off in honour of the Queenes Majesties Coronation day being the seventeenth of November after the yeerly custome of England which was so answered againe by the Ordinance out of all the Ships in the Fleet which now was come neere as it was strange to hear such a thundering noise last so long together In this meane while the Lieutenant Generall held still the most part of his Force on the hill top till such time as the Towne was quartered out for the lodging of the whole army which being done every Captain tooke his owne quarter and in the evening was placed such sufficient guard upon every part of the Towne that we had no cause to feare any present Enemie Thus we continued in the City the space of fourteene dayes taking such spoyles as the place yeelded which were for the most part Wine Oyle Meale and some such like things for Victual as Vinegar Olives and some such other trash as Merchandise for their Indian trades But there was not found any Treasure at all or any thing else of worth besides The scituation of Saint Jago is somewhat strange in forme like to a triangle having on the East and West sides two Mountaines of Rocke and Cliffie as it were hanging over it upon the top of which two Mountaines was builded certaine fortifications to preserve the Towne from any harme that might be offered as in this Plot is plainly shewed From thence on the South side of the Towne is the maine Sea and on the North side the valley lying betweene the foresaid Mountaines wherein the Towne standeth the said Valley and Towne both doe grow very narrow insomuch that the space betweene the two cliffes of this end of the Towne is estimated not to be above â—enâ—e or twelve score over In the midst of the Valley commeth downe a riveret Rill or Brook of fresh Water which hard by the Sea side maketh a Pond or Poole whereout our Ships were watered vvith very great ease and pleasure Somewhat above the Towne on the North side betweene the two Mountaines the valley waxeth somewhat larger then at the Townes end which Valley is wholly converted into Gardens and Orchards vvell replenished with diverse sorts of Fruites Herbes and Trees as Lymons Oranges Sugar Canes Cochars or Cochos-Nuts Plantens Potato-â—oots Cocombers small and round Onyons Garlike and some other things not now remembred amongst which the Chochos-nuts and Plantens are very pleasant Fruits the said Cochos having a hard shell and a greene Huske over it as hath our Walnut but it farre exceedeth in greatnesse for this Cochos in his greene huske is bigger then any mans two Fists of the hard shell many drinking Cups are made here in England and set in Silver as I have often seen Next within this hard shell is a white rine resembling in shew very much even as any thing may doe to the white of an Egge when it is hard boyled And within this white of the Nut lyeth a water which is whitish and very cleere to the quantity of halfe a pint or there abouts which water and white rine before spoken of are both of a very coole fresh taste and as pleasing as any thing may be I have heard some hold opinion that it is very restorative The Planten groweth in Cods somewhat like to Beans but is bigger and longer and much more thicke together on the stalke and when it waxeth ripe the meate which filleth the rine of the Cod becometh yellow and is exceeding sweet and pleasant In this time of our being there hapned to come a Portugall to the Westermost Fort with a Flag of truce to whom Captaine Sampson was sent with Captain Goring who comming to the said Messenger he first asked them what Nation they were they answered Englishmen he then desired to know if Warres were betweene England and Speine to which they answered that they knew not but if he would goe to their Generall he could best resolve him of such particulars and for his assurance of passage and repasse these Captains made offer to ingage their credits which he refused for that he was not sent from his Governour Then they told him if his Governour did desire to take a course for the common benefit of the People and Countrey his best way were to come and present himselfe unto our Noble and mercifull Governour Sir Francis Drake whereby he might be assured to finde favour both for himselfe and the Inhabitants Otherwise within three dayes we should March over the Land and consume with fire all inhabited places and put to the Sword all such living soules as we should chance upon so thus much he tooke for the conclusion of his answer and departing he promised to returne the next day but we never heard more of him Upon the foure and twentieth of November the Generall accompanied with the Lievetenant Generall and six hundred men marched forth to a Village twelve Miles within the Land called Sancto Domingo where the Governour and the Bishop with all the better sort were lodged and by eight of the Clocke we came to it finding the place abandoned and the people fled into the Mountaines so we made a stand a while to ease our selves and partly to see if any would come to speake to us After we had well rested our selves the Generall commanded the Troops to match away homewards in which retreat the Enemy shewed themselves both Horse and Foot though not such Force as durst encounter us and so in passing some time at the gase with them it waxed late and towards night before we could recover home to Saint Jago On Munday the six and
layed on soakt into the inner part thereof doth fill up the pores so close that no aire or cold can enter or make them once to shrink They have clean comely and strong bodies they are swift of foot and seem very active Neither is any thing more lamentable in my judgment then that so goodly a people and so lively creatures of God should be ignorant of the true and living God And so much the more is this to be lamented by how much they are more tractable and easie to be brought to the sheepfold of Christ having in truth a land sufficient to recompence any christian Prine in the world for the whole travell and labour cost and charges bestowed in that behalf with a wonderfull enlarging of a kingdome besides the glory of God by encreasing of the Church of Cstrist It s wonderfull to hear being never known to Christians before this time how familiar they became in short space with us thinking themselves to be joyned with such a people as they ought rather to serve then offer any wrong or injury unto presuming that they might be bold with our generall as with a father with us as with brethren their neer friends neither seemed their love lesse towards us One of the chiefest among them having on a time received a cap off our generals head which he did daily weare removing himself but a little from us with an arrow pierced his legge deeply causing the bloud to stream out upon the ground signifying thereby how unfainedly he loved him and giving therein a covenant of peace the number of men which here did frequent our company were about fiftie persons Within in the Southermost part of this bay there is a river of fresh water with a great many profitable Islands of which some have alwaies such store of seales or sea-wolves as were able to maintain a huge army of men Other Islands being many and great are so replenished with birds and foule as if there were no other victuals a wonderfull multitude of people might be nourished by the increase of them for many posterities Of these we killed some with shot and some with staves and took some with our hands from mens heads and shoulders upon which they lighted We could not perceive that the people of the country had had any sort of boat or canow to come to these Islands Their own provision which they eat for ought we could perceive was commonly raw For we should sometimes find the remnants of Seales all bloudy which they had gnawn with their teeth like dogs They go all of them armed with a short bow of about an ell in length in their hands with arrows of reeds and headed with a flint stone very cunningly cut and fastned This bay by reason of the plenty of Seals therein found insomuch that we killed two hundred in the space of one hour we called Seale bay And having now made sufficient provision of victuals and other necessaries as also happily finished all our businesses June 3. we set saile from thence and coasting along towards the pole Antartick June 12. we fell with a little bay in which we anchored for the space of two dayes spent in the discharging of our Caunter the Christopher which we here layed up The 14. day we waighed again and kept on our course southward till the 17. and then cast anchor in another bay in 50. d. 20. min. lacking but little more then one degree of the mouth of the Straights through which lay our so much desired passage into the south sea Here our generall on good advice determined to alter his course and turn his stern to the Northward again if happily God would grant we might finde our ship and friends whom we lost in the great storm as is beforesaid Forasmuch as if we should enter into the Straight without them into our company it must needs go hard with them and we also in the mean time as well by their absence as by the uncertainty of their state must needs receive no small discomfort And therefore June 18. in the morning putting to sea again with harty and often prayers we joined watchfull industry to serve Gods good providence and held on our purpose to run back toward the line into the same height in which they were first dissevered from us The 19. day of June toward night having sailed within a few leagues of port St. Julian we had our ship in sight for which we gave God thanks with most joyfull minds And forasmuch as the ship was far out of order and very leake by reason of extremity of weather which she had endured aswell before her loosing company as in her absence our Generall thought good to bear into St. Julian with his fleet because it was so nigh at hand and so convenient a place intending there to refresh his wearied men and cherish them which had in their absence tasted such bitternesse of discomfort besides the want of many things which they sustained Thus the next day the 20. of June we entred port Saint Julian which standeth in 49. deg 30. mi. and hath on the South side of the harbor picked rocks like towers and within the harbor many Islands which you may ride hard aboard off but in going in you must borrow of the North shoare Being now come to anchor and all things fitted and made safe aboard our Generall with certain of his company viz. Thomas Drake his brother John Thomas Robert Winter Oliver the Master Gunner John Brewer and Thomes Hood June 22. rowed further in with a boate to find out some convenient place which might yeild us fresh water during the time of our abode there furnish us with supply for provision to take to sea with us at our departure Which work as it was of great necessity and therefore carefully to be performed so did not he think himself discharged of his duty if he himself bestowed not the first travell therein as his use was at all times in all other things belonging to the relieving of our wants and the maintenance of our good estate by the supplying of what was needfull Presantly upon his landing he was visited by two of the inhabitants of the place whom Magellane named Patagous or rather Pentagours from their huge stature and strength proportionable these as they seemed greatly to rejoyce at his arivall so did they shew themselves very familiar receiving at our generals hands whatsoever he gave them and taking great pleasure in seeing Master Oliver the master Gunner of the Admirall to shoot an English arrow trying with him to shoot at at length but came nothing neere him Not long after came one more of the same laste but of a sowrer sort for he misliking of the familiarity which his fellows had used seemed very angey with them and strove earnestly to withdraw them and turn them to become our enemies Which our generall with his men not suspecting