was a common Amen in sign of approbation given by every person and the King himself with the whole number of men and women the little children only remaining behind came further down the hill and as they came set themselves again in their former order And being now come to the foot of the hill and neere our fort the Scepter-bearer with a composed countenance and stately carriage began a song and answerable thereunto observed a kind of measures in a danc whom the Ki. with his guard and every sort of person following did in like manner sing and daunce saving only the woman who danced but kept silence As they daunced they still came on and our Generall perceiving their plain and simple meaning gave order that they might freely enter without interruption within our bulwark where after they had entred they yet continued their song and daunce a reasonable time their women also following them with their wassaile boales in their hands their bodies bruised their faces torn their dugs breast and other parts bespotted with bloud trickling down from the wounds which with their nailes they had made before their coming After that they had satisfyed or rather tyred themselves in this manner they made signs to our generall to have him sit down unto whom both the king and divers others made severall orations or rather indeed if we had understood them supplications that he would take the province and kingdome into his hand and become their King and patron making signs that they would resign unto him their right and title in the whole land and become his vassals in themselves and his posterities which that they might make us indeed believe that it was their true meaning and intent the King himself with all the rest with one consent and with a great reverence joyfully singing a song set the crown upon his head enriched his neck with all their chains and offering unto him many other things honoured him by the name of Hyoh Adding thereunto as it might seem a song and a daunce of tryumph because they were not only visited of gods for so they still judged us to be but the great and chief god was now become their god their king and patron and themselves were become the only happy and blessed people in all the world These things being so freely offered our Generall thought not meet to reject or refuse the same both for that we would not give them any cause of mistrust or disliking of him that being the only place wherein at this present we were of necessity inforced to seek relief of many things and chiefly for that he knew not to what good end God had brought this to passe or what honour or profit it might bring to our country in time to come Wherefore in the name and to the use of her most excellent Majesty he took the Scepter Crown and dignity of the said country into his hand wishing nothing more then that it had layen so fitly for her Majesty to enjoy as it was now her proper own and that the riches and treasure thereof where with in the up-land countries iâ— abounds might with as great conveniency be transported to the enriching of her kingdome here at home as it is in plenty to be attained there and especially that so tractable and loving a people as they shewed themselves to be might have meanes to have manifested their most willing obedience the more under her and by her meanes as a mother and nurse of the Church of Christ might by the preaching of the gospel be brought to the right knowledge and obedience of the true and ever living God The ceremonies of this resigning and receiving of the kingdome being thus performed and the common sort but of men and women leaving the king and his guard about him with our generall dispersed themselves among our people taking a diligent view or survey of every man and finding such as pleased their fancies which commonly were the youngest of us they presently enclosing them about offered their sacrifices unto them crying out with lamentable shreeks and moanes weeping and scratching and tearing their very flesh off their faces with their nailes neither were it the woman alone which did this but even old men roaring and crying out were as violent as the women were We groaned in spirit to see the power of Sathan so far prevaile in seducing these so harmlesse soules and laboured by all means both by shewing our great dislike and when that serv'd not by violent with-holding of their hands from that madness directing them by our eyes and hands lift up towards heaven to the living God whom they ought to serve but so mad were they upon their Idolatry that forcible withholding them would not prevaile for as soon as they could get liberty to their hands again they would be as violent as they were before till such time as they whom they worshiped were conveyed from them into the tents whom yet as men besides themselvs they would with fury outrage seek to have again After that time had a little qualified their madnes they then began to shew make known unto us their griefs diseases which they carryed about them some of them having old aches some shrunke sinews some old sores and cankred ulcers some wounds more lately received and the like in most lamentable manner craving help and cure thereof from us making signs that if we did but blow upon their griefs or but touched the diseased places they would be whole Their griefs we could not but take pitty on them and to our own desire to help them but that if it pleased God to open their eyes they might understand we were but men and no gods we used ordinary means as lotions emplaisters and unguents most fitly as far as our skils could guesse agreeing to the natures of their griefs beseeching God if it made for his glory to give cure to their diseases by these means The like we did from time to time as they resorted to us Few were the dayes wherein they were absent from us during the whole time of our abode in that place and ordinarily every third day they brought their sacrifices till such time as they certainly understood our meaning that we took no pleasure but were displeased with them whereupon their zeale abated and their sacrificing for a season to our good liking ceased notwithstanding they continued still to make their resort unto us in great abundance and in such sort that they oft-times forgat to provide meate for their own sustenance so that our generall of whom they made account as of a father was faine to perform the the office of a father to them relieving them with such victuals as we had provided for our selvs as Muscles Seales and such like wherein they took exceeding much content and seeing that their sacrifices were displeasing to us yet hating ingratitude they sought to recompence us with such things as they had which
threw downe the gates and spardecks to prevent the Spaniards from annoying us with their close fights who then perceiving that we were possessed of their Ship stowed themselves all in hold with their weapons except two or three yonkers who were found afore the beetes when having light out of our Pinnaces vve found no danger of the enemy remaining we cut their Cables at halfe and with our three Pinnaces towed her without the Iland into the sound right afore the Towne without danger of their great shot Meane while the Towne having intelligence hereof by their Watch tooke th' alarme rung out their Bels shot off about thirty Peeces of great Ordinance put all their Men in a readinesse Horse and Foot came down to the very point of the Wood and discharged their Calivers to impeach us if they might in going forth The next morning our Ships tooke two Frigates in vvhich vvere two vvho called themselves the Kings Scrivanos the one of Carthagene th' other of Veragua vvith seven Mariners and two Negroes vvho had beene at Nombre de dios and vvere now bound for Carthagene vvith double Letters of Advice to certifie them that Captaine Drake had beene at Nombre de Dios had taken it and had it not beene that He was hurt with some blessed shot by all likelihold he had saâ—kt it he was yet still upon the Coast they should therefore carefully prepare for him After that our Captaine had brought all his Fleet together at the Scrivanos entreaties he vvas content to doe them all 〈◊〉 in setting them and all their Companies 〈◊〉 and so 〈◊〉 thence vvith the Ilands of Saint Bernards about three leagues off the â—own vvhere vve found great store of Fish for our refreshing Here our Captaine considering that he vvas now discovered upon two of the chiefest places of all the Coast and yet not meaning to leave it till he had found the Simerons and made his Voyage as he had conceived which would require some length of time and sure manning of his Pinnaces he determined with himselfe to buâ—ne one of his Ships and make of the other a Store-house that his Pinnaces which could not otherwise might be throughly Manned and so he might be able to abide any time But knowing the affection of his Company how loath they vvere to leave either of their Ships being both so good Saylers and so vvell furnished he purposed in himselfe by some Policy to make them most vvilling to effect that he intended And therefore sent for one Thomas Moone vvho vvas Carpenter in the Swanne and taking him into his Cabin chargeth him to conceale for a time a piece of service vvhich he must in any case consent to doe aboord his owne Ship that was in the middle of the second Watch to goe downe secretly into the Well of the Ship and with a great spike-gimlet to boâ—re three hoales as neere the Keele as he could and lay something against it that the force of the Water entring might make no great noyse nor be discovered by boyling up Thomas Moone at the hearing hereof being utterly dismayed desired to know what cause there might be to move him to sincke so good a Barke of his owne new and strong and that by his meanes who had beene in two so rich and gainfull Voyages in her with himselfe heretofore If his Brother the Master and the rest of the Company should know of such his fact he thought verily they would kill him But when our Captaine had imparted to him his causes and had perswaded him with promise that it should not be knowne till all of them should be glad of it he undertooke it and did it accordingly The next morning our Captaine tooke his Pinnace very early purposing to goe a fishing for that there is very great store in all the Coast and falling a board the Swanne calleth for his Brother to goe with him who rising suddenly answereth that he would follow presently or if it would please him to stay a very little he would attend him Our Captaine perceiving the feat wrought would not hasten him but in rowing away demanded of them why their Barke was so deepe as making no account of it but by occasion of this demand his Brother sent one downe to the Steward to know whether there were any water in the ship or what other cause might be The Steward hastily stepping downe at his usuall skuttle was wet up to the waste and shifting with more haste to come up againe as if the water had followed him cryed out that the Ship was full of water There was no need to hasten the Company some to Pumpe others to search for the Leake which the Captaine of the Barke seeing they did on all hands very willingly he followed his Brother and certified him of the strange chance befaln them that night that whereas they had not Pumpt twice in six weekes before now they had six foote water in hold therefore he desireth leave from attending him in fishing to intend the search and remedy of the leake and when our Captaine with his Company profered to go to helpe them he answered they had men enough aboard and prayed him to continue his fishing that they might have some part of it for their dinner Thus returning he found his Company had taken great paines but had freed the water very little yet such was their love to the Barke as our Captaine well knew that they ceased not but to the utmost of their strength laboured all that they might till three in the afternoone by which time the Company perceiving that though they had beene relieved by our Captaine himselfe and many of his Company yet they were not able to free above a foot and a halfe of water and could have no likelihood of finding the Leake had now a lesse liking of her then before and greater content to hear of some means for remedy whereupon our Captain consulting with them what they thought best to be done found that they had more desire to have all as he thought fit then judgement to conceive any meanes of remedy And therefore he propounded that himselfe would goe into the Pinnace till he could provide some handsome Frigate and that his Brother should be Captaine in the Admirall and the Master should also be there placed with him instead of this which seeing they could not save he would have fired that the Enemy might never recover her but first all the Pinnaces should be brought aboard her that every one might take out of her whatsoever they lackt or liked This though the company at the first marveiled at yet presently it was put in execution and performed that night our Captaine had his desire and men enough for his Pinnaces The next morning we resolved to seek out some fit place in the sound of Dorrienne where we might safely leave our ship at Anchor not discoverable by the Enemy who thereby might imagine us quite departed from the Coast
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
off vve stayed there all day vvatering and vvooding and providing things necessary by giving content and satisfaction to the Indians But â—owards night our Captaine called all of us aboord only leaving the Spaniards lately taken in the Prize ashoare according to our promise made them to their great content who acknowledged that our Captaine did them a farre greater favour in setting them freely at liberty then he had done them displeasure in taking their Ship and so set saile The sicknesse which had begun to kindle amongst us two or three dayes before did this day shew it selfe in Charles Gluâ— one of our Quarter-masters a very tall man and a right good Mariner taken away to the great griefe both of Captaine and Company What the cause of this malady was we knew not of certainty we imputed it to the cold which our men had taken lying without succour in the Pinnaces But howsoever it was thus it pleased God to visit us and yet in favour to restore unto health all the rest of our Company that were touched with this disease which were not a few The next morning being faire weather though the winde continued contrary our Captaine commanded the Minion his lesser Pinnace to hasten away before him towards his Ships at Fort Diego within the Cabezas to carry newes of his comming and to put all things in a readinesse for our Land journey if they heare any thing of the Fleets arrivall by the Symerons giving the Minion charge if they wanted Wine to take Saint Bernards in their way and there take in some such portion as they thought good of the Wines which we had there hidden in the sand We plyed to windwards as neere as we could so that within a seven night after the Minion departed from us we came to Saint Bernards where vve staied many houres finding but twelve Botijos of Wine of all the store we left which had escaped the curious search of the Enemy who had beene there for that they were deepe in the ground Within foure or five dayes after we came to our Ship where we found all other things in good order but received very heavie newes of the death of John Drake our Captains Brother and another young man called Richard Allen which were both slaine at one time as they attempted the boording of a Frigate within two dayes after our departing from them The manner of it a we learned by examination of the Company vvas this vvhen they saw this Frigate at Sea as they were going towards their Fort with Plancks to make the Platformes the Company were very importunate on him to give chase and set upon this Frigate which they deemed had beene a fit booty for them But he told them that they vvanted vveapons to assaile they knew not how the Frigate was provided they had their boat loaden with plancks to finish that his Broter had commanded But when this would not satisfie them but that still they urged him with vvords and supposals If you will needs said he adventure it shall never be said that I will be hindermost neither shall you report to my Brother that you lost your Voyage by any cowardise you found in me Thereupon every man shifted as they might for the time and heaving their plankes over board tooke them such poore vveapons as they had viz. a broken pointed Rapier one old Visgee and a rusty Caliver John Drake tooke the Rapier and made a Gantlet of his Pillow Richard Allen the Visegee both standing in the head of the Pinnace called the Eâ—on Roâ—ert tooke the Caliver and so boarded But they found the Frigate armed round about with a close fight of Hides full of Pikes and Calivers which vvere discharged in their faceâ— and deadly wounded those that were in the Foâ—e ship Jâ—hn Drake in the belly and Richard Allen in the head But notwithstanding their wounds they with Oares shifted off the Pinnace got cleare of the Frigate and with all haste recovered their Ship where vvithin an houre after this young man of great hope ended his dayes greatly lamented of all the Company Thus having moared our Ships fast our Captaine resolved to keepe himselfe close without being descried untill he might heare of the comming of the Spanish Fleet and therefore set no more to Sea but supplyed his vvants both for his owne Company and the Symerons out of his aforesaid Magazine besides dayly out of the woods with wild Hogges Phesants and Guanas continuing in health God be praised all the meane time which was a Moneth at least till at length about the beginning of January halfe a score of our Company fell downe sicke altogether and the most of them died within two or three dayes so long that we had thirty at a a time sicke of the Calenture which attached our men either by reason of the sudden change from cold to heat or by reason of brakish water which had beene taken in by one Pinnace through the sloth of their men in the mouth of the River not rowing further in where the water was good Among the rest Joseph Drake another of his Brethren died in our Captains Armes of the same disease of which that the cause might be the better discerned and consequently remedied to the reliefe of others by our Captaines appointment he was ript open by the Surgeon who found his liver swoln his heart as it were sodden and his guts all faire This was the first and last experiment that our Captaine made of Anatomy in this Voyage The Surgeon that cut him up over lived him not past foure dayes although he were not toucht with that sicknesse of which he had been recovered above a moneth before but onely of an over-bold practise which he would needs make upon himselfe by receiving an over-strong Purgation of his owne device after which taken he never spake nor his Boy recovered the health which he lost by tasting it till he saw England The Symerons who as is beforesaid had beene entertained by our Captaine in September last and usually repaired to our Ship during all the time of our absence ranged the Country up and downe betweene Nombre de Dios and us to learne what they might for us whereof they gave our Captaine advertisement from time to time as now particularly certaine of them let him understand that the Fleet was certainly arrived at Nombre de Dios. Therefore he sent the Lyon to the seamost Iland of the Cativaas to descry the truth of the report by reason it must needs be that if the Fleet were in Nombre de Dios all the Frigates of the Countrey would repaire thitherwards with Victuall The Lyon within few dayes descried that she was sent for espying a Frigate which she presently boorded and tooke laden with Maiz Hens and Pompions from Tolou who assured us of the whole truth of the arrivall of the Fleet in this Frigate were taken one Woman and twelve Men of whom one was
any Wars between Spaine and England The second why our Merchants with their Goods were imbarred or arrested Thus departed Captain Sampson with the said Messenger to the City where he found the Governour and People much amazed of such a sudden accident The Generall with the advice and counsell of Master Carleill his Lievtenant generall who was in the Galley with him thought not good to make any stand till such time as they were within the shot of the City where they might be ready upon the return of Captaine Sampson to make a sudden attempt if cause did require before it was darke Captaine Sampson returned with his Message in this sort First touching Peace or Wars the Governour said he knew of no Wars and that it lay not in him to make any he being so mean a Subject as he was And as for the stay of the Merchants with their Goods it was the Kings pleasure but not with intent to endammage any man and that the Kings counter-mand was which had been received in that place some seven nights before that English Merchants vvith their Goods should be dsicharged for the more verifying vvhereof he sent such Merchants as vvere in the Town of our Nation vvho trafficked in those parts vvhich being at large declared to our Generall by them counsell vvas taken vvhat might best be done and for that the night approached it vvas thought needfull to land our Force vvhich vvas done in the shutting up of the day and having quartered our selves to our most advantage vvith sufficient gard upon every streight vve thought to rest our selves for that night there The Governour sent us some refreshing as Bread Wine Oyle Apples Grapes Marmalad and such like About midnight the vveather begins to overcast insomuch that it vvas thought meeter to repair aboord then to make any longer abode on land and before vve could recover the Fleet a great tempest arose vvhich caused many of our Ships to drive from their ancour hold and some were forced to Sea in great perill as the Barke Talbot the Barke Hawkins and the Speedwell vvhich Speedwell onely vvas driven into England the others recovered us again the extremity of the storme lasted three dayes which no sooner began to asswage but Master Carleill our Lieutenant Generall was sent with his owne Ship and three others as also with the Galley and with diverse Pinnaces to see what he might do above Vigo where he tooke many Boates and some Carvels diuersly laden with things of small value but chiefly with househould stuffe running into the high Country and amongst the rest he found one Boat laden with the principall Church-stuffe of the high Church of Vigo where also was their great Crosse of Silver of very faire embossed worke and double gilt all over having cost them a great Masse of money They complained to have lost in all kind of Goods above thirty thousand Duckets in this place The next day the Generall with his whole Fleete went up from the Isles of Bayon to a very good harbour above Vigo where Master Carleill stayed his comming as well for the more quiet tiding of his Ships as also for the good commodity of fresh watering which the place there did affoord full well In the meane time the Governour of Gallisia had reared such forces as he might his numbers by estimate were some two thousand foot and three hundred horse and marched from Bayon to this part of the Countrey which lay in sight of our Fleet where making stand he sent to parle with our Generall which was granted by our Generall so it might be in boates upon the water and for safety of their persons there were pledges delivered on both sides which done the Governour of Gallisia put himselfe with two others into our Vice-Admirals Skiffe the same having been sent to the shoare for him And in like sort our Generall in his owne Skiffe where by them it was agreed we should furnish our selves with fresh water to be taken by our owne people quietly on the land and have all other such necessaries paying for the same as the place would affoord When all our businesse was ended we departed and tooke our way by the Islands of Canaria which are esteemed some three hundred leagues from this part of Spain and falling purposely with Palma with intention to have taken our pleasure of that place for the full digesting of many things in order and the better furnishing our store with such severall good things as that affoorded very abundantly we were forced by the vile Seâ— gate which at that present fell out and by the naughtinesse of the landing place being but one and that under the favor of many Platformes well furnished with great Ordinance to depart with the receipt of many their Canon-shot some into our Ships and some besides some of them being in very deed full Canon high But the onely or chiefe mischiefe was the dangerous sea surge which at shore all alongest plainly threatned the overthrow of as many Pinnaces and Boates as for that time should have attempted any landing at all Now seeing the expectation of this attempt frustrated by the causes aforesaid we though it meeter to fall with the Isle Ferro to see if we could find any better fortune and comming to the Island we landed a thousand men in a valley under a high Mountaine where we stayed some two or three houres in which time the Inhabitants accompanied with a young fellow borne in England who dwelt there with them came unto us shewing their state to be so poore that they were all ready to starve which was not untrue and therefore without any thing gotten we were all commanded presently to imbarke so as that night we put off to Sea South South-east along towards the coast of Barbarie Vpon Saturday in the morning being the thirteenth of November we fell with Cape Blancke which is a low land and shallow water where we catched store of fish and doubling the Cape we put into the Bay where we found certaine French Ships of Warre whom we entertained with great courtesie and there left them The afternoone the whole Fleet assembled which was a little scattered about their fishing and put from thence to the Isles of Cape Verde sayling till the sixteenth of the same Moneth in the morning on which day we descried the Island of Saint Jago and in the evening we anchored the Fleet between the Towne called the Plaie or Praie and Saint Jago where we put on shore a thousand men or more under the leading of Master Christopher Carleill Lieuetenant Generall who directed the service most like a wise Commander The place where we had first to March did affoord no good order for the ground was Mountaines and full of Dales being a marvelous stony and troublesome passage but such was his industrious disposition as he would never leave untill we had gotten up to a faire Plaine where we made stand for the assembling of the army And
degrees or very neare thereunto Our Pinnaces manned and comming to the shore we marehed up alongst the River side to see what place the Enemie held there for none amongst us had any knowledge thereof at all Here the Generall tooke occasion to march with the companies himselfe in Person the Lieutenant Generall having the Vantguard and going a mile up or somewhat more by the River side we might discerne on the other side of the River over against us a fort which newly had been built by the Spaniards and some mile or three about above the fort was a little Town or village without wals built of woodden houses as this Plot here doth plainly shew we forthwith prepared to have Ordnance for the battery and one Peece was a little before the evening planted and the first shot being made by the Lievtenant Generall himselfe at their Ensigne strake through the Ensigne as we afterwards understood by a Fenchman which came unto us from them One shot more was then made which strake the foot of the fort Wall which was all massive timber of great trees like Mastes The Lievtenant Generall was determined to passe the River this night with foure Companies and there to lodge himselfe intrenched as neare the Fort as that he might play with his Muskets and smallest shot upon any that should appeare and so afterward to bring and plant the battery with him but the helpe of the Marriners for that sudden to make Trenches could not be had which was the cause that this determination was remitted untill the next night In the night the Lievtenant General tooke a little rowing Skiffe and halfe a dozen well armed as Captaine Morgan and Captaine Sampson with some others besides the rowers and went to view what gard the Enemy kept as also to take knowledge of the ground And albeit he went as covertly as might be yet the Enemy taking the Alarum grew fearfull that the whole Force was approaching to the assault and therefore with all speed abandoned the place after the shooting of some of their Peeces They thus gone and he being returned unto us againe but nothing knowing of their flight from their Fort forthwith came a Frenchman being a Phipher who had been prisoner with them in a little Boat playing on his Phiph the tune of the Prince of Orange his song and being called unto by the Guard he told them before he put foot out of the Boat what he was himselfe and how the Spaniards were gone from the Fort offering either to remaine in hands there or else to return to the place with them that would goe Upon this Intelligence the Generall the Lievtenant Generall with some of the Captaines in one Shiffe and the Vice-Admiral with some others in his Skiffe and two or three Pinnaces furnished of Souldiers with them put presently over towards the Fort giving order for the rest of the Pinnaces to follow And in our approach some of the Enemy bolder then the rest having stayed behinde their company shot off two peeces of Ordnance at us but on shore we went and entred the place without finding any man there When the day appeared we found it built all of Timber the Wals being none other but whole Masts or bodies of Trees set upright and close together in manner of a Pale without any Ditch as yet made but who intended with some more time for they had not as yet finished all their work having begun the same some three or foure Moneths before so as to say the truth they had no reason to keepe it being subject both to fire and easie assault The platforme whereon the Ordnance lay was whole bodies of long Pine trees whereof there is great plenty layed a crosse one on another and some little earth amongst There was in it thirteen or fourteen great peeces of brasse Ordnance and a Chest unbroken up having in it the value of some two thousand pounds sterling by estimation of the Kings treasure to pay the Souldiers of that place who were one hundred and fifty Men. The Fort thus won which they called S. John Fort and the day opened we assayed to goe to the Towne but could not by reason of some Rivers and broken ground which was betweene the two places and therefore enforced to imbarke againe into our Pinnaces we went thither upon the great maine River which is called as also the Towne by the name of S. Augustine At our approaching to land there was some that began to shew themselves to bestow some few shot upon us but presently withdrew themselves And in their runing thus away the Serjeant Major finding one of their Horses ready sadled bridled took the same to follow the chase and so overgoing all his Company was by one layed behinde a Bush shot through the head and falling downe therewith was by the same and two or three more stabbed in three or foure places of his body with Swords and Daggers before any could come neere to his reskue His death was much lamented being in very deed an honest wise Gentleman and a Souldier of good experience and of as great courage as any man might be In this place called S. Augustine we understood the King did keepe as is before said one hundred and fifty Souldiers and at another place some dozen leagus beyond to the Northwards called S. Helena he did there likewise keepe one hundred and fifty more serving there for no other purpose then to keepe all other Nations from Inhabiting any part of all that Coast the Government wherof vvas committed to one Pedro Melendez Marquesse Nephew to that Melendez the Admitall vvho had overthrown Master John Hawkins in the Bay of Mexico some fifteen or sixteen years agoe This Governor had charge of both places but vvas at this time in this place and one of the first that left the same Here it vvas resolved in full assembly of Captaines to undertake the enterprize of S. Helena and from thence to seek out the Inhabitation of our English Country-Men in Virginia distant from thence some six degrees Northward When we came thwart of Saint Helena the shols appearing dangerous and we having no Pilot to undertake the entrie it was thought meerest to goe hence alongst For the Admiral had been the same night in four fadome and a halfe three leagues from the shore and yet we understood by the help of a known Pilot there may and doth goe in Ships of greater burthen and draught then any we had in our Fleet. We passed thus alongst the Coast hard aboord the shore which is shallow for a league or two from the shore and the same is low and broken land for the most part The ninth of June upon fight of one speciall great fire which are very ordinary all alongst this coast even from the Cape of Florida hither the Generall sent his Skiffe to the shore where they found some of our English Country men that had been sent thither the year
some in hand to break open notwithstanding the Spaniards reports of the strength of it We were no sooner returned to our strength but there was a report brought by some of our men that our Pinnaces were in danger to be taken and that if we our selves got not aboard before day we should be opprest with multitudes both of Souldiers and townes people This report had his ground from one Diego a Negro who in the time of the first conflict came and called to our Pinnaces to know whether they were Captaine Drakes and upon answer received continued intreating to be taken aboard though he had first three or foure shot made at him untill at length they fetch him and learned by him that not past eight dayes before our arrivall the King had sent thither some hundred and fifty Souldiers to guard the Towne against the Symerons and the Towne at this time was full of people besides which all the rather beleeved because it agreed with the report of the Negroes which we tooke before at the Isle of Pinos and therefore our Captaine sent his brother and John Oxnam to understand the truth thereof They found our men which we left in our Pinnaces much frighted by reason that they saw great Troopes and Companies running up and downe with matches light some with other weapons crying Que gente que gente which having not been at the first conflict but comming from the utter ends of the Towne being at least as bigge as Plimouth came many times neere us and understanding that we were English discharged their Peeces and ran away Presently after this a mighty shower of raine with a terrible storme of thunder and lightning fell which powred downe so vehemently as it usually doth in those Countries that before we could recover the shelter of a certaine shade or pent-house at the Wester end of the Kings treasure-house which seemeth to have been built there of purpose to avoid Sunne and Raine some of our bow-strings were wet and some of our match and powder hurt which while we were carefull of to refurnish and supply diverse of our men harping on the reports lately brought us were muttering of the Forces of the Towne which our Captaine perceiving told them that he had brought them to the mouth of the treasure of the World if they would want it they might henceforth blame no body but themselves And therefore as soone as the storme began to asswage of his fury which was a long halfe houre willing to give his Men no longer leasure to demurre of those doubts nor yet allow the Enemy farther respite to gather themselves together he stept forward commanding his Brother with John Oxnam and the Company appointed them to breake the Kings Treasure-house the rest to follow him to keep the strength of the market place till they had dispatched the businesse for which they came But as he stept forward his strength and sight and speech failed him and he began to faint for want of blood which as then we perceived had in great quantity issued upon the Sand out of a wound received in his legge in the first incounter whereby though he felt some paine yet for that he perceived diverse of the Company having already gotten many good things to be very ready to take all occasions of winding themselves out of that conceited danger would he not have it knowne to any till this his fainting against his will bewrayed it the blood having first filled the very prints which our foot-steps made to the great dismay of all our Company who thought it not credible that one man should be able to spare so much blood and live And therefore even they which were willingest to have adventured most for so faire a booty would in no case hazzard their Captaines life but having given him somewhat to drinke wherewith he recovered himselfe and having bound his Scarfe about his legge for the stopping of the blood entreated him to be content to goe with them aboard there to have his wound searched and drest and then to returne a shoare againe if he thought good This when they could not perswade him unto as who knew it utterly impossible at least very unlikely that ever they should for that returne againe to recover the state in which they now were and was of opinion that it were more honourable for himselfe to jeopard his life for so great a benefit then to leave off so high an enterprize unperformed they joyned altogether and with â—oâ—ce mingled with faire intreaty they bare him aboard his Pinnace and so abandoned a most rich spoyle for the present onely to preserve their Captaines life as being resolved of him that while they enjoyed his presence and had him to command them they might recover wealth sufficient but if once they lost him they should hardly be able to recover home no not with that which they had gotten already Thus we embarqued by breake of the day having besides our Captaine many of our Men wounded though none slaine but one Trumpeter whereupon though our Chyrurgeons were busily employed in providing remedies and Salves for their wounds yet the maine care of our Captaine was respected by all the rest so that before we departed out of the Harbour for the more comfort of our Company we tooke the aforesaid Ship of Wines without great resistance But before we had her free off the Haven they of the Towne had made meanes to bring one of their Culverins which we had dismounted so as they made a shot at us but hindered not us from carrying forth the Prize to the Isle Bastimientes or The Isle of Victuales which is an Iland that lyeth without the Bay to the Westwards about a league off the Towne where we stayed the two next dayes to cure our wounded Men and to refresh our selves in the goodly Gardens which we there found abounding with great store of all dainty Roots and Fruits besides great plenty of Poultery and other Fowles no lesse strange then delicate Shortly upon our first arrivall in this Iland the Governour and the rest of his assistants in the Towne as we afterwards understood sent unto our Captaine a proper Gentleman of meane stature good complexion and faire spoken a principall Souldier of the late sent Garrison to view in what state we were At his comming he protested he came to us of meere good will for that we had attempted so great and incredible a matter with so few men and that at the first they feared that we had beene French at whose hands they knew they should finde no mercy but after they perceived by our Arrowes that we were English men their feares were the lesse for that they knew that though we tooke the Treasure of the place yet we would not use cruelty towards their persons But albeit this his affection gave him cause enough to come aboard such whose vertues he so honoured yet the Governour also had not only consented to his
comming but directly sent him upon occasion that diverse of the Towne affirmed said he that they knew our Captaine who the last two yeares had beene often on their Coast and had alwayes used their persons very well And therefore desired to know first whether our Captaine were the same Captaine Drake or no and next because many of their men were wounded with our Arrowes whether they were poysoned or no And how their wounds might best be cured Lastly what victuals we wanted or other necessaries Of which the Governour promised by him to supply and furnish us as largely as he durst Our Captaine although he thought this Souldier but a Spy yet used him very courteously and answered him to his Governours demands That he was the same Drake whom they meant it was never his manner to poyson his Arrowes they might cure their wounded by ordinary Chyrurgery as for wants he knew the Iland of Bastimientos had sufficient and could furnish him if he listed but he wanted nothing but some of that speciall commodity which that Countrey yeelded to content himselfe and his Company And therefore he advised the Governour to hold open his eyes for before he departed if God lent him life and leave he meant to reape some of their Harvest which they get out of the Earth and send into Spaine to trouble all the Earth To this answer unlooked for this Gentleman replyed If he might without offence move such a question what should then be the cause of our departing from that Towne at this time where was above three hundred and sixty Tun of silver ready for the Fleet and much more Gold in value resting in Iron Chests in the Kings Treasure-house But when our Captaine had shewed him the true cause of his unwilling retreat aboard he acknowledged that we had no lesse reason in departing then courage in attempting and no doubt did easily see that it was not for the Towne to seeke revenge of us by manning forth such Frigates or other vessels as they had but better to content themselves and provide for their owne defence Thus with great favour and courteous entertainment besides such gifts from our Captaine as most contented him after dinner he was in such sort dismissed to make report of that he had seen that he protested he was never so much honoured of any in his life After his departure the Negroe fore-mentioned being examined more fully confirmed this report of the Gold and Silver with many other intelligences of importance especially how we might have Gold and Silver enough if we would by meanes of the Symerons whom though he had betrayed diverse times being used thereto by his Masters so that he knew they would kill him if they gat him yet if our Captaine would undertake his protexion he durst adventure his life because he knew our Captaines name was most precious and highly honoured of them This report ministred occasion to further consultation for which because this place seemed not the safest as being neither the healthiest nor quietest The next day in the morning we all set our course for the Isle of Pinos or Port Plentie where we had left our Ships continuing all that day and the next till towards night before we recovered it We were the longer in this course for that our Captaine sent away his Brother and Ellis Hixon to the westward to search the river Chagro where himselfe had been the yeare before and yet was carefull to gaine more notice of it being a River which tendeth to the Southward within six leagues of Panamah where is a little Town called Venta Cruz whence all the treasure that was usually brought thither from Panamah by Moyles was imbarqued in Frigates downe the River into the North Sea and so to Nombre de dios It eâ—beth and floweth not farre into the land and therefore 〈◊〉 asketh three dayes rowing with a fine Pinnace to passe from the mouth to Venta Cruz but one day and a night serveth to returne downe the River At our returne to our Ships in our consultation Captaine Rause forecasting divers doubts of our safe continuance upon that Coast being now discovered was willing to depart and our Captaine no lesse willing to dismisse him and therefore as soone as our Pinnaces returned from Chagro with such advertisements as they were sent for about eight dayes before Captaine Rause tooke his leave leaving us in the Isle aforesaid where we had remained five or six dayes In which meane time having put all things in a readinesse our Captaine resolved with his two Ships and three Pinnaces to goe to Carthagene whither in sayling we spent some six dayes by reason of the calmes which came often upon us but all this time we attempted nothing that we might have done by the way neither at Tolou nor otherwhere because we would not be discovered We came to anchor with our two Ships in the evening in seven fadome water betweene the Ilands of Charesha and Saint Barnards Our Captaine led the three Pinnaces about the Iland into the Harbour of Carthagene where at the very entry he found a Frigate at anchor aboard which was onely one old Man who being demanded where the rest of his company was answered that they were gone ashoare in their Gundeloe that evening to fight about a Mistris and voluntarily related to our Captaine that two houres before night there past by them a Pinnace with Sayle and Oares as fast as ever they could row calling to him whether there had not beene any English or Frenchmen there lately And upon answer that there had been none they bid them looke to themselves that within an houre that this Pinnace was come to the utter-side of Carthagene there were many great Peeces shot off whereupon one going to top to descry what might be the cause Espyed over the Land divers Frigates and small shipping bringing themselves within the Castle This report our Captaine credited the rather for that himselfe had heard the report of the Ordnance at Sea and perceived sufficiently that hee was now descryed notwithstanding in farther examination of this old Mariner having understood that there was within the next Point a great Ship of Sivell which had here discharged her loding and rid now with her yards acrosse being bound the next morning for Saint Domingo our Captaine tooke this old Man into his Pinnace to verifie that which he had informed and rowed towards this Ship which as we came neere it hailed us asking whence our Shallops were We answered from Nombre de dios straight way they railed and reviled We gave no heed to their words but every Pinnace according to our Captaines order one on the starboord bough the other on the starboord quarter and the Captaine in the midship on the starboord side forthwith boarded her though we had some difficulty to enter by reason of her height being of two hundred forty Tun. But as soone as we entred upon the Decks we