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
And therefore was he oftentimes not a little offended even with those who upon conscience of their duty and knowledge that otherwise they should indeed offend disclosed from time to time unto him how the fire increased that threatned his own together with the destruction of the whole action But at length perceiving that his lenity and favours did little good in that the heat of ambition was not yet allayed nor could be quenched as it seemed but by bloud and that the manifold practises grew dayly more and more even to extremities he thought it high time to call these practises into queston before it were too late to call any question of them into hearing And therefore setting good watch over him and assembling all his Captains and gentlemen of his company together he propounded to them the good parts which were in the gentleman the great good will and inward affection more then brotherly which he had ever since his first acquaintance born him not omitting the respect which was had of him among no mean personages in England and afterwards delivered the letters which were written to him with the particulars from time to time which had been observed not so much by himself as by his good friends not only at sea but even at Plimmouth not bare words but writings not writings alone but actions tending to the overthrow of the service in hand and making away of his person Proofs were required and alleadged so many and so evident that the Gentleman himself stricken with remorse of his inconsiderate and unkind dealing acknowledged himself to have deserved death yea many deaths for that he conspired not only the overthrow of the action but of the principall Actor also who was not a stranger or ill-willer but a deare and true friend unto him and therefore in a great assembly openly besought them in whose hands justice rested to take some order for him that he might not be compelled to enforce his own hands against his own bowels or otherwise to become his own executioner The admiration and astonishment hereat in all the hearers even those which were his neerest friends and most affected him was great yea in those which for many benefits received from him had good cause to love him but yet the generall was most of all distracted and therefore withdrew himself as not able to conceale his tender affection requiring them that had heard the whole matter to give their judgements as they would another day answer it unto their Prince and unto Almighty God judge of all the earth Therefore they all above 40. in number the chiefest in place and judgment in the whole fleet after they had discussed diversly of the case and alledged whatsoever came in their mindes or could be there produced by any of his other friends with their own hands under seale adjuged that He had deserved death and that it stood by no means with their safety to let him live and therefore they remitted the manner thereof with the rest of the circumstances to the generall This judgement and as it were assize was held a land in one of the Islands of that port which afterwards in memory hereof was called the Island of true justice and judgment Now after this verdict was thus returned unto our generall unto whom for his company her Majesty before his departure had committed her sword to use for his safety with this word We do account that he which striketh at thee Drake striketh at us he called for the guilty party and caused to be read unto him the severall verdicts which were written propounded of him which being acknowledg'd for the most part for none had given heavier sentence against him then he had given against himself our Generall proposed unto him this choyce Whether he would take to be executed in this Island or to be set a land on the main or return into England there to answer his deed before the Lords of her Majesties Counsell He most humbly thanked the Generall for his clemency extended towards him in such ample sort and craving some respit to consult thereon and so make his choyce advisedly the next day he returned this answer that Albeit he had yeelded in his heart to entertain so great a sin as whereof now he was justly condemned yet he had a care and that excelling all other cares to dye a christian man that whatsoever did become of his clay body he might remain assured of an eternall inheritance in a far better life This he feared if he should be set a land among Infidels how he should be able to maintain this assurance feeling in his own frailtie how mighty the contagion is of lewd custome And therefore he besought the Generall most earnestly that he would yet have a care and regard of his soul and never jeapard it amongst heathen and savage Infidels If he should return into England he must first have a ship and men to conduct it with sufficient victuals two of which though they were had yet for the third he thought no man would accompanie him in so sad a message to so vile an issue from so honourable a service But if that there were which could induce their minds to return with him yet the very shame of the return would be as death or grievouser if it were possible because he should be so long a dying and dye so often Therefore he professed that with all his heart he did imbrace the first branch of the Generals proffer desiring only his favour that they might receive the holy communion once again together before his death and that he might not dye other then a Gentlemans death Though sundry reasons were used by many to perswade him to take either of the other wayes yet when he remained resolute in his former determination both parts of his last request were granted and the next convenient day a communion was celebrated by Mr. Francis Fletcher preacher and pastor of the fleet at that time The Generall himself communicated in this sacred ordinance with this condemned penitent Gentleman who shewed great tokens of a contrite and repentant heart as who was more deeply displeased with his own act then any man else And after this holy repast they denyed also at the same table together as chearfully in sobriety as ever in their lives they had done aforetime each cheering up the other and taking their leave by drinking each to other as if some journey only had been in hand After dinner all things being brought in readiness by him that supplyed the room of the provost Marshall without any dallying or delaying the time he came forth and kneeled down preparing at once his neck for the axe and his spirit for heaven which having done without long ceremony as who had before digested this whole Tragedy he desired all the rest to pray for him and willed the Executioner to doe his offices not to feare nor spare Thus having by the worthy manner of his
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
Wals right over against you as you enter the said place so as your eye cannot escape the sight of it there is described and painted in a very large Scutchion the armes of the King of Spaine and in the lower part of the said Scutchion there is likewise described a Globe containing in it the whole circuit of the Sea and the Earth vvhereupon is a Horse standing on his hinder part within the Globe and the oher forepart vvithout the Globe lifting up as it were to leape vvith a scrole painted in his mouth wherein was written these words in Latin Non sufficit orbis which is as much to say as the World sufficeth not vvhereof the meaning vvas required to be knowne of some of those of the better sort that came in Commission to treat upon the ransome of the Town who would shake their heads and turne aside their countenance in some smiling sort without answering any thing as being greatly ashamed thereof For by some of our company it was told them that if the Queen of England vvould resolutely prosecute the Wars against the King of Spaine he should be forced to lay aside that proud and unreasonable reaching vaine of his for he should finde more then enough to do to keepe that which he had already as by the present example of their lost Town they might for a beginning perceive well enough Now to the satisfying of some men who marvell greatly that such a famous and goodly builded City so well inhabited of gallant People very bravely apparelled whereof our Souldiers found good store for their relief should afoord no greater Riches then was found there vvherein it is to be understood that the Indian people which were the naturals of this whole Island of Hispaniola the same being neere hand as great as England vvere many yeares since cleane consumed by the Tyranny of the Spaniards which vvas cause that for lacke of people to worke in the Mines the Gold and Silver Mines of this Island are wholly given over and thereby they are faine in this Island to use Copper money whereof vvas found very great quantity The chiefe trade of this place consisteth of Sugar and Ginger which groweth in the Island and Hides of Oxen and Kine which in this waste Countrey of the Island are bred in infinite numbers the soile being very fertile and the said Beasts are fed up to a very large growth and so killed for nothing so much as for their Hides aforesaid We found here great store of strong Wine sweet Oyle Vinegar Olives and other such like provisions as excellent Wheat-meale packed up in Wine pipes and other caske and other commodities likewise as Wollen and Linnen cloth and some Silkes all which provisions are brought out of Spaine and served us for great relief There vvas but a little Plate or Vessel of Silver in comparison of the great Pride in other things of this Towne because in those hot Countries they use much these earthen Dishes finely painted or varnished which they call Parsellina and is had out of the East India and for their drinking they use Glasses altogether whereof they make excellent good and faire in the same place But yet some Plate we found and many other good things as their houshold garniture very Gallant and Rich which had cost them deere although unto us they were of small importance From S. Domingo we put over to the maine or firme Land and going all alongst the Coast we came at the last in sight of Cartagena standing upon the Sea side so near as some of our Barks in passing alongst approched vvith the reach of their Culverin shot which they had planted upon certaine Platformes The harbour mouth lay some three miles toward the Westward of the Town vvhereinto vve entred about three or foure of the Clocke in the afternoone without any resistance of ordinance or other impeachment planted upon the same In the evening we put our selves on Land towards the Harbour mouth under the leading of Master Carleill our Lievtenant Generall who after he had digested us to march forward about the midnight as easily aâ— foot might fall expresly commanding â—o keepe close by the Sea wâ—sh of the shore for our best and surest way whereby we were like to goe through and not to misse any more of the way vvhich once we had lost within an houre after our first beginning to March through the slender knowledge of him that tooke upon him to be our Guide whereby the night spent on which otherwise must have been done by resting But as we came within some two miles of the Town their Horsemen which were some hundred met us and taking the alaâ—um retired to their towneward againe upon the first Volley of our Shot that was given them for the place vvhere we encountered being Woody and bushy even to the water side was unmeet for their service At this instant we might hear some Peeces of Artillery discharged with diverse small shot towards the Harbour which gave us to understand according to the Order set downe in the evening before by our Generall that the Vice-Admirall accompanied with Captaine Venner Captaine White and Captaine Crosse with other Sea Captaines and with diverse Pinnaces and Boates should give some attempt unto the little Fort standing on the entry of the inner Haven neer adjoyning to the town though to small purpose for that the place was strong and the entry very narrow vvas chained over so as there could be nothing gotten by the attempt more then the giving of them an Alarum on that other side of the Haven being a mile and a halfe from the place where we now vvere In which attempt the Vice-Admirall had the Rudder of his Skiffe stroken through with a Saker-shot and little or no harme received elsewhere The Troops being now in their March halfe a mile be hither the towne or lesse the ground we were on grew to be straight and not above fifty paces over having the maine Sea on the side of it and the Harbour vvater or inner Sea as you may terme it on the other side which in this Plot is plainly shewed This straight was fortified clean over with a stone Wall and a ditch without it the said Wall being as orderly built with flancking in every part as can be set down There was onely so much of this straight unwalled as might serve for the issuing of the Horsemen or the passing of the carriage in time of need but this anwalled part was not without a very good Barricado of Wine Buts or Pipes filled vvith earth full and thicke as they might stand on end one by another some part of them standing even within the maine Sea This place of strength was furnished of six great Peeces demi-Culverins and Sakers which shot directly in front upon us as we approached Now without this vvall upon the inner side of the streight they had brought likevvise two great Gallies with their prowesse to the shore
the Dragon the other the Swan in the year 70. the other in the Swan alone in the yeare 71. to gaine such intelligences as might further him to get some amends for his losse And having in those two Voyages gotten such certaine notice of the persons places aymed at as he thought requisite and thereupon with good deliberation resolved on a third Voyage the Description wherof we have now in hand he accordingly prepared his Ships Company and then taking the first opportunity of a good wind had such succes in his proceedings as now followes further to be declared On Whitsunday Eve being the 24. of May in the year 1572. Captain Drake in the Pascha of Plimoth of 70. tons his Admirall with the Swan of the same Port of 25 tons his Vice-Admirall in which his brother Iohn Drake was Captain having in both of them of men and boyes seventy three all voluntarily assembled of which the eldest was fifty all the rest under thirty so divided that there were forty seven in one ship twenty six in the other both richly furnished with victuals and apparell for a whole year and no lesse heedfully provided of all manner of Munition Artillery Artificers stuffe and tooles that were requisite for such a Man of war in such an attempt but especially having three dainty Pinnases made in Plimouth taken asunder all in peices and stowed aboard to be set up as occasion served set sayl from out of the Sound of Plimouth with intent to land at Nombre de dios The wind continued prosperous favorable at Northeast and gave us a very good passage without any alteration of change so that albeit we had sight of Porto Santo one of the Maderas of the Canaries also within twelve dayes of our setting forth yet we never strook sayle nor came to anchor nor made any stay for any cause neither there or else where untill 25. dayes after When we had sight of the Island of Guadalupe one of the Islands of the West Indies goodly high land The next morning we entred between Dominica Guadalupe where we descried two canoas coming from a rocky Iland three leagues off Dominica which usually repair thither to fish by reason the great plenty thereof which is there continually to be found We landed on the South side of it remaining there three days to refresh our men water our ships out of one of those goodly rivers which fall down off the mountain There we saw certain poore cottages built with Palmito boughs and branches but no inhabitants at that time civill nor savage the cottages it may be for we could know no certaine cause of the solitarinesse we found there serving not for continuall inhabitation but only for their uses that came to that place at certaine seasons to fish The third day after about three in the after-noon we set sail from thence towards the continent of Terra firma And the fifth day after we had sight of the high land of Santa Martha but came not neer the shoar by ten leagues But thence directed our course for a place called by us Port Phesant for that our Captain had so named it in his former voyage by reason of the great store of those goodly Fowls which he and his Company did then dayly kill and feed on in that place In this course notwithstanding we had two dayes calme yet within six dayes we arived at our Port Phesant which is a fine round Bay of very safe harbour for all winds lying betweene two high points not past halfe a cables length over at the mouth but within eight or ten cables length every way having ten or twelve fadome water more or lesse full of good fish the soile also very fruitfull which may appear by this that our Captain having been in this place within a year and few dayes before and having rid the place with many alleyes and paths made yet now all was so overgrowne againe as that we doubted at first whether this were the same place or no. At our entrance into this Bay our Captaine having given order to his brother what to do if any occasion shoud happen in his absence was on his way with intent to have gone a land with some few only in his company because he knew there dwelt no Spaniards within thirty five leagues of that place Tolou being the neerest to the Eastwards and Nombâ—e de dios to the westwards where any of that Nation dwelt But as we were rowing a shoar we saw a smoak in the woods even neer the place which our Captain had aforetime frequented therefore thinking it fit to take more strength with us he caused his other boat also to be manned with certain muskets and other weapons suspecting some enemy had been a shoar When we landed we found by evident markes that there had been lately there a certaine English man of Plimouth called Iohn Garret who been conducted thither by certain English Mariners which had been there with our Captain in some of his former voyages He had now left a plate of Lead nailed fast to a mighty great tree greater hen any four men joyning hands could fathom about on which were engraven these words directed to our Captaine CAptain Drake if you fortune to come to this Port make hast away For the Spanyards which you had with you here the last year have bewrayed this place and taken away all that you left here I departed from hence this present 7. of Iuly 1572. Your very loving friend IOHN GARRET The smoake which we saw was occasioned by a fire which the said Garret and his Company had made before their departure in a very great tree not farre from this which had the Lead nayled on it which had continued burning at least five dayes before our arrivall This advertisement notwithstanding our Captain ment not to depart before he had built his Pinnaces which were yet aboard in pieces for which purpose he knew this Port a most convenient place And therefore so soon as we had mored our ships our Captain commanded his Pinnaces to be brought ashore for the Carpenters to set up himself employing al his other company in fortifying a place which he had chosen out as a most fit plot of three quarters of an acre of ground to make some strength or safety for the present as sufficiently as the meanes he had would affoord which was performed by felling of great trees bowsing and haling them together with great Pulleis and halfers untill they were inclosed to the waters and then letting others fall upon them untill they had raised with trees and boughs thirty foot in height round about leaving only one gate to issue at neet the waters side which every night that we might sleepe in more safety and security was shut up with a great tree drawn a'rthwart it The whole plot was built in a Pentagonall form to wit of five equall sides
Port Plentie before we were quiet in the new-found Road which we had but newly entred when our two Men and the former Troope of Simerons with twelve other whom they had met in the Mountaines came in sight over against our Ship on the Maine whence we fet them all aboard to their great comfort and our content they rejoycing that they should have some fit opportunity to wreake their wrongs on the Spaniards we hoping that now our Voyage should be bettered At our first meeting when our Captaine had moved them to shew him the meanes which they had to furnish him with Gold and Silver they answered plainly that had they knowne Gold had been his desire they could have satisfied him with store which for the present they could not doe because the Rivers in which they had suncke great store which they had taken from the Spaniards rather to despite them then for love of Gold were now so high that they could not get it out of such depths for him and because the Spaniards in these rainy Moneth doe not use to carry their Treasure by Land This answer although it were somewhat unlooked for yet nothing discontented us but rather perswaded us farther of their honest and faithfull meaning towards us Therefore our Captaine to entertaine these five Moneths commanded all our Ordnance and Artillery a shoare with all our other Provisions sending his Pinnaces to the Maine to bring over great Trees to make a Fort upon the same Iland for the planting of all our Ordnance therein and for our safeguard if the Enemy in all this time should chance to come Our Symerons cut downe Palmito boughes and branches and with wonderfull speed raised up two large Houses for all our Company Our Fort was then made by reason of the place triangle wise with maine Timber and Earth of which the Trench yeelded us good store so that we made it thirteen foot in height But after we had continued upon this Iland fourteen dayes our Captain having determined with three Pinnaces to goe for Carthagene left his Brother John Drake to govern these who remained behinde with the Symerons to finish the Fort which he had begun for which he appointed him to fetch Boords and Plancks as many as his Pinnace would carry from the Prize which we tooke at Rio Grand and left at the Cativaas where she drave a shore and wracked in our absence but now she might serve very commodiously to supply our uses in making Platformes for our Ordnance Thus our Captaine and his Brother tooke their leave the one to the Eastward and the other to the Cativaas That night we came to an I le which hee called Spuâ—kite Iland because we found there great store of such a kinde a Bird in shape but very delicate of which we killed and rosted many staying there till the next day midnoone when we departed thence and about foure a clocke recovered a big Iland in our way where we staying all night by reason that there was great store of Fish and especially of a great kinde of Shel-fish of a foot long we called them Whelkes The next morning we were cleere of these Ilands and Shoales and haled off into the Sea About foure dayes after neere the Ilands of Saint Bernards we chased two Frigates a shore and recovering one of the Ilands made our abode there some two dayes to wash our Pinnaces and rake off the Fish Thence we went towards Tolou and that day landed neer the Town in a Garden where we found certaine Indians who delivered us their Bowes and Arrowes and gathered for us such Fruit as the Garden did veeld being many sorts of dainty Fruits and Roots still contenting them for that we received our Captains principall intent in taking this and other places by the way not being for any other cause but onely to learne true intelligences of the state of the Countrey and of the Fleets Hence we departed presently and rowed towards Charesha the Iland of Carthagene and entred in at Bocha Chica and having the winde large we sailed in towards the Citie and let fall our Grappers betwixt the Iland and the Maine right over against the goodly Garden Iland In which our Captaine would not suffer us to land notwithstanding our importunate desire because he knew it might be dangerous for that they are wont to send Souldiers thither when they know any Men of Warre upon the Coast which we found accordingly for vvithin three houres after passing by the point of the Iland vve had a volley of an hundred shot from them and yet there was but one of our men hurt This evening we departed to Sea and the day following being some two leagues off the Harbour we tooke a Barke and found that the Captaine and his wife with the better sort of the passengers had forsaken her and were gone a shoare in their Guâ—delow by occasion whereof we boorded without resistance though they were very well provided with Swords and Targets and some small shot besides foure Iron Bases She was about fifty tunne having ten Marrines five or six Negroes great store of Sope and Sweet-meates bound from Saint Domingo to Carthagene This Captaine left behind him a silke Ancient with his Armes as might be thought in hasty departing The next day we sent all the Company a shoare to seek their Masters saving a young Negrito of three or foure yeeres old which we brought away but kept the Barke and in her bore into the mouth of Carthagene Harbour where we anchored That afternoone certaine horse-men came downe to the point by the Wood side and with the Scrivano forementioned came towards our Barke with a Flag of Truce desiring of our Captaine safe conduct for his comming and going the which being granted he came aboord us giving our Captaine great thankes for his manifold favours c. promising that night before day break to bring as much victuall as they would desire what shift soever he made or what danger soever he incurred of Law and punishment But this fell out to be nothing but a device of the Governour forced upon the Scrivano to delay time til they might provide themselves of sufficient strength to entrap us for which this fellow by his smooth speech was thought a fit meane So by Sunne rising when we perceived his words but words we put to Sea to the Westward of the Iland some three Leagues off where we lay at Hull the rest of all that day and night The next day in the afternoone there came out of Carthagene two Frigates bound for Saint Domingo the one of fifty the other of twelve Tunne having nothing in them but Ballast we tooke them with in a League of the Towne and came to Anchor with them within Saker shot of the East Bulwarke there vvere in those Frigates some twelve or thirteene common Marriners which intreated to be set a shoare to them our
〈…〉 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
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
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