As soon as we discovered this Stratageâ—â— we ranged our selves along the Houses and having gâ—â—â— upon a little ascent which was a Garden-plat we 〈◊〉 upon them from thence so openly for an hour andâ— half that they were obliged to quit the Ground to which our hardy Boys who were got to the Foot of their Walls contributed yet even more then the other by pouring in hand Granadoes incessantly upon them so that at last they betook themselves to the Great Church or Tower but they wounded us some Men As soon as our People who were got upon the said Eminence perceived that the Enemy fled they called to us to jump over the Walls which we had no sooner done but they followed us And thus it was that we made ourselves masters of their Place of Arms and consequently of the Town from whence they fled after having lost a great many Men. We had on our side but four Men killed and eight wounded which in truth was very 〈◊〉 When we got into the Fort we found it to be a place capable of containing six thousand fighting Men it was encompassed with a Wall the same as our Prisâ—ners gave us an account of It was pierced with many Holes to do execution upon the Assaylants and was well â—tored with Arms. That part of it which looked towards the Street through which we attacked it was deâ—â—ded by two pieces of Cannon and four Petereroes to 〈◊〉 nothing of several other places made to open in the Wall through which they thrust instruments made on purpose to break the Leggs of those that should be so 〈◊〉 as to come near it but these by the help of 〈◊〉 Granadeers we rendred useless to them After we 〈◊〉 sung Te Deum in the Great Church and set four â—â—ntinels in the Tower we fixt our Court of Guard in 〈◊〉 strong built Houses that are also enclosed within the place of Arms and there gathered all the Ammunition 〈◊〉 could get Then we went to visit the Houses whereâ—â—â— we found nothing but a few Goods and some Proviâ—â—â— which we carryed into our Court of Guard Next day in the Evening we detatched a party of an 〈◊〉 and fifty Men to go and find out some Woâ—â—â— that we might put them to Ransom and some Booâ—â— which we were told they had in the Sugar Plantation â—eague off of the City But they were gone by the 〈◊〉 we got thither as not believing themselves safe in at place so that our Party came back re infecta The 〈◊〉 day we sent a Prisoner to the Spaniards to require 〈◊〉 to ransom the Town or else we would burn it â—â—ereupon they sent a Monk to treat with us who said the Officers and Inhabitants were in Consultation about it but that one of our Men whom they had taken as be lagged behind through weariness upon the Road without the Officer that brought up our Rear his having taken notice of it assured them we would not burn it because our design was to pass some Months after to the North-Sea by the Lake there and to furnish our selves in this Town with necessaries for our Journey which we should not meet with if we fired the Place So that the said Man having given them such assurance they would no longer trouble themselves about giving an Answer to the Proposal we had made for their ransoming the Town which at last constrained some of us to set fire to the Houses out of meer Spight and Revenge The opportunity which now offered it self unto us of passing through the Lake to the North-Sea was not at this time over favourable and we should not have failed to make use of it if we had had Canoes ready in this place to go and take two Ships and the wealth of the Town which the Inhabitants had carryed for the better securing of them into the Island which I have already said was in the said Lake which would have put a full end unto the Trouble we had been in from the time we failed of seizing the Floâ—a before Panama But the term of Dangers and Miseries which our destiny had still in store for us being not yet come we could not take the Advantage of so favourable an Opportunity to get out of those parts of the World which though very charming and agreeable to those who are settled there yet did not appear to be so to an handful of Men as we were without Shipping the most part of our time without Victuals and wandering amidst a multitude of Enemies against whom we were obliged to be continually upon our Guard and who did all that in them lay to deprive us of Subsistance Granada is a large and spacious Town scituated in a Bottom inclining to the Coast of the South-Sea whose Churches are very stately and Houses well enough built They have several Religious Houses there both of Men aâ—d Women The Great Church stands at 〈◊〉 of the ends of the place of Arms The Country thereabouts is very destitute of Water they having no other 〈◊〉 than only the Lake of Nicarague upon the side whereof the City is built and round about which you may see a great many fine Sugar Plantations which are more like unto so many Villages then single Houses and among the rest is that belonging to the Knight of St. Iames's where we lay in our March to the Town where there is a very pretty and rich Church On the 10th we left the City and took along with us one piece of Cannon with sour Petereroes as not questioning but we should meet with Opposition in our way before we came to the Sea-side from which we were near twenty Leagues distant and therein we were not deceived seeing the Spaniards waited for us to the number of two thousand five hundred Men within a quarter of a League of the Town and presently charged us But not dreaming that we had brought any of their Artillery along with us they were so terrifyed when we had fired two Cannon shot upon their first Ambuscade that they left us a free passage in this place only for though they saw a great many of their Men sprawling upon the Ground they ceased not all the way at certain distances to lay new Ambushes for us where they had no more success then at first We took one of them Prisoners who told us there was a Million and an half of pieces of Eight long since ordered for the ransoming of their Town in case the same should be taken and that the same was buryed in the Wall so as that it could not be seen But we had no inclination to go back in search of this Money seeing we found difficulty enough to rid our selves out of the Hands of so considerable a number of Enemies as we had already to deal with We were forced that Evening to leave our Cannon behind us after we had first nailed them up for the Oxen that drew them were dead for want of Water
in France and elsewhere of the burning of my Ship and the terrible Crack it made in the Air. In the Year One Thousand Six Hundred and Ninty Four after I had ravaged the Coast of Caraqua I went up to Windward towards St. Croix where I understood that there were some Merchant Ships with a Convoy to come from Barbadoes and Nevis and bound for England and upon the same Information I resolved to sail up to the height of the Bermudos hoping to take this small Fleet and so to make a good Booty of it I was scarce got thither but that I saw them appear and sailing directly towards me without any Apprehensions of Danger upon them But I presently attack'd their Convoy called the Wolf and took her with Two more of the Merchant Ships laden with Sugar the rest having made their Escape during the Fight As I was carrying my Prize into France I met with another English Ship of Sixteen Guns coming from Spain and bound also for England that after a short Fight struck and which I carried to Rochel where the Admiralty adjudged the same to be good Prize When I had sold this Ship I carried my Three other Vessels to Bourdeaux where I arrived in September One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety and Four and these last also being condemned as good Prizes I made it my Business presently to find out Merchants that would buy them In the mean time my Freebooters who had not seen France in a long time finding themselves now in a great City where Pleasure and Plenty reigned were not backward to refresh themselves after the Fatigues they had endured while so long absent from their native Country They spent a world of Money here and proved horribly Extravagant The Merchants and their Hosts made no Scruple to advance them Money or lend them as much as they pleased upon the Reputation of their Wealth and the Noise there was throughout the City of the valuable Prizes whereof they had a share All the Nights they spent in such Divertisements as pleased them best and the Days in running up and down the Town in Masquerade causing themselves to be carried in Chairs with lighted Flambeaux's at Noon Day of which Debauches some died while Four of my Crew fairly deserted me So that now seeing I lost my Men notwithstanding all the Care I had taken and strict Injunctions I had laid upon them I thought it advisable for me to be gone from thence as soon as I could that I might keep the rest together In the first place I supplied the room of those whom I had lost with as many Bourdeaux young Men who in a short time became as expert as the old ones for you are to observe I made it my continual Care and Business to teach my Men to shoot and my so frequent exercising of them rendered them in a short time as capable of Shooting and handling their Arms as the oldest Sea Freebooters or the best Fowlers by Land When I had revictualled my Ship that carried no more than Thirty four Pieces of Cannon I left Bourdeaux in the Month of February in the Year One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety and Five with an Intention to go and cruise on the Coast of Guiney in Africa I got up to the Azores which are Thirty seven Degrees North Latitude and cruised thereabouts for the space of Eight Days without any Purchase From thence I passed to the Canary Islands which are in Twenty five Degrees North Latitude We discovered the Peak of Tenariff a great way off which they say is the highest Mountain in the World They report these Mountains had their Names from Dogs which the â—â—tins call Canis and which the Portugu se found here in great Numbers upon their first Arrival I cruised round about them for Fourteen Days in expectation of meeting with some Dutch Ships which I was informed were to come that way and it proved to be really so For the said Ships came thither but they got into Port before I could reach them and this made me sail away for the White Cape and the Isles of Cape Verd that are between Fourteen and Eighteen Degrees North Latitude Upon my Arrival there I found Two English Ships lying at Anchor in the Road of the Isle of May which made me put out my Shallop to know what they were and the same informed me that they were Two Interlopeâ—â— carrying about Thirty Guns each I resolved to board and take them to this end I lay by to come nearer them but as we bore upon one of the Points of this Island these Ships did not think fit to tarry for my coming up but smelling my Design they made all ready and left their Cables and Anchors in the Road at which their Shallops lay I pursued them all Day but Night coming on I lost sight of them and returned to the Road from whence they were gone in order to take away the Cables and Anchors and to sink the Shallops fastened by them When I had so done I sailed away for the Isle of St. Vincent to caulker my Vessel in that Place and to take in Water and Wood. This Island also is one of those of Cape Verd. Here I stay'd for the space of Eight Days at the end whereof understanding by a Portuguese Bark that there were Two English Ships carrying from Twenty to Thirty Guns at the Isle of Fugo one of which was resitting there because of a Fight she had been engaged in with some other Ships I presently weigh'd Anchor and sailed away for the said Island which is not far distant from that of St. Vincent being in hopes to meet with the Enemy in that Place But upon my Arrival I understood by a Portuguese that they were gone away Four or Five Days before in the Night without saying any thing of the Place whither they were bound from the said Island of Fugo or Fire-Island I thereupon steered my course for tâ—e Coast of Guiney and first discovered the Capâ— of Three Points where I met with the Guardship which was a Dutch Frigate carrying Thirty four Guns and cruised out at Sea She quickly discovered me and made directly towards me in order to know what I was As I had also on my part perceived her and was in hopes to come close and fight her I hung up Dutch Colours that I might not frighten her away but give her an Opportunity to come up within Cannon-shot of me When I saw her near enough I put up French Colours and gave her a Signal to strike but instead thereof she without any more ado very bravely gave me a Broad-side and at the same time received one from me We continued to fight one another in this manner from Morning till Four in the Afternoon without my being able to get the Weathergage nor come up near enough unto her to make use to any purpose of my Fusils which are the chief Arms in such Ships as ours be nor to
Vigier is no other thing meant than to set a Sentinel upon Land or Sea and those who are thus set they call Vigies The Spaniards maintain a great number of them for all their Cities Towns and Villages and even single Houses have Persons on purpose whom they send to all the rising ground round about and River-sides where they have their Horses ready Night and Day so that as soon as they discover an Enemy they hasten to give the Spaniards notice of it who forthwith prepare themselves not to fight but to save their Effects On the first of May we rejoyned our Ships who â—aited for us at a very pretty Island called Sippilla about a League distant from the Mouth of the River la Seppa which makes up a kind of Canal that forms the Bay of Panama and do as it were make a Bar all along that divides the Channel into two parts one to the East and the other to the West Those Pleasures we met with â—n these parts justly deserve a Remembrance whereof I shall give a little Description in this place I say then that all these Islands are so curious and delightfull that they are usually called the Gardens of Panama and with very good reason seeing all People of Note in that City have each of them one of these Islands for themselves and their Houses of Pleasure there also with curious Orchards watered with a great many Springs of running Waters adorned and imbelished with a wonderfull Variety of Flowers and Arbours of Jessamine up and down and full almost of an infinite number of all sorts of the Fruits of the Country among whom I have taken particular notice of four of them which are called Sappota Sappotilla Avocata and las Cayemites The first is a Fruit almost like unto our Pears of a different Size whose Rine is Greenish and contains in the midst thereof two Kernels of an oval Form appearing pretty pollished and sleek and are each of them in the largest of these Fruits somewhat bigger than an ordinary Nut When this Fruit â—t ripe it is very soft and when the Paring is taken off the Pulp is of a pure red Colour very sweet and of an admirable Tast. The second is of the same form as the other but no bigger than a Russet Pear It has an admirable tast and under the Rind is of a whitish Colour The third is of the same form as our Quincâ—â— saving that the Riâ—d is greener This fruit must be fully ripe and very soft before it becomes good Food and then it is that you find the Pulp of 〈◊〉 as white as Snow The Spaniards eat it with Spoon as we do Cream and indeed the tast thereof is mostly the same The fourth is like a large Damason and very â—â—voury Besides these and a great many more when with this Country is peculiarly blessed it producâ—â— also a great many of those Fruits that are commoâ— to Europe as Apricocks Pomegranates Goyavâ— Juniper Cocoe Bananes Figs of Provence French and Spanish Melons all sorts of Oranges Citroâ—â— and Lemmons of which I shall give no Description no more than of the Trees that bear them But those who would satisfie their Curiosity herein may 〈◊〉 it in reading the History of the Antilles writâ—â— by Monsieur de Rochefort in the Year 1668 〈◊〉 was skilled therein and gives a very good Account of them All these rich Presents of Fruits and pure Water of which Nature made us an offer in theâ—â— Islands were a wonderfull Relief to us after those Fatigues we had undergone in our Passage over thâ—â— Continent To say nothing of the plentifull Harveâ—â— we had of Maes and Rice wherewith we found these Islands covered and which the Spaniards I believe did not sow with an intention we should enjoy them But these same Islands that afforded us so many delights wrought also afterwards some sorrow in us 〈◊〉 which by and by On the eighth of May in the Morning we sailed away and passed by the old and new City of Panama the old one was that taken by General Morgaâ— in the Year 1670 whose Churches and Houses seemed to us to be finely built as far as we could judge of them at such a Distance there is none but theâ— new Town that is fortified being defended with 〈◊〉 good Wall and several other Works but that is only to the Sea-ward This City is attended with an Inconveniency that as it is situated at the bottom 〈◊〉 a Bay and that the Sea ebbs very much in thâ—â— Country great Ships are left dry there if they anchor nearer than a League to the place We got as â—igh it as we could with our Colours and Streamers loose and from thence went to anchor at Tavoga which appeared to us as if it were a little enchanted Island so agreeable and delightfull are those Houses and Gardens that are upon it On the ninth we caâ—lked all our Ships and next day sent out our long Bark to cruise in order to give us notice when the Spanish Fleet appear'd in sight of us and on the thirteenth we made choice of these Ships that should engage it Captain David and Captain Grogniet were to board the Spanish Admiral Captain Suam and Captain Townsley the Vice-Admiral Captain Peter Henry and one of Townsley's Prizes â—he Patach our Fire-ship was to keep herself under the Quarter of our Admiral Our other Ships were to attack the rest of their Fleet according to their Strength and our armed Pirogues were to keep off the Enemies Fire-ships We heard this day a great many Cannon fired at Panama the cause whereof we could not guess at â—nd on the fourteenth we put a-shore upon this Iâ—â—and of Tavoga forty Prisoners who were very cumâ—â—ersom to us and then weighed to go wait for the 〈◊〉 at Cape Pin But this was much out of Seaâ—â— since the Fleet who was willing to spare us this Trouble as well as that of attacking her was alâ—eady without our knowing of it arrived at Panama having got in under the Covert of one of those â—leasant Islands through one of the two Channels which I said was formed by them and which hid â—hem from us while we cruised in the other Chanâ—el through which we thought they would have â—â—iled As we knew nothing hitherto of this matter 〈◊〉 that upon the return of our long Bark she told 〈◊〉 she had discover'd no Ships pass we went and â—â—hor'd at Kings-Islands where the whole Fleet 〈◊〉 the usual Oath that we would not wrong one â—â—other to the value of a Piece of Eight in case God 〈◊〉 pleased to give us the Victory over the Spaniards 〈◊〉 the seventeenth one of our Men died On the nineteenth we weighed and anchored between the great Island and those in the East Channel through which we thought the Fleet we expected would pass On the twenty eighth another 〈◊〉 our Men died Next day we made ready aâ—â— sailed for Cape Pin. On the thirty
be Spaniards durst not come near us They were two French Men belonging to the Pirogue of which the forementioned Officer spoke to us and who had defended themselves so valiantly against the six hundred Spaniards we found them to be of the number of Fourscore and five who had separated themselves under Captain Grogniet to go to Callinfornia they presently gave Notice to the other Eight and twenty who came and joyned us and of whom we learnt that they had saved themselves upon this Island after they had been chased a whole Night by the Spanish Galley that did not sail so well as their Pirogue They told us also they had gone down a matter of forty Leagues to Windward of Acapulto without being able any more than once to go ashoar and that then they ran a great risque so boisterous is the Sea in those Parts wherewith they were so discouraged that they had forsaken fifty five of their Companions in order to come and find us out and left them to continue their Course for Callinfornia Having made an end of our Careening on the 10th we made every thing ready for our Departure after we had given those thirty Men room in our Ships We sailed from the Coast of Acapulto with a design to find out the other fifty five Men spoken of who were to make a Descent there and to rid them from a miserable state whereunto in all appearance they had gone to plunge themselves without any hopes of Retrieve being too small a Company to find out Provisions whereof they stood in great need in the best Peopl'd Country upon the Continent where also it could not be believed they should arrive having but a little sorry Bark under them that could not carry them far without splitting in two We had at our Departure an Easterly breeze wherewith we were favoured till we came to the height of Sansonnat from the Fifteenth to the One and twentieth we were be calmed all along in the Day-time and the Winds were so high in the Nights that we could not carry our Sails on the 22d we had a pretty good Gale from the South-East and on the 27th we drew near Land to know where we were We found our selves to Windward of the Bay of Tecoantepequa and put out our Canoes to go in thither while at the same time we appointed our Ships to Rendezvouz in the Port of Vatulco which is twenty Leagues to Leeward We came very near Land in the Evening but the Sea runs so high along that Coast that it was impossible to go ashoar On the 29th we found an Embarking-place where there was a very strong Entrenchment guarded by a considerable number of Spaniards and supposing it would cost us dear to go ashoar in that place we sailed two Leagues to Leeward where the Sea was somewhat more paciâ—ick but found here also about three hundred Men upon an Eminence waiting for us We detached fifty of ours to go and meet them but the Spaniards after having made a foolish Discharge fled However we took two of their Number and asked them whither that way led upon which we were they told us it would bring us to the Town of Tecoantepequa according to whose Name that Bay was called and that we had but four Leagues to it We lay next Night upon the Road under the Canopy of Heaven according to our usual Custom next day which was the thirtieth we resolved to go to the said Town and directed our Course that way in such a manner that about two in the Afternoon we had a sight of the place from an Ascent which is about half a League off As it is encompassed and beset every way with Eight Suburbs it seemed to be so large that we were a long time deliberating with our selves whether so small a number as we were ought to go thither as being no more than an hundred and fourscore Men whereas there was three thousand of the Enemy in the place In the mean time the extream necessity we were reduced to for want of Provisions pressed us to advance and would not let us deliberate long upon the Danger that lay before us so that all our Apprehensions being reduced to the fear we had of starving to Death we pursued our March to go and confront our Enemies When we had marched about half an hour we found our selves near the Town and upon the brink of a great and very rapid River which separates it from four of the Suburbs that adjoyn to it this River we crost over being up in the Water to the middle in spight of the Spaniards who were intrenched on the other side to dispute the Passage with us which they were forced to leave open for us after a good hours sharp Dispute As soon as we were Masters of the Intrenchment we entered the Town where after we had fought hand in hand with the Enemy like Men enraged with Hunger we became Masters of the place of Arms about four in the Afternoon But our Work was not yet done for the Enemy having again entrenched themselves in a very fine Abbey built in the manner of a Platform that commanded the Town we went to the number of Fourscore Men to dislodge them which was so readily executed that having chased them thence we made our Court of Guard of it and then every one endeavour'd to satisfie that Hunger wherewith we were extreamly pinched When we were got into this Town we found it yet much more spacious and larger than it appeared to be unto us from the forementioned Ascent its Houses are well built the Streets very strait and the Churches exceeding stately and Ornamental The Abbey of St. Francis from whence we drove the Enemy appear'd more like unto a Fort than a Religious Convent and it was built to serve for that use in case of need On the 31st we sent to require them to Ransom their Town or else we would burn it we had no Answer return'd which made us conjecture they had a mind to come and Attack us for which they had so much the more Advantage in that the River which began from the time that we passed it to overflow was about to 〈◊〉 us in wherefore we decamped and lay in one of the Suburbs that stands on the other side where we continued to the third of September when we departed to return to our Canoes without reaping any Advantage by the taking of this Town We reimbarked on the fifth and went to joyn our Ships in the Port of Vatulco where we arrived the Ninth On the 15th we went off again in our Canoes without a Guide and having landed marched ten or a dozen Leagues up the Country where we took divers Villages and in one of them the old Governour of Merida with his Family who was retired to this place and who promised us a quantity of Provision for his Ransom in expectation whereof we carried him on Shipboard where we arrived on
of the Veins open and let it out or that the great noise and violent motion that is wrought in those Organs makes the same happen But let it come which way it will since there is no room here for a Consultation of Physicians as long as we were dying of Hunger nor to enquire what became of the English when we had so much difficulty and hardly could save our selves we continued our Course up the Current with the help of our Oars because we knew the same came from the Port of Cabinda But as the Wind was against us we could never get thither and were forced to be satisfied to get to the Cape of Corsa if we could which stands a dozen Leagues from that of Cathersna where we could not Land because of a Bar that renders the Coast unaccessible That was our Design but Hunger hindred us to put the same in Execution and we were forced even to overcome the Obstacles which Nature laid in our way by running ashoar in spight of the Bar This we performed at last after much difficulty being in hopes to find there some Negroes that might furnish us with Victuals One of our Company presently landed in order to go and seek out somewhat to satisfie our Hunger and by good Fortune found in a Pond sticking to the Branches of Trees some Oysters whereof he came presently to give us notice We went all up to the very Pond along a Channel of the Sea where we were no sooner come but we eat lustily of the Oysters with a very good Appetite We opened them with the few Knives we found in our Pockets lending the same from one to another very charitably and readily When we had spent two days in that Place I divided my Men into three small Companies and sent them up into the Country to seek for Victuals and Houses with Orders to return again in the Evening to the Shalloop I went out my self also as the rest did but we could find neither any House nor the least sign of any Men in those Parts All that we could see were great Herds of Bufflers as large as Oxen who fled so fast from us that we could not possibly come near them Wherefore having spent all the Day in this manner and got nothing we returned to our Shalloop to eat Oysters again and resolved next day to leave this Place and go to Cape Corsa to Leeward of which there is a large Port where Ships that sail that way put in to furnish themselves with Water and Wood. The Negroes that live in the Country having notice of the coming in of Ships by the firing of Cannon come thither also with Provisions and Barter the same for Brandy Knives and Hatchets They are forced to live remote from the Sea â—ecause all that Coast is very Marshy As soon as we were got to the said Cape we heard a great noise made 〈◊〉 the Negroes who came thither to sell Wood to the â—hips that lay at Anchor in the Port I looked amongst â—hem to see if I could find any one whom I knew for 〈◊〉 they had often brought me some Wood and other Refreshments in the course of my former Voyages I was in hopes to find some or other that would know me again But tho' I knew several of them it was impossible for me to perswade any of them that I was Captain Montauban so much was I disfigured with my late Misfortune and all of them took me for a Man that would impose the belief of it upon them I thought fit to tell them in their own Language whereof I understood a little that I was ready to die with Famine and prayed them to give me somewhat to eat but it signified nothing so I desired them to carry me to Prince Thomas who is Son to the King of that Country as hoping he might call to mind the favours I had formerly shewed him I carryed all my Company with me to that Prince we were first brought to the Dwellings of those Negroes where they began to be a little more tractable and gave us some Bananiers to eat which are a sort of Figs longer than a Man's Hand Next day we got to the Princes Habitation but I was in so pitiful a Condition that I could never by the signs I gave make him know me tho' I spoke to him in his own Language as also in the Portuguese Tongue which he understood very well It fortuned one day that going together to bath our selves he saw a Scar upon my Thigh that was the effect of a Wound I had received with a Musquet-ball he told me that he must immediately know whether I was Captain Montauban or no and that if I were not the Man he would cut off my Head He asked if everâ— I had a Scar with a Musquet-shot in my Thigh which when I had shewed him he presently embraced me and said he was exceeding sorry to see me in that Condition and immediately caused Victuals to be distributed among my Men and divided them into several Habitations with strict Orders to the Negroes with whom they were quartered to take the greatest care they could of them As for me he kept me with himself and made me always eat at his own Table When I was a little brought into Order he said he would carry me to see the King his Father who lived five or six Leagues off that is about ten or a dozen from the Sea-side I let him know how great the Favour and Honour was he did me and prayed him at the same time that I might have the Liberty to let my Freebooters go along with me and grant us some Pieces of Stuffs to put our selves in as good Equipage as we could in order to appear before so great a Prince all which he allowed me and three days after we went all together in a great Canoe and passed up the River of Cape Lopez because the Country is so full of Marshes that you cannot go by Land Being arrived at the King's Habitation which is a Village consisting of Three Hundred Booths covered with Palm-leaves wherein the King keeps his Wives Family Relations and some other Negro Families whom he loves best I was lodged in Prince Thomas his House and all my Men were distributed into other Habitations We found all the People in great Lamentation because the Chief of their Religion whom they call Papa had died that day when they were to begin the Funeral Obsequies which were usually to last for seven days for Priests of that Quality This same Person was had in great Esteem and Veneration by all the People they looking upon him to be an Holy Man As the King is in Mourning and sees no body all the While that this Funeral Ceremony lasts Prince Thomas bid me have patience and not to go out of my Lodgings for to see the King because that was the Custom of his Nation However I could not forbear going to see the Funeral
pleasure to see the Folly of his Country Men as I have done many a time to behold all their extravagant Humours At last after a Journey and Diversion together of Three Days the Prince brought me back by another way to take my Leave of his Father The King caressed me a thousand times after a most obliging manner according to the Custom of his Country and made me promise I should give him a Visit the first time I returned into Guiney Then we embarked in our Canoes and next Day came to Prince Thomas his Village where he continued to treat us after the manner he had been used to do Here he spake to me again that he would have me stand Witness for his Son at his Baptism which I did with so much the more pleasure in that I was helpful to make a Christian and sanctify a Soul But as I was dubious whether the Priest of the Town knew how to baptize the Child or that he could remember the Words he ought to say at the Administration of that Sacrament I desired the Prince to send for a Priest out of one of the Portuguese Ships which he presently did to Cape Lopez So that one came from thence in Two Days time The Portuguese were the People that brought the Christian Religion first into these Countries It 's true they have not kept the same up there as they ought to have done but the Difficulties that obstruct that good Establishment proceeds without doubt from hence that Men must dwell in a Country that is no better than Savage where the Air and their Victuals are â—ot so agreeable to Strangers To give Religion a sure footing in these Regions it 's necessary that the Europeans have fixed Habitations or build Towns there that they instruct the Negro's in the Truths of the Christian Faith and that they send out Missionaries from time to time among these poor Wretches This might very easily be done because these People are very docible and readily apprehend the Truths which you would teach them as having lived without any Faith at all or any Idea of another Religion for a long time These Negro's being once become Christians you might make Priests amongst them of their own Nation who might be furnished with Books for the Ceremonies of the Church and a Catechism for the Rule of their Faith until they were capable to read the New Testament It is necessary also that a Bishop were constituted in this Town who should take care to send Priests to the Dwellings of the Negro's up and down the Countries and to build Oratories in the most populous Places The Christian Religion might in this manner be settled in Guiney and so become less subject to be ruined by the Wars which Strangers make there The Christians also who dwell in the Kingdoms of Fess and Marocco might be reformed and a Correspondence settled between the Priests of that Nation and those of Guiney that so they might be assisting to one another for the keeping up of Religion on all the Coasts of Africa It was in a manner not unlike unto this that Christianity establish'd it self among the Gentiles who were an hundred fold more averse to our Faith than the Negro's of Guiney The Priests of this Country are for the most part no Priests at all as having never been Ordained by any Bishop and constituted themselves in the room of those that were deceased in their Country And thus it is that they have nothing in a manner that savours of Christianity tho' they have Ceremonies enough and some appearance of a Sacrifice But to return to our Baptism The Portuguese Priest being come Prince Thomas his Son was baptized and named Lewis le Grand in pursuance to the Intention of his Father A Negro Woman and one of his Relations served as Godmother and I for Godfather I was told this Lady was called Antonia and that she had been thus named by the Wife of a Portuguese Captain at her Baptism Two or Three Days after this Ceremony was over which was performed with all the Magnificence the Negro's were capable of Prince Thomas his Guards which he kept at Cape de Lopez to give him notice of the Arrival of any Ships came to tell him there was an English Ship come thither I desired him to let me go on board her that I might return to my own Country to free my self from those many Inconveniences I still laboured under But he would not have me commit my self into the hands of mine Enemies and desired me to have a little Patience till the Arrival of some Portuguese Ships with which he would let me go In the mean time the Prince went to Cape Lopez there to exchange Elephants Teeth Bees-wax and Negro's for Iron Arms and Brandy and returned from thence in Ten or Twelve Days He told me when he came back that there was a Portuguese Ship come to Anchor at Cape de Lopez and that I should go down in his Canoe in order to go on board her that he had recommended me to the Captain and that I should want nothing that was necessary for my Voyage into Europe I presently gathered my Men together except Two whom I did not think fit to wait for for they were gone up into the Country Five or Six Days before and I knew not where to find them We therefore embark'd on board this Prince's Canoes after I had taken my leave of him and upon our Arrival at Cape Lopez I found the Portuguese Commander to be one of my Friends with whom I had contracted Acquaintance at the Isle of St. Thomas I went on board him and three days after we anchored at the said Island the Governour whereof shewed me and my Men a Thousand Civilities during a Month's space that we were forced to tarry in that Port. At the expiration of that time came in an English Ship that had been out upon the Gold-Coast I made Acquaintance with the Captain and we grew to be such Friends that I thought my self oblig'd in Honour to accept of the Offers he made me He pray'd me to go on board his Ship and assured me I should find all the help imaginable at Barbadoes whither he was bound because there were very good Iewish Physicians in that Island of his Acquaintance I embarked therefore on his Ship with all my Men notwithstanding all the Reasons given me by the Governour of the Island to make me suspicious of the English-man who was undoubtedly as honest a Man as any of his Country He was so civil as to give me his own Cabin with all the Pleasure and Diversion he could think of for the solacing of my Spirits under the Afflictions I had from time to time endured Ten days after our departure from St. Thomas a blast of Wind unhappily made us lose our Rudder in the room whereof we were forced to set up a spare Top-Mast and this proved very detrimental to our Voyage which lasted no less than