THE English Heroe OR Sir Francis Drake Revived Being a full Account of the Dangerous Voyages Admirable Adventures Notable Discoveries and Magnanimous Atchievements of that Valiant and Renowned Commander As I. His Voyage in 1572. to Nombre de Dios in the West-Indies where they saw a Pile of Bars of Silver near seventy foot long ten foot broad and 12 foot high II. His incompassing the whole World in 1577. which he performed in Two years and Ten months gaining a vast quantity of Gold and Silver III. His Voyage into America in 1585. and taking the Towns of St. Jago St. Domingo Carthagena and St. Augustine IV. His last Voyage into those Countreys in 1595. with the manner of his Death and Burial Recommended as an Excellent Example to all Heroick and Active Spirits in these days to endeavour to benefit their Prince and Countrey and Immortalize their Names by the like worthy Undertakings Revised Corrected very much Inlarged reduced into Chapters with Contents and beautified with Pictures By R. B. Licensed and Entred according to Order March 30. 1687. LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1687. TO THE READER EVer since Almighty God commanded Adam to subdue the Earth there have not wanted Heroick Spirits in all Ages who have adventured their Estates and Persons to make new Discoveries of the unknown Parts of the World and many have industriously indeavoured to find out the true circuit thereof some striving to effect it by Mathematical Conclusions and School demonstrations Others with much more certainty have added their own Experience and Travels thereto all whom deserved much commendation in their several times For if he who surveys only some few Mannors or Lordships shall be thought worthy of some reward both for his Pains and Skill how much more are the Travels of those Famous Worthies to be Eternized who have bestowed their Studies and Labours in measuring out and incompassing this almost immensurable Globe Neither is this Question valuable here which is of force in private Possessions Whose Land do you Survey Since the Vast Ocean is the Lords alone and is by him left free as sufficient for the use and large enough for the Industry of all men Among these Gallant Adventurers none is more renowned than our present Heroe Sir Francis Drake who may be a Pattern to stir up all Heroick and active Spirits in these days to benefit their Prince and Countrey and immortalize their names by the like Noble Attempts who by first turning up a furrow about the whole World hath exceeded all that went before him Of whose Worthy Travels and Exploits there having not hitherto been published any just or exact Account I have Collected all I could any where meet with upon this Excellent Subject and reduced it into the present Method to make it the more useful and acceptable to my Countreymen whom as I have oft heretofore endeavoured to oblige by the like pleasant and I hope not unprofitable Diversions I shall still continue the same according to my Ability and Power R. B. THE Voyages and Adventures OF Sir FRANCIS DRAKE CHAP. I. His Birth and Education His Losses by the Spaniard His making two Voyages into the West-Indies for discovery His Voyage in 1572. to Nombre de Dios and surprizing it with only 52 Men where they had a view of a Pile of Bars of Silver 70 Foot in length 10 Foot broad and 12 Foot high THis Famous Sea-Captain and our present Heroe one of the first who put a Sea Girdle as it were about the World was Born near Sâ—â—â—â— Tavestock in Devonshire and had his name given him by Sir Francis Russel after Earl of Bedford his Godfather He was brought up in Kent his Father being a Minister who for fear of the Six Articles in the Reign of King Henry the Eight was forced to secure himself in the Hull of a Ship where he had divers of his younger Sons having twelve in all who being most of them Born on the Water for the greatest part died at Sea the youngest only dying at home whose Posterity still inherit what was gallantly though dangerously gained by our Sir Francis their Elder Brother After the death of King Henry his Father got a place to read Prayers among the Marriners of the Royal Navy and bound his Son Francis an Apprentice to a Ship-master who traded to France and Holland with whom he endured much hardship and was thereby fitted to suffer the Fatigues and labours of the Sea His Master dying bequeathed him his Bark with which he for some time followed his Masters Profession and thereby gained considerably But the Narrow Seas not being Large enough for his aspiring mind he sold his Bark and in the years 1565 and 1566 ingaged with Captain Lovel and others in a Voyage to the West-Indies and received much wrong from the Spaniards at Rio de Hacha yet the very next year Captain John Hawkins making preparations for a Voyage into those Parts he accompanied him to St. John de Ullua in the Bay of Mexico where by the treachery of Don Martin Henrique their Viceroy he not only lost all his goods but likewise several of his Kinsmen and Friends himself hardly escaping with his life This so exasperated the Spirit of Drake that he vowed the Spaniards should repay him with advantage and to make good his word having served for some time in one of Queen Elizabeths Ships to his great advantage and finding he could procure no redress from the King of Spain for his losses though the Queen had sent Letters thither upon that account it raised such indignation in his Breast that he resolved to use all possible endeavours to recover the damages he had sustained in pursuance whereof he made two several Voyages into America to gain Intelligence first with two Ships the Dragon and Swan in 1570. and the next year in the Swan alone whereby having obtained certain notice of the Persons and places he aimed at he fully resolved on a third Voyage Pursuant thereto May 24. 1572. being Whitson Eve Drake in the Pascha of Plymouth of 70 Tuns and his brother John Drake in the Swan of 25 Tuns having in both ships seventy three men and boys all Volunteers well provided with victuals for a year with all other Ammunition and provision for Men of War and three handsom Pinnaces taken asunder and stowed aboard to be set together upon occasion they sailed out of the Sound of Plymouth bound for Nombre de Dios in the West-Indies Their passage was so prosperous that June 3. they had sight of the Maderas and Canary Islands and made no stay till they came in veiw of Guadalupe an high Island in the West Indies Next morning June 29. entring between this place and Dominica they spied two Canoos a fishing about three Leagues off then landing on the South of Dominica in one of the Rivers that fall from the Mountain they staid there three days to refresh their
with Jan. 22. they Anchored there and found them inclined to exchange some goods they wanted more out of fear than love and among others some such Sheep as carried the Bags of Silver aforementioned they are as large as an ordinary Cow and three Men and a Boy sate on one of their backs at once their feet not touching the ground by a foot nor the Beast complaining of its burden their Necks are like Camels but their Heads as other Sheep and are of great use to the Spaniards their Wooll is very fine and their flesh good meat they supply the want of Horses and carry heavy burdens over the mountains 300 Leagues at once where no other beast can travel so well In this place and so up through the Province of Cusco the common earth being any where taken up every hundred pound weight thereof when refined yields twenty five Shillings of pure Silver at a Crown an Ounce The next place likely to hear news of their Ships was the Port of Arica in 20 degrees there being no harbor in a long way before where they arrived Feb. 7. The Town stands in the most fruitful soil on those Coasts in the mouth of a pleasant Valley abounding with all things having a constant trade for shipping both from Lima and other places in Peru and inhabited by Spaniards In two Barks here they found above 40 Bars of Silver as large as a Brickbat each weighing twenty Pound which burden having taken upon themselves they sailed to Chowley Feb. 9. And in their way to Lima met with another Bark of Ariquipa who had begun to load some Gold and Silver but upon notice of their coming from Arica by land it was again unladen Yet they took a Bark full of Linnen which they judg'd useful for them Feb. 15. they came to Lima and found thirty Ships in the harbor seventeen of them being the best in the South-Sea all ready provided yet they had the courage to fall into the midst of them where they anchored all night and had they been revengeful could have done the Spaniards more mischief in a few hours than they could have again recovered in many years But their chief care was to find out their own Company rather than to recompence their cruelty and though they had no news of them here yet they had notice of what much elevated them and seem'd to recompence all their labour namely that here was a Ship of one Michael Angelo's wherein were fifteen hundred Bars of Silver with Silks and Linnen and a Chest full of Royals of Plate which they quickly took possession of Here they had some news from Europe and particularly of the death of some great Persons since their departure as the King of Portugal and both the Kings of Fesse and Morocco killed all three in one battle in one day in Barbary the death of the King of France and the Pope and which was more welcom they had intelligence of a rich Ship gone out of the Haven Feb. 2. loaden with Gold and Silver for Panama Therefore next Morning Feb. 16. they Sailed when the Wind served and then towed their Ship toward Panama hastening if possible to get sight of this Gallant Ship the Cacafogo the glory of the South-Sea gone from Lima fourteen days before They fell with Cape Francisco March 1. passing the Line the day before and about noon discovered a Sail ahead of them and having once spoke with her they lay still in the same place six days to recover breath being almost spent with their hasty pursuit and to recal what advantage they had made since their coming from Lima. They had notice of this great Prize several times once by a ship taken between Lima and Paita Again by another ship laden with Wines taken in the Port of Paita by a third loaden with tackle and implements for Ships with eighty pound weight in Gold from Guiaquil and lastly by Gabriel Alvarez whom they met with near the Line by all whose relations they found this Ship to be really the Rich Cacafogo though before they left her a Boy of their own named her the Cacaplata They found in her some fruit Sugar Meal and other provisions but especially that which was the cause of her slow sailing namely a certain quantity of Jewels and Precious stone thirteen Chests of Riyals of Plate fourscore pound Weight of Gold Twenty six Tun of uncovered Silver two very large Silver gilt drinking Bowls and other like trifles valued at about three hundred and sixty thousand Pezoes They gave the Master a little Linnen and some other things in exchange for these goods and after six days bid him farewel He hastning somewhat lighter Panama and they going off to Sea to consider whither to steer next And now considering they were come one degree North of the Line to the entrance of the Bay of Panama and that there was little hope their lost Ships should be before them since they could get no notice of them in so long a course and with the strictest search and inquiry and that the time of the year drew on wherein their General if ever must prosecute his design of discovering a Passage about the North parts of America from the South-Sea into our own Ocean which would be serviceable to his Countrey for the future and themselves might have a much nearer Passage home They therefore concluded to find out a convenient place for triming their Ship and getting Wood Water and other provisions aboard and then to hasten for discovering this Passage through which they might return with Joy to their much desired homes Sailing therefore March 7. toward the Isle of Cainos they arrived there the 16. setling themselves in a fresh River between that and the Continent for finishing their affairs where there happened a terrible Earthquake which was so violent that the Ship and Pinnace though near an English Mile from the shoar trembled and shook as if on dry land They found here Fish Wood and fresh Water besides Alegators and Monkeys with many other necessaries that they wanted In their passage hither they took one Ship more which was the last they met with on all these Coasts laden with Linnen China silk and China dishes and a Falcon curiously wrought in Gold with a great Emerauld in the breast thereof From hence March 25. 1579. they resolved to sail the nearest course the Wind would permit without touching any where in a long way passing by Port Papagaia The Port of the Vale of the most Rich and Excellent Balms of Jericho Quantapico and divers others as also certain Gulphs hereabout which continually send forth such violent winds as much indanger the Spanish Ships if they go too near But having notice that they should oft have calms and contrary winds near the Coast and that if they run off to Sea to avoid them they could not then meet with Land again when they would the General thought fit to increase their Provisions and therefore
ashoar and the men fled to the Mountains so that they could not come at them Nov. 16. they departed from Porto Rico where though they got no great profit yet it was a most valiant attempt and worthy to be recorded Jan. 5. They departed hence for Scoday and took a Spanish Frigot coming from the Islands wherein were four Spaniards and three Negroes but nothing of value she was sent from Nombre de Dios to give notice to the other Towns to secure themselves The same day General Drake commanded his sick men to be carryed ashoar for refreshment and built four Pinnaces and took in fresh Water This Island of Scoday is a mere wilderness without Inhabitants but full of wild Beasts as Bears Allegators or Crocodiles like a Serpent and Guanoes like a Snake with four legs and a long tail having many prickles on his back They live on Trees like Squirrels and the Alligators in the Water but prey oft on the Land his flesh his sweet like musk and in his Bladder musk is found he is as big as a mans thigh and they eat many of them Jan. 22. they departed from Scoday to an Island near Nombre de Dios and two daies after came to Porta Bella where the same day they arrived our famous Hero Sir Francis Drake departed this Life his death being supposed to be much hastned by his unsuccesâ—fulness in this voyage his great Spirit alwaies accustomed to victory and success not being able to bear the least check of fortune which occasioned such Melancholy thoughts as were thought to be a chief cause of his end His Death was exceedingly lamented by all the Company who lookt upon him to be the Life and Soul of their enterprizes and undertakings And of whose admirable valour wisdom care and tenderness they had found such large and constant experience His interment was after this manner His Body being put into a Coffin of Lead was let down into the Sea the Trumpets in a doleful manner ecchoing out their Lamentations for so great a loss and all the Cannon in the Fleet were discharged according to the custom of all Sea Funeral Obsequies After this sad Fate they continued here some while and in ten daies arrived at Carthagena and Feb. 31. espied the Isles of Pinâ—s March 1. Sir Thomas Baskerfield having now the sole command of the Fleet they chased twenty sail of the Kings Men of War and fought with them three hours firing several of their Ships the rest flying away next day they sailed to Cape Anthony and soon after descried the Cape of Florida and Marcâ— 9. passed by the Bermuda's April 8. 1586. they came to the Isles of Florie inhabited by Portugals where they staid watred and traffickt for victuals wherewith being well refresht they in short time arrived safe in England And thus having brought our renowned Knight through so many Dangers and Adventures to his watry grave we will take our leave of him with this short Epitaph write upon him many years since Where Drake first found there last he lost his Name And for a Tomb left nothing but his Fame His Body 's buried under some great Wave The Sea that was his Glory is his Grave Of whom an Epitaph none can truly make For who can say Here lyes Sir Francis Drake FINIS There are newly Published Eighteen very useful pleasant and necessary Books all sold by Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside I. THE History of the Nine Worthies of the World Three whereof were Gentiles 1. Hector Son of Priamus King of Troy 2. Alexander the Great King of Macedon and Conqueror of the World 3. Julius Caesar first Emperor of Rome Three Jews 4. Joshua Captain General and Leader of Israel into Canaan 5. David King of Israel 6. Judas Maccabeus a Valiant Jewish Commander against the Tyranny of Antiochus Three Christians 7. Arthur King of Brittain who couragiously defended his Countrey against the Saxons 8. Charles the Great King of France and Emperor of Germany 9. Godfrey of Bullen King of Jerusalem Being an account of their Glorious Lives Worthy Actions renowned Victories and Deaths Illustrated writh Poems and the Picture of each Worthy By R. B. Price One Shilling II. A View of the English Acquisitions in Guinea and the East-Indies With an Account of the Religion Government Wars strange Customs Beasts Serpents Monsters and other observables in those Countries And among others the Life and Death of Mahomet the Grand Impostor with the Principal Doctrines of the Turkish Religion as they are displayed in the Alcoran Two Letters one written by the Great Mogol and the other by the King of Sumatra in the East-Indies to our King James the First of an extravagant stile The cruel Executions in those parts with the manner of the Womens burning themselves with their dead Husbands Together with a description of the Isle of St. Helena and the Bay of Souldania where the English usually refresh in their Voyages to the Indies Intermixt with pleasant Relations and Enlivened with Pictures Price One Shilling III. THE English Empire in America or a Prospect of his Majesties Dominions in the West-Indies namely New-found-land New-England New-York New-Jersey Pensylvania Mary-land Virginia Carolina Bermuda's Barbuda Anguilla Montserrat Dominica St. Vincent Antego Mevis or Nevis St. Christophers Barbadoes and Jamaica With their Discovery Scituation and Product The Religion and Manners of the Indians and other excellencies of these Countreys With the first Discovery of this New World and of the Remarkable Voyages and Adventures of Sir T. Cavendish the Earl of Cumberland Sir W. Rawleigh and other English Worthies to divers places therein Illustrated with Maps and Pictures Price One Shilling IV. THE Second Edition of Englands Monarchs very much enlarged Or A Compendious Relation of the most Remarkable Transactions from Julius Caesar to this present Adorned with Poems and Pictures of every Monarch from William the Conqueror to King James 2. with a List of the Nobility The Knights of the Garter and the Principal Officers in England The number of the Lords and Commons in both Houses of Parliament and many other very useful particulars Price One Shilling V. THe History of the Kingdoms of Scotland and Ireland Containing 1. The most Remarkable Transactions and Revolutions in Scotland for above Twelve hundred years past during the Reigns of Sixty eight Kings from 424 to King James the First in 1602. II. The History of Ireland from the Conquest thereof by Henry the Second to this time With the Miraculous Persons and Places Strange Accidents c. And a List of the Nobility in both Kingdoms Illustrated with near Thirty Pictures Price One Shilling VI. DElights for the Ingenious In above Fifty Select and choice Emblems Divine and Moral Ancient and Modern Curiously Ingraven on Copper Plates with Fifty Delightful Poems and Lots for the more Lively Illustration of each Emblem Whereby Instruction and Good Counsel may be promoted and furthered by an honest and pleasant
they should use their arms that night they might avoid hurting each other in the dark Having lain in ambush about an hour they heard the Recoes passing to and fro in the road from Panama to Venta Cruz they having a great trade when the Fleets are there the sound of their great Bells wherein they delight being heard a long way in a dark night Drake had strictly commanded that none of his men should stir or appear but let all that came from Venta Cruz pass quietly with their Recoes as knowing they carried nothing but common Merchandise yet one Robert Pike having drunk too much Aqua-Vitae without Water forgetting himself perswaded a Symeron to go into the road and seize on the foremost Mules and a Spanish Horse-man riding by with his Page running on his side Pike unadvisedly started up to see who he was though the Symeron discreetly endeavoured to pull him down and lay upon him to prevent further discovery yet by this the Gentleman taking notice of one all in white they having put their Shirts over all their Cloths to prevent mistakes in the night he put Spurs to his Horse both to secure himself and give notice to others of the danger Drake observing by the hardness of the ground and stilness of the night that the Gentleman changed his Trot into a Gallop doubted of the truth yet had not leisure to examine by whose fault they were discovered but considering it might be from the danger of the place alwaies suspected by Travellers he lay still expecting the Treasurer who was now within half a League and had come forward had he not been met with by this Horse-man as they after understood by the Recoes who telling him what he had seen and also what he had oft heard of Captain Drake whom he suspected to be concerned in this business who having been disappointed of getting any Treasure at Nombre de Dios and other places he believed was one way or other come by land through the covert of the Woods to this place in hope of better fortune so that he perswaded him to turn his own Mules richly laden out of the way and let the others pass on which being only loaden with Victuals the loss would be less yet would discover who they were as well as the other Thus by the folly and carelesness of one man and the carefulness of this Traveller they were disappointed of a very rich Booty The Mules coming up were instantly stopt and seiz'd on the Driver a very sensible fellow telling Drake how they were discovered and advising them to shift for themselves unless they were able to oppose the whole power of the City and Countrey which before day would certainly come out against them It much displeased them to be disappointed of their Golden Hopes and that they could not find above two Horse-load of Silver but it grieved the Captain much more that he was discovered and that by one of his own men but since it was past remedy and time was precious Pedro Captain of the Symerons advised either to return back privately about four Leagues into the Wood or else to march forward in the high-way to Venta Cruz two Leagues off and fight their way through their Enemies Drake concluded on the last course considering the long weary marches they had taken chusing rather to encounter his adversarys while they had strength than to be fallen upon by them when wearied especially having now some Mules to ease them in carrying their baggage Commanding them all to refresh themselves with the abundant provision they had got he declared to them all his resolution and the reason of it particularly asking Pedro whether he would give him his hand not to forsake him being assured the Symerons would follow their Captain who glad of his design gave Drake his hand vowing that in prosecuting it he would rather dye at his foot than to leave him his Enemies Having refresht themselves they travelled by the help of the Mules till within a Mile of Venta Cruz when discharging them they charged the Mule-keepers not to follow them upon pain of Death The way is cut through the Woods about twelve foot broad for two Mules to pass and the Soil so fruitful that with often cutting the Woods grow as thick as the thickest Hedges in England In the midst of the Wood a Company of Souldiers who always lay in the Town to defend it against the Symerons came forth to stop them or if not to retreat to their strength and expect their coming a Convent of Friers with their Leader joining likewise with them Drake understanding by the Symerons who marched with much care and silence a small distance before them that it was time to arm themselves since by the smell of their Match and their noise they perceived the Enemy near He gave charge that none of his men should shoot till the Spaniards had first discharged a Volley which he thought they would not do without speaking as accordingly happened for being within hearing a Spanish Captain cried aloud Hâ—a to which Drake answered and being demanded Que gente of what Countrey replied Englishmen Whereupon the Commander charged him in the name of the King of Spain to yeild themselves promising upon the Word Faith of a Gentleman Souldier that upon surrender he would use them very kindly Drake hereupon drawing nearer to him said That for the honour of the Queen of England his Mistress he must have Passage that way And therewith discharged his Pistol upon which the Spaniards shot off their whole Volley wherewith though Drake and some of his men were slighty wounded yet John Harris only was killed being so severely treated with Hail-shot which they generally use that he could not be recovered When Drake perceived their shot to slacken he gave his usual signal by a Whistle for his men to answer them with their Shot and Arrows and then fall in upon them but perceiving them retiring to a place of better strength the English pursued them and the Symerons having for fear of the Shot stept aside when they observ'd them marching forward came all in again with their Arrows ready in their Bows dancing and singing Yo' Peho ' Yo' Peho after the manner of their own Countrey Wars till they overtook some of the Enemy who had taken their stand as before in a Wood at the Towns-end The Symerons now throughly incouraged seeing this broke through the thickest of them forcing them to fly Friers and all though several of the English were wounded and one Symeron run through with a Pike who yet had so much courage as to kill him who gave that deadly wound They followed the chase so close that they entred the Town of Venta Cruz consisting in about fifty Houses some very fair with a Governor and other Officers and many large strong Store-houses for securing the goods brought thither from Nombre de Dios by the River Chagro to be transported by Mules to Panama
was to dye a Christian that whatever became of his mortal Body he might remain assured of an eternal inheritance in a far better life That if he were set a land among Infidels he much doubted whether he should be able to continue stedfast in the Faith considering his own frailty and the great contagion of leud custom And therefore he earnestly intreated the General That he would have a special regard to his Soul and not indanger it among Heathenish and Savage Infidels That if he should return to England he must have a Ship with Men and Victuals to conduct it and if he had these yet he thought none would willingly accompany him with so sad and base a Message and leave such honourable service as they were now in But if he could find such who would be perswaded to go back with him yet the very shame of his return would be grievous yea worse than death to him since he should dye so often and be so long a dying He therefore protested That freely and with all his heart he imbrac'd the Generals first proposal of being executed there desiring only the favour that they might receive the Holy Communion together once before his death and that he might dye the death of a Gentleman Though divers perswaded him to chuse any of the other waies yet he was resolute in his determination and his two last requests being granted he received the Communion from Mr. Francis Fletcher Preacher to the Fleet the General himself communicating with this condemned penitent Gentleman who gave great assurance of a contrite and repenting heart seeming more angry with his own act than any else After this the General and he dined together as cheerfully and soberly as ever in their lives comforting one another and drinking each to other as if going some Journey Dinner ended and all being prepared by him who acted as Provost Marshal he appeared very seriously and kneeling down at once prepared his Neck for the Axe and his Spirit for Heaven without disturbance as having already digested the whole Tragedy in his own mind desiring the Spectators to pray for him and bidding him do his Office without fear or favour Having thus by his Worthy demeanour at his death fully obliterated all the faults of his life he left to the rest a lamentable example of a Worthy Gentleman who in striving to rise before his time lost himself is a monument to Posterity of the common fate of such ambitious minds And one thing very remarkable may be added That 58 years before another Gentleman imployed in the like Service and entertained into great Trust was executed in the very same place for the English found a Gibbet on the Main Land made of a Spruce Mast fallen down with mens Bones underneath which they judged to be that erected by Magellane in 1520. for executing John Carthagena Cosen to the Bishop of Burgos who by the King of Spains Order was joined in Commission with Magellane and made his Vice-Admiral As they digged a Grave in the Island to bury this Gentleman they found a great grind-stone broken in the middle which they set in the ground one part at the head and the other at the feet whereon they graved the name of the Person there buried the time of their departure and their Generals name in Latin for a Memorial to those that should come thither after CHAP. V. General Drake in pursuance of his Voyage round the World passeth through the Streigths of Magellane into the South Sea where he meets with a terrible Tempest for 52 days together and loses company of two of his Ships Being left alone he proceeds toward the Coast of Peru and gets a Prodigious quantity of Gold and Silver and Jewels THis Tragedy thus ended the General broke up the Mary the Portugal Prize being leaky and troublesom leaving her Ribbs and Keel on the Island where for two months they pitched their Tents and having wooded watred and trimm'd their Ships which were now reduced to three besides the Pinnaces to keep the easier together and to be better provided and mann'd upon all occasions Aug. 17. they sailed out of this Port and with much hope directed their course for the Streights South-West Aug. 20. they fell with a Cape nigh the entrance called by the Spaniards Cape Virgin Maria appearing like Cape Vincent in Portugal with steep Cliffs and black Stars against which the Sea beating seems like the Spouting of Whales Here the General caused his Fleet to strike their topsails in honour of the Queen and to acknowledge her absolute right in this New Discovery Changing also the name of his Ship from the Pellican to the Golden Hind in remembrance of his honourable Friend Sir Chr. Hatton when after a Sermon and Prayers for the Queen and the whole Realm of England they entred the Streights having sight of Land on both sides which at length grew very narrow with many windings after which they seemed to come out of a River two Leagues broad into a large and open Sea and the night following saw a burning Island much like Fogo in height and flaming without intermission It was formerly thought that the current in this Streight ran always one way but they found the ebb and floud and the water rising five fathoms upright as on other Coasts Aug. 24. being Bartholomew day they fell with three Islands lying triangular one very large and fruitful where the weather being calm the General and some of his Company went ashoar and took possession thereof in the Queens name calling it Elizabeth Island And though the other two were not so large yet they were very useful to them for the great store of strange Birds found there they could not fly but ran so fast as sometimes to escape somewhat less than a Goose short and thick without Feathers but only had matted Down with Bills like Crows They lay their eggs and breed their young in the ground like Rabbits and live on what they catch in the Sea being very swift Swimmers both to get their prey and secure themselves from others They came thither in such vast numbers that they killed three thousand in one day and are wholsom food they named one of these Islands Bartholomew according to the day and the other St. George in honour of England wherein they found the body of a man almost rotten From hence to the entrance of the South-Sea the passage is very crooked so that they oft met with contrary Winds being many times forc't to alter their course and though as Magellane saith there be many good Harbors and store of fresh Water yet they had need be well furnished with Cables and Anchors to find ground in them The Land on both sides is very high and mountainous having on the North and West the Continent of America and on the South and East nothing but Islands among which lye innumerable passages into the South Sea The Mountains rise into the Air with
to continue Commerce with this People there were also two Turkish and one Italian Residents and likewise one Spaniard who having assisted the King in recovering the Island from the Portugals served him now as a Souldier After half an hours waiting the King came from the Castle attended with eight or ten grave Senators a rich Canopy adorn'd in the midst with Embossings of Gold being held over him and guarded with twelve Lances the points turned downward Their men accompanied with Moro the Kings Brother arose to meet him who welcomed and entertained them very graciously His Voice was low and his Speech sober of a Princely deportment and a Moor by Nation His attire was after the fashion of the Countrey but much costlier From the wast to the ground he had a garment all of rich Cloth of Gold his Legs were bare and his Shoes of red Cordivant His head had a wreath about an Inch and half broad of plated Gold somewhat like a Crown and very sumptuous He had about his Neck a Chain of Pure Gold double and wore on his left hand a Diamond a Ruby an Emerauld and a Turkois Stone being four fair and perfect Jewels on his right he had one Ring with a large Turkois and another with several Diamonds of smaller size very artificially composed Sitting thus in his Chair of State with a Page on his right hand refreshing him with a Fan richly imbroidered and beset with Saphires the place being very hot both with the Sun and the multitude there present After a while the Englishmen having delivered their Message and received an answer they were by the Kings special command conducted safe back again by one of his chief Councellors The Castle did not appear very strong there being only two great Guns to defend it and those at present unserviceable having got these all other furniture of War from the Portugals who formerly inhabited the Island and built this Castle but tyrannizing over the people and not content with what they enjoyed except they could have secured themselves by destroying all the Bloud Royal they cruelly murthered the Father of this present King intending to do the like by all his Sons which so inraged the People that they were forc't to escape for their lives leaving their goods and all their Ammunition behind them and absolutely to forsake the Island The present King with his brethren pursued the Portugals so close that being quite driven thence they were glad to keep footing in Tidore and for four years last past he had been so successful in his military affairs that he was Lord of an hundred Islands thereabout and resolved now to attempt the recovery of Tidore it self from the Portugals The People are Moors whose Religion chiefly consists in certain Superstitious observations of the New Moons and fasting strictly at some seasons of which they had experience in the Vice-Roy and his attendants who lay aboard almost all the time they were there and would neither eat nor drink so much as water while the fasting day lasted but would eat three times very largely in the night The Isle of Terenate is in 27 degrees North Latitude While they staid in the Harbor here besides the Natives therâ— came aboard their Ship a very compleat Gentleman well attended with an Interpreter tâ— view their Ship and discourse with their Genâ—ral clothed much after the English fashion anâ— in his carriage very well accomplished Hâ— told them that himself was but a stranger 〈◊〉 these Islands being born in the Province 〈◊〉 Pagia in China that his name was Pausaos 〈◊〉 the Family of Homber out of which there 〈◊〉 eleven Emperors reigned successively for tâ—â— hundred years past and that King Boxog wâ—â— by the death of his Elder Brother with a 〈◊〉 from a Horse was right Heir to all Chin◠〈◊〉 the twelfth of this race being 22 years of 〈◊〉 and his Mother living having a Wife and one Son by her beloved and highly honoured of all his Subjects reigning in great peace and without apprehension of invasion from his Neighbours But it was not this Gentlemans fortune to partake of the happiness of his King and Countrey as he desired For as he told them being accused of a Capital Crime whereof though free yet not able to make his innocency evidently appear and knowing the severe Justice of China if he should be found guilty by his Judges he humbly desired the King would please to remit his Trial to the Judgment and Providence of God by permitting him to travel on condition that if he did not return with such remarkable Intelligence as his Majesty had never heard and was worth observation and for the advantage of China he would forever live in Banishment or else suffer Death for presuming to come into his own Countrey being assured that the God of Heaven would clear his innocency The King granted his suit and he had been now three years abroad and came then from Tydore where he had resided two Months to see the English General of whom he had heard very strange things and from whom he hoped for such Intelligence as might further his return into his own Countrey beseeching him to relate the occasion and manner of his coming so far as England thither and what accidents happen'd to him by the way The General fully satisfied his request and this stranger heard his discourse with much attention and delight and having a retentive memory he so firmly imprinted these Relations in his mind that with great reverence he gave God thanks who had brought him to the notice of such admirable occurrences and then earnestly intreated the General to visit his Country before he went farther West since it would be the most pleasant honourable and profitable Voyage he could make whereby he should carry home an account of one of the ancientest and richest Kingdoms in the World And hereupon he magnified the greatness and number of their Provinces the stateliness and riches of their Citys with the multitude of men and abundance of all manner of provisions and Amunition of War especially of the number of great Guns in Quinzai their cheif City much easier managed than ours and so exact as to hit a Shilling which he said they invented above two thousand years ago With many other things which the General might better observe with his Eyes than he could relate and that the Wind would serve very shortly to carry them thither and did not doubt but it would much advance his Honour with the King to bring such a stranger along with him But all his Arguments having no prevalence on the General he with grief departed though very glad of the Intelligence he had learned Provided with all necessarys the place afforded they Sailed thence Novem. 9. in search of a convenient Harbor to trim and repair their Ship especially while the calms continued in pursuance whereof Novem. 14. they arrived at a small Island in 1 degree 40 Minutes South of the Celebes
before he went ashoar what he was that the Spaniards were gone from the Fort offering either to put himself into their hands or to return back and direct those that would go to the Fort Whereupon the General L. General and some Captains in their Skiffs accompanied with three Pinnaces furnisht with Souldiers went over toward the Fort At their approach some of the Enemy bolder than the rest staying behind shot two pieces of Ordnance at them but they went ashoar and entred the place without finding any man there When day appeared they saw it was built all of Timber the Walls being only whole bodies of Trees placed close together like pales not having yet made a ditch nor furnished it so that they had no reason to keep it being so subject both to fire and assaults The platform for their Guns was the bodies of long Pine-trees whereof they have plenty laid Cross each other and filled up with Earth They found there 14 Great Brass Guns and a Chest lockt wherein was about two thousand pound sterling thought to be the Kings for payment of the Souldiers who were about 150 men The Fort thus won which they called St. Johns Fort they designed to go to the Town by land but were prevented by the Rivers and broken ground therefore imbarking again they Sailed thither upon the River called as well as the Town St. Augustine Coming toward Land some Spaniards appeared and gave them a few Shot but presently withdrew and in their flight the Sergeant Major finding a Horse ready Sadled and Bridled mounted him and followed the Chase before the rest when suddenly from behind a Bush he was shot through the head wherewith falling two or three Spaniards more came in and stabbed him with their Swords and Daggers into the body in three or four places before any could come near to rescue him whose death was much lamented They understood that in this Town of St. Augustine the King maintained an 150 Souldiers and at St. Helena 12 Leagues farther North 150 more only to secure those Coasts from being inhabited by other Nations The Governor was the Marquess Pedro Melender who had command of both places and yet ran away from them with the first They here resolved to attempt St. Helena and to find out the English inhabiting Virginia and June 9. Observing a very great Fire ashoar the General sent his Skiff to the place and found some English sent thither by Sir Walter Rawleigh the year before and one coming aboard gave them directions where to find a good Harbor The General sent hence a Letter to Sir Ralph Lane Governor of the English in Virginia who was then at his Fort about six Leagues from the Road in an Island called Roanoac from whence he sent them supplies of all they wanted and next day Mr. Lane and some of his Company came aboard and the General with consent of his Captains made him two Proposals Either to leave a Ship Pinnace or certain Boats with sufficient Masters Marriners and a months provision to stay and make discovery of the Countrey and the Coasts and likewise so much Victuals as might suffice to bring them all home being 103 Persons if they thought fit afterward Or else if they judged they had already made sufficient discovery and desired to return into England he would give them passage But they being willing to stay thankfully accepted his first offer and the Ship was accordingly received into their charge by some of Mr. Lanes Company whom he put aboard her but before they had received the Provisions allotted them there rose a very dangerous storm which lasted three days and drove many of their Ships from their Anchors and some were forced to Sea among which the Ship appointed for Mr. Lane was forced so far to avoid the Coast that they never saw her again till they came to England many of their Pinnaces and small Boats being lost in the Tempest Notwithstanding this the General offered Mr. Lane another Ship but not much fit for their purpose as not being able to be brought into Harbor nor the General not thinking fit to spare so much provisions as he intended at first So that upon consultation among themselves Mr. Lane and the rest of his Company desired the General under their hands to give them passage for England which being granted and the rest of the English sent for out of the Countrey and Shipt they left that Coast June 18. and arrived safely at Plymouth July 28. following The Purchase of this Voyage was valued at threescore thousand Pound whereof those who went the Voyage were to have twenty thousand amounting to about six pounds to the meanest man and the other forty was paid to the Adventurers They lost about 750 men whereof eight were Captains four Lieutenants and eight Gentlemen They got about 240 Great Guns whereof above 200 were Brass and so happily ended their Voyage CHAP. VIII Sir Francis Drake is made Vice-Admiral of England in the Spanish Invasion in 1588. And performs many Worthy Actions taking Don Pedro de Valdez a Principal Sea Commander Prisoner The pretended Invincible Armado is utterly defeated and overthrown HEroick Spirits are seldom long at rest being ambitious to be always imploy'd in glorious Actions and Atchievments as appears in the Person of our Worthy Commander Sir Francis Drake who having adventured so many Perils and Dangers in incompassing the World with so great advantages to himself might in reason have been thought willing to spend the remainder of his days in the quiet enjoyment of his acquired Honour and Riches But when the Service of his Countrey called him forth no man was more ready to obey his Prince in the defence thereof against a Forreign Invasion as appears by his magnanimous Exploits in 1588. The Astronomers of that Age foretold long before that this should prove a Wonderful year and the Climacterick of the World which was in some measure accomplished in that admirable deliverance of England from the Spanish Invasion The design was no less than the Conquest of England and reducing it to the obedience of that King for which many Religious Pretences were used besides politick ones as the Queens supporting the King of Spains Rebels in the Netherlands surprizing and plundring several Towns both in Spain and America with divers other allegations So that an Invasion being fully concluded on by that Court a great and as they termed it Invincible Navy was with vast charge prepared to effect this mighty Design consisting of no less than one hundred and thirty Ships containing fifty seven thousand eight hundred and eighty Tun wherein were eight hundred forty five Marriners nineteen thousand two hundred and ninety five Souldiers and two thousand eighty eight Gally Slaves and well furnished with all sorts of Ammunition having two hundred twenty thousand great Shot Four thousand two hundred kintals of Powder every Kintal containing an hundred Weight a thousand Kintals of Lead for Bullets Twelve hundred Kintals