company of vs and shaped her course towards Orkney because that way was better knowne vnto them and arriued at Yermouth The 30 of August with the force of the wind and a surge of the sea the Master of the Gabriel and the Boatswain were striken both ouerboord hardly was the Boatswain recouered hauing hold on a roape hanging ouerboord in the sea and yet the Barke was laced fore and after with ropes a breast high within boorde This Master was called William Smith being but a yong man and a very sufficient mariner who being all the morning before exceeding pleasant told his Captaine he dreamed that he was cast ouerboord and that the Boatswain had him by the hand and could not saue him and so immediately vpon the end of his tale his dreame came right euilly to passe and indeed the Boatswain in like sort held him by one hand hauing hold on a rope with the other vntill his force fayled and the Master drowned The height being taken we found our selues to be in the latitude of degrees and a halfe and reckoned our selues from the Queenes Cape homeward about two hundreth leagues The last of August about midnight we had two or three great and sudden flawes or stormes The first of September the storme was growen very great and continued almost the whole day and night and lying a hull to tarrie for the Barkes our ship was much beaten with the seas euery sea almost ouertaking our poope so that we were constrained with a bunt of our saile to trie it out and ease the rolling of our ship And so the Gabriel not able to beare any sayle to keepe company with vs and our ship being higher in the poope and a tall ship whereon the winde had more force to driue went so fast away that we lost sight of them and left them to God and their good fortune of Sea The second day of September in the morning it pleased God of his goodnesse to send vs a calme whereby we perceiued the Rudder of our ship torne in twaine and almost ready to fall away Wherefore taking the benefite of the time we slung halfe a dozen couple of our best men ouer boord who taking great paines vnder water driuing plankes and binding with ropes did well strengthen and mend the matter who returned the most part more then halfe dead out of the water and as Gods pleasure was the sea was calme vntill the worke was finished The fift of September the height of the Sunne being taken we found our selues to be in the latitude of degrees and a halfe In this voyage commonly wee tooke the latitude of the place by the height of the sunne because the long day taketh away the light not onely of the Polar but also of all other fixed Starres And here the North Starre is so much eleuated aboue the Horizon that with the staffe it is hardly to bee well obserued and the degrees in the Astrolabe are too small to obserue minutes Therefore wee alwaies vsed the Staffe and the sunne as fittest instruments for this vse Hauing spent foure or fiue dayes in trauerse of the seas with contrary winde making our Souhter way good as neere as we could to raise our degrees to bring our selues with the latitude of Sylley wee tooke the height the tenth of September and found our selues in the latitude of degrees and ten minutes The eleuenth of September about sixe a clocke at night the winde came good Southwest we vered sheat and see our course Southeast And vpon Thursday the twelfth of September taking the height wee were in the latitude of and a halfe and reckoned our selues not past one hundred and fifty leagues short of Sylley the weather faire the winde large at Westsouthwest we kept our course Southeast The thirteenth day the height being taken wee found our selues to be in the latitude of degrees the wind Westsouthwest then being in the height of Sylley and we kept our course East to run in with the sleeue or chanel so called being our narrow seas and reckoned vs short of Sylley twelue leagues Sonday the 15 of September about foure of the clocke we began to sound with our lead and had ground at 61 fadome depth white small sandy ground and reckoned vs vpon the backe of Sylley and set our course East and by North Eastnortheast and Northeast among The sixteenth of September about eight of the clocke in the morning sounding we had 65. fadome osey sand and thought our selues thwart of S. Georges channell a little within the banks And bearing a small saile all night we made many soundings which were about fortie fadome and so shallow that we could not well tell where we were The seuenteenth of September we sounded and had â—orty fadome and were not farre off the lands â—nd finding branded sand with small wormes and Cockle shelles and were shotte betwene Sylley and the lands ende and being within the bay we were not able to double the pointe with a South and by East way but were faine to make another boord the wind being at Southwest and by West and yet could not double the point to come cleere of the lands end to beare along the channel and the weather cleered vp when we were hard aboord the shore and we made the lands end perfit and so put vp along Saint Georges chanel And the weather being very foule at sea we couered some harborough because our steerage was broken and so came to ancor in Padstow road in Cornewall But riding there a very dangerous roade we were aduised by the countrey to put to Sea againe and of the two euils to choose the lesse for there was nothing but present perill where we toade whereupon we plyed along the channell to get to Londy from whence we were againe driuen being but an open roade where our Anker came home and with force of weather put to Seas againe and about the three and twentieth of September arriued at Milford Hauen in Wales which being a very good harborough made vs happy men that we had receiued such long desired safetie About one moneth after our arriuall here by order from the Lords of the Counsell the ship came up to Bristow where the Ore was committed to keeping in the Castel there Here we found the Gabriel one of the Barkes arriued in good safetie who hauing neuer a man within boord very sufficient to bring home the ship after the Master was lost by good fortune when she came vpon the coast met with a ship of Bristow at sea who conducted her in safety thither Here we heard good tidings also of the arriuall of the other Barke called the Michael in the North parts which was not a little ioyful vnto vs that it pleased God so to bring vs to a safe meeting againe and wee lost in all the voyage only one man besides one that dyed at sea which was sicke before he came
the South parts of y e Ilands called De los Ladrones that is The Ilands of rouers or Islas de las Velas vnder 13. degrees and ½ in latitude Septentrionall and 164. degrees in longitude Orientall vpon the sixed Meridionall line which lyeth right with the Iland of Terçera From thence we helde our course Westward for the space of 280. leagues till we came to the point called El capo de Espirito Santo that is The point of the holy Ghost lying in the Iland Tandaya the first Iland of those that are called Philippinas Luçones or Manillas which is a countrey with fewe hilles with some mines of brimstone in the middle thereof From the point aforesayde wee sailed West for the space of eighteene leagues to the point or entrie of the chanell which runneth in betweene that Iland and the Iland of Luçon This point or entrie lieth scarce vnder 12. degrees All the coast that stretcheth from the entrie of the chanel to the point of El capo del Spirito santo is not very faire Eight leagues from the sayde point lyeth a hauen of indisserent greatnesse called Baya de Lobâ—s that is The Bay of woolues hauing a small Iland in the mouth thereof and within the chanell about halfe a league from the ende of the sayd Iland lyeth an Iland or cliffe when you passe by the point in the middle of the chanell â—hâ—n you haue fiue and twentie fathom deepe with browne sand there we found so great a streame running Westward that it made the water to cast a skum as if it had beene a sande whereby it put vs in feare but casting out our lead wee found fiue and twentie fathom deepe From the aforesayd entrie of the chanell North and North and by East about tenne leagues lyeth the Iland of Catanduanes about a league distant from the lande of Luçon on the furthest point Eastward and from the same entrie of the chanell towards the West and Southwest lyeth the Iland Capuli about sixe leagues from thence stretching Westsouthwest and Eastnortheast being fiue leagues long and foure leagues broad and as wee past by it it lay Northward from vs vnder twelue degrees and ¾ and somewhat high lande Foure leagues â—rom the aforesayd Iland of Capuli Northwestward lie the three Ilands of the hauen of Bollon in the Iland of Luçones stretching North and South about foure leagues distant from the firme lande halfe a league whereof the furthest Southward lieth vnder thirteene degrees In this chanell it is twentie fathom deepe with white sand and a great streame running Southeast we passed through the middle of the chanell From this chanell wee helde our course Southwest and Southwest and by West for the space of twentie leagues vntill wee came to the West ende of the Iland of Tycao which reacheth East and West thirteene leagues This point or hooke lyeth vnder 12. degrees and ¾ In the middle betweene this Iland and the Iland Capuli there lie three Ilands called the Faranias and we ranne in the same course on the Northside of all the Ilands at the depth of of 22. fathom with white sand From the aforesayd West point of the Iland Tycao to the point of Buryas it is East and West to sayle about the length of a league or a league and an halfe we put into that chanell holding our course South and South and by West about three leagues vntill we were out of the chanell at sixteene fathom deepe with halfe white and reddish sande in the chanell and at the mouth thereof whereof the middle lyeth vnder 12. degrees and â—â— and there the streames runne Northward The Iland of Buryas stretcheth Northwest and Southeast and is lowe lande whereof the Northwest point is about three leagues from the coast of Luçon but you cannot passe betweene them with any shippe but with small foists and barkes of the countrey This shallowe channell lieth vnder twelue degrees and running thorow the aforesaid chanell betweene the Ilands Tycao and Buryas as I sayd before we sayled Southward about two leagues from the Iland of Masbate which stretcheth East and West 8. leagues long being in brâ—dth 4. leagues and lyeth vnder 12. degrees and ¼ in the middle thereof and is somewhat high land From the sayd chanell betweene Tycao and Buryas wee helde our course Westnorthwest for thirteene leagues leauing the Iland Masbate on the Southside and the Iland Buryas on the North side at the ende of thirteene leagues wee came by an Iland called Banton which is in forme like a hat vnder twelue degrees and â—â— when we had sayled the aforesayd thirteene leagues and eight leagues more on the South side wee left the Iland called Rebuiam which stretcheth Northwest and Northwest and by North and Southeast and Southeast and by South for the space of eight leagues being high and crooked lande whereof the North point lyeth vnder tweluâ— degrees and 2 3. and there you finde 35. fathom deepe with white sand From the aforesayd Iland of Banton Southward nine leagues there beginne and followe three Ilandes one of them being called Bantonsilla which is a small Iland in forme of a sugar loafe the second Crymara being somewhat great in length reaching East and West about two leagues the third Itaa or the I le of Goates hauing certaine houels By all these Ilands aforesayd you may passe with all â—ortes of shippes whereof the foremost lyeth Southward vnder twelue degrees and â—â— From the Iland of Bantonsilla or small Banton wee helde our course Northwest for the space of foure leagues to the chanell betweene the Ilands called de Vereies and the Iland Marinduque the Vercies lying on the South side vnder twelue degâ—ees and 3 4. which are two small Ilands like two Frigats and the Iland Marinduque on the North side vnder twelue degrees and 4 5. which is a great Iland stretching West northwest and Eastâ—outheast hauing in length 12 in bredth 7. leagues On the North side with the Iland Luçon it maketh a long and small chanell running somewhat crooked which is altogether full of shallowes and sandes whereby no shippes can passe through it The furthest point Westward of the same Iland lyeth vnder thirteene degrees and 1 4. It is high lande on the East side hauing the forme of a mine of brimstone or fierie hill and on the West side the land runneth downâ—ward at the point thereof being round like a loafe of bread in the chanell betweene it and the Vereies there are 18. fathom deepe with small blacke sand From the aforesayd chanell of Vereies and Marinduque wee helde our course Westnorthwest twelue leagues to the lande of Mindora to the point or hooke called Dumaryn lying full vnder thirteene degrees Fiue leagues forward from the sayde chanell on the South side wee left an Iland called â—sla del maestro del Campo that is The Iland of the Colonell lying vnder twelue degrees and 3 4. which is a small and flat Iland In this
course we had 45. fathom deep with white sand By this point or end of the Iland Marinduque beginneth the Iland of Myndoro which hath in length East and West fiue and twentie leagues and in bredth twelue leagues whereof the furthest point Southward lyeth vnder thirteene degrees and the furthest point Northward vnder thirteene degrees and 2 3. and the furthest point Westward vnder thirteene degrees This Iland with the Iland of Luçon maketh a chanell of fiue leagues broad and tenor twelue fathom deepe with muddie ground of diuers colours with white sande Fiue leagues forward from Marinâ—uque lyeth the riuer of the towne of Anagacu which is so shallowe that no shippes may enter into it From thence two leagues further lie the Ilands called Bacco which are three Ilands lying in a triangle two of them being distant from the land about three hundred cubits and between them and the land you may passe with small shippes And from the landâ— to the other Iland are about two hundred cubites where it is altogether shallowes and sandes so that where the shippes may passe outward about 150. cubites from the landeâ— you leaue both the Ilands on the South side running betweene the third Iland and the riuer called Rio del Bacco somewhat more from the middle of the chanell towardes the Iland which is about a league distant from the other the chanell is â—enne fathom deepe with mud and shelles vpon the ground the riuer of Bacco is so shallowe that no ships may enter into it From this Iland with the same course two leagues forward you passe by the point called El Capo de Rescalco where wee cast out our lead and found that a man may passe close by the lande and there you shall finde great strong streames and halfe a league forward with the same course lyeth the towne of Mindoro which hath a good hauen for shippes of three hundred tunnes Three leagues Northward from the same hauen lyeth the Iland called Cafaa stretching East and West being hilly ground From the sayde towne of Myndoro wee hâ—lde our course Westnorthwest eight leagues till wee came to the poynt or hooke of the sandes called Tulen lying vpon the Iland of Luçon which sande or banke reacheth into the Sea halfe a league from the coast you must keepe about an hundred cubites from it where you finde eight faâ—hom water muddie and shellie ground you runne along by those sandes North and North and by West for the space of two leagues till you come to the riuer called Rio de Anasebo all the rest of the coast called De los Limbones to the mouth or entrie of the Bay called Manilla which are foure leagues is sayled with the same course The Limbones which are Ilands so called are high in forme like a paire of Organs with good hauens for small shippes running along by the Limbones and two leagues beyond them on the South side wee leaue the Ilands of Fortan and foure Ilands more but the three Ilands of Lubao which are very low lie vnder 13. degrees and 1 3. and the Limbones lie in the mouth or entrie of the Bay of Manilla vnder 14 degrees and 1 4. From thence we ranne Northwest for the space of sixe leagues to the hauen of Cabite keeping along by the land lying on the West side where it is shallowe and is called Los Baixos del Rio de Cannas The shallowes of the riuer of Reedes all along this Bay in the same course there is from ten to foure fathom deepe Being by the point or hooke of Cabite then wee kept but an hundred paces from itâ— running Southwest southsouthwest and South vntill wee discouered the whole mouth or entrie of the Bay where wâ— might anker at foure fathom about two hundred cubites from the lande and then the towne of Manilla was two leagues Northward from vs. Chap. 2. The course and voyage of the aforesayd Francisco Gualle out of the hauen or roade of Manilla to the hauen of Macao in China with all the courses and situations of the places SAyling out of the hauen of Cabite lying in the Bay of Manilla wee helde our course Westwarde for the space of eighteene leagues to the point called El Cabo de Sambaâ—les and when wee were eight leagues in our way wee left the two Ilands Maribillas on the South â—ide and sailed about a league from them the point of Samballes aforesayde lyeth vnder foureteene degrees and 2 3. being low land at the end of the same coast of Luçon on the West side From the hooke or point aforesayde wee ranne North and North and by West for the space of fiue and twentie leagues about a league from the coast of Luçon to the point called Cabo de Bullinao all this coast and Cape is high and hilly ground which Cape lyeth vnder sixteene degrees and 2 3. From this Cape de Bullinao we helde our course North and North and by East for 45. leagues to the point called El Cabo de Bojador which is the furthest lande Northwarde from the Iland Luçon lying vnder 19. degrees The Cape de Bullinao being past the lande maketh a great crecke or bough and from this creeke the coast runneth North to the point of Bojador being a land full of cliâ—fes and rockes that reach into the Sea and the land of the hooke or point is high and hilly ground From the point of Bojador wee helde our course Westnorthwest an hundred and twentie leagues vnâ—ill we came to the Iland called A Ilha Branca or the white Iland lying in the beginning of the coast and Bay of the riuer Canton vnder two and twentie degrees hauing foure and twentie fathom browne muddie ground From the Iland Ilha Branca wee helde the aforesayde course of Westnorthwest for the space of sixteene leagues to the Iland of Macao lying in the mouth of the riueâ— of Canton and it maketh the riuer to haue two mouthes or entries and it is a small Iland about three leagues great Chap. 3. The Nauigation or course of the aforesayd Francisco Gualle out of the hauen of Macao to Newe Spaine with the situation and stretchings of the same with other notable and memorable things concerning the same voyage VVHen we had prepared our selues and had taken our leaues of our friends in Macao we set saile vpon the foure and twentieth of Iuly holding our course Southeast Southeast and by East being in the wane of the Moone for when the Moone increaseth it is hard holding the course betweene the Ilands because as then the water and streames run very strong to the Northwest wee trauailed through many narrowe chanels by night hauing the depth of eight or ten fathom with soft muddie ground vntill wee were about the Iland Ilha Branca yet we saw it not but by the height we knew that we were past it Being beyond it we ranne Eastsoutheast an hundred and fiftie leagues to get aboue the sands called Os
degrees And the markes be these That on the West end it is lowest and the Eastermost is the highest And if thou fall with the middest of the Island then thou shalt goe a long it to the West vnto Cabo Roxo which is the end of the Isle And from thence the coast runneth North to Punta Aguada Cape Roxo hath certaine red cliffes Thou must steere West and by South from Cape Roxo to find Mona and so thou shalt haue sight of Mona And the marks thereof be these it is a low land lying East and West and on the East end it is highest it hath a slope towards the sea and standeth in 18â— degrees rather lesse then more And if it be by daâ— then thou shalt runne West and shalt see Saona which is an Island lying without Hispaniola and â—yeth East and West and is full of trees and hath certaine sandy bayes And if it bee cleere weather thou shalt see within the land of Hispaniola certaine hie hils called las Sierras de Yguey And being benighted vpon Mona then thou shalt steere West and by South because of certaine shoalds that lye off Saona but hauing day light and no sight of land thou shalt loofe vp Northwest and so passe by it and as thou goest along the coast of Hispaniola and seest the sea to be cast vp into the aire then thou shalt be about 10 leagues off the harbour of Santo Domingo and these mountings vp are called The Spoutes But I aduise thee that if thou bee benighted when thou fallest with Santo Domingo then thou must keepe the hils called Sierras de las minas viejas to the Northwest And if thou wouldest goe into Santo Domingo and meetest there with a forcible Northerly wind then the best way is to runne East till it be day And hauing daylight thou shalt cast abâ—ut and so thou must ply to wind-ward vntill the Northerly wind be done and when it is past make all the saile thou canst to hale with the sight of Calle de las Damas and when thou hast sight thereof thou shalt lye with thy stemme with a sandie Bay which lye thou the other side and then must take in thy maine saile and go so till thou bring thy selfe open with the midst of the riuer and so hauing opened the riuerâ— thou must go with great care in the middest of the same with all thy sailes vp except thy maine saile â—nd thou must haue thy boat out if it be needefull to sound or to tow thy ship if the cast too much to the loofe for the currents will cast here to the loofe wherefore bee sure to haue thy boat out to helpe thy steâ—rage and this is the way whereby thou must worke The course from Santo Domingo to go for Nueua Espanna I Aduise thee that if thou wilt goe from Santo Domingo for Nueua Espanna thou shalt goe Southwest and by South and so thou shalt haue sight of Punta de Niçao which is a low point and is the end of the hilles called Sierras de las minas Vieias and towards the Northwest of them thou shalt see a lowe land and to goe into Hocoa thou shalt stirre from this poynt of Niçao Westnorthwest and thou shalt see the point of Puerto Hermoso and the Bay that it maketh and thou must be sure to keepe neere the shore to find a good road and feare â—ot to go neere the land for all is deepe water and cleare ground and let not fall thine anker till thou be past all the riuers and beware of the land for if thou ride much without thy anker wil come home because it is rocky and slatte ground And thou must be ready that when thine anker commeth home thou haue thy moarings readie in thy boat to carry on shore with foure or fiue men and if thou thinke good thou mayest let them fall on land with a rope And when thou are come to anker thou mayest send on shore to moare so shalt thou be best moared The course from Hocoa to Nueua Espanna GOing from Hocoa to Nueua Espanna thou shalt stirre Southwest and this way thou shalt and the Isles Beata and Alto velo Beata hath these marks It is a low land with the sea and full of trees and on the East side an high land or cliffe and Alto velo hath these markes A blacke round land and the Eastermost part thereof is highest and it hath a downefall When thou art North and South with * then thou shalt go West vntill thou be so farre shot as the Frailes and from thence goe West and by North and keeping this course thou shalt haue sight of Cape Tiburon And if by keeping this course thou haue sight of a little Island thou mayest make account it is the Isle of Baque and it is hard to the land and from thence thou shalt go West keeping thy selfe out vntill thou double a poynt that maketh as it were a great Bay and then thou must go West and by North till thou come to Cape Tiburon that hath a round blacke land and in some part thereof certaine white cliffes I aduise thee that when thou art against Cape de Tiburon thou stirre Northwest and so thou shalt haue sight of Cuba which lyeth East and West and thou shalt see certaine hilles which are called Sierras del Cobre and in the highest of them is the harbour of S. Iago de Cuba and finding thy selfe so thou mayest runne West vnto Cape de Cruz. And before thou seest Cape de Cruz thou shalt see the hils called Sierras de Tarquino and from these hils to Cape de Cruz the land wareth lower and lower and it is lowest of all at the Cape it selfe And if thou chance to haue the water troubled as though thy ship did raise vp the sand from the ground be not afraid for this place is called The nine fathoms for thou shalt find no lesse water vpon it and it is the shallowest water that thou shalt haue Thou must marke that Cape de Cruz maketh an eâ—de of the coast that commeth from the East to the West and beginneth the course that goeth North and South and standeth in 19. degrees rather more then lesse From Cape de Cruz thou must stirre Westnorthwest and this way thou shalt haue sight of the Isle de Pinos and if thou haue faire weather then thou must goe Northwest and by West because of the currents that will set thee out to sea And keeping this course thou shalt haue sight of an high land I tell thee it is the marke of the Isles called los Iardines and is commonly called the land of Zagneio and then thou shalt goe West and by South and if it bee by night then goe Westsouthwest vntill thou haue brought thy selfe out from The Iardines And being by day thou shalt keepe off the land and
certayne shoald whereupon the sea doth alwayes beate I aduise thee that if thou canst not passe on the West side then thou must goe betwixt the sayd little copple that is like a sayle and the shoald for the passage is good But if thou depart from the Serranilla to the Northwest and seest a lowe land with the sea and certaine white sandy bayes and on the West side seest a low land and on the Eastside a little coast lying East and West thou mayest make account it is Cape de Corrientes And if thou goe from Cape de Corrientes for Cape de Santo Antonio thou must goe Westnorthwest and so thou shalt goe with the Cape The marks be a low land full of trees with certaine white sandie bayes and vpon the Cape it selfe thou shalt see two thicke groues of great trees and they be vpon the Cape it selfe To go from the Cape de Sant Antonio for Hauana in the time of the North winds thou shalt goe Northwest vntill thou be cleere of all the shoalds of the Cape and then hale thy bâ—wlines and go as neere the wind as thou canst possibly vntill thou bring thy selfe vnto 24. degrees and there sound and thou shalt find it the Tortugas and thy sounding will be white sand Thou must take heede what is said in the Chapter before for he that writ the same hath seene it and bene witnesse to this that comming from Seranilla and stirring North and by East he had sight of an Island standing in 16. degrees and it is on the shoalds of Cape de Camâ—ron And from thence if thou haue the wind large goe Northeast and by East because of the variation of the compasse and thou shalâ— make thy way Eastnortheast and thou shalâ— fall with Isla de Pinos This I I say because the currents set sometime West and so it fell out to bee true in March. Anno Domini 1582. I tell thee farther that wee came out from this aforesayd Isle stirring North and by East for the wind would not suffer vs to lye neerer the East and one euening at Sunne going downe we fell with a lâ—nd that had the â—ame markes to our iudgement with the Cape de Corrientes and because night was at hand we wrought to double Cape de Sanâ— Anâ—onio stirring West and about midnight we had land all high right aheadâ— the câ—â—st lying Southwest and then we cast and lay Northeast till day And bâ—ing day wee saw the land all ahead and we plied to wind-ward to the East and kept it a larboord till we had brought it Southwest And to be short we went hâ—re on land in the same place that we first fell wâ—th in the euening before and it was an Island called Coçumel lying on the coast of Incatan And this Island was the land which we saw first seeming by the marks to be the Cape de Corrieâ—tes Wee came to an ankeâ— about the middest of the Island rather to the Norther then the Souther part there we found a towne of Indians who gaue vs all things which we needed for our money and wee carried our Astrolabs on sâ—â—re and tooke the height in 19. degrees and one tierre A man may goe betweene this Island and the coast of â—ucaâ—an and the Cape de Cotoche at pleasure Northeast and the water wil set in thy fauour and thou must go till thou be in 24. degrees and so thou shalt haue the sounding of the Tortugas The course to be kept from the Cape de Santo Antonio for Nueua Espanna IF thou goe from the Cape de Santo Antonio for Nueua Espanna and beeing late thou shalt stirre Westnorthwest till thou be in the height of 24. degrees and from thence thou shalt stirre something to the West vntil thou bring thy selfe North and South with the litle Iland called Vermeja and when thou art so thou shalâ— go Southwest by this way thou shalt find Villa Rica which is in 19 degrees a halfe and the signes be these Thou shalt find a ledge of high hils lying Northeast and Southwest But if thou chance to fall with a coast that lieth North and South then thou mayest account that it is about the low ground of Almeria which hath these markes It is a land not very high and it is full of little copples And if thou haue cleare weather thou shalt see within the land certaine high hils which are called the hils of Papalo And I aduise thee that beeing so farre shotte as the poynt called Punta delgada which is the ende of all those hilles of Villa Rica thou mayest stirre thence South and by West and thou shalt goe along the coast and shalt see a lowe land and with this land thou shalt fall going for Saint Paul and being so farre shotte as Saint Paul if thou wilt goe in o the harbour thou must stirre Southwest and this is the course that thou must keepe being shotte into the Bay And thou shalt goe along the coast of the lowe land in sight thereof and keeping this course thou shalt see on the other side a blacke hill and it is called Monte de Carneros Take this for a note that it lyeth ouer the house of Buytron and as thou doest come neerer to the poynt of rockes thou must bee sure to keepe thy lead going and shalt haue foure fathomes and a halfe or fiue fathâ—mâ—s and so thâ—u mayest goe through the middest of the chanell And comming against the castle thou shalt giue it some breadth off towards the Aâ—recise or rocke and hauing doubled the castle thou shalt goe from thence and shalt bring thy selfe to an anker hard by the Herreria which is a cleane Bay and thou shalâ— ride against the hospitall I aduise thee that if thou be benighted when thou are neere to S. Paul and meetest with a Northerly wind after midnight that then thy best way is to bring thy selfe into thy coarses and lye by plying to windward and to seaward in 20. fathomes which depth thou shalt haue neere the shâ—re to the Northward and being day then goe in with the harbour as thou canst best obseruing what is abouesaid And I aduise thee if thou come from Villa Rica and findest thy selfe in 20. degrees and a halfe and seest no land and seest that the water doth alter thou shalt sound 60. fathomes water and if in this depth thou hast oaze make account thou art East and West with the riuer of Almeria This course is from the Cape of Santo Antonio to Nueua Espanna without or aseaboord the Alacranes or Scorpions Now followeth how to worke if a man come betwixt the Alacranes and the maine If thou goe from the Cape de Santo Antonio and wouldest goe for Nueua Espanna within the Alacranes thou must sâ—irre West and by South and by this way thou shalt bring thy selfe in 20. fathoms and
forsooth in deed Out of Bristowe and costes many one Men haue practised by nedle and by stone Thider wardes within a litle while Within twelue yere and without perill Gon and come as men were wont of old Oâ— Scarborough vnto the costes cold And nowe so fele shippes this yeere there ware That moch losse for vnfreyght they bare Island might not make hem to bee fraught Unto the Hawys thus much harme they caught Then here I ende of the commoditees For which neede is well to kepe the seas Este and Weste South and North they bee And chiefly kepe the sharpe narrow see Betweene Douer and Caleis and as thus that foes passe none without good will of vs And they abide our danger in the length What for our costis and Caleis in our strength An exhortation for the sure keeping of Caleis ANd for the loue of God and of his blisse Cherish yee Caleis better then it is See well thereto and heare the grete complaint That true men tellen that woll no lies paint And as yee know that wriâ—ing commeth from thence Doe nâ—t to England for slought so great offence But that redressed it bee for any thing Leste a song of sorrow that wee sing For litle weaâ—th the foole who so might these What harme it were good Caleis for to lese What wo it were for all this English ground Which wel câ—nceiued the Emperour Sigismound Thaâ— of all â—oyes made it one of the moste That Caleis was subiect vnto English coste Hun thought it was a iewel most of all Aâ—d so the same in Latine did it call And if yee wol more of Caleis heare and knowe I cast to write within a litle scrowe Like as I haue done before by and by In other parteis of our policie Loke how hard it was at the first to get And by my counsell lightly doe not it let For if wee lese it with shame of face Wilfully it is for lacke of grace Howe was Harflew tried vpon and Rone That they were likely for shought to be gone Howe was it warned and cried on in England I make record with this pen in my hand It was warened plainely in Normandie And in England and I thereon did crie The world was defrauded it betyde right so Farewell Harflew Iewdly it was a go Nowe ware Caleis I can say no better My soule discharge I by this present letter After the Chapitles of commodities of diuers lands sheweth the conclusion of keeping of the sea enuiron by a storie of King Edgar and two incidentâ— of King Edward the third and King Henrie the fifth Chap. 11. NOwe see we well then that this round see To our Noble by pariformitee Under the ship shewed there the sayle And our king with royal apparayle With swerd drawen bright and extent For to chastise enimies violent Should be lord of the sea about To keepe enimies from within and without To behold through Christianitee Mastâ—r and lord enuiron of the see All liuing men such a prince to dreed Of such a a râ—gne to bee aferd indeed Thus prâ—ue I well that it was thus of old Which by a Chronicle anon shal be told Right curious but I will interprete It into English as I did it gete Of king Edgar O most marueilous Prince liuing wittie and cheualerous So good that none of his predecessours Was to him liche in prudence and honours Hee was fortunate and more gracâ—ous Then other before and more glorious He was beneth no man in holines Hee passed all in vertuous sweetnes Of English kings was none so commendable To English men no lesse memorable Then Cyrus was to Perse by puissance And as great Charles was to them of France And as to the Romanes was great Romulus So was to England this worthy Edgarus I may not write more of his worthines For lacke of time ne of his holines But to my matter I him exemplifie Of conditions tweyne and of his policie Within his land was one this is no doubt And another in the see without That in time of Winter and of werre When boystrous windes put see men into fere Within his land about by all prouinces Hee passed through perceiuing his princes Lords aud others of the commontee Who was oppressour and who to pouertee Was drawen and brought and who was clene in life And was by mischiefe and by strife With ouer leding and extortion And good and badde of eche condition Hee aspied and his ministers al 's Who did trought and which of hem was fals Howe the right and lawes of the land Were execute and who durst take in hand To disobey his statutes and decrees If they were well kept in all countrees Of these he made subtile inuestigation Of his owne espie and other mens relation Among other was his great busines Well to ben ware that great men of riches And men of might in citie nor in towne Should to the poore doe non oppression Thus was hee wont in this Winter tide On such enforchise busily to abide This was his labour for the publike thing Thus was hee occupied a passing holy King Nowe to purpose in the Soonner faire Of lusty season whan clered was the aire He had redie shippes made before Great and huge not fewe but many a store Full three thousand and sixe hundred also Stately inough on our sea to goe The Chronicles say these shippes were full boysteous Such things long to kings victorious In Sommer tide would hee haue in wonne And in custome to be ful redie soone With multitude of men of good array And instruments of werre of best assay Who could hem well in any wise descriue It were not light for eny man aliue Thus he and his would enter shippes great Habtliments hauing and the fleete Of See werres that ioy full was to see Such a nauie and Lord of Maiestee There present in person hem among To saile and rowe enuiron all along So regal liche about the English isle To all strangers terrours and perile Whose fame went about in all the world stout Unto great fere of all that be without And exercise to Knights and his meynee To him longing of his natall cuntree For courage of nede must haue exercise Thus occupied for esshewin of vice This knew the king that policie espied Winter and Somer he was thus occnpied Thus conclude I by authoritee Of Chronike that enuiron the see Should bene our subiects vnto the King And hee bee Lord thereof for eny thing For great worship and for prostie also To defend his land fro euery foo That worthy king I leue Edgar by name And all the Chronike of his worthy fame Saffe onely this I may not passe away A worde of mightie strength till that I say That graunted him God such worship here For his merites hee was without pere That sometime at his great festiuitee Kings and Erles of many a countree And princes fele were there present And many
the pole eleuated 69. deg 13 minutes This day we had sight of Vaigatz the land of the maine of Pechora did trend Southeast we hald East southeast and had 10. fadoms oze all the same day vntill 4. in the after noone then being calme we ankered in 10. fadoms all the same night The 19. day at two in the morning we set saile and ran South and South southwest all the same day at 8.7 and 6. fadoms this was off the South part of Vaigatz this part of the land lieth North and South This day at 4. in the afternoone we found shallow water sometime 4. fadoms sometime 3. and 2. and a halfe and one fadome and a halfe there we ankered and sent our boate away to sound and all to leeward we had 4. foote and 3. foote and 2. foot there was not water for the boate betweene Vaigatz the other side finding no more water there was no other way but to goe backe as we came in hauing the wind Northwest so at twelue at niâ—ht we set saile The 20. day we plied to the Northwards and got deepe water againe 6. and 7. fadoms The 21. day the winde by the Northwest we hald along the coast North and North northwest we had 8. and 9. and 10. fadoms The 22. day the winde came to the Southwest wee bare along the coast of Vaygatz as wee found it to lie North and by West and Northnorthwest and North. The winde blewe very much with great fogge we lacking water and wood bare within an Island where wee founde great store of wood and water there were three or foure goodly founds Under two points there was a crosse set vp and a man buried at the foote of it Upon the said crosse Master Pet did graue his name with the date of our Lorde and likewise vpon a stone at the foote of the crosse and so did I also to the end that if the William did chaunce to come thither they might haue knowledge that wee had beene there At eight in the afternoone the winde came to the North northwest we set saile and turned out of the Bay The same night the winde came to the West so that wee lay North along the land The 23. day at fiue in the morning the wind came to the Southwest a Sea boord we sawe a great number of faire Islands to the number of sixe a sea boord of these Islands there are many great ouerfals as great streames or tides we halde Northeast and East northeast as the lande did trend At eight aforenoone the winde came to the Southeast with very much wind raine and fogge and very great store of ice a sea boorde so we lay to the Southwest to attaine to one of the Islands to harbour vs if the weather did so extremely continue and to take in our boate thinking it meete so to doe and not to towe her in such weather About twelue of the clocke it became very calme vpon the sudden and came vp to the West Northwest and Northwest by West and then we tooke in our boate and this done there came downe so much winde as we were not able to steere afore it with corse and bonnets of each we hald South with the land for so the land did trend This day all the afternoone we sailed vnder a great land of ice we sailed betweene the land and it being not able to crosse it About twelue at night we found the ice to stretch into the land that we could not get cleare to the Eastward so we laide it to the shore and there we founde it cleare hard aboord the shore and we found also a very faire Island which makes a very good harbour and within are 12. fadoms This Island is to y e Eastwards of Vaigatz 4. or 5. leagues This land of the maine doth trend Southeast and Southeast by East It is a very faire coast and euen and plaine and not full of mountaines nor rocks you haue but shallow water of 6. or 7. fadoms about a league from the shore all this morning we halled East southeast This day we found the pole to be eleuated 69. degrees 14. minutes About 12. a clocke we were constrained to put into the ice to seeke some way to get to the Northwards of it hoping to haue some cleare passage that way but there was nothing but whole ice About nine in the afternoone we had sight of the William and when wee sawe her there was a great land of ice betweene her and vs so that we could not come one to the other but as we came neere to her we sounded our trumpet and shot off two muskets and she put out her flag vpon her foretopmaste in token that she did see vs all this time wee did shorten our sailes and went with our foresaile maine top saile seeking the best way through the broken ice she making away the best that she could to follow vs we put out our flagge to answere her again with the like thus wee continued all the afternoone till about 12. a clocke at night and then we moared our ship to a piece of ice to tarie for the William The 25. day about fiue in the morning the William came to vs being both glad of our meeting The William had her sterne post broken that the rudber did hang clean besides the sterne so that she could in no wise port her helme with all hands she did lighten her sterne and trimme her head and when we had brought her forward all that we could wee brought a table vnder her sterne and without captaine did wind vp her sterne and so we made it as wel as the place would giue vs leane and in the ende wee brought her to steere againe Wee acknowledge this our meeting to be a great benefite of God for our mutuall comfort and so gaue his maiestie thanks for it All the night after we tooke our rest being made fast vpon a piece of ice the winde was at West Northwest but wee were so inclosed with ice that we coulde not tell which way to passe Windes wee haue had at will but ice and fogge too much against our willes if it had pleased the Lord God otherwise The 26. day the wind was at West Northwest we set saile to the Northwardes to seeke if we could finde any way cleare to passe to the Eastward but the further we went that way the more and thicker was the ice so that wee coulde goe no further So about foure in the afternoone we were constrained to moare vpon another piece of ice I thinke we sailed in all a league this day here we had 15. fadoms oze and this oze is all the chanell ouer All the same day after foure of the clocke and all the night we tarried there being without all good hope but rather in despaire This day Master Iugman did see land East Northeast from vs as he did thinke whether it were
of the Towne with his other boates and all his men unarmed and without weapons it was to be iudged he ment him little good hauing that aduantage of him that comming vpon the sudden hee might haue mischieued many of his men but the Captaine hauing vnderstanding thereof not trusting to their gentlenesse if they might haue the aduantage departed aboord his ships and at night returned againe and demanded amongst other talke what they ment by assembling their men in that order they answered that their Captaine being come to towne did muster his men according to his accustomed maner But it is to be iudged to bee a cloake in that comming for that purpose hee might haue done it sooner but the trueth is they were not of force vntill then whereby to enterprise any matter against vs by meanes of pikes and harquebuzes whereof they haue want and were now furnished by our Captaine and also 3. Faulcons which hauing got in other places they had secretly conueyed thither which made them the bolder and also for that they saw now a conuenient place to do such a feat and time also seruing thereunto by the meanes that our mâ—n were not onely vnarmed and vnprouided as at no time before the like but also were occupied in hewing of wood and least thinking of any harme these were occasions to prouoke them thereunto And I suppose they went about to bring it to effect in that I with another gentleman being in the towne thinking of no harme towards vs and seeing men assembling in armour to the treasurers house whereof I marueiled and reuoking to minde the former talke betweene the Captaine and him and the vnreadinesse of our men of whom aduantage might haue bene taken departed out of the Towne immediatly to giue knowledge thereof but before we come to our men by a flight-shot two horsemen riding a gallop were come neere vs being sent as wee did gesse to stay vs least wee should cary newes to our Captaine but seeing vs so neere our men they stayed their horses comming together and suffering vs to passe belike because wee were so neere that if they had gone about the same they had bene espied by some of our men which then immediatly would haue departed whereby they should haue bene frustrate of their presence and so the two horsemen ridde about the bushes to espie what we did and seeing vs gone to the intent they might shadow their comming downe in post whereof suspition might bee had fained a simple excuse in asking whether he could sell any wine but that seemed so simple to the Captaine that standing in doubt of their courtesie he returned in the morning with his three boats appointed with Bases in their noses and his men with weapons accordingly where as before he caried none and thus dissembling all iniuries conceiued of both parts the Captaine went ashore leauing pledges in the boates for himselfe and cleared all things betweene the treasurer and him sauing for the gouerners debt which the one by no meanes would answere and the other because it was not his due debt woulde not molest him for it but was content to remit it vntill another tune and therefore departed causing the two Barkes which rode neere the shore to weigh and go vnder saile which was done because that our Captaine demanding a testimoniall of his good behauiour there could not haue the same vntill hee were vnder saile ready to depart and therefore at night he went for the same againe receiued it at the treasurers hand of whom very courteously he tooke his leaue and departed shooting off the bases of his boat for his farewell and the townesmen also shot off foure Faulcons and 30. harquebuzes and this was the first time that he knew of the conueyance of their Faulcons The 31. of May wee departed keeping our course to Hispaniola and the fourth of Iune wee had sight of an yland which wee made to be Iamaica marueiling that by the vehement course of the Seas we should be driuen so farre to leeward for setting our course to the West end of Hispaniola we fel with the middle of Iamaica notwithstanding that to al mens sight it shewed a headland but they were all deceiued by the clouds that lay vpon the land two dayes together in such sort that we thought it to be the head land of the said yland And a Spaniard being in the ship who was a Marchant and inhabitant in Iamaica hauing occasion to go to Guinie and being by treason taken of the Negros afterwads bought by the Tangomangos was by our Captaine brought from thence and had his passage to go into his countrey who perceiuing the land made as though he knew euery place thereof and pointed to certaine places which he named to be such a place and such a mans ground and that behinde such a point was the harborow but in the ende he poiâ—ted so from one point to another that we were a leeboord of all places and found our selues at the West end of Iamaica before we were aware of it and being once to leeward there was no geâ—ting vp againe so that by trusting of the Spaniards knowledge our Captaine sought not to speake with any of the inhabitants which if he had not made himselfâ— sure of he would haue done as his custome was in other places but this man was a plague not onely to our Captaine who made him loose by ouershooting the place 2000. pounds by hides which hee might haue gotten but also to himselfe who being three yeeres out of his Countrey and in great misery in Guinie both among the Negros and Tangomangos and in hope to come to his wife and friendes as he made sure accompt in that at his going into the pinnesse when he went to shore he put on his new clothes and for ioy flung away his old could not afterwards finde any habitation neither there nor in all Cuba which we sailed all along but it fell out euer by one occasion or other that wee were put beside the same so that he was faine to be brought into England and it happened to him as it did to a duke of Samaria when the Israelites were besieged and were in great misery with hunger being tolde by the Prophet Elizaeus that a bushell of flower should be sold for a sickle would not beleeue him but thought it vnpossible and for that cause Elizaeus prophesied hee should see the same done but hee should not eate thereof so this man being absent three yeeres and not euer thinking to haue seene his owne Countrey did see the same went vpon it and yet was it not his fortune to come to it or to any habitation whereby to remaine with his friends according to his desire Thus hauing sailed along the coast two dayes we departed the seuenth of Iune bâ—ing made to beleeue by the Spaniard that it was not Iamaica but rather Hispaniola of which opinion the Captaine also was because
vntill hee bring himselfe Northeast and Southwest which the same point and then he must stirre away South to fetch the said pointâ— The signes of Punta de Naga THe said point or Head-land is an high point of Land and plaine vpon the toppe like a table and without it there are two litle rockie Islands and vpon the North side of the said point is another point called Punta de hidalgo anâ— vpon the top thereof are 2. picked rockes like vnto the eares of a Hare The course from the Canaries to the VVest Indies IF you set saile from any of the Islands of the Canaries for the West Indias you must stirre away 30. or 40 leagues due South to the ende you may auoid the calmes of the Island of Fierro and being so farre distant from the said Island then must you stirre away West Southwest vntill you finde your selfe in 20. degrees and then saile West and by South vntill you come to 15. degrees and ½ And from thence stirre away West and by North and so shall you make a West way by reason of the Northwesting of the Compasse which West way will bring you to the Island of Deseada The markes of the Island of Deseada THis Island Deseada lieth East Northeast and West Southwest hauing no trees vpon it and it is proportioned like a Galley and the Northeast ende thereof maketh a lowe nose like the snowe of a galley and by comming neere it and passing by the Norther ende thereof you shall perceiue white broken patches like heapes of sand with red strakes in them the south-Southwest end of this Island maketh like the tile of a galley And this Island standeth in 15. degrees and ½ Markes of the Island of Monserate MOnserate is an high Island and round full of trees and vpon the East side thereof you shall perceiue certain white spots like sheetes and being vpon the South side at the very point of the Island somewhat off the land it maketh like a litle Island and putting your selfe either East or West from that point in the midst thereof will appeare a great broken land Markes of the Island of Marigalanta MArigalanta is a smooth Island and full of wood or trees and as it were of the fashion of a galley vpon her decke and being on the Southeast side about halfe a league off you shall make certaine homocks of blacke stones and certain white patches but on the West side appeare faire white sandy shores or plaines Markes of the Isle of Dominica THe Island of Dominica lieth Northwest and Southeast and vpon the Northwest side it sheweth more high and if you come neere it at full sea it will shew like two Islands but by comming neerer vnto it you shall perceiue it to be but one and vpon the Southeast side you shall make or see a plaine and long point and vpon the same point appeareth a cliffe like to the cliffe of Cape Tiburon and vpon the North side a litle from the land it sheweth like a litle Island and vpon the top thereof is as it were an high steeple and vpon the Norther side you shall perceiue it like many white sheetes Markes of the Island of Guadalupe THe Island of Guadalupe lieth on the West of Deseada and vpon the Southwest part thereof appeare many hie mountaines but vpon the East side it maketh certaine tables which are called the high part of Guadalupe And this Island is cut North and South so that the Canoas of India do passe from the North to the South of it as if it were two Islands Markes of the Isle of Matalina or Martinino THe Isle of Matalina is high and full of mountaines hauing in the midst thereof 3. homocks the middlemost homocke being highest sheweth like the great bowle of an hat And vpon the North side it appeareth like three little Islands And in this Island there are warlik Indians like those of Dominica Markes of the three small Islands called Islas de Los Santos or the Islands of Saintes LOs Santos are 3. Islandes lying one close by another vpon the South side of Guadalupe For to goe with S. Iuan de Puerto rico you must stirre away Northwest vntill you fall with the Isle of Saba Markes to know the Isle of Saba SAba is a litle Island and round about it you shall see the bottome but feare not for there is no danger but that which you shall see and round about it it maketh as it were certaine heapes of white sand and by the side thereof it sheweth like a Ship vnder saile but follow that direction that I haue giuen and you shall see La virgin gorda Markes to know the Isle called La virgin gorda LA virgin gorda is an high Island and round and seeing it you shall espie all the rest of the Virgines which lye East and West one from another and are baâ—e without any trees You may goe about by them vntil you see the litle gray Island which you shal see by it selfe by the Virgines and comming neere to the sayd Island ouer that you shall by and by rayse sight of the white litle Iâ—land which seemeth like a ship vnder saile And if you will passe betweene this litle whiâ—e Iâ—land or bare rocke and the greene Island you must beware that you leaue the white Island on the larbourd side of you and come no neerer it then a Calieuer-shot and so shall you passe through 12. fadome-water and then stirre away Northnorthwest and so shall you enter into the Hauen of Puerto rico and if you chance to passe the sayd Island by night goe by the foresaid direction vntâ—ll the first watch be out and then take in your sayles and so driue vntill it bee neere day and then hoise sayles and stirre away Southwest seeking the sayde Port and when you come to the entring within you must stay till 10. of the clocke for the sea-turne And know that hauing the Loguilo at Southwest then shall the Harbour be off you North and South Directions from Monserate to Santa Cruz. HE that departeth from Monserate to Santa Cruz must stirre away Westnortwest and by the same course you shall seaze vpon S. Iuan de Puerto rico Markes to know the Isle of Santa Cruz. SAnta Cruz is an Island not very high all full of homocks and comming with it at full sea it will shew like the Virgines and vpon the East side there are two homocks higher then all the reâ—t And by this course you may goe to the Isle of S. Iuan de Puerto rico and hauing found it you may sayle along the South coast East and West vntill you come to Cabo Roxo Markes to know Cape Roxo CApe Roxo is a low Cape and trayling to the sea-ward hauing certaine heapes of broken ground thereon which are like a homocke and at full sea the same sheweth like a litle Island from the land by it selfe but comming neere vnto
cast off another and filled our owne ships with the necessaries of them The 8 day wee put off to sea but yet with much adoe came againe to our ankoring place because of the weather The 10 day the admirall sent for vs to come aboord him and being come hee opened a Carde before all the company and tolde vs that my lords voyage for the South sea was ouerthrowen for want of able men and victuals and that therefore hee thought it best to plie for some of the Islands of the West India or the Açores to see if they could meete with some good purchase that might satisfie my lord These wordes were taken heauily of all the company and no man would answere him but kept silence for very griefe to see my lords hope thus deceiueâ— and his great expenses and costs cast away The common sort seeing no other remedie were contented to returne as well as he The 16 day wee espied a sayle whereupon our pinnesse and Dalamor gaue her chase and put her ashore vpon the Island where the men forsooke her and ran away with such things as they could conueniently carte our pinnesse boorded her and found little in her they tooke out of her nine chests of sugar and one hogge and 35 pieces of pewter and so left her vpon the sands From this time forward we began to plie Northwards and the first of Iuly fell with the land againe where we fished and found reasonable good store I tooke the latitude that day and found our selues in 10 degrees and 22 minutes The 7 day we determined to fall with Fernambuck and wee came so neere it that Dalamor as he told vs espied some of the ships that were in the harbour yet notwithstanding we all fell to leeward of the riuer could not after that by any meanes recouer the height of it againe but we ceased not on all parts to endeuour the best we could oftentimes lost company for a day or two one of another but there was no remedie but patience for to Fernambuck we could not come hauing so much ouershot it to the Northward and the wind keeping at the South and Southwest The 20 day I tooke the Sunne in 5 degrees 50 minuts which was 2 degrees to the Northward of Fernambuck and the further wee went the more vnto wardly did the rest of our ships worke either to come into hauen or to keepe company one with another And â—ruely I suppose that by reason of the froward course of the Admirall he meant of purpose to lose vs for I know not how the neerer we endeuoured to be to him the further off would he beare from vs and wee seeing that kept on our owne course and lookt to our selues as well as we could The 24 day our whole company was called together to consultation for our best course some would goe for the West India some directly North for England and in conclusion the greater part was bent to plie for our owne countrey considering our necessities of victuals and fresh water and yet if any place were offered vs in the way not to omit it to seeke to fill water The 26 day in the morning we espied a lowe Island but we lost it againe and could descrie it no more This day we found our selues in 3 degrees and 42 minutes The 27 day we searched what water we had left vs and found but nine buts onely so that our captaine allowed but a pinte of water for a man a day to preserue it as much as might be wherâ—with euâ—ry man was content and we were then in number fiftie men and boyes The first of August we found our selues 5 degrees to the Northward of the line all which moneth we continued our course homâ—ward withoâ—t touching any where toward the end whereof a sorrowfull accident fell out in our hulke which being deuided from vs in a calme fell a fire by some great negligence and perished by that meanes in the seas wee being not able any wayes to helpe the ship or to saue the men The 4 day of September we had brought our selues into the height of 41 degrees 20 minutes somwhat to the Northwards of the Islands of the Açores and thus bulting vp and downe with contrary winds the 29 of the same moneth we reachâ—d the coast of England and so made an end of the voyage A discourse of the West Indies and South sea written by Lopez Vaz a Portugal borne in the citie of Eluas continued vnto the yere 1587. Wherein among diuers rare things not hitherto deliuered by any other writer certaine voyages of our Englishmen are truâ—ly reported whâ—ch was intercepted with the author thereof at the riuer of Plate by Captaine Withrington and Captaine Christopher Lister in the fleete set foorth by the right Honorable the Erle of Cumberland for the South sea in the yeere 1586. FRancis Drâ—ke an Englishman being on the sea and hauing knowledge of the small strength of the towne of Nombre de Dios came into the harborough on a night with foure pinnesses and landed an hundreth and fifty men and leauing one halfe of his men with a trumpet in a fort which was there hee with the rest entred the towne without doing any harme till hee came at the market place and there his company discharging their calieuers and sounding their trumpets which made a great noyse in the towne were answered by their fellowes in the force who discharged and sounded in like maner This attempt put the townesmen in such extreme feare that leauing their houses they fled into the mountaines and there be thought themselues what the matter should be in the towne remaining as men amazed at so sudden an alarme But the Spaniards being men for the most part of good discretion ioyned foureteene or fifteene of them together with their pieces to see who was in the towne and getting to a corner of the market-place they discouered the Englishmen and perceiuing that they were but a few discharged thâ—ir pieces at them and their fortune was such that they slew the trumpetter and shot the captaine whose name was Francis Drake into the legge who feeling himselfe hurt retired toward the Fort where he had left the rest of his men but they in the Fort sounded their trumpet and being not answered againe and hearing the calieuers discharged in the towne thought that their fellowes in the towne had bene slaine and thereupon fled to their Pinnesses Now Francis Drake whom his men carried because of his hurt when he came to the fort where he left his men and saw them fled he and the rest of his company were in so great feare that leauing their furniture behinde them and putting off their hose they swamme waded all to their Pinnesses and departed forth of the harbour so that if the Spaniards had followed them they might haue slaine them all Thus Captaine Drake did no more harme at Nombre
of people it contayneth about some two hundred houses And because it adioyneth vpon the plaine of Arauco where these valiant Indians bee therefore this towne is enuironed about with a strong wall and hath a fort built hard by it and here are 500 souldiers continually in garrison Betweene this place and Valparizo the Indians call the coast by the name of Mapocha Sant Iago it selfe standing 25 leagues vp into the countrey is the principall towne of all Chili and the seate of the gouernour it consisteth of about 800 houses The port of Valparizo whither the goods come from Lima by shipping hath about twentie houses standing by it The next towne neere the sea side beyond this is Coquimbo which standeth two leagues vp into the land and containeth about 200 houses Next vnto Coquimbo standeth a port-towne called Copiapo inhabited altogether by Indians which serue the Spaniards and here a gentleman which is gouernour of the towne hath an Ingeuio for sugar at this place endeth the whole prouince of Chili Here also the mountaines ioyning hard vpon the sea are the cause why all the land betweene Copiapo and Peru containing 160 leagues lyeth desolate The first towne on the coast of Peru called Atacama is inhabited by Indians which are slaues vnto the Spaniards But before I passe any farther I will here also declare vnto you the first discouerie of Peru with other matters there to belonging and then will I returne to the sea-coast againe and to the ende you may vnderstand mee the better I will begin with Panama After that the Spaniards had inhabited the North side of this maine land passing ouer the mountaines they discouered the South sea where because they found Indian people with gold and pearles they built a towne eighteene leagues to the West of Nombre de Dios hard vpon the sea-side and called it Panama From hence they discouered along the coast of Nueua Espanna and for that Nueua Espanna was at the same time inhabited by Spaniards there beganne a trade from thence to Panama but from Panama by sea to the coast of Peru they could not trade in a long time because of the Southerly winds blowing on this coast almost all the yeere long which are a hinderance to shippes sayling that way and by land the passage was impossible in regard of mountaines and riuers yea it was fifteene yeeres before they passed the Island of Pearles which is but twentie leagues from Panama There were at this time in Panama two men the one called Francisco Piçarro borne in the citie of Truxillo in Spaine a valiant man but withall poore the other called Diego de Almagro was very rich These men got a company vnto them and prouided two Carauels to discouer the coast of Peru and hauing obtained licence of the gouernour of that place Francisco Piçarro set foorth with two foresayd Carauels and 100 men and Diego de Almagro stayed in Panama to send him victuals and other necessaries Now Francisco Piçarro sayling along the coast met with much contrary winds and raine which put him to great trouble and he began also after a while to lacke victuals for hee was sailing of that in eight moneths which they now passe in fifteene dayes and not knowing the right course hee ranne into euery riuer and bay that hee saw along the coast which was the chiefe cause that hee stayed so long on his voyage also thirtie of his company dyed by reason of the vnhealthfulnesse of the coast At last hee came to an Island called by him Isla del Gallo being situate from the maine land sixe leagues From hence he sent one of his ships to Panama for a new supply of victuals of men which ship being departed 40 of his men that remained behind made a mutiâ—y and passed vp into the countrey meaning to returne by land to Panama but in the way they all perished for they were neuer heard of vntill this day So that Francisco Piçarro was left vpon the said Island onely with thirteene men who although he had his ship there in which he might haue returned yet would he rather die then goe backe and his 13 men also were of his opinion notwithstanding that they had no other victuals but such as they had from the maine land in the night season Thus he continued nine moneths before any succour was brought him from Panama but in the end his ship returned with 40 men onely and victuals whereupon hee prosecured his voyage till he came to the first plaine countrey of Peru called Tumbez where he found a fort made by the king of Peru against the Indians of the mountaines Wherefore Piçarro and his men were very glad in that they had found a people of so good vnderstanding and discretion being rich also in gold and siluer and well apparelled At this port of Tumbez hee tooke 30000 pezos of gold in trucke of marchandize and hauing too few men to proceede any further hee carried two Indians with him to learne the language and returned backe for Panama Upon this discouery Francisco Piçarro thought it expedient to trauell into Spaine to â—raue of the king the conquest of this land Whither being come the king granted his request And with the money which he carried ouer with him he hired a great number of men with a fleete of ships and brought also along with him foure of his brethren very valiant and hardy men And being come to Panama he straightway went on his voyage for Peru being accompanied with his partner Diego de Almagro They sailed first to the Island called Isla del Gallo where Francisco Piçarro and his brethren went on land and left Diego de Almagro in the ships And the whole number which afterward landed on the maine land were 60 horsemen and 120 footemen with two great field-peeces But before we proceede any farther we thinke it not amisse to describe vnto you the situation of Peru and the naturall disposition of the inhabitants This countrey was called Peru by the Spaniards of a riuer so named by the Indians where they first came to the sight of gold From which riuer standing vnder the line till you come to Copiapo the first towne on the coast of Chili stretcheth the land of Peru for the space of eight hundred leagues vpon sixe hundred whereof from Aâ—acama to Tumbez did neuer drop of raine fall since the flood of Noah and yet is it the fruitfullest land for all kind of victuals and other necessaries for the sustentation of mans life that is to be found in all the world besides The reason why it raineth not in this land is because it beeing a plaine countrey and very narrow and low situate betweene the Equinoctiall and the tropique of Capricorne there runneth on the West frontier not aboue twentie leagues from the sea called Mar del Sur Eastward thereof a mighty ridge of high mountaines couered with snow the height of which mountaines so draweth
Cape S. Francisco the course is North by East South and by West and the distance is 40 leagues Item Frâ—m Cape S. Francisco vnto the cape that is called Cape Blanco which cape is on the coast of New Spaine the course is Northnortheast and Southsouthwest and the distance is 160 leagues and you shall haue a great current that setteth out of the bay of Panama and the sayd current setteth South out Item From Cape Blanco vnto the Port de Veles the course is Northeast and Southwest and the distance 8 leagues Item From the Port de Veles vnto the port of S. Iohn the course is Northwest and Southeast and the distance is 17 leagues Item From the port of S. Iohn vnto Rio Lexo the course is Northwest and Southeast and the distance is 40 leagues Item From Râ—o Lexo vnto the gulfe of Fonsecco the course is Westnorthwest and Eastsoutheast and they are distant 14 leagues Item In the mouth of Rio Lexo there lieth one iland and you must goe in on the Northwest part of that iland on the which iland you may be bolde for to borrow on and you must goe from that iland Southeast vp Item That in the gulfe of Fonsecco you shall haue lying ten ilands whereof three be peopled with Indians whereon you may haue water wood and salt Item On the West side of the gulfe of Fonsecco there is one towne of Indians which is called Mapal in which towne there is great store of beeues Item From the râ—uer Lexo vnto the bay of Sonsonate the course is East and West and the distance is 60 leagues Item From the bay of Sonsonate vnto the port of Aguaâ—â—lco the course is Northwest and by West Southeast aâ—d by East and the distance 160 leagues Item From the bay of Coppeleto vnto the port of Aguaâ—ulco it is 2 leagues the course is West and by North East and by South Item From the port of Aguatulco vnto the port of Angeles the course is East and West and they â—re distant 12 leagues Item From the port of Aguatulco vnto the port of Acapulco the course is West by North East and by South and the dâ—stance is 78 leagues Item From the port of Acapulco vnto the port of S. Iago the course is West and by North East and by South and the distance is 80 leagues Item From the port of S. Iago vnto the port of Natiuidad the course is East and West and the distance is 7 leagues Item From the port of Natiuidad vnto port of the ilands of Chiametla the course is East and West and the distance is 10 leagues Item From the ilands of Chiametla vnto Cape de los Corrientes the course is Northwest and by West Southeast and by East and the distance is 30 leagues Item From the Cape de los Corrientes vnto the bay of Xalisco the course is Northnortheast and Southsouthwest and the distance is 18 lâ—agues Item From the bay of Xalisco vnto the port of Chiametlan the course is Northnortheast and Southsouthwest and the distance is 30 lâ—agues Item From the Caâ—e de los Corrientes vnto tâ—e ilands called Las â—â—es Marias the course is Northwest and Southeaâ—â—â—nd tâ—e distance is 20 leagues Item From the Câ—pe de los Câ—rrientes vnto the cape of Santa Clara on the point of California the course is Weâ—tâ—orthwest and Eastsoutheast and the distance is 108 leagues A note from the coast of America vnto the Westwards ITem From the cape of Santa Clâ—ra vnto the ilands of The Ladrones the course is West and by South East and by Nâ—â—th and the distance betweene thâ—m is 1850 leagues Item That the â—ouâ—â—eâ—most iland of the Ladrones standeth in the latitude of 12 degrees and 10 minuts and from theâ—ce vnto the Northâ—rmost iland the course is Nâ—rthnortheast Sâ—uthsouthwest and the distaâ—ce betweene them is 200 leagues and the said Norâ—hermost iland standeth in 21 degrees 10 minuts Item From one of the ilands of the Ladrones which standeth in the latitude of 13 degrees and 50 minuts which iland is called Guâ—ihaâ—me vnto the Cape de Spirito santo which cape is vpon one of the ilands of the Philippinas the course is West and to the Southwards and the distance is 320 leagues Item From the cape of Spirito santo vnto the mouth of the entrance of the Streights of the Philippinas the course is West and by North East and by South and the distance is 15 leagues Item From the mouth of the Streights vnto the iland of Capul the course is Southwest and by West 6 leagues Item From the iland of Capul vnto the North head of the iland called Masbat the course is Northwest and Southeast and the distance betweene them is 15 leagues Item From the North head of the iland called Masbat vnto the iland called Seboion the course is Westsouthwest and Eastnortheast and the distance betweene them is 15 leagues A note of our course kept from the iland Seboion vnto the Southwards ITem From the iland of Seboion vnto the East end of the iland called Pannay the course is Southeast and by South Northwest and by West and the distance is 22 leagues Item That off the Easter end of the iland of Pannay there lie certâ—ine small ilands vnto the number of 12 or more and you shall haue shoald water among them Item From the Easter end of Pannay vnto a bay that iâ— called The bay of Lago grande on the same iland the course is Westsouthwest and Eastnortheast and the diâ—â—ance is 18 leagues Item From the bay of Lago grande vnto the iland that is called Ysla de los Negros is the distance of 6 leagues Southeast and Northwest Item From the bay of Lago grande vnto three small ilands that stand in the latitude of 10 degrees the course is South and by West 12 leagues Furthermore from those three ilands vnto the Westermost end of Ysla de los Negros the course is Southwest and Northeast 10 leagues where we were cleere of the ilands of the Philippinas Item From the South end of Ysla de los Negros vnto the North head of the iland called Mindanao the course is South and North and the distance is 30 leagues Item From the North end of Mindanao vnto the South head of the sayd iland which is called Cape Cannal the course is South and by West North and by East and the distance is 26 leagues Item From the cape of Cannal betweene the South and the Westsouthwest about 10 or 12 leagues off you shall haue great store of small ilands about the number of 24 or more Item From the cape of Cannal vnto the cape of Batochina the course is Souâ—hsouthwest and Northnortheast and the distance is 100 leagues and betweene them setteth a great current vnto the Eastward Item
From the cape of Batochina vnto the West head of Iaua minor the course is Southwest aâ—d by South Northeast and by North and the distance betweene them is 220 leagues Item From the West end of Iaua minor vnto the East end of Iaua maior the course is West and by North and East by South and the distance betweene them is 18 leagues in the which course there lieth one iland betweene them which iland is in length 14 leagues Item From the East end of Iaua maior vnto the cape of Buena Esperança the course is West and by South and Westsouthwest and the distance betweene them is 1800 leagues Item That Cape Falso standeth 30 leagues to the Eastward of Cape de Buena Esperança off the sayd Cape Falso you shal haue shoalding 20 leagues off in 80 or 90 fadoms the course is from Caâ—e Falso vnto the cape of Buena Esperança Westnorthwest and Eastsoutheast A note of the distance and course from the cape of Buena Esperanza vnto the Northwards ITem From the cape of Buena Esperança vnto the iland of Santa Helena the course is Northwest and Northwest aâ—d by West and the distance betweene thâ—m is 600 leagues Item From the iland of Santa Helena vnto the iland of Flores the course betweene them is Northnorthwest and Northwest and by North and the distaâ—ce betweene them is 1200 leagues Item From the iland of Flores vnto the lands end of England the course is betweene the Eastnortheast and the Northeast and by East and the distance betweene them is foure hundred and fifty leagues A note of the variation of our Compasse IN primis The variation of our compasse on the coast of New Spaine iâ— the South sea in tâ—e latitude of 12 degrees was one point to the Eastwards Item the variation of our compasse betweene â—he cape of California and the ilands of the Philippinas was one point and an halfe vnto the Eastward that was that the North did stand North and by East and halfe a point vnto the East Item The variation of our compasse betweene the ilands of Maluco and the cape of Buena Esperança was two points and an halfe at the most to the Westward that was that the Northnortheast was our North. A note of our time spent in sailing betweene certeine places out of England 1586. IN primis We were sailing betweene England and the coast of Guinea from the 21 day of Iuly vnto the 26 day of August vnto the hauen called Sierra leona where we watered and stayed vntill the 6 day of September Item Wee departed from the coast of Guinea for the coast of Brasil the 10 day of September and wee had sight of the coast of Brasil the 26 day of October being sixe leagues to the Northwards of Cape Frio and from thence wee were sailing vnto the iland of S. Sebastian vntill the 31 and last day of October where we watered and set vp our pinnesse and we ankered on the Northwest part of the iland in tenne fadoms and stayed there vntill the 23 day of Nouember Item The 23 day of Nouember we departed from the iland of Sant Sebastian keeping our course South and by West vnto the port that is called Port Desire where we arriued the 17 day of December in which port we graued our shippe and we stayed there vntill the 28 day of December where we ankered in 5 fadoms Item The eight and twentieth day of December wee departed from the Port of Desire toward the Streight of Magellan where wee arriued the third day of Ianuary and wee remained in the Streights vntill the foure and twentieth day of February where we watered in many places on the South side hauing the winde all that while betweene the Westsouthwest and the Northwest Item We departed out of the Streights the 24 day of February toward the iland of Mocha which island we had sight of the 14 day of March. Item The 14 day of March at night we ankered in the bay of Marroccos where we rode in 9 fadoms water Item The 15 day of March we ankered in the iland of Saint Marie on the North part of the island in eight fadoms water blacke sand wheâ—e we stayed foure dayes Item The 19 day of March we departed frâ—â— the island of Saint Marie and the same day we ankered in the bay of Conception where we stayed vntill the next day and there we rode in ten fadoms water shiâ—gie stones Item The 20 day of March we departed from the bay of Conception and the thirtieth day of March we arriued in the bay of Quintero where wâ— watered and there the first day of April we had twelue of our men slaine being on land for water and we stayed there sixe dayes and we ankered in 7 fadoms water white sand Item We departed from the bay of Quintero the 5 day of April and we arriued at the bay of Arica the 24 day of April and we ankered in 7 fadoms water Item The 27 day of April we departed from the bay of Arica and the third day of May we arriued in the bay of Pisca and we ankered in 4 fadoms water in oaze Item The 5 day of May we departed from the bay of Pisca and the 12 day we ankered in the bay of Cherrepe where we ankered in 7 fadoms water in white sand Item The 18 day of May we departed from the bay of Cherrepe and the 20 day of May we arriued in the bay of Payta where we ankered in 6 fadoms water Item The 20 day of May we departed from the bay of Paita and the 26 day of May we ankered at the iland of Puna and we ankered in 5 fadoms Item From the iland of Puna we departed the fourth day of Iune vnto Rio dolce in the main where we watâ—red and we ankered in 10 fadoms water browne sand Item The 12 day of Iune we departed from the place where we watered being bound for the coast of New Spaine and the 29 day of Iuly wee arriued in the port of Aguatulco where wee watered and ankered in 6 fadoms water Item The 3 day of August we departed from the port of Aguatulco and the 26 day of August we arriued at the port of S. Iago where wee watered and stayed there vntill the second day of September and ankered in 6 fadoms Item The 2 of Septâ—mber we departed from the port of S. Iago and the 3 day of September we put into a port one league vnto the Westwards of Natiuidad where we ankered in 8 fadoms water Item The 4 day of September wee departed from the port of Natiuidad and the 7 day of September we put into the bay of Xalisco where we ankered in 9 fadoms water and the 10 day of September we departed from the bay of Xalisco and the 12 day of September we ankered
seuen of the clocke Northnorthwest 42 leagues to the ende to fall with Shotland then the wind veared to the West so that we could lie but North and by West continuing in the same course 40 leagues whereby we could not fetch Shotland then we sayled North 16 leagues by estimation after that North and by West Northnorthwest then Southeast with diuers other courses trauersing and tracing the seas â—y reason of sundry and manifolde contrary windes vntill the 14 day of Iuly and then the sunne entring into Leo we discouered land Eastward of vs vnto the which we sayled that night as much as we might and after wee went on shore with our Pinnesse found little houses to the number of 30 where we knew that it was inhabited but the people were fled away as we iudged for feare of vs. The land was all full of little Islands and that innumerable which were called as we learned afterwards AEgeland and Halgeland which lieth from Orfordnesse North and by East being in the latitude of 66 degrees The distance betweene Orfordnesse and AEgeland 250 leagues Then we sailed from thence 12 leagues Northwest and found many other Islandes and there came to anker the 19 day and manned our Pinnesse and went on shore to the Islands and found people mowing and making of hay which came to the shore and welcomed vs. In which place were an innumerable sort of Islands which were called the Isles of Rost being vnder the dominion of the king of Denmarke which place was in latitude 66 degrees and 30 minutes The winde being contrary we remayned there three dayes there was an innumerable sort of foules of diuers kindes of which we tooke very many The 22 day the winde comming fayre we departed from Rost sailing Northnortheast keeping the sea vntill the 27 day and then we drew neere vnto the land which was still East of vs then went foorth our Pinnesse to seeke harborow found many good harbours of the which we entred into one with our shippes which was called Stanfew and the land being Islands were called Lewfoot or Lofoot which were plentifully inhabited and very gentle people being also vnder the king of Denmarke but we could not learne how farre it was from the maine land and we remained there vntil the 30 day being in latitude 68 degrees and from the foresaid Rost about 30 leagues Northnortheast The 30 day of Iuly about noone we weyed our ankers and went into the Seas and sayled along these Islands Northnortheast keeping the land still in sight â—ntill the second day of August then hailing in close aboord the land to the entent to knowe what land it was there came a skiffe of the Island aboord of vs of whom we asked many questions who shewed vnto vs that the Island was called Seynam which is the latitude of seuenty degrees and from Stanfew thirtie leagues being also vnder the king of Denmarke and that there was no merchandise there but onely dryed fish and traine oyle Then we being purposed to goe vnto Finmarke inquired of him if we might haue a pilot to bring vs vnto Finmarke he said that if we could beare in we should haue a good harbour and on the next day a pilot to bring vs to Finmarke vnto the wardhouse which is the strongest holde in Finmarke and most resorted to by report But when wee would haue entred into an harbour the land being very high on euâ—ry side there came such flawes of winde and terrible whirle winds that we were not able to beare in but by violence were constrained to take the sea agayne our Pinnesse being vnshipt we sailed North and by East the wind increasing so sort that we were not able to beare any saile but tooke them in and lay a drift to the end to let the storme ouer passe And that night by violence of winde and thickenesse of mists we were not able to keepe together within sight and then about midnight we lost our pinnesse which was a discomfort vnto vs. Assoone as it was day and the fogge ouerpast we looked about and at the last we descried one of our shippes to Leeward of vs then we spred an bullocke of our fore-saile and bare roome with her which was the Confidence but the Edward we could not see Then the flaw something abating we and the Confidence hoysed vp our sailes the fourth day sayling Northeast and by North to the end to fall with the Wardhouse as we did consult to doe before in case we should part company Thus running Northeast and by North and Northeast fiftie leagues then we sounded and had 160 fadomes whereby we thought to be farre from land and perceiued that the land lay not as the Globe made mention Wherfore we changed our course the sixt day and sailed Southeast and by South eight and fortie leagues thinking thereby to find the Wardhouse The eight day much winde rising at the Westnorthwest we not knowing how the coast lay strook our sayles and lay a drift where we sounded and found 160 fadomes as afore The ninth day the wind â—earing to the South Southeast we sailed Northeast 25 leagues The tenth day we sounded and could get no ground neither yet could see any land wherat we wondered then the wind comming at the Northeast we ran Southeast about 48 leagues The 11 day the wind being at South we sounded and found 40 fadoms aud faire sand The 12 day the winde being at South and by East we lay with our saile East and East and by North 30 leagues The 14 day early in the morning we descried land which land we bare with all hoising out our boat to discouer what land it might be but the boat could not come to land the water was so shoale where was very much ice also but there was no similitude of habitation and this land lyeth from Seynam East and by North 160 leagues being in latitude 72 degrees Then we plyed to the Northward the 15,16 and 17 day The 18 day the winde comming at the Northeast and the Confidence being troubled with bilge water and stocked we thought it good to seeke harbâ—ur for her redresse then we bare roome the 18 day Southsoutheast about 70 leagues The 21 day we sounded and found 10 fadome after that we sounded againe and found but 7 fadome so shoalder and shoalder water and yet could see no land where we maruâ—iled greatly to auoide this danger we bare roomer into the sea all that night Northwest and by West The next day we sounded and had 20. fadoms then shaped our course and ran West Southwest vntill the 23. day then we descried Low land vnto which we bare as nigh as we could and it appeared vnto vs vnhabitable Then wee plyed Westward along by that lande which lyeth West Southwest and East Northeast and much winde blowing at the West we haled into the sea North and by East 30. leagues Then the
beastes skinnes In those partes they haue but small store of cattell The Mosco it selfe is great I take the whole towne to bee greater then London with the suburbes but it is very rude and standeth without all order Their houses are all of timber very dangerous for fire There is a faire Castle the walles whereof are of bricke and very high they say they are eighteene foote thicke but I doe not beleeue it it doth not so seeme notwithstanding I doe not certainely know it for no stranger may come to viewe it The one side is ditched and on the other side runneth a riuer called Moscua which runneth into Tartarie and so into the sea called Mare Caspium and on the North side there is a base towne the which hath also a bricke wall about it and so it ioyneth with the Castle wall The Emperour lieth in the castle wherein are nine fayre Churches and therin are religious men Also there is a Metropolitane with diuers Bishops I will not stande in description of their buildinges nor of the strength thereof because we haue better in all points in England They be well furnished with ordinance of all sortes The Emperours or Dukes house neither in building nor in the outward shew nor yet within the house is so sumptuous as I haue seene It is very lowe built in eight square much like the olde building of England with small windowes and so in other poynts Now to declare my comming before his Maiestie After I had remained twelue daies the Secretary which hath the hearing of strangers did send for me aduertising me that the Dukes pleasure was to haue me to come before his Ma. with the kings my masters letters whereof I was right glad and so I gaue mine attendance And when the Duke was in his place appointed the interpretour came for me into the vtter chamber where sate one hundred or moe gentlemen all in cloth of golde very sumptuous and from thence I came into the Counsaile chamber where sate the Duke himselfe with his nobles which were a faire company they sateround about the chamber on high yet so that he himselfe sate much higher then any of his nobles in a chaire gilt and in a long garment of beaten golde with an emperial crowne vpon his head and a staffe of Cristall and golde in his right hand and his other hand halfe leaning on his chaire The Chancelour stoode vp with the Secretary before the Duke After my dutie done and my letter deliuered he bade me welcome enquired of me the health of the King my master and I answered that he was in good health at my departure from his court and that my trust was that he was now in the same Upon the which he bade me to dinner The Chancelour presented my present vnto his Grace bareheaded for before they were all couered and when his Grace had receiued my letter I was required to depart for I had charge not to speake to the Duke but when he spake to me So I departed vnto the Secretaries chamber where I remayned two houres and then I was sent for againe vnto another palace which is called the golden palace but I saw no cause why it should be so called for I haue seene many fayrer then it in all poynts and so I came into the hall which was small and not great as is the Kings Maiesties of England and the table was couered with a tablecloth and the Marshall sate at the ende of the table with a little white rod in his hand which boorde was full of vessell of golde and on the other side of the hall did stand a faire cupborde of place From thence I came into the dining chamber where the Duke himselfe sate at his table without cloth of estate in a gowne of siluer with a crowne emperiall vpon his head he sate in a chaire somewhat hie There sate none neare him by a great way There were long tables set round about the chamber which were full set with such as the Duke had at dinner they were all in white Also the places where the tables stoode were higher by two steppes then the rest of the house In the middest of the chamber stoode a table or cupbord to set place on which stoode full of cuppes of golde and amongst all the rest there stoode foure maruellous great pottes or crudences as they call them of golde and siluer I thinke they were a good yarde and a halfe hie By the cupborde stoode two gentlemen with napkins on their shoulders and in their handes each of them had a cuppe of gold set with pearles and precious stones which were the Dukes owne drinking cups when he was disposed he drunke them off at a draught And for his seruice at meate it came in without order yet it was very rich seruice for all were serued in gold not onely he himselfe but also all the rest of vs and it was very massie the cups also were of golde and very massie The number that dined there that day was two hundred persons and all were serued in golden vessell The gentlemen that waited were all in cloth of gold and they serued him with their caps on their heads Before the seruice came in the Duke sent to euery man a great shiuer of bread and the bearer called the party so sent to by his name aloude and sayd Iohn Basiliuich Emperour of Russia and great Duke of Moscouia doth reward thee with bread then must all men stand vp and doe at all times when those wordes are spoken And then last of all he giueth the Marshall bread whereof he eateth before the Dukes Grace and so doth reuerence and departeth Then commeth the Dukes seruice of the Swannes all in pieces and euery one in a seuerall dish the which the Duke sendeth as he did the bread and the bearer sayth the same wordes as he sayd before And as I sayd before the seruice of his meate is in no order but commeth in dish by dish and then after that the Duke sendeth drinke with the like saying as before is tolde Also before dinner hee changed his crowne and in dinner time two crownes so that I saw three seuerall crownes vpon his head in one day And thus when his seruice was all come in hee gaue to euery one of his gentlemen waiters meate with his owne hand so likewise drinke His intent thereby is as I haue heard that euery man shall know perfectly his seruants Thus when dinner is done hee calleth his nobles before him name by name that it is wonder to heare howe he could name them hauing so many as he hath Thus when dinner was done I departed to my lodging which was an hower within night I will leaue this and speake no more of him nor his houshold but I will some what declare of his land and people with their nature and power in the wars This Duke is Lord and Emperour of many countreis his power is marueilous
worke that euer I saw the eyes and mouthes of sundrie of them were bloodie they had the shape of men women and children very grosly wrought that which they had made for other parts was also sprinckled with blood Some of their idols were an olde sticke with two or three notches made with a knife in it I saw much of the footing of the sayd Samoeds and of the sleds that they ride in There was one of their sleds broken and lay by the heape of idols there I saw a deers skinne which the foules had spoyled and before certaine of their idols blocks were made as high as their mouthes being all bloody I thought that to be the table wheron they offered their sacrifice I saw also the instruments whereupon they had roasted flesh and as farre as I could perceiue they make their fire directly vnder the spit Loshak being there present tolde me that these Samoeds were not so hurtful as they of Ob are and that they haue no houses as indeede I saw none but onely tents made of Deers skins which they vnderproppe with stakes and poles their boates are made of Deers skins and when they come on shoare they cary their boates with them vpon their backes for their cariages they haue no other beastes to serue them but Deere only As for bread and corne they haue none except the Russes bring it to them their knowledge is very baâ—e for they know no letter Tuesday we turned for the harborough where Loshaks barke lay whereas before we road vnder an Island And there he came aboord of vs and said vnto me if God sende winde and weather to serue I will goe to the Ob with you because the Morses were scant at these Islands of Vaigats but if he could not get to the riuer of Ob then he sayd hee would goe to the riuer of Naramzay where the people were not altogether so sauage as the Samoyds of the Ob are hee shewed me that they will shoot at all men to the vttermost of their power that cannot speake their speech Wednesday we saw a terrible heape of ice approch neere vnto vs and therefore wee thought good with al speed possible to depart from thence and so I returned to the Westwards againe to the Island where we were the 31 of Iuly Thursday I went a shoare and tooke the latitude which was 70 degrees 25 minutes and the variation of the compasse was 8 degrees from the North to the West Loshak and the two small Lodias of Pechora departed from this Island while I was on shoare taking the latitude and went to the Southwards I maruailed why he departed so suddenly and went ouer the shoales amongst the Islands where it was impossible for vs to follow them But after I perceiued them to be weatherwise Friday we road still the winde being at Northnortheast with a cruell storme The ice came in so abundantly about vs at both ends of the Island that we road vnder that it was a feareful sight to behold the storme continued with snow raine and hayle plenty Saturday we road still also the storme being somewhat abated but it was altogether misty that we were not able to see a cables length about vs the winde being at Northeast and by East Sunday at foure of the clocke in the morning we departed from this Island the winde being at Southeast and as we were cleere a sea boord the small Islandes and shoales it came so thick with mistes that we could not see a base shotte from vs. Then we tooke in all our sailes to make little way At a Southeast sunne it waxed cleere and then we set our sayles and lay close by the wind to the Southwards alongst the Islands of Vaigats At a West sunne we tooke in our sayle againe because of the great mist and raine Wee sounded at this place and had fiue and twenty fadomes water and soft blacke oze being three leagues from the shoare the winde being at South and by East but still misty Munday at an East sunne we sounded and â—ad 40 fadomes and oze still misty at noone wee sounded againe and had 36 fadome still misty Tuesday at an Eastnortheast sunne we let fall our anker in three and twenty fadome the mist still continuing Wednesday at three of the clocke in the morning the mist brake vp the wind being at Northeast by East and then we saw part of the Islands of Vaigats which we bare withall and went Eastsoutheast close by the winde at a West sunne we were at an anker vnder the Southwest part of the said Vaigats and then I sent our skiffe to shoare with three men in her to see if they might speake with any of the Samoeds but could not all that day was rainie but not windie Thursday the wind came Westerly so that we were faine to seeke vs another place to ride in because the wind came a seaboord land and although it were misty yet wee followed the shoare by our lead and as we brought land in the winde of vs we let fall our anker At a West sunne the mist brake vp so that we might see about vs and then we might perceiue that we were entred into a sound This afternoone we tooke in two or three skiffes lading of stones to balast our shippe withall It hyeth here foure foot water and floweth by fits vncertaine to be iudged Friday we road still in the sound the wind at Southwest with very much raine and at the end of the raine it waxed againe mistie Saturday there was much winde at West and much raine and then againe mistie Sunday was very mistie and much winde Munday very mistie the winde at Westnorthwest Tuesday was also mistie except at noone then the sunne brake out through the mist so that we had the latitude in 70 degrees 10 minutes the afternoone was misty againe the wind being at Westnorthwest Wednesday at three of the clocke afternoone the mist brake vp the wind came at Eastnortheast and then we weyed and went South by East vntil seuen of the clocke eight leagues thinking to haue had sight of the sandie hilles that are to the Eastwards of the riuer Pechora At a Northwest sunne we took in our maine saile because the wind increased went with a foresaile Westnorthwest the wind being at Eastnortheast at night there grewe so terrible a storme that we saw not the like although we had indured many stormes since we came out of England It was wonderfull that our barke was able to brooke such monstrous terrible seas without the great helpe of God who neuer fayleth them at neede that put their sure trust in him Thursday at a Southsouthwest sunne thanks be to God the storme was at the highest then the winde began to slake and came Northerly withall then I reckoned the Westermost point of the riuer Pechora to be South of vs 15 leagues At a
occasion doth serue and note diligently the depth with the maner of the ground and at euery time how farre the same sounding may be from the next shore to it and how the next point or headland doth beare from you And in the sea after you set off from your port you shall orderly at the end of euery foure glasses sound and if you finde ground note the depth and what ground but if you can finde no ground you shall also note in what depth you could find no ground 5 Also that you do diligently obserue the flowing ebbing in euery place and how the tides do set which way the flood doth come and how much water it doth high in euery place and what force the same tide hath to driue a ship in an houre as neere as you can iudge it 6 Also that you doe seeke to obserue with the instrument which I deliuer you herewith according as I taught you at Rose Island the true platformes and distances in as many places as conueniently you may for it serueth very aptly your purpose 7 Also that you take with you paper and ynke and keepe a continuall iournall or rememberance day by day of all such things as shall fall out worth the knowledge not forgetting or omitting to write it and note it that it may be â—hewed and read at your returne 8 These orders if you shall diligently obserue it will be easie for you to make a plat and perfect description of your discouery and so shall your notes be sufficient to answere that which is looked for at your hands But withall you may not forget to note as many things as you can learne and vnderstand by the report of any people whatsoeuer they be so that it appertaine any way to our desires And thus the Lord God prosper your voyage Amen Certaine letters in verse written by Master George Turberuile out of Moscouia which went as Secretarie thither with Master Tho. Randolph her Maiesties Ambassadour to the Emperour 1568 to certeine friends of his in London describing the maners of the Countrey and people To his especiall friend Master Edward Dancie MY Dancie deare when I recount within my brest My London friends and wonted mates and thee aboue the rest I feele a thousand fits of deepe and deadly woe To thinke that I from land to sea from blisse to bale did go I left my natiue soile full like a retchlesse man And vnacquainted of the coast among the Russes ran A people passing rude to vices vile inclinde Folke fit to be of Bacchus traine so quaffing is their kinde Drinke is their whole desire the pot is all their pride The sobrest head doth once a day stand needfull of a guide If he to banket bid his friends he will not shrinke On them at dinner to bestow a douzen kindes of drinke Such licour as they haue and as the countrey giues But chiefly two one called Kuas whereby the Mousike liues Small ware and waterlike but somewhat tart in taste The rest is Mead of honie made wherewith their lips they baste And if he goe vnto his neighbour as a guest He cares for litle meate if so his drinke be of the best No wonder though they vse such vile and beastly tradeâ— Sith with the hatchet and the hand their chiefest gods be made Their Idoles haue their hearts on God they neuer call Unlesse it be Nichola Bough that hangs against the wall The house that hath no god or painted Saint within Is not to be resorted to that roofe is full of sinne Besides their priuate gods in open places stand Their crosses vnto which they crooche and blesse themselues with hand Deuoutly downe they ducke with forehead to the ground Was neuer more deceit in ragges and greasie garments foundâ— Almost the meanest man in all the countrey rides The woman eke against our vse her trotting horse best rides In sundry colours they both men and women goe In buskins all that money haue on buskins to bestoe Ech woman hanging hath a ring within her eare Which all of ancient vse and some of very pride doe weare Their gate is very braue their countenance wise and sadde And yet they follow fleshly lustes their trade of liuing badde It is no shame at all accompted to defile Anothers bedde they make no care their follies to concile Is not the meanest man in all the land but hee To buy her painted colours doeth allow his wife a fee. Wherewith â—he deckes her selfe and dies her tawnie skinne She pranks and paints her smoakie face both brow lip cheeke chinne Yea those that honest are if any such there bee Within the land doe vse the like a man may plainely see Upon some womens cheekes the painting how it lies In plaister sort for that too thicke her face the harlot dies But such as skilfull are and cunning Dames indeede By dayly practise doe it well yea sure they doe exceede They lay their colours so as he that is full wise May easâ—y be deceiu'd therein if he doe trust his eyes I not a little muse what madnesse makes them paint Their faces waying how they keepe the stooue by meere constraint For seldome when vnlesse on Church or marriage day A man shall see the Dames abroade that are of best aray The Russie meanes to reape the profit of her pride And so he mewes her to be sure she lye by no mans side Thus much friend Dancie I did meane to write to thee To let thee weete in Russia land what men and women bee Hereafter I perhaps of other things will write To thee and other of my friends which I shall see with sight And other stuffe besides which true report shall tell Meane while I ende my louing liâ—es and bid thee now farewell To Spencer IF I should now forget or not remember thee Thou Spencer might'st a foule rebuke and shame impute to mee For I to open shew did loue thee passing well And thou wert he at parture whome I loathde to bid farewell And as I went thy friend so I continue still No better proofe thou canst then this desire of true good will I doe remember well when needes I should away And that the Poste would licence vs no longer time â—o stay Thou wrongst me by the fist and holding fast my hand Didst craue of me to send thee newes and how I liked the land It is a sandie soile no very fruitfull vaine More waste and wooddie grounds there are then closes fit for graine Yet graine there growing is which they vntimely take And cut or eare the corne be ripe they mowe it on a stacke And laying sheafe by sheafe their haruest so they dry They make the greater haste for feare the frost the corne destroy For in the winter time so glarie is the ground As neither grasse nor other graine in pastures may be found In coms the cattell then the sheepe the colt the cowe Fast by his bed the Mowsike then
good and as you may most conueniently and from Willoughbies land you shall proceed Westwards alongst the tract of it though it incline Northerly euen so farre as you may or can trauell hauing regard that in conuenient time you may returne home hither to London for wintering And for your orderly passing in this voyage and making obseruations in the same we referre you to the instructions giuen by M. William Burrough whereof one copie is annexed vnto the first part of this Indenture vnder our seale for you Arthur Pet another copie of it is annexed to the second part of this Indenture vnder our seale also for you Charles Iackman and a third copy thereof is annexed vnto the third part of this Indenture remaining with vs the saide companie sealed and subscribed by you the said Arthur Pet and Charles Iackman And to the obseruing of all things contained in this Commission so neere as God will permit me grace thereunto I the said Arthur Pet doe couenant by these presents to performe them and euery part and parcell thereof And I the said Charles Iackman doe for my part likewise couenant by these presents to performe the same and euery part thereof so neere as God will giue me grace thereunto And in witnes thereof these Indentures were sealed and deliuered accordingly the day and yeere first aboue written Thus the Lorde God Almightie sende you a prosperous voyage with happie successe and safe returne Amen Instructions and notes very necessary and needfull to be obserued in the purposed voyage for discouery of Cathay Eastwards by Arthur Pet and Charles Iackman giuen by M. William Burrough 1580. VVHen you come to Orfordnesse if the winde doe serue you to goe a seabord the sands doe you set off from thence and note the time diligently of your being against the saide Nesse turning then your glasse whereby you intende to keepe your continuall watch and apoint such course as you shal thinke good according as the wind serueth you and froÌ„ that time forwards continually if your ship be lose vnder saile a hull or trie do you at the end of euery 4. glasses at the least except calme sound with your dipsin lead and note diligently what depth you finde and also the ground But if it happen by swiftnes of the shippes way or otherwise that you cannot get ground yet note what depth you did proue and could finde no ground this note is to be obserued all your voyage as well outwards as home wards But when you come vpon any coast or doe finde any sholde banke in the sea you are then to vse your leade oftener as you shal thinke it requisite noting diligently the order of your depth and the deeping and sholding And so likewise doe you note the depthes into harboroughs riuers c. And in keeping your dead reckoning it is very necessary that you doe note at the ende of euery foure glasses what way the shippe hath made by your best proofes to be vsed and howe her way hath bene through the water considering withall for the sagge of the sea to leewards accordingly as you shall finde it growen and also to note the depth and what things worth the noting happened in that time with also the winde vpon what point you finde it then and of what force or strength it is and what sailes you beare But if you should omit to note those things at the end of euery foure glasses I would not haue you to let it slip any longer time then to note it diligently at the end of euery watch or eight glasses at the farthest Doe you diligently obserue the latitude as often and in as many places as you may possible and also the variation of the Compasse especially when you may bee at shoare vpon any land noting the same obseruations truely and the place and places where and the time and times when you do the same When you come to haue sight of any coast or land whatsoeuer doe you presently set the same with your sailing Compasse howe it beares off you noting your iudgement how farre you thinke it from you drawing also the forme of it in your booke howe it appeares vnto you noting diligently how the highest or notablest part thereof beareth off you and the extreames also in sight of the same land at both ends distinguishing them by letters A. B.C. c. Afterwards when you haue sailed 1. 2. 3. or 4. glasses at the most noting diligently what way your barke hath made and vpon what point of the Compasse do you againe set that first land seene or the parts thereof that you first obserued if you can well perceiue or discerne them and likewise such other notable points or signes vpon the land that you may then see and could not percâ—iue at the first time distinguishing it also by letters from the other and drawing in your booke the shape of the same land as it appeareth vnto you and so the third time c. And also in passing alongst by any and euery coast doe you drawe the maner of biting in of euery Bay and entrance of euery harborow or riuers mouth with the lying out of euery point or headland vnto the which you may giue apt names at your pleasure and make some marke in drawing the forme and border of the same where the high cliffs are and where lowe lande is whether sande hils or woods or whatsoeuer not omitting to note any thing that may be sensible and apparant to you which may serue to any good purpose If you carefully with great heede and diligence note the obseruations in your booke as aforesaid and afterwards make demonstration thereof in your plat you shall thereby perceiue howe farre the land you first sawe or the parts thereof obserued was then from you and consequently of all the rest and also how farre the one part was from the other and vpon what course or point of the Compasse the one lieth from the other And when you come vpon any coast where you find floods and ebs doe you diligently note the time of the highest and lowest water in euery place and the slake or still water of full sea and lowe water and also which way the flood doeth runne how the tides doe set how much water it hicth and what force the tide hath to driue a ship in one houre or in the whole tide as neere as you can iudge it and what difference in time you finde betwene the running of the flood and the ebbe And if you finde vpon any coast the currant to runne alwayes one way doe you also note the same duely how it setteth in euery place and obserue what force it hath to driue a ship in one houre c. Item as often and when as you may conueniently come vpon any land to make obseruation for the latitude and variation c. doe you also if you may with your instrument for trying of distances obserue the platforme
being Northerly so that we could not come neere to it The 6. day about 2. in the afternoone the wind at North northwest we halde East southeast with a faire and gentle gale this day we met with ice About 6. in the afternoone it became calme we with saile and oares laide it to the Northeast part hoping that way to cleare vs of it for that way we did see the head part of it as we thought Which done about 12. of the clocke at night we gate cleere of it We did thinke it to be ice of the bay of Saint Nicholas but it was not as we found afterwards The seuenth day we met with more yce at the East part of the other yce we halde along a weather the yce to finde some ende thereof by East northeast This day there appeared more land North from vs being perfect land the ice was betweene vs and it so that we could not come neerer to it The same morning at sixe of the clocke wee put into the ice to finde some way through it wee continued in it all the same day and all the night following the winde by the North Northwest Wee were constrained to goe many pointes of our compasse but we went most an Easterly course The eight day the winde at North northwest we continued our course and at fiue in the morning we sounded and had 90. fadoms red oze This day at foure in the afternoone we sounded againe and had 84. fadoms oze as before At sixe in the after noone we cleared our selues of the ice and hald along Southeast by South we sounded againe at 10. a clocke at night and had 43. fathom sandy oze The 9. day at 2. in the morning we sounded againe and had 45. fadoms then there appeared a shadow of land to vs East Northeast and so we ran with it the space of 2. houres and then perceiuing that it was but fogge we hald along Southeast This day at 2. in the afternoone wee sounded and had fiftie fadoms blacke oze Our latitude was 70. degrees three minutes At tenne a clocke at night wee sounded againe and had fiftie fadoms blacke oze The tenth day the wind being at North northwest we haled East and by North which course we set because at ten of the clocke afore noone wee did see land and then wee sounded hauing 35. fadoms blacke oze All this day there was a great fogge so that wee durst not beare with the land to make it and so we kept an outwardly course This day at 6. in the afternoone we espied land wherewith we halled and then it grew calme we sounded and had 120. fadoms blacke oze and then we sent our boat a land to sound and proue the land The same night we came with our ship within and Island where we rode all the same night The same night wee went into a bay to ride neere the land for wood and water The 11. day the wind came to the East southeast this day about a league from vs to the Eastwards we saw a very faire sound or riuer that past very farre into the countrey with 2. or 3. branches with an Island in the midst The 12. of Iuly the wind was East Southeast This day about 11. a clocke in the morning there came a great white beare down to the water side and tooke the water of his own accord we chased him with our boate but for all that we could doe he gote to land and escaped from vs where we named the bay Bearebay This day at 7. in the after noone we set saile for we had good hope that the winde would come Westerly and with saile and oares we gate the sea All the night it was calme with fogge The 13. day in the morning the wind was very variable with fog and as it cleared vp wee met with great store of ice which at the first shewed like land This ice did vs much trouble and the more because of the fog which continued vntill the 14. day 12. of the clocke The 14. day in the morning we were so imbayed with ice y t we were constrained to come out as we went in which was by great good fortune or rather by the goodnesse of God otherwise it had bene impossible and at 12. of the clock we were cleere of it the wind being at South and South by West The same day we found the pole to be eleuated 70. degrees 26. minutes we lay along the coast Northwest thinking it to be an Island but finding no end in rowing so long we supposed it to be the maine of Noua Zembla About 2. in the afternoone we laide it to the Southward to double the ice which wee could not doe vpon that boorde so that we cast about againe and lay West along vnder the ice About seuen in the afternoone we gote about the greatest part thereof About 11. a clock at night we brought the ice Southeast of vs and thus we were ridde of this trouble at this time The 15. day about 3. in the morning the wind was at South southwest wee cast about and lay to the Eastwards the winde did Wester so that wee lay South southwest with a flawne sheete and so we ranne all the same day About 8. in the after noone we sounded and had 23. fadoms small grey sand This night at twelue of the clocke we sounded againe and had 29. fadoms sand as afore The 16. day vnto 3. in the morning we hald along East Southeast where we found 18. fadoms red sand then we hald along Northeast In these soundings wee had many ouerfals This day at 10. of the clocke we met with more ice which was very great so that we coulde not tell which way to get cleere of it Then the winde came to the South Southeast so that we lay to the Northwards We thought that way to cleare our selues of it but that way we had more ice About 6. in the afternoone the wind came to the East Then we lay to the Southwards that wee had 30. fadoms blacke oze This day we found the pole to bee eleuated 69. deg 40. minutes and this night at 12. a clocke we had 41. fadoms red sand The 17. day at 3. in the morning we had 12. fadoms At 9. we had 8. and 7. all this day we ran South and South by West at the depth aforesaid red sand being but shallow water At eight in the afternoone the winde with a showre and thunder came to the Southwest and then wee ranne East Northeast At 12. at night it came to the South and by East and all this was in the bay of Pechora The 18. day at 7. in the morning we bare with the heaâ—land oâ— the bay where wee founde two Islands There are also ouerfals of water 〈◊〉 â—â—des We went between the maine and the Island next to the head where we had abouâ— 2. fadoms and a halfe We found
and his gentlemen for to ride which were very richly furnished and by the way there meâ— with vs other chauses to accompany vs to the Court. When we came there wee passed thorow two gates at the second gate there stood very many men with horses attending on their masters When we came within that gate we were within a very faire Court yard in compasse twise so bigge as Pauls Church-yard On the right hand of the sayd Court was a faire gallerie like an Alley and within it were placed railes and such other prouision On the left side was the like halfe the Court ouer it was diuided into two parts the innermost fairer then the other The other part of that side is the place where the Councell doe vsually sit and at the inner end of that is a faire place to sit in much like vnto that place in Pauls Church-yard where the Maior and his brethren vse to sit thither was our Ambassadour brought and set in that place Within that sayde place is another like open roome where hee did eate Assoone as wee came in wee were placed in the innermost alley of the second roome on the left side of the Court which was spread with carpets on the ground fourescore or fourescore and tenne foot long with an hundred and fiftie seuerall dishes set thereon that is to say Mutton boiled and rosted Rice diuersly dressed Fritters of the finest fashion and dishes daintily dight with pritty pappe with infinite others I know not how to expresse them We had also rosted Hennes with sundry sorts of fowles to me vnknowen The gentlemen and we sate downe on the ground for it is their maner so to feede There were also Greekes and others set to furnish out the roome Our drinke was made with Rose water and Sugar and spices brewed together Those that did serue vs with it had a great bagge tied ouer their showlders with a broad belt like an arming belt full of plates of copper and gilt with part of the sayd bagge vnder his arme and the mouth in his hand then he had a deuise to let it out when he would into cuppes when we called for drinke The Ambassadour when hee had eaten passed by vs with the chauses aforesayd and sate him downe in an inner roome This place where he sate was against the gate where we came in and hard by the Councell chamber end somewhat on the left side of the Court this was at the East end of the Court for we came in at the West All this time our presents stood by vs vntill we had dined and diner once ended this was their order of taking vp the dishes Certaine were called in like those of the Blacke gard in the Court of England the Turks call them Moglans These came in like rude and rauening Mastifs without order or fashion and made cleaâ—e riddance for he whose hungry eye one dish could not fill turned two one into the other and thus euen on the sudden was made a cleane riddance of all Then came certaine chauses and brought our gentlemen to sit with the Ambassadour Immediatly came officers appointed Ianisers to beare froÌ„ vs our presents who caried them on the right side of the Court and set them hard by the doore of the Priuy chamber as we call it there all things stoode for the space of an houre Thus the Ambassadour and his gentlemen sate still and to the Southward of them was a doore whereas the great Turke himselfe went in and out at and on the South side of that doore sate on a bench all his chiefe lordes and gentlemen and on the North side of the West gate stood his gard in number as I gesse them a thousand men These men haue on their heads round cappes of mettall like sculles but sharpe in the toppe in this they haue a bunch of Ostridge feathers as bigge as a brush with the corner or edge forward at the lower end of these feathers was there a smaller feather like those that are commonly worn here Some of his gard had smal staues most of them were weaponed with bowes and arrowes Here they waitedâ— during our abode at the Court to gard their Lord. After the Ambassadour with his gentlemen had sitten an houre and more there came three or foure chauses and brought them into the great Turkes presence At the Priuy chamber doore two noble men tooke the Ambassadour by ech arme one and put their fingers within his sleeues and so brought him to the great Turke where he sumptuously sate alone He kissed his hand and stood by vntill all the gentlemen were brought before him in like maner one by one and ledde backewards againe his face towards the Turke for they might neither tarry nor turne their backs and in like maner returned the Ambassadour The salutation that the Noble men didâ— was taking them by the hands All this time they trode on cloth of golde most of the Noble men that sate on the South side of the Priuy chamber sate likewise on cloth of golde Many officers or Ianisaries there were with staues who kept very good order for no Turke whatsoeuer might goe any further then they willed him At our Ambassadours entring they followed that bare his presents to say twelue fine broad clothes two pieces of fine holland tenne piâ—ces of plate double gilt one case of candle sticks the case whereof was very large and three foot high and more two very great cannes or pots and one lesser one basin and ewer two poppiniayes of siluer the one with two heads they were to drinke in two bottles with chaines three faire mastifs in coats of redde cloth three spaniels two bloodhounds one common hunting hound two greyhounds two little dogges in coats of silke one clocke valued at fiue hundred pounds sterling ouer it was a forrest with trees of siluer among the which were deere chased with dogs and men on horsebacke following men drawing of water others carrying mine oare on barrowes on the toppe of the clocke stood a castle and on the castle a mill All these were of siluer And the clocke was round beset with iewels All the time that we stayed at the Councell chamber doore they were telling or weighing of money to send into Persia for his Souldiours pay There were carried out an hundred and three and thirty bags and in euery bagge as it was tolde vs one thousand ducats which amounteth to three hundred and thirty thousand * and in sterling Englâ—sh money to fourescore and nineteene thousand pounds The Captaine of the guard in the meane time went to the great Turke and returned againe then they of the Court made obeisance to him bowing downe their heads and their hands on their breasts and he in like order resaluted them he was in cloth of siluer he went and came with two or three with him and no more Then wee went out at the first gate and there we were commanded to stay vntill
103. li. of 16. ounces to the li. There is another waight called Pois Gerrin which is 150. li. of Marseils waight by which are sold all things to eate but spice is sold by the former waight From Alexandria to Cairo is three daies iourney but you must take a Ianissarie with you to go vp thither by water it is 8. dayes iourney Roials of Spaine are currant mony there and are the best money you can cary And 4. roials are woorth 13. Medins and 2. Medins are 3. Aspers Pistolets and crownes of France and Dollâ—rs will goe but of all Roials are best Rice is not permitted to goe out of the land but is kept for a victuall But with a present to the Bye and Ermine some may passe All sortes of spices be garbled after the bargaine is made and they be Moores which you deale withall which be good people and not ill disposed And after you be searched haue leaue to passe you must presently depart out of the port and if you doe not they will search you againe And you must depart in the day for in the night the castles will not suffer you to depart The duetie to the Consul is 2. in the hundred for his aide and meate and drinke and all And the port of Alexandria is good when one is within it with good ankers and cables Siluer is better currant then gold in Alexandria but both are good Commonly the Carauans come thither in October from Mecca to Cairo and from thence to Alexandria where the merchants be that buy the spices and therfore the spices are brought most to Alexandria where each Christian nation remaineth at the Consuls houses Yet oftentimes the christians go vp to Cairo to buy drugs other commodities there as they see cause And the commodities there vendible are all sorts of kersies but the most part blewes and of clothes all colours except mingled colours and blacks Pepper is vsually sold for 24. ducats the quintal Ginger for 14. ducats You must take canuas to make bags to put your commoditie in from Alexandria for there is none There is also fine flaxe and good store of Buffe hides A letter of the English ambassador to M. Edward Barton MAster Barton I send you 3. commandements in Turkish with a copy thereof in English to the ende our ships might not come in danger of breach of league if they should shoote at the gallies of those of Algier Tunis and Tripolis in the West which after you haue shewed the Bassas receiue againe into your hands and see them registred and then deliuer one of them to our friend M. Tipton the like you are to do with the priuilege which you cary with you and see them iointly registred in the Cadies booke deliuering the copy of the said priuilege sealed by the Cadi also to the sayd our friend M. Tipton taking a note of his hand for the receipt thereof and for deliuerie at all times to vs or our assignes And require them in her maiesties and the grand Signors name that they will haue our ships passing too and fro vnder licence and safeconduct for recommended in friendly maner Touching your proceedings in Tripolis with Romadan as I haue not receiued any aduise thereof since your departure so must I leaue you to God and my former directioÌ„ The ship patronised of Hassan Rayes which you wrote to be ours prooued to be a Catalonian As for ours by report of that Hassan and other Iewes in his ship it was affirmed to be sold to the Malâ—eses which with the rest you are to receiue there And hauing ended these affaires and registred our priuilege and these three commandements in Tripolis Tunis and Alger I pray you make speedy returne and for that which may be recouered make ouer the same either to Richard Rowed for Patrasso in Morea or otherwise hither to Iohn Bate in the surest maner you may if the registring of that your priuilege and these commandements will not suffer you in person to returne with the same From my Mansion Rapamat in Pera this 24. of Iune 1584. The commaundement obtained of the Grand Signior by her Maiesties ambassador M. Will. Hareborne for the quiet passing of her subiects to and froÌ„ his dominions sent in An. 1584. to the Viceroyes of Algier Tunis Tripolis in Barbary To our Beglerbeg of Algier WE certifie thee by this our commandement that the right honorable Will. Hareborne ambassador to the Queenes maiestie of England hath signified vnto vs that the ships of that countrey in their comming and returning to and from our Empire on the one part of the Seas haue the Spaniards Florentines Sicilians and Malteses on the other part our countreis committed to your charge which aboue said Christians will not quietly suffer their egresse and regresse into and out of our dominions but doe take and make the men captiues and forfeit the shippes and goods as the last yeere the Malteses did one which they tooke at Gerbi and to that end do continually lie in wait for them to their destruction whereupon they are constrained to stand to their defence at any such time as they might meet with them Wherefore considering by this means they must stand vpon their guard when they shall see any gallie afarre off whereby if meeting with any of your gallies and not knowing them in their defence they do shoot at them and yet after when they doe certainly know them do not shoote any more but require to passe peaceably on their voiage which you would deny saying the peace is brokeÌ„ because you haue shot at vs and so make prize of them contrary to our priuileges and against reason for the preuenting of which inconuenience the said ambassador hath required this our commaundement We therefore command thee that vpon sight hereof thou doe not permit any such matter in any sort whatsoeuer but suffer the sayd Englishmen to passe in peace according to the tenour of our commandement giuen without any disturbance or let by any means vpon the way although that meeting with thy gallies and not knowing them afarre off they taking them for enemies should shoot at them yet shall you not suffer them to hurt them therfore but quietly to passe Wherefore looke thou that they may haue right according to our priuilege giuen them finding any that absenteth himself wil not obey this our commandement presently certify vs to our porch that we may giue order for his punishment and with reuerence giue faithfull credite to this our commandement which hauing read thou shalt againe returne it vnto them that present it From our palace in Constantinople tâ—e 1. of Iune 1584. A letter of the honorable M. Wil. Hareborne her maiesties ambass with the grand signior to M. Tipton appointing him Consul of the English in Algier Tunis Tripolis of Barbarie MAster Tipton I haue receiued among others yours of the 10. of Nouember 1584. by Soliman Sorda certifying the
in taste much like vnto whey but somewhat sweeter and more pleasant They cut the branches euery euening because they are feared vp in the day by the heate of the Sunne They haue also great beanes as bigge as chestnuts and very hard with a shell in the stead of a huske Many things more nught be saide of the maners of the people and of the wonders and monstrous things that are engendred in Africke But it shall suffice to haue saide thus much of such things as our men partly sawe and partly brought with them And whereas before speaking of the fruit of graines I described the same to haue holes by the side as in deede it hath as it is brought hither yet was I afterward enfourmed that those holes were made to put stringes or twigges through the fruite thereby to hang them vp to dry at the Sunne They grow not past a foote and a halfe or two foote from the ground and are as red as blood when they are gathered The graines themselues are called of the Phisicions Grana Paradisi At their câ—mming home the keeles of their shippes were marueilously ouergrowne with certaine shelles of two inches length and more as thicke as they could stand and of such bignesse that a man might put his thumbe in the mouthes of them They certainely affirme that in these there groweth a certaine slimie substance which at the length slipping out of the shell and falling in the sea becommeth those foules which we call Barnacles The like shelles haue bene seene in ships returning froÌ„ Iseland but these shels were not past halfe an inch in length Of the other that came from Guinea I sawe the Primerose lying in the docke and in maner couered with the said shels which in my iudgement should greatly hinder her sayling Their ships were also in many places eaten with the wormes called Bromas or Bissas whereof mention is made in the Decades These creepe betweene the plankes which they eate through in many places Among other things that chanced to them in this voyage this is worthy to be noted that wheras they sailed thither in seuen weekes they could returne in no lesse space then twentie weekes The cause whereof they say to be this That about the coast of Cabo Verde the winde is euer at the East by reason whereof they were enforced to saile farre out of their course into the maine Ocean to finde the winde at the West to bring them home There died of our men at this last voyage about twentie and foure whereof many died at their returne into the clime of the colde regions as betweene the Islands of Azores and England They brought with them certaine blacke slaues whereof some were tall and strong men and could wel agree with our meates and drinkes The colde and moyst aire doth somewhat offend them Yet doubtlesse men that are borne in hot Regions may better abide colde then men that are borne in colde Regions may abide heate forasmuch as vehement heate resolueth the radicall moysture of mens bodies as colde constraineth and preserueth the same This is also to be considered as a secret worke of nature that throughout all Africke vnder the AEquinoctial line and neere about the same on both sides the regions are extreeme hote and the people very blacke Whereas contrarily such regions of the West Indies as are vnder the same line are very temperate and the people neither blacke nor with curlde and short wooll on their heads as they of Africke haue but of the colour of an Oliue with long and blacke heare on their heads the cause of which variety is declared in diuers places in the Decades It is also worthy to be noted that some of them that were at this voyage told me That is that they ouertooke the course of the Sunne so that they had it North from them at noone the 14. day of March. And to haue said thus much of these voyages it may suffice The first voyage made by Master VVilliam Towrson Marchant of London to the coast of Guinea with two Ships in the yeere 1555. VPon Munday the thirtieth day of September wee departed from the Isle of Wight out of the hauen of Neuport with two good shippes the one called the Hart the other the Hinde both of London and the Masters of them were Iohn Ralph and William Carter for a voyage to bee made vnto the Riuer de Sestos in Guinea and to other hauens thereabout It fell out by the varietie of windes that it was the foureteenth day of October before wee coulde fetch Dartmouth and being there arriued wee continued in that roade sixe dayes and the 20. of October we warpt out of the hauen and set saile directing our course towards the Southwest and the next morning we were runne by estimation thirty leagues The first of Nouember we found our selues to be in 31. degrees of latitude by the reckoning of our Master This day we ranne about 40. leagues also The second day we ranne 36. leagues The third day we had sight of Porto Santo which is a small Island lying in the sea about three leagues long and a league a halfe broad is possessed by Portugals It riseth as we came from the Northnorthwest like two small hilles neere together The East end of the same Island is a high land like a saddle with a valley which makes it to beare that forme The West ende of it is lower with certaine small round hillocks This Island lyeth in thirty and three degrees The same day at 11. of the clocke we raysed the Isle of Madera which lieth 12. leagues from Porto Santo towards the south-Southwest that Island is a faire Island and fruitfull and is inhabited by Portugals it riseth afarre off like a great whole land and high By three of the clocke this day at afternoone we were thwart of Porto Santo and we set our course Southwest to leaue the Isle of Madera to the Eastward as we did Porto Santo These two Islands were the first land that we saw since wee left the coast of England About three of the clocke after midnight wee were thwart of Madera within three leagues of the West ende of it and by meanes of the high hilles there we were becalmed We suppose we ranne this day and night 30. leagues The fourth day wee lay becalmed vnder the Isle of Madera vntill one of the clocke at afternoone and then the winde comming into the East wee went our course and ranne that day fifteene leagues The 5. day we ranne 15. leagues more The 6. day in the morning we raysed the Isle of Tenerif otherwiseâ— called the Pike because it is a very high Island with a pike vpon the top like a loafe of suger The same night we raised the Isle of Palma which is a high land also and to the Westward of the Isle of Tenerif The 7. day we
perceiued the Isle of Gomera which is an Island standing betwixt Tenerif and Palma about 12. leagues Eastward from Palma and 8. leagues Westward from Tenerif and for feare of being becalmed with the Isle of Tenerif we left both it and Gomera to the Eastward of vs and went betwixt Palma and Gomera We ranne this day and night 30. leagues Note that these Islands be 60. leagues from Madera and that there are 3. Islands more to the Westward of Tenerif named the Grand Canaria Forte-ventura Lancerot of which Islands we came not in sight they be inhabited by Spaniards This day also we had sight of the Isle of Ferro which is to the Southwards 13. leagues from the other Islands and is possessed by Spaniards All this day and night by reason of the winde we could not double the point of the Isle of Ferro except we would haue gone to the Westward of it which had bene much out of our course therefore we kept about and ranne backe fiue houres Eastnortheast to the ende we might double it vpon the next boord the winde continuing Southeast which hath not bene often seene vpon that coast by any trauailers for the winde continueth there for the most part Northeast East Northeast so vpon the other boord by the next morning we were in a maner with the Island and had roome ynough to double the same The 8. day we kept our course as neere the winde as wee could because that our due course to fetch the coast of Barbary was Southeast and by East but by the scant winde wee could not goe our due course but went as neere it as we could and ranne this day and night 25. leagues The 9. day we ranne 30. leagues the 10.25 leagues the 12.24 The 12. day we sawe a saile vnder our Lee which was as we thought a fisherman so that wee went roome to haue spoken with him but within one houre there fell such a fogge that wee could not see the shippe nor one of vs the other we shot off diuers pieces to the Hinde but she heard them not at after noone she shot off a piece which wee heard and made her answere with another and within one halfe houre after the fogge brake vp and we were within 4. leagues of the shoare vpon the coast of Barbary and wee sounded and had 14. fadom water The Barke also came roome with vs and there ankered by reason of the contrary winde When we fell with the land we could not iudge iustly what part of the land it was because the most part of that coast is lowe land and no part to be iudged of it but the forepart of the shoare which is white like chalke or sand and very deepe vnto the hard shoare there immediatly we began to fish and found great store of a kinde of fish which the Portugals commonly fish for vpon that coast which they cal Pergosses the Frenchmen call them Saders and our men salt-water breames Before the clearing vp of the fogge the shippe which we followed shaped vs such a course that we could see her no more by reason of our shooting off to finde the Hinde againe This part of the coast of Barbary by our Pilots reckoning is about 16. leagues to the Eastwards of the riuer del Oro. The 13. day in the afternoone wee spyed a saile comming towards vs which wee iudged to be the saile that wee sawe the day before and as soone as we spied him wee caused the Hinde to way her ancre and to goe towardes him and manned out our Skiffe in like case to lay him aboorde or to discerne what hee was and wee our selues within halfe an houre after wayed also but after the saile had espied vs hee kept about and turned backe againe and shortly after there fell such another fogge that wee coulde not see him which fogges continued all that night so that we were constrained to leaue the chase This afternoone the winde came about and wee went our course Southwest and by West to goe cleare off the coast wee ranne that night sixteene leagues The foureteenth day in the morning was very foggie but about twelue a clocke wee espied a Caruell of 60. tunne which was fishing and we sent our Skiffe to him with fiue men and all without any weapon sauing their Oares The Caruell for haste let slippe her ancre and set saile and they seeing that fearing that they should not fetch her would tary for no weapons and in the ende ouertooke the Caruell and made her to strike saile and brought her away although they had foureteene or fifteene men aboord euery man his weapon but they had not the hearts to resist our men After they were come to vs they let fall their ancre for wee had cast ancre because the winde was not good I caused then the Skiffe to come for mee and I went aboorde of them to see that no harme should bee done to them nor to take any thing but that which they might spare vs for our money So we tooke of them 3. Tapnets of figges two small pots of oyle two pipes of water foure hogsheads of saltfish which they had taken vpon the coast and certaine fresh fish which they did not esteeme because there is such store vpon that coast that in an houre and sometime lesse a man may take as much fish as will serue twentie men a day For these things and for some wine which wee dranke aboorde of them and three or foure great Cannes which they sent aboord of our shippes I payed them twentie and seuen Pistolets which was twise as much as they willingly would haue taken and so let them goe to their ancre and cable which they had let slippe and got it againe by our helpe After this wee set saile but the winde caused vs to ancre againe about twelue leagues off the riuer del Oro as the Portugals tolde vs. There were fiue Caruels more in this place but when they sawe vs they made all away for feare of vs. The 15. day we ridde still because of the winde The 16. day we set saile and ranne our course 40. leagues This day by the reckoning of our Pilots we were right vnder the Tropike of Cancer The 17. day we ranne 25. leagues within sight for the most part of the coast of Barbary The 18. day wee ranne thirtie leagues and at twelue of the clocke by the reckoning of our Pilots we were thwart of Cape Blanke The 22. day our Pilots reckoned vs to be thwart Cape Verde The 12. day of December we had sight of land of Guinea which as soone as we saw we halled into the land Northeast and about 12. of the clocke at night we were neere the shoare within lesse then 2. leagues and then we kept about and sounded and found 18. fadom water Afterwards we saw a light towards the shoare which we thought to haue bene a
weather The castle and we waied in the Christopher and went roome with her The 12 day the Tyger came roome with vs and she and the Christopher finding themselues to stand in great need of victuals would haue gone with the Portugals ships to haue fetched some of them forth but our master and company would in no case consent to goe with them for feare of hanging when we came home and the other two ships being fully minded to haue gone and fearing that their owne company would accuse them durst not go to them After this by reason of the want of victuals in the pinnesse which could receiue no victuals from the other shippes but from vs onely we tooke out all our men and put twelue Frenchmen into her and gaue them victuals to bring them to Shamma The 19 day the Tyger and Minion arriued at Shamma and the Christopher within two leagues off them but could not fetch the winde by reason of the scantnesse of the winde which hath bene so scant that in fifteene dayes we haue plied to the windewards but twelue leagues which before we did in one day and a night The 20 day I tooke our pinnesse and went to the towne of Shamma to speake with the captaine and he tolde me that there was no golde there to be had nor so much as a hen to be bought and all by reason of the accord which he had made with the Portugals and I seeing that departed peaceably from him The 21 I put such things as we had into our small pinnesse and tooke one marchant of our ship and another of the Tyger and sent her to Hanta to attempt if she could doe any thing there That night they could do nothing but were promised to haue golde the next day The next day which was the 22 being come we sent our pinnesse to Hanta againe but there neither the captaine nor the Negros durst traffike with vs but intised vs from place to place and all to no purpose This day we put away our pinnesse with fiue and twenty Frenchmen in her and gaue them such victuals as we could spare putting fifteene of them to the ransome of sixe crownes a man The 23 of Iune our pinnesse came to vs from Hanta and tolde vs that the Negros had dealt very ill with them and would not traffike with them to any purpose The 24 we tooke our boat and pinnesse and manned them well and went to the towne of Shamma and because the Captaine thereof was become subiect to the Portugals we burned the towne and our men seeking the spoile of such trifles as were there found a Portugals chest wherein was some of his apparell and his weights and one letter sent to him from the castle whereby we gathered that the Portugall had bene there of a long time The 25 day about three of the clocke at afternoone we set saile and put into the sea for our returne to England The last day of this moneth we fell with the shore againe and made our reckoning to be â—ighteene leagues to the weatherward of the place where we set off When we came to make the land we found our selues to be eighteene leagues to the leeward of the place where we set off which came to passe by reason of the extreame currant that runneth to the Eastward when we perceiued our selues so abused we agreed to cast about againe and to lie as neere the winde as we could to fetch the line The seuenth of Iuly we had sight of the I le of S. Thome and thought to haue sought the road to haue ancred there but the next morning the winde came about and we kept our course The ninth the winde varying we kept about againe and fell with the Iland of S. Thome and seeking the road were becalmed neere the Iland and with the currant were put neere the shore but could haue no ground to ancre so that we were forced to hoise out our pinnesse and the other ships their skifs to towe from the Iland which did litle good but in the end the winde put vs three leagues off the shore The tenth day the Christopher and the Tyger cast about whereby we iudged them to haue agreed together to goe seeke some ships in the road and to leaue vs our men were not willing to goe after them for feare of running in with the Iland againe and of putting our selues into the same danger that we were in the night before but we shot off a piece and put out two lights and they answered vs with lights againe whereupon we kept our course and thought that they had followed vs but in the morning we could not see them so that they left vs willingly and we determined to follow them no more But the eleuenth day we altered our opinion and course and consented to cast about againe for the Iland to seeke our ships and about foure of the clocke in the afternoone we met with them The 13 we fell againe with the Iland of S. Thome and the same night we found our selues directly vnder the line This Iland is a very high Iland and being vpon the West side of it you shall see a very high pike which is very small and streight as it were the steeple of a church which pike lieth directly vnder the line and at the same South end of the Iland to the Westward thereof lieth a small Iland about a mile from the great Iland The third of August we departed froÌ„ the I le of S. Thome met the winde at the south-Southwest The 12 day we were in the height of Cape verde The 22 day we fell with one of the Iles of Cape verde called The I le of Salt and being informed by a Scotish man that we tooke among the Frenchmen vpon the coast that there were fresh victuals to be had we came to an ancre there The 23 day in the morning we maâ—ned our skiffe and went a shore and found no houses but we saw foure men which kept themselues alwayes farre from vs as for cattell we could finde none but great store of goats and they were so wilde that we could not take aboue three or foure of them but there we had good store of fish and vpon a small Iland which lay by the same we had great store of sea-birds At night the Christopher brake her cable and lost an ancre so that she could tary no longer so we all wayed and set saile Upon the same Iland we left the Scotish man which was the occasion of our going aland at that place but how he was left we could not tell but as we iudged the people of the Iland found him sleeping and so caried him away for at night I went my selfe to the Iland to seeke him but could heare nothing of him The 24 day the Master of the Tyger came aboord vs tolde vs that his men were so weake and the
articles which I haue receiued but also will giue some particular notes which I haue noted in the affaires which you haue committed vnto mee with the best helpe and counsell I can Thus the liuing God keepe your worships all Bristoll this 11 of December 1561. Your worships to comand to his power Iohn Lok The relation of one VVilliam Rutter to M. Antony Hickman his master touching a voyage set out to Guinea in the yeere 1562 by Sir William Gerard Sir William Chester M. Thomas Lodge the sayd Antony Hickman and Edward Castelin which voyage is also written in verse by Robert Baker WOrshipfull sir my duty remembred this shal be to declare vnto you the discourse of this our voyage since our departure out of England from Dartmouth at which time I gaue you to vnderstand of our departure which was the 25 of February 1562. Thâ—n hauing a prosperous winde we departed from thence and sailed on our voyage vntill we arriued at Cauo verde the 20 of March making no abode there but sailed along the coast to our first appointed port Rio de sestos at which port we arriued the third of Aprill in the morning hauing the sight of a Frenchman who assoone as he perceiued vs set saile and made to the sea in the meane time we came to an anker in the rode and after that he had espied our flag perceiuing vs to be Englishmen he bare with the shore hailed our ships with his ordinance at which time we the merchants of both the ships were in the riuer in traffike and had vnderstanding of the Negros that he had bene there three dayes before our comming so we concluded together that if he sent his pinnesse to traffike we would not suffer him vntill we had taken further order with their captaine marchants In the afternoone the pinnesse came into the riuer whose men we willed to make no traffike vntill we had talked further with their captaine whom we willed that night to come aboord our admirall which was done At which sayd time M. Button and Iohn Munt went aboord the Minion where the Frenchmen were there concluded that they should tary by vs eight dayes and suffer vs quietly to traffike wherewith they were not well pleased Wherevpon the next morning they departed from vs sailing alongst the coast to the Eastward towards Potis which he did to hinder our traffike that way wherefore the marchants of the Minion we concluded forasmuch as at that present we vnderstood that there were no sailes past alongst that we should go before to the end we might not be hindred of our traffike by the Frenchmen which thing we did and at our comming thither we found the Frenchman in traffike to the West of Potis by whom we passed arriued at Rio de Potis the 12 of April where we remained in traffike vntill the 15 of the sayd moneth and then departed from thence along the coast toward Sant Andre where we appointed by agreement to tary for the Minion and the 17 at night we came to the riuer of S. Andre in which very day the Minion came vnto vs telling vs that they met at cauo das Palmas a great ship and a caruell of the king of Portugals bound to the Mina who gaue chase vnto them and shot freely at them and the Minion in her defence returned her the like but God be praised the Minion had no hurt for that time In the end we concluded to hasten towards cauo de tres puntas to haue put them from the castle if by any meanes wee might and when wee were come to the Cape we lay a hull one night and two dayes and doubting they had bene past the Minion went neere the shore and sent her merchants to a place called Anta where before-tune we had traffâ—ke and the next morning very early being the 21 of the sayd moneth we againe had sight of the ship and the carauell a good way to sea-boord of vs. Then we presently set saile and bare with the formost of them hoping to haue got betweene the castle and them but we came short of our purpose which was no small griefe vnto vs all and when they had gotten the castle to friend they shot at vs freely and we at them and the castle at vs but we profited litle In the afternoone we set saile came to the town of Don Iuan called Equi where the 22 in the morning we went a shore to traffike but the Negros would not vntill they had newes from Don Luis for at that time Don Iuan was dead and the 23 came Don Luis his sonne and Pacheco minding to traffike with vs at which said day came two galies rowing along the shore from the castle minding to keepe vs from our traffike The 24 we set saile and chased the galies to the castle againe The Negros being glad of that required vs to goe to Mowre which is some 3 leagues behind and thither would they come for that they stood in feare of the Portugals and there we remained for the marchants that came out of the countrey which were come with their gold but Anthonio don Luis his sonne and Pacheco were aboord the Minion And the 25 in the morning came the two galies from the castle againe vnto vs the weather being very calme they shot at vs and hit vs 3 times and shortly after the wind came from the shore at which instant we discried the ship the carauell comming towards vs then we weighed and set saile and bare as neere vnto them as we could but it was night or euer wee met with them and the night being very darke we lost them The next day plying to the shore at night we agreed to go with Cormantin but the next morning being the 28 we were but a litle distant from the great ship and the 2 galies hauing no wind at all and the carauell hard aboord the shore Then being calme came the 2 galies rowing to the sterne of the Minion and fought with her the most part of the forenoone and in the fight a mischance hapned in the Minions steward-roome by means of a barrell of pouder that tooke fire where with were hurt the master gunner the steward and most part of the gunners which the galies perceiuing began to be more fierce vpon them and with one shot cut halfe her foremast in twaine that without present remedie shee was not able to beare saile and presently vpon this the great ship sent her boat to the galies who suddenly departed from vs. And after their departure we went aboord the Minion to counsell what were best to be done at which time they were sore discomftted Whereupon we deuised what was best to be done and because wee knew that the Negros neither would nor durst traffike so long as the galies were on the coast it was therefore agreed that
in litters of Cedar artificially wrought and richly dressed In the second place marcheth a great company of footemen sumptuously apparelled Then afarre off commeth one of these Bonzii master of the ceremonies for that superstition brauely clad in silkes and gold in a large and high litter excellently well wrought accompanied with 30 other Bonzii or thereabout wearing hats linnen albes and fine blacke vpper garments Then attired in ashe colour for this colour also is mourning with a long torch of Pineaple he sheweth the dead body the way vnto the fire lest it either stumble or ignorantly go out of the way Well neere 200 Bonzii folow him singing the name of that deuill the which the partie deceassed chiefly did worship in his life time and there withall a very great bason is beaten euen to the place of fire in stead of a vell Then follow two great paper baskets hanged open at staues endes full of paper roses diuersly coloured such as beare them doe march but slowly shaking euer now and then their staues that the aforesayd flowers may fall downe by litle and litle as it were drops of raine and be whirled about with wind This shower say they is an argument that the soule of the dead man is gone to paradise After al this eight beardles Bonzii orderly two and two drag after them on the ground long speares the points backward with flags of one cubite a piece wherein the name also of that idole is written Then there be caried 10 lanterns trimmed with the former inscription ouercast with a fine vaile and candles burning in them Besides this two yoong men clothed in ashe colour beare pineaple torches not lighted of three foote length the which torches serue to kindle the fire wherein the dead corpes is to bee burnt In the same colour follow many other that weare on the crownes of their heads faire litle three square blacke lethren caps tied fast vnder their chinnes for that is honorable amongst them with papers on their heads wherein the name of the deuill I spake of is written And to make it the more solemne after commeth a man with a table one cubite long one foot broad courred with a very fine white vaile in both sides whereof is written in golden letters the aforesayd name At the length by foure men is brought foorth the corps sitting in a gorgeous litter clothed in white hanging downe his head and holding his hands together like one that prayed to the rest of his apparell may you adde an vpper gowne of paper written full of that booke the which his God is sayd to haue made when he liued in the world by whose helpe and merites commonly they doe thinke to be saued The dead man his children come next after him most gallantly set foorth the yongest wherof carieth likewise a pineaple torch to kindle the fire Last of all foloweth a great number of people in such caps as I erst spake of When they are al come to y e place appointed for the obsequie al the Bonzii w t the whole multitude for the space of one houre beating pannes and basons with great clamours call vpon the name of that deuill the which being ended the Obsequie is done in this maner In the midst of a great quadrangle railed about hanged with course linnen and agreeably vnto the foure partes of the world made with foure gates to goe in and out at is digged a hole in the hole is laied good store of wood whereon is raised gallantly a waued roofe before that stand two tables furnished with diuers kindes of meates especially drie Figs Pomegranates and Tartes good store but neither Fish nor Flesh vpon one of them standeth also a chafer with coales and in it sweete wood to make perfumes When all this is readie the corde wherewith the litter was caried is throwen by a long rope into the fire as many as are present striue to take the rope in their handes vsing their aforesayd clamours which done they goe in procession as it were round about the quadrangle thrise Then setting the litter on the wood built vp ready for the fire that Bonzius who then is master of the ceremonies saieth a verse that no bodie there vnderstandeth whirling thrise about ouer his head a torch lighted to signifie thereby that the soule of the dead man had neither any beginning nâ— shall haue at any time an ende and throweth away the torch Two of the dead man his children or of his neere kinne take it vp againe and standing one at the East side of the litter the other at the West doe for honour and reuerence reach it to each other thrise ouer the dead corps and so cast it into the pile of wood by and by they throw in oyle sweete wood and other perfumes accordingly as they haue plentie and so with a great flame bring the corpes to ashes his children in the meane while putting sweete wood into the chafer at the table with odours doe solemnly and religiously worship their father as a Saint which being done the Bonzii are paied each one in his degree The master of the ceremonies hath for his part fiue duckats sometimes tenne sometimes twentie the rest haue teene Iulâ—es a piece or els a certaine number of other presents called Caxae The meate that was ordained as soone as the dead corps friends and all the Bonzii are gone is left for such as serued at the obsequie for the poore and impotent lazars The next day returne to the place of obsequie the dead man his children his kinred and friends who gathering vp his ashes bones and teeth doe put them in a gilded pot and so carie them home to bee set vp in the same pot couered with cloth in the middest of their houses Many Bonzii returne likewise to these priuate funerals and so doe they againe the seuenth day then cary they out the ashes to bee buried in a place appointed laying thereupon a foure square stone wherein is written in great letters drawen all the length of the stone the name of that deuil the which the dead man worshipped in his life time Euery day afterward his children resort vnto the graue with roses and warme water that the dead corps thirst not Nor the seuenth day onely but the seuenth moneth and yeere within their owne houses they renue this obsequie to no small commodities and gaine of the Bonzii great rich men doe spend in these their funerals 3000 duckats or thereabout the meaner sort two or three hundred Such as for pouertie be not able to go to that charges are in the night time darke long without all pompe and ceremonies buried in a dunghill They haue another kinde of buriall especially neere the Sea side for them that bee not yet dead These fellowes are such as hauing religiously with much deuotion worshipped Amida now desirous to see him doe slay themselues And first they goe certaine dayes begging almes the which they thrust
day at night themselues lying a hull in waight for purchase 30 leagues to the Southwest of the Island of Flores The 15 we had leaue to depart with a fly-boat laden with sugar that came from Sant Thome which was taken by â—he Queenes ships whereof my Lord Admirall gaue me great charge not to leaue her vntill she were harbored in England The three and twentieth the Northeast part of the Island of Coruo bare off vs East and by South sixe leagues off The 17 of September we met with a ship of Plimouth that came out of the West Indies but she could tell vs no newes The next day we had sight of another sayle this day also one of our company named M. Wood died The 23 we spake with the Dragon of my Lord of Cumberland whereof Master Iuie was Maister The second of October we met with a ship of New-castle which came from Newfound-land and out of her we had 300 couple of Newland fish The 6 we had sight of Sillie and with raine and winde we were forced to put into S. Maries sound where we staied all night and 4 dayes after The 11 we set saile againe and comming out had three fadom vpon the barre at a high water then we lay out Southeast through Crow-sand and shortly after we had sight of the lands end and at ten of the clocke we were thwart of the Lysart The 13 we were put into Dartmouth and there we stayd vntill the 12 of December From thence we put out with the winde at West and the 18 of December God be praised we ankered at Limehouse in the Thames where we discharged 589 sacks of Pepper 150 Elephants teeth and 32 barrels of oile of Palme trees The commodities that we caried out this second voyage were Broad cloth Kersies Bayes Linnen cloth Yron vnwrought Bracelets of Copper Corall Hawks belles Horsetailes Hats and such like This voyage was more comfortable vnto vs then the first because we had good store of fresh water and that very sweet for as yet we haue very good water in the shippe which we brought out of the riuer of Benin the first day of Aprill 1591. and it is at this day being the 7 of Iune 1592. to be seen aboord the ship as cleare and as sweet as any fountaine can yeeld In this voiage we sailed 350 leagues within halfe a degree of the equinoctiall line and there we found it more temperate then where we rode And vnder the line wee did kill great store of small Dolphines and many other good fishes and so did we all the way which was a very great refreshing vnto vs and the fish neuer forsooke vs vntil we were to the Northwards of the Ilands of Azores and then we could see no more fish but God be thanked wee met with good company of our countrey ships which were great comfort vnto vs being fiue moneths before at Sea without any companie By me Iames Welsh master of the Richard of Arundell in both these voyages to the riuer of Benin An Aduertisement sent to Philip the second king of Spaine from Angola by one Baltazar Almeida de Sousa touching the â—tate of the foresayd countrey written the 21 of May 1591. THe 26 of Iuly I certified your maiestie by Iohn Frere de Bendanha your maiesties pay-master and commissioner with the gouernour Paulo Dias which is lately deceased of all things that happened the 28 of December in the yere last past 1590. Now I thought it conuenient to aduertise your maiestie what hath fallen out since that time which is as foloweth The gouernour Luis Serrano encamped himselfe eight leagues from Cabasa where the Negro king dwelleth with 350 Portugal souldiers afterward being there encamped it hapned that the king of Matamba sent a strong and mightie army in warlike maner with strange inuentions for the sayd purpose So the king of Angola gaue this other king battell and the gouernour sent 114 souldiers Portugals to helpe the said king of Angola in which battell it was the will of God that our army was ouerthrowen and all slaine as well our Portugals as the Moores which tooke part with them So with this ouerthrow it happened that this realme the second time hath rebelled against your maiestie Hereupon the Gouernour assembling the rest of his Portugall souldiers to the number of 250 altogether went to Amasanguano which is now his place of abode Moreouer besides the manifold losses which haue be fallen the Portugals in this realme your maiestie hath sustained other great misfortunes both in your lands and goods And because I cannot personally come to certifie your maiestie thereof I thought it good to write some part of the same whereby your maiestie may vnderstand the estate of this countrey This realme for the most part thereof hath twise bene wonne and twise lost for want of good gouernment For here haue bene many gouernours which haue pretended to do iustice but haue pitifully neglected the same and practised the cleane contrary and this I know to be most true But the onely way to recouer this realme and to augment your maiesties lands goods and treasure must be by sending some noble and mighty man to rule here which must bring authoritie froÌ„ your maiestie and by taking streight order that euery captaine which doeth conquere here may bee rewarded according to his deserts Likewise your maiestie must send hither 2000 good souldiers with munition and sufficient store of prouision for them And by this means your highnesse shall know what yeerely reuenue Angola will yeeld vnto your coffers and what profit will grow thereof Otherwise your maiestie shall reape but litle benefit here If with my presence I may doe your maiestie any seruice in giuing information of the state of this realme as one which haue had experience thereof and haue seene the order of it vpon the vnderstanding of your maiesties pleasure herein I will doe my best indeuour And the cause wherefore I haue not done this heretofore hath bene by reason that the Gouernours of this realme would suffer none of the captaines which haue conquered this countrey to informe your maiestie of that which is needfull for your seruice and the augmenting of this conquest Our lord preserue your catholique person with increase of many kingdomes and the augmentation of your crowne Written in the conquest of the realme of Angola the 21 of May 1591. Your maiesties most loiall subiect Baltazar Almeida de Soâ—za A true discourse written as is thought by Colonel Antonie VVinkfield emploied in the voiage to Spaine and Portugall 1589. sent to his particular friend by him published for the better satisfaction of all such as hauing bene seduced by particular report haue entred into conceits tending to the discredite of the enterprise and Actors of the same ALthough the desire of aduancing my reputation caused me to withstand the many perswasions you vsed to hold me at
experience there was no good to be done that way which I thinke he first put in proofe to trie if by that terror he could get the vpper towne hauing no other way to put it in hazzard so speedily and which in my conscience had obtained the towne had not the defendants bene in as great perill of their liues by the displeasure of their king in giuing it vp as by the bullet or sword in defending the same For that day before the assault in the view of our army they burnt a cloister within the towne and many other houses adioyning to the castle to make it more defensible whereby it appeared how little opinion themselues had of holding it against vs had not God who would not haue vs suddenly made proud layed that misfortune vpon vs. Hereby it may appeare that the foure canons and other pieces of battery promised to the iourney and not performed might haue made her Maiesty mistresse of the Groine for though the mine were infortunate yet if the other breach had bene such as the earth would haue held our men thereon I doe not thinke but they had entred it thorowly at the first assault giuen which had bene more then I haue heard of in our age And being as it was is no more then the Prince of Parma hath in wiâ—ning of all his townes endured who neuer entred any place at the first assaultâ— nor aboue three by assault The next day the Generall hearing by a prisoner that was brought in that the Conde de Andrada had assembled an armie of eight thousand at Puente de Burgos sixe miles from thence in the way to Petance which was but the beginning of an armie in that there was a greater leauie readie to come thither vnder the Conde de Altemira either in purpose to relieue the Groine or to encampe themselues neere the place of our embarking there to hinder the same for to that purpose had the marquesse of Seralba written to them both the first night of our landing as the Commissarie taken then confessed or at the least to stop our further entrance into the Countrey for during this time there were manyâ— incursions made of three or foure hundred at a time who burnt spoyled and brought in victuals plentifully the Generall I say hearing of this armie had in purpose the next day following to visite them agaynst whom hee caried but nine Regiments in the vantgard were the Regiment of Sir Roger Williams Sir Edward Norris and Colonell Sidney in the Battaile that of the Generall of Colonell Lane and Colonel Medkerk and in the Rereward Sir Henrie Norris Colonell Huntley and Colonell Brets Regiments leauing the other fiue Regiments with Generall Drake for the guard of the Cloister and Artillerie About ten of the clocke the next day being the sixt of May halfe a mile from the campe we discouering the enemy Sir Edward Norris who commanded the vantgard in chiefe appointed his Lieutenant Colonell Captaine Anthonie Wingfield to command the shot of the same who diuided them into three troups the one he appointed to Captaine Middleton to be conducted in a way on the left hand another to Captaine Erington to take the way on the right hand and the body of them which were Musquetiers Captaine Wingfield tooke himselfe keeping the direct way of the march But the way taken by Captaine Middleton met a little before with the way held by Captaine Wingfield so as he giuing the first charge vpon the enemy was in the instant seconded by Captaine Wingfield who beat them from place to place they hauing very good places of defence and crosse walles which they might haue held long till they betooke them to their bridge which is ouer a creeke comming out of the Sea builded of stone vpon arches On the foot of the further side whereof lay the Campe of the enemy very strongly entrenched who with our shot beaten to the further end of the bridge Sir Edward Norris marching in the point of the pikes without stay passed to the bridge accompanied with Colonell Sidney Captaine Hinder Captaine Fulford and diuers others who found the way cleare ouer the same but through an incredible volley of shot for that the shot of their army flanked vpon both sides of the bridge the further end whereof was barricaded with barrels but they who should haue guarded the same seeing the proud approch we made forsooke the defence of the barricade where Sir Edward entered and charging the first defendant with his pike with very earnestnesse in ouerthrusting fell and was grieuously hurt at the sword in the head but was most honourably rescued by the Generall his brother accompanied with Colonell Sidney and some other gentlemen Captaine Hinder also hauing his Caske shot off had fiue wounds in the head and face at the sword and Captaine Fulford was shot into the left arme at the same encounter yet were they so thorowly seconded by the Generall who thrust himselfe so neere to giue encouragement to the attempt which was of wooderfull difficulty as their brauest men that defended that place being ouerthrowen their whole army fell presently into rout of whom our men had the chase three miles in foure sundry wayes which they betooke themselues vnto There was taken the Standerd with the Kings armes and borne before the Generall How many two thousand men for of so many consisted our vantgard might kill in pursuit of foure sundry parties so many you may imagine fell before vs that day And to make the number more great our men hauing giuen ouer the execution and returning to their standes found many hidden in the Uineyards and hedges which they dispatched Also Colonell Medkerk was sent with his regiment three miles further to a Cloister which he burnt and spoiled wherein he found two hundred more put them to the sword There were slaine in this fight on our side onely Captaine Cooper and one priuate souldier Captaine Barton was also hurt vpon the bridge in the eye But had you seene the strong baricades they had made on either side of the bridge and how strongly they lay encamped thereabouts you would haue thought it a rare resolution of ours to giue so braue a charge vpon an army so strongly lodged After the furie of the execution the Generall sent the vantgard one way and the battell another to burne and spoile so as you might haue seene the countrey more then three miles compasse on fire There was found very good store of munition and victuals in the Campe some plate and rich apparell which the better sort left behinde they were so hotly pursued Our sailers also landed in an Iland next adioyning to our ships where they burnt and spoiled all they found Thus we returned to the Groine bringing small comfort to the enemy within the same who shot many times at vs as we marched out but not once in our comming backe againe The next day was spent in shipping our artillery landed for the
the chiefe places in the Admiraltie and marine causes of England Certaine briefe extracts of the orders of the Contractation house of Siuil in Spaine touching their gouernment in sea-matters together with The streight and seuere examination of Pilots and Masters before they be admitted to take charge of ships aswell by the Pilot mayor and brotherhood of ancient Masters as by the Kings reader of The lecture of the art of Nauigation with the time that they be enioyned to bee his auditors and some part of the questions that they are to answere vnto Which if they finde good and beneficial for our seamen I hope they wil gladly imbrace and imitate or finding out some fitter course of their owne will seeke to bring such as are of that calling vnto better gouernment and more perfection in that most laudable and needfull vocation To leaue this point I was once minded to haue added to the end of these my labours a short treatise which I haue lying by me in writing touching The curing of hot diseases incident to traueilers in long and Southerne voyages which treatise was written in English no doubt of a very honest mind by one M. George Wateson and dedicated vnto her sacred Maiestie But being carefull to do nothing herein rashly I shewed it to my worshipfull friend M. doctour Gilbert a gentleman no lesse excellent in the chiefest secrets of the Mathematicks as that rare iewel lately set foorth by him in Latine doeth euidently declare then in his owne profession of physicke who assured me after hee had perused the said treatise that it was very defectiue and vnperfect and that if hee might haue leasure which that argument would require he would either write something thereof more aduisedly himselfe or would conferre with the whole Colledge of the Physicions and set downe some order by common consent for the preseruation of her Maiesties subiects Now as the foresaid treatise touched the cure of diseases growing in hot regions so being requested thereunto by some in authoritie they may adde their iudgements for the cure of diseases incident vnto men employed in cold regions which to good purpose may serue our peoples turnes if they chance to prosecute the intermitted discouery by the Northwest whereunto I finde diuers worshipfull citizens at this present much inclined Now because long since I did foresee that my profession of diuinitie the care of my family and other occasions might call and diuert me from these kinde of endeuours I haue for these 3. yeeres last past encouraged and furthered in these studies of Cosmographie and forren histories my very honest industrious and learned friend M. IOHN PORY one of speciall skill and extraordinary hope to performe great matters in the same and beneficial for the common wealth Thus Sir I haue portrayed out in rude lineaments my Westerne Atlantis or America assuring you that if I had bene able I would haue limned her and set her out with farre more liuely and exquisite colours yet as she is I humbly desire you to receiue her with your wonted and accustomed fauour at my handes who alwayes wil remaine most ready and deuoted to do your honour any poore seruice that I may and in the meane season will not faile vnfainedly to beseech the Almighty to powre vpon you the best of his temporall blessings in this world and after this life ended with true and much honour to make you partaker of his ioyes eternall From London the first of September the yeere of our Lord God 1600. Your Honours most humble to be commanded RICHARD HAKLVYT Preacher ¶ A general Catalogue diuided according to the methode obserued in this present volume into 14. special branches briefly conteyning all the Voyages Nauigations Traffiques and Discoueries of the English nation and where they haue not bâ—ne or not perfectly discouered of strangers within the said volume intreâ—ted of which haue been perfâ—rmed to euery part of America hitheâ—to knowen or discouered by any Christian whereunto are annexed in their due and proper places all the Patents discourses ruttiers letters aduertisements instructions obseruations and other particulars incident or belonging to the foresaid Voyages THe most ancient voyage and discouery of the West Indies performedly Madoc the sonne of Owen Guined prince of North Wales Anno 1170 taken out of the history of Wales c. Pag. 1. The testimonies and relations immediatly ensuing vpon this voyage THe verses of Meredith the sonne of Rhesus making mention of Madoc the sonne of Owen Guined and of his Nauigation vnto vnknowen lands pag. 1 The offer of the discouery of the West Indiâ—s by Christopher Columbus to K. Henry the 7. February the 13. Anno 1488 with the Kings acceptance of the said offer pag. 2 Another testimony concerning the foresaid offer made by Barâ—holomew Columbus to K. Henry the seuenth on the behalfe of his brother Chrisâ—â—pher Columbus pag. 3. 4. A catalogue of the English voyages vndertaken for the finding of a Northwest passage to the North parts of America to Meta incognita and the backeside of Groenland as farre as 72. degrees and 12. minutes THe voyage of Sebastian Cabota to the North part of America for the discouery of a North west passage as farre as 58. degrees of latitude and from thence back againe all along the coast till he fell with some part of Florida anno 1497 confirmed by 6. testimonies The first taken out of the mappe of Sebastian Cabota cut by Clement Adamâ—s the second vsed by Galeacius Butrigarius the Popes legate and reported by him the third out of the preface of Baptista Ramusius before his third volume of Nauigations the 4. out of the thirde decade of Peter Marty rab Angleria the 5. out of the general history of Lopez de Gomara and the 6. out of Fabians chronicle pag. 6.7.8 and 9. The first voyage of M. Martin Frobisher to the Northwest for the search of a passage to China anno 1576. pag. 29. 57. The second voyage of M. Martin Frobisher to the West and Northwest regions in the yeere 1577. pag. 32. and 60. The third and last voyage of M. Martin Frobisber for the discouery of a Northwest passage in the yeâ—e 1578. Pag. 39. and 74. The first voyage of M. Iohn Dauis for the discouery of a Northwest passage 1585. pag. 98. The second voyage of M Iohn Dauis for the discouery of the Northwest pass 1586. pag. 103. The voyage and course which the Sunshine a barke of 50 tunnes the Northstarre a small pinnesse being 2. vessels of the Fleete of M. Iohn Dauis held after hee had sent them from him to discouer a passage betweene Groenland and Isleland 1587. pag. 111 The voyage of M. Nicolas Zeno and M. Anthony his brother to the yles of Frisland Island Engronland Estotiland Drogeo and Icaria begun in the yeere 1380. pag. 121. The patents letters discourses obseruations and dependences vpon the Northwestern voyages next before mentioned THe letters patents of K. Henry the 7.
North hauing alwaies the desert land on the Starborde and on the Larbord the maine sea continuing his course vntill hee perceiued that the coast bowed directly towards the East or else the Sea opened into the land he could not tell how farre where he was compelled to stay vntil he had a westerne winde or somewhat vpon the North and sayled thence directly East alongst the coast so farre as hee was able in foure dayes where he was againe inforced to tary vntill hee had a North winde because the coast there bowed directly towards the South or at least opened he knew not howe farre into the land so that he sayled thence along the coast continually full South so farre as he could trauell in the space of fiue dayes where hee discouered a mighty riuer which opened farre into the land and in the entrie of this riuer he turned backe againe Whereby it appeareth that he went the very same way that we now doe yerely trade by S. Nicholas into Moscouia which way no man in our age knew for certaintie to be by sea vntil it was since discouered by our English men in the time of King Edward the sixt but thought before that time that Groneland had ioyned to Normoria Byarmia c. and therefore was accompted a new discouery being nothing so indeede as by this discourse of Ochther it appeareth Neuerthelesse if any man should haue taken this voyage in hand by the encouragement of this onely author he should haue bene thought but simple considering that this Nauigation was written so many yeres past in so barbarous a tongue by one onely obscure author and yet we in these our dayes finde by our owne experiences his former reports to be true How much more then ought we to beleeue this passage to Cataia to bee being verified by the opinions of all the best both Antique and Moderne Geographers and plainely set out in the best and most allowed Mappes Charts Globes Cosmographical tables discourses of this our age and by the rest not denied but left as a matter doubtfull To prooue by reason a passage to be on the Northside of America to goe to Cataia c. Chap. 3. FIrst all seas are maintained by the abundance of water so that the neerer the end any Riuer Bay or Hauen is the shallower it waxeth although by some accidentall barre it is sometime found otherwise But the farther you sayle West from Island towards the place where this fret is thought to be the more deepe are the seas which giueth vs good hope of continuance of the same Sea with Mar del Sur by some fret that lyeth betweene America Groneland and Cataia 2 Also if that America were not an Island but a part of y e continent adioyning to Asia either the people which inhabite Mangia Anian Quinzay c. being borderers vpon it would before this time haue made some road into it hoping to haue found some like cōmodities to their owne◠3 Or els the Scythians and Tartarians which often times heretofore haue sought farre and neere for new seats driuen thereunto through the necessitie of their cold and miserable countreys would in all this time haue found the way to America and entred the same had the passages bene neuer so straite or difficult the countrey being so temperate pleasant and fruitfull in comparison of their owne But there was neuer any such people found there by any of the Spaniards Portugals or Frenchmen who first discouered the Inland of that countrey which Spaniards or Frenchmen must then of necessitie haue seene some one ciuil man in America considering how full of ciuill people Asia is But they neuer saw so much as one token or signe that euer any man of the knowen part of the world had bene there 4 Furthermore it is to be thought that if by reason of mountaines or other craggy places the people neither of Cataia or Tartarie could enter the countrey of America or they of America haue entred Asia if it were so ioyned yet some one sauage or wandring beast would in so many yeres haue passed into it but there hath not any time bene found any of the beasts proper to Cataia or Tartarie c. in America nor of those proper to America in Tartarie Cataia c. or any part of Asia Which thing proueth America not onely to be one Island and in no part adioyning to Asia But also that the people of those Countreys haue not had any traffique with each other 5 Moreouer at the least some one of those painefull trauellers which of purpose haue passed the confines of both countreys with intent only to discouer would as it is most likely haue gone from the one to the other if there had bene any piece of land or Isthmos to haue ioyned them together or els haue declared some cause to the contrary 6 But neither Paulus Venetus who liued and dwelt a long time in Cataia euer came into America and yet was at the sea coastes of Mangia ouer against it where he was embarked and perfourmed a great Nauigation along those seas Neither yet Verarzanus or Franciscus Vasques de Coronado who trauelled the North part of America by land euer found entry from thence by land to Cataia or any part of Asia 7 Also it appeareth to be an Island insomuch as the Sea runneth by nature circularly from the East to the West following the diurnal motion of Primum Mobile which carieth with it all inferiour bodies moueable aswel celestiall as elemental which motion of the waters is most euidently seene in the Sea which lieth on the Southside of Afrike where the current that runneth from the East to the West is so strong by reason of such motiō that the Portugals in their voyages Eastward to Calicut in passing by Cap. de buona Sperança are inforced to make diuers courses the current there being so swift as it striketh from thence all along Westward vpon the fret of Magellan being distant from thence neere the fourth part of the longitude of the earth and not hauing free passage and entrance thorow the fret towards the West by reason of the narrownesse of the sayd Straite of Magellan it runneth to salue this wrong Nature not yeelding to accidentall restraints all along the Easterne coastes of America Northwards so far as Cape Fredo being the farthest knowne place of the same continent towards the North which is about 4800 leagues reckoning there withal the trending of the land 8 So that this current being continually maintained with such force as Iaques Cartier affirmeth it to be who met with the same being at Baccalaos as he sayled along the coastes of America then either it must of necessitie haue way to passe from Cape Fredo thorow this fret Westward towards Cataia being knowen to come so farre onely to salue his former wrongs by the authority before named or els it must needes strike ouer vpon the coast of
and made in the yeere of our Lord 1576. THe 7. of Iune being Thursday the two Barks viz. the Gabriel and the Michael our Pinnesse set saile at Ratcliffe and bare down to Detford and there we ancred the cause was that our Pinnesse burst her boultspriâ— and forâ—mâ—st aboard of a ship that rode at Detford else wee meant to haue past that day by the Court then at Grenewich The 8. day being Friday about 12 of the clocke we wayed at Detford and set saile all three of vs and bare downe by the Court where we shotte off our ordinance and made the best shew we could Her Maiestie beholding the same commended it and bade vs farewell with shaking her hand at vs out of the window Afterward shee sent a Gentleman aboord of vs who declared that her Maiestie had good liking of our doings and thanked vs for it and also willed our Captaine to come the next day to the Court to take his leaue of her The same day towards night M. Secretarie Woolly came aboorde of vs and declared to the company that her Maiestie had appointed him to giue them charge to be obedient and diligent to their Captaine and gouernours in all things and wished vs happie successe The 12. day being ouer against Grauesend by the castle or blockehouse we obserued the latitude which was 51. degrees 33. minâ— And in that place the variation of the Compasse is 11. degrees and a halfe The 24. day at 2. of the clocke after noone I had sight oâ— Faire yle being from vs 6. leagues North and by East and when I brought it Northwest and by North it did rise at the Southermost ende with a litle hommocke and swâ—mpe in the middes The 25. day from 4. to 8. a clocke in the forenoone the winde at Northwest and by North a fresh gale I cast about to the Westward the Southermost head of Shotland called Swinborne head Northnorthwest from me and the land of Faire yle West Southwest from me I sailed directly to the North head of that said land scunding as I ranne in hauing 60. 50. and 40. fathoms and gray redde shels and within halfe a mile of that Island there are 36. fathoms for I sailed to that Island to see whether there were any roadesteede for a Northwest winde and I found by my sounding hard rockes and foule ground and deepe water within two cables length of the shoare 28. fathome and so did not ancre but plied to and fro with my foresaile and mizen till it was a high water vnder the Island The tide setteth there Northwest and Southeast the flood setteth Southeast and the ebbe Northwest The 26. day hauing the winde at South a faire gale sayling from Faire yle to Swinborne head I did obserue the latitude the Island of Fowlay being West Northwest froÌ„ me 6. leagues and Swinborne head East southeast from me I found my eleuation to be 37. degr and my declination 22. degr 46. min. So that my latitude was 59. degr 46. min. At that present being neere to Swinborne head hauing a leake which did trouble vs as also to take in fresh water I plyed roome with a sound which is called S. Tronions and there did ancre in seuen fathoms water and faire sande You haue comming in the sounds mouth in the entring 17.15.12.10.9.8 and 7. fathoms and the sound lyeth in North northwest and there we roade to a West sunne stopped our leake and hauing refreshed our selues with water at a North northwest sunne I set saile from S. Tronions the winde at South Southest and turned out till wee were cleare of the sound and so sailed West to go cleare of the Island of Fowlay And running off toward Fowlay I sounded hauing fiftie fathome and streâ—mâ—e ground and also I sounded Fowlay being North from mee one league off that Islande hauing fiftie fathome at the South head and streamie ground like broken otmell and one shell being redde and white like mackerell The 27. day at a South sunne I did abserue the latitude the Island of Fowlay being from me two leagues East Northeast I found my selfe to be in latitude 59. degrees 59. min. truly obserued the winde at South Southwest I sailed West and by North. From 12. to foure a clocke afternoone the wind at South a faire gale the shippe sailed West and by North 6. leagues and at the ende of this watch I sounded hauing 60. fathome with little stones and shels the Island from vs 8. leagues East The first of Iuly from 4. to 8. a clocke wee sailed West 4. glasses 4. leagues and at that present we had so much winde that we spooned afore the sea Southwest 2. leagues The 3. day we found our Compasse to bee varied one point to the Westwards this day from 4. to 8. a clocke we sailed West and by North 6. leagues From 8. to 12. a clocke at noone West and by North 4. leagues At that present I found our Compasse to be varied 11. deg and one 4. part to the Westwards which is one point The 11 day at a Southeast sunne we had sight of the land of Friseland bearing from vs West northwest 16. leagues and rising like pinacles of steeples and all couered with snowe I found my selfe in 61. degr of latitude Wee sailed to the shoare and could finde no ground at 150â— fathoms we hoised out our boate and the Captaine with 4. men rowed to the shoare to get on land but the land lying full of yce they could not get on land and so they came aboord againe We had much adoe to get cleare of the yce by reason of the fogge Yet from Thursday 8. a clocke in the morning to Friday at noone we sailed Southwest 20. leagues The 18. day at a Southeast sunne I found the sunne to be eleuated 33. deg And at a Southsoutheast sunne 40. deg So I obserued it till I found it at the highest and then it was eleuated 52. deg I iudged the variation of the Compasse to be 2. points and a halfe to the Westward The 21. day we had sight of a great drift of yce seeming a firme lande and we cast Westward to be cleare of it The 26. we had sight of a land of yce the latitude was 62. degrees and two minutes The 28. day in the morning was very foggie but at the clearing vp of the fogge wee had sight of lande which I supposed to be Labrador with great store of yce about the land I ranne in towards it and sownded but could get no ground at 100. Fathom and the yce being so thicke I could not get to the shoare and so lay off and came cleare of the yce Upon Munday we came within a mile of the shoare and sought a harborowe all the sownd was full of yce and our boate rowing a shoare could get no ground at a 100. fathom within a Cables length of
Arambec corruptly called Norumbega with the Paâ—entsâ— letters and aduertisements thereunto belonging The voyage of the two ships whereof the one was called the Dominus vobiscum set out the 20 day of May in the 19 yere of king Henry the eight and in the yere of our Lord God 1527. for the discouerie of the North partes MAster Robert Thorne of Bristoll a notable member and ornament of his country as wel for his learning as great charity to the poore in a letter of his to king Henry the 8 and a large discourse to doctor Leigh his Ambassadour to Charles the Emperour which both are to be seene almost in the beginning of the first volume of this my work exhorted the aforesaid king with very waighty and substantial reasons to set forth a discouery euen to the North Pole And that it may be knowne that this his motion tooke present effect I thought it good herewithall to put downe the testimonies of two of our Chroniclers M. Hall and M. Grafton who both write in this sort This same moneth say they king Henry the 8 sent 2 faire ships wel manned victualled hauing in them diuers cunning men to seek strange regions so they set forth out of the Thames the 20 day of May in the 19 yeere of his raigne which was the yere of our Lord. 1527. And whereas master Hal and master Grafton say that in those ships there were diuers cunning men I haue made great enquirie of such as by their yeeres and delight in Nauigation might giue me any light to know who those cunning men should be which were the directers in the aforesaid voyage And it hath bene tolde me by sir Martine Frobisher and M. Richard Allen a knight of the Sepulchre that a Canon of Saint Paul in London which was a great Mathematician and a man indued with wealth did much aduance the action and went therein himselfe in person but what his name was I cannot learne of any And further they told me that one of the ships was called The Dominus vobiscum which is a name likely to be giuen by a religious man of those dayes and that sayling very farre Northwestward one of the ships was cast away as it enâ—â—ed into a dangerous gulph about the great opening betweene the North parts of Newfoundland and the countrey lately called by her Maiestie Meta Incognita Whereupon the other ship shaping her course towards Cape Briton and the coastes of Arambec and oftentimes putting their men on land to search the state of those vnknowen regions returned home about the beginning of October of the yere aforesayd And thus much by reason of the great negligence of the writers of those times who should haue vsed more care in preseruing of the memories of the worthy actes of our nation is all that hitherto I can learne or finde out of this voyage The voyage of M. Hore and diuers other gentlemen to Newfoundland and Cape Briton in the yere 1536 and in the 28 yere of king Henry the 8. ONe master Hore of London a man of goodly stature and of great courage and giuen to the studie of Cosmographie in the 28 yere of king Henry the 8 and in the yere of our Lord 1536 encouraged diuers Gentlemen and others being assisted by the kings fauour and good countenance to accompany him in a voyage of discouerie vpon the Northwest parts of America wherein his perswasions tooke such effect that within short space many gentlemen of the Iâ—â—â—es of court and of the Chancerie and diuers others of good worship desirous to see the strange things of the world very willingly entred into the action with him some of whose names were as followeth M. Weekes a gentleman of the West countrey of fiue hundred markes by the yeere liuing M. Tucke a gentleman of Kent M. Tuckfield M. Thomas Buts the sonne of Sir William Buts knight of Norfolke which was lately liuing and from whose mouth I wrote most of this relation M. Hardie M. Biron M. Carter M. Wright M. Rastall Serieant Rastals brother M. Ridley and diuers other which all were in the Admyrall called the Trinitie a ship of seuen score â—unnes wherein M. Hore himselfe was imbaâ—ked In the other ship whose name was the Minion went a very learned and vertuous gentleman one M. Armigâ—l Wade Afterwaâ—des Clerke of the Counsailes of king Henry the 8 and king Edward the sixth father to the worshipfull M. William Wade now Clerke of the priuie Counsell M. Oliuer Dawbeney marchant of London M. Ioy afterward gentleman of the Kings Chappel with diuers other of good account The whole number that went in the two tall ships aforesaid to wit the Trinitie and the Minion were about sixe score persons whereof thirty were gentlemen which all we mustered in warlike maner at Graues-end and after the receiuing of the Sacrament they embarked themselues in the ende of April 1536. From the time of their setting out from Grauesend they were very long at sea to witte aboue two moneths and neuer touched any land vntill they came to part of the West Indies about Cape Briton shaping their course thence Northeastwardes vntill they came to the Island of Penguin which is very full of rockes and stones whereon they went and found it full of great soules white and gray as big as geese and they saw infinite numbers of their egges They draue a great number of the foules into their boates vpon their sayles and tooke vp many of their egges the foules they flead and their skinnes were very like hony combes full of holes being flead off they dressed and eate them and found them to be very good and nourishing meat They saw also store of beares both blacke and white of whome they killed some and tooke them for no bad foode M. Oliuer Dawbeny which as it is before mentioned was in this voyage and in the Minion told M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple these things following to wit That after their arriuall in Newfoundland and hauing bene there certaine dayes at ancre and not hauing yet seene any of the naturall people of the countrey the same Dawbeney walking one day on the hatches spied a boate with Sauages of those parts rowing downe the Bay toward them to gaze vpon the ship and our people and taking vewe of their comming aloofe hee called to such as were vnder the hatches and willed them to come vp if they would see the natural people of the countrey that they had so long and so much desired to see whereupon they came vp and tooke viewe of the Sauages rowing toward them and their ship and vpon the viewe they manned out a ship-boat to meet them and to take them But they spying our ship-boat making towards them returned with maine force and fled into an Island that lay vp in the Bay or riuer there and our men pursued them into the Island and the Sauages fledde and escaped but our men found a
the continent of the hither part of America betweene the degrees of 30. and â—0 of septentrionall latitude Within which degrees by computation Astronomicall and Cosmographicall are doubtlesse to bee found all things that be necessarie profitableâ— or delectâ—ble for mans life The clymate milde and temperate neyther too hote nor too colde so that vnder the cope of heauen there is not any where to be found a more conuenient place to plant and inhabite in which many notable Gentlemen both of our owne nation and strangers who haue bene trauailers can testifie and that those Countries are at this day inhabited with Sauages who haue no knowledge of God Is it not therefore I say to be lamented that these poore Pagans so long liuing in ignorance and idolatry and in sort thirsting after Christianitie as may appeare by the relation of such as haue trauailed in thâ—se partes that our hearts are so hardened that fewe or none can be found which will put to their helping hands and apply themselues to the relieuing of the miserable and wretched estate of these sillie soules Whose Countrey doeth as it were with armes aduanced aboue the climates both of Spaine and France stretch out it selfe towards Engâ—and only In maner praying our ayde and helpe as it is not onely set forth in Mercators generall Mappe but it is also found to be true by the discouerie of our nation and other strangers who haue oftentimes trauailed vpon the same coasts Christopher Columbus of famous memorie the first instrument to manifest the great glory and mercy of Almightie God in planting the Christian faith in those so long vnknowen regions hauing in purpose to acquiant as he did that renoumed Prince the Queenes Maiesties grandfather King Henry the seuenth with his intended voyage for the Westerne discoueries was not onely derided and mocked generally euen here in England â—ut afterward became a laughing stocke to the Spaniards themselues who at this day of all other people are most bounden to lande and prayse God who first stirred vp the man to that enterprise And while he was attending there to acâ—uaint the King of Castile that then was with his intended purpose by how many wayes and meanes was he derided Some scorned the pildnesse of his garments some toâ—ke occasion to iest at his sample and silly lookes others asked if this were he that lowâ—s â—o lowe which did take vpon him to bring men into a Countrey that aboundeth with Golde Pearle and Precious stonesâ— If hee were any such man sayd they he would carry another maner of countenance with him and looke somewhat loftier Thus some iudged him by his garments and others by his looke and countenance but none entred into the consideration of the inward man In the ende what successe his Uoyage had who list to reade the Decades the Historie of the West Indies the conquest of Hernando Cortes about Mexico and those of Francisco Pizarâ—o in Peru about Casamalcha and Cusco may know more particularly All which their discoueries trauailes and conquests are extant to be had in the English tongue This deuise was then accounted a fantasticall imagination and a drowsie dreame But the sequele thereof hath since awaked out of dreames thousands of soules to knowe their Creator being thereof before that time altogether ignorant And hath since made sufficient proofe neither to be fantasticke nor vainely imagined Withall how mightily it hath inlarged the dominions of the Crowne of Spaine and greatly inriched the subiects of the same let all men consider Besides it is well knowen that sithence the time of Columbus his first dicouerie through the planting possessing and inhabiting those partes there hath bene transported and brought home into Europe greater store of Golde Siluer Pearle and Precious stones then heretofore hath bene in all ages since the creation of the worlde I doe therefore heartily wish that seeing it hath pleased almightie God of his infinite mercy at the length to awake some of our worthy Countrey men out of that drowsie dreame wherein we haue so long slumbered That wee may now not suffer that to quaile for want of maintenance which by these valiant Gentlemen our Countreymen is so nobly begun enterprised For which purpose I haue taken vpon me to write this simple short Treatise hoping that it shall be able to perswade such as hâ—â—e bene and yet doe continue detractors and hinderers of this iourney by reason perhaps that they haue not deliberately and aduisedly entred into the iudgâ—ment of the matter that yeâ— now vpon better consideration they will become fauourable furtherers of the same And that such as are already well affected thereunto will continue their good disposition And withall I most humbly pray all such as are no â—igards of their purses in buying of costly and rich apparel and liberall Contributors in setting forth of games pastunes feastings and banquets whereof the charge being past there is no hope of publique profite or commoditie that hence forth they will bestowe and employ their liberality heretofore that way expended to the furtherance of these so commendable purposed proceedings And to this ende haue I taken pen in hand as in conscience thereunto mooued desiring much rather that of the great multitude which this Realme doeth nourish farre better able to handle this matter then I my selfe am it would haue pleased some one of them to haue vndertaken the same But seeing they are silent and that it falleth to my lotte to put pen to the paper I will endeuour my selfe and doe stand in good hope though my skill and knowledge â—ee simple yet through the assistance of almightie God to prooue that the Uoyage lately enterprised for trade traffique and planting in America is an action tending to the lawfull enlargement of her Maiesties Dominions commodious to the whole Realme in generall profitable to the aduenturers in particular beneficiall to the Sauages and a matter to be atteined without any great danger or difficultie And lastly which is most of all A thing likewise tending to the honour and glory of Almightie God And for that the lawfulnesse to plant in those Countreyes in some mens iudgements seemeth very doubtfull I will beginne the proofe of the lawfulnesse of trade traffique and planting The second Chapter sheweth that it is lawfull and necessarie to trade and traffique with the Sauages And to plant in their Countries And diuideth planting into two sorts ANd first for traffique I say that the Christians may lawfully trauell into those Countries and abide there whom the Sauages may not iustly impugne and forbidde in respect of the mutuall societie and fellowshippe betweene man and man prescrided by the Law of Nations For from the first beginning of the creation of the world and from the renewing of the same after Noes flood all men haue agreed that no violence should be offered to Ambassadours That the Sea with his Hauens should be common That such as should fortune to
order to our chyrurgion to dresse the wounded men one of which was wounded vnto death That done we had then time to view our prize which we found of great defence and a notable strong ship almost two hundred tun in burden very well appointed and in all things fitted for a man of warre They had also foureteene or fifteene men more which were then absent from the ship otherwise we should haue had the hoter fight The same day we got our sailes to the yard and our top masts on end and rigged the shippe what we could The 26 day we got some oile aboord and there we taried vntill the second of August fitting our selues for the sea and getting fish aboord as weather serued vs. During our â—â—ode there we diuided our men and appointed to ech ship their company my selfe and my friends being resolued to take our passage in the prize wherein when we were shipped and the company there arose great enmity against vs by the other shippe which afterward was quieted The second day of August hauing taken in water and wood we put to sea from that harborow in company of the Hopewell with puâ—pose to go directly to Parlican which is an harborow in the North part of Newfoundland where we eâ—pected another prize But when we came to sea we found our sailes so olâ—e our ropes so rotten and our prouision of bread and drinke so short as that we were constrained to make our resolution directly for England whereupon we drew out our reasons the fourth day of August and sent them aboord the Hopewell to certifie them the cause of our resolution for England wherat they were generally offended thinking and saying that we in the prize went about to cousin and deceiue them To conclude they sent vs word that they would keepe vs company for England But I had giuen William Crafton commission before to go for the Islands of the Açores and there to spend his victuals for a man of warre The next day being the fift of August hauing a faire winde we put off from the coast of Newfoundland and kept our course directly for England the Hopewell keeping vs company vntill midâ—ay whenas hauâ—ng lost vs in a fogge she shot off two pieces of ordinance and we answered her with three afterwarde wâ— spake not with her supposing that she went for the Islands The 27 of August drawing neere the coast of England we sounded and found ground at seuenty fadoms Some of the mariners thinking we were in Bristow channell and other in Silly channell so that through variety of iudgements â—nd euill marinership we were fame to dance the hay foure dayes together sometimes running to the Northeast sometimes to the Southeast then againe to the East and Eastnortheast Thus did we spend faire winds and lose our time vntill the last of August And then it pleased God that we fell with the Island of Lundy within the channell of Bristoll from whence we sâ—ayed our course and aftâ—r diuers dangers the third of September we mâ—t with the Tramontane of the Queene off of Dartmouth to the captaine whereof we gaue certaine things that he had need of The fift of Septeâ—â—er I landed on the outside of the Isle of Wight and within few dayes after it pleased God to bring the ship in safety to London where she was made prize as beloâ—ging to the enemies of this land Certaine obseruations touching the countreys and places where we trauelled THe Newfoundland we found very subiect to fogs and mists The ground of it is very rocky and vpon it there is great store of firce trees and in some places red and abouâ— the shore it hath great abundance of cod-fish We were on land in it in foure seuerall places 1 At Caplin bay and Farrillon 2 At Cape Rase 3 At the harborow of Lano which lieth foure leagues to the West beyond Cape Laurence 4 At S. Marie port The Island of Menego for the soile is much like Newfoundland but the fish about it as also thorowout the Grande Bay within Cape Briton is much larger and better then that of the Newfoundland This Island is scant two leagues long and very narrow In the midst of it a great way within the wood is a great poole Here we were thrise on shore once at the East side and twise at the West The three Islands of birds are sandy red but with the multitude of birds vpon them they looke white The birds sit there as thicke as stones lie in a paued street The greatest â—f the Islands is about a mile in compasse The second is little lesse The third is a very little one like a small rocke At the second of these three lay on the shore in the Sunshine about thirty or forty sea-oxen or morses which when our boat came nere them presently made into the sea and swam after the boat Brions Island wee found to be very good and sandy ground It hath in it store of firre trees It is somewhat more then a league long and about three leagues in compasse Here we were on land once and went from the one side of it to the other The Island of Ramea we tooke to be like ground as Brions Island hauing also abundance of firre trees It seemeth to be in length about twelue or thirteene leagues at least We were there in harborow but not on shore which we much desired and hoped to haue bene but the conflict which we had there with the Basks and Britons mentioned before preuented vs. The Isle Blanche likewise seemeth in quality of the ground and bignesse of it to be much like Brions Island aforesayd but somewhat lesse We were not on shore vpon it but rode before it at anker The land of Cape Briton we found to be somewhat like the Newfoundland but rather better Here toward the West end of it we saw the clouds lie lower then the hils as we did also at Cape Laurence in Newfoundland The Easterly end of the land of Cape Briton is nothing so high land as the West We went on shore vpon it in fiue places 1 At the bay where the Chancewell was cast away 2 At Cibo 3 At a little Island betweene Cibo and the New port 4 At the New port And 5 at Port Ingles or the English port Concerning the nature and fruitfulnesse of Brions Island Isle Blanche and of Ramea they do by nature yeeld exceeding plenty of wood great store of wild corne like barley sâ—rawberries gooseberries mulberies white roses and store of wilde peason Also about the sayd Islands the sea yeeldeth great abundance of fish of diuers sorts And the sayd Islands also seeme to proffer through the labour of man plenty of all kinde of our graine of roots of hempe and other necessary commodities Charles Leigh CERTAINE VOYAGES CONTAINING THE Discouerie of the Gulfe of Sainct Laurence to the West of Newfoundland and from thence vp the riuer of Canada to Hochelaga Saguenay and other places with a
diuided in twaine in the midst of both the branches of the said riuer some what neerest that arme which runneth toward the Northwest these words following written in the hand of Iaques Cartier By the people of Canada and Hochelaga it was said That here is the land of Saguenay which is rich and wealthy in precious stones And about an hundred leagues vnder the same I found wriâ—ten these two lines following in the said Carde enclining toward the Southwest Here in this Countrey are Cinamon and Cloues which they call in their language Canodeta Touching the effect of my booke whereof I spake vnto you it is made after the maner of a sea Chart which I haue deliuered to my two sonnes Michael and Iohn which at this present are in Canada If at their returne which will be God willing about Magdalene tyde they haue learned any new thing worthy the writing I will not faile to aduertise you thereof Your louing Friend IAQVES NOEL Here followeth the course from Belle Isle Carpont and the Grand Bay in Newfoundland vp the Riuer of Canada for the space of 230. leagues obserued by Iohn Alphonse of Xanctoigne chiefe Pilote to Monsieur Roberual 1542. BElles Isles are in 51 degrees and â…“ Belles Isles and Carpont are Northnorthwest and Southsoutheast and they are ten leagues distant Carpont is in 52 degrees Carpont and Bell Isle from the Grand Bay are Northeast and Southwest and the distance from Bell Isle to the Grand Bay is 7 leagues The midst of the Grand Bay is in 52 degrees and a halfe and on the Northside therof there is a rocke halfe a league from the Isle ouer against Carpont toward the East there is a small flat Island and on the side toward the Northeast there is a flat rocke And when thou commest out of the harborough of Carpont thou must leaue this rocke on the starreboord side and also on the larboord side there are two or three small Isles and when thou commest out on the Northeast side ranging along the shore toward the West about two pikes length in the midway there is a shold which lieth on thy starboord side and saile thou by the North coast and leaue two partes of the Grand Bay toward the South because there is a rocke which runneth 2 or 3 leagues into the sea And when thou art come athwart the hauen of Butes run along the North shore about one league or an halfe off for the coast is without all danger Bell Isle in the mouth of the Grand Bay and the Isles of Blanc Sablon which are within the Grand Bay neere vnto the North shore lie Northeast West and Southwest the distance is 30 leagues The Grand Bay at the entrance is but 7 leagues broad from land to land vntill it come ouer against the Bay des Chasteaux and from theuce forward it hath not past 5 leagues in breadth And against Blanc Sablon it is 8 leagues broad from land to land And the land on the South shore is all low land along the sea coast The North shore is reasonable high land Blanc Sablon is in 51 degrees â— The Isles of Blanc Sablon the Isles de la Damoiselle are Northeast Westsouthwest and take a little of the Westsouthwest and they are distant 36 leagues these Iles are in 50. deg ¾ And there is a good hauen you may enter by an high Cape which lieth along toward the Northeast and within the distance of a pike an half because of a rocke which lieth on your larrebord side you may ancre in 10 fathome water ouer against a litle nooke and from the great headland vnto the place where thou doest ancre there is not aboue the length of 2 Cables And if thou wouldest go out by the West side thou must saile neere the Isle by the starrebord giue roome vnto the Isle on the larbord at the comming forth and when thou art not past a cables length out thou must saile hard by the Isles on the larbord side by reason of a suncken flatte which lieth on the starrebord and thou shalt saile so on to the Southsouthwest vntill thou come in sight of a rocke which shineth which is about halfe a league in the sea distant from the Isles and thou shalt leaue it on the larrebord and from the Isles of Damoiselle vnto Newfoundland the sea is not in bredth aboue 36. leagues because that Newfoundland euen vnto Cape Briton runneth not but Northnortheast Southsouthwest Between the Isles de la Damoiselle and the Isles of Blanck Sablon there be many Isles and good harbours and on this coast there are faulcons haukes and certaine foules which seeme to be seasants The Isles de la Damoiselle Cape Tienot are Northeast Westsouthwest take a little of the Northeast and southwest they are distant 18. leagues Cape Tienot is in 50. deg and ¼ And there the sea is broadest And it may be to the end of Newfoundland which is at the entrance of Cape Briton 70 leagues which is the greatest bredth of this sea And there are 6 or 7 Isles between the Isles de la Damoiselle Cape Tienot Cape Tienot hath in y e sea 5 or 6 leagues distant froÌ„ it a sunkeÌ„ Iâ—land dangerous for ships The Cape Tienot and the midst of the Isle of Ascension are Northeast and southsouthwest they are 22. leagues distant the midst of the Isle of Ascension is in 49 deg ½ The said Isle lieth Northwest and Southeastâ— the Northwest end is in 50. degrees of latitude and the Southeast end is in 48. degrees and a halfeâ— and it is about 25. leagues long and 4. or 5. leagues broad and from the Northwest end of the Isle vnto the firme land of the North side the Sea is not aboue seuen leagues broad but vnto the firme land on the South side are about 15. leagues Cape Tienot and the end of the Isle of Ascention toward the Southeast are Northeast and Southwest and are distant 30. leagues The said Cape of Tienot and the Northwest end of the Isle of Ascension are East and West and take a little of the Northeast and Southwest and they are distant 34. leagues The Isle of Ascension is a goodly Isle and a goodly champion land without any hilles standing all vpon white rocks and Alablaster all couered with trees vnto the Sea shore and there are al sorts of trees as there be in France and there be wild beasts as beares Luserns Porkespicks And from the Southeast end of the Isle of Ascension vnto the entrance of Cape Briton is but 50. leagues The Northwest end of the Isle the Cape des Monts nostre Dame which is on the maine land towards the South are Northeast and Westsouthwest and the distance betweene them is 15. leagues The Cape is in 49. degrees which is a very high land The Cape and end of the
Isle of Ascension toward the Southeast are East and West and there is 15. leagues distance betweene them The Bay of Molues or Gaspay is in 48. degrees and the coast lyeth North and South and taketh a quarter of the Northeast and south-Southwest vnto the Bay of Heate and there are 3. Isles one great one and two smal from the Bay of Heate vntill you passe the Monts nostre Dame al the land is high and good ground al couered with trees Ognedoc is a good Bay and lyeth Northnorthwest and Southsoutheast and it is a good Harbour and you must saile along the shore on the Northside by reason of the low point at the entrance therof and when you are passed the poynt bring your selfe to an ancre in 15. or 20. fathoms of water toward the South shore and here within this Hauen are two riuers one which goeth toward the Northwest and the other to the Southwest And on this coast there is great fishing for Coddes and other fish where there is more store then is in Newfoundland and better fish And here is great store of riuer foule as Malards wild Geese and others And here are all sorts of trees Rose trees Raspesses Filbird trees Apple trees Peare trees and it is hotter here in Sommer then in France The Isle of Ascension and the 7. Isles which lie on the North shore lie Southeast and Westnorthwest and are distant 24. leagues The Cape of Ognedoc and the 7. Isles are Northnorthwest and Southsoutheast are distant 35. leagues The Cape of Monts nostre Dame and the 7. Isles are North and South and the cut ouer from the one to the other is 25. leagues and this is the breadth of this Sea and from thence vpward it beginneth to waxe narrower and narrower The 7. Isles are in 50. degrees and ½ The 7. Isles and the poynt of Ongear lie Northeast and Southwest and the distance betweene them is 15. leagues and betweene them are certaine small Islands and the point of Ongear and the mountaines Nostre Dame which are on the South side of the entrance of the riuer are North and South and the cut ouer from the one to the other is ten leagues and this is here the abredth of the Sea The poynt of Ongear and the riuer of Caen lie East and West and they are distant 12. leagues And all the coast from the Isle of Ascension hither is very good ground wherein growe all sortes of trees that are in France and some fruits The poynt of Ongear is in 49. degrees and ¼ And the riuer of Caen and the Isle of Raquelle lye Northeast and Southwest and they are distant 12. leagues The Isle of Raquelle is in 48. degrees and â…” In this riuer of Caen there is great sâ—ore of fish And here the Sea is not past 8 leagues broad The Isle of Raquelle is a very low Isle which is neere vnto the South shore hard by a high Cape which is called the Cape of Marble There is no danger there at all And betweene Raquelle and the Cape of Marble ships may passe And there is not from the Isle to the South shore aboue one league and from the Isle vnto the North shore about foure leagues The Isle of Raquelle and the entrance of Saguenay are Northeast Westsouthwest and are distant 14. leagues and there are betweene them two small Islandes neere the North shore The entrance of Saguenay is in 48. degrees and â…“ and the entrance hath not past a quarter of a league in breadth and it is dangerous toward the Southwest and two or three leagues within the entrance it beginneth to waxe wider and wider and it seemeth to bee as it were an arme of the Sea And I thinke that the same runneth into the Sea of Cathay for it sendeth foorth there a great current and there doth runne in that place a terrible rase or tyde And here the riuer from the North shore to the South shore is not past foure leagues in breadth and it is a dangerous passage betweene both the lands because there lie bankes of rockes in the riuer The Isle of Raquelle and the Isle of Hares lye Northeast and Southwest and take ¼ of the East and the West and they are distant 18. leagues The entrance of Saguenay and the Isle of Liepueres or Hares lie Northnortheast Southsouthwest and are distant 5. leagues The entrance of Saguenay and the Isle of Raquelle are Northnorthwest and Southsouthwest and are distant three leagues The Isle of Hares is in 48 and 1 16 of a degree From the Mountaines of Nostre Dame vnto Canada and vnto Hochelaga all the land on the South coast is faire a lowe land and goodly champaigne all couered with trees vnto the brink of the riuer And the land on the North side is higher and in some places there are high mountaines And from the Isle of Hares vnto the Isle of Orleans the riuer is not past 4 or 5 leagues broad Betweene the Isle of Hares and the high land on the North side the sea is not past a league and an halfe broad and it is very deepe for it is aboue 100. fathoms deepe in the middest To the East of the Isle of Hares there are 2 or 3 small Isles and rockes And from hence to the Isle Des Coudres or of Filbeards all is nothing but Isles and rockes on the Southshore and towards the North the sea is fayre and deepe The Isle of Hares and the Isle of Filbeards lie northeast West and Southwest and they are distant 12 leagues And you must alwayes run along the high land on the north shore for on the other shore there is nothing but rocks And you must passe by the side of the Isle of Filbeards and the riuer there is not past a quarter of a league broad and you must sayle in the middest of the chanel and in the middest runneth the best passage either at an hie or a low water because the sea runneth there strongly and there are great dangers of rocks and you had neede of good ancre and table The isle of Filbeards is a small isle about one league long and halfe a league broad but they are all banks of sand The isle of Filberds stands in 47. deg and ¾ The isle of Filberds and the isle of Orleans lie northeast and southwest and they are distant 10 leagues and thou must passe by the high land on the northside about a quarter of a league because that in the midst of the riuer there is nothing but sholds and rocks And when thou shalt bee ouer against a round Cape thou must take ouer to the South shore southwest and a quarter toward the South and thou shalt sayle in 5.6 and 7 fathoms and there the riuer of Canada beginneth to bee fresh and the salt water endeth And when thou shalt be athwart the point of the isle of Orleans where
the riuer beginneth to be fresh thou shalt sayle in the midst of the riuer and thou shalt leaue the isle on the starreboord which is on the right hand and here the riuer is not past a quarter of a league broad and hath 20 and 30 fathoms water And towards the South shore there is a ledge of Isles all couered with trees and they end ouer against the point of the Isle of Orleans And the poynt of the isle of Orleans toward the Northeast is in 47 degrees and one terce of a degree And the Isle of Orleans is a fayre Isle all couered with trees euen vnto the riuers side and it is about 5 leagues long and a league and an halfe broade And on the North shore there is another Riuer which falleth into the mayne Riuer at the ende of the Island and Shippes may very well passe there From the middest of the Isle vnto Canada the Riuer runneth West and from the place of Canada vnto France-Roy the riuer turneth West Southwest and from the West ende of the Isle to Canada is but one league and vnto France-Roy 4 leagues And when thou art come to the end of the Isle thou shalt see a great Riuer which falleth fifteene or twenty fathoms downe from a rocke and maketh a terrible noyse The Fort of France-roy stands in 47 degrees and one sixt part of a degree The extension of all these lands vpon iust occasion is called New France For it is as good and as temperate as France and in the same latitude And the reason wherefore it is colder in the Winter is because the fresh Riuer is naturally more colde then the Sea and it is also broad and deepe and in some places it is halfe a league and aboue in breadth And also because the land is not tylled nor full of people and is all full of Woods which is the cause of colde because there is not store of fire nor cattel And the sunne hath his Meridian as high as the Meridian at Rochel and it is noone here when the Sunne is at South Southwest at Rochel And here the north starre by the compasse standeth Northnortheast And when at Rochel it is noone it is but halfe an houre pass nine at France-Roy From the sayde place vnto the Ocean sea and the coast of New France is not aboue 50 leagues distance And from the entrance of Norumbega vnto Florida are 300 leagues and from this place of France-Roy to Hochelaga are about 80 leagues and vnto y e Isle of Rasus 30 leagues And I doubt not but Norumbega entreth into the riuer of Canada and vnto the Sea of Saguenay And from the Fort of France-Roy vntil a man come foorth of the Grande Bay is not aboue 230 leagues And the course is Northeast and West Southwest not aboue 5 degrees and ⅓ difference and reckon 16 leagues and an halfe to a degree By the nature of the climate the lands toward Hochelaga are still better and better and more fruitfull And this land is fitte for Figges and Peares And I thinke that golde and siluer will be found here according as the people of the countrey say These landes lye ouer against Tartarie and I doubt not but that they stretch toward Asia according to the roundnesse of the world And therefore it were good to haue a small Shippe of 70 tunnes to discouer the coast of New France on the backe side of Florida for I haue bene at a Bay as farre as 42 degrees betweene Norumbega and Florida and I haue not searched the ende thereof and I knowe not whether it passe through And in all these Countreys there are okes and bortz ashes elmes arables trees of life pines prussetrees ceders great wallnut trees and wilde nuts hasel-trees wilde peare trees wilde grapes and there haue bene found redde plummes And very faire corne groweth there and peason grow of their owne accord gooseberries and strawberries And there are goodly Forrests wherein men may hunt And there are great store of stagges deere porkepicks and the Sauages say there bee Unicornes Fowle there are in abundance as bustards wilde geese cranes turtle doues rauens crowes and many other birds All things which are sowen there are not past 2. or 3. dayes in comming vp out of the ground I haue tolde in one eare of corne an hundred and twenty graines like the corne of France And ye neede not to sowe your Wheate vntill March and it will be ripe in the middest of August The waters are better and perfecter then in France And if the Countrey were tilled and replenished with people it would be as hotte as Rochel And the reason why it snoweth there oftener then in France is because it raineth there but seldome for the raine is conuerted into snowes All things aboue mentioned are true Iohn Alphonse made this Voyage with Monsieur Roberual There is a pardon to be seene fo◠the pardoning of Monsieur de Sain◠terre Lieutenant of the sayd Monsieur de Roberual◠giuen in Canada in the presence of the sayde Iohn Alphonse The Voyage of Iohn Francis de la Roche knight Lord of Roberual to the Countries of Canada Saguenai and Hochelaga with three tall Ships and two hundred persons both men women and children begun in April 1542. In which parts he remayned the same summer and all the next winter SIr Iohn Francis de la Roche knight lord of Roberual appoynted by the king as his Lieutenant general in the countreis of Canada Saguenay and Hochelaga furnished 3. tall Ships chiefly at the kings cost And hauing in his fleete 200. persons aswel men as women accompanied with diuers gentlemen of qualitie as namely with Monsieur Saine-terre his lieutenāt l'Espiney his Ensigne captain Guine-court Monsieu◠Noire fontaine Dieu lamont Frote la Brosse Francis de Mire la Salle and Roieze and Iohn Alfonse of Xanctoigne an excellent pilot set sayle from Rochel the 16. of April 1542. The same day about noone we came athwart of Chefe de boys where we were enforced to stay the night following On Munday the seuenteenth of the sayde Moneth wee departed from Chefe deboys The winde serued vs notably for a time but within fewe dayes it came quite contrary which hindered our iourney for a long space For wee were suddenly enforced to turne backe and to seeke Harborough in Belle Isle on the coast of Bretaigne where wee stayed so long and had such contrary weather by the way that wee could not reach Newfound lande vntill the seuenth of Iune The eight of this Moneth wee entred into the Rode of Saint Iohn where wee founde seuenteene Shippes of fishers While wee made somewhat long abode heere Iaques Cartier and his company returning from Canada whither hee was sent with fiue sayles the yeere before arriued in the very same Harbour Who after hee had done his duetie to our Generall tolde him that hee had brought certaine
as well there as in all places else both on the sand and on the greene soile on the hils as in the plaines as well on euery little shrubbe as also climing towardes the tops of high Cedars that I thinke in all the world the like abundance is not to be found and my selfe hauing seene those parts of Europe that most abound find such difference as were incredible to be written We passed from the Sea side towardes the toppes of those hilles next adioyning being but of meane higth and from thence wee behelde the Sea on both sides to the North and to the South finding no ende any of both wayes This lande lay stretching it selfe to the West which after wee found to bee but an Island of twentie miles long and not aboue sixe miles broade Under the banke or hill whereon we stoode we behelde the vallyes replenished with goodly Cedar trees and hauing discharged our harquebuz-shot such a flocke of Cranes the most pat white arose vnder vs with such a cry redoubled by many ecchoes as if an armie of men had showted all together This Island had many goodly woodes full of Deere Conies Hares and Fowle euen in the middest of Summer in incredible abundance The woodes are not such as you finde in Bohâ—mia Moscouia or Hercynia barren and fruitles but the highest and reddest Cedars of the world farre bettering the Ceders of the Açores of the Indies or Lybanus Pynes Cypres Sassaphras the Lentisâ— or the tree that beareth the Masticke the tree that beareth the rine of blacke Sinaâ—â—n of which Master Winter brought from the streights of Magellan and many other of excellent smell and qualitie We remained by the side of this Island â—wo whole dayes before we saw any people of the Countrey the third day we espied one small boate rowing towardes vs hauing in it three persons this boat came to the Island side foure harquebuz-shot from our shippes and there two of the people remaining the third came along the shore side towards vs and wee being then all within boord he walked vp and downe vpon the point of the land next vnto vs then the Master and the Pilot of the Admirall Simon Ferdinando and the Captaine Philip Amadas my selfe and others rowed to the land whose comming this fellow attended neuer making any shewe of feare or doubt And after he had spoken of many things not vnderstood by vs we brought him with his owne good liking aboord the ships and gaue him a shirt a hat some other things and made him taste of our wine and our meat which he liked very wel and after hauing viewed both barks he departed and went to his owne boate againe which hee had left in a little Coue or Creâ—ke adioyning assoone as hee was two bow shoot into the water he fell to fishing and in lesse then halfe an houre he had laden his boate as deepe as it could swimme with which hee came againe to the point of the lande and there he deuided his fish into two parts pointing one part to the shipâ— and the other to the pinnesse which after he had as much as he might requited the former benefites receaued departed out of our sight The next day there came vnto vs diuers boates and in one of them the Kings brother accompanied with fortie or fiftie men very handsome and goodly people and in their behauiour as mannerly and ciuill as any of Europe His name was Granganimco and the king is called Wingina the countrey Wingandacoa and now by her Maiestie Virginia The maner of his comming was in this sort hee left his boares altogether as the first man did a little from the shippes by the shore and came along to the place ouer against the ships followed with fortie men When he came to the place his seruants spread a long matte vpon the ground on which he sate downe and at the other ende of the matte foure others of his companie did the like the rest of his men stood round about him somewhat a farre off when we came to the shore to him with our weapons hee neuer mooued from his place nor any of the other foure nor neuer mistrusted any harme to be offred from vs but sitting still he beckoned vs to come and sit by him which we performed and being set hee made all signes of ioy and welcome striking on his head and his breast and afterwardes on ours to shewe wee were all one smiling and making shewe the best he could of all loue and familiaritie After hee had made a long speech vnto vs wee presented him with diuers things which hee receiued very ioyfully and thankefully None of the company durst speake one worde all the time onely the foure which were at the other ende spake one in the others eare very softly The King is greatly obeyed and his brothers and children reuerenced the King himselfe in person was at our being there sore wounded in a fight which hee had with the King of the next countrey called Wingina and was shot in two places through the body and once cleane through the thigh but yet he recouered by reason whereof and for that hee lay at the chiefe towne of the country being sixe dayes iourney off we saw him not at all After we had presented this his brother with such things as we thought he liked wee likewise gaue somewhat to the other that sat with him on the matte but preâ—ently he arose and tooke all from them and put it into his owne basket making signes and tokens that all things ought to bee deliuâ—red vnto him and the rest were but his seruants and followers A day or two aftâ—r this we fell to trading with them exchanging some things that we had for Chamoys Buffe and Deere skinnes when we shewed him all our packet of merchandize of all things that he sawe a bright tinne dish most pleased him which hee presently tooke vp and clapt it before his breast and after made a hole in the brimme thereof and hung it about his necke making signes that it would defende him against his enemies arrowes for those people maintaine a deadly and terrible warre with the people and King adioyning We exchanged our tinne dish for twentie skinnes woorth twentie Crownes or twentie Nobles and a copper kettle for fiftie skins woorth fifty Crownes They offered vs good exchange for our hatchets and axes and for kniues and would haue giuâ—n any thing for swordes but wee would not depart with any After two or three dayes the Kings brother came aboord the shippes and dranke wine and eat of our meat and of our bread and liked exceedingly thereof and after a few dayes ouerpassed he brought his wife with him to the ships his daughter and two or three children his wife was very well fauoured of meane stature and very bashfull shee had on her backe a long cloake of leather with the surre side next to her body and before her
Iohn Bridger Griffen Iones Richard Shabedge Iames Lasie Iohn Cheuen Thomas Hewet William Berde Women Elyoner Dare. Margery Haruie Agnes Wood. Wenefrid Powell Ioyce Archard Iane Iones Elizabeth Glane Iane Pierce Audry Tappan Alis Chapman Emme Merrimoth Colman Margaret Lawrence Ioan Warren Iane Mannering Rose Payne Elizabeth Viccars Boyâ—â— and children Iohn Sampson Robert Ellis Ambrose Viccars Thomas Archard Thomas Humfrey Thomas Smart George How Iohn Prat. William Wythers Children borne in Virginia Virginia Dare. Haruie Sauages Manteo That were in England and returned home into Virginia with them Towaye That were in England and returned home into Virginia with them To the Worshipful and my very friend Master Richard Hakluyt much happinesse in the Lord. SIr as well for the satisfying of your earnest request as the performance of my promise made vnto you at my last being with you in England I haue sent you although in a homely stile especially for the contentation of a delicate care the true discourse of my last voyage into the West Indies and partes of America called Virginia taken in hand about the end of Februarie in the yeare of our redemption 1590. And what euents happened vnto vs in this our iourney you shall plainely perceiue by the sequele of my discourse There were at the time aforesaid thereâ—â— ships absolutely determined to goe for the West Indies at the speciall charges of M. Iohn Wattes of London Marchant But when they were fully furnished and in readinesse to make their departure a generall stay was commanded of all ships thorowout England Which so soone as I heard I presently as I thought it most requisite acquainted Sir Walter Ralegh therewith desiring him that as I had sundry times afore bene chargeable and troublesome vnto him for the supplies and reliefes of the planters in Virginia so likewise that by his endeuour it would please him at that instant to procure license for those three ships to proceede on with their determined voyage that thereby the people in Virginia if it were Gods pleasure might speedily be comforted and relieued without further changes vnto him Whereupon he by his good meanes obtained license of the Queenes Maiestie and order to be taken that the owner of the 3 ships should be bound vnto Sir Walter Ralegh or his assignes in 3000 pounds that those 3 ships in consideration of their releasement should take in transport a conuenient number of passengers with their furnitures and necessaries to be landed in Virginia Neuerthelesse that order was not obserued neither was the bond taken according to the intention aforesaid But rather in contempt of the aforesaid order I was by the owner and Commanders of the ships denied to haue any passengers or any thing els transported in any of the â—aid ships sauing only my selfe my chest no not so much as a boy to attend vpoÌ„ me although I made great sute earnest intreatie aswell to the chiefe Commanders as to the owner of the said ships Which crosse and vnkind dealing although it very much discontented me notwithstanding the scarsity of time was such that I could haue no opportunity to go vnto Sir Walter Ralegh with complaint for the ships being then all in readinesse to goe to the Sea would haue bene departed before I could haue made my returne Thus both Gouernors Masters and sailers regarding very smally the good of their countreymen in Virginia determined nothing lesse then to touch at those places but wholly disposed themselues to seâ—ke after purchase spoiles spending so much time therein thaâ— sommer was spent before we arriued at Virginia And when we were come thither the season was so vnfit weather so foule that we were constrained of force to forsake that coast hauing not seene any of our planters with lesse of one of our ship-boates and 7 of our chiefest men and also with losse of 3 of our ankers and cables and most of our caskes with fresh water left on shore not possible to be had aboord Which euils â—nfortunate euents as wel to their owne losse as to the hinderance of the planters in Uirginia had not chanced if the order set downe by Sir Walter Ralegh had bene obserued or if my dayly continuall pâ—â—itions â—or the performance of the same might haue tâ—ken any place Thus may you plainely perceiue the successe of my fist last voiage to Virginia which was no lesse vnfortunately ended then frowardly begun and as lucklesse to many as sinister to my selfe But I would to God it had bene as prosperous to all as noysome to the planters as ioyfull to me as discomfortable to them Yet seeing it is not my first crossed voyage I remaine contented And wanting my wishes I leaue off from prosecuting that whereunto I would to God my wealth were answerable to my will Thus committing the reliefe of my discomfortable company the planters in Virginia to the merâ—iful help of the Almighty whom I most humbly beseech to helpe comfort them according to his most holy will their good desire I take my leaue from my house at New towne in Kylmore the 4 of February 1593. Your most welwishing friend IOHN WHITE The fift voyage of M. Iohn VVhite into the VVest Indies and parts of America called Virginia in the yeere 1590. THe 20 of March the three shippes the Hopewell the Iohn Euangelist and the Little Iohn put to Sea from Plymmouth with two small Shallops The 25 at midnight both our Shallops were sunke being towed at the ships stearnes by the Boatswaines negligence On the 30 we saw a head vs that part of the coast of Barbary lying East of Cape Cantyn and the Bay of Asaphi The next day we came to the I le of Mogador where rode at our passing by a Pinnesse of London called the Mooneshine Aprill ON the first of Aprill we ankored in Santa Cruz rode where we found two great shippes of London lading in Sugar of whom we had 2 shipboats to supply the losse of our Shallops On the â— we set sayle from the rode of Santa Cruz for the Canaries On Saturday the 4 we saw Alegranza the East I le of the Canaries On Sunday the 5 of Aprill we gaue chase to a double flyboat the which we also the same day fought with and tooke her with losse of three of their men slaine and one hurt On Munday the 6 we saw Grand Canarie and the next day we landed and tooke in fresh water on the Southside thereof On the 9 we departed from Grand Canary and framed our course for Dominica The last of Aprill we saw Dominica and the same night we came to an anker on the South-side thereof May. THe first of May in the morning many of the Saluages came aboord our ships in their Canowes and did traffique with vs we also the same day landed and entered their Towne from whence we returned the same day aboord without any resistance of the Saluages or any offence done to them
haue pearced euen vnto the vttermost regions After this sort the North climate a fruitfull father of so many nations hath oftentimes sent foorth this way and that way his valiant people and by this meane hath peopled infinite Countreys so that most of the nations of Europe drawe their originall from these parts Contrariwise the more Southerne regions because they bee too barren by reason of their insupportable heate which raigneth in them neede not any such sending forth of their inhabitants and haue bene oftentimes constrained to receiue other people more often by force of armes then willingly All Africke Spaine and Italie can also testifie the same which neuer so abounded with people that they had neede to send them abroad to inhabite elsewhere as on the contrary Scythia Norway Gotland and France haue done The posterity of which nations remaineth yet not only in Italy Spaine Africke but also in fruitful and faire Asia Neuerthelesse I find that the Romans proceeding further or rather adding vnto these two chiefe causes aforesaid as being most curious to plant not onely their ensignes and victories but also their lawes customes religion in those prouinces which they had conquered by force of armes haue oftentimes by the decree of their soueraigne Senate sent forth inhabitants which they called Colonies thinking by this way to make their name immortall euen to the vnfurnishing of their own Countrey of the forces which should haue preserued the same in her perfection a thing which hindred them much more then aduanced them to the possession of the vniuersal monarchy whereunto their intention did a spire For it came to passe that their Colonies here and there being miserably sacked by strange people did vtterly ruine and ouerthrow their Empire The brinks of the riuer of Rhene are yet red those of Danubius are no lesse bloody and our France became fat with their blood which they lost These are the effects and rewards of al such as being pricked forward with this Romane and tyrannical ambition will goe about thus to subdue strange people effects I say contrary to the profit which those shall receiue which onely are affectioned to the common benefite that is to say to the generall policie of all men and endeuour to vnite them one with another aswell by trafficke and ciuill conuersations as also by military vertues and force of armes when as the Sauages will not yeeld vnto their endeuours so much tending vnto their profit For this cause princes haue sent forth out of their Dominions certaine men of good actiuity to plant themselues in strange Countreys there to make their profite to bring the Countrey to ciuilitie and if it might be to reduce the inhabitants to the true knowledge of our God an end so much more commendable as it is farre from all tyrannicall and cruell gouernement and so they haue alwayes thriued in their enterprises and by little and little gained the heartes of them which they haue conquered or wonne vnto them by any meanes Hereof wee may gather that sometimes it is good yea very expedient to send forth men to discouer the pleasure and commoditie of strange Countreys But so that the Countrey out of which these companies are to passe remaine not weakned nor depriued of her forces And againe in such sort that the company sent forth be of so iust sufficient number that it may not be defeited by strangers which euery foote endeuour nothing else but to surprise the same vpon the sudden As within these few daies past the French haue proued to my great griefe being able by no means possible to withstand the same considering that the elements men and all the fauours which might be hoped for of a faithfull and Christian alliance fought against vs which thing I purpose to discouer in this present historie with so euideut trueth that the kings Maiesty my soueraigne prince shall in part be satisfied of the diligence which I haue vsed in his seruice and mine aduersaries shall find themselues so discouered in their false reports that they shall haue no place of refuge But before I begin I will briefely set downe the situation and description of the land whereunto we haue sailed and where we haue inhabited from the yeere 1561. vnto sixty fiue to the ende that those things may the more easily be borne away which I meane to describe in this discourse The description of the VVest Indies in generall but chiefly and particularly of Florida THat part of the earth which at this day we call the fourth part of the world or America or rather the West India was vnknowen vnto our ancestours by reason of the great distance thereof In like maner all the Westerne Islands and fortunate Isles were not discouered but by those of our age Howbeit there haue bin some which haue said that they were discouerd in the time of Augustus Caesar and that Virgil hath made mention thereof in the sixt booke of his AEneidos when he saith There is a land beyond the starres and the course of the yeere and of the Sunne where Atlas the Porter of heauen sustaineth the pole vpon his shoulders neuerthelesse it is easie to iudge that hee meaneth not to speake of this land whereof no man is found to haue written before his time neither yet aboue a thousand yeeres after Christopher Colon did first light vpon this land in the yeere 1592. And fiue yeeres after Americus went thither by the commandement of the king of Castile and gaue vnto it his owne name whereupon afterward it was called America This man was very well seene in the Arte of Nauigation and in Astronomie whereby hee discouered in his time many lands vnknowen vnto the ancient Geographers This Countrey is named by some the land of Bresill and the lande of Parots It stretcheth it selfe according vnto Postell from the one Pole to the other sauing at the streight of Magelan whereunto it reacheth 53. degrees beyond the Equator I will diuide it for the better vnderstanding into three principall parts That which is toward the Pole Arcticke or the North is called new France because that in the yeere 1524. Iohn Verrazzano a Florentine was sent by King Francis the first and by Madam the Regent his mother vnto these newe Regions where he went on land and discouered all the coast which is from the Tropicke of Cancer to wit from the eight and twentieth vnto the fiftieth degree and farther vnto the North. Hee planted in this Countrey the Ensignes and Armes of the king of France so that the Spaniardes themselues which were there afterwarde haue named this Countrey Terra Francesca The same then extendeth it selfe in Latitude from the 25. degree vnto the 54. toward the North and in Longitude from 210. vnto 330. The Easterne part thereof is called by the late writers The land of Norumbega which beginneth at the Bay of Gama which separateth it from the Isle
not by some great Lord or Knight of the order and that in these respects I prayed him very hartily to deliuer me the letters which my Lord Admirall had written vnto me which he performed The contents of those letters were these CAptaine Laudonniere because some of them which are returned from Florida speake indifferently of the Countrey the King desireth your presence to the end that according to your tryall he may resolue to bestow great cost thereon or wholly to leaue it and therfore I send Captaine Iohn Ribault to bee gouernour there to whom you shall deliuer whatsoeuer you haue in charge and informe him of all things you haue discouered And in a postscript of the letter was thus written Thinke not that whereas I send for you it is for any euill opinion or mistrust that I haue of you but that it is for your good and for your credit and assure your selfe that during my life you shall find me your good Master CHASTILLON Now after I had long discoursed with Captaine Ribault Captaine la Grange accosted mee and told me of an infinite number of false reports which had bene made of mee to my great hinderance and among other things he informed me that my Lord Admirall tooke it very euill that I had caried a woman with mee likewise that some bodie had tolde him that I went about to counterfeit the King and to play the tyrant that I was too cruell vnto the men that went with mee that I sought to be aduanced by other meanes then by my Lord Admirall and that I had written to many Lords of the Court which I ought not to haue done Whereunto I answered that the woman was a poore chambermayd which I had taken vp in an Inne to ouersee my houshold businesse to looke to an infinite sort of diuers beasts as sheepe and poultrie which I caried ouer with me to store the countrey withall that it was not meete to put a man to attend this businesse likewise considering the length of the time that I was to abide there mee thought it should not offend any body to take a woman with me aswell to help my souldiers in their sickenesses as in mine owne whereinto I fell afterward And how necessary her seruice was for vs ech one at that time might easily perceiue That all my men thought so well of her that at one instant there were sixe or seuen which did demand her of me in mariage as in very deede one of them had her after our returne Touching that which was sayd that I playd the King these reports were made because I would not beare with any thing which was against the duety of my charge and the Kings seruice Moreouer that in such enterprises it is necessary for a Gouernour to make himselfe knowen and obeyed for feare least euery body would become a master perceiuing themselues far from greater forces And that if the tale-tellers called this rigour it rather proceeded of their disobedience then of my nature lesse subiect to cruelty then they were to rebellion For the two last points that I had not written to any of the Lords of the Court but by the aduice commandement of my Lord Admirall which willed me at my departure to send part of such things as I should find in the countrey vnto the Lords of the Counsel to the end that being mooued by this meane they might deale with the Queene mother for the continuance of this enterprise that hauing bene so smâ—â—l time in the countrey continually hindred with building of fortresses and vnlading of my ships I was not able to come by any newe or rare things to send them whereupon I thought it best to content them in the meane while with letters vntill such time as I might haue longer space to search out the Countrey and might recouer some thing to sende them the distribution of which letters I meant not otherwise buâ— to referre to my Lord Admirals good pleasure that if the bearer had forgot himselfe so farre as that he had broken the couering of the letters and presented them himselfe for hope of gaine it was not my commandement And that I neuer honoured noble man so much nor did to any man more willing and faithfull seruice then to my Lord Admirall nor euer sought aduancement but by his meanes You see how things passed for this day The next day the Indians came in from all parts to know what people these were to whom I signified that this was he which in the yeere 1562. arriued in this countrey and erected the pillar which stood at the entrie of the riuer Some of them knew him for in trueth he was easie to be knowen by reason of the great bearde which he ware He receiued many presents of them which were of the villages neere adioyning among whom there were some that he had not yet forgotten The kings Homoloa Serauahi Alimacani Malica and Casâ—i came to visit him and welcome him with diuers gifts according to their manner I aduertised them that hee was sent thither by the king of France to remaine there in my roome and that I was sent for Then they demanded and prayed him if it might stand with his good pleasure to cause the merchandise that hee had brought with him to be deliuered them and that in fewe daies they would bring him to the mountaines of Apalatcy whither they had promised to conduct me and that in case they performed not their promise that they were content to be cut in pieces In those mountaines as they sayd is found redde copper which they call in their language Sicroa Pira which is as much to say as red mettall whereof I had a piece which at the very instant I shewed to Captaine Ribault which caused his gold-finer to make an assay thereof which reported vnto him that it was perfect golde About the time of these conferences commings and goings of the kings of the countrey being weakened with my former trauaile and fallen into a melancholy vpon the false reports that had bene made of mee I fell into a great continuall feuer which held me eight or nine dayes during which time Captaine Ribault caused his victuals to be brought on shore and bestowed the most part thereof in the house which my Lieutenant had built about two hundred pases without the forte which hee did to the ende they might bee the better defended from the weather and likewise to the intent that the meale might bee neerer to the bake-house which I had built of purpose in that place the better to auoide the danger of the fire as I sayd before But loe howe oftentimes misfortune doth search and pursue vs euen then when we thinke to be at rest loe see what happened after that captaine Ribault had brought vp three of his small ships into the riuer which was the fourth of September Sixe great Spanish ships arriued in the rode where four
in those little Canoas of canes Neuerthelesse our men vsed such dissgrace that one of the Canoas was boorded taken but the Indian in the Canoa seeing himselfâ— now taken leapt into the water and our men followed with their boat to take him but seeing himselfe within their reach he ducked with his head vnder their boate and so deceiued them and then rose vp againe and with their oares and with staues they gaue him certaine blowes to amaze him but nothing would serue them for as they were about to lay handes vpon him hee still diued vnderwater and with his hands and feete got neere to the shore and as he rose vp aboue the water hee called to his felowes which stood on the shore to behold crying Belen with a loud voyce and so they pursued him and strooke him sometimes being very neere the shore and he alwayes went calling the rest of his fellowes to come and helpe him whereupon within a short while after three other Canoas came foorth to succour him being full of Indians with bowes and arrowes in their handes crying with a loude voyce that wee should come on shore these Indians were of great stature and saluage far also and well set and of a browne colour Our Captaine perceiuing this least they should wound any of our people with their arrowes returned backe and commanded vs immediately to set sayle and so foorthwith wee departed This day the wind skanâ—ed and we returned to anker in the foresayd place and our Admirall rode from the firme land toward the Island and wee which were in the ship called The Trinitie lay neerâ— vnto the maine and before breake of day wee departed with a fresh gale And before we diseâ—â—â—quod oâ—â—e of that chanell we saw certaine grasse very high and greene vpon the maine whereupon a mariner and the Pilot went vp into the top and saw the mouth of a riuer which ranne through that greene countrey into the sea But because our Admirall was vnder all her sayles farre from vs we could not tell them of this riuer where wee would haue taken water whereof we had some neede and because it was a very good hauen to goe on shore to take it and therefore without watering we followed our course On munday we departed from this hauen which is like vnto a lake for on all sides we were compassed with land hauing the continent before be hinde vs and on our right side and the Island on our left side and we passed foorth at those mouthes beforementioned which shewed an out-let into the open sea Thus wee sayled along still viewing the situation of the countrey reioycing all of vs at the sight thereof for it alwayes pleased vs more and more still appearing more greene and pleasant and the grasse which wee found neere vnto the shore was fresh and delectable but not very high being to all our iudgements not past a spanne long Likewise the hilles which wee saw which were many and many downes made a very pleasant prospect especially because we iudged that there were many valleys and dales betweene them Chap. 6. They discouer a very great bay with foure small Islands in it whereas they take possession As they sayle along and discouer diuers Islands they come at lenâ—th to the port of Santa Cruz where not being able to get any knowledge of those Indians although they lay in waite for them at a place called The well of Grâ—alua they departed thence They haue a perilous and long tempest which ceased after they had seene a light on their shrowdes AT the comming out of these openings we began to â—â—â—de a Bay 〈…〉 great hauen entituleâ— with diuers small hilles hauing vpon them 〈…〉 pleasant to 〈◊〉 In this bay and strand were two small Islands neere vnto the shore one of the which was like vnto a table about halfe a league in bignes and the other was a round hill almost as big as the former These Islands serued vs onely to coment our sight for we passed by them without staying hauing but a slacke wind on Munday morning all which day we followed our course with the foresayd slacke winde and within a while after it became flat contrary so that we were constrained to anker at the sayd point of the sayd hauen and on Tewesday at breake of day we set sayle but made but little away all the day because the winde continued contrary although but very weake The night following wee were becalmed a little beyond the point of this hauen but about midnight wee began to haue a fresh gale and on Wednesday in the morning wee were seuen leagues distant from that point This countrey shewed as it was indeede more plaine then the rest with certaine small woody hilles and within the other point which was before descried the situation seemed to be more pleasant and delightsome then the rest which we had passed And at the vttermost end of the point were two small Isâ—ets The sayd Wednesday about nine of the clocke the winde blew a good gale and we sayled by euening between seuen and eight leagues and came ouer against a land not very high where wee saw certaine creekes or breaches not very ragged into euery of which a riuer seemed to fall because the soyle was very greene and had certaine trees growing on it farre bigger then those which we had found before Here the Captaine with fiue or sixe men went on shore and taking possession passed vp one of those riuers and found the sooting of many Indians vpon the sand On the bankes of that riuer they saw many fruitful trees as cherry-trees and little apple-trees and other white trees they found also in the wood three or foure beasts called Adibes which are a kind of dogs The same night wee set sayle with the winde off the land which blew so freshly that it made vs to strike our fore-sayle and on the sixeteenth of October at nine of the clocke we came neere vnto a point of certaine high mountaines on which day being Thursday we made little way because the winde ceased but it rose againe in the night whereupon by the breake of day on Friday wee came before the sayd point being sixe or seuen leagues off The land seemed to bee very mountainous with certaine sharpe points not greatly clad with grasse but somewhat bare On our left hand wee saw two Islands the one of a league and a halfe the other not so much and it seemed that we drew neere to the port of Santa Cruz whereat we were sory because we were alwaies in good hope to and some out-let into the maine Ocean in some place of that land and that the same port was the same out-let and also that by the sayd coast we might returne to the foresayd hauen of Santa Cruz and that we had committed a great error because we had not certainely sought out the secret whether that were a Street or a riuer which wee had left
the king hath commanded vpon paine of death that they should not plant either wine or oile there but should alwayes stand in need of them to be brought out of Spaine although there would more grow there in foure yeeres then there groweth in Spaine in twenty it is so fertile a countrey And the king to keepe the countrey alwayes in subiection and to his owne vse hath streightly prouided by lawe vpon paine of death and losse of goods that none of these countreys should traffique with any other nation although the people themselues doe much now desire to trade with any other then with them and would vndoubtedly doe if they feared not the perill ensuing thereupon About Mexico and other places in Noua Hispania there groweth a certeine plant called magueis which yeeldeth wine vineger hony and blacke sugar and of the leaues of it dried they make hempe ropes shooes which they vse and tiles for their houses and at the ende of euery leafe there groweth a sharpe point like an awle wherewith they vse to bore or pearce thorow any thing Thus to make an end I haue heere set downe the summe of all the chiefest things that I haue obserued and noted in my seuenteene yeres trauell in those parts A relation of the commodities of Noua Hispania and the maners of the inhabitants written by Henry Hawks merchant which liued fiue yeeres in the sayd countrey and drew the same at the request of M. Richard Hakluyt Esquire of Eston in the county of Hereford 1572. SAint Iohn de Vllua is an Island not high aboue the water where as now the Spanyards vpon M. Iohn Hawkins being there are in making a strong for t In this place all the ships that come out of Spaine with goods for these parts do vnlade for they haue none other port so good as this is The comming into this place hath three chanels and the best of all is the Northermost which goeth by the maine land and on euery side of the chanels there are many small rocks as big as a small barrell they wil make men stand in doubt of them but there is no feare of them There is another Island there by called The Island of sacrifices where as the Spanyards did in times past vnlade their goods and for that they say there are vpon it spirits or deuils it is not frequented as it hath bene In these places the North wind hath so great dominion that oftentimes it destroyeth many ships and barks This place is giuen to great sicknesse These Islands stand in 18 degrees and a halfe and about the same is great plenty of fish Fiue leagues from S. Iohn de Vllua is a faire riuer it lieth Northwest from the port and goeth to a little towne of the Spanyards called Vera Cruz and with small vessels or barks which they call frigats they cary all their merchandize which commeth out of Spaine to the said towne and in like maner bring all the gold siluer cochinilla hides and all other things that the shippes cary into Spaine vnto them And the goods being in Vera Cruz they cary them to Mexico and to Pueblo de los Angeles Sacatecas and Saint Martin and diuers other places so farre within the countrey that some of them are 70 miles off and some more and some lesse all vpon horses mules and in waines drawen with oâ—en and in carres drawen with mules In this towne of Vera Cruz within these twenty yeres when women were brought to bed the children new borne in continently died which is not so now in these dayes God be thanked This towne is inclined to many kinde of diseases by reason of the great heat and a certeine gnat or flie which they call a musquito which â—iâ—â—th both men and women in their sleepe and assoone as they are bitten incontinently the flesh swelleth as though they had bene bitten with some venimous worme And this musquito or gnat doth most follow such as are newly come into the countrey Many there are that die of this annoyance This towne is situated vpon the riuer aforesayd and compassed with woods of diuers maners and sorts and many fruits as orenges and limons guiaues and diuers others and birds in them popiniayes both small and great and some of them as big as a rauen and their tailes as long as the taile of a fezant There are also many other kinde of birds of purple colour and small munkeys maruellous proper This hote or sicke countrey coutinueth fiue and forty miles towards the city of Mexico and the fiue and forty miles being passed then there is a temperate countrey and full of tillage but they water all their corne with riuers which they turne in vpon it And they gather their Wheat twise a yere And if they should not water the ground where as their corne is sowen the country is so hote it would burne all Before you come to Mexico there is a great towne called Tlaxcalla which hath in it aboue 16000 households All the inhabitants thereof are free by the kings of Spaine for these were the occasion that Mexico was woonne in so short time and with so little losse of men Wherefore they are all gentlemen and pay no tribute to the king In this towne is all the cochinilla growing Mexico is a great city it hath more then fifty thousand households whereof there are not past fiue or sixe thousand houses of Spanyards all the other are the people of the countrey which liue vnder the Spanyards lawes There are in this city stately buildings and many monasteries of friers and nunnes which the Spanyards haue made And the building of the Indians is somewhat beautifull outwardly and within full of small chambers with very small windowes which is not so comly as the building of the Spanyards This city standeth in the midst of a great lake and the water goeth thorow all or the most part of the streets and there come small boats which they call canoas and in them they bring all things necessary as wood and coales and grasse for their horses stones and lime to build and corne This city is subiect to many earthquakes which oftentimes cast downe houses and kil people This city is very well prouided of water to drinke and with all maner of victuals as fruits flesh and fish bread hennes and capons Guiny cocks and hennes and all other fowle There are in this city euery weeke three Faires or Markets which are frequented with many people aswell Spanyards as the people of the countrey There are in these Faires or Markets all maner of things that may be inuented to sell and in especiall things of the countrey The one of these Faires is vpon the Munday which is called S. Hypolitos faire and S. Iames his faire is vpon the Thursday and vpon Saturday is S. Iohns faire In this city is alwayes the kings gouernour or viceroy and there are
we had planted in the place where the Vice-roy betrayed M. Hawkins our general as hath bene declared The sending of those souldiers to euery of those Porâ—s and the strengthening of them was done by commandement from the king of Spaine who wrote also by them to the general of his fleete giuing him in charge so to doe as also directing him what course he should keepe in his comming home into Spaine charging him in any hand not to come nigh to the yles of Açores but to keepe his course more to the Northward aduertising him withal what number and power of French ships of warre and other Don Antonio had at that time at Terçera the yles aforesaid which the general of the fleete wel considering and what great store of riches he had to bring home with him into Spaine did in all very duetifully obserue and obey for in trueth he had in his said fleete 37. saile of ships and in euery of them there was as good as 30. pipes of siluer one with another besides great store of gold Cochinilla sugars hides and Cana Fistula with other Apothecary drugs This our general who was called Don Pedro de Guzman did prouidently take order for for their most strength and defence if neede should be to the vttermost of his power and commanded vpon paine of death that neither passenger nor souldier should come aboord without his sword and harquebush with shot and powder to the end that they might be the better able to encounter the fleete of Don Antonio if they should hap to meete with them or any of them and euer as the weather was faire the said general would himself go aboord from one ship to another to see that euery man had his ful prouision according to the commandement giuen Yet to speake truely what I thinke two good tall ships of warre would haue made a foule spoile amongst them For in all this fleete there were not any that were strong and warlike appointed sauing only the Admiral and Uice-admiral And againe ouer and besides the weakenesse and the ill furnishing of the râ—st they were all so deeply laden that they had not bene able if they had bene charged to haue held out any long fight Wel thus we set saile had a very ill passage home the weather was so contrary We kept our course in maner Northeast and brought our selues to the height of 42. degrees of latitude to be sure not to meete with Don Antonio his fleete and were vpon our voyage from the 4. of Iune vntill the 10. of September and neuer saw land till we fell with the Arenas Gordas hard by S. Lucar And there was an order taken that none should goe on shoare vntill he had licence as for me I was knowen by one in the ship who told the Master that I was an EnglishmaÌ„ which as God would it was my good hap to heare for if I had not heard it it had cost me my life Notwithstanding I would not take any knowledge of it and seemed to be mery pleasant that we were all come so wel in safety Presently after licence came that we should go on shoare and I pressed to be gone with the first howbeit the Master came vnto me said Sirra you must goe with me to Siuil by water I knew his meaning wellinough that he meant there to offer me vp as a sacrifice to the Holy house For the ignorant zeale of a number of these superstitious Spaniards is such that they thinke that they haue done God good seruice when they haue brought a Lutheran herelike to the fire to be burnt for so do they account of vs. Wel I perceiuing all this tooke vpon me not to suspect any thing but was still â—ocund mery howbeit I knew it stood me vpon to shift for my selfe And so wayting my time when the Master was in his cabbin asleepe I conueyed my selfe secretly downe by the shrowds into the ship boate and made no stay but cut the rope wherewithal she was moared and so by the cable haled on shore where I leapt on land let the boate goe whither it would Thus by the helpe of God I escaped that day then neuer stayed at S. Lucar but went all night by the way which I had seene other take toward Siuil so that the next morning I came to Siuil and sought me out a workemaster that I might fall to my science which was weauing of taffataes and being intertained I set my selfe close to my worke and durst not for my life once to stirre abroad for feare of being knowen and being thus at my worke within 4. dayes after I heard one of my fellowes say that he heard there was great inquiry made for an Englishman that came home in the fleete what an heretique Lutheran quoth I was it I would to God I might knowe him surely I would present him to the Holy house And thus I kâ—pt still within doores at my worke and fained my selfe not well at ease that I would labour as I might to get me new clothes And continuing thus for the space of 3. moneths I called for my wages and bought me all things new different from the apparell that I did weare at sea and yet durst not be ouerbold to walke abroad and after vnderstanding that there were certaine English ships at S. Lucar bound for England I tooke a boat and went aboord one of them and desired the Master that I might haue passage with him to goe into England and told him secretly that I was one of those which Captaine Hawkins did set on shore in the Indies he very courteously prayed me to haue him excused for he durst not meddle with me prayed me therefore to returne from whence I came Which when I perceiued with a sorowful heart God knoweth I tooke my leaue of him not without watry cheekes And then I went to S. Mary port which is 3. leagues from S. Lucar where I put my selfe to be a souldier to goe in the king of Spaines Gallies which were bound for Maiorca and comming thither in the end of the Christmas holidayes I found there two English ships the one of London and the other of the West countrey which were ready fraighted and stayed but for a faire wind To the Master of the one which was of the West countrey went I and told him that I had bene 2. yeeres in Spaine to learne the language and that I was now desirous to goe home and see my friends for that I lacked maintenance and so hauing agreed with him for my passage I tooke shipping And thus through the prouidence of Almighty God after 16. yeeres absenceâ— hauing sustained many and sundry great troubles and miseries as by this discourse appeareth I came home to this my natiue countrey of England in the yeere 1582. in the moneth of February in the ship called the Landret and arriued at Poole The trauailes of Iob Hortop which
with flankers of great trees and stones filled with earth betweene and had not our comming disappointed their pretence they would haue made it one of the strongest places in all the maine There they ment to haue builded a great towne We found there three pieces of brasse ordinance sunke in the sea which we weighed vp all the people were fled and their goods carried away Up within this bay there was a little village but of no force where we found a great fresh riuer our men rowing vp some two leagues found pillage as wine and oyle and some small quantitie of yron After our comming hither to anker and the solemne buriall of our Generall sir Francis in the sea Sir Thomas Baskeruill being aboord the Defiance where M. Bride made a sermon hauing to his audience all the captaines in the fleete sir Thomas commanded all aboord the Garland with whom he held a Councell there shewing his Commission was accepted for General captain Bodenham made captaine of the Defiance M. Sauill captaine of y e Aduenture The 27 died captaine Iosias of the Delight and captaine Egerton a Gentlâ—man of the Foâ—e-sight and Iames Wood chiefe chirurgion of the fleete out of the Garland The 28 died Abraham Kendall out of the Saker At this place we watered againe washed our ships made new sailes it being by the Generall and all the captaines agreed that if we could by any meanes turne vp againe for Santa Martha we should if not to goe directly for England Here also we tooke in some balast as our neede râ—quired The 6 of Februarie the Elizabeth of M. Wattes was discharged and sunke and that day the Pegasus iolly was going on shore for water carying no guarde The Spaniards perceiuing it came downe vpon them killed two of them and tooke 2 or 3 prisoners and so ranne vp into the woods againe The seuenth the Delight and captaine Edens frigat were discharged and sunke because they were old and leakâ—d and the Queenes ships wanted saylers That day our men being mustered we had sicke and whole 2000. And the next day we set on shore all our prisoners as Spaniards and Negros But before at our first comming to Puerto Bello sir Thomas sent two of those Spaniards to Nombre de Dios and to Panama to fetch ransome for some of the chiefest prisoners but they neuer returned againe As we were setting saile there came one with a flagge of truce and told the General that they had taken 18 of our men and that they were well vsed adding that if he would stay 8 or 10 dayes longer they should be brought from Panama We supposed this to haue bene but a delay to haue kâ—pt vs there while the kings forces had come about by sea as they dayly expected We set saile the 8 of Februarie turning vp for Santa Martha and the 14 day we saw the Ilands of Baru some 14 leagues to the Wesâ—ward of Carthagena The Generall that night told vs he would stand in â—or the towne of Baru in the bay but that night blew so much winde and continued that small moone that the same night we lost the Foresight and the next day standing againe to make the land which we had made we lost companie of the Susan Parnel The Helpe and the Pegasus Then â—he next day we put ouer for Cape S. Antonie and gaue ouer Santa Martha The 25 we saw the Iland of Grand Cayman some 30 leagues to the Northwestward of Iamaica being a low sandie Iland hauing many tortoyses about it The 26 we saw the hie land of Cuba to the Eastward of the broken Ilands to the East of the Iland of Pinos and were imbayed in among those dangerous places But perceiuing it we stood out againe Southsoutheast and so got cleere and then stood away West and by North for the I le of Pinos which we saw the first of March It is a low land with wood and fresh water to the Western end If you come in with the middest of it you shall see rise vp aboue the rest of the land 8 or 9 râ—und homockes and the Westermost hath three in one Being that foorth with the West end and standing in for to water we espied 20 sayle of ships about one in the afternone This was a third part of the fleete which the king sent for Carthagena the rest of the fleete being gone for the Honduras They were in all 60 sailes sent onely to meete our fleete being commâ—nded wheresoeuer they heard we were to come vpon vs with all their three forces This fleete which we met withall came standing for Cape de los Corrientes and had bene refreshed at Hauana Assoone as they discried vs they kept close vpon a tacke thinking to get the winde of vs but we weathered them And when our Admirall with all the rest of our fleet were right in the wâ—nds â—ye of them sir Thomas Baskeruil putting out the Queenes armes and all the rest of our fleete their brauerie bare roome with themâ— and commanded the Defiance not to shoot but to keâ—pe close by to second him The Uiceadmirall of the Spaniards being a greater ship then any of ours and the best sayler in all their fleete loofed by and gaue the Concord the â—wo first great shot which she repayed presently againe thus the fight began The Bonauenture baâ—e full with her ringing her such a peale of ordinance and small shot withall that he left her with torne sides The Admirall also made no spare of powder and shot But the Defiance in the middest of the Spanish flâ—ete thâ—ndering of her ordinance and small shot continued the fight to the end So that the Uiceaâ—mirall with 3 or 4 of her consorts were forced to tacke about to the Eastward leauing their admirall and the rest of the fleete who came not so hotly into the fight as they did The fight continued two houres better At sunne set all the fleete tacked about to the Eastward we continued our coâ—rse to the Westward for cape de los Corrientes supposing we should haue met with more of their consorts In this conflict in the Defiance we had fiue men slaine three English men a Greâ—ke and a Nâ—gro That night some halfe houre after their fleete keeping vpon their weather quarter we saw a mightie smoke rise out of one of their great ships which stayed behind which happenâ—d by meanes of powder as we thinke and presently after she was all on a light fire and so was consumed and all burnt as we might well perceiue The next day beâ—ng thâ— second of March in the morning by breake of day we were hard aboord Cape de los Corrientes which is a bare low cape hauing a bush of trees higher then the rest some mile to the Eastward of the cape All Cuba is full of wood on the Southside The Spanish fleete which then were but 14 no more then we were kept still vpon our
from the fury of the enemies shot And so with ensigne displayed taking with vs our sixe dead men wee retired with more safetie to the hauen where we tooke a frigat which rode ready fraught with the kings tribute in siluer and other good commodities which were presently to bee transported to S. Iuan de Vllua and brought the same and our Periago or Canoa to my ship which lay in two fadome water sixe leagues from the town being not able to come any neerer for the sholds vpoÌ„ that coast Ouer against the place where our ship rode stoode a towne of 300 or 400 Indians called Sebo which we likewise tooke where wee found Champeche-wood good to dye withal with waxe and hony This done we left this coast and turned vp to Cape de Cotoche againe and ankored euery day at noone because of the brizes and in turning vp I lost my barke called the Aduenture which was taken by 2 frigats of warre which were manned out from Campeche wherein Captaine Hen and thirteen of my men were taken and afterward executed as since we vnderstand by some Spanish prisoners that were taken in those parts After we had stayed fiue weekes on this coast wee shaped our course for Hauana where finding nothing we disemboqued and came along by the Isle of Bermuda and crossed ouer to The banke neere Cape Race in 22 fadomes and from thence sayling for England we fel with Sillie about the first of Iuly and within two dayes after arriued at Plimmouth where we found the Right honorable the Erle of Essex setting forth with a great fleet for the Isles of the Açores An excellent ruttier for the Islands of the VVest Indies and for Tierra firma and Nueua Espanna IF a man depart from the barre of S. Lucar in Summer time hee must steere Southwest vntil hee hath sight of Punta de Naga which is in the Isle of Tenerif The markes to know it be these An high point sâ—oping to the sea at the Easter point it hath two down falles like particions and they shew to be separated from the maine of the Island stand in 28 degrees a halfe And if thou wilt haue sight of the Grand Canaria and findest thy selfe with Punta de Naga thou shalt then steere Southwest and by South and so thou shalt haue sight of Canaria which standeth in 28 degrees And thou must come to ankor on the Southeast side of the Island But I aduise thee if it be in winter time that thou keepe another course and that as followeth The course that a man must keepe departing in winter for the Indies from Sant Lucar DEparting from Sant Lucar in winter thou shalt goe West and by South keeping along the coast because if thou goe farre from the coast thou shalt meete with the wind off the sea vntill thou be as high shot as Cape Cantin which is a low flat cape with the sea And thou shalt see a great wood before thou come at this cape called Casa del Cauallero And from thence thou shalt steere thy olde course that is Southwest and by South for the Isles of Alegrança and Lancerota and when thou art North and South with Alegrança thou shalt steere thence Southwest and so thou shalt see the Canaria which is a round high land and standeth in twentie eight degrees What thou must doe if a contrary wind take thee fiftie leagues off the shore VVHen thou art fifty leagues shot on thy way into the sea Southwest off and there thou chance to meete with a contrary winde off the sea and if it force thee to put roome then thou shalt steere Northeast and by East and shalt hall with sight of Cabos del Plata which shew when thou art a seaboord so farre as thou mayest descrie them to be like two points of white sand and if it be cleere thou shalt see within the land certain high hilles lying Northwest and by West called las Sierras de Zahara and being three leagues from land thou shalt haue thirtie fadomes water and sand And from thence to the bay of Cadiz thou shalt goe along Northwest by the coast and if thou be in thirtie or forty â—adomes thou shalt haue â—aze but if thou bee in lesse then thirtie fadomes thou shalt haue other sounding which if it chance then thou art against S. Pedro. And if it bee by day thou shalt see the Ermitage of Sant Sebastian which seemeth to be a shippe under sayle And thou shalt goe into the bay taking heede of the Puercos giue them a good birth off And if thou chance to bee benighted when thou fallest with the bay and wouldest goe into the bay thou shalt carie thy lead in thy hand and be sounding and finding thy selfe in rockie ground thou shalt steere North because of shunning the Puercos and yet giue them not too great a birth because of The Diamant and so thou mayest goe in sounding when thou thinkest good And being benighted and then not East and West with the bay and if thou doest not goe into it then make the largest boord thou caust keeping off till day If thou be at the Canaries and wouldest sayle to Nueua Espanna thou shalt sayle foure and twenty houres South because of the calmes of Fierro And from thence thou shalt goe Westsouthwest vntill thou finde thy selfe in twenty degrees And then thou must goe West and by South which is the course for the Isle Deseada And from Deseada thou shalt goe West and by North because of the variation of the compasse And falling with Deseada thou shalt finde it to rise low with the sea and it standeth in 15 degrees And the eastermost part is the sharpest and smaller then the West point And if thou are going for Tierra firma thou shalt goe West and by South vntill thou come to Dominica and there on the Northwest side is a riuer where thou mayest water The marks to know it bee a certaine high land full of hilles And seeing it when thou art farre off to the seaward it maketh in the middest a partition so that a man would thinke it deuided the Island in two parts And this Island standeth in 14 degrees and a halfe I aduise thee that if thou wouldest goe for Nueua Espanna and so doest passe betweene Guadalupe and Monserate to the Westward that being thus open off the entrance betwixt them thou shalt go Westnorthwest and so shalt haue sight of Santa Cruz which standeth in seuenteene degrees and a halfe And the markes to know it be these It is an Island not uery high and lyeth East and West and at the East end it is lower then at the West end And going forward on thy course thou shalt runne Westnorthwest and so thou shalt goe to haue sight of the Isle of San Iuan de Puerto rico which is an Island lying East and West and standeth in eighteene
suâ—e they are The Iardines and then stir out againe South till you bee cleare of them and when you haue brought them North of you then may you stirre away West if it bee by day if it bee bynight West and by South till you see the Island of Pinos The markes of Isla de Pinos THe Island of Pinos stretcheth it selfe East and West and it is full of homocks and if you chance to see it at full sea it will shewe like 3. Islands as though there weâ—e diuers soundes betweene them and that in the midst is the greatest and in rowing with them it will make all a firme lande and vpon the East side of these three homocks it will iâ—â—we all ragged and on the West side of them will appeare vnto you a lowe point euen with the sea and oftentimes you shall see the trees before you shall discerne the point Directions from the Isle of Pinos to Cape de Corrientes IF you saile from the foresayde Isle of Pinos to Cape de Corrientes stir away West and by North and before you come to the sayd Cape vpon the Northside of you you shall see certâ—ine mountaines all full of homocks which are called Las Sierras de Guanaguaâ—ico and that vpon the West part hath more homocks then that on the other Markes of Cape de Corrientes CApe de Corrientes is a lowe Cape though not so low as the other part of the land that lyeth along by it for it is more lowe and hath vpon it 4. or 5. great splats like vnto oxen and the very point of the Cape is all white sand and from thence Westward you shall discerne no lande for it maketh a great bay and from hence you must saile to Cape de Sant Anton. Markes of Cape de Sant Anton. THe cape of Sant Anton is lowe by the sea and all full of shrubs or trees and you shall see within the land a lake of fresh water and if you want water there you may water and vpon the North side of the said Cape you shall discerne a palme tree higher then the rest of the trees and it sheweth round like a bowle at the top like to the top of a ship and North from the Cape are certaine sholdes which are 2. or 3. leagues long Directions from the Cape de S. Anton to Nueua Espanna on the outside of the small Islands called Los Alacranes or The Scorpions IF you will sayle from Cape Sant Anton to Nueua Espanna with a North winde then stirre away Westnorthwest from 21. to 22. degrees and then sound vpon the pracel or flat and if you see by this direction that you holde water then stir away Northwest vntill you lose the ground and then follow your course againe vntill you haue brought your selfe into 24. degrees and ½ and then saile West vntill you bring your selfe North and South with the Isle Veâ—meja or The red Isle then stir away Southwest and by this way you shall finde Villa rica on the coast of Nueua Espanna And if by going this course you be in 19. degrees and ½ and chance not to see the lande then stir away West vntill you see Villa rica and from thence saile you South for the harbour of S. Iuan de Vllua and if you should be neere the land you must stir South and by West towardes the same harbour And if you chance to see the Volcan or burning hill to beare west by South from you then know that the harbour of S. Iuan de Vllua shal be East and west off you Markes of Villa rica VIlla rica standeth in 19. degres and ½ and the signes thereof are certaine high hilles full of homocks of many heads which haue on the top of theÌ„ certain white patches after the maner of white beaten wayes and these hils lie Northeast and Southwest And if you doubt whether these be the Sierras or hils of S. Martin wet your lead or sound and if you finde bottome they are the Sierras of Villa rica and saile you to the landward and looke by how much you come neerer the land so much will they seeme lower vnto you but so doe not the hilles of S. Martin for the neerer you come to them the higher will they appeare to you and likewise if they â—e the hilles of Sâ— Martin you shall not finde bottome but euen at land it selfe Markes of Rio de las palmas and of the riuer of mountaines called Rio de las montannas IF you should chance to fall with Rio de las palmas or The riuer of palmes or els with the riuer of Mountaines it is all of plaine lande and full of trees and certaine woodie homocks and among them certaine heapes of saâ—d and all this along by the sea side and if you went by land to the riuer of Panuco you shall haue many mouthes or openings of plaias or strands where also are many lizas or oazy places which â—â—retch to Rio Hermoso You must beware what part soeuer you happen of this coast to fall withall to discouer it and although you knowe it you must sound the depth because if the windes bee Easterly the current setteth there much to the North but if you should be 40. leagues at sea then this current setteth to the Northeast Markes of Rio Hermoso or The beautifull riuer IF you wil seeke the riuer talled Rio Hermoso looking well within the land you shal see three homocks of an high hill and those two which are to the landward within are rounder theÌ„ the other which is neerest the sea for that it is longer and bigger and lyeth North and South and you shall bâ— 4. leagues at sea when you shall see them and they are called The sierraâ— or mountaines of Tamaclipa and from thence to the riuer of Panuco there is no high land but all lowe and euen with the sea and full of palme trees and other trees Markes of the riuer of Panucâ— IF you fall with the riuer of Panuco betweene which and the foresayde Villa rica standeth the Island called Isla de Lobos or The Isle of seales the markes bee these From the mouth of the riuer it maketh a great day without and at the ende of this bay vpon the Northside there is oazy low and bare ground altogether without trees and at the out ende of the oazy lowe place vpon the West side it maketh a low homock like to a Lizards head and when you see the aforesayde cliffe you shall bee in the opening of the mouth of the sayd riuer and then shall you see a little low tower hauing on the top of it a crosse which the fishermen call Marien and this barre hath on it 2. fathom waterâ— and 2. and ½ and you neede not to stay for the tyde for that it floweth not there and that you may the better knowe whether you bee in this bay
which I haue mentioned or not you shall see certaine hils at West Southwest which are called Las sierras de Tarquiaâ— and â—orthwith also you shall see the oazy place that I speake of which goeth to the mouth of the â—iuer where standeth a towne called S. Luis de Tampice and from thence to Panuco you haue 9. leagues by land The markes of Isla de lobos or The Isle of seales ISla de lobos is a small Island nothing so big as the caâ—de doth shew it and in it is a litle grâ—uâ— or wood of palme trees and all the rest of the Island is without trees and râ—â—nd about it are â—undry Playas or strandes and it is inclosed round about with aâ—raçifes or shoalds and chiefly toward the maine lande And from thence to Cape Roxo or The red Cape are 3. leagues And if you will come to anker at this Island to water for that there is water in it you may ride on all the South side close by the poynt that stretcheth to the Westward and you may passe by the East side of it and ride in 22. fathom and vntill you come to 15. fathoms all is cleane ground Markes of the riuer of Tuspa IF you fall with the riuer of Tuspa you must beware the sholdes which run 5. or 6. leagues into the sea and vpon this â—iuer of Tuspa within the lande there are high hilles which lie Northeast and Southwest and haue their ending vpon the bay of Cassones and vpon the riuer you shall perceiue a white cliffe which will shew vnto you like the castle of S. Iuan de Vllua Markes of the riuer of S. Peter and S. Paul IF you chance to fall with the bay of Cassones and vpon the riuer of S. Peter and S. Paul take heede for the sayd bay is a deepe bay and the hilles of Tuspa haue their ending vpon this bay And in the mouth of this riuer of Sâ— Peter and S. Paul are two homockes of white sand the Westermost being bigger thâ—n that on the Northeast And by and by you shall perceiue the water to change white which commeth out of the riuer and sounding you shall finde sande mixed with clay vpon your lead and looke vpon the West side and you shall see the Sierras or mountaines of S. Paul which are two and that on the North side is higher then the other Markes of Almeria IF you should chance to fall or come vpon the plaines of Almeria it is a lande â—ull oâ— many homocks some with tuftes of trees on them and some baâ—e with white sand and in 60. faâ—homs you shall haue clay or oaze and in 30. fathom to the landward sand And from thence to Punta de hidalgo oâ— Punta delgada the coast lyeth Northeast and Southwest Soundings of Villa rica IF you fall with Villa rica in 30. fathoms you shall finde clay or oaze and in some places stones and neere the lande you shall haue sand and vpon the port of S. Iuan de Vllua you shall haue in some places clay or oaze and in some places herring bones and in other places mase and and vpon the rocks called Cabeças anegadas you shall haue small blacke sande at 17. fathom two leagues from land And if you see a coast that lieth Northeast and Southwest and another Northwest and Southeast you shall be vpon S. Paul and if you should be vpon Cabeças anegadas you shall finde in 30. fathoms great sand blacke and in 28. fathoms you shall haue the sand white like the shauings of free stone and from S. Paul to the barre of Vera Cruz it is clay or oaze and from thence to S. Iuan de Vllua you haue many deeps which at one sounding bring you clay and at another sand and at another clay and mase together and herring bones and in some 35. or 40. fathom you shal finde rockie ground and in some places sand and in some other places herring bones and we call this Comedera de pescado or The foode of fishes The course from Cabo de Corrientes and Cabo de S. Anton vpon the West end of Cuba towards Nueua Espanna within the Isles called Los Alacranes or The Scorpions IF you saile from Cape de Corrientes towarde Nueua Espanna on the inside of The Alacranes you must stir West and when you thinke you haue sailed 35. or 40. leag you shall sound vpon the pracel and you shall come vpon many bristlings of watersâ— which if it were faire weather would seeme a skull oâ— fish And before you come out of the bristlings if you sound you shal haue depth as I haue sayd If you goe from Cape de S. Anton by the inside of The Alacranes you must stir away West and by South and you shall finde sounding in the same order as I haue sayd you shall haue white sand and neere the land you shall finde it like the shauings and peckings of free stone and white sand like houre-glasse-sand and sometimes periwinkles or small shelles Also if you sound in deepe water and on the sudden â—inde rockes then knowe that you are vpon The Alacranes and then stir away Westsouthwest vntill you finde cleane ground and til you bring your selfe into 18. or 20. fathoms And if you goe deeping your water then stir away West and by these depths you shall go sounding and then taking your heigth by sunne or starre you must beware that you passe not 21. degrees â—â— or 21. degrees and ½ at the most and in this heigth and at 18. or 20. fathoms you shall follow your way and if you deepen water edge to the Northwestward and if you alter more your depth edge to the Southwestward vntill you haue gotten so farre ahead as Cape Sisal and discouered the coast of Campeche which coast lyeth North and South and you shall take vp on your lead white sande like houreglasseâ— sand and sometime periwinkles or small shelles and by and by you shall goe increasing depth vntil you lose it and so shal you passe between the Triangle and the Sandy Iland The course betweene the Triangle and the Sandy Island to S. Iuan de Vllua VVHen you haue lost your depth stirre away Southwest to fetch the Sierras or hils of S. Martin and to knowe the hils of S. Martin there are 2. hils stretching Northeast and Southwest and the Southwest is greater then that on the Northeast but the Northermost hill is higher and maketh on the top a flat point and very high and without it it hath an Island which is called Roca partida or The clouen rock and if it be cleare on the Southwest side an high lande like a top-saile will appeare and then shall you bee North and South with The Pan or Loafe of Nisapa Note that these Sierras or Hilles of Sant Martin are all blacke and full of trees and make no shewe as Villa rica doth And marke
our pilot withall for being naturall of those riuers we assured our selues hee knew the way better then any stranger could And indeed but for this chance I thinke we had neuer found the way either to Guiana or backe to our ships for Ferdinando after a few dayes knew nothing at all nor which way to turne yea and many times the old man himselfe was in great doubt which riuer to take Those people which dwell in these broken islands and drownâ—d lands are generally called Tiuitiuas there are of them two sorts the one called Ciawani and the other Waraweete The great riuer of Orenoque or Baraquan hath nine branches which fall out on the North side of his owne maine mouth on the South side it hâ—th seuen other fallings into the sea so it disâ—mbâ—queth by sixteâ—ne armes in all betweene Ilands and brokâ—n ground but the Ilands are very great many of them as bigge as the Isle of Wight and bigger and many lesse Fâ—om the first branch on the North to the last of the South it is at least 100 lâ—agues so as the riuers mouth is 300 miles wide at his entrance into the sea which I take to be farre bigger then that of Amazones All those that inhabit in the mouth of this riuer vpon the seuerall North branches are these Tiuitiuas of which there are two chiefe lords which haue continuall warres one with the other The Ilands which lie on the right hand are called Pallamos and the land on the left Horotomaka and the riuer by which Iohn Dowglas returned within the land from Amana to Capuri they call Macuti These Tiuitiuas are a very goodly people and very valiant and haue the most manly speech and most deliberate that â—uer I heard of what nation soeuer In the Summer they haue houses on the ground as in other places in the Winter they dwell vpon the trees where they build very artificiall townes and villages as it is written in the Spanish story of the Weâ—t Indies that those people do in the low lands nere the gulfe of Vâ—aba for betweâ—ne May September the riuer of Orenoque riseth thirty foot vpright and then are those ilands ouerflowen twenty foot high aboue the leuell of the ground sauing sâ—me few raised grounds in the middle of them and for this cause they are inforced to liue in this maner They neuer eat of any thing that is set or sowen and as at home they vse neither planting nor other manurance so when they come abroad they refuse to feed of ought but of that which nature without labour bringeth â—orth They vse the tops of Palmitos for bread and kill deere fish and porks for the rest of their sustenance They haue also many sorts of fruits that grow in the woods and great variety of birds and fowle And if to speake of them were not tedious and vulgar surely we saw in thâ—se passagâ—s of very rare colours and formes not elsewerâ— to be found for as much as I haue either seene or read Of these people those that dwell vpon the branâ—hes of Orenoque called Capuri and Macurâ—o are for the most part carpenters of canoas for they make the most and fairest canoas and sel them into Guiana for golde and into Trinidad for tabacco in the â—xcessiue taking whereof they exceed all natâ—ons and notwithstanding the mâ—istnesse of the aire in which they liue the hardnesse of their diet and the great labours they suffer to hunt fish and fâ—wle for their liuâ—ng in all my life either in the Indies or in Europe did I nâ—uâ—r bâ—hold a more goodly or better fauâ—urâ—d pâ—â—ple or a more manly They werâ— woont to make warre vpon all nations and especially on the Canibals so as none durst without a good strâ—ngth trade by those riuâ—rs but of late they are at peace with their neighbours all holding the Spaniards for a common enemy When their commandâ—rs die they vse greâ—t lamentation and when they thinke tâ—e flesh of their bodies is putrified and fallen from the boâ—es then they take vp the caâ—case againe and hang it in the caciques house that died and dâ—â—ke his scull wâ—th feathers of all colours and hang all his golde plates about the bones of his armes thighs and legs Thosâ— natiâ—ns which are callâ—d Aâ—wacas which dwell on the South of Orenoque of whâ—â—h place and nation â—ur Indian pilot was are disperâ—ed in many other places and doe vse to bâ— at the bones of their lords into â—owder and their wiues and friends drinke it all in their seuerall sorts of drinks After we departed from the port of these Ciawani wee passed vp the riuer with the flood and ankered the ebbe and in this sort we wâ—nt onward Thâ— third day that we â—ntred the riuer our galley came on ground and slucke so fast as we tâ—ought that â—uen there â—ur discâ—uery had ended and that we must haue left fourescâ—re and ten of our men to hâ—ue iâ—haâ—ited like râ—oks vpâ—n trees with those nations but the next morning after we had cast out all her â—allast with tugging and halling to and fro we got her aflote and went on At fouâ—e dâ—yâ—s â—nd wee fell into as gâ—odly a riuer as euâ—r I beheld which was called The great Amana which râ—nne mâ—re dirâ—ctly withâ—ut windings and turnings then the other but soonâ— after the flood of the sea left vs and bâ—ing inforced eitâ—er by maine strength to row against a violent current or to returne aâ— wisâ— as we went out we had then no shift but to perswade the companies that it was bâ—t two or threâ— dayeâ— wâ—rke and therefore desired them to take paines euâ—ry gentleman others taking their turnes to row and to spell â—ne the other at the houres end Euâ—ry day we passed by goodly branches of riuers some falling from the West otheâ—s froÌ„ the East into Amana but thosâ— I leaue to the dâ—scription in the Cart of discouery where euery one shal be namâ—d with his rising and dâ—scent When three dayes more were ouergone our companies began to despaire the weather being extreamâ— hote the riuer bordered with very high trees that kept away the aire and the current against vs â—uery day strongâ—r thâ—n othâ—r but we euermore commanded our pilots to promise an ende the next day and vsed it so long as we were driuen to assure them from foure reaches of the riuer to three and so to two and so to the next reach but so long we laboured that many dayes were spent and wee driuen to drawe our selues to harder allowance our bread euen at the last and no drinke at all and our men and our selues so wearied and scorched and doubtfull withall whether wee should euer performe it or no the heat increasing as we drew towards the line for wee were now in fiue degrees The further we went on our victuall decreasing and the aire breeding great faintnesse wee grâ—w weaker and weaker when wee had most need of
in the time of the Northeast windes thou shalt seeke to fall with the land in foureteene degrees And if thou see a lowe land thou mayest make accompt it is the land called Ciemana and then thou shalt see Mangues And also thou shalt come along this coast to the South and when thou seest an ende of the low land then thou shalt finde an high land along the sea like the other that I haue made mention of before that is all sandie along the sea coast And thou must vnderstand that where the high land beginneth there is a little riuer called Rio das Contas but enter not into it it hath for a marke to be knowen by as it were a white mouth And from thence to the Islands thou hast nine leagues And at the ende of this high land to the Southward of it thou shalt find a great bay within the land then thou shalt looke to the Westsouthwest and shalt see another high land which lieth as it were in the middest of the bay and thou shalt there see certaine white houses which are the Ingenios or houses wherein they make sugar of Lucas Giraldo From thence thou shalt see the Isles being so farre shotte as Rio de Contas And thou shalt see within the land a round hill which is like Monte de laude and it hath another copple on the South side The course to sayle to Porto Seguro that is to say The safe hauen lying on the foresayd coast of Brasil the markes to know the same by IF thou goe for Porto Seguro and goest in the time of the Southeast windes which is from March forwards I aduise thee that thou fall not in more degrees then sixteen and a halfe because of the sholdes called Os baixos dos Abrolhos which are very dangerous and stretch very farre into the sea And also going West from them that thou keepe thy lead going and be often sounding And if thou chance to see the land and an high hill and long withall much like to The pike it is the hill that is called Monte Pasqual And from thence thou must goe to the North and when thou hast brought it Southwest of thee then thou mayest beare with the land but with great care to looke about thee Marke when thou seest the land and commest to see a red cliffe then looke to the Southward and thou shalt see a great smooth coast along the sea and then on the North side thou shalt deserue Porto Seguro And going along the coast thou shalt see the towne of Porto Seguro standing vpon the toppe of an hill which hill is a white rocke and on the North side of the sayd rocke there is a very hie land I aduise thee that when thou art East and West with the sayd land I meane with this rocke that then thou looke to the Northward and thou shalt see certaine rocks lying two leagues off into the sea whereon the sea doth breake and to the Southward of them thou mayest come to an ankor against the towne and hast a good place to ride in thirteen fadomes in sight of the towne And if it be thy chance to arriue in the time of the Northeast winds and commest in the height of fifteene degrees and two third parts and seest not certaine hilles then thou must goe along the coast being in 16 degrees and vnder the first hie land that thou shalt descrie thou shalt see certaine sandie bayes along the sea coast And if thou haue sight of a riuer in this height put not thy selfe into it neither beare with the land for it hath many sholdes And off them lie certaine sunken grounds called Os Baixos de Santo Antonio And from hence to the Southward lyeth Porto Seguro I aduise thee that going along the coast to the Southward and seeing such sholdes and the sea to breake vpon them as the other which I last spake of thou shalt runne along them a sea boord of them and when thou art at the end of them then the towne will beare West of thee and then thou mayest goe to thine ankoring place as is abouesayd giuing these sholds a good birth The course to the hauen named Baia do Spirito Santo that is to say The bay of the holy Ghost lying on the sayd coast of Brasil and the markes thereof THou shalt vnderstand that the ship that goeth for Spirito Santo when it hath doubled the sholdes called Os Baixos dos Abrolhos and hath brought it selfe in 20 or 19 degrees and a halfe then it may hall with the land in 18 or 19 degrees and a halfe and in twentie And the sayd shippe must goe in this height because on this coast there are no Monçoins If thou chance to come in the height of 19 degrees ½ and seest lowe land to the Northwest off thee then thou art on the North side of Spirito Santo and thou mayest make accompt that it is the land lying ouer Criquare and ouer the riuer called Rio dolce that is the riuer of sweete or fresh water If thou come along the land thou shalt find certaine high hilles but trust not the first that thou seest only For besides the rest thou shalt see a round hie hill which is at the capes end which is called la Sierra de mestre Aluaro Take heede that going for this land thou looke to the North and thou shalt see a riuer called Rio dos Reyes Magos that is The riuer of the three kings And comming to the Southward thou shalt see presently the mouth of the bay to open At the end of this hill on the South side thou hast a point of a rocke which is called A punta do Tubaron And on the South side of the bay it hath two or three blacke hie hilles and in the middest of the bay thou shalt goe in westward I aduise thee that in going in thou take heede of a sholde which lieth in the mouth of the bay thou must leaue it to the Southward of thee and then plie to double a certaine Island which lieth within and thou must leaue it to the Northward of thee and when it beareth on the North or Northeast thou mayest come to an ankor for all is cleane ground And if thou chance to come by this course and fallest in 20 degrees and seest many hilles and one among the rest very high and craggie it is called A Sierra de Guariparim that is the hill of Guaraparim and seest another hill on the North side which is called A Sierra de Pero Cam both these lie on the South side of Spirito Santo And from these hils thou shalt see a little hill named Guaipel And when thou seest these hilles thou shalt see three little Islands together lying to the Southward And then from these thou shalt see another rockie bare and round Island and to the land off this Island
at the island of S. Andrew where we ankered in 17 fadoms water Item The 17 day of September we departed from the island of S. Andrew and the 24 day of September we put into the bay of Chiametlan where we ankered in 8 fadoms water and the 26 of September we departed from the bay of Chiametlan and the 28 day wee ankered vnder the islands of Chiametlan in 4 fadoms Item The 9 day of October wee departed from the islands of Chiametlan and crossing ouer the mouth of Mar vermejo the 14 day of October we had sight of the cape of California Item The 15 day of October we lay off the cape of S. Lucas and the 4 day of Nouember we tooke the great and rich ship callâ—d Santa Anna comming from the Philippinas and the 5 day of Nouember we put into the port of S. Lucas where we put all the people on shore and burnt the Santa Anna and we ankered in 12 fadoms water Item The 19 day of Nouember we departed from the port of S. Lucas and the 3 day of Ianuary wee had sight of one of the islands of the Ladrones which island is called The island of Iwana standing in the latitude of 13 degrees and 50 minuts Item The 3 day of Ianuary we departed from the iland of Iwana and the 14 day of Ianuarie we had sight of the cape of Spirito santo and the same day we put into the Streights of the Philippinas and the 15 day of Ianuary we ankered vnder the iland of Capul on the which iland we watered and wooded Item The 24 of Ianuary we departed from the iland of Capul and the 28 day of Ianuary we arriued in the bay of Lago grande which bay is in the island of Pannay where there were Spaniards building of a new ship Item The 29 of Ianuary wee departed from the bay of Lago grande and the same day at night wee were cleere from the islands of the Philippinas shâ—ping our course towards the ilands of Maluco Item From the 29 day of Ianuary vnto the first day of March we were nauigating between the West end of the island of Pannay and the West end of the island of Iaua minor Item The first day of March wee passed the Streights at the West head of the island of Iaua minor and the 5 day of March we ankered in a bay at the Wester end of Iaua maior where wee watered and had great store of victuals from the towne of Polambo Item The 16 day of March wee departed from the island of Iaua maior and the 11 day of May we had sight of the land 40 leagues vnto the Eastwards of the cape of Buena Esperança the land being low land A note from the cape of Buena Esperança vnto the Northwards ITem The 21 day of May wee departed from the cape of Buena Esperança and the 8 day of Iune we ankered on the Northwest part of the iland of Santa Helenâ— where we watered and made our abode 12 dayes Item The 20 day of Iune at night wee departed from the island of Santa Helena and the 4 day of Iuly we passed vnder the Equinoctiall line Item The 20 day of Iune at night wee departed from the island of Santa Helena and the 25 day of August in the morning wee had sight of the islands of Flores and Coruo in the latitude of 40 degrees Item The 9 day of September 1588 wee arriued after a long and terriblâ— tempest in the Narrow seas in the hauen of Plimmouth in safetie by the gracious and most mercifull protection of the Almighty to whom therefore be rendered immortall praise and thankesgiuing now and for euer Amen A note of our ankering in those places where we arriued after our departure from England 1586. IN primis Wee ankered in the harborow of Sierra leona in 10 fadoms water and a Northwest winde in that rode is the woorst that can blow Item You may anker vnder the island that is called Ilha Verde in 6 fadoms water and the winde being at the Westnorthwest is the woorst winde that can blow Item You may anker vnder the island of S. Sebastian on the Northwest part in 10 fadoms and a Westsouthwest winde is the woorst winde Item You may anker in Port Desire in 5 fadoms water and a West and by South winde is the woorst Item You may anker vnder Cape Ioy without the mouth of the Streights of Magellan in 7 fadoms water Item You may anker within the Straights of Magellan vâ—till you come vnto the first narrowing in 25 or 30 fadoms water in the mid way of the Streights Item You may anker in the second narrow of the Strâ—ights in 16 fadoms water Item You may anker vnder Penguin island on which side you please in 6 or 7 fadoms water Item You may anker in Port Famine in 5 or 6 fadoms water and a Southsoutheast winde is the woorst Item You may anker in Muskle coue which coue is on the South side and is 7 leagues to the Southwards of Cape Froward and you shall ride in 12 fadoms Item You may anker in Elizabeth bay which bay is on the North side of the Streights in 8 fadoms water Item From Elizabeth bay vnto Cabo descado you may anker on both sides of the Streights in many places A note of our ankering after we were entred into the South sea IN primis You may anker in the bay of Mocha in 7 or 8 fadoms water and there a Northeast winde is the woorst Item You may anker on the North side of S. Mary island in nine fadoms water and there a Northnorthwest winde is the woorst winde Item You may anker in the bay of Conception vnder one small island in 9 fadoms water and â— Northnorthwest winde is the woorst winde in that bay Item You may anker in the bay of Quintero in 7 fadoms water and a Northnorthwest wind is the worst winde Item You may anker in the bay of Arica in 6 fadoms and in that bay a Westnorthwest winde is the woorst winde Item You may anker in the bay of Pisca and Paraca in fiue fadoms and in that bay a Northnorthwest winde is the woorst Item You may anker in the bay of Cherepe in 8 fadoms and there from the Northwest vnto the Southeast it is open Item You may anker in the bay of Paita in 7 fadoms water and there a Northnortheast wind is the woorst winde Item You may anker on the Northeast part of the island of Puna in 4 fadoms and a Northeast winde is the woorst Item You may anker at Rio dolce where wee watered vnto the Easâ—wards of the island of Puna in 10 fadoms A note of what depths we ankered in on the coast of New Spaine ITem You may anker in the port of
are in 44. deg and easie to passe But 5. leagues iourney to passe the 3. Saults Ten dayes iourney from the Saults to this great Lake The Saults are in the latitude of 44. deg Belle Isle Carpont in 52. degrees The Grand â—â—â— in 52. and an halfe A flatte rocke Butes The Isle of Blanc Sablon oâ— white sand The seuerall breadâ—hs of the Grand Bay Blanc Sablon in 51. deg 2. third parts The Islâ—s de la Damoâ—selle in 50 deg 3. fourth parts Many Isles good harboâ—â— Cape Tienot in 50 deg one fourth part The Isle Ascension Asâ—â—â—pâ—ion or Nâ—tiscotto The commendation of the Isle of Ascenâ—ioÌ„ From Cape Briton to the Southeast end of the Isle of Ascension is but 50 leagues The Cape of Monâ—z nostre Dame The Bay of Molues oâ— Gaspay The Bay de Chaleuâ— or of Heate The Bay of Ognedoc Greater store and betteâ— fish then in Newfoundland Fouleâ— Trees The month of the riuer of Canada twenty fiue leagues broad The 7 Iâ—les in 50 degrees and a halfe The riuer is here but 10 leagues broad The point of Ongear in 49 degrees and a quarter The Isle of Raquelle in 48 degrees and two third parts The riuer 8 leagues broad The entrance oâ— Saguenay The sea of Cathay The riuâ—r not past 4 lâ—agues ouer The Isle of Hares in 48 and one siâ—â—â—nth part Note The isle of Filbeards in 47 degreeâ— and 3. quarters The beginning of the fresh water The riuer but a quarter of a league bâ—oad The Isle of Orleans in 47. degrees and one third part Canada â— leaguâ— to the West of the Isle of Orleans The Fort of France-Roy stood in 47 degrees and one sixâ— part Why the couÌ„trey is colder in the Winter then France A second reason The variation of y â— compasse From the foâ—t of France Roy vnto y e mouth of the Grand Bay 230 leâ—gs Gold and sâ—luâ—r like to be â—ound in Canada A Bay in 42. degrees giuing some hope of a passage Trees â—edde plums Fowle Corne. Wheate to be â—owen in March The cause of the ofteÌ„ snowing in Canada Diamonts Golde foâ—â—d Iâ—qâ—es Carâ—â—er sâ—oâ—e away Iuly France prime August 1542. September 14 The proportion of their victuals The length of the winter They had women with them Their apparell So haue they of Ceuola and Quiuira and Meâ—a Incognita Their victuals They remoue from place to place Fish Beastes Fowle Their breaâ— of great Myl or Maâ—â— Drinke of Seâ—â—e oyle at their great â—eastâ— Their goâ—ernment The 5. of Iune The 6. of Iune Monsieur de Royeâ—e The 14. of Iune The 19. of Iune Maiz. The 22. of Iuly 1543. Note Free denization granted Anno 1581. A Southerly course not greatly needful for Virginia A sweet smell from the land The first riuer Iuly 13 possession taken Abundance of grapes The Isle of Wokokon Goodly Cedars Pines Cypres Sassaphras Conference with a Saâ—agâ—â— Abundance of fish The arriuall of tâ—e kings brother Trafficke with the Sauages Tinne much â—steemed White corall Perlâ—s Pitch trees The manner of making their boates 〈◊〉 Island The great kindnes of the kings brothers wife A solemne banker Their Idolâ— Skicoak a great towne A ship cast away Their weapons Oâ— Pâ—â—â—â—uaioc Roanoak sixteen miles long They land vpon the Iland of S. Iohn de Porto Rico. They land on the Iles of Caico Guanima Cyguateo They land in Florida Iuly September October The rich and manifold commodities oâ— Virginia Commoditieâ— fit to came to Virginia 2. parts of this discourse The excellencie of the seate of Chesepiâ—ok The towne of Chawanook able to make 700. men of warre An Iland in a Bay Pearles in exceeding quanâ—â—tie An enterpâ—se of speciall importance Whither M. Ralfe Lane meant to remoue Wingina changeth his name Conspiracie of the Sauages against the English * Their women A maruellous Mineral in the câ—untrey of Chaunis Temoatan A conflict begun by the Sauages The great current of the Riuer of Moraticoâ— This sails of making weares would be learned The beginning of theâ—â— haruest in Iuly The conspiracie of Pemisapan The forme of the treason The sufficiencie of our men to deale against the Sauages 10. to an hundreth The Sauages line by fishing and hunting till haruest The slaughter and surprise of the Sauages Pemisapan slaine A letter from Sir Francis Drake This ship arriued in Virginia Sir Richard Grinuils third uoyage Fifteene men more leâ—t in Virginia Fiue thousand pearles â—athred Tabacco Monardes parâ—e â— lib 1. cap. 4. The iuice of Coscushaw is poison There are iâ— kinds of Tuâ—â—â— whereof that which beareth no fruith bringeth foorth the Cochinillo In the â—nâ—fe of California they vse the like fishing Iaques Cartier voyage 2. chap. 8. This want is hereafter to be supplied “ One of the Isles of the Indies inhabited with Sauages Circumspectis to be vsed in strange places “ Musketos Bay is a harbour vpon the south side of S. Iohns Islâ—nd where we â—ake in â—resh water “ A pleasant and fruitfull countrey lying on the west end of S. Iohns Island where groweth plenty of Orenges Limons PlaÌ„tans Pines An intent to plant in the Bay of Chesepiok Edward Spicer Their mâ—aning to â—emoue 50 miles into the countrey Smerwick in the West of Ireland M. William Lane Spanish fugitiues Edward Spicer This fight was in fight of the Iland of Nauara The state oâ— the currency from the capâ— of Florida to Viâ—ginia Sandie Ilaâ—â— West of Wokokon They land â— 35 degrees A breach 2 oâ— 3 leagues into Sea Great diâ—ersity of souÌ„dings Hatorask in 36 degr a â—ercâ— They land Fresh water found in sandy hilles Captaine Spicer drowned They leaue the coast of Virginia 13. Pipes of siluer The Isle of Madêra They diâ—couer land 34. Degrees The coast trendeth to the East in 34 degrees of latitude Câ—â—rteous aâ—d 〈◊〉 They run 50. leagues farther Wilde hempe They ran along the coast 200. leagues They make hollow their Canons with fire Uines like those of Lombardie 100. â—eagues sayling A mighty riuer People clad with leathers of diuers colours The pleasantnes and riches of the land The coast trendeth to the East The description of Claudia Iland tenne leagues from the mayneâ— Claudia was mother of king Franâ—â— A passing good hauen Copper more esteemed then golde Most pleasant and fruitful lands The fashion of their houses The coast full of good hauens Their curing with Tabacco and perfumes 41 degrees 2. terces The description of a notable hauen in 41. deg and 2. â—â—â—ces 150 leagues A shew of minerall The coast running Eastward 10. leagues Here the people begin to be more sauage Beades of copper 32 pleasant Islands They ran almost to 50. degrees Other 〈◊〉 ought to be our warning The chiefe things woâ—â—â—â—e obseruâ—tion in Florida are drawen in colours by Iames Moâ—gues painter sometime liuing in the Black frâ—eâ—s in London A â—â—liâ—â—â—â—â— or 〈◊〉 meâ—◠〈◊〉 â—gâ—uâ—a Meanes to raise benefit in new discoueries vsed by the
de San Barâ—ardo La Bacilla The shoalds of Serrana Serranilla Cape de Corrientes Cape de San Antonio The Tâ—â—tugâ—â—â— Seranilla An Island in 16. degrees 〈◊〉 Câ—â—â— de Cameron The vaâ—iâ—tioâ— of the compasse Isla de Pinos The currentâ— sâ—t here sometimes Wesâ— Isla de Coâ—â—â— The latitude of 〈…〉 19. deg and one â—ieâ—â—e Las Tortugas The little Islâ— called Vermâ—â—â— Marâ—â— oâ— Vâ—â—la Rica The low ground of Almeria Lâ—s Sierras 〈◊〉 Papalo Saint Paul Monte de Câ—rneâ—os Casa de Buytroâ— The castle of S. Iuan de Vâ—lâ—â— The hospitall The riuer of 〈◊〉 Alacranes or â—â—â—pâ—orâ— The triangle â—â—rta or â—aâ—â—a The high hils 〈◊〉 â— Maâ—tin 〈◊〉 de Medelin S. Iuan de Vllua 〈◊〉 in 18. deg and a halfe The Tortugas The currents to the East â—an de Cabanas â—auana â—eâ— Martyres The sholds of Mimbresâ— that is of Osiars The Chanell reacheth to 28 degrees La Bermuda * The variation of the Compasse Flores and Câ—eruo Saint George Terzera The Cape of S. Vincent The windes are alwayes at Northwest in the summer The markes oâ— Capâ— S. Vincent The Asagresal The Cape of Saint Mary The course in winter from the chanel of Baâ—ama The variation of the Compasse Many lost vpon Bermuda by negligence The Isle of S. Marie * Faial The barre oâ— S. Lucar Sierras de Monchico To aâ—oyde men of warre The castle of Aimonte The Cape of S Nâ—colas on the East ende of Cuba Pontâ— de Mayâ—ca â—araâ—oa A â—lâ—â—â—d on the East side of Baracoa â—aâ—o de â—â—a This worde Cayo in the Biskapur â—â—â—gue signifieth a date â— shoald Pracellas The Mosâ—wes Camoloquea The flats of Mecaâ—a to be auoyded Cropeda a flat Island 2. Rockes of stone Punta de Caueus Matanâ—as The currents The Teates of Hauana The â—arbour of Xâ—â—oca Markes to know the harbour of Hauana Caio de Moa Caio Romanâ—â— Alcane de Barasoga Sauano Basquo The Flats of Mecala Take heede of that which is here saâ—d for it hath litle reason Sierras de Camaloquâ—a Caio de Moa Pracellas Hauana Punta de Mance Sierra del Hama Caio Romano The markes of the Flat of Caio Romano Punta de Naga Punta de hidalgo The calmes of 〈◊〉 The variation of the compasse Deseada in 15. â—egrees and a halâ—e Warlike and dangerous Indians like â—hose oâ— Dominica These 2. the white and the gray Islands are rather baâ—â— rockes in the sea foâ— so doeth Farrallon the Spanish word signifie But I interprâ—te it Island because all the rocks separated froÌ„ the bigger Islands are saâ—d to be litle Islands This white bare Island is made whitâ— vp the dâ—ng of birdes and sea-foules that resort vnto it These rockes are called Los 〈◊〉 or the spoâ—tes The point oâ— Causedo â—an Domingo The point of Niâ—ao The Isle of Beata Ocoa Puerto hermoso The Isle of Alto Velo◠〈◊〉 Frailes 〈◊〉 Las sierras de donna Maria. Isla Baque Cape Tiburon The Isle of Nauaza Sierras de Cobâ—â— Sierras de Tarquino Los Caimanes Los Iardines Las sierras de Guanaguarico A conuenienâ— watering place The Isle Vermeja Villa rica â— Iuan de Vllua â— volcan or burning hil â—ierras de Sant Martâ—n Sierras de Villa 〈◊〉 â—io de las palmas Rio de las monâ—anâ—as Rio de Panuco Rio Heâ—moâ—o oâ— The beautiâ—ull â—iuer The current of the bay of Mexico the winde being at the East setteth to the Northâ— and 40. leagues from thâ—â—hoâ—e to the Northeast The mountaines oâ— Tamaclipa 〈◊〉 tide at the riuer of Panuco Laâ— sieâ—ras de Tarquia â— Luis de Tamâ—ice Cabo Roxo A watering place The bay â—â— Cassones All these are vpon the 〈◊〉 of Tabasco Las sierras de â— Pabâ—â—â— Punta delgada oâ— The slendâ—â— pointâ— Cabezaâ— anegadas are 〈◊〉 heads 〈◊〉 vnder water Comedera de Peâ—cado Cabo de Coâ—â—ienteâ— Cabo de S. Aâ—â—ton Cape Sisal vpon the coast of Campeche in lucatan Or Isla de Arenas Sierras de S. Martin Roca partida Or Minsapa Of Antoniserro Las Tortugas The hilles called Los Organos vpon Cuba neere Hauana Rio de puercos Baya honda La quadrilla de sierras El pan de Caâ—annas La mesa de Marien The tower of Hauana Note Chipiona a towne standing vpon the coast of Andaluzia next vnto S. Lucas El pan de Matanzas Barrancas If you will recouer Hauana go also signifie creeks or broken entrances of landes Cabeza de los Martires Which Martires are a number of small Ilands lying ahead the Cape of Florida Los Mimbres The markes of Pan de Matanzas Punta de los Puercos The furious current in the chanell of Bahama Directions is know whether you be in the chanell of Bahama or no. Cabo de Cannaueral in 28. deg and a halfe The course 〈◊〉 Winter The Isle of Bermuda The course in the Summer more Northerly Puerto Pini El Passaje place on the Northeast part of the Isle of S. Iuan de Puerto rico Cabo del Enganno the most Easter in Cape of Hispaniola Or Semana Las Ouejas Cabo Franco El Puerto de Plata Baracoa Isla de Tortugas otherwise called Hinagua The Isle of Iaico Las sierras de Cabanca Cayo Romano This word Cayo in the â—â—â—caian tongue signifieth a flat or a shâ—ld Cabo de Cruz. This Island lyeth 100. leagues from Hauana The great Parcel Las Anguillas Another Cayo 6 or 7 leagues from Cayo de Cruz. El Puerto de Maranzas or The hauen 〈◊〉 slaughters 〈◊〉 Las Sierras de Guana Cruz del Padre La Baia de Conel La Baia de Caos or Cayos Or Camoloquec Note large * This is a very commoditus Isle for 〈◊〉 in our way to Virginia * large A treatâ—se of the West Indieâ— The yle oâ— Trinidad Curiâ—paâ— Parico Tierra de Breâ— The death of Captaine Whiddon â— Englishmen betrayed by Antony Berreo The Citie of S. Ioseph taken Antony Berreo taken prisoneâ— Sir W. Ralegâ— passed 400. miles toward Guianaâ— The statelines of Manoa marg Fran. Lopez de Gomara hist. gen cap. 120. Iuan Martineâ— the first that euer saw Mâ—noa Diego de Ordaâ— went â—oorth with 600 souldiers 1531. Fran. Lopez bist gen de las Ind. cap. 87. The great city of Manoa or El Dorado The author of the name of El Doradoâ— The substance of this report is in the end of the nauigation of the great riuer of Marannon written by Gonzalo Fernando de â—uiedo to cardinall Bembâ—â— Ramusin Vol 3. fol. 416. Sir Robert Duddeleyâ— Reade Iosephus Acosta The voyage of sir Iohn Burgh to the West Indiesâ— 1534. Gomar cap. 84â— 86. Don Pedro de Siluaâ— Pedro Hernandez de Serpa Don Gonzales Ximenes de Casada Antonio Berreo A new rich trade of the French to the riuer of Amazones The seat of the Amazones Many great riuer a falling into Orenoque The prouince of Emeria inhabited by gentle Indians Carapana Morequito Vides the gouernour of Cumana competâ—tor with Berreo in the conquest of Guiana Macureguaray Ten Spanyards arâ—â—e at Manoa Aromaia Saima anâ— â—â—â—kiri
out of England by Sea standeth a matter of great consequence it behoueth that all humanitie and curtesie and much forbearing of reuenge to the Inland people be vsed so shall you haue firms amitie with your neighbours so shall you haue their inland commodities to mainteine traffique and so shall you waxe rich and strong in force Diuers and seuerall commodities of the inland are not in great plenty to be brought to your hands without the ayde of some portable of Nauigable riuer or ample lake and therefore to haue the helpe of such a one is most requisite And so is it of effect for the dispersing of your owne commodities in exchange into the inlands Nothing is more to be indeuoured with the Inland people then familiarity For so may you best discouer all the natural coÌ„modities of their countrey also all their wants al their strengths all their weaknesse and with whom they are in warre and with whom confederate in peace and amitie c. which knowen you may worke many great effects of greatest consequence And in your planting the consideration of the clymate and of the soyle be matters that are to be respected For if it be so that you may let in the salt sea water not mixed with the fresh into flats where the sunne is of the heate that it is at Rochel in the Bay of Portugal or in Spaine then may you procure a man of skill and so you haue wonne one noble commoditie for the fishing and for trade of marchandize by making of Salt Or if the soyle and clymate be such as may yeeld you the Grape as good as that at Burdeaux as that in Portugal or as that about Siuil in Spaine or that in the Islands of the Canaries then there resteth but a workeman to put in execution to make Wines and to dresse Resigns of the sunne and other c. Or if ye finde a soyle of the temperature of the South part of Spaine or Barbarie in the which you finde the Oliue tree to growe Then you may be assured of a noble marchandize for this Realme considering that our great trade of clothing doeth require oyle and weying how deere of late it is become by the vent they haue of that commoditie in the West Indies and if you finde the wilde Oliue there it may be graffed Or if you can find the berrie of Cochenile with which we colour Stammelles or any Roote Berrie Fruite wood or earth fitte for dying you winne a notable thing fitte for our state of clothing This Cochenile is naturall in the West Indies on that firme Or if you haue Hides of beasts fitte for sole Lether c. It will be a marchandize right good and the Sauages there yet can not tanne Lether after our kinde yet excellently after their owne manner Or if the soyle shall yeeld Figges Almonds Sugar Canes Quinces Orenges Lemonds Potatos c. there may arise some trade and traffique by Figs Almonds Sugar Marmelade Sucket c. Or if great woods be found if they be of Cypres chests may be made if they be of some kinde of trees Pitch and Tarre may be made if they be of some other then they may yeeld Rosin Turpentine c. and all for trade and traffique and Caskes for wine and oyle may be made likewise ships and houses c. And because traffique is a thing so materiall I wish that great obseruation be taken what euery soyle yeeldeth naturally in what commoditie soeuer and what it may be made to yeelde by indeuour and to send vs notice home that thereupon we may deuise what meanes may be thought of to raise trades Now admit that we might not be suffered by the Sauages to enioy any whole country or any more then the scâ—pe of a citie yet if we might enioy traffique and be assured of the same we might be much inriched our Nauie might be increased and a place of safetie might there be found if change of religion or ciuil warres should happen in this realme which are things of great benefit But if we may enioy any large territorie of apt soyle we might so vse the matter as we should not depend vpon Spaine for oyles sacks resignes orenges lemonds spanish skins c. Nor vpon France for woad baysalt and Gascoyne wines nor on Eastland for flaxe pitch tarre masles c. So we should not so exhaust our treasure and so exceedingly inrich our doubtfull friends as we doe but should purchase the commodities that we want for halfe the treasure that now wee doe and should by our owne industries and the benefites of the soyle there cheaply purchase oyles wines salt fruits pitch tarre flaxe hempe mastes boords fish golde siluer copper tallow hides and many commodities besides if there be no flatts to make salt on if you haue plentie of wood you may make it in sufficient quantitie for common vses at home there If you can keepe a safe Hauen although you haue not the friendship of the neere neighbours yet you may haue traffique by sea vpon one shore or other vpon that firme in time to come if not present If you find great plentie of tymber on the shore side or vpon any portable riuer you were best to cut downe of thesame the first winter to be seasoned for ships barks boates and houses And if neere such wood there be any riuer or brooke vpon the which a sawing mill may be placed it would doe great seruice and therefore consideration would be had of such places And if such port chosen place of setling were in possession and after fortified by arte although by the land side our Englishmen were kept in and might not enioy any traffique with the next neighbours nor any victuals yet might they victuall themselues of fish to serue very necessitie and enter into amitie with the enemies of their next neighbours and so haue vent of their marchandize of England also haue victual or by meanes hereupon to be vsed to force the next neighbours to amitie And keeping a nauy at the setling place they should find out along the tract of the land to haue traffique and at diuers Islands also And so this first seat might in tune become a stapling place of the commodities of many countreys and territories and in time this place might become of all the prouinces round about the only gouernour And if the place first chosen should not so well please our people as some other more lately found out There might be an easie remoue and that might be rased or rather kept for others of our nation to auoyd an ill neighbour If the soyles adioyning to such conuenient Hauen and setling places be found marâ—hie and boggie then men skilful in drayning are to be caryed thither For arte may worke wonderful effects therein and make the soyle rich for many vses To plant vpon an Island in the mouâ—h of some notable riuer or vpon the point of the land entring into the
riuer if no such Island be were to great end For if such riuer were nauigable or portable farre into the land then would arise great hope of planting in fertil soyles and traffike on the one or on the other side of the riuer or on both or the linking in amitie with one or other pettie king contending there for dominion Such riuers found both Barges and Boates may be made for the safe passage of such as shall pierce the same These are to be couered with doubles of course linnen artificially wrought to defend the arrow or the dart of the sauage from the rower Since euery soile of the world by arte may be made to yeeld things to feede and to clothe man bring in your returne a perfect note of the soile without and within and we shall deuise if neede require to amend the same and to draw it to more perfection And if you finde not fruites in your planting place to your liking we shall in fiue drifats furnish you with such kindes of plants to be carryed thither the winter after your planting as shall the very next summer following yeeld you some fruite and the yeere next following as much as shall suffice a towne as bigge as Calice and that shortly after shall be able to yeeld you great store of strong durable good sider to drinke and these trees shall be able to encrease you within lesse then seuen yeeres as many trees presently to beare as may suffice the people of diuers parishes which at the first setling may stand you in great stead if the soile haue not the commoditie of fruites of goodnesse already And because you ought greedily to hunt after things that yeeld present reliefe without trouble of carriage thither therefore I make mention of these thus specially to the end you may haue it specially in minde A true Discourse of the three Voyages of discouerie for the finding of a passage to Cathaya by the Northwest vnder the conduct of Martin Frobisher Generall Before which as a necessary Preface is prefixed a two-folde discourse conteining certaine reasons to proue all partes of the World habitable Penned by Master George Best a Gentleman employed in the same voyages What commodities and instructions may be reaped by diligent reading this Discourse 1 FIrst by example may be gathered how a Discouerer of new Countries is to proceedâ— in his first attempt of any Discouerie 2 Item how he should be prouided of shipping victuals munition and choice of men 3 How to proceede and deale with strange people be they neuer so barbarous cruell and fierce either by lenitie or otherwise 4 How trade of Merchandize may be made without money 5 How a Pilot may deale being inuironed with mountaines of yce in the frozen Sea 6 How length of dayes change of seasons Summers and Winters doe differ in sundry regions 7 How dangerous it is to attempt new Discoueries either for the length of the voyage or the ignorance of the language the want of Interpretors new and vnaccustomed Elements and ayres strange and vnsauoury meates danger of theeues and robbers fiercenesse of wilde beastes and fishes hugenesse of woods dangerousnesse of Seas dread of tempestes feare of hidden rockes steepnesse of mountaines darkenesse of sudden falling fogges continuall paines taking without any rest and infinite others 8 How pleasant and profitable it is to attempt new Discoueries either for the sundry sights and shapes of strange beastes and fishes the wonderfull workes of nature the different maners and fashions of diuers nations the sundry sortes of gouernment the sight of strange trees fruite foules and beastes the infinite treasure of Pearle Golde and Siluer the newes of newe found landes the sundry positions of the Sphere and many others 9 How valiant Captaines vse to deale vpon extremitie and otherwise 10 How trustie souldiers dutifully vse to serue 11 Also here may bee seene a good example to be obserued of any priuate person in taking notes and making obseruations of all such things as are requisite for a Discouerer of newe Countries 12 Lastly the Reader here may see a good paterne of a well gouerned seruice sundry instructions of matters of Cosmographie Geographie and Nauigation as in reading more at large may be seene Experiences and reasons of the Sphere to prooue all partes of the worlde habitable and thereby to confute the position of the fiue Zones FIrst it may be gathered by experience of our Englishmen in Anno 1553. For Captaine Windam made a Uoyage with Merchandise to Guinea and entred so farre within the Torrida Zona that he was within three or foure degrees of the Equinoctiall and his company abiding there certaine Moneths returned with gaine Also the Englishmen made another Uoyage very prosperous and gainefull An. 1554. to the coasts of Guinea within 3. degrees of the Equinoctiall And yet it is reported of a trueth that all the tract from Cape de las Palmas trending by C. de tres puntas alongst by Benin vnto the I le of S. Thomas which is perpendiculer vnder the Equinoctial all that whole Bay is more subiect to many blooming and smoothering heates with infectious and contagious ayres then any other place in all Torrida Zona and the cause thereof is some accidents in the land For it is most certaine that mountains Seas woods and lakes c. may cause through their sundry kinde of situation sundry strange and extraordinary effects which the reason of the clyme otherwise would not giue I mention these Uoyages of our Englishmen not so much to prooue that Torrida Zona may bee and is inhabited as to shew their readinesse in attâ—mpting long and dangerous Nauigaâ—ions Wee also among vs in England haue blacke Moores AEthiopians out of all partes of Torrida Zona which after a small continuance can well endure the colde of our Countrey and why should not we as well abide the heate of their Countrey But what should I name any more experiences seeing that all the coastes of Guinea and Benin are inhabited of Portugals Spanyardes French and some Englishmen who there haue built Castles and Townes Onely this I will say to the Merchants of London that trade yeerely to Marochus it is very certaine that the greatest part of the burning zone is farre more temperate and coole in Iune then the Countrey of Marochus as shall appeare by these reasons and experiences following For let vs first consider the breadth and bignesse of this burning zone which as euery man knoweth is 47. degrees each Tropicke which are the bounders thereof being 23. degrees and a halfe distant from the Equinoctiall Imagine againe two other Parallels on each side the Equinoctiall one eyther of them distant from the Equinoctial about 20. degrees which Paralels may be described either of them twice a yeere by the Sunne being in the first degrees of Gemini the 11. of May and in Leo the 13. of Iuly hauing North latitude And againe the Sunne being in the first
any Countreys were of more Cities and people of ciuilitie and vnderstanding then those which I had found and I could heare no newes of any such howbeit they tolde mee that foure or fiue dayes iourney within the Countrey at the fooâ—e of the mountaines there is a large and mightie plaine wherein they tolde mee that there were many great Townes and people clad in Cotton and when I shewed them certaine Metals which I carryed with mee to learne what riche Metals were in the Lande they tooke the minerall of Golde and tolde mee that thereof were vesselles among the people of that plaine and that they carryed certaiâ—e round greene stones hanging at their nostrilles and at their cares and that they haue certaine thinne plates of that Golde where with they scrâ—pe off their sweaâ— and that the walles of their Temples are couered therewith and that they vse it in all their houshold vessels And because this Ualley is distant from the Sea-coast and my instruction was not to leaue the Coast I determined to leaue the discouery thereof vntill my returne at which time I might doe it more commodiously Thus I trauelled three dayes iourney through Townes inhabited by the sayde people of whome I was receiued as I was of those which I had passed and came vnto a Towne of reasonable bignesse called Vacupa where they shewed mee great courtesies and gaue mee great store of good victuals because the soyle is very fruitfull and may bee watered This Towne is fortie leagues distant from the Sea And because I was so farre from the Sea it being two dayes before Passion Sunday I determined to stay there vntill Easter to informe my selfe of the Islandes whereof I sayde before that I had information And so I sent certaine Indians to the Sea by three seuerall wayes whom I commaunded to bring mee some Indians of the Sea-coast and of some of those Islandes that I might receiue information of them and I sent Stephan Doramez the Negro another way whom I commaunted to goe directly Northward fiftie or threescore leagues to see if by that way hee might learne any newes of any notable thing which wee sought to discouer and I agreed with him that if hee found any knowledge of any peopled and riche Countrey which were of great importance that hee should goe no further but should returne in person or should sende mee certaine Indians with that token which wee were agreed vpon to wit that if it were but a meane thing hee should sende mee a white Crosse of one handfull long and if it were any great matter one of two handfuls long and if it were a Countrey greater and better then Nueua Espanna hee should send mee a great crosse So the sayde Stephan departed from mee or Passion-sunday after dinner and within foure dayes after the messengers of Stephan returned vnto me with a great Crosse as high as a man and they brought me word from Stephan that I should foorthwith come away after him for bâ— c had found people which gaue him information of a very mighty Prouince and that he had certaine Indians in his company which had bene in the sayd Prouince and that he had sent me one of the said Indians This Indian told me that it was thirtie dayes iourney from the Towne where Stephan was vnto the first Citie of the sayde Prouince which is called Ceuola Hee affirmed also that there are seuen great Cities in this Prouince all vnder one Lord the houses where of are made of Lyme and Stone and are very great and the least of them with one lofte aboue head and some of two and of three lostes and the house of the Lorde of the Prouince of foure and that all of them ioyne one vnto the other in good order and that in the gates of the principall houses there are many Turques-stoues cunningly wrought whereof hee sayth they haue there great plentie also that the people of this Citie goe very well apparelled and that beyond this there are other Prouinces all which hee sayth are much greater then these seuen cities I gaue credite to his speach because I found him to bee a man of good vnderstanding but I deferred my departure to follow Stephan Dorantes both because I thought hee would stay for mee and also to attend the returne of my messengers which I had sent vnto the Sea who returned vnto me vpon Easter day bringing with them certaine inhabitants of the Sea-coast and of two of the Islands Of whom I vnderstoode that the Islandes aboue mentioned were scarre of victuals as I had learned before and that they are inhabited by people which weare shelles of Pearles vpon their foreheads and they say that they haue great Pearles and much Golde They informed mee of foure and thirtie Islandes lying one neere vnto another they say that the people on the Sea-coast haue small store of victuals as also those of the Islandes and that they traffique me with the other vpon rafâ—es This coast stretcheth Northward as is to bee seene These Indians of the Coast brought me certaine Targets made of Cow-hydes very well dressed which were so large that they couered them from the head to the very foote with a hoie in the stoppe of the same to looke out before they are so strong that a Crossebow as I suppose will not pierce them Chap. 2. He hath new information of the seuen Cities by certaine Indians called Pintados and of three other kingdomes called Marata Acus and Totonteac being Countreys very rich in Turqueses and Hides of cattel Following his voyage through those countries he taketh possession thereof for the Emperors Maiestie and of the Indians is much honoured and serued with victuals THe same day came three Indians of those which I called Pintados because I saw their faces breasts and armes painted These dwel farther vp into the countrey towards the East and some of them border vpon the seuen cities which sayd they came to see mee because they had heard of me and among other things they gaue me information of the seuen cities and of the other Prouinces which the Indian that Stephan sent me had tolde mee of almost in the very same maner that Stephan had sent mee worde and so I sent backe the people of the sea-coast and two Indians of the Islandes sayde they would goe with mee seuen or eight dayes So with these and with the three Pintados aboue mentioned I departed from Vacupa vpon Easter tuesday the same way that Stephan went from whom I recieued new messengers with a Crosse of the bignesse of the first which he sent me which hastened mee forward and assured me that the land which I sought for was the greatest and best countrey in all those partes The sayd messengers told mee particulary without fayling in any one poynt all that which the first messenger had tolde mee and much more and gaue mee more plaine information thereof So I trauelled that day being Easter
tuesday and two dayes more the very same way that Stephan had gone at the end of which 3 dayes they tolde mee that from that place a man might trauell in thirtie dayes to the citie of Ceuola which is the first of the seuen Neither did one onely tell me thus much but very many who tolde me very particularly of the greatnesse of the houses and of the fashion of them as the first messengers had informed me Also they told me that besides these seuen Cities there are 3. other kingdomes which are called Marata Acus and Totonteac I enquired of them wherefore they trauelled so farre from their houses They said that they went for Turqueses and Hides of kine and other things and that of all these there was great abundance in this Countrey Likewise I enquired how and by what meanes they obteined these things They tolde me by their seruice and by the sweat of their browes and that they went vnto the first citie of the Prouince which is called Ceuola and that they serued them in â—illing their ground and in other businesses and that they giue them Hydes of oxen which they haue in those places and turqueses for their seruice and that the people of this city weare very fine and excellent turqueses hanging at their eares and at their nostrils They say also that of these turqueses they make fine workes vpon the principall gates of the houses of this citie They tolde mee that the apparell which the inhabitants of Ceuola weare is a gowne of cotten downe to the foote with a button at the necke and a long string hanging downe at the same and that the sleeues of these gownes are as broad beneath as aboue They say they gyrd themselues with gyrdles of turqueses and that ouer these coates some weare good apparel others hides of kine very well dressed which they take to bee the best apparell of that countrey whereof they haue there great quantitie Likewise the women goe apparelled and couered downe to the foote These Indians gaue me very good intertainment and curiously enquirâ—d the day of my departure from Vacupa that at my returne they might prouide me of foode and lodging They brought certaine sicke folkes before mee that I might heale them and sought to touch my apparell and gaue mee certaine Cow-hydes so well trimmed and dressed that by them a man might coniecture that they were wrought by ciuile people and all of them affirmed that they came from Ceuola The next day I followed my iourney and carrying with mee the Pintados I came another Uillage where I was well receiued by the people of the same who likewise sought to touch my garments and gaue mee as particular knowledge of the Lande aforesayde as I had receiued of those which meete mee before and also tolde mee that from that place certaine people were gone with Stephan Dorantez foure or fiue dayes iourney And here I found a great crosse which Stephan had left me for a signe that the newes of the good Countrey increased and left worde that with all haste they should sende mee away and that hee would stay for mee at the ende of the first Desert that he mette with Heere I set vp two Crosses and tooke possession according to mine instruction because that the Countrey seemed better vnto mee then that which I had passed and that I thought it meete to make an acte of possession as farre as that place In this maner I trauailed fiue dayes alwayes finding inhâ—bâ—ted places 〈…〉 and intertainments and many Turqueses and Ore-hides and the like report 〈…〉 countrey Heere I vnderstood that after two dayes iourney I should finde a desert where theâ—â— is no foode but that there were certaine gâ—â—e before to build mee lodgings and to 〈…〉 for mee whereupon I hastened my way hoping to finde Stephan at the ende thereof because 〈◊〉 that place hee had left worde that hee would stay for mee Before I came to the desert I 〈◊〉 with a very pleasant Towne by reason of great store of waters conueighed 〈…〉 the same Heere I meâ—te with many people both men and women clothed in Cotton and somâ— couered with Ore-hydes which generally they take for better apparâ—ll then thaâ— of cottoâ—◠〈◊〉 the people of this Uillage goe in Caconados that is to say with Turqueses hanging at 〈◊〉 nostrilles and eares which Turqueses they call Cacona Amongst others the Lord 〈◊〉 Uillage came vnto me and two of his bretheren very well apparelled in Cotton who 〈…〉 in Caconados each of them hauing his collar of Turqueses abâ—ut his necke and the◠〈◊〉 vnto mee many wilde beastes as Conies Quailes Maâ— nuttes of Pine trees and 〈◊〉 great abundance and offered mee many Turqueses and dressed Ore-hydes and very 〈◊〉 vessels to drinke in and other thingsâ— whereof I would receiue no â— hâ—◠〈…〉 garment of gray cloth which in Spaine is called â—uagoâ—â— the Lord of this Uillage and the other Indians touched my gowne with these handes and â—olde mee that of such Cloth thâ—â—â— was great store in Totonteac and that the people of that Countrey wore the same Whereas I laughed and sayde that it was nothing else buâ— such apparell of Cotton as they wore And they replyed We would haue thee thinke that we vnderstand that that apparell which then wearest and that which we weare are of diuers sortes Understand than that in Ceuola all the â—â—â—seâ— are full of that apparell which we weare but in Totonteac there are certaine litle beasts from whom they take that thing wherewith such apparell as thou wearestâ— is made I prayed them to informe mee more playnely of this matter And they tolde mee that the sayde beastes were â—bout the bignesse of the two braches or spaniels which Stephan caryed with him and 〈◊〉 saâ— that there is great store of that cattell in Totonteac Chap. 3. He entreth into a desert and the Indians suffer him to want nothing necessary Followâ—â—â— his Voyage he commeth into a fertile valley and hath certaine knowledge giuen 〈◊〉 as he had before of the state of Ceuola and of Totonteac and that the coast oâ— th◠〈◊〉 35. degrees trendeth much to the Westward and also of the kingdomes of Mâ—â—â—â— and Aâ—â—â—â— THe next day I entred into the Desert and where I was â—o â—iâ—e I found â—â—â—ers madâ— and victuals in abundance by a riuâ—rs side and at night I found bowers and victuâ—ls in like sort and after that maner I found for 4. dayes trauell all which â—ime the wildâ—â—nesse continueth At the ende of these foure dayes I entred into a valley very well inhabited with people At the first Uillage there meâ—te me many men and women with victuals and alâ— of them haâ— Turqueses hanging at their nostrils and eares and some had collars of turqueses like thâ—se which the Lord of the Uillage before I came to the Desert and his two brethren wore saâ—â—â—g thâ—t thâ—y ware them but single about their nâ—ckes and
company neere vnto vs which we saw not by meanes of the great fogge which hearing the sound of the piece vnderstanding some of the company to be in great extremitie began to make towards vs and when they came within hearing of vs we desired them for the loue of God to helpe to saue vs for that we were all like to perish They willed vs to hoise our foresaile as much as we could make towards them for they would do their best to saue vs and so we did And we had no sooner hoised our foresaile but there came a gale of winde a piece of a sea strooke in the foresaile and caried saile maste all ouerboord so that then we thought there was no hope of life And then we began to imbrace one another euery man his friend euery wife her husband and the children their fathers and mothers committing our soules to Almighty God thinking neuer to escape aliue yet it pleased God in the time of most need when all hope was past to aide vs with his helping hand and caused the winde a little to cease so that within two houres after the other ship was able to come aboord vs tooke into her with her boat man woman and child naked without hose or shoe vpon many of our fecte I do remember that the last person that came out of the ship into the boat was a woman blacke Moore who leaping out of the ship into the boat with a yong sucking child in her armes lept too short and fell into the sea and was a good while vnder the water before the boat could come to rescue her and with the spreading of her clothes rose aboue water againe and was caught by the coat pulled into the boate hauing still her childe vnder her arme both of them halfe drowned and yet her naturall loue towards her child would not let her let the childe goe And when she came aboord the boate she helde her childe so fast vnder her arme still that two men were scant able to get it out So we departed out of our ship left it in the sea it was worth foure hundreth thousand ducats ship goods when we left it And within three dayes after we arriued at our port of S. Iohn de Vllua in New Spaine I do remember that in the great and boysterous storme of this foule weather in the night there came vpon the toppe of our maine yarde and maine maste a certaine little light much like vnto the light of a little candle which the Spaniards called the Cuerpo santo and saide it was S. Elmo whom they take to bee the aduocate of Sailers At the which fight the Spaniards fell downe vpon their knees and worshipped it praying God and S. Elmo to cease the torment and saue them from the perill that they were in with promising him that at their comming on land they would repaire vnto his Chappell and there cause Masses to be saide and other ceremonies to be done The friers cast reliques into the sea to cause the sea to be still and likewise said Gospels with other crossings and ceremonies vpon the sea to make the storme to cease which as they said did much good to weaken the furie of the storme But I could not perceiue it nor gaue no credite to it till it pleased God to send vs the remedie deliuered vs from the rage of the â—ame His Name be praised therefore This light continued aboord our ship about three houres flying from maste to maste from top to top and sometime it would be in two or three places at once I informed my selfe of learned men afterward what that light should be and they said that it was but a congelation of the winde and vapours of the Sea congealed with the extremitie of the weather which flying in the winde many times doeth chance to hit on the masts and shrowds of the ships that are at sea in foule weather And in trueth I do take it to be so for that I haue seene the like in other ships at sea and in sundry ships at once By this men may see how the Papists are giuen to beleeue and worship such vaine things and toyes as God to whom all honour doth appertaine and in their neede and necessities do let to call vpon the liuing God who is the giuer of all good things The 16. of April in Anno 1556. we arriued at the port of S. Iohn de Vllua in new Spaine very naked and distressed of apparell and all other things by meanes of the losse of our foresaid ship and goods and from thence we went to the new Towne called Vera Cruzâ— fiue leagues from the said port of S. Iohn de Vllua marching still by the sea side where wee found lying vpon the sands great quantitie of mightie great trees with rootes and all some of them of foure fiue and sixe cart load by our estimation which as the people tolde vs were in the great stormy weather which we indured at sea rooted out of the ground in Terra Florida which is three hundreth leagues ouer by Sea and brought thither So we came to the saide Towne of Vera cruz where wee remained a moneth and there the said Iohn Field chanced to meete with an olde friend of his acquaintance in Spaine called Gonçalo Ruiz de Cordoua a very rich man of the saide Towne of Vera cruz Who hearing of his comming thither with his wife and family and of hiâ— misfortune by Sea came vnto him and receiued him and all his houshold into his house and kept vs there a whole moneth making vs very good cheere and giuing vs good intertainement and also gaue vs that were in all eight persons of the said Iohn Fields house double apparell new out of the shop of very good cloth coates cloakes hose shirts smocks gownes for the women hose shooes and al other necessary apparel and for our way vp to the Citie of Mexico horses moiles and men and money in our purses for the expences by the way which by our accompt might amount vnto the summe of 400. Crownes And after wee were entred two dayes iourney into the Countrey I the saide Robert Tomson fell so sicke of an ague that the next day I was not able to sit on my horse but was faine to be caried vpon Indians backes from thence to Mexico And when wee came within halfe a dayes iourney of the Citie of Mexico the saide Iohn Field also fell sicke and within three dayes after we arriued at the said Citie hee died And presently sickened one of his children and two more of his houshold people and within eight dayes died So that within tenne dayes after we arriued at the Citie of Mexico of eight persons that were of vs of the saide company there remained but foure aliue and I the said Tomson was at the point of death of the sicknes that I got vpon the way which
continued with mee the space of sixe moneths At the ende of which time it pleased Almightie God to restore me my health againe although weake and greatly disabled And being some thing strong I procured to seeke meanes to liue and to seeke a way how to profite my selfe in the Countrey seeing it had pleased God to sende vs thither in safetie Then by friendship of one Thomas Blake a Scottishman borne who had dwelt and had bene married in the said Citie aboue twentie yeeres before I came to the saide Citie I was preferred to the seruice of a gentleman a Spaniard dwelling there a man of great wealth and one of the first conquerours of the said Citie whose name was Gonçalo Cerezo with whom I dwelt twelue moneths and a halfe At the ende of which I was maliciously accused by the Holy house for matters of Religion and so apprehended and caried to prison where I lay close prisoner seuen moneths without speaking to any creature but to the Iailer that kept the said prison when he brought me my meat and drinke In the meane time was brought into the saide prison one Augustin Boacio an Italian of Genoua also for matters of Religion who was taken at Sacatecas 80. leagues to the Northwest of the Citie of Mexico At the ende of the said seuen moneths we were both caried to the high Church of Mexico to doe open penance vpon an high scaffold made before the high Altar vpon a Sunday in the presence of a very great number of people who were at the least fiue or sixe thousand For there were that come one hundreth mile off to see the saide Auto as they call it for that there were neuer none before that had done the like in the said Countrey nor could not tell what Lutheranes were nor what it meant for they neuer heard of any such thing before We were brought into the Church euery one with a S. Benito vpon his backe which is halfe a yard of yellow cloth with a hole to put in a mans head in the middest and cast ouâ—r a mans head both fâ—aps hang one before and another behinde and in the middest of euery flap a S. Andrewes crosse made of red cloth sowed on vpon the same and that is called S. Benito The common people before they sawe the penitents come into the Church were giuen to vnderstand that wee were heretiques infidels and people that did despise God and his workes and that wee had bene more like deuils then men and thought wee had had the fauour of some monsters or heathen people And when they saw vs come into the Church in our players coates the women and children beganne to cry out and made such a noise that it was strange to see and heare saying that they neuer sawe goodlier men in all their liues and that it was not possible that there could be in vs so much euill as was reported of vs and that we were more like Angels among men then such persons of such euill Religion as by the Priestes and friers wee were reported to be and that it was great pitie that wee should bee so vsed for so small an offence So that being brought into the saide high Church and set vpon the scaffold which was made before the high Altar in the presence of all the people vntill high Masse was done and the sermon made by a frier concerning our matter they did put vs in all the disgrace they could to cause the people not to take so much compassion vpon vs for that wee were heretiques people that were seduced of the deuill had forsaken the faith of the Catholique Church of Rome with diuers other reprochfull wordes which were too long to recite in this place High Masse and Sermon being done our offences as they called them were recited euery man what he had said and done and presently was the sentence pronounced against vs. That was that the said Augustine Boacio was condemned to weare his S. Benito all the dayes of his life and put into perpetuall prison where hee should fulfill the same and all his goods confiscated and lost And I the saide Tomson to weare the S. Benito for three yeeres and then to be set at libertie And for the accomplishing of this sentence or condemnation we must be presently sent downe from Mexico to Vera Cruz and from thence to S. Iohn de Vllua and there to be shipped for Spaine which was 65. leagues by land with strait commandement that vpon paine of 1000. duckets the Masters euery one should looke straitly vnto vs and carry vs to Spaine and deliuer vs vnto the Inquisitors of the Holy house of Siuill that they should put vs in the places where we should fulfill our penances that the Archbishop of Mexico had enioyned vnto vs by his sentence there giuen For performance of the which we were sent downe from Mexico to the Sea side which was 65. leagues with fetters vpon our feete and there deliuered to the Masters of the ships to be caried for Spaine as before is said And it was so that the Italian fearing that if he had presented himselfe in Spaine before the Inquisitors that they would haue burned him to preuent that danger when wee were comming homeward and were arriued at the yland of Terçera one of the ysles of the Açores the first night that we came into the said port to an ancker about midnight he found the meanes to get him naked out of the ship into the sea swam naked a shoare and so presently got him to the further side of the yland where hee found a little Caruel ready to depart for Portugal in the which he came to Lisbone and passed into France and so into England where hee ended his life in the Citie of London And I for my part kept still aboord the ship and came into Spaine and was deliuered to the Inquisitors of the Holy house of Siuill where they kept me in close prison till I had fulfilled the three yeeres of my penance Which time being expired I was freely put out of prison and set at libertie and being in the Citie of Siuil a casher of one Hugh Typton an English marchant of great doing by the space of one yeere it fortuned that there came out of the Citie of Mexico a Spaniard called Iohn de la Barrera that had bene long time in the Indies and had got great summes of golde and siluer and with one onely daughter shipped himselfe for to come for Spaine and by the way chanced to die and gaue all that hee had vnto his onely daughter whose name was Marie de la Barrera and being arriued at the Citie of Siuil it was my chance to marry with her The marriage was worth to mee 2500. pounds in barres of golde and siluer besides iewels of great price This I thought good to speake of to shew the goodnes of God to all them that put their trust in him that I being brought