and wholesom dryed Beef dryed Fish live Sheep Hogs and Hens in abundance with vast store of dainty Fish easily taken every day So that they were forced to build four several Store-houses ten or twenty Leagues asunder both in Islands and on the Main Land that so if the Enemy should surprize one they might have another to furnish them till they had finished their desired Voyage in building which the Negro's were very skilful and speedy With this Store they not only releived themselves and the Symerons while they joined with them but likewise two French Ships in much distress In Drakes absence Captain John Drake his Brother who was left here with one Pinnace sailed into the Ocean and rowing not far from the shoar by direction of Diego the Moore who freely came to them at Nombre de Dios he spied certain Symerons with whom he treated so effectually that at length leaving two English with their Leader they brought two of theirs aboard the Pinnace concluding to meet again next day at a River about mid-way between the Cabezas and their Ships which they named the River Diego These two Symerons being very intelligent men chosen out by their Commander declared with much respect to Captain Drake upon their arrival hither That their Nation were very joyful at his coming knowing him an Enemy to the Spaniards not only by his late attempt at Nombre de Dios but in his former Voyages and they were therefore ready to assist him in all his designs against his and their inveterate adversarys to which end their Captain and Company did now attend at the mouth of Rio Diego expecting what answer should be return'd them that they would willingly have marched by land even to this very place had not the way been very long and troublesom with many steep Mountains deep Rivers and thick Woods and Bushes they therefore desired Drake to take some speedy and convenient Order on this behalf Who comparing the discourse of these Persons with his former Intelligence both from the Negro's and Spaniards together with his Brothers information of their great kindness to him when lately among them he with the advice of the rest resolved to go with his brother and the two Symerons that Evening to the said River ordering the rest of the fleet to follow next morning his Brother having found out a place thereabout of much safety and conveniency it being a very good and plentiful Countrey for above sixty Leagues and not inhabited by one Spaniard or any on their behalf and lying among a great many excellent Islands full of Trees where though there be Channels yet they are so full of Rocks and Shoals as makes it very dangerous to enter by night whereas a Ship may there lye hid among the Trees Next day Sept. 14. arriving at the appointed River they found some of the Symerons according to promise the rest of them being a mile upward in a Wood by the Rivers side After they had given them Entertainment and were satisfied of their fidelity they took two more into their Pinnaces leaving two Englishmen with them to go by Land to another River called Rio Guana to meet another Company of Symerons then in the Mountains They went that day from Rio Diego in their Pinnaces toward their Ship which they wondred did not follow them according to Order Two days after Sept. 16. they found her in the place where they left her but very much damaged and indangered by a Tempest in their absence which having refitted they sent one Pinnace to discover the Channel at the bottom of the Bay to bring their Ship nearer the Land Sept. 19. they followed and with much wariness sail'd safe into the best Channel About five Leagues from Cativaas between the Island the Main they moared their Ship the Island being near the Continent flat and full of Trees and Bushes Sept. 22. the two English men and the Troop of Symerons with twelve others they met in the Mountains came in sight of the Ship on which they were brought aboard to their great joy hoping now to be quit with their old Spanish Enemies and the English expecting better success by their assistance At their first meeting when Drake moved them to inform him how he might be furnisht with Gold and Silver they plainly answered That if they had known he had desired that they could have given him enough but at present were uncapable because the Rivers wherein they had sunk a great quantity which they had taken from the Spaniards rather to vex their Foes than for any love they had for it were now so high that they could not get it out of such depths for them neither could they take any more from their Enemies because the Spaniards in these Rainy Months are not used to carry their Treasure by Land This unexpected answer did not discontent Drake but rather confirmed their faithfulness and therefore the Captain to wear out the five months they designed to spend in those Seas commanded all his great Guns and Ammunition ashoar sending his Pinnaces to the Main Land to fetch over great Trees to make a Fort upon the Island to plant his Ordnance thereon and for securing them against any attempt of the Enemy The Symerons cut down Palmeto Boughs and Branches and with strange celerity raised up two Houses large enough for all the Company The Fort was made Triangular with Timber and Earth and thirteen foot high Having continued here fourteen days Octob. 7. the Captain resolved to go with three Pinnaces to Carthagena leaving his Brother John Drake to govern those who remained with the Symerons to finish the Fort and to fetch boards and planks from the prize he left at Cativaas where she was drove ashoar and broken in their absence but might now be of use to this purpose That night Captain Drake came to an Island he called the Spurkite Island because they found store of Birds like Kites but very delicate meat Next day Octob. 8. they recovered a large Island where they got great quantity of Fish especially of a great Shell Fish two foot long which they called Whelks Next morning being clear of these Islands and Shoals they haled off to Sea and four days after Octob. 14. chased two Frigots ashoar near the Island of St. Bernards from whence they proceeded to Tolou and landed Octob. 16. near the Town in a Garden where certain Indians gave them Bows and Arrows and presented them with the dainty Fruits and Roots therein for which they went not unrewarded hoping to learn intelligence of the Country and Fleets from them They quickly went hence to Caresha the Island of Carthagena and with a full gale sailed towards the City casting anchor between the Island and the Continent right against the goodly Garden Island in which the Captain would not suffer them to Land because he knew the Spaniards sent Souldiers thither when they heard any Men of War were on the Coast which happened
or none remained with the Preacher all running out to observe the blessing of God upon the dangerous labours and endeavours of Captain Drake CHAP. IV. Captain Drake with five Ships undertakes a Voyage round about the Word in 1577. and in prosecution thereof arrives at Port St. Julian where he discovers a Conspiracy for which a Gentleman of his Company was beheaded CAptain Drake having in his former Voyage had a View and only a View of the South Atlantick Ocean from the high Tree aforementioned and from that very time being very ambitious of sailing thereon in an English Ship he retained this Noble resolution within himself for some years being partly prevented by secret envy at home and partly by applying himself to the publick service of his Prince and Countrey in Ireland under the Earl of Essex and otherwhere But in 1577. having a gracious Commission from his Soveraign and assisted with divers of his Friends who were Adventurers with him he fitted up five Ships 1. The Pellican Admiral of a hundred Tuns Francis Drake Captain General 2. The Elizabeth Vice-Admiral eighty Tuns John Winter Captain 3. The Marigold a Bark of eighty Tun John Thomas Captain 4. The Swan a Flyboat of fifty Tuns John Chester Captain 5. The Christopher a Pinnace of fifteen Tuns Thomas Moon Captain Having mann'd this little Fleet with a hundred and sixty four able men and furnisht them with all necessary Provisions for so long and dangerous a Voyage and stowing certain Pinnaces aboard in pieces to be set up on occasion as in his former Voyage yea carrying with him several Musicians for delight and rich furniture of Silver for his Table and Cook-room with all sorts of curious Workmanship for Ornament and to raise admiration of the Civility and Magnificence of his Native Countrey in other Nations where he came Thus appointed they sailed out of Plymouth Sound Novem. 15. 1577. about five in the afternoon and next morning came to the Lizzard where meeting contrary Winds they were all compell'd to put into Falmouth Next day a great storm arose so that though they were in a good Harbor yet the Admiral wherein Drake was and the Marigold were forc't to cut their Main Masts by the board and oblig'd to return to Plymouth to repair thirteen days after their departure thence where having quickly supplied all defects they Decem. 13. once more put to Sea with better hopes Being out of sight of Land Drake gave some intimation of his design which he had hitherto concealed both by the course he saild and appointing their Randezvouz if separated by any accident to be the Isle of Mogadore Sailing then with a favourable Wind Decem. 25. being Christmas day they had sight of Cape Cantin in Barbary and of the high in-land Countrey in thirty two degrees and thirteen minutes North latitude and coasting thence Southward about eighteen Leagues they arrived that day at the Isle of Mogadore which is under the King of Fesse and a good Harbor being about a Mile from the main Land uninhabited and a League in circuit overgrown with shrubs and full of Pigeons and therefore much frequented by Goshawks and other Brids of Prey with plenty of several sorts of Sea-Fowl At the South side are three hollow Rocks under which are great store of very ugly yet very wholesom Fish Sending a Boat to sound the Harbor all their Fleet came in Decemb. 27. and staid about four days setting up one of their four Pinnaces brought from home in pieces The Inhabitants of the Countrey soon perceived them and made signs on the Shoar to come aboard to whom the General sent a Boat wherein two Chief Moors were received and one of theirs left in exchange till their return Drake treated them very civilly aboard his Ship presenting them with what they seem'd most to value to shew they came in Peace and Friendship to Trade for such Traffick as their Countrey afforded according to their own content wherewith they seem'd much pleased promising to return again the next day to exchange their Goods for others By their Law they ought to drink no Wine being Turks in Religion yet they will drink it very plentifully by stealth as it now appeared Being carried ashoar they freely restored the Person left as a pledge returning with Camels next day at the hour appointed as if loaden with Goods for Exchange and calling hastily for a Boat had one sent by the Generals Order before he went from the Island The Boat coming to a place of Landing among the Rocks one John Fry suspecting no treachery readily stept out of the Boat to be a pledge as the day before when those on the Shoar instantly seizing him and others in ambush coming to their assistance they speedily carried him away the rest being glad to shift for themselves The cause of this violence was to inform the King of Fesse whither this Fleet was bound or come from the King of Portugal or what Intelligence they could give him Fry being brought into the Kings presence and declaring they were Englishmen bound for the Straights under General Drake he was sent back with a Present to his Captain and offers of all Kindness and Friendship in that Countrey Drake much disturbed at this injury landed his men in his Pinnace and marcht pretty far up into the Countrey without resistance the Moors declining any ingagement with him so that making provision of Wood and visiting an old Fort formerly built by the Portugals but ruined by the King of Fesse he departed Decemb. 31. toward Cape Blank so that when Fry came back he to his great grief found the Fleet gone yet by the Kings favour he was after sent home in an English Merchants Ship Meeting with foul weather they were detained sometime and the third day after fell with Cape de Guerre in 30 degrees where they took three Spanish Fisher-boats called Caunters whom they carried to Rio del Oro under the Tropick of Cancer and there took a Carvel From hence Jan. 15. they sailed to Cape Barbas where the Marygold took another Carvel it lyes in 20 degrees 30 minutes low and sandy where they first observed the South Stars called the Crosiers 19 degrees 30 minutes above the Horizon In the Cape they took another Spanish Ship riding at Anchor all her men but two being fled ashoar in the Boat whom with all the rest formerly taken they carried into the Harbor three Leagues within the Cape Here General Drake resolved to stay some time to refresh his men with the plenty of fresh Victuals in this place and to supply them at Sea there being great store of Fish easily taken even within the Harbor and as good as any in the World During their abode here the General being ashoar was visited by the People of the Countrey who brought down a Moorish Woman with her little Babe hanging at her dry Breast being scarce alive her self and therefore unlike to nourish that whom they would have sold as
very near them but would neither talk nor deal with them July 22. they came to Sierra Leona on the Coasts of Guinea and spent two days in Watering at the mouth of the River Tagoine finding plenty of Oysters and Lemmons which much refresht them Aug. 15. they found themselves under the Tropick of Cancer having the Wind North East and being 50 Leagues off the nearest Land Aug. 22. they were in the height of the Canaries and upon Monday Sept. 26. 1580. according to the computation of those in England though by passing so many different Climates they counted it to be Sunday having lost one day they with joyful Minds and thankful Hearts to the Almighty arrived safely at Plymouth from whence they had set forth two years ten months and a few days before which they spent in seeing the Wonders of the Lord in the Deep in discovering many admirable things in performing several strange Adventures in escaping many dangers and overcoming many difficulties in their incompassing this Earthly Globe and sailing round the World as hath been now related Soli rerum Maximarum Effectori Soli totius Mundi Gubernatori Soli suorum Conservatori Soli Deo sit semper Gloria To him who Greatest things doth bring to pass To him who Ruler of the World still was To him alone who still preserves his Own To this Great God be Glory giv'n alone A while after he brought up his Ship to Deptford where he Feasted Queen Elizabeth aboard who Knighted and much honoured him for this Service he being the first who had accomplished so vast a design for though Ferdinando Magellane had already discovered those Streights which still bear his name yet he lived not to come home being slain at the Molucco Islands in endeavouring to reduce the Natives to the obedience of their New Master the King of Spain Drake is said after this Voyage to have given for his Device the Globe of the World with this Motto Tu primus circumdedisti me Thou dost first incompass me round His Ship wherein he performed this famous Action was laid up at Deptford where it continued several years and was hold in great admiration by many who came to see it but being afterward decayed by time and at length broken up a Chair was made of the planks thereof and presented to the University Library of Oxford by John Davies of Deptford Esquire Upon which Chair a renowned Poet of this Kingdom thus descants To this great Ship which round the World has run And matcht in race the Chariot of the Sun This Pythagorean Ship for it may claim Without presumption so deserv'd a name By knowledge once and transformation now In her new shapes this sacred Port allow Drake and his Ship could not have wisht from Fate A more blest Station or more blest Estate For Lo a Seat of endless rest is given To her in Oxford and to him in Heaven Upon the Poets sitting and drinking in the Chair made of the Relicks of Sir Francis Drakes Ship Chear up my Mates the wind does fairly blow Clap on more Sail and never spare Farewel all Lands for now we are In the wide Sea of drink and merrily we go Bless me 't is hot another Bowl of Wine And we shall cut the Burning Line Hey Boys She scuds away and by my head I know We round the World are sailing now What dull men are those that tarry at home When abroad they might wantonly roam And gain such Experience and spy too Such Countreys and Wonders as I do But prithee good Pilot take heed what you do And fail not to touch at Peru With Gold there your Vessel we will store And never and never be poor No never be poor any more 2. What do I mean what thoughts do me misguide As well upon a staff may Witches ride Their fancied Journeys in the Air As I sail round the Ocean in this Chair 'T is true but yet this Chair which now you see For all its quiet now and gravity Has wandred and has travel'd more Than ever Beast or Fish or Bird or ever Tree before In every Air and every Sea 't has been 'T has compass'd all the Earth and all the Heavens has seen Let not the Popes it self with this compare This is the only Universal Chair Drakes Vessel now for all her labour past Is made the seat of rest at last Let the case now quite altered be And as thou went'st abroad the World to see Let the World now come to see thee 3. The World will do 't for Curiosity Does no less than Devotion Pilgrims make And I my self who now love quiet too As much almost as any Chair can do Would yet a Journey take An old Wheel of that Chariot to see Which Phaeton so rashly brake Yet what could that say more than these remains of Drake Great Relick Thou too in this Port of ease Hast still one way of making Voyages The great Trade wind which ne're does fail Shall drive thee round the World and thou shalt run Along around it as the Sun The Streights of Time too narrow are for thee Launch forth into an undiscovered Sea And steer the endless course of vast Eternity Take for thy Sail this Verse and for thy Pilot me CHAP. VII The Voyage of Sir Francis Drake into the West-Indies in 1585. accompanied with Captain Christopher Carliel Captain Martin Frobisher Captain Francis Knollis and many other Captains and Gentlemen With their taking the Towns of St. Jago St. Domingo Carthagena and St. Augustine THis Worthy Knight having performed that unparallel'd Exploit of incompassing the World obtained so much reputation thereby that every man thought himself happy who was ingaged with this Fortunate Commander Having therefore only enjoyed some short breathing since his last great Adventure he for the service of his Prince and Country provided a Navy of twenty five Ships and Pinnaces aboard which were two Thousand three hundred Mariners and Souldiers with their respective Captains and other Officers both for Land and Sea service He Imbarqued at Plymouth Sept. 12. 1585. himself being General and Mr. Christopher Carliel Lieutenant-General Captain Martin Frobisher Vice-Admiral and Captain Francis Knollis Rere-Admiral Having dispatched all necessary Affairs they sailed thence directing their course for Spain and spied divers sails near the shore the weather being calm The Vice-Admiral was sent with the Pinnaces to discover who they were upon whose approach most of them left their Ships being Frenchmen laden with Salt and homeward bound Amongst these small Ships the General took one which had no man in her and detained her for his service resolving to satisfie the Owner as accordingly he did at his return He called this Bark the Drake and dismist the rest being eight or nine in number soon after they met with another French Ship laden with Fish from Newfoundland whom the General would not suffer to be medled with Next day they descried another tall Ship of twelve hundred Tun whom
not able to free above a foot and half of Water and were very unlikely to find the Leak they were much discouraged and desired Drakes advice how to remedy it who thereupon perswaded them to take their goods out of her and then set her a fire to prevent her falling into the enemies hands that himself would Sail in the Pinnace till he could provide some handsom Frigot and his Brother should be Captain of the Admiral together with the Master This advice seem'd strange at first yet was instantly put in execution that night Drake having his desire and men enough now to strengthen his Pinnaces The next day Aug. 16. they resolved to seek out a place in the Sound of Darien to leave their Ship at Anchor safe and undiscovered that the Enemy might judge them quite gone from the Coast and mean while to prosecute their design with the Pinnaces Drake going with two to the River Grande and his Brother taking the third to find out the Symerons In pursuance hereof they in five days privately recovered the Sound where the Captain imployed them to clear a spacious plat of ground from Trees and Bushes to build houses large enough for their lodgings and one particularly for their publick assembling wherein the Negro well acquainted with the Countrey and Buildings did them much service the rest of the Company recreating themselves with Shooting at Butts Bowls Quaits Nine-Pins or what they pleased half of them working one day and the rest the next and likewise in providing fresh Victuals of Fish Fowl Hogs Deer Rabbits and the like whereof there was great plenty The Smiths here set up their Forge with all necessaries brought from England which did them much service Having continued here fifteen days to silence the noise of their discovery Drake leaving his Ship with his Brother went Sept. 8. with two Pinnaces for the River Grand as was formerly concluded on and passing by Carthagena out of sight and coming within two Leagues of the River they landed on the Main Land West-ward and saw much Cattel and finding some Indians who kindly demanded What they wanted they desired fresh Victuals which the Indians presently furnisht them with taking what Cattel they needed with so much ease that they seemed to have an absolute command over them whereas these Creatures would not suffer the English to come near them the Captain as usually before giving them such things in exchange as much contented them so that they promised always to supply them with necessaries CHAP. II. Captain Drakes proceeding to Rio Grand and Carthagena His entertaining the Symerons and taking several Spanish Ships and likewise the Town of Venta Cruz. HAving received this seasonable refreshment from the Indians they departed for Rio Grand and arrived at the mouth thereof next day where the stream was so violent that they took up fresh Water tho' within half a League from the Sea from three in the afternoon till dark night they rowed up against the current which was so strong that they got but two Leagues all that time In the night they moared their Pinnaces to a Tree there falling a dreadful Shower of Rain with such strange and terrible thunder and lightning as much astonisht them though Drake who had before seen the like assured them it would not continue above three quarters of an hour After this storm it became very calm and such a multitude of Gnats or Musketoes fell upon them with their troublesom stings that they could not rest all that night nor defend themselves from them the best remedy they found was to anoint themselves with juice of Lemmons At break of day they proceeded to hale without ceasing and about three afternoon they spied a Canoo with two Indians fishing in the River to whom they spake not for fear of discovery nor the other to them judging them Spaniards within an hour after they descried several Houses on the other side the River the Channel whereof was 25 fathom deep and so broad as one could scarce see from one shore to the other yet a Spaniard who kept these Houses discovering their Pinnaces and thinking them his Countreymen made a smoak for a Signal to them to turn that way being desirous to speak with them they accordingly rowed toward him and being half way over he waved his hat and long hanging Sleeves to them to come ashoar but they drawing nearer he perceived his mistake and fled from his Houses with all speed The English landing found them to be five in number all full of White Rusk dryed Bacon Cheese of that Countrey somewhat like that of Holland but much better tasted which they send as great Presents into Spain there were also Sweatmeats Conserves and a great quantity of Sugar provided for the Fleet in their return to Spain They loaded their Pinnaces with this store of Provisions and by twilight departed having notice by an Indian Woman in those Houses that the Frigots usually thirty or more which transport goods from Spain to Carthagena and thence to those Houses and so in great Canoo's up to Nova Reyno with great ease the River running many hundred Leagues within the Land and bring back in return the Gold Silver Victuals and other Commodities that Kingdom abundantly yeilds were not yet come from Carthagena since the first Alarm of the English being in the Countrey Sept. 10. they went aboard their Pinnaces from these Store-houses when the Spaniards having brought some Indians from a great Town two Miles off called Villa del Rey had placed them in the bushes by the water side to annoy them with their Arrows but the English rowed down the stream to the mouth of the River without damage where having unloaded all their Provisions and cleansed their Pinnaces according to their Captains Custom they took all in again and sailed West-ward In their return they discovered a Ship a Bark and a Frigot wherein they imagined to have found some Spanish Gold but when pursued and taken met with nothing of value being bound for Sugar and Hides so that dismissing her they proceeded Sept. 10. between Carthagena and Tolou they took six Frigots loaden with live Hogs Hens and Maiz which we call Guiny wheat of whom they got what Intelligence they could of the preparations against them and their opinion of them and then discharged four of them and all the men retaining only two Ships well stored with good provisions Three days after they arrived at Port Plenty where their Captain chose at first to leave his Ship so called by the Company because they usually brought thither all the Stores which they took going that way for victualling Carthagena and Nombre de Dios and from the Fleets going out and coming from Spain which procured them such abundance of all necessarys that had they been three thousand Persons their Pinnaces would have sufficiently provided them with Wine Meal Rusk Cassavy bread made of a root called Yucca whose juice is poyson but the substance good
toward Rio Francisco where the water being shallow they left their Frigot at the Cabezas in charge with Robert Dable charging him to attempt nothing till their return with their Pinnaces wherewith they now entred Rio Francisco and landed with the strength aforementioned ordering the Pinnaces to be there again four days after And being inform'd that the carriages went dayly from Panama to Nombre de Dios through the Woods toward the high-way they marched as in their former Journey to Panama it being reckoned five Leagues by Sea between Rio Francisco and Nombre de Dios but by land they found it above Seven proceeding on with much silence and order to the great wonder of the French Captain who doubted of ever recovering their Pinnaces if the Symerons should leave them which Drake never suspected as knowing his will was a Law to them though they neither regarded nor trusted the French Coming within a Mile of the High-way they refresht themselves all night hearing many Carpenters working on the Ships because of the great heat of the day at Nombre de Dios Next morning April 1. 1573. they extreamly rejoiced to hear the Mules coming with a great noise of Bells hoping though they were formerly disappointed they should now have more Gold and Silver than they could carry away as accordingly happened for soon after came three Recoes one of fifty Mules and two more of 70 in each Company every one carrying three hundred pound weight of Silver amounting in all to about thirty Tun they soon prepared to go into the High-way to hear the Bells and seized upon the first and last Mules to see what metal they carried These three Recoes had a Guard of about five and forty Souldiers fifteen to each which caused the exchange of some Shot and Arrows at first wherein the French Captain was sore wounded with Hail-shot in the Belly and one Symeron slain but the Souldiers soon retiring for more help left their Mules and the English took pains to ease some of them of their burdens and being weary contented themselves with as many bars and wedges of Gold as they could well carry away burying above fifteen Tun of Silver in the Sand and under old Trees Having in two hours ended their business they prepared to return the same way when they heard both Horse and Foot coming who yet never followed them into the Woods where the French Captain not able to travel further for his wound reposed himself some time in hope to recover his strength and one of the French Souldiers being missing upon search it was found that being over-loaden with Wine and Gold he had lost himself in the Woods and was taken by the Spaniards that Evening who upon torture discovered where they had hid their Treasure They continued their march all that day and the next to Rio Francisco in hope to meet their Pinnaces whither being come April â— looking out to Sea they saw seven Spanish Pinnaces that had been searching all the Coasts thereabout Upon which they much doubted their own Pinnaces were burnt or taken since Drake had so strictly charged them to repair hither this afternoon from the Cabezas where they lay and from whence these Spanish Vessels seem'd now to come But much Rain falling the night before with a strong West Wind inforc't the Spaniards to return home and the Wind being contrary the English Pinnaces though with help of Oars could not get above half way that day Drake much fearing lest having taken his Pinnaces they had by torture compell'd his men to confess where his Frigot and Ships were and his Company doubting of ever returning to their own Countrey and that their Treasure would be of little use to them The Captain incouraged them saying That they should venture no further than himself and that it was not now a time to fear but to endeavour to prevent their danger since if the Enemy had seized their Pinnaces which God forbid yet they must take time to search and examine the Marriners and time to execute their resolutions thereupon during which time they might if they pleased get to their Ships though not possibly by land because of the Hills Woods and Rivers yet by Water it is very probable they might Let us therefore make a Raft with the Trees the River brings down as on purpose since this last storm and put our selves to Sea I my self will be one who will be the rest John Smith and two Frenchmen who could Swim very well desired to accompany him and a Symeron who was earnest with Drake to have marched sixteen days by land and if their Ships had been lost that he and his Company should always have lived amongst them Which the Captain refused Pedro was left behind because he could not row The Raft was fitted and fast bound and a sayl made of a Bisket Sack with an Oar shaped out of a Young Tree for a Rudder to direct their course before the Wind. At his going away he assured his Company That if by Gods help he once more safely put aâ—â—ard his Foot in his Frigot he would certainly get them all into her in spite of all the Spaniards in the Indies In this manner they put off to Sea sitting always up to the wast in Water and at every Wave up to the Arm-pits having sailed upon this Raft about six hours their Skins being much fretted with the heat of the Sun and the salt Water they had sight of two Pinnaces coming toward them whom Drake confidently affirmed to his three Companions were their own and they were now out of all danger but the Pinnaces not perceiving the Raft nor suspecting any such thing were forced by the Wind and Night to run into shelter behind the Point which the Captain seeing and judging they would Anchor there put his Raft ashoar and ran by land about the Point where he sound them who joyfully took them all aboard for Drake to try their hast ran with all speed as if pursued by the enemy which they rather believed by seeing so few with him Coming aboard and they asking how his Company did he coldly answered Well which made them fear the worst to remove which and free them from doubts he took out of his bosom a Quoit or Wedge of Gold and thankt God his Voyage was now made Telling the French their Captain was left behind much wounded with two of his Company which yet should be no damage to them That night with much pains they got to Rio Francisco where they took the rest in with their Treasure and made such expedition that by break of day they fayled back to their Frigot and from thence directly to their Ships where the Captain divided the Gold and Silver by weight into two equal parts between the French and English Fourteen days after all things being set in order and having taken out of the Ship all necessaries for their Frigot they restored her to the Spaniards whom they had
they chased and took finding her to be of St. Sebastian in Spain loaden with poor Jack which being lawful prize they distributed the Fish into the other Ships and was very serviceable during their whole Voyage Two days after they put in within the Isles of Bayon in Spain where part of the Fleet had no sooner Anchored but the General commanded all the Pinnaces and Ship Boats to be well mann'd and provided with Arms for present service and putting himself in his Galley well furnished they Rowed toward the City of Bayon with design to surprize it When advancing half way an English Merchant was sent from the Governor to know what strange Fleet they were who coming to the General after some brief discourse he ordered Captain Sampson to go along with the Merchant to the Governour and desire him to resolve two Points 1. Whether there were any Wars between Spain and England and if not then 2. For what reason the English Merchants Goods were seized and arrested The General in the mean time thought fit not to stay for an answer but to Sail up within shot of the City to be ready for any sudden assault upon occasion before it was dark Captain Sampson returned soon after with this Reply That the Governour said he knew of no Wars and that the power of Peace and War did not lye in so mean a subject as himself and as for detaining the Merchants Goods it was done by the Kings command without the least design of indammaging any and that about seven days since he had sent a countermand whereby they were now discharged To verify which he sent all these English Merchants in Town aboard who affirmed the Truth thereof Upon which after consultation it was resolved That since it was late they would Land their men and quarter ashoar that night taking all necessary care to secure themselves Which done the Governor sent them Bread Wine Oyl Apples Grapes Marmalade and other refreshments About midnight the Weather being overcast they thought it safest to repair aboard But before they could recover the Fleet a great Tempest arose driving divers Ships from their Anchors And particularly the Speed-Well which was carried into England the rest being again recovered This Storm continued three days after which Mr. Carlile was sent with his own Ship three others the Galley and divers Pinnaces to Vigo where they took many Boats and Carvels laden with several inconsiderable things especially Houshold-Stuff going into the high Countrey and one with Church Ornaments for the Cathedral of Vigo wherein they found a great Cross of Silver imbossed and double gilt over of a considerable value and the Owners complained they lost here above thirty thousand Duckets Next day General Drake and the whole Fleet sailed from the Isles of Bayon to a very good Harbor above Vigo where L. General Carliel attended his coming for the conveniency of fresh Water Mean time the Governor of Gallicia having mustered up two thousand Foot and three hundred Horse marched with them from Bayon to this place and lay in sight of the Fleet from whence he sent to the General to desire a parlee which he agreed to so it were by Boats in the Water and pledges being given on each side for security of their Persons the Governor and two more came into the Vice-Admirals Skiff which was fear ashoar to them and the General met them in his own where it waâ— concluded That the English should have free liberty to come aland and furnish themselves with fresh Water and all other necessarys paying the usual value for the same Having dispatcht all business here they proceeded toward the Canary Islands about three hundred Leagues from this part of Spain designing for the Isle of Palma to furnish themselves with store of provisions which that place abundantly affords and to have refresht themselves with the pleasures thereof but were prevented by the bad entrance into it which was secured with very many great Guns some of which shot into their Ships and likewise by the dangerous Seas and Waves toward the Shoar which threatned the destruction of many Boats and Pinnaces Frustrated of their design here they fell with the Isle of Ferro in hope of better success and landed a thousand men in a Valley under an high Mountain where they staid about three hours when the Inhabitants accompanied by a young Fellow born in England came to them and complained they were so poor as even ready to starve which they believed was true and therefore without getting any thing were all again commanded to imbark and that night they put off toward the Coast of Barbary Saturday Nov. 13. They sell with Cape Blank a low land and shallow water where they catcht store of Fish and doublâ—ng the Cape fell into the Bay they found divers French Ships of War whom they treated kindly and left there sailing thence to the Isles of Cape Verde and Nov. 16. Anchored their whole Fleet between a Town called Plaie and St. Jago both on that Island putting above a thousand men ashoar under L. General Carlile The place where they landed was stony and troublesom and therefore with much industry they marched farther up till they came to a pleasant plain about two miles from the Town of St. Jago where the L. General having put his men in order resolved to attempt nothing till next morning since he had no Guide to the place In the morning half an hour before Sun-rising he divided his Army into three parts and by day light advanced in good order toward the Wall of the Town but found no Enemy to resist whereupon Captain Sampson and Captain Barton each with thirty Musketeirs were commanded to go down into the Town which was in a Valley under them and from whence they might plainly view it all over After whom was sent the great Ensign having nothing in it but the plain English Cross which was ordered to be placed in the Fort toward the Sea that the Fleet might see St. Georges Cross Triumphant in the Enemies Fortress Being arrived there all the Inhabitants were fled whereupon all the Ordnance about the Town being above 50 ready charged were ordered to be shot off in honour of Queen Elizabeths coming to the Crown that day being Nov. 17. according to the Custom in England which were answered by the great Guns from the Fleet who now approached so near that this thundring noise continued a great while together Mean while the L General continued with the greatest part of his forces on the top of the Hill till the Town was quartered out for lodging his whole Army which being done and every Captain setled in his own Quarters in the Evening they placed such sufficient Guards about the Town as they had no cause to fear an Enemy Here they staid 14 days taking such spoils as the place yielded as Wine Oyl Meal Vinegar Olives and the like but no Treasure nor any thing else of value The City of
men and saw divers poor Cottages built with Palmetto Boughs and Branches but no People appeared they seeming not to be setled habitations but only used during their fishing July 1. they sailed thence toward the Continent or Main Land of America and the first day after saw the high Land of Sancta Martha from whence they directed their course to Port Pheasant so named by Drake in his former Voyage for the multitude of those Fowls they there met with being arrived they hardly knew the place again it was so overgrown with Wood and Grass though the year before they had made many ways and paths therein At the entrance into the Bay Admiral Drake intended to have gone ashoar with only a few in his company since he knew that no Spaniards dwelt within thirty five mile of the place that is at Tolou Eastward and Nombre de Dios to the West when rowing toward the shore he saw a smoke in the Woods near the place where he had frequented last year and therefore taking more strength with Guns and other weapons suspecting some Enemy near he landed where he found evident marks that Captain John Garret of Plymouth had been lately there being brought thither by some who were formerly with Drake in that Voyage he had left a Plate of Lead fastned to a very great Tree which four men together could not fathom on which these words were ingraven Captain Drake if you fortune to come to this Port make hast away For the Spaniards which you had here with you the last year have betray'd this place and taken away all that you left here I departed from hence this present 7. of July 1572. Your very Loving Friend John Garret The smoke they saw was from a Fire made by Garret at his departure in a great Tree which had continued burning at least five days before their Arrival Notwithstanding this warning Drake resolved to build his Pinnaces in this convenient Port Which they finished in seven days after their coming upon the Land by the help of some large Trees growing there which were near forty yards about being white and as heavy as Brasile Wood There came now into the same Bay an English Bark of the Isle of Wight James Rawse Captain with thirty men some of whom had been there with Drake the year before They brought in a Spanish Carvel or Advice-Boat bound for Nombre de Dios and a Shallop with Oars taken at Cape Blank and being made acquainted with Drakes design they joined with him therein July 22. they sailed out of this Harbor for Nombre de Dios and coming within three days to the Isle of Pinos took two Frigots laden with Plank and Timber from Nombre de Dios The Negro's aboard informed them of the present State of the Town and that some Souldiers were dayly expected from the Governor of Panama to defend it against the Symerons a black people who about eighty years past fled from the cruelty of their Masters the Spaniards and grew since into a Nation under two Kings of their own one inhabiting Westward and the other East in the way from Nombre de Dios to Panama who had almost surprized the Town six weeks before Captain Drake resolving not to hurt these Negro's set them ashoar on the Main Land that if they would they might join themselves to the Symerons their Countreymen and thereby gain their liberty or if not yet the way being long and troublesom by land to Nombre de Dios they might not give notice to them of his arrival whom he intended to surprize with the utmost speed and secrecy Leaving then his three Ships and the Carvel with Captain Rawse and putting fifty three men with Targets Pikes Fire-Pikes Muskets Bowes and Drums into his four Pinnaces Rawses Shallop making one he parted from his Company and in five days landed in the Island of Cativaas about 25 Leagues distant and having mustered and armed his men betimes in the morning he exhorted them to be valiant and couragious representing to them the greatness of the Booty the weakness of the Town and the hope of prevailing and recompencing the wrongs he had received especially since he was accompanied with men of as much resolution as himself and at such a time as they were very likely to be undiscovered In the afternoon they again set Sail for Nombre de Dios and in the Evening reacht the River Francisco and lay close to the Shore all day to prevent discovery from the Watch-houses In the night they rowed hard till they came into the harbour under the high land resolving after they were refresht to attempt the Town next morning by day break but Captain Drake observing that his men from the report of the Negro's seem'd to apprehend the danger of this attempt because of the greatness and strength of the Town to prevent their fears he took the opportunity of the rising of the Moon that night perswading them that it was the dawning of the day whereby they came to the Town above an hour sooner than was at first proposed which was about three in the morning when it happened that a Ship of sixty Tuns lately arrived from Spain with Canary Wines and other goods came just into the Bay having not yet furled her Sails who espying the Pinnaces so well Manned and Oared sent a Gandeloe to give notice to the Town which Drake perceiving got between her and the Town forcing her to the other side the Bay so that he landed without the least resistance finding only one Gunner upon the Fort with six great brass Guns on Carriages and some whole and Demy Culverin which they instantly dismounted The Gunner fled and gave the Town the alarm who were usually upon their Guard by reason of the disturbances the Symerons often gave them as the English now perceived by the cryes of the People the ringing out the great Bell and Drums beating up and down the Town Being returned they made a stand in the midst of the Market-place Drake sending some from thence to stop the Alarm-Bell which continued Ringing all this while but the Church being strong built and firmly Lockt and Bolted they could not get in without firing it which the Captain absolutely forbid Mean time two or three Spaniards being taken in the flight were commanded to direct them to the Governors house where usually all the Mules who brought the Kings Treasure from Panama were unladen though the Silver only was kept there the Gold Pearl and Jewels when entred by the Kings Officer being carried from thence to the Treasury hard by which was very strongly built of Lime and Stone for securing it Coming to the Governors they found the great door where the Mules unload just opened a Candle lighted on the Stairs and a very fine Spanish Horse ready sadled either for the Governor or some of his Family By means of this light they saw a vast heap of Silver in the lower Room consisting
a Horse or Cow which Merchandize Drake not dealing in they produced Amber-greese and some curious Gums to exchange with the English for fresh water of which they have great want and were willing to quench their thirst at any price whatever and to carry the rest in their Leathern Bags for that purpose Drake compassionating their unhappiness gave them freely what water they desired and fed them with Victuals which they devoured in an inhumane and loathsom manner Their Ships washt and trimm'd and all their Spanish Prizes discharged except one Caunter for which they gave the Fisherman the Christopher one of their own Ships And a Carvel bound for St. Jago being here freed also after six days stay they sailed for the Islands of Cape Verde Jan 22. where they were obliged to furnish themselves plentifully with water since the General intended to run a long course from thence even to the Coast of Brasil without touching land And having the Wind generally North-East Jan. 27. they coasted Bonavista and next day anchored at the Isle of May in fifteen degrees high land and inhabited by the Portugals where landing and expecting to traffick with the Inhabitants for fresh water they found in the Town near the Shore only a great many ruinous houses and a poor Chappel but no people nor Water though within the Land there is enough The Springs and Wells here being stopt up and no quantity of water to be found they marched forward to seek for a supply finding the Soil fruitful and plenty of Fig-trees with fruit thereon and in the Valleys were little low Cottages with pleasant Vineyards yeilding excellent Grapes also Coco Trees Plantains and other Fruits some ripe some rotten and others blossoming and this in January because the Sun never withdraws its heat from them nor have they ever any great cold or frost They found good Water in divers places but so far from the Shore they could not convey it to their Ships the people refusing any conference with them securing themselves in the sweet Vallies among the Hills where their Towns were and suffering them freely to survey the Island since they were like to receive more damage than profit to offer violence to those who came peaceably among them The Island yeilds vast numbers of Goats and Wild Hens and Salt made without labour by the flowing of the Sea and the heat of the Sun which naturally produceth a great quantity thereof lying openly upon the Sands for all that come and wherewith the people drive a great trade with the adjacent Islands Sailing hence Jan. 30. they passed next day by the Isle of St. Jago ten Leagues West of May in the same latitude inhabited both by Moores and Portuguess occasioned by the cruelty of the Portugals toward the slaves which was so intollerable that many fled from their Masters to the hilly parts of the Island and their number increasing by the escapes they dayly made grew at length so formidable that they are now a terror to their Oppressors from whom they receive dayly injuries either in their Goods or Cattel and have lost a great part of that large and fruitful Isle which is a relief to all Ships bound for Brasil Guinea or the East-Indies being also of great strength were it not for the cause aforesaid which hath much abated the pride of the Portugals who under pretence of Trade and Friendship excluded the first Planters thereof both from Government Liberty and almost Life South-west of this Isle they took a Portugal Ship loaden with Wine store of Linnen and Woollen Cloth and other Goods bound for Brasile with many Merchants and Gentlemen aboard As they went hence three Towns in sight of them shot off two great Guns into the Sea either for joy of their departure or to shew they were provided to entertain them and were answered with one from the Fleet. South-west about twelve Leagues hence yet for its height not seeming above three lies Fogo a burning Island or Fiery Furnace wherein rises a steep Hill thought at least eighteen English Miles high belching out great and dreadful Flames of Fire from the top almost every quarter of an hour that in the night it gives light like the Moon and seems to reach the very Heavens It throws out great Stones which falling into the Sea are used as Pumice Stones The rest of the Island is peopled with Portugals who live happily therein Two Leagues hence lyes another Sweet and Pleasant Island called Brava the Trees always green and is almost planted all over with Trees and Fruits as Figs Coco's Plantains Oranges Lemmons Cotton and the like with Streams of fresh water running into the Sea and easily taken up by Boats and Pinnaces but there is no Road nor Anchoring for Ships no ground being to be found by the longest Line so that the Sea is thought as deep as Fogo is high They found only one Hermit inhabiting this Island nor saw any House but his who delighted so much in solitariness that he fled from them leaving behind the Relicks of his Worship that is a Cross a Crucifix an Altar with another above it and certain Images of Wood of rude Workmanship They here discharg'd the Portugals taken near St. Jago giving them a new Pinnace built at Mogadore instead of their old Ship with Victuals and Provision Furnisht with fresh Water at Cape Verde Feb. 2. they derected their course toward the Streights of Magellane to go through into the South Sea sailing sixty three days without sight of Land passing the Equinoctial Line Feb. 17. and fell with the Coast of Brasil April 5. During which long passage on the vast Ocean having nothing but Sea below and Heaven above they saw and experienced the goodness of Divine Providence in making ample Provision for all their wants and though they oft met with contrary Winds and Storms unwelcom calms and burning heats in this Torrid Zone with the terrors of dreadful Thunder and Lightning yet they could not but take notice that not having been throughly furnished with Water since they came from England till they arrived at the River of Plate long after yet for 17 days together their necessities were constantly supplyed by Rain-Water neither was their Fleet now six in number ever disperst nor lost company except the Portugal Prize for one day only which yet much discouraged them having the greatest part of their drink aboard her and was therefore found again with much joy since her miscarriage might have defeated the whole Voyage Among many strange Creatures they particularly observed the Flying Fish as big as a Pilchard whose Fins are as long as his Body and serve for wings when he is chased by the Boneto or great Mackrell whom the Dolphin likewise pursues for when weary of Swiming be lifts up himself above Water and Flyes pretty high falling sometimes into Vessels that Sail by The Fins are so curiously placed as might serve for a longer and higher flight did not their dryness
after ten or twelve strokes hinder their motion and force them into the Water to moisten them Their increase is wonderful their young ones lying upon the Water in the Sun as dust on the Earth where when no bigger than a wheat Straw they imploy themselves both to fly and swim and were they not so numerous would soon be destroyed by their many Enemies for by flying into the Air to escape one they oft meet death from another adversary the Spurkite a ravenous Fowl who feeding on Fish seizeth on them in their flight and makes great destruction among them There is another sort called the Cuttle Fish whose Bones are us'd by Goldsmiths a multitude falling oft at once into their Ships amongst their men Sailing thus with as much pleasure as if in a Garden in beholding the excellent works of the Eternal God in the Seas April 5. they fell on the Coast of Brasil in 31 degrees of South-Latitude and being discried by the Inhabitants they saw great Fires in divers places which they understood were made for Sacrifices to the Devil wherein they use many Ceremonies and Conjurations by casting up great heaps of Sand that if any Ships stay on their Coasts their Evil Spirits may destroy them whereof the Portugals had experience by losing several Ships Magellane in his Voyage reports they pray to nothing but are absolutely barbarous but it seems they are much altered since his time falling from natural Creatures to make Gods of Devils yet it may be they being then a free people had no occasion to practise this wickedness but being now in miserable slavery to the Portugals as to Body Goods Wives and Children and forc't by their cruelties into the barren parts or their Countrey chusing rather to starve or linger out a wretched life there than endure such intollerable Bondage they may now use these practices with the Devil to be reveng'd of their Oppressors and to prevent their further entrance into their Countrey and judging the English to be some of their Enemies they used the same Inchantments against them yet without effect for though they had great storms on these Coasts they received no damage only April 7. a violent Tempest and South-wind directly against them separated one of their Ships for a while from the rest of the Fleet. Keeping on their course South April 14. they passed by Cape St. Mary in 35 degrees near the River of Plate and came to an Anchor in a place which their General named Cape Joy because here the Christopher that was separated came to them again He always took special care to keep his Fleet as much as possible together to be well furnished with fresh water and to refresh his men as oft as he could And therefore at Cape Verde he gave publick notice that the next Randezvouz if disperst and place of watering should be the River of Plate and accordingly they here joined and were supplied with all conveniencies the Air of this Countrey being Pleasant and Temperate and the Soil fruitful stored with plenty of large and mighty Deer April 16. they sailed twelve Leagues farther to a more commodious Harbor especially against the South-Winds where they killed divers Seals or Sea-wolves so called by the Spaniards which came to the Rocks in great numbers they were good meat and a seasonable supply for the future April 20 they sailed further up the River and rode in fresh-water but staid not because of the danger of the Winds and Rocks and having spent a fortnight there to their great refreshment April 27. they went to Sea again and that very night the Swan their Fly-boat lost Company and soon after by another Storm the Caunter was missing To prevent which for the future the General resolved to diminish the number of his Ships that they might the better keep Company and have more supplies of Provision and Men especially since it was now Winter in these parts and these Seas subject to terrible Tempests and therefore sought out a convenient Harbor for this purpose May 12. they Anchored in a place not very commodious which yet he called Cape Hope but seeming to promise good Harborage Drake who never trusted any but his own Eyes in dangers went next day in a Boat into the Bay and being near the Shore one of the Inhabitants appeared seeming to sing and dance very pleasantly to the noise of a Rattle he had in his hand earnestly expecting their landing Upon which there instantly rose so thick a Mist and Fog with such an extraordinary Storm that Drake being three Leagues from his Ship thought best to return and not venture to Land but the Fog much increasing he could not see where his Ship lay and was thereby in much danger when Captain Thomas gallantly Adventured into the Bay and finding him out joyfully received him into his Ship where they rid safely But those that lay without were so furiously assaulted by the Tempest that to secure themselves they were forced to go off to Sea the Caunter formerly lost now coming in to them Next day May 14. 1578. the weather being calm and the Fleet out of sight General Drake now in the Marygold went ashoar and made Fires to direct them to come together again into the Road whereby at last they all returned except the Swan lost long before and the Portugal Prize the Mary who was not found a great while after In this place the people flying up into the Countrey for fear of them they found in Houses built near the Rocks to that purpose at least fifty dried Ostriches and much other Fowl drying which they dry here and after carry to their dwellings The Ostriches Thighs were as big as a common Leg of Mutton they cannot fly but run so swift that they can neither be overtaken nor shot at They found the tools wherewith the Natives take them and among others a large plume of Feathers at the end of a Staff the fore-part like the Head Neck and Body of an Ostrich spreading very broad behind which they go Stalking and drive them into some Neck of Land near the Sea where spreading song and strong Nets they have Dogs that seize on them The Countrey seems very pleasant and fruitful and at their return that way the English became familiarly acquainted with the People who much rejoiced at their friendship and that they had not harmed them But the place not being convenient for providing Wood Water and the like they departed thence May 15. and Sailing South-West fell into a very useful Bay where they staid fifteen days From hence the General sent Captain Winter in the Elizabeth Southward to seek for the two Ships that were wanting himself going North upon the same account who happily met with the Swan the same day and bringing her into harbor being unloaden she was broken up and made fire-wood the Iron-work and other necessaries being saved but could hear no news of the other After some stay here being ashoar in an
Friends shewed them the Gifts he had received wherewith they were so pleased that in a few hours he with several others whereof one seemed of Quality came and brought them Hens Eggs and a fat Hog all which they sent in a Canoo to their Boat then at some distance from shore and to assure them of their faithful meaning the Captain having sent back his Horse resolv'd to commit himself to their fidelity of these strangers and to go with them alone to their General By whom they understood that there was no relief to be had here but offered to be there Pilot to a good Harbor Southward where by way of traffick they might have fresh Water and all other conveniencies This offer was readily accepted by the General the place described being near that where he had appointed his Fleet to randezvouz Omitting therefore their design of Hunting and Killing some of the Buffolo they by the conduct of this New Indian Pilot came Decem. 5. into the desired Port. This Harbor is called by the Spaniards Valpevizo and the Town adjoining is St. James of Chinly in 35 degrees 40 minutes where though they heard nothing of their Ships yet were fully supplyed with all necessarys in abundance and amongst others they found in the Town divers Store-houses of Chily Wines and a Ship in the Harbor called The Grand Captain of the South and Admiral to the Islands of Solomon loaden with the same liquors together with a quantity of fine Gold of Baldivia and a great Crucifix of Gold beset with Emeralds They spent some time in refreshing themselves and easing this Ship of so heavy a burthen and being sufficiently stored with Wine Bread Bacon and the like for a long season Decem. 8. they sailed back again toward the Equinoctial Line with their Indian Pilot whom the General bountifully rewarded and landed at the place he desired Having thus supplyed their wants their next care was to regain if possible the company of their Ships so long separated from them to which the General applyed his utmost endeavour and since it was inconvenient to search every Creek and Harbor with their little Boat which might happen to fall into the Spaniards hands who would shew them no mercy he therefore sought out some safe Harbor to erect a Pinnace wherein without indangering their Ship they might leave no place unsought to find out their Countrymen again Hereupon Decem. 19. they entred a Bay South of the Town of Cyppo inhabited by Spaniards in 29 degrees where having landed fourteen men to search for a conveniency they were discovered by the Town who instantly sent out three hundred Spaniards on Horse back against them and about 200 Indians running all naked and in miserable slavery like Dogs at their heels but the English perceiving their danger escaped first to a Rock in the Sea and from thence to their Boat where they were received and conveyed out of the reach of the Spaniards fury without hurt to any but only one John Minevy who careless of his safety would not be perswaded to save himself but resolved singly to defy and terrify three hundred men or else dye on the place which accordingly happened for being quickly slain his â—â—ad Body was drawn by the Indians from the Rock to the shoar and there valiantly beheaded by the Spaniards his right hand cut off and his heart pluckt out which they carried away in their sight causing the Indians to shoot his Body full of Arrows made the same day of green Wood and so left it to be devoured of beasts had not the English again gone ashoar and buried it This sufficiently discovers the barbarity of the Spaniards and their continual dread of a forreign invasion or to have their throats cut by the wretched unfortunate Natives whom they never suffer to keep any arms but just for present service as appears by their Arrows made that very day and the report of others who knew it to be true Yea they think themselves very kind if they do not dayly whip these Wretches with Cords only for pleasure or drop scalding Bacon on their naked Bodys which is the least torture they usually inflict upon these unhappy Indians This not being the place they looked for nor the entertainment they desired Decem. 20. they fell into a more convenient Harbor North of Cyppo in 27 degrees 55 minutes South latitude where they staid some time to trim their Ship and build their Pinnace yet still reflecting on the absence of their Friends General Drake having fitted all to his mind and leaving his Ship at anchor in the Bay resolved to go in the Pinnace himself with some choice men toward the South if possible to find them out but after one days Sail the Wind forced him back again Within this Bay they had store of Fish like a Gurnet and never met with the like except at Cape Blank on the Coast of Barbary the Gentlemen with four or five Hooks and Lines taking in two or three hours four hundred of them Having dispatcht their business here Jan. 22. they came to an Island in the Province of Mormorena where they found Indians in Canoos who undertook to bring them to a watering place upon which the General according to his use to strangers treated them nobly and came where they directed and having travelled a long way on the land they indeed found fresh Water but hardly so much 〈◊〉 they had drunk Wine in their Passage thither Sailing along continually in search of fresh Water they came to a place called Tarapaca and landing lighted on a Souldier asleep who had lying by him thirteen Bars of Silver weighing about four thousand Spanish Duccats they would not willingly have disturb'd him but since they did him that injury they freed him of this charge which might otherwise have kept him waking leaving him if he pleased to take another nap more securely Continuing still their search for Water they again landed not far thence and met with a Spaniard and an Indian Boy driving eight Lambs or Peruvian Sheep each carrying two leather bags with fifty pound weight of refined Silver and not induring to see a Spanish Gentleman turn Carrier they without asking offered him their Service and became his Drovers only they mist his way for almost as soon as he parted from them they came into their Boats Beyond this lye certain Indian Towns from whence many people came in Boats made of Seals Skins and blown full of Wind which rows swiftly and carries a great Burthen These seeing their Ship brought store of divers sorts of Fish to traffick with them for Knives Stones Glasses and the like men of sixty or seventy years old being as fond of them as if they had purchased Jewels of great value They appeared a plain innocent people and resorted to them in great numbers in that short time Near this in 22 degrees 30 minutes lay Marmorena and another great Indian Town govern'd by two Spaniards whom desiring to deal
at the next Harbor called Guatulco inhabited by Spaniards they by trading supplyed themselves with Bread and other necessaries and then departed from the Coast of America yet not forgetting to take along with them a pot of about a Bushel full of Ryals of Plate that they found in the Town with a Chain of Gold and other Jewels which they intreated a Spaniard who was flying away with them to leave behind Next day April 16. they went directly to Sea sailing five hundred Leagues in Longitude to get a Wind and by June 3. got fourteen hundred Leagues coming into 42 degrees North Latitude where they felt an extream alteration from heat to cold which much impaired their healths made the Ropes of their Ships stiff and the Rain was turned into Hail so that they seemed rather in the Frozen Zone than so near the Sun and sailing 2 degrees further the cold increased so severely that their hands were benum'd and they durst hardly bring them from under their Garments to feed themselves Neither could they impute this to the tenderness of their Bodies coming out of those very hot Countreys since their meat almost as soon as from the Fire was frozen and their tackle so stiff that six men were hardly able to perform what was usually done by three which very much discouraged them but General Drake comforting and perswading them to trust in Gods Providence who never fails his Children and that they should now quit themselves like men and endure this short trouble and extremity with patience since they were sure thereby to obtain speedy comfort and glory By such motives as these he put new life into them so that every man was armed with a resolution to see the utmost Discovery could be made that way The Land in that part of America bearing further West than they imagined they were nearer to it than they were aware and yet the cold still increased June 5. they were driven by the winds toward the Shore which they then first descried and Anchored in a Bay much exposed to the winds and flaws and when they ceased there instantly followed thick stinking Fogs which nothing but the wind could remove and that was always violent So that not able to stay here nor go further Northward for the cold and wind which was full against them getting to Sea they were forcibly carried Southward from 48 to 38 degrees where they found the Land low and plain with some few Hills covered with Snow June 17. they came to a convenient Harbor and continued there till July 23. During which though in the height of Summer yet they had constant nipping cold neither for 14 days could they see the Sun for the fogginess of the Air which had such influence not only upon their Bodies who came out of the heat but on the Inhabitants themselves though accustomed thereto who yet came shivering to them in their warm Furs crouding close together to receive heat of each other the Trees being without Leaves and the ground without Grass even in June and July the poor Birds and Fowls not dareing to rise from their Nests as they oft found after they had laid their first Egg till they were hatcht and had got some strength but had this advantage that their Bodies being exceeding hot perfects their young sooner than in other places Though the real cause of this extremity is uncertain yet it is judged to proceed from the large Continent of America and Asia near together Northward of this place from whose high Mountains always covered with Snow the Northwest Winds which usually blow on these Coasts bring this almost insufferable sharpness which the Sun in his greatest heat is not able to dissolve from whence the Earth is so barren and the Snow lyes at their doors almost in the midst of Summer but is never off their Hills from whence proceeds those stinking Fogs through which the Sun cannot pierce nor draw the vapors higher into the Air except the fierce winds do sometimes scatter them and when gone the Fogs return as before Some Seamen aboard who had been in Greenland affirmed they never felt such cold in the end of Summer as now in these two hot months from whence it may be supposed there is no passage through these Northern Seas or if there be it is unnavigable for the Ice and Cold met with therein Neither in all their sailing on these Coasts to 48 degrees could they find the Land bend in the least toward the East but running always Northwest as if it directly met with Asia and even then when they had a Wind to carry them through if any such passage had been yet they had a smooth Sea and ordinary Tides which could not have happened had there been a Streight as they concluded there was none CHAP. VI. General Drake having gained immense Treasures in Gold Silver and Jewels lands at a place named by him Nova Albion where the Indians Crown him King of their Countrey From hence he sails homeward by the Molucco Islands and the Cape of Good Hope and having thus surroundred the World returns joyfully to England about two years and ten months from their first setting forth Queen Elizabeth comes aboard his Ship at Deptford and Knights him NExt day after their coming to Anchor in the Harbor aforementioned the Natives of the Countrey discovering them sent a Man to them in a Canoo with all expedition who began to speak to them at a great distance but approaching nearer made a long Solemn Oration with many signs and gestures after their manner moving his hands and turning his head and after he had ended with great shew of respect and submission return'd again to shoar He repeated the Ceremony a second and third time bringing with him a bunch of Feathers like those of a black Crow neatly placed on a string and gathered into a round bundle exactly cut and equal in length which as they understood afterward was a special Badg worn upon the head of the Guard of the Kings Person He brought also a little Basket made of Rushes full of an Herb called Tabah which tyed to a short Rod he cast into their Boat The General intended instantly to have recompenced him but could not perswade him to receive any thing except a Hat thrown out of the Ship into the water refusing any thing else though it were upon a board thrust off to him and so presently return'd After this their Boat could row no way but they would follow it seeming to adore them as Gods June 21. Their Ship being leaky came nearer the shoar to Land their Goods but to prevent any surprize the General sent his men ashore first with all necessaries for making Tents and a Fort for securing their purchase Which the Natives observing came down hastily in great numbers with such weapons as they had as if angry but without the least thought of Hostility for approaching them they stood as men ravished with admiration at the
which they thought safest because uninhabited and anchoring found all necessarys but fresh Water which they fetcht from another Island farther South Here they staid twenty six days pitching their Tents and intrenching themselves the best they could to prevent any disturbance from the Natives of a great Island West of this Having secured themselves and goods they set up their Forge to make Iron work and their Sea-cole being spent were forced to use Char-coal The whole Isle is overgrown with very great high Trees and Woods the leaves like Broom in England among which appeared in the night a vast Swarm of Flyes like Glow-Worms which seemed as if a Candle had been lighted on every Twig and the whole had been the Starry Heavens There were also an innumerable company of Bats or Rere-Mice as big as a Hen who fly very swift but short and hang on the Trees with their Heads downwards Likewise they met with a great quantity of Crayfish so large that one would dine four hungry men being very healthful and restorative and a seasonable relief to them They seem to live always on Land breeding in the Earth like Rabbits and under the Roots of huge Trees in great Companies together and upon pursuit clime up the Trees to secure themselves whither those that would catch them must climb after They called this Crab Island Having trimmed their Ship and recovered their health and strength by the excellent plenty of all kind of refreshments in this place they only expected the Brize or Trade wind which blows only one way for some Months together and getting in fresh Water and Wood the day before Decem. 12. they set sail Westward and in two days had sight of the Islands of Celebes but were in so much danger from the Shoals and Sands that they beat about till Jan. 9. When supposing they had attained a free passage the Land turning visibly Westward and the Wind reasonable fair failing with a full gale without suspition in the first Watch of the night their Ship suddenly fell upon a desperate Shoal and was in all probability on the point of perishing in a moment without saving the Lives of any or the Goods they had ventured such Perils to attain All now judging it more necessary to prepare for another World than imploy their thoughts about any thing in this Yet after hearty prayers to God for Deliverance the General earnestly exhorting them to take serious care of their Souls and to contemplate on the joys of another Life and not to be wanting to themselves he incouraged them by his own example to ply the Pump and free the Ship from Water and finding their leaks did not increase it gave them some hope that the Bulk was sound which they attributed alone to the mercy of God since no strength of Iron or Wood could possibly have endured such a violent shock as their Ship suffered if the extraordinary Providence of Heaven had not intervened Their hope was next to get good ground and anchor-hold and the General himself undertook to Sound but could find no bottom a Boats length from the Ship so that their growing hopes were hereby quite dasht again though this disappointment was concealed from the generality of the men in the Ship the General still cheering them up with the best incouragements he could think of The Ship being so fastened that she could not stir it seemed very probable that they must either remain on the place with her or else commit themselves to some miserable place of refuge which was a very hard choice and threatened them with a lingring death The Ship seemed to declare to them that she expected every minute to be destroyed by the Winds and Seas so that if they should escape out of her they were like to lead a miserable life among wild Beasts or People it may be more barbarous than they in intollerable Bondage both of Body and Mind And if the Ship should still continue undestroyed yet her Provisions could not last many days and there was no possibility of recruiting so that Famine might cause them to eat the very Flesh from their own Arms which was terrible to consider The hope of escaping by leaving her seemed yet more improbable the Boat not being capable of carrying above twenty Persons at once and they were in all fifty eight The nearest Land was six Leagues thence and the Wind directly against them and the first who had Landed while they were fetching the rest would certainly have fallen into the hand of the Enemy and gradually all the rest But if they should escape death yet the woful Captivity into which they must fall and be thereby deprived of the true Worship of God and continually grieved with the horrible Impieties and devilish Idolatries of the Natives would make death more elegible than life The night being spent in these melancholy thoughts they rejoyced to see the morning and it being then almost full Sea after humble thanks to the Almighty for preserving them thus long and hearty prayers and tears for a blessing upon their endeavours they again tryed to find anchor-hold but found this second attempt as fruitless as the former so that it seemed impossible their Ship should be ever delivered by any policy or power of man unless God himself should miraculously appear for their safety to whose omnipotent power and all-sufficiency they all concluded to refer themselves having a Sermon preached to them and receiving the Holy Communion together After this blessed repast not to be wanting in any lawful means for preserving themselves they concluded to unload the Ship which they had hitherto forborn wherein they were so willingly ingaged that they seemed to despise what was necessary for their defence yea for sustaining their lives throwing not only their Ammunition but their meal for bread into the Sea being assured that if it pleased the Lord of Heaven to save them he would fight for them against their Enemies and not suffer them to perish for want of bread And at length it was God alone that delivered them for having continued in this miserable condition firmly fixt in the cleft of a Rock they found that at low Water it was not above six foot deep on the star-board side though at a little distance there was no bottom to be found The Wind during the whole time blew somewhat stiff directly against their broad side and thereby forcibly kept their Ship upright In the beginning of the Tyde while the water was lowest it pleased God to calm the Wind whereby their Vessel which required 13 foot water to make her swim and had not then above seven on one side and wanting the Wind which had been her prop hitherto on the other she fell a heeling toward the deep water and thereby freed her keel and filled their hearts with joy This Shoal is three or four Leagues in length in two degrees South Latitude the day of their deliverance was Jan. 10. and was the greatest
St. Jago is of a Triangular form having two rocky Mountains on the East and West-side which seem to hang over it on the top whereof were built certain Fortifications to secure it From thence to the South-side of the Town is the main Sea and on the North the Valley lying between those Mountains wherein the City stands the distance being very narrow between them Through the midst of the Valley runs a small Rivolet of fresh Water which makes a Pond or Pool near the Sea-side where their Ships took in water with much conveniency At the Towns-end the Valley growing larger is converted into Gardens and Orchards replenished with Lemons Oranges Sugar-Canes Coco-Nuts Plantains Potatoes Cucumbers Onyons Garlick and divers other Fruits Herbs and Trees During their stay here a Portugal came to the West Fort with a Flag of Truce to whom were sent the Captains Sampson and Goring who first askt What Nation they were they said Englishmen He then inquired Whether there were Wars between England and Spain Who answered They knew not but if he would go to their General he would resolve him of all doubts Offering him safe conduct who refused as not being sent by the Governor They then told him That if the Governor desired the benefit of his people and Countrey he would do best to come and present himself to their Noble and merciful General Sir Francis Drake from whom he might be assured of favour both for himself and the Inhabitants otherwise within three daies they should march over the land and destroy all places and people with Fire and Sword With this answer he departed promising to return next day but they never heard of him more Nov. 24. The General L. General and six hundred men marched toward a Village 12 mile within the Land called Sancto Domingo inhabited by the Governor the Bishop and other Persons of Quality they arrived there about eight in the morning but all the people were fled to the Mountains where they staid some time to see if any would appear Being refresht the General ordered them to march back again in their retreat the Enemy appeared both Horse and Foot but not so strong as to ingage them but let them pass by with only gazing at them so that toward night they arrived safe back to St. Jago Nov. 26. They again prepared to imbark their Army some being sent in the mean time to the Town of Play or Praie to search for Ammunition which a Prisoner taken the day before promised to discover but when they came there either he could or would not do it but searching all likely places they found one Brass and another Iron great Gun In the Afternoon the General and his whole Fleet anchored at Plaie and coming ashore commanded the Town to be burnt and themselves to repair instantly aboard which being quickly dispatcht they all imbarked that night and put off to Sea Southwest All the time they were at St. Jago neither the Governor who was a Portugal nor the Bishop whose Authority is great there nor any of the People ever came though they expected they would to desire them to spare their Provisions or forbear ruining their Town which they judged proceeded from their guilt of the treachery and Cruelty used toward Mr. William Hawkins of Plymouth with whom about five years before they broke their Faith and Murthered many of his men but since they came not at them the English left written in several places especially at the Spittle-house which was ordered to be spared from the Fire the indignation they had against them not only for not appearing but for their Barbarous usage of the Body of one of their Boys whom they had taken stragling and having beheaded him and taken out his Heart had in a brutish manner scattered the rest of his Limbs about the place In revenge of which Savage and Inhumane Villany they burnt all the Houses they found in the Country as well as the Town of St. Jago From hence they sailed directly toward the West-Indies but had not been many days at Sea when above three hundred of their men died though till seven or eight days after their coming from St. Jago they had not lost one man in the whole Fleet They were seized with an extream burning continual Ague and some spots like those of the Plague appeared upon some of the dead those few who escaped with life were much decayed in their understanding a long time after In eighteen days they reached from St. Jago to Dominica being the first Island they fell with inhabited by barbarous People going all naked and painting themselves red the men are personable and strong but hold little correspondence with the Spaniards having then two of that Nation Prisoners and seem a very treacherous people though they were very serviceable to them during their short stay helping their men to bring fresh water on their bare Shoulders from the River to their Boats and fetching them great store of Tobacco and Cassavy Bread from their Houses and in requital received liberal rewards of Glass coloured Beads and other things which the English found at St. Jago wherewith they seemed much pleased and appeared sorrowful at their departure From hence they went Westward to the Isle of St. Christophers where they spent some days of Christmas to refresh their sick and cleanse their Ships but found no people there It was here concluded to proceed next to the great Island of Hispaniola incited thereto with the fame of the rich City of St. Domingo being the most confiderable place on those Coasts and to further their purpose they by the way took a small Frigot bound thither and having examined the men found the Haven was barred and the Castle upon the shore well fortified with Artillery so that there was no convenient landing place within ten English miles of the City to which the Pilot ingaged to bring them this being resolved on next morning early at the said place about ten miles West of that famous City the Forces who were imbarqued into Pinnaces Boats and other small Barks appointed for this service landed under Lieutenant General Carleil and about eight a Clock began to march approaching the Town toward noon where they were met by about an hundred Gentlemen of Quality on Horseback but the small shot played so smartly upon them that they were obliged to retire and suffer them to proceed to the two Gates of the Town next the Sea which were guarded with Soldiers and great Guns with some Companies of small shot planted in Ambuscade on the High-way The English divided their Army consisting in about twelve hundred men into two parts to assault both the Gates at once the L. General publickly declaring to Captain Powel that with Gods help he would go on till both Parties met in the Market-place of St. Domingo Upon their approach the Ordnance were fired upon them which killed one man near the L. General who not in the least dismayed
had planted many Indians with Bows in places of advantage their Arrows being Poysoned to such a height that if they did but break the Skin the wound was usually mortal they slew some English herewith and with Spikes a foot and half long fastened in the ground and Impoysoned of which they had planted a vast number in the common way but they marching by the Sea Shore happily escaped the greatest part of them They took Alonzo Bravo the Chief Commander of the Barricadoe Prisoner and having utterly routed the rest continued in the Town six weeks the Mortality aforementioned still continuing among them called by the Spaniards a Calenture and imputed by them to the Air of the twilight called La Serena which they affirm mortally infects all who are then abroad except the natural Indians of the Countrey and that those who were on the Watch were hereby subject to this infection The inconvenience of this sickness hindred them from prosecuting their design of going to Nombre de Dios and so over-land to Panama in hope of gaining sufficient Treasure to recompence their tedious Travels which being found impracticable they were resolved to return home without attempting further that way One day while they were there the Centinel placed upon the Church Steeple discovered two small Barks at Sea whereupon several Captains and Sea-men got aboard two small Pinnaces in hope to seize them before they got nigh the Shoar or had notice from Land of their being in the Town but notwithstanding their utmost diligence the Spaniards had given them a sign so that upon the approach of the Pinnaces they ran ashoar and hid themselves in the Bushes among other Spaniards who had given them notice of their danger The English seeing the Barks empty rashly went aboard and standing openly on the Deck were suddenly shot at by a Company of Spaniards out of the Hedges whereby Captain Varney was slain on the place and Captain Moon died a few days after four or five more being hurt So that not having Men enough to fight ashoar most of them being Seamen unarmed since they hoped to have taken the Barks with their great Guns they were forced to return without effecting any thing though they might easily have taken them had they reacht them before they came so nigh the Shoar During their stay here as formerly at St. Domingo several kindnesses passed between them and the Town as feasting visiting and the like Among others the Governour of Carthagena with the Bishop and several other Gentlemen came to see the General They had burnt some part of the City before they could make the Spaniards agree about ransoming it but at last they concluded to give the English one hundred and ten thousand Duckets each five shillings six pence sterling to spare the rest So that though not half so big as St. Domingo yet they payed a far greater Ransom as being of far more importance for its excellent Harbor and scituation for the Trade of Nombre de Dios and inhabited with far richer Merchants The other being chiefly filled with Lawyers and Gentlemen it being the highest Court of Law and Justice for all those Islands and the Continent also Their having notice of the coming of the English twenty days before from St. Domingo caused them to be so well fortified and prepared and had carried away all their Treasure and rich goods Upon paying the Sum agreed they left the Town but drew some of their Souldiers into the Priory or Abbey a quarter of a Mile below near the Harbor walled with Stone telling the Spaniards That this was yet their own and not comprehended in the Composition lately made who being sensible of this defect offered to contract for securing that and the Block-house likewise agreeing to pay a thousand Crowns for the Abbey but pleaded they were not able to give so much for the other having done their utmost whereupon the English undermined the Block-house and blew it up with Gunpowder Mean while the whole Fleet fell down to the mouth of the Harbor furnishing themselves with fresh Water from a great Well in an Island there by which is very pleasant abounding with Orange Trees and several other choice fruits set in such exact order for Walks that the whole Isle being about three Miles round is all made into Gardens and Orchards After six weeks aboad at Carthagena they put to Sea March 31. 1586. and two days after a great Ship taken at St. Domingo and called by them The New-years Gift laden with great Guns Hides and other plunder sprung a great Leak and in the night lost Company of the Fleet Being miss'd next morning the General doubting some misfortune sent and found her out but in great extremity all her Men being tyred with pumping and the Talbot Bark who happily stayed with her was ready to take out her Men and leave her Whereupon they all returned to Carthagena staying there eight or ten days longer to unload her and dispose her Men and Goods in another Ship and then going once more to Sea directed their Course toward Cape St. Anthony being the East part of Cuba where they arrived April 27. and parting thence toward the Havana after 14 days they were forced back again and being in much want of Water found a sufficient supply of Rain-water newly fallen as they judged in the Pits and Marshy ground near the Sea side the General being as diligent as the meanest in making necessary provision here as well as elsewhere and was much assisted in his Affairs by the prudent Councels and performances of L. General Carlile Three days being spent in watering the Fleet they departed a second time for Cape St. Anthony May 13. and sailing along in sight of the Coast of Florida May 28. they perceived a place like a Beacon on the Shoar about 30 degrees North Latitude upon which manning their Pinnaces and coming near they landed and marched up along the River side General Drake himself commanding them and perceived a Fort newly built by the Spaniards on the other side the River over against them and about a Mile above was a little Town or Village of Wooden Houses without Walls They presently prepared their great Guns to batter down the Fort and the first shot struck through their Ensign as they heard by a Frenchman who came to them from the Enemy Another shot struck the foot of the Fort which was all of massy Timber like Masts of Ships It was resolved that night to pass the River with four Companys and assault it but the L. General going in a Skiff with six Captains more well armed to make discovery the Spaniards thinking their whole Force had been come took the Alarm and presently forsook the Fort after having discharged a few Peices The L. General being returned without knowing they were gone Immediately a French Piper who had been their Prisoner came Piping to them in a little Boat and being called by the Guard told them
before he went ashoar what he was that the Spaniards were gone from the Fort offering either to put himself into their hands or to return back and direct those that would go to the Fort Whereupon the General L. General and some Captains in their Skiffs accompanied with three Pinnaces furnisht with Souldiers went over toward the Fort At their approach some of the Enemy bolder than the rest staying behind shot two pieces of Ordnance at them but they went ashoar and entred the place without finding any man there When day appeared they saw it was built all of Timber the Walls being only whole bodies of Trees placed close together like pales not having yet made a ditch nor furnished it so that they had no reason to keep it being so subject both to fire and assaults The platform for their Guns was the bodies of long Pine-trees whereof they have plenty laid Cross each other and filled up with Earth They found there 14 Great Brass Guns and a Chest lockt wherein was about two thousand pound sterling thought to be the Kings for payment of the Souldiers who were about 150 men The Fort thus won which they called St. Johns Fort they designed to go to the Town by land but were prevented by the Rivers and broken ground therefore imbarking again they Sailed thither upon the River called as well as the Town St. Augustine Coming toward Land some Spaniards appeared and gave them a few Shot but presently withdrew and in their flight the Sergeant Major finding a Horse ready Sadled and Bridled mounted him and followed the Chase before the rest when suddenly from behind a Bush he was shot through the head wherewith falling two or three Spaniards more came in and stabbed him with their Swords and Daggers into the body in three or four places before any could come near to rescue him whose death was much lamented They understood that in this Town of St. Augustine the King maintained an 150 Souldiers and at St. Helena 12 Leagues farther North 150 more only to secure those Coasts from being inhabited by other Nations The Governor was the Marquess Pedro Melender who had command of both places and yet ran away from them with the first They here resolved to attempt St. Helena and to find out the English inhabiting Virginia and June 9. Observing a very great Fire ashoar the General sent his Skiff to the place and found some English sent thither by Sir Walter Rawleigh the year before and one coming aboard gave them directions where to find a good Harbor The General sent hence a Letter to Sir Ralph Lane Governor of the English in Virginia who was then at his Fort about six Leagues from the Road in an Island called Roanoac from whence he sent them supplies of all they wanted and next day Mr. Lane and some of his Company came aboard and the General with consent of his Captains made him two Proposals Either to leave a Ship Pinnace or certain Boats with sufficient Masters Marriners and a months provision to stay and make discovery of the Countrey and the Coasts and likewise so much Victuals as might suffice to bring them all home being 103 Persons if they thought fit afterward Or else if they judged they had already made sufficient discovery and desired to return into England he would give them passage But they being willing to stay thankfully accepted his first offer and the Ship was accordingly received into their charge by some of Mr. Lanes Company whom he put aboard her but before they had received the Provisions allotted them there rose a very dangerous storm which lasted three days and drove many of their Ships from their Anchors and some were forced to Sea among which the Ship appointed for Mr. Lane was forced so far to avoid the Coast that they never saw her again till they came to England many of their Pinnaces and small Boats being lost in the Tempest Notwithstanding this the General offered Mr. Lane another Ship but not much fit for their purpose as not being able to be brought into Harbor nor the General not thinking fit to spare so much provisions as he intended at first So that upon consultation among themselves Mr. Lane and the rest of his Company desired the General under their hands to give them passage for England which being granted and the rest of the English sent for out of the Countrey and Shipt they left that Coast June 18. and arrived safely at Plymouth July 28. following The Purchase of this Voyage was valued at threescore thousand Pound whereof those who went the Voyage were to have twenty thousand amounting to about six pounds to the meanest man and the other forty was paid to the Adventurers They lost about 750 men whereof eight were Captains four Lieutenants and eight Gentlemen They got about 240 Great Guns whereof above 200 were Brass and so happily ended their Voyage CHAP. VIII Sir Francis Drake is made Vice-Admiral of England in the Spanish Invasion in 1588. And performs many Worthy Actions taking Don Pedro de Valdez a Principal Sea Commander Prisoner The pretended Invincible Armado is utterly defeated and overthrown HEroick Spirits are seldom long at rest being ambitious to be always imploy'd in glorious Actions and Atchievments as appears in the Person of our Worthy Commander Sir Francis Drake who having adventured so many Perils and Dangers in incompassing the World with so great advantages to himself might in reason have been thought willing to spend the remainder of his days in the quiet enjoyment of his acquired Honour and Riches But when the Service of his Countrey called him forth no man was more ready to obey his Prince in the defence thereof against a Forreign Invasion as appears by his magnanimous Exploits in 1588. The Astronomers of that Age foretold long before that this should prove a Wonderful year and the Climacterick of the World which was in some measure accomplished in that admirable deliverance of England from the Spanish Invasion The design was no less than the Conquest of England and reducing it to the obedience of that King for which many Religious Pretences were used besides politick ones as the Queens supporting the King of Spains Rebels in the Netherlands surprizing and plundring several Towns both in Spain and America with divers other allegations So that an Invasion being fully concluded on by that Court a great and as they termed it Invincible Navy was with vast charge prepared to effect this mighty Design consisting of no less than one hundred and thirty Ships containing fifty seven thousand eight hundred and eighty Tun wherein were eight hundred forty five Marriners nineteen thousand two hundred and ninety five Souldiers and two thousand eighty eight Gally Slaves and well furnished with all sorts of Ammunition having two hundred twenty thousand great Shot Four thousand two hundred kintals of Powder every Kintal containing an hundred Weight a thousand Kintals of Lead for Bullets Twelve hundred Kintals
THE English Heroe OR Sir Francis Drake Revived Being a full Account of the Dangerous Voyages Admirable Adventures Notable Discoveries and Magnanimous Atchievements of that Valiant and Renowned Commander As I. His Voyage in 1572. to Nombre de Dios in the West-Indies where they saw a Pile of Bars of Silver near seventy foot long ten foot broad and 12 foot high II. His incompassing the whole World in 1577. which he performed in Two years and Ten months gaining a vast quantity of Gold and Silver III. His Voyage into America in 1585. and taking the Towns of St. Jago St. Domingo Carthagena and St. Augustine IV. His last Voyage into those Countreys in 1595. with the manner of his Death and Burial Recommended as an Excellent Example to all Heroick and Active Spirits in these days to endeavour to benefit their Prince and Countrey and Immortalize their Names by the like worthy Undertakings Revised Corrected very much Inlarged reduced into Chapters with Contents and beautified with Pictures By R. B. Licensed and Entred according to Order March 30. 1687. LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1687. TO THE READER EVer since Almighty God commanded Adam to subdue the Earth there have not wanted Heroick Spirits in all Ages who have adventured their Estates and Persons to make new Discoveries of the unknown Parts of the World and many have industriously indeavoured to find out the true circuit thereof some striving to effect it by Mathematical Conclusions and School demonstrations Others with much more certainty have added their own Experience and Travels thereto all whom deserved much commendation in their several times For if he who surveys only some few Mannors or Lordships shall be thought worthy of some reward both for his Pains and Skill how much more are the Travels of those Famous Worthies to be Eternized who have bestowed their Studies and Labours in measuring out and incompassing this almost immensurable Globe Neither is this Question valuable here which is of force in private Possessions Whose Land do you Survey Since the Vast Ocean is the Lords alone and is by him left free as sufficient for the use and large enough for the Industry of all men Among these Gallant Adventurers none is more renowned than our present Heroe Sir Francis Drake who may be a Pattern to stir up all Heroick and active Spirits in these days to benefit their Prince and Countrey and immortalize their names by the like Noble Attempts who by first turning up a furrow about the whole World hath exceeded all that went before him Of whose Worthy Travels and Exploits there having not hitherto been published any just or exact Account I have Collected all I could any where meet with upon this Excellent Subject and reduced it into the present Method to make it the more useful and acceptable to my Countreymen whom as I have oft heretofore endeavoured to oblige by the like pleasant and I hope not unprofitable Diversions I shall still continue the same according to my Ability and Power R. B. THE Voyages and Adventures OF Sir FRANCIS DRAKE CHAP. I. His Birth and Education His Losses by the Spaniard His making two Voyages into the West-Indies for discovery His Voyage in 1572. to Nombre de Dios and surprizing it with only 52 Men where they had a view of a Pile of Bars of Silver 70 Foot in length 10 Foot broad and 12 Foot high THis Famous Sea-Captain and our present Heroe one of the first who put a Sea Girdle as it were about the World was Born near Sâ—â—â—â— Tavestock in Devonshire and had his name given him by Sir Francis Russel after Earl of Bedford his Godfather He was brought up in Kent his Father being a Minister who for fear of the Six Articles in the Reign of King Henry the Eight was forced to secure himself in the Hull of a Ship where he had divers of his younger Sons having twelve in all who being most of them Born on the Water for the greatest part died at Sea the youngest only dying at home whose Posterity still inherit what was gallantly though dangerously gained by our Sir Francis their Elder Brother After the death of King Henry his Father got a place to read Prayers among the Marriners of the Royal Navy and bound his Son Francis an Apprentice to a Ship-master who traded to France and Holland with whom he endured much hardship and was thereby fitted to suffer the Fatigues and labours of the Sea His Master dying bequeathed him his Bark with which he for some time followed his Masters Profession and thereby gained considerably But the Narrow Seas not being Large enough for his aspiring mind he sold his Bark and in the years 1565 and 1566 ingaged with Captain Lovel and others in a Voyage to the West-Indies and received much wrong from the Spaniards at Rio de Hacha yet the very next year Captain John Hawkins making preparations for a Voyage into those Parts he accompanied him to St. John de Ullua in the Bay of Mexico where by the treachery of Don Martin Henrique their Viceroy he not only lost all his goods but likewise several of his Kinsmen and Friends himself hardly escaping with his life This so exasperated the Spirit of Drake that he vowed the Spaniards should repay him with advantage and to make good his word having served for some time in one of Queen Elizabeths Ships to his great advantage and finding he could procure no redress from the King of Spain for his losses though the Queen had sent Letters thither upon that account it raised such indignation in his Breast that he resolved to use all possible endeavours to recover the damages he had sustained in pursuance whereof he made two several Voyages into America to gain Intelligence first with two Ships the Dragon and Swan in 1570. and the next year in the Swan alone whereby having obtained certain notice of the Persons and places he aimed at he fully resolved on a third Voyage Pursuant thereto May 24. 1572. being Whitson Eve Drake in the Pascha of Plymouth of 70 Tuns and his brother John Drake in the Swan of 25 Tuns having in both ships seventy three men and boys all Volunteers well provided with victuals for a year with all other Ammunition and provision for Men of War and three handsom Pinnaces taken asunder and stowed aboard to be set together upon occasion they sailed out of the Sound of Plymouth bound for Nombre de Dios in the West-Indies Their passage was so prosperous that June 3. they had sight of the Maderas and Canary Islands and made no stay till they came in veiw of Guadalupe an high Island in the West Indies Next morning June 29. entring between this place and Dominica they spied two Canoos a fishing about three Leagues off then landing on the South of Dominica in one of the Rivers that fall from the Mountain they staid there three days to refresh their
Island nigh the Main Land and from whence at low water they might go over a foot the Inhabitants appeared leaping dancing holding up their hands and making out-cryes after their manner but it being then high water the General sent them by a Boat some Knives Bells Bugles and other things he thought would please them Upon which getting together on a Hill half a Mile from the Shoar two of their Company came down swiftly though with a great grace such as they use in time of Wars but drawing nigh they made a stand upon which the English tying the things to a Staff stuck it in the ground that they might see it and retired a reasonable distance Being departed they came and took the things leaving instead thereof such Feathers as they wore on their heads a bone carved like a tooth-pick six inches long and neatly burnished Whereupon the General with divers Gentlemen went over to them they still remaining on the Hill placed in a rank one of them running from one end to the other East and West with his hands over his head and his body inclining toward the rising and setting Sun and at every third turn he erected himself vaulting in the Air against the middle of the rank toward the Moon signifying as they thought That they called the Sun and Moon whom they worship as Gods to witness they meant nothing toward them but peace But perceiving the English came apace forward they seemed fearful to prevent which the General and his Company retired which so confirmed them they were no enemies that divers came down after them without fear and traded with them but would receive nothing from them till it was first cast on the ground the word they used for exchange was Zussus and Toyt to throw it on the ground if they disliked any thing they cryed Coroh Coroh with ratling in their throat their goods were Arrows made of Reeds Feathers and the Bones aforementioned They go naked except only a Furr about their Shoulders when they sit or lye in the Gold but at other times it is a girdle about their Loyns Their Hair is very long which to prevent trouble thy knit up with a Roll of Ostrich Feathers and serves them for a Quiver for their Arrows and a Store-house for what they carry about them Those of Quality wear a large plain Feather on each side their heads seeming afar off like Horns so that a head thus trim'd upon a naked body resembles a Devil with horns Their chief bravery consists in painting their Bodys with divers Colours with such works as they fancy Some wash their faces with Sulphur or the like others paint their whole Bodys Black leaving only their necks round about White and shew like Ladys with black Gowns and naked Necks Some paint one Shoulder black and another white and likewise their Legs setting white Moons on the black part and black on the white being the marks of the Gods they adore By this continual painting the pores of their Bodys are so closed they never feel any cold they are strong comely swift and active and are much to be lamented that being of tractable natures and in an excellent soyl they are ignorant of the worship of the true God for though they never knew any Christians before yet they soon became so familiar that they seem'd rather willing to serve and do them all good Offices than offer any injury The General bestowing a Cap off his head on one of their Chiefs he going at a distance suddenly pierced his Leg deeply with an Arrow so that the Bloud streaming out he thereby signifi'd his unfained love to him and was as a Covenant of peace between them they were about fifty persons who thus frequented their company In the South part of this Bay is a River of fresh Water and several Islands full of Seals Birds and Fowls sufficient to maintain a multitude of people of which they killed some with Shot and Staves and took many Birds with their hands they lighting upon their Heads and Shouldiers They saw no Boat or Canoo used by the Natives to come to these Isles their own provision seemed to be Raw Flesh and Fish they finding pieces of Seals all Bloudy which they had gnawn with their teeth like Dogs They are all armed with a Bow an Ell long and Arrows of Reeds headed with Flints very exactly This Bay they named Seal Bay for the plenty of them found here killing two hundred in an hours time Sufficiently provided with all necessaries they sailed hence June 12. South-ward and anchored two days in a little Bay where they discharged and laid up the Caunter or Christopher and June 14. arrived at another Bay in fifty degrees twenty minutes South-Latitude and within one degree of the mouth of the Streights through which lay their desired Passage to the South Sea Here the General turned his Course Northerly in hope of finding his Ship and Friends lost in the great storm since if they should pass the Streights without them both might be much discomforted So that June 18. putting again to Sea with hearty prayers to God for Success they ran back toward the Line and the next night near Port St. Julian had sight of their Ship and the day after the whole Fleet entred joyfully into that Port to refit and refresh this Ship and the wearied men St. Julian is in 49 degrees 30 minutes being a very convenient Harbor having many Islands within it Coming now to an Anchor and all things made safe the General with his Brother and five others according to his usual care and diligence on such occasions rowed further into the Bay in a Boat to find out some convenient place for fresh Water and Provisions during their stay and were no sooner landed when two of the Natives visited them called by Magellane Pentagoures for their huge Stature and Strength who seem'd much to rejoice at their Arrival familiarly receiving whatever the General gave them and much pleased to see Oliver the Master-Gunner shoot an English Arrow trying to out-shoot him but came nothing near him Soon after another arrived who seem'd angry at the Civility of his fellows and strove earnestly to make them become enemies which General Drake not suspecting used them as before when Mr. Winter thinking also to shoot an Arrow that he who came last might see it the string of his Bow broke which being before their terror did now incourage them to contrive treachery against them not imagining their Guns and Swords were Weapons of War and therefore as they were quietly returning to their Boat these Villains suddainly discharged their Arrows at their backs aiming chiefly at him who had the Bow and not suffering him to string it again by wounding him in the Shouldier who turning about was shot with an Arrow through the Lungs yet fell not but the Gummer being ready to shoot off his Musket which took not fire was slain outright In this extremity their expert