downe and tooke some six of our Men at the watring place Certaine of our Men were sent in Boats up the South side of the River where we found some more of their Carpenters tools This Harbour is very commodious for Shipping having a good anchoring place and ten or twelve fathome deep in water we landed great store of Spaniards and Negroes at this Island giving the Enemy to understand that he would use our Men well which they tooke prisoners comming from Panama and sent a Messenger not hearing any answer again yet at our departure the Governour was come down with many Souldiers with him who wrote to our Generall The eighth of February we came away from this Harbour of Porta Vella beating up to the height of Cartagena which was ten dayes after we tooke our course for Gemico North North and by West within seventeen or eighteen leagues of Cartagena there lyeth shoales â—en or twelve fathome deepe The second of February being Thursday we descried certaine Islands called the Gourdanes which is distant from Porta Vella two hundred leagues North North East and Gemica beareth from these Islands of Gourdanes towards the East they are very high land and to the West very low even land we sailed all along to the Cape Corenthus towards the West of this low Land is shoales sometimes three fathome which one of our Ships hardly escaped The twenty seventh of this moneth we passed these shoales by reason of a great gale of wind and tooke our course North North East The saturday being the one and thirtieth of February we espyed the Islands of the Pines West North west on the starbordside these Islands are without Inhabitants The first of March we espyed twenty saile of the Kings men of Warre we chased them and about three of the clocke in the afternoone we began to fight with them and continued three hours in fight the Viseadmirall gave us a shot then the Elizabeth Boneventure gave her a shot again then the Boneventure came in and gave him â— bravadoe with all her broad side that she shot through and through then came up our Generall and gave them a brave volley of shot next came the Defiance and she laid on most bravely next the Adventure she laid on that we could see through and through it was a most brave attempt but God be thanked we had the upper hand of them we plying the Viseadmirall so fast that if she had not born up from us she had sunke and another that was near her we drove them into such a puzell that with stopping their leakes as we judged their Powder being loose fired all the Ships as we did behold within two hours after we had done the fight The next day we sailed towards Cape S. Anthony there following us but thirteen of our gallants they kept their course and would not come at us but at length they came somewhat nigh us and the Defiance and the Adventure bore up to them but they made away as soone as ever they were able and so we were rid of our gallants The fourth of March we descried the Cape of S. Anthony it is distant from Cape Corents eighty leagues from thence to the Havana eighty leagues from thence to the Gulfe The same day we descried the Cape Florida which is low Land and did beare from us North West and by North our course being North East the same day we entred the Gulfe the wind being at East South East leaving the land on the larbordside the Gulfe is in length one hundred leagues from the Havano eighty league the next night we passed the Gulfe about twelve of the clocke in the night The ninth of March we passed the Barmothies we had mighty tempestuous weather The eighth of April 1596. we came to the Islands of Flowers and Cores It is inhabited with Potugals and such like where we staied and watred and traffiqued with them for Victuals or what we vvanted using us very kindly vvith fresh Fish Hens and Bacon and such like which refreshed us vvonderfull vvell and in short time after vve gained the English Coast FINIS May 24. 1572. June 3 June 28. June 29. Iuly 1. Iuly 6. Iuly 12. Iuly 13. Iuly 20 Iuly 2â— Iuly 28. July 29 Aug. 1. Aug 7. Aug. 13. Aug. 14. Aug. 15. Aug. 16. Aug. 21. Septem 5 Septem 8 Septe 9. Sept. 10. Sept. 11. Septe 14 Septe 16 Sept. 18. Sept. 19. Sept. 22. Sept. 23. Sept. 24. Octob. 7. Octo. 8. Octo. 9. Octo. 13. Oct. 14.15 Octo. 16. Octo. 17. Octo. 18. Octo. 19. Octo. 20. Octo. 21. Octo. 22. Octo. 27. Nove. 2. Nove. 3. Nove. 5. Nove. 13. Nove. 15. Nove. 22. Nove. 27. Janu. 3. Ianu. 30. Febr. 3. Febr. 7. Febr. 11. Febr. 13. Febr. 14 Febr. 22. Febr. 23. Marc. 20. Marc. 21. Marc. 13. April 1. Apr. 2.3 15â—â— Nov. 15. Nov. 16. Nov. 17 18. Nov. 2â— Dece 13. 1577 Dece 25. Deceâ—b Dec. 31. Ian. 7. Ian. 13. Ian. 15. Ian. 16. Ian 22. Ian. 28. Ian. 29. Ian. 30. Ian. 31. Feb. 1. Feb. 2. Feb. 17. 〈◊〉 Apr. 5. 1577. 1578. April 5. April 7. April 14 Apr. 16. April 1â— April 2â— April 27. April 27. May 13. May 14 May 15. May 17. May 18. Iune 3. Iune 12. Iune 14. Iune 17. Iune 18 Iune 19. Iune 20. June 22 Sept. 6. Sept. 7. Sept. 8 Sept. 30. 〈…〉 Octob. 8. Octo 28 Octo. 30. Nove. 1. Nov. 25 Sept. 30. Octob. 7 Nov. 30 Dece 4. Dece 5. Dece 19. Dece 20. Ian. 19 Ian 22. Ian. 26. Feb â— Feb. 9. Feb. 15. Feb. 16. Feb. 20. Febr. 24. Feb 28. March 1. 1579. March 7. Marc. 16. Marc. 24. April 15 Apr. 16. Iune â— Iune 17. Iune 18. Iâ—â—â— 21. 1578. Iune 26. Iuly 24. Iuly 25. Sept. 30. October 3 Octob. 16. Octob. 21 Octob. 22. Octob. 25. Octob. 30. Novem. 1 Novem. 3 Nov. 9. Nov. 14. Dec. 12. Dec. 16. Jan. 9. Jan. 10 Jan. 12. Jan. 14. Jan. 20. Jan. 26. Feb. 1. 〈…〉 Feb. 6. Feb. 8. Feb. 10. Feb. 12. Feb. 14. Feb. 16. Feb. 18 19 Feb. 22. Mar. 9. Mar. 10. Mar. 11. Mar. 12. Mar. 13. Mar. 14. Mar. 15. 1579. Mar. 21. 1580. Mar. 26. May 21. June 15. July 15. July 22. July 24. Aug. 15. Aug. 16. Sep. 26.
proportionable and finely set together with a most thinne and dainty film that they might seem to serve for a much longer or higher flight but the dryness of them is such after some 10. or 12. strokes that he must needs into the water again to moisten them which else would grow stiffe and unfit for motion The increase of this little and wonderfull creature is in a manner infinite the fry whereof lyeth upon the upper part of the waters in the heat of the Sun as dust upon the face of the earth which being in bignesse of a wheat straw and in length an inch more or less do continually exercise themselves in both their faculties of nature wherein if the Lord had not made them expert indeed their generation could not have continued being so desired a prey to so many which greedily hunt after them forcing them to escape in the aire by flight when they cannot in the waters live in safety Neither are they always free or without danger in their flying but as they escape one evill by refusing the waters so they sometimes fall into as great a mischief by mounting up into the aire and that by means of a great and ravening foule named of some a Don or Spurkite who feeding chiefly on such fish as he can come by at advantage in their swimming in the brim of the waters or leaping above the same presently ceaseth upon them with great violence making havock especially among these flying fishes though with small profit to himself There is another sort of fish which likewise flyeth in the aire named a Cuttill it s the same whose bones the Goldsmiths commonly use or at least not unlike the sort a multitude of which have at one time in their flight fallen into our ships amongst our men Passing thus in beholding the most excellent works of the eternall God in the seas as if we had been in a garden of pleasure April 5. we fell with the coast of Brazil in 31. deg 30. mi. towards the pole Antartick where the land is low neere the sea but much higher within the countrey having in depth not above 12. fathome 3. leagues off from the shoare and being descried by the inhabitants we saw great and huge fires made by them in sundry places Which order of making fires though it be universall as well among Christians as Heathens yet is it not likely that many do use it to that end which the Brasilians do to wit for a sacrifice to Divels whereat they intermix many and divers ceremonies of conjurations casting up great heaps of sand to this end that if any ships shall go about to stay upon their coasts their ministring spirits may make wrack of them whereof the Portugals by the losse of divers of their ships have had often experience In the reports of Magellanes voyage it is said that this people pray to no manner of thing but live only according to the instinct of nature which if it were true there should seeme to be a wonderfull alteration in them since that time being fallen from a simple and naturall ereature to make Gods of Divels but I am of the mind that it was with them then as now it is only they lacked then the like occasion to put it in practise which now they have for then they lived as a free people among themselves but now are in most miserable bondage slavery both in body goods wife and children and life it self to the Portugals whose hard and most cruell dealings against them forceth them to fly into the unfruitfull parts of their own land rather there to starve or at least live miserably with liberty then to abide such intollerable hondage as they lay upon them using the aforesaid practises with Divels both for a revenge against their oppressors and also for a defence that they have no further entrance into the country And supposing in deed that no other had used travell by sea in ships but their enemies only they therefore used the same at our coming notwithstrnding our God made their divelish intent of none effect for albeit there lacked not within the space of our falling with this coast forcible storms and tempests yet did we sustain no damage but only the separating of our ships out of shoare but we could find no harbor in many leagues And therefore coasting along the land towards the south April 7. we had a violent storm for the space of 3. houres with thunder lightning and rain in great abundance accompanied with a vehement south wind directly against us which caused a separation of the Christopher viz. the Caunter which we took at cape Blank in exchange for the Christopher whose name she hence forward bore from the rest of the fleet After this we keep on our course sometime to the seaward sometimes toward the shoare but alwaies southward as neere as we could till April 14. in the morning at which time we passed by Cape Saint Mary which lies in 35. deg neere the mouth of the river of Plate and running within it about 6. or 7. leagues along by the maine we came to anchor in a bay under another cape which our Generall afterwards called cape Joy by reason of the second day after our anchoring here the Christopher whom we had lost in the former storm came to us again Among other cares which our Generall took in this action next the main care of effecting the voyage it self these were the principall and chiefly subordinate to keep our whole fleet as neere as possible we could together to get fresh Water which is of continual use to refresh our men wearied vvith long toyls at sea as oft as vve should find any opportunity of effecting the same And for these causes it vvas determined publique notice thereof given at our departure from the Islands of cape Verde that the next randevouze both for the recollecting of our navy if it should be despersed as also vvatering and the like should be the river of Plate vvhether vve vvere all to repaire vvith all the convenient speed that could be made and to stay one for another if it should happen that vve could not arrive there altogether and the effect vve found ansvverable to our expectations for here our severed ship as hath been declared found us again and here vve found those â—ther helps also so much desired The country here about is of a temperate and most svveet aire and pleasant to behold and besides the exceeding fruitfulnesse of the soyle it s stored vvith plenty of large and mighty Deere Notvvithstanding that in this first bay vve found svveet and vvholesome vvater even at pleasure yet the same after the arrivall of Caunter we removed some twelve leages farther up into another where we found a long rock or rather Island of rocks not far from the main making a commodious harâ—â—â— specially against a southerly wind under them we anchored and rode till the
the Dragon the other the Swan in the year 70. the other in the Swan alone in the yeare 71. to gaine such intelligences as might further him to get some amends for his losse And having in those two Voyages gotten such certaine notice of the persons places aymed at as he thought requisite and thereupon with good deliberation resolved on a third Voyage the Description wherof we have now in hand he accordingly prepared his Ships Company and then taking the first opportunity of a good wind had such succes in his proceedings as now followes further to be declared On Whitsunday Eve being the 24. of May in the year 1572. Captain Drake in the Pascha of Plimoth of 70. tons his Admirall with the Swan of the same Port of 25 tons his Vice-Admirall in which his brother Iohn Drake was Captain having in both of them of men and boyes seventy three all voluntarily assembled of which the eldest was fifty all the rest under thirty so divided that there were forty seven in one ship twenty six in the other both richly furnished with victuals and apparell for a whole year and no lesse heedfully provided of all manner of Munition Artillery Artificers stuffe and tooles that were requisite for such a Man of war in such an attempt but especially having three dainty Pinnases made in Plimouth taken asunder all in peices and stowed aboard to be set up as occasion served set sayl from out of the Sound of Plimouth with intent to land at Nombre de dios The wind continued prosperous favorable at Northeast and gave us a very good passage without any alteration of change so that albeit we had sight of Porto Santo one of the Maderas of the Canaries also within twelve dayes of our setting forth yet we never strook sayle nor came to anchor nor made any stay for any cause neither there or else where untill 25. dayes after When we had sight of the Island of Guadalupe one of the Islands of the West Indies goodly high land The next morning we entred between Dominica Guadalupe where we descried two canoas coming from a rocky Iland three leagues off Dominica which usually repair thither to fish by reason the great plenty thereof which is there continually to be found We landed on the South side of it remaining there three days to refresh our men water our ships out of one of those goodly rivers which fall down off the mountain There we saw certain poore cottages built with Palmito boughs and branches but no inhabitants at that time civill nor savage the cottages it may be for we could know no certaine cause of the solitarinesse we found there serving not for continuall inhabitation but only for their uses that came to that place at certaine seasons to fish The third day after about three in the after-noon we set sail from thence towards the continent of Terra firma And the fifth day after we had sight of the high land of Santa Martha but came not neer the shoar by ten leagues But thence directed our course for a place called by us Port Phesant for that our Captain had so named it in his former voyage by reason of the great store of those goodly Fowls which he and his Company did then dayly kill and feed on in that place In this course notwithstanding we had two dayes calme yet within six dayes we arived at our Port Phesant which is a fine round Bay of very safe harbour for all winds lying betweene two high points not past halfe a cables length over at the mouth but within eight or ten cables length every way having ten or twelve fadome water more or lesse full of good fish the soile also very fruitfull which may appear by this that our Captain having been in this place within a year and few dayes before and having rid the place with many alleyes and paths made yet now all was so overgrowne againe as that we doubted at first whether this were the same place or no. At our entrance into this Bay our Captaine having given order to his brother what to do if any occasion shoud happen in his absence was on his way with intent to have gone a land with some few only in his company because he knew there dwelt no Spaniards within thirty five leagues of that place Tolou being the neerest to the Eastwards and Nombâ—e de dios to the westwards where any of that Nation dwelt But as we were rowing a shoar we saw a smoak in the woods even neer the place which our Captain had aforetime frequented therefore thinking it fit to take more strength with us he caused his other boat also to be manned with certain muskets and other weapons suspecting some enemy had been a shoar When we landed we found by evident markes that there had been lately there a certaine English man of Plimouth called Iohn Garret who been conducted thither by certain English Mariners which had been there with our Captain in some of his former voyages He had now left a plate of Lead nailed fast to a mighty great tree greater hen any four men joyning hands could fathom about on which were engraven these words directed to our Captaine CAptain Drake if you fortune to come to this Port make hast away For the Spanyards which you had with you here the last year have bewrayed this place and taken away all that you left here I departed from hence this present 7. of Iuly 1572. Your very loving friend IOHN GARRET The smoake which we saw was occasioned by a fire which the said Garret and his Company had made before their departure in a very great tree not farre from this which had the Lead nayled on it which had continued burning at least five dayes before our arrivall This advertisement notwithstanding our Captain ment not to depart before he had built his Pinnaces which were yet aboard in pieces for which purpose he knew this Port a most convenient place And therefore so soon as we had mored our ships our Captain commanded his Pinnaces to be brought ashore for the Carpenters to set up himself employing al his other company in fortifying a place which he had chosen out as a most fit plot of three quarters of an acre of ground to make some strength or safety for the present as sufficiently as the meanes he had would affoord which was performed by felling of great trees bowsing and haling them together with great Pulleis and halfers untill they were inclosed to the waters and then letting others fall upon them untill they had raised with trees and boughs thirty foot in height round about leaving only one gate to issue at neet the waters side which every night that we might sleepe in more safety and security was shut up with a great tree drawn a'rthwart it The whole plot was built in a Pentagonall form to wit of five equall sides
threw downe the gates and spardecks to prevent the Spaniards from annoying us with their close fights who then perceiving that we were possessed of their Ship stowed themselves all in hold with their weapons except two or three yonkers who were found afore the beetes when having light out of our Pinnaces vve found no danger of the enemy remaining we cut their Cables at halfe and with our three Pinnaces towed her without the Iland into the sound right afore the Towne without danger of their great shot Meane while the Towne having intelligence hereof by their Watch tooke th' alarme rung out their Bels shot off about thirty Peeces of great Ordinance put all their Men in a readinesse Horse and Foot came down to the very point of the Wood and discharged their Calivers to impeach us if they might in going forth The next morning our Ships tooke two Frigates in vvhich vvere two vvho called themselves the Kings Scrivanos the one of Carthagene th' other of Veragua vvith seven Mariners and two Negroes vvho had beene at Nombre de dios and vvere now bound for Carthagene vvith double Letters of Advice to certifie them that Captaine Drake had beene at Nombre de Dios had taken it and had it not beene that He was hurt with some blessed shot by all likelihold he had saâ—kt it he was yet still upon the Coast they should therefore carefully prepare for him After that our Captaine had brought all his Fleet together at the Scrivanos entreaties he vvas content to doe them all 〈◊〉 in setting them and all their Companies 〈◊〉 and so 〈◊〉 thence vvith the Ilands of Saint Bernards about three leagues off the â—own vvhere vve found great store of Fish for our refreshing Here our Captaine considering that he vvas now discovered upon two of the chiefest places of all the Coast and yet not meaning to leave it till he had found the Simerons and made his Voyage as he had conceived which would require some length of time and sure manning of his Pinnaces he determined with himselfe to buâ—ne one of his Ships and make of the other a Store-house that his Pinnaces which could not otherwise might be throughly Manned and so he might be able to abide any time But knowing the affection of his Company how loath they vvere to leave either of their Ships being both so good Saylers and so vvell furnished he purposed in himselfe by some Policy to make them most vvilling to effect that he intended And therefore sent for one Thomas Moone vvho vvas Carpenter in the Swanne and taking him into his Cabin chargeth him to conceale for a time a piece of service vvhich he must in any case consent to doe aboord his owne Ship that was in the middle of the second Watch to goe downe secretly into the Well of the Ship and with a great spike-gimlet to boâ—re three hoales as neere the Keele as he could and lay something against it that the force of the Water entring might make no great noyse nor be discovered by boyling up Thomas Moone at the hearing hereof being utterly dismayed desired to know what cause there might be to move him to sincke so good a Barke of his owne new and strong and that by his meanes who had beene in two so rich and gainfull Voyages in her with himselfe heretofore If his Brother the Master and the rest of the Company should know of such his fact he thought verily they would kill him But when our Captaine had imparted to him his causes and had perswaded him with promise that it should not be knowne till all of them should be glad of it he undertooke it and did it accordingly The next morning our Captaine tooke his Pinnace very early purposing to goe a fishing for that there is very great store in all the Coast and falling a board the Swanne calleth for his Brother to goe with him who rising suddenly answereth that he would follow presently or if it would please him to stay a very little he would attend him Our Captaine perceiving the feat wrought would not hasten him but in rowing away demanded of them why their Barke was so deepe as making no account of it but by occasion of this demand his Brother sent one downe to the Steward to know whether there were any water in the ship or what other cause might be The Steward hastily stepping downe at his usuall skuttle was wet up to the waste and shifting with more haste to come up againe as if the water had followed him cryed out that the Ship was full of water There was no need to hasten the Company some to Pumpe others to search for the Leake which the Captaine of the Barke seeing they did on all hands very willingly he followed his Brother and certified him of the strange chance befaln them that night that whereas they had not Pumpt twice in six weekes before now they had six foote water in hold therefore he desireth leave from attending him in fishing to intend the search and remedy of the leake and when our Captaine with his Company profered to go to helpe them he answered they had men enough aboard and prayed him to continue his fishing that they might have some part of it for their dinner Thus returning he found his Company had taken great paines but had freed the water very little yet such was their love to the Barke as our Captaine well knew that they ceased not but to the utmost of their strength laboured all that they might till three in the afternoone by which time the Company perceiving that though they had beene relieved by our Captaine himselfe and many of his Company yet they were not able to free above a foot and a halfe of water and could have no likelihood of finding the Leake had now a lesse liking of her then before and greater content to hear of some means for remedy whereupon our Captain consulting with them what they thought best to be done found that they had more desire to have all as he thought fit then judgement to conceive any meanes of remedy And therefore he propounded that himselfe would goe into the Pinnace till he could provide some handsome Frigate and that his Brother should be Captaine in the Admirall and the Master should also be there placed with him instead of this which seeing they could not save he would have fired that the Enemy might never recover her but first all the Pinnaces should be brought aboard her that every one might take out of her whatsoever they lackt or liked This though the company at the first marveiled at yet presently it was put in execution and performed that night our Captaine had his desire and men enough for his Pinnaces The next morning we resolved to seek out some fit place in the sound of Dorrienne where we might safely leave our ship at Anchor not discoverable by the Enemy who thereby might imagine us quite departed from the Coast
to the mouth of the River where we unladed all our provisions and clensed our Pinnaces according to our Captaines custome and tooke it in againe and the same day went to the Westward In this returne we descried a Ship a Barke and a Frigate of which the Ship and Frigate went for Carthagene but the Barke was bound to the Northwards with the wind Easterly so that we imagined she had some gold or treasure going for Spaine therefore we gave her chase but taking her and finding nothing of importance in her understanding that she was bound for Sugar and Hides we let her goe and having a good gale of winde continued our former course to our Ship and Company In the way between Carthagene and Tolou we tooke five or six Frigates which were laden from Tolou with live Hogs Hens and Maiz which we call Guyâ—ny Wheat of these having gotten what intelligence they could give of their preparations for us and diverse opinions of us was dismissed all the men onely staying two Frigates with us because they were so well stored with good Victuals Within three dayes after we arrived at the place which our Captaine chose at first to leave his ship in which was called by our Company Port-Plenty by reason we brought in thither continually all manner store of good Victuals which we tooke going that way by Sea for the victualling of Carthagene and Nombre de Dios as also the Fleets going and comming out of Spaine so that if we had beene two thousand yea three thousand persons we might with our Pinnaces easily have provided them sufficient victual of Wine Meale Ruske Cassavy a kinde of Bread made of a Root called Yucca whose juyce is poyson but the substance good and wholesome dryed Beefe dryed Fish live Sheepe live Hogs aboundance of Hens besides the infinite store of dainty fresh very easily to be taken every day Insomuch that he were forced to build foure severall Magazines or Store-houses some tenne some twenty Leagues a sunder some in Ilands some in the Maine providing our selves in diverse places that though the Enemie should with force surprise any one yet we might be sufficiently furnished till we had made our Voyage as we did hope In building of these our Negroes helpe was very much as having a speciall skill in the speedy erection of such houses This our store was such as thereby we releeved not only our selves and the Symerons while they were with us but also two French Ships in extreame want For in our absence Captaine John Drake having one of our Pinnaces as was appointed went in with the maine and as he towed a loofe the shoare where he was directed by Diego the Negroe aforesaid which willingly came unto us at Nombre de dios he espyed certaine of the Symerons with whom he dealt so effectually that in conclusion he left two of our men with their Leader and brought aboard two of theirs agreeing that they should meet him againe the next Day at a River mid way betwene the Cabezas and our Ships which they named Rio Diego These two being very sensible men chosen out by their Commander did with all reverence and respect declare unto our Captaine that their Nation conceived great joy of his arrivall because they knew him to be an enemy to the Spaniards not only by his late being in Nombre de dios but also by his former Voyages and therefore were ready to assist and favour his enterprises against his and their Enemies to the uttermost and to that end their Captaine and Company did stay at this present neer the mouth of Rio Diego to attend what answer and order should be given them that they would have marched by land even to this place but that the way is very long and more troublesome by reason of many steepe Mountaines deepe Rivers and thicke brakes desiring therefore that it might please our Captaine to take some order as he thought best with all convenient speed in this behalfe Our Captaine considering the speech of these persons and weighing it with his former intelligences had not onely by Negroes but Spaniards also whereof he was alwayes very carefull as also conferring it with his Brothers informations of the great kindnesse that they shewed him being lately with them after he had heard the opinions of those of best service with him what vvere fittest to be done presently resolved himselfe with his Brother and the two Symerons in his two Pinnaces to goe toward this River as he did the same evening giving order that the Ship and the rest of his Fleet should the next morning follow him because there vvas a place of as great safety and sufficiency vvhich his Brother had found out neer the River The safety of it consisted not onely in that vvhich is common all along that Coast from Tolou to Nombre de Dios being above sixty leagues that it is a most goodly and plentifull Countrey and yet Inhabited not with one Spaniard or any for the Spaniards but especially in that it lyerh among a great many of goodly Ilands full of Trees vvhere though there be Channels yet there are such Rocks and shoales that no Man can enter by night without great danger nor by day vvithout discovery whereas our Ship might lye hidden within the Trees The next day we arrived at this River appointed vvhere we found the Symerons according to promise the rest of their number were a mile up in a Wood by the Rivers side There after vve had given them entertainment and received good testimonies of their joy and good vvill towards us vve tooke two more of them into our Pinnaces leaving our two men vvith the rest of theirs to much by land to another River called Rio Guana vvith intent there to meet vvith another Company of Symerons vvhich vvere now in the Mountains So vve departed that day from Rio Diego vvith our Pinnaces towards our Ship as marvelling that she followed us not as vvas appointed But two dayes after vve found her in the place vvhere we left her but in farre other state being much spoyled and in great danger by reason of a tempest she had in our absence As soone as we could trim our Ship being some two dayes our Captain sent away one of his Pinnaces towards the bottome of the Bay amongst the shoales and sandy Ilands to sound out the Channell for the bring in of our Ship neerer the Maine The next day we followed and were with wary Pilatage directed safely into the best Channell with much adoe to recover the Road among so many flats and shoales It was neere about five leagues from the Cativaas betwixt an Iland and the Maine where we moared our Ship The Iland was not above foure Cables length from the Maine being in quantity some three Acres of ground flat and very full of Trees and Bushes We were forced to spend the best part of three dayes after our departure from our
In these three last dayes march in the Champion as we past over the Hils we might see Panama five or six times a day and the last day we saw the Ships riding in the road But after that we were come within a dayes journey of Panama our Captaine understanding by the Symerons that the Dames of Panama are wont to send forth Hunters and Fowlers for taking of sundry dainty Fowle which the Land yeeldeth by whom if we Marched not very heedfully we might be descryed caused all his Company to March out of all ordinary way and that with as great heed silence and secrecy as possibly they might to the Grove which was agreed on foure dayes before lying within a league of Panama where we might lye safely undiscovered near the High-way that leadeth from thence to Nombre de Dios. Thence we sent a chosen Symeron one that had served a Master in Panamah before time in such Apparell as the Negroes of Panama doe use to Warre to be our Espiall to goe into the Towne to learne the certaine night and time of the night when the Carriers laded the Treasure from the Kings Treasure-house to Nombre de Dios. For they are wont to take their journey from Panama to Venta Cruz which is six leagues ever by night because the Countrey is all Champion and consequently by dâ—y very hot but from Venta Cruz to Nombre de Dios as oft as they travell by Land with their Treasure they travell alwayes by day and not by night because all that way is full of Woods and therefore very fresh and coole unlesse the Symerons happily encounter them and make them sweat with feare as sometimes they have done whereupon they are glad to guard their Recoes with Souldiers as they passe that way This last day our Captain did behold and view the most of all that faire City discerning the large Street which lyeth directly from the Sea into the Land South and North. By three of the clocke we came into this Grove passing for the more secrecy alongst a certaine River which at that time was almost dryed up Having disposed of our selves in the Grove we dispatched our Spye an houre before night so that by the closing in of the evening he might be in the City as he was whence presently he returned unto us that which very happily he understood by Companions of his That the Teasurer of Lima intending to passe into Spaine in the first adviso which was a Ship of three hundred and fifty Tunne a very good Sayler was ready that night to take his journey towards Nombre de Dios with his Daughter and Family having fourteene Moyles in company of which eight was laden with Gold one with Jewels And farther that there were two other Recoes of fifty Moyles in each laden with Victuals for the most part with some little quantity of Silver to come forth that night after the other There are twenty eight of these Recoes the greatest of them is of seventy Moyles the lesse of fifty unlesse some particular Man hyre for himself ten twenty or thirty as he hath need Upon this notice we forthwith Marched foure leagues till we came within two leagues of Venta Cruz in which March two of our Symerons which were sent before by scent of his Match found and brought a Spaniard whom they had found a sleepe by the way by scent of the said Match and drawing neere thereby heard him taking his breath as he slept and being but one they fell upon him stopt his mouth from crying put out his Match and bound him so that they well neare strangled him by that time he was brought unto us By examining him we found all that to be true which our Spye had reported to us and that he was a Souldier entertained with others by the Treasurer for the guard and conduct of this Treasure from Venta Cruz to Nombre de Dios. This Souldier having learned who our Captaine was tooke courage and was bold to make two requests unto him the one that he would command his Symerons which hated the Spaniards especially the Souldiers extreamly to spare his life which he doubted not but they would doe at his charge the other was that seeing he was a Souldier and assured him that they should have that night more Gold besides Jewels and Pearles of great price then all they could carry if not then he was to be dealt with how they would but if they all found it so then it might please our Captaine to give unto him as much as it might suffize for him and his Mistresse to live upon as he had heard our Captaine had done to divers others for which he would make his name so famous as any of them which had received like favour Being at the place appointed our Captaine with halfe of his men lay on one side of the way about fifty paces off in the long grasse Iohn Oxnam with the Captaine of the Symerons and the other halfe lay on the other side of the way at the like distance but so farre behind that as occasion served the former Company might take the foremost Moyles by the heads and the other the hindmost because the Moyles tyed together are alwayes driven one after another and especially that if we should have need to use our weapons that night we might be sure not to endamage our fellows We had not laine thus in ambush much above an houre but we heard the Recoes comming from the City to Venta Cruz and from Venta Cruz to the City vvhich hath a very common and great trade vvhen the Fleetes are there vve heard them by reason they delight much to have deepe sounding Bels which in a still night are heard very far off Now though there vvere as great charge given as might be that none of our men should show or stirre themselves but let all that came from Venta Cruz to passe quieâ—ly yea their Recoes also because vve knew that they brought nothing but Merchandise from thence yet one of our men called Robert Pike having drunken too much Aqua vitae vvithout vvater forgat himselfe and entising a Symeron forth vvith him vvas gone hard to the way vvith intent to have shewne his forwardnesse on the foremost Moyles And when a Cavalier from Venta Cruz vvell mounted with his Page running at his stirrop past by unadvisedly he rose up to see vvhat he vvas but the Semeron of better discretion puld him dovvne and lay upon him that he might not discover them any more Yet by this the Gentleman had taken notice by seeing one all in white for that we had all put our shirts over oâ—r other apparrell that we might be sure to know our owne men in the pell mell in the night By meanes of this sight the Cavalier putting spurs to his horse râ—de a false Gallop as desirous not only himselfe to be free of this doubt which he imagined but also to give advertisement to others that they
Rio Francisco Having thus agreed with Captaine Tetu we sent for the Symerians as before was decreed two of them were brought aboard our Ships to give the French assurance of this agreement As soone as we could furnish our selues and refresh the French Company which was within five or six dayes by bringing them to the Magazine which was the neerest where they were supplyed by us in such sort as they protested they were beholding to us for all their lives taking twenty of the French and fifteene of ours with our Symerons leaving both our Ships in safe Roade we Mand our Frigate and two Pinnaces we had formerly sunke our Lyon shortly after our returne from Panama because we had not Men sufficient to Man her and went towards Rio Francisco which because it had not water enough for our Frigate caused us to leave her at the Cabezas Mand with English and French in the charge of Robert Dohle to stay there without attempting any chase untill the returne of our Pinnaces And then beare to Rio Francisco where our Captaines landed with such Force as aforesaid and charged them that had the charge of the Pinnaces to be there the fourth day next following without any saile And thus knowing that the Cariages went now daily from Panama to Nombre de Dios we proceeded in covert through the Woods towards the High-way that leadeth betweene them It is five leagues accounted by Sea betweene Rio Francisco and Nombre de Dios but that way which we marched by land we found it above seaven league We marched as in our former journey to Panama both for order and silence to the great wonder of the French Captaine and Company who protested they knew not by any meanes how to recover the Pinnaces if the Symerons to whom what our Captaine commanded was a law though they little regarded the French as having no trust in them should leave us our Captain assured him there was no cause of doubt of them of whom he had had such former tryall When we were come vvithin an English mile of the Way vve stayed all night refreshing our selves in great stilnesse in a most convenient place vvhere vve heard the Carpenters being many in number vvorking upon their Ships as they usually doe by reason of the great heat of the day in Nombre de Dios and might heare the Moyles comming from Panama by reason of the advantage of the ground The next morning upon hearing of that great number of Bels the Symerons rejoyced exceedingly as though there could not have befallen them a more joyful accident chiefly having been disappointed before Now they all assured us vve should have more Gold and Silver then all of us could beare away as in truth it fell out For there came three Recoes one of fifty Moyles the other two of seventy each every of vvhich caryed three hundred pound vvaight of Silver vvhich in all amounted to neer thirty Tun. We putting our selus in readinesse vvent down neer the Way to hear the Bels vvhere vve stayed not long but vve saw of vvhat Mettall they vvere made and tooke such hold on the heads of the foremost and hindmost Moyles that all the rest stayed and lay down as their manner is These three Recoes were guarded with forty five Souldiers or thereabouts fifteene to each Reco which caused some exchange of Bullets and Arrowes for a time in which conflict the French Captaine was sore wounded with Hayle shot in the Belly and one Symeron slain But in the end these Souldiers thought it the best way to leave their Moyles with us and to seeke for more helpe abroad in which meane time we tooke some paine to ease some of the Moyles which were heaviest loaden of their carriages And being weary we were content with a few bars and quoits of Gold as we could well carry burying about fifteene tun of Silver partly in the Boroughs which the great Land-crabs had made in the earth and parrly under old trees which are fallen thereabout and partly in the Sand and Gravell of a River not very deepe of water Thus when about this businesse we had spent some two houres and had disposed of all our matters and were ready to March backe the very selfe same way that we came we heard both Horse and Foot comming as it seemed to the Moyles for they never followed us after we were once entred the Woods where the French Captaine by reason of his wound not able to travell farther stayed in hope that some rest would recover him better strength But after we had marched some two leagues upon the French Souldiers complaint that they missed one of their Men also examination being made whether he were slaine or no it was found that he had drunke much Wine and over-lading himselfe with Pillage and hasting to goe before us had lost himselfe in the Woods And as we afterwards knew he was taken by the Spaniards that evening and upon torture discovered unto them where we had hidden our Treasure We continued our March all that and the next day towards Rio Francisco in hope to meet our Pinnaces but when we came thither looking out to Sea we saw seven Spanish Pinnaces which had beene searching all the Coasts thereabout Whereupon we mightily suspected that they had taken or spoyled our Pinnaces for that our Captaine had given so straight charge that they should repaire to this place this after-noone from the Cabezas where they rode whence to our sight these Spaniards Pinnaces did come But the night before there had fallen very much raine with much Westerly Winde vvhich as it enforced the Spaniards to returne home the sooner by reason of the Storme so it kept our Pinnaces that they could not keepe the appointment because the Winde was contrary and blew so strong that with their Oares they could all that day get but halfe the way Notwithstanding if they had followed our Captaines direction in setting forth over night while the wind served they had arrived at the place appointed with farre lesse labour but with farre more danger because that very day at noone the Spanish Shallops mand out of purpose from Nombre de Dios were come to this place to take our Pinnaces imagining where we were after they had heard of our intercepting of the Treasure Our Captaine seeing the Shallops feared least having taken our Pinnaces they had compelled our men by torture to confesse where his Frigate and Ships were Therefore in this distresse and perplexity the Company misdoubting that all meanes of returne to their Country were cut off and that their Treasure then served them to small purpose our Captaine comforted and incouraged us all saying We should venter no farther then he did it was no time now to feare but rather to haste to prevent that which was feared if the Enemy have prevailed against our Pinnaces which God forbid yet they must have time to search them time to examine the Mariners time to
appointing the Randevous if any should be severed from the Fleet to be the Island Mogadore And so sailing with favorable winds the first Land that we had sight of was Cape Cantine in Barbary December 25. Christmas day in the morning The shoare is faire white Sand and the inland country very high and mountainous it lyeth in 32. deg 30. min. North latitude and so coasting from hence Southward about 18 leagues we arrived the same day at Mogadore the Island before named This Mogadore lies under the dominion of the King of Fesse in 31. deg 40. m. about a mile of from the shoar by this means making a good harbor between the Land and it It is uninhabited of about a league in circuit not very high Land all overgrowne with a kinde of shrub Brest high not much unlike our privet very full of Doves and therefore much frequented of Gosh â—ukes and such like Birds of prey besides divers sorts of Sea-foul very plenty At the South side of this Island are three hollow Rocks under which are great store of very wholesome but very ugly fish to looke to Lying here about a mile from the mâ—ine a Boat was sent to sound the Harbor and finding it safe and in the very entrance on the north side about five or six fathome water but at the Souther side it is very dangerous we brought in our whole Fleet December 27. and continued there till the last day of the same Month imploying our leasure the meane while in setting up a Pinnace one of the foure brought from home in peeces with us Our abode here was soon perceived by the Inhabitants of the country who coming to the shoar by signes and cries made shew that they desired to be fetched a board to whom our Generall sent a Boat in which two of the chiefest of the Moores were presently received and one man of ours in exchange left a land as a pledge for their returne They that came aboard were right courteously entertained with a dainty banquet and such gifts as they seemed to be most glad of that they might thereby understand that this Fleet came in peace and friendship offering to Traffique with them for such commodities as their country yeilded to their own content This offer they seemed most gladly to accept and promised the next day to resort again with such things as they had to exchange for ours It is a law amongst them to drink no wine notwithstanding by stealth it pleaseth them well to have it abundantly as here was experience At their return ashoare they quietly restored the pledge which they had stayed and the next day at the hour appointed returning again brought with them Camels in shew loaden with wares to be exchanged for our commodities and calling for a boat in hast had one sent them according to order with our Generall being at this present absent had given before his departure to the Island Our boat coming to the place of landing which was among the rocks one of our men called John Fry mistrusting no danger nor fearing any harm pretended by them and therefore intending to become a pledge according to the order used the day before readily stept out of the boat and ran a land which opportunity being that which the Moores did look for they took the advantage of and not only they which were in sight layed hands on him to carry him away with them but a number more which lay secretly hidden did forthwith break forth from behind the rock whether they had conveyed themselves as seemeth the night before forcing our men to leave the rescuing of him that was taken as captive and with speed to shift for themselves The cause of this violence was a desire which the King of Fesse had to understand what this fleet was whether any forerunner of the Kings of Portugall or no and what newes of certainty the fleet might give him And therefore after that he was brought to the K. presence had reported that they were English men bound for the Straights under the conduct of generall Drake he was sent back again with a present to his captain and offer of great courtesie and friendship if he would use his country But in this mean time the generall being grieved with this shew of injury and intending if he might to recover or redeem his man his pinnace being ready landed his company and marched somewhat into the countrey without any resistance made against him neither would the Moores by any meanes come nigh our Men to deale with them any way wherefore having made provision of wood as also visited an old for t built sometime by the King of Portugall but now ruined by the King of Fesse we departed December 31. towards Cape Blank in such sort that when Fry returned he found to his great grief that the fleet was gone but yet by the Kings favor he was sent home into England not long after in an English Merchants ship Shortly after our putting forth of this harbor we were met with contrary winds and foule weather which continued till the fourth of January yet we still held on our course and the third day after fell with cape De Guerre in 30. deg minutes where we lighted on 3. Spanish fishermen called Caunters whom we took with our new pinnace and carried along with us till we came to Rio Del Oro just under the Tropick of Cancer where with our pinnace also we took a carvell From hence till the 15. day we sailed on towards cape Barbas where the Marigold took a carvill more and so onward to cape Blanck till the next day at night This cape lyeth in 20. deg 30. min. sheweth it self upright like the corner of a wall to them that come towards it from the North having between it and cape Barbas low sandy and very white land all the way Here we observed the south Guards called the Crosiers 9. deg 30. min. above the Horizon Wherein the cape we took one Spanish ship more riding at anchor all her men being fled ashoare in the boat save two which with all the rest we have formerly taken we carried into che harbor 3. leagues within the cape Here our Generall determined for certain dayes to make his abode both for that the place afforded plenty of fresh victuals for the present refreshing of our men for their future supply at sea by reason of the infinite store of divers sorts of good fish which are there easie to be taken even within the harbor the like whereof is hardly to be found again in any part of the world as also because it served very fitly for the dispatching of some other businesses that we had During the time of our abode in this place our generall being a shoare was visited by certain of the people of the country who brought down with them a woman a Moore with her little babe hanging upon her dry dug
having scarce life in her selfe much lesse milk to nourish her child to be sould as a horse or a cow and calf by her side in which sort of merchandise our generall would not deale But they had also Amber-greece with certain gums of some estimation which they brought to exchange with our men for water whereof they have great want so that coming with their Allforges they are leathern bags holding liquor to buy water they cared not at what price they bought it so they may have to quench their thirst A very heavy judgement of God upon that coast The circumstances whereof considered our generall would receive nothing of them for water but freely gave it them that came to him yea fed them also ordinarily with our victuals in eating whereof their manner was not uncivill and unsightly to us but even inhumane and loathsome in it self And having washed and trim'd our ships and discharged all our spanish prises excepting one Caunter for which we gave to the owner of our own ships viz. the Christopher and one carvell formerly bound to Saint Jago which we caused to accompany us hither where she also was discharged after six dayes abode here we departed directing our course for the Islands of cape Verde where if any were we were of necessity to store our fleet with fresh water for a long time for that our generall intended from thence to run a long couse even to the coast of Brasill without touch of land And now having the wind constant at North East E. North E. which is usuall about those parts because it bloweth almost continually from the shoare January the 27. we coasted Bonavista and the next day after we came to anchor under the Wester part towards St. Jago of the Island Maio it lyeth in 15. deg 00. high land saving that the North-west part strecheth out into the sea the space of a league very low and is inhabited by subjects to the King of Portugall Here landing in hope of traffique with the inhabitants for water we found a Town not farre from the waters side of a great number of desolate and ruinous houses with a poor naked Chappell or Oratory such as small cost and charge might serve and suffice being to small purpose and as it seemeth only to make a shew and that a false shew contrary to the nature of a scarecrow which feareth birds from coming nigh this entiseth such as passe by to hale in and look for commodity which is not at all to be found there though in the inner parts of the Island it be in great abundance For when we found the Springs and Wells which had been there as appeareth stopped up again and no other water to purpose to be had to serve our need we marched up to seek some more convenient place to supply our want or at least to see whether the people would be dealt withall to help us therein In this travelling we found the soile to be very fruitfull having every where plenty of fig trees with fruit upon most of them But in the vallies and low ground where little low cottages were built were pleasant vineyards planted bearing then ripe and most pleasant grapes There were also trees without any branch till the top which bare the Coco nuts There were also great store of certain lower trees with long and broad leaves bearing the fruit which they call Plantanes in clusters together like puddings a most dainty and wholesome fruit All of these trees were even laden with fruit some ready to be eaten others coming forward others over ripe Neither can this seem strange though about the middest of winter with us for that the Sun doth never withdraw himself farther off from them but that with his lively heat he quickneth and strengthneth the power of the soile and plant neither ever have they any such frost and cold as thereby to loose their green hâ—w and appearance We found very good water in diverse places but so far off from the road that we could not with any reasonable paines enjoy it The people would by no meanes be induced to have any conference with us but keeping in the most sweet fruitfull vallie among the hils where their Towns and places of dwelling were gave us leave without interruption to take our pleasure in survewing the Island as they had some reason not to endanger themselves where they saw they could reape nothing sooner then damage shame if they should have offer'd violence to them which came in peace to do them no wrong at all This Iland yeildeth other great commodities as wonderfull heards of goats infinite store of wilde hens salt without labour only the gathering it together excepted which continually in a marvellous quantity is increased upon the sands by the flowing of the sea and the heate of the Sunne kerning the same So that of the increase thereof they keep a continuall traffique with their neighbours in the other adjacent Islands We set saile thence the 30. day Being departed from Maio the next day we passed by the Island of Sain Jago ten leagues west of Maio in the same latitude inhabited by the Portugals and Moores together The cause whereof is said to have been in the Portugals themselves who continuing long time Lords within themselves in the said Island used that extream and unreasonable cruelty over their slaves that their bondage being intollerable they were forced to seek some means to help themselves and to lighten that so heavy a burden and thereupon chose to flie into the most mountany parts of the Island and at last by continuall escapes increasing to a great number and growing to a set strength do now live with that terror of their oppressors that they now endure no les bondage in mind then the Forcatos did before in body besides the dammage that they daily suffer at their hands in their goods and cattel together with the abridging of their liberties in the use of divers parts of the fruitfull soile of the said Island which is very large marvellous fruitfull a refuge for all such ships as are bound towards Brasill Ginny the East Indies Binny Calecut c. and a place of rare force if it were not for the cause afore-recited which hath much abated the pride and cooled the courage of that people who under pretence of trafique and friendship at first making an entrance ceased not practising upon the poore Islands the ancient remainders of the first planters thereof as it may seem from the coast of Guinea untill they had excluded them from all government and liberty yea almost life On the South-west of this Island we took a Portugall laden the best part with wine and much good cloth both linnen and woollen besides other necessaries bound for Brasill with many Gentlemen and Marchants in her As we passed by with our fleet in sight of 3. of their towns they seemed very joyfull that we touched
20. day at night in which mean space we killed divers Seales or sea-wolves as the Spaniard calls them which resorted to these rocks in great abundance They are good mâ—at and were an acceptable food to us for the present and a goâ—d supply of our provision for the future Hence April 20. we waighed again and sailed yet further up into the river even till we found but three fadome deep that we roade with our ships in fresh water but we staid not there nor in any other place of the river because that the winds being strong the shoals many and no safe harbor found we could not without our great danger so have done Hailing therefore to seaward again the 27. of the same moneth after that we had spent a just fortnight in that river to the great comfort of the whole fleet we passed by the south side thereof into the main The land here lieth south south W. and N.N.E. with shole water some 3. or 4 leagues off into the sea it s about 36. deg 20. min. and somewhat better south latitude At our very first coming forth to sea again to wit the same night our fly-boat the Swan lost company of us whereupon though our Generall doubted nothing of her happy coming forward again to the rest of the fleet yet because it was grievous to have such often losses and that it was his duty as much as in him lay to prevent all inconveniences besides that might grow he determined to diminish the number of his ships thereby to draw his men unto less room that both the fewer ships might the better keep company that they might also be the better appointed with new and fresh supplies of provision men one to ease the burden of another especially for that he saw the coast it draweth now toward winter here to be subject to many and grievous storms and therefore he continued on his course to find out a convenient harbor for that use searching all that coast from 36. to 47. deg as diligently as contrary winds and sundry storms would permit and yet sound none for the purpose And in the mean time viz. May 8. by another storm the Caunter also was once more severed from us May 12. we had sight of land in 47. deg where we were forced to come to anchor in such roade as we could find for the time Neverthelesse our Generall named the place cape Hope by reason of a bay discovery within the hâ—dland which seem'd to promise a good and commodious harbor But by reason of many rocks lying off from the place we durst not adventure with our ships into it without good and perfect discovery beforehand made Our Generall especially in matters of moment was never wont to rely only on other mens care how trusty or skilfull soever they might seem to be but alwayes contemning danger and refusing no toyle he was wont himself to be one whosoever was a second at every turn where courage skill or industry was to be imployeb neither would he at this time intrust the discovery of these dangers to anothers pains but rather to his own experience in searching out and sounding of them A boat being therefore hoised forth himself with some others the next morning May 13. rowed into the bay and being now very nigh the shorae one of the men of the country shewed himself unto him seeming very pleasant singing and dancing after the noise of a rattle which he shook in his hand expecting earnestly his landing But there was suddenly so great an alteration in the weather into a thick and misty fogge together with an extream storm and tempest that our general being now 3. leagues from his ship thought it be better to return then either to land or make any other stay and yet the fog thickned so mightily that the sight of the ships was bereft them and if Cap. Thomas upon the abundance of his love and service to his generall had not adventured with his ship to enter that bay in this perplexity where good advice would not suffer our ships to beare in while the winds were more tolerable and the aire cleerer we had sustained some great loss or our generall had been further endangered who was now quickly received aboard his ship out of which being within the bay they let fall an anchor and rode there God be praised in safety but our other ships rideing without were so oppressed with the extremity of the storm that they were forced to run off to the sea for their own safegard being in good hope only of the good successe of that ship which was gone in to relieve our generall before this storm arose our Caunter formerly lost was come in the same day unto us in the same roade but was put to sea again the same evening with the rest of the fleet The next day May 14. the weather being faire and the winds moderate but the fleet out of sight our generall determined to go ashoare to this end that he might by making of fires give signes to the dispersed ships to come together again into the roade whereby at last they were all assembled excepting the Swan lost long time before and excepting our Portugal prise called the Mary which waying in this last storm the night before and now lost company and was not found again in a long time after In this place the people being removed up into the country belike for feare of our comming we found neere unto the rocks in houses made for that purpose as also in divers other places great store of Ostriches at least to the number of 50. with much other foule some dried and some in drying for their provision as it seemed to carry with them to the place of their dwellings The Ostriches thighes were in bignesse â—quall to reasonable legs of mutton they cannot flie at all but they run so swiftly and take so long strides that it is not possible for a man in running by any meanes to take them neither yet to come so nigh them as to have any shot at them either with bow or peece whereof our men had often proof on other parts of that coast for all the country is full of them we found there the tools or instruments which the people use in taking them Among other means they use in betraying of these Ostriches they have a great and large plume of feathers orderly compact together upon the end of a staff in the forepart beareing the likness of the head neck and bulk of an Ostrich in the hinder part spreading it self out very large sufficient being holden before him to hide the most part of the body of a man with this it seemeth they staulk driving them into some strait or neck of land close to the sea side where spreading long and strong nets with their dogs which they have in readinesse at all timeâ—â—◠〈◊〉 overthrow them and make a common quarry The
freed of Water we found our Leakes to be nothing increased which though it gave us no hope of deliverance yet it gave us some hope of respite insomuch as it assured us that the Bulke was sound which truly we acknowledged to be an immediate providence of God alone insomuch as no strength of wood and Iâ—on could have possibly born so hard and violent a shock as our Ship did dashing herselfe under full saile against the Rocks except the extraordinary hand of God had supported the same Our next assay was for good ground and anchor-hold to Seaward of us wheron to hale by which meanes if by any our Generall put us in comfort that there was yet left some hope to cleer our selves in his owne person â—e therefore undertooke the charge of sounding and but even a Boats length from the Ship he found that the bottom could not by any length of line be reached unto so that the beginnings of hope which we were willing to have conceived before were by this meanes quite dasht againe yea our misery seemed to be increased for whereas at first we could looke for nothing but a present end that expectation was now turned into the awaiting for a lingring death of the two the far more fearefull to be chosen one thing fell out happily for us that the most of our men did not conceive this thing which had they done they would in all likelihood have been so much discouraged that their sorrow would the more disable them to have sought the remedy our Generall with those few others that could judge of the event wisely dissâ—mbling the same and giving in the meantime cheerfull speeches and good incouragements unto the rest For whiles it semed to be a clear case that our Ship was so fast moared that she could not stirre it necessarily followed that either we were there to remaine on the place with her or else leaving her to commit our selves in a most poore and helplesse state to seeke some other place of stay and refuge the better of which two choices did carry with it the appearance of worse then one thousand deaths As touching our Ship this was the comfort that she could give us that she her selfe lying there confined already upon the hard and pinching Rocks did tell us plaine that she continually expected her speedy dispatch as soone as the Sea and windes should come to be the severe Executioners of that heavy judgement by the appointment of the eternall judge already given upon her who had committed her there to Adamantine bounds in a most narrow prison against their comming for that purpose so that if we would stay with her we must perish with her or if any by any yet unperceivable meanes should chance to be delivered his escape must needes be a perpetuall misery it being far better to have perished together then with the losse and absence of his friends to live in a strange Land whether a solirary life the better choice among wild Beasts as a Bird on the Mountaines without all comfort or among the barbarous people of the Heathen in intollerable bondage both of body and mind And put the case that her day of destruction should be deferred longer then either reason could perswade us or in any likelihood could seeme possible it being not the power of Earthly things to indure what she had suffred already yet could our abode there profit us nothing but increase our wretchednesse and enlarge our sorrows for as her store and Victuals were not much sufficient to sustaine us onely some few dayes without hope of having any increase no not so much as a cup of cold water so must it inevitably come to passe that we as children in the Mothers Womb should be driven even to eat the flesh from of our owne Arms she being no longer able to sustaine us and how horrible a thing this would have proved is easie by any one to be derceived And whither had we departed from her should we have received any comfort nay the very impossibility of going appeared to be no lesse then those other before mentioned our Boat was by no meanes able at once to carry above 20. persons with any safety and we were 58 in all the neerest Land was six leagues from us and the winde from the shoar directly bent against us or should we have thought of setting some a shoare and after that to have fetched the rest there being no place thereabout without Inhabitants the first that had landed must first have fallen into the hand of the Enemy and so the rest in order and though perhaps we might escape the Sword yet would our life have been worse then death not alone in respect of our wofull captivity and bodily miseries but most of all in respect of our Christian liberty being to be deprived of all publique meanes of serving the true God and continually grieved with the horrible impieties and divellish Idolatries of the Heathen Our misery being thus manifest the very consideration wherof must needs have shaken flesh and blood if faith in Gods promises had not mightily sustained us we past the night with earnest longings that the day would once appeare the meane time we spent in often prayers and other godly exercises thereby comforting our selves and refreshing our hearts striving to bring our selves to an humble submission under the hand of God and to a referring our selves wholly to his good will and pleasure The day therefore at length appearing and it being almost full Sea about that time after we had given thankes to God for his forbearing of us hitherto and had with teares called upon him to blesse our labours we againe renewed our travell to see if we could now possibly find any anchor-hold which we had formerly sought in vaine But this second attempt proved as fruitlesse as the former and left us nothing to trust to but prayers and tears seeing it appeared impossible that ever the forecast councell pollicy or power of man could ever effâ—ct the delivery of our Ship except the Lord onely miraculously should do the same It was therefore presently motioned and by generall voyce determined to commend our case to God alone leaving our selves wholly in his hand to spill or save us as seeme best to his gracious wisedome And that our faith might be the better strengthned and the comfortable apprehension of Gods mercy in Christ be more clearly felt we had a Sermon and the Sacrament of the body and blood of our Saviour celebrated After this sweet repast was thus received and other holy exercises adjoyned were ended lest we should seeme guilty in any respect for using all lawfull means we could not invent we fell to one other practise yet unassayed to wit to unloading of our Ship by casting some of her goods into the Sea which thing as it was attempted most willingly so was it dispatched in very short time So that even those things which we before this time nor
any Wars between Spaine and England The second why our Merchants with their Goods were imbarred or arrested Thus departed Captain Sampson with the said Messenger to the City where he found the Governour and People much amazed of such a sudden accident The Generall with the advice and counsell of Master Carleill his Lievtenant generall who was in the Galley with him thought not good to make any stand till such time as they were within the shot of the City where they might be ready upon the return of Captaine Sampson to make a sudden attempt if cause did require before it was darke Captaine Sampson returned with his Message in this sort First touching Peace or Wars the Governour said he knew of no Wars and that it lay not in him to make any he being so mean a Subject as he was And as for the stay of the Merchants with their Goods it was the Kings pleasure but not with intent to endammage any man and that the Kings counter-mand was which had been received in that place some seven nights before that English Merchants vvith their Goods should be dsicharged for the more verifying vvhereof he sent such Merchants as vvere in the Town of our Nation vvho trafficked in those parts vvhich being at large declared to our Generall by them counsell vvas taken vvhat might best be done and for that the night approached it vvas thought needfull to land our Force vvhich vvas done in the shutting up of the day and having quartered our selves to our most advantage vvith sufficient gard upon every streight vve thought to rest our selves for that night there The Governour sent us some refreshing as Bread Wine Oyle Apples Grapes Marmalad and such like About midnight the vveather begins to overcast insomuch that it vvas thought meeter to repair aboord then to make any longer abode on land and before vve could recover the Fleet a great tempest arose vvhich caused many of our Ships to drive from their ancour hold and some were forced to Sea in great perill as the Barke Talbot the Barke Hawkins and the Speedwell vvhich Speedwell onely vvas driven into England the others recovered us again the extremity of the storme lasted three dayes which no sooner began to asswage but Master Carleill our Lieutenant Generall was sent with his owne Ship and three others as also with the Galley and with diverse Pinnaces to see what he might do above Vigo where he tooke many Boates and some Carvels diuersly laden with things of small value but chiefly with househould stuffe running into the high Country and amongst the rest he found one Boat laden with the principall Church-stuffe of the high Church of Vigo where also was their great Crosse of Silver of very faire embossed worke and double gilt all over having cost them a great Masse of money They complained to have lost in all kind of Goods above thirty thousand Duckets in this place The next day the Generall with his whole Fleete went up from the Isles of Bayon to a very good harbour above Vigo where Master Carleill stayed his comming as well for the more quiet tiding of his Ships as also for the good commodity of fresh watering which the place there did affoord full well In the meane time the Governour of Gallisia had reared such forces as he might his numbers by estimate were some two thousand foot and three hundred horse and marched from Bayon to this part of the Countrey which lay in sight of our Fleet where making stand he sent to parle with our Generall which was granted by our Generall so it might be in boates upon the water and for safety of their persons there were pledges delivered on both sides which done the Governour of Gallisia put himselfe with two others into our Vice-Admirals Skiffe the same having been sent to the shoare for him And in like sort our Generall in his owne Skiffe where by them it was agreed we should furnish our selves with fresh water to be taken by our owne people quietly on the land and have all other such necessaries paying for the same as the place would affoord When all our businesse was ended we departed and tooke our way by the Islands of Canaria which are esteemed some three hundred leagues from this part of Spain and falling purposely with Palma with intention to have taken our pleasure of that place for the full digesting of many things in order and the better furnishing our store with such severall good things as that affoorded very abundantly we were forced by the vile Seâ— gate which at that present fell out and by the naughtinesse of the landing place being but one and that under the favor of many Platformes well furnished with great Ordinance to depart with the receipt of many their Canon-shot some into our Ships and some besides some of them being in very deed full Canon high But the onely or chiefe mischiefe was the dangerous sea surge which at shore all alongest plainly threatned the overthrow of as many Pinnaces and Boates as for that time should have attempted any landing at all Now seeing the expectation of this attempt frustrated by the causes aforesaid we though it meeter to fall with the Isle Ferro to see if we could find any better fortune and comming to the Island we landed a thousand men in a valley under a high Mountaine where we stayed some two or three houres in which time the Inhabitants accompanied with a young fellow borne in England who dwelt there with them came unto us shewing their state to be so poore that they were all ready to starve which was not untrue and therefore without any thing gotten we were all commanded presently to imbarke so as that night we put off to Sea South South-east along towards the coast of Barbarie Vpon Saturday in the morning being the thirteenth of November we fell with Cape Blancke which is a low land and shallow water where we catched store of fish and doubling the Cape we put into the Bay where we found certaine French Ships of Warre whom we entertained with great courtesie and there left them The afternoone the whole Fleet assembled which was a little scattered about their fishing and put from thence to the Isles of Cape Verde sayling till the sixteenth of the same Moneth in the morning on which day we descried the Island of Saint Jago and in the evening we anchored the Fleet between the Towne called the Plaie or Praie and Saint Jago where we put on shore a thousand men or more under the leading of Master Christopher Carleill Lieuetenant Generall who directed the service most like a wise Commander The place where we had first to March did affoord no good order for the ground was Mountaines and full of Dales being a marvelous stony and troublesome passage but such was his industrious disposition as he would never leave untill we had gotten up to a faire Plaine where we made stand for the assembling of the army And
others as Hargabushes of crocke and Muskets and such like which played at us on both sides most valiantly in the time of this Incounter They had planted on this plot of great Ordnance one hundred and three score besides small shott as were to be numbred This assault although it brought unto us no great profit in respect of the losse of one of our Ships called the Little Francis which was taken by them before our approach which gave them intelligence of our comming also the losse of some of our Men at that time the which was a most valiant attempt and worthy to be Chronicled There was of the Enemy burned and slaine and drowned all the men in the great Ship but some three or foure that we tooke up out of the water to the intent that they should reveale somewhat unto us they informed us that they having intelligence of our comming by our Ship that was taken by them our end and intent was frustrated This Towne was of great force to the Spaniards and had in it three millions of Treasure of the King of Spaines which those five men of War came of purpose for it and they told us also that they kept our men at Portricho the which they tooke in the Ship called the Little Francis whereupon our Generall wrote unto the chiefe Governour of the Towne â—o be good unto our men and to deale with them as he should doe the like with their men and to send them for England again in safety Also we understood that there was three hundred Souldiers in this Towne of Saint John de Portrizo This towne standeth on a very small Island and is compassed with the Sea on the one side and a great River on the other side we could not come nigh the towne to view the proportion of it because it standeth in a Valley and hath a great Fort new built betwixt us and it We could not come within the sight of the maine Island which joyneth to the Towne so farre as we could discerne it seemeth to be of a vast longitude and latitude The fifteenth of November being saturday Sir John Hawkins and Sir Nicholas Clifford were throwne over-boord the same day we espyed a Spanish Carvill coming towards Saint John de Portricho but from what place we knew not our Generall sent with all speed and imbarked some Men in Pinnaces with all haste to meet with him but when the men in the Castle of Portricho espied it they shot off a great peece of Ordnance as a warning to them not to approach any neerer the Carvill perceiving ran himselfe on the breach and ashore and saved their men which fled away into the Mountaines so that we could not come to them The sixteenth being Sunday we departed from Saint John de Portricho at which place we Mustered all our Men and every Captaine knew his Men in more ample manner then they did before The same day we imbarked our selves in our Ships againe and with all speed we sailed to a place called Saint John Jermans Bay there we landed it is distant from Portricho thirty six leagues there we landed certain of our Companies to guard our Carpenters that did build our Pinnaces not far from this place is a House called an Ingeneroide where is great store of Sugar made it is inhabited with Spaniards The same day Master Brut Browne dyed On Saturday the three and tvventieth of November our Generall held a Court Marshall to which John Standley was called to answer to some matters objected against him The two and twentieth Sir Thomas Baskerfield tooke two men of this Island a Negroe and a Clemeronne The twenty fourth day being Munday the Ship called John of Trollony of Plimmouth was burned in the same Bay of Saint John Jermans the same day we sailed to another Island called Crusao The five and twentieth being Tuesday vve sailed South and by East and South and by West on Wednesday the twentieth six vve sailed South and by West in which course standeth Hispaniola and an Island called Mono did beare from us West and by North. The twenty seven being thursday vve sailed South and by West The twenty ninth being Saturday vve came to the Island called Crusao which is distant from the Bay of Saint Jermans about one hundered and fifty leagues from Portricho we sayled South South East at this place we stayed three or foure houres because we could get no good Harbour to anchor at by reason we were constrained to depart Our Generall did suppose this Island to be another Island called Arewha The twenty ninth of November on the Larbordside it beareth South South East it is distant some eight or nine leagues the same day we espyed the maine land called the West Indies which bore from us North North East and it is a very high land vve sailed along this Coast to a certaine towne called River Della Hatch the same day at night we anchored within nine or ten leagues of the â—owne of River Della Hatch The second of December being Munday all our Soldiers being imbarked in Boats and Pinnaces we sailed to the towne all that day about one of the clocke in the night vve entred the towne the Enemy fled into the Country before leaving some of their Soldiers in the towne to the number of ten or twelve which gave us a volley of shot and two of them were taken prisoners the rest fled away We found nothing in the towne of any account they had carried all away into the Woods and hid them there neither was there any Victuals but what we went into the Country for our selves for they had droven all their Cattle away because they heard of our commming a weeke before we came thither December the third being tuesday the Spaniards came to parley with us for a certain sum of Treasure for ransome for the said towne The fourth of December they brought Pearle c. but lesse in value then was compounded for which our Generall Sir Francis Drake refused and thereupon ordered that it should be set on Fire and burned which accordingly was done at our departure The fifteenth of December being Friday the Enemy made faire promises to our Generall which was onely to have us to stay as we supposed till they had sent word to other places as afterwards the Governour confessed The sixteenth of December the Governour came to parley and to tell us his determined purpose of his delay which was as aforesaid our companies marched divers times for Victuals and so met with the Governour We tooke some more of their men prisoners and found some of their Goods afterward which we carried away But when we saw that they would not come to any faire correspondence or agreement our Generall commanded us to burne all places where ever we came The day before our departure we left the towne of a light Fire unlesse it was a new Religious house not finished and another house that they use to bring