never suspected that any thing could make them forsake vs So we much lamented them The storme ceasing and being out of all hope we set sayle and went on our course During this storme certaine great fowles as big as Swannes soared aboue vs and the winde calming setled themselues in the Sea and fed vpon the sweepings of our Ship which I perceiving and desirous to see of them because they seemed farre greater then in truth they were I caused a hooke and lyne to be brought me and with a peece of a Pilchard I bayted the hook a foot from it tyed a peece of corke that it might not sinke deepe and threw it into the Sea which our ship driving with the Sea in a little time was a good space from vs and one of the Fowles being hungry presently seized vpon it and the hooke in his vpper beake It is like to a Faulcons bill but that the poynt is more crooked in that maner as by no meanes he could cleare himselfe except that the lyne brake or the hooke righted Plucking him towards the ship with the waving of his wings he eased the waight of his body and being brought to the sterne of our ship two of our Company went downe by the Ladder of the poope and seized on his necke and wings but such were the blowes he gaue them with his Pinnions as both left their hand-fast being beaten blacke and blew we cast a snare about his necke and so tryced him into the Ship By the same manner of Fishing we caught so many of them as refreshed and recreated all my people for that day Their bodies were great but of little flesh and tender in taste answerable to the food whereon they feed They were of two colours some white some gray they had three ioynts in each wing and from the poynt of one wing to the poynt of the other both stretched out was aboue two fathomes The wind continued good with vs till we came to 49. degrees and 30. minuts where it tooke vs Westerly being as we made our accompt some fiftie leagues from the shore Betwixt 49. and 48. degrees is Port Saint Iulian a good Harbour and in which a man may graue his Ship though shee draw fifteene or sixteene foote water But care is to be had of the people called Pentagones They are treacherous and of great stature so the most giue them the name of Gyants The second of February about nine of the Clocke in the morning we discryed land which bare South-west of vs which wee looked not for so timely and comming neerer and neerer vnto it by the lying wee could not coniecture what land it should be for we were next of any thing in 48. degrees and no Platt nor Sea-card which we had made mention of any land which lay in that manner neere about that height In fine wee brought our Lar-bord tacke aboord and stood to the North-east-wardes all that day and night and the Winde continuing Westerly and a fayre gale wee continued our course alongst the coast the day and night following In which time wee made accompt we discovered well neere three-score leagues off the coast It is bold and made small shew of dangers The land is a goodly Champion Country and peopled we saw many fires but could not come to speake with the people for the time of the yeare was farre spent to shoot the Straites and the want of our Pynace disabled vs for finding a Port or Roade not being discretion with a ship of charge and in an vnknowne coast to come neere the shore before it was sounded which were causes together with the change of the winde good for vs to passe the Straite that hindered the further discovery of this Land with its secrets This I haue sorrowed for many times since for that it had likelihood to be an excellent Countrie It hath great Rivers of fresh waters for the out-shoot of them colours the Sea in many places as we ran alongst it It is not mountaynous but much of the disposition of England and as temperate The things we noted principally on the coast are these following the westermost poynt of the land with which we first fell is the end of the land to the West-wardes as we found afterwards If a man bring this poynt South-west it riseth in three mounts or round hillockes bringing it more Westerly they shoot themselues all into one and bringing it Easterly it riseth in two hillocks This we called poynâ— Tremountaine Some twelue or foureteene leagues from this poynt to the East-wardes fayre by the shore lyeth a low flat Iland of some two leagues long we named it Fayre Iland â—or it was all over as greene and smooth as any Meddow in the spring of the yeare Some three or foure leagues Easterly from this Iland is a goodly opening as of a great River or an arme of the Sea with a goodly low Countrie adiacent And eight or tenne leagues from this opening some three leagues from the shore lyeth a bigge Rocke which at the first wee had thought to be a Shippe vnder all her Sayles but after as we came neere it discovered it selfe to be a Rocke which we called Condite-head for that howsoever a man commeth with it it is like to the Condite heads about the Cittie of London All this coast so farre as wee discovered lyeth next of any thing East and by North and West and by South The land for that it was discovered in the raigne of Queene Elizabeth my soveraigne Lady and Mistris and a maiden Queene and at my cost and adventure in a perpetuall memory of her chastitie and remembrance of my endevours I gaue it the name of HAVVKINS maiden-land Before a man fall with this land some twentie or thirtie leagues he shall meete with bedds of Oreweed driving to and fro in that Sea with white flowers growing vpon them and sometimes farther off which is a good show and signe the land is neere whereof the Westermost part lyeth some threescore leagues from the neerest land of America With our fayre and large Winde we shaped our course for the Straites and the tenth of February we had sight of land and it was the head land of the Straites to the North-wards which agreed with our height wherein we found our selues to be which was in thirtie two degrees and fortie minutes Within a few houres we had the mouth of the Straites open which lyeth in 52. degrees and 50. minuts It riseth like the North foreland in Kent and is much like the land of Margates It is not good to borrow neere the shore but to giue it a fayre birth within a few houres we entred the mouth of the Straites which is some six leagues broad and lyeth in 52. degrees and 50. minutes doubling the poynt on the Star-board which is also flat of a good birth we opened a fayre Bay in which
necessary for our provision and fired her Thwart of Truxille wee set the companie of her a shoare with the Pilot which wee had taken in Balparizo reserving the Pilot of the burnt shippe and a Greeke who chose rather to continue with vs then to hazard their liues in going a shore for that they had departed out of the Port of Santa which is in eight Degrees being required by the iustice not to weigh anchor before the Coast was knowne to be 〈◊〉 It is a thing worthy to be noted and almost incredible with how few men they vse to sayle a shippe in the south Sea for in this prise which was aboue an hundred Tuns were but eight persons and in a shippe of three hundreth Tuns they vse not to put aboue foureteene or fifteene persons yea I haue beene credibly enformed that with foureteene persons a shippe of fiue hundreth Tuns hath beene carried from Guayaquil to Lyma deepe loaden which is aboue two hundreth Leagues and are forced ever to gaine their Voyage by turning to wind-wards which is the greatest toyle and labour that tâ—e Marriners haue and slow sometimes in this voyage foure or fiue moneths which is generall in all the navigations of this coast But the security from stormes and certainty of the Brese with the desire to make their gaine the greater is the cause that every man forceth himselfe to the vttermost to doe the labour of two men SECT L. IN the height of this Port of Santa some seaven hundreth and fiftie leagues to the west-wards lie the Ilands of Salomon of late yeares discovered At my being in Lyma a Fleete of foure sayle was sent from thence to people them which through the emulation and discord that arose amongst them being landed and setled in the Countrey was vtterly overthrowne onely one shippe with some few of the people after much misery got to the Philippines This I came to the knowledge of by a large relation written from a person of credit and sent from the Philippines to Panama I saw it at my being there in my voyage towards Spaine Having edged neere the coast to put the Spaniards on shore a thicke fogge tooke vs so that wee could not see the Land but recovering our Pinnace and Boate wee sayled on our course till we came thwart of the Port called Malabrigo It lieth in seaven Degrees In all this coast the currant runneth with great force but never keepeth any certaine course saving that it runneth alongst the coast sometimes to the South-wards sometimes to the North-wards which now running to the North-wards forced vs so farre into the Bay which a point of the land causeth that they call Punta de Augussa as thinking to cleere our selues by roving North-west wee could not double this point making our way North North-west Therefore speciall care is ever to bee had of the current and doubtlesse if the providence of Almighty God had not freede vs wee had runne ashore vpon the Land without seeing or suspecting any such danger His name bee ever exalted and magnified for delivering vs from the vnknowne daunger by calming the winde all night the Sunnes rising manifested vnto vs our errour and peril by discovering vnto vs the Land within 2 leagues right a head The current had caried vs without any wind at the least 4. leagues which seene and the winde beginning to blow wee brought our tackes abourd and in short time cleared our selues Thwart of this point of Augussa lie two desert Ilandes they call them Illas de Lobos for the the multitude of Seales which accustome to haunt the shore In the bigger is very good harbour and secure they lie in sixe Degrees and thirtie minutes The next day after wee lost sight of those Ilands being thwarâ— of Payta which lyeth in fiue Degrees and having manned our Pinnace and Boate to search the Port wee had sight of a tall shippe which having knowledge of our being on the Coast and thinking her selfe to be more safe at Sea then in the harbour put her selfe then vnder sayle to her wee gaue chase all that night and the next day but in fine being better of sayle then wee shee freed her selfe Thus being too lee-ward of the Harbour and discovered we continued our course alongst the shore That Evening wee were thwart of the River of Guayaquill which hath in the mouth of it two Ilands the Souther-most and biggest called Puma in three Degrees and the other to the North-wards Santa clara Pâ—ma is inhabited and is the place where they build their principall shipping from-his River Lima and all the valleys are furnished with Timber for they haue none but that which is brought from hence or from the kingdome of Chile By this River passeth the principall trade of the Kingdome of Quito it is Navigable some leagues into the Land and hath great abundance of Timber Those of the Peru vse to ground and trim their shippes in Puma or in Panama and in all other partes they are forced to carene their shippes In Puma it higheth and falleth fifteene or sixteene foote water and from this Iland till a man come to Panama in all the coast it ebbeth and floweth more or lesse keeping the ordinarie course which the Tides doe in all Seas The water of this River by experience is medicinable for all aches of the bones for the stone and strangurie the reason which is given is because all the bankes and low land adioyning to this River are replenished with Salsaperillia which lying for the most part soaking in the water it participateth of this vertue and giveth it this force In this River and all the Rivers of this coast are great abundance of Alagartoes and it is sayd that this exceedeth the rest for persons of credit haue certified mee that as small fishes in other Rivers abound in scoales so the Alagartoes in this they doe much hurt to the Indians and Spaniards and are dreadfull to all whom they catch within their clutches SECT LI. SOme fiue or sixe Leagues to the North-wards of Puma is la Punta de Santa Elena vnder which is good anchoring cleane ground and reasonable succour Being thwart of this point wee had sight of a shippe which we chased but being of better saile then we and the night comming on we lost sight of her and so anchored vnder the Isla de plata to recover our Pinnace and Boate which had gone about the other point of the Iland which lyeth in two Degrees and fortie minutes The next day we past in sight of Puerto Viejo in two degrees ten minutes which lying without shipping wee directed our course for Cape Passaos It lyeth directly vnder the Equinoctiall line some fourescore leagues to the west-wards of this Cape lyeth a heape of Ilands the Spaniards call Illas de los Galapagos They are desert and beare no fruite from Cape Passaos wee directed our course to Cape Saint Francisco which lyeth in one degree to the
our light horseman for with haling her vp to step into her out of the boate he split her asunder and so wee were forced to cut her off which was no small heartes griefe vnto me â—or that I knew and all my company felt and many times lamented the losse of her The storme tooke end and wee shaped our course for the Iland of Saint Maries which lyeth in thirtie seaven Degrees and forty minuts and before you come vnto the Iland some two leagues in the trade way lyeth a rocke which a farre off seemeth to be a Shippe vnder sayle This Iland is little and low but fertill and well peopled with Indians and some fewe Spaniards in it Some ten leagues to the North-wards of this Iland lyeth the Citty Conception with a good Port from this wee coasted alongst till wee came in thirty three degrees and forty minutes In which height lay the Ilands of Ivan Fernandes betwixt threescore and fourescore Leagues from the shore plentifull of fish and good for refreshing I purposed for many reasons not to discover my selfe vpon this coast till wee were past Lyma otherwise called Cividad de los Reyes for that it was entered by the Spaniard the day of the three Kings but my Company vrged me so farre that except I should seeme in all things to over-beare them in not condiscending to that which in the opinion of all but my selfe seemed profitable and best I could not but yeelde vnto though it carried a false colour as the ende prooued for it was our perdition This all my Company knoweth to be true whereof some are yet living and can giue testimonie But the Mariner is ordinarily so carried away with the desire of Pillage as sometimes for very appearances of small moment hee looseth his voyage and many times himselfe And so the greedines of spoyle onely hoped for in shippes of trade which goe too and fro in this coast blinded them from forecasting the perill whereinto wee exposed our voyage in discovering our selues before wee past the coast of Callaâ— which is the Port of Lyma To be short wee haled the coast aboord and that Evening we discovered the Port of Balparizo which serveth the Citty of Saint Iago standing some twenty leagues into the Countrey when presently we descried foure shippes at an Anchor wherevpon wee manned and armed our boate which rowed towards the Shippes they seeing vs turning in and fearing that which was ran a shore with that little they could saue and leaft vs the rest whereof we were Masters in a moment and had the rifling of all the storâ—houses on the shoare This night I set a good guard in all the shippes longing to see the light of the next morning to put all things in order which appearing I began to survay them and found nothing of moment saue fiue hundreth Botozios of Wine two or three thousand of Hennes and some refreshing of Bread Bacon dried Beefe Waxe Candles and other necessaries The rest of their lading was plankes Spares and Tymber for Lyma and the valleyes which is a rich trade for it hath no Tymber but that which is brought to it from other places They had also many Packes of Indian Mantles but of no value vnto vs with much Tallow and Manteca de Puerco and aboundance of great new Chests in which wee had thought to be some great masse of wealth but opening them found nothing but Apples therein all which was good Marchandize in Lyma but to vs of small accompt The Marchandize on shore in their Store-houses was the like and therefore in the same predicament The owners of the Shippes gaue vs to vnderstand that at a reasonable price they would redeeme their Shippes and loading which I harkened vnto and so admitted certaine persons which might treat of the matter and concluded with them for a small price rather then to burne them saving for the greatest which I carryed with me more to giue satisfaction to my people then for any other respect because they would not be perswaded but that there was much Gold hidden in her otherwise shee would haue yeelded vs more then the other three Being in this treatie one morning at the breake of day came another Shippe touring into the Harbour and standing into the shore but was becalmed Against her we manned a couple of Boates and tooke her before many houres In this Shippe we had some good quantitie of Gold which shee had gathered in Baldivia and the Conception from whence shee came Of this Shippe was Pilot and part owner Alonso Perezbueno whom we kept for our Pilot on this coast till moved with compassion for that he was a man charged with wife and children we set him a shore betwixt Santa and Truxillo Out of this Shippe we had also store of good Bacon and some provision of Bread Hennes and other Victuall And for that shee had brought vs so good a portion and her owner continued with vs the better to animate him to play the honest man though we trusted him no further then we saw him for we presently discovered him to be a cunning fellow and for that his other partner had lost the greatest part of Gold and seemed to be an honest man as after he prooved by his thankefulnesse in Lyma we gaue them the ship and the greatest part of her loading freely Here we supplied our want of Anchors though not according to that which was requisite in regard of the burden of our Shippe for in the South Sea the greatest Anchor for a Shippe of sixe or eight hundreth Tunnes is not a thousand waight partly because it is little subiect to stormes and partly because those they had till our comming were all brought out of the North sea by land for they make no Anchors in those Countries And the first Artillerie they had was also brought over land which was small the carriage and passage â—â—om Nombre de Bios or Porto Velo to Panama being most difficult and steepe vp hill and downe hill they are all carried vpon Negroes backes But some yeares beâ—ore my imprisonment they fell to making of Artillery and since they forge Anchors also Wee furnished our Shippe also with a shift of Sayles of Cotton cloth which are farre better in that Sea then any of our double Sayles for that in all the Navigation of that Sea they haue little rayne and few stormes but where rayne and stormes are ordinary they are not good for with the wett they grow so stiffe that they cannot be handled SECT XLIII I Concluded the ransome of the Shippes with an auncient Captaine and of Noble blood who had his daughter there ready to be imbarked to goe to Lyma to serue Donia Teruza de Castro the Vice-royes wife and sister to Don Beliran de Castro Her apparell and his with divers other things which they had imbarked in the greatest Shippe we restored for the good office
profit themselues of their labour and trauell and recompence them badly they are in worse condition then their slaues for to those they giue sustenance house-roome and clothing and teach them the knowledge of God but the other they vse as beastes to doe their labour without wages or care of their bodies or soules SECT XLVIII THwart of Ariquipa the shippe we brought with vs from Balparizo being very leake and my Companie satisfied that their hope to find any thing of worth in her was vaine having searched her from post to stemme condiscended to fire her and the rather to keepe our Company together which could not well suffer any devision more then of meere necessity so by generall accord we eased our selues of her and continued our course alongst the coast till we came thwart of the Bay of Pisco which lyeth within 15. Degrees and 15. minuts Presently after wee were cleare of Cape Sangalean and his Ilands wee ranged this Bay with our Boate and Pinnace It hath 2. small Ilands in it but without fruite and being becalmed we anchored two dayes thwart of Chilec By Sea and by Land those of Clyly had given advise to Don Garcia Hurtado de Mendâ—ca Marquis of Cavete Vice-Roy of Peru resident in Lima of our being on the Coast. Hee presently with all possible diligence put out sixe shippes in warlike order with well neere two thousand men and dispatched them to seeke vs and to fight with vs vnder the conduct of Don Beltrian de Castro Y delaluca his wiues brother who departing out of the Port of Callao turned to wind-ward in sight over the shore from whence they had dayly intelligence where wee had beene discovered And the next day after our departure out of Chilca about the middle of May at breake of day wee had sight each of other thwart of Cavete wee being to wind-wards of the Spanish Armado some two leagues and all with little or no winde Our Pinnace or prise being furnished with Oares came vnto vs out of which we thought to haue taken our men and so to leaue her but being able to come vnto vs at all times it was held for better to keepe her till necessity forced vs to leaue her and so it was determined that if we came to likelihood of boording shee should lay our Boate aboord and enter all her men and from thence to enter our shippe and so to forsake her Although by the event in that occasion this proved good notwithstanding I hold it to bee reproved where the Enemie is farre superior in multitude and force and able to come and bourd if hee list and that the surest course is to fortifie the principall the best that may bee and to cut-of all impediments where a man is forced to defence for that no man is assured to haue time answerable to his purpose and will and vpon doubt whether the others in hope to saue themselues will not leaue him in greatest extremitie SECT XLIX WEe presently put our selues in the best order wee could to fight and to defend our selues our prayers we made vnto the Lord God of battails for his helpe and our deliverance putting our selues wholy into his hands About nine of the Clocke the Brese began to blow and wee to stand off into the Sea the Spaniards cheeke by iole with vs ever getting to the wind-wards vpon vs for that the shipping of the South-sea is euer moulded sharpe vnder water and long all their voyages depending vppon turning to wind-wardes and the Brese blowing ever Southerly As the Sunne began to mount aloft the wind began to fresh which together with the Rowling Sea that ever beateth vpon this Coast comming out of the westerne-bourd caused a chapping Sea wherewith the Admirall of the Spaniards snapt his maine Mast asunder and so began to lagge a sterne and with him other two shippes The Vice-admirall split her maine-sayle being come within shott of vs vpon our broad side but to le-wards the Reare-admirall cracked her maine-yard asunder in the middest being a head of vs. One of the Armado which had gotten vpon the broad side of vs to wind-wards durst not assault vs. With these disgraces vpon them and the hand of God helping and dâ—livering vs night comming we began to consult what course was best to be taken to free our selues wherein were divers opinions some sayd it was best to stand off to the Sea close by all the night others to lye it a hull others to cast about to the shoare-wards two glasses and after all the night to stand off to Sea close by The Admirall of the Spaniards with the other two were a sterne of vs some foure leagues the Vice-Admirall a mile right to le-wards of vs the Reare-Admirall in a manner right a head some Culvering shott and one vpon our loose within shott also the Moone was to rise within two houres After much debating it was concluded that wee should beare vp before the winde and seeke to escape betwixt the Amirall and the Vice-Admirall which wee put in execution not knowing of any other disgrace befallen them but that of the Reare-Admirall till after our surrender when they recounted vnto vs all that had past In the Morning at breake of day wee were cleere of all our Enemies and so shaped our course alongst the Coast for the Bay of Atacumes where we purposed to trim our Pinnace and to renue our wood and water and so to depart vpon our Voyage with all possible speede The Spanish Armado returned presently to Callao which is the Port of Lyma or of the Citty of the Kings It was first named Lyma and retayneth also that name of the River which passeth by the Citty called Lyma the Spanish Armado being entred the Port the people began to goe ashore where they were so mocked and scorned by the women as scarce any one by day would shew his face they reviled them with the name of cowards and golnias and craved licence of the Vice-roy to bee admitted in their roomes and to vndertake the surrendry of the English Shippe I haue beene certified for truth that some of them affronted their Souldiers with Daggers and Pistols by their sides This wrought such effects in the hearts of the disgraced as they vowed eyther to recover their reputation lost or to follow vs into England and so with expedition the Vice-roy commaunded two shippes and a Pinnace to bee put in order and in them placed the chiefe Souldiers and Marriners of the rest and furnished them with victuals and munition The foresayd Generall is once againe dispatched to seeke vs who ranged the Coastes and Ports enforming himselfe what hee could Some fiftie leagues to the North-wards of Lyma in sight of Mongon wee tooke a shippe halfe loaden with wheate sugar miell de Canas and Cordovan skins which for that shee was leake and sayled badly and tackled in such maner as the Marriners would not willingly put themselues into her wee tooke what was
better acquainted and experimented in those Seas that her Maiestie and their Lordships might be the better served His modestie and discretion is doubtlesse to be had in remembrance and great estimation For the ambition of many which covet the command of Fleetes and places of government not knowing their Compasse nor how nor what to command doe purchase to themselues shame and losse to those that employ them Being required in a Commander at Sea a sharpe wit a good vnderstanding experience in shipping practise in mannagement of Sea busines knowledge in Navigation and in command I hold it much better to deserue it and not to haue it then to haue it not deserving it SECT IV. THe fruits and inconveniences of the latter we daily partake of to our losse and dishonor As in the Fleete that went for Burdieux Anno 1592. which had six Gallant Ships for Wasters At their going out of Plimouth the Vice-admirall that should haue beene starnmost of all was the headmost and the Admirall the light and he that did execute the office of the Vice-admirall lanching off into the Sea drew after him the greater part of the Fleete and night comming on and both bearing lights caused a separation so that the head had a quarter of the bodie and the Fleete three quarters and he that should goe before came behinde Whereof ensued that the three parts meeting with a few Spanish Men of Warre wanting their head were a prey vnto them For the Vice-admirall and other Wasters that should be the Shepheards to guard and keepe their flocke and to carry them in safetie before them were headmost and they the Men who made most hast to flie from the Wolfe Whereas if they had done as they ought in place of losse and infamie they had gained honor and reward This I haue beene enformed of by the Spanish and English which were present in the occasion And a ship of mine being one of the Starnmost freed her selfe for that shee was in warlike manner with her false Netting many Pendents and Streamers and at least 16. or 18. Peeces of Artillery the enemie thinking her to be a Waster or Ship of warre not one of them durst lay her aboord and this the Master and company vaunted of at their returne In the same Voyage in the river of Burdieux as is credibly reported if the six Wasters had kept together they had not onely not received domage but gotten much Honour and Reputation For the Admirall of the Spanish Armado was a Flemish Shippe of not aboue 130. Tunnes and the rest Flie-boates and small shipping for the most part And although they were 22. Sayle in all what manner of Ships they were and how furnished and appoynted is well knowne with the difference In the Fleete of her Maiestie vnder the charge of my Father Sir Iohn Hawkins Anno 1590. vpon the coast of Spaine the Vice-admirall being a head one morning where his place was to be a Sterne lost vs the taking of eight men of Warre loaden with Munition Victuals and Provisions for the supplie of the Souldiers in Britaine and although they were seaven or eight Leagues from the Shore when our Vice-admirall began to fight with them yet for that the rest of our Fleete were some foure some fiue Leagues and some more distant from them when we beganne to giue chase the Spaniards recovered into the Harbour of Monge before our Admirall could come vp to giue direction yet well beaten with losse of aboue two hundreth men as they themselues conâ—essed to me after And doubtlesse if the winde had not over-blowne and that to follow them I was forced to shut all my lower ports the ship I vndertooke doubtles had never endured to come to the Port but being doubble Fli-boates and all good of Sayle they bare for their liues and we what we could to follow and fetch them vp In this poynt at the I le of Flores Sir Richard Greenfield got eternall honour and reputation of great valour and of an experimented Souldier chusing rather to sacrifice his life and to passe all danger whatsoeuer then to sayle in his Obligation by gathering together those which had remained a shore in that place though with the hazard of his ship and companie And rather we ought to imbrace an honourable death then to liue with infamie and dishonour by fayling in dutie and I account that he and his Country got much honor in that occasion for one ship and of the second sort of her Maiesties sustained the force of all the Fleete of Spaine and gaue them to vnderstand that they be impregnible for having bought deerely the boording of her divers and sundry times and with many ioyntly and with a continuall fight of 14. or 16. houres at length leaving her without any Mast standing and like a Logge in the Seas shee made notwithstanding a most honourable composition of life and libertie for aboue two hundreth and sixtie men as by the Pay-booke appeareth which her Maiestie of her free grace commanded in recompence of their service to be given to every one his six moneths wages All which may worthily be written in our Chronicles in letters of Gold in memory for all Posterities some to beware and others by their example in the like occasions to imitate the true valour of our Nation in these Ages In point of Providence which Captaine Vavisor in the foresight gaue also good proofe of his valour in casting about vpon the whole Fleete notwithstanding the greatnesse and multitude of the Spanish Armadâ— to yeeld that succour which he was able Although some doe say and I consent with them that the besâ— valour is to obey and to follow the head seeme that good or bad which is commanded For God himselfe telleth vs that obedience is better then sacrifice Yet in some occasions where there is difficultie or impossibilitie to know what is commanded many times it is great discretion and obligation iudiciously to take hold of the occasion to yeeld succour to his associats without putting himselfe in manifest dangâ—râ— But to our Voyage SECT V. BEing cleare of the race of Portland the Wind began to suffle with fogge and misling rayne and forced vs to a short sayle which continued with vs three dayes the Wind never vering one poynt nor the fogge suffering vs to see the Coast. The third day in the fogge we met with a Barke of Dartmouth which came from Rochell and demanding of them if they had made any land answered that they had onely seene the Edie stone that morning which lyeth thwart of the sound of Plimouth and that Dartmouth as they thought bare off vs North North-east which seemed strange vnto vs for we made account that wee were thwart of Exmouth within two houres after the Weather beganne to cleare vp and we found our selues thwart of the Berry and might see the small Barke bearing into Torbay having over-shot her port which error
in the second Logg into the other Spowter and with all the force he can keepeth it in The Whale not being able to breath swimmeth presently ashore and the Indian a cock-horse vpon him which his fellowes discovering approach to helpe him and to make an end of him it serveth them for their foode many dayes after Since the Spaniards haue taught them the estimation of Amber greece they seeke curiously for it sell it to them and others for such things as they best fancie and most esteeme which are as I haue beene enformed all sortes of edge-tooles Copper Glasses Glasse-beads red Caps Shirts and Pedlery ware Vpon this subiect divers Spaniards haue discoursed vnto mee who haue beene eye witnesses thereof declaring them to be valorous ventrous and industrious otherwise they durst not vndertake an enterprise so difficult and full of danger SECT XX. FRom the Tropike of Cancer to three or foure degrees of the Equinoctiall the breze which is the North-east winde doth raigne in our Ocean sea the most part of the yeare except it be neere the shore and then the winde is variable In three or foure degrees of eyther side the line the winde hangeth Southerly in the moneths of Iuly August September and October all the rest of the yeare from the Cape bona esperança to the Ilands of Azores the breze raygneth continually and some yeares in the other moneths also or calmes but he that purposeth to crosse the lyne from the North-wards to the South-wards the best and surest passage is in the moneths of Ianuary February and March In the moneths of September October and November is also good passage but not to sure as in the former SECT XXI BEtwixt nineteene and twenty degrees to the South-wards of the lyne the winde tooke vs contrary which together with the sicknes of my people made mee to seeke the shore and about the end of October we had sight of the Land which presenlty by our height and the making of it discovered it selfe to be the port of Santos alias nostra Senora de Victoria and is easie to be knowne for it hath a great high hill over the Port which howsoever a man commeth with the land riseth like a bell and comming neere the shore presently is discovered a white Tower or Fort which standeth vpon the top of a hill over the Harbour and vpon the seamost land It is the first land a man must compasse before he enter the Port comming within two Leagues of the shore we anchored and the Captaynes and Masters of my other ships being come aboord it was thought convenient the weakenes of our men considered for wee had not in our three ships twenty foure men sound and the winde vncertaine when it might change we thought with pollicie to procure that which wee could not by force and so to offer traffique to the people of the shore by that meanes to proue if wee could attayne some refreshing for our sicke Company In execution whereof I wrote a letter to the Governour in Latine and sent him with it a peece of crymson Velvet a bolt of fine Holland with divers other things as a present and with it the Captaine of my ship who spake a little broken Spanish giving the Governour to vnderstand that I was bound to the East Indies to traffique in those parts and that contrary windes had forced me vpon that Coast If that hee were pleased to like of it for the commodities the Countrie yeelded in aboundance I would exchange that which they wanted With these instructions my Captaine departed about nine of the clocke in the morning carrying a flagge of truce in the head of the boate and sixteene men well armed and provided guided by one of my Company which two yeares before had beene Captaine in that place and so was a reasonable Pilot. Entring the Port within a quarter of a myle is a small Village and three Leagues higher vp is the chiefe Towne where they haue two Forts one on eyther side of the Harbour and within them ride the Ships which come thither to discharge or loade In the small Village is ever a Garrison of a hundreth Souldiers whereof part assist there continually and in the white Tower vpon the top of the hill which commaundeth it Heere my Captaine had good entertainement and those of the shore received his message and Letter dispatching it presently to the Governour who was some three Leagues off in another place at least they beare vs so in hand In the time that they expected the Post my Captaine with one other entertained himselfe with the Souldiers a shore who after the common custome of their profession except when they be hesonios sought to pleasure him and finding that he craved but Oranges Lemmons and matters of smal moment for refreshing for his Generall they suffered the women and Children to bring him what hee would which hee gratified with double Pistolets that I had given him for that purpose So got hee vs two or three hundreth Oranges and Lemmons and some fewe Hennes All that day and night and the next day till nine of the clocke wee waited the returne of our boate which not appearing bred in me some suspition and for my satisfaction I man'd a light horseman which I had and the Fancie the best I could shewing strength where was weakenesse and infirmity and so set sayle towardes the Port our Gunner taking vpon him to bee Pilote for that hee had beene there some yeares before Thus with them we entred the Harbour my Captaine having notice of our being within the Barre came aboord with the Boat which was no small ioy to me and more to see him bring vs store of Oranges and Lemmons which was that we principally sought for as the remedie of our diseased Company He made relation of that had past and how they expected present answere from the governour We anchored right against the village and within two houres by a Flagge of Truce which they on the shore shewed â—s wee vnderstood that the Messenger was come our Boat went for the answere of the governour who said he was sorry that he could not accomplish our desire being so reasonable and good for that in consideration of the warre betwixt Spaine and England he had expresse order from his King not to suffer any English to trade within his iurisdiction no nor to land or to take any refreshing vpon the shore And therefore craved pardon and that wee should take this for a resolute answere And further required vs to depart the Port within three dayes which he said he gaue vs for our courteous manner of proceeding If any of my people from that time forwards should approach to the shore that he would doe his best to hinder and annoy them With this answere wee resolved to depart and before it came with the first faire wind we determined to be packing but the wind suffered vs not all that night nor the next day In
found wanting the prisoners being examined was to bee made good by the Captaine and Company which tooke the shippe and this vpon great punishments I am witnes and avow that this course did redownd much to the benefitt of the generall stocke to the satisfaction of her Maiestie and Counsell the iustification of his governement and the content of his followers Thus much haue I set downe concerning these abuses and the reformation thereof for that I haue neither seene them divulged by any with whom I haue gone to Sea neither yet recorded in writing by any mans pen let consideration present them to the eares of the powerfull But now to our Voyage SECT XLVI RVnning alongst the coast till wee came within few Leagues of Arica nothing happened vnto vs of extraordinary noveltie or moment for we had the brese favourable which seldome happeneth in this Climate finding our selues in nineteene Degrees wee haled the shore close abourd purposing to see if there were any shipping in the road of Arica It standeth in a great large Bay in eighteene degrees and before you come to it a league to the southwards of the roade and Towne is a great round hill higher then the rest of the land of the Bay neere about the Towne which wee having discovered had sight presently of a small Barke close abourd the shore becalmed manning our boate wee tooke her being loaden with fish from Moormereno which is a goodly head-land very high and lyeth betwixt twenty foure and twenty fiue Degrees and whether ordinarily some barkes vse to goe a fishing every yeare In her was a Spaniard and sixe Indians The Spaniard for that hee was neere the shore swam vnto the Rockes and though wee offered to returne him his barke and fish as was our meaning yet hee refused to accept it and made vs answere that hee durst not for feare least the Iustice should punish him In so great subiection are the poore vnto those who haue the administration of Iustice in those partes and in most partes of the Kingdomes and Countries subiect to Spaine Insomuch that to heare the Iustice to enter in at their doores is to them destruction and desolation for this cause wee carried her alongst with vs. In this meane while wee had sight of another tall shippe comming out of the Sea which wee gaue chase vnto but could not fetch vpp beeing too good of sayle â—or vs. Our small prize and boate standing off vnto vs descryed another shippe which they chased and tooke also loaden with fish comming from the Ilands of Iuan Fernandes After we opened the Bay and Port of Arica but seeing it cleane without shipping wee haled the coast alongst and going aboord to viâ—it the bigger prize my company â—aluted mee with a volley of small shot Amongst them one Musket brake and carryed away the hand of him that shot it through his owne default which for that I haue seene to happen many times I thinke it necessary to note in this place that others may take warning by his harme The cause of the Muskets breaking was the charging with two bullets the powder being ordayned to carry but the waight of one and the Musket not to suffer two charges of powder or shott By this over-sight the fire is restrayned with the overplus of the waight of shott and not being able to force both of them out breaketh all to peeces so to find a way to its owne center And I am of opinion that it is a great errour to proue great Ordinance or small shot with double charges of powder or shot my reason is for that ordinarily the mettall is proportioned to the waight of the shot which the Peece is to beare and the powder correspondent to the waight of the bullet and this being graunted I see no reason why any man should require to proue his peece with more then is belonging to it of right for I haue seene many goodly peeces broken with such tryals being cleane without hony combes cracke flawe or other perceavable blemish which no doubt with their ordinary allowance would haue served many yeares Yea I haue beene certified by men of credit that some Gunners haue taken a glory for breaking many peeces in the tryall which is easie to be done by sundry slights and meanes not fitt to bee published much lesse to bee exercised being preiudiciall to the seller and chargeable to the Conscience of the practiser therefore it were good this excessiue tryall by double charges were cleane abolished If I shoulde make choyce for my selfe I would not willingly that any peece should come into Fort or Shippe vnder my charge which had borne at any time more then his ordinary allowance misdoubting least through the violence of the double charge the Peece may bee crased within or so forced as at another occasion with his ordinary allowance he might breake in peeces how many men so many mindes for to others this may â—eeme harsh for that the contrary custome hath so long time beene received and therefore I submit to better experience and contradict not but that in a demy Culvering a man may put two Saker or Minion shots or many of smaller waight and so in a Muskett two Calever shott or many smaller so they exceede not the ordinary waight prescribed by proportion Arte and experience These experiments I hold convenient vpon many occasions yea and most necessary but the vaine custome of double charges to cause their peeces thereby to giue a better report I affirme can produce no other effect but danger losse and harme SECT XLVII HAving visited our prises and finding in them nothing but fish we tooke a small portion for our victualing and gaue the bigger shippe to the Spaniards againe and the lesser wee kept with purpose to make her our Pinnas The Indians which wee tooke in her would by no meanes depart from vs but desired to goe with vs for England saying that the Indian and English were brothers and in all places where wee came they shewed themselues much affectionated vnto vs these were Natiues of Moremoreno and the most brutish of all that ever I had seene and except it were in forme of men and speech they seemed altogether voyde of that which appertained to reasonable men They were expert swimmers but after the manner of Spaniels they diue and abide vnder water a long time and swallow the water of the Sea as if it were of a fresh River except a man see them he would hardly beleeue how they continue in the Sea as if they were Mermaides and the water their naturall Element Their Countrey is most barren and poore of foode If they take a fish aliue out of the Sea or meete with a peece of salted fish they will devoure it without any dressing as savourely as if it had beene most curiously sodden or dressed all which makes me beleeue that they sustaine themselues of that which they catch in the Sea The Spaniards
North-wardes of the lyne and being thwart of it wee descried a small shippe which wee chased all that day and night and the next morning our Pinnace came to bourd her but being a shippe of advise and full of passengers and our shippe not able to fetch her vp they entreated our people badly and freed themselues though the feare they conceived caused them to cast all the dispatches of the King as also of particulars into the sea with a great part of their loading to bee lighter and better of sayle for the shippes of the South Sea loade themselues like lighters or sand barges presuming vpon the securitie from stormes SECT LII BEing out of hope to fetch vp this shippe wee stoode in with the Cape where the Land beginneth to trend about to the East-wards The Cape is high land and all covered over with Trees and so is the land over the Cape and all the coast from this Cape to Panama is full of wood from the Staites of Magelan to this cape of San Francisco In all the coast from head-head-land to head-head-land the courses lye betwixt the North and north and by west and sometimes more westerly and that but seldome It is a bolde Coast and subiect to little foule weather or alteration of windes for the Brese which is the sowtherly wind bloweth continually from Balparizo to Cape San Francisco except it be a great chance Trending about the Cape wee haled in East North-east to fetch the Bay of Atacames which lyeth some seaven Leagues from the Cape In the mid way some three leagues from the shore lyâ—th a banke of sand whereof a man must haue a care for in some parts of it there is but little water The tenth of Iune wee came to an anchor in the Bay of Atacames which on the wester part hath a round hammock It seemeth an Iland and in high springes I iudge that the sea goeth round about it To the East-wards it hath a high sandie cliffe and in the middest of the Bay a faire birth from the shore lyeth a bigge black Rocke aboue water from this Rocke to the sandie cliffe is a drowned Marsh ground caused by his lownesse And a great River which is broad but of no depth Manning our boate and running to the shore we found presently in the westerne bight of the Bay a deepe River whose indraught was so great that we could not benefit our selues of it being brackish except at a low water which hindred our dispatch yet in fiue dayes wee filled all our emptie Caske supplied our want of wood and grounded and put in order our Pinnace Here for that our Indians served vs to no other vse but to consume our victuals we eased our selues of them gaue them hookes and lines which they craved and some bread for a few dayes and replanted them in a farre better countrey then their owne which fell out luckely for the Spaniards of the shippe which wee chased thwart of Cape San Francisco for victuals growing short with her having many mouthes shee was forced to put a shore fiftie of her passengers neere the Cape wherof more then the one halfe dyed with famine and continual wading through Rivers and waters the rest by chance meeting with the Indians which wee had put ashore with their fishing guide and industry were refreshed susteyned and brought to habitation SECT LIII OVr necessary busines being ended wee purposed the fifteenth day of May in the morning to set sayle but the foureteenth in the Evening we had sight of a shippe some three leagues to Sea wards and through the importunitie of my Captaine and Companie I condiscended that our Pinnas should giue her chase which I should not haue done for it was our destruction I gaue them precise order that if they stood not in againe at night they should seeke mee at Cape San Francisco for the next morning I purposed to set sayle without delay and so seeing that our Pinnas slowed her comming at nine of the clocke in the morning wee weyed our Anchors and stoode for the Cape where wee beate off and on two dayes and our Pinnas not appearing wee stood againe into the Bay where wee descried her turning in without a maine Mast which standing off to the Sea close by with much winde and a chapping Sea bearing a taunt-sayle where a little was too much being to small purpose sodainely they bare it by the bourd and standing in with the shore the winde or rather God blinding them for our punishment they knewe not the land and making themselues to bee to wind-wards of the Bay bare vp and were put into the Bay of San Mathew It is a goodly Harbour and hath a great fresh River which higheth fifteene or sixteene foote water and is a good countrey and well peopled with Indidians they haue store of Gold and Emeralds heere the Spaniards from Guayaquill made an habitation whilst I was prisoner in Lyma by the Indians consent but after not able to suffer the insolencies of their guests and being a people of stoâ—acke and presumption they suffered themselues to bee perswaded and led by a Molato This leader many yeares before had fled vnto them from the Spaniards him they had long time held in reputation of their Captaine Generall and was admitted also vnto a chiefe Office by the Spaniardes to gaine him vnto them But now the Indians vniting themselues together presuming that by the helpe of this Molato they should force the Spaniards out of the Countrey put their resolution in execution droue their Enemies into the woods and sâ—ue as many as they could lay hands on some they killed few escaped with life and those who had that good happe suffered extreame misery before they came to Quito the place of neerest habitation of Spaniards To this Bay assoone as our people in the Pynnas saw their errour they brought their tackes abourd and turned and tyded it vp as they could Assoone as we came to Anchor I procured to remedie that was amisse in two daies we dispatched all we had to doe and the next morning we resolued to set sayle and to leaue the coast of Peru and Quito The day appearing we began to weigh our Anchors and being a Pike ready to cut sayle one out of the toppe descryed the Spanish Armado comming about the Cape which by the course it kept presently gaue vs to vnderstand who they were though my company as is the custome of Sea men made them to be the Fleete bound for Panama loden with treasure and importuned that in all hast we should cut sayle stand with them which I contradicted for that I was assured that no shipping would stirre vppon the coast till they had securitie of our departure except some Armado that might be sent to seeke vs and that it was not the time of the yeare to carry the treasure to Panama And besides in Riding still at an Anchor they euer came neerer vnto vs for they