Shipps being all deepe loaden began to feele the Tempest so that wee not able to lye by it neither a hull nor a try and so with an easie Sayle bare vp before the Wind with intent to put into Falmouth but God was pleased that comming within tenne leagues of Sylly the wind vered to the North-east and so we went on in our Voyage Thwart of the Flees of Bayon wee met with a small Ship of Master Waltre of London called the Elizabeth which came out of Plimouth some eyght dayes after vs of whom wee enformed our selues of some particularities and wrote certaine Letters to our Friends making Relation of what had past till that day and so tooke our farewell each of the other The like we did with a small Carvell of Plimouth which wee meet in the height of the Rocke in Portingall From thence wee directed our course to the Ilands of Madera and about the end of Iune in the sight of the Ilands we descryed a Sayle some three leagues to the East-wards and a league to Wind-ward of vs which by her manner of working and making gaue vs to vnderstand that shee was one of the Kings Frigarts For shee was long and snugg and spread a large Clewe and standing to the West-wards and weâ— to the East-wards to recover her Wake when we east about shee beganne to â—eco shete and to goe away lasking and within two glasses iâ— was plainely seene that shee went from vs and so we followed on our course and shee seeing that presently stroke her Topsayles which our Pynace perceiving and being within shot continued the Chase till I shot off a Peece and called her away which fault many runne into thinking to get thereby and sometimes loose themselues by being too bold to venture from their Fleete for it was impossible for vs being to leeward to take her or to succour our owne shee being a Ship of about two hundreth Tunnes And Pynaces to meddle with Ships is to buy Repentance at too deare a rate For their office is to wayte vpon their Fleete in calmes with their Oares to follow a Chase and in occasions to Anchor neere the shore when the greater Ships cannot without perill Aboue all to be readie and obedient at every call Yet will I not that any wrest my meaning neither say I that a Pynace or small Ship armed may not take a great Ship vnarmed for daily experience teacheth vs the contrary The Madera Ilands are two the greater called La madera and the other Porto Santo of great fertilitie and rich in Sugar Conserves Wine and sweet Wood whereof they take their name Other commodities they yeeld but these are the principall The chiefe Towne and Port is on the Souther side of the Madera well fortified they are subiect to the Kingdome of Portingall the Inhabitants and Garrison all Portingalles The third of Iuly we past along the Ilands of Canaria which haue the name of a Kingdome and containe these seaven Ilands Grand Canaria Tenerifa Palma Gomera Lancerota Forteventura and Fierro These Ilands haue abundance of Wine Sugar Conserues Orcall Pitch Iron and other Commodities and store of Cattell and Corne but that a certaine Worme called Gorgoshâ— breedeth in it which eateth out the substance leaving the huske in manner whole The head Iland where the Iustice which they call Audiencia is resident and whither all sutes haue their appealation and finall sentence is the Grand Canaria although the Tenerifa is held for the better and richer Iland and to haue the best Sugar and the Wine of the Palma is reputed for the best The Pitch of these Ilands melteth not with the Sunne and therefore is proper for the higher workes of Shipping Betwixt Forteventura and Lancerota is a goodly found fit for a meeting place for any Fleete Where is good Anchoring and aboundance of many sorts of Fish There is water to be had in most of these Ilands but with great vigilance For the naturalls of them are venturous and hardie and many times clime vp and downe the steepe Rockes and broken hills which seeme impossible which I would hardly haue beleeved had I not seene it and that with the greatest art and agilitie that may be Their Armes for the most part are Launces of nine or ten foote with a head of a foote and halfe long like vnto Boare-Speares saue that the head is somewhat more broad Two things are famous in these Ilands the Pike of Tenerifa which is the highest Land in my iudgement that I haue seene and men of credit haue told they haue seene it more then fortie leagues off It is like vnto a Sugar loafe and continually covered with Snow and placed in the middest of a goodly vallie most fertile and temperate round about it Out of which going vp the pike the colde is so great that it is insufferable and going downe to the Townes of the Iland the heate seemeth most extreame till they approach neere the coast The other is a Tree in the Iland Fierro which some write and affirme with the dropping of his leaues to giue water for the suâ—tenance of the whole Iland which I haue not seene although I haue beene on shoare on the Iland but those which haue seene it haue recounted this misterie differently to that which is written in this maner That this Tree is placed in the bottome of a Valley ever florishing with broad leaues and that round about it are a multitude of goodly high Pynes which over-top it and as it seemeth were planted by the divine providence to preserue it from Sunne and Wind. Out of this Valley ordinarily rise every day great vapours and exhalations which by reason that the Sunne is hindered to worke his operation with the height of the Mountaines towards the South-east convert themselues into moysture and so bedewe all the Trees of the Valley and from those which over-top this Tree drops downe the dewe vpon his leaues and so from his leaues into a round Well of Stone which the Naturals of the land haue made to receiue the water of which the people and cattle haue great releife but sometimes it raineth and then the Inhabitants doe reserue water for many dayes to come in their Cisterns and Tynaxes which is that they drinke of and wherewith they principally sustaine themselues The Citty of the Grand Canaria and chiefe Port is on the west side of the Iland the head Towne and Port of Tenerifa is towards the south part and the Port and Towne of the Palma and Gomera on the East side In Gomera some three Leagues south-ward from the Towne is a great River of water but all these Ilands are perilous to land in for the seege caused by the Ocean sea which alwayes is forcible and requireth great circumspection whosoever hath not vrgent cause is either to goe to the East-wards or to the west-wards of all these Ilands as well to avoyd the calmes which hinder sometimes eight or
a-far off with other poynts and circumstances as the occasions shall minister matter different at the discretion of the wise Commander But some one may say vnto me that in all occasions it is not convenient to giue Directions for that if the enemy happen vpon any of the Fleete or that there be any treacherous person in the company their Designements may be discovered and so prevented To this I answere that the prudent Governour by good consideration may avoyde this by publication of that which is good and necessarie for the guide of his Fleete and people by all secret instructions to giue them sealed and not to be opened but comming to a place appoynted after the manner of the Turkish direction to the Bashawes who are their Generalls and in any eminent perill to cast them by the boord or otherwise to make away with them For he that setteth Sayle not giving directions in writing to his Fleete knoweth not if the night or day following he may be separated from his Company which happeneth sometimes and then if a place of meeting be not knowne he runneth in danger not to ioyne them together againe And for places of meeting when seperation happeneth I am of opinion to appoynt the place of meeting in such a height twentie or thirtie or fortie Leagues off the Land or Iland East or West is not so fitting if the place affoord it as some sound betwixt Ilands or some Iland or Harbour It may be alledged in contradiction and with probable reason that it is not fit for a Fleete to stay in a Harbour for one Ship nor at an Anchor at an Iland for being discovered or for hinderance of their Voyage Yet it is the best for when the want is but for one or two ships a Pynace or Ship may wayte the time appoynted and remaine with direction for them But commonly one Ship though but a bad Sayler maketh more hast then a whole Fleete and is at the meeting place first if the accident be not very important The place of meeting if it might be would be able to giue at the least refreshing of water and wood SECT IX LAnching out into the Channell the wind being at East and by South and East South East which blowing hard and a flood in hand caused a chapping Sea and my Vice-admirall bearing a good Sayle made some water and shooting off a peece of Ordinance I edged towardes her to know the cause who answered me that they had sprung a great Leake and that of force they must returne into the sound which seeing to be necessary I cast about where Anchoring and going aboord presently found that betwixt Wind and Water the Calkers had left a seame vncalked which being filled vp with Pitch onely the Sea labouring that out had beene sufficient to haue sunke her in short space if it had not beene discovered in time And truely there is little care vsed now adaies amongst our countrimen in this Profession in respect of that which was vsed in times past and is accustomed in France in Spaine and in other parts Which necessitie will cause to be reformed in time by assigning the portion that every workeman is to Calke that if there bee dammage through his default he may be forced to contribute towards the losse occasioned through his negligence And for more securitie I hold it for a good custome vsed in some parts in making an end of calking and pitching the ship the next tide to fill her with water which will vndoubtedly discover the defect for no pitcht place without calking can suffer the force and peaze of the water In neglect whereof I haue seene great damage and danger to ensue The Arke Royall of his Maiesties may serue for an example which put all in daunger at her first going to the Sea by a trivuell-hole left-open in the post and covered onely with pitch In this point no man can be too circumspect for it is the security of ship men and goods SECT X. THis being remedied I set sayle in the morning and ran South-west till we were cleere of Vsshent and then South south-west till we were some hundred Leagues off where wee met with a great Hulke of some fiue or sixe hundred tunnes well appointed the which my company as is naturall to all Mariners presently would make a prize and loaden with Spaniards goods and without speaking to her wished that the Gunner might shoote at her to cause her to amaine Which is a bad custome received and vsed of many ignorant persons presently to gun at all whatsoever they discover before they speake with them being contrary to all discipline and many times is cause of dissention betwixt friends and the breach of Amitie betwixt Princes the death of many and sometimes losse of Shippes and all making many obstinate if not desperate whereas in vsing common courtesie they would better bethinke themselues and so with ordinarie proceeding iustified by reason and the custome of all well disciplined people might perhaps many times breede an increase of Amitie a succour to necessity and excuse divers inconveniencies and sutes which haue impoverished many for it hath chanced by this errour that two English ships neither carrying flag for their perticular respects to change each with other a dozen payre of shott with hurt to both being after too late to repent their follie Yea a person of credit hath told mee that two English men of Warre in the Night haue layd each other aboord willingly with losse of many men and dammage to both onely for the fault of not speaking one to the other which might seeme to carrie with it some excuse if they had beene neere the shore or that the one had beene a Hull and the other vnder sayle in feare shee should haue escaped not knowing what shee was though in the night it is no wisedome to bourd with any ship but in the maine Sea and both desiring to ioyne was a sufficient declaration that both were seekers and therefore by day or night he that can speake with the Ship hee seeth is bound vpon payne to bee reputed voyd of good Governement to hayle her before hee shoote at her Some man may say that in the meane time shee might gaine the winde in such causes and many others necessity giveth exception to all Lawes and experience teacheth what is fit to bee done Master Thomas Hampton once Generall of a Fleete of Wasters sent to Rochell Anno 1585. with secret instructions considering and as a man of experience wisely vnderstanding his place and affaires in like case shut his Eare to the instigations and provocations of the common sort preferring the publique good of both Kingdomes before his owne reputation with the vulgar people And as another Fabius Maximus cunctando restituit rem non ponendo rumores ante salutem The French Kings Fleete comming where he was and to winde-ward of him all his
into obedience till by composition they had a place limmitted them for their freedome where they should liue quietly by themselues At this day they haue a great habitation neere Panama called Saint Iago de los Negros well peopled with all their Officers and Commaunders of their owne saue onely a Spanish Governour By the assistance of these Symarons hee brought to the head of this River by peecemeale and in many iourneyes a small pinnace hee fitted it by time in warlike manner and with the choice of his Company put himselfe into the South Sea where his good haâ— was to meete with a cople of shippes of trade and in the one of them a great quantitie of gold And amongst other things two peeces of speciall estimation the one a Table of massie gold with Emralds sent for a present to the King the other a Lady of singular beautie married and a mother of Children The latter grewe to be his perdition for hee had capitulated with these Symarons that their part of the bootie should be onely the prisoners to the ende to execute their malice vpon them such was the rancor they had conceived against them for that they had beene the Tyrants of their libertie But the Spaniards not contented to haue them their slaues who lately had beene their Lords added to their servitude cruell intreaties And they againe to feede their insatiable revenges accustomed to rost and eate the hearts of all those Spaniards whom at any time they could lay hand vpon Iohn Oxman I say was taken with the loue of this Lady and to winne her good will what through her teares and perswasions and what through feare and detestation of their barbarous inclinations breaking promise with the Symarons yeelded to her request which was to giue the prysoners liberty with their ships for that they were not vsefull for him notwithstanding Oxman kept the Lady who had in one of the restored shippes eyther a Sonne or a Nephew This Nephew with the rest of the Spaniards made all the hast they could to Paâ—amâ— and they vsed such diligence as within fewe howers some were dispatched to seeke those who little thought so quickly to bee overtaken The pursuers approaching the River were doubtfull by which of the afore-remembred three mouths they should take their way In this wavering one of the Souldiers espied certaine feathers of Henns and some boughes of trees which they had cut off to make their way swmming downe one of the Outlets This was light sufficient to guide them in their course they entred the River and followed the tracke as farre as their Frigats had water sufficient and then with part of their Souldiers in their boates and the rest on the bankes on eyther side they marched day and night in pursuite of their enemies and in fine came vppon them vnexpected at the head of the River making good cheare in their Tents and devided in two partialities about the partition and sharing of their gold Thus were they surprised and not one escaped Some say that Iohn Oxman fled to the Symarons but they vtterly denyed to receiue or succour him for that he had broken his promise the onely Obiection they cast in his teeth was that if he had held his word with them hee never had fallen into this extremitie In fine hee was taken and after his shippe also was possessed by the Spaniards which he had hid in a certaine Coue and covered with boughes of trees in the guard and custodie of some foure or fiue of his followers All his Company were conveyed to Panama and there were ymbarked for Lyma where a processe was made against them by the Iustice and all condemned and hanged as Pirates This may be a good example to others in like occasions first to shunne such notorious sinnes which cannot escape punishment in this life nor in the life to come for the breach of faith is reputed amongst the greatest faults which a man can commit Secondly not to abuse another mans wife much lesse to force her both being odious to God and man Thirdly to beware of mutenies which seldome or never are seene to come to better ends for where such trees flourish the fruite of force must eyther bee bitter sweete or very sower And therefore seeing wee vaunt our selues to bee Christians and make profession of his law who forbiddeth all such vanities let vs faithfully shunne them that wee may partake the end of that hope which our profession teacheth and promiseth SECT LXVIII COmming in sight of the Ilands of Pearles the winde began to fresh in with vs and wee profited out selues of it but comming thwart of a small Iland which they call la Pacheta that lyeth within the Pearle Ilands close abourd the mayne and some eight or ten Leagues south and by west from Panama the wind calmed againe This Iland belongeth to a private man it is a round humock conteyning not a league of ground but most fertile Insomuch that by the owners industrie and the labour of some fewe slaues who occupie themselues in manuring it and two barkes which hee imployeth in bringing the fruit it giveth to Panama it is sayd to bee worth him every weeke one with another a barre of silver valued betwixt two hundreth and fiftie or three hundreth pezos which in English money may amount to fiftie or threescore pounds and for that which I saw at my being in Panama touching this I hold to be true In our course to fetch the Port of Panama we pâ—â— our selues betwixt the Ilands and the Maine which is a goodly Chanâ—ell of three foure and fiue leagues broad and without danger except a man come too neare the shoare on any side and that is thought the better course then to goe a sea-boord of the Ilands beâ—ause of the swift running of the tydes and the advantage to stop the ebbe As also for succour if a man should happen to bee becalmed at any time beyond expectation which happeneth sometimes The seaventh of Iuly wee had sight of Perico they are two little Ilands which cause the Port of Panama where all the shippes vse to ride It is some two Leagues west north-west of the Cittie which hath also a Pere in it selfe for small Barkes at full sea it may haue haueÌ„ some sixe or seaven foote water but at low water it is drie The ninth of Iuly we anokored vnder Perico and the Generall presently advised the Audiencia of that which had succeeded in his Journey which vnderstood by them caused bonfires to be made and every man to put luminaries in their houses the fashion is much vsed amongst the Spaniards in their feastes of ioy or for glad tidings placing many lights in their Churches in their windowes and Galleries and corners of their houses which being in the beginning of the night and the Cittie close by the sea shore showed to vs being farre off as
THE OBSERVATIONS OF S IR RICHARD HAVVKINS KNIGHT IN HIS VOIAGE INTO THE South Sea Anno Domini 1593. Per varios Casus Artem Experientia fecit Exemplo monstrante viam Manil. li. 1. PRINCEPS SVBDITORUM INCOLVMITATEM PROCVRANS ID LONDON Printed by I.D. for IOHN IAGGARD and are to be sold at his shop at the Hand and Starre in Fleete-streete neere the Temple Gate 1622. TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS AND MOST EXCELLENT Prince CHARLES Prince of Wales DVKE of CORNEWALL EARLE of CHESTER c. AMongst other Neglects preiudiciall to this State I haue observed that many the worthy and Heroyque Acts of our Nation haue beene buried and forgotten The Actors themselues being desirous to shunne emulation in publishing them and those which ouerlived them fearefull to adde or to dimnish from the Actors worth Iudgement and valour haue forborne to write them By which succeeding ages haue beene deprived of the Fruits which might haue beene gathered out of their Experience had they beene committed to Record To avoyd this Neglect and for the Good of my Country I haue thought it my duty to publish the Observations of my South-sea-Voyage and for that vnto your Highnesse you Heires and Successors it is most likely to be advantagious hauing brought on me nothing but losse and misery I am bold to vse your Name a protection vnto it and to offer it with all humblenes and duty to your Highnesse approbation which if it purchase I haue attained my desire which shall ever ayme to performe dutie Your Highnesse humble and devoted servant RICHARD HAVVKINS ⧠To the Reader HAd that worthie Knight the Authour lived to haue seene this his Treatise published he would perhaps himselfe haue giuen the account thereof For by his owne directions it was put to the Presse though it pleased God to take him to his mercy during the time of the Impression His purpose was to haue recommended both it and himselfe vnto our most Excellent Prince CHARLES and himselfe wrote the Dedication which being imparted vnto me I conceited that it stood not with my dutie to suppresse it Touching the discourse it selfe as it is out of my element to iudge so it is out of my purpose to say much of it This onely I may boldly promise that you shall heere find an expert Sea man in his owne Dialect deliver a true relation of an vnfortunat Voyage which howsoever it proved lamentable and fatall to the Actors may yet proue pleasing to the Readers it being an itch in our natures to delight in newnes and varietie be the subiect never so grievous This if there were no more were yet worthy your perusall and is as much as others haue with good acceptance afforded in relations of this nature Howbeit besides the bare series and Context of the storie you shall heere finde interweaved sundry exact descriptions of Countries Townes Capes Promontories Rivers Creekes Harbors and the like not vnprofitable for Navigators besides many notable observations the fruites of a long experience that may giue light touching Marine accidents even to the best Captaines and Commaunders who if they desire to learne by precepts shall here finde store but if examples prevaile more with them here are also aliena pericula if you believe mee not reade and iudge Farewell THE OBSERVATIONS OF S IR RICHARD HAWKINS KNIGHT in his VOYAGE into the South SEA ANNO DOMINI 1593. SECT I. WITH the COVNSELS consent and helpe of my Father Sir Iohn Hawkins Knight I resolved a Voyage to be made for the Ilands of Iapan of the Phillippinas and Molueas the Kingdomes of China and East Indies by the way of the Straites of Magelan and the South Sea The principall end of our Designements was to make a perfect Discovery of all those parts where I should arriue as well knowne as vnknowne with their Longitudes and Latitudes the lying of their Coasts their Head-lands their Pons and Bayes their Citties Townes and Peoplings their manner of Government with the Commodities which the Countries yeelded and of which they haue want and are in necessitie For this purpose in the end of Anno 1588. returning from the iourney against the Spanish Armado I caused a Ship to be builded in the river of Thames betwixt three and foure hundred tunnes which was finished in that perfection as could be required For shee was pleasing to the eye profitable for Stowage good of Sayle and well conditioned The day of her Lanching being appoynted the Lady Hawkins my Mother in Law craued the naming of the Ship which was easily granted her who knowing what Voyage was pretended to be vndertaken named her the Repentance what her thoughts were was kept secret to her selfe And although many times I expostulated with her to declare the reason for giving her that vncouth name I could never haue any other satisfaction then that repentance was the safest Ship we could sayle in to purchase the haven of Heaven Well I know shee was no Prophetesse though a religious and most vertuous Lady and of a very good vnderstanding Yet too propheticall it fell out by Gods secret Iudgementes which in his Wisedome was pleased to reveale vnto vs by so vnknowne a way and was sufficient for the present to cause me to desist from the Enterprise and to leaue the Ship to my Father who willingly tooke her and paid the entire charge of the building and furnishing of her which I had concorted or paid And this I did not for any superstition I haue in names or for that I thinke them able to further or hinder any thing for that all immediately dependeth vpon the Providence of Almightie God and is disposed by him alone Yet advise I all persons ever as neere as they can by all meanes and in all occasions to presage vnto themselues the good they can and in giving names to terrestriall Workes especially to Ships not to giue such as meerly represent the celestiall Character for few haue I knowne or seene come to a good end which haue had such attributes As was plainely seene in the Revenge which was ever the vnfortunatest Ship the late Queenes Maiestie had during her Raigne for comming out of Ireland with Sir Iohn Parrot shee was like to be cast away vpon the Kentish Coast. After in the Voyage of Sir Iohn Hawkins my Father Anno 1586. shee strucke aground comming into Plimouth before her going to Sea Vpon the coast of Spaine shee left her Fleete readie to sinke with a great Leake At her returne into the Harbour of Plimouth shee beate vpon Winter stone and after in the same Voyage going out of Portsmouth Haven shee ranne twice a-ground and in the latter of them lay twentie two houres beating vpon the shore and at length with eight foote of water in hold shee was forced off and presently ranne vpon the Oose and was cause that shee remained there with other three Ships of her Maiesties six moneths till the Spring of the yeare
neglect thereof and haue beene most lamentable spectacles and examples vnto vs Experiments in the great Harry Admirall of England which was over-set and suncke at Ports-mouth with her Captaine Carew and the most part of his company drowned in a goodly Summers day with a little flawe of winde for that her ports were all open and making a small hele by them entred their destruction where if they had beene shut no wind could haue hurt her especially in that place In the River of Thames Master Thomas Candish had a small Ship over-set through the same negligence And one of the Fleete of Syr Francis Drake in Santo Domingo Harbour turned her keele vpward likewise vpon the same occasion with many others which wee never haue knowledge of And when this commeth to passe many times negligence is cloaked with the fury of the winde which is a double fault for the truth being knowne others would bee warned to shun the like neglects for it is a very bad Ship whose Masts crackt not asunder whose Sayles and tackling flie not in peeces before shee over-set especially if shee be English built And that which over-setteth the Ship is the waight of the water that presseth downe the side which as it entreth more and more increaseth the waight and the impossibilitie of the remedie For the water not entring with casing of the sheate or striking the sayles or putting the Ship before the winde or Sea or other diligences as occasion is offered and all expert Mariners know remedie is easily found With this mischaunce the Mariners were so daunted that they would not proceede with the Ship any further except shee were lighted which indeede was needelesse for many reasons which I gaue but Mariners are like to a stiffe necked Horse which taking the bridle betwixt his teeth forceth his Rider to what him list maâ—ger his will so they hauing once concluded and resolved are with great difficultie brought to yeelde to the raynes of reason And to colour their negligence they added cost trouble and delay In fine seeing no other remedie I dispatched that night a servant of mine to giue account to my Father of that which had past and to bring mee presently some Barke of London to goe along with mee to Plymouth which not finding he brought me a Hoye in which I loaded some sixe or eight tunns to giue content to the company and so set sayle the 13. of Aprill and the next day wee put in at Harwich for that the winde was contrary and from thence departed the 18. of the sayd Moneth in the morning When wee were cleere of the Sands the winde vered to the South-west and so we were forced to put into Margat Roade whether came presently after vs a Fleete of Hollanders of aboue an hundreth Sayle bound for Rochell to loade salt and in their companie a dozen ships of Warre their wasters very good ships and well appointed in all respects All which came alongst by our ship and â—â—â—ured vs as is the custome of the Sea some with three others with fiue others with more peeces of Ordinance The next morning the winde vering Easterly I set sayle and the Hollanders with me and they with the flood in hand went out at the North-sands-head and I through the Gulls to shorten my way and to set my Pilates shore Comming neere the south-sore-South-sore-land the winde began to vere to the South-east and by south so as we could not double the point of the Land and being close abourd the shore and putting our ship to slay what with the chapping Sea and what with the Tide vpon the Bowe shee mist staying and put vs in some daunger before wee could flact about therefore for doubling the point of any land better is ever a short bourd then to put all in perill Being tacked about wee thought to anchor in the Downes but the sayles set we made a small bourd and after casting about againe doubled the foreland and ran alongst the Coast till we came to the I le of Wight where being becalmed wee sent a shore Master Thomson of Harwich our Pilot not being able before to set him on shore for the perversnes of the winde Being cleere of the Wight the winde vered Southerly and before wee came to Port-land to the west South-west but with the helpe of the ebbe wee recovered Port-land ronde where we anchored all that night and the next morning with the ebbe wee set sayle againe the winde at west South-west purposing to beare it vp all the ebbe and to stop the flood being vnder sayle SECT III. THe Fleete of Flemings which had beene in our company before came towring into the road which certainly was a thing worth the notiâ—g to behold the good order the Masters observed in guard of their fleete The Admirall headmost the râ—st of the men of Warre spread alongst to wind-ward all saving the vice-Admirall and her consort which were lee-most and stern-most of all and except the Admirall which was the first that came to an Anchor None of the other men of warre anchored before all the Fleete was in safetie and then they placed themselues round about the Fleete the Vice-Admirall Seamost and Leemost which we haue taught vnto most Nations and they obserue it now a dayes better then we to our shame that being the Authors and reformers of the best Discipline and Lawes in Sea causes are become those which doe now worst execute them And I cannot gather whence this contempt hath growne except of the neglect of Discipline or rather in giuing commands for favour to those which want experience of what is committed to their charge Or that there hath beene little curiositie in our countrey in writing of the Discipline of the Sea which is not lesse necessary for vs then that of the Law And I am of opinion that the want of experience is much more tollerable in a Generall by Land then in a Gouernour by Sea For in the field the Lieutenant Generall the Sergeant Maior and the Coronels supply what is wanting in the Generall for that they all command and ever there is place for Counsell which in the Sea by many accidents is denied and the head is he that manageth all in whom alone if there be defect all is badly governed for by ignorance how can errors be iudged or reformed And therefore I wish all to take vpon them that which they vnderstand and refuse the contrary As Sir Henry Palmer a wise and valiant Gentleman a great commander and of much experience in Sea causes being appoynted by the Queenes Maiesties Counsell to goe for Generall of a Fleete for the coast of Spaine Anno 1583. submitting himselfe to their Lordships pleasure excused the charge saying that his trayning vp had beene in the narrow Seas and that of the other he had little experience And therefore was in dutie bound to intreate their Honours to make choice of some other person that was
as big as Wal-nuts but round and smooth and grow in great clusters the trees in forme are all one and the meate in the nut better but they haue no water Another kinde of great Cocos groweth in the Andes of Peru which haue not the delicate meate nor drinke which the others haue but within are full of Almonds which are placed as the graines in the Pomegrannet being three times bigger then those of Europe and are much like them in tast In these Ilands are Cyvet-Cats which are also found in parts of Asia and Afrique esteemed for the Civet they yeelde and carry about them in a cod in their hinder parts which is taken from them by force In them also are store of Monkies and the best proportioned that I haue seene and Parrots but of colour different to those of the west Indies for they are of a russet or gray colour and great speakers SECT XIIII WIth a faire and large winde we continued our course till we came within fiue degrees of the Equinoctiall lyne where the winde tooke vs contrary by the Southwest about the twentie of Iulie but a fayre gale of wind and a smooth Sea so that wee might beare all a taunt and to advantage our selues what wee might wee stoode to the East-wards being able to lye South-east and by South The next day about nine of the Clocke my companie being gathered together to serue God which wee accustomed to doe every morning and evening it seemed vnto me that the coulour of the Sea was different to that of the daies past and which is ordinarily where is deepe water and so calling the Captaine and Master of my Ship I told them that to my seeming the water was become very whitish and that it made shewe of Sholde water Wherevnto they made answere that all the lynes in our Shippes could not fetch ground for wee could not be lesse then threescore and tenne Leagues off the Coast which all that kept reckoning in the Ship agreed vpon and my selfe was of the same opinion And so wee applyed our selues to serue God but all the time that the service endured my heart could not be at rest and still me thought the water began to waxe whiter and whiter Our prayers ended I commanded a lead and a lyne to be brought and having the lead in foureteene fathoms wee had ground which put vs all into a maze and sending men into the toppe presently discovered the land of Guynne some fiue Leagues from vs very low Land I commanded a Peece to be shott and lay by the lee till my other Shippes came vp Which hayling vs wee demanded of them how farre they found themselues off the Land who answered some threescore and tenne or fourescore Leagues when wee told them wee had sounded and found but foureteene Fathomes and that we were in sight of Land they began to wonder But having consulted what was best to be done I caused my Shalop to be manned which I towed at the Sterne of my Ship continually and sent her and my Pynace a head to sound and followed them with an easie Sayle till we came in seaven and six fathome Water and some two Leagues from the shore anchored in hope by the Sea or by the Land to find some refreshing The Sea we found to be barren of Fish and my Boates could not discover any landing place though a whole day they had rowed alongst the Coast with great desire to set foote on shore for that the sedge was exceeding great and dangerous Which experienced wee set sayle notwithstanding the contrarietie of the winde sometimes standing to the West-wards sometime to the East-wards according to the shifting of the wind SECT XV. HEre is to be noted that the error which we fell into in our accompts was such as all men fall into where are currants that set East or West and are not knowne for that there is no certaine rule yet practised for triall of the longitude as there is of the latitude though some curious and experimented of our Nation with whom I haue had conference about this poynt haue shewed me two or three manner of wayes how to know it This some yeares before was the losse of the Edward Cotton bound for the Coast of Brasill which taken with the winde contrary neere the lyne standing to the East-wards and making accompt to be fiftie or sixtie Leagues off the Coast with all her Sayles standing came suddenly a ground vpon the sholes of Madrebombat and so was cast away though the most part of their company saved themselues vpon Raffes But with the contagion of the Countrie and bad entreatie which the Negros gaue them they died so that there returned not to their Country aboue three or â—oure of them But God Almightie dealt more mercifully with vs in shewing vs our error in the day and in time that wee might remedie it to him be evermore glory for all This currant from the line Equinoctiall to twentie degrees Northerly hath grâ—at force and setteth next of any thing East directly vpon the shore which we found by this meanes Standing to the Westwards the wind Southerly when we lay with our Ships head West and by South we gayned in our heith more then if wee had made our way good west south-west for that the currant tooke vs vnder the bow but lying west or west and by north we lost more in twelue houres then the other way we could get in foure and twentie By which plainly we saw that the currant did set East next of any thing Whether this currant runneth ever one way or doth alter and how we could by no meanes vnderstand but tract of time and observation will discover this as it hath done of many others in sundry Seas The currant that setteth betwixt New-found-land and Spaine runneth also East and West and long time deceived many and made some to count the way longer and others shorter according as the passage was speedie or slowe not knowing that the furtherance or hinderance of the currant was cause of the speeding or slowing of the way And in sea Cardes I haue seene difference of aboue thirtie Leagues betwixt the Iland Tercera and the Mayne And others haue recounted vnto me that comming from the India's and looking out for the Ilands of Azores they haue had sight of Spaine And some haue looked out for Spaine and haue discovered the Ilands The selfe same currant is in the Levant Sea but runneth trade betwixt the Maynes and changeable sometimes to the East-wards sometimes to the West-wards In Brasill and the South Sea the currant likewise is changeable but it runneth ever alongst the Coast accompanying the winde and it is an infallible rule that twelue or twentie foure houres before the Wind alters the currant begins to change In the West Indies onely the currant runneth continually one way and setteth alongst the Coast from the Equinoctiall lyne towards the North. No man hath
water and with his tayle thresheth vpon the head of the Whale till hee force him to giue way which the Sword fish perceiving receiveth him vpon his sword and wounding him in the belly forceth him to mount vp againe besides that he cannot abide long vnder water but must of force rise vpp to breath and when in such maner they torment him that the sight is sometimes heard aboue three leagues distance and I dare affirme that I haue heard the blowes of the Thresher two leagues off as the report of a peece of Ordinance the Whales roaring being heard much farther It also happeneth sundry times that a great part of the water of the Sea round about them with the blood of the Whale changeth his colour The best remedy the Whale hath in this extremitie to helpe himselfe is to get him to land which hee procureth as soone as hee discoverth his adversaries and getting the shore there can fight but one with him and for either of them hand to hand he is too good The Whale is a fish not good to be eaten hee is almost all fat but esteemed for his trayne and many goe to the New-found-land Greene-land and other parts onely to fish for them which is in this maner when they which seeke the Whale discover him they compasse him round about with Pynaces or Shalops In the head of every Boat is placed a man with a harping Iron and a long Lyne the one end of it fastned to the harping iron and the other end to the head of the Boat In which it lyeth finely coyled and for that he cannot keepe long vnder water he sheweth which way he goeth when rising neere any of the Boats within reach he that is neerest darteth his harping Iron at him The Whale finding himselfe to be wounded swimmeth to the bottome and draweth the Pynace after him which the Fisher men presently forsake casting themselues into the Sea for that many times he draweth the Boat vnder water those that are next procure to take them vp For this cause all such as goe for that kinde of Fishing are experimented in swimming When one harping Iron is fastned in the Whale it is easily discerned which way he directeth his course and so ere long they fasten another and another in him When he hath three or foure Boats dragging after him with their waight his bleeding and fury he becommeth so over-mastred that the rest of the Pynaces with their presence and terror driue him to the place where they would haue him nature instigating him to covet the shore Being once hurt there is little need to force him to land Once on the shore they presently cut great peeces of him and in great Cauldrons seeth them The vppermost in the Cauldrons is the fatt which they skimme off and put it into Hogsheads and Pipes This is that they call Whales oyle or Traine oyle accompted the best sort of Traine oyle It is hard to be beleeved what quantitie is gathered of one Whale Of the tongue I haue beene enformed haue many Pipes beene filled The fynnes are also esteemed for many and sundry vses as is his spawne for divers purposes This wee corruptly call Parmacittie of the Latine word Sperma Ceti And the precious Amber-greece some thinke also to be found in his bowells or voyded by him but not in all seas yea they maintaine for certaine that the same is ingendred by eating an hearbe which groweth in the Sea This hearbe is not in all Seas say they and therefore where it wanteth the Whales giue not this fruit In the coast of the East Indies in many partes is great quantitie In the coastes of Guyne of Barbary of the Florida in the Ilands of Cape de Verde and the Canaries Amber-greece hath beene many times found and sometimes on the coast of Spaine and England Wherevpon it is presumed that all thâ—se Seas haue not the hearbe growing in them The cause why the Whale should eate this hearbe I haue not heard nor read It may be surmised that it is as that of the Becunia and other Beasts which breed the Beazer stone who feeding in the valleyes and mountaines where are many venemous Serpents and hearbes when they find themselues touched with any poyson forthwith they runne for remedie to an hearbe which the Spaniards call Contra yerva that is to say contrary to poyson which having eaten they are presently cured but the substance of the hearbe converteth it selfe into a medicinable stone So it may be that the Whale feeding of many sorts of fishes and some of them as is knowne venemous when he findeth himselfe touched with this hearbe he cureth himselfe and not being able to digest it nature converteth it into this substance provoketh it out or dyeth with it in his belly and being light the Sea bringeth it to the Coast. All these are imaginations yet instruments to mooue vs to the glorifying of the great and vniversall Creatour of all whose secret wisedome and wonderfull workes are incomprehensible But the more approved generation of the Amber greece and which carrieth likliest probabilitie is that it is a liquor which issueth out of certaine Fountaines in sundry Seas and being of a light and thicke substance participating of the ayre suddenly becommeth hard as the yellow Amber of which they make Beads which is also a liquor of a Fountaine in the Germayne Sea In the bottome it is soft and white and partaking of the ayre becommeth hard and stonie Also the Corrall in the Sea is soft but comming into the ayre becommeth a stone Those who are of this former opinion thinke the reason why the Amber greece is sometimes found in the Whale to be for that he swalloweth it as other things which he findeth swimming vpon the water and not able digest it it remaineth with him till his death Another manner of fishing and catching the Whale I cannot omit vsed by the Indians in Florida worthy to be considered in as much as the barbarous people haue found out so great a secret by the industry and diligence of one man to kill so great and huge a Monster it is in this manner The Indian discovering a Whale procureth two round billets of wood sharpneth both at one end and so binding them together with a cord casteth himselfe with them into the Sea and swimmeth towards the Whale if he come to him the Whale escapeth not for he placeth himselfe vpon his necke and although the Whale goeth to the bottome he must of â—orce rise presently to breath for which nature hath given him two great holes in the toppe of his head by which every time that he breatheth he spouteth out a great quantitie of water the Indian forsaketh not his holde but riseth with him and thrusteth in a Logg into one of his Spowters and with the other knocketh it in so fast that by no meanes the Whale can get it out That fastned at another opportunitie he thrusteth
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
we might discry the hull of a Ship beaten vpon the Beach It was of the Spanish Fleete that went to inhabite there in Anno 1582. vnder the charge of Pedro Sarmiento who at his returne was taken Prisoner and brought into England In this Bay the Spaniards made their principall habitation and called it the Cittie of Saint Philip and left it peopled But the cold barrennes of the Countrie and the malice of the Indians wiâ—h whom they badly agreed made speedie end of them as also of those whom they left in the middle of the Straites three leagues from Cape Froward to the East-wards in another habitation We continued our course alongst this reach for all the Straites is as a River altering his course sometimes vpon one poynt sometimes vpon another which is some eight Leagues long and lyeth West North-west From this we entred into a goodly Bay which runneth vp into the land Northerly many Leagues and at first entrance a man may see no other thing but as it were a maine Sea From the end of this first reach you must direct your course West South-west and some foureteene or fifteene leagues lyeth one of the narrowest places of all the Straites This leadeth vnto another reach that lyeth west and by north some six leagues Here in the middle of the reach the wind tooke vs by the north-west and so we were forced to anchor some two or three dayes In which time we went a shore with our Boates and found neere the middle of this reach on the Star-boord side a reasonable good place to ground and trimme a small Ship where it higheth some nine or ten foote water Here we saw certaine Hogges but they were so farre from vs that wee could not discerne if they were of those of the Countrie or brought by the Spaniards these were all the Beasts which we saw in all the time we were in the Straites In two tydes we turned through this reach and so recovered the Ilands of Pengwins they lye from this reach foure leagues South-west and by west Till you come to this place care is to be taken of not comming too neere to any poynt of the Land for being for the most part sandie they haue sholding off them and are somewhat what dangerous These Ilands haue beene set forth by some to be three we could discover but two And they are no more except that part of the Mayne which lyeth over against them be an Iland which carrieth little likelihood and I cannot determine it A man may sayle betwixt the two Ilands or betwixt them and the Land on the laâ—boord side from which land to the bigger Iland is as it were a bridge or ledge on which is foure or fiue fathome water and to him that commeth neere it not knowing thereof may iustly cause feare for it sheweth to be shold water with his rypling like vnto a race Betwixt the former reach and these Ilands runneth vp a goodly Bay into the Country to the North-wards It causeth a great indraught and aboue these Ilands runneth a great tide from the mouth of the Straites to these Ilands the land on the larboord-side is low land and sandy for the most part and without doubt Ilands for it hath many openings into the Sea and forcible indraughts by them and that on the starboord side is all high mountaynous land from end to end but no wood on eyther side Before wee passed these Ilands vnder the lee of the bigger Iland we anchored the wind being at north-North-east with intent to refresh our selues with the fowles of these Ilands They are of divers sorts and in great plentie as Pengwins wilde Ducks Gulles and Gannets of the principall we purposed to make provision and those were the Pengwins which in Welsh as I haue beene enformed signifieth a white head From which derivation and many other Welsh denominations given by the Indians or their predecessors some doe inferre that America was first peopled with Welsh-men and Motezanna King or rather Emperour of Mexico did recount vnto the Spaniards at their first comming that his Auncestors came from a farre Countrie and were white people Which conferred which an auncient Cronicle that I haue read many yeares since may bee coniectured to bee a Prince of Wales who many hundreth yeares since with certaine shippes sayled to the westwards with intent to make new discoveries Hee was never after heard of The Pengwin is in all proportion like vnto a Goose and hath no feathers but a certaine doune vpon all parts of his body and therefore cannot flie but avayleth himselfe in all occasions with his feete running as fast as most men He liveth in the Sea and on the Land feedeth on fish in the Sea and as a Goose on the shore vpon grasse They harbour themselues vnder the ground in burrowes as the Connies and in them hatch their young All parts of the Iland where they haunted were vndermined saue onely one valley which it seemeth they reserved for their foode for it was as green as any Medowe in the moneth of Aprill with a most fine short grasse The flesh of these Pengwins is much of the savour of a certaine fowle taken in the Ilands of Lundey and Silley which wee call Puffins by the tast it is easily discerned that they feede on fish They are very fatt and in dressing must be flead as the Byter they are reasonable meate rosted baked or sodden but best rosted We saltâ—d some dozen or 16. hogsheads which served vs whilest they lasted in steede of powdred beefe The hunting of them as we may well terme it was a great recreation to my Company and worth the sight for in determining to catch them necessarily was required good store of people every one with a cudgell in his hand to compasse them round about to bring them as it were into a ring if they chanced to breake out then was the sport for the ground being vndermined at vnawares it fayled and as they ran after them one fell here another there another offering to strike at one lifting vp his hand sunke vpp to the arme pits in the earth another leaping to avoyd one hole fell into another And after the first slaughter in seeing vs on the shore they shunned vs and procured to recover the Sea yea many times seeing themselues persecuted they would tumble downe from such high rocks mountaines as it seemed impossible to escape with life Yet as soone as they came to the beach presently wee should see them runne into the Sea as though they had no hurt Where one goeth the other followeth like sheepe after the Bel-wether but in getting them once within the ring close together few escaped saue such as by chance hid themselues in the borrowes and ordinarily there was no droue which yeelded vs not a thousand and more the maner of killing them which the hunters vsed being in a cluster together was with their cudgels to
Seale stinking ripe These houses are made in faâ—hion of an Oven seven or eight foote broad with boughes of trees and covered with other boughes as our Summer houses and doubtles do serve them but for the Summer time when they come to fish and profit themselues of the Sea For they retyre themselues in the Winter into the Country where it is more temperate and yeeldeth better sustenance for on the Mayne of the Straits wee neyther saw beast nor fowle Sea fowle excepted and a kind of Blacke-bird and two hoggs towards the beginning of the Straites Here our ship being well moored we began to supply our wood and water that we had spent Which being a dayes worke and the winde during many dayes contrary I endevoured to keepe my people occupied to divert them from the imagination which some had conceived that it behooved we should returne to Brasill and winter there and so shoot the Straites in the spring of the yeare So one day we rowed vp the River with our boat and light horseman to discover it and the in-land where having spent a good part of the day and finding shold water and many Trees fallen thwart it and little fruite of our labour nor any thing worth the noting we returned Another day we trayned our people a-shore being a goodly sandie Bay another we had a hurling of Batchelers against married men This day we were busied in wrestling the other in shooting so we were never idle neyther thought we the time long SECT XXXIIII AFter we had past here some seven or eight dayes one Evening with a flawe from the shore our Ship droue off into the channell and before we could get vp our Anchor and set our sayles we were driven so farre to lee-wards that we could not recover into the bay and night comming on with a short sayle wee beate off and on till the morning At the breake of the day conferring with the Captaine and Master of my ship what was best to be done we resolved to seeke out Tobias Coue which lyeth over against Cape Fryo on the Southerne part of the Straites because in all the reaches of the Straites for the most part the winde bloweth trade and therfore little profit to be made by turning to winde-wards And from the Ilands of the Pengwins to the ende of the Straites towards the south Sea there is no anchoring in the channell and if we should be put to lee-wards of this Coue we had no succour till we came to the Ilands of Pengwins and some of our Company which had bin with master Thomas Candish in the Voyage in which he died and in the same Coue many weekes vndertooke to be our Pilots thither Wherevpon we bare vp being some two leagues thither having so much winde as we could scarce lye by it with our course and bonnet of each but bearing vp before the winde wee put out our Topsayles and Spritsayle and within a little while the winde began to fayle vs and immediately our Shippe gaue a mightie blow vpon a Rocke and stucke fast vpon it And had wee had but the fourth part of the wind which we had in all the night past but a moment before we strucke the Rocke our Shippe doubtlesse with the blow had broken her selfe all to peeces But our provident and most gracious God which commaundeth wind and Sea watched over vs and delivered vs with his powerfull hand from the vnknowne danger and hidden destruction that so we might prayse him for his fatherly bountie and protection and with the Prophet David say Except the Lord keepe the Cittie the watch-men watch in vaine for if our God had not kept our Shippe we had bin all swallowed vp aliue without helpe or redemption and therefore he for his mercies sake grant that the memoriall of his benefits doe never depart from before our eyes and that we may evermore prayse him for our wonderfull deliverance and his continuall providence by day and by night My company with this Accident were much amazed and not without iust cause Immediately we vsed our endevour to free our selues and with our boates â—ounded round about our Shippe in the meane time assaying our pumpe to know if our Shippe made more water then her ordinary we found nothing increased and round about our Shippe deepe water saving vnder the mid-shippe for shee was a floaâ—e a bead and a â—terne and bearing some fathome before the mayne Must and inâ—o other part was like to be our destruction for being â—bbing water the waight in the head and sterne by fayling of the water began to open her plankes in the middest and vpon the vpper Decke they were gone one from another some two fingers some more which we sought to ease and remedie by lightning of her burden and throwing into the Sea all that came to hand and laying out an Anchor we sought to wend her off and such was the waâ— and force we put to the Capsten and Tackles fastned vpon the 〈◊〉 that we plucked the ring of the Anchor out of the eye but after recovered it though not serviceable All our labour was fruitlesse till God was pleased that the flood came and then we had her off with great ioy and comfort when finding the current favoâ—â—able with vs we stood over to English bay and serching it â—â—e aâ—chored there having beene some three houres vpon the Rocke and wiâ—h the blow as after we saw when our Ship was brought a ground in Pericâ— which is the Port of Panama a great part of her sheathing was beaten off on both sides in her Bulges and some foure foote long and a foote square of her false stemme ioyning to the Keele wrested a crosse like vnto a Hogges yoake which hindered her sayling very much Here we gaue God prayse for our deliverance and afterward procured to supply our wood and water which we had throwne overbourd to case our Shippe which was not much that supplyed it pleased God who is not ever angry to looke vpon vs with comfort and to send vs a fayre and large wind and so we set Sayle once againe in hope to disemboke the Straite but some dozen leagues before we came to the mouth of it the wind changed and forced vs to seeke out some Cove or Bay with our Boates to ride in neere at hand that we might not be forced to returne farre backe into the Straites They sounded a Cove some sixteene leagues from the mouth of the Straite which after we called Crabby Cove It brooked his name well for two causes the one for that all the water was full of a small kinde of redd Crabbes the other for the crabbed mountaines which over-topped it a third we might adde for the crabbed entertainement it gaue vs. In this Cove we anchored but the wind freshing in and three or foure hilles over-topping like Sugar-loaues altered and straightned the passage of the wind in such manner as
Pliny with other Ancient and moderne Authors They are found in divers partes of the world as in the west Indies in the South sea in the east Indian sea in the Straites of Magellane and in the Scottish Sea Those found neere the Pooles are not perfect but are of a thick colour whereas such as are found neere the line are most orient transparent the curious call it their water and the best is a cleare white shining with fierie flames And those of the east India haue the best reputation though as good are found in the west India the the choice ones are of great valew and estimation but the greatest that I haue read or heard of was found in these Ilands of Pearles the which King Phillip the second of Spaine gaue to his daughter Elizabeth wife to Albertus Arch-duke of Austria and Governour of the States of Flaunders in whose possession it remaineth and is called la Peregrina for the rarenes of it being as bigge as the pomell of a Poniard SECT LXIIII. IN this Navigation after our surrender the Generall tooke especial care for the good intreaty of vs and especially of those who were hurt And God so blessed the hands of our Surgians besides that they were expert in their Art that of all our wounded men not one died that was aliue the day after our surrendry The number whereof was neere fortie and many of them with eight ten or twelue wounds and some with more The thing that ought to moue vs to giue God Almighty especiall thankes and prayses was that they were cured in a manner without instruments or salues For the chests were all broken to peeces and many of their simples and compounds throwne into the Sea those which remained were such as were throwne about the shippe in broken pots and baggs and such as by the Divine providence were reserved at the end of three dayes by order from the Generall were commaunded to be sought and gathered together These with some instruments of small moment bought and procured from those who had reserved them to a different end did not onely serue for our cures but also for the curing of the Spaniards being many more then those of our Company For the Spanish Surgians were altogether ignorant in their profession and had little or nothing wherewith to cure And I haue noted that the Spaniards in generall are nothing so curious in accommodating themselues with good and carefull Surgeans nor to fitt them with that which belongeth to their profession as other Nations are though they haue greater neede then any that I doe know At the time of our surrender I had not the Spanish tongue and so was forced to vse an interpreter or the Latine or French which holpe mâ— much for the vnderstanding of those which spake vnto me in Spanish together with a little smattering I had of the Portugall Through the noble proceeding of Don Beltran with vs and his particuler care towards me in curing and comforting me I began to gather heart and hope of life and health my servants which were on foote advised me ordinarily of that which past But some of our enemies badly inclined repined at the proceedings of the Generall and sayd he did ill to vse vs so well that wee were Lutherans and for that cause the saith which was given vs was not to be kept nor performed Others that we had fought as good Souldiers and therefore dâ—served good quarter Others nicknamed vs with the name of Corsarios or Pirats not discerning thereby that they included themselues within the same imputation Some were of opinion that from Panama the Generall would send vs into Spaine Others sayd that he durst not dispose of vs but by order from the Vice-roy of Peru who had given him his authority This hit the nayle on the head To all I gaue the hearing and laid vp in the store-house of my memory that which I thought to be of substance and in the store-house of my consideration endevoured to frame a proportionable resolution to all occurrants conformable to Gods most holy will Withall I profitted my selfe of the meanes which should bee offered and beare greatest probabilitie to worke our comfort help and remedie And so as time ministred oportunitie I began and endevoured to satisfie the Generall and the better sort in the points I durst intermeddle And especially to perswade by the best reasons I could that wee might be sent presently from Panama Alleaging the promise given vs the cost and charges ensuing which doubtles would be such as deserued consideration and excuse besides that now whilest he was in place and power and authority in his hands to performe with vs that hee would looke into his honour and profit himselfe of the occasion and not put vs into the hands of a third person who perhaps bring more powerfull then himselfe he might be forced to pray and intreate the performance of his promise whereunto hee gaue vs the hearing and bare vs in hand that hee would doe what hee could The Generall and all in generall not onely in the Peru but in all Spaine and the Kingdomes thereof before our surrendry held all English men of Warre to be Corsarlos or Pirats which I laâ—oured to reforme both in the Peru and also in the Counsels of Spaine and amongst the Chieftaines souldiers and better sort with whom I came to haue conversation Alleadging that a Pirate or Corsario is he which in time of peace or truce spoyleth or â—â—bâ—eth those which haue peace or truce with them but the Engâ—ish haue neyther peace nor truce with Spaine but warre and â—herefore not to be accounted Pirats Besides Spaine broke the peace with England and not England with Spaine and that by Ymbargo which of all kinds of defiances is most reproved and of least reputation The ransoming of prysoners and that by the Cannon being more honorable but aboue all the most honorable is with Trumpet and Herald to proclaime and denounce the warre by publicke defiance And so if they should condemne the English for Pirats of force they must first condemne themselues Moreover Pirats are those who range the Seas without licence of their Prince who when they are met with are punished more severely by their owne Lords then when they fall into the hands of strangers which is notorious to be more severely prosecuted in England in time of peace then in any the Kingdomes of Christendome But the English haue all licence either immediately from their Prince or from others therevnto authorized and so cannot in any sence be comprehended vnder the name of Pirats for any hostility vndertaken against Spaine or the dependancies thereof And so the state standing as now it doth if in Spaine a paâ—tiâ—uler man should arme a shippe and goe in warre-fare with it against the English and happened to be taken by them I make no question but the Company should bee intreated according to that manner which
though the Cittie had beene on a light fire About eight of the clocke all the Artillerie of the Citty was shott off which wee might discerne by the flashes of fire but could not heare the report yet the Armando being advised thereof and in a readinesse answered them likewise with all their Artillery which taking ende as all the vanities of this earth doe The Generall seâ—led himselfe to dispatch advise for the Kingâ— for the Vice-roy of Peru and for the Vice-roy of the Nova Spana for hee also had beene certified of our being in that sea and had fitted an Armado to seeke vs and to guard his coast But now for a farewell and note it Let me relate vnto you this Secret How Don Beltran shewed mee a Letter from the King his Master directed to the Vice-roy wherein he gaue him particular relation of my pretended voyage of the shippes their burden their munition thâ—ir number of men which I had in them as perfectly as it he had seene all with his owne eyes Saying vnto me Heereby may you discerne whether the King my Master haue friends in England and good and speedie advice of all that passeth Whereuâ—to I replyed It was no wonder for that he had plentie of gold and silver which worketh this and more strange effects for my iourney was publique and notorious to all the Kingdome whereunto hee replyed that if I thought it so convenient leaue should be given me to write into England to the Queenes Maiestie my Mistresse to my Father and to other personages as I thought good and leaving the Letters open that hee would send some of them in the Kings Packet others to his Vncle Don Rodrigo de Castro Cardinall and Archbishoppe of Sevill and to other friendes of his Not making any doubt but that they would be speedily in England For which I thanked him and accepted his courtesie and although I was my selfe vnable to write yet by the hands of a servant of mine I wrote three or foure coppies of one letter to my Father Sir Iohn Hawkins In which I briefly made relation of all that had succeeded in our voyage The dispatches of Spaine and new Spaine went by ordinary course in ships of advise but that for the Peru was sent by a kinseman of the Generalls called Don Francisco de la Cuena Which being dispatched Don Beltran hasted all that ever hee could to put his shippes in order to returne to Lyma Hee causâ—d the Daintie to be grounded and trimmed for in those Ilands it higheth and falleth some fifteene or sixteene foote water And the Generall with his Captaines and some Religious men being aboord her and new naming her named her the Visitation for that shee was rendred on the day on which they celebrate the visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary In that place the ground being plaine and without vantage whereby to helpe the tender sided and sharpe shippes they are forced to shore them on either side In the midest of their solemnity her props and shores of one side fayled and so shee fell over vpon that side suddenly intreating many of them which were in her very badly and doubtles had shee bin like the shippes of the South Sea shee had broken out her bulge but being without Mastes and empty for in the South Sea when they bring a ground a shippe they leaue neither mast balast nor any other thing abourd besides the bare hull her strength was such as it made no great show to haue received any domage but the feare shee put them all into was not little and caused them to runne out of her â—aster then a good pace In these Ilands is no succour nor refreshing onely in the one of them is one house of strawe and a little spring of small moment For the water which the shippes vse for their provision they fetch from another Iland two Leagues west north-west of these which they call Tabaga having in it some fruite and refreshing and some fewe Indians to inhabite it What succeeded to mee and to the rest during our Imprisoment with the rarities and particularities of the Peru and Tierra firme my voyage to Spaine and the successe with the time I spent in pryson in the Peru in the Tercera in Sevill and in Madrid with the accidents which befell me in them I leaue for a second part of this discourse if God giue life and convenient place and rest necessary for so tedious and troublesome a worke desiring God that is Almightie to giue his blessing to this and the rest of my intentions that it and they may bee fruitefull to his glory and the good of all then shall my desires be accomplished and I account my selfe most happie To whom be all glory and thankes from all eternitie FINIS Errata sic corrige FOlio 5. for recant read recount fol. 7. and 9. for wasters read waâ—ters fol. 9. line 7. for light read last fol. 15. for serue read saue fol. 23. for we not read we were not for the River of Ieromino read Ienero for rose read nose The litteralls are commended to favour The Table of the principall Observations conteined in this Booke A Advantage of obedience Folio 91 Advise by Land and Sea Folio 117 Advertisements for Commanders Folio 91 For servitors Folio 92 Agnanapes Folio 62 Noblenes of Alonso de soto Folio 103 Alcatrices Folio 44 Amber-grice Folio 46.47 Amitie of the Indians Folio 116 Mending of vnserviceable Anchors Folio 87 Light Anchors fit for the South Sea Folio 102 Arica Folio 114 Valour of the Arawcans Folio 107 Much commended for all sorts of fruit and gold Folio 106 Spanish Armado Folio 125 Arrogancy of the Spanish Generall Folio 140 Overcharging of Artillery Folio 115 Courses for Artillery after bourding Folio 145 Donna Austria in the narrow Seas Folio 21 B BAckwardnesse of Companies Folio 90 Evill consequences thereof ibid Baldivia Folio 96 English Bay Folio 82 The Bezar stone Folio 47 Beefe pickled 69. held good beyond the Equinoctiall ibid Blanches Bay Folio 77 Pollicies to avoid Bourding Folio 138 The Bonito Folio 42 Brasil knowne c. Folio 38 Bravo Folio 29 Description of Brasil Folio 64 Its Hauens Folio 64 Commodities and wants Folio 65 Bestial and discommodities ibid Losse of the Burdeaux Fleete Folio 9 C FAlse Calking Folio 18 Prevention thereof ibid Thomas Candish 85. surprised Folio 58 Canary Ilands Folio 24 Grand Canary Folio 25 Capâ— Blanco Folio 54 Ignoblâ— Captaines Folio 68 Disloyalties of Captaines Folio 112 Beverage of Cassavy Folio 62 Casâ—avi Meale Folio 61 Preparing thereof ibid S. Catelena Folio 66 Parts requisite in a Chieftain Folio 130 Two Chieftainâ— dangerous Folio 133 Cherries Folio 55 People of Chile Folio 98 Their weapons Folio 99 And hate to the Spaniards â—â—id Civil Catts Folio 31 Cittie of Conception Folio 100 Vnwillingnesse to follow couetous Commanders Folio 109 A Commander not to trust his officers Folio 127 Admonitions to Commanders Folio 128. Cocos and their kinds Folio 30.31