reasonable quantity in bignesse forme and huske much like a bay-berry hard in substance but pleasant in tast which being sod becometh soft and is a most profitable and nourishing meat of each of these we received of them whatsoever we desired for our need insomuch that such was Gods gracious goodnesse to us the old Proverbe was verified with us After a storme commeth a calme after warre peace after scarcity followeth plenty so that in all our Voyage Terenate onely excepted from our departure out of our owne Country hitherto we found not any where greater comfort and refreshing then we did it this time in this place in refreshing and furnishing our selves here we spent two dayes and departed hence February 10. When we were come into the height of 8. deg 4. min. Feb. 12. in the morning we espied a green Island to the Southward not long after two other Islands on the same side and a great one more towards the North they seemed all to be well inhabited but we had neither need nor desire to goe to visit them and so we past by them The 14. day we saw some other reasonable big Islands and February 16. we past betweene foure or five big Islands more which lay in the height 9. deg 40. min. The 18. we cast anchor under a little Island whence we departed againe the day following we wooded here but other relief except two Turtles we received none The 22. day we lost sight of three Islands on our Starboard side which lay in ten deg and some odde minutes After this we past on to the Westward without stay or any thing to be taken notice of till the ninth of March when in the morning we espyed land some part therof very high in 8. d. 20. m. South latitude here we anchored that night the next day weighed againe and bearing farther North and neerer the shoar we came to anchor the second time The eleventh of March we first tooke in water and after sent our Boat againe to shoare where we had Traffique with the people of the Country whereupon the same day we brought our Ship more neere the Towne and having setled our selves there that night the next day our General sent his man a shoar to preset the King with certain Cloth both Linnen and Woollen besides some Silkes which he gladly and thankfully received and rerurned Rice Cocoes Hennes and other Victuals in way of recompence This Island we found to be the Island Java the middle whereof stands in 7. deg and 30. min. beyond the Equator The 13 of March our General himself with many of his gentlemen and others went to shoare and presented the King of whom he was joyfully and lovingly received with his musicke and shewed him the manner of our use of Arms by training his men with their Pikes and other weapons which they had before him for the present we were entertained as we desired and at last dismissed with a promise of more Victuals to be shortly sent us In this Island there is one chiefe but many under-governors or petty kings whom they call Raias who live in great familiarity and friendship one with another The 14. day we received Victuals from two of them and the day after that to wit the 15 three of these Kings in their owne Persons came aboard to see our Generall and to view our ship and warlike munition They were well pleased with what they saw and with the entertainment which we gave them And after these had been with us and on their returne had as it seemes related what they found Raia Donan the chief King of the whole land bringing Victuals with him for our relief he also the next day after came aboard us Few were the dayes that one or more of these kings did misse to visit us insomuch that we grew acquainted with the names of many of them as of Raia Pataira Raia Cabocapalla Raia Mangbango Raia Bocabarra Raia Timbanton whom our Generall alwayes entertained with the best cheere that we could make and shewed them all the commodities of our Ship with our Ordnance and other Arms and Weapons and the severall furnitures belonging to each and the uses for which they served His musick also and all things else whereby he might doe them pleasure wherin they tooke exceeding great delight with admiration One day amongst the rest viz. March 21. Raia Donan comming aboard us in requitall of our musicke which was made to him presented our Generall with his Country musicke which though it were of a very strange kind yet the sound was pleasant and delightfull the same day he caused an Oxe also to be brought to the waters side and delivered to us for which he was to his content rewarded by our Generall with divers sorts of very costly Silkes which he held in great esteeme Though our often giving entertainment in this manner did hinder us much in the speedy dispatching of our businesses and made us spend the more dayes about them yet here we found all such convenient helpes that to our contents we at last ended them the matter of great Importance which we did besides Victualling was the new trimming and washing of our Ship which by reason of our long Voyage was so overgrowne with a kind of a shell-fish sticking fast unto her that it hindred exceedingly and was a great trouble to her sayling The People as are their Kings are a loving a very true and just dealing People We traffiqued with them for Hens Goats Cocoes Plantons and other kind of Victuals which they offered us in such plenty that we might have laden our Ship if we had needed We tooke our leaves and departed from them the 26. of March and set our course West South West directly towards the cape of good hope or Bon Esperance and continued without touch of ought but aire and water till the 21. of May when we espied land to wit a part of the maine Africa in some places very high under the latitude of 31. deg and halfe We coasted along till June 15. on which day having very faire weather and the Wind at Southeast we past the Cape it selfe so neere in sight that we had beene able with our pieces to have shot to land July 15. we fell with the land againe about Rio de sesto where we saw many Negroes in their Boats a fishing wherof two came very neer us but we cared not to stay nor had any talke or dealing with them The 22. of the same moneth we came to Sierra Leona and spent two dayes for watering in the mouth of Tagoine and then put to Sea again here also we had Oisters and plenty of Lemmons which gave us good refreshing We found our selves under the Tropick of Cancer August 15. having the winde at north-Northeast and we 50 leagues off from the neerest land The 22. day we were in the
others as Hargabushes of crocke and Muskets and such like which played at us on both sides most valiantly in the time of this Incounter They had planted on this plot of great Ordnance one hundred and three score besides small shott as were to be numbred This assault although it brought unto us no great profit in respect of the losse of one of our Ships called the Little Francis which was taken by them before our approach which gave them intelligence of our comming also the losse of some of our Men at that time the which was a most valiant attempt and worthy to be Chronicled There was of the Enemy burned and slaine and drowned all the men in the great Ship but some three or foure that we tooke up out of the water to the intent that they should reveale somewhat unto us they informed us that they having intelligence of our comming by our Ship that was taken by them our end and intent was frustrated This Towne was of great force to the Spaniards and had in it three millions of Treasure of the King of Spaines which those five men of War came of purpose for it and they told us also that they kept our men at Portricho the which they tooke in the Ship called the Little Francis whereupon our Generall wrote unto the chiefe Governour of the Towne â—o be good unto our men and to deale with them as he should doe the like with their men and to send them for England again in safety Also we understood that there was three hundred Souldiers in this Towne of Saint John de Portrizo This towne standeth on a very small Island and is compassed with the Sea on the one side and a great River on the other side we could not come nigh the towne to view the proportion of it because it standeth in a Valley and hath a great Fort new built betwixt us and it We could not come within the sight of the maine Island which joyneth to the Towne so farre as we could discerne it seemeth to be of a vast longitude and latitude The fifteenth of November being saturday Sir John Hawkins and Sir Nicholas Clifford were throwne over-boord the same day we espyed a Spanish Carvill coming towards Saint John de Portricho but from what place we knew not our Generall sent with all speed and imbarked some Men in Pinnaces with all haste to meet with him but when the men in the Castle of Portricho espied it they shot off a great peece of Ordnance as a warning to them not to approach any neerer the Carvill perceiving ran himselfe on the breach and ashore and saved their men which fled away into the Mountaines so that we could not come to them The sixteenth being Sunday we departed from Saint John de Portricho at which place we Mustered all our Men and every Captaine knew his Men in more ample manner then they did before The same day we imbarked our selves in our Ships againe and with all speed we sailed to a place called Saint John Jermans Bay there we landed it is distant from Portricho thirty six leagues there we landed certain of our Companies to guard our Carpenters that did build our Pinnaces not far from this place is a House called an Ingeneroide where is great store of Sugar made it is inhabited with Spaniards The same day Master Brut Browne dyed On Saturday the three and tvventieth of November our Generall held a Court Marshall to which John Standley was called to answer to some matters objected against him The two and twentieth Sir Thomas Baskerfield tooke two men of this Island a Negroe and a Clemeronne The twenty fourth day being Munday the Ship called John of Trollony of Plimmouth was burned in the same Bay of Saint John Jermans the same day we sailed to another Island called Crusao The five and twentieth being Tuesday vve sailed South and by East and South and by West on Wednesday the twentieth six vve sailed South and by West in which course standeth Hispaniola and an Island called Mono did beare from us West and by North. The twenty seven being thursday vve sailed South and by West The twenty ninth being Saturday vve came to the Island called Crusao which is distant from the Bay of Saint Jermans about one hundered and fifty leagues from Portricho we sayled South South East at this place we stayed three or foure houres because we could get no good Harbour to anchor at by reason we were constrained to depart Our Generall did suppose this Island to be another Island called Arewha The twenty ninth of November on the Larbordside it beareth South South East it is distant some eight or nine leagues the same day we espyed the maine land called the West Indies which bore from us North North East and it is a very high land vve sailed along this Coast to a certaine towne called River Della Hatch the same day at night we anchored within nine or ten leagues of the â—owne of River Della Hatch The second of December being Munday all our Soldiers being imbarked in Boats and Pinnaces we sailed to the towne all that day about one of the clocke in the night vve entred the towne the Enemy fled into the Country before leaving some of their Soldiers in the towne to the number of ten or twelve which gave us a volley of shot and two of them were taken prisoners the rest fled away We found nothing in the towne of any account they had carried all away into the Woods and hid them there neither was there any Victuals but what we went into the Country for our selves for they had droven all their Cattle away because they heard of our commming a weeke before we came thither December the third being tuesday the Spaniards came to parley with us for a certain sum of Treasure for ransome for the said towne The fourth of December they brought Pearle c. but lesse in value then was compounded for which our Generall Sir Francis Drake refused and thereupon ordered that it should be set on Fire and burned which accordingly was done at our departure The fifteenth of December being Friday the Enemy made faire promises to our Generall which was onely to have us to stay as we supposed till they had sent word to other places as afterwards the Governour confessed The sixteenth of December the Governour came to parley and to tell us his determined purpose of his delay which was as aforesaid our companies marched divers times for Victuals and so met with the Governour We tooke some more of their men prisoners and found some of their Goods afterward which we carried away But when we saw that they would not come to any faire correspondence or agreement our Generall commanded us to burne all places where ever we came The day before our departure we left the towne of a light Fire unlesse it was a new Religious house not finished and another house that they use to bring
downe and tooke some six of our Men at the watring place Certaine of our Men were sent in Boats up the South side of the River where we found some more of their Carpenters tools This Harbour is very commodious for Shipping having a good anchoring place and ten or twelve fathome deep in water we landed great store of Spaniards and Negroes at this Island giving the Enemy to understand that he would use our Men well which they tooke prisoners comming from Panama and sent a Messenger not hearing any answer again yet at our departure the Governour was come down with many Souldiers with him who wrote to our Generall The eighth of February we came away from this Harbour of Porta Vella beating up to the height of Cartagena which was ten dayes after we tooke our course for Gemico North North and by West within seventeen or eighteen leagues of Cartagena there lyeth shoales â—en or twelve fathome deepe The second of February being Thursday we descried certaine Islands called the Gourdanes which is distant from Porta Vella two hundred leagues North North East and Gemica beareth from these Islands of Gourdanes towards the East they are very high land and to the West very low even land we sailed all along to the Cape Corenthus towards the West of this low Land is shoales sometimes three fathome which one of our Ships hardly escaped The twenty seventh of this moneth we passed these shoales by reason of a great gale of wind and tooke our course North North East The saturday being the one and thirtieth of February we espyed the Islands of the Pines West North west on the starbordside these Islands are without Inhabitants The first of March we espyed twenty saile of the Kings men of Warre we chased them and about three of the clocke in the afternoone we began to fight with them and continued three hours in fight the Viseadmirall gave us a shot then the Elizabeth Boneventure gave her a shot again then the Boneventure came in and gave him â— bravadoe with all her broad side that she shot through and through then came up our Generall and gave them a brave volley of shot next came the Defiance and she laid on most bravely next the Adventure she laid on that we could see through and through it was a most brave attempt but God be thanked we had the upper hand of them we plying the Viseadmirall so fast that if she had not born up from us she had sunke and another that was near her we drove them into such a puzell that with stopping their leakes as we judged their Powder being loose fired all the Ships as we did behold within two hours after we had done the fight The next day we sailed towards Cape S. Anthony there following us but thirteen of our gallants they kept their course and would not come at us but at length they came somewhat nigh us and the Defiance and the Adventure bore up to them but they made away as soone as ever they were able and so we were rid of our gallants The fourth of March we descried the Cape of S. Anthony it is distant from Cape Corents eighty leagues from thence to the Havana eighty leagues from thence to the Gulfe The same day we descried the Cape Florida which is low Land and did beare from us North West and by North our course being North East the same day we entred the Gulfe the wind being at East South East leaving the land on the larbordside the Gulfe is in length one hundred leagues from the Havano eighty league the next night we passed the Gulfe about twelve of the clocke in the night The ninth of March we passed the Barmothies we had mighty tempestuous weather The eighth of April 1596. we came to the Islands of Flowers and Cores It is inhabited with Potugals and such like where we staied and watred and traffiqued with them for Victuals or what we vvanted using us very kindly vvith fresh Fish Hens and Bacon and such like which refreshed us vvonderfull vvell and in short time after vve gained the English Coast FINIS May 24. 1572. June 3 June 28. June 29. Iuly 1. Iuly 6. Iuly 12. Iuly 13. Iuly 20 Iuly 2â— Iuly 28. July 29 Aug. 1. Aug 7. Aug. 13. Aug. 14. Aug. 15. Aug. 16. Aug. 21. Septem 5 Septem 8 Septe 9. Sept. 10. Sept. 11. Septe 14 Septe 16 Sept. 18. Sept. 19. Sept. 22. Sept. 23. Sept. 24. Octob. 7. Octo. 8. Octo. 9. Octo. 13. Oct. 14.15 Octo. 16. Octo. 17. Octo. 18. Octo. 19. Octo. 20. Octo. 21. Octo. 22. Octo. 27. Nove. 2. Nove. 3. Nove. 5. Nove. 13. Nove. 15. Nove. 22. Nove. 27. Janu. 3. Ianu. 30. Febr. 3. Febr. 7. Febr. 11. Febr. 13. Febr. 14 Febr. 22. Febr. 23. Marc. 20. Marc. 21. Marc. 13. April 1. Apr. 2.3 15â—â— Nov. 15. Nov. 16. Nov. 17 18. Nov. 2â— Dece 13. 1577 Dece 25. Deceâ—b Dec. 31. Ian. 7. Ian. 13. Ian. 15. Ian. 16. Ian 22. Ian. 28. Ian. 29. Ian. 30. Ian. 31. Feb. 1. Feb. 2. Feb. 17. 〈◊〉 Apr. 5. 1577. 1578. April 5. April 7. April 14 Apr. 16. April 1â— April 2â— April 27. April 27. May 13. May 14 May 15. May 17. May 18. Iune 3. Iune 12. Iune 14. Iune 17. Iune 18 Iune 19. Iune 20. June 22 Sept. 6. Sept. 7. Sept. 8 Sept. 30. 〈…〉 Octob. 8. Octo 28 Octo. 30. Nove. 1. Nov. 25 Sept. 30. Octob. 7 Nov. 30 Dece 4. Dece 5. Dece 19. Dece 20. Ian. 19 Ian 22. Ian. 26. Feb â— Feb. 9. Feb. 15. Feb. 16. Feb. 20. Febr. 24. Feb 28. March 1. 1579. March 7. Marc. 16. Marc. 24. April 15 Apr. 16. Iune â— Iune 17. Iune 18. Iâ—â—â— 21. 1578. Iune 26. Iuly 24. Iuly 25. Sept. 30. October 3 Octob. 16. Octob. 21 Octob. 22. Octob. 25. Octob. 30. Novem. 1 Novem. 3 Nov. 9. Nov. 14. Dec. 12. Dec. 16. Jan. 9. Jan. 10 Jan. 12. Jan. 14. Jan. 20. Jan. 26. Feb. 1. 〈…〉 Feb. 6. Feb. 8. Feb. 10. Feb. 12. Feb. 14. Feb. 16. Feb. 18 19 Feb. 22. Mar. 9. Mar. 10. Mar. 11. Mar. 12. Mar. 13. Mar. 14. Mar. 15. 1579. Mar. 21. 1580. Mar. 26. May 21. June 15. July 15. July 22. July 24. Aug. 15. Aug. 16. Sep. 26.
the Dragon the other the Swan in the year 70. the other in the Swan alone in the yeare 71. to gaine such intelligences as might further him to get some amends for his losse And having in those two Voyages gotten such certaine notice of the persons places aymed at as he thought requisite and thereupon with good deliberation resolved on a third Voyage the Description wherof we have now in hand he accordingly prepared his Ships Company and then taking the first opportunity of a good wind had such succes in his proceedings as now followes further to be declared On Whitsunday Eve being the 24. of May in the year 1572. Captain Drake in the Pascha of Plimoth of 70. tons his Admirall with the Swan of the same Port of 25 tons his Vice-Admirall in which his brother Iohn Drake was Captain having in both of them of men and boyes seventy three all voluntarily assembled of which the eldest was fifty all the rest under thirty so divided that there were forty seven in one ship twenty six in the other both richly furnished with victuals and apparell for a whole year and no lesse heedfully provided of all manner of Munition Artillery Artificers stuffe and tooles that were requisite for such a Man of war in such an attempt but especially having three dainty Pinnases made in Plimouth taken asunder all in peices and stowed aboard to be set up as occasion served set sayl from out of the Sound of Plimouth with intent to land at Nombre de dios The wind continued prosperous favorable at Northeast and gave us a very good passage without any alteration of change so that albeit we had sight of Porto Santo one of the Maderas of the Canaries also within twelve dayes of our setting forth yet we never strook sayle nor came to anchor nor made any stay for any cause neither there or else where untill 25. dayes after When we had sight of the Island of Guadalupe one of the Islands of the West Indies goodly high land The next morning we entred between Dominica Guadalupe where we descried two canoas coming from a rocky Iland three leagues off Dominica which usually repair thither to fish by reason the great plenty thereof which is there continually to be found We landed on the South side of it remaining there three days to refresh our men water our ships out of one of those goodly rivers which fall down off the mountain There we saw certain poore cottages built with Palmito boughs and branches but no inhabitants at that time civill nor savage the cottages it may be for we could know no certaine cause of the solitarinesse we found there serving not for continuall inhabitation but only for their uses that came to that place at certaine seasons to fish The third day after about three in the after-noon we set sail from thence towards the continent of Terra firma And the fifth day after we had sight of the high land of Santa Martha but came not neer the shoar by ten leagues But thence directed our course for a place called by us Port Phesant for that our Captain had so named it in his former voyage by reason of the great store of those goodly Fowls which he and his Company did then dayly kill and feed on in that place In this course notwithstanding we had two dayes calme yet within six dayes we arived at our Port Phesant which is a fine round Bay of very safe harbour for all winds lying betweene two high points not past halfe a cables length over at the mouth but within eight or ten cables length every way having ten or twelve fadome water more or lesse full of good fish the soile also very fruitfull which may appear by this that our Captain having been in this place within a year and few dayes before and having rid the place with many alleyes and paths made yet now all was so overgrowne againe as that we doubted at first whether this were the same place or no. At our entrance into this Bay our Captaine having given order to his brother what to do if any occasion shoud happen in his absence was on his way with intent to have gone a land with some few only in his company because he knew there dwelt no Spaniards within thirty five leagues of that place Tolou being the neerest to the Eastwards and Nombâ—e de dios to the westwards where any of that Nation dwelt But as we were rowing a shoar we saw a smoak in the woods even neer the place which our Captain had aforetime frequented therefore thinking it fit to take more strength with us he caused his other boat also to be manned with certain muskets and other weapons suspecting some enemy had been a shoar When we landed we found by evident markes that there had been lately there a certaine English man of Plimouth called Iohn Garret who been conducted thither by certain English Mariners which had been there with our Captain in some of his former voyages He had now left a plate of Lead nailed fast to a mighty great tree greater hen any four men joyning hands could fathom about on which were engraven these words directed to our Captaine CAptain Drake if you fortune to come to this Port make hast away For the Spanyards which you had with you here the last year have bewrayed this place and taken away all that you left here I departed from hence this present 7. of Iuly 1572. Your very loving friend IOHN GARRET The smoake which we saw was occasioned by a fire which the said Garret and his Company had made before their departure in a very great tree not farre from this which had the Lead nayled on it which had continued burning at least five dayes before our arrivall This advertisement notwithstanding our Captain ment not to depart before he had built his Pinnaces which were yet aboard in pieces for which purpose he knew this Port a most convenient place And therefore so soon as we had mored our ships our Captain commanded his Pinnaces to be brought ashore for the Carpenters to set up himself employing al his other company in fortifying a place which he had chosen out as a most fit plot of three quarters of an acre of ground to make some strength or safety for the present as sufficiently as the meanes he had would affoord which was performed by felling of great trees bowsing and haling them together with great Pulleis and halfers untill they were inclosed to the waters and then letting others fall upon them untill they had raised with trees and boughs thirty foot in height round about leaving only one gate to issue at neet the waters side which every night that we might sleepe in more safety and security was shut up with a great tree drawn a'rthwart it The whole plot was built in a Pentagonall form to wit of five equall sides
20. day at night in which mean space we killed divers Seales or sea-wolves as the Spaniard calls them which resorted to these rocks in great abundance They are good mâ—at and were an acceptable food to us for the present and a goâ—d supply of our provision for the future Hence April 20. we waighed again and sailed yet further up into the river even till we found but three fadome deep that we roade with our ships in fresh water but we staid not there nor in any other place of the river because that the winds being strong the shoals many and no safe harbor found we could not without our great danger so have done Hailing therefore to seaward again the 27. of the same moneth after that we had spent a just fortnight in that river to the great comfort of the whole fleet we passed by the south side thereof into the main The land here lieth south south W. and N.N.E. with shole water some 3. or 4 leagues off into the sea it s about 36. deg 20. min. and somewhat better south latitude At our very first coming forth to sea again to wit the same night our fly-boat the Swan lost company of us whereupon though our Generall doubted nothing of her happy coming forward again to the rest of the fleet yet because it was grievous to have such often losses and that it was his duty as much as in him lay to prevent all inconveniences besides that might grow he determined to diminish the number of his ships thereby to draw his men unto less room that both the fewer ships might the better keep company that they might also be the better appointed with new and fresh supplies of provision men one to ease the burden of another especially for that he saw the coast it draweth now toward winter here to be subject to many and grievous storms and therefore he continued on his course to find out a convenient harbor for that use searching all that coast from 36. to 47. deg as diligently as contrary winds and sundry storms would permit and yet sound none for the purpose And in the mean time viz. May 8. by another storm the Caunter also was once more severed from us May 12. we had sight of land in 47. deg where we were forced to come to anchor in such roade as we could find for the time Neverthelesse our Generall named the place cape Hope by reason of a bay discovery within the hâ—dland which seem'd to promise a good and commodious harbor But by reason of many rocks lying off from the place we durst not adventure with our ships into it without good and perfect discovery beforehand made Our Generall especially in matters of moment was never wont to rely only on other mens care how trusty or skilfull soever they might seem to be but alwayes contemning danger and refusing no toyle he was wont himself to be one whosoever was a second at every turn where courage skill or industry was to be imployeb neither would he at this time intrust the discovery of these dangers to anothers pains but rather to his own experience in searching out and sounding of them A boat being therefore hoised forth himself with some others the next morning May 13. rowed into the bay and being now very nigh the shorae one of the men of the country shewed himself unto him seeming very pleasant singing and dancing after the noise of a rattle which he shook in his hand expecting earnestly his landing But there was suddenly so great an alteration in the weather into a thick and misty fogge together with an extream storm and tempest that our general being now 3. leagues from his ship thought it be better to return then either to land or make any other stay and yet the fog thickned so mightily that the sight of the ships was bereft them and if Cap. Thomas upon the abundance of his love and service to his generall had not adventured with his ship to enter that bay in this perplexity where good advice would not suffer our ships to beare in while the winds were more tolerable and the aire cleerer we had sustained some great loss or our generall had been further endangered who was now quickly received aboard his ship out of which being within the bay they let fall an anchor and rode there God be praised in safety but our other ships rideing without were so oppressed with the extremity of the storm that they were forced to run off to the sea for their own safegard being in good hope only of the good successe of that ship which was gone in to relieve our generall before this storm arose our Caunter formerly lost was come in the same day unto us in the same roade but was put to sea again the same evening with the rest of the fleet The next day May 14. the weather being faire and the winds moderate but the fleet out of sight our generall determined to go ashoare to this end that he might by making of fires give signes to the dispersed ships to come together again into the roade whereby at last they were all assembled excepting the Swan lost long time before and excepting our Portugal prise called the Mary which waying in this last storm the night before and now lost company and was not found again in a long time after In this place the people being removed up into the country belike for feare of our comming we found neere unto the rocks in houses made for that purpose as also in divers other places great store of Ostriches at least to the number of 50. with much other foule some dried and some in drying for their provision as it seemed to carry with them to the place of their dwellings The Ostriches thighes were in bignesse â—quall to reasonable legs of mutton they cannot flie at all but they run so swiftly and take so long strides that it is not possible for a man in running by any meanes to take them neither yet to come so nigh them as to have any shot at them either with bow or peece whereof our men had often proof on other parts of that coast for all the country is full of them we found there the tools or instruments which the people use in taking them Among other means they use in betraying of these Ostriches they have a great and large plume of feathers orderly compact together upon the end of a staff in the forepart beareing the likness of the head neck and bulk of an Ostrich in the hinder part spreading it self out very large sufficient being holden before him to hide the most part of the body of a man with this it seemeth they staulk driving them into some strait or neck of land close to the sea side where spreading long and strong nets with their dogs which they have in readinesse at all timeâ—â—◠〈◊〉 overthrow them and make a common quarry The
In these three last dayes march in the Champion as we past over the Hils we might see Panama five or six times a day and the last day we saw the Ships riding in the road But after that we were come within a dayes journey of Panama our Captaine understanding by the Symerons that the Dames of Panama are wont to send forth Hunters and Fowlers for taking of sundry dainty Fowle which the Land yeeldeth by whom if we Marched not very heedfully we might be descryed caused all his Company to March out of all ordinary way and that with as great heed silence and secrecy as possibly they might to the Grove which was agreed on foure dayes before lying within a league of Panama where we might lye safely undiscovered near the High-way that leadeth from thence to Nombre de Dios. Thence we sent a chosen Symeron one that had served a Master in Panamah before time in such Apparell as the Negroes of Panama doe use to Warre to be our Espiall to goe into the Towne to learne the certaine night and time of the night when the Carriers laded the Treasure from the Kings Treasure-house to Nombre de Dios. For they are wont to take their journey from Panama to Venta Cruz which is six leagues ever by night because the Countrey is all Champion and consequently by dâ—y very hot but from Venta Cruz to Nombre de Dios as oft as they travell by Land with their Treasure they travell alwayes by day and not by night because all that way is full of Woods and therefore very fresh and coole unlesse the Symerons happily encounter them and make them sweat with feare as sometimes they have done whereupon they are glad to guard their Recoes with Souldiers as they passe that way This last day our Captain did behold and view the most of all that faire City discerning the large Street which lyeth directly from the Sea into the Land South and North. By three of the clocke we came into this Grove passing for the more secrecy alongst a certaine River which at that time was almost dryed up Having disposed of our selves in the Grove we dispatched our Spye an houre before night so that by the closing in of the evening he might be in the City as he was whence presently he returned unto us that which very happily he understood by Companions of his That the Teasurer of Lima intending to passe into Spaine in the first adviso which was a Ship of three hundred and fifty Tunne a very good Sayler was ready that night to take his journey towards Nombre de Dios with his Daughter and Family having fourteene Moyles in company of which eight was laden with Gold one with Jewels And farther that there were two other Recoes of fifty Moyles in each laden with Victuals for the most part with some little quantity of Silver to come forth that night after the other There are twenty eight of these Recoes the greatest of them is of seventy Moyles the lesse of fifty unlesse some particular Man hyre for himself ten twenty or thirty as he hath need Upon this notice we forthwith Marched foure leagues till we came within two leagues of Venta Cruz in which March two of our Symerons which were sent before by scent of his Match found and brought a Spaniard whom they had found a sleepe by the way by scent of the said Match and drawing neere thereby heard him taking his breath as he slept and being but one they fell upon him stopt his mouth from crying put out his Match and bound him so that they well neare strangled him by that time he was brought unto us By examining him we found all that to be true which our Spye had reported to us and that he was a Souldier entertained with others by the Treasurer for the guard and conduct of this Treasure from Venta Cruz to Nombre de Dios. This Souldier having learned who our Captaine was tooke courage and was bold to make two requests unto him the one that he would command his Symerons which hated the Spaniards especially the Souldiers extreamly to spare his life which he doubted not but they would doe at his charge the other was that seeing he was a Souldier and assured him that they should have that night more Gold besides Jewels and Pearles of great price then all they could carry if not then he was to be dealt with how they would but if they all found it so then it might please our Captaine to give unto him as much as it might suffize for him and his Mistresse to live upon as he had heard our Captaine had done to divers others for which he would make his name so famous as any of them which had received like favour Being at the place appointed our Captaine with halfe of his men lay on one side of the way about fifty paces off in the long grasse Iohn Oxnam with the Captaine of the Symerons and the other halfe lay on the other side of the way at the like distance but so farre behind that as occasion served the former Company might take the foremost Moyles by the heads and the other the hindmost because the Moyles tyed together are alwayes driven one after another and especially that if we should have need to use our weapons that night we might be sure not to endamage our fellows We had not laine thus in ambush much above an houre but we heard the Recoes comming from the City to Venta Cruz and from Venta Cruz to the City vvhich hath a very common and great trade vvhen the Fleetes are there vve heard them by reason they delight much to have deepe sounding Bels which in a still night are heard very far off Now though there vvere as great charge given as might be that none of our men should show or stirre themselves but let all that came from Venta Cruz to passe quieâ—ly yea their Recoes also because vve knew that they brought nothing but Merchandise from thence yet one of our men called Robert Pike having drunken too much Aqua vitae vvithout vvater forgat himselfe and entising a Symeron forth vvith him vvas gone hard to the way vvith intent to have shewne his forwardnesse on the foremost Moyles And when a Cavalier from Venta Cruz vvell mounted with his Page running at his stirrop past by unadvisedly he rose up to see vvhat he vvas but the Semeron of better discretion puld him dovvne and lay upon him that he might not discover them any more Yet by this the Gentleman had taken notice by seeing one all in white for that we had all put our shirts over oâ—r other apparrell that we might be sure to know our owne men in the pell mell in the night By meanes of this sight the Cavalier putting spurs to his horse râ—de a false Gallop as desirous not only himselfe to be free of this doubt which he imagined but also to give advertisement to others that they
appointing the Randevous if any should be severed from the Fleet to be the Island Mogadore And so sailing with favorable winds the first Land that we had sight of was Cape Cantine in Barbary December 25. Christmas day in the morning The shoare is faire white Sand and the inland country very high and mountainous it lyeth in 32. deg 30. min. North latitude and so coasting from hence Southward about 18 leagues we arrived the same day at Mogadore the Island before named This Mogadore lies under the dominion of the King of Fesse in 31. deg 40. m. about a mile of from the shoar by this means making a good harbor between the Land and it It is uninhabited of about a league in circuit not very high Land all overgrowne with a kinde of shrub Brest high not much unlike our privet very full of Doves and therefore much frequented of Gosh â—ukes and such like Birds of prey besides divers sorts of Sea-foul very plenty At the South side of this Island are three hollow Rocks under which are great store of very wholesome but very ugly fish to looke to Lying here about a mile from the mâ—ine a Boat was sent to sound the Harbor and finding it safe and in the very entrance on the north side about five or six fathome water but at the Souther side it is very dangerous we brought in our whole Fleet December 27. and continued there till the last day of the same Month imploying our leasure the meane while in setting up a Pinnace one of the foure brought from home in peeces with us Our abode here was soon perceived by the Inhabitants of the country who coming to the shoar by signes and cries made shew that they desired to be fetched a board to whom our Generall sent a Boat in which two of the chiefest of the Moores were presently received and one man of ours in exchange left a land as a pledge for their returne They that came aboard were right courteously entertained with a dainty banquet and such gifts as they seemed to be most glad of that they might thereby understand that this Fleet came in peace and friendship offering to Traffique with them for such commodities as their country yeilded to their own content This offer they seemed most gladly to accept and promised the next day to resort again with such things as they had to exchange for ours It is a law amongst them to drink no wine notwithstanding by stealth it pleaseth them well to have it abundantly as here was experience At their return ashoare they quietly restored the pledge which they had stayed and the next day at the hour appointed returning again brought with them Camels in shew loaden with wares to be exchanged for our commodities and calling for a boat in hast had one sent them according to order with our Generall being at this present absent had given before his departure to the Island Our boat coming to the place of landing which was among the rocks one of our men called John Fry mistrusting no danger nor fearing any harm pretended by them and therefore intending to become a pledge according to the order used the day before readily stept out of the boat and ran a land which opportunity being that which the Moores did look for they took the advantage of and not only they which were in sight layed hands on him to carry him away with them but a number more which lay secretly hidden did forthwith break forth from behind the rock whether they had conveyed themselves as seemeth the night before forcing our men to leave the rescuing of him that was taken as captive and with speed to shift for themselves The cause of this violence was a desire which the King of Fesse had to understand what this fleet was whether any forerunner of the Kings of Portugall or no and what newes of certainty the fleet might give him And therefore after that he was brought to the K. presence had reported that they were English men bound for the Straights under the conduct of generall Drake he was sent back again with a present to his captain and offer of great courtesie and friendship if he would use his country But in this mean time the generall being grieved with this shew of injury and intending if he might to recover or redeem his man his pinnace being ready landed his company and marched somewhat into the countrey without any resistance made against him neither would the Moores by any meanes come nigh our Men to deale with them any way wherefore having made provision of wood as also visited an old for t built sometime by the King of Portugall but now ruined by the King of Fesse we departed December 31. towards Cape Blank in such sort that when Fry returned he found to his great grief that the fleet was gone but yet by the Kings favor he was sent home into England not long after in an English Merchants ship Shortly after our putting forth of this harbor we were met with contrary winds and foule weather which continued till the fourth of January yet we still held on our course and the third day after fell with cape De Guerre in 30. deg minutes where we lighted on 3. Spanish fishermen called Caunters whom we took with our new pinnace and carried along with us till we came to Rio Del Oro just under the Tropick of Cancer where with our pinnace also we took a carvell From hence till the 15. day we sailed on towards cape Barbas where the Marigold took a carvill more and so onward to cape Blanck till the next day at night This cape lyeth in 20. deg 30. min. sheweth it self upright like the corner of a wall to them that come towards it from the North having between it and cape Barbas low sandy and very white land all the way Here we observed the south Guards called the Crosiers 9. deg 30. min. above the Horizon Wherein the cape we took one Spanish ship more riding at anchor all her men being fled ashoare in the boat save two which with all the rest we have formerly taken we carried into che harbor 3. leagues within the cape Here our Generall determined for certain dayes to make his abode both for that the place afforded plenty of fresh victuals for the present refreshing of our men for their future supply at sea by reason of the infinite store of divers sorts of good fish which are there easie to be taken even within the harbor the like whereof is hardly to be found again in any part of the world as also because it served very fitly for the dispatching of some other businesses that we had During the time of our abode in this place our generall being a shoare was visited by certain of the people of the country who brought down with them a woman a Moore with her little babe hanging upon her dry dug
proportionable and finely set together with a most thinne and dainty film that they might seem to serve for a much longer or higher flight but the dryness of them is such after some 10. or 12. strokes that he must needs into the water again to moisten them which else would grow stiffe and unfit for motion The increase of this little and wonderfull creature is in a manner infinite the fry whereof lyeth upon the upper part of the waters in the heat of the Sun as dust upon the face of the earth which being in bignesse of a wheat straw and in length an inch more or less do continually exercise themselves in both their faculties of nature wherein if the Lord had not made them expert indeed their generation could not have continued being so desired a prey to so many which greedily hunt after them forcing them to escape in the aire by flight when they cannot in the waters live in safety Neither are they always free or without danger in their flying but as they escape one evill by refusing the waters so they sometimes fall into as great a mischief by mounting up into the aire and that by means of a great and ravening foule named of some a Don or Spurkite who feeding chiefly on such fish as he can come by at advantage in their swimming in the brim of the waters or leaping above the same presently ceaseth upon them with great violence making havock especially among these flying fishes though with small profit to himself There is another sort of fish which likewise flyeth in the aire named a Cuttill it s the same whose bones the Goldsmiths commonly use or at least not unlike the sort a multitude of which have at one time in their flight fallen into our ships amongst our men Passing thus in beholding the most excellent works of the eternall God in the seas as if we had been in a garden of pleasure April 5. we fell with the coast of Brazil in 31. deg 30. mi. towards the pole Antartick where the land is low neere the sea but much higher within the countrey having in depth not above 12. fathome 3. leagues off from the shoare and being descried by the inhabitants we saw great and huge fires made by them in sundry places Which order of making fires though it be universall as well among Christians as Heathens yet is it not likely that many do use it to that end which the Brasilians do to wit for a sacrifice to Divels whereat they intermix many and divers ceremonies of conjurations casting up great heaps of sand to this end that if any ships shall go about to stay upon their coasts their ministring spirits may make wrack of them whereof the Portugals by the losse of divers of their ships have had often experience In the reports of Magellanes voyage it is said that this people pray to no manner of thing but live only according to the instinct of nature which if it were true there should seeme to be a wonderfull alteration in them since that time being fallen from a simple and naturall ereature to make Gods of Divels but I am of the mind that it was with them then as now it is only they lacked then the like occasion to put it in practise which now they have for then they lived as a free people among themselves but now are in most miserable bondage slavery both in body goods wife and children and life it self to the Portugals whose hard and most cruell dealings against them forceth them to fly into the unfruitfull parts of their own land rather there to starve or at least live miserably with liberty then to abide such intollerable hondage as they lay upon them using the aforesaid practises with Divels both for a revenge against their oppressors and also for a defence that they have no further entrance into the country And supposing in deed that no other had used travell by sea in ships but their enemies only they therefore used the same at our coming notwithstrnding our God made their divelish intent of none effect for albeit there lacked not within the space of our falling with this coast forcible storms and tempests yet did we sustain no damage but only the separating of our ships out of shoare but we could find no harbor in many leagues And therefore coasting along the land towards the south April 7. we had a violent storm for the space of 3. houres with thunder lightning and rain in great abundance accompanied with a vehement south wind directly against us which caused a separation of the Christopher viz. the Caunter which we took at cape Blank in exchange for the Christopher whose name she hence forward bore from the rest of the fleet After this we keep on our course sometime to the seaward sometimes toward the shoare but alwaies southward as neere as we could till April 14. in the morning at which time we passed by Cape Saint Mary which lies in 35. deg neere the mouth of the river of Plate and running within it about 6. or 7. leagues along by the maine we came to anchor in a bay under another cape which our Generall afterwards called cape Joy by reason of the second day after our anchoring here the Christopher whom we had lost in the former storm came to us again Among other cares which our Generall took in this action next the main care of effecting the voyage it self these were the principall and chiefly subordinate to keep our whole fleet as neere as possible we could together to get fresh Water which is of continual use to refresh our men wearied vvith long toyls at sea as oft as vve should find any opportunity of effecting the same And for these causes it vvas determined publique notice thereof given at our departure from the Islands of cape Verde that the next randevouze both for the recollecting of our navy if it should be despersed as also vvatering and the like should be the river of Plate vvhether vve vvere all to repaire vvith all the convenient speed that could be made and to stay one for another if it should happen that vve could not arrive there altogether and the effect vve found ansvverable to our expectations for here our severed ship as hath been declared found us again and here vve found those â—ther helps also so much desired The country here about is of a temperate and most svveet aire and pleasant to behold and besides the exceeding fruitfulnesse of the soyle it s stored vvith plenty of large and mighty Deere Notvvithstanding that in this first bay vve found svveet and vvholesome vvater even at pleasure yet the same after the arrivall of Caunter we removed some twelve leages farther up into another where we found a long rock or rather Island of rocks not far from the main making a commodious harâ—â—â— specially against a southerly wind under them we anchored and rode till the
death being much more honorable by it then blameable for any other of his actions fully blotted out what ever stain his fault might seem to bring upon him he left unto our fleet a lamentable example of a goodly Gentleman who in seeking advancement unfit for him cast away himself and unto posterity a monument of I know not what fatal calamity incident to that port and such like actions which might happily afford a new pair of parallels to be added to Plutarchs in that the same place neere about the same time of the year witnessed the execution of 2. gentlemen suffring both for the like cause imployed both in like service entertained both in great place endued both with excellent qualities the one 58. year after the other For on the main our men found a gibbet fallen down made of a spruce mast with mens bones underneath it which they conjectured to be the same gibbet which Magellane commanded to be erected in the yeare 1520. for the execution of John Carthagene the Bishop of Burgos Cosen who by the Kings order was joyned with Magellane in commission and made his Vice-Admirall In the Island as we digged to bury this gentleman we found a great grinding-stone broken in two parts which we took and set fast in the ground the one part at the head the other at the feet building up the middle space with other stones and turfes of earth and engraved in the stones the names of the parties buried there with the time of their departure and a memoriall of our Generals name in Latine that it might the better be understood of all that should come after us These things thus ended and set in order our generall discharging the Mary viz. our Portugal prise beause she was leake and troublesome defaced her and then left her ribs and keel upon the Island where for two moneths together we had pitched our tents And so having wooded watred trimmed our ships dispatched all our other businesses and brought our fleet into the smalest number even 3. only besides our pinnaces that we might the easier keep our selves together be the better furnished with necessaries and be the stronger mand against whatsoever need should be Agust 17. we departed out of this port and being now in great hope of a happy issue to our enterprise which Almighty God hitherto had so blest prospered we set our course for the Straights southwest August 20. we fell with the Cape neere which lies the entrance into the Sraight called by the Spaniards Capo virgin Maria appearing 4. leagues before you come to it with high and steep gray cliffs full of black stars against which the sea beating sheweth as it were the spoutings of Whales having the highest of the cape like cape Vincent in Portugal at this cape our Generall caused his fleet in homage to our soveraign lady the Queens Majesty to strike their top-sailes upon the bunt as a token of his willing and glad mind to shew his dutiful obedience to her highnes whom he acknowledged to have ful interest and right in that new discovery and withall in remembrance of his most honourable friend Sir Christopher Hatton he changed the name of the ship which himself went in from the Pellican to be called the golden Hind which ceremonies being ended together with a sermon teaching true obedience with prayers and giving of thanks for her Majesty and most honorable counsel with the whole body of the commonweale and church of God we continued our course on into the said frete where passing with land in sight on both sides we shortly fell with so narrow a strait as carrying with it much wind often turnings and many dangers-requireth an expert judgment in him that shall passe the same it lyeth W.N.W. and E. south East but having left his strait a stern we seemed to become out of a river of two leagues broade into a large and main sea having the night following an Iland in sight which being in height nothing inferior to the Island â—ogo before spoken of burning like it also aloft in the aire in a wonderfull sort without intermission It hath formerly been received as an undoubted truth that the seas following the course of the first mover from the east to west have a continuall current through this straite but our experience found the contrary the ebbings and flowings here being as orderly in which the water rises and fals more then 5. fathoms upright as on other coasts The 24. of August being Bartholomew day we fell with 3. Islands bearing trianglewise one from another one of them was very faire and large and of a fruitful soile upon which being next unto us and the weather very calm our Generall with his Gentlemen and certain of his Marriners then landed taking possession thereof in her Majesties name and to her use and called the same Elizabeth Island The other two though they were not so large nor so fair to the eye yet were they to us exceeding usefull for in them we found great store of strange birds which could not fly at all nor yet run so fast as that they could escape us with their lives in body they are less then a goose and bigger then a mallard short and thick set together having no feathers but insteed thereof a certain hard and matted down their beakes are not much unlike the bils of crows they lodg and breed upon the land where making earths as the conies do in the ground they lay their egs and bring up their young their feeding and provision to live on is in the sea where they swim in such sort as nature may seem to have granted them no small prerogative in swiftness both to prey upon others and themselves to escape from any others that seek to cease upon them such was the infinite resort of these birds to these Ilands that in the space of 1. day we killed no les then 3000. if the increase be according to the number it is not to be thought that the world hath brought forth a greater blessing in one kind of creature in so small a circuit so necessarily and plentifully serving the use of man they are a very good and wholesome victuall our Generall named these Islands the one Bartholomew according to the day the other Saint Georges in honour of England according to the ancient custome there observed In the Island of Saint George we found the body of a man so long dead before that his bones would not hold together being moved out of the place whereon they lay From these Islands to the entrance into the south sea the frete is very crooked having many turnings as it were shutings up as if there were no passage at al by means whereof we were often troubled with contrary winds so that some of our ships recovering a cape of land entring another reach the rest were forced to alter their course and come to anchor where they might It is true which
Magellane reporteth of this passage namely that there be many faire harbours and store of fresh water but some ships had need to be fraughted with nothing else besides anchors and cables to find ground in most of them to come to anchor which when any extreame gusts or contrary winds do come whereunto the place is altogether subject is a great hindrance to the passage and carryeth with it no small danger The land on both sides is very high and mountainous having on the North and west side the continent of America and on the south and East part nothing but Islands among which lye innumerable fretes or passages into the south sea The mountains arise with such tops and spires into the aire of so rare a height as they may wel be accounted amogst the wonders of the world environed as it were with many regions of congealed clouds and frozen meteors whereby they are continually fed and increased both in the height and bigness from time to time retaining that which they have once received being little again diminished by the heat of the sun as being so farre from reflexion and so nigh the cold and frozen Region But notwithstanding all this yet are the low and plaine grounds very fruitfull the grasse green and naturall the heards that are of very strange sorts good and many the trees for the most part of them alwaies green the aire of the temperature of our countrey the water most pleasant and the soile agreeing to any grain which we have growing in our country a place no doubt that lacketh nothing but a people to use the same to the Creators glory and the encreasing of the Church the people inhabiting these parts made fires as we passed by in divers places Drawing nigh the entrance of the south sea we had such a shutting up to the northward and such large and open fretes toward the south that it was wonderful which way we should passe without further discovery for which cause our Generall having brought his fleet to anchor under an Island himself with certain of his Gentlemen rowed in a boat to descry the passage who having discovered a sufficient way towards the North in their return to their ships met a Cannow under the same Island where we rode then at anchor having in her divers persons This Cannow or Foate was made of the barke of divers trees having a prow and a stern standing up and semicirclewise yeelding inward of one form and fashion the body whereof was a most dainty mould bearing in it most comely proportion and excellent workmanship insomuch as to our Generall and us it seemed never to have been done without the cunning and expert judgment of art and that not for the use of so rude and barbarous a people but for the pleasure of some great and noble personage yea of some Prince It had no other closing up or caulking in the seames but the stichin with thongs made of Sealeskins or other such beast and yet so close that it received very little or no water at all The people are of a meane stature but well set and compact in all their parts and lims they have great pleasure in painting their faces as the others have of whom we have spoken before Within the said Island they had a house of mean building of certain poles and covered with skins of beasts having therein fire water and such meat as commonly they can come by as Seales Mussels and such like The vessels wherein they kept their water and their cups in which they drink are made of barks of trees as was their canow and that with no lesse skill for the bignesse of the thing being of a very formal shape and good fashion Their working tools which they use in cutting these things and such other are knives made of most huge and monstrous mussel shels the like whereof have not been seen or heard of lightly by any travellers the meat thereof being very savoury and good in eating which after they have broken off the thinne and brittle substance of the edge they rub and grinde them upon stones had for the purpose til they have tempered and set such an edg upon them that no wood is so hard but they will cut it at pleasure with the same whereof we our selves had experience Yea they cut therewith bones of a marvellous hardnesse making of them fisgies to kill fish wherein they have a most pleasant exercise with great dexterity The sixth of September we had left astern us all these troublesome Islands and were entred into the south sea or Mare del zur at the cape whereof our generall had determined with his whole company to have gone a shoare and there after a sermon to have left a monument of her Majesty ingraven in mettal for a perpetuall remembrance which he had in a readiness for that end prepared but neither was there any anchoring neither did the wind suffer us to make a stay Only this by all our mens observations was concluded that the entrance by which we came into this strait was in 52. deg the middest in 53. deg 15. m. and the going out in 52. d. 30. m. being 150. leagues in length at the very entry supposed also to be about 10. leagues in bredth After we were entred ten leagues within it it was found not past a league in breadth farther within in some places very large in some very narrow in the end found to be no strait at all but all Islands Now when our Generall perceived that the nipping cold under so cruel a frowning winter had impaired the health of some of his men he meant to have made the more hast again toward the line and not to sayle any farther towards the pole Antartick lest being farther from the Sun and neerer the cold we might happily be overtaken with some greater danger of sicknesse But God giving men leave to purpose reserveth to himself the disposition of all things making their intents of none effect or changing their meanings oft times clean into the contrary as may best serve for his own glory and their profit For September 7. the second day after our entrance into the South sea called by some Mare pacificum but proving to us rather to be Mare furiosum God by a contrary wind and intollerable tempest seemed to set himself against us forcing us not only to alter our course and determination but with great trouble long time many dangers hard escapes and final separating of our fleet to yeild our selves unto his will Yea such was the extremity of the tempest that it appeared to us as if he had pronounced a sentence not to stay his hand nor to withdraw his judgment till he had buried our bodies and ships also in the bottomlesse depth of the raging sea In the time of this incredible storm the 15. of September the Moon was eclipsed in Aries and darkned about three points for the space
of two glasses which being ended might seem to give us some hope of alteration change of weather to the better Notwitstanding as the ecclipticall conflict could adde nothing to our miserable estate no more did the ending thereof ease us any thing at all nor take away any part of our troubles from us but our eclipse continued still in its full force so prevailing against us that for the space of ful 52. days together we were darkned more then the Moon by 20. parts or more then we by any means could ever have preserved or recovered light of our selves again if the Sonne of God which layed this burthen upon our backs had not mercifully born it up with his own shoulders and upheld us by his own power beyond any possible strength or skil of man Neither indeed did we at all escape but with the feelling of great discomforts through the same For these violent and extraordinary flawes such as seldome have been seen still continuing or rather increasing September 30. in the night caused the sorrow separation of the Marigold from us in which was Captain John Thomas with many others of our deare friends who by no meanes that we could conceive could help themselves but by spooming along before the sea With whom albeit we could never meet again yet our generall having aforehand given order that if any of our fleet did loose company the place of resort to meet againe should be in 30. deg or thereabouts upon the coasts of Peru toward the Equinoctiall we long time hoped till experience shewed our hope was vain that there we should joyfully meet with them especially for that they were well provided of victuals and lackt no skilfull and sufficient men besides their Captain to bring forwards the ship to the place appointed From the seventh of September in which the storm began till the seventh of October we could not by any means recover any land having in the mean time been driven so far South as to the 37. deg and somewhat better on this day towards night somewhat to the Northward of that Cape of America whereof mention is made before in the description of our departure from the strait into the sea with a sorry saile we entred a harbour where hoping to enjoy some freedome ease till the storm was ended we received within few houres after our coming to anchor so deadly a stroke and hard entertainment that our Admirall left not only an anchor behind her through the violence and furie of the flaw but in departing thence also lost the company and sight of our Vice-Amirall the Elizabeth partly through the negligence of those that had the charge of her partly through a kind of desire that some in her had to be out of these troubles and to be at home again which as since is known they thence forward by all meanes assayed and performed For the very next day October 8. recovering the mouth of the straits again which we were now so neere unto they returned back the same way by which they came forward and coasting Brasil they arrived in England June 2. the yeare following So that now our Admirall if she had retained her old name of Pellican which she bare at our departure from our country she might have been now indeed said to be as a Pellican alone in the wildernesse For albeit our Generall sought the rest of his fleet with great care yet could we not have any sight or certain newes of them by any meanes From this bay of parting of friends we were forcibly driven back again into 55. deg towards the pole Antartick In which height we ran in among the Islands before mentioned lying to the Southward of America through which we passed from one sea to the other as hath been declared Where coming to anchor we found the waters there to have their indraught and free passage and that through no small guts or narrow channels but indeed through as large fretes or straits as it hath at the supposed streights of Megellane through which we came Among these Islands making our abode with some quietneâ— for a very little while viz. two dayes and finding divers good and wholesome herbs together with fresh water our men which before were weake and much empaired in their health began to receive good comfort especially by the drinking of one herb not much unlike that herb which we commonly call Penny-leaf which purging with great facility afforded great help and refreshing to our wearied and sickly bodies But the winds returning to their old wont and the seas raging after their former manner yea every thing as it were setting it self against our peace and desired rest here was no stay permitted neither any safety to be looked for For such was the present danger by forcing and continuall flaws that we were rather to look for present death then hope for any delivery if God almighty should not make the way for us The winds were such as if the bowels of the earth had set all at liberty or as if the clouds under heaven had been called together to lay their force on that one place the seas which by nature and of themselves are heavy and of a weighty substance were rowled up from the depths even from the roots of the rocks as if it had been a scroll of parchment which by the extremity of heat runneth together and being aloft were carried in most strange manner abundance as feathers or drifts of snow by the violence of the winds to water the exceeding tops of high and lofty mountains Our anchors as false friends in such a danger gave over their holdfast and as if it had been with horror of the thing did shrink down to hide themselves in this miserable storm committing the distressed ship and helplesse men to the uncertain rowling seas which tossed them like a ball in a racket In this case to let fall more anchors would availe us nothing for being driven from our first place of ancoring so unmeasurable was the depth that 500. fathom would fetch no ground so that the violent storm without intermission the impossibility to come to anchor the want of opportunity to spread any saile the most mad seas the lee shores the dangerous rocks the contrary and most intolerable winds the impossible passage out the desperate tarrying there and inevitable perils on every side did lay before us so small likelihood to escape present destruction that if the speciall providence of God himself had not supported us we could never have endured that wofull state as being invironed with most terrible and most fearful judgments round about For truly it was more likely that the mountains should have been rent in sunder from the top to the bottom and cast hedlong into the sea by these unnaturall winds then that we by any help or cunning of man should free the life of any one amongst us Notwithstanding the same God of mercy which delivered
Jonas out of the Whales belly and heareth all those that call upon him faithfully in their distres looked down from heaven beheld our tears and heard our humble petitions joyned with holy vows Even God whom not the winds and seas alone but even the Divels themselves and powers of hell obey did so wonderfully free us and make our way open before us as it were by his holy Angels stil guiding and conducting us that more then the affright and amaze of this estate we received no part of damage in all the things that belonged unto us But escaping from these straites and miseries as it were through the needlesey that God might have the greater glory in our delivery by the great and effectuall care and travell of our Generall the Lords instrument therein we could now no longer forbeare but must needs find some place of refuge aswell to provide water wood and other necessaries as to comfort our men thus worn and tyred out by so many and so long intollerable toyls the like whereof it to be supposed no traveller hath felt neither hath their ever been such a tempest that any records make mention of so violent and of such continuance since Noahs flood for as hath been said it lasted from September 7. to October 28. full 52. dayes Not many leagues therefore to the southwards of our former anchoring we ran in again among these Islands where we had once more better likelihood to rest in peace and so much the rather for that we found the people of the country travelling for their living from one Island to another in their canows both men women and young infants wrapt in skins and hanging at their mothers backs with whom he had trafique for such things as they had as chains of certain shels and such other trifles here the Lord gave us three days to breath our selves and to provide such things as we wanted albeit the same was with continuall care and troubles to avoid imminent dangers which the troubled seas and blustering winds did every hour threaten unto us But when we seemed to have stayed there too two long we more rigorously assaulted by the not formerly ended but now more violently renewed storm and driven them also with no small danger leaving behind us the greater part of our cable with the anchor being chased along by the winds and buffeted incessantly in each quarter by the seas which our Generall interpreted as though God had sent them of purpose to the end which ensued till at length we fell with the uttermost part of land towards the south pole and had certainly discovered how far the same doth reach southward from the coast of America aforenamed The uttermost Cape or hedland of all these Islands stands neere in the 56. deg without which there is no main nor Iland to be seen to the southwards but that the Atlantick Ocean and the south sea meet in a most large and free scope It hath been a dreame through many ages that these Islands have been a maine and that it hath been terra incognita wherein many strange monsters lived Indeed it might truly before this time be called incognota for howsoever the maps generall descriptions of Cosmographers either upon the deceiveable reports of other men or the deceitfull imaginations of themselves supposing never herein to be corrected have set it down yet it is true that before this time it was never discovered or certainly known by any traveller that we have heard of And here as in a fit place it shall not be a misse to remove that error in opinion which hath been held by many of the impossible return out of Mar del zur into the West Ocean by reason of the supposed Eastern current and leavant winds which say they speedily carry any thither but suffer no return They are herein likewise altogether deceived for neither did we meet with any such current neither had we any such certain winds with any such speed to carry us through but at all times in our passage there we found more opportunity to return back again into the west Ocean then to goe forward into Mar del zur by meanes either of current or winds to hinder us whereof we had experience more then we wished being glad oftentimes to alter our course and to fall a stern again with francke wind without any impediment of any such surmised current farther in one afternoon then we could fetch up or recover again in a whole day with a reasonable gale And in that they allege the narrownesse of the frete and want of sea-rome to be the cause of this violent current they are herein no lesse deceived then they were in the other without reason for besides that it cannot be said that there is one only passage but rather innumerable it is most certain that a sea-board all these Islands there is one large and main sea wherein if any will not be satisfied nor believe the report of our experience and eyesight he should be advised to suspend his judgment till he hath either tryed it himself by his own travell or shall understand by other travellers more particulars to confirm his mind therein Now as we were fallen to the uttermost part of these Ilands October 28. our troubles did make an end the storm ceased and all our calamities only the absence of our friends excepted were removed as if God all this while by his secret providence had led us to make his discouery which being made according to his will he stayed his hand as pleased his majesty therein and refreshed us as his servants At these Southerly parts we found the night in the latter end of October to be but 2. houres long the Sun being yet above 7. degrees distant from the Tropick so that it seemeth being in the Tropick to leave very little or no night at all in that place There be few of all these Islands but have some inhabitants whose manners apparel houses Cannows and meanes of livings is like unto those formerly spoken of a little before our departure out of the Straight To all these Islands did our Generall give one name to wit Elizabethides After two daies stay which we made in and about these Ilands the 30. of October we set saile shaping our course right Northwest to coast along the parts of Peru for so the generall maps set out the land to lie both for that we might wiâ—h convenient speed sal with the height of 30. deg being the place appointed for the rest of our fleet to re-assemble as also that no opportunity might be lost in the mean time to finde them out if it seemed good to God to direct them to us In this course we chanced the next day with two Islands being as it were store-houses of most liberall provision of victuals for us of birds yeiding not only sufficient and plentiful store for us who were present but enough to have served all the rest also which
28 degrees and are distant one from the other 4 or 5 leagues Inhabited only by a savage people These Islands from the Grand Canadoes are distant ten leagues The twenty sixt of September we anchored in the aforesaid port of Canadoes otherwise called S. John Decrus and about ten of the clock in the forenoone we were imbarked into Boats and Pinnaces endeavoring with the greatest celerity to attain to land but were frustrated of our intentions by the Enemies vigilancy who waiting our comming had intrenched themselves in the very place where we should have put to shore who upon our approach plyed us so fast with great and small shot both from the Castle and towne and from the other side of us that we were constrained to retire with the losse of some few men unto our Ships againe The Enemy were in number betweene three or foure hundred strong The same day being all imbarked in our Ships againe we departed to a certaine place where we watered it lyeth West and by North from the towne and was in times past a great and famous River But now it is overgrown with grasse it commeth from the Rocks and runneth to the Sea The people of this Island being a barbarous people and Mountaneers vve had slaine at this watering place by them of our men which stragled into the Countrey amongst whom vvas Captaine Grinston and foure more with him the which were wounded very sore and torne with dogges which they keepe of purpose to destroy our men when any of them come there to water This Iland yeeldeth much Wine as Canadoe Wine and divers kind of graine as Wheat and such like great store of Conies and Partredges and Tresse which have a joyce like Milk but rank poyson This Iland hath many mighty Rocks in it there is about twenty leagues distant from this Island another Island called the Tenereffe or Peak of Tenereffe It is a mighty high land Sunday the twenty eight of September a little before night we departed from the aforesaid watering place towards the Orientall Indies we tooke our course South West and by West Septemb. 29 being Michaelmas day we sayled South west and by South the thirtieth we sayled South vvest the first of October we sayled West and by South the thirteenth we sayled West in the height of sixteenth degr the fourteenth the wind was southernly the five and twentieth of this Moneth the Hope and the Adventure fell foule on one another about ten of the clocke in the night so that they of the Adventure were constrained to cut downe their Nisson Maste and to fling it overboord The night being very darke and there arising a great tempest of Haile and Raine at the same time they were in extream Jeopardy of their lives which caused in them a very great terror The twenty seventh of October we espyed the Island of Martinino which lay from us towards the West This Island is inhabited by a Barbarous people called Canibals We vvere thirty dayes sayling between the Canadoes and Martinino From this Island we sayled towards an Island called Dominica where is great store of Tobacco It is distant from Martinino about ten or twelve of our English miles and beareth West and by North. The people of this Island be not altogether so rude as other peopl are for they would traffick with us for hatched Knives such like Commodities in exchange for their Tobacco which is the chiefest commodity this Island yeeldeth The Weapons used by these people are Bowes and Arrowes made of a Reed with a sharp peece of Braseilon the end thereof they to use wear their haire very long cut round by their shoulders The thirtieth of this instant October we came to another Island called Gordelowpa which is distant from that of Dominica ten leagues we went unto a certaine River of that Island on the West side there be many Rivers issuing out of the Mountaines with great force into the Sea This Island is not inhabited but is a very Wildernesse wherein are many wilde Beasts amongst the rest there is one worthy of your observation in shape of a Serpent We continued there from the thirtieth of October to the fourth of November From thence we sayled towards the River della hatch and struke our course North West and by North. The seventh of November vve descried three Islands of the Trigonies vvhich lyeth between Gordelowpa and Saint John de Portrizo the first is called Mononalla the second Rotmido the third Savoa we sayled within three or four leagues of them vvhere vve found it in depth sometimes five otherwhiles eight fathome the shoal beareth from us North east The eight of November our Generall set on shoar all the Land-men to the end that every Captaine might know his owne men The tenth of November vve departed from that Harbour to another three or four English miles distant vvhere vve continued untill tuesday the eleventh of November and then set sayle for Saint John de Portrizo West and by North. These Islands belonging to Virginia be many in number vve cannot name them because they be without Inhabitants there are many faire Harbours in them in some whereof one thousand Ships may ride at anchor on every side the Mountaines are very high Thence we went to some passages not farre of The twelfth of November being Wednesday we anchored within three or foure English miles of the Towne of Portricho against a great Fort where was placed a great peece of Ordnance which plyed us with shot divers times The same day Sir John Hawkins dyed at the place aforesaid whose death in regard that he was one of our chiefe Commanders a wise discreet and carefull Man for his Company was no little griefâ— unto us all The same day also was Sir Nicholas Clifford Captaine Stratford Master Brutt Browne were wounded with the same peece of Ordnance from the said Fort all at one time sitting at Supper with our Generall Sir Francis Drake and Sir Thomas Baskerfield the stoole that Sir Francis Drake sat on was struke from under him as he was drinking of a cup of Beere yet by Gods providence he escaped with all the rest but onely them three before mentioned the same night Sir Nicholas Clifford dyed of the same wound and the same night we went against the Towne where we anchored The next day which was thursday the 13. of November our Generall called a Councell The night following about nine of the clocke in the night certaine shott being appointed to be imbarked in our Pinnaces and Boats with Gunners and Fire-workes there were to the number of five hundred Men which went within the Harbour to burne the five Men of Warre which rode within the Harbour one of them was of the burthen of foure hundred tunne the rest not so big in this Ship was planted great store of great Ordnance which played upon our Men exceedingly besides great store of small shott likewise great store of great shott from the shore with