our generall gaue vs occasion to coniecture in part whither he intended both by the directing of his course and appointing the Randeuous if any should bee seuered from the fleet to be the Iland Mogadore And so sailing with fauorable windes the first land that wee had sight of was Cape Cantine in Barbarie December 25. Christmas day in the morning Dec. 25 The shoare is faire white sand and the inland contrie very high and mountainous it lieth in 32. deg 30. mi. north latitude and so coasting from hence southward about 18. leagues we arriued the same day at Mogadore the Iland before named This Mogadore lies vnder the dominion of the king of Fesse in 31. deg 40. mi. about a mile off from the shoare by this meanes making a good harbor betweene the land and it It is vninhabited of about a league in circuit not very high land all ouergrowne with a kinde of shrub brest high not much vnlike our priuet verie full of Doues and therefore much frequented of Goshaukes and such like birds of prey besides diuers sorts of sea-foule very plentie At the south side of this Iland are three hollow rocks vnder which are great store of very wholesome but very vglie fish to looke to Lying here about a mile from the maine a boate was sent to sound the harbor and finding it safe and in the very entrance on the north side about 5. or 6. 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 moneth imploying our leasure the meane while Decemb. in setting vp a pinnace one of the 4. brought from home in peices with vs. Our abode here was soone perceiued by the inhabitants of the contrie who comming to the shoare by signes and cries made shewe that they desired to be fetched aboard to whom our generall sent a boate into which 2. of the chiefest of the Moores were presently receiued 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 daintie banquet and such gifts as they seemed to be most glad of that they might thereby vnderstand that this fleete came in peace and friendship offering to traffique with them for such commodities as their contrie yeelded to their owne content This offer they seemed most gladly to accept and promised the next day to resort againe with such things as they had to exchange for ours It is a law amongst them to drinke no wine notwithstanding by stealth it pleaseth them well to haue it abundantly as here was experience At their returne ashoare they quietly restored the pledge which they had stayed and the next day at the houre appointed returning againe brought with them Camells in shewe loaden with wares to be exchanged for our commodities and calling for a boate in haste had one sent them according to order which our generall being at this present absent had giuen before his departure to the Iland Our boate comming to the place of landing which was among the rocks one of our men called Iohn Fry mistrusting no danger nor fearing any harme pretended by them and therefore intending to become a pledge according to the order vsed the day before readilie stept out of the boate and ranne a land which oportunitie being that which the Moores did looke for they tooke the aduantage of and not onely they which were in sight layed hands on him to carrie him away with them but a number more which lay secretly hidden did forth with breake forth from behinde the rocks whither they had conueyed themselues as it seemeth the night before forcing our men to leaue the rescuing of him that was taken as captiue and with speed to shift for themselues The cause of this violence was a desire which the king of Fesse had to vnderstand what this fleet was whether any forerunner of the kings of Portugall or no and what newes of certaintie the fleet might giue him And therefore after that he was brought to the kings presence and had reported that they were Englishmen bound for the straights vnder the conduct of generall Drake he was sent back againe with a present to his Captaine and offer of great curtesie and freindship if he would vse his contry But in this meane time the generall being grieued with this shew of iniurie and intending if he might to recouer or redeeme his man his pinnace being ready landed his company and marched somewhat into the countrie without any resistance made against him neither would the Moores by any meanes come nigh our men to deale with them any way wherefore hauing made prouision 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. Dec. 31 towards Cape Blanck in such sort that when Fry returned he found to his great griefe that the fleet was gone but yet by the kings fauor he was sent home into England not long after in an English Merchants ship Shortly after our putting forth of this harbour we were met with contrary windes and foule weather which continued till the fourth of Ianuary yet we still held on our course and the third day after Ian. 7 fell with cape De Guerre in 30. deg min. where wee lighted on 3. Spanish fishermen called Caunters whom we tooke with our new pinnace and caried along with vs till we came to Rio Del Oro Ian. 13 iust vnder the Tropick of Cancer where with our pinnace also we took a caruell From hence till the fifteenth day Ian. 15 we failed on towards cape Barbas where the Marigold tooke a caruell more and so onward to cape Blanck till the next day at night Ian. 16 This cape lieth in 20. deg 30. min. shewing it selfe vpright like the corner of a wall to them that come towards it from the North hauing betweene it and cape Barbas lowe sandy and very white land all the way Here we obserued the south Guards called the Crosiers 9. deg 30. min. aboue the horizon Within the cape we tooke one spanish ship more riding at anchor all her men being fled ashoare in the boate saue two which withall the rest we had formerly taken we caried into the harbor 3. leagues within the cape Here our generall determined for certaine dayes to make his abode both for that the place afforded plenty of fresh victualls for the present refreshing of our men and for their future supply at sea by reason of the infinite store of diuers sorts of good fish which are there easie to be taken euen within the harbor the like whereof is hardly to be found againe in any part of the world as also because it serued very fitly for the dispatching of some other businesses that we had During the time of our abode in this place our generall being ashoare was
sweet and wholsome water euen at pleasure yet the same day after the arriuall of the Caunter Apr. 16 we remoued some twelue leagues farther vp into another where we found a long rocke or rather Iland of rocks not farre from the maine making a commodious harbor especially against a Southerly wind vnder them we anchored and rode till the 20. day at night in which meane space we killed diuers Seales or sea-wolues as the Spaniard cals them which resorted to these rocks in great abundance They are good meat and were an acceptable food to vs for the present and a good supply of our prouision for the future Apr. 20 Hence April 20. we waighed againe and sayled yet further vp into the riuer euen till we found but three fadome depth and that we roade with our ships in fresh water but wee staid not there nor in any other place of the riuer because that the winds being strong the shoales many and no safe harbour found we could not without our great danger so haue done Haling therefore to seaward againe Apr. 27 the 27. of the same moneth after that we had spent a iust fortnight in that riuer to the great comfort of the whole fleet we passed by the South side thereof into the maine The land here lieth South South-West and North N. E. with shole water some three or foure leagues off into the sea it s about 36. deg 20. min. and somewhat better South latitude Apr. 27 At our very first comming forth to sea againe to wit the same night our flyboate the Swanne lost company of vs whereupon though our Generall doubted nothing of her happy comming forward againe to the rest of the fleete yet because it was grieuous to haue such often losses and that it was his duty as much as in him lay to preuent all inconueniences besides that might grow he determined to diminish the number of his ships thereby to draw his men into lesse roome that both the fewer ships might the better keepe company and that they might also bee the better appointed with new and fresh supplies of prouision and men one to ease the burthen of another especially for that he saw the coast it drawing now toward Winter here to bee subiect to many and grieuous stormes And therefore he continued on his course to find out a conuenient harbour for that vse searching all that coast from 36. to 47. degrees as diligently as contrary winds and sundry stormes would permit and yet sound none for the purpose May 8 And in the mean time viz. May 8. by another storme the Caunter also was once more seuered frō vs. May 12 May 12. wee had sight of land in 47. deg where wee were forced to come to anchor in such roade as we could find for the time Neuerthelesse our Generall named the place cape Hope by reason of a bay discouered within the hedland which seemed to promise a good and commodious harbour But by reason of many rockes lying off from the place wee durst not aduenture with our ships into it without good and perfect discouery before hand made Our Generall especially in matters of moment was neuer wont to relye onely on other mens care how trusty or skilfull soeuer they might seeme to be but alwayes contemning danger and refusing no toyle he was wont himselfe to be one whosoeuer was a second at euery turne where courage skill or industry was to be imployed neither would hee at this time intrust the discouery of these dangers to anothers paines but rather to his owne experience in searching out and sounding of them May 13 A boat being therefore hoised forth himselfe with some others the next morning May 13. rowed into the bay and being now very nigh the shore one of the men of the countrey shewed himselfe vnto him seeming very pleasant singing and dancing after the noise of a rattle which he shooke in his hand expecting earnestly his landing But there was sudainly so great an alteration in the weather into a thick and misty fogge together with an extreame storme and tempest that our generall being now 3. leagues from his ship thought it better to returne then either to land or make any other stay and yet the fogg thickened so mightily that the sight of the ships was bereft them and if Captaine Thomas vpon the abundance of his loue and seruice to his generall had not aduentured with his ship to enter that bay in this perplexitie where good aduise would not suffer our ships to beare in while the windes were more tolerable and the ayre cleerer we had sustained some great losse or our generall had beene further endangered who was now quickly receiued abord 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 riding without were so oppressed with the extremitie of the storme that they were forced to run off to sea for their owne safegard being in good hope onely of the good successe of that ship which was gone in to releiue our generall before this storme arose our Caunter formerly lost was come in the same day vnto vs into the roade but was put to sea againe the same euening with the rest of the fleete May 14 The next day May 14. the weather being faire and the windes moderate but the fleet out of sight our generall determined to goe ashore to this end that he might by making of fires giue signes to the dispersed ships to come together againe into that roade whereby at last they were all assembled excepting the Swanne lost long time before and excepting our Portugall prise called the Mary which waighing in this last storme the night before had now lost company and was not found againe in a long time after In this place the people being remoued vp into the country belike for feare of our comming we found neere vnto the rocks in houses made for that purpose as also in diuers 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 prouision as it seemed to carrie with them to the place of their dwellings The Ostriches thighs were in bignes equall to reasonable legs of murton They cannot flie at all but they runne 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 haue any shot at them either with bow or peece Whereof our men had often proofe on other parts of that coast for all the countrey is full of them We found there the tooles or instruments which the people vse in taking them Among other meanes they vse in betraying these Ostriches they haue a great and large plume of feathers orderly compact together vpon the end of a staffe in the forepart bearing the likenesse of the head necke and bulke of an Ostrich
George we found the body of a man so long dead before that his bones would not hold together being moued out of the place whereon they lay From these Ilands to the entrance into the South sea the frete is very crooked hauing many turnings and as it were shuttings vp as if there were no passage at all by meanes whereof we were often troubled with contrary windes so that some of our ships recouering 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 finde ground in most of them to come to anchor which when any extreame gusts or contrary windes doe come whereunto the place is altogether subiect is a great hindrance to the passage and carrieth with it no small danger The land on both sides is very high and mountainous hauing on the North and West side the continent of America and on the South and East part nothing but Ilands among which lye innumerable fretes or passages into the South sea The mountaines arise with such tops and spires into the aire of so rare a height as they may well be accounted amongst the wonders of the world enuironed as it were with many regions of congealed clouds and frozen meteors wherby they are continually fed and increased both in height and bignes from time to time retaining that which they haue once receiued being little againe diminished by the heate of the sun as being so farre from reflexion and so nigh the cold and frozen region But notwithstanding all this yet are the lowe and plaine groundes verie fruitful the grasse greene and naturall the hearbs that are of very strange sorts good and many the trees for the most part of them alwaies greene the ayre of the temperature of our countrey the water most pleasant and the soile agreeing to any graine which we haue growing in our countrie a place no doubt that lacketh nothing but a people to vse the same to the Creators glory and the encreasing of the Church the people inhabiting these parts made fires as we passed by in diuers places Drawing nigh the entrance of the South sea wee had such a shutting vp to the Northwards and such large and open fretes toward the South that it was doubtfull which way wee should passe without further discouerie for which cause our generall hauing brought his fleete to anchor vnder an Iland himselfe with certaine of his gentlemen rowed in a boate to descrie the passage who hauing discouered a sufficient way towards the North in their returne to their ships met a cannowe vnder the same Iland where wee rode then at anchor hauing in her diuers persons This cannowe or boate was made of the barke of diuers trees hauing a prowe and a sterne standing vp and semicirclewise yeelding inward of one forme and fashion the body whereof was a most dainty mould bearing in it most comely proportion and excellent workmanship in so much as to our generall and vs it seemed neuer to haue beene done without the cunning and expert iudgement of art and that not for the vse of so rude and barborous a people but for the pleasure of some great and noble personage yea of some Prince It had no other closing vp or caulking in the seames but the stitchin with thongs made of Seale-skins or other such beast and yet so close that it receiued very little or no water at all The people are of a meane stature but well set and compact in all their parts and limmes they haue great pleasure in painting their faces as the others haue of whom we haue spoken before Within the said Iland they had a house of meane building of certaine poles and couered with skinnes of beast hauing therein fire water and such meate as commonly they can come by as seales mussels and such like The vessels wherein they keepe their water and their cups in which they drinke are made of barkes of trees as was their canow and that with no lesse skill for the bignesse of the thing being of a very formall shape and good fashion Their working tooles which they vse in cutting these things and such other are kniues made of most huge and monstrous mussell shels the like whereof haue not beene seene or heard of lightly by any trauellers the meate thereof beeing very sauourie and good in eating which after they haue broken off the thinne and brittle substance of the edge they rub and grinde them vpon stones had for the purpose till they haue tempered and set such an edge vpon them that no wood is so hard but they will cut it at pleasure with the same whereof we our selues had experience Yea they cut therewith bones of a maruellous hardnesse making of them fisgies to kill fish wherein they haue a most pleasant exercise with great dexteritie Sept. 6 The sixth of September we had left asterne vs all these troublesome Ilands and were entred into the South sea or Mare del zur at the cape whereof our Generall had determined with his whole company to haue gone ashore and there after a Sermon to haue left a monument of her Maiestie ingrauen in mettall for a perpetuall remembrance which he had in a readinesse for that end prepared but neither was there any anchoring neither did the wind suffer vs by any meanes to make a stay Onely this by all our mens obseruations was concluded that the entrance by which we came into this straite was in 52. deg the middest in 53. deg 15. m and the going out in 52. deg 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 and in the end found to be no straite at all but all Ilands Now when our Generall perceiued that the nipping cold vnder so cruell and frowning a Winter had empaired the health of some of his men hee meant to haue made the more hast againe toward the line and not to saile any farther towards the pole Antartick lest being father from the Sunne and neerer the cold we might happily be ouertaken with some greater danger of sickness But God giuing men leaue to purpose reserueth to himselfe the disposition of all things making their intents of none effect or changing their meanings oft times cleane into the contrary as may best serue for his owne glory and their profit Sept. 7 For September 7. the second day after our entrance into the South sea called by some Mare pacificum but prouing to vs rather to be Mare furiosum God by a contrary wind and intollerable tempest seemed to set
onely had beene in hand After dinner all things being brought in a readines by him that supplied the roome of the prouost Marshall without any dallying or dolaying the time he came forth and kneeled downe preparing at once his necke for the axe and his spirit for heauen which hauing done without long ceremony as who had before digested this whole tragedy he desired all the rest to pray for him and willed the executioner to doe his office not to feare nor spare Thus hauing by the worthie manner of his death being much more honorable by it then blameable for any other of his actions fully blotted out what euer staine his fault might seeme to bring vpon him he left vnto our fleete a lamentable example of a goodly gentleman who in seeking aduancement vnfit for him cast away himselfe and vnto posteritie a monument of I know not what fatall calamitie incident to that Port and such like actions which might happilie afford a new paire of paralells to be added to Plutarchs in that the same place neere about the same time of the yeare witnessed the execution of 2. gentlemen suffring both for the like cause employed both in like seruice entertained both in great place endued both with excellent qualities the one 58. yeare after the other For on the maine our men found a gibbet fallen downe made of a spruce mast with mens bones vnderneath it which they coniectured to be the same gibbet which Magellane commanded to be erected in the yeare 1520. for the execution of Iohn Carthagene the Bishop of Burgos cosen who by the kings order was ioyned with Magellane in commission and made his vice-admirall In the Iland as we digged to burie this gentleman we found a great grinding stone broken in two parts which wee tooke and set fast in the ground the one part at the head the other at the feet building vp the middle space with other stones and turfes of earth and engraued in the stones the names of the parties buried there with the time of their departure and a memoriall of our generalls name in Latine that it might the better be vnderstood of all that should come after vs. These things thus ended and set in order our generall discharging the Mary viz. our Portugall prise because shee was leake and troublesome defaced her and then left her ribs and keele vpon the Iland where for two moneths together we had pitched our tents And so hauing wooded watered trimmed our ships dispatched all our other businesses and brought our fleet into the smallest number euen 3. onely besides our pinnaces that we might the easier keepe our selues together be the better furnished with necessaries and be the stronger mand against what soeuer need should be August 17. we departed out of this port and being now in great hope of a happie issue to our enterprise which almighty god hitherto had so blest and prospered we set our course for the Straights Southwest August 20. we fel with the cape neere which lies the entrance into the straight called by the Spaniards Capo virgin Maria appearing 4. leagues before you come to it with high and steepe gray cliffes full of blacke starres against which the sea beating sheweth as it were the spoutings of Whales hauing the highest of the cape like cape vincent in Portugall At this cape our generall caused his fleet in homage to our soueraigne lady the Queenes maiesty to strike their top-sailes vpon the bunt as a token of his willing and glad minde to shewe his dutifull obedience to her highnes whom he acknowledged to haue full interest and right in that new discouery and withall in remembrance of his honorable friend and fauorer Sir Christopher Hatton he changed the name of the shippe which himselfe went in from the Pellican to be called the golden Hinde Which ceremonies being ended together with a sermon teaching true obedience with prayers and giuing of thankes for her maiesty and most honorable counsell with the whole body of the common weale and church of God we continued our course on into the said frete where passing with land in fight on both sides we shortly fell with so narrow a straite as carrying with it much winde often turnings and many dangers requireth an expert judgement in him that shall passe the same it lieth West North West East South East but hauing left this straite a sterne we seemed to be come out of a riuer of two leagues broade into a large and maine sea hauing the night following an Iland in sight which being in height nothing inferior to the Iland Fogo before spoken of burneth like it aloft also in the aire in a wonderfull sort without intermission It hath formerly beene receiued as an vndoubted truth that the seas following the course of the first mouer from East to West haue 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 falls more then 5. fathomes vpright as on other coasts The 24 of August being Bartholomew day we fell with 3. Ilands bearing triangle-wise one from another one of them was very faire and large and of a fruitfull soile vpon which being next vnto vs and the weather very calme our generall with his gentlemen and certaine of his mariners then landed taking possession thereof in her Maiesties name and to her vse and called the same Elizabeth Iland The other two though they were not so large nor so faire to the eye yet were they to vs exceeding vsefull for in them wee found great store of strange birds which could not flie at all nor yet runne so fast as that they could escape vs with their liues in body they are lesse then a goose and bigger then a mallard short and thicke set together hauing no feathers but insteed thereof a certaine hard and matted downe their beakes are not much vnlike the bills of crowes they lodge and breed vpon the land where making earthes as the conies doe in the ground they lay their egges and bring vp their young their feeding and prouision to liue on is in the sea where they swimm in such sort as nature may seeme to haue granted them no small prerogatiue in swiftnesse both to prey vpon others and themselues to escape from any others that seeke to cease vpon them and such was the infinite resort of these birds to these Ilands that in the space of 1. day we killed no lesse 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 kinde of creature in so small a circuit so necessarily and plentifully seruing the vse of man they are a very good and wholesome victuall our generall named these Ilands the one Bartholomew according to the day the other Saint Georges in honour of England according to the ancient custome there obserued In the Iland of Saint
we set saile shaping our course right North west to coast alongst the parts of Peru for so the generall mappes set out the land to lie both for that we might with conuenient speed full with the height of 30. deg being the place appointed for the rest of our fleete to re-assemble as also that no opportunity might be lost in the meane time to finde them out if it seemed good to God to direct them to vs. In this course we chanced the next day with two Ilands being as it were store houses of most liberall prouision of victualls for vs of birds yeelding not onely sufficient and plentifull store for vs who were present but enough to haue serued all the rest also which were absent Thence hauing furnished our selues to our content we continued our course Nouember 1. still Northwest as wee had formerly done but in going on we soone espied that we might easily haue beene deceiued and therefore casting about and steering vpon another point wee found that the generall mappes did erre from the truth in setting downe the coast of Peru for 12. deg at least to the Northward of the supposed straite no lesse then is the Northwest point of the compasse different from the Northeast perceiuing hereby that no man had euer by trauell discouered any part of these 12. deg and therefore the setters forth of such descriptions are not to be trusted much lesse honored in their false and fraudulent coniectures which they vse not in this alone but in diuers other points of no small importance We found this part of Peru all alongst to the height of Lima which is 12. deg South of the line to be mountainous and very barren without water or wood for the most part except in certaine places inhabited by the Spaniards and few others which are very fruitfull and commodious After we were once againe thus fallen with the land we continually coasted along til we came to the height of 37. d. or thereabout and finding no conuenient place of abode nor likelihood to heare any newes of our ships we ranne off againe with an Iland which lay in sight named of the Spaniards Mucho by reason of the greatnesse and large circuit thereof Nou. 25 At this Iland comming to anchor Nouemb. 25. we found it to be a fruitfull place and well stored with sundrie sorts of good things as sheepe and other cattell maize which is a kinde of graine whereof they make bread potatoes with such other rootes besides that it is thought to be wonderfull rich in gold and to want no good thing for the vse of mans life The inhabitants are such Indians as by the cruell and most extreame dealing of the Spaniards haue beene driuen to flie from the maine here to releeue and fortifie themselues With this people our Generall thought it meet to haue traffique for fresh victuals and water and for that cause the very same night of our arriuall there himselfe with diuers of his company went ashoare to whom the people with great courtesie came downe bringing with them such fruits and other victuals as they had and two very fat sheepe which they gaue our Generall for a present In recompence whereof hee bestowed vpon them againe many good and necessarie things signifying vnto them that the end of his comming was for no other cause but by way of exchange to traffique with them for such things as wee needed and they could spare and in particular for such as they had alreadie brought downe vnto vs besides fresh water which wee desired of them Herein they held themselues well contented and seemed to be not a little ioyful of our comming appointing where we should the next morning haue fresh water at pleasure and withall signifying that then also they would bring vs downe such other things as we desired to serue our turnes Nou. 26 The next day therefore very early in the morning all things being made readie for traffique as also vessels prepared to bring the water our Generall taking great care for so necessarie prouision repaired to the shoare againe and setting aland two of his men sent them with their Barricoes to the watering place assigned the night before Who hauing peaceably past on one halfe of the way were then with no small violence set vpon by those traiterous people and suddenly slaine And to the end that our Generall with the rest of his company should not onely be stayed from rescuing them but also might fall if it were possible into their hands in like manner they had layed closely behind the rockes an ambushment of as we guessed about 500. men armed and well appointed for such a mischiefe Who suddenly attempting their purpose the rocks being very dangerous for the boate and the sea-gate exceeding great by shooting their arrowes hurt and wounded euery one of our men before they could free themselues or come to die vse of there weapons to do any good The General himself was shot in the face vnder his right eye and close by his nose the arrow piercing a maruellous way in vnder basis cerebri with no small danger of his life besides that he was grieuously wounded in the head The rest being nine persons in the boate were deadly wounded in diuers parts of their bodies if God almost miraculously had not giuen cure to the same For our chiefe Surgeon being dead and the other absent by the losse of our vice-admirall and hauing none left vs but a boy whose good will was more then any skill hee had we were little better then altogether destitute of such cunning and helpes as so grieuous a state of so many wounded bodies did require Notwithstanding God by the good aduice of our Generall and the diligent putting too of euery mans helpe did giue such speedy and wonderfull cure that we had all great comfort thereby and yeelded God the glory thereof The cause of this force and iniurie by these Ilanders was no other but the deadly hatred which they beare against their cruell enemies the Spaniards for the bloudy and most tirannous oppression which they had vsed towards them And therefore with purpose against them suspecting vs to bee Spaniards indeed and that the rather by occasion that though command was giuen to the contrary some of our men in demanding water vsed the Spanish word Aqua sought some part of reuenge against vs. Our Generall notwithstanding he might haue reuenged this wrong with little hazard or danger yet being more desirous to preserue one of his owne men aliue then to destroy 100. of his enemies committed the same to God wishing this onely punishment to them that they did but know whom they had wronged and that they had done this iniurie not to an enemie but to a friend not to a Spaniard but to an Englishman who would rather haue beene a patron to defend them then any way an instrument of the least wrong that should haue beene done vnto them The weapons which this people vse
almost full sea about that time after we had giuen thankes to God for his forbearing of vs hitherto and had with teares called vpon him to blesse our labours we againe renewed our trauell to see if we could now possibly find any anchor-hold which we had formerly sought in vaine But this second attempt proued as fruitlesse as the former and left vs nothing to trust to but prayers and teares seeing it appeared impossible that euer the forecast counsell pollicie or power of man could euer effect the deliuery of our ship except the Lord onely miraculously should do the same It was therefore presently motioned and by generall voice determined to commend our case to God alone leauing our selues wholly in his hand to spill or saue vs as seeme best to his gracious wisedome And that our faith might bee the better strengthened and the comfortable apprehension of Gods mercie in Christ be more clearely felt we had a Sermon and the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of our Sauiour celebrated After this sweet repast was thus receiued and other holy exercises adioyned were ended lest we should seeme guilty in any respect for not vsing all lawfull meanes we could inuent we fell to one other practise yet vnassayed to wit to vnloading of our ship by casting some of her goods into the sea which thing as it was attempted most willingly so was it dispatched in very short time So that euen those things which we before this time nor any other in our case could be without did now seeme as things onely worthy to be despised yea we were herein so forward that neither our munition for defence nor the very meale for sustentation of our liues could find fauour with vs but euerie thing as it first came to hand went ouerboard assuring our selues of this that if it pleased God once to deliuer vs out of that most desperate strait wherein we were he would fight for vs against our enemies neither would he suffer vs to perish for want of bread But when all was done it was not any of our endeuours but Gods onely hand that wrought our deliuerie t was he alone that brought vs euen vnder the very stroake of death t was he alone that said vnto vs Returne againe ye sonnes of men t was he alone that set vs at liberty againe that made vs safe and free after that we had remained in the former miserable condition the full space of twentie houres to his glorious name be the euerlasting praise The manner of our deliuery for the relation of it will especially be expected was onely this The place whereon we sate so fast was a firme rocke in a cleft whereof it was we stucke on the larbord side ' at low water there was not aboue sixe foote depth in all on the starbord within little distance as you haue heard no bottome to be found the brize during the whole time that we thus were stayed blew somewhat stiffe directly against out broad side and so perforce kept the ship vpright It pleased God in the beginning of the tyde while the water was yet almost at lowest to slacke the stiffenesse of the wind and now out ship who required thirteene foot water to make her fleet and had not at that time on the one side aboue seuen at most wanting her prop on the other side which had too long alreadie kept her vp fell a heeling towards the deepe water and by that meanes freed her keele and made vs glad men This shoale is at least three or foure leagues in length it lies in 2. deg lacking three or foure minutes South latitude The day of this deliuerance was the tenth of Ianuary Ian. 10 Of all the dangers that in our whole voyage we met with this was the greatest but it was not the last as may appeare by what ensueth Neither could we indeed for a long season free our selues from the continuall care and feare of them nor could we euer come to any conuenient anchoring but were continually for the most pare tost amongst the many Ilands and shoales which lye in infinite number round about on the South parts of Celébes till the eight day of the following moneth Ian. 12 Ian. 12. being not able to beare our sayles by reason of the tempest and fearing of the dangers we let fall our anchors vpon a shoale in 3. deg 30. min. Ian. 14 Ian. 14. we were gotten a little farther South where at an Iland in 4. deg 6. min. we againe cast anchor and spent a day in watering and wooding After this wee met with foule weather Westerly winds and dangerous shoales for many dayes together insomuch that we were vtterly weary of this coast of Sillebis thought best to beare with Timor The Southermost cape of Sillebis stands in 5. deg that side the line But of this coast of Sillebis we could not so easily cleare our selues Ian. 20 The 20. of Ianua wee were forced to runne with a small Iland not farte from thence where hauing sent our boate a good distance from vs to search out a place where we might anchor wee were suddenly enuironed with no small extremities for there arose a most violent yea an intollerable flaw and storme out of the Southwest against vs making vs who were on a lee shoare amongst most dangerous and hidden shoales to feare extreamely not onely the losse of our boate and men but the present losse of our selues our ship and goods or the casting of those men whom God should spare into the hands of Infidels Which misery could not by any power or industry of ours haue beene auoided if the mercifull goodnesse of God had not by staying the outragious extremities wherewich we were set vpon wrought our present deliuery by whose vnspeakeable mercy our men and boate also were vnexpectedly yet safely restored vnto vs. Wee gate off from this place as well as we could and continued on our course till the 26. day Ian. 26 when the winde tooke vs very strong against vs West and West Southwest so as that wee could beare no more saile till the end of that moneth was full expired Febr. 1 February 1. we saw very high land and as it seemed well inhabited we would faine haue borne with it to haue got some succour but the weather was so ill that we could finde no harbour and we were very fearefull of aduenturing our selues too farre amongst the many dangers which were neere the shoare Febr. 3 The third day also we saw a little Iland but being vnable to beare any faile but onely to ly at hull we were by the storme carried away and could not fetch it Febr. 6 February 6. we saw fiue Ilands one of them towards the East and foure towards the West of vs one bigger then another at the biggest of which we cast anchor and the next day watred and wooded Febr. 8 After we had gone hence on February 8. we descried two canowes who hauing descried vs as
it seemes before came willingly vnto vs and talked with vs alluring and conducting vs to their towne not farre off named Baratiua it stands in 7. deg 13. min. South the line The people are Gentiles of handsome body and comely statute of ciuill demeanour very iust in dealing and courteous to strangers of all which we had euident proofe they shewing themselues most glad of our coming and cheerfully ready to relieue our wants with whatsoeuer their country could afford The men goe all naked saue their heads and secret parts euery one hauing one thing or other hanging at his eares Their women are couered from the middle to the foote weating vpon their naked armes bracelets and that in no small number some hauing nine at least vpon each arme made for the most part of horne or brasse whereof the lightest by our estimation would weigh 2. ounces With this people linnen cloth whereof they make roles for their heads and girdles to weare about their loynes is the best marchandise and of greatest estimation They are also much delighted with Margaretas which in their language they call Saleta and such other like trifles Their Iland is both rich and fruitfull rich in gold siluer copper tinne sulpher c. neither are they onely expert to try those mettalls but very skillfull also in working of them artificially into diuerse formes and shapes as pleaseth them best Their fruites are diuerse likewise and plentifull as nutmegges ginger long pepper limons cucumbers cocoes figoes sagu with diuerse other sorts whereof we had one in 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 meate of each of these wee receiued of them whatsoeuer wee desired for our need insomuch that such was Gods gratious goodnesse to vs the old prouerbe was verified with vs 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 countrey hitherto wee found not any where greater comfort and refreshing then we did at this time in this place in refreshing and furnishing our selues here we spent 2. dayes and departed hence February 10. Febr. 10 When we were come into the height of 8. deg 4. min Febr. 12 Feb. 12. in the morning we espied a greene Iland to the Southward not long after two other Ilands on the same side and a great one more towards the North they seemed all to be well inhabited bur wee had neither need nor desire to goe to visit them and so we past by them Feb. 14 The 14. day wee saw some other reasonable bigge Ilands and Febr. 16 February 16 we past betweene foure or fiue bigge Ilands more which lay in the height 9. deg 40. min. Feb. 18. 19. The 18. we cast anchor vnder a little Iland whence we departed againe the day following we wooded here but other reliefe except two turtles we receiued none Febr. 22. The 22. day we lost sight of three Ilands on our starboard side which lay in to deg and some odde minutes After this we past on to the Westward without stay or any thing to be taken notice of March 9 till the 9. of March when in the morning wee espied land some part thereof very high in 8. de 20. m. South latitude here we anchored that night and the next day weighed againe March 10 and bearing farther North and neerer the shoare we came to anchor the second time March 11 The eleuenth of March we first tooke in water and after sent our boate againe to shoare March 12 where we had traffique with the people of the country whereupon the same day we brought our ship more neere the towne and hauing setled our selues there that night the next day our generall sent his man ashoare to present the king with certaine cloth both linnen and woollen besides some silkes which hee gladly and thankfully receiued and returned rice cocoes hennes and other victualls in way of recompence This Iland we found to be the Iland Iaua the middle whereof stands in 7. deg and 30. min. beyond the equator March 13 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 ioyfully and louingly receiued with his musicke and shewed him the manner of our vse of armes by training his men with their pikes 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 bee shortly sent vs. In this Iland there is one chiefe but many vnder-gouernors or petty kings whom they call Raias who liue in great familiaritie and friendship one with another March 14 The 14. day we receiued victuals from two of them and the day after that to wit the March 15 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 entertainement which we gaue them And after these had beene with vs and on their returne had as it seemes related what they found Raia Donan the chiefe king of the whole land bringing victuals with him for our reliefe he also the next day after came aboard vs. Few were the dayes that one or more of these kings did misse to visit vs insomuch that we grew acquainted with the names of many of them as of Raia Pataiára Raia Cabocapálla Raia Mangbángo Ria Bocabarra Raia Timbánton whom our Generall alwayes entertained with the best cheere that wee could make and shewed them all the commodities of our ship with our ordnance and other armes and weapons and the seuerall furnitures belonging to each and the vses for which they serued His musicke also and all things else whereby he might do them pleasure wherein they tooke exceeding great delight with admiration March 21 One day amongst the rest viz March 21. Raia Donan comming aboard vs in requitall of our musick which was made to him presented our generall with his country musick 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 deliuered to vs for which he was to his content rewarded by our Generall with diuerse sorts of very costly silks which he held in great esteeme Though our often giuing entertainement in this manner did hinder vs much in the speedy dispatching of our businesses and made vs spend the more dayes about them yet here we found all such conuenient helpes that to our contents we at last ended them the matter of greatest importance which we did besides victualing was the new trimming and washing of our ship which by reason of our long voyage was so ouergrowne with a kind of shell-fish sticking fast vnto her that it hindred her exceedingly and was a great trouble to her sayling The people as are their kings are a louing a very true and a iust dealing people We traffiqued with them for hens goats cocoes plantons and other kinds of victuals which they offered vs in such plenty that we might haue laden our ship if we had needed March 26 We tooke our leaues 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 May 21 till die 21. of May when we espied land to with a part of the maine of Africa in some places very high under the latitude of 31. deg and halfe Iune 15 Wee coasted along till Iune 15. on which day hauing very faire weather and the winde at Southeast wee past the cape itselfe so neere in sight that we had beene able with our pieces to haue shot to land Iuly 15 Iuly 15. we fell with the land againe about Rio de Sesto where we saw many negroes in their boates a fishing whereof 2. came very neere vs but we cared not to stay nor had any talke or dealing with them Iuly 22 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 againe Iuly 24 here also we had oisters and plenty of lemmons which gaue vs good refreshing August 15 We found our selues vnder the Tropick of Cancer August 15. hauing the winde at Northeast and we 50. leagues off from the neerest land Aug. 16 The 22. day we were in the height of the Canaries Sept. 26 And the 26. which was Monday in the iust and ordinary reckoning of those that had stayed at home in one place or countrie but in our coÌ„putation was the Lords day or Sonday we safely with joyfull minds and thankfvll hearts to God arriued at Plimoth the place of our first setting forth after we had spent 2. years 10. moneths and some few odde daies beside in seeing the wonders of the Lord in the deep in discouering so many admirable things in going through with so many strange aduentures in escaping out of so many dangers and ouercomming so many difficulties in this our encompassing of this neather globe and passing round about the world which we haue related Soli rerum maximarum Effectori Soli totius mundi Gubernatori Soli suorum Conseruatori Soli Deo sit semper Gâ—â—ria FINIS
visited by certaine of the people of the country who brought downe with them a woman a Moore with her little babe hanging vpon her dry dugge hauing scarce life in herselfe much lesse milke to nourish her child to be sould as a horse or a cow and calfe by her side in which sort of merchandise our generall would not deale But they had also Amber-greece with certaine gummes of some estimation which they brought to exchange with our men for water whereof they haue great want so that comming with their Allforges they are leathern bags holding liquor to buy water they cared not at what price they bought it so they might haue to quench their thirst A very heauie iudgement of God vpon that coast The circumstances whereof considered our generall would receiue nothing of them for water but freely gaue it them that came to him yea and fed them also ordinarily with our victualls in eating whereof their manner was not onely vnciuill and vnsightly to vs but euen inhumane and loathsome in it selfe And hauing washed and trimd our ships and discharged all our spanish prises excepting one Caunter for which we gaue to the owner one of our owne ships viz. the Christopher and one caruell formerly bound to Saint Iago which we caused to acompanie vs hither where shee also was discharged Ian. 22 after 6. dayes abode here we departed directing our course for the Ilands of cape Verde where if any where we were of necessity to store our fleet with fresh water for a long time for that our generall intended from thence to runne a long course euen to the coast of Brasill without touch of land And now hauing the winde constant at North East East North East which is vsuall about those parts because it bloweth almost continually from the shoare Ianuary the 27. we coasted Bonavista and the next day after we came to anchor vnder the Wester part towards Saint Iago of the Iland Maio Ian. 28 it lyeth in 15. deg oo high land sauing that the North-west part stretcheth out into the sea the space of a league very low and is inhabited by subiects to the king of Portugall Ian. 29 Here landing in hope of traffique with the inhabitants for water we found a Towne not farre from the waters side of a great number of desolate and ruinous houses with a poore naked Chappell or Oratory such as small cost and charge might serue and suffice being to small purpose and as it seemeth onely to make a shew and that a false shew contrary to the nature of a scarcrow which feareth birds from comming nigh this entiseth such as passe by to hale in and looke for commodity which is not at all to be found there though in the inner parts of the Iland it be in great abundance For when wee found the springs and wells which had beene there as appeared stopped vp againe and no other water to purpose to bee had to serue our need we marched vp to seeke some more conuenient place to supply our want or at least to see whether the people would be dealt withal to helpe vs therein In this trauelling we found the soile to be very fruitfull hauing euery where plenty of figgetrees with fruite vpon most of them But in the vallies and low ground where little low cottages were built were pleasant vineyards planted bearing then ripe and most pleasant grapes There were also tall trees without any branch till the top which bare the Coco nuts There were also great store of certaine lower trees with long and broad leaues bearing the fruit which they call Plantanes in clusters together like puddings a most dainty and wholesome fruit All of these trees were euen laden with fruit some ready to be eaten others comming forward others ouer-ripe Neither can this seeme strange though about the middest of Winter with vs for that the Sunne doth neuer withdraw himselfe farther off from them but that with his liuely heate he quickeneth and strengtheneth the power of the soyle and plant neither euer haue they any such frost and cold as thereby to loose their greene hew and appearance We found very good water in diuerse places but so farre off from the roade that wee could not with any reasonable paines enioy it The people would by no meanes be induced to haue any conference with vs but keeping in the most sweet and fruitfull vallies among the hils where their townes and places of dwelling were gaue vs leaue without interruption to take our pleasure in suruewing the Iland as they had some reason not to endanger themselues where they saw they could reape nothing sooner then damage and shame if they should haue offered violence to them which came in peace to do them no wrong at all This Iland yeeldeth other great commodities as wonderfull heards of goats infinite store of wilde hens and salt without labour onely the gathering it together excepted which continually in a maruellous quantitie is increased vpon the sands by the flowing of the sea and the heate of the Sunne kerning the same So that of the increase thereof they keepe a continuall traffique with their neighbours in the other adiacent Ilands Ian. 30 Wee set sayle thence the 30. day Being departed from Maio Ian. 31 the next day wee passed by the Iland of Saint Iago ten leagues West of Maio in the same latitude inhabited by the Portugals and Moores together The cause whereof is said to haue beene in the Portugals themselues who continuing long time Lords within themselues in the said Iland vsed that extreame and vnreasonable crueltie ouer their slaues that their bondage being intollerable they were forced to seeke some meanes to helpe themselues and to lighten that so heauy a burden and thereupon chose to flie into the most mountany parts of the Iland and at last by continuall escapes increasing to a great number and growing to a set strength do now liue with that terror to their oppressors that they now endure no lesse bondage in mind then the Forcatos did before in body besides the dammage that they daily suffer at their hands in their goods and cattell together with the abridging of their liberties in the vse of diuerse parts of the fruitfull soile of the said Iland which is very large maruellous fruitfull a refuge for all such ships as are bound towards Brasill Ginny the East Indies Binny Calecut c. and a place of rare force if it were not for the cause afore-recited which hath much abated the pride and cooled the courage of that people who vnder pretence of traffique and friendship at first making an entrance ceased not practising vpon the poore Ilanders the ancient remainder of the first planters thereof as it may seeme from the coast of Guinea vntil they had excluded them from all gouernment and liberty yea almost life On the South-west of this Iland we tooke a Portugall laden the best part with wine and much good cloth both linnen and woollen
pursueth and hath not strength to escape by swimming any longer hee lifteth vp himselfe aboue the water and flieth a pretty height sometimes lighting into boates or barkes as they saile along The quills of their wings are so proportionable and finelie set together with a most thinne and dainty filme that they might seeme to serue for a much longer and higher flight but the drienes of them is such after some 10. or 12. strokes that hee must needs into the water againe to moisten them which else would grow stiffe and vnfit for motion The inrease of this little and wonderfull creature is in manner infinite the fry whereof lieth vpon the vpper part of the waters in the heate of the Sun as dust vpon the face of the earth which being in bignesse of a wheat straw and length an inch more or lesse do continually exercise themselues in both their faculties of nature wherein if the Lord had not made them expert indeed their generation could not haue continued being so desired a prey to so many which greedily hunt after them forcing them to escape in the ayre by flight when they cannot in the waters liue in safety Neither are they allwayes free or without danger in their flying but as they escape one euill by refusing the waters so they sometimes fall into as great a mischiefe by mounting vp into the ayre at that by meanes of a great and rauening foule named of some a Don or Spurkite who feeding chiefely on such fish as he can come by at aduantage in their swimming in the brim of the waters or leaping aboue the same presently ceaseth vpon them with great violence making great havock especially amongst these flying fishes though with small profit to himselfe There is another sort of fish which likewise flieth in the ayre named a Cuttill it s the same whose bones the goldsmithes commonly vse or at least not vnlike that sort a multitude of which haue at one time in their flight fallen into our ship amongst our men Passing thus in beholding the most excellent works of the eternall God in the seas as if we had beene in a garden of pleasure April 5 Aprill 5. we fell with the coast of Brasill in 31. deg 30. min. towards the pole Antartick where the land is lowe neere the sea but much higher within the countrie hauing in depth not aboue 12. fathome 3. leagues off from the shoare and being descried by the inhabitants we sawe great and huge fires made by them in sundry plaes Which order of making fires though it be vniuersall as well among Christians as heathens yet is it not likely that many doe vse it to that end which the Brasilians doe to wit for a sacrifice to Deuills whereat they intermixe many and diuers ceremonies of coniurations casting vp great heapes of sand to this end that if any ships shall go about to stay vpon their coasts their ministring spirits may make wrack of them whereof the Portugalls by the losse of diuers of their ships haue had often experience In the reports of Magellanes voyage it is said that this people pray to no maner of thing but liue 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 creature to make Gods of Deuills But I am of the minde that it was with them then as now it is onely they lacked then the like occasion to put it in practise which now they haue for then they liued as a free people among themselues but now are in most miserable bondage and slauery both in body goods wife and children and life it self to the Portugalls whose hard and most cruell dealings against them forceth them to flie into the more vnfruitful parts of their owne land rather there to starue or at least liue miserably with libertie then to abide such intollerable bondage as they lay vpon them vsing the aforesaid practises with deuills both for a reuenge against their oppressors and also for a defence that they haue no further entrance into the country And supposing indeed that no other had vsed trauell by sea in ships but their enemies onely they therefore vsed the same at our comming notwitstanding our God made their deuilish intent of none effect For albeit there lacked not within the space of our falling with this coast forcible stormes and tempests yet did we sustaine no dammage but onely the seperating of our ships out of sight for a few dayes Here our generall would haue gone ashore but we could finde no harbor in many leagues And therefore coasting along the land towards the south Aprill 7. Apr. 7 we had a violent storme for the space of 3. houres With thunder lightning and raine in great abundance accompanied with a vehement south winde directly against vs which caused a seperation of the Christopher viz. the Caunter which wee tooke at cape Blank in exchange for the Christopher whose name she henceforward bore from the rest of the fleet After this we kept on our course sometime to the sea ward sometimes toward the shoare but alwayes southward as neere as we could Apr. 14 till Aprill 14. in the morning at which time wee passed by cape Saint Mary which lies in 35. deg neere the mouth of the riuer of Plate and running within it about 6. or 7. leagues along by the maine we came to anchor in a bay vnder another cape which our Generall afterwards called cape Ioy Apr. 16 by reason that the second day after our anchoring here the Christopher whom we had lost in the former storme came to vs againe Among other cares which our Generall tooke in this action next the maine care of effecting the voyage it selfe these were the principall and chiefly subordinate to keepe our whole fleet as neere as possible we could together to get fresh water which is of continuall vse and to refresh our men wearied with long toyles at sea as oft as we should find any opportunitie of effecting the same And for these causes it was determined and publique notice thereof giuen at our departure from the Ilands of cape Verde that the next Randeuous both for the recollecting of our nauy if it should be despersed as also for watering and the like should be the riuer of Plate whither we were all to repaire with all the conuenient speed that could be made and to stay one for another if it should happen that we could not arriue there all together and the effect wee found answerable to our expectations for here our seuered ship as hath beene declared found vs againe and here we found those other helps also so much desired The countrey hereabout is of a temperate and most sweet aire very faire and pleasant to behold and besides the exceeding fruitfulnesse of the soile it s stored with plentie of large and mightie deere Notwithstanding that in this first bay wee found
it white moones and the white part blacke Suns being the marks and characters of their gods as is before noted They haue some commodity by painting of their bodies for the which cause they vse it so generally and that I gather to be the defence it yeeldeth against the piercing and nipping cold For the colours being close layd on vpon their skinne or rather in their flesh as by continuall renewing of these iuyces which are layed on soakt into the inner part thereof doth fill vp the pores so close that no aire or cold can enter or make them once to shrinke They haue cleane comely and strong bodies they are swift of foot and seeme very actiue Neither is any thing more lamentable in my iudgement then that so goodly a people and so liuely creatures of God should bee ignorant of the true and liuing God And so much the more is this to be lamented by how much they are more tractable and easie to be brought to the sheepfold of Christ hauing in truth a land sufficient to recompence any Christian Prince in the world for the whole trauell and labour cost and charges bestowed in that behalfe with a wonderfull enlarging of a kingdome besides the glory of God by encreasing of the Church of Christ It s wonderfull to heare being neuer knowne to Christians before this time how familiar they became in short space with vs thinking themselues to be ioyned with such a people as they ought rather to serue then offer any wrong or iniurie vnto Presuming that they might be bold with our Generall as with a Father and with vs as with brethren and their neerest friends neither seemed their loue lesse towards vs. One of the chiefest among them hauing on a time receiued a cap of our Generals head which he did daily weare remouing himselfe but a little from vs with an arrow pierced his legge deepely causing the bloud to streame out vpon the ground signifying thereby how vnfainedly he loued him and giuing therin a couenant of peace The number of men which here did frequent our companie were about fiftie persons Within in the Southermost part of this bay there is a riuer of fresh water with a great many profitable Ilands of which some haue alwaies such store of Seales or sea-wosues as were able to maintaine a huge army of men Other Ilands being many and great are so replenished with birds and foule as if there were no other victuals a wonderfull multitude of people might be nourished by the increase of them for many posterities Of these we killed some with shot and some with status and tooke some with our hands from mens heads and shoulders vpon which they lighted We could not perceiue that the people of the countrey had any sort of boate or canowe to come to these Ilands Their owne prouision which they eate for ought we could perceiue was commonly raw For we should sometimes find the remnants of Seales all bloudy which they had gnawne with their teeth like dogs They go all of them armed with a short bow of about an ell in length in their hands with arrowes of reeds and headed with a flint stone very cunningly cut and fastned This bay by reason of the plenty of Seales therein found insomuch that we killed two hundred in the space of one houre we called Seale bay And hauing now made sufficient prouision of victuals and other necessaries as also happily finished all our businesses Iune 3 Iune 3. we set saile from thence And coasting along towards the pole Antartick Iune 12. Iune 12 we fell with a little bay in which we anchored for the space of two dayes spent in the discharging of our Caunter the Christopher which wee here layed vp Iune 14 The 14. day we waighed againe and kept on our course Southward till the 17. Iune 17 and then cast anchor in another bay in 50. deg 20. min. lacking but little more then one degree of the mouth of the Straights through which lay our so much desited passage into the South sea Here our generall on good aduise determined to alter his course and turne his sterne to the Northward againe if happily God would grant we might find our ship and friends whom we lost in the great storme as is before said Forasmuch as if we should enter the Straight without them in our company it must needs go hard with them and we also in the meane time as well by their absence as by the vncertaintie of their state must needs receiue no small discomfort Iune 18 And therefore Iune 18. in the morning putting to sea againe with hartie and often prayers wee ioyned watchfull industry to serue Gods good prouidence and held on our purpose to runne backe toward the line into the same height in which they were first disseuered from vs. Iune 19 The 19. day of Iune toward night hauing sayled within a few leagues of port Saint Iulian we had our ship in sight for which we gaue God thankes with most ioyfull minds And forasmuch as the ship was farre out of order and very leake by reason of extremity of weather which she had endured aswell before her loosing company as in her absence our Generall thought good to beare into Port Saint Iulian with his fleet because it was so nigh at hand and so conuenient a place intending there to refresh his wearied men and cherish them which had in their absence tasted such bitternesse of discomfort besides the want of many things which they sustained Iune 20 Thus the next day the 20. of Iune we entred Port Saint Iulian which standeth in 49. deg 30. min. and hath on the South side of the harbour picked rockes like towers and within the harbour many Ilands which you many ride hard aboard off but in going in you must borrow of the North shoare Being now come to anchor and all things fitted and made safe aboard our Generall with certaine of his companie viz. Thomas Drake his brother Iohn Thomas Robert Winter Oliuer the Master gunner Iohn Brewer and Thomas Hood Iune 22 Iune 22. rowed further in with a boate to find out some conuenient place which might yeeld vs fresh water during the time of our abode there and furnish vs with supply for prouision to take to sea with vs at our departure Which worke as it was of great necessitie and therefore carefully to be performed so did not he thinke himselfe discharged of his duty if he himselfe bestowed not the first trauell therein as his vse was at all times in all other things belonging to the relieuing of our wants and the maintenance of our good estate by the supply of what was needfull Presently vpon his landing he was visited by two of the inhabitants of the place whom Magellane named Patagous or rather Pentagours from their huge stature and strength proportionable These as they seemed greatly to reioyce at his arriuall so did they shew themselues very familiar receiuing at our Generals
and most intollerable winds the impossible passage out the desperate tarrying there and ineuitable perils on euery side did lay before vs so small likelihood to escape present destruction that if the speciall prouidence of God himselfe had not supported vs we could neuer haue endured that wofull state as being inuironed with most terrible and most fearefull iudgements round about For truly it was more likely that the mountaines should haue beene rent in sunder from the top to the bottome and cast headlong into the sea by these vnnaturall winds then that we by any helpe or cunning of man should free the life of any one amongst vs. Notwithstanding the same God of mercy which deliuered Ionas out of the Whales belly and heareth all those that call vpon him faithfully in their distresse looked downe from heauen beheld our teares and heard our humble petitions ioyned with holy vowes Euen God whom not the winds and seas al one but euen the diuels themselues and powers of hell obey did so wonderfully free vs and make our way open before vs as it were by his holy Angels still guiding and conduting vs that more then the affright and amaze of this estate we receiued no part of damage in all the things that belonged vnto vs. But escaping from these straites and miseries as it were through the needles ey that God might haue the greater glory in our deliuery by the great and effectuall care and trauell of our Generall the Lords instrument therein we could now no longer forbeare but must needes finde some place of refuge aswell to prouide water wood and other necessaries as to comfort our men thus worne and tired out by so many and so long intollerable toyles the like whereof it s to be supposed no traueller hath felt neither hath there euer beene such a tempest that any records make mention of so violent and of such continuance since Noahs flood for as hath beene sayd it lasted from September 7. to October 28 full 52. dayes Not many leagues therefore to the Southwards of our former anchoring we ranne in againe among these Ilands where we had once more better likelihood to rest in peace and so much the rather for that wee found the people of the countrie trauelling for their liuing from one Iland to another in their canowes both men women and young infants wrapt in skins and hanging at their mothers backs with whom we had traffique for such things as they had as chaines of certaine shells and such other trifles here the Lord gaue vs three dayes to breath our selues and to prouide such things as we wanted albeit the same was with continuall care and troubles to auoid imminent dangers which the troubled seas and blustering windes did euery houre threaten vnto vs. But when we seemed to haue stayed there too long we were more rigorously assaulted by the not formerly ended but now more violently renewed storme and driuen thence also with no small danger leauing behind vs 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 wee fell with the vttermost part of land towards the South pole and had certainely discouered how farre the same doth reach Southward from the coast of America aforenamed The vttermost cape or hedland of all these Ilands stands neere in 56. deg without which there is no maine nor Iland to be seene to the Southwards but that the Atlanticke Ocean and the South sea meete in a most large and free scope It hath beene a dreame through many ages that these Ilands haue beene a maine and that it hath beene terra incognita wherein many strange monsters liued Indeed it might truly before this time be called incognota for howsouer the mappes and generall descriptions of Cosmographers either vpon the deceiueable reports of other men or the deceitfull imaginations of themselues supposing neuer herein to be corrected haue set it downe yet it is true that before this time it was neuer discouered or certainely knowne by any traueller that wee haue heard of And here as in a fit place it shall not be amisse to remoue that error in opinion which hath beene held by many of the impossible returne out of Mar Del Zur into the West Ocean by reason of the supposed Easterne current and leuant windes which say they speedily carrie any thither but suffer no returne They are herein likewise altogether deceiued for neither did we meete with any such current neither had we any such certaine windes with any such speed to carry vs through but at all times in our passage there we found more opportunity to returne backe againe into the West Ocean then to goe forward into Mar Del zur by meanes either of current or windes to hinder vs whereof we had experience more then we wished being glad oftentimes to alter our course and to fall asterne againe with francke winde without any impediment of any such surmised current farther in one afternoone then we could fetch vp or recouer againe in a whole day with a reasonable gale And in that they alleage the narrownes of the frete and want of sea-roome to be the cause of this violent current they are herein no lesse deceiued then they were in the other without reason for besides that it cannot be sayd that there is one onely passage but rather innumerable it is most certaine that a sea-board all these Ilands there is one large and maine sea wherein if any will not be satisfied nor belieue the report of our experience and ey-sight hee should be aduised to suspend his iudgement till he haue either tried it himselfe by his owne trauell or shall vnderstand by other trauellers more particulars to confirme his minde herein Now as wee were fallen to the vttermost part of these Ilands Octob. 28 Octob. 28. our troubles did make an end the storme ceased and all our calamities onely the absence of our friends excepted were remoued as if God all this while by his secret prouidence had lead vs to make this discouery which being made according to his will he stayed his hand as pleased his maiestie therein and refreshed vs as his seruants At these Southerly parts we found the night in the latter end of October to be but 2. houres long the sunne being yet aboue 7. degrees distant from the Tropick so that it seemeth being in the Tropick to leaue very little or no night at all in that place There be few of all these Ilands but haue some inhabitants whose manners apparell houses canowes and meanes of liuing is like vnto those formerly spoken of a little before our departure out of the Straight To all these Ilands did our generall giue one name to wit Elizabethides Octob. 30 After two daies stay which wee made in and about these Ilands the 30. of October
many other worthy things which our Generals owne experience if it would please him to make triall would better then his relation assure him of The brize would shortly serue very fitly to carrie him thither and he himselfe would accompanie him all the way He accounted himselfe a happie man that he had but seene and spoken with vs the relation of it might perhaps serue him to recouer fauour in his countrey but if he could preuaile with our Generall himselfe to go thither he doubted not but it would be a meanes of his great aduancement and increase of honour with his king Notwithstanding our Generall could not on such perswasions be induced and to the stranger parted sorrie that he could not preuaile in his request yet exceeding glad of the intelligence he had learned Nou. 9 By the ninth of Nouember hauing gotten what prouision the place could affoord vs wee then set sayle and considering that our ship for want of trimming was now growne foule that our caske and vessels for water were much decayed and that diuers other things stood in need of reparation our next care was how wee might fall with such a place where with safetie we might a while stay for the redressing of these inconueniences The calmenesse of the winds which are almost continuall before the comming of the brize which was not yet expected perswaded vs it was the fittest time that we could take Nou. 14 With this resolution wee sayled along till Nouember 14. at what time we arriued at a little Iland to the Southward of Celébes standing in 1. deg 40 min. towards the pole antarticke which being without inhabitants gaue vs the better hope of quiet abode We anchored and finding the place conuenient for our purposes there wanting nothing here which we stood in need of but onely water which wee were faine to fetch from another Iland somewhat farther to the South made our abode herefor 26. whole dayes together The first thing we did we pitched our tents and intrenched ourselues as strongly as we could vpon the shoare lest at any time perhaps we might haue beene disturbed by the inhabitants of the greater Iland which lay not farre to the Westward of vs after we had prouided thus for our security wee landed our goods and had a Smiths forge set vp both for the making of some necessarie shipworke and for the repairing of some ironhooped caskes without which they could not long haue serued our vse and for that our Smiths coales were all spent long before this time there was order giuen and followed for the burning of charcoale by which that want might be supplyed We trimd our ship and performed our other businesses to our content The place affording vs not onely all necessaries which we had not of our owne before thereunto but also wonderfull refreshing to our wearied bodies by the comfortable reliefe and excellent prouision that here we found whereby of sickely weake and decayed as many of vs seemed to be before our comming hither we in short space grew all of vs to be strong lusty and healthfull persons Besides this we had rare experience of Gods wonderfull wisedome in many rare and admirable creatures which here we saw The whole Iland is a through growne wood the trees for the most part are of large and high stature very straight and cleane without bowes saue onely in the very top The leaues whereof are nor much vnlike our broomes in England Among these trees night by night did shew themselues an infinite smarme of fierie-seeming-wormes flying in the aire whose bodies no bigger then an ordinary flie did make a shew and giue such light as if euery twigge on euery tree had beene a lighted candle or as if that place had beene the starry spheare To these wee may adde the relation of another almost as strange a creature which here we saw and that was an innumerable multitude of huge Bats or reare-mice equalling or rather exceeding a good Henne in bignesse They flie with maruellous swiftnesse but their flight is very short and when they light they hang onely by the bowes with their backes downeward Neither may wee without ingratitude by reason of the special vse we made of them omit to speake of the huge multitude of a certaine kinde of Crayfish of such a size that one was sufficient to satisfie foure hungry men at a dinner being a very good and restoratiue meate the especiall meane as we conceiued it of our increase of health They are as farre as we could perceiue vtter strangers to the sea liuing always on the land where they worke themselues earths as do the conies or rather they dig great and huge caues vnder the rootes of the most huge and monstrous trees where they lodge themselues by companies together Of the same sort and kind we found in other places about the Iland Celébes some that for want of other refuge when we came to take them did clime vp into trees to hide themselues whether we were enforced to clime after them if we would haue them which wee would not sticke to do rather then to be without them this Iland we called Crab-iland All necessary causes of our staying longer in this place being at last finished our generall prepared to be in a readinesse to take the first aduantage of the comming of the brize or winde which we expected and hauing the day before furnished our selues with fresh water from the other Iland and taken in prouision of wood and the like Dec. 12 December 12. we put to sea directing our course toward the West Dec. 16 the 16. day wee had sight of the Iland Celebes or Silébis but hauing a bad winde and being intangled among many Ilands incumbred also with many other difficulties and some dangers at last meeting with a deep bay out of which we could not in three daies turne out agnine wee could not by any meanes recouer the North of Silébis or continue on our course farther West but were inforced to alter the same toward the South finding that course also to be both difficult and very dangerous by reason of many shoales which lay farre off here and there among the Ilands insomuch that in all our passages from England hitherto we had neuer more care to keepe our selues afloate Ian. 9 and from sticking on them thus were we forced to beate vp and downe with extraordinary care and circumspection till Ianuary 9. at which time we supposed that we had at last attained a free passage the land turning euidently in our sight about to Westward and the wind being enlarged followed vs as we desired with a reasonable gale When loe on a sudden when we least suspected no shew or suspition of danger appearing to vs and we were now sailing onward with full sailes in the beginning of the first watch of the said day at night euen in a moment our ship was laid vp fast vpon a desperate shoale with no other likelihood in appearance