them or whether they be broken and for the least hole that they spy in them they lay them away and desire to have others for them and also if they be but a little foul or greasie they will have none of them and for quantity and quality they make trial of all other Wares as curiously as is done in Europe CHAP. III. The first Voyage from England to Guinney August 12. 1553. There sailed from Ports-mouth two goodly Ships the Primrose and the Lyon with a pinnace called the Moon and sevenscore lusty men under two expert Pilots and politick Captains to one whereof the King of Portugal had committed the custody of Guinney against the French happy was that man that could go with them in seventeen daies they arrived at the Coast of Madera an Island that standeth thirty two degrees distant from the Aequinoctial line and seventy leagues from the Isle of Tenariffe Northwestward and Southwestward from Hercules Pillars called Madera quasi Materia by Anacham that first discovered it from the abundance of Trees in the Coast where they had abundance of Pears Apples Plums wilde Dates Peaches Mellons Batalas Oranges Lemmons Pomgranates Citrons Figs sixteen Sugar-Houses and incomparable Wines wherewith they stored their Ships Here they met with a Man of War that was ordered to obstruct all Trade on those Coast but especially to secure the Castle Mina hence there happening a difference between the two Captains so that the Marriners cast off one of them they sailed forward till they came to the Canaries called in old time the Fortunate Islands twelve Leagues long and as many broad called so not from the two Dogs wherewith Juba planted it but from the Canes wherewith it is replenished Here they saw how Sugar is made 1 The Fruits brings forth a Bud called Plants 2 That is laid along in the furrows so as a sluce may water it being covered with Earth 3 This Root springeth into Canes 4 It groweth two years whatever the French Geographer Thevet suggested to the contrary 5 Then are they cut close to the ground the leaves being lopped off and the Canes bound into bundles like Faggots 6 Being carried to the Sugar-House called Ingenio these sticks are ground in a Mill whence the juice of them is conveighed to a great vessel for that purpose 7 There it is boyled thick then it s put into a Furnace of Earthen pots of the mold of a Sugar-loaf 8 Then it is carried into another House called a Purging-House where it is placed to Purge the blackness with a certain clay that is laid thereon 9 Of the remainder in the Cauldron is made a second sort called Escumas and of the purging liquor that droppeth from the White-Sugar is made a third sort and the remainder is called Panela or Netas the refuse of all the purging is called Remial or Malasses and then of another is made Refinado When this first-fruit is in this sort gathered called Planta then the Cane-field where it grew is burned over with Sugar straws to the stumps of the first Canes and being Husbanded Watred and Trimmed at the end of other two years it yieldeth the second fruit called Zoca and the third called Tertia Zoca and the fourth called Quarta Zoca and so orderly the rest till age causeth the old Canes to be planted again Here they went to Civitas Palmarum as Batutas Mellons Pears Apples Oranges Lemmons Pomgranats Figs and Peaches especially the Plantano fruits which groweth like Cucumbers on a tree which is nothing but folded leaves black and delicate as any conserve twenty seven degrees from Aequator Thence they continued their course to St. Nicholas where they victualled themselves with fresh Mear wilde Goats Sheep Hens Ducks great Partridges c. From Canary they followed on their course taking the desart Islands here and there in their way because they would not come to Guinney when it was too hot The 19th day at twelve a clock wee had sight of the Isle of Palmes and Teneriffa The Isle of Palme riseth round and lyeth South east and North west and the North west part is lowest In the South is a round hill over the Head land and another round hill above that in the Land There are between the South east part of the Isle of Madera and the North west part of the Isle of Palme seven and fifty Leagues The Isle of Palme lyeth in eight and twenty degrees and their course from Madera to the Isle of Palme was South and South by West so that they had fight of Teneriffa The South east part of the Isle of Palme and the North east part of Teneriffa lye South east and North west and between them are twenty Leagues Teneriffa and the west part of Porteventura stand in seven and twenty degrees and a half Gomera is a fair Island but very ragged and lyeth West South west of Teneriffa and whosoever will come between those two Islands must come South and by East and in the fouth part of Gomera is a Town and a good Rode in the said part of the Island and it standeth in seven and twenty degrees and three terces Teneriffa is a High Land with a great high Pike like a Sugar-loaf and upon the said Pike is Snow throughout all the whole year and by reason of that Pike it may be known above all other Islands and there they were becalmed the twentieth day of November from six of the clock in the morning untill four in the afternoon The two and twentieth day of November under the Tropick of Cancer the Sun goeth down West and by South upon the Coast of Barbary five and twenty Leagues by North Cape-Blank at three Leagues off the Main there are fifteen fathomes and good shelly Ground and sand among and no streams and two small Islands standing in two and twenty degrees and a terce From Gomera to Cape de las Barbas is an hundred Leagues and their course was South and by East The said Cape standeth in two and twenty and a half and all that Coast is flat sixteen or seventeen fathome deep Seven or eight Leagues off from the River Del Oro to Cape de las Barbas there use many to trade for Fishing during the month of November and all that Coast is very low Lands Also they went from Cape de las Barbas South South west and South West and by South till they brought themselves in twenty degrees and a half reckoning themselves seven Leagues off and there were the least sholes of Cape-Blank Then they went South till they brought themselves in thirteen degrees reckoning themselves five and twenty Leagues off And in fifteen degrees they did rear their Crossiers and they might have reared them sooner if they had looked for them They are not right a cross in the month of November by reason that the nights are short there nevertheless they had the sight of them the twenty nineth day of the said month at night The first
of December being in thirteen degrees they set their course South and by East untill the fourth day of December at twelve of the clock the same day then they were in nine degrees and a terce reckoning themselves thirty Leagues off the River called Rio Grande being West South west of them the which sholes be thirty Leagues long The fourth of December they began to set their course South East they being in six degrees and a half The nineth of December they set their course East South East the fourteenth day of the said month they set their course East they being in five degrees and a half reckoning themselves thirty six Leagues from the Coast of Guinney The nineteenth of the said month they set their course East and by North reckoning themselves seventeen Leagues distant from Cape Mensurado the said Cape being East North East off them and the River of Sesto being East The one and twentieth day of the said month they fell with Cape Mensurado to the South East about two Leagues off this Cape may be easily known by reason the rising of it is like a Porpose-head also toward the South east there are three Trees whereof the Eastermost tree is the highest and the middlemost is like a high stack and the Southermost is like unto a ginet and upon the main are four or five high Hills rising one after another like round Hommocks or Hillocks and the South east of the three trees Brandiernwise and all the Coast along is white sand the said Cape standeth within a little in six degrees The two and twentieth of December they came to the River of Sesto and remained there untill the nine and twentieth day of the said month Here they thought it best to send before them the Pinnace to the River Dulce called Rio Dulce that they might have the beginning of the Market before the coming of the John Evangelist At the River of Sesto they had a Tun of Grains this River standeth in six degrees lacking a terce From the River Sesto to Rio Dulce is five and twenty Leagues Rio Dulce standeth in five degrees and a half the River of Sesto is easie to be known by reason there is a ledge of Rocks on the South east part of the rode and at the entring into the Haven are five or six Trees that bear no Leaves this is a good Harbour but very narrow at the entrance into the River there is also a Rock in the Havens mouth right as you enter and all that Coast between Cape de Monte and Cape de las Palmas lyeth South East and by East North West and by West being three Leagues off the shore and you shall have in some places Rocks two Leagues off and between the River Seste and Cape de las Palmas Between the River of Sesto and the River Dulce are five and twenty Leagues and the High Land that is between them both is called Catreado being eight Leagues from the River of Sesto and to the South Eastward of it is a place called Shawgro and another called Shyaw or Shavo where you may get fresh water Off this Shyaw lyeth a ledge of Rocks and to the South eastward lyeth a Head land called Crotre between Catreado and Crotre are nine or ten Leagues To the South eastward of it is a Harbour called St. Vincent right over against St. Vincent is a Rock under the water two Leagues and a half off the shore To the South eastward of that Rock you shall see an Island about three or fourscore Leagues off this Island is not past a League off the shore To the East South East of this Island is a Rock that lyeth above the water and by that Rock goeth in the River Dulce which you shall know by the said River and Rock the North west side of the Haven is flat Sand and the South east side thereof is like an Island and a bare plat without any trees and so is it not in any other place In the rode you shall ride in thirteen or fourteen fathomes good Oare and Sand being the marks of the rode to bring the Island and the North east Land together and there they Anchored the last of December The third of January they came from the River Dulce Note that Cape de las Palmas is a fair High Land but some Low places thereof by the water side look like red cliffs with white statues like High waies and a Cable length a peece and this is the East part of the Cape This Cape is the Southermost part in all the Coast of Guinney and standeth in four degrees and a terce The Coast from Cape de las Palmas to Cape Trepointes or de Tres Puntos is fair and clear without Rock or other danger Twenty and five Leagues from Cape de las Palmas the Land is higher than in any place untill you come to Cape Trepointes and about ten Leagues before you come to Cape Trepointes the Land riseth still higher and higher until you do come to Cape Trepointes also before you come to the said Cape after other five Leagues to the North west part of it there is certain broken ground with two great Rocks and within them in the bight of a bay is a Castle called Arra pertaining to the King of Portugal you shall know it by the said Rocks that lye off it for there is none such from Cape de las Palmas to Cape Trepointes This Coast lyeth East and by North West and by South From Cape de las Palmas to the said Castle is fourscore fifteen Leagues the Coast lyeth from the said Castle to the Westermost point of Trepointes South East and by South North West and by North. Also the Westermost point of Trepointes is a low Land lying half a mile out in the Sea and upon the innermost neck to the land-ward is a tuff of trees and there they arrived the eleventh day of January The twelf day of January they came to a town called Samma or Samua being eight Leagues from Cape Trepointes towards East North East Between Cape Trepointes and the town of Samua is a great ledge of Rocks a great way out in the Sea they continued four daies at that Town and the Captain thereof would needs have a pledge a shore But when they received the pledge they kept him still and would traffick no more but shot off their Ordnance at us they have two or three peeces of Ordnance and no more The sixteenth day of the said month they made reckoning to come to a place called Cape Corea where Captain Don John dwelleth whose men entertained them friendly This Cape Corea is four Leagues Eastward off the Castle of Mina otherwise called La Mina or Castello de Mina where they arrived the eighteenth day of the month here they made Sale of all their Cloath saving two or three Packs The twenty sixth day of the same month they weighed Anchor and departed from thence to
all the rest of the day and night it comes out of the South West and as for the Tide and Currant upon the shore it goeth continually with the wind Within twelve daies wee got off the Capes Des Palmas De Monte Westward of Sesto and De Verde untill wee were under the Tropicks dispersed by a Turnade and twenty daies after wee found our selves in the heighth of the Azores and forty daies after that wee fell upon the Coast of Ireland Southerly furnishing our selves with fresh water and sheep untill wee arrived in Plymouth where wee blessed God for our good Voyage CHAP. V. A third Voyage to Guinney THe fifteenth of October wee set sail from Plymouth and the first of December wee fell with the Isle of Porto Santo and next day with Mera The nineth wee fell thwart the Isle of Palme and Cape-Blank and the three and twentieth wee found our selves in the heighth of Serra Leona where the Currant falling like a Cataract detained us ten daies so that not before the sixth of January could wee discry the Coast of Guinney known by three Hills which lay North east and by East from us and two great Trees between the Hills Here we kept about to fetch the River De Sestos which we found we had over-shot where lay a Portugez rowing as fast as hee could to defend Mina along this River and that called De St. Andre wee found abundance of Elephants-Teeth till wee came to the Red Cliffs where wee made a league with the French and thence hovered about Tres Puntos obliging the Negroes with Margarites Basons and other little matters creeping along the shore by Mina Shama Hunta c. and the other bayes selling three yards of Cloath for an Angel Ducket all along which the Negroes liked so well that they discovered to us all the designs of the Portugez upon us shooting some peeces being the sign between us even the King of Abaan himself upon a little Present sent him engaging to command all the Gold in his Country to the shore in so much that in two months time wee had two hundred twenty three pounds weight of Gold When being frighted from our watering place wee had a device to use salt water untill wee came thwart Cape das Palmas from whence in four daies wee fell in with the high Cape Mensurado the twenty eighth of Aprill wee fell in sight of two Islands six Leagues off the Head land of Serra Leona regarding the Currants which set North North west the twelfth of May wee were in the height of Cape Verde the eighteenth we were directly under the Tropick of Cancer the first of June wee were in the height of St. Michael and the twenty third bearing in with the Lizard wee arrived safely at Foy. CHAP. VI. A fourth Voyage to Guinney THe last of December wee set out of the Sound of Plymouth and met with two hitches of Dantzick with enemies Goods and fearing wee should loose our Voyage if wee returned to England went directly to Spain and sold them only wee took a Hogshead of Aqua-vitae ten Tuns of Wine fix Cakes of Rozzen and some Chess-nuts for our own service the nineteenth of December wee had fight of the Grand Canary to which road avoiding that foul one of Tenariffe wee went the twenty eighth wee had sight of Riodel Oro almost under the Tropick of Cancer the height of Cape-Blank the six of January wee had a board the Cape de Verd having refreshed our selves at a bay Northward off it where the French trade for Gaunards little Birds so called Elephants-Teeth Musk and Hides The sixteenth of March wee fell with the Coast of Guinney five Leagues to the Westward of Cape de Monte besides a River called Rio das Palmas whence we set into the Rivers De Sesto De Rostos along the Coast whereof we had Gold and Elephants teeth enough for our Wares especially at Perinnen Laguon Wiumba Perecow and Eagrand Villages some four Leagues distance from one another and at Mowr Cormantine and Shamma where the Inhabitants would Trade with us but three daies in the week that is Munday Wednesday and Friday here wee got fourscore pound weight of Gold where being stayed by a Currant below which wee had run unawares we were belated on the Coast where they that stay till May hardly escape sickness especially near St. Thome or the Isle of Salt therefore as soon as wee could wee returned along St. Nicholas St. Lucia St. Vincent St. Anthony which four Isles lye the one from the other North West and by West South East and by East where wee discharged the Tyger in the Lee ward leaking passed all remedy whence wee came in ten daies within sight of two Isles of the Azores St. Mary and St. Michael and twelve daies after North West and by West of the Cape Finester within one hundred and twenty Leagues of England whether after a great storm West South West and West and the loss of our sail wee halled with an old Bonnet in the Fore-yard untill wee came to the Isle of Weight bringing home with us 171 Elephants Teeth weighing 1780 pounds and 22 Buts full of Grain Rules for Fortifications and Settlement at the Coast of Guinney observed by all that trade thither 1 THat the Ground so serve that it may bee by the Sea or a River on one side at least so that we may Lade and Unlade before it 2 That the Earth bee a good Mold 3 That wee have good Timber at hand 4 That we have plentiful and wholesome provision 5 That our Fortifications bee naturally strong 6 That wee have fresh Water at hand 7 That wee have good correspondence with the Negroes by little gifts and a noble appearance to defend or build our Fortification 8 That the King of Haban bee moved about the building of some forts so as that hee may not understand our meaning 9 That the Country be searched by Negroes of our own breeding along the Coast and in the Inland part of it 10 That upon the fall of the Coast about Cape-Blank wee beware how wee borrow in twelve ten fathome for within two or three casts of lead we may bee on ground 11 That the Negroes be not trusted but upon great advantage At a meeting of the Adventurers for Guinney IT was resolved 1 That Captain Peirce should bee sent to Deptford to Mr. Hickman for his Letters to Peter Williams to go about Rigging one of the Royal Ships and to Gillingham for mony 2 That every Partner should supply 29 l. 6. s. for every 100. l. value towards the new Rigging 3 That every of the Partners bring 50. l. for furniture 4 That the Voyage bee finished before April and the dangerous time of the year in Guinney 5 That they call in at Sancta Cruz and Tenariffe where by the way though it s as hot in Winter as in Summer yet there is Snow seen on the Pyke all the year for provisions 6
as God distributes To Englands Treasure pay their early Tributes § The World is divided into two parts viz. 1 Unknown or not yet fully discovered 1 In the Southern Continent 2 On the North of Africa and America 2 Known The Known Anciently into Europe Asia Africa Lately into America Africa is partly by Nature and partly by Art divided into six parts 1 Barbary 2 Egypt 3 Numâ—diaâ— 4 Lybia 5 Aethiopia Superiour 6 Aethiopia Inferiour Guinney is part of that place they call terra Nigritarum or the Land of Negroes which is bounded on the East with Aethiopia Superiour on the West with the Atlantique on the North with Lybia deserta on the South with the Aethiopick Ocean and part of Aethiopia Inferiour The People called Nigrita give the Land its denomination and the River Niger that runs through there gives them theirs or rather indeed their colour which they are so much in love with that they use to paint the Devil white according to this Stanza The Land of Negroes is not far from thence Neerer extended to 'th Atlantick Main Wherein the Black Prince keeps his Residence Attended with his Jeaty-coloured train Who in their native beauty most delight And in contempt do paint the Devil white § This terra Nigritarum is by that necessity that forceth mankinde to pitch upon their Meum and Tuum to set apart their respective allotments for Society and Commerce divided into 18. chief Kingdoms the ambition of those people being rather height than bredth rather to be Chief of a little place with authority than graspe at much with uncertainty thinking their little Scepters as bright though not as big and their Coronets as glorious though not as large as those of greater Princes Pride we say is the Sin of Youth and Covetousness of Old age The old Kings aimed at the vastness the new ones only at the Honour of Empire These eighteen Kingdomes are there 1 Tombutum on the further side of Sanaga which rising out of the Lake Guoga runs under ground some miles and losing its name runs thence under the Notion of Gir little inferour to Nilus for the length of its course the variety of strange creatures bred therein or the distinction it makes in the face of this Country the people on the one side of it being Black and on the other Tawney the soyl on the one side very barren on the other fruitfull whence it falls into the Atlantick by two great out-lets Exceeding plentiful is this place of Corn Cattle Milk Butter destitute of Salt but what they buy of Foreign Merchants at excessive rates well watred by the River Niger 2 Metts Eastward of Tombutum on a branch of the River Niger in bredth three hundred miles abounding with Corn Cattle Cotton-wooll together with most witty civil wealthy and industrious people Homagers and Tributaries to the King of Tombutum 3. Geneoa betwixt Tombutum and Metts on the Ocean lying open without either Town or Castle to the Traffick or Conquest of Barbary or any other Coast that will take the pains for that uncoyned Treasure of Gold that is left on the banks of Niger upon its monthly over-flowings 4. Gieber Eastward of Gheneoa the Countrey of Shepherds where those Mountains are whereof the Marriners say a man may chuse whether he will break his heart in going up or his neck in coming down 5. Gumbra bordering on the Atlantick and affording good store of Rice the receptacle of uncustomed goods a place of refreshment to Merchants in their passage to the Indies where they bestow their stock until they are taken off by the next years Fleet. 6. Gialofi between the Rivers Sanagh and Cambâ—ca where the people can leap upon a Horse in full gallop and stand in the Saddle when he runneth fastest the King whereof Bemoin by Name would have been a Christian Anno 1489. had not Pedro de Roy the Portugal General shamefully murthered him 7. Ora-Antirota a long tract of Sandy and barren ground extended from Cape le Blunci to the River Cornugh where the Portugez in their Fortress Arquin commanded the Trade of Porto de Dio. 8. Gualata an hundred miles off the Sea beyond Ora-Antirota full of Dates Milk and Pulse 9. Agudez bordering on Targue one of the five Desarts of Lybia where mens Habitations are onely Bowers and their Trade grazing 10. Cano on this side of the River Canagu full of Rice Cittorns Pomgranats and Cotton-wool well watred and too well wooded until the Portugez taught the Inhabitants to burn down their Wood Pantarius the fire whereof was so dreadful that all the Inhabitants were forced twelve miles into the Sea and the Ashes thereof so much that it enriched that barren Country so farre that it yeilded in some places sixty in some places seventy and in some eighty fold 11. Catena on the East of Cano affording onely Milk and Barley and a people of great Noses and vast lips so stubborn that not one of them ever turned Christian so well governed that the Common people have no doors to their Houses that being the priviledge of Nobles and so civil to Women Nub. Geog. ch 6. a second England that the little King himself if he meets any of them in the streets giveth them the way 12. Sanagu on the other side of the River of that name extended to the Atlantick-Ocean as far as Caput Vinde or Cape Vert a rich and plentiful Country that affordeth several Commodities for the several daies in the year 13. Nubia which hath on the West Garga on the North Egypt on the East Nilus which parteth it from Ethiopia Superiour or the Habastine Empire formerly Christian where the Nubian Geography was written which gives so much light to ancient Customes but since Mahumetan for want of Ministers to instruct them It being reported by Alvarez the Writer of the Ethiopick History that when hee attended in Prester John's Court there came Ambassadors out of Nubia to entreat a supply of Preachers to teach their Nation and to recover lost Christianity but were irreligiously affronted in their negotiation and rejected in their suit Besides Mahumetanisme there is another poyson in this Country P.H. Corm of which the tenth part of a grain will dispatch a man in a quarter of an hour and is sold at ten Duckets an ounce the Customes for which to the King is as much as the price to the Merchants But for this one ill Commodity yeilding many good as Corn Sugar Civet Sanders Ivory and maintains a great trade with the Merchants of Caire and Aegypt in the great City Dongula that containeth twelve thousand Families and not one House 14. Guoga lyeth between Berneo and the Desarts of Nubia extended four square six hundred miles where a Slave selling Men for Horses 1420. got up to be a little King though their Bowers rather than Houses being tyed together and set on fire once a year he is burned yearly out of his Territories 15. Bornue a large
them but that they are so bitter that they set over their river water and makes it sweet to him that eats them This done as an hansell of his office he goeth to the Kings house who sate without doors their fashion being as soon as it is dark to make a fire of reeds without doors and the best sort to have mats on which to sit down and use their Ceremonies he placed our Captain by the King and went himself six paces off right before him and made a speech which one repeats after him as he speaks to intreat his kinde usage of the White men the King answered with a like speech giving us liberty to shoot any thing on the Land and none should offend us Achor zano kneeled down and gave him thanks sending him in our behalf Corall and Christal whereupon the King made a long speech concluding that he would give the place we were in for ever upon which gracious speech our Alcade pulled off his shirt to thank him and kneeled down naked untill diverse Marybuches with their hands raked up a heap off of the ground upon which he lay flat upon his belly and covered him with the earth lightly from head to heel when with his hands he threw the earth round about amongst us all and the Marybuches gathered a round heap again together and compassing it with a round ring of the same earth bad him write with his finger as much as the round would contain Which done our Alcade Achor zano took of that earth in his mouth and put it forth again and then he and our two Marybuches or Waiters brought their hands full of the same earth into our laps after which ceremonies presenting their bows and arrows on their knees they withdrew only they made their several speeches for every one of fashion must needs make his speech when they meet and led about some dances after which we were Masters of that land and friends to the great Tivil A Relation of such persons as got wonderful Estates by their Trade to Guinney I. SIr John Tintam and Sir Pierce Fabian in the year 1481. in the daies of Edward the 4th Sir John Tintam and Sir William Fabian the great Mathematicians and Geographers of those times having Spirits above the model of their age and the narrowness of their Fortunes and hearing of the Portugals rich discoverie upon the Coast of Guinney and Terra Nigritarum as Keckerman confesseth that wee are the best adventurers in the world joyned heads and purses to set out some English Vessels with Hanse Towns Marriners for the Trade of Guinney while they were setting out John the second King of Portugal upon the French-mens suggestion with whom wee had great Sea-fights at that time and by fighting with whom wee grew expert at Sea sent Ruyde Sousa with Dr. de Elvas and Fardinando de Pira to confirme the ancient League with England and desire the King to dissolve the fore said Fleet which the King did but the Duke of Medina Sidonia encouraged the fore-said Gentlemen insomuch that they appeared at Cape Verde the 5th of March 1482. and making no stay there crept along the Coast to Rio de Festos the 8th of April whence all the French on the Coast fled upon the first sight of them they Trafficking securely and understanding of the Negroes the state of the Countrey who directed them to Rio de Pontis and to the River St. Andras where a great Ship and Carvel of the King of Portugal shot at them but they getting to the formost of them sliped between them and the Castle De tres Punctos where the English beat them to the no small joy of the Negroes as well as the security of themselves whom the Inhabitants invited to Mowre some three leagues behinde where they said was the best place to Trade with them considering the strength of the Portugez whither they brought more Gold than they knew what to do with Here they had a hundred pounds worth of Pewter sixty five of Tin and Brasse an hundred twenty four pound thirteen shillings six pence of Iron For which they carryed away two hundred sixty seven Elephants teeth weighing two thousand seven hundred fifty eight pound and Grains sixty five Buts full all along the Coast of Rio de Festos and Rio de Barbos which at last they improved to a Million half whereof they payed the Duke their Patron and half they divided among themselves who were within three years able to buy their Traffick with Portugal and their peace with England putting up an hundred thousand pounds a piece in their purses For Sir P. Fabian Nephew to Sir William dyed the richest Subject in Medina Of Van Heer Vizksted II. THe next Instance is a Dutch-man who was left at Cormantin May the third 1562. who bearing affection to a young Maid broke it to her friends who appointed the two young Parties to run a race together the Maid being allowed in the starting the advantage of a third part of the Race as the manner of that Country is wherein the Maid being willing the Dutch-man prevailed and Married her Whereupon hee is made a Factor between the Negroes and the Dutch and in ten years time by the very gifts that were bestowed upon him he returned to Holland with twenty thousand pound in two Vessels and not long after lives to break for an hundred and fifty thousand pound whereof he paid nine in the hundred and died worth fifty thousand pound Alfonso Albuquerque III. THe third Instance is a Portugez who bound for Guinney was struck on ground yet wave follows not wave faster than wonder doth wonder in the preservation and advancement of this man For 1. Hee and twelve more got into a small Boat of a tun and a half which had but one Oare to work withal 2. They were sixty Leagues from Land and the weather so foul that it was not possible for a Ship to brooke half a course of Sail. 3. The Vessel being over-set Don Alphonso made a motion to cast Lots that those four who drew the shortest should be cast over-board the people were contented onely they provided that if the Lot fell upon Alphonso he should notwithstanding bee preserved as in whom all their safeties were concerned 4. Brave Alphonso refused that kindnesse vowing that they should live and dye together 5. It pleased God that two of the Passengers dyed 6. For five daies and nights they saw the Sun and Stars but once so that they onely kept up their Boat with their single Oare going as the Sea drove it 7. Four daies they were without sustenance 8. About three a Clock the fifth day they came on the South of Guinney within halfe an hour after their Landing the winde turned North-ward which if it had done any of the six daies they were afloat they had never saved themselves 9. The very Infidels were civil to them after some general and wary account they gave of themselves especially for two things Alphonso had by him First A Cat to catch their Mice and secondly an Oyntment to kill their Flies for both which the King of the place gave him his weight in gold which he improved within five years to sixty thousand pound upon the place returning to Portugal after 15. years traffick the third man in the Kingdome John Towers IV. THe fourth instance is an Englishman and an Apprentice of London who ran from his Master May the first 1551. with forty pounds in mony and some rings wherewith he got to Antwerp where hee listed himself in a Guinney ship as a Chaplams boy in which capacity he was Landed at Mina where his Master dying and leaving him his part of the fraught the youth traded so ingenuously that the company left him there to discover the Country which he did so effectually that when Queen Elizabeth gave Tho. Gregory of Taunton and Will. Pope a Pattent for 10. years to Traffick to Guinney from the Northern-most part of the River Nonnia to the Southern-most part of the rivers Madrubanda and Sierra Leona and to other parts as well to the South-East as to the North-West for a certain number of Leagues therein specified which amount to an hundred or thereabout they found that this person was head King of Tombuto three years before having left an hundred Millions of Gold among forty Children he had gotten of the Negroe women not one whereof enjoyed any of his Royalty nor could they endure an Europian FINIS
THE Golden Coast OR A DESCRIPTION OF GUINNEY 1 In it's Air and Situation 2 In the Commodities imported thither and exported thence 3 In their way of Traffick their Laws and Customes 4 In it's People Religion War and Peace 5 In it's Forts and Havens 6 In four Rich Voyages to that Coast Together with a Relation of such persons as got wonderful Estates by their Trade thither Quis nisi mentis inops Oblatum repuit aurum Licensed according to Order LONDON Printed for S. Speed at the Rain-Bow in Fleet-street 1665. AN Epistle to the READER WHen I look upon my Country and find it an Island when I consider its Interest and observe it is Trade when I survey its honour and Safety and conclude it is Shipping and the Dominion of the Narrow Sea according to that old advice of the Emperour Sigismund when in England to Henry the fifth in these old Verses made 233 years ago And to the King thus he said my Brother When he perceived two Towns Callice and Dover Out of an old book called the English policy in keeping the Sea Written 230 years ago Of all your Towns to choose of one and other To kéep the Sea and soon to come over To werre outwards and your Reign to recover Kéep these two Towns sure and your Majesty As your twain eyes kéep the Narrow See For if this Sée be kept in time of werre Who can here passe without danger or woe Who may escape who may mischief differ What Merchandy may foreby be ago For néeds them must take trewes every foe Flanders and Spain and other trust to mâ— Or Ellis hindred all by this Narrow Sea For four things our Noble sheweth to mee King Ship and Swerd and Power of the Sée When I reflect on former ages and note the circumnavigators thus 1 Magellano a Spaniard 2 Sir Francis Drake an Englishman 3 Sir Tho. Candish an English man 4 Obwer Noore an Hollander two of the four our Country men And when I think of mine own time and meet with one Prince in his bed sick another in the field Warlike a third in Counsel troubled a fourth in distresse submitting a fifth in his cradle rocked a sixt in a Kingdome weary of it and our King only able knowing and careful to promote the Honor Commerce and Naval Glory of his Kingdomes as his Pleasure as well as his Interest And when I adde to all these our successes in Edward the third and fourths time against the French Our Victories in Qu. Elizabeths time against the Spaniards not to mention more modern Conquests of others our Neighbours I am pleased with an innocent thought that there is nothing at this time defective to our compleatnesse save a Lecture of Navigation in Gresham-Colledge in London answerable to that in the Contraction House in Sivill set up by Charles the fifth who wisely consid ring the rawnesse of the Sea-men and the manifold Shipwracks they sustained in passing and repassing from Spain to the West-Indies took this course to remedy it instead whereof Discoveries and Voyages give no little satisfaction Particularly this plain Relation of Guinney wherein I finde the Authour hath 1 Allayed mens fears in his Doscription of the Country 2 Directed their Courses in his Account of their Havens Rivers Winds Seasons Castles c. 3 Instructed their Commerce about their Traffique Commodities to be carryed thither and had there 4 Prepared their mindes about their living there in peace and warre 5 Furnished their Experience by several former Voyages thither 6 Encouraged their Hopes with particular instances of great estates got there in a little time 7 Guided their Fortunes with the way how to be Rich there in four years and truely made it appear why it is called The Golden Coast Where a man may gain an estate by a handfull of Beads and his pocket full of Gold for an Old Hat where a Cat is a Tenement and a few Fox tailes a Mannor where Gold is sold for Iron and Silver given for Brasse and Pewter The Place that cost Portugal 10000 l. the Discovery the Place whose Trade that Kingdom farmed out for 150000 l. a year and ours let out by Letters Patents In a word when I consider what is Related in this Book of Times past and what is done at present that of Salust comes in my minde Saepè audivi ego Quintum Maximum Pub. Scipionem praeterea Civitatis nostrae preclaros viros solitos ita dicere cum majorum Imagines intuerentur vehementissimè animum sibi ad virtutem accendi Scilicet non ceram illam neque figuram tantam vim in se habere sed memoriâ rerum gestarum flammam eam egregiis viris in pectore crescere neque priùs sedari Quà m virtus eorum famam gioriam adaequaverit I have often heard saith he how Q. Maximus P. Scipio and many other worthy men of our City were wont to say when they beheld the Images and Pourtraicture of their Ancestors that they were most vehemently inflamed unto vertue not that the said Pourtraicture or wax had any such force at all in its self but that by remembring their worthy Acts such a flame was kindled in their noble breasts as could never be quenched untill such time as their own valour had equalled the Fame and Glory of their Progenitors So say I let us imitate our Predecessors Farewel THE Golden Coast OR A DESCRIPTION OF GUINNEY The Situation of Guinney IT being very reasonable that the Curiosity of the Subject should enlarge its self as far as the Empire of the Soveraign that our Skill should keep pace with his Power and what hee hath Conquered for our benefit wee should understand for our advantage it is as reasonably inferred that our pens should go as far as his Sword and our discoveries for improvement as far as his acquists for enjoyment It is his care that wee may have power it s ours that wee have skill to traffique over the World the world that is open to our Trade and to our service wee being not now as of old divisi ab orbe Britanni separatists from the Universe but commanding the commerce of all Nations our Negotiation being not limited in a narrower compasse than the whole Earth and our dealing knowing no bounds but those of the world Europe affording us its Commodities America its Rarities Asia its Pleasure and Africa its Treasures Our Sugars come from the Canary Isles Du Bartas le Colâ—un porley From Candy Currans Maskadels and Oyles From the Moluccoes Spices Balsamum From Egypt Odours from Arabia come From India Gumms rich Drugs and Ivory From Syria Mummie Black Red Ebony From burning â—hus from Peru Pearls and Gold From Rushia Furrs to keep the riâ—h from cold From Florence Silks from Spain Fruit Saffron Sacks From Denmark Amber Cordage Furs and Flax From France and Flanders Linnen Wood and Wine From Holland Hopps Horse from the Banck of Rhine From Tangier Beasts all Lands