it dulleth and blindeth the vnderstanding and consequently depraueth any man of true valour For that hee is disenabled to iudge and apprehend the occasion which may bee offered to assault and retire in time conuenient the raynes of reason being put into the hands of passion and disorder For after I was wounded this nimium bred great disorder and inconuenience in our ship the pot continually walking infused desperate and foolish hardinesse in many who blinded with the fume of the liquor considered not of any danger but thus and thus would stand at hazard some in vaine glory vaunting themselues some other rayling vpon the Spaniards another inuiting his companion to come and stand by him and not to budge a foote from him which indiscreetly they put in execution and cost the liues of many a good man slaine by our enemies Muskettiers who suffered not a man to shew himselfe but they presently ouerthrew him with speed and watchfulnesse For preuention of the second errour although I had great preparation of Armour as well of proofe as of light Corselets yet not a man would vse them but esteemed a pot of wine a better defence then an armour of proofe which truly was great madnesse and a lamentable fault worthy to be banished from amongst all reasonable people and well to be weighed by all Commanders For if the Spaniard surpasseth vs in any thing it is in his temperance and suffering and where he hath had the better hand of vs it hath beene for the most part through our owne folly for that wee will fight vnarmed with him being armed And although I haue heard many men maintaine that in shipping armour is of little profit all men of good vnderstanding will condemne such desperate ignorance For besides that the sleightest armour secureth the parts of a mans bodie which it couereth from pike sword and all hand weapons it likewise giueth boldnesse and courage a man armed giueth a greater and a weightier blow then a man vnarmed he standeth faster and with greater difficultie is to be ouerthrowne And I neuer read but that the glistering of the armour hath beene by Authors obserued for that as I imagine his show breedeth terrour in his contraries and despaire to himselfe if he be vnarmed And therefore in time of warre such as deuote themselues to follow the profession of Armes by Sea or by Land ought to couet nothing more then to bee well armed for as much as it is the second meanes next Gods protection for preseruing and prolonging many mens lines Wherin the Spanish nation deserueth commendation aboue others euery one from the highest to the lowest putting their greatest care in prouiding faire and good Armes Hee which cannot come to the price of a Corslet will haue a coate of Mayle a Iacket at least a Buffe-ierkin or a priuie Coate And hardly will they bee found without it albeit they liue and serue for the most part in extreame hot Countries Whereas I haue knowne many bred in cold Countries in a moment complaine of the waight of their Armes that they smoother them and then cast them off chusing rather to be shot through with a bullet or lanched through with a pike or thrust through with a sword then to endure a little trauaile and suffering But let mee giue these lazie ones this lesson that hee that will goe a warfare must resolue himselfe to fight and he that putteth on this resolution must be contented to endure both heate and weight first for the safeguard of his life and next for subduing of his enemy both which are hazarded and put into great danger if hee fight vnarmed with an enemy armed Now for mine owne opinion I am resolued that armour is more necessary by Sea then by Land yea rather to be excused on the shoare then in the ship My reason is for that on the shoare the bullet onely hurteth but in the ship I haue seene the splinters kill and hurt many at once and yet the shot to haue passed without touching any person As in the Galeon in which I came out of the Indies in Anno 1597. in the rode of Tarcera when the Queenes Maiesties ships vnder the charge of the Earle of Essex chased vs into the roade with the splinters of one shot were slaine maymed and sore hurt at the least a dozen persons the most part whereof had beene excused if they had beene armed And doubtlesse if these errours had beene forescene and remedied by vs many of those who were slaine and hurt had beene on foot and wee enabled to haue sustained and maintained the fight much better and longer and perhaps at last had freed our selues For if our enemy had come to boord with vs our close fights were such as wee were secure and they open vnto vs. And what with our Cubridge heads one answering the other our hatches vpon bolts our brackes in our Deckes and Gunner roome it was impossible to take vs as long as any competent number of men had remained twentie persons would haue sufficed for defence and for this such ships are called Impregnable and are not to be taken but by surrender nor to be ouercome but with boording or sinking as in vs by experience was verified and not in vs alone but in the Reuenge of the Queenes Maiestie which being compassed round about with all the Armado of Spaine and boorded sundry times by many at once is said to haue sunke three of the Armado by her side A third and last cause of the losse of sundry of our men most worthy of note for all Captaines owners and Carpenters was the race building of our ship the onely fault shee had and now adayes held for a principall grace in any ship but by the experience which I haue had it seemeth for sundry reasons verie preiudiciall for ships of Warre For in such those which tackle the sayles of force must bee vpon the deckes and are open without shelter or any defence yet here it will bee obiected That for this inconuenience waste clothes are prouided and for want of them it is vsuall to lace a bonnet or some such shadow for the men worthily may it bee called a shadow and one of the most pernitious customes that can bee vsed for this shadow or defence being but of linnen or woollen cloth emboldneth many who without it would retire to better securitie whereas now thinking themselues vnseene they become more bold then otherwise they would and thereby shot through when they least thinke of it Some Captaines obseruing this errour haue sought to remedie it in some of his Maiesties ships not by altering the building but by deuising a certaine defence made of foure or fiue inch planks of fiue foot high and sixe foote broad running vpon wheeles and placed in such parts of the ship as are most open These they name Blenders and made of Elme for the most part for that it shiuers not with a
Cape which was our third Rende-uous by our first appointment to cause Sir Walter Raleigh and all others of our Fleete to follow And being with the Iland of Terçera I looked into the roade of Brasil and saw there was no Fleete whereupon we bare alongst betwixt Saint George and Graciosa for the Island of Flores at which we might both water and take in victuals which in Merchants ships her Maiestie had sent after vs and where if the Indian Fleete did come this yeere they were likest to fall But when we had spent at Flores some ten dayes in which time Sir Walter Raleigh and his company came vnto vs by a small Pinnace come from the Indies I the Generall was told that it was doubtfull whether the Indian Fleete came from thence or not and if they did they would change their vsuall course and come in some height more to the Southward till they were past these Ilands where vsually they are attended Which newes made vs resolue in Counsell to goe for Fayal and so for Saint Michael and to haue some nimble ships to lye off and on at Sea both to the Southward and to the Northward In our passage by saile Graçiosa and Pico we tooke such commodities and refreshings as those Ilands afforded and in passing from them toward Saint Michael wee were told that a great ship was discouered off of Graciosa whereupon I the Generall gaue order to diuide and to direct the Fleete into three places the one to stirre away East North-east and to goe along the Northside of Terçera the other East South-east and to goe by the Southside of the said Iland and both to meete in the roade of Brasil so as if the Carackes or West Indian Fleete should striue to recouer Terçera they should be cut off And the third part of the Fleete should ply to the Westward which way it was said that the great ship stood and so to cut it off if it sought for the roade of Fayal which if she were kept from Terçera was her onely place she could put into and one of these three wayes she must needes stand for the winde being at North North-west shee could not goe but one of these three courses Bvt as I had giuen this direction there came to me a small Barke of Lime whose Captaine did confidently assure me that he was the man that did follow the chase and fetched it vp finding it but a small ship of our owne Fleete which made vs resolue to continue our former intended course for Saint Michael But in this meane time I the Generall hailing the Captaine of a Pinnace and willing him to call to the ships of my squadron to follow my light and those of the Viceadmirals squadron to follow his light to the Westward which direction I did presently after counter-mand hee misheard and willed some ships that were next to stand about to the Westward which direction together with his not hearing of me that which was spoken to countermand it made foure of her Maiesties ships the Garland the Marie-rose the Dread-naught and the Rainebow to stand off to the West all that night of which Sir William Mounson in the Rainebowe fell in the night with the West Indian Fleete and it being calme went off in his Boate to make and haile them which hee did and made himselfe knowne vnto them and straight rowing to his ship hee shot off his Ordnance all night and carried a light in his maine top whereupon the other three of her Maiesties ships stood off with him but could not fetch vp the Spaniards till they were gotten into Tercera Road before which after they had striued in vaine to get into them they plied till my comming which was three dayes after for I was hard aboord the Westermost part of Saint Michaell before I heard these newes And then standing about I the Generall being on head of the Fleet met in my way with a great Ship of the Gouernour of Hanana and a Frigate of the Spanish King manned with the said Kings Souldiers and another Frigate of a particular man which three I fetched out tooke and manned for the safe bringing home of the Ship and goods and fell the next night being Saturday the of with Tercera where finding the wind strong at Northwest we plyed with as much saile as euer we could bear to get vp to the road of Brasil all that night Al Sunday and Sunday night and till Munday morning wee could not weather the point of Brasil which when wee had done while I the Generall gathered such of the Fleet as were neere I sent in a Pinnace of my Lord of Cumberland and foure or fiue of very sufficient Captaines and Masters to see whether it were possible for vs to get vp where the Ships rode and they brought me backe word it was impossible With which I being not satisfied plied in with mine owne Ship keeping aboord with mee two or three of the principall Officers that wee might iudge by the eye and dispute vpon the place and when wee were in wee saw the bottome of the Bay into which they were towed and warped lay right in the eye of the wind so as to lead it in with a sayle it was impossible and to turne it vp would aske an whole day if wee had scope but both wee must vpon either boord come within a quoytes cast off their Forts and yer our Ships would wend in so narrow a place wee should haue beene on shoare Which manifest discouerie and not the idle Shot of all the Forts and Ships though they were verie liberall made mee stand off againe And as it was impossible to doe any thing for the present so when I the Generall called all the Captaines of her Maiesties Ships together and enquired the estate of their charge I found that some by the naughtinesse of their Caske and leakage of Beere had not aboue two dayes and some not one dayes drinke aboord and that which most of vs all had did so stinke as our men dyed and fell sicke continually and all men-protested that if wee stayed to attend change of windes and did not instantly seeke a watering place both men and Ships were absolutely lost Besides we saw the Galions had beene vnladen by their shewing their white bellies so much aboue water and that the Merchants Ships lay all dry on shoare so as we had abidden the extreamest hazard of her Maiesties troupes and Ships for the burning of a few dry vnladen Vessells Thus were we driuen to beare the second time with Saint Michael our chiefe end being to water but withall to sacke the Iland if we could land neere the principall Towne where wee came to an anchor before Punta Delgada the chiefe Towne and forthwith went in a little nimble Boat to discouer the landing places which we found to be exceeding dangerous For as about all those Ilands of the Acores a
bulged And in this desperate extremitie they saw no other way left but how they might with Boates and Rafts saue the men and forsake the Shippe some being of one opinion and some of another as hope or despaire led them This Deriuall being then prisoner in the Bilbowes sent word to â—he Admirall that hee knew well the lying of that Land and would direct them a way how to saue the Ship and all the company if hee would promise him on his Faith and Honour to get his Pardon when hee came home in recompence thereof The Admirall willingly accepted the proffer and ingaged his Faith for the performance of his demand and taking him out of the Bilbowes bad him be stir himselfe Whereunto Deriuall answered In hope you will saue my life according to your Word and Faith giuen I will by Gods helpe saue all yours but if I thought otherwise I had rather here drowne with so good company then hee hanged at home alone The Admirall bidde him not doubt it but follow his businesse Whereupon Deriual presently commanded the Master and Mariners to hoyse vp all their Sayles they could make to the very Bats end which was cleane contrary to that they had done before for fearing the mighty winds they had strooke all their sayles and so lâ—y thumping on the Sands but now the strong gale hauing filled all their sayles still as the billow rose it draue the Ship forwards and so in foure or fiâ—e shoues being driuen with the violence of the windes and the waues with his stâ—rraâ—es he cut cleane through and athwart the Sand and floated into the Sea This was a dâ—sperate remede for adâ—sperate danger for if hee had not vsed the benefit of her sayles and carried her athwart the Ship being a strong built vessell shee would still haue layen tumbling on the Sand and at last broken her selfe Notwithstanding this good seruice done by Deriuall when hee came home his reward was an halter his offence being remembred and his desert forgotten and yet the Admirall did his best to saue him according to his promise But surely in my poore opinion in such cases a State should doe well for examples sake and for incouragement of others to take notice of such extraordinary seruices and to remember that vertue deserues no lesse to bee cherished then vice to be chastised and that to whom a State committeth the trust or confidence of a Generalls or Admiralls place it should also allow him the honor to make good his word for any thing that concernes the aduancement of the seruice wherewith hoe is put in trust But I will returne againe to Sir George Carew whom we left tottering in his wrackt Ship and in a great storme for I haue occasion here to stand somewhat vpon the Relation of his hard aduentures after his disaster because I haue heard it by many that were with him in the Ship often and at large discoursed of and himselfe being a princicall Officer in the Action shipt in a vessell of great charge it cannot bee reputed as a digression or impertinent from the matter for small is the reward of those that so resolutely engage and expose their liues for the seruice of their Prince and Countrey if they should not bee allowed the comfort of honourable memory After the departure of the Earle of Southampton from the S. Mathew as aforesaid many Counsells in this distressed Ship were held for the cutting of her Mayne Mast ouer-board which with rowling was growne at last to be so loose as that it was continually feared that it would breake in the Stop and when the Carpenters were ready to begin that worke the storme ceased and the Seas began to calme wherein finding comfort they made of a spare top Mast a Iury Fore-mast and the Pinnace sayle serued for a Fore-sayle In this pittifull estate the Ship still running before the winde which shee could not otherwise doe by reason of her small Fore-sayle within foure dayes after by the goodnesse of God came safely to an anchor at the I le of Saint Martreines in France where Sir George Carew made all the meanes hee might to get a new Mast whereby hee might follow the Fleet. But vpon all that Coast hee could not prouide himselfe of any to fit so great a Gallyon And therefore of necessitie hauing setled his Mayne-mast he returned for England and within few dayes arriued in the Hauen of Portsmouth Hee thus hauing brought the Saint Mathew beyond all hope safe within a good Harbour not any thing disamayd with past perills presently dispatched Captain Francis Slingsby in post to the Court to aduertise the Lords of her Maiesties Councell of the misfortunes which had befalne him and there withall humbly desired that he might be permitted to take her Maiesties ship called the Aduenture which was then in that Harbour and in her to follow the Fleet which being granted he shipped himselfe in her and according to the instructions which were deliuered to euery Captaine of the Fleet hee sought for the Admirall at the Groyne which was the first Randeuous set downe in the instructions aforesaid from thence hee made to the Rocke and not finding the Fleet at either of these places he sailed to the Cape Saint Vincent where it was resolued by the Lord Admirall and Councell of the Warre to stand off and on and to attend the comming home of the West Indies Fleet. There hee had intelligence by a small man of Warre of Plimouth that the Generall with the whole Fleet was at the Ilands of the Asores whereunto he directeth his course And when hee was as hee esteemed within one hundred leagues of the Tercera he had intelligence by another small man of Warre in the which a man of Sir William Brookes was Captaine that followed the Fleet for purchase that the Lord Generall in his opâ—nion was at that time vpon the Coast of England for hee had left the Ilands fourteene daies before the Aduenture and he did meet vpon which intelligence he changed his course for England And not sarre from Vshent in the night hee fell into the middest of a great Spanish Fleet which had bin with the Adelantado vpon the Coast of England then homeward bound but the night being stormy he escaped that perill and yet not without great danger For one of the Spanish Gallions which was supposed to bee the Admirall for shee carried a mightie Lanthorne in her Poope passed so neere to the Aduenture that their Mayne-yards in the end were foule one of the other so as they hardly auoyded their stemming of their Ships which in all likelihood must haue sunke one or both With this storme the Aduenture was forced into Ireland into Corke Hauen in Munster where hee repaired his Ship of certaine leakes shee had and also mended her Mayne Mast which was strangely shiuered with a whirlewind And then putting to Sea againe for England a little
or fiue Friars one an Irishman Their Bookes Beades and Pictures cost aboue 1000. Duckets The Bishop of Tuccaman had sent for them to take possession of a Monasterie They learned of Master Iohn Drake who went in consort with Captaine Fenton cast away neere the Riuer of Plate his companie taken or slaine by the Saluages of which Iohn Drake and Richard Fairweather escaped with two or three others in a Canoa to the Spaniards and liued in those parts Here also they tooke Miles Philips left in the Countrey by Sir Iohn Hawkins After counsell taken they fell Aprill 3. with the Land of Brasil in 16. degrees and a Terse and watered in the Road of Camana They proceeded and anchored before the Towne of Baya and found in the Harbour eight Ships and one Caruell The next day they forced the Portugals to abandon foure of the best of those ships and towed them forth in despight of infinite store of great and small shot from the shoare and ships one Hulke hauing in her foure and twentie pieces of Ordnance The least of these prizes was 130. Tunnes After this they haled the Hulke and commanded the Master to follow them which he did together with a Caruell with fiftie Butts of wine They fetched reliefe from the shoare also in despite of innumerable Indians and all the enemies forces May 24. they tooke a ship of 120. Tunnes laden with Meale and Sugar But the voyage to the South Sea was defeated by some mens desire to returne in which Captaine Delamour tooke a small Pinnace The Fleâ—â—â—sish Hulke taken into the Fleet in stead of the George cast off furnished with her men suddenly tooke fire and perished Ship Men and Goods Septemb. 29. the residue reached the Coast of England after an vnprofitable and vnfortunate voyage IN the yeare 1587. when the Towne of Slewse was beseeged by the Duke of Parma Sir Roger Williams being Gouernour there the Earle put himselfe in person to make proofe of his valour in that seruice but at his arriuall found the Towne surrendred vnto the Duke the said Sir Roger being not able to hold out longer Anno 1588. amongst many of the Nobility which distributed themselues into diuers of her Maiesties Shippes vpon the approach of the Spanish Armada the Earle put himselfe aboord the Bonaduenture commanded by Captaine George Raymond when they wanne that honour that no Sea can drowne no age can weare out The Queene so accepted this Noble Earles resolution that she gaue him leaue the same yeare to goe as Generall and for his greater honour and ability was pleased to lend him the Golden Lion one of the Shippes Royall to be the Admirall which he victualled and furnished at his owne charge and aduenture hauing Commission to pursue his intended voyage towards the Spanish coasts vnder the broad Seale of England bearing date the fourth of October 1588. Attended with many braue Gentlemen he set forth about the end of October and in the Narrow Seas met with a Shippe of Dunkerke called the Hare laden with Merchandise for Spaine which after some fight he tooke and sent home But contrary windes first suspended and after that a storme which forced them to cut the maine Maste ouerboord depriued him of further hopes and ability to prosecute his true designes HIs spirit remaining neuerthelesse higher then the windes and more resolutely by stormes compact vnited in it selfe he procured a new of her Maiestie the Victory one of the Royal Nauie accompanied with the Meg and Margaret two small Ships and one Caruell which were set forth at his charges and manned with 400. Mariners and Souldiers the Admirall commanded by his Lordship and vnder him Captaine Christopher Lyster the Meg by Captaine William Mounson Viceadmirall the Margaret by Captaine Edward Careles alias Write Rereadmirall the Caruell by Captaine Pigeon The eighteenth of Iune they set forth from Plimmouth and within three dayes met with three French Ships Leaguers of New Hauen and Saint Maloes laden with New-found land fish two of them with the Margaret not able to endure the Sea were sent for England The thirteenth of Iuly his Lordship met with eleuen Dutch Ships which at first made shew to abide a fight and after a few shot yeelded and sent their Masters aboord shewing their Pasports from Hamborough Lubecke Bream Pomerland and Callice who confessed that they had goods aboord to the value of foure thousand fiue hundred pounds of a Iew of Lisbone which being deliuered and distributed his Lordship set saile for the Asores The first of August he had sight of Saint Michael and to disguise himselfe put forth a Spanish Flagge Espying foure Shippes in the Roade he resolued that night to cut their Cables and to bring them away which he accordingly performed before he was descried The Spaniards in three of them leaping into the Sea with much noise and outcry gaue the alarme to the Town which made many vaine shots at his Boate in the darke The fourth was the Falcon of London vnder the name of a Scottish Ship hauing a Scottish Pilot. The three Spaniards were laden from Siuill with Wine and Sallet Oyle The Pinnace tooke a small Shippe wherein was thirty tunnes of Madera wines same Wollen Cloath Silke and Taffata The Carracks were departed from Tercera eight dayes before He manned his Boates and obtained refreshing at Flores professing himselfe a friend to their King Don Antonio From thence rowing a shipboord the Boate was pursued two miles together by a monstrous Fish whose Finnes many times appeared about the gils aboue water foure or fiue yards a sunder and his iawes gaping a yard and a halfe wide not without great danger of ouerturning the Pinnace and deuouring some of the company but at the last they all escaped Here his Lordshippe met and accepted into consort Captaine Dauies with his Shippe and Pinnace a Shippe of Sir Walter Raleighs commanded by Captaine Markesbury and the Barke Lime Hauing intelligence that the Carracks were at Tercera he came vp to the road of Fyall the seuen and twentieth of August and descrying certaine Shippes at anchor close aboord the shoare he sent his Boates which boorded a Ship of 250. tunne armed with foureteene cast Peeces and continued fight till a supply of Boates came from the Fleete to second them and then recouered the prize The Spaniards except Iohn de Palma leapt all ouer-boord to swimme to the shoare which was so neere that the Ship was moored to the Castle from whence the great Ordinance plaied all the time of the fight onely it was not a play to the Master of the Caruell whose calfe of his legge was shot away This Shippe came laden from Port-Racco with Sugar Ginger and Hides The Ship-boates fetched also out of the Roade some other small Ships laden from Guinâ—ee with Elephants teeth Graines Coca nuts and Goate Skinnes most of which prizes he sent for England The
which the nights calmenesse prohibited the ships beeing thus seuered were by the Gallies of Penocha set vpon his Lordship being within hearing of the shot but by reason of the calme not able to releeue them so that the two ships were recouered Captayne Bayly slaine Captayne Munson and the rest carried Prisoners to Penecha and thence to Lisbone His Lordship wrote to the Archdâ—ke Albert then Vice-roy for their good vsage otherwise threatning requitall to theirs of whom he presumed hee should take store For feare whereof the common sort were returned a few dayes after new clothed Captayne Munson with sixe others only detayned His Lordship hauing intelligence of a great Armada prepared in the Groyne to bee sent against the Lord Thomas Howard then Admirall of her Majesties fleet at the Asores attending to surprize the West Indian fleet sent the Mooneshine with aduise otherwise the Lord Howard had runne the fortune of Sir Richard Greenuile who lost his ship and life or rather exchanged the one for honor and for the other made the Spaniards the greatest losers in so deere a purchase Thus weakned by disaduenture he was forced to returne for England HIs Lordship considering the inconuenience of her Maiesties command not to lay any Spanish ship aboard with her ships lest both might together be destroyed by fire rather chose to seeke out amongst the Merchants then to make further vse of the ships Royall And so hee hired the Tigre a ship of six hundred tunnes furnished by the Owners for three hundred pounds a moneth wages in which he went in person thereto adding his owne ship the Samson and the Golden Noble with two small ships These in the yeere 1592. were set forth but so crossed with winds as three moneths victualls were spent in Harbours before they could get to the Westward of Plymmouth whereby also one of his Lordships principall designes was frustrate which was the taking of the Carrikes outward bound as also the meanes to performe his intended Voyage to the West Indies Wherevpon not like to satisfie that expectation which might arise from a personall expedition of his Lordship he transferred the chiefe command to Captayne Norton and returned to London leauing instructions with the Admirall to goe for the Asores Captayne Norton neere Cape Finisterre met two of the King of Spaines Gallions returning from Brest in Brittanie in fight with whom the Golden Noble receiued a shot in her fore-mast which made them doubt of her further sufficiencie but hauing fished it aswell as they could Captayne Caue her Commander espied an Argosie bound for Lisbone and gaue chase to her within shot of the Fort of Cascaijs within fiue fathome water of a shoald called Catchops and there in sight of the men on shoare laid her aboard and returned into England with her The Admirall with the rest of the fleet arriued at the Asores and hauing watered and refreshed at Flores which that Iland permitted to all men of warre as not able to withstand them put to Sea and spreading themselues the Santa Cruce was descried which made all the haste she could for Angra in Tercera They hasted after and being within halfe a league of her they espied Sir Iohn Burroughs in the Ro-bucke a ship of Sir Walter Raleighs of two hundred tunnes which had ridden vnseene on the Easterne side of the Iland standing to crosse the Carrickes way so that now she was forced the wind being Westerly to luffe vp recouer the Road of Lagowâ—a on the South end of Flores The law and custom of the Sea making al ships of war then together though not formerly consorted equall sharers according to their tunnage of the prizes gained Captayne Norton out of ciuil respect and not needing help consulted with Sir Iohn Burroughs and they agreed to board her the next morning But a storme in the night forced them al from their anchors which the next day being somwhat allaied they recouered the road found the Carrike warped as neer the shore as they could hauing indeuoâ—ed also to put ashore such goods as time would permit and fired with all her sayles and flags vp and Ordnance laden which went off on euery side when the fire came to them a sight more pleasing to the Portugals then the English whom those accounted now the Owners of that consumed substance The surge also issue of the late storme scarsly permitted their Boates to land to seeke to get wrackes and what the Portugals had carried ashoare eâ—â—ry man for feare of wracking the Boates on the Rockes being vp to the neck and some ouer head and eares before they could obtayne the shoare where also they were forced on hands and knees to climbe vp a steep hill on the top whereof stood many Ilanders tumbling downe great stones on them But all difficulties were made easie by resolution and hope which brought them to the Towne now forsaken by her Inhabitants and made them Masters of the wracked goods which seemed to flye thither for refuge from the fire and water Whiles they were thus employed about this burnt Carrike Sir Robert Crosse Captayne of the Foresight of her Maiesties Master Tomson Captayne of the Daintie a ship of Sir Iohn Hawkins Captayne Newport in the Golden Dragon came into this consort They were much grieued with this spectacle but comforted that there had but one of the fiue Carrickes passed this had fallen into this terrible Purgatory and three were still expected They spread themselues continued expecting from the nine and twentieth of Iune till the third of August at which time Master Tomson first had sight of the great Carricke called Madre de Dios and comming vp gaue her a broad-side of Ordnance falling a sterne came hauing laden his Ordnance again and againe to deliuer his pealâ—s to hinder her way till the rest of the fleet could come the Carricke answering with the like Sir Iohn Burroughes and the Golden Dragon came in about three a clocke and Sir Iohn receiued a shot of a Canon Perier vnder water in the Bread-roome which made him beare vp to stop his leake Sir Robert Crosse was the next who to giue her his broad side came so neere that becalming his sayles he vnwillingly fell aboard the Carricke which hauing lashed her fast by the Strowdes sayled away with her by her side The Earle of Cumberlands ships worst of sayle were the last which came vp about eleuen aclocke at night not minding then to boord her But hearing the Foresight calling to Captayne Norton And you be men saue the Queenes ship he gaue order to the Samson to lay her aboord on the one side and promising to doe the like in the Tigre on the other which about twelue a clock was performed The Tigre running stemling aboord broke her beake-head to the huddings the Samson laid the Forefight aboord and entred thorow her into the Carricke whereby
jewels cast off all and naked as they were borne cast themselues into the Sea to aduenture vpon English mercy amongst all which was taken vp by the Reare-admirals Boat two men of note and three of inferiour qualitie These three were clothed and set on land the other two were Don Nuno Velio Periera who had somtimes bin Gouernour of Mozambique and Sofala and returning for Spaine in a Carrick of great value lost neere Bona Speranza was now here a passenger and Bras Carero Captaine of another Carrick cast away neere Mozambique here also a passenger These two were brought into England and ransomed Three impediments happened to the Assailants the Reare-admirall hurt with a shot and made in person vnseruiceable being a valiant man the Vice-admirall slaine and the Admirall himselfe Captaine Caue shot at the first thorow both the legs whereof shortly after his returne hee dyed The Caruell and Pinnace were accidentally absent one and twentie were slaine in the fight In the Carrick were many of qualitie and before infection had fallen amongst them neere the Cape their number of white and blacke men exceeded 1100. all which perished but those before named The burden of this Carrick and her lading in wealth did farre exceede the Madre de Dios returning after a long voyage fraighted with pearles jewels drugs silkes her meanest lading pepper besides the best of the Nazaret lately cast away her commodities the Captaine whereof had beene Bras Carero aforesaid They set saile after this disaster for Flores and after some refreshing on the nine and twentieth of Iune descryed another Carrick of 1500. Tunnes which they supposed to bee the Saint Philip one of the King of Spaines men of warre After some more cautelous fight occasioned by that conceit they sent their Boat to summon her to yeeld to the Queene of Englands ships vnder the command of the Earle of Cumberland or else to vndergoe the fortunes of the Fiue wounds the sorrowfull witnesses whereof they presented those two former Captaines to whom the Generall Don Lewys de Costynio answered As your Generall hath beene at the burning of the Fiue wounds so I haue beene at the burning and taking of the Reuenge of the Queene of Englands Therefore let him doe what he dare doe for his Queene and I will doe what I am able for my King commanding the Boat instantly to be gone The fight was renewed but intermitted by the calme and remitted by the remisser companie their Captaines being slaine and wounded Whereupon they gaue ouer and arriued in England in August and the beginning of September hauing done much harme to the enemie and little good to themselues THe Earle not liking his ill partage in the Madre de Dios nor this vnhappier losse of two Carricks for want of sufficient strength to take them builded a ship of his owne of 900. Tunnes at Detford which the Queene at her lanching named The Scourge of Malice the best ship that euer before had beene built by any subiect Shee made his Lordship three voyages and after was sold to the East Indian Companie whence shee made many returnes before in the name of the Dragon related and proued fortunate against the Portugals in the East His Lordship had thought to haue gone in her in person and prepared the Alcedo his Vice-admirall commanded by Captaine Monson the Antonio commanded by Daniel Iarret and the old Frigot But when he had gone as farre as Plimmouth on his intended voyage Her Majestie by Sir Francis Drake and Sir Iohn Hawkins sent for him to returne which commandement his Lordship obeyed but the ships proceeded to seeke their aduenture giuing command of the Admirall to Captaine Langton which Captaine Monson misliking went forth seuerally to seeke his owne fortune in the Alcedo The Scourge the Antonie and the Frigot went together to the Asores where first they tooke a Saint Thome Caruell of 100. Tunnes laden with Sugars After which neere the Iland of Flores in a fogge they espyed a great Ship lying by the Lee which they conceiued to be a Carrick but found it to be the Saint Thomas Vice-admirall of the King of Spaines fleet lying for the waftage of the East and West Indian fleetes with whom they fell in so hot a fight that shee was glad to beare vp to recouer her selfe amongst the rest of her Consorts which after the cleering of the fogge they discerned not farre from them Thence they went to the Coast of Spaine where they tooke three Dutch ships of the East-Countries laden with Wheat Copper and other munitions and prouisions for the King of Spaine Hauing spent their victuals they returned AN. 1596. his Lordship set forth againe the Scourge of Malice in which he went in person accompanied with the Dread-naught of the Queenes and some other small ships and about thirtie or fortie leagues from England was incountred with a storme wherein the Scourge spent her mayne mast and was made vnseruiceable for that voyage so that hee was forced to returne for England in the Dread naught THe same yeere perceiuing that the Earle of Essex and the Lord Admirall were to goe to the Coast of Spaine with a great fleet of the Queenes together with a squadron of Flemmish men of warre his Lordship thought good to a wait some gleanings in so great a Vintage and set forth the Ascension of 300. Tunnes and foure and thirtie pieces of Ordnance manned with 120. men commanded by Captaine Francis Slingsby chiefly to expect such ships as should come from Lisbone The Ascension thus furnished met with such a fret of winde that with all haste they handed in their sailes and being within the Hooke of Godwine Sands droue with two anchors ahead till they were within two Cables length of the Sands They then let fall their short anchor which by Gods grace stayed them till the next day noone hourely expecting their wrack and at last cut their Cables Hauing refurnished themselues at Plimouth they set forwards and comming to the Rocke say off and on After some frustrated attempts by the Boat on a Caruell in which the Captaine was sore wounded the King of Spaines Admirall Sirago set forth sixe ships against them and himselfe and another ship laid the Ascension aboard the one on the Bow the other on the Quarter and now the mouthes of the great Ordnance being neere in place to whisper roared out their thunders and pierced thorow and thorow on all hands Which ended the Spaniards leaped into the fore-chaines and mayne-chaines thinking to haue entred the ship but were brauely repelled The English seeing many Spaniards together vnder the Admirals halfe decke discharged amongst them a Fowler laden with case shot to their no small harme To that the Spaniards had enough and were content to fall off Of ours two and twentie were slaine and hurt which losse lighted asmuch on them which hid themselues as those which stood to the fight To preuent the like
staying there two yeeres we expected further commandement from the Emperours Majesty 31. In the meane time while these things are thus done a certaine Captaine Aluarez Nunnez Cabeça de Uacha commeth out of Spaine whom Caesars Majestie had created Generall and with foure hundred men and thirtie Horses diuided into foure ships of the which two were greater and the other two Carauels The foure ships arriued in Brasill at the Hauen of Wiesaij or Saint Katharine to seeke prouision of victuall And when the Captaine had sent the two Carauels eight leagues from the Hauen to seeke victuals so great a storme tooke them that they perished being broken all to pieces in the Sea the men notwithstanding which were in them being saued When Aluarez the chiefe Commander knew this for a certainty hee durst not put to Sea any more in the greater greater ships he therefore commanded vtterly to destroy them and trauelling by land towards the Riuer of Plate at length came vnto vs to the Assumption of foure hundred men bringing three hundred with him the rest dying either of famine or of cruell diseases From hence the Captaine was eight whole moneths in his journey and from the Citie of the Assumption to S. Katherines are reckoned three hundred leagues This is to be vnderstood of the next and most direct way for from the Assumption downe the Riuer to the Sea there are three hundred thirtie foure leagues and to Saint Katharine three hundred Aluarez Nunnez also brought the title of his gouernment out of Spaine granted vnto him from Caesars Majestie and therefore required that our Generall Martin Don Eyollas should yeeld vp the whole gouernment vnto him which thing also Don Eyollas and all the company with all their heart were readie to performe yet vpon this condition that hee should make good proofe also that this power and authoritie was granted vnto him from the Emperours Maiestie But the whole assembly could not wrest this from him only the Priests one or two of the Captains affirmed it 32. The said Aluarez Nunnez therefore taking a view of the Souldiers found the number of the whole Army to be eight thousand men Making friendship also with Martin Don Eyollas each sware to other brotherly fidelity and friendship so that Eyollas should haue no lesse power to command the people then he had before The Gouernour commandeth nine Brigantines to be made ready that he might saile vp the Riuer as farre as it was possible But before the ships were made readie he sendeth three Brigantines with one hundred and fifteene Souldiers before commanding that they should go as far as they could and seeke out the Indians that had Maiz. Hee ioyned also two Captaines vnto them Antonio Gaberro and Diego Tabellinus These therefore in the beginning come to a Nation called Surucusis hauing Maiz Mandeoch and other Roots of that kind and Mandues also which are like our Filbirds and fish and flesh The men carrie in their lips a blue stone like the bone of a Die With this Nation we left our ships and with them certaine of our companions to whom we committed the custodie thereof but hauing gone foure dayes iourney into the Countrey wee came to a Village pertayning to the Carios being three hundred strong inquiring therefore diligently there of the state of that Countrey wee receiued honest and peaceable answeres from them Returning thence vnto our ships and going downe the Riuer of Parabol we came to the Nation Achkeres There we found Letters sent from Aluaro the Gouernour whereby hee commanded to hang vp the chiefe Captaine of these Indians Achkeres by name Which commandement our Captaine obeyed without delay and we returned home 33. The whole Countrey of Dabero and Carios were vp in Armes ioyning their forces together to inuade the Christians For the King of Dabero was the brother of that Achkeres whom the Chrictians hanged whose death hee would most seuerely auenge vpon the Christians Our Gouernour armeth himselfe in the meane time against his Enemies to vndertake some seruice against them He therefore determined with the consent of his sworne brother Martin Don Eyollas that this Eyollas should goe against the said Dabero and Carios with foure hundred Christians and two thousand Indians and either driue them out of the whole Countrey or vtterly roote them out The said Eyollas faithfully executing this commandement leadeth his Armie out of the City of the Assumption and meeting with the enemy by the commandement of Caesars Maiestie first perswadeth Dabero to peace and quietnesse but he little regarding this would admit no treatie of peace for he had gathered a mightie Army fenced his Villages with Bulwarks or Rampires of wood fastened in the ground and had compassed them about with a triple fence of stakes or piles hauing also cast vp deepe and mightie pits whereof we spoke before in the 21. Chapter all which wee found out before by diligent search Wee stood still quietly with our Armie till the fourth day before wee proclaimed war against them but the fourth day in the morning three houâ—es before the rising of the Sunne making an assault wee violently rushed 〈…〉 o the City and whomsoeuer we found there we slue yet taking many women and preseruing them from slaughter which afterward turned to our great benefit In this assault twenty sixe of the Christians were slaine many of the people being wounded and hurt And many also of the Indians on our part perished but of the Caniballs 3000. slaine Not long after Dabero came vnto vs with his people and craued fauour and pardon In the next Expedition Dabero sent to Nunnez 2000. Indians to aide vs. From the Carios also he commandeth nine Brigantines to bee furnished all which being done 800. Christians he taketh 500. leauing 300. at the Assumption ouer whom he made Iohn Satensser Captaine With this Army of 500. Christians and 2000. Indians we saile vp the Riuer of Parabol and the Carios had with them 83. boats wee Christians had nine Brigantines in euery one of the which there were two horses But the horses were conueyed ouer Land 100. leagues and we were carried vpon the Riuer vnto the Mountaine of Saint Ferdinand At that place taking our horses againe into the ships from thence afterward we were carried forward vntill we came to our Enemies the Paiembos but they not looking for our comming conueyed away themselues by flight with their wiues and children hauing first set their houses on fire After this we trauelled 100. leagues together and light not on any people at length wee came to a Nation whose people are called Baschurepos who liue by fish and flesh It is a populous Nation and they inhabit a large Countrey of 100. leagues broad They haue so great a number of boats that it is incredible to be written Their women couer their Secrets These people refusing to talke with vs fled from vs. Departing from
these Rites they say they pray for the dead They neuer make an end till they haue spent all and then they returne to their labours They are very expert in the Arts which they learne although it be writing or reading which yet is not granted them to learne They pay yeerely to their Gouernours a certaine tribute of Siluer and other things after they are eighteene yeeres old till fiftie The Commendator receiueth these things conditionally to maintaine a Priest and a Corrigidor and to pay the tenths to the Church This and other places are there giuen for two liues the sonne or eldest daughter succeeding The Corrigidors amongst the Indians are prohibited merchandise A Visitor is appointed in euery Court to goe to the places of that Precinct to enquire of affaires and to decide controuersies The number of Mesticos is great which wander vp and downe poore and beggarly nor giue their minds to learne any handicrafts It were good they were forced to labour A Councell celebrated at Lima 1583. in the third Session Chap. 22. approued of the Pope and our King decreed that wheresoeuer one thousand Indians are found together a Teacher and Priest should be set ouer them The Indians Priests vse at the Kings charges to carrie with them many religious men and the Iesuites by the supreme Councell of India with aduise of the BB. are commanded to send many thither for the Bishops assistance The Rents and Tenths of Bishoprickes are deuided into foure parts one of which goeth to the Bishop a second to the Deane and Chapiter so as the Deanes proportion is 150. the dignities 130. the Canons 100. The third and fourth part are diuided into nine shares called Ninths of which two returne to the King and are bestowed on the buildings of Cathedrall Churches another ninth and halfe on the Fabrickes another ninth and halfe on the Hospitall buildings the fourth remayning are paid to the Vicars Singers Organists and other Church Officers What remayneth is spent on the Fabrickes All are laid out by the Bishops order In my iudgement it were very good if euery Bishoprick had Seminaries and Colledges wherein the children of their Caciques and chiefe men might be educated to be maintayned by the Caciques The Bishopricke of Cusco is 200. leagues long and 70. broad that of Lima is greater by the one halfe as is that also of Quito Whereupon the Bishops of the New World writ to the King that it were better to make them more Bishoprickes each of which shall yet retaine 20000. Pezos Euery seuenth yeere ordinarily is a Prouinciall Synod in Peru to which the Bishoppes come some by Sea some by Land 400. or 600. leagues the wayes not admitting Coaches Some haue sought for Vniuersities in some places to bee erected as those of Quito at least for Diuinitie and the liberall Arts and Indian Tongue the Professors to haue foure or 5000. Duckets a piece yeerely There is no question but of the Indians many learned men may adorne the Schooles and Pulpits The Kings Reuenue out of the West Indies is twelue Millions yeerely growing out of the fifth of Gold and Siluer great Meltings Customes of Ports Indian Tributes sale of Offices the Cruzada Tribute of Rents Quicksiluer Fines of Courts and the ninth part of Ecclesiasticall Rents Popes Buls and Collations of Benefices Ecclesiasticall and Secular are subiect to the King and ordered by his supreame Councell of the Indies CHAP. X. Relation of the new Discouerie in the South Sea made by PEDRO FERNANDEZ GIROS Portugez 1609. with his Petitions to the King one Englished another in Spanish THis man being a famous Pilot was sent with two ships from Peru to discouer the Ilands of Salomon After hee had taken his course in the height of the Straits of Magellanuâ— little more or lesse he did discouer a mayne Land and sayled eight hundred leagues vpon the Coast vntill he came to the height of fifteene degrees to the Southward of the Equinoctiall Line where hee found a very fruitfull and pleasant Countrey and well peopled abounding with Pearles Gold and Siluer great store of Limons Orenges and other Fruites excellent good and in great quantitie great store of Goats Hogges Geese Partridges Conies and Fowle Pepper and Spices The Countrey is very temperate and healthfull great store of fish of many different sorts full of wood and goodly high Trees for shipping very good pasture ground for Corne and Cattell The men of the Countrey are some tawnie and some white of good disposition more ciuill and politike then the Indians of Peru and Noua Hispania There is in the Coast a Bay of some twentie leagues into which there fals two great Riuers out of the Countrey which is the place where they purpose to settle their first Plantations There are many Ilands in the same Coast both great and little plentifull they are all and well inhabited This Captaine Giroz shall be presently sent vnto Peru with order and Commission to take vp twelue hundred men and shipping with other necessaries for the Voyage to inhabit and as many more shall be sent the yeere following from Noua Hispania and for the whole businesse he is to receiue fiue hundred thousand Duckets Walsingham Gresley The Copie of a Petition presented to the King of Spaine by Captaine PETER FERDINAND de Quir touching the Discouerie of the fourth part of the World called Terra Australis incognita and of the great riches and fertilite of the same Printed with license in Siuill An. 1610. SIR I Captaine Fernandez de Quiros shew vnto you that this is the eighth Petition which by mee hath beene presented to your Maiesties view to perswade the conduction of some Colonies vnto the Land which your Maiestie hath commanded to bee discouered in the parts of Australia incognita And yet to this houre no resolution is taken neither haue I receiued any answere or hope whereby I might rest assured to obtaine my dispatch although I haue attended fourteene moneths in your Court and haue imployed fourteene yeeres in this Discouery without any profit or other respect but the benefit thereof with which notwithstanding infinite contradictions I haue gone 20000. leagues by Land and by Sea and haue diminished and sunke my estate I haue trauelled with many afflictions in my person and suffered such strange and extraordinary crosses that they seeme almost incredible to my selfe and all that so Religious an vndertake should not vnworthily be abandoned In regard whereof I do most humbly beseech your Maiestie in the bowels of the diuine charitie that you would be pleased to take order that I be not depriued of the fruits of this Designe which with such instance I doe desire and which with so much iustice are due vnto my continuall paines and trauell nor that I bee debarred from the effects of so considerable and well grounded a request whose principall scope is the glory of God and of your Maiestie and from
security of the Countrey he would still detayne him with a guard till more Spaniards came for his security specially considering that hee had taken order for leuying of men of warre to assault the Spaniards which hee had no meanes to auoid but by keeping him fast and his Captayne Generall Chilichuchima A few dayes after the Indians reuealed the Treasons of that Tyrant notwithstanding all his good vsage by the Gouernour and Spaniards which was preuented by his death his sentence of burning by reason of his Baptisme being executed with strangling and after his death some part of his clothes and flesh were burned It was late in the Euening and the next morning he was solemnely buried in the Church as if he had beene the chiefe Spaniard in the Campe which gaue much satisfaction to his principall Caciques and Captaines This done in presence of many Commanders and Cacikes he gaue them a Lord in the name of the Emperour a Sonne of Guaynacaba Huayna Capac or as the Spaniards vse to call him Guainacapac called Atabalipa to whom the Empire was due and placed him in his Seat they all offering the Rites of vassallage to him to wit a white feather according to their custome The new Inca fasted three dayes for the deceassed shut vp from all societie but his Pages and after came forth honourably attired and attended with about fifty Cacikes and Captaines there present and did eat together on the ground for they vse no Tables after which he offered a white Feather in token of his vassallage to the Emperour The Gouernour receiued it and embraced him with much loue and concluded a peace taking the names of the Cacikes and the Countries vnder their command and intimated that he was sent by his Emperour to giue them knowledge of the true God Father Sonne and Holy Ghost and what they should obserue for their saluation and that that God and his Vicars left on earth for he ascended to Heauen their to remayne in glorie had giuen those Prouinces to the Emperour to take charge thereof who had sent him to instruct them in the Christian Faith and to bring them vnder his obedience and caused his Commission to bee read and interpreted to them They all acknowledged the Emperour for their supreme Lord and next vnder him their Lord Atabalipa and in signe thereof lifted vp each of them twice the Royall Banner All this act was entred into writing with testimonies and great Feasts were made by them At this time the Gouernour ceased the partition of the Gold and Siluer amongst the Spaniards and Atabalipa gaue the Gold of the Fifths Royal to the Treasurer of his Maiesty which was carried to Xauxa where the Gouernour intended to plant a Colonie of Spaniards hauing intelligence of the good Countrey thereabouts He prouided him of Indians for carriages and sent a Captaine with ten Horsemen to inhabit Saint Michaels till ships came and after that to returne to Xauxa He heard that some of Atabalipas Captaines had slaine Gariticus his Brother which grieued much both the Gouernour and the present Atabalipa He as he marched heard of diuers which were vp in Armes against him fiue leagues from Xauxa whereupon he put Chilichuchima in chaines by whose meanes the report was that they had done it They went and adioyned themselues to Quizquiz When he came to Xauxa none of his Spaniards were willing to abide there because the Countrey was in Armes yet he left a Colony of eighty men with Officers About this time died Atabalipa of sicknesse of poyson giuen by Chilichuchima as was reported who sought to haue the rule remaine in Quito and not in Cusco The Gouernour bad them prouide a Successor Calichuchima would haue Aticoc Sonne of Atabilipa but others and the Gouernour liked better of a Brother of Atabalipa Sonne of Guanacapa He came to a Towne where he found much Siluer in great sheets of twentie foot long and one broad a finger thicke They receiued intelligence of a skirmish with the enemy by another band of Spaniards in which eighteene horses were hurt and one slaine in another the Spaniards had the victory The Gouernour caused Chilichuchima to be burned who refused to become a Christian and called vpon Pachacamac After this he marched to Cusco which hee entred on Friday the fifteenth of Nouember 1533. And the next day made that Sonne of Guaynacapac their Lord being the right heire and commanded the Cacikes to obey him Incontinently the New Cacike or Inca gaue order to assemble forces against Quizquiz in foure dayes fiue thousand were comne together well armed with whom the Gouernour sent a Captaine with fiftie Horse remayning himselfe for the guard of the Citie These hauing done somewhat against the enemy were forced to returne by the ill mountanous passages The Cacique hauing fasted three dayes and performed and receiued the Rites of vassallage before mentioned in his Predecessor at the Gouernours request leuied greater forces so that aboue fiue and twentie thousand went with the Spaniards which made a Bridge of three hundred and sixtie foote long broad enough for two Horsemen to passe abreast and passed to Bilcas Some of them went to the succour of Xauxa which had obtayned good successe against their enemies The Gouernour after this caused all the Gold to bee melted by experienced Indians which amounted to 580200. Pezos and vpwards of good Gold The Emperours fifth was 116460. Pezos and vpwards The Siluer was melted and weighed 215000. Markes of which 170000. and vpwards was good in Vessels and Barres the rest alayed with other Metals The fifth was deducted thence for his Maiestie Amongst other things there were sheepe of fine Gold very great and ten or twelue Statues of women in their iust bignesse and proportion artificially composed of fine Gold They performed like veneration to them as if they had beene aliue clothing adoring giuing them to eate and talking with them There were others of Siluer in the same stature All this Treasure was shared betwixt those of Cusco and the Spaniards of Xauxa In March 1534. the Gouernor assembled all the Spaniards and made a solemne act of the foundation of a Towne and possession taken in the midst of the chiefe street by the name of the noble and great Citie of Cusco bounds were set out for a Church and priuiledges allotted to such as within three yeeres should come thither to dwell Aboue twelue thousand married Indians were designed to the Prouince of Collao to his Maiesties Mynes of Gold in those parts After this he departed with the Cacique towards Xauxa There he had newes of two hundred and fiftie comne from Panama to Saint Michaels seuenty of them horsemen and of Aluarados landing with foure hundred men and one hundred and fiftie horsemen Hauing ouerthrowne his enemies he tooke order for founding a Church in Xauxa and sent some Spaniards with an Army of Indians to pursue the enemies There is a Mountayne of Snow which continueth from
hee determined to depart from Quito and to goe seeke the Captaine Iohn de Ampudia leauing thereto moe then two hundred of Footmen and Horsemen amongst whom were a great many Inhabitants of the Citie of Quito Unto those Inhabitants the Captaine gaue licence to carrie with them the Cacikes that were escheated them in sharing with as many Indians as they would That which they did and Alfonso Sanches Nuita carried forth with him his Cacike with moe then an hundred Indians besides and in like manner Peter Cibo and his Cousin and they led out more then an hundred and fifty with their wiues and sundry also sped out their children because that in a manner euery one died for hunger Also Moran Inhabitant of Popayan carried out moe then two hundred persons And the like did all the rest Citizens and Souldiers euery one after his abilitie the Souldiers crauing that they might haue licence giuen them to captiue those Indians men and women which they carried forth the which was granted them vntill the death of the said captiues and those deceased to take as many more When they departed out of the Prouince of Quito they carried out moe then sixe thousand Indians men and women and of all those there neuer returned home into their Countrie twenty persons For they died all through the great and excessiue trauell which they made them indure in those broyling Countries contrary to their nature It happened at that time that one Altonso Sanches whom the said Captaine sent for Chieftaine ouer a certaine number of men into a Prouince there met with a good company of women and young boyes laden with victuals who stayed waiting for them without mouing from the place to giue them of that which they had and hauing so done the Captaine commanded that they should be put to the sharpe of the sword It came to passe also that at the time that the said Captaine came into the Prouince of Lili to a Towne called Palo neere vnto the great Riuer where hee found the Captaine Iohn de Ampudia which was gone before to discouer and pacifie the Countrie the said Ampudia kept a Citie by him prouided of a Garrison in the name of his Maiestie and of the Marques Francis of Pizarro and had set ouer them for Gouernours ordinary one Petre Solano of Quennoues and eight Counsellours and all the rest of the Countrie was in peace and shared out amongst them And as hee knew that the said Captaine was in the said Riuer hee came to see him with a great number of the Inhabitants of the Countrie and peacefull Indians laden with victuals and fruits Shortly after also all the neighbour Indians came to see him bringing him food There were the Indians of Xamundi and of Palo and of Soliman and of Bolo Now because that they brought no Mahis which he would haue he sent a great number of Spaniards with their Indians to goe search for Mahis commanding them to bring some where soeuer they found any So went they to Bolo and to Palo and found the Indians men and women in their houses in peace and the said Spaniards with those that were with them tooke them and robbed their Mahis their Gold and Couerings and all that they had and bound many Wherefore they seeing that the Captaine kept no Faith with them all the Countrie arose and reuolted from the Spanish whereof ensued great damage and God and the Kings Maiestie offended and by this meanes the Countrey remayned dispeopled for that the Olomas and the Manipos their enemies which are Mountaine people and warlike descended daily to take and robbe them when they perceiued the Citie and places of their abode left destitute And amongst them hee who was the stronger did eate vp his fellow for all died for famine This done the Captaine came to the Citie of Ampudia where he was receiued for Generall From this place they goe to a Citie called Tukilicui from whence the Cacike of the place yeelded forth incontinent in peace a number of Indians going before him The Captaine demanded Gold of him and of his Indians The Cacike told him that hee had but a small deale and that which he had should be giuen him and immediatly all beganne to giue him all that they had Whereupon the said Captaine gaue vnto euery of them a ticket with the name of the said Indian for a testimoniall that he had giuen him Gold affirming that hee which should haue neuer a ticket should be cast to the Dogges to bee deuoured because he gaue him no Gold Whereupon the Indians for feare that they were put in gaue him all the Gold that they were able and those which had none fled into the Mountaines and other Townes for feare to bee slaine By reason whereof perished a great number of the natiue Inhabitants of the Countrie And shortly after the said Captaine commanded the Cacike to send two Indians to another Citie named Dagna to will them that they should come in peace and bring him Gold in abundance And comming to another Citie hee sent that night many Spaniards to take the Indians and namely of Tulilicui So as they brought the next morrow aboue an hundred persons and all those which could beare burdens they tooke them for themselues and for their Souldiers and put them to the chaine whereof they died all And the said Captaine gaue the little children vnto the said Cacike Tulilicui that hee should eate them and in truth the skinnes of those children are kept in the house of the said Cacike Tulilicui full of ashes and so departed hee from thence without an Interpreter and went towards the Prouinces of Castile where hee ioyned himselfe vnto the Captaine Iohn de Ampudia who had sent him to discouer another way doing both of them great outrages and much mischiefe vnto the Inhabitants of the Countrie where they became And the said Iohn de Ampudia came to a Citie the Cacike and Lord whereof called Bitacur had caused to make certaine Duches to defend himselfe and there fell into the same two Horses the one of Antonie Rodondos the other of Marc Marqueâ—â—s That of Marcos Marquis died the other not For which cause the said Ampudia commanded to take all the Indians men and women that might be and thereupon tooke and layed together more then an hundred persons whom they cast aliue into those Ditches and slue them and brent withall more then an hundred houses in the said Citie And in that manner met in a great Citie where without summoning the Indians being at peace and without any spokesman to goe betweene them they slue with their Speares a great number of them making on them mortall warre And as it is said soone after they were met the said Ampudia told the Captaine what he had done in Bitaco and how he cast so many into the Ditches and the said Captaine answered that it was well done and that he for his part had done as much
at the Church a little within Ludgate London SIR IT was the nineteenth of May before I was fitted for my discouery when from Monahiggan I set sayle in an open Pinnace of fiue tun for the Iland I told you of I passed alongst the Coast where I found some antient Plantations not long since populous now vtterly void in other places a remnant remaines but not free of sicknesse Their disease the Plague for wee might perceiue the sores of some that had escaped who described the spots of such as vsually die When I arriued at my Sauages natiue Country finding all dead I trauelled alongst adaies iourney Westward to a place called Nummastaquyt where finding Inhabitants I dispatched a Messenger a dayes iourney further West to Poconaokit which bordereth on the Sea whence came to see me two Kings attended with a guard of fiftie armed men who being well satisfied with that my Sauage and I discoursed vnto them being desirous of noueltie gaue mee content in whasoeuer I demanded where I found that former relations were true Here I redeemed a Frenchman and afterwards another at Mastachusit who three yeeres since escaped shipwracke at the North-east of Cape Cod. I must amongst many things worthy obseruation for want of leisure therefore hence I passe not mentioning any place where we touched in the way to the Iland which wee discouered the twelfth of Iune Here we had good quarter with the Sauages who likewise confirmed former reports I found seuen seuerall places digged sent home of the earth with samples of other commodities elsewhere found sounded the Coast and the time being farre spent bare vp for Monahiggan arriuing the three and tieth of Iune where wee found our Ship ready to depart To this I le are two other neere adioyning all which I called by the name of King Iames his Iles because from thence I had the first motiues to search For that now probable passage which may hereafter be both honourable and profitable to his Maiestie When I had dispatched with the ships ready to depart I thus concluded for the accomplishing my businesse In regard of the fewnesse of my men not being able to leaue behind mee a competent number for defence and yet sufficiently furnish my selfe I put most of my prouisions aboord the Sampson of Cape Ward ready bound for Virginia from whence hee came taking no more into the Pinnace then I thought might serue our turnes determining with Gods helpe to search the Coast along and at Virginia to supply our selues for a second discouery if the first failed But as the best actions are commonly hardest in effecting and are seldome without their crosses so in this we had our share and met with many difficulties for wee had not sayled aboue forty leagues but wee were taken with a Southerly storme which draue vs to this strait eyther we must weather a rockie point of Land or run into a broad Bay no lesse dangerous Incidit in Syllam c. the Rockes wee could not weather though wee loosed till we receiued much water but at last were forced to beare vp for the Bay and run on ground a furlong off the shoare where we had beene beaten to pieces had wee not instantly throwne ouerboord our prouisions to haue our liues by which meanes we escaped and brought off our Pinnace the next high water without hurt hauing our Planke broken and a small leake or two which we easily mended Being left in this misery hauing lost much bread all our Beefe and Sider some Meale and Apparell with other prouisions and necessaries hauing now little left besides hope to encourage vs to persist Yet after a little deliberation we resolued to proceed and departed with the next faire winde We had not now that faire quarter amongst the Sauages as before which I take it was by reason of our Sauages absence who desired in regard of our long iourney to slay with some of our Sauage friends at Sawahquatooke for now almost euery where where they were of any strength they sought to betray vs. At Manamock the Southerne part of Cape Cod now called Sutcliffe Inlets I was vnawares taken prisoner when they sought to kill my men which I left to man the Pinnace but missing of their purpose they demanded a ransome which had I was as farre from libertie as before yet it pleased God at last after a strange manner to deliuer me with three of them into my hands and a little after the chiefe Sacheum himselfe who seeing me weigh anchor would haue leaped ouerboord but intercepted craued pardon and sent for the Hatchets giuen for ransome excusing himselfe by laying the fault on his neighbours and to be friends sent for a Canoas lading of Corne which receiued we set him free I am loth to omit the story wherein you would finde cause to admire the great mercy of God euen in our greatest misery in giuing vs both freedome and reliefe at one time Departing hence the next place we arriued at was Capaock an Iland formerly discouered by the English where I met with Epinew a Sauage that had liued in England and speakes indifferent good English who foure yeeres since being carried home was reported to haue beene slaine with diuers of his Countreymen by Saylers which was false With him I had much conference who gaue mee very good satisfaction in euery thing almost I could demand Time not permitting mee to search here which I should haue done for sundry things of speciall moment the wind faire I stood away shaping my course as the Coast led mee till I came to the most Westerly part where the Coast began to fall away Southerly In my way I discouered Land about thirtie leagues in length heretofore taken for Mayne where I feared I had beene imbayed but by the helpe of an Indian I got to the Sea againe through many crooked and streight passages I let passe many accidents in this iourney occasioned by treacherie where wee were compelled twice to goe together by the eares once the Sauages had great aduantage of vs in a streight not aboue a Bowe shot and where a multitude of Indians let flye at vs from the banke but it pleased God to make vs victours neere vnto this wee found a most dangerous Catwract amongst small rockie Ilands occasioned by two vnequall tydes the one ebbing and flowing two houres before the other here wee lost an Anchor by the strength of the current but found it deepe enough from hence were wee carried in a short space by the tydes swiftnesse into a great Bay to vs so appearing but indeede is broken land which gaue vs light of the Sea here as I said the Land treadeth Southerly In this place I talked with many Saluages who told me of two sundry passages to the great Sea on the West offered me Pilots and one of them drew mee a Plot with Chalke vpon a Chest whereby I found it a great Iland parted the two Seas they report the one
night to the harbour that we were in at our entring which we call Flag-staffe Harbour because we found there the Flag-staffe throwne by the Sauages away These Sauages by all likelihood were animated to come vnto vs by reason that wee tooke nothing from them at Sauage Bay and some of them may be of those which dwell there For in no other place where we were could we perceiue any tokens of any aboade of them c. CHAP. VIII Captaine RICHARD WHITBOVRNES Voyages to New-found-land and obseruations there and thereof taken out of his Printed Booke IT it well knowne that my breeding and course of life hath beene such as that I haue long time set many people on worke and spent most of my daies in trauell specially in Merchandizing and Sea-Voyages I haue beene often in France Spain Italy Portugall Sauoy Denmarke Norway Spruceland the Canaries and Soris Ilands and for the New-found-land it is almost so familiarly knowne to me as my owne Countrey In the yeere 1588. I serued vnder the then Lord Admirall as Captaine in a Ship of my owne set forth at my charge against the Spanish Armado and after such time as that seruice was ended taking my leaue of his Honour I had his fauourable Letters to one Sir Robert Denuis in the Countie of Deuon Knight whereby there might be some course taken that the charge as well of my owne Ship as also of two other and a Pinnace with the victuals and men therein imploied should not be any way burthensome to me Wherein there was such order giuen by the then right Honorable Lords of the priuie Counsell that the same was well satisfied which seruice is to be seene recorded in the Booke at White-Hall Now to expresse some of my Voyages to the New-found-land which make most for the present purpose My first Voyage thither was about fortie yeeres since in a worthie Shippe of the burthen of three hundred â—un set forth by one Master Cotton of South-hampton wee were bound to the Grand Bay which lieth on the Northside of that Land purposing there to trade then with the Sauage people for whom we carried sundry commodities and to kill Whales and to make Traine Oyle as the Biscaines doe there yeerely in great abundance But this our intended Voyage was ouerthrowne by the indiscretion of our Captaine and faint-hartednesse of some Gentlemen of our Companie whereupon we set faile from thence and bare with Trinity Harbour in New-found-land where we killed great store of Fish Deere Beares Beauers Seales Otters and such like with abundance of Sea-fowle and so returning for England wee arriued safe at South-hampton In a Voyage to that Countrie about six and thirtie yeeres since I had then the command of a worthy Ship of two hundred and twenty tun set forth by one Master Crooke of South-hampton At that time Sir Humfrey Gilbert a Deuonshire Knight came thither with two good Ships and a Pinnace and brought with him a large Patent from the late most renowned Queene Elizabeth and in her name tooke possession of that Countrie in the Harbour of Saint Iohns whereof I was an eye-witnesse He failed from thence towards Virginia and by reason of some vnhappy direction in his course the greatest Ship he had strucke vpon Shelues on the Coast of Canadie and was there lost with most part of the company in her And he himselfe being then in a small Pinnace of twenty tun in the company of his Vice-Admirall one Captaine Hayes returning towards England in a great storme was ouerwhelmed with the Seas and so perished In another Voyage I made thither about foure and thirty yeeres past wherein I had the command of a good Ship partly mine one at that time own Sir Bernard Drake of Deuonshire Knight came thither with a Commission and hauing diuers good Ships vnder his command hee there took many Portugall Ships laden with Fish and brought them into England as Prizes Omitting to speak of other Voyages I made thither during the late Queens raign I will descend to later times In the yeere 1611. being in New-found-land at which time that famous Arch-Pirate Peter Easton came there and had with him ten saile of good Ships well furnished and very rich I was kept eleuen weekes vnder his command and had from him many golden promises and much wealth offered to be put into my hands as it is well knowne I did perswade him much to desist from his euill course his intreaties then to me being that I would come for England to some friends of his and sollicite them to become humble petitioners to your Maiestie for his pardon but hauing no warrant to touch such goods I gaue him thinkes for his offer onely I requested him to release a Ship that he had taken vpon the Coast of Guinnie belonging to one Captaine Rashly of Foy in Cornewall a man whom I knew but onely by report which he accordingly released Whereupon I prouided men victuals and a fraught for the said Ship and so sent her home to Dartmouth in Donen though I neuer had so much as thankes for my kindenesse therein And so leauing Easton I came for England and gaue notice of his intention letting passe my Voyage I intended for Naples and lost both my labour and charges for before my arriuall there was a pardon granted and sent him from Ireland But Easton houering with those ships and riches vpon the Coast of Barbary as he promised with a longing desire and full expectation to be called home lost that hope by a too much delaying of time by him who carried the Pardon Whereupon he failed to the Straights of Gibraltar and was afterwards entertained by the Duke of Sauoy vnder whom he liued rich I was there also in the yeere 1614. when Sir Henry Manwaring was vpon that Coast with fiue good Ships strongly prouided he caused me to spend much time in his company and from him I returned into England although I was bound from thence to Marsseâ—â—is to make sale of such goods as I then had and other imploiments c. In the yeere 1615. I returned againe to New-found-land carrying with mee a Commission out of the high Court of Admiraltie vnder the great Seale thereof authorising me to empannell Iuries and to make inquirie vpon Oath of sundry abuses and disorders committed amongst Fishermen yeerly vpon that Coast and of the fittest means to redâ—esse the same with some other points hauing a more particular relation to the Office of the Lord Admirall What was then there done by vertue of that Commission which was wholly executed at my owne charge hath bin at large by me already certified into the high Court of Admâ—â—altie Neuerthelesse seeing the same hath beene ouer slipt euer since not produced those good effects which were expected I will in some conuenient place of this Discourse set downe a briefe collection of some part of my endeuours spent in that seruice not doubting but it will be as auaileable for the
returned home into Plimmoth for a new supply of victuals and other necessaries who considering the foresaid tempest were of opinion that the Nauie being of late dispersed and tossed vp and downe the maine Ocean was by no meanes able to performe their intended Voyage Moreouer the Lord Charles Howard Lord high Admirall of England had receiued Letters from the Court signifying vnto him that her Maiesty was aduertised that the Spanish Fleete would not come forth nor was to be any longer expected for and therefore that vpon her Maiesties commandement hee must send backe foure of her tallest and strongest Ships vnto Chattam The Lord high Admirall of England being thus on the sudden namely vpon the 19. of Iuly about foure of the clocke in the afternoone enformed by the Pinnace of Captaine Fleming aforesaid of the Spaniards approach with all speede and diligence possible hee warped his Ships and caused his Mariners and Souldiers the greater part of whom was absent for the cause aforesaid to come on boord and that with great trouble and difficultie insomuch that the Lord Admirall himselfe was faine to lie without in the road with six Ships onely all that night after the which many others came forth of the hauen The very next day being the 20. of Iuly about high noone was the Spanish Fleet escried by the English which with a South-west winde came sailing along and passed by Plimmouth in which regard according to the iudgement of many skilfull Nauigators they greatly ouershot themselues whereas it had beene more commodious for them to haue staied themselues there considering that the Englishmen being as yet vnprouided greatly relied vpon their owne forces and knew not the estate of the Spanish Nauie Moreouer this was the most conuenient Port of all others where they might with greater security haue beene aduertised of the English forces and how the commons of the land stood affected and might haue stirred vp some mutinie so that hit her they should haue bent all their puissance and from hence the Duke of Parma might more easily haue conueied his Ships But this they were prohibited to doe by the King and his Counsell and were expresly commanded to vnite themselues vnto the souldiers and ships of the said Duke of Parma and so to bring their purpose to effect Which was thought to be the most easie and direct course for that they imagined that the English and Dutch men would be vtterly daunted and dismaied thereat and would each man of them retire vnto his owne Prouâ—â—ce or Port for the defence thereof and transporting the Armie of the Duke vnder the protection of their huge Nauie they might inuade England It is reported that the chiefe commanders in the Nauy and those which were more skilfull in nauigation to wit Iohn Martines de Ricalde Diego Flores de Ualdez and diuers others found fault that they were bound vnto so strict directions and instructions because that in such a case many particular accidents ought to concurre and to be respected at one and the same instant that is to say the opportunitie of the winde weather time tide and ebbe wherein they might faile from Flanders to England Oftentimes also the darknesse and light the situation of places the depths and shoalds were to be considered all which especially depended vpon the conueniency of the windes and were by so much the more dangerous But it seemed that they were enioyned by their Commission to ancre neere vnto or about Caleis whither the Duke of Parma with his ships and all his warlike prouision was to resort and while the English and Spanish great ships were in the midst of their conflict to passe by and to land his souldiers vpon the Downes The Spanish Captiues reported that they were determined first to haue entred the Riuer of Thames thereupon to haue passed with small ships vp to London supposing that they might easily win that rich and flourishing Citie being but meanely fortified and inhabited with Citizens not accustomed to the wars who durst not withstand their first encounter hoping moreouer to finde many rebels against her Maiestie and Popish Catholikes or some fauourers of the Scottish Queene not long before beheaded who might be instruments of sedition Thus often aduertising the Duke of Parma of their approach the 20. of Iuly they passed by Plimmouth which the English pursuing and getting the winde of them gaue them the chase and the encounter and so both Fleetes frankly exchanged their Bullets The day following which was the 21. of Iuly the English Ships approached within Musket shot of the Spanish at what time the Lord Charles Howard most hotly and valiantly discharged his Ordnance vpon the Spanish Vice-admirall The Spaniards then well perceiuing the nimblenesse of the English ships in discharging vpon the enemy on all sides gathered themselues close into the forme of an halfe Moone and slackned their sailes least they should outgoe any of their company And while they were proceeding on in this manner one of their great Galliasses was so furiously battered with shot that the whole Nauie was faine to come vp rounder together for the safegard thereof whereby it came to passe that the principall Galleon of Siuill wherein Don Pedro de Valdez Vasques de Silua Alonzo de Sayas and other Noble men were embarqued falling foule of another ship had her fore-mast broken and by that meanes was not able to keepe way with the Spanish Fleete neither would the said Fleete stay to succour it but lâ—ft the distressed Galeon behinde The Lord Admirall of England when hee saw this Ship of Ualdez and thought she had beene voide of Marriners and Souldiers taking with him as many ships as he could passed by it that hee might not loose sight of the Spanish Fleete that night For Sir Francis Drake who was not withstanding appointed to beare out his Lanterne that night was giuing of chase vnto fiue great Hulkes which had separated themselues from the Spanish Fleete but finding them to be Easterlings hee dismissed them The Lord Admirall all that night following the Spanish Lanterne instead of the English found himselfe in the morning to be in the midst of his enemies Fleete but when he perceiued it he clenly conueied himselfe out of that great danger The day following which was the 22. of Iuly Sir Francis Drake espied Valdez his ship whereunto he sent for his Pinnace and being aduertised that Ualdez himselfe was there and 450. persons with him he sent him word that hee should yeelde himselfe Valdez for his honours fake caused certaine conditions to be propounded vnto Drake who answered Valdez that he was not now at leisure to make any long parle but if he would yeelde himselfe he should finde him friendly and tractable howbeit if he had resolued to die in fight he should proue Drake to be no dastard Vpon which answer Ualdez and his Company vnderstanding that they were fallen into the hands of fortunate Drake being
seuen miles in circuit at the foot fashioned it is vpward like an Hiue and the top therof most commonly to be discerned within and aboue the clouds This Mountaine hath in it by report many great hollow Caues and deepe Vaults and it is credibly reported that oftentimes it breathes out flames and sparkes of fire as doth the Mountaine Aetna Also at the bottome of this Mountain towards the East there is a great Spring of Fresh-water which is seen many times to issue out flakes and stones of fire with great violence and of the number and bignesse of the stones that are throwne out by the force and source of this Spring and what huge workes they make of the multitudes of them they confidently doe tell strange wonders which I will neither affirme nor deny but leaue indifferent to credit as men list Fayall is so called of Faya which in the Portugues signifieth a Beech Tree wherewith that Iland is said to abound But yet I saw there more store of Iuniper and Cedar then of any other Wood or Timber For Aire and Soyle it is as pleasant and fruitfull as any of the other Ilands and in it are some fiue Townes with many pretie Villages and in this Iland there are yet remaining certaine families of the Flemish race Gratiosa is so called of the exceeding fruitfulnesse of the Soyle and pleasant temper of the Ayre Flores of the abundance of Flowers that grow in it Cueruo of the multitude of Rauens and Crowes breeding therein And that Iland doth also breed Horses Saint Maries Saint Georges and Saint Michaels were so called of those Saints names vpon whose dayes they were first discouered for such is the custome of many Nauigators and especially of the Spaniards and Portugues so to call those Landes that they first make by the Saints day and name wherein they are discouered And these three Ilands for temper and fruitfulnesse are suteable with the others But Saint Michael is the greatest of them all Tercera the strongest and Saint Maries the neerest to the Coast of Spaine But now as wee come neerer to our intended purpose for the better vnderstanding thereof I thinke it very necessary and pertinent somewhat to speake of the chiefe Commanders as well by Sea as by Land and also of the number of our Ships and Souldiers together with the proiect and designe of that iourney then vndertaken for the seruice of her late Maiestie and the Honour of our Nation It is therefore to be vnderstood that Robert Deuereux late Earle of Essex Master of the Horse and Ordnance and Knight of the Garter First commanded in chiefe as well Admirall of the Nauie by Sea as Generall of the Armie by Land His Vice-Admirall was the Lord Thomas Howard Knight of the same Order and second Sonne to the last Thomas Duke of Norfolke a Nobleman much honoured and beloued and of great experience in Sea seruice His Reare-Admirall was Sir Walter Raleigh Knight Captaine of her Maiesties Guard Lord Warden of the Stanneries and Lieftenant of Cornwall For the Land seruice his Leiftenant Generall was Sir Charles Blunt Lord Mountioy Knight of the Garter Gouernour of Portsmouth and a man in high fauour with her late Maiestie His Marshall of the Field was Sir Frauncis Vere Knight a great Souldier and Coronell Generall of the English Forces in the Low-Countries The Master of the Ordnance Sir George Carew Knight Leiftenant of the Ordnance of the Kingdome of England His Sergeant Maior Sir Ferdinando Gorges Knight Gouernour of the Forts of Plimouth The Coronell Generall of the Foot Sir Christopher Blunt Knight The Treasurer of the Armie Sir Hugh Biston Knight one of her Maiesties Receiuers Generall in the Principalities of Walles with all other Officers designed to places requisite that were needful by Land or Sea now too long to rehearse And yet of all the Noblemen I will as neere as I can record their names particularly but craue pardon if I faile in the precedencie of their places The Earles of Essex Rutland and Southampton the Lord Howard the Lord Audley the Lord Gray the Lord Mountioy the Lord Rich and the Lord Cromwell But the particular names of all the Land Captains that had charge I could neuer come to the knowledge of much lesse can I marshall them orderly in this discourse And therefore I will passe to the number of the Ships in generall and therein name some particulars of the chiefe and principall Vessells of the Royall Nauie with their Captaines The whole Nauie which was diuided into three Squadrons viz. The Admirall his Squadron The Vice-Admirall his Squadron and the Reare-Admirall his Squadron consisted of 120. sayle or thereabout whereof sixtie were good men of Warre and gallant Ships the rest Victuallers and Ships of Transportation Of her Maiesties owne Ships the number was eighteene or nineteene and these were their names The Merhoneur Admirall whereof Sir Robert Mansfield was Captaine The Due Repulse Vice-Admirall whereof Master Middleton was Captaine The Wast Spite Reare-Admirall whereof my selfe was Captaine The Garland the Earle of Southampton commanded The Defiance wherein the Lord Mountioy was shipped had for Captaine Sir Amias Preston The Saint Mathew to Sir George Carew Master of the Ordnance The Mary Rose to Sir Francis Vere Marshall whose Captaine was M. Iohn Winter The Dread-nought Sir William Brooke was Captaine of The Nonparellia Sir Richard Luson was Captaine of The Bonouenture Sir William Haruey was Captaine of The Antelope Sir Thomas Vauisâ—r was Captain of The Rainbow Sir William Mounson was Captaine of The Swiftsure Sir Gilly Mericke was Captain of The Golden Lion was sent after for a supply The Hope whereof was Captain The Foresight whereof Sir Carew Reignall was Captaine The Saint Andrew whereof Master Marcellus Throckmorton was Captain The Tramontana whereof young Master Fenner was Captain The Moone whereof Sir Edward Michelboorne was Captaine Besides that there were some other of her Maiesties small Pinnaces that attended the Fleet. The residue or the Fleet aforenamed consisted of the best shipping of London and other Port-Townes of the Kingdome with sundry stout Vestells belonging to some Lords and Gentlemen that were Aduenturers in this Voyage There were also added to this Nauie tenne sayle of good men of Warre sent from the States of the Low-Countries to attend her Maiesties Fleet in this seruice vnder the conduct of one Mounsier de Duneincorde well manned and furnished The Land Army besides Saylers that might be afforded and spared vpon occasion of landing consisted of six thousand able men well appointed with ten Peeces of Artillery for the Field and Battery with all necessary Vtensils fit for them The proportion of victuals was for four months at large allowance double apparell both for Souldier's and Mariners In this Armie there went Knights Captaines and Gentlemen voluntaries fiue hundred at the least as gallant parsonages and as brauely furnished as euer the
eate a greene one it will stay a scouring Probagum En quo diseâ—â—dia Ciues Perduxit miseros Roagues Bay Cape Knaue Riuer of Rascals Saint Vincâ—â—ts Testigos Granados Current Margarita Sword-fish Cap. Leighs death Comana Seuen saile of Hollanders 23. March 1608. The Rose The Patience The Lilly Land-men sixtie They set saile the 23. of March They arriue at Alegranza Tenerise An excellent watering place The Riuer of Amazones Fresh water in the Sea 30. leagues from land Ioseph Acosta Hicron Gâ—raua Tarraconensis The eleuenth of May they made land in Guiana The Patience in danger of wrack Ilands called Carripapoory The Bay of Wiapoco Indian boats A village called Caripo A messenger sent to the Indians The Indians came aboard The chief men of the Nation of the Yaios couer their priuities The women generally goe all naked Their conference with the Indians Sir W. Raleighâ— acts in these parts See Hak. 〈◊〉 3. The Orenoqueponi rendred themselues subiects to Queen Elizabeth Cap. Keymis his voyage to Guiana Possession of the Countrie taken at Wiapoco by Captaine Lee to his Maiesties vse The Indians go to counsell Their answere * By Sir Walter Raleigh and Captaine Lee. The Indian Martyn goeth ashoare The English take land The English feasted by the Indians The gratefull offer of Martyn The English setled at Caripo in Wiapoco The strength of the place continuall raines The bounds and limits of Guiana Arrapoco a branch of Amazones Arrawary Maicary Anaky-v-ry chiefe of the Yaios Morooga Conâ—â—ini Cooshebery Leonard Rapago Lord of Coâ—shebery A Mountaine called Cowob Topases in Cooshebery The quality of the Prouince of Cooshebery Arracoory and Morrownia An exceeding high Hill called Callipuny Norrak Anaki-v-ry Riuers falling into the Sea betweene Amazones and Wiapoco Wianary a creek The Prouince of Wiapocoory â—rasana Aâ—riquona Câ—suriao Riuers faâ—â—ing into the Sea tâ— the North-west of Wiapoco Muccumbro an Iland Mattoory an Iland Arrawicary chiefe Captaine of the Caiane Foure or fiue men placed at Caiane The manner of their gouernment Murder and Adultery punished â—y death The Indianâ— by nature iealous ouer their wiues The Indians haue many wiues Diuers languages in Guiana The Charibes most ancient vpon the Sea coast The Indians make war for their women The Charibes warre vpon Leonard The vsual weapons of the Indians Leonard desireth aide of the English The manner of ordering then men in the warres The Charibes amazed at the sight of the English Leonard speaketh to the Charibes The Charibes agree to peace for feare of the English The season of the yeare in Guiana The Summer beginneth in August The winter beginneth in February Their account of times and numbers Religion They vse no sacrifice not religious worship to any thing The manner of their drinking feast at the death of their Captaines Their Peeaios or Priests haue conference with the diuel Their opinion of the dead At the death of a Cassique they kill an Indian to serue him in the other world The quality of the Land The prouisions for victuals The roote of Cassaui maketh their bread and drinke Maix or Guinea wheate Their diuers kinds of drinke An excellent drinke made of Cassaui Store of hony The soyle excellent for Vines Sundry kindes of Beasts in Guiana Swine which haue the Nauile in the back Great variety of Fowles Diuers kindeâ— of fish Oysters hang vpon trees A fish hauing foure eyes and the â—iâ—s and backe like a man The Sea cow like beefe Sundrie kinde a of fruits Pina Platana Potato Mâ—dler Plummes Nuts The varietie of commodities Sugar Canes Cotton wooll Naturall hemp or flaxe Diuers commodities for Dyers Annoto A gum which dyeth a yelloâ— in graine Sweet gums The vertues of Colliman or Carriman The Colliman helpeth the gowt Barratta a rare Ballamum A perfume like sweet Margerum Drugges and simples for physicke An apple which prouoketh sleepe to death A berry curing the bloudie fluxe A leafe curing the wounds of the poysoned arrowes A leafe curing the head-ache A wood that maketh fish drunke Tobacco 60000. worth of Tabacco in a yeere The comodities most esteemed by the Indians Leaden minds minde nothing but golden Mynes Disorders by mutiny Good to bee doing somewhat to preuent the deuil The high Countroy of Guiana aboundeth with images of Gold The Rocks of the purest white Sparre are Mynes of gold or siluer Many ouer-falâ— in Wiapoco People hauing great eares perhaps these eares are made large by art as diuers East Indians vse The proportion of their Idoll Possession taken for the King at Gomeribo The like possession taken at Arrawary Point Perilow A great argument of plentie in the Countrey A dangerous Boore at Carvipapoory Gomeribo deliuered to an Indian as the Kings tenant The only cause of losse by the voyage Cap. Michael Harecourt left Commander of the company Possession continued 3. yeeres Twentie men left with Captaine Harcourt at Wiapoco The Pinnasse receiued a leake at Caiane R. Meccooria R. Courwo Riuers to the West pf Courwo Ilands called Curowapory They proceed in discouery of Marrawini The Riuer full of ouerfals They went sixe daies iourney vp the Riuer Moyemon Trees which had the sense of feeling These grow both in the East Indies in Guinne See 10. Gomâ—â— 1. l. 9. Scaliger Exercit. 181. sect 28. Bartas Eden 1. day 2. weeke Viawia a Towne of 20. houses M. Vnton Fisher and two others left at Wiawia M. Fisher trauelled eleuen daies iourney vp the Riuer of Morra viz. 100. leagues The Prouince of Moreshegoro Indians with rough skinnes like Buffe Diuers mighty Nations of Indians far vp in Marrawini towards the high Land Riuers falling into Marrawini Twentie daies iourney from Taupuramune to the head of Marraw The Countrie aboue the head of Mar. is plaine and Champian ground The tenth of September they left Guiana They were in danger to bee cast away They finde 3. English ships at Punta de Galea Pitch gotten in the earth which melteth not with the Sunne They arriue at Port de Hispania Don Sanches de Mendosa commeth aboord their ship The Spaniards much molested by the Charibes They depart from Triaidadâ— They arriue at Meues An excellent hot Bath at Meues An extrâ—ame cough cured by the Bath A mans hand burned with Gunpowder and by the Bath cured in 24. houres Swellings in the legges cured in a day They depart from Meues They fell with Fayal They are driuen bya storme into Ireland The number of those that died A beast and a fish like Beefe A beast like Mutton * I found this fairely written amongst M. Hak. papers but know not who was the Author Long eares perhaps made by art with hanging weights thereon as is vsed in the East Indies Waters ouerflowing Great Bats Darke and dangerous passage Stones transparant See A. Kniuet Spaniards killed Spanish deuises of torruâ—es Sir Fr Drakes at Guatulco on the South Sea found a Negro in iron chains 20. yards long senced to be whipped till al his flesh was
PVRCHAS HIS PILGRIMES IN FIVE BOOKES The sixth Contayning English Voyages to the East West and South parts of America Many Sea and Land Fights Inuasions and Uictories against the Spaniards in those parts and the Spanish Ilands and Coast Townes on this side Plantations in Guiana and many strange aduentures of English-men amongst the Americans The seuenth Voyages to and about the Southerne America with many Marine Obseruations and Discourses of those Seas and Lands by English-men and others The eighth Voyages to and Land-Trauels in Florida Virgina and other parts of the Notherne AMERICA French Plantings Spanish Supplantings English-Virginian voyages and to the Ilands AZORES The ninth English Plantations Discoueries Acts and Occurrents in Virginia and Summer Ilands since the Yeere 1606. till 1624. The tenth English Discoueries and Plantations in New England New-found-land with the Patent and Voyuges to New Scotland Relations also of the Fleets set forth by Queene ELIZABETH against the Spaniards The Fourth Part. Unus Deus Una Veritas LONDON Printed by William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Rose 1625. TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD GEORGE Lord Archb. of Canterburie His Grace Primate of all ENGLAND and Metropolitan One of HIS MAIESTIES most HONORABLE PRIVIE COVNCELL His very good Lord. HAuing brought vnto your Grace the Sheafe of my first Fruits to bee waued before the Lord I am bold now also to offer not after 7. but aboue 77. weekes these waue loaues for my haruest that both may bee hallowed by the same Priestly hand in which respect your Graces Name which first honored my Pilgrimage hath the last place in these Pilgrime-Volumes that my All might be blessed by your gracious embracing the Alpha and Omega of my Dedications and might bee by your Fatherly benediction commended to vulgar vse The sutablenesse of the former worke to your Graces Place and recreations caused the former presumption but now the Author by frequent Dedications knowne and graciously acknowledged Yours how vnprofitable a seruant soeuer is guiltie not of single boldnesse beautifying the Frontispice with His Highnesse Name vnto your Graces entertainment especially in this time so many wayes Festiuâ—ll that your Graces Name and entertainment might so much more Entitle and Endeare the same to His Highnesse The authorising of Books in iustest order belongeth to your Grace as doth the Author also whose mistie conceits of ignorance or smokie vapours of ambition suffering the exhaling rayes of Princely heat and Highnesse hope in the Middle Region of your Gracious and vertuous moderation to be so mildly attempered that they shall neither fall short in vanishing dewes nor be reiected after a short blaze as falling Starres nor transcend into combustious Comets nor fall downe in furious Stormes but gently descend as fresh and fruitfull Showers on the thirstie Candid Readers Pardon farre-fetched similitudes to a Historie of farre-fetched rarities and the Elements of the world borrowed to patronise our world of literate Elements not being as the commendable labours of Others a Booke of Voyages and Trauels in the world but the World historised in a world of Voyages and Trauels Wherein our Ship hath beene longer in her Circum-Nauigation then any of the World-Compassers here related often in danger to be ouerset whiles the Authors impotent and impatient Genius filled all her sailes to the Top and Top-gallant beyond the proportion of her balast whereby some leakes of vnwitting errors happening in so new a course thorow so various Seas implore your Graces indulgence to the Ship and Pilot. Sir Francis Drake a Ministers sonne after a happy inuironing of the Globe feasted Queene Elisabeth aboord his Argo and then laid her vp at Deptford deuoting her Carkasse to Time Her or rather his exploits to Fame and Eternitie An English Minister beginneth and endeth his more then Circling Nauigation with the glorious Name of His Maiestie in poore but his best entertainment and returning thus manned and freighted humbly sueth to bee laid vp in the Liberties and Libraries of Saint Iames Yorke-house Westminster and Lambith Here also the Pilot further petitioneth that his Body being more leakie then his Ship your Grace to whom principally the promise was made will accept this Part of payment in satisfaction of the whole debt of his Europaean Peregrination and Christian Visitations But a long Epistle were injurie to your Graces more necèssarie imployments for the Church and State My selfe am the Epistle this Worke the Seale this Epistle but the Superscription these Pilgrimes all humble Sutors for your Gracious fauour to the worst of Your Graces SAMVEL PVRCHAS ENGLISH VOYAGES TO THE EAST WEST AND SOVTH PARTS OF AMERICA MANY SEA AND LAND FIGHTS INVASIONS AND VICTORIES AGAINST THE SPANIARDS IN those parts and the Spanish Ilands and coast Townes on this side plantations in GVIANA and many strange aduentures of Englishmen amongst the AMERICANS THE SIXTH BOOKE CHAP. 1. A briefe Relation of the seuerall Voyages vndertaken and performed by the Right Honorable GEORGE Earle of Cumberland in his owne person or at his owne charge and by his direction collected out of the Relations and Iournals of credible persons Actors therein THe first Voyage of this Right Honorable Earle was intended to the South Sea and begun from Grauesend Iune 26. 1585. with three Ships and a Pinnace the Red Dragon Admirall of 260. Tunnes with 130. men commanded by Captaine Robert Widrington the Barke Clifford Vice-admirall of 130. Tunnes with 70. men commanded by Captaine Christopher Lister he had beene taken prisoner in Barbarie at the battell of Alcassar in which King Sebastian was slaine the Roe Rere-admirall commanded by Captaine Hawes the Dorothee a small Pinnace of Sir Walter Raleighs This voyage being published at large in Master Hakluyts printed voyages I will here but briefly runne ouer Septemb. 7. they fell with the Coast of Barbarie haling in with the Road of Santa Cruce after that they anchored in Rio del Oro and searched vp the Riuer finding it fourteene or fifteene leagues vpward as broad as at the mouth some two leagues ouer The last of September they resolued for Sierra Leona from whence they departed the seuenth of Nouember The fourth of Ianuarie they fell with the American shoare in 30. degrees and 40. minutes South latitude the weather temperate Ian. 10. they tooke a little short of the Riuer of Plate a small Portugall ship and in her Abraham Cock of Leigh neere London married in that Country who was brought home by the Admirall They learned that in that Riuer were fiue Townes each of seuentie housholds or more Buenos Aeres fiftie leagues vp the Riuer the rest fortie or fiftie aboue each other Tuccaman the vppermost 230. leagues from the entrance In which was store of Corne Cattell Fruits but neither Siluer nor Gold In this Barke were fiue and fortie Negroes The next day they tooke another in which were fiue and thirtie Negro women foure
next day eight Englishmen prisoners stole from Tercera in a small Boate hauing no other yard for their maine saile then two Pipe staues These told his Lordship that the Carrackes were departed a weeke before which moued him to returne for Fyall with purpose to take that Towne He arriued September the tenth landing his men the Platforme shot at them in their march but they comming vp found it and the Towne ahandoned and tooke thereof possession This Towne containeth 500. housholds well and strongly built of Lime and Stone well stored with fresh water delicate Fruites and Grapes of diuers sorts He set a guard to preserue the Churches and Religious Houses and staid there foure dayes till the ransome was brought him which was 2000 Duckets most of Church Plate He shipped from the Platforme eight and fiftie Peeces of Iron Ordnance The Gouernour of Graciosa sent his Lordship sixtie Butts of Wine but excused his want of fresh water A Ship of Weymoâ—â—h came thither with a Spanish prize worth sixteene thousand pounds and brought newes of the West Indie Fleete shortly to come which after three or foure dayes playing to and fro in rough weather I let passe a Shippe of Saint Malo which he took laden with New-found-land Fish he espied going into the hauen at Angra in Tercera to the number of fifteene saile being too farre to Leeward to come neere them and they being strong and fortified with the Castle and Fort he was forced to giue ouer And although he leâ—t a Pinnace for aduice intending to waite for them at Sea yet she returned with newes that they had taken off their sailes and downe their topmasts with resolution of longer stay Wherefore he sailed to Saint Michaels and being there repelled from watering went to Saint Maries where they found two Brasil Ships laden with Sugar which the Ilanders fought to bring a ground but Captaine Lyster hastning the attempt in the face of the enemie and danger of continuall shoare-shot borded the vttermost cut asunder her Cables and Hawsers and towed her away whiles Captaine Dauies entred the other then a ground and abandoned and was forced to forsake her Two men were slaine and sixteene hurt But a greater losse followed whiles the Earle in person sought to get the other ship Captaine Lyster rashly disvaluing the enemies force the Barre also detayning them on ground in the midst of danger from the enemie to the losse and hurt of eightie men His Lordship receiued three shot vpon his Target and a fourth on the side not deepe his head also broken with stones that the bloud couered his face both it and his legs likewise burned with fire-balls The Meg being leakie was sent with the prize into England and his Lordship held his course for Spaine By the way he tooke a Portugal ship laden from Brasil and after that another which was one of the fifteene which had before entred Angra being a ship of 400. Tunnes laden from Mexico and Saint Iohn de Vlhua with seuen hundred hides sixe chists of Cochenele certaine chists of Sugar and some Siluer The Captaine was an Italian and had in her fiue and twentie thousand Duckets aduenture Thus full of ioy they resolued homewards but Sea-fortunes are variable hauing two inconstant Parents Aire and Water His Lordship sent Captaine Lyster in the Mexican prize for Portsmouth which at Helclâ—ffe in Cornwall was wracked the Captaine and all his companie drowned except fiue or sixe Scarsitie of drinke caused by contrarie windes caused his Lordship to seeke to recouer some part of Ireland for reliefe but wayting for entrance was put off againe their Beere and Water being all spent Three spoonfuls of vineger were allowed to each man at a meale with some small reliefe squeezed out of the lâ—es of their wine vessels which continued fourteene dayes without other supply then the drops of Haile and Raine carefully saued with Sheets and Napkins Some dranke vp the soyled running water at the Scupper-holes others saued by deuise the runnings downe the Masts and â—arred Ropes and many licked the moist Boards Railes and Masts with their tongues like Dogs Yet was that Raine so intermingled with the sprie of the foaming Seas in that extreme storme that it could not be healthfull yea some in their extremitie of thirst dranke themselues to death with their Cannes of salt-water in their hands Notwithstanding this extreme scarsitie his noble charitie caused equall distribution of the small store they had aswell to all his prisoners as to his owne people By this time the lamentable cryes of the sicke and hurt men for drinke was heard in euery corner of the ship for want whereof many perished ten or twelue euery night more then otherwise had miscarried in the whole Voyage The storme continuing added to their misery tearing the ship in such sort as his Lordships Cabbin the dining roome and halfe Decke became all one and he was forced to seeke a new lodging in the hold His minde was yet vndaunted and present his bodily presence and preuentions readie The last of Nouember hee spake with an English ship which promised him the next morning two or three tunnes of Wine but soone after vnfortunately came on ground The next day hee had some supply of Beere but not sufficient to enable him to vndertake for England Hee therefore the winde seruing put into Ventre Hauen in the Westermost part of Ireland where hauing well refreshed the twentieth of December he set sayle for England His Lordship in this Voyage tooke thirteene Prizes but that which was worth more then all the rest was lost yet the profit redoubled his aduentures At his arriuall in London hee met with the vnfortunate newes of the death of his eldest Sonne Francis Lord Clifford which died the twelfth of December 1589. yet was comforted with the birth of the Ladie Anne Clifford borne the last of Ianuary following his Daughter and by the death of Robert Lord Clifford who dyed the fourteenth of May 1591. his heire now the vertuous wife of the Right Honourable Richard Earle of Dorset THis Honourable Sparke was further kindled and enflamed by former disasters and obtayning of her Majestie a new ship called the Garland a ship of sixe hundred tunnes added the Samson Vice-admirall a ship of his Lordships of two hundred and sixtie tunnes the Golden Noble Reare-admirall and to them the Allagarta and a small Pinnasse called the Discouerie With these he set forth 1591. at his owne charge to the Coast of Spaine where hee tooke good purchase a ship laden at Saint Thomas with Sugars which he was forced to cast off by an irrecouerable leake another also which after long contrary winds in her course for England was driuen to put into a Spanish Harbour for want of victuals But in two other hee was more vnfortunate For Captayne Munson being sent to dispatch the goods and the Golden Noble to accompany them
the Forefight without entring any one man tooke opportunitie to free her selfe And now both ships companies beeing entred into the Fore-cheynes the Fore-castle was so high that without any resistance the getting vp bad â—â—â—ne difficult But heere was strong resistance some irrecouerably falling by the boâ—rd aâ—◠〈…〉 ssault continued an houre and an halfe so braue a bootie making the men fight like Dragons till the Fore-castle being gained the Portugals stowed themselues in holds The English now hunted after nothing but pillage and were readie to goe to the eares about it each man lighting a Candle the negligence of which fired a Cabbin in which were sixe hundred Cartrages of Powder The rumour hereof made them all readie to forsake the Carrike when Captayne Norton with some others with buckets of water aduentured the quenching of that fire Feare of leake by the fight and neernesse of the shoare were great parts of his care All these dangâ—rs freed contention about so rich a pillage was welnigh kindling in the Commanders beeing so diuersly commanded and employed but Sir Iohn Burroughes pretending the Queenes name Captayne Norton yeelded that hee should take care of the Carricke which he accordingly repayred lands about eight hundred Negros on Coruo detaynes the ordinary Saylers commits the Gentlemen to a ship of the Eaâ—le of Cumberlands to goe whether they would who escaped not a second rifling by other Englishmen of warre which tooke from them thus negligently dismissed nine hundred Diamonds besides other odde ends The Earle of Cumberland had notice by a Pinnasse sent from Captayne Norton twentie dayes before the Carricke came into England and had Commission from the Queene for her safe harbouring Hardly she escaped the Rockes of Silly the Tigre also participating in that danger and came to Dartmouth being so huge and vnweldie a ship as shee was neuer remooued out of that Harbour but there laid vp her bones His Lordships share would haue amounted according to his employment of ships and men to two or three Millions but because his Commission large enough otherwise had not prouided for the case of his returne and substituting another in his place some adjudged it to depend on the Queenes mercie and bountie Neyther yet by reason of some mens imbezelling had her Majestie the account of the fifth part of her value and the Earle was faine to accept of sixe and thirtie thousand pounds for him and his as out of gift THe next yeere 1593. his Lorship procured two ships Royall the Golden Lion Admirall commanded by himselfe the Bonaduenture Vice-admirall and therewith employed the Backe Chaldon the Pilgrime the Anthonie and the Disconerie which three last when hee came to the Coast of Spaine hee sent for the West Indies Hee tooke from the protection of fourteene great Hulkes two French ships of Saint Malowes which then held for the league and vâ—â—re therefore reputed in state of Spaniards of great value one of which he carried with him and sent the other into England The Spaniards hauing intelligence set forth an Armada against him which waited for him at the Ilands and the Earle hearing of their beeing at Flores and within fiue leagues of them lighted on a ship which they had sent to descry which before shee could recouer her fleet he tooke He learning by these that the Spanish fleet trebled the force of his hauing kept company with them one day quitted them and kept tenne or twelue leagues distant from them three weekes In which space he fell sicke beyond hope of life without returne or refreshing from the shoare Captayne Monson with much hazard procured him some refreshing from Coruo and leauing the rest of the ships which tooke one Prize after hee returned for England this proouing the most gainfull Voyage which he made before or after THe Anthonie of one hundred and twentie tunnes commanded by Captayne Iames Langton Pilot Antonio Martino a Spaniard which had long liued in those Indies and wel acquainted with those Ports the Pilgrime of one hundred tunnes commanded by Captayne Francis Slingsbie Diego Petrus a Spanish Pilot and the Discouerie these three after fare well solemnely taken and giuen by shot on all hands shaped their Course for the Antillas and fell with the Iland of Saint Lucia there and at Matinnio refreshing themselues three dayes they concluded to attempt the taking of the Rancherias which are the Pearle-fishings of Margarita contayning sixe or seuen seuerall small Villages which for that purpose they inhabit but not aboue one of them at once when their fishing failes there remouing to another and so by course hauing emptie houses standing alway readie for that purpose The Pearles for more safetie are monethly carried to the Towne of Margarita three leagues from the waters side They kept out of sight all day for feare of discouerie and at night landed and visited two emptie Rancherias but taking a Spaniard which then came thither in a Boate with two Indians they made him their guide to the inhabited Rancheria fiue leagues off commanding the Boates to row along the shoare and not to double the point till euening The two Captaynes with eight and twentie men marched by land in the heat which with want of water much annoyed them They came thither in the beginning of the night and agreed to assault the place in three places at once notwithstanding their small numbers lest they should gather head any where The Spaniards at first thought it had beene some false alarme of the Gouernour and bid away with this iesting but finding it earnest hastily fled to the woods Thus did they take the Towne with some two thousand pounds value in Pearle besides what other pillage the Souldiers gate Their weapons they brake for feare of pursuite In the morning they went aboord the fishing Boats and tooke their Oysters gotten the night before and gate aboord their ships much in suspense for them not knowing of this sudden enterprize the fifth day after they had gone from them The shippes now comming before the Towne demanded ransome for their houses and Canoas to redeeme which from destruction they gaue two thousand Duckets in Pearle But Caruels of aduice hauing euery-where giuen intelligence of them at Cumana they found them on their guard and returned not without losse Thence they coasted Terra F 〈…〉 ma till they came to the Ilands of Aruba and Corresao where they landed and refreshed themselues Thence to Rio de Hache which they thought to haue taken but found the enemy ready for them with other intelligence that they had carried their goods into the Mountaynes They therefore set saile for Hispaniola came to Cape Tuberone and thence to the Bay of Saint Nicholas and thence to Fort Plat and others on the North side thence to Mona and so Sauona where they watered againe in this manner The Iland is low destitute of any Spring and to the Sea a small
a Captayne also and with a ship of one hundred and fortie tunnes and seuentie men came to the said Sound of Dariene Anno 1575. and had conference with those Negroes But hearing that the Mules were now conducted with Souldiers hee resolued on a new Enterprize which neuer any had attempted and landed in that place where Captayne Drake had had conference with the Negros and hauing brought his ship aground and couered her with boughes and hid his Ordnance in the ground he tooke two small Peeces of Ordnance and Calieuers with store of victuals and went twelue leagues with sixe Negros into the mayne Land to a Riuer which runneth into the South Sea There he cut wood and made a Pinnasse fortie fiue foot by the keele and therewith went into the South Sea to the Iland of Pearles fiue and twentie leagues distant from Panama to watch for shippes comming from Peru thither he tooke a Barke with 60000. Pezos of Gold comming from Quito and staying sixe dayes longer tooke another which came from Lima with 100000. Pezos of Siluer in barres and delaying somewhat long sent away his Prizes and went with his Pinnasse vp the Riuer This delay gaue opportunitie of intelligence and Iohn de Ortega was sent to pursue him at a partition of the Riuer into three when he was taking vp the greatest feathers of Hennes which the English had plucked diuerted him vp the lesser streame whereby hee lighted on the treasure first Oxenham beeing gone to get Negros to helpe him carrie his treasure his owne men quarrelling for larger pay Some of the English were taken which bewrayed the ship and the rest were betrayed by the Negros whiles they were making Canoas for the North Sea there to take some Barke They confessed that they had no license from the Queene and were all executed but two Boyes Thus perished Oxenham a man if his Case had beene iust worthy of lasting memory for an attempt so difficult Quem sinon tenuit magnis tamen exâ—idit ausis The King of Spaine sent Souldiers to take those fugitiue Negros which had assisted the English and two Gallies to guard the Coast. This and Captayne Barkers frustrated attempts giue greater lustre to Drakes glory Andrew Barker of Bristoll much wronged by the Inquisition Anno 1576. sought to right himselfe in those parts and came with two ships to Nombre de Dios and the Riuer of Chagre eighteene leagues distant to the North-west landed ten men to seeke intelligence of Negros which they could not find and most of the men also died of the Calentura Betwixt that and Veragua he tooke a Prize and another in the Gulfe of Honduras Mutuall quarrels betwixt Coxe and the Captayne betrayed them to the Spaniards which assayling them slue the Captayne and eight men at the I le Francisco After this Coxe went with his Pinnasse and tooke the Towne of Truxillo but eight men were by reason of men of warre chasing the ship thus forced to shift for themselues left there to their fortunes Fourteene others and the Frigat with the treasure were cast away Diuers of the rest after their returne were long imprisoned These indeed are pettie things to Captayne Drakes expedition in December 1577. wherein he encompassed first of any Generall and except Candish more fortunately then all of them together this whole Terrestriall Globe He set forth with fiue ships and one hundred sixtie three Mariners The whole Voyage you haue before at large The Carkasse of the shippe or some bones at least of that glorious Carkasse yet remayne at Deptford consecrated to Fame and Posteritie in which Queene Elizabeth being feasted Knighted this noble Mariner at which time a bridge of boords made for her Maiestie to passe fell with one hundred men thereon of which none were hurt as if Good Fortune had both sayled abroad and feasted at home in that ship The goods taken were sequestred by her Maiestie for answere to the Spaniard if need should bee Some principall Courtiers are said to haue refused the offer of some of this as Piratically gotten Bernardine Mendoza made demand for the King of Spaine whose Embassadour hee was and receiued answere from the Queene that the Spaniards had vniustly prohibited commerce to the English that Drake should legally answere if any thing were prooued against him the goods being to that purpose sequestred howsoeuer the Spaniard had put her Maiestie to greater charges against the Rebels which the Spaniard had raised in England and Ireland Neither did she know why her subiects and others were prohibited the Indies which she knew no reason to thinke proper to the Spaniards by vertue of the Popes Bull which could nothing oblige Princes which owed him no obedience nor by reason that the Spaniards had arriued here and there had directed Cottages and giuen names to Capes and Riuers Neither might these things hinder other Princes from commerce or to transport Colonies to places not inhabited by the Spaniards the Law of Nations not infringed hereby seeing prescription without possession is nothing worth the vse of the Sea and Aire being exposed to all Nor might any people or person challenge right ouer the Ocean whereof neither nature nor course of publike vse permitted possession Yet a great part of the money was repaied after to Peter Sebura the Spanish Agent which he repaid not to the owners but made vse thereof against the Queene in the affaires of the Spanish Netherlands as was afterwards found Thus farre briefly collected out of Master Camden and Lopez Vaz a Portugall Men noated to haue compassâ—d the world with Drake which haue come to my hands are Thomas Drake brother to Sir Francis Thomas Hood Thomas Biaccoler Iohn Gripe George a Musician Crane Fletcher Cary T. Moone Iohn Drake Iohn Thomas Robert Winterly Oliuer the Gunner c. A little before this the Prince of Orange had beene murdered and Parry had vndertaken the same on her Maiestie hauing the Cardinall Comensis instigation and the Popes absolution to that purpose The Spaniards had giuen great distaste in English and Irish rebellions and had lately arrested the English Ships and goods in Spaine with other vnkindenesses in Belgian businesses The Belgians had offered the confederate Prouinces to her Maiesties Protection and dominion This she refused but their Protection she accepted hauing discouered the Spaniards hatred to her Religion and Nation which how easie were it to put in extreamest execution if the Low-Countries were subdued to his full power their ancient priuiledges being all swallowed vp and so England should be exposed to Spanish machinations with such opportunities of neighbouring Forts Forces Harbours and Shippings She therefore to remoue present warre and future perils from her owne Countrie with masculine magnanimitie aduentured not for vainglory but necessitie to vndertake a businesse which made the world to wonder being little lesse then denouncing warre to so mighty a Monarke She agreed with the States to minister to their
aide 5000. foote and 1000. horse at her owne charge to be by them after repayed the first yeares charges in the first yeare of peace the rest in the foure following Flushing and the Ramekins and Brill to remaine â—ers in caution c. Her Maiestie set forth a Booke also for her iustification by the ancient leagues with the Belgian Prouinces for mutuall defence the Spanish crueltie on the poore Belgians and their nefarious deuises against her neither had she any intent in administring these aides but that the Low-Countries might enioy their ancient liberty she and her subiects their securitie and both Nations peaceable commerce And to the end that warre might not first be brought home to her owne doores she set forth a Fleete to finde the Spaniard worke abroad Hereupon Anâ—o 1585. Sir Francis Drake with a Fleete of fiue and twenty saile and 2300. Souldiers and Sailers was set forth from Plimmouth Sep. 12. Christopher Carlile his Lieutenent Generall Anthonie Powell Sergeant Maior Captaine Matthew Morgan and Iohn Samson Corporall of the field Land Captaines Anthonie Plat Edward Winter Iohn Goring Robert Pen George Barton Iohn Merchant William Ceuill Walter Bigs Iohn Haman Richard Stanton Captaine Martin Frobisher Viceadmirall in the Primrose Captaine Francis Knolles Rereadmirall in the Gallion Leicester Captaine Thomas Vennâ—r in the Eliz. Bonaduenture vnder the Generall Captaine Edward Winter in the Aide Christopher Carlile in the Tigre Henry White Captain of the Sea Dragon Thomas Drake Captaine of the Thomas Thomas Seely Captaine of the Minion Captaine Bayly of the Barke Talbot Robert Crosse of the Barke Bond George Fortescue of the Barke Boner Edward Carelesse of the Hope Iames Erizo of the White Lyon Thomas Moone of the Fancis Iohn Riuers of the Vantage Iohn Vaughan of the Drake Iohn Varney of the George Iohn Martin of the Beniamin Richard Gilman of the Scout Richard Hawkins of the Ducke Captaine Bitfield of the Swallow They tooke a Shippe of Saint Sebastians laden with fish entred the Iles of Bayon and sent to the Citie to know whether there were warres betwixt England and Spaine and why the English Merchants and their goods in Spaine were embarged or arrested The Gouernour professed his ignorance in both and that this later was the Kings pleasure After some spoiles done about Vigo they fell with Hierro but the Iland being poore departed without harme Thence they went to the Iles of Cape Verde and at Saint Iago entred betwixt the Towne called Playa or Praya and Saint Iago landed 1000. men and the men being fled entred the Towne and shot off all their Ordnance being 50. peeces answered from the Ships to honour the Queenes day the 17. of Nouember No Treasure was found but Wine Oyle Meale c. They possessed it foureteene dayes Nouember the foure and twentieth they marched to Saint Domingo twelue miles within land and found the people fled After foureteene dayes they departed hauing burned the Towne of Playa none of the inhabitants hauing offered to intercede which seemed to happen from their guiltinesse towards old Master William Hawkins whose men perfidiously they had murthered foure or fiue yeares before against their promise putting off to the West Indies they could not put off the effects of the aire of that Iland which by a Calentura killed two or three hundred of their men The first Iland which they fell with was Dominica the next Saint Christophers and hauing there spent their Christmas they resolued for Hispaniola and hauing receiued intelligence by a Frigot which they tooke in the way they landed nine or ten miles to the Westward of Saint Domingo on New yeares day About noone they approached the Towne vnder the conduct of Master Carlile and 150. horsemen presenting themselues from the Citie being retired they diuided their forces to assault both the Westerne gates at once The Ordnance being discharged on them they ran in to preuent a second charge and entred with them pell mell into the Gates the enemy altering their fight into flight which they made by the North gate Both troopes met in the Market-place and there barricadoed themselues The Castle was abandoned the next night They held the Towne a whole moneth They burned many houses before they could bring the Spaniards to a price for the ransome of the rest for which at last they paid after much spoile 25000. Duckets The pray was not much In the Towne-house were the Kings armes and in the lower part of the scutchion was painted a globe of the Sea and Land a horse standing thereon with his hinder legges the forepart without the globe with this motto ascribed to his mouth Non sufficit Orbis From Saint Domingo they set saile for Carthagena on the Continent landing some Companies with Captaine Carlile fiue miles of which were led on by night the Generall with this Fleete presenting themselues before the chained Port and hauing gotten the Citie held the same six weekes They tooke Alonso Brauo the Gouernour After many houses burned 11000. Duckets were paid for ransome of the rest from burning The Calentura continued killing some being a pestilent spotted Feuer and spoyling others of their strength and memory for a long time The Serena or Euening ayre is said to cause it to them which are then abroad if not of that Countrey so that by holding their watch the English were thus infected This forced them to giue ouer their intended voyage to Nombre de Dios and Panama sailing therefore alongst the coast of Florida they tooke and fired two garrison Townes of the Spaniards Saint Anthonie and Saint Helena and the Fort of Saint Iohn Then passing alongst the Virginian shore they tooke home the English Colonie there remaining with Master Lane their Gouernour sent by Sir Walter Raleigh These are said by Master Camden to haue beene the first bringers in of the vse of Tobacco since so frequently abused by our Nation They arriued at Portsmouth the 28. of Iuly 1586. They got Ordnance of Brasse aboue 200. peeces and about 40. of Iron They prey was valued at 60000. li. English There dyed most of the Calentura 700. persons The industry of the Generall in all places is remakeable whose vigilance and bodily presence and labour in all businesse was much that had he beene in the meanest he had merited the highest place To this is fittest in next place to adde his Cadiz exploit Anno 1587. and the taking of the rich Caracke called Saint Philip. HEr Maiestie being informed of that inuincible Armadas preparing in Spaine which did come and was ouercome the yeare after sent a fleete of 30. saile vnder the command of Sir Francis Drake the Bonaduenture the Lyon the Dread-naught and the Rainbow were out of her Nauy Royall chosen to this seruice The 16. of Aprill two Shippes of Midleborough which came from Cadiz with whom we met in 40. degrees gaue him to vnderstand that there was great
prouision in Cadiz and thereabout prouided to come to Lisbone whereupon the Generall with all possible speede bending himselfe thither to cut of the forces and prouisions the 19. of Aprill one houre before the Sunne setting entred the harbour of Callz and the Spanish Fleete there checked vs at the entring thereat with the Towne Galleyes but in short time retired vnder the Fortresse There were in the Roades 60. Ships and diuers other small shipping vnder the fortresse There fled 20. French Shippes to port Riall and some Spaniards which could not be hindred of the Fleete by reason of the sholdnesse There were sunke by vs at our comming in with shot one Orgasey of 1000. tun furnished with thirty peeces of Brasse and richly laden There were two Gallies more came presently from port Riall and two other from Saint Mary port but all in vaine the expenses of powder and shot the greatest gaine to themselues There were to the number of 38. Shippes taken before night and the English victours of the Roade the Galleyes retyring vnder the Fortresses Twenty Hulcks Hollanders confiscated to the King and their goods sold to the Kings vse foureteene of them were fired the other six were at port Riall laden with Wines and Bread and to be presently full laden for Lishburne one Carricke of foureteene hundreth tun appertaining to the Marquesse of Saint Cruce fiue great Biskainers fired foure of them lading and taking in of victuals for the Kings prouision for Lishburne the Saint was a Ship of 1000. tuns bound for Lishburne hauing in her great store of Pikes much Iron Nailes Spikes Iron hoopes and such like fired One Shataya laden with Wines of 250. tuns for the Kings prouision which we brought to Sea with vs and discharged at Sea a part of their Wines for the prouision of the Fleete and there fired her Three Flye-boates of foure hundreth tunnes laden with Bisket whereof the one being of two hundred tuns and vpwards we halfe vnladed and then fired her the other two are yet with vs in company Some tenne Barkes more laden with Wines Raisons Figges Oyle Wheate with such like fired By supposition the eight and thirtie Shippes and Barkes fired sunke and brought away with vs amounted in iudgement to thirteene thousand tuns of shipping There rid in sight of vs at port Riall by estimation aboue fortie saile besides those that fled from Callz roade They gaue vs little ease during our aboade there which they shot from the Galleyes as also from the Fortresses and from the shore where continually they planted new Ordnance at places conuenient to offend notwithstanding their Ships we continually fired as the floud came thereby to bee cleared of them which terrible fire was pleasant vnto vs to behold and mittigated the continuall burthen of trauaile which lay vpon vs day and night in discharging firing and vnlading such prouisions with obseruations for good and gardable defence of the enemie It pleased the Generall after his great care and paines day and night to finish this happy Action in her Maiesties seruice in one day and two nights and hee came forth againe the Friday in the morning with very little losse thankes be to God Of twelue Galleyes and those that came from port Riall and Saint Mary port tenne of them came forth after vs as it were to make some pastime with their great Ordnance At length the winde standing wee cast about againe and strooke in for the shoare and came to an anker within a league of Cales where their Galleyes suffered vs to ride quietly There were also three Flye Boates more at Mallegai laden with Byâ—ket bound for Calez and so for Lishborne We vnderstood of their great prouisions and forces prouided within the straights We doubt not but as God hath begunne this worke in great happinesse to the daunting of the enemie so God will blesse this Armie in cutting daily their forces shorter to the great annoyance of the enemy and to the honour of our Prince and Countrie Wee haue had the experience of Galley fights wherein I can assure you that these onely foure of her Maiesties Ships wil make none accompt of twenty Galleyes so as they were alone and not driuen to guard others There were Galleyes had place fitter for their aduantage in fight vpon shot they receiued they had present succour to ground vnder the towne which they sundry times did waye riding in a narrow gutter the place yeelding no better in that wee were driuen to maintaine the same vntill wee had discharged and fired the Shippes which could not conueniently be done but vpon the floud that thereby they may driue cleare of vs. We rest now victualed with Bread and Drinke for six moneths in our Ships and Bread besides in two flye Boates to maintaine a good Armie three moneths We rest all in good loue with our Generall and vnitie in all the whole Fleete After this they came before the hauen of Lysbon where the Marquesse of Sancta Cruz was with his Gallies whom the Generall inuited to some exchange of Bullets but he refused Thence they sailed to the Azores and met with a Portugall Carracke called Saint Philip which had in her voyage outward carried the three Iaponian Princes into the Indies This Carracke he tooke the first of that kinde taken by the English ominous in the name and so it proued not onely by the losse of so great wealth to King Philip both in leading the daunce to others after taken and in opening the eyes of the English to visite the Indian fountaines whence such wealth issued wherein also the Hollanders quickly imitated them To omit other braue exploits neerer home as that most glorious of 88. and the rest our purpose is to giue you the remote Voyages of this worthy Sea-man and now lastly that last and fatall expedition Anno 1595. with sixe of the Queenes Ships and one and twenty other Ships and Barkes containing 2500. men and boyes intended for some speciall seruice in the West Indies Sir Francis Drake and Sir Iohn Hawkins were ioyned in Commission They set saile from Plimmouth the eight and twentieth of August Nouember the twelfth neere the Eastermost end of Saint Iuan de Puerto Rico Sir Iohn Hawkins died The hauen of Saint Iohn they found strongly fortified against them but yet they fired their fiue Shippes each of 200. tunnes hauing in euery of them twenty Peeces of Brasse and richly laden Much harme was done on both sides The fiue and twentieth they passed by Mona In the beginning of December they tooke Rio de la Hacha They tooke also the Rancheria or fisher towne for Pearles The Spaniards offered to ransome their Towne at 24000. Ducates which they brought in Pearle so dearely rated that the General sent them backe and both were burnt The seuenteenth they tooke Tapia and after that Saint Martha and the Spanish Lieutenant Generall The seuen and twentieth Nombre de Dios was taken a Towne
same all in Pearle and the fourteenth day came in their Lientenant for the deliuery But in the valuing their quantity and quality would not be taken wherefore departed they with foure houres respite for further answere from their Gouernour Don Francisco Manso his answere was himselfe would come to conference which hee did the sixteenth day After dinner our Generall and Colonell Generall with the Spaniards had secret conference about this Ransoms whereupon concluding they absolutely broke of and therefore in all haste was fire put 〈◊〉 some of the houses and the Gouernour had two houres time to cleere him of our Army Thus hauing burnt Rio dela Hatcha Rancharia and Tapia The eighteenth day wee weighed and stood alongst for Sancta Marta to which we came thetwentieth day here we onely tooke some fiue Prisoners whereof one was the Lieutenant there The one and twentieth it was put to fire and we set sayle for Nombre de Dios to which we came the seuen and twentieth day where in like manner the people had acquited the Towne yet here was found by intelligence of some Negros as I heard two and twentie Sowes of Siluer Gold in Bullion some Iewels great store of Plate and Riall of Plate with much other luggage The nine and twentieth day Sir Thomas Baskeruile Colonell Generall with all his ablest Captaines and Souldiers tooke their iourney for Panama now the marke of our Voyage who neere the mid-way being empeaâ—hed by some Spaniards and Negros made their retreite to the Ships at Nombre de Dios at this encounter were few of our men slaine some hurt some of the which there left to the mercie of the Spaniards The fifth day of Ianuary all our men being shipped the towne and Galliots put to fire we set sayle then by the aduice of a Spaniard for the Riuer Nicorago in which way we fell with one Iland called Escudo a place which affordeth nothing good yet here wee stayed from the tenth day vntill the three and twentieth when we set sayle and plied to the Eastward which by Gods speciall fauour the eight and twentieth day we came in with Porta laâ—bella This morning died our Generall Sir Francis Drake This is the place where the people of Nombre de Dios meaneth to dwell at Here found we a beginning of a strong platforme with three Brasse Peeces vnmounted In my opinion this was our best remoue for if God had not preuented our Generals purpose for the Riuer Nicorago it would haue hazarded all her Maiesties Ships farre with the rest Here tooke we in ballast water mended our sayles and calked our ships such as had need The eight of February Sir Thomas Baskeruile taking vpon him Generall we all set saile for Santa Marca homewards but not able to recouer higher then Carthagena as wee ghesse in the Bonauenture with the splittng of all our sayles put ouer for Iamaica In this course lost we the Fore-sight the Susan Parnell the Helpe and the Gregory The fiue and twentieth day came we faire by Canaria granda which bore ouer vs in the morning East North-east and this day was all our flesh and fish spent The second of March making this our miserie like to be known to Sir Thomas Baskeruile who hath giuen mee his promise to relieue mee at my need his answere was carelesly for vs and with all said hee would goe in with the Iland Pinos to water which I vtterly misliked the winde then being good to stand alongst very ill to lose and more for that no Englishman in our fleete either knew or euer heard of any watering or other good there In this reasoning betwixt vs we descried twentie sayle of ships a head vs who were the Kings men of Warre wayting our home comming it was my fortune in the Bonauenture to take to taske the Vice-admirall one of the twelue Apostles of the Kings for so I thought by a great golden Saint which manned her Poope The manner of our fight and my deseruing I leaue euen to the report of mine enemies yet thus much vnderstand their Admirall with the rest all the next day being in the winde was content we should passe in peace Thus being quietly and we all disimbogued some two hundred leagues I made a second demand of Sir Thomas his promise for victuals which he vtterly refused wherefore aswell in regard of our Generals lacke as mine owne danger with a shot in our fight wherein it was indifferent with mee to liue or die I told him I must make more haste home then I presumed hee would yet wee stayed with him two dayes longer when in a storme I left him and this was the fourteenth day of March. Now for these two English Sea-worthies as wee haue begunne their American Aduentures and ended them together so I haue thought good to insert this following censure of a Gentleman in a Letter of his touching them both as an Epitaph dedicated to their memory SIr I haue according to your request and my owne plainnesse sent you here the comparison betweene those two Commanders Sir Francis Drake and Sir Iohn Hawkins They were both much giuen to trauell in their youth and age attempting many honourable Voyages alike as that of Sir Iohn Hawkins to Guiny to the Iles of America to Saint Iohn de Vlua So likewise Sir Francis Drake after many Discoueries of the West Indies and other parts was the first Englishman that did euer compasse the World wherein as also in his deepe iudgement in Sea causes he did farre exceed not Sir Iohn Hawkins alone but all others whomsoeuer In their owne natures and disposition they did as much differ as in the managing matters of the Warres Sir Francis beeing of a liuely spirit resolute quicke and sufficiently valiant The other slow iealous and hardly brought to resolution In Councell Sir Iohn Hawkins did often differ from the iudgement of others seeming thereby to know more in doubtfull things then he would vtter Sir Francis was a willing hearer of euery mans opinion but commonly a follower of his owne he neuer attempted any action wherein he was an absolute Commander but hee performed the same with great reputation and did easily dispatch great matters Contrariwise Sir Iohn Hawkins did only giue the bare attempt of things for the most part without any Fortune or good successe therein Sir Iohn Hawkins did naturally hate the Land-souldier and though hee were very popular yet he affected more the common sort then his equals Sir Francis contrarily did much loue the Land-souldier and greatly aduanced good parts wheresoeuer he found them Hee was also affable to all men and of easie accesse They were both of many vertues and agreeing in some As patience in enduring labours and hardnesse Obseruation and Memory of things past and great discretion in sudden dangers in which neither of them was much distempered and in some other vertues they differed Sir Iohn Hawkins had in him mercie and aptnesse
plunges by reason of a high going Sea which breaketh vpon the flats and shoalds especially at the next great Cape to the North of Arraway which in respect of the danger they passed there they named Point Perillous Then their Discouery vp the Riuer was fiftie leagues more where they found a Nation of Indians which neuer had seene white men or Christians before and could not be drawne to any familiar commerce or conuersation no not so much as with our Indians because they were strangers to them and of another Nation The Discouery of this Riuer is of great importance and speciall note affoording an entrance more behouefull for the searching and Discouery of the Inland parts of Guiana then any other Riuer yet knowne vpon the Coast for trending Westward vp into the Land it discouereth all the Countreyes and Nations to the Southward of Arricary Cooshebery Morrownia and Norrack which I haue mentioned before Many weekes they spent in this Aduenture still taking vp their Lodgings in the Woods at night Prouision of meate they wanted not for fish were euer plenty and at hand and the Woods yeelded either Deere Tigres or Fowle their greatest want was of bread and drinke which onely defect did hinder at that time the accomplishment of that Discouery For when the Indians perceiued their bread to be neere spent and their drinke to be corrupted they could not be perswaded to proceed hauing no meanes to supply their wants amongst the Arrawaries the Indians of that Riuer who would not freely trade with them vpon this first acquaintance but alwayes stood vpon their guard on the other side of the Riuer where they inhabited yet desiring to obtaine some of our English commodities and make triall of our Indians friendship affoorded some small Trade for their present reliefe during their abode in that Riuer So that of force they were constrained to breake off their Discouerie and hasten homeward But here their dangers ended not for as they returned arriuing at certaine Ilands called Carripoory and passing betweene them and the mayne Land much against the wils of all the Indians who knowing the danger of the place and more respecting their safetie then their owne being themselues all expert Swimmers would haue disswaded them from that hazard but they being ignorant of the perill would needs passe on and at the last met with such a Boore as the Seamen terme it and violent encounter of two tydes comming in which like two furious inraged Rammes or Bulles rushed together and oft retired backe to returne againe with greater violence vntill the one by force had ouer-borne the other that if next vnder God the diligent care and paines of the Indians had not preserued them they had been there destroyed and swallowed vp by that mercilesse Boore or breach of waters which God be thanked they escaped and returned home in safetie When I had as before taken possession at Gomeribo in presence of the said parties I deliuered the possession of that Mountaine to my Indian Anthony Canabre To haue hold possesse and enioy the same to him and to his Heires for euer of our Souereigne Lord King Iames his Heires and Successors as his subiect Yeelding and paying yeerely the tenth part of all Tabacco Cotton-wooll Annoto and other commodities whatsoeuer which should hereafter be either planted or growing within the said Mountaine if it were demanded The Indian most gladly receiued the possession vpon these conditions and for himselfe and his posteritie did promise to bee true Subiects vnto the Kings Maiestie his Heires and Successours And to pay the duties imposed vpon them and so that businesse being finished I returned againe to Wiapoco Now most worthy Prince there came vnto my knowledge an inconuenience happened by the carelesse negligence of the Master of my ship who had the charge of prouiding and laying in the prouisions and victuals for the Voyage which was the cause that I gained no present profit by it but left off all my Discoueries in the first beginning I had a purpose at that time to performe a businesse which might haue proued profitable and honourable vnto vs if I had beene able to haue stayed the time but it was not my chance to bee so fortunate for the Master his Mates and the Steward of my Ship came vnto me and told mee plainly that if I made any longer abode in that Countrey I would neuer in those ships returne into England or if I did aduenture it my selfe and all my Company would starue at Sea for want of Beere Syder and Water for all my Caske was spoyled because it was not Iron-bound the woodden hoopes flew off by reason of the heate of the Climate and our Beere and Syder whereof wee had good store did leake about the ship that we could hardly saue sufficient to releeue vs if wee made a longer stay vpon the Coast which was the Masters fault hauing had a speciall charge to be carefull of that onely point By this default I was constrained to make a vertue of necessitie and prepare my selfe for England and leaue my former purposes to be accomplished hereafter which shall be done God aiding me in time conuenient Then disposing of my company I appointed my Brother Captaine Michael Harecourt to remayne in the Countrey as chiefe Commander in my absence and to continue the possession on the Kings behalfe I gaue him directions to trauell abroad as occasion serued to discouer the Countrey to spend sometime at Cooshebery and sometime also in other places but to make his chiefest residence at Wiapoco the onely Rendeuouz for shippes that trade vpon that Coast and there to plant good store of Maix for our releife of bread and drinke which is the chiefest thing to be respected in those parts for other victuals wee need not take much care being alwayes easily prouided He performed his charge with great reputation discouered many goodly Prouinces and spacious Countreyes and worthily continued the possession full three yeeres compleate I left with him for his assistance Captaine Haruey who hath nobly vowed his time and fortune to be employed in the prosecution of this honourable action For his Lieutenant I appointed Master Edward Gifford a valiant and worthy Gentleman and I left also with him of Gentlemen and others about twentie more with all such necessaries as I could spare and thought conuenient for them and so commending them to God the eighteenth day of August I departed from Wiapoco and the day following arriued at Caiane At my comming to Caiane my Pinnasse receiued a leake which would haue proued dangerous if we had beene farre at Sea whereby enforced to attend the stopping thereof and new trimming of the Pinnasse and vnwilling to be idle in the meane space doing nothing I left my ships there to repaire theire defects and in my ship-boate departed thence the twentie three of August taking with me Captaine Fisher who hath euer beene since
Nations of Indians These liue on the Sea Coast and in a great part of the Land all of one Speech though they differ in some words This is that which the Portugals doe vnderstand it is easie eloquent pleasant and copious the difficultie of it is in hauing many comparisons but of the Portugals almost all those that came from the Kingdome and are seated here and doe communicate with the Indians do know it in a short time and the children of the Portugals borne here doe speake it better then the Portugall as well men as women chiefly in the Captainship of Saint Vincent and with these ten Nations of Indians haue the Fathers communication because they know their Language and they more tame and well inclined These were and are the ancient friends of the Portugals with whose helpe and armes they conquered this Countrie fighting against their owne kindred and diuers other Nations very barbarous and those of this generation were so many that it seemed an impossible thing to extinguish them but the Portugals haue made such haste that they are almost dead and they vse such meanes that they disinhabit the Coast and flie the Land inward some three hundred some foure hundred The first of this Language are called Pitiguaras Lords of Parayba thirtie leagues from Pernambuco and haue the best Brasill woode and are great friends to the Frenchmen and did contract with them vntill now marrying their Daughters with them but now in the yeere 1584. Parayba was taken by Iames Flares his Maiesties Generall driuing out the Frenchmen and he left a Fortresse with 100. Souldiers besides the Portugals which also haue their Captaine and Gouernour one Fructuoso Barbosa that with the principall men of Pernambuco carried an Armie by Land wherewith he ouercame the enemies for from the Sea those of the Armada fought not Neere vnto these liued a great multitude of people which they call Viatan of these there are are none alreadie for they being friends with the Pitaguaras and Kindred the Portugals made them enemies among themselues giuing them to be eaten that by this meanes they might warre against them and hold them for slaues and finally hauing a great dearth the Portugals in stead of releeuing them tooke them Captiues and did send ship-loades to bee sold in other places There was ioyned with this a Magician Portugall Priest that with his deceits conueighed them all to Pernambucò and so ended this Nation The Portugals remained without Neighbours to defend them from the Pitiguaras which vntill now that they were ouercome persecuted the Portugals setting on a sudden vpon their Corne Goods and Sugar-mils burning and killing many of the Portugals because they are verie warlike but now by the goodnesse of God they are freed from this incumbrance Others there be that they call Tupinaba these inhabit from the Riuer Royall till ye come neere the Illeos these were also among themselues contrarie those of the Bay with them of Camamâ— and Intrare Along the Riuer of Saint Francis dwelt another Nation called Caaete and among these were also contrarieties with them of Pernambuco From Illeos or the little Ilands and Port Secure vnto the Holy Ghost inhabited another Nation called Tupinaquin these proceeded from those of Pernambuco and scattered themselues in a Countrie of the Maine multiplying exceedingly but now they are but few These were alwaies great enemies of the things of God hardened in their errours verie reuengefull and would reuenge themselues as soone as they see their enemies and louers of many women of these alreadie are many Christians and they are firme in the faith There is another Nation a kinne to these which runneth off the Maine from Saint Vincent to Pernambuco called Tupiguae these were without number they doe diminish for the Portugals doe goe to seeke them to serue themselues with them and those which escape doe flee verie farre off that they may not be slaues There is another Nation Neighbour to this called Apigapigtanga and Muriapigtanga There is also another Nation contrarie to the Tupinaquins which are called Guaracayo or Itati Another Nation dwelleth in the Holy Ghost called Timimâ—uo they were contrarie to the Tupinaquins but they are now verie few Another Nation which is called Tamuya inhabitors of the Riuer of Ianuarie these the Portugals destroyed when they inhabited the Riuer and of them there be verie few and some that are in the Maine are called Ararape another Nation inhabiteth beyond Saint Vincent about eightie leagues enemies of the Tupinaquins of Saint Vincent of these there are infinite multitudes and doe runne along the Sea Coast and in the Maine vnto the Paraguai which the Castilians doe inhabite all these Nations abouesaid though different and many of them enemies one to another they haue the Language and their conuersion is in hand and they haue a great respect to the Fathers of the company of Iesus and in the Maine they sigh for them and call them Abare and Father desiring they would come to their Countries and conuert them and such is their reputation that some Portugals of badde consciences doe faine themselues Fathers apparelling themselues in Gownes shauing their crownes and telling them they are Abares and that they came to seeke them for the Churches of the Fathers which are theirs aswell as ours Thus they seduce them and assoone as they come to the Sea they diuide them among themselues sell and marke them making first a great slaughter of them in the Countrie robberies and assaults taking away their Daughters and their Wiues c. And if it were not for these and other like hinderances all those of this Language had beene conuerted to our holy Faith There be other contrarie Nations enemies to these of diuers Languages which in a generall name are called Tapuya and they are contrarie also among themselues In the Maine first neighbouring to the Tupinaquins inhabit the Guamures and they occupie some eightie leagues of Coast and toward the Mayne all that they list They are Lords of the wild Woods very great bodied and by the continuance and custome of going through the Woods they haue their skinnes very hard and for this effect they beate their children being young with certaine Thistles to accustome them to goe in the wilde Woods They haue no Husbandrie they liue by rapine and by the point of the Arrow they eate the Mandioca raw and it doth them no hurt they runne verie swiftly and to the White men they come not but on a sudden They vse verie great Bowes they carrie certaine stones made a purpose verie bigge that wheresoeuer they hit they may presently breake the heads in pieces And when they come to fight they hide themselues vnder shrubs and from thence they play their part they are greatly feared there is no power in the world that is able to ouercome them They are great cowards in the fields and dare not
hundred men of the Carios but of the enemies almost innumerable were slaine for there was so great a multitude of them that they spread almost a whole league in length But the Carios sending a messenger to the towne where we were earnestly entreated our Generall that they would come with some supply of Souldiers to helpe them for the Maigenos had so beset them round in a wood that they could neither goe forward nor returne backe againe Which when our Generall vnderstood he presently commandeth the Horses to be made ready and to send away and dispatch one hundred and fiftie Christians but of the Carios assembled a thousand men leauing the rest of the Souldiers in the tents to guard them that wee being absent the Maigenos our enemies might inuade them We went forth therefore with this force to wit the said horse one hundred and fiftie Christians and one thousand Carios to helpe the Carios our friends But so soone as the Maigenos perceiued our comming remouing their tents they committed themselues to flight and albeit we pursued them with as much speede as wee could yet could we neuer ouer take them Returning therefore to our tents we abode there three daies for we had found in this towne of the Maiegenos great plentie of foode and other things Hauing trauailed a continuall iourney of thirteene daies that is to say in our iudgement and theirs who are skilfull in the celestiall motions two and fiftie leagues we came to a Nation whose people are called Carcokies and hauing trauailed further the space of nine daies we came into a certaine little Countrie sixe leagues long and broad which was all so thicke ouerspread with excellent Salt as if it had â—owed Salt in great abundance and this Salt is not corrupted winter nor summer We rested two daies in this Salt Countrie going forward at length after foure daies iourney we came to the foresaid Nation Carcokies But when we were yet foure leagues from their towne our Generall sent fiftie Christians fiftie Carios to prouide vs lodgings Hauing entred the towne we found such an innumerable multitude of men gathered together as in all this iourney we had not seene the like wherefore being very pensiue and carefull aboue measure sending a messenger presently backe vnto our Generall who taking his iourney the very same euening came vnto vs betweene three and foure of the clocke in the morning But the Carcokies supposing there had bin no more men there then we whom they had seene before had now promised themselues the victorie But when they vnderstood that our Generall followed vs with a greater force they were very sad and sorrowfull and performed all friendly offices and kindenesse vnto vs for they could doe none other seeing they were afraid of their wiues children and their towne They brought vs therefore flesh of Deere Geese Hens Sheepe Estridges Conies and whatsoeuer else of this kinde of Venison and also of Birds they had also Turkish Come Wheate Rise and certaine Rootes of all which things there was great plentie in this Countrie The men of this Countrie weare a blew stone in their lippes as broad as a Dye Their weapons are Darts the staues of Speares and round Targets made ef the skins of the Indian Sheepe called Amidas Their women haue a little hole in their lips in the which they put Christall either of a greene or blew colour they haue garments of Cotten like to a shirt but without sleeues they are beautifull enough they doe nothing else but spinne and order things appertaining to the houshold for tillage of the ground and other things necessarie for the maintenance of the familie are looked vnto by the men 48. When we had gone three daies iourney from this towne we came to a certaine Riuer called Machcasies a league and a halfe broad and when we saw not how we might passe safely ouer without danger at length we found out this meanes that for euery two persons wee should make a Boate of twigs and timber whereon being carried downe the Riuer they might come to the other side of the banke but in this passage foure of our men were drowned This Riuer hath most sauourie Fish Many Tygars also are found about these places and this Riuer is but foure leagues onely distant from the towne Machcasies The Inhabitants comming forth to meete vs entertained vs curteously speaking to vs in the Spanish tongue whereat being astonished and sore afraid at the first wee demanded of them to what Lord they were subiect and who was their supreame Gouernour They therefore answered vs and our Captaine that they were subiect to a certaine Noble man in Spaine whose name was Petro Ausuetes Entring into this Towne we found certaine men and women and little Infants also swarming with very little vermin like our fleas These little vermin if they lay hold of the toes of the feete or any other part of the body they gnaw and enter alwaies more and more deepely in and at length become wormes such as are found in our filberds yet if it be done in time this mischiefe may be preuented that it shall not hurt but if deferring the cure it be neglected at length by eating and gnawing it consumeth and corrupteth whole toes From the often named Citie of the Assumption of Mary to this Towne are numbered according to the account of the Astronomers three hundred seuentie two leagues And when we had staied there about twentie daies a Letter was brought vs from a Citie of the Kingdome of Peru called Lima where the Viceroy or Lieutenant of Caesars Maiestie who at that time was Liecutiatus Lagasca had an house The Letter contained that our Generall Martin Don Fiottas should goe no further forward vpon paine of death but abiding in the Towne Machcasies should expect his further commandement But after this our Generall sent away foure persons to the Gonernor to Peru. These foure persons iournying sixe weekes in Peru came first to that Nation called Potasi next to another called Rueskem The third Nation to which they came was called Plata and the fourth which was the Metropolis or the chiefe Citie was called Lima. 49. This also is worthie of obseruation That the Countrie of Machcasies is so fruitfull that we neither found not saw any like it in fruitfulnesse in all this our Iourney For if an Indian going forth into the Wood make an hole or a cleft in the first tree that commeth to hand smiting an Hatchet into it fiue or sixe measures of so pure Honie flowe out as if it were sweete Wine or Muskadell The Bees that make this Honie are without stings and are very small This Honie being eaten with Bread or mingled with other food yeeldeth pleasant meate They make also Drinke thereof or Wine of the same taste that Muskadell hath but sweeter Our Generall Eyollas so wrought with the people that wee could stay no longer here
by reason of the want of prouision For we had scarce victuall for one moneth In performing this Iourney we spent a yeere and an halfe doing nothing else but making continuall warre And in this Iourney we had brought into our subiection about twelue thousand men women and children who were compelled to serue vs as bond-slaues as I for mine owne person did possesse about fiftie men women and children 50. Wee with our Generall Martin Don Eyollas came vnto the Citie Assumption but Abriego a Captaine which had rebelled against Captaine Mendoza and slaine him would neither open the Citie to our Generall nor yeeld it vp vnto him nor acknowledge him for Generall and his Gouernour But the said Diego Abriego being forced to forsake the Citie with fiftie Christians who ioyned themselues with him fled thirtie leagues from vs so that we could atchieue nothing against him This warre continued two whole yeeres space betweene vs the two Captaines so opposing themselues one against the other that neither was safe from danger of other 51. In the meane season while these things were thus done I receiued Letters out of Spaine and shewed to Martin Don Eyollas I presently desired a friendly and curteous dismission from him I tooke my Iourney in the name of God vpon Saint Stephens Day which was the sixe and twentieth of December in the yeere 1552. and departing from the Assumption of Marie carried vpon the Riuer of Plate with my twentie Indians in two Canoas or Boats when wee had now gone sixe and fortie leagues we first arriued at a certaine Towne called Iuberic Sabaie In that Towne foure others also together with two Portugals ioyned themselues with vs hauing gone fifteene leagues we came to a Towne called Gaberetho After this hauing gone sixteene leagues further in foure dayes we came to a certaine Village called Barotij Whence departing againe hauing gone foure and fiftie leagues in nine dayes wee came to a Towne called Barede where staying two dayes we sought prouision and Boats to carrie vs for wee were to goe one hundred leagues vp the Riuer Parana by Boat At length being brought to a certaine Towne called Gingie wee abode there foure dayes And thus farre the Countrie and Empire of Caesars Maiestie extendeth it selfe all which places in former time were subiect to the People Carios 52. After this therefore all the Nation Toupin beginneth the Countrie and Iurisdiction of the Portugall and we were compelled leauing Parana and our Boats to trauell by land vnto these Toupin which continued sixe whole moneths in which Iourney we were to goe ouer Desarts Mountaines and Valleyes and for the feare waxed of wilde and rauening beasts we durst not safely take our sleepe c. Wee wandred eight whole dayes through Woods and Thickets so that although hauing trauelled farre and wide yet in all my life time I had neuer gone so rough troublesome and tedious a way nor had we any thing which we might eate so that wee were compelled to sustaine our selues with Honie and Roots wheresoeuer we could get them and for the danger also to wit that we feared lest our enemies would pursue vs we had not so much time as to take any venison After this wee came to a Nation called Biesaie where staying foure dayes wee prouided our selues againe of victuall but durst not come neere their Towne because we were so few In this Countrie there is a Riuer called Vrquam wherein we saw Water-snakes and Serpents called Tuesca in the Spanish Tongue Scheue Eyba which were sixteene paces long and foure fathome thicke These Serpents doe much hurt for if a man wash himselfe in that Riuer or any beast swim ouer forthwith such a Serpent swimming to them windeth his tayle about the man or beast and drawing them vnder water deuoureth them Proceeding further hence we trauelled about one hundred leagues in a continued Iourney of a whole moneths space and at length came into a large Towne called Scheuetveba and rested there three dayes Going againe further we came into a certaine Towne of Christians whose Captaine was Iohn Reinueill 53. Moreouer proceeding further thence we came to the Towne of Saint Uincent From the Citie of the Assumption of Marie to the Towne of Saint Uincent in Brasill are reckoned three hundred and seuentie leagues Setting sayle from the Towne of Saint Uincent on Saint Iohn Baptists Day which was the foure and twentieth of Iune in the yeere of our Lord 1553. wee arriued at Lisbon the third of September in the yeere 1553. and while wee abode fourteene dayes there two of my Indians died which I brought with me out of those Countries I had thought here to haue added the Voyages of Iohannes Stadius another German which serued the Portugals in Brasill about Schmidels later time published in Theodore de Bry and had the same by me translated But contayning little light for the Countrie and People and relating in manner onely his owne Tragedies in his taking by the Sauages and often perils of being eaten by them as some of his friends were before his face with other like Sauage arguments wherewith wee haue glutted you alreadie I being alreadie too voluminous haue omitted the same and hasten to other Relations CHAP. V. The Obseruations of Sir RICHARD HAWKINS Knight in his Voyage into the South Sea An. Dom. 1593. once before published now reuiewed and corrected by a written Copie illustrated with notes and in diuers places abbreuiated §. I. What happened in this Voyage before they came neere the Aequinoctiall Line with diuers accidentall Discourses vsefull for Nauigators WIth the Counsels consent and helpe of my Father Sir Iohn Hawkins Knight I resolued a Voyage to be made for the Ilands of Iapan of the Philippinas and Moluccas the Kingdome of China and East Indies by the way of the. Straites of Magelan and the South Sea For this purpose in the end of the yeere 1588. returning from the Iourney against the Spanish Armado I caused a Ship to bee builded in the Riuer of Thames betwixt three and foure hundred tunnes which was finished in that perfection as could be required For shee was pleasing to the eye profitable for stowage good of sayle and well conditioned On the day of her lanching shee was named The Repentance The Repentance being put in perfection and riding at Detford the Queenes Maiestie passing by her to her Palace of Greâ—nwich commanded her Barge-men to rowe round about her and viewing her from Post to Stemme disliked nothing but her Name and said that shee would Christen her a new and that thenceforth shee should bee called the Daintie which name shee brooked as well for her proportion and grace as for the many happie Voyages shee made in her Maiesties seruices Hauing taken for her Maiestie a great Bysten of fiue hundred tunnes loden with Iron and other Commodities vnder the conduct of Sir Martin Furbusher A Carack bound for the East
Voyage And many of my companie at Sea vaunted how they had cousened the Earle of Cumberland Master Candish Master Reymond and others some of fiue poundes some of tenne some of more and some of lesse And truely I thinke my Voyage prospered the worse for theirs and other lewd persons companie which were in my ship which I thinke might be redressed by some extraordinarie seuere and present Iustice to bee executed on the offenders by the Iustice in that place where they should bee found The greater part of my companie gathered aboord I set sayle the twelfth of Iune 1593. I cannot but aduise all such as shall haue charge committed vnto them euer before they depart out of the Port to giue vnto their whole Fleet not directions for ciuill gouernment but also where when and how to meete if they should chance to lose companie and the signes how to knowe one another afarre off with other points and circumstances as the occasions shall minister matter different at the discretion of the wise Commander by publication of that which is good and necessarie for the guide of his Fleet and people but all secret instructions to giue them sealed and not to be opened but comming to a place appointed Lanching out into the channell the winde being at East and by South and east South-east which blowing hard and a floud in hand caused a chapping Sea and my Vice-admirall bearing a good sayle made some water and shooting off a Peece of Ordnance I edged towards her to knowe the cause who answered me that they had sprung a great leake and that of force they must returne into the Sound which seeing to be necessarie I cast about where anchoring and going aboord presently found that betwixt winde and water the Calkers had left a seame vncalked which being filled vp with Pitch onely the Sea labouring that out had beene sufficient to haue sunke her in short space if it had not beene discouered in time And for more securitie I hold it for a good custome vsed in some parts in making an end of calking and pitching the ship the next tide to fill her with water which will vndoubtedly discouer the defect for no pitcht place without calking can suffer the force and peaze of the water In neglect whereof I haue seene great damage and danger to ensue The Arke Royall of his Maiesties may serue for an example which put all in danger at her first going to the Sea by a trivuell hole left open in the post and couered onely with Pitch In this point no man can be too circumspect for it is the securitie of ship men and goods This being remedied I set sayle in the morning and ranne South-west till wee were cleare of Vsshent and then South South-west till wee were some hundred leagues off where wee met with a great Hulke of some fiue or sixe hundred tunnes well appointed the which my companie as is natural to all Mariners presently would make a prize and loden with Spaniards goods and without speaking to her wished that the Gunner might shoot at her to cause her to amain Which is a bad custome receiued and vsed of many ignorant persons presenâ—ly to gunne at all whatsoeuer they discouer before they speake with them being contrarie to all discipline and many times is the cause of dissention betwixt friends and the breach of Amitie betwixt Princes the death of many and sometimes losse of ships and all making many obstinate if not desperate Comming within the hayling of the Hulke we demanded whence she was whither she was bound and what her loding Shee answered that she was of Denmarke comming from Spaine loden with Salt we willed her to strike her Top-sayles which shee did and shewed vs her Charter-parties and Bils of loding and then saluted vs as is the manner of the Sea and so departed Wee directed our course to the Maderas The Madera Ilands are two the great called La Madera and the other Porto Santo of great fertilitie and rich in Sugar Conserues Wine and sweet Wood whereof they take their name Other commodities they yeeld but these are the principall The chiefe Towne and Port is on the Souther side of the Madera well fortified they are subiect to the Kingdome of Portugall the Inhabitants and Garrison all Portugals The third of Iulie wee past along the Ilands of Canaria which haue the name of a Kingdome and containe these seuen Ilands Grand Canaria Tenerifa Palma Gomera Lancerota Fortenentura and Fierro These Ilands haue abundance of Wine Sugar Conserues Orcall Pitch Iron and other commodities and store of Cattell and Corne but that a certaine Worme called Gorgosho breedeth in it which eateth out the substance leauing the huske in manner whole The head Iland where the Iustice which they call Audiencia is resident and whither all suits haue their appellation and finall sentence is the Grand Canaria although the Tenerifa is held for the better and richer Iland and to haue the best Sugar and the Wine of the Palma is reputed for the best The Pitch of these Ilands melteth not with the Sunne and therefore is proper for the higher workes of shipping Betwixt Fortenentura and Lancerota is a goodly Sound fit for a meeting place for any Fleet. Where is good anchoring and abundance of many sorts of Fish There is water to be had in most of these Ilands but with great vigilance For the naturals of them are venturous and hardie and many times clime vp and downe the steepe Rockes and broken Hills which seeme impossible which I would hardly haue beleeued had I not seene it and that with the greatest arte and agilitie that may bee Their Armes for the most part are Lances of nine or ten foot with a head of a foot and halfe long like vnto Boare-speares saue that the head is somewhat more broad Two things are famous in these Ilands the Pike of Tenerifa which is the highest Land in my iudgement that I haue seene and men of credite haue told they haue seene it more them fortie leagues off It is like vnto a Sugar loafe and continually couered with Snowe and placed in the middest of a goodly Valley most fertile and temperate round about it Out of which going vp the pike the cold is so great that it is vnsufferable and going downe to the Townes of the Iland the heat seemeth most extreme till they approch neere the coast The other is a tree in the Iland Fierro which some write affirme with the dropping of his leaues to giue water for the sustenance of the whole Iland which I haue not seene although I haue beene on shoare on the Iland but those which haue seene it haue recounted this mysterie differently to that which is written in this manner That this Tree is placed in the bottome of a Valley euer flourishing with broad leaues and that round about it are a multitude of goodly high Pines
new Authors may teach beating off and on sometimes to the Westwards sometimes to the Eastwards with a fairegale of winde Being betwixt three and foure degrees of the Equinoctiall line my Company within a few daies began to fall sicke of a disease which Sea-men are wont to call the Scuruie and seemeth to be a kinde of dropsie and raigneth most in this climate of any that I haue heard or read of in the world though in all Seas it is wont to helpe and increase the miserie of man it possesseth all those of which it taketh hold with a loathsome sloathfulnesse that euen to eate they would be content to change with sleepe and rest which is the most pernicious enemie in this sicknesse that is knowne It bringeth with it a great desire to drinke and causeth a generall swelling of all parts of the body especially of the legges and gummes and many times the teeth fall out of the iawes without paine The signes to know this disease in the beginning are diuers by the swelling of the gummes by denting of the flesh of the legges with a mans finger the pit remaining without filling vp in a good space others show it with their lasinesse others complaine of the cricke of the backe c. all which are for the most part certaine tokens of infection The cause is thought to be the stomacks feeblenesse by change of aire in vntemperate climates of diet in salt meates boiled also in Salt water and corrupted sometimes the want of exercise also either in persons or elements as in calmes And were it not for the mouing of the Sea by the force of windes tydes and currants it would corrupt all the world The experience I saw in Anno 1590. lying with a Fleete of her Maiesties Ships about the Ilands of the Azores almost six moneths the greatest part of the time we were becalmed with which all the Sea became so replenished with seuerall sorts of gellyes and formes of Serpents Adders and Snakes as seemed wonderfull some greene some blacke some yellow some white some of diuers colours and many of them had life and some there were a yard and halfe and two yards long which had I not seene I could hardly haue beleeued And hereof are witnesses all the Companies of the Shippes which were then present so that hardly a man could draw a Bucket of water cleere of some corruption In which Voyage towards the end thereof many of euery Ship sauing of the Nonpereli which was vnder my charge and had onely one man sicke in all the Voyage fell sicke of this disease and began to die apace but that the speedie passage into our Countrie was remedy to the crazed and a preseruatiue for those that were not touched The best preuention for this disease in my iudgement is to keepe cleane the Shippe to besprinkle her ordinarily with Uinegar or to burne Tarre and some sweet sauours to feede vpon as few salt Meats in the hot Country as may be and especially to shun all kindes of salt Fish and to reserue them for the cold Climates and not to dresse any meate with salt water nor to suffer the companie to wash their Shirts nor Cloathes in it nor to sleepe in their Cloathes when they are wet For this cause it is necessarily required that prouision be made of apparell for the Company that they may haue wherewith to shift themselues Being a common calamitie amongst the ordinary sort of Mariners to spend their thrift on the shore and to bring to Sea no more Cloathes then they haue backes for the body of man is not refreshed with any thing more then with shifting cleane Cloathes a great preseruatine of health in hot Countries The second Antidote is to keepe the company occupied in some bodily exercise of worke of agilitie of pastimes of dancing of vse of Armes these helpe much to banish this infirmitie Thirdly In the morning at discharge of the watch to giue euery man a bit of bread and a draught of drinke either Beere or Wine mingled with water at the least the one halfe or a quantitie mingled with Beere that the poores of the bodie may be full when the vapours of the Sea ascend vp The morning draught should bee euer of the best and choisest of that in the ship Pure wine I hold to be more hurtfull then the other is profitable In this others will be of a contrary opinion but I thinke partiall If not then leaue I the remedies thereof to those Phisicions and Surgeons who haue experience And I wish that some learned man would write of it for it is the plague of the Sea and the spoyle of Mariners doubtlesse it would bee a Worke worthy of a worthy man and most beneficiall for our Countrie for in twentie yeeres since I haue vsed the Sea I dare take vpon me to giue account of ten thousand men consumed with this disease That which I haue seene most fruitfull for this sicknesse is sowre Oranges and Lemmons and a water which amongst others for my particular prouision I carried to the Sea called Doctor Steuens water of which for that his vertue was not then well knowne vnto me I carried but little and it took end quickly but gaue health to those that vsed it The Oyle of Vitry is beneficiall for this disease taking two drops of it and mingled in a draught of water with a little Sugar It taketh away the thirst and helpeth to clense and comfort the stomacke But the principall of all is the Ayre of the Land for the Sea is naturall for Fishes and the Land for men And the oftner a man can haue his people to Land not hindering his Voyage the better it is and the profitablest course that he can take to refresh them Hauing stood to the Westwards some hundred leagues and more the winde continuing with vs contrary and the sicknesse so feruent that euery day there died more or lesse my company in generall began to be dismayed and to desire to returne homewards which I hindered by good reasons and perswasions As that to the West Indies we had not aboue eight hundred leagues to the Ilands of Azores little lesse and before wee come to the Ilands of Cape de Verde that wee should meete with the Breze for euery night we might see the reach goe contrary to the winde which we sayled by verifying the old Prouerbe amongst Mariners That hee hath need of a long Mast that will sayle by the Reach and that the neerest Land and speediest refreshing wee could looke for was the Coast of Brasill c. As wee approached neerer and neerer the Coast of Brasill the winde beganne to vere to the Eastwardes and about the middle of October to bee large and good for vs and about the eighteenth of October wee were thwart of Cape Saint Augustine which lieth in sixe degrees to the Southwards of the Line and the one
offered to sinke our Ship with the first shot he made who by the Spaniards relation being trauersing a peece in the bowe to make his shot had his head carried away with the first or second shot made out of our Ship It slew also two or three of those which stood next him A good warning for those which fight against their Countrie The fight continued so hot on both sides that the Artillery and Muskets neuer ceased playing Our contraries towards the euening determined the third time to lay vs abourd with resolution to take vs or to hazard all The order they set downe for the execution hereof was that the Captaine or Admirall should bring himselfe vpon our weather bow and so fall aboord of vs vpon our broad side And that the Vice-admirall should lay his Admirall aboord vpon his weather quarter and so enter his men into her that from her they might enter vs or doe as occasion should minister The Captaine of the Vice-admirall being more hardie then considerate and presuming with his ship and company to get the prize and chiefe honour waited not the time to put in execution the direction giuen but presently came aboord to wind-wards vpon our broad side Which doubtlesse was the great and especiall Prouidence of Almightie God for the discouraging of our enemies and animating of vs. For although she was as long or rather longer then our ship being rarely built and vtterly without fights or defence what with our Muskets and what with our fire-works we clered her decks in a moment so that scarce any person appeared And doubtlesse if we had entred but a doozen men we might haue enforced them to haue rendred vnto vs or taken her but our company being few and the principall of them slaine or hurt wee durst not neither was it wisdome to aduenture the separation of those which remayned and so held that for the best and soundest resolution to keepe our forces together in defence of our owne The Vice-admirall seeing himselfe in great distresse called to his Admirall for succour who presently laid him aboord and entred a hundred of his men and so cleered themselues of vs. In this boording the Vice-admirall had at the least thirtie and six men hurt and slaine and amongst them his Pilot shot through the bodie so as he died presently And the Admirall also receiued some losse which wrought in them a new resolution only with their Artillery to batter vs and so with time to force vs to surrender or to sink vs which they put in execution and placing themselues within a Musket shot of our weather quarter and sometimes on our broad side lay continually beating vpon vs without intermission which was doubtlesse the best and securest determination they could take for they being rare ships and without any manner of close fights in boording with vs their men were all open vnto vs and we vnder couert and shelter For on all parts our ship was Musket free and the great Artillery of force must cease on either side the ships being once grapled together except we resolued to sacrifice our selues together in fire For it is impossible if the great Ordnance play the ships being boorded but that they must set fire on the ship they shoot at and then no suretie can bee had to free himselfe as experience daily confirmeth A Peece is as a Thunder-clap As was seene in the Spanish Admirall after my imprisonment crossing from Panama to Cape San Francisco a Rayao for so the Spaniards call a Thunderclap brake ouer our ship killed one in the fore-top astonished either two or three in the shroudes and split the Mast in strange manner where it entred it could hardly be discerned but where it came forth it draue out a great splinter before it and the man slaine was cleane in a manner without signe or token of hurt although all his bones turned to powder and those who liued and recouered had all their bodies blacke as burnt with fire In like manner the Peece of Ordnance hurteth not those which stand aside nor those which stand aslope from his mouth but those alone which stand directly against the true point of his leuell though sometimes the wind of the shot ouerthroweth one and the splinters beeing accidents mayne and hurt others But principally where the Peece doth resemble the Thunderclap as when the ships are boorded For then although the Artillerie be discharged without shot the fury of the fire and his piercing nature is such as it entreth by the seames and all parts of the ships sides and meeting with so fit matter as Pitch Tarre Oaombe and sometimes with powder presently conuerteth all into flames For auoyding whereof as also the danger and damage which may come by Pikes and other inuentions of fire and if any ship be oppressed with many ships at once and subject by them to be boorded I hold it a good course to strike his fire and mayne yards close to his decke and to fight with sprit-saile and myson and top-sailes loose so shall hee bee able to hinder them from oppressing him Some haue thought it a good policie to launce out some ends of masts or yards by the Ports or other parts but this is to be vsed in the greater ships for in the lesser though they be neuer so strong the waight of the bigger will beate out the opposite sides and doe hurt and make great spoile in the lesser And in boording ordinarily the lesser ship hath al the harme which the one ship can doe vnto the other Here is offered to speake of a point much canuassed amongst Carpenters and Sea Captaines diuersly maintained but yet vndetermined that is whether the race or loftie built ship be best for the Merchant and those which imploy themselues in trading I am of opinion that the race ship is most conuenient yet so as that euery perfect ship ought to haue two decks for the better strengthening of her the better succouring of her people the better preseruing of her Merchandize and victuall and for her greater safetie from Sea and stormes But for the Princes ships and such as are imployed continually in the Warres to bee built loftie I hold very necessarie for many Reasons First for Maiestie and terrour of the Enemie Secondly for harbouring of many men Thirdly for accomodating more men to fight Fourthly for placing and vsing more Artillerie Fiftly for better strengthning and securing of the ship Sixtly for ouer topping and subiecting the Enemie Seuenthly for greater safegard and defence of the shippe and company For it is plaine that the shippe with three deckes or with two and an halfe shewes more pompe then another of her burthen with a decke and halfe or two deckes and breedeth great terror to the enemy discouering her selfe to be a more powerfulship as she is then the other which being indeed a ship of force seemeth to be but a Barke and with her
â—ore seuerely prosecuted in England in time of peace then in any the Kingdomes of Christendome But the English haue all license either immediately from their Prince or from other thereunto authorized and so cannot in any sense be comprehended vnder the name of Pirats for any hostilitie vndertaken against Spaine or the dependancies thereof And so the state standing as now it doth if in Spaine a particular man should arme a ship and goe in warfare with it against the English and happened to be taken by them I make no question but the company should be intreated according to that manner which they haue euer vsed since the beginning of the warre without making further inquisition Then if he were rich or poore to see if hee were able to giue a ransome in this also they are not very curious But if this Spanish ship should fall a thwart his Kings Armado or Gallies I make no doubt but they would hang the Captaine and his company for Pirats My reason is for that by a speciall Law it is enacted that no man in the Kingdomes of Spaine may arme any ship â—and goe in warfare without the Kings speciall licence and commission vpon paine to be reputed a Pirate and to be chastized with the punishment due to Corsarios In England the case is different for the warre once proclamed euery man may arme that will and hath wherewith which maketh for our greater exemption from being comprehended within the number of Pirats With these and or like Arguments to this purpose to auoid tediousnesse I omit I conuinced all those whom I heard to haâ—pe vpon this string which was of no small importance for our good entreatie and motiues for many to further and fauour the accomplishment of the promise lately made vnto vs. One day after dinner as was the ordinary custome the Generall his Captaines and the better sort of his followers being assembled in the Cabbin of the Poope in conference an eager contention arose amongst them touching the capitulation of Buena Querra and the purport thereof Some said that onely life and good entreatie of the prisoners was to be comprehended therein others enlarged and restrained it according to their humours and experience In fine my opinion was required and what I had seene and knowne touching that point wherein I pawsed a little and suspecting the Worst feared that it might be a baite laid to catch me withall and so excused my selfe saying that where so many experimented Souldiers were ioyned together my young iudgement was little to be respected whereunto the Generall replied That knowledge was not alwaies incident to yeeres though reason requireth that the aged should be the wisest but an Art acquired by action and management of affaires And therefore they would bee but certified what I had seene and what my iudgement was in this point vnto which seeing I could not well excuse my selfe I condescended and calling my wits together holding it better to shoot out my bolt by yeelding vnto reason although I might erre then to stand obstinate my will being at warre with my consent and fearing my deniall might bee taken for discourtesie which peraduenture might also purchase mee mislike with those who seemed to wish mee comfort and restitution I submitted to better iudgement the reformation of the present assembly saying Sir vnder the capitulation of Buena Querra or faire warres I haue euer vnderstood and so it hath beene obserued in these as also in former times that preseruation of life and good entreatie of the prisoner haue beene comprehended and further by no meanes to bee vrged to any thing contrary to his conscience as touching his Religion nor to be seduced or menaced from the allegeance due to his Prince and Countrey but rather to ransome him for his moneths pay And this is that which I haue knowne practised in our times in generall amongst all Ciuill and Noble Nations But the English haue enlarged it one point more towards the Spaniards rendred a Buena Querra in these warres haue euer deliuered them which haue beene taken vpon such compositions without ransome but the couetousnesse of our age hath brought in many abuses and excluded the principall Officers from partaking of the benefit of this priuiledge in leauing them to the discretion of the Victor being many times poorer then the common Souldiers their qualities considered whereby they are commonly put to more then the ordinary ransome and not being able of themselues to accomplish it are forgotten of their Princes and sometimes suffer long imprisonment which they should not With this Don Beltran said This ambiguitie you haue well resolued And like a worthy Gentleman with great courtesie and liberalitie added Let not the last point trouble you but be of good comfort for I heere giue you my word anew that your ransome if any shall be thought due shall be but a couple of Grey-hounds for me and other two for my Brother the Conde de Lemes And this I sweare to you by the habit of Alcantera Prouided alwayes that the King my Master leaue you to my dispose as of right you belong vnto me For amongst the Spaniards in their Armadoes if there bee an absolute Generall the tenth of all is due to him and he is to take choise of the best where in other Countries it is by lot that the Generals tenth is giuen And if they be but two ships hee doth the like and being but one she is of right the Generals This I hardly belieued vntill I saw a Letter in which the King willed his Vice-roy to giue Don Beltran thankes for our ship and Artillery which hee had giuen to his Maiestie I yeelded to the Generall most heartie thankes for his great fauour where with he bound me euer to seeke how to serue him and deserue it In this discourse Generall Michaell Angell demanded for what purpose serued the little short Arrowes which we had in our ship and those in so great quantitie I satisfied them that they were for our Muskets They are not as yet in vse amongst the Spaniards yet of singular effect and execution as our enemies confessed for the vpper worke of their ships being Muskets proofe in all places they passed through both sides with facilicie and wrought extraordinary disasters which caused admiration to see themselues wounded with small shot where they thought themselues secure and by no meanes could find where they entred nor come to the sight of any of the shot Hereof they proued to profit themselues after but for that they wanted the Tampkings which are first to bee driuen home before the Arrow bee put in and as then vnderstood not the secret they reiected them as vncertaine and therefore not to bee vsed but of all the shot vsed now a dayes for the annoying of an Enemie in fight by Sea few are of greater moment for many respects which I hold not conuenient to treate of in publike A
concerning that which happened to the Fleet in India whereof PAMPHILO NARVAEZ was Gouernour from the yeere 1527. vntill the yeere 1536. who returned vnto Siuill with three of his companions only translated out of RAMVSIO and abbreuiated §. I. Their Fleet and admirable and vnheard of tempest their entrance into Florida the Lakes troublesome passages incounters disastrous successe building Boats for returne THE sixteenth day of Iune in the yeare 1527. the Gouernour Pamphilo di Naruaez departed from the hauen of Saint Lucar of Barrameda with power and commandement from your Maiestie to conquer and gouerne the Prouinces which lye from the Riuer of Palmes vnto the Cape of Florida all in the firme land And the Fleete which the Gouernour brought with him were fiue Ships wherein six hundred men went The Officers because I am to make particular mention of them in this Booke were these Capo di Vaua Treasurer Agozino Prouost Martiall Alonso Eurriquez Auditor and Alonso de Solis Factor and ouerseer for his Maiestie And besides there was for Commissary a Frier of the order of Saint Francis called Frier Giouanni Iohn Gottierrez and with him foure other Friers of the same Order We arriued first at the Iland of San Dominica where we stayed but fortie fiue dayes to prouide our selues of certaine necessary things and principally of Horses There we left more then an hundred and forty of our men which would stay by promise and agreement which they of the Village made with them Departing thence we arriued at Saint Iago or Giacomo which is an hauen in the Iland of Cuba and reposing our selues there certaine dayes the Captaine furnished himselfe with men munition and horses It hapned in that place that a Gentleman called Uasques Parcalle neete vnto the towne of the Trinitie which is in the same Iland offered the Gouernour to giue him certaine victuall which he had in the said towne of the Trinitie which is an hundred leagues off from the said port of Saint Iago Whereupon the Gouernour departed with all the Fleete towards that towne But arriuing halfe the way at an hauen which they call the Cape of Santa Cruz it seemed good vnto the Gouernor to abide there and send one Ship onely to receiue those victuals and so he appointed one Captaine Pantoxa to goe thither with his Ship and that for the greater security I also should goe with him and he remained still there with the foure Ships we hauing now gotten another in the Iland of Saint Domenica Being arriued with our fiue Ships at the hauen of the Trinitie the Captaine Pantoxa went with Vasquez Porcalle to receiue the victuals at the towne which was one league distant from the hauen One houre after I was landed the Sea began to be outragious and the Northwinde was so strong that the Boates durst not goe aland nor could they with the Shippes in any sort put to the contrary side the winde being in the prowe whereupon with very great trauaile with two contrary seasons and with much raine they continued all that day and the Sunday The night approaching the Sea and tempest began so much to increase that it no lesse tormented those on the land then them at Sea for all the houses fell downe and all the Churches and wee were enforced to goe seuen or eight men embracing one another arme in arme together to be able to resist the winde that it might not carry vs away and to auoide the ruine of the houses flying vnto the Forrest the trees gaue vs no lesse cause of feare then the houses had giuen vs because they falling held vs in continuall feare that they would kill vs. In this tempest and danger wee passed all the night without finding any part or place where for one halfe houre onely wee might stand secure but principally the midnight before wee heard noyses and great crying and the sound of Belles Flutes and Drummes and other instruments which continued vntill the morning that the tempest ceased In those Countries so fearefull a thing had neuer beene seene whereof I caused a testimoniall and true certificate to be made which I haue sent vnto your Maiestie On Munday morning we went downe to the hauen and found not the Ships there but saw some of their furniture in the water whereby we knew that they were cast away And so we purposed to goe along the coast searching if we might finde any thing but finding nothing we determined to search by the Mountaines and hauing gone about a quarter of a league of from the water side wee found the Boate of a Ship set vpon certaine trees and further beyond ten leagues along the coast they found two persons of my Ship and certaine couerings and roofes of houses And those two men were so actually transfigured and changed with weatherbeating both of the shore and of the Sea that they could not know who they were we found also a Friers habit and a Couerlet torne in peeces and found no other person or thing any more Threescore men were lost in those two Ships and twenty horses and those that remained aliue were thirty persons onely who the same day we arriued in that hauen went aland together with the Captaine Pantoxa Wee remained in such manner for certaine dayes with much trouble and great necessitie because the sustenance and prouision of that people was all lost and destroyed with certaine wilde Beasts and the Countrey remained in such sort that it moued great compassion in the beholders the trees being falne the mountaines burned and remaining without leaues or grasse and so we passed vntill the fift day of Nouember that the Gouernour of our Fleete came thither to vs with his other foure Ships who also themselues had passed great dangers and torments and were escaped because in good time they had retired themselues vnto some place of safety The men which he had brought with him and those that he found there were so much affrighted and terrified with the losses and dangers past that they resolued to imbarke themselues no more in the winter and besought the Gouernour that he would suffer them to repose and rest themselues in those places he perceiuing their mindes and the desire of the inhabitants did so and gaue me the charge of the Ships and the men which should goe with me to winter at the hauen of Xaqua which is twelue leagues distant from that place and so going thither we staied vntill the twentieth of February following At this time the Gouernour came thither vnto vs with a Brigantine which he had gotten at the Trinitie and brought with him a Pilot called Miruelo who as they said was a man very well practised and an excellent Pilot for all the coast of the North. Besides that the Gouernour left on the coast of the Lissart Captaine Aluaro della Querda with a Ship which the Gouernour had procured there and left forty men with
contrary to that which the Christians doe And thus they answered the Christians in their language and did the like to others in a language which was among them which we vnderstood and those that vse it wee call Pringaitu which wee had found vsed for aboue the space of foure hundred leagues of the Countrey where we trauelled so that we found no other language for the space of foure hundred leagues and more Finally it was not possible for vs to make those Indians beleeue that we were any of those other Christians yet with much adoe and through our perswasion we made them returne vnto their houses commanding them to rest satisfied and bring backe their people to sowe and till the ground which because it was so desolate became now full of woods albeit of it owne nature surely it were the best Countrey and more fertile and abundant then any in all those Indies for they sowe three times in the yeare and haue many fruites and many goodly Riuers and other very good waters There are many signes and great tokens of Mines of Gold and Siluer The people are very well conditioned and serue the Christians that are their friends with a very good will they are much better disposed then the people of Mexico and finally it wanteth nothing to make it an absolute Countrey The Indians being dispatched they told vs that they would doe as much as they had commanded and bring backe their people if the Christians would suffer them to continue whereupon I said and certainely affirmed that if they did it not the Christians should be much to blame And after wee had sent them away the Christians sent vs with an Alcado named Zebrero and with him three other Christians whereby it appeareth how much the imaginations of men were deceiued in that we went to seeke liberty among the Christians and when wee had thought to haue found it the qâ—ite contrary befell vs and by seperating vs from the conuersation of the Indians they brought vs through desolate Mountaines because we should not see what they did nor their euill vsage for they had determined to goe to assault the Indians whom wee sent away secured and in peace and so they did as they imagined they brought vs two dayes through those Mountaines without water and without any beaten way or path insomuch as we thought we should haue burst for thirst whereof seuen of our men died many friends which the Christians brought with them could not come till the next day at noone where we found water and we trauailed with them about fiue and twenty leagues at the end whereof we came vnto a people of the Indians which were in peace and there the Alcado who brought vs left vs and went three leagues further to a people called Culiazzan where Melchior Diaz the Sergeant Maior and Captaine of that Prouince abode As soone as he knew of our comming hee presently came the same night to finde vs out and lamented much with vs highly praising our Lord God for his exceeding mercy towards vs and spake vnto vs and vsed vs very well and in the behalfe of the Gouernour Nunnez di Guzâ—an and himselfe offered vs whatsoeuer hee had or could procure and began to speake much of the euill vsage wherewith Alcaraz and the rest had vsed vs so that we held it for certaine that if hee had bin there that which was done vnto vs had not bin done and that night being passed we departed for Auhacan and the Sergeant Maior intreated vs earnestly to stay there and that wee might doe great seruâ—â—e vnto our Lord God and to your Maiestie because the Countrie was desolate without manuring and altogether destroyed and the Indians went and hid themselues flying through the Mountaines vnwilling to come and stay with their people and that we should send to call them and command them in the name of our Lord God and of your Maiesty to come and inhabit the Plain and till the Countrie But this seemed a troublesome matter vnto vs to put it in execution because wee had not any of our Indians or those who were wont to accompany vs to helpe and further vs in such like offices Notwithstanding we thought good to proue two of our Indians which we had prisoners there who were of the same Country and were found with the Christians when we first came among them and saw the people that accompanied vs vnderstood by them the great authority dominion which we had had throughout all those Countries the miraculous things which we had done in healing the diseased and many other things and with these we sent others of the same people which were also with them to call the Indians that abode in the Mountains those of the riuer Patachan where we had found the Christians And we willed them to tell them that they should come vnto vs because we would speake with them and so secure them that went and the other who should come we gaue them a great gourd of those which we caried in our hands which was a principall token and speciall argument of great state and with this they went and trauailed seuen daies and in the end came and brought with them three Lords of those who had fled into the Mountaines who were accompanied with fifteene men who brought vs Crownes Turkies and plumes of Feathers and the messengâ—â—â— told vs that they had not found them of the Riuer from whence we came because the Christians had caused them to flye into the Mountaines So Melchior Diaz willed the Interpreter to speake vnto those Indians in our behalfe and say vnto them that we were come from God who abideth in heauen and had tranailed through the world nine yeares saying vnto all them that we found that they should beleeue in God and serue him because he is Lord of all the things in the world and that he giueth a reward and paiment vnto the good and perpetuall punishment of hell fire vnto the wicked and that when the good men dye he taketh them vp into heauen where afterwards they shall neuer dye any more nor suffer hunger or cold or endure any other necessitie but finde there greater glory then can be imagined And they who will not beleeue nor obay him shall be throwne downe vnder the earth in the company of Diuels into an exceeding huge fire which neuer shall haue end but continually and eternally torment them And besides that if they will become Christians and serue God after the manner that we will tell them the Christians shall hold them for brethren and vse them very well and that we would command that they should not doe them any hurt nor take their Counyrie from them but become their good friends And if they would not doe it the Christians should vse them very cruelly and carry them for slaues into farre and remote Countries To this they answered the Interpreter that they would become very good
at the Riuer Bamba when hee entred the same which is in the Prouince of Quito and that he had flung into the Ditches moe then two hundred persons and there they stayed warring on all the Countrie Soone after he entred into the Prouince of Bitu or Anzerma in making cruell warre with fire and bloud till they came as farre as vnto the Salt-houses And from thence he sent Francis Garcia before him to pillage who made cruell warre on the naturall Inhabitants of the Countrie as he had done before him The Indians came vnto him two and two making signes that they demanded peace on the behalfe of the whole Countrie alledging that they would affoord him all that he could reasonably demand were it Gold or Women or Uictuals onely that they would not kill them as indeed it was a troth For themselues afterwards confessed it to bee so But the said Francis Garcia bid them get them packing telling them moreouer that they were a sort of drunkards and that hee vnderstood them not and so returned hee to the place where the said Captaine was and they made a complot to ouerrunne all the Prouince making cruell warre on all the Countrie in spoyling robbing and slaying all and with the Souldiers which hee brought with him drew thence moe then two thousand soules and all those died in the chaine Before departing the place which hee had peopled they slue more then fiue hundred persons And so returned to the Prouince of Calili And by the way if any Iode or Indesse were weary in such sort that they could not passe any further they did incontinently head them paring it off from the shoulders euen with the chaine to the end not to take the paines to open the locke thereof and to the end that others which went the same way should not make wise to bee sicke and by this meanes died they all and in the high-wayes were left all those people which hee made his purchase of out of Quito and of Pasto and of Quilla Cangua and of Paxa and of Popayan and of Lili and of Cali and of Anzerma and a great number of people died Also immediatly vpon their returne to the great Citie they entred into it slaying all that they could taking in that day moe then three hundred persons c. AMong diuers the remedies by Friar De las Casas Bishop of the Royal Towne called Chiapa propounded in the assemblie of sundry Prelates named Parsons by his Maiesties commandement gathered together in the Towne of Valladolid the yeere of our Lord 1542. for order and reformation to be obserued in the Indies the eighth in order was this ensuing which consisteth vpon twentie reasons and motions The eight Remedie is among all other principall and most in force as without which all the rest are to no purpose for that they all haue relation thereunto as euery motion to his proper end in whatsoeuer toucheth or is of any importance vnto your Maiestie which no man can expresse in as much as thereupon dependeth at the least the whole losse or preseruation of the Indies And the remedie that I speake of is this that your Maiestie doe determine decree command and solemnely in your soueraigne Courts ordaine by pragmaticall Sactions and Royall Statutes that all the Indies as well already subdued as hereafter to be subdued may be inserted reduced and incorporate into the Royall Crowne of Castile and Leon to be holden in chiefe of your Maiestie as free subiects and vassals as they are Likewise that they be not giuen in commendam vnto the Spaniards but that it stand as an inuiolable constitution determination and Royall Law that they neuer neither at this time neither hereafter in time to come may bee alienated or taken from the said Royall Crowne neither that they be giuen commanded demised in fee farme by depost commandement or alienation either vnder any other title or manner whatsoeuer and be dismembred from the Royall Crowne for any whatsoeuer the seruice or desert of any either vpon any necessitie that may happen or for any cause or colour whatsoeuer that may be pretended For the inuiolable obseruation or establishment of which Law your Maiestie shall formally sweare by your Faith and on your Word and Royall Crowne and by all other sacred things whereby Christian Princes doe vsually sweare that at no time neither your selfe neither your successours in these ten Dominions or in the Indies so farre as in you shall lie shall reuoke the same and you shall further set downe in expresse words in your Royall Will and Testament that this decree be euer kept maintayned and vpholden also that so farre as in your selfe or in them shall lie they shall confirme and continue the same And for proofe of the necessitie hereof there bee twenty reasons to be alledged out of which twenty we haue drawne and put in writing so many as may seeme to serue to our purpose The Spaniards through their great auarice and couetousnesse to get doe not permit any religious persons to enter into their Townes and Holds which they possesse alledging that they receiue double losse by them One and the principall is that religious persons doe keepe the Indies occupied when they gather them together to their Sermons so as in the meane time their worke is omitted while the Indians being idle labour not yea it hath so fallen out that the Indians being in the Church at the Sermon the Spaniard comming in in the face of al the people hath taken fifty or an hundred or so many as he hath needed to carrie his baggage and stuffe and such as would not goe he hath loden with stripes spurning them forth with his feet thereby to the great griefe both of the Indians and of the religious persons troubling and molesting all that were present c. The Spaniards are charged to instruct the Indians in our holy Catholike Faith whereupon on a time when we examined Iohn Colmenere of Saint Martha a fantasticall ignorant and foolish man who had gotten a great Towne in commendam and had a charge of soules he could not tell how to blesse himselfe and asking him what doctrine he taught the Indians committed to his charge he said he gaue them to the Deuill also that it was enough for him to say Per signim sanctin Cruces How can the Spaniards that trauell to the Indies how noble or valiant soeuer they be haue any care of the soules when the most of them are ignorant of their Creede and ten Commandements and knowe not the matters pertayning to their owne saluation neither doe trauell to the Indies for any other purpose but to satisfie their owne desires and couetous affections being for the most part vicious corrupt vnhonest and disordinate persons so as hee that would weigh them in an equall ballance and compare them with the Indians should finde the Indians without comparison more vertuous and holy then them For the Indians what Infidels
Predecessors could neuer attaine vnto without great cost labour and cares and oftentimes with the losse and destruction of diuers Which when the Bishop of Chiapa vnderstood hee determined also to write an Apologie in the vulgar tongue against the said Doctors summarie in defence of the Indies therein impugning and vndermining his foundations and answering all reasons or whatsoeuer the Doctor could alleage for himselfe therein displaying and setting before the peoples face the dangers inconueniences and harmes in the said doctrine contained Thus as many things passed on both sides his Maiestie in the yeere 1550. called to Valadolid an Assembly of learned men as well Diuines as Lawyers who beeing ioyned with the Royall counsaile of the Indies should argue and among them conclude whether it were lawfull without breach of Iustice to leuie warres commonly tearmed conquests against the Inhabitants of those Countries without any new offence by them committed their infidelity excepted Doctor Sepulueda was summoned to come and say what he could and being entred the Counsaile Chamber did at the first Session vtter his whole minde Then was the said Bishop likewise called who for the space of fiue dayes continually did reade his Apologie but being somewhat long the Diuines and Lawyers there assembled besought the Learned and Reuerend Father Dominicke Soto his Maiesties Confessor and a Dominican Friar who was there present to reduce it into a Summary and to make so many Copies as there were Lords that is fourteene to the end they all hauing studied vpon the matter might afterward in the feare of God say their mindes The said Reuerend Father and Master Soto set downe in the said Summary the Doctors reasons with the Bishops answeres to the same Then had the Doctour at his request a Copie deliuered him to answere out of which Summarie he gathered twelue against himselfe whereto he made twelue answeres against which answeres the Bishop framed twelue Replyes Doctor Sepulued a his Prologue to the Lords of the Assembly beganne thus Most worthy and Noble Lords sith your Lordships and Graces haue as Iudges for the space of fiue or sixe dayes heard the Lord Bishop of Chiapa reade that Booke whereinto he hath many yeeres laboured to gather all the reasons that either himselfe or others could inuent to proue the conquest of the Indies to be vniust as seeking first to subdue barbarous Nations before we preach the Gospell vnto them which haue beene the vsuall course correspondent to the grant made by Pope Alexander the sixt which all Kings and Nations haue hitherto taken and obserued it is meete and I doe so desire you that I who take vpon me to defend the grant and authority of the Apostolike Sea together with the equitie and honour of our Kings and Nation c. Out of which Replies here followeth the Abstract of two that stand vs insteed The report is vntrue that the Indians did yeerely sacrifice in New Spaine twenty thousand persons either one hundred or fiftie For had that beene so we could not now haue found there so much people and therefore the Tyrants haue inuented it thereby to excuse and iustifie their Tyrannies also to detaine so many of the Indians as escaped the oppression and desolation of the first Vintage in bondage and tyrannie But we may more truely say that the Spaniards during their abode in the Indies haue yeerely sacrificed to their so deerely beloued and reuerend Goddesse Couetousnesse more people then the Indians haue done in a hundred yeeres This doe the Heauens the Earth the Elements and the Starres both testifie and bewaile the Tyrants yea the very Ministers of these mischiefes cannot deny it For it is euident how greatly these Countries at our first entrie swarmed with people as also how wee haue now laid it waste and dispeopled the same wee might euen blush for shame that hauing giuen ouer all feare of God wee will yet neuer the lesse seeke to colour and excuse these our so execrable demeanours considering that only for getting wealth and riches we haue in fortie fiue or fortie eight yeeres wasted and consumed more Land then all Europe yea and part of Asia doe in length and breath containe robbing and vsurping vpon that with all crueltie wrong and tyrannie which we haue seene well inhabited with humane people among whom there haue beene slaine and destroyed twentie Millions of soules In the twelfth and last Reply as followeth The Spaniards haue not entred into India for any desire to exalt Gods honour or for zeale to Christian Religion either to fauour and procure the saluation of their Neighbours no neither for their Princes seruice whereof they doe so vainely bragge but Couetousnesse hath brought them and Ambition hath allured them to the perpetuall dominion ouer the Indies which they as Tyrants and Deuils doe couet to bee parted among them and to speake plainly and flatly doe seeke no other but to expell and driue the Kings of Castile out of all that World and themselues seizing thereupon by Trannie to vsurpe and take vpon them all Royall Souereigntie CHAP. V. Notes of Voyages and Plantations of the French in the Northerne America both in Florida and Canada OF the French Plantation in that part of Brafill by Uillagaynon which therefore Frier Thenet called France Antarctike you haue seene alreadie in Lerius Besides the French haue almost from the first beginnings of the Spanish Plantation with men of warre haunted those Coasts and taken many Spanish prises The French haue also made other Discoueries and setled some habitation for a time in the Northerne parts of the New World Iohn Uerrazano a Florentine was sent Anno 1524. by King Francis the first and Madame Regent his Mother who is said to haue discouered from the eight and twentieth to the fiftieth degree all which and much more had long before beene discouerd by Sir Sebastian Cabot for the King of England who was the first that set foote on the American Continent in behalfe of any Christian Prince Anno 1496. or as otheâ—rs 1497. and therefore the French reckoning falleth short some of which Nation vpon Verazanos Discouery challenge I know not what right to all that Coast and make their New France neere as great as all Europe To leaue that we are to do them Historicall right in relating their actions in those parts The Rites and Customes of Florida are related at large by Renâ— Laudonniere by Master Hakluyt translated and in his Workes published Laudonniere was sent by that famous Admirall Chastillon with Iohn Ribalt Anno 1562. who arriued at Cape François in Florida in thirtie degrees and there erected a Pillar with the French Armes The Riuer they called the Riuer of May hauing entred it on May day In the Woods they found great store of red and white Mulberie Trees and on their tops an infinite number of Silk-wormes Eight other Riuers they discouered to which they gaue the names of Seine Somme Loyre Cherente
to Coruo the Englishmen at times had taken at the least twenty ships that came from Saint Domingo India Brasillia c. and all sent into England Whereby it plainly appeareth that in the end God will assuredly plague the Spaniards hauing already blinded them so that they haue not the sence to perceiue it but still to remaine in their obstinate opinions but it is lost labour to striue against God and to trust in man as being foundations erected vpon the sands which with the winde are blowne downe and ouerthrowne as we daily see before our eyes and now not long since in many places haue euidently obserued and therefore let euery man but looke into his owne actions and take our Low-Countries for an example wherein we can but blame our owne sinnes and wickednesses which doth so blinde vs that we wholly forget and reiect the benefits of God continuing the seruants and yoke-slaues of Sathan God of his mercy open our eyes and hearts that wee may know our onely health and Sauiour Iesus Christ who onely can helpe gouerne and preserue vs and giue vs a happy end in all our affaires By this destruction of the Spaniards and their euill successe the lading and shipping of the goods that were saued out of the ship that came from Malacca to Tercera was againe put off and therefore wee must haue patience till it please God to send a fitter time and that we receiue further aduise and order from his Maiestie of Spaine All this being thus past the Farmers of Pepper and other Merchants that had their goods in Tercera which were taken out of the lost ship that came from Malacca seeing that the hope of any Armada or any ships in the Kings behalfe to be sent to fetch it was all in vaine they made request vnto his Maiesty that he would grant them licence euery man particularly to ship his goods in what ship he would at his owne aduenture which in the end after long suite was granted vpon condition that euery man should put in sureties to deliuer the goods in the Custome-house at Lisbone to the end the King might be paied his custome as also that the goods that should be deliuered vnto them in Tercera should all be registred whereupon the Farmers of Pepper with other Merchants agreed with a Flushinger to fetch all the Cloues Nutmegs Mace and other spices and goods that belonged vnto them the Pepper onely excepted which as then the King would not grant to lade The same Ship arriued in Tercera about the last of Nouember and because it was somewhat dangerous being the latter end of the yeare we laded her with all the speede we could for as then the coast was cleare of Englishmen To be short this Flushinger being laden with most part of the goods sauing the Pepper that was left behinde we set saile for Lisbone passing some small stormes not once meeting with any ship but onely vpon the coast where we saw ten Hollanders that sailed with Corne towards Ligorne and other places in Italie and so by Gods helpe vpon the second of Ianuary Anno 1592. we arriued in the Riuer of Lisbone being nine yeares after my departure from thence and there I staied till the month of Iuly to dispatch such things as I had to doe and vpon the seuenteenth of the same month I went to Sentuual where certaine Hollanders lay with whom I went for Holland The end of the eight Booke ENGLISH PLANTATIONS DISCOVERIES ACTS AND OCCVRRENTS IN VIRGINIA AND SVMMER ILANDS SINCE THE YEERE 1606. TILL 1624. THE NINTH BOOKE CHAP. I. Part of the first Patent granted by his Maiestie for the Plantation of Virginia Aprill the tenth 1606. IAMES by the grace of God c. Whereas our louing and well disposed Subiects Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Summers Knights Richard Hakluyt Clerke Prebendary of Westminster Edward Maria Wingfield Thomas Hannam Rawleigh Gilbert Esquires William Parker George Popham and diâ—ers others of our louing Subiects haue beene humble Suitors vnto vs that we would vouch safe vnto them our License to make Habitation Plantation and to deduce a Colonie of sundry of our people into that part of America commonly called Virginia and other parts and Territories in America either appertayning vnto vs or which now are not actually possessed by any Christian Prince or people situate lying and being all along the Sea Coast betweene thirtie foure degrees of Northerly latitude from the Equinoctiall Line and fortie fiue degrees of the same latitude and in the mayne Land betweene the same thirtie foure and fortie fiue degrees and the Ilands thereunto adiacent within one hundred miles of the Coast thereof And to that end and for the more speedie accomplishment of the said intended Plantation and Habitation there are desirous to deuide themselues into two seuerall Colonies and Companies the one consisting of certaine Knights Gentlemen Merchants and other Aduenturers of our Citie of London and elsewhere which are and from time to time shall be ioyned vnto them which doe desire to beginne their Plantations and Habitations in some fit and conuenient place betweene thirtie foure and fortie one degrees of the said latitude all alongst the Sea Coast of Virginia and Coast of America aforesaid And the other consisting of sundry Knights Gentlemen Merchans and other Aduenturers of our Cities of Bristoll and Exeter and of our Towne of Plymmouth and other places which doe ioyne themselues vnto that Colonie which desire to beginne their Plantations and Habitations in some fit and conuenient place betweene thirtie eight and fortie fiue degrees of the said latitude all alongst the said Coast of Virginia and America as that Coast lyeth We greatly commending and graciously accepting of their desires to the furtherance of so Noble a worke which may by the prouidence of Almightie God hereafter tend to the glorie of his Diuine Maiestie in propagating of Christian Religion to such people as yet liue in darknesse miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God and may in time bring the Infidels and Sauages liuing in those parts to humane ciuilitie and to a settled and quiet gouernment doe by these our Letters Patents graciously accept of and agree to their humble and well intended desires And doe therefore for vs our Heires and Successours grant and agree that the said Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Summers Richard Hakluyt and Edward Maria Wingfield Aduenturers of our Citie of London and all such others as are or shall be ioyned vnto them of that Colonie shall be called the first Colonie and they shall and may beginne their said first Plantation and Seate of their first abode and Habitation at any place vpon the said Coast of Virginia or America where they shall thinke fit and conuenient betweene the said thirtie foure and fortie one degrees of the said latitude And that they shall haue all the Lands Woods Soyle Grounds Hauens Ports Riuers Mynes Minerals Marishes Waters Fishings Commodities and Hereditaments
the North the Land is mountainous and so in a manner from thence by a South-west Line So that the more Southward the farther off from the Bay are those Mountaines From which fall certaine Brookes which after come to fiue principall Nauigable Riuers These runne from the North-west in to the South-east and so into the West side of the Bay where the fall of euery Riuer is within twentie or fifteene miles one of another The Mountaines are of diuers natures for at the head of the Bay the Rockes are of a composition like Mil-stones Some of Marble c. And many pieces of Christall we found as throwne downe by water from the Mountaines For in Winter these Mountaines are couered with much Snow and when it dissolueth the waters fall with such violence that it causeth great inundations in the narrow Vallies which yet is scarce perceiued being once in the Riuers These waters wash from the Rockes such glistering tinctures that the ground in some places seemeth as gilded where both the Rockes and the Earth are so splendent to behold that better iudgements then ours might haue beene p 〈…〉 swaded they contained more then probabilities The vesture of the Earth in most places doth manifestly proue the nature of the soile to be lustie and very rich The colour of the Earth we found in diuers places resembleth Bole Armoniac terra sigillata ad lemnia Fullâ—rs Earth Marle and diuers other suâ—h appearances But generally for the most part the Earth is a blacke sandie mould in some places a fat slimie clay in other places a very barren grauell But the best best ground is knowne by the vesture it beareth as by the greatnesse of Trees or abundance of Weeds c. The Countrie is not mountainous nor yet low but such pleasant plaine Hils and fertile Vallies one pretily crossing another and watered so conueniently with their sweete Brookes and Christall Springs as if Art it selfe had deuised them By the Riuers are many plaine Marishes contayning some twentie some one hundred some two hundred Acres some more some lesse Other Plaines there are few but only where the Sauages inhabit but all ouer-growne with Trees and Weeds being a plaine Wildernesse as God first made it On the West side of the Bay we said were fiue faire and delightfull nauigable Riuers of which we will now proceed to report The first of those Riuers and the next to the mouth of the Bay hath his course from the West and by North. The name of this Riuer they call Powhatan according to the name of a principall Countrie that lieth vpon it The mouth of this Riuer is neere three miles in breadth yet doe the shoales force the Channell so neere the Land that a Sacre will ouer-shoot it at Point blanke This Riuer is nauigable one hundred and fiftie miles as the Channell goeth the shoales and soundings are heere needlesse to be expressed It falleth from Rockes farre West in a Countrie inhabited by a Nation that they call Monacan But where it commeth into our Discouerie it is Powhatan In the farthest place that was diligently obserued are Falles Rockes Shoales c. which makes it past nauigation any higher Thence in the running downeward the Riuer is enriched with many goodly Brookes which are maintained by an infinite number of small Rundles and pleasant Springs that disperse themselues for best seruice as doe the veines of a mans bodie From the South there fals into this Riuer First the pleasant Riuer of Apamatuck next more to the East are the two Riuers of Quiyoughcohanocke A little farther is a Bay wherein falleth three or foure pretie Brookes and Creekes that halfe intrench the Inhabitants of Warraskoyac then the Riuer of Nandsamund and lastly the Brooke of Chisaptack From the North side is the Riuer of Chickahamania the backe Riuer of Iames Townes another by the Cedar I le where we liued ten weekes vpon Oisters then a conuenient Harbour for fisher-boats or small Boats at Kecoughtan that so conueniently turneth it selfe into Bayes and Creekes that make that place very pleasant to inhabit their Corne fields being girded therein in a manner as Peninsulaes The most of these Riuers are inhabited by seuerall Nations or rather Families of the name of the Riuers They haue also in euery of those places some Gouernour as their King which they call Werowances In a Peninsula on the North side of this Riuer are the English planted in a place by them called Iames Towne in honour of the Kings most excellent Maiestie vpon which side are also many places vnder the Werowances The first and next the Riuers mouth are the Cecoughtans who besides their women and children haue not past twentie fighting men The Paspaheges on whose Land is seated the English Colonie some fortie miles from the Bay haue not past fortie The Riuer called Chickahamania neere two hundred The Weanocks one hundred The Arrowhatocks thirtie The place called Powhatan some fortie On the South side this Riuer the Appamatucks haue sixtie fighting men The Quiyougcohanocks fiue and twentie The Warraskoyacks fortie The Nandsamunds two hundred The Chesapeacks are able to make one hundred Of this last place the Bay beareth the name In all these places is a seuerall Commander which they call Werowance except the Chickhamanians who are gouerned by the Priests and their Assistants of their Elders called Caw-cawwassoughes In Summer no place affoordeth more plentie of Sturgeon nor in Winter more abundance of Fowle especially in the time of Frost There was once taken fiftie two Sturgeons at a draught at another draught sixtie eight From the latter end of May till the end of Iune are taken but young Sturgeons of two foot or a yard long From thence till the midst of September of two or three yards long and few others And in foure or fiue houres with one Net were ordinarily taken seuen or eight often more seldome lesse In the small Riuers all the yeere there is-good plentie of small fish so that with Hookes those that would take paines had sufficient Fourteene miles Northward from the Riuer Powhatan is the Kiuer Pamaunke which is nauigable sixtie miles but with Catches and small Barkes twentie or thirtie miles farther At the ordinary flowing of salt water it diuideth it selfe into two gallant branches On the South inhabit the people of Youghtanund who haue about sixtie men for warres On the North branch Mattapament who haue thirtie men Where this Riuer is diuided the Countrie is called Panamaunke and nourisheth neere three hundred able men About fiue and twentie miles lower on the North side of this Riuer is Werawocomoco where their great King inhabited when Captaine Smith was deliuered him prisoner yet there are not past fortie able men But now he hath abandoned that and liueth at Orapakes by Youghtanund in the Wildernesse tenne or twelue miles lower on the South side of this Riuer is Chiskiack which hath
RICHARD WIFFIN THO. ABBAY THO. HOPE and since enlarged out of the Writings of Capt. IOHN SMITH principall Agent and Patient in these Virginian Occurrents from the beginning of the Plantation 1606. till Ann. 1610. somewhat abridged CAptaine Bartholomew Gosnold the first mouer of this Plantation hauing many yeeres solicited many of his friends but found small assistants at last preuailed with some Gentlemen as M. Edward-Maria Wingfield Captaine Iohn Smith and diuers others who depended a yeere vpon his proiects but nothing could be effected till by their great charge and industrie it came to bee apprehended by certaine of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Merchants so that his Maiestie by his Letters Patents gaue Commission for establishing Councels to direct here and to gouerne and to execute there to effect this was spent another yeere and by that time three Ships were prouided one of one hundred Tuns another of fortie and a Pinnace of twentie The transportation of the Company was committed to Captaine Christopher Newport a Mariner well practised for the Westerne parts of America But their orders for gouernment were put in a Box not to bee opened nor the Gouernours knowne vntill they arriued in Virginia On the ninteenth of December 1606. wee set saile but by vnprosperous winds were kept six weekes in the sight of England all which time M. Hunt our Preacher was so weake and sicke that few expected his recouerie Yet although hee were but ten or twelue miles from his habitation the time we were in the Downes and notwithstanding the stormy weather nor the scandalous imputation of some few little better then Atheists of the greatest ranke amongst vs suggested against him all this could neuer force from him so much as a seeming desire to leaue the businesse but preferred the Seruice of God in so good a Voyage before any affection to contest with his godlesse foes whose disasterous designes could they haue preuailed had euen then ouerthrowne the businesse so many discontents did then arise had he not with the water of patience and his godly exhortations but briefly by his true deuouted examples quenched those flames of enuy and dissention Wee watred at the Canaries we traded with the Sauages at Dominica three weekes we spent in refreshing our selues amongst these West India Iles in Gwardalupa wee found a Bath so hot as in it we boiled Porck as well as ouer the fire And at a little I le called Monica wee tooke from the Bushes with our hands neere two Hogsheads of Birds in three or foure houres In Mevis Mona and the Virgin Iles we spent some time wherewith a loathsome beast like a Crocadil called a Gwayn Tortoses Pellicans Parrots and Fishes wee daily feasted Gone from thence in search of Virginia the Company was not a little discomforted seeing the Mariners had three daies passed their reckoning and found no Land so that Captaine Ratcliffe Captaine of the Pinnace rather desired to beare vp the Helme to returne for England then make further search But God the guider of all good actions forcing them by an extreame storme to Hull all night did driue them by his prouidence to their desired Port beyond all their expectations for neuer any of them had seene that Coast. The first Land they made they called Cape Henry where anchoring M. Wingfield Gosnoll and Newport with thirtie others recreating themselues on shoare Were assaulted by fiue Sauages who hurt two of the English very dangerously That night was the Box opened and the orders read in which Bartholomew Gosnoll Edward Wingfield Christopher Newport Iohn Smith Iohn Ratliffe Iohn Martin and George Kendall were named to be the Councell and to chuse a President amongst them for a yeere who with the Councell should gouerne Matters of moment were to be examined by a Iury but determined by the Maior part of the Councell in which the President had two voices Vntill the thirteenth of May they sought a place to plant in then the Councell was sworne M. Wingfield was chosen President and an Oration made why Captaine Smith was not admitted to the Councell as the rest Now falleth euery man to worke the Councell contriue the Fort the rest cut downe Trees to make place to pitch their Tents some prouide Clap-board to relade the Ships some make Gardens some Nets c. The Sauages often visited vs kindly The Presidents ouerweening iealousie would admit no exercise at Armes or Fortification but the Boughs of Trees cast together in the forme of a halfe Moone by the extraordinary paine and diligence of Captaine Kendall Newport with Smith and twentie others were sent to discouer the head of the Riuer by diuers small habitations they passed in sixe dayes they arriued at a Towne called Powhatan consisting of some twelue houses pleasantly seated on a Hill before it three fertill Iles about it many of their Cornfields the place is very pleasant and strong by nature of this place the Prince is called Powhatan and his people Powhatans to this place the Riuer is Nauigable but higher within a mile by reason of the Rockes and Iles there is not passage for a small Boat this they call the Falls the people in all parts kindly intreated them till being returned within twentie miles of Iames Towne they gaue iust cause of iealousie but had God not blessed the discouerers otherwise then those at the Fort there had then beene an end of that Plantation for at the Fort where they arriued the next day they found seuenteene men hurt and a boy slaine by the Sauages and had it not chanced a crosse Bar shot from the Ships strooke downe a Bough from a Tree amongst them that caused them to retire our men had all beene slaine being securely all at worke and their Armes in Dry-fats Heereupon the President was contented the Fort should be pallisadoed the Ordnance mounted his men armed and exercised for many were the assaults and Ambuscadoes of the Sauages and our men by their disorderly stragling were often hurt when the Sauages by the nimblenesse of their heeles well escaped What toile we had with so small a power to guard our workemen adayes watch all night resist our enemies and effect our businesse to relade the Ships cut downe Trees and prepare the ground to plant our Corne c. I refer to the Readers consideration Six weekes being spent in this manner Captaine Newport who was hired onely for our transportation was to returne with the Ships Now Captaine Smith who all this time from their departure from the Canaries was restrained as a prisoner vpon the scandalous suggestions of some of the chiefe enuying his repute who fained he intended to vsurpe the gouernment murder the Councell and make himselfe King that his confederates were dispersed in all the three Ships and that diuers of his confederates that reuealed it would affirme it for this he was committed thirteene weekes hee remained thus suspected and by that time the Ships should returne they
waited on to his house in the same manner And thus inclosed as I said round with a Pallizado of Planckes and strong Posts foure foote deepe in the ground of yong Oakes Walnuts c. The Fort is called in honour of his Maiesties name Iames Towne the principall Gate from the Towne through the Pallizado opens to the Riuer as at each Bulwarke there is a Gate likewise to goe forth and at euery Gate a Demi-Culuerin and so in the Market Place The houses first raised were all burnt by a casualty of fire the beginning of the second yeare of their seate and in the second Voyage of Captain Newport which since haue bin better rebuilded though as yet in no great vniformity either for the fashion or beauty of the streete A delicate wrought fine kinde of Mat the Indians make with which as they can be trucked for or snatched vp our people do dresse their chambers and inward roomes which make their houses so much the more handsome The houses haue wide and large Country Chimnies in the which is to be supposed in such plenty of wood what fires are maintained and they haue found the way to couer their houses now as the Indians with barkes of Trees as durable and as good proofe against stormes and winter weather as the best Tyle defending likewise the piercing Sunbeames of Summer and keeping the inner lodgings coole enough which before in sultry weather would be like Stoues whilest they were as at first pargetted and plaistered with Bitumen or tough Clay and thus armed for the iniury of changing times and seasons of the yeare we hold our selues well apaid though wanting Arras Hangings Tapistry and guilded Venetian Cordouan or more spruse houshold garniture and wanton City ornaments remembring the old Epigraph We dwell not here to build vs Bowers And Hals for pleasure and good cheere But Hals we build for vs and ours To dwell in them whilst we liue here True it is I may not excuse this our Fort or Iames Towne as yet seated in somewhat an vnwholesome and sickly ayre by reason it is in a marish ground low flat to the Riuer and hath no fresh water Springs seruing the Towne but what wee drew from a Well sixe or seuen fathom deepe fed by the brackish Riuer owzing into it from whence I verily beleeue the chiefe causes haue proceeded of many diseases and sicknesses which haue happened to our people who are indeede strangely afflicted with Fluxes and Agues and euery particular season by the relation of the old inhabitants hath his particular infirmity too all which if it had bin our fortunes to haue seated vpon some hill accommodated with fresh Springs and cleere ayre as doe the Natiues of the Country we might haue I beleeue well escaped and some experience we haue to perswade our selues that it may be so for of foure hundred and odde men which were seated at the Fals the last yeere when the Fleete came in with fresh and yong able spirits vnder the gouernment of Captain Francis West and of one hundred to the Seawards on the South side of our Riuer in the Country of the Nansamundes vnder the charge of Captaine Iohn Martin there did not so much as one man miscarry and but very few or none fall sicke whereas at Iames Towne the same time and the same moneths one hundred sickned halfe the number died howbeit as we condemne not Kent in England for a small Towne called Plumsted continually assaulting the dwellers there especially new commers with Agues and Feuers no more let vs lay scandall and imputation vpon the Country of Virginia because the little Quarter wherein we are set dowee vnaduisedly so chosed appeares to be vnwholesome and subiect to many ill ayres which accompany the like marish places §. IIII. The Lord La WARRES beginnings and proceedings in Iames Towne Sir THOMAS GATES sent into England his and the Companies testimony of Virginia and cause of the late miseries VPon his Lordships landing at the South gate of the Pallizado which lookes into the Riuer our Gouernour caused his Company in armes to stand in order and make a Guard It pleased him that I should beare his Colours for that time his Lordship landing fell vpon his knees and before vs all made a long and silent Prayer to himselfe and after marched vp into the Towne where at the Gate I bowed with the Colours and let them fall at his Lordships feete who passed on into the Chappell where he heard a Sermon by Master Bucke our Gouernours Preacher and after that caused a Gentleman one of his owne followers Master Anthony Scot his Ancient to reade his Commission which intituled him Lord Gouernour and Captaine Generall during his life of the Colony and Plantation in Uirginia Sir Thomas Gates our Gouernour hitherto being now stiled therein Lieutenant Generall After the reading of his Lordships Commission Sir Thomas Gates rendred vp vnto his Lordship his owne Commission both Patents and the Counsell Seale after which the Lord Gouernour and Captaine Generall deliuered some few words vnto the Company laying many blames vpon them for many vanities and their Idlenesse earnestly wishing that he might no more finde it so least he should be compelled to draw the sword of Iustice to cut off such delinquents which he had much rather he protested draw in their defence to protect them from iniuries hartening them with the knowledge of what store of prouisions he had brought for them viz. sufficient to serue foure hundred men for one whole yeare The twelfth of Iune being Tuesday the Lord Gouernour and Captaine Generall did constitute and giue places of Office and charge to diuers Captaines and Gentlemen and elected vnto him a Counsell vnto whom he did administer an Oath mixed with the oath of Allegiance and Supremacy to his Maiestie which oath likewise he caused to be administred the next day after to euery particular member of the Colony of Faith Assistance and Secrecy The Counsaile which he elected were Sir Thomas Gates Kinght Lieutenant Generall Sir George Summers Knight Admirall Captaine George Percy Eâ—quire and in the Fort Captaine of fifty Sir Ferdinando Weinman Knight Master of the Ordnance Captaine Christopher Newport Vice-admirall William Strachei Esquire Secretary and Recorder As likewise the Lord Gouernour and Captaine Generall nominated Captaine Iohn Martin Master of the Battery workes for Steele and Iron and Captaine George Webb Sergeant Maior of the Fort and especiall Captaines ouer Companies were these appointed Captaine Edward Bruster who hath the command of his Honours owne Company Captaine Thomas Lawson Captain Thomas Holecroft Captaine Samuell Argoll Captaine George Yardley who commandeth the Lieutenant Generals Company Diuers other Officers were likewise made as Master Ralph Hamor and Master Browne Clarkes of the Counsell and Master Daniell Tucker and Master Robert Wilde Clarkes of the Store c. The first businesse which the Lord Gouernour and Captaine Generall after the
to the Summer Ilands by that Company 22 The Ioseph 150. tun in May 1621. 100. persons 23 The Iames 120. tun in Iuly 80. 24 The Concord 180. tun in August 70. Persons 250. So there is foure and twentie Sayle of ships with fiue hundred Mariners in them imployed to these Plantations in this yeere Besides there are now prouiding seuerall ships in diuers parts of this Kingdome to transport to the Plantations aboue fiue hundred persons And for the benefit of the Plantations these things following haue beene here done this yeere Sixteene persons and others haue beene prouided and sent for the making of Beads for trade in the Countrie with the Natiues and for making Glasse of all sorts Seuen and fiftie young Maides haue beene sent to make wiues for the Planters diuers of which were well married before the comming away of the Ships A Magazine hath beene sent of all necessaries for the Colonie to the value of two thousand pound besides all priuate mens sending goods which was very ample Trade being set open for all his Maiesties Subiects A ship called the Discouerie hath beene set out for the rich Trade of Furres which both the French and Hollanders haue yeerely within our Precincts and within fiftie leagues of vs. Fiue and twentie persons for the building of Boats Pinnasses and Ships for the necessarie vse of the Colonie for fishing Trade and Discouerie c. Seuen persons sent for planting the thousand Acres of Land giuen to the East Indie Schoole Other Occurents of Note The Gouernours arriuall in Virginia at the end of the last Summer with nine ships and neere seuen hundred people all safely and in good health The admirable deliuerance of diuers ships and namely of the Tiger which beeing driuen strangely neere two hundred leagues out of her course fell into the Turkes hands and yet came saue to Virginia Master Berkleyes Letters assure vs that there is not a more fit place for Iron-workes then in Virginia both for Wood Water Mynes and Stone and that by Whitsontide next wee may relie vpon Iron made by him The Plants of Cotton-wooll trees that came out of the West Indies prosper exceeding well and the Cotton-wooll-seeds from the Mogols Countrie come vp and grow Samples of it they haue sent and this Commoditie they hope this yeere to bring to a good perfection and quantitie The Indico Seed thriues well but they yet want knowledge how to cure it Our Frenchmen assure vs that no Countrie in the World is more proper for Vines Silke Oliues Râ—ce c. then Uirginia and that it excelleth their owne Countrey The Vines beeing in abundance naturally ouer all the Countrey a taste of which Wine they haue alreadie sent vs with hope the next yeere to send vs a good quantitie There bee Mulberie trees in wonderfull abundance and much excelling both in goodnesse and greatnesse those of their Countrey of Languedocke To the full perfecting of both which rich Commodities of Wine and Silke there wanteth nothing but hands And of the Mulberies may bee made also good wholesome Wine for the people there And of a certaine Plumme in the Countrey they haue made good drinke Salt-workes are erecting the proper place being now found as the Rocheller doth certifie vs whereby many ships will transport people at easier rates hereafter finding Salt there to furnish them for the great and profitable fishings vpon that Coast whither twentie sayle of ships went this last yeere but of the Westerne parts of England besides the ships formerly mentioned Master Iohn Porie hath of late made a Discouerie into the great Bay Northward yet at the bottome of it he was not reseruing it to a second Voyage where are now setled neere one hundred English very happily with hope of a good Trade of Furres there to bee had And Terra Lemnia was sent vs from thence which is found as good as that of Turkey and is in great abundance to be had In February last he likewise discouered to the South Riuer some sixtie miles ouer Land from vs a very fruitfull and pleasant Countrey full of Riuers wherein are two Haruests in one yeere the great King giuing him friendly entertainment and desirous to make a league with vs hee found also there in great quantitie of the same Silke-grasse as appeareth by the samples sent vs whereof Master Heriot in his Booke 1587. makes relation who then brought home some of it with which a piece of Grogeran was made and giuen to Queene Elizabeth and some heere who haue liued in the East Indies affirme that they make all their Cambaya Stuffes of this and Cotton-wooll Also in his passage by Land Master Porey discouered a Countrey full of Pine-trees aboue twentie miles long whereby a great abundance of Pitch and Tarre may bee made and other sorts of woods there were fit for Pot-ashes and Sope-ashes The Indians haue made relation of a Copper Myne that is not farre from thence how they gather it and the strange making of it a piece whereof was sent home being found after trial very excellent metall Some of the English haue made relation of a China Boxe seene at one of the Kings Houses who declared that it was sent him from the West by a King that dwels ouer the great Hils whose Countrey is neere the Sea he hauing that Boxe from a people as hee said that come thitherin ships and weare clothes and dwell in Houses and are called Acanackchina And he offered our people that he would send his Brother along with them to that King which the Gouernour purposeth not to refuse hoping thereby to discouer the South Sea so long talked of A small ship comming in December last from the Summer-Ilands to Virginia brought thither from thence these Plants viz. Vines of all sorts Orange and Leman trees Sugar Canes Cassado Roots that make bread Pines Plantans Potatoes and sundry other Indian fruits and plants not formerly seene in Virginia which begin to prosper very well Gifts The Gentlemen and Mariners that came in the Royall Iames from the East Indies beeing at Cape Bona Speranza homeward bound gaue towards the building of a Free Schoole in Virginia to be called the East Indie Schoole the summe of seuentie pound eight shillings six pence Towards the furtherance of the said East India Schoole an vnknowne person hath added the summe of thirtie pound A person refusing to be made knowne hath giuen the summe of fortie shillings a yeere for euer for a Sermon before the Virginia Company thirtie pounds At a Quarter Court held the thirtieth of Ianuary 1621. by a person not willing as yet to bee knowne was sent in Gold to helpe forward the East Indie Schoole fiue and twentie pounds At the same Quarter Court a small Bible with a couer richly wrought a great Church Bible Bookes of Common Prayer and other Books were presented to be sent to Uirginia in the
name of a person who had the yeere before sent for the vse of the Colledge at Henrico diuers Bookes and an exact Map of America the Giuer is not knowne but the Bookes are valued at tenne pound Giuen by Master Thomas Bargraue Preacher in Virginia deceassed for the vse of the Colledge a Library valued at a hundred Markes And there is a contribution made by the Inhabitants in Virginia for the building of an house of entertainment for new commers at Iames Citie amounting to the value of fifteene hundred pounds Patents granted this yeere 1 To the Ladie Dale 2 To Sir Dudly Digges 3 To Sir Iohn Bourchier 4 To Captaine Ralph Hamer 5 To Master Arthur Swayne c. 6 To Master Rowland Trueloue c. 7 To Master Iohn Crowe 8 To Master Edward Rider 9 To Captaine Simon Leeke 10 To Master Daniell Gookin 11 To Master Edward Bennet 12 To Master Ioseph Leming 13 To Sir Charles North. 14 To Sir George Yeardly 15 To Master Thomas Leneson 16 To Captaine William Wildon 17 To Master Henry Southey 18 To Martins Hundred 19 To Master Robert Moston 20 To Master Edmund Wynne 21 To Captaine Henry Pelham c. 22 To Captaine Daniell Tucker 23 To Sir Bowyer Worsly 24 To Master Thomas Buckley 25 To Master Francis Harwell 26 To Sir Iohn Brooke Who together with their Associates haue vndertaken to transport great multitudes of people and cattle to Virginia §. II. Newes from Virginia in Letters sent thence 1621. partly published by the Company partly transcribed from the Originals with Letters of his Maiestie and of the Company touching Silke-workes IN the three last yeeres of 1619. 1620. and 1621. there hath beene prouided and sent for Virginia two and fortie Saile of ships three thousand fiue hundred and seuentie men and women for Plantation with requisite prouisions besides store of Cattle and in those ships haue beene aboue twelue hundred Mariners imployed There hath also beene sent in those yeeres nine shâ—ps to the Summer Ilands with about nine hundred people to inhabit there in which ships two hundred and fortie Mariners were imployed In which space haue beene granted fifty Patents to particular persons for Plantation in Virginia who with their Associates haue vndertaken therein to transport great multitudes of people and cattell thither which for the most part is since performed and the residue now in preparing as by the seuerall Declarations of each yeere in their particulars manifested and approoued in our generall and publike Quarter-Courts and for the fuller satisfaction of all desirous to vnderstand the particularities of such proceedings hath beene by printing commended to the vnderstanding of all Sir Francis Wiat was sent Gouernour into Virginia who arriued there in Nouember 1621. with Master George Sandys Treasurer Master Dauison Secretarie c. In the nine ships sent in that Fleet died but one Passenger of seuen hundred in whose roome there was another also borne at Sea Their prouisions were not found so well conditioned as was expected The Sailers are still blamed for imbezelling the goods sent to priuate persons for killing of Swine inordinate trucking c. It was ordained that for euery head they should plant but a thousand plants of Tobacco and for the better strength not to suffer aboue nine leaues to grow on each plant which will make about a hundred weight Master Gookin arriued also out of Ireland with fiftie men of his owne and thirtie Passengers well furnished The present gaine by Tobacco had made the planting of Corne to be neglected and some thinke that if Corne might there be valued not at two shillings sixe pence the bushell as deere as that which is brought from hence there would be lesse feare of famine or dependance on Tobacco The Letters written from the Gouernour and Treasurer in Virginia in the beginning of March last which came hither in Aprill gaue assurance of ouercomming and bringing to perfection in this yeere the Iron-workes Glasse-workes Salt-workes the plentifull sowing of all lorts of English graine with the Plough hauing now cleered good quantitie of ground setting of store of Indian Corne or Maiz sufficient for our selues and for trucke with the Natiues restraint of the quantitie of Tobacco and amendment of it in the qualitie learned by time and experience The planting of Vines and Mulberie trees neere to their Houses Figge-trees Pomegranates Potatoes and Cotton-wooll Seeds Pocoon Indico Sugar Canes Madder Woade Hempe Flaxe and Silke-grasse and for the erecting of a faire Inne in Iames Citie for the better entertainment of new commers whereto and to other publike workes euery old Planter there offered freely and liberally to contribute I write the words of their Letters And how in a late Discouerie made a few moneths before by some of them to the Southward they had past thorow great Forrests of Pines fifteene or sixteene miles broad and aboue threescore miles long very fit for Masts for shipping and for Pitch and Tarre and of other sorts of woods fit for Pot-ashes and Sope-ashes and came vnto a most fruitfull Countrey blessed with abundance of Corne reaped twice a yeere within the limits of Virginia where also they vnderstand of a Copper Myne an essay whereof was sent and vpon triall here found to be very rich and met with a great deale of Silke-grasse there growing which monethly may be cut of which kinds and Cotton-wooll all the Cambaya and Bengala Stuffes are made in the East Indies and of which kindes of Silke-grasse was heretofore made a piece of Grogeram giuen to Queene Elizabeth And how that in December last they had planted and cultiuated in Uirginia Vines of all as well those naturally growing as those other Plants sent them from these parts of Europe Orenge and Lemon-trees Fig-trees Sugar Canes Cotton-wooll Cassaui Roots that make very good bread Plantanes Potatoes and sundry other Indian fruits and Plants not formerly seene in Virginia which at the time of their said Letters began to prosper very well as also their Indico Seed for the true cure whereof there is lately caused a Treatise to be written Furthermore they write that in a Voyage made by Lieutenant Marmaduke Parkinson and other English Gentlemen vp the Riuer of Patomacke they saw a China Boxe at one of the Kings Houses where they were This Boxe or Casket was made of braided Palmito painted without and lined in the inside with blue Taffata after the China or East India fashion They enquiring whence it came the King of Patomecke said it was presented him by a certaine people of the Mountaines toward the South-west who got it from another Nation beyond them some thirtie dayes iournie from Patomacke called Acana Echinac beeing of small stature who had Houses Apparell and Houshold stuffe like vs and liuing within foure dayes iourney of the Sea had ships come into their Riuer and he his Brother along with them to that King which offer the Gouernour purposed not to refuse and the
we will forbeare to take the most holy name of God in vaine in ordinary swearing by it or any other thing or by scoffing or vaine abusing of his most holy Word or to vse cursing or filthy speeches or any other thing forbidden in Gods most holy Word as also to liue together without stealing one from another or quarrelling one with another or slandering one of another And to auoide all things that stand not with the good estate of a Christian Church and well gouerned Common-wealth as also to embrace the contrary as Iustice and Peace Loue and all other things that stand with the good and comfort of Societie Fourthly Whereas we are here together farre remote from our natiue soile of England and yet are indeed the naturall Subiects of our most Royall and gracious King IAMES of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. Wee doe therefore in the presence aforesaid solemnly promise euermore to continue the loyall Subiects of our said Soueraigne King his Heires and Successors and neuer to reuolt from him or them vnto any other whatsoeuer but euermore to acknowledge his Supreme Gouernment Fiftly Whereas wee were sent hither by diuers Aduenturers of the Citie of London and other parts of the Realme of England wee doe here in the presence aforesaid promise to vse all diligence for the good of the Plantation and not to purloyne or imbesell any of the prohibited commodities out of the generall estate but to vse all faithfulnesse as it becommeth Christians to doe as also to bee obedient to all such Gouernour or Gouernours or their Deputie or Deputies as are or shall be by them sent to gouerne vs As also to yeeld all reuerence towardes the Ministery or Ministers of the Gospel sent or to be sent Sixtly and lastly Wee doe here in presence aforesaid promise the Lord assisting vs that if at any time hereafter any forrain power shall attempt to put vs out of this our lawful possession not cowardly to yeeld vp the same but manfully to fight as true English men for the defence of the Common-wealth we liue in and Gospel wee professe and that whiles we haue breath wee will not yeeld to any that shall inuade vs vpon any conditions whatsoeuer I had thought hitherto to haue added a Letter of M. Hughes written from thence Dec. 21. 1614. and printed But our latter intelligence being more ample hath caused mee to omit him and others Yea all things in some and some things in all M. Norwood hath beene a diligent Surueyor of the place and accidents and hath giuen a Map of the one common to be sold and a briefe relation of the other But because his History of the Creatures is briefe I haue borrowed out of Captaine Smith what he had borrowed of Capt. Butler and others to giue the Reader more full satisfaction in that kind CHAP. XVII Relations of Summer Ilands taken out of M. RICHARD NORWOOD his Map and Notes added thereto printed 1622. The History of the Creatures growing or liuing therein being inlarged out of Capt. SMITHS written Relations SIr Thomas Gates and Sir George Summers hauing staied in Bermuda nine moneths with helpe of such things as they saued with the Sea-ven'ure and of such as they found in the Countrey had built of Cedar and rigged fit for the Sea two Vessels a Ship and a Pinnace and vpon the tenth of May 1610. departed toward Uirginia leauing onely two men behind them and carrying them store of prouision for the reliefe of the people there Vpon the foure and twentieth of May they arriued safely there and shortly after some of them returned to the Sommer Ilands againe for a further supply in the same Ship which they had formerly built there where Sir George Sommers dying his men did not according to his last charge giuen vnto them returne to Virginia but framed their course for England leauing behind them three men that staied voluntarily who shortly after found in Sommerset Iland which is a part of Sandys Tribe a verie great treasure in Ambergreece to the valew of nine or ten thousand pound sterling there hath also been found since diuers times of the best sort This new discouery of the Sommer Ilands being thus made knowne in England to the Virginian Company by these men which returned they sold it to some hundred and twentie persons of the same Company who obtained a Charter from his Maiestie and so hold it And toward the latter end of Aprill 1612. sent thither a Ship called the Plough with some sixtie persons to inhabite appointing Gouernour one Master Richard Moore a man ingenuous and carefull who since dyed in Sir Walter Rawlyes last voyage to Guiana a place as appeareth by our Moderne Geographers very rich and spatious But as I say he arriued there about the beginning of Iuly and found the foresaid three men that staied voluntarily very well Master Moore spent the three yeeres of his gouernment for the most part in fortifying the Countrey and trayning the people in Martiall exercises which custome hath beene continued by his successours hee built some nine or tenne Forts placing Oâ—dnance and Munition in them In his time the Lord sent vpon the Countrey a very grieuous scourge and punishment threatning the vtter ruine and desolation of it That it came from God I need not striue to proue especially considering it was generally so acknowledged by vs at that time The causes and occasions of it I need not name being very well knowne to vs all that then liued there which were about sixe hundred persons thought shortly after much diminished I will onely shew the thing it selfe which was a wonderfull annoyance by silly Rats These Rats comming at the first out of a Ship few in number increased in the space of two yeeres or lesse so exceedingly that they filled not onely those places where they were first landed But swimming from place to place spread themselues into all parts of the Countrey Insomuch that there was no Iland though seuered by the Sea from all other Lands and many miles distant from the Iles where the Rats had their originall but was pestered with them They had their Nests almost in euery Tree and in all places their Burrowes in the ground like Conies to harbour in They spared not the fruits of Plants and Trees neither the Plants themselues but eate them vp When wee had set our Corne they would commonly come by troupes the night following or so soone as it began to grow and digge it vp againe If by diligent watching any of it were preserued till it came to earing it should then very hardly scape them Yea it was a difficult matter after wee had it in our houses to saue it from them for they became noysome euen to the persons of men Wee vsed all diligence for the destroying of them nourishing many Cats wilde and tame for that purpose wee vsed Rats-bane and many times set fire
left fifteene men to keepe possession furnished with prouision for two yeeres A. 1587. Sir Walter Raleigh sent a new Colony of one hundred fifty persons with three saile a Ship of one hundred and twenty Tuns a Fly-boat and a Pinnace Hee appointed twelue Assistants to the Gouernour and incorporated them by the name of Gouernour and Assistants of the Citie of Raleigh in Virginia To these Sir Walter Raleigh sent succour fiue seuerall times the last by Samuel Mace 1602. An. 1603. the Bristow men sent thither by leaue of Sir Walter Raleigh in which Expedition was Master Robert Saltern who the yeere before had beene with Cap. Bart. Gosnold And thus are wee come to the beginning of his Maiesties gracious raigne when the North and South Plantations were by new Patents eagerly pursued the one from hence the other from the West parts of England Mawooshen and other parts were many yeeres visited by our men and An. 1607. a Plantation setled at Sagadahoc by two Ships sent by that wise and seuere Iustice Sir Iohn Popham and others the successe whereof hath been such that from the North Plantation it hath beene dignified with the Title of New England And for the Southerne parts A. 1606. a Colony went from hence set forth by the Virginia Company which haue euer since maintained their Plantation in differing fortunes As for the former Plantations of Sir Walter Raleigh some children were borne to them there and whether they liue they continued the possession or if the Sauages dealt perfidiously with them as Powhatan confessed to Cap. Smith that hee had beene at their slaughter and had diuers vtensills of theirs to shew their carkasses the dispersed bones of their and their Countrey mens since murthered carkasses haue taken a mortall immortall possession and being dead speake proclaime and cry This our earth is truly English and therefore this Land is iustly yours O English Thus haue we discouered the English right by Discouery Possession Praescription to which we may adde that none other Nation hath once aduentured to settle in those parts nor scarce to view them yea the French and Spanish Plantations in Florida Virginias Southerne neighbour soone ended in bloudy massacres the Spanish cruelly murthering the French vnder the conduct of Pedro Melendes which An. 1567. was repaid them by Dominique de Gorgues the acquittance written with his sword in Spanish bloud Florida euer since expecting ciuilizing from her first discouerers the English which is further ratified by the former Spanish disasters in the Expeditions of Pamphilo di Nauarez 1527. and of Solo 1537. into Florida which two iourneyes consumed neere one thousand men therein imployed besides other Expeditions of Ponce de Leon and others mentioned by Uega and the Spanish Authors Now for voluntary subiection of the Natiues giuing themselues and their lands to the Crown of England M. Ralph Lane hath testified for the first Colonie that Menatonon their King by his Messenger with him twentie foure principal men sent from Okisko King of Weopomiok his Vassall formally acknowledged Her Maiesty as seruants and homagers to her and vnder her to Sir W. R. For the last Plantation by the present Patent of His Maiesty Paspehay one of their Kings sold vs land for Copper and Powhatan the chiefe Lord of all the Sauages with thirty nine Werowances haue yeelded to more then formes and circumstances of homage besides contribution hauing also actually sold for Copper by him receiued of Cap. Iohn Smith and made voluntary cession of as much as the English desired going away with his people to leaue it to the English onely This purchase was much increased by Sir Thomas Dale and for whatsoeuer else which he held hee accepted a Copper Crowne as Vassall to His Maiesty which also hee really performed for a time howsoeuer since they haue beene perfidious And this perfidiousnesse of theirs hath further warranted the English Title Temperance and Iustice had before kissed each other and seemed to blesse the cohabitations of English and Indians in Virginia But when Virginia was violently rauished by her owne ruder Natiues yea her Virgin cheekes dyed with the bloud of three Colonies that of Sir R. Greenevile that of Sir W. R. both confessed by themselues and this last butchery intended to all extended to so many hundreths with so immaine inhumane dâ—uillish treachery that I speake not of thousands otherwise mis-caring here and mis-carrying there taking possession of Uirginia by their facts and fates by so manifold losses adding to the price of Virginias purchase Temperance could not temper her selfe yea the stupid Earth seemes distempered with such bloudy potions and cries that shee is ready to spue out her Inhabitants Iustice cryeth to GOD foe vengeance and in his name adiureth Prudence and Fortitude to the execution The Holy Patriarks had a promise of Canaan yet held no possession but with their dead bodies Ioseph by faith gaue charge concerning his bones Virginia by so many rights naturalized English by first discouery actuall possession chargeable continuation long prescription voluntary subiection deliuery of seisin naturall inheritance of English there borne reall sale legall cession regall vassallage disloyall treason hath now confiscated whatsoeuer remainders of right the vnnaturall Naturalls had and made both them and their Countrey wholly English prouoking vs if wee bee our owne not base degenerate vnworthy the name of English so that wee shall not haue any thing left like Dauids Embassadors which thus abused brought their Master a iust title to Ammon purchased by their disgraces to couer our nakednesse till Virginia couer reward inrich vs with a totall subiection at lest if not a fatall reuenge And thus much for our right which God hath giuen vs whose Virginian tribute is his glory that hee may indeed be Alpha and Omega as hath beene said of the Virginian Plantation which if it hath not satisfied the expectation hitherto no doubt that defect hath in great part proceeded from this The end of a thing is the beginning being first in intention though last in execution the end which Christians ought to ayme at is God Doing all things in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ to the glory of God the Father by the gracious guide and assistance of the Holy Ghost Glory is Frequens de aliquo fama cum laude And heereby is our Father glorified sayeth Christ if yee bring forth much fruite and so shall yee be my Disciples Loe here the scope of Christians Plantations to plant Christianity to produce and multiply Christians by our words and works to further the knowledge of God in his Word and Workes The workes of God glorifie their Creator The Heauens saith Dauid declare the glory of God c. I will triumph in the workes of thy hands O Lord how great are thy workes and thy thoughts are very deepe A bruitish man knoweth not neither doth a foole vnderstand this All creatures
lesse pleasant then wholsome and profitable no place hath more Goose-berries and Straw-berries nor better Timber of all sorts you haue in England doth couer the Land that affords Beasts of diuers sorts and great flockes of Turkies Quailes Pigeons and Partridges Many great Lakes abounding with Fish Fowle Beauers and Otters The Sea affoords vs as great plentie of all excellent sorts of Sea-fish as the Riuers and Iles doth varietie of wild Fowle of most vsefull sorts Mynes we find to our thinking but neither the goodnesse nor qualitie wee know Better Graine cannot be then the Indian Corne if we will plant it vpon as good ground as a man need desire Wee are all Free-holders the rent day doth not trouble vs and all those good blessings we haue of which and what wee list in their seasons for taking Our company are for most part very religious honest people the Word of God sincerely taught vs euery Sabbath so that I know not any thing a contented mind can here want I desire your friendly care to send my Wife and Children to mee where I wish all the Friends I haue in England and so I rest Your louing Kinsman William Hilton From the West Countrey went ten or twelue Ships to Fish which were all well fraughted those that came first at Bilbow made seuenteene pounds a single share besides Beauer Otters and Martins skins but some of the rest that came to the same Ports that were already furnished so glutted the Market their price was abated yet all returned so well contented they are a preparing to goe againe There is gone from the West of England onely to fish thirtie fiue Ships and about the last of April two more from London the one of one hundred Tuns the other of thirtie with some sixtie Passengers to supply the Plantation with all necessary prouisions Now though the Turke and French hath beene somewhat too busie would all the Christian Princes but bee truly at vnitie as his Royall Maiesty our Soueraigne Lord and King desireth seuentie saile of good Ships were sufficient to fire the most of his Coasts in the Leuant and make such a guard in the straits of Hellespont as would make the Great Turke himselfe more afraid in Constantinople then the smallest Red Crosse crosses the Seas would be either of any French Piccaroun or the Pyrates of Argere An Abstract of Letters sent from the Colony in New England Iuly sixteene 1622. Since the newes of the Massacre in Virginia though the Indians continue their wonted friendship yet are wee more wary of them then before for their hands haue beene embrued in much English bloud onely by too much confidence but not by force Here I must intreat a little your fauours to digresse They did not kill the English because they were Christians but for their weapons and commodities that were rare nouelties but now they feare we may beat them out of their Dens which Lions and Tygers would not admit but by force But must this be an argument for an Englishman or discourage any either in Virginia or New England No â—or I haue tried them both For Virginia I kept that Countrey with thirtie eight and had not to eate but what we had from the Sauages When I had ten men able to goe abroad our Common-wealth was very strong with such a number I ranged that vnknowne Countrey fourteene weekes I had but eighteen to sâ—bdue them all with which great Army I stayed sixe weeks before their greatest Kings habitations till they had gathered together all the power they could and yet the Dutchmen sent at a needlesse excessiue charge did helpe Powhatan how to betray mee Of their numbers wee were vncertaine but those two honourable Gentlemen Captaine George Percie and Captaine Francis West two of the Phittiplaces and some other such noble Gentlemen and resolute spirts bore their shares with me and now liuing in England did see me take this murdering Opechankanough now their Great King by the long lock on his head with my Pistoll at his breast I led him among his greatest forces and before wee parted made him fill our Barke of twentie Tuns with Corne. When their owne wants was such I haue giuen them part again in pitty others haue bought it again to plant their fields For wronging a Souldier but the value of a peny I haue caused Powhatan send his own men to Iames Town to receiue their punishment at my discretion It is true in our greatest extremity they shot me slue three of my men and by the folly of them that fled tooke me prisoner yet God made Pocahontas the Kings Daughter the meanes to deliuer me and thereby taught mee to know their treacheries to preserue the rest It was also my chance in single combate to take the King of Paspahegh prisoner and by keeping him forced his subiects to worke in Chaines till I made all the Countrey pay contribution hauing little else-whereon to liue Twice in this time I was their President none can say in all that time I had a man slain but for keeping them in that feare I was much blamed both there and heere yet I left fiue hundred behind mee that through their confidence in sixe monethes came most to confusion as you may reade at large in the description of Virginia When I went first to those desperate designes it cost me many a forgotten pound to hire men to goe and procrastination caused more runne away then went But after the Ice was broken came many braue Voluntaries notwithstanding since I came from thence the Honorable Company haue beene humble Suters to his Maiestie to get Vagabonds and condemned men to goe thither nay so much scorned was the name of Virgnia some did chuse to be hanged ere they would goe thither and were yet for all the worst of spite detraction and discouragement and this lamentable Massacre there are more honest men now suters to goe then euer haue been constrained knaues and it is not vnknowne to most men of vnderstanding how happy many of those Callumners doe thinke themselues that they might bee admitted and yet pay for their passage to goe now to Virginia and had I but meanes to transport as many as would goe I might haue choice of ten thousand that would gladly bee in any of those new places which were so basely contemned by vngratefull base minds To range this Countrie of New England in like manner I had but eight as is said and amongst their bruite conditions I met many of their silly incounters and without any hurt God be thanked when your West Countrie men were many of them wounded and much tormented with the Sauages that assaulted their Ship as they did say themselues in the first yeare I was there 1614. and though Master Hunt then Master with me did most basely in stealing some Sauages from that coast to sell when he was directed to haue gone for Spaine yet that place was so remote from
as Geese and flie not for they haue but a little short wing and they multiply so infinitely vpon a certaine flat Iland that men driue them from thence vpon a boord into their Boates by hundreds at a time as if God had made the innocencie of so poore a creature to become such an admirable instrument for the sustentation of man There are also Godwits Curlewes and a certaine kinde of Fowle are called Oxen and Kine with such like which Fowle doe not onely steed those that trade thither greatly for foode but also they are a great furthering to diuers Ships voyages because the abundance of them is such that the Fishermen doe baâ—t their hookes with the quarters of Sea-Fowle on them and therewith some Ships doe yeerely take a great part of their Fishing Voyages with some baite before they can get others The fresh waters and Springs of that Countrie are many in number and withall very pleasant delightfull and wholesome that no Countrie in the world hath better And Fewell for fire is so plenâ—â—full that there is neuer like to be want of that commoditie In like manner there is great abundance of Trees fit to be imploied in other seruiceable vses There are Furre and Spruce trees sound good and fit to mast Ships withall and as commodious for boords and buildings as the Spruce and Firre trees of Norway and out of these came abundance of Turpentine No Countrie can shew Pine and Birch trees of such height and greatnesse as those are there and doubtlesse if some store of your Maiesties subiects doe once settle there to liue and would be industrious to search further and more throughly into the Countrie then as yet it hath beene there might be found many other commodities of good worth Amongst the which I may not omit that there is much probabilitie of finding Mines and making of Iron and Pitch The Riuers also and Harbors are generally stored with delicate Fish as Salmons Pearles Eeles Herring Mackerell Flounders Launce Capelin God and Troutes the fairest fattest and sweetest that I haue seene in any part of the world The like for Lobsters Crabfish Musktes Hens and other varietie of Shel-fish great store And also obserue here that in these places there is vsually store of the spawne and frie of seuerall sorts of fishes whereby the Sea-fowle liue so fat as they are there in the winter And likewise the Beuers Otters and such like that seeke their foode in the Ponds and fresh Riuers The Seas likewise all along the Coast doe plentifully abound in other sorts of fish as Wâ—ales Spanish Mackerell Dorrell Pales Herring Hogs Porposes Seales and such like royall fish c. But the chiefe commodity of New-found-land yet knowne and which is growne to be a setled trade and that may be much bettered by an orderly Plantation there if the Traders thither will take some better course then formerly they haue done as shall be declared if the Cod-fishing vpon that Coast by which our Nation and many other Countries are enricht And if I should here set downe a valuation of that Fish which the French Biscaines and Portugals setch yeerely from this Coast of New-found-land and the Banke which lieth within fiue and twentie leagues from the South-Cape of that Countrie where the French vse to fish Winter and Summer vsually making two Voyages euery yeere thither To which places and to the Coast of Canady which lieth neere vnto it are yeerely sent from those Countries more then foure hundred saile of Ships It would seeme incredible yea some men are of opinion that the people of France Spaine and Italy could not so well liue if the benefit of the fishing vpon this Coast and your Maiesties other Dominions were taken from them But I trust it will be sufficient that I giue an estimate of our owne trading thither and partly of the wealth and commodities we reape thereby without any curious search into other mens profits In the yeere 1615. when I was at New-found-land with the Commission before mentioned which was an occasion of my taking the more particular obseruations of that Country there were then on that Coast of your Maiesties subiects two hundred and fiftie saile of Ships great and small The burthens and Tunnage of them all one with another so neere as I could take notice allowing euery Ship to be at least threescore tun for as some of them contained lesse so many of them held more amounting to more then 15000. tunnes Now for euery threescore tun burthen according to the vsuall manning of Ships in those Voyages agreeing with the note I then tooke there are to be set downe twentie men and boyes by which computation in these two hundred and fiftie saile there were no lesse then fiue thousand persons Now euery one of these Ships so neere as I could guesse had about 120000. fish and fiue tunne of traine Oyle one with another So that the totall of the Fish in these two hundred and fiftie saile when it was brought into England France or Spaine being sold after the rate of foure pound for euery thousand of fish sixscore fishes to the hundred which is not a pennie a fish and if it yeelde lesse it was ill sold amounted in monie to 120000. pound Now as I haue said before allowing to euery Ship of sixtie tun at least fiue tun of traine Oyle the totall of that ariseth to 1250. tun each tun whether it be sold in England or elsewhere being vnder-valued at twelue pound So as the whole value thereof in monie amounteth to the sum of 15000. pound which added to the fish it will appeare that the totall value of the fish and Traine Oyle of those 250. saile of Ships that yeere might yeelde to your Maiesties subiects better then the Summe of 135000. pound omitting to reckon the ouer-prices which were made and gotten by the sale thereof in forrain Countries being much more then what is vsually made at home and so the like in other yeeres And this certainly in my vnderstanding is a point worthy of consideration that so great wealth should yearely be raised by one sole commodity of that Countrie yea by one onely sort of fish and not vpon any other trade thither which must needes yeelde with the imploiments thereof great riches to your Maiesties Subiects And this also to be gathered and brought home by the sole labour and industry of men without exchange or exportation of our Coine and natiue commodities or other aduenture then of necessarie prouisions for the fishing as Salt Nets Leads Hookes Lines and the like and of victuals as Bread Beefe and Porke in competent measure according to the number and proportion of men imployed in those Voyages The conuerting of these commodities gotten by fishing into mony cannot choose but be a great benefit to all your Maiesties Kingdomes in many respects What the charge in setting forth of these two hundred and fiftie saile might
are willing to entertaine such as will further his Maiesties said Plan 〈…〉 vpon fit conditions Diuers Worshipfull Citizens of the Citie of Bristoll haue vndertaken to plant a large Circuit of that Countrie they haue maintained a Colony of his Maiesties subiects there any time these fiue yeeres who haue builded there many faire Houses and done many other good seruices who liue there very pleasantly and they are well pleased to entertaine vpon fit conditions such as will be Aduenturers with them The Worshipfull William Vanghan of Tarratod in the Countie of Ca 〈…〉 Doctor of the Ciuill Law hath also vndertaken to plant a Circuit in the New-found-land and hath in two seuerall yeeres sent thither diuers men and women and hee is willing to entertaine such as will be Aduenturers with him vpon fit conditions And there are many other worthy persons Aduenturers in the said Plantation whose names are not herein mentioned And it is well hoped that diuers others will also put their helping hand to aduance the same when they are giuen to vnderstand what honour and benefit may accrue thereby And if his Maiesties subiects of this Kingdome may be willing to set forth from euerie seuerall Countrie but one good Ship yearely thither with people and prouisions fit for them it will be then not onely a great honour and benefit to his Maiestie but also a great increase of Shipping and Marriners and the imploying and inriching of many thousands of poore people which now liue chargeably to the Parishioners The whâ—ah may be easily performed by the able Subiects to set forth the charge at first and so euerie Parish to recouer yearely their equall parts of the benefit which may accrue by the said stocke and thereby not onely disburden yeerely themselues of some of those which lie chargeable vnto them within their seuerall Parishes but also yeerely yeelde a great benefit to euery seuerall Countie though it lie something remote from the Sea-coast if they imploy a discreete honest man there who may yearely be accomptable to euerie Parish of the charge and likewise the benefit The which will not be anie way burdensome or hurtfull vnto any as the following discourse which I haue written will plainly informe them Extracts of a Letter from Captaine EDWARD WINNE Gouernour of the Colony at Ferryland within the Prouince of Aualon in Newfound-Land vnto the Right Honourable Sir GEORGE CALVERT Knight his Maisties Principall Secretary Iuly 28. 1622. May it please your Honour VPon the seuenteenth day of May I receiued here yo 〈…〉 Letters of the nineteenth of February from the â—aâ—ds of Robert Stoning Vpon the six and twentieth of the same a Ship of Master Iennins with your people and prouision arriued here in safetie and from the hands of Captaine Powell I receiued then your Honours Letters of the fourteenth of March. And vpon the last of Iune Master Iames came hither from Renouse and the Saltamaker Master Iohn Hickson from whose hands I receiued two Letters more that by Master Iames being of the fourth of May and the other by Hickson of the tenth of the same c. It may please your Honour that as soone as I had deliuered my last Letters of the fifth of September I immediately addressed my selfe onely to our businesse Notwithstanding our diligent labour and extraordinary paines-taking it was Alhaâ—â—entide before our first range of building was fitted for an habitable being c. After Christâ—asse wee imployed our selues in the Woods especially in 〈◊〉 weather whence wee got home as many Boord-stockes as afforded vs 〈◊〉 hundred Boords and about two hundred Timber-trees besides Wee got home as much or as many Trees as serued vs to pâ—lizade into the Plantation about foure Acrâ—â— of ground for the keeping off of both man and â—east with Post and Rayle seuen foot high shaâ—pened in the â—â—p the Trees being pâ—â—ched vpright and fastened with Spikes and Nayles Wee get also together as much fire-wood as will serue vs yet these two months We also fâ—â—â—ed much Garden ground for Seed I meane Barley Oates Rease and Beanes For addition of building we haue at this present a Parlour of fourteene fâ—ot besides the Chinney and twelue foot brâ—â—d of 〈◊〉 bright and a lodging Chamber ouer it to each a Chimney of Stone-work with Staires and a S 〈…〉 besides a 〈◊〉 of two 〈◊〉 or a story and a halfe which serues for a Store-house till wee are otherwise prouided The Forge hath beene finished these fine weekes the Saltworke is now almost ready Notwithstanding this great tâ—â—ke for so fe◠〈…〉 ds we haue both Wheat Barley Oates Pease and Bâ—â—nes about the quantâ—tie of two Aâ—res Of Garden roome about halfe aâ— Acre Corne though late sowne is now in earings the Bâ—â—nes and the goodâ—â—st Pease that I euer saw haue flourished in their bloomes this twentie dayes Wee haue a plentifull Kitchin Garden of Leâ—ticâ— Raddish Carrets Coleworts Turneps and many other things Wee haue also at this present a flourishing Meadow c. For the Countrey and Clymate It is better and not so cold 〈◊〉 England hitherto My comfort is that the Lord is with your Honour and your designes for we haue prospered to the admiration of all the beholders in what is done And thus with my humble duty remembred I rest c. Another Letter to Master Secretary CALVERT from Captaine WINNE of the seuenteenth of August 1622. May it please your Honour VVE haue Wheat Barley Oates and Beanes both eared and codded and though the late sowing and setting of them might occasion the contrary yet it ripens now so fast that it carries the likelihood of an approaching Haruest Wee haue also a plentifull Kitchen-Garden of many things and so ranke that I haue not seene the like in England Our Beanes are exceeding good our Pease shall goe wothout compare for they are in some places as high as a man of an extraordinary stature Raddish as big as mine arme Lettice Cale or Cabbage Turneps Carrets and all the rest is of like goodnesse We haue a Meadow of about three Acres it flourished lately with many cockets of good Hay and now it is made vp for a Winter feeding Wee hope to bee well fitted with many Acres of Meadow against another yeere of Pasture-land wee baute already to serue at least three hundred heads of Cattell and to all this if it please God a good quantitie of Seed-ground shall be fitted and such buildings as wee shall be able to accomplish Now in the next place it may please your Honour to vnderstand That touching this Countrey the Summer time here is so faire so warme and of so good a temperature that it produceth many Hearbes and Plants very wholsome medicinable and delectable many fruit Trees of sundry kindes many sorts of Berries wholsome to eate and in measure most abundant insomuch as many sorts of Birds and Beasts are relieued with them in time of Winter and whereof with further experience I
were mustered eightie bands of Dutchmen sixtie of Spaniards six of high Germans and seuen bands of English fugitiues vnder the conduct of Sir William Stanlie an English Knight In the suburbs of Cortreight there were 4000. horsemen together with their horses in a readinesse and at Waten 900. horses with the troupe of the Marquesse del Gâ—â—sto Captaine generall of the horsemen Vnto this famous expedition and presupposed victory many potentates Princes and honorable personages hied themselues out of Spaine the Prince of Melito called the Duke of Pastrana and taken to be the Son of one Ruygomes de Silua but in very deede accompted among the number of King Philips base sons Also the Marquesse of Bargraue one of the sons of Arch-duke Ferdinand and Philippa Welsera Vespasian Gonsaga of the family of Mantua being for chiualâ—y a man of great renowne and heretofore Vice-roy in Spaine Item Iohn Medices base son vnto the Duke of Florence And Amadas of Sauoy the Duke of Sauoy his base son with many others of inferiour degrees At length when as the French King about the end of May signified vnto her Maiestie in plaine tearmes that she should stand vpon her guard because he was now certainly enformed that there was so dangerous an inuasion imminent vpon her Realme that he feared much least all her land and sea-forces would be sufficient to withstand it c. then began the Queenes Maiestie more carefully to gather her forces together and to furnish her own ships of warre and the principall ships of her subiects with souldiers weapons and other necessary prouision The greatest and strongest ships of the whole Nauie she sent vnto Plimmouth vnder the conduct of the right honorable Lord Charles Howard Lord high Admirall of England c. Vnder whom the renowned Knight Sir Francis Drake was appointed Vice-admirall The number of these ships was about an hundreth The lesser ships being 30. or 40. in number and vnder the conduct of the Lord Henry Seimer were commanded to lie betweene Douer and Caleis On land likewise throughout the whole realme souldiers were mustered and trained in all places and were committed vnto the most resolute and faithfull captaines And where as it was commonly giuen out that the Spaniard hauing once vnited himselfe vnto the Duke of Parma ment to inuade by the riuer of Thames there was at Tilburie in Essex ouer-against Grauesend a mighty army encamped and on both sides of the riuer fortifications were erected according to the prescription of Frederike Genebelli an Italian enginier Likewise there were certaine ships brought to make a Bridge though it were very late first Vnto the said Armie came in proper person the Queenes most roiall Maiestie representing Tomyris that Scithian warlike Princesse or rather diuine Pallas her selfe Also there were other such armies leuied in England The principal Recusants least they should stir vp any tumult in the time of the Spanish inuasion were sent to remaine at certain conuenient places as namely in the Isle of Ely and at Wisbich And some of them were sent vnto other places to wit vnto sundry Bishops and Noblemen where they were kept from endangering the state of the common wealth and of her sacred Maiestie who of her most gracious clemency gaue expresse commandement that they should be intreated with all humaniâ—ie and friendship The Prouinces of Holland Zeland c. giuing credit vnto their intelligence out of Spaine made preparation to defend themselues but because the Spanish ships were described vnto them to be so huge they relied partly vpon the shallow and dangerous Seas all along their coasts Wherefore they stood most in doubt of the Duke of Parma his small and flat-bottomed ships Howbeit they had all their ships of warre to the number of nintie and aboue in a readinesse for all assâ—yâ—s the greater part whereof were of a small burthen as being more meete to saile vpon their Riuers and shallow Seas and with these ships they besieged all the hauens in Flanders beginning at the mouth of Scheld or from the towne of Lillo and holding on to Greueling and almost vnto Caleis and fortified all their Sea-townes with strong garrisons Against the Spanish fleets arriuall they had prouided fiue and twenty or thirty good ships committing the gouernment of them vnto Admirall Lonck whom they commanded to ioine himselfe vnto the Lord Henry Seymer lying betweene Douer and Cales And when as the foresaid ships whereof the greater part besieged the hauen of Dunkerke were driuen by tempest into Zeland Iustin of Nassau the Admirall of Zeland supplied that squadron with fiue and thirty ships being of no great burthen but excellently furnished with Guns Mariners and Souldiers in great abundance especially with 1200 braue Musquetiers hauing beene accustomed vnto Sea-fights and being chosen out of all their company for the same purpose and so the said Iustin of Nassau kept such diligent ward in the Station that the Duke of Parma could not issue forth with his Nauie into Sea out of any part of Flanders In the meane while the Shanish Armada set saile out of the hauen of Lisbon vpon the 19. of May An. Dom. 1588. vnder the conduct of the Duke of Medina Sidonia directing their course for the Bay of Corunna alias the Groine in Gallicia where they tooke in souldiers and warlike prouision this port being in Spaine the neerest vnto England As they were sailing along there arose such a mighty tempest that the whole Fleet was dispersed so that when the Duke was returned vnto his company he could not escry aboue eighty ships in all whereunto the residue by little and little ioyned themselues except eight which had their Masts blowne ouer-boord One of the foure Gallies of Portingall escaped very hardly retiring her selfe into the hauen The other three were vpon the coast of Baion in France by the assistance and courage of one Dauid Gwin an English Captine whom the French and Turkish slaues aided in the same enterprise vtterly disabled and vanquished one of the three being first ouercome which conquered the two other with the slaughter of their Gouernour and souldiers and among the rest of Don Diego de Mandrana with sundry others and so those slaues arriued in France with the three Gallies set themselues at libertie The Nauie hauing refreshed themselues at the Groine and receiuing daily commandement from the King to hasten their iournie horsed vp sailes the 11. day of Iuly and so holding on their course till the 19. of the same moneth they came then vnto the mouth of the narrow Seas or English channell From whence striking their sailes in the meane season they dispatched certain of their small ships vnto the Duke of Parma At the same time the Spanish Fleete was escried by an English Pinnace Captaine whereof was Master Thomas Fleming after they had beene aduertised of the Spaniards expedition by their scoutes and espials which hauing ranged along the coast of Spaine were lately
wings of the Spanish Fleete conuey ouer all his troupes armour and warlike prouision and with their forces so vnited should inuade England or while the English Fleete were busied in fight against the Spanish should enter vpon any part of the coast which he thought to be most conuenient Which inuasion as the Captiues afterward confessed the Duke of Parma thought first to haue attempted by the Riuer of Thames vpon the bankes whereof hauing at his first arriuall landed twenty or thirty thousand of his principall Souldiers he supposed that he might easily haue won the Citie of London both because his small ships should haue followed and assisted his Land-forces and also for that the Citie it selfe was but meanely fortified and easie to ouercome by reason of the Citizens delicacie and discontinuance from the warres When as therefore the Spanish Fleete rode at anker before Caleis to the end they might consult with the Duke of Parma what was best to be done according to the Kings commandement and the present estate of their affaires and had now as we will afterward declare purposed vpon the second of August being Friday with one power and consent to haue put their intended businesse in practise the Lord Admirall of England being admonished by her Maiesties Letterâ— from the Court thought it most expedient either to driue the Spanish Fleet from that place or at leastwise to giue them the encounter and for that cause according to her Maiesties prescription he tooke forthwith eight of his worst and basest ships which came next to hand and disburthening them of all things which seemed to be of any value filled them with Gunpowder Pitch Brimstone and with other combustible and fiery matter and charging all their Ordnance with powder bullets and stones and sent the said ships vpon the 28. of Iuly being Sunday about two of the clocke after midnight with the winde and tide against the Spanish Fleete which when they had proceeded a good space being forsaken of the Pilots and set on fire were directly carried vpon the King of Spaines Nauie which fire in the dead of night put the Spaniards into such a perplexitie and horror for they feared lest they were like vnto those terrible ships which Frederie senebelli three yeeres before at the siege of Antwerpe had furnished with Gunpowder stones and dreadfull engines for the dissolution of the Duke of Parma his Bridge built vpon the Riuer of Scheld that cutting their cables whereon their ankers were fasted and hoising vp their sailes they betooke themselues very confusedly vnto the maine Sea And this sudden confusion the principall and greatest of the foure Galliasses falling fowle of another ship lost her rudder for which cause when she could not be guided any longer she was by the force of the tide cast into a certaine should vpon the shoare of Caleis where she was immediately assaulted by diuers English Pinnaces Hoyes and Drumblers And as they lay battering of her with their Ordnance and durst not boord her the Lord Admirall sent thither his long Boate with an hundreth choise Souldiers vnder the command of Captaine Amias Preston Vpon whose approach their fellowes being more emboldened did offer to boord the Galliasse against whom the Gouernor thereof and Captaine of all the foure Galliasses Hugo de Moncada stoutly opposed himself fighting by so much the more valiantly in that he hoped presently to be succoured by the Duke of Parma In the meane season Moncada after hee had endured the conflict a good while being hit on the head with a Bullet fell downe starke dead and a great number of Spaniards also were slaine in his company The greater part of the residue leaping ouer-boord into the Sea to saue themâ—elues by swimming were most of them drowned Howbeit there escaped among others Don Anthonio de Manriques a principall officer in the Spanish fleete called by them their Veador Generall together with a few Spaniards besides which Anthonio was the first man that carried certaine newes of the successe of their fleete into Spaine This huge monstrous Galliasse wherein were contained three hundred slaues to lug at the Oares and foure hundred souldiers was in the space of three houres rifled in the same place and there was found amongst diuers other commodities 50000. Duckets of the Spanish Kings treasure At length when the slaues were released out of their fetters the English men would haue set the said ship on fire which Monsieur Gourdon the Gouernour of Caleis for feare of the damage which might thereupon ensue to the Towne and Hauen would not permit them to doe but draue them from thence with his great Ordnance Vpon the 29. of Iuly in the morning the Spanish Fleete after the foresaid tumult hauing arranged themselues againe into order were within sight of Greueling most brauely and furiously encountered by the English where they once againe got the winde of the Spaniards who suffered themselues to be depriued of the commodity of the place in Caleis rode and of the aduantage of the winde neere vnto Dunkerk rather then they would change their array or separate their forces now conioyned and vnited together standing onely vpon their defence And albeit there were many excellent and warlike shâ—ps in the English fleet yet scarse were there 22. or 23. among them all which matched 90. of the Spanish ships in bignesse or could conueniently assault them Wherefore the English ships vsing their prerogatiue of nimble stirrage whereby they could turne and wield themselues with the winde which way they listed came oftentimes very neere-vpon the Spaniards and charged them so sore that now and then they were but a Pikes length at sunder and so continually giuing them one broad side after another they dispatched all their shot both great and small vpon them spending one whole day from morning till night in that violent kinde of conflict vntill such time as powder and bullets failed them In regard of which want they thought it conuenient not to pursue the Spaniards any longer because they had many great vantages of the English namely for the extraordinary bignesse of their ships and also for that they were so neerely conioyned and kept together in so good array that they could by no meanes be fought withall one to one The English thought therefore that they had right well acquitted themselues in chasing the Spaniards first from Caleis and then from Dunkerk and by that means to haue hindered them from ioyning with the Duke of Parma his forces and getting the winde of them to haue driuen them from their owne coasts The Spaniards that day sustained great losse and damage hauing many of their ships shot thorow and thorow and they discharged likewise great store of Ordnance against the English who indeede sustained some hinderance but not comparable to the Spaniards losse for they lost not any one ship or person of account For very diligent inquisition being made the
Oquendo and the Enemies tooke the chiefe Ship of Don Pedro de Valdez which being entangled with others vnder his charge was left without Tackle and so neere the Enemies that shee could not be succoured by others With this our Fleet seeing that the Enemy in euery point did flye from giuing battell they sailed with some calme weather and the Enemies after them shooting alwayes at the Rearward vntill the seuenth that our Fleet ancored in the Road of S. Iohn betwixt Calleis and Bollin nine leagues from Dunkerk and the Enemies did the like the neerest they could to England The night being approached the Enemies got vp their Ankers to get wind and not to suffer our Ships to goe out of the Road to Sea because they had trimmed eight Ships of fire which with the current of the water should haue put themselues amongst our Ships to haue burnt them But my Lord the Duke foreseeing the danger preuented them with commandement that the Ships that were neerest should cut their Cables and take vp the others with a readinesse vncredible and with this the Enemies pretence was hindered and so got the Sea most brauely and with good fortune that if hee had not done it our Army should haue beene in an euill case for in the very place where we left there was shot off by them out of those fiery Ships such Fires and other Engines that were sufficient to burne the Sea much more Ships which are made of Wood and Pitch In this departure the Captaine of the Galeasses had a great mischance for getting vp her Anker a Cable fell foule of her Helme that shee could not follow the rest which caused one of her sides to lie so high that her Ordnance could not play and so twentie fiue Pinnaces came and battared her and with all this if the Mariners Souldiers and Rowers that were in her had not cast themselues into the Sea it is holden for certaine that Don Hugo de Moncada had defended her as he did vntill she came into Calleis where at the entrance thereof he was killed of two Caliuer shot the people on shoare defended the Galeasse and all that was in her and deliuered the same to our Soueraigne Lord the Kings Ministers At this time the Duke had a very franke wind and the like had the Queenes Fleet and so they both passed by the sight of Dunkerke insomuch as they on Land knew the Gallion S. Martin and others that went fighting with the English Army and in this order they went till the twelfth Afterwards they write that their came into Calleis a Ship which saith that the twelfth day they did see the two Fleets together in fight another which came afterwards said he had seene some Ships spoyled and torne and from them they threw out their baggage which they saued in Boats which argueth they were Ships of the Enemies for that our men had no place to saue themselues nor there were none of them arriued into Flanders which was their place of returne OUt of England was aduise giuen that on the thirteenth arriued fifteene of the Queenes Ships and they said that the Galleon S. Martin wherin my Lord the Duke is whom God preserue had encountred with Drake and had grappled his Ship and captiued his Person and other Noble Englishmen and taken other fifteene Ships beside others that were distressed and the Duke with his Fleet followed his way iâ— Scotland because the wind was not come about With these newes his Maiesty resteth very much contented and caused them to be sent to the Empresse by the hands of Francisco Ydiaquez his Secretary of Estate Imprinted in Seuill in the House of Cosmo de Lara Printer of Bookes by licence of the Counte of Orgaz Assistant in Seuill CHAP. XII A Discourse of the Portugall Voyage A. 1589. Sir IOHN NORRIS and Sir FRANCIS DRAKE Generalls written as is thought by Colonell ANTONIE WINGFIELD imployed in the same Voyage formerly published by his friend to whom it was written and here abbreuiated HAuing determinately purposed to put on this habite of a Souldier I grew doubtfull whether to employ my time in the warres of the Low-countries which are in auxiliarie manner maintained by her Maiestie or to follow the fortune of this voyage which was an aduenture of her and many honourable personages in reuenge of vnsupportable wrongs offered vnto the estate of our Countrey by the Castilian King in arguing whereof I finde that by how much the Challenger is reputed before the Defendant by so much is the iourney to bee preferred before those defensiue Warres For had the Duke of Parma his turne beene to defend as it was his good fortune to inuade from whence could haue proceeded that glorious honour which these late warres haue laid vpon him or what could haue beene said more of him then of a Respondent though neuer so valiant in a priuate Duell Euen that he hath done no more then by his honour he was tied vnto For the gaine of one Towne or any small defeat giueth more renowme to the Assailant then the defence of a Countrey or the withstanding of twentie encounters can yeeld any man who is bound by his place to guard the same whereof as well the particulars of our age especially in the Spaniard as the reports of former Histories may assure vs which haue still layed the fame of all warres vpon the Inuader And doe not ours in these dayes liue obscured in Flanders either not hauing where withall to manage any warre or not putting on Armes but to defend themselues when the enemy shall procure them Whereas in this short time of our Aduenture we haue won a Town by Escalade battered and assaulted another ouerthrowne a mightie Princes power in the Field landed our Army in three seuerall places of his Kingdome marched seuen dayes in the heart of his Country lyen three nights in the Suburbs of his principall Citie beaten his forces into the Gates thereof and possessed two of his frontier Forts as shall in discourse thereof more particularly appeare But our Army which hath not cost her Maiestie much aboue the third part of one yeeres expences in the Low-countries hath already spoyled a great part of the prouision hee had made at the Groine of all sorts for a new voyage into England burnt three of his Ships whereof one was the second in the last yeeres expedition called S. Iuan de Colorado taken from him aboue 150. Peeces of good artillery cut off more then 60. Hulkes and 20. French Ships well manned fit and ready to serue him for men of warre against vs laden for his store with Corne Victualls Masts Cables and other merchandizes slaine and taken the principall men of Warre hee had in Galitia made Don Pedro Enriques de Gusman Conde de Fuentes Generall of his forces in Portugall shamefully run at Peniche laid along of his best Commander in Lisbon wherefore I directly conclude that this proceeding is the most safe
the Towne to beate vpon the same with their artillery In the afternoone were sent three hundred vnder the conduct of Captaine Petuiâ— and Captain Henry Poure to burne another Village betwixt that and Bayon called Borsis and as much of the Countrie as the day would giue them leaue to doe which was a very pleasant rich Valley but they burnt it all houses and corne as did others on the other side of the Town both that and the next day so as the Countrey was spoiled seuen or eight miles in length There was found great store of Wine in the Town but not any thing else for the other daies warning of the ships that came first in gaue them a respit to carry all away The next morning by breake of the day the Colonell generall who in the absence of the Generals that were on boord their ships commanded that night on shoare caused all our Companies to be drawne out of the Towne and sent in two troupes to put fire in euery house of the same which done we imbarked againe This day there were certaine Mariners which without any direction put themselues on shoare on the contrary side of the Riuer from vs for pillage The same day the Generals seeing what weake estate our Army was drawne into by sicknes determined to man and victuall twenty of the best ships for the Ilands of Azâ—res with Generall Drake to see if he could meete with the Indian Fleet and Generall Norris to returne home with the rest And for the shirting of men and victuals accordingly purposed the next morning to fall downe to the Ilands of Bayon againe and to remaine there that day But Generall Drake according to their appointment being vnder saile neuer strooke at the Ilands but put straight to Sea whom all the Fleet followed sauing three and thirty which being in the Riuer further then he and at the entrance of the same finding the winde and tide too hard against them were inforced to cast ancre there for that night amongst whom by good fortune was the Foresight and in her Sir Edward Norris And the night following Generall Norris being driuen from the rest of the Fleet by a great storme for all that day was the greatest storme we had all the time we were out came againe into the Ilands but not without great perill he being forced to turst to a Spanish Fisher-man who was taken two dayes before at Sea to bring him in The next morning he called a counsell of as many as he found there holding the purpose hee had concluded with Sir Francis Drake the day before and directed all their courses for England tarrying there all that day to water and helpe such with victuall as were left in wonderfull distresse by hauing the victuals that came last carried away the day before to Sea The next day he set saile and the tenth day after which was the second of Iuly came into Plimmouth where he found Sir Francis Drake and all the Queenes ships with many of the others but not all for the Fleete was dispersed into other harbours some led by a desire of returning from whence they came and some being possessed of the hulkes sought other Ports from their Generals eye where they might make their priuate commoditie of them as they haue done to their great aduantage Presently vpon their arriuall there the Generals dissolued all the armie sauing eight companies which are yet held together giuing euery Souldier fiue shillings in money and the armes he bare to make money of which was more then could by any meanes be due vnto them for they were not in seruice three moneths in which time they had their victuals which no man will value at lesse then halfe their pay for such is the allowance in her Maiesties ships to her Mariners so as there remained but ten shillings a moneth to be paid for which there was not any priuate man but had apparell and furniture to his owne vse so as euery common Souldier discharged receiued more in money victuals apparell and furniture then his pay did amount vnto CHAP. XIII A briefe and true report of the Honorable Voyage vnto Cadiz 1596. of the ouerthrow of the Kings Fleete and of the winning of the Citie with other accidents gathered out of METERANVS Master HACKLVYT and others AFter that Callis had beene taken by Cardinall Albert Archduke of Austria which afterwards by Papall dispensation married the Lady Isabella EugeniaClara Infanta who yet gouerneth the Belgians which acknowledge the Spaniard Queene Elizabeth thought it fitter to inuade the Spaniard at home then to expect his forces here The said Cardinall and Archduke of Austria had planted his vnexpected siedge before Callis and begun his vnwelcome battery on Wednesday the 17. of April 1596. and the Towne desired truce for foure and twenty houres which was reiected whereupon they yeelded themselues presently vpon condition of life and goods saued and sixe dayes cruce to be giuen them with liberty either to stay in the Citie or to goe to the Castle and if the King of Nauarre Henry the fourth the French King did not in that space relieue them they were to yeelde the Castle Most of them betooke themselues to the Castle and left their empty houses to the Conquerours The night before the truce expired they began to shoot at the Spaniards who had now made so fatall preparations that the next day Aprill 24. before noone they had beaten downe the wals and entered the Gouernour of the Towne and diuers others being slaine Queene Elizabeth meane while had prepared aide and the Souldiers and Ships at Leigh in Essex were detained by the windes which then were Easterly and instead of carrying the English thither brought hither the terrible thunders of the Spanish Ordnance insomuch that I haue heard that they shooke the looser glasse out of the windowes in Douer and filled the shoares of Essex Kent with the hideous reports of Calis her vnauoidable ruine And thus in so short time the Cardinall won that ancient Port by Strabo called Itium by Piolorâ—ey Gessoriacum as Meteranus collecteth which had cost the English eleuen moneths siedge before they vnder Edward the third tooke it An. 1346. They held it 202. yeers at which time Francis Duke of Gâ—â—se in the vnhappy daies of Queen Mary and by reason of her vnluckie ioyning with the Spaniards in their warres against the French recouered it in a few dayes vnlooked for battery to the French and therewith tooke not that Towne alone but the ioy of life also from that vnfortunate Queene both which seeming disasters were the price of Englands faire purchases both gaine and liberty in the dispersing of that Spanish cloud which from the time of the match had houered ouer vs and of the concomitant Antichristian Papall Mists which was a smoake from the bottomlesse pit to them which receiued it and a fire to them which refused it of what degree soeuer and in
that as throwes of a grieuous trauell they brought forth a Virgin both Truth to the Church and Queene to the State the one a fruitfull Mother to the soules the other to the wealth honour domesticke peace forraine victories and Nauall glorie of the English Nation This renowned Queene eight and thirty yeeres after vnable to alter that decree of the windes which now seemed themselues and forced Calis to become Spanish would try their windy fidelity in another expedition and prepared a strong Fleet to inuade the Spanish coast The charge whereof she committed to the Lord Robert Earle of Essex and the Lord Charles Howard Lord high Admirall of England who came vnto Plymmouth about the beginning of May 1596. being there accompanied with diuers other noble Peeres as the Earle of Sussex the Lord Thomas Howard the Lord Herbert the Lord Warden Sir Walter Raleigh the Lord Marshall Sir Francis Vere the Lord Burk Don Christopher yong Prince of Portugall yong Count Lodouick of Nassaw and the Admirall of the Hollanders Sir Iohn Vanderfoord besides many other most worthy Knights and Gentlemen of great worth attending vpon this most honorable Action It pleased them there to make their aboade for the time of that moneth aswell for the new furnishing and reuictualing of her Maiesties Royall Nauie as also for the expecting of some other ships which were to come from diuers places of the Realme and were as yet wanting Before their departure from Plymmouth it pleased their Lordships to publish in Print and make knowne to all the world especially to such as it concerned and that both in the Latine French Dutch English and Spanish tongue what were the true iust and vrgent causes that at this time prouoked her Maiestie to vndertake the preparing and setting forth of this so great a Nauie namely the King of Spaines preparations against her who had before whiles hee treated of peace Anno 1588. prepared to inuade her coast and now also to that purpose daily encreased his Nauie If therefore any should furnish the Spaniard with munition and prouisions they should expect what force could doe for all others of whatsoeuer Nation they aduised them to forsake the Spanish and Portugall Ports or to ioyne with the English for their owne security they hauing no quarrell in this designe but against the Spaniard Thus then all things being in a very good order and well appointed the most holy name of our Omnipotent God being most religiously and deuoutly called vpon ' and his blessed and sacred Communion being diuers times most reuerently and publikely celebrated being furnished with one hundred and fiftie good saile of ships or thereabout In the name of the most high and euerliuing God the first day of Iune they embarked themselues weighed Ancre and hoysed vp faile and put to Sea onward their iourney from the Sownds of Plymmouth to shew her Maiesties religious intendments in this exploit I haue thought good to adde here a Prayer made by her selfe as was reported and vsed as it was fitted for that designe MOst Omnipotent maker and guide of all our worlds masse that eâ—ely searchest and fadomest the bottome of all our hearts conceits and in them seest the true originals of all our actions intended thou that by thy foresight doest truely discerne how no malice of reuenge nor quittance of iniurie nor desire of bloudshed nor greedinesse of lucre hath bred the resolution of our nâ—w set out Army but a heedefull care and wary watch that no neglect of fees nor ouer-suretie of harme might breede either danger to vs or glory to them these being the grounds wherewith thou doest enspire the minde we humbly beseech thee with bended knees prosper the worke and with best forewindes guide the iourney speede the victory and make the returne the aduancement of thy glory the triumph of their f 〈…〉 e and surety to the Realme with the least losse of the English bloud To these deuout petitions Lord giue thou thy blessed grant The ninth of the same moneth comming something neere to the North Cape in a manner in the same altitude or not much differing which was about 43. degrees and something more yet bearing so as it was impossible to be descried from the land There it pleased the Lords to call a select Councell which was alwaies done by hanging out of a Flagge of the Armes of England and shooting off a great warning peece Of this select or priuie Counsell were no moe then these The two Lords Generall the Lord Thomas Howard the Lord Warden Sir Walter Raleigh the Lord Marshall Sir Francis Vere Sir George Cary Master of the Ordnance Sir Coniers Clifford and Sir Anthony Ashley Clarke of the said Counsell And when it pleased the Lords Generall to call a common Counsell as of tentimes they did vpon weighty matters best knowne to their honours then they would cause another kinde of Flag to be hanged out which was the red Crosse of S. George and was very easie to be discerned from the other that appertained onely to the select Counsell and so often as this Flag of S. George was hanged out then came all the Masters and Captaines of all the ships whose opinions were to be demanded in such matters as appertained vnto the said select Counsell It was presently concluded that our course in sailing should forthwith be altered and that we should beare more into the West for some purposes to them best knowne At that instant many Letters of instructions were addressed and sent to euery particular Master and Captaine of the Ships What the contents of those Letters of instructions were it was not as yet knowne vnto any neither was it held meete to be enquired or knowne of any of vs. But vnder the titles and superscriptions of euery mans particuler Letter these words were endorsed Open not these Letters on paine of your liues vnlesse wee chance to be scattered by tempest and in that case open them and execute the contents thereof but if by mishap you fall into your enemies hand then in any case cast them into the Sea sealed as they are It should seeme that these Letters did containe in them the principall place and meaning of this entended action which was hitherto by their deepe foresights kept so secret as no man to my knowledge eiâ—her did or could so much as suspect it more then themselues who had the onely managing thereof All this while our ships God be thanked kept in a most excellent good order being deuided into fiue squadrons that is to say The Earle of Essex the Lord Admirall the Lord Thomas Howard the Lord Warden Sir Walter Raleigh and the Admirall of the Hollanders All which squadrons albeit they did euery day separate themselues of purpose by the distance of certaine leagues as well to looke out for such ships as were happily vnder saile as also for the better procuring of Sea-roome yet alwayes commonly either that day or the next day toward euening they
take in the Iland of Terçea which I held an action of equall importance to the other With this confidence I went out and to these ends but none of these three being performed it may be doubted whether we haue not through weakenesse or negligence failed of successe For which we make answere that if our whole carriage be examined from the first houre to the last it shall appeare that we haue striuen to attaine to euery one of these with as much obstinate constancie as any men in the world could doe and that onely the powerfull hand of God did binde our hands and frustrate all our endeuours The first for the enterprise of Ferel we went out of Plimmouth the third of Iune and stiered directly for that port and when most extreame stormes and contrary windes met with vs we beate it vp till all our Fleete was scattered and many of our ships in desperate case And because I the Generall thought my too soone giuing ouer would not onely depriue the Fleete of our principall ship but absolutly defeate the iourney I forced my company first to abide the continuall increasing of a most dangerous leake which I made light of because I saw that with labour of men I could free the ship as fast as the leake did grow Secondly I made them endure the craking of both my maine and fore mast the one in two places the other in three so as we still looked when they should be carried by the boord which was not enough to make me beare vp because I knew whensoeuer I should loose them both I could with iurie masts by Gods fauour carry the ship home And I continued so long that my ships Okam came all out her seames opened her deckes and vpper workes gaue way her very timbers and maine beames with her labouring did teare like lathes so as we looked hourely when the Orlope would fall and the Ordnance sinke downe to the keele then did those few whom before I had wonne to stand with mee all protest against me that if I did not within a minute of an houre beare vp the helme I did wilfully cast away the ship and whole company Then onely I suffred my selfe to be ouercome and when I came to Plimmouth halfe her Maiesties ships and more then halfe the principall officers by sea and by land were put in before mee for the extremitie their ships were in And when we were all of vs gathered together againe at Plimmouth and had repaired all the ships but mine owne which was sent home to Chatham to be new builded then were we kept in by continuall storme and contrary windes till our victuals which were at first but for three moneths were in a manner all spent and the sicknesse in the Flie boates that carried the land armie growne so great that I had order from her Maiestie to discharge the land forces all but the thousand old Souldiers which were drawne out of the Low Countries By which meanes though we were disabled to land at Ferol to beate the land Armie there and take in the forces which was the certaiue way to command the Adelantados Fleete yet I the Generall offered her Maiestie to send in certaine ships of fire and to second them with the Saint Matthew and Saint Andrew and some great flye-boates and Merchants ships with which I would destroy the most of the enemies principall shipping and leaue all the Queens own English built ships at the mouth of the harbour to assure our retreate By this meanes I should hazard to loose but two great Cartes which before I had won and for the aduenturing of those defeate the enemies whole Nauie Which counsell being allowed though with restraint of mine owne going in with those two ships and an absolute barre to hazard any other we went out the second time to put this proiect in execution But againe ere we could recouer the Spanish coast the Saint Matthew by loosing her foremast was put backe into England and the Saint Andrew had lost company till at one instant within sight of the shoare of the Groine Sir Walter Raleigh the Vice-admirall brake his maine yard which forced him to beare along to the Westward before the winde and I in this second ship had such a desperate leake sprang as when we pumped and boled with buckets as much as we could for our owne liues it grew still vpon vs and when we sought by ramming downe peeces of Beefe and bolding linnen cloath wrong together to stop the comming in of the water it came in notwithstanding so strongly as it bare downe all and beate away euery man that stood to stop it Then was I faine to lye by the lee and make my company worke vpon it all night my master Carpenter the onely skilfull man I had dying at that very instant And when by the great mercy of God we had stopped it the winde being easterly the Fleete was so farre shot a head as I could not recouer the most of them till I came to the Cape Finisterre where holding a Counsell and missing Sir Walter Raleigh who being off at Sea had no plying sailes to get vp missing him I say with thirty sailes that in the night followed his light and hearing that the Saint Matthew which was our principall ship for the execution of our intended enterprise was returned and being barred to hazard any other in her place it was by the whole Counsell of warre concluded that the enterprise of Ferol was ouerthrowne both because though the winde had serued we wanted the ships appointed for that seruice and if wee had had the ships we wanted winde to get into the harbour of Ferol for the winde blew strongly at East which would haue bin fully in our teeth as we had plied in And now wee onely could thinke of the intercepting of the Indian Fleete and defeating of the Adelantado if he had put to Sea For to take in Terçera our land army being discharged we had no meanes whereupon wee bare for the height of the Rocke hoping there because it was our second Rende-uous after Ferel to meete with Sir Walter Raleigh Into which height when I came a message was deliuered mee from Sir Walter Raleigh by one Captaine Skobbels that the Adelantado was gone out of Ferol with his Fleete to Terçera to waft home the West Indian Fleete of treasure and that hee would attend mine answere off of the Burlingas which message of Sir Walters was grounded vpon the report of the Captaine of a ship of Hampton which did confidently deliuer it I the Generall there calling a Counsell tooke a resolution both because wee hoped to meete the Adelantado there and because all our best experimented Seamen did assure vs that it was the likeliest course to meete with the Indian Fleete to goe for the Ilands of the Azores And I sent out Pinnaces both to the Burlinges and toward the South
with as much sumptuousnesse as they could get brauing therein their conquered Foes and setting to the shew of the world the fruits of their Ualour and Trauailes Whereas wee for the most part contrariwise going out brauely and returning home againe beggarly leaue no other testimony nor records of our Enterprises and Victories either to the liuing or to posteritie then the Merchants bookes wherin we are deep plunged euen to the morgage or sale of our Inheritance to conuert the true honor of Souldery into effeminate pompe and delicacy But now to the matter We hauing in this Fort repaired and supplied the defects of our weather beaten Nauie onely attended the fauour of the winds wherein it seemed the heauens were vtter enemies to our designes For during the space of an whole moneth together after wee were againe readie the weather stood flat opposite to our course insomuch that wee were not able to worke our selues out of the Harbour And in this consumption of Time we lost the best season of the yeere for our purpose and also greatly decayed our victualls and prouisions besides the number of our Souldiers and Mariners that daily diminished And about this time the Lord Rich finding himselfe as many others did altogether vnable to indure the inconueniences of the Seas in a long and toilesome voyage tooke his leaue of our Generall and gaue ouer the iourney In this extreamitie of contrary windes and crosse fortunes against which the policie and power of man could not preuaile our Generall with the aduice of his counsell resolued vpon some other course and to fashion his enterprises according to opportunitie and the proportion of the meanes that remained And thereupon cashing the greatest part of his Land Armie hee onely retained one thousand of the best Souldiers as was thought most of them being Companies brought out of the Low-Countries And also at that time hee discharged diuers of the smaller Ships and many of the Victuallers taking out of them such prouisions and store as remained to supply that which was spent and to lengthen out the time for those lesser numbers that were to be imployed And whilest these things were thus altering and ordering and committed to the care and charge of discreet Officers Our Admirall himselfe with his Reare-Admirall resolued to ride post to the Court to receiue further directions or approbation in that he intended for her Maiestie and the Lords of the Councell Leauing the charge both of the Nauie and Souldiers in his absence with the Lord Thomas Howard his Vice-Admirall and the Lord Mountioy his Leiftenant Generall by Land whom hee authorised together with the Counsell of Warre to marshall those affaires as occasion required Here by it may be easily coniectured what it is for men to vndertake Sea-actions that haue not great meanes to follow the same with prouisions and allowance of superfluitie to meet with lets and misaduentures and not to depend on the bare ordinary prouisions of a set proportion For by this great crosse of ours wee may well take knowledge how vncertaine and difficult it is to set out and prepare a Sea Army except it bee on the purse and defraies of a Prince able and willing to supply the expences and hinderances of such wast and accidents as doe many times happen by want of windes when all things else are in readinesse wherein oftentimes the ouerslipping and not taking of six houres aduantage of winde when it hath serued hath ouerthrowne a Uoyage And it hath to my knowledge so fallen out that some Ships that haue taken a present gale of a day by the benefit thereof haue performed their Uoyage and returning againe into the Harbour finding others of their consorts bound for the same place and ready at the same time still sticking fast at ancor by leesing the same opportunitie In this absence of our Generall at the Court there fell out such extreame stormy weather as that it greatly troubled and puzled our Ships both in Plimouth Road and in the Cat Water insomuch that many of their ancors came home and a Ship of the Reare-Admiralls of three hundred Tunnes called the Roe-buck draue a ground and bulged her selfe and so became vnseruiceable for that iourney although much paines and care was taken of all hands and specially by our Vice-Admirall himselfe in his owne person to haue preserued her During all this time of our abode in Plimouth which was some six or seuen weekes we neither found eyther want or dearth of any manner of victualls either in the Towne where our Mariners were daily resident or in the Countrey where the Land Army was quartered nor yet that extreame manner of inhaunsing the prices of all things vsed in London and in other places of the Realme vpon the extraordinary assembling of any such great troupes And withall it is strange to see how happily that poore corner of England doth often receiue and sustaine so many Armies and Fleets as doe there many times meet without any of those inconueniences or alterations that vpon the like occasion are found in many other more rich and fruitfull parts of the Kingdome Our Generall as is aforesaid hauing spent now sixe or seuen dayes in that iourney to the Court returned with a resolution to continue the voyage to the Seas and there as intelligence fell out to follow the best courses in spending the rest of the Summer and the remainder of his victualls all sorts being very sorry that so great preparations should haue vtterly qâ—ailed without effecting or attempting something of worth Wee therefore now proposed to our selues that by tarrying out till the last of October for the which time we were victualled after the Land Army was discharged wee might range the Coast of Spaine and so doe seruice in some of the Kings shipping or else lying in the height betweene the Rocke and the South Cape wee might intercept some Indian Fleet or Carrackes either outwards or homeward s bound or at the least wee might meete and fight with the Adelantado who was then saide to bee preparing of a Fleet and ready to put to the Seas Besides there was a brute giuen out thaâ— our Generall meant to attempt the Groyne or Ferrall and there to distresse some of the Kings shipping that lay in the Harbour But whatsoeuer pretences and speeches were giuen out for that matter both our Generall and the wisest of his Counsell of Warre did well enough knowâ— that the Groyne or Ferrall were then no morsells fit for our mouthes our Forces being so abated and those places so well warned and prouided for by our long delayes and impediments besides there was no likelihood that wee would euer ingage so many of her Maiesties best Ships within the circuit and mercy of those Harbours vpon so great disaduantage and hazard as they must haue adâ—entured in doing any good on any of them as they were then furnished But wee daily see that it is
the manuer and fashion of great Estates and Commaunders in the â—ars to giue out and pretend many things that indeed they intend not as well to make their names the more famous and terrible as also many times to amaze the world with false Alarums thereby either to hold their true purposes the more secret or at least to giue them the better speed and passage by diuerting the Enemyes A custome neither new nor vsuall and therefore not repeated as any extraordinary obseruation Iâ— this sort all things being ordered and repaired and our Generall returned with full Commission and resolution to proceed his Lordship in stead of the Merehoneur which was so weakened and disabled as that shee could not goe forth againe this iourney shipped himselfe in the Dewrepulse which was Vice-Admirall and our Vice-Admirall tooke vnto himselfe the Lyon in liew of the other And on Wednesday being the seuenteenth of August 1597. a little before sunne setting wee wayed our Ancors and set sayle but with much labour got out of Plimouth Road being forced to vse our Two-boates to set vs cleere of the Harbour the winde being somewhat slacke and scant Notwithstanding afterwards a sea-boord wee finding the weather more faâ—ourable held our course for the North cape and the three and twentieth of August wee fell athwart the Bay of Alchasher and at last bare full in with it The which course the Master of our Ship called Broadebant much disliked thinking it very inconuenient and perillous for so great a Fleet so wilfully to be imbayed vpon an Enemies Coast but yet followed the Generalls course The foure and twentieth of the same moneth being Bartholmew day wee met a soule storme in that Bay most extreamly violent for the time but lasted not aboue fiue or sixe houres In which storme the S. Matthew whereof Sir George Carew Master of the Ordnance was Captaine two houres before day falling into an head Sea hauing her Spright-sayle out brake ouer-boord her Bolt-spright and Fore-mast close to the Partners which for the Ships safetie was cut from her side In the Fore-top foure Mariners were drowned keeping their watch there and the fall of the Masts broke two Ancors and carried the third into the Sea vpon which disaster according to the manner of the Sea some Ordnance was discharged and many Lanternes hanged vpon the shrowdes to giue notice of her distresse in the night But after day light the Garland whereof the Earle of Southampton was Captaine drew neere to her succour who beholding with griefe the miserable estate that this Ship was in and likely to bee worse for that her Mayne Mast with the Ships rowling had loosened it selfe in the Partners and in danger to breake in the step which if it had done it would presently haue sunke her The Earle though hee was not able to take all the men out of her into his owne Ship being in number about seuen hundred persons yet hee was desirous and carefull to preserue as many as hee might And to that end sent his Pinnace to Sir George Carew praying him and as many as hee would select of his Company to come vnto him which noble offer of his Lordship the Master of the Ordnance as hee had reason thanfully receiued but hauing a more tender care of the losse of his Honour then of the hazard of his life would not forsake the Ship but made election rather to run the fortune of the rest of his company then to prouide for the particular safetie of himselfe and some other Captaines and Gentleman of good qualitie whereof hee had store This answere being returned the Earle was yet vnsatisfied and being desirous to saue as many as his Ship could well receiue and especially those of the better sort sent his Pinnace to the Saint Matthew againe perswading them not wilfully to lose themselues But the Captaine perseuered in his former resolution and when some gallant men of his company would gladly haue taken the Earles offer and haue left their consorts to their fortune Sir George Carew would in no wise suffer a man to depart because it should bee no discomfort to the rest but openly protested that both hee they and the Ship would altogether runne on fortune Whereupon the Earle seeing that his staying longer with the Saint Matthew could in no sort giue her men reliefe and fearing by staying too long to be farre ingaged in the Bay of Alchasher and to loose his Admirall followed the Fleet. These braue resolutions haue beene also vsed heretofore oftentimes by such as haue commanded in the Royall Ships and sometimes by the Admiralls themselues And it is well knowne to many Sea-men liuing at this day that Edward Earle of Lincolne High Admirall of England a valiant man and worthy Gentleman in the time of Queene Elizabeth being in seruice on the Narrow Seas with her Royall Nauie chanced in a tempest to fall with his Ship athwart a sand whereby shee was in great danger to bee bulged and lost whereupon the Captaine and Master of the Ship perswaded him in that extreamitie and danger to take the benefit of his Pinnace and saue himselfe aboord the next of the Fleet. But the Earle according to his honourable mind openly vowed and protested that no danger should cause him to leaue his company in distresse that for his loue had followed him to the Seas Besides said hee I honour the Queene my Mistresse so much to bring her word that I haue saued my selfe and lost her Ship and therefore let vs do our best to saue altogether for at this banquet wee will all drinke of one cup. Whereâ—n as hee gaue himselfe great glory and reputation so it seemed that fortune fauoured his vertue and courage for in the end with diligence and labour beyond all hope the Ship came safe off These extreamities and hazards on the Sea bring to my minde an accident worthy the relating and a piece of seruice not vnprofitable for Sea-men in like cases to bee obserued and this it is In the Queenes raigne about the time that the Pope and the King of Spaine sent forces into Ireland to ayd the Earle of Desmond who then rebelled in Munster there was sent to the Seas a Fleet of her Maiesties Ships whereof Sir Iohn Parrot was Admirall in the Reuenge and Sir William Gorges my Father in the Dread-naught Vice-Admirall who when they had performed their seruice on the Coast of Ireland and other places in their returne homewards the Vice-Admirall chanced to take an English Priate whose name was Deriuall a very valiant and skilfull Mariner This Deriuall the Admirall tooke aboord his owne Ship and kept him prisoner in the Bilbowes But so it fortuned that a great storme arising in the Narrow Seas the Fleet was scattered and Sir Iohn Parrats Shippe ranne vpon a Sand where a good time shee did dangerously beate hauing strucken all his Sayles and with euery Billow was like to bee
actions of seruice and in his times of chiefest recreations he would euer accept of his counsell and company before many others that thought themselues more in his fauour And as touching the Aduertisement that was sent into England from the Isles of Bayon by Master Robert Knolles in a Pinnace called the Guiana concerning vs that were forsaken and left alone vpon the breaking of our Maine yard whereupon was pretended that many great exploits should haue bin performed vpon the coast of Spaine if wee had not fallen from them as was vntruely suggested and reported his Lordship promised the reare Admirall then to send another aduertisement how we were all metagaine and had bin formerly seuered by misfortunes onely and not by any wilfull default in the reare Admirall as was doubted And that Aduertisement sent formerly by Master Knolles we well knew proceeded not out of any particular malice of the Generall to vs but onely to take that as a fit excuse to free himselfe from the enterprises of Ferall or the Groine which he had promised her Maiestie to vndertake but saw it impossible to performe by reason of the former crosses and our long stay in Plimmonth and therefore was glad to take the opportunity of any colour to satisfie her Maiestie and to discharge himselfe of that burthen which we did all perceiue and therefore did striue the lesse the publish our Apologies or to contest with a man of his place and credit which though in a right had bin but bootelesse and meere folly and therefore we left him to his best excuse and our apparant innocencie And for the more plaine manifesting of the Message I haue thought it not amisse here to insert the true copie of the Instructions verbatim that our Generall sent by Master Robert Knolles into England vpon these accidents before the Isles of Bayon That we weighing Ancor and setting saile from the sound of Plimmouth the seuenteenth of this moneth of August hauing sometimes calmes but for the most part Westerly and Northeasterly windes we fellon thursday the fiue and twenty of this moneth with the Land which is to the Eastward of the Cape Ortingall which land we made in the morning about ten of the clocke and stood in with the shoare till three in the afternoone Then finding the winde scant to ply to the Southward I stood all night into the Sea and the next morning in againe to the Land By which boords by reason of the head-sea and the bare winde we got nothing On Friday night I stood off againe to the Sea and about midnight the winde comming all Northerly we got a good slant to lye all along the coast on Saturday in the morning I discouered the Saint Andrew whom we had lost sight of two or three dayes before I bare with her and had no sooner got her vp but Sir Walter Rawleigh shot off a peece and gaue vs warning of his being in distresse I presently bare with him and found that he had broken his maine yard Whereupon I willed him to keepe along the coast that birth that he was till he got in the height of the North Cape and my selfe hauing a desperate leake broke out as euer ship swam withall which I was fame to lye by the lee and seele to stop it which how it held vs you can report and God be thanked that night we ouercame it and stopped it The next morning we all came to Cape Finister sauing the Saint Matthew who vpon breaking of her fore maste went home and the Wastspight with whom the Dreadnaught went without stop to the South Cape This is all that is hapned to me If her Maiestie aske you why there was no attempt vpon the Fleete at Teral you may say I neither had the Saint Matthew which was the principall ship for that execution nor the Saint Andrew till mine owne ship was almost sunke and I not able to make saile till Sir Walter Rawleigh with his owne ship the Dreadnaught and very neere twenty saile were gone Wee are now gone to lye for the Indian Fleete for by Spaniards wee haue taken wee finde the Adelantado is not put to Sea this yeere Of our successe her Maiestie shall from time to time be aduertised you shall acquaint Master Secretarie with this instruction and both to him and all our friends you must excuse our haste We being thus met all at Flores desired our Generall to giue vs and our consorts leaue to water there before we departed thence as his Lordship and the rest had done before which he yeelded vnto and very nobly lent vs his owne long Boate for our better speede willing vs there to water whilest he with the rest of the Fleete did ply vp and downe to looke out for the Adelantado or any Indian Fleete that being the very fit place and season for them Hereupon whilest our men and Mariners were prouiding to water our Reare-admirall with Sir William Brooke my selfe and diuers other Gentlemen went ashoare to stretch our legs in the Isle of Flores and to refresh our selues with such victuals as we could there get for our monie And at our first landing there we met with the Lord Gray Sir Gylly Merricke and other Gentlemen and wee altogether walked a mile or two into the Countrie and there dined in a little Village where the bare-legged Gouernour caused such things to be brought vnto vs for our monie as the Island afforded In other sort we tooke nothing which was very faire wars This Island seemes to be somewhat mountainous yet hauing very good store of Fruits Wheat and other Corne. Their Corne they doe all keepe in large hollow vaults within the earth hauing no other way nor entrance into them but by a round hole in the top of the vault onely so big as a man may creepe into it and when it is closed vp with a planke and ouerstrewed with earth is very hard to be found out by strangers for the which purpose they are so made and much like the Caues in Gascoyne and Languedocke and such as are mentioned by Caesar to be vsed in Affricke This Island lies more subiect to the inuasion of Sea-faring men then any of the rest for there all traders of the Indies doe vsually water and refresh themselues But here I must not forget to relate that before we had our leaue to water or were departed from the Generall a Counsell was called and holden for the taking in of some of the Islands and an orderly course set downe for the same which was in this sort concluded on The Admirall and Reare-admirall to vndertake Fayall the Lord Thomas Howard Vice-admirall and the Marshall Uere to vndertake Gratiosa The Lord Mountioye Lieutenant Generall and Sir Christopher Blunt Coronell Generall of the Foote to Saint Michaels and the Netherland Squadron was quartered to Pyke where the greatest store of Wines doe grow and therefore would not be taken in ill part of them as we presumed The
Voyage Herein was Gods fauour and mercy mightily shewed towards all sides For by this Storme which so furiously for the time afflicted vs were wee and that Spanish Fleet vnder the Adelantado seuered and kept from incountring which had cost much blood and mischiese and to say a truth in all likelihood the worst might haue fallen to our shares For when wee had left the Ilands and were once crosse sayled for England I obserued that before the Storme diuers of our best Ships made all the haste they could homewards neuer following nor attending the Admirals course nor light Which is an Errour too much vsed amongst vs and very disorderly and dangerous as would haue beene well found if the Adelantado had then met with any of those straglers or with the Admirall himselfe homewards bound so stenderly accompanied Which manner of disorder and scattering in the Conduct of a Royall Nauie especially in so long a Voyage is very fit to bee straightly reformed These Spanish Flee-boates and Carauels had made many landings by stealth on that side of Cornewall and put the Countrey in great frights and amazements especially vpon the report of a great Fleet that was comming after them for England Whereupon our Reere Admirall from before the Saint Iues left the Seas and went a Land to take some order for the Countrey of Cornewall whereof hee was then her Maiesties Lieutenant seeing it then in much amazement and feare and so meant to goe ouer land to Plimouth there to meet with our Generall From the Road of Saint Iues the next morning wee in the Wast-spight set sayle for Kingroad and met with such foule weather as that ouer against the flat Holmes shee brake againe her Maine yard which was before broken and new fished in the beginning of this Voyage But at last with much adoe wee brought her about to Kingroad and within a few dayes after moored her safe in Hungread where I tooke speedie order for the paying and discharging of her men at the Spaniards cost and also for the repayring of her decayes By this time wee also had newes that our Admirall and the rest of our Fleet were safely met and arriued at Plimouth And at the same instant also wee had intelligence by a small man of Brasill but newly come from Corke in Ireland that Sir Iohn Norris President of Munster and the Lord Burgh Deputie of Ireland were both lately deceased Of which two men her Maiestie and the Realme had no small losse being both Martiall men of as great worth and seruice as England bred in many yeeres before And although it be no part of this matter to speake of them yet their Deathes being diuulged to vs at the same time cannot be thought vnfit or vnworthy by the way heere to be remembred and lamented After I had thus taken order with the Officers of the Ship at Bristoll I receiued Letters from the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Admirall for the accomplishing of that which I had already out of due consideration gone in hand withall I meane the discharging and paying of the Marriners and Souldiers being to the number of foure hundred men which would haue growne to a great and needlesse expense to haue kept them in pay and victuals vntill such time as I could haue sent vnto the Court to receiue directions backe againe for the same And therefore did first take vp monies vpon credit and then by the Drum make knowne in Bristow that there were Sugars Brasil wood and Fernanbuck aboord o r Ships which I would presently make sale of to those that would giue most for it and not merchand it vnder hand nor in secret to the preiudice and deceiuing of her Maiestie And therefore with the knowledge and aduice of the Master the Purser and Boatswaine of the Ship and the Customer and Searcher of Bâ—â—stow I landed those Wares in safe Cellers and sold them to the best Chapmen in publique testified vnder the hands of these Officers of the Citie and of the Ship for my discharge in that behaâ—â—e and made thereof fiue hundred pounds The which summe I deliuered to one Askew then Purser of the Wast-spight to the end that hee by his Booke might pay the Marriners and the Souldiers by the Powle as a care of mine for those poore-men vnder my Charge which was duely performed The which I haue beene the more precise to remember and notifie for that I tooke no small paines and care in getting those Sugars and Brasill wood aboard vs out of a torne Brasill 〈◊〉 that was ready to founder in the Seaâ— before Saint Michaels and abandoned to any that would aduenture to goe abâ—ord her to fetch away the lading Which businesse in that vacant time that the Ar 〈…〉 e lay at Villa Franca and we before S. Michaels Towne 〈◊〉 put my selfe and my Marriners vnto And I had not so much paines and trauell in the getting as trouble and vexation afterwards to preserue it whilest it was aboord when we came to Kingroad from the purloyning and stealing of the Marriners and Officers of the Ship And to say no more but a truth I dare thus much anouch and iustifie that if there had beene in some other of her Maiesties ships the like regard for these goods that were gotten and of the Prizes taken in this Iourney and as faithfully answered as were these that then for all the crosses and errours that had happened it had fully returned to her Maiestie the double value of all the Charges she had beene at for this Voyage But it was strange to see what carelesse courses were held in all such actions as were set out by the State and what poore returnes were made againe into the Exchequer And therefore more strange that the Prince could subsist so often to set out such chargeable Voyages without any manner of getting more then to particuler persons For so fell it out before in the Indian Voyage when Sancto Domingo and Cartagena were taken and sackâ— by Sir Francis Drake and when Cades in Spaine was surprised and sackt by the English Armie where was infinite wealth But that of Lisbona in Portugall vndertaken by Sir Iohn Norris where the Suburbes did so abound with Merchandize and Spicerie being wholly at the mercy and disposition of our Armie was to be excused for that our Shops kept not promise with him in comming vp the Riuer that should haue both assisted the land Armie with Munition and Victuals and also carried away those Spiceries and rich Merchandize wherein the Sea-men were greatly wanting and taxed by the generall voyce But in this Voyage wee all saw and knew that there were besides Brasill men three good Prizes taken that came from the Hauana laden with Cochynella and other rich Merchandize besides the Siluer Gold Pearle Ciuet Muske Amber-greece which was amongst the Passengers And those three Prizes whereof one was about 400. Tunnes by the report of those Merchants that came in them were
said and valued to bee richly worth aboue foure hundred thousand Duckets At the taking of them I stood in our Gallerie in the Wast-spight with the Reere Admirall and wee halled and called vnto some to inquire of their lading and Merchandize and from what places they came whereby wee learned that they were come from the Hauana very rich and at the least to the value aboue said Whereupon our Reere Aamirall said vnto me in priuate that although wee should be little the better for these rich Prizes yet he was heartily glad for our Generals sake because they would in good sort giue contentment to her Maiestie so that there should bee no repining against the poore Lord for the expense of the Voyage And for my better satisfaction in the value of them I had caused mine owne Prisoner to giue me notice of the Ships wherein hee had Aduentures and according to the Rates thereof set downe vpon his owne knowledge those three Ships could not be so little worth as they all had formerly affirmed Now if wee doe but looke into the husbandrie and prouidence of former Ages and of the mightiest Empire and best gouerned State that euer was wee shall plainely see that they euer â—coke a more strict and iust account of the benefit of their gettings and Victories And that it was an especiall regard of the Roman Consuls and Generals at their returne from a prosperous Warre to render a plentifull gaine into the publique Treasurie which made their State still able to subsist in their great actions And many times their greatest and worthiest Captaines were deepely called in question for imbeseling any part of such gettings as amongst others was that famous Scipio surnamed Africanus prosecuted in that kinde by the Petilâ—j notwithstanding his many great seruices to the Common-wealth But what became of all these our gettings God knowes Onely I heare that there was a Composition made afterwards with her Maiestie for the Cochynella and other Merchandize not to a third part of that it was worth For neither that nor yet any of the other riches could truely come to light or publique knowledge because they were neuer faithfully certified vnder the hands and testimonies of sufficient Officers when they were first taken nor any of that which was preserued fold when wee came home but onely to the Buyers aduantage And yet in Conclusion they that had so played the wise Stewards in so prouiding for themselues and their followers had all the grace and gaine from those that had more carefully and iustly intended the publique Seruice But this generall neglect of truth and merit throughout the world is the cause that so few doe apply to follow those sincere and vnprofitable courses especially seeing how many doe daily by fraud and slatterie finde shorter and smoother wayes to Honours wealth and preferment Euen beyond all measure and expectation The Conclusion of the Worke with some later Aduertisements touching His Maiesties Care for VIRGINIA VVE haue now compassed the World in the Courses of so many Planets euery of which had a peculiar wandering and yet none erring from the publike benefit of the Vniuerse And as in Geometricall compasses one foote is fixed in the Centre whiles the other mooueth in the Circumference so is it with Purchas and his Pilgrimes in this Geographicall compassing they haue their owne motions but ordered in this Circumference from for and by him which abideth at home in his Centre and neuer trauelled two hundred miles from Thaxted in Essex lately adorned and augmented with Franchises by his Maiestie where hee was borne All their lines tend to this Centre and this Centre to the Basis and Ground thereof that is to his Countrey to the honour and benefit wherof he and all his are due All Nations dance in this Round to doe the English service and English Trauellers here enioy the Mayne others the By to attend and with their Trauels to perfect the English at lest the knowledge of the World to the English The Map of England ANGLIA Yea in this English Centre also I haue chosen the Centre of that Centre the Renowmed Name of Queene ELIZABETH to which because Mortalitie hath depriued vs of Her Person wee haue added that of King IAMES the All that is left vs of Queene ELIZABETH and more then that All in further perfection of Sexe and Arts. With those auspicious Names as the faire Starres in the Constellations of both Poles our Pilgrimes begaâ—ne their Progresse by the Light of those two Eyes of Great Brittaine they haue taken view of the World and therefore heere wee end in our Pilgrimage with those two auspicious Names His Maiestie first for Brute is vncertaine hath combined a Trinitie of Kingdomes into an Vnitie Fecit eos in gentem vnam made the Ocean the Wall to his Inheritance hath rooted out the wonted barbarisme of Borderers of Scottish Fewds of English Duells of Irish Bogges hath confirmed and settled those cruder and more indigested beginnings of our prosperitie hath enioyed soueraignetie longer then euer did any of Britaines Soueraignes and still ô still may we long long enioy him hath giuen so manifold securitie against the extreamest and most fatall rigor both in number weight and worth of Royall pledges The Map of Great Brittaine and Ireland ANGLIA SCOTIA et HIBERNIA He is beyond comparison compared with others a meere transcendent beyond all his Predecessors Princes of this Realme beyond the neighbouring Princes of his own times beyond the conceits of subiects dazled with such brightnes Beyond our victorious Debora not in sex alone but as Peace is more excellent then War and Salomon then Dauid in this also that He is and we enioy his present Sunshine in regard of posteritie not onely sowing thereto the fruit of his bodie but of his learned mind like a Salomon indeed by voluminous Writings and not which is more vsesuall to Princes with apophthegme-flashes recorded by others like Saul sometime among the Prophets a Miracle and Oracle both this in polemicall politicall problematicall apocalypticall positiue Theology and Bookes of deuotion also that in that his Royall body hath had the honour not to be polluted with women aboue men aboue Salomon And as wee haue trauelled abroad that wee may bring forraine rarities home wee find no greater raritie abroad or at home then his Maiestie the Father of the Clergie the raiser of so many Families to honour and of honours to Families whose bountie and clemencie none deny let others beware least they perhaps haue euill eyes because his is good so honoured of his Subiects with awfull loue with louing awe that himselfe hath professed no King herein his superiour and we can and all History will professe with vs that England neuer enioyed better daies then vnder her deceased Mother and the present Pater Patriae who hath secured Britaine in peace and prosperitie whiles all Christian Kingdomes haue beene shaken with warres and that which alone hath escaped
Castle Monasterie Woods of vnknowne trees Why those mynes are neglected Saile descryed A ship of Negroes Purpose of stay and holding the place Alteration by sicknesse and moâ—talitie Winteâ— so called of abundance of rain in Iuly and August The disease 400. English deâ—â— of sicknesse in Puerâ—o Rico. Black Pinnace sunke A thousand Ducats worth of pearles â—ound The Kings rich Chist of pearls in Margarita Lopez sent with Letters 80 peeces of brasen Ordnance brought from Puerto Rico. Ships left with Sir I. Barkley Cause of the Earles quick departure The Earâ—e departed from Puerto Rico the 14. of August The Authors employment with the Earle Of the nâ—ture qualitie â—nd largenesse of the mayne Iland of Saint Iohn de Pueâ—â—â— Rico. Riuer Toa Riuer Baiamond Gold found ordinarily â—n the Riuers of Saint Iohn de Puerto Rico. Vanitie of riches The soile M. Loquilla Woods and Timber Great ship sunke with foure miâ—â—ions and a halfe of treasure The playnes Herds almost wilde Ginger and Sugar Stansias for Ginger Ginger and Sugar their richest commodities Hides One man hauing 12000. head of beeues which vsually are greater then the English Beeues prosper there better then horses Their horses Goates Why sheâ—pe are scarse Woluâ—sh Dogs The wild dogs liue of Crabs Description of thâ—se land-crabs quere if they bâ—e not Tortoiâ—â—s Their experiment Goates more safe then Sheepe Swine Fowles Pidgeons in Trees Parrots as Crowes Fruits Pines Mammeis Guiauas That and Papâ—â—es good agaiâ—st flux Pâ—ums Wilde grapes Plantiâ—â—â— Cocos Palmeâ—os Other fruits Huge Citrons Oranges Pepper Trees diueâ—â—â—fied in fruits greene ripe and buds at once Caâ—â—auy bread Cassauie descr 〈…〉 The iuyce not poyson Mayâ— Ricâ— Drinkes Senâ—â—â—iue plant Cinamon High 〈◊〉 Hot calme continuing thirteene dayes An apparent Current in 32. degrees Ignorance beneficiall A terrible stormes High-swolne Sea Vndique pontus Flores descried Earle of Essex his Iland voyage 1597. The rest as needlesse is omitted Sir T. Pert set forth by King Henrie the eighth Master Tomson c. See Hak. tom 3. pag. 448. Spanish Inquisition Monstrous lies A pezo 4â— 8d Master Bodenham Master Chilton Chiltons seuenteene yeeres trauels in New Spaine and Peru. Ecantepec a hill supposed nine leagues high I suppose it should be nine miles Good out of Euill Henrie Hawkes Sir Iohn Hawkins his third voyage to Guinea and thence to the West Indies Sir Francis Drake Saint Iohn de Vllua The opinion of lawfulnesse to doe any inhumaniti to Sauages punished God vsed Christians vnchrist 〈◊〉 dealing to punish 〈◊〉 〈…〉 uagenesse to Sauâ—gâ—s Miles Philips Tompice the Poâ—t of Panuco Dauid Ingram Spanish gouernours crueltie Nuestra Sennora de Guadalupe Deuillish inquisition 63. Englishmen sentenced at once Anno 1575. besides Three Marryrs Iob Hortop his 23. yeeres misery Sceleton of a huge Giant * Vnderstand it of the Philippinae ships Ginger how it groweth Sea Monster like a man Second sentence of Inquisition Dauid Ingram Sir I. Hawkins his 3. voyages M. Wil. Hawkins Sir Richard Hawkins Sir Francis Drakes birth Camdeni Elizabetha pag. 301. s. His education His first founders Ex operanaâ—ticâ— piratica Drakes second Indian voyage This discourse was written by Lopez Vaz who was taken by the Earle of Cumberlands ships 1586. with his discourse about him Negro fugitiues Camden vbi sup Drakes vow for the South Sea Iohn Oxenham His audacious enterprize His prizes Discord causeth destruction Delay breeds danger Captaine Barker of Bristoll Coxes quarrels Drakes happie Circumnauigation see sup Tom. 1. l. 2. c. 3. See Camdâ—â—i Eliz. pag. 309. Sir Fr. Drakes to Domingo c. Names of the Captaines and Commanders by Sea Land English Shipâ— arrested the cause of the breaking out of Hostility S. Iâ—go taken Voyage of old Master William Hawkins Dominica S. Christopheâ—â— Saint Domingo assaulted and taken Ambitious Armes Cartagena assaulted and taken Mortality by a Calentura The Cause Other Townes taken * So Camden others Saint Augustin First vse of Tobacco and as may be thought of the foolish looke at the left eare which the Virginians say the Deuill so appearing to theÌ„ taught them * This voyage is printed in Master Hak. Tom. 2. part 2. but fincing this written Relation I thought good to insert it It was written by one Tho. Pinner Caricke of 1400. tuns Gally-fight Sir Francis Drakes last voyage Death of Sir Iohn Hawkins S. 10. Port Rico. R de la Hacha taken and Tapia S. Martha Nombre de Dios. S. Th. Baskeruile March for Panama S. Fr. Drakes death Sea fight Quarrell betwixt the Generals Reason for and against the Canary exploit The Grand Canaria Dominica Sir I. Hawkins sickneth At Porto rico He dyeth Treasure lost Know-saw Rio dela Hatcha Santa Marta Sir T. Baskeruils iâ—uâ—ney for Paâ—ama Escudo Sir F. Drakes death Captaine Michelson Treachery of Spaniards Sir G. Careys Captaine Newport Earle of Suffolke Thirteene sayles English before Hauana Sir R. Dudley Captaine Amâ—as Preston Captaine Summers Sir Antonie Sherley Captaine Parker Sir W. Raleigh M. W. Hawkins M. Reniger M. Pudsey M. Hare Sir I. Lancaster Fenton and Ward Iohn Drake Captaine Winters returne With this Cap. Winter I haue had coÌ„ference in Sept. 1618. at Bath which told me that solemne possession was actually taken of those parts to the vse of her Maiesty and her successors which he desired also should be published to the World The names of his companions They lose their ship Their returne to the Straits and thorow them to the North Sea Penguin Iland Port Saint Iulian Riuer of Plate Seales Foure English taken by Sauages the rest wounded Two dye Their Pâ—â—nasse â—â—st Pâ—â—cher Cardâ—r remayne No fresh water They drinke vâ—ine Red vrine Paâ—â—agâ— to the Mayne Pitcher breakes with drinking fresh water Tuppan basse Sauages He goeth with them Sauage towne described Caiou their Lord. Hospitall entertainment He learneth their language Their warres Captiues Man-eating Their drinke and drunkennesse Religion He teacheth them to make Targets and Clubs Three kindes of Balsâ—me Man-eating Spoiles Notes of gentrie Portugals eaten His departure He yeeldeth himselfe to a Portugall His impâ—â—â—â—ment Deliuerance His employments His coast voyages to IIheos Puerto Seguro Spirito Sancto S. Vincent R. Ieâ—ero Dauide Leake an English Surgeon Honest Portugal Fernambuc Hulke with eight English Marchant Royall Cap. Raymond Captain George Drake His arriuall in England The Q. rewardeth him See Tom. 1. l. 2. c. 4. I haue heard that all his sailes at his returne in the riuer were silke See Osorius de reb Eman. Sup. Toâ— 1. l. 3. Cap. Dauis his voyage into the South Sea reported by M. Iane. Hak. To. 3. Strange Canlbals with dogs faces orvizars Dreames omiuous Men lost or taken as Kâ—iâ—et saith Loathsome Wormes The morall of this and other historicall Tragedies The Roe-bucke Captaine Dauis blamed Mutinous companie Port Desire Tempests The Streits Extreme winter They enter fiftie leagues Death of men Miserable distresse Consultation Windes and snows violent Port S. Iulian. Port Desire His