Selected quad for the lemma: majesty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
majesty_n	honourable_a	lord_n	viscount_n	3,313	5	11.4579	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A71306	Purchas his pilgrimes. part 4 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.	Purchas, Samuel, 1577?-1626.	1625 (1625)	STC 20509_pt4; ESTC S111862	1,854,238	887

amount vnto being onely for victuals which our Country yeeldeth I hold it not fit here to set down lest I should be accused by some therein And withall it is to be considered that the trade thither as now it is doth yearely set on worke and relieue many numbers of people as Bakers Brewers Coopers Ship-Carpenters Smiths Net-makers Rope-makers Line-makers Hooke-makers ●●lly makers and many other trades which with their families haue their best meanes of 〈◊〉 from these New-found-land Voyages Adde vnto them the families or seruants of 〈◊〉 Owne●● and Masters of such Ships as goe thither and Mariners with their families hereby 〈…〉 ied and maintained c. THe Natiues of the Countrey haue great store of red Oaker which they vse to colour their Bodies Bowes and Arrowes and Cannowes withall which Cannowes are built in shape like the Wherries on the Riuer of Thames but that they are much longer made with the rinds of Birch trees which they sew very artificially and close together and ouerlay euery seame with Turpentine and in like manner they sew the rindes of Spruce trees round and deepe in proportion like a Brasse Kettle to boyle their meate in which hath beene well proued by three Mariners of a Ship riding at Anchor by me who being robbed in the night by the Sauages of their apparell and diuers prouisions did the next day seeke after them and came suddenly where they had set vp three Tents and were feasting hauing three Canoas by them and had three Pots made of such rindes of trees standing each of them on three stones boyling with twelue Fowles in each of them euery Fowle as bigge as a Widgeon and some so bigge as a Ducke they had also many such pots so sewed and fashioned like the leather Buckets that are vsed for quenching of fire and those were full of the yolks of Egges that they bad taken and boiled hard and so dried small which the Sauages vsed in their broth as Sugar is vsed in some meates they had great store of the Skins of Deere Beuers Beares Seales Otters and diuers other fine skins which were well dressed as also great store of seuerall sorts of flesh dried and by shooting off a Musket towards them they all ran away naked without any apparell but onely their hats on their heads which were made of Seales skins in fashion like our hats sewed handsomely with narrow bands about them set round with fine white shels such as are carried from Portugall to Braseile where they passed to the Indians as ready monie All their three Canoas their Flesh Skins Yolks of Egges Targets Bowes and Arrows and much fine Okar and diuers other things they tooke brought away and shared it amongst those three that tooke it and brought to me the best Canoa Bowes and Arrowes and diuers of their Skins and many other things worth the noting which may seeme to inuite vs to finde out some other trades with them Now also I will not omit to relate something of a strange Creature that I first saw there in the yeere 1610. in a morning early as I was standing by the water side in the Harbour of Saint Iohns which I espied verie swiftly to come swimming towards me looking cheerefully as it had beene a woman by the Face Eyes Nose Mouth Chin eares Necke and Forehead It seemed to be so beautifull and in those parts so well proportioned hauing round about vpon the head all blew strakes resembling haire downe to the Necke but certainly it was haire for I beheld it long and another of my companie also yet liuing that was not then farre from me and seeing the same comming so swiftly towards mee I stepped backe for it was come within the length of a long Pike Which when this strange Creature saw that I went from it it presently thereupon diued a little vnder water and did swim to the place where before I landed whereby I beheld the shoulders and backe downe to the middle to be as square white and smooth as the backe of a man and from the middle to the hinder part pointing in proportion like a broad hooked Arrow how it was proportioned in the forepart from the necke and shoulders I know not but the same came shortly after vnto a Boat wherein one William Hawkridge then my seruant was that hath bin since a Captaine in a Ship to the East Indies and is lately there imploied againe by Sir Thomas Smith in the like Voyage and the same Creature did put both his hands vpon the side of the Boate and did striue to come in to him and others then in the said Boate whereat they were afraid and one of them strooke it a full blow on the head whereat it fell off from them and afterwards it came to two other Boates in the Harbour the men in them for feare fled to land This I suppose was a Mermaide Now because diuers haue written much of Mermaides I haue presumed to relate what is most certaine of such a strange Creature that was seene at New-found-land whether it were a Mermaide or no I know not I leaue it for others to iudge c. R. W. CHAP. IX The names of diuers honorable persons and others who haue vndertaken to helpe aduance his Maiesties ●laviation in the New-found-land written by the said R. W. with extracts of certaine Letters written from thence THe right Honorable Henry Lord Cary Viscount of Fanlke-land Lord Deputie for the Kingdome of Ireland hath vndertaken to plant a Colonie of his Maiesties Subiects in the New-found-land and is well pleased to entertaine such as are willing to be Aduenturers with him therein vpon such Conditions as may appeare in the latter part of this Booke And in his Lordships absence hee hath authorized this Agent Master Leonard Wellsted by warrant vnder his hand and Seale to ratifie whatsoeuer shall be by him concluded therein The said Master Wellsteds Chamber is neere one Master Garlands house at the lower end of Saint Mar 〈…〉 lane in the fields The right Honorable Sir George Cal●ert Knight one of the principall Secretaries vnto his Maiestie hath also vndertaken to planta large Circuit of that Countrie who hath already sent thither this yeare and the former yeare a great number of men and women with all necessarie prouisions fit for them where they liue pleasantly building of Houses 〈…〉 sing of Land for Corne and Meddowes Cabage Carrets Turneps and such like as also for Wood and Tobacco Likewise they are there preparing to make Salt for the prel 〈…〉 tion of fish another yeere and for diuers other seruices And his Honor is likewise well pl●aled to entertaine such as will aduenture with him therein vpon very fit conditions The Worshipfull Iohn Slany of London Merchant who is one of the vndertakers of the New-found-land Plantation and is Treasurer vnto the pat 〈…〉 of that Societie who haue maintained a Colonie of his Maie●●●es subiects there about twelue yeeres and they

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 Weymo●●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 le●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 Helcl●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 l●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 ●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

to seeke the Portugall Christians out and peaceably to put my selfe into their hands Hereupon the Gouernor and his assistants consulted and concluded together that I should be committed to the house of Antonio de Payue there remaine vntill they might write into Portugall to know the Kings pleasure concerning me Within one yeare they receiued answer from Lisbon concerning me that I should be forth comming and that hereafter the King would send further order for my transporting into Portugall But aboue two yeares passed before this order came In which meane space first I spent part of my time in going into the fields as ouerseer of my friends Negros and Sauages in their planting and dressing of their Sugar Canes and in planting of Gingers which grow there exceeding well but is a forbidden trade to be transported out for hindering of other places and in cutting downe of Brasil-wood and in bringing it downe by Riuers vpon rafts vnto the Port where the Ships doe lade it and in seeing them gather their Cotten wooll and picking the seedes out of it and packing the same and in gathering of the long Pepper both white and red After I had spent some yeare and an halfe in this businesse my friend Antonio de Payue hauing a small Barke of his owne which he employed in carrying of wares from Port to Port and for bringing of Sugars to places where Ships should lade vsed me knowing I had bin brought vp to the Sea in these his businesses Our first Voyage was to Ilheos where we left some wares and staied there some moneth then we went to Puerto Seguro and there tooke in some Sugars for Linnen Cloath Bayes Wine and Oyle Then returning home shortly after we were set forth againe in the same Barke to Spirito Sancto and Saint Vincent and the Riuer Ienero where discharging our wares to certaine Factors and receiuing Sugars and Cotten Wooll aboord we returned safely home In my first Voyage one Master Dauid Leake an English Surgeon lost there out of an English Shippe in the Countrie being much sought for because of his skill had passage with vs from Bahia to Spirito Sancto Vpon my returne of my second voyage my good friend Antonio de Payue aduertised me that a Shippe was shortly to arriue there to carry me into Portugall prisoner telling me that he should not be able any longer to helpe me and therefore wished me to looke to my selfe but kindely offered me his helpe to conuay me away whereupon I tooke his Boate and foure of his Negros pretending to goe on fishing to the Sea and so of purpose going much to Leeward of the place I put in to Feruambuc where the Negroes being examined whence we came and for what cause being vtterly ignorant of mine intent answered that they were drawn thither by force of weather and for their Masters sake were well intreated and returned home with the next winde my selfe remaining secretly behinde them Within certaine moneths there came thither a Hulke with eight English men and foureteene Portugals who after some three moneths had laden the same with English and Portugall goods to come for England The English goods belonged to M. Cordal M. Beecher and M. Sadler worshipfull Merchants of the Citie of London which had bin left in the Countrie before by the Merchant Royall Thus passing homeward in our course as far as the Iles of the Açores within sight of the I le of Pike being fiue Portugall Ships in consort we met with Cap. Raymond and Cap. George Drake of Exeter with two English Ships of warre who because the peace betweene England and Spaine was broken the yeare before commanded vs to yeelde our selues to them as their lawfull prises which we did al fiue accordingly without any resistance But by contrary weather we were driuen into Baltimore in Ireland and within a while after we arriued in the narrow Seas in the hauen of Chichister in the end of Nouember 1586. nine yeares and foureteene dayes after my departure out of England with Sir Francis Drake in his Voyage about the World My strange aduentures and long liuing among cruell Sauages being known to the right honorable the Lord Charles Howard Lord high Admirall of England he certified the Queenes Maiesty thereof with speede and brought me to her presence at White-hall where it pleased her to talke with me a long houres space of my trauailes and wonderfull escape and among other things of the manner of M. Dowties execution and afterward bestowed 22. angels on me willing my Lord to haue consideration of me with many gracious words I was dismissed humbly thanking the Almighty for my miraculous preseruation and safe returne into my natiue Countrie To the Reader HEre ma●st thou read that dismall and fatall voyage of Master Thomas Candish in which he consummated his earthly peregrination In the former voyage of his which amongst our Circum●auigations of the Globe we haue presented thee thou findest a perpetuall Sunshine no man euer hauing in neere so little time compassed that huge circumference or taken his choise of so much more wealth then he could bring home or reuisited his natiue soile with greater pompe and triumph The clearest day hath a night nor doth Summer last alway the Sea hath his ●bbing as well as flowing the Aire hath calmes and stormes the Moone ●●deth sometimes the Suns lustre from vs by her interposition sometimes is her selfe meerely darkened by the Earths shadow And if the Elements Seasons and Heauens two Eyes be subiect to such vicissit●des what is this little m●lchill of earth this modell of clay this moueable circumference of constant inconstancie immutable mutability this vanishing centre of diuersified vanitie which we call Man that herein also he should not resemble this samplar of the vniuerse as becommeth a littls map to be like that larger Prototype This we see all and feele daily in our selues this in Master Candish here in Sir Francis Drakes before the Seas two darlings there and thence both liuing and dying if dissolution of the body may be called a death where the soule arriueth in heauen the name fils the earth the deedes are presidents to posteritie and England their Countrie hath the glory alone that she hath brought forth two illustrious Capta●●es and Generals which haue fortunately embraced the round waste of their vaste mother without waste of life reputation and substance yea victorious ouer elements and enemies illustrious in wealth and honour they haue comne home like the Sunne in a Summers day seeming greatest neerest his euening home the whole skie entertaining and welcoming him in festiuall scarless and displayed colours of triumph No Nation else hath yeelded one which in all these respects may be matchable Magalianes hath left himselfe odious to his Portugals for offered seruice to the Spaniard and like Phaeton thinking with Phebus his Chariot to compasse the World perished mid-way Midway was

long Boat was the care which hee tooke for the estate of the Colony in this his inforced absence for by a long practised experience foreseeing and fearing what innouation and tumult might happily arise amongst the younger and ambitious spirits of the new companies to arriue in Virginia now comming with him along in this same Fleet hee framed his letters to the Colony and by a particular Commission confirmed Captaine Peter Win his Lieutenant Gouernour with an Assistance of sixe Counsellours writing withall to diuers and such Gentlemen of qualitie and knowledge of vertue and to such louers of goodnesse in this cause whom hee knew intreating them by giuing examples in themselues of duty and obedience to assist likewise the said Lieutenant Gouernour against such as should attempt the innouating of the person now named by him or forme of gouernment which in some Articles hee did likewise prescribe vnto them and had faire hopes all should goe well if these his letters might arriue there vntill such time as either some Ship there which hee fairely beleeued might bee moued presently to aduenture for him or that it should please the right honourable the Lordes and the rest of his Maiesties Councell in England to addresse thither the right honourable the Lord Lawar one of more eminencie and worthinesse as the proiect was before his comming forth whilest by their honourable fauours a charitable consideration in like manner might bee taken of our estates to redeeme vs from hence For which purpose likewise our Gouernour directed a particular letter to the Councell in England and sent it to the foresaid Captaine Peter Winne his now to bee chosen Lieutenant Gouernour by him to bee dispatched which is the first from thence into England In his absence Sir George Summers coasted the Ilands and drew the former plat of them and daily fished and hunted for our whole company vntill the seuen and twentieth of Nouember when then well perceiuing that we were not likely to heare from Virginia and conceiuing how the Pinnace which Richard Frubbusher was a building would not be of burthen sufficient to transport all our men from thence into Uirginia especially considering the season of the yeare wherein we were likely to put off he consulted with our Gouernour that if hee might haue two Carpenters for we had foure such as they were and twenty men ouer with him into the maine Iland he would quickly frame vp another little Barke to second ours for the better fitting and conueiance of our people Our Gouernour with many thankes as the cause required cherishing this so carefull and religious consideration in him and whose experience likewise was somewhat in these affaires granted him all things sutable to his desire and to the furthering of the worke who therefore had made ready for him all such tooles and instruments as our owne vse required not and for him were drawne forth twenty of the ablest and stoutest of the company and the best of our men to hew and square timber when himselfe then with daily paines and labour wrought vpon a small Vessell which was soone ready as ours at which wee leaue him a while busied and returne to our selues In the meane space did one Frubbusher borne at Graues end and at his comming forth now dwelling at Lime House a painefull and well experienced Shipwright and skilfull workman labour the building of a little Pinnace for the furtherance of which the Gouernour dispensed with no ●rauaile of his body nor forbare any care or study of minde perswading as much and more an ill qualified parcell of people by his owne performance then by authority thereby to hold them at their worke namely to fell carry and sawe Cedar ●t for the Carpenters purpose for what was so meane whereto he would not himselfe set his hand being therefore vp earely and downe late yet neuerthelesse were they hardly drawne to it as the Tortoise to the inchantment as the Prouerbe is but his owne presence and hand being set to euery meane labour and imployed so readily to euery office made our people at length more diligent and willing to be called thereunto where they should see him before they came In which we may obserue how much example preuailes aboue precepts and how readier men are to be led by eyes then eares And sure it was happy for vs who had now runne this fortune and were fallen into the bottome of this misery that we both had our Gouernour with vs and one so solicitous and carefull whose both example as I said and authority could lay shame and command vpon our people else I am perswaded we had most of vs finished our dayes there so willing were the ma●or part of the common sort especially when they found such a plenty of victuals to settle a foundation of euer inhabiting there as well appeared by many practises of theirs and perhaps of some of the better sort Loe what are our affections and passions if not rightly squared how irreligious and irregular they expresse vs not perhaps so ill as we would be but yet as wee are some dangerous and secret discontents nourished amongst vs had like to haue bin the parents of bloudy issues and mischiefes they began first in the Sea-men who in time had fastened vnto them by false baits many of our land-men likewise and some of whom for opinion of their Religion was carried an extraordinary and good respect The Angles wherewith chiefely they thus hooked in these disquieted Pooles were how that in Uirginia nothing but wretchednesse and labour must be expected with many wants and a churlish intreaty there being neither that Fish Flesh nor Fowle which here without wasting on the one part or watching on theirs or any threatning and are of authority at ease and pleasure might be inioyed and since both in the one and the other place they were for the time to loose the fruition both of their friends and Countrey as good and better were it for them to repose and seate them where they should haue the least outward wants the while This thus preached and published each to other though by such who neuer had bin more onward towards Virginia then before this Voyage a Sculler could happily rowe him and what hath a more adamantiue power to draw vnto it the consent and attraction of the idle vntoward and wretched number of the many then liberty and fulnesse of sensuality begat such a murmur and such a discontent and disunion of hearts and hands from this labour and forwarding the meanes of redeeming vs from hence as each one wrought with his Mate how to diuorse him from the same And first and it was the first of September a conspiracy was discouered of which six were found principals who had promised each vnto the other not to set their hands to any trauaile or endeauour which might expedite or forward this Pinnace and each of these had seuerally according to appointment sought

Mynes made them the seruants of Rome and Carthage and what their Mynes and mindes doe now I leaue them to others Once as the Mynes are in barrennest soyle and couetous men haue least euen when they are had of most money medijs vt Tantalus vndis so I haue heard that in Spaine is lesse Gold and Siluer then in other parts of Europe I dare not mention the proportions from both Spanish and English relation their vsuall money also to meddle with no more is of base mettall and their greatest summes computed by Marauedis lesse then our later tokens except which deuised for poorer vses of the poorest England of long time knowes no base monyes and hath seene plentie of Siluer and Gold of Wine and Oyle which grow not in her when Spaine which produceth these is fed with salads and drinketh water helped now and then with Hogges-kinne vnsauoury Wine The Indian Fountaines runne with golden and siluer streames sic vos non vobis not to themselues but into that Spanish Cisterne and these Cisternes are like those of the London Water-house which hath the Conduit Pipes alway open in the bottome so that a thousand other Cisternes hold more water then it so may it be said of the other it is not Concha but Canalis a Pipe rather then Cisterne a Cash-keeper rather then Owner and which is spoken of better things remaining poore makes many rich To proceed are not Myners the most miserable of Slaues toyled continually and vnto manifold deaths tired for others in bringing to light those Treasures of darknesse and liuing if they liue or if that bee a life in the suburbs of Hell to make others dreame of Heauen Yea Paradise the modell of heauen had in it no Minerals nor was Adam in his innocency or Noah after the Worlds recouery both Lords of all employed in Mines but in those happy workes which Uirginia inuiteth England vnto in Vines Gardening and Husbandry Neither let any man thinke that I pleade against the sourenesse of the Grapes like the Foxe which could not reach them but I seriously shew that they are calues and not men which adore the golden Calfe or Nabuchadnezzars great golden statue as if the body were not more then raiment and those things to be preferred to money for whose sake mony the creature of man base Idolatry where the Creator worships his creature was first ordained and still hath both vse and being Doe we not see in this respect that the Silkes Calicos Drugges and Spices of the East swallow vp not to mention the Belgian whirlepoole all the Mines of the West and that one Carricke carrieth more Rials thither then perhaps some whole Region in Spaine retaineth for vulgar vse And whence are English Portugals or Dutchmen fitted for that commerce as if America had ominously for other iust reason there is none beene called India as if the West were but drudge and factor for the East And what hath dispeopled the New World not leauing in some places one of Millions but Auri sacra fames others killing them in the Mines or they killing themselues to preuent the Mines Let it be riches enough that Sir Thomas Dale testified by Letters from thence and after his returne to me that foure of the best Kingdomes of Christendome were not for naturall endowments comparable to Virginia and which I haue heard of one which hath trauelled in all the best Regions of Europe and hath seene more of Virginia then perhaps any man else and which needes not speake for any gaine there or thence gotten as no reputed fauourite or fauourer of that Society and their actions that he hath seene no Country to be preferred for soile nor for commodious Riuers to be compared And if successe hath not beene correspondent to English hopes who seeth not the causes of those diseasters Diuision that taile-headed Amphisbana and many-headed monster deformed issue of that difformed old Serpent in some of the Colony there Cōpany here hath from time to time thrust in her forged venomous tongue wherby they haue swolne with deadly poison of great thoughts of heart onely by pride doe men make contention with blinde-staring eyes of self-loue abounding in their own sense whence suspicions iealousies factions partialities to friends and dependants wilfull obstinacies and other furious passions haue transported men from Uirginias good and their owne Couetousnesse hath distorted others to minde earth and not heauen in hastinesse of more then speedy returne and present gaine forgetting that Godlinesse is the best gaine and that they are planting a Colony not reaping a haruest for a publike and not but in subordinate order priuate wealth A long time Uirginia was thought to be much encombered with Englands excrements some vicious persons as corrupt leuin sowring or as plague sores infecting others and that Colony was made a Port Exquiline for such as by ordure or vomit were by good order and physicke worthy to be euacuated from This Body whence not only lazie drones did not further the Plantation but wicked Waspes with sharking and the worst that is beggerly tyrants frustrated and supplanted the labours of others Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt A prodigious Prodigall here is not easily metamorphosed in a Virginian passage to a thrifty Planter nor can there neede wiser choise or more industrious course in any vndertaking then is requisite in a Christian Colonies plantation amongst Infidels Which I suppose hath beene carefully by many Aduenturers practised and whatsoeuer faults happened by ignorance in the beginnings neglect of seasons riot sl●ath occasionall wants of or in Gouernours or Gouernment abuses of Mariners trechery of Fugitiues and Sauages and other diseases which haue in part attended all new Plantat●ons and consumed many experience I hope by this time hath taught to preuent or remedy The late barbarous Massacre hinc illa lachrym● still bleedeth and when things were reported to be in better forwardnesse then euer in great part blasted those hopefull blossomes di 〈…〉 ointed the proceedings in the Iron workes Vineyards Mulberry plants and in sudden shifts for life exposed them to manifold necessities insomuch that many of the Principals being slain the rest surprised with feare reduced themselues almost from eighty to eight Plantations whereby pestered with multitude and destitute of Corne and other forsaken necessaries they incurred a grieuous and generall sicknesse which being increased by infection of some passengers tainted in their Ship-passage with corrupt Beere there followed a mortality which consumed about fiue hundred persons besides three hundred and fifty or thereabouts murthered in that Sauage-Massacre All which notwithstanding there remaine some haue if truely calculated and coniectured eighteene hundred persons for whose security and prouision it hath pleased his Maiesty to haue a Royall care as l●kewise the Honorable Lords of his Maiesties priuy Councell besides the honorable endeuours of the Councell and well affected members of that Society

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

would haue it done as they had formerly determined by Lot Which thing I did with all faithfulnesse and diligence the manner of it doth aboue appeare and is more largely manifested in a Booke of the Suruey of the Country exhibited to the Right Honorable his Maiesties Counsell and the Court of Aduenturers for these parts And then began this which was before as it were an vnsetled and confused Chaos I mean as touching a Plantation for considered onely as a Regiment it was otherwise to receiue a conuenient disposition forme and order and to become indeed a Plantation for though the Countrey was small yet they could not haue beene conueniently disposed and well settled without a true description and suruey made of it and againe euery man being settled where hee might constantly abide they knew their businesse and fitted their houshold accordingly They built for themselues and their Families not Tents or Cabins but more substantiall houses they cleered their grounds and planted not onely such things as would yeeld them their fruits in a yeere or halfe a yeere but all such too as would affoord them profit after certaine yeeres c. So that in short time after euen before expiration of Captaine Tuckers gouernment the Country began to aspire and neerely to approch vnto that happinesse and prosperity wherein now it flourisheth For may it not iustly be accounted happinesse and prosperitie for men to liue where they enioy the meanes of true Religion and Saluation to wit the sincere Ministerie of the Word and Sacraments where the gouernment is good without rigour and oppression the place healthfull and temperate where they are freed from all extreme care and toyle where they haue food in abundance and very good with other things needfull to the body and where they haue Commodities meete for Trade by which they better aduance their estates all which and more is largely verified in the pres●nt estate of that Colonie whatsoeuer some maliciously minded or to euill ends suborned may say to the contrary so that there may seeme to bee a restauration of that Golden Age so much spoken of The Gouernour now there resident is one Captaine Butler for Captaine Tucker departing thence in December 1618. left in his place Captaine Kendall who also was one that supplied the same place in the interim betweene Master Moores time and Captaine Tuckers and hath spent some nine or ten yeeres in the Countrey But in the yeere 1619. about Midsummer the Aduenturers sent thither as Gouernour for three yeeres according to the custome the said Captaine Butler and foure ships with some fiue hundred persons there beeing at that time in the Countrey onely fiue hundred more for by the space of foure yeeres to wit during the latter part of Master Moores gouernment and all the time of Captaine Tuckers they had sent few thither being almost hopelesse of the place by reason of the Rats But since there haue beene sent many companies more then haue come to my knowledge Insomuch that I vnderstand the Countrey is now almost fully planted and inhabited Thus haue I briefly related so farre forth as hath come to my knowledge and remembrance euery thing of most note and importance that hath befallen in the first Discouerie and planting of these Ilands till this present I haue laboured to contract my selfe yet haue exceeded my entended limits Now I must speake something of the Countrey it selfe Which consisteth of a company of small Ilands situate and formed as aboue appeareth It lyeth in the Westerne Ocean in that part of the World lately discouered and called America or the New World vulgarly the West Indies It hath Latitude or Eleuation as is abouesaid 32. degrees 25. minutes which is almost the same with the Maderaes or rather more Southward The Countrey is round about enuironed with Rockes which to the Northward Westward and Southward extend farther then hath beene yet discouered By reason of these Rockes the Countrey is very strong For there is onely two places and scarce two except to such as know them well where shipping may safely come in and those places are very well fortified but within is roome to entertaine a Royall Fleet. The Rockes in most places appeare at a low water neither are they much couered at a high water For it ebbes and flowes there not aboue fiue foot The shoare it selfe for the most part is a Rocke so hardned by the Sunne Wind and Sea that it is not apt to be worne by the Waues whose violence is also broken by the Rocks before they come at the shoare The Mould is of diuers colours neither Clay nor Sand but a meane betweene The Red which resembleth Clay is worst the whitish resembling Sand and the blackish Clay is good the Browne betweene them both which they call white because there is mingled with it as it were a white Marle is best Vnder the Mould two or three foote deepe and sometimes lesse is a kind of white hard substance which they call the Rocke the Trees vsually fasten their Roots in it and draw their nourishment from it Neither is it indeed Rocke or Stone nor so hard though for the most part harder then Chalke not so white but Pumice-like and Spongie easily receiuing and contayning much water I haue seene in some places Clay found vnder it It seemes to be engendred of the Raine water drayning through the earth and drawing with it of his substance vnto a certaine depth where it congeales The hardest kind of it which is commonly vnder the red ground is not so Spongie nor retaynes much water but lyeth in the ground in Quarries as it were thicke Slates one vpon another and there is some chinkes or creuises betwixt one late and another through which the water hath passage so that in such places there is scarce found any fresh water For all or the most part of their fresh water whereof they haue good store commeth out of the Sea drayning through the Sand or through the foresaid substance which they call the Rocke and leauing his Salt behind it becomes fresh Sometimes we digged Welles of fresh water within foure or fiue paces of the Sea-side sometimes further off The most part of them would ebbe and flow as the Sea did and be leuell or little higher then the Superficies of the Sea The Aire is most commonly cleere very temperate moist with a moderate heate very healthfull and apt for the Generation and nourishing of all things so that there is scarce any thing transported from hence thither but it yeelds a farre greater encrease and if it be any liuing thing becomes fatter and better liking then here By this meanes the Countrey was so replenished with Hennes and Turkeyes within the space of three or foure yeeres that beeing neglected many of them forsooke the Houses and became wilde and so liued in great abundance The like encrease there is of Hogges and other Cattle according to their kinds There seemes to be

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 ●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 s●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

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 e●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 n●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 ei●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

Barbary The eight and twenty day being Monday the Lord Admirall came aboord the Arke againe minding there to remaine for a space as indeede he did and vpon the aduice of his Phisician to deale something in phisicke for that his Lordship found his body something out of frame At that time it pleased his Lordship to write certaine letters to the Duke of Medina Sidonia for the deliuerance of English Captiues who were remaining in the Gallies For by this time it was reported that the said Duke was come downe in person with some power and that he was either at Port Saint Mary or else at Rotta or thereabout His Lordship did indi●e the Letters himselfe but his pleasure was they should be turned into Latine by another and so to be sent as indeede they were in the Latine tongue vnto the Duke The next day after being the fourth of Iuly the Lords generall caused the towne of Cadiz to be set on fire and rased and defaced so much as they could the faire Cathedrall Church and the Religious houses onely being spared and left vnblemished And with the Towne all such prouision for shipping and other things as were seruiceable for the Realmes vse and yet were not eitherso conuenient for vs to be carried away as else such as we stood no whit at all in neede of were likewise at the same instant consumed with fire And presently thereupon their Lordships with as conuenient speede as they could and the whole army in such order and leisure as they thought best came aboord The next day being the fist of Iuly the Lords generall with all the army being vnder saile and now making for England and but as yet passing the very mouth of the Bay of Cadiz a Galley ful of English prisoners with a flag of truce met vs from Rotta sent by the Duke of Medina Sidonia and sent as it should seeme one day later then his promise but yet their flag being either not big enough or not well placed in the Galley or not well discerned of our men or by what other mischance I know not but thus it was by one of our smallest ships that sailed formost as soone as the said Galley came within Gunshot there was a great Peece discharged vpon her and at that instant there was one man slaine outright and two other grieuously hurt The errour being espied and perceiued our ship gaue ouer immediately from any further shooting As soone as the Galley came neere vs my Lord Admirall caused a gracious salutation to be sounded with his trumpets and willed the Captaines forthwith to come aboord his ship which they did and then he feasted them with a Banket as the time and place might serue And then by them vnderstanding of that vnfortunate mischance that had hapned by the shot of the said ship he was very sorry for the same and yet such was the mercifull prouidence of almighty God that euen in this mischance also he did hold his holy hand ouer the English and all the harme that was done did light only vpon the poore Turke and the Spaniard himselfe When this Lord had well banqueted them he presently called for his Barge and did accompany the said Galley to the Lord Generall the Earle of Essex who then did ride with his ship a good distance off and there they being in like manner most honorably receiued and intertained the Spanish Gentlemen deliuered vp their prisoners the English captiues of whom some had bin there six yeeres some eight or ten yea and some two and twenty yeeres and vpward and some of them but lately taken in Sir Francis Drakes last voyage to the Indies The number of the prisoners deliuered were but nine and thirty and no moe and were brought in and deliuered by Don Antonio de Corolla and his brother and by Don Pedro de Cord●● and certaine others If any man presume here so farre as to inquire how it chanced that the Lord Generall rested so long at Cadiz and went no further and why Port Saint Mary being so faire a Towne and so neere to them was for borne and why Sh●r●s alias Xeres And why Rotta and the like And why this or that was done And why that ●or this left vndone I will not answere him with our common English prouerbe as I might which is That one foole may aske moe questions in one houre then ten discreete men can well answere in fiue dayes But that graue ancient writer Cornelius Tacitus hath a wise briefe pithy saying and it is this Nemo tentauit inquirere in columnas Herculis sancti●sque ac reuerentius habitum est de fact is Deorum ●redere quàm scire Also vpon my knowledge the chiefest cause why Port Saint Mary and the rest were left vntouched was this For that it was most certainely known that they were Townes not worth the saluting of such a royall company in which there was no manner of wealth in the world left more then bare houses of stone and standing wals and might well haue serued rather as a stale perchance to haue entrapped then as a meanes to haue enriched And thus much for our iourney to Cadiz for the accidents that hapned by the way for the winning spoiling and burning of the said Towne for the ouerthrow of the Spanish Fleete there and for all other by-matters that hapned as appendances to the same both in the time of our abode there as also at the very last houre of our comming from thence As for our returne home and our entrance into a part of Portugall by the way with the taking spoiling and burning of the Towne of Faraon there and marching into the Spanish confines thereabouts c. I minde to leaue it to some other whose chance was to be present at the action as my selfe was not and shall be of more sufficient ability to performe it Meteranus writeth that the taking of Cadiz had so terrified the neighbour townes that the Inhabitants fled out of them and Saint Lucar had beene also very easily taken if a few ships had assaulted it and that eighteene Spanish ships comming from the Indies ignorant of what had hapned were English at vnawares being very wealthy CHAP. XIIII The Voyage to the Iles of Azores vnder the conduct of the Right Honorable ROBERT Earle of Essex 1597. §. I. The Relation thereof by the said Earle and other Commissioners I The Generall hauing by her Maiesties gracious fauour the charge of her Fleete and Armie set out of Plimmouth in Iune 1597. did both promise my selfe and giue hope to her Maiestie that I should be able to defeate the King of Spaines Fleete commanded by the Adelantado if I met them at Sea or destroy it in the harbour of Feroll if I found them there as also to master and take all Fleetes of treasure or of the East or West Indian Fleete that I should finde vpon the Sea in their way to Spaine and lastly that I should