from the Generall â—lowne vp by mine the company was drawne away During the time we lay in the Road our Fleet began the second of Iune and so continued six dayes after to fetch in some Hulks to the number of threescore of Dansik Stetin Rostock Lubeck and Hamburgh laden with Spanish goods and as it seemed for the Kings prouision and going for Lisbâ—â— their principall lading was Corne Masts Cables Copper and Waxe amongst which were some of great burthen wonderfull well builded for sailing which had no great lading in them and therefore it was thought they were brought for the Kings prouision to reinforce his decaied Nauie whereof there was the greater likelihood in that the owner of the greatest of them which carried two misnes was knowne to be very inward with the Cardinall who rather then he would be taken with his ships committed himselfe vnto his small Boate wherein he recouered Saint Sebastians into the which our men that before were in flie-boates were shipped and the Flie-boates sent home with an offer of Corne to the value of their hire But the winde being good for them for Rochel they chose rather to loose their Corne then the winde and so departed The Generall also sent his Horses with them and from thence shipped them into England The third of Iune Colonell Deuereux and Colonell Sidney being both very sicke departed for England who in the whole iourney had shewed themselues very forward to all seruices and in their departure very vnwilling to leaue vs that day we embarked all our Army but lay in the road vntill the eight thereof The sixt-day the Earle of Essex vpon receit of Letters from her Maiesty by them that brought in the victuals presently departed towards England with whom Sir Roger Williams was very desirous to goe but found the Generals very vnwilling he should do so in that he bare the next place vnto them and if they should miscarry was to command the Army And the same day there came vnto vs two small â—â—arkes that brought tidings of some other ships come out of England with victuals which were passed vpwards to the Cape for meeting with whom the second day after we set saile for that place in purpose after our meeting with them to goe with the Iles of Azores the second day which was the ninth we met with them comming backe againe towards vs whose prouision little answered our expectation Notwithstanding we resolued to continue our course for the Ilands About this time wâ—â— the Marchant Royall with three or foure other ships sent to Peniche to fetch away the companies that were leâ—â— chere but Captain Barton hauing receiued Letters from the Generalâ— that were 〈◊〉 ouerland was departed before not being able by reason of the enemies speedy marching thither either to bring away the artillery or all his men according to the direction those letters gaue him for he was no sooner gone then the enemy possessed the Towne and Castle and shot at out ships as they came into the road At this time also was the Ambassadoor from the Emperor of Marocco called Reys Hamet Bencasamp returned and with him M. Ciprian a Gentleman of good place and desert who sent from Don Autoniâ— and Captaine O 〈…〉 y from the Generals to the Emperour The next morning the nine Gallâ—â—â— which were sent not fiue daies before out of Andaluzia for the strengthening of the Ruer or Lisbâ—â— which being ioyned with the other twelue that were there before though we lay hard by them at Saâ—nt Iulians durst neuer make any attempt against vs vpon our departure from thence 〈◊〉 returning home and in the morning being a very dead calme in the dawning thereof fell in the winde of our fleet in the vttermost part whereof they assailed one stragling Barke of Plimmouth of the which Captaine Cauerley being Captaine of the land company with his Lientenant the Master and some of the Marriners abandoned the ship and betooke them to the ship-boats whereof one in which the Master and the Captaine were was ouer 〈…〉 with the Gallies and they drowned There were also two Hulkes stragled far from the strength of the other ships which were so calmed as neither they could get to vs nor we to them though all the great ships towed with their Boats to haue relieued them but could not be recouered in one of which was Captaine Miâ—shaw with his company who fought with them to the last yea after his ship was on fire which whither it was fired by himselfe or by them we could not well discerne but might easily iudge by his long and good fight that the enemy could not but sustain much losse who setting also vpon one other Hulke wherein was but a Lieutenant and he very sicke wereby the valour of the Lieutenant put off although they had first beaten her with their artillery and attempted to boord her And seeing also one other Hulke a league off a sterne of vs they made towards her but finding that she made ready to fight with them they durst not further attempt her whereby it seemed their losse being great in the other fights they were loath to proceede any further From 〈◊〉 day till the nineteenth of Iune our direction from the Generall was that if the winde were Northerly we should plie for the Azores but if Southerly for the Iles of Bayon We lay with contrary windes about that place and the Rocke till the Southerly winde preuailing carried vs to Bayon among whom was Sir Henry Norris in the Ayde who had a purpose if the Admirals had not come in with some 500 men out of them all to haue landed and attempted the taking of Vigo The rest of the fleet held with generall Drake who though he were two dayes before put vpon those Ilands cast off againe to Sea for the Azores but remembring how vnprouided he was for that iourney and seeing that he had lost company of his great ships returned for Bayon and came in there that night in the euening where hee passed vp the Riuer more then a mile aboue Uigo The next morning wee landed as many as were able to fight which were not in the whole aboue two thousand men for in the seuenteene dayes we continued on boord wee had cast many of our men ouer-boord with which number the Colonell generall marched to the Towne of Uigo neere the which when hee approached he sent Captaine Anthony Wingfield with a troupe of shot to enter one side of the same who found vpon euery streâ—tes end a strong barricade but altogether abandoned for hauing entred the Towne he found but one man therein but might see them making way before him to Bayon On the other side the Towne entred Generall Drake with Captaine Richard Wingfield whose approach on that side I thinke made them leaue the places they had so artificially made for defence there were also certaine ships sent with the Vice-admirall to lye close before
the Point of Macanao we had sight of the Rangeria which is as it were a little towne contayning in it some fortie or fiftie houses Here wee did not land because wee saw no people but stood it away South South-east and South and by East amongst for the Burdones About mid-night wee came close aboard the shoare by an Iland called Fâ—bacco and then wee sounded and had ground at fortie fathome The third day being Monday morning wee were becalmed some three leagues off from the mayne About twelue at noone the same day wee had sight of Point de Ray. The winde and breeses blew so strongly of the shoare that we could not come to anchor that night to the Burdones These Burdones are no Towne nor hath any houses but belongeth to the Towne of Comana The fourth day being Wednesday at foure in the afternoone wee came to an anchor at the Burdones so that wee were three dayes in getting to the shoare being in sight of it all the while About twelue at mid-night the same day wee put out our sayne-Net into the Sea for to catch some fish And about foure in the morning wee found a great Sword-fish shut into the Net which was fourteene foot long and he had a sword some three foot long The sword is square and blunt at the end hauing great prickles vpon each side of the bignesse of a wilde Bores tuske We sent our Canoa ashoare here to parley with them hauing a flagge of truce The Gouernour of Comana perceiuing our Canoa comming ashoare sent a Molato to parley with our men who saluted them very kindly inquiring of vs what newes in England and whether the Constable of Spaine were gone home into Spaine or no we told him he was gone into Spaine before we set out of England we asked of him what newes in Comana of any English men and when any had beene here hee told them about a moneth agoe and that one of them had like to haue beene taken by a French Pirat if a Flemming had not tooke his part This night there came foure Spaniards aboard our ship from a Caruell which was at an anchor halfe a league from vs. These Spaniards burged with vs some Tabacco and told vs that Captaine Lee had a Towne built for himselfe and that the Pinnasse had beene here a moneth agoe The seuenth of September in the afternoone there came the Aide of Master Eâ—dreds to an anchor in the road where we rode and then we welcommed them with a shot and they gaue vs three for one after these our salutations the Captaine of the Aide called Squire came aboard vs and told vs that Sir Oliph Lee his Pinnasse was come home before they set out of England and that Captaine Lee dyed in the Pinnasse comming into England others of his companie said that they heard he was betrayed and killed in his Hamaca in Wiapoco He also told vs that he had left some thirtie men behind him which were in great miserie and extremitie both for lacke of health and scarcitie of victuals The nineteenth of September Captaine Squire weighed and left vs going for Comonagota The Spaniards dare not trucke with vs for any thing but when that they steale aboard in the night for if that they should be espyed they should be hanged Cloth of Tissue and Gold cloth of Siluer Veluet Sattins Silkes fine woollen cloth and linnen as Cambrick Lawne Holland new Trunkes Pistols Fowling peeces and Muskets are very good commodities to truck with the Spaniards and all other places in the Indies I noted one thing amongst many things concerning the nature of that climate of Comana It is monstrous hot all the day long till it be noone and then there blowes a coole breese and at noone you shall alwayes haue thundering and lightning without any raine for the most part The towne of Comana stands two miles from the Sea-side and cannot be seene by reason of the trees which couer the sight of it but you may see the Gouernours house for it stands vpon the top of a Hill looking ouer the trees which eouer the towne The eight and twentieth of September being Saturday wee espyed seuen faile of Flemmings bound for Ponitra The thirtieth day being Monday we weighed for Loyntra and wee steered away North and North and by West for Ponitra from Camana and about sixe of the clocke in the morning we arriued there safely The fourteenth of October Captaine Catlin and two other Gentlemen went out of our ship vpon some discontentments misliking of the Master of our ships vsagâ— towards them and had their passage in two Hollanders that were riding at Ponitra The fiue and twentieth about eight a clocke at night wee weighed at Ponitra hauing two Flemmish ships our consorts with vs. On the thirtieth we had sight of the Westermost end of Porto Rico called Cape Roxo and of a little Iland some foure leagues off called Echro Here we stayed till Friday and Saturday hoping for to haue gotten the shoare for fresh water and Oranges but we had no winde at all to serue our turnes About Saturday at noone there came vnto vs a Flemmish boat with a dozen men in it these men told vs that vpon Sunday the seuen and twentieth day of this moneth there came nineteene saile of Spaniards and that they had taken all the ships which we left behinde vs in number ten sauing two ships of Captaine Mogerownes which scaped by their swift sayling and that they themselues being ashoare with their Boat made an escape from Ponetra and so came to vs at Porto Rico which is one hundred and threescore leagues where wee refreshed our selues with fresh water and Oranges The ninth of Nouember being Saturday wee disembogued from Porto Rico. The two and twentieth of December we saw Flores one of the Ilands of the Asores CHAP. XVI A Relation of a voyage to Guiana performed by ROBERT HARCOVRT of Stanton Harcourt in the Countie of Oxford Esquire To Prince CHARLES IN the yeere of our Lord 1608. and the 23. of March when I had furnished my selfe with one ship of fourscore tunnes called the Rose a Pinnasse of sixe and thirtie tunnes called the Patience and a Shallop of nine tunnes called the Lilly which I built at Dartmouth and had finished my other business there and prepared all things in readinesse to begin my voyage the winde reasonably seruing I then imbarked my companie as followeth In the Rose I was accompanied with Captaine Edward Fisher Captaine Edward Haruey Master Edward Gifford and my Cousin Thomas Harcourt and besides them I had of Gentlemen and others one and thirtie Land-men two Indians and three and twentie Mariners and Saylers In the Patience my brother Captaine Michael Harcourt had with him of Gentlemen and others twentie Land-men and eleuen Mariners and Saylers In the Lilly Iasper Lilly the Master had one Land-man and two Saylers so that my iust number
so the torment and danger of the Peece the greater But here will be contradiction by many that dare auouch that longer Peeces are to be preferred for that they burne their powder better and carry the shot further and so necessarily of better execution whereas the short Artillery many times spends much of their powder without burning and workes thereby the slenderer effect To which I answere that for Land seruice Forts or Castles the long Peeces are to be preferred but for shipping the shorter are much more seruiceable And the powder in them being such as it ought will be all fired long before the shot come forth and to reach farre in fights at Sea is to little effect For he that purposeth to annoy his Enemie must not shoote at randon nor at point blanke if he purpose to accomplish with his deuoire neither must he spend his shot nor powder but where a pot-gun may reach his contrary how much the neerer so much the better and this duely executed the short Artillery will worke his effect as well as the long otherwise neither short nor long are of much importance but here my meaning is not to approue the ouershort Peeces deuised by some persons which at euery shot they make daunce out of their cariages but those of indifferent length and which keepe the meane betwixt seauen and eight foote The entertainment we gaue vnto our contraries being otherwise then was expected they fell off and ranged a head hauing broken in peeces all our gallerie and presently they cast about vpon vs and being able to keepe vs company with their fighting sailes lay a weather of vs ordinarily within Musket shot playing continually with them and their great Artillerie which we endured and answered as we could Our Pinnace engaged her selfe so farre as that before she could come vnto vs the Vice-admirall had like to cut her off and comming to lay vs aboord and to enter her men the Vice-admirall boorded with her so that some of our company entred our Ship ouer her bow-sprit as they themselues reported Wee were not a little comforted with the sight of our people in safetie within our Ship for in all wee were but threescore and fifteene men and boyes when we began to fight and our enemies thirteene hundred men and boyes little more or lesse and those of the choise of Peru. Here it shall not be out of the way to discourse a little of the Spanish Discipline and manner of their gouernment in generall which is in many things different to ours In this expedition came two Generals the one Don Beltran de Castro who had the absolute authoritie and command The other Michael Angell Pilipon a man well in yeares and came to this preferment by his long and painefull seruice who though he had the title of Generall by Sea I thinke it was rather of courtesie then by Pattent and for that he had beene many yeares Generall of the South Seas for the carriage and swaftage of the Siluer from Lyma to Panama Hee seemed to be an assistant to supply that with his counsell aduice and experience whereof Don Beltran had neuer made triall for he commanded not absolutely but with the confirmation of Don Beltran for the Spaniards neuer giue absolute authoritie to more then one A custome that hath beene and is approued in all Empires Kingdomes Common-wealths and Armies rightly disciplined the mixture hath beene seldome seene to prosper as will manifestly appeare if we consider the issue of all actions and iourneys committed to the gouernment of two or more generally The Spaniards in their Armadoes by Sea imitate the discipline order and officers which are in an Army by Land and diuide themselues into three bodies to wit Souldiers Marriners and Gunners Their Souldiers ward and watch and their officers in euery Ship round as if they were on the shoare this is the onely taske they vndergoe except cleaning their Armes wherein they are not ouer curious The Gunners are exempted from all labour and care except about the Artillerie And these are either Almaynes Flemmings or strangers for the Spaniards are but indifferently practised in this Art The Marriners are but as slaues to the rest to moyle and to toyle day and night and those but few and bad and not suffered to sleepe or harbour themselues vnder the deckes For in faire or foule weather in stormes sunne or raine they must passe voide of couert or succour There is ordinarily in euery Ship of Warre a Captaine whose charge is as that of our Masters with vs and also a Captaine of the Souldiers who commandeth the Captaine of the Ship the Souldiers Gunners and Marriners in her yea though there be diuers Captaines with their companies in one Shippe which is vsuall amongst them yet one hath the supreame authoritie and the residue are at his ordering and disposing They haue their Mastros de Campo Sergeant Master Generall or Captaine of the Artillery with their Alfere Maior and all other officers as in a Campe. If they come to fight with another Armado they order themselues as in a battell by land In a Vanguard rereward maine battell and wings c. In euery particular Ship the Souldiers are set all vpon the deckes their forecastle they account their head Front or Vangard of their company that abast the Mast the rereward and the waste the maine battell wherein they place their principall force and on which they principally relye which they call their placa de armas or place of Armes which taken their hope is lost The Gunners fight not but with their great Artillerie the Marriners attend onely on the tackling of the Ship and handling of the sailes and are vnarmed and subiect to all misfortunes not permitted to shelter themselues but to be still aloft whether it be necessary or needelesse So ordinarily those which first faile are the Marriners and Sailers of which they haue greatest neede They vse few close fights or fireworks all this proceedeth as I iudge of errour in placing land Captaines for Gouernors and Commanders by Sea where they seldome vnderstand what is to be done or commanded Some that haue beene our prisoners haue perfited themselues of that they haue seene amongst vs and others disguised vnder colour of treaties for ransoming of prisoners for bringing of presents other Imbassages haue noted our forme of shipping our manner of defences and discipline Sit hence which espiall in such actions as they haue beene imployed in they seeke to imitate our gouernment and reformed discipline at Sea which doubtlesse is the best and most proper that is at this day knowne or practised in the whole world if the execution be answerable to that which is known and receiued for true and good amongst vs. In the Captaine for so the Spaniards call their Admirall was an English Gunner who to gaine grace with those vnder whom he serued preferring himselfe and
the coast of France The Generall of this mightie Nauie was Don Alonso Perez de Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia Lord of S. Lucar and Knight of the golden Fleece by reason that the Marquesse of Santa Cruz appointed for the same dignity deceased before the time Iohn Martines de Ricalde was Admirall of the Fleete Francis Bouadilla was chiefe Marshall who all of them had their officers fit and requisite for the guiding and managing of such a multitude Likewise Martin Alorcon was appointed Vicar generall of the Inquisition being accompanied with more â—hen a hundreth Monkes to wit Iesuites Capuchines and Friers Mendicant Besides whom also there were Phisitians Chirurgians Apothecaries and whatsoeuer else pertained vnto the Hospitall Ouer and besides the forenamed Gouernours and Officers being men of chiefe note there were 124 very noble and worthy Gentlemen which went voluntarily of their owne costs and charges to the end they might see fashions learne experience and attaine vnto glory Amongst whom was the Prince of Ascoli Alonzo de Leiua the Marquesse de Pennafiel the Marquesse de Ganes the Marquesse de Barlango Count de Paredes Count de Yeluas and diuers other Marqueses and Earles of the honorable families of Mendoza of Toledo of Pachicco of Cordono of Guzman of Manriques and a great number of others I haue by me the Dukes Orders for the whole Nauie during this Voyage made aboord the Gallion Saint Martin May 28. the beginning whereof I haue added the whole would be too long Don ALONSO PERES DE GVSMAN the good Duke of Medina Sidonia Countie of Nebla Marquesse of Casheshe in Africa Lord of the Citie Saint Lucar Captaine Generall of the Occian Sea of the Coast of Andaluzia and of this Armie of his Maiestie and Knight of the honorable Order of the golden Fleece I Doe ordaine and command that the generall Masters of the field all Captaines of the Sea Pilats Masters Souldiers Mariners and Officers and whatsoeuer other people for the Land or Sea seruice commeth in this Armie all the time that it indureth shall be thus gouerned as hereafter followeth viz. First and before all things it is to be vnderstood by all the aboue named from the highest to the lowest that the principall foundation and cause that hath moued the King his Maiestie to make and continue this iournie hath beene and is to serue God and to returne vnto his Church a great many of contrite soules that are oppressed by the Heretikes enemies of our holy Catholike faith which haue them subiects to their sects and vnhappinesse and for that euery one may put his eyes vpon this marke as we are bound I doe command and much desire euery one to giue charge vnto the inferiors and those vnder their charge to imbarke themselues being shriuen and hauing receiued the Sacrament with competent and contrition for their sinnes by the which contrition and zeale to doe God such great seruice he will carry and guide vs to his great glory which is that which particularly and principally is pretended In like manner I doe charge and command you to haue particular care that no Soldier Marriner or other that serueth in this Armie doe blaspheme or rage against God or our Lady or any of the Saints vpon paine that he shall therefore sharply be corrected and very well chastened as it shall seeme best vnto vs and for other oathes of lesse qualitie the Gouernours in the same Ships they goe in shall procure to remedy all they shall punish them in taking away their allowance of Wine or otherwise as they shall thinke good And for that the most occasions come by play you shall publikly prohibit it especially the games that are forbidden and that none doe play in the night by no meanes Articles follow to suppresse quarrels to auoid disgracing any man and all occasions of scandall forbidding carriage of common women with other orders for watchwords attendance on the Admirall for fire and wilde-fire and lights armours shâ—â— powder match and other necessary instructions too long to be here particularised that in the height of humaine policie and religious hypocrisie the hand of God in Englands preseruation may be made euident While the Spaniards were furnishing this their Nauie the Duke of Parma at the direction of King Philip made great preparation in the low Countries to giue aide and assistance vnto the Spaniards building Ships for the same purpose and sending for Pilots and Ship wrights out of Italy In Flanders he caused certaine deepe channels to be made and among the rest the channell of Yper commonly called Yper-lee employing some thousands of workemen about that seruice to the end that by the said Cannell he might transport Ships from Antwerp and Ghendt to Bruges where he had assembled aboue a hundreth small Ships called Hoyes being well stored with victuals which Hoyes he was determined to haue brought into the Sea by the way of Sluys or else to haue conueied them by the said Yper-lee being now of greater depth into any port of Flanders whatsoeuer In the Riuer of Waten he caused 70. Ships with flat bottomes to be built euery one of which should serue to carry 30. horses hauing each of them Bridges likewise for the Horses to come on boord or to goe forth on land Of the same fashion he had prouided 200. other vessels at Neiuport but not so great And at Dunkerk he procured 28. Ships of warre such as were there to be had and caused a sufficient number of Mariners to be leuied at Hamburg Breme Emdâ—n and at other places He put in the ballast of the said Ships great store of beames of thicke plankes being hollow and beset with Iron pikes beneath but on each side full of claspes and hookes to ioyne them together He had likewise at Graueling prouided 20. thousand of caske which in a short space might be compact and ioyned together with nailes and cords and reduced into the forme of a Bridge To be short whatsoeuer things were requisite for the making of Bridges and for the barring stopping vp of Hauens mouthes with stakes posts and other meanes he commanded to be made ready Moreouer not far from Neinport hauen he had caused a great pile of wooden fagots to be laid and other furniture to be brought for the rearing vp of a Mount The most part of his Ships contained two Ouens a peece to bake Bread in with a great number of saddles bridles and such other like apparell for Horses They had Horses likewise which after their landing should serue to conuey and draw engines field-pieces and other warlike prouisions Neeere vnto Neiuport he had assembled an armie ouer the which hee had ordained Camillo de Monte to be Camp-master This army consisted of 30. bands or ensignes of Italians of ten bands of Wallons eight of Scots and eight of Burgundians all which together amount vnto 56. bands euery band containing a hundreth persons Neere vnto Dixmud there
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
the ninteenth of May the colour of the Sea began sensibly to alter that whereas before it was of a cleere azure it then began to incline to a deepe blacke We were that day a hundreth and sixtie leagues or thereabouts from the West Indies and held our selues so certainly in the height of Dominica that wee runne a due Westerly course It is not vnlikely but this colour will be found in the same place at another time And in such a course wherein besides the great difference of Cardes a man must bee forced to trust to a dead reckoning this may bee some helpe to a heedfull man Vpon Sunday in the euening his Lordship directed the Master to runne that night with an easie saile because he tooke himselfe neerer land then most of the Mariners would consent to being himselfe the first that both spyed and cryed land they were but few that did assent at the first some desired it so much that they durst not let themselues be ouer credulous others happily would haue had themselues the first discryers but his Lordship still made it land Wee set saile for the land and within two houres it was made to bee Matinino Leauing it therefore on the larboard side wee stood for Dominica and within an houre or thereabouts had it in kenning §. II. Description of Dominica and the Virgines Their landing on Port Ricco march fights and taking the Towne BY two in the afternoone wee were come so neere aboard the shoare that wee were met with many Canoes manned with men wholly naked sauing that they had chaines and bracelets and some bodkins in their eares or some strap in their nostrils or lips the cause of their comming was to exchange their Tabacco Pinos Plantins Potatoes and Pepper with any trifle if it were gawdie They were at the first suspicious that wee were Spaniards or Frenchmen but being assured that wee were English they came willingly aboard They are men of good proportion strong and straight limmed but few of them tall their wits able to direct them to things bodily profitable Their Canoes are of one Tree commonly in breadth but containing one man yet in some are seene two yonkers sit shoulder to shoulder They are of diuers length some for three or foure men that sit in reasonable distance and in some of them eight or nine persons a rowe Besides their Merchandise for exchange euery one hath commonly his Bowe and Arrowes they speake some Spanish words they haue Wickers platted something like a broad shield to defend the raine they that want these vse a very broad leafe to that purpose they prouide shelter against the raine because it washeth of their red painting laid so on that if you touch it you shall finde it on your fingers That night hauing with much a doe found land within a quarter of a mile of the shore we ankored for that night onely for though there were a good watering place and a very sweete riueret fast by vs yet his Lordship ment to way ankor the next morning and to beare in to another watering place wherewithall we certainly looked for a hot Bathe Their Oares wherewith they rowe are not laid in bankes as Ship-boates haue but are made like a long Battledoore sauing that their palmes are much longer then broade growing into a sharpe point with a rising in the middest of them a good way very like they are to blades of bigge Westerne Daggers that are now made with grauing The shankes of these Oares are of equall bignesse and at the top crosset like a lame mans crutch These they vse alwayes with both their hands but indifferently as they finde cause to steere this way or that way The next morning wee bore in to the North-west end of the Iland where we found a goodly Bay able to receiue a greater Nauie then hath beene together in the memorie of this age There his Lordship found the hote Bathe fast by the side of a very fine Riuer The Bathe is as hot as either the Crosse-bathe or Kingsbathe at the Citie of Bathe in England and within three or foure yards runneth into the Riuer which within a stones cast disburdeneth it selfe into the Sea Here our sicke men specially found good refreshing In this place his Lordship staied some six dayes in watering the whole Fleete which in that time was all come sauing the Frigat one of the blacke Pinnaces and one of the Flemmings which we hoped to be before vs for they haue directions It was held conuenient here to take a Muster of our companies and something better to acqâ—aint euery one with his owne colours but the weather was so extreamely foule that in three or foure dayes spent to this purpose there could be nothing done Vpon Wednesday therefore being the last of May it was resolued to stay no longer there but to come againe to ankor at the Uirgines and there bestow one day in training our men For that was our way to Saint Iohn de Puertorico whether his Lordship now declared it was his purpose to goe first of all By this time for his Lordship would not haue any thing done in that foule weather the other blacke Pinnace was taken down for a long Boate to serue for the more conuenient landing of our men That euening and the next morning all our men were brought aboord and on thursday night our sailes were cut for the Virgines To describe this Iland it heth North-west and South-east the soile is very fat euen in the most neglected places matching the Garden-plats in England for a rich blacke molde so Mountainous certaine in the places where we came neere the Sea-coasts that the Vallies may better be called Pits then Plaines and withall so vnpassably wooddie that it is maruailous how those naked soules can be able to pull themselues through them without renting their naturall cloathes Some speake of more easie passages in the Inland of the Iland which make it probable that they leaue those skirts and edges of their Countrie thus of purpose for a wall of defence These Hils are apparelled with very goodly greene Trees of many sorts The tallnesse of these vnrequested Trees make the hils seeme more hilly then of themselues happily they are for they grow so like good children of some happy ciuill body without enuie or oppression as that they looke like a proud meddow about Oxford when after some irruption Tems is againe cooched low within his owne banks leauing the earths Mantle more ruggie and flakie then otherwise it would haue bin yea so much seeme these natural children delighted with equalitie and withall with multiplication that hauing growne to a definite stature without desire of ouertopping others they willingly let downe their boughes which being come to the earth againe take roote as it were to continue the succession of their decaying progenitors and yet they doe continually maintaine themselues in a greene-good liking
Schoutens Ship and men attached and be and his had a seruile returne Cano came or rather â—â—â—d homes like Magalianes ghost hardly and with a few escaping Noort scarsly escaped taking drowning firing trechery and hostilitie Spilbergen got blowes in the South Sea where Drake and Candish were made rich and returned an Indian Merchant Three Dutch worthies but all lighted their candles at these two English Torches Thus may we magnifie Drakes swimming and can die the memorie of our Candish But where it is said ye are Gods it is added ye shall dye like men The Sea is a â—aâ—ing wauering foundation the windes theatre both for Comedies and Tragedies You haue seene Drake acting both and in both you here finde Candish Christ is yesterday to day the same for euer God is without shadow without passibilitie or possibilitie of change a light in whom is no darkenesse but sublunarie things are like the Moone their neerest Planet which neuer viewes the earth two dayes together with one face God hath made our way to him so full of chances and changes that our vnstedie slippery way on this earth and calme-storme-voyage in these Seas may make vs more to meditate and thirst after that hauen of instabilitie and heauen of eternity Some passionate speeches of Master Candish against some priuate persons not employed in this action I haue suppressed some others I haue let passe not that I charge Captaine Dauis or others but that it may appeare what the Generall thought of them Master Hakluyt hath published Master Ianes report of this Voyage which makes more fauourable on Captaine Dauis his side If hee did deale treacherously treacherie found him out as in his last Voyage before is declared If any thinke the Captaine here to conceiue amisse I shall be willing to haue the most charitable conceit and therefore remit the Reader to Master Hakluyts Relation afore said for his apologie the sum whereof and of that Voyage is this Master Iane there relateth that Aug. 26. 1591. Captaine Candish set forth from Plimmouth with three tall Shippes the blacke Pinnace and a Barke Nouemb. 29. they fell with the coast of Brasile They tooke the Towne of Santos and burnt Saint Vincent After a cruell storme they arriued at Port Desire and after fell with the Magellan straites Occasionally saith Iane they lost Captaine Candish and went backe to Port Desire to seeke him and whiles Captaine Dauis further intended to seeke out the Generall a dangerous conspiracie was plotted to murther him by Parker and Smith There is also a testimoniall subscribed by fortie men Thence they returned to the Straits and had sight of the people which were very strong nimble and naked Sep. 13. they came in sight of the South Sea and being forced backe the next day put forth againe and being eight or ten leagues free from land were repelled into the Straits Octob. 2. they put into the South Sea againe and were free of all land and there in a storme lost the blacke Pinnace The Shippes company were in despaire of life but by Gods grace recouered the Straits and a third time came to Port Desire and there lost nine of their men of which Parker and Smith were two being on Land for Wood and Water they knew not what became of them but guessed that the Saluages had deuoured them For the eleuenth of Nouember while most of the men were at the I le of Pengwins onely the Captaine and Master with sixe others left in the Shippe there came a great multitude of Sauages to the Shippe there on ground on the oaze throwing dust in the ayre leaping and running like bruite Beasts hauing vizors on their faces like Dogges faces or else their faces are Dogges faces indeede We feared they would set our Shippes on fire for they would suddenly make fire whereat wee maruelled setting the bushes on fire but scared with Peeces they fled Here they found much Scuruie-grasse which recouered them and dried 20000. Pengwins making some salt by laying the salt water on rockes in holes The sixt of February many reported to each other their dreames of killing and the like and that day they lost 13. men at Placentia Their dried Pengwins when they came neerer the Sun began to corrupt and there bred in them a most loathsome and vgly worme which deuoured their victuals cloathes timbers and all but Iron not sparing their flesh when they were asleepe so that they could scarcely sleepe Their multitude was such that they could not destroy them Another disease tooke them with swelling in their anckles two daies after which shortnesse of breath then falling into their cods and yards so tormenting them that diuers fell mad and died on fiue onely did the labour of the Ship relye and Iune 11. 1593. without victuals sailes or men God guided them to Beare-hauen in Ireland But let vs heare Master Candish himselfe more then acting his owne part Discite justitiam moniti Let not prosperitie poyson the soule with the sting of the old Serpent swelling in pride ingratitude or contempt of God or Man let not any magnifie himselfe in whatsoeuer exploits or trust in vncertaine riches or promise to himselfe the perpetuall smiles of the world and then it shall seeme no new thing nor cause of despaire if shee hites in stead of kissing Shee is a Witch which transformeth men into Swine with her Cyrcaean cups if the minde learne not by Religion to fasten it selfe to God to account him her treasure and make her selfe the treasurie as a Pilgrime pressing toward the prize of our high calling that inheritance of the Saints in light for which Robes to bee stripped of these Rags is a blessed purchase meanwhile knowing that nothing doth shall can happen but by his providence which is a Father most wise louing bountifull and mercifull which alreadie hath giuen vs his Sonne doth now giue his Spirit and will giue vs himselfe No Rocks can wrack that Soule no stormes oppresse no Seas can sinke no fortunes can either puffe vp with successe or sinke and make to shrinke in it selfe by any pressures to despaire which hath thus made God her portion yea the worst of aduersities by a holy Antiperistasis doe contract and more vnite the soules forces to greater acts of fortitude in doing and suffering his Will to whos 's ours ought alway to be subordinated It is the voice of a Pagen but the vertue of a Christian Omnia mea mecum porto and with Iob to say The Lord hath giuen the Lord hath taken blessed bee the Name of the Lord. I haue giuen Master Kniuets Relation after this of Master Candish as before Peter Carder after Sir Francis Drake that at both serued vnder them in their Discoueries so they may in this our Discouerie of those Discoueries as Pages to those Worthies the one a Mariner wayting on a Mariner the other a Gentleman following a Gentleman both vnmatchable by any English for the rare aduentures
well esteemed and so are fine linnen woollen cloth Haberdashers wares edge-tooles and Armes or Mâ—nition It hath his Gouernour and Audiencia with two Bishops the one of Saint Iago the other of the Imperiall all vnder the Vice-roy Audiencia and Primate of Lyma Saint Iago is the Metropolitan and Head of the Kingdome and the seate of Iustice which hath his appellation of Lyma The people are industrious and ingenious of great strength and inuincible courage as in the warres which they haue sustained aboue fortie yeeres continually against the Spaniards hath beene experienced For confirmation whereof I will alledge onely two proofes of many the one was of an Indian Captaine taken prisoner by the Spaniards and for that hee was of name and knowne to haue done his deuoire against them they cut off his hands thereby intending to disenable him to fight any more against them but he returning home desirous to reuenge this iniurie to maintain his liberty with the reputation of his nation and to helpe to banish the Span. with his tongue intreated incited them to perseuere in their accustomed valor and reputation abasing the enemie and aduancing his Nation condemning their contraries towardlinesse and confirming it by the cruelty vsed with him and others his companions in their mishaps shewing them his armes without hands naming his brethren whose halfe feet they had cut off because they might be vnable to sit on horsebacke with force arguing 〈…〉 t if they feared them not they would not haue vsed so great inhumanitie for feare produceth crueltie the companion of cowardise Thus encouraged he them to fight for their liues limbes and libertie choosing rather to die an honourable death fighting then to liue in seruitude as fruitlesse members in their Common-wealth Thus vsing the office of a Sergeant Maior and hauing loden his two stumpes with bundles of Arrowes succoured those who in the succeeding battell had their store wasted and changing himselfe from place to place animated and encouraged his Countri-men with such comfortable perswasions as it is reported and credibly beleeued that hee did much more good with his words and presence without striking a stroke then a great part of the Armie did with fighting to the vtmost The other proofe is that such of them as fight on horsebacke are but slightly armed for that their Armour is a Beasts hide fitted to their body greene and after worne till it be drie and hard He that is best armed hath him double yet any one of them with these Armes and with his Launce will fight hand to hand with any Spaniard armed from head to foot And it is credibly reported that an Indian being wounded through the bodie by a Spaniards Launce with his own hands hath crept on vpon the Launce and come to grapple with his Aduersarie and both fallen to the ground together By which is seene their resolution and inuincible courage and the desire they haue to maintayne their reputation and libertie This let me manifest that there haue beene and are certaine persons who before they goe to Sea either robbe part of the prouisions or in the buying make penurious vnwholsome and aâ—arâ—ious penicworths and the last I hold to be the least for they robbe onely the Victuallers and owners but the others steale from owners victuallers and companie and are many times the onely ouer throâ—ers of the Voyage for the companie thinking themselues to be stored with foure or sixe moneths Uictuals vpon suruay they finde their Bread Beefe or Drinke short yea perhaps all and so are forced to seeke home in time of best hopes and employment This mischiefe is most ordinarie in great actions Lastly some are so cunning that they not onely make their Voyage by robbing before they goe to Sea but of that also which commeth home Such Gamesters a wise man of our Nation resembled to the Mill on the Riuer of Thames for grinding both with floâ—d and ebbe So these at their going out and comming home will be sure to robbe all others of their shares But the greatest and most principall robberie of all in my opinion is the defranding or the detayning of the Companies thirds or wages accursed by the iust God who forbiddeth the hire of the labourer to sleep with vs. To such I speake as either abuse themselues in detayning it or else to such as force the poore man to sell it at vile and lowe prices And lastly to such as vpon fained caâ—ils and suits doe deterre the simple and ignorant sort from their due prosecutions which being too much in vse amongst vs hath bred in those that follow the Sea a iealousie in all employments and many times causeth mutinies and infinitâ— inconueniences To preuent this a Chist with three lockes was appointed I kept one the Master another the third one chosen by the Companie No losse worthie reformation are the generall abuses of Mariners and Souldiers who robbe all they can vnder the colour of Pillage and after make Ordnance Cables Sayles Anchors and all aboue Deckes to belong vnto them of right whether they goe by thirds or wages this proceedeth from those pilfering warres wherein euery Gall 〈◊〉 that can arme out a Ship taketh vpon him the name and office of a Captaine not knowing what to command or what to execute Such Commanders for the most part consort and ioyne vnto themselues disorderly persons Pirates and Ruffians vnder the title of men of valour and experience they meeting with any Prize make all vpon the Deckes their of dutie c. In the time of warre in our Countrie asâ— also in others by the lawes of Oleron which to our ancient Sea-men were fundamentall nothing is allowed for Pillage but Apparell Armes Instruments and other necessaries belonging to the persons in that ship which is taken and these to when the ship is gained by dint of sword with a prouiso that if any particular Pillage exceed the value of sixe crownes it may be redeemed for that value by the generall stocke and sold for the common benefit If the prize render it selfe without forcible entrie all in generall ought to be preserued and sold in masse and so equally diuided yea though the ship be wonne by force and entrie yet whatsoeuer belongeth to her of takling Sayles or Ordnance is to be preserued for the generalitie saying a Peece of Artillerrie for the Captaine another for the Gunner and a Cable and Anchor for the Master which are the rights due vnto them and these to be deliuered when the ship is in safety and in harbour either vnloden or sold which Law or Custome well considered will rise to be more beneficiall for the Owners Uictuallers and Companie then the disorders newly â—rept in and before remembred For the Sayles Cables Anchors and Hull being sold euery one apart yeeld not the one halfe which they would doe if they were sold all together besides the excusing of charges and robberies in the vnloding
so sawcy with my Tobacco which words without any further repetition he suddenly spake so plaine and distinctly as if hee had beene a long Scholer in the Language Many other such trials wee had which are here needlesse to repeat Their women such as wee saw which were but three in all were but lowe of stature their eye-browes haire apparell and manner of wearing like to the men fat and very well-fauoured and much delighted in our companie the men are very dutifull towards them And truly the wholsomnesse and temperature of this Climate doth not onely argue this people to be answerable to this description but also of a perfect constitution of body actiue strong healthfull and very witty as the sundry toyes of theirs cunningly wrought may easily witnesse For the agreeing of this Climate with vs I speake of my selfe and so I may iustly doe for the rest of our companie that we found our health and strength all the while we remayned there so to renew and encrease as notwithstanding our diet and lodging was none of the best yet not one of our companie God be thanked felt the least grudging or inclination to any disease or sicknesse but were much fatter and in better health than when we went out of England but after our Barke had taken in so much Sassafras Cedar Furres Skinnes and other commodities as were thought conuenient some of our companie that had promised Captaine Gosnold to stay hauing nothing but a sauing voyage in their mindes made our companie of Inhabitants which was small enough before much smaller so as Captaine Gosnold seeing his whole strength to consist but of twelue men and they but meanly prouided determined to returne for England leauing this Iland which he called Elizabeths Iland with as many true sorrowfull eyes as were before desirous to see it So the eighteenth of Iune being Friday we weighed and with indifferent faire winde and weather came to anchor the three and twentieth of Iuly being also Friday in all bare fiue weekes before Exmouth Your Lordships to command IOHN BRERETON A briefe Note of such commodities as we saw in the Countrie notwithstanding our small time of stay TRees Sassafras trees the roots whereof at three shillings the pound are three hundred thirty sixe pound the tunne Cedars tall and straight in great abundance Cypres trees Oakes Wal-nut trees great store Elmes Beech Hollie Hasle-nut trees Cherrie trees Cotton trees and other fruit-trees to vs vnknowne The finder of our Sassafras in these parts was one Master Robert Meriton Fowles Eagles Hernshawes Cranes Bitters Mallards Teales Geese Pengwins Ospreis and Hawkes Crowes Rauens Mewes Doues Sea-pies Black-birds with carnation wings Beasts Deere in great store very great and large Beares Luzernes blacke Foxes Beauers Otters Wilde-cats very large and great Dogs like Foxes blacke and sharpe nosed Conies Fruits Plants and Herbes Tabacco excellent sweet and strong Vines more plenty than in France Ground-nuts good meate and also medicinable Strawberries Rasp-berries Gooseberries Hurtleberries Pease growing naturally Flaxe Iris Florentina whereof Apothecaries make sweet balls Sorrell and many other herbes where with they made Sallets Fishes Whales Tortoises both on Land and Sea Seales Cods Mackerell Breames Herrings Thornbacke Hakes Rock-fish Dog-fish Lobsters Crabbes Mussels Wilkes Cockles Scallops Oysters Snakes foure foot in length and sixe inches about which the Indians eate for dainty meate the skinnes whereof they vse for girdles Colours to die with red white and blacke Mettals and Stones Copper in great abundance Emerie stones for Glasiers and Cutlers Alabaster very white Stones glittering and shining like Minerall stones Stones of a blue mettalline colour which we take to bee Steele oare Stones of all sorts for buildings Clay red and white which may proue good Terra Sigillata A briefe Note of the sending another Barque this present yeere 1602. by Sir WALTER RALEIGH for the searching out of his Colonie in Virginia SAmuel Mace of Weimouth a very sufficient Mariner an honest sober man who had beene at Uirginia twice before was employed thither by Sir Walter Raleigh to finde those people which were left there in the yeere 1587. To whose succour he hath sent fiue seuerall times at his owne charges The parties by him set forth performed nothing some of them following their owne profit elsewhere others returning with friuolous allegations At this last time to auoide all excuse hee bought a Barke and hired all the companie for wages by the moneth who departing from Weimouth in March last 1602. fell fortie leagues to the South-westward of Hataraske in 34. degrees or thereabout and hauing there spent a moneth when they came along the coast to seeke the people they did it not pretending that the extremitie of weather and losse of some principall ground-tackle forced and feared them from searching the Port of Hataraske to which they were sent From that place where they abode they brought Sassafras Radix Chinae or the China Root Beniamin Cassia lignea and a rind of a tree more strong than any Spice as yet vnknowne with diuers other commodities which hereafter in a larger discourse may come to light CHAP. XII A Voyage set out from the Citie of Bristoll at the charge of the chiefest Merchants and Inhabitants of the said Citie with a small Ship and a Barke for the discouerie of the North part of Virginia in the yeere 1603. vnder the command of me MARTIN PRINGE VPon many probable and reasonable inducements vsed vnto sundry of the chiefest Merchants of Bristoll by Master Richard Hakluyt Prebendary of Saint Augustines the Cathedrall Church of the said Citie after diuers meetings and due consultation they resolued to set forth a Voyage for the farther Discouerie of the North part of Uirginia And first they sent the said Master Hakluyt accompanied with one Master Iohn Angell and Master Robert Saltern which had beene in the said Discouerie the yeere before with Captaine Bar tholomew Gosnold to obtaine permission of Sir Walter Raleigh which had a most ample Patent of all those parts from Queene Elizabeth to entermeddle and deale in that action Leaue being obtained of him vnder his hand and Seale they speedily prepared a small ship called the Speed-well in burthen about fiftie tunnes manning the same with some thirtie men and Boyes wherein went for Master and chiefe Commander in the Voyage one Martin Pring a man very sufficient for his place and Edmund Iones his Mate and Robert Salterne aboue mentioned as their chiefe Agent with a Barke called the Discouerer of six and twentie tunnes or thereabout wherein went for Master William Browne and Samuell Kirkland his Mate both good and skilfull Mariners being thirteene men and a Boy in all in that Barke The aforesaid ship and Barke were plentifully victualied for eight monethes and furnished with slight Merchandizes thought fit to trade with the people of the Countrey as Hats of diuers colours greene blue and yellow apparell of coarse Kersie and Canuasse readie made Stockings
abroad our Colours and went toward the Admirall before wee came vnto him he likewise strooke downe our Sayle and came vnder his lee demanding his pleasure the other ship which first shot vs all our Sayles being downe and shot our mayne Sayle in pieces lying on the Decke And forthwith the Admirall came on boord of vs with two and twentie men in their ships Boate with Rapiers Swords and halfe-pikes We being all in peace stood readie to entertayne them in peace But assoone as they were entred on boord of vs they did most cruelly beate vs all and wounded two of our Company in the heads with their Swords not sparing our Captayne nor any Also they wounded Assacomoit one of the Sauages aforesaid most cruelly in seuerall places in the bodie and thrust quite through the arme the poore creature creeping vnder a Cabbin for feare of their rigour and as they thrust at him wounding him he cried still King Iames King Iames King Iames his ship King Iames his ship Thus hauing beaten vs all downe vnder the Deckes presently they beat vs vp againe and thrust vs ouer-boord into their Boate and so sent vs on boord of the Admirall ship Neither would they suffer any of vs to speake a word to shew the cause of our passing the Seas in these parts Neyther regarded they any thing our Commission which the Captayne held forth vnto them in his hand vntill that the Admirall with the Company of foure other of the ships had rifled spoyled and deliuered all the Merchandize and goods of the ship among them which beeing done they also diuided vs beeing thirtie persons in all into the said fiue ships by seuen six fiue and foure to a ship Three of the former eight Sayle made Sayle away and neuer came neere vs neither were partakers of our spoyle Then they also repayred our Maine Sayle which was torne with the shot aforesaid and put their men into her And after because they could not make her to sayle well they tooke two of our men and put into her to helpe them the other fiue ships and our ship kept company two or three dayes together After this they separated themselues either from other not through any tempest or storme but through wilfull negligence or simple Ignorance by shaping contrary courses the one from the other So as not two of them kept company together My selfe and sixe more of our company in the Vice-Admirall of the burthen of one hundred and eightie tunnes called the Peter of Siuill the Captaynes name was Andreas Barbear beeing alone and hauing lost the company of the Fleet continued our course vntill the middle of December at which time being about twentie leagues off from the I le of Santa Maria one of the Iles of the Azores the Vice-Admiral and the whole company disliking the great Ignorance of the Pilot because he had told them ten dayes before that he was very neere the Ilands and had waited all this time and could find any of them entreated me very earnestly to shew my skill And the Pilot himselfe brought mee his Instruments and be sought mee most earnestly to assist him and to appease the company Whereunto by there much importunitie I yeelded And by Gods assistance on Christmasse Eeue after our English account I brought them safe to the Barre of Saint Lucas being the first ship of the whole Fleet that arriued there One of the ships of this Fleet by the great Ignorance of the Spanish Masters Pilots and Mariners was driuen beyond all the Coast of Spaine into Burdeaux in Gascayne In which shippe the Officers of the Admiraltie of France finding foure of our Englishmen prisoners vnder the Deckes in hold to wit Master Daniell Tucker who was our Cape Merchant Pierce Gliddon and two others did very friendly set them at libertie and the said Daniel Tucker presently arrested the Spanish ship and goods beeing of great value which of long time remayneth vnder arrest The good Duke of Medina hearing of the arriuall of certaine English prisoners taken here the Coast of the West Indies sent command to the Captaynes of the Spanish ships to bring foure of the chiefest to be brought before him Whereupon my selfe Master Thomas Saint Iohn Iohn Walrond our Steward and William Stone our Carpenter were brought before him The ship wherein Master Challous was was not yet come Master Dauid Neuill an Englishman dwelling in Saint Lucas was appointed our Interpretor And then the Duke required me vpon my oath to yeeld a true and faithfull answere according to the whole state and manner of our Voyage and proceedings which I did according to the former Relation afore written wherevpon his Excellencie replyed vnto the Spanish Captaynes which had brought vs saying it this bee true which this Englishman affirmeth you haue greatly wronged these men And so commanded them to prouide meate drinke and fit lodging for vs and to bring vs againe the next day before him They sent vs neuerthelesse to Siuill where wee were brought to a Dutchmans house called Signior Petro where we were reasonably lodged and entertayned that night The next morning being New yeeres day we were brought before the President of Siuill at the Contractation who hearing of our comming and not vouchsafing to speake with vs sent foure O 〈…〉 ers to vs and cast vs into Prison Where for the space of fiue dayes wee had publike allowance but such as poore men which were there Prisoners also did of their mereie bestow on vs. At length after many humble Sutes and earnest Petitions exhibited to the President we had a Riall of Plate allowed to each man a day which is sixe pence English whâ—ch by reason of the dearth of all sorts of victuall in those parts will not goe so far as three pence in England And so at seuerall times within one moneth after eleuen more of our Company were commi 〈…〉 to Prison as they came home whereof our Captaine was one Notwithstanding that the good Duke of Medina had discharged both him and all those of his Company which came into Spaine with him and willed him to goe home to the Court of England or to the Court of Spaine where he thought to haue best reliefe for his poore imprisoned Company Whereupon Nicholas Hine our Master and two more of our men wisely foreseeing what was like to bee the Issue made haste away out of the Citie and so got passage and escaped into England Before the comming of our Captaine to Siuill my selfe and eleuen more of my Company were examined before the President of the Contractation who finding no iust cause of offence in vs did often earnestly examine me of the manner and situation of the Countrie of Virginia together with the Commodities and benefit thereof And after the comming of our Captaine they likewise examined him to the same purpose We answered both to one purpose according to our Commission in writing which the Spaniards at our taking at
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 â—â—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 〈◊〉 Owneâ—â— 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 â—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 Calâ—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 plâ—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 Maieâ—â—â—es subiects there about twelue yeeres and they
neuer seene before And all to ioyne the Kingdome of that land Vnto the Kingdomes that he had in hand Now if you aske what set this King on fire To practise warre when he of peace did treat It was his Pride and neuer quencht desire To spoile that IlaÌ„ds wealth by peace made great His Pride which far aboue the heauens did swel And his desire as vnsuffic'd as hell But well haue winds his proud blasts ouerblown And swelling waues alaid his swelling heart Well hath the Sea with greedy gulfs vnknown Deuoured the deuourer to his smart And made his ships a pray vnto the sand That meant to pray vpon anothers land And now O Queene aboue all others blest For whom both winds waues are prest to fight So rule your owne so succour friends opprest As farre from pride as ready to doe right That England you you England long enioy No lesse your friends delight then foes annoy I haue thought good to adde here the prime reports made by the Spaniards and their friends touching the successe of their Armada as they were printed in Spaine and after published and scorâ—ed in England The true Relation of the successe of the Catholike Armie against their Enemies by the Letters of the Post-master of Logrono of the fourth of September and by Letters from Roan of the one and thirtieth of August and by Letters from Paris of the Kings Embassadour there wherein he declareth the imprisonment of Francis Drake and other great Nobles of England and how the Queene is in the Field with an Armie and of a certaine Mutinie which was amongst the Queenes Armie with the successe of the said Catholike Armie since they entred in the Groyne till they came on the Coast of England with two Ballets compounded by Christouer Brauo a blind man of Cordowa Printed with licence by Gabriel Ramos Beiarano Printer THe newes of England is confirmed here by a Letter of the Gouernour of Roan Hee writeth hee hath in his power the chiefe Pilot of Captaine Drake and that he knoweth that all the English Armie remained ouerthrowne hauing sunke two and twentie Ships and taken fortie and imprisoned Francis Drake hauing giuen them chase almost as high as Abspurge and slaine many by the sword and likewise saith that there was foâ—â—d in Captaine Drakes Ship a Peece of Ordnance of fiue and twentie foot long which discharged a Shot of a hundreth weight at once made of purpose with one onely Shot to sinke our Spanish Admirall and it pleased God although shee was somewhat battered yet was shee repaired againe and ouerthrew the English Armie THe English haue lost aboue fortie Ships in one encounter where they could not flye which was in Luxaten a Hauen in Scotland to the which place since the departure of the Spanish Armies from Calleis the English Armie followed and supposing they went to take that Hauen they got before ours to defend the entrance wee seeing them so neere the English Fleet and that they could not retire as they alwaies did when they pleased to the English Hauen they set vpon them so valiantly that they sunke twentie of their Ships and they tooke twentie 〈◊〉 whole and sound and the rest seeing their destruction fled away with great losse of men and their Ships very much battered and with this they say the Spanish Armie tooke the Hauen where they are very well lodged as euery one affirmeth and so the newes is here I pray God giue them good successe Wee vnderstand by the Post come from Calleis that in England it is forbidden vpon paine of death and losse of goods that no bodie doe write newes from thence to any place which confirmeth the newes aboue I Doe not write newes of the Spanish Armie because they are diuers and would gladly write the very truth Now by the newes which runneth from diuers places as Calleis Deepe and Holland and presumptions from England and other places it is holden for certaine that they fought with the English and broken their heads hauing sunke many of their Ships and taken others and the rest which they say were twentie seuen Ships returned very much battered to the Riuer of London which are all those that could escape There goeth with this Post another Post of Iorge Seguin of Calleis which saith that certaine Masters and Mariners of Zeland did affirme to the Gouernours of Calleis Mounsier de Gorden that our Fleet is in a Hauen or Riuer in Scotland called Trifla where they say there may ride two thousand Ships this is that which commonly is currant here BY newes from London the thirtie six of August it is knowne for most certaine from persons of credite that the Queens Admiral Generall was arriued in the Riuer of London with twentie fiue ships onely without his Admirall Ship which was taken by our Admirall Saint Iohn and it is well knowne in England that to hide the losse of their Admirall Ship they say bee put himselfe in a smaller Ship the better to follow our Armie and it is knowne for certaintie that he saued himselfe in a Boat when he lost his Ship That Drake for certaintie is taken or slaine The same is confirmed by the way of Holland by a Pinnace of theirs And from Austerland that the Queene commanded vpon paine of death that no body should speake of her Fleet and that there was great sorrow in those parts of England and that the Queene had in the field thirtie thousand raw Souldiers betwixt Douer and Margate and that the Catholikes vnderstanding that all their Fleet was dispersed moued a certaine Mutinie which forced the Queene to goe her selfe into the Field and for certaine it is knowne that there is not brought into England neither Ship nor Boat of ours more then the Ship of Don Pedro Valdez and that our Fleet was gone into Scotland and arriued in a Hauen called Trapena Euxaten AFter that I had written this here is arriued a Scottishman which saith that all the Spanish Fleet is arriued in Scotland and that Scottishmen haue taken Armes against the English THat vpon the thirtieth of Iuly without seeing any sayle of the Enemies in the Sea hee came to the Channell sixe leagues from Plimouth where vnderstanding the Enemies were hee gathered together and set in order all the Fleet and sayling the first of August there was discouered some Sayles of the Enemies the which the second day were numbred to bee three score Sayle of which the Duke tooke the wind and passed without any fight although he presented the same to them howbeit they began to shoot at the Rearward but the Duke in the Galleon S. Martin set the Prow of his Ship against the biggest of the Enemies the which being succoured by twentie others fled away of this fight and first encounter there was sunke three Galeasses and foure mightie Galeons of the Queenes there was burnt of ourâ— by negligence of a Gunner the Admirall of
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
before day in a storme the Ship was driuen vpon the lee shoare within Beachy in Sussex and not being able to double that head-land in the endeauouring wherof all the Sayles being by violence of weather rent from the yards to auoid running vpon the Rockes they came to an anchor euery Billow ouerwashing the Ships head that neither by pumping nor lading out of the water they were able to free her and the men in her so tired with labour as no hope of safetie was left The last remedy was to cut all the Masts and Tackle ouerbooâ—d which lightened the Ship and by that meanes shee was preserued After thirtie houres of this extreame perill the storme ceased and so by Gods fauour with a Iury Mast which was made of the Boat Mast and the Boat Sayle hauing no Mast nor anchor left but one he arriued vpon Allhollenday in the Downes beyond all expectation of the Masters and Mariners who made no other reckoning then to be lost And these were the accidents that separated Sir George Carew from the Fleet in the huge stormes on Bartholmew day in the Bay of Alchasher as aforesaid In which storme the Saint Andrew at that time spent her mayne top Mast and lost vs for three or foure dayes but all the rest of the Fleet except our Ships which carried the Low-Country Souldiers kept together in the Bay And so many as came to vs after at the Rocke were beaten also from the Admiral in that Bay and so were many other Ships which found vs after at the Rocke to the number of thirty and odde sayle Whereupon a rumour was afterward raised that the Reare-Admirall was gone away with thirty sayle from the Fleet to the ouerthrow of the intended seruice Our Admirall still bare in with the Land the most part of the Fleet followed the same course The next day we made the high Land of Portugall and within some three houres after Cape Prior where our Admirall with diuers other of the Fleet did beare in so close aboord the shore as that all the Country ouer began to kindle fires The which manner of discouering our selues as I do remember was much noted by diuers good Souldiers as well by Sea as Land for indeed it was reputed no great policie nor discretion in vs to run in so close aboard the shoare if we had any secret or sudden exploit to performe on that Coast as it was pretended For that Brauado of ours did but giue them more warning to prouide for themselues and to preuent vs. And I haue obserued that those brauing humours haue of late yeeres been the hindrance and losse of many good fortunes as well in Sir Francis Drake his two last Voyages to the Indies and Sir Iohn Norris in his to Lisbon by staying at the Groyne as also in others c. Towards the euening we put roome againe from the Coast and beat vp and downe in the Bay to free vs from thence expecting a wind where with to double the North Cape which within two or three dayes wee had and so passed along within ten leagues of the Coast by Ferrall the Groyne and Cape Bealim and so weathered the North Cape And as the Fleet together was passing along towards the South almost as farre as the Iles of Bayon our Ship the Wastspite being then a middest them all on the seuen and twentieth of August broke her mayne Yard in sunder in the very middest by the Parrell Whereupon we presently discharged a Peece of Ordnance and made our misfortune knowne to our Admirall who himselfe spake with vs and also at that time had a great leake broken out vpon his owne Ship And there by his order and permission we were willed to repaire our mayne Yard the best wee could and vntill it were finished in that birth to goe on with our Fore-sayle towardes the Rocke before the winde whiles hee with the Fleet would in towardes the Coast and so wee there to ply vp and downe about the height of the Rocke vntill his Lordship came vnto vs or during the dayes limited in the generall instructions and thence to passe onwards to the South Cape and there to remaine according to the said directions And yet wee did not for two dayes after depart though to our great disease for wee wallowed in the trough of the Sea and rowled so extreamely as that wee had like to haue lost our mayne Mast also After this order giuen wee presently tooke aduice the best wee could and set our hands together for the repayring and finishing of our mayne Yard being broken in the Parrell a very euill place to amend wherein that night wee could doe little good more then to free the Sayles and Tackle from it Notwithstanding the very next morning the Admirall sent a commandement to vs that wee should presently attend him with all speed for that hee meant to put in with the Land The which wee were altogether vnable to performe our mayne Yard being in sunder and impossible it was so suddenly in one night to repayre it and without it wee were not able to worke vpon a wind as all Mariners know hauing but our Fore-sayle and Mizen and the winde almost of the Land so as it had beene but an idle labour for the more we striued the faster wee fell off Besides if wee could haue layd the Land with that sayle it had beene a madnesse to put our selues vpon the Enemies Coast in that estate for if the wind had then changed to the West we wanting all our mayne Sayles must haue yeelded or perished So as in regard of this necessitie we did for two daies as aforesaid ply vp and down vntill wee had repaired our Yard and fitted our sayles vnto it being now fiue foot shorter then it was before Whilest wee were thus distressed on our Enemies Coast Sir William Brooke Captaine of the Dread-nought came vnto vs and tarried with vs out of his owne charitie and friendly disposition for there were no directions that wee heard of giuen to any to accompany vs in that distresse Onely the Vice-Admirall of his owne noble care very kindly and honourably hayled vs and offered what comfort and helpe hee could giue vs some others afterwards did the like But we hauing yeelded due thankes to the Vice-Admirall for such his noble care and curtesie desired no more company but wished all others of our Squadron to repaire vnto the Admirall contenting our selues with Sir William Brooke in the Dread-naught and two or three other small men of our owne Squadron which of their owne accord followed vs. Neither did we in all this time intreat the company of any one Ship more to stay with vs albeit the contrary was very falsly suggested and reported in a strange manner of phrase which was that the Reare-Admirall vpon the breaking of his Mayne-yard willed all his Squadron and those that loued him to keepe him company and not
the entrance of the Channell wee began of all hands to fall a sounding for ground and the next day found it though indeed by that sounding I saw few the wiser or the more assured of the Coast. For it was the Banke of Sâ—â—eyâ— but none could say so nor then so iudge it but onely the Master of our Ship whose name was Broadbaut a carefull man and a right good Marriner For in the Generals ship they were all of a contrary opinion and according to their Errour shaped their course with straight commandement giuen to vs and to the rest that were in his traine to follow his Light and course The which we did very diligently my selfe indeed being most in fault for it For the Master was Ioath so to doe but that I vrged our dutie to the Generals commandement and our danger in breaking it by former experience And therefore I watched and stood by the Helme and Bitackle most part of that night to see it performed though with much repining of the Master and his Mates against this dangerous Course as they tearme it This sounding of ours so much in practice and yet many times bringing no great certainty withall makes me now call to minde an odde conceit and speech of a Spanish Prisoner which the Generall gaue me in this Iourney but neuer yeelded me other Ransome then some faire promises and smooth discourses For hee after consened or bribed his keeper a Captaine of a Pinnace to whom I had committed him in charge and very cleanely conueyed himselfe away without euer bidding me farewell Howbeit â—thers found better fruites of their Prisoners which the Generall gaue vnto them This Spaniard of mine was a Gentleman and a Souldier but had of late yeeres traded the West Indies by way of Merchandize With whom I one day talking and discoursing of their Voyages and Nauigations wherein hee was very well experienced amongst other things hee told me that in their Nauigation from the Indies they sought out Spaine in a more certaine and gallant manner then wee did England For said he wee seeke out our Coast aloft with our Eyes by the Heauens by the Sunne and Starres and with the vse of Art and Instruments which seldome or neuer fayles But you said he that seeke for England when you are to runne into narrow Seas are as I heare say inforced for your surest Directions like men blindfold to search vnder the water and to scrape with Lead and Tallow to the bottome for Bankes Sands and Shelues as if you would rake Hell for instructions to finde out the Channell which you call the Sleeue and yet for all your soundings are oftentimes mistaken I answered him againe indeed it was true that our Humilitie taught vs to goe by the ground Whereas their Pride led them to gaze aboue the Clouds and by that meanes so dazeled their Eyes as that they did often stumble vpon such men of Warre that now vsed as well to sound Spanish Pockets as the English Sleeue Whereat my Spaniard smiling and shaking his Head said hee could not well denie it hauing so lately made too true experience thereof For indeed hee was throughly rifled and ransackt of good short Wares before that euer hee came to my hands These words of his I remembred and found true vpon our soundings and the vncertaine coniectures thereof with varieties of opinions For after wee had all found ground all that Night wee held on so precisely in following our Generals light as that very earely in the Morning with the first peepe of day wee in the Wast-spight looking about found our selues on the North-side of Sylley Which when with cold comfort wee had perfectly made and perceiued with all our narrow escapes in that darke Night hard alongst the Rockes called the Bishop and his Clarkes wee began of all hands to looke out for our comforts And then wee discryed our Generall and diuers with him aduanced some three leagues before vs bearing in with all Sayles towards the Coast of Wales The morning was very close and foggie and the Generall steering North-east in stead of East and by North ranne right with the Sands of the Welch Coast on which in that darke weather hee had stricken and perished if hee had held on but a few houres longer But on the contrary although wee resclued not to lose the sight of his Lanthorne yet wee kept our selues as farre to the East as wee could and yet wee were scarce able to double Silley but fell close aboord it and a little to the North of it at the breake of day All which when I perceiued 〈◊〉 later Watch being mine and the Reare Admiral being gone to rest I did instantly com 〈…〉 the Master Gunner to shoot off a great Piece to cause them to looke about but both our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Master Gunner were so mad at me for forcing them to follow this course as that 〈◊〉 hardly haue suffered a warning Piece to bee shot but said they deserued to taste the 〈◊〉 their owne wilfulnesse hauing brought themselues and all the Fleet cleane out of the 〈…〉 to this danger And out of very rage and discontent these men had quite forgotten all 〈◊〉 Charitie and would by no meanes haue bestowed a shot vpon them to alter them from that vnsafe course but that I vrged their Dutie and inforced them to shoot and shoot againe three or foure times one after another much against their wills Whereupon we might within a little time plainly perceiue our Admirall with all his Traine to tacke about finding their owne Errours as afterwards they confessed And therefore presently they beat it vp to double the Cape of Silley thereby to enter the Sleeue which with much adoe they performed But we in the Wast-spight being now by this time shot in alongst the North side of Cornewall almost as farre as Saint Iues our ship being extreame weake and leakie and our Drinke and Water come to the last cast at very bare allowance wee durst not againe put to the Seas in these wants and in a Vessell so ill able to beat it vp against the winde to double againe the Point of Silley whereby to recouer the Sleeue And therefore stood alongst the Coast and that night anchored before Saint Iues where wee found sundry Spanish Carauels and Flee-boates of the Spanish Fleet which was set out vnder the Adelantado to haue incountred vs at our returne from the Ilands but were all dispersed and tossed with the same Storme that before had scattered vs which fell out very happily For if wee had met wee must haue tryed the Battell chiefely by Boording or else trusted to our Sayles for that our best and greatest Ordnance for the ease of our Ships in these stormes were stricken downe vnder hold So that wee should haue found great disaduantage to haue incountred with a Nauie comming strong and fresh from the Maine and wee tired and scattered a sunder with a long and painfull
The Hollanders challenge the discouery of new Straits by Mayre and Schouten before twice sailed about by Sir F. Drake See sup the Preface to the second Chapter of lib. 3. Sir F. Drake imbraceth the Southermost point of the World Since this in that Voiagâ— wherein W. Adams was Pilot whose voiage and Seb. Werts ye haue in the former Tome Theodore Gerards one of that fleet was caried by tempest as â—hey write to 64. degrees South in which height the country was mountainous couered with snow looking like Norway It seemed to extend towards the Ilands of Salomon Simon de Cordes another of that fleet after prosperous successe in Chili was taken by the Portugâ—ls at the Moluccaâ— and carried to Mala ca prisoner Mocha Baldiuia and Conception wonne from the Spaniards by the Indians Beefe kept most safely in Pickell Iland Chule Iland Mocha Note Treacherie of the Indians Of Sheepe Their apparel and housing Strange Tobacco People of Chily Their weapons Their hate to the Spaniards Imperiall A cruel storme in the Sea of Ladies In it they lost their light horsman Saint Maries City of Conception Iuan Fernandes Good to auoid discouery Wilfulnesse of Mariners They seize vpon foure ships And the Ware-houses They seize vpon another ship and some gold Light Anchors brought from the North Sea And the first Artillerie Sayles of Cotton-cloth They depart from Lyma and conceale their weaknes The noblen's of Alonso de Soto The enemy lâ—ste dâ—ngerous then the Wine Description of â—he Bay Note of tides A new deuise for stopping a leake without boord Sparâ— Rudders and to take off at pleasure Bay of Quintera Ingratitude punished Coquinbo Excellent harbour Arica in Chily much commended For all sorts of fruits Chinchilla a rare beast Litle Cocos And plentie of Gold The Indians forbid the search of gold Euery showre a showre of gold Linnen and woollen cloth made in Coquinbo The valour of the Araweant The mischiefe of corrupt or scantie prouisions Of dâ—tayning and deâ—â—auding oâ— wages Of Mariners by challenge of Pillage The lawes of Oleron concerning Pillage Note or brand rather for taltongued-fingred fellowes Whâ—t ought to be reputed pillage Against the disloyalties of Captaines Concealment of much more value then the Trading The preuention of vndue pillagings Aricâ— Moormereno The 〈◊〉 of Spaine Ouerchaâ—giâ—g of Artilerieâ— The amity of the Indians Their rudé manners and expert swimming Bay of Pisco Cape Sangalean Chilca Aduise giuen by Sea and Land Returne of the Spanish Armado Scoffed at They set forth the second time Few men 〈◊〉 a Ship in the South Sea Port of Santâ— Plantation of the Ilands of Salomon Malabrigâ— Current Punta de Augussa Point of Augussa Illas de Lobos Puma Medicinable Riuer Scoales of Crocodiles P. de S. Elena Puerto vicjo Bay of Atacames They dismisse their Indians Distresse of Spaniards Occasion of their ruine A taut saile is that which proportionably is to high for the vess 〈…〉 Boy of S. Mathew The Indians led by a 〈◊〉 Chase the Spaniards Spanish Armado Pride and vnrulinesse forerunners of ruine The vnaduised courage of the multitude The beginning of the fight The inexperience of the Spaniards and ef the English Gunner And carelesnesse of the English How farre a Commander is to trust his officers Deceit of the Gunner and his extreme carelesnesse and suspicious disloyaltie Who to account a true Marriner His knowledge for Materials For prouisions For NauigatioÌ„ Office of the Master Office of the Pilot. The Boateswaine The Steward The Carpenter The Gunner Directions in secret Why the Spanish Admirall came to leewards Rule for Ordnance Intertainment of Spaniards The English 75. The Spaniards 1300. The Spanish discipline The Souldiers The Gunner The Marriner Officers in a Ship of War Captaine of the Ship Captaine of the Soldiers M. Del Campo Ill order Prying of the Spaniards into our Discipline Their imitation of our Discipline Englishman lost the English and therefore the man The Spaniards pay deerly for their rashnesse And take a new resolution Great Ordnance 〈…〉 e 〈◊〉 ship neere Sâ—râ—nge e 〈…〉 of Th 〈…〉 Policies to auâ—ide boordings Dispute concerning ships of Trade Concerning the Prince his ships Courses for Artillery after boording Disuse of engines of Antiquitie Sir R. H. wounded The Spaniards patley Perfidiousnesse often found in Spanish promises The rest of this conference being long is omitted They resolue to fight out The Enemy breatheth The English repaire their defects Vice-admirals mast shot away Aduantages omitted The difference of shot Their effects Errors in fight Learned from the Flemings Easterlings 1. To fight vnarmed 2. To drinke to excesse Folly of the bold English The Spaniard surpasâ—eth vs onely in temperance The vâ—e profit of arming exactly obserued by the Spanish Armes more necessary by Sea then at Land The Reuenge auenged The third cause Race-ships of Warre disliked Wast-clothes not so vsefâ—ull as other deuiÌ„ses The disaduantage of Ships to lee-ward And the best remedie Crosse-barre and Chainshot misliked The Spaniards Fore-Mast thrice shot through The Company againe importunate to come to composition The English surrender Gloue sent for pledge Braue worthy Spaniard The mildnesse of a Generall after victorie The Daintie in danger of perishing Michael Angel recouereth the ship Many Ilands Fishing for Pearles The places where Pearle are found Great Pearle The Generall continueth his honourable vsage towards the sicke and wounded Spanish Surgions ignorant Misprision of the terme Pirats What a Pirate is Three sorts of defiances The custome of Spaine for warre The custome of England A disputation concerning Buena Querra The Resolution c. The noble vsage of the English But abused in these dayes Don Beltran satisfied and answereth Short arrowes for Muskets Tampkin is a small piece of wood turned fit for the mouth of a Peece Iohn Oxnams Voyage to the South Sea What the Symarons are Their habitation Their assistance Iohn Oxnam capitulateth with them His folly and Breach of promise His pursuit See the Storie before This is added of later intelligence La Pacheta The Generall certifieth the Audiencia of his successe The great ioy of the Spaniards Note English treacherie procured by Spanish Gold I haue this Letter translated into Spanish and printed by them together with the discourse of the whole action much agreeing with this except where they lust to magnifie their Spanish worth The Daintie named the Uisitation Penguin Iland Port Famine The Riuer of Geneuera Mocha Santa Maria. Valparaso Gold Arica Pisco Chincha Sixe of the Kings ships Lima. Paita Atacame Baia de Santâ— Mateo Panama Paita Lima. Gnamanga Cusâ—o Potosi Master Lucas sâ—nne to Master Tho. Lucas This is part of another Letter * I found this paper amongst others of Master Hakl without the name of the Author Lima. Payta Acapulca Zumpanga Mexico Atrizco Angeles Vera Cruz. Saint I. de Vllua Saint Domingo Iamaica Not one naturall in Hispaniola Cartagena Saint Martha Nombre de dios Veragua Costa riâ—ca