Leape very lustily singing Yó pehó Yó pehó and so got before us where they continued their Leape and Song after the manner of their owne Countrey Warres till they and we over-tooke some of the Enemy who neere the Townes-end had conveyed themselves within the Woods to have taken their stand at us as before But our Symerons now throughly encouraged when they saw our resolution brake in thorow the thickst on both sides of them forcing them to flye Fryers and all although divers of our Men were wounded and one Symeron especially was runne thorow with one of their Pikes whose courage and minde served him so well notwithstanding that he revenged his owne death ere he dyed by killing him that had given him that deadly wound We with all speed following this Chase entred the Towne of Venta Cruz being of about forty or fifty Houses which had both a Governour and other Officers and some faire Houses with many Store-houses large and strong for the Wares which were brought thither from Nombre de Dios by the River of Chagro so to be transported by Moyles to Panama besides the Monastery where we found above a thousand Buls and Pardons newly sent thither from Rome In those Houses we found three Gentlewomen which had lately beene delivered of Children there though their dwelling were in Nombre de Dios because it hath beene observed a long time as they reported to us that no Spaniards or White Woman could ever be delivered in Nombre de Dios with safety of their Children but that within two or three dayes they dyed notwithstanding that being borne and brought up in this Venta Cruz or Panama five or six yeares and then brought to Nombre de Dios if they escaped sicknesse the first or second Moneth they commonly lived in it as healthily as in any other place although no Stranger as they say can endure there any long time without great danger of death or extreame sicknesse Though at our first comming into the Towne with Armes so suddenly these Gentlewomen were in great feare yet because our Captaine had given straight charge to all the Symerons that while they were in his Company they should never hurt a Woman nor Man that had not weapon in his hand to doe them hurt which they earnestly promised and no lesse faithfully performed they had no wrong offered them nor any thing taken from them to the worth of a garter wherein albeit they had indeede sufficient safety and security by those of his Company which our Captaine sent unto them of purpose to comfort them yet they never ceased most earnestly intreating that our Captaine would vouchsafe to come to them himselfe for their more safety which when he did in their presence reporting the charge he had first given and the assurance of his Men they were comforted While the Guards which we had not without great neede ser as well on the Bridge which we were to passe over as at the Townes end where we entred they have no other entrance into the Towne by Land but from the Waters side there is one other to carry up and downe their Merchandise from their Frigates gained us liberty and quiet to stay in this Towne some houre and halfe we had not onely refreshed our selves but our Company and Symerons had gotten some good Pillage which our Captaine allowed and gave them being not the thing he looked for so that it were not too cumbersome or heavy in respect of our travell or defence of our selues A little before we departed some ten or twelue Horsemen came from Panama by all likelihood supposing that we were gone out of this Town for that all was so still and quiet came to enter the Towne confidently but finding their entertainment such as it was they that could rode faster back againe for fear then they had ridden forwards for hope Thus we having ended our businesse in this Towne and the day beginning to spring we Marched over the Bridge observing the same order that we did before There we were all safe in our opinion as if we had been environed with Wall and Trench for that no Spaniard without his extreame danger could follow us The rather now for that our Symerons were growne very valiant But our Captaine considering that he had a long way to passe and that he had bin now well neer fortnight from his Ship where he had left his Company but weake by reason of their sicknesse hastned his Journies as much as he might refusing to visit the other Symeron Townes which they earnestly desired him and encouraging his owne Company with such example and speech that the way seemed much shorter For He Marched most cheerfully and assured us that he doubted not but ere he left that Coast we should all be bountifully paid and recompensed for all those paines taken But by reason of this our Captaines haste and leaving of their Townes we marched many dayes with hungry stomackes much against the will of our Symerons Who if we would have stayed any day from this continuall journeying would have killed for us Victuall sufficient In our absence the rest of the Symerons had built a little Towne within three leagues off the Port where our Ship lay There our Captaine was contented upon their great and earnest intreaties to make some stay for that they alleadged it was onely built for his sake And indeed he consented the rather that the want of Shooes might be supplyed by meanes of the Symerons who were a great helpe unto us all our Men complaining of the tendernesse of their feet whom our Captaine would himselfe in their complaint accompany sometimes without cause but sometimes with cause indeed which made the rest to beare the burthen the more easily These Symerons during all the time that we were with them did us continually very good service and in particular in this Journey being unto us instead of Intelligencers to advertise us of Guides in our way to direct us of Purveyors to provide Victuals for us of Housewrights to build our Lodgings and had indeed able and strong Bodies carying all our necessaries yea many times when some of our Company fainted with sicknesse or wearinesse two Symerons would carry him with ease between them two miles together and at other times when need was they would shew themselves no lesse valiant then industrious and of good judgment From this Towne at our first entrance in the even on Saturday our Captaine dispatched a Symeron with a token and certaine order to the Master who had this three weekes kept good watch against the Enemy and shifted in the woods for fresh Victuall for the reliefe and recovery of our men left aboard Assoone as this messenger vvas come to the shoare calling to our Ship as bringing some newes he vvas quickly fet aboord by those vvhich longed to heare of our Captaines speeding but when he shewed the Tooth-pike of Gold which he said our Captain had sent for a
before by Sir Walter Raleigh and brought one aboord by whose direction we proceeded along to the place which they make their Port. But some of our Shipps being of great draught unable to enter we anchored all without the Harbour in a wilde Road at Sea about two miles from shore From whence the Generall wrote Letters to Master Ralph Lane being Governour of those English in Virginia and then at his Fort about six leagues from the Road in an Island which they call Roanoac wherein is specially he shewed how ready he was to supply his necessities and wants which he understood of by those he had first talked withall The morrow after Master Lane himselfe and some of his company comming unto him with the consent of his Captaines he gave them the choice of two offers that is to say either he would leave a Ship a Pinnace and certaine Boaâ—es with sufficient Masters and Marriners together furnished with a Moneths Victuall to stay and make farther discovery of the Country and coasts and so much Victual likewise that might be sufficient for the bringing of them all being an hundred and three Persons into England if they thought good after such time with any other thing they would desire and that he might be able to spare Or else if they thought they had made sufficient discovery already and did desire to returne into England he would give them passage But they as it seemed being desirous to stay accepted very thankfully and with great gladnesse that which was offred first Whereupon the Ship being appointed and received into charge by some of their owne Company sent into her by Master Lane before they had received from the rest of the Fleet the Provision appointed them there arose a great storme which they said was extraordinary and very strange that lasted three dayes together and put all our Fleet in great danger to be driven from their ankoring upon the coast For we brake many Cables and lost many Ankors And some of our Fleet which had lost all of which number was the ship appointed for Master Lane and his company was driven to put to Sea in great danger in avoyding the Coast and could never see us againe untill we met in England Many also of our small Pinnaces and Boats were lost in this storme Notwitstanding after all this the Generall offered them with consent of his Captaines another Ship with some Provision although not such a one for their turnes as might have been spared them before this being unable to be brought into their Harbour Or else if they would to give them passage into England although he knew he should performe it with greater difficulty then he might have done before But Master Lane with those of the chiefest of his company he had then with him considering what should be best for them to doe made request unto the Generall under their hands that they might have passage for England the which being granted and the rest sent for out of the Country and shipped we departed from that coast the eighteenth of June And so God be thanked both they and we in good safty arrived at Portsmouth in July 28. 1586. to the great glory of God and to no small honour to our Prince our Countrey and our selves The totall value of that which was gotten in this Voyage is estimated at threescore thousand pounds whereof the Companies which have travelled in the Voyage were to have twenty thousand pounds the Adventurers the other forthy Of which twenty thousand pounds as I can judge will redound some six pounds to the single share We lost some seven hundred and fifty Men in the Voyage The Men of name that dyed and were slaine in this Voyage as I can presently call to my remembrance are these Captaine Powell Captaine Varney Captaine Moone Captaine Fortescute Captaine Bigges Captaine Cecill Captaine Hannam Captaine Greenefield Thomas Tucker a Lievtenant Alexander Starkey a Lievtenant Master Escot a Lievtenant Master Waterhouse a Lievtenant Master Nicholas Winter Master Alexander Carleill Master Robert Alexander Master Scroope Master James Dier Master Peter Duke With some other who for haste I cannot so suddenly thinke on The Ordnance gotten of all sorts Brasse and Iron were about two hundred and forty whereof the two hundred and some more were Brasse and were thus found and gotten In S. Jago some two or three and fifty Peeces In S. Domingo about foure score whereof was very much great Ordnance as whole Cannon Demi-Cannon Culverins and such like In Cartagena some sixty and three Peeces and good store likewise of the greater sort In the Fort of S. Augustine were fourteen Peeces the rest was Iron Ordnance of which the most part was gotten at S. Domingo the rest at Cartagena FINIS A Full RELATION Of another VOYAGE INTO THE WEST INDIES MADE BY SIR FRANCIS DRAKE Accompanied with Sir John Hawkins Sir Thomas Baskerfield Sir Nicholas Clifford and others Who set forth from Plimouth on the 28. of August 1595. Printed at London for Nicholas Bourne dwelling at the South entrance of the Royall Exchange 1652. A FULL RELATION OF Another Voyage made by Sir FRANCIS DRAKE and others to the WEST INDIES who set forth from Plimouth the 28. of August 1595. THIS Valiant and Heroick Worthy having many yeers faithfully served his Prince and Country doth yet more apparently manifest his impartiall integrity to both as may appear by this Relation following of another Voyage made by him into the West Indies accompanied with other Gentlemen whose names and Offices immediately ensue Sir Francis Drake Chiefe Generals Sir John Hawkins Chiefe Generals Sir Thomas Baskerfield Coroner Generall Sir Nicholas Clifford Lievtenant Generall Captaine Arnold Baskerfield Serjeant Major Captaine Nicholas Baskerfield Captaine Barkley Captaine Grinstone Captaine Rush Captaine Boswell Captaine Platt Captaine Chichester Captaine Stanton Captaine Fenton In the thirty seventh year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth being the eight and twentieth of August one thousand five hundred ninty five we imbarked at Plimouth thence we sail'd toward the Grand Canadoes in which passage Sep. 6. about noon we descri'd a French man of War in the height of the Northern Cape whom we chasing immediately overtooke after him a Rochellor having been at New-found-land whom we quietly let passe after that we overtooke two Biskners bound for Barbara who accompanied us untill they could take their course thither The ninth of September we espyed a Ship of Weymouth vvhom vve chased and fetched up vvho speaking with our Generall accompanied us to the Grand Canadoes Presently after we discovered twenty of the King of France's men of Warre vvho chased us but could not fetch us up and therefore left us The nineteenth of September we met with a Frigate of the Earle of Cumberlands who brought us word that the Kings men of Warre were going homewards The twenty five of September we descried two Islands the one called Hamseroth West and by South The other Forta fontura both standing in
off vve stayed there all day vvatering and vvooding and providing things necessary by giving content and satisfaction to the Indians But â—owards night our Captaine called all of us aboord only leaving the Spaniards lately taken in the Prize ashoare according to our promise made them to their great content who acknowledged that our Captaine did them a farre greater favour in setting them freely at liberty then he had done them displeasure in taking their Ship and so set saile The sicknesse which had begun to kindle amongst us two or three dayes before did this day shew it selfe in Charles Gluâ— one of our quarter-Quarter-masters a very tall man and a right good Mariner taken away to the great griefe both of Captaine and Company What the cause of this malady was we knew not of certainty we imputed it to the cold which our men had taken lying without succour in the Pinnaces But howsoever it was thus it pleased God to visit us and yet in favour to restore unto health all the rest of our Company that were touched with this disease which were not a few The next morning being faire weather though the winde continued contrary our Captaine commanded the Minion his lesser Pinnace to hasten away before him towards his Ships at Fort Diego within the Cabezas to carry newes of his comming and to put all things in a readinesse for our Land journey if they heare any thing of the Fleets arrivall by the Symerons giving the Minion charge if they wanted Wine to take Saint Bernards in their way and there take in some such portion as they thought good of the Wines which we had there hidden in the sand We plyed to windwards as neere as we could so that within a seven night after the Minion departed from us we came to Saint Bernards where vve staied many houres finding but twelve Botijos of Wine of all the store we left which had escaped the curious search of the Enemy who had beene there for that they were deepe in the ground Within foure or five dayes after we came to our Ship where we found all other things in good order but received very heavie newes of the death of John Drake our Captains Brother and another young man called Richard Allen which were both slaine at one time as they attempted the boording of a Frigate within two dayes after our departing from them The manner of it a we learned by examination of the Company vvas this vvhen they saw this Frigate at Sea as they were going towards their Fort with Plancks to make the Platformes the Company were very importunate on him to give chase and set upon this Frigate which they deemed had beene a fit booty for them But he told them that they vvanted vveapons to assaile they knew not how the Frigate was provided they had their boat loaden with plancks to finish that his Broter had commanded But when this would not satisfie them but that still they urged him with vvords and supposals If you will needs said he adventure it shall never be said that I will be hindermost neither shall you report to my Brother that you lost your Voyage by any cowardise you found in me Thereupon every man shifted as they might for the time and heaving their plankes over board tooke them such poore vveapons as they had viz. a broken pointed Rapier one old Visgee and a rusty Caliver John Drake tooke the Rapier and made a Gantlet of his Pillow Richard Allen the Visegee both standing in the head of the Pinnace called the Eâ—on Roâ—ert tooke the Caliver and so boarded But they found the Frigate armed round about with a close fight of Hides full of Pikes and Calivers which vvere discharged in their faceâ— and deadly wounded those that were in the Foâ—e ship Jâ—hn Drake in the belly and Richard Allen in the head But notwithstanding their wounds they with Oares shifted off the Pinnace got cleare of the Frigate and with all haste recovered their Ship where vvithin an houre after this young man of great hope ended his dayes greatly lamented of all the Company Thus having moared our Ships fast our Captaine resolved to keepe himselfe close without being descried untill he might heare of the comming of the Spanish Fleet and therefore set no more to Sea but supplyed his vvants both for his owne Company and the Symerons out of his aforesaid Magazine besides dayly out of the woods with wild Hogges Phesants and Guanas continuing in health God be praised all the meane time which was a Moneth at least till at length about the beginning of January halfe a score of our Company fell downe sicke altogether and the most of them died within two or three dayes so long that we had thirty at a a time sicke of the Calenture which attached our men either by reason of the sudden change from cold to heat or by reason of brakish water which had beene taken in by one Pinnace through the sloth of their men in the mouth of the River not rowing further in where the water was good Among the rest Joseph Drake another of his Brethren died in our Captains Armes of the same disease of which that the cause might be the better discerned and consequently remedied to the reliefe of others by our Captaines appointment he was ript open by the Surgeon who found his liver swoln his heart as it were sodden and his guts all faire This was the first and last experiment that our Captaine made of Anatomy in this Voyage The Surgeon that cut him up over lived him not past foure dayes although he were not toucht with that sicknesse of which he had been recovered above a moneth before but onely of an over-bold practise which he would needs make upon himselfe by receiving an over-strong Purgation of his owne device after which taken he never spake nor his Boy recovered the health which he lost by tasting it till he saw England The Symerons who as is beforesaid had beene entertained by our Captaine in September last and usually repaired to our Ship during all the time of our absence ranged the Country up and downe betweene Nombre de Dios and us to learne what they might for us whereof they gave our Captaine advertisement from time to time as now particularly certaine of them let him understand that the Fleet was certainly arrived at Nombre de Dios. Therefore he sent the Lyon to the seamost Iland of the Cativaas to descry the truth of the report by reason it must needs be that if the Fleet were in Nombre de Dios all the Frigates of the Countrey would repaire thitherwards with Victuall The Lyon within few dayes descried that she was sent for espying a Frigate which she presently boorded and tooke laden with Maiz Hens and Pompions from Tolou who assured us of the whole truth of the arrivall of the Fleet in this Frigate were taken one Woman and twelve Men of whom one was
any Wars between Spaine and England The second why our Merchants with their Goods were imbarred or arrested Thus departed Captain Sampson with the said Messenger to the City where he found the Governour and People much amazed of such a sudden accident The Generall with the advice and counsell of Master Carleill his Lievtenant generall who was in the Galley with him thought not good to make any stand till such time as they were within the shot of the City where they might be ready upon the return of Captaine Sampson to make a sudden attempt if cause did require before it was darke Captaine Sampson returned with his Message in this sort First touching Peace or Wars the Governour said he knew of no Wars and that it lay not in him to make any he being so mean a Subject as he was And as for the stay of the Merchants with their Goods it was the Kings pleasure but not with intent to endammage any man and that the Kings counter-mand was which had been received in that place some seven nights before that English Merchants vvith their Goods should be dsicharged for the more verifying vvhereof he sent such Merchants as vvere in the Town of our Nation vvho trafficked in those parts vvhich being at large declared to our Generall by them counsell vvas taken vvhat might best be done and for that the night approached it vvas thought needfull to land our Force vvhich vvas done in the shutting up of the day and having quartered our selves to our most advantage vvith sufficient gard upon every streight vve thought to rest our selves for that night there The Governour sent us some refreshing as Bread Wine Oyle Apples Grapes Marmalad and such like About midnight the vveather begins to overcast insomuch that it vvas thought meeter to repair aboord then to make any longer abode on land and before vve could recover the Fleet a great tempest arose vvhich caused many of our Ships to drive from their ancour hold and some were forced to Sea in great perill as the Barke Talbot the Barke Hawkins and the Speedwell vvhich Speedwell onely vvas driven into England the others recovered us again the extremity of the storme lasted three dayes which no sooner began to asswage but Master Carleill our Lieutenant Generall was sent with his owne Ship and three others as also with the Galley and with diverse Pinnaces to see what he might do above Vigo where he tooke many Boates and some Carvels diuersly laden with things of small value but chiefly with househould stuffe running into the high Country and amongst the rest he found one Boat laden with the principall Church-stuffe of the high Church of Vigo where also was their great Crosse of Silver of very faire embossed worke and double gilt all over having cost them a great Masse of money They complained to have lost in all kind of Goods above thirty thousand Duckets in this place The next day the Generall with his whole Fleete went up from the Isles of Bayon to a very good harbour above Vigo where Master Carleill stayed his comming as well for the more quiet tiding of his Ships as also for the good commodity of fresh watering which the place there did affoord full well In the meane time the Governour of Gallisia had reared such forces as he might his numbers by estimate were some two thousand foot and three hundred horse and marched from Bayon to this part of the Countrey which lay in sight of our Fleet where making stand he sent to parle with our Generall which was granted by our Generall so it might be in boates upon the water and for safety of their persons there were pledges delivered on both sides which done the Governour of Gallisia put himselfe with two others into our Vice-Admirals Skiffe the same having been sent to the shoare for him And in like sort our Generall in his owne Skiffe where by them it was agreed we should furnish our selves with fresh water to be taken by our owne people quietly on the land and have all other such necessaries paying for the same as the place would affoord When all our businesse was ended we departed and tooke our way by the Islands of Canaria which are esteemed some three hundred leagues from this part of Spain and falling purposely with Palma with intention to have taken our pleasure of that place for the full digesting of many things in order and the better furnishing our store with such severall good things as that affoorded very abundantly we were forced by the vile Seâ— gate which at that present fell out and by the naughtinesse of the landing place being but one and that under the favor of many Platformes well furnished with great Ordinance to depart with the receipt of many their Canon-shot some into our Ships and some besides some of them being in very deed full Canon high But the onely or chiefe mischiefe was the dangerous sea surge which at shore all alongest plainly threatned the overthrow of as many Pinnaces and Boates as for that time should have attempted any landing at all Now seeing the expectation of this attempt frustrated by the causes aforesaid we though it meeter to fall with the Isle Ferro to see if we could find any better fortune and comming to the Island we landed a thousand men in a valley under a high Mountaine where we stayed some two or three houres in which time the Inhabitants accompanied with a young fellow borne in England who dwelt there with them came unto us shewing their state to be so poore that they were all ready to starve which was not untrue and therefore without any thing gotten we were all commanded presently to imbarke so as that night we put off to Sea South South-east along towards the coast of Barbarie Vpon Saturday in the morning being the thirteenth of November we fell with Cape Blancke which is a low land and shallow water where we catched store of fish and doubling the Cape we put into the Bay where we found certaine French Ships of Warre whom we entertained with great courtesie and there left them The afternoone the whole Fleet assembled which was a little scattered about their fishing and put from thence to the Isles of Cape Verde sayling till the sixteenth of the same Moneth in the morning on which day we descried the Island of Saint Jago and in the evening we anchored the Fleet between the Towne called the Plaie or Praie and Saint Jago where we put on shore a thousand men or more under the leading of Master Christopher Carleill Lieuetenant Generall who directed the service most like a wise Commander The place where we had first to March did affoord no good order for the ground was Mountaines and full of Dales being a marvelous stony and troublesome passage but such was his industrious disposition as he would never leave untill we had gotten up to a faire Plaine where we made stand for the assembling of the army And
having planted in them eleven peeces of Ordnance vvhich did beat all crosse the straight and flanked our comming on In these two Gallies were planted three or foure hundred small shot and on the land in the guard onely of this place three hundred shot and pikes They in this their full readinesse to receive us spared not their shot both great and small But our Lievtenant generall taking the advantage of the darke the day light as yet not broken out approached by the lowest ground according to the expresse direction which himself had formerly given the same being the Sea-wash-shore where the water was somwhat fallen so as most of all their shot was in vaine Our Lievtenant generall commanded our shot to forbear shooting untill we were come to the wall side and so with Pikes roundly together we approached the place where we soone found out the Barricadoes of Pipes or Buts to be the meetest place for our assault which notwithstanding it was well furnished with Pikes and shot was without staying attempted by us downe went the buts of earth and pell mell came our Swords and Pikes together after our shot had first given their volley even at the enemies nose Our Pikes were somewhat longer then theirs and our bodies better armed for very few of them were armed with which advantage our Swords and Pikes grew too hard for them and they driven to give place In this furious entry the Lievtenant generall slue with his owne hands the chiefe Ensigne-bearer of the Spaniards vvho fought very manfully to his lives end We followed into the Town vvith them and giving them no leasure to breath vve vvan the Market-place albeit they made head and fought a vvhile before vve got it and so vve being once seazed and assured of that they vvere contento suffer us to lodge vvithin their Towne and themselves to goe to their Wives vvhom they had carried into other places of the Country before our comming thither At every Streets-end they had raised very fine Barricadoes of Earth-vvorkes vvith trenches vvithout them as vvell made as ever vve savv any vvorke done at the entring whereof was some little resistance but soone overcome it was with few slaine or hurt They had joyned with them many Indians whom they had placed in corners of advantage all Bow-men with their Arrowes most villanously empoysoned so as if they did but breake the skin the party so touched dyed without marvell some they slew of our People with their Arrowes some they likewise mischieved to death with certaine Prickes of small stickes sharply pointed of a foot and a halfe long the one end put into the ground the other empoysoned sticking fast up right against our comming in the way as we should approach from our landing towards the Towne whereof they had planted a wonderfull number in the ordinary way but our keeping the Sea-wash-shore missed the greatest part of them very happily To let passe many particular matters as the hurting of Captain Sampson at sword blowes in the first entring unto whom was committed the charge of the Pikes of the Vantgard by his lot and turne as also of the taking of Alonzo Bravo the chiefe Commander of that place by Captain Goring after the said Captain had first hurt him with his Sword unto which Captain was committed the charge of the Shot of the said Vantgard Captain Winter was likewise by his turne of the Vantgard in this attempt where also the Lievtenant generall marched himselfe the said Captaine Winter through a great desire to serve by Land having now exchanged his charge by Sea with Captain Cecill for his Band of Foot-Men Captaine Powell the Sergeant Major had by his turne the charge of the foure Companies which made the Battaile Captaine Morgan who at S. Domingo was of the Vantgard had now by turne his charge upon the Companies of the Rere-gard Every Man as well of one part as of another came so willingly on to the service as the enemy was not able to endure the fury of such hot assault We stayed here six weeks and the sicknesse with mortality before spoken of still continuing among us though not with the same fury as at the first and such as were touched with the said Sicknesse escaping death very few or almost none could recover their strength yea many of them were much decayed in their memory in so much that it was growne an ordinary judgement when one was heard to speake foolishly to say he had beene sicke of the Calentour which is the Spanish name of their burning Ague for as I told you before it is a very burning and pestilent Ague The originall cause thereof is imputed to the evening or first night ayre which they tearme La serena wherein they say and hold very firme opinion that who so is then abroad in the open ayre shall certainly be infected to the death not being of the Indian or naturall race of those Countrey People by holding their Watch were thus subjected to the infectious â—yre which at S. Jago was most dangerous and deadly of all other places With the inconvenience of continuall mortality we were forced to give over our intended enterprize to goe with Nombre de Dios and so over-land to Pannama where we should have stroken the stroke for the Treasure and full recompence of our tedious travailes And thus at Cartagena we tooke our first resolution to returne homewards But while we were yet there it happened one day that our Watch called the Sentinell upon the Church-Steeple had discovered in the Sea a couple of smal Barks or Boats making in with the Harbour of Cartagena whereupon Captaine Moone and Captaine Varney with John Grant the Master of the Tyger and some other Sea-men embarqued themselves in a couple of small Pinnaces to take them before they should come nigh the shore at the mouth of the Harbour lest by some stragling Spaniards from the Land they might be warned by signes from comming in which fell out accordingly notwithstanding all the diligence that our Men could use for the Spanish Boats upon the sight of our Pinnaces comming towards them ran themselves a shore and so their Men presently hid themselves in Bushes hard by the Sea side amongst some others that had called them by signes thither Our Men presently without any due regard had to the quality of the place and seeing no man of the Spaniards to shew themselves aboorded the Spanish Barkes or Boats and so standing all open in them were suddenly shot at by a troope of Spaniards out of the Bushes by which volley of shot there were flaine Captaine Varney which dyed presently and Captaine Moone who dyed some few dayes after besides some foure or five others that were hurt and so our folkes returned without their purpose not having any sufficient number of Souldiers with them to fight on shore For those Men they carried were all Marriners to rowe few of them armed because they made account with their Ordinance
token to Edward Hixom vvith charge to meet him at such a River though the Master knew vvell the Captaines Tooth-pike yet by reason of his admonition and caveat given him at parting he though he bewrayed no signe of distrusting the Symeron yet stood as amazed least something had befallen our Captaine otherwise then vvell The Symeron perceiving this told him that it vvas night vvhen he vvas sent avvay so that our Captaine cold not send any letter but yet vvith the point of his Knife he vvrote something upon the Tooth-pike vvhich he said should be sufficient to gaine credit to the Messenger Thereupon the Master lookt upon it and savv vvritten By me Francis Drake vvherefore he beleeved and according to the message prepared vvhat provision he could and repaired to the mouth of the River of Tortugos as the Symerons that vvent vvith him then named it That afternoone towards three a Clocke vve vvere come downe to that River not past halfe an houre before vve savv our Pinnace ready come to receive us vvhich vvas unto us all a double rejoycing first that vve savv them and next so soone our Captaine vvith all our Company praised God most heartily for that vve saw our Pinnace and fellowes againe We all seemed to these who had lived at rest and plenty all this while aboard as men strangely changed our Captaine yet not much changed in countenance and plight and indeed our long fasting and sore travell might somewhat sore pine and waste us but the greefe we drew inwardly for that we returned without that Gold and Treasure we hoped for did no doubt shew her print and footsteps in our faces The rest of our Men which were then missed could not travell so well as our Captaine and therefore were left at the Indian new Towne and the next day we towed to another River in the bottome of the Bay and tooke them all aboard Thus being returned from Panama to the great rejoycing of our Company who were throughly revived vvith the report we brought from thence especially understanding our Captaines purpose that he meant not â—o leave off thus but vvould once againe attempt the same journey vvhereof they also might be partakers our Captaine vvould not in the meane time suffer this edge and forwardnesse of his men to be dulled or rebated by lying still idely unimployed as knowing right well by continuall experiences that no sicknesse vvas more noysome to impeach any enterprise then delay and idlenesse Therefore considering deepely the intelligences of other places of importance thereabouts vvhich he had gotten the former years and particularly of Veragua a rich Towne lying to the Westward betweene Nombre de Dios and Nicaragua where is the richest Mine of fine Gold that is on this North side he consulted with his Company touching their opinions what was to be done in this meane time and how they stood affected Some thought that it was most necessary to seeke supply of Victuals that we might the better be able to keepe our men close and in health till our time came and this was easie to be compassed because the Frigates with Victuall went without great defence whereas the Frigates and Barkes with Treasure for the most part were wafted with great Ships and store of Souldiers Others yet judged we might better bestow our time in intercepting the Frigates of Treasure first for that our Magazines and Stor-houses of Victuall were reasonably furnished and the Countrey it selfe was so plentifull that every man might provide for himselfe if the worst befell and Victuall might hereafter be provided aboundantly as well as now whereas the Treasure never floteth upon the Sea so ordinarily as at this time of the Fleetes being there which time in no wise may be neglected The Symerons being demanded also their opinion for that they were experienced in the particularities of all the Townes thereabouts as in which some or other of them had served declared that by Veragua Sinnior Pezoro sometimes their Master from whom they fled dwelt not in the Towne for feare of some surprise but yet not farre off from the Towne for his better releefe in a very strong House of stone where he had dwelt nineteene yeeres at least never travelling from home unlesse happily once a year to Carthagene or Nombre de Dios when the Fleetes were there he keepeth a hundred Slaves at least in the Mines each Slave being bound to bring in dayly cleare gaine all charges deducted three Pezoes of Gold for himselfe and two for his women eight shilligs three pence the Pezo amounting in the whole to above two hundred pound sterling each day so that he hath heaped a mighty Masse of Treasure together which he keepeth in certaine great Chests of two foote deepe three broad and foure long being notwithstanding all his Wealth hard and cruell not onely to his Slaues but unto all men and therefore never going abroad but with a Guard of five or six men to defend his person from danger which he feareth extraordinarily from all Creatures And as touching meanes of compassing this purpose they would conduct him safely thorow the Woods by the same wayes by which they fled that he should not need to enter their Havens with danger but might come upon their backs altogether unlooked for And though his house were of stone so that it could not be burnt yet if our Captaine would undertake the attempt they would undermine and overthrow or otherwise breake it open in such sort as we might have easie accesse to his greatest Treasure Our Captaine having heard all their opinions concluded so that by dividing his Company the two first different sentences were both reconciled both to be practised and put in ure John Oxnam appointed in the Beare to be sent Eastwards towards Tolou to see what store of Victuals would come athwart his halfe and himselfe would to the Westwards in the Minion lye off and on the Cabezas where was the greatest trade and most ordinary passage of those which transported Treasure from Veragua and Nicaragua to the Fleet so that no time might be lost nor opportunity let slip either for Victuall or Treasure As for the attempt of Veragua or Sinior Pezoros House by land by marching thorow the Woods he liked not of least it might over-weary his Men by continuall labour whom he studyed to refresh and strengthen for his next service fore named Therefore using our Symerons most courteously dismissing those that were desirous to goe to their Wives with such Gifts and favours as were most pleasing and entertaining those still aboord his Ships which were contented to abide with the Company remaining the Pinnaces departed as was determined the Minion to the West the Beare to the East The Minion about the Cabezas met with a Frigate of Nicaragua in which was some Gold and a Genoway Pilot of which Nation there are many in those Coasts which had beene at Veragua not past eight dayes before he being very well
height of the Canaries And the 26 of Sept. which was munday in the just and ordinary reckoning of those that had stayed at home in one place or Country but in our coÌ„putation was the Lords day or Sunday we safely with joyfull minds and thankful hearts to God arived at Plimoth the place of our first setting forth after we had spent 2. yeeres 10 moneths and some few odde dayes beside in seeing the wonders of the Lord in the deep in discovering so many admirable things in going through with so many strange adventures in escaping out of so many dangers and overcoming so many difficulties in this our encompassing of this nether Globe and passing round about the World which we have related Soli rerum maximarum Effectori Soli totius munai Gubernatori Soli suorum Conservatori Soli Deo sit semper Gloria FINIS A SUMMARIE AND TRUE DISCOURSE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKES WEST-INDIAN Voyage Accompanied with Christopher Carleill Martin Frobusher Francis Knollis with many other Captains and Gentlemen Wherein were taken the Townes of Saint Jago Sancto Domingo Cartagena and Saint Augustine Printed at London for Nicholas Bourne dwelling at the South entrance of the royall Exchange 1652. A SVMMARY AND TRVE DISCOVRSE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKES West-Indian VOYAGE Wherein were taken the Townes of Saintiago Sancto Domingo Cartagena and Saint Augustine THIS worthy Knight for the service of his Prince and Countrey having prepared his whole Fleet and gotten them down to Plimouth in Devonshire to the number of five and twenty sayle of Ships and Pinnaces and having assembled of Souldiers and Marriners to the number of two thousand and three hundred in the whole embarqued them and himselfe at Plimmouth aforesaid the twelfth day of September 1585. being accompanied with these Men of name and charge which hereafter follow Master Christopher Carleil Lievtenant Generall a man of long experience in the Warre as well by Sea as Land and had formerly carried high Offices in both kindes in many Fights which he discharged alwayes very happily and with great good reputation Anthony Powell Sergeant Major Captaine Matthew Morgan and Captain John Sampson Corporals of the Field These Officers had Command over the rest of the Land Captains whose names hereafter follow Captain Anthony Plat. Captain Edward Winter Captain John Goring Captain Robert Pew Captain George Barton Captain John Merchant Captain William Cecill Captain Walter Bigs Captain John Hannam Captain Richard Stanton Captain Martin Frobusher Vice-admirall a man of great experience in Sea-faring actions and had had chiefe command of many Ships himselfe in sundry Voyages before being now shipped in the Primrose Captain Francis Knollis Rere-admirall in the Gallion Leicester Master Thomas Venner Captain in the Elizabeth Bonadventure under the Generall Master Edward Winter Captain in the Ayde Master Christopher Carleill the Lievtenant Generall Captaine in the Tygar Henry White Captain of the Sea Dragon Thomas Drake Captain of the Thomas Thomas Seelie Captaine of the Minion Baily Captaine of the Barke Talbot Robert Crosse Captaine of the Barke Bond. George Fortescute Captaine of the Barke Bonner Edward Carelesse Captaine of the Hope James Erizo Captaine of the White Lyon Thomas Moone Captaine of the Francis John Rivers Captaine of the Vantage John Vaughan Captaine of the Drake John Varney Captaine of the George John Martin Captaine of the Benjamin Edward Gilman Captain of the Skout Richard Haukins Captain of the Galliot called the Ducke Bitfield Captain of the Swallow After our going hence which was the fourteenth of September in the yeare of our Lord one thousand five hundred eighty and five and taking our course towards Spain we had the Winde for a few dayes somewhat skant and sometimes calme And being arrived neer that part of the coast of Spaine which is called the Moores we hapned to espie divers Sayles which kept their course close by the shore the weather being faire and calme The Generall caused the Vize-admirall to goe with the Pinnaces well manned to see what they were who upon sight of the said Pinnaces approaching neer unto them abandoned for the most part all their Ships being Frenchmen laden all with Salt and bound homewards into France amongst which Ships being all of small burthen there was one so well liked which also had no man in her as being brought unto the Generall he thought good to make stay of her for the service meaning to pay for her as also accordingly performed at our return which Bark was called the Drake The rest of these Ships being eight or nine were dismissed without any thing at all taken from them Who being afterwards put somwhat farther off from the shore by the contrariety of the winde we hapned to meet with sâ—me other French Ships full laden with Newland Fish being upon their returne homeward from the said Newfound land whom the Generall after some speech had with them and seeing plainly that they were French-Men dismissed without once suffering any man to goe aboord of them The day following standing in with the shore againe we descried another tal Ship of twelve score tuns or therabouts upon whom Master Carleill the Lievtenant Generall being in the Tygar undertooke the chase whom also anon after the Admirall followed and the Tygar having caused the strange Ship to strike her sayles kept her there without suffering any body to goe aboord untill the Admirall was come up who forthwith sending for the Master and divers others of their principall Men and causing them to be severally examined found the Ship and Goods to be belonging to the Inhabitants of Saint Sebastian in Spaine but the Marriners to be for the most part belonging to Saint John de Luce and the Passage In this Ship was great store of dry Newland Fish commonly called with us Poore John whereof afterwards being thus found a lawfull Prize there was distribution made into all the Ships of the Fleet the same being so new and good as it did very greatly bestead us in the whole course of our Voyage A day or two after the taking of this Ship we put in within the Isles of Bayon for lacke of favourable winde where we had no sooner anchored some part of the Fleet but the Generall commanded all the Pinnaces with the Ship-boats to be Manned and every man to be furnished with such armes as was needfull for that present service which being done the Generall put himselfe into his Galley which was also well furnished and rowing towards the City of Bayon with intent and the favour of the Almighty to surprize it Before we had advanced one halfe league of our way there came a Messenger being an English Merchant from the Governour to see what strange Fleet we were who came to our Generall and conferred a while with him and after a small time spent our Generall called for Captaine Sampson and willed him to goe to the Governour of the City to resolve him of two point The first to know if there were
others as Hargabushes of crocke and Muskets and such like which played at us on both sides most valiantly in the time of this Incounter They had planted on this plot of great Ordnance one hundred and three score besides small shott as were to be numbred This assault although it brought unto us no great profit in respect of the losse of one of our Ships called the Little Francis which was taken by them before our approach which gave them intelligence of our comming also the losse of some of our Men at that time the which was a most valiant attempt and worthy to be Chronicled There was of the Enemy burned and slaine and drowned all the men in the great Ship but some three or foure that we tooke up out of the water to the intent that they should reveale somewhat unto us they informed us that they having intelligence of our comming by our Ship that was taken by them our end and intent was frustrated This Towne was of great force to the Spaniards and had in it three millions of Treasure of the King of Spaines which those five men of War came of purpose for it and they told us also that they kept our men at Portricho the which they tooke in the Ship called the Little Francis whereupon our Generall wrote unto the chiefe Governour of the Towne â—o be good unto our men and to deale with them as he should doe the like with their men and to send them for England again in safety Also we understood that there was three hundred Souldiers in this Towne of Saint John de Portrizo This towne standeth on a very small Island and is compassed with the Sea on the one side and a great River on the other side we could not come nigh the towne to view the proportion of it because it standeth in a Valley and hath a great Fort new built betwixt us and it We could not come within the sight of the maine Island which joyneth to the Towne so farre as we could discerne it seemeth to be of a vast longitude and latitude The fifteenth of November being saturday Sir John Hawkins and Sir Nicholas Clifford were throwne over-boord the same day we espyed a Spanish Carvill coming towards Saint John de Portricho but from what place we knew not our Generall sent with all speed and imbarked some Men in Pinnaces with all haste to meet with him but when the men in the Castle of Portricho espied it they shot off a great peece of Ordnance as a warning to them not to approach any neerer the Carvill perceiving ran himselfe on the breach and ashore and saved their men which fled away into the Mountaines so that we could not come to them The sixteenth being Sunday we departed from Saint John de Portricho at which place we Mustered all our Men and every Captaine knew his Men in more ample manner then they did before The same day we imbarked our selves in our Ships againe and with all speed we sailed to a place called Saint John Jermans Bay there we landed it is distant from Portricho thirty six leagues there we landed certain of our Companies to guard our Carpenters that did build our Pinnaces not far from this place is a House called an Ingeneroide where is great store of Sugar made it is inhabited with Spaniards The same day Master Brut Browne dyed On Saturday the three and tvventieth of November our Generall held a Court Marshall to which John Standley was called to answer to some matters objected against him The two and twentieth Sir Thomas Baskerfield tooke two men of this Island a Negroe and a Clemeronne The twenty fourth day being Munday the Ship called John of Trollony of Plimmouth was burned in the same Bay of Saint John Jermans the same day we sailed to another Island called Crusao The five and twentieth being Tuesday vve sailed South and by East and South and by West on Wednesday the twentieth six vve sailed South and by West in which course standeth Hispaniola and an Island called Mono did beare from us West and by North. The twenty seven being thursday vve sailed South and by West The twenty ninth being Saturday vve came to the Island called Crusao which is distant from the Bay of Saint Jermans about one hundered and fifty leagues from Portricho we sayled South South East at this place we stayed three or foure houres because we could get no good Harbour to anchor at by reason we were constrained to depart Our Generall did suppose this Island to be another Island called Arewha The twenty ninth of November on the Larbordside it beareth South South East it is distant some eight or nine leagues the same day we espyed the maine land called the West Indies which bore from us North North East and it is a very high land vve sailed along this Coast to a certaine towne called River Della Hatch the same day at night we anchored within nine or ten leagues of the â—owne of River Della Hatch The second of December being Munday all our Soldiers being imbarked in Boats and Pinnaces we sailed to the towne all that day about one of the clocke in the night vve entred the towne the Enemy fled into the Country before leaving some of their Soldiers in the towne to the number of ten or twelve which gave us a volley of shot and two of them were taken prisoners the rest fled away We found nothing in the towne of any account they had carried all away into the Woods and hid them there neither was there any Victuals but what we went into the Country for our selves for they had droven all their Cattle away because they heard of our commming a weeke before we came thither December the third being tuesday the Spaniards came to parley with us for a certain sum of Treasure for ransome for the said towne The fourth of December they brought Pearle c. but lesse in value then was compounded for which our Generall Sir Francis Drake refused and thereupon ordered that it should be set on Fire and burned which accordingly was done at our departure The fifteenth of December being Friday the Enemy made faire promises to our Generall which was onely to have us to stay as we supposed till they had sent word to other places as afterwards the Governour confessed The sixteenth of December the Governour came to parley and to tell us his determined purpose of his delay which was as aforesaid our companies marched divers times for Victuals and so met with the Governour We tooke some more of their men prisoners and found some of their Goods afterward which we carried away But when we saw that they would not come to any faire correspondence or agreement our Generall commanded us to burne all places where ever we came The day before our departure we left the towne of a light Fire unlesse it was a new Religious house not finished and another house that they use to bring