tooke it to be neerer the order of the Warres if the other Regiment this day were respected This reason together with request to his honour to remember himselfe to be the Generall and therefore his place should not be so full of danger so farre moued his Lordship that Sir Iohns Regiment had the Point neuerthelesse his Lordshippe would be at the seruice in person Thus the manner of the enterprize being vpon the present resolued on his Lordship put himselfe into his Armour so did all the Commanders and who else had Armours for they looked that the seruice should be hot as indeede it proued By and by the enemies Centinell had discouered the approach of our Companies and they tooke the Alarum It may be well said it was well fought by the Engliâ—h and if it had bin day that euery one might haue seene what he did it is to be thought so many would not haue deserued so much commendation The assault continued aboue two houres during which time the Spaniards were not idle For though the assalants left no way in the world vnattempted yet no way could they finde to enter the Gate The Cawsey which was the ordinarie way of passage was purposely made so rugged that our men to keepe them on their feete made choise to wade in the water besides it Here his Lordship was by the stumbling of him that bore his Target ouerthrowne euen to the danger of drowning for his Armour so ouerburdened him that the Sergiant Maior that by chance was next had much adoe at the first and second time to get him from vnder the water when he was vp he had receiued so much Salt water that it droue him to so great extremity of present sicknesse that he was forced to lye downe in the very place vpon the Cawsey till being somewhat recouered he was able to be led to a place of some more safetie and ease in which place the Bullets made him threatning musicke on euery side His Lordshippe being brought to this little safe place whence yet he would not be remoued till the fight was done Sir Iohn Barkeley led on his Regiment from whom there were not lesse then 3000. English Bullets sent among the Spaniards who had not so many hands as we yet were not much behinde vs in sending these heauy leaden messengers of death For besides fix peece of great Ordnance which were bent and played iust vpon the Cawsey and some pretty store of Musketeers at a port fast by the gate lay there a fowler or a cast peece that did more skathe then all the rest for that at once shot many murthering shot whereupon the peece is also called a murtherer for all this our Soldiers came to the very gate and with Bils some two or three that they had wanting other fitter instruments began to hewe it At their ports and loope holes they were at the push of the Pike and hauing broken their owne with their naked hands tooke their enemies Pikes and perforce brake them But for all this no entrance could be got Sir Iohn Barkeley attempting to discouer if any passage might be found of either side of the gate twice waded so farre that if he could not haue swamme he had bin drowned They that were come to the gate called to their owne Companies that some Pikes should be drawne to them this word was giuen farther then was intended for by and by all the Pikes were called for Then his Lordships colours began to march and to the Cawsey came where hee was very exceeding sicke lying vpon the ground in a place no lesse dangerous then if he had bin vpon the Cawsey a place so perillous that it had bin as safe being at the entry of a breach by assault but the end was it could not then bee taken the tyde came in so fast that what was at our knees before was now come vp to our middles and besides the day began to breake which though some thought would be aduantagious for vs yet certainely it would haue bin the death of many a man their Ordnance being bent to scoure the Cawsey and the ruggednesse which they had made to hinder our approach had made vs forsake it which if the day had once discouered to them they might easily haue bent their Artillery to our much greater losse But God would not haue more bloud shed nor ours as yet to haue our wils The Companies therefore were brought off to the place where we lodged all night before where the Chirurgians were presently to looke to the hurt which were not many and the slaine much fewer all vnder fiftie of both sorts No Commander slaine or hurt but two Lieutenants Lieutenant Cholmley that had serued excellently well and Lieutenant Belings The losse that the enemy had was much like sauing that of the assaults there were some few more slaine from this place our Companies marched to the Sea-side whether his Lordship had appointed victuals to meete them His Lordship hauing giuen the Souldiours some time to refresh themselues in the meane time went himselfe aboord so sicke that in truth he was to be feared with purpose to râ—pose himselfe for that night but his thoughts were so busied and restlesse that within few houres he came ashore againe and presently put in execution a purpose which his Lordshippe had this meane time digested it was to land men at the other Fort. For effecting whereof he gaue direction that one of the Ships should beare in close to the shore though it were as indeede at proued with apparent danger of casting her away But the seruice was to be done whatsoeuer it cost Withall there were in the rocks on the other side ouer against the Fort I meane that which we first came to see but could not come at some fifty Musketeers placed to beate the enemy from their Ordnance meane while there were shipped in Boates Captaine Coach and Captaine Orrell with two hundred Pikes and shot to land on the other side the Fort twixt it and the Town that they hauing made good the place might either make a stand till the rest of the forces were landed if it were thought needefull or else might march and charge the other Fort on that side when our men should assault it on this side This plot tooke very good effect for within an houre that the attempt was giuen partly the Ship and partly the Musketeers had so beaten the Fort that the Boates had good leisure to land whereupon within short space the enemy quitted the place without losse to be spoken of to our Companies for of all ours there were not aboue three hurt and one slain onely the Ship was driuen vpon the rockes and finally cast away Their direction was that the Souldiers should make the place good for there was no doubt of their sufficient strength the Boats were commanded to come backe againe to his Lordship who appointed to
Catholike had giuen commandement long before in Italy Spaine that a great quantitie of timber should be felled for the building of Ships and had besides made great preparation of things and furniture requisite for such an expedition as namely in founding of brasen Ordâ—ance in storing vp of corn and victuals in training of men to vse warlike weapons in leuying and mustering of Souldiers insomuch that about the beginning of the yeer 1588. he had finished such a mightie Nauie brought it into Lisbon Hauen as neuer the like had before that time sailed vpon the Ocean Sea A very large and particular description of this Nauie was put in print and published by the Spaniards the translated copy whereof in perpâ—tuam râ—i memoriam to incite English thankfulnesse I haue here inserted but abridged Squadron of the Galeons of Portugall THe Galeon S. Martin Captain Generall of the Armie of 1000. tuns carrieth 177. Mariners 3â—0 Souldiers chosen men 50. Peeces of Canon Bullets Powder Lead Cord and all that which is needfull The Galeon S. Iohn Admirall Generall of 1050. tuns carrieth 170. Mariners 231. Souldiers 50. Peeces of Canons and Bullets Powder Lead Cords and that which is necessary The Galeon of S. Marke is of 792. tuns and carrieth 292. Souldiers 117. Mariners and Powder Bullets Lead Match as much as is needfull The Galeon S. Philip of 800. tuns hath 415. Souldiers 117. Mariners 40. Peeces of Artillery and Bullets Powder Lead Match and all that is needfull The Galeon S. Lewes 830. tuns hath 376. men of Warre and 116. Mariners 40. Peeces of Ordnance and Bullets Match Powder and other things as much as is needfull The Galeon of S. Mathew 750. tuns 177. men of Warre 50. Mariners 40. great Peeces and Powder Bullets Lead Match and all other things as much as is needfull The Galeon S. Iames 520. tunnes 300. Souldiers 100. Mariners 30. great Peeces and Bullets Powder Lead Match and all that which is needfull The Galeon of Florence of 961. tuns 300. Souldiers 100. Mariners 52. Peeces of Ordnance and Bullets Powder Lead Match and all the rest as much as is needfull The Galeon S. Christopher 352. tuns 300. men of Warre 90. Mariners 30. great Peeces Bullets Lead Powder Match and all that which they need The Galeon S. Bernard 352. tuns hath 280. Souldiers 100. Mariners 30. Canons and Bullets Powder Lead Match and other necessary things as much as they need The Zabra Augusta of 166. tuns carrieth 55. Souldiers 55. Mariners 13. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead Match and other necessary things as much as they need The Zabra Iulia of 166. tuns 60. Souldiers 50. Mariners with Ordnance Bullets Powder and other necessaries There is in this Squadron 1â— Vessells 10. of them Galeons and two Zabres which are of 7737. tuns there are imbarked in them 3330. Souldiers footmen 1230 mariners which are in sum 4624. men they carry 350. great Peeces and all that which is necessary to the rest as bullets powder match lead c. THe Ship S. Angell the Captaine is of 768. tuns and hath 323. men of War 114. Mariners 30. Canons Bullets Powder Lead Match and all that which is needfull The Gangrin Admirall of 1160. tuns carrieth 300. Souldiers 100. Mariners 36. great Peeces of Canons Bullets Powder Match Lead and all that which is needfull The Vessell of S. Iames 660. tuns hath 250. Souldiers 102. Mariners 30. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead Match and other necessary prouisions The Conception of Zubâ—lzu 468. tuns hath 100. men of War and 70. Mariners 20. great Canons and Bullets Powder Lead Match and all other necessary things The Conception de Iâ—aâ—es del Cauo 418. tuns hath 164. men of Warre 70. Mariners 24. great Peeces and Bullets Powder Lead Match and all that which they need The Magdalene of Iohn Frauncis of Ayala 330. tuns carrieth 200. Souldiers 70. Mariners 22. great Peeces and Bullets Powder Lead Match and that which is necessary to the rest The S 〈…〉 p S. Iohn 350. tuns hath 130. men of Warre and 80. Mariners and 24. great Peeces Bâ—llets Powder Lead Match and all that which they need for the rest The Mary of 165. tuns carrieth 180. Souldiers and 100. Mariners 24. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead Match and other necessary things The Manuela of 520. tuns hath 130. Souldiers 54. Mariners 16. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead Match and the rest of their fraught The Ship of S. Mary of Monte-maior of 707. tuns 220. Souldiers 50. Mariners 30. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead and Match and other prouisions The Pinnace called the Marie of Aguiare of 70. tuns hath 30. men of War 23. Mariners 10. Peeces of Canon Powder Bullets Lead Match and other necessary things The Pinnace called Isabella of tuns hath 30. Souldiers 23. Mariners 12 Canons Bullets and other necessary things The Pinnace of Michel Susâ— of 96. tuns 30. Souldiers 24. Mariners 12. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead Match and all other necessary things The Pinnace of S. Steuen of 78. tuns hath 30. men of Warre 26. Mariners 12. Peeces of Canon Bullets Powder Lead Match and all other necessary things of prouision There is in this Squadron 14. Ships ten of them great and foure Pinnaces which are of 6567. tuns of burden in which Ships bee imbarked 2037. Souldiers 868. Mariners which make in all 2802. and 260. great Peeces of Canon 119000. Bullets 467. Quintals of Powder 140. of Lead 89. of Match THe Galeon S. Christopher Captaine of 70. tuns hath 205. men of Waâ—re and 120. Mariners and 40. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead Match and all that which is necessary to the rest The Galeon S. Iohn Baptist of 750. tuns hath 250. Souldiers 140. Mâ—â—â—neâ—s â—0 great Peeces bullets Powder lead Match other necessary things The Galeon S. Peter of 530. tuns 130. men of Warre 140. Mariners and 40. great Peeces Bullets Powder Match Lead and all the rest needfull The Galeon S. Iohn of 530. tuns 170. Souldiers 120. Mariners and 30. great Peeces Powder Bullets Lead Match and all the rest The Galeon S. Iames the great of 530. tuns 230. Souldiers 132. Mariners 30. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead Match and all the rest The Galeon S. Philip and S. Iames of 530. tuns 159. Souldiers and 116. Mariners 30. great Peeces Bullets Powder Match Lead and all that is necessary The Galeon of the Ascension of 530. tuns 220. Souldiers 114. Mariners and 30. great Peeces Bullets Powder Match Lead and all other necessary things The Galeon of our Lady del Barriâ— of 130. tuns 170. Souldiers 108. Mariners and 30. Canons Bullets Powder Lead and all other necessary furnitures The Galeon of S. Medel and Celedon of 530. tuns 170. Souldiers 110. Mariners 30. great Peeces Bullets Powder Match Lead and all the rest Galeon S. Anne of the Port of 250. tuns 100. men of Warre and 80. Mariners 24. great Peeces Bullets Powder Match Lead and all the rest The Ship of
our Lord of Vigonia 750. tuns 190. men of Warre and 130. Mariners 30. great Peeces Bullets Powder Match Lead and all the rest The Vessell of the Triniteâ— of 780. tuns 200. Souldiers 12â— Mariners 30. great Peeces Bullets Powder Match Lead and all the rest The Ship of S. Katherine of 86â— tuns 200. men of Warr 160. Mariners 30. great Peeces and Powder Bullets Match Lead and all the rest The Ship of S. Iohn Baptist of 652. tuns 200. Souldiers 30. Mariners 30. Canons Bullets Powder Match Lead and all the rest The Pinnace of our Lord Rosary 30. Souldiers 25. Mariners 24. great Peeces Powder Bullets Lead Match and the rest of their prouision There are in this Squadron fourteene Galeons and Ships and two Pinnaces which beare 8714. tuns In these Vessells there are imbarked 2458. Souldiers 1719. Mariners which are in all 4177. and 348. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead Match and all that which they need THe Captaine Ship of 1550. tuns carrieth 304. men of War 118. Mariners 50. Canons Powder Bullets and the rest of their prouision The Ship S. Francis the Admirall of 915. tuns 230. Souldiers 60. Mariners 30. Canons Powder Bullets and the rest of their prouision The Galeon S. Iohn Baptist of 810. tuns 250. Souldiers and 40. Mariners 40. great Peeces Powder Bullets Match Lead and the rest The Ship S. Iohn Gargaran of 569. tuns 170. men of War 60. Mariners 20. great Peeces Powder Bullets Match Lead and the rest The Conception of 862. tuns 200. men of War 65. Mariners 25. great Peeces Bullets Powder Match Lead and all the rest The Hulke Duquesa S. Anne of 900. tuns 250. men of War and 80. Mariners 30. great Peeces Powder Bullets Match Lead and all the rest The Trinitie 650. tuns 200. men of Warre 80. Mariners 20. Canons Bullets Powder Lead Match and the rest The Ship S. Mary de Iuncar of 730. tuns 240. men of War 80. Mariners 30. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead Match and all the rest The Pinnace of the Holy Ghost 40. men of War 33. Mariners 10. Peeces Bullets Powder Lead Match and Cord and all that which they need There are in this Squadron 11. Ships 10. great and a Pinâ—ace of the burden of 8762. tuns in which are imbarked 2400. Souldiers 800. Mariners and 260. great Peeces THe Ship of S. Anne the Captaine of â—200 tuns of burden hath 300. men of Warre 60. Mariners 50. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead and all the rest The Ship of our Lord of the Rose Admirall of 945. tuns 230. Souldiers 64. Mariners and 30. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead Match and all the rest The Ship S. Sauior of 958. tuns 330. Souldiers 50. Mariners 30. Canons Bullets Powder Lead Match and the rest The Ship of S. Steuen of 936. tuns 200. men of Warre 70. Mariners 30. great Peeces Bullets Powder Lead Match and all the rest The Ship of S. Marthe of 548. tuns 180. men of Warre 70. Mariners 25. great Peeces bullets powder and the rest The ship S. Barbe of 525. tuns 160. Souldiers 50. Mariners 15. Canons bullets powder lead match and all the rest The ship of S. Bonauenture of 369. tuns 170. Souldiers 60. Mariners 15. great Peeces bullets powder lead and the rest The Mary of 291. tuns 120. Souldiers 40. Mariners 15. great Peeces bullets powder lead and the rest The S. Croix 680. tuns 150. Souldiers 40. Mariners 20. great Peeces bullets powder match lead and the rest The Hulke Doucella 500. tuns 160. men of War 40. Mariners 18. great Peeces powder bullets match lead and all the rest The Patax of the Annunciation of 60. tuns 30. men of War 16. Mariners 12. great Peeces bullets powder match lead and all the rest The Patax S. Bernabe is the same burden as the aforenamed The Patax of our Lady of Guadaloupe is of the same burden also The Pinnace of Magdelene is also the same burden There are in this Squadron 14. Ships ten great Ships two Pataches and two Pinnaces of 6991. tuns of burden In which Uessels there are imbarked 2092. men of Warre and 670. Mariners all commeth 2708. THe Regasona the Captaine which is of 1294. tuns hath 350. Souldiers 90. Mariners 35. great Peeces powder bullets lead match and all the rest The Lama the Admirall of 728. tuns 210. Souldiers 80. Mariners 30. great Peeces powder bullets lead match and all the rest The 〈◊〉 S. Mary crowned of 820. tuns 340. men of Warre 90. Mariners 40. great Peeces powder bullets match lead and the rest The S. Iohn of Cicile of 880. tuns 290. men of Warre 70. Mariners 30. Canons and all the rest The Trinitie Valencera of a 1000. tuns 240. Souldiers 90. Mariners 41. great Peeces and all the rest of their furnitures The Annuntiation of 730. tuns 200. Souldiers 90. Mariners 30. great Peeces and all the rest The S. Nicholas Prodaâ—eli of 834. tunnes 280. Souâ—â—ers 84. Mariners 30. great Peeces and all the rest The Iuliâ—â—e of 780. â—uns 330. Souldiers 80. Mariners 36. great Peeces and the rest The Mary Pison of 666. tuns 250. Souldiers 80. Mariners 22. great Peeces and the rest of their need The Trinitie Escala of 900. tunnes 302. Souldiers 25. great Peeces and all the rest of their furniture In which Squadron there â—â—e ten Ships which are of 7705. tuns of burthen and there are imbarked in them 2880. Souldiers 807. Mariners 310. great Peeces with the rest of that they haue THe great Grison the Captaine of 650. tuns 250. Souldiers 60. Mariners 40. great Peeces and the rest The S. Sauior the Admirall of 650. tuns 230. Souldiers 60. Mariners 30. great Peeces and the rest of their prouision The Sea Dog of 200. tuns 80. Souldiers 30. Mariners 10. great Peeces and the rest The White Faulcon the great of 500. tuns 160. men of Warre 40. Mariners 18. great Peeces and all the rest The Blacke Castle of 750. tuns 250. Souldiers 50. Mariners 25. great Peeces and all the rest The Barke of Ambâ—â—g of 600. tuns 250. men of War 50. Mariners 25. Canons and the rest The House of peace the great of the same burthen The S. Peter the great of the same burthen also The Sampson and Peter the small doe beare the same The Barke of Auzâ—que of 450. tuns 210. Souldiers 50. Mariners 26. great Peeces and the rest of their prouision The Falcon the meane White of 300. tuns 80. men of War 30. Mariners 18. great Peeces and all the rest The S. Andrew of 400. tuns 160. Souldiers 40. Mariners 15. great Peeces and the rest of their prouision The Little house of peace of 350. tuns 160. Souldiers 40. Mariners 15. great Peeces and the rest of their prouision The Flying Rauen of 400. tuns 210. Souldiers 40. Mariners 18. great Peeces and the rest of their furniture THe White Doue of 250. tuns 60. Souldiers 30. Mariners 12. great Peeces and the rest The Aduenture S. Barbe fraughted of the same The S. Iames 600. tuns 60.
fine Sand. Not twenty paces from the wash of the Sea digging a hole and setting therein a Hogshead the head knocked out water is plentifully taken seeming to be no other then the Sea water losing the saltnesse in that passage Thence they went to the Riuer of Socko about 5. l. Eastward of Saint Domingo and went in the night 4. l. vp and suddenly surprised an Estanca that is a Farme place where slaues keepe the great mens cattle make their Cassaui bread dresse their Ginger and Fruites and doe other offices of Husbandry Being thereof possessed they came to parlie for ransome of their Houses and for their Negros for which they gaue them the flesh of thirtie Beeues with Cassaui and Fruites Beefe will not keepe in those parts aboue foure and twenty houres vnlesse first salted and then dried in the Sunne being first cut into two sides like Bacon without any bone left in it nor any peece of flesh thicker then a mans hand It must first be searched with a Knife then rubbed ouer with Salt and hauing so remained twelue houres must be dried in the Sunne and foure hot dayes drying will saue it sufficiently Other Estanças being likewise taken yeelded like contributions From thence they went vpon another Riuer called Marracaua where there was an Ingenio of Sugars which they tooke for their prouisions and caused the owner to ransome it from burning Thence they went to the mouth of the harbour of Saint Domingo and rid there at the East side of the same at Point Torrosilio to intercept any Shipping comming forth The Sergeant Mayor came hither to treat for ransome of some prisoners and with him an Englishman of Captaine Lancaesters company of Captain Raymunds fleete whose Ship was newly cast away comming out of the East Indres into those parts a little to the West of Saint Domingo at Acoa The Spaniards set forth two Caruels to intercept the Boates which they did but the Ships recouered the taken and takers together They brought foure brasse Falcons of Captaine Lancasters Ship ten others of Iron they left for the heauinesse being somewhat farre from the water They tooke also a fine Friggot hidden vnder the trees which they brought for England Thence they went for Iamaica and there found two Barkes laden with Hides and Cannafistula one of which they manned and sent for England taken by a French man of warre by the way Thence they went to Cuba to Cape Corientes and Cape Saint Antonio to expect shipping comming for the Hauana but in vaine Thus after eight moneths spent in the Countrey the Antonie and the Frigot went to the Bay of Honduras the Pilgrime at Hauana spent some few dayes and then set saile for England where they arriued in Plimmouth May 14. 1594. The Antonie and the Frigot within foure leagues of Porto cauallo descried seuen Shippes in the Road the least of ninescore tun They anchored within Caliuar shot of the Spanish Shippes and moored their Ships a head and sterne and bent their broad sides vnto them and there fought all that day with those seuen Shippes and all night now and then a shot Captaine Langton sent the Boate and Shallop to the shore from whence they brought a Frigot of twenty tunne The next morning they fired the Frigot and with their Boates purposed to bring her crosse the Admirals halfe But when they saw them comming they all ranne into the Boates and got ashore The Admirall let slippe the other sixe vnhanged their Rudders and carried them ashore that none should saile away with the Shippes if they were taken They laded the Admirall with the best out of all the Shippes and sent ashore to know if they would ransome the rest which they delaying they fired one of them laden with Hides and Logwood and then another laden with Susaparill But the King of Spaine had forbidden them any ransoming and they came not All their Ordnance was heaued ouerboord sauing two or three Brasse peeces in hope some Englishmen might be the better for them afterward One of them was a Shippe of fiue hundred tunnes They brought away the Admirall of 250. and came into Plimmouth the fifteenth of May the next day after the Pilgrims arriuall ANno 1594. The Earle of Cumberland on his owne charge with the helpe of some aduenturers set forth for the Tercera Ilands the Royall Exchange Admirall of 250. tunnes commanded by Captaine George Caue the May Floure Viceadmirall of like burden commanded by Captaine William Antonie the Samson Rereadmirall commanded by Captaine Nicholas Downton a Caruell and a small Pinnace They set forth from Plimmouth April 6. In the way they tooke a small Barke laden with Galicia wines c. Iune the second they had sight of Saint Michael After ten dayes they descried the great Carricke of 2000. tuns called the Cinque LLagas or Fiue Wounds The May Floure first got vp to her and receiued an vnwelcome salutation In the night the Samson came in and continued the fight and at last the Admirall They agreed that the Admirall should lay the Carrake aboord in the Prow the Viceadmirall in the Waste and the Rereadmirall in the Quarter But it fell out that the Admirall laying her aboord at the looffe recoiled a sterne the Viceadmirall being so neere that she was faine to runne with her bolt sprit betweene the two quarters which forced the Rereadmirall to lay her aboord on the Bowe After many bickerings fire-workes flew about interchangeably At last the Vice-admiral with a Culuering-shot at hand fired the Carrick in her Sterne and the Reare-admirall her Fore-castle by a shot that gaue fire to the Mat on the Beake-head from thence burning to the Mat on the Bolt-sprit and so ran vp to the Top-saile-yard they plying and maintayning their fires so well with their small shot that many of those which came to quench them were slaine These fires encreased so sore that the Vice-admiralls fore-saile and fore-top-saile were both burnt the Reare-admirall being in like predicament whiles the Admirall with much danger and difficultie quenched the fires throwne into her from the Carrick To saue themselues in this heat and furie the Admirall and Vice-admirall fell off leauing the Reare-admirall foule of the Carricks sprit-saile-yard in great danger to haue beene consumed with her had they not helped her off with their Boats In this distresse the companie brought the Commander Don Francisco de Melo to put forth a flagge of truce but the Carricks Carpenter more desperate comforted him with hope of quenching the fire whereupon he cryed Coragio I will neuer yeeld notwithstanding the protestations contestations and obtestations of the lamenting out-crying companie One ran â—â—raged on him charging him with this foule vncharitablenesse threatning vengeance on him and his for this obstinacy in suffering so many soules to perish rather then to accept the English assistance Some of their chiefest rich in chaines and
Cocke entreated for me so I remayned in the ship I had very sorie clothes the toes of my feet full of Lice that God is my record they lay in clusters within my flesh and of many more besides my selfe I had no Cabbin but lay vpon a chist Now we come out of the Straits with all our fleet but the Dainty that lost vs in the Riuer of Plate in the storme that we had and the Crow that was sunke After that we came out of the Straits wee came before Port Desire againe and there our Boats went to Penguin Iland for Penguins at this place the Generall tooke a Chirurgion who cured with words This man comming aboord our ship said some words ouer my feet and I had feeling in my legges and feete which I had lost before for the space of a fortnight many times before this man came I had hot Irons laid to my feet but I had no feeling were they neuer so hot That day that we departed from Port Desire the Generall sent for all the Masters of the ships and commanded them that till midnight they should keepe there course with him and that when he should shew them two lights then they should cast about and beare in with the shoare but Dauis which was Captaine of the Desire and Tobie Master of the Pinnasse did deceiue vs and went for the Straits as I was enformed afterwards by some of there men that were taken at Brasill after that I was taken Three or foure dayes after this wee had a great storme in the which the Roe-bucke lost her mayne Mast and we lost her Now were wee all alone in a great ship and we knew not what wee were best to doe but in the end wee determined to come for Santos hoping there to find the rest of our company In this storme I sate on a chist and was not able to stirre for still as the ship seeled on one side the chist went from starboord to larboord and it was the will of God that it fell betweene a piece of Ordnance and the Carpenters Cabbin on the one side and on the other side betweene another Peece and the Chirurgions Cabbin Thus all the night I lay very cold and it was the will of God that the chist neuer turned ouer for if it had I could not haue escaped death the next day the storme ceased and most of our young Saylers which we call men of top a yard being wearied with their nights worke that was past were vnder Hatches asleepe and would not come vp to doe some businesse that was to bee done With that the Generall came downe with the end of a Rope as bigge as mine arme and one of the Saylers hid himselfe behind me the Generall spying him strooke at him and hit me on the side of the head and halfe an houre after finding me in the same case that the Generall had left mee in they tooke me and would haue cast mee out of one of the parts of the ship but it was the will of God that I spake and was saued Here one of the Indians that came to the Generall in the night at Santos fell ouer-boord by a mischance and was drowned Wee with much adoe in the end got to the Harbour of Santos where wee found none of our company we anchored right before a Sugar-mill that stood hard by the Sea side the Generall asked if there were any that would goe ashoare then Captaine Stafford Captaine Southwell and Captaine Barker offered themselues to goe on shoare and twentie more with them the Boate that they went in was made of Sugar chists and barrell boords they landed and tooke the Sugar-mill at the which they tooke a great Barke and sent it laden with victuals aboord our shippe which was more welcome vnto vs then if it had beene gold Here wee continued all that day and the next day they sent the great Boate againe laden with Sugars and Guinee Wheate then the Generall sent them word that they should come away but they sent him word againe that they had more prouision on shoare and before all was aboord they would not come The third day that our men were on shoare the Portugall set on them They had the little Boate ashoare but the wind being from shoare the great Boat went not from the ship side that day the next day that our men were slaine our long Boate went ashoare and brought vs newes how the little Boat was broke and how all our men were gone One of the Indians that I haue told you of landed here with our men and hauing experience of the Countrey when our men were in the hottest of their fight ranne away hauing one Arrow shot thorow his necke and another in his mouth and out at his poale this Indian swamme aboord vnto vs vpon a logge and told vs that all our men were slaine The Generall thought good to goe from hence to the Iland of San Sebastian and there if he did not meete with some of the ships that then he would returne for England the same day that we were to depart from Santos the Roe-bucke past by the mouth of the Riuer of Bertia where we were and shot a Peece and we answered with another then the Roe-bucke came into vs with her Masts broken After the Roe-bucke came to vs we went neerer the Towne determining to haue beaten downe the Towne with our Ordnance but wanting water the Gallion Lecester toucht ground and we had much adoe to get her cleere againe Then wee landed eightie of our men at a small Riuer neere the Towne where we had great store of Mandiora Roots Potatoes Plantons and Pine Apples The Portugals seeing our men going into the Riuer sent six Canoas to meete them we seeing them made a shot at them with the chaine of our Pumpe with that they returned and our Boats came safely aboord with good store of the aforenamed Roots In our ship there was a Portugall whom we tooke in the ship taken at Cape Frio this Portugall went with vs to the Straits of Magellanus and seeing of our ouerthrow told vs of a Towne called Spirito Sancto this Portugall said that we might goe before the Towne with out ships and that without danger we might take many Sugar-mils and good store of cattle The words of this Portugall made vs breake off our pretence that wee had for San Sebastian and we went to Spirito Sancto in eight dayes we got before the mouth of the Harbour at length we came to an Anchor in the Roade and presently we sent our Boats to sound the Channell and we found not halfe the depth that the Portugall said we should finde the Generall thinking that the Portugall would haue betrayed vs without any triall caused him to bee hanged â—he which was done in a trise Here all the Gentlemen that were liuing desired that they might go ashoare to take the Towne The
leaue and departed for that time I sent one of my companie with them to giue notice to Carasana and the rest of the Indians of Caripo that I had brought home their Country-man Martin whom they all thought to bee dead and another of their Nation also who had kindred and friends amongst them to desire him to come aboard my ship and to bring with him the principall Indians of Caripo that I might declare vnto them the cause of my comming into their Countrie and conferre with them of other matters intended for their good The next day I came into the Riuer of Wiapoco and anchored ouer against the Sandy Bay The day following the Indians came aboard as I had desired and brought vs good siore of their Countrie prouision Carasana and one or two more of them were attyred in old clothes which they had gotten of certaine English men who by the direction of Sir Walter Raleigh had traded there the yeere before the rest were all naked both men and women and this I obserued amongst them that although the better sort of men especially the Yaios doe couer their priuities by wearing ouer them a little peece of cotton cloth pretily wouen after their manner yet did I neuer see any of their women couered in any part either aboue or beneath the waste albeit they daily conuersed amongst vs but were all as the plaine prouerb is euen starke belly naked At their comming aboard my ship first Carasana as the principall amongst them and after him the rest saluted and welcommed vs after their rude manner I vsed them with all curtesie and entertayned them as well as the straight roome would giue me leaue giuing them good store of Aquauitae which they loue exceedingly I presented to their view their two Countrimen Martin the Lord of their Towne and Anthonie Canabre who was a Christian and had liued in England fourteene yeers both which I had brought home vnto them when they beheld them and after salutations and some conference knew to bee the same persons whom they supposed had beene long since dead they expressed much ioy and contentment and vnderstanding from their owne mouthes how well I had vsed them they seemed to be better pleased with our comming and when their rude salutations to their new-come Countrimen were ended I tooke them apart and thus declared the cause of my comming First I brought to their remembrance the exploits performed by Sir Walter Raleigh in their Countrie in the reigne of our late Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth when to free them from seruitude he most worthily vanquished the Spaniards at Trinidado burned their Towne tooke their Gouernour Don Anthonio de Berreo prisoner deliuered fiue of the Indian Kings imprisoned and bound by the necke with collers of Iron and with great labour and perill discouered the Riuer of Orenoque and the Countries adioyning as farre as the Prouince of Aromaya the Countrie of Topiawary and the Riuer of Caroli beyond it And that their Countrimen called the Orenoqueponi who are the borderers of Orenoque did then most willingly submit and render themselues vnder the subiection of the late Queene all which they well remembred and said that Sir VValter Raleigh promised to haue returned againe vnto them long since Then I excused his not returning according to his promise by reason of other imployments of great importance imposed vpon him by the late Queene shewing them moreouer that when he could not for that cause returne himselfe hee sent Captaine Keymis to visit them and to bring him true intelligence of their estate supposing that hee had left no Spaniards behinde him at Trinidado of power to molest them to the end that reliefe and aide might bee prepared for them according to their necessities and oppression of their enemies Then I told them of the death of the late Queene whereby that businesse of theirs was againe hindered Moreouer I declared vnto them that our gracious Soueraigne Lord King Iames who now reigneth ouer vs being the onely right and lawfull Heire and Successor to the Crowne and Dignitie of the Realme of England after the death of the late Queene was throughout the whole Land proclaymed King of England and so comming to reigne ouer vs hath beene euer since busied in ordering the State and affaires of the Kingdome which being by his great wisedome setled in tranquillitie and peace like a good gracious and worthy King doth now permit his Subiects to trauell abroad into forraine Countries and Nations to aide and assist all such as are vniustly molested by their enemies Whereupon I and the rest of these worthy Gentlemen my associates and friends hauing intelligence by some that had beene followers of Captaine Charles Lee who was a man well knowne amongst them and heretofore had taken possession of their Countrie to his Majesties vse and was planted diuers yeeres in Wiapoco where hee lyeth buried of the great variance and discord depending betweene them the allied Nations the Yaios Arwaccas Sappaios and Paragontos and their enemies the Charibes all inhabiting betweene the Riuers of Amazones and Dessequebe haue made a long and dangerous voyage into those parts to appease their dissentions and defend them against the Charibes or other enemies that shall molest or oppresse them and now being there arriued doe intend to make search in those Countries for conuenient places where such of our Nation as shall hereafter come to defend them may be fitly seated to dwell amongst them that if any of those Nations shall attempt at any time to disturbe the quiet liuing of their Neighbours they may haue store of English friends at hand and amongst them that will not spare their paines to appease their discords nor their liues to defend them from harme When I had thus declared vnto them the cause of my comming they made this answere that with our comming they were well pleased but our number of men they thought too great that they wanted meanes to prouide vs bread sufficient for them all hauing but a small Towne few Gardens and slender prouision for their owne companies because since Captaine Lee his death and his mens departure from them they neuer made prouision for any strangers I replyed that albeit their Towne was small and their Gardens few for the grounds wherein they plant their Cassaui whereof they make their bread they call their Gardens yet their Countrie was full of Inhabitants and had store of Gardens to supply our wants of bread and was plentifully stored with other prouisions sufficient for a greater number which I desired might be weekely brought vnto vs as neede required for that I meant not to take it without recompence but would giue them for it such commodities as should well please them which they wanted as Axes Hatchets Kniues Beades Looking-glasses Iewes trumps and such like things wherein they most delight Then they desired to consult amongst themselues which I permitted and expected their answere
Canoes There is no setled gouernment amongst them onely they acknowledge a superiority which they will obay as farre as they please In euery Prouince or Signiory there is a chiefe Cassique or Captaine commanding all So likewise in euery Towne and Village they commonly chastise murder and adultery by death which onely are the offences punished amongst them and certaine persons are appointed by them to execute those punishments The Indians take wiues ouer whom they are extreame iealous and expect great continencie in them for if they take them in adultery they presently cause their braines to be beaten out The better sort of persons haue euery one of them two or three wiues or more the rest but one accounting him that hath most wiues the greatest man Their wiues especially the elder sort are as seruants vnto them for they make their bread and drinke dresse their meate serue them at meales and doe all the other businesse about the house These Prouinces are peopled with diuers Nations of seuerall languages namely Yaios Arwaccas Sappaios Paragotos and Charibes The Charibes are the ancient inhabitants and the other Nations are such as haue beene chased away from Trinidado and the borders of Orenoque And forasmuch as they haue vnited themselues in those parts the Charibes haue held them in continuall warres but the Yaios and the other Nations their Allyes are growne so strong that they haue constrained the Charibes of the Sea-coast to contract a peace with them yet beare no hearty loue the one Nation to the other but with the Charibes inhabiting the in-land parts vpon the Mountaines they haue as yet no peace at all for they doe often times come downe vpon them in great numbers spoile and burne their houses kill their men and carry away their women which is the greatest cause of warre and hatred amongst them whereof our men haue seene experience in Cooshebery where happened an accident worth the obseruing which I will here declare vnto your Highnesse The Indian Leonard Ragapo before mentioned is a Yaio who finding the Countrey of Cooshebery slenderly inhabited hath seized vpon it for his owne Signiorie and at his earnest request I sent foure Gentlemen of my company to remaine there with him The naturall inhabitants that dwell vpon the vttermost bounds thereof towards the South and West are Charibes and enemies to him and to his Nation for while our men vnknowne to the Charibes staied at Cooshebery they assembled themselues together to the number of two hundred or more and came dome into his Signiorie burned and â—poiled houses roasted one woman tooke many prisoners and intended to assault him also which to preuent he armed about fiftie of his Indians with their vsuall weapons which are Bowes and Arrowes long Staues sharpened at the point and with fire hardened wodden Swords and Targets very artificially made of wood and painted with Beasts and Birds He requested also our men to aide and assist him with their Muskets which I commanded them to doe vpon all such occasions offered And so being all in readinesse Leonard as their captain led them on to intercept his enemies and as I haue heard by Master Henry Baldwin who then was prsent and to obserue the manner of their warres gaue him leaue to command all he brauely performed that exploit in good order after their manner and with great iudgement and resolution For in the Front he first placed our foure Englishmen by two in a ranke next to them two Indians armed with woodden Swords and Targets then two Archers and after them two men with sharpned staues instead of Pikes and in like manner ordered and ranked all his Company Being thus prepared hee marched against the Charibs who neere at hand were comming in the same order towards him but when they approached and vnexpected perceiued our English men amongst the Taios they were much amazed and made a sudden stand which Leonard perceiuing guessed rightly at the cause and instantly did make good vse of that aduantage Hee commanded his owne company to keepe their Station himselfe with a Sword in his hand which I had giuen him and a Target of his owne fashion went boldly towards them to parley with their Captaines And hauing called them out hee reproued them for comming as enemies into his Signiory for burning and spoiling his houses and his people hee demanded satisfaction for the hurt done and restitution of the prisoners taken and warned them forthwith to depart out of his Signiory and desist from warre which if they refused to fulfill he was there ready with his friends the Englishmen to fight with them and reuenge his wrongs and said further that if in the conflict any of the English men were slaine or hurt hee would then fetch all the rest from Wiapoco and returne to burne their houses and cut them all in peeces Thus hee boldly spake with such a courage shewing also our men vnto them who had their match in cocke ready to discharge that hee strooke such a feare into them all by reason of our mens presence that they presently agreed to peace performed what conditions he required and then departed home with all their company Here may your Highnesse note the factions among the Indian Nations the discipline and order they hold in warre the feare the Charibes conceiued at the sight of our English men and the policy of the Indian Leonard to take aduantage by their feare and make our men his Guard and chiefe protection against them These things in time will much auaile vs being well obserued and rightly applied according to occasion But to our former discourse The power and strength of these Countries being so thinly peopled is not very great to withstand the might of forraine enemies The vsuall weapons of the Indians are before described sauing that their Arrowes are oft times poisoned But since our trade and commerce with them they haue gotten a few good Swords Muskets Caliuers and some small quantity of shot and powder and haue learned to handle their Peeces very orderly and some of them are good shot The seasons of the yeare vpon this coast and in this climate are diuers for in the East parts of Guiana towards the Amazones the dry weather which we call their Summer beginneth in August and the violent raines and tempestuous winde which we count their winter doe begin in February But in the Westerne parts towards Orenoque the dry season beginneth in October and the raines and windes in Aprill There is little difference of heate and cold in this diuersity of seasons being so neere the Equinoctiall where the day and night are alwayes equall for in those parts wee finde that when the Sunne declineth furthest from them towards the Tropicke of Capricorne the ayre is then clearest and the season of the yeare most dry as in the Easterne parts of Guiana in August September October Nouember and December and when
sees the weapon in the aire sometimes hee drawes his head aside sometime hee declines his bodie and in this they are so doughtie that if those that hold the points of the coards doe gird him hard as they doe when the slaughterer is slow or weake hee puls so hard that hee brings them to him and makes them to slacken in despight hauing one eie on them another on the Sword without any standing still and as the killer may not deceiue them with an offer and not strike vnder paine of receiuing a fillip they doe foresee their stroke in such sort that come it neuer so low in a trise they stoope and lie so flat that it is a wonder to see and no lesse is the taking of the Sword holding the arme in such sort that doing him no hurt they pul it downe iointly with themselues and they put it vnder the arme pulling by the killer wherein if they did not helpe the other would dispatch him for they haue in this actson so many sooth-sayings that for to kill a child of fiue yeere old they goe so prepared as for to kill some Giant And with these helpes and incouragements so many times hee striketh till hee hitteth and that is enough for assoone as he is downe he giueth him so many blowes till he batters his head though one man was seene that had it so hard that they could neuer breake it for as they goe bare-head they haue them so hard that ours in comparison of theirs are like a Pompion and when they will injurie any White man they call him soft-head If this which they kill falleth on his backe and not on his belly they hold it for an euill lucke and prognostication that the killer shall die and although he falleth vpon his belly they haue many ceremonies which if they be not kept they hold that the killer cannot liue and many of them are so painfull that if any one did suffer their troubles for Gods sake they would bee accounted meritorious as hereafter shall be said The poore wretch beeing dead they carrie him to a bone-fire that they haue readie for the same and bringing the bodie neere the fire touching him with the hand flay off a skinne somewhat thicker then the rinde of an Onion till he remaineth cleaner and whiter then a scalded Pig Then it is deliuered to the Butcher which maketh a hole beneath the stomacke according to their vse whereby the children first do put in their hands and pull by the guts vntill the Butcher cutteth where hee listeth and that which remaineth in the hand of euerie one is his part and the rest is diuided among the Commons except some principal pieces which for great honour are giuen to the guests that are the most principall which they doe carrie well r 〈…〉 i so that it may not corrupt and with them afterward in their countries they make new Feasts and drinkings of wine The killer hauing ended his office taking of the cloke of feather and leauing the Sword hee goeth home where at the doore the same iudge or stickler that was before with a shooting bow in his hand that is one of the points on the lower threshold the other at the vpper and pulling by the string as though he would shoote the killer passeth betweene him so cunningly that hee toucheth in nothing Assoone as he is passed the other loseth the string making shew that it grieues him to haue missed him whom he shot at as though this hath vertue to make him swift afterward in the warre and the enemies to misse him When he is within he beginnes to runne through all the houses and the Sisters and Cousins in the same manner before him saying my Brother is called N. repeating it through all the Townes and if the Gentleman hath any good thing he that goeth takes it from him till they leaue him nothing This being ended they cast on the ground certaine legges of a certaine Tree called Pilan Vpon the which hee stands all that day with so much silence as if he had some astonishment in him and carrying to present thither the head of the dead they pull out one of his eies and with the strings and sinewes of it they anoint his pulses and cutting of his mouth whole they put it on his arme as a Bracelet and then he layeth him downe in his Net as a sicke man and certainly hee is sicke for feare that if he doe not accomplish the Rites perfectly the soule of the dead will kill him Within a few daies they giue him the habit not in the breast of the Coat which he hath not but on his owne skin race him all ouer the bodie with the tooth of a Cutta that is like a Conies tooth the which as well for their little skill as because they haue a hard skinne it seemes that they teare a piece of Parchment and if he be valiant they doe not race him with right strekes but a Crosse in sort that there remaine certaine very fine workes and some doe cry and groane with the paine This being ended they haue smal Cole finely grownd and the iuice of Broamerape wherewith they rub the cuts ouerthwart that the put him to great paine and swelling which is yet a greater torment while his wounds doe close which continue some daies he lyeth still in his Net without speaking any word not asking any thing and that he may not break his silence he hath neere him water flowre and a certaine fruit like Almonds which they call Amendnins for he tasteth neither fish nor flesh those daies After he is whole many daies or moneths being passed they make a great drinking of wines that hee may put off his mounrning and cut his haire which vntill then he did not then hee anoints himselfe with blacke and from thence forward hee remaines enabled to kill without any painfull ceremonie being done to him and he also sheweth himselfe honoured and contented and with a certaine disdaine as one that hath honour alreadie and gets it not a new And so he doth no more but giue the other a couple of blowes although the head remaine whole and he stirring he goeth home and presently they come and cut off his head And the Mothers with their children about their necke come to congratulate him and hansell him for the warre staining his armes with that bloud These bee the exploits honours and vallour whence this people take their names whereof they boast very much and they remaine thence forward Abaetes Murubixaba Moçacara which are the names and titles of Gentlemen And these are the vnhappie Feasts whereon these wretches doe ground their felicitie and glorie before they haue any knowledge of their Creator §. III. Of the diuersitie of Nations and a Luguages and of the Soyle and Climate IN all this Prouince are many and sundrie Nations of diuers Languages but one is the principall which comprehendeth some ten
secure and quiet in minde but presently thirtie paces distant almost from vs on the right hand wee saw a Lizard on an hill bigger then the body of a man and fiue or sixe foot long Hee being spread all ouer with white and rough scales like Oyster-shells holding vp one of his fore-feet with his head aloft and shining eyes began to behold vs. Wherefore being astonished for none of vs as it then fell out carried a Hand-gunne but had onely our Swords at our sides and Bowes and Arrowes which weapons could not greatly hurt that Monster armed with such hard scales Neuerthelesse fearing left if wee shifted for our selues by flight being swifter then wee he would dispatch vs altogether when the one fearefully beheld the other we stood still in the same place But after that prodigious and fearefull Lizard had beheld vs a quarter of an houre with an open mouth and because it was exceeding hot weather for it was a cleere day almost at noone fetching a deepe groane that wee might easily heare it vpon a sodaine he went vnto the top of a Mountaine with so great noise of the crashing and breaking of twigs and boughs as a Deere running through a Wood would scarce haue made Wee therefore who then were much affrighted not being very carefull to pursue him gaue thankes vnto God who had deliuered vs and proceeded againe on our intended Iourney And embracing their opinion who affirme that the Lizard is delighted with the sight of a man it seemed to me that the beholding of vs pleased that Monster as much as we were â—ormented through his presence There is also a wilde beast bred with them that liueth vpon the prey which they call Ian-ouare This beast hath legs almost as long as an hunting Dog and matcheth him almost in swiftnesse but about the chinne hath long shagged haire with a spotted skinne and faire like vnto a Lynx and also very like in the rest The Barbarians not without iust cause greatly feare that wilde beast For seeing shee is accustomed to the prey as also the Lion if shee catch any of them she teareth him in pieces and deuoureth him But as they are desirous of reuenge and suffer not any of those things vnreuenged which are troublesome vnto them if they take any in hollow trenches which they make for that cause or with any other kinde of Traps or Gins they put her to a lingring death shooting her through with many Arrowes that shee might the longer languish and that it may the better appeare how euilly that wilde beast dealeth with the Barbarians when sometimes fiue or sixe Frenchmen of the companie passed by this way the Americans aduised vs to beware of the Ian-ouare because that very selfe-same weeke shee had cruelly deuoured three men in a certaine Village of theirs I thought good to adde to this Edition that the Americans before the Voyage of Uillagagno had neuer seene Dogs and therefore when they beheld a Dog of the kinde of Hounds which with certaine whelpes we brought thither and that he fauned on vs they were astonished and fled away from him because as I mentioned before hee came neere vnto the shape of the Ian-ouare For that cause also Gomard in-his Generall Indian Historie testifieth that in the yeere 1509. when Christopherus Columbus first arriued at the Iland Beringua called also by the name of Saint Iohn the Indians of this Countrie who made warre with the Spaniards greatly feared a red Dog and that he stood them in as good stead almost as two Harquebussers because he did not onely fiercely assaile the Barbarians but also discerning his companions from the Enemies although being prouoked he was not offensiue vnto them but also taking notice of the Caribas the worst and most detestable nation of all those Countries pursued them fleeing into the middest of the Armie of the Enemies and being so much prouoked tooke no rest vntill he had torne the Enemie in pieces on whom he seized fighting so fortunately for the Spaniards that being accompanied with him they fought so cheerfully against the Indians as if they had had three horsemen in their companie Yet this Dog while hee swam after I know not what Cariba being shot with a poisoned Arrow died and made his Master very sorrowfull and the Indians ioyfull and glad So Uallouas also the most valiant Captaine of the Spaniards when he first discouered the South Sea letting slip the Dogs which hee had against the Indians who withstood him from entring on the Land the Barbarians were stricken with so great a feare that they were compelled to prouide for themselues by flight and the Dogs of Vallouas preuailed as much as the best Souldiers of them all Moreouer many Monkeyes are found on the Brasilian coast little and blacke which they call Cay which I cease to describe because they are very well knowne vnto vs. I will onely declare this one thing that seeing they continually liue in the tops of trees bearing fruits in cods like vnto our Beanes wherewith they are nourished and meete together there in companies especially when the smoaking showres fall it is a pleasant thing to heare them crying and making a noise But seeing at one birth they onely bring forth one young one the Monkey as soone as he commeth into the world is indued with that naturall industrie that he firmely hangeth about the necke of the Syre or the Damme therefore if Hunters come suddenly vpon them the Syre or Dammes leaping through the boughs he also taketh his flight together with them For which cause the Barbarians cannot easily catch Monkeyes of any age whatsoeuer yet they cast them downe from trees wounded with Arrowes and afterward hauing healed them and made them tame a little while at home they exchange and barter them for Merchandises But at the first they are so fierce that they wound the fingers of them that handle them with their teeth so that being bitten they are very often compelled through paine to kill them with strokes There is also another kinde of Monkey among the Americans which they call Sagouin of the bignesse of a Squirrell and of a red haire but as touching the shape in the snout breast necke and almost all the other parts being very like vnto a Lion and also hardie it giueth place in beautie to none of the little beasts which surely I saw there And if it were as easily brought ouer the Sea as the rest it would be of farre greater price and estimation But seeing it is of so weake a little bodie that it cannot indure the working of the ship for it is of that haughtinesse of spirit that if it be offended neuer so little it would die through discontentment yet some are here to be found But that I may freely confesse the matter as it is although I haue beene curious I was not so diligent in obseruing all the liuing creatures of America as I desired neuerthelesse
labour among the people were separated from them that were fit for warre that euery one might be put to seruice agreeable vnto him The Citie therefore began to be built there and a wall of earth to be raised about it to to the heigth of a Speare or Iauelin and in the Citie a firme and strong house for our Generall The wall of the Citie was three foot broad But that which was built to day the next day fell downe againe For the people wanting food liued in great scarcitie so that many died of famine nor could the Horses satisfie them There was not plentie enough of Dormice or other-Mice or Serpents or other wild beasts to asswage this lamentable famine and vnspeakable pouertie Not so much as shooes and other Leather could auoid this rage of deuouring It fell out also at that time that three Spaniards hauing stolne a Horse did priuily eate him Which as soone as it was discouered they were grieuously tormented and questioned touching the fact and when they confessed it they were condemned to the Gallowes When they were hanged three other Spaniards consorted themselues together who the same night going to the Gallowes cut off the legges of them that were hanged and cut out pieces of flesh from their bodies that in their Cottages they might asswage vntollerable hunger by eating thereof A certaine Spaniard through exceeding hunger eate his owne brother who died in the Citie of Buenas Aeres 10. When therefore our Generall Don Petro Mendoza saw that the people could no longer be sustained and preserued in this place he presently commandeth foure small Barkes which they call Brigantines or small men of warre and are carried with Oares to bee made readie whereof euerie one will hold fortie men there were also three other lesse called Potten These seuen little Vessels therefore being made readie and dispatched our Generall commanded the company to be mustered and George Luchsam with 350. readie and able men to saile vp the Riuer and seek out the Indians that we might get prouision of victuals and food But the Indians vnderstanding before of our presence burnt their prouision of victuall and whatsoeuer was good to eat together with their Villages and runne away But wee in the meane season got no food and for euerie daies allowance vnto euerie man one ounce and an halfe of bread was distributed whereby it came to passe that in this journie the halfe part of our Souldiers perished through famine Wee therefore of necessitie returned to the said Towne where our Generall was who greatly wondred that so small a number of people should returne seeing we were no more then fiue moneths absent and he demanded of our Captaine George Luchsam to declare vnto him what hee had done in this journie who signified that they who were wanting died of famine because the Indians had consumed all the food with fire and after run away themselues 11. All these things falling out thus as I haue said yet we continued together in the Towne of Buenas Aeres a whole moneth in great want expecting while the furniture of our shippes should be finished In the meane whâ—le in the yeere 1535. the Indians inuade vs and our Citie of Buenas Aeres with the strength of twentie three thousand men and in their Armie there were foure distinct Nations to wit Cariendes Bartennis Lechuruas and Tiembus The purpose and principall intension of all these was to kill vs all But praise and glorie bee to God who saued the greatest part of vs safe from destruction For together with the Captaines and Ancients and other Souldiers there were not aboue thirtie men of ours slaine When therefore they first came to our Citie of Buenas Aeres some of them ranne furiously to assault it others cast fierie Darts vpon our houses all which except our Generals house which only was couered with Tile were only thatched and by that meanes all our Citie together with all the houses was consumed with the flames euen from the foundation The Weapons or Darts of these Indians are made of Reed which when they are cast or shot out take fire in the point They haue a kind of wood also whereof they make their Darts which if they bee fired before they be cast are not quenched but set houses couered with Thatch on fire and so those that touch or joyne together burne together In this fight these Indians burnt vs also foure great shippes which were halfe a league distant from vs on the water But the Souldiers who were in these ships when they saw that mightie tumult of the Indians betooke themselues to flight from these foure shippes into three others which rode not farre from these and were furnished with Ordnance They therefore when they saw the foure ships burne began to defend themselues and eagerly to assault the Indians and let flee the bullets which caused them to leaue the assault and depart giuing rest vnto the Christians All this was done on the Feast of Saint Iohn the Euangelist In the yeere 1535. 12. All these things being past and done all the people went into the ships and our Generall Don Petro Mendoza made Iohn Eyollus his Deputie creating him Lieutenant Generall deliuering ouer vnto him the whole gouernment of all as also of the people He taking a view of the company of two thousand fiue hundred men which came from Spaine together in ships hee found only fiue hundred and sixtie aliue all the rest were dead whom for the most part the intollerable famine had consumed After this our Lieutenant Iohn Eyollus commandeth eight little Barkes which they call Brigantines and Pott speedily to be built And of fiue hundred and sixtie which remained aliue hee tooke vnto him foure hundred men leauing the other one hundred and sixtie to take charge of the foure great ships ouer whom hee set Iohn Romero the chiefe commander leauing prouision for a whole yeere so that foure ounces of bread were distributed to euery man for his daily allowance 13. After this our Lieutenant Iohn Eyollus with his foure hundred Souldiers which hee had with him among whom also Petro Mendoza our Generall was saileth vp the Riuer of Parana in the Brigantines and Potts furnished for this purpose vntill wee came vnto the Indians which was peâ—formed in the space of two moneths from our comming forth of the Citie of Buenas Aeres so that wee were now eightie foure leagues distant from our said burnt Citie When therefore we were not aboue foure leagues from these people which they call Tiembus but wee called them Bona speransa and they vnderstood of our comming before about foure hundred men of them came peaceably vnto vs in their Boats which they call Canoas in euery one of the which Canoas sixteene person sate When therefore we met together in the Riuer our Generall gaue the Captaine of these Indians of Tiembus whom they call Zchara Wassu a shirt a red
the Ministers in our behalfe Came wee into the South-sea to put out flags of truce And left we our pleasant England with all her contentments with intention or purpose to auaile our selues of white rags The Captaine and Company were perswaded to resolution and in accomplishment of this promise and determination they perseuered in sustaining the fight all this night with the day and night following and the third day after In which time the Enemy neuer left vs day nor night beating continually vpon vs with his great and small shot Sauing that euery morning an houre before breake of day hee edged a little from vs to breath and to remedie such defects as were amisse as also to consult what they should doe the day and night following This time of interdiction we imployed in repairing our Sayles and Tacklings in stopping our Leakes in fishing and woolling our Masts and Yards in mending our Pumpes and in fitting and prouiding our selues for the day to come though this was but little space for so many workes yet gaue it great reliefe and comfort vnto vs and made vs better able to endure the defence for otherwise our ship must of force haue suncke before our surrendrie hauing many shot vnder water and our Pumpes shot to pieces euery day In all this space not any man of either part tooke rest or sleepe and little sustenance besides Bread and Wine In the second dayes fight the Vice-admirall comming vpon our quarter William Blanch one of our Masters mates with a luckie hand made a shot vnto her with one of our sterne Peeces it carried away his maine Mast close by the deck wherewith the Admirall beare vp to her to see what harme shee had receiued and to giue her such succour as shee was able to spare which we seeing were in good hope that they would haue now left to molest vs any longer hauing wherewithall to entertaine themselues in redressing their owne harmes And so we stood away from them close by as wee could which wee should not haue done but prosecuted the occasion and brought our selues close vpon her weathergage and with our great and small shot hindered them from repairing their harmes if we had thus done they had beene forced to cut all by the boord and it may be lying a hull or to le-wards of vs with a few shot we might haue sunke her At the least it would haue declared to our enemies that we had them in little estimation when able to go from them we would not and perhaps beene a cause to haue made them to leaue vs. But this occasion was let slip as also that other to fight with them sayling quarter winds or before the wind for hauing stood off to Sea a day and a night we had scope to fight at our pleasure and no man hauing sea roome is bound to fight as his enemy will with disaduantage being able otherwise to deale with equalitie contrariwise euery man ought to seeke the meanes hee can for his defence and greatest aduantage to the anoyance of his contrary Now we might with our fore-saile low set haue borne vp before the winde and the enemy of force must haue done the like if he would fight with vs or keep vs company and then should we haue had the aduantage of them For although their Artillery were longer waightier and many more then ours and in truth did pierce with greater violence yet ours being of greater bore and carrying a waightier and greater shot was of more importance and of better effect for sinking and spoyling for the smaller shot passeth through and maketh but his hole and harmeth that which lyeth in his way but the greater shaketh and shiuereth all it meeteth and with the splinters or that which it encountreth many times doth more hurt then with his proper circumference as is plainely seene in the battery by land when the Saker and Demy-coluerin the Coluerin and Demi-canon being peeces that reach much further point blanke then the Canon are nothing of like importance for making the breach as is the Canon for that this shot being ponderous pierceth with difficultie yea worketh better effects tormenting shaking and ouerthrowing all whereas the others with their violence pierce better and make onely their hole and so hide themselues in the Wooll or Rampire Besides our ship being yare and good of steeridge no doubt but we should haue plaied better with our Ordnance and with more effect then did our enemies which was a greater terrour being able to fight with lesse disaduantage and yet to fight with the most that could be imagined which I knew not of neither was able to direct though I had knowne it being in a manner senslesse what with my wounds and what with the agony of the surrendry propounded for that had seldome knowne it spoken of but that it came afterwards to be put in execution The General not being able to succour his Vice-admiral except he should vtterly leaue vs gaue them order to shift as well as they could for the present and to beare with the next Port and there to repaire their harmes Himselfe presently followed the Chase and in short space fetched vs vp and began a fresh to batter vs with his great and small shot The Vice-admirall hauing saued what they could cut the rest by the boord and with Fore-sayle and Myson came after vs also and before the setting of the Sun were come vpon our broad side we bearing all our Sayles and after kept vs company lying vpon our weather quarter and anoying vs what shee could Here I hold it necessary to make mention of two things which were most preiudiciall vnto vs and the principall causes of our perdition the errours and faults of late dayes crept in amongst those who follow the Sea and learned from the Flemings and Easterlings I wish that by our misfortunes others would take warning and procure to redresse them as occasions shall be offered The one is to fight vâ—â—â—med where they may fight armed The other is in comming to fight to drinke themselues drunke Yea some are so mad that they mingle Powder with Wine to giue it the greater force imagining that it giueth spirit strength and courage and taketh away all feare and doubt The latter is for the most part true but the former is false and beastly and altogether against reason For though the nature of wine with moderation is to comfort and re 〈…〉 e the heart and to fortifie and strengthen the spirit yet the immoderate vse thereof worketh quite contrary effects In fights all receits which adde courage and spirit are of great regard to be allowed and vsed and so is a draught of wine to be giuen to euery man before he come to action but more then enough is pernicious for exceeding the meanes it offendeth and infeebleth the sences conuerting the strength which should resist the force of the enemy into weakenesse
any Towne was found there were some Beets and he that came first gathered them and sodden with water and salt did eate them without any other thing and such as could not get them gathered the stalkes of Maiz and eate them which because they were young had no Maiz in them When they came to the Riuer which the Gouernour had passed they found Palmitos vpon low Palme-trees like those of Andaluzia There they met with the two Horsemen which the Gouernour sent vnto them and they brought newes that in Cale there was plentie of Maiz at which newes they all reioyced Assoone as they came to Cale the Gouernour commanded them to gather all the Maiz that was ripe in the field which was sufficient for three moneths At the gathering of it the Indians killed three Christians and one of them which were taken told the Gouernour that within seuen dayes iourney there was a very great Prouince and plentifull of Maiz which was called Apalache And presently hee departed from Cale with fiftie Horsemen and sixtie Footmen He left the Master of the Campe Luys de Moscoso with all the rest of the people there with charge that he should not depart thence vntill he had word from him And because hitherto none had gotten any slaues the bread that euery one was to eate hee was fame himselfe to beate in a Morter made in a piece of Timber with a Pestle and some of them did sift the flowre through their shirts of Mayle They baked their bread vpon certaine Tileshares which they set ouer the fire It is so troublesome to grinde their Maiz that there were many that would rather not eat it then grind it and did eate the Maiz parched and sodden The eleuenth day of August 1539. the Gouernour departed from Cale hee lodged in a little Towne called Yâ—ara and the next day in another called Potano and the third day at Vtinama and came to another Towne which they named the Towne of Euill peace because an Indian came in peace saying That he was the Cacique and that he with his people would serue the Gouernour and that if he would set free eight and twentie persons men and women which his men had tathe night before he would command prouision to be brought him and would giue him a guide to instruct him in his way The Gouernour commanded them to be set at libertie and to keepe him in safegard The next day in the morning there came many Indians and set themselues round about the Towne neere to a Wood. The Indian wished them to carrie him neere them and that he would speake vnto them and assure them and that they would doe whatsoeuer he commanded them And when he saw himselfe neere vnto them he brake from them and ranne away so swiftly from the Christians that there was none that could ouertake him and all of them fled into the Woods The Gouernour commanded to loose a Greyhound which was alreadie fleshed on them which passing by many other Indians caught the counterfeit Cacique which had escaped from the Christians and held him till they came to take him From thence the Gouernour lodged at a Towne called Cholupaha and because it had store of Maiz in it they named it Villa farta Beyond the same there was a Riuer on which he made a Bridge of Timber and trauelled two daies through a desert The seuenteenth of August he came to Caliquen where hee was informed of the Prouince of Apalache They told him that Pamphilo de Naruaez had beene there and that there he tooke shipping because he could find no way to goe forward That there was none other Towne at all but that on both sides was all water The whole company were verie sad for these newes and counselled the Gouernour to goe backe to the Port de Spirito Santo and to abandon the Countrie of Florida lest he should perish as Naruaez had done declaring that if he went forward he could not returne backe when he would and that the Indians would gather vp that small quantitie of Maiz which was left Whereunto the Gouernour answered that he would not goe backe till he had seene with his eies that which they reported saying that he could not beleeue it and that wee should be put out of doubt before it were long And he sent to Luys de Moscoso to come presently from Cale and that hee tarried for him heere Luys de Moscoso and many others thought that from Apalache they should returne backe and in Cale they buried their Iron Tooles and diuers other things They came to Caliquen with great trouble because the Countrie which the Gouernour had passed by was spoiled and destitue of Maiz. After all the people were come together he commanded a Bridge to bee made ouer a Riuer that passed neere the Towne Hee departed from Caliquen the tenth of September and carried the Cacique with him After hee had trauelled three dayes there came Indians peaceably to visit their Lord and euery day met vs on the way playing vpon Flutes which is a token that they vse that men may know that they come in peace They said that in our way before was there a Cacique whose name was Vzachil a Kinsman of the Cacique of Caliquen their Lord wayting for him with many presénts and they desired the Gouernour that hee would loose the Cacique But hee would not fearing that they would rise and would not giue him any Guides and sent them away from day to day with good wordes He trauelled fiue daies passed by some small Townes came to a Towne called Napetuca the fifteenth day of September There were thirtie or fortie Indians slaine The rest fled to two very great Lakes that were somewhat distant the one from the other There they were swimming and the Christians round about them The Calieuermen and Crosse-bowmen shot at them from the banke but the distance being great and shooting afarre off they did them no hurt The Gouernour commanded that the same night they should compasse one of the Lakes because they were so great that there were not men enow to compasse them both beeing beset assoone as night shut in the Indians with determination to runne away came swimming very softly to the banke and to hide themselues they put a water Lilly leafe on their heads The Horsemen assoone as they perceiued it to stirre ranne into the water to the Horses breasts and the Indians fled againe into the Lake So this night passed without any rest on both sides Iohn Ortiz perswaded them that seeing they could not escape they should yeeld themselues to the Gouernour which they did enforced thereunto by the coldnesse of the water and one by one hee first whom the cold did first ouercome cried to Iohn Ortiz desiring that they would not kill him for he came to put himselfe into the hands of the Gouernour By the morning watch they made an end of yeelding themselues only
all an hilly Countrie Cutifachiqui and Xuala stand both in plaine ground high and haue goodly Medowes on the Riuers From thence forward to Chiaha Coça and Talise is plaine ground dâ—ie and fat and very plentifull of Maiz. From Xuala to Tascaluça may be two hundred and fifty leagues From Tascaluça to Rio Grande or the Great Riuer may be three hundred leagues the Countrie is lowe and full of Lakes From Rio Grande forward the Countrie is higher and more champaine and best peopled of all the Land of Florida And along the Riuer from Aquixo to Pacaha and Coligoa are an hundred and fifty leagues the Countrie is plaine and the woods thinne and in some places champaine very fruitfull and pleasant From Coligoa to Autiamque are two hundred and fifty leagues of hilly Countrie From Autiamque to Aguacay may bee two hundred and thirtie leagues of plaine ground From Aguacay to the Riuer of Daycao an hundred and twentie leagues all hilly Countrie From the Port de Spiritu Santo vnto Aâ—alache they trauelled from East to West and North. west From Cutifachiqui to Xuala from South to North. From Xuala to Coça from East to West From Coça to Tascaluça and to Rio Grande as farre as the Prouince of Quizquiz and Aquixo from East to West From Aquixo to Pacaha to the North. From Pacaha to Tulla from East to West and from Tulla to Autiamque from North to South to the Prouince of Guachoya and Daycao c. This Relation of the discouery of Florida was printed in the house of Andrew de Burgos Printer and Gentleman of the house of my Lord Cardinall the Infant It was finished the tenth of February in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and seuen in the Noble and most loyall Citie of Euora CHAP. III. Diuers expeditions from Mexico and other parts of New Spaine and New Biskay especially to the more Northerly parts of America by diuers Spaniards in a hundred yeares space §. I. The Relation of NVNNO di GVSMAN written to CHAREES the fift Emperour translated out of RAMVSIOS third Tome and abridged I Writ from Mechuacan to your Maiestie after I had written from Mexico that I went thence with one hundred and fiftie horsemen and as many footemen well armed and with twelue small Peeces of artillery and 7. or 8000. Indians our friends and all necessaries for the discouery and conquest of the Countrey from the Terlichichimechi which continue with New Spaine I arriued at the Riuer of the purification of Saint Mary so called for passing it on that day And because that Countrey was of the enemies I determined to plant there three great Crosses which I had carried with me well wrought and of good proportion which after Masse said in Procession with Trumpets the Captaines and I carried on our shoulders and planted one on the Riuer and the second before a Church of the Purification then begun to be builded and the third before the way which I was to passe to the which Crosses with all deuotion wee after made due prayer This done the standerds of the Crosse began to be directed in the land of those infidels which had not beene done since the Christians entred those parts Incontinently some people met vs in peace yeelding themselues and promising seruice Meane while the Church was finished and walled about that fifteene or twenty horsemen might lodge within There Masse was said and a Sermon was preached after which certaine ordinances were red for good orders to be kept in the Armie After this on the seuenth of February possession was taken in your Maiesties name of that New Discouerie and on the foureteenth was made the request which is accustomed to be made In regard of accusations made against Caconci Lord of Mechuacan for rebellion and conspiracie to haue slaine vs I marched against him and found the information true besides other inormities in sacrificing Indians and Christians as he had vsed to doe before he was a Christian whereupon I condemned him to the fire as may be seene in the processe made against him Hauing executed this man and pacified the Countrie I left a Spaniard in a fortresse there built by the Indians and trauelled six daies in a Countrie not inhabited three of them downe the Riuer leauing at euery lodging place a Crosse. On the sixt day we came to the Prouince Cuinao full of good Townes and abounding in victuals The people had at first armed themselues for resistance but when I sent Barius against them they were all fled to the Mountaines The light horse tooke some of the slowest not without making some defence I sent them word not to be afraid but to returne to their houses and giue their obedience which they refusing I marched against them with three squadrons and sent the Ouerseer on one part and Captaine Ognate on the other and I was at their backes The Ouerseer found none but women and children Ognate incountred with about one hundred men with their Bowes and Arrowes wounded sleightly two horses and three men but many of them were slaine others taken with women and children about fiue hundred which I caused to be kept together lest the Indians should sacrifice them after their wont The Cacique was fled to the next Prouince called Cuinaquiro of another signiorie and language Because hee came not at my sending I went to seeke him Entring that Prouince where were many Townes and great store of Maiz and Fruites wee found many people dead sacrificed which had out of the former Prouince retired thither for feare of vs with many peeces of flesh which they vse to eate I sent many prisoners to their friends to let them see that I came not to slay them The language of this people none of ours could vnderstand The Ouerseer encountred three hundred armed with Bowes and Arrowes which the day before had killed foure of our Indians they set vpon ours singing and killed a Horse but hauing lost one hundred of their company the rest escaped I found my men cutting the Horse in peeces that the enemies might see no signe of him whereby they might know that a Horse could dye I sent the Campe Master to discouer the foord three Indians set on him one of which had a two hand sword of wood which gaue him two blowes but the Indian was slaine I moued forwards and discouered many inhabited places Another skirmish happened with the Indians wherein aboue one hundred of them were slaine All the Countrie is full of Maiz Kidney-beanes Hens Parrats Palmitos there growes much Cotten and some shewes appeared of Gold and Siluer found with some of the inhabitants I procured the Cacique to come to me with all his principall men whom I entertained with much kindnesse and made a speech to them giuing them to vnderstand what God was and the Pope and what they ought to doe to be saued and how the King of Castile was the
engraue an awe of himself in the hearts of all the peoples of that Countrie Another time the Captaine commanded to take an oathe of the Spaniards to wit how many euery one had in his seruice of the Caciques and principall Lords and Indians of the meaner sort that incontinent they should be brought to the most open place of the Citie where he commanded that they should be beheaded thus were there at that time put to death foure or fiue hundred soules Moreouer these witnesses depose concerning another of the pettie tyrants that he had exercised great cruelties in slaying and chopping off the hands and noses of many persons aswell men as women and destroying very much people Another time the Captaine sent the selfe same cruell man with certaine Spaniards into the Prouince of Bogata to be informed by the inhabitants what Lord it was that was successour vnto the chiefe Lord whom hee had made to die that cruell death in those torments spoken of before Who running along the Countrie throughout many places tooke as many Indians as he could come by And for that he could not learne of them what he was that succeeded that Lord he mangled off some hands he bid cast others men and women vnto hungrie Mastiues who rend them in peeces And in this manner haue beene destroyed very many Indians and Indesses One time at the fourth watch of the night he went to ouerrun Caciques or Gouernours of the land with many of the Indians which were in peace and held themselues assured for he had giuen them his faith and assurance that they should receiue no harme nor damage vpon credit whereof they were come forth of their holes in the Mountaines where they had beene hid to people Plaine in the which stood their Citie thus being common without suspition and trusting the assurance made he tooke a great number as well men as women and commanded to hold out their hands stretched against the ground and himselfe with a woodknife cut off their hands telling them that he did on them this chastisement for that they would not confesse where their new Lord was which had succeeded in the charge of gouernment of the Realme Another time for that the Indians gaue him not a coffer full of Gold that this cruell Captaine required them he sent men to warre vpon them who cut off the hands and noses of men and women without number They cast others before their dogs being hunger bitten and vsed to the feare of feeding on flesh the which dispatched and deuoured Another time the Indians of that Realme perceiuing that the Spaniards had burnt three or foure of their principall Lords they fled for feare vp into a Mountaine from whence they might defend themselues against their enemies so estranged from all humanitie There were of them by the testimonie of the witnesses foure or fiue Indians This aboue said Captaine sent a great and notable tyrant which exceeded farre most of those to whom he had giuen the charge to ransacke and waste together with a certaine number of Spaniards to the end that they should chastise the Indian rebels as they would seeme to make them for that they were fled from a pestilence and slaughter so intollerable Well so it is that the Spanish by force preuailed to get vp to the Mountaine for the Indians were naked without weapons And the Spaniards cryed peace vnto the Indians assuring them that they would doe them no harme and that they of their parts should not warre any longer Streight way as the Indians stinted from their owne defence the vile cruell man sent to the Spaniards to take the forts of the Mountaine and when they should get them to enclose within them the Indians They set then like vnto Tygers and Lyons vpon these lambes so meeke and put them to the edge of the sword so long that they were faine to breath and rest themselues And after hauing rested a certaine season the Captaine commanded that they should kill and cast downe from the Mountaine which was very high the residue that were aliue which was done And these witnesses say that they saw as it were a could of Indians cast downe from the Mountaine to the number by estimation of seuen hundred men together where they fell battered to peeces And to atchieue all his great crueltie they searched all the Indians that were hid amongst the bushes and he commanded to cut off their heads at blockes ends and so they slue them and cast them downe the Mountaines yet could not he content himselfe with those said things so cruell but that he would make himselfe a little better knowne augmenting his horrible sinnes when as he commanded that all the Indians men and women which some priuate persons had taken aliue for euery one in those massaeres is accustomed to cull out some one or other mankinde and womankinde to the end to become his seruants should be put into a strawen house sauing and reseruing those which seemed necessary to be employed in their seruice and that there should be put to fire thus were there burned fortie or fiftie Hee caused the rest to be flong to the carrion dogs which rend them in peeces and deuoured them Another time the selfe same tyrant went to a Citie called Cotta and tooke there a number of Indians and caused to be dismembred by his dogges a fifteene or twenty Lords of the principall and cut the hands of a great multitude of men and women which said hands he hanged one by another on a pole to the end the other Indians might see that which hee had done vnto them There were so hanged one by another threescore and ten paire of hands Hee slised off besides from many women and children their noses No creature liuing and reasonable is able to decipher the mischiefes and cruell dealing of this fellow enemy of God For they are without number neuer otherwise heard of nor seene those I meane which hee hath done in the land of Guatimala and all about where he hath become The witnesses say for a surcharge that the cruell dealings and slaughters which haue beene committed and are yet in the said Realme of new Grenado by the Captaines themselues in person and by their consents giuen vnto all the other tyrants wasters and weeders of the nature of man which were in his company and the which hath laid all the Countrie wilde and waste are such and so excessiue that if his Maiestie doe not take some order therein in some time albeit that the slaughter and discomfiture of the Indians is done onely to bereaue them of their Gold the which they haue none of for they haue surrendred all that which they had they will in a short time make an end of them so in such sort that there will be no more Indians to inhabit the land but that it will remaine in a wildernesse without being manured There are other great Prouinces which bound vpon the said Realme of new
best in all those Ilands and it hath the sauorest pleasantest Oranges that are throughout all Portugall so that they are brought into Tercera for a present as being there very much esteemed and in my iudgement they are the best that euer I tasted in any place Angra in the Iland of Tercera is the chiefe Towne and Ruler ouer all the Flemish Ilands From Tercera Westward to the Iland named Flores are seuenty miles it is about seuen miles compasse it is also inhabited by Portugals hath no speciall merchandise but onely some wood it is full of Cattle and other necessary prouisions and lyeth open to all the world to whosoeuer will come thither as well Englishmen as others for that the inhabitants haue not the power to resist them A mile from thence Northward lyeth a little Iland of two or three miles in compasse called DeCoruo The inhabitants are of the same people that dwell in Flores Between those two Ilands and round about them the Englishmen doe commonly stay to watch the Ships that come out of the West for those are the first Ilands that the Ships looke out for and descry when they saile vnto Tercera wherby the inhabitants dobut little prosper because they are at the pleasure commandment of all that will come vnto them and take their goods from them as oftentimes it hapneth Yet for all their pouerty not to loose both lands and goods they must content themselues and saile with euery winde The I le of Tercera lyeth vnder thirty nine degrees in the same height that Lisbone lyeth and is distant from Lisbone lying right East and West two hundred and fifty Spanish miles Of certaine notable and memorable accidents that happened during my continuance in Tercera in which are related many English fleetes Sea-fights and Prizes THe second of October Anno 1589. at the Towne of Villa daâ— Praya in the Iland of Tercera two men being in a field hard without the towne were killed with lightning The ninth of the same month there arriued in Tercera 14. Ships that came from the Spanish Indies laden with Cochenile Hides Gold Siluer Pearles and other rich wares They were fifty in company when they departed out of the Iland of Hauana whereof in their comming out of the Channell eleuen sunk in the same Channell by foule weather the rest by a storme were scattered seperated one from the other The next day there came another Ship of the same company that sailed close vnder the Iland so to get into the Road where she met with an English Ship that had not aboue three cast Peeces the Spaniard twelue They sought a long time together which we being in the Iland might stand behold wherupon the Gouernor of Tercera sent two Boats of Musketiers to helpe the Ship but before they could come at her the English Ship had shot her vnder water and we saw her sinke into the Sea with all her sailes vp and not any thing seene of her about the water The Englishmen with their Boate saued the Captaine and about thirty others with him but not one peny worth of the goods yet in the Ship there was at the least to the value of 200000. Ducats in Gold Siluer and Pearles the rest of the men were drowned which might be about 50. persons among the which were some Friers and women which the Englishmen would not saue Those that they had saued they set on land then they sailed away The 27. of the same month the said 14. Ships hauing refreshed theselues in the Iland departed from Tercera towards Siuil and comming vpon the coast of Spaine they were taken by the English Ships that lay there to watch for them two onely excepted which escaped away the rest were wholly carried into England About the same time the Earle of Cumberland with one of the Queenes Ships and fiue or six more kept about those Ilands and came oftentimes so close vnder the Iland and to the Road of Angra that the people on land might easily tell all his men that he had aboord and knew such as walked on the Hatches they of the Iland not once shooting at them although they might easily haue done it for they were within Musket shot both of the Towne and Fort. In these places he continued for the space of two Moneths and sailed round about the Ilands and landed in Gratiosa and Fayael as in the description of those Ilands I haue already declared Here he tooke diuers Ships and Caruels which he sent into England so that those of the Iland durst not once put forth their heads At the same time about three or foure dayes after the Earle of Cumberland had beene in the Iland of Fayael and was departed from thence there arriued in the said Iland of Fayael six Indian Ships whose Generall was one Iuan Doryâ—s and there they discharged in the Iland fortie Millions of Gold and Siluer And hauing with all speede refreshed their Ships fearing the comming of the Englishmen they set saile and arriued safely in Saint Lucas not meeting with the enemy to the great good lucke of the Spaniards and hard fortune of the Englishmen for that within lesse then two daies after the Gold and Siluer was laden again into the Spanish Ships the Earle of Cumberland sailed againe by that Iland so that it appeared that God would not let them haue it for if they had once had fight thereof without doubt it had beene theirs as the Spaniards themselues confessed In the moneth of Nouember there arriued in Tercera two great Ships which were the Admirall and Viceadmirall of the Fleete laden with Siluer who with stormy weather were seperated from the Fleete and had beene in great torment and distresse and ready to sinke for they were forced to vse all their Pumps so that they wished a thousand times to haue met with the Englishmen to whom they would willingly haue giuen their Siluer and all that euer they brought with them onely to saue their liues And although the Earle of Cumberland lay still about those Ilands yet they met not with him so that after much paine and labor they got into the Road before Angra where with all speed they vnladed discharged aboue 5. Millions of Siluer all in peeces of 8. and 10. pound great so that the whole Ray lay couered with plates Chests of Siluer full of Ryals of eight most wonderfull to behold each Million being ten hundred thousand Ducats besides Pearles Gold and other stones which were not registred The Admiral chief commander of those Ships and Fleete called Aluuro Flores de Quiniones was sicke of the Neapolitan disease and was brought to land whereof not long after he dyed in Syuilia He brought with him the Kings broad Seale and full authority to be Generall chiefe commander vpon the Seas and of all Fleets or Ships and of all places Ilands or Lands wheresoeuer
he came whereupon the Gouernor of Tercera did him great honor and betweene them it was concluded perceiuing the weaknesse of their Ships and the danger of the Englishmen that they would send the Ships empty with Soldiers to conuey them either to Siuil or Lisbone where they could first arriue with aduise vnto his Maiesty of all that had past and that he would giue order to fetch the Siluer with good and safe conuoy Wherepuon the said Aluaro Flores staied there vnder colour of keeping the Siluer but specially because of his disease and for that they were afraid of the Englishmen This Aluaro Flores had alone for his owne part aboue fifty thousand Ducats in Pearles which he shewed vnto vs and sought to sell them or barter them with vs for Spices or bils of exchange The said two Ships set saile with three or foure hundred men as well Soldiers as others that came with them and not one man saued Tke Vice-admirall cut downe her Mast and ranne the Ship on ground out of India and being at Sea had a storme wherewith the Admirall burst and sunke in thâ— Sea hard by Sentuual where it burst in peeces some of the men sauing themselues by swimming that brought the newes but the rest were drowned In the same moneth there came two great ships out of the Spanish Indies and being within halfe a mile of the Road of Tercera they met with an English shippe that after they had fought long together tooke them both About seuen or eight moneths before there had beene an English ship in Tercera that vnder the name of a Frenchman came to traffique in the Iland there to lade wood and being discouered was both ship and goods confiscated to the Kings vse and all the men kept prisoners yet went they vp and downe the streets to get their liuings by labouring like slaues being in deed as safe in that Iland as if they had beene in prison But in the end vpon a Sunday all the Sailers went downe behind the Hils called Bresill where they found a Fisher-boat whereinto they got and rowed into the Sea to the Earle of Cumberlands ship which to their great fortune chanced at that time to come by the Iland and anchored with his ships about halfe a mile from the Road of Angra hard by two small Ilands which lye about a Bases shot from the Iland and are full of Goats Buckes and Sheepe belonging to the Inhabitants of the Iland of Tercera Those Saylers knew it well and thereupon they rowed vnto them with their Boats and lying at Anchor that day they fetched as many Goats and Sheepe as they had neede of which those of the Towne and of the Iland well saw and beheld yet durst not once go forth so there remayned no more on Land but the Master and the Merchant of the said English ship This Master had a Brother in Law dwelling in England who hauing newes of his brothers imprisonment in Tercera got licence of the Queene of England to set forth a ship therewith to see if he could recouer his losses of the Spaniards by taking some of them and so to redeeme his brother that lay prisoner in Tercera and he it was that tooke the two Spanish shippes before the Towne The Master of the ship aforesaid standing on the shore by me and looking vpon them for he was my great acquaintance the shipss being taken that were worth three hundred thousand Duckets he sent all the men on Land sauing only two of the principall Gentlemen which he kept aboord thereby to ransome his brother and sent the Pilot of one of the Indian ships that were taken with a Letter to the Gouernour of Tercera wherein he wrote that hee should deliuer him his brother and he would send the two Gentlemen on Land if not he would saile with them into England as indeed he did because the Gouernour would not doe it saying that the Gentleman might make that suite to the King of Spaine him selfe This Spanish Pilot we bid to supper with vs and the Englishmen likewise where hee shewed vs all the manner of their fight much commending the order and manner of the Englishmens fighting as also for their courteous vsing of him but in the end the English Pilot likewise stole away in a French ship without paying any ransome as yet In the moneth of Ianuary 1590 there arriued one ship alone in Tercera that came from the Spanish Indies and brought newes that there was a fleet of a hundred ships which put out from the Firme Land of the Spanish Indies and by a storme were driuen vpon the Coast called Florida where they were all cast away she hauing only escaped wherein there were great riches and many men lost as it may well be thought so that they made their account that of two hundred and twentie ships that for certaine were knowne to haue put out of Noua Spaigna Santo Domingo Hauana Capo verde Brasilia Guinea c. In the yeere 1989. to sayle for Spaine in Portugall there were not aboue fourteene or fifteene of them arriued there in safetie all the rest being either drowned burst or taken In the same Moneth of Ianuary there arriued in Tercera fifteen or sixteene ships that came from Siuilia which were most Flie-boats of the low Countries and some Brittons that were arrested in Spaine these came full of Souldiers and well appointed with munition to lade the siluer that lay in Tercera and to fetch Aluares de Flores by the Kings commandement into Spaine And because that time of the yeere there is alwayes stormes about those Ilands therefore they durst not enter into the Road of Tercera for that as then it blew so great a storme that some of their ships that had anchored were forced to cut downe their Masts and were in danger to bee lost and among the rest a ship of Biscay ranne against the Land and was stricken in pieces but all the men saued themselues The other ships were forced to keepe the Sea and separate themselues one from the other where winde and weather would driue them vntill the fifteenth of March for that in all that time they could not haue one day of faire weather to anchor in whereby they indured much miserie cursing both the siluer and the Iland This storme being past they chanced to meete with small English ship of about fortie tunnes in bignesse which by reason of the great wind could not beare all her sailes so they set vpon her and tooke her and with the English flagge in their Admirals sterne they came as proudly into the Hauen as if they had conquered all the Realme of England but as the Admirall that bare the English flagge vpon her sterne was entring into the Road there came by chance two English ships by the Iland that paid her so well for her paines that they were forced to cry Misericordia and without all doubt had taken her if she had beene but a mile further
and straight of a comely proportion and of a colour browne when they are of any age but they are borne white Their haire is generally blacke but few haue any beards The men weare halfe their heads shauen the other halfe long for Barbers they vse their women who with two shels will grate away the haire of any fashion they please The women are cut in many fashions agreeable to their yeares but euer some part remaineth long They are very strong of an able body and full of agilitie able to endure to lye in the woods vnder a tree by the fire in the worst of winter or in the weedes and grasse in Ambuscado in the Summer They are inconstant in euery thing but what feare constraineth them to keepe Craftie timerous quicke of apprehension and very ingenious Some are of disposition fearefull some bold most cauteloâ—s all Sauage Generally couetous of Copper Beads and such like trash They are soone moued to anger and so malicious that they seldome forget an iniury they seldome steale one from another least their Coniurers should reueale it and so they be pursued and punished That they are thus feared iâ— certaine but that any can reueale their offences by coniuration I am doubtfull Their women are carefull not to be suspected of dishonesty without the leaue of their husbands Each houshold knoweth their owne lands and gardens and most liue of their owne labours For their apparell they are sometime couered with the skins of wilde Beasts which in winter are dressed with the haire but in summer without The better sort vse large mantels of Deare skins not much differing in fashion from the Irish Mantels some imbrodered with white Beades some with Copper other painted after their manner But the common sort haue scarce to couer their nakednesse but with grasse the leaues of trees or such like Wee haue seene some vse mantels made of Turkie-feathers so prettily wrought and wouen with threds that nothing could be discerned but the feathers That was exceeding warme and very handsome But the women are alwayes couered about their middles with a skin and very shamefac't to be seene bare They adorne themselues most with Copper Beads and paintings Their women some haue their legs hands brests and face cunningly imbrodered with diuers works as Beasts Serpents artificially wrought into their flesh with blacke spots In each eare commonly they haue three great holes whereat the hang Chaines Bracelets or Copper Some of their men weare in those holes a small greene and yellow coloured Snake neere halfe a yard in length which crawling and lapping her selfe about his necke oftentimes familiarly would kisse his lips Others weare a dead Rat tied by the taile Some on their heads weare the wing of a bird or some large feather with a Rattell Those Rattels are somewhat like the chape of a Rapier but lesse which they take from the taile of a Snake Many haue the whole skin of a Hawke or some strange fowle stuffed with the wings abroad Others a broad peece of Copper and some the hand of their enemy dried Their head and shoulders are painted red with the roote Pocone braied to powder mixed with Oyle this they hold in summer to preserue them from the heate and in winter from the cold Many other formes of paintings they vse but he is the most gallant that is the most monstrous to behold Their Buildings and habitations are for the most part by the Riuers or not farre distant from some fresh Spring Their Houses are built like our Arbors of small yong sprigs bowed and tied and so close couered with mats or the barks of trees very hand somely that notwithstanding either winde raine or weather they are so warme as stoues but very smoakie yet at the top of the house there is a hole made for the smoake to goe into right ouer the fire Against the fire they lye on little hurdles of Reedes couered with a mat borne from the ground a foote and more by a Hurdle of wood On these round about the house they lye heads and points one by thother against the fire some couered with Mats some with Skins and some starke naked lye on the ground from six to twenty in a house Their Houses are in the midst of their Fields or Gardens which are small plots of grounds some twenty some forty some a hundred some two hundred some more some lesse sometimes from two to a hundred of those houses together or but a little seperated by groues of trees Neare their habitations is little small wood or old trees on the ground by reason of their burning of them for fire So that a man may gallop a horse amongst these woods any way but where the creekes or Riuers shall hinder Men Women and Children haue their seuerall names according to the seuerall humour of their Parents Their women they say are easily deliuered of child yet doe they loue children very dearely To make them hardy in the coldest mornings they wash them in the Riuers and by painting and ointments so tan their skins that after a yeare or two no weather will hurt them The men bestow their times in fishing hunting warres and such manlike exercises scorning to be seene in any womanlike exercise which is the cause that the women be very painfull and the men often idle The women and children doe the rest of the worke They make Mats Baskets Pots Morters pound their corne make their bread prepare their victuals plant their corne gather their corne beare all kinde of burdens and such like Their fire they kindle presently by chasing a dry pointed sticke in a hole of a little square peece of wood that firing it selfe will so fire mosse leaues or any such like dry thing that will quickly burne In March and Aprill they liue much vpon their fishing wares and feede on fish Turkies and Squirrels In May and Iune they plant their fields and liue most of Acornes Walnuts and fish But to mend their diet some disperse themselues in small companies and liue vpon fish Beasts Crabs Oysters land Tortoyses Strawberries Mulberries and such like In Iune Iuly and August they feede vpon the rootes of Tocknough Berries Fish and greene Wheate It is strange to see how their bodies alter with their diet euen as the Deere and wilde Beasts they seeme fat and leane strong and weake Powhatan their great King and some others that are prouident rost their fish and flesh vpon hurdles as before is expressed and keepe it till scarce times For fishing and hunting and warres they vse much their Bowe and Arrowes They bring their Bowes to the forme of ours by the scraping of a shell Their Arrowes are made some of straight yong sprigs which they head with bone some two or three inches long These they vse to shoote at Squirrels on trees Another sort of Arrowes they vse made of reedes these are peeced
finding your loue and kindnesse our custome is so far from being vngratefull that for your sake onely we haue curbed our thirsting desire of reuenge else had they knowne as well the crueltie we vse to our enemies as our true loue and curtesie to our friends And I thinke your iudgement sufficient to conceiue as well by the aduentures wee haue vndertaken as by the aduantage we haue by our Armes of yours that had we intended you any hurt long ere this wee could haue effected it your people comming to me at Iames Towne are entertained with their Bowes and Arrowes without exception we esteeming it with you as it is with vs to weare our Armes as our apparell As for the dangers of our enemies in such warres consist our chiefest pleasure for your riches wee haue no vse as for the hiding your prouision or by your flying to the Woods wee shall so vnaduisedly starue as you conclude your friendly care in that behalfe is needlesse for wee haue a rule to find beyond your knowledge Many other discourses they had till at last they began to trade but the King seeing his will would not be admitted as a law our guard dispersed nor our men disarmed he sighing breathed his mind once more in this manner Captaine Smith I neuer vsed any Werowances so kindly as your selfe yet from you I receiue the least kindnesse of any Captaine Newport gaue me swords Copper Clothes a Bed Tooles or what I desired euer taking what I offered him and would send away his Guns when I intreated him none doth deny to lay at my feet or doe what I desire but onely you of whom I can haue nothing but what you regard not and yet you will haue whatsoeuer you demand Captaine Newport you call father and so you call me but I see for all vs both you will doe what you liâ—t and wee must both seeke to content you But if you intend so friendly as you say send hence your Armes that I might beleeue you for you see the loue I beare you doth cause me thus naked to forget my selfe Smith seeing this Sauage but trifled the time to cut his throat procured the Sauages to breake the Ice that his Boat might come to fetch both him and his Corne and gaue order for his men to come ashore to haue surprised the King with whom also hee but trifled the time till his men landed and to keepe him from suspition entertained the time with this reply Powhatan you must know as I haue but one God I honour but one King and I liue not here as your subiect but as your friend to pleasure you with what I can by the gifts you bestow on me you gaine more then by trade yet would you visit mee as I doe you you should know it is not our customes to sell our curtesie as a vendible commoditie Bring all your Countrey with you for your guard I will not dislike of it as being ouer iealous But to content you to morrow I will leaue my Armes and trust to your prâ—mise I call you father indeed and as a father you shall see I will loue you but the small care you had of such a child caused my men to perswade me to shift for my selfe By this time Powhatan hauing knowledge his men were readie whilst the Ice was breaking his luggage women and children fled and to auoid suspition left two or three of his women talking with the Captaine whilst hee secretly fled and his men as secretly beset the house which being at the instant discouered to Captaine Smith with his Pistol Sword and Target hee made such a passage amongst those naked Deuills that they fled before him some one way some another so that without hurt hee obtained the Corps du-guard when they perceiued him so well escaped and with his eight men for hee had no more with him to the vttermost of their skill they sought by excuses to dissemble the matter and Powhatan to excuse his flight and the sudden comming of this multitude sent our Captaine a great Bracelet and a Chaine of Pearle by an ancient Orator that bespoke vs to this purpose perceiuing then from our Pinnace a Barge and men departing and comming vnto vs. Captaine Smith our Werowance is fled fearing your Guns and knowing when the Ice was broken there would come more men sent those of his to guard his Corne from the pilfry that might happen without your knowledge now though some bee hurt by your misprision yet he is your friend and so will continue and since the Ice is open hee would haue you send away your Corne and if you would haue his company send also your Armes which so affrighteth this people that they dare not come to you as he hath promised they should Now hauing prouided Baskets for our men to carry the Corne they kindly offered their seruice to guard our Armes that none should steale them A great many they were of goodly well appointed fellowes as grim as Deuills yet the very sight of cocking our matches against them and a few wordes caused them to leaue their Bowes and Arrowes to our guard and beare downe our Corne on their owne backes wee needed not importune them to make quick dispatch But our owne Barge being left by the ebbe caused vs to stay till the midnight tide carried vs safe aboard hauing spent that halfe night with such mirth as though we neuer had suspected or intended any thing we left the Dutchmen to build Brinton to kill Fowle for Powhatan as by his Messengers he importunately desired and left directions with our men to giue Powhatan all the content they could that we might inioâ— his company at our returne from Pamaunke VVE had no sooner set saile but Powhatan returned and sent Adam and Francis two stout Dutch men to the Fort who faining to Captaine Winne that all things were well and that Captaine Smith had vse for their Armes wherefore they requested new the which were giuen them they told him their comming was for some extraordinary tooles and shift of apparell by this colourable excuse they obtained sixe or seuen more to their confederacie such expert theeues that presently furnished them with a great many of Swords Pike-heads Peeces Shot Powder and such like they haue Sauages at hand ready to carry it away The next day they returned vnsuspected leauing their confederates to follow and in the interim to conuay them a competencie of all things they could for which seruice they should liue with Powhatan as his chiefe affected free from those miseries that would happen the Colony Samuell their other consort Powhatan kept for their pledge whose diligence had prouided them three hundred of their kind of Hatchets the rest fiftie Swords eight Peeces and eight Pikes Briton and Richard Sauage seeing the Dutch-men so strangely diligent to accommodate the Sauages these weapons attempted to haue got to Iames Towne but they were
plentie of all those things I haue set before you but all the craft is in catching them for he that will get any gaine must be a wary and a well eyed shot and to prop his profession he must adde great care and vigilance both in defending himselfe and winning his game It hath beene often seene in this Land that whilest an Englishman hath beene winning his game an Indian hath dogd him attending his opportunitie by the others discharge to fill him full of Arrowes Since the Massacre they haue killed vs in our owne doores fields and houses thus are we not safe neither at home nor abroad and which grieues me to write our safetie is lessened by our malice one to another for the most part altogether neglecting the common enemie I my selfe and my wife are by some secret enemies much wronged for I am shauen so bare that I haue scarse either Garter Girdle Stocking or Shirt left all my wearing Cloathes likewise are torne and tattered I can accuse no man and they that likewise doe it doe it priuately and which grieues me most of all they striue by base and insinuating meanes to clip the wings as well of my prosperitie as of my reputation yet I hope God will giue me patience to beare and in his good time giue me a ioyfull deliuerance in the middest of all these miseries Whilest I was a writing these lines newes was brought me of the killing of one and the carrying away prisoner of another of my neighbours by the Indians one was an old Virginian and one who for a long time was Sir Thomas Dale his Ouerseer in this Land his name was Master Henry Watkins and but two daies agoe there was another that had his braines beaten out by the Indians in the next Plantation to vs. Wherefore with a sad and sorrowfull heart I take my leaue of you deere Father Mother Sisters Brethren and all the rest of my kinde and louing friends for the case stands so with vs here that if wee goe out in the morning wee know not whether wee shall euer returne working with our Hoe in one hand and our Peece or Sword in the other c. And now from latest intelligence you haue notice of the good and euill as becommeth a faithfull Historian nequid non veri audeat nequid veri non audeat It is good to know the worst to preuent it forewarned forearmed Easily you may see that the good things of Virginia are naturall and her owne the bad accidentall and our owne and consequently if wee amend our selues Virginia will soone be amended The body there is found to cut the haire auoide the excrements paire the nailes wash away sweate and dust and to cure other like accidents of negligence or impenitent and vnprofitable diligence is a worke feasible and facile also to industrious and vnanimous workemen One thing touching the French whose Plantations are before recited remaineth that we take away all scruple from feare of suspected neighbours I shall therefore adde a little more touching them the conclusion of their Virginian Plantation in a double sense As for the English right to these parts the next Chapter will shew and consequently the Iustice of Sir Samuell Argals act The Patents to Sir Humfry Gilbert and to Sir Walter Raleigh and their actuall possession before these latter Plantations may be alleadged likewise against the French These things I haue collected out of Sir William Alexanders Encouragement to Colonies Lescarbot hath also related them The Marquesse de la Roche by a Commission from Henry the fourth intending a Voyage for Canada happened by the way vpon the I le of Sablon which is now comprehended within the Patent of new Scotland and there trusting to the strength of the place where there are no Sauages at all landed some of his men till he should haue found a conuenient place within the maine Land fit for a habitation promising then to returne for them But it was his fortune by reason of contrary winde neuer to finde the Maine Land but he was blowne backe to France without seeing of them where he was in the time of the ciuill warres such is the vncertainty of worldly things taken prisoner by the Duke of Mercaeur and shortly after died so that his people whom he had left at Sablon furnished but for a short time had quickly spent their prouisions hauing for their maintenance onely such things as the place it selfe did without labour freely afford which hath a race of Cowes as is thought first transported thither by the Portugals that haue long continued there they had likewise there growing wilde of this which wee call Turkey Wheate and sundry Rootes fit to be eaten and euery where abundance of Fishes with Venison and hauing no meanes to liue but by sport as for their Apparell they cloathed themselues with the Skins of such creatures as they could kill by Land or Sea so that hauing liued there for the space of 12. years when they were presented to King Henry who had hired a Fisherman to bring them home as I haue heard from them that did see them at first before the King they were in very good health and looked as well as if they had liued all that time in France hauing bin abused by the Fisherman who cunningly conceiling that he had bin directed by the King did bargaine with them to haue all their Skins for transporting them home which were of great value some of them being of blacke Foxes which haue bin sould at fiftie pound sterling a peece and aboue for the recouery thereof they intended a Processe against him before the Court of Parliament at Paris wherein they preuailed gaining by that meanes a stocke wherewith to traffique in these parts againe Monsieur de Montes betaking himselfe to trade for Furs Monsieur Pourtrincourt resoluing to prosecute the Plantation at that place sent his sonne Biencourt to France to bargaine with some that would send them a supply such as was requisite for establishing of that Colonie The first that embraced his propositions were the Iesuites who as they haue ordinarily good wits which made them the rather capable of so aduantagious a proiect so they were the more animated thereunto by vpbraiding the lazinesse of our Clargie to shew with what feruency they trauelled to propagate the Gospell in doing whereof whether it be ambition or deuotion that prouokes them sparing no paines they haue trauâ—lled both to the East and West Indies and to the admired Kingdome of China Their society in France preuailing with all that had any inclination either to zeale or to vertue did easily gather a voluntary contribution for the furthering of so commendable a purpose Thereafter they sent away two Fathers of their Company with a new supply of all things necessary to the Plantation at Port Royall but shortly after their arriuall their predominant disposition hardly yeelding to any superiour specially if it be a secular power they began
done by Master Whittington whereupon both the Sauages passed ouer a little water streame towards Master Whittington dancing leaping and singing and comming together the foremost of them presented vnto him a chaine of leather full of small Periwinckle shels a spitting knife and a Feather that stacke in his eare the other gaue him an Arrow without a head and the former was requited with a linnen Cap and a hand Towell who put presently the linnen Cap vpon his head and to the other he gaue a Knife and after hand in hand they all three did sing and dance vpon this one of our company called Francis Tipton went ashoare vnto whom one of the Sauages came running and gaue him a Chaine such as is before spoken of who was gratified by Francis Tipton with a Knife and a small peece of Brasse Then all foure together danced laughing and making signes of ioy and gladnesse sometimes striking the brests of our company and sometimes their owne When signes were made that they should be willing to suffer two of our Company more to come on shoare for two of theirs more to be landed and that Bread and Drinke should be brought ashoare they made likewise signes that they had in their Canoas meate also to eate vpon this the Shallop rowed aboord and brought Iohn Guy and Master Teage a shoare who presented them with a Shirt two table Napkins and a Hand-towell giuing them Bread Butter and Reasons of the Sunne to eate and Beere and Aquauitae to drinke and one of them blowing in the Aquauitae Bottle that made a sound which they fell all into a laughing at After Master Croote and Iohn Crouther came ashoare whom they went to salute giuing them shell Chaines who bestowed Gloues vpon them One of the Sauages that came last ashoare came walking with his Oare in his hand and seemed to haue some command ouer the rest and behaued himselfe ciuilly For when meate was offered him he drew off his Mitten from his hand before hee would receiue it and gaue an Arrow for a present without a head who was requited with a dozen of Points After they had all eaten and drunke one of them went to their Canoa and brought vs Deeres flesh dried in the smoake or winde and drawing his Knife from out of his necke hee cut euery man a peece and that fauoured very well At the first meeting when signes were made of meate to eate one of the Sauages presently ran to the banke side and pulled vp a roote and gaue it to Master Whittington which the other Sauage perceiuing to be durtie tooke it out of his hand and went to the water to wash it and after diuided it among the foure it tasted very well hee that came ashoare with the Oare in his hand went and tooke the white skin that they hailed vs with and gaue it to Master Whittington and presently after they did take our white Flagge with them in the Canoa and made signes vnto vs that we should repaire to our Barke and so they put off for it was almost night In the two Canoas there were eight men if none were women for commonly in euery Canoa there is one woman they are of a reasonable stature of an ordinary middle sise they goe bare-headed wearing their haire somewhat long but round they haue no Beards behinde they haue a great locke of haire platted with feathers like a Hawkes Lure with a feather in it standing vpright by the crowne of the head and a small locke platted before a short Gown made of Stags skins the Furre innermost that ranne downe to the middle of their legges with sleeues to the middle of their arme and a Beuer skin about their necke was all their apparell saue that one of them had shooes and Mittens so that all went bare-legged and most bare-foote They are full eyed of a blacke colour the colour of their haire was diuers some blacke some browne and some yellow and their faces something flat and broad red with Oker as all their apparell is and the rest of their body they are broad brested and bould and stand very vpright Their Canoa are about twenty foote long and foure foote and a halfe broad in the middle aloft and for their Keele and timbers they haue thin light peeces of dry Firre rended as it were lathes and instead of Boords they vse the outer Burch barke which is thin and hath many folds sowed together with a thred made of a small root quartered They will carry foure persons well and weigh not one hundred weight they are made in forme of a new Moone stem and sterne alike and equally distant from the greatest breadth from the stem and sterne here riseth a yard high a light thin staffe whipped about with small rootes which they take hold by to bring the Canoa ashoare that serueth instead of ropes and a harbour for euery place is to them a harborough where they can goe ashoare themselues they take a land with them their Canoa and will neuer put to Sea but in a calme or very faire weather in the middle the Canoa is higher a great deale then in the Bowe and quarter they be all bearing from the Keele to the portlesse not with any circular line but with a right line They had made a Tilt with a Saile that they got from some Christian and pitched a dozen poles in the ground ueere on which were hanged diuers Furs and chaines made of shels which at that instant we fell not in the reckoning to what intent it was done but after it came to our minde as hereafter you shall pereeiue The seuenth day we spent in washing and in beginning a house to shelter vs when we should come thither hereafter vpon a small Iland of about fiue acres of ground which is ioyned to the maine with a small Beech for any bartering with the Sauages there cannot be a fitter place The eighth day it began to freeze and there was thin Ice ouer the sound and because we heard nothing more of the Sauages we began to return out of the Sounds comming to the place which the Sauages had made two dayes before fire in wee found all things remaining there as it was when we parted viz. an old Boat saile three or foure shell chaines about twelue Furres of Beauers most a Fox skin a Sable skin a Bird skin and an old Mitten set euery one vpon a seuerall pole whereby we remained satisfied fully 〈◊〉 they were brought thither of purpose to barter with vs and that they would stand to our courtesie to leaue for it what wee should thinke good Because we were not furnished with fit things for to trucke we tooke onely a Beauer skin a Sable skin and a Bird skin leauing for them a Hatchet a Knife and foure Needles threaded Master Whittington had a paire of Cizzars which he left there for a small Beauers skin all the rest we left there vntouched and came that
Souldiers 40. Mariners 19. great Peeces and all the rest S. Gabriel of the Port of 280. tuns 50. Souldiers 25. Mariners 9. great Peeces and the rest of their furniture The Esay is fraughted of the same There are in this Squadron 23. Hulkes which are of 10271. tuns in the which are imbarked 3221. men of Warre 708. Mariners 410. great peeces and their necessary prouision The Captaine of our Lord of Pilier of Zaragosse of 300. tunnes 120. Souldiers 50. Mariners 12. great Peeces and their furniture The English Charity of 180. tuns 80. Souldiers 36. Mariners 12. great Peeces and the rest The Scottish S. Andrew of 150. tuns 51. Souldiers 30. Mariners 12. great Peeces and their furniture The Patache of the Crucifix 150. tuns 50. Souldiers 30. Mariners 8. great Peeces and their furniture Our Lord of the Hauen fraught alike The Conception of Carassa and our Lord of Begoua and the Conception de Capitillo and S. Hioros being of the burthen of 60. or 70. tuns 50. Souldiers 30. Mariners 8. great Peeces a Peece and their furniture Our Lady of grace the Conception of Frauncys Lastero our Lady of Guadalupe S. Frauncys the Holy Spirit our Lady of Frenesda all fraughted alike The Zabra of the Trinitie the Zabra of our Lady Castre S. Andrew the Conception of Zomartiba S. Clere S. Iohn of Carassa and the Assumption all fraughted alike There are in this Squadron 22. Pataches and Zabres which are of the burthen of 113. tuns in the which there are imbarked 479. Souldiers 574. Mariners and therâ— is 193. great Peeces and all their furniture THe Galeace the Captaine called S. Lawrence hath 270. Souldiers 130. Mariners 300. Slaues 50. Peeces of Canon and their furniture The Galeace Patrone 180. Souldiers 112. Mariners 300. Slaues 50. great Peeces and their furniture The Galeace Gâ—rone 170. Souldiers 120. Mariners 300. Slaues 50. great Peeces The Galeace Neapolitaine 124. Souldiers 115. Mariners 300. Slaues 50. great Peeces and the rest of their necessary fraught There are in these foure Galeaces 873. Souldiers 468. Mariners 200. great Peeces 1200. Slaues and the rest of their furniture The Gally Captaine 110. Souldiers 106. Mariners 306. Slaues and fiftie great Peeces and other necessaries The Gally Princesse the Gally Diana the Gally Vacaâ—a are the like In the aboue named Galeaces there are 1200. Slaues and in the foure gallies 888. which is in all 2088. Moreouer they carry powder for their need if it be offered to doe battery 600. Quintals So that there are in the said Army 130. Ships of 57868. tuns 19295. Souldiers and 8450. Mariners 2088. Slaues and 2630. great Peeces of Brasse of all sorts among which there are Coleurines and de my Coleurines and Canons to the Stone and other necessaries for their fraught In the Booke follow the names of the Aduenturers also of such as in the Army were entertained for pay such also as were imbarked for the seruice of the Canon for the Hospitall the Râ—giments and Companies in pay the Officers c. which for breuitie Iâ—â—it The Galeons were sixtie foure in number being of an huge bignesse and verie stately built being of marueilous force also and so high that they resembled great Castles most fit 〈◊〉 defend themselues and to withstand any assault but in giuing any other Ships the encounter farre inferiour vnto the English and Dutch Ships which can with great dexteritie weild turne themselues at all ass 〈…〉 The vpper worke of the said Galeons was of thicknesse and strength sufficient to beare off Musket-shot The lower worke and the timbers thereof were out of measure strong being framed for plankes and ribs foure or fiue foot in thicknesse insomuch that no bullets could pierce them but such as were discharged hard at hand which afterward proued true for a great number of bullets were found to sticke fast within the massie substance of those thicke plankes Great and well pitched Cables were twined about the masts of their Ships to strengthen them against the battery of shot The Galliasses were of such bignesse that they contained within them Chambers Chappels Turrets Pulpits and other commodities of great houses The Galliasses were rowed with great Oares there being in each of them 300. slaues for the same purpose and were able to â—ot great seruice with the force of their Ordnance All these together with the residue 〈◊〉 were furnished and beautified with Trumpets Streamers Banners warlike Ensignes and other such like ornaments Their Pieces of Brasen Ordnance were 1600. and of 〈◊〉 1000. The Bullets there to belonging were 120. thousand Item of Gunpowder 5600. quintals Of Match 1200. quintals Of Muskets and Kalâ—â—uers 7000. Of Halberts and Partisans 10000. Moreouer they had great store of Canons double Canons Culuerings and field-pieces for land seruice Likewise they were prouided of all instruments necessary on Land to conueigh and transport their furniture from place to place as namely of Carbs Wheeles Wagons c. Also they had Spades Mattocks and Baskets to set pioners on worke They had in like sort great store of Mules and Horses and whatsoeuer else was requisite for a Land-armie They were so well stored of Biscuit that for the space of halfe a yeere they might allow each person in the whole Fleete halfe a quintall euery moneth whereof the whole 〈◊〉 amounteth vnto an hundreth thousand quintals Likewise of Wine they had 147. thousand Pipes sufficient also for halfe a yeeres expedition Of Bacon 6500. quintals Of Cheese three thousand quintals Besides Fish Rice Beanes Pease Oyle Vinegar c. Moreouer they had 12000. Pipes of fresh water and all other necessarie prouision as namely Candies Lanternes Lampes Saâ—les Hempe Oxe-hides and Lead to stop holes that should be made with the batterie of Gunâ—hot To be short they brought all things expedient either for a Fleete by Sea or for an Aâ—â—ie by land This Name as Diego Pimentelli afterward confessed was esteemed by the King himselfe to containe 32000. persons and to cost him euery day 30. thousand Ducates There were in the said Nauie fiue Terzaes of Spaniards which Terzaes the Frenchmen call Regiments vnder the command of fiue Gouernours tearmed by the Spaniards Masters of the field and amongst the rest there were many old and expert Souldiers chosen out of the Garrisons of Sicilie Naples and Terçera Their Captaines or Colonels were Diego Pimentelli Don Francisco de Toledo Don Alonzo de Lucon Don Nicolas de Isla Don Augustin de Mexia who had each of them two and thirty Companies vnder their conduct Besides the which Companies there were many bands also of Castilians and Portugals euery one of which had their peculiar Gouernours Captaines Officers Colours and weapons It was not lawfull for any man vnder grieuous penaltie to carry any woman or harlots in the Fleete for which cause the women hired certaine Ships wherein they sailed after the Nauie some of the which being driuen by tempest arriued vpon
water it was not able to bee held and therefore vpon the discouery of our Boates they of the high Towne should make a signall by fire from thence that all the low Towne might make their retreat thither but they whether troubled with the sudden terror we brought vpon them or forgetting their decree omitted the fire which made them guard that place till we were entred on euery side Then the Towne being entred in three seuerall places with an huge cry the Inhabitants betooke them to the high Towne which they might with lesse perill doe for that ours being strangers there knew not the way to cut them off The rest that were not put to the sword in fâ—rie fled to the Rocks in the Iland others hid themselues in Chambers and Sellers which were euery day found in great numbers Amongst those Don Iuun de Luna a man of very good commandement hauing hidden himselfe in a house did the next morning yeeld himselfe There was also taken that night a Commissarie of victuals called Iuan de Vera who confessed that there were in the Groine at our entrie fiue hundred Souldiers being in seuen Companies which returned very weake as appeareth by the small numbers of them from the iourney of England The rest falling into the hands of the common Souldiers bad their throats cut to the number of fiue hundred as I coniecture first and last after wee had entred the Towne and in the entry thereof there was found euerie Seller full of Wine whereon our men by inordinate drinking both grew themselues for the present senslesse of the danger of the shot of the Town which hurt many of them being drunk and tooke the first ground of their sicknesse for of such was our first and chiefest mortalitie There was also abundant store of Victualls Salt and all kind of prouision for shipping and the warre which was confessed by the said Commissary of Victualls taken there to be the beginning of a Magasin of all sorts of prouision for a new Voyage into England whereby you may coniecture what the spoile thereof hath aduantaged vs and preiudiced the King of Spaine The next morning about eight of the clocke the enemies abandoned their Ships And hauing ouercharched the Artillery of the Gallion left her on fire which burnt in terrible sort two daies together the fire and ouercharging of the Peeces being so great as of fiftie that were in her there were not aboue sixteene taken out whole the rest with ouercharge of the powder being broken and molten with heat of the fire were taken out in broken pieces into diuers Ships The same day was the Cloister of the South side of the Towne entred by vs which ioyned verie neere to the wall of the Town out of the chambers and other places whereof we beat into the same with our Musketiers The next day in the afternoone there came downe some two thousand men gathered together out of the Countrey euen to the gates of the Towne as resolutely led by what spirit I know not as though they would haue entred the same but at the first defence made by ours that had the guard there wherein were slaine about eighteene of theirs they tooke them to their heeles in the same disorder they made their approach and with greater speed then ours were able to follow notwithstanding wee followed after them more then a mile The second day Colonell Huntley was sent into the Countrey with three or foure hundred men who brought home very great store of Kine and Sheepe for our reliefe The third day in the night the Generall had in purpose to take a long Munition-house builded vpon their wall opening towardes vs which would haue giuen great aduantage against them but they knowing the commodity thereof for vs burnt it in the beginning of the euening which put him to a new councell for he had likewise brought some Artillery to that side of the Town During this time there happened a very great fire in the lower end of the Towne which had it not bin by the care of the Generals heedily seene vnto and the fury thereof preuented by pulling downe many houses which were most in danger as next vnto them had burnt all the prouisions we found there to our wonderfull hinderance The fourth day were planted vnder the guard of the Cloisters two Demy-canons and two Coluerings against the Towne defended or gabbioned with a crosse wall thorow which our battery lay the first and second tire whereof shooke all the wall down so as all the Ordnance lay open to the Enemy by reason wherof some of the Canoniers were shot and some slaine The Lieutenant also of the Ordnance M. Spencer was slaine fast by Sir Edward Norris Master thereof whose valour being accompanied with an honourable care of defending that trust committed vnto him neuer left that place till he receiued direction from the Generall his brother to cease the battery which he presently did leauing a guard vpon the same for that day and in the night following made so good defence for the place of the battery as after there were very few or none annoyed therein That day Captaine Goodwin had in commandement from the Generall that when the assault should be giuen to the Towne he should make a proffer of an Escalade on the other side where he held his guard but he mistaking the signall that would haue beene giuen attempted the same long before the assault and was shot in the mouth The same day the Generall hauing planted his Ordnance ready to batter caused the Towne to be summoned in which summons they of the Towne shot at our Drum immediately after that there was one hanged ouer the wall and a parle desired wherein they gaue vs to vnderstand that the man hanged was hee that shot at the Drum before wherein they all intreated to haue faire wars with promise of the same on their parts The rest of the parle was spent in talking of Don Iuan de Luna and some other prisoners and somewhat of the rendring of the Towne but not much for they listned not greatly thereunto Generall Norris hauing by his skilfull view of the Towne which is almost all seated vpon a Rocke found one place thereof mineable did presently set workemen in hand withall who after three daies labour and the seuenth after we were entred the base Towne had bedded their Powder but indeed not farre enough into the wall Against which time the breach made by the Canon being thought assaultable and Companies appointed as well to enter the same as that which was expected should be blowne vp by the Mine namely to that of the Canon Captaine Richard Wingfield and Captaine Philpot who led the Generalls Foot-company with whom also Captaine Yorke went whose principall commandement was ouer the Horse-men And to that of the Mine Captaine Iohn Sampson and Captaine Anthony Wingfield Lieutenant Colonell to the Master of the Ordnance with certaine selected
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
for they had lost in fighting and by drowning aboue foure hundred men and of the English were slaine about a hundred Sir Richard Greenfield himselfe being wounded in his braine whereof afterwards he died He was borne into the Sâ—ip called the Saint Paul wherein was the Admirall of the Fleete Don Alonso de Barsan there his wounds were drest by the Spanish Surgeons but Don Alonso himselfe would neither see him nor speake with him all the rest of the Captaines and Gentlemen went to visite him and to comfort him in his hard fortune wondring at his courage and stout heart for that he shewed not any signe of faintnesse nor changing of coloâ—r But feeling the houre of death to approach he spake these words in Spanish and said Here dye I Richard Greenfield with a ioyfull and quiet minde for that I haue ended my life as a true Souldier ought to doe that hath fought for his Countrey Queene Religion and honour whereby my Soule most ioyfull departeth out of this body and shall alwayes leaue behinde it an euerlasting fame of a valiant and true Soldier that hath done his duetie as hee was bound to doe When he had finished these or such other like words he gaue vp the Ghost with great and stout courage and no man could perceiue any true signe of heauinesse in him This Sir Richard Greenfield was a great and a rich Gentleman in England and had great yearely reuenewes of his owne inheritance but he was a man very vnquiet in his minde and greatly affected to warre in so much as of his owne priuate motion he offered his seruice to the Qâ—eene He had performed many valiant acts and was greatly feared in these Ilands and knowne of euery man but of nature very seuere so that his owne people hated him for his fiercenesse and spake very hardly of him for when they first entred into the Fleete or Armado they had their great saile in a readinesse and might possibly enough haue sailed away for it was one of the best Ships for saile in England and the Master perceiuing that the other Ships had left them and followed not after commanded the great saile to be cut that they might make away but Sir Richard Greenfield threatned both him and all the rest that were in the Ship that if any man laid hand vpon it he would cause him to be hanged and so by that occasion they were compelled to fight and in the end were taken He was of so hard a complexion that as hee continued among the Spanish Captaines while they were at dinner or supper with him hee would carouse three or foure Glasses of Wine and in a brauery take the Glasses betweene his teeth and crash them in peeces and swallow them downe so that often times the bloud ran out of his mouth without any harme at all vnto him and this was told me by diuers credible persons that many times stood and beheld him The Englishmen that were left in the Ship as the Captaine of the Souldiers the Master and others were dispersed into diuers of the Spanish Ships that had taken them where there had almost a new fight arisen betweene the Biscaines and the Portugals while each of them would haue the honour to haue first boorded her so that there grew a great noise and quarrell among them one taking the chiefe Ancient and the other the Flagge and the Captaine and euery one held his owne The ships that had boorded her were altogether out of order and broken and many of their men hurt whereby they were compelled to come into the Iland of Tercera there to repaire themselues where being arriued I and my chamber-fellow to heare some newes went aboord one of the Ships being a great Biscaine and one of the twelue Apostles whose Captaine was called Bertandono that had bin Generall of the Biscaines in the fleete that went for England He seeing vs called vs vp into the Gallery where with great curtesie he receiued vs being as then set at dinner with the English Captaine that sat by him and had on a sute of blacke Veluet but he could not tell vs any thing for that he could speake no other language but English and Latine which Bartandono also could a little speake The English Captaine that he might come on land with his weapon by his side and was in our lodging with the Englishman that was kept prisoner in the Iland being of that ship whereof the sailers got away as I said before The Gouernour of Tercera bad him to dinner and shewed him great curtesie The Master likewise with licence of Bartandono came on land and was in our lodging and had at the least ten or twelue wounds as well in his head as on his body whereof after that being at Sea betweene Lisbone and the Ilands he died The Captaine wrote a Letter wherein he declared all the manner of the fight and left it with the English Merchant that lay in our lodging to send it to the Lord Admirall of England The English Captaine comming to Lisbone was there well receiued and not any hurt done vnto him but with good conuoy sent to Sentuual and from thence sayled into England with all the rest of the Englishmen that were taken prysoners The Spanish Armie staied at the Iland of Corus till the last of September to assemble the rest of the Fleete together which in the end were to the number of one hundred and forty sayle of Ships partly comming from India and partly of the Army and being altogether ready vnto saile to Tercera in good company there sodainly rose so hard and cruell a storme that those of the Iland did affirme that in mans memory there was neuer any such seene or heard of before for it seemed the Sea would haue swallowed vp the Ilands the water mounting higher then the Cliffes which are so high that it amaseth a man to behold them but the Sea reached aboue them and liuing fishes were throwne vpon the land This storme continued not onely a day or two with one winde but seuen or eight dayes continually the winde turning round about in all places of the compasse at the least twice or thrice during that time and all alike with a continuall storme and tempest most terrible to behold euen to vs that were on shore much more then to such as were at Sea so that onely on the Coasts and Clifts of the Iland of Tercera there were aboue twelue Ships cast away and not onely vpon the one side but round about it in euery corner whereby nothing else was heard but complaining crying lamenting and telling here is a ship broken in peeces against the Cliffes and there another and all the men drowned so that for the space of twenty dayes after the storme they did nothing else but fish for dead men that continually came driding on the shore Among the rest was the English ship called the Reuenge that was cast away vpon
a Cliffe neere to the Iland of Tercera where it brake in a hundred peeces and sunke to the ground hauing in her seuenty men Gallegos Biscaines and others with some of the captiue Englishmen whereof but one was saued that got vp vpon the Cliffes aliue and had his body and head all wounded and he being on shore brought vs the newes desiring to be shriuen and thereupon presently died The Reuenge had in her diuers faire Brasse Peeces that were all sunke in the Sea which they of the Iland were in good hope to weigh vp againe the next Summer following Among these Ships that were cast away about Tercera was likewise a Flie-boate one of those that had bin arested in Portugall to serue the King called the White Doue The Master of her was one Cornelius Martenson of Schiedam in Holland and there were in her one hundred Souldies as in euery one of the rest there was He being ouer ruled by the Captaine that he could not be Master of his owne sayling here and there at the mercy of God as the storme droue him in the end came within the sight of Tercera which the Spaniards perceiuing thought all their safety onely to consist in putting into the Road compelling the Master and the Pilot to make towards the Iland although the Master refused to doe it saying that they were most sure there to be cast away and vtterly spoiled but the Captain called him drunkard Heretick and striking him with a staffe commanded him to do as he would haue him The Master seeing this and being compelled to doe it said well then my Masters seeing it is the desire of you all to be cast away I can but loose one life and therewith desperately he sailed towards the shoare and was on that side of the Iland where there was nothing else but hard stones and Rockes as high as Mountaines most terrible to behold where some of the Inhabitants stood with long ropes and corke bound at the end thereof to throw them downe vnto the men that they might lay hold vpon them and saue their liues but few of them got so neere most of them being cast away and smitten in peeces before they could get to the wall The Ship sailed in this manner as I said before towards the Iland and approaching to the shoare the Master being an old man and full of yeares called his Sonne that was in the ship with him and hauing imbraced one another and taken their last farewell the good old father willed his Sonne not to take care for him but seeke to saue himselfe for said he sonne thou art yong and may haue some hope to saue thy life but as for me it is no great matter I am old what become of me and therewith each of these shedding many teares as euery louing father and kinde childe may well consider the ship fell vpon the Cliffes and brake in peeces the Father on the one side the sonne on the other side falling into the sea each laying hold vpon that which came next to hand but to no purpose for the sea was so high and furious that they were all drowned and onely foureteene or fifteene saued themselues by swimming with their legges and armes halfe broken and out of ioynt among the which was the Masters sonne and foure other Dutch Boyes the rest of the Spaniards and sailers with the Captaine and Master were drowned whose heart would not melt with teares to behold so grieuous a sight specially considering with himselfe that the greatest cause thereof was the beastlinesse and insolency of the Spaniards as in this onely example may well be seene whereby may be considered how the other ships sped as we our selues did in part behold and by the men that were saued did heare more at large as also some others of our Countrimen that as then were in the like danger can well witnesse On the other Ilands the losse was no lesse then in Tercera for on the Iland of Saint George there were two Ships cast away on the Iland of Pico two Ships on the Iland of Gratiosa three ships besides those there came euerywhere round about diuers peeces of broken ships other things fleeting towards the Ilands wherewith the Sea was all couered most pittifull to behold On the Iland of Saint Michael there were foure Ships cast away and betweene Tercera and Saint Michaels three more were sunke which were seene and heard to crie out whereof not one man was saued The rest put into the Sea without Masts all torne and rent so that of the whole Fleete and Armado being one hundred and forty ships in all there were but thirty two or thirty three ariued in Spaine and Portugall yea and those few with so great misery paine and labour that not two of them arriued there together but this day one and to morrow another next day the third so one after the other to the number aforesaid All the rest were cast away vpon the Ilands and ouerwhelmed in the sea whereby may be considered what great losse and hinderance they receiued at that time for by many mens iudgements it was esteemed to be much more then was leftby their Armie that came for England and it may well be thought and presumed that it was no other but a iust plague purposely sent by God vpon the Spaniards and that it might truely be said the taking of the Reuenge was iustly reuenged vpon them and not by the might or force of man but by the power of God as some of them openly said in the Isle of Tercera that they beleeued verily God would consume them and that he tooke part with Lutherans and Heretickes saying further that so soone as they had throwne the dead body of the Viceadmirall Sir Richard Greenfield ouer-boord they verily thought that as he had a diuellish Faith and Relion and therefore the Diuels loued him so he presently sunke into the bottome of the Sea and downe into Hell where he raised vp all the Diuels to the reuenge of his death and that they brought so great stormes and torments vpon the Spaniards because they onely maintained the Catholike and Romish Religion such and the like blasphemies against God they ceased not openly to vtter without that any man reproued them therein nor for their false opinions but the most part of them rather said and affirmed that of truth it must needes be so As one of those Indian Fleetes put out of Noua Spaigna there were fiue and thirty of them by storme and tempest cast away and drowned in the Sea being fiftie in all so that but fifteene escaped Of the Fleete that came from Santo Domingo there were foureteene cast away comming out of the Channell of Hauana whereof the Admirall and Viceadmirall were two of them and from Terra Firma in India there came two ships laden with Gold and Siluer that were taken by the Englishmen and before the Spanish Armie came