they willingly inforced upon us though it were never so necessary or needfull for themselves to keep They are a people of a tractable free and loving nature without guile or treachery their bows and arrows their only weapons and almost all their wealth they use use very skilfully but yet not do any great harm with them being by reason of their weakeness more fit for children then for men sending the arrow far off nor with any great force and yet are the men commonly so strong of body that which 2. or 3. of our men could hardly beare one of them would take upon his back and without grudging carry it easily away up hil and down hill an English mile together they are also exceeding swift in running and of long continuance the use whereof is so familiar with them that they seldome goe but for the most part run One thing we observed in them with admiration that if any time they chanced to see a fish so neer the shoare that they might reach the place without swiming they would seldome or never misse to take it After that our necessary businesses were wel dispatched our generall with his gentlemen and many of his company made a journey up into the land to see the manner of their dwelling and to be the better acquainted with the nature commodities of the country their houses were all such as we have formerly descrbed and being many of them in one place made severall villages here and there The inland we found to be far different from the shoare a goodly country and fruitful soil stored with many blessings fit for the use of man infinite was the company of very large and fat Deer which there we saw by thousands as we supposed in a herd besides a multitude of a strange kind of conies by far exceeding them in number their heads and bodies in which they resemble other Conies are but small his taile like the taile of a Rat exceeding long and his feet like paws of a Want or Moale under his chin on ether side he hath a bagge into which he gathereth his meate when he hath filled his belley abroade that he may with it either feed his young or feed himself when he lifts not to travaile from his burrow the people eate their bodies and make great account of their skins for their Kings holidayes coat was made of them This country our Generall named Albion and that for two causes the one in respect of the white banks and cliffes which lie toward the sea the other that it might have some affinity even in name also with our own country which was sometime so called Before we went from thence our generall caused to be set up a monument of our being there as also of her Majesties and successors right and title to that kingdome namely a plate of brasse fast nailed to a great and firm post whereon is engraven her graces name and the day and yeare of our arrivall there and of the free giving up of the province and kingdome both by the king and people into her Majesties hands together with her highnesse picture and arms in a piece of sixpence â—ntrant English money shewing itself by a hole made of purpose through the place underneath was likewise engraven the name of our Generall c. The Spaniards never had any dealing or so much as set a foot in this country the utmost of their discourses reaching onely to many degrees Southward of this place And now as the time of our departure was perceived by them to draw nigh so did the sorrows and miseries of this people seem to themselves to increase upon them and the more certain they were of our going away the more doubtfull they shewed themselves what they might doe so that we might easily judg that that joy being exceeding great wherewith they received us at our first arrivall was clean drown'd in their excessive sorrow for our departing for they did not only loose on a suddain all mirth joy glad countenance pleasant speeches agility of body familiar rejoycing one with another and all pleasure whotever flesh and bloud might be delighted in but with sighs and forrowings with heavy hearts and grieved minds they powred out wofull complaints and moanes with bitter teares and wringing of their hands tormenting themselves And as men refusing all comfort they only accounted themselves as castawaies and those whom the gods were about to forsake so that nothing we could say or doe was able to ease them of their so heavy a burthen or to deliver them from so desperate a strait as our leaving of them did seem to them that it would cast them into Howbeit seeing they could not still injoy our presence they supposing us to be gods indeed thought it their duties to intreat us that being absent we would yet be mindfull of them and making signes of their desires that in time to come we would see them again they stole upon us a sacrifice and set it on fire ere we were a ware burning therein a chaine and a bunch of feathers We laboured by all meanes possible to withhold or withdraw them but could not prevaile till at last we fell to prayers and singing of Psalms whereby they were allured immediately to forget their folly and leave their sacrifice unconsumed suffering the fire to goe out and imitating us in all our actions they fell a lifting up their eyes and hands to heaven as they saw us doe The 23. of July they took a sorrowfull farewell of us but being loath to leave us they presenly ran to the tops of the hils to keep us in their sight as long as they could making fires before and behind and on each side of them burning therein as is to be supposed sacrifices to our departure Not far without this harborough bid lye certain Islands we called them the Islands of Saint James having on them plentifull and great store of Seals and birds with one of which we fell July 24. whereupon we found such provision as might competently serve our turn for a while we departed again the day next following viz. July 25. And our Generall now considering that the extremity of the cold not only continued but increased the Sun being gone father from us and that the wind blowing still as it did at first from the northwest out off all of finding a passage through the northern parts thought it necessary to loose no time and therefore with generall consent of all bent his course directly to runne with the Islands of the Moluccas And so having nothing in our view but aire and sea without sight of any land for the space of full 68. days together we continued our course through the main Ocean till September 30. following on which day we fell in kenne of certain Islands lying about eight degrees to the Northward of the line From these Islands presently upon the discovery of us came a great number of canows
in other places so over this people and not contenting themselves with a better estate then they deserved except they might as they thought make sure worke by leaving none of the royall blood alive who should make challenge to the Kingdome cruelly murthered the King himselfe father to him who now raignes and intended the like to all his sons Which cruelty instead of establishing brought such a shaking on their usurped estate that they were fain without covenanting to carry away Goods Munition or any thing else to quit the place and the whole Island to save their lives For the present King with his brethren in revenge of their fathers murther so bestirred themselves that the Portugall was wholly driven from that Island and glad that he yet keeps footing in Tidore These four yeeres this King hath been encreasing and was as was affirmed at that present Lord of an hundred Islands thereabout and was even now preparing his forces to hazard a chance with the Portugals for Tidore it selfe The People are Moores whose Religion consists much in certaine superstitious observations of new Moones and certaine seasonâ— with a rigid and strickt kind of fasting We had experience hereof in the Viceroy and his retinue who lay aboard us all the time for the most part during our abode in this place who 〈◊〉 their prescribed time would neither eat not drinke not 〈…〉 as a cup of cold water in the day so zealous are they in their selfe devised worship but yet in the night would eate three times and that very largely This Terenate stands in 27. min. North latitude While we rode at anchor in the harbour of Terenate besides the Natives there come aboard us another a goodly Gentleman very well accompanied with his Interpreter to view our Ship and to conferre with our Generall he was apparelled much after our manner most â—eat and Courtlike his carriage the most respective and full of discreet behaviour that ever we had seen He told us that he was himselfe but a stranger in those Islands being a naturall of the Province of Paghia in China his name Pausaos of the family of Hombu of which family there had 11. raigned in continuall succession these two hundred years and King Boxog by the death of his elder brother who died by a fall from his Horse the rightfull heire of all China is the twelfth of this race he is 22. years of age his Mother yet living he hath a Wife and by her one Son he is well beloved and highly honoured of all his subjects and lives in great peace from any feare of Forreign invasion but it was not this mans fortune to enjoy his part of this happinesse both of his King and Country as he most desired For being accused of a capitall crime whereof though free yet he could not evidently make his Innocency appeare and knowing the peremptory justice of China to be irrevocable if he should expect the sentence of the Judges he before hand made suite to his King that it would please him to commit his trial to Gods providence and judgement and to that end to permit him to travel on this condition that if he brought not home some worthy Intelligence such as his Majestie had never had before and were most fit to be known and most honourable for China he should for ever live an Exile or else dye for daring to set foot againe in his owne Country for he was assured that the God of Heaven had care of Innocency The King granted his suite and now he had been three yeares abroad and at this present came from Tidore where he had remained two Moneths to see the English Generall of whom he heard such strange things and from him if it pleased God to afford it to learne some such Intelligence as might make way for his returne into his Country and therefore he earnestly intreated our Generall to make relation to him of the occasion way and manner of his comming so far from England thither with the manifold Occurrences that had happened to him by the way Our Generall gave ample satisfaction to each part of his request the stranger harkned with great attention and delight to his discourse and as he naturally excelled iâ— memory besides his help of Art to better the same so he firmely printed it in his mind and with great reverence thanked God who had so unexpectedly brought him to the notice of such admirable things Then fell he to intreate our Generall with many most earnest and vehement perswasions that he would be content to see his Country before his departure any farther Westward that it should be a most pleasant most honourable and most pofitabe thing for him that he should gain hereby the notice carry home the description of one of the most ancient mightiest and richest Kingdoms in the world Hereupon he took occasion to relate the number and greatnesse of the Provinces with the rare Commodities and good things they yeelded the number statelinesse and riches of their Cities with what abundance of Men Victuals Munition and all manner of necessaries delightful things they were stored with In particular touching Ordnance and great Guns the late invention of a scab shind Frier amongst us in Europe he related that in Sunuien by some called Quinzai which is the chiefest City of all China they had brasse Ordnance of all sorts much easier to be traversed then ours were and so perfectly made that they would hiâ— a shilling above two thousand yeers agoe With many other worthy things which our Generals own experience if it would please him to make triall would better then his relation assure him of The brize would shortly serve very fitly to carry him thither and he himself would accompany him al the way He accounted himselfe a happy man that he had but seen and spoken with us the relation of it might perhaps serve him to recover favour in his Country but if he could prevaile with our Generall himselfe to goe thither he doubted not but it would be a meanes of his great advancement and increase of honour with his King Notwithstanding our Generall could not on any such perswasions be induced and so the stranger parted sorry that he could not prevaile in his request yet exceeding glad of the Intelligence he had learned By the ninth of November having gotten what provision the place could affoord us we then set sayle and considering that our Ship for want of trimming was now growne foule that our caske and vessels for water were much decayed and that divers other things stood in need of reparation our next care was how we might fall with such a place where with safety we might a while stay for the redressing of these inconveniencies The calmnesse of the winds which are almost continuall before the comming of the brize which was not yet expected perswaded us it was the fittest time that we could take With this resolution we sailed along till November 14.
and we the meane time better follow our purposes with our Pinnaces of which our Captaine would himselfe take two to Rio Grande and the third leave with his Brother to seeke the Symerons Upon this resolution we set saile presently for the said Sound which within five dayes we recovered absteining of purpose from all such occasion as might hinder our determination or bewray our being upon the Coast As soone as we arrived where our Captaine intended and had chosen a fit and convenient road out of all trade for our purpose we reposed our selves there for some fifteene dayes keeping our selves close that the bruit of our being upon the Coast might cease But in the meane time we were not idle for besides such ordinary workes as our Captaine every Moneth did usually inure us to about the trimming and fitting of his Pinnaces for their better sailing and rowing he caused us to rid a large plot of ground both of Trees and Brakes and to build us Houses sufficient for all our lodging and one especially for all our publique meetings wherein the Negro which fled to us before did us great service as being well acquainted with the Countrey and their meanes of Building Our Archers made themselves Butts to shoot at because we had many that delighted in that Exercise and wanted not a Fletcher to keepe our Bowes and Arrowes in order The rest of the Company every one as he liked best made his disport at Bowles Quoits Keiles c. For our Captaine allowed one halfe of their Company to passe their time thus every other day interchangeably the other halfe being enjoyned to the necessary workes about our Ship and Pinnaces and the providing of fresh Victuals Fish Fowle Hogs Deere Conies c. whereof there is great plenty Here our Smiths set up their Forge as they used being furnished out of England with Anvill Iron Coales and all manner of necessaries which stood us in great stead At the end of these fifteene dayes our Captaine leaving his Ship in his Brothers charge to keepe all things in order himselfe tooke with him according to his former determination two Pinnaces for Rio Grand and passing by Carthagene but out of sight when we were within two leagues of the River we landed to the Westwards on the Maine where we saw great store of Cattle There we found some Indians who asking us in friendly sort in broken Spanish what we would have and understanding that we desired fresh Victuals in Traffique they tooke such Cattle for us as we needed with ease and so readily as if they had a speciall commandment over them whereas they would not abide us to come neere them And this also they did willingly because our Captaine according to his custome contented them for their paines with such things as they account greatly of in such sort that they promised we should have there of them at any time what we would The same day we departed thence to Rio Grand where we entred about three of the clocke in the after-noone There are two entrings into this River of which we entred the Westermost called Boca Chica The freshet of this River is so great that vve being halfe a league from the mouth of it filled fresh water for our Beverage From three a clocke till darke night we rowed up the streame but the current was so strong downwards that we got but two leagues all that time We moared our Pinnaces to a tree that night for that presently with the closing of the evening there fell a monstrous shower of raine vvith such strange and terrible claps of thunder and flashes of lightning as made us not a little to marvell at although our Captaine had been acquainted with such like in that Countrey and told us that they continue seldome longer then three quarters of an houre This storme was no sooner ceast but it became very calme and therewith there came such an innumerable multitude of a kind of flies of that Country called Muskitos like our Gnats which bite so spitefully that we could not rest all that night nor finde meanes to defend our selves from them by reason of the heate of the Country the best remedy we then found against them was the juyce of Lymons At the breake of day we departed rowing in the eddy and haling up by the trees where the eddy failed with great labour by spels without ceasing each company their halfe houre-glasse without meeting any till about three a clock after noone by which time we could get but five leagues a head Then we espied a Canow with two Indians fishing in the River but we spake not to them lest so we might be descryed nor they to us as taking us to be Spanyards But within an houre after we espied certaine houses on the other side of the River whose channell is twenty five fathome deep and his bredth so great that a man can scantly be discerned from side to side Yet a Spanyard which kept those houses had espied our Pinnaces and thinking we had been his country-men made a smoake for a signall to turne that way as being desirous to speake with us After that we espying this smoak had made with it and were halfe the River over he wheaved us with his hat and his long hanging sleeves to come a shoare But as we drew neerer unto him he discerned that we were not those he looked for he took his heels fled from his houses which we found to be five in number all full of white Ruske dryed Bacon that Country Cheese like Holland Cheese in fashion but farre more delicate in taste of which they send into Spain as speciall Presents many sorts of sweet meats and Conserves with great store of sugar being provided to serve the Fleet returning to Spaine With this store of victuals we loaded our Pinnaces and by the shutting in of the day we were ready to depart for that we hastned the rather by reason of an intelligence given us by certaine Indian Women which we found in those houses that the Frigates these are ordinarily thirty or upwards which usually transport the Merchandise sent out of Spaine to Carthagene from thence to these houses and so in great Canoas up hence into Nueva Reyno for which the River running many hundred leagues within the land serveth very fitly and returne in exchange the gold and treasure silver victuals and commodities which that Kingdome yeeldeth abundantly were not yet returned from Carthagene since the first alarum they tooke of our being there As we were going aboord our Pinnaces from these Store-houses the Indians of a great Towne called Villa del Rey some two miles distant from the waters side where we landed were brought downe by the Spaniards into the bushes and shot their arrowes but we rowed downe the streame with the current for that the winde was against uâ— onely one league and because it was night anchored till the morning when we rowed downe
to the mouth of the River where we unladed all our provisions and clensed our Pinnaces according to our Captaines custome and tooke it in againe and the same day went to the Westward In this returne we descried a Ship a Barke and a Frigate of which the Ship and Frigate went for Carthagene but the Barke was bound to the Northwards with the wind Easterly so that we imagined she had some gold or treasure going for Spaine therefore we gave her chase but taking her and finding nothing of importance in her understanding that she was bound for Sugar and Hides we let her goe and having a good gale of winde continued our former course to our Ship and Company In the way between Carthagene and Tolou we tooke five or six Frigates which were laden from Tolou with live Hogs Hens and Maiz which we call Guyâ—ny Wheat of these having gotten what intelligence they could give of their preparations for us and diverse opinions of us was dismissed all the men onely staying two Frigates with us because they were so well stored with good Victuals Within three dayes after we arrived at the place which our Captaine chose at first to leave his ship in which was called by our Company Port-Plenty by reason we brought in thither continually all manner store of good Victuals which we tooke going that way by Sea for the victualling of Carthagene and Nombre de Dios as also the Fleets going and comming out of Spaine so that if we had beene two thousand yea three thousand persons we might with our Pinnaces easily have provided them sufficient victual of Wine Meale Ruske Cassavy a kinde of Bread made of a Root called Yucca whose juyce is poyson but the substance good and wholesome dryed Beefe dryed Fish live Sheepe live Hogs aboundance of Hens besides the infinite store of dainty fresh very easily to be taken every day Insomuch that he were forced to build foure severall Magazines or Store-houses some tenne some twenty Leagues a sunder some in Ilands some in the Maine providing our selves in diverse places that though the Enemie should with force surprise any one yet we might be sufficiently furnished till we had made our Voyage as we did hope In building of these our Negroes helpe was very much as having a speciall skill in the speedy erection of such houses This our store was such as thereby we releeved not only our selves and the Symerons while they were with us but also two French Ships in extreame want For in our absence Captaine John Drake having one of our Pinnaces as was appointed went in with the maine and as he towed a loofe the shoare where he was directed by Diego the Negroe aforesaid which willingly came unto us at Nombre de dios he espyed certaine of the Symerons with whom he dealt so effectually that in conclusion he left two of our men with their Leader and brought aboard two of theirs agreeing that they should meet him againe the next Day at a River mid way betwene the Cabezas and our Ships which they named Rio Diego These two being very sensible men chosen out by their Commander did with all reverence and respect declare unto our Captaine that their Nation conceived great joy of his arrivall because they knew him to be an enemy to the Spaniards not only by his late being in Nombre de dios but also by his former Voyages and therefore were ready to assist and favour his enterprises against his and their Enemies to the uttermost and to that end their Captaine and Company did stay at this present neer the mouth of Rio Diego to attend what answer and order should be given them that they would have marched by land even to this place but that the way is very long and more troublesome by reason of many steepe Mountaines deepe Rivers and thicke brakes desiring therefore that it might please our Captaine to take some order as he thought best with all convenient speed in this behalfe Our Captaine considering the speech of these persons and weighing it with his former intelligences had not onely by Negroes but Spaniards also whereof he was alwayes very carefull as also conferring it with his Brothers informations of the great kindnesse that they shewed him being lately with them after he had heard the opinions of those of best service with him what vvere fittest to be done presently resolved himselfe with his Brother and the two Symerons in his two Pinnaces to goe toward this River as he did the same evening giving order that the Ship and the rest of his Fleet should the next morning follow him because there vvas a place of as great safety and sufficiency vvhich his Brother had found out neer the River The safety of it consisted not onely in that vvhich is common all along that Coast from Tolou to Nombre de Dios being above sixty leagues that it is a most goodly and plentifull Countrey and yet Inhabited not with one Spaniard or any for the Spaniards but especially in that it lyerh among a great many of goodly Ilands full of Trees vvhere though there be Channels yet there are such Rocks and shoales that no Man can enter by night without great danger nor by day vvithout discovery whereas our Ship might lye hidden within the Trees The next day we arrived at this River appointed vvhere we found the Symerons according to promise the rest of their number were a mile up in a Wood by the Rivers side There after vve had given them entertainment and received good testimonies of their joy and good vvill towards us vve tooke two more of them into our Pinnaces leaving our two men vvith the rest of theirs to much by land to another River called Rio Guana vvith intent there to meet vvith another Company of Symerons vvhich vvere now in the Mountains So vve departed that day from Rio Diego vvith our Pinnaces towards our Ship as marvelling that she followed us not as vvas appointed But two dayes after vve found her in the place vvhere we left her but in farre other state being much spoyled and in great danger by reason of a tempest she had in our absence As soone as we could trim our Ship being some two dayes our Captain sent away one of his Pinnaces towards the bottome of the Bay amongst the shoales and sandy Ilands to sound out the Channell for the bring in of our Ship neerer the Maine The next day we followed and were with wary Pilatage directed safely into the best Channell with much adoe to recover the Road among so many flats and shoales It was neere about five leagues from the Cativaas betwixt an Iland and the Maine where we moared our Ship The Iland was not above foure Cables length from the Maine being in quantity some three Acres of ground flat and very full of Trees and Bushes We were forced to spend the best part of three dayes after our departure from our
the Scrivano of Tolou These we used very courteously keeping them diligently guarded from the deadly hatred of the Symerons who sought daily by all meanes they could to get them of our Captaine that they might cut their throats to revenge their wrongs and injuries which the Spanish Nation had done them but our Captaine perswaded them not to touch them or give them ill countenance while they were in his charge and tooke order for their safety not onely in his presence but also in his absence For when he had prepared to take his journey for Panama by land he gave Ellis Hixom charge of his owne Ship and Company and especially of those Spaniards whom he had put into the great Prize which was haled a shoare to the Iland which we termed slaughter Iland because so many of our Men dyed there and used as a Store-house for our selves and a Prison for our Enemies All things thus ordered our Captaine conferring with his Company and the Chiefest of the Symerons what Provisions were to be prepared for this great and long journey what kinde of Weapons what store of Victuals and what manner of Apparell was especially advised to carry as great store of Shooes as possibly he might by reason of so many Rivers with stones and gravell as they were to passe which accordingly providing prepared his Company for that journey entring it upon Shrove-tuesday At what time there had dyed twenty eight of our Men and a few whole Men were left aboord with Ellis Hixom to keepe the Ship and tend the Sicke and guard the Prisoners At his departure our Captain gave this Master straight charge in any case not to trust any Messenger that should come in his name with any Tokens unlesse he brought his hand writing which he knew could not be counterfeited by the Symerons or Spaniards We were in all forty eight of which eighteene onely were English the rest were Symerons which besides their Armes bare every one of them a great quantity of Victuall and Provision supplying our want of Carriages in so long a March so that we were not troubled with any thing but our Furniture And because they could not carry enough to suffize us altogether therefore as they promised before so by the way with their Arrowes they provided for us competent store from time to time They have every one of them two sorts of Arrowes the one to defend himselfe and offend the Enemy the other to kill his Victuals These for fight are somewhat like the Scottish Arrow onely somewhat longer and headed with Iron Wood or Fish-bones But the Arrows for Provision are of three sorts the first serveth to kill any great Beast neere hand as Oxe Stag or wilde Boare this hath a head of Iron of a pound and a halfe weight shaped in forme like the head of a Javelin or Boare-spear as sharpe as any Knife making so large and deep a wound as can hardly be beleeved of him that hath not seene it The second serveth for lesser Beasts and hath a head of three quarters of a pound this he most usually shooteth The third serveth for all manner of Birds it hath a head of an ounce weight And these heads though they be of Iron onely yet are they so cunningly tempered that they will continue a very good edge a long time and though they be turned sometimes yet they will never or seldome breake The necessity in which they stand hereof continually causeth them to have Iron in farre greater account then Gold and no Man among them is of greater estimation then he that can most perfectly give this temper unto it Every day we were marching by Sun-rising we continued till ten in the fore-noone then resting ever neere some River till past twelve we Marched till foure and then by some Rivers side we reposed our selves in such Houses as either we found prepared heretofore by them when they travelled thorow these Woods or they daily built very readily for us in this manner As soone as we came to the place where we intended to lodge the Symerons presently laying downe their burthens fell to cutting of Forkes or Posts and Poles or Rafâ—erâ— and Palmiâ—o boughes or Plantaine leaves and with great speed set up to the number of six Houses For every of which they first fastned deepe into the ground three or foure great Posts with forkes upon them they layd one Transome which was commonly about twenty foot and made the sides in the manner of the roofes of our Countrey Houses thatching it close with those aforesayd Leaves which keepe out water a long time observing alwayes that in the lower ground where greater heat was they left some three or foure foot open unthacht below and made the Houses or rather Roofes so many foot the higher But in the Hils where the Ayre was more piercing and the nights colder they made our Roomes alwayes lower and â—hatched them close to the ground leaving onely one Doore to enter at and a lover-hole for a vent in the middest of the roofe In every of these they made foure severall Lodgings and three Fires one in the middest and one at each end of every House so that the Roome was most temperately warme and nothing annoyed with Smoake partly by reason of the nature of the Wood which they use to burne yeelding very little Smoake partly by reason of their artificiall making of it as firing the Wood cut in length like our Billets at the ends and joyning them together so close that though no flame or fire did appeare yet the heat continued without intermission Neere many of the Rivers where we stayed or lodged we found sundry sorts of Fruits which we might use with great pleasure and safety temperately Mammeas Guyavas Palmitos Pinos Oranges Limons and divers other from eating of which they disswaded us in any case unlesse we eat very few of them and those first dry rosted as Planâ—ans Potatos and such like In journeying as oft as by chance they found any wilde Swine of which those Hill or Valleyes have store they would ordinarily six at a time deliver their burthens to the rest of their fellowes and pursue kill and bring away after us as much as they could carry and time permitted One day aâ— we travelled the Symerons found an Otter and prepared it to be drest our Captaine marvelling at it Pedro our chiefe Symeron asked him Are you a man of warre and in want and yet doubt whether this be meat that hath blood Herewithall our Captaine rebuked him secretly that he had so slightly considered of it before The third day of our journey they brought us to a Towne of their owne seated neer a faire River on the side of a Hill environed with a dike of eight foot broad and a thicke mud wall of ten foot high sufficient to stop a sudden surprizer It had one long and broad street lying East and West and two other crosse streets of lesse bredth and
length there were in it some five or six and fifty households which were kept so cleane and sweet that not only the houses but the very streets were very pleasant to behold In this Towne we saw they lived very civilly and cleanely for as soone as we came thither they washed themselves in the River and changed their apparell which was very fine and fitly made as also their Women doe weare somewhat after the Spanish fashion though nothing so costly This Towne is distant thirty five leagues from Nombre de dios and forty five from Panamah Iâ— is plentifully stored with many sorts of Beasts and Fowle with plenty of Maiz and sundry Fruits Touching their affection in Religion they have no kinde of Priests only they held the Cross in great reputation but at our Captaines perswâ—siâ—n they were contented to leave their Crossâ— and to learâ—e the Lâ—rd prayer and to be instructed in some measure concerning Gods true worship They keepe a continuall Watch in foure parts three miles off their Towne to prevent the mischiefes which the Spaniards intend against them by the conducting of some of their owne Coats which having beene taken by the Spanyards have beene enforced thereunto wherein as we learned sometimes the Spaniards have prevailed over them especially when they lived lesse carefull but since they against the Spaniards whom they kill like Beasts as often as they take them in Woods having aforehand understood of their comming We stayed with them that night and the next day till noone during which time they related unto us diverse very strange accidents that had fallen out betweene them and the Spaniards namely one A gallant Gentleman entertained by the Governours of the Country undertooke the yeare last past with a hundred an fifty Souldiers to put this Towne to the Sword Men Women and Children being conducted to it by one of them that had beene taken prisoner and won by great gifts he surprised it halfe an houre before day by which occasion most of the men escaped but many of their women and children were slaughtered or taken but the same morning by Sun rising after that their Guide was slaire in following an other mans wife and that the Symerons had assembled themselves in their strergth they behaved themselves in such sort and drave the Spaniards to such extremity that what with the disadvantage of the Woods having lost their Guide and thereby their way what with famine and vvant there escaped not past thirty of them to returne answer to those which sent them Their King dwelt in a City vvithin sixteene Leagues Southeast of Panama which is able to make one thousand seven hundred fighting men They all intreated our Captaine very earnestly to make his abode with them some two or three dayes promising that by that time they would double his strength if he thought good But he thanking them for their offer told them that he could stay no longer it was more then time to prosecute his purposed Voyage as for strength he would wish no more then he had although he might have presently twenty times as much which they tooke as proceeding not onely from kindnesse but also from magnanimity and therefore they marched forth that afternoon with great good will This was the order of our march foure of those Symerons that best knew the wayes went about a mile distance before us breaking boughes as they went to be a direction to those that followed but with great silence which they required us all to keepe Then twelve of them were as it were our Vantguard and other twelve out Reereward we with their two Captaines in the midst All the Way was thorow Woods very coole and pleasant by reason of those goodly and high Trees that grow there so thicke that it is cooler travelling there under them in that hot Region then it is in the most parts of England in the Summer time This gave a speciall encouragement unto us all that we understood there was a great Tree about the midway from which we might at once discerne the North Sea from whence we came and the South Sea whether we were going The fourth day following we came to the height of the desired Hill a very high Hill lying East and West like a ridge betweene the two Seas about tenne of the clocke where the chiefest of these Symerons tooke out Captaine by the hand and prayed him to follow him if he was desirous to see at once the two Seas which he had so long longed for Here was that goodly and great high Tree in which they had cut and made diverse steps to ascend up neere unto the top where they had made a convenient Bower vvherein tenne or twelve men might easily sit and from thence we might vvithout any difficulty plainly see th' Atlanticke Ocean whence now we came the South Atlantick so much desired South and North of this Tree they had felled certaine Trees that the prospect might be the clearer and neere about the Tree there were diverse strong houses that had beene built long before as well by other Symerons as by these vvhich usually passe that way as being inhabited in diverse places in those vvaste Countries After our Captaine had ascended to this Bower vvith the chiefe Symeron and having as it pleased God at that time by reason of the brize a very faire day had seene that Sea of vvhich he had heard such golden reports he besought Almighty God of his goodnesse to give him life and leave to Saile once in an English Ship in that Sea and then calling up al the rest of our men acquainted Iohn Oxnam especially with this his petition and purpose if it vvould please God to grant him that happinesse who understanding it presently protested that unlesse our Captaine did beat him from his Company he would follow him by Gods grace Thus all throughly satisfied vvith the sight of the Seas descended and after our repast continued our ordinary march through Woods yet two dayes more as before without any great variety But when vve came to march in a Champion Country vvhere grasse grovveth not onely in great length as the kâ—otgrasse grovveth in many places but to such height that the Inhabitants are faine to burne it thrice in the year that it may be able to feed their Cattle of which they have thousands For it is a kinde of Grasse with a stalke as big as a great wheaten reed which hath a blade issuing from the top of it on which though the Cattle feed yet it groweth every day higher untill the top be too high for an Oxe to reach Then the Inhabitants are wont to put fire to it for the space of five or six miles together which notwithstanding after it is thus burnt within three dayes springeth up fresh like greene Corne. Such is the great fruitfulnesse of the soyle by reason of the evennesse of the day and night and the rich Dewes which fall every morning
token to Edward Hixom vvith charge to meet him at such a River though the Master knew vvell the Captaines Tooth-pike yet by reason of his admonition and caveat given him at parting he though he bewrayed no signe of distrusting the Symeron yet stood as amazed least something had befallen our Captaine otherwise then vvell The Symeron perceiving this told him that it vvas night vvhen he vvas sent avvay so that our Captaine cold not send any letter but yet vvith the point of his Knife he vvrote something upon the Tooth-pike vvhich he said should be sufficient to gaine credit to the Messenger Thereupon the Master lookt upon it and savv vvritten By me Francis Drake vvherefore he beleeved and according to the message prepared vvhat provision he could and repaired to the mouth of the River of Tortugos as the Symerons that vvent vvith him then named it That afternoone towards three a Clocke vve vvere come downe to that River not past halfe an houre before vve savv our Pinnace ready come to receive us vvhich vvas unto us all a double rejoycing first that vve savv them and next so soone our Captaine vvith all our Company praised God most heartily for that vve saw our Pinnace and fellowes againe We all seemed to these who had lived at rest and plenty all this while aboard as men strangely changed our Captaine yet not much changed in countenance and plight and indeed our long fasting and sore travell might somewhat sore pine and waste us but the greefe we drew inwardly for that we returned without that Gold and Treasure we hoped for did no doubt shew her print and footsteps in our faces The rest of our Men which were then missed could not travell so well as our Captaine and therefore were left at the Indian new Towne and the next day we towed to another River in the bottome of the Bay and tooke them all aboard Thus being returned from Panama to the great rejoycing of our Company who were throughly revived vvith the report we brought from thence especially understanding our Captaines purpose that he meant not â—o leave off thus but vvould once againe attempt the same journey vvhereof they also might be partakers our Captaine vvould not in the meane time suffer this edge and forwardnesse of his men to be dulled or rebated by lying still idely unimployed as knowing right well by continuall experiences that no sicknesse vvas more noysome to impeach any enterprise then delay and idlenesse Therefore considering deepely the intelligences of other places of importance thereabouts vvhich he had gotten the former years and particularly of Veragua a rich Towne lying to the Westward betweene Nombre de Dios and Nicaragua where is the richest Mine of fine Gold that is on this North side he consulted with his Company touching their opinions what was to be done in this meane time and how they stood affected Some thought that it was most necessary to seeke supply of Victuals that we might the better be able to keepe our men close and in health till our time came and this was easie to be compassed because the Frigates with Victuall went without great defence whereas the Frigates and Barkes with Treasure for the most part were wafted with great Ships and store of Souldiers Others yet judged we might better bestow our time in intercepting the Frigates of Treasure first for that our Magazines and Stor-houses of Victuall were reasonably furnished and the Countrey it selfe was so plentifull that every man might provide for himselfe if the worst befell and Victuall might hereafter be provided aboundantly as well as now whereas the Treasure never floteth upon the Sea so ordinarily as at this time of the Fleetes being there which time in no wise may be neglected The Symerons being demanded also their opinion for that they were experienced in the particularities of all the Townes thereabouts as in which some or other of them had served declared that by Veragua Sinnior Pezoro sometimes their Master from whom they fled dwelt not in the Towne for feare of some surprise but yet not farre off from the Towne for his better releefe in a very strong House of stone where he had dwelt nineteene yeeres at least never travelling from home unlesse happily once a year to Carthagene or Nombre de Dios when the Fleetes were there he keepeth a hundred Slaves at least in the Mines each Slave being bound to bring in dayly cleare gaine all charges deducted three Pezoes of Gold for himselfe and two for his women eight shilligs three pence the Pezo amounting in the whole to above two hundred pound sterling each day so that he hath heaped a mighty Masse of Treasure together which he keepeth in certaine great Chests of two foote deepe three broad and foure long being notwithstanding all his Wealth hard and cruell not onely to his Slaues but unto all men and therefore never going abroad but with a Guard of five or six men to defend his person from danger which he feareth extraordinarily from all Creatures And as touching meanes of compassing this purpose they would conduct him safely thorow the Woods by the same wayes by which they fled that he should not need to enter their Havens with danger but might come upon their backs altogether unlooked for And though his house were of stone so that it could not be burnt yet if our Captaine would undertake the attempt they would undermine and overthrow or otherwise breake it open in such sort as we might have easie accesse to his greatest Treasure Our Captaine having heard all their opinions concluded so that by dividing his Company the two first different sentences were both reconciled both to be practised and put in ure John Oxnam appointed in the Beare to be sent Eastwards towards Tolou to see what store of Victuals would come athwart his halfe and himselfe would to the Westwards in the Minion lye off and on the Cabezas where was the greatest trade and most ordinary passage of those which transported Treasure from Veragua and Nicaragua to the Fleet so that no time might be lost nor opportunity let slip either for Victuall or Treasure As for the attempt of Veragua or Sinior Pezoros House by land by marching thorow the Woods he liked not of least it might over-weary his Men by continuall labour whom he studyed to refresh and strengthen for his next service fore named Therefore using our Symerons most courteously dismissing those that were desirous to goe to their Wives with such Gifts and favours as were most pleasing and entertaining those still aboord his Ships which were contented to abide with the Company remaining the Pinnaces departed as was determined the Minion to the West the Beare to the East The Minion about the Cabezas met with a Frigate of Nicaragua in which was some Gold and a Genoway Pilot of which Nation there are many in those Coasts which had beene at Veragua not past eight dayes before he being very well
appointing the Randevous if any should be severed from the Fleet to be the Island Mogadore And so sailing with favorable winds the first Land that we had sight of was Cape Cantine in Barbary December 25. Christmas day in the morning The shoare is faire white Sand and the inland country very high and mountainous it lyeth in 32. deg 30. min. North latitude and so coasting from hence Southward about 18 leagues we arrived the same day at Mogadore the Island before named This Mogadore lies under the dominion of the King of Fesse in 31. deg 40. m. about a mile of from the shoar by this means making a good harbor between the Land and it It is uninhabited of about a league in circuit not very high Land all overgrowne with a kinde of shrub Brest high not much unlike our privet very full of Doves and therefore much frequented of Gosh â—ukes and such like Birds of prey besides divers sorts of Sea-foul very plenty At the South side of this Island are three hollow Rocks under which are great store of very wholesome but very ugly fish to looke to Lying here about a mile from the mâ—ine a Boat was sent to sound the Harbor and finding it safe and in the very entrance on the north side about five or six fathome water but at the Souther side it is very dangerous we brought in our whole Fleet December 27. and continued there till the last day of the same Month imploying our leasure the meane while in setting up a Pinnace one of the foure brought from home in peeces with us Our abode here was soon perceived by the Inhabitants of the country who coming to the shoar by signes and cries made shew that they desired to be fetched a board to whom our Generall sent a Boat in which two of the chiefest of the Moores were presently received and one man of ours in exchange left a land as a pledge for their returne They that came aboard were right courteously entertained with a dainty banquet and such gifts as they seemed to be most glad of that they might thereby understand that this Fleet came in peace and friendship offering to Traffique with them for such commodities as their country yeilded to their own content This offer they seemed most gladly to accept and promised the next day to resort again with such things as they had to exchange for ours It is a law amongst them to drink no wine notwithstanding by stealth it pleaseth them well to have it abundantly as here was experience At their return ashoare they quietly restored the pledge which they had stayed and the next day at the hour appointed returning again brought with them Camels in shew loaden with wares to be exchanged for our commodities and calling for a boat in hast had one sent them according to order with our Generall being at this present absent had given before his departure to the Island Our boat coming to the place of landing which was among the rocks one of our men called John Fry mistrusting no danger nor fearing any harm pretended by them and therefore intending to become a pledge according to the order used the day before readily stept out of the boat and ran a land which opportunity being that which the Moores did look for they took the advantage of and not only they which were in sight layed hands on him to carry him away with them but a number more which lay secretly hidden did forthwith break forth from behind the rock whether they had conveyed themselves as seemeth the night before forcing our men to leave the rescuing of him that was taken as captive and with speed to shift for themselves The cause of this violence was a desire which the King of Fesse had to understand what this fleet was whether any forerunner of the Kings of Portugall or no and what newes of certainty the fleet might give him And therefore after that he was brought to the K. presence had reported that they were English men bound for the Straights under the conduct of generall Drake he was sent back again with a present to his captain and offer of great courtesie and friendship if he would use his country But in this mean time the generall being grieved with this shew of injury and intending if he might to recover or redeem his man his pinnace being ready landed his company and marched somewhat into the countrey without any resistance made against him neither would the Moores by any meanes come nigh our Men to deale with them any way wherefore having made provision of wood as also visited an old for t built sometime by the King of Portugall but now ruined by the King of Fesse we departed December 31. towards Cape Blank in such sort that when Fry returned he found to his great grief that the fleet was gone but yet by the Kings favor he was sent home into England not long after in an English Merchants ship Shortly after our putting forth of this harbor we were met with contrary winds and foule weather which continued till the fourth of January yet we still held on our course and the third day after fell with cape De Guerre in 30. deg minutes where we lighted on 3. Spanish fishermen called Caunters whom we took with our new pinnace and carried along with us till we came to Rio Del Oro just under the Tropick of Cancer where with our pinnace also we took a carvell From hence till the 15. day we sailed on towards cape Barbas where the Marigold took a carvill more and so onward to cape Blanck till the next day at night This cape lyeth in 20. deg 30. min. sheweth it self upright like the corner of a wall to them that come towards it from the North having between it and cape Barbas low sandy and very white land all the way Here we observed the south Guards called the Crosiers 9. deg 30. min. above the Horizon Wherein the cape we took one Spanish ship more riding at anchor all her men being fled ashoare in the boat save two which with all the rest we have formerly taken we carried into che harbor 3. leagues within the cape Here our Generall determined for certain dayes to make his abode both for that the place afforded plenty of fresh victuals for the present refreshing of our men for their future supply at sea by reason of the infinite store of divers sorts of good fish which are there easie to be taken even within the harbor the like whereof is hardly to be found again in any part of the world as also because it served very fitly for the dispatching of some other businesses that we had During the time of our abode in this place our generall being a shoare was visited by certain of the people of the country who brought down with them a woman a Moore with her little babe hanging upon her dry dug
therefore that this peace which they themselves so willingly sought might without any cause of the breach thereof on our part given to be continued and that we might with more safety and expedition end our businesses in quiet our Generall with all his company used all means possibly gently to intreat them bestowing upon each of them liberally good and necessary things to cover their nakednesse withall signifying unto them we were no gods but men and had need of such things to cover our own shame teaching them to use them to the same ends for which cause also we did eate and drink in their presence giving them to understand that without that we could not live and therefore were but men as well as they Notwithstanding nothing could perswade them nor remove that opinion which they had conceived of us that we should be gods In recompence of those things which they had received of us as shirts linnen cloth c. they bestowed upon our generall and divers of our company diverse things as Feathers Cawls of network the quivers of their arrows made of Fawns-skins and the very skins of beasts that their women wore upon their bodies Having thus had their fill of this times visiting and beholding of us they departed with joy to their houses which houses are digged round within the earth and have from the uppermost brims of the circle clefts of wood set up and joyned close together at the top like our spires on the steeple of a church which being covered with earth suffer no water to enter and are very warm the doore in the most part of them performs the office also of a chimney to let out the smoake it s made in bignesse and fashion like to an ordinary scuttle in a ship and standing slopewise their beds are the hard ground only with rushes strewed upon it and lying round about the house have their fire in the middest which by reason that the house is but low vaulted round and close giveth a marvellous reflexion to their bodies to heate the same Their men for the most part go naked the women take a kind of bulrushes and kembing it after the manner of hempe make themselves thereof a loose garment which being knit about their middles hangs down about their hips and so affords to them a covering of that which nature teaches should be hidden about their shoulders they weare also the sikn of a deere with the haire upon it They are very obedient to their husbands and exceeding ready in all services yet of themselves offring to do nothing without the consents or being called of the men As soon as they were returned to their houses they began amonst themselves a kind of most lamentable weeping and crying out which they continued also a great while together in such sort that in the place where they left us being neer about 3. quarters or an English mile distant from them we very plainly with wonder and admiration did heare the same the women especially extending their voices in a most miserable and doleful manner of shreeking Notwithstanding this humble manner of presenting themselves and awfull demeanour used towards us we thought it no wisdome too far to trust them our experience of former Infidels dealing with us before made us carefull to provide against an alteration of their affections or breach of peace if it should happen and therefore with all expedition we set up our tents and entrenched our selves with walls of stone that so being fortified within our selves we might be able to keep off the enemy if they should so prove from coming amonst us without our good wills this being quickly finished we went the more cheerfully and securely afterward about our other businesse Against the end of two dayes during which time they had not again been with us there was gathered together a great assembly of men women and children invited by the report of them which first saw us who as it seems had in that time of purpose dispersed themselves into the country to make known the newes who came now the second time unto us bringing with thrm as before had been done Feathers and bags of Tobalâ— for presents or rather indeed for sacrifices upon this perswasion that we were gods When they came to the top of the hill at the bottome whereof we had built our fort they made a stand where one appointed as their chief speaker wearied both us his hearers and himself too with a long and tedious oration delivered with strange and violent gestures his voice being extended to the uttermost strength of nature and his words fall so thick one in the neck of another that he could hardly fetch his breath again as soon as he had concluded all the rest with a reverend bowing of their bodies in a dreaming manner and long producing of the same cryed oh thereby giving their consents that all was very true which he had spoken and that they had uttered their mind by mouth unto us which done the men laying down their bowes upon the hill and leaving their women and children behind them came down with their presents in such sort as if they had appeared before a God indeed thinking themselves happy that they might have access unto our generall but much more happy when thew say that he would receive at their hands those things which they so willingly had presented and no doubt the thought themselves neerest unto God when they sate or stood next to him in the mean time the women as if they had been desperate used unnaturall violence against themselves crying and shreeking pitâ—ously tearing their flesh with their nailes from their cheâ—k in a monstrous manner the bloud streaming down along their brests besides spoyling the upper parts of their bodies of those single coverings they formerly had and holding their hands above their heads that they might not rescue their brests from harm they would with furie cast themselves upon the ground never respecting whether it were clean or soft but dashed themselves in this manner on hard stones knobby hillocks stocks of wood pricking bushes or what ever else lay in their way itterating the same course again and again yea women great with child some nine or ten times each and others holding out till 15. or 16. times till their strength failed them exercised this cruelty against themselves a thing more grievous for us to see or suffer could we have holpt it then trouble to them as it seemed to doe it This bloudy sacrifice against our wils being thus performed our generall with his company in the presence of those strangers fell to prayers and by signes in lifting up our eyes hands to heaven signified unto them that that God whom we did serve and whom they ought to worship was above beseeching God if it were his good pleasure to open by some means their blinded eyes that they might in due time be called to the knowledge of him the true and
everliving God and of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent the salvation of the Gentiles In the time of which prayers singing of psalms and reading of certain chapters in the Bible they sate very attentively and observing the end of every pause with one voyce still cryed oh greatly rejoycing in our exercises Yea they took such pleasure in our singing of psalmes that whensoever they resorted to us their first request was commonly this Gnaah by which they intreated that we should sing Our generall having now bestowed upon them divers things at their departure they restored them again none carrying with him any thing of whatsoever he had received thinking themselves sufficiently enriched and happy that they had found so free accesse to see us Against the end of three dayes more the newes having the while spread it self farther and as it seemed a great way up into the country were assembled the greatest number of people which we could reasonably imagine to dwell within any convenient distance round about Amongst the rest the King himself a man of a goodly stature and comely personage attended with his guard of about 100. tall and warlike men this day viz. June 26. came down to to see us Before his coming were sent twe Ambassadors or messengers to our generall to signifie that their Hioh that is their K. was coming and at hand They in the delivery of their message the one spake with a soft and low voyce prompting his fellow the other pronounced the same word by word after him with a voyce more audible continuing their proclimation for such it was about half an houre Which being ended they by their signs made request to our General to send something by their hands to their Hioh or King as a token that his coming might be in peace Our generall willingly satisfyed their desire and they glad men made speedy return to their hioh Neither was it long before their K making as princely a shew as possibly he could with all his train came forward In their coming forwards they cryed continually after a singing manner with a lusty courage And as they drew neerer and neerer towards us so did they more more strive to behave themselves with a certain comlinesse and gravity in all their actions In the forefront came a man of a large body and goodly aspect bearing the Septer or royall mace made of a certain kind of black wood and in length about a yard and a halfe before the King Whereupon hanged two crowns a bigger and a lesse with three chains of a mavellous length and often doubled besides a bag of the herb Tabah The crowns were made of knitwork wrought upon most curiously with Feathers of divers colours very artificiall placed and of a formal fashion The chains seemed of a bony substance every kinde or part thereof being very little thin most finely burnished with a hole pierced through the middest The number of links going to make one chain is in a manner infinite but of such estimation it is amongst them that few be the persons that are admitted to weare the same and even they to whom its lawfull to use them yet are stinted what number they shall use as some ten some twelve some 20. and as they exceed in number of chains so are they thereby known to be the more honourable personages Next unto him that bare this Scepter was the King himself with his guard about him his attire upon his head was a cawl of knitwork wrought upon somewhat like the crown but differing much both in fashion and perfectnesse of work upon his shoulders he had on a coat of the skins of conies reaching to his wast his guard also had each coats of the same shape but of other skins some having cawls likewise such with feathers or covered over with a certain down which groweth up in the country upon an herb much like our lectruce which exceeds any other down in the world for finenesse and being layed upon their cawls by no winds can be removed of such estimation is this herb amonst them that the down thereof is not lawfull to be worn but of such persons as are about the king to whom also it is permitted to weare a plume of Feathers on their heads in sign of honour and the seeâ—s are not used but only in sacrifice to their gods After these in their order did follow the naked sort of common people whose hair being long was gathered into a bunch behind in which stuck plumes of Feathes but in the forepart only single Feathers like horn ever one pleasing himself in his own device This one thing was observed to be generall amonst them all that every one had his face painted some with white some with black and some with other colors every man also bringing in his hand one thing or other for a present their train or last part of their company consisted of women and children each woman bearing against her brest a round basket or two having with them divers things as bags of Tabah a root which they call Petah whereof they make a kind of meale and either beake it into bread or eate it raw broyled fishes like a pilchard the seeed and down afore named with such like Their baskets were made in fashion like a deep boale and though the matter were rushes or such other kind of stuff yet was it so cunningly handled that the most part of them would hold water about the brims they were hanged with pieces of the shels of pearls and in some places with two or three links at a place of the chains forenamed thereby signifying that they were vessels wholly dedicated to the ontly use of the gods they worshiped and besides this they were wrought upon with the matted down of red Feathers distinguished into divers works and forms In the mean time our Generall having assembled his men together as forecasting the danger and worst that might fall out prepared himself to stand upon sure ground that we might at all times be ready in our own defence if any thing should chance otherwise then was looked for or expected Wherefore every man being in a warlike readiness he marched within his fenced place making against their approach a most warlike shew as he did also at all other times of their resort whereby if they had been desperat enemies they could not have chosen but have conceived error and feare with discouragement to attempt any thing against us in beholding of the same When they were come somewhat neere unto us trooping together they gave us a common or a generall salutation observing in the mean time a generall silence Whereupon he who bare the Scepter before the king being prompted by another whom the King assigned to that office pronounced with an audible and manly voice what the other spake to him in secret continuing whether it were his oration or proclamation at the least half an houre At the close whereof there
reasonable quantity in bignesse forme and huske much like a bay-berry hard in substance but pleasant in tast which being sod becometh soft and is a most profitable and nourishing meat of each of these we received of them whatsoever we desired for our need insomuch that such was Gods gracious goodnesse to us the old Proverbe was verified with us After a storme commeth a calme after warre peace after scarcity followeth plenty so that in all our Voyage Terenate onely excepted from our departure out of our owne Country hitherto we found not any where greater comfort and refreshing then we did it this time in this place in refreshing and furnishing our selves here we spent two dayes and departed hence February 10. When we were come into the height of 8. deg 4. min. Feb. 12. in the morning we espied a green Island to the Southward not long after two other Islands on the same side and a great one more towards the North they seemed all to be well inhabited but we had neither need nor desire to goe to visit them and so we past by them The 14. day we saw some other reasonable big Islands and February 16. we past betweene foure or five big Islands more which lay in the height 9. deg 40. min. The 18. we cast anchor under a little Island whence we departed againe the day following we wooded here but other relief except two Turtles we received none The 22. day we lost sight of three Islands on our Starboard side which lay in ten deg and some odde minutes After this we past on to the Westward without stay or any thing to be taken notice of till the ninth of March when in the morning we espyed land some part therof very high in 8. d. 20. m. South latitude here we anchored that night the next day weighed againe and bearing farther North and neerer the shoar we came to anchor the second time The eleventh of March we first tooke in water and after sent our Boat againe to shoare where we had Traffique with the people of the Country whereupon the same day we brought our Ship more neere the Towne and having setled our selves there that night the next day our General sent his man a shoar to preset the King with certain Cloth both Linnen and Woollen besides some Silkes which he gladly and thankfully received and rerurned Rice Cocoes Hennes and other Victuals in way of recompence This Island we found to be the Island Java the middle whereof stands in 7. deg and 30. min. beyond the Equator The 13 of March our General himself with many of his gentlemen and others went to shoare and presented the King of whom he was joyfully and lovingly received with his musicke and shewed him the manner of our use of Arms by training his men with their Pikes and other weapons which they had before him for the present we were entertained as we desired and at last dismissed with a promise of more Victuals to be shortly sent us In this Island there is one chiefe but many under-governors or petty kings whom they call Raias who live in great familiarity and friendship one with another The 14. day we received Victuals from two of them and the day after that to wit the 15 three of these Kings in their owne Persons came aboard to see our Generall and to view our ship and warlike munition They were well pleased with what they saw and with the entertainment which we gave them And after these had been with us and on their returne had as it seemes related what they found Raia Donan the chief King of the whole land bringing Victuals with him for our relief he also the next day after came aboard us Few were the dayes that one or more of these kings did misse to visit us insomuch that we grew acquainted with the names of many of them as of Raia Pataira Raia Cabocapalla Raia Mangbango Raia Bocabarra Raia Timbanton whom our Generall alwayes entertained with the best cheere that we could make and shewed them all the commodities of our Ship with our Ordnance and other Arms and Weapons and the severall furnitures belonging to each and the uses for which they served His musick also and all things else whereby he might doe them pleasure wherin they tooke exceeding great delight with admiration One day amongst the rest viz. March 21. Raia Donan comming aboard us in requitall of our musicke which was made to him presented our Generall with his Country musicke which though it were of a very strange kind yet the sound was pleasant and delightfull the same day he caused an Oxe also to be brought to the waters side and delivered to us for which he was to his content rewarded by our Generall with divers sorts of very costly Silkes which he held in great esteeme Though our often giving entertainment in this manner did hinder us much in the speedy dispatching of our businesses and made us spend the more dayes about them yet here we found all such convenient helpes that to our contents we at last ended them the matter of great Importance which we did besides Victualling was the new trimming and washing of our Ship which by reason of our long Voyage was so overgrowne with a kind of a shell-fish sticking fast unto her that it hindred exceedingly and was a great trouble to her sayling The People as are their Kings are a loving a very true and just dealing People We traffiqued with them for Hens Goats Cocoes Plantons and other kind of Victuals which they offered us in such plenty that we might have laden our Ship if we had needed We tooke our leaves and departed from them the 26. of March and set our course West South West directly towards the cape of good hope or Bon Esperance and continued without touch of ought but aire and water till the 21. of May when we espied land to wit a part of the maine Africa in some places very high under the latitude of 31. deg and halfe We coasted along till June 15. on which day having very faire weather and the Wind at Southeast we past the Cape it selfe so neere in sight that we had beene able with our pieces to have shot to land July 15. we fell with the land againe about Rio de sesto where we saw many Negroes in their Boats a fishing wherof two came very neer us but we cared not to stay nor had any talke or dealing with them The 22. of the same moneth we came to Sierra Leona and spent two dayes for watering in the mouth of Tagoine and then put to Sea again here also we had Oisters and plenty of Lemmons which gave us good refreshing We found our selves under the Tropick of Cancer August 15. having the winde at Northeast and we 50 leagues off from the neerest land The 22. day we were in the
twentieth of November the Generall commanded all the Pinnaces with the Boates to use all diligence to imbarke the Army into such Ships as every man belonged The Lieuetenant Generall in like sort commanded Captaine Goring and Lievetenant Tucker with one hundred shot to make a stand in the Market-place untill our Forces were wholly imbarked the Vice-Admirall making stay with his Pinnace and certain Boats in the harbour to bring the said last company aboord the Ships Also the General willed forthwith the Gallie with two Pinnaces to take into them the company of Captaine Barton and the Company of Captaine Bigs under the leading of Captaine Sampson to seeke out such Munition as was hidden in the ground at the Towne of Pray or Play having been promised to be shewed it by a prisoner which was taken the day before The Captaines aforesaid comming to the Play landed their men and having placed the Troope in their best strength Captaine Sampson tooke the Prisoner and willed him to shew that he had promised the which he could not or at least would not but they searching all suspected places found two peeces of Ordinance one of Iron and another of Brasse In the afternoone the General anchored the rest of the Fleet before the Play comming himselfe ashoare willing us to burne the Towne and make all haste aboord the which was done by six of the clocke the same day and our selves imbarked againe the same night and so we put off to Sea Southwest But before our departure from the Towne of Saint Jago we established Orders for the better government of the Army every man Mustered to his Captaine and oaths ministred to acknowledge her Majestie supreame Governour as also every man to doe his uttermost endeavour to advance the service of the Action and to yeeld due obedience unto the directions of the Generall and his Officers By this provident councell and laying downe this good foundation beforehand all things went forward in a due course to the atchieving of our happy enterprise In all the time of our being here neither the Governour for the King of Spaine which is a Portugall neither the Bishop whose authority is great neither any of the Inhabitants of the Town or Island ever came at us which we expected they should have done to intreat us to leave them some part of their needful provisions or at the least to spare the ruining of their Town at our going away The cause of this their unreasonable distrust as I doe take it was the fresh remembrance of the great wrongs they had done to old Master William Haukins of Plimouth in the Voyage he made foure or five yeares before when as they did both breake their promise and murthered many of his Men whereof I judge you have understood and therefore needlesse to be repeated But since they came not at us we left written in sundry places as also in the Spittle-house which building vvas only appointed to be spared the great discontentment and scorne we tooke at this their refraining to come unto us as also at the rude manner of killing and savage kind of handling the dead body of one of our Boyes found by them stragling all alone from whom they had taken his head and heart and had stragled the other bowels about the place in a most â—â—â—itish and beastly manner In revenge whereof at our departing we consumed with Fire all the houses as well in the Country which we saw as in the Towne of Saint Jago From hence putting over to the West-Indies vve vvere not many dayes at Sea but there began amongst our people such mortality as in few dayes there were dead above two or three hundred men And untill some seven or eight dayes after our comming from Saint Jago there had not dyed any one man of sicknesse in all the Fleet the sicknesse shewed not his infection wherewith so many were stroken untill we were departed thence and then seazed our people with extreame hot burning and continuall ague whereof some very few escaped with life and yet those for the most part not without great alteration and decay of their wits and strength for a long time after In some that dyed were plainly shewed the small sports which are often found upon those that be infective with the Plague we were not above eighteene dayes in passage between the sight of Saint Jago aforesaid and the Island of Dominica being the first Island of the West-Indies that we fell withal the same being inhabited with Savage People which goe all naked their skin coloured with some painting of a reddish tawney very personable and handsome strong men who doe admit little conversation with the Spaniards for as some of our people might understand them they had a Spaniard or twaine prisoners with them neither doe I thinke that there is any safety for any of our Nation or any other to be within the limits of their commandment albeit they used us very kindly for those few houres of time which we spent with them helping our folkes to fill and carry on their bare shoulders fresh Water from the River to our Ships Boats and fetching from their houses great store of Tobacco as also a kind of Bread which they fed on called Cassado very vvhite and savery made of the roots of Cassania In recompence whereof we bestowed liberall rewards of Glasse coloured Beads and other things which we had found at Saint Jago wherewith as it seemed they rested very greatly satisfied and shewing some sorrowfull countenance when they perceived that we would depart From hence we went to another Island Westward of it called Saint Christophers Island wherin we spent some dayes of Christmas to refresh our sicke People and to cleanse and ayre our Ships In which Island were not any People at all that we could hear of In which time by the Generall it was advised and resolved with the consent of the Lievtenant generall the Vice-Admiral and all the rest of the Captains to proceed to the great Island of Hispaniola as well for that we knew our selus then to be in our best strength as also the rather allured thereunto by the glorious fame of the City of Saint Domingo being the ancientest and chiefe inhabited place in all the tract of Countrey there abouts And to proceed in this determination by the way we met a small Frigot bound for the same place the which the Vice-Admirall took and having duly examined the Men that were in her there was one found by whom we were advertized the Haven to be a barred Haven and the shore or Land thereof to be well fortified having a Castle thereupon furnished with great store of Artillery without the danger whereof was no convenient landing place within ten English miles of the City to which the said Pilot tooke upon him to conduct us All things being thus considered on the whole Forces were commanded in the evening to embarke themselves into Pinnaces Boats and other small Barks
Wals right over against you as you enter the said place so as your eye cannot escape the sight of it there is described and painted in a very large Scutchion the armes of the King of Spaine and in the lower part of the said Scutchion there is likewise described a Globe containing in it the whole circuit of the Sea and the Earth vvhereupon is a Horse standing on his hinder part within the Globe and the oher forepart vvithout the Globe lifting up as it were to leape vvith a scrole painted in his mouth wherein was written these words in Latin Non sufficit orbis which is as much to say as the World sufficeth not vvhereof the meaning vvas required to be knowne of some of those of the better sort that came in Commission to treat upon the ransome of the Town who would shake their heads and turne aside their countenance in some smiling sort without answering any thing as being greatly ashamed thereof For by some of our company it was told them that if the Queen of England vvould resolutely prosecute the Wars against the King of Spaine he should be forced to lay aside that proud and unreasonable reaching vaine of his for he should finde more then enough to do to keepe that which he had already as by the present example of their lost Town they might for a beginning perceive well enough Now to the satisfying of some men who marvell greatly that such a famous and goodly builded City so well inhabited of gallant People very bravely apparelled whereof our Souldiers found good store for their relief should afoord no greater Riches then was found there vvherein it is to be understood that the Indian people which were the naturals of this whole Island of Hispaniola the same being neere hand as great as England vvere many yeares since cleane consumed by the Tyranny of the Spaniards which vvas cause that for lacke of people to worke in the Mines the Gold and Silver Mines of this Island are wholly given over and thereby they are faine in this Island to use Copper money whereof vvas found very great quantity The chiefe trade of this place consisteth of Sugar and Ginger which groweth in the Island and Hides of Oxen and Kine which in this waste Countrey of the Island are bred in infinite numbers the soile being very fertile and the said Beasts are fed up to a very large growth and so killed for nothing so much as for their Hides aforesaid We found here great store of strong Wine sweet Oyle Vinegar Olives and other such like provisions as excellent Wheat-meale packed up in Wine pipes and other caske and other commodities likewise as Wollen and Linnen cloth and some Silkes all which provisions are brought out of Spaine and served us for great relief There vvas but a little Plate or Vessel of Silver in comparison of the great Pride in other things of this Towne because in those hot Countries they use much these earthen Dishes finely painted or varnished which they call Parsellina and is had out of the East India and for their drinking they use Glasses altogether whereof they make excellent good and faire in the same place But yet some Plate we found and many other good things as their houshold garniture very Gallant and Rich which had cost them deere although unto us they were of small importance From S. Domingo we put over to the maine or firme Land and going all alongst the Coast we came at the last in sight of Cartagena standing upon the Sea side so near as some of our Barks in passing alongst approched vvith the reach of their Culverin shot which they had planted upon certaine Platformes The harbour mouth lay some three miles toward the Westward of the Town vvhereinto vve entred about three or foure of the Clocke in the afternoone without any resistance of ordinance or other impeachment planted upon the same In the evening we put our selves on Land towards the Harbour mouth under the leading of Master Carleill our Lievtenant Generall who after he had digested us to march forward about the midnight as easily aâ— foot might fall expresly commanding â—o keepe close by the Sea wâ—sh of the shore for our best and surest way whereby we were like to goe through and not to misse any more of the way vvhich once we had lost within an houre after our first beginning to March through the slender knowledge of him that tooke upon him to be our Guide whereby the night spent on which otherwise must have been done by resting But as we came within some two miles of the Town their Horsemen which were some hundred met us and taking the alaâ—um retired to their towneward againe upon the first Volley of our Shot that was given them for the place vvhere we encountered being Woody and bushy even to the water side was unmeet for their service At this instant we might hear some Peeces of Artillery discharged with diverse small shot towards the Harbour which gave us to understand according to the Order set downe in the evening before by our Generall that the Vice-Admirall accompanied with Captaine Venner Captaine White and Captaine Crosse with other Sea Captaines and with diverse Pinnaces and Boates should give some attempt unto the little Fort standing on the entry of the inner Haven neer adjoyning to the town though to small purpose for that the place was strong and the entry very narrow vvas chained over so as there could be nothing gotten by the attempt more then the giving of them an Alarum on that other side of the Haven being a mile and a halfe from the place where we now vvere In which attempt the Vice-Admirall had the Rudder of his Skiffe stroken through with a Saker-shot and little or no harme received elsewhere The Troops being now in their March halfe a mile be hither the towne or lesse the ground we were on grew to be straight and not above fifty paces over having the maine Sea on the side of it and the Harbour vvater or inner Sea as you may terme it on the other side which in this Plot is plainly shewed This straight was fortified clean over with a stone Wall and a ditch without it the said Wall being as orderly built with flancking in every part as can be set down There was onely so much of this straight unwalled as might serve for the issuing of the Horsemen or the passing of the carriage in time of need but this anwalled part was not without a very good Barricado of Wine Buts or Pipes filled vvith earth full and thicke as they might stand on end one by another some part of them standing even within the maine Sea This place of strength was furnished of six great Peeces demi-Culverins and Sakers which shot directly in front upon us as we approached Now without this vvall upon the inner side of the streight they had brought likevvise two great Gallies with their prowesse to the shore
degrees or very neare thereunto Our Pinnaces manned and comming to the shore we marehed up alongst the River side to see what place the Enemie held there for none amongst us had any knowledge thereof at all Here the Generall tooke occasion to march with the companies himselfe in Person the Lieutenant Generall having the Vantguard and going a mile up or somewhat more by the River side we might discerne on the other side of the River over against us a fort which newly had been built by the Spaniards and some mile or three about above the fort was a little Town or village without wals built of woodden houses as this Plot here doth plainly shew we forthwith prepared to have Ordnance for the battery and one Peece was a little before the evening planted and the first shot being made by the Lievtenant Generall himselfe at their Ensigne strake through the Ensigne as we afterwards understood by a Fenchman which came unto us from them One shot more was then made which strake the foot of the fort Wall which was all massive timber of great trees like Mastes The Lievtenant Generall was determined to passe the River this night with foure Companies and there to lodge himselfe intrenched as neare the Fort as that he might play with his Muskets and smallest shot upon any that should appeare and so afterward to bring and plant the battery with him but the helpe of the Marriners for that sudden to make Trenches could not be had which was the cause that this determination was remitted untill the next night In the night the Lievtenant General tooke a little rowing Skiffe and halfe a dozen well armed as Captaine Morgan and Captaine Sampson with some others besides the rowers and went to view what gard the Enemy kept as also to take knowledge of the ground And albeit he went as covertly as might be yet the Enemy taking the Alarum grew fearfull that the whole Force was approaching to the assault and therefore with all speed abandoned the place after the shooting of some of their Peeces They thus gone and he being returned unto us againe but nothing knowing of their flight from their Fort forthwith came a Frenchman being a Phipher who had been prisoner with them in a little Boat playing on his Phiph the tune of the Prince of Orange his song and being called unto by the Guard he told them before he put foot out of the Boat what he was himselfe and how the Spaniards were gone from the Fort offering either to remaine in hands there or else to return to the place with them that would goe Upon this Intelligence the Generall the Lievtenant Generall with some of the Captaines in one Shiffe and the Vice-Admiral with some others in his Skiffe and two or three Pinnaces furnished of Souldiers with them put presently over towards the Fort giving order for the rest of the Pinnaces to follow And in our approach some of the Enemy bolder then the rest having stayed behinde their company shot off two peeces of Ordnance at us but on shore we went and entred the place without finding any man there When the day appeared we found it built all of Timber the Wals being none other but whole Masts or bodies of Trees set upright and close together in manner of a Pale without any Ditch as yet made but who intended with some more time for they had not as yet finished all their work having begun the same some three or foure Moneths before so as to say the truth they had no reason to keepe it being subject both to fire and easie assault The platforme whereon the Ordnance lay was whole bodies of long Pine trees whereof there is great plenty layed a crosse one on another and some little earth amongst There was in it thirteen or fourteen great peeces of brasse Ordnance and a Chest unbroken up having in it the value of some two thousand pounds sterling by estimation of the Kings treasure to pay the Souldiers of that place who were one hundred and fifty Men. The Fort thus won which they called S. John Fort and the day opened we assayed to goe to the Towne but could not by reason of some Rivers and broken ground which was betweene the two places and therefore enforced to imbarke againe into our Pinnaces we went thither upon the great maine River which is called as also the Towne by the name of S. Augustine At our approaching to land there was some that began to shew themselves to bestow some few shot upon us but presently withdrew themselves And in their runing thus away the Serjeant Major finding one of their Horses ready sadled bridled took the same to follow the chase and so overgoing all his Company was by one layed behinde a Bush shot through the head and falling downe therewith was by the same and two or three more stabbed in three or foure places of his body with Swords and Daggers before any could come neere to his reskue His death was much lamented being in very deed an honest wise Gentleman and a Souldier of good experience and of as great courage as any man might be In this place called S. Augustine we understood the King did keepe as is before said one hundred and fifty Souldiers and at another place some dozen leagus beyond to the Northwards called S. Helena he did there likewise keepe one hundred and fifty more serving there for no other purpose then to keepe all other Nations from Inhabiting any part of all that Coast the Government wherof vvas committed to one Pedro Melendez Marquesse Nephew to that Melendez the Admitall vvho had overthrown Master John Hawkins in the Bay of Mexico some fifteen or sixteen years agoe This Governor had charge of both places but vvas at this time in this place and one of the first that left the same Here it vvas resolved in full assembly of Captaines to undertake the enterprize of S. Helena and from thence to seek out the Inhabitation of our English Country-Men in Virginia distant from thence some six degrees Northward When we came thwart of Saint Helena the shols appearing dangerous and we having no Pilot to undertake the entrie it was thought meerest to goe hence alongst For the Admiral had been the same night in four fadome and a halfe three leagues from the shore and yet we understood by the help of a known Pilot there may and doth goe in Ships of greater burthen and draught then any we had in our Fleet. We passed thus alongst the Coast hard aboord the shore which is shallow for a league or two from the shore and the same is low and broken land for the most part The ninth of June upon fight of one speciall great fire which are very ordinary all alongst this coast even from the Cape of Florida hither the Generall sent his Skiffe to the shore where they found some of our English Country men that had been sent thither the year
before by Sir Walter Raleigh and brought one aboord by whose direction we proceeded along to the place which they make their Port. But some of our Shipps being of great draught unable to enter we anchored all without the Harbour in a wilde Road at Sea about two miles from shore From whence the Generall wrote Letters to Master Ralph Lane being Governour of those English in Virginia and then at his Fort about six leagues from the Road in an Island which they call Roanoac wherein is specially he shewed how ready he was to supply his necessities and wants which he understood of by those he had first talked withall The morrow after Master Lane himselfe and some of his company comming unto him with the consent of his Captaines he gave them the choice of two offers that is to say either he would leave a Ship a Pinnace and certaine Boaâ—es with sufficient Masters and Marriners together furnished with a Moneths Victuall to stay and make farther discovery of the Country and coasts and so much Victual likewise that might be sufficient for the bringing of them all being an hundred and three Persons into England if they thought good after such time with any other thing they would desire and that he might be able to spare Or else if they thought they had made sufficient discovery already and did desire to returne into England he would give them passage But they as it seemed being desirous to stay accepted very thankfully and with great gladnesse that which was offred first Whereupon the Ship being appointed and received into charge by some of their owne Company sent into her by Master Lane before they had received from the rest of the Fleet the Provision appointed them there arose a great storme which they said was extraordinary and very strange that lasted three dayes together and put all our Fleet in great danger to be driven from their ankoring upon the coast For we brake many Cables and lost many Ankors And some of our Fleet which had lost all of which number was the ship appointed for Master Lane and his company was driven to put to Sea in great danger in avoyding the Coast and could never see us againe untill we met in England Many also of our small Pinnaces and Boats were lost in this storme Notwitstanding after all this the Generall offered them with consent of his Captaines another Ship with some Provision although not such a one for their turnes as might have been spared them before this being unable to be brought into their Harbour Or else if they would to give them passage into England although he knew he should performe it with greater difficulty then he might have done before But Master Lane with those of the chiefest of his company he had then with him considering what should be best for them to doe made request unto the Generall under their hands that they might have passage for England the which being granted and the rest sent for out of the Country and shipped we departed from that coast the eighteenth of June And so God be thanked both they and we in good safty arrived at Portsmouth in July 28. 1586. to the great glory of God and to no small honour to our Prince our Countrey and our selves The totall value of that which was gotten in this Voyage is estimated at threescore thousand pounds whereof the Companies which have travelled in the Voyage were to have twenty thousand pounds the Adventurers the other forthy Of which twenty thousand pounds as I can judge will redound some six pounds to the single share We lost some seven hundred and fifty Men in the Voyage The Men of name that dyed and were slaine in this Voyage as I can presently call to my remembrance are these Captaine Powell Captaine Varney Captaine Moone Captaine Fortescute Captaine Bigges Captaine Cecill Captaine Hannam Captaine Greenefield Thomas Tucker a Lievtenant Alexander Starkey a Lievtenant Master Escot a Lievtenant Master Waterhouse a Lievtenant Master Nicholas Winter Master Alexander Carleill Master Robert Alexander Master Scroope Master James Dier Master Peter Duke With some other who for haste I cannot so suddenly thinke on The Ordnance gotten of all sorts Brasse and Iron were about two hundred and forty whereof the two hundred and some more were Brasse and were thus found and gotten In S. Jago some two or three and fifty Peeces In S. Domingo about foure score whereof was very much great Ordnance as whole Cannon Demi-Cannon Culverins and such like In Cartagena some sixty and three Peeces and good store likewise of the greater sort In the Fort of S. Augustine were fourteen Peeces the rest was Iron Ordnance of which the most part was gotten at S. Domingo the rest at Cartagena FINIS A Full RELATION Of another VOYAGE INTO THE WEST INDIES MADE BY SIR FRANCIS DRAKE Accompanied with Sir John Hawkins Sir Thomas Baskerfield Sir Nicholas Clifford and others Who set forth from Plimouth on the 28. of August 1595. Printed at London for Nicholas Bourne dwelling at the South entrance of the Royall Exchange 1652. A FULL RELATION OF Another Voyage made by Sir FRANCIS DRAKE and others to the WEST INDIES who set forth from Plimouth the 28. of August 1595. THIS Valiant and Heroick Worthy having many yeers faithfully served his Prince and Country doth yet more apparently manifest his impartiall integrity to both as may appear by this Relation following of another Voyage made by him into the West Indies accompanied with other Gentlemen whose names and Offices immediately ensue Sir Francis Drake Chiefe Generals Sir John Hawkins Chiefe Generals Sir Thomas Baskerfield Coroner Generall Sir Nicholas Clifford Lievtenant Generall Captaine Arnold Baskerfield Serjeant Major Captaine Nicholas Baskerfield Captaine Barkley Captaine Grinstone Captaine Rush Captaine Boswell Captaine Platt Captaine Chichester Captaine Stanton Captaine Fenton In the thirty seventh year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth being the eight and twentieth of August one thousand five hundred ninty five we imbarked at Plimouth thence we sail'd toward the Grand Canadoes in which passage Sep. 6. about noon we descri'd a French man of War in the height of the Northern Cape whom we chasing immediately overtooke after him a Rochellor having been at New-found-land whom we quietly let passe after that we overtooke two Biskners bound for Barbara who accompanied us untill they could take their course thither The ninth of September we espyed a Ship of Weymouth vvhom vve chased and fetched up vvho speaking with our Generall accompanied us to the Grand Canadoes Presently after we discovered twenty of the King of France's men of Warre vvho chased us but could not fetch us up and therefore left us The nineteenth of September we met with a Frigate of the Earle of Cumberlands who brought us word that the Kings men of Warre were going homewards The twenty five of September we descried two Islands the one called Hamseroth West and by South The other Forta fontura both standing in
28 degrees and are distant one from the other 4 or 5 leagues Inhabited only by a savage people These Islands from the Grand Canadoes are distant ten leagues The twenty sixt of September we anchored in the aforesaid port of Canadoes otherwise called S. John Decrus and about ten of the clock in the forenoone we were imbarked into Boats and Pinnaces endeavoring with the greatest celerity to attain to land but were frustrated of our intentions by the Enemies vigilancy who waiting our comming had intrenched themselves in the very place where we should have put to shore who upon our approach plyed us so fast with great and small shot both from the Castle and towne and from the other side of us that we were constrained to retire with the losse of some few men unto our Ships againe The Enemy were in number betweene three or foure hundred strong The same day being all imbarked in our Ships againe we departed to a certaine place where we watered it lyeth West and by North from the towne and was in times past a great and famous River But now it is overgrown with grasse it commeth from the Rocks and runneth to the Sea The people of this Island being a barbarous people and Mountaneers vve had slaine at this watering place by them of our men which stragled into the Countrey amongst whom vvas Captaine Grinston and foure more with him the which were wounded very sore and torne with dogges which they keepe of purpose to destroy our men when any of them come there to water This Iland yeeldeth much Wine as Canadoe Wine and divers kind of graine as Wheat and such like great store of Conies and Partredges and Tresse which have a joyce like Milk but rank poyson This Iland hath many mighty Rocks in it there is about twenty leagues distant from this Island another Island called the Tenereffe or Peak of Tenereffe It is a mighty high land Sunday the twenty eight of September a little before night we departed from the aforesaid watering place towards the Orientall Indies we tooke our course South West and by West Septemb. 29 being Michaelmas day we sayled South west and by South the thirtieth we sayled South vvest the first of October we sayled West and by South the thirteenth we sayled West in the height of sixteenth degr the fourteenth the wind was southernly the five and twentieth of this Moneth the Hope and the Adventure fell foule on one another about ten of the clocke in the night so that they of the Adventure were constrained to cut downe their Nisson Maste and to fling it overboord The night being very darke and there arising a great tempest of Haile and Raine at the same time they were in extream Jeopardy of their lives which caused in them a very great terror The twenty seventh of October we espyed the Island of Martinino which lay from us towards the West This Island is inhabited by a Barbarous people called Canibals We vvere thirty dayes sayling between the Canadoes and Martinino From this Island we sayled towards an Island called Dominica where is great store of Tobacco It is distant from Martinino about ten or twelve of our English miles and beareth West and by North. The people of this Island be not altogether so rude as other peopl are for they would traffick with us for hatched Knives such like Commodities in exchange for their Tobacco which is the chiefest commodity this Island yeeldeth The Weapons used by these people are Bowes and Arrowes made of a Reed with a sharp peece of Braseilon the end thereof they to use wear their haire very long cut round by their shoulders The thirtieth of this instant October we came to another Island called Gordelowpa which is distant from that of Dominica ten leagues we went unto a certaine River of that Island on the West side there be many Rivers issuing out of the Mountaines with great force into the Sea This Island is not inhabited but is a very Wildernesse wherein are many wilde Beasts amongst the rest there is one worthy of your observation in shape of a Serpent We continued there from the thirtieth of October to the fourth of November From thence we sayled towards the River della hatch and struke our course North West and by North. The seventh of November vve descried three Islands of the Trigonies vvhich lyeth between Gordelowpa and Saint John de Portrizo the first is called Mononalla the second Rotmido the third Savoa we sayled within three or four leagues of them vvhere vve found it in depth sometimes five otherwhiles eight fathome the shoal beareth from us North east The eight of November our Generall set on shoar all the Land-men to the end that every Captaine might know his owne men The tenth of November vve departed from that Harbour to another three or four English miles distant vvhere vve continued untill tuesday the eleventh of November and then set sayle for Saint John de Portrizo West and by North. These Islands belonging to Virginia be many in number vve cannot name them because they be without Inhabitants there are many faire Harbours in them in some whereof one thousand Ships may ride at anchor on every side the Mountaines are very high Thence we went to some passages not farre of The twelfth of November being Wednesday we anchored within three or foure English miles of the Towne of Portricho against a great Fort where was placed a great peece of Ordnance which plyed us with shot divers times The same day Sir John Hawkins dyed at the place aforesaid whose death in regard that he was one of our chiefe Commanders a wise discreet and carefull Man for his Company was no little griefâ— unto us all The same day also was Sir Nicholas Clifford Captaine Stratford Master Brutt Browne were wounded with the same peece of Ordnance from the said Fort all at one time sitting at Supper with our Generall Sir Francis Drake and Sir Thomas Baskerfield the stoole that Sir Francis Drake sat on was struke from under him as he was drinking of a cup of Beere yet by Gods providence he escaped with all the rest but onely them three before mentioned the same night Sir Nicholas Clifford dyed of the same wound and the same night we went against the Towne where we anchored The next day which was thursday the 13. of November our Generall called a Councell The night following about nine of the clocke in the night certaine shott being appointed to be imbarked in our Pinnaces and Boats with Gunners and Fire-workes there were to the number of five hundred Men which went within the Harbour to burne the five Men of Warre which rode within the Harbour one of them was of the burthen of foure hundred tunne the rest not so big in this Ship was planted great store of great Ordnance which played upon our Men exceedingly besides great store of small shott likewise great store of great shott from the shore with
all the Kings treasure and Merchandise In this House we found some of their treasure and Merchandise with other things which was brought in as Pearle and such like which was brought unto the Genenerall The Country yeeldeth great store of Cattle as Oxen Beeves Goats Sheepe Horses and Asses as also great store of grasse The people that Inhabit this Country are Idians and Negroes they live in the Mountaines being wilde and savage People but onely such as the Spaniards keepe under subjection those wilde People doe Warre against the Spaniards in this Country are great store of Fowls as Pellicans and other red Fowls being Sea Fowls in the proportion of a Crane There is distant from the towne some ten leagues a mighty great Mountaine bearing towards the West from the towne of River Della Hatch This Hill seemeth to be far higher then the Glorodel Upon it snow remaineth continually through the coldnesse of its situation The nineteenth of December being Saturday we came to another towne called Sancta Martha the which we entred and there we found the Enemy with their Wives and Children fled out of the towne into the Mountains but our men following them into the Woods found some Treasure with other things of some value The same day we tooke one of the chiefe Cavaliers of the towne he was the Governors Deputy of the towne the which we brought away with us we departed from Santa Martha the twentieth of December being Sunday at our departure from the towne leaving it on fire we were informed by the Spaniards that we were within three leagues of a Golden Mine The twenty five of December being thursday we sayled towards another towne called Nombre de dios The same day being Christmas day we came within the sight of the Island called Pinos distant from us twelve leagues The twenty seventh of December we anchored before the face of the town of Nombre de dios the same day Captain Arnold Baskerfield being Serjeant Major dyed we being imbarked we landed all our men an English mile from the towne and so marched toward the towne where the Enemy gave us a brovadoe of shor and so they ran away into the Woods all their Goods and Treasure was gone before they left none but what was the Soldiers and that lay in a great Fort. They had but three great Peeces of Ordnance and one of them broke with the Shot some of the Soldiers we tooke prisoners The King usuall sendeth all his Treasure and Merchandize to this place and to that end hath Boats and Pinnaces which continually bring his Treasure from Panama to this place We found some treasure in the Woods as Oyle Wine Vinegar Meale and Linnen-Cloth Our Generall having intelligence of the Governors going towards Panama The munday after Sir Thomas Baskerfield our Coriner General with six hundred men went by land with intent to have surprized him The way was extream dangerous to travell in not onely in regard of the Enemy but also of the water and Rocks insomuch that oft times we went in perill of our lives In our march we saw great store of Munkyes Apes and could heare Lyons This towne of Panama standeth upon the South Sea and is distant from Nombre de dios eighteen leagues we marched nine leagues but could get no farther the Enemy preventing us by a Fort vvhich they made on the top of a Rocke which we of necessity must march through It was so narrow that but one man could goe before another which they taking the advantage of slew our men as fast as they ascended up there being no other way â—o passe we vvere constrained to retire with the losse of some of our best men and with little Joy unto us that vve missed of our intended purpose Comming to Nombre de dios vve seeng all of it almost consumed vvith fiâ—e vve hasted vvith all speed unto our Ships againe In this March a paire of Shoos vvas sold for thirty shillings and a Bisket Cake for ten Shillings so great was our want both of Clothing and Victuals The chief Captains and Commanders in this March was Sir Thomas Baskerfield Captain Nicholas Baskerfield our Lievtenant General who vvas hurt in this march Captain Stanton Captaine Boswell Captaine Christopher Captaine Power and Captain Bartley The night before vve came to Nombre de dios our men had burned the great House vvherein the Kings Treasure used to lye vvhen it came from Panama also there was burnt a town Inhabited by Negroes which is distant two leagues from Nombre de dios at our coâ—ming thither they of the towne gave us a volley of shot and so ran away leaving the towne on fire The fifth of January being munday vve departed out of the Harbour towards Scoday the tenth of Ianuary being saturday vve came to Scoday it beareâ—h from Nombre de dios North and by West The same day vve gave chase to a Spanish Frigate vvhich came from this Island the vvhich vve tooke the eleventh being sunday vve brought the Frigat to our General we found in him four Spaniards and three Negroes and not any thing of any account she vvas found to be a spye comming from Nombre de dios and going to the townes there to give intelligence of us The same day our Generall commanded all our sicke Men to be carried a shore and to have the best comfort vve vvere able to give them to strengthen them also vve builded four Pinnaces and tooke in fresh vvater This Island is a Wildernesse vvithout any Inhabitants but great store of wilde Beasts as Beares Nelegatures Guanoes the Nelegature is in form like to a Serpent the Guanoe like to a Snake having foure legges and along rayle oâ—◠〈◊〉 are many prickes these live on the Trees a◠〈…〉 Squirrils doe the Nelegature liveth in 〈…〉 sweet meat and in his bladder 〈…〉 steth accordingly its of the big 〈…〉 we did eat very many of them The 〈…〉 â—â—â—ntieth of Ianuary we departed from this Island of Scâ—day bearing backe againe towards Nombre de dios to an Island where we continued two dayes afterward we went to Porta Vella being five dayes sailing betweene Scoday and Porta Vella The same day Sir Francis Drake our General departed this life whose death was exceedingly deplored his interment was after this manner His Corps being laid in a Cophin of Lead he was let downe into the Sea the Trumpets in dolefull manner echoing out this lamentation for so great a losse and all the Cannons in the Fleet were discharged according to the custome of all Sea Funerall obsequies We continued here untill the eighth of February watring and ballasing our Ships In this Horbor are some few houses Inhabited with Spaniards they beginning to build a new Towne and a great Bulwarke which we spoyled and burned we found many Chests full of Carpenters tools with many Iron Bars and other necessaries for building which we brought away with us The day before we came away the Enemy came