may not vtterly perish of whose good capacitie wherein they exceed those of Mexico and Peru as we be giuen to vnderstand by those that haue delt with them we may boldly presume that they will easily embrace the Gospel and abandon such idolatrie as now the most of them doe liue in which Almightie God graunt for his honour and glory and for the increase of the holy Catholique faith A letter of Bartholomew Cano from Mexico the 30. of May 1590. to Francis Hernandes of Siuil concerning the speedy building of two strong Forts in S. Iohns de Vllua and in Vera Cruz as also touching a notable new and rich discouery of Cibola or New Mexico 400â— leagues Northwest of Mexico IT may please you Sir to be aduertised that I haue receiued your letters whereby I understand that our ship with the treasure is safely ariued God be praised therefore The frigate arriued here in safetie which brought the letters of Aduise from the King to the Uiceroy She arriued in S. Iohn de Vllua the 29. of May deparâ—ed from S. Lucar in Spaine the 6. of April By which his Maiestie writeth vnto the Uiceroy what time the Fleete shall depart from hence and what course they shall take not as they had wont for to do by reason that there are great store of men of war abroad at the sea which meane to encounter with the Fleete I pray God sende them well to Spaine for here wee were troubled very sore with men of warre on this coast His Maiestie hath sent expresse coÌ„mandement vnto the Marques of Villa Manrique his cosen Uiecroy of Noua Hispania that immediatly vpon sight of his letters he that coÌ„mand to be builded in S. Iohn de Vllua in Vera Cruz two strong Forts for the defence of these countries of his Maiesties charges And that there shal be garisons in both the Forts for the defence of the ships which ride there and for the strength of the countrey There are departed out of Mexico and other townes hereabout by the commaundement of the Uiceroy 500. souldiers Spaniards vnder the coÌ„duct of Rodorigo del Rio the gouernour of Nueua Biscaia which are gone to win a great City called Cibola which is 400. leagues beyond Mexico to the Northwest and standeth vp in the maine land It is by report a very great citie as bigge as Mexico and a very rich countrey both of golde Mines and siluer Mines and the King of the countrey is a mighty King and he will not become subiect to his Maiestie There were certaine Spaniards sent to that king from the Uiceroy in an ambassage It is thought that they are slaine for we can here no newes of them The other newes that I can certifie you of at this instant is that there is a Iudge of the city of Guadalajara called don Nunno de villa Inscensia lately maried Also the kings Atturney of Guadalajara maried his daughter of 8. yeres old with a boy of 12 yeres old But the Uiceroy saith that he hath a warrant from his Maiestie that if any Iudge whatsoeuer dwelling in that kingdome of Guadalajara should mary any some in that iurisdiction that then the said Uiceroy is to depriue him of his office And therfore he went about to depriue the Iudge the kings Attourney of their offices Whereupon the people of that prouince would not thereunto consent nor suffer them to be dismissed of their offices nor to be arrested nor caried prisoners to Mexico When the viceroy had intelligence thereof that the Countrey did resist his commandement and would not suffer them to be apprehended he sent certaine Captaines with souldiers to goe and apprehend the Iudge the kings Attourney and as many as did take their parts So the citizens of Guadalajara withstood the viceroies forces put themselues in defence and are vp in armes against the viceroy yet they do not rebel against the king but say God saue king Philip and wil submit themselues to his Maiestie but not to the viceroy So that all the kingdome of Guadalajara is vp in armes and are all in a mutinie against vs of Mexico I beseech Almighty God to remedy it and that it may be qualified in time or else all Noua Spania wil be vtterly spoiled I write this thing because it is publiquely knowen in all places And thus I rest from Mexico the 30. of May 1590. Bartholomew Cano. THE FIRST AND SECOND DISCOuery of the gulfe of California and of the Sea-coast on the Northwest or backside of America lying to the West of New Mexico Cibola and Quiâ—ira together with Sir Francis Drakes landing and taking possession vpon Noua Albion in the behalfe of the Crowne of England and the notable voyage of Francis Gaule Wherein amongst many other memorable matters is set downe the huge bredth of the Ocean sea from China and Iapan to the Northwest parts of America in the 38. and 40. degrees A relation of the discouery which in the Name of God the Fleete of the right noble Fernando Cortez Marques of the Vally made with three ships The one called Santa Agueda of 120. tunnes the other the Trinitie of 35. tunnes and the thirde S. Thomas of the burthen of 20. tunnes Of which Fleete was Captaine the right worshipfull knight Francis de Vlloa borne in the Citie of Merida Taken out of the third volume of the voyages gathered by M. Iohn Baptista Ramusio Chap. 1. Francis Vlloa a captaine of Cortez departeth with a Fleet from the port of Acapulco and goeth to discouer vnknowen lands he passeth by the coast of Sacatula and Motin and by tempest runneth to the riuer of Guajanal froÌ„ whence he crosseth ouer to the hauen of Santa Cruz along the coast whereof he discouereth 3. smal Ilands and within two dayes and an halfe returning to the maine land he discouereth the riuer called Rio de San Pedro y San Pablo and not far distant from thence two other riuers as big or greater then that of Guadalquiuir which runneth by Siuil together with their head-springs WE imbarked our selues in the hauen of Acapulco on the 8. of Iuly in the yeere of our Lord 1539 calling vpon almighty God to guide vs with his holy hand vnto such places where he might be serued and his holy faith aduanced And we sailed from the said port by the coast of Sacatula and Motin which is sweete and pleasant through the abundance of trees that grow thereon and riuers which passe through those countreis for the which wee often thanked God the creatour of them So sailing along we came to the hauen of S. Iago in the prouince of Colima but before we arriued there the maine mast of our ship called Santa Agueda was broken by a storme of winde that tooke vs so as the ship was forced to saile without her mast vntil we arriued in the laid hauen From the port of Acapulco to this hauen of Colima wee were sayling the
confidence in you principally to sell them for ready mony time to good debters or in barter for good wares so that you make our other Agents priuy how and for what price you sell any of the premisses and also deliuer such summes of money billes or wares as you shall receiue vnto our said Agents thinking good further that if you perceiue that the place or other iewels or any part thereof will not be sold for profit before your departure from the Mosco that then you cause them to be safe packed and set order they may be sent hither againe in our shippes the next yeere except you perceiue that there may be some profit in carrying some part of them into Persia which we would not to be of any great value We haue also laden in the sayd Swallow and the other two ships 80 fardles conteining 400 kersies as by y e inuoice doth appeare which fardles be packed appointed to be caried into Persia neuerthelesse if you chance to finde good sales for them in the Mosco we thinke it were good to sell part of them there and to cary the lesse quantity with you because we be vncertaine what vent or sale you shall finde in Persia or other places where you shall come If you obtaine the Emperours licence to passe out of his dominions and to returne as aforesaid that you perceiue you may safely do the same our minde is that at such time as you thinke best â—nd most conuenient for that purpose you do appoint so many and such of our hired seruants or apprentises as you thinke necessary meet for our affaires and may best be spared to go with you in your said voyage whereof we would one to be such as you might make priuy of all your doings for diuers considerations and causes that may happen which seruants and apprentises â—e will and command by this our remembrance to be obedient vnto you as vnto vs not onely to goe with you and to doe such things as you command them in your presence but also to goe vnto such countreys or places as you shall appoint them vnto either with wares or without wares there to remaine and continue so long as you shall thinke good and if they or any of them will refuse â—o do such things as you do appoint them as aforesaid or that any of them be he hired seruant or apprentise do misuse himselfe by any maner of disobedience or disorder and will not by gentle and faire meanes be reformed we will that you send him backe to the Mosco with straight order that he may be sent from thence hither let vs haue knowledge of his euill behauior to the intent that if he be a hired seruant we may pay him his wages according to his seruice and if he be an apprentise we may vse him according to his deserts We will also that you take with you such karsies scarlet and other clothes or any other suâ—h wares of ours as you shall thinke good and so in the name of God to take your iourney towards Persia either by the way of Astracan and Mare Caspium or otherwise as you shall see cause and when God sendeth you into Persia our minde is that you repaire vnto the great Sophy with the Queenes Maiesties letters if he be not too farre from the Caspian sea for you to trauell and that you make him such a present as you shall thinke meet and if you passe by any other kings princes or gouernors before or after you come to the presence of the Sophy likewise to make them some present as you see cause according to their estate and dignitie and withall to procure letters of priuilege or safe conduct of the sayd Sophy or other princes in as large and ample maner as you can for the sure establishing of further trade in merchandise by vs heereafter to be made frequented and continued in those parts not onely that we may freely sell in all places within his dominions such wares as we cary thither but also buy and bring away any maner of wares or merchandise whatsoeuer it be that is for our purpose and commoditie within his dominions with free passage also for vs at all times to passe as often as we will with our goods and merchandise into any part of India or other countreys thereunto adioyning and in like maner to returne thorow his dominions into Russia or elswhere And for the sale of our kersies or other wares that you shall haue with you as our trust is that you will doe for our most profit and commoditie euen so we referre all vnto your good discretion aswell in the sale of our sayd goods as to make our returne in such things as you shall finde there and thinke best for our profit But if passage cannot be had into Persia by Astracan or otherwise the next Summer which shal be in the yeere 1562 then our minde is that you procure to sell our kersies other such wares as are appointed for Persia in the Mosco or other the Emperours dominions if you may sell them for any reasonable price and then to employ your selfe with such other of your seruants as you shall thinke meet for the search of the passage by Noua Zembla or els you to returne for England as you thinke good Prouided alwayes that if you do perceiue or vnderstand that passage is like to be had into Persia the Summer folowing which shal be in the yere 1563 and that you can not sell our kerâ—ies in the Emperours dominions as aforesayd at a reasonable price then we will rather they may be kept till the said Summer in the yeere 1563 and then you to proceed forwards vpon your iourney towards Persia as aforesayd If passage into Persia cannot be obteined the next yeere neither good hope of passage in the yeere 1563 neither yet in the meane time good sale of our kersies in the Emperours dominions then we thinke good for you to see if you can practise to cary your said wares by safe conduct thorow Polonia or any other wayes vnto Constantinople or els where you thinke beter sale may be had then in Russia Thus haue we giuen you to vnderstand our meanings in this intended aduenture but forasmuch as we do consider and know that if we should prescribe vnto you any certeine way or direct order what you should doe we might so worke cleane contrary to our purpose and intent therefore knowing your approued wisedome with youre experience and also your carefull and diligent minde in the atchieuing and bringing to good successe by the helpe of almighty God all things that you take in hand we doe commit our whole affaires concerning the said aduenture wholly vnto your good discretion praying God so to prosper you as may be first for his glory secondly for the honour and commoditie of this realme and next for our profit with the increase of your good name for euer And
the streame moreouer we knew not where we were whereupon doubting whither wee were past or short of our port the Master Pilot and other Officers of the shippe entered into counsell what was best to doe wherevpon they agreed to sende the bote on lande againe to seeke some man to speake with all but they returned as wiâ—e as they went Then we set sayle againe and sounded euery mile or halfe mile and found still one depth so we not knowing where we were came againe to an anker seuen or eight miles by West from the place we were at Thus still doubting where we were the boâ—e went on land againe and brought newes that wee were short 80 miles of the place whereas we thought wee had beene ouershot by east fiftie miles Thus in these doubts we lost foure dayes and neuer a man in the shippe able to tell where we were notwithstanding there were diuerse in the shippe that had beene there before Then sayd the Pylot that at his comming to the shore by chance he saw two wayfaring men which were Moores and he cryed to them in Turkish insomuch that the Moores partly for feare and partly for lacke of vnderstanding seeing them to be Christians beganne to flie yet in the end with much a doe they stayed to speake with them which men when they came together were not able to vnderstand ech other but our men made to them the signe of the Crosse on the sande to giue them to vnderstand that they were of the shippe that brought the pilgrims Then the Moores knowing as al the country else doth that it was the vse of Christians to go to Ierusalem shewed them to be yet by west of Iaffa Thus we remained all that night at anker and the farther west that we sayled the lesse water we had The 21 we set sayle againe and kept our course Northeast but because we would not goe along the shore by night wee came to an anker in foure and twentie fathome water Then the next morning being the 22 we set sayle againe and kept our course as before and about three of the clocke in the afternoone wee had sight of the two towers of Iaffa and about fiue of the clocke wee were with a rocke called in the Italian tongue Scolio di Santo Petro on the which rocke they say he fished when Christ bid him cast his net on the right side and caught so many fishes This rocke is now almost worne away It is from Iaffa two or three mile here before the two towers we came to an anker Then the pilgrimes after supper in salutation of the holy lande sang to the prayse of God Te Deum laudamus with Magnificat and Benedictus but in the shippe was a Frier of Santo Francisco who for anger because he was not called and warned would not sing with vs so that he stood so much vpon his dignitie that he forgot his simplicitie and neglected his deuotion to the holy land for that time saying that first they ought to haue called him yer they did beginne because he was a Fryer and had beene there and knewe the orders The 23 we sent the bote on land with a messenger to the Padre Guardian of Ierusalem This day it was notified vnto mee by one of the shippe that had beene a slaue in Turkie that no man might weare greene in this land because their prophet Mahomet went in greene This came to my knowledge by reason of the Scriuanello who had a greene cap which was forbidden him to weare on the land The 24. 25. and 26 we taryed in the shippe still looking for the comming of the Padre guardian and the 26 at night we had a storme which lasted all the next day The 27 in the morning came the Cadi y e Subassi the Meniwe with the Padre guardian but they could not come at vs by reason of the stormy weather in the afternoone we assayed to send the bote on land but the weather would not suffer vs. Then againe toward night the bote went a shore but it returned not that night The same day in the afternoone we sawe in the element a cloud with a long tayle like vnto the tayle of a serpent which cloud is called in Italian Cion the tayle of this cloud did hang as it were into the sea and we did see the water vnder the sayde cloude ascend as it were like a smoke or myste the which this Cion drew vp to it The Marriners reported to vs that it had this propertie that if it should happen to haue lighted on any part of the shippe that it would rent and wreth sayles mast shroudes and shippe and all in manner like a wyth on the land trees houses or whatsoeuer else it lighteth on it would rent and wreth These marriners did vse a certaine coniuration to breake the sayd tayle or cut it in two which as they say doth preuaile They did take a blacke hafted knife and with the edge of the same did crosse the said taile as if they would cut it in twain saying these words Hold thou Cion eat this and then they stucke the knife on the ship side with the edge towards the said cloude and I saw it therewith vanish in lesse then one quarter of an houre But whether it was then consumed or whether by vertue of the Inchantment it did vanish I knowe it but it was gone Hereof let them iudge that know more then I. This afternoone we had no winde but the Sea very stormy insomuch that neither cheste pot nor any thing else could stand in the shippe and wee were driuen to keepe our meate in one hand and the pot in the other and so sit downe vpon the hatches to eate for stand we could not for that the Seas in the very port at an anker went so high as if wee had bene in the bay of Portugall with stormy weather The reason is as the Mariners said to me because that there meete all the waues from all places of the Straights of Gibraltar and there breake and that in most calmes there go greatest seas whether the winde blow or not The 28. the weather growing somewhat calme wee went on land and rested our selues for that day and the next day we set forward toward the city of Ierusalem What I did and what places of deuotion I visited in Ierusalem and other parts of the Holy land from this my departure from Iaffa vntill my returne to the said port may briefly be seene in my Testimoniall vnder the hand seale of the Uicar generall of Mount Sion which for the contentment of the Reader I thought good here to interlace VNiuersis singulis presentes litteras inspecturis salutem in Domino nostro Iesu Christo. Aâ—â—estamur vobis ac alijs quibuscunque qualiter honorabilis vir Iohannes Lok ciuis Londoniensis filius honorabilis viri Guilhelmi Lok equitis auraâ—i ad sacratissima terrae
sit downe to their losse where their abilitie was able to make defence And as touching his commandement aforesaide for the acknowledging of dutie in such particular sort he told him that where there was no dutie owing there none should be performed assuring him that their whole company and shippes in generall stood resolutely vpon the negatiue and would not yeeld to any such vnreasonable demaund ioyned with such imperious and absolute maner of commanding Why then said he if they wil neither come to yeeld nor shew obedience to me in the name of my king I wil either sinke them or bring them to harbor and so tell them from me With that the frigat came away with M. Rowit and brought him aboord the English Admiral againe according to promise who was no sooner entred in but by and by defiance was sounded on both sides the Spaniards he wed off the noses of the Gallies that nothing might hinder the leuell of the shot and the English on the other side couragiously prepared themselues to the combat euery man according to his roome bent to performe his office with alacritie and diligence In the meane time a Cannon was discharged from the Admirall of the gallies which being the onset of the fight was presently answered by the English Admiral with a Culuering so the skirmish began and grew hot and terrible there was no powder nor shot spared ech English ship matched it selfe in good order against two Spanish Gallies besides the inequalitie of the frigats on the Spaniards side and although our men performed their parts with singular valure according to their strength insomuch that the enemie as amased therewith would oftentimes pause and stay and consult what was best to be done yet they ceased not in the midst of their businesse to make prayer to Almighty God the reuenger of al euils and the giuer of victories that it would please him to assist them in that good quarell of theirs in defending themselues against so proud a tyrant to teach their handes to warre and their fingers to fight that the glory of the victory might redound to his Name and to the honor of true Religion which the insolent enemie sought so much to ouerthrowe Countrarily the â—oolish Spaniardes cried out according to their maner not to God but to our Lady as they terme the virgin Mary saying O Lady helpe O blessed Lady giue vs the victory and the honor thereof shal be thine Thus with blowes prayers on both sides the fight continued furious and sharpe and doubtful a long time to which part the victory would incline til at the last the Admiral of the Gallies of Sicilie began to warpe from the fight and to holde vp her side for feare of sinking and after her went also two others in like case whâ—m al the sort of them inclosed labouring by all their meanes to keepe them aboue water being ready by the force of English shot which they had receiued to perish in the seas what slaughter was done among the Spaniards themselues the English were vncertaine but by a probable coniecture apparant afar off they supposed their losse was so great that they wanted men to continue the charging of their pieces whereupon with shame and dishonor after 5. houres spent in the battel â—hey withdrew themselues and the English contented in respect of their deepe lading rather to continue their voyage then to follow the chase ceased from further blowes with the losse onely of two men slaine amongst them all and another hurt in his arme whom M. Wilkinson with his good words and friendly promises did so comfort that he nothing esteemed the smart of his wound in respect of the honour of the victory and the shamefull repulse of the enemy Thus with duetiful thankes to the mercy of God for his gracious assistance in that danger the English ships proceeded in their Nauigation and comming as high as Alger a port towne vpon the coast of Barbary they fell with it of purpose to refresh themselues after their wearinesse and to take in such supply of fresh water victuals as they needed they were no sooner entred into the port but immediatly the king thereof sent a messenger to the ships to knowe what they were with which messenger the chiefe master of ech shippe repaired to the king and acquainted him not onely with the state of their ships in respect of marchandize but with the late fight which they had passed with the Spanish Gallies reporting euery particular circumstance in word as it fell out in action whereof the said king shewed himselfe marueilous glad interteining them in the best sort and promising abundant reliefe of all their wants making generall proclamation in the city vpon paine of death that no man of what degree or state soeuer he were should presume either to hinder them in their affaires â—r to offer them any maner of iniury in body or goods By vertue whereof they dispatcâ—ed al things in excellent good sort with al fauor peaceablenesse only such prisoners and captiues of the Spaniards as were in the Citie seeing the good vsage which they receiued and hearing also what seruice they had performed against the foresaide Gallies grudged exceedingly against them and sought as much as they could to practise some mischiefe against them and one amongst the rest seeing an Englishman alone in a certaine lane of the Citie came vpon him suddenly and with his knife thrust him in the side yet made no such great wound but that it was easily recouered The English company hearing of it acquainted the king with the fact who immediatly sent both for the party that had receiued the wound and the offender also and caused an executioner in the presence of himselfe and the English to chastise the slaue euen to death which was performed to the ende that no man should presume to commit the like part or to doe any thing in contempt of his royal commandement The English hauing receiued this good iustice at the kings hands and al other things that they wanted or could craue for the furnishing of their shippes tooke their leaue of him and of the rest of their friendes that were resident in Alger and put out to Sea looking to meete with the second army of the Spanish king which waited for them about the mouth of the Straights of Gâ—braltar which they were of necessitie to passe But comming neere to the said Streight it pleased God to raise at that instant a very darke and mistie fogge so that one ship coulde not discerne another if it were 40. paces off by meanes whereof together with the notable faire Easterne winds that then blewe most fit for their course they passed with great speed through the Streight and might haue passed with that good gale had there bene 500. Gallies to withstand them and the aire neuer so cleare for euery ship to be seene But yet the Spanish Gallies had a sight of them when
a place vpon the coast of Cornwal which the Cornish men cal Al 's Effeâ—ne that is Hel-cliffe and that Captaine Lister and all the men in the ship were drowned saue 5. or 6. the one halfe English the other Spanish that saued themselues with swimming but notwithstanding much of the goods were saued and reserued for vs by sir Francis Godolphin and the worshipful gentlemen of the Countrey there My Lord was very sorry for Captaine Listers death wishing that he had lost his voyage to haue saued his life The 29. of December we met with another shippe that tolde vs the saine newes and that sir Marâ—in Frobisher Captaine Reymond had taken the Admirall and vice-Admirall of the Fleet that we espied going to Terçera hauen But the Admiral was sunke with much leaking neere to the Idy Stone a rocke that lieth ouer against Plimouth sound and the men were saued This ship also certified vs that Captaine Prestons ship had taken a prize loden with siluer My Lord entred presently into this ship went to Falmouth and we held on our course for Plimouth At night wee came neere to the Ram-head the next Cape Westwards from Plimouth sound but we were afraid to double it in the night misdoubting the scantnesse of the winde So we stood off to Sea halfe the night and towards morning had the winde more large and made too little spare thereofâ— that partly for this cause and partly through mistaking of the land wee were driuen so much to lee-wards that we could not double that Cape Therefore we returned backe againe and came into Falmouth hauen where wee strucke on ground in 17. foote water but it was a low tâ—â—â— and ready againe to flowe and the ground soft so as no hurt was done Here with gladnesse wee set foote againe vpon the English ground long desired and refreshed our selues with keeping part of Christmas vpon our natiue soile The valiant fight performed by 10. Merchants ships of London against 12. Spanish gallies in the Straights of Gibraltar the 24. of April 1590. IT is not long since sundry valiant ships appertaining to the Marchants of London were fraighted rigged forth some for Venice some for Constantinople some to sundry other places of trafique among whom these ensuing met within the Straights of Gibraltar as they were taking their course homewards hauing before escaped all other danger The first whereof was the Salomon apperteining to M. Alderman Baâ—nam of London and M. Bond and M. Twyd of Harwich which went foorth the first day of February last The second was the Margaret and Iohn belonging to M. Waâ—s of London The thirde was the Minion The fourth was the Ascension The fifâ—h was the Centurion of Master Cordal The sixt the Violet the seuenth the Samuel the eight the Cresscent the ninth the Elizabeth and the 10. was the Richard belonging to M. Duffield All these ships being of notable and approued seruice comming neere to the mouth of the Straights hard by the coast of Barbary descried twelue tall Gallies brauely furnished and strongly prouided with men and munition ready to seaze vpon these English ships which being perceiued by the Captaines and Masters thereof wee made speedy preparation for the defence of our selues still waiting all the night long for the approching of the enemie In the morning early being the Tuesday in Easter weeke and the 24 of April 1590. according to our vsual customes we said Seruice and made our prayers vnto Almightie God beseeching him to saue vs from the hands of such tyrants as the Spaniards whom we iustly imagined to be and whom we knew and had found to be our most mortall enemies vpon the Sea And hauing finished our prayers and set our selues in a readinesse we perceiued them to come towards vs and that they were indeede the Spanish Gallies that lay vnder the conduct of Andre Doria who is Vice-roy for the King of Spaine in the Straights of Gibraltar and a notable knowne enemie to all Englishmen So when they came somewhat neerer vnto vs they waued vs a maine for the King of Spaine and wee waued them a maine for the Queene of England at which time it pleased Almightie God greatly to incourage vs all in such sort as that the neerer they came the leese we feared their great multitudes and huge number of men which were planted in those Gallies to the number of two or three hundred men in ech Gallie And it was thus concluded among vs that the foure first and tallest ships should be placed hindmost and the weaker smallest ships formost and so it was performed euery man being ready to take part of such successe as it should please God to send At the first encounter the Gallies came vpon vs very fiercely yet God so strengthened vs that if they had bene ten times more we had not feared them at all Whereupon the Salomon being a hot shippe and hauing sundry cast pieces in her gaue the first shotte in such a sowre sort as that it shared away so many men as sate on the one side of a Gallie and pierced her through in such maner as that she was ready to sinke which made them to assault vs the more fiercely Whereupon the rest of our shippes especially the foure chiefest namely the Margaret and Iohn the Minion and the Ascension followed and gaue a hot charge vpon them and they at vs where began a hot and fierce battaile with great valiancie the one against the other and so continued for the space of sixe houres About the beginning of this our fight there came two Flemings to our Fleet who seeing the force of the Gallies to be so great the one of them presently yeelded strooke his sailes and was taken by the Gallies whereas if they would haue offered themselues to haue fought in our behalfe and their owne defence they needed not to haue bene taken so cowardly as they were to their cost The other Fleming being also ready to performe the like piece of seruice began to vaile his sailes and intended to haue yeelded immediatly But the Trumpetter in that shippe plucked foorth his faulchion and stepped to the Pilote at the helme and vowed that if he did not speedily put off to the English Fleete and so take part with them he would presently kill him which the Pilote for feare of death did and so by that meanes they were defended from present death and from the tyrannie of those Spaniards which doubtlesse they should haue found at their handes Thus we continued in fight sixe houres and somewhat more wherein God gaue vs the vpper hand and we escaped the hands of so many enemies who were constrained to flie into harbour and shroude themselues from vs and with speed to seeke for their owne safetie This was the handie worke of God who defended vs all from danger in such sort as that there was not one man of vs slaine And in all this fierce
company neere vnto vs which we saw not by meanes of the great fogge which hearing the sound of the piece vnderstanding some of the company to be in great extremitie began to make towards vs and when they came within hearing of vs we desired them for the loue of God to helpe to saue vs for that we were all like to perish They willed vs to hoise our foresaile as much as we could make towards them for they would do their best to saue vs and so we did And we had no sooner hoised our foresaile but there came a gale of winde a piece of a sea strooke in the foresaile and caried saile maste all ouerboord so that then we thought there was no hope of life And then we began to imbrace one another euery man his friend euery wife her husband and the children their fathers and mothers committing our soules to Almighty God thinking neuer to escape aliue yet it pleased God in the time of most need when all hope was past to aide vs with his helping hand and caused the winde a little to cease so that within two houres after the other ship was able to come aboord vs tooke into her with her boat man woman and child naked without hose or shoe vpon many of our fecte I do remember that the last person that came out of the ship into the boat was a woman blacke Moore who leaping out of the ship into the boat with a yong sucking child in her armes lept too short and fell into the sea and was a good while vnder the water before the boat could come to rescue her and with the spreading of her clothes rose aboue water againe and was caught by the coat pulled into the boate hauing still her childe vnder her arme both of them halfe drowned and yet her naturall loue towards her child would not let her let the childe goe And when she came aboord the boate she helde her childe so fast vnder her arme still that two men were scant able to get it out So we departed out of our ship left it in the sea it was worth foure hundreth thousand ducats ship goods when we left it And within three dayes after we arriued at our port of S. Iohn de Vllua in New Spaine I do remember that in the great and boysterous storme of this foule weather in the night there came vpon the toppe of our maine yarde and maine maste a certaine little light much like vnto the light of a little candle which the Spaniards called the Cuerpo santo and saide it was S. Elmo whom they take to bee the aduocate of Sailers At the which fight the Spaniards fell downe vpon their knees and worshipped it praying God and S. Elmo to cease the torment and saue them from the perill that they were in with promising him that at their comming on land they would repaire vnto his Chappell and there cause Masses to be saide and other ceremonies to be done The friers cast reliques into the sea to cause the sea to be still and likewise said Gospels with other crossings and ceremonies vpon the sea to make the storme to cease which as they said did much good to weaken the furie of the storme But I could not perceiue it nor gaue no credite to it till it pleased God to send vs the remedie deliuered vs from the rage of the â—ame His Name be praised therefore This light continued aboord our ship about three houres flying from maste to maste from top to top and sometime it would be in two or three places at once I informed my selfe of learned men afterward what that light should be and they said that it was but a congelation of the winde and vapours of the Sea congealed with the extremitie of the weather which flying in the winde many times doeth chance to hit on the masts and shrowds of the ships that are at sea in foule weather And in trueth I do take it to be so for that I haue seene the like in other ships at sea and in sundry ships at once By this men may see how the Papists are giuen to beleeue and worship such vaine things and toyes as God to whom all honour doth appertaine and in their neede and necessities do let to call vpon the liuing God who is the giuer of all good things The 16. of April in Anno 1556. we arriued at the port of S. Iohn de Vllua in new Spaine very naked and distressed of apparell and all other things by meanes of the losse of our foresaid ship and goods and from thence we went to the new Towne called Vera Cruzâ— fiue leagues from the said port of S. Iohn de Vllua marching still by the sea side where wee found lying vpon the sands great quantitie of mightie great trees with rootes and all some of them of foure fiue and sixe cart load by our estimation which as the people tolde vs were in the great stormy weather which we indured at sea rooted out of the ground in Terra Florida which is three hundreth leagues ouer by Sea and brought thither So we came to the saide Towne of Vera cruz where wee remained a moneth and there the said Iohn Field chanced to meete with an olde friend of his acquaintance in Spaine called Gonçalo Ruiz de Cordoua a very rich man of the saide Towne of Vera cruz Who hearing of his comming thither with his wife and family and of hiâ— misfortune by Sea came vnto him and receiued him and all his houshold into his house and kept vs there a whole moneth making vs very good cheere and giuing vs good intertainement and also gaue vs that were in all eight persons of the said Iohn Fields house double apparell new out of the shop of very good cloth coates cloakes hose shirts smocks gownes for the women hose shooes and al other necessary apparel and for our way vp to the Citie of Mexico horses moiles and men and money in our purses for the expences by the way which by our accompt might amount vnto the summe of 400. Crownes And after wee were entred two dayes iourney into the Countrey I the saide Robert Tomson fell so sicke of an ague that the next day I was not able to sit on my horse but was faine to be caried vpon Indians backes from thence to Mexico And when wee came within halfe a dayes iourney of the Citie of Mexico the saide Iohn Field also fell sicke and within three dayes after we arriued at the said Citie hee died And presently sickened one of his children and two more of his houshold people and within eight dayes died So that within tenne dayes after we arriued at the Citie of Mexico of eight persons that were of vs of the saide company there remained but foure aliue and I the said Tomson was at the point of death of the sicknes that I got vpon the way which
spent not any during the time of our abode here Our Captaine and Master falling into the consideration of our estate and dispatch to goe to the Generall found our wants so great as that in a moneth wee coulde not fitte our shippe to set saile For wee must needes set vp a Smiths forge to make boltes spikes and nayles besides the repairing of our other wants Whereupon they concluded it to bee their best course to take the pinnesse and to furnish her with the best of the company and to goe to the Generall with all expedition leauing the shippe and the rest of the company vntill the Generals returne for hee had vowed to our Captaine that hee would returne againe for the Streights as hee had tolde vs. The Captaine and Master of the pinnesse being the Generals men were well contented with the motion But the Generall hauing in our shippe two most pestilent fellowes when they heard of this determination they vtterly misliked it and in secret dealt with the company of both shippes vehemently perswading them that our Captaine and Master would leaue them in the countrey to bee deuoured of the Canibals and that they were mercilesie and without charitie whereupon the whole company ioyned in secret with them in a night to murther our Captaine and Master with my selfe and all those which they thought were their friendes There were markes taken in his caben howe to kill him with muskets through the shippes side and bullets made of siluer for the execuâ—ion if their other purposes should faile All agreed hereunto except it were the bote-swaine of our shippe who when hee knew the matter and the slender ground thereof reueâ—led it vnto our Master and so to the Captaine Then the matter being called in question those two most murtherous fellowes were found out whose names were Charles Parker and Edward Smith The Câ—ptaine being thus hardly beset in perill of famine and in danger of murthering was constrained to vse lenitie and by courteous meanes to pacifâ—e this furie shewing that to doe the Generall seruice vnto whom he had vowed faith in this action was the cause why hee purposed to goe vnto him in the pinnesse considering that the pinnesse was so necessary a thing for him as that hee could not bee without her because hee was fearefull of the shore in so great shippes Whereupon all cried out with cursing and swearing that the pinnesse should not goe vnlesse the shippe went Then the Captaine desired them to shewe themselues Christians and not so blasphemously to be haue themselues without regard or thankesgiuing to God for their great deliuerance and present sustenance bestowed vpon them alleaging many examples of Gods sharpe punishment for such ingratitude and withall promised â—o doe any thing that might stend with their good liking By which gentle speaches the matter was pacified and the Captaine and Master at the request of the company were content to forgiue this great treachery of Parker and Smith who after many admonitions concluded in these wordes The Lord iudge betweene you and mee which after came to a most sharpe reuenge euen by the punishment of the Almightie Thus by a generall consent it was concluded not to depart but there to stay for the Generals returne Then our Captaine and Master seeing that they could not doe the Generall that seruice which they desired made a motion to the companie that they would lay downe vnder their handes the losing of the Generall with the extremities wherein we then stoode whereunto they consented and wrote vnder their hands as followeth The testimoniall of the companie of The Desire touching their losing of their Generall which appeareth to haue beene vtterly against their meanings THe 26 of August 1591 wee whose names bee here vnder written with diuers others departed from Plimmouth vnder M. Thomas Candish our Generall with 4 ships of his to wit The Galeon The Robuck The Desire and The Black pinnesse for the performance of a voyage into The South sea The 19 of Nouember we fell with the bay of Saluador in Brasil The 16 of December we tooke the towne of Santos hoping there to reuictuall our selues but it fell not out to our contentment The 24 of Ianuary we set saile from Santos shaping our course for The Streights of Magellan The 8 of Februarie by violent stormes the sayde fleete was parted The Robuck and The Desire arriued in Porte Desire the 6 of March The 16 of March The Black pinnesse arriued there also and the 18 of the same our admirall came into the roadeâ— with whom we departed the 20 of March in poore and weake estate The 8 of Aprill 1592 we entred The Streights of Magellan The 21 of Aprill wee ankered beyond Cape Froward within 40 leagues of The South sea where wee rode vntill the 15 of May. In which time wee had great store of snowe with some gustie weather the wind continuing still at Westnorthwest against vs. In this time wee were inforced for the preseruing of our victuals to liue the most part vpon muskles our prouision was so slender so that many of our men died in this hard extremitie Then our General returned for Brasil there to winter to procure victuals for this voyage against the next yeere So we departed The Streights the 15 of May. The 21 being thwart of Port Desire 30 leagues off the shoare the wind then at Northeast and by North at fiue of the clock at night lying Northeast wee suddenly cast about lying Southeast and by South and sometimes Southeast the whole fleete following the admirall our ship comming vnder his lee shot ahead him and so framed saile fit to keepe companie This night wee were seuered by what occasion wee protest wee know not whither we lost them or they vs. In the moruing we only saw The Black pinnesse then supposing that the admirall had ouershot vs. All this day wee stoode to the Eastwards hoping to find him because it was not likely that he would stand to the shoare againe so suddenly But missing him towards night we stood to the shoareward hoping by that course to finde him The 22 of May at night we had a violent storme with the winde at Northwest and wee were inforced to hull not being able to beare saile and this night we perished our maine tressâ—etrees so that wee could no more vse our maine top-saile lying most dangerously in the sea The pinnesse likewise receiued a great leake so that wee were inforced to seeke the next shoare for our reliefe And because famine was like to bee the best ende wee desired to goe for Port Desire hoping with seales and penguins to relieue our selues and so to make shift to followe the Generall or there to stay his comming from Brasil The 24 of May wee had much winde at North. The 25 was calme and the sea very loftie so that our ship had dangerous foule weather The 26 our fore-shrowdes brake so that if wee had not beene