20. day at night in which mean space we killed divers Seales or sea-wolves as the Spaniard calls them which resorted to these rocks in great abundance They are good mâ—at and were an acceptable food to us for the present and a goâ—d supply of our provision for the future Hence April 20. we waighed again and sailed yet further up into the river even till we found but three fadome deep that we roade with our ships in fresh water but we staid not there nor in any other place of the river because that the winds being strong the shoals many and no safe harbor found we could not without our great danger so have done Hailing therefore to seaward again the 27. of the same moneth after that we had spent a just fortnight in that river to the great comfort of the whole fleet we passed by the south side thereof into the main The land here lieth south south W. and N.N.E. with shole water some 3. or 4 leagues off into the sea it s about 36. deg 20. min. and somewhat better south latitude At our very first coming forth to sea again to wit the same night our fly-boat the Swan lost company of us whereupon though our Generall doubted nothing of her happy coming forward again to the rest of the fleet yet because it was grievous to have such often losses and that it was his duty as much as in him lay to prevent all inconveniences besides that might grow he determined to diminish the number of his ships thereby to draw his men unto less room that both the fewer ships might the better keep company that they might also be the better appointed with new and fresh supplies of provision men one to ease the burden of another especially for that he saw the coast it draweth now toward winter here to be subject to many and grievous storms and therefore he continued on his course to find out a convenient harbor for that use searching all that coast from 36. to 47. deg as diligently as contrary winds and sundry storms would permit and yet sound none for the purpose And in the mean time viz. May 8. by another storm the Caunter also was once more severed from us May 12. we had sight of land in 47. deg where we were forced to come to anchor in such roade as we could find for the time Neverthelesse our Generall named the place cape Hope by reason of a bay discovery within the hâ—dland which seem'd to promise a good and commodious harbor But by reason of many rocks lying off from the place we durst not adventure with our ships into it without good and perfect discovery beforehand made Our Generall especially in matters of moment was never wont to rely only on other mens care how trusty or skilfull soever they might seem to be but alwayes contemning danger and refusing no toyle he was wont himself to be one whosoever was a second at every turn where courage skill or industry was to be imployeb neither would he at this time intrust the discovery of these dangers to anothers pains but rather to his own experience in searching out and sounding of them A boat being therefore hoised forth himself with some others the next morning May 13. rowed into the bay and being now very nigh the shorae one of the men of the country shewed himself unto him seeming very pleasant singing and dancing after the noise of a rattle which he shook in his hand expecting earnestly his landing But there was suddenly so great an alteration in the weather into a thick and misty fogge together with an extream storm and tempest that our general being now 3. leagues from his ship thought it be better to return then either to land or make any other stay and yet the fog thickned so mightily that the sight of the ships was bereft them and if Cap. Thomas upon the abundance of his love and service to his generall had not adventured with his ship to enter that bay in this perplexity where good advice would not suffer our ships to beare in while the winds were more tolerable and the aire cleerer we had sustained some great loss or our generall had been further endangered who was now quickly received aboard his ship out of which being within the bay they let fall an anchor and rode there God be praised in safety but our other ships rideing without were so oppressed with the extremity of the storm that they were forced to run off to the sea for their own safegard being in good hope only of the good successe of that ship which was gone in to relieve our generall before this storm arose our Caunter formerly lost was come in the same day unto us in the same roade but was put to sea again the same evening with the rest of the fleet The next day May 14. the weather being faire and the winds moderate but the fleet out of sight our generall determined to go ashoare to this end that he might by making of fires give signes to the dispersed ships to come together again into the roade whereby at last they were all assembled excepting the Swan lost long time before and excepting our Portugal prise called the Mary which waying in this last storm the night before and now lost company and was not found again in a long time after In this place the people being removed up into the country belike for feare of our comming we found neere unto the rocks in houses made for that purpose as also in divers other places great store of Ostriches at least to the number of 50. with much other foule some dried and some in drying for their provision as it seemed to carry with them to the place of their dwellings The Ostriches thighes were in bignesse â—quall to reasonable legs of mutton they cannot flie at all but they run so swiftly and take so long strides that it is not possible for a man in running by any meanes to take them neither yet to come so nigh them as to have any shot at them either with bow or peece whereof our men had often proof on other parts of that coast for all the country is full of them we found there the tools or instruments which the people use in taking them Among other means they use in betraying of these Ostriches they have a great and large plume of feathers orderly compact together upon the end of a staff in the forepart beareing the likness of the head neck and bulk of an Ostrich in the hinder part spreading it self out very large sufficient being holden before him to hide the most part of the body of a man with this it seemeth they staulk driving them into some strait or neck of land close to the sea side where spreading long and strong nets with their dogs which they have in readinesse at all timeâ—â—◠〈◊〉 overthrow them and make a common quarry The
Jonas out of the Whales belly and heareth all those that call upon him faithfully in their distres looked down from heaven beheld our tears and heard our humble petitions joyned with holy vows Even God whom not the winds and seas alone but even the Divels themselves and powers of hell obey did so wonderfully free us and make our way open before us as it were by his holy Angels stil guiding and conducting us that more then the affright and amaze of this estate we received no part of damage in all the things that belonged unto us But escaping from these straites and miseries as it were through the needlesey that God might have the greater glory in our delivery by the great and effectuall care and travell of our Generall the Lords instrument therein we could now no longer forbeare but must needs find some place of refuge aswell to provide water wood and other necessaries as to comfort our men thus worn and tyred out by so many and so long intollerable toyls the like whereof it to be supposed no traveller hath felt neither hath their ever been such a tempest that any records make mention of so violent and of such continuance since Noahs flood for as hath been said it lasted from September 7. to October 28. full 52. dayes Not many leagues therefore to the southwards of our former anchoring we ran in again among these Islands where we had once more better likelihood to rest in peace and so much the rather for that we found the people of the country travelling for their living from one Island to another in their canows both men women and young infants wrapt in skins and hanging at their mothers backs with whom he had trafique for such things as they had as chains of certain shels and such other trifles here the Lord gave us three days to breath our selves and to provide such things as we wanted albeit the same was with continuall care and troubles to avoid imminent dangers which the troubled seas and blustering winds did every hour threaten unto us But when we seemed to have stayed there too two long we more rigorously assaulted by the not formerly ended but now more violently renewed storm and driven them also with no small danger leaving behind us the greater part of our cable with the anchor being chased along by the winds and buffeted incessantly in each quarter by the seas which our Generall interpreted as though God had sent them of purpose to the end which ensued till at length we fell with the uttermost part of land towards the south pole and had certainly discovered how far the same doth reach southward from the coast of America aforenamed The uttermost Cape or hedland of all these Islands stands neere in the 56. deg without which there is no main nor Iland to be seen to the southwards but that the Atlantick Ocean and the south sea meet in a most large and free scope It hath been a dreame through many ages that these Islands have been a maine and that it hath been terra incognita wherein many strange monsters lived Indeed it might truly before this time be called incognota for howsoever the maps generall descriptions of Cosmographers either upon the deceiveable reports of other men or the deceitfull imaginations of themselves supposing never herein to be corrected have set it down yet it is true that before this time it was never discovered or certainly known by any traveller that we have heard of And here as in a fit place it shall not be a misse to remove that error in opinion which hath been held by many of the impossible return out of Mar del zur into the West Ocean by reason of the supposed Eastern current and leavant winds which say they speedily carry any thither but suffer no return They are herein likewise altogether deceived for neither did we meet with any such current neither had we any such certain winds with any such speed to carry us through but at all times in our passage there we found more opportunity to return back again into the west Ocean then to goe forward into Mar del zur by meanes either of current or winds to hinder us whereof we had experience more then we wished being glad oftentimes to alter our course and to fall a stern again with francke wind without any impediment of any such surmised current farther in one afternoon then we could fetch up or recover again in a whole day with a reasonable gale And in that they allege the narrownesse of the frete and want of sea-rome to be the cause of this violent current they are herein no lesse deceived then they were in the other without reason for besides that it cannot be said that there is one only passage but rather innumerable it is most certain that a sea-board all these Islands there is one large and main sea wherein if any will not be satisfied nor believe the report of our experience and eyesight he should be advised to suspend his judgment till he hath either tryed it himself by his own travell or shall understand by other travellers more particulars to confirm his mind therein Now as we were fallen to the uttermost part of these Ilands October 28. our troubles did make an end the storm ceased and all our calamities only the absence of our friends excepted were removed as if God all this while by his secret providence had led us to make his discouery which being made according to his will he stayed his hand as pleased his majesty therein and refreshed us as his servants At these Southerly parts we found the night in the latter end of October to be but 2. houres long the Sun being yet above 7. degrees distant from the Tropick so that it seemeth being in the Tropick to leave very little or no night at all in that place There be few of all these Islands but have some inhabitants whose manners apparel houses Cannows and meanes of livings is like unto those formerly spoken of a little before our departure out of the Straight To all these Islands did our Generall give one name to wit Elizabethides After two daies stay which we made in and about these Ilands the 30. of October we set saile shaping our course right Northwest to coast along the parts of Peru for so the generall maps set out the land to lie both for that we might wiâ—h convenient speed sal with the height of 30. deg being the place appointed for the rest of our fleet to re-assemble as also that no opportunity might be lost in the mean time to finde them out if it seemed good to God to direct them to us In this course we chanced the next day with two Islands being as it were store-houses of most liberall provision of victuals for us of birds yeiding not only sufficient and plentiful store for us who were present but enough to have served all the rest also which
fell with the port of Paita in 4. de 40. in Feb. 20. with port Saint Hellen and the River and part of Guiaquil Feb. 24. we past the line the 28. and first of March we fell with cape Francisco where about midday we descried a saile a head of us with whom after once we had spoken with her we lay still in the same place about six dayes to recover our breath again which we had almost spent with hasty following and to recall to mind what advantages had past us since our late coming from Lima but especially to do John de Anton a kindnesse in freeing him of the care of those things with which his ship was loaden This ship we found to be the same of which we had heard not only in the Calao of Lima but also by divers occasions afterward which now we are at leasure to relate viz. by a ship which we took between Lima and Paita by another which we took loaden with wine in the port of Paita by a third loaden with tackling and implements for ships besides 80. pound weight in gold from Guiaquil And lastly by Gabriel Alâ—arez with whom we talked somewhat nearer the line we found her to be indeed the Catasuego though before we left her she were new named by a boy of her own the Cacaplata We found in her some Fruit conserves sugars meale other victuals that which was the especiallest cause of her heavy and slow sayling a certain quantity of jewels and precious stones 1â— chests of Ryals of plate 80. pound weight in gold 26. tunne of unâ—oyned silver two very faire guilt silver drinking-bouls and the like trifles valued in about 360000. pezoes We gave the Master a little linnen and the like for these commodities and at the end of six dayes we bad farewell and parted He hasting somewhat lighter then before to Panama we plying off to sea that we might with more leasure consider what course hence forward were fittest to be taken And considering that now we were come to the northward of the line Cape Francisco standing in the entrance of the bay Panama in 1. deg of North latitude and that there was no likelihood or hope that our ships should be before us that way by any means seeing that in running so many deg from the southermost Ilands hitherto we could not have any sign or notice of their passage that way notwithstanding that we had made so diligent search and careful enquiry after them in every harbor or creek almost as we had done and considering also that the time of the year now drew on wherein me must attempt or of necessity wholly give off that action which chiefly our General had determined namely the discovery of what passage there was to be found about the northern parts of America from the south sea into our own Ocean which being once discovered and made known to be navigable we should not only do our country good and notable service but we also our selves should have a neerer cut and passage home where otherwise we were to make a very long tedious voyage of it which would hardly agree with our good liking we having been so long from home already and so much of our strength separated from us which could not at all be done if the opportunity of time were now neglected we therefore all of us willingly hearkned and consented to our Generals advice which was first to seek out some convenient place wherein to trim our ship and store our selves with wood and water and other provisions as we could get and thenceforward to hasten on our intended journey for the discovery of the said passage through which we might with joy returne to our longed homes From this cape before we set onward March the 7. shaping our course towards the Island of Caines with which we fell March 16. setling ourselves for certain dayes in a Fresh river between the main and it for the finishing of our needfull businesse as is aforesaid While we abode in this place we felt a very terrible earthquake the force whereof was such that our ship and Pinnace riding very neere an English mile from the shoare were shaken and did quiver as if it had been laid on dry land we found here many good commodities which we wanted as Fish Fresh water Wood c. besides Alagartoes Munckeyes and the like and in our journey hither we met with one ship more the last we met with in all those coasts loaded with Linnen China-silk and China-dishes amongst which we found also a Faulcon of gold handsomely wrought with a great Emerald set in the breast of it From whence we parted the 24. day of the moneth forenamed with full purpose to run the neerest course as the wind would suffer us without touch of land along time and therefore passed by port Papagaia the port of the Vale of the most rich and most excellent balmes of Jericho Quantapico and diverse others as also certain gulphes hereabouts which without intermission send forth such continuall and violent winds that the Spaniards though their ships be good dare not venture themselves too neere the danger of them Notwithstanding having notice that we should be troubled with often calms and contrary winds if we continued neere the coast and did not run off to sea to fetch the wind and that if we did so we could not then fall with land again when we would our Generall thought it needfull that we should run in with some place or other before our departure from the coast to see if happily we could by traffique augmâ—nt our provision of victuals and other necessaries that being at sâ—a we might not be driven to any great want or necessitie albeit we had reasonable store of good things aboard us already The next harbor therefore which we chanced with on Apr. 15. in 15. de 40. min. was Guatulco so named of the Spaniards who inhabited it with whom we had some entercourse to the supply of many things which we desired and chiefly bread c. And now having reasonably as we though provided our selves we departed from the coast of America for the present but not forgetting before we gate a shipboard to take with us also a certain pot of about a bushell in bignesse full of royals of plate which we found in the town together with a chain of gold and some other jewels which we intreated a gentleman Spaniard to leave behind him as he was flying out of town From Guatulco we departed the day following viz. April 16. setting our course directly into the sea whereupon we sailed 500. leagues in longitude to get a wind and between that and June 3. 1400. leagues in all till we came into 42. deg of North latitude where in the night following we found such alteration of heat into extreame and nipping cold that our men in generall did grievously complaine thereof some of them feeling
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
brought a head of him and to let fall their Grapners each a head the others environed both the Pinnaces with Bonnets as for a close fight and then wheaved them aboord them They kept themselves upon their Oares at Calliver shot distance spending Powder apace as we did some two or three houres We had one of our Men onely wounded in that Fight what they had is unknowne to us but we saw their Pinnaces shot thorow in divers places and the Powder of one of them tooke on fire whereupon we waighed intending to beare roome to over-runne them which they perceiving and thinking that we would have boorded them rowed away amaine to the defence vvhich they had in the Wood the rather because they vvere disappointed of their helpe that they expected from the Frigate vvhich vvas vvarping towards us but by reason of the much Winde that blew could not come to offend us or succour them Thus seeing that vve vvere still molested and no hope remaining of any Purchase to be had in this place any longer because vve vvere now so notably made knovvn in those parts and because our Victuals grevv scant as soone as the Weather vvaxed somewhat better the Winde continuing alwayes Westerly so that vve could not returne to our Ships our Captain thought best to goe to the Eastvvard tovvards Rio grand along the Coast vvhere vve had beene before and found great store of Victuals But vvhen after two dayes sayling vve vvere arrived at the Villages of store vvhere before vve had furnished our selves vvith aboundance of Hens Sheepe Calves Hogges c. Now vve found bare nothing not so much as any people left for that they by the Spaniards commandment were fled to the Mountaines and had driven away all their Cattle that we might not be releeved by them Herewith being very sorry because much of our Victuall in our Pinnaces was spoyled by the foule weather at Sea and raines in Harbour a Frigate being descried at Sea revived us and put us in some hope for the time that in her we should finde sufficient and thereupon it may easily be guessed how much we laboured to recover her but when we had boorded her and understood that she had neither Meat nor Money but that she was bound for Rio Grand to take in Provision upon Bils our great hope converted into griefe We endured with our allowance seven or eight dayes more proceeding to the Eastwards and bearing roome for Santa Martha upon hope to finde some Shipping in the Read or Limpets on the Rockes or succour against the Storme in that good Harbour Being arrived and seeing no Shipping we anchored under the Wester point where is high land and as we thought free in safety from the Towne which is in the bottome of the Bay not intending to land there because we knew that it was fortified and that they had intelligence of us But the Spaniards knowing us to be Men of Warre and misliking that we should shroud under their Rockes without their leave had conveyed some thirty or forty shot among the Cliffes which annoyed us so spitefully and so unrevengedly for that they lay hidden behinde the Rockes bur we lay open to them that we were soone weary of our Harbour and enforced for all the Storme without and want within to put to Sea which though these Enemies of ours were well contented withall yet for a farewell as we came open of the Towne they sent us a Culverin shot which made a neere escape for it fell between our Pinnaces as we were upon conference of what was best to be done The Company advised that if it pleased him they might put themselves a land some place to the East-ward to get Victuals and rather hope for courtesie of the Countrey People then continue at Sea in so long cold and great a storme in so leâ—ke a Pinnace But our Captaine would in no wise like of that advice he thought it better to beare up towards Rio de Haca or Corizao with hope there to have plenty without great resistance because he knew either the Ilands were not very populous or else it were very likely that there would be found Ships of Victuall in a readinesse The Company of the other Pinnace answered that they would willingly follow him thorow the World but in this they could not see how either their Pinnace should live in that Sea without being eaten up in that storme or they themselves able to endure so long time with so slender Provision as they had viz. onely one Gammon of Bacon and thirty pound of Bisket for eighteene Men. Our Captaine replyed that they were better provided then himselfe was who had but one Gammon of Bacon and forty pound of Bisket for his twenty foure Men and therefore He doubted not but they would take such part as He did and willingly depend upon Gods Almighty Providence which never faileth them that trust in him With that he hoysed his fore-saile and set his course for Corizao which the rest perceiving with sorrowfull hearts in respect of the weake Pinnace yet desirous to follow their Captain consented to take the same course We had not sailed past three leagues but we had espied a sayle plying to the Westward with her two courses to our great joy who vowed together that vve vvould have her or else it should cost us deare Bearing with her we found her to be a Spanish Ship of above ninety Tun vvhich being vvheaved a maine by us despised our Summons and shot off her Ordnance at us The Sea went very high so that it vvas not for us to attempt to boord her and therefore we made fit small saile to attend upon her and keepe her company to her small content till fairer vveather might lay the Sea We spent not past two houres in our attendance till it pleased God after a great shower to send us a reasonable calme so that vve might use our Peeces and approach her at pleasure in such sort that in short time vve had taken her finding her laden vvith Victuall well powdred and dryed vvhich at that present vve received as sent us of Gods great mercy After all things vvere set in order and that the winde increased toward night vve plyed off and on till day at vvhat time our Captaine sent in Edward Hixom who had then charge of his Pinnace to search out some Harbour along the Coast vvho having found out a little one some ten or twelve leagues to the East of Santa Martha vvhere in sounding he had good ground and sufficient vvater presently returned our Captain brought in his nevv Prize Then by promising liberty and all their apparrell to the Spaniards which we had taken if they vvould bring us to Water and fresh Victuals the rather by their meanes vve obtained of the Inhabitants Indians vvhat they had vvhich vvas plentiful These Indians vvere clothed and governed by a Spaniard vvhich dwelt in the nexâ— Town not past a league
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
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
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
Captaine gave the great Frigates Guâ—delow and dismissed them The next morning when they came downe to the Wester point vvith a Flag of Truce our Captain manned one of his Pinnaces and rovved a shoare vvhen vve vvere vvithin a Cables length of the shoare the Spaniards fled hiding themselves in the Woods as being affraid of our Ordnance but indeed to dravv us on to Land confidently and to presume of our strength Our Captaine commanding the Grapnell to be cast out of the sterne veered the Pinnace a shoare and as soone as she touched the Sand he alone leapt a shoare in their sight to declare that he durst set his foot a land but stayed not among them to let them knovv that though he had not sufficient forces to conquer them yet he had sufficient judgement to take heed of them And therefore perceiving their intent as soone as our Captaine vvas aboord vve haled off upon our Grapner and rid a vvhile They presently came forth upon the Sand and sent a youth as vvith a message from the Governour to knovv vvhat our intent vvas to stay thus upon the Coast Our Captaine ansvvered he meant to traffique vvith them for he had Tin Pevvter Cloth and other Merchandise that they needed The youth svvam backe againe vvith this ansvver and was presently returned with another message that the King had forbidden to traffique with any forraigne Nation for any Commodities except Powder and Shot of which if we had any store they would be his Merchants he answered that he was come from his Country to exchange his Commodities for Gold and Silver and is not purposed to returne without his errand They are like in his opinion to have little rest if that by faire meanes they would not traffique with him He gave this Messenger a faire Shirt for a reward and so returned him who rowled his Shirt about his head and swamme very speedily We heard no answer all that day and therefore toward night we went aboord our Frigates and reposed our selves setting and keeping very orderly all that night our watch with great and small shot The next morning the winde which had beene Westerly in the evening altered to the Eastward About the dawning of the day wee espied two Sayles turning towards us whereupon our Captaine weighed with his Pinnaces leaving the two Frigates unmand But when we were come some what nigh them the winde calmed and we were faine to row towards them till that approching very nigh we saw many heads peering over boord For as we perceived these two Frigates were mand and set forth out of Carthagene to fight with us and aâ— least to impeach or busie us whiles by some meanes or other they might recover the Frigates from us but our Captaine prevented both their drifts For commanding John Oxnam to stay with the one Pinnace to entertaine these two men of warre himselfe in the other made such speed that he gate to his Frigates which he had left at Anchor and caused the Spaniards who in the meane time had gotten aboord in a small Canow thinking to have towed them within the danger of their shot to make greater haste thence then they did thither For he found that iâ— shifting thence some of them were faine to swim a land the Canow not being able to receive them and had left their apparrell some their Rapiers and Targets some their Flaskes and Callivers behind them although they were towing away of one of them therefore considering that we could not man them we suncke the one burnt the other giving them to understand by this that we perceived their secret practises This being done he returned to John Oxnam who all this while lay by the men of warre without proffering of fight And as soone as our Captaine was come up to these Frigates the wind blew much from the Sea so that we being betwixt the shoare and them were in a manner forced to beare roome into the Harbour before them to the great joy of the Spaniards who beheld it in supposing that we would still have fled before them But assoone as we were in the Harbour and felt smooth water our Pinnaces as we were assured of getting the winde we fought with them upon the advantage so that after a few shot exchanged and a storme rising they were contented to presse no neerer Therefore as they let fall their Anchors we presently let drop our Grapners in the winde of them which the Spanish Souldiers seeing considering the disadvantage of the winde the likelyhood of the storme to continue and small hope of doing any good they were glad to retire themselves to the Towne But by reason of the foule and tempestuous weather we rode there foure dayes feeling great cold by reason we had such sore raines with Westerly winde and so little succour in our Pinnaces The fift day after there came in a Frigate from the sea which seeing us make towards her ranne her selfe a shoare unhanging her Rudder and taking away her Sayles that she might not easily be carried away But when we were come up to her we perceived about a hundred Horse and Foot with their Furniture came downe to the point of the Maine where we interchanged some shot with them One of our great shot past so neere a brave Cavalier of theirs that thereby they were occasioned to advise themselves and to retreat into the Woods where they might sufficiently defend and rescue the Frigate from us and annoy us also if we stayed long about her Therefore we concluded to goe to Sea againe putting forth through Boca chica with intent to take downe our Masts upon hope of faire weather and to ride under the Rockes called Las Serenas which are two leagves off at Sea as we had usually done aforetime so that they could not discerne us from the Rocks But there the Sea was so mightily growne that we were forced to take the Harbour againe where we remained six dayes notwithstanding the Spaniards grieved greatly at our aboad there so long put an other device in practise to indanger us For they sent forth a great Shallop a fine Gundeloe and a great Canow with certaine Spaniards with shot and many Indians with poysoned Arrowes as it seemed with intent to begin some fight and then to flye For as soone as we rowed towards them and enterchanged shot they presently retyred and went a shoare into the Woods where an Ambush of some sixty shot were laid for us besides two Pinnaces and a Frigate warping towards us which were Mand as the rest They attempted us very boldly being assisted by those others which from our of the Wood had gotten aboard the Gundeloe and Canow and seeing us bearing from them which we did in respect of the Ambusâ—ado they incouraged themselves and assured their fellowes of the day But our Captaine weighing this their attempt and being out of danger of their shot from the Land commanding his other Pinnace to be
In these three last dayes march in the Champion as we past over the Hils we might see Panama five or six times a day and the last day we saw the Ships riding in the road But after that we were come within a dayes journey of Panama our Captaine understanding by the Symerons that the Dames of Panama are wont to send forth Hunters and Fowlers for taking of sundry dainty Fowle which the Land yeeldeth by whom if we Marched not very heedfully we might be descryed caused all his Company to March out of all ordinary way and that with as great heed silence and secrecy as possibly they might to the Grove which was agreed on foure dayes before lying within a league of Panama where we might lye safely undiscovered near the High-way that leadeth from thence to Nombre de Dios. Thence we sent a chosen Symeron one that had served a Master in Panamah before time in such Apparell as the Negroes of Panama doe use to Warre to be our Espiall to goe into the Towne to learne the certaine night and time of the night when the Carriers laded the Treasure from the Kings Treasure-house to Nombre de Dios. For they are wont to take their journey from Panama to Venta Cruz which is six leagues ever by night because the Countrey is all Champion and consequently by dâ—y very hot but from Venta Cruz to Nombre de Dios as oft as they travell by Land with their Treasure they travell alwayes by day and not by night because all that way is full of Woods and therefore very fresh and coole unlesse the Symerons happily encounter them and make them sweat with feare as sometimes they have done whereupon they are glad to guard their Recoes with Souldiers as they passe that way This last day our Captain did behold and view the most of all that faire City discerning the large Street which lyeth directly from the Sea into the Land South and North. By three of the clocke we came into this Grove passing for the more secrecy alongst a certaine River which at that time was almost dryed up Having disposed of our selves in the Grove we dispatched our Spye an houre before night so that by the closing in of the evening he might be in the City as he was whence presently he returned unto us that which very happily he understood by Companions of his That the Teasurer of Lima intending to passe into Spaine in the first adviso which was a Ship of three hundred and fifty Tunne a very good Sayler was ready that night to take his journey towards Nombre de Dios with his Daughter and Family having fourteene Moyles in company of which eight was laden with Gold one with Jewels And farther that there were two other Recoes of fifty Moyles in each laden with Victuals for the most part with some little quantity of Silver to come forth that night after the other There are twenty eight of these Recoes the greatest of them is of seventy Moyles the lesse of fifty unlesse some particular Man hyre for himself ten twenty or thirty as he hath need Upon this notice we forthwith Marched foure leagues till we came within two leagues of Venta Cruz in which March two of our Symerons which were sent before by scent of his Match found and brought a Spaniard whom they had found a sleepe by the way by scent of the said Match and drawing neere thereby heard him taking his breath as he slept and being but one they fell upon him stopt his mouth from crying put out his Match and bound him so that they well neare strangled him by that time he was brought unto us By examining him we found all that to be true which our Spye had reported to us and that he was a Souldier entertained with others by the Treasurer for the guard and conduct of this Treasure from Venta Cruz to Nombre de Dios. This Souldier having learned who our Captaine was tooke courage and was bold to make two requests unto him the one that he would command his Symerons which hated the Spaniards especially the Souldiers extreamly to spare his life which he doubted not but they would doe at his charge the other was that seeing he was a Souldier and assured him that they should have that night more Gold besides Jewels and Pearles of great price then all they could carry if not then he was to be dealt with how they would but if they all found it so then it might please our Captaine to give unto him as much as it might suffize for him and his Mistresse to live upon as he had heard our Captaine had done to divers others for which he would make his name so famous as any of them which had received like favour Being at the place appointed our Captaine with halfe of his men lay on one side of the way about fifty paces off in the long grasse Iohn Oxnam with the Captaine of the Symerons and the other halfe lay on the other side of the way at the like distance but so farre behind that as occasion served the former Company might take the foremost Moyles by the heads and the other the hindmost because the Moyles tyed together are alwayes driven one after another and especially that if we should have need to use our weapons that night we might be sure not to endamage our fellows We had not laine thus in ambush much above an houre but we heard the Recoes comming from the City to Venta Cruz and from Venta Cruz to the City vvhich hath a very common and great trade vvhen the Fleetes are there vve heard them by reason they delight much to have deepe sounding Bels which in a still night are heard very far off Now though there vvere as great charge given as might be that none of our men should show or stirre themselves but let all that came from Venta Cruz to passe quieâ—ly yea their Recoes also because vve knew that they brought nothing but Merchandise from thence yet one of our men called Robert Pike having drunken too much Aqua vitae vvithout vvater forgat himselfe and entising a Symeron forth vvith him vvas gone hard to the way vvith intent to have shewne his forwardnesse on the foremost Moyles And when a Cavalier from Venta Cruz vvell mounted with his Page running at his stirrop past by unadvisedly he rose up to see vvhat he vvas but the Semeron of better discretion puld him dovvne and lay upon him that he might not discover them any more Yet by this the Gentleman had taken notice by seeing one all in white for that we had all put our shirts over oâ—r other apparrell that we might be sure to know our owne men in the pell mell in the night By meanes of this sight the Cavalier putting spurs to his horse râ—de a false Gallop as desirous not only himselfe to be free of this doubt which he imagined but also to give advertisement to others that they
proportionable and finely set together with a most thinne and dainty film that they might seem to serve for a much longer or higher flight but the dryness of them is such after some 10. or 12. strokes that he must needs into the water again to moisten them which else would grow stiffe and unfit for motion The increase of this little and wonderfull creature is in a manner infinite the fry whereof lyeth upon the upper part of the waters in the heat of the Sun as dust upon the face of the earth which being in bignesse of a wheat straw and in length an inch more or less do continually exercise themselves in both their faculties of nature wherein if the Lord had not made them expert indeed their generation could not have continued being so desired a prey to so many which greedily hunt after them forcing them to escape in the aire by flight when they cannot in the waters live in safety Neither are they always free or without danger in their flying but as they escape one evill by refusing the waters so they sometimes fall into as great a mischief by mounting up into the aire and that by means of a great and ravening foule named of some a Don or Spurkite who feeding chiefly on such fish as he can come by at advantage in their swimming in the brim of the waters or leaping above the same presently ceaseth upon them with great violence making havock especially among these flying fishes though with small profit to himself There is another sort of fish which likewise flyeth in the aire named a Cuttill it s the same whose bones the Goldsmiths commonly use or at least not unlike the sort a multitude of which have at one time in their flight fallen into our ships amongst our men Passing thus in beholding the most excellent works of the eternall God in the seas as if we had been in a garden of pleasure April 5. we fell with the coast of Brazil in 31. deg 30. mi. towards the pole Antartick where the land is low neere the sea but much higher within the countrey having in depth not above 12. fathome 3. leagues off from the shoare and being descried by the inhabitants we saw great and huge fires made by them in sundry places Which order of making fires though it be universall as well among Christians as Heathens yet is it not likely that many do use it to that end which the Brasilians do to wit for a sacrifice to Divels whereat they intermix many and divers ceremonies of conjurations casting up great heaps of sand to this end that if any ships shall go about to stay upon their coasts their ministring spirits may make wrack of them whereof the Portugals by the losse of divers of their ships have had often experience In the reports of Magellanes voyage it is said that this people pray to no manner of thing but live only according to the instinct of nature which if it were true there should seeme to be a wonderfull alteration in them since that time being fallen from a simple and naturall ereature to make Gods of Divels but I am of the mind that it was with them then as now it is only they lacked then the like occasion to put it in practise which now they have for then they lived as a free people among themselves but now are in most miserable bondage slavery both in body goods wife and children and life it self to the Portugals whose hard and most cruell dealings against them forceth them to fly into the unfruitfull parts of their own land rather there to starve or at least live miserably with liberty then to abide such intollerable hondage as they lay upon them using the aforesaid practises with Divels both for a revenge against their oppressors and also for a defence that they have no further entrance into the country And supposing in deed that no other had used travell by sea in ships but their enemies only they therefore used the same at our coming notwithstrnding our God made their divelish intent of none effect for albeit there lacked not within the space of our falling with this coast forcible storms and tempests yet did we sustain no damage but only the separating of our ships out of shoare but we could find no harbor in many leagues And therefore coasting along the land towards the south April 7. we had a violent storm for the space of 3. houres with thunder lightning and rain in great abundance accompanied with a vehement south wind directly against us which caused a separation of the Christopher viz. the Caunter which we took at cape Blank in exchange for the Christopher whose name she hence forward bore from the rest of the fleet After this we keep on our course sometime to the seaward sometimes toward the shoare but alwaies southward as neere as we could till April 14. in the morning at which time we passed by Cape Saint Mary which lies in 35. deg neere the mouth of the river of Plate and running within it about 6. or 7. leagues along by the maine we came to anchor in a bay under another cape which our Generall afterwards called cape Joy by reason of the second day after our anchoring here the Christopher whom we had lost in the former storm came to us again Among other cares which our Generall took in this action next the main care of effecting the voyage it self these were the principall and chiefly subordinate to keep our whole fleet as neere as possible we could together to get fresh Water which is of continual use to refresh our men wearied vvith long toyls at sea as oft as vve should find any opportunity of effecting the same And for these causes it vvas determined publique notice thereof given at our departure from the Islands of cape Verde that the next randevouze both for the recollecting of our navy if it should be despersed as also vvatering and the like should be the river of Plate vvhether vve vvere all to repaire vvith all the convenient speed that could be made and to stay one for another if it should happen that vve could not arrive there altogether and the effect vve found ansvverable to our expectations for here our severed ship as hath been declared found us again and here vve found those â—ther helps also so much desired The country here about is of a temperate and most svveet aire and pleasant to behold and besides the exceeding fruitfulnesse of the soyle it s stored vvith plenty of large and mighty Deere Notvvithstanding that in this first bay vve found svveet and vvholesome vvater even at pleasure yet the same after the arrivall of Caunter we removed some twelve leages farther up into another where we found a long rock or rather Island of rocks not far from the main making a commodious harâ—â—â— specially against a southerly wind under them we anchored and rode till the
Magellane reporteth of this passage namely that there be many faire harbours and store of fresh water but some ships had need to be fraughted with nothing else besides anchors and cables to find ground in most of them to come to anchor which when any extreame gusts or contrary winds do come whereunto the place is altogether subject is a great hindrance to the passage and carryeth with it no small danger The land on both sides is very high and mountainous having on the North and west side the continent of America and on the south and East part nothing but Islands among which lye innumerable fretes or passages into the south sea The mountains arise with such tops and spires into the aire of so rare a height as they may wel be accounted amogst the wonders of the world environed as it were with many regions of congealed clouds and frozen meteors whereby they are continually fed and increased both in the height and bigness from time to time retaining that which they have once received being little again diminished by the heat of the sun as being so farre from reflexion and so nigh the cold and frozen Region But notwithstanding all this yet are the low and plaine grounds very fruitfull the grasse green and naturall the heards that are of very strange sorts good and many the trees for the most part of them alwaies green the aire of the temperature of our countrey the water most pleasant and the soile agreeing to any grain which we have growing in our country a place no doubt that lacketh nothing but a people to use the same to the Creators glory and the encreasing of the Church the people inhabiting these parts made fires as we passed by in divers places Drawing nigh the entrance of the south sea we had such a shutting up to the northward and such large and open fretes toward the south that it was wonderful which way we should passe without further discovery for which cause our Generall having brought his fleet to anchor under an Island himself with certain of his Gentlemen rowed in a boat to descry the passage who having discovered a sufficient way towards the North in their return to their ships met a Cannow under the same Island where we rode then at anchor having in her divers persons This Cannow or Foate was made of the barke of divers trees having a prow and a stern standing up and semicirclewise yeelding inward of one form and fashion the body whereof was a most dainty mould bearing in it most comely proportion and excellent workmanship insomuch as to our Generall and us it seemed never to have been done without the cunning and expert judgment of art and that not for the use of so rude and barbarous a people but for the pleasure of some great and noble personage yea of some Prince It had no other closing up or caulking in the seames but the stichin with thongs made of Sealeskins or other such beast and yet so close that it received very little or no water at all The people are of a meane stature but well set and compact in all their parts and lims they have great pleasure in painting their faces as the others have of whom we have spoken before Within the said Island they had a house of mean building of certain poles and covered with skins of beasts having therein fire water and such meat as commonly they can come by as Seales Mussels and such like The vessels wherein they kept their water and their cups in which they drink are made of barks of trees as was their canow and that with no lesse skill for the bignesse of the thing being of a very formal shape and good fashion Their working tools which they use in cutting these things and such other are knives made of most huge and monstrous mussel shels the like whereof have not been seen or heard of lightly by any travellers the meat thereof being very savoury and good in eating which after they have broken off the thinne and brittle substance of the edge they rub and grinde them upon stones had for the purpose til they have tempered and set such an edg upon them that no wood is so hard but they will cut it at pleasure with the same whereof we our selves had experience Yea they cut therewith bones of a marvellous hardnesse making of them fisgies to kill fish wherein they have a most pleasant exercise with great dexterity The sixth of September we had left astern us all these troublesome Islands and were entred into the south sea or Mare del zur at the cape whereof our generall had determined with his whole company to have gone a shoare and there after a sermon to have left a monument of her Majesty ingraven in mettal for a perpetuall remembrance which he had in a readiness for that end prepared but neither was there any anchoring neither did the wind suffer us to make a stay Only this by all our mens observations was concluded that the entrance by which we came into this strait was in 52. deg the middest in 53. deg 15. m. and the going out in 52. d. 30. m. being 150. leagues in length at the very entry supposed also to be about 10. leagues in bredth After we were entred ten leagues within it it was found not past a league in breadth farther within in some places very large in some very narrow in the end found to be no strait at all but all Islands Now when our Generall perceived that the nipping cold under so cruel a frowning winter had impaired the health of some of his men he meant to have made the more hast again toward the line and not to sayle any farther towards the pole Antartick lest being farther from the Sun and neerer the cold we might happily be overtaken with some greater danger of sicknesse But God giving men leave to purpose reserveth to himself the disposition of all things making their intents of none effect or changing their meanings oft times clean into the contrary as may best serve for his own glory and their profit For September 7. the second day after our entrance into the South sea called by some Mare pacificum but proving to us rather to be Mare furiosum God by a contrary wind and intollerable tempest seemed to set himself against us forcing us not only to alter our course and determination but with great trouble long time many dangers hard escapes and final separating of our fleet to yeild our selves unto his will Yea such was the extremity of the tempest that it appeared to us as if he had pronounced a sentence not to stay his hand nor to withdraw his judgment till he had buried our bodies and ships also in the bottomlesse depth of the raging sea In the time of this incredible storm the 15. of September the Moon was eclipsed in Aries and darkned about three points for the space
of two glasses which being ended might seem to give us some hope of alteration change of weather to the better Notwitstanding as the ecclipticall conflict could adde nothing to our miserable estate no more did the ending thereof ease us any thing at all nor take away any part of our troubles from us but our eclipse continued still in its full force so prevailing against us that for the space of ful 52. days together we were darkned more then the Moon by 20. parts or more then we by any means could ever have preserved or recovered light of our selves again if the Sonne of God which layed this burthen upon our backs had not mercifully born it up with his own shoulders and upheld us by his own power beyond any possible strength or skil of man Neither indeed did we at all escape but with the feelling of great discomforts through the same For these violent and extraordinary flawes such as seldome have been seen still continuing or rather increasing September 30. in the night caused the sorrow separation of the Marigold from us in which was Captain John Thomas with many others of our deare friends who by no meanes that we could conceive could help themselves but by spooming along before the sea With whom albeit we could never meet again yet our generall having aforehand given order that if any of our fleet did loose company the place of resort to meet againe should be in 30. deg or thereabouts upon the coasts of Peru toward the Equinoctiall we long time hoped till experience shewed our hope was vain that there we should joyfully meet with them especially for that they were well provided of victuals and lackt no skilfull and sufficient men besides their Captain to bring forwards the ship to the place appointed From the seventh of September in which the storm began till the seventh of October we could not by any means recover any land having in the mean time been driven so far South as to the 37. deg and somewhat better on this day towards night somewhat to the Northward of that Cape of America whereof mention is made before in the description of our departure from the strait into the sea with a sorry saile we entred a harbour where hoping to enjoy some freedome ease till the storm was ended we received within few houres after our coming to anchor so deadly a stroke and hard entertainment that our Admirall left not only an anchor behind her through the violence and furie of the flaw but in departing thence also lost the company and sight of our Vice-Amirall the Elizabeth partly through the negligence of those that had the charge of her partly through a kind of desire that some in her had to be out of these troubles and to be at home again which as since is known they thence forward by all meanes assayed and performed For the very next day October 8. recovering the mouth of the straits again which we were now so neere unto they returned back the same way by which they came forward and coasting Brasil they arrived in England June 2. the yeare following So that now our Admirall if she had retained her old name of Pellican which she bare at our departure from our country she might have been now indeed said to be as a Pellican alone in the wildernesse For albeit our Generall sought the rest of his fleet with great care yet could we not have any sight or certain newes of them by any meanes From this bay of parting of friends we were forcibly driven back again into 55. deg towards the pole Antartick In which height we ran in among the Islands before mentioned lying to the Southward of America through which we passed from one sea to the other as hath been declared Where coming to anchor we found the waters there to have their indraught and free passage and that through no small guts or narrow channels but indeed through as large fretes or straits as it hath at the supposed streights of Megellane through which we came Among these Islands making our abode with some quietneâ— for a very little while viz. two dayes and finding divers good and wholesome herbs together with fresh water our men which before were weake and much empaired in their health began to receive good comfort especially by the drinking of one herb not much unlike that herb which we commonly call Penny-leaf which purging with great facility afforded great help and refreshing to our wearied and sickly bodies But the winds returning to their old wont and the seas raging after their former manner yea every thing as it were setting it self against our peace and desired rest here was no stay permitted neither any safety to be looked for For such was the present danger by forcing and continuall flaws that we were rather to look for present death then hope for any delivery if God almighty should not make the way for us The winds were such as if the bowels of the earth had set all at liberty or as if the clouds under heaven had been called together to lay their force on that one place the seas which by nature and of themselves are heavy and of a weighty substance were rowled up from the depths even from the roots of the rocks as if it had been a scroll of parchment which by the extremity of heat runneth together and being aloft were carried in most strange manner abundance as feathers or drifts of snow by the violence of the winds to water the exceeding tops of high and lofty mountains Our anchors as false friends in such a danger gave over their holdfast and as if it had been with horror of the thing did shrink down to hide themselves in this miserable storm committing the distressed ship and helplesse men to the uncertain rowling seas which tossed them like a ball in a racket In this case to let fall more anchors would availe us nothing for being driven from our first place of ancoring so unmeasurable was the depth that 500. fathom would fetch no ground so that the violent storm without intermission the impossibility to come to anchor the want of opportunity to spread any saile the most mad seas the lee shores the dangerous rocks the contrary and most intolerable winds the impossible passage out the desperate tarrying there and inevitable perils on every side did lay before us so small likelihood to escape present destruction that if the speciall providence of God himself had not supported us we could never have endured that wofull state as being invironed with most terrible and most fearful judgments round about For truly it was more likely that the mountains should have been rent in sunder from the top to the bottom and cast hedlong into the sea by these unnaturall winds then that we by any help or cunning of man should free the life of any one amongst us Notwithstanding the same God of mercy which delivered
〈…〉 not daring as we had great experience to 〈…〉 so much as once to arise from their 〈…〉 layed till it with all the rest be 〈…〉 strength of nature able to help it self 〈…〉 hath nature afforded them that the heat of their own bodies being exceeding great it perfecteth the creature with greater expedition and in shorter time then is to be found in many other places As for the causes of this extremity they seem not to be so deeply hidden but that they may at least in part be guessed at the chiefâ—â— of which we conceive to be the large spreading of the Asian and American continent which somewhat northward of these parts if they be not fully joyned yet seem they to come very neer one to the other From whose high and snow-covered mountains the north and northwest winds the constant visitants of those coasts send abroad their frozen nimphs to the infecting of the whole aire with this insufferable sharpnes not permitting the Sun no not in the pride of his heat to dissolve that congealed matter and snow which they have breathed out so nigh the Sun and so many degrees distant from themselves And that the north and north-west winds are here constant in June and July as the north wind alone is in August and September we not only found it by our own experience but were fully confirm'd in the opinion there of by the continued observations of the Spaniards Hence comes the generall squalidness and barranness of the country hence comes it that in the mid'st of their summer the snow hardly departeth even from their very doors but is never taken away from their hils at all hence comes those thick mists and most stinking foggs which increase so much the more by how much higher the pole is raised wherein a blind pilot is as good as the best director of a course For the Sun striving to perform his naturall office in elevating the vapors out of these inferiour bodies draweth necessarily abundance of moisture out of the sea but the nipping cold from the former causes meeting opposing the Suns indeavors forces him to give over his work imperfect and instead of higher elevation to leave in the lowest region wandring upon the face of the earth and waters as it were a second sea through which its own beams cannot possibly pierce unlesse sometimes when the suddain violence of the winds doth help to scatter and breake through it which thing happeneth very seldom and when it happeneth is of no continuance Some of our marriners in this voyage had formerly been at Wardhouse in 72 deg of north lat who yet affirmed that they felt no such niping cold there in the end of summer when they departed thence as they did here in those hottest moneths of June and July And also from these reasons we conjecture that either there is no passage at all through these northern coasts which is most likely or if there be that yet it is unnaâ—igable Adde hereunto that though we searched the coast diligently even unto the 48. deg yet found we not the land to trend so much as one point in any place towards the East but rather running on continually northwest as if it went directly to meet with Asia and even in that height when we had a franke wind to have carried us through had there been a passage yet we had a smooth and calm sea with ordinary flowing and reflowing which could not have been had there been a Frete of which we rather infallibly concluded then conjectured that there was none But to return The next day after our coming to anchor in the aforesaid harbor the people of the country shewed themselves sending off a man with great expedition to us in a canow Who being yet but a little from the shore and a great way from our ship spake to us continually as he came rowing on And at last at a reasonable distance staying himself he began more solemnly a long and tedious oration after his manner using in the delivery thereof many gestures and signs moving his hands turning his head and body many wayes and after his oration ended with great shew of reverence and submission returned back to shoar again He shortly came again the second time in like manner and so the third time when he brought with him as a present from the rest a bunch of Feathers much like the Feathers of a black crow very neatly and artificially gathered upon a string and drawn together into a round bundle being very clean finely cut and bearing â—n length an equall proportion one with another a speciall cognizance as we afterwards observed which they that guard their Kings person weare on their heads With this also he brought a little basket made of rushes and filled with an herb which they called Tabah Both which being tyed to a short rod he cast into a boat Our generall intended to have recompenced him immediately with many good things he would have bestowed on him but entring into the boat to deliver the same he could not be drawn to receive them by any means save one hat which being cast into the water out of the ship he took up refusing utterly to meddle with any other thing though it were upon a board put off unto him and so presently made his return After which time our boat could row no way but wondring at us as at gods they would follow the same with admiration The 3. day following viz. the 21 our ship having received a leake at sea was brought to anchor neer the shoar that her goods being landed she might be repaired but for that we were to prevent any danger that might chance against our safety our generall first of all landed his men with all necessary provision to build tents and make a fort for the defence of our selves and goods and that we might under the shelter of it with more safety whatever should befall end our business which when the people of the country perceived us doing as men set on fire to war in defence of their country in great hast and companies with such weapons as they had they came down unto us yet with no hostile meaning or intent to hurt us standing when they drew neere as men ravished in their mindes with the sight of such things as they never had seen or heard off before that time their errand being rather with submission and feare to worship us as gods then to have any war with us as with mortal men Which thing as it did partly shew it self at that instant so did it more and more manifest it self afterwards during the whole time of our abode amonst them At this time being willed by signs to lay from them there bowes and arrows they did as they were directed and so did all the rest as they came more and more by companies unto them growing in a little while to a great number both of men and women To the intent
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
when we were all gathered together upon the Plaine some two little miles from the Towne the Lievetenant Generall thought good not to make attempt till day light because there was not one that could serve for Guide or giving knowledge at all of the place And therefore after having well rested even halfe an houre before day he commanded the Army to be divided into three speciall parts such as he appointed whereas before we had marched by severall Companies being thereunto forced by the naughtinesse of the way as is aforesaid Now by the time we were thus ranged in a very brave order daylight began to appeare and being advanced hard to the Wall we saw no Enemie to resist whereupon the Lieuetenant Generall appointed Captaine Sampson with thirty shot and Captaine Barton with other thirty to go downe into the Towne which stood in the Valley under us and might very plainly be viewed all over from that place where the whole Army was now arrived and presently after these Captaines was sent the great Ensigne which had nothing in it but the plaine English Crosse to be placed tovvards the Sea that our Fleet might see Saint Georges crosse florish in the Enemies fortresse Order was given that all the Ordinance throughout the town and upon all the Platformes which vvas above fifty Peeces all ready charged should be shot off in honour of the Queenes Majesties Coronation day being the seventeenth of November after the yeerly custome of England which was so answered againe by the Ordinance out of all the Ships in the Fleet which now was come neere as it was strange to hear such a thundering noise last so long together In this meane while the Lieutenant Generall held still the most part of his Force on the hill top till such time as the Towne was quartered out for the lodging of the whole army which being done every Captain tooke his owne quarter and in the evening was placed such sufficient guard upon every part of the Towne that we had no cause to feare any present Enemie Thus we continued in the City the space of fourteene dayes taking such spoyles as the place yeelded which were for the most part Wine Oyle Meale and some such like things for Victual as Vinegar Olives and some such other trash as Merchandise for their Indian trades But there was not found any Treasure at all or any thing else of worth besides The scituation of Saint Jago is somewhat strange in forme like to a triangle having on the East and West sides two Mountaines of Rocke and Cliffie as it were hanging over it upon the top of which two Mountaines was builded certaine fortifications to preserve the Towne from any harme that might be offered as in this Plot is plainly shewed From thence on the South side of the Towne is the maine Sea and on the North side the valley lying betweene the foresaid Mountaines wherein the Towne standeth the said Valley and Towne both doe grow very narrow insomuch that the space betweene the two cliffes of this end of the Towne is estimated not to be above â—enâ—e or twelve score over In the midst of the Valley commeth downe a riveret Rill or Brook of fresh Water which hard by the Sea side maketh a Pond or Poole whereout our Ships were watered vvith very great ease and pleasure Somewhat above the Towne on the North side betweene the two Mountaines the valley waxeth somewhat larger then at the Townes end which Valley is wholly converted into Gardens and Orchards vvell replenished with diverse sorts of Fruites Herbes and Trees as Lymons Oranges Sugar Canes Cochars or Cochos-Nuts Plantens Potato-â—oots Cocombers small and round Onyons Garlike and some other things not now remembred amongst which the Chochos-nuts and Plantens are very pleasant Fruits the said Cochos having a hard shell and a greene Huske over it as hath our Walnut but it farre exceedeth in greatnesse for this Cochos in his greene huske is bigger then any mans two Fists of the hard shell many drinking Cups are made here in England and set in Silver as I have often seen Next within this hard shell is a white rine resembling in shew very much even as any thing may doe to the white of an Egge when it is hard boyled And within this white of the Nut lyeth a water which is whitish and very cleere to the quantity of halfe a pint or there abouts which water and white rine before spoken of are both of a very coole fresh taste and as pleasing as any thing may be I have heard some hold opinion that it is very restorative The Planten groweth in Cods somewhat like to Beans but is bigger and longer and much more thicke together on the stalke and when it waxeth ripe the meate which filleth the rine of the Cod becometh yellow and is exceeding sweet and pleasant In this time of our being there hapned to come a Portugall to the Westermost Fort with a Flag of truce to whom Captaine Sampson was sent with Captain Goring who comming to the said Messenger he first asked them what Nation they were they answered Englishmen he then desired to know if Warres were betweene England and Speine to which they answered that they knew not but if he would goe to their Generall he could best resolve him of such particulars and for his assurance of passage and repasse these Captains made offer to ingage their credits which he refused for that he was not sent from his Governour Then they told him if his Governour did desire to take a course for the common benefit of the People and Countrey his best way were to come and present himselfe unto our Noble and mercifull Governour Sir Francis Drake whereby he might be assured to finde favour both for himselfe and the Inhabitants Otherwise within three dayes we should March over the Land and consume with fire all inhabited places and put to the Sword all such living soules as we should chance upon so thus much he tooke for the conclusion of his answer and departing he promised to returne the next day but we never heard more of him Upon the foure and twentieth of November the Generall accompanied with the Lievetenant Generall and six hundred men marched forth to a Village twelve Miles within the Land called Sancto Domingo where the Governour and the Bishop with all the better sort were lodged and by eight of the Clocke we came to it finding the place abandoned and the people fled into the Mountaines so we made a stand a while to ease our selves and partly to see if any would come to speake to us After we had well rested our selves the Generall commanded the Troops to match away homewards in which retreat the Enemy shewed themselves both Horse and Foot though not such Force as durst encounter us and so in passing some time at the gase with them it waxed late and towards night before we could recover home to Saint Jago On Munday the six and
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