in other places so over this people and not contenting themselves with a better estate then they deserved except they might as they thought make sure worke by leaving none of the royall blood alive who should make challenge to the Kingdome cruelly murthered the King himselfe father to him who now raignes and intended the like to all his sons Which cruelty instead of establishing brought such a shaking on their usurped estate that they were fain without covenanting to carry away Goods Munition or any thing else to quit the place and the whole Island to save their lives For the present King with his brethren in revenge of their fathers murther so bestirred themselves that the Portugall was wholly driven from that Island and glad that he yet keeps footing in Tidore These four yeeres this King hath been encreasing and was as was affirmed at that present Lord of an hundred Islands thereabout and was even now preparing his forces to hazard a chance with the Portugals for Tidore it selfe The People are Moores whose Religion consists much in certaine superstitious observations of new Moones and certaine seasonâ— with a rigid and strickt kind of fasting We had experience hereof in the Viceroy and his retinue who lay aboard us all the time for the most part during our abode in this place who 〈◊〉 their prescribed time would neither eat not drinke not 〈…〉 as a cup of cold water in the day so zealous are they in their selfe devised worship but yet in the night would eate three times and that very largely This Terenate stands in 27. min. North latitude While we rode at anchor in the harbour of Terenate besides the Natives there come aboard us another a goodly Gentleman very well accompanied with his Interpreter to view our Ship and to conferre with our Generall he was apparelled much after our manner most â—eat and Courtlike his carriage the most respective and full of discreet behaviour that ever we had seen He told us that he was himselfe but a stranger in those Islands being a naturall of the Province of Paghia in China his name Pausaos of the family of Hombu of which family there had 11. raigned in continuall succession these two hundred years and King Boxog by the death of his elder brother who died by a fall from his Horse the rightfull heire of all China is the twelfth of this race he is 22. years of age his Mother yet living he hath a Wife and by her one Son he is well beloved and highly honoured of all his subjects and lives in great peace from any feare of Forreign invasion but it was not this mans fortune to enjoy his part of this happinesse both of his King and Country as he most desired For being accused of a capitall crime whereof though free yet he could not evidently make his Innocency appeare and knowing the peremptory justice of China to be irrevocable if he should expect the sentence of the Judges he before hand made suite to his King that it would please him to commit his trial to Gods providence and judgement and to that end to permit him to travel on this condition that if he brought not home some worthy Intelligence such as his Majestie had never had before and were most fit to be known and most honourable for China he should for ever live an Exile or else dye for daring to set foot againe in his owne Country for he was assured that the God of Heaven had care of Innocency The King granted his suite and now he had been three yeares abroad and at this present came from Tidore where he had remained two Moneths to see the English Generall of whom he heard such strange things and from him if it pleased God to afford it to learne some such Intelligence as might make way for his returne into his Country and therefore he earnestly intreated our Generall to make relation to him of the occasion way and manner of his comming so far from England thither with the manifold Occurrences that had happened to him by the way Our Generall gave ample satisfaction to each part of his request the stranger harkned with great attention and delight to his discourse and as he naturally excelled iâ— memory besides his help of Art to better the same so he firmely printed it in his mind and with great reverence thanked God who had so unexpectedly brought him to the notice of such admirable things Then fell he to intreate our Generall with many most earnest and vehement perswasions that he would be content to see his Country before his departure any farther Westward that it should be a most pleasant most honourable and most pofitabe thing for him that he should gain hereby the notice carry home the description of one of the most ancient mightiest and richest Kingdoms in the world Hereupon he took occasion to relate the number and greatnesse of the Provinces with the rare Commodities and good things they yeelded the number statelinesse and riches of their Cities with what abundance of Men Victuals Munition and all manner of necessaries delightful things they were stored with In particular touching Ordnance and great Guns the late invention of a scab shind Frier amongst us in Europe he related that in Sunuien by some called Quinzai which is the chiefest City of all China they had brasse Ordnance of all sorts much easier to be traversed then ours were and so perfectly made that they would hiâ— a shilling above two thousand yeers agoe With many other worthy things which our Generals own experience if it would please him to make triall would better then his relation assure him of The brize would shortly serve very fitly to carry him thither and he himself would accompany him al the way He accounted himselfe a happy man that he had but seen and spoken with us the relation of it might perhaps serve him to recover favour in his Country but if he could prevaile with our Generall himselfe to goe thither he doubted not but it would be a meanes of his great advancement and increase of honour with his King Notwithstanding our Generall could not on any such perswasions be induced and so the stranger parted sorry that he could not prevaile in his request yet exceeding glad of the Intelligence he had learned By the ninth of November having gotten what provision the place could affoord us we then set sayle and considering that our Ship for want of trimming was now growne foule that our caske and vessels for water were much decayed and that divers other things stood in need of reparation our next care was how we might fall with such a place where with safety we might a while stay for the redressing of these inconveniencies The calmnesse of the winds which are almost continuall before the comming of the brize which was not yet expected perswaded us it was the fittest time that we could take With this resolution we sailed along till November 14.
and we the meane time better follow our purposes with our Pinnaces of which our Captaine would himselfe take two to Rio Grande and the third leave with his Brother to seeke the Symerons Upon this resolution we set saile presently for the said Sound which within five dayes we recovered absteining of purpose from all such occasion as might hinder our determination or bewray our being upon the Coast As soone as we arrived where our Captaine intended and had chosen a fit and convenient road out of all trade for our purpose we reposed our selves there for some fifteene dayes keeping our selves close that the bruit of our being upon the Coast might cease But in the meane time we were not idle for besides such ordinary workes as our Captaine every Moneth did usually inure us to about the trimming and fitting of his Pinnaces for their better sailing and rowing he caused us to rid a large plot of ground both of Trees and Brakes and to build us Houses sufficient for all our lodging and one especially for all our publique meetings wherein the Negro which fled to us before did us great service as being well acquainted with the Countrey and their meanes of Building Our Archers made themselves Butts to shoot at because we had many that delighted in that Exercise and wanted not a Fletcher to keepe our Bowes and Arrowes in order The rest of the Company every one as he liked best made his disport at Bowles Quoits Keiles c. For our Captaine allowed one halfe of their Company to passe their time thus every other day interchangeably the other halfe being enjoyned to the necessary workes about our Ship and Pinnaces and the providing of fresh Victuals Fish Fowle Hogs Deere Conies c. whereof there is great plenty Here our Smiths set up their Forge as they used being furnished out of England with Anvill Iron Coales and all manner of necessaries which stood us in great stead At the end of these fifteene dayes our Captaine leaving his Ship in his Brothers charge to keepe all things in order himselfe tooke with him according to his former determination two Pinnaces for Rio Grand and passing by Carthagene but out of sight when we were within two leagues of the River we landed to the Westwards on the Maine where we saw great store of Cattle There we found some Indians who asking us in friendly sort in broken Spanish what we would have and understanding that we desired fresh Victuals in Traffique they tooke such Cattle for us as we needed with ease and so readily as if they had a speciall commandment over them whereas they would not abide us to come neere them And this also they did willingly because our Captaine according to his custome contented them for their paines with such things as they account greatly of in such sort that they promised we should have there of them at any time what we would The same day we departed thence to Rio Grand where we entred about three of the clocke in the after-noone There are two entrings into this River of which we entred the Westermost called Boca Chica The freshet of this River is so great that vve being halfe a league from the mouth of it filled fresh water for our Beverage From three a clocke till darke night we rowed up the streame but the current was so strong downwards that we got but two leagues all that time We moared our Pinnaces to a tree that night for that presently with the closing of the evening there fell a monstrous shower of raine vvith such strange and terrible claps of thunder and flashes of lightning as made us not a little to marvell at although our Captaine had been acquainted with such like in that Countrey and told us that they continue seldome longer then three quarters of an houre This storme was no sooner ceast but it became very calme and therewith there came such an innumerable multitude of a kind of flies of that Country called Muskitos like our Gnats which bite so spitefully that we could not rest all that night nor finde meanes to defend our selves from them by reason of the heate of the Country the best remedy we then found against them was the juyce of Lymons At the breake of day we departed rowing in the eddy and haling up by the trees where the eddy failed with great labour by spels without ceasing each company their halfe houre-glasse without meeting any till about three a clock after noone by which time we could get but five leagues a head Then we espied a Canow with two Indians fishing in the River but we spake not to them lest so we might be descryed nor they to us as taking us to be Spanyards But within an houre after we espied certaine houses on the other side of the River whose channell is twenty five fathome deep and his bredth so great that a man can scantly be discerned from side to side Yet a Spanyard which kept those houses had espied our Pinnaces and thinking we had been his country-men made a smoake for a signall to turne that way as being desirous to speake with us After that we espying this smoak had made with it and were halfe the River over he wheaved us with his hat and his long hanging sleeves to come a shoare But as we drew neerer unto him he discerned that we were not those he looked for he took his heels fled from his houses which we found to be five in number all full of white Ruske dryed Bacon that Country Cheese like Holland Cheese in fashion but farre more delicate in taste of which they send into Spain as speciall Presents many sorts of sweet meats and Conserves with great store of sugar being provided to serve the Fleet returning to Spaine With this store of victuals we loaded our Pinnaces and by the shutting in of the day we were ready to depart for that we hastned the rather by reason of an intelligence given us by certaine Indian Women which we found in those houses that the Frigates these are ordinarily thirty or upwards which usually transport the Merchandise sent out of Spaine to Carthagene from thence to these houses and so in great Canoas up hence into Nueva Reyno for which the River running many hundred leagues within the land serveth very fitly and returne in exchange the gold and treasure silver victuals and commodities which that Kingdome yeeldeth abundantly were not yet returned from Carthagene since the first alarum they tooke of our being there As we were going aboord our Pinnaces from these Store-houses the Indians of a great Towne called Villa del Rey some two miles distant from the waters side where we landed were brought downe by the Spaniards into the bushes and shot their arrowes but we rowed downe the streame with the current for that the winde was against uâ— onely one league and because it was night anchored till the morning when we rowed downe
threw downe the gates and spardecks to prevent the Spaniards from annoying us with their close fights who then perceiving that we were possessed of their Ship stowed themselves all in hold with their weapons except two or three yonkers who were found afore the beetes when having light out of our Pinnaces vve found no danger of the enemy remaining we cut their Cables at halfe and with our three Pinnaces towed her without the Iland into the sound right afore the Towne without danger of their great shot Meane while the Towne having intelligence hereof by their Watch tooke th' alarme rung out their Bels shot off about thirty Peeces of great Ordinance put all their Men in a readinesse Horse and Foot came down to the very point of the Wood and discharged their Calivers to impeach us if they might in going forth The next morning our Ships tooke two Frigates in vvhich vvere two vvho called themselves the Kings Scrivanos the one of Carthagene th' other of Veragua vvith seven Mariners and two Negroes vvho had beene at Nombre de dios and vvere now bound for Carthagene vvith double Letters of Advice to certifie them that Captaine Drake had beene at Nombre de Dios had taken it and had it not beene that He was hurt with some blessed shot by all likelihold he had saâ—kt it he was yet still upon the Coast they should therefore carefully prepare for him After that our Captaine had brought all his Fleet together at the Scrivanos entreaties he vvas content to doe them all 〈◊〉 in setting them and all their Companies 〈◊〉 and so 〈◊〉 thence vvith the Ilands of Saint Bernards about three leagues off the â—own vvhere vve found great store of Fish for our refreshing Here our Captaine considering that he vvas now discovered upon two of the chiefest places of all the Coast and yet not meaning to leave it till he had found the Simerons and made his Voyage as he had conceived which would require some length of time and sure manning of his Pinnaces he determined with himselfe to buâ—ne one of his Ships and make of the other a Store-house that his Pinnaces which could not otherwise might be throughly Manned and so he might be able to abide any time But knowing the affection of his Company how loath they vvere to leave either of their Ships being both so good Saylers and so vvell furnished he purposed in himselfe by some Policy to make them most vvilling to effect that he intended And therefore sent for one Thomas Moone vvho vvas Carpenter in the Swanne and taking him into his Cabin chargeth him to conceale for a time a piece of service vvhich he must in any case consent to doe aboord his owne Ship that was in the middle of the second Watch to goe downe secretly into the Well of the Ship and with a great spike-gimlet to boâ—re three hoales as neere the Keele as he could and lay something against it that the force of the Water entring might make no great noyse nor be discovered by boyling up Thomas Moone at the hearing hereof being utterly dismayed desired to know what cause there might be to move him to sincke so good a Barke of his owne new and strong and that by his meanes who had beene in two so rich and gainfull Voyages in her with himselfe heretofore If his Brother the Master and the rest of the Company should know of such his fact he thought verily they would kill him But when our Captaine had imparted to him his causes and had perswaded him with promise that it should not be knowne till all of them should be glad of it he undertooke it and did it accordingly The next morning our Captaine tooke his Pinnace very early purposing to goe a fishing for that there is very great store in all the Coast and falling a board the Swanne calleth for his Brother to goe with him who rising suddenly answereth that he would follow presently or if it would please him to stay a very little he would attend him Our Captaine perceiving the feat wrought would not hasten him but in rowing away demanded of them why their Barke was so deepe as making no account of it but by occasion of this demand his Brother sent one downe to the Steward to know whether there were any water in the ship or what other cause might be The Steward hastily stepping downe at his usuall skuttle was wet up to the waste and shifting with more haste to come up againe as if the water had followed him cryed out that the Ship was full of water There was no need to hasten the Company some to Pumpe others to search for the Leake which the Captaine of the Barke seeing they did on all hands very willingly he followed his Brother and certified him of the strange chance befaln them that night that whereas they had not Pumpt twice in six weekes before now they had six foote water in hold therefore he desireth leave from attending him in fishing to intend the search and remedy of the leake and when our Captaine with his Company profered to go to helpe them he answered they had men enough aboard and prayed him to continue his fishing that they might have some part of it for their dinner Thus returning he found his Company had taken great paines but had freed the water very little yet such was their love to the Barke as our Captaine well knew that they ceased not but to the utmost of their strength laboured all that they might till three in the afternoone by which time the Company perceiving that though they had beene relieved by our Captaine himselfe and many of his Company yet they were not able to free above a foot and a halfe of water and could have no likelihood of finding the Leake had now a lesse liking of her then before and greater content to hear of some means for remedy whereupon our Captain consulting with them what they thought best to be done found that they had more desire to have all as he thought fit then judgement to conceive any meanes of remedy And therefore he propounded that himselfe would goe into the Pinnace till he could provide some handsome Frigate and that his Brother should be Captaine in the Admirall and the Master should also be there placed with him instead of this which seeing they could not save he would have fired that the Enemy might never recover her but first all the Pinnaces should be brought aboard her that every one might take out of her whatsoever they lackt or liked This though the company at the first marveiled at yet presently it was put in execution and performed that night our Captaine had his desire and men enough for his Pinnaces The next morning we resolved to seek out some fit place in the sound of Dorrienne where we might safely leave our ship at Anchor not discoverable by the Enemy who thereby might imagine us quite departed from the Coast
which from this Cape of Saint Anthony we intended to finish by sayling the directest and speediest way homeward and accordingly even beyond our owne expectation most happily performed For whereas our Captaine had purposed to touch at New-found-land and there to have watred which would have been some let unto us though we stood in great want of Water yet God Almighty so provided for us by giving us good store of Raine-water that we were sufficiently furnished and within twenty three dayes we past from the Cape of Florida to the Iles of Silley and so arrived at Plimouth on Sunday about sermon-Sermon-time August the ninth 1573. at what time the newes of our Captaines return brought unto his did so speedily passe over all the Church and surpasse their minds with desire and delight to see him that very few or none remained with the Preacher all hastning to see the evidence of Gods love and blessing towards our Gracious Queene and Country by the fruit of our Captaines labour and successe Soli Deo Gloria FINIS THE WORLD ENCOMPASSED BY SIR FRANCIS DRAKE Offered now at last to Publique view both for the honour of the Actor but especially for the stirring up of heroicke Spirits to benefit their Countrey and eternize their Names by like noble attempts Collected out of the Notes of Master Francis Fletcher Preacher in this imployment and compared with divers others Notes that went in the same VOYAGE Printed at London for Nicholas Bourne dwelling at the South entrance of the royall Exchange 1652. SIR FRANCIS DRAKE his Voyage about the WORLD EVer since Almighty God commanded Adam to subdue the Earth there hath not wanted in all Ages some heroicall Spirits which in obedience to that high mandate either from manifest reason alluring them or by secret instinct inforcing them thereunto have expended their wealth imployed their times and adventured their Persons to finde out the true circuit of the World Of these some have endeavored to effect this their purpose by conclusion and consequence drawn from the proportion of the higher Circles to this nethermost Globe being the Center of the rest Others not contented with Schoole Points such demonstrations for that a small error in the beginning groweth in the progresse to a great inconvenience have added therunto their own History and experience All of them in reason have deserved great commendation of their owne Ages and purchased a just renowne with all posterity For if a Surveyor of some few Lordships wherof the bounds and limits were before known worthily deserve his reward not only for his travell but for his skill also in measuring the whol and every part thereof how much more above comparison are their famous Travels by all means possible to be eternized who have bestowed their studies and indeavour to survey measure this Globe almost unmeasurable Neither is here that difference to be objected which in private Possessions is of value Whose Land Survey you forasmuch as the main Ocean by right is the Lords alone and by nature left free for all men to deal withal as very sufficient for all mens use larg enough for al mens industry And therefore that valiant enterprise accompanied with happy successe which that right rare and thrice worthy Captain Francis Drake atchieved in first turning up a furrow about the whole world doth not onely overmatch the ancient Argonauts but also outreacheth in many respects that noble Mariner Magellanus and by far surpasseth his crowned Victory But hereof let Posterity judge It shall for the present be deemed a sufficient discharge of duty to register the true and whole history of that his Voyage with as great indifferency of affection as a history doth require and with the plain evidence of truth as it was left recorded by some of the chiefe and divers other Actors in that Action The said Captain Francis Drake having in a former voyoge in the years 72 and 73 the description whereof is already imparted to the view of the world had a sight and onely a sight of the south Atlantik and thereupon either conceiving a new or renewing a former desire of sailing on the same in an English bottom he so cherished thenceforward this his noble desire and resolution in himselfe that notwithstanding he was hindred for some years partly by secret envy at home and partly by publicke service for his Prince and Country abroad wherof Ireland under Walter Earl of Essex gives honorable testimony yet against the yeare 1577. by gracious commission from his Soveraigne and with the helpe of divers friends Adventurers he had fitted himselfe with five Ships 1. The Pellican Admirall burthen 100. tons Captaine generall Francis Drake 2. The Elizabeth Vice admirall burthen 80. tonnes Captaine Iohn Winter 3. The Marigold a Bark of 30. tons Captain Iohn Thomas 4. The Swan a Fliboat of 50. tons Captaine Iohn Chester 5. The Christopher a Pinnace of fifteene tonnes Captaine Thomas Moone These Ships he mand with 164. able and sufficient men and furnished them also with such plentifull provision of all things necessary as so long and dangerous a Voyage did seem to require and amongst the rest with certaine Pinnaces ready framed but carried aboard in peices to be new set up in smoother water when occasion served Neither had he omitted to make provision also for ornament and delight carrying to this purpose with him expert Musitians rich furniture all the vessels for his Table yea many belonging even to the Cooke-roome being of pure Silver and divers shewes of all sorts of curious Workmanship whereby the civility and magnificence of his native Country might amongst all Nations whithersoever he should come be the more admired Being thus appointed we set saile out of the sound of Plimmouth about five of the Clocke in the afternoon November 15. of the same yeare and running all that night Southwest by the morning were come as far as the Lyzard where meeting the wind at Southwest quite contrary to our intended course we were forced with our whole Fleet to put in to Falmouth The next day towards evening there arose a storme continuing all that night and the day following especially betweene ten of the Clocke in the forenoone and five in the afternoone with such violence that though it were in a very good Harbor yet two of our Ships viz. the Admirall wherein our Generall himselfe went and the Marigold were fain to cut their maine Masts by board and for the repairing of them and many other dammages in the tempest sustained as soone as the Weather would give leave to beare back to Plimmouth again where we all arrived the thirteenth day after our first departure thence Whence having in few dayes supplied all defects with happier sailes we once more put to Sea December 13. 1577. As soon as we were out of sight of Land our Generall gave us occasion to conjecture in part whither he intended both by the directing of his course and
having scarce life in her selfe much lesse milk to nourish her child to be sould as a horse or a cow and calf by her side in which sort of merchandise our generall would not deale But they had also Amber-greece with certain gums of some estimation which they brought to exchange with our men for water whereof they have great want so that coming with their Allforges they are leathern bags holding liquor to buy water they cared not at what price they bought it so they may have to quench their thirst A very heavy judgement of God upon that coast The circumstances whereof considered our generall would receive nothing of them for water but freely gave it them that came to him yea fed them also ordinarily with our victuals in eating whereof their manner was not uncivill and unsightly to us but even inhumane and loathsome in it self And having washed and trim'd our ships and discharged all our spanish prises excepting one Caunter for which we gave to the owner of our own ships viz. the Christopher and one carvell formerly bound to Saint Jago which we caused to accompany us hither where she also was discharged after six dayes abode here we departed directing our course for the Islands of cape Verde where if any were we were of necessity to store our fleet with fresh water for a long time for that our generall intended from thence to run a long couse even to the coast of Brasill without touch of land And now having the wind constant at North East E. North E. which is usuall about those parts because it bloweth almost continually from the shoare January the 27. we coasted Bonavista and the next day after we came to anchor under the Wester part towards St. Jago of the Island Maio it lyeth in 15. deg 00. high land saving that the North-west part strecheth out into the sea the space of a league very low and is inhabited by subjects to the King of Portugall Here landing in hope of traffique with the inhabitants for water we found a Town not farre from the waters side of a great number of desolate and ruinous houses with a poor naked Chappell or Oratory such as small cost and charge might serve and suffice being to small purpose and as it seemeth only to make a shew and that a false shew contrary to the nature of a scarecrow which feareth birds from coming nigh this entiseth such as passe by to hale in and look for commodity which is not at all to be found there though in the inner parts of the Island it be in great abundance For when we found the Springs and Wells which had been there as appeareth stopped up again and no other water to purpose to be had to serve our need we marched up to seek some more convenient place to supply our want or at least to see whether the people would be dealt withall to help us therein In this travelling we found the soile to be very fruitfull having every where plenty of fig trees with fruit upon most of them But in the vallies and low ground where little low cottages were built were pleasant vineyards planted bearing then ripe and most pleasant grapes There were also trees without any branch till the top which bare the Coco nuts There were also great store of certain lower trees with long and broad leaves bearing the fruit which they call Plantanes in clusters together like puddings a most dainty and wholesome fruit All of these trees were even laden with fruit some ready to be eaten others coming forward others over ripe Neither can this seem strange though about the middest of winter with us for that the Sun doth never withdraw himself farther off from them but that with his lively heat he quickneth and strengthneth the power of the soile and plant neither ever have they any such frost and cold as thereby to loose their green hâ—w and appearance We found very good water in diverse places but so far off from the road that we could not with any reasonable paines enjoy it The people would by no meanes be induced to have any conference with us but keeping in the most sweet fruitfull vallie among the hils where their Towns and places of dwelling were gave us leave without interruption to take our pleasure in survewing the Island as they had some reason not to endanger themselves where they saw they could reape nothing sooner then damage shame if they should have offer'd violence to them which came in peace to do them no wrong at all This Iland yeildeth other great commodities as wonderfull heards of goats infinite store of wilde hens salt without labour only the gathering it together excepted which continually in a marvellous quantity is increased upon the sands by the flowing of the sea and the heate of the Sunne kerning the same So that of the increase thereof they keep a continuall traffique with their neighbours in the other adjacent Islands We set saile thence the 30. day Being departed from Maio the next day we passed by the Island of Sain Jago ten leagues west of Maio in the same latitude inhabited by the Portugals and Moores together The cause whereof is said to have been in the Portugals themselves who continuing long time Lords within themselves in the said Island used that extream and unreasonable cruelty over their slaves that their bondage being intollerable they were forced to seek some means to help themselves and to lighten that so heavy a burden and thereupon chose to flie into the most mountany parts of the Island and at last by continuall escapes increasing to a great number and growing to a set strength do now live with that terror of their oppressors that they now endure no les bondage in mind then the Forcatos did before in body besides the dammage that they daily suffer at their hands in their goods and cattel together with the abridging of their liberties in the use of divers parts of the fruitfull soile of the said Island which is very large marvellous fruitfull a refuge for all such ships as are bound towards Brasill Ginny the East Indies Binny Calecut c. and a place of rare force if it were not for the cause afore-recited which hath much abated the pride and cooled the courage of that people who under pretence of trafique and friendship at first making an entrance ceased not practising upon the poore Islands the ancient remainders of the first planters thereof as it may seem from the coast of Guinea untill they had excluded them from all government and liberty yea almost life On the South-west of this Island we took a Portugall laden the best part with wine and much good cloth both linnen and woollen besides other necessaries bound for Brasill with many Gentlemen and Marchants in her As we passed by with our fleet in sight of 3. of their towns they seemed very joyfull that we touched
not with our coast and seeing us depart peaceably in honour of our fleet and Generall or rather to signifie that they were provided for an assault shot off two great peeces into the sea which were answered by one given them again from us South-west from Saint Jago in 14. deg 30. min. about twelve leagues distant yet by reason of the height seeming not above three leagues lyeth another Island called of the Portugals Fogo viz. the burning Iland or fiery furnace in which riseth a steepe upright hill by conjecture at least six leagues or eighteen English miles from the upper part of the water within the bowels whereof is a consuming fire maintained by sulphure matter seeming to be a marvellous depth and also very wide The fire sheweth it self but four times in an houre at which times it breaketh out with such violence force and in such main abundance that besides that it giveth light like the Moone a great way off it seemeth that it would not stay till it touch one heavens themselves Herein are ingendred great store of prumice stores which being in the vehement heat of the fire carried up without the mouth of that fiery body fall down with other grosse and slimy matter upon the hill to the continuall increasing of the same And many times these stones falling down into the sea are taken up and used as we our selves had experience by sight of them swimming on the water The rest of the Island is fruitfull notwithstanding and is inhabited by Portugals who live very commodiously therein as in the other Islands thereabout Upon the South side about two leagues off this Island of burning lyeth a most sweet and pleasant Island the trees thereof are alwaies green and faire to look on the soile almost full set with trees in respect whereof it s named the brave Island being a storehouse of many fruits and commodities as figs alwaies ripe cocos plantons orenges limons cotton c. from the banks into the sea do run in many places the silver streams of sweet and wholsome water which with boats or pinnaces may easily be taken in But there is no convenient place or roade for ships neither any anchroaching at all For after long triall and often casting of leads there could no ground be had at any hand neither was it ever known as is reported that any line would fetch ground in any place about that Island So that the top of Fogo burneth not so high in the aire but the root of Brava so is the Island called is buried and quenched as low in the Seas The only inhabitant of this Island is an Hermit as we suppose for we found no other houses but one built as is seemed for such a purpose and he was so delighted in his solitary living that he would by no meanes abide our coming but fled leaving behind him the relicks of his false worship to wit a cross with a crusifix an altar with his superaltar and certain other Idols of wood of rude workmanship Here we dismissed the Portugals taken neere Saint Jago and gave to them in exchange of their old ship our new pinnace built at Mogadore with wine bread and fish for their provision and so sent them away Feb. 1. Having thus visited as is declared the Island of cape Verde and provided fresh water as we could the second of Feb. we departed thence directing our course towards the Straights so to passe into the South Sea in which course we sailed 63. dayes without sight of land passing the line equinoctiall the 17. day of the same moneth till we fell with the coast of Brasill the fifth of April following During which long passage on the vast gulph where nothing but sea beneath us and aire above us was to be seen as our eyes did behold the wonderfull works of God in his creatures which he had made innumerable both small and great beasts in the great and wide Seas so did our mouthes taste and our natures fed on the goodness thereof in such fulness at all time and in every place as if he had commanded and enjoyned the most profitable and most glorious works of his hands to wait upon us not alone for the relief of our necessities but also to give us delight in the contemplation of his excellence in beholding the variety and order of his providence with a particular tast of his fatherly care over us all the while The truth is we often met with adverse winds unwelcome stormes and to us at that time less welcome calms and being as it were in the bosome of the burning zone we felt the effects of sultring heat not without the affrights of flashing lightning and terrifyings of often claps of thunder yet still with the admixture of many comforts For this we could not but take notice of that whereas we were but badly furnished our case considered of fresh water having never at all watred to any purpose or that we could say we were much the better for it from our first setting forth out of England till this time nor meeting with any place where we might conveniently water till our coming to the river of Plate long after continually after once we were come within foure degrees of the line on this side viz. after Feb. 10. and till we were past the line as many pegrees towards the South viz. till Feb. 27. there was no one day went over us but we received some raine whereby our want of water was much supplyed This also was observable that of our whole fleet being now 6. in number notwithstanding the uncouthnes of the way and what ever other difficulties by weather or otherwise we met withall not any one in all this space lost company of the rest except only our Portugall prise for one day who March 28. was severed from us but the day following March 29. she found us again to both her own and our no little comfort she had in her 28. of our men and the best part of all our provision for drink her short absence caused much doubting and sorrow in the whole company neither could she then have been finally lost without the overthrow of the whole voyage Among the many strange creatures which we saw we took heedfull notice of one as strange as any to wit the flying fish a fish of the bigness and proportion of a reasonable or middle sort of Pilchards he hath finnes of the length of his whole body from the bulk to the top of the taile bearing the forme and supplying the like use to him that wings do to other creatures By the help of those fins when he is chased of the Bonito or great mackrel whom the Aurata or dolphin likewise pursueth and hath not strength to escape by swimming any longer he lifteth up himself above the water flieth a pretty height sometimes lighting into Boats or Barks as they saile along The quils of their wings are so
layed on soakt into the inner part thereof doth fill up the pores so close that no aire or cold can enter or make them once to shrink They have clean comely and strong bodies they are swift of foot and seem very active Neither is any thing more lamentable in my judgment then that so goodly a people and so lively creatures of God should be ignorant of the true and living God And so much the more is this to be lamented by how much they are more tractable and easie to be brought to the sheepfold of Christ having in truth a land sufficient to recompence any christian Prine in the world for the whole travell and labour cost and charges bestowed in that behalf with a wonderfull enlarging of a kingdome besides the glory of God by encreasing of the Church of Cstrist It s wonderfull to hear being never known to Christians before this time how familiar they became in short space with us thinking themselves to be joyned with such a people as they ought rather to serve then offer any wrong or injury unto presuming that they might be bold with our generall as with a father with us as with brethren their neer friends neither seemed their love lesse towards us One of the chiefest among them having on a time received a cap off our generals head which he did daily weare removing himself but a little from us with an arrow pierced his legge deeply causing the bloud to stream out upon the ground signifying thereby how unfainedly he loved him and giving therein a covenant of peace the number of men which here did frequent our company were about fiftie persons Within in the Southermost part of this bay there is a river of fresh water with a great many profitable Islands of which some have alwaies such store of seales or sea-wolves as were able to maintain a huge army of men Other Islands being many and great are so replenished with birds and foule as if there were no other victuals a wonderfull multitude of people might be nourished by the increase of them for many posterities Of these we killed some with shot and some with staves and took some with our hands from mens heads and shoulders upon which they lighted We could not perceive that the people of the country had had any sort of boat or canow to come to these Islands Their own provision which they eat for ought we could perceive was commonly raw For we should sometimes find the remnants of Seales all bloudy which they had gnawn with their teeth like dogs They go all of them armed with a short bow of about an ell in length in their hands with arrows of reeds and headed with a flint stone very cunningly cut and fastned This bay by reason of the plenty of Seals therein found insomuch that we killed two hundred in the space of one hour we called Seale bay And having now made sufficient provision of victuals and other necessaries as also happily finished all our businesses June 3. we set saile from thence and coasting along towards the pole Antartick June 12. we fell with a little bay in which we anchored for the space of two dayes spent in the discharging of our Caunter the Christopher which we here layed up The 14. day we waighed again and kept on our course southward till the 17. and then cast anchor in another bay in 50. d. 20. min. lacking but little more then one degree of the mouth of the Straights through which lay our so much desired passage into the south sea Here our generall on good advice determined to alter his course and turn his stern to the Northward again if happily God would grant we might finde our ship and friends whom we lost in the great storm as is beforesaid Forasmuch as if we should enter into the Straight without them into our company it must needs go hard with them and we also in the mean time as well by their absence as by the uncertainty of their state must needs receive no small discomfort And therefore June 18. in the morning putting to sea again with harty and often prayers we joined watchfull industry to serve Gods good providence and held on our purpose to run back toward the line into the same height in which they were first dissevered from us The 19. day of June toward night having sailed within a few leagues of port St. Julian we had our ship in sight for which we gave God thanks with most joyfull minds And forasmuch as the ship was far out of order and very leake by reason of extremity of weather which she had endured aswell before her loosing company as in her absence our Generall thought good to bear into St. Julian with his fleet because it was so nigh at hand and so convenient a place intending there to refresh his wearied men and cherish them which had in their absence tasted such bitternesse of discomfort besides the want of many things which they sustained Thus the next day the 20. of June we entred port Saint Julian which standeth in 49. deg 30. mi. and hath on the South side of the harbor picked rocks like towers and within the harbor many Islands which you may ride hard aboard off but in going in you must borrow of the North shoare Being now come to anchor and all things fitted and made safe aboard our Generall with certain of his company viz. Thomas Drake his brother John Thomas Robert Winter Oliver the Master Gunner John Brewer and Thomes Hood June 22. rowed further in with a boate to find out some convenient place which might yeild us fresh water during the time of our abode there furnish us with supply for provision to take to sea with us at our departure Which work as it was of great necessity and therefore carefully to be performed so did not he think himself discharged of his duty if he himself bestowed not the first travell therein as his use was at all times in all other things belonging to the relieving of our wants and the maintenance of our good estate by the supplying of what was needfull Presantly upon his landing he was visited by two of the inhabitants of the place whom Magellane named Patagous or rather Pentagours from their huge stature and strength proportionable these as they seemed greatly to rejoyce at his arivall so did they shew themselves very familiar receiving at our generals hands whatsoever he gave them and taking great pleasure in seeing Master Oliver the master Gunner of the Admirall to shoot an English arrow trying with him to shoot at at length but came nothing neere him Not long after came one more of the same laste but of a sowrer sort for he misliking of the familiarity which his fellows had used seemed very angey with them and strove earnestly to withdraw them and turn them to become our enemies Which our generall with his men not suspecting
to see them before there was any extremity of danger whereby our men being warned had reasonable time to shift themselves as they could first from the main to a Rock within the sea and from thence into their boat which being ready to receive them conveighed them with expedition out of the reach of the Spaniards fury without the hurt of any man only one Richard Minivy being over bold and careless of his own safety would not be intreated by his friends nor feared by the multitude of his enemies to take the present benefit of his own delivery but chose either to make 300. men by outbraving of them to become afraid or else himselfe to dye in the place the latter of which indeed he did whose dead body being drawn by the Indians from the Rock to the shoare was there manfully by the Spaniards beheaded the right hand cut off the heart pluct out all which they carryed away in our sight and for the rest of his carkase they caused the Indians to shoot it ful of arrows made but the same day of green wood and so left it to be devoured of the beastts and foules but that we went a shoare againe and buried it wherein as there appeareth a most extream barbarous cruelty so doth it declare to the world in what miserable feare the Spaniard holdeth the government of those parts living in continuall dread of the forreign invasion by strangers or secret cutting of throats by those whom they kept under them in so shameful slavery I mean the Innocent and harmles Indians And therefore they make sure to murther what strangers soever they can come by and suffer the Indians by no means to have any weapon longer then they be in present service as appeared by their arrows cut from the tree the same day as also by the credâ—ble report of others who knew the matter to be true Yea they suppose they shew the wretches great favor when they do not for their pleasures whip them with cords and day by day drop tkeir naked bodies with burning bacon which is one of the least cruelties amongst many which they usually use against that Nation and people This being not the place we looked for nor the entertainment such as we desired we speedily got hence again and Decem. 20. the next day fell with a more convenient harbor in a bay somewhat to the Northward of the forenamed Cyppo lying in 27. deg 55. min. South the line In this place we spent some time in trimming of our ships and building of our pinnace as we desired but still the grief for the absence of our friends remained with us for the finding of whom our Generall having now fitted all things to his mind intended leaving his ship the mean while at anchor in the bay with his pinnace and some chosen men himself to return back to the Southwards again to see if happily he might either himself meet with them or find them in some harbor or creek or hear of them by any others whom he might meet with with this resolution he set on but after one dayes sayling the wind being contrary to his purpose he was forced whether he would or no to return again Within this bay during our abode there we had such abundance of fish not much unlike our Gurnard in England as no place had ever afforded us the like Cape blank only upon the coast of Barbary excepted since our first setting forth of Plymmouth untill this time the plenty whereof in this place was such that our gentlemen sporting themselves day by day with 4. or 5. hooks and lines in 2. or 3. hours would take sometimes 400. sometimes more at one time All our businesses being thus dispatched January 19. we set saile from hence and the next place that we fel withall Jan. 22. was an Island standing in the same height with the north cape of the province of Mormorena at this Island we found 4. Indians with their canows which took upon them to bring our men to a place of fresh water on the aforesaid cape in hope whereof our generall made them great cheare as his manner was to all strangers and set his course by their direction but when we came unto the place and had travelled up along way into the land we found fresh water indeed but scarce so much as they had drunk wine in their passage thither As we sayled along continually searching for fresh water we came to a place called Tarapaca and landing there we lighted on a Spaniard who lay asleep and had lying by him 13. bars of silver weighing in all about 4000. Spanish duccats we would not could we have chosen have awaked him of his nap but seeing we against our will did him that injury we freed him of his charg which otherwise perhaps would have kept him waking and so left him to take out if it pleased him the other part of his sleep in more security Our search for water still continuing as we landed again not far from thence we met a Spaniard with an Indian boy driving 8. Lambs or Peruvian sheep each sheep bare two leathern bags and in each bag was 50. pound weight of refined silver in the whole 800. weight we could not indure to see a gentleman Spaniard turnd Carrier so and therefore without intreaty we offered our service and became drovers only his directions was not so perfect that we could keep the way which he intended for almost as soon as he was parted from us we with our new kind of carriages were come unto our boats Farther beyond this cape fore-mentioned lie certain Indian towns from whence as we passed by came many of the people in certain bawses made of Seals skins of which two being joyned together of a just length and side by side resemble in fashion or form of a boat they have in either of them a small gut or some such thing blown ful of wind by reason whereof it floateth and is rowed very swiftly carrying in it no small burthen In these upon sight of our ship they brought store of fish of divers sorts to trafique with us for any trifles we would give them as knives margarites glasses and such like whereof men of 60. and 70. years old were as glad as if they had received some exceeding rich commodity being a most simple and plain dealing people Their resort unto us was such as considering the shortnesse of the time was wonderful to us to behold Nor far from this viz. in 22. deg 30. min. lay Mormorena another great town of the same people over whom 2. Spaniards held the government with these our generall thought meet to deale or at least to try their courtesie whether they would in way of traffique give us such things as we needed â—r no and therefore Jan. the 26. we cast anchor here we found them more for fear then for love somewhat tractable and received them by exchange many good
〈…〉 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
at what time we arrived at a little Island to the Southward of Celebes standing in 1. deg 40. min. towards the pole antarticke which being without Inhabitants gave us the better hope of quiet abode We anchored and finding the place convenient for our purposes there wanting nothing here which we stood in need of but onely water which we were faine to fetch from another Island somewhat farther to the South made our abode here for six and twenty whole dayes together The first thing we did we pitched our Tents and intrenched our selves as strongly as we could upon the shoare least at any time perhaps we might have been disturbed by the Inhabitants of the greater Island which lay not far to the Westward of us after we had provided thus for our security we landed our Goods and had a Smiths Forge set up both for the making of some necessary Shipworke and for the repairing of some Iron-hooped Caskes without which they could not long have served our use and for that our Smiths Coals were all spent long before this time there was order given and followed for the burning of Charcoale by which that want might be supplyed We trimd our Ship and performed our other businesses to our content The place affording us not onely all necessaries which we had not of our owne before thereunto but also wonderfull refreshing to our wearied bodies by the comfortable reliefe and excellent provision that here we found whereby of sickly weake and decayed as many of us seemed to be before our comming hither we in short space grew all of us to be strong lusty and healthfull persons Besides this we had rare experience of Gods wonderfull wisedome in many rare and admirable creatures which here we saw The whole Island is a through grown wood the trees for the most part are of large and high stature very straight and clean without bowes save onely in the very top The leaves whereof are not much unlike our Brooms in England Among these Trees night by night did shew themselves an infinite swarme of Firie-seeming wormes flying in the aire whose bodies no bigger then an ordinary Flye did make a shew and give such light as if every twig on every Tree had been a lighted Candle or as if that place had beene the Starry Sphear To these we may adde the relation of another almost as strange a creature which here we saw and that was an innumerable multitude of huge Bats or Reare-mice equalling or rather exceeding a good Hen in bignesse They flie with marvelous swiftnesse but their flight is very short and when they light they hang onely by the bowes with their backs downeward Neither may we without ingratitude by reason of the special use we made of them omit to speak of the huge multitude of a certaine kind of Crayfish of such a size that one was sufficient to satisfie four hungry men at a dinner being a very good and restorative meat the speciall means as we conceived it of ouâ— increase of health They are as farre as we could perceive utter strangers to the Sea living alwayes on the Land where they worke themselves earths as doe the conies or rather they dig great and huge caves under the rootes of the most huge and monstrous Trees where they lodge themselves by companies together Of the same sort and kind we found in other places about the Iland Celebes some that for want of other refuge when we came to take them did clime up into trees to hide themselves whether we were enforced to climb after them if we would have them which we would not stick to do rather then to be without them this Island we called Crab-Island All necessary causes of our staying longer in this place being at last finished our Generall prepared to be in a readinesse to take the first advantage of the comming of the brize or winde which we expected and having the day before furnished our selves with fresh water from the other Island and taken in provision of Wood and the like December 12. we put to Sea directing our course toward the West the 16. day we had sight of the Island Celebes or Silebis but having a bad wind and being intangled among many Ilands incumbred also with many other difficulties some dangers at last meeting with a deep Bay out of which we could not in three dayes turne out againe we could not by any meanes recover the North of Silebis or continue on our course farther West but were inforced to alter the same toward the South finding that course also to be both difficult and very dangerous by reason of many shoales which lay far off here and there among the Islands insomuch that in all our passages from England hitherto we had never more care to keepe our selves a float and from sticking on them thus were we forced to beat up and downe with extraordinary care and circumspection till January 9. at which time we supposed that we had at last attained a free passage the land turning evidently in our sight about to Westward and the Winde being enlarged followed us as we desired with a reasonable Gale When loe on a sudden when we least suspected no shew or suspition of danger appearing to us and we were now sailing onward with full sails in the beginning of the first watch of the said day at night even in a moment our ship was laid up fast upon a desperate shoal with no other likelihood in appearance but that we with her must there presently perish there being no probability how any thing could be saved or any Person sâ—â—pe alive The unexpectednesse of so extreame a danger presently roused us up to looke about us but the more we looked the lesse hope we had of getting clear of it againe so that nothing now presenting it selfe to our mindes but the ghastly appearance of instant death affording no respite or time pausing called upon us to turne our thoughts another way to renounce the World to deny our selves and to commend our selves into the mercifull hands of our most gracious God to this purpose we presently fell prostrate and with joyned prayers sent up unto the throne of grace humbly be sought Almighty God to extend his mercy unto us in his Son Christ Jesus and so preparing as it were our necks unto the blocke we every minute expected the finall stroke to be given unto us Notwithstanding that we expected nothing but iminent death yet that we might not seeme to tempt God by leaving any second meanes unattempted which he afforded presently as soon as prayers were ended our General exhorting us to have the especiallest care of the better part to wit the Soule and adding many comfortable speeches of the joyes of that other life which we now alone looked for incouraged us all to bestirre our selves shewing us the way thereto by his owne example and first of all the Pump being wel plyed and the ship
any other in our case could be without did now seeme as things onely worthy to be despised yea we were herein so forward that neither our munition for defence nor the very meale for sustentation of our lives could find favour with us but every thing as it first came to hand went overboard assuring our selves of this that if it pleased God once to deliver us out of that most desperate strait wherein we were he would fight for us against our Enemies neither would he suffer us to perish for want of bread But when all was done it was not any of our endeavours but Gods onely hand that wrought our delivery 't was he alone that brought us even under the very stroke of death t' was he alone that said unto us Returne againe ye sons of men 't was he alone that set us at liberty again that made us safe free after that we had remained in the former miserable condition the full space of twenty hours to his glorious name be the everlasting praise The manner of our delivery for the relation of it will especially be expected was onely this The place whereon we sat so fast was a fiâ—me Rock in a cleft whereof it was we stucke on the Larboardside at low Water there was not above six foot depth in all on the Starboard within little distance as you have heard no bottome to be found the Brize during the whole time that we thus were stayed blew somewhat stiffe directly against our broad side and so perforce kept the Ship upright It pleased God in the beginning of the tide while the water was yet almost at lowest to slacke the stiffnesse of the Wind and now our Ship who required thirteene foote water to make her fleet and had not at that time on the one side above seven at most wanting her prop on the other side which had too long already kept her up fell a heeling towards the deepe Water and by that meanes freed her Keele and made us glad men This shoale is at least three or four leagues in length it lyes in two deg lacking three or foure minutes South latitude The day of this deliverance was the tenth of January Of all the dangers that in our whole Voyage we met with this was the greatest but it was not the last as may appeare by what ensueth Neither could we indeed for a long season free our selves from the continuall care and feare of them nor could we ever come to any convenient anchoring but were continually for the most part tost amongst the many Islands and shoales which lye in infinite number round about on the South parts of Celebes till the eighth day of the following Moneth Jan. 12. being not able to beare our sayles by reason of the tempest and fearing of the dangers we let fall our anchors upon a shoal in 3. deg 30. min. Ian. 14. we were gotten a little farther South whereat an Island in 4. deg 6 min. we againe cast anchor and spent a day in watering and wooding After thiâ— we met with foule weather Westerly winds and dangerous shoales for many dayes together insomuch that we were utterly weary of this coast of Sillebis and thought best to bear with Timor The Southermost cape of Sillebis stands in 5. deg that side the line But of this coast of Sillebis we could not so easily clear our selves The 20. of Janu. we were forced to run with a small Island not far from thence where having sent our Boat a good distance from us to search out a place where we might anchor we were suddenly environed with no small extremities for there arose a most violent yea an intollerable flaw â—â—d storme out of the Southwest against us making us who were on a Lee shoar amongst most dangerous and hidden shoales to feare extreamly not onely the losse of our Boâ—t and Men but the present losse of our selves our Ship and goodâ— or the casting of those men whom God should spare into the hands of Infidels Which misery could not by any Power or Industry of ours have been avoided if the mercifull goodnesse of God had not by staying the outragious extremities wherewith we were set upon wrought our present delivery by whose unspeakable mercy our men and Boat also were unexpected yet safely restored unto us We gat off from this place as well as we could and continued on our course till the 26. day when the winde tooke us very strong against us West and West Southwest so as that we could beare no more saile till the end of that Moneth was full expired February 1. we saw very high land and as it seemed well inhabited we would faine have borne with it to have got some succour but the weather was so ill that we could find no Harbour and we were very fearfull of adventuring our selves too farre amongst the many dangers which were neere the shoar The third day also we saw a little Island but being unable to bear any saile but onely to lye at Hull we were by the storme carried away and could not fetch it February 6. we saw five Islands one of them towards the East and foure towards the West of us one bigger then another at the biggest of which we cast anchor and the next day watred and wooded After we had gone hence on February 8. we descried two Canowes who having descried us as it seemes before came willingly unto us and talked with us alluring and conducting us to their Towne not far off named Barativa it stands in 7. deg 13. min. South the line The People are Gentiles of handsome body and comely stature of civill demeanour very just in dealing and courteous to strangers of all which we had evident proofe they shewing themselves most glad of our comming and cheerfully ready to relieve our wants with whatsoever their Country could afford The men goe all naked save their heads and secret parts every one having one thing or other hanging at his eares Their women are covered from the middle to the foot wearing upon their naked arms Bracelets and that in no small number some having â—iâ—e at least upon each arme made for the most part of horne or brasse whereof the lightest by our estimation would weigh two ounces With this People linnen cloth wherof they make roles for their heads and girdles to weare about their loynes is the best Merchandise and of greatest estimation They are also much delighted with Margaretas which in their language they call Saleta and such other like trifles Their Island is both rich and fruitfull rich in Gold Silver Copper Tin Sulpher c. neither are they onely expert to try those mettals but very skilfull also in working of them artificially into divers Forms and Shapes as pleaseth them best Their fruits are divers likewise and plentifull as Nutmegs Ginger long-Pepper Limons Cucumbers Cocoes Figoes Sagu with divers other sorts whereof we had one in
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