The famous voyage of Sir Francis Drake into the South sea, and therehence about the whole Globe of the earth, begun in the yeere of our Lord, 1577.

THe 15. day of Nouember, in the yeere of our Lord 1577. M. Francis Drake, with a fleete of fiue ships and barkes, and to the number of 164. men, gentlemen and sailers, departed from Plimmouth, giuing out his pretended voyage for Alexandria: but the wind falling contrary, hee was forced the next morning to put into Falmouth hauen in Corne∣wall where such and so terrible a tempest tooke vs, as few men haue seene the like, and was in deed so vehement, that all our ships were like to haue gone to wracke: but it pleased God to preserue vs from that ex∣tremitie, and to afflict vs onely for that present with these two particu∣lars: The mast of our Admirall which was the Pellican, was cut ouer boord for the safegard of the ship, and the Marigold was driuen ashore, and somewhat bruised: for the repairing of which damages wee returned againe to Plimmouth, and hauing recouered those harmes, and brought the ships againe to good state, we set forth the second time from Plimmouth, and set saile the 13. day of December following.

The 25. day of the same moneth we fell with the Cape Cantin, vpon the coast of Barbarie, and coasting along, the 27. day we found an Island called Mogador,* lying one mile distant from the maine, betweene which I stand and the maine, we found a very good and safe harbour for our ships to ride in, as also very good entrance, and voyde of any danger.

On this Island our Generall erected a pinnesse, whereof he brought out of England with him foure already framed. While these things were in doing, there came to the waters side some of the inhabitants of the countrey, shewing foorth their flags of truce, which being seene of our Ge∣nerall, hee sent his ships boate to the shore, to know what they would: they being willing to come aboord our men left there one man of our company for a pledge, and brought two of theirs a∣boord, our ship, which by signes shewed our General, that the next day they would bring some pro∣uision, as sheepe, capons and hennes, and such like: whereupon our Generall bestowed amongst them some linnen cloth and shooes, and a iaueling, which they very ioyfully receiued, and depar∣ted for that time.

The next morning they failed not to come againe to the waters side, and our Generall againe setting out our boate, one of our men leaping ouer rashly ashore, and offering friendly to imbrace them, they set violent hands on him, offering a dagger to his throte if hee had made any resistance, and so laying him on a horse, caried him away: so that a man cannot be too circumspect and warie of himselfe among such miscreants.

Our pinnesse being finished, wee departed from this place the 30. and last day of December, Page  731 and coasting along the shore, wee did descrie, not contrary to our expectation, certaine Canters which were Spanish fishermen, to whom we gaue chase and tooke three of them, and proceeding further we met with 3. Carauels and tooke them also.

The 17. day of Ianuary we arriued at Cape Blanco,* where we found a ship riding at anchor, within the Cape, and but two simple Mariners in her, which ship we tooke and caried her further into the harbour, where we remained 4. dayes, and in that space our General mustered, and tray∣ned his men on land in warlike maner, to make them fit for all occasions.

In this place we tooke of the Fishermen such necessaries as wee wanted, and they could yeeld vs, and leauing heere one of our litle barkes called the Benedict, wee tooke with vs one of theirs which they called Canters, being of the burden of 40. tunnes or thereabouts.

All these things being finished, wee departed this harbour the 22. of Ianuarie, carying along with vs one of the Portugall Carauels which was bound to the Islands of Cape• Verde for salt, whereof good store is made in one of those Islands.

The master or Pilot of that Carauel did aduertise our Generall that vpon one of those Islands called Mayo,* there was great store of dryed Cabritos, which a few inhabitants there dwelling did yeerely make ready for such of the kings Ships as did there touch, beeing bound for his coun∣trey of Brasile or elsewhere. Wee fell with this Island the 27. of Ianuary, but the Inhabitants would in no case traffique with vs, being thereof for bidden by the kings Edict: yet the next day our Generall sent to view the Island, and the likelihoodes that might be there of prouision of vic∣tuals, about threescore and two men vnder the conduct and gouernment of Master Winter and Master Daughtie, and marching towards the chiefe place of habitation in this Island (as by the Portugall wee were informed) hauing trauailed to the mountaines the space of three miles, and arriuing there somewhat before the day breake, we arrested our selues to see day before vs, which appearing, we found the inhabitants to be fled: but the place, by reason that it was manured, wee found to be more fruitfull then the other part, especially the valleys among the hils.

Here we gaue our selues a litle refreshing, as by very ripe and sweete grapes,* which the fruit∣fulnesse of the earth at that season of the yeere yeelded vs: and that season being with vs the depth of Winter, it may seeme strange that those fruites were then there growing: but the reason thereof is this, because they being betweene the Tropike and the Equinoctiall, the Sunnne pas∣seth twise in the yeere through their Zenith ouer their heads, by meanes whereof they haue two Summers, & being so neere the heate of the line, they neuer lose the heate of the Sunne so m•ch, but the fruites haue their increase and continuance in the midst of Winter. The Island is won∣derfully stored with goates and wilde hennes, and it hath salt also without labour, saue onely that the people gather it into heapes, which continually in great quantitie is increased vpon the sands by the flowing of the sea, and the receiuing heate of the Sunne kerning the same, so that of the in∣crease thereof they keepe a continuall traffique with their neighbours.

Amongst other things we found here a kind of fruit called Cocos,* which because it is not com∣monly knowen with vs in England, I thought good to make some description of it.

The tree beareth no leaues nor branches, but at the very top the fruit groweth in clusters, hard at the top of the stemme of the tree, as big euery seuerall fruite as a mans head: but hauing taken off the vttermost barke, which you shall find to bee very full of strings or sinowes, as I may terme them, you shall come to a hard shell which may holde of quantitie in liquor a pint commonly, or some a quart, and some lesse: within that shell of the thicknesse of halfe an inch good, you shall haue a kinde of hard substance and very white, no lesse good and sweete then almonds: within that a∣gaine a certaine cleare liquor, which being drunke, you shall not onely finde it very delicate and sweete, but most comfortable and cordiall.

After wee had satisfied our selues with some of these fruites, wee marched further into the Is∣land, and saw great store of *Cabritos aliue, which were so chased by the inhabitants, that wee could doe no good towards our prouision, but they had layde out as it were to stoppe our mouthes withall, certaine olde dryed Cabritos, which being but ill, and small and few, wee made no ac∣count of.

Being returned to our ships our Generall departed hence the 31. of this moneth, and sayled by the Island of S. Iago,* but farre enough from the danger of the inhabitants, who shot and dischar∣charged at vs three peeces, but they all fell short of vs, and did vs no harme. The Island is fayre and large, and as it seemeth, rich and fruitfull, and inhabited by the Portugals, but the moun∣taines and high places of the Island are sayd to be possessed by the Moores, who hauing bin slaues to the Portugals, to ease themselues, made escape to the desert places of the Island, where they abide with great strength.

Page  732〈…〉 two ships vnder sayle, to the one of which wee gaue chase, 〈…〉 without resistance, which we found to be a good prize, 〈…〉 wine: which prize our General committed to the custodie of 〈…〉 the Pil•t,* sent the rest away with his Pinnesse, giuing them a 〈…〉, and their wearing clothes, and so they departed.

The sam•〈◊〉 w•e came w•th 〈◊〉 Island called by the Portugals, Ilha del fogo,* that is, the b••••ng 〈◊〉 i• the Nor•hside wh•reof is a consuming fire, the matter is sayde to be of Sul∣p•ure, but notw•th•tanding it is like to bee a commodious Island, because the Portugals haue 〈◊〉, and ••e inhab•te• t•ere.

Upon the South side thereof lyeth a most pleasant and sweet Island, the trees whereof are alwayes greene and faire to looke vpon, in respect whereof they call it Ilha Braua, that is, the braue Island. From the bankes thereof into the sea doe run in many places reasonable streames of fr••• wa•••s ca•te to be come by, but there was no conuenient roade for our ships: for such was the dep•h, that no ground could bee had for anchoring, and it is reported, that ground was ••uer found in that place, so th•t the tops of Fogo burne not so high in the ayre, but the rootes of Braua are quenched as low in the sea.

Being departed from these Islands, we drew towards the line, where wee were becalmed the space of 3. weekes, but •e• subiect to diuers great stormes, terrible lightnings and much thunder: but with this miserie we had the commoditie of great store of fish, as Dolphins, Bonitos, and fly∣ing fishes, whereof some s•il into our ••ippes, wherehence they could not rise againe for want of moisture, for when their wings are drie, they cannot flie.

From the first day of our departure from the Islands of Cape Verde, wee sayled 54. dayes without sight of land, and the first land that we fell with was the coast of Brasil, which we saw the fift of April in y^e height of 33. degrees towards the pole Antar•tike,* and being discouered at sea by the inhabitants of the coun••ey, they made vpon the coast great fires for a •acrifice (as we learned) to the deuils, about which they vse coniurations, making heapes of sande and other ceremonies, that when any ship shall goe about to stay vpon their coast, not onely sands may be gathered toge∣ther in shoalds in euery place, but also that stormes and tempests may arise, to the casting away of ships and men, whereof (as it is reported) there haue bene diuers experiments.

The seuenth day in a mightie great storme both of lightning, rayne and thunder, wee lost the Canter which we called the Christopher: but the eleuenth day after, by our Generals great care in dispersing his ships, we found her againe, and the place where we met, our Generall called the Cape of Ioy,* where euery ship tooke in some water. Heere we found a good temperature and sweete ayre, a very faire and pleasant countrey with an exceeding fruitfull soyle, where were great s•ore of large and mightie Deere, but we came not to the sight of any people: but traueiling further into the countrey, we perceiued the footing of people in the clay-ground, shewing that they were men of great stature. Being returned to our ships, we wayed anchor, and ranne somewhat further and harboured our selues betweene a rocke and the maine, where by meanes of the rocke that brake the force of the sea, we rid very safe, and vpon this rocke we killed for our prouision cer∣taine sea-wolues, commonly called with vs Seales.

From hence we went our course to 36. degrees, and entred the great riuer of Plate,* and ranne into 54. and 53. fadomes and a halfe of fresh water, where wee filled our water by the ships side: but our Generall finding here no good harborough, as he thought he should, bare out againe to sea the 27. of April, and in bearing out we lost sight of our Flieboate wherein master Doughtie was, but we sayling along, found a fayre and reasonable good Bay wherein were many, and the same profitable Islands, one whereof had so many Seales,* as would at the least haue laden all our Shippes, and the rest of the Islands are as it were laden with foules which is wonderfull to see, and they of diuers sortes. It is a place very plentifull of victuals, and hath in it no want of fresh water.

Our Generall after certaine dayes of his abode in this place, being on shore in an Island, the people of the countrey shewed themselues vnto him, leaping and dauncing, and entred into traf∣fique with him, but they would not receiue any thing at any mans hands, but the same must bee cast vpon the ground. They are of cleane, comely, and strong bodies, swift on foote, and seeme to be very actiue.

*The eighteenth day of May our Generall thought it needfull to haue a care of such Ships as were absent, and therefore indeuouring to seeke the Flieboate wherein master Doughtie was, we espied her againe the next day: and where as certaine of our ships were sent to discouer the c••ast and to search an harbour, the Mary gold and the Canter being impl•yed in that businesse, came Page  733 vnto vs and gaue vs vnderstanding of a safe harbour that they had found, wherewith all our ships bare, and entred it, where we watered and made new prouision of victuals, as by Seales, whereof we slew to the number of 200. or 300. in the space of an houre.

Here our Generall in the Admirall rid close aboord the Flie-boate,* and tooke out of her all the prouision of victuals and what els was in her, and halling her to the Lande, set fire to her, and so burnt her to saue the iron worke: which being a doing, there came downe of the countrey certaine of the people naked, sauing only about their waste the skinne of some beast with the furre or ha•re on, and something also wreathed on their heads:* their faces were painted with diuers colours, and some of them had on their heads the similitude of hornes, euery man his bow which was an ell in length, and a couple of arrowes. They were very agill people and quicke to deliuer, and seemed not to be ignorant in the feates of warres, as by their order of ranging a few men, might appeare. These people would not of a long time receiue any thing at our handes; yet at length our Generall being ashore, and they dauncing after their accustomed maner about him, and hee once turning his backe towards them, one leapt suddenly to him, and tooke his cap with his golde band off his head, and ran a litle distance from him and shared it with his fellow, the cap to the one, and the band to the other.

Hauing dispatched all our businesse in this place, wee departed and set sayle, and immediatly vpon our setting foorth we lost our Canter which was absent three or foure dayes: but when our General had her againe, he tooke out the necessaries, and so gaue her ouer neere to the Cape of Good hope.*

The next day after being the twentieth of Iune,* wee harboured our selues againe in a very good harborough, called by Magellan Port S. Iulian,* where we found a gibbet standing vpon the maine, which we supposed to be the place where Magellan did execution vpon some of his disobe∣dient and rebellious company.

The two and twentieth day our Generall went ashore to the maine, and in his companie, Iohn Thomas, and Robert Winterhie, Oliuer the Master gunner, Iohn Brewer, Thomas Ho•d, and Thomas Drake, and entring on land, they presently met with two or three of the countrey people, and Robert Winterhie hauing in his hands a bowe and arrowes, went about to make a shoote of pleasure, and in his draught his bowstring brake, which the rude Sauages taking as a token of warre, began to bend the force of their bowes against our company, and droue them to their shifts very narrowly.

In this Port our Generall began to enquire diligently of the actions of M. Thomas Dough∣tie, and found them not to be such as he looked for, but tending rather to contention or mutin•e, or some other disorder, whereby (without redresse) the successe of the voyage might gre••ly haue bene hazarded: whereupon the company was called together and made acquainted with the par∣ticulars of the cause, which were found partly by master Doughties owne confession, and partly by the euidence of the fact, to be true: which when our Generall saw, although his priuate affecti∣on to M. Doughtie (as hee then in the presence of vs all sacredly protested) was great, yet the care he had of the state of the voyage, of the expectation of her Maiestie, and of the honour of his countrey did more touch him, (as indeede it ought) then the priuate respect of one man: so that the cause being throughly heard, and all things done in good order as neere as might be to the course of our lawes in England, it was concluded that M. Doughtie should receiue punishment accor∣ding to the qualitie of the offence: and he seeing no remedie but patience for himselfe, desired be∣fore his death to receiue the Communion, which he did at the hands of M. Fletcher our Minister, and our Generall himselfe accompanied him in that holy action: which being done, and the place of execution made ready, hee hauing embraced our Generall and taken his leaue of all the compa∣nie, with prayer for the Queenes maiestie and our realme,* in quiet sort laid his head to the blocke, where he ended his life. This being done, our Generall made diuers speaches to the whole com∣pany, perswading vs to vnitie, obedience, loue, and regard of our voyage; and for the better confir∣mation thereof, willed euery man the next Sunday following to prepare himselfe to receiue the Communion, as Christian brethren and friends ought to doe, which was done in very reuerent sort, and so with good contentment euery man went about his businesse.

The 17. day of August we departed the port of S. Iulian,* & the 20. day we fell with the streight or freat of Magellan going into the South sea,* at the Cape or headland whereof we found the bo∣die of a dead man, whose flesh was cleane consumed.

The 21. day we entred The streight, which we found to haue many turnings, and as it were shuttings vp, as if there were no passage at all, by meanes whereof we had the wind often against vs, so that some of the fleete recouering a Cape or point of land, others should he forced to turne Page  734 backe againe, and to come to an anchor where they could.

In this streight there be many faire harbors, with store of fresh water, but yet they lacke their best commoditie: for the water is there of such depth, that no man shal find ground to anchor in, ex∣cept it bee in some narow riuer or corner, or betweene some rocks, so that if any extreme blasts or contrary winds do come (whereunto the place is much subiect) it carieth with it no small danger.

The land on both sides is very huge & mountainous, the lower mountains whereof, although they be monstrous and wonderfull to looke vpon for their height, yet there are others which in height exceede them in a strange maner, reaching themselues aboue their fellowes so high, that betweene them did appeare three regions of cloudes.

These mountaines are couered with snow: at both the Southerly and Easterly partes of the streight there are Illands, among which the sea hath his indraught into the streights, euen as it hath in the maine entrance of the freat.

This streight is extreme cold, with frost and snow continually; the trees seeme to stoope with the burden of the weather, and yet are greene continually, and many good and sweete herbes doe very plentifully grow and increase vnder them.

*The bredth of the streight is in some place a league, in some other places 2. leagues, and three leagues, and in some other 4. leagues, but the narowest place hath a league ouer.

The 24. of August we arriued at an Island in the streights,* where we found great store of foule which could not slie, of the bignesse of geese, whereof we killed in lesse then one day 3000. and vic∣tualled our selues throughly therewith.

*The 6. day of September we entred the South sea at the Cape or head shore.

The seuenth day wee were driuen by a great storme from the entring into the South sea two hundred leagues and odde in longitude, and one degree to the Southward of the Streight: in which height, and so many leagues to the Westward, the fifteenth day of September fell out the Eclipse of the Moone at the houre of sixe of the clocke at night: but neither did the Eclipticall conflict of the Moone impayre our state, nor her clearing againe amend vs a whit, but the accu∣stomed Eclipse of the Sea continued in his force, wee being darkened more then the Moone se∣uen fold.

From the Bay (which we called The Bay of seuering of friends) wee were driuen backe to the Southward of the streights in 57. degrees and a terce:* in which height we came to an anker among the Islands, hauing there fresh and very good water, with herbes of singular vertue. Not farre from hence we entred another Bay, where wee found people both men and women in their Canoas,* naked• and ranging from one I•land to another to seeke their meat, who entred traffique with vs for such things as they had.

We returning hence Northward againe, found the 3. of October three Islands, in one of which was such plentie of birdes as is seant credible to report.

*The 8. day of October we lost sight of one of our Consotrs wherein M. Winter was, who as then we supposed was put by a storme into the streights againe, which at our returne home wee found to be true, and he not perished, as some of our company feared.

Thus being come into the height of The streights againe, we ran, supposing the coast of Chili to lie as the generall Mays haue described it,* namely Northwest, which we found to lie and trend to the Northeast and Eastwards, whereby it appeareth that this part of Chili hath not bene truely hitherto discouered, or at the least not truely reported for the space of 12. degrees at the least, be∣ing set downe either of purpose to deceiue, or of ignorant coniecture.

*We continuing our course, fell the 29. of Nouember with an Island called la Mocha, where we cast anchor, and our Generall hoysing out our boate, went with ten of our company to shore, where wee found people, whom the cruell and extreme dealings of the Spaniards haue forced for their owne safetie and libertie to flee from the maine, and to fortifie themselues in this Island. We being on land, the people came downe to vs to the water side with shew of great courtesie, bringing to vs potatoes, rootes, and two very fat sheepe, which our Generall receiued and gaue them other things for them, and had promise to haue water there: but the next day repayring a∣gaine to the shore, and sending two men aland with barrels to fill water, the people taking them for Spaniards (to whom they vse to shew no fauour if they take them) layde violent hands on them, and as we thinke, slew them.

Our Generall seeing this, stayed here no longer, but wayed anchor, and set sayle towards the coast of Chili, and drawing towards it, we mette neere to the shore an Indian in a Canoa, who thinking vs to haue bene Spaniards, came to vs and tolde vs, that at a place called S. Iago, there was a great Spanish ship laden from the kingdome of Peru: for which good newes our Geneall Page  735 gaue him diuers trifles, wherof he was glad, and went along with vs and brought vs to the place, which is called the port of Valparizo.*

When we came thither, we found indeede the ship riding at anker, hauing in her eight Spani∣ards and three Negros; who thinking vs to haue bene Spaniards and their friends, welcommed vs with a drumme, and made ready a Bortija of wine of Chili to drinke to vs:* but as soone as we were entred, one of our company called Thomas Moone began to lay about him, and strooke one of the Spanyards, and sayd vnto him, Abaxo Perro, that is in English, Goe downe dogge. One of these Spaniards seeing persons of that quality in those seas, all to crossed, and blessed himselfe; but to be short, wee stowed them vnder batches all saue one Spaniard, who suddenly and despe∣rately leapt ouer boord into the sea, and swamme ashore to the towne of S. Iago,* to giue them war∣ning of our arriuall.

They of the towne being not aboue 9. housholds, presently fled away and abandoned the towne. Our Generall manned his boate; and the Spanish ships boate, and went to the Towne, and be∣ing come to it, we rifled it, and came to a small chappell which wee entred, and found therein a sil∣uer chalice, two cruets, and one altar-cloth, the spoyle whereof our Generall gaue to M. Fletcher his minister.

We found also in this towne a warehouse stored with wine of Chili,* and many boords of Ce∣dar-wood, all which wine we brought away with vs, and certaine of the boords to burne for fire∣wood; and so being come aboord, wee departed the Hauen, hauing first set all the Spaniards on land• sauing one Iohn Griego a Greeke borne,* whom our Generall caried with him for his Pilot to bring him into the hauen of Lima.

When we were at sea, our Generall rifled the ship, and found in her good store of the wine of Chili, and 25000. pezoes of very pure and fine gold of Baldiuia,* amounting in value to 37000. ducats of Spanish money, and aboue. So going on our course, wee arriued next at a place called Coquimbo,* where our Generall sent 14. of his men on land to fetch water: but they were espied by the Spaniards, who came with 300. horsemen and 200. footemen, and slewe one of our men with a piece, the rest came aboord in safetie, and the Spaniards departed: wee went on shore a∣gaine, and buried our man, and the Spaniards came downe againe with a flag of truce, but we set sayle and would not trust them.

From hence we went to a certaine port called Tarapaça,* where being landed, we found by the Sea side a Spaniard lying asleepe, who had lying by him 13. barres of siluer, which weighed 4000. ducats Spanish; we tooke the siluer, and left the man.

Not farre from hence going on land for fresh water, we met with a Spaniard and an Indian boy driuing 8. Llamas or sheepe of Peru which are as big as asses; euery of which sheepe had on his backe 2. bags of leather, each bagge conteining 50. li. weight of fine siluer: so that bringing both the sheepe and their burthen to the ships, we found in all the bags 800. weight of siluer.

Here hence w• sailed to a place called Arica,* and being entred the port, we found there three small barkes which we rifled, and found in one of them 57 wedges of siluer, each of them weigh∣ing about 20 pound weight, and euery of these wedges were of the fashion and bignesse of a brick∣bat. In all these 3. barkes we found not one person: for they mistrusting no strangers, were all gone aland to the Towne, which consisteth of about twentie houses, which we would haue ran∣sacked if our company had bene better and more in number. But our Generall contented with the spoyle of the ships, left the Towne and put off againe to sea and set sayle for Lima, and by the way met with a small barke, which he boorded, and found in her good store of linnen cloth, where∣of taking some quantitie, he let her goe.

To Lima we came the 13. day of February,* and being entred the hauen, we found there about twelue sayle of ships lying fast moored at an anker, hauing all their sayles caried on shore; for the masters and marchants were here most secure, hauing neuer bene assaulted by enemies, and at this time feared the approch of none such as we were. Our generall rifled these ships, and found in one of them a chest full of royals of plate, and good store of silkes and linnen cloth, and tooke the chest into his owne ship, and good store of the silkes and linnen. In which ship hee had newes of another ship called the Cacafuego which was gone towards Paita, and that the same shippe was laden with treasure: whereupon we staied no longer here, but cutting all the cables of the shippes in the hauen, we let them driue whither they would, either to sea or to the shore, and with all speede we followed the Cacafuego toward Paita, thinking there to haue found her; but before wee arri∣ued there, she was gone from thence towards Panama, whom our Generall still pursued, and by the way met with a barke laden with ropes and tackle for ships, which hee boorded and searched, and found in her 80. li. weight of golde, and a crucifixe of gold with goodly great Emerauds set in Page  736 it which he tooke, and some of the cordage also for his owne ship.

From hence we departed, still following the Cacafuego, and our Generall promised our com∣pany, that whosoeuer could first descrie her, should haue his chaine of gold for his good newes. It fortuned that Iohn Drake going vp into the top, descried her about three of the clocke, and about si•e of the clocke we came to her and boorded her,* and shotte at her three peeces of ordinance, and s••ake downe her Misen, and being entered, we found in her great riches, as iewels and preci∣ous stones, thirteene chests full of royals of plate, foure score pound weight of golde, and sixe and twentie tunne of siluer. The place where we tooke this prize, was called Cape de San Francisco, about 150. leagues from Panama.

*The Pilots name of this Shippe was Francisco, and amongst other plate that our Gene∣rall found in this ship, he found two very faire guilt bowles of siluer, which were the Pilots: to whom our Generall sayd: Senior Pilot, you haue here two siluer cups, but I must needes haue one of them: which the Pilot because hee could not otherwise chuse, yeelded vnto, and gaue the o∣ther to the steward of our Generals ships.

When this Pilot departed from vs, his boy sayde thus vnto our Generall: Captaine, our ship shall be called no more the Cacafuego, but the Cacaplata, and your shippe shall bee called the Cacafuego: which pretie speach of the Pilots boy ministred matter of laughter to vs, both then and long after.

When our Generall had done what hee would with this Cacafuego, hee cast her off, and wee went on our course still towards the West, and not long after met with a ship laden with linnen cloth and fine China-dishes of white earth, and great store of China-silks,* of all which things wee tooke as we lifted.

The owner himselfe of this ship was in her, who was a Spanish Gentleman, from whom our Generall tooke a Fawlcon of golde, with a great Emeraud in the breast thereof, and the Pilot of the ship he tooke also with him, and so cast the ship off.

*This Pilot brought vs to the hauen of Guarulco, the towne whereof, as he told vs, had but 17. Spaniards in it. Assoone as we were entred this hauen, wee landed, and went presently to the towne, and to the Towne-house, where we found a Iudge sitting in iudgment, being associate with three other officers, vpon three Negros that had conspired the burning of the Towne: both which Iudges & prisoners we tooke, and brought them a shipboord, and caused the chiefe Iudge to write his letter to the Towne, to command all the Townesmen to auoid, that we might safely water there. Which being done, and they departed, we ransaked the Towne, and in one house we found a pot of the quantitie of a bushell, full of reals of plate, which we brought to our ship.

And here one Thomas Moone one of our company, tooke a Spanish Gentleman as hee was flying out of the towne, and searching him, he found a chaine of golde about him, and other iew∣els, which he tooke, and so let him goe.

At this place our General among other Spaniards, set ashore his Portugall Pilote,* which hee tooke at the Islands of Cape Verde, out of a ship of S. Mary port of Portugall: and hauing set them ashore, we departed hence, and sailed to the Island of Canno,* where our Generall landed, and brought to shore his owne ship, and discharged her, mended, and graued her, and furnished our ship with water and wood sufficiently.

*And while wee were here, we espied a shippe, and set saile after her, and tooke her, and found in her two Pilots, and Spanish Gouernour, going for the Islands of the Philippinas: wee sear∣ched the shippe, and tooke some of her marchandizes, and so let her goe. Our Generall at this place and time, thinking himselfe both in respect of his priuate iniuries receiued from the Spa∣niards, as also of their contempts and indignities offered to our countrey and Prince in generall, sufficiently satisfied, and reuenged: and supposing that her Maiestie at his returne would rest contented with this seruice, purposed to continue no longer vpon the Spanish coats, but began to consider and to consult of the best way for his Countrey.

He thought it not good to returne by the Streights, for two speciall causes: the one, lest the Spaniards shoul• there waite, and attend for him in great number and strength, whose hands, hee being left but one ship, could not possibly escape. The other cause was the dangerous situation of the mouth of the streights in the South sea, where continuall stormes reigning and blustering, as he found by experience, besides the shoalds and sands vpon the coast, he thought it not a good course to aduenture that way: he resolued therefore to auoyde these hazards, to goe forward to the Islandes of the Malucos, and therehence to saile the course of the Portugals by the Cape of Buena Esperança.

Upon this resolution, hee beganne to thinke of his best way to the Malucos, and finding him∣selfe Page  737 where he now was becalmed, he saw that of necessitie hee must be forced to take a Spanish course, namely to sayle some what Northerly to get a winde. Wee therefore set saile, and sayled 600. leagues at the least for a good winde, and thus much we sailed from the 16• of April, till the 3. of Iune.

The 5. day of Iune, being in 43. degrees towards the pole Arctike, we found the ayre so colde,* that our men being grieuously pinched with the same, complained of the extremitie thereof, and the further we went, the more the colde increased vpon vs. Whereupon we thought it best for that time to seeke the land, and did so, finding it not mountainous, but low plaine land, till wee came within 38. degrees towards the line. In which height it pleased God to send vs into a faire and good Baye, with a good winde to enter the same.

In this Baye wee anchored,* and the people of the Countrey hauing their houses close by the waters side, shewed themselues vnto vs, and sent a present to our Generall.

When they came vnto vs, they greatly wondred at the things that wee brought, but our Gene∣rall (according to his naturall and accustomed humanitie) courteously intreated them, and liberal∣ly bestowed on them necessary things to couer their nakednesse, whereupon they supposed vs to be gods, and would not be perswaded to the contrary: the presents which they sent to our Generall, were feathers, and calles of net-worke.

Their houses are digged round about with earth, and haue from the vttermost brimmes of the circle, clifts of wood set vpon them, ioyning close together at the toppe like a spire steeple, which by reason of that closen•sse are very warme.

Their beds is the ground with rushes strowed on it, and lying about the house, haue the fire in the midst. The men go naked, the women take bulrushes, and kembe them after the manner of hempe, and thereof make their loose garments, which being knit about their middles, hang down about their h•ppes; hauing also about their shoulders a skinne of Deere, with the haire vpon it. These women are very obedient and seruiceable to their husbands.

After they were depart•d from vs, they came and visited vs the second time, and brought with them feathers and bags of Tabacco for presents: And when they came to the top of the hill (at the bottome whereof we had pitched our tents) they staied themselues; where one appointed for spea∣ker wearied himselfe with making a long oration,* which done, they left their bowes vpon the hill, and came downe with their presents.

In the meanetime the women remaining on the hill, tormented themselues lamentably, tea∣ring their flesh from their cheekes, whereby we perceiued that they were about a sacrifice. In the meane time our Generall with his company went to prayer, and to reading of the Scriptures, at which exercise they were attentiue, & seemed greatly to be affected with it: but when they were come vnto vs, they restored againe vnto vs those things which before we bestowed vpon them.

The newes of our being there being spread through the Countrey, the people that inhabited round about came downe, and amongst them the King himselfe, a man of a goodly stature, & come∣ly personage, with many other tall and warlike men: before whose comming were sent two Am∣bassadors to our Generall, to signifie that their King was comming, in doing of which message, their speach was continued about halfe an houre. This ended, they by signes requested our Gene∣rall to send some thing by their hand to their king, as a token that his comming might be in peace: wherein our Generall hauing satisfied them, they returned with glad tidings to their King, who marched to vs with a princely maiestie, the people crying continually after their manner, and as they drew neere vnto vs, so did they striue to behaue themselues in their actions with comelinesse.

In the fore-front was a man of a goodly personage, who bare the scepter or mace before the King, whereupon hanged two crownes, a lesse and a bigger, with three chaines of a marueilous length: the crownes were made of knit worke wrought artificially with fethers of diuers colours: the chaines were made of a bonie substance,* and few be the persons among them that are admitted to weare them: and of that number also the persons are stinted, as some ten, some 12. &c. Next vn∣to him which bare the scepter, was the King himselfe, with his Guard about his person, clad with Conie skins, & other skins: after them followed the naked cōmon sort of people, euery one hauing his face pa•nted, some with white, some with blacke, and other colours, & hauing in their hands one thing or another for a present, not so much as their children, but they also brought their presents.

In the meane time our Generall gathered his men together, and marched within his fenced place, making against their approching, a uery warre-like shew. They being trooped together in their order, and a generall salutation being made there was presently a generall silence. Then he that bare the scepter before the King, b•ing informed by another, whom they assigned to that office, with a manly and loftie voyce proclaymed that which the other spake to him in secrete, Page  738 continuing halfe an houre: which ended, and a ganera•l Amen as it were giuen, the King with the whole number of men and women (the children excepted) came downe without any weapon, who descending to the foote of the hill, set themselues in order.

In comming towards our bulwarks and tents, the scepter-bearer began a song, obseruing his measures in a daunce, and that with a stately countenance, whom the King with his Guarde, and euery degree of persons following, did in like maner sing and daunce, sauing onely the women, which daunced & kept silence. The General permitted them to enter within our bulwarke, where they continued their song and daunce a reasonable time. When they had satisfied themselues, they made signes to our General to sit downe, to whom the King, and diuers others made seuerall ora∣tions, or rather supplications, that hee would take their prouince and kingdome into his hand, and become their King, making signes that they would resigne vnto him their right and title of the whole land, and become his subiects. In which, to perswade vs the better, the King and the rest,* with one consent, and with great reuerence, ioyfully singing a song, did set the crowne vpon his head, inriched his necke with all their chaines, and offred vnto him many other things, honouring him by the name of Hioh, adding thereunto as it seemed, a signe of triumph• which thing our Ge∣nerall thought not meete to reiect, because he knew not what honour and profit it might be to our Countrey. Wherefore in the name, and to the vse of her Maiestie• he tooke the scepter, crowne, and dignitie of the said Countrey into his hands, wishing that the riches & treasure thereof might so conueniently be transported to the inriching of her kingdom at home, as it aboundeth in y^e same.

The common sorte of people leauing the King and his Guarde with our Generall, scattered themselues together with their sacrifices among our people, taking a diligent viewe of euery person: and such as pleased their fancie, (which were the yongest) they inclosing them about of∣fred their sacrifices vnto them with lamentable weeping, scratching, and tearing the flesh from their faces with their nailes, whereof issued abundance of blood. But wee vsed signes to them of dis•iking this, and stayed their hands from force, and directed them vpwards to the liuing God, whom onely they ought to worship.* They shewed vnto vs their wounds, and craued helpe of them at our hands, whereupon we gaue them lotions, plaisters, and oyntments agreeing to the state of their griefes, beserching God to cure their diseases. Euery third day they brought their sacrifi∣ces vnto vs, vntill they vnderstood our meaning, that we had no pleasure in them: yet they could not be long absent from vs, but dayly frequented our company to the houre of our departure, which departure seemed so greeuous vnto them, that their ioy was turned into sorow. They in∣treated vs, that being absent we would remember them, and by stealth prouided a sacrifice, which we misliked.

Our necessarie businesse being ended, our Generall with his company trauailed vp into the Covntrey to their villages, where we found herdes of Deere by 1000. in a company,* being most large, and fat of body.

We found the whole Countrey to bee a warren of a strange kinde of Connies,* their bodies in bignesse as be the Barbary Connies, their heads as the heads of ours, the feete of a Want, and the taile of a Rat being of great length: vnder her chinne is on either side a bag, into the which she ga∣thereth her meate, when she hath filled her bellie abroad. The people eate their bodies, and make great accompt of their skinnes, for their Kings coate was made of them.

*Our Generall called this Countrey Noua Albion, and that for two causes: the one in respect of the white bankes and cliffes, which lie towards the sea: and the other, because it might haue some affinitie with our Countrey in name, which sometime was so called.

*There is no part of earth heere to bee taken vp, wherein there is not some probable shew of gold or siluer.

At our departure hence our Generall set vp a monument of our being there, as also of her Ma∣iesties right and title to the same, namely a plate, nailed vpon a faire great poste, whereupon was ingrauen her Maiesties name, the day and yeere of our arriuall there, with the free giuing vp of the prouince and people into her Maiesties hands, together with her highnesse picture and armes, in a peece of sixe pence of current English money vnder the plate, whereunder was also written the name of our Generall.

*It seemeth that the Spaniards hitherto had neuer bene in this part of the Countrey, neither did euer discouer the land by many degrees, to the Southwards of this place.

*After we had set saile from hence, wee continued without sight of land till the 13. day of Octo∣ber following, which day in the morning wee fell with certaine Islands 8. degrees to the North∣ward of the line, from which Islands came a great number of Canoas,* hauing in some of them 4. in some 6. and in some also 14. men, bringing with them cocos, and other fruites. Their Canoas Page  739 were hollow within, and cut with great arte and cunning, being very smooth within and without, and bearing a glasse as if it were a horne daintily burnished, hauing a prowe, and a sterne of one sort, yeelding inward circle-wise, being of a great height, and full of certaine white shels for a brauerie, and on each side of them lie out two peeces of timber about a yard and a halfe long, more or lesse, according to the smalnesse, or bignesse of the boate.

This people haue the nether part of their eares cut into a round circle, hanging downe very lowe vpon their cheekes, whereon they hang things of a reasonable weight. The nailes of their hands are an ynche long, their teeth are as blacke as pitch, and they renew them often, by eating of an herbe with a kinde of powder, which they alwayes carrie about them in a cane for the same purpose.

Leauing this Island the night after we fell with it,* the 18. of October, we lighted vpon diuers others, some whereof made a great shew of Inhabitants.

Wee continued our course by the Islands of Tagulada, Zelon, and Zewarra, being friends to the Portugals, the first whereof hath growing in it great store of Cinnamom.

The 14. of Nouember we fell with the Islands of Maluco,* which day at night (hauing direc∣ted our course to runne with Tydore) in coasting along the Island of Mutyr, belonging to the King of Ternate, his Deputie or Uice-king seeing vs at sea, came with his Canoa to vs without all feare, and came aboord, and after some conference with our Generall, willed him in any wise to runne in with Ternate,* and not with Tydore, assuring him that the King would bee glad of his comming, and would be ready to doe what he would require, for which purpose he himselfe would that night be with the King, and tell him the newes, with whom if he once dealt, hee should finde that as he was a King, so his word should stand: adding further, that if he went to Tydore before he came to Ternate; the King would haue nothing to doe with vs, because hee held the Portugell as his enemie: whereupon our General resolued to runne with Ternate, where the next morning early we came to anchor, at which time our Generall sent a messenger to the king with a veluet cloke for a present, and token of his comming to be in peace, and that he required nothing but traf∣fique and exchange of marchandize, whereof he had good store; in such things as he wanted.

In the meane time the Uice-king had bene with the king according to his promise, signifying vnto him what good things he might receiue from vs by traffique: whereby the King was moo∣ued with great liking towards vs, and sent to our Generall with speciall message• that hee should haue what things he needed, and would require with peace and friendship, and moreouer that hee would yeeld himselfe,* and the right of his Island to bee at the pleasure and commandement of so famous a Prince as we serued. In token whereof he sent to our Generall a signet, and within short time after came in his owne person, with boates, and Canoas to our ship, to bring her into a better and safer roade then she was in at that present.

In the meane time, our Generals messenger beeing come to the Court, was met by certaine noble personages with great solemnitie, and brought to the King, at whose hands hee was most friendly and gratiously intertained.

The King purposing to come to our ship, sent before 4. great and large Canoas,* in euery one whereof were certaine of his greatest states that were about him, attired in white lawne of cloth of Calicut• hauing ouer their heads from the one ende of the Canoa to the other, a couering of thinne per•umed mats, borne vp with a frame made of reedes for the same vse, vnder which euery one did sit in his order according to his dignitie, to keepe him from the heate of the Sunne, diuers of whom beeing of good age and grauitie, did make an ancient and fatherly shew. There were also diuers yong and comely men attired in white, as were the others: the rest were souldiers, which stood in comely order round about on both sides, without whom sate the rowers in certaine galleries, which being three on a side all along the Canoas, did lie off from the side thereof three or foure yardes, one being orderly builded lower then another, in euery of which galleries were the number of 4. score rowers.

These Canoas were furnished with warlike munition, euery man •or the most part hauing his sword and target, with his dagger, beside other weapons, as launces, caliuers, darts, bowes and arrowes: also euery Canoa had a small cast base mounted at the least one full yarde vpon a stocke set vpright.

Thus comming neere our shippe, in order they rowed about vs, one after another, and passing by, did their homage with great solemnitie, the great personages beginning w^t great grauitie and fatherly countenan•es, signifying that y^e king had sent them to conduct our ship into a better roade.*

Soone after the King himselfe repaired, accompanied with 6. graue and ancient persons, who did their obeisance with marueilous humilitie. The king was a man of tall stature, and seemed to Page  740 be much delighted with the sound of our musicke, to whom as also to his nobilitie, our Generall gaue presents, wherewith they were passing well contented.

At length the King craued leaue of our Generall to depart, promising the next day to come a∣boord, and in the meane time to send vs such victuals, as were necessarie for our prouision: so that the same night we receiued of them meale,* which they call Sagu, made of the tops of certaine trees, tasting in the mouth like sowre curds, but melteth like sugar, whereof they make certaine cakes, which may be kept the space of ten yeeres, and yet then good to be eaten. We had of them store of rice, hennes, vnperfect and liquid sugar, sugar canes, and a fruite which they call Figo, with store of cloues.

The King hauing promised to come aboord, brake his promise, but sent his brother to make his excuse, and to intreate our Generall to come on shoare, offring himselfe pawne aboord for his safe returne. Whereunto our Generall consented not, vpon mislike conceiued of the breach of his promise, the whole company also vtterly refusing it. But to satisfie him, our General sent certaine of his Gentlemen to the Court, to accompany the Kings brother, reseruing the Uice-king for their safe returne. They were receiued of another brother of the kings, and other states, and were conducted with great honour to the Castle.* The place that they were brought vnto, was a large and faire house, where were at the least 1000. persons assembled.

The King being yet absent, there sate in their places 60. graue personages, all which were said to be of the kings Counsel. There were besides 4. graue persons, apparelled all in red, downe to the ground, and attired on their heads like the Turkes, and these were said to be Romanes, and Ligiers there to keepe continual traffike with the people of Ternate.* There were also 2. Turks Ligiers in this place, and one Italian.* The king at last came in guarded with 12. launces couered ouer with a rich canopy, with embossed gold. Our men accompanied with one of their Captaines called Moro, rising to meete him, he graciously did welcome, and intertaine them. He was attired after the maner of the Countrey, but more sumptuously then the rest. From his waste downe to the ground, was all cloth of golde, and the same very rich: his legges were bare, but on his feete were a paire of shooes, made of Cordouan skinne. In the attire of his head were finely wreathed hooped rings of gold, and about his necke he had a chaine of perfect golde, the linkes whereof were great, and one folde double. On his fingers hee had sixe very faire iewels, and sitting in his chaire of estate, at his right hand stood a page with a fanne in his hand, breathing and gathering the ayre to the King. The fanne was in length two foote, and in bredth one foote, set with 8. saphyres, rich∣ly imbrodered, and knit to a staffe 3. foote in length, by the which the Page did hold, and mooue it. Our Gentlemen hauing deliuered their message, and receiued order accordingly, were licensed to depart, being safely conducted backe againe by one of the kings Counsell.

*This Island is the chiefest of all the Islands of Maluco, and the King hereof is King of 70. Islands besides. The king with his people are Moores in religion, obseruing certaine new Moones, with fastings: during which fasts, they neither eat nor drinke in the day, but in the night.

After that our G•ntlemen were returned, and that we had heere by the fauour of the king recei∣ued all necessary things that the place could yeeld vs: our General considering the great distance, and how farre he was yet off from his Countrey, thought it not best here to linger the time any longer, but waying his anchors, set out of the Island, and sayled to a certaine litle Island to the Southwards of Celebes,* where we graued our ship, and continued there in that and other busi∣nesses 26. dayes. This Island is throughly growen with wood of a large and high growth, very straight and without boughes, saue onely in the head or top, whose leaues are not much differing from our broome in England. Amongst these trees night by night, through the whole land, did shew themselues an infinite swarme of fiery wormes flying in the ayre,* whose bodies beeing no bigger then our common English flies, make such a shew and light, as if euery twigge or tree had bene a burning candle. In this place breedeth also wonderfull store of Bats,* as bigge as large hennes: of Crayfishes also heere wanted no plentie,* and they of exceeding bignesse, one whereof was sufficient for 4. hungry stomacks at a dinner, beeing also very good, and restoring meate, whereof we had experience: and they bigge themselues holes in the earth like Conies.

When wee had ended our businesse here, we waied, and set saile to runne for the Malucos: but hauing at that time a bad winde, and being amongst the Islands, with much difficultie wee reco∣uered to the Northward of the Island of Celebes, where by reason of contrary winds not able to continue our course to runne Westwards, we were inforced to alter the s•me to the Southward againe, finding that course also to be very hard and dangerous for vs, by reason of infinite shoalds which lie off, and among the Islands: whereof wee had too much triall to the hazard and danger of our shippe and liues. For of all other dayes vpon the 9. of Ianuarie, in the yeere 1579.* wee Page  741 ranne suddenly vpon a rocke, where we stucke fast from 8. of the clocke at night, til 4. of the clocke in the afternoone the next day, being indeede out of all hope to escape the danger:* but our Generall as hee had alwayes hitherto shewed himselfe couragious, and of a good confidence in the mercie and protection of God: so now he continued in the same, and lest he should seeme to perish wilful∣ly, both he, and we did our best indeuour to saue our selues, which it pleased God so to blesse, that in the ende we cleared our selues most happily of the danger.

We lighted our ship vpon the rockes of 3. tunne of cloues,* 8. peeces of ordinance, and certaine meale and beanes:* and then the winde (as it were in a moment by the speciall grace of God) changing from the starreboord to the larboord of the ship, we hoised our sailes, and the happy gale droue our ship off the rocke into the sea againe, to the no litle comfort of all our hearts, for which we gaue God such prayse and thanks, as so great a benefite required.

The 8. of Februarie following, wee fell with the fruitfull Island of Barateue,* hauing in the meane time suffered many dangers by windes and shoalds. The people of this Island are come∣ly in body and stature, and of a ciuill behauiour, iust in dealing, and courteous to strangers, whereof we had the experience sundry wayes, they being most glad of our presence, and very ready to re∣leeue our wants in those things which their Countrey did yeelde. The men goe naked, sauing their heads and priuities, euery man hauing something or other hanging at their eares. Their women are couered from the middle downe to the foote, wearing a great number of bracelets vp∣on their armes, for some had 8. vpon each arme, being made some of bone, some of horne, and some of brasse, the lightest whereof by our estimation waied two ounces apeece.

With this people linnen-cloth is good marchandize,* and of good request, whereof they make rols for their heads, and girdles to weare about them.

Their Island is both rich and fruitfull: rich in golde, siluer, copper, and sulphur, wherein they seeme skilfull and expert, not onely to trie the same, but in working it also artificially into any forme and fashion that pleaseth them.

Their fruits be diuers and plentiful, as nutmegs, ginger, long pepper,* lemmons, cucumbers, cocos, figu, sagu, with diuers other sorts: and among all the rest, wee had one fruite, in bignesse, forme, and huske, like a Bay berry, hard of substance, and pleasant of taste, which being sodden, be∣commeth soft, and is a most good and wholsome victuall, whereof we tooke reasonable store, as we did also of the other fruits and spices:* so that to confesse a trueth, since the time that we first set out of our owne Countrey of England, we happened vpon no place (Ternate onely excepted) where∣in we found more comforts and better meanes of refreshing.

At our departure from Barateue, we set our course for Iaua maior,* where arriuing, we found great courtesie, and honourable entertainment. This Island is gouerned by 5. Kings, whom they call Raiah: as Raiah Donaw, and Raiah Mang Bange, and Raiah Cabuccapollo, which liue as hauing one spirite, and one minde.

Of these fiu• we had foure a shipboord atonce, and two or three often. They are wonderfully delighted in coloured clothes, as red and greene:* their vpper parts of their bodies are naked, saue their heads, whereupon they weare a Turkish roll, as do the Maluccians: from the middle down∣ward they weare a pintado of silke, trailing vpon the ground, in colour as they best like.

The Maluccians hate that their women should bee seene of strangers:* but these offer them of high courtesie, yea the kings themselues.

The people are of goodly stature, and warlike, well prouided of swords and targets, with dag∣gers, all being of their owne worke, and most artificially done, both in tempering their mettall, as also in the forme, whereof we bought reasonable store.

They haue an house in euery village for their common assembly: euery day they meete twise, men, women, and children, bringing with them such victuals as they thinke good, some fruites, some rice boiled, some hennes roasted, some sagu, hauing a table made 3. foote from the ground, whereon they set their meate, that euery person sitting at the table may eate, one reioycing in the company of another.

They boile their rice in an earthen pot,* made in forme of a sugar loafe, being ful of holes; as our pots which we water our gardens withall, and it is open at the great ende, wherein they put their rice drie without any moisture. In the meane time they haue ready another great earthen pot, set fast in a fornace, boiling full of water, whereinto they put their pot with rice, by such measure, that they swelling become soft at the first, and by their swelling stopping the holes of the pot, ad∣mit no more water to enter, but the more they are boiled, the harder and more firme substance they become, so that in the end they are a firme & good bread, of the which with oyle, butter, sugar, and other spices, they make diuers sorts of mea•es very pleasant of taste, and nourishing to nature.

Page  742*The French pecks is here very common to all, and they helpe themselues, sitting naked from ten to two in the Sunne, whereby the venemous humour is drawen out. Not long before our de∣parture, they tolde vs, that not farre off there were such great Ships as ours, wishing vs to be∣war•: vpon this our Captaine would stay no longer.

From Iaua Maior we sailed for the cape of Good Hope, which was the first land we sell with∣all: neither did we touch with it, or any other land, vntill we came to Sierra Leona, vpon the coast of Guinea: notwithstanding we ranne hard aboord the Cape,* finding the report of the Portugals to be most false, who affirme, that it is the most dangerous Cape of the world, neuer without in∣tolerable stormes and present danger to trauailers, which come neere the same.

This Cape is a most stately thing, and the fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth, and we passed by it the 18. of Iune.

From thence we continued our course to Sierra Leona,* on the coast of Guinea, where we arri∣ued the 22. of Iuly, and found necessarie prouisions, great store of Elephants, Oisters vpon trees of one kinde,* spawning and increasing infinitely, the Oister suffering no budde to grow. We de∣parted thence the 24. day.

We arriued in England the third of Nouember 1580. being the third yeere of our departure.

The names of the Kings or Princes of Iaua at the time of our English mens being there.
• Raia Donaw
• Raia Rabacapala.
• Raia Bacabatra.
• Raia Tymbanton.
• Raia Mawgbange.
• Raia Patimara.

Certaine wordes of the naturall language of Iaua, learned and obserued by our men there.
• Sabuck, silke.
• Sagu, bread of the Countrey.
• Larnike, drinke.
• Paree, ryce in the huske.
• Braas, sodden ryce.
• Calapa, Cocos.
• Cricke, a dagger.
• Catcha, a looking glasse.
• Arbo, an oxe.
• Vados, a goate.
• Cabo, golde.
• Gardange, a plantane.
• Hiam, a henne.
• Seuir, linnen cloth.
• Doduck, blew cloth.
• Totopps, one of their caps.
• Gula, blacke sugar.
• Tadon, a woman.
• Bebeck, a ducke.
• Aniange, a deere.
• Popran, oyntment.
• Coar, the head.
• Endam, raine.
• Ionge, a shippe.
• Chay, the sea,
• Sapelo, ten in number.
• Dopolo, twentie.
• Treda, no.
• Lau, vnderstand you.
• Bayer, goe.
• Adadizano, I will fetch it.
• Suda, ynough.

The relation of a Voyage made by a Pilot called Nuno da Silua for the Vice-roy of new Spaine, the 20. of May, in the yere of our Lord 1579.* in the citie of Mexico, from whence •t was sent to the Vice-roy of the Portugall-Indies: wherein is set downe the course and actions passed in the Voyage of Sir Francis Drake that tooke the aforesayd Nuno da Silua at S. Iago one of the Islands of Cabo Verde, and caried him along with him through the Sreights of Magellan, to the Hauen of Guatuleo in new Spaine, where he let him goe againe.

NVno da Silua borne in Porto, a Citizen and inhabitant of Guaia, saith, that hee departed out of his house in the beginning of Nouember in the yeere of our Lorde 1577. taking his course to Cabo Verde, or The greene Cape, where he anchored with his Shippe close by the Hauen of the Island of Sant Iago, one of the Islandes of Cabo Verde aforesayde, beeing the nineteenth of Page  743 Ianuary in the yeere of our Lord 1578. And lying there, there came sixe ships, which seemed to be Englishmen, whereof the Admirall boorded his ship, and by force with his men tooke h•m out of his ship, bringing him in the boate aboord the Admirals shippe, leauing some of his best men a∣boord his ship: and although the fortresse of the Island shot foure or fiue times at them, yet they hurt not the Englishmen: who hauing done, set saile from thence to the Island of Braua, taking with them the ship of the sayd Nuno da Silua: being there, they filled certaine vessels with fresh water: from thence holding their course inward to sea, hauing first with a boat set the men of Nu∣no da Siluas ship on land, onely keeping Nuno da Silua in his ship, as also his ship with the wines that were therein. And Nuno da Silua saith, the cause why they kept him on boord was, because they knew him to bee a pilot for the coast of Brasilia, that hee might bring them to such places in those countreys as had fresh water.

Being put off from the Island of Braua, they helde their course to the land of Brasilia, which they descried vpon the fi•st of Aprill, vnder the height of thirtie degrees: and without landing or taking in fresh water, they helde on their course to Rio de la Plata,* that is, The riuer of siluer lying vnder fi•e and thirtie degrees, little more or lesse: where they went on land, and prouided themselues of fresh water.

From thence they helde on their course till they came vnder nine and thirtie degrees, where they ankered: and beeing there, they left two of their sixe shippes behinde them, and sailed but foure in companie (that of Nuno da Silua being one) till they came to the Bay called Baya de las Islas,* that is, The Bay of the Ilands, lying vnder nine and fortie degrees, where it is sayde, that Magellan lay and wintered there with his shippe, when hee first discouered the Streight, which now holdeth his name. Into this Bay the twentieth of Iune they entred, and there anke∣red so close to the land, that they might send to it with a harquebuse shot: and there they sawe the land to bee inhabited with Indians, that were apparelled with skinnes, with their legges from the knees downeward, and their armes from the elbowes downeward naked, all the rest of th•ir bodies beeing clothed, with bowes and arrowes in their handes, being subtill, great, and well formed people, and strong and high of stature: where sixe of the Englishmen went on land to fetch fresh water, and before they lept on land, foure of the Indians came vnto their boate, to whome the Englishmen gaue bread and wine: and when the Indians had well eaten and drunke, they departed thence: and going somewhat farre from them, one of the Indians cryed to them, and sayde: Magallanes, Esta he minha Terra, that is, Magallanes, this is my countrey: and because the Englishmen followed them, it seemed the Indians fledde vpward into the land, and beeing somewhat farre off, they turned backe againe, and with their arrowes slewe two of the English shippers, one being an Englishman, the other a Netherlander: the rest came backe againe and saued themselues in the boate, wherewith they presently put off from the shore. Here they stayed till the seuenteenth of August, vpon the which day they set saile, running along by the coast about a league and a halfe from the land, (for there it is all faire and good ground, at twentie, and fiue and twentie fathome deepe) and were about foure or fiue dayes before they came to the mouth or entrie of the Streight: but because the wind was contrary, they stayed till the 24 of August before they entred.

The entrie or mouth of the Streight is about a league broad,* on both sides being bare and flatte land: on the North side they sawe Indians making great fires, but on the Southside they saw no people stirring. The foure and twentieth day aforesayd, they beganne to enter into the Streight, with an Eastnortheast wind. This Streight may bee about an hundred and tenne leagues long, and in bredth a league. About the entry of the Streight, and halfe way into it, it tunneth right foorth without any windings or turnings: and from thence about eight or tenne leagues towards the ende, it hath some boutes and windings, among the which there is one so great a hooke or headland, that it seemed to runne into the other land: and there it is lesse then a league broad from one land to the other: and from thence forward it runneth straight out againe: And although you finde some crookings, yet they are nothing to speake of. The issue of the Streight lieth Westward, and about eight or tenne leagues before you come to the ende, then the Streight beguineth to bee broader, and it is all high land to the ende thereof, after you are eight leagues within the Streight, for the first eight leagues after you enter is low flat land, as I sayd before: and in the entrie of the Streight you find the streame to runne from the South sea to the North sea.

And after they began to saile in with the Eastnortheast wind, being entred they passed along without any let or hinderance either of wind or weather: and because the high land on both sides lay couered with snow, and that all the Streight is faire and cleare, they helde their course a Page  744 harquebuse-shot in length from off the North side, hauing nine and tenne fathome depth, with good ground, as I said before, where (if neede require) a man may anker: the hilles on both sides being full of trees, some of the hilles and trees reaching downe to the sea side in some places ha∣uing plaine and euen land: and there they sawe not any gre•t riuers, but some small riuers that issued out of the riffes and breaches of the land: and in the countrey where the great Cape or crooking is, on the South side they saw certaine Indian fishermen in their Canoas or skiffs, be∣ing such as they saw first on the North side, but more people they saw not on the South side.

Being out of the Streight on the other side, vpon the sixt of September of the aforesaid yeere, they held their course Northwest for the space of three dayes, and the third day they had a North∣east wind, that by force draue them Westsouthwest, which course they held for the space of ten or twelue dayes with few sailes vp: and because the wind began to be very great, they to•ke in all their sailes, and lay driu•ng till the last of September.

*The 24 day of the same moneth hauing lost the sight of one of their shippes which was about an hundred tunne, then againe they hoised saile because the winde came better, holding their course Northeast for the space of seuen dayes, and at the ende of the sayde seuen dayes, they had the sight of certayne Islands, which they made towards for to anker by them, but the weather would not permit them: and being there, the wind fell Northwest: whereupon they sailed West∣southwest.

The next day they lost the sight of another ship of their company, for it was very foule weather, so that in the ende the Admirals shippe was left alone, for the ship of Nuno da Silua was left in the Bay where they wintered before they entred into the Streights: and with this foule wea∣ther they ranne till they were vnder seuen and fiftie degrees,* where they entred into a hauen of an Island, and ankered about the length of the shot of a great piece from the land, at twen∣tie fathome deepe, where they stayed three or foure dayes, and the wind comming Southward, they weyed anker, holding their course Northward for the space of two daies, and then they espied a small vnhabited Island, where being arriued, they stroke sailes, and hoised out their boate, and there they tooke many birds and Seales.

The next day they set saile againe, holding their course Northnortheast, and North, to another Island lying fiue or sixe leagues from the firme land,* on the Northside of the Streight, where they ankered about a quarter of a league from the land, in twelue fathome water. This Island is small and lowe land, and full of Indians, the Island being altogether possessed and inhabi∣ted by them, where they hoysed out their boate, wherein the Admirall and twelue Englishmen entred, going to fetch fresh water, and to seeke for victuals: and being landed vpon the Island, the Indians in exchange of other things, brought two Spanish sheepe, and a little Maiz or rootes whereof they make bread, and because it was late, they returned againe vnto their ship, without doing any other thing for that day.

The next day the said Captaine with the aforesaid twelue men being harquebusiers, rowed to land againe, and set two of their company on shore with their vessels to fetch fresh water, and by the place where they should fill their water there lay certaine Indians secretly hidden, that fell vpon the two Englishmen and tooke them: which they in the boat perceiuing, went out to helpe them, but they were so assailed with stones & arrowes, that all or the most part of them were hurt, the Captaine himselfe being wounded with an arrow on the face,* and with another arrow in the head, whereby they were constrained to tu•ne backe againe, without once hurting any of the In∣dians, and yet they came so neere the boate, that they tooke foure of their oares from them. This done, they set saile againe, running along the coast with a South winde, sailing so for the space of sixe dayes, passing by the hauen called Sant Iago, and put into another hauen, and there they tooke an Indian that lay fishing in a Canoa, giuing him linnen and butchers chopping kniues, with other trifles, and not long after there came another Indian aboord their shippe called Fe∣lippe, and he spake Spanish, he gaue the English Captaine notice of a certaine shippe that lay in the hauen o•Sant Iago, which they had left sixe leagues behind them: with that intelligence the Indian being their guide, the next day they set saile and went to the aforesayd hauen of S. Iago, and entring therein, they tooke the said shippe, wherein they found a thousand seuen hundred and 70 Botijas or Spanish pots full of wine, and other things: which hauing done, they lept on land, where they tooke certaine sackes with meale, with whatsoeuer they could find; they tooke likewise the ornaments and the reliques out of the Church, wherewith they departed from thence, taking the aforesayd shippe, with two men (that they found in her) with them, and so de∣parted from that hauen,* which lyeth vnder 32 degrees and a halfe, running along •y the coast till they came vnder one and thirtie, and thirtie degrees: which was the place where they had Page  745 appointed to meete, and there to stay for ech other, if by tempest or foule weather they chanced to be separated, and so loose eche others company.

And comming vnder thirtie degrees, they found a very good hauen, whereinto they entred, and ankered at sixe fathome deepe, the shot of a great peece from the land, which was right ouer a∣gainst a riuer, where they tooke in sixe pipes of fresh water: and to defend them that fetched the water, they set twelue men vpon the land, and being busied in filling of their water, they espied a company of men comming towards them, whereof halfe of them were Spaniards, being about two hundred and fifty horsemen, and as many footemen, but they had no sooner espied them, but they presently entred into the boat, and escaped away, loosing but one man.

The same night they set saile againe with both their ships, running along the coast about ten leagues farther, where they tooke in some fresh water, but because they perceiued certaine horse∣men, they departed without lading any more water.

From thence they followed on their course along the coast for the space of 30 leagues, where they entred into a desert or vnhabited hauen: yet they went not on land, for euery day they saw people vpon the shore, & there they made out a smal pinnesse, the peeces wherof they brought ready framed out of England, and hauing prepared it, they launched it into, the water, wherein the Cap∣taine with fifteene men entred with the chiefe boatesman called Iohn the Greeke, (being Ma∣ster of the ship which they had taken in the hauen of S. Iago,) wherewith they went to see if they could find the two shippes that they had lost by stormie weather, as I sayd before: and likewise thinking to goe on land to fill certaine vessels with fresh water, they durst not venture, for they saw people on all sides of the shore: so that in the ende they returned againe without hearing of the other ships: being there, they tooke all the ordinance out of their ship, and new dressed and rig∣ged her: which done, they put a small peece of ordinance into the pinnesse, wherewith they set saile againe, following on their course.

Hauing sailed thirteene dayes, they came to an Island lying about the shotte of a base from the land, where they ankered, and there they found foure Indian fishermen in two Canoas, who told them that on the firme land they might haue fresh water, but they vnderstanding that there was not much, and that it was somewhat within the land, would not spend any time about it, but set saile againe, leauing the fishermen with their Canoas; following on their course along by the shore.

The next day being somewhat further, they espied certaine Indian fishermen that were vpon the land in their houses, which the English captaine perceiuing, presently entred into his pinnesse, and rowed on land, where he tooke three of the said fishermen, taking with him halfe of the fish that lay packed vpon the shore ready to be laden, with the which Indians and booty, they came on boord againe.

The next day following, they saw a barke laden with fish, that belonged to the Spaniards, with foure Indians in it. This barke with the Indians and the fish they tooke, and bound the Spanish ship to their sterne, and so drewe it after them, leauing the said Indians within it, who by night vnbound the barke, and secretly made away with barke and fish, and were no more seene. The next day the Captaine went into the pinnesse, and because he saw certaine houses vp∣on the shore, he made thither, and being on land, he found two men in them, one whereof he tooke, leauing the other behind, and there he •ound three thousand pezos of siluer, (euery pezo being the value of a ryall of eight,) and seuen Indian sheepe, and hennes, & tooke al whatsoeuer they found: wherewith they departed from thence, following on their course. And two dayes after they came to the hauen called Arica,* where they found two ships, the one laden with goods and Spanish wares, out of the which they tooke only two hundred Botijas, or Spanish pots with wine, and out of the other seuen and thirty barres of siluer, which are peeces of ten or twelue pound eche barre, and thinking to leape on shore (with two barks that they found in the said hauen, with about seuen and thirty harquebuses and bowes) they perceiued on the land certaine horsemen comming to∣wards them, whereupon they left off their pretence, and tooke with them a Negro that they found in the barks, with whom they returned aboord.

The next day in the morning they burnt the ship, that was laden with the Spanish wares, and tooke the other with them, passing forward with it on their course, the Captaine sailing along the shore with his pinnesse, and the ship keeping about a league from him to seaward, to seeke for a ship wherof they had intelligence: and hauing in that maner sailed about fiue and forty leagues, they found the ship that lay at anker in a hauen, who about two houres before had bene aduerti∣sed of an English pirate or sea-rouer, and had discharged eight hundred barres of siluer out of her, and hidden it on the land, which siluer belonged to the king of Spaine, of the which siluer the Page  746 Englishmen had receiued some in•elligence, but they durst not go on land, because there were ma∣ny Indians and Spaniards that stood to gard it, and they found nothing in the ship but three pipes of water: the sh•p they tooke with them, and being about a league in the sea, they hoysed vp all her sailes and let her driue, doing the like with the ship that they had taken in Arica, as also the o∣ther of San• Iago, which likewise they let driue, following on their course with their owne ship, and the pinnesse.

*Being seuen or eight leagues from the hauen of Calao de Lyma, they espied three ships, and boording one of them, they tooke thr•e men out of her, and so held on their course towards Calao de Lyma, where they entred, being about two or three houres within night, sailing in betweene all the ships that lay there, being s•uenteene in number: and being among the ships, they asked for the ship that had laden the siluer, but when answere was made them, that the siluer was layd on l•nd, they cut the cables of the ships, and the masts of two of the great•st ships, and so left them. At the same time there arriued a ship from Panama laden with wares a•d merchandise of Spaine, that ankered close by the English ship, w•ich was, while the English Captaine s•ught in the o∣ther ships f•r the siluer. Assoone as the ship of Panama had ankered, there came a boat from the shore to search it: but because it was in the night, they let it alone till morning, and comming to the English ship, they asked what ship it was: whereupon one of the Spanish prisoners (by the English Captaines commandement) answered and said it was the ship of Michael Angelo, that came from Chili: which they of the boat hearing, sent a man on b•ord, who climing vp, light vp∣on one of the great peeces, wherewith he was afraid, and presently slept backe againe into the boat because the shippes that lay there, and that sailed in those countreys, vsed to carry no great shot) and therewith they were abashed, and made from it: which the ship of Panama hearing, that was newly come in• shee iudged it to be a reuer, and therewith cutting her cables, shee put to sea, which the Englishmen p•r•eiuing, shipped certaine men in their pinnesse, and followed her: and being hard by her, they badde her strike, which they of the ship refused to doe, and with a harque∣buse shot killed one of the Eng•ishmen, wher•with they turned againe into th•ir shippe, and presently set saile, following after the ship, which not long after they •u•rtooke: which they of the shippe perceiuing, hoysed out their boate, and leaping into it, rowed to the land, leauing the shippe with all the goods, which the Englishmen presently tooke, and with her sayled on their course.

The next day they saw a boat with sailes making towards them, whereby they presently mis∣trusted it to be a spie, and not long after they perceiued two great ships comming towards them, which made the English thinke they came to fight with them, whereupon they let the shippe of Panama driue, therein leauing Iohn the Greeke, with the two men that they had taken the same day that they entred into the Calao de Lyma, as I sayde before, and presently hoysed all their sailes, and sailed forward, not once setting eye againe vpon the aforesayde ships, for they made towards the ship of Panama, which the Englishmen let driue. From thence they sailed againe along the coast, following on their course: and hauing sailed certaine dayes, they met a frigate that went towards Lyma, laden with wares and merchandises of the countrey, from whence the Englishmen tooke a lampe and a fountaine of siluer, and asked the pilote being a Spaniard, if they met not with a ship, that they vnderstood should be laden with siluer, but the one pilote saide he met her not, and the other said he saw her about three dayes before. This frigat came not to the ship, but to the pinnesse, wherein the Captaine sailed, for the pinnesse ranne close by the shore, and the ship kept a league and a halfe from the lande: whereupon they let the frigate goe, follow∣ing on their course.

Two dayes after they came to the hauen called Payta,* where they found a ship laden with Spanish wares, which the pinnesse boorded, and tooke wi•hout any resistance: for assoone as the Spaniards perceiued the Englishmen, they presently made to land with their boate, and two of them lept into the sea, none staying in the shippe, but the Master, Pilote, and some Negros, out of the which shippe the Englishmen tooke the pilote, and all the bread, hennes, and a h•gge, and so sailed forward with the ship: •ut being abo•t two harquebuse shot to seaward, they let it goe againe, not taking any thing out of it, and asking after the ship which they sought for, they told them that about two dayes before she departed from that place, wherewith they followed on their course, and before night they met with a •hip of Panama, which they presently boorted, but tooke nothing from her but onely a Negro, and so left it, holding on their course.

The next day being the first of Februarie, they met another ship that sailed to Panama, laden with fi•h and other victuals, and fortie barres of siluer, and some gold, but I know not how much, which they tooke, and sent the passengers (with two friers that were in her) in a boate to land. Page  747 The next day they hanged a man of the ship, because hee would not confesse two plates of golde that he had taken, which after they found about him: which done, they let the ship driue, following on their course.

The first of March towards noone, they espied the ship laden with siluer, being about foure leagues to seaward from them: and because the English ship was somewhat heauie before, whereby it sailed not as they would haue it,* they tooke a company of Bo•ijas or Spanish pots for oyle, and filling them with water, hung them by ropes at the sterne of the ship to make her sayle the better: and the shippe that sayled towardes Panama made towards the English shippe to know what shee was, thinking it to bee one of the shippes that vsed to saile along the coastes, and to traffique in the countrey: and beeing hard by her, the English Captaine badde them s•rike, but the other refusing to doe it, with a great peece hee shotte her mast ouerboord, and ha∣uing wounded the Master with an arrowe, the shippe presently yeelded, which they tooke, and sayled with her further into the sea, all that night and the next day and night, making all the way they could.

The third day being out of sight of the land, they beganne to search the ship, and to lade the goods out of her into their ship, which was a thousand three hundred barres or peeces of siuer• and foureteene chestes with ryals of eight, and with gold: but what quantitie it was I know not, onely the passengers sayd that there was great store, and that three hundred barres of the siluer belonged to the king, the rest belonged to certaine merchants. That done, they let the ship with the men saile on their course, putting the three pilots in her that they brought with them• so that as then they had none but their owne men aboord, being the sixt of March, and from thence they held their course towards the land of Nicaragua.*

The thirteenth of March, either the day before or after, in the morning they descried land,* not being very high, being a small Island two leagues from the firme land, and there they found a small Bay, wherein they ankered at fiue fathome deepe close by the land, and there they stayed till the twentie day. Upon the which day there passed a Frigate close by the Island, which with their pinnesse they followed, and taking her, brought her to the English ship, which frigat was laden with Salsaperilla, and Botijas or pots with butter and hony, and with other things. The English Captaine went on boord, and cast the Salsaperilla on the land, leauing all the rest of the wares in the frigate, and then he put all his peeces into the frigate,* that so he might lay his ship on shore, to new calke and trimme her, which continued till the three and twentie or foure and twentie of March. Which done, and hauing made prouision of wood and fresh water, they held on their course along by the coast, sayling Westward, taking the sayd frigate and her men with them, and hauing sailed two dayes, they tooke their men out of her, and set them in the pinnesse, among the which were foure sailers, that meant to sayle to Panama, and from thence to China, whereof one they tooke, with the letters and patents that hee had about him, among the which were the letters of the king of Spaine,* sent to the gouernour of the Philippi∣nas, as also the sea-cards wherewith they should make their voyage, and direct themselues in their course.

And so sailing vntill the sixt of Aprill, about euening they discouered a shippe that held two leagues to seaward from the land: and before the next day in the morning they were hard by her, and suddenly fell vpon her while her men slept, and presently made the men enter into their ship, among the which was one Don Francisco Xarate. Which done, they followed on their course with the sayd ship, out of the which they tooke certaine packes and other wares, but I know not what it was. They likewise tooke a Negro out of it, and three dayes after they both let the ship and men goe whether they woulde, setting therein the two saylers that should goe for China, which they had taken in the frigate, keeping onely one sailer to shewe them where they should find fresh water, to the which ende they tooke the emptie vessels with them to fill with water, and so kept on their course to the hauen of Guatulco,* where they put in, being vpon Munday the thirteenth of Aprill, and hauing ankered, they stayed there till the sixe and twentie of Aprill: and about three or foure houres within the night, they set sayle, holding their course Westward, and an houre or two before they let Nuno da Silua goe,* putting him into another ship, that lay in the hauen of Guatulco.

From thence forward the Englishmen passed on their voyage, to the Islands of Malucos, and from thence they passed by the Cape de Buena Esperança, and so to England, as it is well knowen, so that this is onely the description of the voyage that they made, while the said pilote Nuno da Silua was with them.

Hereafter followeth the copie of a letter written by sir Francis Drake (being in the South Page  748 sea of New Spaine, in his ship called The Pellican or the golden Hinde with the ship of Sant Iohn de Anton, which hee had taken) to his companions in the other sh•ppes that were of his company, and by foule weather separated from him, as I said before: The contents whereof were these:

Master Winter, if it pleaseth God that you should chance to meete with this ship of Sant Iohn de Anton, I pray you vse him well, according to my word and promise giuen vnto them, and if you want any thing that is in this ship of Sant Iohn de Anton, I pray you pay them dou∣ble the value for it, which I will satisfie againe, and command your men not to doe her any hurt: and what composition or agreement we haue made, at my returne into England I will by Gods helpe perfourme, although I am in doubt that this letter will neuer co•e to your hands: notwithstanding I am the man I haue promised to be: Beseeching God, the Sauiour of all the world, to haue vs in his keeping, to whom onely I giue all honour praise and glory. What I haue written, is not only to you M. Winter, but also to M. Thomas, M. Charles, M. Caube, and M. Anthonie, with all our other good friendes, whom I commit to the tuition of him that with his blood redeemed vs, and am in good hope, that we shal be in no more trouble, but that he will helpe vs in aduersitie, desiring you for the Passion of Christ, if you fall into any danger, that you will not despaire of Gods mercy, for hee will defend you and preserue you from all danger, and bring vs to our desired hauen, to whom bee all honour, glory, and praise for euer and euer. Amen.

The voyage of M. Iohn VVinter into the South sea by the Streight of Magellan, in consort with M. Francis Drake, begun in the yeere 1577. By which Streight also he returned safely into England the •econd of Iune 1579. contrary to the false reports of the Spaniards which gaue out, that the said passage was not re∣passeable: Written by Edward Cliffe Mariner,

Page  754

Instructions giuen by the right honourable the Lordes of the Counsell, to M. Edward Fenton Esquire, for the order to be obserued in the voyage recommended to him for the East Indies and Cathay• Aprill 9. 1582.

FIrst you shall enter as Captaine Generall, into the charge and gouernment of these shippes, viz. the Beare Gal••on, the Edward Bonauenture, the Ba•ke Francis, and the small Frigate or Pinnesse.

2 Item you shall appoint for the furnishing of the vessels in the whole, to the number of 200 able persons, accompting in that number the Gentlemen and their men, the Ministers, Chirurgians, Factors, &c. which sayd number is no way to be exceeded, whereof as many as may be, to be sea-men; and shal distribute them into euery vessel, as by aduise here before your going shal be thought meete: Prouided that you shall not receiue vnder your charge and gouernement, any disordered or mutinous person, but that vpon knowledge had, you shall remooue him before your departure hence, or by the way as soone as you can conueniently auoide him, and receiue better i• his place.

3 Item, for the more and better circumspect execution, and determination in any waightie causes incident in this voyage, we will that you shall take vnto you for assistants, Captaine Haw∣kins, captain Ward, M. Nicholas Parker, M. Maddox, M. Walker, M. Euans, Randolph Shaw, Matthew Talboys, with whom you shall consult and conferre in all causes, matters, and actions of importance, not prouided for in these instructions touching this seruice now in hand. And in all such matters, so handled, argued, and debated, wee thinke that conuenient alwayes to be executed, which you shall thinke meetest with the assent also of any 4 of them, the matter hauing bene deba∣ted, and so assented vnto, in the presence of your said assistants. And in case that such conference and debating the opinions of the aforesaid Assistants be found in effect any way to differ, then it is thought meete, that all such matters so argued vpon, shall rest to bee put in execution in such sor• as you shal thinke most meetest, hauing the assent of any 4 of them, as aforesaid. And if any of these Assistants shal die, then the number of the one halfe of the Suruiuours to ioyne with the General captaine for consent in all things aforesaid.

4 Of all which your assemblies and consultations, for the matters aforesaid, we thinke it very conuenient, that a particular and true note should be kept, for which cause we appoint master Mad∣dox minister, and if he should decease, then the Generall with halfe the Assistants Suruiuours, to name one to keepe a booke of all such matters as shall bee brought in consultation, and of all such reasons as shall be propounded by any person, either on the one side, or on the other: what was re∣solued on, and by whose consent, who dissented there f•om, and for what causes. In which book he shall in the beginning of the note of euery such assembly, set downe particularly the day, and the place, if it may be, the names of the persons then present, and vpon what occasion the sayd consulta∣tion was appointed or holden, and shall haue to euery acte, the handes of the General, and of all, or so many of the said Assistants as will subscribe: which booke the said master Maddox, or the other vpon his decease appointed in his place shall keepe secrete, and in good order to bee exhibited vnto vs, at your returne home.

5 Item, if there happen any person or persons imployed in this seruice, of what calling or condition, hee or they shall be, should conspire, or attempt priuatly or publikely, any treason, mu∣tinie, or other discord, either touching the taking away of your owne life, or any other of authoritie vnder you, whereby her Maiesties seruice in this voiage might bee ouer throwne, or impug∣ned: we will therefore, that vpon iust proofe made of any such treason, mutinie, or any other discord attempted as aforesaid, the same shalbe punished by you, or your Lieuetenant• according to the qua∣litie and enormitie of the fact. Prouided alwayes, and it shall not bee lawfull neither for you, nor for your Lieuetenant to proceede to the punishment of any person by losse of life or lim, vnlesse the partie shall be iudged to haue deserued it by the rest of your Assistants, as is before expressed, or at the least foure of them. And that which shall concerne life to be by the verdic• of twelue men of the company employed in this voyage, to be impanelled for that purpose, with the obseruation of the forme of our countrey lawes in that behalfe, as neere as you may. Prouided, if it shall not ap∣peare, that the forbearing of the execution by death, shall minist•r cause to increase the fac•e of the offen•er, then it were better to conuince the partie of his facte, by the othes of 12 indifferent per∣sons, and to commit him to hard imprisonment, vntill the returne. And aswell of the •actes commit∣ted by any• as also of the proofe thereof, and of the opinions of you, and your Assistants, and the maner of the punishment, the Register shall make a particular and true note, in the booke of your consultation, as is before appointed.

Page  7556 Item, you shall not remooue Captain•William Hawkins your lieutenant, master Captaine Luke Ward your viceadmiral, or captaine of the Edward Bonauenture,* nor captaine Carlile from his charge by land whom we will not to refuse any such seruice as shall be appointed to him by the Generall and the councill, nor any captaine of other vessels from their charges, but vpon iust cause duely prooued, and by consent of your Assistants, or of foure of them at the least.

7 Item, for the succession of the Generall, gouernour of this whole voyage, if it should please God to take him away, it is thought meete that there should bee the names of such Gentlemen se∣cretly set downe to succeede in his place one after the other, which are seuerally written in parch∣ment, included in bals of waxe, sealed with her Maiesties signer, put into two coffers locked with three seuerall •ocks, whereof one key is to bee in the custodie of captaine Luke Ward, the other of William Hawkins, the third of master Maddox the Minister, and the same two coffers to bee put into two seuerall shippes, videlicet, the one coffer in the Gallion, in the custodie of the Generall, the other in the Edward Bonauenture in the custodie of the Uiceadmirall: the same two coffers vpon any such casualtie of the Generals death by co•sent of the Assistants which shall ouerliue, •o bee opened, and the partie therein named to succeede in the place, who shall thereupon take vpon him the charge in the said voiage according to these instructions, in such sort as if they had bene spe∣cially directed vnto him, and the rest of the companie so to take and repute him in euery respect, as they will answer to the contrary. But if it shall so fall out, (as we hope it will) that there shall bee no such neede, but that the Generall doe continue still, then shall you at your returne deliuer backe the sayd coffers and bals of waxe sealed in such sort as they be, without opening them, vnl•sse it be in the case aforesayd.

8 You shall make a iust and true inuentorie in euery ship and vessell appointed for this voyage of all the tackle, munition, and furniture belonging to them at their setting foorth hence, and of all the prouisions whatsoeuer, and one copie thereof vnder your hand, and vnder the hands of your Uiceadmirall and lieutenant, to be deliuered to the Earle of Leicester, and the other to the gouern∣our of the companie for them before your departure hence,* and the like to bee done at your returne home of all things then remaining in the sayd ships and vessels, with a true certificate how and by what meanes any parcell of the same shall haue bene spent or lost.

9 Item, you shall vse all diligence possible to depart from Southampton with your sayd ships and vessels before the last of this present moneth of Aprill, and so goe on your course by Cape de buena Esperança,* not passing by the streight of Magellan either going or retu•ning, except vpon great occasion incident, that shall bee thought otherwise good to you, by the aduise and consent of your sayd Assistants, or foure of them at the least.

10 Item, you shall not passe to the Northeastward of the 40 degree of latitude at the most, but shall take your right course to the Iles of the Malucos for the better discouery of the Northwest passage, if without hinderance of your trade, & within the same degree you can get any knowledge touching that passage, whereof you shall do wel to be inquisitiue, as occasion in this sort may serue.

11 Item, you shall haue speciall regard after your departure from the coast of England, so to order your course, as that your ships and vessels lose not one another, but keepe companie together both outward and homeward. And lest if they happen to seuer the one from the other by tempest or otherwise, it shall not bee amisse that you appoint to the Captaines and Masters certaine places, wherein you will stay certaine dayes. And euery ship passing aforehand, and no• knowing what is become of the other ships, to leaue vpon euery Promontorie or Cape a token to stand in sight, with a writing lapped in •eade to declare the day of their passage. And if any wilfulnesse or neg∣ligence in this behalfe shall appeare in any person or persons that shall haue charge of any of the ships or vessels aforesayd, or if they or any of them shall doe otherwise then to them appertaineth, you shall punish such offenders sharpely to the example of others.

12 Item, we do straightly enioine you, and consequently all the rest imployed in this voyage in any wise, and as you and they will answere the contrary at your comming home by the lawes of this realme, that neither going, tarrying abroad, nor returning, you doe spoyle or take any thing from any of the Queenes Maiesties friends or allies, or any Christians, without paying iustly for the same, nor that you vse any maner of violence or force against any such, except in your owne de∣fence, if you shall be set vpon, or otherwise be forced for your owne safegard to do it.

13 Item, wee will that you deale altogether in this voyage like good and honest merchants, traffiquing and exchanging ware for ware, with all courtesie to the nations you shall deale with, as well Ethniks as others, and for that cause you shall instruct all those that shall goe with you, that whensoeuer you or any of you shall happen to come in any place to conference with the peo∣ple of those parts, that in all your doings and theirs, you and they so behaue your selues towards Page  756 the sayd people, as may rather procure their friendship and good liking toward you by courtesie, then to moue them to offence or misliking, and especially you shall haue great care of the perform∣ance of your word and promise to them.

14 Item wee will, that by the aduise of your Assistants, in places where you and they shall thinke most fit, you settle if you can a beginning of a further trade to bee had hereafter: and from such places doe bring ouer with you some fewe men and women if you may,* and doe also leaue some one or two, or more, as to you and your Assistants shall seeme conuenient of our nation with them for pledges, and to learne the tongue and secrets of the countreys, hauing diligent care that in deliuering and taking of hostages, you deliuer not personages of more value then you receiue, but rather deliuer meane persons vnder colour of men of value, as the Infidels do for the most part vse. Prouided that you stay not louger to make continuance of further trade, then shall be expedi∣ent for good exchange of the wares presently carried with you.

15 Item you shall haue care, and giue generall warning, that no person of what calling soeuer hee be, shall take vp, or keepe to himselfe or his priuate vse, any stone, pearle, golde, siluer, or other matter of commoditie to be had or found in places where you shall come, but hee the said person so seased of such stone, pearle, golde, siluer, or other matter of commoditie, shall with all speede, or so soone as he can, detect the same, and make deliuerie thereof to your selfe, or you Uiceadmirall, or Lieuetenant, and the Factor appointed for this voyage, vpon paine of forfeiture of all the recom∣pense he is to haue for his seruice in this voyage by share or otherwise: and further to receiue such punishment, as to you & your Assistants, or the more part of them shal seeme good, and otherwise to be punished here at his returne, if according to the qualitie of his offence it shalbe thought needfull.

16 Item, if the Captaines, Marchants or any other, shall haue any apparell, iewels, chaines, armour, or any other thing whatsoeuer, which may bee desired in countreys where they shall traf∣fique, that it shall not bee lawfull for them or any of them to traffique, or sell any thing thereof for their priuate accompt: but the same shall bee prized by the most part of those that shall bee in com∣mission in the places where the same may be so required, rated at such value, as it may bee reasona∣bly worth in England, and then solde to the profite of the whole voyage, and to goe as in aduen∣ture for those to whom it doeth appertaine.

17 Item you your selfe shall in the Gallion ke•pe one booke, and the Factors appointed for the same shippe ano•her, wherein shall bee a iust accompt kept, aswell of the marchandise carried hence, as of those you shall bring home. And aswell at your setting foorth, as from time to time, as exchange shalbe made, you shall set your hand to their booke, and they theirs to yours, and the like order shal you see that the Captaine and the Factors in the Edward Bonauenture shall vse in their ship, and the other Captaines and Factors in each other vesell.

18 Item you shall giue straight order to restraine, that none shall make any charts or descrip∣tions of the sayd boyage, but such as shall bee deputed by you the Generall, which sayd charts and descriptions, wee thinke meete that you the Generall shall take into your hands at your returne to this our coast of England, leauing with them no copie, and to present them vnto vs at your re∣turne: the like to be done if they finde any charts or maps in those countreys.

19 Item you shall at your returne so direct your course, that all the ships vnder your gouern∣ment may come home together, and arriue here in the riuer of Thames, if it may conueniently be. And wheresoeuer in this Realme you, or any of the shippes shall arriue, you shall giue speciall and straight order, that no person of what condition soeuer he be, shall vnlade, or bring on land, or forth of the vessels in which he came, any part or parcel of marchandize, or matter of commoditie brought in any of the sayd vessels, vntill we being certified of your or their arriuall, shall giue further order and direction therein, vnder the penalties and forfeitures expressed in the fifteenth article, against such as shall retaine any thing to their priuate vse, as in the sayd article is further expressed.

20 Item, to the intent that all such persons as shall go with you in this voyage, may better vn∣derstand what they ought to do, and what to auoid, wee thinke it requisite, that aswell out of these, as otherwise with the aduise of your Assistants and Masters of the ships, you shall cause some con∣uenient order to bee set downe in writing for their better gouernment both at sea and land, if they shall happen to goe on lande any where: and the same to bee openly read and made knowen vnto them, to the intent they may vnderstand how to behaue themselues, and vpon any fault commit∣ted, not to haue any excuse to pretend ignorance, and so to auoid such punishment as it is requisite to haue ministred for the keeping of them in good order.

21 And to the end God may blesse this voyage with happie and prosperous successe, you shall haue an especiall care to see that reuerence and respect bee had to the Ministers appointed to ac∣companie you in this voyage, as appertaineth to their place and calling, and to see such good order Page  757 as by them shall be set downe for reformation of life and maners, duely obeyed and perfourmed, by causing the transgressours and contemners of the same to be seuerely punished, and the Ministers to remooue sometime from one vessell to another.

22 Prouided alwayes, that the whole direction and gouernment of the people, life and limme excepted, as in the fift article, and the course of this voyage, shall bee wholly at your disposition, ex∣cept in the course by the Streight of Magellan, either outward or homeward, and in your passage by the Northward of 40 degrees in latitude, wherein you shall follow directions s•t downe in the nine and ten articles, as also in the displacing of the Captaine of the Edward Bonauenture, and o∣ther captaines, wherin you shall followe the order appointed in the sixt article: Prouided that wee meane not by this article to derogate any thing from the authoritie of your assistants established in the third article, or in any other article of these instructions.

23 Item, in all occasions and enterprises that may fall out to bee vpon the lande, wee will that Captaine Carlile shall haue the generall and chiefe charge thereof.*

24 And finally wee require you and euery of you to haue a due regard to the obseruation and accomplishment of these our instructions, and of all such other things, as may any kind of way t•nd to the furtherance and benefite of this seruice committed to your charge.

The voyage intended towards China, wherein M. Edward Fen∣ton was appointed Generall: Written by M. Luke Ward his Viceadmiral, and Captaine of the Edward Bonauenture, begun Anno Dom. 1582.

THe second of April I departed with the Edward Bonauenture from Blackwall, and the 19 of the same arriued in Nettle roade at Hampton, where I found ri∣ding the Gallion Leicester: and so remaining there till the first of May, wee set saile thence in the forenoone, being of vs in the whole fleete foure saile.

1 The Gallion Leicester of 400 tunnes Admirall, whereof was Generall Captaine Edward Fenton, and William Hawkins the yonger li•utenant Gene∣rall in her, and Christopher Hall, Master.

2 The Edward Bonauenture of 300 tunnes Uiceadmirall, whereof was Captaine Luke Ward, and Thomas Perrie Master.

3 The Francis of fortie tunnes, whereof was Captaine Iohn Drake, and William Markam Master.

4 The Elizabeth of fiftie tunnes, whereof was Captaine Thomas Skeuington and Ralph Crane Master.

We spent by meanes partly of businesse, and partly of contrary windes, the moneth of May vp∣on the coast, and then leauing the land wee put off to sea, and proceeded on our voyage intended by the grace of God for China: vntill the moneth of August •ollowing, nothing fell out much worthy the knowledge of the worlde, which is not common to all nauigants, but about the beginning of August aforesayd, being somewhat neere the coast of Guinie, vpon the shooting off a peece and the putting out of a flag in the Admiral, I went on boord, and M. Walker, M. Shaw, M. Geffreis, our Master & Pilot with me, where the generall counsel was assembled to consider of two points, viz.

The first, whether it were necessarie to w••er presently or not, which was thought very needful of all men, and so concluded.

The second, where the best and aptest place was to water in, which was thought of the greater number to be at Sierra leona on the coast of Guinie, which was also concluded, and by the Master and Pilots agreed to goe hence Southeast, which determined, wee returned aboord.

The 3 day wee went Southeast and Eastsoutheast, till sixe a clocke at night that wee sawe the lande of Guinie, which bare Northeast of vs about 12 leagues off, which seene, wee sounded, and had no ground: then went I and our Master and Pilot aboord the Admirall, and after m•ny de∣batements concluded to run in Northeast by East, and at eleuen at night wee came aboord againe, and went all night Northeast by East.

The 4 at eight a clocke in the forenoone wee were within 2 leagues of the lande, which bare off vs Northeast, which rose like a hill full of woods, and on each side low land: wee being perswaded by our pilots that it was the entrance into Sierra leona, went in Northeast vntill wee were within an halfe league of the shoar, and had brought th• South point Southeast by East off vs. At ele∣uen a clocke finding it a bay and not Sierra leona, wee brought our tacks aboord, and stoode along West by North and West larboord tacked.

In this time our Admirals pinnesse rowed in, and went on land vpon the South side of the bay, Page  758 and the Elizabeths boate with her. They found houses of boughes, and in one of the houses the tongue of a beast, and a bullocks tongue fresh killed; also a lake with plentie of fresh water, and fresh-water-fish in it had by the sea side: they found drie pomegranates, and pease like nurs, with other vnknowen fruites vnder the trees. The Elizabeth ranne in, and brought the South poin• South by West of her, and ankered within Faulcon shot of the shore in seuen fathom oaze, where they tooke fish with hookes, while hee stayed for the boates.

The 4 all the afternoone wee ran along the coast (which lyeth Northwest and by North and Southeast by South) West, and within a point one way or the other, seeing the lande vnder our •ee three or foure leagues off, and all night likewise.

The 9 at three a clock in the morning our Admiral shot off a peece, and at foure wee weyed and went hence Northeast.* At fiue in the morning wee saw the land along, and the Island which wee saw the night before, and diuers other Islands about it, & so ran in Northeast vntil we had brought our selues thwart of the riuer, and then ran in East about sixe at night, being a league within the riuer. Our Admirall shot off a peece, and there wee ankered in eight fath•m sand. Being at an∣ker, I manned our boate and would haue gone aboord the Admirall, but could not, the flood was bent so strong, and she rode halfe a mile beneath vs in the tyde, but we had no tyde.

The 10 in the morning at fiue a clocke I sent our skiffe with our pilot in her to find a roade, and a watring place: in the meane time at sixe a clocke we set saile with our ship, and b•ing calme wee towed with our boat vntill ten, and then ankered a mile short of the watering place. After dinner I w•nt on land with my skiffe to finde timber to fish our maste, and searching along the shoare we found a good watring place: and further seeking in the wood, which all the countrey is full of, and of diuers sorts, wee found Limmon trees full of fruits: also trees growing by the water side with the stalkes hung full of oysters and great periwinkles,* and crabs amongst them: wee found drie pomegranates with many other fruits vnknowen to vs. In the meane time our Admirall and the Edward with the barkes, hauing a gale at West, set saile, and ran vp and ankered in the rode be∣fore the accustomed watering place.

The 22 day certaine Portugals which had bene with vs before, came down and brought some other Portugals and Negros with them in a shippe-boate, wherein they brought vs 80 mewes of rice, 500 and odde weight of Elephants teeth, and a Negro boy, which boy they gaue the Ge∣nerall, and the rice and teeth for the Elizabeth, which wee solde them,* with all her tackle and sailes, hauing neede of the rice, because our meale which wee brought out of England was decayed and naught, whereof wee had into the Edward 30 bushels, which is a mewe and a halfe: the Francis had 5 bushels, and the Gallion had the rest. And wee had 200 weight of Elephants teeth, and the Gallion 300 and a halfe, and sixe pound. During this time we sent our skiffe with the Admi∣ralls pinnesse vp the riuer to meete with a Gundall, which the Portugals had sent for fresh victu∣als for vs: who not finding her, return•d at night: All this day I with M. Walker remain•d a∣boord with the Admirall, and after their dinner and supper wee ended our businesse, and returned aboord, hauing had many good speaches with the Portugals.

The 26 day being Sunday, Captaine Hawkins, M. Maddox, M. Hall, M. Bannister, Cap∣taine Drake, M. Euans, M. Hoode, and others came aboord and heard the Sermon, and dined with me: after dinner wee went on shoare to the lower point where we followed the footing of an Elephant, but saw him not, and so spent the time to and fro till supper time, and then came aboord, and supped together, which done, each man departed to his abode.

This night I was very sicke, (and so were all they that were on shoare with mee,) with eating of a fruite of the countrey,* which wee found on trees, like nuts: whereof some did eate foure, some fiue, some sixe, and more, but wee vomitted and scoured vpon it without reason.

The 27 day in the afternoone the olde Greeke Fracisco came aboord to me, with request that hee might haue the Francis boate to goe vp for his owne boate which was not come downe, with whom I talked of this Countrey and Countrey-people, vntill fiue of the clocke at night that the flood was come, and then I went aboorde to the Admirall, and got his consent, and sent them∣selues in her: viz. Ferdinando the Portugall Master, and his Negro: In the meane time I sent foure of my men to watch in the Elizabeth all night.

The 28 day in the morning at foure a clocke I sent my skiffe with the Admirals pinnesse down to the West point to fish, who came aboorde againe at one in the afternoone, and brought as much fish as all our companies could eate.

During the time that our boates were a fishing, came downe the riuer a canoa and the Por∣tugals former boate with hennes,* orenges, plantans, which they presented the Generall and mee with: and also the rest of the rice due to vs for the payment of the Elizabeth. For the partitions Page  759 whereo• I went aboord the Admirall, where I dined. After dinner M. Euans began to barter a∣w•y certaine of the ships commodities with the Negros,* without acquainting the Generall or any other vntill hee had done, whereof gr•we more wordes then presite, as by the bookes of marchan∣dise appeareth. Which done I came aboord, and had two of the Portugals to supper with mee. About two of the clocke in the morning we had a Ternado, and much raine.

The 29 about 4 a clocke in the morning, I in my skiffe, and Captaine Parker in his pinnesse,* went downe to the West point, and there wee landed with 11 men in all well furnished, and sear∣ched the woods, plaines and plashes, after an Elephant, finding the haunt, footing, and soyle of ma∣ny newly done, yet wee saw none of them. Wee saw hogs, goates or fawnes, and diuers sorts of fowles very wilde: and hauing trauailed about 2 leagues, about noone wee returned to the point, where wee landed, and met our boates which had beene at sea, and taken plentie of good fish: there wee refreshed our selues with such victuals as wee had, and came aboord our seuerall ships, where I found the Portugals and Negros, who had dined, and after supped aboord with mee.

The 2 of September we set saile at sixe of the clock in the morning, & w•nt out West betweene 7 and 10 fathom, with a pretie gale at East til 8, then it waxed calme, wee being shot out of the har∣bour a league and a halfe. It continued calme this day till one in the afternoone, and then it blewe vp at Westsouthwest a good gale, so wee stood off Northnorthwest, and Northwest till 5 in the af∣ternoone, then wee ankered in 12 fathom, being 6 leagues off the point West by North.

The 3 day about eight a clocke in the forenoone, the Generall came aboord to mee, complai∣ning that his maine crosse-trees were broken, and therefore determined to goe into Sierra leona a∣gaine when the winde blewe:* at 12 at noone wee set saile, and went in Eastsoutheast, and South∣east, and Southsoutheast, being carried to the Northward with the flood. And at 7 at night wee ankered in eight fathom three leagues off the entrance, Westnorthwest.

The 12 day came downe the riuer a boate with three o•her Portugals,* with whom the Gene∣ral bargained, to let them haue; barrels of salt for 5 barrels of rice, and after that rate to exchange for 40 barrels, which hee acquainted mee with: afterwards I dined among the Portugals with him: after dinner I went on shoare to the ouen, and to the carpenters. After I had bene on shoare and seene the worke there I returned aboord, & there supped with mee the Generall, M. Maddox, Captaine Hawkins, and seuen Portugals: after supper each man returned to his place.

The 13 in the afternoone, the Portugals came againe aboord me, and brake their •a•• with me: aft•r I sent by them vp the riuer in my skiffe 12 barrels of salt, and gaue them a bottell of wine for one of the sauage Queenes.

The 15 after dinner, the Master, M. Walker, and I, accompanied with 12 other trauelled ouer a great deale of ground to finde some cattell, but found none:* and comming home thor•w the Oy∣ster bay, I found of my company and of the Admirals together rosting of oysters: and going from them, Thomas Russell one of my companie sawe a strange fish named V••lif, which had •ought with a crocodile, and being hurt came neere the shoare, where hee waded in, and by the taile drew him a lande, and there slewe him,* and sent the Generall the hinder halfe of him: the head• part I kept, in whose nose is a bone of two foot long like a sword, with three and twentie pricks of a side, sharpe and strange: The bodie wee did eate, and it was like a Sharke.

The 30 and last day of September the Francis cooke came aboord about seuen a clocke in the forenoone from fishing with my net, and brought among other fish,* a Sea calfe (as wee called it) with haire and lympits, and barnacles vpon him, being seuen foote long, •oure foote nine inches a∣bout: which to see I sent for the Generall, and such as pleased to come see it out of the Admirall, who came and brought with him M. Maddox, Captaine Hawkins, Captaine Parker, and most part of his companie, who hauing viewed the beast, which was oughly being aliue, it being ••ayed, opened, and dressed, prooued an excellent, faire, and good meate, broyled, rosted, sodde and baked, and sufficed all our companies for that day.

The first day of October in the morning, wee tooke in to make vp our full complement of rice twentie barrels for the twelue barrels of salt, deliuered the Portugall Lewis Henriques be•ore.

The 2 day about sixe a clocke in the morning, wee set saile hauing little winde: the Captaine with the Master, and other of their companie of the Portugals came aboord me• complaining that the carfey by them receiued for the foure Negros of the Generall, was not sufficient for their pay∣ment, whereupon I gaue them sca•let caps, and other things to their cont•nt, who finding them∣selues well pleased, departed away in the Gundall, and we hauing little winde, got downe thwart of the fishing bay, and there came to anker about nine a clocke the same forenoone.

The third day about two a clocke in the morning wee set saile, and went hence Southwest by West till two in the afternoone then being little wind: at fiue wee ankered sixe leagues Eastsouth∣east Page  760 of the Southermost part of the land in fifteene fathom• and there wee rode till ••ght a clocke 〈◊〉 night, and set saile with a sti•fe gale at Northeast, which sometime blewe, and sometime was 〈◊〉 winde, and •o continued all night.

The first day of Nouembe• in the forenoone, wee tooke in our maine saile to mend 〈…〉 meane time, the Admirall came vp by vs, and desiring mee with my Master, and M. Blacke•••e• to come aboord to him about certaine conference, hee sent his boate •or vs, where by him w•• propounded, whether it were best for vs to stand on with the coast of Brasil as w•e did, •r •lie •o stand about starboord tacked to the Eastwards: whereupon diuers of their charts and reckoning• wer• shew•d: by some it appeared, wee w•re a hundre• and fiftenne leagues, by some a hundred and fiftie leagues, by some a hundred and fortie leagues, and some a great deale further short of Brasil, next hand Northeast of vs: but all agreed to bee within twentie minutes of the line, •ome t• the North, some to the South of the line.

After many debatements, it was agreed by most consent to stand on for the coast of Brasil,••∣cept the wind changed• and there to doe, as weather should compell vs. In this consultation, wee had speaches of courses and places of meeting, if by misfortune wee should bee separated, wh•rein was no full order concluded, but that we should speake euery night with the Admirall, if wee con∣ueniently might, and so to appoint our course from time to time, if wee lost companie, to stay fif∣teene dayes in the riuer of Plate, and from thence to go for the streights, and there to ride, and ••∣•er, and trimme our ships.

The 12 in the afternoone M. Maddo•, M. Hall, M. Bannister, and others came aboord to ••∣sire M. Walker. After a time of abode with him, they returned to the gallion all againe, except M. Maddox who remained with M. Walker here aboord.

This night M. Maddox and I, behelde many constellations in the firmament, and set downe certaine newe starres raised to the Southwards. All day and night wee went South, and South by East among.

The seuenteenth day in the afternoone wee shot off three peeces of ordinance in honour of our Queenes Maiestie. This day after dinner came master Maddox, and Captaine Drake with others to take their leaue of master Walker, as I with all my company had done before, supposing him past hope of recouerie. At foure of the clocke, finding our selues in nineteene degrees to the Southwards of the line,* and cleare of the shoalds called by vs Powles, wee went hence South∣southwest all night following.

The 18 day being Sunday, after dinner the Generall, M. Maddox, Captaine Parker, and many other came aboord, and visited M. Walker: which done, they dranke, and departed aboord againe. All this day and night, we went our course Southwest by South, with a franke gale.

The 19 day about noone, the Sun was in our Zenith, being declined to the Southwards 2• degrees, and 33 minutes, where wee found the aire fresh and temperate, as in England in Iune when a fresh gale of winde doeth blow in the heate of the day, but the euening, the night, and the morning are more fresh and colder here,* then it is in England either in Iune or Iulie.

The first of December, about sixe of the clocke in the morning, wee sawe lande on the coast of Brasil, in the height of 28 degrees or there abouts, which bare Northwest, and was eight leagues from vs very high land. Wee stood in with it, being much win•e, and comming neere, sound di∣uers Islands:* and seeing the Francis would not come roome nor run ahead vs, wee stood in with the shore, and •ounde• in 30 fathom oaze three leagues off the lande, bearing from the Westnorth∣west to the Northnorthwest of vs, and so s•oode still till it shoalded orderly into seuen fathom, within a mile of a headland: then perceiuing a breach ouer our bowe, and no hope of a good har∣bour, in that place, wee bare vp roome, and our Admirall after vs, whom wee haled: then hee tolde vs hee would seeke harbour to •eewards, requiring me to go ahead. Then seeing the barke was asterne, I hoised out my skiffe, and set her maste and saile, taking her ging, and Tobias one of my Masters mates with mee, and ranne before the shippe, sounding in 15 fathom faire sand, leauing a ledge of rockes a sea-boord of vs: so the ships and the barke looffed vp vnder a headland, and an∣kered in eight fathom, halfe a mile off the lande, hauing brought the headland which lyeth in 27 degrees 50 minutes Southsoutheast off them,* and the North land Northeast off th•m.

I stoode on with the skiffe, hoping to •inde a better harbour to leeward three leagues, but it prooued not so: wherefore I returned, and in my way aboord I met with a rocke in the sea• where we landed, and killed good store of fowle• and after I went aboord the Admirall, where I presented him with fowle, and returned aboord to supper.

In this time our boates had beene aland, and found water, bassas•e, and two decayed houses, as they told me, and our men aboord hooked fresh-fish. This night wee rode quietly.

Page  761The second, being Sunday, our masters moared our ships further into the bay.* We brought the South point Southeast off vs, and the North land Northeast: and so rid.

After dinner captaine Parker, with my boat, and company, went a land, and there placed pipes, and made three wels.* In the meane time, I accompanied with M. Hawkins, M. Maddox, M. Cotton, and diuers of mine owne people, landed farther within the bay, and found two riuers of fresh water• and a good fishing place. Presently I sent aboord for my net, with which at one draught we drew 600 great mullets, and 5 great basses;* the like draug•• was neuer seene with so small a net: with which we went aboord, giuing to the admirall 240, to the Francis 80, and the rest our company spent, and gaue almighty God thanks for his great goodnesse.

All this while was captaine Parker and others gone into the land, and fired th• woods;* which burned extremely.

The third day in the morning our carpenter talked without boord, and the master and others tooke vp all the merchandize in the stearne sheets to the keele, and there put downe a boats loding of stone: and seeing the merchandize well conditioned, stowed the same againe. In the mean• time, my selfe, and others in our boats, scraped off the wormes, and washed the rudder, and part of one side of our ship.

After dinner, the master, pilot, and I, went ashore, and obserued the Sunne at noone, which being past, with our net we drew plenty of diuers sorts of fishes, and went from that bay to the watering place: from thence, aboord the generall, which had taken physicke, and gaue them and the Francis fish for their companies• and so went aboord, where our company had romaged afore∣mast; so that this afternoone we tooke in two boats more lading of stones afore mast.

The sixt day i• the morning, before sixe of the clocke,* we saw a saile which w•nt towards the Southwards, the admirall not hauing knowledge thereof. I went aboord, and certified him; who appointed me to goe and bring her in, and to take captaine Parker and some of the gallions me• into the Francis, and the admirals skiffe with vs: so we gaue her chase, and tooke her sixe leagues to the leewards of the place we rode in. Then not being able to fetch the rode againe, we anker∣ed in the sea. I intending to come away in the pinnesse, and leaue the Francis, and the prize toge∣ther, being ready to depart, the winde blew at South a stout ga•e, and raine; so that about sixe of the clocke, we ankered in the rode, where our ships rid.

After we had taken them, and that captaine Parker and I were aboord, we had much talke with them before they came to the ships; and being ankered there, the chiefe men were caried a∣bord the general, which was a gentleman, named Don Francisco de Torre Vedra, nephew to the gouernour of the riuer of Plate, named Don Iohn de Torre Vedra.

We found and Englishman, named Richard Carter borne in Limehouse,* who had bene out o•England foure and twenty yeres, and hath bene nere twelue yeres dwelling in the riuer of Plate, at a towne named Ascension, three hundred leagues vp in the riuer, whither they were now de∣termined to go & inhabit, hauing two women, and two yon• children, seuen fri•rs, the rest boyes, and •ailers, to the number of one and twenty persons.*

The olde frier was had in great reuerence among the re••: insomuch that they called him the Holy father, He was abiding in no place; but as visitour he went visiting from monastery to mo∣nastery.

The substance of all the speeches was, that the Spanish fleet was before the streights of Ma∣gellan, as they thought; for they were departed sixe weeks past from the riuer of Ienero, wher• they had beene seuen moneths to refresh and Winter, and that these were not of that company• but came out of Spaine the 26 of May 1582 in a barke of fourescore tun, and fourescore persons, of purpose for the riuer of Plate. The friers being eighteene in number, could not agree, and their barke was a ground at Spirito santo, like to be lost: therefore the old frier bought this small barke of 46 •un, at a port named Spirito santo, in Brasill; and so diuided themselues: and com∣ming from thence, lost company at sea: but they thought they were before at the riuer of Plate. After his speeches, I went and appointed (by the generals order) men to remaine aboord the prize with captaine Parker, and brought one of the Portugals sailes away with me, and came a∣boord, where I found that our men had filled water all day.

The 7 day in the morning the generall sent for me; where he shewed me and M. Maddox cer∣teine articles which the friers and mariners Spaniards were examined of; which tended altoge∣ther to the knowledge of the Spanish fleets intent, and of the meanes whereby we might be dis∣couered by the way of the riuer of Plate by land to Peru. In this time came the rest: after whos• comming it was debated, whether it were best to take the boat & people with vs or not. Which was not determined; but referred till further examination.

Page  762Then was it determined to passe by the streights, notwithstanding the Spaniards were there, but not to set vp forge, nor to build pinnesse, but water, and so thorow.

The eight day afore noone M. Walker and I went aboord the admirall to dinner, where was determined to discharge the Spanish barke, named Our lady of pity, and all the men, except Ri∣chard Carter the English man, and Iohn Pinto a Portugall, which dwelled at the riuer of Plate. After dinner,* the generall appointed mee and captaine Hawkins to see them all s•t aboord their ship, and to receiue from them certeine necessaries, which willingly they imparted with vs, and to leaue them satisfied. Which done, I returned aboord.

The 9 day, being Sunday, in the morning, I sent M. Shaw and M. Geffries aboord the admi∣rall, to peruse the Spaniards letters; wherein they found the estate of the fleet which was in the streights of Magellan, as by the note thereof appeareth.

About ten of the clocke the generall, M. Maddox, captaine Hawkins, and captaine Parker, came aboord of me. The generall began to reprooue my quarter master for grudging of victuall for the Francis. Which was answered: and he well satisfied. Then sent I for the olde frier and Don Francisco; who all dined with me: and after dinner, the Spaniards hauing receiued the ca∣noa, which was suncke, aland, and stones to ballast them, which my boat caried them, and all other things to their liking and content, they departed from me. The generall also departed, and his company, who being gone, I diuided the sugar and ginger among my people, which the Spani∣ards gaue vs:* and after spent the day in ordinary businesse.

The 10 day in the morning, our skiffe went a fishing, wherof we eat as much to supper as ser∣ued the company: the rest we salted for store, and to proue if they would take salt or not.

The 11 day, betimes in the morning, our skiffe went againe to fish, and tooke great plentie. About seuen of the clocke I went a land,* taking with me the master, and others of our best men, to the number of 22 persons, & trauelled to the place where our people before had found many great iars of earth, and decayed habitations of the Indians, and trees, being dead and withered, of sweet wood. From that place we saw ouer the tops of a narrow wood, a faire plaine, which at the re∣quest of the master and the rest, I went with them to see. We passed thorow a thicke and perillous wood, before we came to the supposed plaine: and when we came to it, we found the lowest part there of higher then any of our heads, and so mossy vnder foot, that we s•ipped to the knees many steps, which so wearied vs, that for my part, I was very sicke, and so hasted aboord, leauing the master with 15 men, which cut a tree of sweet wood, and brought many pieces thereof aboord.

About 3 afternoone, M. Walker and many of our men being ashore, the winde came faire, and we layed out a warpe to the Northeast, and began to winde ahead. After we layed out another warpe with a bend, and wound to the plat, and so rid by it with one anker all night.

*The 12 day about fiue a clocke in the morning, we set saile, and as we ran out betwixt the ledge of rocks and the maine, in eight fadom water, as we were c•tting our anker, the cattrope, stopper, and all brake; so that we were glad to let slip all the cable, and cast off our boat and skiffe to wey the same. After we had stood out a good way, the admirall was vnder saile: then cast we about and went roome with the admirall which weaued vs, who sent in his pinnesse and the Francis to helpe out our boats; so by the helpe of the admirals pinnesse, with her saile, we had our boat the sooner, and about 12 a clocke at noone had taken in the anker, cable, our long boat, skiffe, & all, and put out all our sailes bearing after the admirall, which went hence South by east. About sixe a clocke at night, being thicke weather, we lost sight of the land, being foure leagues off or therea∣bout. All night it was but little winde: yet went we our course South by west.

The 13 day about seuen afore noon, the wind blew at Southsoutheast, & was very foggy; with which gale we stood in larboord tacked West, till ten a clocke the same forenoone. Then had we sight of the land ahead, all along (for it wared cleere weather) if she weth a farre off like white cliffes, but is all sandy hilles, and bayes along the sea side. At one a clocke after noone we were in 16 fadome water, and within halfe a league of the shore, where we saw seuerall fires made by the Indians to giue warning to the other people within the land, as we supposed. Then we cast about, and stood off Southeast by east till midnight, that the winde came large: then went we our course South by west till next morning.

The 14 day we went our course South by west, hauing sight of the land at sixe a clocke in the morning about seuen leagues off: and so went till sixe at night, that wee saw land againe seuen leagues off West, and the winde shifted to the South. Then we cast about, and stood off East∣southeast at seuen at night for a while: then came vp the winde at Northwest, and blew a good.

The 15 day in the morning, the admirall was ahead, as farre as we could almost see her, by whose default I know not; and being little winde, we could not get to her till foure of the clocke Page  763 after noone: then we hayl•d her, and stood in betweene the Southsouthwest and the Southwest till sixe at night, that the winde was variable, and foule weather. Then we cast about, and soun∣ded in 23 fadome soft oaze, and stood off a while Northeast; and presently cast about a game, and went South by East larboord tacked, and Southsoutheast among all night: finding at foure in the morning 15 fadome sand.

The 20 day, about ten a clocke afore noone, we went aboord the admirall; viz. M. Walker, the master, the pilot• the two merchants, and my selfe, being directed so to doe by the Generall. Upon our comming the generall was going to dinner, where wee also dined with him. Hauing dined, the generall called vs his assistants into his cabbin, and there deliuered to vs in writing two demands, to be by vs considered vpon, and he to haue our opinions therein.

The effects of the demands were these.

1 Whether it was best for vs to aduenture our selues to passe the streights of Magellan or not; considering the force of the enemy, which we knew to be there before vs: and also that our determination was there to set vp our pinnesse, make yron hoops, carene our ships, and do all our necessary businesses for the full accomplishment of our voyage.

2 If that course were not thought best, which way were meetest for vs to take.

To the first we were of opinion, that it were good to heare the opinions of captaine Hawkins, captaine Drake, and the two pilots, which had passed the streights, and knew the harbours, and likest places to be fortified, and inhabited or not, who were called, & the three masters with them. Their opinions were as diuers as their names; & as much differed, as before this time they were wont vsually to doe: onely they all agreed in this one point, that it was impossible for vs to passe the streights without seeing, and incountring with the ships, although the fortification of the land did not annoy vs: which being long and thorowly debated, and their opinions with the three ma∣sters demanded, which accorded not scant any one with other, they were dismissed.

Then the generall receiued the opinions of vs his assistants, beginning with the yoongest in authority first: which when he had heard them all ouer, and being set downe in writing vnder our hands, he tooke deliberation till after supper to giue his determination.

When we had all supped, then he sent for vs downe into his cabbin, and deliuered in writing his determination, (which was) to victuall, and furnish our selues on this coast, before he proceed∣ed any further; and named two places, The riuer of Plate, or S. Vincent, to be chosen.

For the better deciphering of the riuer of Plate, & the commodities thereof, was called before vs, Richard Carter,* which doth dwell there; who could not assure vs of any wine, except we could stay foure moneths for it: but other victuals plenty. The riuer is shoale and dangerous, the road seuen leagues from any towne, or place of commodity: which considered, with the trechery that might from thence be vsed, into the streights by sea, and into Peru by land, we all concluded to go to S. Vincent, which place is inhabited with Portugals, and where in honest sort we might con∣ueniently haue all our businesse done.

With this resolution we tooke our leaues about eight a clocke at night,* & being come aboord, presently bare vp, and went roome, hauing all the day before beat vp the winde larboord-tacked Eastsoutheast till at night: after it was a little winde all night, we went North next hand.

The 21 day, after seruice, I declared vnto my company the intent of our returne to the part of S. Vincent, wherewith they were well satisfied, being before doubtfull that we should not pro∣ceed, but returne without performance of our voyage. It continued calme all day till six at night, then we went Northwest by west till eight at night, and then we cast about, and stood off East∣southeast, and East by south all night with a good gale.

The 22 day in the morning we missed the Francis,* which by all presumption went roome in the beginning of the night.

The 25 day, being Christmasse day, it was little winde in the forenoone till ten a clocke; then it blew a •resh gale, with which wee went our course Northnortheast. In the afternoone it was lesse wind: yet went we our course North by east, and Northnortheast, and North, and North by west, till midnight. Then being in shoaled water, wee cast about, and lay Southsoutheast, and Southeast by south, an houre; and seeing our admirall came not after vs, we cast about backe a∣gaine, and presently met him: so we went both together next hand Southsoutheast all the rest of the night. This afternoone we saw the skim of fishes so thicke in the sea,* that it seemed a water troubled with trampling of horses; which was thicke, and slimy: for we had taken vp some of it.

The 17 day of Ianuary, about seuen a clocke, the master, M. Blaccoller, and I went in our skifte, and rowed, and sounded round about an ile, and found 16 fadoms within a stones cast har• aboord the shore, and faire ground: after we landed, and found nothing but woods and bushes, Page  764 and strange wormes: we saw a faulcon and one other small bird, and therefore named it Faulcon ile:* it is a mile about, with a rocke on the East side, which lieth close to it, and it is in sight with∣out danger. After we came aboord, and dined; at two a clocke we set saile with winde South∣east, and ran in Northeast a while, till the winde scanted: then we went in Northnortheast, till we were in seuen fadome and a halfe of water, within a league of shore: then we cast about, and stood off Southsoutheast all night, till sixe a clocke the next morning.

The 18 day about three a clocke, afore day, we saw our admirall againe, and kept her compa∣pany till day.

*The 19 day, being within a league of the Citron ile, about eight a clocke afore noone, we went aboord the general, viz. M. Walker, the master, the pilot, and my selfe, reioycing of our good mee∣ting, who tolde me of their euill road, where they lost an anker, a cable, and a haulser, and how the day before, their pinnesse was ashore on the same iland, and found fowle, and water there, whither now they had sent their boat and pinnesse for more water, where I know they had small store.

I also taking captaine Parker, the master, and M. Wilks with me, went ashore, and trauelled to the top of the ile, which is wooded, and high grasse, but euill water, and little on it, but yoong fowle plenty, and dangerous comming to them. By this time (I hauing set the isles, and head∣lands about in sight with a compasse) came a small gale at Southsoutheast; then our admirall shot off a piece for the boats, and hence I went, and dined aboord with him, and came after aboord, and went in Northnortheast and Northeast till morning: at which time wee were within a league of the isle, entring before S. Vincent,* but knew not how much water was vpon the barre to go out.

The 20 day in the morning, being calme, the generals pinnesse came in to the shore, with intent to sound the entrance, but seeing three canoas,* with ech at the least twenty men, whereof the grea∣ter part were naked Indians, which rowed, the rest Portugals, they returned aboord again. The canoas came with a flag of truce within, calling of our ship, and we shewed them the like, asking what we were, and of what nation: at length one Portugall went aboord the admirall, by whom the generall sent a letter to the gouernour, crauing a pilot to bring in our ship of courtesie, and to haue traffique. About noone, hauing the winde at South, we bare in Northwest, and so to the Northeast, as the chanell trended: but comming into seuen fadome water, we ankered, vntill our boats had sounded the barre. During which time, I went aboord the admirall, to conferre with him about our proceedings.

After I had stayed a while aboord the admirall, the generall came aboord with me, where we published vnto all my company very good rules for their behauiour and profit, to their great-satis∣faction: after he went downe into my cabbin, where with all his assistants he conferred of diuers particulars of our voyage: by which time the boat being returned from sounding, we departed, and set saile, following our skiffes, and with our ships got within the barre into seuen fadome: then being becalmed, we ankered againe before a sandy bay, wherein stands a castle and houses:* we rid within musket shot of it: and ankered about foure a clocke afternoone.

Then went I forwards with my skiffe vnto a further point, sounding along. Before my re∣turne, the generall had sent for me to supper; and thither I went: but being ready to sit downe, there came out to vs a canoa, wherein were ten Indians and two Christians; the one an ancient Genouois,* the other a Portugall; who came aboord, and there receiued a small banket, declaring their comming was to vnderstand our intents, and what we sought: who being satisfied, departed with a farewell of three great pieces from ech ship.

*The 21 day about three a clocke afternoone, came a canoa, with the old Genouois named Io∣seph Dory, a Fleming named Paul Badeues, and Steuen Repose a Portugall, and brought a let∣ter from the gouernor, and withall, answere of feare and doubts of vs, &c. After many speeches and requests, a banket was made them, and the generall in his pinnesse with his musicke, & trum∣pets; and I in my skiffe with trumpets, drum and fife, and tabor and pipe, accompanied them a mile vp the riuer: at going off, we saluted them with a volley of three great pieces out of ech ship: and after vs came captaine Parker with the admirals long boat, and certeine shot in the same, to attend on the generall.

The 22 day betimes in the morning, I went aboord the admirall to conferre about the sending of some token and present to the gouernor, which was by all the assistants determined to send him three yards of fine skarlet, & three yards of fine murry-cloth; and to Ioseph Dory the old Geno∣uois, Steuen Repose the Portugall, and to Paul Badeues the Fleming, ech of them three yards of fine blacke cloth, which our merchants went vp to Santos withall in the admirals skiffe,* about nine a clocke aforenoone.

Also this forenoone, we being minded to goe vp higher with our ships into harbour, I aduised Page  765 them to goe view the place, and sound the road before we went vp; which we did: where were found the place both vnconuenient, and the road woorse: and so we returned, and left the first de∣termination. This day we tooke downe our main-tops, and top-mast, and all the shrowds.

About two a clocke after noone our merchants returned with their presents, not hauing beene at the towne, because Steuen Repose by the way met them on the riuer, and aduised them to stay vntill there had beene word sent to the gouernour, who was vnwilling to speake with them yet, but shortly would send their answere.

The rest of this forenoone we spent in communication about the appointing of a purser for the Edward. Also we signed an assent for comming to this place: about which thing grew foule spee∣ches betweene the generall and his lieutenant, after the olde custome.

Then went wee to supper: and being at supper, certaine Indians came aboord,* and brought the generall a strange crow, and potatos, and sugar canes, to whom he gaue looking glasses, great pinns, and biscuit: and so we departed, being late. Also this afternoone I ran ouer towards S. Vincent,* and sounded the bay a league ouer, and found the chanell and flats, and returned aboord againe within two houres, hauing a good gale of winde.

The 23 day our skiffe went ashore to fish, and tooke prety store; we sent our main-top ashore to be mended, and many of our men to wash their clothes; also I went my selfe with them aland, to take order that no man should any wayes offend the Indians. In the meane time the generall with all the rest of the chiefest gentlemen, came ashore, and viewed the place, and appointed out the fittest roome to set vp our smithes forge, and ouens to bake our biscuit, and place for our coopers to trim our water caske.*

The 24 day at foure of the clocke, before day, we heard one call for a boat on the North shore, to whom I sent my skiffe, who brought aboord one named Iohn Whithall,* an English man, which is maried here in this place, and with him two of his Indians; whom I enterteined vntill I sent word to the generall to prepare himselfe to receiue him: in which time he and I talked of many seuerall particulars.

About sixe a clocke I conueyed him aboord the admirall:* there he discouered vnto vs what had bene done at the towne, as fortification, and sending their wiues away, &c. aduising vs to receiue no more delayes, but to come vp presently before the towne with our ships.

About ten a clocke came a canoa, and brought downe Ioseph Dory and Steuen Repose, who tolde vs that on Saturday the gouernour would meet our generall, and talke with him, praying vs in the meane time to vse our ordinary businesse of cooperage, carpenters worke, filling water, fishing, and washing, &c. but not to set vp forge, nor ouen, vntill speech had with the gouernour. After this answere, we dined together aboord the gallion: after dinner we left the messengers sit∣ting in the cabbin, and went vpon the poope; where the generall demanded the aduice of his assi∣stants, whether it were not best to slay these men while we had them or not, or whether it were best to go vp with our ships to the towne or no.

Whereunto ech man paused to make answere: wherefore I deliuered my opinion; which was, that we were forbidden to vse violence to any nation for trade.

Secondly, I considered that diuers of our nation, worshipfull merchants, and now aduentu∣rers in this voyage, had set out the Minion hither,* and begun a trade, which with our forcible dea∣ling might be spoiled, and our nation brought in hatred.

Lastly, that with force we were not like to atteine so much commodity, as we were in possibi∣lity to haue with courtesie.

Heereupon all was concluded, and they suffered to passe away: to whom the generall gaue the three cloake-clothes, to Ioseph Dory, to Paul Baudeuese, and to Steuen Repose, to ech of them one, which were before cut out for them: and so friendly we and they departed about two a clocke after noone.

About foure of the clocke this afternoone we saw three saile of ships come bearing in about the point,* which assoone as they saw vs, ankered vpon the barre, and put themselues in readinesse, sending from one ship to another with their boats, and blowing off their ordinance, meaning to take vs: and we before night, getting our men and other necessaries from the shore, which were busie on land, armed our ships to defend our selues. Then went I aboord the admirall to know what he meant to do: who determined to set his watch in warlike sort; and so he did: for after the trumpets and drum had sounded, he shot off a great piece, as they before had done; and presently the viceadmirall shot at me, whom I answered with another, and so ceased. We then set vp our main-top, and top-mast, rigged before eleuen of the clocke the same night. In the meane while they let slip their ankers and cables, and came driuing and towing with their boats in vpon vs, Page  766 meaning to haue boorded vs: and being neere our admirall, he halled them; who refused to tell of whence they were, thinking by spending of time to get aboord of him: to whom I called still to beware, and to shoot at them in time. At length he let flie at them, yet was glad to let an anker and cable slip to auoid them:* then came they all driuing downe thwart my haulse, so that I was faine to let slip an anker and cable to shun the gallion. All this while the ordinance and small shot plied of all parts, and I was faine to send the gallion my skiffe with a haulser to ride by, for shee was loose, and with the flood draue vp within me. Then was the viceadmirall on my broad side, who was well payed before, yet I left not galling of him, til I thought our powder spent in vaine to shoot at him, he was so torne, and broken downe by vs. About foure of the clocke it rained so fast, that we could scant discerne one the other, the Moone being gone downe, yet rid the admirall, and the rereadmirall, but a little ahead of vs: during which time, we paused, and made ready all our munition.

*The 25 day, by day-light, we saw the viceadmirall sunke hard by vs, so that his yards which were hoised acrosse, and his tops, and that ouer head, was aboue water: most of their men were gotten away in their boats, sauing about fourtie persons which hung in the shrowds, and toppes, whom I aduised our generall to send for away, and had made ready, and well manned our pinnes∣ses; but being vpon the way going, the generall called them backe, and would not suffer them to goe. There were three of their boats also going for them from their ships; at whom I shot, and made them to retire, and leaue them vpon the shrewds. At length our generall sent for two of the men away: which his pinnesse brought to him; the one was heaued ouer boord, because he was sore hurt, not like to liue; and he was a Marsillian; the other was a Greeke,* borne in Zante, boat∣swaine of the viceadmirall: the rest of the men, some swant away vpon rafts, some were drow∣ned, and some remained still hanging on her. By this time it was faire day-light, and I called to our generall to wey, and driue downe to them, who required mee to goe first and anker on their quarter, and he would follow, and anker on their bowes. I weyed, and went downe, and ankered by them; yet not so nere as I meant, for the ebbe put me off to the Northwards. There rid I alone, spending shot at them, and they both at me, foure houres, before our admirals anker would come vp: during which time, I had some spoile done; but when our admirall came, she had her part, and eased me very well.

At length our admirall began to warpe away, and being come without me, set saile, and began to stand out into the sea: I went aboord of him to know his pleasure. Who determined to get out of shot; but could not, because the winde scanted on them. The Edward before she could get vp her ankers, endured many more shot, after the gallion was further off a good way then she, and sometime the gallion had two or three. Thus we ended about two of the clocke after noone: the rest of this day and part of the night, we spent in mending, fi•ting, and putting our ordinance and furniture in order for the next morning, thinking they would haue bene with vs.

The 26 day in the morning we could not see them, because they were gone vp the riuer: wee manned our boats and pinnesses, and weyed two ankers and one cable, that they let slip the night before: as our men were weying the third anker, the bwoy-rope brake, and so we lost that anker. Our admirall had an anker of twelue hundred, and a good cable of eleuen inches, and we had an anker about sixe hundred, with a piece of a basse cable, and bwoy-rope nothing worth.

After dinner I went aboord the admirall, to confer with him, who determined to go off to sea, and thither I caried Sennor Pinto to interpret the Indian language, with an Indian named Pe∣ter, which fled from the bay where we rid in a canoa, and brought with him a Spaniards caliuer, flaske, and touchbore, to goe with vs, whom our admirals boat met, and brought him aboord to the admirall. Hee tolde vs that the Spaniards had brought many dead men on land, and buried them, and also landed many hurt men in their bay, and that there were certeine Spaniards gone ouer thorow the woods to looke after vs. Then the Generall, captaine Hawkins, and master Maddox came aboord of mee to viewe my hurt men, and harmes of my shippe, both men, shippe, and tackle; and I also went aboord him to peruse his hurts, who had but one man, a sai∣ler, slaine.

The 28 day in the morning died Lancelot Ashe, of a hurt; who departed very godly. This day we stood to the Northwards: and in getting in our ankers and skiffe, we were put 3 leagues to leeward of Fiddle ile, but the gallion rid still.

*The 29 day in the morning, seeing my selfe put to sea from the admirall, I assembled ma∣ster Walker, master Shawe, master Ieffries, the master, the masters mate, and the pilot, to whom I shewed that I was desirous to goe backe to seeke our admirall, whereunto the ma∣ster, pilot, and masters mate answered directly, that wee could not fetch the ile where wee left Page  767 them, and to meete them in going backe it was very vnlikely and to vs dangerous many wayes, aswell for falling into the laps of the Spaniards, as to be put on a lee shoare: whereupon all the rest aduised me to stand off into the sea, whereunto I assented, remembring withal, that time spent consumed victuall, and howe long wee had beaten vp and downe in the same bay before, to get in with calmes and contrary windes.

Thus wee concluded that M. Walker should set downe each mans opinion, and wee set to ou• handes, and from hencefoorth hee to keepe a Register of all our proceeding, as M. Maddox did a∣bord the Admirall.

The first day of February, wee went East by south, and East southeast with a stoute gale: and went the same course the 3.4. and 5. dayes following.

The 5. day about 10. a clocke in the forenoone M. Walker died,* who had bene weake and sicke of the bloodie flixe 6. dayes, wee tooke a view of his things, and prised them, and heaued him ouer bord, and shot a peece for his knell.

The 14. day I called into my cabbin the two marchants, the Master and the Pilot, shewing them our wants of victuals and other necessaries: whereupon they and I concluded, that it was best for vs to returne to our countrey, with as litle losse of time and expense of victuals as might be, being without hope of reliefe vpon this coast, and yet to keepe the coast of Brasil to friend for feare of extremitie.

The 17. day in the morning hauing much raiue, wee saued aboue two tunne of water, of which we were very glad.

The 18. day I obserued the variation of the compasse, which varied one point, and a halfe to the Southwards, by our ordinary compasse of London.*

The second day of March the Master, Pilot, & I agreed to fetch the yle of Fernando Loronha.

From the 3. day to the 10. day we went West, and by South, and ran in for the shoare.

The 10. day we saw the land, which was sandie hilles with woods on it.

The 11. day seeking to goe a shoare, wee sawe foure men, which weaued to vs with a white shirt, and we weaued to them with a flagge of truce: At length one of them swamme to our boat• side, and there lay in the Sea talking with vs, almost an houre: in the ende, being partly perswa∣ded by Pinto, who talked with them in the Indian-tongue, and partly entised with such trifles as I shewed him, hee came into our Skiffe, and called to his companions on shoare, who came abord swimming: wee deliuered them certaine barricos to fetch vs them full of fresh water: after, there came downe 40. Indians, boyes, women, and men, and with them a French boy, but the former Indians deceiued vs of our barricos. Whereupon Pinto and Russell swamme a shoare to seeke water, but found none.

The same day wee sailed to a place where boats might land, & I went a land in my Skiffe, and found the Indians, and Frenchmen which were with mee the day before, and they brought our three barricos full of fresh water: for wh••• I rewarded them with some trifles. In the meane time our boat went ashoare, and one men with some of the Indians brought vs twentie barricos more of fresh water, and I my selfe went to shoare and brought 23. hennes of India.

The 12. day betimes in the morning, wee manned our boat and Skiffe, and •ooke some trifling things to shoare, and barricos: at our first arriuall the rude Indians stocked together, wading to the Skiffe wherein I was, begging, and wondering about vs: First I caused them to fetch 27. barricos of water, whom I rewarded with small bells, &c. In the meane time they brought hens to me, wading to the Skiffe, for I kept my selfe alwayes afleat, and for their hens I gaue them a knife, and a smal looking glasse. All this while M. Blackcoller our Pilot, Thomas Russel, M•rk• Thawg••s were still on shoare, and would not tarry abord: In the ende, fearing some treacherie, because all the Indians were slipped on shoare from mee, I called our men away, and suddenly they layed handes on our men ashoare,* and with their bowes shot thicke at vs in the boats, and wa∣ded into the water to vs, laying hands on our Skiffe, yet God of his mercie deliuered vs from their hands, with the losse of fiue men slaine, and others hurt.

Thus we got abord with 40. hens, ducks, turkies, and parrats, and three hogsheads of water: and I caried a Frenchman abord with mee,* named Iaques Humfrey, who was by chance in the boat with me when this fray began.

The 17. day we tooke three sharks in the morning.

From that day to the first of April, wee went our course, sometime with raine, and sometime with variable windes, & so til the 4. of April: which day we saw 4. birds with long tailes, which ho∣uered about the ship, and in the afternoone we saw and tooke vp many weedes which draue thick• in the sea, which we iudged to be driuen with the East windes from the yles of Cape verde.

Page  768From this day till the 11. day we went our course sometime Northeast, sometime Northwest according to the winds: vpon this 11. day George Coxe one of our Carpenters, hauing the night before broken vp the hold, and stol•e wine, and drunken himselfe drunke, being taken in the roome, lept ouerbord out of the beake head, and so drowned himselfe.*

The 12. day wee spied our foremast to be perished in the hownes, and durst not beare our fore∣top saile vpon it, but went hence with our sailes, next hand, North all day and night.

From hence to the 20. day we went Northeast and by North. This day I obserued the varia∣tion of the compasse:* and I noted that the South point of the compasse caried more then halfe a point to the Westwards.

The 25. day of May wee went betweene the East northeast, and the Northeast with a small gale till fiue a clocke in the afternoone: then had we sight of land, which rose ragged to the North∣wards like broken land, we bring about fiue leagues off: that yle bare Northeast by North of vs, and the Northermost part bare North by East of vs, with a rocke a sea bord: we then sounded, and had fiftie and fiue fadome grey sand, and maze great store in it: so wee stood in Northeast till eight a clocke, and then be helde it againe being within foure leagues of it, bearing as before, but wee coulde not make it, for some thought it to bee the foreland of Fontenay, some iudged it the yle of Vssan•• then we sounded againe in 55. fadome browne sand, and little maze in it: at eight a clocke at night we went about, and stoode off South southwest one watch, then the wind shrinked to the Southwest, that we could lye but South southwest sixe glasses, so that at three a clocke wee cast about, and lay Northwest sixe glasses, and North northwest a watch being then eight a clocke the next day.

The 26. day wee lay as nigh as wee coulde betweene the North and the North northeast, and saw the same land againe, and made it to bee the foreland of Fontenay, and the ragges to bee the Seames, which bare now East Northeast of vs: and wee stoode on till tenne a clocke, then being within two leagues of the rockes and lesse, wee cast about and stoode off Southwest, because wee could not double the vttermost rockes: when we were about we draue to the Southwards very faste, for the ebbe set vs West southwest, and being spring tides, it horsed vs a pace to lee∣wards, for the space of one houre: then with the flood which was come, we draue againe to winde∣wards: at twelue at noone it was calme till 6. afternoone, then wee stoode about larbord tacked, South southwest one watch, then at midnight wee cast about and stoode ouer North till foure aforenoone.

*The 27. day hauing brought the land East southeast of vs, we made it to be Sylly being before deceiued, and went hence East by North to double Grimsbie, leauing The bishop and his clearks to the Southwestwards, which we before tooke to be The Seames.

At 7. a clocke in the afternoone we sawe the lands end of England, which bare East by North off vs, and is 7. leagues off from Sylly.

The 29. day at sixe a clocke beforenoone we had brought the Ramhead North of vs, and were within a league of it,* and went in Northeast next band, being thicke and foggie, and little winde: so that at eleuen a clocke we got in within the yland, and there by mistaking of a sounding, our ship came aground betweene the yle and the maine, and there sate till 4. a clocke in the afternoone that it was halfe flood.

The 30. day about 9. a clocke, with much adoe I furnished away P. Ieffries, M. Symberbe, and William Towreson with letters, after dined at M. Blaccollers, and made many salutations with diuers gentlemen.

*The 31. I wrought abord all day, and put our ship, and things in order: Afternoone I hauing pitie of some poore men of Milbrooke, which were robbed the night before by a pirate named Purser, which rid in Cawson bay, I consented to goe out with the Edward in company of a small shippe which they had furnished to bee their Master, so about fiue of the clocke in the afternoone, came a hundreth men of theirs abord of mee: About twelue a clocke wee set saile, and by three a∣fore day wee were gotten to the windwards of him, then bee set saile, and went hence to the East∣wards, and outsailed vs, because our consort would not come neere him: after a small chase which we gaue him to no effect, wee returned into our old road, and there moared the ship about nine of the clocke in the forenoone, and hence went all the Milbrooke men agai•e ashore from mee. And thus I ended a trouble some voyage.

Page  769

The voyage set out by the right honourable the Earle of Cumber∣land, in the yere 1586. intended for The South sea, but performed no farther then the latitude of 44 degrees to the South of the Equinoctial, Written by M. Iohn Sar∣racoll marchant in the same voyage.

THe 26. day of Iune, in the yeere 1586. and in the 28. yeere of the Queenes ma∣iesties raigne, wee departed from Grauesend in two ships; the Admirall called The red dragon, and the other The barke Clifford, the one of the burden of 260. tunnes, with 130. men, and the other of the burden of 130. tunnes, with 70. men: the Captaine of the Admirall was M. Robert Withrington, Of the vice-admirall M. Christopher Lister, both being furnished out at the costs and charges of the right honorable the Erle of Cumberland, hauing for their masters two brethren, the one Iohn Anthonie, and the other William Anthonie.

The 24. of Iuly wee came into the sound of Plimmouth, and being there constrained by We∣sterly winds, to stay till the 17. of August, wee then departed with another ship also for our Rear∣admirall called the Roe, whereof M. Hawes was Captaine, and a fine pinnesse also called the Do∣rothie, which was sir Walter Raleghs. We foure being out in the sea, met the 20. of August, with 16. sailes of hulkes in the Sleeue, who named themselues to bee men of Hamborough, laden and come from Lisbone. Our Admirall hailed their Admirall with courteous wordes, willing him to strike his sailes, and to come abord to him onely to know some newes of the countrey, but hee refu∣sed to do so, onely stroke his flag & tooke it in. The vice-admir•l of the hulkes being a head, would neither strike flagge nor saile, but passed on without budging, whereupon our Admirall len• him a piece of Ordinance, which they repayed double, so that we grew to some little quarel, whereupon one of the sternemost hulkes, being as I suppose more afraide then hurt, stroke amaine, our Admi∣rall being neere him, laid him abord, and entred with certaine of his men, how many I know not, for that we were giuing chase to the Windermost men, thinking our Admirall would haue come vp againe to vs, to haue made them all to haue stroke: but the weather growing to be very thicke and foggie, with small raine, he came not vp but kept with another of the hulkes which Captaine Hawes had borded and kept all night, and tooke out of her some prouision that that they best liked. They learned of the men that were in the hulke, that there were 7. hulkes laden in Lisbone with Spaniards goods, and because their lading was very rich, they were determined to go about Ire∣land, and so they let her goe againe like a goose with a broken wing.

The next day after being the 21. day, wee espied 5. sailes more, which lay along to the East∣wards, but by reason of the night which then was neere a• hand, wee could hardly come to them. Yet at last we hailed one of the biggest of them, & they tolde vs that they were al of Hamborough: but another saide shee was of Denmarke, so that indeede they knew neither what to say, nor what to do. Our Admirall being more desirous to folow his course, then to linger by chasing the hulks, called vs from pursuing them with his trumpet, and a piece of Ordinance, or els wee would haue seene what they had bene, and wherewith they had bene laden.

The 22. day because of contrary winde wee put into Dartmouth all 4. of vs, and caried there seuen dayes.

The 29. we departed thence and put out to Sea, and began our voyage, thinking at the first to haue runne along the coast of Spaine, to see if wee could haue mette with s•me good prize to haue sent home to my Lord: but our Captaine thought it not the best course at the last, but rather kept off in the sea from the coast. And vpon Saturday the 17. of September wee fell with the coast of Barbarie, and the 18. halled in with the roade of Santa Cruz. The 21. day wee ••ll with one of the ylands of the Canaries, called Forteuentura. In running alongst this yland, we espied vpon a hill by the water side, one wauing with a white flagge, whereupon wee manned both our boates, and sent them towards the shoare, to vnderstand what newes. They found them to bee two ragged knaues and one horseman, and they tolde vs that Lanzarota was taken,* and spoyled in August by the Turkes: when we saw they had nothing else to say, we left them, and proceeded on our course, and fell againe with the coast of Barbarie.

The 25. day of September about 10. of the clocke we fell with Rio del Oro,* standing iust vn∣der our Tropike: we anckered in the mouth of it in 8. •adom, the entrance of it is about 2. leagues ouer. And the next day our Captaine with the boate searched the riuer, and found it to be as broad 14. or 15. leagues vp, as at the entrie of it, but found no towne nor habitation, sauing that there came downe two poore men, and one of them spake good Spanish, and told our Captaine, that cer∣taine Frenchmen vsed to come thither,* and laded some oxe hides, and goats hides, but other com∣moditie Page  770 there was none. We departed thence the 27 day, &• the last day of the moneth being calme we went abord our General, & there consented to goe for Sierra Leona, to wood and water. From thence till the 10. of October wee were much becalmed with extreeme hot weather, much light∣ning, and great store of raine. This 10. day we sounded, finding a great current as we supposed by the ripling water, which after wee found to bee an ordinary tide, the flood setting to the North∣west, and the ebb Southeast, and here we had but 18. fathome water, and no lande to bee seene: it was on the Southermost part of the showles that lie in about 11. degrees, but halling South off againe, it presently deeped vnto 50. fathome, and after halling Southeast and by East, and East southeast, we sounded, but had no ground in 120. fathome.

The 21. of October wee fell with land vpon the coast of Guinea, in the height of 8. degrees, a very high land, but of no great length: it was the high land ouer Sierra Leona.* Wee drewe in to the land, and found neere the shoare more water then in the offing: at the Northren end of the high land we anckered about a mile, and somewhat more from the shoare in 11. fathome. To goe into the harbor of Sierra Leona we did borrow vpon the South side, hauing no ground in 10. fathome, halfe a mile from the shoare.

Upon the Northside of this harbour is very shoale water, but on the Southside no feare, more then is to be seene.

The 23. day being Sunday wee came to an ancker in the bay of fresh water, and going ashoare with our boate, wee spake with a Portugal, who tolde vs that not farre off there were Negros inhabiting, and that in giuing to the king a Botija of wine, and some linnen cloth, hee would suf∣fer vs to water and wood at our pleasure. But our Captaines thinking it not good to giue any thing for that which they might take freely, landed, and certaine of our men with them, whereupon the Portugall and the Negros ranne all away into the woods. Then wee returned againe into our boates, and presently went and landed in another place, thinking to haue fetcht a walke, and so to come to our boats againe. But wandering through a little wood, we were suddenly and vn∣awares vpon a towne of the Negros,* whereupon they strooke vp their drumme, giuing withall a great showe, and off went their arrowes as thicke as haile. Wee were in number about 30. ca∣leeuers, and 20. with our weapons, which wee also let flie into the woods among them, and what hurt we did, we know not.

Then wee returned to our boates, and tooke wood and water at our pleasure, and reasonable store of fish, and amongst the rest we halled vp a great foule monster,* whose head and backe were so hard, that no sword could enter it: but being thrust in vnder the belly in diuers places, and much wounded, hee bowed a sword in his mouth, as a man would do a girdle of leather about his hande, and likewise the yron of a boare speare. He was in length about nine foote, and had nothing in his belly, but a certaine quantitie of small stones, to the value of a pottell.

The fourth of Nouember wee went on shore to a towne of the Negros, which stoode on the Southeast side of the harbour,* about a Sacar shot from the roade, which we found to be but late∣ly built: it was of about two hundreth houses, and walled about with mightie great trees, and stakes so thicke, that a rat could hardly get in or out. But as it chanced, wee came directly vpon a port which was not shut vp, where we entred with such fiercenesse, that the people fled all out of the towne, which we found to bee finely built after their fashion, and the streetes of it so intricate, that it was difficult for vs to finde the way out, that we came in at. Wee found their houses and streets so finely and cleanly kept, that it was an admiration to vs all, for that neither in the houses nor streets was so much dust to bee found, as would fill an egge shell. Wee found little in their houses, except some matts, goards, and some earthen pots. Our men at their departure set the towne on fire•* and it was burnt (for the most part of it) in a quarter of an houre, the houses being couered with reed and straw.

After this wee searched the countrey about it, where wee found in diuers plaines good store of rice in stacks,* which our men did beate out, and brought abord in the huske, to the quantitie of 14. or 15. tunnes in both our ships.

The 17. day of Nouember wee departed from Sierra Leona, directing our course for the Straights of Magellan. In this harbour diuers of our men fell sicke of a disease in the belly, which for the time was extreeme, but (God bee thanked) it was but of small continuance. Wee founde also in diuers places of the woods,* images set vpon pinnes, with diuers things before them, as eggs, meale, rice, round shot of stones, and diuers other things, such as the barbarous peo∣ple had to offer vp.

When we came neere to the Line, wee found it nothing so hot as it is at Sierra Leona, by rea∣son of the great winde and raine.

Page  771About the 24. day of Nouember one or two of our men died, and others also were sicke of a Calentura.

The second day of Ianuary we had a little sight of land, being about the height of 28. degrees to the Southward of the Line.

The 4. day wee fell with the shoare high and bold, being in 30. degrees,* and a terse, little more or lesse. All of it to the Northward was a high land, but to the Southward it did presently faile, and was a very low land, and all sandie. About sixe leagues from the shoare wee sounded, and had about fifteene or sixteene fathome water, and blacke sandie oze. We thought to haue gone to the shoare, and to haue watered, but we could not discerne any good harbour, and therefore we cast off to seaward againe.

The 12. day wee found our selues in 32. degrees and 27. minutes. From the day of the Nati∣uitie of Christ, till the 13. day of this moneth, although the Sunne was very neere vnto vs, yet we found no want of winds but variable as in England, & not so hot but that a mans shoulders might well disgest a frize gowne, and his bellie the best Christmas cheere in England, yet wee for our parts had no want, but such as might content honest men.

The tenth day being about 8. leagues from the shoare, and a little short of the Riuer of Plate, it was my good happe to espie a saile, which was a small Portugal bound for the Riuer to a towne called Santa Fee:* and from thence by horse and carts, the marchants, and part of their goods were to bee transported into Peru. This shippe being about the burthen of 45. or 50. tunnes, wee tooke that day about three of the clocke, wherein there was for Master of Pilote and Englishman called Abraham Cocke borne in Lee. We examined him and the rest concerning the state of the Riuer, and they told vs that there were in the Riuer fiue townes, some of 70. housholds, and some of more. The first towne was about 50. leagues vp the Riuer called Buenos Ayres, the rest some 40. some 50. leagues one from another, so that the vppermost towne called Tucaman is 230. leagues from the entrance of the Riuer.* In these townes is great store of corne, cattell, wine, and sundry fruits, but no money of gold or siluer: they make a certaine kinde of slight cloth, which they giue in trucke of sugar, rice, Marmalade, and Sucket, which were the commodities that this shippe had.

They had abord also 45. Negros, whereof euery one in Peru yeeldeth 400. duckets a piece, and besides these, there were as passengers in her, two Portugal women and a childe.

The 11. day wee espied another saile, which was the consort of this Portugall,* and to him also we gaue chase, and tooke him the same day: Hee was of the burthen of the other, and had in him good store of sugar, Marmalade, and Suc•ats, with diuers other things, which we noted downe our booke. In this ship also we found about 35. Negro women, and foure or fiue friers, of which one was an Irish man,* of the age of three or foure and twentie yeeres, and two Portugal women also, which were borne in the riuer of Ienero. Both these ships were bought in Brasil, by a yong man which was Factor for the bishop of Tucaman,* and the friers were sent for by that bishop to possesse a new Monasterie, which the bishop was then a building. The bookes, beads, and pictures in her, cost (as one of the Portugals confessed) aboue 1000. duckats.

Of these ships we learned, that M. Iohn Drake,* who went in consort with M. Fenton, had his Barke cast away a little short of the Riuer of Plate, where they were taken captiues by the Sa∣uages, all sauing them which were slaine in the taking: the Sauages kept them for a time, and vsed them very hardly, yet at the last Iohn Drake and Richard Faireweather,* and two or three more of their company with them got a Canoa, and escaped, and came to the first towne of the Spa∣niards. Faireweather is maried in one of the townes, but Iohn Drake was carried to Tucaman by the Pilot of this ship, and was liuing, and in good health the last yeere. Concerning this voy∣age of the Portugals they tolde vs that it was the thirde voyage that was made into the Riuer of Plate these 30. yeeres.

The 12. of Ianuary wee came to Seale yland, and the 14. day to the Greene yland,* where go∣ing in we found hard abord the maine 8. fathome, 7. and 6. and neuer lesse then fiue fathome. There lies a ledge of rocks in the faire way, betwixt the yland and the maine, so that you must bee sure to borrow hard abord the maine, and leaue the ledge on the larbord side.

One of the Portugals which wee caried along with vs in our shippe seemed to bee a man of ex∣perience, and I entred into speach with him concerning the state of the Riuer: hee tolde mee that the towne of Buenos Ayres is from the Greene yland about seuentie leagues,* standing on the Southside of the Riuer, and from thence to Santa Fee is 100. leagues,* standing on the same side also. At which towne their shippes doe discharge all their goods into small Barkes, which rowe and towe vp the Riuer to another towne called Ascension, which is from Santa Fee 150, Page  772 leagues, where the boats discharge on shoare, and so passe all the goods by carts and horses to Tu∣caman, which is in Peru.

The towne of Ascension stands in a very fertile place, reaping corne twise in the yeere, with abundance of wine, cattell, and fruits. In the townes of Ascension and Tucaman a rapier of 20. rials of plate is worth 30. duckats, a boxe of Marmalade 20. duckats; a looking glasse a foote o∣uer is worth 30. li. pictures in tables of 14. inches, 30. and 40. li. a piece.

The 16. day wee went from Greene yland to the watering place, which is about a league to the Westward, where wee tooke in about 18. tunnes of water, and the 22. day came againe to Seale yland to make prouision of Seales, where a storme arose, which put vs in some danger, by the breaking of our anckers and cables, and the winde blew so colde, that wee much marueiled at it, considering the height of the place. I must needes in this place finde fault with our selues and the whole company, that riding in this Riuer 16. dayes, the chanell was not sounded, nor the way made perfect.

The 29. day wee tooke into our ship one Miles Philips, which was left in the West Indies by M. Hawkins.

The first of February I tooke the Sunne in 38. degrees. And the 3. day of I tooke it againe and found it to be in 41. degrees.

The 7. day of February our Captaine master Lister being in one of the prizes, hoysed ouer bord his Gundelo, and went abord the Admirall, and being there they sent their Gundelo abord vs, for our Master, master Collins, and my selfe, & at our comming we were called into the Cap∣taines cabbin, where were set in counsell for matters touching the state of our voyage, these men whose names are vnder written.

• Master Robert Withrington Captaine of the Admirall.
• Master Christopher Lister Captaine of The barke Clifford.
• Iohn Anthonie, Master of the Admirall.
• Thomas Hood Pilot for the Streights.
• William Anthonie, Master of the barke Clifford.
• Dauid Collins.
• Tristram Gennings.
• Master William Withrington.
• Master Beumond Withrington.
• Master Wasnes.
• Master Wilkes.
• Master Norton.
• Master Harris.
• Thomas Anthonie.
• Nicholas Porter.
• The master Gunner:
• And Alexander Gundie, his mate.
• Iohn Sarracol.

*This company being all assembled together, the Master of the Admiral declared that the cause of our assembly was to determine after good aduice, what course or way were best and most like∣ly to all mens iudgements to be taken. First for the good preferment of my Lords voyage, then the health of our men, and lastly the safegard of our shippes, and further shewed his minde to vs all in these wordes, as neere as I could cary them away.

MY masters, my Lords determination touching this our voyage is not vnknowen vnto you all, hauing appointed it to be made, and by the grace of God to be performed by vs for the South sea. But for as much as wee doe all see the time of the yeere to bee farre spent, as also the windes to hang contrary, the weather drawes on colder and colder, the nights longer and longer, our bread so consumed that we haue not left aboue two moneths bisket, our drinke in a maner all spent, so that we haue nothing but water, which in so cold a countrey as the Streights, if we should get in, and bee forced there to winter, would no doubt be a great weakening to our men, and a ha∣zard of the ouerthrow of the voyage: These things considered, both our Captaine, Master Hood, and I, doe rather thinke it good for the wealth of our voyage, the health of our men, and safetie of our ships, to goe roome with the coast of Brasill, where by Gods grace wee shall well victuall our selues, both with wine which is our greatest want, and other necessaries.

Besides, it is giuen vs here to vnderstand by the Portugals which we haue taken, that there is no doubt, but that by Gods helpe and our endeuour, wee shall bee able to take the towne of Baya, at our pleasure, which if wee doe put in practise, and doe not performe it, being somewhat ad∣uised by them, they offer to loose their liues. And hauing by this meanes victualled our selues, Page  773 wee may there spend vpon the coast some three or foure moneths, except in the meane time wee may happen vpon some good thing to content my Lord, and to purchase our owne credits: o∣therwise, wee may take the Spring of the yeere, and so proceede, according to my lords directi∣ons. And assure your selues (by the assistance of God) wee will not returne without such bene∣fite by this voyage, as may redound to my lords profite, and the honour of our countrey. Nowe if there bee any of you that can giue better course and aduise, then this which I haue deliuered, let him speake, and wee will not onely heare him, but thanke him for his counsell, and fol∣lowe it.

To this speech of M. Anthony, M. Lister our captaine answered in this sort:* M. Withring∣ton, & M. Anthony both, you know, that the last words that my lord had with vs in such a cham∣ber were, that in any case we should follow our voyage only for the South sea, except by the way, we might perchance meete with such a purchase, as that wee might returne with 6000 pounds: and therefore I see no safetie, howe wee may dare offer to goe backe againe, being so neere the Streights as we are: for my part I neither dare nor wil consent vnto it, except we be further for∣ced, then yet wee are. M• accompt is this, that he that dieth for this yeere is excused for the next, and I rather choose death, then to returne in disgrace with my lord.

Hereunto both the captaine and master of the Admirall replied that they were all of that mind: yet notwithstanding, that in going roome the voyage was in better possibilitie to bee performed, then in wintring either in the Streights, or at Port S. Iulian, all things considered. And so agree∣ing, and concluding all in one, they were determined presently to beare vp.

The next day being the 8 of February, there fell out many and diuers speeches on each part concerning the altering of our course, some would continue for the Streights, and other some would not. Whereupon a viewe was taken in both ships of victuals, and reasonable store was found for both companies: and the winde withall comming to the North, we determined to take out of the prizes the best necessaries that were in them, and so cast them off, and to plie for the Streights.

All this time wee held on our course, and the 15 day wee found our selues in the height of 44 degrees,* but then the winde came to the South, with much raine, wind, cold, and other vntempe∣rate weather, continuing in that sort fiue or sixe dayes, in which time we hulled backe againe into the height of 42 degrees.

Sunday being the 20 of February, our Admirall being something to the leeward of vs, and the storme somewhat ceased, put aboord his flag in the mizen shrowds, as a token that hee would speake with vs, and thereupon wee bare roome with him, and hauing halled one another, captaine Withrington shewed the disposition of all his company, which was rather to goe roome with the coast of Brasil, then to lie after that sort in the sea with foule weather, and contrary winds. Our captaine on the other side shewed the contrary disposition of his men, and company, willing notwithstanding to proceede: but in the ende, both the shippes fell asunder, and our captaine sayd, Seeing then there is no remedie, I must be content, though against my will.

The 21 day the weather grew faire, and the wind good at the South for the Streights, yet our Admirall bare roome still, we supposing hee would haue taken the benefit of the time: where∣upon our whole company began to thinke of the inconueniences that would arise by deuiding our selues, and losing our Admirall, being very willing to continue their course, and yet not with∣out the company of the Admiral. And then wee began to cast about after him, and at the last bare with him, and he tolde vs, that vpon a second viewe of the victuals, hee found their store so slender, and their want so great, that there was no remedy for them but to seeke some meanes to be relieued, which was the onely cause that hee bare Northward. This speech made vs of the barke to enter into a new consultation: and we found many of our men weake, and all our calie∣uers not seruiceable, and the Smiths that should mend them to be in the Admiral. We conside∣red also, that by breaking of company, eche ship should be the more weakened: wee continued in this consultation til the foure and twentieth day, and in all that time found master captaine Lister most desirous to accomplish, and to fulfill the voyage, and not willing in any case to turne his ship, but that the desire which we all had to continue in consort with our Admirall,* made vs to thinke well of his company, and in fine, an agreement and conclusion was thus made on all sides, to follow the Admiral, without anymore talke of the Streights till the Spring.

The 10 day of March,* it fell out so vnfortunately, that Samuel Teller our Masters mate, fell ouerboord, and so perished, we being not able by any meanes to recouer him.

The eight and twentieth day being in the height of one and twenty degrees, wee espied a saile, which wee iudged came out of the Streights, and had rich lading, but the night being at Page  774 hand, we lost her very vnluckily, and the next day could haue no sight of her.

The fift day of April we fel with the land of Brasilia, in the height, as I iudge, of sixteen degrees and a tierce, and our Captaine went then aboord the Admirall, where they concluded to sende the pinnesse and our boate on shore for fresh water, because wee stoode in neede of it, which did so with eighteene good men, and three or foure tunne of water caske. They were from vs till the eighth day in the morning, at which time we espied them againe, and that day we came all to∣gether into the roade of Camana,* where there came a Canoa aboord vs, and one of the chiefest Portugals that belonged to the place. Here wee tooke in beefes, hogs, water and wood at our pleasure, hauing almost no man able to resist vs, but some of our Portugals stole from vs in the Canoa.

*The 11 day wee entred into the hauen of Baya, where wee were receiued at the point com∣ming in, with two great pieces of Ordinance, which discharged bullets at vs fiue times a piece, but they lost shot and powder, and did vs no harme. After wee had passed the point, wee halled in for the roade as close as the wind would permit vs, but could not come so neere as we desired, and therefore we came to an ankor a faire birth off the towne, not without great store of shotte from the•ce, but yet our harme was none at all for ought they could doe.

At our comming in, wee found in the road eight ships and one carauel, of the which one was a hulke or double flieboat of the burden of two hundred and fifty tunnes, hauing in her 24 pieces of good Ordinance: shee with the rest of the ships, together with the towne, gaue vs shot, and shot, but not one touched so much as any of our sayles. And least wee should seeme in the meane time to be idle, we repayed for euery shot of theirs, •wo or three sometimes at the ships and the town• together.

The next day at night wee thought to haue halled in with the ships, and to haue fetched out some of them: but the wind blew then off the shore, so that wee could not possiblie doe it. And a∣gaine the next day at night we concluded to goe with our owne two boates, and two other boats of the countrey which we had taken before, which went with carauel-sailes, into the roade, and ac∣cordingly performed the same, notwithstanding the shot of the enemie. The Moone did shine, and gaue very good light, and in we went with our carauels and boates, and the shot came about our eares as thicke as haile: but the Portugals and the rest perceiuing vs no whit at all to shrinke or be dismayed, forsooke their ships, & began to prouide to saue themselues, some with their boats, some by swimming, and so wee entred the ships with a great showre, and found few to resist vs: but yet the shore not being a cables length from vs, they did so plie both their great and small or∣dinance at vs, that it much annoyed vs:* But yet for all that we made light of their shot, and our men of the barke Clifford entred the Admirall and Uiceadmirall, and ou• Admirals men entre• two other ships of the like burden, and presently euery one cut the cables in the hause and so by the helpe of God in despite of them all, wee brought away •oure of them. The least whereof was of the burthen of 130 tunnes.

In this broile the hulke shotte at vs many times, but did no hurt at all: but at the last com∣ming by the hulke towing our n•w prizes, we halled them and demanded whence they were, they answered vs of Flushing,* and then we commanded him to wey ankor, and to come after vs: And not daring to refuse it, he did so, and brought with him a carauel with fortie or fifty buts of wine in her, and another small barke which had little or nothing in her: and rode by vs as one of our company, and was a ship of the burden of two hundreth and fifty tunne•. Our hard happe was to find no great matter, either of marchandize or victuals in these ships, sauing in one of them we found foure buts of wine, in another two, in another one, and some fish, and all the rest of their la∣ding was on shore.

All this was done vpon Easter eeue, and we gaue thanks to God, that we had sped so well: and that very night there came a boate from the towne, with a Dutch merchant, and one Portu∣gal, to offer some ransome for the ships, as they sayd, but as I iudge rather to espie our strength: we kept them that night aboord, and the next day we sent them to our Admiral.

The next day being Easter day arose a very great storme, insomuch that our carauel which we first tooke brake from vs, and one of our new prizes also, by meanes of the breaking of her cable, slipt away: whereupon, although the winde was great, and the sea troublesome, yet wee sent cer∣taine of our men in our boat, to recouer them if they might, but we feare, that the rage of the wea∣ther hath caused vs to leese both our men and prizes.

In the middest of this storme, our two Spaniards which wee tooke in the riuer of Plate, see∣ing vs all busie about our prizes, beganne to thinke howe they might escape our handes, and sud∣denly slipt both out of one of the cabbins windowes, and by swimming got a shoare, a thing Page  775 which seemed to vs impossible, considering the outrage of the weather.

This storme continued long, and preuented vs of making our intended attempt against the towne, hauing as much to doe as possibly we might, in keeping our ships and prizes from running ashore, and falling into the hands of those that stood gaping greedily for our ruine.

The 19 day the storme being a little ceased, wee all weyed and came to an Island that lyeth next Northwest from the bay, and the twentieth day we went on shore, and our carpenters set vp our pinnesse.

The 23 day the people of the countrey came downe amaine vpon vs, and beset vs round, and shot at vs with their bowes and arrowes, but in short time wee caused them to retire, and many of them were caried away by the helpe of their fellowes, although wee had some of our men hurt with some of their arrowes.

The 24 day we receiued out of the carauel twelue buts of wine, and foure barels of oyle, and halfe a qu•rter.

The 26 of April our pinnesse was lanched: and the same day came downe vnto vs a great num∣ber of Portugals and Indians, with whom we skirmished the space of two houres to their cost.

The second day of May the Admirals boate went a shore with 14 men to fill water, and pre∣sently being on shore, they were intrapped with two or three hundred Indians which assaulted thē, and slew one or two of our men, but the rest escaped not∣withstanding the number of the enemie, and came safe againe with water to the ship. We suffered this losse by meere negligence,* & want of circumspection.

The 5 day the captaine of the Admiral himselfe tooke a small barke, his owne little carauel, our pinnesse and the Dutchmans boate, and at night went on shore to get victuals, amongst the bullocks which were in the fields: and in the morning they were gone so farre, that they were out of sight. Which being perceiued by the enemie, they presently made ready their galley for Admi∣ral,* with foure carauels, with as many men in them as possibly could thrust in & stand one by ano∣ther: and they bare ouer with the North shore to meete with our pinnesse and boats: whereupon our men fell into great danger, although M. Lister our captaine disswaded M. Withrington from that attempt, by laying before him the danger both of himselfe and vs also, being so far one from the other. But being once gone, there was no remedie but they were to abide whatsoeuer might happen: we in the barke Clifford, although wee were weakely left, yet perceiuing the Galley to make after our men, weyed and pursued the galley, as neere the shore as we could conueniently come for want of water: the hulke also weyed and came after vs to follow the enemie, but the e∣nemie with his oares got sight of our pinnesse and boats before wee could, and bare directly with them: which being espied of our men, and they seeing no way to auoide them, made themselues ready (not withstanding the great oddes) to fight it out like men, and to liue and die together. The course that they tooke for their best aduantage vpon the sudden, was this: they went all into the pinnesse, and made fast the Dutchmans boate to one side, and the small carauel to the other side, and so waited the comming of the enemie, giuing them first of all a piece of Ordinance for their welcome, which they presently repaied againe with a piece out of the prowe of the galley, and presently after, with three or foure small brasse pieces, charged with haileshot, and so giuing a mighty shoute, came all aboord together, crying, entrad, entrad: but our men receiued them so hately, with small shot and pikes, that they killed them like dogs. And thus they continued aboord them almost a quarter of an hour, thinking to haue deuoured our men, pinnesse and all. And sure∣ly to mans iudgement, no other thing was likely in regard of their great number, and the fewnes of our men, and they at the first thought all was their owne: but God, who is the giuer of all vic∣tories, so blessed our small company, and so strengthened their armes and mindes to fight, that the enemie hauing receiued a mighty foyle, was glad to ridde himselfe from their handes:* and whereas at their entrance, wee esteemed them to bee no lesse then betwixt two hundred and three hundred men in the galley, we could scarse perceiue twenty men at their departure stand on their legs, but the greater part of them was slaine, many deadly wounded, their oates broken, & she d•∣parted from our men, hanging vpon one side, (as a Sowe that hath lost her left eare) with the number of dead and wounded men that lay one vpon another. And whereas their comming a∣boord was in a great brauado, with drumme, shouting, and crying, they departed without either noise of drumme or speech.

We lost in this conflict of our men, three onely, which were Alexander the Master Gunners mate, Laurence Gambrel a proper yoong man of Hampton, and another that was master Ben∣mans man. Some also were hurt with the arrowes of the enemie, but the wounds were cura∣ble: and thus it pleased Almighty God, of his great goodnes, to giue victory to 50 or 60 English∣men, Page  776 against sixe or seuen hundreth Portugals and Indians, for which we ceased not to giue such dutifull thanks to his Maiestie, as so miraculous a victory required.

Now touching the purpose of our men, who made that attempt for fresh victuals, their labour was nothing lost, but in despite of the enemie they brought to our ships 16 or 17 yong bullockes, which was to our great comforts and refreshing. As for vs that were in our ship, we could not come •eere them by two miles, or more, to giue them any aid, yet we suppose that the countenance of our ships was an incouragement to our men, and some maner of feare to the enemie.

Now whereas our opinion concerning the number of the Portugals and Indians, which were slaine, as aforesayd, was grounded at that time vpon our probable coniecture, not being able o∣therwise to come to the knowledge thereof: you shall vnderstand that the next night after the fight, there came aboord vs two Indians vpon a Gyngatho, who were runne away from their masters, and they told vs for a very good trueth, that the gallie went out from the towne with foure hundreth men in her,* but there came not backe to the towne again aliue aboue thirty of them all: and I amongst the rest being desirous to know of one of them, what the newes was at the towne, he answered me with great laughter: Todo esta cacado en Tierra.

The twelfth day I was sent for to come aboord the admirall, about the hulke: where vpon the complaint of the Dutchmen, master Withrington entred into bond to them for the paiment of their fraight, but how my lord would like that bond of debt at our returne, I knowe not. I gaue him my aduise and counsell to get his bond againe into his hands.

The thirteenth day our captaine sent out of our ship certaine victuals vnto the Admirall, as one butte of dight rise, two chests of cleane rise, one barrell of oatemeale, one barrell of peason, and one barrell of oile, because they were somewhat scanted of victuals, and we at this time were to haue out of the Admirall our part of fiue and twenty chests of fine sugar, and more, of eight chests, and si•e chests that were taken in the Bay of Todos Santos, at the Ingenios, more of one hundreth and thirty hats, and other diuers pillages, which were taken in the prizes, and at the shore.

The foureteenth day being Monday, it was concluded amongst vs all, not to leaue the towne of Baya so, but notwithstanding the time that they had to strengthen themselues and the towne, yet to giue an attempt for the winning of it: and therefore wee prouided our pinnesses, carauels, and boates for the enterprise: and as we were departing from our shippes, the winde turned di∣rectly contrary to our course, so that our determination for that time was broken, and wee retur∣ned againe to our ships: and to say the trueth, if the weather and winde had serued, our attempt had bene very desperate, considering the number of Portugals and Indians which were then ga∣thered together, to the number of seuen or eight thousand, and their artillery vpon the shore, play∣ing vpon vs: but neuerthelesse we had proceeded, if the winds had fauoured vs.

The 16 day we went to certaine Ingenios of the Portugals, where we found the people fled and we entred their houses without resistance. We found in their purging house 1000 pots of sugar, some halfe purged, some a quarter, and some newly put into the pots: so that euery man tooke his pot of sugar for their prouision, and set all the rest on fire.

The 17 day wee all weyed to goe to another Ingenio, to see if wee could find there better su∣gar, and in the way we met with a prize, which was a carauel, which wee found driuing with the weather, and entred her, and had in her onely three Faulcons of yron, which our pinnesse brought away, and set the ship on fire. Dalamor in the small prize ran so farre in, that hee brought his ship on ground, where shee lay three or foure houres, till such time as there came from the towne fiue carauels full of men, which being perceiued of vs, our captaine with our men went to him to ayde him. The carauels came within Faulcon shot of vs, but durst come no neerer, lest they might haue tasted of the like banket, that they receiued the last time. About halfe flood came the galley againe, and three carauels more, but before they came, the barke was a floate, and set sayle: and then they all went to gard their Ingenios, which we had purposed to visit: but the night comming on, perswaded vs to the contrary.

*The 19 day we set sayle to goe into the roade of Baya againe, with our pinnesses, and a flag of truce, to see if we could recouer our foure men, which remained aliue of those ten, that perished in our boate, of whom we spake before, which foure were vnfortunately fallen into their hands: but they at our approching neere the towne, shot at vs, and wee as ready as they, gaue them in all 27 shot, and so ankored a little from the towne, to see what they would doe.

The 20 day riding still before the towne, our Admirall sent a Negro ashore, with letters from the Portugals, that wee had prisoners aboord: the effect of which letters was, that if we might haue our men released and deliuered vs, they should haue theirs from our ships.

Page  777The next day in the morning, in stead of their bloody flagge, they put vp two white flagges, and sent a G•ngatho off to vs with two Indians, with letters of answere from the Gouernour: but they would not consent in any case that we should haue our men, and willed their Portugals to take their captiuitie patiently, for they would not redeeme them: a motion they made in their letters, to buy againe one of their prizes, which we had taken out of the rode: but our admirall an∣swered them, no, seeing they detained our men, wee would keepe both their men, and ships too• The same euening we weyed, and came out of the hauen, halfe a league to seaward.

The 22 we set saile to sea, and the 23 came to an Island twelue leagues to the Southward of Baya,* to wood, and water.

The 24 day being aboord with our pinnesses, we met with a Canoa, wherein was one Por∣tugall, and si•e Indians: we shot at the Canoa, and killed an Indian, and tooke the Portugall, and one of the Indians, and •rought them aboord our shippes: we there examined them, and the Portugal confessed that there was a shippe •aden with meale, and other victuals, bound for Fer∣nambuck, but put into a creeke, because she durs• not goe along the coast, hearing of our shippes. Whereupon we manned both our pinnesses, and tooke the Portugal with vs, to goe and seeke the same ship, but that night we could not find her.

The 26 day we went againe, and found her, being halled vp in•o a creeke, where a man would haue thought a shippe boate could not haue entred: wee found her indeede laden with meale prin∣cipally: but she h•d also in her fourteene chests of sugar, of which two were in powder, and twelue in loaues. This ship was of the burden of one hundred and twenty tunnes, and a new ship,* this being the first voyage that euer she made, and as the Portugall confessed, shee was straighted for Fernambuck, but the men of Baya hauing great want of bread, bought both the ship and her la∣ding, and so thought to stay her in this creeke, till we were gone off the coast: but it was our good hap to disappoint their pretense, and to fetch her from thence, where they thought her as safe as if she had bene at Lisbon.

The 28 day we deuided the meale amongst vs, according to the want of euery ship.

The 30 day, 16 or 17 Dutchmen went with their boate from the hulke to shoare, to fill water: and vpon a sudden they were assaulted with fifty or sixty Portugals, and so many more Indians armed with shot and other weapons, and they slew their Master and Purser, and the rest were hurt, but yet escaped with their liues: a good warning for vs to bee circumspect,* and carefull in our landing.

The last day of May wee c•st off one of our prizes, which wee called the George, and our Ad∣mirall and the hulke tooke the men and other necessaries out of her, into them. The same day the Portugals which had hurt the Dutchmen came to the shore, and dared vs to come on land: where∣vpon wee went into our pinnesses with fortie shot; but the cowardly villanes ranne all away to the hils, from the wat•• side: but master Lister with nine men followed them, and they fled still before them, and durst not stay their approch: so they came backe againe, and wee filled water quietly, and at our pleasure.

The third day of Iune our captaine master Lister,* hauing a great desire for the performance of this voyage, according to my Lords direction, went to our admirall, and reques•ed him to giue him si•e buts of wine, one barrell of oile, three or foure barrels of flesh, and to haue Thomas Hood and seuen or eight seamen for some of our landmen, and by Gods help, he with the barke Clifford, would alone proceede for the South sea:* but the admirall mightily withstoode his motion, and would grant no iote of his particular requests.

The 7 of Iune, hauing no vse at all of our prizes, we burnt one, and cast off another, and filled our owne ships with the necessaries of them.

The 8 day wee put off to sea, but yet with much adoe came againe to our ankoring place, be∣cause of the weather.

The 10 day the admirall sent for vs to come aboord him, and being come, hee opened a Carde before all the company, and tolde vs that my lords voyage for the South sea was ouerthrowen for want of able men, and victuals, and that therefore hee thought it best to plie for some of the Islands of the West India, or the Açores, to see if they could meete with some good purchase, that might satisfie my lord. These wordes were taken heauily of all the company, and no man would answere him, but kept silence, for very griefe to see my lords hope thus deceiue•, and his great expenses and costs cast away. The common sort seeing no other remedie, were contented to returne as well as he.

The 16 day wee espied a sayle, whereupon our pinnesse, and Dalamor gaue her chase, and put her ashore vpon the Island, where the men forsooke her, and ran away with such things as they Page  778 could conueniently carte: our pinnesse boorded her,* and found little in her: they tooke out of her nine chests of sugar, and one hogge, and 35 pieces of pewter, and so left her vpon the sands.

*From this time forward we began to plie Northwards, and the first of Iuly fell with the land againe, where we fished, and found reasonable good store. I tooke the latitude that day, and found our selues in 10 degrees and 22 minutes.

The 7 day we determined to fall with Fernambuck, and wee came so neere it, that Dalamor (as he told vs) espied some of the ships that were in the harbour: yet notwithstanding we all fell to leeward of the riuer, & could not after that, by any meanes recouer the height of it againe: but we ceased not on all parts to endeuour the best we could, & oftentimes lost company for a day or two, one of another, but there was no remedie, but patience, for to Fernambuck we could not come, ha∣uing so much ouershot it to the Northward, and the wind keeping at the South and Southwest.

*The 20 day I tooke the Sunne in 5 degrees 50 minuts, which was 2 degrees to the North∣ward of Fernambuck, and the further wee went, the more vnto wardly did the rest of our ships worke, either to come into hauen, or to keepe company one with another. And •ruely I suppose, that by reason of the froward course of the Admirall, he meant of purpose to lose vs: for I know not how the neerer we endeuoured to be to him, the further off would he beare from vs, and wee seeing that, kept on our owne course, and lookt to our selues as well as we could.

The 24 day our whole company was called together to consultation, for our best course: some would goe for the West India, some directly North for England: and in conclusion, the greater part was bent to plie for our owne countrey, considering our necessities of victuals, and fresh wa∣ter, and yet if any place were offered vs in the way, not to omit it, to seeke to fill water.

*The 26 day in the morning, we espied a lowe Island, but we lost it againe, and could descrie it no more. This day we found our selues in 3 degrees and 42 minutes.

The 27 day we searched what water we had left vs, and found but nine buts onely, so that our captaine allowed but a pinte of water for a man a day, to preserue it as much as might be, wher•∣with eu•ry man was content, and we were then in number fiftie men and boyes.

*The first of August we found our selues 5 degrees to the Northward of the line, all which mo∣neth we continued our course hom•ward, witho•t touching any where: toward the end whereof, a sorrowfull accident fell out in our hulke,* which being deuided from vs in a calme, fell a fire by some great negligence, and perished by that meanes in the seas, wee being not able any wayes to helpe the ship, or to saue the men.

The 4 day of September, we had brought our selues into the height of 41 degrees & 20 mi∣nutes, somwhat to the Northwards of the Islands of the Açores: and thus bulting vp and downe with contrary winds, the 29 of the same moneth, we reach•d the coast of England, and so made an end of the voyage.

A discourse of the West Indies and South sea written by Lopez Vaz a Portugal, borne in the citie of Eluas, continued vnto the yere 1587. Wherein among diuers rare things not hitherto deliuered by any other writer, cer∣taine voyages of our Englishmen are tru•ly reported: wh•ch was intercepted with the author thereof at the riuer of Plate, by Captaine Withrington and Captaine Chri∣stopher Lister, in the fleete set foorth by the right Honorable the Erle of Cumberland for the South sea in the yeere 1586.

*FRancis Dr•ke an Englishman being on the sea, and hauing knowledge of the small strength of the towne of Nombre de Dios, came into the harborough on a night with foure pinnesses, and landed an hundreth and fifty men: and leauing one halfe of his men with a trumpet in a fort which was there, hee with the rest entred the towne without doing any harme till hee came at the market place: and there his company discharging their calieuers, and sounding their trumpets (which made a great noyse in the towne) were answered by their fellowes in the force, who dis∣charged and sounded in like maner. This attempt put the townesmen in such extreme feare, that leauing their houses, they fled into the mountaines, and there be thought themselues what the matter should be in the towne, remaining as men amazed at so sudden an alarme. But the Spa∣niards being men for the most part of good discretion ioyned foureteene or fifteene of them toge∣ther with their pieces, to see who was in the towne: and getting to a corner of the market-place they discouered the Englishmen, and perceiuing that they were but a few, discharged th•ir pieces at them; and their fortune was such, that they slew the trumpetter, and shot the captaine (whose Page  779 name was Francis Drake) into the legge: who feeling himselfe hurt retired toward the Fort, where he had left the rest of his men: but they in the Fort sounded their trumpet, and being not answered againe, and hearing the calieuers discharged in the towne, thought that their fellowes in the towne had bene slaine, and thereupon fled to their Pinnesses. Now Francis Drake (whom his men carried because of his hurt) when he came to the fort where he left his men and saw them fled, he and the rest of his company were in so great feare, that leauing their furniture behinde them, and putting off their hose, they swamme & waded all to their Pinnesses, and departed forth of the harbour, so that if the Spaniards had followed them, they might haue slaine them all. Thus Captaine Drake did no more harme at Nombre de Dios, neither was there in this skirmish any more then one Spaniarde slaine, and of the Englishmen onely their Trumpetter, whom they left behind with his trumpet in his hand.

From hence the coast lieth all along till you come to Cartagena. Betweene Nombre de Dios and Cartagena is a great sound or gulfe, where the first Spaniardes that euer dwelt vpon the firme land built and inhabited the towne of Dariene: howbeit they abode not long there, because of the vnholesomenesse of the place.

But Captaine Drake being discontent with the repulse that the men of Nombre de Dios gaue him, went with his Pinnesses into the said bay or sound of Dariene, where hauing conference with certaine Negros which were ranne away from their masters of Panamá and Nombre de Dios, he was informed that at the very same time many mules were comming from Panamá to Nombre de Dios laden with gold and siluer. Upon this newes Francis Drake taking with him an hundred shot, and the said Negros, stayed in the way till the treasure came by, accompanied and guarded onely by those that droue the mules, who mistrusted nothing at all. When captaine Drake met with them, he tooke away their golde: but the siluer he left behinde, because he could not carrie it ouer the mountaines. And two dayes after this he went to The house of crosses cal∣led by the Spaniards Venta de Cruzes,* where all the merchants leaue their goods, where hee slew sixe or seuen of the marchants, but found neither gold nor siluer, but great store of marchan∣dize: and so he fired the said house, with all the goods, which were iudged to be worth aboue two hundred thousand ducats. Thus not finding golde in this house to satisfie his minde, hee burned the marchants goods, and foorthwith recouered his Pinnesses: where fortune so fauoured his proceedings, that he had not bene aboord halfe an houre, but there came to the sea side aboue thre• hundred souldiers, which were sent of purpose to take him: but God suffered him to escape their hands, to be a farther plague vnto the Spaniards.

Also another Englishman named Iohn Oxenham hearing what spoyle Captaine Drake had done vpon that coast,* made a voyage thither to enterprize the like. His ship was of burthen about an hundred and twentie tunnes, and he was accompanied with seuen•ie persons: he had confe∣rence also with the foresaid Negros, but being aduertized that the treasure was conducted by souldiers, he determined with himselfe to doe that which neuer any man before durst vndertake to doe. For being most resolute of his purpose, and not looking nor forecasting what danger might ensue of this bold enterprize, he landed his men in the same place where Captaine Drake was, and halling his ship to shore, cut downe boughes of trees, and couered his ship with them, and hid vp his great ordinance in the ground. Thus leauing not one man is his ship, he •ooke two small peeces of ordinance, and his calieuers, and good store of victuals, with all other necessaries for his intended voyage. And he went with the Negros aboue twelue leagues vp into the maine land, vnto a riuer that runneth into the South sea:* and by this riuer in a wood he cut downe tim∣ber, and built a Pinnesse, which was 45 foote long by the keele: which Pinnesse being finished, he went downe the riuer and passed into the South sea, carrying sixe Negros with him for his guides, and he arriued at the Iland of Pearles being 25 leagues distant from Panamá. This I∣land lieth in the South sea, as they saile from Peru to Panamá, and here he stayed ten dayes, be∣fore he could take any shipping, but at length there came a small barke from a place called Quito in Peru: this barke he tooke, and found in her 60000 pezos of golde, with much wine and bread: and not being content with this, he stayed a long while, before he would sende away his prize or any of his men. Shortly after he tooke another barke that came from Lima, wherein he found 100000 pezos if siluer in barres, which being all aboord his Pinnesse, he shaped his course to∣ward the riuer from whence he came: but before his departure he landed on the foresaid Iland to finde pearles, and went to a small towne of the Iland inhabited by Negros for the same purpose; where finding but small store, he returned to his Pinnesse, and comming neere vnto the riuer he sent away his two prizes, and with his Pinnesse entered vp the riuer. The Negros of the Iland of perles, so soone as the Englishmē were departed, posted in their Canoas to Panamá, to signifi•Page  780 vnto the Gouernour what they had done. Whereupon the Gouernour whithin two dayes after sent out foure barkes and an hundred souldiers, and Negros to rowe, the captaine of which soul∣diers was called Iuan de Ortega; who went first to the Iland of pearles, & there had knowledge which way the Englishmen did take, and in pursuing them he met with the two prizes taken by the Englishmen, which tolde him that they were gone vp the riuer. But when he was come to the enterance of the riuer, he knew not which way to take, because the riuer ranne into the sea by three mouthes, and not all at one. Therefore being determined with himselfe to passe vp the grea∣test of the three, he saw comming downe with the streame many feathers of hens out of one of the lesser mouthes: which mouth he entered, and sayling foure dayes vp the same, hee descryed the Englishmens pinnesse lying vpon the sand, and comming to boord her, they found in her no more but si•e Engli•hmen, of which they killed one, and the other 5 fled, & hauing throughly ransacked the said pinnesse, they could finde nought in her, but victuals. The Spaniards s•eing this, deter∣mined to seeke out the Englishmen by land, and leauing about twentie men to keepe their barks they marched with eightie shot vp into the countrey, and halfe a league from the riuer they found a little house made with boughes, where the Englishmen had left all their treasure; which the Spaniards tooke and carried backe to their barkes, meaning not to follow the Englishmen any further: but the English cap•aine with all his m•n, and aboue 200 Negros followed the Spa∣niards vnto the riuers side, and set vpon th•m with great •u•y: howbei• the Spaniards lying be∣hind the bu•hes •id easily put the English to flight, and they tooke seuen of them aliue, and slewe eleuen and fiue Negros: so the Spaniards returned with the losse of two men and fiue or si•e hurt. Then they asked those Englishmen which they had taken prisoners, why they departed not with their treasure, hauing fi•teene dayes libertie? They answered, that their captaine had com∣manded them to carry all that golde and siluer vnto the place where their ship was, and they were agreed to carry •t, although they made three or foure iourneys, for he promis•d to giue them part of the treasure beside their wages, but the martiners would needes haue it by and by; wh•reat the captaine being angry, bec•use they put to small trust in his word, would not suffer his saylers to carrie it, but said he would get Negros to serue his turne, and so these w•re the Negros afore∣said, whom he had brought to carry away the golde and siluer: but by the way he met with the fiue Englishmen which fled from the pinnesse, who told him of the Spaniards; and then he made friends with all his men, and got the Negros to take his part: but hauing the ouerthrow, and his best men being slaine and taken prisoners, he thought to haue returned to his ship, and so to haue gone for England. The Spanish captaine hauing heard this discourse of the English prisoners, buried the dead bodies, embarking all things, and with the Englishmen and their pinnesse retur∣ned backe vnto Panamá. Thus was the Engli•hmens voyage ouerthrowen.

Now so soone as the the foure barkes and the pinnesse were arriued at Panamá, the Gouer∣nour of that place sent a messenger ouerland to Nombre de Dios, to aduertise the townesmen, where the Englishmens shiplay: whereupon they of Nombre de Dios manned out foure ships and went into the bay of Dariene where the Englishmen had left their ship, which they tooke a∣way with them to Nombre de Dios, with all her ordinance; so that the poore Englishmen were left in the mountaines very naked and destitute of all comfort: for the Spaniards had taken out of the foresaid house of boughes all their tooles & other necessaries, so that they could by no meanes haue any succour: whereas o•herwise they might haue builded another pinnesse, and prouided better for themselues to haue returned for their owne countrey.

These newes comming to the ear•s of the U•ceroy of Peru, he thought it not conuenient to suffer those fiftie Englishmen which were yet aliue, to continue in the mountaines among the said Negros. Wherefore he sent a seruant of his called Diego de Frees with 150 shot to seeke them, who at length found them making of Canoas to take some one small barke or other that sayled to and againe in the North sea, whereby they might the better shift for themselues: but before they had finished their pretended worke, the Spanish souldiers set vpon them, and tooke fifteene of them that were sicke: but the rest fled, whom the Spaniards pursued among the mountaines, and in the end the Negros betraied them, and they were all taken and carried to Panamá. Where the Iustice asked the English captaine, whither he had the Queenes license, or the license of any other Prince or Lord? And he answered that he had no•e, but that he came of his owne proper motion. Which being knowen to the Ius•ice, the Captaine and his companie were condemned and were all put to death at Panamá, sauing the Captaine himselfe, the Master, and the Pilot, and fiue boyes, which were caried to Lima, where the Captaine and the two other men were exe∣cuted, but the boyes are yet liuing.

*The king of Spaine hauing intelligence of these matters, sent 300 men of warre against those Page  781 Negros who had assisted the Englishmen, which Negros before were slaues vnto the Spani∣ards, and (as is aforesaide) fled from their masters into those mountaines, and so ioyned them∣selues to the Englishmen, thinking by that meanes to be reuenged of the Spaniards crueltie.

At the first comming of these three hundred souldiers they tooke many of the Negros, and did great iustice on them according to the qualitie of their offences. But after a season the Negros grew wise and wary, and preuented the Spaniards so, that none of them could be taken. Where∣of the king being aduertised by his Captaines, as also how the countrey was full of mountaines and riuers, and very vnhealthfull, insomuch that his souldiers died, he wrote vnto his said Cap∣taines to make an agreement with those Negros, to the ende the countrey might be in quiet. And so they came to agreement with the Captaines of the Negros, and all was appeased. Afterward the Negros inhabiting two places which the Spaniardes allotted vnto them, the kings pardon was proclaimed vnto all those which before the day of the proclamation thereof had runne from their Masters, vpon condition that from that day forward, whatsoeuer other fugitiue Negros should resort vnto them, they should returne them home either dead or aliue, if not, that they should p•y for them. Upon these conditions, and to make all quiet in the mountaines, all things were concluded and agreed vpon. So that now the Negros dwell in great townes, where they haue Spaniardes for their teachers, and a Spaniard for their Iudge, and with this they holde them∣selues very well contented, and are obedient vnto their rulers.

The Spaniards since they conquered those parts haue seene many Frenchmen on that coast,* but neuer any Englishmen in that place, saue those two onely which I haue before mentioned. And although the Frenchmen haue come strong, yet durst they neuer put foot on shore as the English did. But the king of Spaine hearing that Englishmen as well as Frenchmen beganne to haunt that coast, caused two gallies to be made and well appointed, to keepe the coast. The first yeere that they were made they tooke sixe or seuen French ships.* So soone as this was knowen there vsed fewe English or Frenchmen of warre to come on the coast, vntill this yeere 1586. when as the aforesaid Francis Drake came with a strong fleete of about foure and twentie ships,* and did such harme as is well knowen vnto all Christendome. But (God sparing the king of Spaine life) hee will sufficiently prouide to keepe his subiectes from the inuasions of other Nations.

Now to go forward with our begunne discourse, the next towne vpon this coast beyond Nom∣bre de Dios is Cartagena:* it standeth in a more healthfull place, and is a greater towne then the other, bordering vpon a better countrey, which aboundeth with plentie of victuals, and hauing a very good port for the harbour of ships: and it is called Cartagena, because it resembleth very much the citie of Cartagena in Spaine. I containeth aboue foure hundred housholds. It is very rich by reason of the ships staying there, when they goe or come from Spaine. And if the ships chance to winter before they goe home into Spaine, then they lie at Cartagena. Also it is great∣ly enriched by the marchandize, which is there discharged to be carryed to the new kingdome of Granada,* from which kingdome much golde is brought vnto Cartagena. This new kingdome of Granada is two hundred leagues within the land: neither can they trauel from Cartagena to this kingdome by land, because of the mountaines and standing waters, which lie in the way, so that they are faine to carry their goods vp a riuer called The great riuer of Magdalen.* They can goe with t•eir barkes but two hundred leagues vp this riuer; for although it be large and very deepe, yet there runneth so swift a current, that the barkes are constrained to discharge their goods at a place in the riuer called Branco de Malambo,* into small canoas which rowe close by the shores side. In this riuer are great abundance of Crocodiles, so huge and terrible to behold, that such as neuer sawe them before are very fearefull at the first sight of them, for if a man chance to put his han• or foote into the water, they will streight way catch at them. In some pla∣ces this ri•er is very vnhealthfull and full of noysome wormes; but the first place thereupon which the Spaniards doe inhabite called Mompox is exceeding healthfull.* The countrey ad∣ioyning vpon this riuer they call The new kingdome of Granada, because the captaine called Ce∣sada which first conquered the same, and inhabited there, was borne at Granada in Spaine: for it is the vse of the Spanish captaines, when they haue conquered any Prouince of the Indies, to call it after the name of the place where they themselues were borne. This new kingdome of Gra∣nada is very fruitfull, and bringeth forth much corne & other victuals, and hath many gold-mines, and great quantitie of emeralds, wherof they send so many into Spaine, that now they are become little worth: but before these countreys were found, they were in great estimation. Here are also dwelling many of the Indian people so meeke and gentle of nature, that they are called flies. This land is very plaine and holesome, and the inhabitants are giuen to peace.

Page  782From this kingdome they trauell to another countrey called La gouernacion de Popayan;* it is rich of golde, and withall very fruitfull, but fuller of mountaines then the new kingdome of Granada, and hath fewer Indians dwelling in it, but those that are there are full of courage and very valiant, which caused the Spaniardes to make great warre before they could ouercome them. In this prouince there are 13 townes of Spaniards, and in The new kingdome of Grana∣da there are nine townes of Spaniards.

From this countrey of Popayan they trauell along till they come to the first inhabitants of Peru dwelling in a towne which ioyneth vpon the South sea called Quito.* This towne I will leaue any further to speake of till I come particularly to intreate of Peru. Onely I haue spo∣ken of the two foresaid Prouinces, to the intent you might know, that there is a passage by land from Cartagena to Peru,* which is about fiue hundred leagues through; so that besides the two hundred leagues which they goe vp the riuer, the other three hundred leagues is a countrey well inhabited and without danger to trauell in, insomuch that oftentimes postes are sent too and fro. But because it is so long a iourney, marchants vse not to trauell that way, but when they are inforced so to doe. If any forren Nation should become Lordes of the South sea, the king of Spaine might haue his treasure conueyed vnto this towne of Cartagena from Peru, and so into Spaine. For in times past there being a rebellion in Peru made by the Spaniardes against their king, he sent his power to suppresse them through these Prouinces. This I write onely for that I knowe some Englishmen haue thought, that in taking the South sea, or Panamá or Nombre de Dios from the king of Spaine, his treasure of Peru could not be conueyed vnto him, and that the king could not succour Peru, if it wanted helpe. Howbeit I doe here most certaine∣ly assure you, that there be many wayes to Peru.

But now I will returne to my former discourse. Upon the seacoast of Tierra firma East∣ward from Cartagena standeth a little towne called Santa Martha,* betweene which towne and Cartagena the mightie riuer of Magdalen before named falleth into the sea with such a strong current, that by reason thereof it is knowen 20 leagues from the shore. Santa Martha is a very poore towne, because it hath often bene robbed by the Frenchmen, and hath no trade but with a fewe Indians that dwell thereabout. Here beginneth that wonderfull long ridge of high moun∣taines couered with Snow,* which streatching through many countreys, runneth along the kingdomes of Peru and Chili, and continueth to the very straights of Magellan. These moun∣taines are seene with snow vpon their tops aboue thirtie leagues into the sea. At the foote of these wilde mountaines there is a valley called Tagrona,* which is the richest place that is knowen thereabout: but because the countrey adioyning is so mountainous, and the inhabitants so many and of so good a courage, shooting poysoned arrowes which are present death to such as are wounded with the same; therefore it lyeth as yet vnconqu•red, notwithstanding it hath cost ma∣ny Spanish captaines their liues.

Passing along the coast of Tierra firma to the East of Santa Martha, there is an other small towne of aboue an hundred houses called Rio de Hacha.* This towne is somewhat rich by reason of the pearles which they get there. Also they haue a trade with the Indians for some small quantitie of golde. From hence they goe along the coast to Cabo de la Vela, which be∣cause it is of the same propertie with Rio de Hacha before mentioned. I omit to speake of it. Upon this coast there is a lake or gulfe which openeth into the sea, at the mouth whereof they gather great store of pearles.* Beyond this place there is another poore towne, which hath sixe or seuen times beene spoyled by the Frenchmen. From hence there lyeth an high way to the newe kingdome of Granada, but it is aboue seuen hundred leagues in length, this way is tra∣uelled very seldome, because the Indians will vsually set vpon the trauellers. More vp into the land the countrey lyeth plaine, and there is some golde, and a fewe townes inhabited with Spaniardes, whereof I haue had but small notice, and therefore I let them passe. The next place of any account is the Iland of Margarita,* where there are but fewe Spaniardes inhabi∣tant. This Iland of Margarita is very small, and lyeth foure leagues from the maine lande: it hath heretofore bene very rich of golde and pearles, and so would haue continued till this present day, had it not beene spoyled by men of warre, because it standeth so farre from the maine land, notwithstanding they yet gather good store of pearles. Upon this Iland are bred better hor∣ses and mules then in any other part of the Indies,* therefore they carry them from hence to Pe∣ru, albeit they haue great store of horses in Peru, but not so good. And because we haue begunne to speake of the Iland of Margarita, you are to vnderstand, that to the North of the foresaid coast of Tierra firma lie aboue seuentie Ilands being all very little,* except Cuba, Hispaniola, and Bo∣riquen, or Sant Iuan de Puerto rico, which Ile of Boriquen, although it bee not very great, Page  783 yet is it inhabited by the Spaniards. The other smaller Ilands haue bene inhabited by the In∣dians, and haue had good store of gold, pearles, and emraldes; but the Spaniards haue destroyed most of those Indians from off the earth, and in many of those Ilands there is nothing of any va∣lue, wherefore I haue small cause to intreate any further of them. But Hispaniola is an Iland of great bignesse,* and hath bene very full of people, and abounded with mines of golde and with pearles, but now all is wasted away. It was at the Spaniards first coming thither, as full of in∣habitants as any place of that bignesse in the whole world, yet now there are none left; for they were men of so hard a heart, that they murthered themselues rather then they would serue the Spaniards:* for being men vnder so small ciuill gouernement as they were, neuer was there a∣ny people knowen of so resolute and desperate mindes: for oftentimes a great number of them being together ouer night, they should be found all dead before the morning: such extreme hate did this brutish people beare against the Spaniards, that they chose rather to die the death, then to indure their insolencies. It happened on a time, that a Spaniard calling certaine Indians to worke in the mines (which labour of all others did most grieue them) they, rather then they would goe, offered to lay violent hands on themselues: which the Spaniard perceiuing sayd vn∣to them:* seeing you will hang your selues rather then goe and worke, I likewise will hang my selfe and will beare your company, because I will make you worke in an other world: but the In∣dians hearing this, replied, we will willingly worke with you here, to the intent you may not goe with vs into another world: so vnwilling were they of the Spaniards companie. So that of all the inhabitantes of this Iland there were none that escaped death, satte onely these fewe, which came to passe by the meanes of this one Spaniarde, otherwise they would haue hanged themselues also. Some of these people are yet liuing, but very few. This Iland of Hispaniola is for the most part called The Ile of Sant Domingo, because the chiefe citie thereof is so called, which was the first citie in all the West Indies that was inhabited. There are in this citie aboue eight hundred sixe-houses of good building inhabited by Gentlemen of great wealth. This I∣land is vnhealthfull, for it raineth here the most part of the yeere. The riches that now this I∣land affordeth are sugar (for here are many Ingenios or sugar-houses) and great store of hides by reason of the abundance of cattell;* there are copper mines also, which is the cause that they haue such store of copper-money, for their gold mines be all exhausted, and the golde which they haue commeth from other places. This Iland being (as is beforesaide) destitute of the first inhabitants, and the Spaniardes lacking men to worke in their Ingenios, and to looke vnto their cattell, they were forced to bring Negros thither out of Guinea, where they haue so increa∣sed,* that the Iland is nowe as full of them, as it was of the naturall inhabitantes; so that the Spaniardes carrie Negros from this Iland to the maine lande and there sell them. The chie∣fest victuall that they haue in this Iland, is a kinde of roote called Iuca,* which being eaten as it commeth new out of the ground is present death: but first they boyle it and after presse it, and the liquor that is strained therefrom is deadly poyson: howbeit this roote being pressed so dry, that there remaineth no moisture in it, they mingle and temper the same with water and so make cakes therof, which are very sauory & good to eat, & this is all the bread which they haue in those Ilands. There go from hence yerely into Spaine 7 or 8 ships at the least full fraighted with sugar & hides.

Neere vnto Hispaniola lyeth another greater Iland called Cuba,* it is like vnto Hispaniola, although there is not so much sugar. The principall towne of this Ilande is called Hauana, which hath an excellent harborough belonging thereunto. The townesmen are very rich by rea∣son of the fleetes that come from Nueua Espanna, and Tierra firma which touch there; for the safeguarde of which fleetes and of the towne it selfe there is a castle built neere the said har∣borough kept with Spanish souldiers; neither is there any castle or souldiers in all the Ilands but onely here. There is also another Iland inhabited with Spaniards called Boriquen or Sant Iuan de Puerto rico.* It is but little, yet euery way as plentifull as the other two are; and ther∣fore I omit to speake thereof.

But now to prosecute my discourse of the port-townes vpon the maine lande: Eastwarde and Southward from Margarita there are no townes inhabited by Spaniardes or Portugals, till you come to Fernambuck vpon the coast of Brasill;* notwithstanding that betweene the sayd Iland and Fernambuck runneth the mightie riuer of Marannon,* whereof (both because of the greatnesse and the riches contayned therein) I must needes make some relation, in re∣garde I haue promised to speake of euery place that is of any value in all the Indies. This riuer is one of the greatest in the world, and was first found when as the Spaniardes sought out the other coast: but none can passe vp this riuer because of the greatnesse of the current which commeth downe, as also there are many shelues of sand lying in the mouth thereof; wher∣by Page  784 it was long before the riches in and about this riuer were knowen, vntill such time as the kingdome of Peru was conquered: at which time a Captaine called Gonsalo Pizarro passing thorough the countrey of Peru came at length into a lande which they named La Canela,* be∣cause there groweth great store of Smamome, but not altogether so good as that which com∣meth from the East Indies. The sayd Captaine proceeding farther into the countrey came at length to a mightie riuer,* where he sawe the countrey people rowing in their Canoas, and bringing golde to buy and sell with the Spaniards: Captaine Pizarro seeing this, was de∣sirous to finde out the ende of this riuer, but he could not trauell by lande because of the high mountaines: wherefore he made a small Barke or Pinnesse to goe and discouer from whence the saide Indians brought their golde, and sent in the saide Pinnesse a Captaine vnder him called Orellana, who with fiftie men went downe the riuer,* but could not returne to their Generall Pizarro, because of the great current which was very strong against them, forcing them to passe along the riuer, and to enter into the Sea, and so they sayled on forwarde to the foresaide Ile of Margarita: but as they passed downe this riuer they found it well inhabited with Indians, which were possessed of great store of golde. These men with their Pinnesse were passing downe this riuer eight monethes, for the riuer lyeth very crooked, which ma∣keth a long way by water, neither durst the Spaniardes euer lande, because they sawe the coun∣trey so full of people, but they tooke many Canoas, wherein they had great store of victuals, and some golde.

Now this Orellana comming vnto Margarita with these good newes and riches, determi∣ned not to returne vnto his Captaine Pizarro which sent him, but tooke his way from thence to the king of Spaine, and presented him with the golde that he brought out of the riuer: where∣upon the king sent him with a fleete of shippes and si•e hundred men to inhabite the sayd riuer: but because of the great current and sholdes that are therein, hee left the most part of his men and shippes, and with those that remained he went vnto certaine Ilandes hard by the riuer, and built him Pinnesses; but the countrey being very vnhealthfull, himselfe and many of his men dyed, and the residue went euery man which way pleased him best. The same of this riuer was straightway spread through Spaine and Portugal, insomuch that a Gentleman of Portugall cal∣led Lewis de Melo asked license of Don Iuan the third,* then king of Portugall to goe and con∣quere the sayd riuer: for from the mouth of this riuer to the mouth of the riuer of Plate, is that part of America which the kings of Portugall (according to the partition made betweene them and the kings of Spaine) doe holde: so that the king of Portugall hauing this riuer in his part gaue it to the saide Lewis de Melo to conquere: who taking tenne ships and eight hundred men (among which many were gentlemen) and comming to the mouth of this riuer, lost all the said ships sauing two, in one of the which two was Lewis de Melo himselfe: also the most part of the men that were in the ships cast away were saued and got to the shore, and so went by lande to the Iland of Margarita; from whence they were dispersed throughout all the Indies.

Thus these two fleetes of ships being so vnfortunately cast away, neuer durst any Captaine afterward attempt by sea to conquer the sayde riuer. Howbeit from the kingdome of Nueua Granada before mentioned there haue gone two or three Captaines by land to discouer it, for a rumour went ouer all the countrey of the great riches contained in this riuer; whereupon the Spaniards named it El Dorado,* that is to say, The golden riuer. It is thought that God will not haue this riuer to be knowen, for that one Captaine by lande had most of his people slaine by those of the countrey, and others for want of victuals returned. So that none of all these came to any plaine discouery, till a few yeeres past a Captaine of the countrey of Nauarre called Pe∣dro de Orzua, who went from Peru almost the same way that Gonsalo Pizarro had before dis∣couered,* and was accompanied with about some seuen hundred Spaniards, it being a great mar∣uell how he could get so many, amongst whom were many Gentlemen and old souldiers of Pe∣ru, who caused diuers mutinies and insurrections, as hereafter I will more at large declare, which mutinous souldiers were the cause of their captaines death. Howbeit with all these men captaine Pedro de Orzua came vnto head of the said riuer: but you must vnderstand, that this riuer is nourished not onely with the waters and freshets that come from the mountaines of Peru, but also by all the riuers betweene the Equinoctiall and sixteene degrees of Southerly la∣titude, which fall thereinto and cause it to be so great. Nowe at the head of this riuer the sayde Captaine Pedro de Orzua made fifteene Pinnesses with many Canoas, wherein he carried a∣boue two thousand Indians to helpe him, with many horses and other prouision, as meaning to inhabite there: for it was not possible for him to carry all his prouision by lande, because the mountaines be very great, there being also betweene them many small riuers which fall into Page  785 this great riuer aboue twentie leagues out of the land. So this captaine hauing all his things in good order went downe the riuer with his whole company, and at length came from among the mountaines to a plaine countrey where the Indians dwelt; and there he held a councell, determi∣ning in the same place to build a towne and to fortifie it very strongly, to the end he might leaue all his stuffe there, and such men as were not souldiers. And so they began to build the said towne, and wrought vpon it all the winter: where because it raineth much, and withall is very hot, sick∣nes and want of victuals began to preuaile amongst them, wherupon the souldiers fell a murmu∣ring among themselues. For comming out of Peru, which is one of the frutfullest & richest coun∣tries of the world, they were more inclined to haue their fill of bread and meat then to apply their bodies to labour: which was the cause that albeit the countrey in which they now were, was ex∣ceeding fruitfull, and that they saw with their eyes most euident apparances of golde, & also that vp into the countrey it seemed to be much better; yet for all this they murmured & would needes returne for Peru from whence they came. In the company of these men there was a souldier of Biskay called Lopez de Agira,* a very little man of bodie & lame of one of his legs, but very vali∣ant and of good experience in the warres. This man hauing bene one of the principall mutiners in Peru, could not here giue ouer his old wont, but asked his fellow-souldiers, what they went to seeke for in those wild deserts whither they were brought: For (said he) if you seeke riches, there are enough in Peru, and there is bread, wine, flesh, and faire women also; so that it were bet∣ter to conquer that, and to take it out of the handes of the Spaniardes, and that it were no hard enterprize, because all the souldiers and poore men of Peru would turne vnto them, and that that were a better course, then to goe and conquere the sauage people in those mountaines: so that •nce hauing the gouernment of Peru, the king of Spaine should be inforced to agree with them: ••• (sayd he) we shall not lacke them that will succour vs, to haue the riches of Peru. By ••• perswasions he brought many souldiers to be of his minde, and conspired also with a young ••• man of Siuill called Don Fernando de Gusman (who was in loue with a young woman ••• the captaine Pedro de Orzua had,* and therefore did the sooner agree vnto the wicked in∣tent of Agira) to murther the captaine. Who on a night being asleepe in his bed, the said con∣spirators and their faction entered into his bed-chamber, and there stabbed him with their dag∣gers; which being done, they slew also all the Captaines that were his friends, and therewithall made a great out-cry, saying, God saue the king, God saue the king: whereupon all the campe was in an vprore. Then Lopez de Agira made vnto the souldiers a long oration, and got them all to consent vnto him, some by force, and some because they durst not say to the contrary, and others of their good will, and so in the end they all agreed vnto his determined purpose. Then made they Fernando de Gusman their head, & Agira was made a captaine. This done, because the people should the better hold their opinion, he did as great a villany as euer any Spaniard cōmitted: for he made an altar, wheron he and all the souldiers renounced their seruice vnto the king of Spaine, & so as people without a king,* those the said Don Fernando to be their king, and did homage vnto him. These matters being thus finished they consulted among themselues which should be the best way for them to goe to Peru? For they could not goe vp the riuer, by which they came downe, in regarde of the strong current, and going backe ouerland they should be very weake for want of horsemen: wherefore they determined to goe downe the riuer. Then saide Lopez de Agira, that they would carry nothing with them but the pinnesses & souldiers which should fight, and that it were best to leaue behind them all the Indians which they brought from Peru, with the women and the sicke men. Whereunto the Generall Don Ferdinando would not agree, because he knew that when they were gone the people of the countrey would kill them all. Lopez de Agira hea∣ring this, and longing to be chiefe gouernour himselfe, tooke vnto him 30 of his owne countrey∣men of his disposition, and on the sudden slew Don Fernando,* whom not many dayes before he had sworne to obey: & now by his subtill practices, being withall eloquent in his talke, he caused the souldiers to appoint himselfe their gouernour, & made them beleeue that all the cruelties com∣mitted were for their saueguard: neither did the tyrannie of this wretched man here ende. He was borne in Biskay a countrey neere vnto France, wherefore I beleeue him rather to haue beene a Frenchman then a Spaniard, for that in the heart of a Spaniard could not be so much crueltie as this man shewed.* Now being readie to goe his way, he determined not to carry with him any gentlemen or persons of qualitie, and therefore he slew all such persons; and then depar∣ting onely with the common souldiers, he left behind him all the Spanish women and sicke men, with all other creatures. If I should rehearse all the cruell murthers of this wicked man one by one, I should be ouer tedious vnto you. Onely in fewe words I say, that this man procee∣ded downe the riuer, hauing with him onely foure hundred men: but before he passed the riuer, Page  786 and was come to Margarita, he had no more left but two hundred and thirty men, for the rest hee had put to death, and left on shore among the people of the countrey: all which tyranny he vsed, because he euer stood in feare of his life: for had he seene at any time but two souldiers talking together, he would streight suspect that they were conspiring of his death, and therefore he vsed the practises abouesaide.* And he neuer went any way, but that hee had in his company thirtie Biscaines of his owne will and minde readie to execute his cruell purposes.

As these souldiers with their Captaine came downe the riuer, they sawe many Canoas with golde in them passing too and fro, and people on both sides of the riuer, and in their passage many times they landed, and got good store of golde and victuals. Now also did they finde that to be true which Orellana had reported, namely that there were Amazones,* that is to say, women that fight in the warres with bowes and arrowes: but these women fight to aide their husbands, and not by themselues alone without the companie of men, as Orellana reported. There were of these women vpon diuers partes of this riuer, who seeing the Spaniardes fighting with their husbandes came in to succour them, and shewed themselues more valiant then their husbandes; for which cause it was named, The riuer of Amazones. The Spaniardes intent was onely to passe downe the riuer, neither sought they at all to discouer the Inland, and yet they tooke good store of golde,* putting it into one of their Pinnesses, where Lopez de Agira himselfe was embar∣ked, which Pinnesse at the mouth of the riuer was cast away, but he himselfe escaped, because he had not as yet fulfilled his bloodie minde. And when he was come to the Ilande of Margari∣ta,* the Gouernour thereof supposing he had bene one of the kings loyall captaines, receiued him with pinnesses, and brought good store of victuals vnto him. But he putting the sayd Gouer∣nour immediatly to death, landed on the Iland, and •ooke it and two shippes that were there, and constrained likewise an hundred and fiftie men, which he there found, to goe with him, be∣sides others that went voluntarily, carrying from thence good store of victuales, and many hor∣ses also. And then he returned to the maine land, saying, that with his small forces hee would subdue the whole Indias: imagining belike that all the olde souldiers and poore people, at the first sight of him, would turne to his side and take his part. Howbeit he was foulely deceiued: for before he had marched two dayes iourney vp into the land, the Gouernour of Nueua Grana∣da came against him with a power of men: but Lopez de Agira hoping that other souldiers would haue ioyned themselues vnto him, whereby his strength might haue beene the more, was quite frustrate of his expectation: for euen his owne men left him, and tooke part with the kings Captaine. Nowe seeing himselfe thus left destitute of his souldiers, and voide of all helpe, he committed a more vnnaturall bloodie act then euer Nero the tyrant did, for he murthered his owne daughter being but sixeteene yeeres of age, which he had brought with him out of Peru: the cause why he killed her was, that she might not become a concubine to villaines, nor be cal∣led the daughter of a traytor: and these words •e vsed vnto her, so soone as he had giuen her her deaths wound: but before he could finish this cruell act, the souldiers came vpon him, and cut him in pieces, also his daughter died of her wound in that place.

Thus haue your heard the miserable ende of this bloodie cai•ife: in regarde of whose trea∣cherous and mischieuous dealing the king would neuer since suffer this riuer to bee throughly discouered;* so that the riches and treasure of the said riuer remaine vnknowen euen vntill this present day.

Now leauing to discourse any longer of this riuer of Marannon, all the coast betweene the saide riuer and the riuer of Plate, is called The coast of Brasill, taking that name from a kinde of wood in the same countrey, called Brasill-wood, whereof there is great store in those partes. This coast of Brasill was first discouered by Pedro Aluarez Cabral,* in the second voyage which the king of Portugall caused to be made to the East Indies: and the foresayde Pedro Aluarez tooke possession of this land for the king of Portugall: whereupon the king Don Emanuel hearing newes thereof sent presently shippes to discouer the whole countrey, and found it to be part of America otherwise called The West Indies: for which cause there grewe some contro∣uersie betweene him and the king of Spaine: but being kinsmen and great friends one to another, they agreed in the end, that the king of Portugall should holde all the countrey that he had disco∣uered, the which was (as I haue said) from the riuer of Marannon to the riuer of Plate; albeit the Spaniards affirme, that it stretcheth no further then the Iland of Santa Catelina; whereup∣on there haue risen many controuersies betweene the Portugales and Spaniardes, which haue cost many men their liues.

There came into the said riuer of Plate in the yeere 1587 two English ships and a Pinnesse of the right Honourable the Earle of Cumberland, which were bound for the streights of Ma∣gellan,Page  787 and ankored ten leagues within the said riuer before a little Iland lying hard by another called Seal-Iland. On which Iland the Captaine of one of the ships called Christopher Lister, and his whole company landing, found the king of Portugales armes grauen on a rocke by the sea side; which are thought to haue beene there engrauen by one Martin Alonso de Souza, who was sent by the king Don Emanuel to discouer this coast. Therefore I thinke the Portugales haue reason for that which they alleage concerning the extension of the said coast of Brasil. Wher∣fore the king of Portugall gaue this land to diuerse of his gentlemen to inhabite. Most of the na∣turall inhabitants of this countrey are very rude, and goe starke naked both men and women, and are man-eaters; for which cause they make warres one against another to get men to eate; they are stout and good bow-men. The first place inhabited on this coast beyonde the riuer of Marannon is called Fernambuck so named by the Indians,* but in Portugall it is called Villa de Olinda. Before you come to this place there is a port called Paraiua,* vnto which port not ma∣ny yeeres past the Frenchmen hearing of the troubles which were then in Portugall resorted, and built there a fort; whereunto certaine French ships made yeerely voyages to lade Brasill-wood. But they of Fernambuck, with the helpe of the Spaniardes, went and burnt fiue french shippes within the port, and tooke the fort it selfe, and the Frenchmen that were there fled part into the mountaines, and part of them were slaine; so that since that time the Spaniardes haue inhabited there till this present.* Nowe to returne to Fernambuck inhabited by a Portugall Captaine called Duarre Coelio,* it is the greatest towne in all that coast, and hath abou• three thousand houses in it, with seuentie Ingenios for sugar, and great store of Brasill-wood and a∣bundance of cotton, yet are they in great want of victuals: for all their victuals come either from Portugall or from some places vpon the coast of Brasill. The harbour of this towne is a barred harbour, and fit onely for small barkes: this place belongeth as yet vnto the sonne of Duarte Coëlio. Beyond this towne lyeth the Cape of Sant Augustin,* and next thereunto is the riuer of Sant Francisco,* which is a great riuer. Betweene this riuer and Bayha it is all a wildernesse in∣habited with cruell saluages, for whomsoeuer they take they kill and eate him. The towne of Bayha belongeth to the king,* and therefore the gouernour of all the coast keepeth his residence in the same, as also the bishop. It containeth 1000 houses, & 40 Ingenios for sugar, and hath much cotton, but no Brasill-wood at all. The sea runneth vp into the countrey here 14 or 15 leagues, where they get some yeres good store of Amber-griese. Here is great plentie of victuals, and al∣though the countrey be hot, yet is it healthfull, & the aire holesome. The next towne vpon the coast called As Ilhas, or The Iles,* is but a small towne, containing not aboue 150 houses, and but three Ingenios for sugar. Most of the inhabitants are labouring men, which vse to carry victu∣als in their small barkes vnto Fernambuck; their Lord is called Lucas Giraldo.

The next place vnto this is called Puerto Seguro•* it consisteth of 4 small townes, which con∣taine not in all aboue 300 houses. The inhabitants of this towne also liue by carrying of victuals along the coast; and the towne it selfe belongeth to the Duke de Auero. Hard by this port begin the sholdes which they call Abrolhos;* and these sholdes lie aboue 25 leagues into the sea.

The next habitation of Christians beyond these sholdes is Espirito Santo which consisteth of two townes,* both of them contayning about 300 houses: and they belong to a gentleman called Vasques Fernandes de Coutinho.

From hence you passe along the coast to the riuer of Ienero,* which hath about three hundred houses. In this place the Frenchmen first inhabited, whose Captaine was called Monsieur de Villegagnon. The said Captaine made here a fort, and planted good ordinance thereon, and laded euery yeere great store of Brasill-wood from hence, and had great friendship with the sal∣uage people, who did him good seruice, by reason whereof the Frenchmen reaped much bene∣fite out of this countrey. But the king of Portugall sent out a power against the Frenchmen, who first tooke the french shippes by sea, and then landed and besieged the fort, and at length tooke it, and the Captaine thereof: vnto whom, because he was a gentle person, and neuer hurt the Portugales, they gaue thirtie thousand ducats for his ordinance, and for all other things that were in the fort, and so sent him for France. Since which time the Portugales haue inha••ted this riuer. There are at this present onely two Ingenios, but great store of Brasill-wood, with plentie of victuals.

From this riuer of Ienero they passe along the coast to Sant Vincente, which hath 4 townes,* the greatest whereof is called Santos, and consisteth of foure hundred houses, there are also three Ingenios. A fewe yeeres past there came two English ships into this harbour which were go∣ing for the Streights of Magellan. Who being in this port, there came thither three of the king of Spaines ships, and fought with the Englishmen,* but the Englishmen sunke one of their Page  788 ships, and therefore the king commanded a fort to be made,* to the ende that no English shippes that were bound for the streights of Magellan should victuall there, the which fort standeth on the mouth of the harbour. This countrey belongeth to a Gentleman called Martin Alonso de Souza: this is the last inhabited place vpon all the coast of Brasill. This coast of Brasill is very full of mountaines, and hath much raine falling vpon it, for which cause they cannot goe from towne to towne by land: all the habitations of this countrey are by the sea side. From Sant Vin∣cente the coast is all mountainous, till you come to the Ile of Santa Catelina,* and from this Iland till you come euen to the straights of Magellan, the coast is very plaine and without woods.

*Hauing proceeded thus farre, it will not be amisse to speake somewhat of the riuer of Plate, which is one of the greatest riuers in all the world: for at the mouth it is aboue fiue and twentie leagues from land to land: and the Spaniards haue gone vp in it aboue sixe hundred leagues, and could not attaine to the head thereof. The first Spaniard that entered this riuer, and inhabited the same was called Solis, who passed vp 100 leagues into it, and called it by the name of Rio de la Plata, that is to say, The riuer of siluer, because of the fine and cleare water that is in it, for I haue not heard of any siluer that euer was found there. The saide Solis returned into Spaine, without any further search into this riuer: howbeit another Captaine called Sebastian Cabota went vp this riuer 150 leagues,* and built a fort, which fort standeth vntill this present: where leauing his ships, he went higher vp the riuer in smal Pinnesses, and all along as he went he found many Indians: but finding neither gold nor siluer, nor ought •lse of any great value, he retur∣ned to his ships, and sayled for Spaine. Not many yeeres after a certaine Gentleman called Don Pedro de Mendoça furni•hed forth a great fleete of ships, wherein were shipped a thousand men, fortie mares, and twentie horses, with all other creatures to inhabite this riuer: and comming thither he went vp into the countrey to see what riches he could there finde, leauing all his stuffe, cattle, and prouision at a place called Buenos Ayeres,* so named in regard of the freshnesse of the ayre, and the healthfulnesse of his men• during their abode there: this place was rightie leagues within the riuer, and here he landed •i•st: at this place the riuer is aboue seuen leagues broad, and very low land on both sides without trees. This riuer is very often subiect to great and sudden stormes, so that with a storme this Don Pedro lost eight of his ships, and in the rest he returned for Spaine, saying to his men, that he would goe seeke victuals, and so left the greater part of them behinde. In his way h•m•ward he died, and the poore men which he left behind him, for the most part of them died for hunger also, because in that place there were very few Indians, and therefore but sm•ll store of victuals, onely they liued by hunting of Deere, and by fishing. Of all the men that Don Pedro left b•hind him there were but two hundred remaining aliue, who in the ship-boates went higher vp the riuer, leauing in the place called Buenos Ayeres their mares and horses:* but it is a wonder to see, that of thirty mares and seuen horses which the Spaniards left there, the increase in fortie yeeres was so great, that the countrey is 20 leagues vp sull of horses; whereby a man may coniecture the goodnesse of the pasture, and the fruitfulnesse of the soile. The Spaniards that went vp this riuer passed three hundred leagues, and found the countrey ful of Indians: who had great plenty of victuals, among whom the Spaniards dwelt as their friends, and the Indians bestowed their daughters in mariage vpon them, and so they dwelt altogether in one towne, which the Spaniards called La Ascension,* and it standeth on the Northside of the riuer. The foresaid Spaniardes were twentie yeres in this place, before any newes of their inha∣biting vpon this riuer was brought into Spaine: but waxing olde, and fearing that when they were dead, their sons which they had begotten in this countrey being very many, should liue with∣out the knowledge of any other Christians; they determined among themselues to build a ship, and to sende newes into Spaine with letters vnto the king of all things that had passed among them, vpon that riuer. These newes being brought to the king, he sent three ships, with a Bishop and certaine Priests, and Friers, and more men and women to inhabite, with all kind of cattell, when this succour was come, they inhabited in two places more on the N•rth side of the riuer, and trauelled three hundred leagues beyond the Ascension; but finding neither gold nor siluer, they returned backe againe vnto the Ascension. The people are so multiplyed in this citie, that now it is one of the greatest in all the Indias, and containeth aboue two thousand houses. The countrey adioyning is exceeding fruitfull, abounding with all kinds of victuals, & with sugar and cotton. From this citie of Ascension 150 leagues towards the mouth of the riuer standeth ano∣ther towne which they call Santa Fe,* on the South side of the said riuer, from which towne there lyeth an open high way lading into the land of Peru, so that when I come to intreat of Peru I wil speake of this way, and declare who first found it. Also fiue yeeres past they haue inhabited anew the towne of Buenos Ayr•s on the South side of the riuer, to the end they might haue trade from Page  789 the coast of Brasill, but their fortune was such, that the very first time they went to Brasill, and would haue returned againe to the riuer of Plate,* they were taken by two ships of England that were going for the streights of Magellan.

The coast along from this riuer to the streights of Magellan hath not bene perfectly discoue∣red, either by sea or lande, sauing onely certaine portes which they haue found, sayling to the streights. Wherefore passing them ouer, I will here intreat of the saide streights, and declare who was the first finder of them, as likewise what was the cause why they were sought for. The Portugales therefore hauing first found and conquered the East Indies, and discouered the coast of China, with the Ilands of the Malucos, (all which places abound with gold, precious stones, silkes, and other rich commodities) and bringing home the foresaide riches in their ships into Portugall: there grewe by this meanes great enuie betweene the Portugales and their neighbours the Spaniardes; insomuch that the Councell of Spaine saide vnto the Emperour Cha•les the fift being then their king, that the Portugales would be Lordes of all the riches of the world. Upon which words beganne a controuersie betweene the Emperour and the king of Portugall: but they being great friends before, and also kinsmen, agreed immediatly to part the whole world betweene them, in such wise as I for my part could neuer vnderstand the certain∣tie thereof. The world being thus diuided, a Portugal-gentleman called Fernando Magella∣nes borne in a place of Portugall called Punta de la barte,* being of a good house, & very wel scene in cosmographie, and an excellent Pilot, as also being offended with Don Emanuel his Soue∣reigne, departed out of Portugall into Spaine, and affirmed to the Councell of Spaine, that the Isles of the Malucos were in that part of the worlde which was allotted to the king of Spaine, and that he would finde a shorter way thither then the Portugales tooke, and layed before them such infallible reasons, that the Councell giuing credite vnto his wordes sent him to sea with fiue ships and 400 men all very well appointed. With these fiue ships setting saile from S. Lucar, he came to the coast of Brasill, where at that time two places were inhabited by Portugales, and so sayling on along that coast he passed by the riuer of Plate, which riuer was discouered a little be∣fore by Solis. And notwithstanding many stormes, and great mutinies among his companie, he came at length vnto 48 degrees, to the Southwards of the riuer of Plate: where he found an harbour, which he named Puerto de Sant Iulian,* and wintered there: and there also he hanged 5 men, and put on shore a Priest, because they would haue made the company to stand against their captaine, and so to haue returned backe againe. But in the end hauing pacified his men, he put to sea, and within 5 dayes after he found the streights, which by him were so much desired:* but be∣fore he entered the said streights there befell such a mutinie in one of his ships, that the same ship returned backe againe. And so himselfe with the other foure ships entering the streights, one of the said foure with all the men therein was cast away at the very enterance: which losse notwith∣standing he proceeded on with the other three ships, and passing many troubles and dangers in this long discouery, ceased not to prosecute his intended voyage. This discouery was at the first thought very profitable vnto the Spaniards, but of late it hath prooued very hurtfull vnto them by meanes of certaine coasters which haue sayled the selfe same course. These streights stand in 52 degrees and a halfe of Southerly latitude.* Also here is to be noted, that it is colder to the Southward of the line then to the Northward: in such wise, that in forty degrees to the South∣ward the colde is more sharpe, then in fiftie degrees to the North: experience doth alwaies shew the same; for it is as colde euen in the streights of Magellan, as it is in sixty degrees of Norther∣ly latitude. Howbeit the colde is not the cause why nauigators frequent not the same, but the Westerly and Southerly windes, which blowe most furiously on that coast, and that oftentimes out of the very mouth of the streightes, and so continue for the most part of the yeere. Also there runneth sometimes such a strong current, that if the winde and it goe all one way, the cables cannot holde, neither can the ship withstand the force thereof. For which cause, and also for that there is no harbour, till you be passed 30 leagues into the said streights, most part of the ships that haue gone thither haue indured many troubles before they could come to the streights, and being come to the mouth thereof they haue bene hindered by the current and winde, and so haue beene put backe againe. And to the end you may vnderstand the truth, I will declare vnto you all the shippes that haue past through the said streights, since Magellan first found them, vnto this present yeere of 1586, when I haue once ended my discourse of Magellan his owne voy∣age. Nowe you are by the way to vnderstande, that the North side of the enterance of these streights is plaine lande without any wood or trees:* here are likewise some Indians though not many, yet are they very mightie men of bodie of ten or eleuen foot high, and good bow-men, but no man-eaters, neither haue they any victuals, but such as they get by hunting and fishing; Page  790 they couer their bodies with the skinnes of beasts that they kill, to defend them from the colde: neither was there euer to this day any siluer or golde found among them or in their countrey. These Streights (they say) extend in length from East to West about an hundred and twentie leagues.* At the middle of these streights on the North side are many mountaines couered with snow,* which mountaines stretch from thence along the frontiers of Chili, Peru, and Nueuo reino de Granada, euen vnto the shore of the North sea at Santa Martha, as I haue before signified. It is a wonder to behold the exceeding heigth of these mountaines, and the way which they con∣tinue couered with snow, for euen vnder the Equinoctiall line they haue as much snowe vpon their tops as in 52 degrees. Also it is worthy the remembrance, that all this countrey towarde the South sea is very fruitfull, and the people very discreete and gentle: but all the coast to∣wardes Brasill vpon the North sea is poore, whereas neuer yet was found any commoditie of account, and the people themselues are very cruell and saluage; for the will of God is, that good and ciuill men should inhabite fruitfull countries. And for the better vnderstanding hereof you must note, that all the land lying betweene the said ridge of mountaines and the South sea is called by the names of Chili, Peru, and Nueuo reino de Granada,* which are the best and richest countreys in all the world: and most part of the land from the said mountaines to the North sea is called Brasi•l, being a mountainous countrey, * where as yet was neuer found either golde or siluer. From the said mountaines in the middle of the streights the land riseth high, till you come to the end of the streights where you enter into the South sea, in which place next the South sea the streights are very dangerous, by reason of the sholdes & rocks that lie on the North side. Thus Magellan after he had entered the South sea• within 60 dayes came to the Iles of the Malucos,* without touching at any land vntill he came thither: and so seeking there to lade his ships at an Iland inhabited by Moores, he was by them treacherously slaine. Now the Spaniards being too few for the managing of all three ships, because many of them were dead, partly with sicknes, and partly with the hardnesse of the voiage, determined to abandon one of their said ships, and so manned the other two: which two being laden with spices and other riches knew not what course they were best to take: howbeit at length it was determined, that one of these two ships should go for Nueua Espanna, and the other for the cape of Buena Esperança, and so for Spaine. The ship that went for Spaine was called The Victorie, the Pilot whereof was a Bis•ain named Iuan Se∣bastian del Cano,* to whom the king gaue great rewardes, and appointed him the globe for his armes, whereon was written: Primus omnium circunde distime: that is, thou art the first man that euer sayled about me.

And albeit this voyage was so long and troublesome as is before mentioned, yet many others haue attempted the same. And the next that sought to passe the said streights of Magellan were two ships of Genoa,* which comming as farre as the mouth of the streights were by a mightie storme driuen backe againe, and one of them, whose mast•r was called Pancaldo, put into the ri∣uer of Plate, and was cast away about Buenos Aeres, where to this day part of the said ship is to be seene, and some of the men are yet liuing in the riuer among the Spaniards: and the other ship returned to Genoa againe.

*Also there was a bishop of Placencia in Spaine, who couering riches, set foorth a fleet of foure sailes, to passe the streights, and so to goe for the Malucos: and getting license of the Emperour he sent his said 4 ships toward the streights which had very faire windes till they came thither: but being entered 20 leagues within the streights, a storme of Westerly windes tooke them, & droue 3 of them on shore, & the fourth backe into the sea, which (the storme being past) returned into the streights to seeke for his consorts, & found many men going on the shores side, but the ships were beaten all to pieces. So they on land called vnto the ship; but the captaine therof, considering that his ship was but little, & that he had but small store of victuals, would not go to them on shore, but proceeded on his voyage, & passed the streights. And because he was alone he would not saile to the Malucos, but went for the coast of Peru to the citie of Lima, where the ship remaineth vnto this day. The men of the other three ships, which were left in the streights being to the number of two hundred and fiftie (whose Captaine being kinsman to the bishop of Placencia was called *Queros) were neuer heard of vntill this present day, it being fortie yeres since they were left there. A yeare after this, certaine marchants of the Groine in Galicia set foorth other three ships, which ships also came to the streights mouth, where one of them was cast away with all the men, and the other two returned for Spaine.

Also I haue had intelligence of certaine Portugall ships, which being come to the mouth of the Streights lost two of their Pinnesses which they sent to discouer the land, and then returned back. And after these, two French ships were sent from the riuer of Ienero by Monsieur de Vil∣legagnon,Page  791 but being come to the latitude of 45. degrees,* they were driuen backe by a storme of contrary winds. After all this the gouernour of Chili called Don Garcia de Mendoça sonne to the Marques of Cannette determining to discouer the sayd Streights from the South sea, sent from Chili two ships vnder the conduct of a captaine called Latherelio: but the danger to seeke these Streights by the South sea is more then by the North sea, because all the stormes of the North sea come from the land, but in the South sea all the windes and stormes come off the sea, and force the ships to run vpon the lee-shore, insomuch that the sayd two ships were cast away in fiftie degrees.

The seeking of these Streights of Magellan is so dangerous, and the voyage so troublesome, that it seemeth a matter almost impossible to be perfourmed, insomuch that for the space of thirty yeeres no man made account thereof;* vntill of late one Francis Drake an Englishman (of whom I h•ue before spoken) seeing hee could doe no good on the maine lande of the West Indies to ben•fit himselfe, because of the galleys of Cartagena that kept the coast, determined to seeke the S•reights of Magellan, and to passe into the South sea. And so hauing prouided two ships and three pinnesses in England, he proceeded on his voyage, and comming to the Islandes of Cape Verde tooke a Portugal shippe laden with wine, the Pilot whereof beeing a Portugal called Nuno da Syl•a, hee caried along with him, who was a great helpe and furtherance vnto him in his voyage. And this which I shall here say, I had in writing of the Portugal pi∣lot himselfe.

From the Islands of Cape Verde the sayd Francis Drake sailed vnto Port Sant Iulian, where he wintered: and there also hee put to death a gentleman of his company,* because hee would• haue returned home. This port I take to bee accursed, for that Magellan likewise put some to death there for the like offence.

This Francis Drake putting out of the sayd port, entred the Streights, and within twelue dayes gotte into the South sea. And two dayes after there arose such a storme of Westerly windes (which are vsuall in those parts) that he lost his pinnesse, and his Uiceadmirall master Iohn Winter was driuen backe againe into the Streights, who passing many dangers returned home into England. But Francis Drake himselfe ranne with this storme into seuen and fifty de∣grees of Southerly latitude,* where hee found an Island with a good harborough, and fresh water, and stayed at the same Island two moneths to repayre his ships: and then, the weather beeing faire, he proceeded on his voyage, and came to the coast of Chili to an Island called La Mocha;* where hee went on shore, and talked with the Indians: but when hee would haue re∣turned vnto his boate they shotte their arrowes at him, and killed two of his men, and hee him∣selfe was wounded in the face.

Going from thence hee passed by the •owne of Concepcion not knowing the place,* and so to Valparizo which is the port of Sant Iago, where hee found a ship laden with a kind of victuals and wine, and had in her besides threescore thousand p•zos of gold, euery pezo being worth eight shillings sterling: and taking this ship with him hee went from thence to another p•rt called Coquimbo:* where seeing many cattell on the land, he sent presently some of his men with calie∣uers to kill of the sayd cattell: but being espied of the Spaniards that dwelt in the towne, they sent twelue horsemen to see what they were that killed their cattell, for they knew them not: and comming neere vnto them, the Englishmen fled to their boates, but the horsemen ouertooke one of them who had a halbard in his hand, whom the Spaniards thought to haue taken: but hee with his halbard killing one of their horses was himselfe runne through with a lance, and so the Spaniards carried him dead with them into the towne. The next day the newes came to Sant Iago, that they were Englishmen, and how they had taken the shippe out of the harbour of Val∣parizo: whereupon they of Sant Iago sent a Post by land to giue warning vnto them of Peru. Howbeit by reason that the countrey betweene this place and Peru is not inhabited for the space of two hundreth leagues, and many huge and colde mountaines couered with snowe he in the way, the Poste was so long in perfourmance of this iourney, that captaine Drake was vpon the coast of Peru a moneth before the sayd Poste came thither: neither could they send any newes by sea, because they were destitute of shipping.

Captaine Drake departing from Coquimbo sayled to another porte not inhabited, where he set vp a pinnesse. And going from thence, the next place where he touched was a porte vpon the coast of Peru called los Pescadores:* and there hee landed, and in one of the fishermens houses found of a Spaniards three thousand pezos of siluer in little barres.

From hence he went to another port called Arica,* which being the next towne to Chili that the Spaniards haue in all Peru, containeth an hundreth houses: and this is the norte where they dis∣charge Page  792 their merchandize that passe from Lima to Potossi, and to all other cities within the land, and likewise at this place they were wont to embarke all the siluer which they caried for Pana∣má. At this port of Arica he found a ship that had in her thirteene thousand pezos of siluer, which hauing taken out, he burned the sayd ship, and after thought to haue landed, but seeing both horse∣men and footemen on shore hee would not, but proceeded on his voyage. Since captaine Drake was at this porte they carie their siluer by land to Lima, and lade no more treasure here, but onely discharge the merchants goode that come from Spaine hither. Also they haue built a forte at this place for the better safety of the inhabitants, and haue planted it with ten pieces of Ordinance, and euery summer there lie in garison an hundred souldiers besides the townesmen. From hence he sayled to another porte called Chuli:* in which port was a ship that had three hundred thousand pezos of siluer in barres: but they had sent horsemen from Arica to giue aduertizement of Drakes being on the coast, which newes came but two houres to the towne before his arriuall at the sayd porte: whereupon the Master of the shippe hauing no leisure to carie his siluer on shore, was forced to throwe it into the sea in sixe fadome water, where his ship road, and so to runne on shore in the shippes boate. And captaine Drake comming aboord the ship was told by an Indian, that the Master had throwen the siluer ouerboord. Wherfore seeing that newes began to run of him from towne to town he stayed not here, but ran along the coast: and because he would haue no lets, he cast off the ship which he had taken at Sant Iago, with neuer a man in her, which ship was neuer heard of after. And so without staying any where he shaped his course for Lima, and com∣ming to the harborough of Lima called El Callao,* being two leagues distant from Lima it selfe, (for Lima standeth vp into the land) hee arriued there one day, before the newes of him was brought to Lima, and found the men in the ships without suspicion. And as hee entred into the port, there came in also a ship from Panama laden with merchandize, and hee sent his pinnesse to take her: but the men forsaking the ship be tooke them to their boate, and went on shore: and as the Englishmen followed the boat, a Spaniard that was therein shot a piece, and slew one of cap∣taine Drakes men in the pinnesse. Wherefore hee followed the boat no farther, but went with his pinnesse into the harbour among fourteene saile of ships that lay there, in all which ships there was not a man that had so much as a sword or a piece to molest him, wherefore hee did with lesse feare go from ship to ship, asking them if there were any ships gone for Panamá; for he knew wel, that the ships which goe for Panamá carie both siluer & gold, neither sought he for any thing else, for there were marchandize enough for him in those ships, if hee had bene desirous to haue had the same. So they told him that three dayes past there was a ship gone for Panamá which caried all the merchants siluer thither. Whereupon he presently set saile towards Panamá; for when hee came into this port it was about midnight, so that the Spaniards could not see what ships he had. At last the newes came to Lima vnto the Uiceroy of Peru, that there were enemies in the harbor, but they knew not what they were. Wherefore the Uiceroy & all the people were in great feare, lest some Spaniards had made a mutinie, and put themselues in armes: and so the next morning himselfe accōpanied with 2000 horsemen & footmen came from ••e citie down to the waters side, and finding some of the Englishmens arrowes that were shot at the boat, out of which their man was slain, they knew them to be Englishmen: and then they were al in quiet, seeing it was but one ship, for as yet the ship lay becalmed 3 dayes before the towne. Whereupon they forthwith pro∣uided 2 ships with 200 men in them, to boord captain Drake or els to burne his ship; and after the ships went 2 small pinnesses, because that if any of the ships should be sunke, they might saue the men. But it was a day & a halfe before these things could be made ready, & in the end going forth they found y^e English ship still becalmed, & the calme was such, that the Spaniards could not come at them. The same night, the wind blowing afresh gale, the Spaniards returned into the harbour, and captaine Drake set forward to Panamá. The cause of the Spaniards returne was, for that they had no Ordinance, nor victuals to tarry any longer out. Then the Uiceroy caused sixe pie∣ces of Ordinance to bee made, neither could hee make any more, in regard of the shortnesse of time: so with these pieces of Ordinance, and three shippes,* and two hundred and fifty men in them hee sent after captaine Drake; who after hee had winde stayed no where, nor tooke any ships at all, notwithstanding hee met with many comming from Panamá laden with merchan∣dize, but still hee inquired after the shippe that was gone to Panamá before him: of which ship he had sight about the cape of Sant Francisco,* the Master wherof was a Biskaine, called Iuan de Anton: who seeing this ship of the Englishmens, thought that the Uiceroy of Peru had sent him some message, and therefore strooke all his sailes: but so soone as hee might discerne the shippe somewhat better, hee would then faine haue gone his way, for hee knew that it was none of that coast, and then hee began to hoise his sailes, but could by no meanes get from Captaine DrakePage  793 because hee was within the reach of his great Ordinance, for the Spaniards not hauing so much as a rapier to defend themselues, were soone constrained to yeelde.* There were in this shippe a∣boue eight hundred and fifty thousand pezos of siluer, and forty thousand pezos of gold, all which siluer and golde was customed; but what store of treasure they had besides vncustomed I knowe not, for many times they cary almost as much more as they pay custome for; otherwise the king would take it from them, if they should be knowen to haue any great summe; wherefore euery shippe carieth his bill of custome, that the king may see it. All this treasure that captaine Drake tooke was merchants and other mens goods, sauing one hundred and eighty thousand pezos of the kings. He had also out of this ship good store of victuals with other necessaries, which were to bee caried for Panamá, and was fiue dayes taking out of such things as hee needed. This done, he sayled from hence to the coast of Nueua Espanna without going to Panamá. Surely this was a great plague of God iustly inflicted vpon vs for our sinnes: for the taking of these ships is an especiall cause of all the dangerous warres that are likely to ensue betweene Spaine and England.

Now the ships that were sent by the Uiceroy of Peru from Lima after Francis Drake, arri∣ued at Cape Sant Francisco twenty dayes after hee had taken the foresayd shippe, and had intelli∣gence by a ship comming from Panamá, which they met at the sayd cape, that Francis Drake had taken the ship with siluer, and was not gone for Panamá. Whereupon the captaine of the three ships thinking that captaine Drake had bene gone for the Streights of Magellan, directed his course that way to seeke him.

Captaine Drake carried from the coast of Peru eight hundreth sixty sixe thousand pezos of sil∣uer, which is as much as right hundred sixty sixe quintals, at 100 pound weight the quintal, euery quintal b•ing worth one thousand and two hundreth ducats of Spaine; all which summe amoun∣teth to a million and thirtie nine thousand and two hundreth ducats. Besides this siluer hee caried away a hundred thousand pezos of gold, that is ten quintals, each quintal being valued at a thou∣sand fiue hundreth Spanish ducats, which last summe amounteth to an hundreth and fifty thou∣sand ducats: ouer and besides the treasure in the sayd ship which was vncustomed (the value whereof I cannot learne) consisting of pearles, precious stones, reals of plate, and other things of great worth.

With all this purchase he sayled toward Nueua Espanna; and at an Island lying before that coast called The Island of Cano hee discharged all things out of his shippe and graued her,* and remained there ten dayes. From thence hee went along the coast of Nueua Espanna, where hee tooke certaine ships laden with spices, silkes, and veluets, but no golde nor siluer, for there was none to bee had on this coast. And here at Guatulco he set on shore his Portugal-pilot, which he tooke at one of the Islands of Cape Verde. But what course he kept from this coast till he came into England I know not of certaine•y, and therefore I will not meddle therewithall.

The foresayd three ships which were sent in pursuit of captaine Drake, returned backe againe to Lima without doing of ought. All which notwithstanding, the Uiceroy of Peru determined to send two ships to the Streights of Magellan, either to meete with captaine Drake there, or else to see if they could fortifie the sayd Streights against such ships as might afterward attempt to passe through the same. And albeit this was thought a most dangerous voyage, and impossible to be perfourmed, by reason of the sholds on that side of the Streights, yet sent he forth the two said ships. The Admirall being a ship of an hundreth tunnes, and the other of eighty tunnes, & hauing one hundreth and twenty men in them both, sayled from Lima vnder the conduct of Pedro Sarmi∣ento,* who was then accompted the best nauigator in all Peru. These ships after their departure touching on the coast to take in victuals, were nine moneths before they came to the latitude of the Streights, and there were they encountred with a cruel storme: but Pedro Sarmiento being a man of good courage, bare in with the land in this storme, & in a night hee was put into the streits, not knowing how nor which way; and the other ship running farther into the sea, sayled to 58 de∣grees of Southerly latitude.* The storme being past, this other shippe found many Islands neere vnto the main land, and so returned with faire weather all along the shore, neither could they find any other way to enter the Streights, but onely that which Magellan discouered:* notwithstan∣ding that others affirme the contrary, saying that the Streights be full of Islands to the South∣wards: but they may be dec•iued, for if there be any other Streight, it is beyond 58 degrees, and hath neuer bene seene of any man: for this ship was farthest to the Southwards of all that euer I heard of: for Francis Drake being driuen by tempest no farther then 57 degrees could not know so much as this other; which ship from hence returned backe to Lima. But Pedro Sarmiento entred the Streights, where his men falling into a mutinie would haue returned to Lima;Page  794 whereupon hanging one of them he proceeded on his voyage for Spaine. Where being arriued, he told the king that there were two narrow places in the Streights where he might build a forte,* and that there was a very good countrey abounding with great store of riches and other necessa∣ries, and very well inhabited with Indians. Upon whose wordes, and for that there were more ships making ready in England to passe the sayd Streights, the king sent Diego Flores de Val∣dez with 23 ships and 3500 men, and a new gouernour to Chili with fiue hundred old souldiers newly come out of Flanders. These ships had the hardest hap of any that euer went out of Spaine since the Indias were first discouered: for that before they could get cleere of the coast of Spaine, a storme tooke them, and cast away fiue of them, and aboue eight hundred men, and the residue of the fleete put into Cadiz. Notwithstanding which hard successe, the king sent them word that they should proceede: and so they did with sixteene sailes only, for two other of their ships were so shaken with the storme, that they could not goe foorth. In these sixteene saile of ships Pedro Sar∣miento was sent to be gouernour in the streights: he caried with him all kind of artificers, to build forts, and other necessaries, with great store of Ordinance and munition. This fleete because it set late foorth, wintered on the coast of Brasil in the riuer of Ienero. Winter being past, they set sayle from hence, and about the height of 42 degrees they had such a storme, that Diego Flores was faine to beate it vp and downe about 22 dayes; in which storme was sunke one of his best ships, and in her three hundred men and twenty women that went to inhabite the streights, and most part of the munition that should haue bene left in the streights were all cast away. In the ende the storme grew so intollerable, that the ships not being able to endure it any longer were constrained to put backe againe vnto an Island called Santa Catelina: and there he found a barke wherein were certaine friers going for the riuer of Plate, which friers told him of two great En∣glish ships and a pinnesse that had taken them, but tooke nothing from them, nor did them any harme, but onely asked them for the king of Spaines ships. Now Diego Flores supposing that these English ships would go to the streights, was himselfe determined to go to the streights also, though it was in the moneth of February: and choosing tenne shippes of the fifteene that were left, he sent three of the residue that were old a•d shaken with the storme (wherein he put all the women and sicke men that were in the fleete) backe againe to the riuer of Ienero; leauing the o∣ther two shippes, which were not able to brooke the sea, at the foresayd Island; and so himselfe with the sayd ten ships returned againe for the streights.

*Now the three ships wherein the sicke men and the women were embarked, came to the port of Sant Vincent: where finding the two foresayd English ships, and vrging them to auoide the harbour, the English entred combat with them: and by reason that these three ships were weake∣ned with former tempests, and were manned with the refuse of all the Spanish fl•ete, the En∣glishmeu easily put them to the worst, and sunke one of them, and might also haue sunke another, if they had bene so minded; but they desired not the destruction of any man: and doubtlesse it is the greatest valour that any man can shew, that when hee may doe hurte, he will not. Hereupon the Englishmen departed from this porte vnto Espirito Santo,* where they had victuals for their merchandize: and so they returned home to England without doing any harme in the countrey. The cause why these English captaines went not to the streights I know not: some say, that they were put backe by foule weather, others suppose that it was for feare of the kings ships: but the pinnesse that belonged to these shippes wherein Iohn Drake went as captaine,* departed from them: the cause why hee did so, is vnknowen: but this pinnesse entred the riuer of Plate, and within fiue leaguas of Seale-island, not farre from the place where the Erle of Cumber∣lands ships tooke in fresh water, it was cast away vpon a ledge of rockes; but the men were all saued in the boate. Who being eighteene in number went on shore vpon the Northside of the Island, and passing tenne dayes iourney vp into the lande, they met with certaine Saluage people, which are no man-eaters, but take all the Christians that they can get, and make them their slaues: howbeit the Englishmen fought with them, and being too fewe in number, fiue of them were slaine, and the other thirteene taken prisoners, who remained with the Sal∣uages about fifteene moneths.

But the Master of the pinnesse called Richard Faireweather, being loth any longer to indure that miserie wherein hee was, and hauing knowledge of a towne of Christians on the other side of the riuer, called on a night Iohn Drake, and another yoong man which was with them, and tooke a Canoa being very little, and hauing but two oares, and passed therewith on the other side of the riuer, which is full nine leagues broade; and being three dayes before they could get ouer, they were much pined for lacke of meate. But comming to land, they hit vpon an high way that went towards the Christians: and spying the footing of horses, they followed it, and at last came Page  795 to an house, neere vnto the which corne was sowed. And there they met with Indians that were seruants to the Spaniards, who gaue them foode, and clothes to couer them withall, for they were all naked. And one of the sayd Indians went to the towne, and caried newes of the En∣glishmen: whereupon the captaine of the towne sent our foure horsemen, which brought them to the towne behinde them, and the sayd captaine clothed them, and prouided lodging for them, and Iohn Drake sate at the captaines owne table, and hee intreated them all very well, thinking to send them for Spaine. But the Uiceroy of Peru hearing this newes sent for them, and they sent him Iohn Drake; but the other two they kept, because they were maried in the countrey. Thus much concerning their affaires. Upon these newes also there were prepared fifty horse∣men to goe ouer the riuer, both to seeke the rest of the Englishmen, and certaine Spaniardes which were amongst those Saluage people; but I am not assured whether they went for∣ward or no.

Nowe let vs returne to Diego Flores: who passing from the Island of Santa Catelina to∣wards the streights of Magellan in the middle of February, and comming to the height of the ri∣uer of Plate, sent the gouernour of Chili with three ships vp the riuer to Buenos Ayres, that hee might from thence passe ouerland to Chili.* Of these three ships two were lost, but the men and prouisions were saued; and the third returned for Spaine. Then Diego Flores with the other seuen ships proceeded on to the latitude of 52. degrees, whereas the mouth of the Streights beginneth: but because it was the ende of March, which there is the latter ende of summer, the countrey was so full of snow, and withall there arose such a sudden storme, that he could not set Sarmiento and his men on shore, but was constrained the second time to returne vnto the riuer of Ienero vpon the coast of Brasil; where he heard newes of the English ships by the two Spa∣nish ships that escaped from them. Upon which newes he left his lieutenant Diego de Ribera, and Pedro Sarmiento, that they might the next yeere returne for the streights. And so Diego Flores himselfe with foure ships which were yet remaining vnto him,* and other foure which the king sent to succour him, set forth to seeke the Englishmen; but hauing runne along all the coast of Brasil hee could not finde them, because they were gone directly for England. Whereupon shaping his course vnto a port called Paraiua,* and finding there fiue French ships, he burnt three and tooke two, and the fort also which the Frenchmen had built, and put Spaniardes there∣in, but the Frenchmen fledde into the mountaines to the Saluages. This done hee returned for Spaine.

In the meane season his Lieutenant Diego de Ribera,* and Pedro Sarmiento had the next yeere so good fortune, that they arriued safely in the streights with all their ships, and set on shore foure hundreth men: but because the ships boate could not land, being once laden, they ran that ship, which had all the victuals and munition in her, on shore in a bay, and as the water did ebbe they tooke all things out of her. This being done, Diego de Ribera left Sarmiento with foure hundreth men, thirtie women, and a ship, with victuals for eight moneths: and with the other three shippes hee returned, hauing remained in the Streights but eight dayes. Nowe Pedro Sarmiento built a towne at the mouth of the Sreights on the North side,* placing therein an hun∣dreth and fiftie men: and from thence he went by land, and sent the ship further into the streights, and fiftie leagues within the Streights, at the narrowest place of all, where there is a very good porte, hee built another towne, which he named The towne of king Philip;* and would also haue made a forte, and planted Ordinance for the defence of the Streights: but the snowe and Winter was so intollerable, that hee could not bring it to perfection. Whereupon taking about 25 ma∣riners with him into the foresayd ship, hee sayd hee would goe see howe his other people did, and so hee sayled to the Streights mouth, vnto the towne which was first built; where hauing conti∣nued a day or two, he sayd that a storme put him from the Sreights by force and brake his cables; but his men affirmed the contrary, that himselfe cut his cables (God knoweth the trueth) and so be passed to the riuer of Ienero; and not finding there any succour come from the king, he sayled to Fernambuck, crauing ayde of the captaine to furnish him with victuals. And so the captaine presently fraighted his ship with victuals and clothes for his people left in the Streights, and so sailed thitherward. But between Cape S. Augustin and Baya the wind came off the sea with such violence, that it forced the ship to run on shore; where Sarmiento had three of his men drowned, and he with the rest hardly escaped: and so this ship was lost with all the prouision in her.

From thence hee passed by land to Baya where the gouernour of Brasil bought him a barke that lay in the harbour, lading the same with victuals and clothes for Sarmientos colonie. With this prouision and diuers other necessaries for his people hee tooke his voyage for the Streights, and comming to the height of foure and forty degrees, hee met on the sudden with such a furious Page  796 storme, that he was forced to throw his fraight ouerboord, and also to returne to the riuer of Iene∣ro. Where staying a whole yeere for succour from the king, there came not so much as a letter from him. For the king was sore displeased at Pedro Sarmiento, because hee made him beleeue that the narrowest place of the Streights was but a mile ouer: and that it might bee fortified so that a boate could not passe: whereas Diego de Ribera, and others certified the king, that it was aboue a league broade, and that if a ship came with winde and current, all the Ordinance in the world could not hurte it. Wherefore the king thought that Pedro Sarmiento had deceiued him, in making him to lose so many men, and so much charges to no effect. And the gouernour of Baya seeing that the king wrote not vnto him,* would giue him no more succour: so thet Sarmiento was constrained to make a voyage for Spaine in the same shippe, wherein hee last sayled toward the Streights: and it is sayd that hee was taken in the way by Englishmen, and caried into England. This Sarmiento hath caried the name to be the best Nauigator in all Spaine, and that hee hath sayled the furthest of all others. After all this the captaine of the riuer of Ienero sent a smal ship with victuals for the Streightes, which was put backe also in fortie degrees. And this is all the discouery of the Streights of Magellan, made as well by Spaniards as other na∣tions vnto this present yeere 1586.* It is foure yeeres since these poore and miserable Spani∣ards were left in the Streights, from which time there hath no succour gone vnto them, so God he knoweth whether they be dead or aliue.

Thus according to my promise I haue declared vnto you to the vttermost of my knowledge, all things concerning the Indias, as farre as the very Streights of Magellan; thinking to haue proceeded along the coast, as at the first; but that the doings of captaine Drake and other cap∣taines which attempted to passe the sayd Streights haue caused mee to bee the longer in this my pretended worke. Howbeit now let vs proceede on forward from the Streights to the coast of Chili: the distance betweene which two places no man hath trauelled by land, in regard of the huge mountaines couered with snow that lie in the way: yea I may well say, that it hath not often bene trauelled by sea; for that all the ships which haue passed that way haue at the least gone thirty leagues off the shore, to auoide the sholds and many little Islands that lie neere the maine land; and therefore the inland of that coast remaineth as yet vnknowen.

*The first towne after you haue passed the Streights standeth on the coast of Chili, and is cal∣led Castro, being situate vpon the worst place of all the coast, for there is but small store of golde with scarcitie of victuals, and a sharpe colde ayre. The harbour belonging to this towne is com∣passed about with so many sholdes, that it will serue but to receiue small barkes onely. The next towne to this is Baldiuia.*

*But before I passe any farther I will heere describe vnto you the situation and quality of Chili. This countrey stretcheth in length from North to South aboue two hundreth leagues, cont•ining in breadth but fiue and twenty leagues at the most.

From the great ridge of mountaines lying to the East of Chili runne very many riuers into the sea,* which riuers are the cause of diuers valleys the fruitfullest in all the worlde, where bread, wine, and other victuals mightily abound; and the sayd riuers also are very rich of gold. But to declare in fewe wordes the excellencie of this prouince, I say that it might well bee cal∣led an earthly paradise, saue that it locketh one onely commodity, and that is peace. It was first discouered on this maner: the Spaniards hauing conquered the kingdome of Peru, (as I will hereafter shewe vnto you) found in the sayd kingdome great store of golde; and asking the In∣dians from whence it came, they answered, from Chili. Upon which newes Don Diego de Almagro being one of the principall captaines that conquered Peru made a voyage with three hundreth horsemen toward Chili, being constrained in his way to goe ouer part of the snowy mountaines, which way his Indian guides conducted him, to the ende that himselfe and all his companie might die for colde. Howbeit the Spaniards, though they lost some of their horses, came to the first towne of Chili called Copiapo being situate vpon the first plaine at the entrance of the sayd prouince.* But hauing newes that the Indians were risen against the Spaniards of Peru and had inclosed them, hee returned backe without going any farther.

Nowe this captaine Don Diego de Almagro being slaine in the warres of Peru, another called Don Pedro de Baldiuia marching into Chili with foure hundreth horses, easily con∣quered that halfe of the countrey which was subiect to the kings of Peru. For knowing that Peru, being the chiefe countrey of their Emperour, was ouercome by the Spaniards, they al∣so immediately yeelded their lande vnto them. But the other halfe as it was the richest and the fruitfullest part,* so God had peopled it with the most valiant and furious people in all America.

Page  797The prouince which they inhabite called El Estado de Arauco is but a small prouince about 20 leagues in length,* and is gouerned by ten principall men of the countrey, out of which tenne they chuse the valiantest man for their generall in the warres. The kings of Peru in times past could neuer conquere this part of Chili, nor yet any other kings of the Indians. The weapons vsed by these people of Arauco are long pikes, halbards, bowes and arrowes: they also make them iacks of seale-skinnes, and head-pieces: in times past the heads of their halbards and pikes were of brasse, but now they haue gotten store of yron. They pitch their battels in maner like the Christians: for putting their pikemen in rankes, they place bowmen among them, and mar∣shall their troupes with discretion and great valour. Now the Spaniards comming vnto this prouince sent word vnto them by other Indians, saying that they were the children of God, and came to teach them the word of God, and that therefore they ought to yeelde themselues vnto them; if not, they would shoot fire among them and burne them. These people not fearing the great words of the Spaniards, but desiring to see that which they had heard reported, met them in the field, and fought a most cruell battell: but by reason of the Spaniards great ordinance and caliuers, they were in the end put to flight. Now these Indians thinking verily that the Spa∣niards were the children of God, because of their great ordinance which made such a noise, and breathed out such flames of fire, yeelded themselues vnto them. So the Spaniards hauing di∣uided this prouince made the Indians to serue their turnes for getting of gold out of the mines, which they enioyed in such abundance, that hee which had least had 20000 pezos, but Captaine Baldiuia himselfe had 300000 pezos by the yeere. The fame of these riches in the end was spred as farre as Spaine; from whence soone after resorted many Spaniards to the land of Chili, whom Captaine Baldiuia caused to inhabite sixe townes: to wit,*Villa nueua de la Serena cal∣led in the Indian tongue Coquimbo; the second Sant Iago which the Indians call Mapocha; the third La Concepcion called by the Indians Penco; the fourth La Imperial; the fift Baldi∣uia; and the sixt La Villa Rica. Also he built a fort in the middle of all the land, wherein hee put ordinance and souldiers: howbeit all this their good successe continued not long: for the Indi∣ans in short time perceiuing that the Spaniards were but mortall men as well as they, determi∣ned to rebell against them: wherefore the first thing that they did, they carried grasse into the said fort for the Spaniards horses,* and wood also for them to burne, among which grasse the Indians conueyed bowes and arrowes with great clubs. This done, fiftie of the Indians entred the sort, betooke themselues to their bowes, arrowes, and clubs, and stood in the gate of the sayd fort: from whence making a signe vnto other of their nation for helpe, they wanne the fort, and slewe all the Spaniards. The newes of this ouerthrow comming to the towne of Concepcion where Cap∣taine Baldiuia was, hee presently set foorth with two hundred horsemen to seeke the Indians, taking no more men with him, because he was in haste. And in a plaine he met the Indians, who comming of purpose also to seeke him, and compassing him about, slew most part of his compa∣ny, the rest escaping by the swiftnesse of their horses: but Baldiuia hauing his horse slaine vnder him was taken aliue. Whom the Indians wished to be of a good courage, and to feare nothing; for the cause (said they) why we haue taken you, is to giue you gold ynough. And hauing made a great banquet for him, the last seruice of all was a cuppe full of melted gold, which the Indians forced him to drinke, saying, Now glut thy selfe with gold, and so they killed him.* This Bal∣diuia was a most valiant man, who had beene an olde souldier in the warres of Italy, and at the sacking of Rome.

Upon this discomfiture the Spaniards choose for their Captaine one Pedro de Villa grande;* who assembling all the Spaniards in Chili, and taking with him tenne peeces of ordinance, mar∣ched against those Indians; but with so badde successe, that he lost not onely the field and many of his men, but also those ten peeces of ordinance which hee brought. The Indians hauing thus gotten the victorie, went streightway against the towne of Concepcion, from whence the Spa∣niards fled for feare, and left the towne desolate. And in this maner were the Spaniards chased by the Indians out of the countrey of Arauco. But newes hereof being brought to the Marques of Cannete viceroy of Peru, hee sent his sonne Don Garcia de Mendoça against those Indians,* with a great power of horsemen, and footmen, and store of Artillerie. This nobleman hauing sub∣dued Chili againe, & slaine in diuers battels aboue 40000 Indians, and brought them the second time vnder the Spaniards subiection, newly erected the said fort that stoode in the midst of the land, inhabited the towne of Concepcion againe, and built other townes for the Spaniards: and so leauing the land in peace, hee returned for Peru. But yer hee was cleane departed out of the land the Indians rebelled againe, but could not doe so much mischiefe as they did before, because the Spaniards tooke better heede vnto them. From that time vntill this present there hath Page  798 bene no peace at all: for notwithstanding many Captaines and souldiers haue done their vtter∣most, yet can they not bring that people wholly in subiection. And although the Spaniards haue in this prouince eleuen townes and two bishoprickes,* yet haue they little ynough to maintaine themselues, by reason of the warres; for they spend all the golde that the •••d yeel•eth in the maintenance of their souldiers: which would not bee so, if they had peac••••r then they might worke in all their mines.

Thus hauing spoken somewhat of the situation of Chili,* and of the troublesome conquest therof, I will returne to my former discourse where I left. Baldiuia therefore being of 150 houses hath twise bene burnt and spoyled by the Indians; so that now it is wate•poore, but before the In∣dians sacked it, it was very rich: and it standeth vp a riuer foure leagues from the sea. Passing from hence you come to the plaine countrey of Arauco being situate ouer against the Island La Mocha,* on which Island the Indians that inhabite belong to the maine land.

Hauing passed the plaine of Arauco, the next towne of the Spaniards that you come vnto is La Concepcion which hath •eene the greatest and the richest towne in all Chili;* but by rea∣son that the Indians haue burned the same foure times, it is now growen very poore, and hath small store of people: it contayneth about some two hundred houses. And because it adioyneth vpon the plaine of Arauco where these valiant Indians bee, therefore this towne is enuironed about with a strong wall, and hath a fort built hard by it: and here are 500 souldiers continually in garrison. Betweene this place and Valparizo,* the Indians call the coast by the name of Mapocha. Sant Iago it selfe standing 25 leagues vp into the countrey, is the principall towne of all Chili, and the seate of the gouernour; it consisteth of about 800 houses. The port of Valpa∣rizo whither the goods come from Lima by shipping, hath about twentie houses standing by it. The next towne neere the sea side beyond this is Coquimbo,* which standeth two leagues vp in∣to the land, and containeth about 200 houses. Next vnto Coquimbo standeth a port-towne cal∣led Copiapo inhabited altogether by Indians which serue the Spaniards:* and here a gentle∣man which is gouernour of the towne hath an Ingeuio for sugar: at this place endeth the whole prouince of Chili. Here also the mountaines ioyning hard vpon the sea are the cause why all the land betweene Copiapo and Peru, containing 160 leagues, lyeth desolate.

*The first towne on the coast of Peru called Atacama is inhabited by Indians which are slaues vnto the Spaniards. But before I passe any farther I will here also declare vnto you the first discouerie of Peru with other matters there to belonging, and then will I returne to the sea-coast againe: and to the ende you may vnderstand mee the better, I will begin with Panama. After that the Spaniards had inhabited the North side of this maine land, passing ouer the mountaines they discouered the South sea: where because they found Indian people with gold and pearles, they built a towne eighteene leagues to the West of Nombre de Dios hard vpon the sea-side, and called it Panama. From hence they discouered along the coast of Nueua Espanna: and for that Nueua Espanna was at the same time inhabited by Spaniards, there beganne a trade from thence to Panama: but from Panama by sea to the coast of Peru they could not trade in a long time, because of the Southerly winds blowing on this coast almost all the yeere long, which are a hinderance to shippes sayling that way: and by land the passage was impossible, in regard of mountaines and riuers: yea it was fifteene yeeres before they passed the Island of Pearles, which is but twentie leagues from Panama. There were at this time in Panama two men, the one cal∣led Francisco Piçarro borne in the citie of Truxillo in Spaine, a valiant man, but withall poore: the other called Diego de Almagro was very rich. These men got a company vnto them, and prouided two Carauels to discouer the coast of Peru: and hauing obtained licence of the gouer∣nour of that place, Francisco Piçarro set foorth with two foresayd Carauels and 100 men, and Diego de Almagro stayed in Panama to send him victuals and other necessaries. Now Francisco Piçarro sayling along the coast met with much contrary winds and raine, which put him to great trouble; and he began also after a while to lacke victuals, for hee was sailing of that in eight moneths which they now passe in fifteene dayes, and not knowing the right course hee ranne into euery riuer and bay that hee saw along the coast; which was the chiefe cause that hee stayed so long on his voyage: also thirtie of his company dyed by reason of the vnhealthfulnesse of the coast. At last hee came to an Island called by him Isla del Gallo,* being situate from the maine land sixe leagues. From hence he sent one of his ships to Panama for a new supply of vic∣tuals & of men: which ship being departed, 40 of his men that remained behind made a muti•y, and passed vp into the countrey, meaning to returne by land to Panama, but in the way they all peri∣shed, for they were neuer heard of vntill this day. So that Francisco Piçarro was left vpon the said Island onely with thirteene men: who although he had his ship there in which he might haue Page  799 returned, yet would he rather die then goe backe; and his 13 men also were of his opinion, not∣withstanding that they had no other victuals, but such as they had from the maine land in the night season. Thus he continued nine moneths, before any succour was brought him from Panama: but in the end his ship returned with 40 men onely and victuals: whereupon hee prosecured his voyage till he came to the first plaine countrey of Peru called Tumbez,* where he found a fort made by the king of Peru against the Indians of the mountaines. Wherefore Piçarro and his men were very glad in that they had found a people of so good vnderstanding and discretion, being rich also in gold and siluer and well apparelled. At this port of Tumbez hee tooke 30000 pezos of gold in trucke of marchandize: and hauing too few men to proceede any further hee carried two Indians with him to learne the language and returned backe for Panama. Upon this discouery Francisco Piçarro thought it expedient to trauell into Spaine to •raue of the king the conquest of this land. Whither being come, the king granted his request. And with the money which he carried ouer with him he hired a great number of men with a fleete of ships, and brought also a∣long with him foure of his brethren very valiant and hardy men. And being come to Panama he straightway went on his voyage for Peru, being accompanied with his partner Diego de Alma∣gro. They sailed first to the Island called Isla del Gallo; where Francisco Piçarro and his bre∣thren went on land, and left Diego de Almagro in the ships. And the whole number which afterward landed on the maine land were 60 horsemen and 120 footemen, with two great field-peeces.

But before we proceede any farther, we thinke it not amisse to describe vnto you the situation of Peru,* and the naturall disposition of the inhabitants: This countrey was called Peru by the Spaniards, of a riuer so named by the Indians, where they first came to the sight of gold. From which riuer standing vnder the line, till you come to Copiapo the first towne on the coast of Chili, stretcheth the land of Peru, for the space of eight hundred leagues: vpon sixe hundred whereof from A•acama to Tumbez did neuer drop of raine fall, since the flood of Noah: and yet is it the fruitfullest land for all kind of victuals and other necessaries for the sustentation of mans life that is to be found in all the world besides. The reason why it raineth not in this land is because it beeing a plaine countrey and very narrow and low, situate betweene the Equinoctiall and the tropique of Capricorne, there runneth on the West frontier not aboue twentie leagues from the sea called Mar del Sur Eastward thereof, a mighty ridge of high mountaines couered with snow, the height of which mountaines so draweth the moisture of the cloudes vnto it selfe, that no raine falleth vpon the vallies of Peru.* From these mountaines issue great store of riuers into the South sea, with the waters whereof drawen by certaine s•uces and chanels they moisten their vineyardes and corne-fields, and by this meanes the land is so exceeding fruitfull. Betweene these mountaines and the mountaines of Chili that stretch vnto the Streits of Magellan, lyeth a plaine of 60 leagues ouer, being so cold that it yeeldeth no Wheat, but good store of other vic∣tuals. This countrey of Peru is full of people well apparelled and of ciuill behauiour. It hath many mines of gold and more of siluer, as also great store of copper, and t••ne-mines,* with abun∣dance of saltpeter, and of brimstone to make gun-pouder. There are likewise cattell of all sorts, among which there is a beast in shape somewhat resembling a camel, but no bigger then a steere of a yeere olde; they serue to carry burthens, their flesh being good to eate, and their wooll apt for many purposes. This beast is accounted the most profitable of al others for the vse of man: how∣beit the Spaniards since their first comming haue replenished this countrey with horses, kine, sheepe, and goates, and likewise with plentie of wheat. So that in fewe words this land hath a∣bundance of riches and victuals, and is the healthfullest place in the world. There were in times past kings of this land which were mightie Monarchs, whose dominions stretched 1200. leagues, and their lawes were very ciuill, saue that they were worshippers of the Sunne. At what time the Spaniards first entred this land there were two brethren of the blood royall which stroue who should haue the kingdome, the one called Guascar, and the other A•abalipa.* Nowe Guascar had possession of all the mountaines and the lands within them: and Atabalipa was lord of all the sea coast, and of the valleys situate betweene the said mountaines and the sea. The Indians seeing the Spaniards at the first arriue vpon their shore called them Vera coche, which in their language signifieth, The fome of the sea. Also Atabalipa the Indian prince sent vnto them to know what they did in his land, and what they sought for: the Spaniards made answere that they were the messengers of a great lord, and that they came to speake with the prince him∣selfe: who sent them word that they should come with a very good will; and so Atabalipa stayed for them at a citie called Caxamalca, being thirtie leagues distant from the sea side. Whither being come, they found the Indian prince sitting in a chariot of gold, carried vpon mens shoulders, Page  800 and accompanied with aboue 60000 Indians all ready armed for the warres. Then the Spa∣niards tolde them that they were sent from an Emperour (vnto whom the Pope had giuen all that land) to conuert them vnto the Christian faith. Whereunto A•abalipa answered, that hee would gladly be friends with the Emperour, because he was so great a Monarch, but in no •ase with the Pope, because he gaue to another that which was none of his owne.

Now while they were thus in talke, the Spaniards discharging their two field-peeces, and their caliuers, set vpon the Indians, crying Sant Iago. The Indians hearing the noise of the or∣dinance and small shot, and seeing the fire, thought that flames of fire had bene come downe from heauen vpon them; whereupon they fledde, and left their prince as a booty for the Spaniards Whom they at the first intreated very gently, wishing him not to feare, for that their comming was onely to seeke for golde and siluer. During the time of Altabalipas imprisonment, his Cap∣taines had slaine his brother Guasca•, and had subdued all the mountaines and plaine cou••reys. Upon which newes Atabalipa told the Spaniards, that if they would release him, h•e would g•ue them all that they should demaund. This communication hauing continued a whole day, •t length a souldier named Soto sayd vnto Atabalipa; what wilt thou giue vs to set thee free? The prince answered, I will giue whatsoeuer you will demand. Whereunto the souldier replied, thou shalt giue vs this house full of gold and siluer thus high, lifting vp his sword, and making • stroke vpon the wall. And Atabalipa sayde, that if they would grant him respite to send into his kingdome, he would fulfill th•ir demand. Whereat the Spaniards much marueiling, gau• him three moneths time, but he had filled the house in two moneths and an halfe, a matter 〈◊〉 credible, yet most t••e: for I, know aboue twentie men that were there at that time, who all af∣firme, that it was aboue tenne millions of gold and siluer. Howbeit for all this they let not the prince goe, but thought that in killing of him they should become lords of the whole land, and so the Spaniards on a night strangled him. But God the righteous iudge seeing this villanous act, suffered none of those Spaniards to dye by the course of nature, but brought them to euill and shamefull ends.

Upon the newes of these great riches there came store of people out of Spaine, and inhabit•• many places in this countrey. The king in recompence of the good seruices of the two fore∣sayd partners, appoynted Diego de Almagro gouernour of halfe the land, and Francisco Pi∣çarro of the other halfe, whom also hee made a Marques. But these two consorts in parting of a land belonging vnto other men, fell at •ariance and sharpe warre betweene themselues: and at length Piçarro hauing slaine Almagro got all the land into his owne hands. Howbeit this prosperitie of Piçarro continued not long: for a bastard-sonne of Diego de Almagro, to bee re∣uenged of •is fathers death, slew Piçarro, for which acte he lost his head. In this controuersie be∣tweene these two partners were slaine also two brothers of Piçarro, and the third was carried prisoner into Spaine and there dyed in prison: but the fourth called Gonsaluo Piçarro rebelled with the whole countrey and became a cruell tyrant, vanquishing many of the Emperours Cap∣taines in battell, and possessing the countrey in peace for two yeeres: howbeit being in the ende ouercome hee lost his head like a traitour. And thus dyed they all an euill death that were cau∣ses of the death of that innocent king Atabalipa. And yet there are mutinies raised oftentimes by the Spaniards, but the Indians neuer rebelled, after they had once peace granted vnto them. The Indian people of this land are parted among the Spaniards, some being slaues vnto the gentlemen that conquered their land, other some to others, and the residue to the king: and these Indians pay eche man for his tribute seuen pezos of fine golde, which is about tenne ducats and a halfe. There are in this countrey aboue fortie cities and townes inhabited by the Spaniards: also they haue here erected nine bishopricks and one archbishopricke.*

Now after this countrey was fully conquered and brought in good order, certaine Spaniards being desirous to discouer the land on the other side of the snowy mountaines, found a very whole∣some countrey and there inhabited. The sayd prouince situate behinde the mountaines is called The prouince of Tucuman,* wherein are fiue townes inhabited by the Spaniards, the last of them called Cordoua,* from which towne vnto Santa Fee situate vpon the riuer of Plate it is seuentie leagues. This towne of Santa Fee was built in that place, to seeke a way to Peru by the riuer of Plate. And from hence downe the sayde riuer to Buenos Ayres are 120 leagues, and from Buenos Ayres vnto Seal island you haue 40 leagues.

Now hauing put downe all that I know concerning the countrey of Peru, and of the way from the riuer of Plate vnto Tucuman. I will returne vnto Atacama the Southermost towne vpon the coast of Peru, where I left. From this towne of Atacama till you come to Arica,* all the coast is inhabited by Indians subiect vnto the Spaniards. But since Captaine Drake was here Page  801 they haue built towers by the sea side, whereon, seeing any saile that they doe mistrust, they pre∣sently make smokes, and so from tower to tower they warne all the countrey. Hauing before spoken of Arica all that I can, I will now proceed to the next port called Camana being a towne of Spaniards and containing about two hundred houses.* Here they make store of wine, and haue abundance of figges and reisins. The next towne called Acari containeth about three hundred houses,* and here is made the best and greatest store of wine in all Peru. From hence passing along the coast you come to El Calao the port of Lima consisting of about two hundred houses:* and here was a strong fort built since Captaine Drake was vpon the coast. The citie of Lima stan∣ding two leagues within the land,* and containing two thousand houses, is very rich, and of more trade then all the cities of Peru besides: and this citie is the seat o• the viceroy, the archbishop, and the inquisition.

Next vnto this standeth a small towne of the Spaniards by the sea side called Santa: and next vnto Santa is another small towne of Christians called Cannete.* From hence they saile vnto a rich citie called Truxillo,* being one of the principall townes of Peru, and containing about fiue hundred houses.* Then followeth Paita which hath to the number of two hundred houses. Lea∣uing this towne they passe to Guaiaquil which standeth fortie leagues vp into a great bay or ri∣uer,* at the entrance of which riuer standeth Tumbez a towne of the Indians.* All this coast a∣long from Atacama to Tumbez it neuer raineth, as I haue before said: so that all the houses in their townes are not tyled, but couered with bourdes to keepe off the heate of the Sunne, for they feare no raine at all. Guaiaquil is the first place where it raineth, and here they gather Salsape∣rilla. Here is is also great store of timber, and at this place they build many shippes.* Hence they sayle along the coast to a small and poore towne called Puerto Viejo,* which in times past hath bene rich with emralds: but now since these stones in regard of their plenty are growen nothing worth, this towne likewise is waxen very poore. Below this village standeth another called La Buena Ventura:* but whosoeuer go thither must needs meet with euill fortune, the place it selfe is so waterish an vnholesome. Here abide not aboue 20 men, who serue onely to transport goods vnto a citie standing fiftie leagues within the maine, in a prouince called La gouernacion de Po∣paian.* From Buena ventura and Popaian till you come to Panama there is no other towne, by reason of the high mountaines, the manifold riuers, and the vnhole somenesse of the countrey• In this place doe inhabite the Negros that runne from their masters,* and vpon these mountaines was Oxnam the English Captaine and his men taken, as is before mentioned. Beyond these mountaines standeth the citie of Panama,* being a rich place, by reason that all the treasure which commeth from Peru is brought thither, and it consisteth of about foure hundred houses. The coast running along betweene this city and Nueua Espanna is called Costa rica.*

Next vnto Costa rica, which is a mountainous and desolate place, lieth the coast of Nicaragua,* being inhabited by the Spaniards, and hauing many good ports belonging to it, and is frequen∣ted with trade of marchandize; but hauing no knowledge of the situation thereof, nor of the townes therein contained, I surcease to speake any more of it.

A certaine viceroy of Nueua Espanna called Don Luis de Velasco caused certaine ships to be built for the discouery of the Malucos and of the coast of China: which shippes in sayling thitherward found certaine Islands 80 leagues distant from the maine land, which the Spa∣niards, according to the name of their king, called The Philippinas:* and hauing conquered one of these Islands called Manilla, inhabited with a barbarous kind of people, they built a fort and a towne thereupon,* from whence they haue trade with the people of China. Unto these Islands they haue foure great ships that vsually trade, two of them continually going, and two comming: so that such spices and silkes as the Portugals bring home out of the East Indies, the very same doe the Spaniards bring from these Islands and from China, for Mexico the chiefe citie of Nueua Espanna. The principall port-townes of the coast of Nueua Espanna are Guatulco, and Acapulco.

All the viceroyes and gouernours that the king of Spaine sendeth for Peru and Nueua Es∣panna haue a custome, for the obtaining of his fauour, to seeke and discouer new countreys. But the greatest and most notable discouerie that hath bene from those parts now of late, was that of the Isles ••Salomon,* which were found in maner following. The Licenciate Castro being go∣uernour of Peru sent foorth a fleete of shippes to discouer certaine Islands in the South sea vp∣on the coast of Peru, appointing as Generall of the same fleete a kinsman of his called Aluares de Mendanio, and Pedro Sarmiento as lieutenant, and in the Uiceadmirall went Pedro de Or∣tega. This fleete departing forth of the hauen of Lima, and sayling 800 leagues Westward off Page  802 the coast o•Peru, fou•d certaine Islands in eleuen degrees to the South of the Equinoctial inha∣bited with a kind of people of a yellowish complexion, and •ll naked, whose weapons are bowes and arrowes, and darts. The b•asts that they saw here were hogges and little dogges, and they found some hennes. Here also they found a master of cloues, ginger, and sinamon,* although the sinamon were not of the best; and heere appeared vnto them likewise some shewe of golde. The first Island that the Spaniards discouered, they named Santa Izabella; and here they built a small pinnesse, with the which and with their ships boate they found out betweene nine and fif∣teene degrees of Southerly latitude eleuen great Islands being one with another of 80 leagues in compasse. The greatest Island that they discouered was according vnto the first finder called Guadalcanal,* on the coast whereof they sayled 150 leagues, before they could knowe whither it were an Island or part of the maine land: and yet they know not perfectly what to make of it, but thinke that it may be part of that conti•ent which stretcheth to the Streights of Magellan• for they coasted it to eighteene •egr•es and could not find the ende thereof. The gold that they found was vpon this Island or maine land of Guadalcanal, whereas they landed and tooke a towne, finding small graines of golde hanged vp in the houses thereof. But because the Spa∣niards vnderstood not the language of the countrey, and also for that the Indians were very stoue men, and fought continually agai•st them, they could neuer leaue from whence that gold come, nor yet what store was in the land.

These Indi•ns vse to goe to sea in great Canoas that will carrie 100 men a piece, wherein they haue many conflicts one against another: howbeit vnto the Christians they could doe no great hurt; for that with a small pinnesse and two fale•ns a fewe may ouercome 100 of them. At this place foureteene men mistrusting nothing, rowed to land, to take in fresh water, whome on the sudden certaine Indians in foure Canoas set vpon, tooke the ships boat, and slewe all the men therein: wherefore a man cannot goe on shore too strong, nor yet be too wary in a strange land. Hereupon the Spaniards went on shore in their pinnesse, and burnt the towne,* and in this towne they found the small graines of gold before mentioned. They were discouering of these Islands from one to another about foureteene moneths, at the ende of which time (because that vpon the coast where they were, the wind continuing still in one place, might bee an occ•sion of longer tarying) they consulted which way to returne. Southward they durst not goe for feare of great tempests which are that way vsuall: wherefore sayling to the North of the line, they fell with the coast of Nueua Espanna; on which coast they met with such terrible stormes, that they were forced to cut their maine masts ouer-bourd, and to lye nine moneths bearing it vp and downe in the sea, before they could get into any harborow of the Christians. In which time by reason of euill gouernement, and for lacke of victuals and fresh water, most of the men in their Admirall dyed; for fiue whole dayes together they had neither water nor meate: but in the other ships they behaued themselues so well, that the greater part of them came safe vnto the land. He that passeth the Streights of Magellan, or saileth from the coast of Chili directly for the Malu∣cos must needs runne in sight of some of these Islands before spoken of. At which Islands lying so conueniently in the way to the Malucos you may furnish your selfe with plenty of victuals,* as hogges, hennes, excellent almonds, potatos, sugar-canes, with diuers other sortes fit for the sustenance of man in great abundance. Also among these Islands you shall haue some quantity of gold,* which the Indians will giue you in truck for other commodities. For the Spaniards in their discouery of these Islands not seeking nor being desirous of gold, brought home not∣withstanding 40000 pezos with them, besides great store of cloues and ginger, and some sina∣mon also which is not so good as in other places. The discouerer of these Islands named them the Isles of Salomon, to the ende that the Spaniards supposing them to bee those Isles from whence Salomon fetched gold to adorne the temple at Ierusalem,* might bee the more desirous to goe and inhabite the same. Now the same time when they thought to haue sent colonies vnto these Isilands. Captaine Drake entered the South sea; whereupon commandement was giuen, that they should not be inhabited, to the ende that such Englishmen, and of other nations as passed the Streights of Magellan to goe to the Mal•cos might haue no succour there, but such as they got of the Indian people.

Page  803

The admirable and prosperous Voyage of the worshipfull Master Thomas Candish of Trimley in the Countie of Suffolke Esquire, into the South sea, and from thence round about the circumference of the w•ole earth, begun in the yeere of our Lord 1586, and finish•d 1588. Written by Master Fran∣cis Pretty lately of Ey in Suffolke, a Gentleman employed in the same action.

WEe departed out of Plimmouth on Thurs•ay the 21. of Iuly 1586. with 3. sayles, to wit, The Desire a ship of 120. tunnes, The Content of 60 tuns, and the Hugh gallant a barke of 40. tunnes: in which small Fleete were 123. persons of all sortes with all kinde of furniture and victuals sufficient for the space of two yeeres, at the charges of the worshipfull Master Tho∣mas Candish of T••mley in the Countie of Suffolke Esquire, beeing our Generall.

On Tuesday the 26. of the same moneth, we were 45. leagues from Cape Finis terrae, where wee mette with 5. sayles of Biskaynes comming from the Grande Bay in Newfound-land,* as we supposed, which our Admirall shot at, and fought with them 3. houres, but wee tooke none of them by reason the night grew on.

The first of August wee came in sight of Forteuentura,* one of the Isles of the Canaries, about ten of the clocke in the morning.

On Sunday being the 7. of August, we were gotten as high as Rio del oro on the coast of Bar∣barie.*

On Munday the 19. we fell with cape Blanco:* but the winde blew so much at the North, that we could not get vp where the Canters doe vse to ride and fish; therefore wee lay off 6. houres West Southwest, because of the sand which lieth off the cape Southwest and by South.*

The 15. day of the same moneth we were in the height of cape Verde by estimation 50. leagues off the same.

The 18. Sierra leona did beare East off vs, beeing 45. leagues from vs: and the same day the winde shifted to the Northwest, so that by the 20. day of the sayd moneth we were in 6. degrees ½ to the Northward, from the Equinoctiall line.

The 23. we put roome for Sierra leona, and the 25. day wee fell with the poynt on the South side of Sierra leona,* which Master Brewer knew very well, and went in before with the Content which was Uice-admirall: and we had no lesse then 5. fathoms water when we had least, and had for 14. leagues in Southwest all the way running into the harbour of Sierra leona 16, 14. 12. 10 and 8. fathoms of water.

The 26. of the said moneth •e put into the harborough, and in going in we had by the Souther∣most point when we had least 5. fathoms water faire by the rocke as it lieth at the said point: and after we came, 2 or 3. cables length within the said rocke, we neuer had lesse then 10. fathoms, vn∣till wee came vp to the roade, which is about a league from the poynt, borrowing alwayes on the South side vntill you come vp to the watering place, in which Baye is the best roade: but you must ride farre into the Baye, because there run marueilous great tydes in the off••, and it flow∣eth into the road next of any thing at a Southeast and by East moone.

It is out of England to this place 930. leagues: which wee ranne from the 21. of Iuly to the 26. of this moneth of August.

On Saturday being the 27. day there came 2. Negros aboord our Admiral from the shore, and made signes vnto our Generall that there was a Portugal ship vp within the harborough: so the Hugh Gallant beeing the Rere-admirall went vp 3 or 4. leagues, but for want of a Pilot they sought no farther: for the harborough runneth 3. or 4. leagues vp more, and is of a marueilous bredth and very dangerous, as we learned afterward by a Portugal.

On Sunday the 28. the Generall sent some of his company on shore, and there as they played and daunced all the forenoone among the Negros, to the end to haue heard some good newes of the Portugal ship, toward their comming aboord they espied a Portugal which lay hid among the bu∣shes,* whom we tooke and brought away with vs the same night: and he tolde vs it was very dan∣gerous going vp with our boates for to seeke the ship that was at the towne. Whereupon wee went not to seeke her, because we knew he told vs the trueth: for we bound him and made him fast, and so examined him. Also he told vs that his ship was there cast away, and that there were two more of his company among the Negros: the Portugals name was Emmanuel, and was by his occupation a Calker, belonging to the Port of Portugal.

On Munday morning being the 29. day, our Generall landed with 70. men or thereabout, and Page  804 went vp to their towne, where we burnt 2. or 3. houses, and tooke what spoyle wee would, which was but litle, but al the people fled: and in our retiring aboord in a very litle plaine at their townes ende they shot their arrowes at vs out of the woods, and hurt 3. or 4. of our men; their arrowes were poysoned,* but yet none of our men miscaryed at that time, thanked be God. Their towne is marueilous artificially builded with mudde walles and built round, with their yards pales in and kept very cleane aswell in their streetes as in their houses.* These Negros vse good obedience to their king, as one of our men sayd, which was with them in pawne for the Negros which came first. There were in their towne by estimation about one hundred houses.

*The first of September there went many of our men on shore at the watering place, and did wash shirts very quietly all the day: and the second day they went againe, and the Negros were in ambush round about the place: and the carpenter of the Admiral going into the wood to doe some speciall businesse, espied them by good fortune. But the Negros rushed out vpon our men so sud∣denly, that in retiring to our boates, many of them were hurt:* among whom one William Pick∣man a souldier was shot into the thigh, who plucking the arrow out,* broke it, and left the head be∣hinde; and he told the Chirurgions that he plucked out all the arrow, because he would not haue them lance his thigh: whereupon the poyson wrought so that night, that hee was marueilously swollen, and all his belly and priuie parts were as blacke as ynke, and the next morning he died, the peece of the arrow with the poyson being plucked out of his thigh.

The third day of the sayd moneth, diuers of our fleete went vp 4. myles within the harbour with our boate,* and caught great store of fish, and went on shore and tooke Limmons from the trees, and comming aboord againe, saw two Buffes.

*The 6. day we departed from Sierra leona, and went out of the harborough, and stayed one tide 3. leagues from the point of the mouth of the Harborough in 6. fathoms, and it floweth South Southwest.

On wednesday being the 7. of the same moneth wee departed from one of the Isles of Cape Verde, aliàs the Isles of Madrabumba,* which is 10. leagues distant from the poynt of Sierra le∣ona: and about fiue of the clocke the same night we anchored 2. miles off the Iland in 6. fathoms water, and landed the same night, and found Plantans only vpon the Ilande.

The 8. day one of our boats went out & sounded round about the Iland, & they passed through a sound at the west end of the Iland, where they found 5. fathoms round about the Iland, vntil they came vnto the very gutte of the sound, and then for a cast or two they had but 2. fathoms, and pre∣sently after, 6. fathoms, and so deeper and deeper. And at the East ende of the Iland there was a towne,* where Negros doe vse at sometimes• as we perceiued by their prouision.

There is no fresh water on all the South side, as we could perceiue, but on the North side three or foure very good places of fresh water:* and all the whole Iland is a wood, saue certaine litle places where their houses stand, which are inuironed round about with Plantan-trees, whereof the fruit is excellent meat. This place is subiect marueilous much to thunder, raine, and light∣ning in this moneth. I thinke the reason is, because the sunne is so neere the line Equinoctiall.

On saturday the tenth wee departed from the sayde Iland about 3. of the clocke in the after∣noone, the winde being at the Southwest.

*The last of October running West Southwest about 24. leagues from Cape Frio in Brasile we fell with a great mountaine which had an high round knoppe on the top of it standing from it like a towne, with two litle Ilands from it.

The first of Nouember wee went in betweene the Iland of Saint Sebastian and the mayne land,* and had our things on shore, and set vp & Forge, and had our caske on shore: our coopers made hoopes, and so we remayned there vntill the 23. day of the same moneth: in which time we fitted our things, built our Pinnesse, and filled our fresh water. And while our Pinnesse was in buil∣ding, there came a Canoa from the riuer of Ienero,* meaning to goe to S. Vincent, wherein were sixe naked slaues of the Countrey people, which did rowe the Canoa, and one Portugal. And the Portugal knewe Christopher Hare Master of the Admirall, for that Master Hare had bene at Saint Vincent in the Minion of London in the yeere 1581. And thinking to haue Iohn Whi∣thal the Englishman which dwelleth at Saint Vincent come vnto vs, which is twentie leagues from this Harborough with some other, thereby to haue had some fresh victuals, we suffered the Portugal to goe with a letter vnto him, who promised to returne or send some answere within ten dayes, for that we told him we were Marchants, and would traffique with them: but we ne∣uer receiued answere from him any more; and seeing that he came not according to appoyntment, our businesse being dispatched, wee weyed anchor, and set sayle from S. Sebastian on the 23. of Nouember.

Page  805The 16. day of December we fell with the coast of America in 47. degrees ⅓. the land bearing West from vs about 6. leagues off:* from which place we ran along the shore, vntill we came into 4•. degrees.* It is a steepe beach all along.

The 17. day of December in the afternoone we entred into an harborough, where our Admi∣rall went in first: wherefore our General named the said harborough Port Desi•e:* in which har∣borough is an Iland or two, where there is wonderful great store of Seales, and another Iland of birds which are grey guls. These Seales are of a wonderful great bignesse,* huge, and monstrous of shape, and for the fore-part of their bodies cannot be compared to any thing better then to a lion: their head, and necke, and fore-parts of their bodies are full of rough haire: their feete are in maner of a finne, and in forme like vnto a mans hand: they breed and cast euery moneth, giuing their yong milke, yet continually get they their liuing in the sea, and liue altogether vpon fish: their yong are marueilous good meate,* and being boyled or rosted, are hardly to be knowen from lambe or mut∣•on. The olde ones be of such bignesse and force, that it is as much as 4. men are able to doe to kill one of them with great •owle-s•aues: and hee must be beaten downe with striking on the head of him: for his body is of that bignesse that foure men could neuer kill him, but only on the head. For being shotte through the body with an Harquebuze or a Musket, yet he will goe his way in∣to the sea, and neuer care for it at the present. Also the fowles that were there,* were very good meate, and great store of them: they haue burrowes in the ground like conies, for they cannot flie. They haue nothing but downe vpon their pinions: they also fish and feede in the sea for their li∣uing, and breede on shore.

This harborough is a very good place to trimme ships in, and to bring them on ground, and graue them in: for there ebbeth and floweth much water: therefore wee graued and trimmed all our ships there.*

The 24. of December being Christmas Euen, a man and a boy of the Rere-admirall went some fortie score from our ships vnto a very faire greene valley at the foote of the mountaines, where was a litle pi••e or well which our men had digged and made some 2. or 3. dayes before to get fresh water: for there was none in all the Harborough; and this was but brackish: therefore this man and boy came thither to wash their linnen: and beeing in washing at the sayde Well, there were great store of Indians which were come downe, and found the sayd man and boy in washing. These Indians being diuided on eche side of the rockes, shotte at them with their ar∣rowes and hurt them both, but they fledde presently, beeing about fiftie or threescore, though our Generall followed them but with 16• or 20. men. The mans name which was hurt was Iohn Garge,* the boyes name was Lutch: the man was shot cleane through the knee, the boy into the shoulder: either of them hauing very sore wounds. Their arrowes are made of litle canes, and their heads are of a flint stone, set into the caue very artificially: they seldome or neuer see any Christians: they are as wilde as euer was a bucke or any other wilde beast: for wee followed them, and they ranne from vs as it had bene the wildest thing in the worlde. Wee tooke the measure of one of their feete, and it was 18. inches long.* Their vse is when any of them dye, to bring him or them to the cliffes by the sea-side, and vpon the toppe of them they burie them, and in their graues are buryed with them their bowes and arrowes, and all their iewels which they haue in their life time, which are sine shelles which they finde by the sea side, which they cut and square after an artificiall maner; and all is layd vnder their heads. The graue is made all with great stones of great length and bignesse, being set all along full of the dead mans dartes which he vsed when he was liuing. And they colour both their darts and their graues with a red colour which they vse in colouring of themselues.

The 28. of December we departed out of the Port of Desire,* and went to an Iland which lieth 3. leagues to the Southward of it; where we trimmed our saued pengwins with salt for victual all that and the next day, and departed along the coast Southwest and by South.

The 30. day we fell with a rocke which lieth about 5. leagues from the land, much like vnto E∣di•stone, which lieth off the •ound of Plimouth, and we sounded, and had 8. fathoms rockie ground, within a mile thereof: the rocke bearing West Southwest. Wee went coasting along South Southwest, and sound great store of Seales all along the coast. This rocke standeth in 48. de∣grees ½. to the Southward of the line.

The 2. day of Ianuarie wee fell with a very faire white Cape,* which standeth in 51. degrees, and had 7. fathoms water a league off the land.

The third day of the foresayd moneth we fell with another great white cape, which standeth in 52. degrees and 45. minutes: from which Cape there runneth a lowe beach about a league to the Southward and this beach reacheth to the opening of the dangerous Streight of Magellan.Page  806 w•ich is in diuers places 5. or 6. leagues wide, and in two seuerall places more narrow. Under this Cape wee anchored and lost an anchor, for it was a great storme of foule wea•her, and last•d three da•es very dangerous.

*The 6. day we put in for the Streights.

The 7. day betweene the mouth of the Streights and the narrowest place thereof, wee tooke a Spaniard whose name was He•nando, who was there with 23. Spaniards more, which were all that remayned of foure hundred, which wer• left there three yeeres before in these streights of Magellan, all the rest being dead with famine. And the same day we passed through the nar∣row•st of the Streights, where the aforesayd Spanyard shewed vs the hull of a small Barke,* which we iudged to be a Barke called The Iohn Thomas. It is from the mouth o• the streights vnto the narrowest of the Streights 14. leagues, and the course lieth West and by North. The mouth of the streights standeth in 52. degrees.

From the narrowest of the Streights vnto Pengwin Iland is 10. leagues, and lyeth West Southwest somewhat to the Southward, where wee anchored the 8. day, and killed and salted great store of Pengwins for victuals.

*The ninth day wee departed from Pengwin Ilande, and ranne South Southwest to King Philips citie which the Spaniards had built: which Towne or citie had foure Fortes, and euery Fort had in it one cast pee•e, which p•••es were buryed in the ground, the cariages were standing in their places vnburied: wee digged for them and had th•m all. They had contri∣•ed their Citie ve•y well, and seated it in the best place of the St•eights for wood and water: they h•d builded vp their Churches by themselues: they had Lawes very seuere among them∣selues, for they had •rec•ed a Gibe•, whereon they had done execution vpon some of their company. It seemed vnto vs that th•ir whole liuing for a grea• space was altogeth•r vpon muskles and lympits: for there was not any thing else to bee had, except some Deere which came out of the m•untaines downe to the fresh riuers to drinke. These Spaniards which were there, were only come to for••fie the Streights, to the ende that no other nation should haue passage through into the S•u•h sea sauing onely their owne: but as it appeared, it was not Gods will so to haue it. For during the time that they were there, which was two yeeres at the least,* they could neuer haue any thing to growe or in any wise prosper. And on the other side the Indians oftentimes preyed vpon them, vntill their victuals grewe so short, (their store being spent which they had brought with them out of Spaine, and hauing no meanes to renew the same) that they dyed like dogges in their houses, and in their clothes, wherein we found them still at our comming, vntill that in the ende the towne being wonderfully taynted with the smell and the sauour of the dead people, the rest which remayned aliue were driuen to burie such things as they had therein their towne either for prouision or for furniture, and so to forsake the towne, and to goe along the sea-side, and seeke their victuals to preserue them from steruing, taking no∣thing with them, but euery man his harquebuze and his furniture that was able to cary it (for some were not able to cary them for weakenesse) and so liued for the space of a yeere and mor• with rootes, leaues, and sometimes a foule which they might kill with their peece. To conclude, they were determined to haue trauailed towards the ri••r of Plate, only b•ing left aliue 23. persons, w••reof two were w•men, which were the r•m•inder of 4. hundred. In this place we watered and woodded w•ll and quietly. Our Generall named this towne Port famine:* it standeth in 53. degrees by obseruation to the Southward.

The 14. day we departed from this place, and ran South southwest, and from thence southwest vnto cape Froward 5. leagues West Southwest,* which Cape is the Southermost part of all the streights, and standeth in the latitude of 54. degrees. Fr•m which cape we ran W•st and by north 5. leagues, and put into a bay or Coue on the south side, which we called Muskle-Co•e,* because there were great store of them: we ridde therein 6. dayes, the wind being still Westerly.

The 21. day of Ianuarie we departed from Muskle-•oue, and went Northwest and by West 10. leagues to a very faire sandie Baye on the North side, which our Generall called Elizabeth Baye,* and as wee ridde there that night, one of our men dyed which went in the Hugh Gal∣lant, whose name was Grey, a Carpenter by his occupation, and was buryed there in that Baye.

The 22. w•e departed from Elizabeth Bay in the afternoone, and went about 2. leagues from that place, where there was a fresh water riuer, where our Generall went vp with the ship-boate about three myles, which riuer hath very good and pleasant ground about it, and it is lowe and champion soyle, and so we saw none other ground els in all the Streights but that was crag∣gie rocks and monstrous high hilles and mountaines. In this riuer are great store of Sauages Page  807 which wee sawe, and had conference with them:* They were men-•ater•, and fedde altog•ther vpon rawe flesh, and other filthie foode: which people had preyed vpon some of the Spaniardes before spoken of. For they had gotten kniues and peeces of Rapiers to make darces of. They vsed all the meanes they could possibly to haue allured vs vp farther into the riuer, of purpose to haue betrayed vs, which being espyed by our Generall, hee caused vs to shoote at them with our harquebuzes, whereby we killed many of them. So wee sayled from this riuer to the Chane•l of Saint •erome,* which is 2. leagues off.

From the riuer of Saint Ierome about three or foure leagues, wee ranne West vnto a Cape which is on the North side: and from that Cape vnto the mouth of the Streights the course ly∣eth Northwest and by West, and Northwest. Betweene which place and the mouth of the Streights to the Southward we lay in Harborough vntill the three and twentieth of Februarie,* by reason of contrary windes and most vile and filthie fowle weather, with such rayne and vehe∣ment stormie windes which came downe from the mountaines and high hilles, that they hazarded the best cables and anchors that we had for to holde, which if they had fayled, wee had bene in great danger to haue bene cast away, or at the least famished. For during this t•me, which was a full moneth, we fedde almost altogether vpon muskles, and limpits, and birds, or such as we could get on shore, seeking euery day for them, as the fowles of the ayre doe, where they can finde foode, in continuall raynie weather.

There is at euery myle or two myles ende an Harborough on both sides of the land. And there we betweene the riuer of Saint Ierome and the mouth of the Streights going into the South sea about 34. leagues by estimation. So that the length of th• whole Sreights is about 90. leagues.* And the said mou•h of the Streights standeth in the same h••ght that the entrance stan∣deth in when we passe out of the North sea, which is about 52. degrees and ⅔ to the Southward of the line.*

The 24. day of February wee entred into the South sea:* and on the South side of the going out of the Streights is a faire high Cape with a lowe poynt adioyning vnto it: and on the North side are 4. or 5. Ilands,* which lye 6. leagues off the mayne, and much broken and sunken ground about them: by noone the same day wee had brought these Ilands East of vs 5. leagues off; the winde being Southerly.

The first of March a storme tooke vs at North, which night the ships lost the company of the Hugh Gallant,* beeing in 49. ½ and 45. leagues from the land. This storme continued 3. or 4. dayes, and for that time we in the Hugh Gallant being separated from the other 2. ships, looked e∣uery houre to sinke, our barke was so leake, and our selues so diluered and weakened with freeing it of water, that we slept not in three dayes and three nights.

The 15. of March in the morning the Hugh Gallant came in betweene the Iland of S. Mary and the mayne, where she met with the Admiral and the Content, which had rid at the Iland cal∣led La Mocha 2. dayes,* which standeth in the Southerly latitude of 38. degrees: at which place some of our men went on shore with the Uice-admirals boate, where the Indians fought with them with their bowes and arrowes, and were marueilous warie of their Caliuers. These Indi∣ans were enemies to the Spaniards, and belonged to a great place called Arauco, and tooke vs for Spaniards, as afterward we learned.

This place which is called Arauco is wonderfull rich,* and full of golde mynes, and yet could it not be subdued at any time by the Spaniards, but they alwayes returned with the greatest losse of men. For these Indians are marueilous desperate and carelesse of their liues to liue at their owne libertie and freedome.

The 15. day aforesayde in the afternoone wee weighed anchor, and ranne vnder the West side of Saint Marie Iland,* where we ridde very well in 6. fathoms water, and very faire ground all that night.

The 16. day our General went on shore himselfe with 70. or 80. men euery one with his furni∣ture: there came downe to vs certaine Indians with two which were the principals of the Iland to welcome vs on shore, thinking we had bin Spaniards, for it is subdued by them: who brought vs vp to a place where the Spaniards had erected a Church with crosses & altars in it.* And there were about this Church 2. or 3. store houses, which were full of wheate and barley ready threshed and mad• vp in cades of strawe to the quantitie of a bushel of corne in euery cade. The wheate and barly was as faire, as cleane, and euery way as good as any we haue in England. There were also the like cades ful of potato rootes, which were very good to eate, ready made vp in the store houses for the Spaniards against they should come for their tribute. This Iland also yeeldeth many sorts of fruits, hogs, and hens. These Indians are held in such slauery by them, that they dare not Page  808 eate a hen or an hogge themselues. But the Spaniards haue made them all in that Iland Christi∣ans.* Thus we fitted our selues here with corne asmuch as we would haue, and as many hogges as we had salt to powder them withall, and great store of hennes, with a number of bags of Potato rootes, and about 500. dried dogge-fishes, and Guinie wheate, which is called Maiz. And hauing taken as much as we would haue, yet w• left marueilous great store behind vs. Our General had the two principals of the Iland aboord our shippe, and prouided great cheere for them, and made them merie with wine: and they in the ende perceiuing vs to bee no Spaniards, made signes, as neere as our Generall could perceiue• that if wee would goe ouer vnto the mayne land vnto A∣rauco,* that there was much Golde, making vs signes, that we should haue great store of riches. But because we could not vnderstand them, our Generall made some haste, and within 2. or thr•e dayes we furnished our selues.

The 18. day in the morning we departed from this place, and ran all that day Northnortheast about 10. leagues, and at night lay with a short sayle off and on the coast.

The 19. wee ranne in East Northeast with the land, and bare in with a place called The Con∣ception,* where wee anchored vnder an Iland, and departed the next morning without going o• land.

The 20. wee departed from The Conception, and went into a litle Baye which was sandie where we saw fresh water and cattell, but we stayed not there.

*The 30. day we came into the Bay of Quintero, which standeth in 33. degrees & 50 minutes.

The said day presently after we were come vnto an ancre in the Bay, there was a Netcherd or one that kept cattle which lay vpon the point of the hill asleepe, which when he awaked and had es∣pied three shippes which were come into the Bay, before wee could get on shore, he had caught an horse which was feeding by, and rode his may as fast as euer hee might: and our Generall with 30. shot with him went on shore. He had not bene on land one houre, but there came 3. horsemen with bright swords towards vs so hard as they might ride, vntill they came within some twentie or thirtie score of vs, and so stayed, and would come no neerer vnto vs: so our Generall sent vnto them a couple of our men with their shotte, and one Fernando, which was the Spaniard that wee had taken vp at the mouth of the Streights, which was one of the 400. that were sterued there. But the Spaniards would not suffer our men to come neere with their shot, but made signes that one of our men should come alone vnto them: so the said Fernando the Spaniard went vnto them, and our two men stood not farre from them. They had great conference, and in the end Fernan∣do came backe from them, and told our Generall that he had parled with them for some victuals, who had promised as much as we would haue. Our General sent him back againe with another message and another shotte with him: and being come neere vnto them, they would not suffer any more then one to approch them, whereupon our men let the Spaniard goe vnto them alone him∣selfe: who being some good distance from them, they stay•d but a small time together, but that the said Fernando leaped vp behind one of them and rid away with them,* for all his deepe and damna∣ble othes which he had made continually to our general and al• his company neuer to forsake him, but to die on his side before he would be false. Our Generall seeing how he was dealt withall, fil∣led water all that day with good watch, and caried it aboord: and night being come, he determined the next day to send into the countrey to find their towne, and to haue taken the spoyle of it, and to haue fired it if they could haue found it.

The last of March Captaine Hauers went vp into the Countrey with 50. or 60. men with their shot and furniture with them, and we trauailed 7. or 8. miles into the land:* and as we were mar∣ching along, we espied a number of the herdes of cattell, of kine and bullockes which were wonder∣full wilde: we saw also great store of horses, mares, and coltes which were very wilde and vn∣handled: there is also great store of hares and conies, and plenty of partriges and other wildfoules. The countrey is very fruitful with faire fresh riuers all along full of wilde foule of all sorts. Ha∣uing trauailed so farre that we could goe no further for the monstrous high mountaines, we rested our selues at a very fayre fresh Riuer running in and alongst faire lowe medowes at the foote of the mountaines, where euery man drunke of the Riuer, and refreshed themselues. Hauing so done, we returned to our Ships the likest way that we thought their Towne should bee: so wee trauailed all the day long, not seeing any man, but we meete with many wilde dogges: yet there were two hundred horsemen abroad that same day by meanes of the Spaniard which they had ta∣ken the day before from vs, who had tolde them that our force was but small, and that wee were wonderfully weake: who though they did espie vs that day, yet durst they not giue the on-sette vpon vs. For wee marched along in array, and obserued good order, whereby w•e seemed a great number more then we were, vntill we came vnto our ships that night againe.

Page  809The next day being the first of April 1587, our men went on shoare to fill water at a pit which was a quarter of a mile from the waters side: and being earely hard at their businesse were in no readinesse. In which meane while there came powring downe from the hilles almost 200 horse∣men, and before our people could returne to the rockes from the watering place, twelue of them were cut off, part killed, and part taken prisoners, the rest were rescued by our souldiers which came from the rocks to meete with them, who being but fifteene of vs that had any weapons on shoare, yet we made the enemie retire in the end with losse of some foure and twentie of their men,* after we had skirmished with them an houre.

The names of our men that were slaine were these.

Out of the Admirall.
• Thomas Lucas of London, souldier.
• Richard Wheeler of London.
• Robert Pitcher of Norstolke, souldier.
• Iohn Langston of Glocestershire.
• William Kingman of Dorsetshire, souldier.
• William Hilles of Cornewall.

Killed out of the viceadm.
• 1 Willian Byet of Weymouth.
• 2 Laurence Gamesby, of Newcastle.

Killed out of the Hugh Gallant.
• 1 Henry Blackenals of Weymouth.
• 2 Williams Steuens of Plymmouth, gunner.
• 3 William Pitte of Shereborne in Dorsetshire.
• 4 Humphrey Derricke of London.

After the losse of these men, wee rid in the roade, and watered in despight of them with good watch and ward, vntill the fift of the sayd moneth.

The fift day wee departed out of this bay of Quintero: and off from the bay there lyeth a little Iland about a league distant,* whereon there are great store of penguins and other fowles; wher∣of we tooke to serue our turnes, and sailed away North, and North and by West: for so lyeth the coast along in this place.

The fifteenth wee came thwart of a place which is called Morro moreno,* which standeth in 23 degrees ½, and is an excellent good harborough: and there is an Iland which maketh it an harbo∣rough: and a ship may go in at either end of the Iland: here we went with our Generall on shore to the number of 30 men: and at our going on shore vpon our landing• the Indians of the place came downe from the rockes to meete with vs, with fresh water and wood on their backes. They are in maruellous awe of the Spania•ds, and very simple people, and liue maruellous sauagely: For they brought vs to their bidings about two miles from the harborough, where wee saw their women and lodging, which is nothing but the skin of some beast layd vpon the ground: and ouer them in stead of houses, is nothing but fiue or sixe sticks layd acrosse, which stand vpon two forkes with stickes on the ground and a fewe boughes layd on it. Thei• diet is raw fish, which stinketh most visely. And when any of them die, they burie their bowes and a•rowes with them, with their canoa and all that they haue: for wee opened one of their gra•es, •nd saw the order o• them. Their canoas or boates are maruellous •rtificially made of two skinnes like vnto bladders,* and are blowen full at one ende with quilles: they haue two of these bladders blowen •ull, which are sowen together and made fast with a sinew of some wild beast; which when they are in the wa∣ter swell, so that they are as tight as may bee. They goe to sea in these boates, and catch very much fish with them, a•d pay much of it for tribute vnto the Spaniards: but they vse it maruel∣lous beastly.*

The 23 in the morning we tooke a small barke which came out of Arica road, which wee kept and called The George:* the men forsooke it, and went away with their boate. Our admirals pin∣nesse followed the boate, & the Hugh Gallants boate tooke the ba•ke: our admirals pinnesse could not recouer the boat before it got on shoare, but went along into the road of Arica, and layd aboord a great shippe of an hundreth tunnes riding in the road right afore the towne, but all the men and goods were gone out of it, on•ly the bare ship was left alone.* They made three or foure very faire shots at the pinnesse as shee was comming in, but missed her very narrowly with a Minion shot which they had in the fort. Whereupon wee came into the road with the admirall and the Hugh Gallant: but the Content which was viceadmirall was behinde out of sight: by meanes where∣of Page  810 of, and for want of her boate to land men withall wee landed not: other wise i• wee had bene toge∣ther, our Generall with the companie would resolutely haue landed to take the •owne, whatsoe∣u•r had come of it. The cause why the Content stayed behind was, that shee had •ound about 14 leagues to the Southward of Arica, in a place where •he Spaniards had landed, a whole ships la∣ding of botijas of wine of Castillia,* whereof the sayd Content tooke into her as many as shee could conueniently carrie, and came after vs into the road of Arica the same day. By this time wee perceiued that the towne had gathered all their power together, and also conueyed all their treasure away, and buried it before wee were come neere the towne: for they had heard of vs. Nowe because it was very populous with the ayde of one or two places vp in the land, our Gene∣rall sawe there was no landing without losse of many men: wherefore hee gaue ouer that •nter∣prise. While wee rid in the road they shot at vs, and our ships shot at th•m againe for euery s•ot two. Moreouer, our pinnesse went in hard almost to the shoare, and fetch•d out another barke which rid there in despight of all their forts though they shot still at the pinnesse,* which th•y could neuer hit. After these things our Generall sent a boate on shoare with a flag of truce to knowe if they would redeeme their great shippe or no; but they would not: for they had receiu•d speciall commandement from the viceroy from Luna, not to buy any shippe, nor to ransome any man vp∣on paine of death. Our Generall did this in hope to haue redeemed some of our men, which were taken prisoners on shoare by the horsemen at Quintero, otherwise hee would haue made th•m no offer of parley.

*The 25 riding stil in the said road, we spied a saile comming from the Southward, and our Ge∣nerall s•nt out his pinnesse to meete her, with all our boates; but the towne made such signes from the hill with fires and tokens out of the watch-house,* that before our pinnesse could get to them, they ran the barke on shoare two miles to the Southward of the towne; but they had small lea∣sure to carrie any thing with them; but all the men skaped, among whom there were certaine fri∣ers: for wee sawe them in their friers weedes as they ran on shoare: many horsemen came f•om the towne to rescue them, and to carrie them away, otherwise wee had landed and taken or killed them. So wee went aboord the barke as she lay sunke, and fetched out the pillage: but there was nothing in it of any value, and •ame aboord our shippes againe the same night: and the next mor∣ning wee set the great shippe on fire in the road, and sunke one of the barkes, and carried the other along with vs, and so departed from thence, and went away Northwest.

*The 27 day wee tooke a small barke, which came from S. Iago neere vnto Quintero, where wee lost our men first. In this barke was one George a Greeke, a reasonable pilot for all the coast of Chili. They were sent to the citie of Lima with letters of aduiso of vs, and of the losse of our men. There were also in the sayde barke one Flemming and three Spaniards: and they were all sworne and receiued the Sacrament before •hey came to sea by three or foure friers, that if wee should chance to meete them, they should throw those letters ouer boord: which, (as wee were giuing them chase with our pinnesse) before wee could fetch them vp, they had accordingly throwen away. Yet our Generall wrought so with them, that they did confesse it: bu• hee was faine to cause them to bee tormented with their thumbes in a wrinch, and to continue them at se∣uerall times with extreme paine. Also hee made the old Flemming beleeue that hee would hang him; and the rope being about his necke hee was pulled vp a little from the hatches, and yet hee would not confesse,* chusing rather to die, then hee would bee periured. In the end it was con∣fessed by one of the Spaniards, whereupon wee burnt the barke, and carried the men with vs.

The third of May wee came into a bay where are three little townes, which are called Parac∣ca, Chincha, and Pisca, where some of vs landed and •ooke certain• houses, whe•ein was bread, wine, figs and hennes: but the sea went so high, that wee could not land at the best of the townes without sinking of our boats, and great hazard of vs all. This place standeth in thirteene degrees and ⅔ to the Southward of the line.*

The fift of May wee departed from this harbour, leauing the Content our viceadmirall with∣in at an Iland of seales,* by which meanes at that time wee lost her compani•.

The ninth wee gaue chase to a saile, namely, Our admirall, The Hugh Gallant, and The George which wee had taken before comming out of the roade of Arica; The Content which was our viceadmirall being still lost: but wee could not fetch it. The George made after it, but lost it that night.

*The tenth day the Hugh Gallant (in which barke I Francis Pretie was) lost companie of our admir•ll.

The eleuenth we which were in the Hugh Gallant put into a bay which standeth in 12 degrees 1/•• in which bay wee found a riuer of fresh water about eight of the clocke at night, and though we Page  811 were but of small force, and no more but one barke and 18 men in it, yet wee went on shoare to fill water; where hauing filled one boates lading, while our boate was in going aboord, two or three of our companie which were on shoare, as they were going a little from the watering place with their furniture about them,* espied where there w•re fou•e or fiue hundred bagges of meale on an heape couered wi•h a fewe reedes. So that night we filled water and tooke as much meale as wee thought good: which fell out well for vs that were then lost and sloode in neede of victu∣als: and by breake of day in the morning wee came aboord, and there stayed and rode vntill the afternoone. In which meane time the towne seeing vs ride there still, brought downe much cat∣tell to the sea side to haue intised vs to come on shoare: but wee sawe their intent, and weyed an∣ker and departed the twelft day.

The 13 day at night wee put into a bay which standeth in 9 degrees and 1/•• where wee sawe horsemen:* and that night wee landed, namely, M. Bruer Captaine, my selfe Francis Pretie, Ar∣thur Warford, Iohn Way Preacher,*Iohn Newman, Andrew Wyght, William Gargefield, and Henry Hilliard. And we 8 onely, hauing euery man his harquebuze and his furniture about him, marched three quarters of a mile along the sea side, where wee found a boate of fiue or sixe tunnes hal•d vp drie on the shoare about a cables length from the water: and with extreme labour wee lanched the barke; when it was on flote, Captaine Bruer, and I went in, while the rest of our companie were fetching their things: but suddenly it was readie to sinke: And the Captaine and I stoode vp to the knees lading out water with our targets: but it sunke downe fast•r then wee were able to free it, insomuch as in the end wee had much adoe to saue our selues from drow∣ning. When wee were out, wee stood in great feare that our owne boate wherein wee came on shoare was sunke: for wee could no where see it. Howbeit the Captaine commanded them to keepe it off, for feare of the great surge that went by the shoare. Yet in the end wee spied it, and went aboord by two and two, and were driuen to wade vp to the arme-holes 60 paces into the sea before wee could get into the boate, by reason of the shoaldnesse: and then departed the foure∣teenth day in the morning.

The 16 wee tooke with the Hugh Gallant, being but sixteene men of vs in it, a great shippe which came from Guaianil, which was called The Lewis,* and was of the burthen of three hun∣dred tuns, hauing foure and twentie men in it, wherein was pilot one Gonsaluo de Ribas, whom wee carried along with vs, and a Negro called Emmanuel. The shippe was laden with no•hing but timber and victuals: wherefore wee left her seuen leagues from the land very leake and ready to sinke in 7 degrees to the Southward of the line:* wee sunke her boate and tooke away her fore∣saile and certaine victuals.

The 17 of May wee met with our admirall againe, and all the rest of our fleete.* They had ta∣ken two ships, the one laden with sugar, molos•es, maiz, Cordouan-skinnes, montego de Por∣co,* many packes of pintados, many Indian coates, and some marmalade, and 1000 hennes: and the other ship was laden with wheate-meale, and boxes of marmalade.* One of these ships which had the chiefe marchandise in it, was worth twentie thousand pounds, if it had bene in England or in any other place of Christendome where wee might haue solde it. Wee filled all our ships with as much as wee could bestow of these goods: the rest wee burnt aud the ships also; and set the men and women that were not killed on shoare.

The 20 day in the morning wee came into the road of Paita,* and being at an anker, our Gene∣rall landed with sixtie or seuentie men, skinnished with them of the towne, and draue them all to flight to the top of the hill which is ouer the towne, except a few slaues and some other which were of the meaner sort,* who were commanded by the gouernours to stay below in the towne, at a place which is in building for a fort, hauing with them a bloodie ensigne, being in number about one hundred men. Nowe as wee were rowing betweene the ships and the shoare, our gunner shot off a great peece out of one of the barkes, and the shot fel among them, and draue them to flie from the fort as fast as they might runne, who got them vp vpon an hill, and from thence shot among vs with their small shot.* After wee were landed and had taken the towne, wee ran vpon them, and chased them so fiercely vp the hilles for the space of an houre, that wee draue them in the ende away perforce, and being got vp the hilles, wee found where they had layd all their stuffe which they had brought out of the towne, and had hidden it there vpon the mountaines.* We also found the quan∣titie of 25 pounds weight in siluer in pieces of eight rials, and abundance of houshold stuffe and storehouses full of all kinde of wares: but our Generall would not suffer any man •o carrie much cloth or apparell away, because they should not cloy themselues with burthens: for hee knew not whether our enemies were prouided with furniture according to the number of their men: for they were fiue men to one of vs: and wee had an English mile and an halfe to our ships. Thus Page  812 wee came dow•e in safetie to the towne, which was very well builded, and maruellous cleane kept in euery streete, with a towne-house or Guild hall in the middest,* and had to the number of two hundred houses at the least in it. Wee set it on fire to the ground, and goods to the value of fiue or sixe thousand pounds: there was also a barke riding in the roade which wee set on fire,* and departed, directing our course to the Iland of Puna.

*The 25 day of May wee arriued at the Iland of Puna, where is a very good harbour, where wee found a great shippe of the burthen of 250 tunnes riding at an anker with all her •urniture, which was readie to bee haled on ground: for there is a speciall good place for that purpose. Wee sunke it, and went on shoare where the lord of the Iland dwelt, which was by the waters side, who had a sumptuous house maruellous well contriued with very many singular good roomes and chambers in it: and out of euery chamber was framed a gallerie with a stately prospect into the sea on the one side, and into the Iland on the other side, with a maruellous great hall below, and a very great storehouse at the one ende of the hall, which was filled with botijas of pitch and bash to make cables withall:* for the most part of the cables in the South sea are made vpon that Iland. This great Casique doth make all the Indians vpon the Iland to worke and to drudge for him: and hee himselfe is an Indian borne, but is married to a maruellous faire woman which is a Spa∣niard, by reason of his pleasant habitation and of his great wealth.

This Spanish woman his wife is honoured as a Queene in the Iland, and neuer goeth on the ground vpon her feete: but holdeth it too base a thing for her: But when her pleasure is to take the ayre, or to goe abroad, shee is alwayes carried in a shadowe like vnto an horse-litter vpon foure mens shoulders, with a veile or canopie ouer her for the sunne or the winde, hauing her gentlewomen still attending about her with a great troope of the best men of the Iland with her. But both shee and the lorde of the Iland with all the Indians in the towne were newly fled out of the Iland before wee could get to an anker, by reason wee were becalmed before wee could get in, and were gone ouer vnto the maine lande, hauing carried away with them to the summe of 100000 crownes, which wee knew by a captaine of the Iland an Indian, which was left there with some other vpon the Iland vnder him, whom wee had taken at sea as wee were comming in∣to the road, being in a balsa or canoa for a spie to see what wee were.

The 27 our General himselfe with certaine shot and some targettiers went ouer into the maine vnto the place where this foresayde Indian captaine which wee had taken had tolde vs that the Casique, which was the lord of all the Iland, was gone vnto, and had caried all his treasure with him: but at our comming to the place which wee went to lande at, wee found newly arriued there foure or fiue great balsas, which were laden with plantans, bags of meale, and many other kinds of victuals. Our Generall maruelled what they were and what they meant, asking the Indian guide and commanding him to speake the trueth vpon his life: being then bound fast. hee answe∣red being very much abashed, as well as our companie were, that hee neither knewe from whence they should come, nor who they should bee: for there was neuer a man in any one of the balsas: and because hee had told our Generall before, that it was an easie matter to take the sayd Casique and all his treasure, and that there were but three or foure houses standing in a dese•t place and no resistance, and that if hee found it not so, hee should hang him. Againe being demaunded to speake vpon his life what hee thought these Balsas should bee, hee answered that hee coulde not say from whence they should come, except it were to bring 60 souldiers, which hee did heare were to go to a place called Guaiaquil,* which was about 6 leagues from the saide yland, where two or three of the kings shippes were on the stocks in building, where are continually an hundred souldiers in gari∣sons who had heard of vs, and had sent for sixtie more for feare of burning of the shippes and towne. Our Generall uot any whit discouraged either at the sight of the balsas vnlooked for, or for hearing of the threescore souldiers not vntill then spoken of, with a braue courage anima∣ting his companie in the exployte, went presently forward, being in the night in a most desert path in the woods, vntill such time as hee came to the place; where, as it seemed, they had kept watch either at the waters side, or at the houses, or else at both, and were newly gone out of the houses, hauing so short warning, that they left the meate both boyling and rosting at the fire and were fledde with their treasure with them, or else buried it where it could not bee found, being also in the night. Our companie tooke hennes and such things as wee thought good, and came away.

*The 29 day of May our Generall went in the ship-boate into a little Iland there by, whereas the sayd Casique which was the lord of Puna had caused all the hangings of his chambers, which were of cordouan leather all guilded ouer, and painted very faire and rich, with all his houshold stuffe, and all the ships tackling which was riding in the road at our comming in, with great store Page  813 of nailes, spikes of yron, and very many other things to be conueyed: all which wee found, and brought away what our Generall thought requisite for the ships businesse.

This Iland is very pleasant for all things requisite, and fruitful: but there are no mines of gold nor siluer in it. There are at the least 200 houses in the towne about the Casiques pallace, and as many in one or two townes more vpon the Iland, which is almost as bigge as the Ile of Wight in England.* There is planted on the one side of the Casiques house a faire garden, with all herbes growing in it, and at the lower end a well of fresh water, and round about it are trees set, whereon bombasin cotton groweth after this maner:* The tops of the trees grow full of cods, out of which the cotton groweth, and in the cotton is a seede of the bignesse of a pease, and in euery codde there are seuen or eight of these seedes: and if the cotton bee not gathered when it is ripe, then these seedes fall from it, and spring againe.

There are also in this garden fig-trees which beare continually, also pōpions, melons, cucum∣bers, radishes, rosemarie and thyme, with many other herbes and fruits. At the other end of the house there is also another orchard,* where grow orenges sweete and sower, limmons, pomegra∣nates and lymes, with diuers other fruits.

There is very good pasture ground in this Iland; and withall many horses, oxen, bullockes, sheepe very fat and faire, great store of goates which be very tame, and are vsed continually to bee milked. They haue moreouer abundance of pigeons, turkeys, and ducks of a maruellous bignesse.

There was also a very large and great church hard by the Casiques house, whither hee caused all the Indians in the Iland to come and heare masse: for he himselfe was made a Christian when he was maried to the Spanish woman before spoken of, and vpon his conuersion he caused the rest of his subiects to be Christened. In this church was an high altar with a crucifixe, and fiue belles hanging in the nether end thereof. We burnt the church and brought the belles away.

By this time wee had haled on ground our admirall,* and had made her cleane, burnt her keele, pitched and tarred her, and had haled her on flote againe. And in the meane while continually kept watch and ward in the great house both night and day.

The second day of Iune in the morning, by and by after breake of day, euery one of the watch being gone abroad to seeke to fetch in victuals, some one way, some another, some for hennes, some for sheepe, some for goats, vpon the sudden there came down vpon vs an hundred Spanish souldi∣ers with muskets and an ensigne, which were landed on the other side of the Iland that night, and all the Indians of the Iland with them, euery one with weapons and their baggage after them: which was by meanes of a Negro, whose name was Emmanuel, which fled from vs at our first landing there. Thus being taken at aduantage we had the worst:* for our companie was not past sixteene or twentie; whereof they had slaine one or two before they were come to the houses: yet we skirmished with them an houre and an halfe: at the last being sore ouercharged with multi∣tudes, we were driuen down from the hill to the waters side, and there kept them play a while, vntil in the end Zacharie Saxie, who with his halberd had kept the way of the hill, and slaine a couple of them, as hee breathed himselfe being somewhat tired, had an honourable death and a short:* for a shot strooke him to the heart: who feeling himselfe mortally wounded cryed to God •or mercie, and fell downe presently dead. But soone after the enemie was driuen somewhat to retire from the bankes side to the greene: and in the ende our boate came and carried as many of our men a∣way as could goe in her, which was in hazard of sinking while they hastened into it: And one of our men whose name was Robert Maddocke was shot through the head with his owne peece,* being a snap-hance, as hee was hasting into the boate. But foure of vs were left behinde which the boate could not carrie: to wit, my selfe Francis Pretie, Thomas Andrewes, Steuen Gun∣ner, and Richard Rose: which had our shot readie and retired our selues vnto a cliffe, vntill the boate came againe, which was presently after they had carried the rest abourd. There were sixe and fortie of the enemies slaine by vs,* whereof they had dragged some into bushes, and some into aide houses, which wee found afterward. Wee lost twelue men in maner following.

Slaine by the enemie.
• 1 Zacharie Saxie,
• 2 Neales Iohnson,
• 3 William Geirgifield,
• 4 Nicolas Hendie,
• 5 Henry Cooper.

• 1 Robert Maddocke, killed with his peece.
• 2 Henry Mawdley, burnt.

drowned.
• 1 Edward the gunners man,
• 2 Ambrose the mustrian,

taken priso∣ners.
• 1 Walter Tilliard,
• 2 Edward Smith,
• 3 Henry Aselye,

Page  814The selfe same day being the second of Iune, we went on shoare againe with •••ntie men, and had a fresh skirmish with the enemies,* and draue them to retire, being an hundred Spaniards ser∣uing with muskets, and two hundred Indians with bowes, arrowes and darts. This done, wee set fire on the towne and burnt it to the ground, hauing in it to the number of three hundred houses•* and shortly after made hauocke of their fieldes, orchards, and gardens, and burnt foure great ships more which were in building on the stockes.

The third of Iune the Content which was our viceadmirall was haled on ground, to graue at the same place in despight of the Spaniards: and also our pinnesse which the Spaniards had bur∣ned, was new trimmed.

*The fift day of Iune wee departed out of the roade of Puna, where wee had remained eleuen dayes, and turned vp for a place which is called Rio dolce, where wee watered: at which place also wee sunke our rereadmirall called The Hugh Gallant for want of men,* being a barke of for∣tie tunnes.

The tenth day of the same moneth wee set the Indians on shoare, which we had taken before in a balsa as we were comming into the road of Puna.

*The eleuenth day wee departed from the sayd Rio dolce.

The twelft of Iune wee doubled the Equinoctial line, and continued our course Northwarde all that moneth.

The first of Iulie wee had sight of the coast of Nueua Espanna, being foure leagues distant from land in the latitude of ten degrees to the Northward of the line.

The ninth of Iulie wee tooke a new ship of the burthen of 120 tunnes, wherein was one Mi∣chael Sancius, whom our Generall tooke to serue his turne to water along the coast: for hee was one of the best coasters in the South sea. This Michael Sancius was a Prouensal,* borne in Mar∣seils, and was the first man that tolde vs newes of the great ship called The Santa Anna, which wee afterward tooke comming from the Philippinas.

*There were sixe men more in this new shippe: we tooke her sailes, her ropes, and fire-wood, to serue our turnes, set her on fire, and kept the men.

*The tenth we tooke another barke which was going with aduise of vs and our ships all along the coast, as Michael Sancius tolde vs: but all the companie that were in the barke were flodde on shoare. None of both these ships had any goods in them. For they came both from Sonsonate in the prouince of Guatimala;* the new shippe, for feare we should haue taken her in the road, and the barke, to carrie newes of vs along the coast; which barke also wee set on fire.*

*The 26 day of Iuly wee came to an anker at 10 fathoms in the riuer of Copalita, where wee made account to water. And the same night wee departed with 30 men in the pinnesse, and rowed to Aguatulco,* which is but two leagues from the aforesayd riuer; and standeth in 15 degrees 40 minutes to the Northward of the Equinoctial line.

The 27 in the morning by the breake of day wee came into the roade of Aguatulco, where wee found a barke of 50 tunnes,* which was come from Sonsonate laden with cacaos and anile which they had there landed:* and the men were all fled on shoare. Wee landed there, and burnt their towne,* with the church and custome house which was very faire and large: in which house were 600 bags of anile to dye cloth; euery bag whereof was worth 40 crownes, and 400 bags of ca∣caos; euery bag whereof is worth ten crownes. These cacaos goe among them for meate and money.* For 150 of them are in value one rial of plate in ready payment. They are v•ry like vn∣to an almond, but are nothing so pleasant in taste: they eate them, and make drinke of them. This the owner of the shippe tolde vs. I found in this towne before wee burnt it, a flasket full of boxes of balme. After we had spoyled and burnt the towne, wherein there were some hundred houses, the owner of the shippe came downe out of the hilles with a flag of truce vnto vs, which before with the rest of all the townesmen was •un away at our first comming: and at length came abourd our pinnesse vpon Captaine Hauers worde of safe returne. We ca•ri•d him to the riuer of Copa∣lita where our shippes rode: and when hee came to our Generall, hee caused him to bee set on shoare in safetie the same night, because hee came vpon the captaines word.

*The 28 day we set saile from Copalita, because the sea was so great there, that wee could not fill water, and ran the same night into the roade of Aguatulco.

The 29 our Generall landed and went on shoare with thirtie men two miles into the woods, where wee tooke a Mestizo, whose name was Michael de Truxillo, who was customer of that towne, and wee found with him two chambers full of his sluffe: wee brought him and his s•uffe abourd. And whereas I say he was a Mestizo, it is to be vnderstood that a Mestizo is one which hath a Spaniard to his father and an Indian to his mother.

Page  815The second day of August, we had watered, and examined the said Mestizo, and set him on shore againe and departed from the port of Aguatulco the same night,* which standeth as I sayd before in 15 degrees and 40 minuts to the Northward of the lyne.

Here wee ouerslipped the hauen of Acapulco, from whence the shippes are set foorth for the Philippinas.

The foure and twentieth day of August, our Generall with 30 of vs went with the pinnesse vn∣to an hauen called Puerto de Natiuidad,* where wee had intelligence by Michael Sancius that there should bee a pinnesse, but before wee could get thither the sayde pinnesse was gone to fish for pearles 12 leagues farther,* as we were informed by certaine Indians which we found there. We tooke a mullato in this place, in his bedde, which was sent with letters of aduise concerning vs along the coast, of Nueua Galicia,* whose horse wee killed, tooke his letters, left him behinde, set fire on the houses, and burnt two newe shippes of 200 tunnes the piece,* which were in building there on the stockes, and came abourd of our shippes againe.

The sixe and twentie day of August, wee came into the bay of S. Iago,* where wee watered at a fresh Riuer, along which riuer many plantans are growing: here is great abundance of fresh fish. Heere also certaine of our companie dragged for pearles and caught some quan∣titie.*

The second of September wee departed from Sant Iago at foure of the clocke in the eue∣ning. This bay of Sant Iago standeth in nineteene degrees and eighteene minuts to the North∣ward of the lyne.

The 3 of September wee arriued in a litle bay a league to the Westwarde off Port de Naui∣dad called Malacca,* which is a very good place to ride in: and the same day about twelue of the clocke our Generall landed with thirtie men or there about, and went vp to a towne of Indians which was two leagues from the road, which towne is called Acatlan:* there were in it about 20 or 30 houses and a Church, which we defaced and came abourd againe the same night. All the peo∣ple were fled out of the towne at the sight of vs.

The fourth of September, wee departed from the roade of Malacca, and sayled along the coast.

The 8 we came to the roade of Chaccalla,* in which bay there are two litle houses by the wa∣ters side. This bay is 18 leagues from the Cape de los Corrientes.

The 9 in the morning our Generall sent vp Captaine Hauers with fortie men of vs before day, and Michael Sancius being our guide, wee went vnto a place about two leagues vp into the coun∣trey in a most villanous desert path through the woods and wilde•nesse; and in the ende we came to a place where wee tooke three housholders with their wiues and children and some Indians, one carptenter which was a Spaniard, and a Portugall, wee bound them all and made them to come to the sea side with vs.

Our Generall made their wiues to fetch vs Plantans, Lymmons, and Oranges, Pine∣aples and other fruites whereof they had abundance, and so let their husbandes depart, except Sembrano the Spanish Carpenter, and Diego the Portugal; and the tenth day wee departed the roade.

The twelfth day wee arriued at a little Island called the Isle of Sant Andrewe,* on which there is great store of fowle and wood: where wee dryed and salted as many of the fowles as we thought good: wee also killed there abundance of seales, and Iguanos which are a kinde of Serpents,* with foure feete, and a long sharpe tayle, strange to them which haue not seene them; but they are very good meate. Wee ridde here vntill the seuenteenth day, at which time wee departed.

The 24 day wee arriued in the roade of Massatlan,* which standeth in 23 degrees ½, iust vnder the Tropicke of Cancer: It is a very great riuer within, but is barred at the mouth: and vpon the North side of the barre without, is good fresh water: but there is very euill filling of it; be∣cause at a lowe water it is shoald halfe a mile off the shoare. There is great store of fresh fish in that bay: and good fruites vp into the countrey, whereof wee had some, though not with∣out danger.

The seuen and twentieth day of September, wee departed from the roade of Massatlan and ran to an island which is a league to the Northward the sayd Massatlan;* where wee trimmed our ships and new built our pinnesse: and there is a litle island a quarter of a league from it, on which are seales; where a Spanish prisoner, whose name was Domingo,* being sent to wash shirtes with one of our mē to keep him, made a scape, & swam to the maine, which was an English mile distant: at which place we had seen 30 or 40 Spaniards & Indians, which were horsemen, and kept watch Page  816 there, which came from a towne called Chiametla,* which was 11 leagues vp into the countrey, as Michael Santius told vs. We found vpon the island where we trimmed our pinnesse, fresh water by the assistance of God in that our great neede by digging two or three foote deepe in the sande, where no water nor signe of water was before to be perceiued. Otherwise we had gon backe 20 or 30 leagu•s to water: which might haue bene occasion that we might haue missed our prey wee had long wayted for. But God raysed one Flores a Spaniard, which was also a prisoner with vs, to make a motion to digge in the sands. Now our Generall hauing had experience ones before of the like, commanded to put his motion in practise, and in digging three foote deepe wee found ve∣ry good and fresh water.* So we watered our ships, and might haue filled a thousand tunnes more, if we had would.

We stayed in this island vntill the 9 day of October, at which time we departed at night for the cape of S. Lucar, which is on the West side of the point of California.

*The 14 of October we fell with the cape of S. Lucar, which cape is very like the Needles at the isle of Wight; and within the said cape is a great bay called by the Spaniards Aguada Se∣gura:* into which bay falleth a faire fresh riuer, about which many Indians vse to keepe: wee wa∣tered in the riuer and lay off and on from the saide cape of S. Lucar vntill the fourth of Nouember, and had the windes hanging still Westerly.

*The 4 of Nouember the Desire and the Content, wherein were the number of Eng∣lishmen onely liuing, beating vp and downe vpon the headland of California, which standeth in 23 degrees and ⅔ to the Northward, betwene seuen and 8 of the clocke in the morning one of the company of our Admirall which was the trumpeter of the ship going vp into the top espied a sayle bearing in from the sea with the cape; whereupon hee cryed out with no small ioy to himselfe and the whole company, A sayle, A sayle, with which cheerefull word the master of the ship and diuers others of the company went also vp into the maine top, who perceiuing the speech to be very true gaue information vnto our Generall of these happy newes, who was no lesse glad then the cause required: whereupon he gaue in charge presently vnto the whole company to put all things in rea∣dines, which being performed we gaue thē chase some 3 or 4 houres,* standing with our best aduan∣tage and working for the winde. In the afternoone we gat vp vnto them, giuing them the broad side with our great ordinance and a volee of small shot, and presently layed the ship aboord, whereof the king of Spaine was owner, which was Admiral of the south sea, called the S. Anna, & thought to be 700 tunnes in burthen. Now as we were ready on their ships side to enter her, being not past 50 or 60 men at the vttermost in our ship, we perceiued that the Captaine of the said ship had made fights fore and after, and layd their sailes close on their poope, their mid ship, with their sore castle, and hauing not one man to be seene, stood close vnder their fights, with lances, iauelings, ra∣piers, & targets, & an innumerable sort of great stones, which they threw ouerboord vpon our heads and into our ship so fast and being so many of them, that they put vs off the shippe againe, with the losse of 2 of our men which were slaine, & with the hurting of 4 or 5.* But for al this we new trim∣med our sailes, and fitted euery man his furniture, and gaue them a fresh incounter with our great ordinance and also with our small shot, raking them through and through, to the killing and mai∣ming of many of their men. Their Captaine still like a valiant man with his company stood very •toutely vnto his close fights,* not yeelding as yet: Our General encouraging his men a fresh with the whole noyse of trumpets gaue them the third encounter with our great ordinance and all our small shot to the great discomforting of our enemies raking them through in diuers places, killing and spoiling many of their men. They being thus discomforted and spoiled, and their shippe being in hazard of sinking by reason of the great shot which were made, wherof some were vnder water, within 5 or 6 houres fight set out a flagge of truce and parled for mercy,* desiring our Generall to saue their liues and to take their goods, and that they would presently yeeld. Our Generall of his goodnes promised them mercy, and willed them to strike their sayles, and to hoyse out their boate and to come aboord: which n•wes they were ful glad to heare of, and presently strooke their sailes, hoysed their boat out, and one of their cheife marchants came aboord vnto our Generall: and fal∣ling downe vpon his knees, offered to haue kissed our Generals fette, and craued mercie: our Ge∣neral most graciously pardoned both him and the rest vpon promise of their true dealing with him and his company concerning such riches as were in the shippe: and sent for the Captaine and their Pilote, who at their comming vsed the like duetie and reuerence as the former did. The Gene∣rall of his great mercy & humanitie, promised their liues and good vsage. The sayd Captaine and Pilote presently certified the Generall what goods they had within boord, to wit, an hundreth and 22 thousand pezos of golde:* and the rest of the riches that the ship was laden with was in silkes, sattens, damasks, with muske & diuers other marchandize, and great store of al m•ner of victuals Page  817 with the choyse of many conserues of all sortes for to eate,* and of sundry sorts of very good wines. These things being made knowne to the Generall by the aforesaid. Captaine and Pilote, they were commanded to stay aboord the Desire, and on the 6 day of Nouember following wee went into an harbour which is called by the Spaniards, Aguada Segura, or Puerto Segu•o.

Here the whole company of the Spaniardes, both of men and women to •he number of 190 persons were set on shore:* where they had a fayre riuer of fresh water, with great store of fresh fish, foule, and wood, and also many hares and conies vpon the maine land. Our generall also gaue them great store of victuals, of garuansos, peason, and some wine. Also they had all the sailes of their shippe to make them tents on shore, with licence to take such store of plankes as should bee sufficient to make them a barke. Then we fell to hoysing in of our goods, sharing of the treasure, and alotting to euery man his portion. In deuision whereof the eight of this moneth, many of the company fell into a mutinie against our Generall,* especially those which were in the Content, which neuerthelesse were after a sort paci•ied for the time.

On the 17 day of Nouember, which is the day of the happy Coronation of her Maiestie, our Generall commanded all his ordinance to be shot off, with the small shot both in his owne shippe where himselfe went, and also in the Content, which was our Uice-admirall. This being done, the same night we had many fireworkes and more ordinance discharged, to the great admiration of all the Spaniards which were there: for the most part of them had neuer seene the like before.

This ended, our Generall discharged the Captaine, gaue him a royall reward, with prouision for his defence against the Indians and his company, both of swords, targets, pieces, shot, and pow∣der to his great cont•ntment: but before his departure, he tooke out of this great s•ippe two yong lads borne in Iapon,* which could both wrigh• and reade their owne language, the eldest being about 20 yeers olde was named Christopher, the other was called Cosmus, about 17 yeeres of age, both of very good capacitie. He tooke also with him out of their ship, 3 boyes borne in the isles of Manilla,* the one about 15, the o•her about 13, and the yongest about 9 yeeres old. The name of the eldest was Alphonso, the second Anthony de Dasi, the third remaineth with the right ho∣nourable the Countesse of Essex. He also tooke from them, one Nicholas Roderigo a Portugall,* who hath not onely bene in Canton and other parts of China, but also in the islands of Iapon be∣ing a countrey most rich in siluer mynes, and hath also bene in the Philippinas.

Hee tooke also from them a Spaniard whose name was Thomas de E•sola,* which was a very good Pilote from Acapulco and the coast of Nueua Espanna vnto the islands of Ladrones, where the Spaniardes doe put in to water, sayling betweene Acapulco and the Philippinas:* in which illes of Ladrones, they finde fresh water, plantans, and potato rootes: howbeit the people be very rude and heathens. The 19 day of Nouember aforesaid, about 3 of the clock in the after∣noone, our Generall caused the kings shippe to be set on fire,* which hauing to the quantitie of 500 tunnes of goods in her we saw burnt vnto the water, and then gaue them a piece of ordinance and set sayle ioyfully homewardes towardes England with a fayre winde, which by this time was come about to Eastnortheast:* and night growing neere, we left the Content a sterne of vs, which was not as yet come out of the road. And here thinking she would haue ouertaken vs, we lost her companie and neuer saw her after. Wee were sayling from this hauen of Aguada Segura in Ca∣lifornia vnto the iles of Ladrones the rest of Nouember,* and all Decembe•, and so forth vntil the 3 of Ianuarie 1588, with a faire winde for the space 45 dayes: and we esteemed it to be between 17 and 18 hundred leagues. The 3 day of Ianuary by sixe of the clocke in the morning wee had sight of one of the islands of Ladrones called the island of Guana,* standing in 13 degrees 2/• to∣ward the North, and sayling with a gentle gale before the winde, by 1 or 2 of the clocke in the afternoone, wee were come vp within 2 leagues of the island, where we met with 60 or 70 sailes of canoas full of Sauages,* who came off to sea vnto vs, and brought with them in their boates plantans, cocos, potato rootes, and fresh fish, which they had caught at sea, and helde them vp vnto vs for to truck or exchange with vs; which when we perceiued we made fast litle pieces of old iron vpon small cords and fishing lines, and so vered the iron vnto their canoas, and they caught hold of them and tooke off the iron, and in exchange of it they would make fast vnto the same line either a potato roote, or a bundle of plantans, which we haled in: and thus our company exchanged with them vntil they had satisfied themselues with as much as did content them: yet we could not be rid of them. For afterward they were so thicke about the ship, that it stemmed & brake 1 or 2 of their canoas: but the men saued themselues being in euery canoa 4, 6, or 8 persons all naked & ex∣cellent swimmers and diuers.* They are of a tawny colour & marueilous fat, & bigger ordinarily of stature thē the most part of our men in England, wearing their haire marueilous long: yet some of them haue it made vp and tyed with a knot on the crowne, & some with 2 knots, much like vnto Page  818 their images which wee saw them haue carued in wood, and standing in the head of their boates like vnto the images of the deuill.* Their canoas were as artificially made as any that euer wee had seene: considering they were made and contriued without any edge-toole. They are not a∣boue halfe a yard in bredth and in length some seuen or eight yardes, and their heades and sternes are both alike, they are made out with raftes of canes and reedes on the starrebordside, with maste and sayle: their sayle is made of mattes of sedges, squ•re or triangle wise: and they saile as well right against the winde,* as before the winde: These Sauages followed vs so long, that we could not be ridde of them: vntill in the end our General commanded some halfe dozen harquebuzes to be made ready; and himselfe strooke one of them and the rest shot at them: but they were so yare and nimble,* that we could not discerne whether they were killed or no, because they could fall back∣ward into the sea, and preuent vs by diuing.

The 14 day of Ianuary lying at hull with our ship all the middle watch, from 12 at night vntil foure in the morning, by the breake of day wee fell with an headland of the isles of the Philippinas, which is called Cabo del Spirito Santo which is of very great bignes and length,* high land in the middest of it, and very low land as the Cape lyeth East and West, trending farre into the sea to the westward. This cape or island is distant from the ile of Guana, one of the Ladrones, 310 leagues.* We were in sayling of this course eleuen dayes with skant windes and some foule weather, bea∣ring no sayle two or three nights. This island standeth in 13 degrees, and is a place much peopled with heathen people, and all woodie through the whole land: and it is short of the chiefest island of the Philippinas called Manilla about 60 leagues. Manilla is well planted and inhabited with Spaniards to the number of sixe or seuen hundred persons: which dwell in a towne vnwalled, which hath 3 or 4 small blocke houses, part made of wood,* and part of stone beeing indeede of no great strength: they haue one or two small Gallies belong to the towne. It is very rich place of golde and many other commodities; and they haue ye•rely trafficke from Acapulco in Nueua Espanna, and also 20 or 30 shippes from China and from the Sanguelos,* which bring them many sorts of marchandize. The marchants of China and the Sanguelos• are part Moores and part hea∣then people. They bring great store of gold with them, which they trafficke and exchange for sil∣uer, and giue waight for waight.* These Sanguelos are men of marueilous capacitie in deuising and making all maner of things, especially in all handie craftes and sciences: and euery one is so expert, perfect, and skilfull in his facultie, as f•we or no Christians are able to goe beyond them in that which they take in hand. For drawing & imbrodering vpon satten, silck, or lawne, either beaste, fowle, fish or worme, for liuelines and perfectnes, both in silke, siluer, gold, & pearle, they excell. Also the 14 day at night wee entred the streights betweene the island of Luçon, & the iland of Camlaia.

*The fifteenth of Ianuary wee fell with an island called Capul, and had betwixt the sayd island and another island but an narrowe passage, and a marueilous rippling of a very great tyde with a l•dge of rockes lying off the poynt of the island of Capul: and no danger but water ynough a fayre bredth off: and within the point a fayre bay and a very good harborough in foure fathomes water hard aboord the shore within a cables length. About 10 of the clocke in the morning wee came to an anker.

*Our shippe was no sooner come to an anker, but presently there came a canoa rowing aboord vs; wherein was one of the chief Casiques of the island, whereof there be seuē, who supposing that we were Spaniardes, brought vs potato rootes; which they call camotas, and greene cocos, in ex∣change wh•reof we gaue his company pieces of linnen to the quantitie of a yard for foure Cocos, and as much linnen for a basket of potato rootes of a quart in quantitie; which rootes are very good meat, and excellent sweete either rosted or boyled.

This Casiques skinne was carued and cut with sundry and many strakes and deuises all ouer his body. We kept him still aboord and caused him to send those men which brought him aboord backe to the island to cause the rest of the principals to come aboord: who were no sooner gone on shore, but presently the people of the island came downe with their cocos and potato rootes, and the rest of the principals likewise came aboord and brought with them hennes and hogges:* and they vsed the same order with vs which they doe with the Spaniardes. For they tooke for euery hog (which they cal Balboye) eight rials of plate, and for euery henne or cocke one riall of plate. Thus we rode at anker all that day, doing nothing but buying rootes, cocos, hennes, hogges, and such things as they brought, refreshing our selues marueilously well.

The same day at night beeing the fifteenth of Ianuary 1588, Nicolas Roderigo the Por∣tugal, whom wee tooke out of the great Santa Anna at the Cape of California, desired to speake with our General in secret: which when our General vnderstood, he sent for him, & asked hi• what he had to say vnto him. The Portugal made him this answer, that although he had offēded his wor∣ship Page  819 heretofore, yet nowe hee had vowed his faith and true seruice vnto him, and in respect thereof he neither could nor would cōceale such treason as was in working against him and his company: and that was this. That the Spaniard which was tak•n out of the great •ant Anne for a Pilote,* whose name was Thomas de Ersola, had wri•ten a letter, and secretly sealed it and locked i• vp in his cheste, meaning to conuey it by the inhabitants of this island to Manilla, the contents wh•re∣of were:*That there had bene two English ships along the coast of Chili, Peru, Nueua Espan∣na, and Nueua Galicia, and that they had taken many shippes and marchandize in them, and burnt diuers townes, and spoiled all that euer they could come vnto, and that they had taken the kings ship which came from Manilla and all his treasure, with all the marchandize that was therein; and had set all the people on shore, taking himselfe away perforce. Therefore he willed them that they should make strong their bulwa•ks with their two Gallies, and all such prouision as they could possibly make. He farther signified, that wee were riding at an island called Capul,*which was at the end of the island of Manilla, being but one shippe with small force in it, and that the other ship, as he supposed, was gone for the North-west passage,*stan∣ding in 55 degrees: and that if they could vse any meanes to surprize vs being there at an an∣ker, they should dispatch it: for our force was but small, and our men but weake, and that the place where we roade was but 50 leagues from them. Otherwise if they let vs escape, within fewe yeeres they must make account to haue their towne besieged and sacked with an armie of English. This information being giuen, our Generall called for him, and charged him with these things, which at the first he vtterly denyed: but in the ende, the matter being made manifest and knowen of certaintie by especiall tryall and proofes, the next morning our Generall willed that he should be hanged:* which was accordingly performed the 16 of Ianuary.

We roade for the space of nine dayes about this island of Capul, where we had diuerse kindes of fresh victuals, with excellent fresh water in euery bay, and great store of wood. The people of this island go almost all naked and are tawny of colour.* The men weare onely a stroope about their wastes, of some kinde of linnen of their owne weauing, which is made of plantan leaues, and ano∣ther stroope comming from their backe vnder their twistes, which couereth their priuie parts, and is made fast to their girdles at their nauels.

These people vse a strange kinde of order among them, which is this.* Euery man and man-childe among them hath a nayle of Tynne thrust quite through the head of his priui• part, being split in the lower ende and riuetted, and on the head of the nayle is as it were a crowne: which is driuen through their priui•ies when they be yong, and the place groweth vp againe, without any great pain• to the child: and they take this nayle out and in as, occasion serueth: and for the truth thereof we our selues haue taken one of these nailes from a sonne of one of the kings which was of the age of 10 yeeres who did weare the same in his priuie member.

This custome was granted at the request of the women of the countrey, who finding their men to be giuen to the fowle sinne of Sodomie, desired some remedie against that mischiefe, and obtei∣ned this before named of the magistrates. Moreouer all the males are circumcised,* hauing the foreskinne of their flesh cut away. These people wholly worship the deuill, and often times haue conference with him, which appeareth vnto them in most vgly and monstrous shape.

On the 23 day of Ianuary, our Generall M. Thomas Candish caused al the principals of this island, and of an hundred islands more, which he had made to pay tribute vnto him (which tribute was in hogges, hennes, potatoes and cocos,) to appeare before him, and made himselfe and his company knowne vnto them, that they were English men, and enemies to the Spaniardes:* and ther•upon spredde his Ensigne and sounded vp the drummes, which they much maruelled at: to conclude, they promised both themselues and all the islands thereabout to ayde him, whenso•uer hee shoulde come againe to ouercome the Spaniardes. Also our Generall gaue them, in token that wee were enemies to the Spaniardes, money backe againe for all their tribute which they had payed: which they tooke maru•ilous friendly, and rowed about our shippe to shewe vs plea∣sure marueilous swiftly: at the last our generall caused a sa•er to be shot off, whereat they wonde∣red, and with great contentment tooke their leaues of vs.

The next day being the twentie foure of Ianuarie, wee sette sayle aboute sixe of the clock in the morning,* and ran along the coast of the island of Manilla, shaping our course Northwest betweene the isle of Manilla, and the isle of Masbat.*

The 28 day in the morning about 7 of the clocke, riding at an anker betwixt 2 islands, wee spi∣ed a Frigat vnder her two coarses, comming out betweene 2 other islands, which as we imagined came frō Manilla, sayling close aboord the shore along the maine island of Panama:* we chas•d this frigat along the shore, & gat very fast vpon it, vntil in the end we came so neere that it stood in to the Page  820 shore close by a winde, vntill shee was becalmed and was driuen to stricke her sayle, and banked vp with her oares: wher•vpon we came vnto an anker with our ship, a league and an halfe from the place where the Frigate rowed in; and manned our boat with halfe a dozen shot and as many men with swords, which did row the boat: thus we made after the Frigate which had hoysed saile and ran into a riuer, which we could not find. But as we rowed along the shore, our boate came in∣to very shallow water,* where many weares and sticks were set vp in diuers places in the sea, from whence 2 or 3 canoas came forth, whereof one made somewhat neere vnto vs, with 3 or 4 Indians in it: we called vnto them; but they would not come neerer vnto vs, but rowed from vs: whom wee durst not followe too farre •or feare of bringing our selues to much to the leewa•de of our ship. Here, as we looked about vs, we espied ano•her Balsa or canoa of a great bignes which they which were in her,* did set along we do vsually set a barge with long staues or poles, which was builded vp with great canes, and below hard by the water made to row with oares; wherein were about 5 or 6 Indians and one Spaniard: nowe as wee were come almost at the Balsa, wee ran a ground with our boate; but one or two of our men leaped ouer-boord and freed it againe pres•ntly,* and keeping thwarte her head, we layed her aboord and tooke in to vs the Spaniard, but the Indi∣ans leaped into the sea and diued and rose farre off againe from vs. Presently vpon the taking of this canoa, there shewed vpon the sand a band of souldiers marching with an ensigne hauing a red Crosse like the flagge of England, which were about 50 or 60 Spaniardes,* which were lately come from Manilla to that towne which is called Ragaun in a Barke to fetch a new shippe of the kings, which was building in a riuer within the bay,* and stayed there but for certain yrons that did serue for the rudder of the said ship, which they looked for euery day.

This band of m•n shot at vs from the shore with their muskets, but hyt none of vs, and wee shot at them againe: they also manned a Frigate and sent it out after our boat to haue taken vs,* but we with saile and oares went from them: and when they perceiued that they could not fetch vs, but that they must come within danger of the ordinance of our ship, they stood in with the shore againe and landed their men, and presently sent their Frigate about the point, but whether we kn•w not. So we came aboord with this one Spaniard, which was neither souldier nor sayler, but one that was come among the rest from Manilla, and had bene in the hospital there a long time before,* and was a very simple soule, and such a one as could answere to very little that hee was asked, concer∣cerning the state of the countrey. Here wee roade at anker all that night, and perceiued that the Spaniards had dispersed their band into 2 or 3 parts, and kept great watch in seueral steedes with fires and shooting off •heir pieces. This island hath much plaine ground in it in many places, and many fayre and straight trees do grow vpon it, fit for to make excellent good mastes for all sorts of ships. There are also mynes of very fine gold in it which are in the custodie of the Indians.* And to the South-ward of this place, there is another very great island, which is not subdued by the Spaniards, nor any other nation. The people which inhabite it are all Negros; and the island is called the island of Negros: and is almost as bigge as England, standing in 9 degrees:* the most part of it seemeth to be very lowe land, and by all likelihood is very fruitfull.

*The 29 day of Ianuary aboute sixe of the clocke is the morning we set saile, sending our boate before vntil it was two of the clock in the afternoone, passing all this time as it were through a straight betwixt the said 2 islands of Panama, and the island of Negros, and about 16 leagues off we espied a fayre opening, trending• Southwest and by South, at which time our boate came a∣boord, and our Generall sent commendations to the Spanish captaine which wee came fro• the euening before by the Spaniard which we tooke, and willed him to prouide good store of gold: for he meant for to see him with his company at Manilla within few• yeeres, and that he did but want a bigger boate to haue landed his men, or else hee would haue seene him then: and so caused him to be set on shore.

The 8 day of February by 8 of the clocke in the morning we espied an island neere Gilolo, cal∣led Batochina,* which standeth in one degree from the Equinoctial line Northward.

*The 14 day of February we fell with 11 or 12 very small islands, lying very low and flat, full of trees• and passed by some islands which be suncke and haue the dry sands lying in the maine sea. These islands neere the Malucoes, stand in 3 degrees and 10 min. to the South-ward of the lyne.

On the 17 day, one Iohn Gameford a Cooper dyed, which had bene sicke of an olde disease a long time. The 20 day wee fell with certaine other islands which had many small islands a∣mong them, standing 4 degrees to the South-ward of the lyne.* On the 21 day of Februarie, being Ash wednesday Captaine Hauers dyed of a most feruent and pestilent ague, which held him furiously some 7 or 8 dayes,* to the no small griefe of our Generall and of all the re•t of the com∣pany, who caused two Falcons and one Sacre to be shot o•f, with all the small shotte in the ship, Page  821 who aft•r he was shrowded in a sheete and a prayer fayd, was heued ouer bord with great lamen∣•ation of vs all. Moreouer, presently after his death my selfe with diuers oth•rs in the ship f•ll marueilously sicke, and so continued in very great paine for the space of three weekes or a moneth by reason of the extreeme heat and vntemperatnesse of the Climate.

The first day of March hauing passed through the Straights of Iaua minor and Iaua maior,* wee came to an ancker vnder the Southwest parts of Iau• maior:* where wee •spied certaine of the people which were fishing by the sea side in a bay which was vnder the yland. Then our Generall taking into the ship-boat certaine of his company, and a Negro which could speake the Morisco tongue, which hee had taken out of the great S. Anna, made toward those fishers, which hauing espied our boat ranne on shoare into the wood for feare of our men:* but our Generall cau∣sed his Negro to call vnto them: who no sooner heard him call, but presently one of them came out to the shore side and made answere. Our Generall by the Negro enquired of him for fresh water, which they found, and caused the fisher to goe to the King and to certifie him of a shippe that was come to haue trafique for victuals, and for diamants, p•arles, or any other riche iewels that hee had: for which hee should haue •ither golde or other marchandise in exchange. The fisher answered that we should haue all maner of victuals that wee would request. Thus the boat came abord againe. Within a while after wee went about to furnish out shippe throug•ly with wood and water.

About the eighth of March two or three Canoas came from the towne vnto vs with egges, hennes, fresh fish, oranges, and lymes, and brought worde wee should h•ue •ad victuals more plentifully, but that they were so farre to bee brought to vs where wee ridde. Which when our Generall heard hee weighed ancker and stoode in neerer for the towne: and as we• were vnder saile wee mette with one of the kings canoas comming towarde vs: whereupon wee s•oke the shippe in the winde and stayed for the canoa vntill it came abord of vs, and stoode into the bay which was hard by and came to an ancker. In this canoa was the Kings Secretarie,* who had on his head a piece of died linen cloth folded vp like vnto a Turkes Tuliban: he was all naked sa∣uing about his waste, his breast was carued with the broade arrowe vpon it; hee went bare-footed: he had an interpretour with h•m, which was a Mestizo, that is, halfe an Indian and halfe a Portugall, who could speake very good Portugese. This Secr•tarie signified vnto our Ge∣nerall that he had brought him an hogge, hennes, egges, fresh fish, sugar-canes and wine: (which wine was as strong as any aquauitae, and as cleare as any rocke water:*) he tolde him farther that hee would bring victuals so sufficiently •or him, as hee and his company would request, and that within the space of foure dayes. Our Generall vsed him singularly well, banquetted him most royally with the choyce of many and sundry conserues, wines both sweete and other, and caused his Musi•ians to make him musicke. This done our Generall tolde him that hee and his com∣pany were Englishmen; and that wee had bene at China and had had trafique there with them, and that wee were come thither to discouer, and purposed to go• to Malaca. The people of Iaua tolde our Generall that th•re were certaine Portugals in the yland which lay there as Factours continually to trafique with them, to buy Negros, cloues, pepper, sugar, and many other commo∣dities.* This Secretarie of the King with his interpretour l•y one night abord our shippe. The same night, because they lay abord, in the euening at the setting of the watch, our Generall com∣manded euery man in the shippe to prouide his harquebuze and his shotte, and so with shooting off 40. or 50. small shot and one Sacre, himselfe set the watch with th•m. T•is was no small mar∣ueile vnto these heathen people, who had not commonly seene any shippe so furnished with men and Ordinance. The next morning wee dismissed the Secretarie and his interpretour with all humanitie.

The fourth day after, which was the 12. of March, according to their appointment came the Kings canoas; but the winde being somewhat s•ant they could not get abord that night, but put into a bay vnder the yland vntill the next day, and presently after the breake of day there came to the number of 9. or 10. of the Kings canoas so deepely laden with victuals as they could swim,* with two great liue o•en, halfe a skore of wonderfull great and fat hogges, a number of hennes which were aliue, drakes, geese, eggs, plantans, sugar canes, sugar in plates, cocos, sweet oranges and sowre, lymes, great store of wine and aquauitae, salt to season victuals withall, and almost all maner of victuals else, with diuers of the Kings officers which were there. Among all the rest of the people in one of these canoas came two Portugales,* which were of middle stature, and men of marueilous proper personage; they were each of them in a loose ierkin, and hose, which came downe from the waste to the ancle, because of the vse of the Countrey, and part∣ly because it was Lent, and a time for doing of their penance, (for they accompt it as a thing Page  822 of great dislike among these heathens to weare either hose or shoes on their feete:) they had on ech of them a very faire and a white lawne shirt, with falling bands on the same, very decently, onely their bare legs excepted. These Portugales were no small ioy vnto our Generall and all the rest of our company: For we had not seene any Christian that was our friend of a yeere and an halfe before. Our Generall vsed and intreated them singularly well, with banquets and musicke: They told vs that they were no lesse glad to see vs, then wee to see them, and enquired of the estate of their countrey, and what was become of Don Antonio their King,* and whe•her hee were li∣uing or no: for that they had not of long time bene in Portugall, and that the Spaniards had al∣wayes brought them worde that hee was dead. Then our Generall satisfied them in euery de∣maund; Assuring them, that their King was aliue, and in England, and had honourable allowance of our Queene, and that there was warre betweene Spaine and England, and that we were come vnder the King of Portugall into the South sea, and had warred vpon the Spaniards there, and had fired, spoiled and sunke all the ships along the coast that we could meete withall, to the number of eighte•ne or twentie sailes. With this report they were sufficiently sat•sfied.

On the other side they declared vnto vs the state of the yland of Iaua.* First the p•entifulnes and great choise and store of victuals of all sorts, & of all maner of fruits as before is set downe: The• the great and rich marchandize which are there to be had. Then they described the proper•ies and nature of the people as followeth. The name of the King of that part of the yland was Raia Bo∣lamboam,* who was a man had in great maiestie and feare among them. The common people may not bargaine, sell, or exchange any thing with any other nation, without speciall licence from their king: and if any so doe, it is present death for him. The King himselfe is a man of great yeeres, and hath an hundred wiues, his sonne hath fiftie. The custome of the countrey is,* that whensoeuer the king doeth die, they take the body so dead and burne it and preserue the ashes of him, and within fiue dayes next after, the wiues of the said king so dead, according to the custome and vse of their countrey, euery one of them goe together to a place appoin•ed, and the chiefe of the women, which was neer•st vnto him in accompt, hath a ball in her hand, and throweth it from her, and to the place where the ball r•steth, thither they goe all, and turne their faces to the Eastward, and euery one with a dagger in their hand, (which dagger they call a Crise, and is as sharpe as a rasor) stab themselues to the heart,* and with their hands all to bee-bath themselues in their owne blood, and falling groueling on their faces so ende their dayes. This thing is as true as it see∣meth to any hearer to be strang.

The men of themselues be very politique and subtile, and singularly valiant, being naked men, in any action they vndertake, and wonderfully at commandement and feare of their king. For ex∣ample: if their king command them to vndertake any exploit, be it neuer so dangerous or despe∣rate, they dare not nor will not refuse it, though they die euery man in the execution of the same. For hee will cut off the heads of euery on• of them which returne aliue without bringing of their purpose to passe: which is such a thing among them, as it maketh them the most valiant people in all the Southeast parts of the world• for they neuer feare any death. For being in fight with any nation, if any of them feeleth himselfe hurt with launce or sword, he will willingly runne himselfe vpon the weapon quite through his body to procure his death the more speedily, and in this despe∣rate sort ende his dayes, or ouercome his enemie.* Moreouer, although the •en •e tawny of co∣lour and go continually naked, yet their women be faire of complexion and go more apparelled.

After they had thus described the state of the yland, and the orders and facions of the people; they tolde vs fa•ther, that if their king Don Antonio would come vnto them,* they would war∣rant him to haue all the Malucos at commandement, besides China, Sangles, and the yles of the Philippinas, and that hee might be assured to haue all the Indians on his side that are in the coun∣trey. After we had fully contented these Portugals, and the people of Iaua which brought vs vic∣tuals in their Canoas, they tooke their leaues of vs with promise of all good entertain•ment at our returnes, and our Generall gaue them three great pieces of Ordinance at their departing. Thus the next day being the 16. of March we set saile towards the Cape of good hope,* called by the Portugals Cabo de buena Esperancça on the Southermost coast of Africa.

The rest of March and all the moneth of April wee spent in •rauersing that mightie and vast• Sea, betweene the yle of Iaua and the maine of Africa, obseruing the heauens, th•Crosiers or South-pole, the other starres, the foules, which are markes vnto the Sea men of faire weather, foule weather, approching of lands or ylands, the winds, the tempests, the raines & thunders, with the alterations of tides and currents.

The 10. day of May we had a storme at the West, and it blew so hard that it was as much as the ship could stirre close by vnder the wind: and the storme continued al that day and al that night.

Page  823The next day being the 11. of May in the morning one of the company went into the top, and espied land bearing North• and North and by West off vs, & about noone wee espied land to beare West off vs, which as we did imagine was the cape of Buena Esperança, wh•rof indeed we were short some 40. or 50. leagues: and by reason of the skantnesse of the winde we stood along to the Southeast vntill midnight; at which time the winde came faire, and we hal•d along Westward.

The 12. and 13. dayes we were becalmed, and the sky was very hazie and thicke vntil the 14. day at three of the clocke in the afternoone, at which time the sky cleared, and we espi•d the land a∣gaine which was the cape called Cabo Falso,* which is short of the Cape de buena Esperança 40 or 50 leagues. This Cape is very easie to be knowen. For there are right ouer it three very high hilles standing but a smal way one off another, and the hiest standeth in the middest, and the ground is much lower by the seaside. The Cape of Good hope beareth West and by South from the said Cabo Falso.

The 16. day of May about 4. of the clocke in the afternoone the winde came vp at East a very stiffe gale, which helde vntill it was Saturday with as much winde as euer the sh•p could goe be∣fore: at which time by si•e of the clocke in the morning wee esp•ed the promontorie or hea•land, called the Cape de Buena Esperança,* which is a reasonable hi• land, & at the Westermost point a litle off the maine do shew two hammocks, the one vpon the other, and three other hammocks ly∣ing further off into the sea, yet low land betweene and adioyning vnto the sea.

This cape of Buena Esperança is set down and accompted for two thousand leagues from the yland of Iaua in the Portugall sea carts:* but it is not so much almost by an hundred and fiftie leagues, as we found by the running of our ship. We were in running of these eight•ene hundred and fiftie leagues iust nine weekes.

The eighth day of Iune by breake of day we fel in sight of the yland of S. Helena, seuen or eight leagues short of it, hauing but a small gale of winde, or almost none at all: insomuch as we could not get vnto it that day, but stood off and on all that night.

The next day being the 9. of Iune hauing a pretie easie gale of wind we stood in with the shore,* our boat being sent away before to make the harborough; and about one of the clocke in the after∣noon• we came vnto an ancker in 12. fathoms water two or thr•e cables length from the shore, in a very faire and smooth bay vnder the Northwestside of the yland•

This yland is very high land, and lieth in the maine sea standing as it were in the middest of the sea betweene th• maine land of Africa, and the maine of Brasilia and the coast of Guinea: And is in 15. degrees and 48. minuts to the Southward of the Equinoctiall line, and is distant from the Cape of Buena Esperança betweene 5. and 6. hundreth leagues.*

The same day about two or three of the clocke in the afternoone wee went on shore, where wee found a marueilous faire & pleasant valley, wherein diuers handsome buildings and houses were set vp, and especially one which was a Church, which was tyled & whited on the outside very faire, and made with a porch, and within the Church at the vpper end was set an altar, whereon stood a very large table set in a frame hauing in it the picture of our Sauiour CHRIST vpon the Crosse and the image of our Lady praying, with diuers other histories curiously painted in the same. The sides of the Church were all hanged with stained clothes hauing many deuises drawen in them.

There are two hous•s adioyning to the Church, on •ach side one, which serue for kitchins to dresse meate in, with necessary roomes and houses of office: the couerings of the saide houses are made flat, whereon is planted a very faire vine, and through both the saide houses runneth a very good and holsome streame of fresh water.

There is also right ouer against the saide Church a faire causey made vp with stones reaching vnto a valley by the seaside, in which valley is planted a garden, wherein grow great store or pom∣pio•s and melons: And vpon the saide causey is a frame erected whereon hange t•o bells where∣with they ring to Masse; and hard vnto it is a Crosse set vp, which is squared, framed and made ve∣ry artifically of free stone, whereon is carued in cyphers what time it was builded, which was in the yeere of our Lord 1571.

This valley is the fairest and largest lowe plot in all the yland, and it is marueilous sweete and pleasant, and planted in euery place either with fruite trees, or with herbes. There are figtrees, which beare fruit continually, & marueilous plentifully: for on euery tree you shal haue blossoms, greene figs, and ripe figs, all at ones: and it is so all the yere long: the reason is that the yland stan∣deth so neere the Sunne.* There be also great store of lymon trees, orange trees, pomegranate trees, pomecitron trees, date tre•s, which beare fruite as the fig trees do, and are planted car•fully and very artificially with very pleasant walkes vnder and betweene them, and the saide walkes bee ouershadowed with the leaues of the trees: and in euery voyde place is planted parceley, Page  824 sorell, basill, fenell, anuis seede, mustard seede, radishes, and many speciall good hearbes: and the fresh water brooke runneth through diuers places of this orchard, and may with very small paines be made to water any one tree in the valley.

This fresh water streame commeth from the tops of the mountaines, and falleth from the cliffe into the valley the height of a cable, and hath many armes out of it, which refresh the whole yland, and almost euery tree in it. The yland is altogether high mountaines and steepe valleis, except it be in the tops of some hilles, and downe below in some of the valleis, where marueilous store of all these kinds of fruits before spoken of do grow: there is greater store growing in the tops of the mountaines then below in the valleis: but it is wonderfull laboursome and also dangerous traue•ling vp vnto them and downe againe, by reason of the height and steepenesse of the hilles.

*There is also vpon this yland great store of partridges, which are very came, not making any great hast to flie away though one come very neere them, but onely to runne away, and get vp into the steepe cliffes: we killed some of them with a fowling piece. They differ very much from our partridges which are in England both in bignesse and also in colour. For they be within a little as bigge as an henne, and are of an ashe colour, and liue in couies twelue, sixteene, and twentie toge∣ther: you cannot go ten or twelue score but you shall see or spring one or two couies at the least.

*There are likewise no lesse store of fesants in the yland, which are also marueilous bigge and fat, surpassing those which are in our countrey in bignesse and in numbers of a company. They differ not very much in colour from the partridges before spoken of.

*Wee found moreouer in this place great store of Guinie cocks, which we call Turkies, of co∣lour blacke and white, with red heads: they are much about the same bignesse which ours be of in England: their egges be white, and as bigge as a Turkies egge.

*There are in this yland thousands of goates, which the Spaniards call Cabritos, which are very wilde: you shall see one or two hundred of them together, and sometimes you may beholde them going in a flocke almost a mile long. Some of them, (whether it be the nature of the breed of them, or of the country I wot not) are as big as an asse, with a maine like an horse and a beard han∣ging downe to the very ground: they wil clime vp the cliffes which are so steepe that a man would thinke it a thing vnpossible for any liuing thing to goe there. We tooke and killed many of them for all their swiftnes: for there be thousands of them vpon the mountaines.

*Here are in like maner great store of swine which be very wilde and very fat, and of maruei∣lous bignes: they keepe altogether vpon the mountaines, and will very seldome abide any man to come neere them, except it be by meere chance when they be found asleepe, or otherwise, according to their kinde, be taken layed in the mire.

We found in the houses at our comming 3. slaues which were Negros, & one which was borne in the yland of Iaua, which •olde vs that the East Indian fleete, which were in number 5. sailes, the least whereof were in burthen 8. or 900. tunnes, all laden with spices and Calicut cloth, with store of treasure and very rich stones and pearles, were gone from the saide yland of S. Helena but 20. dayes before we came thither.

This yland hath bene found of long time by the Portugals, and hath bene altogether planted by them, for their refreshing as they come from the East Indies. And when they come they haue all things plentiful for their reliefe, by reason that they suffer none to inhabit there that might spend vp the fruit of the yland, except some very few sicke persons in their company, which they stand in doubt will not liue vntill they come home, whom they leaue there to refresh themselues, and take away the yeere following with the other Fleete if they liue so long. They touch here rather in their comming home from the East Indies, then at their going thither, because they are through∣ly furnished with corne when they set out of Portugal, but are but meanely victualed at their com∣ming from the Indies, where there groweth little corne.

*The 20. day of Iune hauing taken in wood & water and refreshed our selues with such things as we found there, and made cleane our ship, we set saile about 8. of the clocke in the night toward England. At our setting saile wee had the winde at Southeast, and we haled away Northwest and by West. The winde is commonly off the shore at this yland of S. Helena.

*On wednesday being the thirde day of Iuly we went away Northwest the winde being still at Southeast: at which time we were in 1. degree and 48. minuts to the Southward of the Equi∣noctial line.

The twelfth day of the said moneth of Iuly it was very little winde, and toward night it was calme and blew no winde at all, and so continued vntil it was munday being the 15. day of Iuly.

On Wednesday the 17. day of the abousaid moneth wee had the winde skant at West north∣west. Wee found the wind continually to blow at East, and Northeast, and Eastnortheast after Page  825 we were in 3. or 4. degrees to the Northward; and it altered not vntill we came betweene 30. and 40. degrees to the Northward of the Equinoctial Line.

On Wednesday the 21. day of August the wind came vp at Southwest a faire gale: by which day at noone we were in 38. degrees of Northerly latitude.

On friday in the morning being the 23. day of August, at foure of the clocke we haled East, and East and by South for the Northermost ylands of the Açores.

On Saturday the 24. day of the said moneth by 5. of the clocke in the morning we fel in sight of the two ylands of Flores and Coruo standing in 39. degrees and ½. and sailed away Northeast.*

The third of September we met with a Flemish hulke which came from Lisbone, & declared vnto vs the ouerthrowing of the Spanish Fleete, to the singuler reioycing and comfort of vs all.

The 9. of September, after a terrible tempest which caried away most part of our sailes, by the mercifull fauour of the Almightie we recouered our long wished port of Plimmouth in Eng∣land, from whence we set foorth at the beginning of our voyage.