SECT. V.
BEing cleare of the race of Portland, the Wind began to suffle with fogge and misling rayne, and forced vs to a short sayle, which continued with vs three dayes; the Wind never vering one poynt, nor the fogge suffering vs to see the Coast.
The third day in the fogge, we met with a Barke of Dartmouth, which came from Rochell, and demanding of them, if they had made any land, answered, that they had onely seene the Edie stone that morning, which lyeth thwart of the sound of Plimouth, and that Dartmouth (as they thought) bare off vs North North-east: which seemed strange vnto vs; for we made account that wee were thwart of Exmouth: within two houres after, the Weather beganne to cleare vp, and we found our selues thwart of the Berry, and might see the small Barke bearing into Torbay, having over-shot her port: which error often happeneth to those that make the land in foggie weather, and vse not good diligence by sound, by lying off the land, and other circumstances, to search the truth; and is cause of the losse of many a Ship, and the sweete liues of multitudes of men.
That evening, we anchored in the range of Dartmouth, till the floud was spent; and the ebbe come, wee ••et Sayle againe. And the next morning early, being the 26. of Aprill, wee harboured our selues in Plimouth.
My Ship at an Anchor, and I ashore, I presently dispatched a messenger to London, to advise my Father, Sir Iohn Hawkins, what had past: which, not onely to him, but to all others, that vnder∣stood what it was, seemed strange; That the wind contrary, and the weather such as it had beene, wee could be able to gaine Plimouth; But doubtlesse, the Daintie was a very good Sea ship, and excellent by the winde; which with the neap streames, and our diligence to benefit our selues of all advantages, made sezible that, which al∣most was not to be beleeved.