The observations of Sir Richard Havvkins Knight, in his voiage into the South Sea. Anno Domini 1593

SECT. VII.

WIth my continuall travell, the helpe of my good friends, and excessiue charge (which none can easily beleeue, but those which haue prooved it) towardes the end of May, I was readie to set sayle with my three Ships, drawne out into the sound, and began to gather my Company aboord.

The 28. of May (as I remember) began a storme of winde We∣sterly; the two lesser shippes presently harboured themselues, and I gaue order to the master of the Daintie (called Hugh Cornish) one of the most sufficientest men of his coate, to bring her also into Catt-water, which he laboured to doe, but being neere the mouth of the harbour, and doubting least the Anchor being weighed, the Ship might cast the contrary way, and so run on some perill, en∣tertained himselfe a while in laying out a warpe, and in the meane time, the wind freshing, and the ship riding by one Anchor, brake the flooke of it, and so forced them to let fall another: by which, and by the warpe they had layd out, they rydd. The storme was such,* 1.1 as being within hearing of those vpon the shore, we were not able by any meanes to send them succour, and the second day of the

storme, desiring much to goe aboord, there ioyned with me Cap∣taine William Anthony, Captaine Iohn Ellis, and master Henry Cour∣ton, in a Light-Horsman which I had: all men exercised in charge,* 1.2 and of valour and sufficiencie, and from their youth bred vp in bu∣sinesse of the Sea: which notwithstanding, and that wee laboured what we could, for the space of two houres against waues and wind, we could finde no possibilitie to accomplish our desire; which seene; we went aboord the other Shippes, and put them in the best securitie wee could; thus busied, we might see come driving by vs the mayne Mast of the Daintie: which made me to feare the worst, and so hasted a-shore, to satisfie my longing.

And comming vpon Catt-downe, wee might see the Ship heaue and sett, which manifestly shewed, the losse of the Mast onely, which was well imployed; for, it saved the ship, men, and goods. For had shee driven a ships length more, shee had (no doubt) beene cast away; and the men in that place could not chuse but run into danger.

Comming to my house to shift me (for that we were all wett to the skinne) I had not well changed my Clothes, when a servant of mine, who was in the Pynace at my comming ashore,* 1.3 enters almost out of breath, with newes, that shee was beating vpon the Rockes, which though I knew to be remedilesse, I put my selfe in place where I might see her, and in a little time after shee sunke downe right: These losses and mischances troubled and grieved, but no∣thing daunted me; for common experience taught me, that all ho∣nourable Enterprises, are accompanied with difficulties and daun∣gers; Si fortuna me tormenta; Esperanca me contenta▪ Of hard begin∣nings, many times come prosperous and happie events. And al∣though, a well-willing friend, wisely foretold me them to be presa∣ges of future bad successe, and so disswaded me what lay in him, with effectuall reasons, from my Pretence, yet the hazard of my credite, and danger of disreputation, to take in hand that which I should not prosecute by all meanes possible, was more powerfull to cause me to goe forwardes, then his graue good counsell, to make me desist. And so the storme ceasing, I beganne to get in the Dain∣tie, to Mast her a-new, and to recover the Fancy, my Pynace which with the helpe and furtherance of my Wines Father, who supplyed all my wants, together with my credit (which I thanke God was vnspotted) in ten dayes put all in his former estate, or better. And so once againe, in Gods name, I brought my Shippes out into the found, the Wind being Easterly, and beganne to take my l••aue of my friends, and of my dearest friend, my second ••elfe, whose vnfey∣ned

teares had wrought me vnto irresolution, and sent some other in my roome, had I not considered, that he that is in the Daunce, must needs daunce on, though he doe but hopp, except he will be a laughing stocke to all the lookers on: So, remembring that many had their eyes set vpon me, with diverse affections, as als•• the hope of good successe, (my intention being honest and good) I shut the doore to all impediments, and mine eare to all contrary counsell, and gaue place to voluntary banishment from all that I loued and esteemed in this life, with hope thereby better to serue my God, my Prince and Countrie, then to encrease my Tallent any way.

And so began to gather my companie aboord, which occupied my good friends,* 1.4 and the Iustices of the Towne two dayes, and forced vs to search all Lodgings, Tavernes, and Ale-houses. (For some would ever be taking their leaue and never depart:) some drinke themselues so drunke, that except they were carried aboord, they of themselues were not able to goe one steppe: others know∣ing the necessitie of the time, fayned themselues sicke; others, to be indebted to their Hostes, and forced me to ransome them; one his Chest; another, his Sword; another, his Shirts; another, his Carde and Instruments for Sea: And others, to benefit themselues of the Imprest given them, absented themselues; making a lewd liuing in deceiving all, whose money they could lay hold of: which is a scandall too ri••e amongst our Sea-men; by it they com∣mitting three great offences: 1. Robbery of the goods of another person; 2. Breach of their faith and promise; 3. and hinderance (with losse of time) vnto the Voyage; all being a common iniury to the owners, victuallers, and company; which many times hath beene an vtter overthrow, and vndoing to all in generall. An abuse in our Common-wealth necessarily to be reformed; And, as a per∣son that hath both seene, and felt by experience these inconveni∣ences, I wish it to be remedied; For, I can but wonder, that the late Lord high Admirall of England; the late Earle of Cumberland▪ and the Lord Thomas Howard, now Earle of Suffolke, being of so great authoritie, having to their costs and losse so often made expe∣rience of the inconveniences of these lewd proceedings, haue not vnited their Goodnesses and Wisedomes, to redresse this dis-loyall and base absurditie of the Vulgar.

Master Thomas Candish in his last Voyage,* 1.5 in the sound of Plim∣mouth, being readie to set Sayle, complained vnto me, that persons which had absented themselues in Imprests, had cost him aboue a thousand and fiue hundred pounds: These Varlets within a few

dayes after his departure, I saw walking the streetes of Plimouth, whom the Iustice had before sought for with great diligence, and without punishment. And therefore it is no wonder that others presume to doe the like. Impunit as peccandi illecebra.

The like complaint made master George Reymond;* 1.6 and in what sort they dealt with me, is notorious, and was such, that if I had not beene provident, to haue had a third part more of men, then I had need of, I had beene forced to goe to the Sea vnmanned; or to giue over my Voyage. And many of my company, at Sea vaunted, how they had cosoned the Earle of Cumberland, master Candish, master Reymond, and others, some of fiue poundes, some of ten, some of more, and some of lesse. And truely, I thinke, my Voyage prospe∣red the worse, for theirs and other lewd persons company, which were in my Ship: which, I thinke, might be redressed by some ex∣traordinary, severe, and present Iustice to be executed on the offen∣ders by the Iustice in that place, where they should be found. And for finding them, it were good that all Captaines, and Masters of Shippes, at their departure out of the Port, should giue vnto the head Iustice, the names and signes of all their runnawayes, and they presently to dispatch to the ••igher Ports the advise agreeable, where meeting with them, without further delay or processe, to vse Marti∣all Law vpon them. Without doubt, seeing the Law once put in execution, they and all others would be terrified from such villa∣nies.

It might be remedied also by vtter taking away of all Imprests,* 1.7 which is a thing lately crept into our Common-wealth, and in my opinion of much more hurt then good vnto all; and although my opinion seeme harsh, it being a deed of charitie to helpe the needy, (which I wish ever to be exercised, and by no meanes will contra∣dict) yet for that such as goe to the Sea (for the most part) con∣sume that money lewdly before they depart, (as common experi∣ence teacheth vs:) and when they come from Sea, many times come more beggerly home, then when they went forth, having received and spent their portion, before they imbarked themselues, and having neither rent nor maintenance more then their travell, to sustaine themselues, are forced to theeue, to cosen, or to runne a∣way in debt. Besides, many times it is an occasion to some to lye vpon a Voyage a long time; whereas, if they had not that Imprest, they might perhaps haue gayned more in another imployment, and haue beene at home againe, to serue that which they wait•• for. For these, and many more weightie reasons, I am still bold, to main∣taine my former Assertions.

* 1.8Those onely vsed in his Maiesties Shippes I comprehend not in this my opinion: neither the Imprests made to married men, which would be given to their Wiues monethly in their absence, for their reliefe. For that is well knowne, that all which goe to the Sea now a-dayes, are provided of foode, and house-roome, and all things necessary, during the time of their Voyage; and in all long Voya∣ges, of apparell also: so that nothing is to be spent during the Voy∣age. That money which is wont to be cast away in Imprestes, might be imployed in apparell, and necessaries at the sea, and given to those that haue need, at the price it was bought, to be deducted out of their shares or wages at their returne, which is reasonable and charitable. This course taken, if any would runne away, in Gods name fare him well.

Some haue a more colourable kinde of cunning to abuse men, and to sustaine themselues. Such will goe to Sea with all men, and goe never from the shore. For as long as boord-wages last, they are of the Company, but those taking end, or the ship in readinesse, they haue one excuse or other, and thinke themselues no longer bound, but whilst they receiue money, and then plucke their heads out of the coller. An abuse also worthie to be reformed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A cruell Storme.
• * 1.2

  And therein the effects of courage and advise.
• * 1.3

  The losse of the Pynace.
• * 1.4

  Abuses of some Sea-fa∣ring men.
• * 1.5

  Master Thomas Candish.
• * 1.6

  Master George Reymon••.
• * 1.7

  The inconve∣nience of Im∣prests.
• * 1.8

  The true vse of Imprests.