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[ 1593] * 1.1HOw these Iles came by the name of Bermudas, or the infinite number of blacke Hogs, or so fearefull to the world, that many called them the Ile of Deuils, that all men did shun as Hell and perdition; I will not expostulate, nor trouble your patiences with those vncertaine antiqui∣ties
further then thus; our men found diuers crosses, peeces of Spanish monies here and there. Two or three wracks also they found, by certaine inscriptions to bee some Spanish, some Dutch, some French; but the greatest rumour is, that a Spanish ship called Bermudas was there cast away, carrying Hogges to the West-Indies that swam a shore, and there increased: how the Spaniards escaped is vn∣certaine: but they say, from that ship those Iles were first called Bermudas, which tilt then for six thousand yeares had beene namelesse.
But the first English-man that was euer in them, was one Henry May, a worthy Mariner that went with Captaine Lancaster to the East-Indies 1591. and in their returne by the West-Indies, being in some distresse, sent this Henry May for England by one Mounsier de la Barbotier, to acquaint the Merchants with their estate. The last of Nouember, saith May, we departed from Laguna in Hispa∣niola, and the seuenteenth of December following, we were cast away vpon the North-west of the Bermudas; the Pilots about noone made themselues South∣wards of the Iles twelue leagues, and demanded of the Captaine their Wine of hight as out of all danger, which they had: but it seeme, they were either drunke, or carelesse of their charge; for through their negligences a number of good men were cast away. I being but a stranger amongst fiftie and odde French-men, it pleased God to appoint me to be one of them should be saued. In this extremity we made a raft, which we towed with our Boat, there were but six and twentie of vs saued; and I seeing scarce roome for the one halfe, durst not passe in amongst them till the Captaine called me along with him, leauing the better halfe to the seas mercy: that day we rowed till within two houres of night ere we could land, being neere dead with thirst, euery man tooke his way to seeke fresh water, at length, by searching amongst many weeds, we found some raine water, but in the maine are many faire Baies, where we had enough for digging.
Now it pleased God before our ship split we saued our Carpenters tooles,* 1.2 some Nailes, Sailes, and Tacklings, wherewith we went roundly to worke, and built a Barke of eighty tunues: In stead of Pitch, we made Lime, mixed with Tortoise oyle, and as the Carpenters calked her, I and another paied the seames with this plaster, which being in Aprill, became quickly dry, and as hard as a stone.
In Aprill it was so hot, we feared our water would faile,* 1.3 two great Chests wee made, which we calked as our ship; those we stowed on each side our maine Mast, filled them with water and thirtie liue Tortoises: wee found many Hogges, but so leane wee could not eat them; the tops of the Palmetaberries was our bread, and the iuyce we got out of the trees we cut downe our drinke, and of the leaues, which are more then an Ell long, we couered our Cabens, & made our beds, and found many of those prouisions as is related, but little foule weather. The ele∣uenth of May it pleased God to set vs cleere of the Ile, after wee had liued there fiue moneths: and the twentieth wee fell with Cape Britton, neere New found Land, where refreshing our selues with wood and water, and such things as we could get of the Saluages, it seemed a good Countrey, but we staied not past foure houres before we set saile for the banke of New found land, where wee met many ships, but not any would take in a man of vs, vntill it pleased God we met a Barke of Fawmothe, which receiued vs for a little time, and with her we tooke a French ship, wherein I left Captaine de la Barbotier, my deare friend, and all his Com∣pany: and in August arriued at Falmouth in this honest English Barke, 1594.
Written by me Henry May.
How it is suppo∣sed they were called the Bermu∣d••••.
The building and calking their Barke.
His returne for England.