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Sweet Heart,
I Can yet write unto you but with a weak hand, for I have suffered the most vi∣olent Calenture for fifteen days, that ever man did, and lived: but God that gave me a strong heart in all my adversities, hath also now strengthened it in the hell-fire of heat.
We have had two most grievous sicknesses in our Ship, of which fourtie two have died, and there are yet many sick, but having reco∣vered the land of Guiana,
this 12 of November, I hope we shall recover them. We are yet two hundred men, and the rest of our Fleet are reasonable strong, strong e∣nough I hope to perform what we have undertaken, if the diligent care at London, to make our strength known to the Spanish King, by his Ambassadour, have not taught the Spanish King to fortifie all the enterances a∣gainst us; howsoever we must make the Adventure, and if we perish, it shall be no honour for England, nor gain for his Majestie to loose among many other an, hun∣dred as valiant Gentlemen as England hath in it.
Of Captain Baylies base coming from us at the Ca∣naries, see a Letter of Ke∣mishes to Mr Skory, & of the unnatural weather, storms and rains, and winds. He hath in the same letter, given a touch of the way that hath ever been sailed in fourteen days, now hardly performed in fourtie days; God I trust, will give us comfort in that which is to come.
In passage to the Canaries, I stayed at Gomerah, where I took water in peace, because the Countrey durst not de∣nie it me; I received there of an English race, a Present of Oranges, Lemons, Quinces, and Pome-granates, without
which I could not have li∣ved; those I preserved in fresh sands, and I have of them yet to my great re∣freshing. Your son had ne∣ver so good health, having no distemper in all the heat under the Line. All my ser∣vants have escaped but Crab and my Cook, yet all have had the sickness. Crofts and March, and the rest are all well. Remember my service to my Lord Carew, and Mr Secretarie Winwood.
I write not to them, for I can write of nought but mi∣series: yet of men of sort, we have lost our Serjeant Ma∣jor, Captain Pigott, and his Lieuetenant, Captain Ed∣ward
Hastings, who would have died at home, for both his liver, spleen, and brains were rotten. My sons Lieue∣tenant Payton, and my co∣sin Mr. Hews, Mr. Mordant, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Haward, Captain Iennings the Mer∣chant, Kemish of London, and the Master Chyrurgion, Mr. Refiner, Mr. Moor the Go∣vernour of the Barmoudas, our Provost Marsh. W. Steed, Lieuetenant Vescie, but to mine inestimable grief, Ha∣mon and Talbot. By the next I trust you shall hear better of us, in Gods hands we were, and in him we trust.
This bearer, Captain Al∣ley, for his infirmitie of his
head I have sent back, an honest valiant man, he can deliver you all that is past. Cōmend me to my worthy friends at Loathbury, Sr. John Leigh and Mr. Bower, whose Nephew Knevit is well, and to my cosin Blundell, and my most devoted and humble service to her Majestie.
To tell you that I might be here King of the Indians, were a vanitie, but my name hath still lived among them; here they feed me with fresh meat, and all that the Coun¦trey yields, all offer to obey me. Commend me to poo•• Carew my son.
From Galliana in Guiana the 14 of November.