THe fift hereof our meate was poysoned, but God preserued vs, for one tasting the same by chance or greedinesse (for it was fresh fish) was presently infected:* 1.1 before the meate came to vs it was strongly poysoned, for our Surgeon tooke almost a spoonfull of Poyson out of one fish, but this is not the first time, if the grieued would complaine. The tenth wee fell with Cape Bona Esperaza, where wee had a great storme: the sixe and twentieth wee dou∣bled the same.
The thirteenth we anchored at the Ile Saint * 1.2 Helena, which is rockie and mountanous, lying in sixteene degrees of South latitude,* 1.3 here wee found good water, figs, and fish in plentie: there be Goats, but hard to get. The fifteenth at Sun-set there came a Carauell into the Road, who an∣chored a large Musket-shot to wind-ward of vs. She was vtterly vnprouided, not hauing one [ 40] Peece mounted: we fought with her all this night, and gaue her, as I thinke, better then two hundred shot. In eight houres shee neuer made shot nor shew of regard, by midnight shee had placed sixe Peeces which she vsed very well, shot vs often through, and slew two of our men. So the sixteenth in the morning we departed, hauing many sick men shaping our course for the Ile * 1.4 Ascention, where we hope to haue reliefe. This three and twentieth we had sight of Ascention, in eight degrees of South latitude, this Ile hath neither wood, water, nor any greene thing vpon it, but is a fruitlesse greene Rocke of fiue leagues broad. The foure and twentieth at mid∣night wee agreed to goe for the Ile Fernando Loronio, where wee are acquainted and know that there is reliefe sufficient. For at this Ile wee stayed ten weekes outward bound, when we could [ 50] not double Cape Saint Augustine.
The sixt we ariued at the Ile Fernando Loronio, where wee stayed sixe dayes to water and re∣fresh our selues.* 1.5 The thir••eenth we departed, shaping our course for England.
* 1.6The nine and twentieth of Iuly we arriued at Middleborough.
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