Purchas his pilgrimes. part 2 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§ I. [ 20]

ANDREW BATTELL, his Voyage to the Riuer of Plate, who being taken on the Coast of Brasill, was sent to Angola.

IN the yeere 1589, Abraham Cocke of Lime-house, began his Voyage toward the Riuer of Plate, with two Pinnasses of fiftie Tuns a peece: The one was called, the * 1.1 May-morning; the other, the Dolphine. We sailed from the Riuer of Thames, the twentieth of Aprill; and the sixe and twentieth of the same moneth, we put in∣to Plimmoth, where we tooke in some prouision for the Voyage. The seuenth [ 30] of May we put to Sea, and with foule weather were beaten backe againe into Plimmoth, where we remained certaine dayes, and then proceeded on our Voyage: and running along the Coast of Spaine, and Barbarie, we put into the Roade of Sancta Cruz, and there set * 1.2 our Light-horse-man together, which we carried in two pieces; Abraham Cocke made great ac∣count hereof, thinking that this Boat should haue made his Voyage. This done, we put to Sea, * 1.3 and running along the Coast of Guinea, wee were becalmed; because wee wer so neere the Coast.

Heere our men fell ficke of the Scuruie, in such sort, that there were very few sound. And * 1.4 being within three or foure Degrees of the Equinoctiall line, we fell with the Cape De las Pal∣mas, where we had some refreshing, wherewith our men recouered. The people of the Cape de [ 40] las Palmas made much of vs, saying, that they would trade with vs: but it was but to betray vs. For they are very trecherous, and were like to haue taken our boat, and hurt some of our men. * 1.5 From this Cape we lay South-west off, but the Current and the Calmes deceiued vs; so that we were driuen downe to the Ile of Saint Thome, thinking that we had beene farther off to the Sea then we were. And being in distresse for wood and water, we went in on the South end betweene San Tome, and the Ilands Das Rolas: where we rode very smooth, and with our * 1.6 Light-horse-man went on shoare, thinking to haue watered: but wee found none in the Iland. Heere we had great store of Plantans and Oranges. We found a Village of Negroes, which are sent from San Tome, for the Portugals of San Tome do vse, when their slaues be sicke or weake, to send them thither to get their strength againe. For the Ilands are very fruitful; and though there [ 50] be no fresh water, yet they maintaine themselues with the wine of the Palme trees. Hauing refreshed our selues with the fruit of this Iland, we burned the Village. And running on the East * 1.7 side of San Tome, we came before the Towne; but we durst not come neere: for the Castle shot at vs, which hath very good Ordnance in it.

Then we lay East and by South toward the Maine, and in foure and twentie houres, we had sight of the Cape De lopo Gonsalues: and being within three Leagues of the said Cape, we cast a∣bout and stood againe toward the Iland of San Tome, and turned vp on the West side of the I∣land: * 1.8 and comming to a little Riuer, which runneth out of the Mountaines, we went on shore with our Light-horse-man, with sixe or seuen Buts to fill with water. But the Gouernour had imbosked one hundred men of the Iland; and when we were on shore, they came vpon vs, and [ 60] killed one of our men, and hurt another: wherefore we retired to our Boat, and gate aboord. * 1.9

Then Abraham Cocke determined to fetch the Coast of Brasil, and lay West South-west into the Sea: and being some fiftie Leagues off, we fell into a Scull of Dolphins, which did greatly * 1.10 relieue vs: for they did follow our ship all the way, till we fell with the land: which was some

thirtie dayes. And running along the Coast of Brasil, till we came to Illha Grande, which stan∣deth * 1.11 in fiue Degrees Southward of the line: we put in betwixt the Iland and the Maine, and haled our ships on shoare, and washed them, and refreshed our selues, and tooke in fresh water. In this Iland are no Inhabitants, but it is very fruitfull. And being heere some twelue dayes, there came in a little Pinnasse, which was bound to the Riuer of Plate, which came in to water, and to get some refreshment: and presently we went aboord, and tooke the Portugall Merchant out of the Pinnasse, which told Abraham Cocke. that within two moneths there should two Pinnasses come from the Riuer of Plate, from the Towne of Buenos Aieres. * 1.12

From this Towne there come euery yeere foure or fiue Carauels to Bahia in Brasil, and to An∣gola in Africa: which bring great store of Treasure, which is transported ouer land out of Peru, [ 10] into the Riuer of Plate. Then Abraham Cocke desirous to make his Voyage, tooke some of the Dolphins men into his ship, and sent the Dolphin home againe, which had not as yet made any * 1.13 Voyage. This Portugall Merchant carried vs to a place in this Iland, where there was a banished man, which had planted great store of Plantans; and told vs, that we might with this fruit * 1.14 goe to the Riuer of Plate: for our bread and victuals were almost all spent.

With this hard allowance we departed from this Iland, and were sixe and thirty dayes before we came to the Ile of Labos Marinos, which is in the mouth of the Riuer of Plate. This Iland is halfe a mile long, and hath no fresh water; but doth abound with Scales and Sea-morsses: in such sort, that our Light-horse-man could not get on shoare for them, without we did beat them with our Oares: and the Iland is couered with them. Vpon these Seales we liued some * 1.15 [ 20] thirty dayes, lying vp and downe in the Riuer, and were in great distresse of victuals. Then we determined to run vp to Buenos Aires, and with our Light-horse-man to take one of the Pinnas∣ses that rid at the Towne. And being so high vp the Riuer as the Towne, wee had a mightie storme at South-west, which draue vs backe againe, and we were faine to ride vnder Isla Verde, * 1.16 that is, the Greene Iland, which is in the mouth of the Riuer on the North side.

Here we were all discomfoted for lacke of victuals, and gaue ouer the Voyage, & came to the * 1.17 Northward again, to the Ile of Sant Sebastian, lying iust vnder the Tropicke of Capricorne. There we went on shoare to catch fish, & some went vp into the woods to gather fruit: for we weare all in a manner famished. There was at that time a Canoe fraught with Indians, that came from the Towne of Spiritu Sancto. These Indians landed on the West side of the Iland, and came [ 30] through the woods, and tooke fiue of vs, and carried vs to the Riuer of Ianeiro. After this mis∣chance, our Captaine Abraham Cocka went to Sea, and was neuer heard of more.

When wee that were taken had remained foure moneths in the Riuer of Ianeiro, I and one Torner were sent to Angola in Africa to the Citie of Saint Paul, which standeth in nine De∣grees to the Southward of the Equinoctiall line. Heere I was presently taken out of the ship, and put into prison, and sent vp the Riuer Quansa to a Towne of Garrison, which is one hun∣dred and thirtie miles vp the Riuer. And being there two moneths, the Pilot of the Gouernors Pinnasse died: then I was commanded to carrie her downe to the Citie, where I presently fell sicke, and lay eight moneths in a poore estate: for they hated me because I was an English-man. But being recouered of my sickenesse, Don Iohn Hurtado de Mendoça, who then was Gouernor, [ 40] commanded me to goe to the Riuer of Congo, called Zaire, in a Pinnasse, is to trade for Elephants teeth, Wheate, and Oyle of the Palme-tree. The Riuer Zaire is fiftie Leagues from the Citie to the Northward, and is the greatest Riuer in all that Coast. In the mouth of this Riuer is an Iland, called the Ile De Calabes, which had at that time a Towne in it. Heere we laded our Pinnasse with Elephants teeth, Wheate, and Oyle of the Palme, and so returned to the Citie againe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Abraham Cooks Voyage.
• * 1.2

  Santa Cruz.
• * 1.3

  Calmes on the Coast of Gui∣nea.
• * 1.4

  The Scorbute. Cape de las Palmas.
• * 1.5

  Trecherous people.
• * 1.6

  San Tome. Ilhas das Rolas.
• * 1.7

  They burne a Village. The Towne of San Tome.
• * 1.8

  Cape de lopo Gonsalues.
• * 1.9

  Some hurt.
• * 1.10

  They depart from San Tome.
• * 1.11

  Illha Grande in fiue Degrees to the South of the line, on the Coast of Brasill.
• * 1.12

  Buenos Aieres; Bahi〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.13

  The Dolphin sent home.
• * 1.14

  The benefit of a banished man. Ile de Labos Marinos.
• * 1.15

  Morsses and Scales. The Towne of Buenos Aires.
• * 1.16

  Ile Uerde.
• * 1.17

  They returne North-ward. The Ile of S. Sebastian. The Towne of Spiritu Sancto. The Riuer of Ianeire. Andrew Battl•• and foure o∣thers taken. Andrew Battle sent prisoner to Angola in Africa. The Citie of S. Paul. Quansa. His Pilotage and sicknesse. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 trade for E∣lephants teeth, and Oyle of the Palme tree Ile de Calabes.