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. [ 30]

Things remarkable obserued in his Voyage to the Indies. Sea-fight with the Portugals.

APologies very often call Truth into question. Hauing therefore nothing for to counte∣nance these my rude Relations but the certaintie of them; I omit all vnnecessarie in∣troductions: vsing no further Preface then this, that the Reader would vndoubtedly beleeue, what the Relator doth most faithfully deliuer.

So to make an entrie vpon the first beginning of our Voyage, the third of Februarie, 1615. [ 40] our Fleete (consisting of sixe goodly ships, the Charles, Vnicorne, Iames, Globe, Swan, and Rose, all vnder the command of Captaine Beniamin Ioseph) fell downe from Grauesend into Til∣burie Hope.

The ninth of March (after a long and tyring expectation) it pleased God to send vs what we desired, a North-east wind: which day wee left that weary Road, and set sayle for East India. The wind was fauourable to vs till the sixteenth day at night, at which time a most fearefull storme ouertooke vs, we being then in the Bay of Portugall. In this storme wee lost sight both of the Globe, and Rose. The Globe came againe into our Companie, the two and twentieh fol∣lowing; but the Rose was no more heard of, till her arriue at Bantam, about sixe Moneths after. This storme continued violent till the one and twentieth. [ 50]

The eight and twentieth, we had sight of the Grand Canaries, and that Mountaine which * 1.1 threatens the Skie, in the Iland of Teneriffa, commonly called, The Peake, which by reason of its immense height, in a cleere day may be seene more then fortie leagues at Sea, (as the Mari∣ners report.) These Ilands lie in eight and twentie degrees of North latitude.

The one and thirtieth, being Easter day, we passed vnder the Tropick of Cancer; and the se∣uenth of Aprill, the Sunne was our Zenith. From that day vntill the fourteene, wee were be∣calmed induring extreme heate. The sixteenth, we met with winds which the Mariners call, The Turnadoes, so variable and vncertaine, that sometime within the space of one houre, all the * 1.2 two and thirtie seuerall winds will blow. These winds were accompanied with much thun∣der [ 60] and lightning, and with extreme rayne, so noysome that it makes mens clothes presently to stinke vpon their backes. The water likewise of these slimy vnwholsome showres, whereso∣euer it stands, will in short time bring forth many offensiue creatures. These Turnadoes met with vs when we were about twelue degrees of North latitude, and kept vs companie ere they quit∣ted

vs, till wee were two degrees South-ward of the Equinoctiall, vnder which wee passed the eight and twentieth of Aprill. The nineteenth of May being Whitsunday, wee passed the Tro∣picke of Capricorne. So that we were seuen weekes compleat vnder the Torrid Zone.

Betweene the Tropickes we saw almost euery day different kindes of fishes in greater abun∣dance then else-where. As the great Leuiethan, whom God hath made to take his pastime in the Seas. Dolphins, Boneetooes, Albicores, Flying fishes, and many others. Some Whales we saw of an exceeding greatnesse, who in calme weather often arise and shew themselues aboue the * 1.3 water, where they appeare like to great Rockes, in their rising spowting vp into the Ayre with noyse a great quantitie of water, which fals downe againe about them like a showre. The Dol∣phin * 1.4 is a fish called for his swiftnesse the arrow of the Sea, differing from many other in that hee [ 10] hath teeth vpon the top of his tongue, he is pleasing to the Eye, smell, and tast, of a changeable colour, fin'd like a Roach, couered with very small scales, hauing a fresh delightsome sent a∣boue other fishes, and in taste as good as any. These Dolphines are wont often to follow our ships, not so much (I thinke) for the loue they beare vnto man as some write) as to feed them∣selues with what they find cast ouer-board. Whence it comes to passe, that many times they feed vs, for when they swimme close to our ships, we strike them with a broad Instrument, full of Barbes, called an Harping Iron fastened to a Rope by which we hale them in. This beautifull Dolphin may bee a fit Embleme of a Race of men, who vnder sweet countenances carrie sharpe tongues. Boneetooes and Albicores are in colour, shape, and taste much like to Mackerils, but * 1.5 grow to be very large. The Flying fishes of all other liue the most miserable liues, for beeing in the water, the Dolphines, Boneetooes, and Albicores persecute them, and when they would [ 20] escape by their flight, are oftentimes taken by rauenous fowles, somewhat like our Kites which houer ouer the water. These flying fishes are like men, professing two trades, and thriue of neither.

But to proceed in our passage, the twelfth of Iune early in the morning, wee espyed our long wished for Harbour, the Bay of Soldania, about twelue leagues short of the Cape of Good Hope, wherein we came happily to an Anchor that fore-noone. Heere wee found one of the Compa∣nies ships, called the Lion, come from Surat, and bound for England, who hauing a faire gale put to Sea the fourteenth day at night.

We made our abode in this Harbour till the eight and twentieth following, on which day we * 1.6 being well watered and refreshed, departed, when the Swan our fift ship tooke her way for Ban∣tam. The nine and twentieth, we doubled the Cape of Good Hope, whose latitude is in thirtie [ 30] fiue degrees South. Off this Cape there setteth continually a most violent Current Westward, whence it comes to passe, that when a strong contrarie wind meets it, their impetuous oppositi∣on makes the Sea so to rage, that some shippes haue beene swallowed, but many endangered in those Mountaynes of water. Few ships passe that way without a storme. The two and twen∣tieth * 1.7 of Iuly, we discouered the great Iland of Madagascar, commonly called Saint Laurence, we being then betwixt it and the Mayne: we touched not at it, but proceeding in our course, the fift of August following, came neere to the little Ilands of Mohilia, Gazidia, Saint Iohn de Castro, called in generall the Ilands of Comora, lying about twelue degrees Southward of the Equator.

The sixt early in the morning, our men looking out for Land, espyed a Sayle about three or [ 40] foure leagues off, which stood in our course directly before vs. About noone, the Globe our least ship (by reason of her nimblenesse, sayling better then her fellowes) came vp with her on the broad side to wind-ward, and according to the custome of the Sea hailed her, asking whence she was; She * 1.8 answered indirectly, of the Sea, calling our men Rogues, Theeues, Heretickes, Deuils, and the conclusion of her rude complement was in loud Canon Language, discharging seuen great Peeces of Artillerie at our Globe, whereof sixe pierced her through the Hull, may∣ming some of her men, but killing none. Our Globe replyed in the same voyce, and after that fell off.

About three of the clocke in the after-noone, the Charles our Admirall came vp with her so neere, that we were within Pistoll shot. Our Commander Captaine Ioseph proceeded religious∣ly, offering Treatie before hee thought of reuenge. So we saluted her with our Trumpets, shee [ 50] vs with her wind Instruments, then we shewed our men on both sides aloft; this done, Captaine Ioseph called to them that their principall Commander might come aborad, to giue an account for the iniurie they had lately before offered vs; their answere was, they had neuer a Boat, our Com∣mander

replyed, he would send them one, and immediately caused his Barge to be manned, and sent off to them, which brought backe one of their Officers, and two other meane fellowes with this bold message from their Captaine; that he had promised not to leaue his ship, and therefore forced he might, but neuer would be commanded out of her.

Captaine Ioseph receiued the Message, and vsed them which brought it ciuilly, commanding that they should be shewed, how we were prepared for to vindicate our selues, which made the poore Portugals to shake more then an Ague, and vpon it desired our Commander to write a few words to theirs, which with their perswasion happily might make him come. Captaine Ioseph willing to preserue his honour, and to preuent bloud, consented, and forth-with caused a few words to this effect to be wrote vnto him. That, Whereas he the Commander of the Carrack, had [ 10] offered violence to our ship, they sailed peaceably by him, he willed him to come speedily, and giue reason for that wrong; or else at his perill, &c. So he discharged those Portugals, sending one of our Ma∣sters Mates backe with them, with those few words and this Message; that if hee refused to come, he would sinke by his side, but that hee would force him before hee left him. (Morientium verba sunt Prophetica, his words came to passe, for he himselfe before he stird, fell by a great shot that came not long after from the Carracke side.) The Captaine of the Carracke (notwithstanding all this) was still peremptorie in his first answere. So our men returning, Captaine Ioseph himselfe made the three first shot, which surely, did them great mischiefe, as we imagined by the loud out∣cry we heard from them, after they were discharged. This done, the Bullets began to flye on both sides. Our Captaine cheering his company, ascended the halfe Decke, where hee had not * 1.9 [ 20] beene the eight part of an houre, and a great shot from the Carrackes Quarter, depriued him of life in the twinkling of an Eye, it hit him on the brest, beating out of his bodie his heart, and other of his vitals, which lay round about him scattered in his diffused bloud. After Captaine Ioseph was slaine, the Master of our ship continued the fight about halfe an houre, then knowing that there was another to be admitted into that prime place of command, the night approching, for that time gaue ouer; putting out a Flagge of Councell to call the Captaine of the Vice-Ad∣mirall (Captaine Henry Pepwell) who was to succeed, and the other Masters aboard, for to con∣sult about the prosecution of this Encounter. The night beeing come, wee now proceeded no farther. The Carracke stood still on her course, putting forth a light at her Poope for vs to fol∣low her, and about midnight came to an Anchor vnder the Iland of Mohilia, which when wee [ 30] perceiued let fall our Anchors too.

The seuenth, early before it began to dawne, we prepared for a new assault, first commending ourselues to God by Prayer.

The morning come, we found the Carracke so close to the shoare, and the neerest of our ships at the least a league off, that we held our hands for that day, expecting when shee would weigh her Anchors and stand off to Sea (a fitter place to deale with her.) In the after-noone we che∣sted our late slaine Commander, and without any ceremonie of shot, vsuall vpon such occasions (because our Enemies should take no notice) cast him ouer-boord against the Iland of Mohilia.

A little before night the Carracke departed to Sea, wee all loosed our Anchors, opened our Sayles, and followed. The day now left vs, and our proud Enemie (vnwilling as it should seeme [ 40] to escape) put forth a light as before, for vs to follow him (as afterward we did to purpose) the night well nigh spent, we commended againe our selues and cause to God. This done, the day appeared in a red Mantle, which proued bloudie vnto many that beheld it. And now you may conceiue that our foure ships are resolued to take their turnes one after the other, that they may force this proud Portugall, either to bend or breake. Our Charles playes her part first, and ere shee had beene at defiance with her Aduersary halfe an houre, there came another shot from the Enemie, which hitting against one of our Iron Peeces, that lay on the halfe Decke, brake into shiuers, dangerously wounding our new Commander, the Master of our ship, and three other of the Mariners which stood by. Captaine Pepwels left Eye was beaten all to pieces; two other * 1.10 wounds he receiued in his head; a third in his legge, a ragged piece of this broken shot sticking [ 50] fast in the bone thereof, which seemed by his complayning to afflict him more then all the rest. The Master had a great piece of the brawne of his arme strooke off, which made him likewise vnseruiceable for a time. This was our new Commander welcommed to his authoritie, wee all thought his wounds mortall, but hee liued till about fourteene moneths after, when hee dyed peaceably on his bed, in his returne for England.

The Captaine and Master both thus disabled, deputed their authoritie to the chiefe Masters Mate, who behaued himselfe resolutely, and wisely. So we continued, alternis vicibus, shooting at our Aduersary as at a Butte; and by three of the cloke in the after-noone had beat downe her mayn-mast, her Mizen-mast, her foretop-mast; and moreouer, had made such wounds in her thick sides, that her case was so desperate, shee must either yeeld or perish. Her Captaine (called Don [ 60] Emanuel Meneses, a braue resolute man) thus distressed, stood in for the shoare, being not farre from the Iland of Gazidia. We pursued as farre as we durst without hazard of shipwracke, then we sent of our Barge with a Flagge of Truce to speake with him, hee waued vs with another, so Master Connocke (our chiefe Merchant) employed in that businesse, boldly entred his ship,

and deliuered these words to him, and his company; that he had brought them life and peace if they would accept it, with all telling Don Emanuel, hee had deserued so well by his vndaunted valour, that * 1.11 if he would put himselfe into our hands, he should be entertayned with as much honour and respect as euer any Captine was. But (Duris vt Ilex tonsa bipennibus—ducit opes animum{que} ferro) Hee as an Oke gathered strength from his wounds, contemning the miserie hee could not preuent, answering Master Connocke thus, that no infelicitie should make him alter his first resolution; how that hee would * 1.12 stand off to Sea, if possibly he could, and encounter with vs againe, and then if fire and Sword forced him, he might vnhappily be taken, but he would neuer yeeld, and if we tooke him al••••e, he hoped that he should find the respect of a Gentleman, and till then we had our Answere.

So our Messenger was discharged, and shortly after this distressed ship wanting her wings, [ 10] * 1.13 was forced by the wind and waues vpon the adiacent Iland Gazidia, where she stuck fast between two Rocks: those that were left aliue in her by their Boats gat vpon the shoare, which when they had all recouered, willing (it should seeme) to consume what they could not keepe, they set her on fire to make her a coale, rather then we should make her a Prize. The poore Portugals after they had left their ship, were most inhumanely vsed by the barbarous Ilanders, who spoyled them of all they brought ashoare for their succour; some of them beeing slaine in the opposition, and doubtlesse, had made hauocke of them all, had they not beene relieued by two small Arabi•••• ships there in Trade, which in hope (I suppose) of some great reward, tooke them in, and con∣ueyed them safely to their owne Citie Goa.

In this combate we loft out of our foure ships but fiue men (too many by that number) three [ 20] out of our Admirall, and two out of the Iames; besides we had some twentie in our whole fleet hurt, which afterward recouered. But of seuen hundred which sayled in the Carracke, there came not aboue two hundred and fiftie to Goa, as afterward we were credibly informed. In this fearefull opposition, our Charles made at her Aduersarie three hundred seuentie and fiue great shot (as our Gunners reported) to these wee had one hundred Musquetiers, that played their parts all the while. Neither was our enemie idle, for our ship receiued at the least one hundred great shot from him, and many of them dangerous ones through the Hull. Our Fore-mast was pierced through the middest; our mayne-mast hurt, our mayne-stay, and many of our mayne Shrouds cut in sunder. But I haue dwelt too long vpon a sad Discourse, I make haste to refresh my selfe vpon the pleasant Iland. * 1.14

After we saw the Carracke fired which was about mid-night, wee stood off and on till mor∣ning, [ 30] to see if we might find any thing in her ashes; of which when wee despayred, wee sought about for succour to comfort our wounded and sicke men on the shoare. The Land was very high, against which the Sea is alwayes deepe, so that it was the tenth day following ere wee could be possessed of a good Harbour; which enioyed, we found the Iland very pleasant, full of goodly Trees, couered all ouer with a greene Vesture and exceeding fruitfull, abounding in Beeues, Kids, Poultry, Sugar-canes, Rice, Plantens, Oranges, Coquer-nuts, and many other wholesome things; of all which wee had sufficient to releeue our whole company, for a small quantitie of white Paper, and few glasse Beades, and Penie Kniues. For instance wee bought * 1.15 as many good Oranges as would fill an Hat, for halfe a quarter of a sheet of white Paper, and so [ 40] in proportion all other prouision. Much of their Fruites the Ilanders brought vnto vs in their little Canoes (which are long narrow Boates cut like Troughes out of firme Trees) but their cat∣tell we bought on shoare; where I obserued the people to bee streight, well limmed, able men, their colour very tawnie, most of the men but all the women (I saw) vnclothed hauing nothing about them but to hide their shame. Such as were couered had long Garments like to the Ara∣bians, whose Language they speake, and of whose Religion they are, Mahometans, very strict as it should seeme, for they would not endure vs to come nigh their Churches. They haue good conuenient houses for their liuing, and faire Sepulchres for their dead. They seeme to liue strict∣ly vnder the obedience of a King, whose place of residence was some few miles vp in the Coun∣trey. His leaue by Messengers they first craued, before wee had libertie to buy any prouision. [ 50] Their King aduertized of our arriuall, bade our Commander welcome with a Present of Beeues, and Goats, and choice Fruits of his Countrey, and was recompensed, and well contented againe with Paper, and some other English Toyes. Wee saw some Spanish money amongst them, of which they made so little reckoning, that some of our men had Rials of Eight in exchange for a little Paper or a few Beades. What they did with our Paper, we could not ghesse.

The Coquer-nuts (of which this Iland hath abundance) of all the Trees in the Forrest (in my opinion) may haue preeminence, for meerely with it, without the least helpe from any other, a man may build, and furnish a ship to Sea; for the heart of this Tree will make Plankes, Timbers, and Masts, a Gumme that growes thereon, will serue to calke our ship. The Rind of the same Tree will make Cordage and Sailes, and the large Nut thereof beeing full of kernell, and plea∣sant [ 60] liquor, will for a need serue for those that sayle in this shippe for meate and drinke, and the store of these Nuts for Merchandize.

Now, well stored with these Nuts, and other good prouision, after sixe dayes abode there, the breaches our ship receiued in fight being repayred, and our men well refreshed, wee put a∣gaine

to Sea toward East India the sixteenth, and a prosperous winde following vs, passed happi∣ly vnder the Line without the least heate to offend vs, the foure and twentieth day ensuing. Our course was for the Iland of Succotora, neere to the mouth of the Red Sea, from whence comes our * 1.16 Aloes Succotrina, but an aduerse gale from the Arabian shoare kept vs off, that wee could by no meanes recouer it. We passed by it the first of September. The immediate yeere before our En∣glish fleet touching at this Iland, learned this Apothegme from the petie King thereof, who com∣ming to the water side, and hearing some of our winde Instruments, asked if they played Dauids Psalmes (of which being a Mahometan, he had heard.) Hee was answered by one that stood by, * 1.17 they did; He replyed thus, That it was an ill inuention of him that first mingled Musicke with Religion; for before (said he) God was worshipped in heart, but by this in sound. I insert not this relation to condemne musick in Churches, Let him that bids vs prayse the Lord with strin∣ged [ 10] Instruments and Organs, plead the Cause.

But to returne to my discourse. Missing our Port at Succotora, wee proceeded on our voyage, and the fourth of September kept a solemne funerall, in memorie of our slaine Commander, * 1.18 when after a Sermon, the small shot and great Ordnance, made a loud peale to his remem∣brance. The sixt of September at night, to our admiration and feare, the water of the Sea see∣med as white as milke, others of our Nation, since passing on that course, haue obserued the * 1.19 like, but I am yet to learne what should be the true cause thereof, it being farre from any shoare, and so deepe, that wee could fetch no ground. The twentie one, wee discouered the mayne Land of East India: and the twentie two, had sight of Diu and Damon, Cities lying in the skirts thereof, well fortified and inhabited by Portugals. The twentie fiue, we came happily to an An∣chor [ 20] in Swally Road, within the Bay of Cambaya, the harbour for our fleet while they make their stay in the Easterne India. And thus in a tedious Passage haue I brought my Reader as far as East India, let him now bee pleased for a while to repose himselfe vpon the Shoare, there to take a view of the populous Court, and the no lesse fruitful, then spacious Territories of the great Mogol.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pico de Tene∣riffa.
• * 1.2

  Turnadoes.
• * 1.3

  Whales.
• * 1.4

  Dolphines.
• * 1.5

  Boneetooes and Albicores. Flying fishes.
• * 1.6

  Soldania.
• * 1.7

  Iles of Comora.
• * 1.8

  Fight with a Portugall ••ar∣racke, mentio∣ned before in Sir T. Roe, and M. Ch••ld: ••ut here more ful∣ly deliuered, and therefore againe expres∣sed, that it might appeare who were true causers of the quarrell, as al∣so that it was a priuate quarrel and not of State, or Princes, but of Meneles and Ioseph the Captaines, with the persons vnder their commands: one offering, the other vindicating wrong. ••o may the Reader obserue of former fights with Beast, Downton, &c. not the Spanish King warring with his Maiestie of England, but the Portugall Merchants and Commanders in the Indies, enuying to others that Trade, which might lessen their gaines there: as in Magellans Voyage they did to the Spaniards, which also you haue seene in the Dutch, and may obserue of men of the same Trade in euery street of London. The old Verse of Hesiod, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. shewes this quarrell as old as men, at least as the old man of Couetousnesse, and Ambition, and Enuie; the cause also why the first-borne of Nature slue the first Brother which Nature had seene. It Portugals hereby led, haue offered wrong to the English, and suffered right [ 60] from them, it is but as in cases twixt English Gentlemen or Merchants at home, sauing that this bodie is more Giantly, and of greater consequence, as the concurrence of more priuate purses and persons, and yet no State-warre: with which except in our Pr••yer, we haue nothing to doe. In like case of Trade, I suppose the Portugals would now quarrell with the Spaniards in their East, and these with them in their West. I am sure that in the Indies, Dutch haue taken Dutch, and Engl••sh other English (not of that East-Indian Company) notwithstanding subiection to one and the same Crowne or State.
• * 1.9

  Resolute Spi∣rits of both Commanders. Captaine Io∣seph slaine.
• * 1.10

  Captaine Pep∣well wounded, with the Ma∣ster and others Captaine Pep∣well dyeth 14. moneths after.
• * 1.11

  Virtus in hoste laudandi.
• * 1.12

  Don Emanuel Meueses, his va∣lorous resolu∣tion.
• * 1.13

  Carrack wrac∣ked and burnt. She was repor∣ted of incredi∣ble wealth, both in money and commo∣dities.
• * 1.14

  The Ilands fertilitie.
• * 1.15

  White Paper well sold.
• * 1.16

  Socotora.
• * 1.17

  Precise Maho∣metan Apo∣phthegme.
• * 1.18

  Funerall for Capt. Ioseph.
• * 1.19

  Water of the Sea in this place alway white, as in former voya∣ges is seene.