The admirable and prosperous voyage of the Worshipfull
Master Thomas Candish of Trimley in the Countie of
Suffolke Esquire, into the South sea, and from thence
round about the circumference of the whole earth, begun
in the yeere of our Lord 1586, and finished 1588.
Written by Master Francis Pretty lately of Ey in
Suffolke, a Gentleman employed in the same action.
WEE departed out of Plimmouth on Thursday the 2 . of
July 1586. with 3. sayles, to wit, The Desire a ship of
120. tunnes, The Content of 60 tuns, and the Hugh
gallant a barke of 40. tunnes: in which small Fleete were
123. persons of all sortes with all kinde of furniture and
victuals sufficient for the space of two yeeres, at the
charges of the worshipfull Master Thomas Candish of
Trimley in the Countie of Suffolke Esquire, beeing our
Generall.
On Tuesday the 26. of the same moneth, we were 45.
leagues from
Cape Finis terrae where wee mette with 5.
sayles of Biskaynes comming from the Grande Bay in
Newfound-land, as we supposed, which our Admirall shot
at, and fought with them 3. houres, but wee tooke none
of them by reason the night grew on.
The first of August wee came in sight of Forteventura,
one of the
Isles of the Canaries, about ten of the clocke
in the morning.
On Sunday being the 7. of August, we were gotten as
high as Rio del oro on the coast of Barbarie.
On Munday the 19. we fell with cape Blanco
: but the
winde blew so much at the North, that we could not get
up where the Canters doe use to ride and fish: therefore
wee lay off 6. houres West Southwest, because of the
sand which lieth off the cape Southwest and by South.
The 15. day of the same moneth we were in the height
of
cape Verde by estimation 50. leagues off the same.
The 18. Sierra leona did beare East off us, beeing 45.
leagues from us: and the same day the winde shifted to
the Northwest, so that by the 20. day of the sayd moneth
we were in 6. degrees 1/2 to the Northward, from the
Equinoctiall line.
The 23. we put roome for Sierra leona, and the 25.
day wee fell with the poynt on the South side of Sierra
leona, which Master Brewer knew very well, and went
in before with the Content which was Vice-admirall: and
we had no lesse then 5. fathoms water when we had
least, and had for 14. leagues in Southwest all the way
running into the harbour of Sierra leona 16. 14. 12. 10
and 8. fathoms of water.
The 26. of the said moneth we put into the harborough,
and in going in we had by the Southermost point when
we had least 5. fathoms water faire by the rocke as it
lieth at the said point, and after we came, 2 or 3. cables
length within the said rocke, we never had lesse then 10.
fathoms, untill wee came up to the roade, which is about
a league from the poynt, borrowing alwayes on the South
side untill you come up to the watering place, in which
Baye
is the best roade; but you must ride farre into the
Baye
, because there run marveilous great tydes in the
offin, and it floweth into the road next of any thing at a
Southeast and by East moone.
It is out of England
to this place 930. leagues: which
wee ranne from the 21. of July to the 26. of this moneth
of August.
On Saturday being the 27. day there came 2. Negros
aboord our Admiral from the shore, and made signes unto
our Generall that there was a Portugal
ship up within
the harborough; so the Hugh Gallant beeing the Rereadmirall went up 3. or 4. leagues, but for want of a Pilot
they sought no farther: for the harborough runneth 3.
or 4. leagues up more, and is of a marveilous bredth and
very dangerous, as we learned afterward by a Portugal
.
On Sunday the 28. the Generall sent some of his company on shore, and there as they played and daunced
all the forenoone among the Negros, to the end to have
heard some good newes of the Portugal
ship, toward their
comming aboord they espied a Portugal
which lay hid
among the bushes, whom we tooke and brought away
with us the same night: and he tolde us it was very
dangerous going up with our boates for to seeke the ship
that was at the towne. Whereupon wee went not to
seeke her, because we knew he told us the trueth: for
we bound him and made him fast, and so examined him.
Also he told us that his ship was there cast away, and
that there were two more of his company among the
Negros: the Portugals name was Emmanuel, and was
by his occupation a Calker, belonging to the Port of
Portugal.
On Munday morning being the 29. day, our Generall
landed with 70. men or thereabout, and went up to their
towne, where we burnt 2. or 3. houses, and tooke what
spoyle wee would, which was but litle, but al the people
fled: and in our retiring aboord in a very litle plaine at
their townes ende they shot their arrowes at us out of
the woods, and hurt 3. or 4. of our men; their arrowes
were poysoned, but yet none of our men miscaryed at
that time, thanked be God. Their towne is marvellous
artificially builded with mudde walles, and built round,
with their yards paled in and kept very cleane as well in
their streetes as in their houses. These Negros use good
obedience to their king, as one of our men sayd, which
was with them in pawne for the Negros which came
first. There were in their towne by estimation about one
hundred houses.
The first of September there went many of our men
on shore at the watering place, and did wash shirts very
quietly all the day: and the second day they went againe,
and the Negros were in ambush round about the place:
and the carpenter of the Admiral going into the wood
to doe some speciall businesse, espied them by good fortune. But the Negros rushed out upon our men so
suddenly, that in retiring to our boates, many of them
were hurt: among whom one William Pickman a souldier
was shot into the thigh, who plucking the arrow out,
broke it, and left the head behinde; and he told the
Chirurgions that he plucked out all the arrow, because
he would not have them lance his thigh: whereupon the
poyson wrought so that night, that hee was marveilously
swollen, and all his belly and privie parts were as blacke
as ynke, and the next morning he died, the peece of
the arrow with the poyson being plucked out of his
thigh.
The third day of the sayd moneth, divers of our fleete
went up 4 myles within the harbour with our boate, and
caught great store of fish, and went on shore and tooke
Limmons from the trees, and comming aboord againe,
saw two Buffes.
The 6. day we departed from Sierra leona, and went
out of the harborough, and stayed one tide 3. leagues
from the point of the mouth of the Harborough in 6.
fathoms, and it floweth South Southwest.
On Wednesday being the 7. of the same moneth wee
departed from one of the
Isles of Cape Verde, alias the
Isles of Madrabumba, which is 10. leagues distant from
the poynt of Sierra leona: and about five of the clocke
the same night we anchored 2. miles off the Iland in 6.
fathoms water, and landed the same night, and found
Plantans only upon the Ilande.
The 8. day one of our boats went out & sounded round
about the Iland, & they passed through a sound at the
west end of the Iland, where they found 5. fathoms round
about the Iland, until they came unto the very gutte
of the sound, and then for a cast or two they had but two
fathoms, and presently after, 6. fathoms, and so deeper
and deeper. And at the East ende of the Iland there was
a towne, where Negros doe use at sometimes, as we perceived by their provision.
There is no fresh water on all the South side, as we
could perceive, but on the North side three or foure very
good places of fresh water: and all the whole Iland is a
wood, save certaine litle places where their houses stand,
which are invironed round about with Plantan-trees,
whereof the fruit is excellent meat. This place is subject marveilous much to thunder, raine, and lightning in
this moneth. I thinke the reason is, because the sunne is
so neere the line Equinoctiall.
On Saturday the tenth wee departed from the sayde
Iland about 3. of the clocke in the afternoone, the winde
being at the Southwest.
The last of October running West Southwest about 24.
leagues from
Cape Frio in Brasile
, we fell with a great
mountaine which had an high round knoppe on the top of
it standing from it like a towne, with two litle Ilands
from it.
The first of November wee went in betweene the
Iland
of Saint Sebastian and the mayne land, and had our things
on shore, and set up a Forge, and had our caske on shore:
our coopers made hoopes, and so we remayned there untill
the 23. day of the same moneth: in which time we fitted
our things, built our Pinnesse, and filled our fresh water.
And while our Pinnesse was in building, there came a
Canoa from the river of Jenero, meaning to goe to S.
Vincent, wherein were sixe naked slaves of the Countrey
people, which did rowe the Canoa, and one Portugal
.
And the Portugal
knewe Christopher Hare Master of the
Admirall, for that Master Hare had bene at Saint Vincent
in the Minion of London in the yeere 1581. And thinking
to have John Whithal the Englishman which dwelleth at
Saint Vincent come unto us, which is twentie leagues from
this Harborough with some other, thereby to have had
some fresh victuals, we suffered the Portugal
to goe with
a letter unto him, who promised to returne or send some
answere within ten dayes, for that we told him we were
Marchants, and would traffique with them: but we never
received answere from him any more; and seeing that he
came not according to appoyntment, our businesse being
dispatched wee weyed anchor, and set sayle from S.
Sebastian on the 23. of November.
The 16. day of December we fell with the coast of
America
in 47. degrees 1/3. the land bearing West from us
about 6. leagues off: from which place we ran along the
shore, untill we came into 48. degrees. It is a steepe
beach all along.
The 17. day of December in the afternoone we entred
into an harborough, where our Admirall went in first:
wherefore our Generall named the said harborough Port
Desire: in which harborough is an Iland or two, where
there is wonderful great store of Scales, and another Iland
of birds which are grey guls. These Seales are of a
wonderful great bignesse, huge, and monstrous of shape,
and for the fore-part of their bodies cannot be compared
to any thing better then to a lion: their head, and necke,
and fore-parts of their bodies are full of rough haire:
their feete are in maner of a finne, and in forme like unto
a mans hand: they breed and cast every moneth, giving
their yong milke, yet continually get they their living in
the sea, and live altogether upon fish: their yong are
marveilous good meate, and being boyled or rosted, are
hardly to be knowen from lambe or mutton. The olde
ones be of such bignesse and force, that it is as much as 4.
men are able to doe to kill one of them with great cowlestaves: and hee must be beaten downe with striking on
the head of him: for his body is of that bignesse that foure
men could never kill him, but only on the head. For
being shotte through the body with an Harquebuze or a
Musket, yet he will goe his way into the sea, and never
care for it at the present. Also the fowles that were there,
were very good meate, and great store of them : they have
burrowes in the ground like conies, for they cannot flie.
They have nothing but downe upon their pinions: they
also fish and feede in the sea for their living, and breede
on shore.
This harborough is a very good place to trimme ships
in, and to bring them on ground, and grave them in: for
there ebbeth and floweth much water: therefore wee
graved and trimmed all our ships there.
The 24. of December being Christmas Even, a man and
a boy of the Rere-admirall went some fortie score from
our ships into a very faire greene valley at the foote of the
mountaines, where was a litle pitte or well which our men
had digged and made some 2. or 3. dayes before to get
fresh water: for there was none in all the Harborough;
and this was but brackish: therefore this man and boy
came thither to wash their linnen: and beeing in washing
at the sayde Well, there were great store of Indians which
were come downe, and found the sayd man and boy in
washing. These Indians being divided on eche side of
the rockes, shotte at them with their arrowes and hurt
them both, but they fledde presently, beeing about fiftie or
threescore, though our Generall followed them but with
16. or 20. men. The mans name which was hurt was
John Garge, the boyes name was Lutch: the man was shot
cleane through the knee, the boy into the shoulder: either
of them having very sore wounds. Their arrowes are
made of litle canes, and their heads are of a flint stone, set
into the cane very artificially: they seldome or never see
any Christians: they are as wilde as ever was a bucke or
any other wilde beast: for wee followed them, and they
ranne from us as it had bene the wildest thing in the
worlde. Wee tooke the measure of one of their feete, and
it was 18. inches long. Their use is when any of them
dye, to bring him or them to the cliffes by the sea-side,
and upon the toppe of them they burie them, and in their
graves are buryed with them their bowes and arrowes,
and all their jewels which they have in their life time,
which are fine shelles which they finde by the sea side,
which they cut and square after an artificiall maner: and
all is layd under their heads. The grave is made all with
great stones of great length and bignesse, being set all
along full of the dead mans dartes which he used when he
was living. And they colour both their darts and their
graves with a red colour which they use in colouring of
themselves.
The 28 of December we departed out of the Port of
Desire, and went to an Iland which lieth 3. leagues to the
Southward of it; where we trimmed our saved pengwins
with salt for victual all that and the next day, and departed along the coast Southwest and by South.
The 30. day we fell with a rocke which lieth about
5. leagues from the land, much like unto Ediestone, which
lieth off the sound of Plimouth, and we sounded, and had
8. fathoms rockie ground, within a mile thereof: the rocke
bearing West Southwest. Wee went coasting along
South Southwest, and found great store of Seales all along
the coast. This rocke standeth in 48. degrees 1/2. to the
Southward of the line.
The 2. day of Januarie wee fell with a very faire white
Cape, which standeth in 51. degrees, and had 7. fathoms
water a league off the land.
The third day of the foresayd moneth we fell with
another great white cape, which standeth in 52. degrees
and 45. minutes: from which Cape there runneth a lowe
beach about a league to the Southward, and this beach
reacheth to the opening of the dangerous Streight of
Magellan, which is in divers places 5. or 6. leagues wide,
and in two severall places more narrow. Under this Cape
wee anchored and lost an anchor, for it was a great
storme of foule weather, and lasted three dayes very
dangerous.
The 6. day we put in for the Streights.
The 7. day betweene the mouth of the Streights and the
narrowest place thereof, wee tooke a Spaniard whose
name was Hernando, who was there with 23 Spaniards
more, which were all that remayned of foure hundred,
which were left there three yeeres before in these streights
of Magellan, all the rest being dead with famine. And
the same day wee passed through the narrowest of the
Streights, where the aforesayd Spanyard shewed us the
hull of a small Barke, which we judged to be a Barke
called The John Thomas. It is from the mouth of the
streights unto the narrowest of the Streights 14. leagues,
and the course lieth West and by North. The mouth of
the streights standeth in 52. degrees.
From the narrowest of the Streights unto
Pengwin Iland
is 10. leagues, and lyeth West Southwest somewhat to the
Southward, where wee anchored the 8. day, and killed and
salted great store of Pengwins for victuals.
The ninth day wee departed from Pengwin Ilande, and
ranne South Southwest to King Philips citie which the
Spaniards had built: which Towne or citie had foure
Fortes, and every Fort had in it one cast peece, which
peeces were buryed in the ground, the cariages were
standing in their places unburied: wee digged for them
and had them all. They had contrived their Citie very
well, and seated it in the best place of the Streights for
wood and water: they had builded up their Churches by
themselves: they had Lawes very severe among themselves, for they had erected a Gibet, whereon they had
done execution upon some of their company. It seemed
unto us that their whole living for a great space was
altogether upon muskles and lympits: for there was not
any thing else to bee had, except some Deere which came
out of the mountaines downe to the fresh rivers to drinke.
These Spaniards which were there, were onely come to
fortifie the Streights, to the ende that no other nation
should have passage through into the
South sea saving
onely their owne : but as it appeared, it was not Gods will
so to have it. For during the time that they were there,
which was two yeeres at the least, they could never have
any thing to growe or in any wise prosper. And on the
other side the Indians oftentimes preyed upon them, untill
their victuals grewe so short, (their store being spent
which they had brought with them out of Spaine, and
having no meanes to renew the same) that they dyed like
dogges in their houses, and in their clothes, wherein we
found them still at our comming, untill that in the ende
the towne being wonderfully taynted with the smell and
the savour of the dead people, the rest which remayned
alive were driven to burie such things as they had there in
their towne either for provision or for furniture, and so
to forsake the towne, and to goe along the sea-side, and
seeke their victuals to preserve them from sterving, taking
nothing with them, but every man his harquebuze and his
furniture that was able to cary it (for some were not able
to cary them for weakenesse) and so lived for the space
of a yeere and more with rootes, leaves, and sometimes a
foule which they might kill with their peece. To conclude, they were determined to have travailed towards the
river of Plate, only being left alive 23. persons, whereof
two were women, which were the remainder of 4. hundred.
In this place we watered and woodded well and quietly.
Our Generall named this towne Port famine: it standeth
in 53. degrees by observation to the Southward.
The 14. day we departed from this place, and ran
South southwest, and from thence southwest unto cape
Froward 5. leagues West Southwest, which Cape is the
Southermost part of all the streights, and standeth in the
latitude of 54. degrees. From which cape we ran West
and by north 5. leagues, and put into a bay or Cove on
the south side, which we called Muskle-Cove, because
there were great store of them: we ridde therein 6. dayes,
the wind being still Westerly.
The 21. day of Januarie we departed from Muskle-cove,
and went Northwest and by West 10. leagues to a very
faire sandie Bay on the North side, which our Generall
called Elizabeth Baye, and as wee ridde there that night,
one of our men dyed which went in the Hugh Gallant,
whose name was Grey, a Carpenter by his occupation, and
was buryed there in that Baye
.
The 22. wee departed from Elizabeth Bay in the afternoone, and went about 2. leagues from that place, where
there was a fresh water river, where our Generall went up
with the ship-boate about three myles, which river hath
very good and pleasant ground about it, and it is lowe
and champion soyle, and so we saw none other ground
els in all the Streights but that was craggie rocks and
monstrous high hilles and mountaines. In this river are
great store of Savages which wee sawe, and had conference with them: They were men-eaters, and fedde altogether upon rawe flesh, and other filthie foode: which
people had preyed upon some of the Spaniardes before
spoken of. For they had gotten knives and peeces of
Rapiers to make dartes of. They used all the meanes they
could possibly to have allured us up farther into the river,
of purpose to have betrayed us, which being espyed by
our Generall, hee caused us to shoote at them with our
harquebuzes, whereby we killed many of them. So wee
sayled from this river to the Chanell of Saint Jerome,
which is 2 leagues off.
From the river of Saint Jerome about three or foure
leagues, wee ranne West unto a Cape which is on the
North side: and from that Cape unto the mouth of the
Streights the course lyeth Northwest and by West, and
Northwest. Betweene which place and the mouth of the
Streights to the Southward we lay in
Harborough untill
the three and twentieth of Februarie, by reason of contrary windes and most vile and filthie fowle weather, with
such rayne and vehement stormie windes which came
downe from the mountaines and high hilles, that they
hazarded the best cables and anchors that we had for to
holde, which if they had fayled, wee had bene in great
danger to have bene cast away, or at the least famished.
For during this time, which was a full moneth, we fedde
almost altogether upon muskles and limpits, and birds, or
such as we could get on shore, seeking every day for them,
as the fowles of the ayre doe, where they can finde foode,
in continuall raynie weather.
There is at every myle or two myles ende an Harborough
on both sides of the land. And there are betweene the
river of Saint Jerome and the mouth of the Streights going
into the
South sea about 34. leagues by estimation. So
that the length of the whole Streights is about 90. leagues.
And the said mouth of the Streights standeth in the same
height that the entrance standeth in when we passe out of
the North sea
, which is about 52. degrees and 2/3 to the
Southward of the line.
The 24. day of February wee entred into the
South sea:
and on the South side of the going out of the Streights is
a faire high Cape with a lowe poynt adjoyning unto it:
and on the North side are 4. or 5. Ilands, which lye 6.
leagues off the mayne, and much broken and sunken
ground about them: by noone the same day wee had
brought these
Ilands East of us 5. leagues off; the winde
being Southerly.
The first of March a storme tooke us at North, which
night the ships lost the company of the Hugh Gallant,
beeing in 49. 1/2 and 45. leagues from the land. This
storme continued 3. or 4. dayes, and for that time we
in the Hugh Gallant being separated from the other 2.
ships, looked every houre to sinke, our barke was so
leake, and our selves so dilvered and weakened with
freeing it of water, that we slept not in three dayes and
three nights.
The 15. of March in the morning the Hugh Gallant
came in betweene the
Iland of S. Mary and the mayne,
where she met with the Admiral and the Content, which
had rid at the Iland called La Mocha 2. dayes, which
standeth in the Southerly latitude of 38 degrees: at which
place some of our men went on shore with the Viceadmirals boate, where the Indians fought with them with
their bowes and arrowes, and were marvellous warie of
their Calivers. These Indians were enemies to the
Spaniards, and belonged to a great place called Arauco,
and tooke us for Spaniards, as afterward we learned.
This place which is called Arauco is wonderfull rich,
and full of golde mynes, and yet could it not be subdued
at any time by the Spaniards, but they always returned
with the greatest losse of men. For these Indians are
marvellous desperate and carelesse of their lives to live
at their owne libertie and freedome.
The 15. day aforesayde in the afternoone wee weighed
anchor, and ranne under the West side of Saint Marie
Iland, where we ridde very well in 6. fathoms water, and
very faire ground all that night.
The 16. day our General went on shore himselfe with
70. or 80. men every one with his furniture: there came
downe to us certaine Indians with two which were the
principals of the Iland to welcome us on shore, thinking
we had bin Spaniards, for it is subdued by them: who
brought us up to a place where the Spaniards had erected
a Church with crosses & altars in it. And there were
about this Church 2. or 3. store houses, which were full
of wheate and barley ready threshed and made up in cades
of strawe to the quantitie of a bushel of corne in every
cade. The wheate and barly was as faire, as cleane, and
every way as good as any we have in England
. There
were also the like cades ful of potato rootes, which were
very good to eate, ready made up in the store houses for
the Spaniards against they should come for their tribute.
This Iland also yeeldeth many sorts of fruits, hogs, and
hens. These Indians are held in such slavery by them,
that they dare not eate a hen or an hogge themselves.
But the Spaniards have made them all in that
Iland
Christians. Thus we fitted our selves here with corne
asmuch as we would have, and as many hogges as we
had salt to powder them withall, and great store of
hennes, with a number of bags of Potato rootes, and
about 500. dried dogge-fishes, and Guinie wheate, which
is called Maiz. And having taken as much as we would
have, yet we left marveilous great store behind us. Our
General had the two principals of the Iland aboord our
shippe, and provided great cheere for them, and made
them merie with wine: and they in the ende perceiving
us to bee no Spaniards, made signes, as neere as our
Generall could perceive, that if wee would goe over unto
the mayne land unto Arauco, that there was much Golde,
making us signes, that we should have great store of
riches. But because we could not understand them, our
Generall made some haste, and within 2. or three dayes
we furnished our selves.
The 18. day in the morning we departed from this
place, and ran all that day Northnortheast about 10.
leagues, and at night lay with a short sayle off and on
the coast.
The 19. wee ranne in
East Northeast with the land,
and bare in with a place called The Conception, where
wee anchored under an Iland, and departed the next
morning without going on land.
The 20. wee departed from The Conception, and went
into a litle Baye
which was sandie, where we saw fresh
water and cattell, but we stayed not there.
The 30. day we came into the Bay of Quintero, which
standeth in 33. degrees & 50 minutes.
The said day presently after we were come unto an
ancre in the Bay, there was a Neteherd or one that kept
cattle which lay upon the point of the hill asleepe, which
when he awaked and had espied three shippes which were
come into the Bay, before wee could get on shore, he
had caught an horse which was feeding by, and rode his
way as fast as ever hee might: and our Generall with
30. shot with him went on shore. He had not bene on
land one houre, but there came 3. horsemen with bright
swords towards us so hard as they might ride, until they
came within some twentie or thirtie score of us, and so
stayed, and would come no neerer unto us: so our
Generall sent unto them a couple of our men with their
shotte, and one Fernando, which was the Spaniard that
wee had taken up at the mouth of the Streights, which
was one of the 400. that were sterved there. But the
Spaniards would not suffer our men to come neere with
their shot, but made signes that one of our men should
come alone unto them: so the said Fernando the Spaniard
went unto them, and our two men stood not farre from
them. They had great conference, and in the end Fernando came backe from them, and told our Generall that
he had parled with them for some victuals, who had
promised as much as we would have. Our General sent
him backe againe with another message and another
shotte with him: and being come neere unto them, they
would not suffer any more than one to approch them,
whereupon our men let the Spaniard goe unto them alone
himselfe: who being some good distance from them, they
stayed but a small time together, but that the said Fernando leaped up behind one of them and rid away with
them, for all his deepe and damnable othes which hee had
made continually to our general and all his company
never to forsake him, but to die on his side before he
would be false. Our Generall seeing how he was dealt
withall, filled water all that day with good watch, and
caried it aboord: and night being come, he determined
the next day to send into the countrey to find their towne,
and to have taken the spoyle of it, and to have fired it
if they could have found it.
The last of March Captaine Havers went up into the
Countrey with 50. or 60. men with their shot and furniture with them, and we travailed 7. or 8. miles into the
land: and as we were marching along, we espied a
number of herdes of cattell, of kine and bullockes which
were wonderfull wilde: we saw also great store of horses,
mares and coltes which were very wilde and unhandled:
there is also great store of hares and conies, and plenty
of partriges and other wild foules. The countrey is very
fruitful with faire fresh rivers all along full of wilde foule
of all sorts. Having travailed so farre that we could
goe no further for the monstrous high mountaines, we
rested our selves at a very fayre fresh River running in
and alongst faire lowe medowes at the foote of the mountaines, where every man drunke of the River, and refreshed themselves. Having so done, we returned to our
Ships the likest way that we thought their Towne should
bee: so wee travailed all the day long, not seeing any
man, but we mette with many wilde dogges: yet there
were two hundred horsemen abroad that same day by
meanes of the Spaniard which they had taken the day
before from us, who had tolde them that our force was
but small, and that wee were wonderfully weake; who
though they did espie us that day, yet durst they not
give the on-sette upon us. For wee marched along in
array, and observed good order, whereby wee seemed a
great number more then we were, untill we came unto
our ships that night againe.
The next day being the first of Aprill 1587, our men
went on shoare to fill water at a pit which was a quarter
of a mile from the waters side: and being earely hard
at their businesse were in no readinesse. In which meane
while there came powring downe from the hilles almost
200 horsemen, and before our people could returne to the
rockes from the watering place, twelve of them were cut
off, part killed, and part taken prisoners, the rest were
rescued by our souldiers which came from the rocks to
meete with them, who being but fifteene of us that had
any weapons on shoare, yet we made the enemie retire
in the end with losse of some foure and twentie of their
men, after we had skirmished with them an houre.
The names of our men that were slaine were these.
| Thomas Lucas of London, souldier. | Out of the Admirall. |
| Richard Wheeler of London. |
| Robert Pitcher of Norffolke, souldier. |
| John Langston of Glocestershire. |
| William Kingman of Dorsetshire, souldier. |
| William Hilles of Cornewall. |
| |
| 1 William Byet of Weymouth. | Killed out of the vice adm. |
| 2 Laurence Gamesby, of Newcastle
. |
| |
| 1 Henry Blackenals of Weymouth. | Killed out of the Hugh Gallant. |
| 2 William Stevens of Plymmouth, gunner. |
| 3 William Pitte of Shereborne in Dorsetshire
. |
| 4 Humphrey Derricke of London. |
After the losse of these men, wee rid in the roade, and
watered in despight of them with good watch and ward,
until the fift of the sayd moneth.
The fift day wee departed out of this bay of Quintero:
and off from the bay there lyeth a little Iland about a
league distant, whereon there are great store of penguins
and other fowles; wherof we tooke to serve our turnes,
and sailed away North and North and by West: for so
lyeth the coast along in this place.
The fifteenth wee came thwart of a place which is called
Morro moreno, which standeth in 23 degrees 1/2 and is
an excellent good harborough: and there is an Iland
which maketh it an harborough: and a ship may go in
at either end of the Iland : here we went with our Generall
on shore to the number of 30 men: and at our going on
shore upon our landing, the Indians of the place came
downe from the rockes to meete with us, with fresh water
and wood on their backes. They are in marvellous awe
of the Spaniards, and very simple people, and live marvellous savagely : For they brought us to their bidings
about two miles from the harborough, where wee saw
their women and lodging, which is nothing but the skin
of some beast layd upon the ground: and over them in
stead of houses, is nothing but five or sixe sticks layd
acrosse, which stand upon two forkes with stickes on the
ground and a fewe boughes layd on it. Their diet is
raw fish, which stinketh most vilely. And when any of
them die, they burie their bowes and arrowes with them,
with their canoa and all that they have: for wee opened
one of their graves, and saw the order of them. Their
canoas or boates are marvellous artificially made of two
skinnes like unto bladders, and are blowen full at one
ende with quilles: they have two of these bladders blowen
full, which are sowen together and made fast with a
sinew of some wild beast; which when they are in the
water swell, so that they are as tight as may bee. They
goe to sea in these boates, and catch very much fish with
them, and pay much of it for tribute unto the Spaniards:
but they use it marvellous beastly.
The 23 in the morning we tooke a small barke which
came out of Arica road, which wee kept and called The George: the men forsooke it, and went away with their
boate. Our admirals pinnesse followed the boate, & the
Hugh Gallants boate tooke the barke: our admirals pinnesse could not recover the boat before it got on shoare,
but went along into the road of Arica, and layd aboord
a great shippe of an hundreth tunnes riding in the road
right afore the towne, but all the men and goods were
gone out of it, onely the bare ship was left alone. They
made three or foure very faire shots at the pinnesse as
shee was comming in, but missed her very narrowly with
a Minion shot which they had in the fort. Whereupon
wee came into the road with the admirall and the Hugh
Gallant: but the Content which was viceadmirall was
behinde out of sight: by meanes whereof, and for want
of her boate to land men withall wee landed not: otherwise if wee had bene together, our Generall with the
companie would resolutely have landed to take the towne,
whatsoever had come of it. The cause why the Content
stayed behind was, that shee had found about 14 leagues
to the Southward of Arica, in a place where the Spaniards
had landed, a whole ships lading of botijas of wine of
Castillia, whereof the sayd Content tooke into her as
many as shee could conveniently carrie, and came after
us into the road of Arica the same day. By this time
wee perceived that the towne had gathered all their power
together, and also conveyed all their treasure away, and
buried it before wee were come neere the towne: for they
had heard of us. Nowe because it was very populous
with the ayde of one or two places up in the land, our
Generall sawe there was no landing without losse of many
men : wherefore hee gave over that enterprise. While
wee rid in the road they shot at us, and our ships shot
at them again for every shot two. Moreover, our pinnesse went in hard almost to the shoare, and fetched out
another barke which rid there in despight of all their
forts though they shot still at the pinnesse, which they
could never hit. After these things our Generall sent a
boate on shoare with a flag of truce to knowe if they
would redeeme their great shippe or no; but they would
not: for they had received speciall commandement from
the viceroy from Lima
, not to buy any shippe, nor to
ransome any man upon paine of death. Our Generall did
this in hope to have redeemed some of our men, which
were taken prisoners on shoare by the horsemen at
Quintero, otherwise hee would have made them no offer
of parley.
The 25 riding stil in the said road, we spied a saile
comming from the Southward, and our Generall sent out
his pinnesse to meete her, with all our boates; but the
towne made such signes from the hill with fires and
tokens out of the watch-house, that before our pinnesse
could get to them, they ran the barke on shoare two
miles to the Southward of the towne; but they had small
leasure to carrie any thing with them; but all the men
skaped, among whom there were certaine friers : for wee
sawe them in their friers weedes as they ran on shoare:
many horsemen came from the towne to rescue them, and
to carrie them away, otherwise wee had landed and taken
or killed them. So wee went aboord the barke as she
lay sunke, and fetched out the pillage: but there was
nothing in it of any value, and came aboord our shippes
againe the same night: and the next morning wee set
the great shippe on fire in the road, and sunke one of
the barkes, and carried the other along with us, and so
departed from thence, and went away Northwest.
The 27 day wee tooke a small barke, which came from
S. Iago neere unto Quintero, where wee lost our men
first. In this barke was one George a Greeke, a reasonable pilot for all the coast of Chili. They were sent to
the citie of Lima
with letters of adviso of us, and of the
losse of our men. There were also in the sayde barke
one Flemming and three Spaniards: and they were all
sworne and received the Sacrament before they came to
sea by three or foure friers, that if wee should chance
to meete them, they should throw those letters over
boord: which (as wee were giving them chase with our
pinnesse) before wee could fetch them up, they had accordingly throwen away. Yet our Generall wrought so with
them, that they did confesse it: but hee was faine to
cause them to bee tormented with their thumbes in a
wrinch, and to continue them at severall times with extreme paine. Also hee made the old Flemming beleeve
that hee would hang him; and the rope being about his
necke hee was pulled up a little from the hatches, and
yet hee would not confesse, chusing rather to die, then
hee would bee perjured. In the end it was confessed by
one of the Spaniards, whereupon wee burnt the barke,
and carried the men with us.
The third of May wee came into a bay where are three
little townes, which are called Paracca, Chincha, and
Pisca, where some of us landed and tooke certaine houses,
wherein was bread, wine, figs and hennes: but the sea
went so high, that wee could not land at the best of the
townes without sinking of our boats, and great hazard
of us all. This place standeth in thirteene degrees and
2/3 to the Southward of the line.
The fift of May wee departed from this harbour, leaving
the Content our viceadmirall within at an Iland of seales,
by which meanes at that time wee lost her companie.
The ninth wee gave chase to a saile, namely, Our
admirall, The Hugh Gallant, and The George which wee
had taken before comming out of the roade of Arica; The
Content which was our viceadmirall being still lost: but
wee could not fetch it. The George made after it, but
lost it that night.
The tenth day the Hugh Gallant (in which barke I
Francis Pretie was) lost companie of our admirall.
The eleventh we which were in the Hugh Gallant put
into a bay which standeth in 12 degrees 2/3, in which bay
wee found a river of fresh water about eight of the clocke
at night; and though we were but of small force, and
no more but one barke and 18 men in it, yet wee went
on shoare to fill water; where having filled one boates
lading, while our boate was in going aboord, two or
three of our companie which were on shoare, as they
were going a little from the watering place with their
furniture about them, espied where there were foure or
five hundred bagges of meale on an heape covered with
a fewe reedes. So that night we filled water and tooke
as much meale as wee thought good: which fell out well
for us that were then lost and stoode in neede of victuals:
and by breake of day in the morning wee came aboord,
and there stayed and rode untill the afternoone. In which
meane time the towne seeing us ride there still, brought
downe much cattell to the sea side to have intised us to
come on shoare: but wee sawe their intent, and weyed
anker and departed the twelft day.
The 13 day at night wee put into a bay which standeth
in 9 degrees and 1/3, where wee sawe horsemen: and that
night wee landed, namely, M. Bruer Captaine, my selfe
Francis Pretie, Arthur Warford, John Way Preacher,
John Newman, Andrew Wyght, William Gargefield, and
Henry Hilliard. And we 8 onely, having every man his
harquebuze and his furniture about him, marched three
quarters of a mile along the sea side, where wee found
a boate of five or sixe tunnes haled up drie on the shoare
about a cables length from the water: and with extreme
labour wee lanched the barke; when it was on flote,
Captaine Bruer and I went in, while the rest of our companie were fetching their things: but suddenly it was
readie to sinke: And the Captaine and I stoode up to
the knees lading out water with our targets; but it sunke
downe faster then wee were able to free it, insomuch as
in the end wee had much adoe to save our selves from
drowning. When wee were out, wee stood in great feare
that our owne boate wherein wee came on shoare was
sunke: for wee could no where see it. Howbeit the Captaine commanded them to keepe it off, for feare of the
great surge that went by the shoare. Yet in the end
wee spied it, and went aboord by two and two, and were
driven to wade up to the arme-holes 60 paces into the
sea before wee could get into the boate, by reason of the
shoaldnesse: and then departed the foureteenth day in
the morning.
The 16 wee tooke with the Hugh Gallant, being but
sixteene men of us in it, a great shippe which came from
Guaianil, which was called The Lewis, and was of the
burthen of three hundred tuns, having foure and twentie
men in it, wherein was pilot one Gonsalvo de Ribas,
whom wee carried along with us, and a Negro
called
Emmanuel. The shippe was laden with nothing but
timber and victuals : wherefore wee left her seven leagues
from the land very leake and ready to sinke in 7 degrees
to the Southward of the line: wee sunke her boate and
tooke away her foresaile and certaine victuals.
The 17 of May wee met with our admirall againe, and
all the rest of our fleete. They had taken two ships,
the one laden with sugar, molosses, maiz, Cordovanskinnes, montego de Porco, many packes of pintados,
many Indian coates, and some marmalade, and 1000
hennes: and the other ship was laden with wheate-meale,
and boxes of marmalade. One of these ships which had
the chiefe marchandise in it, was worth twentie thousand
pounds, if it had bene in England
or in any other place
of Christendome where wee might have solde it. Wee
filled all our ships with as much as wee could bestow of
these goods: the rest wee burnt and the ships also; and
set the men and women that were not killed on shoare.
The 20 day in the morning wee came into the road of
Paita, and being at an anker, our Generall landed with
sixtie or seventie men, skirmished with them of the towne,
and drave them all to flight to the top of the hill which
is over the towne, except a few slaves and some other
which were of the meaner sort, who were commanded by
the governours to stay below in the towne, at a place
which is in building for a fort, having with them a
bloodie ensigne, being in number about one hundred men.
Nowe as wee were rowing betweene the ships and the
shoare, our gunner shot off a great peece out of one of
the barkes, and the shot fel among them, and drave them
to flie from the fort as fast as they might runne, who
got them up upon an hill, and from thence shot among
us with their small shot. After wee were landed and had
taken the towne, wee ran upon them, and chased them
so fiercely up the hilles for the space of an houre that
wee drave them in the ende away perforce, and being got
up the hilles, wee found where they had layd all their
stuffe which they had brought out of the towne, and had
hidden it there upon the mountaines. We also found the
quantitie of 25 pounds weight in silver in pieces of eight
rials, and abundance of houshold stuffe and storehouses
full of all kinde of wares: but our Generall would not
suffer any man to carrie much cloth or apparell away,
because they should not cloy themselves with burthens:
for hee knew not whether our enemies were provided with
furniture according to the number of their men: for they
were five men to one of us: and wee had an English mile
and an halfe to our ships. Thus wee came downe in
safetie to the towne, which was very well builded, and
marvellous cleane kept in every streete, with a townehouse or Guild hall in the middest, and had to the number
of two hundred houses at the least in it. Wee set it on
fire to the ground, and goods to the value of five or sixe
thousand pounds: there was also a barke riding in the
roade which wee set on fire, and departed, directing our
course to the
Iland of Puna.
The 25 day of May wee arrived at the
Iland of Puna,
where is a very good harbour, where wee found a great
shippe of the burthen of 250 tunnes riding at an anker
with all her furniture, which was readie to bee haled on
ground: for there is a speciall good place for that purpose. Wee sunke it, and went on shoare where the lord
of the Iland dwelt, which was by the waters side, who
had a sumptuous house marvellous well contrived with
very many singular good roomes and chambers in it: and
out of every chamber was framed a gallerie with a stately
prospect into the sea on the one side, and into the Iland
on the other side, with a marvellous great hall below, and
a very great storehouse at the one ende of the hall, which
was filled with botijas of pitch and bash to make cables
withall : for the most part of the cables in the
South sea
are made upon that Iland. This great Casique doth make
all the Indians upon the Iland to worke and to drudge
for him: and hee himselfe is an Indian borne, but is
married to a marvellous faire woman which is a Spaniard,
by reason of his pleasant habitation and of his great
wealth.
This Spanish woman his wife is honoured as a Queene
in the Iland, and never goeth on the ground upon her
feete: but holdeth it too base a thing for her: But when
her pleasure is to take the ayre, or to goe abroad, shee
is alwayes carried in a shadowe like unto an horse-litter
upon foure mens shoulders, with a veile or canopie over
her for the sunne or the winde, having her gentlewomen
still attending about her with a great troope of the best
men of the Iland with her. But both shee and the lorde
of the Iland with all the Indians in the towne were newly
fled out of the Iland before wee could get to an anker,
by reason wee were becalmed before wee could get in,
and were gone over unto the maine lande, having carried
away with them to the summe of 100000 crownes, which
wee knew by a captaine of the Iland an Indian, which
was left there with some other upon the Iland under him,
whom wee had taken at sea as wee were comming into
the road, being in a balsa or canoa for a spie to see what
wee were.
The 27 our General himselfe with certaine shot and
some targettiers went over into the maine unto the place
where this foresayde Indian captaine which wee had taken
had tolde us that the Casique, which was the lord of all
the Iland, was gone unto, and had caried all his treasure
with him: but at our comming to the place which wee
went to lande at, wee found newly arrived there foure or
five great balsas, which were laden with plantans, bags
of meale, and many other kinds of victuals. Our Generall
marvelled what they were and what they meant, asking
the Indian guide and commanding him to speake the
trueth upon his life: being then bound fast, hee answered
being very much abashed, as well as our companie were,
that hee neither knewe from whence they should come,
nor who they should bee: for there was never a man in
any one of the balsas: and because hee had told our
Generall before, that it was an easie matter to take the
sayd Casique and all his treasure, and that there were
but three or foure houses standing in a desert place and
no resistance, and that if hee found it not so, hee should
hang him. Againe being demaunded to speake upon his
life what hee thought these Balsas should bee, hee
answered that hee coulde not say from whence they should
come, except it were to bring 60 souldiers, which hee did
heare were to go to a place called Guaiaquil, which was
about 6 leagues from the saide yland, where two or three
of the kings shippes were on the stocks in building, where
are continually an hundred souldiers in garisons who had
heard of us, and had sent for sixtie more for feare of
burning of the shippes and towne. Our Generall not any
whit discouraged either at the sight of the balsas unlooked
for, or for hearing of the threescore souldiers not untill
then spoken of, with a brave courage animating his
companie in the exployte, went presently forward, being
in the night in a most desert path in the woods, untill
such time as hee came to the place; where, as it seemed,
they had kept watch either at the waters side, or at the
houses, or else at both, and were newly gone out of the
houses, having so short warning, that they left the meate
both boyling and rosting at the fire and were fledde with
their treasure with them, or else buried it where it could
not bee found, being also in the night. Our companie
tooke hennes and such things as wee thought good, and
came away.
The 29 day of May our Generall went in the shipboate into a little Iland there by, whereas the sayd Casique
which was the lord of Puna, had caused all the hangings
of his chambers, which were of cordovan leather all
guilded over, and painted very faire and rich, with all
his houshold stuffe, and all the ships tackling which was
riding in the road at our comming in, with great store
of nailes, spikes of yron, and very many other things to
be conveyed: all which wee found, and brought away
what our Generall thought requisite for the ships businesse.
This Iland is very pleasant for all things requisite, and
fruitful: but there are no mines of gold nor silver in it.
There are at the least 200 houses in the towne about the
Casiques pallace, and as many in one or two townes more
upon the Iland, which is almost as bigge as the
Ile of
Wight in England
. There is planted on the one side of
the Casiques house a faire garden, with all herbes growing in it, and at the lower end a well of fresh water, and
round about it are trees set, whereon bombasin cotton
groweth after this maner: The tops of the trees grow
full of cods, out of which the cotton groweth, and in the
cotton is a seede of the bignesse of a pease, and in every
codde there are seven or eight of these seedes: and if
the cotton bee not gathered when it is ripe, then these
seedes fall from it, and spring againe.
There are also in this garden fig-trees which beare
continually, also pompions, melons, cucumbers, radishes,
rosemarie and thyme, with many other herbes and fruits.
At the other end of the house there is also another
orchard, where grow orenges sweete and sower, limmons,
pomegranates and lymes, with divers other fruits.
There is very good pasture ground in this Iland; and
withall many horses, oxen, bullockes, sheepe very fat and
faire, great store of goates which be very tame, and are
used continually to bee milked. They have moreover
abundance of pigeons, turkeys, and ducks of a marvellous
bignesse.
There was also a very large and great church hard by
the Casiques house, whither hee caused all the Indians
in the land to come and heare masse: for he himselfe
was made a Christian when he was maried to the Spanish
woman before spoken of, and upon his conversion he
caused the rest of his subjects to be Christened. In this
church was an high altar with a crucifixe, and five belles
hanging in the nether end thereof. We burnt the church
and brought the belles away.
By this time wee had haled on ground our admirall,
and had made her cleane, burnt her keele, pitched and
tarred her, and had haled her on flote againe. And in
the meane while continually kept watch and ward in the
great house both nightand day.
The second day of June in the morning, by and by
after breake of day, every one of the watch being gone
abroad to seeke to fetch in victuals, some one way, some
another, some for hennes, some for sheepe, some for
goats, upon the sudden there came down upon us an
hundred Spanish souldiers with muskets and an ensigne,
which were landed on the other side of the Iland that
night, and all the Indians of the Iland with them, every
one with weapons and their baggage after them: which
was by meanes of a Negro
, whose name was Emmanuel,
which fled from us at our first landing there. Thus being
taken at advantage we had the worst: for our companie
was not past sixteene or twentie; whereof they had slaine
one or two before they were come to the houses: yet we
skirmished with them an houre and an half: at the last
being sore overcharged with multitudes, we were driven
down from the hill to the waters side, and there kept them
play a while, until in the end Zacharie Saxie, who with
his halberd had kept the way of the hill, and slaine a
couple of them, as hee breathed himselfe being somewhat
tired, had an honourable death and a short: for a shot
strooke him to the heart: who feeling himselfe mortally
wounded cryed to God for mercie, and fell downe presently
dead. But soone after the enemie was driven somewhat
to retire from the bankes side to the greene: and in the
ende our boate came and carried as many of our men away
as could goe in her, which was in hazard of sinking while
they hastened into it: And one of our men whose name
was Robert Maddocke was shot through the head with
his owne peece, being a snap-hance, as hee was hasting
into the boate. But foure of us were left behinde which
the boate could not carrie: to wit, my selfe Francis Pretie,
Thomas Andrewes, Steven Gunner, and Richard Rose:
which had our shot readie and retired our selves unto a
cliffe, untill the boate came againe, which was presently
after they had carried the rest abourd. There were sixe
and fortie of the enemies slaine by us, whereof they had
dragged some into bushes, and some into olde houses,
which wee found afterward. Wee lost twelve men in
maner following.
| 1 Zacharie Saxie, | Slaine by the enemie. |
| 2 Neales Johnson, |
| 3 William Geirgifield, |
| 4 Nicolas Hendie, |
| 5 Henry Cooper, |
| |
| 1 Robert Maddocke, | killed with his peece. |
| 2 Henry Mawdly, | burnt. |
| |
| 1 Edward the gunners man, | drowned. |
| 2 Ambrose
the musitian, |
| |
| 1 Walter Tilliard, | taken prisoners. |
| 2 Edward Smith, |
| 3 Henry Aselye, |
The selfe same day being the second of June, we went
on shoare againe with seventie men, and had a fresh skirmish with the enemies, and drave them to retire, being
an hundred Spaniards serving with muskets, and two
hundred Indians with bowes, arrowes and darts. This
done, wee set fire on the towne and burnt it to the ground,
having in it to the number of three hundred houses: and
shortly after made havocke of their fieldes, orchards and
gardens, and burnt foure great ships more which were in
building on the stockes.
The third of June the Content which was our viceadmirall was haled on ground, to grave at the same place
in despight of the Spaniards: and also our pinnesse which
the Spaniards had burned, was new trimmed.
The fift day of June wee departed out of the roade of
Puna, where wee had remained eleven dayes, and turned
up for a place which is called Rio dolce, where wee
watered: at which place also wee sunke our rere-admirall
called The Hugh Gallant for want of men, being a barke
of fortie tunnes.
The tenth day of the same moneth wee set the Indians
on shoare, which we had taken before in a balsa as we
were comming into the road of Puna.
The eleventh day wee departed from the sayd Rio dolce.
The twelft of June wee doubled the Equinoctial line, and
continued our course Northwarde all that moneth.
The first of Julie wee had sight of the coast of Nueva
Espanna, being foure leagues distant from land in the
latitude of ten degrees to the Northward of the line.
The ninth of Julie wee tooke a new ship of the burthen
of 120 tunnes, wherein was one Michael Sancius, whom
our Generall tooke to serve his turne to water along the
coast: for hee was one of the best coasters in the
South
sea. This Michael Sancius was a Provensal, borne in
Marseils, and was the first man that tolde us newes of the
great ship called The Santa Anna, which wee afterward
tooke comming from the Philippinas.
There were sixe men more in this new shippe : we tooke
her sailes, her ropes, and firewood, to serve our turnes,
set her on fire, and kept the men.
The tenth we tooke another barke which was going
with advise of us and our ships all along the coast, as
Michael Sancius tolde us: but all the companie that were
in the barke were fledde on shoare. None of both these
ships had any goods in them. For they came both from
Sonsonate
in the province of Guatimala; the new shippe,
for feare we should have taken her in the road, and the
barke, to carrie newes of us along the coast; which barke
also wee set on fire.
The 26 day of July wee came to an anker at 10 fathoms
in the river of Copalita, where wee made account to water.
And the same night wee departed with 30 men in the
pinnesse, and rowed to Aguatulco, which is but two
leagues from the aforesayd river; and standeth in 15
degrees 40 minutes to the Northward of the Equinoctial
line.
The 27 in the morning by the breake of day wee came
into the roade of Aguatulco, where wee found a barke of
50 tunnes, which was come from Sonsonate
laden with
cacaos and anile which they had there landed: and the
men were all fled on shoare. Wee landed there, and burnt
their towne, with the church and custome-house which
was very faire and large: in which house were 600 bags
of anile to dye cloth; every bag whereof was worth 40
crownes, and 400 bags of cacaos: every bag whereof is
worth ten crownes. These cacaos goe among them for
meate and money. For 150 of them are in value one rial
of plate in ready payment. They are very like unto an
almond, but are nothing so pleasant in taste: they eate
them, and make drink of them. This the owner of the
shippe tolde us. I found in this towne before wee burnt
it, a flasket full of boxes of balme. After we had spoyled
and burnt the towne, wherein there were some hundred
houses, the owner of the shippe came downe out of the
hilles with a flag of truce unto us, which before with the
rest of all the townesmen was run away at our first
comming; and at length came abourd our pinnesse upon
Captaine Havers worde of safe returne. We carried him
to the river of Copalita where our shippes rode: and when
hee came to our Generall, hee caused him to bee set on
shoare in safetie the same night, because hee came upon
the captaines word.
The 28 day we set saile from Copalita, because the sea
was so great there, that wee could not fill water, and ran
the same night into the roade of Aguatulco.
The 29 our Generall landed and went on shoare with
thirtie men two miles into the woods, where wee tooke a
Mestizo, whose name was Michael de Truxillo, who was
customer of that towne, and wee found with him two
chambers full of his stuffe : wee brought him and his stuffe
abourd. And whereas I say he was a Mestizo, it is to be
understood that a Mestizo is one which hath a Spaniard
to his father and an Indian to his mother.
The second day of August, we had watered, and
examined the said Mestizo, and set him on shore againe
and departed from the port of Aguatulco the same night,
which standeth as I sayd before in 15 degrees and 40
minuts to the Northward of the lyne.
Here wee overslipped the haven of Acapulco
, from
whence the shippes are set foorth for the Philippinas.
The foure and twentieth day of August, our Generall
with 30 of us went with the pinnesse unto an haven called
Puerto de Natividad, where wee had intelligence by
Michael Sancius that there should bee a pinnesse, but
before wee could get thither the sayde pinnesse was gone
to fish for pearles 12 leagues farther, as we were informed
by certaine Indians which we found there. We tooke a
mullato in this place, in his bedde, which was sent with
letters of advise concerning us along the coast, of Nueva
Galicia, whose horse wee killed, tooke his letters, left him
behinde, set fire on the houses, and burnt two newe
shippes of 200 tunnes the piece, which were in building
there on the stockes, and came abourd of our shippes
againe.
The sixe and twentie day of August, wee came into the
bay of S. Iago, where wee watered at a fresh River, along
which river many plantans are growing: here is great
abundance of fresh fish. Heere also certaine of our companie dragged for pearles and caught some quantitie.
The second of September wee departed from Sant Iago
at foure of the clocke in the evening. This bay of Sant
Iago standeth in nineteene degrees and eighteene minuts
to the Northward of the lyne.
The 3 of September wee arrived in a little bay a league
to the Westwarde off Port de Natividad called Malacca
,
which is a very good place to ride in: and the same day
about twelve of the clocke our Generall landed with thirtie
men or there about, and went up to a towne of Indians
which was two leagues from the road, which towne is
called Acatlan: there were in it about 20 or 30 houses and
a Church, which we defaced and came abourd againe the
same night. All the people were fled out of the towne at
the sight of us.
The fourth of September, wee departed from the roade
of Malacca
, and sayled along the coast.
The 8 we came to the roade of Chaccalla, in which bay
there are two litle houses by the waters side. This bay
is 18 leagues from the Cape de los Corrientes.
The 9 in the morning our Generall sent up Captaine
Havers with fortie men of us before day, and Michael
Sancius being our guide, wee went unto a place about two
leagues up into the countrey in a most villainous desart
path through the woods and wildernesse: and in the ende
we came to a place where wee tooke three housholders
with their wives and children and some Indians, one
carpenter which was a Spaniard, and a Portugall, wee
bound them all and made them to come to the sea side
with us.
Our Generall made their wives to fetch us Plantans,
Lymmons, and Oranges, Pine-aples and other fruites
whereof they had abundance, and so let their husbandes
depart, except Sembrano the Spanish Carpenter, and
Diego the Portugal
; and the tenth day wee departed the
roade.
The twelfth day wee arrived at a little Island called the
Isle of Sant Andrewe, on which there is great store of
fowle and wood: where wee dryed and salted as many
of the fowles as we thought good: wee also killed there
abundance of seales, and Iguanos which are a kinde of
Serpents, with foure feete, and a long sharpe tayle,
strange to them which have not scene them; but they are
very good meate. Wee ridde here untill the seventeenth
day, at which time wee departed.
The 24 day wee arrived in the roade of Massatlan,
which standeth in 23 degrees 1/2, just under the Tropicke
of Cancer: It is a very great river within, but it is barred
at the mouth: and upon the North side of the barre
without, is good fresh water: but there is very evill filling
of it; because at a lowe water it is shoald halfe a mile
off the shoare. There is great store of fresh fish in that
bay: and good fruites up into the countrey, whereof wee
had some, though not without danger.
The seven and twentieth day of September, wee departed
from the roade of Massatlan and ran to an island which
is a league to the Northward the sayd Massatlan, where
wee trimmed our ships and new built our pinnesse: and
there is a litle island a quarter of a league from it, on
which are seales: where a Spanish prisoner, whose name
was Domingo, being sent to wash shirtes with one of our
men to keep him, made a scape, & swam to the maine,
which was an English mile distant: at which place we
had seen 30 or 40 Spaniards & Indians, which were horsemen, and kept watch there, which came from a towne
called Chiametla, which was 11 leagues up into the countrey, as Michael Sancius told us. We found upon the
island where we trimmed our pinnesse, fresh water by the
assistance of God in that our great neede by digging two
or three foote deepe in the sande, where no water nor
signe of water was before to be perceived. Otherwise we
had gone backe 20 or 30 leagues to water: which might
have bene occasion that we might have missed our prey
wee had long wayted for. But God raysed one Flores
a
Spaniard, which was also a prisoner with us, to make a
motion to digge in the sands. Now our Generall having
had experience ones before of the like, commanded to put
his motion in practise, and in digging three foote deepe
wee found very good and fresh water. So we watered
our ships, and might have filled a thousand tunnes more,
if we had would.
We stayed in this island untill the 9 day of October,
at which time we departed at night for the cape of S.
Lucar, which is on the West side of the point of
California
.
The 14 of October we fell with the cape of S. Lucar,
which cape is very like the Needles at the isle of Wight;
and within the said cape is a great bay called by the
Spaniards Aguada Segura: into which bay falleth a faire
fresh river, about which many Indians use to keepe:
wee watered in the river and lay off and on from the
saide cape of S. Lucar untill the fourth of November, and
had the windes hanging still Westerly.
The 4 of November the Desire and the Content, wherein
were the number of Englishmen onely living,
beating up and downe upon the headland of California
,
which standeth in 23 degrees and 2/3 to the Northward,
betwene seven and 8 of the clocke in the morning one of
the company of our Admirall which was the trumpeter of
the ship going up into the top espied a sayle bearing in
from the sea with the cape, whereupon hee cryed out with
no small joy to himselfe and the whole company, A sayle,
A sayle, with which cheerefull word the master of the ship
and divers others of the company went also up into the
maine top, who perceiving the speech to be very true gave
information unto our Generall of these happy newes, who
was no lesse glad then the cause required: whereupon he
gave in charge presently unto the whole company to put
all things in readines, which being performed we gave
them chase some 3 or 4 houres, standing with our best
advantage and working for the winde. In the afternoone
we gat up unto them, giving them the broad side with our
great ordinance and a volee of small shot, and presently
layed the ship aboord, whereof the king of Spaine was
owner, which was Admiral of the south sea, called the
S. Anna, & thought to be 700 tunnes in burthen. Now
as we were ready on their ships side to enter her, being
not past 50 or 60 men at the uttermost in our ship, we
perceived that the Captaine of the said ship had made
fights fore and after, and layd their sailes close on their
poope, their mid ship, with their fore castle, and having
not one man to be seene, stood close under their fights,
with lances, javelings, rapiers, & targets, & an innumerable sort of great stones, which they threw overboord
upon our heads and into our ship so fast and being so
many of them, that they put us off the shippe againe, with
the losse of 2 of our men which were slaine, & with the
hurting of 4 or 5. But for all this we new trimmed our
sailes, and fitted every man his furniture, and gave them a
fresh encounter with our great ordinance and also with
our small shot, raking them through and through, to the
killing and maiming of many of their men. Their Captaine
still like a valiant man with his company stood very
stoutely unto his close fights, not yeelding as yet: Our
General encouraging his men a fresh with the whole noyse
of trumpets gave them the third encounter with our great
ordinance and all our small shot to the great discomforting of our enemies raking them through in divers
places, killing and spoiling many of their men. They
being thus discomforted and spoiled, and their shippe
being in hazard of sinking by reason of the great shot
which were made, wherof some were under water, within
5 or 6 houres fight set out a flagge of truce and parled
for mercy, desiring our Generall to save their lives and
to take their goods, and that they would presently yeeld.
Our Generall of his goodnes promised them mercy, and
willed them to strike their sayles, and to hoyse out their
boate and to come aboord: which newes they were ful
glad to heare of, and presently strooke their sailes, hoysed
their boat out, and one of their cheife marchants came
aboord unto our Generall: and falling downe upon his
knees, offered to have kissed our Generals feete, and
craved mercie: our General most graciously pardoned
both him and the rest upon promise of their true dealing
with him and his company concerning such riches as were
in the shippe: and sent for the Captaine and their Pilote,
who at their comming used the like duetie and reverence
as the former did. The Generall of his great mercy &
humanitie, promised their lives and good usage. The
sayd Captaine and Pilote presently certified the Generall
what goods they had within boord, to wit, an hundreth
and 22 thousand pezos of golde : and the rest of the riches
that the ship was laden with, was in silkes, sattens,
damasks, with muske & divers other marchandize, and
great store of al maner of victuals with the choyse of
many conserves of all sortes for to eate, and of sundry
sorts of very good wines. These things being made
knowne to the Generall by the aforesaide Captaine and
Pilote, they were commanded to stay aboord the Desire,
and on the 6 day of November following wee went into an
harbour which is called by the Spaniards, Aguada Segura,
or Puerto Seguro.
Here the whole company of the Spaniardes, both of
men and women to the number of 190 persons were set on
shore: where they had a fayre river of fresh water, with
great store of fresh fish, foule, and wood, and also many
hares and conies upon the maine land. Our generall also
gave them great store of victuals, of garuansos, peason,
and some wine. Also they had all the sailes of their
shippe to make them tents on shore, with licence to take
such store of plankes as should bee sufficient to make
them a barke. Then we fell to hoysing in of our goods,
sharing of the treasure, and alotting to every man his
portion. In devision whereof the eight of this moneth,
many of the company fell into a mutinie against our
Generall, especially those which were in the Content, which
neverthelesse were after a sort pacified for the time.
On the 17 day of November, which is the day of the
happy Coronation of her Majestic, our Generall commanded all his ordinance to be shot off, with the small
shot both in his owne shippe where himselfe went, and
also in the Content, which was our Vice-admirall. This
being done, the same night we had many fireworkes and
more ordinance discharged, to the great admiration of all
the Spaniards which were there: for the most part of
them had never scene the like before.
This ended, our Generall discharged the Captaine, gave
him a royall reward, with provision for his defence against
the Indians and his company, both of swords, targets,
pieces, shot and powder to his great contentment: but
before his departure, he tooke out of this great shippe two
yong lads borne in Japon
, which could both wright and
reade their owne language, the eldest being about 20 yeers
olde was named Christopher, the other was called Cosmus,
about 17 yeeres of age, both of very good capacitie. He
tooke also with him out of their ship, 3 boyes borne in the
isles of Manilla, the one about 15, the other about 13, and
the yongest about 9 yeeres old. The name of the eldest
was Alphonso, the second Anthony de Dasi, the third
remaineth with the right honourable the Countesse of
Essex
. He also tooke from them, one Nicholas Roderigo
a Portugall, who hath not onely bene in Canton and other
parts of China
, but also in the islands of Japon
being a
countrey most rich in silver mynes, and hath also bene in
the Philippinas.
Hee tooke also from them a Spaniard whose name was
Thomas de Ersola, which was a very good Pilote from
Acapulco
and the coast of Nueva Espanna unto the islands
of Ladrones
, where the Spaniardes doe put in to water,
sayling betweene Acapulco
and the Philippinas: in which
isles of Ladrones
, they finde fresh water, plantans, and
potato rootes: howbeit the people be very rude and
heathens. The 19 day of November aforesaid, about 3 of
the clock in the afternoone, our Generall caused the kings
shippe to be set on fire, which having to the quantitie of
500 tunnes of goods in her we saw burnt unto the water,
and then gave them a piece of ordinance and set sayle
joyfully homewardes towardes England
with a fayre
winde, which by this time was come about to Eastnortheast: and night growing neere, we left the Content a
sterne of us, which was not as yet come out of the road.
And here thinking she would have overtaken us, we lost
her companie and never saw her after. Wee were sayling
from this haven of Aguada Segura in California
unto the
iles of Ladrones
the rest of November, and all December,
and so forth until the 3 of Januarie 588, with a faire
winde for the space 45 dayes: and we esteemed it to be
between 17 and 18 hundred leagues. The 3 day of
January by sixe of the clocke in the morning wee had
sight of one of the islands of Ladrones
called the island
of Guana, standing in 13 degrees 2/3 toward the North, and
sayling with a gentle gale before the winde, by 1 or 2 of
the clocke in the afternoone, wee were come up within 2
leagues of the island, where we met with 60 or 70 sailes
of canoas full of Savages, who came off to sea unto us,
and brought with them in their boates plantans, cocos,
potato rootes, and fresh fish, which they had caught at
sea, and helde them up unto us for to truck or exchange
with us; which when we perceived, we made fast little
pieces of old iron upon small cords and fishing lines, and
so vered the iron unto their canoas, and they caught hold
of them and tooke off the iron, and in exchange of it they
would make fast unto the same line either a potato roote,
or a bundle of plantans, which we haled in: and thus our
company exchanged with them until they had satisfied
themselves with as much as did content them: yet we
could not be rid of them. For afterward they were so
thicke about the ship, that it stemmed & brake 1 or 2
of their canoas: but the men saved themselves being in
every canoa 4, 6, or 8 persons all naked & excellent
swimmers and divers. They are of a tawny colour &
marveilous fat, & bigger ordinarily of stature then the
most part of our men in England
, wearing their haire
marveilous long; yet some of them have it made up and
tyed with a knot on the crowne, & some with 2 knots,
much like unto their images which wee saw them have
carved in wood, and standing in the head of their boates
like unto the images of the devill. Their canoas were as
artificially made as any that ever wee had seene : considering they were made and contrived without any edge-toole.
They are not above halfe a yard in bredth and in length
some seven or eight yardes, and their heades and sternes
are both alike, they are made out with raftes of canes and
reedes on the starrebordside, with maste and sayle: their
sayle is made of mattes of sedges, square or triangle
wise: and they saile as well right against the winde, as
before the winde: These Savages followed us so long,
that we could not be ridde of them: untill in the end our
General commanded some halfe dozen harquebuzes to be
made ready; and himselfe strooke one of them and the
rest shot at them: but they were so yare and nimble, that
we could not discerne whether they were killed or no,
because they could fall backward into the sea and prevent
us by diving.
The 14 day of January lying at hull with our ship all
the middle watch, from 12 at night until foure in the
morning, by the breake of day wee fell with an headland
of the isles of the Philippinas, which is called Cabo
del
Spirito Santo which is of very great bignes and length,
high land in the middest of it, and very low land as the
Cape lyeth East and West, trending farre into the sea to
the westward. This cape or island is distant from the ile
of Guana, one of the Ladrones
, 310 leagues. We were
in sayling of this course eleven dayes with skant windes
and some foule weather, bearing no sayle two or three
nights. This island standeth in 13 degrees, and is a place
much peopled with heathen people, and all woodie through
the whole land: and it is short of the chiefest island of
the Philippinas called Manilla about 60 leagues. Manilla
is well planted and inhabited with Spaniards to the number
of sixe or seven hundred persons: which dwell in a towne
unwalled, which hath 3 or 4 small blocke houses, part
made of wood, and part of stone beeing indeede of no
great strength: they have one or two small Gallies belong
to the towne. It is a very rich place of golde and many
other commodities; and they have yeerely trafficke from
Acapulco
in Nueva Espanna, and also 20 or 30 shippes
from China
and from the Sanguelos, which bring them
many sorts of marchandize. The marchants of China
and the Sanguelos are part Moores and part heathen
people. They bring great store of gold with them, which
they trafficke and exchange for silver, and give waight
for waight. These Sanguelos are men of marvellous
capacitie in devising and making all maner of things,
especially in all handle craftes and sciences: and every
one is so expert, perfect, and skilfull in his facultie, as
fewe or no Christians are able to goe beyond them in that
which they take in hand. For drawing & embrodering
upon satten, silck, or lawne, either beaste, fowle, fish or
worme, for livelines and perfectnes, both in silke, silver,
gold, & pearle, they excell. Also the 14 day at night wee
entred the streights betweene the island of Luzon, & the
island of Camlaia.
The fifteenth of January wee fell with an island called
Capul, and had betwixt the sayd island and another island
but an narrowe passage, and a marveilous rippling of a
very great tyde with a ledge of rockes lying off the poynt
of the island of Capul: and no danger but water ynough
a fayre bredth off: and within the point a fayre bay and
a very good harborough in foure fathomes water hard
aboord the shore within a cables length. About 10 of the
clocke in the morning wee came to an anker.
Our shippe was no sooner come to an anker, but presently there came a canoa rowing aboord us, wherein was
one of the chief Casiques of the island whereof there be
seven, who supposing that we were Spaniardes, brought
us potato rootes, which they call camotas, and greene
cocos, in exchange whereof we gave his company pieces
of linnen to the quantitie of a yard for foure Cocos, and as
much linnen for a basket of potato rootes of a quart in
quantitie; which rootes are very good meat, and excellent
sweete either rosted or boyled.
This Casiques skinne was carved and cut with sundry
and many strakes and devises all over his body. We kept
him still aboord and caused him to send those men which
brought him aboord backe to the island to cause the rest
of the principals to come aboord: who were no sooner
gone on shore, but presently the people of the island came
downe with their cocos and potato rootes, and the rest of
the principals likewise came aboord and brought with
them hennes and hogges: and they used the same order
with us which they doe with the Spaniardes. For they
tooke for every hog (which they cal Balboye) eight rials
of plate, and for every henne or cocke one riall of plate.
Thus we rode at anker all that day, doing nothing but
buying rootes, cocos, hennes, hogges, and such things as
they brought, refreshing our selves marveilously well.
The same day at night beeing the fifteenth of January
1588, Nicolas Roderigo the Portugal, whom wee tooke
out of the great Santa Anna at the
Cape of California,
desired to speake with our General in secret: which when
our General understood, he sent for him, & asked him
what he had to say unto him. The Portugal
made him
this answer, that although he had offended his worship
heretofore, yet nowe hee had vowed his faith and true
service unto him, and in respect thereof he neither could
nor would conceale such treason as was in working
against him and his company: and that was this. That
the Spaniard which was taken out of the great sant Anne
for a Pilote, whose name was Thomas de Ersola, had
written a letter, and secretly sealed it and locked it up in
his cheste, meaning to convey it by the inhabitants of this
island to Manilla, the contents whereof were: That there
had bene two English ships along the coast of Chili, Peru
,
Nueva Espanna, and Nueva Galicia, and that they had
taken many shippes and marchandize in them, and burnt
divers townes, and spoiled all that ever they could come
unto, and that they had taken the kings ship which came
from Manilla and all his treasure, with all the marchandize
that was therein; and had set all the people on shore,
taking himselfe away perforce. Therefore he willed them
that they should make strong their bulwarks with their
two Gallies, and all such provision as they could possibly
make. He farther signified, that wee were riding at an
island called Capul, which was at the end of the island of
Manilla, being but one shippe with small force in it, and
that the other ship, as he supposed, was gone for the
North-west passage, standing in 55 degrees: and that if
they could use any meanes to surprize us being there at an
anker, they should dispatch it: for our force was but
small, and our men but weake, and that the place where
we roade was but 50 leagues from them. Otherwise if
they let us escape, within fewe yeeres they must make
account to have their towne besieged and sacked with
an armie of English. This information being given, our
Generall called for him, and charged him with these
things, which at the first he utterly denyed: but in the
ende, the matter being made manifest and knowen of
certaintie by especiall tryall and proofes, the next morning
our General willed that he should be hanged: which was
accordingly performed the 16 of January.
We roade for the space of nine dayes about this island
of Capul, where we had diverse kindes of fresh victuals,
with excellent fresh water in every bay, and great store
of wood. The people of this island go almost all naked
and are tawny of colour. The men weare onely a stroope
about their wastes, of some kinde of linnen of their owne
weaving, which is made of plantan leaves, and another
stroope comming from their backe under their twistes,
which covereth their privie parts, and is made fast to their
girdles at their navels.
These people use a strange kinde of o
