The voyage of Richard Rainolds and Thomas Dassel to
the rivers of Senega and Gambra adjoyning upon
Guinea, 1591, with a discourse of the treasons of certain
of Don Antonio his servants and followers.
BY vertue of her Majesties most gracious charter given
in the yeere 1588, and in the thirtieth yeere of her Highnesse reigne, certaine English marchants are granted to
trade, in and from the
river of Senega to and in the
river of Gambra, on the Westerne coast of Africa
. The
chiefest places of traffique on that coast betweene these
rivers, are these:
- 1 Senega river: The commodities be hides, gumme,
elephants teeth, a few graines, ostrich feathers, ambergriece, and some golde.
- 2 Beseguiache, a towne by Capo Verde leagues from
Senega river: The commodities be small hides, and a
few teeth.
- 3 Refisca Viejo, a towne 4 leagues from Beseguiache:
The commodities be small hides, and a few teeth now
and then.
- 4 Palmerin, a towne 2 leagues from Refisca: The
commodities be small hides, and a few elephants teeth
now and then.
- 5 Porto
d'Ally, a towne 5 leagues from Palmerin: The
commodities be small hides, teeth, amber-griece, and a
little golde: and many Portugals are there.
- 6 Candimal, a towne halfe a league from Porto
d'Ally:
The commodities be small hides, and a few teeth now
and then.
- 7 Palmerin, a towne 3 leagues from Candimal: The
commodities be small hides, and a few teeth now and
then.
- 8 Joala, a towne 6 leagues from Palmerin: The commodities be hides, waxe,, elephants teeth, rice, and some
golde: and many Spaniards and Portugals are there.
- 9 Gambra river: The commodities are rice, waxe,
hides, elephants teeth, and golde.
The Frenchmen of Diepe and New-haven have traded
thither above thirty yeres: and commonly with foure or
five ships a yere, whereof two small barks go into the
river of Senega. The other were woont (untill within
these foure yeres, that our ships came thither) to ride
with their ships in the road of Porto
d'Ally and so
sent their small shaloups of sixe or eight tunnes to some
of these places on the Sea coast before repeated. Where
in all places generally they were well beloved and as
courteously entertained of the Negros, as if they had
bene naturally borne in the countrey. And very often
the Negros come into France and returne againe, which
is a further increasing of mutuall love and amity. Since
our comming to that coast the Frenchmen ride with their
shippes at Refisca Viejo, and suffer us to ancre with our
shippes at Porto
d'Ally. The Frenchmen never use to go
into the
river of Gambra: which is a river of secret trade
and riches concealed by the Portugals. For long since
one Frenchman entred the river with a small barke which
was betrayed, surprised, and taken by two gallies of the
Portugals.
In our second voyage and second yeere there were
by vile trecherous meanes of the Portugals and the king
of the Negros consent in Porto
d'Ally and Joala about
forty Englishmen cruelly slaine and captived, and most
or all of their goods confiscated: whereof there returned
onely two, which were the marchants. And also by procurement of Pedro Gonsalves, one of Don Antonio the
kings servants, Thomas Dassel and others had bene
betrayed, if it had not pleased almighty God to reveale
the same, whereby it was prevented.
From the South side of
Senega river on the Sea coast
unto about Palmerin is all one kingdome of Negros.
The kings name is Melick Zamba, who dwelleth two
dayes journey within the land from Refisca.
The 12 of November 1591, I Richard Rainolds &
Thomas Dassel factors in a ship called the Nightingale
of London of 125 tunnes, and a pinnesse called the
Messenger of 40 tunnes arrived neere unto Capo Verde
at a litle Iland called The Iland of liberty. At this Iland
we set up a small pinnesse, with which we cary our
marchandise on land when wee traffique. And in the
meane time Thomas Dassel went with the great pinnesse
to traffike with Spaniards or Portugals in Porto
d'Ally
or Joala. Over against the sayd Iland on the maine is
an habitation of the Negros called Besegueache. The
alcaide or governor thereof with a great traine came
aboord in their canoas to receive the kings dueties for
ankerage and permitting the quiet setting up of our
pinnesse: who liked passing well that no Portugall came
in the shippe, saying, we should be better thought of by
the king and people, if we never did bring Portugall,
but come of our selves as the Frenchmen ever did and
doe. And to purchase the more love, I Richard Rainolds
gave him and all his company courteous entertainment.
Also upon his intreaty, having sufficient pledge aboord,
I and others went on land with him. At this instant
there was great warre betweene this alcaide and another
governor of the next province. Neverthelesse upon our
arrivall truce was taken for a space; and I with our
company conducted among both enemies to the governors
house in
Besegueache, and were gently and friendly
feasted after their maner, and with some presents returned
safe aboord againe. The next day the alcaide came
aboord againe, to wil me to send some yron and other
commodities in the boat to traffike with the Negros, and
also requested me that I would go to Refisca with the
ship; which I did. And one thing I noted, that a
number of Negros attended the alcaides landing in warlike maner with bowes and poisoned arrowes, darts
poisoned, and swords, (because that the enemies by
reason of the truce taken were there also to view the
ship) who for the most part approched to him kneeling
downe and kissed the backe of his hand.
The 17 of November we weyed anker; and by reason
no French ship was yet come, I went to the road of
Refisca: where I sent for the alcaides interpreters, who
came thither aboord, and received of me the kings duties
for to have free traffike with the Negros, with whom
dayly I exchanged my yron & other wares for hides and
some elephants teeth, finding the people very friendly
and tractable. And the next day after our arrivall I
went up into the land about three miles to the towne
of Refisca, where I was friendly used and well entertained
of the alcaide, and especially of a yoong nobleman called
Conde Amar Pattay, who presented me with an oxe for
my company, goats and some yoong kids, assuring me
that the king would be glad to heare of the arrivall of
a Christians ship, whom they called Blancos, that is,
white men: especially of an English ship. And so dayly
the yong Conde
came with a small company of horsemen
to the sea side, feasting me very kindly and courteously.
And the fift of December he with his traine came aboord
to see the ship; which to them seemed woonderfull, as
people that seldome had seene the like: who tolde me
that his messenger from the king was returned; and
the king rejoyced much to heare that English men were
come with a ship to trade in his ports; and being the
first Englishman that ever came with a ship, I was the
better welcome; promising that I or any Englishman
hereafter should be wel intreated & find good dealing at
their hands. And further the Conde
on the kings behalfe
and his owne, earnestly requested, that before my departure off the coast I would returne againe to his road to
conferre with him for the better continuance and confirming of amity betweene them and Englishmen: which
I agreed unto. And so shewing him and his company
the best friendship and courtesie I could, he went on
shore, and should have had the honor of our ordinance
but that he desired the contrary, being amazed at the
sight of the ship and noise of the gunnes, which they did
greatly admire.
The 13 of December at night we weighed anker, and
arrived the 14 day at the road of Porto
d'Ally, which
is another kingdome: the king thereof is called Amar
Meleck, & sonne to Meleck Zamba the other king, and
dwelleth a dayes journey and an halfe from Porto
d'Ally.
When we had ankered, the kings kinsmen being governors, with all the officers of that towne came aboord
to receive all duties for the ship & licence to traffike
due to the king; who there generally seemed to be very
glad that no Portugall was come in our ship out of
England; saying it was the kings pleasure we should
bring none hereafter; for that the king did esteeme them
as people of no truth; and complained of one Francisco
de Costa servant to Don Antonio, how he had often and
the last yere also abused and deluded their king Amar
Meleck in promising to bring him certaine things out
of England, which he never performed, and deemed that
to be the cause of his staying behinde this voyage, and
that neither Spaniard nor Portugall could abide us, but
reported very badly and gave out hard speeches tending
to the defamation & great dishonor of England: and
also affirmed that at the arrivall of an English ship called
The Command, of Richard Kelley of Dartmouth, one
Pedro Gonsalves a Portugall that came in the sayd ship
from Don Antonio reported unto them, that we were
fled out of England and come away upon intent to rob
and do great spoile upon this coast to the Negros and
Portugals, and that Thomas Dassel had murdered Francisco de Acosta since our comming from England, who
was comming to their king in our ship with great presents
from Don Antonio, and desired that at our arrivall stay
might be made of our goods and our selves in secret
maner; which they denied, not giving credit to his
report, having bene often abused by such frivolous and
slanderous speeches by that nation; telling me their king
was sory for the former murder and captivity of our
nation, and would never yeeld to the like, having the
Portugals and Spaniards in generall hatred ever since,
and conceiveth much better of our countrey, and us, then
these our enemies report of. For which I yeelded them
hearty thanks, assuring them they should finde great
difference betweene the loyalty of the one and disloyalty
of the other: and so payed their dueties: and for that
it was the chiefe place of trade, I shewed them how I
was resolved to goe to their king with certaine presents
which we had brought out of England; which we determined for the more honor and credit of our countrey,
and augmenting of their better affection toward us.
All this while Thomas Dassel was with our great
pinnesse at the towne of Joala, being in the kingdome
of king Jocoel Lamiockeric, traffiking with the Spaniards
& Portugals there. And the forenamed Pedro Gonsalves,
which came out of England, was there also with other
English marchants about the busines of Rich. Kelley;
and as it should seeme, for that he could not obtaine
his mischievous pretended purpose against Thomas Dassel
and others at the towne of Porto
d'Ally, where I Richard
Rainolds remained, he attempted with consent of other
Portugals which were made privy to his intent to betray
the sayd Thomas Dassel at this towne, & had with bribes
seduced the chiefe commanders and Negros to effect his
wicked & most villanous practise: which as God would,
was revealed to the sayd Thomas Dassel by Rich. Cape
an Englishman and servant to the forenamed Rich.
Kelley; to whom this sayd Pedro Gonsalves had disclosed his secret treachery, willing him with all expedition
to stand upon his guard. Whereupon Thomas Dassel
went aboord a small English barke called The Cherubin
of Lime, and there one John Payva a Portugall and
servant of Don Antonio declared, that if he & one Garcia
a Portugall of the sayd towne would have consented
with Pedro Gonsalves, the sayd Thomas Dassel had bene
betrayed long before. And upon this warning Thomas
Dassel the next day having gotten three Portugals
aboord, advised for our better securities to send two on
land, & detained one with him called Villa nova, telling
them that if the next day by eight of the clocke, they
would bring Pedro Gonsalves aboord to him, he would
release the sayd Villa nova, which they did not. And
Thomas Dassel having intelligence that certaine Negros
and Portugals were ridden post over-land to Porto
d'Ally
with intent to have Richard Rainolds and his company
stayd on land, being doubtfull what friendship soever
the unconstant Negros professed (by reason they be often
wavering being overcome with drinking wine) how they
would deale, to prevent the dangerous wiles that might
be effected in the road by Portugals, and for better
strength, the 24 of December he came with his pinnesse
& Portugall to ride in the road of Porto
d'Ally, where
our great shippe the Nightingall was: who was no sooner
arrived but he had newes also from the shore from John
Baily Anthony Dassels servant, who was there with our
goods detained by the Portugals means, that above 20
Portugals and Spaniards were come from Joala by land,
and Pedro Gonsalves in their company, to take order
for the releasing of Villa nova. So having had conference
two or three dayes with the Commanders, the Negros,
some Spaniards, and some Portugals, in the end by due
examination of the matter the Negros seeing how vilely
Pedro Gonsalves had delt, he being in their power, sayd
he should suffer death or be tortured, for an example
to others. But we in recompense of his cruelty pitied
him and shewed mercy, desiring the Negros to intreat
him well though undeserved: and thereupon the Commanders brought him aboord the pinnesse to Thomas
Dassel to do with him what he would: where at his
comming from the shore, for lavish speeches which he
used of Princes, he was well buffetted by a Spaniard,
and might have bene slaine, if for our sakes he had not
bene rescued.
While I went on shore with Villa nova, the sayd Pedro
Gonsalves confessed unto Thomas Dassel that he did
enquire of some Negros and Portugals if he might not
stay him and his goods in the land, and that he did
nothing but by commission from his king by his letters
which he received from London in Dartmouth
after we
were departed from London, for that we presumed to
come to Guinea to traffike without a servant of his: and
further, that he had power or procuration from Francisco
de Costa the Portugall that stayed behinde in England
to detaine the goods of Anthony Dassel in Guinea.
By consent of M. Francis Tucker, John Browbeare,
and the rest of the factours of Richard Kelley, with
whom this Pedro Gonsalves came, for avoiding further
mischiefe that might be practised, we agreed that the
sayd Pedro Gonsalves should stay aboord our shippe,
and not goe any more on land untill they departed. So
the ninth of January he was delivered aboord to goe
for England in the same ship wherein he came: who was
all the time of his abode in our shippe both courteously
and friendly used at my hands, much against the mariners
willes, who could not abide such a wicked creature and
caitive, that is nourished and relieved in our countrey,
and yet by villanous meanes sought the destruction of
us all.
The Spaniards and Portugals though they be dissemblers and not to be trusted, when they perceived how
king Amar Melicks Negros befriended and favored us,
and that it would be prejudiciall to their trade for divers
respects, if we should any way be injuried, renounced
the sayd practises, detesting the author, and protested
to defend us in such cases with all faithfulnesse: desiring
we would, as the king of Negros had commanded us,
never bring Portugal
with us more: using this phrase
in disdaine of such as came out of England, let your
Portugals be barres of yron: for in trueth in regard of
the rich trade maintained by Frenchmen and by us of
late, they esteeme more of one barre of yron then of
twenty Portugals which we should bring out of England:
who at their comming thither very subtilly disadvantage
us, and doe great hurt to every party.
At the beginning of these broiles the king Amar Melick
had sent his chiefe secretary and three horses for me
Richard Rainolds: but I denied to goe by reason of the
hurley burley, though I might have had Negros of
account for pledges aboord: yet we sent the presents
unto the king; who so soone as he understood the cause
why I came not to him, being sory and offended thereat,
commanded presently by proclamation, that no injury
should be offered us in his dominions by his owne people,
or suffered to be done by Spaniards or Portugals. And
if the Negros joyning to his kingdome should confederate
with the Spaniards and Portugals to molest or trouble
us; that his subjects the Negros should be ready to ayde,
succor and defend us. In which people appeared more
confident love and goodwill towards us, then ever we
shall finde either of Spaniards or Portugals, though we
should relieve them of the greatest misery that can be
imagined.
In the
river of Senega no Spaniard or Portugall use
to trade: and onely one Portugall called Ganigoga
dwelleth farre within the river, who was maried to a
kings daughter.
In the townes of Porto
d'Ally and Joala, being townes
of chiefest trade, and in the townes of Canton and Cassan
in the
river of Gambra are many Spaniards and Portugals
resident by permission of the Negros; who have rich
trades there along the coast, especially to San Domingo
and
Rio grande, not far distant from
Gambra river;
whither they transport the yron which they buy of
Frenchmen and us, and exchange it for Negros; which
be caried continually to the West Indies in such ships
as came from Spaine. Also by the governors order and
Renters of Castel de Mina and other places, where golde
is, upon the coast of Guinea, they have a place limited
how farre they must go to trade within the river of
Gambra; and further they may not go upon paine of
confiscation of their goods, and losse of life: for that the
Renters themselves send at certaine times their owne
barks within the river to such places, where as they have
great store of golde. And in all these places hereabouts,
where we use to trade, they have no Fort, Castle, or
place of strength, but onely trading by the Negros safeconduct and permission. And the most part of the
Spaniards and Portugals that be resident in these places
be banished men or fugitives, for committing most
hainous crimes and incestuous acts, their life & conversation being agreeable; and they are of the basest
behaviour that we have ever seene of these nations in
any other countrey.
