The voyage of M. George Fenner to Guinie, and the
Islands of Cape Verde, in the yeere of 1566. with three
ships, to wit, the Admirall called the Castle of Comfort,
the May Flower, and the George, and a Pinnasse also:
Written by Walter Wren.
THE 10 day of December, in the yeere abovesayd, we
departed from Plimmouth, and the 12 day we were thwart
of Ushant
.
The 15 day in the morning being Sunday, wee had
sight of
Cape Finister, and the same night we lost the
company of our Admirall, wherefore we sayled along the
coast of Portugall, hoping that our Admirall had bene
before us.
The 18 day we met with a French ship of whom wee
made inquirie for our Admirall, but he could not tell
us newes of him: so we followed our course to the
Ilands of the Canaries.
The 25 day in the morning we fell with a small Iland
called Porto Santo, & within 3 houres wee had sight of
another Iland called Madera which is 6 leagues from
Porto Santo.
The said 25 day being the day of the Nativitie, we
hoised out our boat, and fet master Edward Fenner
captaine of the May Flower aboord us, being in the
George, with the master whose name was Robert Cortise
and others of the sayd shippe, and feasted them with
such cheere as God had sent us.
The 28 day we fel with an Iland called Tenerif, which
is 27 leagues from the said Iland, and on the East side
thereof we came to an anker in 40 fadome water, within
a base shot of the shore, in a litle Baie wherein were
3 or 4 small houses: which Baie and houses were distant
from a litle towne called Santa Cruz, a league or thereabout, and as we rode in the said Baie, we might see
an Iland called The grand Canarie which was 6 or 7
leagues from us.
The 29 day the May Flower for that she could not
fet into ye road where we were at an anker, by reason
the wind was off the shore, & because she bare more
roomer from the land then we did, in the morning came
bearing in with the towne of Santa Cruz, thinking to
come to an anker in the road against the towne, and
before she came within the reach of any of their ordinance,
they shot at her foure pieces which caused her to come
roome with us, and came at last to an anker by us. And
about one of the clocke in the afternoone, the forenamed
captaine of the May Flower wrote a letter a shore,
directing it to the head officer of the towne of Santa
Cruz, to the intent to understand the pretense of the
shooting off the said ordinance.
The letter being written, Robert Courtise master of the
May Flower, and Walter Wren were appointed to deliver
the same a land at 3 or 4 houses to bee conveid to the
foresayd towne, and so went with six men in the boate,
and rowed to the shore as neere as they might, for
setting the boat on ground, for the sea went cruelly
at the shore.
The people stood in number 30 persons with such
armour as they had: the foresayd Wren called to them
in
Spanish, declaring to them that they had a letter which
they would very gladly have conveid unto the towne,
shewing that they would traffique with them as marchants, desiring their helpe for the conveiance of the
same letter. With that one of the Spaniards willed us
to come on land, and we should be welcome, but doubting
the worst, the said Walter answered them that they would
not come on land, until they had answere of their letter
which they had brought.
Whereupon one of the Spaniards unraied himselfe, and
lept into the water, and swam to the boat, whom we
received. And he saluted us, and demaunded what our
request was: we made him answere, that by misfortune
we lost the companie of our Admirall, and being bound
to this Iland to traffique for wines and other things
necessary for us, do here mind to stay untill he come.
Concerning our letter he made us answere, that he
would with all diligence cary it, and deliver it according
to the direction, and so the said Walter knit the letter
in a bladder, and delivered it unto him, and also gave
him foure roials of Spanish money for his paines: and
promising that we should have answere of it, he tooke
his leave and swamme againe on shore, where the people
stood ready to receive him. And after that they had
talked with him, and understood our meaning, some of
them threw up their hats, & the other put them off holding
them in their hands, and made us very curteous signes,
alwaies desiring that the boat would come a land, but
we resaluting them rowed backe againe aboord.
The 30 day the Governours brother of Santa Cruz
came aboord the May Flower with sixe or seven Spaniards
with him, who concluded with the Captaine that we might
come a shore and traffique with them, but that day we
did not, for we had no sufficient pledge of theirs for our
assurance. Our Captaine entertained them well, and at
their departure gave them foure pieces of ordinance for
a farewell, and bestowed upon them two cheeses with
other things.
The sayd Governours brother promised our Captaine
that hee should have sufficient pledges the morrow folowing, which was not done, whereupon wee grew suspicious,
and went not that day a shore.
The first day of January our captaine sent Nicholas
Day and John Sumpter a shore, who were very well
entertained with as many of our company as went after
them.
In the said Iland is a marvellous high hill called the
Pike, which is a far off more like a cloud in the aire,
then any other thing: the hill is round and somewhat
small at the top, it hath not bene knowen that ever any
man could goe up to the top thereof. And although it
stand in 28 degrees which is as hote in January, as it
is in England at
Midsommer, yet is the top of the said
hil Winter and Sommer seldome without snow.
In this Iland about two leagues from the said Santa
Cruz is a citie called Anagona.
The third day wee departed about the Westerne point
of the Iland, about 12 or 14 leagues from Santa Cruz,
into a Baie which is right agaynst the house of one Petro
de Souses, in which Baie we came to an anker the 5 day,
where we heard that our Admirall had bene there at an
anker 7 dayes before us, and was gone thence to an Iland
called Gomera, whereupon wee set saile presently to seeke
him.
The 6 day we came to an anker against the towne of
Gomera, where we found our Admirall, which was very
joyfull of our comming, and we also of his sight.
In the sayd road we found Edward Cooke in a tall
ship, and a shippe of the Coppersmiths of London, which
the Portugals had trecherously surprised in the Baie of
Santa Cruz, upon the coast of Barbarie, which ship we
left there all spoiled.
Our General & marchants bought in the said towne
for our provision, 14 buts of wine, which cost 15 duckats
a but, which were offred us at Santa Cruz in Tenerif
for 8, 9, and 10 duckats.
The 9 day we departed from this road to another Baie,
about 3 leagues off, and there tooke in fresh water:
& so the 10 day we set saile towards
Cape Blanke, which
is on the coast of Guinea.
The 12 day we fell into a Baie to the Eastward of
Cape Pargos, which is 35 leagues from
Cape Blanke.
But having no knowledge of that coast, we went with
Cape Blanke, and at the fall of the land we sounded and
had 16 fadome water two leagues from the shore. The
land is very lowe and white sand. Upon the fall of the
sayd coast beware how you borow in 12 or 10 fadome,
for within 2 or 3 casts of the lead you may be on ground.
The 17 day we set saile from
Cape Blanke, directing
our course South and by East, & South among, and so
fell into a Baie to the Eastward of
Cape Verde, about
16 leagues, and about sixe leagues from the shore. The
sayd land seemed unto us as if it had bene a great number
of shippes under saile, being in deed nothing els but
the land which was full of Hammoks, some high some
lowe, with high trees on them. We bare with the said
land till we were within 3 leagues of the shore, and then
we sounded, and found 28 fadome water, blacke oase.
This day we saw much fish in sundry sculs swimming
with their noses with the brim of the water.
Passing along this coast we might see two small round
hils, seeming to us about a league one from the other,
which is the Cape, and betweene them are great store
of trees, and in all our dayes sailing we saw no land so
high as the said two hils.
The 19 day we came to an anker at the Cape, in a
roade fast by the Westermost side of two hils in 10
fadome of water where you may ride in five or sixe
fadome, for the ground is faire, and alwayes you shall
have the winde off the shore. And as soone as we were
all at an anker, our Generall came aboord us, and with
him the master of the Admirall, whose name was William
Bats, and with them the captaine of the Viceadmirall,
whose name was master Edward Fenner, and Robert
Curtise the master, and dined aboord of us being in the
George, wherein was Captaine John Heiwood, and John
Smith of Hampton master, and there we concluded to
goe aland, which was halfe a mile from us: and by the
counsell of William Bats both Captaine and marchants
and divers of the companie went without armour: for he
sayd, that although the people were blacke and naked,
yet they were civill : so that hee would needs give the
venter without the consent of the rest to go without
weapon. Thus they rowed to shore, where, we being
in the shippe might see a great companie of Negros
naked, walking to and fro by the sea side where the
landing place was, waiting for the comming of our men,
who came too soone, and landed to their losse as it fell
out afterwards.
There went a shore the Admirals skiffe, and the May
Flowers boate, and in them the number of 20 persons
or thereabouts, as M. George Fenner the Generall, his
brother M. Edward Fenner, Thomas Valentine, John
Worme and Francis Leigh marchants, John Haward,
William Bats, Nicholas Day, John Tomson and others.
At their comming to the shore there were 100 Negros
or upward, with their bowes and arrowes: our Captaines
and merchants talked with them, & according to the
use of the country, the one demanded pledges of the other,
& they were content to deliver 3 of their Negros for 5
of our men. Our 5 mens names were these, John
Haward, Wil. Bats, Nich. Day, Joh. Tomson, & John
Curtise: these were delivered them, and we received 3
Negros into our Admirals skiffe.
Our men being a shore among the Negros, began to
talke with them, declaring what ware and marchandize
we had, as woollen cloth, linnen cloth, iron, cheese &
other things. The Negros answered againe, they had
civet, muske, gold and graines, which pleased our captaines and marchants very well. Then the Negros desired
to have a sight of some of our wares, to the which our
marchants were content, and forthwith sent aboord one
of the boats for part of their marchandise, and in the
meane time while the boate went to the ship, our five
men were walking on the shore with the Negros, and
our Generall and marchants staied in the other boat by
the sea side, having the 3 Negros with them.
Our boate then came againe and brought iron and
other marchandise, with bread, wine, and cheese which
they gave unto them. Then two of the Negros (which
were the pledges) made themselves sicke, desiring to
goe a shore, promising to send other two for them.
Captaine Haiward perceiving that our men had let the
Negros come a shore, asked what they meant, and doubting the worst began to drawe toward the boate, and two
or three of the Negros folowed him. And when hee
came to the boate they began to stay him, and he made
signes unto them that hee would fetch them more drinke
and bread: notwithstanding, when he was entering into
the boate, one of them caught him by the breeches and
would have staled him, but hee sprang from him and
leapt into the boate, and as soone as hee was in, one
of the Negros a shore beganne to blow a pipe, and
presently the other Negro
that was in our boate sitting
on the boates side, and master Wormes sword by him,
suddenly drew the sword out of the scabberd, and cast
himselfe into the Sea and swamme a shore, and presently
the Negros laied handes on our men that were on shore,
and tooke three of them with great violence, and tore
all their apparell from their backes and left them nothing
to cover them, and many of them shot so thicke at our
men in our boates, that they could scarse set hand to
any Oare to rowe from the shore, yet (by the helpe of
God) they got from them with their boates, although
many of them were hurt with their poysoned arrowes:
and the poison is uncurable, if the arrow enter within
the skin and drawe blood, and except the poison bee
presently suckt out, or the place where any man is hurt
bee foorthwith cut away, hee dieth within foure dayes,
and within three houres after they bee hurt or pricked,
wheresoever it be, although but at the litle toe, yet it
striketh up to the heart, and taketh away the stomacke,
and causeth the partie marveilously to vomite, being able
to brooke neither meat nor drinke.
The Negros having used our men with such cruelty,
whose names were Nicholas Day, William Bats and John
Tomson, led them away to a towne which was within
a mile of the water side, or thereabout.
The 20 day we sent to land a boate or skiffe wherein
were eight persons, and one of them was the foresayd
John Tomson and our interpreter which was a Frenchman, (for there was one of the Negros which spake good
French :) and they caried with them two harquebusses,
two targets and a mantell.
The cause of sending them was to learne what ransome
they demaunded for Bats and Day whom they detained.
And when they came to the shore and told the Negros
what they desired, they went and fetched them from
among the trees, and brought them loose among fortie
or fiftie of them. And being come within a stones cast
of the sea side, William Bats brake from them, and ran
as fast as he could into the sea towards the boat, and
he was not so soone in the water but hee fell downe,
either being out of breath or his foote failing him in
the sand being soft: so that the Negros came and fell
on him and tooke him and haled him, that we thought
they had torne him in pieces: for they tore againe all
the apparell from his backe, so that some of them caried
our men againe to the towne, and the rest shot at us
with their poisoned arrowes, and hurt one of our men
called Androwes in the smal of the leg, who being come
aboord, (for al that our Surgeons could do) we thought
he would have died.
Our Generall (notwithstanding all this villanie) sent
agayne to them, and offered them any thing that they
desired for the raunsome of our men, but they would not
deliver them: giving us this answere: That there was
in the foresayd roade, three weekes before wee came, an
English shippe which had taken three of their people,
and untill wee did bring or send them againe, wee should
not have our men although wee would give our three
shippes with their furniture.
The 21 day a French shippe of the burden of 80 tunnes
(or thereabouts,) came to the place where we were, being
bound to traffique at the Cape: we told them of the
detaining of our two men by the Negros: and seeing that
these Frenchmen were very well welcome to the Negros,
we wished them to see whether they could procure them
againe of the Negros, and bring them along with them,
and our Generall promised the Frenchmen 100 li. to
obtaine them. So wee committed the matter to the
Frenchmen and departed.
Of our men that were hurt by the Negros arrowes,
foure died, and one to save his life had his arme cut off.
Androwes that was last of all hurt, lay lame not able
to helpe himselfe: onely two recovered of their hurts.
So we placed other men in the roomes of those that we
lost, and set saile.
The 26 day betweene
Cape Verde and Bona
vista we
sawe many flying fishes of the bignesse of herrings,
whereof two flew into our boat, which we towed at our
sterne.
The 28 day we fell with an Iland called Bona
vista,
which is from
Cape Verde 86 leagues. The Northside
of the sayde Iland is full of white sandie hils and dales,
and somewhat high land.
The sayd day wee came to an anker within the Westermost point, about a league within the point, and found
in our sounding faire sand in ten fadome water, but you
may goe neere till you be in five or six fadome, for the
ground is faire.
As soone as we were at an anker, our Generall sent
his pinnasse a land; and found five or sixe small houses,
but the people were fled into the mountains: and the
next day he sent a shore againe, and met with two
Portugals, who willingly went aboord with his men, and
at their comming he welcommed them, although they
were but poore & simple, and gave each of them a paire
of shoes, and so set them a shore againe.
The 30 day we weighed & sailed into a Bay within
a smal Iland about a league from us, and tooke plentie
of divers sortes of fishe. The forsayd Iland lieth in
sixteene degrees. And if you meane to anker in the
said Bay, you may borow in foure or five fadome of the
Southermost point of the sayd Iland, which you may see
when you ride in the road. But beware of the middle
of the Baie, for there lieth a ledge of rocks, which at a
lowe water breaketh, yet there is three fadome water over
them.
The last day of Januarie our Generall with certaine
of his men went a shore in the Baie to the houses, where
he found 12 Portugals. In all the Iland there were not
above 30 persons, which were banished men for a time,
some for more yeeres, some for lesse, and amongst them
there was one simple man which was their captaine.
They live upon goats flesh, cocks, hennes, and fresh
water: other victuals they have none, saving fish, which
they esteeme not, neither have they any boats to take
them.
They reported that this Iland was given by the king
of Portugall to one of his gentlemen, who hath let it
foorth to rent for one hundreth duckats a yeere, which
rent is reared onely in goats skinnes. For by their
speaches there hath bene sent foorth of the sayd Iland
into Portugall 40000 skins in one yeere.
We were to these men marveilously welcome, and to
their powers very wel entertained, and they gave us the
flesh of as many hee-goates as wee would have, and
tooke much paines for us in taking them, and bringing
them from the mountains upon their asses.
They have there great store of the oyle of Tortoises,
which Tortoise is a fish which swimmeth in the Sea, with
a shell on his backe as broad as a target. It raineth not
in this Hand but in three moneths of the yeere, from
the midst of July to the midst of October, and it is
here alwayes very hote. Kine have bene brought hither,
but by reason of the heate and drought they have died.
The 3 of February wee departed from this Iland, and
the same day fell with another Iland called the
Iland of
Maiyo, which is 14 leagues from the other Iland: there
is in the midst of the way between these two Ilands a
danger which is alwayes to be scene.
We ankred in the Northwest side of the sayd le in
a faire Baie of eight fadomes water and faire sand, but
here we staied not, but the fourth day weighed and sailed
to another Iland called S. Jago, which lieth off the said
Iland of Maiyo East and by South, and about five leagues
one from the other. Being come within the Westermost
point, we saw a faire road, and a small towne by the
water side, and also a fort or platforme by it: there we
purposed to come to anker, and our marchants to make
some sale. But before we came within their shot, they
let flie at us two pieces, whereupon we went roomer and
sailed along the shore two or three leagues from the
road, where we found a small Baie and two or three
small houses, where we came to an anker in 14 fadome
faire ground.
Within an houre after we had ankered we might see
divers horsemen and footmen on the land right against
us riding and running to and fro.
The next day being the fift of Februarie, a great companie of their horsemen and footemen appeared on the
shoare side, unto whom our Generall sent to understande
whether they would quietly trafike with them: And they
sent him worde againe, desiring that they might speake
with him, promising that if he came to trafike as a
marchant he should be welcome, and also that he should
have any thing that he or the marchant would with
reason demaund.
When this answere was brought unto our Generall he
was very glad thereof and the whole companie, and
presently (with as much speede as he could) he caused
his boates to be made readie: but doubting the villanie
of the Portugales, he armed his boates putting a double
base in the head of his pinnesse, and two single bases in
the head of the Skiffe, and so sent to the May-floure and
the George, and willed them in like sort to man their
two boates.
These boates being thus manned and well appointed,
our Generall entered into his Skiffe, and with the rest
rowed to the shoare where were threescore horsemen or
more, and two hundreth footemen readie to receive them.
Our Generall marveiled that they came in so great a
number and all armed, and therefore with a flagge of
truce sent to them to knowe their pleasure: and they
answered him with many faire promises and othes, that
their pretence was all true, and that they meant like
Gentlemen and Marchantes to trafike with him, declaring
also that their Captaine was comming to speake with him,
and therefore desired our Generall to come and speake
with him himselfe.
With this answere the boate returned, and then our
Generall caused his pinnesse to rowe to them, and as he
came neere the shoare they came in a great companie
with much obeysance, opening their hands and armes
abroade, bowing themselves with their bonnets off, with
as much humble salutations outwardly as they might:
earnestly desiring our Generall and Marchants to come
on lande to them, whereunto he would not agree without
sufficient gages of Gentlemen and Marchants. At length
they promised to sende two gages to our Generals contentment, promising fresh water, victuall, money, or
Negroes for ware, if it were such as they liked : and
therefore desired our Generall and Marchants to sende
them a shoare in writing the quantitie of their wares,
and the names of them: all which our Generall departed
to performe, looking for their answere the morrowe
following. And being gone a litle from the shoare, he
caused his bases, curriers, and harquebusses to be shot
off, and our ships in like case shot off five or sixe pieces
of great ordinance, and so came aboord to prepare the
note. The Portugales most of them departed, saving
those that were left to watch and to receive the note,
which about foure or five a clocke in the afternoone was
sent, and it was received. But all the purposes of the
Portugals were villainously to betray us (as shal appeare
hereafter) although we meant in truth and honestie,
friendly to trafike with them.
There was to the Westwards of us and about two
leagues from us, a towne behinde a point fast by the
sea side, where they had certaine Caravels, or shippes
and also two Brigandines, whereof they (with all the
speede that they might) made readie foure Caravels, and
both the brigandines which were like two Gallies, and
furnished them both with men and ordinance as much
as they could carrie, and as soone as it was night, they
came rowing and falling towardes us: so that the land
being high and weather somewhat cloudie or mystie, and
they comming all the way close under the shoare we
could not see them till they were right against one of
our ships called the May-floure.
By this time it was about one or two of the clocke in
the morning, and the May-floure roade neerer them then
the other two by a base shotte, so that they made a sure
account either to have taken her or burnt her. In the
meane time our men that had the watch (litle thinking
of such villanous treacheries after so many faire wordes)
were singing and playing one with the other, and made
such a noyse, that (being but a small gale of winde, and
riding neere the lande) they might heare us from the
shoare: so that we supposed that they made account that
we had espyed them, which indeede we had not, neither
had any one piece of ordinance primed, or any other thing
in a readinesse.
They came so neere us that they were within gunshot
of us, & then one of our men chanced to see a light, &
then looking out spied the 4 ships, and suddenly cried
out, Gallies, gallies, at which cry we were all amazed,
and foorthwith they shot at us all the great ordinance
that they had, and their harquebusses, and curriers, and
so lighted certaine tronkes or pieces of wilde fire, and
all of them with one voice (as well they on the shoare
as they in the shippes) gave a great shoute, and so continued hallowing with great noyses, still approching neerer
and neerer unto the May-floure. We (with all the speede
that we might) made readie one piece of ordinance and
shotte at them, which caused them somewhat to stay, so
they charged their ordinance and shot at us freshly againe,
and while they shotte this second time at us, we had
made readie three pieces which we shot at them, but they
approched still so neere, that at last we might have shot
a sheafe arrowe to them. Whereupon we having a gale
of winde off the shoare hoysed our foresayle, and cut our
cable at the hawse, and went towarde our Admirall, and
they continued following and shooting at us, and sometime at our Admirall, but our Admirall shotte one such
piece at them, that it made them to retire, and at length
to warpe away like traiterous villaines, and although they
thus suddenly shot all their shot at us, yet they hurt
neither man nor boy of ours, but what we did to them
we know not.
But seeing the villanie of these men we thought it
best to stay there no longer, but immediatly set sayle
towards an Iland called Fuego, 12 leagues from the said
Island of S. Jago. At which
Island of Fuego we came
to an anker the 11 day of this moneth, against a white
chappell in the West end of the sayd Island, within halfe
a league of a litle towne, and within a league or thereabout of the uttermost point of the said Island.
In this Island is a marveilous high hill which doth
burne continually, and the inhabitants reported that about
three yeeres past the whole Island was like to be burned
with the abundance of fire that came out of it.
About a league from the said chappel to the Westward
is a goodly spring of fresh water, where we had as much
as we would. Wheate they have none growing here, but
a certaine seede that they call Mill, and certaine peason
like Guinie peason, which Mill maketh good breade, but
they have here good store of rother beasts and goates.
Their marchandize is cotton, which groweth there.
The inhabitants are Portugals which have commandement from the king to trafike neither with Englishmen
nor Frenchmen for victuall or any other thing, except
they be forced so to doe.
There lieth off this Island another called Ilha Brava,
which is not passing two leagues over, it hath good store
of goates and many trees, but there are not passing three
or foure persons dwelling in it.
The 25 day of February we departed towardes the
Islands of Azores: and on the 23 day of March we had
sight of one of them called Flores, and then wee might
see another Island to the Northward of it called Cuervo,
lying two leagues or thereabouts off the other.
The 27 we came to an anker in Cuervo over against
a village of about twelve simple houses; but in the night
by a gale of winde, which caused us to drawe our anker
after us, we hoysed sayle and went to the aforesayd
Island
of Flores, where we sawe strange streames of water
running downe from the high cliffes by reason of the
great abundance of raine that had suddenly fallen.
The 29 day we came againe to Cuervo and cast anker,
but a storme arose and continued seven or eight houres
together, so that we let slip a cable and anker, and after
the storme was alayed we came againe thinking to have
recovered the same, but the Portugals had either taken it,
or spoiled it: the cable was new and never wet before,
and both the cable and anker were better worth then 40
li. So that we accompt our selves much beholding to
the honest Portugales.
The 18 day of April we tooke in water at the
Island
of Flores, and having ankered, our cable was fretted in
sunder with a rocke and so burst, where wee lost that
cable and anker also, and so departed to our coast.
Then wee set sayle to an Islande named Faial
, about
the which lie three other Islands, the one called Pico
, the
other Saint George, and the other Graciosa
, which we had
sight of on the eight and twentieth day.
The 29 we came to an anker in the Southwest side of
Faial
in a faire bay, and 22 fadom water against a litle
towne where we had both fresh water and fresh victuall.
In this Island by the report of the inhabitants, there
groweth certaine greene woad, which by their speeches
is farre better then the woad of S. Michael or of Tercera.
The 8 day of May we came to Tercera where we met
with a Portugall ship, and being desititute of a cable and
anker, our Generall caused us to keepe her companie, to
see if she could conveniently spare us any. The next
morning we might see bearing with us a great shippe
and two Caravels, which we judged to be of the king of
Portugals Armada, and so they were, whereupon we
prepared our selves for our defence. The said ship was
one of the kings Galliasses, about the burden of foure
hundred tunnes, with about three hundred men in her,
the shippe being well appointed with brasse pieces both
great and small, and some of them so bigge that their
shot was as great as a mans head, the other two Caravels
were also very warlike and well appointed both with men
and munition.
As soone as they were within shotte of us, they waved
us amaine with their swords, we keeping our course, the
greatest shippe shot at us freely and the caravell also,
and we prepared our selves, and made all things cleare
for our safegard as neere as we could. Then the great
shippe shot at us all her broad side, and her foure greatest
pieces that lay in her sterne, and therewith hurt some
of our men, and we did the best we could with our shot
to requite it. At last two other Caravels came off the
shoare, and two other pinnesses full of men, and delivered
them aboord the great shippe, and so went backe againe
with two men in a piece of them. The ship and the
Caravell gave us the first day three fights, and when the
night was come they left off shooting, yet notwithstanding
kept hard by us all the night. In the meane time we had
as much as wee could doe all the night to mende our
ropes, and to strengthen our bulwarkes, putting our trust
in God, and resolving our selves rather to die in our
defence then to bee taken by such wretches.
The next day being the 10 of May in the morning,
there were come to aide the said Portugals foure great
Armadas or Caravels more which made seven, of which
4 three of them were at the least 100 tunnes a piece, the
other not so bigge, but all well appointed and full of
men. All these together came bearing with us being in
our Admirall, and one of the great Caravels came to
lay us aboorde (as we judged) for they had prepared their
false nettings, and all things for that purpose, so that
the Gallias came up in our larboord side, and the Caravell
in our starboord side.
Our Captaine and Master perceiving their pretence,
caused our gunners to make all our ordinance readie with
crossebarres, chaineshotte and haileshot: so the ship and
Caravell came up, and as soone as they were right in
our sides, they shotte at us as much ordinance as they
could, thinking to have layde us presently aboord : whereupon we gave them such a heate with both our sides,
that they were both glad to fall asterne of us, & so
paused the space of two or three houres being a very
small gale of winde.
Then came up the other five and shot all at us, and
so fell all asterne of us, & then went to counsell together.
Then our small barke named the George came to us,
and wee conferred together a great space. And as the
Portugall shippes and Caravels were comming to us
againe, our barke minding to fall asterne of us and so
to come up againe, fell quickly upon the lee, and by
reason of the litle winde, it was so long before she could
fill her sailes againe, that both the shippe and Caravels
were come up to us, and she falling in among them made
reasonable shift with them, but they got a head of her,
so that she could not fetch us: then 5 of the Caravels
followed her, but we saw she defended her selfe against
them all.
Then came the great shippe and the Caravell to us,
and fought with us all that day with their ordinance.
The May-floure our other consort being very good by
the winde, tooke the benefite thereof and halde all that
day close by the winde, but could not come neere us.
So when night againe was come, they gave over their
fight and followed us all the night.
In these many fights it could not otherwise be but
needes some of our men must be slaine, (as they were
indeede) and divers hurt, and our tackle much spoyled:
yet for all this we did our best indevour to repaire all
things, and to stand to it to the death with our assured
trust in the mercie and helpe of God.
This night the May-floure came up to us, and our
Captaine tolde them his harmes and spoyles, and wished
them if they could spare halfe a dozen fresh men to
hoyse out their boate and sende them to him, but they
could not spare any, and so bare away againe. Which
when our enemies sawe in the next morning that we were
one from another, they came up to us again and gave
us a great fight with much hallowing and hooping,
making accompt either to boorde us or els to sinke us:
but although our companie was but small, yet least they
should see us any whit dismayed, when they hallowed
we hallowed also as fast as they, and waved to them
to come and boorde us if they durst, but that they would
not, seeing us still so couragious: and having given us
that day foure fights, at night they forsooke us with
shame, as they came to us at the first with pride.
They had made in our ship some leakes with their shot
which we againe stopped with al speed, and that being
done, we tooke some rest after our long labour and
trouble.
The next day in the morning the May-floure came to
us, and brought us sixe men in her boate which did us
much pleasure, and we sent to them some of our hurt
men.
Then we directed our course for our owne countrey, and
by the second day of June we were neere to our owne
coast and sounded being thwart the Lyzard.
The third day we had sight of a shippe which was a
Portugall, who bare with us, and at his comming to us
(the weather being calme) our Captaine caused him to
hoyse foorth his boate to come aboord to speake with
him, and at their comming our Captaine and Marchants
demanded of them what ware they had, and whither they
were bound, and they made answere that their lading was
sugar and cotton. Then our Captaine and Marchants
shewed them five Negroes that we had, and asked them
whether they would buy them, which they were very
desirous to doe, and agreed to give for them 40 chests of
sugar, which chests were small having not above 26 loaves
in a piece: so they with their boate did fetch five of the
chestes and delivered them and went for more, and when
they had laden their boate and were come againe, we
might see bearing with us a great ship and a small, which
our Captaine supposed to be men of warre or Rovers, and
then willed the Portugales to carie their sugar to their
ship againe, purposing to make our selves readie for our
defence. But the Portugales earnestly intreated our
Captaine not so to forsake them, and promised him (if he
would safegard them) to give him above the bargaine ten
chests of sugar: whereupon our Captaine was content,
and the Portugall not being good of sayle, we spared our
topsayles for her: so at last the foresaid ship bare with
us, and (seeing that we did not feare them) gave us over.
And the next morning came two others bearing with us,
and seeing us not about to flie a jot from them forsooke us
also.
The 5 day of June we had sight of the Stert, and about
noone we were thwart of the bay of Lime, and so sounded
and had 35 fadom water.
The sixt day we came in at the Needles and so came
to an anker under the
Isle of Wight at a place called
Meadhole, and from thence sayled to Southhampton where
we made an ende of this voyage.
