A voyage with three tall ships, the Penelope Admirall, the
Marchant royall Viceadmirall, and the Edward Bonaventure Rereadmirall, to the East Indies, by the Cape of
Buona Speransa, to Quitangone neere Mosambique, to
the Iles of Comoro and Zanzibar
on the backeside of
Africa
, and beyond Cape Comori in India, to the lies
of Nicubar and of Gomes Polo within two leagues of
Sumatra, to the Ilands of Pulo Pinaom, and thence to
the maine land of Malacca, begunne by M. George
Raymond, in the yeere 1591, and performed by M.
James Lancaster, and written from the mouth of
Edmund Barker of Ipswich, his lieutenant in the sayd
voyage, by M. Richard Hakluyt.
OUR fleet of the three tall ships abovenamed departed
from Plimmouth the 10 of April 1591, and arrived at the
Canarie-ilands the 25 of the same, from whence we
departed the 29 of April. The second of May we were
in the height of
Cape Blanco. The fift we passed the
tropique of Cancer. The eight we were in the height
of
Cape Verde. All this time we went with a faire winde
at Northeast, alwayes before the winde untill the 13 of
the same moneth, when we came within 8 degrees of the
Equinoctiall line, where we met with a contrary winde.
Here we lay off and on in the sea untill the sixt of June,
on which day we passed the sayd line. While we lay
thus off and on, we tooke a Portugal Caravel laden by
marchants of Lisbon
for Brasile
, in which Caravel we had
some 60 tunnes of wine, 1200 jarres of oyle, about 100
jarres of olives, certaine barrels of capers, three fats of
peason, with divers other necessaries fit for our voyage:
which wine, oyle, olives and capers were better to us then
gold. We had two men died before wee passed the line,
and divers sicke, which tooke their sicknesse in those
hote climates: for they be wonderful unholesome from
8 degrees of Northerly latitude unto the line, at that
time of the yeere: for we had nothing but Ternados,
with such thunder, lightning, and raine, that we could
not keep our men drie 3 houres together, which was an
occasion of the infection among them, and their eating
of salt victuals, with lacke of clothes to shift them. After
we passed the line, we had the wind still at
Eastsoutheast,
which caried us along the coast of Brasil
100 leagues from
the maine, til we came in 26 degrees to the Southward of
the line, where the wind came up to the North, at which
time we did account, that the
Cape of Buona esperansa
did beare off us East and by South, betwixt 900 and 1000
leagues. Passing this gulfe from the coast of Brasil
unto
the Cape we had the wind often variable as it is upon our
coast, but for the most part so, that we might lie our
course. The 28 of July we had sight of the foresayd
Cape of Buona esperansa: untill the 31 wee lay off and
on with the wind contrary to double the Cape, hoping to
double it, & so to have gone seventie leagues further to a
place called Agoada de S. Bras, before we would have
sought to have put into any harbour. But our men being
weake and sicke in all our shippes, we thought good to
seeke some place to refresh them. With which consent
we bare up with the land to the Northward of the Cape,
and going along the shore, we espied a goodly Baie with
an Iland lying to Seawards of it, into which we did beare,
and found it very commodious for our ships to ride in.
This Baie is called Agoada de Saldanha, lying 15 leagues
Northward on the hither side of the Cape. The first of
August being Sunday we came to an anker in the Baie,
sending our men on land, and there came unto them
certaine blacke Salvages very brutish which would not
stay, but retired from them. For the space of 15 or 20
dayes we could find no reliefe but onely foules which wee
killed with our pieces, which were cranes and geese:
there was no fish but muskles and other shel-fish, which
we gathered on the rockes. After 15 or 20 dayes being
here, our Admirall went with his pinnasse unto the Iland
which lieth off this Baie, where hee found great store
of Penguines & Seales, whereof he brought good plenty
with him. And twise after that we sent certain of our
men, which at both times brought their bots lading unto
our ships. After we had bene here some time, we got
here a Negro, whom we compelled to march into the
country with us, making signs to bring us some cattell;
but at this time we could come to the sight of none, so
we let the Negro
goe with some trifles. Within 8 days
after, he with 30 or 40 other Negroes, brought us downe
some 40 bullocks and oxen, with as many sheepe: at
which time we bought but few of them. But within 8
dayes after they came downe with as many more, & then
we bought some 24 oxen with as many sheepe. We
bought an oxe for two knives, a stirke for a knife, and
a sheepe for a knife, and some we bought for lesse value
then a knife. The oxen be very large and well fleshed,
but not fat. The sheepe are very big and very good
meat, they have no woll on their backs but haire, and
have great tailes like the sheepe in Syria
. There be
divers sorts of wild beasts, as the Antilope, (whereof M.
Lancaster killed one of the bignes of a yong colt) the red
& fallow Deere, with other great beasts unknowen unto
us. Here are also great store of over-growen monkeis.
As touching our proceeding upon our voyage, it was
thought good rather to proceed with two ships wel
manned, then with three evill manned: for here wee
had of sound and whole men but 198, of which there
went in the Penelope with the Admiral 101, and in the
Edward with the worshipfull M. captaine Lancaster 97.
We left behind 50 men with the Roiall marchant, whereof
there were many pretily well recovered, of which ship
was master and governour Abraham Kendal, which for
many reasons we thought good to send home. The
disease that hath consumed our men hath bene the skurvie.
Our souldiers which have not bene used to the Sea, have
best held out, but our mariners dropt away, which (in my
judgement) proceedeth of their evill diet at home.
Sixe dayes after our sending backe for England of the
Marchant Roiall from Agoada de Saldanha, our Admirall
M. captaine Raimond in the Penelope, and M. James
Lancaster in the Edward Bonaventure, set forward to
double the
Cape of Buona esperansa, which they did very
speedily. But being passed as far as Cape dos Corrientes,
the 14 of September we were encountred with a mighty
storme and extreeme gusts of wind, wherein we lost our
Generals companies, and could never heare of him nor his
ship any more, though we did our best endevour to seeke
him up and downe a long while, and staied for him
certaine dayes at the
Iland of Comoro, where we appointed
to stay one for another. Foure dayes after this uncomfortable seperation in the morning toward ten of the
clocke we had a terrible clap of thunder, which slew foure
of our men outright, their necks being wrung in sonder
without speaking any word, and of 94 men there was not
one untouched, whereof some were striken blind, others
were bruised in their legs & armes, and others in their
brests, so that they voided blood two dayes after, others
were drawen out at length as though they had bene
racked. But (God be thanked) they all recovered saving
onely the foure which were slaine out right. Also with
the same thunder our maine maste was torne very
grievously from the head to the decke, and some of the
spikes that were ten inches into the timber, were melted
with the extreme heate theereof. From thence wee shaped
our course to the Northeast, and not long after we fell
upon the Northwest end of the mighty
Iland of S.
Laurence: which one of our men espied by Gods good
blessing late in the evening by Moone light, who seeing
afarre off the breaking of the Sea, and calling to certaine
of his fellowes, asked them what it was: which eftsoones
told him that it was the breaking of the Sea upon the
Shoulds. Whereupon in very good time we cast about
to avoyd the danger which we were like to have incurred.
Thus passing on forward, it was our lucke to over-shoote
Mozambique, and to fall with a place called Quitangone
two leagues to the Northward of it, and we tooke three
or foure Barkes of Moores, which Barkes in their language
they call Pangaias, laden with Millio, hennes, and ducks,
with one Portugall boy, going for the provision of
Mozambique. Within few dayes following we came to
an Iland an hundred leagues to the Northeast of Mozambique called Comoro, which we found exceeding full of
people, which are Moores of tawnie colour and good
stature, but they be very trecherous and diligently to be
taken heed of. Here wee desired to store our selves with
water, whereof we stood in great need, and sent sixteene
of our men well armed on shore in our boate : whom the
people suffred quietly to land and water, and divers of
them with their king came aboord our ship in a gowne of
crimosine Sattin pinked after the Moorish fashion downe
to the knee, whom we entertained in the best maner, and
had some conference with him of the state of the place
and marchandises, using our Portugall boy which we had
taken before for our interpreter, and in the end licensed
the king and his company to depart, and sent our men
againe for more water, who then also dispatched their
businesse, & returned quietly: the third time likewise we
sent them for more, which also returned without any
harme. And though we thought our selves furnished, yet
our master William Mace of Radcliffe pretending that it
might be long before we should finde any good watering
place, would needes goe himselfe on shore with thirtie
men, much against the will of our captaine, and hee and
16 of his company, together with one boat which was all
that we had, and 16 others that were a washing overagainst our ship, were betrayed of the perfidious Moores,
and in our sight for the most part slaine, we being not
able for want of a boat to yeeld them any succour. From
hence with heavie hearts we shaped our course for
Zanzibar
the 7 of November, where shortly after wee
arrived and made us a new boat of such boards as we
had within boord, and rid in the road untill the 15 of
February, where, during our aboad, we sawe divers
Pangaias or boates, which are pinned with woodden
pinnes, and sowed together with Palmito cordes, and
calked with the huskes of Cocos shels beaten, whereof
they make Occam. At length a Portugal Pangaia comming out of the harborow of Zanzibar
, where they have
a small Factorie, sent a Canoa with a Moore
which had
bene christened, who brought us a letter wherein they
desired to know what wee were, and what we sought.
We sent them word we were Englishmen come from Don
Antonio upon businesse to his friends in the Indies: with
which answere they returned, and would not any more
come at us. Whereupon not long after wee manned out
our boat and tooke a Pangaia of the Moores, which had
a priest of theirs in it, which in their language they call
a Sherife: whom we used very curteously: which the
king tooke in very good part, having his priests in great
estimation, and for his deliverance furnished us with two
moneths victuals, during all which time we detained him
with us. These Moores informed us of the false and
spitefull dealing of the Portugals towards us, which made
them beleeve that we were cruell people and men-eaters,
and willed them if they loved their safetie in no case to
come neere us. Which they did onely to cut us off from
all knowledge of the state and traffique of the countrey.
While we road from the end of November until the middle
of February in this harborough, which is sufficient for a
ship of 500 tuns to ride in, we set upon a Portugall
Pangaia with our boat, but because it was very litle, &
our men not able to stirre in it, we were not able to take
the sayd Pangaia, which was armed with 10 good shot
like our long fouling pieces. This place for the goodnesse
of the harborough and watering, and plentifull refreshing
with fish, whereof we tooke great store with our nets,
and for sundry sorts of fruits of the countrey, as Cocos
and others, which were brought us by the Moores, as also
for oxen and hennes, is carefully to be sought for by such
of our ships, as shall hereafter passe that way. But our
men had need to take good heed of the Portugals: for
while we lay here the Portugall Admiral of the coast from
Melinde to Mozambique, came to view and to betray our
boat if he could have taken at any time advantage, in a
gallie Frigate of ten tunnes with 8 or 9 oares on a side.
Of the strength of which Frigate and their trecherous
meaning we were advertised by an Arabian Moore which
came from the king of Zanzibar
divers times unto us
about the deliverie of the priest aforesayd, and afterward
by another which we caried thence along with us: for
wheresoever we came, our care was to get into our hands
some one or two of the countreys to learne the languages
and states of those partes where we touched. Moreover,
here againe we had another clap of thunder which did
shake our foremast very much, which wee fisht and
repaired with timber from the shore, whereof there is
good store thereabout of a kind of trees some fortie foot
high, which is a red and tough wood, and as I suppose, a
kind of Cedar. Here our Surgeon Arnold negligently
catching a great heate in his head being on land with the
master to seeke oxen, fell sicke and shortly died, which
might have bene cured by letting of blood before it had
bin setled. Before our departure we had in this place
some thousand weight of pitch, or rather a kind of gray
and white gumme like unto frankincense, as clammie as
turpentine, which in melting groweth as blacke as pitch,
and is very brittle of it selfe, but we mingled it with oile,
whereof wee had 300 jarres in the prize which we tooke to
the Northward of the Equinoctiall, not farre from Guinie,
bound for Brasil
. Sixe dayes before wee departed hence,
the Cape marchant of the Factorie wrote a letter unto
our captaine in the way of friendship, as he pretended,
requesting a jarre of wine, and a jarre of oyle, and two
or three pounds of gunpouder, which letter hee sent by a
Negro
his man, and Moore
in a Canoa: we sent him his
demaunds by the Moore
, but tooke the Negro
along with
us because we understood he had bene in the East Indies
and knew somewhat of the countrey. By this Negro
we
were advertised of a small Barke of some thirtie tunnes
(which the Moores call a Junco) which was come from Goa
thither laden with Pepper for the Factorie and service of
that kingdome. Thus having trimmed our shippe as we
lay in this road, in the end we set forward for the coast
of the East India, the 15 of February aforesayd, intending
if we could to have reached to
Cape Comori, which is the
headland or Promontorie of the maine of Malavar, and
there to have lien off and on for such ships as should have
passed from Zeilan, Sant Tome, Bengala, Pegu
, Malacca,
the Moluccos, the coast of China
, and the
Ile of Japan,
which ships are of exceeding wealth and riches. But in
our course we were very much deceived by the currents
that set into the gulfe of the
Red sea along the coast
of Melinde. And the windes shortening upon us to the
Northeast and Easterly, kept us that we could not get
off, and so with the putting in of the currents from the
Westward, set us in further unto the Northward within
fourescore leagues of the
Ile of Zocotora, farre from our
determined course and expectation. But here we never
wanted abundance of Dolphins, Bonitos and flying fishes.
Now while we found our selves thus farre to the Northward, and the time being so farre spent, we determined
to goe for the
Red sea, or for the
Iland of Zocotora,
both to refresh our selves, and also for some purchase.
But while wee were in this consultation, the winde very
luckily came about to the Northwest and caried us directly
toward
Cape Comori. Before we should have doubled
this Cape, we were determined to touch at the
Ilands of
Mamale, of which we had advertisement, that one had
victuals, standing in the Northerly latitude of twelve
degrees. Howbeit it was not our good lucke to finde it,
which fell out partly by the obstinacie of our master: for
the day before we fell with part of the Ilands the wind
came about to the Southwest, and then shifting our course
we missed it. So the wind increasing Southerly, we
feared we should not have bene able to have doubled the
Cape, which would have greatly hazarded our casting
away upon the coast of India, the Winter season and
Westerne Monsons already being come in, which Monsons
continue on that coast until August. Nevertheles it
pleased God to bring the wind more Westerly, & so in the
moneth of May 1592. we happily doubled
Cape Comori
without sight of the coast of India. From hence thus
having doubled this Cape, we directed our course for the
Ilands of Nicubar, which lie North and South with the
Westerne part of Sumatra, and in the latitude of 7
degrees to the Northward of the Equinoctiall. From
which
Cape of Comori unto the aforesayd Ilands we
ranne in sixe dayes with a very large wind though the
weather were foule with extreme raine and gustes of
windes. These Ilands were missed through our masters
default for want of due observation of the South starre.
And we fell to the Southward of them within the sight of
the
Ilands of Gomes Polo, which lie hard upon the great
Iland of Sumatra the first of June, and at the Northeast
side of them we lay two or three dayes becalmed, hoping
to have had a Pilote from Sumatra, within two leagues
whereof wee lay off and on. Now the Winter comming
upon us with much contagious weather, we directed our
course from hence with the
Ilands of Pulo Pinaou, (where
by the way is to be noted that Pulo
in the Malaian tongue
signifieth an Iland) at which Ilands wee arrived about the
beginning of June, where we came to an anker in a very
good harborough betweene three Ilands : at which time
our men were very sicke and many fallen. Here we
determined to stay untill the Winter were overpast. This
place is in 6 degrees and a halfe to the Northward, and
some five leagues from the maine betweene Malacca and
Pegu
. Here we continued untill the end of August. Our
refreshing in this place was very smal, onely of oisters
growing on rocks, great wilks, and some few fish which
we tooke with our hookes. Here we landed our sicke
men on these uninhabited Ilands for their health, neverthelesse 26 of them died in this place, whereof John Hall
our master was one, and M. Rainold Golding another, a
marchant of great honestie and much discretion. In these
Islands are abundance of trees of white wood, so right
and tall, that a man may make mastes of them being an
hundred foote long. The winter passed and having
watered our ship and fitted her to goe to Sea, wee had
left us but 33 men and one boy, of which not past 22
were sound for labour and helpe, and of them not past a
third part sailers: thence we made saile to seeke some
place of refreshing and went over to the maine of
Malacca. The next day we came to an anker in a Baie
in six fadomes water some two leagues from the shore.
Then master James Lancaster our captain, and M.
Edmund Barker his lieutenant, and other of the companie
manning the boat, went on shore to see what inhabitants
might be found. And comming on land we found the
tracking of some barefooted people which were departed
thence not long before: for we sawe their fire still burning,
but people we sawe none, nor any other living creature,
save a certaine kind of foule called oxe birds, which are a
gray kind of Sea-foule, like a Snite in colour, but not in
beake. Of these we killed some eight dozen with haileshot being very tame, and spending the day in search,
returned toward night aboord. The next day about two
of the clocke in the afternoone we espied a Canoa which
came neere unto us, but would not come aboord us,
having in it some sixteen naked Indians, with whom
nevertheles going afterward on land, we had friendly
conference and promise of victuals. The next day in the
morning we espied three ships, being all of burthen 60 or
70 tunnes, one of which wee made to strike with our very
boate : and understanding that they were of the towne of
Martabam, which is the chiefe haven towne for the great
citie of Pegu, and the goods belonging to certaine Portugal Jesuites and a Biscuit baker a Portugal
, we tooke
that ship & did not force the other two, because they
were laden for marchants of Pegu
, but having this one
at our command, we came together to an anker. The
night folowing all the men except twelve, which we tooke
into our ship, being most of them borne in Pegu
, fled
away in their boate, leaving their ship and goods with us.
The next day we weighed our anker and went to the
Leeward of an Iland hard by, and tooke in her lading
being pepper, which shee and the other two had laden at
Pera, which is a place on the maine 30 leagues to the
South. Besides the aforesaid three ships, we tooke
another ship of Pegu
laden with pepper, and perceiving
her to bee laden with marchants goods of Pegu
onely, wee
dismissed her without touching any thing.
Thus having staied here 10 daies and discharged her
goods into the Edward, which was about the beginning
of September, our sicke men being somewhat refreshed
and lustie, with such reliefe as we had found in this ship,
we weighed anker, determining to runne into the streights
of Malacca to the Ilands called Pulo Sambilam, which are
some five and fortie leagues Northward of the citie of
Malacca, to which Ilands the Portugals must needs come
from Goa or S. Thome, for the Malucos, China
, and
Japan
. And when wee were there arrived, we lay too
and agayne for such shipping as should come that way.
Thus having spent some five dayes, upon a Sunday we
espied a saile which was a Portugall ship that came from
Negapatan a towne on the maine of India over-against
the Northeast part of the
Ile of Zeilan; and that night
we tooke her being of 250 tunnes: she was laden with
Rice for Malacca. Captaine Lancaster commanded their
captaine and master aboord our shippe, and sent Edmund
Barker his lieutenant and seven more to keepe this prize,
who being aboord the same, came to an anker in thirtie
fadomes water: for in that chanell three or foure leagues
from the shore you shall finde good ankorage. Being
thus at an anker and keeping out a light for the Edward,
another Portugall ship of Sant Thome of foure hundred
tunnes, came and ankered hard by us. The Edward being
put to Leeward for lacke of helpe of men to handle her
sailes, was not able the next morning to fetch her up,
until we which were in the prize with our boate, went to
helpe to man our shippe. Then comming aboord we
went toward the shippe of Sant Thome, but our ship was
so foule that shee escaped us. After we had taken out
of our Portugall prize what we thought good, we turned
her and all her men away except a Pilot and foure Moores.
We continued here untill the sixt of October, at which
time we met with the ship of the captaine of Malacca of
seven hundred tunnes which came from Goa: we shot at
her many shot, and at last shooting her maine-yard
through, she came to an anker and yeelded. We commaunded her Captaine, Master, Pilot and Purser to come
aboord us. But the Captaine accompanied with one
souldier onely came, and after certaine conference with
him, he made excuse to fetch the Master and Purser,
which he sayd would not come unlesse he went for them:
but being gotten from us in the edge of the evening, he
with all the people which were to the number of about
three hundred men, women and children, gote a shore
with two great boates and quite abandoned the ship. At
our comming aboord we found in her sixteene pieces of
brasse, and three hundred buts of Canarie wine, and
Nipar wine, which is made of the palme trees, and raisin
wine which is also very strong: as also all kind of
Haberdasher wares, as hats, red caps knit of Spanish
wooll, worsted stockings knit, shooes, velvets, taffataes,
chamlets, and silkes, abundance of suckets, rice, Venice
glasses, certaine papers full of false and counterfeit stones
which an Italian brought from Venice
to deceive the rude
Indians withall, abundance of playing cardes, two or three
packs of French paper. Whatsoever became of the
treasure which usually is brought in roials of plate in
this gallion, we could not find it. After that the mariners
had disordredly pilled this rich shippe, the Captaine
because they would not follow his commandement to
unlade those excellent wines into the Edward, abandoned
her & let her drive at Sea, taking out of her the choisest
things that she had. And doubting the forces of Malaca,
we departed thence to a Baie in the kingdom of Junsalaom, which is betweene Malacca and Pegu
eight
degrees to the Northward, to seeke for pitch to trimme
our ship. Here we sent our souldier, which the captaine
of the aforesaid gallon had left behind him with us,
because he had the Malaian language, to deale with the
people for pitch, which hee did faithfully, and procured
us some two or three quintals with promise of more,
and certaine of the people came unto us. We sent commodities to their king to barter for Amber-griese, and for
the homes of Abath, whereof the king onely hath the
traffique in his hands. Now this Abath is a beast which
hath one horne onely in her forehead, and is thought to be
the female Unicorne, and is highly esteemed of all the
Moores in those parts as a most soveraigne remedie
against poyson. We had onely two or three of these
hornes which are of the colour of a browne gray, and
some reasonable quantitie of Amber-griese. At last the
king went about to betray our Portugall with our marchandise: but he to get aboord us, told him that we had
gilt armour, shirtes of maile and halberds, which things
they greatly desire: for hope whereof he let him returne
aboord, and so he escaped the danger. Thus we left this
coast and went backe againe in sight of Sumatra, and
thence to the
Ilands of Nicubar, where we arrived and
found them inhabited with Moores, and after wee came to
an anker, the people daily came aboord us in their Canoas,
with hennes, Cocos, plantans and other fruits: and within
two dayes they brought unto us roials of plate, giving us
them for Calicut
cloth: which roials they finde by diving
for them in the Sea, which were lost not long before in
two Portugall ships which were bound for China
and were
cast away there. They call in their language the Coco
Calambe, the Plantane Pison, a Hen Jam, a Fish Iccan,
a Hog Babee. From thence we returned the 21 of
November to goe for the
Iland of Zeilan, and arrived there
about the third of December 1592. and ankered upon the
Southside
in sixe fadomes water, where we lost our anker,
the place being rockie and foule ground. Then we ranne
along the Southwest part of the sayd Iland, to a place
called Punta del Galle, where we ankered, determining
there to have remained untill the comming of the Bengala
Fleet of seven or eight ships, and the Fleete of Pegu of
two or three sailes, and the Portugall shippes of Tanaseri
being a great Baie to the Southward of Martabam in the
kingdom of Siam
: which ships, by divers intelligences
which we had, were to come that way within foureteene
dayes to bring commodities to serve the Caraks, which
commonly depart from Cochin for Portugall by the
middest of Januarie. The commodities of the shippes
which come from Bengala bee fine pavillions for beds,
wrought quilts, fine Calicut
cloth, Pintados and other
fine workes, and Rice, and they make this voiage twise
in the yeere. Those of Pegu
bring the chiefest stones,
as Rubies and Diamants, but their chiefe fraight is
Rice and certaine cloth. Those of Tanaseri are chiefly
fraighted with Rice and Nipar wine, which is very strong,
and in colour like unto rocke water somewhat whitish,
and very hote in taste like unto Aqua vitae. Being shot
up to the place aforesayd, called Punta del Galle, wee
came to an anker in foule ground and lost the same,
and lay all that night a drift, because we had nowe but
two ankers left us, which were unstocked and in hold.
Whereupon our men tooke occasion to come home, our
Captaine at that time lying very sicke more like to die
then to live. In the morning wee set our foresaile determining to lie up to the Northward and there to keepe our
selves to and againe out of the current, which otherwise
would have set us off to the Southward from all knowen
land. Thus having set our foresayle, and in hand to set
all our other sayles to accomplish our aforesayd determination, our men made answere that they would take
their direct course for England and would stay there no
longer. Nowe seeing they could not bee perswaded by
any meanes possible, the captaine was constrained to give
his consent to returne, leaving all hope of so great possibilities. Thus the eight of December 1592. wee set sayle
for the
Cape of Buona Speransa, passing by the
Ilands
of Maldiva, and leaving the mightie
Iland of S. Laurence
on the starreboord or Northward in the latitude of 26
degrees to the South. In our passage over from S.
Laurence to the maine we had exceeding great store of
Bonitos and Albocores, which are a greater kind of fish:
of which our captain, being now recovered of his sicknesse, tooke with an hooke as many in two or three
howers as would serve fortie persons a whole day. And
this skole of fish continued with our ship for the space of
five or sixe weekes, all which while we tooke to the
quantitie aforesayd, which was no small refreshing to us.
In February 1593. we fell with the Eastermost land of
Africa
at a place called Baia de Agoa some 100 leagues
to the
Northeast of the Cape of Good Hope: and finding
the winds contrary, we spent a moneth or five weekes
before we could double the Cape. After wee had doubled
it in March folowing, wee directed our course for the
Iland of Santa Helena, and arrived there the third day of
Aprill, where wee staied to our great comfort nineteene
dayes : in which meane space some one man of us tooke
thirtie goodly Congers in one day, and other rockie fishe
and some Bonitos. After our arrivall at Santa Helena, I
Edmund Barker went on shore with foure or five Peguins
or men of Pegu
which we had taken, and our Surgion,
where in an house by the Chappell I found an Englishman
one John Segar of Burie in Suffolke, who was left there
eighteene moneths before by Abraham Kendall, who put
in there with the Roiall marchant, and left him there to
refresh him on the Iland, being otherwise like to have
perished on shipboord: and at our comming wee found
him as fresh in colour and in as good plight of body to
our seeming as might be, but crazed in minde and halfe
out of his wits, as afterward wee perceived: for whether
he were put in fright of us, not knowing at first what
we were, whether friends or foes, or of sudden joy when
he understood we were his olde consorts and countreymen,
hee became idle-headed, and for eight dayes space neither
night nor day tooke any naturall rest, and so at length
died for lacke of sleepe. Here two of our men, whereof
the one was diseased with the skurvie, and the other had
bene nine moneths sicke of the fluxe, in short time while
they were on the Iland, recovered their perfect health.
We found in this place great store of very holesome and
excellent good greene figs, orenges, and lemons very faire,
abundance of goates and hogs, and great plentie of partriges, Guiniecocks, and other wilde foules. Our mariners
somewhat discontented being now watered and having
some provision of fish, contrary to the will of the capitaine,
would straight home. The capitaine because he was
desirous to goe for Phernambuc in Brasil
, granted their
request. And about the 12 of Aprill 1593. we departed
from S. Helena, and directed our course for the place
aforesayd. The next day our capitaine calling upon the
sailers to finish a foresaile which they had in hand, some
of them answered that unlesse they might goe directly
home, they would lay their hands to nothing; whereupon
he was constrained to folow their humour. And from
thence-foorth we directed our course for our countrey,
which we kept untill we came 8 degrees to the Northward
of the Equinoctiall, betweene which 8 degrees and the
line, we spent some sixe weekes, with many calme and
contrary winds at North, and somtimes to the Eastward,
& somtimes to the Westward: which losse of time and
expense of our victuals, whereof we had very smal store,
made us doubt to keepe our course: and some of our men
growing into a mutinie threatned to breake up other mens
chests, to the overthrow of our victuals and all our selves,
for every man had his share of his victuals before in his
owne custody, that they might be sure what to trust to,
and husband it more thriftily. Our capitaine seeking to
prevent this mischiefe, being advertised by one of our
companie which had bene at the
Ile of Trinidada in M.
Chidleis voyage, that there we should be sure to have
refreshing, hereupon directed his course to that Iland,
and not knowing the currents, we were put past it in the
night into the gulfe of Paria in the beginning of June,
wherein we were 8 dayes, finding the current continually
setting in, and oftentimes we were in 3 fadomes water,
and could find no going out until the current had put us
over to the Westernside under the maine land, where we
found no current at all, and more deep water; and so
keeping by the shore, the wind off the shore every night
did helpe us out to the Northward. Being cleare, within
foure or five dayes after we fell with the
Ile of Mona
where we ankred and rode some eighteene dayes. In
which time the Indians of Mona gave us some refreshing.
And in the meane space there arrived a French ship of
Cane in which was capitaine one Monsieur de Barbaterre,
of whom wee bought some two buts of wine and bread,
and other victuals. Then wee watered and fitted our
shippe, and stopped a great leake which broke on us as
we were beating out of the gulfe of Paria. And having
thus made ready our ship to goe to Sea, we determined
to goe directly for New-found-land. But before wee
departed, there arose a storme the winde being Northerly,
which put us from an anker and forced us to the Southward of Santo Domingo. This night we were in danger
of shipwracke upon an Iland called Savona
, which is
environed with flats lying 4 or 5 miles off: yet it pleased
God to cleare us of them, & so we directed our course
Westward along the Iland of Santo Domingo, and
doubled
Cape Tiberon, and passed through the old chanell
betweene S. Domingo and Cuba
for the
cape of Florida:
And here we met againe with the French ship of Caen
,
whose Captaine could spare us no more victuals, as he
said, but only hides which he had taken by traffike upon
those Ilands, wherewith we were content and gave him
for them to his good satisfaction. After this, passing
the
Cape of Florida, and cleere of the chanell of Bahama,
we directed our course for the banke of Newfound-land.
Thus running to the height of 36 degrees, and as farre to
the East as the
Isle of Bermuda the 17 of September
finding the winds there very variable, contrarie to our
expectation and all mens writings, we lay there a day or
two the winde being northerly, and increasing continually
more and more, it grewe to be a storme and a great frete
of wind: which continued with us some 24 houres, with
such extremitie, as it caried not onely our sayles away
being furled, but also made much water in our shippe, so
that we had sixe foote water in holde, and having freed
our ship thereof with baling, the winde shifted to the
Northwest and became dullerd : but presently upon it the
extremitie of the storme was such that with the labouring
of the ship we lost our foremaste, and our ship grewe as
full of water as before. The storme once ceased, and the
winde contrary to goe our course, we fell to consultation
which might be our best way to save our lives. Our
victuals now being utterly spent, & having eaten hides
6 or 7 daies, we thought it best to beare back againe for
Dominica, & the Islands adjoyning, knowing that there
we might have some reliefe, whereupon we turned backe
for the said Islands. But before we could get thither the
winde scanted upon us, which did greatly endanger us for
lacke of fresh water and victuals: so that we were constrained to beare up to the Westward to certaine other
Ilandes called the Nueblas or cloudie Ilands, towards the
Ile of S. Juan de porto Rico, where at our arrivall we
found land-crabs and fresh water, and tortoyses, which
come most on lande about the full of the moone. Here
having refreshed our selves some 17 or 18 dayes, and
having gotten some small store of victuals into our ship,
we resolved to returne againe for Mona: upon which our
determination five of our men left us, remaining still on
the
Iles of Nueblas for all perswasions that we could use
to the contrary, which afterward came home in an
English shippe. From these Iles we departed and
arrived at Mona about the twentieth of November 1593,
and there comming to an anker toward two or three of
the clocke in the morning, the Captaine, and Edmund
Barker his Lieuetenant with some few others went on land
to the houses of the olde Indian and his three sonnes,
thinking to have gotten some foode, our victuals being all
spent, and we not able to proceede any further untill we
had obteyned some new supply. We spent two or three
daies in seeking provision to cary aboord to relieve the
whole companie. And comming downe to go aboord, the
winde then being northerly and the sea somewhat growne,
they could not come on shore with the boate, which was a
thing of small succour and not able to rowe in any rough
sea, whereupon we stayed untill the next morning, thinking to have had lesse winde and safer passage. But in
the night about twelve of the clocke our ship did drive
away with five men and a boy onely in it, our carpenter
secretly cut their owne cable, leaving nineteene of us on
land without boate or any thing, to our great discomfort.
In the middest of these miseries reposing our trust in the
goodnesse of God, which many times before had succoured
us in our greatest extremities, we contented our selves
with our poore estate, and sought meanes to preserve our
lives. And because one place was not able to sustaine us,
we tooke our leaves one of another, dividing our selves
into severall companies. The greatest reliefe that we
sixe which were with the Captaine could finde for the
space of nine and twentie dayes was the stalkes of
purselaine boyled in water, and nowe and then a pompion,
which we found in the garden of the olde Indian, who
upon this our second arrivall with his three sonnes stole
from us, and kept himselfe continually aloft in the mountaines. After the ende of nine and twentie dayes we
espied a French shippe, which afterwarde we understood
to be of Diepe, called the Luisa, whose Captaine was one
Mounsieur Felix, unto whom wee made a fire, at sight
whereof he tooke in his topsayles, bare in with the land,
and shewed us his flagge, whereby we judged him French:
so comming along to the Westerne ende of the Island
there he ankered, we making downe with all speede unto
him. At this time the Indian and his three sonnes came
done to our Captaine Master James Lancaster, and went
along with him to the shippe. This night he went aboord
the French man, who gave him good entertainement, and
the next day fetched eleven more of us aboord entreating
us all very courteously. This day came another French
shippe of the same towne of Diepe which remayned there
untill night expecting our other seven mens comming
downe : who, albeit we caused certaine pieces of ordinance
to be shot off to call them, yet came not downe. Whereupon we departed thence, being devided sixe into one ship,
and sixe into another, and leaving this Island, departed
for the Northside of Saint Domingo, where we remained
untill Aprill following 1594, and spent some two monethes
in traffike with the inhabitants by permission for hides and
other marchandises of the Countrey. In this meane while
there came a shippe of New-haven to the place where we
were, whereby we had intelligence of our seven men which
wee left behinde us at the Isle of Mona: which was, that
two of them brake their neckes with ventring to take
foules upon the cliffes, other three were slaine by the
Spaniards, which came from Saint Domingo, upon knowledge given by our men which went away in the Edward,
the other two this man of New-haven had with him in his
shippe, which escaped the Spaniards bloodie hands. From
this place Captaine Lancaster and his Lieutenant Master
Edmund Barker, shipped themselves in another shippe of
Diepe, the Captaine whereof was one John La Noe, which
was readie first to come away, and leaving the rest of
their companie in other ships, where they were well
intreated, to come after him, on sunday the seventh of
Aprill 1594 they set homewarde, and disbocking through
the Cajicos from thence arrived safely in
Diepe within two
and fortie dayes after, on the 19 of May, where after
we had stayed two dayes to refresh our selves, and given
humble thankes unto God, and unto our friendly neighbours, we tooke passage for Rie and landed there on
Friday the 24 of May 1594, having spent in this voyage
three yeeres, sixe weekes and two dayes, which the Portugales performe in halfe the time, chiefely because wee lost
our fit time and season to set foorth in the beginning of
our voyage.
We understood in the East Indies by certaine Portugales
which we tooke, that they have lately discovered the coast
of China
to the latitude of nine and fiftie degrees, finding
the sea still open to the Northward: giving great hope
of the Northeast or Northwest passage. Witnesse Master
James Lancaster.
