THE TWO FAMOUS VOYAGES
Happily perfourmed round about the world, by Sir
Francis Drake, and M. Thomas Candish Esquire, together with the rest of our English voyages intended
for the South Sea, the kingdomes of Chili, Peru
, the
backe side of Nueva Espanna, the Malucos, the Philippinas, the mightie empire of China
, though not so
happily perfourmed as the two former: whereunto are
annexed certaine rare observations touching the present
state of China
, and the kingdome of Coray, lately
invaded by Quabacondono the last monarch of the 66.
princedomes of Japan
.
The famous voyage of Sir Francis Drake into the South
sea, and therehence about the whole Globe of the earth,
begun in the yeere of our Lord, 1577.
THE 15. day of November, in the yeere of our Lord 1577.
M. Francis Drake, with a fleete of five ships and barkes,
and to the number of 164. men, gentlemen and sailers,
departed from Plimmouth, giving out his pretended
voyage for Alexandria
: but the wind falling contrary,
hee was forced the next morning to put into Falmouth
haven in
Cornewall, where such and so terrible a tempest
tooke us, as few men have seene the like, and was in
deed so vehement, that all our ships were like to have
gone to wracke: but it pleased God to preserve us from
that extremitie, and to afflict us onely for that present
with these two particulars: The mast of our Admirall
which was the Pellican, was cut over boord for the safegard of the ship, and the Marigold was driven ashore,
and somewhat bruised: for the repairing of which
damages wee returned againe to Plimmouth, and having
recovered those harmes, and brought the ships againe
to good state, we set forth the second time from Plimmouth, and set saile the 13. day of December following.
The 25. day of the same moneth we fell with the
Cape
Cantin, upon the coast of Barbarie, and coasting along,
the 27. day we found an Island called Mogador
, lying
one mile distant from the maine, betweene which Island
and the maine, we found a very good and safe harbour
for our ships to ride in, as also very good entrance, and
voyde of any danger.
On this Island our Generall erected a pinnesse, whereof
he brought out of England
with him foure already framed.
While these things were in doing, there came to the
waters side some of the inhabitants of the countrey,
shewing foorth their flags of truce, which being seene of
our Generall, hee sent his ships boate to the shore, to
know what they would: they being willing to come
aboord, our men left there one man of our company for
a pledge, and brought two of theirs aboord our ship,
which by signes shewed our General, that the next day
they would bring some provision, as sheepe, capons and
hennes, and such like: whereupon our Generall bestowed
amongst them some linnen cloth and shooes, and a javeling, which they very joyfully received, and departed for
that time.
The next morning they failed not to come againe to
the waters side, and our Generall againe setting out our
boate, one of our men leaping over rashly ashore, and
offering friendly to imbrace them, they set violent hands
on him, offering a dagger to his throte if hee had made
any resistance, and so laying him on a horse, caried him
away: so that a man cannot be too circumspect and warie
of himselfe among such miscreants.
Our pinnesse being finished, wee departed from this
place the 30. and last day of December, and coasting
along the shore, wee did descrie, not contrary to our
expectation, certaine Canters which were Spanish fishermen, to whom we gave chase and tooke three of them,
and proceeding further we met with 3. Caravels and tooke
them also.
The 17. day of January we arrived at
Cape Blanco,
where we found a ship riding at anchor, within the Cape,
and but two simple Mariners in her, which ship we tooke
and caried her further into the harbour, where we remained 4. dayes, and in that space our General mustered,
and trayned his men on land in warlike maner, to make
them fit for all occasions.
In this place we tooke of the Fishermen such necessaries as wee wanted, and they could yeeld us, and leaving
heere one of our litle barkes called the Benedict, wee
tooke with us one of theirs which they called Canters,
being of the burden of 40. tunnes or thereabouts.
All these things being finished, wee departed this harbour the 22. of Januarie, carying along with us one of
the Portugall Caravels which was bound to the Islands
of
Cape Verde for salt, whereof good store is made in
one of those Islands.
The master or Pilot of that Caravel did advertise our
Generall that upon one of those Islands called Mayo
,
there was great store of dryed Cabritos, which a few
inhabitants there dwelling did yeerely make ready for
such of the kings Ships as did there touch, beeing bound
for his countrey of Brasile
or elsewhere. Wee fell with
this Island the 27. of January, but the Inhabitants would
in no case traffique with us, being thereof forbidden by
the kings Edict: yet the next day our Generall sent to
view the Island, and the likelihoodes that might be there
of provision of victuals, about threescore and two men
under the conduct and government of Master Winter and
Master Doughtie, and marching towards the chiefe place
of habitation in this Island (as by the Portugall wee were
informed) having travailed to the mountaines the space
of three miles, and arriving there somewhat before the
day breake, we arrested our selves to see day before us,
which appearing, we found the inhabitants to be fled:
but the place, by reason that it was manured, wee found
to be more fruitfull then the other part, especially the
valleys among the hils.
Here we gave our selves a litle refreshing, as by very
ripe and sweete grapes, which the fruitfulnesse of the
earth at that season of the yeere yeelded us : and that
season being with us the depth of Winter, it may seeme
strange that those fruites were then there growing: but
the reason thereof is this, because they being betweene
the Tropike and the Equinoctiall, the Sunne passeth twise
in the yeere through their Zenith over their heads, by
meanes whereof they have two Summers, & being so
neere the heate of the line, they never lose the heate of
the Sunne so much, but the fruites have their increase
and continuance in the midst of Winter. The Island
is
wonderfully stored with goates and wilde hennes, and it
hath salt also without labour, save onely that the people
gather it into heapes, which continually in great quantitie
is increased upon the sands by the flowing of the sea,
and the receiving heate of the Sunne kerning the same,
so that of the increase thereof they keepe a continuall
traffique with their neighbours.
Amongst other things we found here a kind of fruit
called Cocos, which because it is not commonly knowen
with us in England
, I thought good to make some
description of it.
The tree beareth no leaves nor branches, but at the
very top the fruit groweth in clusters, hard at the top
of the stemme of the tree, as big every severall fruite as
a mans head: but having taken off the uttermost barke,
which you shall find to bee very full of strings or sinowes,
as I may terme them, you shall come to a hard shell
which may holde of quantitie in liquor a pint commonly,
or some a quart, and some lesse: within that shell of
the thicknesse of halfe an inch good, you shall have a
kinde of hard substance and very white, no lesse good
and sweete then almonds: within that againe a certaine
cleare liquor, which being drunke, you shall not onely
finde it very delicate and sweete, but most comfortable
and cordiall.
After wee had satisfied our selves with some of these
fruites, wee marched further into the Island, and saw
great store of Cabritos alive, which were so chased by
the inhabitants, that wee could doe no good towards our
provision, but they had layde out as it were to stoppe
our mouthes withall, certaine olde dryed Cabritos, which
being but ill, and small and few, wee made no account of.
Being returned to our ships, our Generall departed
hence the 31. of this moneth, and sayled by the
Island
of S. Iago, but farre enough from the danger of the
inhabitants, who shot and discharged at us three peeces,
but they all fell short of us, and did us no harme. The
Island is fayre and large, and as it seemeth, rich and
fruitfull, and inhabited by the Portugals, but the mountaines and high places of the Island are sayd to be possessed by the Moores, who having bin slaves to the
Portugals, to ease themselves, made escape to the desert
places of the Island, where they abide with great
strength.
Being before this Island, we espied two ships under
sayle, to the one of which wee gave chase, and in the
end boorded her with a ship-boat without resistance,
which we found to be a good prize, and she yeelded unto
us good store of wine: which prize our General committed
to the custodie of Master Doughtie, and reteining the
Pilot, sent the rest away with his Pinnesse, giving them
a Butte of wine and some victuals, and their wearing
clothes, and so they departed.
The same night wee came with the Island called by
the Portugals, Ilha del fogo, that is, the burning Island:
in the Northside whereof is a consuming fire, the matter
is sayde to be of Sulphure, but notwithstanding it is like
to bee a commodious Island, because the Portugals have
built, and doe inhabite there.
Upon the South side thereof lyeth a most pleasant and
sweete Island, the trees whereof are alwayes greene and
faire to looke upon, in respect whereof they call it Ilha
Brava, that is, the brave Island. From the bankes
thereof into the sea doe run in many places reasonable
streames of fresh waters easie to be come by, but there
was no convenient roade for our ships: for such was
the depth, that no ground could bee had for anchoring,
and it is reported, that ground was never found in that
place, so that the tops of Fogo
burne not so high in the
ayre, but the rootes of Brava
are quenched as low in the
sea.
Being departed from these Islands, we drew towards
the line, where wee were becalmed the space of 3. weekes,
but yet subject to divers great stormes, terrible lightnings and much thunder: but with this miserie we had
the commoditie of great store of fish, as Dolphins,
Bonitos, and flying fishes, whereof some fell into our
shippes, wherehence they could not rise againe for want
of moisture, for when their wings are drie, they cannot
flie.
From the first day of our departure from the
Islands
of Cape Verde, wee sayled 54. dayes without sight of
land, and the first land that we fell with was the coast
of Brasil
, which we saw the fift of April in ye height of
33. degrees towards the pole Antarctike, and being discovered at sea by the inhabitants of the countrey, they
made upon the coast great fires for a sacrifice (as we
learned) to the devils, about which they use conjurations,
making heapes of sande and other ceremonies, that when
any ship shall goe about to stay upon their coast, not
onely sands may be gathered together in shoalds in every
place, but also that stormes and tempests may arise, to
the casting away of ships and men, whereof (as it is
reported) there have bene divers experiments.
The seventh day in a mightie great storme both of
lightning, rayne and thunder, wee lost the Canter which
we called the Christopher: but the eleventh day after,
by our Generals great care in dispersing his ships, we
found her againe, and the place where we met, our
Generall called the
Cape of Joy, where every ship tooke
in some water. Heere we found a good temperature and
sweete ayre, a very faire and pleasant countrey with an
exceeding fruitfull soyle, where were great store of large
and mightie Deere, but we came not to the sight of any
people: but traveiling further into the countrey, we perceived the footing of people in the clay-ground, shewing
that they were men of great stature. Being returned
to our ships, we wayed anchor, and ranne somewhat
further, and harboured our selves betweene a rocke and
the maine, where by meanes of the rocke that brake the
force of the sea, we rid very safe, and upon this rocke
we killed for our provision certaine sea-wolves, commonly
called with us Seales.
From hence we went our course to 36. degrees, and
entred the great river of Plate, and ranne into 54. and
55. fadomes and a halfe of fresh water, where wee filled
our water by the ships side: but our Generall finding
here no good harborough, as he thought he should, bare
out againe to sea the 27. of April, and in bearing out
we lost sight of our Flieboate wherein master Doughtie
was, but we sayling along, found a fayre and reasonable
good Bay wherein were many, and the same profitable
Islands, one whereof had so many Seales, as would at
the least have laden all our Shippes, and the rest of the
Islands are as it were laden with foules which is wonderfull to see, and they of divers sortes. It is a place very
plentifull of victuals, and hath in it no want of fresh
water.
Our Generall after certaine dayes of his abode in this
place, being on shore in an Island, the people of the
countrey shewed themselves unto him, leaping and dauncing, and entred into traffique with him, but they would
not receive any thing at any mans hands, but the same
must bee cast upon the ground. They are of cleane,
comely, and strong bodies, swift on foote, and seeme to
be very active.
The eighteenth day of May our Generall thought it
needfull to have a care of such Ships as were absent,
and therefore indevouring to seeke the Flieboate wherein
master Doughtie was, we espied her againe the next
day: and whereas certaine of our ships were sent to dis
cover the coast and to search an harbour, the Marygold
and the Canter being imployed in that businesse, came
unto us and gave us understanding of a safe harbour
that they had found, wherewith all our ships bare, and
entred it, where we watered and made new provision of
victuals, as by Seales, whereof we slew to the number
of 200. or 300. in the space of an houre.
Here our Generall in the Admirall rid close aboord the
Flie-boate, and tooke out of her all the provision of
victuals and what els was in her, and hailing her to the
Lande, set fire to her, and so burnt her to save the iron
worke: which being a doing, there came downe of the
countrey certaine of the people naked, saving only about
their waste the skinne of some beast with the furre or
haire on, and something also wreathed on their heads:
their faces were painted with divers colours, and some
of them had on their heads the similitude of hornes,
every man his bow which was an ell in length, and a
couple of arrowes. They were very agill people and
quicke to deliver, and seemed not to be ignorant in the
feates of warres, as by their order of ranging a few men,
might appeare. These people would not of a long time
receive any thing at our handes; yet at length our
Generall being ashore, and they dauncing after their
accustomed maner about him, and hee once turning his
backe towards them, one leapt suddenly to him, and tooke
his cap with his golde band off his head, and ran a litle
distance from him and shared it with his fellow, the cap
to the one, and the band to the other.
Having dispatched all our businesse in this place, wee
departed and set sayle, and immediatly upon our setting
foorth we lost our Canter which was absent three or
foure dayes: but when our General had her againe, he
tooke out the necessaries, and so gave her over neere
to the
Cape of Good hope.
The next day after being the twentieth of June, wee
harboured our selves againe in a very good harborough,
called by Magellan Port S. Julian, where we found a
gibbet standing upon the maine, which we supposed to
be the place where Magellan did execution upon some
of his disobedient and rebellious company.
The two and twentieth day our Generall went ashore
to the maine, and in his companie, John Thomas, and
Robert Winterhie, Oliver the Master gunner, John
Brewer, Thomas Hood, and Thomas Drake, and entring
on land, they presently met with two or three of the countrey people, and Robert Winterhie having in his hands a
bowe and arrowes, went about to make a shoote of
pleasure, and in his draught his bowstring brake, which
the rude Savages taking as a token of warre, began to
bend the force of their bowes against our company, and
drove them to their shifts very narrowly.
In this Port our Generall began to enquire diligently of
the actions of M. Thomas Doughtie, and found them not
to be such as he looked for, but tending rather to contention or mutinie, or some other disorder, whereby (without
redresse) the successe of the voyage might greatly have
bene hazarded: whereupon the company was called
together and made acquainted with the particulars of the
cause, which were found partly by master Doughties owne
confession, and partly by the evidence of the fact, to be
true: which when our Generall saw, although his private
affection to M. Doughtie (as hee then in the presence of
us all sacredly protested) was great, yet the care he had
of the state of the voyage, of the expectation of her
Majestie, and of the honour of his countrey did more
touch him, (as indeede it ought) then the private respect
of one man : so that the cause being throughly heard, and
all things done in good order as neere as might be to the
course of our lawes in England
, it was concluded that M.
Doughtie should receive punishment according to the
qualitie of the offence: and he seeing no remedie but
patience for himselfe, desired before his death to receive
the Communion, which he did at the hands of M. Fletcher
our Minister, and our Generall himselfe accompanied him
in that holy action: which being done, and the place of
execution made ready, hee having embraced our Generall
and taken his leave of all the companie, with prayer for
the Queenes majestie and our realme, in quiet sort laid his
head to the blocke, where he ended his life. This being
done, our Generall made divers speaches to the whole
company, perswading us to unitie, obedience, love, and
regard of our voyage; and for the better confirmation
thereof, willed every man the next Sunday following to
prepare himselfe to receive the Communion, as Christian
brethren and friends ought to doe, which was done in
very reverent sort, and so with good contentment every
man went about his businesse.
The 17. day of August we departed the port of S.
Julian, & the 20. day we fell with the streight or freat of
Magellan going into the
South sea, at the Cape or headland whereof we found the bodie of a dead man, whose
flesh was cleane consumed.
The 21. day we entred The streight, which we found to
have many turnings, and as it were shuttings up, as if
there were no passage at all, by meanes whereof we had
the wind often against us, so that some of the fleete
recovering a Cape or point of land, others should be
forced to turne backe againe, and to come to an anchor
where they could.
In this streight there be many faire harbors, with store
of fresh water, but yet they lacke their best commoditie :
for the water is there of such depth, that no man shal
find ground to anchor in, except it bee in some narow
river or corner, or betweene some rocks, so that if any
extreme blasts or contrary winds do come (whereunto the
place is much subject) it carieth with it no small danger.
The land on both sides is very huge & mountainous, the
lower mountains whereof, although they be monstrous
and wonderfull to looke upon for their height, yet there
are others which in height exceede them in a strange
maner, reaching themselves above their fellowes so high,
that betweene them did appeare three regions of cloudes.
These mountaines are covered with snow: at both the
Southerly and Easterly partes of the streight there are
Islands, among which the sea hath his indraught into
the streights, even as it hath in the maine entrance of the
freat.
This streight is extreme cold, with frost and snow
continually; the trees seeme to stoope with the burden
of the weather, and yet are greene continually, and many
good and sweete herbes doe very plentifully grow and
increase under them.
The bredth of the streight is in some place a league,
in some other places 2. leagues, and three leagues, and
in some other 4. leagues, but the narrowest place hath a
league over.
The 24. of August we arrived at an Island in the
streights, where we found great store of foule which
could not flie, of the bignesse of geese, whereof we
killed in lesse then one dav 3000. and victualled our selves
throughly therewith.
The 6. day of September we entred the
South sea at
the Cape or head shore.
The seventh day wee were driven by a great storme
from the entring into the
South sea two hundred leagues
and odde in longitude, and one degree to the Southward
of the Streight: in which height, and so many leagues
to the Westward, the fifteenth day of September fell out
the Eclipse of the Moone at the houre of sixe of the clocke
at night: but neither did the Eclipticall conflict of the
Moone impayre our state, nor her clearing againe amend
us a whit, but the accustomed Eclipse of the Sea continued
in his force, wee being darkened more then the Moone
seven fold.
From the Bay (which we called The Bay of severing of
friends) wee were driven backe to the Southward of the
streights in 57. degrees and a terce: in which height we
came to an anker among the Islands, having there fresh
and very good water, with herbes of singular vertue.
Not farre from hence we entred another Bay, where wee
found people both men and women in their Canoas, naked,
and ranging from one Island to another to seeke their
meat, who entered traffique with us for such things as they
had.
We returning hence Northward againe, found the 3. of
October three Islands, in one of which was such plentie
of birdes as is scant credible to report.
The 8. day of October we lost sight of one of our
Consorts wherein M. Winter was, who as then we supposed was put by a storme into the streights againe,
which at our returne home wee found to be true, and he
not perished, as some of our company feared.
Thus being come into the height of The streights
againe, we ran, supposing the coast of Chili to lie as the
generall Maps have described it, namely Northwest, which
we found to lie and trend to the Northeast and Eastwards,
whereby it appeareth that this part of Chili hath not bene
truely hitherto discovered, or at the least not truely
reported for the space of 12. degrees at the least, being
set downe either of purpose to deceive, or of ignorant
conjecture.
We continuing our course, fell the 29. of November
with an Island called la Mocha
, where we cast anchor,
and our Generall hoysing out our boate, went with ten of
our company to shore, where wee found people, whom
the cruell and extreme dealings of the Spaniards have
forced for their owne safetie and libertie to flee from the
maine, and to fortifie themselves in this Island. We
being on land, the people came downe to us to the water
side with shew of great courtesie, bringing to us potatoes,
rootes, and two very fat sheepe, which our Generall
received and gave them other things for them, and had
promise to have water there: but the next day repayring
againe to the shore, and sending two men aland with
barrels to fill water, the people taking them for Spaniards
(to whom they use to shew no favour if they take them)
layde violent hands on them, and as we thinke, slew
them.
