^^- 
 
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 ^OODBOOK 
 
 ■IS THE • ^j 
 
 LlFE-BLOODia^ 
 OF A "''- 
 MASTEk £/ 
 
 • WvSPIRIT 
 
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 TTie KINGS TR£A5URIES 
 
 OF LITERATURE 
 
 GENERAL EDITOR 
 Sir AT QUILLER COUCH
 
 NEW YORK E PDUTTON AND COMPA^l
 
 i MDENT & SONS LTD • LONDON ^ TORONTO
 
 All rights reserved 
 
 Sole Agent for Scotland 
 
 THE GRANT EDUCATIONAL CO. LTD. 
 
 GLASGOW 
 
 First Editiox . . 192 1 
 
 Reprinted . . . 1925 
 
 printed in great BRITAIN
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Introduction ...... 
 
 Christopher Columbus .... 
 
 Sebastian Cabot ..... 
 
 Chancellor's North-Easterly Voyage . 
 The Second Voyage of Martin Frobisher 
 Drake's Voyage ..... 
 
 A Voyage Intended Towards China 
 Gilbert's Voyage to Newfoundland 
 The First Voyage to Virginia 
 Grenville in Virginia .... 
 
 Cavendish's Voyage to the South Seas 
 
 The Fight of the " Revenge " 
 
 The Last Voyage of Drake and Hawkins 
 
 Richard Hakluyt and his Work . 
 
 PAGE 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 14 
 
 22 
 
 36 
 58 
 93 
 
 128 
 
 155 
 171 
 181 
 212 
 230 
 
 253 
 
 N.B. — The present text is that used in the edition published 
 by Messrs. MacLehose & Sons in 1903, etc., and edited by 
 S. Douglas Jackson, but the spelling has been modernised 
 and some of the paragraphs divided. 
 
 2032447
 
 Hakluyt died in the same year as Shakespeare, 
 having accomplished the task of compihng " the great 
 prose epic of the English nation." His storv' is dif- 
 fused and lacks form, balance, proportion. It is long 
 and it is usually printed in a manner which gives a 
 first impression of confusion and incoherence — solid 
 pages of small type in old spelling, unattractive to 
 the eye, and therefore unwelcome to the mind. Will 
 the reader sample his pages with me, not by picking 
 out disconnected extracts, with neither beginning nor 
 ending, but by reading a complete " voyage " here 
 and there, and especially those of the Elizabethan 
 sea-farers? The stories are here printed in open type 
 on a small page. The spelling is modernised and the 
 longest paragraphs are broken up to allow time for 
 breathing and for the pauses necessary to contemplate 
 at leisure, and wonder over, some of the most marvel- 
 lous feats of daring and endurance of which the world 
 holds record. Told without rhetoric, too, and always 
 (even when the matter in hand is piracy!) " As ever 
 in the great Task-Master's Eye." 
 
 Taken in this spirit " Richard Hakluyt, Preacher," 
 needs no recommendation of mine. He speaks for 
 himself, or, to be quite correct, his contributors speak 
 for themselves; for, as will be seen in the pages 
 following, Hakluyt was to a great extent a collector 
 or editor who- gathered together, by dint of infinite 
 pains and patience, the records made by travellers 
 themselves or by the " special correspondents " whom 
 
 7
 
 8 INTRODUCTION 
 
 the great voyagers of the sixteenth century seem to 
 have taken with them when they set out from some 
 port on our southern or south-western shores. The 
 names of some of the latter still live — •" Master Dionise 
 Settle "; " Clement Adams " who wrote in Latin and 
 was probably translated by Hakluyt into noble Eliza- 
 bethan prose ^ worthy of the Shakespearean period ; 
 " M. John Lane, a man of good observation," who 
 writes one of the finest tales of adventure in our 
 language; and others unknown to literature text- 
 book fame but including several men whose imagina- 
 tion, power of expression, and faculty for selection 
 are greater than those of some writers regarded as 
 " standards " by many who pose as guides. There 
 are paragraphs in these pages which are literature, 
 and great literature at that. Let the reader read 
 the book aloud and he will soon find them out, for 
 thev sing of themselves. 
 
 R. W. 
 
 ^ What could be better in spirit, form and substance than 
 the noble speech which begins on page 25 ?
 
 STORIES FROM 
 HAKLUYT 
 
 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 
 
 The offer of the discovery of the West Indies by Chris- 
 topher Colnmhiis to King Henry the Seventh in the 
 year 1488 the i^th of February : with the King's 
 acceptation of the offer, and the cause whereupon 
 he was deprived of the same : recorded in the 
 thirteenth chapter of the history of Don Fernaiid 
 Columbus of the life and deeds of his father 
 Christopher Columbiis. 
 
 Christopher Columbus fearing lest if the King of 
 Castile in like manner [as the King of Portugal had 
 done] should not condescend unto his enterprise, he 
 should not be enforced to offer the same again to 
 some other prince, and so much time should be spent 
 therein, sent into England a certain brother of his 
 which he had with him, whose name was Bartholomew 
 Columbus, who, albeit he had not the Latin tongue, 
 yet nevertheless was a man of experience and skilful 
 in sea causes, and could very^ well make sea cards 
 and globes, and other instruments belongine^ to that 
 profession, as he was instructed by his brother. 
 
 Wherefore after that Bartholomew Columbus was 
 
 departed for England, his luck was to faU into the 
 
 hands of pirates, which spoiled him with the rest of 
 
 them which were in the ship which he went in. Upon 
 
 * 9
 
 10 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 which occasion, and by reason of his poverty and 
 siclaiess which cruelly assaulted him in a country so 
 far distant from his friends, he deferred his ambassage 
 for a long while, until such time as he had gotten 
 somewhat handsome about him with making of sea 
 cards. 
 
 At length he began to deal with King Henry the 
 Seventh the father of Henry the Eighth, which reigneth 
 at this present : unto whom he presented a map of the 
 world, wherein these verses were written, which I 
 found among his papers : and I will here set them down, 
 rather for their antiquity than for their goodness. 
 
 Thou which desirest easily the coasts of lands to know, 
 This comely map right learnedly the same to thee will show: 
 Which Strabo, Plin3^ Ptolemy and Isidore maintain: 
 Yet for all that they do not all in one accord remain. 
 Here also is set down the late discovered burning Zone 
 By Portingals, unto the world which whilom was unknown, 
 Whereof the knowledge now at length through all the world is 
 blown. 
 
 And a little under he added : 
 
 For the Author or the Drawer. 
 He, whose dear native soil hight stately Genoa, 
 Even he whose name is Bartholomew Colon de Terra Rubra, 
 The year of Grace a thousand and four hundred and fourscore 
 And eight, and on the thirteenth day of February more, 
 In London published this work. To Christ all laud therefore. 
 
 And because some peradventure may observe that 
 he calleth himself Columbus de Terra Rubra, I say, 
 that in like manner I have seen some subscriptions 
 of my father Christopher Columbus, before he had 
 the degree of admiral, wherein he signed his name 
 thus, Columbus de Terra Rubra. But to return to the 
 King of England, I say, that after he had seen the 
 map, and that which my father Christopher Columbas
 
 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ii 
 
 offered unto him, he accepted the offer with joyful 
 countenance, and sent to call him into England. But 
 because God had reserved the said offer for Castile, 
 Columbus was gone in the mean space, and also re- 
 turned with the performance of his enterprise, as 
 hereafter in order shall be rehearsed. Now will I leave 
 off from making any further mention of that which 
 Bartholomew Colon had negotiated in England, and 
 I will return unto the admiral, etc. 
 
 Another testimony taken out of the sixtieth chapter of the 
 foresaid history of Ferdinando Columhiis, concerning 
 the offer that Bartholomew Columbus made to King 
 Henry the Seventh on the behalf of his brother 
 Christopher. 
 
 Christopher Columbus the admiral being returned 
 from the discovery of Cuba and Jamiaica, found in 
 Hispaniola his brother Bartholomew Columbus, who 
 before had been sent to entreat of an agreement with 
 the King of England for the discovery- of the Indies, 
 as we have said before. This Bartholomew therefore 
 returning unto Castile, with the capitulations granted 
 by the King of England to his brother, understood at 
 Paris by Charles the King of France, that the admiral 
 his brother had already performed that discovery: 
 whereupon the French King gave unto the said 
 Bartholomew an hundred French crowns to bear his 
 charges into Spain. And albeit he made great haste 
 upon this good news to meet with the admiral in 
 Spain, yet at his coming to Seville his brother was 
 already returned to the Indies with seventeen sail 
 of ships. 
 
 Wherefore, to fulfil that which he had left him in
 
 12 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 charge, in the beginning of the 37ear 1494 he repaired 
 to the Catholic princes, taking with him Diego Colon 
 my brother and me also, which were to be preferred 
 as pages to the most excellent Prince Don John, who 
 is now with God, according to the commandment of 
 the Catholic Queen Lady Isabel, which was then in 
 Valladolid. As soon therefore as we came to the Court, 
 the princes called for Don Bartholomew, and sent him 
 to Hispaniola with three ships, etc. 
 
 Christopher Columbus of famous memor^^, the first 
 instrument to manifest the great glor\^ and mercy of 
 Almighty God in planting the Christian faith, in 
 those so long unknown regions, having in purpose to 
 acquaint (as he did) that renowned prince, the Queen's 
 Majesty's grandfather King Henry the Seventh, with 
 his intended voyage for the western discoveries, was 
 not only derided and mocked generally, even here in 
 England, but afterward became a laughing-stock to 
 the Spaniards themselves, who at this day (of all other 
 people) are most bound to laud and praise God, who 
 first stirred up the man to that enterprise. 
 
 And while he was attending there to acquaint the 
 King of Castile (that then was) with his intended pur- 
 pose, by how many ways and means was he derided? 
 Some scorned the pildness of his garments, some took 
 occasion to jest at his simple and silly looks, others 
 asked if this were he that louts so low, which did 
 take upon him to bring men into a country that 
 aboundeth with gold, pearls, and precious stones? 
 
 If he were any such man (said they) he would 
 
 carry another manner of countenance with him, and 
 
 look somewhat loftier. Thus some judged him by his 
 
 garments, and others by his look and countenance, 
 
 Pildness. Threadbareness. Silly. Humble.
 
 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 13 
 
 but none entered into consideration of the inward 
 man. 
 
 In the end, what success his voyage had, who list 
 to read the Decades, the History of the West Indies, 
 the conquests of Hernando Cortes about Mexico, and 
 those of Francisco Pizarro in Peru about Casamalcha 
 and Cusco, may know more particularly. All which 
 their discoveries, travails and conquests are extant to 
 be had in the English tongue. This device was then 
 accounted a fantastical imagination, and a drowsy 
 dream. 
 
 But the sequel thereof has since awakened out of 
 dreams thousands of souls to know their Creator, 
 being therefore before that time altogether ignorant: 
 and hath since made sufficient proof, neither to be 
 fantastic nor vainly imagined. 
 
 Withal, how mightily it hath enlarged the dominions 
 of the Crown of Spain, and greatly enriched the 
 subjects of the same, let all men consider. Besides, 
 it is weU known, that since the time of Columbus his 
 first discover}^ through the planting, possessing, and 
 inhabiting those parts, there hath been transported 
 and brought home into Europe greater store of gold, 
 silver, pearls and precious stones, than heretofore hath 
 been in aU ages since the creation of the world.
 
 An extract taken out of the map of Sebastian Cabot, cut 
 by Clement Adams, concerning his discovery of the 
 West Indies, which is to be seen in Her Majesty's 
 privy gallery at Westminster, and in many other 
 ancient merchants' houses. 
 
 In the year of our Lord 1497, John Cabot, a Venetian, 
 and his son Sebastian (with an EngUsh fleet out from 
 Bristol) discovered that land which no man before 
 that time had attempted, on the 24th of June, about 
 five of the clock earlv in the morning. This land he 
 called Prima Vista, that is to say. First Seen, because 
 as I suppose it was that part whereof they had the 
 first sight from sea. That island which lieth out before 
 the land, he called the Island of S. John upon this 
 occasion, as I think, because it was discovered upon 
 the day of John the Baptist. 
 
 The inhabitants of this island use to wear beasts' 
 skins, and have them in as great estimation as we 
 have our finest garments. In their wars they use 
 bows, arrows, pikes, darts, wooden clubs, and slings. 
 The soil is barren in some places, and yieldeth little 
 fruit, but it is full of white bears, and stags far greater 
 than ours. It yieldeth plenty of fish, and those very 
 great, as seals, and those which commonly we call 
 salmons: there are soles also above a yard in length: 
 but especially there is a great abundance of that kind 
 
 Island of S. John. Prince Edward Island. 
 14
 
 SEBASTIAN CABOT 15 
 
 of fish which the savages call baccalaos. In the same 
 island also there breed hawks, but they are so black 
 that they are very like to ravens, as also their part- 
 ridges, and eagles, which are in like sort black. 
 
 A discourse of Sebastian Cabot ioiicJiing his discovery of 
 part of the West India out of England in the time 
 of King Henry the Seventh, used to Galeacius 
 Butrigarius the Pope's Legate in Spain, and re- 
 ported by the said Legate in this sort. 
 
 Do you not understand, said he (speaking to certain 
 gentlemen of Venice), how to pass to India toward 
 the north-west, as did of late a citizen of Venice, so 
 valiant a man, and so well practised in all things 
 pertaining to navigation, and the science of cosmo- 
 graphy, that at this present he hath not his like in 
 Spain, insomuch that for his virtues he is preferred 
 above all other pilots that sail to the West Indies, 
 who may not pass thither without his licence, and is 
 therefore called piloto mayor, that is, the grand pilot? 
 And when we said that we knew him not, he pro- 
 ceeded, saying, that being certain years in the citv of 
 Seville, and desirous to have some knowledge of the 
 navigations of the Spaniards, it was told him that 
 there was in the city a valiant man, a Venetian bom 
 named Sebastian Cabot, who had the charge of those 
 things, being an expert man in the science, and one 
 that could make cards for the sea with his own hand, 
 and that by this report, seeking his acquaintance, he 
 found him a very gentle person, who entertained him 
 friendly, and showed him many things, and among 
 other a large map of the w^orld, with certain particular 
 navigations, as well of the Portuguese, as of the
 
 i6 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 Spaniards, and that he spake further unto him to this 
 effect. 
 
 When my father departed from Venice many years 
 since to dwell in England, to follow the trade of mer- 
 chandises, he took me with him to the city of London, 
 while I was very young, yet having nevertheless some 
 knowledge of letters of humanity, and of the sphere. 
 
 And when my father died in that time when news 
 were brought that Don Christopher Colonus, Genoese, 
 had discovered the coasts of India, whereof was great 
 talk in all the court of King Henry VII. who then 
 reigned, insomuch that all men with great admiration 
 affirmed it to be a thing more divine than human, to 
 sail by the west into the east where spices grow, by 
 a way that was never known before, by this fame 
 and report there increased in my heart a great flame 
 of desire to attempt some notable thing. 
 
 And understanding by reason of the sphere, that if 
 I should sail by way of the north-west, I should b}' 
 a shorter tract come into India, I thereupon caused 
 the king to be advertised of my device, who immedi- 
 ately commanded two carvels to be furnished with 
 all things appertaining to the voyage, which was as 
 far as I remember in the year 1496 in the beginning 
 of summer. 
 
 I began therefore to sail toward the north-west, not 
 thinking to find any other land than that of Cathay, 
 and from thence to turn toward India, but after 
 certain days I found that the land ran towards the 
 north, which was to me a great displeasure. 
 
 Nevertheless, sailing along by the coast to see if 
 I could find any gulf that turned, I found the land 
 still continent to the fifty-six degrees under our Pole. 
 And seeing that there the coast turned towards the east,
 
 SEBASTIAN CABOT 17 
 
 despairing to find the passage, I turned back again, 
 and sailed down by the coast of that land toward the 
 Equinoctial (ever with intent to find the said passage 
 to India) and came to that part of this firm land 
 which is now called Florida, where my victuals failing, 
 I departed from thence and returned into England, 
 where I found great tumults among the people, and 
 preparation for wars in Scotland: by reason whereof 
 there was no more consideration had to this vovage. 
 
 Whereupon I went into Spain to the Catholic King, 
 and Queen Elizabeth, which being advertised what 
 I had done, entertained me, and at their charges 
 furnished certain ships, wherewith they caused me to 
 sail to discover the coasts of Brazil, where I found 
 an exceeding great and large river named at this 
 present Rio de la Plata, that is, the River of Silver, 
 into the which I sailed and followed it into the firm 
 land, more than six-score leagues, finding it ever^^- 
 where very fair, and inhabited with infinite people, 
 which with admiration came running daily to our 
 ships. Into this river run so many other rivers, that 
 it is in manner incredible. 
 
 After this I made many other voyages, which I now 
 pretermit, and waxing old, I give myself to rest from 
 such travels, because there are now many voung and 
 lusty pilots and mariners of good experience, by whose 
 fonvardness I do rejoice in the fruit of my labours, 
 and rest with the charge of this office, as you see. 
 
 Another testimony of the voyage of Sebastian Cabot to 
 the west and north-west, taken of the sixth chapter 
 of the third Decade of Peter Martyr of Angleria. 
 
 These north seas have been searched by one Sebastian 
 Cabot, a Venetian bom, whom being yet but in manner
 
 i8 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 an infant, his parents carried with them into England, 
 having occasion to resort thither for trade of mer- 
 chandise, as is the manner of the Venetians to leave 
 no part of the world unsearched to obtain riches. 
 
 He therefore furnished two ships in England at his 
 own charges, and first with three hundred men directed 
 his course so far towards the North Pole, that even 
 in the month of July he found monstrous heaps of 
 ice swimming on the sea, and in manner continual 
 daylight, yet saw he the land in that tract free from 
 ice, which had been molten by the heat of the sun. 
 
 Thus seeing such heaps of ice before him, he was 
 enforced to turn his sails and follow the west, so 
 coasting still by the shore, that he was thereby brought 
 so far into the south, by reason of the land bending so 
 much southwards, that it was there almost equal in 
 latitude with the sea Fretum Herculeum, having the 
 North Pole elevate in manner in the same degree. 
 
 He sailed likewise in this tract so far towards the 
 west, that he had the island of Cuba on his left hand, 
 in manner in the same degree of longitude. As he 
 travelled by the coasts of this great land, which he 
 named Baccalaos, he saith that he found the like 
 course of the waters towards the west, but the same 
 to run more softly and gently than the swift waters 
 which the Spaniards found in their navigations south- 
 ward. Wherefore it is not only more likely to be true, 
 but ought also of necessity to be concluded that 
 between both the lands hitherto unknown, there should 
 be certain great open places whereby the waters should 
 thus continually pass from the east unto the west: 
 which waters I suppose to be driven about the globe 
 of the earth by the incessant moving and impulsion 
 of the heavens, and not to be swallowed up and cast
 
 SEBASTIAN CABOT 19 
 
 up again by the breathing of Demogorgon, as some 
 have imagined, because they see the seas by increase 
 and decrease to ebb and flow. 
 
 Sebastian Cabot himself named those lands Bacca- 
 laos, because that in the seas thereabout he found so 
 great multitudes of certain big fish much like unto 
 tunnies, which the inhabitants call baccalaos, that 
 they sometimes stayed his ships. He found also the 
 people of those regions covered with beasts' skins, yet 
 not without the use of reason. He also saith there is 
 great plenty of bears in those regions which use to 
 eat fish: for plunging themselves into the water, where 
 thev perceive a multitude of these fishes to lie, they 
 fasten their claws in their scales, and so draw them to 
 land and eat them, so, as he saith, the bears being 
 thus satisfied with fish, are not noisome to men. He 
 declareth further, that in many places of these regions 
 he saw great plenty of copper among the inhabitants. 
 
 Cabot is my very friend, whom I use familiarly, 
 and delight to have him sometimes keep me company 
 in mine own house. For being called out of England 
 by the commandment of the Catholic King of Castile, 
 after the death of King Henry, the seventh of that 
 name King of England, he was made one of our council 
 and assistants, as touching the affairs of the new 
 Indies, looking for ships daily to be furnished for 
 him to discover this hid secret of Nature. 
 
 Of three savages which Cabot brought home and presented 
 unto the king in the fourteenth year of his reign. 
 
 This year also were brought unto the king three men 
 taken in the Newfoundland Island that before I spoke 
 of, in William Purchas' time being Mayor. These were
 
 20 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 clothed in beasts' skins, and did eat raw flesh, and 
 spoke such speech that no man could understand them, 
 and in their demeanour like to brute beasts, whom 
 the king kept a time after. Of the which upon two 
 years after, I saw two apparelled after the manner 
 of Englishmen in Westminster Palace, which that 
 time I could not discern from Englislimen, till I was 
 learned what they were, but as for speech, I heard 
 none of them utter one word. 
 
 The large pension granted by King Edward the Sixth 
 to Sebastian Cabota, constituting him Grand Pilot 
 of England. 
 
 Edward the Sixth by the grace of God, King of 
 France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, to all 
 Christian people to whom these presents shaU come, 
 sendeth greeting. 
 
 Know ye that we, in consideration of the good and 
 acceptable service done, and to be done, unto us by 
 our beloved servant Sebastian Cabota, of our special 
 grace, certain knowledge, mere motion, and by the 
 advice and counsel of our most honourable uncle 
 Edward Duke of Somerset, governor of our person, 
 and Protector of our Kingdom's dominions, and sub- 
 jects, and of the rest of our Counsel, have given and 
 granted, and by these presents do give and grant to 
 the said Sebastian Cabota, a certain annuity, or yearly 
 revenue of one hundred, threescore and six pounds, 
 thirteen shillings four pence sterling, to have, enjoy, 
 and yearly receive the aforesaid annuity, or yearly 
 revenue, to the foresaid Sebastian Cabota during his 
 natural life, out of our Treasury at the receipt of 
 our Exchequer at Westminster, at the hands of our
 
 SEBASTIAN CABOT 21 
 
 Treasurers and paymasters, there remaining for the 
 time being, at the feasts of the Annunciation of the 
 Blessed Virgin Mar\', the Nativity of S. John Baptist, 
 S. Michael the Archangel, and the Nativity of our 
 Lord, to be paid by equal portions. 
 
 And further, of our more special grace, and bv the 
 advice and consent aforesaid we do give, and by these 
 presents do grant unto the aforesaid Sebastian Cabota, 
 so many, and so great sums of money as the said 
 annuity or 3'early revenue of a hundred, threescore 
 and six pounds, thirteen shillings, four pence, doth 
 amount and rise unto from the feast of S. Michael 
 the Archangel last past into this present time, to be 
 had and received b}^ the aforesaid Sebastian Cabota, 
 and his assigns out of our aforesaid Treasury, at the 
 hands of our aforesaid Treasurers and officers of our 
 Exchequer of our free gift without accompt, or anv- 
 thing else therefore to be yielded, paid, or made, to 
 U5, our heirs or successors, forasmuch as herein express 
 mention is made to the contrar}'. 
 
 In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters 
 to be made patents: Witness the King at Westminster 
 the sixth day of January, in the second year of his 
 reign. The year of our Lord 1548.
 
 CHANCELLOR'S 
 NORTH-EASTERLY VOYAGE 
 
 Th-e new navigation and discovery of the kingdom of 
 Moscovia by the north-east, in the year 1553 ; enter- 
 prised by Sir Hugh WillougJiby, knight, and per- 
 formed by Richard Chancellor, pilot-major of the 
 voyage. Written in Latin by Clement Adams. 
 
 At what time our merchants perceived the commodities 
 and wares of England to be in small request with the 
 countries and people about us and near unto us, and 
 that those merchandises which strangers in the time 
 and memory of our ancestors did earnestly seek and 
 desire, were now neglected and the price thereof 
 abated, although by us carried to their own ports, 
 and all foreign merchandises in great account, and 
 their prices wonderfully raised: certain grave citizens 
 of London, and men of great wisdom, and careful for 
 the good of their country^ began to think with them- 
 selves how this mischief might be remedied. 
 
 Neither was a remedy (as it then appeared) wanting 
 to their desires, for the avoiding of so great an incon- 
 venience; for seeing that the wealth of the Spaniards 
 and Portingales, by the disco ven,^ and search of new 
 trades and countries was marvellously increased, sup- 
 posing the same to be a course and mean for them 
 also to obtain the like, they thereupon resolved upon 
 a new and strange navigation. And whereas at the 
 same time, one Sebastian Cabota, a man in those days 
 very renowned, happened to be in London, they began 
 
 22
 
 RICHARD CHANCELLOR 23 
 
 first of all to deal and consult diligently with him, and 
 after much speech and conference together, it \v£ls at 
 last concluded that three ships should be prepared and 
 furnished out for the search and discoverv of the 
 northern part of the world, to open a way and passage 
 to our men for travel to new and unknown kingdoms. 
 
 And whereas many things seemed necessary to be 
 regarded in this so hard and dilTficult a matter, they 
 first make choice of certain grave and wise persons in 
 manner of a senate or company, which should lay their 
 heads together and give their judgments and provide 
 things requisite and profitable for all occasions: bv 
 this company it was thought expedient that a certain 
 sum of money should publicly be collected to serve 
 for the furnishing of so many ships. And lest anv 
 private man should be too much oppressed and charged, 
 a course was taken that ever\' man willing to be of the 
 society should disburse the portion of twenty and five 
 pounds apiece; so that in a short time by this means 
 the sum of six thousand pounds being gathered, the 
 three ships were bought, the most part whereof thev 
 provided to be newly built and trimmed. 
 
 But in this action I wot not whether I mav more 
 admire the care of the merchants or the diligence of 
 the shipwrights: for the merchants they get ver\' 
 strong and well-seasoned planks for the building, the 
 shipwrights they with daily travail and their greatest 
 skill do fit them for the dispatch of the ships; they 
 caulk them, pitch them, and among the rest, they 
 make one most staunch and hrm by an excellent and 
 ingenious invention. For they had heard that in 
 certain parts of the ocean a kind of worm is bred, 
 which many times pierceth and eateth through the 
 strongest oak that is : and therefore that the mariners-
 
 24 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 and the rest to be employed in this voyage might be 
 free and safe from this danger, they cover a piece of 
 the keel of the ship with thin sheets of lead; and 
 having thus built the ships and furnished them with 
 armour and artillery, then followed a second care, no 
 less troublesome and necessary than the former, 
 namely, the provision of victuals, which was to be 
 made according to the time and length of the voyage. 
 
 And whereas they afore-determined to have the 
 east part of the world sailed unto, and 3^et that the 
 sea towards the same was not open, except they kept 
 the northern tract, whereas yet it was doubtful whether 
 there were any passage yea or no, they resolved to 
 victual the ships for eighteen months, which they did 
 for this reason: for our men being to pass that huge 
 and cold part of the world, they wisely foreseeing it, 
 allowed them six months victual to sail to the place, 
 so much more to remain there if the extremity of the 
 winter hindered their return, and so much more also 
 for the time of their coming home. 
 
 Now this provision being made and carried aboard, 
 with armour and munition of all sorts, sufficient 
 captains and governors of so great an enterprise were, 
 as yet, wanting; to which office and place although 
 many men (and some void of experience) offered them- 
 selves, yet one Sir Hugh Willoughby, a most valiant 
 gentleman and well-born, very earnestly requested to 
 have that care and charge committed unto him: of 
 whom before all others, both by reason of his goodly 
 personage (for he was of a tall stature) as also for his 
 singular skill in the services of war, the company of 
 the merchants made greatest account: so that at the 
 last they concluded and made choice of him for the 
 general of this voyage, and appointed to him tlie
 
 RICHARD CHANCELLOR 25 
 
 admiral, with authority and command over all the 
 rest. 
 
 And for the government of other ships, although 
 divers men seemed willing, and made offers of them- 
 selves thereunto, yet by a common consent one Richard 
 Chancellor, a man of great estimation for many good 
 parts of wit in him, was elected, in whom alone great 
 hope for the performance of this business rested. This 
 man was brought up by one Master Henry Sidney, a 
 noble young gentleman and very much beloved of 
 King Edward, who at this time, coming to the place 
 where the merchants were gathered together, began 
 a very eloquent speech or oration, and spake to them 
 after this manner following : 
 
 My very worshipful friends, I cannot but greatl}^ 
 commend your present godly and virtuous intention in 
 the serious enterprising (for the singular love you bear 
 to your country), a matter which (T hope) will prove 
 profitable for this nation and honourable to this our 
 land. Which intention of yours we also of the nobility 
 are ready to our power to help and further: neither do 
 we hold anything so dear and precious unto us which 
 we will not willingly forgo and la}^ out in so commendable 
 a cause. But principally I rejoice in m^^self that I have 
 nourished and maintained that wit, which is like by some 
 means and in some measure to profit and stead you in 
 this worthy action. But yet I would not have you ignorant 
 of this one thing, that I do now part with Chancellor, 
 not because I make little reckoning of the man, or that 
 his maintenance is burdenous and chargeable unto me, 
 but that you might conceive and understa'^.d my good- 
 will and promptitude for the furtherance of this business, 
 and that the authority and estimation which he de- 
 serveth may be given him. You know the man by report, 
 I by experience, you by words, I by deeds, j'-ou by speech 
 
 The admiral. The leading vessel.
 
 26 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 and company, but I, by the daily trial of his life, have a 
 full and perfect knowledge of him. And you are also to 
 remember into how many perils, for your sakes, and his 
 country's love, he is now to run: whereof it is requisite 
 that we be not unmindful, if it please God to send him 
 good success. We commit a little money to the chance 
 and hazard of Fortune: he commits his life (a thing to 
 a man of all things most dear) to the raging sea and the 
 uncertainties of many dangers. We shall here live and 
 rest at home quietly with our friends and acquaintance; 
 but he, in the meantime, labouring to keep the ignorant 
 and unruly mariners in good order and obedience: with 
 how many cares shall he trouble and vex himself ? With 
 how many troubles shall he break himself? And how 
 many disquietings shall he be forced to sustain ? We 
 shall keep our own coasts and country; he shall seek 
 strange and unknown kingdoms. He shall commit his 
 safety to barbarous and cruel people, and shall hazard 
 his life among the monstrous and terrible beasts of the 
 sea. Wherefore in respect of the greatness of the dangers 
 and the excellence of his charge, you are to favour and 
 love the man thus departing from us: and if it fall so 
 happily out that he return again, it is your part, and duty 
 also, liberally to reward him. 
 
 After that this noble young gentleman had delivered 
 this, or some such-like speech, much more eloquently 
 than I can possibly report it, the company then present 
 began one to look upon another, one to question and 
 confer with another; and some (to whom the virtue 
 and sufficiency of the man was known) began secretl}- 
 to rejoice with themselves and to conceive a special 
 hope that the man would prove in time very rare and 
 excellent, and that his virtues, already appearing and 
 shining to the world, would grow, to the great honour 
 and advancement of this kingdom. 
 
 After all this, the company growing to some silence, 
 it seemed good to them that were of the greatest
 
 RICHARD CHAiXCELLOR 27 
 
 gravity amongst them, to inquire, search and seek 
 what might be learned and known concerning the 
 easterly part or tract of the world. For which cause 
 two Tartarians, which were then of the king's stable, 
 were sent for, and an interpreter was gotten to be 
 present, by whom they were demanded touching their 
 country and the manners of their nation. But they 
 were able to answer nothing to the purpose; being, 
 indeed, more acquainted (as one there merrily and 
 openly said) to toss pots than to learn the states and 
 dispositions of people. 
 
 But after much ado and many things passed about 
 this matter, they grew at last to this issue, to set 
 down and appoint a time for the departure of the 
 ships, because divers were of opinion that a great part 
 of the best time of the year was alreadv spent, and it 
 the delay grew longer, the way would be stopped and 
 barred by the force of the ice and the cold climate; 
 and therefore it was thought best, by the opinion of 
 them all, that by the twentieth day of May the captains 
 and mariners should take shipping and depart from 
 Ratcliffe upon the ebb, if it pleased God. 
 
 They having saluted their acquaintances — one his 
 wife, another his children, another his kinsfolks, and 
 another his friends dearer than his kinsfolks — were 
 present and ready at the day appointed ; and having 
 weighed anchor they departed with the turning of the 
 water, and sailing easily, came first to Greenwich. 
 The greater ships are towed down with boats and 
 oars, and the mariners being all apparelled in watchet 
 or sky-coloured cloth, rowed amain and made way 
 with dilie:ence. And being come near to Greenwich 
 (where the Court then lay), presently upon the news 
 thereof, the courtiers came running out and the
 
 28 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 common people flocked together, stajiding very thick 
 upon the shore. The Privy Council, they looked out 
 at the windows of the Court, and the rest ran up to 
 the tops of the towers. 
 
 The ships hereupon discharge their ordinance, and 
 shoot off their pieces after the manner of war and of 
 the sea, insomuch that the tops of the hills sounded 
 therewith, the valleys and the waters gave an echo, 
 and the mariners they shouted in such sort that the 
 sky rang again with the noise thereof. One stood in 
 the poop of the ship, and by his gesture bids farewell 
 to his friends in the best manner he could. Another 
 walks upon the hatches, another climbs the shrouds, 
 another stands upon the main-yard, and another in 
 the top of the ship. To be short, it was a very triumph 
 (after a sort) in all respects to the beholders. But 
 (alas!) the good King Edward (in respect of whom 
 principally all this was prepared) he only by reason 
 of his sickness was absent from this show, and not 
 long after the departure of these ships, the lamentable 
 and most sorrowful accident of his death followed. 
 
 But to proceed in the matter. 
 
 The ships going down with the tide came at last 
 to Woolwich, where they stayed and cast anchor, with 
 purpose to depart thence again as soon as the turning 
 of the water and a better wind should draw them to 
 set sail. After this they departed and came to Harwich, 
 in which port they stayed long, not without great loss 
 and consuming of time: yet at the last, with a good 
 wind, they hoist up sail and committed themselves to 
 the sea, giving their last adieu to their native country, 
 which they knew not whether they should ever return 
 to see again or not. Many of them looked oftentimes 
 back and could not refrain from tears, considering into
 
 RICHARD CHANCELLOR 29 
 
 what hazards they were to fall and what uncertainties 
 of the sea they were to make trial of. 
 
 Amongst the rest, Richard Chancellor, the captain 
 of the Edward Bonaventure, was not a httle grieved 
 with the fear of wanting victuals, part whereof was 
 found to be corrupt and putrefied at Harwich, and the 
 hogsheads of wine also leaked and were not staunch. 
 His natural and fatherly affection also somewhat 
 troubled him, for he left behind him his two little sons, 
 which were in the case of orphans, if he sped not well: 
 the estate, also, of his company moved him to care, 
 being in the former respects, after a sort, unhappy, and 
 were to abide with himself ever^- good or bad accident. 
 
 But in the meantime, while his mind was thus 
 tormented with the multiphcity of sorrows and cares, 
 after many days' sailing, they kenned land afar off, 
 whereunto the pilots directed the ships; and being 
 come to it they land, and find it to be Rost Island, 
 where they stayed certain days and afterwards set sail 
 again, and proceeding towards the north, they espied 
 certain other islands, which were called the Cross of 
 Islands. From which places, when they were a little 
 departed. Sir Hugh ^^'illoughby, the general, a man 
 of good foresight and providence in all his actions, 
 erected and set out his flag, by which he called together 
 the chief est men of the other ships, that by the help 
 and assistance of their counsels, the order of the 
 government and conducting of the ships in the whole 
 voyage might be better: who being come together 
 accordingly, they conclude and agree that if any great 
 tempest should arise at any time and happen to dis- 
 perse and scatter them, ever}' ship should endeavour 
 his best to go to Wardhouse, a haven or castle of some 
 name in the kingdom of Norway, and that they that
 
 30 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 arrived there first in safety should stay and expect 
 the coming of the rest. 
 
 The very same day, in the afternoon, about four 
 of the clock, so great a tempest suddenly arose and 
 the seas were so outrageous, that the ships could not 
 keep their intended course, but some were perforce 
 driven one way and some another way, to their great 
 peril and hazard. The general with his loudest voice, 
 cried out to Richard Chancellor and earnestly re- 
 quested him not to go far from him, but he neither 
 would nor could keep company with him, if he sailed 
 still so fast: for the admiral was of better sail than 
 his ship. But the said admiral, I know "not b}' what 
 means, bearing all his sails, was carried away with 
 so great force and swiftness that not long after he was 
 quite out of sight, and the third ship also, wath the 
 same storm and like rage, was dispersed and lost us. 
 
 The ship boat of the admiral, striking against the 
 ship, was over^vhelmed in the sight and view of the 
 mariners of the Bonaventure; and as for them that 
 are already returned and arrived, they know nothing 
 of the rest of the ships, what was become of them. 
 
 But if it be so that any miserable mishap have 
 overtaken them, if the rage and fury of the sea have 
 devoured those good men, or if as yet they live and 
 wander up and down in strange countries, I must 
 needs say they were men worthy of better fortune, and 
 if they be living, let us wish them safety and a good 
 return : but if the cruelty of death hath taken hold of 
 them, God send them a Christian grave and sepulchre. 
 
 Now Richard Chancellor, with his ship and company, 
 being thus left alone and become very pensive, heavy, 
 and sorrowful by this dispersion of the fleet, he, accord- 
 ing to the order before taken, shapeth his course for
 
 RICHARD CHANXELLOR 31 
 
 Wardhouse in Norway, there to expect and abide thie 
 arrival of the rest of the ships. And being come thither, 
 and having stayed there the space of seven days, and 
 looked in vain for their coming, he determined, at 
 length, to proceed alone in the purposed voyage. 
 
 And as he was preparing himself to depart, it hap- 
 pened that he fell in company and speech with certain 
 Scottish men, who, having understanding of his inten- 
 tion, and wishing well to his actions, began earnestlv 
 to dissuade him from the further prosecution of the 
 discoverv', by amplifying the dangers which he was 
 to fall into, and omitted no reason that might serve 
 to that purpose. But he, holding nothing so igno- 
 minious and reproachful as inconstancy and levitv of 
 mind, and persuading himself that a man of valour 
 could not commit a more dishonourable part than, 
 for fear of danger, to avoid and shun great attempts, 
 was nothing at all changed or discouraged with the 
 speeches and words of the Scots, remaining steadfast 
 and immutable in his first resolution; determining 
 either to bring that to pass which was intended, or 
 else to die the death. 
 
 And as for them which were with Master Chancellor 
 in his ship, although they had great cause of discomfort 
 by the loss of their company, whom the aforesaid 
 tempest had separated from them, and were not a 
 little troubled with cogitations and perturbations of 
 mind in respect of their doubtful course: vet, not- 
 withstanding, they were of such consent and agreement 
 of mind with Master Chancellor that they were reso- 
 lute and prepared, under his direction and government, 
 to make proof and trial of all adventures, without all 
 fear or mistrust of future dangers. Which constancv 
 of mind in all the company did exceedingly increase
 
 32 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 their captain's carefulness; for he, being swallowed 
 up with like goodwill and love towards them, feared 
 lest through an}^ error of his the safety of the company 
 should be endangered. 
 
 To conclude, when they saw their desire and hope 
 of the arrival of the rest of the ships to be every day 
 more and more frustrated, they provided to sea again, 
 and Master Chancellor held on his course towards 
 that unknown part of the world, and sailed so far 
 that he came at last to the place where he found no 
 night at all, but a continual light and brightness of 
 the sun shining clearly upon the huge and mighty sea. 
 And having the benefit of this perpetual light for 
 certain days, at the length it pleased God to bring 
 them into a certain great bay, which was of one 
 hundred miles, or thereabout, over. Whereinto they 
 entered, and somewhat far within it cast anchor, and 
 looking every way about them it happened that they 
 espied afar off a certain fisher boat, which Master 
 Chancellor, accompanied with a few of his men, went 
 towards to commune with the fishermen that were in 
 it, and to know of them what country it was, and 
 what people, and of what manner of living they were. 
 
 But they, being amazed with the strange greatness 
 of his ship (for in those parts before that time they had 
 never seen the like), began presently to avoid and to 
 flee; but he, still following them, at last overtook 
 them and being come to them they, being in great 
 fear as men half -dead, prostrated themselves before 
 him, offering to kiss his feet; but he, according to his 
 great and singular courtesy, looked pleasantly upon 
 them, comforting them by signs and gestures, refusing 
 those duties and reverences of theirs, and taking them 
 up in all loving sort from the ground.
 
 RICHARD CHA:NXELL0R 33 
 
 And it is strange to cunbider how much favour 
 afterwards in that place this humanity of his did 
 purchase to himself. For they being dismissed, spread 
 by and by a report abroad of the arrival of a strange 
 nation of a singular gentleness and courtesy. Where- 
 upon the common people came together, offering to 
 these new-come guests, victuals freely, and not refusing 
 to traffic with them, except tJiey had been bound by 
 a certain religious use and custom, not to buy any 
 foreign commodities without the knowledge and con- 
 sent of the king. 
 
 By this time our men had learned that this countrv' 
 w^as called Russia, or Moscovie, and that Ivan \^asili- 
 wich (which was at that time their king's name) ruled 
 and governed far and wide in those places. And the 
 barbarous Russians asked likewise of our men whence 
 they were and what they came for. Whereunto answer 
 was made that they were Ens^lishmen sent into 
 these coasts from the most excellent King Edward 
 the Sixth, having from him in commandment certain 
 things to deliver to their king, and seeking nothing 
 else but his amity and friendship, and traffic with his 
 people, whereby they doubted not but that great 
 commodity and profit would grow to the subjects of 
 both kingdoms. 
 
 The barbarians heard these things ver\^ gladly, and 
 promised their aid and furtherance to acquaint their king 
 out of hand with so honest and reasonable a request. 
 
 In the meantime, Master Chancellor entreated vic- 
 tuals for his money of the governor of the place (who, 
 together with others, came aboard him) and required 
 hostages of them likewise for the more assurance of 
 safety to himself and his company. To whom the 
 governors answered that they knew not in that case 
 
 B
 
 34 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 the will of the king, but yet were willing in such 
 things as they might lawfully do, to pleasure him, 
 which was as then to afford him the benefit of victuals. 
 
 Now while these things were adoing, they secretly 
 sent a messenger unto the emperor to certify him of 
 the arrival of a strange nation and withal to know 
 his pleasure concerning them. Which message was 
 very welcome unto him, insomuch that voluntarily he 
 invited them to come to his court. But if by reason 
 of the tediousness of so long a journey, they thought 
 it not best so to do, then he granted libert}^ to his 
 subjects to bargain and to traffic with them: and 
 further promised that if it would please them to come 
 to him, he himself would bear the whole charges of 
 post-horses. In the meantime the governors of the 
 place deferred the matter from day to day, pretending 
 divers excuses, and saying one while that the consent 
 of all the governors and another while that the great 
 and weighty affairs of the kingdom compelled them 
 defer their answer ; and this they did of purpose, so long 
 to protract the time until the messenger (sent before to 
 the king) did return with relation of his will and pleasure. 
 
 But Master Chancellor (seeing himself held in this 
 suspense with long and vain expectation, and thinking 
 that of intention to delude him they posted the matter 
 off so often) was very instant with them to perform 
 their promise, which if they would not do, he told 
 them that he would depart and proceed in his voyage. 
 So that the Moscovites (although as yet they knew 
 not the mind of their king) yet fearing the departure 
 indeed of our men, who had such wares and com- 
 modities as they greatly desired, they at last resolved 
 to furnish our people with all things necessar}', and 
 to conduct them by land to the presence of their king.
 
 RICHARD CHANCELLOR 35 
 
 And so Master Chancellor began his journey, which 
 was very long and most troublesome, wherein he had 
 the use of certain sleds, which in that country are 
 very common, for they are carried themselves upon 
 sleds, and all their carriages are in the same sort, the 
 people almost not knowing any other manner of 
 carriage, the cause whereof is the exceeding hardness 
 of the ground, congealed in the winter time by the 
 force of the cold, which in those places is ver\' extreme 
 and horrible, whereof hereafter we will say something. 
 
 But now, they having passed the greater part of 
 their journey, met at last with the sled-man (of whom 
 I spake before) sent to the king secretly from the 
 justices or governors, who, by some ill-hap had lost 
 his way and had gone to the seaside, which is near 
 to the countrv' of the Tartars, thinking there to have 
 found our ship. But having long erred and wandered 
 out of his way, at the last in his direct return he met 
 (as he was coming) our captain on the way; to whom 
 he, by and by, delivered the emperor's letters, which 
 were written to him with all courtesy and in the most 
 loving manner that could be; wherein express com- 
 mandment was given that post-horses should be gotten 
 for him and the rest of his company without an\- 
 money. Which thing was of all the Russians in the 
 rest of their journey so willing done, that they began 
 to quarrel, yea, and to fight also, in striving and 
 contending which of them should put their post- 
 horses to the sled. So that after much ado and great 
 pains taken in this long and weary journey (for they 
 had travelled very near fifteen hundred miles) Master 
 Chancellor came at last to Moscow, the chief city of 
 the kingdom, and the seat of the king.
 
 THE SECOND VOYAGE OF 
 M. MARTIN FROBISHER 
 
 ^^^v'^^^^'^^^v^^t^^^^>^^'^vt^^v^<>»'->^^ 
 
 The second voyage of Master Martin Frobisher, made 
 to the west and north-west regions, in the year 1577, 
 with a description of the country and people : 
 Written by Master Dionise Settle. 
 
 On Whitsunday, being the six and twentieth of May, 
 in the year of our Lord God 1577, Captain Frobisher 
 departed from Blackwall, with one of the Queen's 
 Majesty's ships, called the Aid, of nine-score tons, or 
 thereabouts: and two other little barques likewise, 
 the one called the Gabriel, whereof Master Fen ton, a 
 gentleman of my Lord of Warwick's, was captain: 
 and the other, the Michael, whereof Master York, a 
 gentleman of my Lord Admiral's, was captain, accom- 
 panied with seven-score gentlemen, soldiers, and sailors, 
 well furnished with victuals, and other provision neces- 
 sary for one half year, on this his second voyage, for 
 the further discovering of the passage to Cathay, and 
 other countries thereunto adjacent, by west and north- 
 west navigations : which passage, or way, is supposed 
 to be in the north and north-west part of America: 
 
 The second voyage, etc. The first voyage was made in 1576, 
 and Frobislier thought that he had found the North- West 
 Passage, in what is now known as Frobisher Bay. On this 
 voyage he found a stone which was thought to be an ore of 
 gold and this discovery set English mariners by the ears, 
 driving the thought of the North-West Passage out of their 
 minds. 
 
 36
 
 MARTIN FROBISHER 37 
 
 and the said America to be an i?land environed with 
 the sea, where-through our merchants may have course 
 and recourse with their merchandise, from these 
 our northernmost parts of Europe to those Oriental 
 coasts of Asia, in much shorter time, and with greater 
 benefit than any others, to their no httle commodity 
 and profit that do or shall frequent the same. 
 
 Our said captain and general of this present voyage 
 and company having the year before, with two little 
 pinnaces, to his great danger, and no small commenda- 
 tion, given a worthy attempt towards the performance 
 thereof, is also pressed, when occasion shall be minis- 
 tered (to the benefit of his prince, and native country') 
 to adventure himself further therein. As for this second 
 voyage, it seemeth sufficient, that he hath better ex- 
 plored and searched the commodities of those people 
 and countries, which in his first voyage the year before 
 he had found out. 
 
 Upon which considerations, the day and year 
 before expressed, we departed from Blackwall to 
 Harwich, where making an accomplishment of things 
 necessar}', the last of May we hoisted up sails, and 
 with a merrs" wind, the 7th of June we arrived at the 
 islands called Orcades, or \Tilgarly Orkney, being in 
 number thirty, subject and adjacent to Scotland, 
 where we made provision of fresh water: in the doing 
 whereof our general licensed the gentlemen and soldiers 
 for their recreation, to go on shore. 
 
 At our landing, the people fled from their poor 
 cottages, with shrieks and alarms, to warn their neigh- 
 bours of enemies, but by gentle persuasions we re- 
 claimed them to their houses. It seemeth they are 
 often frightened with pirates, or some other enemies, 
 that move them to such sudden fear.
 
 38 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 Their houses are very simply built with pebble stone, 
 without any chimneys, the fire being made in the midst 
 thereof. The good man, wife, children, and other of 
 their family eat and sleep on the one side of the house, 
 and the cattle on the other, very beastly and rudely, 
 in respect of civility. They are destitute of wood, 
 their fire is turfs. They have com and oats, with 
 which they pay their king's rent, to the maintenance 
 of his house. They take great quantity of fish, which 
 they dry in the wind and sun. They dress their meat 
 ver\^ filthily, and eat it without salt. Their apparel is 
 after the rudest sort of Scotland. Their money is all 
 base. Their church and religion is reformed according 
 to the Scots. The fishermen of England can better 
 declare the dispositions of those people than I : where- 
 fore I remit other their usages to their reports, a? 
 yearly repair thither, in their course to and from 
 Iceland for fish. 
 
 We departed here-hence the 8th of June, and followed 
 our course between west and north-west, until the 
 4th of July: all which time we had no night, but that 
 easily and without any impediment we had, when we 
 were so disposed, the fruition of our books, and other 
 pleasures to pass away the time: a thing of no small 
 moment to such as wander in unknown seas and long 
 navigations, especialh' when both the winds and raging 
 surges do pass their common and wonted course. This 
 benefit cndureth in those parts not six weeks, while 
 the sun is near the Tropic of Cancer: but where the 
 Pole is raised to 70 or 80 degrees, it continueth much 
 longer. 
 
 All along these seas, after we were six days sailing 
 from Orkney, we met floating in the sea, great fir 
 trees, which, as we judged, were with the fury of great
 
 MARTIN FROBISHER 39 
 
 floods rooted up, and so driven into the sea. Iceland 
 hath almost no other wood nor fuel, but such as they 
 take up upon their coasts. It seemeth, that these trees 
 are driven from some part of the Newfoundland, 
 with the current that setteth from the west to the 
 east. 
 
 The 4th of July we came within the making of Fries- 
 land. From this shore ten or twelve leagues, we met 
 great islands of ice, of half a mile, some more, some less 
 in compass, showing above the sea, thirty or forty 
 fathoms, and as we supposed fast on ground, where 
 with our lead we could scarce sound the bottom for 
 depth. 
 
 Here, in the place of odoriferous and fragrant smells 
 of sweet gums, and pleasant notes of musical birds, 
 which other countries in more temperate zones do 
 yield, we tasted the most boisterous boreal blasts 
 mixed with snow and hail, in the months of June and 
 July, nothing inferior to our intemperate winter: a 
 sudden alteration, and especially in a place of parallel, 
 where the Pole is not elevated above 61 degrees: at 
 which height other countries more to the north, yea 
 unto 70 degrees, show themselves more temperate than 
 this doth. 
 
 All along this coast ice lieth, as a continual bulwark, 
 and so defendeth the country, that those that would 
 land there, incur great danger. Our general three davs 
 together attempted with the ship's boat to have gone 
 on shore, which for that without great danger he could 
 not accomplish, he deferred it until a more convenient 
 time. All along the coast lie very high mountains 
 covered with snow, except in such places, where 
 through the steepness of the mountains of force it 
 must needs fall. Four days coasting along this land.
 
 40 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 we found no sign of habitation. Little birds, which 
 we judged to have lost the shore, by reason of thick 
 fogs which that country is much subject unto, came 
 flying into our ships, which causeth us to suppose that 
 the country is both more tolerable, and also habitable 
 within, than the outward shore maketh show or 
 signification. 
 
 From hence we departed the 8th of July: and the 
 i6th of the same we came within the making of land, 
 whch land our general the year before had named 
 the Queen's Foreland, being an island as we judge, 
 lying near the supposed continent with America: 
 and on the other side, opposite to the same, one other 
 island called Hall's Island, after the name of the master 
 of the ship, near adjacent to the firm land, supposed 
 continent with Asia. Between the which two islands 
 there is a large entrance or strait, called Frobisher's 
 Strait, after the name of our general, the first finder 
 thereof. This said strait is supposed to have passage 
 into the sea of Sur, which I have unknown as yet. 
 
 It seemeth that either here, or not far hence, the 
 sea should have more large entrance, than in other 
 parts within the frozen or intemperate zone: and 
 that some contrary tide, either from the east or west, 
 with main force casteth out that great quantity of 
 ice, which cometh floating from this coast, even into 
 Friesland, causing that country to seem more in- 
 temperate than others much more northerly than the 
 same. 
 
 I cannot judge that any temperature under the Pole, 
 the time of the sun's northern declination being half 
 a year together, and one whole day (considering that 
 the sun's elevation surmounteth not 23 degrees and 
 30 minutes) can have power to dissolve such monstrous
 
 MARTIN FROBISHER 41 
 
 and huge ice, comparable to great mountains, except 
 by some other force, as by swift currents and tides, 
 with the help of the said day of half a year. 
 
 Before we came within the making of these lands we 
 tasted cold storms, insomuch that it seemed we had 
 changed summer with winter, if the length of the days 
 had not removed us from that opinion. 
 
 At our first coming, the straits seemed to be shut 
 up with a long mure of ice, which gave no little cause 
 of discomfort unto us all : but our general (to whose 
 diligence imminent dangers and difficult attempts 
 seemed nothing, in respect of his willing mind, for the 
 commodity of his prince and country), with two little 
 pinnaces prepared of purpose, passed twice through 
 them to the east shore, and the islands thereunto 
 adjacent: and the ship, with the two barques, lav 
 off and on something further into the sea, from the 
 danger of the ice. 
 
 Whilst he was searching the country' near the shore, 
 some of the people of the country- showed themselves 
 leaping and dancing, with strange shrieks and cries, 
 which gave no little admiration to our men. Our 
 general, desirous to allure them unto him by fair means, 
 caused knives and other things to be proffered unto 
 them, which they would not take at our hands: but 
 being laid on the ground, and the party going away, 
 they came and took up, leaving something of theirs 
 to countervail the same. At the length two of them 
 leaving their weapons, came down to our general and 
 master, who did the like to them, commanding the 
 company to stay, and went unto them, but they 
 deliverly escaped and ran to their bows and arrows, 
 and came fiercely upon them (not respecting the rest 
 of our company which were ready for their defence). 
 
 *B
 
 42 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 but with their arrows hurt divers of them: we took 
 the one, and the other escaped. 
 
 Whilst our general was busied in searching the 
 countr\% and those islands adjacent on the east shore, 
 the ship and barques, having great care not to put 
 far into the sea from him, for that he had small store 
 of victuals, were forced to abide in a cruel tempest, 
 chancing in the night, amongst and in the thickest 
 of the ice, which was so monstrous, that even the least 
 of a thousand had been of force sufficient to have 
 shivered our ship and barques into small portions, if 
 God (who in all necessities, hath care upon the in- 
 firmity of man) had not provided for this our extremity 
 a sufficient remedy through the light of the night, 
 whereby we might well discern to flee from such 
 imminent dangers. 
 
 If we had not incurred this danger amongst these 
 monstrous islands of ice, we should have lost our 
 general and master, and the most of our best sailors, 
 which were on the shore destitute of victuals: but 
 by the valour of our master gunner, Master Jackman, 
 and Andrew Dier, the master's mates, men expert both 
 in navigation, and other good qualities, we were all 
 content to incur the dangers afore rehearsed before 
 we v/ould, with our own safety, run into the seas, 
 to the destruction of our said general, and his 
 company. 
 
 The day following, being the 19th of July, our 
 captain returned to the ship, with report of supposed 
 riches, which showed itself in the bowels of those 
 barren mountains, wherewith we were all satisfied. 
 
 Within four days after we had been at the entrance 
 of the straits, the north-west and west winds dis- 
 persed the ice into the sea, and made us a large
 
 MARTIN FROBISHER 43 
 
 entrance into the straits, so that without any impedi- 
 ment, on the 19th of July we entered them, and the 
 20th thereof, our general and master with great dili- 
 gence sought out and sounded the west shore, and 
 found out a fair harbour for the ship and barques to 
 ride in, and named it after our master's mate. Jack- 
 man's Sound, and brought the ship, barques, and all 
 their company to safe anchor, except one man, which 
 died by God's visitation. 
 
 At our first arrival, after the ship rode at anchor, 
 our general, with such company as could well be spared 
 from the ships, in marching order entered the land, 
 having special care by exhortations, that at our 
 entrance thereinto, we should all with one voice, 
 kneeling upon our knees, chiefly thank God for our 
 safe arrival: secondly beseech Him, that it would 
 please His Divine Majesty, long to continue our queen, 
 for whom he, and all the rest of our company in this 
 order, took possession of the country: and thirdh', 
 that by our Christian study and endeavour, those 
 barbarous people, trained up in Paganism and infi- 
 delity, might be reduced to the knowledge of true 
 religion, and to the hope of salvation in Christ our 
 Redeemer. With other words very apt to signify his 
 willing mind, and affection towards his prince and 
 countr\': and whereby all suspicion of an undutiful 
 subject may credibly be judged to be utterly exempted 
 from his mind. All the rest of the gentlemen and 
 other deserve worthily herein their due praise and 
 commendation. 
 
 These things in this order accomplished, our general 
 commanded all the company to be obedient in things 
 needful for our own safeguard, to Master Fenton, 
 Master York, and Master Beast his lieutenant, while
 
 44 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 he was occupied in other necessary affairs, concerning 
 our coming thither. 
 
 After this order we marched through the country 
 with ensign displayed, so far as was thought needful, 
 and now and then heaped up stones on high mountains 
 and other places in token of possession, as likewise to 
 signify unto such as hereafter ma}^ chance to arrive 
 there, that possession is taken in the behalf of some 
 other prince, by those who first found out the country. 
 
 Whoso maketh navigations to those countries, hath 
 not only extreme winds, and furious seas to encounter 
 withal, but also many monstrous and great islands of 
 ice: a thing both rare, wonderful, and greatly to be 
 regarded. 
 
 We were forced sundry times, while the ship did 
 ride here at anchor, to have continual watch, with 
 boats and men ready with haw^sers to knit fast unto 
 such ice, as with the ebb and flood were tossed to and 
 fro in the harbour, and with force of oars to haul them 
 away, for endangering the ship. 
 
 Our general certain days searched this supposed 
 continent with America, and not finding the commodity 
 to answer his expectation, after he had made trial 
 thereof, he departed thence with two little barques, 
 and men sufficient, to the east shore, being the supposed 
 continent of Asia, and left the ship with most of the 
 gentlemen, soldiers, and sailors, until such time as he 
 either thought good to send or come for them. 
 
 The stones of this supposed continent with America 
 be altogether sparkled, and glisten in the sun like gold: 
 so likewise doth the sand in the bright water, yet they 
 verif\r the old proverb: All is not gold that glistereth. 
 
 On this west shore we found a dead fish floating, 
 which had in its nose a horn straight and torquet, of
 
 MARTIN FROBISHER 45 
 
 length two yards lacking two inches, being broken in 
 the top, where we might perceive it hollow, into the 
 which some of our sailors putting spiders they presently 
 died. I saw not the trial hereof, but it was reported 
 unto me of a truth : by the virtue whereof we supposed 
 it to be the sea-unicorn. 
 
 After our general had found out good harbour for 
 the ship and barques to anchor in, and also such store 
 of supposed gold ore as he thought himself satif-fied 
 withal, he returned to the Michael, whereof Master 
 York aforesaid was captain, accompanied with our 
 master and his mate: who coasting along the west 
 shore, not far from whence the ship rode, they per- 
 ceived a fair harbour, and willing to sound the same, 
 at the entrance thereof they espied two tents of seal- 
 skins, unto which the captain, our said master, and 
 other company resorted. At the sight of our men the 
 people fled into the mountains: nevertheless they 
 went to their tents, where leaving certain trifles of 
 ours, as glasses, bells, knives, and such hke things, 
 they departed, not taking anything of theirs except 
 one dog. They did in like manner leave behind them 
 a letter, pen, ink, and paper, whereby' our men whom 
 the captain lost the year before, and in that people's 
 custody, might (if any of them were alive) be adver- 
 tised of our presence and being there. 
 
 On the same day, after consultation had, all the 
 gentlemen, and others likewise that could be spared 
 from the ship, under the conduct and leading of 
 Master Philpot (unto whom in our general his absence, 
 and his lieutenant Master Beast, all the rest were 
 obedient) went ashore, determining to see, if bv fair 
 means we could either allure them to familiarity, or 
 otherwise take some of them, and so attain to some
 
 46 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 knowledge of those men whom our general lost the 
 year before. 
 
 At our coming back again to the place where our 
 tents were before, they had removed their tents further 
 into the said bay or sound, where they might, if they 
 were driven from the land, flee with their boats into 
 the sea. We parting ourselves into two companies, 
 and compassing a mountain came suddenly upon them 
 by land, who espying us, without any tarrying fled to 
 their boats, leaving the most part of their oars behind 
 them for haste, and rowed down the bay, where our 
 two pinnaces met them and drove them on to shore: 
 but if they had had all their oars, so swift are they in 
 rowing it had been lost time to have chased them. 
 
 When they were landed they fiercely assaulted our 
 men with their bows and arrows, who wounded three 
 of them with our arrows: and perceiving themselves 
 thus hurt, they desperately leapt off the rocks into 
 the sea, and drowned themselves ; but if by any means 
 we could have taken them alive (being their enemies 
 as they judged) we would both have saved them, and 
 also have sought remedy to cure their wounds received 
 at our hands. But they altogether void of humanity, 
 and ignorant what mercy meaneth, in extremities look 
 for no other than death: and perceiving they should 
 fall into our hands, thus miserably by drowning rather 
 desired death than otherwise to be saved by us: the 
 rest perceiving their fellows in this distress, fled into 
 the high mountains. 
 
 Two women not being so apt to escape as the men 
 were, the one for her age, and the other being encum- 
 bered with a young child, we took. The old wretch, 
 whom divers of our sailors supposed to be either a 
 devil or a witch, had her buskins plucked off, to see
 
 MARTIN FROBISHER 47 
 
 if she were cloven footed, and for her ugly hue and 
 deformity we let her go: the young woman and the 
 child we brought away. We named the place where 
 they were slain, Bloody Point : and the bay or harbour. 
 York's Sound, after the name of one of the captains of 
 the two barques. 
 
 Having this knowledge both of their fierceness and 
 cruelty, and perceiving that fair means as yet is not 
 able to allure them to famiUarity, we, disposed our- 
 selves, contrary to our incHnation, something to be 
 cruel, returned to their tents and made a spoil of the 
 same: where we found an old shirt, a doublet, a 
 girdle, and also shoes of our men, whom we lost the 
 year before: on nothing else unto them belonging 
 could we set our e\'es. 
 
 Their riches are not gold, silver or precious drapery, 
 but their said tents and boats, made of the skins of 
 red deer and seal-skins: also dogs hke unto wolves, 
 but for the most part black, with other trifles, more 
 to be wondered at for their strangeness, than for any 
 other commodity needful for our use. 
 
 Thus returning to our ship the 3rd of August, we 
 departed from the west shore supposed firm with 
 America, after we had anchored there thirteen days: 
 and so the 4th thereof we came to our general on the 
 east shore, and anchored in a fair harbour named 
 Anne Warwick's Sound, unto which is annexed an 
 island, both named after the Countess of Warwick, 
 Anne Warwick's Sound and Isle. 
 
 In this isle our general thought good for this voyage, 
 to freight both the ship and barques, with such stone 
 or supposed gold mineral, as he judged to countervail 
 the charges of the first, and this his second navigation 
 to these countries.
 
 48 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 In the meantime of our abode here some of the 
 country people came to show themselves unto us, 
 sundry times on the main shore, near adjacent to the 
 said isle. Our general, desirous to have some news of 
 his men, whom he lost the year before, with some 
 company with him repaired with the ship's boat to 
 sign with them for familiarity, whereunto he is per- 
 suaded to bring them. They at the first show made 
 tokens, that three of his five men were aUve, and 
 desired pen, ink, and paper, and that within three or 
 four days they would return, and (as we judged) bring 
 those of our men which were living, with them. 
 
 They also made signs and tokens of their king, 
 whom they called Cacough, and how he was carried 
 on men's shoulders, and a man far surmounting any 
 of our company, in bigness and stature. 
 
 With these tokens and signs of writing, pen, ink, 
 and paper was delivered to them, which they would 
 not take at our hands, but being laid upon the shore, 
 and the party gone away, they took up: which like- 
 wise they do when they desire anything for change of 
 theirs, laying for that which is left so much as they 
 think will countervail the same, and not coming near 
 together. It seemeth they have been used to this 
 trade or traffic, with some other people adjoining, or 
 not far distant from their country. 
 
 After four days some of them showed themselves 
 upon the firm land, but not where they w"ere before. 
 Our general very glad thereof, supposing to hear of 
 our men, went from the island, with the boat, and 
 sufficient company with him. They seemed very glad, 
 and allured him about a certain point of the land: 
 behind w^hich they might perceive a company of the 
 crafty villains to lie lurking, whom our general would
 
 MARTIN FROBISHER 49 
 
 not deal withal, for that he knew not what company 
 they were, and so with few signs dismissed them and 
 returned to his company. 
 
 Another time as our said general was coasting the 
 country with two little pinnaces, whereby at our return 
 he might make the better relation thereof, three of 
 the crafty villains, with a white skin allured us to 
 them. Once again our general, for that he hoped to 
 hear of his men, went towards them: at our coming 
 near the shore whereon they were, we might perceive 
 a number of them he hidden behind great stones, and 
 those three in sight labouring by all means possible 
 that some would come on land: and perceiving we 
 we made no haste, by words or friendly signs, which 
 they used by clapping of their hands, and being without 
 weapon, and but three in sight, they sought further 
 means to provoke us thereunto. One alone laid flesh 
 on the shore, which we took up with the boat-hook, 
 as necessary victuals for the relieving of the man, 
 woman, and child, whom we had taken: for that as 
 yet they could not digest our meat: whereby they 
 perceived themselves deceived of their expectation, 
 for all their crafty allurements. 
 
 Yet once again to make (as it were) a full show of 
 their crafty natures, and subtle sleights, to the intent 
 thereby to have entrapped and taken some of our 
 men, one of them counterfeited himself impotent and 
 lame of his legs, who seemed to descend to the water 
 side, with great difficulty: and to cover his craft the 
 more, one of his fellows came down with him, and in 
 such places where he seemed unable to pass, he took 
 him on his shoulders, set him by the water side, and 
 departed from him, leaving him (as it should seemJ 
 all alone, who playing his counterfeit pageant ven-
 
 50 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 well, thought thereby to provoke some of us to come 
 on shore, not fearing, but that one of us might make 
 our party good with a lame man. 
 
 Our general having compassion of his impotency, 
 thought good (if it were possible) to cure him thereof: 
 wherefore he caused a soldier to shoot at him with 
 his caleever, which grazed before his face. The counter- 
 feit villain deliverly fled, without any impediment at 
 all, and got him to his bow and arrows, and the rest 
 from their lurking holes, with their weapons, bows, 
 arrows, slings, and darts. Our general caused some 
 caleevers to be shot off at them, whereby some being 
 hurt, they might hereafter stand in more fear of us. 
 
 This was all the answer for this time we could have 
 of our men, or of our general's letter. Their crafty 
 dealing at these three several times being thus mani- 
 fest unto us, may plainly show their disposition in 
 other things to be correspondent. We judged that 
 they used these stratagems, thereby to have caught 
 some of us, for the delivering of the man, woman and 
 child whom we had taken. 
 
 They are men of a large corporature, and good 
 proportion: their colour is not much unlike the sun- 
 burnt country-man, who laboureth daily in the sun 
 for his Uving. 
 
 They wear their hair something long, and cut before 
 either with stone or knife, very disorderly. Their 
 women wear their hair long, and knit up with two 
 loops, showing forth on either side of their faces, and 
 the rest foltred upon a knot. Also some of their 
 women race their faces proportionally, as chin, cheeks, 
 and forehead, and the wrists of their hands, whereupon 
 they lay a colour which continueth dark azurine. 
 
 They eat their meat all raw, both flesh, fish, and
 
 MARTIN FROBISHER 51 
 
 fowl, or something parboiled with blood and a little 
 water w^hich they drink. For lack of water they will 
 eat ice, that is hard frozen, as pleasantly as we will 
 do sugar-candy, or other sugar. 
 
 If they for necessity's sake stand in need of medicine, 
 such grass as the country yields they pluck up and 
 eat, not daintily, or salletwise to allure their stomachs 
 to appetite: but for necessity's sake without either 
 salt, oils or washing, like brute beasts devouring the 
 same. They neither use table, stool, or table-cloth 
 for comeliness : but when they are imbrued with blood 
 knuckle-deep, and their knives in like sort, they use 
 their tongues as apt instruments to Hck them clean: 
 in doing whereof they are assured to lose none of their 
 victuals. 
 
 They frank or keep certain dogs not much unlike 
 wolves, which they yoke together, as we do oxen and 
 horses, to a sledge or trail: and so carry their neces- 
 saries over the ice and snow from place to place: as 
 the captive, whom we have, made perfect signs. And 
 when those dogs are not apt for the same use, or 
 when with hunger they are constrained for lack of 
 other victuals, the}' eat them: so that they are as 
 needful for them, in respect of their bigness, as are our 
 oxen for us. 
 
 They apparel themselves in the skins of such beasts 
 as they kill, sewed together with the sinews of them. 
 All the fowl which they kill, they skin, and make 
 thereof one kind of garment or other, to defend them 
 from the cold. 
 
 They make their apparel with hoods and tails, 
 which tails they give when they think to gratify any 
 friendship showed unto them: a great sign of friend- 
 ship with them.
 
 52 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 The men and women wear their hose close to their 
 legs, from the waist to the knee without any opening 
 before, as well the one kind as the other. Upon their 
 legs they wear hose of leather, with the fur side inward, 
 two or three pair on at once, and especially the women. 
 In those hose they put their knives, needles, and other 
 things needful to bear about. They put a bone within 
 their hose, which reacheth from the foot to the knee, 
 whereupon they draw their said hose, and so in place 
 of garters they are holden from falling down about 
 their feet. 
 
 They dress their skins very soft and supple with the 
 hair on. In cold weather of winter they wear the fur 
 side inward: and in summer outward. Other apparel 
 they have none but the said skins. 
 
 Those beasts, fishes, and fowls, which they kill, 
 are their meat, drink, apparel, houses, bedding, hose, 
 shoes, thread, and sails for their boats, with many 
 other necessaries whereof they stand in need, and 
 almost all their riches. 
 
 Their houses are tents made of seal-skins, pitched 
 up with four fir quarters, four-square meeting at the 
 top, and the skins sewed together with sinews, and laid 
 thereupon : they are so pitched up, that the entrance 
 unto them is always south or against the sun. 
 
 They have other sorts of houses which we found not 
 to be inhabited, which are raised with stones and 
 whale-bones, and a skin laid over them, to withstand 
 the rain, or other weather: the entrance of them 
 being not much unlike an oven's mouth, whereto I 
 think they resort for a time to fish, hunt, and fowl, 
 and so leave them until the next time they come 
 thither again. 
 
 Their weapons are bows, arrows, darts, and slings.
 
 MARTIN FROBISHER 53 
 
 Their bows are of wood of a yard long, sinewed at the 
 back with strong sinews, not glued to, but fast girded 
 and tied on. Their bow-strings are hkewise sinews. 
 Their arrows are three pieces knocked with bone, and 
 ended with bone; with those two ends, and the wood 
 in the midst, they pass not in length half a yard or 
 little more. They are feathered with two feathers, 
 the pen end being cut away, and the feathers laid upon 
 the arrow with the broad side to the wood ; insomuch 
 that they seem, when they are tied on, to have four 
 feathers. 
 
 They have also three sorts of heads to those arrows : 
 one sort of stone or iron, proportioned like to a heart: 
 the second sort of bone, much like unto a stopped 
 head, with a hook on the same: the third sort of bone 
 likewise, made sharp at both sides, and sharp-pointed. 
 They are not made very fast but lightly tied to, or 
 else set in a knock, that upon small occasion the 
 arrows leave these heads behind them: and they are 
 of small force, except they be ver}' near when they 
 shoot. 
 
 Their darts are m.ade of two sorts: the one with 
 many forks of bones in the fore end and likewise in 
 the midst: their proportions are not much unlike 
 our toasting irons but longer: these they cast out 
 of an instrument of wood, very readily. The other 
 sort is greater than the first aforesaid, with a long 
 bone made sharp on both sides not much unlike a 
 rapier, which I take to be their most hurtful weapon. 
 
 They have two sorts of boats made of leather, set 
 out on the inner side with quarters of wood, artiiiciallv 
 tied together with thongs of the same; the greater 
 sort are not much unlike our wherries, wherein sixteen 
 or twenty men may sit: they have for a sail dressed
 
 54 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 the guts of such beasts as they kill very fine and thin, 
 which they sew together: the other boat is but for 
 one man to sit and row in with one oar. 
 
 Their order of fishing, hunting, and fowling are with 
 these said weapons: but in what sort, or how they use 
 them we have no perfect knowledge as j^et. 
 
 I can suppose their abode or habitation not to be 
 here, for that neither their house or apparel are of 
 such force to withstand the extremity of cold, that 
 the country seemeth to be affected withal : neither do 
 I see any sign likely to perform the same. 
 
 Those houses or rather dens which stand there, have 
 no sign of footway, or anything else trodden, which is 
 one of the chiefest tokens of habitation. And those 
 tents which they bring with them, when they have 
 sufficiently hunted and fished, they remove to other 
 places: and when they have sufficiently stored in 
 them of such victuals as the country yicldeth or 
 bringeth forth, they return to their winter stations 
 or habitations. This conjecture do I make, for the 
 infertility which I conjecture to be in that country. 
 
 They have some iron whereof they make arrow- 
 heads, knives, and other little instruments, to work 
 their boats, bows, arrows, and darts withal, which 
 are very inapt to do anything withal but with great 
 labour. 
 
 It seemeth that they have conversation with some 
 other people, of whom for exchange they should 
 receive the same. They are greatly delighted with 
 anything that is bright, or giveth a sound. 
 
 What knowledge they have of God, or what idol 
 they adore, we have no perfect intelligence. I think 
 them rather anthropophagi, or devourers of man's 
 flesh than otherwise: for that there is no flesh or fish
 
 MARTIN FROBISHER 55 
 
 which they find dead (smell it never so filthily) but 
 they will eat it as they find it, without any other 
 dressing. A loathsome thing, either to the beholders 
 or hearers. 
 
 There is no manner of creeping beast hurtful, except 
 some spiders (which as many affirm, are signs of great 
 store of gold) and also certain stinging gnats, which 
 bite so fiercely that the place where they bite shortly 
 after swelleth and itcheth very sore. 
 
 They make signs of certain people that wear bright 
 plates of gold in their foreheads, and other places of 
 their bodies. 
 
 The countries on both sides the straits he very high 
 with rough stony mountains, and great quantities 
 of snow thereon. There is ver\' little plain ground and. 
 no grass, except a little which is much like unto moss 
 that groweth on soft ground, such as we get turfs in. 
 There is no wood at all. To be brief there is notliing fit 
 or profitable for the use of man, which that country' 
 with root yieldeth or bringeth forth. Howbeit there 
 is great quantity of deer, whose skins are like unto 
 asses': their heads or horns do far exceed, as well in 
 length as also in breadth, any in these our parts or 
 countries: their feet likewise are as great as our oxen's, 
 which we measured to be six or eight inches in breadth. 
 There are also hares, wolves, fishing bears, and sea-fowl 
 of sundry sorts. 
 
 As the country is barren and unfertile, so are they 
 rude and of no capacity to culture the same to any 
 perfection: but are contented by their hunting, fishing 
 and fowhng, with raw flesh and warm blood to satisfy 
 their greedy paunches, which is their only glory. 
 
 There is great likelihood of earthquakes or thunder : 
 for that there are huge and monstrous mountains,
 
 56 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 whose great substance are stones, and those stones so 
 shaken with some extraordinary means that one is 
 separated from another, which is discordant from all 
 other quarries. 
 
 There are no rivers or running springs, but such as 
 through the heat of the sun, with such water as des- 
 cendeth from the mountains, and hills, whereon great 
 drifts of snow do he, are engendered. 
 
 It argueth also that there should be none: for that 
 the earth, which with the extremity of the winter is 
 so frozen within, that that water which should have 
 recourse within the same to maintain springs, hath 
 not his motion, whereof great waters have their 
 original, as by experience is seen otherwhere. Such 
 valleys as are capable to receive the water, that in the 
 summer time by the operation of the sun descendeth 
 -from great abundance of snow, which continually 
 lieth on the mountains and hath no passage, sinketh 
 into the earth and so vanisheth away, without any 
 runnel above the earth, by which occasion or continual 
 standing of the said water, the earth is opened, and the 
 great frost yieldeth to the force thereof, while in other 
 places four or five fathoms within the ground, for lack 
 of the said moisture, the earth (even in the very 
 summer time) is frozen, and so combineth the stones 
 together, that scarcely instruments with great force 
 can unknit them. 
 
 Also where the water in those valleys can have no 
 such passage away, by the continuance of time in such 
 order as is before rehearsed, the yearly descent from 
 the mountains filleth them full, that at the lowest bank 
 of the same, they fall into the valley, and so continue 
 as fishing ponds or stagnes in summer time full of water, 
 and in the winter hard frozen : as by scars that remain
 
 MARTIN FROBISHER 57 
 
 thereof in summer may easily be perceived: so that 
 the heat of summer is nothing comparable or of force 
 to dissolve the extremity of cold that cometh in winter. 
 Nevertheless I am assured that below the force of 
 the frost within the earth, the waters have recourse, 
 and empty themselves out of sight into the sea, which 
 through the extremity of the frost are constrained to 
 do the same: by which occasion the earth within is 
 kept the warmer, and springs have their recourse, 
 which is the only nutriment of gold and minerals 
 within the same- 
 There is much to be said of the commodities of these 
 countries, which are couched within the bowels of the 
 earth, which I let pass till more perfect trial be made 
 thereof. 
 
 The 24th of August, after we had satisfied our minds 
 with freight sufficient for our vessels, though not our 
 covetous desires with such knowledge of the country, 
 people, and other commodities as are before rehearsed, 
 we departed there-hence. The 17th of September we 
 fell with the Land's End of England, and so sailed to 
 Milford Haven, from whence our general rode to the 
 Court for order, to what port or haven to conduct the 
 ship. 
 
 We lost our two barques in the way homeward, the 
 one the 29th of August, the other the 31st of the same 
 month, by occasion of great tempest and fog. Howbeit 
 God restored the one to Bristol, and the other made his 
 course by Scotland to Yarmouth. In this voyage we 
 lost two men, one in the way by God's visitation, and 
 the other homeward cast overboard with a surge of 
 the sea.
 
 The famous voyage of Sir Francis Drake into the 
 South Sea, and there-hence about the whole globe of 
 the earth, begun in the year of our Lord, 1577. 
 
 The 15th day of November in the year of our Lord, 
 1577, M. Francis Drake, with a fleet of five ships and 
 barks, and to the number of 164 men, gentlemen and 
 sailors, departed from Plymouth, giving out his 
 pretended voyage for Alexandria: but the wind 
 falling contrary, he was forced the next morning to 
 put into Falmouth Haven in Cornwall, where such and 
 so terrible a tempest took us, as few men have seen the 
 like, and was indeed so vehement that all our ships 
 were like to have gone to wrack: but it pleased God 
 to preserve us from that extremity, and to afflict us 
 only for that present with these two particulars: the 
 mast of our admiral, which was the Pelican, was cut 
 overboard for the safeguard of the ship, and the 
 Marigold was driven ashore, and somewhat bruised; 
 for the repairing of which damages we returned again 
 to Plymouth, and having recovered those harms and 
 brought the ships again to good state, we set forth the 
 second time from Plymouth and set sail the 13 th day 
 of December following. 
 
 The 25th day of the same month we fell with the 
 
 Cape Cantin upon the coast of Barbary, and coasting 
 
 along, the 27th day we found an island called Mogador, 
 
 lying one mile distant from the main, between which 
 
 Main. Mainland or continent. 
 
 58
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 59 
 
 island and the main we found a very good and safe 
 harbour for our ships to ride in, as also very good 
 entrance, and void of any danger. 
 
 On this island our general erected a pinnace, whereof 
 he brought out of England with him four already 
 framed. While these things were in doing, there came 
 to the water's side some of the inhabitants of the 
 country, showing forth their flags of truce, which 
 being seen of our general, he sent his ship's boat to 
 the shore, to know what they would: they being 
 walling to come aboard, our men left there one man of 
 our company for a pledge, and brought two of theirs 
 aboard our ship, which by signs showed our general, 
 that the next day they would bring some provision, 
 as sheep, capons and hens, and suchlike: whereupon 
 our general bestowed amongst them some hnen-cloth 
 and shoes, and a javelin, which they very joyfully 
 received, and departed for that time. 
 
 The next morning they failed not to come again to 
 the water's side, and our general again setting out our 
 boat, one of our men leaping over-rashly ashore, and 
 offering friendly to embrace them, they set violent 
 hands on him. offering a dagger to his throat if he had 
 made any resistance, and so laying him on a horse, 
 carried him away: so that a man cannot be too cir- 
 cumspect and w^ary of himself among such miscreants. 
 
 Our pinnace being finished, we departed from this 
 place the 30th and last day of December, and coasting 
 along the shore, we did descry, not contrary to our 
 expectation, certain canters, which were Spanish 
 fishermen, to whom we gave chase and took three of 
 them, and proceeding further we met three caravels 
 and took them also. 
 
 The 17th of January we arrived at Cape Blanco,
 
 6o STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 where we found a ship riding at anchor, within the 
 cape, and but two simple mariners in her, which ship 
 we took and carried her further into the harbour, where 
 we remained four days, and in that space our general 
 mustered, and trained his men on land in warlike 
 manner, to make them fit for all occasions. 
 
 In this place we took of the fishermen such neces- 
 saries as we wanted, and they could yield us, and 
 leaving here one of our little barks called the Benedict, 
 we took with us one of theirs which they called canters, 
 being of the burden of forty tons or thereabouts. 
 
 All these things being finished, we departed this 
 harbour the 22nd of January, carr^dng along with us 
 one of the Portugal 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 general that upon one of those islands called Mayo 
 there was great store of dried cabritos, which a few 
 inhabitants there dwelling did yearly make ready for 
 such of the king's ships as did there touch, being 
 bound for his country of Brazil or elsewhere. We 
 fell with this island the 27th of January, but the 
 inhabitants would in no case traffic with us, being 
 thereof forbidden by the king's edict: yet the next 
 day our general sent, to view the island and the likeli- 
 hoods that might be there of provision of victuals, about 
 threescore and two men under the conduct and govern- 
 ment of Master Winter and Master Doughty, and 
 marching towards the chief place of habitation in this 
 island (as by the Portugal we were informed) having 
 travelled to the mountains the space of three miles, 
 and arriving there somewhat before the daybreak, 
 we arrested ourselves to see dav before us, which
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 6i 
 
 appearing, we found the inhabitants to be fled; but 
 the place, by reason that it was manured, we found to 
 be more fruitful than the other part, especially the 
 valleys among the hills. 
 
 Here we gave ourselves a little refreshing, as by 
 ver\' ripe and sweet grapes, which the fruitfulness of 
 the earth at that season of the 5-ear yielded us; and 
 that season being with us the depth of winter, it may 
 seem strange that those fruits were then there growing ; 
 but the reason thereof is this, because they being 
 between the Tropic, and the Equinoctial, the sun 
 passeth twice in the year through their zenith over 
 their heads, by means whereof they have two summers, 
 and being so near the heat of the line, they never lose 
 the heat of the sun so much, but the fruits have their 
 increase and continuance in the midst of winter. 
 
 The island is wonderfully stored with goats and wild 
 hens, and it hath salt also without labour, save onh- 
 that the people gather it into heaps, which continuallv 
 in great quantity is increased upon the sands by the 
 flowing of the sea, and the receiving heat of the sun 
 kerning the same, so that of the increase thereof they 
 keep a continual traffic with their neighbours. 
 
 Amongst other things, we found here a kind of fruit 
 called cocos, which because it is not commonly known 
 with us in England, I though good to make some 
 description of it. 
 
 The tree beareth no leaves nor branches, but at the 
 ver\^ top the fruit groweth in clusters, hard at the 
 top of the stem of the tree, as big ever\- several fniit 
 as a man's head: but having taken off the uttermost 
 bark, which you shall find to be ven,' full of strings 
 or sinew^s, as I may term them, you shall come to a 
 hard shell which may hold of quantity in liquor a pint
 
 62 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 commonly, or some a quart, and some less: within 
 that shell of the thickness of half an inch good, you 
 shall have a kind of hard substance and very white, 
 no less good and sw'eet than almonds: within that 
 again a certain clear liquor, which being drunk, you 
 shall not only find it very delicate and sweet, but most 
 comfortable and cordial. 
 
 After we had satisfied ourselves with some of these 
 fruits, we marched further into the island, and saw 
 great store of cabritos alive, which were so chased by 
 the inhabitants, that we could do no good toward our 
 provision, but they had laid out, as it were to stop our 
 mouths withal, certain old dried cabritos, which being 
 but ill, and small and few, we made no account of. 
 
 Being returned to our ships, our general departed 
 hence the 31st of this month, and sailed by the island 
 of San lago, but far enough from the danger of the 
 inhabitants, who shot and discharged at us three 
 pieces, but they all fell short of us, and did us no harm. 
 The island is fair and large, and as it seemeth, rich 
 and fruitful, and inhabited by the Portugals, but the 
 mountains and high places of the island are said to be 
 possessed by the Moors, who having been 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 
 sail, to the one of which we gave chase, and in the end 
 boarded her with a ship-boat without resistance, 
 which we found to be a good prize, and she yielded 
 unto us good store of wine: which prize our general 
 committed to the custody of Master Doughty, and 
 retaining the pilot, sent the rest away with his pinnace, 
 Cabritos. Kids; probably antelopes.
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 63 
 
 giving them a butt of wine and some victuals, and 
 their wearing clothes, and so they departed. 
 
 The same night we came with the island called by 
 the Portugals, Ilha del Fogo, that is, the Burning 
 Island: in the north side whereof is a consuming ftre, 
 the matter is said to be of sulphur, but notwithstanding 
 it is like to be a commodious island, because the 
 Portugals have built and do inhabit there. 
 
 Upon the south side thereof lieth a most pleasant and 
 sweet island, the trees whereof are always green and fair 
 to look upon, in respect whereof they call it Ilha Brava, 
 that is, the Brave Island. From the banks thereof 
 into the sea do run in many places reasonable streams 
 of fresh waters easy to be come by, but there was no 
 convenient road for our ships: for such was the depth, 
 that no ground could be had for anchoring, and it is 
 reported, that ground was never found in that place, 
 so that the tops of Fogo bum not so high in the air, 
 but the roots of Brava are quenched as low in the sea. 
 
 Being departed from these islands, we drew towards 
 the Line, where we were becalmed the space of three 
 weeks, but yet subject to divers great storms, terrible 
 lightnings and much thunder: but with this miserv we 
 had the commodity of great store of fish, as dolphins, 
 bonitos, and flying-fishes, whereof some fell into our 
 ships, where-hence they could not rise again for 
 want of moisture, for when their wings are dv}', they 
 cannot iiy. 
 
 From the first dav of our departure from the islands 
 of Cape Verde, we sailed fifty-four days without sight 
 of land, and the first land that we fell with was the 
 coast of Brazil, which we saw the 5th of April in the 
 height of thirty-three degrees towards the Pole Antarc- 
 tic, and being discovered at sea by the inhabitants of
 
 64 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 the country, they made upon the coast great fires for a 
 sacrifice (as we learned) to the devils, about which they 
 use conjurations, making heaps of sand and other 
 ceremonies, that when any ship shall go about to stay 
 upon their coast, not only sands may be gathered 
 together in shoals in every place, but also that storms 
 and tempests may arise, to the casting away of ships 
 and men, whereof (as it is reported) there have been 
 divers experiments. 
 
 The seventh day in a mighty great storm both of 
 lightning, rain and thunder, we lost the canter which 
 we called the Christopher', but the eleventh day after, 
 by our general's great care in dispersing his ships, 
 we found her again, and the place where we met, our 
 general called the Cape of Joy, where every ship took 
 in some water. Here we found a good temperature 
 and sweet air, a very fair and pleasant country with 
 an exceedingly fruitful soil, where were great store of 
 large and mighty deer, but we came not to the sight 
 of any people: but travelling further into the country, 
 we perceived the footing of people in the clay-ground, 
 showing that they were men of great stature. Being 
 returned to our ships, we weighed anchor, and ran 
 somewhat further, and harboured ourselves between a 
 rock and the main, where by means of the rock that 
 broke the force of the sea, we rid very safe, and upon 
 this rock we killed for our provision certain sea-wolves, 
 commonly called with us, seals. 
 
 From hence we went our course to thirty-six degrees, 
 and entered the great river of Plate, and ran into 
 fifty-four, and fifty-five fathoms and a half of fresh 
 water, where we filled our water by the ship's side; 
 but our general finding here no good harbour, as he 
 thought he should, bare out again to sea the 27th
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 65 
 
 April, and in bearing out we lost sight of our flyboat 
 wherein Master Doughty was, but we sailing along, 
 found a fair and reasonable good bay, wherein were 
 many, and the same profitable islands, one whereof 
 had so many seals, as would at the least have laden all 
 our ships, and the rest of the islands are as it were laden 
 with fowls which is wonderful to see, and they of divers 
 sorts. It is a place very plentiful of victuals, and hath 
 in it no want of fresh water. 
 
 Our general after certain days of his abode in this 
 place, being on shore in an island, the people of the 
 country showed themselves unto him, leaping and 
 dancing, and entered into traffic with him, but they 
 would not receive anything at any man's hand, but 
 the same must be cast upon the ground. They are of 
 clean, comely, and strong bodies, swift on foot, and 
 seem to be very active. 
 
 The i8th day of May our general thought it need- 
 ful to have a care of such ships as were absent, and 
 therefore endeavouring to seek the fiyboat wherein 
 Master Doughty was, we espied her again the next day ; 
 and whereas certain of our ships were sent to discover 
 the coast and to search an harbour, the Marygold and 
 the canter being employed in that business, came unto 
 us and gave us understanding of a safe harbour that 
 they had found, wherewith all our ships bare, and 
 entered it, where we watered and made new pro\-ision 
 of victuals, as by seals, whereof we slew to the number 
 of two hundred or three hundred in the space of an 
 hour. 
 
 Here our general in the admiral rid close aboard the 
 
 flyboat, and took out of her all the provision of victuals 
 
 and what else was in her, and hauling her to the land, 
 
 set fire to her, and so burnt her to save the ironwork ; 
 
 c
 
 66 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 which being a-doing, there came down of the country 
 certain of the people naked, saving only about their 
 waist the skin of some beast with the fur or hair on, 
 and something also wreathed on their heads: their 
 faces were painted with divers colours, and some of 
 them had on their heads the simihtude of horns, every 
 man his bow which was an ell in length, and a couple 
 of arrows. 
 
 They were very agile people and quick to deliver, 
 and seemed not to be ignorant in the feats of wars, as 
 by their order of ranging a few men might appear. 
 These people would not of a long time receive anything 
 at our hands; yet at length our general being ashore, 
 and they dancing after their accustomed manner about 
 him, and he once turning his back towards them., one 
 leapt suddenly to him, and took his cap \\ith his gold 
 band off his head, and ran a little distance from him 
 and shared it with his fellow, the cap to the one and 
 the band to the other. 
 
 Having dispatched all our business in this place, we 
 departed and set sail, and im.mediately upon our 
 setting forth we lost our canter which was absent three 
 or four days ; but when our general had her again, he 
 took out the necessaries, and so gave her over near to 
 the Cape of Good Hope. 
 
 The next day after being the 20th June we harboured 
 ourselves again in a very good harbour, called by Ma- 
 gellan Port S. Julian, where we found a gibbet standing 
 upon the main, which we supposed to be the place 
 where Magellan did execution upon some of his 
 disobedient and rebelhous company. 
 
 The 22nd day our general went ashore to the 
 main, and in his company, John Thomas, and Robert 
 Winterhie, OHver the master gunner, John Brewer,
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 67 
 
 Thomas Hood, and Thomas Drake, and entering on 
 land, they presently met with two or three of the 
 country people, and Robert Winterhie having in his 
 hands a bow and arrows, went about to make a shoot 
 of pleasure, and in his draught his bowstring broke, 
 which the rude savages taking as a token of war, began 
 to bend the force of their bows against our company, 
 and drove them to their shifts very narrowly. 
 
 In this port our general began to enquire diligently 
 of the actions of M. Thomas Doughty, and found them 
 not to be of such as he looked for, but tending rather 
 to contention or mutiny or some other disorder, 
 whereby (without redress) the success of the voyage 
 might greatly have been hazarded: whereupon the 
 company was called together and made acquainted 
 with the particulars of the cause, which were found 
 partly by Master Doughty's own confession, and partly 
 by the evidence of the fact, to be true: which when our 
 general saw, although his private affection to M. 
 Doughty (as he 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 Majesty, and 
 of the honour of his country did more touch him (as 
 indeed it ought) than the private respect of one man: 
 so that the cause being thoroughly heard, and all things 
 done in good order as near as might be to the course 
 of our laws in England, it was concluded that M. 
 Doughty should receive punishment according to the 
 quality of the offence: and he seeing no remedy but 
 patience for himself, desired before his death to receive 
 the Communion, which he did at the hands of M. 
 Fletcher our minister, and our general himself accom- 
 panied him in that holy action ; which being done, and 
 the place of execution made ready, he having embraced
 
 68 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 our general and taken his leave of all the company, with 
 prayer for the Queen's Majesty and our realm, in quiet 
 sort laid his head to the block, where he ended his life. 
 This being done, our general made divers speeches to 
 the whole company, persuading us to unity, obedience, 
 love, and regard of our voyage; and for the better 
 confirmation thereof, willed every man the next 
 Sunday following to prepare himself to receive the 
 Communion, as Christian brethren and friends ought 
 to do, which was done in very reverent sort, and so 
 with good contentment every man went about his 
 business. 
 
 The 17th day of August we departed the port of S. 
 Julian, and the 20th day we fell with the Strait or 
 Freat of Magellan going into the South Sea, at the cape 
 or headland whereof we found the body of a dead man, 
 whose flesh was clean consumed. 
 
 The 2ist day we entered the Strait, which we found 
 to have man}^ turnings, and as it were shuttings up, as 
 if there were no passage at all, by means whereof we 
 had the wind often against us, so that some of the fleet 
 recovering a cape or point of land, others should be 
 forced to turn back again, and to come to an anchor 
 where they could. 
 
 In this strait there be many fair harbours, with store 
 of fresh water, but yet they lack their best commocUty ; 
 for the water is there of such depth that no man shall 
 find ground to anchor in, except it be in some narrow 
 river or corner, or between some rocks, so that if any 
 extreme blasts or contrary winds do come (whereunto 
 the place is much subject) it carrieth with it no small 
 danger. 
 
 The land on both sides is very huge and mountainous, 
 the lower mountains whereof, although they be mon-
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 69 
 
 strous and wonderful to look upon for their height, 
 yet there are others which in height exceed them in a 
 strange manner, reaching themselves above their 
 fellows so high, that between them did appear three 
 regions of clouds. 
 
 These mountains are covered with snow: at both the 
 southerly and easterly parts of the Strait are islands, 
 among which the sea hath his indraught into the 
 Straits, even as it hath in the main entrance of the 
 Freat. 
 
 This strait is extremely cold, with frost and snow 
 continually; the trees seem to stoop with the burden 
 of the weather, and yet are green continually, and 
 many good and sweet herbs do very plentifulh' grow 
 and increase under them. 
 
 The breadth of the Strait is in some places a league, 
 in some other places two leagues, and three leagues, 
 and in some other four leagues, but the narrowest 
 place hath a league over. 
 
 The 24th of August we arrived at an island in the 
 Straits where we found great store of fowl which could 
 not fly; of the bigness of geese, whereof we killed 
 in less than one day three thousand and victualled 
 ourselves thoroughly therewith. 
 
 The 6th day of September we entered the South 
 Sea at the cape or head shore. 
 
 The seventh day we were driven by a great storm 
 from the entering into the South Sea two hundred 
 leagues and odd in longitude, and one degree to the 
 southward of the Strait: in which height, and so 
 man\- leagues to the westward, the 15th day of Sept- 
 ember fell out the eclipse of the moon at the hour of 
 six of the clock at night ; but neither did the ecliptical 
 conflict of the moon impair our state, nor her clearing
 
 70 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 again amend us a whit, but the accustomed eclipse 
 of the sea continued in his force, we being darkened 
 more than the moon sevenfold. 
 
 From the bay (which we called the Bay of Severing 
 of Friends) we were driven back to the southward of 
 the Straits in fifty-seven degrees and a terce ; in which 
 height we came to an anchor among the islands, having 
 there fresh and very good water, with herbs of singu- 
 lar virtue. Not far from thence we entered another 
 bay, where we found people, both men and women, in 
 their canoes, naked, and ranging from one island to 
 another to seek their meat, who entered traffic with 
 us for such things as they had. 
 
 We returning hence northward again, found the 
 3rd of October three islands, in one of which was 
 such plent}^ of birds as is scant credible to report. 
 
 The 8th day of October we lost, sight of one of our 
 consorts wherein M. Winter was, who as then we 
 supposed, was put by a storm into the Straits again, 
 which at our return home we found to be true, and 
 he not perished as some of our company feared. 
 
 Thus being come into the height of the Straits again, 
 we ran, supposing the coast of Chili to lie as the general 
 maps have described it, namely north-west, which we 
 found to lie and trend to the north-east and eastwards, 
 whereby it appeareth that this part of Chili hath not 
 been truly hitherto discovered, or, at the least, not 
 truly reported for the space of twelve degrees at the 
 least, being set down either of purpose to deceive or 
 of ignorant conjecture. 
 
 We, continuing our course, fell the 29th of Novem- 
 ber with an island called La Mocha, where we cast 
 anchor, and our general hoisting out our boat, went 
 with ten of our company to shore, where we found
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 71 
 
 people whom the cruel and extreme dealings of the 
 Spaniards have forced for their own safety and liberty 
 to flee from the main, and to fortify themselves in 
 this island. We being on land, the people came down 
 to us to the water-side with show of great courtesy, 
 bringing to us potatoes, roots and two ver\' fat sheep, 
 which our general received and gave them other 
 things for them, and had promise to have water there: 
 but the next day repairing again to the shore and 
 sending two men a-land with barrels to fill water, the 
 people taking them for Spaniards (to whom they used 
 to show no favour if they take them) laid violent 
 hands on them, and, as we think, slew them. 
 
 Our general seeing this, stayed here no longer, but 
 weighed anchor and set sail towards the coast of Chili, 
 and drawing towards it wc met near to the shore, an 
 Indian in a canoe, who, thinking us to have been 
 Spaniards, came to us and told us that at a place caUed 
 S. lago there was a great Spanish ship laden from the 
 kingdom of Peru; for which good news our general 
 gave him divers trifles, whereof he was glad, and 
 went along with us and brought us to the place, which 
 is called the Port of Valparaiso. 
 
 When we came thither, we found, indeed, the ship 
 riding at anchor, ha\4ng in her eight Spaniards and 
 three negroes, who, thinking us to have been Spaniards 
 and their friends, welcomed us with a drum, and made 
 ready a hottija of wine of Chili to drink to us ; but as 
 soon as we were entered, one of our company, called 
 Thomas Moone, began to lay about him, and strack 
 one of the Spaniards and said unto him, " Abaxo, 
 perro," that is in English, " Go down, dog! " One 
 of these Spaniards, seeing persons of that quality in 
 those seas, all-to crossed, and blessed himself; but.
 
 72 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 to be short, we stowed them under hatches, all save 
 one Spaniard, who suddenly and desperately leapt 
 overboard into the sea, and swam ashore to the town 
 of S. lago, to give them warning of our arrival. 
 
 They of the town being not above nine households, 
 presently fled away and abandoned the town. Our 
 general manned his boat and the Spanish ship's boat, 
 and went to the town; and being come to it, we 
 rifled it, and came to a small chapel, which we entered, 
 and found therein a silver chalice, two cruets and 
 one altar cloth, the spoil whereof our general gave to 
 M. Fletcher, his minister. 
 
 We found also in this town a warehouse stored with 
 wine of Chili, and many boards of cedar wood, all 
 which wine we brought away with us and certain of 
 the boards to bum for firewood: and so being come 
 aboard, we departed the haven, having first set all 
 the Spaniards on land, saving one John Griego, a 
 Greek bom, whom our general carried with him for 
 his pilot to bring him into the haven of Lima. 
 
 When we were at sea, our general rifled the ship, 
 and found in her good store of the wine of Chili, and 
 25,000 pezoes of very pure and fine gold of Baldivia, 
 amounting in value to 37,000 ducats of Spanish money 
 and above. So, going on our course, we arrived next 
 at a place called Coquimbo, where our general sent 
 fourteen of his men on land to fetch water; but they 
 were espied by the Spaniards, who came with three 
 hundred horsemen and two hundred footmen and 
 slew one of our men with a piece. The rest came 
 aboard in safety, and the Spaniards departed; we 
 went on shore again and buried our man, and the 
 Spaniards came down again with a flag of tmce, but 
 we set sail and would not tmst them.
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 73 
 
 From hence we went to a certain port called Tara- 
 paza, where being landed, we found by the seaside a 
 Spaniard lying asleep, who had lying by him thirteen 
 bars of silver, which weighed 4,000 ducats Spanish. 
 We took the silver and left the man. 
 
 Not far from hence, going on land for fresh water, 
 we met with a Spaniard and an Indian boy, driving 
 eight llamas or sheep of Peru, which are as big as 
 asses, every of which sheep had on his back two bags 
 of leather, each bag containing fifty pound weight 
 of fine silver, so that bringing both the sheep and 
 their burden to the ships, we found in all the bags 
 eight hundredweight of silver. 
 
 Here-hence we sailed to a place called Arica, and 
 being entered the port, we found there three small 
 barques which we rifled, and found in one of them fifty- 
 seven wedges of silver, each of them weighing about 
 twenty pound weight and every of these wedges were 
 of the fashion and bigness of a brickbat. In all these 
 three barques we found not one person: for they, 
 miistrusting no strangers, were all gone a-land to the 
 town, which consisteth of about twenty houses, which 
 we would have ransacked if our company had been 
 better and more in number. But our general, contented 
 with the spoil of the ships, left the to\\Ti and put off 
 again to sea and set sail for Lima, and by the way 
 met with a small barque which he boarded and found 
 in her good store of Imen-cloth, whereof taking some 
 quantity he let her go. 
 
 To Lima we came the 13th of February, and being 
 entered the haven, we found there about twelve sail 
 of ships lying fast moored at anchor, having all tlieir 
 sails carried on shore: for the masters and merchants 
 were here most secure, having never been assaulted
 
 74 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 by enemies, and at this time feared the approach of 
 none such as we were. Our general rifled these ships 
 and found in one of them a chest full of royals of 
 plate and good store of silks and linen-cloth, and 
 took the chest into his own ship and good store of the 
 silks and linen, in which ship he had news of another 
 ship called the Cacafuego, which was gone towards 
 Paita, and that the same ship was laden with treasure: 
 whereupon we stayed no longer here, but, cutting all 
 the cables of the ships in the haven, we let them 
 drive whither they would, either to sea or to the 
 shore, and with all speed we followed the Cacafuego 
 toward Paita, thinking there to have found her; but 
 before we arrived there she was gone from thence 
 towards Panama, whom our general still pursued, and 
 by the way met with a barque laden with ropes and 
 tackle for ships, which he boarded and searched, and 
 found in her eighty pound weight of gold and a cruci- 
 fix of gold with goodly great emeralds set in it, which 
 he took, and some of the cordage also for his own ship. 
 From hence we departed, still following the Caca- 
 fuego, and our general promised our company that 
 whosoever could first descry her should have his chain 
 of gold for his good news. It fortuned that John 
 Drake, going up into the top, descried her about three 
 of the clock, and about six of the clock we came to her 
 and boarded her and shot at her three pieces of 
 ordinance and struck down her niizzen, and being 
 entered we found in her great riches, as jewels and 
 precious stones, thirteen chests full of royals of plate, 
 four-score pound weight of gold, and six-and-twenty 
 ton of silver. The place where we took this prize was 
 called Cape de San Francisco, about one hundred and 
 fifty leagues from Panama.
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 75 
 
 The pilot's name of this ship was Francisco, and 
 amongst other plate that our general found in this 
 ship he found two very fair gilt bowls of silver, which 
 were the pilot's: to whom our general said: " Sefior 
 Pilot, you have here two silver cups, but I must needs 
 have one of them," which the pilot because he could 
 not otherwise choose, yielded unto, and gave the other 
 to the steward of our general's ships. 
 
 When our general had done what he would with 
 this Cacaftiego, he cast her off, and we went on our 
 course still towards the west, and not long after met 
 with a ship laden with linen cloth and fine china- 
 dishes of white earth, and great store of China silks, 
 of all which things we took as we listed. 
 
 The owner himself of this ship was in her, who 
 was a Spanish gentleman, from whom our general 
 took a falcon of gold, with a great emerald in the 
 breast thereof, and the pilot of the ship he took also 
 with him, and so cast the ship off. 
 
 This pilot brought us to the haven of Guatulco, the 
 town whereof, as he told us, had but seventeen 
 Spaniards in it. As soon as we were entered this haven, 
 we landed and went presently to the town, and to the 
 town-house, \\here we found a judge sitting in judg- 
 ment, being associate with three other officers, upon 
 three negroes that had conspired the burning of the 
 town: both which judges and prisoners we took, and 
 brought them a-shipboard and caused the chief judge 
 to write his letter to the town, to command all the 
 townsmen to avoid, that we might safely water there. 
 Which being done, and they departed, we ransacked 
 the town, and in one house we found a pot of the 
 quantity of a bushel, full of royals of plate, which we 
 brought to our ship.
 
 76 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 And here one, Thomas Moone, one of our company, 
 took a Spanish gentleman as he was flying out of the 
 town, and searching him, he found a chain of gold 
 about him, and other jewels, which he took, and so 
 let him go. 
 
 At this place our general, among other Spaniards, 
 set ashore his Portugal pilot, which he took at the 
 islands of Cape Verde, out of a ship of S. Mar^^ Port 
 of Portugal: and having set them ashore, we departed 
 hence, and sailed to the island of Canno, where our 
 general landed, and brought to shore his own ship, 
 and discharged her, mended and graved her, and 
 furnished our ship mth water and wood sufficiently. 
 
 And while we were here, we espied a ship, and set 
 sail after her, and took her, and found in her two pilots 
 and a Spanish governor, going for the islands of the 
 Philippines: we searched the ship, and took some of 
 her merchandises, and so let her go. Our general at 
 this place and time, thinking himself both in respect 
 of his private injuries received from the Spaniards, as 
 also of their contempts and indignities offered to our 
 country and prince in general, sufticiently satisfied, and 
 revenged: and supposing that Her Majesty at his 
 return would rest contented \\dth this service, purposed 
 to continue no longer upon the Spanish coasts, but 
 began to consider and to consult of the best way for 
 his country. 
 
 He thought it not good to return by the Straits, 
 for two special causes: the one, lest the Spaniards 
 should there wait, and attend for him in great number 
 and strength, whose hands, he being left but one ship, 
 could not possibly escape. The other cause was the 
 dangerous situation of the mouth of the Straits in the 
 South Sea, where continual storms reigning and blus-
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE ^^ 
 
 tering, as he found by experience, besides the shoals 
 and sands upon the coast, he thought it not a good 
 course to adventure that way: he resolved therefore 
 to avoid these hazards, to go forward to the islands 
 of the Moluccas, and there-hence to sail the course of 
 the Portugals by the Cape of Buena Esperanza. 
 
 Upon this resolution, he began to think of the best 
 way to the Moluccas, and finding himself where he now 
 was becalmed, he saw that of necessity he must be 
 forced to take a Spanish course, namely, to sail some- 
 what northerly to get a wind. We therefore set sail, 
 and sailed six hundred leagues at the least for a good 
 wind, and thus much we sailed from the i6th of April 
 till the 3rd of June. 
 
 The 5th day of June, being in 43 degrees towards 
 the Pole Arctic, we found the air so cold, that our men 
 being grievously pinched with the same, complained 
 of the extremity thereof, and the further we went, the 
 more the cold increased upon us. Wliereupon we 
 thought it best for that time to seek the land, and did 
 so, finding it not mountainous, but low plain land, till 
 we came \vithin 38 degrees towards the Line. In which 
 height it pleased God to send us into a fair and good 
 bay, with a good wind to enter the same. 
 
 in this bay we anchored, and the people of the 
 country having their houses close by the water's side, 
 showed themselves unto us, and sent a present to our 
 general. 
 
 When they came unto us, they greatly wondered 
 at the things that we brought, but our general (ac- 
 cording to his natural and accustomed humanity) 
 courteously entreated them, and liberally bestowed 
 on them necessary things to cover their nakedness, 
 whereupon they supposed us to be gods, and would not
 
 78 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 be persuaded to the contrary ; the presents which they 
 sent to our general were feathers and calles of network. 
 
 Their houses are digged round about with earth, 
 and have from the uttermost brims of the circle, 
 clefts of wood set upon them, joining close together at 
 the top like a spire steeple, which by reason of that 
 closeness are very warm. 
 
 Their bed is the ground with rushes strowed on it, 
 and lying about the house, have the fire in the midst. 
 The men go naked, the women take bulrushes, and 
 comb them after the manner of hemp, and thereof 
 make their loose garments, which being knit about 
 their middles, hang down about their hips, having 
 also about their shoulders a skin of deer, with the hair 
 upon it. These women are very obedient and ser\dceable 
 to their husbands. 
 
 After they were departed from us, they came and 
 visited us the second time, and brought with them 
 feathers and bags of tobacco for presents: and when 
 they came to the top of the hill (at the bottom whereof 
 we had pitched our tents) they stayed themselves: 
 where one appointed for speaker wearied himself with 
 making a long oration, which done, they left their 
 bows upon the hill, and came down with their presents. 
 
 In the meantime, the women remaining on the hill 
 tormented themselves lamentably, tearing their flesh 
 from their cheeks, whereby we perceived that the}^ 
 were about a sacrifice. In the meantime, our general 
 with his company went to prayer, and to reading of 
 the Scriptures, at which exercise they were attentive, 
 and seemed greatly to be affected with it: but when 
 they were come unto us, they restored again unto us 
 those things which before we bestowed upon them. 
 
 The news of our being there being spread through the
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 79 
 
 country, the people that inhabited round came down, 
 and amongst them the king himself, a man of a goodly 
 stature, and comely personage, with many other tall 
 and warlike men: before whose coming were sent two 
 ambassadors to our general, to signify that their king 
 was coming, in doing of which message, their speech 
 was continued about half an hour. This ended, they 
 by signs requested our general to send some thing by 
 their hands to their king, as a token that his coming 
 might be in peace : wherein our general having satisfied 
 them, they returned with glad tidings to their king, 
 who marched to us with a princeh- majesty, the people 
 cr\'ing continually after their m.anner, and as they 
 drew near unto us, so did they strive to behave them- 
 selves in their actions with comeliness. 
 
 In the forefront was a man of a goodly personage, 
 who bare the sceptre or mace before the king, where- 
 upon hanged two crowois, a lesser and a bigger, with 
 three chains of a marvellous length: the crowns were 
 made of knit-work wrought artificially with feathers 
 of divers colours: the chains were made of a bony 
 substance, and few be the persons among them that 
 are admitted to wear them: and of that number also 
 the persons are stinted, as some ten, some twelve, etc. 
 Next unto him which bare the sceptre was the king 
 himself, with his guard about his person, clad with 
 coney skins, and other skins: after them followed 
 the naked common sort of people, ever\' one having 
 his face painted, some with white, some with black, 
 and other colours, and having in their hands one thing 
 or another for a present ; not so much as their children, 
 but they also brought their presents. 
 
 In the meantime, our general gathered his men 
 together, and marched within his fenced place, making
 
 8o STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 against their approaching a very war-hke show. They 
 being trooped together in their order, and a general 
 salutation being made, there was presently a general 
 silence. Then he that bare the sceptre before the king 
 being informed by another whom they assigned to that 
 office, with a manly and lofty voice proclaimed that 
 which the other spake to him in secret, continuing half 
 an hour; which ended, and a general " Amen " as it 
 were given, the king with the whole number of men 
 and women (the children excepted) came down without 
 any weapon, who descending to the foot of the hill, 
 set themselves in order. 
 
 In coming towards our bulwarks and tents, the 
 sceptre-bearer began a song, observing his measures 
 in a dance, and that with a stately countenance, whom 
 the king with his guard, and every degree of persons 
 following, did in like manner sing and dance, saving 
 only the women, which danced and kept silence. The 
 general permitted them to enter within our bulwark, 
 where they continued their song and dance a reasonable 
 time. When they had satisfied themselves, they made 
 signs to our general to sit down, to whom the king 
 and divers others made several orations, or rather 
 supplications, that he would take their province and 
 kingdom into his hand, and become their king, making 
 signs that they would resign unto him their right and 
 title of the whole land, and become his subjects. In 
 which, to persuade us the better, the king and the rest, 
 with one consent, and with great reverence, joyfully 
 singing a song, did set the crown upon his head, en- 
 riched his neck with all their chains, and offered unto 
 him many other things, honouring him by the name of 
 Hioh, adding thereunto as it seemed, a sign of triumph: 
 which thing our general thought not meet to reject,
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 8i 
 
 because he knew not what honour and profit it might 
 be to our country. Wlierefore in the name, and to the 
 use of Her Majesty he took the sceptre, crown, and 
 dignity of the said country into his hands, wishing that 
 the riches and treasure thereof might so conveniently 
 be transported to the enriching of her kingdom at 
 home, as it aboundeth in the same. 
 
 The common sort of people leaving the king and his 
 guard with our general, scattered themselves together 
 with their sacrifices among our people, taking a 
 diligent view of every person: and such as pleased 
 their fancy (which were the youngest) they enclosing 
 them about offered their sacrifices unto them with 
 lamentable weeping, scratching and tearing the flesh 
 from their faces with their nails, whereof issued abund- 
 ance of blood. But we used signs to them of disliking 
 this, and stayed their hands from force, and directed 
 them upwards to the living God, whom only they 
 ought to worship. They showed unto us their wounds, 
 and craved help of them at our hands, whereupon we 
 gave them lotions, plasters and ointments, agreeing 
 to the state of their griefs, beseeching God to cure their 
 diseases. Ever\^ third day they brought their sacrifices 
 unto us, until they understood our meaning, that we 
 had no pleasure in them: yet they could not be long 
 absent from us, but daily frequented our company to 
 the hour of our departure, which departure seemed so 
 grievous unto them, that their jo\^ was turned into 
 sorrow. They entreated us, that being absent we 
 would remember them, and by stealth provided a 
 sacrifice, which we misliked. 
 
 Our necessary business being ended, our general 
 with his company travelled up into the countrs' to 
 their villages, where we found herds of deer by a
 
 82 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 thousand in a company', being most large and fat of 
 body. 
 
 We found the whole country to be a warren of a 
 strange kind of conies, their bodies in bigness as be 
 the Barbary conies, their heads as the heads of ours, 
 the feet of a want, and the tail of a rat being of great 
 length: under her chin is on either side a bag, into 
 the which she gathered her meat, when she hath 
 filled her belly abroad. The people eat their bodies, 
 and make great account of their skins, for their king's 
 coat was made of them. 
 
 Our general called this country Nova Albion, and 
 that for two causes: the one in respect of the white 
 banks and cliffs, which lie towards the sea: and the 
 other, because it might have some affinity ^vith our 
 £ountr\^ in name, which sometime was so called. 
 
 There is no part of earth here to be taken up, wherein 
 there is not some probable show of gold or silver. 
 
 At our departure hence our general set up a monu- 
 ment of our being there, as also of Her Majesty's right 
 and title to the same, namely, a plate, nailed upon a 
 fair great post, whereupon was engraven Her Majest37's 
 name, the day and year of our arrival there, with the 
 free giving up of the province and people into Her 
 Majesty's hands, together with Her Highness' picture 
 and arms, in a piece of sixpence of current English 
 money under the plate, whereunder was also written 
 "the name of our general. 
 
 It seemeth that the Spaniards hitherto have never 
 been in this part of the country, neither did ever 
 discover the land by many degrees, to the southwards 
 of this place. 
 
 After we had set sail from hence, we continued 
 Want. West-country name for a mole.
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 83 
 
 without sight of land till the 13th day of October 
 following, which day in the morning we fell with 
 certain islands 8 degrees to the northward of the Line, 
 from which islands came a great number of canoes, 
 having in some of them four, in some six, and in some 
 also fourteen, men. bringing with them cocos, and 
 other fruits. Their canoes were hollow within, and 
 cut with great art and cunning, being \'ery smooth 
 within and without, and bearing a glass as if it were 
 a horn daintily burnished, having a prow, and a stern 
 of one sort, yielding inward circle- wise, being of a 
 great height, and full of certain white shells for a 
 bravery, and on each side of them lie out two pieces 
 of timber about a yard and a half long, more or less, 
 according to the smallness or bigness of the boat. 
 
 This people have the nether part of their ears cut 
 into a round circle, hanging do\^-n very low upon their 
 cheeks, whereon they hang things of a reasonable 
 weight. The nails of their hands are an inch long, 
 their teeth are as black as pitch, and they renew them 
 often, by eating of an herb with a kind of powder, 
 which they always carry about them in a cane for the 
 same purpose. 
 
 Leaving this island the night after we fell with it, 
 the i8th of October, we lighted upon divers others, 
 some whereof made a great show of inhabitants. 
 
 We continued our course by the islands of Tagulada, 
 Zelon, and Zewarra, being friends to the Portugals, 
 the first whereof hath growing in it great store of 
 cinnamon. 
 
 The 14th of November we fell with the islands of 
 Molucca, which day at night (having directed our 
 course to run with Tidore) in coasting alone: the 
 island of Mutyr, belonging to the King of Ternate,
 
 84 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 his deputy or vice-king seeing us at sea, came with 
 his canoe to us without all fear, and came aboard, 
 and after some conference with our general, willed 
 him in any wise to run in with Ternate, and not with 
 Tidore, assuring him that the king would be glad of 
 his coming, and would be ready to do what he would 
 require, for which purpose he himself would that 
 night be with the king, and tell him the news, with 
 whom if he once dealt, he should find that as he was 
 a king, so his word should stand: adding further, 
 that if he went to Tidore before he came to Ternate, 
 the king would have nothing to do with us, because 
 he held Portugal as his enemy ; whereupon our general 
 resolved to run with Ternate, where the next morning 
 early we came to anchor, at which time our general 
 sent a messenger to the king with a velvet cloak for 
 a present, and token of his coming to be in peace, and 
 that he required nothing but traffic and exchange of 
 merchandise, whereof he had good store in such things 
 as he wanted. 
 
 In the meantime, the vice-king had been with the 
 king according to his promise, signifying unto him 
 what good things he might receive from us by traffic ; 
 whereby the king was moved with great liking towards 
 us, and sent to our general with special message, 
 that he should have what things he needed, and would 
 require with peace and friendship, and moreover, 
 that he would yield himself, and the right of his island 
 to be at the pleasure and commandment of so famous 
 a prince as we served. In token whereof he sent to 
 our general a signet, and within short time after came 
 in his own person, with boats and canoes to OTir ship, 
 to bring her into a better and safer road than she was 
 In at present.
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 85 
 
 In the meantime, our general's messenger being 
 come to the court, was met by certain noble per- 
 sonages with great solemnity, and brought to the 
 king, at whose hands he was most friendly and 
 graciously entertained. 
 
 The king purposing to come to our ship, sent before 
 four great and large canoes, in every one whereof 
 were certain of his greatest states that were about 
 him, attired in white lawn of cloth of Calicut, having 
 over their heads from the one end of the canoe to the 
 other, a covering of thin, perfumed mats, borne up 
 with a frame made of reeds for the same use, under 
 which everyone did sit in his order according to his 
 dignity, to keep him from the heat of the sun, divers 
 of \\hom being of good age and gravity, did make an 
 ancient and fatherly show. There were also divers 
 young and comely men attired in white, as were the 
 others: the rest were soldiers, which stood in comely 
 order round about on both sides, without whom sat 
 the rowers in certain galleries, which being three on a 
 side all along the canoes, did lie off from the side 
 thereof three or four yards, one being orderly builded 
 lower than another, in every of which galleries were 
 the number of four-score rowers. 
 
 These canoes were furnished with warlike munition, 
 every man for the most part having his sword and 
 target, with his dagger, beside other weapons, as 
 lances, calivers, darts, bows and arrows: also every 
 canoe had a small cast base moimted at the least one 
 full yard upon a stock set upright. 
 
 Thus coming near our ship, in order they rowed 
 about us, one after another, and passing by, did their 
 homage with great solemnity, the great personages be- 
 ginning with great gravity and fatherly countenances,
 
 86 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 signifying that the king had sent them to conduct 
 our ship into a better road. 
 
 Soon after the king himself repaired, accompanied 
 with six grave and ancient persons, who did their 
 obeisance with marvellous humility. The king was 
 a man of tall stature, and seemed to be much de- 
 lighted with the sound of our music, to whom as also 
 to his nobility, our general gave presents, wherewith 
 they were passing well contented. 
 
 At length the king craved leave of our general to 
 depart, promising the next day to come aboard, and 
 in the meantime to send us such victuals as were 
 necessary for our provision; so that the same night 
 we received of them meal, which they call sago, made 
 of the tops of certain trees, tasting in the mouth like 
 sour curds, but melteth like sugar, whereof they make 
 certain cakes, which may be kept the space of ten years, 
 and yet then good to be eaten. We had of them store 
 of rice, hens, imperfect, and liquid sugar, sugar-canes 
 and a fruit which they call figo, with store of cloves. 
 
 The king having promised to come aboard, broke 
 his promise, but sent bis brother to make his excuse, 
 and to entreat our general to come on shore, offering 
 himself pawn aboard for his safe return. Whereunto 
 our general consented not, upon misHke conceived of 
 the breach of his promise, the whole company also 
 utterly refusing it. But to satisfy him, our general 
 sent certain of his gentlemen to the court, to accom- 
 pany the king's brother, reserving the vice-king for 
 their safe return. They were received of another 
 brother of the king's, and other states, and were con- 
 ducted with great honour to the castle. The place that 
 they were brought unto, was a large and fair house 
 where were at the least i,ooo persons assembled.
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 87 
 
 The king being yet absent, there sat in their places 
 sixty grave personages, ail which were said to be of the 
 king's counsel. There were beside four grave persons, 
 apparelled all in red, down to the ground, and attired 
 on their heads like the Turks, and these were said to 
 be Romans and liegers there to keep continual trafl&c 
 with the people of Temate. There were also two Turks 
 liegers in this place, and one Italian. The king at last 
 came in guarded with twelve lances covered over with 
 a rich canopy, '^\ith embossed gold. Our men accom- 
 panied with one of their captains called Moro, rising 
 to meet him, he graciously did welcome, and entertain 
 them. He was attired after the manner of the country, 
 but more sumptuously than the rest. 
 
 From his waist do-wn to the ground was all cloth of 
 gold, and the same very rich; his legs were bare, but 
 on his feet were a pair of shoes, made of Cordovan skin. 
 In the attire of his head were finely-wreathed hooped 
 rings of gold, and about his neck he had a chain of 
 perfect gold, the Hnks whereof were great, and one 
 fold double. On his fingers he had six very fair jewels, 
 and sitting in his chair of estate, at his right hand stood 
 a page with a fan in his hand, breathing and gathering 
 the air to the king. The fan was in length two feet, and 
 in breadth one foot, set with eight sapphires, richly 
 embroidered, and knit to a staff three foot in length by 
 the which the page did hold and move it. Our gentle- 
 men ha\'ing delivered their message and received order 
 accordingly, were hcensed to depart, being safely 
 conducted back again by one of the king's counsel. 
 
 This island is the chiefest of all the islands of Mo- 
 lucca, and the king hereof is king of seventy islands 
 besides. The king with his people are Moors in religion, 
 Liesers. Resident ambassadors.
 
 88 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 observing certain new moons, with fastings; during 
 which fasts, they neither eat nor drink In the day, but 
 in the night. 
 
 After that our gentlemen were returned, and that we 
 -had here by the favour of the king received all necessary 
 ^things that the place could yield us : our general con- 
 •:sidering the great distance, and how far he was yet off 
 from his country, thought it not best here to linger the 
 time any longer, but weighing his anchors, set out of 
 the island and sailed to a certain little island to the 
 southwards of Celebes, where we graved our ship, and 
 continued there in that and oth^r businesses twenty- 
 six days. This island is thoroughly grown with wood 
 of a large and high growth, very straight and without 
 boughs, save only in the head or top, whose leaves 
 are not much differing from our broom in England. 
 Amongst these trees night by night, through the whole 
 land, did show themselves an infinite swarm of fiery 
 worms flying in the air, whose bodies being no bigger 
 than our common English flies, make such a show and 
 light as if every twig or tree had been a burning candle. 
 In this place breedeth also wonderful store of bats, as 
 big as large hens; of crayfishes also here wanted no 
 plenty, and they of exceeding bigness, one whereof was 
 suificient for four hungry stomachs at a dinner, being 
 also very good, and restoring meat, whereof we had 
 experience; and they dig themselves holes in the earth 
 like conies. 
 
 When we had ended our business here we weighed 
 and set sail to run for the Moluccas: but having at 
 that time a bad wind, and being amongst the islands, 
 with much difficulty we recovered to the northward of 
 • the island of Celebes, where by reason of contrary 
 winds not able to continue our course to run westwards,
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 89 
 
 we were enforced to alter the same to the southward 
 again, finding that course also to be very hard and 
 dangerous for us, by reason of infinite shoals which lie 
 off, and among the islands : whereof we had too much 
 trial to the hazard and danger of our ship and lives. 
 For of all other days upon the 9th of January, in the 
 year 1579, ^^ ^^^ suddenly upon a rock, where we 
 stuck fast from eight of the clock at night till four of 
 the clock in the afternoon the next day, being indeed 
 out of all hope to escape the danger; but our general, 
 as he had always hitherto shewed himself courageous, 
 and of a good confidence in the mercy and protection 
 of God : so now he continued in the same, and lest he 
 should seem to perish wilfully, both he and we did our 
 best endeavour to save ourselves, w^hich it pleased God 
 so to bless, that in the end we cleared ourselves most 
 happily of the danger. 
 
 We lighted our ship upon the rocks of three ton of 
 cloves, eight pieces of ordinance, and certain meal and 
 beans: and then the wind (as it were in a moment by 
 the special grace of God) changing from the starboard 
 to the larboard of the ship, we hoisted our sails, and 
 the happy gale drove our ship off the rock into the sea 
 again, to the no Httle comfort of all our hearts, for 
 which we gave God such praise and thanks, as so great 
 a benefit required. 
 
 The 8th of February following, we fell with the 
 fruitful island of Barateve, having in the meantime 
 suffered many dangers by winds and shoals. The 
 people of this island are comely in body and stature, 
 and of a civil behaviour, whereof we had the experi- 
 ence sundry ways, they being most glad of our presence, 
 and very ready to relieve our wants in those things 
 which their country did yield. The men go naked.
 
 90 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 saving their heads and middles, every man having 
 something or other hanging at their ears. Their women 
 are covered from the middle down to the foot, wearing 
 a great number of bracelets upon their arms, for some 
 had eight upon each arm, being made some of bone, 
 some of horn, and some of brass, the Hghtest whereof 
 by our estimation weighed two ounces apiece. 
 
 With this people hnen-cloth is good merchandise, 
 and of good request, whereof they make rolls for their 
 heads and girdles to wear about them. 
 
 Their island is both rich and fruitful: rich in gold, 
 silver, copper, and sulphur, wherein they seem skilful 
 and expert, not only to try the same, but in working 
 it also artificially into any form and fashion that 
 pleaseth them. 
 
 Their fruits be divers and plentiful, as nutmegs, 
 ginger, long pepper, lemons, cucumbers, cocos, ligo, 
 sago, with divers other sorts ; and among all the rest, 
 we had one fruit, in bigness, form and husk, Hke a 
 bay-berry, hard of substance, and pleasant of taste, 
 which being sodden, becometh soft, and is a most good 
 and wholesome victual, whereof we took reasonable 
 store, as we did also of the other fruits and spices ; so 
 that to confess a truth, since the time that we lirst set 
 out of our own country of England, we happened upon 
 no place (Ternate only excepted) wherein we found 
 more comforts and better means of refreshing. 
 
 At our departure from Barateve, we set our course 
 for Java Major, where arriving, we found great 
 courtesy, and honourable entertainment. This island is 
 governed by five kings whom they call Rajah : as Rajah 
 Donaw, and Rajah Mang Bange, and Rajah Cabuc- 
 capoUo, which live as having one spirit and one mind. 
 
 Of these five we had four a-shipboard at once, and
 
 FRANCIS DRAKE 91 
 
 two or three often. They are wonderfully dehghted in 
 coloured clothes, as red and green: the upper parts 
 of their bodies are naked, save their heads, whereupon 
 they wear a Turkish roll, as do the Moluccians: from 
 the middle downward they wear a pintado of silk, 
 trailing upon the ground in colour as they best like. 
 
 The Moluccians hate that their women should be 
 seen of strangers : but these offer them of high courtesy, 
 3^ea the kings themselves. 
 
 The people are of goodly stature, and warlike, well 
 provided of swords and targets, with daggers, all being 
 of their own work, and most artificially done, both in 
 tempering their metal, as also in the fonn, whereof 
 we bought reasonable store. 
 
 They have an house in every village for their common 
 assembly: ever^- day they meet twice, men, women 
 and children, bringing with them such \-ictuals as 
 they think good, some fruits, some rice boiled, some 
 hens roasted, some sago, having a table made three 
 foot from the ground, whereon they set their meat, 
 that every person sitting at the table may eat, one 
 rejoicing in the company of another. 
 
 They boil their rice in an earthen pot, made in form 
 of a sugar loaf, being full of holes, as our pots which 
 we water our gardens withal, and it is open at the 
 great end, wherein they put their rice dr\', without 
 any moisture. In the meantime they have ready 
 another great earthen pot, set fast in a furnace, boiling 
 full of water, whereinto they put their pot with rice, 
 by such measure, that they swelling become soft at 
 the first, and by their swelling stopping the holes of 
 the pot, admit no more water to enter, but the more 
 they are boiled, the harder and more firm substance 
 they become, so that in the end they are a firm and
 
 92 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 good bread, of the which with oil, butter, sugar and 
 other spices, they make divers sorts of meats very 
 pleasant of taste, and nourishing to nature. 
 
 Disease is here very common to all, and they help 
 themselves sitting naked from ten to two in the sun, 
 whereby the venomous humour is drawn out. Not 
 long before our departure, they told us, that not far 
 off there were such great ships as ours, wishing us to 
 beware: upon this our captain would stay no longer. 
 
 From Java Major we sailed for the Cape of Good 
 Hope, which was the first land we fell withal: neither 
 did we touch with it, or any other land, until we came 
 to Sierra Leone, upon the coast of Guinea: notwith- 
 standing we ran hard aboard the Cape, finding the 
 report of the Portugals to be most false, who affirm 
 that it is the most dangerous cape of the world, never 
 without intolerable storms and present danger to 
 travellers, which came near the same. 
 
 This cape is a most stately thing, and the fairest 
 cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth, 
 and we passed by it the i8th of June. 
 
 From thence we continued our course to Sierra 
 Leone on the coast of Guinea, where we arrived the 
 22nd of July, and found necessary provisions, great 
 store of elephants, oysters upon trees of one kind, 
 spawning and increasing infinitely, the oyster suffering 
 no bud to grow. We departed thence the 24th day. 
 
 We arrived in England the 3rd of November, 1580, 
 being the third year of our departure.
 
 A VOYAGE INTENDED 
 TOWARDS CHINA 
 
 The voyage intended towards China, wherein Master 
 Edward Fenton was appointed general. Written 
 by M. Luke Ward, his vice-admiral, and captain 
 of the " Edward Bonaventiire." Begun Anno Dom. 
 1582. 
 
 The 2nd of April I departed with the Edward Bona- 
 venture from Blackwall, and the 19th of the same 
 arrived in Nettle Road at Hampton, where I found 
 riding the galleon Leicester: and so remaining there 
 till the 1st of May, we set sail thence in the forenoon, 
 being of us in the whole fleet four sail. 
 
 1. The galleon Leicester, of four hundred tons, 
 admiral, whereof was general Captain Edward Fenton, 
 and William Hawkins the younger lieutenant-general 
 in her, and Christopher Hall master. 
 
 2. The Edward Bonaventure of three hundred tons, 
 vice-admiral, whereof was captain Luke Ward, and 
 Thomas Perry master. 
 
 3. The Francis, of forty tons, rear-admiral, whereof 
 was captain John Drake, and William Markham master. 
 
 4. The Elizabeth, of fifty tons, whereof was captain 
 Thomas Skevington, and Ralph Crane master. 
 
 We spent by means partly of business and partly of 
 contrary winds, the month of May upon the coast, 
 and then, leaving the land, we put off to sea and 
 proceeded on our vo^^age, intended, by grace of God, 
 for China. Until the month of August following, no- 
 thing fell out much worthy the knowledge of the world 
 
 93
 
 94 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 which is not common to ah navigators, but about the 
 beginning of August aforesaid, being somewhat near 
 the coast of Guinea, upon the shooting off a piece 
 and the putting out of a flag in the admiral, I went 
 aboard, and Master Walker, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Jeffries, 
 our master and pilot, with me, where the general 
 council was assembled to consider of two points, viz. : 
 
 The first, whether it were necessary to water pre- 
 sently or not, which was thought very needful of all 
 men and so concluded. 
 
 The second, where the best and aptest place was to 
 water in, which was thought of the greater number 
 to be at Sierra Leone, on the coast of Guinea, which 
 was also concluded, and by the master and pilots 
 agreed to go hence south-east, which determined we 
 returned aboard. 
 
 The third da}/ we went south-east and east-south- 
 east till six o'clock at night that we saw the land of 
 Guinea, which bare north-east of us about twelve 
 leagues off. Then went I and our master pilot aboard 
 the admiral, and after many debatements, concluded 
 to run in north-east by east, and at eleven at night 
 we came aboard again, and went all night north-east 
 by east. 
 
 The 4th at eight o'clock in the forenoon, we were 
 within two leagues of the land, which bare off us 
 north-east, which rose like a hill full of woods, and on 
 each side low land. We being persuaded by our pilots 
 that it was the entrance into Sierra Leone, went in 
 north-east until we were within half league of the 
 shore, and had brought the south point south-east by 
 east off us. At eleven o'clock, finding it a bay and 
 not Sierra Leone, we brought our tacks aboard and 
 stood along west by north and west larboard -tacked.
 
 EDWARD FENTON 95 
 
 In this time our admiral's pinnace rowed in and 
 went on land upon the south side of the bay, and the 
 Elizabeth's boat with her. They found houses of boughs, 
 and in one of the houses the tongue of a beast and a 
 bullock's tongue, fresh killed. Also a lake with plenty 
 of fresh water and fresh-water fish in it hard by the 
 sea-side. They found dry pomegranates and peas like 
 nuts, with other unknown fruits under the trees. The 
 Elizabeth ran in and brought the south point south by 
 west of her, and anchored within falcon-shot of the 
 shore in seven fathom ooze, where they took fish with 
 hooks, while they stayed for the boats. 
 
 The 4th all the afternoon we ran along the coast 
 (which lieth north-west and by north, and south-east 
 by south) west and within a point one way or the other, 
 seeing the land under our lee three or four leagues 
 off; and all night likewi>e. 
 
 The 9th at three o'clock in the morning, our admiral 
 shot ofi a piece, and at four we weighed and went 
 hence north-east. At five in the morning we saw the 
 land along, and the i>land which we saw the ni,2:ht 
 before, and divers other islands about it, and so ran in 
 north-east until we had brought ourselves athwart of 
 the river, and then ran in east about six at night, 
 being a league within the river. Our admiral shot off a 
 piece, and there we anchored in eight fathom sand. 
 Being at anchor, I manned our boat, and would have 
 gone aboard the admiral, but could not, the flood was 
 bent so strong, and she rode half a mile beneath us in 
 the tide, but we had no tide. 
 
 The loth, in the morning at five o'clock, I sent our 
 skiff, with our pilot in her, to find a road and a water- 
 ing-place. In the meantime, at six o'clock, we set sail 
 with our ship, and being calm, we towed with our boat
 
 96 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 until ten, and then anchored a mile short of the 
 watering-place. After dinner I went on land with my 
 skiff to find timber to fish our mast, and, searching 
 along the shore, we found a good watering-place: 
 and further seeking the wood, which all the country is 
 full of, and of divers sorts, we found lemon trees, full 
 of fruits; also trees growing by the waterside with 
 the stalks hung full of oysters and great periwinkles 
 and crabs amongst them. We found dry pomegranates, 
 with many other fruits unknown to us. In the mean- 
 time, our admiral and the Edward, with the barques, 
 having a gale at west, set sail and ran up and anchored 
 in the road before the accustomed watering-place. 
 
 The 22nd day, certain Portuguese which had been 
 with us before, came down and brought some other 
 Portuguese and negroes with them in a ship's boat, 
 wherein they brought us eighty bags of rice, five 
 hundred and odd weight of elephants' teeth and a negro 
 boy, which boy they gave the general, and the rice 
 and teeth for the Elizabeth, which we sold them, with 
 all her tackle and sails, having need of the rice because 
 our meal which we brought out of England was 
 decayed and naught, whereof we had into the Edward 
 thirty bushels, which is a bag and a half: the Francis 
 had five bushels and the galleon had the rest. And 
 we had two hundredweight of elephants' teeth and 
 the galleon three hundred and a half and six pound. 
 During this time we sent our skiff with the admiral's 
 pinnace up the river to meet with a gundall, which 
 the Portuguese had sent for fresh victuals for us : who, 
 not finding her, returned at night. AU this day I, 
 with Mr. Walker, remained aboard with the admiral, 
 and after their dinner and supper we ended our 
 Gundall. A kind of gondola.
 
 EDWARD FENTON 97 
 
 business and returned aboard, having had many good 
 speeches with the Portuguese. 
 
 The 26th day being Sunday, Captain Hawkins, 
 Mr. Maddox, Mr. Hall, Mr. Bannister, Captain Drake, 
 Mr. Evans, Mr. Hood and others came aboard and 
 heard the sennon and dined with me. After dinner we 
 went on shore to the lower point, where we followed 
 the footing of an elephant, but saw him not, and so 
 spent the time to and fro till supper-time, and then 
 came aboard and supped together, which done, each 
 man departed to his abode. 
 
 This night I was very sick (and so were all they that 
 were on shore with me) with eating of a fruit in the 
 countrv which we found on trees, like nuts. Whereof 
 some did eat four, some five, some six and more but 
 we vomited upon it without reason. 
 
 The 27th day, in the afternoon, the old Greek, 
 Francisco, came aboard to me with request that he 
 might have the Francis' boat to go up for hi- own boat, 
 which was not come down, with whom I talked of this 
 country' and countr\^ people until five of the clock at 
 night that the flood was come, and then I went aboard 
 to the admiral and got his consent, and sent themselves 
 in her; viz. Ferdinando, the Portuguese master and his 
 negro. In the meantime I sent four of my men to 
 watch in the Elizabeth all night. 
 
 The 28th day, in the morning at four o'clock, I sent 
 my skiff, with the admiral's pinnace, down to the west 
 point to fish, who came aboard again at one in the 
 afternoon and brought as much fish as all our companies 
 could eat. 
 
 During the time that our boats were a-fishing, 
 came down the river a canoe and the Portuguese's 
 former boat, with hens, oranges, plantains, which they 
 
 D
 
 98 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 presented the general and me with : and also the rest of 
 the rice due to us for the pa\^ment of the Elizabeth. 
 For the partitions whereof I went aboard the admiral, 
 where I dined. After dinner Mr. Evans began to 
 barter away certain of the ship's commodities with 
 the negroes, without acquainting the general or any 
 other until he had done, whereof grew more words 
 than profit, as by the books of merchandise appeareth. 
 Which done, I came aboard and had two of the 
 Portuguese to supper with me. About two of the clock 
 in the morning we had a tornado and much rain. 
 
 The 29th, about four o'clock in the morning, I in 
 my skiff, and Captain Parker in his pinnace, went down 
 to the west point, and there we landed with eleven 
 men in all, well furnished, and searched the woods, 
 plains and plashes after an elephant, finding the 
 haunt, footing and soil of many, newly done, yet we 
 saw none of them. We saw hogs, goats or fawns, and 
 divers sorts of fowls, very wild. And having travelled 
 about two leagues, about noon we returned to the 
 point, where we landed and met our boats which had 
 been at sea and taken plenty of good fish. There we 
 refreshed ourselves with such victuals as we had, and 
 came aboard our several ships, where I found the 
 Portuguese and negroes who had dined, and after 
 supped aboard with me. 
 
 The 2nd of September we set sail at six of the clock 
 in the morning, and went out west between seven 
 and ten fathom, with a pretty gale at east till eight, 
 then it waxed calm, we being shot out of the harbour 
 a league and a half. It continued calm this day till 
 one in the afternoon, and then it blew up at west- 
 south-east a good gale, so we stood off north-north- 
 west and north-west till five in the afternoon, then we
 
 EDWARD FENTON 99 
 
 anchored in twelve fathoms, being six leagues oft the 
 point west by north. 
 
 The 3rd day, about eight o'clock in the forenoon, 
 the general came aboard to me, complaining that his 
 main cross-trees were broken, and therefore deter- 
 mined to go into Sierra Leone again when the wind 
 blew. At twelve at noon we set sail, and went in east- 
 south-east and south-south-east, being carried to the 
 northward with the flood. And at seven at night we 
 anchored in eight fathoms, three leagues off the 
 entrance, west-north-west. 
 
 The I2th day came down the river a boat with three 
 other Portuguese, with whom the general bargained 
 to let them have three barrels of salt for five barrels of 
 rice, and after that rate to exchange for forty barrels, 
 which he acquainted me with. Afterwards I dined 
 among the Portugals with him. After dinner I went 
 on shore to the oven and to the carpenters. After I 
 had been on shore and seen the work tliere, I returned 
 aboard and there supped with me the general, Mr. 
 Maddox, Captain Hawkins and seven Portuguese. 
 After supper each man returned to his place. 
 
 The 13th, in the afternoon, the Portuguese came 
 again aboard me, and brake their fast with me : after I 
 sent by them up the river in my skiff, twelve barrels of 
 salt, and gave them a bottle of wine for one of the 
 savage queens. 
 
 The 15th, after dinner, the master, Mr. \\'alker, and 
 I, accompanied with twelve others, travelled over a 
 great deal of ground to find some cattle, but found 
 none. And coming home through the Oyster Bay, I 
 found of my company and the admiral's together 
 roasting oysters: and going from them Thomas 
 Russell, one of my company, saw a strange fish, named
 
 100 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 utelif, which had fought with a crocodile, and being 
 hurt, came near the shore, where he waded in, and by 
 the tail drew him a-land and there slew him and sent 
 the general the hinder half of him. The head part I 
 kept, in whose nose is a bone of two feet long, like a 
 sword, with three-and -twenty pricks of a side, sharp 
 and strange. The body we did eat, and it was like a 
 shark. 
 
 The 30th and last day of September, the Francis' 
 cook came aboard about seven o'clock in the forenoon 
 from fishing with my net, and brought among other 
 fish a sea-calf (as we called it) with hair and limpets 
 and barnacles upon him, being seven foot long, four 
 foot nine inches about; which to see I sent for the 
 general and such as pleased to come see it out of the 
 admiral, who came and brought with him Mr. Maddox, 
 Captain Hawkins, Captain Parker and most part of 
 his company, who having viewed the beast, which was 
 ugly, being alive, it being flayed, opened and dressed, 
 proved an excellent fare and good meat, broiled, 
 roasted, sodden and baked, and sufficed all our com- 
 panies for that day. 
 
 The 1st day of October, in the morning, we took in, 
 to make up our full complement of rice, twenty barrels 
 for the twelve barrels of salt delivered the Portuguese, 
 Lewis Henriques, before. 
 
 The 2nd day, about six o'clock in the morning, we 
 set sail, having little wind. The captain, with the 
 master and other of their company of the Portuguese, 
 came aboard me, complaining that the carsey by them 
 received for the four negroes of the general was not 
 sufficient for their payment; whereupon I gave them 
 scarlet caps and other things, to their content, who, 
 Carsey. Kersey, a kind of coarse woollen cloth.
 
 EDWARD FENTON loi 
 
 finding themselves well pleased, departed away in the 
 gundall, and we, having little wind, got down athwart 
 of the fishing bay and there came to anchor about nine 
 o'clock the same forenoon. 
 
 The 3rd day, about two o'clock in the mornmj^, we 
 set sail, and went hence south-west by west till two 
 in the afternoon, then being little wind. At five we 
 anchored six leagues east-south-east of the southern- 
 most part of the land in fifteen fathoms, and there we 
 rode till eight o'clock at night, and set sail with a stiff 
 gale at north-east, which sometimes blew and some- 
 times was little wind, and so continued all night. 
 
 The 1st day of November, in the forenoon, we took 
 in our mainsail to mend it. In the meantime the 
 admiral came up by us, and desiring me with my 
 master and Mr. BlackcoUer, to come aboard to him 
 about certain conference, he sent his boat for us, 
 wliere by him was propounded whether it were best 
 for us to stand on with the coast of Brazil, as we did, 
 or else to stand about starboard tacked to the east- 
 wards. Whereupon divers of their charts and reckonings 
 were showed : by some it appeared wc were a hundred 
 and fifteen leagues, by some a hundred and fifty 
 leagues, by some a hundred and forty leagues, and 
 some a great deal further short of Brazil, next -hand 
 north-east of us: but all agreed to be within twenty 
 minutes of the Line, some to the north, some to the 
 south of the Line. 
 
 After many debatements, it was agreed by most 
 consent to stand on for the coast of Brazil, except the 
 wind changed, and there to do as weather should 
 compel us. In this consultation we had speeches 
 of courses and places of meeting, if by misfortune 
 we should be separated, wherein was no full order
 
 102 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 concluded, but that we should speak every night with 
 the admiral, if we conveniently might, and so to 
 appoint our course from time to time, if we lost com- 
 pany, to stay fifteen days in the River of Plate, and 
 from thence to go for the Straits and there to ride 
 and water and trim our ships. 
 
 The I2th, in the afternoon, Mr. Maddox, Mr. Hall, 
 Mr. Bannister and others came aboard to visit Mr. 
 Walker. After a time of abode with him, they returned 
 to the galleon all again, except Mr. Maddox, who 
 remained with Mr. Walker here aboard. 
 
 This night Mr. Maddox and I beheld many constel- 
 lations in the firmament, and set down certain new 
 stars raised to the southwards. All day and night we 
 went south and south by east among. 
 
 The 17th day, in the afternoon, we shot off three 
 pieces of ordinance in honour of our Queen's Majesty. 
 This day, after dinner, came Master Maddox and 
 Captain Drake with others, to take their leave of 
 Master Walker, as I with all my company had done 
 before, supposing him past hope of recovery. At four 
 of the clock, finding ourselves in nineteen degrees to 
 the southwards of the Line, and clear of the shoals, 
 called by us Powles, we went hence south-south-west 
 all night following. 
 
 The i8th day, being Sunday, after dinner the 
 general, Master Maddox, Captain Parker, and many 
 other, came aboard and visited Mr. Walker; which 
 done they drank and departed aboard again. All this 
 day and night w^e went our course south-west by south, 
 with a frank gale. 
 
 The 19th da3% about noon, the sun was in our zenith, 
 being declined to the southwards twenty-one degrees 
 and thirty-three minutes, where we found the air
 
 EDWARD FENTON 103 
 
 fresh and temperate as in England in June when a 
 fresh gale of wind doth blow in the heat of the day; 
 but the evening, the night and the morning are more 
 fresh and colder here than it is in England, either in 
 June or July. 
 
 The ist of December, about six of the ckx k in the 
 morning, we saw land on the coast of Brazil, in the 
 hei.£(ht of twenty-eight degrees or thereabouts, which 
 bare north-west and was eight leagues from us vor\' 
 high land. We stood in with it, being much wind, and 
 coming near found divers islands: and seeing the 
 Francis would not come room nor run ahead us, we 
 stood in with the shore and sounded in thirty fathoms 
 ooze three leagues off the land, bearing from the west- 
 north-west to the north-north-west of us, and so stood 
 still till it shoaled orderly into <even fathoms, within 
 a mile of a headland: then perceiving a breach over 
 our bow, and no hope of a good harbour in that place, 
 we bare up room and our admiral after us, whom we 
 hailed: then he told us he would seek harbour to 
 leewards, requiring me to go ahead. Then seeing the 
 barque was astern, I hoisted out my skiff and set her 
 mast and sail, taking her ging, and Tobias, one of my 
 master's mates with me, and ran before the ship, 
 sounding in fifteen fathoms fair sand, leaving a ledge 
 of rocks a-seaboard of us : so the ships and the barque 
 luffed up under a headland and anchored in eight 
 fathom, half a mile off the land, having brought the 
 headland, which lieth twenty-seven degrees fifty 
 minutes south-south-east off them. 
 
 I stood on with the skiff, hoping to find a better 
 harbour to leeward three leagues, but it proved not so: 
 wherefore I returned and in my way aboard I met with 
 
 Gins. Crew. 
 
 I
 
 104 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 a rock in the sea, where we landed and killed good store 
 of fowl, and after I went aboard the admiral, where I 
 presented him with fowl and returned aboard to supper. 
 
 In this time our boats had been a-land and found 
 water, ballast and two decayed houses, as they told 
 me, and our men aboard hooked fresh fish. This night 
 we rode quietly. 
 
 The second, being Sunday, our masters moored our 
 ships further into the bay. We brought the south 
 point south-east of us, and the north land north-east, 
 and so rid. 
 
 After dinner Captain Parker, with my boat and 
 company, went on land and there placed pipes and 
 made three weUs. In the meantime I, accompanied 
 with Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Maddox, Mr. Cotton and 
 divers of mine own people, landed farther within the 
 bay, and found two rivers of fresh water and a good 
 fishing place. Presently I sent aboard for my net, 
 with which at one draught we drew six hundred great 
 mullets and five great basses; the like draught was 
 never seen with so small a net; with which we went 
 aboard, giving to the admiral two hundred and forty, 
 to the Francis eighty, and the rest our company 
 spent and gave Almighty God thanks for His great 
 goodness. 
 
 All this while was Captain Parker and others gone 
 into the land and fired the woods, which burned 
 extremely. 
 
 The third day, in the morning, our carpenter 
 caulked without -board, and the master and others 
 took up all the merchandise in the stem sheets to the 
 keel, and there put down a boat's loading of stone: 
 and seeing the merchandise well conditioned, stowed 
 the same again. In the meantime, myself and others
 
 EDWARD FENTON 105 
 
 in our boats, scraped off the worms and washed the 
 rudder and part of one side of our ship. 
 
 After dinner the master, pilot and I went ashore, 
 and observed the sun at noon, which being past, with 
 our net we drew plenty of divers sorts of fishes and 
 went from that ba}' to the watering-place; from 
 thence aboard the general, which had taken physic, 
 and gave them and the Francis fish for their com- 
 panies, and so went aboard, where our company had 
 rummaged aforemast, so that this afternoon we took 
 in two boats more loading of stones aforemast. 
 
 The sixth day, in the morning, before six of the 
 clock, we saw a sail which went towards the south- 
 wards, the admiral not having knowledge thereof. I 
 went aboard and certified him, who appointed me to 
 go and bring her in, and to take Captain Parker and 
 some of the galleon's men into the Francis and the 
 admiral's skifi with us. So we gave her chase and 
 took her six leagues to the leewards of the place we 
 rode in. Then, not being able to fetch the road again, 
 we anchored in the sea, I intending to come away in 
 the pinnace and leave the Francis and the prize to- 
 gether, being ready to depart : the wind blew at south 
 a stout gale and rain; so that about six of the clock 
 we anchored in the road, where our ships rode. 
 
 After we had taken them, and that Captain Parker 
 and I were aboard we had much talk with them before 
 they came to the ships, and being anchored there 
 the chief men were carried aboard the general, which 
 was a gentleman named Don Francisco de Torre 
 Vedra, nephew to the governor of the River of Plate, 
 named Don John de Torre Vedra. 
 
 We found an Englishman, named Richard Carter, 
 bom in Limehouse, who had been out of England
 
 io6 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 four-and-twenty years, and hath been near twelve 
 years dwelling in the River of Plate at a town named 
 Ascension, three hundred leagues up in the river, 
 whither they were now determined to go and inhabit, 
 having two women and two young children, seven 
 friars, the rest boys and sailors to the number of 
 one-and-twenty persons. 
 
 The old friar was had in great reverence among the 
 rest; insomuch that they called him the Holy Father. 
 He was abiding in no place, but as visitor he went 
 visiting from monastery to monastery. 
 
 The substance of all the speeches was,, that the 
 Spanish fleet was before the Straits of Magellan, as 
 they thought, for they were departed six weeks past 
 from the River of Janeiro, where they had been seven 
 months to refresh and winter, and that these were 
 not of that company, but came out of Spain the 
 26th of May, 1582, in a barque of four-score ton and 
 four-score persons, of purpose for the River of Plate. 
 The friars being eighteen of number could not agree, 
 and their barque was a-ground at Spirito Santo, like 
 to be lost: therefore the old friar bought this small 
 barque of forty-six tons at a port named Spirito 
 Santo in Brazil, and so divided themselves, and coming 
 from thence lost company at sea; but they thought 
 they were before at the River of Plate. After his 
 speeches I went and appointed (by the general's order) 
 men to remain aboard the prize with Captain Parker, 
 and brought one of the Portuguese sails away with 
 me and came aboard, where I found that our men had 
 filled water all day. 
 
 The 7th day in the morning, the general sent for 
 me; where he showed me and Mr. Maddox certain 
 articles which the friars and mariners Spaniards were
 
 EDWARD FENTON 107 
 
 examined of, which tended altogether to the knowledge 
 of the Spanish fleet's intent and of the means whereby 
 we might be discovered by the way of the River of 
 Plate by land to Peru. In this time came the rest: 
 after whose coming it was debated whether it were 
 best to take the boat and people with us or not. Which 
 was not determined, but referred till further exam- 
 ination. 
 
 Then was it determined to pass by the Straits, 
 notwithstanding the Spaniards were there, but not to 
 set up forge, nor to build pinnace, but water and so 
 thorow. 
 
 The 8th day afore noon, Mr. Walker and I went 
 aboard the admiral to dinner, where was determined 
 to discharge the Spanish barque, named Our Lady of 
 Pity, and all the men except Richard Carter, the 
 Englishman, and John Pinto, a Portuguese which 
 dwelled at the River of Plate. After dinner the general 
 appointed me and Captain Hawkins to see them all 
 set aboard their ship, and to receive from them certain 
 necessaries, which willingly they imparted with us, 
 and to leave them satisfied. Which done, I returned 
 aboard. 
 
 The 9th day, being Sunday, in the morning I sent 
 Mr. Shaw and Mr. Jeffries aboard the adm.iral to peruse 
 the Spaniards' letters; wherein they found the estate 
 of the fleet which was in the Straits of Magellan, as 
 by the note thereof appeareth. 
 
 About ten of the clock the general, Mr. Maddox, 
 Captain Hawkins and Captain Parker came aboard 
 of me. The general began to reprove my quarter- 
 m.aster for grudging of victuals for the Francis; which 
 was answered and he well satisfied. Then sent I for 
 the old friar and Don Francisco, who all dined with
 
 io8 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 me; and after dinner, the Spaniards having received 
 the canoe which was sunk a-land and stones to ballast 
 them, which my boat carried them, and all other 
 things to their liking and content, they departed from 
 me. The general also departed and his company, who 
 being gone I divided the sugar and ginger among my 
 people, which the Spaniards gave us, and after spent 
 the day in ordinary business. 
 
 The loth day, in the morning, our skiff went a- 
 fishing, whereof we ate as much to supper as served 
 the company; the rest we salted for store, and to 
 prove if they would take salt or not. 
 
 The nth day, betimes in the morning, our skiff 
 went again to fish and took great plenty. About seven 
 of the clock I went a-land, taking with me the master 
 and others of our best men to the number of twenty- 
 two persons, and travelled to the place where our 
 people before had found many great jars of earth and 
 decayed habitations of the Indians, and trees, being 
 dead and withered, of sweet wood. From that place 
 we saw, over the tops of a narrow wood, a fair plain, 
 which, at the request of the master and the rest, I 
 went with them to see. We passed through a thick 
 and perilous wood before we came to the supposed 
 plain: and when we came to it we found the lowest 
 part thereof higher than any of our heads, and so 
 mossy underfoot that we shpped to the knees many 
 steps, which so wearied us that, for my part, I was 
 very sick, and so hasted aboard, leaving the master 
 with fifteen men, which cut a tree of sweet wood and 
 brought many pieces thereof aboard. 
 
 About three o'clock afternoon, Mr. Walker and many 
 of our men being ashore, the wind came fair and we 
 laid out a warp to the north-east, and began to wind
 
 EDWARD FENTON 109 
 
 ahead. After we laid out another warp with a bend and 
 wound to the plat, and so rid by it with one anchor 
 all night. 
 
 The I2th day about five o'clock in the morning, we 
 set sail, and as we ran out betwixt the ledge of rocks 
 and the main, in eight fathoms water, as we were 
 catting our anchor the cat-rope, stopper and all 
 broke, so that we were glad to let slip all the cable 
 and cast off our boat and skiff to weigh the same. 
 After we had stood out a good way, the admiral was 
 under sail: then cast we about and went room with 
 the admiral which waved us, who sent in his pinnace 
 and the Francis to help out our boats : so by the help 
 of the admiral's pinnace, with her sail, we had our 
 boat the sooner, and about twelve o'clock at noon had 
 taken in the anchor, cable, our longboat, skiff and all, 
 and put out all our sails, bearing after the admiral, 
 which went hence south by east. About six o'clock 
 at night, being thick weather, we lost sight of the 
 land, being four leagues off or thereabout. All night 
 it was but little wind; yet went we our course south 
 by west. 
 
 The 13th day, about seven afore noon, the wind 
 blew at south-south-east and was very foggy, with 
 which gale we stood in, larboard- tacked west, till 
 ten o'clock the same forenoon. Then had we sight 
 of the land ahead, all along (for it waxed clear 
 weather) it showeth afar off like white cliffs, but is 
 all sandy hills and bays along the sea-side. At one 
 o'clock after noon, we were in sixteen fathoms water 
 and Avithin half a league of the shore, where we saw 
 several fires made by the Indians to give warning to 
 the other people within the land, as we supposed. 
 Plat. Plan or map.
 
 no STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 Then we cast about and stood off south-east by east 
 till midnight that the wind came large : then we \\^ent 
 our course south by west till next morning. 
 
 The 14th day we went our course south by west, 
 having sight of the land at six o'clock in the morning, 
 about seven leagues off, and so went till six at night, 
 that we saw land again seven leagues off west and the 
 wind shifted to the south. Then we cast about and 
 stood off east-south-east at seven at night for a while: 
 when came up the wind at north-west and blew good. 
 
 The 15 th day, in the morning, the admiral was 
 ahead, as far as we could almost see her, by whose 
 default I knew not, and being little wind, we could 
 not get to her till four of the clock after noon; then 
 we hailed her and stood in between the south-south- 
 west and the south-west till six at night that the 
 wind was variable and foul weather. Then we cast 
 about and sounded in twenty-three fathoms soft 
 ooze, and stood off awhile north-east, and presently 
 cast about again and went south b\' east larboard- 
 tacked, and south-south-east among all night: finding 
 at four in the morning fifteen fathoms sand. 
 
 The 20th day, about ten o'clock afore noon we went 
 aboard the admiral, viz. Mr. Walker, the master, the 
 pilot, the two merchants and myself, being directed 
 so to do by the general. Upon our coming the general 
 was going to dinner, where we also dined with him. 
 Having dined, the general called us, his assistants, 
 into his cabin, and there delivered to us in writing 
 two demands, to be by us considered upon and he to 
 have our opinions therein. 
 
 The effects of the demands were these : 
 
 I. Whether it was best for us to adventure ourselves 
 to pass the Straits of Magellan or not, considering the
 
 EDWARD FENTON iii 
 
 force of the enemy, which we knew to be there before 
 us, and also that our determination was there to set 
 up our pinnace, make iron hoops, careen our ships, 
 and do all our necessary businesses for the full accom- 
 plishment of our voyage. 
 
 2. If that course were not thought best, which way 
 wore meetest for us to take. 
 
 To the first we were of opinion that it were good 
 to hear the opinions of Captain Hawkins, Captain 
 Drake and the two pilots, which had passed the Straits 
 and knew the harbours, and iikest places to be fortified, 
 and inhabited or not, who were called, and the three 
 masters \\ith them. Their opinions were as diverse 
 as their names, and as much differed as before this 
 time they were wont usually to do: only they all 
 agreed in this one point, that it was impossible for 
 us to pass the Straits without seeing, and encountering 
 with the ships, although the fortification of the land 
 did not annoy us: which being long and thoroughly 
 debated, and their opinions with the three masters 
 demanded, which accorded not scant any one with 
 other, they were dismissed. 
 
 Then the general received the opinions of us his 
 assistants, beginning with the youngest in authority 
 first: which when he had heard them all over, and 
 being set down in writing under our hands, he took 
 deliberation till after supper to give his determination. 
 
 When we had all supped, then he sent for us down 
 into his cabin, and dehvered in writing his determina- 
 tion (which was) to victual, and furnish ourselves on 
 this coast, before he proceeded any further : and named 
 two places, the River of Plate, or St. Vincent, to be 
 chosen. 
 
 For the better deciphering of the River of Plate
 
 112 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 and the commodities thereof, was called before us 
 Richard Carter, which doth dwell there: who could 
 not assure us of any wine, except we could stay four 
 months for it: but other victuals plenty. The river 
 is shallow and dangerous, the road seven leagues from 
 any town, or place of commodity: which considered 
 with the treachery that might from thence be used, 
 into the Straits by sea, and into Peru by land, we all 
 concluded to go to St. Vincent, which place is in- 
 habited by Portuguese, and where in honest sort we 
 might conveniently have all our business done. 
 
 With this resolution we took our leave about eight 
 o'clock at night, and being come aboard, presently 
 bore up and went room, having all the day before 
 beat up the wind larboard-tacked east-south-east till 
 at night : after it was a little wind all night we went 
 north next-hand. 
 
 The 2ist day, after service, I declared unto my 
 company the intention of our return to the port of 
 St. Vincent, wherewith they were well-satisfied, being 
 before doubtful that we should not proceed, but return 
 without performance of our voyage. It continued 
 calm all day till six at night, then we went north-west 
 by west till eight at night, and then we cast about, 
 and stood off east-south-east, and east by south' all 
 night with a good gale. 
 
 The 22nd dav in the morning we missed the Francis, 
 which by all presumption went room in the beginning 
 of the night. 
 
 The 25th day, being Christmas Day, it was little 
 wind in the forenoon till ten o'clock; then it blew a 
 fresh gale, with which we went our course north- 
 north-east. In the afternoon it was less wind: yet 
 went we our course north bv east, and north-north- 
 
 11
 
 EDWARD FENTON 113 
 
 east and north, and north by west, till midnight. Then 
 being in shallow water we cast about, and lay south - 
 south-east, and south-east by south, an hour; and 
 seeing our admiral came not after us, we cast about 
 back again, and presently met him; so we went both 
 together next -hand south-south-east, all the rest of the 
 ni^ht. This afternoon we saw the skim of fishes so 
 thick in the sea, that it seemed a water troubled with 
 trampling of horses; which was thick, and slimy; for 
 we had taken up some of it. 
 
 The 17th day of Januarv, about seven o'clock, the 
 master, Master Blackcoller and I went in our skiff and 
 rowed and sounded round about an isle, and found 
 sixteen fathoms within a stone's cast hard aboard the 
 shore, and fair ground: after we landed, and found 
 nothing but woods and bushes, and strange worms: we 
 saw a falcon and one other small bird, and therefore 
 named it Falcon Isle; it is a mile about, with a rock 
 on the east side, which lieth close to it, and it is in 
 sight without danger. After we came aboard and dined ; 
 at two o'clock we set sail, with wind south-east, and 
 ran in north-east awhile, till the wind scanted: then 
 we went in north-north-east, till we were in seven 
 fathoms and a half of water, within a league of shore : 
 then we cast about, and stood off south-south-east all 
 night, till six o'clock the next morning. 
 
 The i8th day about three o'clock afore day, we saw 
 our admiral again, and kept her company till dav. 
 
 The 19th day, being within a league of the Citron 
 Isle, about eight o'clock, afore noon, we went aboard 
 the general, viz. Master Walker, the master, the pilot, 
 and myself, rejoicing of our good meeting^, who told 
 me of their evil road, where they lost an anchor, a 
 cable, and a hawser, and how the dav before, their
 
 114 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 pinnace was ashore on the same island, and fqinid 
 fcwl and water there, whither now they had sent 
 their boat and pinnace for more water, where I know 
 they had small store. 
 
 I also taking Captain Parker, the master, and Mr. 
 Wilks with me, went ashore, and travelled to the top 
 of the isle, which is wooded, and high grass, but evil 
 water, the little on it, but young fowl plenty, and 
 dangerous coming to them. By this time (I having 
 set the isles and headlands about in sight with a 
 compass) came a small gale at south-south-east: then 
 our admiral shot oft a piece for the boats, and hence 
 I went, and dined aboard with him, and came after 
 aboard, and went in north-north-east and north-east 
 till morning: at which time we were within a league 
 of the isle, entering before St. Vincent, but knew not 
 how much water was upon the bore to go out. 
 
 The 2oth day in the morning, being calm, the 
 general's pinnace came in to the shore, with intent 
 to sound the entrance, but seeing three canoes, with 
 each at the least twenty men, whereof the greater 
 part \vere naked Indians, which rowed, the rest 
 Portugals, they returned aboard again. The canoes 
 came with a flag of truce within calling of our ship, 
 and we showed them the like, asking what we were, 
 and of what nation: at length one Portuguese went 
 aboard the admiral by whom the general sent a letter 
 to the governor, craving a pilot to bring in our ship 
 of courtesy, and to have traffic. About noon, having 
 the wind at south, we bore in north-west and so to 
 the north-east, as the channel trended: but coming 
 into seven fathoms water we anchored, until our boats 
 had sounded the bar. During which time, I went aboard 
 the admiral, to confer with him about our proceedings.
 
 EDWARD FENTON 115 
 
 After I had stayed awhile aboard the admiral, the 
 general came aboard with me, where we published unto 
 all my company very- good rules for their behaviour 
 and profit, to their great satisfaction: after he went 
 down into my cabin, where with all his assistants he 
 conferred of divers particulars of our voyage: by 
 which time the boat being returned from sounding, 
 we departed, and set sail, following our skiffs, and 
 with our ships got within the bar into seven fathoms: 
 then being becalmed, we anchored again before a sandy 
 bay, wherein stands a castle and houses: we rode 
 within musket shot of it: and anchored about four 
 o'clock after noon. 
 
 Then I went fonvards with my skiff unto a further 
 point, sounding along. Before my return, the general 
 had sent for me to supper: and thither I went: but 
 being ready to sit down, there came out to us a canoe, 
 wherein were ten Indians and two Christians : the one 
 an ancient Genoese, the other a Portuguese: who came 
 aboard and there received a small banquet, declaring 
 their coming was to understand our intents, and what 
 we sought: who being satisfied, departed with a fare- 
 well of three great pieces from each ship. 
 
 The 31st day about three o'clock after noon, came 
 a canoe, with the old Genoese named Joseph Dor\', a 
 Fleming named Paul Badeves and Steven Repose, 
 a Portuguese, and brought a letter from the governor, 
 and withal, answer of fear and doubts of us, etc. 
 After many speeches and requests, a banquet was 
 made them, and the general in his pinnace with his 
 music and trumpets, and I in my skiff with trumpets, 
 dnim and fife and tabor and pipe, accompanied them 
 a mile up the river : at going off, we saluted them with 
 a voile}- of three great pieces out of each ship; and
 
 ii6 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 after us came Captain Parker with the admiral's long- 
 boat and certain shot in the same, to attend on the 
 general. 
 
 The 22nd day betimes in the morning, I went aboard 
 the admiral to confer about the sending of some token 
 and present to the governor, which was by all the 
 assistants determined to send him three yards of fine 
 scarlet and three yards of fine murrey cloth; and to 
 Joseph Dory the old Genoese, Steven Repose the 
 Portuguese, and to Paul Badeves the Fleming, each 
 of them three 3'ards of fine black cloth, which our 
 merchants went up to Santos withal in the admiral's 
 skiff, about nine o'clock afore noon. 
 
 Also this forenoon, we being minded to go up higher 
 with our ships into harbour, I advised them to go 
 view the place, and sound the road before we went 
 up; which we did: where were found the place both 
 inconvenient and the road worse; and so we returned, 
 and left the first determination. This day we took 
 down our main-tops and topmast, and all the shrouds. 
 
 About two o'clock after noon our merchants returned 
 with their presents, not having been at the town, 
 because Steven Repose by the way met them on the 
 river, and advised them to stay until there had been 
 word sent to the governor, who was unwilling to speak 
 with them yet, but shortly would send their answer. 
 
 The rest of this forenoon we spent in communication 
 about the appointing of a purser for the Edward. Also 
 we signed an assent for coming to this place: about 
 which thing grew foul speeches between the general 
 and his lieutenant, after the old custom. 
 
 Then went we to supper: and being at supper, 
 certain Indians came aboard, and brought the general 
 Murrey. Mulberry-coloured.
 
 EDWARD FENTON 117 
 
 a strange crow, and potatoes, and sugar-canes, to whom 
 he gave looking-glasses, great pins, and biscuit: and 
 so we departed, being late. Also this afternoon I ran 
 over towards St. Vincent, and sounded the bay a 
 league over, and found the channel and flats, and 
 returned aboard again within two hours, having a 
 good gale of wind. 
 
 The 23rd day our skiff went ashore to fish, and took 
 pretty store: we sent our main-top ashore to be 
 mended, and many of our men to wash their clothes; 
 also I went myself with them a-land, to take order 
 that no man should anyways offend the Indians. In 
 the meantime, the general with all the rest of the 
 chiefest gentlemen, came ashore, and viewed the place, 
 and pointed out the fittest room to set up our smith's 
 forge, and ovens to bake our biscuit, and place for our 
 coopers to trim our water-cask. 
 
 The 24th day at four of the clock, before day, we 
 heard one call for a boat on the north shore, to whom 
 I sent my skiff, who brought aboard one named John 
 Whithall, an Englishman, which is married here in this 
 place, and with him tw^o of his Indians: whom I 
 entertained until I sent word to the general to prepare 
 himself to receive him : in which time he and I talked 
 of many several particulars. 
 
 About six o'clock I conveyed him aboard the 
 admiral: there he discovered unto us what had been 
 done at the town, as fortification, and sending their 
 wives away, etc., advising us to receive no more delays, 
 but to come up presently before the town with our 
 ships. 
 
 About ten o'clock came a canoe, and brought down 
 Joseph Dory and Steven Repose, who told us that on 
 Saturday the governor would meet our general, and
 
 Ii8 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 talk ^vith him, praying us in the meantime to use our 
 ordinary business of cooperage, carpenters' work, 
 filling water, fishing and washing, etc., but not to set 
 up forge, nor oven, until speech had with the governor. 
 After this answer, we dined together aboard the 
 galleon ; after dinner we left the messengers sitting in 
 the cabin and went upon the poop ; where the general 
 demanded the advice of his assistants, whether it were 
 not best to stay these men while we had them or not, 
 or whether it w^re best to go up with our ships to the 
 town or no. 
 
 Whereunto each man paused to make answer: 
 wherefore I delivered my opinion; which was, that 
 we were forbidden to use violence to any nation for 
 trade. 
 
 Secondly, I considered that divers of our nation, 
 worshipful merchants, and now adventurers in this 
 voyage, had sent out the Minion hither, and begun a 
 trade, which with our forcible deahng might be spoilt, 
 and our nation brought in hatred. 
 
 Lastly, that with force we were not like to attain so 
 much commodity, as we were in possibility to have 
 with courtesy. 
 
 Hereupon all was concluded, and they suffered to 
 pass away: to whom the general gave the three cloak- 
 cloths, to Joseph Dory, to Paul Badevese, and to 
 Steven Repose, to each of them one, which were before 
 cut out for them : and so friendly we and they departed 
 about two o'clock after noon. 
 
 About four of the clock this afternoon we saw three 
 sail of ships come bearing in about the point, which as 
 soon as they saw us, anchored upon the bar, and put 
 themselves in readiness, sending from one ship to 
 another with their boats, and blowing off their ordin-
 
 EDWARD FENTON 119 
 
 ance, meaning to take us: and we before night, getting 
 our men and other necessaries from the shore, which 
 were busy on land, aiTaed our ships to defend our- 
 selves. Then went I aboard the admiral to know what 
 he meant to do: who determined to set his watch in 
 warlike sort ; and so he did : for after the trumpets and 
 drum had sounded, he shot off a great piece, as thev 
 before had done; and presently the \ace-admiral shot 
 at me, whom I answered \nth another and so ceased. 
 
 We then set up our main-top and topmast, rigged 
 before eleven of the clock the same night. In the 
 meanwhile they let slip their anchors and cables, and 
 came driving and to\ving with their boats in upon us, 
 meaning to have boarded us; and being near our 
 admiral, he hailed them, who refused to tell of whence 
 they were, thinking by spending of time to get aboard 
 of him, to whom I called still to beware, and to shoot 
 at them in time. 
 
 At length he let fiy at them, yet was glad to let an 
 anchor and cable slip to avoid them: then came the}' 
 all driving down thwart my hawser, so that I was fain 
 to let slip an anchor and cable to shun the galleon. All 
 this while the ordinance and small shot plied of all 
 parts, and I was fain to send the galleon my skiff \>-ith 
 a hawser to ride by, for she was loose, and with the 
 Hood drove up within me. Then was the \ice-admiral 
 on m\- broadside, who was well-paid before, \'et I left 
 not galling of him, till I thought our powder spent in 
 vain to shoot at him, he was so torn, and broken do\\Ti 
 by us. About four of the clock it rained so fast, that we 
 could scant discern one the other, the moon being gone 
 down, yet rode the admiral, and the rear-admiral, but 
 a httle ahead of us, during which time we paused, and 
 made readv all our munition.
 
 120 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 The 25th day, by daylight, we saw the vice-admiral 
 sunk hard b}^ us, so that his yards which were hoisted 
 across, and his tops, and that overhead, was above 
 water; most of their men were gotten away in their 
 boats, saving about forty persons which hung in the 
 shrouds and tops, whom I advised our general to send 
 for aw^ay, and had made ready, and well-manned our 
 pinnaces; but being upon the way going, the general 
 called them back, and would not suffer them to go. 
 
 There were three of their boats also going for them 
 from their ships; at w^hom I shot, and made them to 
 retire, and leave them upon the shrouds. At length our 
 general sent for two of the men away: which his 
 pinnace brought to him; the one was heaved over- 
 board, because he was sore hurt, not like to live; and 
 he was a MarsilHan : the other was a Greek, born in 
 Zante, boatswain of the vice-admiral; the rest of the 
 men, some swam away upon rafts, some were drowned, 
 and some remained still hanging on her. 
 
 By this time it was fair daylight, and I called to our 
 general to weigh, and drive down to them, who required 
 me to go first, and anchor on their quarter, and he 
 would follow and anchor on their bows. I weighed, and 
 went down and anchored by them ; yet not so near as I 
 meant, for the ebb put me off to the northwards. There 
 rode I alone, spending shot at them, and they both at 
 me, four hours, before our admiral's anchor would come 
 up, during which time I had some spoil done; but 
 when our admiral came, she had her part and eased me 
 very well. 
 
 At length our admiral began to warp away, and 
 being come without me, set sail, and began to stand 
 out into the sea. I went aboard of him to know his 
 pleasure; who determined to get out of shot; but
 
 EDWARD FENTON 121 
 
 could not, because the wind scanted on them. The 
 Edward before she could get up her anchors, endured 
 many more shot, after the galleon was further oft a 
 good way than she, and sometime the galleon had two 
 or three. Thus we ended about two of the clock after 
 noon: the rest of this day and part of the night, we 
 spent in mending, fitting, and putting our ordinance 
 and furniture in order for the next morning, thinking 
 they would have been with us. 
 
 The 26th day in the morning we could not see them, 
 because they were gone up the river; we manned our 
 boats and pinnaces, and weighed two anchors and one 
 cable that they let sHp the night before: as our men 
 w^ere weighing the third anchor the buoy-rope broke, 
 and so we lost that anchor. 'Our admiral had an 
 anchor about six hundred, with a piece of a bass cable, 
 and buoy-rope nothing worth. 
 
 After dinner I went aboard the admiral to confer 
 with him, who determined to go off to sea, and thither 
 I carried Sefior Pinto to interpret the Indian language, 
 with an Indian named Peter, which fled from the bay 
 where we rode in a canoe, and brought with him a 
 Spaniard's caliver, flask and touch-box, to go with 
 us, whom our admiral's boat met, and brought him 
 aboard to the admiral. He told us that the Spaniards 
 had brought many dead men on land, and buried 
 them, and also landed many hurt men in their bay, 
 and that there were certain Spaniards gone over 
 through the woods to look after us. Then the general, 
 Captain Hawkins, and ^Master Maddox came aboard 
 of me to view my hurt men, and arms of my ship, 
 both men, ship and tackle ; and I also went aboard him 
 to peruse his hurts, who had but one man, a sailor, slain. 
 
 The 28th day in the morning died Lancelot Ashe.
 
 122 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 of a hurt; who departed very godly. This day we 
 stood to the northwards ; and in getting in our anchors 
 and skiff, we were put three leagues to leeward of 
 Fiddle Isle, but the galleon rode still. 
 
 The 29th day in the morning, seeing myself put to 
 sea from the admiral, I assembled Master Walker, 
 Master Shawe, Master Jeffries, the master, the master's 
 mate, and the pilot, to whom I showed that I was 
 desirous to go back to seek our admiral, whereunto 
 the master, pilot and master's mate answered directly, 
 that we could not fetch the isle where we left them, 
 and to meet them in going back it was very unlikely 
 and to us dangerous many wa3/s, as well for falling 
 into the laps of the Spaniards, as to be put on a lee- 
 shore: whereupon all the rest advised me to stand 
 off into the sea, whereunto I assented, remembering 
 withal that time spent consumed victual, and how long 
 we had beaten up and down in the same ba}' before, 
 to get in with calms and contrary winds. 
 
 Thus we concluded that Mr. Walker should set down 
 each man's opinion, and we set to our hands and from 
 henceforth he to keep a register of all our proceeding, 
 as Mr. Maddox did aboard the admiral. 
 
 The ist day of February, we went east by south 
 and east-south-east with a stout gale; and went the 
 same course the 3rd, 4th and 5th days following. 
 
 The 5th day about ten o'clock in the forenoon, Mr. 
 Walker died, who had been weak and sick six days; 
 we took a view of his things, and prized them, and 
 heaved him overboard, and shot a piece for his knell. 
 
 The 14th day I called into my cabin the two mer- 
 chants, the master and the pilot, showing them our 
 wants of victuals and other necessaries; whereupon 
 they and I concluded that it was best for us to return 
 
 I
 
 EDWARD FENTON 123 
 
 to our country, with as little loss of time and expense 
 of victuals as might be, being without hope of relief 
 upon this coast, and yet to keep the coast of Brazil 
 to friend for fear of extremity. 
 
 The 17th day in the morning, havang much rain, we 
 saved above two ton of water, of which we were very 
 glad. 
 
 The iSth day I observed the variation of the com- 
 pass, which varied one point and a half to the south- 
 wards by our ordinary compass of London. 
 
 The 2nd day of March, the master, pilot and I 
 agreed to fetch the isle of Fernando Loronha. 
 
 From the 3rd day to the loth day we went west 
 and by south, and ran in for the shore. 
 
 The loth day we saw the land, which was sandy 
 hills with woods on it. 
 
 The nth day seeking to go a-hore, we saw four 
 men, which waved to us with a white shirt, and we 
 waved to them with a flag of truce. At length one of 
 them swam to our boat's side, and there lay in the 
 sea talking with us, almost an hour: in the end, being 
 partly persuaded by Pinto, who talked with them in 
 the Indian tongue, and partly enticed with such trifles 
 as I showed him, he came into our skiff, and called to 
 his companions on shore, who came aboard swimming. 
 We delivered them certain barricoes to fetch us them 
 full of fresh water: after, there came down forty 
 Indians, boys, women and men, and with them a 
 French boy, but the former Indians deceived us of 
 our barricoes. Whereupon Pinto and Russell swam 
 ashore to seek water, but found none. 
 
 The same day we sailed to a place where boats 
 might land and I went a-land in my skiff, and found 
 Barricoes. Small casks or barrels.
 
 124 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 the Indians and Frenchman which were with me the 
 day before, and they brought our three barricoes full 
 of fresh water: for which I rewarded them with some 
 trifles. In the meantime our boat went ashore, and 
 our men with some of the Indians brought us twenty 
 barricoes more of fresh water and I myself went to 
 shore and brought twenty-three hens of India. 
 
 The 1 2th day betimes in the morning, we manned 
 our boat and skiff and took some trifling things to 
 shore and barricoes; at our first arrival the rude 
 Indians flocked together, wading to the skiff wherein 
 I was, begging and wondering about us. First I 
 caused them to fetch twenty-seven barricoes of water, 
 whom I rewarded with small bells, etc. In the mean- 
 time, they brought hens to me, wading to the skiff, 
 for I kept myself always afloat, and for their hens I 
 gave them a knife, and a small looking-glass. All 
 this while Mr. BlackcoUer, our pilot, Thomas Russell, 
 Mark Thawghts were still on shore, and would not 
 tarry aboard; in the end, fearing some treachery, 
 because all the Indians were slipped on shore from me, 
 I called our men away, and suddenly they laid hands 
 on our men ashore, and with their bows shot thick at 
 us in the boats, and waded into the water to us, la3ang 
 hands on our skiff, yet God of His mercy delivered us 
 from their hands, with the loss of five men slain and 
 others hurt. 
 
 Thus we got aboard with forty hens, ducks, turkeys 
 and parrots, and three hogsheads of water; and I 
 carried a Frenchman aboard with me, named Jaques 
 Humfrey, who was by chance in the boat wath me when 
 this fray began. 
 
 The 17th day we took three sharks in the morning. 
 
 From that day to the ist of April, we went our
 
 EDWARD FENTON 125 
 
 course, sometime with rain, and sometime with vari- 
 able winds, and so till the 4th of April; which day we 
 saw four birds with long tails, which hovered about 
 the ship, and in the afternoon we saw and took up 
 many weeds which drove thick in the sea, which we 
 judged to be driven with the east winds from the isles 
 of Cape Verde. 
 
 From this day till the nth day we went our course 
 sometimes north-east, sometime north-wt-.^t according 
 to the winds: upon this nth day George Cox, one of 
 our carpenters, having the night before broken up the 
 hold and stolen wine, and drunken himself drunk, 
 being taken in the room, leapt overboard out of the 
 beak-head and so drowned himself. 
 
 The 1 2th day we spied our foremast to be perished 
 in the hownes and durst not bear our fore-topsail 
 upon it, but went hence with our sails, next hand, 
 north all day and night. 
 
 From hence to the 20th day we went north-east and 
 by north. This day I observed the \-ariation of the 
 compass, and I noted that the south point of the 
 compass carried more than half a point to the west- 
 wards. 
 
 The 25th day of May we went between the east- 
 north-east and the north-east with a small gale till 
 five o'clock in the afternoon; then had we sight of 
 land, which rose ragged to the northwards like broken 
 land, we being about five leagues off: that isle bare 
 north-east by north of us and the northernmost part 
 bare north by east of us, with a rock a-seaboard : we 
 then sounded and had fifty and ftve fathoms grey sand, 
 and maze great store in it ; so we stood in north-east 
 
 Hownes. The top portion. 
 Maze. Small shells.
 
 126 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 till eight o'clock, and then beheld it again being within 
 four leagues of it, bearing as before, but we could not 
 make it, for some thought it to be the foreland of 
 Fontenay, some judged it the isle of Ushant; then we 
 sounded again fifty- five fathoms brown sand, and 
 little maze in it; at eight o'clock at night we went 
 about, and stood off south-south-west one watch, then 
 the wind shrunk to the south-west, that we could lie 
 but south-south-west six glasses, so that at three 
 o'clock we cast about, and lay north-west six glasses 
 and north-north-west a watch, being then eight o'clock 
 the next day. 
 
 The 26th day we lay as nigh as we could between 
 the north and the north-north-east and saw the same 
 land again, and made it to be the foreland of Fontenay, 
 and the rocks to be the Seams, which bare now east- 
 north-east of us, and we stood on till ten o'clock, then 
 being within two leagues of the rocks and less, we cast 
 about and stood oS south-west, because we could 
 not double the uttermost rocks; when we were about 
 we drove to the southwards very fast, for the ebb 
 set us west-south-west, and being spring tides, it 
 horsed us apace to leewards, for the space of one 
 hour; then with the flood which was come, we drove 
 again to windwards: at twelve at noon it was calm 
 till six after noon, then we stood about larboard- 
 tacked, south-south-west one watch, then at mid- 
 night we cast about and stood over north till four 
 afore noon. 
 
 The 27th day having brought the land east-south- 
 east of us, we made it to be Scilly, being before 
 deceived, and went hence east by north to double 
 Grimsby, leaving the Bishop and his Clerks to the 
 south-westwards, which we before took to be the Seams.
 
 EDWARD FENTON 127 
 
 At seven o'clock in the afternoon we saw the Land's 
 End of England, which bare east by north off ifs, and 
 is seven leagues off from Scilly. 
 
 The 29th day at six o'clock, before noon, we had 
 brought the Ramehead north of us, and were within 
 a league of it, and went in north-east next hand, being 
 thick and foggy, and little wind; so that at eleven 
 o'clock we got in within the island, and there by 
 mistaking of a sounding, our ship came aground 
 between the isle and the main, and there sat till four 
 o'clock in the afternoon that it was half flood. 
 
 The 30th day about nine o'clock, with much ado, I 
 furnished away P. Jeffries, Mr. S\Tnberbe, and William 
 Towreson with letters, after dined at Mr. BlackcoUer's 
 and made many salutations \nth divers gentlemen. 
 
 The 2ist I wTOught aboard all day and put our ship 
 and things in order. After noon I having pity of some 
 poor men of Milbrooke, which were robbed the night 
 before by a pirate named Purser, which rode in Caw- 
 sand Bay, I consented to go out with the Edward in 
 company of a small ship which the\' had furnished 
 to be their master, so about live of the clock in the 
 afternoon, came a hundred men of theirs aboard of 
 me. About twelve o'clock we set sail, and by three 
 afore day we were gotten to the windwards of him; 
 then he set sail, and went hence to the eastwards and 
 outsailed us, because our consort would not come 
 near him; after a small chase which we gave him to 
 no effect, we returned into our old road, and there 
 moored the ship about nine of the clock in the fore- 
 noon, and hence went all the Milbrooke men again 
 ashore from me. And thus I ended a troublesome 
 voyage.
 
 A report of the voyage and success thereof, attempted 
 in the year of our Lord 1583 hy Sir Humphrey 
 Gilbert, knight, with other gentlemen assisting him 
 in that action, intended to discover and to plant 
 Christian inhabitants in place convenient, upon 
 those large and ample countries extended northward 
 from the Cape of Florida, lying under very temper- 
 ate climes, esteemed fertile and rich in minerals, yet 
 not in the actual possession of any Christian prince, 
 written by M. Edward Hayes, gentleman, and 
 principal actor in the same voyage, who alone 
 continued unto the end, and by God's special assist- 
 ance returned home with his retinue safe and entire. 
 
 Orders determined, and promises mutually given 
 to be observed, every man withdrew himself unto his 
 charge, the anchors being already weighed, and our 
 ships under sail, having a soft gale of wind, we began 
 our voyage upon Tuesday the nth day of June, in 
 the year of our Lord 1583, having in our fleet (at our 
 departure from Cawsand Bay near unto Plymouth) 
 these ships, whose names and burthen with the names 
 of the captains and masters of them, I have also 
 inserted, as followeth: 
 
 I. The Delight, aUas the George, of burthen 120 
 tons, was admiral: in which went the general, and 
 Wilham Winter, captain in her and part owner, and 
 Richard Clarke, master. 
 
 128
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 129 
 
 2. The barque Raleigh set forth by M. Walter 
 Raleigh, of the burthen of 200 tons, was then vice- 
 admiral: in which went M. Butler, captain, and Robert 
 Davis, of Bristol, master. 
 
 3. The Golden Hind, of burthen 40 tons, was then 
 rear-admiral: in which went Edward Hayes, captain 
 and owner, and William Cox, of Limehouse, master. 
 
 4. The Swallow, of burthen 40 tons: in her was 
 Captain Maurice Browne. 
 
 5. The Squirrel, of burthen 10 tons: in which went 
 Captain William Andrews, and one Cade, master. 
 
 We were in number in all about 260 men: among 
 whom we had of every faculty good choice, as ship- 
 wrights, masons, carpenters, smiths, and such-hke, 
 requisite to such an action: also mineral men and 
 refiners. Besides, for solace of our people, and allure- 
 ment of the savages, we were provided of music in 
 good variety: not omitting the least toys, as morris 
 dancers, hobby-horse, and MayUke conceits to dehght 
 the savage people, whom we intended to win by all 
 fair means possible. And to that end we were in- 
 differently furnished of all petty haberdashery wares 
 to barter with those simple people. 
 
 In this manner we set forward, departing (as hath 
 been said) out of Cawsand Bay the nth day of June 
 being Tuesday, the weather and wind fair and good 
 all day, but a great storm of thunder and wind fell 
 the same night. 
 
 Thursday following, when we hailed one another 
 in the evening (according to the order before specified) 
 they signified unto us out of the vice-admiral, that 
 both the captain, and very many of the men were 
 fallen sick. And about midnight the \4ce-admiral 
 forsook us, notwithstanding we had the wind east, 
 
 E
 
 130 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 fair and good. But it was after credibly reported, that 
 they were infected with a contagious sickness, and 
 arrived greatly distressed at Plymouth: the reason 
 I could never understand. Sure I am, no cost was 
 spared by their owner Master Raleigh in setting them 
 forth. Therefore I leave it unto God. 
 
 By this time we were in 48 degrees of latitude, not 
 a little grieved with the loss of the most puissant ship 
 in our fleet: after whose departure, the Golden Hind 
 succeeded in the place of vice-admiral, and removed 
 her flag from the mizzen unto the foretop. 
 
 From Saturday the 15th of June until the 28th, 
 which was upon a Friday, we never had fair day 
 without fog or rain, and winds bad, much to the west- 
 north-west, whereby we were driven southward unto 
 41 degrees scarce. 
 
 About this time of the year the winds are commonly 
 west towards the Newfoundland, keeping ordinarily 
 within two points of west to the south or to the north, 
 whereby the course thither falleth out to be long and 
 tedious after June, which in March, April and May, 
 hath been performed out of England in twenty-two 
 days and less. We had wind always so scant from 
 west-north-west, and from west-south-west again, 
 that our traverse was great, running south into 41 
 degrees almost, and aftei-ward north into 51 degrees. 
 
 Also we were encumbered with much fog and mists 
 in manner palpable, in which we could not keep so 
 well together, but were dissevered, losing the company 
 of the Swallow and the Squirrel upon the 20th day of 
 July, whom we met again at several places upon the 
 Newfoundland coast the 3rd of August, as shall be 
 declared in place convenient. 
 
 Saturday the 27th of July, we might descry not
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 131 
 
 far from us, as it were mountains of ice driven upon 
 the sea, being then in 50 degrees, which were carried 
 southward to the weather of us: whereby may be 
 conjectured that some current doth set that way from 
 the north. 
 
 Before we come to Newfoundland about fift\- leagues 
 on this side, we pass the Bank, which are high grounds 
 rising within the sea and under water, yet deep enough 
 and without danger, being commonly not less than 
 twenty-five and thirty fathom water upon them: 
 the same (as it were some vane of mountains within 
 the sea) do run along, and from the Newfoundland, 
 beginning northward about 52 and 53 degrees of 
 latitude, and do extend into the south infinitely. 
 
 The breadth of this bank is somewhere more, and 
 somewhere less: but we found the same about ten 
 leagues over, having sounded both on this side thereof, 
 and the other toward Newfoundland, but found no 
 ground with almost two hundred fathom of line, 
 both before and after we had passed the Bank. The 
 Portugals, and French chiefly, have a notable trade 
 of fishing upon this bank, where are sometimes an 
 hundred or more sails of ships: who commonly begin 
 the fishing in April, and have ended in July. That fish 
 is large, always wet, having no land near to dr\-, and 
 is called Corre fish. 
 
 During the time of fishing, a man shall know without 
 sounding when he is upon the Bank, by the incredible 
 multitude of sea fowl hovering over the same, to prey 
 upon the offals and garbage of fish thrown out by 
 fishermen, and floating upon the sea. 
 
 Upon Tuesday the nth of June, we forsook the coast 
 of England. So again Tuesday, the 30th of July (seven 
 weeks after), we got sight of land, being immediately
 
 132 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 embayed in the Grand Bay, or some other great 
 bay: the certainty whereof we could not judge, so 
 great haze and fog did hang upon the coast, as neither 
 we might discern the land well, nor take the sun's 
 height. But by our best computation we were then 
 in 51 degrees of latitude. 
 
 Forsaking this bay and uncomfortable coast (nothing 
 appearing unto us but hideous rocks and mountains, 
 bare of trees, and void of any green herb) we followed 
 the coast to the south, with weather fair and clear. 
 
 We had sight of an island named Penguin, of a fowl 
 there breeding in abundance, almost incredible, which 
 cannot fly, their wings not able to carry their body, 
 being very large (not much less than a goose) and 
 exceeding fat: which the Frenchmen use to take 
 without difficulty upon that island, and to barrel them 
 up with salt. But for lingering of time we had made 
 us there the like provision. 
 
 Trending this coast, we came to the island called 
 Baccalaos, being not past two leagues from the main: 
 to the south thereof lieth Cape S. Francis, five leagues 
 distant from Baccalaos, between which goeth in a 
 great bav, by the \ailgar sort called the Bay of Con- 
 ception. Here we met with the Swallow again, whom 
 we had lost in the fog, and all her men altered into 
 other apparel: whereof it seemed their store was so 
 amended, that for jo}^ and congratulation of our meet- 
 ing, they spared not to cast up into the air and over- 
 board, their caps and hats in good plenty. 
 
 The captain albeit himself was very honest and 
 religious, yet was he not appointed of men to his 
 humour and desert : who for the most part were such 
 as had been by us surprised upon the narrow seas of 
 England, being pirates and had taken at that instant
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 133 
 
 certain Frenchmen laden, one barque with wines, 
 and another with salt. Both which we rescued, and 
 took the man-of-war with all her men, which was the 
 same ship now called the Swallow, following still their 
 kind so oft, as (being separated from the general) 
 they found opportunity to rob and spoil. And because 
 God's justice did follow the same company, even to 
 destruction, and to the overthrow also of the captain 
 (though not consenting to their misdemeanour) I will 
 not conceal anything that maketh to the manifesta- 
 tion and approbation of his judgments, for examples 
 of others, persuaded that God more sharply took 
 revenge upon them, and hath tolerated longer as 
 great outrage in others: by how much these went 
 under protection of His cause and religion, wliich was 
 then pretended. 
 
 Therefore upon further enquiry it was known, how 
 this company met with a barque returning home after 
 the fishing with his freight: and because the men in 
 the Swallow were very near scanted of victual, and 
 chiefly of apparel, doubtful withal where or when to 
 find and meet with their admiral, they besought the 
 captain they might go aboard this Newlander, only to 
 borrow what might be spared, the rather because the 
 same was bound homeward. 
 
 Leave given, not without charge to deal favourably, 
 they came aboard the fisherman, whom they rifled 
 of tackle, sails, cables, victuals, and the men of their 
 apparel: not sparing by torture (winding cords about 
 their heads) to draw out else what they thousjht good. 
 This done wath expedition (like men skilful in such 
 mischief) as they took their cock-boat to go aboard 
 their own ship, it was overwhelmed in the sea, and 
 certain of these men were drowned: the rest were
 
 134 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 preserved even by those silly souls whom they had 
 before spoiled, who saved and delivered them aboard 
 the Swallow, What became afterward of the poor 
 Newlander, perhaps destitute of sails and furniture 
 sufficient to carry them home (whither they had not 
 less to run than seven hundred leagues) God alone 
 knoweth, who took vengeance not long after of the 
 rest that escaped at this instant: to reveal the fact, 
 and justify to the world God's judgments inflicted upon 
 them, as shall be declared in place convenient. 
 
 Thus after we had met with the Swallow, we held on 
 our course southward, until we came against the har- 
 bour called S. John, about five leagues from the 
 former Cape of S. Francis: where before the entrance 
 into the harbour, we found also the frigate or Squirrel 
 lying at anchor. Whom the English merchants (that 
 were and alwa3^s be admirals by turns interchangeably 
 over the fleets of fishermen within the same harbour) 
 would not permit to enter into the harbour. 
 
 Glad of so happy meeting both of the Swallow and 
 frigate in one day (being Saturday the 3rd of August) , 
 we made ready our fights and prepared to enter the 
 harbour, any resistance to the contrary notwithstand- 
 ing, there being within of all nations, to the number 
 of thirty-six sails. But first the general dispatched a 
 boat to give them knowledge of his coming for no ill 
 intent, having commission from Her Majesty for his 
 voyage he had in hand. And immediately we followed 
 with a slack gale, and in the very entrance (which is but 
 narrow, not above two butts' length) the admiral fell 
 upon a rock on the larboard side by great oversight, in 
 that the weather was fair, the rock much above water 
 fast bv the shore, where neither went any sea gate. 
 But we found such readiness in the English merchants
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 135 
 
 to help us in that danger, that without delay there 
 were brought a number of boats, which towed off the 
 ship, and cleared her of danger. 
 
 Having taken place convenient in the road, we let 
 fall anchors, the captains and masters repairing aboard 
 our admiral: whither also came immediatelv the 
 the masters and owners of the fishing fleet of English- 
 men, to understand the general's intent and cause of 
 our arrival there. They were all satisfied when the 
 general had showed his commission, and purpose to 
 take possession of those lands to the behalf of the 
 Crown of England, and the advancement of Christian 
 religion in these paganish regions, requiring but their 
 lawful aid for repairing of his fleet, and supply of some 
 necessaries, so far as conveniently might be afforded 
 him, both out of that and other harbours adjoining. 
 In lieu whereof, he made offer to gratif\' them, with 
 any favour and privilege, which upon their better 
 advice they should demand, the like being not to be 
 obtained hereafter for greater price. So craving 
 expedition of his demand, minding to proceed further 
 south without long detention in those parts, he 
 dismissed them, after promise given of their best 
 endeavour to satisfy speedily his so reasonable re- 
 quest. The merchants with their masters departed, 
 they caused forthwith to be discharged all the great 
 ordinance of their fleet in token of our welcome. 
 
 It was further determined that every ship of our 
 fleet should deliver unto the merchants and masters 
 of that harbour a note of all their wants: which done, 
 the ships as well EngHsh as strangers, were taxed at 
 an easy rate to make supply. And besides, commis- 
 sioners were appointed, part of our own company 
 and part of theirs, to go into other harbours adjoining
 
 136 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 (for our English merchants command all there) to 
 leave our provision: whereunto the Portugals (above 
 other nations) did most wilHngty and liberally con- 
 tribute. Insomuch as we were presented (above our 
 allowance) with wines, marmalades, most fine rusk 
 or biscuit, sweet oils and sundry delicacies. Also we 
 wanted not of fresh salmons, trouts, lobsters and other 
 fresh fish brought daily unto us. Moreover as the 
 manner is in their fishing, every week to choose their 
 admiral anew, or rather they succeed in orderly course, 
 and have weekly their admiral's feast solemnised; 
 even so the general, captains and masters of our fleet 
 were continually invited and feasted. 
 
 To grow short, in our abundance at home, the 
 entertainment had been delightful, but after our wants 
 and tedious passage through the ocean, it seemed more 
 acceptable and of greater contentation, by how much 
 the same was unexpected in that desolate corner of 
 the world: where at other times of the year, wild 
 beasts and birds have only the fruition of all those 
 countries, which now seemed a place very populous 
 and much frequented. 
 
 The next morning being Sunday and the 4th of 
 August, the general and his company were brought on 
 land by English merchants, who showed unto us 
 their accustomed walks into a place they call the 
 Garden. But nothing appeared more than Nature 
 itself \\'ithout art: who confusedly hath brought 
 forth roses abundantly, wild, but odoriferous, and to 
 sense very comfortable. Also the like plenty of rasp- 
 berries, which do grow in every place. 
 
 Monday foDowing, the general had his tent set up, 
 who being accompanied with his own followers, sum- 
 moned the merchants and masters, both Enghsh and
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 137 
 
 strangers, to be present at his taking possession of 
 those countries. Before whom openly was read and 
 interpreted unto the strangers his commission: by 
 virtue whereof he took possession in the same harbour 
 of S. John, and two hundred leagues every way, 
 invested the Queen's Majesty with the title and dignity 
 thereof, had delivered unto him (after the custom of 
 England) a rod and a turf of the same soil, entering 
 possession also for him, his heirs and assigns for ever: 
 and signified unto all men, that from that time for- 
 ward, they should take the same land as a territory 
 appertaining to the Queen of England, and himself 
 authorised under Her Majesty to possess and enjoy it. 
 And to ordain laws for the government thereof, agree- 
 able (so near as conveniently might be) unto the laws 
 of England: under which all people coming thither 
 hereafter, either to inhabit, or by way of traffic, should 
 be subjected and governed. And especially at the same 
 time for a beginning, he proposed and dehv^ered three 
 laws to be in force immediately. That is to say : The 
 first for rehgion, which in public exercise should be 
 according to the Church of England. The second for 
 maintenance of Her Majesty's right and possession of 
 those territories, against which if anything were 
 attempted prejudicial, the party or parties o&nding 
 should be adjudged and executed as in case of high 
 treason, according to the laws of England. The third, 
 if any person should utter words sounding to the dis- 
 honour of Her Majesty, he should lose his ears, and 
 have his ships and goods confiscate. 
 
 These contents published, obedience was promised 
 by general voice and consent of the multitude as well 
 of Englishmen as strangers, praying for continuance 
 of this possession and government begun. After tliis,
 
 138 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 the assembly was dismissed. And afterward were 
 erected not far from that place the Arms of England 
 engraven in lead, and enfixed upon a pillar of wood. 
 Yet further and actuall}' to establish this possession 
 taken in the right of Her Majesty, and to the behoof 
 of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, knight, his heirs and assigns 
 for ever : the general granted in fee-farm divers parcels 
 of land lying by the water-side, both in this harbour 
 of S. John, and elsewhere, which was to the owner a 
 great commodity, being thereby assured (by their 
 proper inheritance) of grounds convenient to dress 
 and to dry their fish, whereof many times before they 
 did fail, being prevented by them that came first into 
 the harbour. For which grounds they did covenant 
 to pay a certain rent and service unto Sir Humphrey 
 Gilbert, his heirs or assigns for ever, and yearly to 
 maintain possession of the same, by themselves or 
 their assigns. 
 
 Now remained only to take in provision granted, 
 according as every ship was taxed, which did fish 
 upon the coast adjoining. In the meanwhile, the 
 general appointed men unto their charge: some to 
 repair and trim the ships, others to attend in gathering 
 together our supply and provisions: others to search 
 the commodities and singularities of the country to 
 to be found by sea or land, and to make relation unto 
 the general what either themselves could know by their 
 own travel and experience, or by good inteUigence of 
 Englishmen or strangers, who had longest frequented 
 the same coast. Also some observed the elevation of 
 the Pole, and drew plats of the country exactly graded. 
 And by that I could gather by each man's several 
 relation, I have drawn a brief description of the New- 
 foundland, with the commodities by sea or land already
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 139 
 
 made, and such also as are in possibility and great 
 likelihood to be made. Nevertheless the cards and plats 
 that were drawing, with the due gradation of the 
 harbours, bays, and capes, did perish with the admiral: 
 whereof in the description following, I must omit the 
 particulars of such things. 
 
 [Here follows a descriplion of Newfoundland.] 
 
 Amongst other charges given to enquire out the 
 singularities of this country, the general was most 
 curious in the search of metals, commanding the 
 mineral man and refiner especially to be diligent. 
 The same was a Saxon born, honest and religious, 
 named Daniel. Who after search brought at hrst some 
 sort of ore, seeming rather to be iron than other metal. 
 The next time he found ore, which \vith no small show 
 of contentment he delivered unto the general, using 
 protestation that if silver were the thing \\hich might 
 satisfy the general and his followers, there it was, 
 advising him to seek no further: the peril whereof 
 he undertook upon his life (as dear unto him as the 
 Crown of England unto Her Majesty, that I may use 
 his own words) if it fell not out accordingly. 
 
 Myself at this instant Hker to die than to Hve, by 
 a mischance, could not follow this confident opinion 
 of our refiner to my own satisfaction: but afterward 
 demanding our general's opinion therein, and to have 
 some part of the ore, he replied: " Content yourself, 
 I have seen enough, and were it but to satisfy my 
 private humour, I would proceed no further. The 
 promise unto my friends and necessity to bring also 
 the south countries within compass of my patent near 
 expired, as we have already done these north parts, 
 do only persuade me further. And touching the ore.
 
 140 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 I have sent it abroad, whereof I would have no speech 
 to be made so long as we remain wdthin harbour : here 
 being both Portugals, Biscayans and Frenchmen not 
 far off, from whom must be kept any bruit or muttering 
 of such matter. When we are at sea proof shall be 
 made ; if it be to our desire, we may return the sooner 
 hither again." Whose answer I judged reasonable, and 
 contenting me well: wherewith I will conclude this 
 narration and description of the Newfoundland, and 
 proceed to the rest of our voyage, which ended tragically. 
 
 While the better sort of us were seriously occupied 
 in repairing our wants, and contriving of matters for 
 the commodity of our voyage: others of another sort 
 and disposition were plotting of mischief. Some were 
 casting to steal away our shipping by night, watching 
 opportunity by the generals and captains lying on the 
 shore: whose conspiracies discovered, they were pre- 
 vented. 
 
 Others drew together in company, and carried away 
 out of the harbours adjoining, a ship laden with fish, 
 setting the poor men on shore. A great many more of 
 our people stole into the woods to hide themselves, 
 attending time and means to return home by such 
 shipping as daily departed from the coast. Some were 
 sick, and many dead: and in brief, by one means or 
 other our company was diminished, and many by the 
 general licensed to return home. Insomuch as after 
 we had reviewed our people, resolved to see an end 
 of our voyage, we grew scant of men to furnish all 
 our shipping: it seemed good therefore unto the 
 general to leave the Swallow with such provision as 
 might be spared for transporting home the sick people. 
 
 The captain of the Delight, or admiral, returned into 
 England, in whose stead was appointed Captain
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 141 
 
 Maurice Browne, before captain of the Swallow: who 
 also brought with him into the Delight all his men of 
 the Swallow, which before had been noted of outrage 
 perpetrated and committed upon fishermen there met 
 at sea. 
 
 The general made choice to go in his frigate the 
 Squirrel (whereof the captain also was amongst them 
 that returned into England), the same frigate being 
 most convenient to discover upon the coast, and to 
 search into every harbour or creek, which a great 
 ship could not do. Therefore the frigate was prepared 
 with her nettings and fights, and overcharged with 
 bases and such small ordinance, more to give a show, 
 than with the judgment to foresee unto the safety of 
 her and the men, which afterward was an occasion 
 also of their overthrow. 
 
 Now ha\dng made ready our shipping, that is to say, 
 the Delight, the Golden Hind, and the Squirrel, and 
 put aboard our provision, which was wines, bread or 
 rusk, fish wet and dr\', sweet oils : besides manv other, 
 as marmalades, figs, lemons barrelled, and such-like. 
 Also we had other necessary provisions for trimming 
 our ships, nets and lines to fish withal, boats or 
 pinnaces fit for discovery. In brief, we were supplied 
 of our wants commodiously, as if we had been in a 
 conntry or some city populous and plentiful of all 
 things. 
 
 We departed from this harbour of S. John's upon 
 Tuesday the 20th of August, which we found bv 
 exact obser\^ation to be in 47 degrees 40 minutes. 
 And the next day by night we were at Cape Race, 
 twenty-five leagues from the same harbour. 
 
 This cape lieth south-south-west from S. John's: it 
 is a low land being off from the cape about half a league :
 
 142 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 within the sea riseth up a rock against the point of the 
 cape, which is thereby easily known: it is in latitude 
 46 degrees 25 minutes. 
 
 Under this cape we were becalmed a small time, 
 during which we laid out hooks and lines to take cod, 
 and drew in less than two hours, fish so large and in 
 such abundance, that many days after we fed upon 
 no other provision. 
 
 From hence we shaped our course unto the island 
 of Sablon, if conveniently it would so fall out, also 
 directly to Cape Breton. 
 
 Sablon lieth to the sea-ward of Cape Breton about 
 twentv-five leagues, whither we were determined to go 
 upon intelligence we had of a Portugal (during our 
 abode in S. John's), who was himself present, when 
 the Portugals (above thirty years past) did put into 
 the same island both neat and swine to breed, which 
 were since exceedingly multiplied. This seemed unto 
 us very happy tidings, to have in an island lying so 
 near unto the main, which we intended to plant upon, 
 such store of cattle, whereby we might at all times 
 conveniently be relieved of victual, and served of store 
 for breed. 
 
 In this course we trended along the coast, which 
 from Cape Race stretcheth into the north-west, making 
 a bay which some called Trepassa. Then it goeth out 
 again toward the west, and maketh a point, which 
 with Cape Race lieth in manner east and west. But 
 this point inclineth to the north : to the west of which 
 goeth in the Bay of Placentia. We sent men on land 
 to take view of the soil along this coast, whereof 
 they made good report, and some of them had will 
 to be planted there. They saw peas growing in 
 abundance everywhere.
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 143 
 
 The distance between Cape Race and Cape Breton 
 is eighty-seven leagues. In which navigation we spent 
 eight days, having many times the wind indifferent 
 good: yet could we never attain sight of any land all 
 that time, seeing wc were hindered by the current. At 
 last we fell into such flats and dangers, that hardly 
 any of us escaped: where nevertheless we lost our 
 admiral with all the men and provision, not knowing 
 certainlv the place. Yet our journey was advantageous 
 for inducing men of skill to make conjecture, by our 
 course the way we held from Cape Race thither that 
 thereby the flats and dangers may be inserted in sea 
 cards, for warning to others that ma}- follow the same 
 course hereafter. 
 
 The Manner how our Admiral was Lost 
 
 Upon Tuesday the 27th of August, toward the 
 evening, our general caused them in his frigate to 
 sound, who found white sand at thirty-five fathom, 
 being then in latitude about 44 degrees. 
 
 Wednesday toward night the wind came south, and 
 we bare with the land all that night, west-north-west, 
 contrary to the mind of Master Cox: nevertheless we 
 followed the admiral, deprived of power to prevent a 
 mischief, which by no contradiction could be brought 
 to hold other course, alleging they could not make the 
 ship to work better, nor to lie otherwise. 
 
 The evening was fair and pleasant, yet not without 
 token of storm to ensue, and most part of this Wed- 
 nesday night, like the swan that singeth before her 
 death, they in the admiral, or Delight, continued in 
 sounding of trumpets, with drums, and fifes: also
 
 144 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 winding the comets, hautboys: and in the end of their 
 jolhty, left with the battle and ringing of doleful knells. 
 
 Towards the evening also we caught in the Golden 
 Hind a very mighty porpoise, with a harping iron, 
 having first stricken divers of them, and brought away 
 part of their flesh, sticking upon the iron, but could 
 recover only that one. These also passed through the 
 ocean, in herds, did portend storm. I omit to recite 
 frivolous reports by them in the frigate, of strange 
 voices, the same night, which scared some from the 
 helm. 
 
 Thursday the 29th of August, the wind rose, and 
 blew vehemently at south and by east, bringing withal 
 rain, and thick mist, so that we could not see a cable 
 length before us. And betimes in the morning we 
 were altogether run and folded in amongst flats and 
 sands, amongst which We found shoal and deep in every 
 three or four ship's length, after we began to sound: 
 but first we were upon them unawares, until Master 
 Cox looking out, discerned (in his judgment) white 
 cliffs, crying " Land! " withal, although we could not 
 afterward descry any land, it being very likely the 
 breaking of the sea white, which seemed to be white 
 cliffs through the haze and thick weather. 
 
 Immediately tokens were given unto the Delight, to 
 cast about to seaward, which, being the greater ship, 
 and of burden one hundred and twent}' tons, was yet 
 foremost upon the breach, keeping so ill watch, that 
 they knew not the danger, before they felt the same, 
 too late to recover it : for presently the admiral struck 
 aground, and had soon after her stem and hinder 
 parts beaten in pieces: whereupon the rest (that is to 
 say, the frigate in which was the general and the 
 Golden Hind) cast about east-south-east, bearing to
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 145 
 
 the south, even for our lives into the wind's eye, 
 because that way carried us to the seaward. Making 
 out from this danger, we sounded one while seven 
 fathom, then five fathom, then four fathom and less, 
 again deeper, immediately four fathom, then but three 
 fathom, the sea going mightily and high. At last we 
 recovered (God be thanked) in some despair, to sea- 
 room enough. 
 
 In this distress, we had vigilant eye unto the admiral, 
 whom we saw cast away, without power to give the 
 men succour, neither could we espy any of the men 
 that leaped overboard to save themselves, either in 
 the same pinnace or cock, or upon rafters, and such- 
 like means, presenting themselves to men in those 
 extremities: for we desired to save the men bv everv 
 possible means. But all in vain, sith God had deter- 
 mined their ruin: yet all that day, and part of the 
 next, we beat up and down as near unto the wreck 
 as was possible for us, looking out, if by good hap we 
 might espy any of them. 
 
 This was a heavy and grievous event, to lose at one 
 blow our chief ship freighted with great provision, 
 gathered together with much travail, care, long time, 
 and difficulty. But more was the loss of our men, 
 which perished to the number almost of a hundred 
 souls. Amongst whom was drowned a learned man, 
 an Hungarian, born in the city of Buda, called there- 
 fore Budaeus, who of piety and zeal to good attempts, 
 adventured in this action, minding to record in the 
 Latin tongue, the jests and things worthy of remem- 
 brance, happening in this discovery to the honour of 
 our nation, the same being adorned with the eloquent 
 style of the orator, and rare poet of our time. 
 Jests. Deeds.
 
 146 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 Here also perished our Saxon refiner and discoverer 
 of inestimable riches, as it was left amongst some of 
 us in undoubted hope. 
 
 No less heavy was the loss of the captain Maurice 
 Browne, a virtuous, honest, and discreet gentleman, 
 overseen only in liberty given late before to men, that 
 ought to have been restrained, who showed himself a 
 man resolved, and never unprepared for death, as by 
 his last act of this tragedy appeared, by report of them 
 that escaped this wreck miraculously, as shall be here- 
 after declared. For when all hope was past of re- 
 covering the ship, and that men began to give over, 
 and to save themselves, the captain was advised before 
 to shift also for his life, by the pinnace at the stern of 
 the ship; but used all means to exhort his people not 
 to despair, nor so to leave off their labour, choosing 
 rather to die, than to incur infamy, by forsaking his 
 charge, which then might be thought to have perished 
 through his default, showing an ill precedent unto his 
 men, by leaving the ship first himself. With this mind 
 he mounted upon the highest deck, where he attended 
 imminent death, and unavoidable: how long, I leave 
 it to God, who withdraweth not His comfort from His 
 servants at such times. 
 
 In the mean season, certain, to the number of 
 fourteen persons, leaped into a small pinnace (the 
 bigness of a Thames barge, which was made in the 
 Newfoundland), cut off the rope wherewith it was 
 towed, and committed themselves to God's mercy, 
 amidst the storm, and rage of sea and winds, destitute 
 of food, not so much as a drop of fresh water. The 
 boat seeming overcharged in foul weather with com- 
 pany, Edward Headley, a valiant soldier, and well 
 reputed of his company, preferring the greater to the
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 147 
 
 lesser, thought better that some of them perished than 
 all, made this motion to cast lots, and them to be 
 be thrown overboard upon whom the lots fell, thereby 
 to lighten the boat, which other-ways seemed impos- 
 sible to live, offered himself with the first, content to 
 take his adventure gladly: which nevertheless Richard 
 Clarke, that was master of the admiral, and one of 
 this number, refused, advising to abide God's pleasure, 
 who was able to save all, as well as a few. 
 
 The boat was carried before the wind, continuing 
 six days and nights in the ocean, and arrived at last 
 with the men (alive, but weak) upon the Newfound- 
 land, saving that the foresaid Headley (who had been 
 late sick) and another called of us Brazil, of his travel 
 into those countries, died by the way, famished, and 
 less able to hold out, than those of better health. 
 
 Thus whom God delivered from drowning, He ap- 
 pointed to be famished, who doth give limits to man's 
 times, and ordaineth the manner and circumstance of 
 dying: whom again He will preserve, neither sea, nor 
 famine can confound. For those that arrived upon 
 the Newfoundland, were brought into France by 
 certain Frenchmen, then being upon that coast. 
 
 After this heavy chance, we continued in beating 
 the sea up and down, expecting when the weather 
 would clear up, that we might yet bear in with the 
 land, which we judged not far off, either the continent 
 or some island. For we many times, and in sundry 
 places found ground at fifty, forty-five, forty fathoms, 
 and less: the ground coming upon our lead, being 
 sometimes oozy sand, and otherwhile a broad shell, 
 \nth a little sand about it. 
 
 Our people lost courage daily after this ill success, 
 the weather continuing thick and blustering, with
 
 148 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 increase of cold, winter drawdng on, which took from 
 them all hope of amendment, setthng an assurance 
 of worse weather to grow upon us every day. The 
 leeside of us lay full of fiats and dangers inevitable, 
 if the wind blew hard at south. Some again doubted 
 we were engulfed in the Bay of S. Lawrence, the coast 
 full of dangers, and unto us unknown. But above all, 
 provision waxed scant, and hope of supply was gone, 
 vAth. loss of our admiral. 
 
 Those in the frigate were already pinched with spare 
 allowance, and want of clothes chiefly: whereupon 
 they besought the general to return for England, 
 before they all perished. And to them of the Golden 
 Hind, they made signs of their distress, pointing to 
 their mouths, and to their clothes thin and ragged: 
 then immediately they also of the Golden Hind grew 
 to be of the same opinion and desire to return home. 
 
 The former reasons having also moved the general 
 to have compassion of his poor men, in w^hom he saw 
 no want of good will, but of means ht to perform the 
 action they came for, resolved upon retire : and calhng 
 the captain and master of the Hind, he yielded them 
 many reasons, enforcing this unexpected return, withal 
 protesting himself greatly satisfied with that he had 
 seen, and knew already: reiterating these words: "Be 
 content, we have seen enough, and take no care of 
 expense past: I will set you forth royally the next 
 spring, if God send us safe home. Therefore I pray 
 you to let us no longer strive here, where we fight 
 against the elements." 
 
 Omitting circumstance, how unwillingly the captain 
 and master of the Hind condescended to this motion, 
 his own company can testify: yet comforted with the 
 general's promises of a speedy return at spring, and
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 149 
 
 induced by other apparent reasons, proving an impos- 
 sibility to accomplish the action at that time, it was 
 concluded on all hands to retire. 
 
 So upon Saturday in the afternoon the 31st of 
 August, we changed our course and returned back for 
 England, at which very instant, even in winding about, 
 there passed along between us and towards the land 
 which we now forsook, a very lion to our seeming, In 
 shape, hair and colour, not swimming after the manner 
 of a beast moving of his feet, but rather sliding upon 
 the water with his whole body (excepting the legs) in 
 sight, neither yet diving under, and again rising above 
 the water, as the manner is of whales, dolphins, 
 tunnies, porpoises, and all other fish: but confidently 
 showing himself above water without hiding. Not- 
 \nthstanding, we presented ourselves in open view and 
 gesture to amaze him, as all creatures will be commonly 
 at a sudden gaze and sight of men. Thus he passed 
 along turning his head to and fro, yawning and gaping 
 wide, with ugly demonstration of long teeth, and 
 glaring eyes, and to bid us a farewell (coming right 
 against the Hind) he sent forth a horrible voice, 
 roaring or bellowing as doth a lion, which spectacle 
 we all beheld so far as we were able to discern the 
 same, as men prone to wonder at every strange thing, 
 as this doubtless was, to see a lion in the ocean sea, 
 or fish in shape of a lion. WTiat opinion others had 
 thereof, and chiefly the general himself, I forbear to 
 dehver: but he took it for honum omen, rejoicing 
 that he was to war against such an enemy, if it were 
 the devil. 
 
 The wind was large for England at our return, but 
 very high, and the sea rough, insomuch as the frigate 
 wherein the general went was almost swallowed up.
 
 150 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 Monday in the afternoon we passed in the sight of 
 Cape Race, having made as much way in little more 
 than two days and nights back again, as before we 
 had done in eight days from Cape Race, unto the place 
 where our ship perished. Which hindrance thither- 
 ward, and speed back again, is to be imputed unto the 
 swift current, as well as to the winds, which we had 
 more large in our return. 
 
 This Monday the general came aboard the Hind to 
 have the surgeon of the Hind to dress his foot, which 
 he hurt by treading upon a nail : at what time we com- 
 forted each other with hope of hard success to be all 
 past, and of the good to come. So agreeing to carry 
 our lights always by night, that we might keep to- 
 gether, he departed into his frigate, being by no means 
 to be entreated to tarry in the Hind, which had been 
 more for his security. Immediately after followed a 
 sharp storm, which we overpassed for that time. 
 Praised be God. 
 
 The weather fair, the general came aboard the Hind 
 again, to make merry together with the captain, 
 master, and company, which was the last meeting, 
 and continued there from morning until night. During 
 which time there passed sundry discourses, touching 
 affairs past, and to come, lamenting greatly the loss 
 of his great ship, more of the men, but most of all 
 of his books and notes, and what else I know not, 
 for which he was out of measure grieved, the same 
 doubtless being some matter of more importance than 
 his books, which I could not draw from him; yet 
 by circumstance I gathered, the same to be the ore 
 which Daniel the Saxon had brought unto him in the 
 Newfoundland. 
 
 Whatsoever it was, the remembrance touched him
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 151 
 
 so deep, as not able to contain himself, he beat iiis 
 boy in great rage, even at the same time, so long after 
 the miscarrying of the great ship, because upon a fair 
 day, when we were becalmed upon the coast of the 
 Newfoundland, near unto Cape Race, he sent his boy 
 aboard the admiral, to fetch certain things: amongst 
 which, this being chief, was yet forgotten and left 
 behind. After which time he could never conveniently 
 send again aboard the great ship, much less he doubted 
 her ruin so near at hand. 
 
 Herein my opinion was better confirmed diversely, 
 and by sundry conjectures, which maketh me have 
 the greater hope of this rich mine. For whereas the 
 general had never before good conceit of these north 
 parts of the world: now his mind was wholly fixed 
 upon the Newfoundland. And as before he refused 
 not to grant assignments liberally to them that required 
 the same into these north parts, now he became con- 
 trarily affected, refusing to make any so large grants, 
 especially of S. John's, which certain English merchants 
 made suit for, offering to employ their money and 
 travel upon the same; yet neither by their own suit, 
 nor of others of his own company, whom he seemed 
 willing to please, it could be obtained. 
 
 Also laying down his determination in the spring 
 following, for disposing of his voyage then to be re- 
 attempted: he assigned the captain and master of the 
 Golden Hind unto the south discovery, and reser\'ed 
 unto himself the north, affirming that this vovage had 
 won his heart from the south, and that he was now 
 become a northern man altogether. 
 
 Last, being demanded what means he had at his 
 arrival in England, to compass the charges of so great 
 preparation as he intended to make the next spring:
 
 152 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 having determined upon two fleets, one for the south, 
 another for the north: " Leave that to me," he rephed, 
 " I will ask a penny of no man. I will bring good tidings 
 unto Her Majesty, who will be so gracious, to lend me 
 ten thousand pounds," willing us therefore to be of good 
 cheer: for he did thank God (he said) with all his 
 heart, for that he had seen, the same being enough for 
 us all, and that we needed not to seek any further. 
 And these last words he would often repeat, with 
 demonstration of great fervency of mind, being him- 
 self very confident, and settled in belief of inestimable 
 good by this voyage; which the greater number of 
 his followers nevertheless mistrusted altogether, not 
 being made partakers of those secrets, which the 
 general kept unto himself. Yet all of them that are 
 living, may be witnesses of his words and protestations, 
 which sparingty I have delivered. 
 
 Leaving the issue of this good hope unto God, who 
 Soioweth the truth only, and can at His good pleasure 
 bring the same to light : I will hasten to the end of this 
 tragedy, which must be knit up in the person of our 
 .general. And as it was God's ordinance upon him, 
 even so the vehement persuasion and entreaty of his 
 friends could nothing avail, to divert him from a wilful 
 resolution of going through in his frigate, which was 
 over-charged upon their decks, with fights, nettings, 
 and small artiller\% too cumbersome for so small a 
 boat, that was to pass through the ocean sea at that 
 season of the year, when by course we might expect 
 much storm of foul weather, whereof indeed we had 
 enough. 
 
 But when he was entreated by the captain, master, 
 and other his well-willers of the Hind, not to venture 
 in the frigate, this was his answer: " I will not forsake
 
 HUMPHREY GILBERT 153 
 
 my little company going homeward, with whom I have 
 passed so many storms and perils." And in ver\' truth 
 he was urged to be so over-hard, by hard reports given 
 of him, that he was afraid of the sea, albeit this was 
 rather rashness, than advised resolution, to prefer the 
 wind of a vain report to the weight of his own life. 
 
 Seeing he would not bend to reason, he had pro- 
 vision out of the Hind, such as was wanting aboard his 
 frigate. And so we committed him to God's protection, 
 and set him aboard his pinnace, we being more than 
 three hundred leagues onward of our way home. 
 
 By that time we had brought the islands of Azores 
 south of us, yet we then keeping much to the north, 
 until we had got into the height and elevation of 
 England, we met with verv^ foul weather, and terrible 
 seas, breaking short and high pyramid-wise. The reason 
 whereof seemed to proceed either of hilly grounds high 
 and low within the sea (as we see hills and dales 
 upon the land) upon which the seas do mount and 
 fall: or else the cause proceedeth of diversity of winds, 
 shifting often in sundrv' points: all which having 
 power to move the great ocean, which again is not 
 presently settled, so many seas do encounter together, 
 as there had been diversity of winds. Howsoever it 
 cometh to pass, men which all their lifetime had 
 occupied the sea, never saw more outrageous seas. 
 We had also upon our main-yard, an apparition of 
 a little fire by night, which seamen do call " Castor 
 and Pollux." But we had only one, which they take 
 an evil sign of more tempest : the same is usual in 
 storms. 
 
 Monday, the 9th of September, in the afternoon, the 
 frigate was near cast away, oppressed by waves, vet 
 at that time recovered: and giving forth signs of joy,
 
 154 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 the general sitting abaft with a book in his hand, cried 
 out unto us in the Hind (so oft as we did approach 
 within hearing): "We are as near to Heaven by sea 
 as by land ": reiterating the same speech, well beseem- 
 ing a soldier, resolute in Jesus Christ, as I can testify 
 he was. 
 
 The same Monday night, about twelve of the clock, 
 or not long after, the frigate being ahead of us in the 
 Golden Hind, suddenly her lights were out, whereof, as 
 it were in a moment, we lost the sight, and withal 
 our watch cried, the general was cast away, which 
 was too true. For in that moment, the frigate was 
 devoured and swallowed up of the sea. Yet still we 
 looked out all that night, and ever after, until we 
 arrived upon the coast of England : omitting no small 
 sail at sea, unto which we gave not the tokens between 
 us, agreed upon, to have perfect knowledge of each 
 other, if we should at any time be separated.
 
 THE 
 FIRST VOYAGE TO VIRGINIA 
 
 The first voyage made to the coasts of America, with two 
 barques, wherein were captains M. Philip Amadas, 
 and M. Arthur Barlow, who discovered part of the 
 country now called Virginia, Anno 1584. Written 
 by one of the said captains and sent to Sir Walter 
 Raleigh, knight, at whose charge and direction the 
 said voyage was set forth. 
 
 The 27th day of April, in the year of our redemption 
 1584, we departed the west of England with two 
 barques, well furnished with men and victuals, having 
 received our last and perfect directions by your letters, 
 confirming the former instructions and commandments 
 delivered by yourself at our leaving the river of Thames. 
 And I think it a matter both unnecessary for the mani- 
 fest discovery of the country-, as also for tediousness' 
 sake, to remember unto you the diurnal of our course, 
 sailing thither and returning: onlv I have presumed 
 to present unto you this brief discourse bv which you 
 may judge how profitable this land is likely to succeed, 
 as well to yourself (by whose direction and charge, and 
 by whose servants this, our discovery, hath been per- 
 formed) as also to Her Highness and the Common- 
 wealth, in which we hope your wisdom will be satisfied, 
 considering that as much by us hath been brought to 
 light as by those small means and number of men we 
 had, could any way have been expected or hoped for. 
 
 155
 
 156 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 The loth of May we arrived at the Canaries, and 
 the loth of June, in this present year, we were fallen 
 with the islands of the West Indies, keeping a more 
 south-easterly course than was needful, because we 
 doubted that the current of the Bay of Mexico, dis- 
 bogging between the Cape of Florida and Havana, had 
 been of greater force than afterwards we found it to 
 be. At which islands we found the air very unwhole- 
 some, and our men grew, for the most part, ill dis- 
 posed: so that having refreshed ourselves with sweet 
 water and fresh victual, we departed the twelfth day 
 of our arrival there. These islands, with the rest 
 adjoining, are so well-known to yourself, and to many 
 others, as I will not trouble you with the remembrance 
 of them. 
 
 The 2nd of July we found shoal water, where we 
 smelt so sweet and so strong a smell, as if we had been 
 in the midst of some delicate garden, abounding with 
 all kind of odoriferous flowers, by which we were assured 
 that the land could not be far distant: and keeping 
 good watch and bearing but slack sail, the fourth of 
 the same month we arrived upon the coast, which we 
 supposed to be a continent and firm land, and we 
 sailed along the same a hundred and twenty English 
 miles before we could find any entrance or river 
 issuing into the sea. 
 
 The first that appeared unto us we entered, though 
 not without some difficulty, and cast anchor about 
 three harquebuz-shot within the haven's mouth, on 
 the left hand of the same: and after thanks given to 
 God for our safe arrival thither, we manned our boats 
 and went to view the land next adjoining, and to take 
 possession of the same in the right of the Queen's 
 Disbogging. Coming out.
 
 AMADAS AND BARLOW 157 
 
 most excellent Majesty, as rightful Queen and Princess 
 of the same, and after delivered the same over to your 
 use, according to Her Majesty's grant and letters patent, 
 under Her Highness's great seal. 
 
 Which being performed according to the ceremonies 
 used in such enterprises, we viewed the land about us, 
 being where we first landed, very sand}^ and low 
 towards the water's side, but so full of grapes as the 
 very beating and surge of the sea overflowed them, 
 of which we found such plenty, as well there as in all 
 places else, both on the sand and on the green soil on 
 the hills, as in the plains, as well on every little shrub, 
 as also climbing towards the tops of high cedars, that 
 I think in all the world the like abundance is not to 
 be found: and myself having seen those parts of 
 Europe that most abound, find such difference as were 
 incredible to be written. 
 
 We passed from the seaside towards the tops of those 
 hills next adjoining, being but of mean height, and 
 from thence we beheld the sea on both sides to the 
 north and to the south, finding no end any of both 
 wa^^s. This land lay stretching itself to the west, 
 which after we found to be but an island of twentv 
 miles long, and not above six miles broad. Under the 
 bank or hill whereon we stood, we beheld the valleys 
 replenished with goodly cedar trees, and having dis- 
 charged our harquebuz-shot, such a flock of cranes 
 (the most part white) arose under us, with such a cr}-, 
 redoubled by many echoes, as if an army of men had 
 shouted all together. 
 
 This island had many goodly woods, full of deer, 
 conies, hares and fowl, even in the midst of summer, 
 in incredible abundance. The woods are not such as 
 you find in Bohemia, Moscovia or Herc^Tlia, barren
 
 158 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 and fruitless, but the highest and reddest cedars of 
 the world, far bettering the cedars of the Azores, of 
 the Indies, or Libanus, pines, cypress, sassafras, the 
 lentisk or the tree that beareth the mastick, the tree 
 that beareth black cinnamon, of which Master Winter 
 brought from the Straits of Magellan, and many other 
 of excellent smeU and quality. 
 
 We remained by the side of this island two whole 
 days before we saw any people of the country; the 
 third day we espied one smaU boat rowing towards 
 us, having in it three persons. This boat came to the 
 island-side, four harquebuz-shots from our ships, and 
 there two of the people remaining; the third came 
 along the shore-side towards us, and we being then all 
 within-board, he walked up and down upon the point 
 of the land next unto us. 
 
 Then the master and the pilot of the admiral, Simon 
 Ferdinando, and the captain, Philip Amadas, myself 
 and others, rowed to the land, whose coming this fellow 
 attended, never making any show of fear or doubt. 
 And after he had spoken of many things, not under- 
 stood by us, we brought him with his own good liking 
 aboard the ships, and gave him a shirt, a hat and some 
 other things, and made him taste of our wine and our 
 meat, which he liked ver}^ weU. 
 
 And after ha\ang viewed both barques he departed, 
 and went to his own boat again, which he had left in 
 a little cove or creek adjoining. As soon as he was 
 two bow-shot into the water, he feU to fishing, and in 
 less than half an hour, he had laden his boat as deep 
 as it could swim, with which he came again to the 
 point of the land, and there he divided his fish into 
 two parts, pointing one part to the ship and the other 
 to the pinnace; which after he had (as much as he 
 
 I
 
 AMADAS AND BARLOW 159 
 
 might) requited the former benefits received, departed 
 out of our sight. 
 
 The next day there came unto us divers boats, and 
 in one of them the king's brother, accompanied with 
 forty or fifty men, ver^' handsome and goodly people, 
 and in their behaviour as mannerly and civil as any of 
 Europe. His name was Granganimeo, and the king i> 
 called Wingina; the country Wingandacoa, and now, 
 by Her Majesty, Virginia. 
 
 The manner of his coming was in this sort: he left 
 his boats altogether, as the first man did, a little from 
 the ships by the shore, and came along to the place 
 over against the ships, followed with forty men. WTien 
 he came to the place, his servants spread a long mat 
 upon the ground, on which he sat down, and at the 
 other end of the mat four others of his company did 
 the like. The rest of his men stood round about him, 
 somewhat afar off. 
 
 WTien we came to the shore to him with our weapons, 
 he never moved from his place, nor any of the other 
 four, nor never mistrusted any harm to be offered from 
 us, but, sitting still, he beckoned us to come and sit by 
 him, which we performed: and being set he made all 
 signs of joy and welcome, striking his head and his 
 breast and afterwards on ours, to show we were all 
 one, smiling and making show the best he could of 
 all love and famiHarity. After he had made a long 
 speech unto us, we presented him with divers things, 
 which he received very joyfully and thankfully. None 
 of the company durst speak one word all the time : only 
 the four which were at the other end, spake one in the 
 other's ear very^ softly. 
 
 The king is greatly obeyed, and his brothers and 
 children reverenced. The king himself in person was,
 
 i6o STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 at our being there, sore wounded in a fight which he 
 had with the king of the next country, called Wingina, 
 and was shot in two places through the body, and 
 once clean through the thigh, but yet he recovered: 
 by reason whereof, and for that he lay at the chief 
 town of the country, being six days' journey off, we 
 saw him not at all. 
 
 After we had presented this, his brother, with such 
 things as we thought he liked, we likewise gave some- 
 what to the other that sat with him on the mat: but 
 presently he arose and took all from them and put it 
 into his own basket, making signs and tokens that all 
 things ought to be dehvered unto him, and the rest 
 were but his servants and followers. 
 
 A day or two after this we fell to trading with them, 
 exchanging some things that we had for chamois, 
 buff and deer skins. When we showed him all our 
 packet of merchandise, of all the things that he saw, 
 a bright tin dish most pleased him, which he presently 
 took up and clapped it before his breast, and after 
 made a hole in the brim thereof and hung it about his 
 neck, making signs that it would defend him against 
 his enemies' arrows: for those people maintain a deadly 
 and terrible war with the people and king adjoining. 
 
 We exchanged our tin dish for twenty skins, worth 
 twenty crowns or twenty nobles, and a copper kettle 
 for fifty skins worth fifty crowns. They offered us good 
 exchange for our hatchets and axes and for knives, 
 and would have given anything for swords; but we 
 would not depart with any. 
 
 After two or three days the king's brother came 
 aboard the ships and drank wine and ate of our meat 
 and of our bread, and liked exceedingly thereof: and 
 after a few days overpassed, he brought his wife with
 
 AMADAS AND BARLOW i6i 
 
 him to the ships, his daughter, and two or three 
 children. His wife was very well-favoured, of mean 
 stature, and very bashful; she had on her back a 
 long cloak of leather, with the fur side next to her 
 body, and before her a piece of the same; about her 
 forehead. she had a band of white coral, and so had 
 her husband many times; in her ears she had brace- 
 lets of pearls, hangmg down to her middle (whereof 
 we delivered your worship a little bracelet) and those 
 were of the bigness of good peas. 
 
 The rest of her women of the better sort had pendants 
 of copper hanging in either ear, and some of the 
 children of the king's brother, and other noblemen, 
 have five or six in either ear. He himself had upon 
 his head a broad plate of gold or copper, for being 
 unpolished, we knew not what metal it should be, 
 neither w^ould he by any means suffer us to take it off 
 his head, but feeling it, it would bow very easily. His 
 apparel was as his wife's, only the women wear their 
 hair long on both sides, and the men but on one. They 
 are of colour yellowish, and their hair black for the 
 most part, and yet we saw children that had very 
 fine auburn and chestnut-coloured hair. 
 
 After that these women had been there, there came 
 down from all parts great store of people, bringing 
 with them leather, coral, divers kinds of dyes, very 
 excellent, and exchanged with us; but when Gran- 
 ganimeo, the king's brother, was present, none durst 
 trade but himself: except such as wear red pieces of 
 copper on their heads like himself: for that is the 
 difference between the noblemen and the governors 
 of the country, and the meaner sort. And we both 
 noted there, and you have understood since by these 
 men which we brought home, that no people in the 
 
 F
 
 i62 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 world carry more respect to their king, nobility and 
 governors than these do. 
 
 The king's brother's wife, when she came to us (as 
 she did many times) was followed with forty or fifty 
 women always; and when she came into the ship she 
 left them all on land, saving her two daughters, her 
 nurse, and one or two more. The king's brother always 
 kept this order, as many boats as he would come withal 
 to the ships, so many hres would he make on the shore 
 afar off, to the end we might understand with what 
 strength and company he approached. 
 
 Their boats are made of one tree, either of pine or 
 of pitch trees, a wood not commonly known to our 
 people, nor found growdng in England. They have no 
 edge tools to make them withal ; if they have they are 
 ver}' few, and those, it seems, they had twenty years 
 since, which, as those two men declared, was out of a 
 wreck which happened upon their coast of some 
 Christian ship being beaten that way by some storm 
 and outrageous weather, whereof none of the people 
 were saved, but only the ship, or some part of her, 
 being cast upon the sand, out of whose sides they drew 
 the nails and spikes, and with those they made their 
 best instruments. 
 
 The manner of making their boats is thus: they 
 burn down some great tree, or take such as are wind- 
 fallen, and putting gum and rosin upon one side thereof, 
 they set fire into it, and when it hath burnt it hollow, 
 they cut out the coal with their shells, and everywhere 
 they would burn it deeper or wider they lay on gums 
 which burn away the timber, and by this means they 
 fashion very fine boats, and such as will transport 
 twenty men. Their oars are like scoops, and many 
 times they set with long poles, as the depth serveth.
 
 AMADAS AND BARLOW 163 
 
 The king's brother had great hking of our armour, 
 a sword and divers other things which we had: and 
 offered to lay a great box of pearl in gage for them; 
 but we refused it for this time, because we would not 
 make them know that we esteemed thereof until we 
 had understood in what places of the country the 
 pearl grew; which now your worship doth very well 
 understand. 
 
 He was very just of his promise; for many time^ 
 we delivered him merchandise upon his word, but ever 
 he came within the day and performed his promise. 
 He sent us every day a brace or two of fat bucks, 
 conies, hares, fish, the best in the world. He sent us 
 divers kinds of fruits — melons, walnuts, cucumbers, 
 gourds, peas and divers roots and fruits, very excellent 
 good, and of their country corn, which is very white, 
 fair and well-tasted, and groweth three times in five 
 months. In May they sow, in July they reap ; in June 
 they sow, in August they reap; in July they sow, in 
 September they reap; only they cast the corn into 
 the ground, breaking a Httle of the soft turf with a 
 wooden mattock or pickaxe. Ourselves proved the 
 soil, and put some of our peas in the ground, and in 
 ten days they were of fourteen inches high ; they have 
 also beans very fair of divers colours and wonderful 
 plenty, some growing naturally and some in their 
 gardens, and so have they wheat and oats. 
 
 The soil is most plentiful, sweet, fruitful and whole- 
 some of all the world : there are above fourteen several 
 sv/eet-smelling timber trees, and the most part of their 
 underwoods are bays and such-like. They had those 
 oaks that we have, but far greater and better. After 
 they had been divers times aboard our ships, myself, 
 "v^ith seven more, went twenty mile into the river that
 
 i64 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 runneth toward the city of Skicoak, which river they 
 call Occam: and the evening following we came to an 
 island, which they call Roanoak, distant from the 
 harbour by which we entered, seven leagues: and at 
 the north end thereof was a village of nine houses, 
 built of cedar and fortified round about with sharp 
 trees to keep out their enemies, and the entrance into 
 it made like a turnpike, very artificially. 
 
 When we came towards it, standing near unto the 
 waters' side, the ^\ife of Granganimo, the king's brother, 
 came running out to meet us, very cheerfully and 
 friendly. Her husband was not then in the village. 
 Some of her people she demanded to draw our boat 
 on shore for the beating of the billow; others she 
 appointed to carry us on their backs to the dry ground, 
 and others to bring our oars into the house for fear of 
 stealing. When we were come into the outer room, 
 having five rooms in her house, she caused us to sit 
 down by a great fire, and after took off our clothes 
 and washed them and dried them again. Some of the 
 women plucked off our stockings and washed them, 
 som.e washed our feet in warm water, and she herself 
 took great pains to see all things ordered in the best 
 manner she could, making great haste to dress some 
 meat for us to eat. 
 
 After we had thus dried ourselves, she brought us 
 into the inner room, where she set on the board stand- 
 ing along the house, some wheat fermented, sodden 
 venison, and roasted, fish sodden, boiled and roasted, 
 melons raw, and sodden, roots of divers kinds and 
 divers fruits. Their drink is commonly water, but 
 while the grape lasteth they drink wine, and for want 
 of casks to keep it, all the year they drink water, but 
 it is sodden with ginger in it, and black cinnamon.
 
 AMADAS AND BARLOW 165 
 
 and sometimes sassafras and divers other wholesome 
 and medicinable herbs and trees. 
 
 We were entertained with all love and kindness, 
 and with as much bounty (after their manner) as they 
 could possibly devise. We found the people most 
 gentle, loving and faithful, void of all guile and treason, 
 and such' as live after the manner of the golden age. 
 
 The people only care how to defend themselves 
 from the cold in their short winter and to feed them- 
 selves with such meat as the soil affordeth. Their 
 meat is very well sodden, and they make broth very 
 sweet and savoury. Their vessels are earthen pots, 
 very large, white and sweet, their dishes are wooden 
 platters of sweet timber. Within the space where 
 they feed was their lodging, and within that their 
 idol, which they worship, of whom they speak incred- 
 ible things. 
 
 While we were at meat, there came in at the gates 
 two or three men with their bows and arrows from 
 hunting, whom when we espied, we began to look one 
 towards another, and offered to reach our weapons; 
 but as soon as she espied our mistrust, she was verv 
 much moved, and caused some of her men to run out 
 and take away their bows and arrows and break them, 
 and withal beat the poor fellows out of the gate again. 
 
 When we departed in the evening and would not 
 tarry all night, she was very sorry, and gave us into 
 our boat our supper, half-dressed, pots and all, and 
 brought us to our boat-side, in which we lay all night, 
 removing the same a pretty distance from the shore. 
 She perceiving our jealousy, was much grieved, and 
 sent divers men and thirty women to sit all night on 
 the bankside by us, and sent us into our boats hve mats 
 to cover us from the rain, using very many words to
 
 i66 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 entreat us to rest in their houses: but because we 
 were few men, and if we had miscarried, the voyage 
 had been in very great danger, we durst not adventure 
 anything, though there was no cause of doubt, for a 
 more kind and loving people there cannot be found 
 in the world, as far as we have hitherto had trial. 
 
 Beyond this island there is the mainland, and over 
 against this island falleth into this spacious water the 
 great river called Occam by the inhabitants, on which 
 standeth a town called Pomeiok, and six days' journey 
 from the same is situate their greatest city, called 
 Skicoak, which this people affirm to be very great: 
 but the savages were never at it, only they speak of 
 it by the report of their fathers and other men, whom 
 they have heard affirm it to be above one hour's 
 journey about. 
 
 Into this river falleth another great river called 
 Cipo, in which there is found great store of mussels, 
 in which there are pearls. Likewise there descendeth 
 into this ocean another river called Nomopana, on the 
 one side whereof there standeth a great town called 
 Chawanook, and the lord of that town and country is 
 called Pooneno. This Pooneno is not subject to the 
 King of Wingandacoa, but is a free lord. Beyond 
 this country there is another king, whom they call 
 Menatonon, and these three kings are in league with 
 each other. Towards the south-west, four days' 
 journey, is situate a town called Secotan, w^hich is 
 the southernmost town of Wingandacoa, near unto 
 which, six and twenty years past, there was a ship 
 cast away, whereof some of the people were saved, 
 and those were white people, whom the country 
 people preserved. 
 
 And after ten days remaining in an out island.
 
 AMADAS AND BARLOW 167 
 
 uninhabited, called Wococon, they, with the help of 
 some of the dwellers of Secotan, fastened two boats 
 of the country together and made masts unto them 
 and sails of their shirts, and having taken into them 
 such victuals as the country yielded, they departed, 
 after they had remained in this out island three weeks: 
 but shortly after it seemed they were cast away, for 
 the boats were found upon the coast, cast a-land in 
 another island adjoining. 
 
 Other than these, there was never any people 
 apparelled, or white of colour, either seen or heard of 
 amongst these people, and these aforesaid were seen 
 onl}' of the inhabitants of Secotan, which appeared to 
 be very true, for they wondered marvellously when 
 we were amongst them at the whiteness of our skins, 
 ever coveting to touch our breasts and to view the 
 same. Besides they had our ships in marvellous 
 admiration, and all things else were so strange to them, 
 as it appeared that none of them had ever seen the like. 
 
 \Mien we discharged any piece, were it but a 
 harquebuz, they would tremble thereat for ver\' fear 
 and for the strangeness of the same: for the weapons 
 which themselves use are bows and arrows; the arrows 
 are but of small canes, headed with a sharp shell or 
 tooth of a fish, sufficient enough to kill a naked man. 
 Their swords be of wood hardened: likewise thev use 
 wooden breastplates for their defence. They have 
 besides a kind of club, in the end whereof they fasten 
 the sharp horns of a stag, or other beast. When they 
 go to wars they carr\' about with them their idol, of 
 whom they ask counsel, as the Romans were wont of 
 the oracle of Apollo. They sing songs as they march 
 towards the battle instead of dnims and tnimpets: 
 their wars are verv cruel and bloodv, bv reason whereof
 
 i68 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 and of their civil dissensions which have happened of 
 late years amongst them, the people are marvellousl}' 
 wasted, and in some places, the country left desolate. 
 
 Adjoining to this country aforesaid, called Secotan, 
 beginneth a country called Pomovik, belonging to 
 another king whom they call Piamacum, and this king 
 is in league with the next king adjoining towards the 
 setting of the sun, and the countrj' Newsiok, situate 
 upon a goodly river called Neus. These kings have 
 mortal war with Wingina, king of Wingandacoa; but 
 about two years past there was a peace made between 
 the king Piemacum and the lord of Secotan, as these 
 men which we have brought with us to England have 
 given us to understand. But there remaineth a mortal 
 malice in the Secotanes for many injuries and slaughters 
 done upon them by this Piemacum. They invited 
 divers men, and thirty women of the best of the country, 
 to their town to a feast ; and when they were altogether 
 merry, and praying before their idol (which is nothing 
 else but a mere illusion of the devil) the captain or 
 lord of the town came suddenly upon them, and slew 
 them every one, reserving the women and children: 
 and these two have oftentimes since persuaded us to 
 surprise Piemacum his town, having promised and 
 assured us that there will be found in it great store 
 of commodities. But whether their persuasion be to the 
 end they may be revenged of their enemies, or for the 
 love they bear to us, we leave that to the trial hereafter. 
 
 Beyond this island called Roanoak are islands, 
 very plentiful in fruits and other natural increases, 
 together with many towns and villages along the side 
 of the continent, some bounding upon the islands, 
 and some stretching up further into the land. 
 
 When we first had sight of this country, some thought
 
 AMADAS AND BARLOW 169 
 
 the first land we saw to be the continent ; but after 
 we entered into the haven, we saw l^efore us another 
 mighty long sea; for there lieth along the coast a 
 tract of islands, two hundred miles in length, adjoining 
 to the ocean sea, and between the islands, two or three 
 entrances. When you are entered between them 
 (these islands being very narrow, for the most part, 
 as in most places six miles broad, and in some places 
 less, in few more) then there appeareth another great 
 sea, containing in breadth in some places forty, and 
 in some fifty, in some twenty miles over before vou 
 come to the continent; and in this enclosed sea there 
 are above an hundred islands of divers bignesses, 
 whereof one is sixteen miles long, at which we were, 
 finding it a most pleasant and fertile ground, replen- 
 ished with goodly cedars and divers other sweet woods, 
 full of currants, of flax, and many other notable com- 
 modities, which we, at that time, had no leisure to 
 view. Besides this island there are many, as I have 
 said, some of two, or three, of four, of five miles, some 
 more, some less, most beautiful and pleasant to 
 behold, replenished with deer, conies, hares and divers 
 beasts, and about them the goodliest and best fish 
 in the world, and in greatest abundance. 
 
 Thus, sir, we have acquainted you with the par- 
 ticulars of our discover}-, made this present voyage, 
 as far forth as the shortness of time we there continued 
 would afford us to take view of; and so contenting 
 ourselves with this service at this time, which we hope 
 hereafter to enlarge as occasion and assistance shall 
 be given, we resolved to leave the countr\7 and to 
 apply ourselves to return for England, which we did 
 accordingly, and arrived safely in the west of England 
 about the middle of September.
 
 170 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 And whereas we have above certified you of the 
 country taken in possession by us to Her Majesty's 
 use, and so to yours by Her Majesty's grant, we thought 
 good for the better assurance thereof to record some 
 of the particular gentlemen of account who then were 
 present as witness of the same, that thereby all occasion 
 of cavil to the title of the country, in Her Majesty's 
 behalf, may be prevented, which otherwise, such as 
 like not the action, may use and pretend, whose names 
 are: Master Philip Amadas, Master Arthur Barlow, 
 captains; William Green vill, John Wood, James 
 Browewich, Henr}- Green, Benjamin Wood, Simon 
 Ferdinando, Nicholas Petman, John Hewes, of the 
 company. 
 
 We brought home also two of the savages, being 
 lusty men, whose names were Wanchese and Manteo.
 
 GRENVILLE IN VIRGINIA «1' 
 
 The voyage made by Sir Richard Grenville, for Sir Walter 
 Raleigh, to Virginia, in the year 1585. 
 
 The 9th day of April, in the year aforesaid, we 
 departed from Plymouth, our fleet consisting of the 
 number of seven sails, to wit, the Tiger, of the burden 
 of seven-score tons, a flyboat, called the Roebuck, of 
 the like burden, the Lion, of a hundred tons or there- 
 abouts, the Elizabeth, of fifty tons, and the DorotJjy, 
 a small barque: whereunto were also adjoined for 
 speedy services, two small pinnaces. The principal 
 gentlemen of our company were these: Mr. Ralph 
 Lane, Mr. Thomas Cavendish, Mr. John Arundcll, 
 Mr. Raymond, Mr. Stukeley, Mr. Bremige, Mr. Vincent, 
 and Mr. John Clarke, and divers others, whereof some 
 were captains and other some assistants for counsel 
 and good directions in the voyage. 
 
 The 14th day of April we fell with Lancerota and 
 Forteventura, isles of the Canaries, and from thence 
 we continued our course for Dominica, one of the 
 Antilles of the West Indies, wherewith we fell the 
 7th day of May, and the loth day following we came 
 to an anchor at Cotesa, a little island situate near to 
 the island of S. John, where we landed and refreshed 
 ''urselves all that day. 
 
 The 1 2th day of May we came to an anchor in the 
 Bay of Mosquito, in the island of S. John, within a 
 
 171
 
 172 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 falcon-shot of the shore, where our general, Sir Richard 
 Grenville, and the most part of our company landed 
 and began to fortify ver}^ near to the sea-side. The 
 river ran by the one side of our fort and the other 
 two sides were environed with woods. 
 
 The 13th day we began to build a new pinnace 
 within the fort, with the timber that we then felled 
 in the country, some part whereof we fetched three 
 miles up in the land and brought it to our fort upon 
 trucks, the Spaniard not daring to make or offer 
 resistance. 
 
 The 1 6th day there appeared unto us out of the 
 woods eight horsemen of the Spaniards, about a 
 quarter of a mile from our fort, sta\dng about half 
 an hour in viewing our forces: but as soon as they 
 saw ten of our shot marching towards them, they 
 presently retired into the woods. 
 
 The 19th day Master Cavendish, who had been 
 separated from our fleet in a storm in the Bay of 
 Portugal, arrived at Cotesa, within the sight of the 
 Tiger. We thinking him afar off to have been either 
 a Spaniard or a Frenchman of war, thought it good 
 to weigh anchor and to go room \\ith him, which the 
 Tiger did, and discerned him at last to be one of our 
 consorts, for joy of whose coming our ships discharged 
 their ordinance and saluted him according to the 
 manner of the seas. 
 
 The 22nd day twenty other Spanish horsemen 
 showed themselves to us upon the other side of the 
 river ; who being seen, our general dispatched twenty 
 footmen towards them, and two horsemen of ours, 
 mounted upon Spanish horses, which we before had 
 taken in the time of our being on the island. They 
 showed to our men a flag of truce and made signs to
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 173 
 
 have a parley with us: whereupon two of our men 
 went half of the v/ay upon the sands and two of theirs 
 came and met them. The two Spaniards offered ver^' 
 great sahitations to our men, but began, according to 
 their Spanish proud humours, to expostulate with 
 them about their arrival and fortifying in their country, 
 who notwithstanding by our men's discreet answers 
 were so cooled that (whereas they were told that our 
 principal intention was only to furnish ourselves with 
 water and victuals and other necessaries whereof we 
 stood in need, which we craved might be yielded us 
 with fair and friendly means, otherwise our resolution 
 was to practise force and to relieve ourselves by the 
 sword) the Spaniards in conclusion, seeing our men so 
 resolute, }delded to our requests with large promises 
 of all courtesy and great favour, and so our men and 
 theirs departed. 
 
 The 23rd day our pinnace was finished and launched ; 
 which being done, our general with his captains and 
 gentlemen marched up into the country about the 
 space of four miles, where in a plain marsh the\' 
 stayed, expecting the coming of the Spaniards accord- 
 ing to their promise, to furnish us with victuals; who 
 keeping their old custom for perjury and breach of 
 promise, came not; whereupon our general fired the 
 woods thereabout, and so retired to our fort, which 
 the same day was fired also and each man came aboard 
 to be ready to set sail the next morning. 
 
 The 29th day we set sail from Saint John's, being 
 many of us stung before upon shore with the mos- 
 quitoes : but the same night we took a Spanish frigate, 
 which was forsaken by the Spaniards on the sight of 
 us, and the next day in the morning very earlv, we 
 took another frigate with good and rich freight and
 
 174 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 divers Spaniards of account in lier, which afterwards 
 we ransomed for good round sums, and landed them 
 in S. John's. 
 
 The 26th day our Ueutenant, Master Ralph Lane, 
 went in one of the frigates which we had taken, to 
 Roxo Bay, upon the south-west side of Saint John's, to 
 fetch salt, being thither conducted by a Spanish pilot. 
 As soon as he arrived there he landed with his men, 
 to the number of twenty, and entrenched himself 
 upon the sands immediately, compassing one of their 
 salt-hills within the trench: who being seen of the 
 Spaniards, there came down towards him two or three 
 troops of horsemen and footmen, who gave him the 
 looking and gazing on, but durst not come near him 
 to offer any resistance, so that Master Lane, maugre 
 their troops, carried their salt aboard and loaded his 
 frigate, and so returned again to our fleet the 29th 
 day, which rode at S. Germain's Bay. The same day 
 we all departed and the next day arrived in the island 
 of Hispaniola. 
 
 June 
 
 The ist day of June we anchored at Isabella, on the 
 north side of Hispaniola. 
 
 The 3rd day of June, the governor of Isabella and 
 captain of the Port de Plata, being certified by the 
 reports of sundry Spaniards who had been well enter- 
 tained aboard our ships by our general, that in our 
 fleet were many brave and gallant gentlemen who 
 greatly desired to see the governor aforesaid, he there- 
 upon sent gentle commendations to our general, pro- 
 
 Maugre. In defiance of.
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 175 
 
 mising within few days to come to him in person, 
 which he performed accordingly. 
 
 The 5th day the aforesaid governor, accompanied 
 with a lusty friar, and twenty other Spaniards, with 
 their servants and negroes, came down to the sea- 
 side where our ships rode at anchor, who being seen, 
 our general manned immediately the most part of his 
 boats with the chief men of our fleet, every man 
 appointed and furnished in the best sort: at the 
 landing of our general, the Spanish governor received 
 him very courteously and the Spanish gentlemen 
 saluted our Enghsh gentlemen, and their inferior sort 
 did also salute our soldiers and seamen, liking our 
 men and likewise their quahties, although at the first 
 they seemed to stand in fear of us, and of so many of 
 our boats, whereof they desired that all might not land 
 their men, yet in the end, the courtesies that passed 
 on both sides were so great that all fear and mistrust 
 on the Spaniards' part was abandoned. 
 
 In the meantime, while our English general and the 
 Spanish governor discoursed bet\\dxt them of divers 
 matters, as of the state of the country, the multitude 
 of the towns and people, and the commodities of the 
 island, our men provided two banqueting houses 
 covered with green boughs, the one for the gentlemen, 
 the other for the servants, and a sumptuous banquet 
 was brought in, served by us all in plate, ^vith the 
 sound of trumpets and concert of music, wherewith 
 the Spaniards were more than delighted. 
 
 Which banquet being ended, the Spaniards, in re- 
 compense of our courtesy, caused a great herd of 
 white bulls and kine to be brought together from the 
 mountains, and appointed for every gentleman and 
 captain that would ride, a horse ready saddled, and
 
 176 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 then singled out three of the best of them to be hunted 
 by horsemen after their manner, so that the pastime 
 grew very pleasant for the space of three hours, where- 
 in all three of the beasts were killed, whereof one took 
 the sea and there was slain with a musket. 
 
 After this sport many rare presents and gifts were 
 given and bestowed on both parts, and the next day 
 we played the merchants in bargaining with them by 
 way of truck and exchange of divers of their com- 
 modities, as horses, mares, kine, bulls, goats, swine, 
 sheep, bull-hides, sugar, ginger, pearl, tobacco and 
 such-like commodities of the island. 
 
 The 7th day we departed with great goodwill from 
 the Spaniards from the island of Hispaniola: but the 
 wiser sort do impute this great show of friendship and 
 courtesy used towards us by the Spaniards, rather to 
 the force that we were of, and the vigilance and watch- 
 fulness that was amongst us, than to any hearty good- 
 will or sure friendly entertainment: for doubtless if 
 they had been stronger than we, we might have looked 
 for no better courtesy at their hands than Master John 
 Hawkins received at Saint John de UUoa, or John 
 Oxenham near the Straits of Darien, and divers of 
 our countrymen in other places. 
 
 The 8th day we anchored at a small island to take 
 seals, v/hich in that place we understood to have been 
 in great quantity, where the general, and certain 
 others with him in the pinnace, were in very great 
 danger to have been all cast away, but by the help of 
 God they escaped the hazard and returned aboard the 
 admiral in safety. 
 
 The 9th day we arrived and landed in the isle of 
 Cacos, in which island we searched for salt ponds 
 upon the advertisement and information of a Portu-
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 177 
 
 guese; who, indeed, abused our general and us, 
 deserving a halter for his hire, if it had so pleased us. 
 
 The I2th we anchored at Guanima and landed. 
 
 The 15th and i6th we anchored and landed at 
 Cyguateo. 
 
 The 20th we fell with the main of Florida. 
 
 The 23rd we were in great danger of a wreck on a 
 beach called the Cape of Fear. 
 
 The 24th we came to anchor in a harbour, where we 
 caught in one tide so much fish as would have yielded 
 us twent}^ pounds in London! This was our first 
 landing in Florida. 
 
 The 26th we came to anchor at Wococon. 
 
 The 29th we weighed anchor to bring the Tiger into 
 the harbour, where through the unskilfulness of the 
 master, whose name was Fernando, the admiral struck 
 on ground and sunk. 
 
 The 3rd we sent word of our arriving at \^'ococon 
 to Wingina at Roanoak. 
 
 The 6th, Mr. John Arundell was sent to the main, and 
 Manteo with him; and Captain Aubrey and Captain 
 Boniten the same day were sent to Croat oan, where 
 they found two of our men left there with thirty other 
 by Captain Raymond some twenty days before. 
 
 The 8th, Captain Aubrey- and Captain Boniten 
 returned with two of our men, found bv them, to us 
 at Wococon. 
 
 The nth day the general, accompanied in his tilt- 
 boat with Master John Arundell, j\ faster Stukelev and 
 divers other gentlemen. Master Lane, Master Cavendish, 
 Master Hariot and twenty others in the new pinnace. 
 Captain Amadas, Captain Clarke, with ten others in 
 a ship boat, Francis Brooke and John Wliite in another 
 ship boat, passed over the water from Wococon to
 
 178 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 the mainland, victualled for eight days, in which 
 voyage we first discovered the towns of Pomeiok, 
 Aquascogok and Secotan, and also the great lake 
 called b\^ the savages Paquipe, with divers other 
 places, and so returned with that discovery to our 
 fleet. 
 
 The I2th we came to the town of Pomeiok. 
 
 The 13th we passed by water to Aquascogok. 
 
 The 15th we came to Secotan, and were well enter- 
 tained there of the savages. 
 
 The i6th we returned thence, and one of our boats, 
 with the admiral, was sent to Aquascogok, to demand 
 a silver cup which one of the savages had stolen from 
 us, and not receiving it according to his promise, we 
 burnt and spoiled their com and town, all the people 
 being fled. 
 
 The i8th we returned from the discovery of Secotan 
 and the same day came aboard our fleet riding at 
 Wococon. 
 
 The 2ist, our fleet anchoring at Wococon, we weighed 
 anchor for Hatorask. 
 
 The 27th our fleet anchored at Hatorask, and there 
 we rested. 
 
 The 29th, Grangino, brother to King Wingina, came 
 aboard the admiral, and Manteo with him. 
 
 The 2nd the admiral was sent to Weapomeiok. 
 
 The 5th, Mr. John Arundell w'as sent for England. 
 
 The 25th our general weighed anchor and set sail 
 for England. 
 
 About the 31st, he took a Spanish ship of three 
 hundred ton, richly laden, boarding her with a boat 
 made with boards of chests, which fell asunder and 
 sunk at the ship's side, as soon as ever he and his men 
 were out of it.
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 179 
 
 The loth of September by foul weather the general, 
 then shipped in the prize, lost sight of the Tiger. 
 
 The i6th the Tiger fell with the Land's End, and 
 the same day came to anchor at Falmouth. 
 
 The i8th the general came with the prize to Ply- 
 mouth, and was courteously received by divers of his 
 worshipful friends. 
 
 An extract of Master Ralph Lanes letter to M. Richard 
 Hakluyt, Esquire, and another gentleman of the 
 Middle Temple, from Virginia. 
 
 In the meanwhile you shall understand that since Sir 
 Richard Granville's departure from us, as also before, 
 we have discovered the main to be the goodliest isle under 
 the cope of heaven, so abounding with sweet trees that 
 bring such sundry rich and pleasant gums, grapes of such 
 greatness, yet wild, as France, Spain, nor Ital}- have no 
 greater, so many sorts of apothecary drugs, such several 
 kinds of flax, and one kind like silk, the same gathered 
 of a grass as common there as grass is here. And now 
 within these few days we have found here maize or Guinea 
 wheat, whose ear yieldeth corn for bread four hundred 
 upon one ear, and the cane maketh very good and perfect 
 sugar. Besides that, it is the goodliest and most pleasing 
 territor^^ of the world: for the continent is of a huge 
 and unknown greatness and very well peopled and towned, 
 though sa\-agely, and the climate so wholesome that we 
 had not one sick since we touched the land here. 
 
 To conclude, if Virginia had but horses and kine in 
 some reasonable proportion, I dare assure myself, being 
 inhabited with English, no realm in Christendom were 
 comparable to it. For tliis already we find that what 
 commodities soever Spain, France, Italy or the east 
 parts do yield unto us. in wines of all sorts, in oils, in 
 flax, in rosins, pitch, franlcincense, currants, sugars, and 
 such-like, these parts do abound with the growth of 
 them all, but being savages that possess the land, thev
 
 i8o STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 know no use of the same. And sundry other rich com- 
 modities that no parts of the v/orld, be they West or 
 East Indies, have, here we nnd great abundance of. 
 
 The people naturally are most courteous and very 
 desirous to have clothes, but especially of coarse cloth 
 rather than silk; coarse canvas they also like well of, but 
 copper carrieth the price of all, so it be made red. Thus, 
 good ]Mr. Hakluyt and Mr. H., I have joined you both in 
 one letter of remembrance, as two that I love dearly well, 
 and commending me most heartily to you both, I commit 
 you to the tuition of the Alm.ighty. From the new fort 
 in Virginia, this third of September, 1585. 
 Your most assured friend, 
 
 Ralph Lane.
 
 CAVENDISH'S VOYAGE TO THE 
 SOUTH SEAS 
 
 The last voyage of the worsJiipful M. Thomas Cavendish, 
 Esquire, intended for the South Sea, the Philippines, 
 and the coast of China, with three tall ships and 
 two barks. Written by M. John Lane, a man of 
 good observation, employed in the same and many 
 other voyages. 
 
 The 26th of August, 1591, we departed from Plv- 
 moutli with three tall ships and two barks, the galleon, 
 wherein M. Ca\'endish went himself, being admiral, 
 the Roebuck vice-admiral, whereof M. Cocke was 
 captain, the Desire rear-admiral, whereof was captain 
 ]\I. John Davis (witli whom and for whose sake I went 
 this voyage), the Black Pinnace, and a bark of M. 
 Adrian Gilbert, whereof ]\I. Randolf Cotton was captain. 
 
 Tiie 29th of November we fell with the Ba\' of 
 Salvador upon the coast of Brazil, twelve leagues on 
 this side Cabo Frio, where we were becalmed until the 
 2nd of December, at which time we took a small bark 
 bound for the River of Plate with sugar, haberdash 
 wares and negroes. The master of this bark brought 
 us unto an isle called Placencia, thirty leagues west 
 from Cabo Frio, where we arrived the 5th of December 
 and rifled six or seven, houses inhabited by Portugals. 
 The nth, we departed from this place, and the 14th 
 we arrived at the isle of S. Sebastian, from whence 
 Cavendish. The third circumnavigator of the globe. 
 181
 
 i82 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 M. Cocke and Captain Davis presently departed with 
 the Desire and the Black Pinnace for the taking of the 
 town of Santos. The 15th at evening we anchored at 
 the bar of Santos from whence we departed with our 
 boats to the town, and the next morning about nine 
 of the clock we came to Santos, where being dis- 
 covered, we were enforced to land with twenty-four 
 gentlemen, our long-boat being far astern, by which 
 expedition we took all the people of the town at 
 Mass, both men and women, whom we kept all that 
 day in the church as prisoners. The cause why 
 Master Cavendish desired to take this town was to 
 supply his great wants, for being in Santos, and having 
 it in quiet possession, we stood in assurance to supply 
 aU our needs in great abundance. But such was the 
 negligence of our governor Master Cocke, that the 
 Indians were suffered to carry out of the town what- 
 soever they would in open view, and no man did control 
 them, and the next da\^ after we had won the town, 
 our prisoners were all set at liberty, only four poor 
 old men were kept as pawns to supply our wants. 
 Thus in three days the town that was able to furnish 
 such another fleet with all kinds of necessaries was left 
 unto us nakedly bare, without people and provision. 
 
 Eight or ten days after, Master Cavendish himself 
 came thither, where he remained until the 22nd of 
 January, seeking entreaty to have that whereof we 
 were once possessed. But in conclusion we departed 
 out of the town through extreme want of victual, 
 not being able any longer to live there, and were glad 
 to receive a few canisters or baskets of cassava-meal^ 
 so that in every condition we went worse furnished 
 from the town than when we came unto it. The 22nd 
 of January we departed from Santos and burnt S. Vin-
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 183 
 
 cent to the ground. The 24th we set sail, shaping our 
 course for the Straits of Magellan. 
 
 The 7th of February we had a very great storm, and 
 the 8th our fleet was separated by the fury of the 
 tempest. Then our captain called unto him the master 
 of our ship whom he found to be a very honest and 
 sufficient man, and conferring with him he concluded 
 to go for Port Desire, which is m the southerly latitude 
 of 48 degrees; hoping that the general would come 
 thither, because that in his first voyage he had found 
 great rehef there. For our captain could never get 
 any direction what course to take in any such extrem- 
 ities, though many times he had entreated for it, as 
 often I have heard him with grief report. In saiUng 
 to this port by good chance we met with the Roebuck, 
 wherein Master Cocke had endured great extremities, 
 and had lost his boat, and therefore desired our 
 captain to keep him company, for he was in verv 
 desperate case. Our captain hoisted out his boat and 
 went aboard him to know his estate, and returning 
 told us the hardness thereof, and desired the master 
 and all the company to be careful in all their watches 
 not to lose the Roebuck, and so we both arrived at 
 Port Desire the 6th of March. 
 
 The i6th of March the Black Pinnace came unto us, 
 but Master Gilbert's bark came not, but returned 
 home to England, having their captain aboard the 
 Rochick \vithout any provision more than the apparel 
 that he wore, who came from thence aboard our ship 
 to remain ^^'ith our captain by reason of the great 
 friendship between them. The iSth the galleon came 
 into the road, and Master Cavendish came into the 
 harbour in a boat which he had made at sea; for his 
 long-boat and light-horseman were lost at sea, as also
 
 i84 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 a pinnace which he had built at Santos; and being 
 aboard the Desire he told our captain of all his ex- 
 tremities, and spake most hardly of his company, and 
 of divers gentlemen that were with him, purposing no 
 more to go aboard his own ship, but to stay in the 
 Desire. We all sorrowed to hear such hard speeches 
 of our good friends, but having spoken with the gentle- 
 men of the galleon we found them faithful, honest and 
 resolute in proceeding, although it please our general 
 otherwise to conceive of them. 
 
 The 20th of March we departed from Port Desire, 
 Master Cavendish being in the Desire with us. The 
 8th of April, 1592, we fell with the Straits of Magellan, 
 enduring many furious storms between Port Desire 
 and the Strait. The 14th we passed through the first 
 strait. The i6th we passed the second strait, being 
 ten leagues distant from the first. The i8th we 
 doubled Cape Froward, which cape lies in 53 degrees 
 and J. The 21st we were enforced by the fury of the 
 weather to put into a small cove with our ships four 
 leagues from the said cape upon the south shore, 
 where we remained until the 15th of May. In the which 
 time we endured extreme storms with perpetual snow, 
 where many of our men died with cursed famine and 
 miserable cold, not having wherewith to cover their 
 bodies, nor to fill their bellies, but living by mussels, 
 water and weeds of the sea, with a small relief of the 
 ship's store in meal sometimes. And all the sick men 
 in the galleon were most uncharitably put ashore into 
 the woods in the snow, rain and cold when men of 
 good health could scarcely endure it, where they ended 
 their lives in the highest degree of misery. Master 
 Cavendish all this while being aboard the Desire. 
 
 In these great extremities of snow and cold, doubting 
 
 I
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 185 
 
 what the end would be, he asked our captain's opinion 
 because he was a man that had good experience of the 
 north-west parts, in his three several discoveries that 
 way, employed by the merchants of London. Our 
 captain told him that this snow was a matter of no 
 long continuance and gave him sufficient reason for 
 it, and that thereby he could not much be prejudiced 
 or hindered in his proceeding. Notwithstanding he 
 called together all the company and told them that 
 he purposed not to stay in the Straits, but to depart 
 upon some other voyage, or else to return again for 
 Brazil. But his resolution was to go for the Cape of 
 Buena Esperanza. 
 
 The company answered, that if it pleased him, they 
 did desire to stay God's favour for a wind, and to 
 endure all hardness whatsoever, rather than to give 
 over the voyage, considering they had been here but 
 a small time, and because they were within forty 
 leagues of the South Sea, it grieved them now to 
 return; not\\ithstanding what he purposed that they 
 would perform. So he concluded to go for the Cape 
 of Buena Esperanza, and to give over this voyage. 
 
 Then our captain, after Master Cavendish was come 
 aboard the Desire from talking ^\'ith the company, 
 told him that if it pleased him to consider the great 
 extremity of his estate, the slenderness of his provi- 
 sions, \\-ith the weakness of his men, it was no course 
 for him to proceed in that new enterprise: " For if the 
 rest of your ships," said he, "be furnished answer- 
 able to this, it is impossible to perform your deter- 
 mination: for we have no more sails than masts, no 
 victuals, no ground-tackUng, no cordage more than is 
 overhead, and among sevent}' and five persons there 
 is but the master alone that can order the ship, and
 
 i86 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 but fourteen sailors. The rest are gentlemen, serving- 
 men and artificers. Therefore it will be a desperate 
 case to take so hard an enterprise in hand." These 
 persuasions did our captain not only use to Master 
 Cavendish but also to Master Cocke. In fine upon a 
 petition delivered in writing by the chief of the whole 
 company, the general determined to depart out of the 
 Straits of Magellan, and to return again for Santos in 
 Brazil. 
 
 So the 15th of May we set sail, the general then 
 being in the galleon. The i8th we were free of the 
 Straits, but at Cape Froward it was our hard hap to 
 have our boat sunk at our stern in the night, and to 
 be split and sore spoiled, and to lose all our oars. 
 
 The 20th of May, being thwart of Port Desire, in 
 the night the general altered his course, as we suppose, 
 by which occasion we lost him: for in the evening he 
 stood close by a wind to seaward, having the wind at 
 north-north-east, and we standing the same way, the 
 wind not altering, could not the next day see him: so 
 that we then persuaded ourselves that he was gone 
 for Port Desire to relieve himself, or that he had 
 sustained some mischance at sea, and was gone thither 
 to remedy it. 
 
 Whereupon our captain called the general's men 
 unto him, with the rest, and asked their opinion what 
 was to be done. Everyone said that they thought 
 that the general was gone for Port Desire. Then the 
 master, being the general's man, and careful of his 
 master's service, as also of good judgment in sea mat- 
 ters, told the company how dangerous it was to go for 
 Port Desire, if we should there miss the general: " For," 
 said he, " we have no boat to land ourselves, nor 
 any cables, nor anchors that I dare trust in so quick
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 187 
 
 streams as are there " : yet in all likelihood concluding 
 that the general was gone thither, we stayed our course 
 for Port Desire, and by chance met with the Black 
 Pinnace, which had likewise lost the fleet, being in 
 very miserable case: so we both concluded to seek 
 the general at Port Desire. 
 
 The 26th day of May we came to Port Desire, 
 where not finding our general, as we hoped, being 
 most slenderly \'ictualled, \nthout sails, boat, oars, 
 nails, cordage and all other necessaries for our relief, 
 we were stricken into a deadly sorrow. But referring 
 all to the providence and fatherly protection of the 
 Almighty, we entered the harbour, and by God's 
 favour found a place of quiet road, which before we 
 knew not. Having moored our ship, with the Pinnace's 
 boat we landed upon the south shore, where we found 
 a standing pool of fresh water, which by estimation 
 might hold some ten tons, whereby we were greatlv 
 comforted. From this pool we fetched more than 
 forty tons of water, and yet we left the pool as full 
 as we found it. And because at our first being in this 
 harbour we were at this place and found no water, 
 we persuaded ourselves that God had sent it for our 
 relief. Also, there were such extraordinary low ebbs 
 as we had never seen, whereby we got mussels in great 
 plenty. Likewise God sent about our ships great 
 abundance of smelts, so that with hooks made of pins 
 every man caught as many as he could eat : by which 
 means we preserved our ship's victuals, and spent not 
 any during the time of our abode here. 
 
 Our captain and master falling into the consideration 
 of our estate and dispatch to go to the general, found 
 our wants so great, as that in a month we could not fit 
 our ship id set sail. For we must needs set up a smith's
 
 i88 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 forge, to make bolts, spikes and nails, besides the re- 
 pairing of our other wants. Whereupon they concluded 
 it to be their best course to take the Pinnace, and to 
 furnish her with the best of the company, and to go 
 to the general with all expedition, leaving the ship 
 and the rest of the company until the general's return ; 
 for he had avowed to our captain, that he would return 
 again for the Straits, as he had told us. The captain 
 and master of the Pinnace being the general's men 
 were well-contented with the motion. 
 
 But the general having in our ship two most pestilent 
 fellows, when they heard of this determination they 
 utterly misliked it, and in secret dealt with the com- 
 pany of both ships, vehemently persuading them, that 
 our captain and master would leave them in the 
 country to be devoured of the cannibals, and that they 
 were merciless and without charity: whereupon the 
 whole company joined in secret with them in a night 
 to murder our captain and master, with myself, and all 
 those they thought were their friends. There were 
 marks taken in his cabin how to kill him with muskets 
 through the ship's side, and bullets made of silver for 
 the execution, if their other purposes should fail. 
 All agreed hereunto, except it were the boatswain of 
 our ship, who when he knew the matter, and the slender 
 ground thereof, revealed it unto our master, and so to 
 the captain. Then the matter being called in question, 
 those two most murderous fellows were found out, 
 whose names were Charles Parker and Edward Smith. 
 
 The captain being thus hardly beset in peril of 
 famine, and in danger of murdering, was constrained 
 to use leniency, and by courteous means to pacify 
 this fury: showing, that to do the general service, 
 unto whom he had vowed faith in this action, was the
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 189 
 
 cause why he purposed to go unto him in the Pinnace, 
 considering, that the Pinnace was so necessary a thing 
 for him, as that he could not be without her, because 
 he was fearful of the shore in so great ships. Where- 
 upon all cried out with cursing and swearing, that the 
 Pinnace should not go unless the ship went. Then the 
 captain desired them to show themselves Christians, 
 and not so blasphemoush' to behave themselves, with- 
 out regard or thanksgiving to God for their great 
 deliverance, and present sustenance bestowed upon 
 them, alleging m^any examples of God's sharp punish- 
 ment for such ingratitude ; and withal promised to do 
 anything that might stand with their good liking. 
 By which gentle speeches the matter was pacified, and 
 the captain and master at the request of the company- 
 were content to forgive this great treachery of Parker 
 and Smith, who after manv admonitions concluded 
 in these words: "The Lord judge between 3-ou and 
 me ": which after came to a most sharp revenge even 
 by the punishment of the Almighty. 
 
 Thus by a general consent it was concluded not to 
 depart, but there to stay for the general's return. Then 
 our captain and master, seeing that they could not do 
 the general that service which they desired, made a 
 motion to the company, that they would lay down 
 under their hands the losing of the general, with the 
 extremities wherein we then stood; whereunto thev 
 consented, and wrote under their hands as followeth. 
 
 The testimonial of the company of the " Desire " touching 
 their losing of their general. ■ix.:hich appeareth to have 
 been utterly against their meanings: 
 
 The 26th of August, 1591, we, whose names be here- 
 under written, with divers others departed from Ply- 
 mouth under M. Thomas Cavendish our general, with
 
 190 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 four ships of his, to wit, the Galleon, the Roebuck, the 
 Desire, and the Black Pinnace, for the performance of 
 a voyage into the South Sea. The 19th of November we 
 fell with the Bay of Salvador in Brazil. The i6th of 
 December we took the town of Santos, hoping there to 
 revictual ourselves, but it fell not out to our contentment. 
 The 24th of January we set sail from Santos, shaping our 
 course for the Straits of Magellan. The 8th of February 
 by violent storms the said fleet was parted; the Roebuck 
 and the Desire arrived in Port Desire the 6th of March. 
 The 1 6th of March, the Black Pinnace arrived there also: 
 and the i8th of the same our admiral came into the road; 
 with whom we departed the 20th of March in poor and 
 weak estate. The 8th of April, 1592, we entered the 
 Straits of Magellan. The 21st of April we anchored be- 
 yond Cape Froward, within forty leagues of the South 
 Sea, where we rode until the 15th of May. In which time 
 we had great store of snow with some gusty weather, the 
 wind continuing still at west-north-west against us. In 
 this time we were enforced for the preserving of our 
 victuals, to live the most part upon mussels, our pro- 
 vision was so slender; so that many of our men died in 
 this hard extremity' . Then our general returned for 
 Brazil there to winter, and to procure victuals for this 
 voyage against the next year. So we departed the Straits 
 the 15th of May. The 21st being thwart of Port Desire 
 thirty leagues off the shore, the wind then at north-east 
 and by north, at five of the clock at night lying north- 
 east, we suddenly cast about, lying south-east and by 
 south, and sometimes south-east: the whole fleet following 
 the admiral, our ship coming under his lee shot ahead 
 him, and so framed sail fit to keep company. This night 
 we were severed, by what occasion we protest we know 
 not, whether we lost them or they us. In the morning we 
 only saw the Black Pinnace, then supposing that the 
 admiral had overshot us. All this day we stood to the 
 eastwards, hoping to find him, because it was not likely 
 that he would stand to the shore again so suddenly. But 
 missing him towards night, we stood to the shoreward, 
 hoping by that course to find him. The 22nd of May at
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 191 
 
 night we had a violent storm, with the wind at north- 
 west, and we were enforced to hull, not being able to bear 
 sail, and this night we perished our main trestle-trees, 
 so that we could no more use our main topsail, lying 
 most dangerously in the sea. The Pinnace likewise 
 received a grert leak, so that we were enforced to seek 
 the next shore for our relief. And because famine was 
 hke to be the best end, we desired to go for Port Desire, 
 hop)ing with seals and penguins to relieve ourselves, and 
 so to make shift to follow the general, or there to stay 
 his coming from Brazil. The 24th of May we had much 
 wind at north. The 23th was calm, and the sea ver\' lofty, 
 so that our ship had dangerous foul weather. The 26th 
 our fore-shrouds broke, so that if we had not been near 
 the shore it had been impossible for us to get out of the 
 sea. And now being here moored in Port Desire, our 
 shrouds are all rotten, not having a running rope whereto 
 we may trust, and being provided only of one shift of 
 sails all worn, our topsails not able to abide any stress 
 of weather, neither have we any pitch, tar or nails, nor 
 any store for the supplying of these wants; and we live 
 only upon seals and mussels, having but live hogsheads 
 of pork within board, and meal three ounces for a man a 
 day, with water for to drink. And forasmuch as it hath 
 pleased God to separate our fleet, and to bring us into 
 such hard extremities, that only now by His mere mercy 
 we expect relief, though otherwise we are hopeless of 
 comfort, yet because the wonderful works of God in His 
 exceeding great favour toward us His creatures are far 
 beyond the scope of man's capacity, therefore, by Him 
 we hope to have deUverance in this our deep distress. 
 Also forasmuch as those upon whom God will bestow the 
 ia\'Our of life, with return home to their country, may 
 not only themselves remain blameless, but also manifest 
 the truth of our actions, we have thought good in Christian 
 charity to lay down under our hands the truth of all our 
 proceedings even till the time of this our distress. 
 
 Given in Port Desire the 2nd of June, 15Q2. Beseecking 
 the Abnighty God of His ry^ercy to deliver us from this 
 misery, how or when it shall please His Divine Majesty.
 
 192 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 After they had delivered this relation unto our 
 captain under their hands, then we began to travel 
 for our lives, and we built up a smith's forge, and made 
 a coal-pit, and burnt coals, and there we made nails, 
 bolts and spikes, others made ropes of a piece of our 
 cable, and the rest gathered mussels and took smelts 
 for the whole company. 
 
 Three leagues from this harbour there is an isle 
 with four small isles about it, where there are great 
 abundance of seals, and at the time of the year the 
 penguins come thither in great plenty to breed. We 
 concluded with the Pinnace, that she should sometimes 
 go thither to fetch seals for us ; upon which condition 
 we would share our victuals with her man for man; 
 whereunto the whole company agreed. So we parted 
 our poor store, and she laboured to fetch us seals to 
 eat, wherewith we lived when smelts and mussels 
 failed ; for in the neap streams we could get no mussels. 
 
 Thus in most miserable calamity we remained until 
 the 6th of August, still keeping watch upon the hills 
 to look for our general, and so great was our vexation 
 and anguish of soul as I think never flesh and blood 
 endured more. 
 
 Thus our misery daily increasing, time passing, and 
 our hope of the general being very cold, our captain 
 and master were fuU^^ persuaded that the general 
 might perhaps go directly for the Straits, and not 
 come to this harbour; whereupon they thought no 
 course more convenient than to go presently for the 
 Straits, and there to stay his coming, for in that place 
 he could not pass, but of force we must see him; where- 
 unto the company most willingly consented, as also 
 the captain and master of the Pinnace; so that upon 
 this determination we made all possible speed to depart.
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 193 
 
 The 6th of August we set sail, and went to Penguin 
 Isle, and the next day we salted twenty hogsheads of 
 seals, which was as much as our salt could possibly 
 do, and so we departed for the Straits, the poorest 
 wretches that ever were created. 
 
 The 7th of August toward night we departed from 
 Penguin Isle, shaping our course for the Straits, where 
 we had full confidence to meet with our general. The 
 9th we had a sore storm, so that we were constrained 
 to huU, for our sails were not to endure any force. 
 
 The 14th we were driven in among certain isles 
 never before discovered by any known relation, lying 
 fifty leagues or better from the shore east and northerh- 
 from the Straits; in which place, unless it had pleased 
 God of his wonderful mercy to have ceased the wind, 
 we must of necessity have perished. But the wind 
 shifting to the east^ we directed our course for the 
 Straits, and the i8th of August we fell with the Cape 
 in a very thick fog; and the same night we anchored 
 ten leagues within the Cape. 
 
 The 19th day we passed the first and the second 
 straits. The 21st we doubled Cape Froward. The 22nd 
 we anchored in Savage Cove, so named because we 
 found many savages there: notwithstanding the 
 extreme cold of this place, yet do all these wild people 
 go naked, and live in the woods like satyrs, painted 
 and disguised, and fly from you like wild deer. The}- 
 are very strong, and threw stones at us of three or four 
 pound weight an incredible distance. 
 
 The 24th in the morning we departed from this 
 cove, and the same day we came into the north-west 
 reach, which is the last reach of the Straits. The 25th 
 we anchored in a good cove, within fourteen leagues of 
 the South Sea; in this place we purposed to stay for 
 
 G
 
 194 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 the general, for the strait in this place is scarce three miles 
 broad, so that he could not pass but we must see him. 
 
 After we had stayed here a fortnight in the deep of 
 winter, our victuals consuming (for our seals stunk 
 most vilely, and our men died pitifully through cold 
 and famine, for the greatest part of them had not 
 clothes to defend the extremity of the winter's cold), 
 being in this heavy distress, our captain and master 
 thought it the best course to depart from the Straits 
 into the South Sea, and to go for the isle of Santa 
 Maria, which is to the northward of Baldivia. in 
 37 degrees and a quarter, where we might have relief 
 and be in a temperate clime, and there stay for the 
 general, for of necessity he must come by that isle. 
 
 So we departed the 13th of September, and came 
 in sight of the South Sea. The 14th we were forced 
 back again, and recovered a cove three leagues within 
 the Straits from the South Sea. Again we put forth, 
 and being eight or ten leagues free of the land, the 
 wind rising furiously at west-north-west, we were 
 enforced again into the Straits only for want of sails ; 
 for we never durst bear sail in any stress of weather, 
 they were so weak: so again we recovered the cove 
 three leagues within the Straits, where we endured 
 most furious weather, so that one of our two cables 
 broke, whereby we were hopeless of life. 
 
 Yet it pleased God to calm the storm, and we un- 
 rived our sheets, tacks, hauHers and other ropes and 
 moored our ship to the trees close by the rocks. We 
 laboured to recover our anchor again, but could not by 
 any means, it lay so deep in the water, and as we think 
 clean covered with ooze. Now had we but one anchor 
 which had but one whole fluke, a cable spliced in two 
 places, and a piece of an old cable.
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 195 
 
 In the midst of these our troubles it pleased God 
 that the wind came fair the ist of October, whereupon 
 with all expedition we loosed our moorings and weighed 
 our anchor and so towed olf into the channel: for we 
 had mended our boat in Port Desire and had five oars 
 of the Pinnace. 
 
 When we had weighed our anchor, we found our 
 cable broken, only one strand held: then we praised 
 God; for we saw apparently His mercies in preserving 
 us. 
 
 Being in the channel, we reeved our ropes and again 
 rigged our ship; no man's hand was idle, but all 
 laboured even for the last gasp of life. Here our 
 company was divided; some desired to go again for 
 Port Desire, and there to be set on shore, where they 
 might travel for their lives, and some stood with the 
 captain and master to proceed. 
 
 Whereupon the captain said to the master: " Master, 
 you see the wonderful extremity of our estate, and the 
 great doubts among our company of the truth of your 
 reports, as touching relief to be had in the South Sea: 
 some say in secret, as I am informed, that we under- 
 take these desperate attempts through blind affection 
 that we bear to the general. For mine own part I 
 plainly make known unto you, that the love which 
 I bear to the general caused me first to enter into 
 this action, whereby I have not only heaped upon my 
 head this bitter calamity now present, but also have 
 in some sort procured the dislike of my best friends 
 in England, as it is not unknown to some in this 
 company. But now being thus entangled by the 
 providence of God for my former offences (no doubt) 
 I desire that it may please His Divine Majesty to show 
 us such merciful favour, that we ma}^ rather proceed.
 
 196 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 than otherwise; or, if it be His will that our mortal 
 being shall now take an end, I rather desire that it 
 may be in proceeding than in returning. And because 
 I see in reason, that the limits of our time are now 
 drawing to an end, I do in Christian charity entreat 
 you all, first to forgive me in whatsoever I have been 
 grievous unto you ; secondly, that you will rather pray 
 for our general than use hard speeches of him ; and let 
 us be fully persuaded, that not for his cause and 
 negligence, but for our own offences against the 
 Divine Majesty we are presently punished; lastly, let 
 us forgive one another and be reconciled as children 
 in love and charity, and not think upon the vanities. 
 of this life; so shall we in leaving this life live with 
 our glorious Redeemer, or abiding in this life, find 
 favour with God. 
 
 " And now, good master, forasmuch as you have 
 been in this voyage once before with your master, the 
 general, satisfy the company of such truths, as are to 
 you best known, and 3'OU the rest of the general's 
 men, which like\nse have been with him in his first 
 voyage, if you hear anything contrary to the truth, 
 spare not to reprove it, I pray you. And so I beseech 
 the Lord to bestow His mercy upon us." 
 
 Then the master began in these speeches: '' Captain, 
 your request is very reasonable, and I refer to your 
 judgment my honest care and great pains taken in 
 the general's service, my love towards him, and in 
 what sort I have discharged my duty, from the first 
 day to this hour. I was commanded by the general 
 to follow your directions, which hitherto I have per- 
 formed. You all know, that when I was extremely 
 sick, the general was lost in my mate's watch, as you 
 have well examined: since \^•hich time, in what
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 197 
 
 anguish and grief of mind I have lived, God only 
 knoweth, and you are in some part a witness. And 
 now if you think good to return, I will not gainsay 
 it; but this I assure you, if life may be preserved by 
 any means, it is in proceeding. For at the isle of 
 Santa Maria I do assure you of wheat, pork, and roots 
 enough. Also I will bring you to an isle where pelicans 
 be in great abundance, and at Santos we shall have 
 meal in great plenty, besides all our possibility of 
 intercepting some ships upon the coast of Chili and 
 Peru. But if we return there is nothing but death to 
 be hoped for: therefore, do as you like, I am ready, 
 but my desire is to proceed." 
 
 These his speeches being confirmed by others that 
 were in a former voyage, there was a general consent 
 of proceeding, and so the 2nd of October we put into 
 the South Sea, and were free of all land. This night 
 the wind began to blow very much at west-north- 
 west, and still increased in fury, so that we were in 
 great doubt what course to take: to put into the 
 Straits, we durst not for lack of ground-tackle: to 
 bear sail we doubted, the tempest was so furious, and 
 our sails so bad. 
 
 The Pinnace came up with us and told us that she 
 had received many grievous seas and that her ropes 
 did every hour fail her, so as they could not tell what 
 shift to make: we being unable in any sort to help 
 them, stood under our courses in view of the lee-shore, 
 still expecting our ruinous end. 
 
 The 4th of October the storm growing beyond all 
 reason furious, the Pinnace being in the wind of us, 
 struck suddenly a-hull, so that we thought she had 
 received some grievous sea, or sprimg a leak, or that 
 her sails failed her, because she came not with us:
 
 198 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 but we durst not hull in that unmerciful storm, but 
 sometimes tried under our main-course, sometimes 
 with a haddock of our sail, for our ship was very 
 leeward, and most laboursome in the sea. This night 
 we lost the Pinnace, and never saw her again. 
 
 The 5th our foresail was spHt, and all-to torn: 
 then our master took the mizzen and brought it to 
 the foremast, to make our ship work, and with our 
 sprit-sail we mended our foresail, the storm continuing 
 without all reason in fury, with hail, snow, rain and 
 wind such and so mighty, as that in nature it could 
 not possibly be more, the seas such and so lofty, with 
 continual breach, that many times we were doubtful 
 whether our ship did sink or swim. 
 
 The loth of October, being by the account of our 
 captain and master very near the shore, the weather 
 dark, the storm furious, and most of our men having 
 given over to travail, we yielded ourselves to death, 
 without further hope of succour. Our captain sitting 
 in the gallery very pensive, I came and brought him 
 some rosa solis to comfort him; for he was so cold 
 that he w^as scarce able to move a joint. After he had 
 drunk, and was comforted in heart, he began for the 
 ease of his conscience to make a large repetition of his 
 forepast time, and \vith many grievous sighs he con- 
 cluded in these words: 
 
 *' Oh, most glorious God, \vith whose power the 
 mightiest things among men are matters of no moment, 
 I most humbly beseech Thee, that the intolerable 
 burthen of my sins may through the blood of Jesus 
 Christ be taken from me : and end our days with speed, 
 or show us some merciful sign of Thy love and our 
 preservation." 
 
 Having thus ended, he desired me not to make known
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 199 
 
 to any of the company his intolerable grief and anguish 
 of mind, because they should not thereby be dismayed. 
 And so suddenly, before I went from him the sun 
 shined clear: so that he and the master both observed 
 the true elevation of the Pole, whereby they knew by 
 what course to recover the Straits. Wherewithal our 
 captain and master were so revived and gave such 
 comfortable speeches to the company, that every 
 man rejoiced, as though we had received a present 
 deliverance. 
 
 The next day being the nth of October, we saw 
 Cabo Deseado, being the cape on the south shore (the 
 north shore is nothing but a company of dangerous 
 rocks, isles and shoals). This cape being within two 
 leagues to leeward of us, our master greatlv doubted 
 that we could not double the same : whereupon the cap- 
 tain told him: "You see, there is no remedy, either we 
 must double it, or before noon we must die: therefore, 
 loose your sails and let us put it to God's mercy." 
 
 The master being a man of good spirit resolutely 
 m.ade quick dispatch and set sails. Our sails had not 
 been half-an-hour aboard, but the foot-rope of our 
 foresail broke, so that nothing held but the eyelet- 
 holes. The seas continually brake over the ship's 
 poop, and flew into the sails with such violence, that 
 we still expected the tearing of our sails, or over- 
 setting of the ship, and withal to our utter discomfort 
 we perceived that we fell still more and more to lee- 
 ward, so that we could not double the cape, and so 
 near the shore, that the counter-sough of the sea would 
 rebound against the ship's side, so that we were much 
 dismayed with the horror of our present end. 
 
 Being thus at the very pinch of death, the wind and 
 seas raging beyond measure, our master veered some
 
 200 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 of the main-sheet ; and whether it was by that occasion, 
 or by some current, or by the wonderful power of God, 
 as we verily think it was, the ship quickened her way, 
 and shot past that rock, where we thought she would 
 have shored. Then between the cape and the point 
 there was a little bay; so that we were somewhat 
 farther from the shore; and when we were come so 
 far as the cape, we yielded to death; yet our good 
 God, the Father of all mercies, delivered us, and we 
 doubled the cape about the length of our ship, or very 
 little more. 
 
 Being shot past the cape, we presently took in our 
 sails, which only God had preserved unto us; and 
 when we were shot in between the high lands, the wind 
 blowing trade, without any inch of sail we spooned 
 before the sea, three men being not able to guide the 
 helm, and in six hours we were put five and twenty 
 leagues within the Straits, where we found a sea 
 answerable to the ocean. 
 
 In this time we freed our ship from water, and after 
 we had rested a little, our men were not able to move; 
 their sinews were stiff, and their flesh dead, and many 
 of them (which is most lamentable to be reported) 
 were so eaten with lice, as that in their flesh did lie 
 clusters of lice as big as peas, yea, and some as big 
 as beans. Being in this misery we were constrained 
 to put into a cove for the refreshing our men. 
 
 Our master knowing the shore and every cove 
 very perfectly, put in with the shore, and moored to 
 the trees, as before-time we had done, laying our 
 anchor to the seaward. Here we continued until 
 the 20th of October; but not being able any longer 
 to stav through extremity of famine, the 21st we put 
 off into the channel, the weather being reasonably
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 201 
 
 calm: but before night it blew most extremely at 
 west-north-west. 
 
 The storm growing outrageous, our men could 
 scarcely stand by their labour; and the Straits being 
 full of turning reaches, we were constrained by dis- 
 cretion of the captain and master in their accounts 
 to guide the ship in the hell-dark night, when we could 
 not see any shore, the channel being in some places 
 scarce three miles broad. But our captain, as we first 
 passed through the Straits, drew such an exquisite 
 plate of the same, as I am assured it cannot in any 
 sort be bettered; which plate he and the master so 
 often perused, and so carefully regarded, as that in 
 memory they had every turning and creek, and in the 
 deep dark night without any doubting they conveyed 
 the ship through that crooked channel: so that I 
 conclude, the world hath not any so skilful pilots for 
 that place, as they are: for otherwise we could never 
 have passed such sort as we did. 
 
 The 25th we came to an island in the Straits named 
 Penguin Isle, whither we sent our boat to seek relief, 
 for there were great abundance of birds, and the 
 weather was ver\' calm; so we came to an anchor by 
 the island in seven fathoms. While our boat was at 
 shore, and we had great store of penguins, there arose 
 a sudden storm, so that our ship did drive over a 
 breach and our boat sank at the shore. Captain 
 Cotton and the lieutenant being on shore leapt in the 
 boat, and freed the same, and threw away aU the 
 birds, and with great difficulty recovered the ship: 
 m3'self also was in the boat the same time, where for 
 my life I laboured to the best of my power. 
 
 The ship all this while driving upon the lee-shore, 
 when we came aboard, we helped to set sail, and
 
 202 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 weighed the anchor, for before our coming they could 
 scarce hoist up their yards, yet with much 'ado they 
 set their fore-course. Thus in a mighty fret of weather 
 the 27th day of October, we were free of the Straits, 
 and the 30th of October we came to Penguin Isle, 
 being three leagues from Port Desire, the place which 
 we purposed to seek for our relief. 
 
 When we were come to this isle we sent our boat 
 on shore, which returned laden with birds and eggs: 
 and our men said that the penguins were so thick 
 upon the isle that ships might be laden with them; 
 for they could not go without treading upon the birds, 
 whereat we greatly rejoiced. 
 
 Then the captain appointed Charles Parker and 
 Edward Smith, with twenty others to go on shore, and 
 to stay upon the isle, for the killing and drying of those 
 penguins, and promised after the ship was in harbour 
 to send the rest, not only for expedition, but also to 
 save the small store of victuals in the ship. 
 
 But Parker, Smith, and the rest of their faction 
 suspected that this was a device of the captain to leave 
 his men on shore, that by these means there might 
 be victuals for the rest to recover their countn,^; and 
 when they remembered, that this was the place where 
 they would have slain their captain and master, surely 
 (thought they) for revenge hereof will they leave us 
 on shore. Which when our captain understood, he used 
 these speeches unto them : 
 
 " I understand that you are doubtful of your 
 securit}'- through the perverseness of your own guilty 
 consciences; it is an extreme grief unto me, that you 
 should judge me blood-thirsty, in whom you have 
 seen nothing but kind conversation : if you have found 
 otherwise, speak boldly, and accuse me of the wrongs 
 
 i
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 203 
 
 that I have done; if not, why do you then measure 
 me by your own uncharitable consciences? All the 
 company knoweth indeed, that in this place you 
 practised to the utmost your powers, to murder me 
 and the master causeless, as God knoweth, which 
 evil in this place we did remit you; and now I may 
 conceive, without doing you wrong, that you again 
 purpose some evil in bringing these matters to re- 
 petition; but God has so shortened your confederacy, 
 as that I nothing doubt you; it is for your master's 
 sake that I have forborne you in your un-Christian 
 practices; and here I protest before God, that for 
 His sake alone I will yet endure this injury, and you 
 shall in no sort be prejudiced or in anything be by 
 me commanded: but when we come into England 
 (if God so favour us) your Master shall know your 
 honesties; in the mean space be void of these sus- 
 picions, for, God I call to witness, revenge is no part 
 of my thought." 
 
 They gave him thanks, desiring to go into the har- 
 bour with the ship, which he granted. So there were ten 
 left upon the isle, and the last of October we entered 
 the harbour. Our master at our last being here having 
 taken careful notice of every creek in the river, in a 
 very convenient place, upon sandy ooze, ran the ship 
 on ground, laying our anchor to seaward, and with 
 our running ropes moored her to stakes upon the 
 shore, which he had fastened for that purpose; where 
 the ship remained till our departure. 
 
 The 3rd of November our boat with water, wood, 
 and as many as she could carry, went for the Isle of 
 Penguins: but being deep, she durst not proceed, but 
 returned again the same night. Then Parker, Smith, 
 Townesend, Purpet, with live others, desired that they
 
 204 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 might go by land, and that the boat might fetch them 
 when they were against the isle, it being scarce a mile 
 from the shore. 
 
 The captain bade them do what they thought best, 
 advising them to take weapons with them : " For," said 
 he, *' although we have not at any time seen people in 
 this place, yet in the country there may be savages." 
 They answered that here were great store of deer and 
 ostriches ; but if there were savages they would devour 
 them: notwithstanding the captain caused them to 
 carry weapons, calivers, swords, and targets: so the 
 6th of November they departed by land, and the boat 
 by sea : but from that day to this day we never heard 
 of our men. 
 
 The nth, whilst most of our men were at the isle, 
 only the captain and master with six others being left 
 in the ship, there came a great multitude of savages 
 to the ship, throwing dust in the air, leaping and 
 running like brute beasts, having vizards on their 
 faces hke dogs' faces, or else their faces are dogs' 
 faces indeed. We greatly feared lest they would set 
 our ship on fire, for they would suddenly make fire, 
 whereat we much marvelled: they came to windward 
 of our ship, and set the bushes on fire, so that we were 
 in a very stinking smoke: but as soon as they came 
 within our shot, we shot at them, and striking one of 
 them in the thigh they all presently fled, so that we 
 never heard nor saw more of them. Hereby we judged 
 that these cannibals had slain our nine men. 
 
 When we considered what they were that thus were 
 slain, and found that they were the principal men 
 that would have murdered our captain and master, 
 with the rest of their friends, we saw the just judgment 
 
 Vizards. Masks.
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 205 
 
 of God and made supplication to His Divine Majesty 
 to be merciful unto us. 
 
 While we were in this harbour, our captain and 
 master went with the boat to discover how far this 
 river did run, that if need should enforce us to leave 
 our ship, we might know how far we might go by water. 
 So they found that farther than twenty miles they 
 could not go with the boat. At their return they sent 
 the boat to the Isle of Penguins; whereby we under- 
 stood that the penguins dried to our hearts' content, 
 and that the multitude of them was infinite. This 
 penguin hath the shape of a bird, but hath no wings, 
 only two stumps in the place of wings, by which he 
 swimmeth under water with as great swiftness as any 
 hsh. They live upon smelts, whereof there is great 
 abundance upon this coast: In eating they be neither 
 fish nor flesh: they lay great eggs, and the bird is of 
 a reasonable bigness, very near twice as big as a duck. 
 
 All the time that we were in this place, we fared 
 passing well with eggs, penguins, young seals, young 
 gulls, besides other birds, such as I know not: all of 
 which we had great abundance. In this place we found 
 an herb called scurvy-grass which we fried with eggs, 
 using train-oil instead of butter. This herb did so 
 purge the blood that it took away all kind of swxlHngs, 
 of which many died, and restored us to perfect health 
 of body, so that we were in as good case as when we 
 came first out of England. 
 
 We stayed in this harbour until the 22nd of Decem- 
 ber, in which time we had dried 20,000 penguins, and 
 the captain, the master, and myself made some salt, 
 by laying salt water upon the rocks in holes, which 
 in six days would be kerned. Thus God did feed us even 
 as it were with manna from heaven.
 
 2o6 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 The 22nd of December, we departed with our ship 
 for the isle, where with great difhculty, by the skilful 
 industry of our master we got 14,000 of our birds, and 
 had almost lost our captain in labouring to bring the 
 birds aboard : and had not our master been very expert 
 in the set of those wicked tides, which run after many 
 fashions, we had also lost our ship in the same place: 
 but God of His goodness hath in all our extremities 
 been our protector. 
 
 So the 22nd, at night, we departed with 14,000 dried 
 penguins, not being able to fetch the rest, and shaped 
 our course for Brazil. Now our captain rated our 
 victuals, and brought us to such allowance, as that our 
 victuals might last six months; for our hope was, 
 that within six months we might recover our country, 
 though our sails were very bad. So the allowance was 
 two ounces and a half of meal for a man a da}^ and 
 to have so twice a week, so that five ounces did serve 
 for a week. Three days a week we had oil, three 
 spoonfuls for a man a day; and two days in a week 
 peas, a pint between four men a day, and every day 
 five penguins for four men, and six quarts of water 
 for four men a day. This was our allowance; where- 
 with (we praise God) we lived, though weakly and 
 very feeble. 
 
 The 30th of January we arrived at the isle of 
 Placencia in Brazil, the first place that outward-bound 
 we were at: and having made the shoal, our ship 
 lying off at sea, the captain with twenty-four of the 
 company went with the boat on shore, being a whole 
 night before they could recover it. 
 
 The last of January at sun-rising they suddenly 
 landed, hoping to take the Portugals in their houses, 
 and by that means to recover some cassava-meal, or
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 207 
 
 other victuals for our relief: but when they came to 
 the houses, they were all razed, and burnt to the 
 ground, so that we thought no man had remained on 
 the island. Then the captain went to the gardens and 
 brought from thence fruits and roots for the company, 
 and came aboard the ship, and brought her into a 
 hne creek which he had found out, where we might 
 moor by the trees, and where there was water, and 
 hoops to trim our cask. 
 
 Our case being very desperate, we presently laboured 
 for dispatch away; some cut hoops, which the coopers 
 made, others laboured upon the sails and ship, ever\' 
 man travaihng for his life, and still a guard was kept 
 on shore to defend those that laboured, every man 
 having his weapon like\\'ise by him. 
 
 The 3rd of February our men with twenty-three 
 shot went again to the gardens, being three miles 
 from us upon the north shore, and fetched cassava- 
 roots out of the ground, to reUeve our company 
 instead of bread; for we spent not of our meal while 
 we stayed here. 
 
 The 5th of February being Monday, our captain and 
 master hasted the company to their labour: so some 
 went with the coopers to gather hoops, and the rest 
 laboured aboard. This night many of our men in 
 the ship dreamed of murder and slaughter. In the 
 morning they reported their dreams, one saying to 
 another: "' This night I dreamt that thou wert slain." 
 Another answered: 'And I dreamed that thou 
 wert slain," and this was general through the ship. 
 The captain hearing this, who likewise had dreamed 
 very strangely himself, gave very strait charge that 
 those which went on shore should take weapons 
 with them, and saw them himself delivered into
 
 2o8 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 the boat, and sent some of purpose to guard the 
 labourers. 
 
 All the forenoon they laboured in quietness, and 
 when it was ten of the clock, the heat being extreme, 
 they came to a rock near the wood's side (for all this 
 country is nothing but thick woods) and there they 
 boiled cassava-roots and dined: after dinner some 
 slept, some washed themselves in the sea, all being 
 stripped to their shirts, and no man keeping watch, 
 no match lighted, not a piece charged. 
 
 Suddenly as they were thus sleeping and sporting, 
 having gotten themselves into a corner out of sight of 
 the ship, there came a multitude of Indians and 
 Portugals upon them, and slew them sleeping: only 
 two escaped, one very sore hurt, the other not touched, 
 by whom we understood of this miserable massacre: 
 with all speed we manned our boat, and landed to 
 succour our men; but we found them slain, and laid 
 naked on a rank one by another, with their faces 
 upward, and a cross set by them: and withal we saw 
 two very great pinnaces come from the River of 
 Janeiro very full of men; whom we mistrusted came 
 from thence to take us: because there came from 
 Janeiro soldiers to Santos, when the general had taken 
 the town and was strong in it. Of seventy-six persons 
 which departed in our ship out of England, we were 
 now left but twenty-seven, having lost thirteen in 
 this place, with their chief furniture, as muskets, 
 calivers, powder and shot. Our cask was all in decay, 
 so that we could not take in more water than was in 
 our ship, for want of cask, and that which we had was 
 marvellous ill-conditioned: and being there moored 
 by trees for want of cables and anchors, we still ex- 
 pected the cutting of our moorings, to be beaten from
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 209 
 
 our decks with our own furniture and to be assailed by 
 them of Janeiro: what distress we were now driven 
 into I am not able to express. 
 
 To depart with eight tons of water in such bad cask 
 was to starve at sea, and in staying our case was 
 ruinous. These were hard choices; but being thus 
 perplexed, we made choice rather to fall into the hands 
 of the Lord than into the hands of men; for His 
 exceeding mercies we had tasted, and of the others' 
 cruelty we were not ignorant. 
 
 So concluding to depart, the 6th of Februarv we 
 were off in the channel, with our ordinance and small 
 shot in a readiness for any assault that should come, 
 and having a small gale of wind, we recovered the sea 
 in most deep distress. Then bemoaning our estate one 
 to another, and recounting over all our extremities, 
 nothing grieved us more, than the loss of our men twice, 
 first by the slaughter of the cannibals at Port Desire, 
 and at this isle of Placencia by the Indians and 
 Portugals. And considering what they were that were 
 lost, we found that all those that conspired the murder- 
 ing of our captain and master were now slain bv 
 savages, the gunner only excepted. 
 
 Being thus at sea, when we came to Cape Frio, the 
 wind was contrary' ; so that three weeks we were 
 grievousl}- vexed with cross winds, and our water 
 consuming, our hope of life was ver\' small. Some 
 desired to go to Baya, and to submit themselves to 
 the Portugals, rather than to die for thirst; but the 
 captain with fair persuasions altered their purpose 
 of yielding to the Portugals. 
 
 In this distress it pleased God to send us rain in 
 such plenty, as that we were well-watered, and in 
 good comfort to return. But after we came near
 
 210 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 unto the sun, our dried penguins began to corrupt, 
 and there bred in them a most loathsome and ugly 
 worm of an inch long. This worm did so mightily 
 increase, and devour our victuals, that there was in 
 reason no hope how we should avoid famine, but be 
 devoured of these wicked creatures : there was nothing 
 that they did not devour, only iron excepted: our 
 clothes, boots, shoes, hats, shirts, stockings: and for 
 the ship, the}' did so eat the timbers, as that we 
 greatly feared they would undo us by gnawing through 
 the ship's side. Great was the care and diligence of 
 our captain, master and company to consume these 
 vermin, but the more we laboured to kill them, the 
 more they increased; so that at the last we could not 
 sleep for them, but they would eat our flesh, and bite 
 like mosquitoes. 
 
 In this woeful case, after we had passed the Equi- 
 noctial toward the north, our men began to fall sick 
 of such a monstrous disease, as I think the like was 
 never heard of: for in their ankles it began to swell; 
 from thence in two days it would be in their breasts, 
 so that they could not draw their breath. Whereupon 
 our men grew mad with grief. 
 
 Our captain with extreme anguish of his soul, v/as in 
 such woeful case, that he desired only a speedy end, 
 and though he were scarce able to speak for sorrow, 3^et 
 he persuaded them to patience, and to give God thanks 
 and like dutiful children to accept of His chastisement. 
 For all this, divers grew raging mad and some died in 
 most loathsome and furious pain. It were incredible 
 to write our misery as it was; there was no man in 
 perfect health, but the captain and one boy. The 
 master being a man of good spirit, with extreme labour 
 bore out his grief, so that it grew not upon him. To
 
 THOMAS CAVENDISH 211 
 
 be short, all our men died except sixteen, of which 
 there were but five able to move. 
 
 The captain was in good health, the master in- 
 different, Captain Cotton and myself swollen and 
 short-winded, yet better than the rest that were sick, 
 and one boy in health; upon us five only the labour 
 of the ship did stand. The captain and master, as 
 occasion served, would take in, and heave out the 
 topsails, the master only attended on the sprit-sail, 
 and all of us at the capstan without sheets and tacks. 
 In fine our misery- and weakness was so great, that we 
 could not take in, nor heave out a sail: so our topsail 
 and sprit-sails were torn all in pieces by the weather. 
 The master and captain taking their turns at the helm, 
 were mightily distressed and monstrously grieved 
 with the most woeful lamentation of our sick men. 
 
 Thus as lost wanderers upon the sea, the nth of 
 June, 1593, it pleased God that we arrived at Bere- 
 haven in Ireland, and there ran the ship on shore: 
 where the Irishmen helped us to take in our sails, and 
 to moor our ship for floating, which slender pains of 
 theirs cost the captain some ten pounds before he 
 could have the ship in safety. 
 
 Thus without victuals, sails, men, or any furniture 
 God only guided us into Ireland, where the captain 
 left the master and three or four of the company to 
 keep the ship; and within five days after he and 
 certain others had passage in an English fisher-boat 
 to Padstow in Cornwall. In this manner our small 
 remnant by God's only mercy were preser^'ed, and 
 restored to our country^, to whom be aU honour and 
 glor\', world without end. .
 
 THE 
 FIGHT OF THE - REVENGE " 
 
 A report of the truth of the fight about the isles of Azores, 
 the last of August, 1591, betwixt the " Revenge," 
 one of Her Majesty's ships, and an armada of the 
 King of Spain : Penned by the honourable Sir 
 Walter Raleigh, knight. 
 
 Because the rumours are diversely spread, as well 
 in England as in the Low Countries and elsewhere, 
 of this late encounter between Her Majesty's ships 
 and the armada of Spain ; and that the Spaniards, 
 according to their usual manner, fill the world with 
 their vainglorious vaunts, making great appearance 
 of victories, when on the contrary, themselves are 
 most commonly and shamefully beaten and dis- 
 honoured; thereby hoping to possess the ignorant 
 multitude by anticipating and fore-running false 
 reports : it is agreeable with all good reason, for 
 manifestation of the truth, to overcome falsehood 
 and untruth, that the beginning, continuance and 
 success of this late honourable encounter of Sir Richard 
 Grenville and other Her Majesty's captains with the 
 armada of Spain, should be truly set down and pub- 
 lished without partiality or false imaginations. And 
 it is no marvel that the Spaniard should seek by false 
 and slanderous pamphlets, advices and letters to cover 
 their own loss, and to derogate from others their due 
 honours, especially in this fight being performed far 
 off: seeing they were not ashamed in the year 158S, 
 when they purposed the invasions of this land, to 
 
 212 
 
 I
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 213 
 
 publish in sundry languages in print, great victories 
 in words, which they pleaded to have obtained against 
 this realm, and spread the same in a most false sort 
 over all parts of France, Italy and elsewhere. When 
 shortly after it was happily manifested in very deed 
 to all nations, how their navy which they termed in- 
 vincible, consisting of 140 sail of ships, not only 
 of their own kingdom, but strengthened with the 
 greatest argosies, Portuguese, Carracks, Florentines 
 and huge hulks of other countries, were by thirty 
 of Her Majesty's own ships of war, and a few of our 
 own merchants, by the wise, valiant and advantageous 
 conduct of the Lord Charles Howard, High x\dmiral 
 of England, beaten and shuffled together; even from 
 the Lizard in Cornwall first to Portland, where the}' 
 shamefulh- left Don Pedro de Valdes, with his mighty 
 ship; from Portland to Cales, where they lost Hugo 
 de Moncado, with the galleys of which he was captain; 
 and from Calais, driven with squibs from their anchors, 
 were chased out of the sight of England, round about 
 vScotland and Ireland. Where, for the svmpath\' of 
 their barbarous religion, hoping to find succour and 
 assistance, a great part of them were crushed against 
 the rocks, and those other that landed, being very 
 many in number, were notwithstanding broken, slain 
 and taken, and so sent from village to village coupled 
 in halters, to be shipped into England. Where Her 
 Majesty, of her princely and invincible disposition 
 disdaining to put them to death, and scorning either 
 to retain or entertain them: they were all sent back 
 again to their countries, to witness and recount the 
 worth}^ achievements of their invincible and dreadful 
 navy, of which the number of soldiers and fearful 
 burthen of their ships, the commanders' names of
 
 214 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 every squadron, mth all other their magazines of 
 provisions, were put in print, as an army or navy 
 irresistible and disdaining prevention. 
 
 With all which so great and terrible an ostentation, 
 they did not in all their sailing round about England, 
 so much as sink or take one ship, bark, pinnace or 
 cock-boat of ours: or ever burnt so much as one 
 sheep-cote of this land. Whereas on the contrary, 
 Sir Francis Drake, with only eight hundred soldiers, not 
 long before landed in their Indies, and forced Sant-Iago, 
 Santo Domingo, Cartagena and the forts of Florida. 
 
 And after that. Sir John Norris marched from 
 Peniche in Portugal, with a handful of soldiers, to the 
 gates of Lisbon, being above forty English miles. 
 Where the Earl of Essex himself and other valiant 
 gentlemen braved the city of Lisbon, encamped at 
 the ver}^ gates from whence, after many days' abode, 
 finding neither promised party, nor provision to batten, 
 they made retreat by land in despite of all their 
 garrisons, both of horse and foot. 
 
 In this sort I have a little digressed from my first 
 purpose, only by the necessary comparison of their 
 and our actions: the one covetous of honour without 
 vaunt of ostentation ; the other so greedy to purchase 
 the opinion of their own affairs, and by false rumours 
 to resist the blasts of their own dishonours, as they 
 will not only not blush to spread all manner of un- 
 truths : but even for the least advantage, be it but 
 for the taking of one poor adventurer of the English, 
 will celebrate the victory with bonfires in every town, 
 always spending more in faggots, than the purchase 
 was worth they obtained. Whenas we never thought 
 it worth the consumption of two billets, when we 
 have taken eight or ten of their Indian ships at one
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 215 
 
 time, and twenty of the Brazil fleet. Such is the 
 difference between true valour and ostentation: and 
 between honourable actions, and frivolous vain- 
 glorious vaunts. But now to return to my purpose. 
 
 The Lord Thomas Howard with six of Her Majesty's 
 ships, six victuallers of London, the bark Raleigh, and 
 two or three other pinnaces riding at anchor near unto 
 Flores, one of the westerly islands of the Azores, the 
 last of August in the afternoon, had intelligence by 
 one. Captain Middleton, of the approach of the Spanish 
 armada. WTiich Middleton being in a very good sailer 
 had kept them company three days before, of good 
 purpose, both to discover their forces the more, as also 
 to give ad\dce to my Lord Thomas of their approach. 
 
 He had no sooner delivered the news but the fleet 
 was in sight: many of our ships' companies were on 
 shore in the island; some providing ballast for their 
 ships ; others tilling of water and refreshing themselves 
 from the land with such things as they could either 
 for money, or by force recover. By reason whereof 
 our ships being all pestered and rummaging every- 
 thing out of order, very light for want of ballast, and 
 that which was most to our disadvantage, the one- 
 half part of the men of every ship sick, and utterly 
 unserviceable: for in the Revenge there were ninety 
 diseased: in the Bonaventure, not so many in health 
 as could handle her mainsail, for had not twentv men 
 been taken out of a bark of Sir George Carey's, his 
 being commanded to be sunk, and those appointed 
 to her, she had hardly ever recovered England. 
 
 The rest, for the most part, were in little better state. 
 
 The names of Her Majesty's ships were these as 
 followeth: the Defiance, which was admiral, the Revenge 
 vice-admiral, the Bonaventure commanded by Captain
 
 2i6 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 Crosse, the Lion by George Fenner, the Foresight by 
 Master Thomas Vavasour, and the Crane by Duffild. 
 The Foresight and the Crane being but small ships; 
 only the other were of the middle size; the rest, 
 besides the bark Raleigh, commanded by Captain 
 Thin, were victuallers, and of small force or none. 
 
 The Spanish fleet having shrouded their approach 
 by reason of the island, were now so soon at hand as 
 our ships had scarce time to weigh their anchors, but 
 some of them were driven to let slip their cables and 
 set sail. Sir Richard Grenville was the last that weighed, 
 to recover the men that were upon the island, which 
 otherwise had been lost. 
 
 The Lord Thomas with the rest very hardly recovered 
 the wind, which Sir Richard Grenville not being able 
 to do, was persuaded by the master and others to cut 
 his mainsail, and cast about, and to trust to the 
 sailing of the ship; for the squadron of Seville were 
 on his weather bow. 
 
 But Sir Richard utterly refused to turn from the 
 enemy, alleging that he would rather choose to die 
 than to dishonour himself, his country and Her 
 Majesty's ship, persuading his company that he would 
 pass through the two squadrons, in despite of them, 
 and enforce those of Seville to give him way. 
 
 Which he performed upon divers of the foremost, 
 who, as the mariners term it, sprang their luff, and 
 fell under the lee of the Revenge. But the other course 
 had been the better, and might right well have been 
 answered in so great an impossibility of prevailing. 
 Notwithstanding, out of the greatness of his mind, he 
 could not be persuaded. 
 
 In the meanwhile, as he attended those which were 
 nearest him, the great San Philip being in the wind
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 217 
 
 of him, and coming towards him, becalmed his sails 
 in such sort, as the ship could neither make way nor 
 feel the helm: so huge and high-cargoed was the 
 Spanish ship, being of a thousand and five hundred 
 tons. Who after laid the Revenge aboard. When he was 
 thus bereft of his sails, the ships that were under his 
 lee luffing up, also laid him aboard: of which the next 
 was the admiral of the Biscayans, a very mighty and 
 puissant ship commanded by Brittandona. The said 
 Philip carried three tier of ordnance on a side, and 
 eleven pieces in every tier. She shot eight forthright 
 out of her chase, besides those of her stern ports. 
 
 After the Revenge was entangled with this Philip, 
 four others boarded her : two on her larboard and two 
 on her starboard. The tight thus beginning at three 
 of the clock in the afternoon, continued very terrible 
 all that evening. But the great San Philip having 
 received the lower tier of the Revenge, discharged with 
 crossbar-shot, shifted herself with all diligence from 
 her sides, utterly misliking her first entertainment. 
 Some say that the ship foundered, but we cannot 
 report it for truth, unless we were assured. 
 
 The Spanish ships were filled with companies of 
 soldiers, in some two hundred besides the mariners ; 
 in some five, in others eight hundred. In ours there 
 were none at all beside the mariners, but the servants of 
 the commanders and some few voluntary gentlemen only. 
 
 After many interchanged volleys of great ordnance 
 and small shot, the Spaniards deHberated to enter 
 the Revenge, and made divers attempts, hoping to 
 force her by the multitudes of their armed soldiers 
 and musketeers, but were still repulsed again and 
 again, and at all times beaten back into their own 
 ships, or into the seas.
 
 2i8 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 In the beginning of the fight, the George Noble, of 
 London, having received some shot through her by 
 the armadas, fell under the lee of the Revenge, and 
 asked Sir Richard what he would command him, being 
 but one of the victuallers and of small force : Sir Richard 
 bid him save himself and leave him to his fortune. 
 
 After the fight had thus, without intermission, con- 
 tinued while the day lasted and some hours of the night, 
 many of our men were slain and hurt, and one of the 
 great galleons of the armada, and the admiral of the 
 hulks both sunk, and in many other of the Spanish 
 ships great slaughter was made. 
 
 Some write that Sir Richard was very dangerously 
 hurt almost in the beginning of the fight, and lay 
 speechless for a time ere he recovered. But two of 
 the Revenge's own company brought home in a ship of 
 Lime from the islands, examined by some of the lords 
 and others, affirmed that he was never so wounded 
 as that he forsook the upper deck till an hour before 
 midnight, and then being shot into the body with a 
 musket as he was dressing, was again shot into the 
 head, and withal his surgeon wounded to death. This 
 agreeth also with an examination taken by Sir Francis 
 Godolphin, of four other mariners of the same ship 
 being returned, which examination the said Sir 
 Francis sent unto Master William Killegrew of Her 
 Majesty's privy chamber. 
 
 But to return to the fight, the Spanish ships which 
 attempted to board the Revenge, as they were wounded 
 and beaten off, so always others came in their places, 
 she having never less than two mighty galleons by her 
 sides, and aboard her. So that ere the morning, from 
 three of the clock the day before, there had fifteen 
 several armadas assailed her, and all so ill-approved
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 219 
 
 their entertainment as they were, by the break of day, 
 far more wilUng to hearken to a composition, than 
 hastily to make any more assaults or entries. But 
 as the day increased, so our men decreased; and as 
 the light grew more and more, by so much more grew 
 our discomforts. For none appeared in sight but 
 enemies, saving one small ship called the Pilgrim, 
 commanded by Jacob Whiddoc, who hovered all 
 night to see the success, but in the morning bearing 
 with the Revenge, was hunted like a hare amongst 
 many ravenous hounds, but escaped. 
 
 x\ll the powder of the Revenge to the last barrel 
 was now spent, all her pikes broken, forty of her best 
 men slain, and the most part of the rest hurt. In the 
 beginning of the fight she had but one hundred free 
 from sickness and fourscore and ten sick, laid in hold 
 upon the ballast. A small troop to man such a ship, 
 and a weak garrison to resist so mighty an arm v. By 
 those hundred all was sustained, the volleys, boardings 
 and enterings of fifteen ships of war, besides those 
 which beat her at large. 
 
 On the contrary, the Spanish were always supplied 
 with soldiers brought from every squadron, all manner 
 of arms and powder at will. Unto ours there remained 
 no comfort at all, no hope, no supply, either of ships, 
 men or weapons; the masts all beaten overboard, 
 all her tackle cut asunder, her upper-work altogether 
 razed, and in effect even she was with the water, but 
 the ver\^ foundation or bottom of a ship, nothing being 
 left overhead either for flight or defence. 
 
 Sir Richard finding himself in this distress and 
 unable any longer to make resistance, haWng endured 
 in this fifteen hours' fight, the assault of fifteen several 
 armadas, all by turns aboard him, and by estimation
 
 220 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 eight hundred shot of great artillery besides many 
 assaults and entries; and that himself and the ship 
 must needs be possessed by the enemy, who were now 
 all cast in a ring about him (the Revenge not able to 
 move one way or other, but as she was moved with 
 the waves and billow of the sea) commanded the 
 master gunner, whom he knew to be a most resolute 
 man, to split and sink the ship; that thereby nothing 
 might remain of glory or victory to the Spaniards: 
 seeing in so many hours' fight, and with so great a navy 
 they were not able to take her, having had fifteen 
 hours' time, above ten thousand men and fifty and 
 three sail of men-of-war to perform it withal: and 
 persuaded the company, or as many as he could 
 induce, to yield themselves unto God, and to the 
 mercy of none else; but as they had, like valiant 
 resolute men, repulsed so many enemies, they should 
 not now shorten the honour of their nation, by pro- 
 longing their own lives for a few hours, or a few days. 
 The master gunner readily condescended, and divers 
 others ; but the captain and the master were of another 
 opinion, and besought Sir Richard to have care of 
 them: alleging that the Spaniard would be as ready 
 to entertain a composition as they were willing to 
 offer the same: and that there being divers sufficient 
 and valiant men yet living, and whose wounds were 
 not mortal, they might do their country and prince 
 acceptable service hereafter. And whereas Sir Richard 
 had alleged that the Spaniards should never glory^ to 
 have taken one ship of Her Majesty, seeing they had 
 so long and so notably defended themselves; they 
 answered that the ship had six foot water in hold, 
 three shot under water, which were so weakly stopped 
 as with the first working of the sea she must needs
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 221 
 
 sink, and was besides so crushed and bruised as she 
 could never be removed out of the place. 
 
 And as the matter was thus in dispute, and Sir 
 Richard refusing to hearken to any of those reasons; 
 the master of the Revenge (while the captain won unto 
 him the greater party) was convoyed aboard the 
 general Don Alfonso Bagan. Who (finding none over- 
 hasty to enter the Revenge again, doubting lest Sir 
 Richard would have blown them up and himself, 
 and perceiving by the report of the master of the 
 Revenge his dangerous disposition) yielded that all 
 their lives should be saved, the company sent for 
 England, and the better sort to pay such reasonable 
 ransom as their estate would bear, and in the mean 
 season to be free from galley or imprisonment. To 
 this he so much the rather condescended as well, as 
 I have said, for fear of further loss and mischief to 
 themselves, as also for the desire he had to recover 
 Sir Richard Grenville, whom for his notable valour 
 he seemed greatly to honour and admire. 
 
 When this answer was returned, and that safetv of 
 life was promised, the common sort being now at the 
 end of their peril, the most drew back from Sir Richard 
 and the master gunner, being no hard matter to 
 dissuade men from death to life. The master gunner 
 finding himself and Sir Richard thus prevented and 
 mastered by the greater number, would have slain 
 himself with a sword, had he not been by force with- 
 held and locked into his cabin. 
 
 Then the general sent many boats aboard the 
 Revenge, and divers of our men fearing Sir Richard's 
 disposition, stole away aboard the general and other 
 ships. Sir Richard thus over-matched was sent unto 
 by Alfonso Ba^an to remove out of the Revenge, the
 
 222 STORIES FROM HAXLUYT 
 
 ship being marvellous unsavoury, filled with blood and 
 bodies of dead, and wounded men like a slaughter-house. 
 
 Sir Richard answered that he might do with his 
 body what he list, for he esteemed it not, and as he 
 was carried out of the ship he swooned, and reviving 
 again desired the company to pray for him. The 
 general used Sir Richard with all humanity, and left 
 nothing unattempted that tended to his recovery, 
 highly recommending his valour and worthiness, and 
 greatly bewailing the danger wherein he was, being 
 unto them a rare spectacle, and a resolution seldom 
 approved, to see one ship turn toward so many enemies, 
 to endure the charge and boarding of so many huge 
 armadas, and to resist and repel the assaults and 
 entries of so many soldiers. All which and more is 
 confirmed by a Spanish captain of the same armada, 
 and a present actor in the fight, who being severed 
 from the rest in a storm, was by the Lion of London a 
 small ship taken, and is now prisoner in London. 
 
 The general commander of the armada was Don 
 Alfonso Bacan, brother to the Marquess of Santa 
 Cruz. The admiral of the Biscayan squadron was 
 Britandona. Of the squadron of Seville, the Marquess 
 of Arumburch. The hulks and flyboats were com- 
 manded by Luis Coutinho. There were slain and 
 drowned in this fight, well -near one thousand of the 
 enemies, and two special commanders, Don Luis de 
 Sant John, and Don George de Prunaria de Mallaga, 
 as the Spanish captain confesseth, besides divers others 
 of special account, whereof as yet report is not made. 
 
 The admiral of the hulks and the Ascension of 
 Seville were both sunk by the side of the Revenge-, 
 one other recovered the road of Saint Michael, and 
 sunk also there; a fourth ran herself with the shore
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 223 
 
 to save her men. Sir Richard died, as it is said, the 
 second or third day aboard the general, and was by 
 them greatly bewailed. What became of his body, 
 whether it were buried in the sea or on the land, we 
 know not: the comfort that rcmaineth to his friends 
 is, that he hath ended his Ufe honourably in respect 
 of the reputation won to his nation and country, and 
 of the same to his posterity, and that, being dead, he 
 hath not outlived his own honour. 
 
 For the rest. Her Majesty's ships that entered not 
 so far into the fight as the Revenge, the reasons and 
 causes were these. There were of them but six in all, 
 whereof two but small ships; the Revenge engaged 
 past recovery; the island of Flores was on the one 
 side, fifty- three sail of the Spanish, divided into 
 squadrons, on the other, all as full filled with soldiers 
 as they could contain: almost the one half of our 
 men sick and not able to serve, the ships gro\vTi foul 
 and scarcely able to bear any sail for want of ballast, 
 having been six months at the sea before. 
 
 If all the rest had entered, all had been lost, for the 
 very hugeness of the Spanish fleet, if no other violence 
 had been offered, would have crushed them between 
 them into shivers. Of the which the dishonour and loss 
 to the Queen had been far greater than the spoil or 
 harm that the enemy could any way have received. 
 
 Notwithstanding, it is very true that the Lord 
 Thomas would have entered between the squadrons, 
 but the rest w^ould not condescend, and the master 
 of his own ship offered to leap into the sea rather 
 than to conduct that Her Majesty's ship and the rest 
 to be a prey to the enemy, where there was no hope 
 or possibility either of defence or victory. Which also, 
 m my opinion, had ill sorted or answered the discretion
 
 224 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 and trust of a general to commit himself and his 
 charge to an assured destruction without hope or any 
 likelihood of prevailing; thereby to diminish the 
 strength of Her Majesty's navy and to enrich the 
 pride and glory of the enemy. 
 
 The Foresight of the Queen's, commanded by Mr. 
 Thomas Vavasour, performed a very great fight, and 
 stayed two hours as near the Revenge as the weather 
 would permit him, not forsaking the fight till he was 
 like to be encompassed by the squadrons, and with 
 great difficulty cleared himself. The rest gave divers 
 volleys of shot and entered as far as the place per- 
 mitted, and their own necessities, to keep the weather 
 gauge of the enemy, until they were parted by night. 
 
 A few days after the fight was ended and the 
 English prisoners dispersed into the Spanish and 
 Indian ships, there arose so great a storm from the 
 west and north-west that all the fleet was dispersed, 
 as well as the Indian fleet, which were then come unto 
 them, as the rest of the armada that attended their 
 arrival, of which fourteen sail, together with the 
 Revenge, and in her two hundred Spaniards, were cast 
 away upon the isle of San Michael. So it pleased them 
 to honour the burial of that renowned ship, the Revenge, 
 not suffering her to perish alone, for the great honour 
 she achieved in her lifetime. 
 
 On the rest of the islands there were cast away in 
 this storm, fifteen or sixteen more of the ships of war ; 
 and of an hundred and odd sail of the Indian fleet, 
 expected this year in Spain, what in this tempest and 
 what before in the Bay of Mexico and about the 
 Bermudas, there were seventy and odd consumed and 
 lost, with those taken by our ships of London, besides 
 one very rich Indian ship, which set herself on fire.
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 225 
 
 being boarded by the Pilgrim, and five other taken 
 by Master Watts his ships of London, between the 
 Havana and Cape S. Antonio. The fourth of this 
 month of November we received letters from the 
 Terceira, affirming that there are 3,000 bodies of men 
 remaining in that island, saved out of the perished 
 ships; and that by the Spaniards' own confession, 
 there are 10,000 cast away in this storm, besides those 
 that are perished between the islands and the main. 
 Thus it hath pleased God to fight for us, and to 
 defend the justice of our cause, against the ambitious 
 and bloody pretences of the Spaniard, who seeking 
 to devour all nations, are themselves devoured. A 
 manifest testimony how unjust and displeasing their 
 attempts are in the sight of God, who hath pleased 
 to witness, by the success of their affairs, His mislike 
 of their bloody and injurious designs, purposed and 
 practised against all Christian princes, ov^er whom 
 they seek unlawful and ungodly rule and empire. 
 
 One day or tw^o before this wreck happened to the 
 Spanish fleet, whenas some of our prisoners desired 
 to be set on shore upon the islands, hoping to be from 
 thence transported into England, which liberty was 
 formerly by the general promised; one Maurice Fitz- 
 john, son of old John of Desmond, a notable traitor, 
 cousin-german to the late Earl of Desmond, was sent 
 to the English from ship to ship to persuade them to 
 serve the King of Spain. The arguments he used to 
 induce them were these: the increase of pav, which 
 he promised to be trebled: advancement to the better 
 sort, and the exercise of the true CathoUc religion, 
 and safety of their souls to all. 
 
 For the first, even the beggarly and unnatural 
 behaviour of those Enghsh and Irish rebels that 
 
 H
 
 226 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 served the king in that present action was sufficient 
 to answer that first argument of rich pay. For so 
 poor and beggarly they were, as for want of apparel 
 they stripped their countrymen prisoners out of their 
 ragged garments, worn to nothing by six months' 
 service, and spared not to despoil them even of their 
 bloody shirts from their wounded bodies and the very 
 shoes from their feet; a notable testimony of their 
 rich entertainment and great wages. 
 
 The second reason was hope of advancement if they 
 served well, and would continue faithful to the king. 
 But what man can be so blockishly ignorant ever to 
 expect place or honour from a foreign king, having no 
 other argument or persuasion than his own disloyalty ; 
 to be unnatural to his own country that bred him, to 
 his parents that begat him, and rebellious to his true 
 prince, to whose obedience he is bound by oath, by 
 nature and by religion ? 
 
 No, they are only assured to be employed in all 
 desperate enterprises, to be held in scorn and disdain 
 ever among those whom they serve. And that ever 
 traitor was either trusted or advanced I could never 
 yet read, neither can I at this time remember any 
 example. And no man could have less become the 
 place of an orator for such a purpose than this Maurice 
 of Desmond. For the earl, his cousin, being one of 
 the greatest subjects in that kingdom of Ireland, 
 having almost whole countries in his possession, so 
 many goodly manors, castles and lordships; the 
 county palatine of Kerry, five hundred gentlemen of 
 his own name and family to follow him, besides others 
 (all of which he possessed in peace for three or four 
 hundred years) was in less than three years after his 
 adhering to the Spaniards and rebellion, beaten from
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 227 
 
 all his holds, not so many as ten gentlemen of his 
 name left living, himself taken and beheaded by a 
 soldier of his own nation, and his land given by a 
 parliament to Her Majesty and possessed by the 
 English; his other cousin, Sir John of Desmond, 
 taken by Master John Zouch, and his body hanged 
 over the gates of his native city to be devoured by 
 ravens: the third brother, Sir James, hanged, drawn 
 and quartered in the same place. 
 
 If he had withal vaunted of his success of his own 
 house, no doubt the argument would have moved nmch 
 and wrought great effect; which because he for that 
 present forgot, I thought it good to remember in his 
 behalf. 
 
 For matter of rehgion, it would require a particular 
 volume, if I should set down how irreligiously they 
 cover their greedy and ambitious pretences with that 
 veil of piety. But sure I am that there is no kingdom 
 or commonwealth in all Europe, but if it be Reformed, 
 they then invade it for religion' sake ; if it be, as they 
 term, CathoUc, they pretend title, as if the kings of 
 Castile were the natural heirs of all the world ; and so, 
 between both, no kingdom is unsought. 
 
 Where they dare not with their own forces to invade, 
 they basely entertain the traitors and vagabonds of 
 all nations, seeking by those and by their nmagate 
 Jesuits to win parts, and have by that means ruined 
 many noble houses and others in this land, and have 
 extinguished both their lives and their families. What 
 good honour or fortune ever man yet by them achieved, 
 is yet unheard of or unwritten. 
 
 And if our English Papists do but look into Portugal 
 against which they have no pretence of religion, how 
 the nobility are put to death, imprisoned, their rich men
 
 228 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 made a prey and all sorts of people captive ; they shall 
 find that the obedience even of the Turk is easy and a 
 liberty, in respect of the slavery and tyranny of Spain. 
 
 What have they done in Sicily, in Naples, Milan, 
 and in the Low Countries? Who hath there been spared 
 for religion at all ? And it cometh to my remembrance 
 of a certain burgher of Antwerp, whose house being 
 entered by a company of Spanish soldiers, when they 
 first sacked the city, he besought them to spare him 
 and his goods, being a good Catholic and one of their 
 own party and faction. The Spaniards answered that 
 they knew him to be of a good conscience for himself, 
 but his money, plate, jewels and goods were all heretical, 
 and therefore good prize. So they abused and tor- 
 mented the foolish Fleming, and hoped that an Agnus 
 Dei had been a sufficient target against all force of 
 that holy and charitable nation. 
 
 Neither have they at any time, as they protest, 
 invaded the kingdoms of the Indies and Peru and 
 elsewhere, but only led thereunto rather to reduce the 
 people to Christianity, than for either gold or empire. 
 Whenas in one only island, called Hispaniola, they 
 have wasted thirty hundred thousand of the natural 
 people, besides many millions else in other places of 
 the Indies: a poor and harmless people, created by 
 God, and might have been won to His knowledge, 
 as many of them were, and almost as many as ever 
 were persuaded thereunto. The story whereof is at 
 large, written by a bishop of their own nation, called 
 Bartholomew de las Casas, and translated into English, 
 and many other languages, entitled The SpanishCruelties. 
 
 W^ho would therefore repose trust in such a nation 
 of ravenous strangers, and especially in those Spaniards, 
 which more greedily thirst after English blood, than
 
 RICHARD GRENVILLE 229 
 
 after the lives of any otlier people of Europe, for the 
 many overthrows and dishonours they have received at 
 our hands, whose weakness we have discovered to the 
 world, and whose forces at home, abroad, in Europe, 
 in India, by sea and land, we have, even with handfuls 
 of men and ships, overthrown and dishonoured? 
 
 Let not, therefore, any Englishman, of what religion 
 soever, have other opinion of the Spaniards, but that 
 those whom he seeketh to win of our nation, he 
 esteemeth base and traitorous, unworthy persons, or 
 inconstant fools; and that he useth his pretence of 
 religion for no other purpose but to bewitch us from 
 the obedience of our natural prince, thereby hoping 
 in time to bring us to slavery and subjection, and then 
 none shall be unto them so odious and disdained as 
 the traitors themselves, who have sold their countr\' 
 to a stranger and forsaken their faith and obedience, 
 contrary to nature and religion, and contrary to that 
 human and general honour, not only of Christians, but 
 of heathen and irreligious nations, who have always 
 sustained what labour soever, and embraced even 
 death itself for their country, prince or commonwealth. 
 
 To conclude, it hath ever to this day pleased God 
 to prosper and defend Her Majesty, to break the pur- 
 poses of malicious enemies, of forsworn traitors and 
 of unjust practices and invasions. She hath ever been 
 honoured of the worthiest kings, served by faithful 
 subjects, and shall, by the favour of God, resist, repel 
 and confound all whatsoever attempts against her 
 sacred person or kingdom. In the meantime, let the 
 Spaniard and traitor vaunt of their success, and we, 
 her true and obedient vassals, guided by the shining 
 light of her virtues, shall always love her, serve her, 
 and obey her to the end of our lives.
 
 The voyage truly discoursed, made by Sir Francis Drake, 
 and Sir John Hawkins, chiefly pretended for some 
 special service on the islands and main of the West 
 Indies, with six of the Queen's ships, and twenty- 
 one other ships and barques, containing 2,500 men 
 and boys, in the year 1595. In which voyage both 
 the foresaid knights died by sickness. 
 
 We brake ground out of the Sound of Plymouth, 
 on Thursday the 28th of August, and that night 
 anchored again in Cawsand Bay, where we rode till 
 Friday. Then we set sail and stood south-west: and 
 about three of the clock the next morning the Hope, 
 wherein Sir Thomas Baskerville went, struck upon 
 the Eddystone, and shot off a piece, but after cleared 
 herself well enough. 
 
 On Monday, at six of the clock in the morning, the 
 Land's End bare north-west and by north, and then 
 we stood away south-west and by south for the coast 
 of Spain. 
 
 The 8th of September we took two small Flemish 
 fiyboats bound for Barbary; which we carried awhile 
 with us, and afterwards dismissed them without 
 doing them any harm ; only we learned news of them, 
 and stayed them from descrying our fleet to the enemy. 
 
 Pretended. Plaaned, 
 230
 
 DRAKE AND HAWKINS 231 
 
 The 26th we saw Forteventura, being one of the 
 islands of the Canaries. 
 
 The 27th, being Saturday, by break of day we had 
 overshot the chief town of Grand Canar\^ to the north - 
 east, and then stood about for it again, and by nine 
 of the clock were at anchor fair before the fort, to the 
 eastward of the town some league. At one of the 
 clock we offered to land one thousand and four hundred 
 men in the sandy bay betwixt the fort and the town. 
 But by our detracting of the time the}' had made a 
 bulwark in the sandy bay and planted ordinance: so 
 that by reason thereof, and the great breach of the 
 sea that went then on shore, we were not able to land 
 without endangering our whole forces, which our 
 general would not do. 
 
 There were of Spaniards, horsemen and footmen 
 some nine hundred, which pla^^ed upon us out of their 
 trenches, most of them being shot. At the time of our 
 landing there went by commandment of our generals 
 within musket-shot of the shore, and rode there at 
 anchor some three hours, the Salomon, the Bona- 
 venture, the Elizabeth Constance, the Phoenix, the Jeivek 
 the Little John, the Delight, the Pegasus, the Exchange, 
 the Francis, the caravel, and the two catches: but 
 when the general Sir Francis Drake gave over the 
 landing, being in his barge, the ships weighed, being 
 in some danger, and stood off again to the great ships. 
 Then we went to the west end of the island, and there 
 watered; where Captain Grimston going up the hill 
 with six or seven in his company was set upon bv the 
 herdmen, who with their dogs and staves killed the 
 
 Caravel. A small, light and fast ship. 
 
 Catches. Two-masted strongly built vessels of loo 250 
 tons burthen.
 
 232 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 captain and three or four of his company: the rest 
 were sore wounded: the Salomon's surgeon taken 
 prisoner, who disclosed our pretended voyage as much 
 as in him lay: so as the viceroy sent a caravel of 
 adviso into the Indies, unto all such places as we did 
 pretend to go to. Howbeit they had intelligence from 
 the king of all our voyage, the 8th of August, which 
 was three weeks before we set forth of England; as 
 also by a Fleming that had seen all our provision at 
 London. 
 
 The 28th, being Sunday, at ten of the clock at night 
 we set sail, and stood away south-west and south- 
 south-w^est some two hundred leagues, until we came 
 in the height of the islands of Cape Verde, and then 
 more westerly for Martinico, one of the islands of the 
 West Indies, which we saw the 27th of October: but 
 the night before we had a storm, in which Sir Francis 
 with four or five other ships bearing on head of the 
 fleet was separated. Then we stood for Dominica, an 
 island full of inhabitants of the race of the cannibals, 
 not past ten leagues distant from Martinico. In it 
 groweth great store of tobacco: where most of our 
 English and French men barter knives, hatchets, saw^s, 
 and such-like iron tools in truck of tobacco. 
 
 Before we came to Dominica our general, Sir Francis 
 Drake, altered his course, and went for Marigalante, 
 which we had sight of the 28th day, and came to an 
 anchor on the north-east side. There the general went 
 on shore in his barge, and by chance met a canoe of 
 Dominicans, to the people whereof he gave a yellow 
 waistcoat of flannel and an handkerchief; and they 
 gave him such fruits as they had, and the Dominicans 
 rowed to Dominica again. They came thither to fetch 
 Truck. Trade.
 
 DRAKE AND HAWKINS 233 
 
 some fruits which they sow and plant in divers places 
 of that island, which they keep like gardens. 
 
 The next morning by break of day we weighed and 
 stood between the Todos Santos, which are four or 
 five httle islands between Guadeloupe and Dominica. 
 There is nothing upon these islands but wood. We 
 came to the south-east side of Guadeloupe, and there 
 anchored hard aboard the shore: the south-west side 
 of the island is deep water and good anchorage : where 
 that day Sir John Hawkins came to us again, standing 
 up from the south side of Dominica. There we watered, 
 washed our ships, set up our pinnaces, and refreshed 
 our soldiers on shore. 
 
 The 30th, Captain Wignol in the Francis, a barque 
 of thirty-ftve tons, being the sternmost of Sir John 
 Hawkins' fleet was chased by five of the King of Spain's 
 frigates or zabras, being ships of two hundred tons 
 apiece, which came of purpose with three other zabras 
 for the treasure of S. Juan de Puerto Rico: the Francis 
 going room with them, supposing they had been our 
 own fleet, was by them taken in sight of our caravel. 
 They left the Francis driving in the sea with three or 
 four hurt and sick men, and took the rest of our men 
 into their ships, as the prisoners which we took at 
 S. Juan de Puerto Rico told us. 
 
 The 4th of November we began to unlade the Richard, 
 one of our victuallers, which was by the next unladen, 
 unrigged and then sunken. Then we stood north-west 
 and by north: and the next morning saw the islands 
 of Montserrata, Redonda, Estazia, S. Christopher and 
 Saba. The biggest of these islands is not past eight 
 leagues long. There is good anchorage in eight, seven, 
 and five fathoms water, fair white sand. Then we 
 stood away south-west, and on the 8th in the morning, 
 
 *H
 
 234 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 being Saturday, came to an anchor some seven or 
 eight leagues off within certain broken islands called 
 Las Virgines, which have been accounted dangerous: 
 but we found there a very good road, had it been for 
 a thousand sails of ships, in fourteen, twelve, and eight 
 fathoms fair sand and good anchorage, high islands on 
 either side, but no fresh water that we could find: 
 here is much fish to be taken with hooks and nets: 
 also we stayed on shore and fowled. Here Sir John 
 Hawkins w^as extreme sick; which his sickness began 
 upon news of the taking of the Francis. The i8th day 
 we weighed and stood north and by east into a lesser 
 sound, which Sir Francis in his barge discovered the 
 night before, and anchored in thirteen fathoms, having 
 high steep hills on either side, some league distant 
 from our first riding. 
 
 The 1 2th in the morning we weighed and set sail 
 into the sea due south through a small strait, but 
 without danger, and then stood west and by north 
 for S. Juan de Puerto Rico, and in the afternoon left 
 the three small islands called The Passages to the 
 southward of us, and that night came up to the 
 easternmost end of S. John, where Sir John Hawkins 
 departed this life: upon whose decease Sir Thomas 
 Baskerville presently went into the Garland. 
 
 At two of the clock we came to anchor at the eastern- 
 most side of the chief town, called Puerto Rico, in a 
 sandy bay two miles off : where we received from 
 their forts and places where they planted ordinance 
 some twenty-eight great shot, the last of which struck 
 the admiral through the mizzen, and the last but one 
 struck through her quarter into the steerage, the 
 general being there at supper, and struck the stool 
 from under him, but hurt him not, but hurt at the
 
 DRAKE AND HAWKINS 235 
 
 same table Sir Nicholas Clifford, M. Browne, Captain 
 Stratford, with one or two more. Sir Nicholas Clifford 
 and Master Browne died of their hurts. 
 
 Then we set sail and stood to the eastward, and at 
 midnight tacked about to the west, and in the morning 
 came to an anchor before the point without the town, 
 a little to the westwards by the three islands. 
 
 The 13th we rode still until night, when in the 
 beginning wdth twenty-five pinnaces, boats and shallops 
 manned and furnished with fireworks and small shot 
 we went into the road within the great castles, and in 
 despite of them fired the five zabras or frigates, all 
 ships of two hundred tons the piece or more, quite 
 burning the rear-admiral down to the water, which 
 was the greatest ship of them all, and also mightily 
 spoiled the admiral and vice-admiral, notwithstanding 
 the castles and ships gave us a hundred eighty and 
 five great shot, besides small shot abundance. They 
 had also sunk a great ship in the mouth of the channel 
 and rafted it over with her masts almost to the verv 
 forts and castles, so as they thought it impregnable. ' 
 
 The frigates had in each of them twenty pieces of 
 brass, and a hundred barrels of powder. Their chief 
 lading that they brought thither was silk, oil, and 
 \vine. The treasure which they went to fetch, which 
 was brought thither in a ship called the Vigonia, was 
 conveyed into the strongest and surest castle of 
 defence: being, as one of the prisoners confessed, 
 three millions of ducats or five and thirty tons of 
 silver. Also they had sent all the women, children 
 and unable persons into the woods, and left none but 
 soldiers and fighting men in the town. The fight on 
 our side was resolute, hot, and dangerous: wherein 
 we lost some forty or fiftv men, and so manv were
 
 236 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 hurt. There was also great death of the Spaniards 
 aboard the frigate, with burning, drowning, and 
 killing, and besides some taken prisoners. 
 
 The 14th we rode still, being within shot of the 
 uttermost castle: but they fearing the next night we 
 would come in again, began to warp up the other 
 four frigates, beginning first with the admiral: which 
 whether by chance or their own wills we saw to sink; 
 and as we suppose so did they with all the rest, or else 
 by stealth got up farther within their chiefest forces. 
 
 The 15th also we rode still, and at afternoon we 
 espied a caravel coming from the castle point: but 
 before our pinnaces could fetch her up, she ran on 
 shore, where our boats could not come at her because 
 of the breach, and also many of the islanders came 
 down to guard her with shot. The beginning of this 
 night we weighed, and stood one hour to the east, 
 and then tacked about to the west. 
 
 The i6th, being Sunday, and the 17th also, we were 
 becalmed. 
 
 The i8th we anchored a little to the southward of 
 the south-west point of the island, giving the point a 
 berth because of a shoal of sand that lieth some two 
 cables' length off: there we rode in four, five and six 
 fathoms fair white sand, where we set up more 
 pinnaces, washed our ships, and refreshed our men on 
 shore. Here the general took a pinnace of Hispaniola 
 with divers letters, signifying that two English men- 
 of-war had done great hurt along their island. 
 
 The 20th the general rowed to the Phoenix, the 
 Delight and the caravel, and caused them to weigh 
 and anchor right against the mouth of a fresh river 
 in two fathoms water in oozy sand, to the southward 
 of the other ships some league or more. The general
 
 DRAKE AND HAWKINS 237 
 
 went into this river three or four leagues up, and took 
 horses in the country. Sir Thomas Baskervillc rowed 
 up the river, and stayed there all night, and went up 
 into the land three or four leagues. 
 
 The 23rd we discharged a barque called the Pulpit 
 and burnt her: and at three of the clock that afternoon, 
 when we were ready to set sail, there came aboard the 
 Defiance, our admiral, a Spaniard with his wife, who 
 feared some great torment for not having repaired to 
 the town according to the general's commandment 
 of that island, who had commanded that all able men 
 of the fleet should repair to the town to defend it 
 against us. Then we stood again west and by north 
 because of a ledge of rocks that lie sunk four or five 
 leagues off the south side of the island. 
 
 The 25th we stood away south-west, and saw Mona, 
 being a low flat island between Hispaniola and S. Juan 
 de Puerto Rico. That day the ExcJiange of Captain 
 Winter spent her bowsprit; and in the beginning 
 of the night the Phoenix was sent back to seek her: 
 which by God's help that night met with her, and kept 
 her company until the next morning, then taking in a 
 small cable from her for a tow; but by nine that 
 morning she spent her main-mast and split her fore- 
 yard, breaking also her tow ; as they were fain to save 
 some trifles out of her, and the men, and to sink the 
 hull. Then we stood away south, and south and by 
 west, after the fleet: and the 26th in the morning had 
 sight of the fleet again. 
 
 The 29th we had sight of the island called Curazao, 
 within eight leagues of the main, and on the north- 
 west side came to an anchor in xevy deep water hard 
 aboard the shore without any danger: but the general 
 weighed presently and stood away north-west and by
 
 .238 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 west, and north-north-west for the Main, and at night 
 sav/ Aruba, being somewhat a less island than the 
 other: we left it some three leagues to the southward 
 of us. 
 
 On Sunday morning, being the last of November, 
 we saw three or four little islands called the Monjes, 
 betwixt Aruba and the next north point of the Main. 
 At twelve of the clock we saw a great current setting 
 to the westward, and also the water changing very 
 white. The Phoenix, the caravel, and one of the catches 
 kept within, and at midnight came under Cape de le 
 Vela, and made a fire, whereby the rest of the fleet 
 came to anchor under the cape, where is a very good 
 road, fair sholding and sandy ground, fourteen, twelve 
 and ten fathoms near the shore. 
 
 The cape is a bare land without trees or shrubs, 
 and falleth in eight or ten leagues south-east and north- 
 west; and a saker-shot off the point standeth a little 
 island like Mewestone, near Plymouth, but somewhat 
 bigger. In the morning, the ist of December, we 
 embarked all our soldiers for Rio de la Hacha, which 
 is a town nearly twenty leagTies to the westwards, one 
 of the ancientest in all the main, although not very 
 big; but it standeth in a most fertile and pleasant 
 soil. Our men took it by ten of the clock in the night. 
 The ships bearing all that night and the day before in 
 five and six fathoms, the lesser ships in two fathoms 
 and a half water: the Phoenix went so near the shore 
 by the general's commandment, that she struck on 
 ground, but got off again. 
 
 There lieth to the eastward of the town a mile or 
 thereabout a shold of sand; therefore give a berth 
 
 Sholding. Shoaling, i.e. shallow water. 
 Saker. An old form of cannon. 
 
 I
 
 DRAKE \\ND HAWKINS 239 
 
 some half-league or more before you come right against 
 the town. There we came to anchor in two fathoms, 
 but the great ships rode off in five or six fathoms. There 
 is a fresh river about a bow-shot to the eastward of 
 the town; whereinto our pinnaces could scarce enter 
 by reason of a bar of sand in the river's mouth, but 
 within it is navigable for barques of twenty or thirty 
 tons, some six or eight leagues up. 
 
 The 6th day the Spaniards came in to talk about 
 the ransom of the town, but not to the general his 
 liking ; and that night Sir Thomas Baskerville marched 
 up into the country to over-run those parts; and the 
 general the same night with some hundred and fifty 
 men went by water, six leagues to the eastward, and 
 took the Rancheria, a fisher town, where they drag 
 for pearl. The people all fled except some sixteen or 
 twent}' soldiers, which fought a little, but some were 
 taken prisoners, besides many negroes, with some 
 store of pearls and other pillage. In the houses we 
 refreshed ourselves, and were all embarked to come 
 away, and then had sight of a brigandine or a dredger, 
 which the general took within one hour's chase with 
 his two barges; she had in her India wheat, which 
 we call maize, and some silver and pearl, but of small 
 value. 
 
 On Saturday the 7th, Master Yorke, captain of 
 the Hope, died of sickness, and then Master Thomas 
 Drake, the general's brother, was made captain of the 
 Hope, and Master Jonas Bodenham captain of the 
 Adventure, and Master Charles Caesar captain of 
 the Amity. 
 
 The loth day the Spaniards concluded for the 
 ransom of the town for 24,000 ducats, and one prisoner 
 promised to pay for his ransom 4,000 ducats.
 
 240 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 The 14th day they brought in the town's ransom 
 in pearls, but rated so dear as the general after confer- 
 ence with them, misliking it, sent it back again, givdng 
 them four hours' respite to clear themselves with their 
 treasure. 
 
 The 1 6th the governor came into the town about 
 dinner, and upon conference with the general told 
 him plainly, that he cared not for the town, neither 
 would he ransom it: and that the pearl was brought 
 in without his command or consent, and that his 
 detracting of time so long was only to send the other 
 towns word, that were not of force to withstand us, 
 whereby they might convey all their goods, cattle, 
 and wealth into the woods out of danger. So the 
 general gave the governor leave to depart according 
 to promise, having two hours to withdraw himself 
 in safety. 
 
 The 17th, Sir Thomas Baskerville with the Elizabeth 
 Constance, the Phcenix, the caravel, with four or five 
 pinnaces, went some five leagues to the westward, 
 and landing, marched some four leagues up into 
 the country to a place called Tapia, which he took and 
 burned certain villages and farmhouses about it. He 
 had some resistance as he passed over a river, but had 
 but one man hurt, which he brought aboard alive with 
 him; he marched one league farther and burnt a 
 village called Sallamca, and so returned with some 
 prisoners, the soldiers having gotten some pillage. 
 
 The 1 8th the Rancheria and the town of Rio de la 
 Hacha were burnt clean down to the ground, the 
 churches and a lady's house only excepted, which b}^ 
 her letters written to the general was preserved. That 
 day we set sail and fell to leeward, to meet with Sir 
 Thomas Baskerville.
 
 DRAKE AND HAWKINS 241 
 
 The 19th we weighed and stood to leeward for 
 Cape de Aguja, which, the 20th, at sun-rising we saw. 
 It is a cape subject to much flaws, by reason it is a 
 very high land; aud within the cape lieth an island 
 within the mouth of the sound, which hath a white 
 cliff or spot in the west-north-west part of the island. 
 The land all about the cape riseth all in hummocks 
 or broken steep hills. A league south-west within that 
 (for so falleth the land thereabout) there standeth on 
 the top of a cliff a watch-house: and a little within 
 that a small island : you may go in between the main 
 and it, or to leeward if you list ; and hard within that 
 is the road and town of Santa Martha, which at eleven 
 of the clock we took, the people all being fled, except 
 a few Spaniards, negroes and Indians, which in a 
 bravado at our landing gave us some thirty or forty 
 shot, and so ran away. 
 
 That night their lieutenant-general was taken and 
 some little pillage brought in out of the woods: for 
 in the town was left nothing but the houses swept 
 clean. In all the Main is not a richer place for gold; 
 for it was mixed with the earth in every place, and 
 also in the sand a little to the leewards of the town. 
 In the bay we had a bad road by reason of a small 
 moon, for every small moon maketh foul weather 
 all the Main along. 
 
 The 2ist the general caused the town to be burnt, 
 and all the ships to weigh, and stood out, many of 
 the soldiers being embarked where the general had 
 appointed, in the small ships which rode nearest the 
 shore. We lost that night the company of the Phoenix, 
 Captain Austin, Peter Lemond, and the Garland's 
 pinnace, which stood along the shore, being chased off 
 by galleys out of Carthagena. Peter Lemond with
 
 -242 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 nine of our men was taken, the rest came safe to our 
 iieet. 
 
 The 26th we saw the islands some twelve leagues 
 to the eastward of Nombre de Dios standing in toward 
 the shore, but towards night we stood to the ofhng until 
 the next day. 
 
 The 27th we came into the mouth of Nombre de 
 Dios, and by one of the clock took the town, the 
 people being all fled except some hundred Spaniards, 
 -which kept the fort, and played upon us, having in the 
 fort three or four small pieces of ordinance, and one 
 of them broke in discharging at us. They gave us also 
 a volley of small shot; but seeing our resolution in 
 running upon them they all fled and took the woods. 
 
 The town was big, having large streets, houses very 
 high, all built of timber, but one church very fair and 
 large, wrought all of timber likewise. Nothing was 
 left in the town of value: there was a show in their 
 shops of great merchandises that had been there. 
 There was a mill above the town, and upon the top 
 of another hill in the woods stood a little watchhouse, 
 rvvhere we took twenty sows of silver, two bars of gold, 
 5ome money in coin, besides other pillage. 
 
 The town was situated in a watery soil, and subject 
 much to rain, very unhealthy as any place in the 
 Indies, having great store of oranges, plantains, cas- 
 sava-roots, and such other fruits; but very dangerous 
 to be eaten for breeding of diseases. To the eastward 
 of the town within the bay runneth out a fresh river 
 of excellent good water, with houses, and all about it 
 gardens: half a league from hence due east into the 
 country was an Indian town, whither as we marched 
 a little before our coming away with a hundred men 
 they had broken down a bridge to hinder our passage,
 
 DRAKE AND HAWKINS 243 
 
 where they lay in ambush with some twenty or thirty 
 small shot, and bows and arrows, set upon us, and 
 killed Lieutenant Jones, hurt three or four and so 
 fled into the woods, ran before us and fired their own 
 town, and then fled farther into the woods: our men 
 tired divers other houses in pursuing them, and so 
 returned again: our general with Sir Thomas being; 
 in the river's mouth with thirty or forty men filling; 
 water about some mile from us. 
 
 The road of Nombre de Dios is a fair road; but 
 on each side, as you come to ride before the town. 
 Heth a ledge of rocks, but there is no danger because 
 they are in sight. You may ride between them in 
 three or four fathom water, and without if you will in 
 eight or ten fathoms, where neither castle nor fort can 
 annoy you. The name of Xombre de Dios was greater 
 than their strength. For they had no castle nor fort, 
 but only the little fort aforesaid standing on the top 
 of an hill, although they might have made it stronger 
 if they would. 
 
 The 29th, Sir Thomas Baskerville with 750 armed 
 men, besides surgeons and provand bovs, went for 
 Panama. 
 
 The last of December the general burned half the 
 town, and the ist of January burnt the rest, with all 
 the frigates, barques and galiots, which were in the 
 harbour and on the beach on shore, having houses 
 built over them to keep the pitch from melting. 
 
 The 2nd of January, Sir Thomas returned with his- 
 soldiers both weary and hungry, having marched 
 more than half the way to the South Sea. The Spaniards 
 played divers times upon us both outward and home- 
 
 Provand. Provender. 
 
 Galiots. Small galleys or boats propelled by sails and oars.
 
 244 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 ward in the woods, the way being cut out of the woods 
 and rocks both very narrow, and full of mire and water. 
 The march was so sore as never Englishman marched 
 before. Having marched some ten leagues in a mar- 
 vellous strait way, upon the top of an hill, through 
 which we must needs pass, the Spaniards had set up 
 a fort and kept it with some eighty or ninety men, who 
 played upon us as we came up, before we were aware 
 of them, and so killed some twenty or more of us, 
 amongst whom was Captain Marchant, quartermaster- 
 general, and Ensign Sampson, Maurice Williams, one 
 of Her Majesty's guard, besides divers were hurt, as 
 M. Captain Nicholas Baskerville, a valiant gentleman, 
 with divers others. Then Sir Thomas had perfect 
 knowledge that they must pass two such forts more, 
 if he got that, besides Panama to be very strong, the 
 enemy knowing of our coming long before. 
 
 Also our soldiers had no victuals left, nor any means 
 to get more; which considerations caused Sir Thomas 
 to return and give over his attempt. As he marched 
 thitherward he took an Indian and sent him to Nombre 
 de Dios with letters of his return and proceeding. 
 
 The 5th we set sail at twelve of the clock, and stood 
 to the westward. 
 
 The loth day we saw an island lying westward some 
 thirty leagues, called Escudo, where we came to anchor 
 on the south side in twelve fathoms water, fair sand 
 and good anchorage. If you come into the eastern 
 point, give it a berth, because of a ledge of rocks, that 
 lieth out there from the end of the island: coming to 
 anchor we saw a roader, who seeing us, set sail, but 
 that night with our pinnaces we took him; he had 
 nothing in him but a little maize. The men being 
 examined by the general confessed him to be an
 
 DRAKE AND HAWKINS 245 
 
 advisor sent from Nombre de Dios to all the ports 
 along the coast westward. This island lieth nine or 
 ten leagues from the main, and is not past two leagues 
 long, full of wood, and hath great store of fresh water 
 in every part of the island, and that very good. It 
 is a sickly climate also, and given to much rain: here 
 we washed our ships, and set up the rest of our pinnaces. 
 
 The 15th day Captain Plat died of sickness, and 
 then Sir Francis Drake began to keep his cabin, and to 
 complain of sickness. 
 
 The 23rd we set sail and stood up again for Puerto 
 Bello, which is but three leagues to the westwards of 
 Nombre de Dios. 
 
 The 28th at four of the clock in the morning our 
 general Sir Francis Drake departed this life, having 
 been extremely sick of a flux, which began the night 
 before to stop on him. He used some speeches at, or 
 a little before his death, rising and apparelling him- 
 self, but being brought to bed again, within one hour 
 died. He made his brother Thomas Drake and Captain 
 Jonas Bodenham executors, and M. Thomas Drake's 
 son his heir to all his lands, except one manor which 
 he gave to Captain Bodenham. 
 
 The same day we anchored at Puerto Bello, being 
 the best harbour we found all along the main both 
 for great ships and small. There standeth a saker-shot 
 off the shore at the eastern point a little island; and 
 there is betwixt the main and that five or six fathoms : 
 but the best coming in is the open mouth betwixt that 
 island and another island that lieth to the westward 
 with a range of rocks. 
 
 In Puerto Bello were but eight or ten houses, besides 
 a great new house which they were in building for the 
 governor that should have been for that place: there
 
 246 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 was also a very strong fort all to the water's side 
 •with flankers of great trees and stones fllled with earth 
 between: and had not our coming disappointed their 
 pretence, they would have made it one of the strongest 
 places in all the Main. There they meant to have 
 builded a great town. We found there three pieces of 
 brass ordinance sunk in the sea, which we weighed up ; 
 all the people were fled and their goods carried away. 
 
 Up within this bay there was a little village, but of 
 no force, where we found a great fresh river ; our men 
 rowing up some two leagues found pillage, as wine 
 and oil, and some small quantity of oil. After our 
 coming hither to anchor, and the solemn burial of our 
 general Sir Francis in the sea: Sir Thomas Baskerville 
 being aboard the Defiance, where M. Bride made a 
 sermon, having to his audience all the captains in the 
 fleet. Sir Thomas commanded all aboard the Garland, 
 with whom he held a council, and there showing his 
 commission was accepted for general, and Captain 
 Bodenham made captain of the Defiance, and M. Savill 
 captain of the Adventure. 
 
 The 27th died Captain Josias of the Delight, and 
 Captain Egerton, a gentleman of the Foresight, and 
 James Wood, chief surgeon of the fleet, out of the 
 Garland. 
 
 The 28th died Abraham Kendall out of the Saker. 
 At this place we watered again, washed our ships and 
 made new sails, it being by the general and all the 
 captains agreed, that if we could by any means turn 
 up again for Santa Martha, we should: if not, to go 
 directly for England. Here also we took in some 
 ballast as our need required. 
 
 The 6th of February the Elizabeth of M. Watts was 
 discharged and sunk, and that day the Pegasus' jolly
 
 DRAKE AND HAWKINS 247 
 
 was going on shore for water, carrying no guard: the 
 Spaniards perceiving it came down upon them, killed 
 two of them, and took two or three prisoners, and so 
 ran up into the woods again. 
 
 The 7th the Delight and Captain Eden's frigate 
 were discharged and sunk because they were old and 
 leaked, and the Queen's ship wanted sailors. 
 
 That day our men being mustered we had sick and 
 whole two thousand. And the next day we set on 
 shore all our prisoners, as Spaniards and negroes. 
 But before at our first coming to Puerto Bello Sir 
 Thomas sent two of those Spaniards to Nombre de 
 Dios and to Panama to fetch ransom for some of the 
 chiefest prisoners, but they never returned again. As 
 we were setting sail there came one with a flag of 
 truce, and told the general that they had taken 
 eighteen of our men, and that they were well used, 
 adding that if he would stay eight or ten days longer 
 they should be brought from Panama. 
 
 We supposed this to have been but a delay to have 
 kept us there while the king's forces had come about 
 by sea, as they daily expected. We set sail the 8th of 
 Februar\^ turning up for Santa Martha, and the 14th 
 day we saw the islands of Baru some fourteen leagues 
 to the westward of Carthagena : the general that night 
 told us he would stand in for the town of Baru in the 
 bay: but that night blew so much wind and con- 
 tinued that small moon, that the same night we lost 
 the Foresight, and the next day standing again to make 
 the land which we had made, we lost company of the 
 Susan Parnel, the Help, and the Pegasus. Then the 
 next day we put over for Cape S. Antonio, and gave 
 over Santa Martha. 
 
 The 25th we saw the island of Grand Cayman some
 
 248 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 thirty leagues to the north-westward of Jamaica, 
 being a low sandy island, having many tortoises 
 about it. 
 
 The 26th we saw the high land of Cuba to the east- 
 ward of the broken islands, to the east of the island of 
 Pinos, and were imbayed in among those dangerous 
 places. But perceiving it, we stood out again south- 
 south-east and so got clear, and then stood away west 
 ;aiiid by north to the isle of Pinos, which we saw the 
 'jfir-st of March. It is a low land with wood and fresh 
 Twater to the western end. If you come in with the 
 ^ffii-dst of it you shall see rise up above the rest of the 
 land eight or nine round hummocks, and the western- 
 most hath three in one. 
 
 Being shot forth with the west end, and standing 
 in to water, we espied twenty sail of ships about one 
 in the afternoon. This was a third part of the fleet 
 which the king sent for Carthagena, the rest of the 
 fleet being gone for the Honduras. They were in all 
 sixty sails sent only to meet our fleet, being commanded, 
 wheresoever they heard we were, to come upon us 
 with all their three forces. This fleet which we met 
 withal came standing for Cape de los Corrientes, and 
 had been refreshed at Havana. 
 
 As soon as they descried us, they kept close upon a 
 tack, thinking to get the wind of us: but we weathered 
 them. And when our admiral with all the rest of our 
 fleet were right in the wind's eye of them, Sir Thomas 
 Baskerville putting out the Queen's arms, and all the 
 rest of our fleet their bravery, bare room v^dth them, 
 and commanded the Defiance not to shoot, but to keep 
 close by to second him. The vice-admiral of the 
 Spaniards being a greater ship than any of ours, and 
 the best sailor in all their fleet, luffed by and gave the
 
 DRAKE AND HAWKIxNS 249 
 
 Concord the two first great shot, which she repaid 
 presently again; thus the fight began. 
 
 The Bonaventure bare full with her, ringing her such 
 a peal of ordinance and small shot withal, that he left 
 her with torn sides. The admiral also made no spare 
 of powder and shot. But the Defiance in the midst 
 of the Spanish fleet thundering of her ordinance and 
 small shot continued the fight to the end. So that the 
 vice-admiral with three or four of her consorts were 
 forced to tack about to the eastward, leaving their 
 admiral and the rest of the fleet, who came not so 
 hotly into the fight as they did. 
 
 The fight continued two hours and better. At sun- 
 set all the fleet tacked about the the eastward, we 
 continued our course to the westward for Cape de los 
 Corrientes, supposing that we should have met with 
 more of their consorts. In this conflict in the Defiance 
 we had five men slain, three Englishmen, a Greek 
 and a negro. That night some half-hour after, their 
 fleet keeping upon their weather quarter, we saw a 
 mighty smoke rise out of one of their great ships 
 which stayed behind: which happened by means of 
 powder as we think, and presently after she was all 
 on a light fire, and so was consumed and all burnt, 
 as we might well perceive. 
 
 The next day, being the 2nd of March, in the 
 morning by break of day we were hard aboard Cape 
 de los Corrientes, which is a bare low cape, having a 
 bush of trees higher than the rest some mile to the 
 eastward of the cape. All Cuba is full of wood on the 
 south side. The Spanish fleet which then were but 
 fourteen, no more than we were, kept still upon our 
 weather quarter, but dared not to come room with 
 us although our admiral stayed for them. As soon as
 
 250 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 we had cleared ourselves of the cape three of their 
 best sailors came room with the Salomon, which was 
 so near the land that she could not double the cape, 
 but tacked about to the eastward, and so was both 
 astern and also to leeward of all our fleet. But when 
 we saw the Spaniards working, the Defiance tacked 
 about to rescue her: which the Spaniards seeing, and 
 having not forgotten the fight which she made the 
 night before, the}^ luffed up into the midst of their 
 fleet again, and then all the fleet stayed until the 
 Salomon came up, and so stood along for Cape S. 
 Antonio, which we came in sight of by two in the 
 afternoon, being a low cape also, and to the south- 
 west a white sandy bay, where three or four ships 
 may very well water. There is a good road for north 
 and easterly winds: there the Spaniards began to fall 
 astern. 
 
 That night we stood away a glass or two north-west, 
 and north-north-west, and north-east, and in the 
 morning-watch south, and in the morning had sight 
 of Cuba about the east part of the Organes, which are 
 dangerous rocks Ijdng eight leagues off upon the north 
 part of Cuba, presently as soon as you pass Cape S. 
 Antonio: then we stood to the eastward of the land, 
 the wind at south-south-west, and at six at night had 
 foul weather, but after were becalmed all night. 
 
 The 5th the wind came scant. The 7th we saw a 
 high land Hke a crown, which appeareth so thirteen 
 or fourteen leagues to the west^vard of Havana, and 
 another place in Cuba called The Table, eight leagues 
 to the eastward of the crown. The land over Havana 
 maketh two small mountains. Here we found no great 
 current until we came to the Gulf of Bahama. 
 
 The loth we saw the Cape of Florida, being but a
 
 DRAKE AND HAWKINS 251 
 
 reasonable low land and broken islands to the south- 
 ward of the cape. And at two in the afternoon we 
 lost sight of the land twelve leagues to the northward 
 of the cape. After we had disembarked, we stood 
 west till midnight, and were in 28 degrees, and then 
 stood north-east till the 13th at night, when we were 
 in 31 degrees. And after the wind scanted with a 
 great storm, in which we lost the Bonaventure and 
 the Little John, they bearing on head. Then we stood 
 with our larboard tacked east-south-east. 
 
 The 19th we were in 29 degrees, our course east- 
 north-east. The 2ist we had a great stormy gale of 
 wind and much rain but large. And then all the rest 
 of our fleet fell astern except the Hope, which bare 
 ahead: so that there kept no more with the admiral, 
 but the Defiance, the Adventure, and the Phcenix. 
 
 The 28th we were in 39 degrees, and stood away 
 for Flores, which the Sth of April we saw, and the 
 9th came to an anchor on the south side, where we 
 watered, because the Defiance when we came in had 
 but two butts of water. We bartered with the Portugals 
 for some fresh victuals, and here set on shore at our 
 coming away out of the admiral our two Portugal 
 pilots ; which Sir Francis Drake carried out of England 
 with him. 
 
 The loth, being Easter Eve, at night we set sail, 
 the wind serving us to lie some slant in our course. 
 That night and Easter Day we had much rain: the 
 wind came up at north-east, we beat it up some 
 thirty leagues to the eastward, and then about to the 
 west, and so again to the east, and tried, and the next 
 bore to the west. 
 
 On Thursday towards night, being the i6th, we had 
 sight of Corvo again: we tried all that night, and on
 
 252 STORIES FROM HAKLUYT 
 
 Friday towards night we came to an anchor to the 
 westward of the point of Santa Cruz under Flores: 
 but before midnight we drave, and set sail the next 
 day standing away north-east. About three of the 
 clock in the afternoon the wind came up again at 
 north. On Sunday the 19th, by two of the clock in 
 the afternoon we had made twenty leagues an east 
 way: and then the wind came up a good gale at 
 north-west, and so north-east with a flown sheet we 
 made the best way we could: but being dispersed by 
 bad weather we arrived about the beginning of May 
 in the west parts of England. And the last ships which 
 came in together to Plymouth were the Defiance, the 
 Garland, the Adventure, and the Phcenix.
 
 Richard Hakluyt was not an author but an editor 
 whose work was to collect, correct, and arrange the writings 
 of other men which, but for his scholarly research and 
 patient industr^^ would probably have been left in 
 obscurity or lost. He was born, probably in London, 
 about the year 1553, and came of an English family 
 connected wath Eyton or Yatton in Herefordshire. His 
 name was originally pronounced and spelt Hacklewit, 
 with variations, and Michael Drayton mentions him in 
 one of his poems as " industrious Hackluit," 
 
 Whose reading shall inflame 
 Men to seek fame. 
 
 He was educated at Westminster School, and Christ 
 Church, Oxford, but before he went to the University 
 he had definitely fixed upon the work of liis life. One 
 day he visited his cousin, another Richard Hakluyt, of 
 the Middle Temple, and received from him a kind of 
 geography lesson suggested by a map of the world which 
 happened to be lying on the table. The boy was deeply 
 impressed, especially with the short account which his 
 cousin gave him of recent explorations which had ex- 
 tended the boundaries of the known world in such a 
 wonderful manner. " From the map," wrote the younger 
 Hakluyt, '' he brought me to the Bible, and turning to 
 the 107th Psalm, directed me to the twenty-third and 
 twenty-fourth verses, where I read that ' they which 
 go down to the sea in ships, and occupy by the great 
 waters, they see the works of the Lord and His wonders 
 
 253
 
 254 RICHARD HAKLUYT 
 
 in the deep.' Which words of the Prophet, together with 
 my cousin's discourse (things of high and rare dehght 
 to my young nature), took in me so deep an impression 
 that I constantly resolved, if ever I were preferred to the 
 Universit}^ where better time and more convenient place 
 might be ministered for these studies, I would by God's 
 assistance prosecute that knowledge and kind of literature, 
 the doors whereof (after a sort) were so happily opened 
 before me." 
 
 So he set to work to collect and read all the accounts 
 of voyages and travels which had ever been written, not 
 only in his mother- tongue, but also in French, Italian, 
 Latin, Greek, Spanish and Portuguese. After taking his 
 master's degree he seems to have lectured on geography 
 at Oxford, and a few years later he published his first 
 book, which was a collection of voyages undertaken for 
 the discovery of America. Then he went to Paris as 
 chaplain to the English Ambassador, for he was now in 
 Holy orders, and spent a great deal of his time collecting 
 information about the various expeditions across the 
 Atlantic, producing another book " at the requeste and 
 direction of the righte worshipfull Mr. Walter Raghly," 
 which consisted of another collection designed to encour- 
 age the settlement of English people in the most fruitful 
 of the unoccupied regions of the New World. 
 
 Hakluyt returned to England in 1588, and in the follow- 
 ing year appeared the first edition of his truly monumental 
 work, The Principall Navigations Voiages, and Discov- 
 eries of the English Nation, which was reconstructed 
 and greatly enlarged in the second edition of 1 598-1 600. 
 In this great book we have in simple direct prose the plain 
 record of the first expansion of Europe and especially 
 of England, achieved during a period unparalleled in the 
 history of the world, whose special character could never, 
 from the circumstances of the case, be repeated. " Over
 
 AND HIS WORK 255 
 
 against the plays of Shakespeare and his fellows," writes 
 Professor Sir Walter Raleigh, " as their natural counter- 
 part, must be set the Voyages of Hakluyt; he who 
 would understand the EUzabethan age, and what it 
 meant for England, must know them both." If this be 
 true — and there is no better guide in such matters than 
 the writer of these words — English readers have, to use 
 a suitable nautical metaphor, a great deal of leeway to 
 make up. 
 
 If the stories of these voyages are read slowly and 
 carefully with a sincere attempt to imagine the circum- 
 stances under which they were embarked ui)on, each tale 
 will be found to reveal human nature at its best. The men 
 who undertook these expeditions were, in almost every 
 case, " facing fearful odds," and each voyager was a 
 member of the crew erf the " Ship of Fools ": 
 
 We are those fools who could not rest 
 
 In the dull earth we left behind. 
 But burned with passion for the West 
 
 And drank a frenzy from its wind; 
 The world where small men live at ease 
 
 Fades from our unregretful eyes, 
 And blind across uncharted seas 
 
 We stagger on our enterprise. 
 
 Lean, naked, bruised, like famished slaves, 
 
 We shiver at the sweeps, each one 
 A jest for all the scornful waves, 
 
 And food for laughter to the sun. 
 But never voice, nor deathlight flare. 
 
 Nor moon shall stay us with their spell. 
 Whose eyes are calm as God, and stare 
 
 Confusion in the face of Hell.^ 
 
 There are other qualities of character wliich are made 
 evident again and again in these immortal stories: — 
 loyalty to a leader coupled with a sense of personal 
 
 1 The Ship of Fools, by St, John Lucas.
 
 256 HAKLUYT AND HIS WORK 
 
 liberty which often prompts to criticism or even to re- 
 spectful but firm remonstrance; unwearying patience in 
 the pursuit of an object sometimes clearly defined, at 
 other times nebulous and tantalising; childlike simplicity 
 which takes legend for fact; a stern sense of justice and 
 a clear idea of the demarcation between right and wrong 
 (there were no half-tones for the Elizabethans); a desire 
 to " plant " new nations for the honour of England and 
 Ehzabeth and the greater glory of God. These men are 
 indeed as well worth study as the people of Shakespeare's 
 plan's. 
 
 Hakluyt's later life need not concern us greatly, but it 
 is satisfactory to know that his talents and industry seem 
 to have been appreciated by those who had rewards in 
 their gift. He was made prebendary, and later, arch- 
 deacon of Westminster, one of the chaplains of the 
 Savoy, probably Doctor of Divinity, and enjoyed several 
 benefices, from one of which he made a small fortune 
 which was squandered by a son, probably a piece of 
 poetic justice! It is interesting to note, in connection with 
 the great work of his life, that in 1605 he secured the 
 prospective living of James Town, the intended capital of 
 the intended colony of Virginia. When the colony was 
 set up he sent out a curate to act for him. Hakluyt 
 died in 161 6, and was buried m Westminster Abbey. 
 
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