his waist, and shifting with more haste to come up again as if the water
had followed him, cried out that "The ship was full of water!" There was
no need to hasten the company, some to the pump, others to search for
the leak, which the Captain of the bark seeing they did, on all hands,
very willingly; he followed his brother, and certified him of "the
strange chance befallen them that night; that whereas they had not
pumped twice in six weeks before, now they had six feet of water in
hold: and therefore he desireth leave from attending him in fishing, to
intend the search and remedy of the leak." And when our Captain with his
company preferred [offered] to go to help them; he answered, "They had
men enough aboard, and prayed him to continue his fishing, that they
might have some part of it for their dinner." Thus returning, he found
his company had taken great pain, but had freed the water very little:
yet such was their love to the bark, as our Captain well knew, that they
ceased not, but to the utmost of their strength, laboured all that
they might till three in the afternoon; by which time, the company
perceiving, that (though they had been relieved by our Captain himself
and many of his company) yet they were not able to free above a foot and
a half of water, and could have no likelihood of finding the leak, had
now a less liking of her than before, and greater content to hear of
some means for remedy.
Whereupon our Captain (consulting them what they thought best to be
done) found that they had more desire to have all as he thought fit,
than judgement to conceive any means of remedy. And therefore he
propounded, that himself would go in the pinnace, till he could provide
him some handsome frigate; and that his brother should be Captain in the
admiral [flag-ship] and the Master should also be there placed with him,
instead of this: which seeing they could not save, he would have fired
that the enemy might never recover her: but first all the pinnaces
should be brought aboard her, that every one might take out of her
whatever they lacked or liked.
This, though the company at first marvelled at; yet presently it was put
in execution and performed that night.
Our Captain had his desire, and men enough for his pinnaces.
The next morning (16th August) we resolved to seek out some fit place,
in the Sound of Darien, where we might safely leave our ship at anchor,
not discoverable by the enemy, who thereby might imagine us quite
departed from the coast, and we the meantime better follow our purposes
with our pinnaces; of which our Captain would himself take two to Rio
Grande [Magdalena], and the third leave with his brother to seek the
Cimaroons.
Upon this resolution, we set sail presently for the said Sound; which
within five days [21st August], we recovered: abstaining of purpose from
all such occasion, as might hinder our determination, or bewray [betray]
our being upon the coast.
As soon as we arrived where our Captain intended, and had chosen a
fit and convenient road out of all trade [to or from any Mart] for our
purpose; we reposed ourselves there, for some fifteen days, keeping
ourselves close, that the bruit of our being upon the coast might cease.
But in the meantime, we were not idle: for beside such ordinary works,
as our Captain, every month did usually inure us to, about the trimming
and setting of his pinnaces, for their better sailing and rowing: he
caused us to rid a large plot of ground, both of trees and brakes, and
to build us houses sufficient for all our lodging, and one especially
for all our public meetings; wherein the Negro which fled to us before,
did us great service, as being well acquainted with the country, and
their means of building. Our archers made themselves butts to shoot at,
because we had many that delighted in that exercise, and wanted not a
fletcher to keep our bows and arrows in order. The rest of the company,
every one as he liked best, made his disport at bowls, quoits, keiles,
etc. For our Captain allowed one half of the company to pass their time
thus, every other day interchangeable; the other half being enjoined to
the necessary works, about our ship and pinnaces, and the providing of
fresh victuals, fish, fowl, hogs, deer, conies, etc., whereof there is
great plenty. Here our smiths set up their forge, as they used, being
furnished out of England, with anvil, iron, coals, and all manner of
necessaries, which stood us in great stead.
At the end of these fifteen days (5th September), our Captain leaving
his ship in his brother's charge, to keep all things in order; himself
took with him, according to his former determination, two pinnaces for
Rio Grande, and passing by Cartagena but out of sight, when we were
within two leagues of the river, we landed (8th September), to the
westward on the Main, where we saw great store of cattle. There we found
some Indians, who asking us in friendly sort, in broken Spanish, "What
we would have?" and understanding that we desired fresh victuals in
traffic; they took such cattle for us as we needed, with ease and so
readily, as if they had a special commandment over them, whereas they
would not abide us to come near them. And this also they did willingly,
because our Captain, according to his custom, contented them for their
pains, with such things as they account greatly of; in such sort that
they promised, we should have there, of them at any time what we would.
The same day, we departed thence to Rio Grande [Magdalena], where we
entered about three of the clock in the afternoon. There are two entries
into this river, of which we entered the western most called _Boca
Chica_. The freshet [current] is so great, that we being half a league
from the mouth of it, filled fresh water for our beverage.
From three o'clock till dark at night, we rowed up the stream; but the
current was so strong downwards, that we got but two leagues, all that
time. We moored our pinnaces to a tree that night: for that presently,
with the closing of the evening, there fell a monstrous shower of
rain, with such strange and terrible claps of thunder, and flashes of
lightning, as made us not a little to marvel at, although our Captain
had been acquainted with such like in that country, and told us that
they continue seldom longer than three-quarters of an hour.
This storm was no sooner ceast, but it became very calm, and therewith
there came such an innumerable multitude of a kind of flies of that
country, called mosquitoes, like our gnats, which bit so spitefully,
that we could not rest all that night, nor find means to defend
ourselves from them, by reason of the heat of the country. The best
remedy we then found against them, was the juice of lemons.
At the break of day (9th September), we departed, rowing in the eddy,
and hauling up by the trees where the eddy failed, with great labour,
by spells, without ceasing, each company their half-hour glass: without
meeting any, till about three o'clock in the afternoon, by which time we
could get but five leagues ahead.
Then we espied a canoe, with two Indians fishing in the river; but we
spake not to them, lest so we might be descried: nor they to us, as
taking us to be Spaniards. But within an hour after, we espied certain
houses, on the other side of the river, whose channel is twenty-five
fathom deep, and its breadth so great, that a man can scantly be
discerned from side to side. Yet a Spaniard which kept those houses,
had espied our pinnaces; and thinking we had been his countrymen, made
a smoke, for a signal to turn that way, as being desirous to speak with
us. After that, we espying this smoke, had made with it, and were half
the river over, he wheaved [waved] to us, with his hat and his long
hanging sleeves, to come ashore.
But as we drew nearer to him, and he discerned that we were not those he
looked for: he took his heels, and fled from his houses, which we found
to be, five in number, all full of white rusk, dried bacon, that country
cheese (like Holland cheese in fashion, but far more delicate in
taste, of which they send into Spain as special presents) many sorts of
sweetmeats, and conserves; with great store of sugar: being provided to
serve the Fleet returning to Spain.
With this store of victuals, we loaded our pinnaces; by the shutting in
of the day, we were ready to depart; for that we hastened the rather,
by reason of an intelligence given us by certain Indian women which we
found in those houses: that the frigates (these are ordinarily thirty,
or upwards, which usually transport the merchandise, sent out of Spain
to Cartagena from thence to these houses, and so in great canoes up
hence into Nuevo Reyno, for which the river running many hundred of
leagues within the land serveth very fitly: and return in exchange, the
gold and treasure, silver, victuals, and commodities, which that kingdom
yields abundantly) were not yet returned from Cartagena, since the first
alarm they took of our being there.
As we were going aboard our pinnaces from these Storehouses (10th
September), the Indians of a great town called Villa del Rey, some two
miles distant from the water's side where we landed, were brought down
by the Spaniards into the bushes, and shot arrows; but we rowed down
the stream with the current (for that the wind was against us) only one
league; and because it was night, anchored till the morning, when
we rowed down to the mouth of the river, where we unloaded all our
provisions, and cleansed our pinnaces, according to our Captain's
custom, and took it in again, and the same day went to the Westward.
In this return, we descried a ship, a barque, and a frigate, of which
the ship and frigate went for Cartagena, but for the Barque was bound to
the Northwards, with the wind easterly, so that we imagined she had
some gold or treasure going for Spain: therefore we gave her chase, but
taking her, and finding nothing of importance in her, understanding that
she was bound for sugar and hides, we let her go; and having a good gale
of wind, continued our former course to our ship and company.
In the way between Cartagena and Tolou, we took [11th September] five
or six frigates, which were laden from Tolou, with live hogs, hens,
and maize which we call Guinea wheat. Of these, having gotten what
intelligence they could give, of their preparations for us, and divers
opinions of us, we dismissed all the men; only staying two frigates with
us, because they were so well stored with good victuals.
Within three days after, we arrived at the place which our Captain
chose, at first, to leave his ship in, which was called by our Captain,
Port Plenty; by reason we brought to thither continually all manner
store of good victuals, which we took, going that way by sea, for the
victualling of Cartagena and Nombre de Dios as also the Fleets going
and coming out of Spain. So that if we had been two thousand, yea three
thousand persons, we might with our pinnaces easily have provided them
sufficient victuals of wine, meal, rusk; _cassavi_ (a kind of bread made
of a root called Yucca, whose juice is poison, but the substance good
and wholesome), dried beef, dried fish, live sheep, live hogs, abundance
of hens, besides the infinite store of dainty fresh fish, very easily to
be taken every day: insomuch that we were forced to build four several
magazines or storehouses, some ten, some twenty leagues asunder; some
in islands, some in the Main, providing ourselves in divers places, that
though the enemy should, with force, surprise any one, yet we might be
sufficiently furnished, till we had "made" our voyage as we did hope. In
building of these, our Negro's help was very much, as having a special
skill, in the speedy erection of such houses.
This our store was much, as thereby we relieved not only ourselves and
the Cimaroons while they were with us; but also two French ships in
extreme want.
For in our absence, Captain JOHN DRAKE, having one of our pinnaces, as
was appointed, went in with the Main, and as he rowed aloof the shore,
where he was directed by DIEGO the Negro aforesaid, which willingly came
unto us at Nombre de Dios, he espied certain of the Cimaroons; with whom
he dealt so effectually, that in conclusion he left two of our men
with their leader, and brought aboard two of theirs: agreeing that
they should meet him again the next day, at a river midway between the
Cabecas [Cabeza is Spanish for Headland] and our ships; which they named
Rio Diego.
These two being very sensible men, chosen out by their commander
[chief], did, with all reverence and respect, declare unto our Captain,
that their nation conceited great joy of his arrival, because they
knew him to be an enemy to the Spaniards, not only by his late being in
Nombre de Dios, but also by his former voyages; and therefore were ready
to assist and favour his enterprises against his and their enemies to
the uttermost: and to that end their captain and company did stay at
this present near the mouth of Rio Diego, to attend what answer and
order should be given them; that they would have marched by land, even
to this place, but that the way is very long, and more troublesome, by
reason of many steep mountains, deep rivers, and thick brakes: desiring
therefore, that it might please our Captain to take some order, as he
thought best, with all convenient speed in this behalf.
Our Captain considering the speech of these persons, and weighing it
with his former intelligences had not only Negroes, but Spaniards also,
whereof he was always very careful: as also conferring it with his
brother's informations of the great kindness that they shewed him,
being lately with them: after he had heard the opinions of those of best
service with him, "what were fittest to be done presently?" resolved
himself with his brother, and the two Cimaroons, in his two pinnaces, to
go toward this river. As he did the same evening, giving order, that
the ship and the rest of his fleet should the next morning follow him,
because there was a place of as great safety and sufficiency, which his
brother had found out near the river. The safety of it consisted, not
only in that which is common all along that coast from Tolou to Nombre
de Dios, being above sixty leagues, that it is a most goodly and
plentiful country, and yet inhabited not with one Spaniard, or any for
the Spaniards: but especially in that it lieth among a great many of
goodly islands full of trees. Where, though there be channels, yet there
are such rocks and shoals, that no man can enter by night without great
danger; nor by day without discovery, whereas our ships might be hidden
within the trees.
The next day (14th September) we arrived at this river appointed, where
we found the Cimaroons according to promise: the rest of their number
were a mile up, in a wood by the river's side. There after we had given
them entertainment, and received good testimonies of their joy and good
will towards us, we took two more of them into our pinnace, leaving
our two men with the rest of theirs, to march by land, to another river
called Rio Guana, with intent there to meet with another company of
Cimaroons which were now in the mountains.
So we departed that day from Rio Diego, with our pinnaces, towards our
ship, as marvelling that she followed us not as was appointed.
But two days after (16th September), we found her in the place where
we left her; but in far other state, being much spoiled and in great
danger, by reason of a tempest she had in our absence.
As soon as we could trim our ship, being some two days, our Captain sent
away (18th September) one of his pinnaces, towards the bottom of the
bay, amongst the shoals and sandy islands, to sound out the channel, for
the bringing in of our ship nearer the Main.
The next day (19th September) we followed, and were with wary pilotage,
directed safely into the best channel, with much ado to recover the
road, among so many flats and shoals. It was near about five leagues
from the Cativaas, betwixt an island and the Main, where we moored our
ship. The island was not above four cables in length from the Main,
being in quantity some three acres of ground, flat and very full of
trees and bushes.
We were forced to spend the best part of three days, after our departure
from our Port Plenty, before we were quiet in this new found road,
which we had but newly entered, when our two men and the former troop of
Cimaroons, with twelve others whom they had met in the mountains, came
(23rd September) in sight over against our ship, on the Main. Whence we
fetched them all aboard, to their great comfort and our content: they
rejoicing that they should have some fit opportunity to wreak their
wrongs on the Spaniards; we hoping that now our voyage should be
bettered.
At our first meeting, when our Captain had moved them, to shew him the
means which they had to furnish him with gold and silver; they answered
plainly, that "had they known gold had been his desire; they would have
satisfied him with store, which, for the present, they could not do:
because the rivers, in which they sunk great store (which they had taken
from the Spaniards, rather to despite them than for love of gold) were
now so high, that they could not get it out of such depths for him;
and because the Spaniards, in these rainy months, do not use [are not
accustomed] to carry their treasure by land."
This answer although it were somewhat unlooked for, yet nothing
discontented us, but rather persuaded us farther of their honest and
faithful meaning toward us. Therefore our Captain to entertain these
five months, commanded all our ordnance and artillery ashore, with all
our other provisions: sending his pinnaces to the Main, to bring over
great trees, to make a fort upon the same island, for the planting of
all our ordnance therein, and for our safeguard, if the enemy, in all
this time, should chance to come.
Our Cimaroons (24th September) cut down Palmito boughs and branches, and
with wonderful speed raised up two large houses for all our company.
Our fort was then made, by reason of the place, triangle-wise, with main
timber, and earth of which the trench yielded us good store, so that we
made it thirteen feet in height. [Fort Diego.]
But after we had continued upon this island fourteen days, our Captain
having determined, with three pinnaces, to go for Cartagena left (7th
October), his brother, JOHN DRAKE, to govern these who remained behind
with the Cimaroons to finish the fort which he had begun: for which he
appointed him to fetch boards and planks, as many as his pinnaces would
carry, from the prize we took at Rio Grande, and left at the Cativaas,
where she drove ashore and wrecked in our absence: but now she might
serve commodiously, to supply our use, in making platforms for our
ordnance. Thus our Captain and his brother took their leave; the one to
the Eastward, and the other to the Cativaas.
That night, we came to an isle, which he called Spur-kite land, because
we found there great store of such a kind of bird in shape, but very
delicate, of which we killed and roasted many; staying there till the
next day midnoon (8th October), when we departed thence. And about four
o'clock recovered a big island in our way, where we stayed all night,
by reason that there was great store of fish, and especially of a great
kind of shell-fish of a foot long. We called them whelks.
The next morning (9th October), we were clear of these islands and
shoals, and hauled off into the sea. About four days after (13th
October), near the island of St. Bernards, we chased two frigates
ashore; and recovering one of these islands, made our abode there some
two days (14th-15th October) to wash our pinnaces and to take of the
fish.
Thence we went towards Tolou, and that day (16th October) landed near
the town in a garden, where we found certain Indians, who delivered us
their bows and arrows, and gathered for us such fruit as the garden
did yield, being many sorts of dainty fruits and roots, [we] still
contenting them for what we received. Our Captain's principal intent in
taking this and other places by the way, not being for any other cause,
but only to learn true intelligence of the state of the country and of
the Fleets.
Hence we departed presently, and rowed towards Charesha, the island of
Cartagena; and entered in at Bocha Chica, and having the wind large, we
sailed in towards the city, and let fall our grappers betwixt the island
and the Main, right over against the goodly Garden Island. In which,
our Captain would not suffer us to land, notwithstanding our importunate
desire, because he knew, it might be dangerous: for that they are wont
to send soldiers thither, when they know of any Men-of-war on the coast;
which we found accordingly. For within three hours after, passing by the
point of the island, we had a volley of a hundred shot from them, and
yet there was but one of our men hurt.
This evening (16th October) we departed to sea; and the day following
(17th October), being some two leagues off the harbour, we took a
bark, and found that the Captain and his wife with the better sort of
passengers, had forsaken her, and were gone ashore in the Gundeloe: by
occasion whereof we boarded without resistance, though they were well
provided with swords and targets and some small shot, besides four iron
bases. She was 50 tons, having ten mariners, five or six Negroes, great
store of soap and sweet meat, bound from St. Domingo to Cartagena. This
Captain left behind him a silk ancient [flag] with his arms; as might be
thought, in hasty departing.
The next day (18th October), we sent all the company ashore to seek
their masters, saving a young Negro two or three years old, which we
brought away; but kept the bark, and in her, bore into the mouth of
Cartagena harbour, where we anchored.
That afternoon, certain horsemen came down to the point by the wood
side, and with the _Scrivano_ fore-mentioned, came towards our bark with
a flag of truce, desiring of our Captain's safe conduct for his coming
and going; the which being granted, he came aboard us, giving our
Captain "great thanks for his manifold favours, etc., promising that
night before daybreak, to bring as much victuals as they would desire,
what shift so ever he made, or what danger so ever incurred of law
and punishment." But this fell out to be nothing but a device of the
Governor forced upon the _Scrivano_, to delay time, till they might
provide themselves of sufficient strength to entrap us: for which this
fellow, by his smooth speech, was thought a fit means. So by sun rising,
(19th October), when we perceived his words but words, we put to sea to
the westward of the island, some three leagues off, where we lay at hull
the rest of all that day and night.
The next day (20th October), in the afternoon, there came out of
Cartagena, two frigates bound for St. Domingo, the one of 58, the other
of 12 tons, having nothing in them but ballast. We took them within a
league of the town, and came to anchor with them within sacre shot of
the east Bulwark. There were in those frigates some twelve or thirteen
common mariners, which entreated to be set ashore. To them our Captain
gave the greater frigate's gundeloe, and dismissed them.
The next morning (21st October) when they came down to the western point
with a flag of truce, our Captain manned one of his pinnaces and rowed
ashore. When we were within a cable's length of the shore, the Spaniards
fled, hiding themselves in the woods, as being afraid of our ordnance;
but indeed to draw us on to land confidently, and to presume of our
strength. Our Captain commanding the grapnell to be cast out of the
stern, veered the pinnace ashore, and as soon as she touched the sand,
he alone leapt ashore in their sight, to declare that he durst set his
foot aland: but stayed not among them, to let them know, that though
he had not sufficient forces to conquer them, yet he had sufficient
judgment to take heed of them.
And therefore perceiving their intent, as soon as our Captain was
aboard, we hauled off upon our grapner and rid awhile.
They presently came forth upon the sand, and sent a youth, as with a
message from the Governor, to know, "What our intent was, to stay upon
the coast?"
Our Captain answered: "He meant to traffic with them; for he had tin,
pewter, cloth, and other merchandise that they needed."
The youth swam back again with this answer, and was presently returned,
with another message: that, "The King had forbidden to traffic with any
foreign nation for any commodities, except powder and shot; of which, if
he had any store, they would be his merchants."