commodities for gold and silver, and is not purposed to return without
his errand. They are like, in his opinion, to have little rest, if that,
by fair means, they would not traffic with him."
He gave this messenger a fair shirt for a reward, and so returned him:
who rolled his shirt about his head and swam very speedily.
We heard no answer all that day; and therefore toward night we went
aboard our frigates and reposed ourselves, setting and keeping very
orderly all that night our watch, with great and small shot.
The next morning (22nd October) the wind, which had been westerly in the
evening, altered to the Eastward.
About the dawning of the day, we espied two sails turning towards
us, whereupon our Captain weighed with his pinnaces, leaving the two
frigates unmanned. But when we were come somewhat nigh them, the wind
calmed, and we were fain to row towards them, till that approaching very
nigh, we saw many heads peering over board. For, as we perceived, these
two frigates were manned and set forth out of Cartagena, to fight with
us, and, at least, to impeach or busy us; whilst by some means or other
they might recover the frigates from us.
But our Captain prevented both their drifts. For commanding JOHN OXNAM
to stay with the one pinnace, to entertain these two Men-of-war; himself
in the other made much speed, that he got to his frigates which he
had left at anchor; and caused the Spaniards, (who in the meantime had
gotten aboard in a small canoe, thinking to have towed them within the
danger of their shot) to make the greater haste thence, than they did
thither.
For he found that in shifting thence, some of them were fain to swim
aland (the canoe not being able to receive them) and had left their
apparel, some their rapiers and targets, some their flasks and calivers
behind them; although they were towing away of one of them.
Therefore considering that we could not man them, we sunk the one, and
burnt the other, giving them to understand by this, that we perceived
their secret practices.
This being done, he returned to JOHN OXNAM; who all this while lay by
the Men-of-war without proffering to fight. And as soon as our Captain
was come up to these frigates, the wind blew much for the sea, so that,
we being betwixt the shore and them, were to a manner forced to bear
room into the harbour before them, to the great joy of the Spaniards;
who beheld it; in supposing, that we would still have fled before
them. But as soon as we were in the harbour, and felt smooth water, our
pinnaces, as we were assured of, getting the wind, we sought, with them
upon the advantage, so that after a few shot exchanged, and a storm
rising, they were contented to press no nearer. Therefore as they let
fall their anchors, we presently let drop our grapner in the wind of
them; which the Spanish soldiers seeing, considering the disadvantage
of the wind, the likelihood of the storm to continue, and small hope of
doing any good, they were glad to retire themselves to the town.
But by reason of the foul and tempestuous weather, we rode therein four
days, feeling great cold, by reason we had such sore rains with westerly
wind, and so little succour in our pinnaces.
The fifth day (27th October) there came in a frigate from the sea, which
seeing us make towards her, ran herself ashore, unhanging her rudder and
taking away her sails, that she might not easily be carried away. But
when we were come up to her, we perceived about a hundred horse and
foot, with their furniture, come down to the point of the Main, where we
interchanged some shot with them. One of our great shot passed so near
a brave cavalier of theirs, that thereby they were occasioned to advise
themselves, and retreat into the woods: where they might sufficiently
defend and rescue the frigate from us, and annoy us also, if we stayed
long about her.
Therefore we concluded to go to sea again, putting forth through _Boca
Chica_, with intent to take down our masts, upon hope of fair weather,
and to ride under the rocks called _Las Serenas_, which are two leagues
off at sea, as we had usually done aforetime, so that they could not
discern us from the rocks. But, there, the sea was mightily grown, that
we were forced to take the harbour again; where we remained six days,
notwithstanding the Spaniards grieved greatly at our abode there so
long.
They put (2nd November) another device in practice to endanger us.
For they sent forth a great shallop, a fine gundeloe, and a great canoe,
with certain Spaniards with shot, and many Indians with poisoned arrows,
as it seemed, with intent to begin some fight, and then to fly. For
as soon as we rowed toward them and interchanged shot, they presently
retired and went ashore into the woods, where an ambush of some sixty
shot were laid for us: besides two pinnaces and a frigate warping
towards us, which were manned as the rest. They attempted us very
boldly, being assisted by those others, which from out of the wood, had
gotten aboard the gundeloe and canoe, and seeing us bearing from them
(which we did in respect of the _ambuscado_), they encouraged themselves
and assured their fellows of the day.
But our Captain weighing this their attempt, and being out of danger
of their shot from the land, commanding his other pinnace to be brought
ahead of him, and to let fall their grapners each ahead of the other,
environed both the pinnaces with bonnets, as for a close fight, and then
wheaved [waved] them aboard him.
They kept themselves upon their oars at caliver-shot distance, spending
powder apace; as we did some two or three hours. We had only one of our
men wounded in that fight. What they had is unknown to us, but we saw
their pinnaces shot through in divers places, and the powder of one of
them took fire; whereupon we weighed, intending to bear room to overrun
them: which they perceiving, and thinking that we would have boarded
them, rowed away amain to the defence they had in the wood, the rather
because they were disappointed of their help that they expected from the
frigate; which was warping towards us, but by reason of the much wind
that blew, could not come to offend us or succour them.
Thus seeing that we were still molested, and no hope remained of any
purchase to be had in this place any longer; because we were now so
notably made known in those parts, and because our victuals grew scant:
as soon as the weather waxed somewhat better (the wind continuing always
westerly, so that we could not return to our ships) our Captain
thought best to go (3rd November) to the Eastward, towards _Rio Grande_
[Magdalena] long the coast, where we had been before, and found great
store of victuals.
But when after two days' sailing, we were arrived (5th November) at
the villages of store, where before we had furnished ourselves with
abundance of hens, sheep, calves, hogs, etc.; now we found bare nothing,
not so much as any people left: for that they, by the Spaniards'
commandments, had fled to the mountains, and had driven away all their
cattle, that we might not be relieved by them. Herewith being very
sorry, because much of our victuals in our pinnaces was spoilt by the
foul weather at sea and rains in harbour. A frigate being descried at
sea revived us, and put us in some hope for the time, that in her we
should find sufficient; and thereupon it may easily be guessed, how much
we laboured to recover her: but when we had boarded her, and understood
that she had neither meat nor money, but that she was bound for _Rio
Grande_ to take in provision upon bills, our great hope converted into
grief.
We endured with our allowance seven or eight days more, proceeding to
the Eastward, and bearing room for Santa Marta, upon hope to find some
shipping in the road, or limpets on the rocks, or succour against the
storm in that good harbour. Being arrived; and seeing no shipping;
we anchored under the western point, where is high land, and, as we
thought, free in safety from the town, which is in the bottom of the
bay: not intending to land there, because we knew that it was fortified,
and that they had intelligence of us.
But the Spaniards (knowing us to be Men-of-war, and misliking that we
should shroud under their rocks without their leave) had conveyed some
thirty or forty shot among the cliffs, which annoyed us so spitefully
and so unrevengedly, for that they lay hidden behind the rocks, but we
lay open to them, that we were soon weary of our harbour, and enforced
(for all the storm without and want within) to put to sea. Which though
these enemies of ours were well contented withal, yet for a farewell,
as we came open of the town, they sent us a culverin shot; which made
a near escape, for it fell between our pinnaces, as we were upon
conference of what was best to be done.
The company advised that if it pleased him, they might put themselves
aland, some place to the Eastward to get victuals, and rather hope for
courtesy from the country-people, than continue at sea, in so long cold,
and great a storm in so leaky a pinnace. But our Captain would in no
wise like of that advice; he thought it better to bear up towards Rio de
[la] Hacha, or Coricao [Curacao], with hope to have plenty without
great resistance: because he knew, either of the islands were not very
populous, or else it would be very likely that these would be found
ships of victual in a readiness.
The company of the other pinnace answered, that "They would willingly
follow him through the world; but in this they could not see how either
their pinnaces should live in that sea, without being eaten up in that
storm, or they themselves able to endure so long time, with so slender
provision as they had, viz., only one gammon of bacon and thirty pounds
of biscuit for eighteen men."
Our Captain replied, that "They were better provided than himself was,
who had but one gammon of bacon, and forty pounds of biscuit for his
twenty-four men; and therefore he doubted not but they would take such
part as he did, and willingly depend upon God's Almighty providence,
which never faileth them that trust in Him."
With that he hoisted his foresail, and set his course for Coricao;
which the rest perceiving with sorrowful hearts in respect of the weak
pinnace, yet desirous to follow their Captain, consented to take the
same course.
We had not sailed past three leagues, but we had espied a sail plying
to the Westward, with her two courses, to our great joy: who vowed
together, that we would have her, or else it should cost us dear.
Bearing with her, we found her to be a Spanish ship of above 90 tons,
which being wheaved [waved] amain by us, despised our summons, and shot
off her ordnance at us.
The sea went very high, so that it was not for us to attempt to board
her, and therefore we made fit small sail to attend upon her, and keep
her company to her small content, till fairer weather might lay the
sea. We spent not past two hours in our attendance, till it pleased God,
after a great shower, to send us a reasonable calm, so that we might
use our pieces [i. e., bases] and approach her at pleasure, in such sort
that in short time we had taken her; finding her laden with victuals
well powdered [salted] and dried: which at that present we received as
sent us of God's great mercy.
After all things were set in order, and that the wind increased towards
night, we plied off and on, till day (13th November), at what time our
Captain sent in ELLIS HIXOM, who had then charge of his pinnace, to
search out some harbour along the coast; who having found out a little
one, some ten or twelve leagues to the east of Santa Marta, where in
sounding he had good ground and sufficient water, presently returned,
and our Captain brought in his new prize. Then by promising liberty, and
all the apparel to the Spaniards which we had taken if they would bring
us to water and fresh victuals; the rather by their means, we obtained
of the inhabitants (Indians) what they had, which was plentiful. These
Indians were clothed and governed by a Spaniard, which dwelt in the
next town, not past a league off. We stayed there all day, watering
and wooding, and providing things necessary, by giving content and
satisfaction of the Indians. But towards night our Captain called all of
us aboard (only leaving the Spaniards lately taken in the prize
ashore, according to our promise made them, to their great content; who
acknowledged that our Captain did them a far greater favour in setting
them freely at liberty, than he had done them displeasure in taking
their ship), and so set sail.
The sickness which had begun to kindle among us, two or three
days before, did this day shew itself, in CHARLES GLUB, one of our
Quarter-Masters, a very tall man, and a right good mariner; taken away,
to the great grief both of Captain and company. What the cause of this
malady was, we knew not of certainty, we imputed it to the cold which
our men had taken, lying without succour in the pinnaces. But however it
was, thus it pleased GOD to visit us, and yet in favour to restore unto
health all the rest of our company, that were touched with this disease;
which were not a few.
The next morning (15th November) being fair weather, though the wind
continued contrary, our Captain commanded the _Minion_, his lesser
pinnace, to hasten away before him towards his ships at Fort Diego
within the Cabecas [Headlands] to carry news of his coming, and to put
all things in a readiness for our land journey, if they heard anything
of the Fleet's arrival by the Cimaroons; giving the _Minion_ charge if
they wanted wine, to take St. Bernards in their way, and there take in
some such portion as they thought good, of the wines which we had there
hidden in the sand.
We plied to windwards, as near as we could, so that within seven-night
after the _Minion_ departed from us, we came (22nd November) to St.
Bernards, finding but twelve _botijos_ of wine of all the store we left,
which had escaped the curious search of the enemy, who had been there;
for they were deep in the ground.
Within four or five days after, we came (27th November) to our ship,
where we found all other things in good order; but received very heavy
news of the death of JOHN DRAKE, our Captain's brother, and another
young man called RICHARD ALLEN, which were both slain at one time (9th
October), as they attempted the boarding of a frigate, within two days
after our departing from them.
The manner of it, as we learned by examination of the company, was this.
When they saw this frigate at sea, as they were going towards their fort
with planks to make the platforms, the company were very importunate on
him, to give chase and set upon this frigate, which they deemed had been
a fit booty for them. But he told them, that they "wanted weapons to
assail; they knew not how the frigate was provided, they had their boats
loaded with planks, to finish that his brother had commanded." But when
this would not satisfy them, but that still they urged him with words
and supposals: "If you will needs," said he, "adventure! It shall never
be said that I will be hindmost, neither shall you report to my brother,
that you lost your voyage by any cowardice you found in me!"
Thereupon every man shifted as they might for the time: and heaving
their planks overboard, took them such poor weapons as they had: viz.,
a broken pointed rapier, one old visgee, and a rusty caliver: JOHN DRAKE
took the rapier, and made a gauntlet of his pillow, RICHARD ALLEN the
visgee, both standing at the head of the pinnace, called _Eion_. ROBERT
took the caliver and so boarded. But they found the frigate armed round
about with a close fight of hides, full of pikes and calivers, which
were discharged in their faces, and deadly wounded those that were in
the fore-ship, JOHN DRAKE in the belly, and RICHARD ALLEN in the
head. But notwithstanding their wounds, they with oars shifted off the
pinnace, got clear of the frigate, and with all haste recovered their
ship: where within an hour after, this young man of great hope, ended
his days, greatly lamented of all the company.
Thus having moored our ships fast, our Captain resolved to keep himself
close without being descried, until he might hear of the coming of the
Spanish Fleet; and therefore set no more to sea; but supplied his
wants, both for his own company and the Cimaroons, out of his aforesaid
magazine, beside daily out of the woods, with wild hogs, pheasants, and
guanas: continuing in health (GOD be praised) all the meantime, which
was a month at least; till at length about the beginning of January,
half a score of our company fell down sick together (3rd January, 1573),
and the most of them died within two or three days. So long that we
had thirty at a time sick of this _calenture_, which attacked our men,
either by reason of the sudden change from cold to heat, or by reason of
brackish water which had been taken in by our pinnace, through the sloth
of their men in the mouth of the river, not rowing further in where the
water was good.
Among the rest, JOSEPH DRAKE, another of his brethren, died in our
Captain's arms, of the same disease: of which, that the cause might
be the better discerned, and consequently remedied, to the relief of
others, by our Captain's appointment he was ripped open by the surgeon,
who found his liver swollen, his heart as it were sodden, and his guts
all fair. This was the first and last experiment that our Captain made
of anatomy in this voyage.
The Surgeon that cut him open, over-lived him not past four days,
although he was not touched with that sickness, of which he had been
recovered about a month before: but only of an over-bold practice which
he would needs make upon himself, by receiving an over-strong purgation
of his own device, after which taken, he never spake; nor his Boy
recovered the health which he lost by tasting it, till he saw England.
The Cimaroons, who, as is before said, had been entertained by our
Captain in September last, and usually repaired to our ship, during all
the time of our absence, ranged the country up and down, between Nombre
de Dios and us, to learn what they might for us; whereof they gave our
Captain advertisement, from time to time; as now particularly certain of
them let him understand, that the Fleet had certainly arrived in Nombre
de Dios.
Therefore he sent (30th January) the _Lion_, to the seamost islands of
the Cativaas, to descry the truth of the report: by reason it must
needs be, that if the Fleet were in Nombre de Dios, all frigates of the
country would repair thitherward with victuals.
The _Lion_, within a few days descried that she was sent for, espying a
frigate, which she presently boarded and took, laden with maize, hens,
and pompions from Tolou; who assured us of the whole truth of the
arrival of the Fleet: in this frigate were taken one woman and twelve
men, of whom one was the _Scrivano_ of Tolou. These we used very
courteously, keeping them diligently guarded form the deadly hatred of
the Cimaroons; who sought daily by all means they could, to get them of
our Captain, that they might cut their throats, to revenge their wrongs
and injuries which the Spanish nation had done them; but our Captain
persuaded them not to touch them, or give them ill countenance, while
they were in his charge; and took order for their safety, not only in
his presence, but also in his absence. For when he had prepared to take
his journey for Panama, by land; he gave ELLIS HIXOM charge of his own
ship and company, and especially of those Spaniards whom he had put into
the great prize, which was hauled ashore to the island, which we termed
Slaughter Island (because so many of our men died there), and used as a
storehouse for ourselves, and a prison for our enemies.
All things thus ordered, our Captain conferring with his company, and
the chiefest of the Cimaroons, what provisions were to be prepared
for this great and long journey, what kind of weapons, what store of
victuals, and what manner of apparel: was especially advised, to carry
as great store of shoes as possible he might, by reason of so many
rivers with stone and gravel as they were to pass. Which, accordingly
providing, prepared his company for that journey, entering it upon
Shrove-Tuesday (3rd February). At what time, there had died twenty-eight
of our men, and a few whole men were left aboard with ELLIS HIXOM to
keep the ship, and attend the sick, and guard the prisoners.
At his departure our Captain gave this Master straight charge, in any
case not to trust any messenger, that should come in his name with any
tokens, unless he brought his handwriting: which he knew could not be
counterfeited by the Cimaroons or Spaniards.
We were in all forty-eight, of which eighteen only were English; the
rest were Cimaroons, which beside their arms, bare every one of them, a
great quantity of victuals and provision, supplying our want of carriage
in so long a march, so that we were not troubled with anything but
our furniture. And because they could not carry enough to suffice us
altogether; therefore (as they promised before) so by the way with their
arrows, they provided for us competent store from time to time.
They have every one of them two sorts of arrows: the one to defend
himself and offend the enemy, the other to kill his victuals. These for
fight are somewhat like the Scottish arrow; only somewhat longer, and
headed with iron, wood, or fish bones. But the arrows for provision are
of three sorts, the first serveth to kill any great beast near at hand,
as ox, stag, or wild boar: this hath a head of iron of a pound and a
half weight, shaped in form like the head of a javelin or boar-spear,
as sharp as any knife, making so large and deep a wound as can hardly
be believed of him that hath not seen it. The second serveth for lesser
beasts, and hath a head of three-quarters of a pound: this he most
usually shooteth. The third serveth for all manner of birds: it hath a
head of an ounce weight. And these heads though they be of iron only,
yet are they so cunningly tempered, that they will continue a very good
edge a long time: and though they be turned sometimes, yet they
will never or seldom break. The necessity in which they stand hereof
continually causeth them to have iron in far greater account than gold:
and no man among them is of greater estimation, than he that can most
perfectly give this temper unto it.
Every day we were marching by sun-rising. We continued till ten in
the forenoon: then resting (ever near some river) till past twelve, we
marched till four, and then by some river's side, we reposed ourselves
in such houses, as either we found prepared heretofore by them, when
they travelled through these woods, or they daily built very readily for
us in this manner.
As soon as we came to the place where we intended to lodge, the
Cimaroons, presently laying down their burdens, fell to cutting of forks
or posts, and poles or rafters, and palmito boughs, or plantain leaves;
and with great speed set up the number of six houses. For every of
which, they first fastened deep into the ground, three or four great
posts with forks: upon them, they laid one transom, which was commonly
about twenty feet, and made the sides, in the manner of the roofs of our
country houses, thatching it close with those aforesaid leaves, which
keep out water a long time: observing always that in the lower
ground, where greater heat was, they left some three or four feet open
unthatched below, and made the houses, or rather roofs, so many feet the
higher. But in the hills, where the air was more piercing and the nights
cold, they made our rooms always lower, and thatched them close to the
ground, leaving only one door to enter in, and a louvre hole for a vent,
in the midst of the roof. In every of these, they made four several
lodgings, and three fires, one in the midst, and one at each end of
every house: so that the room was most temperately warm, and nothing
annoyed with smoke, partly by reason of the nature of the wood which
they use to burn, yielding very little smoke, partly by reason of their
artificial making of it: as firing the wood cut in length like our
billets at the ends, and joining them together so close, that though no
flame or fire did appear, yet the heat continued without intermission.