ships, whereof one was of Newhauen, another of S. Malos, and so finding
them to be Leaguers and lawful Prises, we tooke them and sent two of them
for England with all their loding, which was fish for the most part from
New-found-land, sauing that there was part thereof distributed amongst our
small Fleet, as we could find Stowage for the same: and in the third, all
their men were sent home into France. The same day and the day folowing we
met with some other ships, whom (when after some conference had with them,
we perceiued plainly to bee of Roterodam and Emden, bound for Rochell) we
dismissed.
The 28 and 29 dayes we met diuers of our English ships, returning from the
Portugall voiage which my lord relieued with victuals. The 13 day of Iuly
being Sonday in the morning, we espied 11 ships without sight of the coast
of Spaine, in the height of 39 degrees, whom wee presently prepared for,
and prouided to meet them, hauing first set forth Captaine Mounson in the
Meg, before vs, to descry whence they were. The Meg approching neere, there
passed some shot betwixt them, whereby, as also by their Admiral and
Vice-admirall putting foorth their flags, we perceiued that some fight was
likely to follow. Having therefore fitted our selues for them, we made what
hast we could towards them with regard alwayes to get the wind of them, and
about 10 or 11 of the clocke, we came vp to them with the Victory. But
after some few shot and some litle fight passed betwixt vs, they yeelded
themselues, and the masters of them all came aboord vs, shewing their
seueral Pasports from the cities of Hamburg and Lubeck, from Breme,
Pomerania and Calice.
They had in them certaine bags of Pepper and Synamon, which they confessed
to be the goods of the Iew in Lisbon, which should haue bene carried by
them into their countrey to his Factor there, and so finding it by their
owne confession to be lawful Prise, the same was soone after taken and
diuided amongst our whole company, the value wherof was esteemed to be
about 4500 pounds, at two shillings the pound.
The 17 day the foresaid ships were dismissed, but 7 of their men that were
willing to go along with vs for sailers, we tooke to help vs, and so held
on our course for the Azores.
The 1 of August being Friday in the morning, we had sight of the Iland of
S. Michael, being one of the Eastermost of the Azores toward which we
sailed all that day, and at night hauing put foorth a Spanish flag in our
main-top, that so they might the lesse suspect vs, we approched neere to
the chiefe towne and road of that Iland, where we espied 3 ships riding at
anker and some other vessels: all which we determined to take in the darke
of the night, and accordingly attempted about 10 or 11 of the clocke,
sending our boats well manned to cut their cables and hausers, and let them
driue into the sea. Our men comming to them, found the one of those
greatest ships was the Falcon of London being there vnder a Scottish Pilot
who bare the name of her as his own. [Sidenote: 3 ships forcibly towed our
of harbour.] But 3 other smal ships that lay neere vnder the castle there,
our men let loose and towed them away vnto vs, most of the Spaniards that
were in them leaping ouer-boord and swimming to shore with lowd and
lamentable outcries, which they of the towne hearing were in an vprore, and
answered with the like crying. The castle discharged some great shot at our
boats, but shooting without marke by reason of the darknesse they did vs no
hurt. The Scots likewise discharged 3 great pieces into the aire to make
the Spaniards thinke they were their friends and our enemies, and shortly
after the Scottish master, and some other with him, came aboord to my lord
doing their dutie, and offering their seruice, &c. These 3 ships were
fraught with wine and Sallet-oile from Siuil.
The same day our Carauel chased a Spanish Carauel to shore at S. Michael,
which caried letters thither, by which we learned that the Caraks were
departed from Tercera 8 dayes before.
The 7 of August we had sight of a litle ship which wee chased towards
Tercera with our pinasse (the weather being calme) and towards euening we
ouertooke her, there were in her 30 tunnes of good Madera wine, certaine
woollen cloth, silke, taffata, &c. The 14 of August we came to the Iland of
Flores, where we determined to take in some fresh water and fresh victuals,
such as the Iland did affoord. So we manned our boats with some 120 men and
rowed towards the shore; whereto when we approched the inhabitants that
were assembled at the landing place, put foorth a flag of truce, whereupon
we also did the like.
When we came to them, my Lord gaue them to vnderstand by his Portugall
interpreter, that he was a friend to their king Don Antonio, and came not
any way to iniury them, but that he meant onely to haue some fresh water
and fresh victuals of them, by way of exchange for some prouision that he
had, as oile, wine, or pepper, to which they presently agreed willingly,
and sent some of their company for beeues and sheepe, and we in the meane
season marched Southward about a mile to Villa de Santa Cruz, from whence
all the inhabitants yong and old were departed, and not any thing of value
left. We demanding of them what was the cause hereof, they answered, Feare;
as their vsuall maner was when any ships came neere their coast.
We found that part of the Iland to be full of great rockie barren hils and
mountains, litle inhabited by reason that it is molested with ships of war
which might partly appeare by this towne of Santa Cruz (being one of their
chiefe townes) which was all ruinous, and (as it were) but the reliques of
the ancient towne which had bene burnt about two yeeres before by certaine
English ships of war, as the inhabitants there reported.
At euening as we were in rowing towards the Victory, an huge fish pursued
vs for the space of well nigh of two miles together, distant for the most
part from the boats sterne not a speares length, and sometimes so neere
that the boat stroke vpon him, the tips of whose finnes about the ghils
(appearing oft times aboue the water) were by estimation 4 or 5 yards
asunder, and his iawes gaping a yard and a halfe wide, which put vs in
feare of ouerturning the pinnasse, but God be thanked (rowing as hard as we
could) we escaped.
When we were about Flores a litle ship called the Drake, brought vs word
that the Caraks were at Tercera, of which newes we were very glad, and sped
vs thitherward with all the speed we could: and by the way we came to Fayal
road the seuen and twentieth day of August after sunne set, where we espied
certaine shippes ryding at anker, to whom we sent in our Skiffe with
Captaine Lister and Captaine Monson in her to discouer the roaders: and
least any daunger should happen to our boate, we sent in likewise the
Sawsie Iack and the small Carauell; but the wind being off the shoare, the
shippes were not able to fet it so nigh as the Spaniards ride, which
neuerthelesse the boate did, and clapped a shippe aboord of two hundred and
fiftie tunnes, which caried in her fourteene cast peeces, and continued
fight alone with her for the space of one houre vntill the comming vp of
other boates to the reskue of her, which were sent from the shippes, and
then a fresh boording her againe one boate in the quarter, another in the
hause, we entred her on the one side, and all the Spaniards lept ouerboord
on the other, saue Iuan de Palma the Captaine of her and two or three more,
and thus we became possessors of her. This shippe was mored to the Castle
which shot at vs all this while: the onely hurt which we receiued of all
this shot was this, that the master of our Carauell had the calfe of his
legge shot away. This shippe was laden with Sugar, Ginger, and hides lately
come from S. Iuan de Puerto Rico; after we had towed her cleare off the
castle, we rowed in againe with our boats, and fetched out fiue small ships
more, one laden with hides, another with Elephants teeth, graines,
coco-nuts, and goates skins come from Guinie, another with woad, and two
with dogge-fish, which two last we let driue into the sea making none
account of them. The other foure we sent for England the 30 of August.
At the taking of these Prizes were consorted with vs some other small men
of warre, as Maister Iohn Dauis with his shippe, Pinnesse, and Boate,
Captaine Markesburie with his ship, whose owner was Sir Walter Ralegh, the
Barke of Lime, which was also consorted with vs before.
[Sidenote: An eescape of 8 Englishmen from Tercera.] The last of August in
the morning we came in sight of Tercera, being about some nine or ten
leagues from shoare, where we espied comming toward vs, a small boat vnder
saile, which seemed somewhat strange vnto vs, being so farre from lande,
and no shippe in sight, to which they might belong; but comming neere, they
put vs out of doubt, shewing they were English men (eight in number) that
had lately bene prisoners in Tercera, and finding opportunitie to escape at
that time, with that small boat committed themselues to the sea, vnder Gods
prouidence, hauing no other yard for their maine saile, but two pipe staues
tyed together by the endes, and no more prouision of victuals, then they
could bring in their pockets and bosomes. Hauing taken them all into the
Victorie, they gaue vs certaine intelligence, that the Carackes were
departed from thence about a weeke before.
Thus beeing without any further hope of those Caraks, we resolued to
returne for Fayall, with intent to surprize the towne, but vntill the ninth
of September, we had either the winde so contrary, or the weather so calme,
that in all that time, we made scarce nine or ten leagues way, lingring vp
and downe not farre from Pico.
The tenth of September being Wednesday in the afternoone, wee came again to
Fayal roade. Whereupon immediatly my Lord sent Captaine Lister, with one of
Graciosa (whom Capatine Munson had before taken) and some others, towards
Fayal, whom certaine of the Inhabitants met in a boat, and came with
Captaine Lister to my Lord, to whom hee gaue this choice: either to suffer
him quietly to enter into the platforme there without resistance, where he
and his companie would remaine a space without offering any iniurie to
them, that they (the Inhabitants) might come vnto him and compound for the
ransome of the Towne; or else to stand to the hazard of the warre.
With these words they returned to the towne: but the keepers of the
platforme answered, that it was against their oath and allegeance to king
Philip to giue ouer without fight. Whereupon my Lord commanded the boates
of euery ship, to be presently manned, and soone after landed his men on
the sandie shoare, vnder the side of an hill, about halfe a league to the
Northwards from the platforme: vpon the toppe of which hill certaine
horsemen and footmen shewed themselues, and other two companies also
appeared, with ensignes displayed, the one before the towne vpon the shore
by the sea side, which marched towards our landing place, as though they
would encounter vs; the other in a valley to the Southwards of the
platforme, as if they would haue come to helpe the Townesmen: during which
time they in the platforme also played vpon vs with great Ordinance.
[Sidenote: The taking of the towne and platforme of Fayal.] Notwithstanding
my L. (hauing set his men in order) marched along the sea shore, vpon the
sands, betwixt the sea and the towne towards the platforme for the space of
a mile or more, and then the shore growing rockie, and permitting no
further progresse without much difficultie, he entred into the towne and
passed through the street without resistance, vnto the platforme; for those
companies before mentioned at my Lo. approching, were soone dispersed, and
suddenly vanished.
Likewise they of the platforme, being all fled at my Lordes comming
thither, left him and his company to scale the walles, to enter and take
possession without resistance.
In the meane time our shippes ceased not to batter the foresaid Towne and
Platforme with great shotte, till such time as we saw the Red-Crosse of
England flourishing vpon the Forefront thereof.
[Sidenote: A description of the towne of Faial.] This Fayal is the
principal towne in all that is land, and is situate directly ouer against
the high and mighty mountaine Pico, lying towards the West Northwest from
that mountaine, being deuided therefrom by a narrow Sea, which at that
place is by estimation about some two or three leagues in bredth betweene
the Isles of Fayal and Pico.
The towne conteyned some three hundred housholds, their houses were faire
and strongly builded of lime and stone, and double couered with hollow
tyles much like our roofe tyles, but that they are lesse at the one end
then at the other.
Euery house almost had a cisteme or well in a garden on the backe side: in
which gardens grew vines (with ripe clusters of grapes) making pleasant
shadowes, and Tabacco nowe commonly knowen and vsed in England, wherewith
their women there dye their faces reddish, to make them seeme fresh and
young: Pepper Indian and common; figge-trees bearing both white and red
figges: Peach trees not growing very tall: Orenges, Limons, Quinces,
Potato-roots, &c. Sweete wood (Cedar I thinke) is there very common, euen
for building and firing.
My Lord hauing possessed himselfe of the towne and platforme, and being
carefull of the preseruation of the towne, gaue commandement, that no
mariner or souldier should enter into any house, to make any spoyle
thereof. But especially he was carefull that the Churches and houses of
religion there should be kept inuiolate, which was accordingly performed,
through his appointment of guarders and keepers for those places: but the
rest of the towne eyther for want of the former inhibition, or for desire
of spoyle and prey, was rifled, and ransacked by the souldiers and
mariners, who scarcely left any house vnsearched, out of which they tooke
such things as liked them, as chestes of sweete wood, chaires, cloth,
couerlets, hangings, bedding, apparell: and further ranged into the
countrey, where some of them also were hurt by the inhabitants. The Friery
there conteyning and maintayning thirty Franciscan Friars (among whom we
could not finde any one able to speake true Latine) was builded by a Fryer
of Angra in Tercera of the same order, about the yeare of our Lord one
thousand fiue hundred and sixe. The tables in the hall had seates for the
one side onely, and were alwayes couered, as readie at all times for dinner
or supper.
From Wednesday in the afternoone, at which time we entred the towne, til
Saturday night, we continued there, vntill the Inhabitants had agreed and
payed for the ransome of the towne, two thousand duckats, most part whereof
was Church-plate.
We found in the platfonne eight and fiftie yron peeces of Ordinance,
whereof three and twentie (as I remember) or more were readie mounted vpon
their carriages, betweene Barricadoes, vpon a platforme towardes the
sea-side, all which Ordinance we tooke, and set the platforme on fire, and
so departed: My Lord hauing inuited to dinner in the Victorie, on the
Sunday following, so many of the Inhabitants as would willingly come (saue
onely Diego Gomes the Gouernour, who came but once onely to parle about the
ransome) onely foure came and were well entertained, and solemnely
dismissed with sound of drumme and trumpets, and a peale of Ordinance: to
whom my Lord deliuered his letter subscribed with his owne hand, importing
a request ['repuest' in source text--KTH] to all other Englishmen to
abstaine from any further molesting them, saue onely for fresh water, and
victuals necessary for their intended voyage. During our abode here (viz.
the 11 of September) two men came out of Pico which had beene prisoners
there: Also at Fayal we set at libertie a prisoner translated from S. Iago
who was cousin to a seruant of Don Anthonio king of Portugall in England:
These prisoners we deteyned with vs.
On Munday we sent our boates ashore for fresh water, which (by reason of
the raine that fell the former night) came plentifully running downe the
hilles, and would otherwise haue beene hard to be gotten there. On Tuesday
likewise hauing not yet suffiently serued our turnes, we sent againe for
fresh water, which was then not so easie to be gotten as the day before, by
reason of a great winde: which in the afternoone increased also in such
sort, that we thought it not safe to ride so neere the land; whereupon we
weyed anker and so departed Northwest and by west, alongst the coast of
Fayal Island. Some of the Inhabitants comming aboord to vs this day, tolde
vs that always about that time of the yeere such windes West Southwest blew
on that coast.
This day, as we sayled neere Saint Georges Island, a huge fish lying still
a litle vnder water, or rather euen therewith, appeared hard by a head of
vs, the sea breaking vpon his backe, which was blacke coloured, in such
sort as deeming at the first it had beene a rocke, and the ship stemming
directly with him, we were put in a sudden feare for the time: till soone
after we saw him moue out of the way.
The 16 of September in the nigh it lightened much, whereupon there followed
great winds and raine which continued the 17 18 19-20 and 21 of the same.
The 23 of September we came againe into Faial road to weigh an anker which
(for haste and feare of foule weather) wee had left there before, where we
went on shore to see the towne, the people (as we thought) hauing now
setled themselues there againe, but notwithstanding many of them through
too much distrustfulnesse, departed and prepared to depart with their
packets at the first sight of vs: vntill such time as they were assured by
my Lord, that our comming was not any way to iniury them, but especially to
haue fresh water, and some other things needeful for vs, contenting them
for the same.
So then we viewed the Towne quietly, and bought such things as we desired
for our money as if we had bene in England. And they helped to fill vs in
fresh water, receiuing for their paines such satisfaction as contented
them.
The 25 day we were forced againe to depart from thence, before we had
sufficiently watered, by reason of a great tempest that suddenly arose in
the night, in so much, that my Lord himselfe soone after midnight raysed
our men out of itheir Cabines to wey anker, himselfe also together with
them haling at the Capsten, and after chearing them vp with wine.
The next day we sent our Carauel and the Sawsie-Iack to the road of Saint
Michael, to see what they could espie: we following after them vpon the 27
day, plying to and fro, came within sight of S. Michael, but by contrary
windes the 28 29 and 30 dayes wee were driuen to leewarde, and could not
get neere the Island.
The first of October wee sayled alongst Tercera, and euen against Brasill
(a promontorie neere to Angra the strongest Towne in that Island) wee
espied some boates comming to the Towne, and made out towardes them: but
being neere to the lande they ranne to shoare and escaped vs.
In the afternoone we came neere to Graciosa, whereupon my Lord foorthwith
sent Captain Lister to the Ilanders, to let them vnderstand that his desire
was onely to haue water and wine of them, and some fresh victuals, and not
any further to trouble them. They answered they could giue no resolute
answere to this demande, vntill the Gouernors of the Iland had consulted
therevpon, and therefore desired him to send againe to them the next day.
Vpon the second day of October eariy in the morning, we sent forth our long
boat and Pinnesse, with emptie Caske, and about some fiftie or sixty men
together with the Margaret, and Captaine Dauis his shippe: for we now
wanted all the rest of our consortes. But when our men would haue landed,
the Ilanders shot at them, and would not suffer them. And troupes of men
appeared vpon land, with ensignes displayed to resist vs: So our boates
rowed alongst the shoare, to finde some place where they might land, not
with too much disaduantage: our shippes and they still shooting at the
Ilanders: but no place could be founde where they might land without great
perill of loosing many of their liues, and so were constrayned to retire
without receiuing any answere, as was promised the day before. We had three
men hurt in this conflict, whilest our boates were together in consulting
what was best to be done: two of them were stroken with a great shot (which
the Ilanders drew from place to place with Oxen) wherewith the one lost his
hand, and the other his life within two or three dayes after: the third was
shot into his necke with a small shot, without any great hurt.
With these newes our company returned backe againe at night, whereupon
preparation was made to goe to them againe the next day: but the daye was
farre spent before we could come neere them with our ship: neither could we
finde any good ground to anker in, where we might lye to batter the Towne,
and further we could finde no landing place, without great danger to loose
many men: which might turne not only to the ouerthrow of our voiage, but
also put the Queenes ship in great perill for want of men to bring her
home. Therefore my Lord thought it best to write to them to this efiect:
That he could not a litle maruell at their inhumanitie and crueltie which
they had shewed towards his men, seeing they were sent by him vnto them in
peaceable manner to receiue their answere which they had promised to giue
the day before: and that were it not for Don Antonio their lawful king his
sake, he could not put vp so great iniury at their hands, without iust
reuengement vpon them: notwithstanding for Don Antonio his sake, whose
friend he was, he was yet content to send to them once againe for their
answere: At night Captaine Lister returned with this answere from them.
That their Gunner shot off one of their pieces, which was charged with
pouder onely, and was stopped; which our men thinking it had bin shot at
them, shot againe, and so beganne the fight: and that the next morning they
would send my Lord a resolute answere to his demaunde, for as yet they
could not knowe their Gouernours minde herein. The next morning there came
vnto vs a boate from the shoare with a flagge of truce, wherein were three
of the chiefe men of the Island, who agreed with my Lorde that hee should
haue of them sixtie buttes of wine, and fresh victuals to refresh himselfe
and his companie withall: but as for fresh water, they could not satisfie
our neede therein, hauing themselues little or none, sauing such as they
saued in vessels or cistrnes when it rayned, and that they had rather giue
vs two tunnes of wine then one of water: but they requested that our
souldiers might not come on shoare, for they themselues would bring all
they had promised to the water-side, which request was graunted, we keeping
one of them aboord with vs, untill their promise was performed, and the
other we sent to shoare with our emptie Caske, and some of our men to helpe
to fill, and bring them away with such other prouision as was promised: so
the Margaret, Captaine Dauis his shippe, and another of Weymouth stayed
ryding at anker before the Towne, to take in our prouision. This shippe of
Weymouth came to vs the day before, and had taken a rich Prize (as it was
reported) worth sixteene thousand pound, which brought vs newes that the
West-Indian Fleete was not yet come, but would come very shortly. But we
with the Victorie put off to sea, and vpon Saturday the fourth of October,
we tooke a French shippe of Saint Malo (a citie of the vnholy league) loden
with fish from Newfoundland: which had beene in so great a tempest, that
she was constrayned to cut her mayne mast ouerboord for her safetie, and
was now comming to Graciosa, to repaire her selfe. But so hardly it befell
her, that she did not onely not repaire her former losses, but lost all
that remayned vnto vs. The chiefe of our men we tooke into our ship, and
sent some of our men, mariners, and souldiers into her to bring her into
England.
Vpon the Sunday following at night, all our promised prouision was brought
vnto vs from Gratiosa: and we friendly dismissed the Ilanders with a peale
of Ordinance.