Englishmen were gone, yet were there eight hundred men made out vnder
the leading of seueral Captains, whereof two hundred were sent to the
port of S. Iohn de Vllua, vpon the North Sea vnder the conduct of Don
Luys Suares, two hundred were sent to Guatimala in the South sea, who
had for their captaine Iohn Cortes, two hundred more were sent to
Guatulco, a port of the South sea, ouer whom went for captaine Don Pedro
de Robles, and two hundred more were sent to Acapulco, the port where it
was said that Captaine Drake had bene. And they had for Captaine doctor
Robles Alcalde de Corte, with whom I Miles Philips went as interpreter,
hauing licence giuen by the Inquisitors. When we were come to Acapulco,
we found that Captaine Drake was departed from thence, more then a
moneth before we came thither. But yet our captaine Alcalde de Corte
there presently embarked himselfe in a small ship of threescore tunne or
thereabout, hauing also in companie with him two other small barkes, and
not past two hundred men in all, with whom I went as interpreter in his
owne ship, which God knoweth was but weake and ill appointed, so that
for certaine, if we had met with Captaine Drake, he might easily haue
taken vs all: We being imbarked kept our course and ranne Southward
towards Panama, keeping still as nigh the shore as we could, and leauing
the land vpon our left hand, and hauing coasted thus for the space of
eighteene or twentie dayes, and being more to the South then Guatimala,
we met at last with other ships which came from Panama, of whom we were
certainly informed that he was cleane gone off the coast more then a
moneth before: and so we returned backe to Acapulco againe, and there
landed, our Captaine being thereunto forced, because his men were very
sore sea-sicke: All the while that I was at Sea with them I was a glad
man, for I hoped that if we met with master Drake, we should all be
taken, so that then I should haue beene freed out of that danger and
miserie wherein I liued, and should returne to mine owne countrey of
England againe. But missing thereof, when I sawe there was no remedie
but that we must needes come on lande againe, little doeth any man know
the sorow and griefe that inwardly I felt, although outwardly I was
constrained to make faire weather of it. And so being landed, the next
morow after, we began our iourney towardes Mexico, and past these townes
of name in our way, as first the towne of Tuatepec, 50 leagues from
Mexico, from thence to Washaca, 40 leagues from Mexico: from thence to
Tepiaca 24 leagues from Mexico, and from thence to Pueblo de los
Angeles, where is a high hill which casteth out fire three times a day,
which hill is 18 leagues in maner directly West from Mexico, from thence
we went to Stapelapa, 8 leagues from Mexico, and there our captaine and
most of his men tooke boat, and came to Mexico againe, hauing bene forth
about the space of seuen weekes or thereabouts. Our captaine made report
to the Viceroy what he had done, and how farre he had trauelled, and
that for certaine he was informed that Captaine Drake was not to be
heard of. [Sidenote: The Spanish Viceroy prophecied, but falsely.] To
which the Viceroy replied and said, Surely we shall haue him shortly
come into our hands driuen a land through necessitie in some one place
or other, for he being now in these seas of Sur, it is not possible for
him to get out of them againe, so that if he perish not at sea, yet
hunger wil force him to land. And then againe I was commanded by the
Viceroy that I should not depart the citie of Mexico, but alwaies be at
my masters house in a readinesse at an houres warning, when soeuer I
should be called: for that notwithstanding within one moneth after
certaine Spaniards going to Mecameca, 18 leagues from Mexico, to send
away certaine hides and Cochinilla, that they had there at their
Stantias or dairie houses, and my master hauing leaue of the Secretarie
for me to go with them, I tooke my iourney with them being very well
horsed and appointed, and comming thither and passing the time there at
Mecameca certaine dayes till we had perfect intelligence that the fleete
was readie to depart, I not being past 3 daies iourney from the port of
S. John de Vllua, thought it to be the meetest time for me to make an
escape, and I was the bolder, presuming vpon my Spanish tongue, which I
spake as naturally as any of them all, thinking with my selfe, that when
I came to S. Iohn de Vllua, I would get to be entertained as a
souldiour, and so go home into Spaine in the same Fleete, and therefore
secretly one euening late, the moone shining faire, I conueyed my selfe
away, and riding so for the space of two nights and two dayes, sometimes
in, and sometimes out, resting very little all that time, vpon the
second day at night I came to the towne of Vera Cruz, distant from the
port of S. Iohn de Vllua, where the ships rode, but only 5 leagues, and
here purposing to rest my selfe a day or two, I was no sooner alighted,
but within the space of one halfe houre after, I was by ill hap
arrested, and brought before Iustices there, being taken and suspected
to be a gentlemans sonne of Mexico, that was runne away from his father,
who in trueth was the man they sought for: So I being arrested, and
brought before the Iustices, there was a great hurly burly about the
matter, euery man charging me that I was the sonne of such a man
dwelling in Mexico, which I flatly denied, affirming that I knewe not
the man, yet would they not beleeue me, but vrged stil vpon me that I
was he that they sought for, and so I was conueied away to prison. And
as I was thus going to prison, to the further increase of my griefe, it
chanced that at that very instant there was a poore man in the presse
that was come to towne to sell hennes, who told the Iustices that they
did me wrong, and that in truth he knew very well that I was an
Englishman and no Spaniard. They then demanded of him how he knew that,
and threatned him that he said so, for that he was my companion, and
sought to conuey me away from my father, so that he also was threatned
to be laid in prison with me: he for the discharge of himselfe stood
stifly in it, that I was an Englishman, and one of captaine Hawkins men,
and that he had knowen me weare the S. Benito in the Blacke-friers at
Mexico, for 3 or 4 whole yeres together: which when they heard, they
forsooke him, and began to examine me a new, whether that speech of his
were true, yea or no, which when they perceiued that I could not denie,
and perceiuing that I was run from Mexico, and came thither of purpose
to conuey my selfe away with the fleete, I was presently committed to
prison with a sorrowfull heart, often wishing my selfe that that man
which knew me had at that time bene further off: howbeit he in
sinceritie had compassion of my distressed estate, thinking by his
speech, and knowing of me, to haue set me free from that present danger
which he sawe me in: howbeit, contrary to his expectation, I was thereby
brought into my extreme danger, and to the hazard of my life, yet there
was no remedy but patience perforce. And I was no sooner brought into
prison, but I had a great paire of bolts clapt on my legs, and thus I
remained in that prison for the space of 3 weekes where were also many
other prisoners which were thither committed for sundry crimes and
condemned to the gallies. During which time of imprisonment there, I
found amongst those my prison-fellowes some that had knowen me before in
Mexico, and truely they had compassion of me, and would spare of their
victuals and any thing els that they had to doe me good: amongst whom
there was one of them that told me that he vnderstood by a secret friend
of his which often came to the prison to him, that I should be shortly
sent backe againe to Mexico by wagon, so soone as the fleete was gone
from S. Iohn de Vllua, for Spaine. This poore man my prison fellow of
himselfe, and without any request made by me, caused his said friend
which came often vnto him to the grate of the prison, to bring him wine
and victuals, to buy for him 2 kniues which had files in their backes,
which files were so wel made that they would serue and suffice any
prisoner to file off his irons, and of those kniues or files he brought
one to me, and told me that he had caused it to be made for me, and let
me haue it at that very price it cost him, which was 2 Pezos, the value
of 8.s. of our money: which knife when I had it, I was a ioyfull man,
and conueied the same into the foote of my boot, vpon the inside of my
left leg, and so within 3 or 4 dayes after that I had thus receiued my
knife, I was suddenly called for, and brought before the head Iustice
which caused those my irons with the round bolt to be stricken off and
sent to a Smiths in the towne, where was a new paire of bolts made
ready for me of another fashion, which had a broad iron barre comming
betweene the shackles, and caused my hands to be made fast with a paire
of manacles; and so was I presently laid in a wagon all alone, which was
there readie to depart with sundry other wagons, to the number of 60.
towardes Mexico, and they all were laden with sundry merchandise which
came in the fleete out of Spaine.
The wagon that I was in was foremost in all the companie, and as we
trauelled I being alone in the wagon, began to trie if I could plucke my
hands out of the manacles, and as God would, although it were somewhat
painefull for me, yet my hands were so slender that I could pull them
out, and put them in againe, and euer as we went, when the wagon made
most noyse, and the men were busiest, I would be working to file off my
bolts, and traueling thus for the space of 8 leagues from Vera Cruz, we
came to an high hill, at the entring vp of which (as God would) one of
the wheeles of the waggon wherein I was, brake, so that by that means
the other wagons went afore, and the wagon man that had charge of me set
an Indian Carpenter a worke to mend the wheele: and here at this place
they baited at an hostrie that a Negro woman keepes: and at this place,
for that the going vp of the hill is very steepe, for the space of two
leagues and better, they doe alwaies accustome to take the moiles of 3
or 4 wagons, and to place them altogether for the drawing vp of one
wagon, and so to come downe againe, and fetch up others in that order.
[Sidenote: Miles Philips his last wonderful escape.] All which came very
well to pass: for as it drew towards night when most of the Wagoners
were gone to draw vp their wagons, in this sort I being alone had
quickly filed off my bolts, and so espying my time in the darke of the
euening before they returned downe the hill againe, I conueyed my selfe
into the woods there adioyning, carrying my bolts and manacles with me,
and a few biscuits, and two small cheeses. And being come into the
woods, I threw my yrons into a thicke bush, and then couered them with
mosse and other things, and then shifted for myself as I might all that
night. And thus by the good prouidence of Almightie God, I was freed
from mine yrons all sauing the collar that was about my necke, and so
got my libertie the second time.
Chap. 7.
Wherein is shewed how I escaped to Guatimala, vpon the South sea,
and from thence to the port of Cauallos, where I got passage to
goe into Spaine, and of our arriuall at Hauana, and our comming to
Spaine, where I was againe like to haue bene committed prisoner,
and how through the great mercy of God I escaped, and came home in
safetie into England in February 1582.
The next morning (day light being come) I perceiued by the Sunne rising
what way to take to escape their hands, for when I fleede, I tooke the
way into the woods vpon the left hand: and hauing left that way that
went to Mexico vpon my right hand, I thought to keepe my course as the
woods and mountaines lay, still direct South as neere as I could: by
meanes whereof I was sure to conuey myselfe farre ynough from that way
that went to Mexico. And as I was thus going in the woods, I saw many
great fires made to the North not past a league from the mountaine where
I was, and trauelling thus in my bootes with mine yron collar about my
necke, and my bread and cheese, the very same forenoon I mette with a
company of Indians which were hunting of Deere for their sustenance: to
whom I spake in the Mexican tongue, and told them how that I had of a
long time bin kept in prison by the cruel Spanyards, and did desire them
to helpe me to file off mine yron collar, which they willingly did:
reioycing greatly with me, that I was thus escaped out of the Spanyards
hands. Then I desired that I might haue one of them to guide mee out of
those desert mountaines towards the South, which they also most
willingly did: and so they brought mee to an Indian towne 8. leagues
distant from thence, named Shalapa, where I stayed three dayes, for that
I was somewhat sickely. At which towne (with the gold that I had quilted
in my dublet) I bought me an horse of one of the Indians, which cost me
6. pezos and so trauelling South, within the space of 2. leagues I
happened to ouertake a gray Frier, one that I had bene familiar withall
in Mexico, whom then I knew to be a zealous good man, and one that did
much lament the crueltie vsed against vs by the Inquisitors, and truely
hee vsed me very courteously: and I having confidence in him did indeed
tel him, that I was minded to aduenture to see if I could get out of
the sayd countrey if I could finde shipping, and did therefore pray him
of his ayde, direction, and aduise herein, which he faithfully did, not
only in directing me which was my safest way to trauaile, but he also of
himselfe kept me company for the space, of three dayes, and euer as we
came to the Indian houses (who vsed and intertained vs well) hee
gathered among them in money to the value of 20. pezos, which at my
departure from him hee freely gaue vnto mee. So came I to the citie of
Guatimala vpon the South sea, which is distant from Mexico about 250.
leagues, where I stayed 6. dayes, for that my horse was weake. And from
thence I trauailed still South and by East seuen dayes iourney, passing
by certaine Indian townes, vntill I came to an Indian towne distant from
Mexico, direct South 309. leagues. And here at this towne enquiring to
go to the Port de Cauallos in the Northeast sea, it was answered that in
trauailing thither I should not come to any towne in 10. or 12. dayes
iourney: so heere I hired two Indians to be my guides, and I bought
hennes, and bread to serue vs so long time, and tooke with vs things to
kindle fire euery night, because of wilde beastes, and to dresse our
meate: and euery night when we rested, my Indian guides would make two
great fires, betweene the which we placed our selues, and my horse. And
in the night time we should heare the Lions roare, with Tigres, Ounces,
and other beastes, and some of them we should see in the night, which
had eyes shining like fire. And trauailing thus for the space of twelue
dayes, wee came at last to the port of Cauallos vpon the East sea,
distant from Guatimala South and by East, two hundred leagues, and from
Mexico 450. or thereabouts.[12] This is a good harborough for shippes,
and is without either castle or bulwarke. I hauing dispatched away my
guides, went downe to the Hauen, where I saw certaine ships loden
chiefly with Canary-wines, where I spake with one of the Masters, who
asked me what Countrey man I was, and I told him that I was borne in
Granado, and he said, that then I was his countreyman. I required him
that I might passe home with him in his ship, paying for my passage: and
he said yea, so that I had a safe conduct, or letter testimonial to
shew, that he might incurre no danger; for said be, it may be that you
haue killed some man, or be indebted, and would therefore run away. To
that I answered, that there was not any such cause. Wel, in the end we
grew to a price, that for 60. pezos he would cary me into Spaine: a glad
man was I at this good hap, and I quickly solde my horse, and made my
prouision of hennes and bread to serue me in my passage; And thus within
2. dayes after we set saile, and neuer stayed vntill we came to Hauana,
which is distant from puerto de Cauallos by sea 500. leagues: where we
found the whole fleete of Spaine, which was bound home from the Indies.
And heere I was hired for a souldier to serue in the Admiral ship of the
same fleete, wherein the General himself went. There landed while I was
here 4. ships out of Spaine, being all full of souldiers and ordinance,
of which number there were 200 men landed here, and 4. great brasse
pieces of ordinance, although the castle were before sufficiently
prouided: 200. men more were sent to Campeche, and certaine ordinance:
200. to Florida with ordinance: and 100. lastly to S. Iohn de Vllua. As
for ordinance there they haue sufficient, and of the very same which was
ours, which we had in the Iesus, and those others which we had planted
in the place, where the Vice-roy betrayed M. Hawkins our general, as
hath bene declared. The sending of those souldiers to euery of those
Ports, and the strengthening of them, was done by commandement from the
king of Spaine, who wrote also by them to the general of his fleete,
giuing him in charge so to doe, as also directing him what course he
should keepe in his comming home into Spaine, charging him in any hand
not to come nigh to the yles of Açores, but to keepe his course more to
the Northward, advertising him withal, what number and power of French
ships of warre, and other, Don Antonio had at that time at Terçera, and
the yles aforesaid: which the general of the fleete wel considering, and
what great store of riches he had to bring home with him into Spaine,
did in all very duetifully observe and obey: for in trueth he had in his
said fleete 37. saile of ships, and in euery of them there was as good
as 30. pipes of silver one with another, besides great store of gold,
Cochinilla, sugars, hides, and Cana Fistula, with other apothecary
drugs. This our general, who was called Don Pedro de Guzman, did
prouidently take order for, for their most strength and defence, if
neede should be, to the vttermost of his power, and commanded vpon paine
of death, that neither passenger nor souldier should come aboord without
his sword and harquebush, with shot and powder, to the end that they
might be the better able to encounter the fleete of Don Antonio, if they
should hap to meete with them, or any of them: and euer as the weather
was faire, the said general would himselfe go aboord from one ship to
another, to see that every man had his ful prouision according to the
commandement giuen. Yet to speake truly what I thinke, two good tall
ships of warre would have made a foule spoil amongst them. For in all
this fleete there were not any that were strong and warlike appointed,
sauing only the Admiral, and Vice-admiral: And againe ouer and besides
the weaknesse and the ill furnishing of the rest, they were all so
deeply laden, that they had not bene able (if they had bene charged) to
haue held out any long fight. Wel, thus we set saile, and had a very ill
passage home, the weather was so contrary. We kept our course in maner
Northeast, and brought our selues to the height of 42. degrees of
latitude, to be sure not to meete with Don Antonio his fleete, and were
vpon our voyage from the 4. of Iune, vntil the 10. of September, and
neuer saw land till we fell with the Arenas Gosdas hard by S. Lucar.[13]
And there was an order taken that none should goe on shoare vntill he
had licence: as for me, I was knowen by one in the ship, who told the
Master that I was an Englishman, which (as God would) it was my good hap
to heare: for if I had not heard it, it had cost me my life.
Notwithstanding, I would not take any knowledge of it, and seemed to be
mery and pleasant, that we were all come so wel in safety. Presently
after, licence came that we should go on shoare, and I pressed to be
gone with the first: howbeit, the Master came vnto me, and said, Sirra,
you must goe with me to Siuil by water: I knew his meaning well enough,
and that he meant there to offer me vp as a sacrifice to the Holy house.
For the ignorant zeal of a number of these superstitious Spaniards is
such, that they thinke that they haue done God good seruice, when they
haue brought a Lutheran heretike to the fire to be burnt: for so do they
account of vs. Wel, I perceiuing all this, took vpon me not to suspect
anything, but was still iocund and mery: howbeit, I knew it stood me
vpon to shift for my selfe. And so wayting my time when the Master was
in his cabbin asleepe, I conueyed my selfe secretly downe by the shrowds
into the ship boate, and made no stay but cut the rope wherewithal she
was moared, and so by the cable haled on shore, where I leapt on land,
and let the boate goe whither it would. Thus by the helpe of God I
escaped that day, and then neuer stayed at S. Lucar, but went all night
by the way which I had seene other take toward Siuil: so that the next
morning I came to Siuil, and sought me out a workemaster, that I might
fall to my science, which was weauing of taffataes; and being
intertained I set my selfe close to my worke, and durst not for my life
once to stirre abroad for fear of being knowen: and being thus at my
worke, within 4 dayes after I heard one of my fellows say, that he heard
there was great inquiry made for an Englishman that came home in the
fleete: what an heretique Lutheran (quoth I) was it, I would to God I
might knowe him, surely I would present him to the Holy house. And thus
I kept still within doores at my worke, and fained my selfe not well at
ease, and that I would labour as I might to get me new clothes. And
continuing thus for the space of 3. moneths I called for my wages, and
bought me all things new, different from the apparell that I did weare
at sea, and yet durst not be ouerbold to walke abroad: and after
vnderstanding that there were certaine English ships at S. Lucar bound
for England, I tooke a boat and went aboord one of them, and desired the
Master that I might haue passage with him to goe into England, and told
him secretly that I was one of those which Captaine Hawkins did set on
shore in the Indies: he very courteously prayed me to haue him excused,
for he durst not meddle with me, and prayed me therefore to returne from
whence I came. Which when I perceiued, with a sorrowful heart, God
knoweth, I tooke my leaue of him, not without watry cheekes. [Sidenote:
He commeth home in an English ship from Maiorca.] And then I went to S.
Mary port, which is 3. leagues from S. Lucar, where I put my selfe to be
a souldier to goe in the king of Spaines Gallies, which were bound for
Maiorca, and comming thither in the end of the Christmas holidayes, I
found there two English ships, the one of London, and the other of the
West countrey, which were ready freighted and stayed but for a faire
winde. To the Master of the one, which was of the West countrey went I,
and told him that I had bene 2. yeeres in Spaine to learne the language,
and that I was now desirous to goe home and see my friends, for that I
lacked maintenance: and so hauing agreed with him for my passage, I
tooke shipping. And thus through the prouidence of Almighty God, after
16. yeeres absence, hauing sustained many and sundry great troubles and
miseries, as by this discourse appeareth, I came home to this my natiue
countrey of England in the yeere 1582. in the moneth of February, in the
ship called the Landret, and arriued at Poole.
[12] Caballos or Port Cortez is a town of Honduras, on the North Coast,
56 miles north of Santiago.
[13] San Lucar de Barrameda, 18 miles north of Cadiz.
The trauailes of Iob Hortop, which Sir Iohn Hawkins set on land
within the bay of Mexico, after his departure from the Hauen of
S. Iohn de Vllua in Nueua Espanna, the 8. of October 1568.
Not vntruely nor without cause said Iob the faithfull seruant of God
(whom the sacred Scriptures tell vs, to haue dwelt in the land of Hus)
that man being borne of a woman, liuing a short time, is replenished
with many miseries: which some know by reading of histories, many by the
view of others calamities, and I by experience in my selfe, as this
present Treatise insuing shall shew.
It is not vnknowen vnto many, that I Iob Hortop poudermaker was borne at
Bourne, a towne in Lincolnshire, from my age of twelue yeeres brought vp
in Redriffe neere London, with M. Francis Lee, who was the Queenes
Maiesties powdermaker, whom I serued, vntil I was prest to goe on the 3.
voyage to the West Indies, with the right worshipful Sir Iohn Hawkins,
who appointed me to be one of the Gunners in her Maiesties ships called
the Iesus of Lubeck, who set saile from Plimmouth in the moneth of
October 1567. hauing with him another ship of her Maiesties, called the
Minion, and foure ships of his owne, namely the Angel, the Swallow, the
Iudith, and the William and Iohn. He directed his Vice-admiral, that if
foule weather did separate them, to meete at the Iland of Tenerif. After
which by the space of seuen dayes and seuen nights, we had such stormes
at sea, that we lost our long boats and a pinnesse, with some men:
comming to the Isle of Tenerif, there our Generall heard that his
Vice-admirall with the Swallow, and the William and Iohn were at the
Iland called Gomera, where finding his Vice-admirall, he anchored, tooke
in fresh water, and set saile for Cape Blank, where in the way wee tooke
a Portugal carauel, laden with fish called Mullets: from thence we
sailed to cape Verde. In our course thither we met a Frenchman of Rochel
called captaine Bland, who had taken a Portugal carauel, whom our vice
admiral chased and tooke. Captaine Drake, now Sir Francis Drake was
made master and captaine of the Carauel, and so we kept our way till we
came to cape Verde, and there we anchored, tooke our boates, and set
souldiers on shore. Our Generall was the first that leapt on land, and
with him Captaine Dudley: there we tooke certaine Negroes, but not
without damage to our selues. For our Generall, Captaine Dudley, and 8.
other of our company were hurt with poysoned arrowes: about nine dayes
after, the 8. that were wounded died. [Sidenote: A remedie against
poysoned arrowes.] Our general was taught by a Negro, to draw the poyson
out of his wound with a cloue of garlike, whereby he was cured. From
thence wee went to Sierra leona, where be monstrous fishes called
Sharkes, which will deuoure men. I amongst others was sent in the Angell
with two Pinnesses into the riuer called Calousa, to seeke two Carauels
that were there trading with the Negros: wee tooke one of them with the
Negros, and brought them away.
In this riuer in the night time we had one of our pinnesses bulged by a
sea-horse, so that our men swimming about the riuer were all taken into
the other pinnesses, except two that tooke hold one of another, and were
caried away by the sea-horse. This monster[14] hath the iust proportion
of a horse, sauing that his legs be short, his teeth very great, and a
span in length: hee vseth in the night to goe on land into the woods,
seeking at vnawares to deuoure the Negroes in their cabbins, whom they
by their vigilancie preuent, and kill him in this maner. The Negroes
keepe watch, and diligently attend their comming, and when they are gone
into the woods, they forthwith lay a great tree ouerthwart the way, so
that at their returne, for that their legs be so short, they cannot goe
ouer it: then the Negroes set vpon them with their bowes, arrowes and
darts, and so destroy them.
[14] Hippopotamus.
From thence we entred the riuer called the Casserroes, where there were
other Carauels trading with the Negroes, and them we tooke. In this
Iland betwixt the riuer and the maine, trees grow with Oisters vpon
them. There grow Palmito trees, which bee as high as a ships maine mast,
and on their tops grow nuts, wine and oyle, which they call Palmito wine
and Palmito oyle. The Plantan tree also groweth in that countrey; the
tree is as bigge is a mans thigh, and as high as a firre pole, the
leaues thereof be long and broad, and on the top grow the fruit which
are called Plantanos: they are crooked and a cubite long, and as bigge
as a mans wrist, they growe on clusters: when they be ripe they be very
good and daintie to eate: Sugar is not more delicate in taste then they
be.
From thence with the Angel, the Iudith, and the two pinnesses, we sailed
to Sierra leona, where our Generall at that time was, who with the
captaines and souldiers went vp into the riuer called Taggarin, to take
a towne of the Negroes, where he found three kings of that countrie with
fiftie thousand Negroes besieging the same towne, which they could not
take in many yeeres before when they had warred with it. Our General
made a breach, entred, and valiantly tooke the towne, wherein we found
fiue Portugals which yeelded themselues to his mercie, and hee saued
their liues: we tooke and caried thence for traffique to the West Indies
500. Negroes. The three kings droue 7000. Negroes into the sea at low
water, at the point of the land, where they were all drowned in the Oze,
for that they could not take their canoas to saue themselues. Wee
returned backe againe in our pinnesses to the ships, and there tooke in
fresh water, and made ready sayle towards Rio grande. At our comming
thither we entred with the Angel, the Iudith, and the 2. pinnesses, and
found there seuen Portugal Caruels, which made great fight with vs. In
the ende by Gods helpe wee wonne the victory, and droue them to the
shore, from whence with the Negroes they fled, and we fetcht the caruels
from the shore into the riuer. The next morning M. Francis Drake with
his caruel, the Swallow, and the William and Iohn came into the riuer,
with captaine Dudley and his souldiers, who landed being but a hundred
souldiers, and fought with seuen thousand Negroes, burned the towne, and
returned to our Generall with, the losse of one man.
In that place there be many muske-cats, which breed in hollow trees: the
Negroes take them in a net, and put them in a cage, and nourish them
very daintily, and take the muske from them with a spoone.
Now we directed our course from Guinea towards the West Indies.
And by the way died Captaine Dudley.
In sayling towards the Indies, the first land that we escryed, was the
Iland called Dominica, where at our comming we anchored, and tooke in
fresh water and wood for our prouision: which done, we sayled towards
the Iland called Margarita, where our Generall in despite of the
Spaniards anchored, landed, and tooke in fresh victuals. A mile off the
Iland there is a rocke in the sea, wherein doe breede many fowles like
vnto Barnacles: in the night we went out in our boates, and with cudgels
we killed many of them, and brought them with many of their egs aboord
with vs: their egges be as bigge as Turkies egges, and speckled like
them. We did eate them, and found them very good meate.
From thence wee sayled to Burboroata, which is in the maine land of the
West Indies: there we came in, mored our ships, and taried two moneths
trimming and dressing our ships, and in the meane time traded with
certaine Spanyards of that countrey. There our Generall sent vs vnto a
towne called Placencia, (which stood on a high hil) to haue intreated a
Bishop that dwelt there for his fauour and friendship in their lawes,
who hearing of our comming, for feare forsooke the town.
In our way vp the hil to Placencia, wee found a monstrous venomous worme
with two heads: his body was as bigge as a mans arme, and a yard long:
our master Robert Barret did cut him in sunder with his sword, and it
made it as blacke as if it were coloured with ynke.
Heere be many Tygers, monstrous and furious beasts, which by subtiltie
deuoure and destroy many men: they vse the traded wayes, and wil shew
themselues twise or thrise to the trauellers, and so depart secretly,
lurking till they be past, then suddenly and at vnawares they leape vpon
them and deuoure them: they had so vsed two of our company, had not one
of them, looked behind. Our Generall sent three ships vnto the Iland
called Coraçao,[15] to make prouision for the rest, where they remayned
vntill his comming. [Sidenote: Rio de la Hacha taken.] Hee sent from
thence the Angel and the Iudith to Rio de Hacha,[16] where we anchored
before the town. The Spaniards shot three pieces at vs from the shore,
whom we requited with two of ours, and shotte through the Gouernours
house: we wayed anchor, and anchored againe without shot of the towne,
where wee rid fiue dayes in despite of the Spanyards, and their shot. In
the meane space there came a Caruel of aduise from S. Domingo, whom with
the Angel, and the Iudith wee chased and droue to the shore: we fetcht
him from thence in spite of 200. Spaniards hargubush shot, and anchored
againe before the towne, and rid there with them, till our Generals
comming, who anchored, landed his men, and valiantly tooke the Towne,
with the losse of one man, whose name was Thomas Surgeon: wee landed and
planted on the shore for our safeties, our field ordinance: we droue the
Spaniards vp into the country aboue two leagues whereby they were
inforced to trade with our General, to whom he sold most part of his
Negros.
[15] Situated 75 miles from the Venezuelan coast.
[16] At the mouth of the Hacha river, Magdalena State, Columbia.
In this riuer we killed a monstrous Lagarto or Crocodile in this port at
sunne set: seuen of vs went in the pinnesse vp into the Riuer, carying
with vs a dogge, vnto whom with ropeyarn we bound a great hooke of
steele, with a chaine that had a swiuel, which we put vnder the dogs
belly, the point of the hooke comming ouer his back fast bound, as
aforesaid: we put him ouer board, and veered out our rope by litle and
litle, rowing away with our boate: the Lagarto came and presently
swallowed vp the dogge, then did we rowe hard till we had choked him: he
plunged and made a wonderfull stirre in the water: we leapt on shore,
and haled him on land: he was 23. foote by the rule, headed like a
hogge, in body like a serpent, full of scales as broad as a sawcer: his
taile long and full of knots as bigge as a fawcon shotte: he hath foure
legs, his feete haue long nailes like vnto a dragon: we opened him,
tooke out his guts, flayed him; dried his skinne, and stuffed it with
straw, meaning to haue brought it home, had not the ship bin cast away.
This, monster will cary away and deuoure both men and horse.
From hence we shaped our course to Santa Martha,[17] where we landed,
traded and sold certaine Negroes: there two of our company killed a
monstrous adder, going towards his caue with a Conie in his mouth: his
body was as bigge as any mans thigh, and seuen foote long, vpon his
tayle he had sixteene knottes, euery one as bigge as a great walnut,
which they say, doe shew his age: his colour was greene and yellow: they
opened him; and found two conies in his belly.
From thence wee sayled to Cartagena,[18] where we went in, mored our
Shippes, and would haue traded with them, but they durst not for feare
of the King: wee brought vp the Minion against the Castle, and shotte at
the Castle and Towne: then we landed in an Iland, where were many
gardens: there in a caue we found certaine Botijos of wine, which wee
brought away with vs, in recompence whereof, our Generall commanded, to
be set on shore woollen and linnen cloth, to the value thereof. From
hence by foule weather wee were forced to seeke the Port of Saint John
de Vllua. In our way thwart of Campeche we met with a Spaniard, a small
ship, who was bound for Santo Domingo: he had in him a Spaniard called
Augustin de villa nueua, who was the man that betrayed all the Noble men
in the Indies, and caused them to be beheaded, wherefore he with two
Friers fled to S. Domingo: them we tooke and brought with vs into the
Port of S. Iohn de Vllua. Our Generall made great account of him, and
vsed him like a Noble man: howbeit in the ende he was one of them that
betrayed vs. When wee had mored our ships, and landed, we mounted the
Ordinance that wee found there in the Ilande, and for our safeties kept
watch and warde. [Sidenote: Don Martin de Henriquez the trecherous
Vice-roy.] The next daye after wee discouered the Spanish fleete,
whereof Luçon a Spanyard was Generall: with him came a Spanyard called
Don Martin Henriquez, whom the king of Spaine sent to be his Vice-roy of
the Indies. He sent a Pinnesse with a flagge of truce vnto our Generall,
to knowe of what Countrey those Shippes were that rode there in the King
of Spaines Port: who sayd they were the Queene of Englands ships, which
came in there for victuals for their money: wherefore if your Generall
will come in here, he shall giue me victuals and all other necessaries,
and I will goe out on the one side of the Port, and he shall come in on
the other side. The Spanyard returned for answere, that he was a
Vice-roy, and had a thousand men, and therefore he would come in. Our
Generall sayd, If he be a Vice-roy, I represent my Queenes person, and I
am a Vice-roy as well as he: and if he haue a thousand men, my powder
and shot will take the better place. Then the Vice-roy after counsell
among themselues, yeelded to our Generals demand, swearing by his King
and his Crowne, by his commission and authority that he had from his
King, that hee would performe it, and thereupon pledges were giuen on
both parts. Our Generall bearing a godly and Christian minde, voyde of
fraude and deceit, iudged the Spanyards to haue done the like, deliuered
to them sixe gentlemen, not doubting to haue receiued the like from
them: but the faithlesse Spanyardes, in costly apparell gaue of the
basest of their company, as afterwardes it was well knowen. These things
finished, proclamation was made on both sides, that on payne of death no
occasion should be giuen, whereby any quarrel should grow to the breach
of the league, and then they peaceably entred the port, with great
triumph on both sides.
[17] Capital of the State of Magdalena.
[18] Lat. 10 degrees 25 North; lon. 75.34 West. Capital of Bolivar.
The Spaniards presently brought a great Hulke, a ship of sixe hundred,
and mored her by the side of the Minion, and they cut out ports in their
other ships, planting their ordinance towards vs, in the night they
filled the Hulke with men, to lay the Minion aboord, as the sequel did
shew, which made our General doubtful of their dealings: wherefore, for
that he could speake the Spanish tongue, he sent Robert Barret aboord
the Vice-roy, to knowe his meaning in those dealings, who willed him
with his company to come in to him, whom he commanded presently to be
set in the bilbowes, and forthwith a Cornet (for a watchword among the
false Spaniards) was sounded for the enterprising of their pretended
treason against our Generall, [Sidenote: Augustine de villa nueua a most
thanklesse traytour.] whom Augustine de villa noua sitting at dinner
with him, should then presently haue killed with a poynado which hee had
priuily in his sleeue, was espyed and preuented by one Iohn
Chamberlayne, who tooke the poynado out of his sleeue. Our General
hastily rose vp, and commanded him to be put prisoner in the Stewards
roome, and to be kept with two men. The faithlesse Spanyards, thinking
all things to their desire had bene finished, suddenly sounded a
Trumpet, and therewith three hundred Spaniards entred the Minion,
whereat our General with a loude and fierce voyce called vnto vs,
saying, God and Saint George, vpon those traiterous villaines, and
rescue the Minion, I trust in God the day shalbe ours: and with that the
Mariners and souldiers leapt out of the Iesus of Lubeck into the Minion,
and beat out the Spanyards, and with a shot out of her fiered the
Spaniards Vice admirall, where the most part of 300. Spanyards were
spoyled, and blowen ouer boord with powder. Their Admirall also was on
fire halfe an houre: we cut our cables, wound off our ships, and
presently fought with them: they came vpon vs on euery side, and
continued the fight from ten of the clocke vntill it was night: they
killed all our men that were on shore in the Iland, sauing three, which
by swimming got aboord the Iesus of Lubeck. [Sidenote: One of those
three was Iob Hortop the reporter hereof. Four Spanish ships sunke.]
They sunke the Generals ship called the Angel, and tooke the Swallow:
the Spaniards Admirall had aboue threescore shot through her: many of
his men were spoyled: four other of their ships were sunke. There were
in that fleete, and that came from the shore to rescue them, fifteene
hundred: we slew of them fiue hundred and fourtie, as we were credibly
informed by a note that came to Mexico. In this fight the Iesus of
Lubeck had fiue shotte through her mayne Mast: her foremast was shotte
in sunder vnder the bounds with a chayne shotte, and her hull was
wonderfully pearced with shotte, therefore it was vnpossible to bring
her away. They set two of their owne Shippes on fire, intending
therewith to haue burnt the Iesus of Lubeck, which we preuented by
cutting our cables in the halse, and winding off by our sternefast.
The Minion was forced to set saile and stand off from vs, and come to an
anker without shot of the Island. Our Generall couragiously cheered vp
his souldiers and gunners, and called to Samuel his page for a cup of
Beere, who brought it him in a siluer cup, and hee drinking to all men
willed the gunners to stand by their Ordinance lustily like men. He had
no sooner set the cup out of his hand, but a demy Culuerin shot stroke
away the cup and a Coopers plane that stoode by the main mast, and ranne
out on the other side of the ship: which nothing dismaid our Generall,
for he ceased not to incourage vs, saying, feare nothing, for God, who
hath preserued me from this shot, will also deliuer vs from these
traitours and villaines. Then Captaine Bland meaning to haue turned out
of the port, had his maine mast stroke ouer boord with a chaine shot
that came from the shore, wherefore he ankered, fired his ship, tooke
his pinnesse with all his men, and came aboord the Iesus of Lubek to
haue runne away from him, he answered, that he was not minded to haue
run away from him, but his intent was to haue turned vp, our Generall,
who said vnto him, that he thought he would not and to haue laid the
weathermost ship of the Spanish fleete aboord, and fired his ship in
hope therewith to haue set on fire the Spanish fleete, hee said if he
had done so he had done well. With this, night came on. Our Generall
commanded the Minion, for safegard of her masts to be brought vnder the
Iesus of Lubecks lee: he willed M. Francis Drake to come in with the
Iudith, and to lay the Minion aboord, to take in men and other things
needfull, and to goe out, and so he did.
At night when the wind came off the shore, wee set sayle, and went out
in dispite of the Spanyards and their shot, where wee ankered, with two
ankers vnder the Island, the wind being Northerly, which was wonderfull
dangerous, and wee feared euery houre to be driuen with the lee shore.
In the end when the wind came larger, we waied anker, and set saile,
seeking the riuer of Panuco for water, whereof we had very little, and
victuals were so scarce, that we were driuen to eate hides, cats, rats,
parrats, monkies, and dogges: wherefore our Generall was forced to
diuide his company into two parts, for there was a mutinie among them
for want of victuals: and some said that they had rather be on the shore
to shift for themselues amongst the enemies, then to serue on
ship-boord. He asked them who would go on shore, and who would tarry on
ship-boord, those that would goe on shore, he willed to goe on foremast,
and those that would tarrie, on baft mast: fourescore and sixteene of vs
were willing to depart. Our Generall gaue vnto euery one of vs sixe
yards of Roane cloth, and money to them that demanded it. [Sidenote:
About an hundred Englishmen landed.] When we were landed, he came vnto
vs, where friendly imbracing euery one of vs, he was greatly grieued
that he was forced to leaue vs behind him, he counselled vs to serue
God, and to loue one another, and thus courteously he gaue vs a sorowful
farewell, and promised if God sent him safe home, he would do what he
could, that so many of vs as liued should be brought into England, and
so he did.
Since my returne into England I haue heard that many misliked that he
left vs so behind him, and brought away Negroes: but the reason is this,
for them he might haue had victuals, or any other thing needfull, if by
foule weather hee had bene driuen vpon the Islands, which for gold nor
siluer he could not haue had.
And thus our Generall departed to his ship, and we remained on land,
where for our safeties, fearing the wild Indians that were about vs, we
kept watch all night, and at Sunne rising wee marched on our way, three
and three in a ranke, vntill that we came into a fielde vnder a groue,
where the Indians came vpon vs, asking vs what people we were, and how
we came there. Two of our company, namely Anthony Goddard and Iohn
Cornish, for that they could speake the Spanish tongue, went to them and
said wee were Englishmen, that neuer came in that countrey before, and
that we had fought with the Spaniards, and for that we lacked victuals,
our Generall set vs on shore: they asked vs whither we intended to goe,
we said to Panuco. The Captaine of the Indians willed vs to giue vnto
them some of our clothes and shirts, which we did: then he bad vs giue
them all, but we would not so doe, whereupon Iohn Cornish was then
slaine with an arrow, which an Indian boy that stoode by the Captaine
shot at him, wherefore hee stroke the boy on the necke with his bow,
that he lay for dead, and willed vs to follow him, who brought vs into a
great fielde where we found fresh water: hee bad vs sit downe about the
pond and drinke, and he with his company would goe in the meane space to
kill fiue or sixe Deere, and bring them vs. We taryed there till three
of the clocke, but they came not: there one of our company whose name
was Iohn Cooke, with foure other departed from vs into a groue to seeke
reliefe, where presently they were taken by the Indians, and stript as
naked as euer they were borne, and so returned to vs.
Then we diuided ourselues into two parts, halfe to Anthony Goddard, and
the rest to Iames Collier, and thus seuerally we sought for Panuco.
Anthony Goddard with his company bid vs farewell, they passed a riuer,
where the Indians robbed many of them of their clothes, and so passing
on their way, came to a stony hill, where they stayed. [Sidenote: 8.
Englishmen slaine.] Iames Collier with his company that day passed the
same riuer, and were also robbed, and one of them slaine by chance: wee
came that night vnto the hill, where Anthony Goddard and his company
rested, there we remained til morning, and then we marched altogether
from thence, entring betweene two groues, where the Indians robbed vs of
all our clothes, and left vs naked, they hurt many, and killed eight of
vs. Three dayes after we came to another riuer, there the Indians shewed
vs the way to Panuco, and so left vs: we passed the riuer into the
wildernes, where we made wreaths of greene grasse, which we wound about
our bodies, to keepe vs from the Sunne, and gnats of that Countrey. We
trauelled there seuen dayes, and seuen nights, before we came to Panuco,
feeding on nothing but roots, and Guiauos,[19] a fruit like figs. At our
comming to the riuer of Panuco two Spanish horsemen came ouer vnto vs
in a Canowe: they asked vs how long we had bene in the wildernesse, and
where our generall was, for they knewe vs to be of the company that had
fought with their countrimen: we told them seuen dayes and seuen nights,
and for lacke of victuals our Generall set vs on shore, and he was gone
away with his ships. They returned to their Gouernour, who sent them
with fiue Canowes to bring vs all ouer, which done, they set vs in aray,
where a hundred horsemen with their lances, came forceably vpon vs, but
did not hurt vs, they carried vs prisoners to Panuco, where we remained
one night. In the riuer of Panuco there is a fish like a calfe, the
Spanyards call it a Mollatin, hee hath a stone in his head, which the
Indians vse for the disease of the Collicke, in the night he commeth on
land and eateth grasse. I haue eaten of it, and it eateth not much
vnlike to bacon. From thence we were sent to Mexico, which is 90 leagues
from Panuco. In our way thither, 20 leagues from the sea side, I did see
white Crabs running vp and downe the sands, I haue eaten of them, and
they be very good meat. There groweth a fruit which the Spanyards call
Auocottes, it is proportioned like an egge, and as blacke as a cole,
hauing a stone in it, and it is an excellent good fruit. [Sidenote: A
manifold Magueis.] There also groweth a strange tree which they call
Magueis, it serueth them to many vses, below by the root they make a
hole, whereat they do take out of it twise euery day a certeine kind of
licour, which they seeth in a great kettle, till the third part be
consumed, and that it waxe thick, it is as sweet as any hony, and they
do eat it. Within 20. daies after that they haue taken al the licour
from it, it withereth, and they cut it down, and vse it as we vse our
hempe here in England, which done, they conuert it to many vses: of some
part they make mantles, ropes, and threed: of the ends they make needles
to sow their saddles, pannels, and other furniture for their horses: of
the rest they make tyles, to couer their houses, and they put it to many
other purposes.
[19] Guavas.
And thus we came to Mexico, which is seuen or eight miles about, seated
in a great fen, inuironed with 4 hils, it hath but two wayes of
entrance, and it is full of creeks, in the which in their Canowes they
passe from place to place, and to the Islands there within. In the
Indies ordinarily three times a yeere bee wonderfull earthquakes, which
put the people in great feare and danger: during the time of two yeeres
that I was in Mexico, I saw them sixe times; when they come they throw
downe trees, houses, and Churches. There is a citie 25. leagues from
Mexico, called Tlaxcalla, which is inhabited with an hundred thousand
Indians, they goe in white shirts, linnen breeches, and long mantles,
and the women weare about them a garment much like vnto a flannell
petticote. The kings pallace was the first place wee were brought vnto
in Mexico, where without we were willed to sit downe. Much people, men,
women, and children came wondring about vs, many lamented our misery,
and some of their clergy asked vs if we were Christians, we said, we
praised God, we were as good Christians as they: they asked how they
might know that, we said by our confessions. From thence we were caried
in a Canow to a Tanners house, which standeth a little from the citie:
the next morning two friers and two priests came thither to vs, and
willed vs to blesse our selues, and say our prayers in the Latin tongue,
that they might vnderstand vs, many of our company did so, wherevpon
they returned to the viceroy, and told him that we were good Christians,
and that they liked vs well, and then they brought vs much reliefe, with
clothes, our sicke men were sent to their Hospitals, where many were
cured, and many died. From the Tanners house we were led to a gentlemans
place, where vpon paine of death we were charged to abide, and not to
come into the citie, thither we had all things necessary brought vs: on
Sundayes and holy dayes much people came, and brought vs great reliefe.
The viceroy practised to hang vs, and caused a paire of new gallowes to
be set vp, to haue executed vs, whereunto the noblemen of that countrey
would not consent, but prayed him to stay vntil the ship of aduise
brought newes from the king of Spaine, what should be done with vs, for
they said they could not find any thing by vs, whereby they might
lawfully put vs to death.
The viceroy then commanded vs to be sent to an Island there by, and he
sent for the Bishop of Mexico, who sent foure priests to the Island, to
examine and confesse vs, who said, that the viceroy would burne vs, when
wee were examined and confessed according to the lawes of the countrey.
They returned to the Bishop, and told him that we were very good
Christians. The Bishop certified the viceroy of our examinations and
confessions, and said that wee were good Christians, therefore he would
not meddle with vs. Then the viceroy sent for our master R. Barret, whom
he kept prisoner in his pallace, vntill the fleete was departed for
Spaine. The rest of vs he sent to a towne seuen leagues from Mexico
called Tescuco, to card wooll among the Indian slaves, which drudgery we
disdained, and concluded to beat our masters, and so we did: wherefore
they sent to the viceroy, desiring him for Gods sake and our Ladies, to
send for vs, for they would not keepe vs any longer, they said that we
were deuils and no men.
The viceroy sent for vs, and imprisoned vs in a house in Mexico, from
thence he sent Anthony Goddard, and some other of our company with him
into Spaine with Luçon, the Generall that tooke vs: the rest of vs
staied in Mexico two yeres after, and then were sent prisoners into
Spaine, with Don Iuan de Valesco de Varre, admirall and generall of the
Spanish fleet, who caried with him in his ship, to be presented to the
King of Spaine, the anatomie of a giant, which was sent from China to
Mexico, to the Viceroy Don Martin Henriquez, to bee sent to the king of
Spaine for a great wonder. It did appere by the anatomie, that he was of
a monstrous size, the skull of his head was neere as bigge as halfe a
bushel, his necke-bones, shoulder plates, arme bones, and all other
lineaments of his other partes, were huge and monstrous to behold, the
shanke of his legge from the ankle to the knee, was as long as from any
mans ankle vp to his wast, and of bignesse accordingly.
[Sidenote: A description of ginger.] At this time, and in this ship,
were also sent to be presented to the king of Spaine, two chestes full
of earth with ginger growing in them, which were also sent from China,
to be sent to the king of Spaine. The ginger runneth in the ground like
to liccoras, the blades grow out of it in length and proportion like
vnto the blades of wild garlicke, which they cut euery fifteene dayes,
they vse to water them twise a day, as we doe our herbes here in
England, they put the blades in their pottage, and vse them in their
other meates, whose excellent sauour and tast is very delightfull, and
procureth a good appetite.[20]
[20] Ginger is the underground stem (rhizome) of _Zingiber officinal_.
The rhizome throws up barren leafy reed like stems 3 or 4 feet high, and
occasionally flowering stems. The flowers are arranged in a cone-shaped
spike, each in the axil of a large greenish-yellow bract. The corolla is
orange-yellow, divided into three long segments. One of the staminodes
forms a large purple three-lobed lip. Ginger is probably a native of
tropical Asia, but is now cultivated in all warm countries. The name
occurs in a list of imports into Alexandria in the second century, and
during the middle ages was evidently an important article of commerce.
It is often mentioned in the Old English leech-books of the eleventh
century; and during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries it was the
commonest spice, next to pepper, though 1 lb. of it cost as much as a
sheep, 1_s._ 7_d._ (Rogers, "History of Agriculture and Prices in
England.")
[Sidenote: 1570.] When we were shipped, in the Port of S. Iohn de Vllua,
the Generall called our master Robert Barret and vs with him into his
cabbin, and asked vs if wee would fight against Englishmen, if we met
them at the sea, we said that we would not fight against our Crowne, but
if we met with any other, we would do what we were able. He said if we
had said otherwise, he would not haue beleeued vs, and for that we
should be the better vsed, and haue allowance as other men had: and he
gaue a charge to euery one of vs, according to our knowledge, Robert
Barret was placed with the pilote, I was put in the gunners roome,
William Cawse with the boat-swaine, Iohn Beare with the quarter-masters,
Edward Rider and Geffrey Giles, with the ordinary mariners, Richard the
masters boy attended on him and the pilote: shortly after we departed
from the port of S. Iohn de Vllua with all the fleete of Spaine, for the
port called Hauana: wee were 26. dayes sayling thither. There wee came
in, ankered, tooke in fresh water, and stayed 16. dayes for the fleete
of Nombre de Dios, which is the fleet that brings the treasure from
Peru.
The Generall of that fleet was called Diego Flores de Valdes. After his
comming, when he had watred his ships, both the fleetes ioyned in one,
and Don Iuan de Velasco de Varre was the first fifteen daies Generall of
both the fleets, who turning through the chanell of Bahama, his pilote
had like to haue cast away all the fleet vpon the Cape called
Cannaueral, which was preuented by me Iohn Hortop, and our master Robert
Barret: for I being in the second watch escried land, and called to
Robert Barret, bidding him looke ouer boord, for I saw land vnder the
lee-bow of the ship: he called to the boat-swaine, and bid him let flie
the fore saile sheat, and lay the helm vpon the lee, and cast the ship
about. When we were cast about, we were but in seuen fathome water: we
shot off a piece, giuing aduice to the fleet to cast about, and so they
did: For this we were beloued of the Generall, and all the fleet. The
Generall was in a great rage, and swore by the king, that he would hang
his pilote: for he said, that twise before he had almost cast away the
Admirall. When it was day, he commanded a piece to be shot off to call
to councill: the other Admirall in his ship came vp to him, and asked
what the matter was, he said, that his pilote had cast away his ship and
all the fleet, had it not bene for two of the Englishmen, and therefore
he would hang him. The other Admirall with many faire words perswaded
him to the contrary.
[Sidenote: A sea-monster in the shape of a man.] When we came in the
height of Bermuda, we discouered a monster in the sea, who shewed
himselfe three times vnto vs from the middle vpwards, in which parts hee
was proportioned like a man, of the complection of a Mulato, or tawny
Indian. The Generall did commaund one of his clearks to put it in
writing, and hee certified the King and his Nobles thereof. Presently
after this, for the space of sixteene dayes we had wonderful foule
weather, and then God sent vs a faire wind, vntill such time as we
discouered the Iland called Faial.
On S. Iames day we made rackets, wheeles, and other fireworkes, to make
pastime that night, as it is the order of the Spaniards. When we came
neere the land, our master R. Barret conferred with vs, to take the
pinnesse one night, when we came on the Iland called Terçera, to free
our selues from the danger and bondage that we were going into,
whereunto we agreed: none had any pinnesse asterne then but our ship,
which gaue great courage to our enterprize: we prepared a bagge of
bread, and a Botijo of water, which would haue serued vs nine dayes, and
prouided our selues to goe: our Master borrowed a small compasse of the
Master gunner of the ship, who lent it him, but suspected his intent,
and closely made the Generall priuy to it, who for a time dissembled the
matter. In the ende seeing our pretense, he called R. Barret, commanding
his head to bee put in the stocks, and a great payre of yron bolts on
his legs, and the rest of vs, to be set in the stocks by the legs. Then
he willed a peece to be shot off, and he sent the pinnesse for the other
Admirall, and all the captaines, masters, and pilotes of both fleetes to
come aboord of him. He commanded the maine-yard to be strooke downe, and
to put 2. pullies, on euery yard-arme one; the hangman was called, and
we were willed to confesse our selues, for he swore by the king that he
would hang vs.
When the other Admiral, and the rest were come aboord, he called them
into his counsel-chamber, and told them that he would hang the master of
the Englishmen, and all his company. The Admirall, whose name was Diego
Flores de Valdes, asked him wherefore: he sayd, that we had determined
to rise in the night with the pinnesse, and with a ball of fire-worke to
set the ship on fire, and goe our wayes: therefore, sayd he, I will haue
you the Captaines, Masters, and Pilotes, to set your hands vnto that,
for I sweare by the king that I will hang them, Diego Flores de Valdes
answered, I nor the Captaines, Masters, and Pilotes wil not set our
hands to that, for hee said, if he had bin prisoner as we were, he would
haue done the like himselfe. He counselled him to keepe vs fast in
prison, till he came into Spaine, and then send vs to the Contratation
house in Siuil, where, if we had deserued death the law would passe on
vs, for hee would not haue it said that in such a fleet as that was,
sixe men and a boy should take the pinnesse, and goe away, and so he
returned to his ship againe.
When he was gone, the Generall came to the maine mast to vs, and swore
by the king, that we should not come out of the stocks til we came into
Spaine: within 16. dayes after we came ouer the Bar of S. Lucar, and
came vp to the Hurcados, then he put vs into a pinnesse in the stocks,
and sent vs prisoners to the Contratation house in Siuil. From thence
after one yere we brake prison, on S. Steuens day at night, 7. of our
company escaped, Robert Barret, I Iob Hortop, Iohn Emerie, Humphrey
Roberts, and Iohn Gilbert were taken, and brought backe to the
contratation house, where we remained in the stocks till twelfe tide was
past. Then our keeper put vp a petition to the Iudge of the contratation
house, that we might be sent to the great prison house in Siuil, for
that we broke prison, whereupon we were presently led thither, where we
remained one moneth, and from thence to the castell of the Inquisition
house in Triana, where wee continued one yere: which expired, they
brought vs out in procession, euery one of vs hauing a candle in his
hand, and the coate with S. Andrewes crosse on our backs: they brought
vs vp on an high scaffold, that was set vp in the place of S. Francis,
which is in the chiefe street of Siuill: there they set vs downe vpon
benches: euery one in his degree, and against vs on another scaffold
sate all the Iudges, and the Clergy on their benches: the people
wondered, and gazed on vs, some pittying our cases, others said, burne
those heretikes. [Sidenote: Robert Barret and Iohn Gilbert burned.] When
we had sit there two houres, we had a sermon made to vs: after which
one called Bresinia, secretarie to the Inquisition, went vp into the
pulpit with the processe, and called Robert Barret and Iohn Gilbert,
whom two familiars of the Inquisition brought from the scaffold before
the Iudges, where the secretarie read the sentence, which was that they
should be burnt, and so they returned to the scaffold, and were burnt.
[Sidenote: Job Hortop his condemnation.] Then I Job Hortop, and Iohn
Bone were called, and brought to the place, as before, where we heard
our sentence, which was, that we should go to the Gallies, and there row
at the oares ende ten yeeres, and then to be brought backe to the
Inquisition house, to haue the coate with S. Andrewes crosse put on our
backs, and from thence to goe to the euerlasting prison remedilesse, and
so we were returned from the scaffold from whence we came. Thomas Marks,
and Thomas Ellis were called, and had sentence to serue in the Galleys
eight yeeres, and Humphrey Roberts, and Iohn Emery to serue fiue yeeres,
and so were returned to the benches on the scaffold, where we sate till
foure of clocke in the afternoone. Then we were led againe to the
Inquisition house, from whence we were brought. The next day in the
morning Bresinia the treasurer came thither to vs, and deliuered to
euery one of vs his sentence in writing. I with the rest were sent to
the Gallies, where we were chained foure and foure together: euery mans
daily allowance was 26 ounces of course blacke bisket and water, our
clothing for the whole yeere two shirts, two paire of breeches of course
canuas, a red coat of course cloth, soone on, and soone off, and a gowne
of haire with a friers hood: our lodging was on the bare boords, and
banks of the Gallies, our heads and beards were shauen euery month,
hunger, thirst, cold, and stripes we lacked none, til our seueral times
expired. And after the time of 12. yeeres, for I serued two yeeres aboue
my sentence, I was sent backe to the Inquisition House in Siuill, and
there hauing put on the coat with S. Andrewes crosse, I was sent to the
euerlasting prison remedilesse, where I wore the coat 4. yeeres, and
then vpon great suit, I had it taken off for 50 duckets, which Hernando
de Soria treasurer of the kings mint lent me, whom I serued for it as a
drudge 7. yeres, and vntil the moneth of October last, 1590. and then I
came from Siuill to S. Lucar, where I made meanes to come away in a
flie-boat, that was laden with wines and salt, which were Flemings
goods, the king of Spaines subiects, dwelling in Siuil, maried to
Spanish women, and sworne to their king. In this moneth of October last
departing from S. Lucar, at sea, off the southermost Cape, we met an
English ship, called the Galeon Dudley, who took the Flemming, and me
out of him, and brought me to Portsmouth, where they set me on land, the
2. day of December last past, 1590. From thence I was sent by M. Muns
the lieutenant of Portsmouth, with letters to the R. honourable the
Earle of Sussex, who commanded his secretary to take my name and
examination, how long I had bene out of England, and with whom I went,
which he did. And on Christmas euen I took my leaue of his honour, and
came to Redriffe.
The Computation of my imprisonment.