The greater part of my companie gathered aboord, I set sayle the 12th of
June 1593, about three of the clocke in the afternoon, and made a bourd
or two off and in, wayting the returne of my boat, which I had sent
a-shore, for dispatch of some businesse: which being come aboord, and
all put in order, I looft[32] near the shore, to give my farewell to all
the inhabitants of the towne, whereof the most part were gathered
together upon the Howe, to shew their gratefull correspondency, to the
love and zeale which I, my father, and predecessors, have ever borne to
that place, as to our naturall and mother towne. And first with my noyse
of trumpets, after with my waytes,[33] and then with my other musicke,
and lastly, with the artillery of my shippes, I made the best
signification I could of a kinde farewell. This they answered with the
waytes of the towne, and the ordinance on the shore, and with shouting
of voyces; which with the fayre evening and silence of the night, were
heard a great distance off. All which taking [The consequence
of instructions at departure.] end, I sent instructions and directions
to my other ships. Which is a poynt of speciall importance; for that I
have seene commanders of great name and reputation, by neglect and
omission of such solemnities, to have runne into many inconveniences,
and thereby have learnt the necessitie of it. Whereby I cannot but
advise all such as shall have charge committed unto them, ever before
they depart out of the port, to give unto their whole fleete, not onely
directions for civill government, but also where, when, and how to
meete, if they should chance to loose company, and the signes how to
know one another a-far off, with other poynts and circumstances, as the
occasions shall minister matter different, at the discretion of the wise
commander.[34]
But some may say unto me, that in all occasions it is not convenient to
give directions: for that if the enemy happen upon any of the fleete, or
that there be any treacherous person in the company, their designments
may be discovered, and so prevented.
To this I answere, that the prudent governour, by good consideration may
avoyde this, by publication of that which is good and necessarie for the
guide of his fleete and people; by all secret instructions, to give them
sealed, and not to be opened, but comming to a place appoynted (after
the manner of the Turkish direction to the Bashawes, who are their
generalls); and in any eminent perill to cast them by the boord, or
otherwise to make away with them. For he that setteth sayle, not giving
directions in writing to his fleete, knoweth not, if the night or day
following, he may be separated from his company; which happeneth
sometimes: and then, if a place of meeting be not knowne, he runneth in
danger not to joyne them together agayne.
And for places of meeting, when seperation happeneth, I am of opinion,
to appoynt the place of meeting in such a height, twentie, or thirtie,
or fortie leagues off the land, or iland. East or west is not so
fitting, if the place affoord it, as some sound betwixt ilands, or some
iland, or harbour.
[Objections against meeting in harbours.]
It may be alleged in contradiction, and with probable reason, that it is
not fit for a fleete to stay in a harbour for one ship, nor at an anchor
at an iland, for being discovered, or for hinderance of their voyage.
Yet it is the best; for when the want is but for one or [Sidenote:
Answered.] two ships, a pynace or ship may wayte the time appoynted and
remaine with direction for them. But commonly one ship, though but a bad
sayler, maketh more haste then a whole fleete, and is at the meeting
place first, if the accident be not very important.
The place of meeting, if it might be, would be able to give, at the
least, refreshing of water and wood.