[Note.]
Here is to be noted, that the error which we fell into in our accompts,
was such as all men fall into where are currants that set east or west,
and are not knowne; for that there is no certaine rule yet practised for
triall of the longitude, as there is of the latitude, though some
curious and experimented of our nation, with whom I have had conference
about this poynt, have shewed me two or three manner of wayes how to
know it.[68]
[The losse of the _Edward Cotton_.]
This, some years before, was the losse of the _Edward Cotton_, bound for
the coast of Brasill, which taken with the winde contrary neere the
lyne, standing to the east-wards, and making accompt to be fiftie or
sixtie leagues off the coast, with all her sayles standing, came
suddenly a ground upon the sholes of Madre-bomba, and so was cast away,
though the most part of their company saved themselves upon raffes; but
with the contagion of the countrie, and bad entreatie which the negros
gave them, they died; so that there returned not to their country above
three or foure of them.
But God Almightie dealt more mercifully with us, in shewing us our error
in the day, and in time that wee might remedie it; to him be evermore
glory for all.
This currant from the line equinoctiall, to twentie degrees northerly,
hath great force, and setteth next of any thing east, directly upon the
shore; which we found by this meanes: standing to the westwards, the
wind southerly, when we lay with our ships head west, and by south, we
gayned in our heith[69] more then if wee had made our way good west
south-west; for that, the currant tooke us under the bow; but lying
west, or west and by north, we lost more in twelve houres then the other
way we could get in foure and twentie. By which plainly we saw, that the
currant did set east next of any thing. Whether this currant runneth
ever one way, or doth alter, and how, we could by no meanes understand,
but tract of time and observation will discover this, as it hath done of
many others in sundry seas.
The currant that setteth betwixt New-found-land and Spaine, runneth also
east and west, and long time deceived many, and made some to count the
way longer, and others shorter, according as the passage was speedie or
slowe; not knowing that the furtherance or hinderance of the currant
was cause of the speeding or flowing of the way. And in sea cardes I
have seene difference of above thirtie leagues betwixt the iland
Tercera, and the mayne. And others have recounted unto me, that comming
from the India’s, and looking out for the ilands of Azores, they have
had sight of Spaine. And some have looked out for Spaine, and have
discovered the ilands.
The selfe same currant is in the Levant sea, but runneth trade betwixt
the maynes, and changeable sometimes to the east-wards, sometimes to the
west-wards.
In Brasill and the South sea, the currant likewise is changeable, but it
runneth ever alongst the coast, accompanying the winde: and it is an
infallible rule, that twelve or twentie foure houres before the winde
alters, the currant begins to change.
In the West Indies onely the currant runneth continually one way, and
setteth alongst the coast from the equinoctiall lyne towards the north.
No man hath yet found that these courrants keepe any certaine time, or
run so many dayes, or moneths, one way as another, as doth the course of
ebbing and flowing, well knowne in all seas; only neere the shore they
have small force; partly, because of the reflux which the coast causeth,
and partly for the ebbing and flowing, which more or lesse is generall
in most seas.[70]
When the currant runneth north or south, it is easily discovered by
augmenting or diminishing the height; but how to know the setting of the
currant from east to west in the mayne sea, is difficult; and as yet I
have not knowne any man, or read any authour, that hath prescribed any
certaine meane or way to discover it.[71] But experience teacheth that
in the mayne sea, for the most part, it is variable; and therefore the
best and safest rule to prevent the danger (which the uncertainty and
ignorance heereof may cause), is carefull and continuall watch by day
and night, and upon the east and west course ever to bee before the
shipp, and to use the meanes possible to know the errour, by the rules
which newe authours may teach; beating off and on, somtimes to the
west-wards, sometimes to the east-wards, with a fayre gale of winde.