From hence we returned to Blanches bay, and there anchored, expecting
Gods good will and pleasure. Here beganne the bitternesse of the time
to increase, with blustering and sharpe winds, accompanied with rayne
and sleeting snow, and my people to be dismayde againe, in manifesting a
desire to returne to Brasill, which I would never consent unto, no, nor
so much as to heare of.[165]
[Voyages overthrowne by pretences.]
And all men are to take care that they go not one foote backe, more then
is of mere force; for I have not seene that any who have yeelded
thereunto, but presently they [Edward Fenton and master Thomas
Candish.] have returned home. As in the voyage of master Edward Fenton,
which the Earle of Cumberland set forth, to his great charge. As also
in that of master Thomas Candish, in which he dyed. Both which pretended
to shoote the Straites of Magelan, and by perswasion of some ignorant
persons, being in good possibilitie, were brought to consent to returne
to Brasill, to winter, and after in the spring to attempt the passing of
the strait againe. None of them made any abode in Brasill; for presently
as soone as they looked homeward, one with a little blustering wind
taketh occasion to loose company; another complaineth that he wanteth
victuals; another, that his ship is leake; another, that his masts,
sayles, or cordidge fayleth him. So the willing never want probable
reasons to further their pretences. As I saw once (being but young, and
more bold then experimented), in anno 1582, in a voyage, under the
[Master William Hawkins.] charge of my uncle, William Hawkins,
of Plimouth, Esquire, in the Indies, at the wester end of the iland of
San Iuan de Portorico. One of the shippes, called the barke _Bonner_,
being somewhat leake, the captaine complained that she was not able to
endure to England; whereupon a counsell was called, and his reasons
heard and allowed. So it was concluded that the victuall, munition, and
what was serviceable, should be taken out of her, and her men devided
amongst our other shippes; the hull remaining to be sunke or burned.
To which I never spake word till I saw it resolved; being my part rather
to learne then to advise. But seeing the fatall sentence given, and
suspecting that the captaine made the matter worse then it was, rather
upon pollicy to come into another ship, which was better of sayle, then
for any danger they might runne into; with as much reason as my
capacitie could reach unto, I disswaded my unkle privately; and urged,
that seeing wee had profited the adventurers nothing, wee should
endevour to preserve our principall, especially having men and
victualls. But seeing I prevayled not, I went further, and offered to
finde out in the same shippe and others, so many men, as with me would
be content to carry her home, giving us the third part of the value of
the ship, as shee should be valued at, at her returne, by foure
indifferent persons; and to leave the vice-admirall which I had under my
charge, and to make her vice-admirall.
Whereupon, it was condescended that we should all goe aboard the shippe,
and that there it should be determined. The captaine thought himselfe
somewhat touched in reputation, and so would not that further triall
should be made of the matter: saying, that if another man was able to
carry the shippe into England, he would in no case leave her; neither
would he forsake her till shee sunke under him.
The generall commended him for his resolution, and thanked me for my
offer, tending to the generall good; my intention being to force those
who for gaine could undertake to carry her home, should also do it
gratis, according to their obligation. Thus, this leake-ship went well
into England; where after shee made many a good voyage in nine yeares,
wherein shee was imployed to and fro; and no doubt would have served
many more, had shee not beene laid up and not used, falling into the
hands of those which knew not the use of shipping. It were large to
recount the voyages and worthy enterprises, overthrowne by this
pollicie, with the shippes which have thereby gone to wracke.