[John Oxman’s voyage to the South sea.]
A little to the south-wards of the iland of Pearle, betwixt seven and
eight degrees, is the great river of Saint Buena Ventura. It falleth
into the South sea with three mouthes, the head of which is but a little
distant from the North sea. In anno 1575, or 1576, one John Oxman,[242]
of Plymouth, going into the West Indies, joyned with the Symarons.
[What the Symarons are.]
These are fugitive negroes, and for the bad intreatie which their
masters had given them, were then retyred into the mountaines, and lived
upon the spoyle of such Spaniards as they could master, and could never
he brought into obedience, till by composition they had a place
limmitted them for their freedome, where they should live quietly by
[Their habitation.] themselves. At this day they have a great
habitation neere Panama, called Saint Iago de Los Negros, well peopled,
with all their officers and commaunders of their owne, save onely a
Spanish governour.
[Their assistance.]
By the assistance of these Symarons, hee brought to the head of this
river, by peecemeale, and in many journeys, a small pinnace; hee fitted
it by time in a warlike manner, and with the choice of his company, put
himselfe into the South sea, where his good hap was to meete with a
cople of shippes of trade, and in the one of them a great quantitie of
gold. And amongst other things, two peeces of speciall estimation: the
one a table of massie gold, with emralds, sent for a present to the
King; the other a lady of singular beautie, married, and a mother of
children. The [John Oxman capitulateth with them.] latter
grewe to bee his perdition: for hee had capitulated with these Symarons,
that their part of the bootie should be onely the prisoners, to the ende
to execute their malice upon them (such was the rancor they had
conceived against them, for that they had beene the tyrants of their
libertie). But the Spaniards not contented to have them their slaves,
who lately had beene their lords, added to their servitude, cruell
entreaties. And they againe, to feede their insatiable revenges,
accustomed to rost and eate the hearts of all those Spaniards, whom at
any time they could lay hand upon.
[His folly and breach of promise.]
John Oxman, I say, was taken with the love of this lady, and to winne
her good will, what through her teares and perswasions, and what
through feare and detestation of their barbarous inclinations, breaking
promise with the Symarons, yeelded to her request; which was, to give
the prisoners liberty with their shippes, for that they were not usefull
for him: notwithstanding, Oxman kept the lady, who had in one of the
restored shippes eyther a sonne or a nephew. [His pursuit.]
This nephew, with the rest of the Spaniards, made all the hast they
could to Panama, and they used such diligence, as within fewe howers
some were dispatched to seek those who little thought so quickly too bee
overtaken. The pursuers approaching the river, were doubtfull by which
of the afore-remembred three mouthes they should take their way.
[And evill fortune.]
In this wavering, one of the souldiers espied certaine feathers of
hennes, and some boughes of trees, which they had cut off to make their
way, swimming down one of the outlets. This was light sufficient to
guide them in their course; they entred the river, and followed the
tracke as farre as their frigats had water sufficient; and then with
part of their souldiers in their boates, and the rest on the bankes on
eyther side, they marched day and night in pursuite of their enemies;
and in fine came uppon them unexpected, at the head of the river, making
good cheare in their tents, and devided in two partialities about the
partition, and sharing of their gold. Thus were they surprised, and not
one escaped.
[He flyeth to the Symarons.]
Some say that John Oxman fled to the Symarons, but they utterly denyed
to receive or succour him, for that he had broken his promise; the onely
objection they cast in his teeth was, that if he had held his word with
them, hee had never fallen into this extremitie.
In fine, hee was taken, and after, his shippe also was possessed by the
Spaniards, which he had hid in a certaine cove, and covered with boughes
of trees, in the guard and custodie of some foure or five of his
followers. All his company were conveyed to Panama, and there were
ymbarked for Lyma; where a processe was made against them by the
justice, and all condemned and hanged as pirates.
[Breach of faith never unpunished.]
This may he a good example to others in like occasions: first to shunne
such notorious sinnes, which cannot escape punishment in this life, nor
in the life to come: for the breach of faith is reputed amongst the
greatest faults which a man can committ. Secondly, not to abuse another
mans wife, much lesse to force her; both being odious to God and man.
Thirdly, to beware of mutenies, which seldome or never are seene to come
to better ends; for where such trees flourish, the fruite, of force,
must eyther bee bitter, sweete, or very sower. And therefore, seeing wee
vaunt ourselves to bee Christians, and make profession of His law who
forbiddeth all such vanities; let us faithfully shunne them, that wee
may partake the end of that hope which our profession teacheth and
promiseth.