SIR FRANCIS DRAKE'S FAMOUS VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD

NARRATIVE BY FRANCIS PRETTY,
ONE OF DRAKE'S GENTLEMEN AT ARMS.




  The FAMOUS VOYAGE of Sir FRANCIS DRAKE into the South Sea, and
  therehence about the whole Globe of the Earth, begun in the year
  of our Lord 1577.


The 15th day of November, in the year of our Lord 1577, Master Francis
Drake, with a fleet of five ships and barks, and to the number of 164
men, gentlemen and sailors, departed from Plymouth, giving out his
pretended voyage for Alexandria. But the wind falling contrary, he was
forced the next morning to put into Falmouth Haven, in Cornwall, where
such and so terrible a tempest took us, as few men have seen the like,
and was indeed so vehement that all our ships were like to have gone
to wrack. But it pleased God to preserve us from that extremity and to
afflict us only for that present with these two particulars: the mast
of our Admiral, which was the Pelican, was cut overboard for the
safeguard of the ship, and the Marigold was driven ashore, and
somewhat bruised. For the repairing of which damages we returned again
to Plymouth; and having recovered those harms, and brought the ships
again to good state, we set forth the second time from Plymouth, and
set sail the 13th day of December following.

The 25th day of the same month we fell with the Cape Cantin, upon the
coast of Barbary; and coasting along, the 27th day we found an island
called Mogador, lying one mile distant from the main. Between which
island and the main we found a very good and safe harbour for our
ships to ride in, as also very good entrance, and void of any danger.
On this island our General erected a pinnace, whereof he brought out
of England with him four already framed. While these things were in
doing, there came to the water's side some of the inhabitants of the
country, shewing forth their flags of truce; which being seen of our
General, he sent his ship's boat to the shore to know what they would.
They being willing to come aboard, our men left there one man of our
company for a pledge, and brought two of theirs aboard our ship; which
by signs shewed our General that the next day they would bring some
provision, as sheep, capons, and hens, and such like. Whereupon our
General bestowed amongst them some linen cloth and shoes, and a
javelin, which they very joyfully received, and departed for that
time. The next morning they failed not to come again to the water's
side. And our General again setting out our boat, one of our men
leaping over-rashly ashore, and offering friendly to embrace them,
they set violent hands on him, offering a dagger to his throat if he
had made any resistance; and so laying him on a horse carried him
away. So that a man cannot be too circumspect and wary of himself
among such miscreants. Our pinnace being finished, we departed from
this place the 30th and last day of December, and coasting along the
shore we did descry, not contrary to our expectation, certain
/canters/, which were Spanish fishermen; to whom we gave chase and
took three of them. And proceeding further we met with three carvels,
and took them also.

The 17th day of January we arrived at Cape Blanco, where we found a
ship riding at anchor, within the Cape, and but two simple mariners in
her. Which ship we took and carried her further into the harbour,
where we remained four days; and in that space our General mustered
and trained his men on land in warlike manner, to make them fit for
all occasions. In this place we took of the fishermen such necessaries
as we wanted, and they could yield us; and leaving here one of our
little barks, called the Benedict, we took with us one of theirs which
they called /canters/, being of the burden of 40 tons or thereabouts.
All these things being finished we departed this harbour the 22nd of
January, carrying along with us one of the Portugal carvels, which was
bound to the islands of Cape Verde for salt, whereof good store is
made in one of those islands. The master or pilot of that carvel did
advertise our General that upon one of those islands, called Mayo,
there was great store of dried /cabritos/ (goats), which a few
inhabitants there dwelling did yearly make ready for such of the
king's ships as did there touch, being bound for his country of Brazil
or elsewhere. We fell with this island the 27th of January, but the
inhabitants would in no case traffic with us, being thereof forbidden
by the king's edict. Yet the next day our General sent to view the
island, and the likelihoods that might be there of the provision of
victuals, about threescore and two men under the conduct and
government of Master Winter and Master Doughty. And marching towards
the chief place of habitation in this island (as by the Portugal we
were informed), having travelled to the mountains the space of three
miles, and arriving there somewhat before the daybreak, we arrested
ourselves, to see day before us. Which appearing, we found the
inhabitants to be fled; but the place, by reason that it was manured,
we found to be more fruitful than the other part, especially the
valleys among the hills.

Here we gave ourselves a little refreshing, as by very ripe and sweet
grapes, which the fruitfulness of the earth at that season of winter,
it may seems strange that those fruits were then there growing. But
the reason thereof is this, because they being between the tropic and
the equinoctial, the sun passeth twice in the year through their
zenith over their heads, by means whereof they have two summers; and
being so near the heat of the line they never lose the heat of the sun
so much, but the fruits have their increase and continuance in the
midst of winter. The island is wonderfully stored with goats and wild
hens; and it hath salt also, without labour, save only that the people
gather it into heaps; which continually in greater quantity is
increased upon the sands by the flowing of the sea, and the receiving
heat of the sun kerning the same. So that of the increase thereof they
keep a continual traffic with their neighbours.

Amongst other things we found here a kind of fruit called /cocos/,
which because it is not commonly known with us in England, I thought
good to make some description of it. The tree beareth no leaves nor
branches, but at the very top the fruit groweth in clusters, hard at
the top of the stem of the tree, as big every several fruit as a man's
head; but having taken off the uttermost bark, which you shall find to
be very full of strings or sinews, as I may term them, you shall come
to a hard shell, which may hold a quantity of liquor a pint commonly,
or some a quart, and some less. Within that shell, of the thickness of
half-an-inch good, you shall have a kind of hard substance and very
white, no less good and sweet than almonds; within that again, a
certain clear liquor which being drunk, you shall not only find it
very delicate and sweet, but most comfortable and cordial.

After we had satisfied ourselves with some of these fruits, we marched
further into the island, and saw great store of /cabritos/ alive,
which were so chased by the inhabitants that we could do no good
towards our provision; but they had laid out, as it were to stop our
mouths withal, certain old dried /cabritos/, which being but ill, and
small and few, we made no account of. Being returned to our ships, our
General departed hence the 31st of this month, and sailed by the
island of Santiago, but far enough from the danger of the inhabitants,
who shot and discharged at us three pieces; but they all fell short of
us, and did us no harm. The island is fair and large, and, as it
seemeth, rich and fruitful, and inhabited by the Portugals; but the
mountains and high places of the island are said to be possessed by
the Moors, who having been slaves to the Portugals, to ease
themselves, made escape to the desert places of the island, where they
abide with great strength. Being before this island, we espied two
ships under sail, to the one of which we gave chase, and in the end
boarded her with a ship-boat without resistance; which we found to be
a good prize, and she yielded unto us good store of wine. Which prize
our General committed to the custody of Master Doughty; and retaining
the pilot, sent the rest away with his pinnace, giving them a butt of
wine and some victuals, and their wearing clothes, and so they
departed. The same night we came with the island called by the
Portugals /Ilha do Fogo/, that is, the burning island; in the north
side whereof is a consuming fire. The matter is said to be of sulphur,
but, notwithstanding, it is like to be a commodious island, because
the Portugals have built, and do inhabit there. Upon the south side
thereof lieth a most pleasant and sweet island, the trees whereof are
always green and fair to look upon; in respect whereof they call it
/Ilha Brava/, that is, the brave island. From the banks thereof into
the sea do run in many places reasonable streams of fresh water easy
to come by, but there was no convenient road for our ships; for such
was the depth that no ground could be had for anchoring. And it is
reported that ground was never found in that place; so that the tops
of /Fogo/ burn not so high in the air, but the roots of /Brava/ are
quenched as low in the sea.

Being departed from these islands, we drew towards the line, where we
were becalmed the space of three weeks, but yet subject to divers
great storms, terrible lightnings and much thunder. But with this
misery we had the commodity of great store of fish, as dolphins,
bonitos, and flying-fishes, whereof some fell into our ships;
wherehence they could not rise again for want of moisture, for when
their wings are dry they cannot fly.

From the first day of our departure from the islands of Cape Verde, we
sailed 54 days without sight of land. And the first land that we fell
with was the coast of Brazil, which we saw the fifth of April, in the
height of 33 degrees towards the pole Antarctic. And being discovered
at sea by the inhabitants of the country, they made upon the coast
great fires for a sacrifice (as we learned) to the devils; about which
they use conjurations, making heaps of sand, and other ceremonies,
that when any ship shall go about to stay upon their coast, not only
sands may be gathered together in shoals in every place, but also that
storms and tempests may arise, to the casting away of ships and men,
whereof, as it is reported, there have been divers experiments.

The 7th day in a mighty great storm, both of lightning, rain, and
thunder, we lost the canter, which we called the Christopher. But the
eleventh day after, by our General's great care in dispersing his
ships, we found her again, and the place where we met our General
called the Cape of Joy, where every ship took in some water. Here we
found a good temperature and sweet air, a very fair and pleasant
country with an exceeding fruitful soil, where were great store of
large and mighty deer, but we came not to the sight of any people; but
travelling further into the country we perceived the footing of people
in the clay ground, shewing that they were men of great stature. Being
returned to our ships we weighed anchor, and ran somewhat further, and
harboured ourselves between the rock and the main; where by means of
the rock that brake the force of the sea, we rid very safe. And upon
this rock we killed for our provision certain sea-wolves, commonly
called with us seals. From hence we went our course to 36 degrees, and
entered the great river of Plate, and ran into 54 and 53 1/2 fathoms
of fresh water, where we filled our water by the ship's side; but our
General finding here no good harborough, as he thought he should, bare
out again to sea the 27th of April, and in bearing out we lost sight
of our fly-boat wherein Master Doughty was. But we, sailing along,
found a fair and reasonable good bay, wherein were many and the same
profitable islands; one whereof had so many seals as would at the
least have laden all our ships, and the rest of the islands are, as it
were, laden with fowls, which is wonderful to see, and they of divers
sorts. It is a place very plentiful of victuals, and hath in it no
want of fresh water. Our General, after certain days of his abode in
this place, being on shore in an island, the people of the country
shewed themselves unto him, leaping and dancing, and entered into
traffic with him, but they would not receive anything at any man's
hands, but the same must be cast upon the ground. They are of clean,
comely, and strong bodies, swift on foot, and seem to be very active.

The 18th of May, our General thought it needful to have a care of such
ships as were absent; and therefore endeavouring to seek the fly-boat
wherein Master Doughty was, we espied her again the next day. And
whereas certain of our ships were sent to discover the coast and to
search an harbour, the Marigold and the canter being employed in that
business, came unto us and gave us understanding of a safe harbour
that they had found. Wherewith all our ships bare, and entered it;
where we watered and made new provision of victuals, as by seals,
whereof we slew to the number of 200 or 300 in the space of an hour.
Here our General in the Admiral rid close aboard the fly-boat, and
took out of her all the provision of victuals and what else was in
her, and hauling her to the land, set fire to her, and so burnt her to
save the iron work. Which being a-doing, there came down of the
country certain of the people naked, saving only about their waist the
skin of some beast, with the fur or hair on, and something also
wreathed on their heads. Their faces were painted with divers colours,
and some of them had on their heads the similitude of horns, every man
his bow, which was an ell in length, and a couple of arrows. They were
very agile people and quick to deliver, and seemed not to be ignorant
in the feats of wars, as by their order of ranging a few men might
appear. These people would not of a long time receive anything at our
hands; yet at length our General being ashore, and they dancing after
their accustomed manner about him, and he once turning his back
towards them, one leaped suddenly to him, and took his cap with his
gold band off his head, and ran a little distance from him, and shared
it with his fellow, the cap to one and the band to the other. Having
despatched all our business in this place, we departed and set sail.
And immediately upon our setting forth we lost our canter, which was
absent three or four days; but when our General had her again, he took
out the necessaries, and so gave her over, near to the Cape of Good
Hope. The next day after, being the 20th of June, we harboured
ourselves again in a very good harborough, called by Magellan, Port
St. Julian, where we found a gibbet standing upon the main; which we
supposed to be the place where Magellan did execution upon some of his
disobedient and rebellious company.

The two and twentieth day our General went ashore to the main, and in
his company John Thomas, and Robert Winterhie, Oliver the master-
gunner, John Brewer, Thomas Hood, and Thomas Drake. And entering on
land, they presently met with two or three of the country people. And
Robert Winterhie having in his hands a bow and arrows, went about to
make a shoot of pleasure, and, in his draught, his bowstring brake;
which the rude savages taking as a token of war, began to bend the
force of their bows against our company, and drove them to their
shifts very narrowly.

In this port our General began to enquire diligently of the actions of
Master Thomas Doughty, and found them not to be such as he looked for,
but tending rather of contention or mutiny, or some other disorder,
whereby, without redress, the success of the voyage might greatly have
been hazarded. Whereupon the company was called together and made
acquainted with the particulars of the cause, which were found, partly
by Master Doughty's own confession, and partly by the evidence of the
fact, to be true. Which when our General saw, although his private
affection to Master Doughty, as he then in the presence of us all
sacredly protested, was great, yet the care he had of the state of the
voyage, of the expectation of her Majesty, and of the honour of his
country did more touch him, as indeed it ought, than the private
respect of one man. So that the cause being thoroughly heard, and all
things done in good order as near as might be to the course of our
laws in England, it was concluded that Master Doughty should receive
punishment according to the quality of the offence. And he, seeing no
remedy but patience for himself, desired before his death to receive
the communion, which he did at the hands of Master Fletcher, our
minister, and our General himself accompanied him in that holy action.
Which being done, and the place of execution made ready, he having
embraced our General, and taken his leave of all the company, with
prayers for the Queen's Majesty and our realm, in quiet sort laid his
head to the block, where he ended his life. This being done, our
General made divers speeches to the whole company, persuading us to
unity, obedience, love, and regard of our voyage; and for the better
confirmation thereof, willed every many in the next Sunday following
to prepare himself to the communion, as Christian brethren and friends
ought to do. Which was done in very reverent sort; and so with good
contentment every man went about his business.

The 17th of August we departed the port of St. Julian, and the 20th
day we fell with the Strait of Magellan, going into the South Sea; at
the cape or headland whereof we found the body of a dead man, whose
flesh was clean consumed. The 21st day we entered the Strait, which we
found to have many turnings, and as it were shuttings-up, as if there
were no passage at all. By means whereof we had the wind often against
us; so that some of the fleet recovering a cape or point of land,
others should be forced to turn back again, and to come to an anchor
where they could. In this Strait there be many fair harbours, with
store of fresh water. But yet they lack their best commodity, for the
water there is of such depth, that no man shall find ground to anchor
in except it be in some narrow river or corner, or between some rocks;
so that if any extreme blasts or contrary winds do come, whereunto the
place is much subject, it carrieth with it no small danger. The land
on both sides is very huge and mountainous; the lower mountains
whereof, although they be monstrous and wonderful to look upon for
their height, yet there are others which in height exceed them in a
strange manner, reaching themselves above their fellows so high, that
between them did appear three regions of clouds. These mountains are
covered with snow. At both the southerly and easterly parts of the
Strait there are islands, among which the sea hath his indraught into
the Straits, even as it hath in the main entrance of the frete. This
Strait is extreme cold, with frost and snow continually; the trees
seem to stoop with the burden of the weather, and yet are green
continually, and many good and sweet herbs do very plentifully grow
and increase under them. The breadth of the Strait is in some places a
league, in some other places two leagues and three leagues, and in
some other four leagues; but the narrowest place hath a league over.

The 24th of August we arrived at an island in the Straits, where we
found great store of fowl which could not fly, of the bigness of
geese; whereof we killed in less than one day 3,000, and victualled
ourselves thoroughly therewith. The 6th day of September we entered
the South Sea at the cape or head shore. The 7th day we were driven by
a great storm from the entering into the South Sea, 200 leagues and
odd in longitude, and one degree to the southward of the Strait; in
which height, and so many leagues to the westward, the 15th day of
September, fell out the eclipse of the moon at the hour of six of the
clock at night. But neither did the ecliptical conflict of the moon
impair our state, nor her clearing again amend us a whit; but the
accustomed eclipse of the sea continued in his force, we being
darkened more than the moon sevenfold.[*]

[*] In this storm the Marigold went down with all hands.

From the bay which we called the Bay of Severing of Friends, we were
driven back to the southward of the Straits in 57 degrees and a
tierce; in which height we came to an anchor among the islands, having
there fresh and very good water, with herbs of singular virtue. Not
far from hence we entered another bay, where we found people, both men
and women, in their canoes naked, and ranging from one island to
another to seek their meat; who entered traffic with us for such
things as they had. We returning hence northward again, found the
third of October three islands, in one of which was such plenty of
birds as is scant credible to report. The 8th day of October we lost
sight of one of our consorts,[*] wherein Master Winter was; who, as
then we supposed, was put by a storm into the Straits again. Which at
our return home we found to be true, and he not perished, as some of
our company feared. Thus being come into the height of the Straits
again, we ran, supposing the coast of Chili to lie as the general maps
have described it, namely north-west; which we found to lie and trend
to the north-east and eastwards. Whereby it appeareth that this part
of Chili hath not been truly hitherto discovered, or at the least not
truly reported, for the space of twelve degrees at the least; being
set down either of purpose to deceive, or of ignorant conjecture.

[*] The Elizabeth. Winter, having slight of the Admiral, sailed home.
    The Golden Hind was thus left to pursue her voyage alone.

We continuing our course, fell the 29th of November with an island
called La Mocha, where we cast anchor; and our General, hoisting out
our boat, went with ten of our company to shore. Where we found people
whom the cruel and extreme dealings of the Spaniards have forced, for
their own safety and liberty, to flee from the main, and to fortify
themselves in this island. We being on land, the people came down to
us to the water side with show of great courtesy, bringing to us
potatoes, roots, and two very fat sheep; which our General received,
and gave them other things for them, and had promised to have water
there. But the next day repairing again to the shore, and sending two
men a-land with barrels to fill water, the people taking them for
Spaniards (to whom they use to show no favour if they take them) laid
violent hands on them, and, as we think, slew them. Our General seeing
this, stayed there no longer, but weighed anchor, and set sail towards
the coast of Chili. And drawing towards it, we met near the shore an
Indian in a /canoa/, who thinking us to have been Spaniards, came to
us and told us, that at a place called Santiago, there was a great
Spanish ship laden from the kingdom of Peru; for which good news our
General gave him divers trifles. Whereof he was glad, and went along
with us and brought us to the place, which is called the port of
Valparaiso. When we came thither we found, indeed, the ship riding at
anchor, having in her eight Spaniards and three negroes; who, thinking
us to have been Spaniards, and their friends, welcomed us with a drum,
and made ready a /botija/ of wine of Chili to drink to us. But as soon
as we were entered, one of our company called Thomas Moon began to lay
about him, and struck one of the Spaniards, and said unto him, /Abaxo/
perro!/ that is in English, 'Go down, dog!' One of these Spaniards,
seeing persons of that quality in those seas, crossed and blessed
himself. But, to be short, we stowed them under hatches, all save one
Spaniard, who suddenly and desperately leapt overboard into the sea,
and swam ashore to the town of Santiago, to give them warning of our
arrival.

They of the town, being not above nine households, presently fled away
and abandoned the town. Our General manned his boat and the Spanish
ship's boat, and went to the town; and, being come to it, we rifled
it, and came to a small chapel, which we entered, and found therein a
silver chalice, two cruets, and one altar-cloth, the spoil whereof our
General gave to Master Fletcher, his minister. We found also in this
town a warehouse stored with wine of Chili and many boards of cedar-
wood; all which wine we brought away with us, and certain of the
boards to burn for firewood. And so, being come aboard, we departed
the haven, having first set all the Spaniards on land, saving one John
Griego, a Greek born, whom our General carried with him as pilot to
bring him into the haven of Lima.

When we were at sea our General rifled the ship, and found in her good
store of the wine of Chili, and 25,000 pesos of very pure and fine
gold of Valdivia, amounting in value to 37,000 ducats of Spanish
money, and above. So, going on our course, we arrived next at a place
called Coquimbo, where our General sent fourteen of his men on land to
fetch water. But they were espied by the Spaniards, who came with 300
horsemen and 200 footmen, and slew one of our men with a piece. The
rest came aboard in safety, and the Spaniards departed. We went on
shore again and buried our man, and the Spaniards came down again with
a flag of truce; but we set sail, and would not trust them. From hence
we went to a certain port called Tarapaca; where, being landed, we
found by the sea side a Spaniard lying asleep, who had lying by him
thirteen bars of silver, which weighed 4,000 ducats Spanish. We took
the silver and left the man. Not far from hence, going on land for
fresh water, we met with a Spaniard and an Indian boy driving eight
llamas or sheep of Peru, which are as big as asses; every of which
sheep had on his back two bags of leather, each bag containing 50 lb.
weight of fine silver. So that, bringing both the sheep and their
burthen to the ships, we found in all the bags eight hundred weight of
silver.

Herehence we sailed to a place called Arica; and, being entered the
port, we found there three small barks, which we rifled, and found in
one of them fifty-seven wedges of silver, each of them weighing about
20 lb. weight, and every of these wedges were of the fashion and
bigness of a brickbat. In all these three barks, we found not one
person. For they, mistrusting no strangers, were all gone a-land to
the town, which consisteth of about twenty houses; which we would have
ransacked if our company had been better and more in number. But our
General, contented with the spoil of the ships, left the town and put
off again to sea, and set sail for Lima, and, by the way, met with a
small bark, which he boarded, and found in her good store of linen
cloth. Whereof taking some quantity, he let her go.

To Lima we came the 13th of February; and, being entered the haven, we
found there about twelve sail of ships lying fast moored at an anchor,
having all their sails carried on shore; for the masters and merchants
were here most secure, having never been assaulted by enemies, and at
this time feared the approach of none such as we were. Our General
rifled these ships, and found in one of them a chest full of reals of
plate, and good store of silks and linen cloth; and took the chest
into his own ship, and good store of the silks and linen. In which
ship he had news of another ship called the Cacafuego, which was gone
towards Payta, and that the same ship was laden with treasure.
Whereupon we stayed no longer here, but, cutting all the cables of the
ships in the haven, we let them drive wither they would, either to sea
or to the shore; and with all speed we followed the Cacafuego toward
Payta, thinking there to have found her. But before we arrived there
she was gone from thence towards Panama; whom our General still
pursued, and by the way met with a bark laden with ropes and tackle
for ships, which he boarded and searched, and found in her 80 lb.
weight of gold, and a crucifix of gold with goodly great emeralds set
in it, which he took, and some of the cordage also for his own ship.
From hence we departed, still following the Cacafuego; and our General
promised our company that whosoever should first descry her should
have his chain of gold for his good news. It fortuned that John Drake,
going up into the top, descried her about three of the clock. And
about six of the clock we came to her and boarded her, and shot at her
three pieces of ordnance, and strake down her mizen; and, being
entered, we found in her great riches, as jewels and precious stones,
thirteen chests full of reals of plate, fourscore pound weight of
gold, and six-and-twenty ton of silver. The place where we took this
prize was called Cape de San Francisco, about 150 leagues [south] from
Panama. The pilot's name of this ship was Francisco; and amongst other
plate that our General found in this ship he found two very fair gilt
bowls of silver, which were the pilot's. To whom our General said,
/Senor Pilot, you have here two silver cups, but I must needs have one
of them/; which the pilot, because he could not otherwise choose,
yielded unto, and gave the other to the steward of our General's ship.
When this pilot departed from us, his boy said thus unto our General:
/Captain, our ship shall be called no more the Cacafuego, but the
Cacaplata, and your ship shall be called the Cacafuego/. Which pretty
speech of the pilot's boy ministered matter of laughter to us, both
then and long after. When our General had done what he would with this
Cacafuego, he cast her off, and we went on our course still towards
the west; and not long after met with a ship laden with linen cloth
and fine China dishes of white earth, and great store of China silks,
of all which things we took as we listed. The owner himself of this
ship was in her, who was a Spanish gentleman, from whom our General
took a falcon of gold, with a great emerald in the breast thereof; and
the pilot of the ship he took also with him, and so cast the ship off.

This pilot brought us to the haven of Guatulco, the town whereof, as
he told us, had but 17 Spaniards in it. As soon as we were entered
this haven, we landed, and went presently to the town and to the town-
house; where we found a judge sitting in judgment, being associated
with three other officers, upon three negroes that had conspired the
burning of the town. Both which judges and prisoners we took, and
brought them a-shipboard, and caused the chief judge to write his
letter to the town to command all the townsmen to avoid, that we might
safely water there. Which being done, and they departed, we ransacked
the town; and in one house we found a pot, of the quantity of a
bushel, full of reals of plate, which we brought to our ship. And here
one Thomas Moon, one of our company, took a Spanish gentleman as he
was flying out of the town; and, searching him, he found a chain of
gold about him, and other jewels, which he took, and so let him go. At
this place our General, among other Spaniards, set ashore his Portugal
pilot which he took at the islands of Cape Verde out of a ship of St.
Mary port, of Portugal. And having set them ashore we departed hence,
and sailed to the island of Canno; where our General landed, and
brought to shore his own ship, and discharged her, mended and graved
her, and furnished our ship with water and wood sufficiently.

And while we were here we espied a ship and set sail after her, and
took her, and found in her two pilots and a Spanish governor, going
for the islands of the Philippinas. We searched the ship, and took
some of her merchandises, and so let her go. Our General at this place
and time, thinking himself, both in respect of his private injuries
received from the Spaniards, as also of their contempts and
indignities offered to our country and prince in general, sufficiently
satisfied and revenged; and supposing that her Majesty at his return
would rest contented with this service, purposed to continue no longer
upon the Spanish coast, but began to consider and to consult of the
best way for his country.

He thought it not good to return by the Straits, for two special
causes; the one, lest the Spaniards should there wait and attend for
him in great number and strength, whose hands, he, being left but one
ship, could not possibly escape. The other cause was the dangerous
situation of the mouth of the Straits in the South Sea; where
continual storms reigning and blustering, as he found by experience,
besides the shoals and sands upon the coast, he thought it not a good
course to adventure that way. He resolved, therefore, to avoid these
hazards, to go forward to the Islands of the Malucos, and therehence
to sail the course of the Portugals by the Cape of Buena Esperanza.
Upon this resolution he began to think of his best way to the Malucos,
and finding himself, where he now was, becalmed, he saw that of
necessity he must be forced to take a Spanish course; namely, to sail
somewhat northerly to get a good wind. We therefore set sail, and
sailed 600 leagues at the least for a good wind; and thus much we
sailed from the 16th of April till the third of June.

The fifth of June, being in 43 degrees towards the pole Arctic, we
found the air so cold, that our men being grievously pinched with the
same, complained of the extremity thereof; and the further we went,
the more the cold increased upon us. Whereupon we thought it best for
that time to seek the land, and did so; finding it not mountainous but
low plain land, till we came within 38 degrees towards the line. In
which height it pleased God to send us into a fair and good bay, with
a good wind to enter the same. In this bay we anchored; and the people
of the country, having their houses close by the water's side, shewed
themselves unto us, and sent a present to our General. When they came
unto us, they greatly wondered at the things that we brought. But our
General, according to his natural and accustomed humanity, courteously
intreated them, and liberally bestowed on them necessary things to
cover their nakedness; whereupon they supposed us to be gods, and
would not be persuaded to the contrary. The presents which they sent
to our General, were feathers, and cauls of network. Their houses are
digged round about with earth, and have from the uttermost brims of
the circle, clifts of wood set upon them, joining close together at
the top like a spire steeple, which by reason of that closeness are
very warm. Their bed is the ground with rushes strowed on it; and
lying about the house, [they] have the fire in the midst. The men go
naked; the women take bulrushes, and kemb them after the manner of
hemp, and thereof make their loose garments, which being knit about
their middles, hang down about their hips, having also about their
shoulders a skin of deer, with the hair upon it. These women are very
obedient and serviceable to their husbands.

After they were departed from us, they came and visited us the second
time, and brought with them feathers and bags of /tabacco/ for
presents. And when they came to the top of the hill, at the bottom
whereof we had pitched our tents, they stayed themselves; where one
appointed for speaker wearied himself with making a long oration;
which done, they left their bows upon the hill, and came down with
their presents. In the meantime the women, remaining upon the hill,
tormented themselves lamentably, tearing their flesh from their
cheeks, whereby we perceived that they were about a sacrifice. In the
meantime our General with his company went to prayer, and to reading
of the Scriptures, at which exercise they were attentive, and seemed
greatly to be affected with it; but when they were come unto us, they
restored again unto us those things which before we bestowed upon
them. The news of our being there being spread through the country,
the people that inhabited round about came down, and amongst them the
king himself, a man of a goodly stature, and comely personage, and
with many other tall and warlike men; before whose coming were sent
two ambassadors to our General, to signify that their king was coming,
in doing of which message, their speech was continued about half an
hour. This ended, they by signs requested our General to send
something by their hand to their king, as a token that his coming
might be in peace. Wherein our General having satisfied them, they
returned with glad tidings to their king, who marched to us with a
princely majesty, the people crying continually after their manner;
and as they drew near unto us, so did they strive to behave themselves
in their actions with comeliness. In the fore-front was a man of
goodly personage, who bare the sceptre or mace before the king;
whereupon hanged two crowns, a less and a bigger, with three chains of
a marvellous length. The crowns were made of knit work, wrought
artificially with feathers of divers colours. The chains were made of
a bony substance, and few be the persons among them that are admitted
to wear them; and of that number also the persons are stinted, as some
ten, some twelve, etc. Next unto him which bare the sceptre, was the
king himself, with his guard about his person, clad with coney skins,
and other skins. After them followed the naked common sort of people,
every one having his face painted, some with white, some with black,
and other colours, and having in their hands one thing or another for
a present. Not so much as their children, but they also brought their
presents.

In the meantime our General gathered his men together, and marched
within his fenced place, making, against their approaching, a very
warlike show. They being trooped together in their order, and a
general salutation being made, there was presently a general silence.
Then he that bare the sceptre before the king, being informed by
another, whom they assigned to that office, with a manly and lofty
voice proclaimed that which the other spake to him in secret,
continuing half an hour. Which ended, and a general /Amen/, as it
were, given, the king with the whole number of men and women, the
children excepted, came down without any weapon; who, descending to
the foot of the hill, set themselves in order. In coming towards our
bulwarks and tents, the sceptre-bearer began a song, observing his
measures in a dance, and that with a stately countenance; whom the
king with his guard, and every degree of persons, following, did in
like manner sing and dance, saving only the women, which danced and
kept silence. The General permitted them to enter within our bulwark,
where they continued their song and dance a reasonable time. When they
had satisfied themselves, they made signs to our General to sit down;
to whom the king and divers others made several orations, or rather
supplications, that he would take their province and kingdom into his
hand, and become their king, making signs that they would resign unto
him their right and title of the whole land, and become his subjects.
In which, to persuade us the better, the king and the rest, with one
consent, and with great reverence, joyfully singing a song, did set
the crown upon his head, enriched his neck with all their chains, and
offered him many other things, honouring him by the name of /Hioh/,
adding thereunto, as it seemed, a sign of triumph; which thing our
General thought not meet to reject, because he knew not what honour
and profit it might be to our country. Wherefore in the name, and to
the use of her Majesty, he took the sceptre, crown, and dignity of the
said country into his hands, wishing that the riches and treasure
thereof might so conveniently be transported to the enriching of her
kingdom at home, as it aboundeth in the same.

The common sort of people, leaving the king and his guard with our
General, scattered themselves together with their sacrifices among our
people, taking a diligent view of every person: and such as pleased
their fancy (which were the youngest), they enclosing them about
offered their sacrifices unto them with lamentable weeping, scratching
and tearing their flesh from their faces with their nails, whereof
issued abundance of blood. But we used signs to them of disliking
this, and stayed their hands from force, and directed them upwards to
the living God, whom only they ought to worship. They shewed unto us
their wounds, and craved help of them at our hands; whereupon we gave
them lotions, plaisters, and ointments agreeing to the state of their
griefs, beseeching God to cure their diseases. Every third day they
brought their sacrifices unto us, until they understood our meaning,
that we had no pleasure in them; yet they could not be long absent
from us, but daily frequented our company to the hour of our
departure, which departure seemed so grievous unto them, that their
joy was turned into sorrow. They entreated us, that being absent we
would remember them, and by stealth provided a sacrifice, which we
misliked.

Our necessary business being ended, our General with his company
travelled up into the country to their villages, where we found herds
of deer by a thousand in a company, being most large, and fat of body.
We found the whole country to be a warren of a strange kind of coneys;
their bodies in bigness as be the Barbary coneys, their heads as the
heads of ours, the feet of a want [mole], and the tail of a rat, being
of great length. Under her chin is on either side a bag, into the
which she gathereth her meat, when she hath filled her belly abroad.
The people eat their bodies, and make great account of their skins,
for their king's coat was made of them. Our General called this
country Nova Albion, and that for two causes; the one in respect of
the white banks and cliffs, which lie towards the sea, and the other,
because it might have some affinity with our country in name, which
sometime was so called. There is no part of earth here to be taken up,
wherein there is not some probable show of gold or silver.

At our departure hence our General set up a monument of our being
there, as also of her Majesty's right and title to the same; namely a
plate, nailed upon a fair great post, whereupon was engraved her
Majesty's name, the day and year of our arrival there, with the free
giving up of the province and people into her Majesty's hands,
together with her Highness' picture and arms, in a piece of six pence
of current English money, under the plate, whereunder was also written
the name of our General.

It seemeth that the Spaniards hitherto had never been in this part of
the country, neither did ever discover the land by many degrees to the
southwards of this place.

After we had set sail from hence, we continued without sight of land
till the 13th day of October following, which day in the morning we
fell with certain islands eight degrees to the northward of the line,
from which islands came in a great number of /canoas/, having in some
of them four, in some six, and in some also fourteen men, bringing
with them cocos and other fruits. Their /canoas/ were hollow within
and cut with great art and cunning, being very smooth within and
without, and bearing a gloss as if it were a horn daintily burnished,
having a prow and a stern of one sort, yielding inward circle-wise,
being of a great height, and full of certain white shells for a
bravery; and on each side of them lie out two pieces of timber about a
yard and a half long, more or less, according to the smallness or
bigness of the boat. These people have the nether part of their ears
cut into a round circle, hanging down very low upon their cheeks,
whereon they hang things of a reasonable weight. The nails of their
hands are an inch long, their teeth are as black as pitch, and they
renew them often, by eating of an herb with a kind of powder, which
they always carry about them in a cane for the same purpose.

Leaving this island the night after we fell with it, the 18th of
October we lighted upon divers others, some whereof made a great show
of inhabitants. We continued our course by the islands of Tagulanda,
Zelon, and Zewarra, being friends to the Portugals, the first whereof
hath growing in it great store of cinnamon. The 14th of November we
fell in with the islands of Maluco. Which day at night (having
directed our course to run with Tidore) in coasting along the island
of Mutyr, belonging to the king of Ternate, his deputy or vice-king
seeing us at sea, come with his /canoa/ to us without all fear, and
came aboard; and after some conference with our General, willed him in
any wise to run in with Ternate, and not with Tidore, assuring him
that the king would be glad of his coming, and would be ready to do
what he would require, for which purpose he himself would that night
be with the king, and tell him the news. With whom if he once dealt,
we should find that if he went to Tidore before he came to Ternate,
the king would have nothing to do with us, because he held the
Portugal as his enemy. Whereupon our General resolved to run with
Ternate. Where the next morning early we came to anchor; at which time
our General sent a messenger to the king, with a velvet cloak for a
present and token of his coming to lie in peace, and that he required
nothing but traffic and exchange of merchandise, whereof he had good
store, in such things as he wanted.

In the meantime the vice-king had been with the king according to his
promise, signifying unto him what good things he might receive from us
by traffic. Whereby the king was moved with great liking towards us,
and sent to our General, with special message, that he should have
what things he needed and would require, with peace and friendship;
and moreover that he would yield himself and the right of his island
to be at the pleasure and commandment of so famous a prince as we
served. In token whereof he sent to our General a signet; and within
short time after came in his own person, with boats and /canoas/, to
our ship, to bring her into a better and safer road than she was in at
that present. In the meantime, our General's messenger, being come to
the Court, was met by certain noble personages with great solemnity,
and brought to the king, at whose hands he was most friendly and
graciously entertained.

The king, purposing to come to our ship, sent before four great and
large /canoas/, in every one whereof were certain of his greatest
states (men of property or estate) that were about him, attired in
white lawn of cloth of Calicut, having over their heads, from the one
end of the /canoa/ to the other, a covering of thin perfumed mats,
borne up with a frame made of reeds for the same use; under which
every one did sit in his order according to his dignity, to keep him
from the heat of the sun; divers of whom being of good age and
gravity, did make an ancient and fatherly show. There were also divers
young and comely men attired in white, as were the others; the rest
were soldiers, which stood in comely order round about on both sides.
Without whom sat the rowers in certain galleries; which being three on
a side all along the /canoas/, did lie off from the side thereof three
or four yards, one being orderly builded lower than another, in every
of which galleries were the number of fourscore rowers. These /canoas/
were furnished with warlike munition, every man for the most part
having his sword and target, with his dagger, beside other weapons, as
lances, calivers, darts, bows and arrows; also every /canoa/ had a
small cast base mounted at the least one full yard upon a stock set
upright. Thus coming near our ship, in order, they rowed about us one
after another, and passing by, did their homage with great solemnity;
the great personages beginning with great gravity and fatherly
countenances, signifying that the king had sent them to conduct our
ship into a better road. Soon after the king himself repaired,
accompanied with six grave and ancient persons, who did their
obeisance with marvellous humility. The king was a man of tall
stature, and seemed to be much delighted with the sound of our music;
to whom, as also to his nobility, our General gave presents, wherewith
they were passing well contented.

At length the king craved leave of our General to depart, promising
the next day to come aboard, and in the meantime to send us such
victuals as were necessary for our provision. So that the same night
we received of them meal, which they call /sagu/, made of the tops of
certain trees, tasting in the mouth like sour curds, but melteth like
sugar, whereof they make certain cakes, which may be kept the space of
ten years, and yet then good to be eaten. We had of them store of
rice, hens, unperfect and liquid sugar, sugar-canes, and a fruit which
they call /figo/ (plantains), with store of cloves.

The king having promised to come aboard, brake his promise, but sent
his brother to make his excuse, and to entreat our General to come on
shore, offering himself pawn aboard for his safe return. Whereunto our
General consented not, upon mislike conceived of the breach of his
promise; the whole company also utterly refusing it. But to satisfy
him, our General sent certain of his gentlemen to the Court, to
accompany the king's brother, reserving the vice-king for their safe
return. They were received of another brother of the king's, and other
states, and were conducted with great honour to the castle. The place
that they were brought unto was a large and fair house, where were at
the least a thousand persons assembled.

The king being yet absent, there sat in their places 60 grave
personages, all which were said to be of the king's council. There
were besides four grave persons, apparelled all in red, down to the
ground, and attired on their heads like the Turks; and these were said
to be Romans [probably Greeks] and ligiers [resident agents] there to
keep continual traffic with the people of Ternate. There were also two
Turks ligiers in this place, and one Italian. The king at last came in
guarded with twelve lances, covered over with a rich canopy with
embossed gold. Our men, accompanied with one of their captains called
Moro, rising to meet him, he graciously did welcome and entertain
them. He was attired after the manner of the country, but more
sumptuously than the rest. From his waist down to the ground was all
cloth of gold, and the same very rich; his legs were bare, but on his
feet were a pair of shoes, made of Cordovan skin. In the attire of his
head were finely wreathed hooped rings of gold, and about his neck he
had a chain of perfect gold, the links whereof were great, and one
fold double. On his fingers he had six very fair jewels; and sitting
in his chair of state, at his right hand stood a page with a fan in
his hand, breathing and gathering the air to the king. The same was in
length two foot, and in breadth one foot, set with eight sapphires
richly embroidered, and knit to a staff three foot in length, by the
which the page did hold and move it. Our gentlemen having delivered
their message and received order accordingly, were licensed to depart,
being safely conducted back again by one of the king's council. This
island is the chief of all the islands of Maluco, and the king hereof
is king of 70 islands besides. The king with his people are Moors in
religion, observing certain new moons, with fastings; during which
fasts they neither eat nor drink in the day, but in the night.

After that our gentlemen were returned, and that we had here by the
favour of the king received all necessary things that the place could
yield us; our General considering the great distance, and how far he
was yet off from his country, thought it not best here to linger the
time any longer, but weighing his anchors, set out of the island, and
sailed to a certain little island to the southwards of Celebes, where
we graved our ship, and continued there, in that and other businesses,
26 days. This island is thoroughly grown with wood of a large and high
growth, very straight, and without boughs, save only in the head or
top, whose leaves are not much differing from our broom in England.
Amongst these trees night by night, through the whole land, did shew
themselves an infinite swarm of fiery worms flying in the air, whose
bodies being no bigger than our common English flies, make such a show
and light as if every twig or tree had been a burning candle. In this
place breedeth also wonderful store of bats, as big as large hens. Of
crayfishes also here wanted no plenty, and they of exceeding bigness,
one whereof was sufficient for four hungry stomachs at a dinner, being
also very good and restoring meat, whereof we had experience: and they
dig themselves holes in the earth like coneys.

When we had ended our business here we weighed, and set sail to run
for the Malucos. But having at that time a bad wind, and being amongst
the islands, with much difficulty we recovered to the northward of the
island of Celebes; where by reason of contrary winds, not able to
continue our course to run westwards, we were enforced to alter the
same to the southward again, finding that course also to be very hard
and dangerous for us, by reason of infinite shoals which lie off and
among the islands; whereof we had too much trial, to the hazard and
danger of our ship and lives. For, of all other days, upon the 9th of
January, in the year 1579 [1580], we ran suddenly upon a rock, where
we stuck fast from eight of the clock at night till four of the clock
in the afternoon the next day, being indeed out of all hope to escape
the danger. But our General, as he had always hitherto shewed himself
courageous, and of a good confidence in the mercy and protection of
God, so now he continued in the same. And lest he should seem to
perish wilfully, both he and we did our best endeavour to save
ourselves; which it pleased God so to bless, that in the end we
cleared ourselves most happily of the danger.

We lighted our ship upon the rocks of three tons of cloves, eight
pieces of ordnance, and certain meal and beans; and then the wind, as
it were in a moment by the special grace of God, changing from the
starboard to the larboard of the ship, we hoisted our sails, and the
happy gale drove our ship off the rock into the sea again, to the no
little comfort of all our hearts, for which we gave God such praise
and thanks, as so great a benefit required.

The 8th of February following, we fell with the fruitful island of
Barateve, having in the mean time suffered many dangers by winds and
shoals. The people of this island are comely in body and stature, and
of a civil behaviour, just in dealing, and courteous to strangers;
whereof we had the experience sundry ways, they being most glad of our
presence, and very ready to relieve our wants in those things which
their country did yield. The men go naked, saving their heads and
loins, every man having something or other hanging at their ears.
Their women are covered from the middle down to the foot, wearing a
great number of bracelets upon their arms; for some had eight upon
each arm, being made some of bone, some of horn, and some of brass,
the lightest whereof, by our estimation, weighed two ounces apiece.
With this people linen-cloth is good merchandise, and of good request;
whereof they make rolls for their heads, and girdles to wear about
them. Their island is both rich and fruitful; rich in gold, silver,
copper, and sulphur, wherein they seem skilful and expert, not only to
try the same, but in working it also artificially into any form and
fashion that pleaseth them. Their fruits be divers and plentiful; as
nutmegs, ginger, long pepper, lemons, cucumbers, cocos, /figu/,
/sagu/, with divers other sorts. And among all the rest we had one
fruit, in bigness, form and husk, like a bay berry, hard of substance
and pleasant of taste, which being sudden becometh soft, and is a most
good and wholesome victual; whereof we took reasonable store, as we
did also of the other fruits and spices. So that to confess a truth,
since the time that we first set out of our country of England, we
happened upon no place, Ternate only excepted, wherein we found more
comforts and better means of refreshing.

At our departure from Barateve, we set our course for Java Major;
where arriving, we found great courtesy, and honourable entertainment.
This island is governed by five kings, whom they call Rajah; as Rajah
Donaw, and Rajah Mang Bange, and Rajah Cabuccapollo, which live as
having one spirit and one mind. Of these five we had four a-shipboard
at once, and two or three often. They are wonderfully delighted in
coloured clothes, as red and green; the upper part of their bodies are
naked, save their heads, whereupon they wear a Turkish roll as do the
Maluccians. From the middle downward they wear a /pintado/ of silk,
trailing upon the ground, in colour as they best like. The Maluccians
hate that their women should be seen of strangers; but these offer
them of high courtesy, yea, the kings themselves. The people are of
goodly stature and warlike, well provided of swords and targets, with
daggers, all being of their own work, and most artificially done, both
in tempering their metal, as also in the form; whereof we bought
reasonable store. They have an house in every village for their common
assembly; every day they meet twice, men, women, and children,
bringing with them such victuals as they think good, some fruits, some
rice boiled, some hens roasted, some /sagu/, having a table made three
foot from the ground, whereon they set their meat, that every person
sitting at the table may eat, one rejoicing in the company of another.
They boil their rice in an earthen pot, made in form of a sugar loaf,
being full of holes, as our pots which we water our gardens withal,
and it is open at the great end, wherein they get their rice dry,
without any moisture. In the mean time they have ready another great
earthen pot, as set fast in a furnace, boiling full of water,
whereinto they put their pot with rice, by such measure, that they
swelling become soft at the first, and by their swelling stopping the
holes of the pot, admit no more water to enter, but the more they are
boiled, the harder and more firm substance they become. So that in the
end they are a firm and good bread, of the which with oil, butter,
sugar, and other spices, they make divers sorts of meats very pleasant
of taste, and nourishing to nature.

Not long before our departure, they told us that not far off there
were such great ships as ours, wishing us to beware; upon this our
captain would stay no longer. From Java Major we sailed for the Cape
of Good Hope, which was the first land we fell withal; neither did we
touch with it, or any other land, until we came to Sierra Leona, upon
the coast of Guinea; notwithstanding we ran hard aboard the cape,
finding the report of the Portugals to be most false who affirm that
it is the most dangerous cape of the world, never without intolerable
storms and present danger to travellers which come near the same. This
cape is a most stately thing, and the fairest cape we saw in the whole
circumference of the earth, and we passed by it the 18th of June. From
thence we continued our course to Sierra Leona, on the coast of
Guinea, where we arrived the 22nd of July, and found necessary
provisions, great store of elephants, oysters upon trees of one kind
[mangrove], spawning and increasing infinitely, the oyster suffering
no bud to grow. We departed thence the four and twentieth day.

We arrived in England the third of November, 1580, being the third
year of our departure.