{Transcriber's note:

The spelling and punctuation in the original are inconsistent. No corrections have been made except those that have been notedexplicitly at the end of the etext. 

The maps referred to on the title page and after the Dedication werenot present in the original. }

 A SVMMARIE AND TRVE DISCOVRSE OF SIR FRANCES DRAKES VVest Indian Voyage. 

 VVherein were taken, the Townes of _Saint Iago, Sancto Domingo, Cartagena, and Saint Augustine_. 

 With Geographicall Mappes exactly describing each of the Tovvnes vvith their scituations, and the maner of the Armies approching to the vvinning of them: diligently made by

 BAPTISTA BOAZIO. 

 [Illustration]

 Printed at London by Roger Ward dvvelling vpon Lambard Hill, neere olde Fish-streete. 

 1589. 

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 TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT D'EVREVX, EARLE _OF ESSEX AND EVVE, VISCOVNT_ of Hereford and Bourchier, Lord Ferrers of Chartley, Bourchier, and Louaine, Maister of the Queenes Maiesties horse, and knight of the most honorable order of the Garter. T. C. Vvisheth increase of all honour and happinesse. 

_Right Honorable, hauing by chaunce recouered of late into my handes(after I had once lost the same) a copie of the Discourse of our lateWest Indian Voyage, which was begun by Captaine Bigges; who ended hislife in the said voyage after our departure from _Cartagena_, the samebeing afterwardes finished (as I thinke) by his Lieutenant MaisterCroftes, or some other, I know not well who. Now finding therein a mosttrue report of the seruices and other matters which happened in the saidvoyage, the sight whereof is wonderfully desired of manie honest andwell disposed persons. I haue presumed to recommend the publishingthereof, vnto your Lordships protection and fauour, for these twocauses. The one, for that your Lordships honourable disposition is inthe knowledge of all men that know your selfe, most thirstingly affectedto embrace in your owne person, the brauest enterprises, if the timewould once afford anie such fit occasion, as might be agreeable to herMaiesties resolution: who wisely (and long may she do it) gouerneth allthinges to the greatest aduantage of her selfe and people. The other, because my selfe hauing bene a member in the said actions, and wasLieutenant of Maister Carleils owne companie, whereby I can well assurethe truth of this report: I thought it my bounden duetie, hauingprofessed my seruice to your Lordship before all men, to dedicate thesame rather vnto your Lordship then vnto any other. And although it benow a yeare and a halfe sithence the voyage ended, whereby some man willsay, that it is now no new matter: yet the present time considered, howdoubtfull some of our meaner sort of people are of the Spanishpreparations, I thinke this Discourse a verie fit thing to be published, that they may see what great victories a fewe English men haue made vpongreat numbers of the Spaniardes, euen at home in their owne Countries. The beholding whereof will much encourage those, who by fame and barewordes are made to doubt much more then there is cause why they should. Vpon which point, as there may be much said: so my selfe being noDiscourser, do desire to be held excused therein; and therefore doeonely commend the trueth of this report vnto your Lordship: which willbe also auowed by diuers Captaines that were in the said voyage. And soin all humblenesse do take my leaue, readie to do your Lordship allfaithfull seruice. _

 Your Lordships souldier and humble seruant

 THOMAS GATES. 

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_¶ The Reader must vnderstand, that this Discourse was dedicated, andintended to haue bene Imprinted somewhat before the comming of theSpanish Fleete vpon our coast of England: but by casualtie the same wasforgotten and slacked for a time of some better leasure. _

 The Order and maner for the true placing _of the Mappes in this Booke_. 

 { S'. Iago in fol. 10. { S'. Domingo in fol. 19. Place the Mappe of { Cartagena in fol. 23. { S'. Augustine in fol. 31. 

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 A SVMMARIE AND TRVE DISCOVRSE OF SIR FRANCIS _DRAKES WEST INDIAN VOYAGE_, WHEREIN WERE TAKEN THE TOVVNES OF SAINT IAGO, _Sancto Domingo, Cartagena_, and Saint Augustine, This vvorthie Knight for the seruice of his Prince and Countrie, hauingprepared his vvhole fleete, and gotten them downe to Plimmouth inDeuonshire, to the number of fiue and twentie saile of ships andpinnaces, and hauing assembled of Souldiours and Marriners to the numberof two thousand and three hundred in the vvhole, embarqued them andhimselfe at Plimmouth aforesaid, the twelfth day of September 1585. Being accompanied vvith these men of name and charge, vvhich hereafterfollowe. 

 Maister Christopher Carleill Lieftenant Generall, a man of long experience in the vvarre as vvell by sea as land, and had formerly carried high offices in both kindes in many fightes, vvhich he discharged alvvaies verie happilie, and with great good reputation. Anthonie Povvell Sergeant Maior. Captaine Mathevve Morgan, and Captaine Iohn Sampson, Corporals of the field. 

These Officers had commaundement ouer the rest of the land Captaines, vvhose names hereafter follovve. 

 Captaine Anthony Plat. Captaine Edvvard Winter. Captaine Iohn Goring. Captaine Robert Pevv. Captaine George Barton. Captaine Iohn Merchant. Captaine William Cecill. Captaine Walter Bigs. Captaine Iohn Hannam. Captaine Richard Stanton. Captaine Martine Frobusher Viceadmirall, a man of great experience in sea faring actions, & had caried chiefe charge of many shippes himselfe, in sundry voyages before, being novv shipped in the Primrose. Captaine Francis Knollis, Rieradmirall in the Gallion Leicester. Maister Thomas Venner Captaine in the Elizabeth Bonaduenture vnder the Generall. Maister Edvvard Winter Captaine in the Aide. Maister Christopher Carleill the Lieftenant generall, Captaine in the Tygar. Henry White Captaine of the sea Dragon. Thomas Drake Captaine of the Thomas. Thomas Seelie Captaine of the Minion. Baily Captaine of the Barke Talbot. Robert Crosse Captaine of the Barke Bond. George Fortescute Captaine of the Barke Bonner. Edward Carelesse Captaine of the Hope. James Erizo Captaine of the vvhite Lion. Thomas Moone Captaine of the Francis. Iohn Riuers Captaine of the Vantage, Iohn Vaughan Captaine of the Drake. Iohn Varney Captaine of the George, Iohn Martin Captaine of the Beniamin. Edward Gilman Captaine of the Skout. Richard Haukins Captaine of the Galliot called the Ducke. Bitfield Captaine of the Svvallowe. 

After our going hence, which vvas the fourteenth of September, in theyeare of our Lord, one thowsand fiue hundred eightie and fiue: & takingour course towardes Spaine, vve had the winde for a fewe daies somevvhatskant, and sometimes calme. And being arriued neere that part of thecoast of Spaine, vvich is called the Moores, vvee happened to espiediuerse Sailes, vvich kept their course close by the shore, the vveatherbeing faire and calme. The Generall caused the Vizeadmirall to goe vviththe Pinnaces vvell manned to see vvhat they vvere, vvho vpon sight ofthe said Pinnaces approching neere vnto them, abandoned for the mostpart all their shippes (being Frenchmen) laden all vvith salt, and boundhomewardes into France, amongst vvhich shippes (being all of smallburthen) there was one so vvell liked, vvhich also had no man in her, asbeing brought vnto the Generall, he thought good to make stay of her forthe seruice, meaning to pay for her, as also accordingly performed atour returne: vvhich Barke vvas called the Drake. The rest of theseshippes (being eight or nine) vvere dismissed vvithout any thing at alltaken from them. Who beeing aftervvardes put somevvhat further off fromthe shore, by the contrarietie of the vvinde, vve happened to meetevvith some other French shippes, full laden vvith Newland fish, beeingvpon their returne homewarde from the saide New found land: vvhom theGenerall after some speech had vvith them, (and seeing plainely thatthey vvere Frenchmen) dismissed vvithout once suffering any man to goeaboord of them. 

The day follovving standing in vvith the shore againe, vve discried another tall ship of twelue score tunnes or theraboutes, vpon vvhomMaister Carleill the Lieuetenant generall being in the Tygar, vndertookethe chase, vvhome also anon after the Admirall follovved, and the Tygarhauing caused the saide straunge shippe to strike her sayles, kept herthere without suffering anye bodie to goe aboorde vntill the Admirallvvas come vp: vvho foorthwith fending for the Maister, and diuerseothers of their principall men, and causing them to be seuerallyexamined, found the Shippe and goodes to be belonging to theinhabitantes of Saint SEBASTIAN in Spaine, but the Marriners to bee forthe most parte belonging to Saint IOHN de LVCE, and the Passage. In thisship was greate store of dry Nevvland fish, commonly called vvith vsPoore Iohn, vvhereof aftervvards (being thus found a lavvfull prize)there vvas distribution made into all the shippes of the Fleete, thesame being so new and good, as it did verie greatly bestead vs in thewhole course of our voyage. A day or two after the taking of this ship, vve put in within the Isles of BAYON, for lacke of fauourable vvind, where we had no sooner anckered some part of the Fleete, but theGenerall commaunded all the Pinnaces with the ship boates to be manned, and euerye man to be furnished with such armes as vvas needefull forthat present seruice; vvhich being done, the Generall put himselfe intohis Galley, vvhich was also well furnished, and rowing towardes theCitie of BAYON; with intent, and the fauour of the Almightie to suppriseit. Before we had aduaunced one halfe league of our way, there came amessenger beeing an English Marchant from the Gouernour, to see whatstraunge Fleete we were, who came to our Generall, and conferred a whilewith him, and after a small time spent, our Generall called for CaptaineSampson, and willed him to goe to the Gouernour of the Citie, to resoluehim of two pointes. The first, to knowe if there were any warresbeetweene Spaine and England. The second, vvhy our Merchantes with theirgoodes were imbarred or arrested. Thus departed Captaine Sampson withthe saide Messenger to the citie, vvhere he found the Gouernour andpeople much amazed of such a suddaine accident. 

The Generall with the aduice and counsell of Maister Carliell hisLieuetenant generall, who was in the Galley with him, thought not goodto make any stand, till such time as they were within the shot of theCitie, wher they might be ready vpon the returne of Captaine Sampson, tomake a suddaine attempt if cause did require before it were darke. 

Captaine Sampson returned with his message in this sort. First, touchingpeace or warres the Gouernour said he knevve of no warres, and that itlay not in him to make any, he being so meane a subiect as hee vvas. Andas for the stay of the Marchantes with their goodes, it vvas the Kingespleasure, but not with intent to endommage any man. And that the Kingesconter commaundement vvas (vvhich had bene receiued in that place someseauennight before) that English Marchants vvith their goods should bedischarged: for the more verifying vvhereof, he sent such Marchants asvvere in the tovvne of our Nation, who traffiqued those parts; vvhichbeing at large, declared to our generall by them, counsell vvas takenvvhat myght best be done. And for that the night approched, it vvasthought needefull to land our force, vvhich vvas done in the shutting vpof the day, and hauing quartered our selues to our most aduantage, vvythsufficient gard vpon euery straight, vve thought to rest our selues forthat night there. The Gouernour sent vs some refreshing, as bread, vvine, oyle, apples, grapes, marmalad and such lyke. About midnight thevveather beginnes to ouercast, insomuch that it vvas thought meeter torepaire aboord, then to make any longer abode on land, and before vvecould recouer the Fleete, a great tempest arose, vvhich caused many ofour ships to driue from their anker hold, and some vvere forced to seain great peril, as the barke Talbot, the barke Hawkins, and theSpeedewell, vvhich Speedewel onely vvas driuen into England, the othersrecouered vs againe, the extremitie of the storme lasted three dayes, vvhich no sooner beganne to asswage, but Maister Carleill our Lieutenantgenerall, vvas sent vvith his ovvne ship and three others: as also vviththe galley and vvith dyuers Pinnaces, to see vvhat he might do aboueVIGO, vvhere he tooke many boates and some Caruels, diuersly laden vviththinges of small value, but chiefly vvith houshold stuffe, running intothe high countrey, and amongst the rest, he found one boate laden vviththe principal Church stuffe of the high Church of VIGO, vvhere also vvastheir great Crosse of siluer, of very fayre embossed vvorke, and doublegilt all ouer, hauing cost them a great masse of money. They complaynedto haue lost in all kind of goods aboue thirtie thowsand Duckets in thisplace. 

The next day the General vvith his vvhole Fleete vvent vp from the Islesof BAYON, to a very good harbour aboue VIGO, vvhere Maister Carleillstayd his comming, asvvell for the more quiet riding of his ships, asalso for the good commoditie of fresh vvatering, vvhich the place theredid afoord full vvell. In the meane time the Gouernour of GALLISIA hadreared such forces as he might, his numbers by estimate vvere some twothowsand foot, and three hundred horse, and marched from BAYON to thispart of the countrey, vvhich lay in sight of our Fleete, vvhere makingstand, he sent to parle vvith our Generall, vvhich vvas graunted by ourGenerall, so it might be in boates vpon the vvater: and for safetie oftheir persons, there vvere pledges deliuered on both sides, vvhich done, the Gouernour of GALLISIA put him selfe vvith two others into ourVice-Admirals Skiffe, the same hauing bene sent to the shore for him. And in like sort our Generall in his owne Skiffe, vvhere by them it vvasagreed, vve should furnish our selues vvith fresh vvater, to be takenby our owne people quietly on the land, and haue all other suchnecessaries, paying for the same, as the place vvould affoord. 

VVhen all our businesse vvas ended, vve departed, and tooke our vvay bythe Islands of CANARIA, vvhich are esteemed some three hundred leaguesfrom this part of Spaine, and falling purposely vvith PALMA, vvithintention to haue taken our pleasure of that place, for the fulldigesting of many thinges into order, and the better furnishing ourstore vvith such seuerall good thinges as that affoordeth veryabundantly, vve vvere forced by the vile sea gate, vvhich at thatpresent fell out, and by the naughtinesse of the landing place, beingbut one, and that vnder the fauor of many Platformes, vvell furnishedvvith great ordinance, to depart vvith the receipt of many their Canonshot, some into our ships, and some besides, some of them being in verydeede full Canon high. But the onely or chiefe mischiefe, vvas thedaungerous sea surge, vvhich at shore all alongest, plainly threatnedthe ouerthrovv of as many Pinnaces and boates, as for that time shouldhaue attempted any landing at all. 

Novv seeing the expectation of this attempt frustrated by the causesaforesaid, vve thought it meeter to fall vvith the Isle FERRO, to see ifvve could find any better fortune, and comming to the Island, vve landeda thousand men in a valley vnder a high mountaine, vvhere we stayed sometwo or three houres, in which time the inhabitants, accompanied vvith ayong fellovv borne in England, who dwelt there with them, came vnto vs, shewing their state to be so poore, that they were all readie to starue, which was not vntrue: and therefore without any thing gotten, we wereall commaunded presently to imbarke, so as that night we put off to seaSouth Southeast along towards the coast of Barbarie. 

Vpon Saterday in the morning, being the thirteenth of Nouember, we fellwith Cape Blancke, vvhich is a lovve lande and shallowe vvater, wherevvee catched store of fish, and doubling the Cape, we put into the Bay, where wee found certaine French shippes of warre, whom we entertainedwith great courtesie, & there left them. The after noone the wholeFleete assembled, vvhich was a little scattered about their fishing, andput from thence to the Isles of Cape Verde, sailing till the sixteenthof the same moneth in the morning, on which day we discryed the Islandof Saint IAGO, & in the euening we anckered the Fleete betweene thetowne called the PLAIE or PRAIE and Saint IAGO, where we put on shore athowsand men or more, vnder the leading of Maister Christopher CarleillLieuetenant Generall, who directed the seruice most like a wisecommaunder. The place where wee had first to march did affoord no goodorder, for the ground was mountaines and full of dales, being amarueilous stonye and troublesome passage, but such vvas his industriousdisposition, as hee woulde neuer leaue, vntill wee had gotten vppe to afaire plaine, vvhere we made stand for the assembling of the armie. Andwhen vve vvere all gathered together vpon the plaine, some two litlemiles from the Towne, the Lieuetenant general thought good not to makeattempt till day light: because there vvas not one that could serue forguide or giuing knovvledge at all of the place. And therefore afterhauing vvell rested, euen halfe an hovver before day, he commaunded theArmie to be deuided into three speciall partes, such as he appointed, vvhereas before vvee had marched by seuerall companies, being thereuntoforced by the naughtinesse of the vvay as is aforesaid. 

Now by the time we wer thus raunged into a very braue order, daylightbegan to appeare, and being aduaunced hard to the vvall, we saw noenemie to resist, whereupon the Lieutenant generall appointed CaptaineSampson with thirtie shot, and Captaine Barton with other thirtie, togoe downe into the tovvne vvhich stood in the valey vnder vs, and mightverie plainly be viewed all ouer from that place vvhere the vvhole Armyvvas novv arryued and presently after these Captaines vvas sent thegreat Ensigne, vvhich had nothing in it but the plaine English crosse, to be placed tovvardes the Sea, that our fleete might see Saint Georgescrosse florish in the enemies fortresse. Order vvas giuen that all theordinance throughout the towne, and vpon all the platformes, vvhich vvasaboue fifty peeces al ready charged, should be shot off in honor of theQueenes Maiesties Coronation day, being the seuententh of Nouember, after the yearly custome of England, which was so aunswered againe bythe ordinance out of all the ships in the fleete which novv was comeneere, as it was straunge to heare such a thondering noise last so longtogether. In this meane while the Lieutenant general held still the mostpart of his force on the hill top, till such time as the tovvne wasquartered out for the lodging of the whole Armie, which being done eueryCaptaine toke his owne quarter, and in the euening was placed suchsufficient gard vpon euerie part of the tovvne that vve had no cause tofeare any present enemie. 

Thus we continued in the Citie the space of fourteene daies, taking suchspoiles as the place yelded, which were for the most part, wine, oyle, meale, and some such like thinges for victuall, as vineger, oliues, andsome such other trash, as marchandise for their Indian trades. But therewas not founde any trasure at all, or any thing else of vvorth besides. 

The scituation of Sainct IAGO is somewhat strange, in forme like to atriangle, hauing on the East and West sides two Mountaines of Rocke andcliffie, as it were hanging ouer it, vpon the top of which twomountaines was builded certaine fortifications to preserue the townefrom any harme that might be offered, as in this Plot is plainlyshevved. From thence: on the South side of the towne is the maine sea, and on the North side, the valley lying betweene the foresaydmountaines, wherein the towne standeth: the said valley and towne bothdo grow verie narrow, insomuch that the space betweene the two cliffesof this ende of the towne is estimated not to be aboue tenne or tweluescore ouer. 

In the middest of the valley commeth dovvne a riueret, rill, or brookeof fresh vvater, which hard by the sea side maketh a pond or poole, vvhereout our ships were vvatered vvith verie great ease and pleasure. Somewhat aboue the Towne on the North side betweene the two mountaines, the valley vvaxeth somewhat larger then at the townes end, vvhich valleyis vvholie conuerted into gardens and orchardes well replenished vvithdiuers sorts of fruicts, herbes and trees, as lymmons, orenges, sugercanes, cochars or cochos nuts, plantens, potato roots, cocombers, smalland round onions, garlike, and some other thinges not now remembred, amongst vvhich the cochos, nuts and plantens are very pleasant fruicts, the said cochos hauing a hard shell and a greene huske ouer it, as hathour vvalnut, but it farre exceedeth in greatnesse, for this cochos inhis greene huske is bigger then any mans two fistes, of the hard shellmany drinking cups are made here in England, and set in siluer as I haueoften seene. 

Next within this hard shell is a vvhite rine resembling in shew veriemuch euen as any thing may do, to the vvhite of an egge vvhen it is hardboyled. And vvithin this vvhite of the nut lyeth a vvater, vvhich isvvhitish and very cleere, to the quantitie of halfe a pint or thereabouts, vvhich vvater and white rine before spoken of, are both of avery coole fresh tast, and as pleasing as any thing may be. I haue heardsome hold opinion, that it is very restoratiue. 

The Planten grovveth in cods, somewhat like to beanes, but is bigger andlonger, and much more thicke together on the stalke, and vvhen it waxethripe, the meate vvhich filleth the rine of the cod becommeth yellovv, and is exceeding sweet and pleasant. 

In this time of our being there, hapned to come a Portingall to theWestermost fort, vvith a flag of truce, to vvhom Captaine Sampson wassent vvith Captaine Goring, vvho comming to the said Messenger, he firstasked them vvhat nation they vvere, they aunswered Englishmen, he thenrequired to knovv if warres vvere betweene England and Spaine, to vvhichthey aunsvvered that they knew not, but if he would go to their Generallhe could best resolue him of such particulars, and for his assurance ofpassage and repassage, these Captaines made offer to ingage theircredits, which he refused for that he vvas not sent from his Gouernor. Then they told him, if his Gouernor did desire to take a course for thecommon benefite of the people and countrie, his best way vvere to comeand present him selfe vnto our Noble and mercifull Gouernor Sir FrancesDrake; vvhereby he might be assured to finde fauor, both for him selfeand the inhabitantes. Othervvise within three dayes vve should marchouer the land, and consume vvith fire all inhabited places, and put tothe svvord all such liuing soules as vve should chaunce vpon: so thusmuch he tooke for the conclusion of his answere, and departing, hepromised to returne the next day, but vve neuer heard more of him. 

Vpon the foure and twentieth of Nouember, the Generall accompanied vviththe Lieutenant generall and sixe hundred men, marched foorth to avillage tvvelue miles vvithin the lande, called S. DOMINGO, vvhere theGouernor and the Bishop vvith all the better sort vvere lodged, and byeight of the clocke vve came to it, finding the place abandoned, and thepeople fled into the mountaines: so vve made stand a vvhile to easeourselues, and partly to see if any vvould come to speake to vs. 

After vve had vvell rested our selues, the Generall commaunded thetroupes to march away homewardes, in vvhich retreat the enemie shewedthem selues, both horse and foote, though not such force as durstencounter vs: and so in passing some time at the gase vvith them, itvvaxed late and towards night, before vve could recouer home to SaintIAGO. 

On Monday the six and twentieth of Nouember, the Generall commaunded allthe Pinnaces vvith the boates, to vse all diligence to imbarke the Armieinto such ships as euery man belonged. The Lieutenant generall in likesort commaunded Captaine Goring and Lieutenant Tucker, with one hundredshot to make a stand in the market place, vntill our forces were whollyimbarked, the Vize-Admiral making stay vvith his Pinnace and certaineboats in the harbour, to bring the said last companie aboord the ships. Also the Generall willed forthwith the Gallie with two Pinnaces to takeinto them the companie of Captaine Barton, and the companie of CaptaineBigs, vnder the leading of Captaine Sampson, to seeke out such munitionas vvas hidden in the ground, at the towne of PRAY or PLAY, hauing beenepromised to be shewed it by a prisoner, vvhich was taken the day before. 

The Captaines aforesaid comming to the PLAY, landed their men, andhauing placed the troupe in their best strength, Captaine Sampson tookethe prisoner, and willed him to shevve that he had promised, the vvhichhe could not, or at least vvould not: but they searching all suspectedplaces, found two peeces of ordinance, one of yron, an other of brasse. In the after noone the Generall anckered the rest of the Fleete beforethe PLAIE comming him selfe a shore, vvilling vs to burne the Tovvne andmake all hast a boorde, the which was done by sixe of the clocke thesame day, and our selues imbarked againe the same night, and so we putoff to sea Southwest. 

But before our departurre from the towne of Saint IAGO, we establishedorders for the better gouernment of the Armie, euery man mustered to hisCaptaine, and othes ministred to acknowledge her Maiestie supreameGouernour, as also euery man to doe his vttermost endeuour to aduauncethe seruice of the action, and to yeeld due obedience vnto thedirections of the General and his officers. By this prouident counsell, and laying downe this good foundation before hand, all thinges wentforward in a due course, to the achieuing of our happie enterprise. 

In all the time of our being here, neither the Gouernour for the King ofSpaine, (which is a Portugall) neither the Bishop, whose authoritie isgreat, neither any of the inhabitantes of the towne, or Island euer cameat vs (which we expected they should have done) to intreate vs to leauethem some part of their needfull prouisions, or at the least, to sparethe ruining of their towne at our going away. The cause of this theirvnreasonable distrust (as I doe take it) vvas the fresh remembrance ofthe great wronges they had done to olde Maister William Havvkins ofPlimmouth, in the voyage he made foure or fiue yeares before, when asthey did both breake their promise, and murthered many of his men, whereof I iudge you haue vnderstood, and therfore needlesse to berepeated. But since they came not at vs, vve left written in sundrieplaces, as also in the Spitle house, (vhich building was onely appointedto be spared) the great discontentment and scorne we tooke at this theirrefraining to come vnto vs, as also at the rude maner of killing, andsauage kinde of handling the dead body of one of our boyes found, bythem stragling all alone, from whome they had taken his head and heart, and had stragled the other bowels about the place, in a most brutish andbeastly maner. 

In reuenge vvhereof at our departing vve consumed vvith fire all thehouses, asvvell in the countrey vvhich vve savv, as in the tovvne of S. IAGO. 

From hence putting ouer to the West Indies, we vvere not many dayes atsea, but there beganne amongst our people such mortalitie, as in fevvdayes there vvere dead aboue tvvo or three hundred men. And vntill someseuen or eight dayes after out comming from S. IAGO, there had not diedany one man of sicknesse in all the Fleete: the sicknesse shevved nothis infection vvherevvith so many vvere stroken, vntill vve vveredeparted thence, and then seazed our people vvith extreme hote burningand continuall ague, vvhereof some very fevv escaped vvith life, and yetthose for the most part not vvith out great alteration and decay oftheir vvittes and strength for a long time after. In some that diedvvere plainly shevved the small spottes, vvhich are often found vponthose that be infected vvith the plague, vve vvere not aboue eighteenedaies in passage betvvene the sight of Sainct IAGO aforesaid, and theIsland of DOMINICA, being the first Islande of the West Indies that vvefell vvithall, the same being inhabited vvith sauage people, vvhich goeall naked, their skin coloured vvith some painting of a reddish tavvney, very personable and handsome strong men, vvho doe admit littleconuersation vvith the Spaniardes: for as some of our people mightvnnderstand them, they had a Spaniard or tvvaine prisoners vvith them, neither do I thinke that there is any safetie for any of our nation, orany other to be vvithin the limits of their commaundement, albeit theyvsed vs very kindly for those fevve houres of time vvhich vve spentvvith them, helping our folkes to fill and carie on their bare shouldersfresh vvater from the riuer to our ships boates, and fetching from theirhouses, great store of Tobacco, as also a kinde of bread vvhich they fedon, called Cassado, verie white and sauerie, made of the rootes ofCassania. In recompence whereof, wee bestovved liberall revvardes ofglasse, coloured beades, and other things, which we had found at SainctIAGO, vvherewith (as it seemed) they rested verie greatlie satisfied, and shevving some sorrowfull countenance vvhen they perceaued that vvevvoulde depart. 

From hence vve vvent to another Island Westward of it, called SainctCHRISTOPHERs Island, wherein vvee spent some daies of Christmas, torefresh our sicke people, and to cleanse and ayre our ships. In vvhichisland vvere not any people at all that vve could heare off. 

In vvhich time by the Generall it vvas aduised and resolued, vvith theconsent of the Lieftenant generall, the Vice-Admirall, and all the restof the Captaines to proceed to the great Island of HISPANIOLA, as vvelfor that we knevve our selues then to bee in our best strength, as alsothe rather allured thereunto, by the glorious fame of the Citie of S. DOMINGO, being the ancientest and chiefe inhabited place in al the tractof countrey ther aboutes. And so proceeding in this determination, bythe vvay vvee met a small Frigot, bound for the same place, the vvhichthe Vice-Admirall tooke, and hauing duelie examined the men that vverein her, there vvas one founde by vvhome vve vvere aduertised, the hauento be a barred hauen, and the shore or land thereof to be vvellfortified, hauing a Castle thereupon furnished vvith greate store ofArtillerie, vvithout the danger vvhereof, vvas no conuenient landingplace vvithin ten English miles of the Citie, to vvhich the saide Pilotetooke vpon him to conduct vs. 

All thinges being thus considered on, the vvhole forces vvere commaundedin the euening to embarke themselues into Pinnaces, boates, & othersmall barkes appointed for this seruice. Our souldiers being thusimbarked the Generall put himselfe into the barke Francis as Admirall, and all this night we lay on the sea, bearing small saile vntill ourarriuall to the landing place, which vvas about the breaking of the day, and so we landed, being Newyears day, nine or ten miles to theWestwardes of that braue Citie of S. DOMINGO: for at that time nor yetis knowen to vs, any landing place, vvher the sea surge doth notthreaten to ouerset a Pinnace or boat. Our General hauing seene vs alllanded in safetie, returned to his Fleete, bequeathing vs to God, andthe good conduct of Maister Carliell our Lieuetenant Generall: at whichtime, being about eight of the clocke, we began to march, and aboutnoone time, or towards one of the clocke we approched the towne, wherethe Gentlemen and those of the better sort, being some hundred andfiftie braue horses or rather more, began to present themselues, but oursmall shot plaied vpon them, which were so sustained with goodproportion of pikes in all partes, as they finding no part of our troopevnprepared to receiue them (for you must vnderstande they viewed allround about) they were thus driuen to giue vs leaue to proceed towardesthe tvvo gates of the tovvne, vvhich vvere the next to the seavvard. They had manned them both, and planted their ordinance for that present, and sudden alarum vvithout the gate, and also some troopes of small shotin Ambuscado vpon the hievvay side. We deuided our vvhole force, beingsome thousand or tvvelue hundred men into tvvo partes, to enterpriseboth the gates at one instant, the Lieftenant Generall hauing openlyvovved to Captaine Povvell (vvho led the troope that entered the othergate) that vvith Gods good fauour he vvould not rest vntill our meetingin the market place. 

Their ordinance had no sooner discharged vpon our near approch, & madesome execution amongst vs, though not much, but the Lieftenant generallbegan foorthvvith to aduaunce both his voice of encouragement, and paceof marching, the first man that vvas slaine vvith the ordinance beingverie neere vnto himselfe, and thereupon hasted all that he might tokeepe them from the recharging of the ordinance. And notvvithstandingtheir Ambuscadoes, vve marched or rather ranne so roundly into them aspell mell vve entered the gates, and gaue them more care euery man tosaue himselfe by flight, then reason to stand any longer to their brokenfight, we foorthwith repaired to the market place, but to be more truelyvnderstood a place of verye faire spatious square grounde before thegreat Church, vvhether also came as had bene agreed Captaine Povvellwith the other troope, which place vvith some part next vnto it, westrengthened with Barricados, and there as the most conuenient placeassured our selues, the Citie being farre to spacious for so small andweary a troope to vndertake to garde. Somevvhat after midnight they vvhohad the garde of the Castle, hearing vs busie about the gates of thesaide Castle, abandoned the same: some being taken prisoners, and someflying away by the help of boates, to the other side of the hauen, & sointo the country. 

The next day vve quartered a little more at large, but not into thehalfe part of the tovvne, and so making substantiall trenches, andplanting all the ordinance that ech part vvas correspondent to other, weheld this towne the space of one moneth. 

In the vvhich time happened some accidents more then are vvell remembredfor the present, but amongst other thinges it chanced that the Generallsent on his message to the Spaniardes a negro boy with a flagge ofvvhite, signifiing truce, as is the Spaniardes ordinarie manner to doethere, vvhen they approch to speak to vs, vvhich boy vnhappily vvasfirst met withall, by some of those who had bene belonging as officersfor the King in the Spanish Galley, vvhich vvith the Tovvne vvas latelyfallen into our hands, vvho vvithout all order or reason, and contraryto that good vsage vvherevvith vvee had entertained their messengers, furiouslie stroke the poore boy through the bodie vvith one of theirhorsemens staues, with vvich vvound the boy returned to the Generall, and after he had declared the maner of this wrongfull crueltie, diedforthvvith in his presence, vvherewith the Generall beeing greatlypassioned, commaunded the Prouost martiall, to cause a couple of Friers, then prisoners, to be caried to the same place where the boy wasstroken, accompanied with sufficient gard of our soldiers, and therepresently to be hanged, dispatching at the same instant another pooreprisoner, vvith this reason wherefore this execution vvas done, andvvith this message further, that vntill the partie vvho had thusmurthered the Generals messenger, vvere deliuered into our handes, toreceaue condigne punishment, there should no day passe, vvherein thereshould not two prisoners be hanged, vntill they were all consumed vvichvvere in our handes. 

Whereupon the day following, he that had bene Captaine of the kingesgalley, brought the offendor to the townes ende, offring to deliuer himinto our hands, but it was thought a more honourable reuenge, to makethem there in our sight, to performe the execution themselues, vvhichvvas done accordingly. 

During our being in this towne, as formerly also at S. IAGO there hadpassed iustice vpon the life of one of our owne companie for an odiousmatter: so here likewise was there an Irish man hanged, for themurthering of his Corporall. 

In this time also passed manie treaties betweene their Commissioners andvs, for ransome of their Citie, but vpon disagreements, we still spentthe early mornings in firing the outmost houses; but they being builtverie magnificently of stone, vvith high loftes, gaue vs no smalltrauell to ruine them. And albeit for diuers daies together, weordained eche morning by day breake, vntill the heat began at nine ofthe clocke, that two hundred Mariners did nought else but labour to fierand burne the said houses vvithout our trenches, vvhilest the souldiersin a like proportion stood foorth for their gard: yet did we not orcould not in this time consume so much as one third part of the towne, vvhich Towne is here plainly described and set forth in this Map. And soin the end, what wearied with firing, and vvhat hastened by some otherrespects, we were contented to accept of fiue and twentie thousandDuckets, of fiue shillings sixe pence the peece, for the ransome of therest of the towne. 

Amongst other things which happened and were found at S. DOMINGO, I maynot omit to let the world know one very notable marke and token, of thevnsatiable ambition of the Spanish king & his nation, vvich was found inthe kings house, vvherein the chiefe Gouernor of that Citie and countreyis appointed alwaies to lodge, vvhich vvas this: In the comming to thehall or other romes of this house, you must first ascend vp by a fairelarge paire of staires, at the head of vvhich staires is a handsomespatious place to vvalke in, somewhat like vnto a gallerie, vvhereinvpon one of the vvals, right ouer against you as you enter the saidplace, so as your eye can not escape the sight of it, there is describedand painted in a very large Scutchion, the armes of the king of Spaine, and in the lower part of the said Scutchion, there is likewise describeda globe, containing in it the whole circuite of the sea and the earth, vvhereupon is a horse standing on his hinder part vvithin the globe, andthe other fore part vvithout the globe, lifted vp as it vvere to leape, vvith a scroll painted in his mouth, vvherein vvas written these vvordesin Latin _Non sufficit orbis_: which is as much to say, as the worldsuffiseth not, vvhereof the meaning vvas required to be knowen of someof those of the better sort, that came in commission to treat vpon theransome of the tovvne, who would shake their heades, and turne asidetheir countenance in some smyling sort, without answering any thing, asgreatly ashamed thereof. For by some of our companie it vvas told them, that if the Queene of England vvould resolutely prosecute the warresagainst the Kinge of Spaine, he should be forced to lay aside thatproude and vnreasonable reaching vaine of his, for he should finde morethen inough to do, to keepe that vvhich he had alreadie, as by thepresent example of their lost towne they might for a beginning perceauevvell inough. 

Now to the satisfying of some men, who maruel greatly that such a famousand goodly builded Citie so vvell inhabited of gallant people, verybrauely apparelled (vvhereof our souldiers found good store for theirreliefe) should afoord no greater riches then vvas found there, vvhereinit is to be vnderstood that the Indian people, which were the naturalsof this vvhole Island of HISPANIOLA (the same being neare hand as greatas England) were many yeares since cleane consumed by the tyrannie ofthe Spaniards, vvhich vvas cause, that for lacke of people to vvorke inthe Mines, the gold and siluer Mines of this Island are vvholy giuenouer, and thereby they are faine in this Island to vse copper money, whereof vvas found verie great quantitie. The chiefe trade of this placeconsisteth of Suger and Ginger, which groweth in the Island, and ofhides of oxen and kine, vvhich in this wast countrey of the Island arebred in infinite numbers, the soile being verie fertile: and the saidbeasts are fed vp to a verie large growth, and so killed for nothing somuch, as for their hides aforesaid. Wee found here great store of strongwine, sweete oyle, vineger, oliues, and other such like prouisions, asexcellent vvheate meale packed vp in wine pipes and other caske, andother commodities likewise, as vvollen and linnen cloth, and somesilkes, all which prouisions are brought out of Spaine & serued vs forgreat releese. There vvas but a little plate or vessell of Siluer, incomparison of the great pride in other thinges of thys towne, because inthese hote countreyes they vse much of these erthen dishes finelypainted or varnished, vvich they call Parsellina, and is had out of theEast India, and for their drinking, they vse glasses altogether, whereofthey make excellent good and faire in the same place. But yet some platewe founde, and many other good thinges, as theyr hosholde garniture verygallant and rich, vvhich had cost them deere, although vnto vs theyvvere of small importance. 

From S. DOMINGO we put ouer to the maine or firme land, and going allalongest the coast, vve came at the last in sight of CARTAGENA, standingvpon the sea side so neare as some of our barks in passing alongst, approched vvithin the reach of their Culuerin shot, vvhich they hadplanted vpon certaine platformes. The harbour mouth lay some three milestovvard the Westvvard of the town, vvhereinto we entered about three orfoure of the clocke in the afternoone vvithout any resistance, ofordinance, or other impeachment planted vpon the same. In the eueningvve put our selues on land tovvardes the harbour mouth, vnder theleading of Maister Carleill our Lieftenant generall, vvho after he haddigested vs to march forvvard about the midnight, as easily as footemight fall, expresselye commaunding to keepe close by the sea vvash ofthe shore for our best and surest vvay, whereby we vvere like to goethrough, and not to misse anye more of the vvay, vvhich once vve hadlost within an hower after our first beginning to march, through theslender knowledge of him that tooke vpon him to be our guide, wherebythe night spent on, which otherwise must haue bene done by resting. Butas we came vvithin some tvvo miles of the towne, their horsemen whichvvere some hundred, met vs, and taking the alarum, retired to theirtownevvard again vpon the first volley of our shot that vvas giuen them:for the place where vve encountred being vvoody and bushie euen to thewater side, was vnmeet for their seruice. 

At this instant vve might heare some peeces of artillerie discharged, with diuers small shot tovvardes the harbour, vvhich gaue vs tovnderstand, according to the order set downe in the euening before byour Generall, that the Vice-Admirall accompanied with Captaine Venner, Captaine White, and Captaine Crosse, vvith other sea captaines, andvvith diuers Pinnaces and boates should giue some attempt vnto the litlefort standing on the entrie of the inner hauen, neere adioining to thetovvne, though to small purpose, for that the place vvas stronge, andthe entrye verie narrovve vvas chained ouer: so as there coulde benothing gotten by the attempt, more then the giuing of them an Alarum onthat other side of the hauen being a mile and a halfe from the placewhere vve novve vvere. In which attempt the Vice-Admirall had the rudderof his Skiffe stroken through with a Saker shot, and litle or no harmereceaued else where. 

The troopes being novve in their march, half a myle behither the tovvneor lesse, the ground we were on grew to be straight, and not abouefiftie paces ouer, hauing the maine sea on the side of it, and theharbour water or inner sea (as you may tearme it) on the other side, vvhich in this plot is plainely shewed. This straight was fortifiedcleane ouer with a stone vvall and a ditch without it, the saide wallbeing as orderly built vvith flanking in euery part, as can be setdovvne. There vvas onely so much of this straight vnvvalled, as mightserue for the issuing of the horsemen, or the passing of carriage intime of neede: but this vnvvalled part vvas not vvithout a very goodBarricado of vvine buts or pipes, filled vvith earth, ful and thick asthey might stand on end one by another, some part of of them standingeuen vvithin the maine sea. 

This place of strength vvas furnished of sixe great peeces, demi-Culuerins, and Sakers, vvhich shot directlie in front vpon vs asvve approched. Novve vvithout this vval vpon the inner side of thestreight, they had brought likevvise tvvo great Gallies vvith theirprovvesse to the shore, hauing planted in them eleuen peeces ofordinance vvhich did beate all crosse the straight, and flanked ourcomming on. In these tvvo Gallies vvere planted three or foure hundredsmall shot, and on the land in the garde onely of thys place, threehundred shot and pikes. 

They in this their full readinesse to receiue vs, spared not their shotboth great and small. But our Lieftenant generall, taking the aduantageof the darke (the day light as yet not broken out) approched by thelovvest ground, according to the expresse direction vvhich himselfehadde formerlie giuen, the same being the sea vvash shore, vvhere thevvater vvas somevvhat fallen, so as most of all their shot vvas invaine. Our Lieftenant generall commaunded our shot to forbeare shootingvntill vve vvere come to the vvall side, and so vvith pikes roundlietogether vve approched the place, vvhere vve soone found out theBarricadoes of pipes or buts, to be the meetest place for our assault, vvhich notvvithstaning it vvas vvell tempted by vs: dovvne vvent thebuts of earth, and pell mell came our svvordes and pikes together, afterout shot had first giuen their volley, euen at the enemies nose. Ourpikes vvere somevvhat longer then theirs, and our bodies better armed, for very fevve of them vvere armed, vvith vvhich aduantage out svvordesand pikes grevv to hard for them, and they driuen to giue place. In thisfurious entrie, the Lieutenant generall slue vvith his ovvne hands, thechiefe Ensigne bearer of the Spaniards, vvho fought verie manfullie tohis liues end. 

We follovved into the towne vvith them, and giuing them no leasure tobreath, vve vvanne the Market place, albeit they made head, and fought awhile before vve got it, and so vve being once seazed and assured ofthat, they were content to suffer vs to lodge vvithin their towne, andthemselues to goe to their vviues, vvhome they had caried into otherplaces of the countrey before our comming thither. 

At euerie streetes end they had raised verie fine Barricadoes of earthworkes, vvith trenches without them, as well made as euer vve savve anyvvorke done: at the entring whereof vvas some litle resistance, butsoone ouercome, it vvas vvith fewe slaine or hurt. They had ioyned vviththem many Indians, vvhome they had placed in corners of aduantage, allbovve men, vvith their Arrovves most villanously empoisoned, so as ifthey did but breake the skinne, the partie so touched died vvithoutgreat marueill: some they slevve of our people with their arrowes, somethey likevvise mischieued to death vvith certaine prickes of smallstickes sharply pointed, of a foot and a halfe long, the one end putinto the ground, the other empoisoned, sticking fast vp, right againstour comming in the vvay, as we should approch from our landing tovvardesthe towne, vvhereof they had planted a vvonderfull number in theordinarie way, but our keeping the sea vvash shore, missed the greatestpart of them verie happilie. 

To ouerpasse many particular matters, as the hurting of Captaine Sampsonat svvord blovves in the first entring, vnto vvhom was committed thecharge of the pikes of the Vantgard by his lot and turne, as also of thetaking of Alonso Brauo the chiefe commaunder of that place by CaptaineGoring, after the said Captaine had first hurt him vvith his sword, vntovvhich Captaine vvas committed the charge of the shot of the saidVantgard. 

Captain Winter vvas likewise by his turne of the Vantgard in thisattempt, vvhere also the Liefetenant generall marched himselfe, thesaide Captaine Winter through a great desire to serue by land, hauingnowe exchanged his charge by sea with Captaine Cecill for his band offootemen. 

Captaine Povvell the Sergeant maior hadde by hys turne, the charge ofthe foure companies vvhich made the battaile. 

Captaine Morgan, who at S. DOMINGO was of the Vantgard, had now by turnehis charge vpon the companies of the Riergard. 

Euerie man asvvell of one part as of another, came so vvillinglie on tothe seruice, as the enemie vvas not able to endure the furie of suchhote assault. 

We staied here sixe weekes, and the sicknesse with mortalitie beforespoken off, still continuing among vs, though not vvith the same fury asat the first, and such as were touched vvith the said sicknesse, escaping death, very fevv or almost none could recouer their strength, yea many of them vvere much decayed in their memorie: insomuch that itvvas growen and ordinarie iudgement, when one was heard to speakefoolishlie, to say he had bene sicke of the Calentour, vvhich is theSpanish name of their burning Ague: for as I tolde you before, it is avery burning and pestilent ague. The originall cause thereof, is imputedto the euening or first night aire, which they tearme _La serena_, vvherein they say and holde very firme opinion, that who so is thenobroad in the open aire, shall certainly be infected to the death, notbeing of the Indian or naturall race of those countrey people: byholding their watch, vvere thus subiected to the infectious ayre, vvhichat Sainct IAGO vvas most dangerous and deadly of al other places. 

With the inconuenience of continuall mortalitie, vve vvere forced togiue ouer our entended enterprise, to goe with NOMBRE DE DIOS, and soouerland to PANNAMA, vvhere vve shoulde haue stroken the stroke for thetreasure, and full recompence of our tedious trauailes. And thus atCARTAGENA vve tooke our first resolution to returne homewards. 

But vvhile vve vvere yet there, it happened one day, that our vvatchcalled the Sentinell, vpon the Church steeple, had discouered in the seaa couple of small barkes or boates, making in with the harbour ofCARTAGENA, whereupon Captaine Moone and Captaine Varney, vvith IohnGrant the Maister of the Tyger, and some other sea men, embarquedthemselues in a couple of small Pinnaces, to take them before theyshould come nigh the shore, at the mouth of the harbour, least by somestragling Spaniardes from the land, they might be vvarned by signes fromcomming in, which fel out accordingly, notvvithstanding all thediligence that our men coulde vse: for the Spanish boates, vpon thesight of our Pinnaces comming tovvardes them, ran themselues a shore, and so their men presently hid them selues in bushes hard by the seaside, amongst some others that had called them by signes thyther. Ourmen presently vvithout any due regard had to the qualitie of the place, and seeing no man of the Spaniardes to shew themselues, aboorded theSpanish barkes or boates, and so standing all open in them, weresuddenly shot at by a troope of Spaniards out of the bushes, by vvhichvolley of shot there vvere slaine Captaine Varney, vvhich diedpresently, and Captaine Moone, vvho died some fevve dayes after, besidessome foure fiue others that vvere hurt: and so our folkes returnedwithout their purpose, not hauing any sufficient number of souldiers, vvith them to fight on shore. For those men they carried were allmarriners to rowe, fevve of them armed, because they made account withtheir ordinance to haue taken the barkes vvell enough at sea, whichthey might ful easily haue done, without any losse at all, if they hadcome in time to the harbour mouth, before the Spaniards boats had gottenso neare the shore. 

During our abode in this place, as also at S. DOMINGO, there passeddiuerse curtesies betvveene vs and the Spaniardes, as feasting, andvsing them with all kindnes, and fauour: so as amongst others there cameto see the Generall, the Gouernor of _Cartagena_, vvith the Bishop ofthe same, and diuerse of other Gentlemen of the better sort. 

This towne of _Cartagena_ wee touched in the out parts, and consumedmuch vvith fire, as we had done Sainct DOMINGO vpon discontentmentes, and for want of agreeing with vs in their first treaties touching theirransome, which at the last vvas concluded betvvene vs, should be ahundred and ten thousand Duckettes for that which vvas yet standing, theDucket valued at fiue shillings sixe pence sterling. 

This towne though not halfe so big as S. DOMINGO, giues as you see, afarre greater ransome, being in verye deede of farre more importance, byreason of the excellencie of the harbour, and the situation thereof, toserue the trade of NOMBRE DE DIOS and other places, and is inhabitedwith farre more richer merchantes. The other is chiefly inhabited withLawyers & braue Gentlemen, being the chiefe or highest appeale of theirsuites in lawe of all the Islandes about it, and of the maine landecoast next vnto it. And it is of no such accompt as CARTAGENA, for theseand some other like reasons, which I could giue you, ouer long to benovv vvritten. 

The vvarning which this tovvne receaued of our coming tovvardes them, from S. DOMINGO, by the space of twentie daies before our arriuallhither, was cause that they had both fortified and euery vvay preparedfor their best defence. As also that they had caried and conuayed awayall their treasure and principall substance. 

The ransome of an hundred and tenne thousand Duckets thus concluded on, as is aforesaid, the same being written, and expressing for nothing morethen the tovvne of CARTAGENA, vpon the payment of the said ransome, weleft the said tovvne, and drevv some part of our souldiers into thePriorie or Abbey, standing a quarter of an English mile belovv thetovvne vpon the harbour water side, the same being vvalled vvith a wallof stone, vvhich vve told the Spaniards vvas yet ours, and not redeemedby their composition: vvhereupon they finding the defect of theircontract, vvere contented to enter into another ransome for all places, but specially for the said house, as also the blocke house or Castle, vvhich is vpon the mouth of the inner harbour. And vvhen vve asked asmuch for the one as for the other, they yelded to giue a thousandCrownes for the Abbey, leauing vs to take our pleasure vpon the blockehouse, vvhich they said they vvere not able to ransome, hauing stretchedthem selues to the vttermost of their powers: and therefore the saidblocke house vvas by vs vndermined, and so vvith gunne powder blowen vpin peeces. 

While this latter contract vvas in making, our whole Fleete of shipsfell dovvne towardes the harbour mouth, vvhere they ankered the thirdtime, and employed their men in fetching of fresh vvater aboord theships for our voiage homevvardes, which vvater vvas had in a greatvvell, that is in the Island by the harbour mouth, which Island is averie pleasant place as hath bene seene, hauing in it many sortes ofgoodly and verie pleasant fruicts, as the orenge trees and others, beingset orderly in walkes of great length together. Insomuch as the vvholeIsland being some two or three miles about, is cast into groundes ofgardening and orchards. 

After sixe vveeks abode in this place, vve put to sea the last of March, where after tvvo or three dayes a great ship vvhich vve had taken at S. DOMINGO, and thereupon vvas called the New yeares gift, fell into agreat leake, being laden with ordinance, hides, and other spoiles, andin the night shee lost the companie of our Fleete, vvhich being missedthe next morning by the Generall, he cast about vvith the whole Fleete, fearing some great mischance to be happened vnto her, as in verie deedeit so fell out, for her leake vvas so great, and her men were all tyredvvith pomping. But at the last hauing found her and the Barke Talbot inher companie, vvhich staied by great hap vvith her, vvas readie to taketheir men out of her, for the sauing of them. And so the Generall beingfully aduertised of their great extremitie, made saile directlie backagaine to CARTAGENA with the vvhole Fleete, where hauing staied eight ortenne daies more, about the vnlading of this ship, and the bestovvingthereof and her men, into other ships, vve departed once againe to sea, directing our course towards the Cape S. ANTHONIE, being the Eastermostpart of CVBA, vvhether vve arriued the seuen and twentieth of Aprill. But because fresh vvater could not presently be found, we weyed ankerand departed, thinking in few daies to recouer the MATTANCES, a place tothe Eastward of HAVANA. 

After we had sailed some fourteene dayes, we vvere brought to Cape S. ANTHONIE againe, thorough lacke of fauorable winde: but then ourscarcity vvas growen such, as neede made vs looke a little better forvvater, vvhich vve found in sufficient quantitie, being in deede as Iiudge, none other then raine vvater nevvly fallen, and gathered vp bymaking pittes in a plot of marrish ground, some three hundred pases fromthe sea side. 

I do vvrong if I should forget the good example of the Generall at thisplace, vvho to encourage others, and to hasten the getting of freshvvater aboord the ships, tooke no lesse paine him selfe then themeanest, as also at S. DOMINGO, CARTAGENA, and all other places, hauingalvvaies so vigilant a care and foresight in the good ordering of hisFleete, accompanying them, as it is said, with such vvonderfull trauellof bodie, as doubtlesse had he bene the meanest person, as he vvas thechiefest, he had yet deserued the first place of honour: and no lessehappie do we accompt him, for being associated with Maister Carleill hisLieutenant generall, by whose experiences, prudent counsell, and gallantperformance, he atchiued so many and happie enterprises of the warre, byvvhom also he was verie greatly assisted, in setting downe the needefullorders, lawes, and course of iustice, and for the due administration ofthe same vpon all occasions. 

After three daies spent in watering our ships, vve departed now thesecond time from the Cape of S. ANTHONIE the thirteenth of May, andproceeding about the Cape of FLORIDA, we neuer touched anie where, butcoasting alongst FLORIDA, and keeping the shore still in sight, theeight and twentieth of May early in the morning, vve descried on theshore a place built like a Beacon, vvhich vvas in deede a scaffold vponfowre long mastes, raised on ende for men to discouer to the seaward, being in the latitude of thirtie degrees, or verie neare thereunto. OurPinnaces manned, and comming to the shore, we marched vp alongst theriuer side, to see vvhat place the enemie held there: for none amongstvs had any knowledge thereof at all. 

Here the Generall tooke occasion to march vvith the companies him selfein person, the Lieutenant generall hauing the Vantgard, and going a milevp or somewhat more by the riuer side, vve might discerne on the otherside of the riuer ouer against vs, a fort, which newly had bene built bythe Spaniards, and some mile or there about aboue the fort, vvas alitle towne or village without walls, built of vvoodden houses, as thisPlot here doth plainlie shevv: we forthwith prepared to haue ordinancefor the batterie, and one peece vvas a litle before the euening planted, and the first shot being made by the Lieutenant generall him selfe attheir Ensigne, strake through the Ensigne, as vve afterwardes vnderstoodby a French man, vvhich came vnto vs from them. One shot more vvas thenmade, which strake the foote of the fort vvall, which vvas all massiuetimber of great trees like Mastes. The Lieutenant generall vvasdetermined to passe the riuer this night vvith fovvre companies, andthere to lodge him selfe intrenched as neare the fort, as that he mightplay vvith his muskets and smallest shot vpon any that should appeare:and so afterwards to bring and plant the batterie vvith him, but thehelpe of marriners for that sudden to make trenches could not be had, vvhich vvas the cause that this determination vvas remitted vntill thenext night. 

In the night the Lieutenant generall tooke a litle rowing Skiffe, andhalfe a dozen vvell armed, as Captaine Morgan, and Captaine Sampson, vvith some others besides the rowers, and went to view vvhat gard theenemie kept, as also to take knowledge of the ground. And albeit he wentas couertly as might be, yet the enemie taking the _Alarum_, grevvfearefull that the whole Force was approching to the assault, andtherefore vvith all speede abandoned the place after the shooting ofsome of their peeces. They thus gone, and he being returned vnto vsagaine, but nothing knowing of their flight from their fort, forthwithcame a French man being a Phipher (who had bene prisoner vvith them) ina litle boate, playing on his phiph the tune of the Prince of Orenge hissong, and beeing called vnto by the gard, he tolde them before he putfoote out of the boate, vvhat he vvas him selfe, and hovv theSpaniardes were gone from the fort, offering either to remaine in handesthere, or els to returne to the place with them that vvould goe. 

Vpon this intelligence the Generall, the Lieftenant generall, vvith someof the Captaines in one Skiffe, and the Vice-Admirall vvith some othersin his Skiffe, and tvvo or three Pinnaces furnished of souldiours vviththem, put presently ouer tovvardes the fort, giuing order for the restof the Pinnaces to follovve. And in our approch, some of the enemiebolder then the rest, hauing stayed behinde their companie, shot offtvvo peeces of ordinance at vs: but on shore we vvent, and entered theplace without finding any man there. 

When the day appeared, we found it built all of timber, the walles beingnone other but whole mastes or bodies of trees set vppe right and closetogether in manner of a pale, vvithout any ditch as yet made, but whointended with some more time, for they had not as yet finished all theirworke, hauing begun the same some three or foure monethes before: so asto say the trueth, they had no reason to keepe it, being subiect both tofire and easie assault. 

The platforme vvhereon the ordinance lay, vvas whole bodies of long Pinetrees, whereof there is great plentie, layed a crosse one on another, and some litle earth amongst. There vvas in it thirteene or fourteenegreate peeces of brasse ordinance, and a chest vnbroken vp, hauing in itthe value of some two thousande poundes sterling, by estimation of thekinges treasure, to pay the souldiers of that place vvho vvere a hundredand fiftie men. 

The fort thus vvonne, vvhich they called S. Iohn fort, and the dayopened, vve assayed to go to the tovvne, but could not by reason of someryuers and broken ground vvhich was betweene the tvvo places: andtherefore enforced to imbarke againe into our Pinnaces, vve vventthither vpon the great maine riuer, which is called as also the Tovvneby the name of S. AVGVSTINE. 

At our approching to land, there vvas some that began to shevvethemselues, and to bestovve some fevv shot vpon vs, but presentlyvvithdrevv themselues. And in their running thus avvay, the SergeantMaior finding one of their horses readie sadled and bridled, tooke thesame to follovv the chase, and so ouergoing all his companie, vvas (byone laied behind a bush) shot through the head, and falling dovvnetherevvith, vvas by the same and tvvo or three more, stabbed in three orfoure places of his bodie with swords and daggers, before any could comeneer to his reskue. His death vvas much lamented, being in very deed anhonest vvise Gentleman and a souldier of good experience, and of asgreat courage as any man might be. 

In this place called S. AVGVSTINE, vve vnderstoode the King did keepe asis before saide, one hundred and fifty souldiers, and at another placesome dozen leagues beyond to the Northvvards, called S. HELENA, he didthere likevvise keepe an hundred and fifty more, seruing there for noother purpose, then to keepe all other nations from inhabiting any partof al that coast, the gouernement vvherof vvas committed to one PedroMelendez Marquesse, Nephevv to that Melendez the Admirall, vvho hadouerthrovven Maister Iohn Havvkins in the Bay of MEXICO some fifteene orsixteene yeares agoe. This Gouernour had charge of both places, but vvasat this time in this place, and one of the first that left the same. 

Here it vvas resolued in full assembly of Captaines, to vndertake theenterprise of S HELENA, and from thence to seeke out the inhabitation ofour English countreymen in VIRGINIA, distant from thence some sixedegrees Northvvard. 

When we came thvvart of Sainct _Helena_ the shols appearing dangerous, and we hauing no Pilot to vndertake the entrie, it was thought meetestto goe hence alongst. For the Admiral had bene the same night in fourefadome and a halfe three leagues from the shore: and yet we vnderstoodby the help of a knowne Pilot, there may and doeth goe in ships ofgreater burthen and draught then any wee had in our Fleete. 

Wee passed thus alongest the coast harde aboorde the shore, which isshallowe for a league or tvvo from the shore, and the same is lovve andbroken land for the most part. 

The ninth of Iune vpon sight of one speciall great fire (which are veryordinarie all alongst this coast, euen from the Cape FLORIDA hither) theGenerall sent his Skiffe to the shore, where they found some of ourEnglish countrey men (that had bene sent thither the yeare before by SirWalter Raleigh) and brought on aboord, by vvhose direction wee proceededalong to the place, vvhich they make their Port. But some of our shippesbeeing of great draught vnable to enter, we anckered all without theharbour in a vvilde road at sea, about two miles from shore. 

From whence the Generall wrote letters to Maister Ralfe Lane, beingGouernour of those English in VIRGINIA, and then at his fort about sixleagues from the rode in an Island, which they call ROANOAC, wherein isspecially he shewed how ready he was to supply his necessities andwants, which he vnderstood of, by those he had first talked withall. 

The morrowe after Maister Lane himselfe and some of his companie commingvnto him, with the consent of his Captaines he gaue them the choice oftvvo offers, that is to say: Either he woulde leaue a ship, a pinnace, and certaine boates with sufficient Maisters and Mariners, togetherfurnished vvith a monethes victuall to stay and make farther discouerieof the countrey and coastes, and so much victuall likevvise that mightbee sufficient for the bringing of them all (being an hundred and threepersons) into England if they thought good after such time, with anyother thing they vvould desire, and that he might be able to spare. 

Or else if they thought they had made sufficient discouerie alreadie, and did desire to returne into England, he would giue them passage. Butthey as it seemed, being desirous to stay, accepted verie thankfully, and with great gladnesse that which vvas offred first. Whereupon theship being appointed and receaued into charge, by some of their ovvnecompanie sent into her by Maister Lane, before they had receaued fromthe rest of the Fleete, the prouision appointed them, there arose agreat storme (vvhich they said vvas extraordinarie and verie strange)that lasted three daies together, and put all our Fleete in greatdanger, to be driuen from their ankering vpon the coast. For vve brakemany Cables, and lost manie Ankers. And some of our Fleete which hadlost all (of vvhich number was the ship appointed for Maister Lane andhis companie) vvas driuen to put to sea in great danger, in auoyding thecoast, and could neuer see vs againe vntill we met in England. Maniealso of our small Pinnaces and boates vvere lost in this storme. 

Notwithstanding after all this, the Generall offered them (with consentof his Captaines) another ship with some prouision, although not such aone for their turnes, as might haue bene spared them before, this beingvnable to be brought into their harbour. Or else if they vvould, to giuethem passage into England, although he knevv he should performe it vvithgreater difficultie then he might haue done before. 

But Maister Lane vvith those of the chiefest of his companie he had thenwith him, considering vvhat should be best for them to doe, made requestvnto the Generall vnder their handes, that they might haue passage forEngland: the vvhich being graunted, and the rest sent for out of thecountrey and shipped, we departed from that coast the eighteenth ofIune. 

And so God be thanked, both they and we in good safetie arriued atPortesmouth the eight and twentieth of Iuly 1586, to the great glorie ofGod, and to no small honour to our Prince, our Countrey, and our selues. 

The totall value of that which was gotten in this voyage, is estimatedat three score thousand pounds, vvhereof the companies vvhich hauetrauelled in the voyage were to haue twentie thousand pounds, theaduenturers the other fortie. Of which twentie thousand pounds (as I caniudge) will redound some sixe pound to the single share. 

We lost some seuen hundred and fiftie men in the voiage. 

The men of name that died and were slaine in this voiage as I canpresently call to my remembrance, are these. 

 Captaine Powell. Captaine Varney. Captaine Moone. Captaine Fortescute. Captaine Bigges. Captaine Cecill. Captaine Hannam. Captaine Greenefield. Thomas Tucker a Lieutenant. Alexander Starkey a Lieutenant. Maister Escot a Lieutenant. Maister Waterhouse a Lieutenant. Maister Nicholas Winter. Maister Alexander Carleill. Maister Robert Alexander. Maister Scroope. Maister Iames Dier. Maister Peter Duke. 

With some other, vvho for hast I can not so suddenly thinke on. 

The ordinance gotten of all sortes brasse and Iron were about twohundred and fortie, whereof the two hundred and some more were brasse, and were thus founde and gotten. 

In S. IAGO some two or three and fiftie peeces. 

In S. DOMINGO about foure score, whereof was verie much great ordinance, as vvhole Cannon, Dimi-Cannon, Culuerins, and such like. 

In CARTAGENA some sixtie and three peeces, and good stoore likewise ofthe greater sort. 

In the fort of S. AVGVSTINE vvere fourteene peeces. 

The rest vvas Iron ordinance, of vvhich the most part vvas gotten at S. DOMINGO, the rest at CARTAGENA. 

_Pag. 17. Lin. 3. Recharging. _

_Pag. 21. Lin. 21. Of ordinance. _

_Pag. 26. Lin. 3. Pannama. _

{Transcriber's notes:

The corrections indicated by the three errata notes have been made:

 'keepe them from the reaching of the ordinance' corrected to 'keepe them from the recharging of the ordinance' on page 17. 

 'vvithout any resistance, or ordinaunce, ' corrected to 'vvithout any resistance, of ordinance, ' on page 21. 

 'and so ouerland to PANNANIA' corrected to 'and so ouerland to PANNAMA' on page 26. 

The following corrections to obvious typographical errors have alsobeen made:

 'nnd therefore doe onely commend the trueth' changed to 'and therefore doe onely commend the trueth' in the Dedication. 

 'slacked for a time of some better leasure, ' changed to 'slacked for a time of some better leasure. ' after the Dedication. 

 'Captaine in the Elizabeth Bonaduentnre' changed to 'Captaine in the Elizabeth Bonaduenture' on page 2. 

 'willed him to goe to to the Gouernour of the Citie' changed to 'willed him to goe to the Gouernour of the Citie' on page 4. 

 'Maister Carleill our Lieuteuant generall' changed to 'Maister Carleill our Lieutenant generall' on page 6. 

 'On Mnnday the six and twentieth of Nouember' changed to 'On Monday the six and twentieth of Nouember' on page 12. 

 'being some hun dred and fiftie braue horses' changed to 'being some hundred and fiftie braue horses' on page 16. The word 'hundred' was split over a line break without a hyphen. 

 'vwich was found in the kings house' changed to 'vvich was found in the kings house' on page 19. 

 'the gronnd we were on grew to be straight' changed to 'the ground we were on grew to be straight' on page 22. 

 'Our Lieftenant generall com maunded our shot' changed to 'Our Lieftenant generall commaunded our shot' on page 22. The word 'commaunded' was split over a line break without a hyphen. 

 'fought a while beforevv egot it' changed to 'fought a while before vve got it' on page 24. 

 'when onewas heard to speake foolishlie' changed to 'when one was heard to speake foolishlie' on page 25. 

 'full recompence of our tedious tranailes' changed to 'full recompence of our tedious trauailes' on page 26. 

 'raken the barkes vvell enough at sea' changed to 'taken the barkes vvell enough at sea' on page 27, by reference to the catchword on the previous page. 

 'built of vvoodden houses, ,' changed to 'built of vvoodden houses, ' on page 31. 

 'then any wee had in our Fleete, ' changed to 'then any wee had in our Fleete. ' on page 34. 

One contraction has been expanded: in'to the number of fiue and twentie saile of ships' on page 1, the 'm' in 'number' was represented by a horizontal line over the 'u' inthe original. 

}