Copie of a Letter to M. Colbert from the Marquis de Segnelay about two Brandenbourg Privateers armed for the American Islands. 8 May 1679 N.S., received 9 May V.S.[2]

[Footnote 2: Veteri stilo, old style, then followed in England and Brandenburg. "Received" doubtless means received in England.]

Le Roy ayant este informe a la fin du mois passe que deux particuliers avoient fait depuis peu un armement dans les Portes de Zelande, et qu'ils en essoient partis avec deux Vaisseaux armez en guerre pour aller dans les Isles d'Amerique faire la guerre a ses Sujets sous la Commission de Monsieur l'Electeur de Brandenbourg, Sa Majeste fit partir pour les dites Isles M. le Comte d'Estrees avec une escadre de quatorze vaisseaux pour les prendre ou couler a fonds. Et comme il est porte par le 9me Article du traitte de suspension d'armez que vous aves signe le 3e de ce mois avec l'Ambassadeur de ce Prince, que le comerce sera libre tant par eau que par terre, Sa Majeste veut que vous proposiez au dit Seigneur l'Ambassadeur de donner ordre aux Capitaines des dites deux fregates de ne rien entreprendre au prejudice du dit Traitte contre les Vasseaux des Subjects de Sa Majeste. Et en ce cas Elle fera scavoir audit Seigneur Comte d'Estrees, que son intention est qu'il laisse la liberte aux dites deux fregates, de naviguer par tout ou bon leur semblera. J'attendray ce qu'il vous plaira de me faire scavoir sur ce sujet, pour en rendre compte a Sa Majeste, etc.

A ST. GERMAINE EN L'AYE le 8me May 1679.

Translation.

The King having been informed at the end of the past month that two individuals had lately fitted out in the ports of Zeeland, and had sailed thence with two vessels, armed for warfare, to go to the islands of America, and make war upon his subjects under commission from my lord the Elector of Brandenburg, his Majesty is sending my lord the Count d'Estrees with a squadron of fourteen vessels to seize or sink them.[3] And as it is provided by the ninth article of the treaty of armistice which you signed on the 3d of this month with the ambassador of that prince, that commerce shall be free by water as well as by land,[4] his Majesty desires that you should propose to the said lord ambassador that he give orders to the captains of the aforesaid two frigates to undertake nothing to the prejudice of the said treaty, against the vessels of his Majesty's subjects. And in that case he will communicate to the said lord Count d'Estrees his intention that he shall leave the said two frigates free to sail wherever they think fit.[5] I shall await whatever information you may be pleased to send me on this subject, in order to report it to his Majesty, etc.

ST. GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, May 8, 1679.

[Footnote 3: Vice-admiral Count d'Estrees did not actually sail for the West Indies till the next year, and then for another purpose.]

[Footnote 4: The articles prolonging the armistice till May 18 had been signed at Xanten on May 3 by Colbert and Marshal d'Estrades for Louis XIV. and by Werner von Blaspiel for the elector. For their text, see Actes et Memoires des Negotiations de Nimegue, IV. 468-471.]

[Footnote 5: Such orders were given, on both sides. Ibid., IV. 484, 487. The treaty of peace was concluded June 19/29. For further history of Brandenburg privateers in the New World, see documents 47 and 48.]



BARTHOLOMEW SHARP AND OTHERS.

44. The Buccaneers at Portobello. 1680.[1]

[Footnote 1: British Museum, Sloane MSS., 2752, fol. 29. This and the ensuing document, both by the same anonymous author, form one continued narrative, of dramatic and astonishing piratical adventure. For the second part, the adventures of these buccaneers in the Pacific Ocean, there are other, parallel narratives, some of them longer than ours; but with one exception they say almost nothing of this first adventure, the capture and sack of Portobello. Two or three pages (pp. 63-65 of part III.) are indeed devoted to it in the chapter on "Capt. Sharp's voyage", signed "W.D." [not William Dampier], which was appended to the second edition of the English translation of Exquemelin's Bucaniers of America (London, 1684), before Basil Ringrose's detailed account of the South Sea adventures was printed and issued (1685) as the second volume of that celebrated book; but the present account is fuller than "W.D."'s, and may apparently be regarded as the chief source now in print for the history of this second English capture of Portobello. It should be remembered that, by the signing of the various treaties of Nymwegen in 1678 and 1679, all hostilities between European powers had by autumn of the latter year been brought to an end. The privateers who had flourished during the preceding years of warfare now found their occupation gone—their lawful occupation at least. Many of them turned to piracy. The writer of these two narratives speaks of his companions as privateers, but in reality they had no legal status whatever. When the governor of Panama asked for their commission, Captain Sawkins replied that "we would ... bring our Commissions on the muzzles of our Guns, at which time he should read them as plain as the flame of Gunpowder could make them." Ringrose, p. 38. Legible, no doubt, but not legal.]

Ann acoumpt of our Intended Voyage from Jamaco with a party of shipps, departing from the afore said Island to Poartavell: Receving Letpasses to goe into the bay of Hundorus, to cutt Logwood, from his Maj'ties Reall Subject the Earle of Carlisle.[2]

[Footnote 2: Charles Howard, earl of Carlisle, was governor of Jamaica from 1678 to 1681. The names preceding are intended for Jamaica, Portobello, and Honduras. Portobello had been a rich town, lying at the northern end of the usual route across the isthmus from Panama. The annual "plate fleet" was loaded here with the silver of Peru and other produce of the Pacific coast. Henry Morgan and his buccaneers had captured and sacked Portobello in 1668, Panama in 1671.]

The Names of the Captaines

Capt. John Coxon, the Chief Commander, in a Barque Capt. Corneles Essex in a Barque Capt. Bartholomew Sharpe[3] in a Barque Capt. Robert Allison in a Sloope Capt. Thomas Magott in a Sloope

[Footnote 3: Capt. Bartholomew Sharp, who figures largely in this narrative and the next, as chief commander of the buccaneers during most of the periods of their adventures, was also the author (or source) of two histories of their expedition. The first, The Voyages and Adventures of Capt. Barth. Sharp and others in the South Sea (London, 1684), is mainly a reproduction of the captain's journal or log; the second, "Captain Sharp's Journal of his Expedition, written by Himself," published as part II. of Capt. William Hacke's A Collection of Original Voyages (London, 1699), is more literary in form. Neither describes the period covered by the present document; both begin, like document 45, with Apr. 5, 1680.]

In december about the Latter part in the yeare 1679 we meetts all up at port amorrant,[4] where the party Concluded to make Capt. John Coxon their Chiefe and to wood and watter at Porttamorrant, and after make all expedition to take Portavella.

[Footnote 4: Port Morant, near the southeastern point of Jamaica.]

January the 7th, Ditto. Thes Commanders above expresed Sett Sayle with a fresh gail of wind, at S.E. and E.S.E. [cut off] we stands over Close hailed with our Larbourd tackes abord[5] steming S.S.W. and S.b.W., keeping the Reefes of our Topesayles in, for the most part of our Vessells proved Leacke, that Capt. Cornelies Essex was vayne[6] to would his shipp Together with Two Hassers[7] to keep her together. Capt. Bartholomew Sharpe Lost his Bolsprit, that he was forced to Beare away large.[8] they gott into Ankour at the Island of Pine lying in the Samblowes in North Lattitud 9 deg. 40'.[9] As we weare Coming out of portamorrant, about 6 Leagues from the Port, we meetts with a french Brickanteen, on[e] John Row Commander. he understanding our Designe, was willing to Concert with us. the weather growing very bad and lickly to Continue soe sum time, that as much as Ever sum shipps was abell to goe through the Sea, Capt. Essex by name his vessell being ould gave way in her boue that if shee had not been wolded,[10] Could never a he[ld] together. Capt. Coxon Calls and orders that he would make the Best of his way to the Isle of Forta, and gave order that those that gott thear first, to Leave a Noat one the Sandy point, to Sattisfie the Rest which are to com after, and them that first gott to forta, to goe over to the frinds Islands, Islands which lyeth about 12 Leagues to the westwards of Cathergeane,[11] about 8 leagues from Forta. our Admirall, the french Brickenteen, and the two slopes[12] getts to forta first, which finding Neither Capt. Essex nor Capt. Sharpe thear, Feared they had binn Suncke in the Sea. Capt. Coxon went over to the frinds Islands with one Slopes Crew and the Brickenteens Crew, Leaveing a Sayling Crew abord: goe to ly amongst thes frinds Islands to take pery agoes[13] and Canoes to Land our people at Portavella. 2 dayes after a Rives Capt. Cornelyes Essex at forta, But noe news of Capt. Bartholomew Sharpe. we did Certainly expect he had binn Lost. they stayd at thes frinds Islands 3 dayes. they Brings with them 4 pery agoes, and Six very good Large Cannoes. we fills watter at Forta and Concludes to see if through the marcyes of god Capt. Sharpe might be gotten into pines.[14] Capt. Coxon being the best sayler, Lost Company with us, he stering away S.w.b.w. and we w.s.w., that he weathered the golden Islands[15] and gott to An Ankour at the Isle of pines, which Lyeth in 9 deg. 40'[16] North Lattitud, and beareth from the Golden Islands n.w.b.w. about 6 Leagues. only Capt. Coxon Weathered the Golden Islands and gott into pines, he being the best windward boat, it blowing very hard, the two slopes, the french Brickenteenn and Captain Cornelies Essex bore up and cam to Ankour at the Golden Islands. Capt. Coxon in his way to Pines Sees a sayle in the offinge, makes sayle towards her, Comes up with her, and finds her to be a Barque cam out of Jamaco one the Same accoumpt as we did, and Came over to the Samblowes to meett with the Fleett. we weare all Glad of his Company, for we wanted men. Coming into Pines, they found Capt. Sharpe had binn ther, and Suppose had fitted what damage he Receved at Sea, and Imagined he was gone to looke for the fleete. the weather being so bad att Present, could goe no farther with our Shipps. Coxon sends capt. Cooke with his barque from Pines to the Golden Island, to give us notice that he would be gone alone with his owne company and the Sloopes, in case that wee did not make hast to Pines, but the wind blowing hard att W.N.W. could not gett out. Capt. Coxon the next day comes downe himself in his cannoe, to knowe the reasone of our stay, and findeing the winde contrary, that wee could not gett out, Advised the commanders to make what dispatch they could in their cannoes and Peeriaugers, to Pines, and from thence to Puerta-Vella, being afraide some of their traideing boates should Discry them. Capt Cooke in his way to us meetes with a Spannish galliote[17] from Carthageane, bound to Puerta Vella with Negroes, butt ther being a desention amounge the company, some desireous to borde him, others nott, so that in fine they losst him. the currant under shoare setting stronge to the Eastward and haveing hard westerly winds, capt. Cooke could nott gett the Golden Islands, but was drove downe into the bay of Dueryan;[18] in the meane time our Party Imbarkques in perriaugers and Cannoes, being mighty desierouse to be their before should be descried. And lyeing here, wee gott greate acquaintance with the Natives of this Country, which the Spaniards had driven over to this side of the Land from the South side; wee found the Indians to have a greate Antipothy against the Spaniards, but could not know to have their revenge. they understanding our designes, they corted us to land and thay would shew us wheir was Spanish townes Plenty of Silver and golde; of which more here-after. The cannoes being gonn to Puerta Vella with about two hundred and fifty men, left the shipping with a sailing crew a borde to follow after, wheir orders was given by capt. Coxon, chiefe commander, to make what hast he could to lower Rainge of Keys in the Samboles, to a Key call'd Springers carreening Key,[19] and to goe no farther till farther Orders. the parting cannoes, goeing downe the Samboles, sees a greate shipp rideing att an Anchor att the 2d Rainge of Keyes, which coming neare they found her to be a French privateere, One capt. Lessone, who carreen'd in the Samboles. The said capt. understanding the designe wee weare about, Joyn'd his company with ours, who weare about Eighty men out of him, so wee went with all our parties on with corrage, and landed them about twenty leagues short of Puerta Vella in an olde ruinated Port called Puerta Pee; the way was very rocky and bad to march, they goeing near the sea side to Eschape the look-out which thay saw plainely on a high Hill, butt as god would have itt, the look-out did nott see them. this being Wensday they begin to drawe neare Puerta Vella. The Satterday following, about ten aclocke, came into an Indian Village. our peopple many of them were weake, being three day with-out any foode, and their feete cutt with the rocks for want of Shoose, soe an Indian man, crying out, "ladroones",[20] runs and make what speede he could to Puerta Vella. so Coxon our Generall cryed out, "good boyes, You that are able to runn gett into towne before wee are descryed". wee had then about 3 miles to Puerta Vella. The Indian being too nimble for us, wee being tired afore, He gott into Puerta Vella about half a hower before us, and cried out, "Ladroones!" Imediately wee heard the Alarm gunn fier. wee then certainly knew that wee weare discried. wee made what hast wee could into the towne, the forloorne[21] being led by capt. Robert Alliston, the rest of our party following upp so fast as they could. before —— of the clocke in the Afternoon wee had taken the towne, the peopple of the Place takeing to their stronge castle call'd the Glory, to secure themselves. the next day the Spaniards, being about two hundred, made an Attempt to come out of the Glory. wee face't them and made them to retreate back to their Castle to some of their sorrowes, which fell to the ground. wee kept the towne 2 dayes, plunder[ed] what wee could of itt, and putt the best of our Plunder into cannoes which wee tooke their. some men marcht back by lands, guarding the Prisonnars alonge with them, Hopeing wee should have had ransome for them: wee carried our Plunder, Plate and prissonars downe to a Key about 3 leauges and a half from Puerta Vella, The next Key's to the Bastamentes,[22] and on Tuesday comes away Capt. Robert Alleston to Springers carreeneing Key, to give notice to the Shipps which was all their att anchor that wee should make what dispach wee could to the Bastamentes, wheir our party lay. capt. Alliston info[r]m'd us that thay had taken Puerta Vella and plundred the most part of the Towne, without the loss of many men, onely five or six men wounded, and that a cannoe of the best plunder, as cloth of silver, cloth of tishee,[23] being soe covittious to lode deepe, sanck in the river comeing downe; the small fortes fiering, they wounded 2 or 3 men in the cannoes. Our plunder being carried downe to the Bastamentes, and our peopple which marched by land being come, carries plunder and Prissnars uppon a Key lying aboutt half a mile from the maine land. their came downe about 3 dayes after from Puerta Vella as neare as wee could Judge seven Hundred soldiers, that came from Pennamau[24] and arrived att Puerta Vella the tuesday as wee came away the Munday before. the Spaniards came downe on brest the Key wee weire uppon, and fired severall small armes, shooteing cleare over this Key, soe wee tooke our prissnars with plunder and what wee had gotten att Puerta Vella, and carried to another Key hard by, out of their Reaches, soe our shipps come downe wheir the partie lay in dispute what to doe, haveing some thoughts the Spaniard would send to relieve the Prissnars. keepeing strickt watch, wee saw the next day a Barkque longo[25] standing in to Puerta Vella, which capt. bartholl'w Sharpe went out and tooke. Her lodeing was salt and corne came from Carthagene. Keepeing very good watch att top mast head, 3 day's after wee saw comeing in a good bigg shipp, came from Carthagene. Our Shipps and Sloopes weighs and went out and mett her, as she was standing in to Puerta Vella. Capt. Allisson comeing up with her first in his Sloope Ingages her, and Coxon seconding him clapps her aborde and takes her without the loss of any men. some Spaniards fell for thay fought about one hower. she had Eight gunn's, a new shipp of about ninety tunn's, the chiefest of her ladeing being timber, salt and corne, and about 30 Negroe's and about fower chest of silke, Besides packetts of greate Conscernment from the King of Spaine, as was Reported by them which by relacion of our armie, thatt our Generall, capt. Coxon, had presented him in a Jarr of wine five Hundred peices of gould which he wronged the party of by Keepeing of itt to himself, he being sworne as well as any other man not to wronge any one. After this wee sheard[26] our Puerta Vella voyage, which was in money and plate and plunder wee had to the Vallew of hundred peeces of Eight a man. then wee concluded to goe downe to Boca-Toro,[27] to make cleane our shipps, that being the best place to carreene our shipps, by reason their is good store of turtle and Manatee and fish, our shipps being made cleane and ready for to sayle about six weekes time, butt wee fell in with Boca Draga and went thro' Boca Draga into Boca Toro, wheir seing a saile a cannoe went to her, and found itt to be a Barque longo, The commander one Richard Sawlkings, who tolde us of Capt. Peter Harriss's being att Diego's point[28] a carreeneing. wee dispacht as soone as possible. Capt. Coxon fitted out his new shipp, leaveing his olde one their, Capt. Essex leaveing his Barkque their she being so rotten. wee acquainting capt. Peter Harriss and capt Rich. Sawlking of the greate commerce wee had with the Indians in the Samboles, was very willing to goe upp with their shipps, so all concluded to goe upp to capt Lessones Carreeneing Key. Boca Toro lieth about 50 leagues to leeward[29] of Porta Vella and Boca Drago 3 leauges to leeward of Boca Toro. all the shipps meeteing att Lessoones carreeneing Key aforesaid, wheir was orders for our randevous, capt. Coxon concludes to goe upp to the goulden Islands and to travill over land to Pannamau, otherwise to a place which the Indians tolde us of, cal'd Toca Mora. all our English concluded to goe, but capt Lessoone and capt Jno. Rowe their Peopple refus'd, being man'd all with French. The Indians being very familliar came uppon a Key to our shipps, men, Women and children, Informing us that whilst wee weare att Puerta Vella the Spaniards had beene downe with about Eighty soldiers and had fell uppon the Indians for their haveing familiarity with us. The Spaniards did Kill of the Indians by their relation about 20, the rest of the Indians takeing the mountans for their security tell wee came. these Indians altho' Heathens yett have those amounge them that thay call Doctors, that can raise the Divill att their Pleasure. they knew of our comeing and att what time wee should be their, and when thay saw us, it was greate sattisfaction to them, wee putting out a signe, which was a white Jack and no Ensigne, then thay come on borde. thay offers themselves to goe with us to take revenge of the Spaniards, which they call by the name of walkers. Wee makeing in all, in mony, Plate and Plunder, about a hundred peices of Eight a man att Puerta Vella, peopple was Eagar for more Voyage, and was now fully resolved to goe to the Goulden Island and hall our shipps into a small Cove or creeke out of sight of any Spaniard, if any should come that way, haling our small Barkques and small vessells as close as wee thought convenient under the shelter of the greate shipps, and order so many men to stay on borde of Each Vessell according to their bigness to looke after them, and likewise order was given that if any should come in their to oppose them, the peopple weare all of them to goe on borde of capt. Coxon and capt. Peter Harriss's Shipp to defend themselves and Shipps to the uttmost of their Power. And on sunday, being the 4 day of Aprill,[30] wee Provides our provission to land next morning itt being munday. the french shipps we left in the Samboles. next day about 6 aclock in the morning lands 332 men, being Piloted by the Indians, who seemed to be very forward in their Assistance, as here after will prove.

Thus much for Puerta Vella Voyage.

[Footnote 5: The wind being on the larboard quarter.]

[Footnote 6: Fain.]

[Footnote 7: Hawsers.]

[Footnote 8: I.e., was compelled to sail before the wind.]

[Footnote 9: Isla de Pinos, on the north coast of the republic of Panama, some 130 miles east of Portobello. "Samblowes" is a corruption of San Blas (Islands), in the gulf of San Blas.]

[Footnote 10: Woolded, wound around with cables, "undergirded" like St. Paul's ship, Acts xxvii. 27. [Transcriber's Note: Correct verse is 17.]]

[Footnote 11: Cartagena. Forta is the present Isla Fuerte, southwestward from Cartagena along the coast of Colombia. The "Friends Islands" are the islands of San Bernardo, lying between the two.]

[Footnote 12: Sloops.]

[Footnote 13: Periaguas or pirogues, like large canoes but with a square stern.]

[Footnote 14: Isla de Pinos, just west of the gulf of Darien; see note 9, above.]

[Footnote 15: Isla de Oro and its companions, a few miles south of Isla de Pinos.]

[Footnote 16: 9 deg. 4', more nearly.]

[Footnote 17: A small galley, with both sails and oars.]

[Footnote 18: Darien.]

[Footnote 19: One of the San Blas Islands, perhaps Cayo Holandes. The buccaneers were proceeding westward.]

[Footnote 20: Sp. ladrones, robbers.]

[Footnote 21: For "forlorn hope," which is from the Dutch verloren hoop, lost troop.]

[Footnote 22: Puerto de Bastimentos is a harbor about twelve miles northeast of Portobello. Columbus in his fourth voyage (1502) gave the place its name, "Port of Provisions."]

[Footnote 23: Tissue.]

[Footnote 24: Panama.]

[Footnote 25: Barca longa, a large Spanish fishing-boat, with lug-sails.]

[Footnote 26: Shared.]

[Footnote 27: The Boca del Toro and Boca del Drago ("bull's mouth" and "dragon's mouth") are entrances on either side of the Isla de Colon, at the western extremity of the republic of Panama.]

[Footnote 28: On Isla Solarte, near the Boca del Toro.]

[Footnote 29: Westward, here.]

[Footnote 30: 1680.]

45. The Buccaneers on the Isthmus and in the South Sea. 1680-1682.[1]

[Footnote 1: British Museum, Sloane MSS., 2752, fol. 36. The chief narrative of these piratical adventures, and a remarkably interesting one, is that of Basil Ringrose, which constitutes the second volume of Exquemelin; see note 1 to document 44. There are also the narrative signed "W.D." and those attributed to Capt. Bartholomew Sharp (notes 1 and 3, ibid.), and very brief accounts in William Dampier's New Voyage around the World (London, 1697) and in Lionel Wafer's A New Voyage and Description of the Isthmus of America (London, 1699). The present narration is by still another participant, illiterate but not incapable of telling an interesting story, with many additional details.]

The Journall of our Intended Voyage by the assistance of God over land into the South seas leaveing our ships att the goulden Islands, and landing on Munday Apr'll the fift, Annoque 1682.

Capt. Jno. Coxon, commander in chief. Eight gunns. capt. Peter Harriss. 26 gunns. capt. Richard Sawlkins, in a Barkque. capt. Edmond Cooke, a Barkque. capt. Bathol'w Sharpe, a Barkque. capt. Robert Allisson, a Sloope. capt. Thomas Maggott, a Sloope.

All these above mencion'd captaines landed att the Golden Islands, which lieth about 15 leagues to the westerd of the westmost Point of Durian[2] bay. this golden Island lyeth in North lattitude nearest in 9 deg. 12'. capt. Allisson and capt. Maggott being sickly weare unable to march, butt all the aforsd captaines landed with their men, leaveing onely a sayleing crew on bord Each vessell; their Orders being that if any should come to oppose them, all hands to repair on Borde Harriss and Coxon, thay being shipps of force. Being on Shoare wee had about Halfe an Howers discource with the Indians. thay amounge Each other chose out two men to goe before the forloorne, to shew us the way. first of all wee marched through a small skert of a wood, downe to sandy bay by the sea side, about 2 miles; the marching over the sandy bay was tiersom, haveing our gunns Amunition and knapsacks of provant[3] to carry with us, but after wee past this sandy Bay wee Enters into a wood againe, which lead us into a valley which in time of raines is full of water. by three of the clocke this day wee Had martched from the shipps 3 leauges, and takes upp our seate, wheir wee intended that night to sleepe. their came downe to us one capt. Andreas,[4] an Indian, with some others with him. he spake a little Spannish, and gave us the bien venitdo.[5] thay brought Plantins downe with them, which they distributed to the company, thinking theirby Had done us a greate Kindness; their garments are made of cotton, they weare longe Black Hair, the men weare a peice of thinn gould in their Noses, which is made like a Half moone (like unto the Marg't)[6] kivering their lipps. some few of them hath itt made of silver. their women goes bear headed, with longe black Hair hanging downe, wearing a kinde of white cotton Blanckett over their Sholders, which comes downe about their bodyes. thay weare in the grissell of their nose a round ring, some of Silver, some of golde. capt. Andreas tolde us he would have borne us company to have martched next day, butt that he had a childe sicke and fear'd would soone die; and when dead, would follow us with a comepany of Indians with him; and soe tooke his leave of us. The next day being tuesday, in the morning about 4 of the clock word was gave to Martch, and that no man, on the loss of life, should fier a gunn in the woodes, least some Indian Rogues or other should betray us, by runing afore to acquaint the Spaniards. yesterday two men tier'd, so went back againe. this tuesday wee Martched upp a very high Hill. twas neare 10 of the clock before wee gott the topp of itt. one man more tier'd, that return'd back againe. on this Hill wee could finde no water, so that the company weare almost famisht for the want theirof. the Indian pilotts gave us to understand that a little farther was water, which about 2 of the clock wee came up with; wheire wee all dranck and Refreshed our selves bravely. about 2 howers martch farther wee gott downe to the foote of this Hill. on the South side is a brave River whear wee tooke up our quarters that night, it being the second night of rest since wee left our Shipps. this day wee martched neare 14 miles E.S.E. nearest. the next day, being wensday the 7. ditto, as soone as the Day brake wee weare uppon our Martch. about 10. of the clocke wee rested and refresht our selves with bread an water, and Pipes and tobacco; and about 3 of the clock wee tooke upp our quarters againe, by a river side. in the woodes wee saw some Indian Hutte, butt no strainge Indians, for wee went a course more to the southward to fetch a Circute cleare of the Duryan Indians, who have a continuall Peace with the Spaniard.

[Footnote 2: Darien.]

[Footnote 3: Provisions.]

[Footnote 4: He survived till 1698, to receive the Scottish settlers of the Darien colony, who also, by the way, had the aid of Captain Allison, sickly though he is declared, above, to have been in 1680.]

[Footnote 5: Buen venido, welcome.]

[Footnote 6: Margent, margin—a marginal drawing here.]

Thirsday the 8 wee wear desired by Our Indian Pilotes to be martching by breake of day, that so wee might comepass 6 leauges, which wee did. about 2 aclock wee came up with some hutts, wheir their Kinge lived, who received us with greate kindness, being Joyfull of our company, as he Exprest it by presenting us with Plantans, Cassado,[7] Indian Corne, Drinck, and Rootes; haveing beene with us some time, return'd to his house againe. his garment was of white cotton made like to a friars cote. in the Evening the King came to us againe with his 2 sones, being in one garbe, save that the Kinge had in his Hand a longe white rodd of about 7 foote longe, and a Hoope of Golde about his Head for his crowne. this Hoope was about 2 Inches and a half broade. the Kinge had 3 daughters of womens Estate, very comely Indians, who went in fine cotton Roped about their bodies. Both men and women tooke much delight to heare our Drum beate and colers fly but to fier a gunn or to heare the noyse thay weare afraide. the Kings Daughters fantsied much to be in our Company, in so much that some of our Peopple by signes would ask them if they should live with them and thay be their wives. thay often would make Arrants to their fathers house to fetch us Plantans. The Kinge tolde capt. Coxon that the next day wee must nott march butt that he must send one of his sones to gett cannoes, to carry us all by water downe the river, and that in two dayes march more (itt being Sunday) wee should come wheir these Cannoes wheir. wee often mett with Indian Hutts in the Martch, in which the Peopple stoode ready to throw us Plantans and give us corne drincke.[8] wee found that they weare makeing cannoes for us as fast as they could. thiss day wee martcht about 5 leagues and came up with 3 or 4 Houses close by a River-side wheir wee lodged. hear thay provided about 14 cannoes which those that weare most tired with martching went into, about 90 men in the cannoes, 2 or 3 Indians to worke them downe the River, thay haveing Experience to worke cannoes in a river wheir the currant runns like an Arrow out of a bow.[9] the cheifest of our company this Sunday marched againe. the cannoes went downe the River. wee martched till night, where wee had all the rest of the cannoes made ready, about 60; in some cannoes their wear 6, some 4 and 3 Indians according to the biggness. the Indians tolde us that with-in 2 dayes after, which was tuesday, wee should see the other cannoes which went away out of the other river;[10] wee weare putt all to a stand att thiss and thoughts rise amounge us that these Indians onely seperated us to bring us all to destruction, so thatt wee had much grumbings amounge us, that thay made Signes wee should nott be troubled att any thing. the next day, wee haveing cannoes and Barkloggs enow, wee Imbarkques, haveing 2 Indians in Each cannoe, to steare them downe, because the freshes runn soe swift as possible can be Imagind, that the least touch of a cannoe against a stump or Rock over setts them if nott staves them all to peices. Munday night past, wee heare no newes of our other party that went away out of the other river, butt the Indians tolde us by signes that, by such time the sunn was att such a High as thay pointed, wee should see the other party. Tuesday Every one takes to his cannoe againe and went downe the river, and about 10 of the clock we saw an Indian cannoe a setting to us against the streame, alonght the river side, who tolde us that our cannoes which came downe the other River was gott to the place wheire both rivers mett, wheir the Indians intended to meete us. about 2 of the clock in the After noone we wear gott downe, and wear very glad to Injoy the comepany of our owne Peopple againe. in comeing downe the River some cannoes wear over sett; some lost their Armes, butt the Indians would dive and gett them up againe. one man being left behinde in the woodes astray, Expecting to Kill something to eate, the Indians weare soe Kind as to bring him downe to us. thiss afternoone wee fixes our Armes and cattoch[11] Boxes, Dryes our Poweder. now 20 leagues farther wee come to a Place called Santa Maria,[12] to which place wee rowe and paddle very hard alday. this place made all with Stockados, no greate gunns, but onely a place to keepe the Indians out of the river, itt being a river wheir thay take much golde. about one aclock att night wee wear gotten close under the Stockadose, soe that wee could heare the Centry talke. wee landed about half a mile from the place in the woods and lay their till day. Next morning wee heard a drum beate. thay fier'd a small arme to discharge their watch, which hearing no more gunns fired wee knew that wee wear not descryed. Capt Rich'd Sawlkings runns up to the Pallassados and all the party following him as fast as thay could, and fiering att the Pallassados, and thay att us; fiering with their harkquebusses, throweing lances, and shooteing Arrowes. thay had within their Pallassados about 200 men. wee killed about 70 men. after wee had had about half an howers dispute with them, Capt. Rich Sawlkings runns to the pallassado's with 2 or 3 men more, and halls up 2 or 3 pallassados by maine strength, and enters in. thay Imediately calls for Quarter, which was presently granted by us. this was one Thirday the 15 day of Aprill. the Governor with 2 Negroes and 2 women made his Eschape by runing about a mile downe the river, wheir he takes a cannoe and makes for Pennamau downe the river so fast as he could, butt understanding he had made his Eschape fitted in the Afternoone a cannoe with six oares. capt. Sawlkings goes in her to see if he could finde this governor butt could nott. wee lay att these Stockadose 2 dayes. itt is a very small place onely to shelter those that goes to wash golde in another Arme of the River, which comes out of a river[13] into this Santa Maria river. The Injury wee received in takeing the Pallassadoes was that capt. Sawlkings was shott in the Head with an arrow, and one man more shott in the hand, butt both soone cured. wee by Examining Our Prissonars understoode, that 4 dayes before wee came there went away for Pannamau 2 Small Barques which caried away 4 chests of dust golde. thay had no newes of us before thay saw us. heare we found butt little Riches. some church plate, as is reported, was found, some dust golde in callabasses,[14] some wines and brandy, Jerck porke, good store of bread. the next day wee drawes out to see who would goe for the South Seas, that is to say to take Pennamau; att last wee findes all our party, butt ii which wear unwilling. Our Generall, capt. Coxon, seemed unwilling, butt with much perswaission went; those ii men that would returne, wee putts into their hands to carry that plate wee tooke heare. thay had Indians to conduct them back. Now wee putts our selves all in Readiness for Pennamau, which lieth about 30 leagues from thiss Santa Marea river to the Northwards. wee wear 2 dayes a roweing out of this snta Marea River, before wee gott into the South Seas. in this place there runns very Stronge tydes of Ebb and floode. the tydes keepe their common course as thay doe in the North Sea. itt flowes by the moone S.S.E. soe wee getting out of the river and the tyde of floode comeing on, wee rowed hard to gett over to a key which wee saw,[15] and Stopt their till the floode had done. on which key wee found the 2 Negro women which had made their Eschape alonge with the Governor of the Stockadose. thay tolde us that the gover'r went from thence that morning intending to row alonge shore with the 2 Negro men to Pennamau, he perswaiding him-self that wee would be for Pennamau. wee sent one of our best cannoes to rowe after him, butt to no purpose. Butt when wee left the Stockadose, the prissnars beggs of us to carry them away with us, crying that the Indians would distroy them all, soe when wee departed that Place wee carried with us what wee possibly could. no soonar wee came a shore butt wee hears a miserable crye. the Indians killed all the poore soules that weare left. Now wee being in the South Sea's goes alonge shoare to a Plantan Key,[16] which lieth about 14 leagues from Pennamau. wee tooke 2 Negroes which was sent thether to cutt woode for building as well as to breede provissions. Barkques come from Pennamau to fetch itt. this night as wee lay here wee saw a Barque on the back side of this key. wee man'd 2 cannoes and went out and tooke her. she fier'd 2 or 3 small Arme's att us butt did not any harme. next morning we went all out from the key in our cannoes. Our Gen'll capt. Coxon bad all peopple that wear in small cannoes, to goe on borde the barkque and putt their cannoes adrift. capt. Batt Sharpe went into the Barkque commander, and about 135 men, which had beene in very small cannoes and fearfull thay might Sinck under them. wee understood by this barkque that wee wear nott as yett descried att Pennamau. this day wee makes sayle, Keepeing the Perriaugers and cannoes company. that next night wee saw another Small Barkque which capt. Peter Harris came upp with in his cannoe and tooke. she had on borde her about 20 Armed men. thay fought about a quarter of an hower, wounded one of our men. capt. Sharpe looseing comepany in his barkque that night went away to the Pearle Keys.[17] Heard of a new Barkque Just launched, wee found to be trew; soe wee tooke the new one and sank the olde one wee first gott. wee gott their some plunder out of a House. this Night wee makes what sayle wee could to gett our party which went for Pennamau. capt. Sharpe haveing the 3d. part of the comepany one borde him disabled the Party, so as thay dirst not venture on Pennamau. Butt seeing 6 or 7 sayle of Shipps lying of att the Keys of Perico,[18] which lyeth in 9 degr. North lattitude and about 2 miles from Pennamau, wheir All the shipps that come to Pennamau rides, Thay putts for the Shipps, butt the Gover'r that had made his Eschape att the Stockadose did nott discry us, butt tolde them Sta. Maria was taken, by what nation he could nott well tell butt thought itt weare English. A Barkque wee gave chase to butt could nott fetch her upp. she seeing all our cannoes getts into Pennamau and makes alarme. their was by Relacion putt on board the shipp and Barkques which came out to fight us 300 Soldados[19] and Armed men. wee had about 3 howers dispute and tooke them all. wee killed and wounded many men. And Brave vallient capt. Peter Harriss was shott in his cannoe through both his leggs, bordeing of a greate shipp. their was nott any gott cleare only on [one] small Barkque that rann into Pennamau againe. itt being all done and Quiatt, the Spanish Gen'll[20] being kill'd wee tooke his Chief captaine, one capt. Berralto,[21] who being an Antient Seaman in those seas we caused him to be our Pylott, he being the commdr. of that shipp that carried away the Riches from Pennamau to Limma about 12 years since, that same time when Sr. Henry Morgan tooke Pennamau. this capt. Berralto was much burnt, and his peopple most of them kill'd and blowne upp, for as thay fought us thay had scatter'd loose powder on their decks, which tooke a fier by some accident or other, that wee seeing itt borded them and tooke them. these 7 sayle of shipps we tooke att Pennamau was not above half unloded. their lading was flower, linnen and woolen cloath, one greate shipp half laden with Iron. wee desierd of capt. Berralto which wear the best saylors. he told us on his word the Trinnity was the best in the South Seas, soe wee pitched on her for Admirall,[22] putting capt. Harriss abord that was wounded. the Doctors cutting of one legg itt fester'd so that itt pleased god he died, so wee lost that Valliant brave Soldiar. then wee putt in capt. Rich'd Sawlkings into the Shipp Trinity and made him Our Admirall. our former Adm'll[23] nott behaveing himself Nobly in time of Ingagement, was something houted att by the Party, that he Imediately went away to goe over land. wee gave him a small barkque, with which he return'd to the river of Sta. Maria with about 70 men alonge with him, capt. Richd. Sawlkings being now the chief commander in the Shipp Trinity, capt. Cooke commander of a Barkque about Eighty tunns, capt. Batt. Sharpe in a small Barkque that came from the Pearle Keys, and another small barke wee kept to weight uppon us. thay fierd their gunns off from Pennamau to us butt did us no damage. wee solde wine to Spaniards that came off shoare to buy itt by stillt, and thay brought us off hatts and showes to sell; butt about the sixt of March,[24] and the very next day that capt. Coxon our Adm'll went away, wee saw a shipp. wee gave her chase and tooke her, with capt. Batt. Sharps Barkque. she came from the citty Limmo,[25] most of her ladeing was flower. fifty thousand Peices of Eight in her and some silkes. capt. Sharpe shifted out of his Barkque into thiss Limmo Shipp; wee tooke what was needfull out of her, for dyett, wines, brandie, and what elce wee found good, and burnt and sunck all the rest. Kept onely those shipps aforemenciond for our owne use. Wee resolveing now to cruise these Seas, for wealth, wee stands from this Place or the Keys of Perico (so called) 3 leagues to another Key, very well Inhabited, to fill our water for the Sea, butt findeing we had no meat to eate (altho' Enough flower, Brandye and wine) wee concluded to gett som. to that end some Prissnars telling us of a Place called the Yjakeell,[26] a very rich towne, and that their wee might a voyage att once, Our Adm'll capt. Sawlkings was willing to goe to this place before they should have any Knowlidge of our comeing, butt our peopple, being head stronge, would have meate to eate first. this Pennama lieth in 9 deg. No. lattitude in a bottom of a bay. wee sett saile with our greate shipp Trinity, and capt. Sharpe in the Lymmo shipp, and capt. Edmond Cooke in another Barkque, and 2 small Barkques, 7 men a Peece, very Head stronge fellowes, which sepperated themselves from us. wee saild S.W. and B.W.[27] and W.S.W. about 60 leagues and came up with these keys of Quibo Nueve,[28] or the keys of the new towne, wheir all shipps that goes from Pennamau to Lymmo touches to water and all shipps that come from windward makes these keyes if thay are bound into Pennamau. here is good Pearle oystars And fishing and Deare on the Keys. the 28 day of Apr'll capt. Sawlkings comes on borde capt. Edmond Cooke with about 60 men, goes to saile, and carries him into this river called Pueblo Nuevo.[29] wee went into a river by the Assistance of a Pilott. capt. Sawlkings went ashore with about 45 men. the barkque went in as far as she could and came to an Anchor. they went up the River and landed Just against some Stockadoes which thay had built by the river side for the security of their men. Our Valliant Gen'll capt. Salkins landed him-self first and went into the Savana and saw aboundance of Peopple their. one Molatta mett him, whome capt Sawlkins Shott downe. Returnes back a little way, askt if the Party wear all landed and ready. Answer was made, "Yes." then said he, "follow me and doe not lye behind, for if I doe amise You will all fair the worse for itt." Hee went up corragiously with some brisk men with him, butt their was provided Mollattas and hunters with their launces which came to oppose him. He fierd his Pistole and shott downe one Musteese,[30] the rest fiering and lodeing as fast as they could, but the Spaniards coming in uppon them so fast that kill'd capt. Sawlkins and 3 men more. thay tooke one alive. wee heard him make a dreadfull noyse butt could not rescque him, butt was forst to retreate to our cannoes, and goe off as fast as wee could, thay comeing downe so fast uppon us. Wee found in this River 2 barkques: one we burnt, the other wee brought out which was laden with pitch, She seemeing likely to sayle well. our peopple went aborde againe of capt. cooke, which lay with his barkque att the Rivers mouth, telling us that capt. Sawlkins was killd with 3 men more, to our greate sorrow. wee saild out with the barkque to the Key wheir the greate Shipp lay, about 5 leagues from this River, to the Southwards. when the parties came to know that capt. Sawlkins was kild and that thay could discover him to be our Admirall by the ring he had on his finger, a Present from the Governour of Pennamau,[31] He sending him this token and with all to meete him on shoare with a hundred men to try their manhoods against one hundred of them. capt. Sawlkins returnes this answer, that in case he would bring out one hundred thousand peices of Eight he would meete him, with one hundred men against his, to fight him for the money, or Elce resolved to die in that Place. butt the gov'r of Pennamau refused so to doe. Now capt. Sharpe goe's aborde the greate ship the Trinnity, as chief commander. capt. Sawkins being very well beloved by the party that saild with him, and Sharpe ill beloved, their was a party of sixty men went to returne over land, to whome wee gave capt. Cookes Barkque to carry them downe to the River of Sta. Maria. He Entring into the Barkque that was tooke in the River Pueblo Nuevo, which Barkque wee tooke on the first day of may and named her the may flower. Butt upon some disgust or other capt. Cooke left his May flower and went on board the greate Shipp as a private Souldiar. capt. Batt. Sharpe, being command't in chiefe, putts a commander of the May flower one Jno. Cox. att these keys wee fil'd our water and putts to sea to ply to windward. these keys lye in 7 deg. 20' North lattitude. we had the wind att S.E. and B.E. and S.E. wee stood to the Southward, steming S. and B.W. and S.S.W., butt little winde and sometimes calme. wee tried the currant and found itt to sett E. and b.S., a stronge currant. when wee had by our Judgement 60 leagues offing, wee had thoughts to goe to a parcell of Keys cal'd the galloper, which lieth 100 leagues in the offing from the Isle of Plate, and under the Equinoctiall.[32] we haveing here the winds hanging much in the S.W. quarter, wee stood to the Southward about 8 dayes, with our starborde tacks aborde, and in the morning about 8 of the clock, wee saw the land, which proved to be an Island called the Gurgony.[33] wee intending to cleane the Shipp Stayes here, and findeing a good bay, wee conscidered of itt and concluded to carreene here. wee findeing this Island good Stoare of water and fish, Oystars and Indian Connyes, and Monkeys which wee Eate for want of meate. this Gurgony lieth in the lattitude of 3 deg. 7' in a deepe bay. no Inhabbitance on't, save fishermen and those that dive for Pearles. her's good tree's for mast and timber, And for many other uses to furnish a shipp. wee carreen'd the greate shipp by the small barkque cal'd the May flower, built a house on shoare to putt our Rigging and saile in. Our greate shipp heaveing downe very taught, wee could not [bring] her keele upp by a streake.[34] itt flowes att this Island two fatham upp and downe.[35] wee made fast our cable to the trees, and the other Anchor in the offing; all being done to both shipps, in six weekes time wee putt to sea againe, intending to windward, and Orders was given, in case of looseing company, that wee wear to make the best of our way for the Island of Plate. att the beginning[36] of July twas, wee putts to sea both together. winds att S.S.E. and S. and B.E. wee stands with our Star-borde tacks aborde, standing over to the Island of Barrakoase or elce called Cock Island.[37] this Isl'd lieth in under the land, and is inhabbited with 7 or 8 families, as our pilot gave us an account. our former new Barkque, as wee heard, was taken into thiss river of barrakoase, and all butt one distroyed. the land here is high champian land far in the cuntry, butt near the water side low and Mangrovey. It lieth alonge W.S.W. 90 leagues, till wee come up to a key cal'd St. Francisco.[38] wee turn'd in up within 3 leagues of the shoare, with both shipps. wee Indeavord to stand in with the land in the night, to gaine the land winde. about the fift day att night after wee had been outt of the Gorgony, wee fortun'd to loose company, which brede greate disturbance on borde the Greate Shipp, which had 150 men on borde, butt much more fear and Rangling was on borde the May flower for fear wee should all be putt to our Shifts, being in an Enimies cuntry and unknowne Seas to us. wee in the May flower follows the order received from the Admirall and makes the best of our way for the Isle of plate. as itt appeard after-ward the greate ship stood into the offing for 2 dayes and the May flower turning alonge shoar, gott to the Isle of Plate before the Ship Trinity 3 dayes; wee wear about 15 dayes a turning up. the winds blow att S.E. and b.S. and S.S.E. most Here, with-out itt be in a turnado. this Isle of Plate is so called because in former time Sr. Francis Drake tooke their Armado of shipps, which was bound downe to Pannamau, and carries them into this Island, and their shares their wealth, as capt. Barralto related to us,[39] so that since the Spaniards have called itt the Isle of Plate. here wee have good Anchoring in about 14 fathom water, in a brave Sandy bay. You anchor against the body of the Island, bringing the Sandy bay to bear S.W. and S. of you. itt is well furnished with gotes, which caused us to touch here for fresh meates, butt no fresh water that ships can conveniently fill att, except in the time of raines. we lay att an anchor here 3 dayes. one man comeing from the South side of thiss Island saw a Shipp off att sea standing into the shore plying to windward. itt rejoyced our hearts hopeing to be the Trinity our Adm'll, which so proved. the next day She gott Inn, which caused Joy on both sides. here wee gott some turtle, which are butt small to those in the South Sea's. The greate Shipp was damag'd by standing so far to sea outt of the bay of Gorgony, twisting the Heads of her lore masts, occasiond by hard winds which blew att S.S.E., butt as soone as the carpenters had fitted the heads of the mast wee putt both to sea. this Isle of Plate lieth in 58' South lattitude.[40] the Greate shipp being now more in her trim out sails the barkque. now wee learning of a Place cal'd Arico that lieth in south lattd. 18 deg. 40',[41] a rich place, Intends thither, But delaying of time att gorgony, advice is sent from Pennamau up to a towne cal'd Yaceell,[42] a very rich place for golde, which befor capt. Sawkins was kill'd intended to have tooken, butt after the 60 men had left us, wee had Informacion thay wear provided for us, soe wee stood upp alonge shore to goe to Arica. in 2 dayes wee getts up as high as St. Alena, which is a point. itt lieth in south lattd. 3 deg. 5'.[43] the greate ship towes the small one, because would gett to windward before discried. this River of Yseell [Yaceell] is a brode river, about 35 legs[44] att the mouth. the towne lieth Near 40 leagues up the River. about the middle of August one night, as the greate shipp had us in a towe, we saw a saile in the darke. wee lett goe their towe, and made what saile we could to her, comes in half a hower up with her, and ha'ls her. Shee fierd a Harkquebus att us, att which wee presented them with a whole Volley; she fier severall small gunns at us, and wounded 3 men. one of them after-wards died. wee laid her aboard and tooke her. She had about 30 hands in her, fitted out for an Armadillo[45] to come downe to the Isle of Plate, to see what a posture wee lay in; their was on Borde 2 very Honorable gentlemen, which came out for ther Pleasure to see us, wee being term'd amounge them a strainge sort of Peopple and cal'd by the name of Laddron. thay tolde us that 4 dayes before thay came out of Yakell saild a shipp bound up for Lymmo, loden with tymber, woolen cloth, thred, Stockings and some silks, which if wee kept under the shoar as shee did wee must needs see her. thiss Vessell wee tooke, nott sayleing so well as the Trinity. wee rummages her, takeing what was good, towes her 35 leagues off to sea, cutts her maine mast by the borde and give her to the Prissnars, giveing them water and flower enough that thay might not want. wee kept the 2 gent'men and the master to pilote us. wee stood into the river of Yakell and makes the land. att the south side of the river about 16 leagus within is cape Blanco which is the southermost point of this river Yacell, and cape Blanco lieth in 4 deg. South lattd. point a St. Alena is a very remarkable land to beknowne, for tis like to a shipp with her keele up. thiss cape blanco is a very barren land, onely small brush growes uppon itt. thay cals to us out of the greate shipp, aboard the May flower, to goe in under the shor to anchor, which wee did, and hal'd on borde of them. thay tooke out our water and flower and what was necessary and cutt a hole in her bottom, so wee all went on borde the Trinity. by takeing a small armadillo barkque, wee have Intelligence that a small Barkque of 7 hands of our's, one Morriss Connoway commdr., was taken and 6 of them Kill'd in the river Baracoes, onely one saved which speakes good Spannish, which suppose to be one Tho. Hall, whome the Spaniard hath prissnar att the river Ketto.[46] wee weere sorroy to hear it but could not help itt, neither knew not how to gett the other off that was alive, he being about 60 leagues in land. wee cruised under the Shoare for the shipp which came out of Yacell bound for Lymmo, which lieth in 12 deg. South Lattd. by our prissnars wee understood shee had brake her mayne yard and was putt into Payta,[47] butt standing to and throw under the Shore wee saw a sayle to windwd. as farr as wee could descerne. wee stood after her all night and the next morning was within a league of her, the wind blowing a brave fresh gaile. by 12 aclock was up with her and found her to be the saime shipp thay tolde us of. wee had all manner of cloth in her, thred, Stocking and a very good linnen and silk plunder, some wine and brandy, very little plate, saveing a cupp, dis[h] or plate or soe in the cabbon. after wee had Plunderd her what wee would, wee towes her 40 leagues into sea, in the lattd. of 7 deg. 10' So. lattd. wee cutt her maine mast and mizan by the borde, and putts in a greate many Prissnars, keepeing the Master of the Small Armadillo and Barralto for Pylotes. Now wee are all with one conscent bound for Wind-ward, bloweing a fine ordnary gaile att S.S.E. and S.E. and B.S. wee stands close-hald into sea, steming S.W., sometimes S.W. and B.S.; sometimes the wind came in flawes, that we lay but S.W. and B.W. wee generally counted that wee made west 30 deg. or sometimes 20 deg. degree's course to the Southward of the west of cape Blanco, which lieth in 4 degrees. wee mett with very hard winds, but after wee gott as high as 7 deg. degrees, oppositt to a point of land called Point Agoohow,[48] wee had easey winds that wee seldome reeved our topp-sailes. this land trenches away from the Point Agoohow till you come to Arrica, which lieth in the bottom of all the bay in the lattd. of 18 deg. 40' So. lattd. S.S.E.[49] wee Stretches of to Sea about a month and getts into the lattd. of Arrica, then wee had att the chainge and fall of the moone a small w.n.w. wind for 3 or 4 dayes togather. wee stears in E.S.E. with all sayle wee could, the master att that time Imagining that that course would fetch Arrica, butt the wind comeing att S.E. and b.E. and S.E. wee found that wee could lye but E. and b.N. here wee found 8 deg. variacion and as wee runn to the Southward wee found the variation more. makeing what saile wee could, being in the lattd. of Arrica 380 legs., Imagining wee should be discryed before we gott in, wee fell to leewards of Arrica about 14 leagues, by a bay they call the bay of Yellow.[50] meeting under the Shore with a leward currant, was a week longer than expectacion turning up to the bay of Arrica. wee came about the beginning of October, and to my best remembrance, Indeavored to land the Second Day. att the north side of the bay, wee mand our 2 cannoes with 30 men and our Stricking Dory with 8, Our perriauger with 37 men. wee roade to the Shore butt found their no landing, soe that wee return'd againe, and stood in directly against the Morro Head,[51] which is a High Hill made white with foules dunging on't, which lieth Just over the towne of Arica, a very Remarkable Place to be knowne. itt lieth att the wester part of thiss bay of Arica, on which thay ust to keepe a looke out. Especially now hearing wee wear in the Seas, and bound upp to take that place, kept the strickter watch. wee saw, that after wee had made a second attempt, to goe ashoare, which was the night following we made the first, that thay knew of our coming, for Just as wee wear goeing to land in a bay about 2 leagues to the Southwards of the towne, wee saw many horse men rideing alonge Shoare, so that wee findeing no convenient Place to land, rowed a little of Shoar and consulted togather. wee lay in sight of the shipps, and saw 5 or 6 sayle vaporing and fiering off their Paderrero's[52] to frighten us; some of our Peopple would have gon in to have distroyed them, and others being backwards would not, soe all returnd aborde of our man of Warr Trinity; and makeing the best of way to windwards. Capt. Batt. Sharpe being our commandr., and haveing gott money by the death of our former capt. Sawkens, and more that he gott by Play, was Intended thiss year through the streights of Majelena,[53] butt some grumbled saying thay had not Voyage Enough, and weare unwilling, so that their was a debate amounge the peopple and capt[ain], butt stretching of itt into 29 deg. and 30' wee weare Informed of a towne in thiss lattd. its called Quoquemba,[54] a towne of 7 churches, no longe settlement butt a mighty Pleasant place and very rich of gold and silver. A Delightsome garden for all sorts of fruite, a[s] cherries, Appricocks, Peaches, Apples, pares, prunellos, Strawberrys and all things which grow in our Northern Parts, and curious small runing River parting Every mans land, mighty Pleasant to beholde. thiss towne of Quoquemba wee takes, butt wear discried 3 dayes, as wee heard Afterwards, By a flagg of truce which came in to treate with us. thay gotten away their mony and Plate out of the towne, onely some Church Plate with Silk hangings we Plundred. in the towne we tooke fresh Provission, as biefes, hoggs, and wine, which is made hear, And indifferent good Brandy wee carried on boarde. wee landed here on a Tuesday Morning, an houer before day, att a store-house which is made att the S.S. west part of the bay, from whence capt. Batt Sharpe and rest of the party (onely[55] those who wear left in the cannoes and Launch which was 2 in the cannoes, and 3 in the launch) marched for the towne of Quoquembo. 35 of our party as they wear Marching mett about 150 Spaniards, most on horseback; thay had not all gunns, some launces, other Spade's; more of our Party comeing upp, seeing the foloorne so much Ingaged, thay wounded one or 2 of their horses, with some of the Spaniards, which made them to retreat to a greate hill, about 5 mile from the towne. wee Entred the towne and kept possession of 4 dayes. wee askt the flagg of truce five hundred thousand peeces of Eight for the randsome of thiss towne, and told him that the next day by 10 of the clock, thay should bringe their money, otherwise wee would burne the towne. the next day the flagg of Truce came downe by 12 of the clock, and tolde us thay would give no randsome. wee understood thiss flagg of truce Had a suit of law in hand, and was likely to be cast, as he afterwards told us, which would be the ruing of him-self. he shew'd us his house and desier'd us to sett fier on itt, whatever wee did. fa[r]ther told us that if we weare not gone the next day thatt thay had gotten togather 600 men and most of them Armed. wee gett the Plunder of the towne what wee could. Next morning, setts most part of the towne on fier and Martches to the bay. their our cannoes mett us and tooke in our things wee brought downe and carried on borde the shipp, wheir she lay att Anchor within a Mile of the Stoare house, Just within a Rockey Poynt. the land lay in the winde 2 Points without her. the night before our Party came downe, Our Shipp had likt to have beene burnt. A Hogg skyn being blown upp and sowed tyte, some fellow of a Spaniard had Venterd off and laid itt on the rudther and Stearn Post (itt stufft with powder), satt itt on fier, and went away unseene by our Peopple. some of our men smelling a strainge Smell, run to and thro' about the Shipp to see for itt, lookeing every wheir. One man, seeing a light come into the Cabban, lookes out att the Stern-Portes, and spies wheir itt was, cryes out for more help, and by a providenc of God gott itt speedily out. some Imagined itt to be a Plott of the Prissnars aborde against us. some wear for killing capt. Barralto, because att that time he hid himself, others for keepeing him alive till our capt. and party came on board, which the next day thay all did, and being acquanted with what was past concludes to sett them on shore here thatt wee had had 7 or 8 months, Don Juan and his Cossin, a fine younge man, capt. Juan and capt. Barralto wee putt ashore, all att thiss storehouse in the bay of Quoquemba. wee wear glad to be ridd of them butt thay much more glad to be cleare of us; butt before thay went ashore thay understoode that wee wear minded to goe to two keys that lieth from thiss Place S. and b.W. and S.S.W. about 90 leagues off shoare in the lattd. of 33 deg. 45' south lattd. These keys are called Don Juan Francisco's[56] keys, because he found them out first, and Putt a parcell of goates on them, and since have bredd to a mighty number. aboundance of Fish and Seales; as fine keys as any in these seas to recruite att, being water and wood Enough. all is on the Easterd most key. these keys lieth East and west one of the other, 20 leagues distance by Relacion of some Prissnars.[57] on the westermost key is no anchoring for Shipps neither any cattle, so that wee did nott stop their att all, but went to the Estermost key, wheir wee come to anchor, with a northerly winde. att the South sid of thiss Island is a brave Sandy bay but no rideing if the wind come out Southerly; then you may runn downe to the leeward side of the Island. Our master, Jno. Hilliard, for some misdemeanor was turn'd out of his Place, and his mate, one Jno. Hall, putt in Master. Hall went with a cannoe mand to Leeward to find a bay which he thought might have beene a good place, seeing no better, so wee ridd 2 dayes with the Shipp at the Southermost bay. the wind coming out againe att S.E. and b.S. and S.S.E., we waied and putt to sea, fearing twould blow hard, itt being an open bay. so wee rann downe to thiss other bay our new master had found out, and lett goe anchor. our cable parted. wee weire faine to goe father to looke for another anchor Place, and about 4 miles to the N.W. we saw a fine large bay and rivers of water, that wee filled our water close to the water sid, wooding convenient, fish great store, Seals Inumerable, butt we eate none, gotes mighty Plenty. the Islands are butt small, nott above 7 miles round, butt very high and Hilly, full of Valleys, so that wee rowed on the westward sid of the Island to windward or to the southward to hunt for goates. In thiss second bay of anchorag, came downe such flawes of wind out of the Valleys that our Anchor could nott hold, that wee almost drove aShore. our Peopple cutting wood and filling water, which was the greater Party, haveing no love for capt. Batt. Sharpe, concludeing togather to turne him out of his capt'shipp, which thay did, and Putts into his Place a stout rugged fore man as captaine;[58] itt was much trouble to capt. Sharpe to be thuss served, butt could nott help himself, for the peopple weir Resolved nott to goe home by Sea before thay had more money. wee lay in thiss small bay, which was about 2 miles to leeward of thiss greate bay, about 3 dayes. wee made hast and gott our Anchor we lost and water aborde, and the most part of the wood wee had cutt. wee wear minded to have spent a moneths time att thiss key of Juan Fernandus and then to have gon downe to have cruised till the next Year; Our Blacksmith was ashore prepareing to have built a forge, and made Iron worke for the Shipp, and Intended to have burnt charcole. he had partly fixed his bellose. wee had two men of warr cannoes gon to windward for goates and had found, by relacion, 150 fatt ones, butt sleepeing alnight by a fier att the Sea Side and in the morning went to fetch their goates, lookeing out to se if the Sea weir cleare of shipps Spyed within 3 leagues of the Island 3 greate saile of Shipps, Admirall, Vise Adm'll and Rear Adm'll; seeing thiss, made what hast they could to their cannoes and soe on borde shipp, leaveing all their goates behind them bound. as soone as thay came near the Shipp thay warned us with 3 Motions, that wee understoode their was 3 saile. wee gott all our peopple that weir on shore off and what other things wee could, gott our anchor on bord, had nott time to gett the Other butt lett him slipp, hoysted in Our launch and canno's. by thiss time thay weir came within sight of us; so near that wee could se a weapon florrished on the quarter deck of the Adm'll. wee understoode wee had left one of our Strikears on shore that had gott under a tree to Sleepe, sent a cannoe for him but could not finde him, soe came of to the Shipp and left him their.[59] these 3 shipps Clings the wind and stands After us. the reare Adm'll which was the least had 12 gunns, their Vise Adm'll 16 and their Adm'll 24. Our new capt., being Jno. Watkins, would have gon aborde the Adm'll if the Party had beene willing; wee could wronge them by sayling att our Pleasures, bye or large, soe that wee played with them a day and a night. then wee concluded twas our time to goe downe and take Arrica, the Place that wee made an attempt att before. wee made what sayle wee could, Steering N.E. and b.N., to fall in about 30 leagues to windward of Arrica, which wee did very well, but we weir tolde of a fishing key that lay hear abouts 18 leagues from Arrica;[60] wee concluded to go thither, which was our greate folly, and so standing off and on, those on the key saw us and forthwith sent to Arica to informe them of us. Our man of warr cannoes, roweing alonge shore to thiss Key, was 2 dayes before came up with itt, which att last did, and took 2 Antient men Prissnors, about 75 years of Age. here we gott some fish and wine. our peopple Examin'd the 2 old men, found them in two tailes, the one being trew, the other not, as wee found Afterwards. the one tolde us that Arica had news of us and that he believ'd thay would be provided for us; for he sd. a Post would ride from the sand key to Arica in 3 dayes. for thiss Speech the man was shott downe by our quarter master Jno. Duill. the Other was made much of, because was supposed to speake the truth. soe wee made what hast wee could to Arica, and on a sunday Morning, itt being in March, wee landed 82 men, wee understanding itt to be a small towne. our orders was, if wee saw 3 Smokes rise from the hill thay called the More, wee should make what hast wee could into the harbor. Our Peopple marching till thay came to the towne, saw no peopple till they Entred the townes End, wheir thay found Every topp of a house fitted for them, and a fort of 12 gunns mounted. their houses hear are built all flatt att the topp, for they never have any Raines, no, nott in the remembrance of the Spaniards, butt very greate dewes. Wee fell on the towne smartly, and became Victors in fouer howers time so that twas our owne, Notwithstanding their was above 700 men In Armes, att our comeing.[61] all the Cuntry within 20 myles was come inn and more in greate Number comeing. wee tooke the biggest church to Make a Hospitall for our wounded men, which weare about tenn, and six killd out right. Our capt. Jno. Wattkings was kill'd att the same time, to our discomforts. One of the capt. of the Spaniards which wee had taken, Spake in his owne linqua[62] to thiss Efect, "Gent men, I know you are men come to seeke a fortune, if You want money or Plate goe alonge with me, I will shew you wheir their is more then you all can carry away." wee gave no credit to him, butt was minded to fall on uppon the forte to take their greate gunns for the shipp, haveing none on board. Our Party being so tired, and cutt off, wee weare feigne to leave the greate gunns, money, all the Rest of the rich traide which was in that small towne. three of our Doctors being in the Hospitall Church dressing of our wounded men, had about 6 men Order'd to guard them with their Armes. after wee saw we weir so worsted and beaten, fighting against so greate Advantage, Some peopple rann to bid them come away as could march, for our Party was gon out of the towne. the Spaniards seeing thiss gott fresh to their Armes againe, and rallied upp with us about the church that they durst no come out, so that their was left 5 well men besides the 3 Doctors which had not one Dropp of blood spilt from them. one or two of the wounded men that had good hearts gott up and rann to the Party, and tho' thay had many a shott made by the Spaniards att them, yett Scapte clear. so many of our Party being almost choked for water, made use of their owne; butt comeing downe to the water side wheir the launch and cannnoe lay reddy to receive them, their follows them a parcell of Negro's and Mallattos, which stood on a High Hill Just over the Cannoes and throwes Downe Stones and Launces on Our Peopple. In thiss frey, wee had taken, kill'd and wounded about 30. Wee Judge wee could not Distroy of them less then 150 or 200 men, for they lay very thick in the Streetes. Their governor or Gen'll was upon a Hill calld the More, on Horse back, Just over the towne, from whence he could see into every Streate and which way wee went. he often weaved to his soldiers from thence, With his Handkerchiffe, to gave them notice which way wee went, and crying out, "Valiente soldados, buina Valienta Soldados."[63] Some of our peopple passed a shott att him but could not have the fortune to hitt him. Our former new capt., Jno. Wattkings, being kill'd att this Place, capt. Sharpe would have thrust himself capt. againe. Soe that our party resolved to goe downe to leeward. The most voyces wear to have the shipp, the lessar to have the Launch and two cannoes. One party was resolved to stay, the other to goe over Land, as will be presently related. wee now wanting water and soe like to be in greate Distress, considered, and with the advise of our Spanish pilott wee must goe into Ylo[64] for water, butt wee learneing by some Spanish Journalls that their was water 14 Leagues to windward of Ylio, which place wee Indeavord to comepass, and comeing thither, found such a sea goeing as could nott gett ashoar with our Cannoe; Soe Endeavor'd to gaine the Keys of Juan Fernandas againe. But the windes bloweing so much southerly we could nott. soe leaveing itt into the Shoare with our Starboard tacks on board, fetcht the bay the[y] call't Vispo, in which their is a brave River and very good water, which bay lieth in South lattd. 29 deg..[65] So wee fill their about six tunn of water, And by Informacion of a Prissnor their taken, that att Coequembo lay 2 men of warr, and he beleived would be downe next morneing, thiss bay of Vispo being butt 15 leagues N. and b.W. from Coquembo. att thiss Place wee found a new barkque and building. some sheepe and goates wee brought of for foode, butt the Barkque wee left, hopeing to have better of her hereafter. Putting out of this Porte wee saild alonge N.N.W. 3 dayes, about 8 leagues of Shoare, to another bay lying about 24 degrees South lattd, A Bay cal'd by the name of Capt. Drakes his bay, Because that when he was their he water'd. their is a brave fresh water River, And to thiss day is standing a church which the sd. cap. Drakes causd to be Built for his Memoriall; alltho' wee could nott gett on shoare by the Violence of the Suff, yett the church was very vissible to us, nott being above one quarter of a mile from itt.[66] so that att last wee wear forc't to goe to Ylo to fill our Bumkings[67] with water. wee stay'd hear two Dayes but dare make no longer stay, for fear the cuntry should come downe uppon us. This Ylo lieth N.W. and b.W. from the Afore named Arica, above 26 leges, And in the lattd. of 17 deg. 45' South lattitude. Ylo beareth from the Citty lymmo S.B.E. 120 legs. now haveing fill'd thiss water we putts to sayle to carry the party which was minded to Martch back into the North Seas. wee rann down alonge, N.W. and by N. and N.W., Just keepeing sight of land because would not be Descried, which way wee went. About 9 dayes wee saild N.W. and b.N. and N.W., and meeting with a Strong Currant which as wee Judged Satt N.E. into a bay, wee fell in with a small Island about five Miles round, in the lattd. of 7 deg. 40' So. and about 12 leagues off the Maine shoare. to thiss Island our Prissnars tolde us severall Barkques came to for pretious Stones, which weir to be found their. Due East from thiss key lieth Another which is Inhabbited, 7 leagues from thiss key and 5 leagues from the maine or Trucksilly,[68] which is a towne wheir is water, and on thiss key cattle; aboundance of Fish is made here. Wee Just weatherd the small Rockey key on which the Pretious Stones are founde; wee had the wind att S. and B.E. and S.S.E., a fine topp saile gaile and fair weather. wee Steares away N. and b.E. to make Point Sta. Alena, the Point that is before discourst of, that makes the Northermost Point of the River Yakeell. the next day was upp with the Isle of Plate, which lieth in South lattd. about 50'. then the Party thatt resolved to goe over land, began to provide for Vittuall. their was about 56 of them, which carried away what thay had. thay had a launch and two cannoes. itt was on Sunday, after wee had din'd with what wee had, which was att that time onely bread and water. and now being under the Equinoctiall about a ii leagues from Shore wee [saw] Mount a Christo plaine,[69] that lieth some leagues in the cuntry, The Mount bore of us E.S.E. these poore men when parted from us had about 5 leagues to goe, before could Conveniently Land, for wild Indians and negro's, which by shipping formerly their was cast away, and since grone very Populus and Barberous, As we wear inform'd by our Prissnors. thay did intend to take thiss island of —— or Cork Island, which lieth in the bay of the Gorgony. now thay being gon both parties wear much troubled att the parting, Yett the party that went away would have staied in case Sharpe had nott beene made capt., for thay could not by any meanes allow of him to be capt. more of us would have gon away, Butt capt. Sharpe sends his Master to us who spoke thuss (his Name was Jno. Cooxe), "Gentmen, capt. Sharpe doth declair and swair that those men that will stay with him and goe about in the shipp with him by water, that he will make them a Voyage, and doe the uttmost of his power to gett money Enough, and will not have thoughts of goeing out of these till every man is willing." soe wee consider'd our shipp was foule. wee that stayed wear about 61 soles in number. with the advise of capt. Batt. Sharpe was resolved to run downe to Pennamau, and to leeward, to finde some private place to cleane our shipp in, and to take her one deck lower. wee searching of some Spanish Jurnalls findds mention of an Island lieing to the No'ward in 8 degrees called the Island of canes, wheir wee found thiss Isle of Canes;[70] and by our observacion lieth in North lattitude, 7 deg. 30'. their is good wooding and watering butt no secure place for a shipp to ride in, without very good Anchors and Cables, which wee att that time was Ill provided with. wee staied here 3 dayes and killed one sow and Pigg and fill'd water. here are good large Oysters. so wee sett saile with full intencion to goe into the Gulph of Dulce,[71] if wee could find itt, but wee stearing away N.W. about 33 English legs from thiss Isle of Canes, which Island lieth 5 legs from the Maine shore, and comeing in with the land saw a brave deepe gulph, which concluded was a good Place for us to cleane Our shipp, hopeing that their might be no Inhabitance. Into which gulph we rann, by sounding of our leade so farr as wee could, Except wee had had a Pilott for that place. wee hoyst our 2 men of warr cannoes And went upp the Gulph. capt. Batt. Sharpe Imbarkque[d] in one of them him self, to see if could take an Indian to understand whatt for a place itt was; goeing about 4 leagues ahead of the shipp, comes upp with an Island lying in the gulph of Nicoy,[72] which Island wee understood by some Indians was called the Island of Perroz or in English the Isle of doggs. wee found 3 or 4 families which lived heare of Indians, very poore, haveing all thay gett once in two years taken from them by the fryars, and thay tell us that if thay have nott to pay the friars what their demands is when thay come, that thay carry away their children and makes them Slaves. Butt our capt. Batt. Sharpe Asked of one Indian that could speak Spanish, if any Shipp used to come their. he said that their was att pressent 2 small Barkques that weir come from Pennamau, which weir lodeing with hides and tallow bound for Pennamau again. The Indian tolde the capt. he would Shew us wheir they weir; with whome capt. Sharpe went with his cannoe well man'd, thiss Indian leaveing some hands on the Isle of Perros or Dogges, to see that none gott away to discry us, with our Shipp getts on brest the Island and Comes to an Anchor, and missing the right channel lay their not haveing above 3 foote water more then wee drew. thiss was about 25 of Aprile 1681. the next morning these two barkes was taken, the one being 2 thirds loden and the other half loden with talloe; wee tooke out as much as wee thought might serve to tallow our Shipps bottom twice and to make us candles, and no more, which is as I Imagin about 60 or 70 Packs. Now wee wanting carpenters understoode by thiss Indian Pylott that their was 2 shipps up an Arme of a River, about 4 leagues from thiss Isle of Dogges. The Indian conveighs us the next night upp to them. the morning about an hower before day wee comes wheir thay weir building, about 300 tunns a Peice; one of them haveing beene on the Stocks about 3 years. itt Pleas'd god wee tooke the head carpenter and the Rest of his gange, which weir about 12 in Number, with their tooles, about 6 Jarrs of wine and Brandy, which was much to our comfort, haveing lived for some time before on bread and water. takeing these carpenter[s] with their tooles, wee weare in greate hopes to have Our Shipps upper deck taken downe and made better for sayleing in little time, with the help of our owne carpenters; butt to carreene her here is impossible Because of a greate citty about 18 leagues from thiss lagoone of Nicoy, itt being the citty Naine,[73] wheir thay can Raise 20000 Men. wee fell lower downe in the River, as lay out of the way of the tide as much as could, for here the tides runn very Stronge and keepes itts course of moone. itt flows S.S.W., which when the moone comes to thiss S.S.W. point itt makes high water. itt flowes about 3 fathom and half right upp and downe. when wee brought these Spanish carpenters on borde, our capt. and carpenter Shewed the Spannish carpenter what thay would have done, desiering him to be reall, and tell them in what time itt might be finished. he promis'd that within 10 day, with the assistance of our peopple, he did nott doubt butt finnish itt; att which our capt. and company told him that as soone as he had done he should have one of the barques for his paines, and all he[r] ladeing of tallow, and that he would sett them all ashore againe. thiss Spannish carpenter being a very Ingenious worke man, and saw wee shew him and his company a greate deale of respect, which begott a love in him to us, for he tolde us wee should make what dispatch wee could out of the lagoone, for the cuntry was very populus, and would soone be after us if could procure any Imbarcation. the carpenter dispatcht is [his] buisness in 12 days, so that he and his comepany had the Barkque and all her loding. putting them ashore with some Prissnors wee had taken before, wee take a perriauger that come downe to thiss Isle of dogges, with a Spannish March't and a Mustees woman, which we suppose he kept. the woman lieing on borde one or two nights, was very familiar with one Copas a dutch a man,[74] who formerly had saild with the Spaniards, and had the linqua att will, but was mainly Inamoured with thiss women, makeing her severall presents of some Vallew. after the carpenters weir gone wee fell downe lower in the lagoone to fill water. thiss Copas goeing aShore to guard the Prissnars that fill'd water made an Excuse to goe into the woods to kill some thing to eate, but went cleare away, that wee never saw him since, carrying with him about 200 Peices of Eight in golde and Silver, that putt us in feare least he would give Intelligence which way wee weir bounden, wee being att this time butt a small partie, about 64 soules, and nott any greate gunn to help us. in takeing of these carpenters one of our men, a Scotch man, haveing dranck to much, by some way or Other gott out of the cannoe and was drounded. the peopple telling us the Barkque saild primely well and the best saylor belonged to Pennamau wee kept her to waite on the Shipp. shee was a small open barkque. wee tooke in her a man that was acquainted with thiss Gulph of Dolce, who tolde us wee might lay the shipp on shore their very well and no body see us, nor any Spaniard know we weir their, so wee concluded to go. about May the first 81, wee arrived in this Gulph of Dulce. itt lieth from the lagoone of Nicoy about 47 leagues South and from the Island of canes ii leagues S.S.E. wee found according to what the Spanish fellow tolde us, a very fine place to hall our Shipp on shore to cleane her. Here we caught some fish and turtle and fedd well for the time wee lay here. we Built a house ashore to putt our provissions in, to keepe them from the Raines, and carried ashore the most part of our Ballast, in the barkque and men of war cannoes. wee findeing the small barque to Saile very well, the Capt. putt in 7 Hands to her, to sayle her. as wee lay one night ready to hall a shore the next high water, the winde blew att South very hard, that our after mast cable gave way, that the shipp drave ashore against the rocks, we weir afraid should have bildged her; but the 2 carpenters, being carefull, shord her up to ease her what thay could, and the next flood heav'd her off againe to a sandy place in the bay, wheir wee found some butt heads started and abundance of nailes and spikes wanting, which our carpenters had provided for and drave aboundance in her bottom. we lay here about 5 weekes, mending our sailes and fixing our rigging. here cam in to us some Indian men, women and children, to whome wee gave Victualls and drink; thay staid with us tell we had done our shipp; some times giveing us plantans, and some time goeing into the woods, finding bees nests, would give us the Honney; butt the most good these Indians did us, wee had their barque loggs[75] all the time we lay hear to make us a Staige. Some of them goeing away Amounge the Spaniards tolde them that their was a greate Shipp in the Gulph, and that wee weir a casting of greate gunns. Butt these Indians that came to us tolde us that the Spaniards had tolde them if any shipps came in that had any thing of redd in their collers,[76] that thay should have a caire and not come on borde of them nor lett us see them, telling them that wee would kill them; but as itt happen'd we went in with all white collers, which was the Spanish order that thay should Assist all those, for thay weir their friends and would doe them no harme. the Spaniard lives here from the Gulph of Dulcey about 3 dayes Journey. thiss Gulph lieth in lattd. 7 deg. 22' No. lattd. wee fitted our Shipp, clensed our bottom what wee could; the small barque filld water, cutt wood, and went away to Sea to looke for Purchase.[77] we went from thiss place about the last of June 81, haveing a good fresh gaile att S. and B.E. and S.S.E. wee stands over thiss bay, cald the bay of the Gorgony, which Isle of Gorgoney wee carreend att the last Year lieth in No. lattd. 3 deg. 35', or their abouts. the land that we made was 7 leagues farther to windward. here generally setts a greate currant out of the Sea into thiss bay E.N.E. wee fell in first with Barraco Island and cock Island. wee now bethinks our selves that twas time in the year to gett up to windward to goe through the streights of Magelene. wee recruted here with water, filling all we could. about 30 leagues W.S.W. from thiss Island Barricoes we turnes up to windwards, and of[f] Cape passagoe, which lieth in 45' No. lattd.,[78] wee cruises a good way of shore, about 16 or 18 leagues, sees a saile, we gave chase, and comes up with her about 9 aclock of night. we found her to come out of Yakell, bound for Pennamau. the same shipp wee took loden with cloth and other goods the Laste year, which was then bound upp to Lymmo. she had in her now good Store of cloth, silk, stockings, mony and Plate, about forty thousand peices of Eight, and severall good things, butt the chiefest of her lading was coco. wee tooke out her what we thought convenient and carried her under the shore and came to an Anchor, and when we had done rummageing her putt them all aborde, cutt downe their maine mast, gave them Victualls and Drinck enough, and putt them to sea to goe right afore the wind for Pennamau. the master was very glad we gave him his shipp againe, and the most part of his lodeing; that he swore wee wear the Honnestest ladrones that ever he saw in his daies. we went of to sea cruiseing for more. we understood by thiss last prise that the Spaniards could not tell if [we] wear to windward or leewards. 3 dayes after in the morning we spies a small barque close by shore. wee gave chaces to her, came up hand over hand with her. She makes what she could for the Shore, their being one Spaniard in her that knew us, who we had taken the last year. She comes to an Anchor with in a quarter of a mile of the Shore, and a fryar and 4 Negro's getts ashore uppon a Planck and takes to the woods, but some staied on borde the barque. capt. Batt. Sharpe in a man of war cannoe follows them and come upp with some of them ashore. we found nothing butt a little Plunder. their letters of advice thay had hove over borde, butt they confest their was advice bound up to Yakell to give notice that wee weir in the gulph of Dulcey acleaning our shipp and acasting of greate gunns, as they heard. these Prisnars give us advice of a new Vice Roys comeing out of olde Spaine to Puerta Vella, and was come over land to Pennamau, and a greate Shipp lay their of 14 gunns to take him in.[79] thay told us thay had aboundance of riches with him; wee tolde them when wee had cutt their mane mast by the borde and sent them to Pennamau, that we lay waiteing for him and bid them tell the Vice Roy soe when they came to Pennamau. we cruises for more purchase and about 12 leagues from the cape, in a drisly misty morning, a man goeing to toppmast head saw a saile under our Lee, which wee made saile to and come upp with her; we fired severall small Armes before they called for quarter, butt calling, was presently granted and not a gunn fier'd. her capt. was short downe in takeing of her. we found She was a shipp bound for Pennamaw, came downe from Lymmo loden with wine and brandies, but very little plate, 700 piggs of Peuter, which we thought was silver, found to the contrary.[80] we now Resolveing to goe about this year if Pleasd God, we tooke out of her 700 Jarrs of wine, about 100 Jarrs of brandy, to serve us homewards, and had itt nott beene for thiss wine and brandy was Impossible to have subsisted. we cutt thiss shipps maine mast by the bord and sent her afore the wind to Pennama. wee kept about 18 Negroes and Indians to wash and pump our shipp. thiss last priz gave us full information of the Armado, which was to sayle from Lymmo, about 17 sayle of Shipps. the 15 day of September 81, wee turnd alonge shore as high as cape Blanco,[81] and then haveing a trew traid winde att S.S.E. and S.E. and b.S., sometimes South East, we all concluded to make the best of our way out of these seas; we haveing gotten ii hundred Peices of Eight a man in mony and Plate uppon Equall shairs, tho' itt was some of our fortune to loose our Voyage by Play afterwards; which those that were the winners to have the more. wee had the winds most