SECTION LXVIII.
Comming in sight of the ilands of Pearles, the wind began to fresh in with us, and wee profited our selves of it: but La Pacheta. comming thwart of a small iland, which they call la Pacheta, that lyeth within the Pearle ilands, close abourd the mayne, and some eight or ten leagues south and by west from Panama, the wind calmed againe.
This iland belongeth to a private man; it is a round humock,[243] conteyning not a league of ground, but most fertile. Insomuch, that by the owners industrie, and the labour of some few slaves, who occupie themselves in manuring it; and two barkes, which he imployeth in bringing the fruit it giveth to Panama, it is sayd to bee worth him every weeke, one with another, a barre of silver, valued betwixt two hundreth and fiftie or three hundreth pezos; which in English money, may amount to fiftie or threescore pounds: and for that which I saw at my being in Panama, touching this, I hold to be true.
In our course to fetch the port of Panama, wee put our selves betwixt the iland and the maine: which is a goodly channell, of three, foure, and five leagues broad, and without danger, except a man come too neare the shoare on any side; and that is thought the better course, then to goe a sea-boord of the ilands, because of the swift running of the tydes, and the advantage to stop the ebbe: as also for succour, if a man should happen to bee becalmed at any time beyond expectation, which happeneth sometimes.
The generall certefieth the Audiencia of his successe.
The seventh of July wee had sight of Perico: they are two little ilands which cause the port of Panama, where all the shippes used to ride. It is some two leagues west north-west of the cittie, which hath also a pere[244] in itselfe for small barkes; at full sea it may have some sixe or seaven foote water, but at low water it is drie.
The great joy of the Spaniards.
The ninth of July wee anchored under Perico, and the generall presently advised the Audiencia of that which had succeeded in his journey: which, understood by them, caused bonfires to be made, and every man to put luminaries in their houses. The fashion is much used amongst the Spaniards in their feasts of joy, or for glad tidings; placing many lights in their churches, in their windowes, and galleries, and corners of their houses; which being in the beginning of the night, and the cittie close by the sea-shore, showed to us, being farre of, as though the cittie had been on a light fire.
About eight of the clocke, all the artillery of the citty was shott off, which wee might discerne by the flashes of fire, but could not heare the report; yet the armado being advised thereof, and in a readinesse, answered them likewise with all their artillery; which taking ende, as all the vanities of this earth doe, the generall settled himselfe to dispatch advise for the King, for the vice-roy of Peru, and for the vice-roy of the Nova Spana, for hee also had beene certified of our being in that sea, and had fitted an armado to seeke us, and to guard his coast.
Note.
But now for a farewell (and note it), let me relate unto you this secret, how Don Beltran shewed mee a letter from the King, his master, directed to the vice-roy, wherein he gave him particular relation of my pretended voyage; of the ships, their burden, their munition, their number of men, which I had in them, as perfectly as if he had seene all with his own eyes: saying unto me, “Heereby may you discerne whether the King, my master, have friends in England, and good and speedie advice of all that passeth.”
Whereunto I replyed: “It was no wonder, for that hee had plentie of gold and silver, which worketh this and more strange effects: for my journey was publique and notorious to all the kingdome.” Whereunto hee replyed, that if I thought is so convenient, leave should be given mee to write into England to the Queens Majestie, my mistresse, to my father, and to other personages, as I thought good; and leaving the letters open, that he would send some of them in the King’s packet, others to his uncle Don Rodrigo de Castro, cardinall and archbishoppe of Sevill, and to other friends of his; not making any doubt but that they would be speedily in England. For which I thanked him, and accepted his courtesie; and although I was my selfe unable to write, yet by the hands of a servant of mine, I wrote three or foure coppies of one letter to my father, Sir John Hawkins; in which I briefly made relation of all that had succeeded in our voyage.
The dispatches of Spaine and New Spaine, went by ordinary course in ships of advise; but that for the Peru, was sent by a kinseman of the generalls, called Don Francisco de la Cuena.
Which being dispatched, Don Beltran hasted all that ever hee could to put his shippes in order, to returne to Lyma. Hee caused the Daintie to be grounded and trimmed; for in those ilands it higheth and falleth some fifteen or sixteen foote water.
And the generall with his captaines, and some religious men being aboord her, and new naming her, named her the Visitation, for that shee was rendred on the day on which they celebrate the visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary. In that place, the ground being plaine and without vantage, whereby to helpe the tender sided and sharpe ships, they are forced to shore them on either side. In the midest of their solemnity, her props and shores of one side fayled, and so shee fell over upon that side suddenly, intreating many of them which were in her, very badly; and doubtlesse, had shee bin like the shippes of the South sea, shee had broken out her bulge: but being without mastes and empty (for in the South sea, when they bring a-ground a shippe, they leave neither mast, balast, nor any other thing abourd, besides the bare hull), her strength was such as it made no great show to have received any damage; but the feare shee put them all into was not little, and caused them to runne out of her faster then a good pace.
In these ilands is no succour nor refreshing; onely in the one of them is one house of strawe, and a little spring of small moment. For the water, which the shippes use for their provision, they fetch from another iland, two leagues west north-west of these, which they call Tabaga, having in it some fruite and refreshing, and some fewe Indians to inhabite it.
What succeeded to mee, and to the rest during our imprisonment, with the rarities and particularities of the Peru and Terra Firme, my voyage to Spaine, and the successe, with the time I spent in prison in the Peru, in the Tercera, in Sevill, and in Madrid, with the accidents which befell me in them, I leave for a second part of this discourse, if God give life and convenient place and rest, necessary for so tedious and troublesome a worke: desiring God, that is Almightie, to give his blessing to this and the rest of my intentions, that it and they may bee fruitefull to His glory, and the good of all: then shall my desires be accomplished, and I account myselfe most happie. To whom be all glory, and thankes from all eternitie.
FINIS.
THE TABLE
OF
THE PRINCIPALL OBSERVATIONS
CONTEINED IN THIS BOOKE.
- A
- Advantage of obedience page [137]
- Advise by land and sea [172]
- Advertisements for commanders [137]
- —— for servitors [138]
- Agnanapes [96]
- Alonso de Soto, noblenes of [153]
- Alcatraces [71]
- Amber-greece [74]
- Amitie of the Indians [170]
- Anchors unserviceable, mending of [132]
- Anchors, light, fit for the South sea [151]
- Arica [168]
- Arawcans, valour of the [158]
- —— much commended for all sorts of fruit and gold [157]
- Armado, Spanish [182]
- Arrogancy of the Spanish generall [202]
- Artillery, overcharging of [169]
- Artillery, courses for after bourding [206]
- Austria, Donna, in the narrow seas [36]
- B
- Backwardnesse of companies [136]
- —— evill consequences thereof [136]
- Baldivia [143]
- Bay, English [124]
- Bezar stone, the [74]
- Beefe, pickled [143]
- —— held good beyond the equinoctiall [143]
- Blanches Bay [118]
- Bourding, policies to avoid [199]
- Bonito, the [67]
- Brasill, knowne etc. [61]
- Bravo [48]
- Brasil, description of [100]
- —— its havens [100]
- —— commodities and wants [100]
- —— bestial and discommodities [100]
- Burdeaux fleete, the losse of [18]
- C
- Calking, false [32]
- —— prevention thereof [33]
- Candish, Thomas [129]
- —— surprised [90]
- Canary ilands [41]
- Canary, Grand [42]
- Cape Blanco [85]
- Captaines, ignoble [104]
- Captaines, disloyalties of [166]
- Cassavi, beverage of [96]
- Cassavi meale [95]
- —— preparing thereof [95]
- Catalina, Saint [101]
- Chieftain, parts requisite in a [189]
- Chieftains, two, dangerous [192]
- Cherries [86]
- Chile, people of [147]
- —— their weapons [147]
- —— and hate to the Spaniards [147]
- Cyvet catts [51]
- Cittie of Conception [149]
- Commanders, covetous, unwillingness to follow [161]
- Commander, a, not to trust his officers [184]
- Commanders, admonitions to [186]
- Cocos, and their kinds [50]
- Complaints of master Thomas Candish [27]
- —— of master George Raymond [28]
- Company sicke [56]
- —— and dismayed [126]
- Cotton Edward, the losse of [54]
- Clothes made in Coquinbo [158]
- Crabby Cove [128]
- Care of currants [54]
- D
- Departure from Lyma [152]
- Devises in sudden accidents [115]
- Directions to be secret [189]
- Discipline of the Spanish [103]
- Discipline, cause of their prosperities [103]
- Discipline neglected by the English [17]
- Discipline pried into by the Spaniards [194]
- —— and by them imitated [195]
- Discoveries, use of [7]
- Discovery on the coast to be avoyded [149]
- Dolphin, the [66]
- Drake, Sir Francis, upon the southermost part of the world [142]
- Dutch, providence of the [17]
- Ducks [113]
- E
- Elizabeth Bay [117]
- Engines of antiquitie, disuse of [206]
- English, the, carry up their flag [35]
- English, authors of sea discipline [17]
- English, carelessnesse of the [184]
- Exchange of trifles [145]
- —— of sheepe [146]
- Exercise alwayes necessary [44]
- F
- Fenton, Edward [129]
- Fernandes, Juan [149]
- Fire, danger of [62]
- —— by heating of pitch [62]
- —— by taking tobacco [63]
- —— by candle light [63]
- —— by hooping and scuttling [64]
- —— by nature of waters [64]
- Fierro, strange tree in [42]
- Fight, the Spanish, beginning of [184]
- —— their intertainment [191]
- —— the English [191]
- —— the Spanish [191]
- —— pay deere for their rashnesse [196]
- —— take a new resolution [197]
- Flying fishes [70]
- French and English salute [35]
- French surprised [90]
- Fruits wholsome, to know [87]
- Fuego [48]
- Fugitives, end of [195]
- G
- Gannetts [86]
- God propitious [127]
- —— therefore praised [127]
- Gold, some, and one shippe taken [150]
- Gold, every shower a shower of [158]
- Greenfield, Sir Richard, at Flores [20]
- Gulls [113]
- Gunner, deceit of the [185]
- H
- Hampton, master Thomas [34]
- Harbours, annoyances in [80]
- Hawkins, Master William [130]
- Hawkins Mayden-land [108]
- Helm-man [84]
- I
- Iago, Saint [47]
- —— sacked [48]
- Ilands, St. James [85]
- Jesus of Lubecke, the [10]
- Ienero [93]
- Ilands, unwholsome [45]
- —— their heat [45]
- —— the breze [45]
- —— the best remedie [46]
- Inconvenience of imprests [28]
- —— their true use [29]
- Indians housing [98]
- Indians poligamy [98]
- Indians apparrell [146]
- —— and manner of sleeping [99]
- Indians trechery [145]
- Indians foresight [122]
- Indians industry [90]
- Indians dismissed [180]
- Indians led by a Mulato [181]
- Instructions, consequence of [30]
- Isla Grand [93]
- Iuca, planting of [97]
- —— by women [97]
- K
- Kavas Purgativas, use of [87]
- L
- Land, unknowne [107]
- —— care of approach [107]
- Leakes, new devise for stopping, without bourd [155]
- Lyne, the, best time to passe [76]
- M
- Madera [40]
- Mariner, a, who to be accounted [186]
- —— his knowledge [186]
- —— and materials [186]
- —— for navigation [187]
- Mariners, the, revenge [69]
- Mariners, wilfulnesse of [149]
- Maries, S. [148]
- Master, care of the [83]
- Masters mate, unskilfulnesse of the [83]
- Meeting, fittest places of [31]
- Mocha [143]
- Monkies, parrots [51]
- Moone, influence of the [46]
- Mutenies, how to be winked at [141]
- Multitude, unadvisednesse of the [183]
- O
- Objections resolved [204]
- Office of a master [188]
- —— of a pilot [188]
- —— of the boteswaine [188]
- —— of the steward [188]
- —— of the carpenter [188]
- —— of the gunner [188]
- Oleron, lawes of [164]
- Oranges, vertue of [81]
- Oreweed, beds of [108]
- P
- Palmer, Sir Henry, modestie of [18]
- Patience of the Earle of Nottingham [139]
- Parts requisite in a commander at sea [18]
- Palmito, the [48], [86]
- Palmito Iland [92]
- Pearles [133]
- Pengwins, iland of [110]
- —— described [111]
- —— hunting of [112]
- —— kept for store [113]
- Pentagones, care of the [106]
- Philip, King, comming into England [36]
- Pilats fishes [70]
- Pillage, challenging of [163]
- —— what to be reputed [166]
- —— undue, prevention of [167]
- Placentia [50]
- Plaintain, the [49]
- Pynaces, dutie of [40]
- Pynace lost [25]
- Porke, good, foure yeare old [143]
- Ports, danger of open [13]
- Providence of God [83]
- Provisions, corrupt or scantie [161]
- —— better provided at Plimouth [12]
- Puerto Viejo [178]
- Puma [177]
- Purgatives [87]
- Purslain [86]
- Q
- Quintera, bay of [156]
- R
- Ratts, prevention of [135]
- —— calamities they bring [135]
- Reach, Long [122]
- Repentance, the [8]
- Reasons of returne dangerous [131]
- Revenge, the [9]
- Rudders, spare [155]
- Runnawayes [104]
- S
- Sabboth reserved for holy exercises [44]
- Sailes of cotton cloth [151]
- Salomon, ilands of [176]
- Santos, arrival at [77]
- —— forbidden to trade [79]
- Sarmiento, Pedro [109]
- Scurvy, the [56]
- —— the signes [56]
- —— the causes [57]
- —— the remedies [58]
- —— by diet [59]
- —— by shift [59]
- —— by labour [59]
- —— by early eating and drinking [59]
- —— by sower oranges and lemmons [60]
- —— by Dr. Stevens water [60]
- —— by oyle of vitry [60]
- —— by ayre of the land [60]
- Seething meat in salt water [58]
- —— corruption of victuall [58]
- Sea, the vapours of [58]
- Seafaring men, abuses of [26]
- Seales [114]
- Setting the ship upon a rock [126]
- —— Diligence to free it [127]
- Sheathing of ships [119]
- —— in Spaine and Portingall [120]
- —— with double plankes [120]
- —— with canvas [120]
- —— with burnt planks [120]
- —— with varnish in China [120]
- —— in England [121]
- —— best manner of [121]
- Sharke, the [68]
- Shipping, what requisit in [7]
- Ships, the honour of his Majesties [36]
- —— of trade [199]
- —— the prince his [200]
- —— of warre are not all to be low built [200]
- —— foure taken [149]
- Ship, dutie of a small against a greater [204]
- Shooting at sea [33]
- —— mischances thereupon ensuing [34]
- Sloth cause of fancies [125]
- Sounding, care of [52]
- Spanish discipline [191]
- —— officers [193]
- —— admirall commeth to leeward [190]
- Spaniards parley [207]
- —— inexperience of the [184]
- —— weaknesse of the [19]
- —— vain-glory of the [205]
- Severitie of Spaine [168]
- Steerage, care of [84]
- —— exquisite in the Spaniards and Portingals [84]
- Straights, the [108]
- —— second peopling of the [116]
- —— ilands, south part of the [142]
- Stormes, effects of courage in [24]
- Storme, a cruell [148]
- Swans, birds like [105]
- —— how caught [105]
- —— good refreshment [106]
- Swearing remedied [65]
- T
- Tenerif, description of [41]
- Thunderbolt, the, of London [10]
- Tobias Cove [126]
- Trading, concealement hindereth [166]
- Tremontaine Point [107]
- Time, entertainement of [133]
- V
- Vavisor, Captaine [21]
- Vessell, importance of a small [148]
- Vice admirall, place of [20]
- Voyages, considerations for [12]
- —— overthrowne by pretences [129]
- Voyage, the overthrow of the [102]
- —— the cause [102]
- —— infidelitie [103]
- W
- Wafters, order of the Flemish [17]
- Wages, deteyning of [162]
- Warehouses sacked [150]
- Wast, objection of [118]
- —— answered [118]
- —— of men [89]
- Water salt, distilling of [82]
- —— contagious [88]
- Watches, care of [56]
- Watch, fruits of good [91]
- Weaknes, concealement of [152]
- Wilfulnesse of mariners [15]
- Wine more dangerous then the enemy [153]
- Wines, Spanish, and fevers unknowne in England [153]
- Wine consumeth treasure [154]
- Whale, fight of the [71]
- —— with the sword-fish [71]
- —— with the thresher [72]
- —— taking of the [72]
- —— by the Indians [75]
- Warning against wormes [119]
- Y
- Yonkers ever necessary in the top [44]
FINIS.
RICHARDS, PRINTER, 100, ST. MARTIN’S LANE.