[172] After the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Lord Charles Howard, of Effingham, was created Earl of Nottingham.
[173] These observations appear to have occurred to our author, in consequence of what had taken place during the voyages of Magalhaens and Drake. Both these great commanders, while lying at Port Saint Julian, tried for mutiny, and executed, some of their chief officers; doubtless deeming it wise to cut off the hydra’s head at an early period.
[174] This must be a misprint; it should be perhaps 56°. Some accounts state that Drake visited a bay in 57°: this must be erroneous, as Cape Horn, the most southern part of South America, is in the parallel of 56°.
[175] Much interesting information respecting these straits will be found in the voyages of the Adventure and Beagle. Since the days of Anson, the difficulties experienced in rounding Cape Horn have been such as to cause navigators to look to the passage through these straits with great interest, hoping, that if found practicable, adverse gales and a heavy sea might be avoided. Now that the labours of King and Fitzroy have provided correct charts, the road is well known; still it can hardly be recommended to large vessels to “shoot the straits.”
[176] Chiloe.
[177] Contractation—commerce or dealings with them.
[178] To lamm is used by Beaumont and Fletcher in the sense of beat—bruise.
[179] The Araucanians have been immortalized in the Araucano, a poem written by Don Alonzo d’Ercilla y Zuniga; Madrid, 1632.
[180] This word is perhaps derived from lave, to draw out, to exhaust.
[181] Chile.