Modern History Sourcebook:
Francis Pretty:
Sir Francis Drake's Famous Voyage Round The World, 1580
by Francis Pretty, One of Drake's Gentlemen at arms.
The Famous Voyage of Sir Francis Drake into the South Sea, and
therehence about the whole Globe of the Earth, begun in the year of our Lord
1577.
The 15. day of November, in the year of our Lord 1577, Master Francis
Drake, with a fleet of five ships and barks,1 and to the number of
164 men, gentlemen and sailors, departed from Plymouth, giving out his
pretended voyage for Alexandria. But the wind falling contrary, he was forced
the next morning to put into Falmouth Haven, in Cornwall, where such and so
terrible a tempest took us, as few men have seen the like, and was indeed so
vehement that all our ships were like to have gone to wrack. But it pleased
God to preserve us from that extremity, and to afflict us only for that
present with these two particulars: the mast of our Admiral, which was the
Pelican, was cut overboard for the safeguard of the ship, and the Marigold was
driven ashore, and somewhat bruised. For the repairing of which damages we
returned again to Plymouth; and having recovered those harms, and brought the
ships again to good state, we set forth the second time from Plymouth, and set
sail the 13. day of December following.
[Footnote 1: The Pelican, 120 tons, commanded by Drake; the Elizabeth, a
new Deptfordbuilt ship of 80 tons, commanded by Winter, with her pinnace,
the Benedict; the Marigold, of 30 tons; and the Swan, a fly-boat of 50
tons.]
The 25. day of the same month we fell with the Cape Cantin, upon the coast
of Barbary; and coasting along, the 27. day we found an island called Mogador,
lying one mile distant from the main. Between which island and the main we
found a very good and safe harbour for our ships to ride in, as also very good
entrance, and void of any danger. On this island our General erected a pinnace,
whereof he brought out of England with him four already framed. While these
things were in doing, there came to the water's side some of the inhabitants
of the country, shewing forth their flags of truce; which being seen of our
General, he sent his ship's boat to the shore to know what they would. They
being willing to come aboard, our men left there one man of our company for a
pledge, and brought two of theirs aboard our ship; which by signs shewed our
General that the next day they would bring some provision, as sheep, capons,
and hens, and such like. Whereupon our General bestowed amongst them some
linen cloth and shoes, and a javelin, which theo very joyfully received, and
departed for that time. The next morning they failed not to come again to the
water's side. And our General again setting out our boat, one of our men
leaping over-rashly ashore, and offering friendly to embrace them, they set
violent hands on him, offering a dagger to his throat if he had made any
resistance; and so laying him on a horse carried him away. So that a man
cannot be too circumspect and wary of himself among such miscreants. Our
pinnace being finished, we departed from this place the 30. and last day of
December, and coasting along the shore we did descry, not contrary to our
expectation, certain canters'2 which were Spanish fishermen, to
whom we gave chase and took three of them. And proceeding further we met with
three carvels, and took them also.
[Footnote 2: Old Sp. cantera (perhaps from cantharus).]
The 17. day of January we arrived at Cape Blanco, where we found a ship
riding at anchor, within the Cape, and but two simple mariners in her. Which
ship we took and carried her further into the harbour, where we remained four
days; and in that space our General mustered and trained his men on land in
warlike manner, to make them fit for all occasions. In this place we took of
the fishermen such necessaries as we wanted, and they could yield us; and
leaving here one of our little barks, called the Benedict, we took with us one
of theirs which they called canters, being of the burden of 40 tons or
thereabouts. All these things being finished we departed this harbour the 22.
of January, carrying along with us one of the Portugal carvels, which was
bound to the islands of Cape Verde for salt, whereof good store is made in one
of those islands. The master or pilot of that carvel did advertise our General
that upon one of those islands, called Mayo, there was a great store of dried
cabritos,3 which a few inhabitants there dwelling did yearly make
ready for such of the king's ships as did there touch, being bound for his
country of Brazil or elsewhere. We fell with this island the 27. of January,
but the inhabitants would in no case traffic with us, being thereof forbidden
by the king's edict. Yet the next day our General sent to view the island, and
the likelihoods that might be there of provision of victuals, about threescore
and two men under the conduct and government of Master Winter and Master
Doughty. And marching towards the chief place of habitation in this island (as
by the Portugal we were informed), having travelled to the mountains the space
of three miles, and arriving there somewhat before the daybreak, we arrested
ourselves, to see day before us. Which appearing, we found the inhabitants to
be fled; but the place, by reason that it was manured, we found to be more
fruitful than the other part, especially the valleys among the hills.
[Footnote 3: Goats.]
Here we gave ourselves a little refreshing, as by very ripe and sweet
grapes, which the fruitfulness of the earth at that season of the year yielded
us; and that season being with us the depth of winter, it may seem strange
that those fruits were then there growing. But the reason thereof is this,
because they being between the tropic and the equinoctial, the sun passeth
twice in the year through their zenith over their heads, by means whereof they
have two summers; and being so near the heat of the line they never lose the
heat of the sun so much, but the fruits have
|
their increase and continuance
in the midst of winter. The island is wonderfully stored with
goats and wild hens; and it hath salt also, without labour, save only that the people gather
it into heaps; which continually in greater quantity is increased upon the
sands by the flowing of the sea, and the receiving heat of the sun kerning the
same. So that of the increase thereof they keep a continual traffic with their
neighbours. |
 |
Amongst other things we found here a kind of fruit called cocos, which
because it is not commonly known with us in England, I thought good to make
some description of it. The tree beareth no leaves nor branches, but at the
very top the fruit groweth in clusters, hard at the top of the stem of the
tree, as big every several fruit as a man's head; but having taken off the
uttermost bark, which you shall find to be very full of strings or sinews, as
I may term them, you shall come to a hard shell, which may hold in quantity of
liquor a pint commonly, or some a quart, and some less. Within that shell, of
the thickness of half-an-inch good, you shall have a kind of hard substance
and very white, no less good and sweet than almonds; within that again, a
certain clear liquor, which being drunk, you shall not only find it very
delicate and sweet, but most comfortable and cordial.
After we had satisfied ourselves with some of these fruits, we marched
further into the island, and saw great store of cabritos alive, which were so
chased by the inhabitants that we could do no good towards our provision; but
they had laid out, as it were to stop our mouths withal, certain old dried
cabritos, which being but ill, and small and few, we made no account of. Being
returned to our ships, our General departed hence the 31. of this month, and
sailed by the island of Santiago, but far enough from the danger of the
inhabitants, who shot and discharged at us three pieces; but they all fell
short of us, and did us no harm. The island is fair and large, and, as it
seemeth, rich and fruitful, and inhabited by the Portugals; but the mountains
and high places of the island are said to be possessed by the Moors, who
having been slaves to the Portugals, to ease themselves, made escape to the
desert places of the island, where they abide with great strength. Being
before this island, we espied two ships under sail, to the one of which we
gave chase, and in the end boarded her with a ship-boat without resistance;
which we found to be a good prize, and she yielded unto us good store of wine.
Which prize our General committed to the custody of Master Doughty; and
retaining the pilot, sent the rest away with his pinnace, giving them a butt
of wine and some victuals, and their wearing clothes, and so they departed.
The same night we came with the island called by the Portugals Ilha do Fogo,
that is, the burning island; in the north side whereof is a consuming fire.
The matter is said to be of sulphur, but, notwithstanding, it is like to be a
commodious island, because the Portugals have built, and do inhabit there.
Upon the south side thereof lieth a most pleasant and sweet island, the trees
whereof are always green and fair to look upon; in respect whereof they call
it Ilha Brava, that is, the brave island. From the banks thereof into the sea
do run in many places reasonable streams of fresh water easy to come by, but
there was no convenient road for our ships; for such was the depth that no
ground could be had for anchoring. And it is reported that ground was never
found in that place; so that the tops of Fogo burn not so high in the air, but
the roots of Brava are quenched as low in the sea.
Being departed from these islands, we drew towards the line, where we were
becalmed the space of three weeks, but yet subject to divers great storms,
terrible lightnings and much thunder. But with this misery we had the
commodity of great store of fish, as dolphins, bonitos, and flying-fishes,
whereof some fell into our ships; wherehence they could not rise again for
want of moisture, for when their wings are dry they cannot fly.
From the first day of our departure from the islands of Cape Verde, we
sailed 54 days without sight of land. And the first land that we fell with was
the coast of Brazil, which we saw the fifth of April, in the height of 33
degrees towards the pole Antarctic. And being discovered at sea by the
inhabitants of the country, they made upon the coast great fires for a
sacrifice (as we learned) to the devils; about which they use conjurations,
making heaps of sand, and other ceremonies, that when any ship shall go about
to stay upon their coast, not only sands may be gathered together in shoals in
every place, but also that storms and tempests may arise, to the casting away
of ships and men, whereof, as it is reported, there have been divers
experiments.
The 7. day in a mighty great storm, both of lightning, rain, and thunder,
we lost the canter, which we called the Christopher. But the eleventh day
after, by our General's great care in dispersing his ships, we found her
again; and the place where we met our General called the Cape of Joy, where
every ship took in some water. Here we found a good temperature and sweet air,
a very fair and pleasant country with an exceeding fruitful soil, where were
great store of large and mighty deer, but we came not to the sight of any
people; but travelling further into the country we perceived the footing of
people in the clay ground, shewing that they were men of great stature. Being
returned to our ships we weighed anchor, and ran somewhat further, and
harboured ourselves between the rock and the main; where by means of the rock
that brake the force of the sea, we rid very safe. And upon this rock we
killed for our provision certain sea-wolves, commonly called with us seals.
From hence we went our course to 36 degrees, and entered the great river of
Plate, and ran into 54 and 53 1-2 fathoms of fresh water, where we filled our
water by the ship's side; but our General finding here no good harborough, as
he thought he should, bare out again to sea the 27. of April, and in bearing
out we lost sight of our fly-boat wherein Master Doughty was. But we, sailing
along, found a fair and reasonable good bay, wherein were many and the same
profitable islands; one whereof had so many seals as would at the least have
laden all our ships, and the rest of the islands are, as it were, laden with
fowls, which is wonderful to see, and they of divers sorts. It is a place very
plentiful of victuals, and hath in it no want of fresh water. Our General,
after certain days of his abode in this place, being on shore in an island,
the people of the country shewed themselves unto him, leaping and dancing, and
entered into traffic with him; but they would not receive anything at any
man's hands, but the same must be cast upon the ground. They are of clean,
comely, and strong bodies, swift on foot, and seem to be very active.
The 18. day of May, our General thought it needful to have a care of such
ships as were absent; and therefore endeavouring to seek the fly-boat wherein
Master Doughty was, we espied her again the next day. And whereas certain of
our ships were sent to discover the coast and to search an harbour, the
Marigold and the canter being employed in that business, came unto us and gave
us understanding of a safe harbour that they had found. Wherewith all our
ships bare, and entered it; where we watered and made new provision of
victuals, as by seals, whereof we slew to the number of 200 or 300 in the
space of an hour. Here our General in the Admiral rid close aboard the
fly-boat, and took out of her all the provision of victuals and what else was
in her, and hauling her to the land, set fire to her, and so burnt her to save
the iron work. Which being a-doing, there came down of the country certain of
the people naked, saving only about their waist the skin of some beast, with
the fur or hair on, and something also wreathed on their heads. Their faces
were painted with divers colours, and some of them had on their heads the
similitude of horns, every man his bow, which was an ell in length, and a
couple of arrows. They were very agile people and quick to deliver, and seemed
not to be ignorant in the feats of wars, as by their order of ranging a few
men might appear.
 |
These people would not of a long time
receive anything at our hands; yet at length our General being ashore,
and they dancing after their accustomed manner about him, and he once
turning his back towards them, one leaped suddenly to him, and took his
cap with his gold band off his head, and ran a little distance from him,
and shared it with his fellow, the cap to the one, and the band to the
other. Having despatched all our business in this place, we departed and
set sail. |
And immediately upon our setting forth we
lost our canter, which was absent three of four days; but when our General had
her again, he took out the necessaries, and so gave her over, near to the Cape
of Good Hope. The next day after, being the 20. of June, we harboured
ourselves again in a very good harborough, called by Magellan, Port St.
Julian, where we found a gibbet standing upon the main; which we supposed to
be the place where Magellan did execution upon some of his disobedient and
rebellious company.
The two and twentieth day our General went ashore to the main, and in his
company John Thomas, and Robert Winterhie, Oliver the master-gunner, John
Brewer, Thomas Hood, and Thomas Drake. And entering on land, they presently
met with two or three of the country people. And Robert Winterhie having in
his hands a bow and arrows, went about to make a shoot of pleasure, and, in
his draught, his bowstring brake; which the rude savages taking as a token of
war, began to bend the force of their bows against our company, and drove them
to their shifts very narrowly.
In this port our General began to enquire diligently of the actions of
Master Thomas Doughty, and found them not to be such as he looked for, but
tending rather of contention or mutiny, or some other disorder, whereby,
without redress, the success of the voyage might greatly have been hazarded.
Whereupon the company was called together and made acquainted with the
particulars of the cause, which were found, partly by Master Doughty's own
confession, and partly by the evidence of the fact, to be true. Which when our
General saw, although his private affection to Master Doughty, as he then in
the presence of us all sacredly protested, was great, yet the care he had of
the state of the voyage, of the expectation of her Majesty, and of the honour
of his country did more touch him, as indeed it ought, than the private
respect of one man. So that the cause being throughly heard, and all things
done in good order as near as might be to the course of our laws in England,
it was concluded that Master Doughty should receive punishment according to
the quality of the offence. And he, seeing no remedy but patience for himself,
desired before his death to receive the communion, which he did at the hands
of Master Fletcher, our minister, and our General himself accompanied him in
that holy action. Which being done, and the place of execution made ready, he
having embraced our General, and taken his leave of all the company, with
prayers for the Queen's Majesty and our realm, in quiet sort laid his head to
the block, where he ended his life. This being done, our General made divers
speeches to the whole company, persuading us to unity, obedience, love, and
regard of our voyage; and for the better confirmation thereof, willed every
man the next Sunday following to prepare himself the communion, as Christian
brethren and friends, ought to do. Which was done in very reverent sort; and
so with good contentment every man went about his business.
The 17. day of August we departed the port of St. Julian,4 and
the 20. day we fell with the Strait of Magellan, going into the South Sea; at
the cape or headland whereof we found the body of a dead man, whose flesh was
clean consumed. The 21. day we entered the Strait,5 which we found
to have many turnings, and as it were shuttings-up, as if there were no
passage at all. By means whereof we had the wind often against us; so that
some of the fleet recovering a cape or point of land, others should be forced
to turn back again, and to come to an anchor where they could. In this Strait
there be many fair harbours, with store of fresh water. But yet they lack
their best commodity, for the water there is of such depth, that no man shall
find ground to anchor in, except it be in some narrow river or corner, or
between some rocks; so that if any extreme blasts or contrary winds do come,
whereunto the place is much subject, it carrieth with it no small danger. The
land on both sides is very huge and mountainous; the lower mountains whereof,
although they be monstrous and wonderful to look upon for their height, yet
there are others which in height exceed them in a strange manner, reaching
themselves above their fellows so high, that between them did appear three
regions of clouds. These mountains are covered with snow. At both the
southerly and easterly parts of the Strait there are island, among which the
sea hath his indraught into the Straits, even as it hath in the main entrance
of the frete.6 This Strait is extreme cold, with frost and snow
continually; the trees seem to stoop with the burden of the weather, and yet
are green continually, and many good and sweet herbs do very plentifully grow
and increase under them. The breadth of the Strait is in some places a league,
in some other places two leagues and three leagues, and in some other four
leagues; but the narrowest place hath a league over.
[Footnote 4: The squadron was now reduced to three ships, the Swan and
the Christopher, as well as the Portuguese prize, having been condemned as
unseaworthy, and burnt or abandoned.]
[Footnote 5: Drake here changed the name of the Pelican to the Golden
Hind, the crest of Sir Christopher Hatton.]
[Footnote 6: Lat. fretum.]
The 24. of August we arrived at an island in the Straits, where we found
great store of fowl which could not fly, of the bigness of geese; whereof we
killed in less than one day 3,000, and victualled ourselves throughly
therewith. The 6. day of September we entered the South Sea at the cape or
head shore. The 7. day we were driven by a great storm from the entering into
the South Sea, 200 leagues and odd in longitude, and one degree to the
southward of the Strait; in which height, and so many leagues to the westward,
the 15. day of September, fell out the eclipse of the moon at the hour of six
of the clock at night. But neither did the ecliptical conflict of the moon
impair our state, nor her clearing again amend us a whit; but the accustomed
eclipse of the sea continued in his force, we being darkened more than the
moon sevenfold.7
[Footnote 7: In this storm the Marigold went down with all hands.]
|
