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.
From the bay which we called the Bay of Severing of Friends, we were driven
back to the southward of the Straits in 57 degrees and a tierce; in which
height we came to an anchor among the islands, having there fresh and very
good water, with herbs of singular virtue. Not far from hence we entered
another bay, where we found people, both men and women, in their canoes naked,
and ranging from one island to another seek their meat; who entered traffic
with us for such things as they had. We returning hence northward again, found
the third of October three islands, in one of which was such plenty of birds
as is scant credible to report. The 8. day of October we lost sight of one of
our consorts,8 wherein Master Winter was; who, as then we supposed,
was put by a storm into the Straits again. Which at our return home we found
to be true, and he not perished, as some of our company feared. Thus being
come in to the height of the Straits again, we ran, supposing the coast of
Chili to lie as the general maps have described it, namely north-west; which
we found to lie and trend to the north-east and eastwards. Whereby it
appeareth that this part of Chili hath not been truly hitherto discovered, or
at the least not truly reported, for the space of twelve degrees at the least;
being set down either of purpose to deceive, or of ignorant conjecture.
[Footnote 8: The Elizabeth. Winter, having lost sight of the Admiral,
sailed home. The Golden Hind was thus left to pursue her voyage alone.]
We continuing our course, fell the 29. of November with an island called La
Mocha, where we cast anchor; and our General, hoisting out our boat, went with
ten of our company to shore. Where we found people, whom the cruel and extreme
dealings of the Spaniards have forced, for their own safety and liberty, to
flee from the main, and to fortify themselves in this island. We being on
land, the people came down to us to the water side with show of great
courtesy, bringing to us potatoes, roots, and two very fat sheep; which our
General received, and gave them other things for them, and had promised to
have water there. But the next day repairing again to the shore, and sending
two men a-land with barrels to fill water, the people taking them for
Spaniards (to whom they use to show no favour if they take them) laid violent
hands on them, and, as we think, slew them. Our General seeing this, stayed
here no longer, but weighed anchor, and set sail towards the coast of Chili.
And drawing towards it, we met near to the shore an Indian in a canoa, who
thinking us to have been Spaniards, came to us and told us, that at a place
called Santiago, there was a great Spanish ship laden from the kingdom of
Peru; for which good news our General gave him divers trifles. Whereof he was
glad, and went along with us and brought us to the place, which is called the
port of Valparaiso. When we came thither we found, indeed, the ship riding at
anchor, having in her eight Spaniards and three negroes; who, thinking us to
have been Spaniards, and their friends, welcomed us with a drum, and made
ready a botija9 of wine of Chili to drink to us. But as soon as we
were entered, one of our company called Thomas Moon began to lay about him,
and struck one of the Spaniards, and said unto him, Abaxo, perro! that is in
English. 'Go down, dog!' One of these Spaniards, seeing persons of that
quality in those seas, all to crossed and blessed himself. But, to be short,
we stowed them under hatches, all save one Spaniard, who suddenly and
desperately leapt overboard into the sea, and swam ashore to the town of
Santiago, to give them warning of our arrival.
[Footnote 9: Jar.]
They of the town, being not above nine households, presently fled away and
abandoned the town. Our General manned his boat and the Spanish ship's boat,
and went to the town; and, being come to it, we rifled it, and came to a small
chapel, which we entered, and found therein a silver chalice, two cruets, and
one altar-cloth, the spoil whereof our General gave to Master Fletcher, his
minister. We found also in this town a warehouse stored with wine of Chili and
many boards of cedar-wood; all which wine we brought away with us, and certain
of the boards to burn for firewood. And so, being come aboard, we departed the
haven, having first set all the Spaniards on land, saving one John Griego, a
Greek born, whom our General carried with him as pilot to bring him into the
haven of Lima.
When we were at sea our General rifled the ship, and found in her good
store of the wine of Chili, and 25,000 pesos of very pure and fine gold of
Valdivia, amounting in value to 37,000 ducats of Spanish money, and above. So,
going on our course, we arrived next at a place called Coquimbo, where our
General sent fourteen of his men on land to fetch water. But they were espied
by the Spaniards, who came with 300 horsemen and 200 footmen, and slew one of
our men with a piece. The rest came aboard in safety, and the Spaniards
departed. We went on shore again and buried our man, and the Spaniards came
down again with a flag of truce; but we set sail, and would not trust them.
From hence we went to a certain port called Tarapaca; where, being landed, we
found by the sea side a Spaniard lying asleep, who had lying by him thirteen
bars of silver, which weighed 4,000 ducats Spanish. We took the silver and
left the man. Not far from hence, going on land for fresh water, we met with a
Spaniard and an Indian boy driving eight llamas or sheep of Peru, which are as
big as asses; every of which sheep had on his back two bags of leather, each
bag containing 50 lb. weight of fine silver. So that, bringing both the sheep
and their burthen to the ships, we found in all the bags eight hundred weight
of silver.
Herehence we sailed to a place called Arica; and, being entered the port,
we found there three small barks, which we rifled, and found in one of them
fifty-seven wedges of silver, each of them weighing about 20 lb. weight, and
every of these wedges were of the fashion and bigness of a brickbat. In all
these three barks, we found not one person. For they, mistrusting no
strangers, were all gone a-land to the town, which consisteth of about twenty
houses; which we would have ransacked if our company had been better and more
in number. But our General, contented with the spoil of the ships, left the
town and put off again to sea, and set sail for Lima, and, by the way, met
with a small bark, which he boarded, and found in her good store of linen
cloth. Whereof taking some quantity, he let her go.
To Lima we came the 13. of February; and, being entered the haven, we found
there about twelve sail of ships lying fast moored at an anchor, having all
their sails carried on shore; for the masters and merchants were here most
secure, having never been assaulted by enemies, and at this time feared the
approach of none such as we were. Our General rifled these ships, and found in
one of them as chest full of reals of plate, and good store of silks and linen
cloth; and took the chest into his own ship, and good store of the silks and
linen. In which ship he had news of another ship called the Cacafuego,10
which was gone towards Payta, and that the same ship was laden with treasure.
Whereupon we stayed no longer here, but, cutting all the cables of the ships
in the haven, we let them drive whither they would, either to sea or to the
shore; and with all speed we followed the Cacafuego toward Payta, thinking
there to have found her. But before we arrived there she was gone from thence
towards Panama; whom our General still pursued, and by the way met with a bark
laden with ropes and tackle for ships, which he boarded and searched, and
found in her 80 lb. weight of gold, and a crucifix of gold with goodly great
emeralds set in it, which he took, and some of the cordage also for his own
ship. From hence we departed, still following the Cacafuego; and our General
promised our company that whosoever should first descry her should have his
chain of gold for his good news. It fortuned that John Drake, going up into
the top, descried her about three of the clock. And about six of the clock we
came to her and boarded her, and shot at her three pieces of ordnance, and
strake down her mizen; and, being entered, we found in her great riches, as
jewels and precious stones, thirteen chests full of reals of plate, fourscore
pound weight of gold, and six-and-twenty ton of silver. The place where we
took this prize was called Cape de San Francisco, about 150 leagues [south]
from Panama. The pilot's name of this ship was Francisco; and amongst other
plate that our General found in this ship he found two very fair gilt bowls of
silver, which were the pilot's. To whom our General said, Senor Pilot, you
have here two silver cups, but I must needs have one of them; which the pilot,
because he could not otherwise choose, yielded unto, and gave the other to the
steward of our General's ships. When this pilot departed from us, his boy said
thus unto our General: Captain, our ship shall be called no more the Cacafuego,
but the Cacaplata, and your ship shall be called the Cacafuego. Which pretty
speech of the pilot's boy ministered matter of laughter to us, both then and
long after. When our General had done what he would with this Cacafuego, he
cast her off, and we went on our course still towards the west; and not long
after met with a ship laden with linen cloth and fine China dishes of white
earth, and great store of China silks, of all which things we took as we
listed. The owner himself of this ship was in her, who was a Spanish
gentleman,11 from whom our General took a falcon of gold, with a
great emerald in the breast thereof;12 and the pilot of the ship he
took also with him, and so cast the ship off.
[Footnote 10: 'Spitfire.']
This pilot brought us to the haven of Guatulco, the town whereof, as he
told us, had but 17 Spaniards in it. As soon as we were entered this haven, we
landed, and went presently to the town and to the town-house; where we found a
judge sitting in judgment, being associated with three other officers, upon
three negroes that had conspired the burning of the town. Both which judges
and prisoners we took, and brought them a-shipboard, and caused the chief
judge to write his letter to the town to command all the townsmen to avoid,
that we might safely water there. Which being done, and they departed, we
ransacked the town; and in one house we found a pot, of the quantity of a
bushel, full of reals of plate, which we brought to our ship. And here one
Thomas Moon, one of our company, took a Spanish gentleman as he was flying out
of the town; and, searching him, he found a chain of gold about him, and other
jewels, which he took, and so let him go. At this place our General, among
other Spaniards, set ashore his Portugal pilot which he took at the islands of
Cape Verde out of a ship of St. Mary port, of Portugal. And having set them
ashore we departed hence, and sailed to the island of Canno; where our General
landed, and brought to shore his own ship, and discharged her, mended and
graved her, and furnished our ship with water and wood sufficiently.
[Footnote 11: Don Francisco de Zarate.]
[Footnote 12: Drake presented him in return with a hanger and a silver
brazier.]
And while we were here we espied a ship and set sail after her, and took
her, and found in her two pilots and a Spanish governor, going for the islands
of the Philippines. We searched the ship, and took some of her merchandises,
and so let her go. Our General at this place and time, thinking himself, both
in respect of his private injuries received from the Spaniards, as also of
their contempts and indignities offered to our country and prince in general,
sufficiently satisfied and revenged; and supposing that her Majesty at his
return would rest contented with this service, purposed to continue no longer
upon the Spanish coast, but began to consider and to consult of the best way
for his country.
He thought it not good to return by the Straits, for two special causes;
the one, lest the Spaniards should there wait and attend for him in great
number and strength, whose hands, he, being left but one ship, could not
possibly escape. The other cause was the dangerous situation of the mouth of
the Straits in the South Sea; where continual storms reigning and blustering,
as he found by experience, besides the shoals and sands upon the coast, he
thought it not a good course to adventure that way. He resolved, therefore, to
avoid these hazards, to go forward to the Islands of the Malucos, and
therehence to sail the course of the Portugals by the Cape of Buena Esperanza.
Upon this resolution he began to think of his best way to the Malucos, and
finding himself, where he now was, becalmed, he saw that of necessity he must
be forced to take a Spanish course; namely, to sail somewhat northerly to get
a wind. We therefore set sail, and sailed 600 leagues at the least for a good
wind; and thus much we sailed from the 16. of April till the third of June.
The fifth of June, being in 43 degrees towards the pole Arctic, we found
the air so cold, that our men being grievously pinched with the same,
complained of the extremity thereof; and the further we went, the more the
cold increased upon us. Whereupon we thought it best for that time to seek the
land, and did so; finding it not mountainous, but low plain land, till we came
within 38 degrees towards the line. In which height it pleased God to send us
into a fair and good bay, with a good wind to enter the same. In this bay we
anchored; and the people of the country, having their houses close by the
water's side, shewed themselves unto us, and sent a present to our General.
When they came unto us, they greatly wondered at the things that we brought.
But our General, according to his natural and accustomed humanity, courteously
intreated them, and liberally bestowed on them necessary things to cover their
nakedness; whereupon they supposed us to be gods, and would not be persuaded
to the contrary. The presents which they sent to our General, were feathers,
and cauls of network. Their houses are digged round about with earth, and have
from the uttermost brims of the circle, clifts of wood set upon them, joining
close together at the top like a spire steeple, which by reason of that
closeness are very warm. Their bed is the ground with rushes strowed on it;
and lying about the house, [they] have the fire in the midst. The men go
naked; the women take bulrushes, and kemb them after the manner of hemp, and
thereof make their loose garments, which being knit about their middles, hang
down about their hips, having also about their shoulders a skin of deer, with
the hair upon it. These women are very obedient and serviceable to their
husbands.
After they were departed from us, they came and visited us the second time,
and brought with them feathers and bags of tabacco for presents. And when they
came to the top of the hill, at the bottom whereof we had pitched our tents,
they stayed themselves; where one appointed for speaker wearied himself with
making a long oration; which done, they left their bows upon the hill, and
came down with their presents. In the meantime the women, remaining upon the
hill, tormented themselves lamentably, tearing their flesh from their cheeks,
whereby we perceived that they were about a sacrifice. In the meantime our
General with his company went to prayer, and to reading of the Scriptures, at
which exercise they were attentive, and seemed greatly to be affected with it;
but when they were come unto us, they restored again unto us those things
which before we bestowed upon them. The news of our being there being spread
through the country, the people that inhabited round about came down, and
amongst them the king himself, a man of goodly stature, and comely personage,
with many other tall and warlike men; before whose coming were sent two
ambassadors to our General, to signify that their king was coming, in doing of
which message, their speech was continued about half an hour. This ended, they
by signs requested our General to send something by their hand to their king,
as a token that his coming might be in peace. Wherein our General having
satisfied them, they returned with glad tidings to their king, who marched to
us with a princely majesty, the people crying continually after their manner;
and as they drew near unto us, so did they strive to behave themselves in
their actions with comeliness. In the fore-front was a man of a goodly
personage, who bare the sceptre or mace before the king; whereupon hanged two
crowns, less and a bigger, with three chains of marvellous length. The crowns
were made of knit work, wrought artificially with feathers of divers colours.
The chains were made of a bony substance, and few be the persons among them
that are admitted to wear them; and of that number also the persons are
stinted, as some ten, some twelve, &c. Next unto him which bare the
sceptre, was the king himself, with his guard about his person, clad with
coney skins, and other skins. After them followed the naked common sort of
people, every one having his face painted, some with white, some with black,
and other colours, and having in their hands one thing or another for a
present. Not so much as their children, but they also brought their presents.
In the meantime our General gathered his men together, and marched within
his fenced place, making, against their approaching, a very warlike show. They
being trooped together in their order, and a general salutation being made,
there was presently a general silence. Then he that bare the sceptre before
the king, being informed by another, whom they assigned to that office, with a
manly and lofty voice proclaimed that which the other spake to him in secret,
continuing half an hour. Which ended, and a general Amen, as it were, given,
the king with the whole number of men and women, the children expected, came
down without any weapon; who, descending to the foot of the hill, set
themselves in order. In coming towards our bulwarks and tents, the sceptre-bearer
began a song, observing his measures in a dance, and that with a stately
countenance; whom the king with his guard, and every degree of persons
following, did in like manner sing and dance, saving only the women, which
danced and kept silence. The General permitted them to enter within our
bulwark, where they continued their song and dance a reasonable time. When
they had satisfied themselves, they made signs to our General to sit down; to
whom the king and divers others made several orations, or rather
supplications, that he would take their province and kingdom into his hand,
and become their king, making signs that they would resign unto him their
right and title of the whole land, and become his subjects. In which, to
persuade us the better, the king and the rest, with one consent, and with
great reverence, joyfully singing a song, did set the crown upon his head,
enriched his neck with all their chains, and offered him many other things,
honouring him by the name of Hioh, adding thereunto, as it seemed, a sign of
triumph; which thing our General thought not meet to reject, because he knew
not what honour and profit it might be to our country. Wherefore in the name,
and to the use of her Majesty, he took the sceptre, crown, and dignity of the
said country into his hands, wishing that the richest and treasure thereof
might so conveniently be transported to the enriching of her kingdom at home,
as it aboundeth in the same.
The common sort of people, leaving the king and his guard with our General,
scattered themselves together with their sacrifices among our people, taking a
diligent view of every person: and such as pleased their fancy (which were the
youngest), they enclosing them about offered their sacrifices unto them with
lamentable weeping, scratching and tearing their flesh from their faces with
their nails, whereof issued abundance of blood. But we used signs to them of
disliking this, and stayed their hands from force, and directed them upwards
to the living God, whom only they ought to worship. They shewed unto us their
wounds, and craved help of them at our hands; whereupon we gave them lotions,
plaisters, and ointments agreeing to the state of their griefs, beseeching God
to cure their diseases. Every third day they brought their sacrifices unto us,
until they understood our meaning, that we had no pleasure in them; yet they
could not be long absent from us, but daily frequented our company to the hour
of our departure, which departure seemed so grievous unto them, that their joy
was turned into sorrow. They entreated us, that being absent we would remember
them, and by stealth provided a sacrifice, which we misliked.
[Footnote 13: Mole.]
Our necessary business being ended, our General with his company travelled
up into the country to their villages, where we found herds of deer by a
thousand in a company, being most large, and fat of body. We found the whole
country to be a warren of a strange kind of coneys; their bodies in bigness as
be the Barbary coneys, their heads as the heads of ours, the feet of a want,13
and the tail of a rat, being of great length. Under her chin is on either side
a bag, into the which she gathereth her meat, when she hath filled her belly
abroad. The people eat their bodies, and make great account of their skins,
for their king's coat was made of them. Our General called this country Nova
Albion, and that for two causes; the one in respect of the white banks and
cliffs, which lie towards the sea, and the other, because it might have some
affinity with our country in name, which sometime was so called. There is no
part of earth here to be taken up, wherein there is not some probable show of
gold or silver.
At our departure hence our General set up a monument of our being there, as
also of her Majesty's right and title to the same; namely a plate, nailed upon
a fair great post, whereupon was engraved her Majesty's name, the day and year
of our arrival there, with the free giving up of the province and people into
her Majesty's hands, together with her Highness' picture and arms, in a piece
of six pence of current English money, under the plate, whereunder was also
written the name of our General.
It seemeth that the Spaniards hitherto had never been in this part of the
country, neither did ever discover the land by many degrees to the southwards
of this place.
