Part 3
At euerie streetes end they had raised verie fine Barricadoes of earth workes, vvith trenches without them, as well made as euer vve savve any vvorke done: at the entring whereof vvas some litle resistance, but soone ouercome, it vvas vvith fewe slaine or hurt. They had ioyned vvith them many Indians, vvhome they had placed in corners of aduantage, all bovve men, vvith their Arrovves most villanously empoisoned, so as if they did but breake the skinne, the partie so touched died vvithout great marueill: some they slevve of our people with their arrowes, some they likevvise mischieued to death vvith certaine prickes of small stickes sharply pointed, of a foot and a halfe long, the one end put into the ground, the other empoisoned, sticking fast vp, right against our comming in the vvay, as we should approch from our landing tovvardes the towne, vvhereof they had planted a vvonderfull number in the ordinarie way, but our keeping the sea vvash shore, missed the greatest part of them verie happilie.
To ouerpasse many particular matters, as the hurting of Captaine Sampson at svvord blovves in the first entring, vnto vvhom was committed the charge of the pikes of the Vantgard by his lot and turne, as also of the taking of Alonso Brauo the chiefe commaunder of that place by Captaine Goring, after the said Captaine had first hurt him vvith his sword, vnto vvhich Captaine vvas committed the charge of the shot of the said Vantgard.
Captain Winter vvas likewise by his turne of the Vantgard in this attempt, vvhere also the Liefetenant generall marched himselfe, the saide Captaine Winter through a great desire to serue by land, hauing nowe exchanged his charge by sea with Captaine Cecill for his band of footemen.
Captaine Povvell the Sergeant maior hadde by hys turne, the charge of the foure companies vvhich made the battaile.
Captaine Morgan, who at S. DOMINGO was of the Vantgard, had now by turne his charge vpon the companies of the Riergard.
Euerie man asvvell of one part as of another, came so vvillinglie on to the seruice, as the enemie vvas not able to endure the furie of such hote assault.
We staied here sixe weekes, and the sicknesse with mortalitie before spoken off, still continuing among vs, though not vvith the same fury as at the first, and such as were touched vvith the said sicknesse, escaping death, very fevv or almost none could recouer their strength, yea many of them vvere much decayed in their memorie: insomuch that it vvas growen and ordinarie iudgement, when one was heard to speake foolishlie, to say he had bene sicke of the Calentour, vvhich is the Spanish name of their burning Ague: for as I tolde you before, it is a very burning and pestilent ague. The originall cause thereof, is imputed to the euening or first night aire, which they tearme _La serena_, vvherein they say and holde very firme opinion, that who so is then obroad in the open aire, shall certainly be infected to the death, not being of the Indian or naturall race of those countrey people: by holding their watch, vvere thus subiected to the infectious ayre, vvhich at Sainct IAGO vvas most dangerous and deadly of al other places.
With the inconuenience of continuall mortalitie, vve vvere forced to giue ouer our entended enterprise, to goe with NOMBRE DE DIOS, and so ouerland to PANNAMA, vvhere vve shoulde haue stroken the stroke for the treasure, and full recompence of our tedious trauailes. And thus at CARTAGENA vve tooke our first resolution to returne homewards.
But vvhile vve vvere yet there, it happened one day, that our vvatch called the Sentinell, vpon the Church steeple, had discouered in the sea a couple of small barkes or boates, making in with the harbour of CARTAGENA, whereupon Captaine Moone and Captaine Varney, vvith Iohn Grant the Maister of the Tyger, and some other sea men, embarqued themselues in a couple of small Pinnaces, to take them before they should come nigh the shore, at the mouth of the harbour, least by some stragling Spaniardes from the land, they might be vvarned by signes from comming in, which fel out accordingly, notvvithstanding all the diligence that our men coulde vse: for the Spanish boates, vpon the sight of our Pinnaces comming tovvardes them, ran themselues a shore, and so their men presently hid them selues in bushes hard by the sea side, amongst some others that had called them by signes thyther. Our men presently vvithout any due regard had to the qualitie of the place, and seeing no man of the Spaniardes to shew themselues, aboorded the Spanish barkes or boates, and so standing all open in them, were suddenly shot at by a troope of Spaniards out of the bushes, by vvhich volley of shot there vvere slaine Captaine Varney, vvhich died presently, and Captaine Moone, vvho died some fevve dayes after, besides some foure fiue others that vvere hurt: and so our folkes returned without their purpose, not hauing any sufficient number of souldiers, vvith them to fight on shore. For those men they carried were all marriners to rowe, fevve of them armed, because they made account with their ordinance to haue taken the barkes vvell enough at sea, which they might ful easily haue done, without any losse at all, if they had come in time to the harbour mouth, before the Spaniards boats had gotten so neare the shore.
During our abode in this place, as also at S. DOMINGO, there passed diuerse curtesies betvveene vs and the Spaniardes, as feasting, and vsing them with all kindnes, and fauour: so as amongst others there came to see the Generall, the Gouernor of _Cartagena_, vvith the Bishop of the same, and diuerse of other Gentlemen of the better sort.
This towne of _Cartagena_ wee touched in the out parts, and consumed much vvith fire, as we had done Sainct DOMINGO vpon discontentmentes, and for want of agreeing with vs in their first treaties touching their ransome, which at the last vvas concluded betvvene vs, should be a hundred and ten thousand Duckettes for that which vvas yet standing, the Ducket valued at fiue shillings sixe pence sterling.
This towne though not halfe so big as S. DOMINGO, giues as you see, a farre greater ransome, being in verye deede of farre more importance, by reason of the excellencie of the harbour, and the situation thereof, to serue the trade of NOMBRE DE DIOS and other places, and is inhabited with farre more richer merchantes. The other is chiefly inhabited with Lawyers & braue Gentlemen, being the chiefe or highest appeale of their suites in lawe of all the Islandes about it, and of the maine lande coast next vnto it. And it is of no such accompt as CARTAGENA, for these and some other like reasons, which I could giue you, ouer long to be novv vvritten.
The vvarning which this tovvne receaued of our coming tovvardes them, from S. DOMINGO, by the space of twentie daies before our arriuall hither, was cause that they had both fortified and euery vvay prepared for their best defence. As also that they had caried and conuayed away all their treasure and principall substance.
The ransome of an hundred and tenne thousand Duckets thus concluded on, as is aforesaid, the same being written, and expressing for nothing more then the tovvne of CARTAGENA, vpon the payment of the said ransome, we left the said tovvne, and drevv some part of our souldiers into the Priorie or Abbey, standing a quarter of an English mile belovv the tovvne vpon the harbour water side, the same being vvalled vvith a wall of stone, vvhich vve told the Spaniards vvas yet ours, and not redeemed by their composition: vvhereupon they finding the defect of their contract, vvere contented to enter into another ransome for all places, but specially for the said house, as also the blocke house or Castle, vvhich is vpon the mouth of the inner harbour. And vvhen vve asked as much for the one as for the other, they yelded to giue a thousand Crownes for the Abbey, leauing vs to take our pleasure vpon the blocke house, vvhich they said they vvere not able to ransome, hauing stretched them selues to the vttermost of their powers: and therefore the said blocke house vvas by vs vndermined, and so vvith gunne powder blowen vp in peeces.
While this latter contract vvas in making, our whole Fleete of ships fell dovvne towardes the harbour mouth, vvhere they ankered the third time, and employed their men in fetching of fresh vvater aboord the ships for our voiage homevvardes, which vvater vvas had in a great vvell, that is in the Island by the harbour mouth, which Island is a verie pleasant place as hath bene seene, hauing in it many sortes of goodly and verie pleasant fruicts, as the orenge trees and others, being set orderly in walkes of great length together. Insomuch as the vvhole Island being some two or three miles about, is cast into groundes of gardening and orchards.
After sixe vveeks abode in this place, vve put to sea the last of March, where after tvvo or three dayes a great ship vvhich vve had taken at S. DOMINGO, and thereupon vvas called the New yeares gift, fell into a great leake, being laden with ordinance, hides, and other spoiles, and in the night shee lost the companie of our Fleete, vvhich being missed the next morning by the Generall, he cast about vvith the whole Fleete, fearing some great mischance to be happened vnto her, as in verie deede it so fell out, for her leake vvas so great, and her men were all tyred vvith pomping. But at the last hauing found her and the Barke Talbot in her companie, vvhich staied by great hap vvith her, vvas readie to take their men out of her, for the sauing of them. And so the Generall being fully aduertised of their great extremitie, made saile directlie back againe to CARTAGENA with the vvhole Fleete, where hauing staied eight or tenne daies more, about the vnlading of this ship, and the bestovving thereof and her men, into other ships, vve departed once againe to sea, directing our course towards the Cape S. ANTHONIE, being the Eastermost part of CVBA, vvhether vve arriued the seuen and twentieth of Aprill. But because fresh vvater could not presently be found, we weyed anker and departed, thinking in few daies to recouer the MATTANCES, a place to the Eastward of HAVANA.
After we had sailed some fourteene dayes, we vvere brought to Cape S. ANTHONIE againe, thorough lacke of fauorable winde: but then our scarcity vvas growen such, as neede made vs looke a little better for vvater, vvhich vve found in sufficient quantitie, being in deede as I iudge, none other then raine vvater nevvly fallen, and gathered vp by making pittes in a plot of marrish ground, some three hundred pases from the sea side.
I do vvrong if I should forget the good example of the Generall at this place, vvho to encourage others, and to hasten the getting of fresh vvater aboord the ships, tooke no lesse paine him selfe then the meanest, as also at S. DOMINGO, CARTAGENA, and all other places, hauing alvvaies so vigilant a care and foresight in the good ordering of his Fleete, accompanying them, as it is said, with such vvonderfull trauell of bodie, as doubtlesse had he bene the meanest person, as he vvas the chiefest, he had yet deserued the first place of honour: and no lesse happie do we accompt him, for being associated with Maister Carleill his Lieutenant generall, by whose experiences, prudent counsell, and gallant performance, he atchiued so many and happie enterprises of the warre, by vvhom also he was verie greatly assisted, in setting downe the needefull orders, lawes, and course of iustice, and for the due administration of the same vpon all occasions.
After three daies spent in watering our ships, vve departed now the second time from the Cape of S. ANTHONIE the thirteenth of May, and proceeding about the Cape of FLORIDA, we neuer touched anie where, but coasting alongst FLORIDA, and keeping the shore still in sight, the eight and twentieth of May early in the morning, vve descried on the shore a place built like a Beacon, vvhich vvas in deede a scaffold vpon fowre long mastes, raised on ende for men to discouer to the seaward, being in the latitude of thirtie degrees, or verie neare thereunto. Our Pinnaces manned, and comming to the shore, we marched vp alongst the riuer side, to see vvhat place the enemie held there: for none amongst vs had any knowledge thereof at all.
Here the Generall tooke occasion to march vvith the companies him selfe in person, the Lieutenant generall hauing the Vantgard, and going a mile vp or somewhat more by the riuer side, vve might discerne on the other side of the riuer ouer against vs, a fort, which newly had bene built by the Spaniards, and some mile or there about aboue the fort, vvas a litle towne or village without walls, built of vvoodden houses, as this Plot here doth plainlie shevv: we forthwith prepared to haue ordinance for the batterie, and one peece vvas a litle before the euening planted, and the first shot being made by the Lieutenant generall him selfe at their Ensigne, strake through the Ensigne, as vve afterwardes vnderstood by a French man, vvhich came vnto vs from them. One shot more vvas then made, which strake the foote of the fort vvall, which vvas all massiue timber of great trees like Mastes. The Lieutenant generall vvas determined to passe the riuer this night vvith fovvre companies, and there to lodge him selfe intrenched as neare the fort, as that he might play vvith his muskets and smallest shot vpon any that should appeare: and so afterwards to bring and plant the batterie vvith him, but the helpe of marriners for that sudden to make trenches could not be had, vvhich vvas the cause that this determination vvas remitted vntill the next night.
In the night the Lieutenant generall tooke a litle rowing Skiffe, and halfe a dozen vvell armed, as Captaine Morgan, and Captaine Sampson, vvith some others besides the rowers, and went to view vvhat gard the enemie kept, as also to take knowledge of the ground. And albeit he went as couertly as might be, yet the enemie taking the _Alarum_, grevv fearefull that the whole Force was approching to the assault, and therefore vvith all speede abandoned the place after the shooting of some of their peeces. They thus gone, and he being returned vnto vs againe, but nothing knowing of their flight from their fort, forthwith came a French man being a Phipher (who had bene prisoner vvith them) in a litle boate, playing on his phiph the tune of the Prince of Orenge his song, and beeing called vnto by the gard, he tolde them before he put foote out of the boate, vvhat he vvas him selfe, and hovv the Spaniardes were gone from the fort, offering either to remaine in handes there, or els to returne to the place with them that vvould goe.
Vpon this intelligence the Generall, the Lieftenant generall, vvith some of the Captaines in one Skiffe, and the Vice-Admirall vvith some others in his Skiffe, and tvvo or three Pinnaces furnished of souldiours vvith them, put presently ouer tovvardes the fort, giuing order for the rest of the Pinnaces to follovve. And in our approch, some of the enemie bolder then the rest, hauing stayed behinde their companie, shot off tvvo peeces of ordinance at vs: but on shore we vvent, and entered the place without finding any man there.
When the day appeared, we found it built all of timber, the walles being none other but whole mastes or bodies of trees set vppe right and close together in manner of a pale, vvithout any ditch as yet made, but who intended with some more time, for they had not as yet finished all their worke, hauing begun the same some three or foure monethes before: so as to say the trueth, they had no reason to keepe it, being subiect both to fire and easie assault.
The platforme vvhereon the ordinance lay, vvas whole bodies of long Pine trees, whereof there is great plentie, layed a crosse one on another, and some litle earth amongst. There vvas in it thirteene or fourteene greate peeces of brasse ordinance, and a chest vnbroken vp, hauing in it the value of some two thousande poundes sterling, by estimation of the kinges treasure, to pay the souldiers of that place vvho vvere a hundred and fiftie men.
The fort thus vvonne, vvhich they called S. Iohn fort, and the day opened, vve assayed to go to the tovvne, but could not by reason of some ryuers and broken ground vvhich was betweene the tvvo places: and therefore enforced to imbarke againe into our Pinnaces, vve vvent thither vpon the great maine riuer, which is called as also the Tovvne by the name of S. AVGVSTINE.
At our approching to land, there vvas some that began to shevve themselues, and to bestovve some fevv shot vpon vs, but presently vvithdrevv themselues. And in their running thus avvay, the Sergeant Maior finding one of their horses readie sadled and bridled, tooke the same to follovv the chase, and so ouergoing all his companie, vvas (by one laied behind a bush) shot through the head, and falling dovvne therevvith, vvas by the same and tvvo or three more, stabbed in three or foure places of his bodie with swords and daggers, before any could come neer to his reskue. His death vvas much lamented, being in very deed an honest vvise Gentleman and a souldier of good experience, and of as great courage as any man might be.
In this place called S. AVGVSTINE, vve vnderstoode the King did keepe as is before saide, one hundred and fifty souldiers, and at another place some dozen leagues beyond to the Northvvards, called S. HELENA, he did there likevvise keepe an hundred and fifty more, seruing there for no other purpose, then to keepe all other nations from inhabiting any part of al that coast, the gouernement vvherof vvas committed to one Pedro Melendez Marquesse, Nephevv to that Melendez the Admirall, vvho had ouerthrovven Maister Iohn Havvkins in the Bay of MEXICO some fifteene or sixteene yeares agoe. This Gouernour had charge of both places, but vvas at this time in this place, and one of the first that left the same.
Here it vvas resolued in full assembly of Captaines, to vndertake the enterprise of S HELENA, and from thence to seeke out the inhabitation of our English countreymen in VIRGINIA, distant from thence some sixe degrees Northvvard.
When we came thvvart of Sainct _Helena_ the shols appearing dangerous, and we hauing no Pilot to vndertake the entrie, it was thought meetest to goe hence alongst. For the Admiral had bene the same night in foure fadome and a halfe three leagues from the shore: and yet we vnderstood by the help of a knowne Pilot, there may and doeth goe in ships of greater burthen and draught then any wee had in our Fleete.
Wee passed thus alongest the coast harde aboorde the shore, which is shallowe for a league or tvvo from the shore, and the same is lovve and broken land for the most part.
The ninth of Iune vpon sight of one speciall great fire (which are very ordinarie all alongst this coast, euen from the Cape FLORIDA hither) the Generall sent his Skiffe to the shore, where they found some of our English countrey men (that had bene sent thither the yeare before by Sir Walter Raleigh) and brought on aboord, by vvhose direction wee proceeded along to the place, vvhich they make their Port. But some of our shippes beeing of great draught vnable to enter, we anckered all without the harbour in a vvilde road at sea, about two miles from shore.
From whence the Generall wrote letters to Maister Ralfe Lane, being Gouernour of those English in VIRGINIA, and then at his fort about six leagues from the rode in an Island, which they call ROANOAC, wherein is specially he shewed how ready he was to supply his necessities and wants, which he vnderstood of, by those he had first talked withall.
The morrowe after Maister Lane himselfe and some of his companie comming vnto him, with the consent of his Captaines he gaue them the choice of tvvo offers, that is to say: Either he woulde leaue a ship, a pinnace, and certaine boates with sufficient Maisters and Mariners, together furnished vvith a monethes victuall to stay and make farther discouerie of the countrey and coastes, and so much victuall likevvise that might bee sufficient for the bringing of them all (being an hundred and three persons) into England if they thought good after such time, with any other thing they vvould desire, and that he might be able to spare.
Or else if they thought they had made sufficient discouerie alreadie, and did desire to returne into England, he would giue them passage. But they as it seemed, being desirous to stay, accepted verie thankfully, and with great gladnesse that which vvas offred first. Whereupon the ship being appointed and receaued into charge, by some of their ovvne companie sent into her by Maister Lane, before they had receaued from the rest of the Fleete, the prouision appointed them, there arose a great storme (vvhich they said vvas extraordinarie and verie strange) that lasted three daies together, and put all our Fleete in great danger, to be driuen from their ankering vpon the coast. For vve brake many Cables, and lost manie Ankers. And some of our Fleete which had lost all (of vvhich number was the ship appointed for Maister Lane and his companie) vvas driuen to put to sea in great danger, in auoyding the coast, and could neuer see vs againe vntill we met in England. Manie also of our small Pinnaces and boates vvere lost in this storme.
Notwithstanding after all this, the Generall offered them (with consent of his Captaines) another ship with some prouision, although not such a one for their turnes, as might haue bene spared them before, this being vnable to be brought into their harbour. Or else if they vvould, to giue them passage into England, although he knevv he should performe it vvith greater difficultie then he might haue done before.
But Maister Lane vvith those of the chiefest of his companie he had then with him, considering vvhat should be best for them to doe, made request vnto the Generall vnder their handes, that they might haue passage for England: the vvhich being graunted, and the rest sent for out of the countrey and shipped, we departed from that coast the eighteenth of Iune.
And so God be thanked, both they and we in good safetie arriued at Portesmouth the eight and twentieth of Iuly 1586, to the great glorie of God, and to no small honour to our Prince, our Countrey, and our selues.
The totall value of that which was gotten in this voyage, is estimated at three score thousand pounds, vvhereof the companies vvhich haue trauelled in the voyage were to haue twentie thousand pounds, the aduenturers the other fortie. Of which twentie thousand pounds (as I can iudge) will redound some sixe pound to the single share.
We lost some seuen hundred and fiftie men in the voiage.
The men of name that died and were slaine in this voiage as I can presently call to my remembrance, are these.
Captaine Powell. Captaine Varney. Captaine Moone. Captaine Fortescute. Captaine Bigges. Captaine Cecill. Captaine Hannam. Captaine Greenefield. Thomas Tucker a Lieutenant. Alexander Starkey a Lieutenant. Maister Escot a Lieutenant. Maister Waterhouse a Lieutenant. Maister Nicholas Winter. Maister Alexander Carleill. Maister Robert Alexander. Maister Scroope. Maister Iames Dier. Maister Peter Duke.
With some other, vvho for hast I can not so suddenly thinke on.
The ordinance gotten of all sortes brasse and Iron were about two hundred and fortie, whereof the two hundred and some more were brasse, and were thus founde and gotten.
In S. IAGO some two or three and fiftie peeces.
In S. DOMINGO about foure score, whereof was verie much great ordinance, as vvhole Cannon, Dimi-Cannon, Culuerins, and such like.
In CARTAGENA some sixtie and three peeces, and good stoore likewise of the greater sort.
In the fort of S. AVGVSTINE vvere fourteene peeces.