Part 19
John Oxman, I say, was taken with the love of this lady, and to winne her good will, what through her teares and perswasions, and what through feare and detestation of their barbarous inclinations, breaking promise with the Symarons, yeelded to her request; which was, to give the prisoners liberty with their shippes, for that they were not usefull for him: notwithstanding, Oxman kept the lady, who had in one of the restored shippes eyther a sonne or a nephew. [His pursuit.] This nephew, with the rest of the Spaniards, made all the hast they could to Panama, and they used such diligence, as within fewe howers some were dispatched to seek those who little thought so quickly too bee overtaken. The pursuers approaching the river, were doubtfull by which of the afore-remembred three mouthes they should take their way.
[And evill fortune.]
In this wavering, one of the souldiers espied certaine feathers of hennes, and some boughes of trees, which they had cut off to make their way, swimming down one of the outlets. This was light sufficient to guide them in their course; they entred the river, and followed the tracke as farre as their frigats had water sufficient; and then with part of their souldiers in their boates, and the rest on the bankes on eyther side, they marched day and night in pursuite of their enemies; and in fine came uppon them unexpected, at the head of the river, making good cheare in their tents, and devided in two partialities about the partition, and sharing of their gold. Thus were they surprised, and not one escaped.
[He flyeth to the Symarons.]
Some say that John Oxman fled to the Symarons, but they utterly denyed to receive or succour him, for that he had broken his promise; the onely objection they cast in his teeth was, that if he had held his word with them, hee had never fallen into this extremitie.
In fine, hee was taken, and after, his shippe also was possessed by the Spaniards, which he had hid in a certaine cove, and covered with boughes of trees, in the guard and custodie of some foure or five of his followers. All his company were conveyed to Panama, and there were ymbarked for Lyma; where a processe was made against them by the justice, and all condemned and hanged as pirates.
[Breach of faith never unpunished.]
This may he a good example to others in like occasions: first to shunne such notorious sinnes, which cannot escape punishment in this life, nor in the life to come: for the breach of faith is reputed amongst the greatest faults which a man can committ. Secondly, not to abuse another mans wife, much lesse to force her; both being odious to God and man. Thirdly, to beware of mutenies, which seldome or never are seene to come to better ends; for where such trees flourish, the fruite, of force, must eyther bee bitter, sweete, or very sower. And therefore, seeing wee vaunt ourselves to bee Christians, and make profession of His law who forbiddeth all such vanities; let us faithfully shunne them, that wee may partake the end of that hope which our profession teacheth and promiseth.
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 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.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Sir John Hawkins was one of the most distinguished men of his period. He was a noted commander at sea forty-eight years, and treasurer of the navy for twenty-two years; and it was generally owned that he was the author of more useful inventions, and introduced into the navy better regulations, than any officer before his time.
[2] Possibly her ladyship’s thoughts may be explained by the consideration that she compared the objects of the proposed voyage with those followed out by her husband. He was the first Englishman who engaged in the inhuman traffic of slaves, and was granted the unenviable addition to his arms: “a demi moor proper; bound.”
[3] Incurred?
[4] Docked?
[5] The brave defence of Sir Richard Greenfeild, or Greenville, against nearly the whole Spanish fleet, merits being here recorded: himself severely wounded and his ship a complete wreck, he ordered her to be sunk, but to this his officers would not consent, so she surrendered on terms. Out of one hundred men fit to bear arms, near sixty survived this glorious action; but hardly a man but carried off some wounds as memorials of their courage.
[6] Convoy? Whafter. A term applied to ships of war,--probably from their carrying flags or whafts.
[7] This alludes to a base attack made on Sir John Hawkins, after he had entered into a friendly agreement with the Viceroy.
[8] Corogne (F.) Coruña (S.).
[9] Probably an abbreviation or misprint for Biscayan. Lediard relates, that in 1592, an expedition, fitted out against the Spaniards, took a great Biscayan shipp of six hundred tunnes, laden with all sorts of small iron-work.
[10] This great caracke was taken, after a sharp engagement, by six ships, part of the expedition alluded to in note 1; which was dispatched expressly to the Azores, to lie in wait for the East India carackes. This expedition left under the command of Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir John Borrough. Sir Walter was, however, superseded by Sir Martin Forbisher. She was called the “_Madre de Dios_,” a seven-decked ship of one hundred and sixty-five feet from stem to stern, manned with six hundred men. The burthen of this caracke was sixteen hundred tons, and she carried thirty-two brass guns. Her cargo, besides jewels, _which never came to light_, was as follows: spices, drugs, silks, and calicoes, besides other wares, many in number, but less in value, as elephant’s teeth, china, cocoa-nuts, hides, ebony, and cloth made from rinds of trees. All which being appraised, was reckoned to amount to at least one hundred and fifty thousand pounds. The carracke, or Carraca, was a large vessel of two masts, used in the India and Brazilian trade.
[11] Bounty? or perhaps wages paid in advance.
[12] A small vessel fitted with sails and oars.
[13] Drop down.
[14] We ought to profit by the experience of those who precede us. Had this “gentle warning” been attended to, probably the loss of the _Royal George_ might have been prevented. She went down at her anchors while lying at Spithead, the 29th of August, 1782, having been struck by a squall, while her lower ports were open.
[15] The term admirall, appears formerly to have been applied as well to the principal ship in a fleet, as to the superior officer. To cite one among many instances, in an expedition under the Earl of Cumberland, in 1594, we find the _Royal Exchange_, Admiral, two hundred and fifty tons, commanded by Captain George Cave. The _May-flower_, two hundred and fifty tons, Vice-Admiral, commanded by Captain W. Anthony. The _Samson_ Rear-Admiral, by Captain Nicholas Downton, together with a caravel and pinnace.
[16] A remarkable instance of carelessness occurred in 1801. The Dutch Frigate _Ambuscade_, went down by the head half an hour after leaving her moorings in Sheerness harbour. This arose from the hawse holes being unusually large, and the plugs not in.
[17] This is sound advice and good seamanship. In turning to wind-ward, it is wise to keep in the fair way, so that in case of missing stays, you have not a danger under your lee.
[18] Boats built for speed (?) or perhaps from the Dutch _Filibote_.