But when he was entreated by the captain, master, and other his well-
willers of the /Hind/ not to venture in the frigate, this was his
answer:
/I will not forsake my little company going homeward, with
whom I have passed so many storms and perils./ And in very truth he
was urged to be so over hard by hard reports given of him that he was
afraid of the sea; albeit this was rather rashness than advised
resolution, to prefer the wind of a vain report to the weight of his
own life. Seeing he would not bend to reason, he had provision out of
the/Hind/, such as was wanting aboard his frigate. And so we committed
him to God's protection, and set him aboard his pinnace, we being more
than 300 leagues onward of our way home.
By that time we had brought the Islands of Azores south of us; yet we
then keeping much to the north, until we had got into the height and
elevation of England, we met with very foul weather and terrible seas,
breaking short and high, pyramid-wise. The reason whereof seemed to
proceed either of hilly grounds high and low within the sea, as we see
hills and vales upon the land, upon which the seas do mount and fall,
or else the cause proceedeth of diversity of winds, shifting often in
sundry points, all which having power to move the great ocean, which
again is not presently settled, so many seas do encounter together, as
there had been diversity of winds. Howsoever it cometh to pass, men
which all their lifetime had occupied the sea never saw more
outrageous seas, we had also upon our mainyard an apparition of a
little fire by night, which seamen do call Castor and Pollux. But we
had only one, which they take an evil sign of more tempest; the same
is usual in storms.
Monday, the 9 of September, in the afternoon, the frigate was near
cast away, oppressed by waves, yet at that time recovered; and giving
forth signs of joy, the General, sitting abaft with a book in his
hand, cried out to us in the /Hind/, so oft as we did approach within
hearing, /We are as near to heaven by sea as by land!/ Reiterating the
same speech, well beseeming a soldier, resolute in Jesus Christ, as I
can testify he was.
The same Monday night, about twelve of the clock, or not long after,
the frigate being ahead of us in the /Golden Hind/, suddenly her
lights were out, whereof as it were in a moment we lost the sight, and
withal our watch cried /the General was cast away/, which was too
true. For in that moment the frigate was devoured and swallowed up of
the sea. Yet still we looked out all that night, and ever after until
we arrived upon the coast of England; omitting no small sail at sea,
unto which we gave not the tokens between us agreed upon to have
perfect knowledge of each other, if we should at any time be
separated.
In great torment of weather and peril of drowning it pleased God to
send safe home the /Golden Hind/, which arrived in Falmouth the 22 of
September, being Sunday, not without as great danger escaped in a flaw
coming from the south-east, with such thick mist that we could not
discern land to put in right with the haven. From Falmouth we went to
Dartmouth, and lay there at anchor before the Range, while the captain
went aland to enquire if there had been any news of the frigate,
which, sailing well, might happily have been before us; also to
certify Sir John Gilbert, brother unto the General, of our hard
success, whom the captain desired, while his men were yet aboard him,
and were witnesses of all occurrences in that voyage, it might please
him to take the examination of every person particularly, in discharge
of his and their faithful endeavour. Sir John Gilbert refused so to
do, holding himself satisfied with report made by the captain, and not
altogether despairing of his brother's safety, offered friendship and
courtesy to the captain and his company, requiring to have his bark
brought into the harbour; in furtherance whereof a boat was sent to
help to tow her in.
Nevertheless, when the captain returned aboard his ship, he found his
men bent to depart every man to his home; and then the wind serving to
proceed higher upon the coast, they demanded money to carry them home,
some to London, others to Harwich, and elsewhere, if the barque should
be carried into Dartmouth and they discharged so far from home, or
else to take benefit of the wind, then serving to draw nearer home,
which should be a less charge unto the captain, and great ease unto
the men, having else far to go. Reason accompanied with necessity
persuaded the captain, who sent his lawful excuse and cause of this
sudden departure unto Sir John Gilbert, by the boat of Dartmouth, and
from thence the /Golden Hind/ departed and took harbour at Weymouth.
All the men tired with the tediousness of so unprofitable a voyage to
their seeming, in which their long expense of time, much toil and
labour, hard diet, and continual hazard of life was unrecompensed;
their captain nevertheless by his great charges impaired greatly
thereby, yet comforted in the goodness of God, and His undoubted
providence following him in all that voyage, as it doth always those
at other times whosoever have confidence in Him alone. Yet have we
more near feeling and perseverance of His powerful hand and protection
when God doth bring us together with others into one same peril, in
which He leaveth them and delivereth us, making us thereby the
beholders, but not partakers, of their ruin. Even so, amongst very
many difficulties, discontentments, mutinies, conspiracies,
sicknesses, mortality, spoilings, and wracks by sea, which were
afflictions more than in so small a fleet or so short a time may be
supposed, albeit true in every particularity, as partly by the former
relation may be collected, and some I suppressed with silence for
their sakes living, it pleased God to support this company, of which
only one man died of a malady inveterate, and long infested, the rest
kept together in reasonable contentment and concord, beginning,
continuing, and ending the voyage, which none else did accomplish,
either not pleased with the action, or impatient of wants, or
prevented by death.
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