All This Cost Me 25,071-1/4 Rials; Of Which
Sum I Have Disbursed 500 Rials Of My Own, For Spice, Which Lies Mostly
On The Orlop; And Being In Bond To Your Worships, It Shall There
Remain Till I Know Your Worships Pleasure Whether I Shall Enjoy It.
SECTION XI
Sixth Voyage of the English East India Company, in 1610, under the
Command of Sir Henry Middleton.[317]
INTRODUCTION.
This is one of the most curious of all the early voyages of the English
to India, particularly on account of the transactions of Sir Henry in
the Red Sea. According to the title of the voyage in the Pilgrims, the
narrative was written by Sir Henry himself, probably an abstract of his
journal. It breaks off abruptly, and leaves the fate of the voyage
entirely unexplained, which will be found in some measure supplied by
the subsequent narrative of Downton.
[Footnote 317: Purch. Pilgr. I. 247. Astl. I. 360.]
From the title given by Purchas to the narrative, it appears that there
were three ships employed in this voyage: The Trades-increase of 1000
tons, admiral, commanded by Sir Henry Middleton, general of the
expedition; the Pepper-corn of 250 tons, vice-admiral, commanded by
Captain Nicholas Downton; and the Darling of 90 tons. Besides these,
the bark Samuel of 180 tons accompanied as a victualler to Cape
Verd. - E.
Sec. 1. Incidents of the Voyage till the Arrival of the Squadron at
Mokha.
We came to anchor in the roads of Cape Verd on the 1st May, 1610, under
an island, where we found a Frenchman of Dieppe, who was setting up a
pinnace. Next day, I set all the carpenters of the fleet to work on my
mainmast; and having taken off the fishes, they found it so sore wrung
about three feet above the upper-deck, that it was half through, so that
it must have gone by the board if we had met with any foul weather. I
sent one of my carpenters a-land on the main to search for trees, who
returned that night, saying he had seen some that would answer. The
third we began to unload the Samuel, and sent the carpenters on shore to
cut down trees, having leave of the alcaide, who came on board to dine
with me, and to whom I gave a piece of Rouen cloth which I bought of the
Frenchman, and some other trifles. The fifteenth, the mast being
repaired, and all our water-casks full, we stowed our boats at night,
and prepared to be gone next morning. Cape Verd is the best place I know
of for our outward-bound ships; not being out of the way, the road being
good and fit for the dispatch of any kind of business, and fresh fish to
be had in great plenty. In a council with Captain Downton and the
masters, it was agreed that our best course to steer for the line from
hence was S.S.W. for sixty leagues, then S.S.E. till near the line, and
then easterly.
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