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 Narrative By Francis Pretty
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NARRATIVE BY FRANCIS PRETTY,
ONE OF DRAKE'S GENTLEMEN AT ARMS.
This text was prepared from a 1910 edition, published by P F
Collier & Son Company, New York.
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.
The 15th day of November, in the year of our Lord 1577, Master Francis
Drake, with a fleet of five ships and barks, and to the number of 164
men, gentlemen and sailors, departed from Plymouth, giving out his
pretended voyage for Alexandria. But the wind falling contrary, he was
forced the next morning to put into Falmouth Haven, in Cornwall, where
such and so terrible a tempest took us, as few men have seen the like,
and was indeed so vehement that all our ships were like to have gone
to wrack. But it pleased God to preserve us from that extremity and to
afflict us only for that present with these two particulars: the mast
of our Admiral, which was the Pelican, was cut overboard for the
safeguard of the ship, and the Marigold was driven ashore, and
somewhat bruised. For the repairing of which damages we returned again
to Plymouth; and having recovered those harms, and brought the ships
again to good state, we set forth the second time from Plymouth, and
set sail the 13th day of December following.
The 25th day of the same month we fell with the Cape Cantin, upon the
coast of Barbary; and coasting along, the 27th day we found an island
called Mogador, lying one mile distant from the main. Between which
island and the main we found a very good and safe harbour for our
ships to ride in, as also very good entrance, and void of any danger.
On this island our General erected a pinnace, whereof he brought out
of England with him four already framed. While these things were in
doing, there came to the water's side some of the inhabitants of the
country, shewing forth their flags of truce; which being seen of our
General, he sent his ship's boat to the shore to know what they would.
They being willing to come aboard, our men left there one man of our
company for a pledge, and brought two of theirs aboard our ship; which
by signs shewed our General that the next day they would bring some
provision, as sheep, capons, and hens, and such like. Whereupon our
General bestowed amongst them some linen cloth and shoes, and a
javelin, which they very joyfully received, and departed for that
time. The next morning they failed not to come again to the water's
side. And our General again setting out our boat, one of our men
leaping over-rashly ashore, and offering friendly to embrace them,
they set violent hands on him, offering a dagger to his throat if he
had made any resistance; and so laying him on a horse carried him
away. So that a man cannot be too circumspect and wary of himself
among such miscreants. Our pinnace being finished, we departed from
this place the 30th and last day of December, and coasting along the
shore we did descry, not contrary to our expectation, certain
/canters/, which were Spanish fishermen; to whom we gave chase and
took three of them. And proceeding further we met with three carvels,
and took them also.
The 17th day of January we arrived at Cape Blanco, where we found a
ship riding at anchor, within the Cape, and but two simple mariners in
her. Which ship we took and carried her further into the harbour,
where we remained four days; and in that space our General mustered
and trained his men on land in warlike manner, to make them fit for
all occasions. In this place we took of the fishermen such necessaries
as we wanted, and they could yield us; and leaving here one of our
little barks, called the Benedict, we took with us one of theirs which
they called /canters/, being of the burden of 40 tons or thereabouts.
All these things being finished we departed this harbour the 22nd of
January, carrying along with us one of the Portugal carvels, which was
bound to the islands of Cape Verde for salt, whereof good store is
made in one of those islands. The master or pilot of that carvel did
advertise our General that upon one of those islands, called Mayo,
there was great store of dried /cabritos/ (goats), which a few
inhabitants there dwelling did yearly make ready for such of the
king's ships as did there touch, being bound for his country of Brazil
or elsewhere. We fell with this island the 27th of January, but the
inhabitants would in no case traffic with us, being thereof forbidden
by the king's edict. Yet the next day our General sent to view the
island, and the likelihoods that might be there of the provision of
victuals, about threescore and two men under the conduct and
government of Master Winter and Master Doughty. And marching towards
the chief place of habitation in this island (as by the Portugal we
were informed), having travelled to the mountains the space of three
miles, and arriving there somewhat before the daybreak, we arrested
ourselves, to see day before us. Which appearing, we found the
inhabitants to be fled; but the place, by reason that it was manured,
we found to be more fruitful than the other part, especially the
valleys among the hills.
Here we gave ourselves a little refreshing, as by very ripe and sweet
grapes, which the fruitfulness of the earth at that season of winter,
it may seems strange that those fruits were then there growing. But
the reason thereof is this, because they being between the tropic and
the equinoctial, the sun passeth twice in the year through their
zenith over their heads, by means whereof they have two summers; and
being so near the heat of the line they never lose the heat of the sun
so much, but the fruits have their increase and continuance in the
midst of winter.
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