Chapter M (1)

Mr. Robert Main, Swaffham
Mr. George Mytton
Mr. Thomas Milner
Mr. Henry Martyn
Mr. Charles Merryman
Mr. John Miers
Mr. Jonas Moxon
Mr. Andrew M‘Ewer
Mr. Jonathan Manning
Mr. William Markham
Mr. Thomas Mackintosh
Mr. John Moody
Mr. Malie
Mr. Molineux
Mr. Maude
Mr. Mayne

N.

John Norton, Esq; Golden-square
──── Nicol, Esq; Argyle-street
Mr. Marmaduke Newby, Southmolton-street
Mr. Nevill Noble
Mr. Nicholas Nugent
Mr. Philip Noble
Mr. Peter Norris
Mr. John Newbolt
Mr. William Newcome

O.

Mr. Ogilvie, Swallow-street
Mr. William Overton
Mr. Peter Oxenford, Stratford
Mr. John Jones Owen
Mr. Charles Ogilvie
Mr. Humphry Orton
Mr. William Oxlade

P.

Mr. Rich. Privat, Petty-France
Mr. Perrot, Purser of the Culloden
Mr. John Penn
Mr. Thomas Perkins
Mr. Benjamin Pell
Mr. Robert Preston
Mr. William Primrose
Mr. Charles Paget
Mr. Samuel Pickering
Mr. Joseph Phillips, Rose-street
Mr. Henry Pullon, Broad-court
Mr. John Proper, Long-lane
Mr. Robert Price, Belton-street
Mr. Pinegar
Mr. Price
Mr. Piggot

R.

Mr. Joseph Richards, Lambeth-marsh
Mr. Sa. Ravensworth, Chelsea
Mr. Peter Rooker, Islington
Mr. William Robinson
Mr. Samuel Richardson
Mr. Richard Rowe
Mr. Joseph Roper, Bow
Mr. John Robertson
Mr. Isaac Robley
Mr. Stephen Rivers
Mr. James Rickards
Mr. Alexander Reid
Mr. Reid
Mr. Richards

S.

Mr. Henry Schutz, Rose-street
James Spencer, Esq; Warwick-street
Lieut. John Staunton
Mr. John Severn
Mr. Sparks, Maddox-street
Mr. William Simmonds
Mr. Henry Stewart
Mr. John Arthur Smith, Victualling-office
Mr. William St. John
Mr. Charles William Stevenson
Mr. Charles Stanhope
Mr. Edward Spoor, Bow
Mr. Wm. Suxspeck, Radcliffe
Mr. Barker Simson, jun. Salisbury-court
Mr. Senhouse, Piccadilly
Mr. Sovard, Oxford-road
Mr. Jeremiah Smith
Mr. William Henry Sibthorpe
Mr. Samuel Parker Southwell
Mr. William Stockham, Wardour-street
Mr. Edward Stone
Mr. John Simpson
Mr. Frederick Stark
Mr. Philip Sergeant
Mr. Moses Strickland
Mr. Edmund Smith, Swallow-street
Mr. Smith
Mr. Smith, Swan-lane
Mr. Strahan

T.

Rev. Mr. Trancker
Mr. Edward Terry, Victualling-office
Mr. Thomas Thrilwind
Mr. Francis Thomson
Mr. Charles Timbrel
Mr. James Thistlethwayte
Mr. Henry Thoroughgood
Mr. Philip Turton
Mr. James Thatcher, Wapping
Mr. Thompson, Plumtree-str.

U.

Mr. James Thomas Upton, Wapping
Mr. Francis Unwin, ditto

W.

Mr. Edward Warner, Royal-Exchange
Mr. John Wilson
──── Walters, Esq; Curzon-street
Mrs. Williams, Fleet-street
Mr. William Warburton
Mr. John Whitworth
Mr. Isaac Wentworth
Mr. Charles Walker
Mr. Welch, Oldford
John Wood, Esq; Old Belton-street
James Wall, Esq; Stratford
Mr. Robert Wight
Mr. Charles Williams
Mr. Michael Wentworth
Mr. John Wenman
Mr. Alexander Wareham
Mr. Temple Wharton
Mr. West
Mr. Westgarth
Mr. Weale
Mr. Woodward
Mr. Wells

Y.

Mr. Joseph Young
Mr. William Yeraway
Mr. John Yeats
Mr. George York

Directions _to the_ Bookbinder _for placing the_ Plates:

In VOL. I.
Map of Mexico and South America to be placed at the beginning.
Horn Island ──── (_Introduction_) _to face page_ xxxviii
Head of Sir Francis Drake 1
Drake going off to sea on a raft 41
Beheading of Capt. Doughty 88
Drake engaging the Cacafuego, a rich Spanish ship 113
Drake conveying away the Spanish Judges and criminal savages 118
Drake receiving the Crown from the Hioh of New Albion 123
Cavendish plundering and burning Paita 191
The King of Java’s Wives destroying themselves 226
Cavendish’s crew in great distress, &c. 250
Capt. Davis’s men taken off a rock 304
Dampier’s men seizing oxen, mules, &c. at a farm-house 340
Capt. Swan entertained by Rajah Laut 370
Dampier and his companions overtaken by a storm 412
Cowley and his men taking in provisions at Juan Fernandez 440

In VOL. II.
Alexander Selkirk making his cats and kids dance 24
Miscellaneous Plate of fish, trees, &c. 48
Mr. Hatley and crew whipped 89
Distressed situation of the Success 120
Sea-lion, sea-lioness, and seals 181
Californian Woman habited in a deer’s skin 229
Californian Man returned from fishing, and another in his bark-log 230
Lawn where Commodore Anson pitched his tent at Juan Fernandez 289

In VOL. III.
The three Charts of the tracks of the Dolphin, Tamar, Swallow,
Endeavour, and M. Bougainville, to be accurately joined, and
placed at the beginning
Comm. Byron conversing with a Patagonian woman _to face page_ 11
The wolf-fox of Falkland’s Islands 18
Straits of Magellan 22
The Queen of Otaheite taking leave of Capt. Wallis 99
View of a town in the island of Terra del Fuego 196
Musical youth in the new-discovered islands 218
Mr. Banks receiving a visit from the King of the D. of York’s
Island 238
A Morai, or burial-place 257
A woman and a boy of the new-discovered islands 270
A Priest of the new-discovered islands in the habit of his order 287
Representation of a dance in the island of Ulietea 299
View of a perforated rock in Tolaga-bay 326
Head of a New Zealand Chief curiously tattooed 327
View of an arched rock on the coast of New Zealand 371
War-canoe, and a branch of the bread fruit tree 396
New Zealand warrior in the dress of his country 398
Warriors of Otaheite and New Zealand defying their enemies 399

In VOL. IV.
The hooded serpent, and an ape of Java 85
M. Bougainville crossing St. Lucia river in a canoe drawn by
horses 126
Bougainville hoisting the French colours in the straits of
Magellan 194
Prospective view of the great cascade in Cascade-bay 201

In the VOYAGE to the NORTH POLE.
Map of the Icy Sea ──── (_Introduction_) i.
Chart of Spitzbergen, or New Greenland 33
View of the Whale Fishery 40

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE’S
VOYAGES,
PARTICULARLY THAT
ROUND THE WORLD,
In 1577, 1578, 1579, and 1580.

Before we proceed to the relation of the particular Voyages that characterize the navigators who first surrounded the globe, and who immortalized their names by their skill and their courage, it may be expected that we should give some account of their families and first setting out, the distinguishing marks of genius that led them to prefer the fatigues and dangers of a sea-faring life to learned ease, or the calm pursuit of less hazardous employments; and that we should trace the steps by which they rose to eminence by their bravery and their conduct.

The bare narration of the incidents recorded in a single voyage, however memorable, would convey but a very imperfect knowledge of the general character of those renowned heroes, who carried the glory of their country to the remotest regions of the earth. We shall, therefore, endeavour to follow them as they advance to fame, and accompany them from their highest elevation to that period when all distinctions are levelled.

The celebrated mariner, of whom we are now to give an account, was son to Edmund Drake, a gentleman of Tavistoke, in Devonshire, who, being inclined to the doctrine of the Protestants, at that time much opposed by Q. Mary, was obliged to quit his place of residence, and retire to Medway, in Kent; where, after that Queen’s death, he was first appointed Chaplain in the royal navy, and afterwards Vicar of Upnor. In these employments, his appointments being small, and his family large, he owed the education of several of his children to the kindness of his relations, and that, in particular, of Francis, the eldest of twelve, to Sir John Hawkins; under whom, as it appears, he very early distinguished himself, and laid the foundation both of his fame and his fortune.

The learned Camden, indeed, informs us, that he was put apprentice to the master of a small trading vessel, in whose service he behaved so well, that his master, dying a batchelor, left him his vessel as a reward for his diligence: but Stowe, who seems better informed, represents him in a superior light; tells us, that Francis Russel, afterwards Duke of Bedford, was his godfather; and that Sir John Hawkins was his near relation. What Camden relates of Francis may, however, be true of his brother; for there were no less than four who were bred to the sea.

Be this as it may, the first enterprize of consequence, in which we find him engaged, was in a voyage to the West-Indies, as Captain of the Judith, under his relation already mentioned. Those islands, having but lately been discovered, and very little frequented by the English, were thought so much to abound in wealth, that no voyager thither could fail of being recompensed with great advantages. Nothing was talked of among the mercantile or adventurous part of mankind but the beauty and riches of the new world. Fresh discoveries were frequently made; new countries and nations, never heard of before, were daily described; and it may easily be concluded, that the relators did not lessen the merit of their discoveries, by suppressing or diminishing any circumstance that might produce wonder, or excite curiosity.

This was the age of enterprize and discovery; and her Majesty encouraged the ardour of her subjects by furnishing ships and commissions to such officers of distinction in her royal navy as were willing to engage in hazardous pursuits.

The projects, however, that were formed, were not always successfully carried into execution; they were frequently defeated by the ignorance of the adventurers, but more often by the malice of the Spaniards, who, from the first discovery of America, considered every other nation that attempted to follow them, as invaders of their rights, and incroachers on _their_ territories. At that time, however, as now, it was no uncommon thing for those who went in search of new discoveries, to carry on a kind of contraband trade with the new settlers; which, though prohibited by the Crown of Spain, was yet countenanced by the Viceroys and Governors: but even these would sometimes take advantage of the power lodged in their hands, and make prize of the profits of the voyage, under pretence of an illicit trade.

Among those who suffered most by the injustice of the Viceroys, was Sir John Hawkins; who, having struck out a new trade, highly advantageous to the parties concerned, though disgraceful to humanity, supplied the Mexican Spaniards with slaves from Africa, and received from them, in return, large remittances in gold and silver. This was connived at, though we do not find that it was absolutely tolerated, by the Spanish court.

It was, however, after one of those successful voyages, in which we find two of the Queen’s ships engaged (namely, the Jesus, commanded by Hawkins, as Admiral; and the Minion, of which Captain John Hampton was Commander; with four other armed trading ships, among which was the Judith, Captain Drake), that, being driven by stress of weather into the port of St. John d’Ulloa, in the bay of Mexico, they were there waiting for a supply of provisions, when the Spanish fleet from Europe arrived, consisting of 12 sail, richly laden with European merchandize, and on board of which was a new Viceroy.

As the port was then absolutely in the power of the English, it was debated, among the principal officers, whether the Spanish fleet should be suffered to enter; as their Admiral suspected, that, if they were admitted, they would contrive some means of distressing him; and if they were not, they must perish at sea; an event that would certainly bring on a war,--a consequence he could by no means justify.

Upon mature deliberation, it was, therefore, judged safest to propose an agreement with the Viceroy, to which he consented, and by which it was stipulated, that the English should hold one side of the harbour, and the Spaniards the other; and that hostages should be given on both sides, that no injury should be done to either. But it was soon discovered, that, though on the part of the English, six gentlemen were sent, yet, on that of the Spaniards, the hostages were only common men, finely dressed. This gave cause of distrust; yet the English, naturally honest, were not sufficiently on their guard.

The Spaniards for some weeks behaved with seeming cordiality; mutual civilities passed between the officers of both nations; and the English, having supplied their wants, were preparing to depart, when, all of a sudden, at a signal given, the Spaniards assaulted their ships as the officers were at dinner, boarded the Minion by a concealed ambuscade, which, however, was repulsed with loss, and then a general massacre ensued. The English who were on shore were all put to death; three of the four trading ships were presently sunk; and the Minion and Jesus were so embarrassed by their moorings, that it was almost a whole hour before they could be placed in a posture of defence; which, however, was at last effected. They then returned the attack with so much fury, that the Spanish Vice-Admiral was soon blown up, and in her perished 300 men; and not long after the Spanish Admiral himself was sunk. The Spaniards, in revenge, set two of their ships on fire to burn the Minion and Jesus, the first of which set sail and escaped; but the Jesus, after shifting her crew on board the Judith, fell a victim with the rest to Spanish treachery.

In the night, the Judith having made her escape, endeavoured, but in vain, to join the Minion; and being only a bark of 50 tons, alone, on a hostile coast, crouded with men, and having only provisions on board for her own slender crew, a mutiny arose among the mariners, and by far the greatest number insisted on being put on shore, chusing rather to take their chance among the savages, than to remain on board to starve at sea, or again to fall into the power of the merciless Spaniards.

Accordingly, Captain Hawkins, gave every man his choice, either to land on the continent, or sail with him, and share his fate. About 100 of the stoutest seamen chose the former; of whom five only lived to return to England. These gave an account, that, on their landing, the natives, mistaking them for Spaniards, fell upon them suddenly, and killed eight of their number; that, after they were known to be enemies to the Spaniards, they were used with kindness; that, however, being tired of living among savages, they agreed to part, and seek the means of returning home; some directed their course to the northward, and watched the opportunity of seizing a small vessel, and, crossing the Gulph, traversed an immense tract of land, till they arrived at a French settlement in the North; of those who travelled westward, which was by far the greatest part, sixty-five fell into the hands of the Spaniards, and suffered various torments from the Inquisition, three were burnt alive, and two only survived to reach their own country. Of those who followed the other course, five found means, after enduring incredible hardships, to get to Nova Scotia, of whom three were brought safe to England in French merchants ships.

It was in the above engagement that Capt. Drake first distinguished himself; and to his judicious conduct, that those who escaped from the Jesus owed their preservation. The Judith had the good fortune to arrive safe in England, having purchased some provisions on the Island of Cuba; but what became of the Minion we have not been able to learn.

In this expedition Sir John Hawkins lost an immense sum. It was in vain to make complaint to his sovereign of the infraction of the peace. The Spanish minister vindicated the injustice of the Viceroy and the Queen, tho’ she secretly resented the loss of her ships, could not openly abett the illicit trade carried on by her servants.

Drake, who shared in the misfortune of his relation, possessed both his spirit and his industry. He did not sit down to lament the loss he had sustained; but, having acquired some degree of credit by his gallant behaviour, and some knowledge of the weakness and wealth of his enemies, he determined to profit by his losses, and to make reprisals whenever a fair opportunity should offer.

It was no difficult matter to engage new adventurers in new projects in those early days of Mexican commerce, and Drake was not long before he raised a fund to begin trade on a new footing. In 1570 he made his first expedition, chiefly on his own account, with two ships, the Dragon and the Swan; and the next year in the Swan alone; in both which voyages he enlarged his experience, but it does not appear that he repaired his loss.

In 1572 he found means, however, to fit out a much greater force, in order to carry into execution an enterprise which he had meditated, not only to reinstate his fortune, but to revenge the treachery of his enemies.

About this time war was agitating between England and Spain, to which it must be confessed the illicit trade carried on to the Spanish settlements not a little contributed. He, therefore, set sail from Plymouth in the Pascha, a letter of marque ship, of 70 tons, accompanied by the Swan, of 50 tons, the command of which he entrusted to his brother John; in both which ships he had embarked 73 choice men, with a year’s provisions and such warlike stores and ammunition as he judged necessary for the enterprize he had in view. He had, likewise, the precaution to take with him the frames of two or three small pinnaces, that, if any accident should befal either of his larger ships, he might have it in his power to preserve the crew without being driven to the necessity of leaving any of them behind; a precaution which experience had taught him in the unfortunate voyage of his kinsman Sir John. But this was not the only use for which he foresaw these small vessels would be wanted, as will appear in the sequel.

With this warlike force, inconsiderable as it may now appear, he cleared the land of England on the 12th of May, 1572; and, the weather continuing fair, and the wind favourable, on the 29th of June he passed between Dominica and Guadaloupe, and on the 6th of July came in sight of the high land of Santa Martha; then continuing his course to the southward, on the 15th of the same month both ships arrived at Port Pheasant, which lay at a convenient distance from Nombre de Dios, the place of their destination.

Here he proposed to build his pinnaces, and was going a-shore with a few men unarmed; when, discovering a smoke at a distance, he made the signal for another boat to follow him with an armed force. Being joined by this reinforcement, he marched towards the fire, where he found a plate of lead nailed to a tree, with an inscription engraven upon it by one Garret, an Englishman, who had left that place a day or two before, and had taken that method of informing him that the Spaniards had been advertised of his intended visit, and of his rendezvous at that port; and that, therefore, it would be prudent for him to make but a very short stay.

Drake, surprized, no doubt, at the news, but at the same time knowing how convenient this place was for his designs, and considering that the hazard, and waste of time, which could not be avoided in seeking another station, was equivalent to any other danger which was to be apprehended from the Spaniards, determined to follow his first resolution; only, for his greater security, he ordered a kind of palissade or fortification to be made, by felling a number of large trees, and laying the trunks and branches one across another, on an elevated spot that commanded the river. This done, he set the carpenters to work; and while they were employed in putting the frames of the pinnaces together, one Captain Rause happened to touch at the same port, with a bark of 50 men. To Rause Drake imparted his design; and, when the pinnaces were ready, both set sail together, shaping their course to Nombre de Dios. They touched at the Island of Pines, where they were informed, by the negroes they found there, that the inhabitants of that place were in daily expectation of some soldiers, which the Governor of Panama had promised to send, to defend them from the Symerons, or fugitive negroes, who, having escaped from the tyranny of their masters, had settled themselves under two kings, or leaders, on each side of the passage between Nombre de Dios and Panama; and not only asserted their natural right to liberty and independance, but endeavoured to revenge the cruelties they had suffered, and had lately put the inhabitants of Nombre de Dios into the utmost consternation. These negroes the Captain set on shore on the main land, so that they might, by joining the Symerons, recover their liberty, or at least might not have it in their power to give the people of Nombre de Dios any speedy information of his intention to invade them. Then, selecting 53 men from his own company, and 20 from the crew of his new associate Captain Rause, he embarked with them in his new pinnaces, and set sail for Nombre de Dios.

On July the 28th, at night, he approached the town undiscovered, and dropt his anchors under the shore, intending, after his men were refreshed, to begin the attack; but, finding that they were terrifying each other with formidable accounts of the strength of the place, and the multitude of the inhabitants, he determined to hinder the panic from spreading farther, by leading them immediately to action; and, therefore, ordering them to their oars, he landed without any opposition, there being only one gunner upon the key, though it was fortified by six brass cannon of the largest size. But the gunner, while they were employed in throwing the cannon from their carriages, alarmed the town, as they soon discovered by the bells, the drums, and the noise of the people.

Drake, leaving twelve men to guard the pinnaces, marched into the town with little or no opposition. After a short skirmish, the forces that the alarm had hastily drawn together were soon dispersed, except a few whom he detained as prisoners, in order to shew him the Governor’s house, and also the store-house, where the mules that bring the silver from Panama were unloaded.

Being now in full possession of the town, he posted the main of his small body, under the command of his brother, in the market-place; and then followed the guides, with the rest, to the store-house; where, forcing the door, and entering the room where the silver was deposited, they found it heaped up in bars, in such quantities as almost exceed belief, the pile being, as they conjectured, seventy feet in length, ten in breadth, and twelve in height, each bar weighing between thirty and forty-five pounds. It is easy to imagine, that, at the sight of this treasure, nothing was thought of, by the English sailors, but by what means it might best be conveyed to their boats, and, doubtless, it was not easy for Drake (who, considering their distance from the shore, and the number of their enemies, was afraid of being intercepted in their retreat) to hinder his men from encumbering themselves with so much silver as might have retarded their march, and obstructed the use of their weapons: however, by promising to lead them to the King’s treasury, where there were gold and jewels to a far greater value, and where the plunder was not only more portable, but nearer the shore, he persuaded them to follow him (not, however, without every man his bar), and rejoin the main body in the market-place. Here he found his little troop much discouraged by the apprehension that, if they stayed any longer, the enemy might gain possession of their pinnaces, and that they should then, without any means of safety, be left to stand alone against the whole force of that country. Drake, not indeed easily terrified, but sufficiently cautious, sent to the harbour to examine the ground of their fears, and to learn if the same panic had taken possession of the men whom he had left to guard his boats; but, finding no foundation for these dreadful apprehensions, he persisted in his first design, and led the troop forward to the royal treasury. In their way there fell a violent shower of rain, which wet some of their bow-strings, and extinguished many of their matches (spring-locks for muskets not being then invented); a misfortune which might soon have been repaired, and which, perhaps, the enemy might suffer in common with them; but which, however, on this occasion, very much embarrassed them, as the delay produced by it repressed that ardour which, sometimes, is only to be kept up by continued action.

It was in vain for Drake to expostulate, or to represent the disgrace of returning in rags, after having the chief treasure of the world within their power; he therefore reproached their cowardice, set before their eyes the imminent danger to which they would inevitably be exposed, if they failed to behave like men anxious for glory, and zealous for the honour of their country. Animated by these incentives, they resumed their former spirit, and, pushing briskly forward, the whole company followed till they arrived at the treasury, which they instantly forced. Having thus far succeeded, Drake committed the care of the riches to his brother, and Oxenham, of Plymouth[1], (a man known afterwards for his bold adventures in the same parts) while he, with the main body, should again return and reconnoitre the market-place, and disperse any parties of the Spaniards that might be forming into a body to oppose their progress. With this view, as he was advancing, his strength suddenly failed him, and he fell down speechless.

[1] This man made himself remarkable by one of the boldest
undertakings that ever was devised. As soon as he arrived in England,
with the prize-money acquired in this expedition, he purchased a bark
of 140 tons, and manned it with 70 brave seamen; with these he sailed
to the Isthmus of Darien, and, laying his bark up in a creek, marched
cross the neck of land which separates the North Sea from the great
Pacific Ocean, where he arrived, with his companions, without being
discovered; and, having there seized a ship for their purpose, they
ranged the coast, and made themselves masters of an immense treasure;
but, falling out among themselves, they separated; and, thus weakened,
they became an easy prey to the Spaniards, who recovered their
treasure; and Oxenham being taken, with those that continued with him,
and having no commission to produce, both he and his companions were
executed as pirates. When they parted, they had in their possession
two ships laden with gold, to the amount of half a million sterling.

Then it was that his companions perceived a wound in his leg, that he received in the first encounter, but hitherto concealed, lest his men, easily discouraged, should make their concern for his life a pretence for returning to their boats. Such, however, had been his loss of blood, as was discovered upon nearer observation, that it had filled the prints of his foot-steps; and it appeared scarce credible, that, after such an effusion, life should remain. The bravest were now willing to retire; neither desire of honour, or of riches, was thought to prevail in any man over his regard for his leader.

Drake, whom cordials soon restored to his senses, was the only man who could not be prevailed on to leave the enterprize unfinished. It was to no purpose that they advised him to submit to go on board to have his wound dressed, and promised to return with him to compleat their design. He well knew how impracticable it was to regain the opportunity when it was once lost, and could easily foresee that a respite of but a few hours would enable the Spaniards to recover from their consternation, to assemble their forces, refit their batteries, and remove their treasure. What he had undergone so much danger to obtain, was now in his hands, and the thoughts of leaving it untouched was too mortifying to be patiently borne; however, as there was little time for consultation, and the same danger attended their stay in that perplexity and confusion, as their return, they bound up his wound with his scarf, and, partly by force, partly by intreaty, they carried him back to the boats, in which, with what treasure they were able to bring off, they all embarked by break of day. Then taking with them, out of the harbour, a sloop laden with wines, they went to the Bastimento’s, an island about a league from the town, where they staid two days, to recover the wounded men who had been hurt in the first rencounter, and to regale themselves with the wines they had taken, and with the fruits that grew in great plenty in the gardens of that island.

During their stay here, there came over to that island a Spanish gentleman, sent by the Governor with instructions to inquire whether the Captain was that Drake who had before been on their coast; whether the arrows with which many of their men were wounded were not poisoned; and whether they wanted provisions or other necessaries? The messenger, likewise, extolled their courage with the highest encomiums, and expressed his admiration of their daring undertaking. Drake, though he knew the civilities of an enemy are always to be suspected, and that the messenger, amidst all his professions of regard, was no other than a spy, yet knowing that he had nothing to apprehend, treated him with the highest honours that his condition admitted of. In answer to his inquiries, he assured him, that he was the same Drake with whose character they were before acquainted; that he was a rigid observer of the laws of war, and that he never permitted the arrows discharged by his followers to be poisoned. He dismissed him with considerable presents and told him, that, though he had in part failed in this attempt, he would never desist from his design of revenging the treachery of the Viceroy of Mexico, till he had shared with Spain the treasures of America.

He then resolved to return to the Isle of Pines, where they had left their ships, and to consult about the measures they were now to take; and, having arrived on the 1st of August at their former station, they dismissed Captain Rause, who, judging it unsafe to stay any longer on the coast, desired to be no farther engaged in their designs. But Drake, not to be diverted from his purpose, after being cured of his wound, inquired of a negroe, whom he took on board at Nombre de Dios, the most wealthy settlements, and weakest parts of the coast, who advised the attack of Carthagena. This the Admiral seemed to approve; and, setting sail without loss of time, came to anchor, Aug. 13, between Charecha and St. Barnard’s, two islands at a little distance from the harbour of Carthagena. Then passing with his boats round the island, he entered the harbour, and in the mouth of it found a frigate with only an old man in it, who voluntarily informed him, that, about an hour before a pinnace had passed by, with sails and oars, and all the appearance of expedition and importance; that, as she passed, the crew on board her bid him take care of himself; and that, as soon as she touched the shore, he heard the noise of cannon, fired as a warning, and saw the shipping of the port drawn up under the guns of the castle. The Captain, who had himself heard the discharge of the artillery, was soon convinced that he was discovered; and that, therefore, nothing could be attempted there with any probability of success. He therefore contented himself with taking a ship of Seville, of 240 tons (which the relator of this voyage mentions as a very large ship), and two small frigates, in which he found letters of advice from Nombre de Dios, intended to alarm that part of the coast.

Drake, now finding his pinnaces of great use, and not having a sufficient number of sailors for all his vessels, was desirous of destroying the Swan, the ship commanded by his brother, that the others might be better manned. This, necessary as it was, could not easily be done without disgusting his company; who, having made several prosperous voyages in that vessel, would naturally be averse to her destruction.

Drake knew that nothing but the love of their leaders could animate his followers to encounter such hardships as he was about to expose them to; and, therefore, rather chose to bring his designs to pass by artifice than by authority. He sent for the carpenter of the Swan, took him into his cabin, and, having first engaged him to secrecy, ordered him in the middle of the night, to go down into the well, and bore three holes through the bottom, laying something against them that might hinder the bubbling of the water from being heard. To this the carpenter, after some expostulation, consented, and the next night performed his promise. In the morning, August the 15th, Drake, going out with his pinnace a-fishing, rowed up to the Swan; and, having invited his brother to partake of his diversion, inquired, with a negligent air, why the Swan was so deep in the water? Upon which, his brother, being alarmed, sent down his steward to learn the cause, who returned immediately, with an account that the ship was leaky, and in danger of sinking in a very little time. They had instantly recourse to the pump; but, having laboured for five hours, and gained very little upon the water, they willingly, according to Drake’s advice, set the vessel on fire, and went on board the Pascha.

Finding it now necessary to lie concealed for some time, till the Spaniards should forget their danger, and remit their vigilance, they set sail for the Sound of Darien, and, without approaching the coast, that their course might not be observed, they arrived there in six days.

This being a convenient place for their reception, both on account of privacy, it being out of the road of all trade, and as it was well supplied with wood, water, wild-fowl, hogs, deer, and all kind of provisions, he stayed here fifteen days, to careen his vessels, and refresh his men, who worked interchangeably, on one day the one half, and on the next day the other half.

On the 5th of September, Drake left his brother with the ship at Darien, and set out with two small vessels towards the Rio Grand, which they reached in three days, and on the 9th of the same month were discovered by a Spaniard from the land, who, believing them to be his countrymen, made a signal for them to come on shore, with which they very readily complied; but he, soon finding his mistake abandoned his plantation, where they found great plenty of provisions, with which having laden their vessels, they departed.

In the mean time, his brother, Captain John Drake, went, according to the directions that had been left him, in search of the Symerons, or fugitive negroes, from whose assistance they now entertained hopes of completing the success of their voyage: and, touching upon the main land, by means of the negroes whom they had taken from Nombre de Dios, engaged two of the Symerons to come on board his ship, leaving two of his own men as hostages for their safe return. Those men, having assured him of the affection of their nation, appointed an interview between Drake and their leaders. With this appointment Drake being made acquainted, he immediately quitted Port Plenty, so named by the English from the great store of provisions they had amassed at that place, and came, by the direction of the Symerons, into a secret bay, among beautiful islands covered with trees, which concealed their ships from observation, and where the channel was so narrow and rocky that it was impossible to enter it by night; so that there was no danger of a sudden surprize. Here they met, and entered into engagements, which common enemies and common dangers preserved from violation. But the first conversation informed the English that their expectations were not immediately to be gratified: for, upon their enquiries after the most probable means of acquiring gold and silver, the Symerons told them, that, had they known sooner the chief end of their expedition, they could easily have gratified them; but that during the rainy season, which was now begun, they could not recover the treasure, which they had taken from the Spaniards, out of the rivers in which they had concealed it. Drake, therefore, proposing to wait in this place till the rains were passed, built with the assistance of the Symerons, a fort of earth and timber; and, leaving his brother and part of his company with the Symerons, set out with three pinnaces towards Rio de la Hacha, being of a spirit too active to lie still patiently, even in a state of plenty and security, and with the most probable expectations of immense riches.

In their way thither, they anchored within sight of Carthagena without landing, and on the 17th of October took a Spanish bark, with which they entered the harbour in disguise; but were soon accosted by a Spanish gentleman whom they had sometime before taken and set at liberty; who coming to them in a boat, as he pretended, without the knowledge of the Governor, made them great promises of friendship, and professions of esteem. But Drake, having waited till next morning without receiving the information he had been encouraged to expect, found that all this pretended kindness was no more than a stratagem to amuse him, while the Governor was raising forces for his destruction.

This appeared more clearly on the 20th, when two frigates, well armed and manned, came out in the night with a view to surprize the pinnaces, and make prisoner of Drake: but these being discovered, and their design frustrated, Drake, when day-light approached, leapt intrepidly ashore single, in defiance of their troops, which hovered at a distance in the woods and on the hills, without ever venturing to advance within reach of the shot from the pinnaces. To leap, however, upon an enemy’s coast, in sight of a superior force, only to shew how little they were feared, was an act that in these times would meet with little applause: but motives of policy might influence the conduct of Drake, and make that necessary then which now appears a ridiculous bravado. Finding the whole country advertised of his attempts, and in arms to oppose him, he might make a feint only of landing to increase their fears, and encourage their alarms, that they might keep together till he should assault them in their deserted posts; a stratagem which there is reason to think he put in practice, as he continued upon the coast till one of his vessels had only a gammon of bacon and a small quantity of bread on board for seventeen men, and till there was on board his own vessel even a greater scarcity. But resolution and success reciprocally produce each other. They had not sailed more than three leagues on their return to their ships before they fell in with and attacked a coasting vessel, which after some resistance they took, and happily found it laden with excellent provisions. He now determined to return to the Symerons, with whom, as has been said, he left his brother, and part of his force; and to attempt, by their assistance and direction, to make his way over, and invade the Spaniards in the inland parts, where they would probably never dream of an enemy.

When they arrived at Port Diego, so named from the negroe who had procured them their intercourse with the Symerons, they found Captain John Drake and one of his company dead, being killed in attempting, almost unarmed, to board a frigate well provided with all things necessary for its defence. The Captain was unwilling to make the attack, and represented to his company the madness of their proposal; but, being over-borne by their clamours and importunities, to avoid the imputation of cowardice, complied to his destruction.

But this was not the only misfortune that befel this little company; for soon after many of them fell ill of the calenture, a malignant fever, very frequent in the hot climates, which carried off, among several others, Joseph Drake, another brother of the Commander.

While Drake was employed in the recovery of the sick, the Symerons, who ranged the country for intelligence, brought him an account that the Spanish fleet was arrived at Nombre de Dios, the truth of which was confirmed by a pinnace which he sent out to make observations. This, therefore, was the time for their journey, when the treasures of the American mines were to be transported from Panama, over land, to Nombre de Dios. He, therefore, by the direction of the Symerons, furnished himself with all things necessary; and, on the third of February in the following year, set out from Port Diego. Having lost already twenty eight of his company, and being under the necessity of leaving some to guard his ship, he took with him only 18 English and 30 Symerons, who not only served as guards to shew the way, but as purveyors to procure provisions.

They carried with them arrows for war, and arrows for hunting and fowling, the heads of which are proportioned in size to the game they are pursuing. For oxen, stags, or wild boars, they have arrows or javelins with heads weighing a pound and half, which they discharge near hand, and which scarcely ever fail of being mortal. Their second sort are about half as heavy as the other, and are generally shot from their bows; these are intended for smaller beasts. With the third sort, of which the heads are an ounce in weight, they kill birds. As this nation is in a state which does not set them above continual cares for the immediate necessaries of life, he that can temper iron best is among them most esteemed; and, perhaps, it would be happy for every nation, if honours and applauses were as justly distributed, and he were most distinguished whose talents were most useful to society.

Every day by sun-rising they began to march, and having travelled till ten, rested near some river till twelve; then travelling again till four, they reposed all night in huts, or wigwams, which the Symerons had either left standing in their former marches, or very readily erected for them, by setting up three or four posts in the ground, and laying poles from one to another, in the form of a roof, which they covered with palmetto boughs and plantain leaves. In the vallies, where they were sheltered from the winds, they left three or four feet next the ground open; but, on the hills, where they were more exposed to the chill blasts of the night, they thatched them close to the ground, leaving only a door for entrance, and a vent a-top in the middle for the smoke of the fire to escape.

In their march, they met not only with plenty of fruits upon the banks of the rivers, but with wild swine in abundance, of which the Symerons without difficulty killed, for the most part, as many as were wanted. One day, however, they found only an otter, and were about to dress it; at which Drake expressing his wonder, was asked by Pedro, the chief Symeron, “Are you a man of war, and in want, and yet doubt whether this be meat that hath blood in it?” For which Drake in private rebuked him, says the relator; whether justly or not, it is not very important to determine; only it shews the genius of the times when superstition prevailed, and when the greatest men were not wholly exempt from its influences.

On the third day of their march, and the 6th of February, they came to a town of the Symerons, situated on the side of a hill, and encompassed with a ditch and a mud wall, to secure it from any sudden surprize. Here they lived with great neatness, and in plenty; and with some observation of religion, paying great reverence to the cross; a practice which, the relator says, Drake prevailed upon them to change for the use of the Lord’s Prayer; which, however, in so short a stay, is very unlikely. Indeed, it is added, that here they strongly importuned Drake to prolong his abode, promising to double his force; but he, either thinking greater numbers unnecessary, or fearing, that, if any difference should arise between them and his own men, he should be overborne by numbers, he prudently declined their invitation, and their offer of additional assistance, and that in such terms as expressed his eagerness to engage, and his confidence of success from the bravery of his followers.

The Symerons continued to conduct him on his journey, and led him through rural shades and lofty woods, which sheltered his people so effectually from the sun, that their march was less toilsome than if they had travelled in England during the heat of summer. Four of the Symerons that were acquainted with the way, went about a mile before the main body, and cut off branches as marks to direct them, for there was no beaten track; then followed twelve Symerons, after whom came the English, with the two leaders; and the other Symerons closed the rear. In this order, on the 11th of February, they arrived at the top of a very high hill, on the summit of which grew a tree of a wonderful height and magnitude, in which they had cut steps for the more easy ascent to the top, where there was a kind of alcove, to which they invited Drake, and from thence shewed him not only the North Sea, from whence they came, but the great Pacific Ocean, on which no English vessel had ever yet sailed. This prospect exciting his natural curiosity and ardour for adventures and discoveries, he lifted up his hands to God, and implored his blessing upon the resolution which he that instant formed of sailing in an English ship on that immense sea.

From this stupendous mountain they descended, after having feasted their eyes with the grandest prospect the earth can furnish; and in two days came into an open level country, where their march was incommoded with the grass, which is of a peculiar kind, consisting of a stalk like that of a bull-rush, and a blade on which the oxen and other cattle feed till it grows too high for them to reach: then it is that the natives set the whole on fire; and it is no uncommon thing to behold vallies of immense extent in a blaze at once; from whence the cattle fly in the utmost terror, and many perish by the sudden conflagration. It might be supposed, that this burning of the soil, would, in a hot climate, check the powers of vegetation, and that it would be years before the earth could recover its fertility; but it is just the contrary; the ashes of the reeds are hardly extinguished before a new verdure begins to appear; and before a month is elapsed, the whole valley, beheld at a distance, looks as green as ever; so astonishingly wonderful are the powers of Nature on this happy soil!

When they had arrived within a convenient distance of the road from Panama, they posted themselves in a grove or wood, near which the treasure was to be conveyed from thence to Nombre de Dios. They then dispatched a trusty Symeron, in the habit of a slave, properly instructed, to learn on what day the mules, on whose backs the treasure is carried, were to set out. The man was so well qualified for the service, and so industrious in the prosecution of it, that he soon returned with an account, that the treasurer of Lima, intending to embark for Europe, would pass the night following with eight mules laden with gold, and one with jewels; that it was their custom to travel by night, and to rest in the day, to avoid the heat; and that Venta Cruz was to be their first stage.

On this intelligence, they changed their situation, and immediately directed their march towards Venta Cruz, sending, for security, two Symerons, habited as before, to examine the way, who, as they passed along, perceived, by the scent of a match, that some Spaniard was before them and creeping silently forward, surprized a soldier asleep upon the ground. They bound him, without offering any other violence, and brought him to Drake, who, upon enquiry, found that their spy had not deceived them in his intelligence. The soldier, having informed himself of the Captain’s name, conceived such a confidence in his well-known clemency, that, after having made an ample discovery of the treasure that was now at hand, cautioned them likewise against being deceived by the recoes, or carriers, from Nombre de Dios, who met the others by the way, and who were hourly expected, with merchandize and provisions, but without any gold. He closed his examination with an humble petition to Drake, that, when the expected treasure should fall into his hands, he would be graciously pleased to allow him as much of it as would maintain himself and his children during the remainder of their lives, since there would abundantly more arrive than he and his company could carry away. Drake agreed to his request, upon condition that he led him to a place of secrecy, where he could conceal his men till the time of action, and where there was no danger of the mules passing by without being perceived. This the man did; and Drake placed his ambush accordingly.

Before the time expected, the men were properly refreshed and instructed. Oxenham was appointed to head the Symerons, assisted by Pedro their leader; and Drake was to command the English. The parties were then divided; the English took the right of the way in front, and the Symerons the left at a small distance in the rear. In this manner they were posted, that one company might be in readiness to seize the hindmost mule at the same time that the other had seized the foremost; for the mules, it seems, being tied together, travel in a line, and are all guided by leading the first.

Every thing being now as well concerted as human prudence could direct, and the critical moment of action soon expected, they lay down and covered themselves in the grass, at about eighty or ninety paces distance from the road, that the noise of their breathing might not be heard by the guard that conveyed the treasure.

They had not been more than an hour in this situation, when the bells of the mules on the left, coming from Venta Cruz, began to be heard: but previous orders having been given to meddle only with those from Panama, those from Venta Cruz were suffered to pass unmolested. Unfortunately, however, it happened, that one Robert Pike, being heated with liquor, prevailed upon the man that was next him to creep forward with him, in order to be in readiness to signalize themselves, by being the first to seize the mules from Panama. At that instant, an officer, who accompanied the recoes from Venta Cruz, perceiving something white moving in the grass (for Drake had ordered all his company to put their shirts over their clothes, to distinguish them in the night), took the alarm, and, from a walk, was observed to push his horse forward on a smart trot; and, before he had passed the hindmost ambuscade, he was heard to ride along in a full gallop; but neither Drake, who commanded the English, nor Oxenham, who headed the Symerons, being apprized of the reason, had any thought of taking measures to intercept his journey.

It was not, however, long before the recoes from Panama came up, and were eagerly seized by the English in front, and secured by the Symerons, as had been agreed upon, in the rear but, to their great mortification, they found two of them only loaded with silver, and the rest with provisions, six of those from Panama, which carried the valuable burdens of gold and jewels, being ordered back, and the like number that came from Venta Cruz sent forward in their room. The drivers were brought immediately to the Captain, and examined, who informed him, that a horseman who met them riding in haste had talked with the treasurer, and advised him to send back his gold and jewels, and suffer those only to proceed that were now in his [Drake’s] power, that he might, by that cheap experiment, discover whether there was any ambush in the way.