Else I with roses, every day will whip you hence! And bind you, when you want to play; for your offence! I'll shut my eyes to keep you in! I'll make you fast it for your sin! I'll count your power not worth a pin!" N. H. The worthy and famous Voyage of Master THOMAS CAVENDISH, made round about the Globe of the Earth; in the space of two years, and less than two months. Begun in the year 1586. [HAKLUYT'S Voyages. 1589.] HE WORSHIPFUL and worthy gentleman, Master THOMAS CAVENDISH of Suffolk, having in the year 1585 furnished out a ship, wherein he went, as Captain, with Sir RICHARD GRENVILLE to Virginia in which course he passed by the Canaries, and so to the isles of Dominica, Hispaniola, Saint John de Porto Rico, the Lucaios [Bahamas], and Florida, in the West Indies. Thus fleshed, and somewhat hardened unto the sea, immediately after his coming home, he began to take in hand a Voyage into the South Sea, and consequently round about the Globe of the Earth: which he also performed with invincible courage, great good government, and incredible celerity; to the great admiration of all men of judgement. Having therefore, at his own proper cost, new built from the keel, and furnished with all things necessary for two years' provision, a brave ship called the Desire of 140 tons, and a lesser of 60 tons, whose name was the Content; joining thereunto a bark of 40 tons named the Hugh Gallant, in which small fleet were 125 men: the 10th day of June 1586, he departed from London, and came to Harwich; and sailed from thence the 29th of the same month. He arrived at Plymouth the 8th day of July, from whence he set sail the 21st thereof. Thus he proceeded on his voyage until the 25th day; at which time, one Master HOPE died, who had been wounded a little before he went to sea. The 26th day, we met with four great Biscayen ships, on which we bestowed eighteen great shot, and shrewdly tare that ship which we in the Admiral [flag ship] assailed; but we left her and the others, lest we should loose the rest of our consorts, it being nine o'clock at night. The 5th day of August, we fell in with the island of Fuerte Ventura [one of the Canaries], and sailed thence to Cape Blanco; and so to the coast of Guinea unto a harbour called Sierra Leone: where, having conference with the negroes, we fell at variance; so that three score of our men went on shore, and drave them from their town, sacked their houses and burnt their dwellings. On the 29th of the same month, we departed from them, where going five leagues from the place we came to an island called Insula Verde [? Sherboro Island], where we found plantains and other fruits, and fresh water; it being an island of the negroes' husbandry. The 6th of September, we burnt here some 150 houses, because of their bad dealing with us and all Christians. In this place, we redeemed a Portuguese; whom by treason they had caught, and held in very miserable captivity. The 13th day, we went from thence; the 30th, we passed the equinoctial line. Thus we sailed forth, until the 25th of October, at which time we came to the continent of Brazil; and coasting along until the end of that month, the 1st of November we anchored under an island called Saint Sebastian [about 25° S. Lat.]; where we rode twenty-three days between the main [sea] and it. There we stored ourselves with fresh water and fuel; and built a new pinnace of 10 tons. On the 9th day, died one ROBERT SMITH of the disease called scorbuto; which is an infection of the blood and the liver. The 23rd of November, we left this island. On the 5th December, died one ROBERT TATES of the disease aforesaid. So coasting along till the 16th of this month, we discovered an harbour which we named the Port of Desire, according to our ship's name; being almost as big as the harbour of Plymouth. In this place we had gulls, puets [lapwings], penguins, and seals in abundance, to all our comforts and great refreshing. This Port is somewhat on this side of Port St. Julian. Sailing from this harbour towards the Straits [of Magellan], before we came to the entrance thereof, we espied certain poor starved Spaniards travelling overland towards the River of Plate, whereof we took one into our ship: of whom we understood that of both the two colonies planted in the Straits of Magellan by PEDRO SARMIENTO, there were but twenty-two men only left alive; all the rest being utterly perished for hunger, to the number of some three hundred persons. On the 6th day of January [1587], we put into the Straits of Magellan; and on the 8th, we came to two islands named by Sir FRANCIS DRAKE, the one Bartholomew Island, because he came thither on that Saint's day; and the other, Penguin Island, upon which we powdered [salted] three tons of penguins for the victualling of our ship. On the 9th day, we came unto a town of the Spaniards, erected in March 1584, called by them the "City of King Philip," but by us the "Town of Famine; " because we evidently saw the inhabitants, saving the aforesaid twentytwo, had all been most miserably starved. We took away with us six pieces of their ordnance, whereof three were brass and three were iron; and were glad to hasten from this place, for the most noisome stench and vile savour wherewith it was infected, through the contagion of the Spaniards' pined and dead carcasses. Thus sailing through the Straits, the 20th day of January, in the midway, we espied savages of a reasonable stature, and went unto them, and conferred with them; but such was their brutishness and their treachery, that they would have betrayed us under the show of amity; but we espying their treason, gave the first onset, and every shot of us chose his man; and by that means slew some, and hurt more. The rest escaped. So having many flaws of southerly and southwesterly wind, we were kept within the Straits until the 23rd of February. That same day, we passed out of the Straits into the sea called by MAGELLAN, mare pacificum, "the Peaceable or the Calm Sea." Thus we plied up along the coast of Chili by the island of La Mocha, which standeth in 38° S. Lat., until the 14th of March, when we rode under an island called Santa Maria. On which island, we landed eighty men armed, in the morning betimes; and there came unto us the country people, which intreated our General [T. CAVENDISH] very well, and presented him with many sorts of meats. For there we had at our commandment, Spanish wheat, potatoes, hogs, hens, dried dog fish, and divers other good things; to our contentment. The 20th day, we departed thence, running along until the 28th; which day, being at sea, we felt an earthquake in 33° S. Lat. We put into a bay called the Bay of Quintera on the 30th of this month; where, the 1st of April, we had ten of our men slain, and two taken captive by the Spaniards: which great misfortune lighted on our men through their great recklessness, and want of circumspection; being suddenly surprised by the enemy, when they little thought of him. But on the 3rd day of the same month, the Hugh went forth to seaward, and found an island having a great store of pelicans and penguins upon it; whereof they brought good store unto us. And so furnishing ourselves here with fresh water, which we took in despite of them all: we left them, and their cruel harbour, and put out of the bay the 5th of April. Thus ranging along, we hauled in with a port call Mormorano, where we found a canoe and an Indian in it; which was fishing and had caught a very large tuny, wherewith he presented us. In our conference with him, he showed us the town, which was base and rude. But their government and behaviour are very strange: for when any of them dieth, they bury all his goods and stuff with him, as hooks, nets, canoe, and other trifles. So sailing along that shore, one of our ships called the Content, entered into a bay where a great deal of wine of Castile was buried in botisios in the sand; to the quantity of some 300 tuns, wherewith she laded herself; having lost our company. But they found us again at a town called Arica, where they gave us of their wine. In this harbour, we found |