vse all possible expedition to bring in more commodities:
but the common sicknesse so increased and continued
amongst vs all, that by the time our men which remained
were come aboord, we had so many sicke and dead of
our companie, that we looked all for the same happe,
and so thought to loose both our ship, life, countrey
and all. Very hardly and with much adoe could
we get vp our ankers, but yet at last by the mercie
of God hauing gotten them vp, but leauing our pinnesse
behind vs, we got to sea, and set saile, which was
vpon the 13 of Aprill. After which by little and
little our men beganne to gather vp their crums and
to recouer some better strength: and so sailing
betwixt the Ilands of Cape Verde, and the maine we
came to the Islands of the Azores vpon the 25 of Iuly,
where our men beganne a fresh to grow ill, and divers
died, among whom Samuel Dun was one, and as many as
remained liuing were in a hard case: but in the
midst of our distresse, it fell so well out, by Gods
good prouidence, that we met with your ship the Barke
Burre, on this side the North cape, which did not only
keepe vs good companie, but also sent vs sixe fresh
men aboord, without whose helpe, we should surely
haue tasted of many inconueniences. But by this
good meanes we are now at the last arriued in Plimouth,
this 9 day of September: and for want of better
health at this time, I referre the further knowledge
of more particularities till my comming to London.
Yours to commaund Antony Ingram.
* * * *
*
The second voyage to Benin, set foorth by Master Iohn
Newton, and Master
Iohn Bird Marchants of London in the yeere
1590 with a ship called the
Richard of Arundell of the burthen of
one hundreth tunnes, and a small
pinnesse, in which voyage Master Iames
Welsh was chiefe Maister.
The third of September 1590 we set saile from Ratclife,
and the 18 of the said moneth we came into Plimouth
sound, and the two and twentieth we put to sea againe,
and at midnight we were off the Lisart, and so passed
on our voyage vntill the 14 of October, on which day
we had sight of Forteuentura one of the Canarie Islands,
which appeared very ragged as we sailed by it.
The 16 of October, in the latitude of 24 degrees and
nine minutes we met with a great hollow sea, the like
whereof I neuer saw on this coast, and this day there
came to the ships side a monstrous great fish (I thinke
it was a Gobarto) which put vp his head to the steepe
tubs where the cooke was in shifting the victuals,
whom I thought the fish would haue caried away.
The 21 in this latitude of 18 degrees we met with
a countersea out of the North boord, and the last
voyage in this very place we had the countersea out
of the South, being very calme weather as now it is
also.
[Sidenote: A token of a Northerly winde.] The
24 we had sight of Cauo Verde, and the 25 we met with
a great hollow sea out of the North, which is a common
signe that the winde will be Northerly, and so it prooued.