Sir Francis Drake's Famous Voyage Round the World eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 38 pages of information about Sir Francis Drake's Famous Voyage Round the World.

Sir Francis Drake's Famous Voyage Round the World eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 38 pages of information about Sir Francis Drake's Famous Voyage Round the World.
themselves in their actions with comeliness.  In the fore-front was a man of goodly personage, who bare the sceptre or mace before the king; whereupon hanged two crowns, a less and a bigger, with three chains of a marvellous length.  The crowns were made of knit work, wrought artificially with feathers of divers colours.  The chains were made of a bony substance, and few be the persons among them that are admitted to wear them; and of that number also the persons are stinted, as some ten, some twelve, etc.  Next unto him which bare the sceptre, was the king himself, with his guard about his person, clad with coney skins, and other skins.  After them followed the naked common sort of people, every one having his face painted, some with white, some with black, and other colours, and having in their hands one thing or another for a present.  Not so much as their children, but they also brought their presents.

In the meantime our General gathered his men together, and marched within his fenced place, making, against their approaching, a very warlike show.  They being trooped together in their order, and a general salutation being made, there was presently a general silence.  Then he that bare the sceptre before the king, being informed by another, whom they assigned to that office, with a manly and lofty voice proclaimed that which the other spake to him in secret, continuing half an hour.  Which ended, and a general Amen, as it were, given, the king with the whole number of men and women, the children excepted, came down without any weapon; who, descending to the foot of the hill, set themselves in order.  In coming towards our bulwarks and tents, the sceptre-bearer began a song, observing his measures in a dance, and that with a stately countenance; whom the king with his guard, and every degree of persons, following, did in like manner sing and dance, saving only the women, which danced and kept silence.  The General permitted them to enter within our bulwark, where they continued their song and dance a reasonable time.  When they had satisfied themselves, they made signs to our General to sit down; to whom the king and divers others made several orations, or rather supplications, that he would take their province and kingdom into his hand, and become their king, making signs that they would resign unto him their right and title of the whole land, and become his subjects.  In which, to persuade us the better, the king and the rest, with one consent, and with great reverence, joyfully singing a song, did set the crown upon his head, enriched his neck with all their chains, and offered him many other things, honouring him by the name of Hioh, adding thereunto, as it seemed, a sign of triumph; which thing our General thought not meet to reject, because he knew not what honour and profit it might be to our country.  Wherefore in the name, and to the use of her Majesty, he took the sceptre, crown, and dignity of the said country into his hands, wishing that the riches and treasure thereof might so conveniently be transported to the enriching of her kingdom at home, as it aboundeth in the same.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Sir Francis Drake's Famous Voyage Round the World from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.