|
May 1.
Netley. |
199. Henry Ughtrede to Leicester. Trusts the ships will make a prosperous voyage. In the forenoon, before their departure, Rich. Madox, his lordships' chaplain made a godly ... eloquent sermon in the ship before 300 people, and showed himself to be a chaplain worthy of so honorable a patron. Great pains taken by Alderman Barne, Mr. Towerson, and Mr. Castelyne, to further the dispatch of the ships. Unruliness of the mariners; but now all is finished, and the ships are at sea with a prosperous wind. Prays they may have a safe return, “and I wish all the King of Spain his gold in their bellies, to temper the pride of such a tyrant.” [One page. Mutilated by fire. Brit. Mus., Otho, VIII., fol. 121.] |
| May 1. |
200. “Our second weighing at Cawshot” [Calshot], written by Richard Madox. A last muster of the whole company taken by Fenton, Alderman Barne, [Wm.] Towerson, and [John] Castelyne. In the Leicester were Edward Fenton, general; Wm. Hawkyna, lieutenant; Nycholas Parker, captain at land; Rich. Madox, minister; Myles Evans and Mathew Talbois, merchants; Christ. Hall, master; about 80 sailors, 24 necessary men, and 12 boys. In the Edward; Luke Warde, vice-admiral; John Walker, minister; Randolph Shawe and Peter Jefferey, merchants; Thos. Pearsie, master; about 54 sailors, 16 necessary men, and 8 boys. In the Francis: John Drake, captain; “Wm. Markham, master; 14 sailors and 2 boys. In the Elizabeth: Thos. Skevington, captain; Rafe Crane, master; 12 sailors, and 3 boys. When a league from the [Isle of] Wight, Alderman Barne and his company took leave. Continued plying between Yarmouth and Cowes for 20 days. [One page and a half. Brit. Mus., Sloane, 2146, fols. 72, 73.] |
| [May 1.] |
201. List of the names of those shipped in the galleon Leicester, Edward Bonaventure, Francis and Elizabeth. The following do not appear in the preceding list. In the Leicester: Thos. Beynham, merchant, John Banester, surgeon, Symon Fernandez, and Thos. Hode, pilots. In the Edward: Lewis Attmer, surgeon; Thos. Blackoller, pilot. In the Francis: Robt. Myssenden, surgeon. [Eight pages. Mutilated by fire. Brit. Mus., Otho, VIII., fols. 137, 138.] |
1582,
May 1,
to
1583,
Jan. 30. |
202. Journal of Fen ton's voyage, intended towards China and the East Indies, written by John Walker, chaplain on board the Edward Bonaventure, Capt. Luke Warde, from the 1st May, the day the fleet sailed from Southampton, to the 30th January 1583. There is nothing material in this journal which is not to be found in Warde's account, printed in Hakluyt, excepting some details of the sickness of Walker, who died on the 5th February, having been “weak and sick of the bloody flux six days.” [Forty-two pages. Mutilated by fire. Brit Mus., Otho, VIII., fols. 179, 200.] |
1582.
May 2.
Before Yar-
mouth, on board
the galleon
Leicester. |
203. “Articles set down by Edward Fenton, Esq., captain-general, appointed by Her Majesty for the discovery of China and Cathay, by the southward, to be observed by the whole fleet and Leicester, company under his conduct and government.” The usual service appointed by the Church of England to be said twice a day. Due reverence to be given to the ministers. Not to suffer swearing, dicing, card playing, or other vain talk. Conspiring against the life of the general, or any other in authority, to be punished by death. To follow the Admiral day and night, and no man to be so bold as to go before him. To speak with him every morning and night. Not to be more than an English mile from him. Signals. Not to give chase without the Admiral's orders. Watchwords, “If God be with us,” answer, “Who shall be against us.” Course to be taken if separated by evil weather. Signals on again meeting, when descrying land, and in foggy weather. Disordered persons to be punished on board the Admiral. For the fleet to repair to the Admiral. If an enemy be encountered rather to be on the defensive than offensive. [Three pages and a quarter. Copy by Richard Madox. Brit Mus., Sloane, 2146, fols. 73, 74.] |
| May? |
204. “Note of certain defects in the instructions and preparations for the voyage to China, &c, to be supplied.” For orders to be sent to the Commissioners at Southampton, Mr. Ughtrede, Alderman Barne, and Mr. Towerson, that some persons may be expressly appointed to remain behind under Capt. Carlile for “this intended voyage and discovery by land of the East parts of the world.” For commission and authority to be given to Carlile for keeping the people committed to his charge in discipline and good order of living, and for “Letters of direction” to be sent to Mr. Fenton, and all his assistants, to give all help and furtherance to Carlile and his company. [One page. Indorsed as above. Mutilated by fire. Brit. Mus., Otho, VIII., fol. 150.] |
| May 12. |
205. Note of the wares fit to be sold in Brazil, with the cost, total 2,000l. [Two pages and a half. Indorsed, “Mr. Fenton and Luke Warde's voyage.” Domestic, Eliz., Vol. CLIII., No. 43.] |
May 21
to
July 21. |
206. Journal by Richard Madox, chaplain of the Leicester, of occurrences during Fenton's voyage. First setting to sea, rough weather, putting in at Dartmouth and Torbay where the ships rode five days. Complaint by Wood, one of the pilots, of the ship's tackle and want of cable, which was sent by Sir Francis Drake with wine. “Great grudging and choler” through Capt. Hawkyns and some of the company being left behind at Plymouth, who came in the Francis about two hours after. The General exhorts them all to a friendly agreement, and with shaking of hands they were all dismissed. June 2: “Process of our voyage from England.” Lost sight of the Lizard. Discontent of the company because the General would not let a carvil of sugar and Canary wines be seized, on pretence of being bound in duty to spoil all Papists. Madox and Walker, the ministers, preach “against this pretence.” June 17: In sight of the Canaries, by the 20th had passed the Tropic of Cancer; the Elizabeth found fault with, also the provisions. June 24: “The first consultation held in the galleon Leicester on Midsummer Day at 2° of longitude and 18° of northern latitude,” athwart Cape Blanco; the matters considered being the course to be held from the islands of Cape de Verde, and the time to remain there for watering; and to see the barques provided with all things necessary. Signed by Edward Fenton, Luke Warde, Wm. Hawkyns, Nich. Parker, Ric. Madox, John Walker, Myles Evans, Randall Shawe, Mathew Talbois, and Peter Jefferey. Offer of Madox to digest their consultations in a book, to be presented on their return to the Privy Council_“for the better credit of this book I have annexed at the end thereof all those original copies which are signed with our own hands.” Capt. Parker's desire to choose his officers for service on land, he being appointed instead of Capt. Carlile to have the ordering of all on shore; not allowed by the General who “knew as yet of no great land service but to fetch in a barrel of water.” June 26, latitude 16°: “Of the island of Cape de Verde,” Madox advises the General to anchor to procure water. Capts. Warde and Parker sent in two pinnaces to search, with men and munition, “among whom I was also crept to see what would become of the matter;” two goats and a kid followed by two horsemen and a dog descried; the boats went not ashore, but two men swam to land, who brought word of a fair river, plenty of goats, great cattle, but no evident signs of people; fish and birds in great abundance; dangers of longer stay, so proceeded on the voyage. June 27: “From the isles of Cape de Verde to the coast of Guinea.” Course taken; the masters overruled by the pilots; tacking about; in so desperate a cause, some began to wax sick and some died. July 20, latitude 6°: “The first sight of the land of Guinea, and a consultation.” The master and pilots in some doubts where they were; the lieutenant and Wood affirmed to be Capo de Palmas; opinion of Evans. Discussion as to watering there; the General loth to go on land upon the coast of Guinea, fearing the contagion of the country. Mr. Hawkins said Sir Fras. Drake had watered this month at Sierra Leone; opinion of Wood and others as to whether they should take in water there. Whenever the Cape of Good Hope came in talk, the sailors acted “as though the name of Good Hope had put them out of all hope of pillage which was the thing they desired.” The General appoints to go back to Sierra Leone. July 21: “Of certain things which fell out after this time.” The General caused the course to be altered and put up again for the river of Plate: so “embayed” on all sides with land that the master had work enough to clear himself from it. [Seventeen pages. Brit. Mus., Sloane, 2146, fols. 75–83.] |
