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| June 20 |
224. Peter Jefferey to [Earl of Leicester?] Left Hampton 1st May 1852, remained at Hurst Castle and Cowes till the 21st. At Dartmouth 24th May, Plymouth 1st June. Arrived at the Canaries 16th June, and on 26th anchored at one of the islands tailed Bonavista for water, but found none. Discoveries to be made on land, but the General bore off to sea, “which forced us to follow without watering.” July 20, off the coast of Guinea. August 2, resolved to go back to Sierra Leone, where they arrived 9th, and remained till 1st September. The Elizabeth sold. ..... December 1st, fell in with the coast of Brazil, where the ships watered and departed for the straits; a Spanish bark taken on the 12th; report of the Spaniards' preparations against the English in the straits. Consultation on board the Leicester; opinions as to the ship's course; resolution of the General not to go to the Cape of Good Hope or the Straits of Magellan. January 20, came to St. Vincent. Dealings with the inhabitants for trade; presents to the Governor. 23rd, one Withand [John Whithall], sometimes Mr. Doro's [Joseph Dory] man, who was married there, came aboard to see whether they were merchants which the Portugals doubted, and had fortified the town for fear of the English. Arrival of three of the King of Spain's ships the next day; the fight; the Spanish Vice–Admiral sunk, and three boats' full of dead men brought to land. The English lost 5 men from the Edward and 11 hurt, and 1 from the Leicester and 19 hurt. The report of the Leicester “leaving us fighting with them yet is true.” Left the Bay of St. Vincent 27th; accidents through bad weather and contrary winds; not able to recover [the Leicester]; the 29th Jan. compelled to keep of and on at sea. Could not recover any place on the coast of Africa to refresh themselves, but were forced to the coast of Brazil to seek fresh water, “where we lost five of our men, and 12 hurt by the [treachery of] Indians, 12th March 1583, being forced thence to the sea.” Arrived at Plymouth 29th May. Of 60 persons or thereabouts, not six sound or healthful. Has thus set down according to his honour's commands, as his simple memory would serve “the effect of all things that past in this our sorrowful travel.” [Three pages and a half. Mutilated by fire. Brit. Mus., Otho, VIII., fols. 163, 164. Hakluyt prints, IV., 199–201, a letter from John Whithall, dated from Santos in Brazil 26th June 1578.] |
June 29.
From aboard the
galleon Leicester
in the Downs. |
225. Captain Edward Fenton to Lord Treasurer Burghley. Is sorry to advertize him of the bad success of “our voyage.” Contrary winds prevented their proceeding by Cape Bona Spei, accord–to instructions. The coast of Brazil was not gained till the 1st of December; were forced to water there; named the place the Bay of Good Comfort. Reasons for not passing by the Straits of Magellan, being out of hope to pass the Cape of Good Hope, through contrary winds and want of victuals. Certain intelligence by some Spanish friars they took in a small bark passing for the River Plate, of the King of Spain's fleet of 15 sail, with 3,000 men under Don Diego Flores, on the coast of Brazil, bound to the Straits of Magellan. Summoned his assistants in council on 20th December, and proposed either to go to the River Plate or St. Vincent on the coast of Brazil, where was great hope of necessary supplies, to enable them to pass by the Cape of Good Hope, or at least to vent their merchandise in honest trade; and in so great an extremity make their lordships rather gainers than losers by it. Arrived at St. Vincent 20th January following, with the Edward Bonaventure, the bark Francis having left him on 21st December. Wrote to the captain in English through the advice of one John Whitall; was told that they, being subjects of the King of Spain, had express orders to deny the French, and especially the English any relief “in respect of the spoils and robberies committed by Sir Fras. Drake in the South Sea; but by gaining their favour and friendship were supplied with victuals and traded for such sugars as they had. Sudden arrival of three Spanish ships with 700 soldiers and marines. Account of a hot fight which began at 9 at night, and continued until the next afternoon; the Vice–Admiral, a Spanish ship equal to Fenton's, and full of able men, was sunk. Did not lose above five men, twenty were hurt. Praises the valour and courage of his company, and recommends the bearer, Captain Parker, no less valiant than dutiful, as well able to serve the Queen and his country by sea and land. Their honest proceedings overthrown by the King of Spain's forces, or he dares well assure him they had brought home in honest trade above 40,000l. or 50,000l. Such wrongs not to be put up with. A great number of the Queen's subjects adventuring in this voyage utterly undone, for whom he begs some relief Departure of the Edward Bonaventure, and hopes of trade at St. Spirito, if he durst have stayed here. Desires some one may be appointed to receive the ship and goods from him; and that some disorderly speeches and great disobedience, which touch him very nearly in reputation and credit, may be examined into. [Five pages. Domestic, Eliz., Vol. CLXI., No. 16.] |
June 29.
Galleon
Leicester,
in the Downs. |
226. Capt. Fenton to Earl of Leicester. Copy of the preceding letter with additional postscript. Recommends to his good favour Mr. Walker, his lordship's chaplain, “if he be returned,” Mr. Banester, [surgeon,] most sufficient in his art, and Mr. Cotton, in every way an honest and valiant gentleman, who was sore hurt in the fight. [Five pages. Mutilated by fire. Brit. Mus., Otho, VIII., fols. 157–159. It has already been stated that John Walker, the minister, died at sea on board the Edward Bonaventure the 5th February preceding the date of this letter.] |
| 1583? |
227. “A note as well of the divers sorts of victuals paid for furnishing the galleon Leicester, as [of] such as were spent in the said ship, together with the decays [and] the wants thereof.” [One page. Brit. Mus., Lansdowne, CXIII., No. 13.] |
