University of Virginia Library

CHAP. XXI.

THe next morning after we had turned away the
Pacquet-Boat afore-mentioned, the weather being
very close, we espied another sail creeping close under our
Lee. This vessel looked mighty big; so that we thought
she had been one of their chiefest men of war, who was
sent to surprize or destroy us. Notwithstanding, our
brave Commander Captain Sharp resolved to fight her, and
either to take the said vessel, though never so big, or that
she should take us. Unto this effect, coming nearer unto
her, we easily perceived she was a Merchant ship of great
bulk, as most of your Spanish Vessels are, and withal, very
deeply laden. Being up with them, those within her fired
three or four Guns at us first, thinking to make their
party good against us. But we answered them briskly,
with a continual volley of small Arms, so that they soon
ran down into the Hold, and surrendered, crying aloud for
quarter. As it should seem we had killed in that Volley
their Captain, and one Seaman, and also wounded their
Boat-swain; which loss of their Commander daunted them
so suddenly, he being a man of good repute in those Seas.
Captain Sharp, with twelve more of our Company, entered
her the first. In this Vessel I saw the beautifullest woman
that I ever did see in all the South Sea. The name of the
Captain of this Vessel was Don Diego Lopez, and the ship
was called el Santo Rosario, or the Holy Rosary. The men
we found on board her, were about the number of forty,
more or less.

Having examined our prisoners, they informed us, that
the day before they set sail from el Callao (from which Port

they were going towards Panama) our men whom they had
taken prisoners at Arica, were brought in to that place.
And that they had been very civilly entertained there by all
sorts of people, but more especially by the women. That
one of our Surgeons, whom we suspected to be Mr. Bullock,
was left behind and remained still at Arica.

We lay at anchor from Friday, July the 29th, which was

the day we took this prize, until Wednesday following, at
the same place under Cape Passao that we anchored before.
Here we sunk the Bark that we had taken at the Gulf of
Nicoya, being willing to make use of what rigging she had,
and also to contract our number of men. In the mean
while we took out of the prize much plate, and some money
ready coyned, besides six hundred and twenty jarrs of
wine and brandy, and other things. Thus, leaving onely
the fore-mast standing in the said vessel, we turned her away,
as we had done the others before, together with all
the prisoners in her, giving them their liberty not to be
encumbred with them; and withal, being desirous to
spare our provisions as much as we could. We detained
onely one man, named Francisco, who was a Biscainer, by
reason he reported himself to be the best Pilot of those
Seas. This being done, we shared all the Plate and Linnen
taken in our prize, and weighed from thence, standing S. S.
E. with a fresh wind that sprang up.

Friday, August the 4th. This day we shared the ready
money taken in the Rosario, our last prize. Our dividend
came unto ninety four pieces of eight each man. Cape
Passao, under which all these prizes were taken, at N. E.
appeareth thus.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Cabo Passao.

The land runneth S. E. and is for five leagues together
to windward of this Cape, all mountainous and high
land.

The next day, being August the 5th, we compleated our
dividends, sharing this day all our odd money ready coined
and plate, with some other things.

Saturday, August the 6th. This day perusing some letters
taken in the last prize, I understood by them that the
Spaniards had taken prisoner one of the last party of our
men that left us. Also, that they were forced to fight all
their way over land as they went, both against the Spaniards
and the Indians; these having made peace with the
Spaniards since our departure, as was mentioned above.
That our English-men had killed, amongst other Spaniards,
the brother of Captain Assientos, and Captain Alonso, an
Officer so named. Moreover, that ten sail of Privateers
were coming out of the North Sea, with intent to march
over-land into the South Sea, as we had done before, but
that they were prevented, being forced back by the great
rains that fell near the Islands called Zamblas.

On August the 7th we had very fair weather, and not-

withstanding sometimes strong winds from shoar, and also
a strong Current to leeward. This ran so fierce against
us the next day, August the 8th, that in the space of the
last four and twenty hours we lost three leagues.

Tuesday August the ninth, we saw the Port and Town

of Manta; this being nothing else than sixteen or seventeen
stragling houses, with a large and high brick Church
belonging unto it. What we got in the day by the help of
the wind, we lost in the night by the current. The same
fortune we had the next day, for we still gained no way
all this while.

Thursday August the eleventh, all the night last past we
had but little wind; this day we had a violent current to
windward, as before, with some gusts of wind. However,
by the help of these we made shift to get to windward
of the Isle of Plate.

August the 12th, in the morning, we came to an anchor

at the aforesaid Isle. We sent our boat ashoar with men, as
we had done formerly to kill Goats, but we experimented
them to be extreamly shy and fugitive over what they
were the last year. Here it was that our Quarter-master
James Chappel and my self fought a Duel together on shoar.
In the evening of this day our slaves agreed among themselves,
and plotted to cut us all in pieces, not giving quarter
to any, when we should be buryed in sleep. They
conceived this night afforded them the fittest opportunity,
by reason we were all in drink. But they were discovered
unto our Commander by one of their own Companions.
And one of them named San Tiago, whom we
brought from Tqueque, leapt over-board; who notwithstanding
was shot in the water by our Captain, and thus
punished for his Treason. The rest laid the fault on that
slave, and so it passed, we being not willing to enquire any
farther into the matter, having terrifyed them with the
death of their companion. We lay at this Isle until Tuesday
following, and in the mean while gave our vessel a pair
of boots and tops, being very merry all the while with the
wine and brandy we had taken in the Prize.

On Tuesday August the 16th, in the afternoon, we weighed
from thence with a S. W. wind. The Island at N. W.
from us, gave us this following appearance.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Isla de la Plata.

Wednesday August the 17th, the Island at East, this
morning and at two leagues and an half distance, appeared
thus.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Island of PLATE.

All the day long until the evening we had a Leeward
current, but then I could not perceive any.

Thursday August the 18th, this morning we were to
windward of the Island of Solango. In the night before
we had continual misty rain. At noon the aforesaid Island
bore N. by E. of us, and at three Leagues distance appeared
thus.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Isla de Solango.

About three Leagues from Solango are two Rocks, called
Los ahorcados. They appear both high and black unto
the view. Besides this N. N. E. from Point St. Helena
is a high Rock, which to windward thereof runneth shoaling
for the space of half a mile under water. It is distant
about eight leagues, more or less, from the said Point, and
is called Chanduy. At this place, and upon this Rock, was
lost the ship afore-mentioned, that was ordered from these
Seas, to the aid of our most gracious Soveraign King Charles
the First, late King of England. Said ship had on board, as
the Spaniards relate, to the sum of many millions of pieces
of Eight; all which quantity of Plate was sent as a present
unto our King, being then in his troubles, by the worthy
Merchants of Lima. The Rock afore-mentioned lyeth about
two Leagues distant from the Main.

August the 29th, this day our Pilot told us, that since we

were to windward, a certain ship that was coming from
Lima, bound for Guayaquil, ran ashoar on Santa Clara, loosing
there in money, to the value of one hundred thousand
pieces of Eight; which otherwise, peradventure, we
might very fortunately have met withal. Moreover, that
the Viceroy of Peru had Beheaded their great Admiral
Ponce, for not coming to fight and destroy us, mean while
we were at Gorgona. This evening we saw the Point of
Santa Helena, at the distance of ten leagues to S.S.E. from
us.

August the 20th, this day we had both misty and cold

weather. In the afternoon we saw la Punta de Santa He-
lena, at N. E. by N. and at seven leagues distance more
or less.

On Sunday, August the 21st, we had a fair and clear
day. I reckoned my self this day to be about twenty five
leagues to the Southward of Santa Helena.

August the 22d. This morning about two of the clock
we came close in with the shoar. We found our selves to

be Leeward of a certain Point called Punta de Mero, which
is nothing else than a barren and rocky Point. Here
runneth an eddy current under the shoar.

Tuesday, August the 23d. This day in the morning we
had but little wind. At noon it blew fresh again. We
made all day but short trips, and riffed top-sails.

Wednesday, August the 24th. This morning a great
dew fell. At noon we were West from Cape Blanco. We
found by observation Lat. 4 D. 13 S. We resolved now to

bear up for Paita, and take it by surprizal if possible, thereby
to provide our selves with many necessaries that we
wanted.