University of Virginia Library

CHAP. XX.

OUr vessel being now careened, and all things in a readiness
for our departure, on Tuesday June the 28th
in the afternoon, we weighed anchor to go to Sea again,
turning out towards the mouth of Golfo Dulce. Our design
was to cruise under the Æquinoctial, as had been concluded
upon before, thereby to get what purchase we could
by Sea, seeing the greatest part of our attempts upon land
had proved hitherto very unsuccessful unto us.

Wednesday June the 29th, both the night last past and
this day we had rainy weather. About three in the afternoon
a fresh gale sprang up at S. W. and S.S.W. our course
being S. E. and S. E. by S. At five this evening the Gulf
bore N. W. by W. being seven leagues distant; and Punta
Borrica three leagues and an half distant.

Thursday June the 30th, all night past we enjoyed a fresh
gale at S.S.W. We sailed in the Barque (where I was) better
than the man of war; for so we called the Trinity vessel;
notwithstanding that she was newly cleansed and tallowed.
This day we had hasey weather, and I reckoned
my self from Punta Borrica S.S.E. eighteen leagues and an
half.

July the first 1681, last night we had two or three Tornados.
I reckoned this day a S.S.E. way, and by a clear observation,
found Lat. 6 d. 10. North. We saw great quantities
of fish as we sailed this day.

July the second, we made a S. East way, and our reckoning
was 64 by it. By observation I found Lat. 5 d. 20.
North. At noon the same day we had a fresh gale at S.W.
with some rain.

July the third, we had hasey weather. We made a S. E.
by S. way, and 37.

Munday July the fourth, the night past was windy with
rain, which forced us to hand our top-sails. Our reckoning
this day was a S. E. way, and an hundred miles.

July the fifth we had a clear night the last past, and withal,
a fresh gale. By this we made a S.E. way. Our Latitude
this day gave us 2 d. 20. North. This morning we
saw Land Southward of us lying in low hammocks. It
was the Point, so called, of Manglares.

Wednesday July the 6th, we turned up along shoar, and
by observation took this day, Lat. 2 d. 02 N. Hereabouts
every new Moon is experimented a windward current. In
the evening of this day we were close in with low land.
We had windy weather and a great Sea.

Thursday July the seventh, this day by observation taken,
we found Lat. 01 d. 48. North. In the evening of
the said day we lost sight of the said ship.

The next day being July the eighth, we saw the ship again,
whose loss began to create some concern in our minds.
This day we made very high land all along as we went.
And the Port, or rather Bay, of San Mateo, or St. Matthews,
appeared unto us like several Islands.

Saturday July the ninth, this morning we stood fair in
with the Port of Tucames. Off of the highest part of
the land seemeth to lye a Key. At the North East point
of the Port it appeareth exactly thus.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Puerto de Tucames.

This day at noon we had a clear observation, which gave
us Lat. 01 d 22 North.

Sunday July the tenth, last night past we stood off to
Sea, thereby to keep clear of the shoar. This days observation
shewed us Lat. 01 d. 31. North. About noon the

same day we hapned to espy a Sail, unto which immediately
we gave chace. We bore up one point of the Compass,
thereby to hinder her lasking away; but notwithstanding
in the evening lost sight of her again. However,
our great ship got up with her, and about eight of the clock
at night made her a Prize. She proved to be the same ship
named San Pedro, which we had taken the last year, being
then bound from Truxillo to Panama, and laden with Wine,
Gunpowder, and pieces of Eight, whereof mention was
made in its due place. Thus this same bottom became
doubly fortunate unto us, being twice taken by us in the
space of fourteen Months. For she had on board her now
twenty one thousand pieces of Eight, in eight Chests, and
in bags sixteen thousand more, besides Plate.

Munday and Tuesday the 11th and 12th of the said
Month we made in for the shoar. Our Prize was so deeply
laden, that she seemed clearly to be buryed in the water.
She had forty men on board her besides some Merchants
and Fryars. On Tuesday an observation gave us Lat. 1
d. 20 N.

Wednesday July the 13th, this day we dared not adventure
into the Bay of San Mateo, because we saw some In-

dians who had made a great fire on shoar, which as we
judged, was designedly done to give intelligence of our arrival.
Hereupon we bore away for the River of San Tiago,
six leagues more or less, distant from the Bay aforementioned,
to the North East. Thursday, Friday, and Sa-
turday of the said week, we spent in taking out what parcels
of Cacao-nut we thought fit from on board the Prize,
which was chiefly laden with the said Commodity. This
being done, we cut down the Main-mast by the board, and
gave them only their Main-sail, and thus turning the ship
loose, sent away in her all our old slaves, for the good service
they had done us, taking new ones from the Prize in
their room. One only we still detained, who was Francisco
the Negro, that attempted to run away by swimming
ashoar, as was mentioned above.

Sunday July the 17th, this day we went from the ship,

and found the River of San Tiago afore-mentioned. At
the mouth of this River we stayed Munday and Tuesday
following to take in water, which we now much wanted.
On the sides of the River we found good store of Plantans.
Our fresh water we fetched the distance of four miles up
the River. We saw several Indians, but could not speak
with them, they were so shy of us, being forewarned by
the Spaniards not to come near us.

On wednesday July the 20th, we shared our plunder a-

mong our selves, or rather this day made part of the dividend
of what we had taken, the rest being reserved to another
day. Our prisoners being examined, informed us,
that the Spaniards had taken up our Anchors and Cables
which we left behind us at the Isle of Juan Fernandez. Also
that they had surprized the Mosquito Indian that we left
behind us there on shoar, by the light of a fire which he
made in the night upon the Isle.

Tuesday July the twenty first, all the four and twenty

hours last past, we stood off and in. The next day we
shared the rest of our things taken in the Prize; as also the
Money that was in the bags; the rest we laid up to divide
upon another occasion. Especially after such time as we
were got through the Straights of Magallanes. Our dividend
amounted to the sum of 234 Pieces of Eight unto
each man. Our prisoners informed us this day, that a new
Vice-roy of Peru was arrived at Panama, and that he dared
not adventure up to Lima in a ship of twenty five guns
that was at Panama, for fear of meeting with us at Sea, but
had chose rather to stay until the Armada came down from
Lima to safeguard and conduct him thither.

July the 23 we had a fresh breeze at S.W. And the next
day a clear observation, which gave us only Latitude 14.
m. North. This day Cape San Francisco at N. E. appeared
thus unto us.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Cabo de San Francisco.

Munday July the 25th, this day we observed Latitude
01 d. 20 S. And we had a South West wind. July the
26th, this morning we had a very great dew fallen in the
night last past. The weather in like manner was very
close. On Wednesday July the 27th Cape Passao, at S.S.W.
and at six leagues distance appeared thus.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Cabo Passao.

The same morning about seven of the clock we espied

a sail E.S.E. from us, under the shoar. We presently gave
her close chace, as eagerly as we could, and about noon
came up with her. But several of the people belonging to
her were already got to shoar, whereby they made their escape
from being taken our prisoners. These were chiefly a
Fryar, who was either a passenger, or Chaplain to the vessel,
and five Negroes. She proved to be a Barco de Avi-

VVhich is taken.

so, or Pacquet-boat that was going with Letters from Panama
to Lima. In this Barque we took among other Prisoners,
two white women who were passengers to the same
place. Both these and the rest of the prisoners told us,
they had heard at Panama, that we were all gone out of
these Seas homewards over land, and that made them adventure
now up towards Lima, otherwise they had not
come. This day and Thursday following, we spent in taking
out of the Pacquet-boat what we could find in her;
which all were things of no considerable value, they having
scarce brought any thing with them but the Pacquet. They
told us moreover, that the new Vice-roy of Peru, of whom
we made mention above, was setting forth from Panama
under the conduct of three sail of ships; the one of sixteen,
the other of eight, and the third of six Guns. That
a general peace was all over Europe, excepting only that the
English had wars with the Argerines by Sea, and the Spaniards
by land. Having got what we could out of the prisoners
and the vessel, we gave them their liberty, and sent
them away in the same Barque, as being desirous not to encumber
ourselves with more then we could well manage.
That night we stood out to Sea all night long, most of
our men being fudled.