Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/111

 *gence, but for our own offences against the diuine Maiesty we are presently punished; lastly, let vs forgiue one another and be reconciled as children in loue and charity, and not think vpon the vanities of this life: so shall we in leauing this life liue with our glorious redeemer, or abiding in this life, find fauour with God. And now (good master) forasmuch as you haue bin in this vovage once before with your master the general, satisfie the company of such truths, as are to you best knowen; and you the rest of the generals men, which likewise haue bin with him in his first voyage if you hear any thing contrary to the truth, spare not to reprooue it, I pray you. And so I beseech the Lord to bestow his mercy vpon vs. Then the master began in these speeches: Captain your request is very reasonable, and I referre to your iudgment my honest care, and great pains taken in the generals seruice, my loue towardes him, and in what sort I haue discharged my duety, from the first day to this houre. I was commanded by the general to follow your directions, which hitherto I haue performed. You all knowe, that when I was extreamely sicke, the General was lost in my mates watch, as you have well examined: sithens which time, in what anguish and griefe of minde I haue liued, God onely knoweth, and you are in some part a witnesse. And nowe if you thinke good to returne, I will not gainesay it: but this I assure you, if life may be preserued by any meanes, it is in proceeding. For at the Isle of Santa Maria I doe assure you of wheate, porke, and rootes enough.

Also I will bring you to an Isle, where Pelicans bee in great abundance, and at Santos wee shall haue meale in great abundance, and at Santos, wee shall haue meale in great plenty, besides all our possibilitie of intercepting some shippes vpon the coast of Chili and Peru. But if wee returne these is nothing but death to be hoped for; therefore do as you like, I am ready, but my desire is to proceede.

These his specches being confirmed by others that were in the former voyage, there was a generall consent of proceeding; and so the second of October we put into the South sea, and were free of all land. This night the winde began to blowe very much at Westnorthwest, and still increased in fury, so that wee were in great doubt what course to take: to put into the Streights wee durst not for lacke of ground-tackle: to beare sayle wee doubted, the tempest was so furious, and our sayles so