Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/190

 *ceeded any further; and named two places, The riuer of Plate, or S. Vincent, to be chosen.

For the better deciphering of the riuer of Plate, and the commodities thereof, was called before vs, Richard Carter, which doth dwell there; who could not assure vs of any wine, except we could stay foure moneths for it: but other victuals plenty. The riuer is shoale and dangerous, the roade seuen leagues from any towne, or place of commodity: which considered, with the trechery that might from thence be vsed, into the streights by sea, and into Peru by land, we all concluded to go to S. Vincent, which place is inhabited with Portugals, and where in honest sort we might conueniently haue all our businesse done.

With this resolution we tooke our leaues about eight a clocke at night, and being come aboord, presently bare vp, and went roome, hauing all the day before beat vp the winde larboord-tacked Eastsoutheast till at night: after it was a little winde all night, we went North next hand.

The 21 day, after seruice, I declared vnto my company the intent of our returne to the port of S. Vincent, wherewith they were well satisfied, being before doubtfull that we should not proceed, but returne without performance of our voyage. It continued calme all day till six at night, then we went Northwest by west till eight at night, and then we cast about, and stood off Eastsoutheast, and East by south all night with a good gale.

The 22 in the morning we missed the Francis, which by all presumption went roome in the beginning of the night.

The 25 day, being Christmasse day, it was little wind in the forenoone till ten a clocke; then it blew a fresh gale, with which wee went our course Northnortheast, and North, and North by west, till midnight. Then being in shoaled water, wee cast about, and lay Southsoutheast, and Southeast by south, an houre; and seeing our admirall came not after vs, we cast about backe againe, and presently met him: so we went both together next hand, Southsoutheast all the rest of the night.

This afternoone we saw the skin of fishes so thicke in the sea, that it seemed a