Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/55

 ende his dayes, or ouercome his enemie.

Moreouer, although the men be tawny of colour and go continually naked, yet their women be faire of complexion and go more apparelled.

After they had thus described the state of the yland, and the orders and facions of the people; they tolde vs farther, that if their king Don Antonio would come vnto them, they would warrant him to haue all the Malucos at commandement, besides China, Sangles, and the yles of the Philippinas, and that hee might be assured to haue all the Indians on his side that are in the countrey. After we had fully contented these Portugals, and the people of Iaua which brought vs victuals in their Canoas, they tooke their leaue of vs with promise of good entertainement at our returnes, and our Generall gaue them three great pieces of Ordinance at their departing.

Thus the next day being the 16. of March we set saile towards the Cape of good hope, called by the Portugals Cabo de buena Esperança on the Southermost coast of Africa.

The rest of March and all the moneth of April wee spent in trauersing that mightie and vaste sea, between the yle of Iaua and the maine of Africa, obseruing the heauens, the Crosier or South-pole, the other starres, the foules, which are markes vnto the Sea men of faire weather, foule weather, approching of lands or ylands, the winds, the tempests, the raines and thunders, with the alterations of tides and currents.

The 10. day of May we had a storme at the West, and it blew so hard that it was as much as the ship could stirre close by vnder the wind: and the storme continued al that day and al that night.

The next day being the 11. of May in the morning one of the company went into the top, and espied land bearing North, and North and by West off vs, and about noone wee espied land to beare West off vs, which as we did imagine was the cape of Buena Esperança, whereof indeed we were short some 40. or 50. leagues: and by reason of the skantnesse of the winde we stood along to the Southeast vntill midnight; at which time the winde came faire, and we haled along Westward.

The 12. and 13. dayes we were becalmed, and the sky was very hazie and thicke vntil the 14. day at three of the clocke in the afternoone, at which time the sky cleared, and we espied