On the 28. the winde changed, and it was sette on foule weather
every way: but this storme brought the winde West and
Northwest, and blewe so forcibly, that wee were able to beare
no sayle, but our fore-course halfe mast high, wherewith wee
ranne upon the winde perforce, the due course for England, for
that wee were driven to change our first determination for
Trynidad, and stoode for the Ilands of Açores, where wee
purposed to take in fresh water, and also there hoped to meete
with some English men of warre about those Ilands, at whose
hands wee might obtaine some supply of our wants. And thus
continuing our course for the Açores, sometimes with calmes,
and sometimes with very scarce windes, on the fifteenth of
September the winde came South Southeast, and blew so
exceedingly, that wee were forced to lye atry all that day. At this
time by account we judged our selves to be about twentie
leagues to the West of Cuervo and Flores, but about night the
storme ceased, and fayre weather ensued.
On Thursday the seventeenth wee saw Cuervo and Flores, but
we could not come to anker that night, by reason the winde
shifted. The next Morning being the eighteenth, standing in
againe with Cuervo, we escryed a sayle ahead us, to whom we
gave chase: but when wee came neere him, we knew him to be
a Spanyard, and hoped to make sure purchase of him: but we
understood at our speaking with him, that he was a prize, and of
the Domingo fleete already taken by the John our consort, in the
Indies. We learned also of this prize, that our Viceadmirall and
Pinnesse had fought with the rest of the Domingo fleete, and
had forced them with their Admirall to flee unto Jamaica under
the Fort for succour, and some of them ran themselves aground,
whereof one of them they brought away, and tooke out of some
others so much as the time would permit. And further wee
understood of them, that in their returne from Jamaica about the
Organes neere Cape Saint Anthony, our Viceadmirall mette with
two Shippes of the mayne land, come from Mexico, bound for
Havana, with whom he fought: in which fight our Viceadmirals
Lieutenant was slaine, and the Captaines right arme strooken
off, with foure other of his men slaine, and sixteene hurt. But in
the ende he entred, and tooke one of the Spanish shippes, which
was so sore shot by us under water, that before they could take
out her treasure she sunke; so that we lost thirteene Pipes of
silver which sunke with her, besides much other rich
marchandize. And in the meane time the other Spanish shippe
being pearced with nine shotte under water, got away; whom
our ViceadmiraII intended to pursue: but some of their men in
the toppe made certaine rockes, which they saw above water
neere the shoare, to be Gallies of Havana and Cartagena,
comming from Havana to rescue the two Ships; Wherefore they
gave over their chase, and went for England. After this
intelligence was given us by this our prize, he departed from us,
and went for England.
On Saturday the 19. of
September we came to an
Ancre neere a small village
on the North side of Flores,
where we found ryding 5 English men of warre, of whom wee
understood that our Viceadmirall and Prize were gone thence
for England. One of these five was the Moonelight our
consort, who upon the first sight of our comming into Flores,
set sayle and went for England, not taking any leave of us.
On Sunday the 20. the Mary Rose, Admirall of the Queenes
fleete, wherein was Generall Sir John Hawkins, stood in with
Flores, and divers other of the Queenes ships, namely the
Hope, the Nonpareilia, the Rainebow, the Swift-sure, the
Foresight, with many other good merchants ships of warre, as
the Edward Bonaventure, the Marchant Royal, the Amitie, the
Eagle, the Dainty of sir John Hawkins, and many other good
ships and pinnesses, all attending to meete with the king of
Spaines fleete, comming from Terra firma of the West Indies.
The 22. of September we went aboard the Raynebow, and
towards night we spake with the Swift-sure, and gave him 3.
pieces. The captaines desired our company; wherefore we
willingly attended on them: who at this time with 10. other
ships stood for Faial. But the Generall with the rest of the
Fleete were separated from us, making two fleetes, for the
surer meeting with the Spanish fleete.
On Wednesday the 23. we saw Gratiosa, where the Admiral
and the rest of the Queenes fleete were come together. The
Admirall put forth a flag of counsel, in which was determined
that the whole fleete should go for the mayne, and spred
themselves on the coasts of Spaine and Portugal, so farre as
conveniently they might, for the surer meeting of the Spanish
fleete in those parts.
The 26. we came to Faial, where the Admiral with some other
of the fleete ankred, othersome plyed up and downe betweene
that and the Pico untill midnight, at which time the Antony
shot off a piece and weyed, shewing his light: after whom the
whole fleete stood to the East, the winde at North- east by
East.
On Sunday the 27. towards Evening wee tooke our leave of
the Admirall and the whole fleete, who stood to the East. But
our shippe accompanied with a Flyboate stoode in againe with
S. George, where we purposed to take in more fresh water,
and some other fresh victuals.
On Wednesday the 30. of September, seeing the winde hang
so Northerly, that wee could not atteine the Iland of S.
George, we gave over our purpose to water there, and the next
day framed our due course for England.
The 2. of October in the Morning we saw S. Michaels Iland
on our Starre board quarter.
The 23. at 10. of the clocke afore noone, we saw Ushant in
Britaigne. On Saturday the 24. we came in safetie, God be
thanked, to an anker at
Plymmouth.
THE FIFT VOYAGE OF M. JOHN WHITE INTO THE WEST INDIES AND PARTS OF AMERICA CALLED
VIRGINIA IN THE YEERE 1590
as collected in
HAKLUYT'S VOYAGES