Therefore Upon Further Enquiry It Was Known How This Company Met With
A Bark Returning Home After The Fishing With
His freight; and because
the men in the /Swallow/ were very near scanted of victuals, and
chiefly of apparel, doubtful
Withal where or when to find and meet
with their Admiral, they besought the captain that they might go
aboard this /Newlander/, only to borrow what might be spared, the
rather because the same was bound homeward. Leave given, not without
charge to deal favourably, they came aboard the fisherman, whom they
rifled of tackle, sails, cables, victuals, and the men of their
apparel; not sparing by torture, winding cords about their heads, to
draw out else what they thought good. This done with expedition, like
men skilful in such mischief, as they took their cockboat to go aboard
their own ship, it was overwhelmed in the sea, and certain of these
men there drowned; the rest were preserved even by those silly souls
whom they had before spoiled, who saved and delivered them aboard the
/Swallow/. What became afterwards of the poor /Newlander/, perhaps
destitute of sails and furniture sufficient to carry them home,
whither they had not less to run than 700 leagues, God alone knoweth;
who took vengeance not long after of the rest that escaped at this
instant, to reveal the fact, and justify to the world God's judgments
indicted upon them, as shall be declared in place convenient.
Thus after we had met with the /Swallow/, we held on our course
southward, until we came against the harbour called St. John, about
five leagues from the former Cape of St. Francis, where before the
entrance into the harbour, we found also the frigate or /Squirrel/
lying at anchor; whom the English merchants, that were and always be
Admirals by turns interchangeably over the fleets of fishermen within
the same harbour, would not permit to enter into the harbour. Glad of
so happy meeting, both of the /Swallow/ and frigate in one day, being
Saturday, the third of August, we made ready our fights, and prepared
to enter the harbour, any resistance to the contrary notwithstanding,
there being within of all nations to the number of 36 sails. But first
the General despatched a boat to give them knowledge of his coming for
no ill intent, having commission from her Majesty for his voyage he
had in hand; and immediately we followed with a slack gale, and in the
very entrance, which is but narrow, not above two butts' length, the
Admiral fell upon a rock on the larboard side by great oversight, in
that the weather was fair, the rock much above water fast by the
shore, where neither went any sea-gate. But we found such readiness in
the English merchants to help us in that danger, that without delay
there were brought a number of boats, which towed off the ship, and
cleared her of danger.
Having taken place convenient in the road, we let fall anchors, the
captains and masters repairing aboard our Admiral; whither also came
immediately the masters and owners of the fishing fleet of Englishmen,
to understand the General's intent and cause of our arrival there.
They were all satisfied when the General had shewed his commission and
purpose to take possession of those lands to the behalf of the crown
of England, and the advancement of the Christian religion in those
paganish regions, requiring but their lawful aid for repairing of his
fleet, and supply of some necessaries, so far as conveniently might be
afforded him, both out of that and other harbours adjoining.
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