The Platform Whereon The Ordnance Lay Was Whole Bodies Of Long Pine-
Trees, Whereof There Is Great Plenty, Laid Across One On Another And
Some Little Earth Amongst.
There were in it thirteen or fourteen great
pieces of brass ordnance and a chest unbroken up, having in it the
value of some two thousand pounds sterling, by estimation, of the
king's treasure, to pay the soldiers of that place, who were a hundred
and fifty men.
The fort thus won, which they called St. John's Fort, and the day
opened, we assayed to go to the town, but could not by reason of some
rivers and broken ground which was between the two places. And
therefore being enforced to embark again into our pinnaces, we went
thither upon the great main river, which is called, as also the town,
by the name of St. Augustine. At our approaching to land, there were
some that began to shew themselves, and to bestow some few shot upon
us, but presently withdrew themselves. And in their running thus away,
the Sergeant-Major finding one of their horses ready saddled and
bridled, took the same to follow the chase; and so overgoing all his
company, was by one laid behind a bush shot through the head; and
falling down therewith, was by the same and two or three more, stabbed
in three or four places of his body with swords and daggers, before
any could come near to his rescue. His death was much lamented, being
in very deed an honest wise gentleman, and soldier of good experience,
and of as great courage as any man might be.
In this place called St. Augustine we understood the king did keep, as
is before said, 150 soldiers, and at another place some dozen leagues
beyond to the northwards, called St. Helena, he did there likewise
keep 150 more, serving there for no other purpose than to keep all
other nations from inhabiting any part of all that coast; the
government whereof was committed to one Pedro Melendez, marquis,
nephew to that Melendez the Admiral, who had overthrown Master John
Hawkins in the Bay of Mexico some 17 or 18 years ago. This governor
had charge of both places, but was at this time in this place, and one
of the first that left the same.
Here it was resolved in full assembly of captains, to undertake the
enterprise of St. Helena, and from thence to seek out the inhabitation
of our English countrymen in Virginia, distant from thence some six
degrees northward. When we came thwart of St. Helena, the shoals
appearing dangerous, and we having no pilot to undertake the entry, it
was thought meetest to go hence alongst. For the Admiral had been the
same night in four fathom and a half, three leagues from the shore;
and yet we understood, by the help of a known pilot, there may and do
go in ships of greater burden and draught than any we had in our
fleet. We passed thus along the coast hard aboard the shore, which is
shallow for a league or two from the shore, and the same is low and
broken land for the most part. The ninth of June upon sight of one
special great fire (which are very ordinary all alongst this coast,
even from the Cape of Florida hither) the General sent his skiff to
the shore, where they found some of our English countrymen that had
been sent thither the year before by Sir Walter Raleigh, and brought
them aboard; by whose direction we proceeded along to the place which
they make their port. But some of our ships being of great draught,
unable to enter, anchored without the harbour in a wild road at sea,
about two miles from shore. From whence the General wrote letters to
Master Ralph Lane, being governor of those English in Virginia, and
then at his fort about six leagues from the road in an island which
they called Roanoac; wherein especially he shewed how ready he was to
supply his necessities and wants, which he understood of by those he
had first talked withal.
The morrow after, Master Lane himself and some of his company coming
unto him, with the consent of his captains he gave them the choice of
two offers, that is to say: either he would leave a ship, a pinnace,
and certain boats with sufficient masters and mariners, together
furnished with a month's victual, to stay and make further discovery
of the country and coasts, and so much victual likewise as might be
sufficient for the bringing of them all (being an hundred and three
persons) into England, if they thought good after such time, with any
other thing they would desire, and that he might be able to spare: or
else, if they thought they had made sufficient discovery already, and
did desire to return into England, he would give them passage. But
they, as it seemed, being desirous to stay, accepted very thankfully
and with great gladness that which was offered first. Whereupon the
ship being appointed and received into charge by some of their own
company sent into her by Master Lane, before they had received from
the rest of the fleet the provision appointed them, there arose a
great storm (which they said was extraordinary and very strange) that
lasted three days together, and put all our fleet in great danger to
be driven from their anchoring upon the coast; for we brake many
cables, and lost many anchors; and some of our fleet which had lost
all, of which number was the ship appointed for Master Lane and his
company, were driven to put to sea in great danger, in avoiding the
coast, and could never see us again until we met in England. Many also
of our small pinnaces and boats were lost in this storm.
Notwithstanding, after all this, the General offered them, with
consent of his captains, another ship with some provisions, although
not such a one for their turns as might have been spared them before,
this being unable to be brought into their harbour:
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