It Was Also Ordered,
If Any Spanish Ship Should Yield, That The Dutch Captains And Chief
Officers Should On No Account Leave Their Own Ships, But Should Order
The Enemy To Come Aboard Them In Their Own Boats.
They sailed from Calao
on the 27th of July, and came to the road of Huarmey in lat.
10 deg. S. on
the 28th. This is a pleasant place, with a large port, near which is a
lake. The Dutch landed here, but the inhabitants fled, leaving little
plunder, except poultry, hogs, oranges, and meal, which they brought on
board. They dismissed some of their Spanish prisoners on the 3d August,
on which day they passed between the main and the island of Lobos, so
called from being frequented by seals, or sea wolves.[97] The 8th they
cast anchor near Payta, in about the latitude of 5 deg. S. The 9th they
landed 300 men, but re-embarked after some skirmishing, as they found
the city too strongly defended. On this occasion they took a Peruvian
bark, strangely rigged, having six stout natives on board, who had been
out fishing for two months, and had a cargo of excellent dried fish,
which was distributed through the fleet.
[Footnote 97: There are three islands or groups of that name off the
coast of Peru. The southern Lobos is in lat. 7 deg. S. near fifty miles from
the nearest land; the middle, or inner Lobos, in lat. 6 deg. 22' S. is only
about nine miles from the coast of Peru; and the northern Lobos is in
lat. 5 deg. 8' S. almost close to the shore. It is probably the middle or
inner Lobos that is meant in the text. - E.]
The 10th of August three of the Dutch ships battered the town of Payta,
and afterwards sent a party of armed men on shore, who found the
inhabitants had fled to the mountains with all their valuables. The
Dutch sent five of the Peruvian captives on shore to endeavour to
procure fruit, and to learn with more certainty what had become of the
Spanish admiral. On their return they brought word that the Spanish
admiral had gone to the bottom, six only of her crew escaping. They
brought letters also from the lady of Don Gasper Calderon, the
commandant of Payta, who had fled to the town of St Michael, thirty
miles from Payta; who, in commiseration of the captives, sent many
citrons and other provisions to the Dutch ships. Towards the sea the
town of Payta is strongly fortified, and almost impregnable. It is a
place of some importance, having two churches, a monastery, and many
good buildings; and has an excellent harbour, to which many ships resort
from Panama, whence their cargoes are transmitted by land to Lima, to
avoid the dangers of the wind and the seas at that place. While at the
island of Lobos, the Dutch took two birds of enormous size, not unlike
an eagle in beak, wings, and talons; their necks being covered with down
resembling wool, and their heads having combs like those of a cock. They
were two ells in height, and their wings, when displayed, measured three
ells in breadth.[98]
[Footnote 98: Probably the Condour, or Vultur Gryphus of naturalists,
which is of vast size, sometimes measuring sixteen feet between the tips
of the wings when extended.
At this place we have omitted a vague rambling account of the kingdoms
of Peru and Chili, as in 1616, which could have conveyed no useful
information, farther than that Don Juan de Mendoza, Marquis des Montes
Claros, was then viceroy of Peru. - E.]
The Dutch set sail from Payta on the 21st of August, and anchored on the
23d in the road off the mouth of the Rio Tumbez, in lat. 3 deg. 20' S. They
here agreed to return to the isle of Coques, in lat. 5 deg. S.[99] that they
might endeavour to procure refreshments. But they were so distressed by
storms of wind, with rain and excessive thunder, that they in vain
endeavoured to get to that island till the 13th September, and in the mean
time became very sickly. Proceeding therefore towards the north they came
in sight of New Spain on the 20th September, in lat. 13 deg. 30' N. when the
weather became again very tempestuous. After much bad weather they came in
sight of a pleasant land on the 1st October, but were unable to land.
Beating off and on till the 11th of that month, they then entered the
harbour of Accapulco, within shot of the castle, and hung out a flag of
truce. Two Spaniards came on board, with whom they agreed to exchange
their prisoners for sheep, fruits, and other provisions, which was
accordingly performed. On the 15th Melchior Hernando, nephew to the
viceroy of New Spain, came on board, to take a view of the fleet which
had vanquished that of his king, and was kindly entertained by the
Dutch admiral. The castle of Accapulco was found to be well fortified,
and had seventy pieces of brass cannon mounted on its ramparts; and the
Dutch were here informed that their intended arrival had been known eight
months before.
[Footnote 99: This is probably the northern Lobos, in lat 5 deg. 8' S.
formerly mentioned in a note. - E.]
They set sail from Accapulco on the 18th of October, and soon afterwards
took a bark bound for the pearl fishery, which they manned and took into
their service as a tender. On the 1st November they anchored before the
port of Selagua, in lat. 19 deg. 8' N. At this place they were informed of
a river abounding in a variety of excellent fish, and having extensive
meadows on its banks well stocked with cattle, together with citrons and
other fruits in great plenty, all of which they much wanted; but the
company they sent to endeavour to procure these conveniences returned
empty handed, after a smart engagement with the Spaniards.
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