A.D. 

 1565. 



The great 

 importance of 

 this enterprise. 



["I- 3+9-] 



The great 

 humanity and 

 bounty of 

 Master John 

 Hawkins to 

 the French. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



to give encouragement unto our Princes not to leave 

 off an enterprise of so great importance for our com- 

 monwealth, and that seeing wee were resolved to depart, 

 it was farre better to give him our Artillerie, which 

 otherwise we should be constrained to leave behind us, 

 or to hide it in the ground by reason of the weakenesse 

 of our men, being not able to embarke the same. This 

 point being thus concluded and resolved on, I went my 

 selfe unto the English Generall, accompanied with my 

 Lieutenant, and Captaine Vasseur, Captaine Verdier, 

 and Trenchant the Pilot, and my Sergeant, all men of 

 experience in such affaires and knowing sufficiently how 

 to drive such a bargaine. We therefore tooke a 

 view of the ship which the Generall would sell, 

 whom we drew to such reason, that he was content to 

 stand to mine owne mens judgement, who esteemed it 

 to be worth seven hundreth crowns, whereof we agreed 

 very friendly. Wherefore I delivered him in earnest of 

 the summe, two bastards, two mynions, one thousand 

 of iron, & one thousand of powder. This bargaine 

 thus made, he considered the necessity wherin we were, 

 having for all our sustenance but mill and water : 

 wherupon being moved with pitie, he offred to relieve 

 me with 20 barels of meale, sixe pipes of beanes, one 

 hogshead of salt, and a hundred of waxe to make 

 candels. Moreover forasmuch as he sawe my souldiers 

 goe barefoote, hee offred me besides fifty paires of 

 shoes, which I accepted and agreed of a price with him, 

 and gave him a bill of mine hand for the same, for 

 which untill this present I am indebted to him. He 

 did more then this : for particularly he bestowed upon 

 my selfe a great jarre of oyle, a Jarre of vineger, a barell 

 of Olives, and a great quantitie of Rice, and a barell 

 of white Biscuit. Besides he gave divers presents to 

 the principall Officers of my company according to their 

 qualities : so that I may say that we received as many 

 courtesies of the Generall, as it was possible to receive 

 of any man living. Wherein doubtlesse he hath wonne 



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