FRANCIS DE ULLOA a.d. 



^539- 

 the next tide : and when the tide began to increase wee 



used all diligence to draw her off, and could not by any 

 meanes, whereat all the company and the Captaine were 

 not a little grieved : for wee thought wee should have 

 lost her there, although wee ceased not with all our 

 might to labour with both our boates, and with our 

 cable and capsten. In the ende it pleased God about 

 midnight at a full sea with the great force which 

 wee used to recover her, that wee drew her off the sand, 

 for which we gave God most hearty thankes, and rode 

 at anker all the rest of the night, wayting for day-light 

 for feare of falling into any further danger or mishap. 

 When day was come, wee set forward with a fresh gale, 

 and proceeded on our voyage, directing our prows to 

 the maine sea, to see whether it would please God to 

 let us discover the secret of this point. But whether it 

 pleased not his great goodnesse, or whether it were for 

 our sinnes, wee spent eight dayes from this port, before 

 we could double the point, by reason of contrary winds, 

 and great raine, and lightning and darknesse every night : 

 also the windes grew so raging and tempestuous, that they 

 made us all to quake, and to pray continually unto God 

 to ayde us. And hereupon wee made our cables and 

 ankers ready, and the chiefe Pilot commanded us with all 

 speede to cast anker, and in this sorte we passed our 

 troubles : and whereas wee rode in no securitie, he caused 

 us foorthwith to weigh our ankers, and to goe whither 

 the wind should drive us. And in this sorte wee spent 

 those eight dayes, turning backe by night the same way 

 that wee had gone by day, and sometimes making good in 

 the night that which we had lost in the day, not without 

 great desire of all the company to have a winde which 

 might set us forward on our voyage, being afflicted with 

 the miseries which wee indured by reason of the thunders, 

 lightnings, and raine, wherewith we were wet from toppe 

 to toe, by reason of the toyle which we had in weighing 

 and casting of our ankers, as neede required. 



And on one of these nights, which was very darke 



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