aj>. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1589. 



disadvantage : our shippes and they still shooting at the 

 Ilanders : but no place could be founde where they might 

 land without great perill of loosing many of their lives, 

 and so were constrayned to retire without receiving any 

 answere, as was promised the day before. We had three 

 men hurt in this conflict, whilest our boates were to- 

 gether in consulting what was best to be done : two of 

 them were stroken with a great shot (which the Ilanders 

 drew from place to place with Oxen) wherewith the one 

 lost his hand, and the other his life within two or three 

 dayes after : the third was shot into his necke with a 

 small shot, without any great hurt. 



With these newes our company returned backe againe 

 at night, whereupon preparation was made to goe to them 

 againe the next day : but the day was farre spent before 

 we could come neere them with our ship : neither could 

 we finde any good ground to anker in, where we might 

 lye to batter the Towne, and further we could finde no 

 landing place, without great danger to loose many men : 

 which might turne not only to the overthrow of our 

 voiage, but also put the Queenes ship in great perill for 

 want of men to bring her home. Therefore my Lord 

 thought it best to write to them to this effect : That he 

 could not a litle marvell at their inhumanitie and crueltie 

 which they had shewed towards his men, seeing they were 

 sent by him unto them in peaceable manner to receive 

 their answere which they had promised to give the day 

 before : and that were it not for Don Antonio their law- 

 full king his sake, he could not put up so great injury 

 at their hands, without just revengement upon them: 

 notwithstanding for Don Antonio his sake, whose friend 

 he was, he was yet content to send to them once againe 

 for their answere : At night Captaine Lister returned 

 with this answere from them. That their Gunner shot 

 off one of their peeces, which was charged with pouder 

 onely, and was stopped ; which our men thinking it had 

 bin shot at them, shot againe, and so beganne the fight : 

 [II. ii. 160.] and that the next morning they would send my Lord a 



