ad. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1592. 



to make any voluntary report of those things which were 

 demanded of them, had the torture threatened, the feare 

 whereof at the last wrested from them this intelligence, 

 that within flfteene dayes three other greater caraks then 

 that lately fired would arrive at the same Hand : and 

 that being five caraks in the fleet at their departure from 

 Goa, to wit, the Buen Jesus admirall, the Madre de 

 Dios, the S Bernardo, the S. Christophoro, and the S. 

 Cruz, (whose fortune you have already heard) they had 

 received speciall commandement from the king not to 

 [II. ii. 197.] touch in any case at the Hand of S. Helena, where the 

 Portugall caraks in their returne from the East India 

 were alwayes till now woont to arrive to refresh them- 

 selves with water and victuals. And the kings reason 

 was ; because of the English men of warre, who (as he 

 was informed) lay there in wait to intercept them. If 

 therefore their necessity of water should drive them to 

 Angola a new seeke supply any where, he appointed them Angola in 

 watering place t j le ma i ne f Africa, with order there to stay onely the 



for the caraks. 1 • • r • 1 1 • r • r '■ 



taking in or water to avoid the inconvenice or infections, 

 wherunto that hot latitude is dangerously subject. The 

 last rendevous for them all was the Hand of Flores, where 

 the king assured them not to misse of his armada thither 

 sent of purpose for their wafting to Lisbon. Upon this 

 information sir John drew to counsel, meeting there 

 captaine Norton, captaine Dounton, captaine Abraham 

 Cocke, captaines of three ships of the Earle of Cumber- 

 land, M. Tomson of Harwich cap. of the Dainty of sir 

 John Haukins, one of sir W. Raleghs fleet, and M. 

 Christopher Newport cap. of the Golden dragon newly 

 returned from the West India, and others. These being 

 assembled, he communicated with them what he had 

 understood of the foresaid examinates, and what great 

 presumptions of trueth their relation did cary : wishing 

 that forasmuch as God & good fortune had brought them 

 together in so good a season, they would shew the 

 uttermost of their indevors to bring these Easterlings 

 under the lee of the English obedience. Hereupon a 



112 



