THE TAKING OF THE < MADRE DE DIOS ' a.d. 



1592. 



of his company could affoord them. Among the rest of [II. ii. 198. 

 those, whose state this chance had made very deplorable, 

 was Don Fernando de Mendoca Grand captaine and 

 Commander of this Carake : who indeed was descended 

 of the house of Mendoca in Spaine ; but being married 

 into Portugall, lived there as one of that nation ; a 

 gentleman well stricken in yeeres, well spoken, of comely 

 personage, of good stature, but of hard fortune. In his 

 severall services against the Moores he was twise taken 

 prisoner, and both times ransomed by the king. In a 

 former voyage of returne from the East India he was 

 driven upon the Baxos or sands of Juda nere the coast 

 of Cephala, being then also captaine of a caracke which 

 was there lost, and himselfe, though escaping the sea- 

 danger, yet fell into the hands of infidels on land ; who 

 kept him under long and grievous servitude. Once more 

 the king carying a loving respect to the man, and de- 

 sirous to better his condition, was content to let him try 

 his fortune in this Easterly navigation, and committed 

 unto him the conduct of this caracke, wherein he went 

 from Lisbon Generall of the whole fleet, and in that 

 degree had returned, if the Vice-rey of Goa embarked for 

 Portugall in the Bon Jesus had not, by reason of his late 

 office, bene preferred. Sir John intending not to adde 

 too much affliction to the afflicted, mooved with pity and 

 compassion of humane misery, in the end resolved freely 

 to dismisse this captaine & the most part of his followers 

 to their owne countrey, and for the same purpose be- 

 stowed them in certaine vessels furnished with all kindes 

 of necessary provision. This businesse thus dispatched, 

 good leasure had he to take such view of the goods as 

 conveniency might affoord. And having very prudently 

 (to cut off the unprofitable spoile & pillage whereunto 

 he saw the minds of many inclined) seised upon the 

 whole to her Majesties use, after a short & slender 

 romaging & searching of such things as first came to 

 hand, he perceived that ye wealth would arise nothing 

 disanswerable to expectation ; but that the variety and 



"5 



