THE FIRING OF THE FIVE WOUNDS' a.d. 



1594' 



say, they had not now above 1 50 white men, but Negros 



a great many. They likewise affirmed that they had [II. ii. 20 1 



three noblemen and three ladies in her, but we found 



them to differ in most of their talke. All this day and 



all the night she burned, but the next morning her 



poulder which was lowest being 6c barrels blew her 



abroad, so that most of the ship did swim in parts above 



the water. Some of them say, that she was bigger then 



the Madre de Dios, and some, that she was lesse : but 



she was much undermasted, and undersailed, yet she 



went well for a ship that was so foule. The shot which 



wee made at her in great Ordinance before we layde her 



aboord might be at seven bouts which we had, and sixe 



or 7 shot at a bout, one with another, some 49 shot : the 



time we lay aboord might be two houres. The shot 



which we discharged aboord the Carack might be some 



twentie Sacars. And thus much may suffice concerning 



our daungerous conflict with that unfortunate Carack. 



The last of June after long traversing of the seas we 

 had sight of another mightie Carack which diverse of our 

 company at the first tooke to be the great S. Philip the 

 Admirall of Spaine, but the next day being the first of 

 July fetching her up we perceived her indeede to be a 

 Carack, which after some few shot bestowed upon her 

 we summoned to yeeld ; but they standing stoutly to 

 their defence utterly refused the same. Wherefore seeing 

 no good could be done without boording her I consulted 

 what course we should take in the boording. But by 

 reason that wee which were the chiefe captaines were 

 partly slaine and partly wounded in the former conflict, 

 and because of the murmuring of some disordered and 

 cowardly companions, our valiant and resolute determina- 

 tions were crossed : and to conclude a long discourse in 

 few wordes, the Carack escaped our hands. After this 

 attending about Corvo & Flores for some West Indian 

 purchase, and being disappointed of our expectation, and 

 victuals growing short, we returned for England, where 

 I arrived at Portesmouth the 28 of August. 



123 



