SIR JOHN HAWKINS ad. 



1568. 

 because the North winde hath there such violence, 

 that unlesse the shippes be very safely mored with 

 their ankers fastened upon this Hand, there is no remedie 

 for these North windes but death : also the place of '^orth windes 

 the Haven was so little, that of necessitie the shippes P^^^^°^^' 

 must ride one aboord the other, so that we could not 

 give place to them, nor they to us : and here I beganne to 

 bewaile that which after followed, for now, said I, I am in 

 two dangers, and forced to receive the one of them. 

 That was, either I must have kept out the fleete from 

 entring the Port, the which with Gods helpe I was 

 very well able to doe, or else suffer them to enter in 

 with their accustomed treason, which they never faile 

 to execute, where they may have opportunitie, to 

 compasse it by any meanes : if I had kept them out, 

 then had there bene present shipwracke of all the fleete 

 which amounted in value to sixe Millions, which was 

 in value of our money 1800000. li. which I considered i^oothousand 

 I was not able to answere, fearing the Queenes Majesties P°^^^- 

 indignation in so waightie a matter. Thus with my 

 selfe revolving the doubts, I thought rather better to 

 abide the Jutt of the uncertainty, then the certaintie. 

 The uncertaine doubt I account was their treason which 

 by good policie I hoped might be prevented, and there- 

 fore as chusing the least mischiefe I proceeded to 

 conditions. Now was our first messenger come and 

 returned from the fleete with report of the arrivall of 

 a Viceroy, so that hee had authoritie, both in all this J Viceroy. 

 Province of Mexico (otherwise called Nueva Espanna) 

 and in the sea, who sent us word that we should send 

 our conditions, which of his part should (for the better 

 maintenance of amitie betweene the Princes) be both Faire wordes 

 favourably granted, and faithfully performed, with many ^^i,^^^^'^- 

 faire wordes how passing the coast of the Indies he 

 had understood of our honest behaviour towardes the 

 inhabitants where we had to doe, aswell elsewhere as 

 in the same Port, the which I let passe : thus following 

 our demand, we required victuals for our money, and Our requests. 



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