SIR FRANCIS DRAKE a.d. 



1586. 



gladnesse, that which was ofFred first. Whereupon the 



ship being appointed and received into charge by some of 



their owne company sent into her by Master Lane, before 



they had received from the rest of the Fleete the provision 



appoynted them, there arose a great storme (which they 



sayd was extraordinary and very strange) that lasted three 



dayes together, and put all our Fleete in great danger, to 



bee driven from their anchoring upon the coast. For we 



brake many Cables, and lost many Anchors : and some of 



our Fleete which had lost all (of which number was the [III. 548.] 



ship appointed for Master Lane and his company) was 



driven to put to sea in great danger, in avoyding the 



coast, and could never see us againe untill we mette in 



England. Many also of our small Pinnesses and boates 



were lost in this storme. 



Notwithstanding after all this, the Generall oiFred them 

 (with consent of his Captaines) an other ship with some 

 provision, although not such a one for their turnes, as 

 might have bene spared them before, this being unable to 

 be brought into their Harbour. Or els if they would, to 

 give them passage into England, although he knew we 

 should performe it with greater difficultie then he might 

 have done before. 



But Master Lane with those of the chiefest of his com- 

 pany which hee had then with him, considering what 

 should be best for them to doe, made request unto the 

 General under their hands, that they might have passage 

 for England : the which being graunted, and the rest sent 

 for out of the countrey and shipped, we departed from 

 that coast the 18. of June. 



And so, God bee thanked, both they and wee in good 

 safetie arrived at Portesmouth the 28. of July 1586. to 

 the great glory of God, and to no small honour to our 

 Prince, our Countrey, and our selves. 



The totall value of that which was gotten in this 

 voyage is esteemed at three score thousand pounds, 

 whereof the companies which have travelled in the voyage 

 were to have twentie thousand pounds, the adventurers 



133 



