ad. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1561. 



I have had, leadeth me to thinke that the ship whose 

 water works and footings be spent and rotten cannot be 

 but leake for men. Next, the unseasonable time of the 

 yere which is now present. And how onely by meanes of 

 the unseasonable times in the returne from the voyage 

 home, many thereby have decayed, to the great misery and 

 calamity of the rest, and also to the great slander of the 

 voyage (which I much respect) the last and other voyages 

 have declared. And what it is to make the voyage in 

 unseasonable time, that hath the second voyage also 

 declared. Wherefore weying and foreseeing this (as 

 I may wel terme it) calamity and unevitable danger of 

 men, and that by men she must be brought home againe 

 (except that God will shew an extraordinary miracle) I 

 purpose not nor dare I venture with a safe conscience to 

 tempt God herein. Againe, forsomuch as she is alone, 

 and hath so little helpe of boat or pinnesse in her trade, & 

 also for her watering, where a long time of force must be 

 spent, my going, to the accomplishment of your expecta- 

 tions, will be to small effect for this time, because I shall 

 want both vessell and men to accomplish it. And I would 

 not gladly so spend my time and travell, to my great 

 charges and paine, and after, for not falling out accordingly, 

 to lose both pot and water, as the proverbe is. As for the 

 Primrose, if she be there, her trade will be ended or ever 

 we come there, so that she of force, by want of provision, 

 must returne : yea, though we should carry with us a 

 supply for her, yet is the meeting of her doubtfull, and 

 though we met her, yet will the men not tarry, as no 

 reason is they should : howbeit my opinion of her is that 

 she is put into Ireland. The Flowerdeluce was in Mil- 

 ford. Thus for that your worships might understand 

 the whole cause why I doe not proceed, I have troubled 

 you at this time with this my long Letter. And, as God 

 is my Judge, not for feare of the Portugals, which there 

 we shall meet (and yet alone without ayde) as here is 

 a shippe which was in Lisbon, whose men say that there 

 are in a readinesse (onely to meet us) foure great ships, of 



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