EDWARD FENTON ad. 



1582. 



about seven leagues off: and so went till sixe at night, 

 that wee saw land againe seven leagues off West, and 

 the winde shifted to the South. Then we cast about, and 

 stood off Eastsoutheast at seven at night for a while : 

 then came up the winde at Northwest, and blew agood. 



The 15 day in the morning, the admirall was ahead, 

 as farre as we could almost see her, by whose default I 

 know not ; and being little winde we could not get to 

 her till foure of the clocke after noone : then we hayled [III. 763.] 

 her, and stood in betweene the Southsouthwest and the 

 Southwest till sixe at night, that the winde was vari- 

 able, and foule weather. Then we cast about, and 

 sounded in 23 fadome soft oaze, and stood off a while 

 Northeast ; and presently cast about againe, and went 

 South by East larboord tacked, and Southsoutheast, 

 among all night : finding at foure in the morning 1 5 

 fadome sand. 



The 20 day, about ten a clocke afore noone, we went 

 aboord the admirall ; viz. M. Walker, the master, the 

 pilot, the two merchants, and my selfe, being directed so 

 to doe by the Generall. Upon our comming the generall 

 was going to dinner, where wee also dined with him. 

 Having dined, the generall called us his assistants into 

 his cabbin, and there delivered to us in writing two 

 demands, to be by us considered upon, and he to have 

 our opinions therein. 



The effects of the demands were these. 



1 V/hether it was best for us to adventure our selves 

 to passe the streights of Magellan or not ; considering 

 the force of the enemy, which we knew to be there 

 before us : and also that our determination was there to 

 set up our pinnesse, make yron hoops, carene our ships, 

 and do all our necessary businesses for the full acomplish- 

 ment of our voyage. 



2 If that course were not thought best, which way 

 were meetest for us to take. 



To the first we were of opinion, that it were good to 

 heare the opinions of captaine Hawkins, captaine Drake, 



187 



