A.D. 

 1582. 



Richard 

 Carter the 

 English man 

 taken in the 

 prizey caried 

 along with 

 them. 



They retiirne 

 in the latitude 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



and the two pilots, which had passed the streights and 

 knew the harbours, and likest places to be fortified, and 

 inhabited or not, who were called, & the three masters 

 with them. Their opinions were as divers as their names ; 

 & as much differed, as before this time they were wont 

 usually to doe : onely they all agreed in this one point, that 

 it was impossible for us to passe the streights without 

 seeing, and incountring with the ships, although the for- 

 tification of the land did not annoy us : which being long 

 and thorowly debated, and their opinions with the three 

 masters demanded, which accorded not scant any one 

 with other, they were dismissed. 



Then the generall received the opinions of us his as- 

 sistants, beginning with the yoongest in authority first : 

 which when he had heard them all over, and being set 

 downe in writing under our hands, he tooke deliberation 

 till after supper to give his determination. 



When we had all supped, then he sent for us downe 

 into his cabbin, and delivered in writing his determina- 

 tion, (which was) to victuall, and furnish our selves on 

 this coast, before he proceeded any further ; and named 

 two places. The river of Plate, or S. Vincent, to be 

 chosen. 



For the better deciphering of the river of Plate, & 

 the commodities thereof, was called before us, Richard 

 Carter, which doth dwell there; who could not assure 

 us of any wine, except we could stay foure moneths for 

 it : but other victuals plenty. The river is shoale and 

 dangerous, the road seven leagues from any towne, or 

 place of commodity : which considered with the trechery 

 that might from thence be used, into the streights by 

 sea, and into Peru by land, we all concluded to go to 

 S. Vincent, which place is inhabited by Portugals, and 

 where in honest sort we might conveniently have all our 

 businesse done. 



With this resolution we tooke our leaves about eight 

 a clocke at night, & being come aboord, presently bare 

 up, and went roome, having all the day before beat up the 



188 



