A.D. 



[III. 716.] 



T/J(? king of 

 Spaines resolu- 

 tion to proceed 

 in the dis- 

 coverie i^ 

 conquest of 

 Rio Grande. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



in discharging certain pieces in ye gunner roome, set a 

 barrel of powder on fire, which tooke fire in ye gunner 

 roome, blew up the Admirals caben, slew the gunner 

 with 2 others outright, & hurt 20 more, of which 4 or 

 5 died. This powder made such a smoke in the ship 

 with the fire that burnt in the gunner roome among 

 all the fire workes, that no man at the first wist what 

 to doe: but recalling backe their feare, they began to 

 cast water into the gunner roome in such abundance 

 (for the Queenes ships now & also the other ships that 

 were in our company came presently to our helpe) that 

 (God be praised) we put out the fire & saved all, & 

 no great harme was done to the goods. By this may 

 be seene that there is no sure safety of things in this 

 world. For now we made account to be out of all 

 danger, where behold a greater came upon us, then we 

 suffered all the whole voyage. But the almightie be 

 praysed for ever, which delivered us out of this and 

 many other in this voyage. Our fire being well put 

 out, and we taking in fresh men (God be praysed) we 

 came to Blacke-wall in safety. 



A speciall letter written from Feliciano Cieza 

 de Carvalsho the Governour of Parajua in 

 the most Northerne part of Brasil, 1 597, 

 to Philip the second king of Spaine, answer- 

 ing his desire touching the conquest of Rio 

 Grande, with the relation of the besieging of 

 the castle of Cabodelo by the Frenchmen, 

 and of the discoverie of a rich silver mine 

 and diverse other important matters. 



Received your Majesties letter bearing date the 

 ninth of November 1596. whereby I understande 

 that your Majestie doth determine to proceede in 

 the discoverie and conquest of Rio Grande, according to the 

 relation which was sent your Majestie by Don Francisco 

 de Sousa, Governour generall of this realme of Brasilia : 



64 



