LAST VOYAGE OF THOMAS CANDISH ad. 



1592. 



the Captaine sayd to the Master : Master, you see the 

 wonderfull extremitie of our estate, and the great doubts 

 among our companie of the truth of your reports, as 

 touching reliefe to be had in the South sea : some say 

 in secret, as I am informed, that we undertake these 

 desperate attempts through blind affection that we beare 

 to the General. For mine owne part I plainely make 

 knowen unto you, that the love which I bare to the 

 Generall caused mee first to enter into this action, whereby 

 I have not onely heaped upon my head this bitter cala- 

 mity now present, but also have in some sort procured 

 the dislike of my best friends in England, as it is not 

 unknowen to some in this company. But now being 

 thus intangled by the providence of God for my former 

 offences (no doubt) I desire, that it may please his divine 

 Majestic to show us such mercifull favour, that we may 

 rather proceed, then otherwise : or if it be his wil, 

 that our mortall being shal now take an ende, I rather 

 desire that it may bee in proceeding then in returning. 

 And because I see in reason, that the limits of our time 

 are now drawing to an end, I do in Christian charity 

 intreat you all, first to forgive me in whatsoever I have 

 bin grievous unto you ; secondly that you wil rather pray 

 for our General, then use hard speeches of him ; and 

 let us be fully perswaded, that not for his cause & 

 negligence, but for our own offences against the divine 

 Majesty we are presently punished; lastly, let us forgive 

 one another and be reconciled as children in love & 

 charity, and not think upon the vanities of this life : so 

 shall we in leaving this life live with our glorious 

 redeemer, or abiding in this life, find favour with God. 

 And now (good master) forasmuch as you have bin in 

 this voyage once before with your master the general, 

 satisfie the company of such truths, as are to you best 

 knowen ; & you the rest of the generals men, which 

 likewise have bin with him in his first voyage if you 

 heare any thing contrary to the truth, spare not to 

 reproove it, I pray you. And so I beseech the Lord to 



403 



