1585-1586
Text associated with the Boazio map of the West Indian Voyage. Dated 1585. pp. 63-69 (in) Sir Francis Drake’s West Indian Voyage 1585-86. Edited by M.F. Keeler. The Hakluyt Society. Series Two, Number 148. London: The Hakluyt Society, 1981.
Aprill. The 20 of Aprill ve fell with two Ilands called Caimanes, vhere we refreshed our selues with many Allagartas and greate Turtoises, being very vgly and fearefull beasts to behold, but were made good meate to eate (p. 68).
The 28 of May earely in the morning we descride the Riuer of Saynt Augustine in Florida…Here we spent two dayes in taking the fort and spoiling the Town, and so departed agayn keeping as nigh the shore as might be, to have a sight if it myght be of our English men planted in Virginia … The 9 of Iune in comming alongst the coast, we discouered some part of Virginia, and found some of our English men … The 18 of Iune we deaprted from the coast of Virginia (pp. 68-69).
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Account by Walter Bigges. Dated 1589. A Summarie and True Discourse of Sir Frances Drakes West Indian Voyage. Wherein were taken, the Townes of Saint Iago, Sancto Domingo, Cartagena and Saint Augustine. London: Richard Field. pp. 210-277 (in) Sir Francis Drake’s West Indian Voyage 1585-86. Edited by M.F. Keeler. The Hakluyt Society. Series Two, Number 148. London: The Hakluyt Society, 1981.
The scituation of Sainct Iago is somewhat strange in forme like to a triangle … on the North side, [there is a] valley lying between the foresayd mountaines, wherein the towne standeth … the valley is wholie conuerted into gardens and orchards well replenished with diuers sorts of fruicts, herbes and trees, as lymmons, orenges, suger canes, cochars or cochosl nuts, plantens, potto roots, cocombers, small and round onions, garlicke, and some other things not now remembered, amongst which the chochos [cocoanut: sometimes called Ginnye nuts] nuts and plantens are very pleasant fruicts, the sayd cochos hauing a hard shell and a greene huske ouer it, as hath our walnut, but it farre exceedeth in greatnesse, for this cochos in this greene huske is bigger than any mans two fistes, of the hard shell many drinking cups are made here in England, and set in siluer as I haue often seene. Next within this hard shell is a white rine resembling in shew very much euen as any thing may do, to the white of an egge when it is hard boyled. And within this white of the nut lyeth a water, which is whitish and very cleere, to the quantitie of halfe a pint or thereabouts, which water and white rine before spoken of, are both of a very coole fresh taste, and as pleasing as any thing may be. I haue heard some hold opinion, that it is very restoratiue. The Planten groweth in cods, somewhat like to beanes, but is bigger and longer, and much more thicke together on the stalke, and when it waxeth ripe, the meate which filleth the rine of the cod becommeth yellow, and is exceeding sweet and pleasant (pp. 228-229).
It is to be vnderstood that the Indian people, which were the naturals of this whole Island of Hispaniolia … were many yeares since cleane consumed by the tyrannie of the Spaniards, which was cause, for lacke of people to work in the Mines … The chiefe trade of this place consisteth of suger and ginger, which groweth in the Island, and of hides of oxen and kine, which in this wast countrey of the Island are bred in infinite numbers, the soile being very fertile … VVe found here great store of strong wine, sweete oyle, vineger, oliues and other such like prouisions, as excellent wheate meale packed vp in wine pipes and other caske, and other commodities … brought out of Spain and serued vs for great releefe (pp. 246-247).
[We] proceeding about the Cape of Florida … keeping the shore still in sight … we went thither vpon the great maine riuer, which is alled as also the towne by name of S. Augvstine … [we] resolued … to vndertake the enterprise of S. Helena and from thence to seeke out the inhabitation of our English countrymen in Virginia … The ninth of Iune [we saw a fire on the coast and went ashore] where [we] found some of our English countrey men … [then to Roanoac where we met] Maister Lene hilm selfe and some of his companie … we in good safetie arriued at Portesmouth the eight and twentieth of Iuly 1586 … VVe lost some seven hundred and fiftie men in the voyage. The men of name that died and were slain in this voyage were [list follows] (pp. 264-276).