A Svmmarie and Trve Discovrse of Sir Frances Drakes VVest Indian Voyage | Page 5

Richard Field
thirtie shot, and Captaine Barton with other thirtie, to
goe downe into the tovvne vvhich stood in the valey vnder vs, and
might verie plainly be viewed all ouer from that place vvhere the
vvhole Army vvas novv arryued and presently after these Captaines
vvas sent the great Ensigne, vvhich had nothing in it but the plaine
English crosse, to be placed tovvardes the Sea, that our fleete might see
Saint Georges crosse florish in the enemies fortresse. Order vvas giuen
that all the ordinance throughout the towne, and vpon all the platformes,
vvhich vvas aboue fifty peeces al ready charged, should be shot off in
honor of the Queenes Maiesties Coronation day, being the seuententh
of Nouember, after the yearly custome of England, which was so
aunswered againe by the ordinance out of all the ships in the fleete

which novv was come neere, as it was straunge to heare such a
thondering noise last so long together. In this meane while the
Lieutenant general held still the most part of his force on the hill top,
till such time as the tovvne was quartered out for the lodging of the
whole Armie, which being done euery Captaine toke his owne quarter,
and in the euening was placed such sufficient gard vpon euerie part of
the tovvne that vve had no cause to feare any present enemie.
Thus we continued in the Citie the space of fourteene daies, taking such
spoiles as the place yelded, which were for the most part, wine, oyle,
meale, and some such like thinges for victuall, as vineger, oliues, and
some such other trash, as marchandise for their Indian trades. But there
was not founde any trasure at all, or any thing else of vvorth besides.
The scituation of Sainct IAGO is somewhat strange, in forme like to a
triangle, hauing on the East and West sides two Mountaines of Rocke
and cliffie, as it were hanging ouer it, vpon the top of which two
mountaines was builded certaine fortifications to preserue the towne
from any harme that might be offered, as in this Plot is plainly shevved.
From thence: on the South side of the towne is the maine sea, and on
the North side, the valley lying betweene the foresayd mountaines,
wherein the towne standeth: the said valley and towne both do grow
verie narrow, insomuch that the space betweene the two cliffes of this
ende of the towne is estimated not to be aboue tenne or twelue score
ouer.
In the middest of the valley commeth dovvne a riueret, rill, or brooke
of fresh vvater, which hard by the sea side maketh a pond or poole,
vvhereout our ships were vvatered vvith verie great ease and pleasure.
Somewhat aboue the Towne on the North side betweene the two
mountaines, the valley vvaxeth somewhat larger then at the townes end,
vvhich valley is vvholie conuerted into gardens and orchardes well
replenished vvith diuers sorts of fruicts, herbes and trees, as lymmons,
orenges, suger canes, cochars or cochos nuts, plantens, potato roots,
cocombers, small and round onions, garlike, and some other thinges not
now remembred, amongst vvhich the cochos, nuts and plantens are
very pleasant fruicts, the said cochos hauing a hard shell and a greene

huske ouer it, as hath our vvalnut, but it farre exceedeth in greatnesse,
for this cochos in his greene huske is bigger then 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 vvhite rine resembling in shew verie
much euen as any thing may do, to the vvhite of an egge vvhen it is
hard boyled. And vvithin this vvhite of the nut lyeth a vvater, vvhich is
vvhitish and very cleere, to the quantitie of halfe a pint or there abouts,
vvhich vvater and white rine before spoken of, are both of a very coole
fresh tast, and as pleasing as any thing may be. I haue heard some hold
opinion, that it is very restoratiue.
The Planten grovveth in cods, somewhat like to beanes, but is bigger
and longer, and much more thicke together on the stalke, and vvhen it
waxeth ripe, the meate vvhich filleth the rine of the cod becommeth
yellovv, and is exceeding sweet and pleasant.
In this time of our being there, hapned to come a Portingall to the
Westermost fort, vvith a flag of truce, to vvhom Captaine Sampson was
sent vvith Captaine Goring, vvho comming to the said Messenger, he
first asked them vvhat nation they vvere, they aunswered Englishmen,
he then required to knovv if warres vvere betweene England and Spaine,
to vvhich they aunsvvered that they knew not, but if he would go to
their Generall
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code

 / 20
Tip: The current page has been bookmarked automatically. If you wish to continue reading later, just open the Dertz Homepage, and click on the 'continue reading' link at the bottom of the page.