pleased God to calme the storme, and wee vnriued our sheates, tackes, halliers, and other ropes, and mored our ship to the trees close by the rockes. We laboured to recouer our ankor againe, but could not by any means, it lay so deepe in the water, and as we thinke cleane couered with oaze. Now had we but one ankor which had but one whole Flouke, a cable spliced in two places, and a piece of an olde cable. In the middest of these our troubles it pleased God that the wind came faire the first of October; whereupon with all expedition wee loosed our morings, and weighed our ankor, and so towed off into the chanel; for wee had mended our boate in Port Desire, and had fiue oares of the pinnesse. When we had weighed our ankor, we found our cable broken, onely one stand helde: then wee praysed God; for we saw apparently his mercies in presenting vs. Being in the chanel, we riued our ropes, and againe rigged our ship, no mans hand was idle, but all laboured euen for the last gaspe of life. Here our company was deuided; some desired to go againe for Port Desire, and there to be set on shore, where they might trauell for their liues, and some stood with the Captaine and Master to proceed. Whereupon 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 vndertake these desperate attempts through blind affection that we beare to the General. For mine owne part I plainely make knowen vnto you, that the loue which I bare to the Generall caused mee first to enter into this action, whereby I haue not onely heaped vpon my head this bitter calamity now present, but also haue in some sort procured the dislike of my best friends in England, as it is not vnknowen to some in this company. But now being thus entangled by the prouidence of God for my former offences (no doubt) I desire, that it may please his diuine Maiestie to show vs such mercifull fauour, 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 forgiue me in whatsoeuer I have bin grieuous vnto you; secondly that you wil rather pray for our General, then vse hard speeches of him; and let vs be fully perswaded, that not for his cause and negli-
