land wee put off to sea, and proceeded on our voyage intended by the grace of God for China: vntill the moneth of August following, nothing fell out much worthy the knowledge of the worlde, which is not common to all nauigants, but about the beginning of August aforesayd, being somewhat neere the coast of Guinie, vpon the shooting off a peece and the putting out of a flag in the Admiral, I went on boord, and M. Walker, M. Shaw, M. Geffreis, our Master and Pilot with me, where the generall counsel was assembled to consider of two points, viz.
The first, whether it were necessarie to water presently or not, which was thought very needful of all men, and so concluded.
The second, where the best and aptest place was to water in, which was thought of the greater number to be at Sierra leona on the coast of Guinie, which was also concluded, and by the Master and Pilots agreed to goe hence Southeast, which determined, wee returned aboord.
The 3 day wee went Southeast and Eastsoutheast, till sixe a clocke at night that wee sawe the lande of Guinie, which bare Northeast of vs about 12 leagues off, which seene, wee sounded, and had no ground: then went I and our Master and Pilot aboord the Admirall, and after many debatements concluded to run in Northeast by East, and at eleuen at night wee came aboord againe, and went all night Northeast by East.
The 4 at eight a clocke in the forenoone wee were within 2 leagues of the lande, which bare off vs Northeast, which rose like a hill full of woods, and on each side low land: wee being perswaded by our pilots that it was the entrance into Sierra leona, went in Northeast vntill we were within an halfe league of the shoar, and had brought the South point Southeast by east off vs. At eleuen a clocke finding it a bay and not Sierra leona, wee brought our tacks aboord, and stoode along West by North and West larboord tacked.
In this time our Admirals pinnesse rowed in, and went on land vpon the South side of the bay, and the Elizabeths boate with her. They found houses of boughes, and in one of the houses the tongue of a beast, and a bullocks tongue fresh killed; also a lake with plentie of fresh water, and fresh-water-fish in it had by the sea side: they found drie pomegranates, and pease like nuts, with other vnknowen fruites vnder the trees. The Elizabeth ranne in, and brought the South point South by West of her, and ankered within Faulcon shot of the shore in seuen fathom oaze,
