The olde frier was had in great reuerence among the rest: insomuch that they called him the Holy Father. He was abiding in no place; but as visitour he went visiting from monastery to monastery.
The substance of all the speeches was, that the Spanish fleet was before the streights of Magellan, as they thought; for they were departed sixe weeks past from the riuer of Ienero, where they had beene seuen moneths to refresh and Winter; and that these were not of that company, but came out of Spaine the 26 of May 1582 in a barke of fourescore tun, and fourescore persons, of purpose for the riuer of Plate. The friers being eighteene in number, could not agree, and their barke was a ground at Spirito santo, like to be lost: therefore the old frier bought this small barke of 46 tun, at a port named Spirito santo, in Brasill; and so diuided themselues: and comming from thence, lost company at sea: but they thought they were before at the riuer of Plate. After his speeches, I went and appointed (by the generals order) men to remaine aboord the prize with captaine Parker, and brought one of the Portugales sailes away with me, and came aboord, where I found that our men had filled water all day.
The 7 in the morning the generall sent for me; where he shewed me and M. Maddox certeine articles which the friers and mariners Spaniards were examined of; which tended altogether to the knowledge of the Spanish fleets intent, and of the meanes whereby we might be discouered by the way of the riuer of Plate by land to Peru. In this time came the rest: after whose comming it was debated, whether it were best to take the boat and people with vs or not. Which was not determined; but referred till further examination.
Then was it determined to passe by the streights, notwithstanding the Spaniards were there, but not to set vp forge, nor to build pinnesse, but water, and so thorow.
The eight day afore noone M. Walker and I went aboord the admirall to dinner, where was determined to discharge the Spanish barke, named Our lady of pity, and all the men, except Richard Carter the English man, and Iohn Pinto a Portugall, which dwelled at the riuer of Plate.
The Spanish barke determined. After dinner, the generall appointed mee and captaine Hawkins to see them all set aboord their ship, and to receiue from them certeine necessaries, which willingly they imparted with vs, and to leaue them satisfied. Which done, I returned aboord.
