company) they only haue their breakefasts permitted vnto them, yet they complaine that the company goeth about to famish them, whereas indeed they doe what lyeth in them to famish the company by feeding themselues fat, which doe no labour at all. These things being well weighed, you ought likewise to consider the long time that wee haue lien here in these Streights of Magellan, hauing bene at, and seuen or eight times, ten leagues beyond Cape Froward, we haue had but a small gale of winde with vs: neither could wee come to an ancker, the water being so deepe: and (you know) the place is so dangerous, that wee were once embayed, and could scarce get out againe: And likewise, What fogges and mists are here already? Much more here wil be, the winter and darke nights being at hand, and we hauing not so much as a boate to seeke out any roade to ride in, sauing a small weake boate made of mens chestes, in which it is not conuenient to goe on shoare in a forreine countrey, where wee must goe with force: and hauing but one ancker left vs, there is but little hope of life in vs, as you may sufficiently iudge, if wee should lose either the saide ancker or our boate, and therefore wee dare not put the same in danger for feare of loosing them. Also wee hauing lien here these sixe weekes and vpward, the winde hath continued in the North-west directly against our course, so that wee can no way hope to get through the Streights into the South sea this yeere, and if we could yet our prouision is not sufficient, hauing spent so much thereof, in this our lingring aboade. Nay wee haue scarcely victuals ynough to cary vs home into England, if they bee not vsed sparingly, and with very good gouernment. Therefore wee doe againe most humbly desire you to consider and haue regard vnto the premisses, as you tender your owne safetie and the safetie of vs which remaine aliue, that wee may (by Gods helpe) returne backe into England, rather than die here among wilde and sauage people: for if wee make any longer abode in this place, it will bee (without all doubt) to the vtter decay and losse, both of our selues, and of the shippe: and in returning backe, it may please God, that we may finde our fifteene men, and our boat at Penguin-yland (although this bee contrary to the mindes of Matthew Hawlse, and your mate Street) and hauing found them, wee doe not despaire in Gods mercie, but that in our returne home-ward, hee will send vs purchase sufficient, if wee would ioyne our selues together in prayer, and loue one another. And thus doing (as
