AFter that I had rashly determined to passe the seas with a Wherry , and to rowe my selfe in the same to the Citie of Bristow , though with the euill will of sundrie my good friendes , but especially full sore against my aged fathers consent now dwelling in the Citie of Westminster where I was borne , I thought it conuenient to séeke out some one expert Pilot to direct me and my companion by his skill , the better to passe the perilles and dangers whereof I was foretold . Wherevpon I tooke vnto me one W. Thomas , a man of sufficient skill and approoued experience , by whom I was still content to be aduised euen from my first going foorth , vntill my last comming home .

The Boate wherein I determined to performe my promise , was new built , which I procured to be painted with gréene , & the Oares & sayle of the same collour , with the red Crosse for England and her Maiesties armes with a vane standing fast to the sterne of the sayd Boate , which being in full readinesse vpon Midsommer day last , my selfe with my companions Andrew Hill , & William Thomas , with a great many of our friends and welwillers accompanyed vs to the Tower wharfe of London , there wee entred our Boate , and so with a great many of our friends in other like boates rowed to the Court at Gréenewitch , where before the Court gate we gaue a volley of shot : then we landed and went into the Court , where we had great entertainement at euery office , and many of our friendes were full sorie for our departing : And hauing obtained leaue before of the Right Honorable the Lord Chamberlaine , the Lord Admirall , and M. vize Chamberlaine , for my departure , I tooke my leaue and so departed , setting vp our sayles , and taking vs to our Oares , wee departed towarde this our doubtfull course : and first we tooke our way to Grauesende , and from thence to these places hereafter mencioned , namely : To Margat . To Douer . To new Hauen in Sussex . To Portchmouth . To Sandwitch in Dorcetshire . To Abbots Berry . To Lyme . To Seaton . To Tingmouth . To Dartmouth . To Saucombe . To Plymmoth . To Lowe in Cornewall . To S. Mawes in faumouth . To the gret bay at Pensans called Mounse bay . To S. Iues at the further side of the landes end . To Gooddriuie . To Padstowe . To Bottricks Castle , which is in the race of Hartlande alias Hartey-point . To Cleuelley . To Ilford Co●me . To Mynnet high Cliffes . And lastly , to the Citie of Bristowe .

At these places before recited we stayed and refreshed our selues , sometime we were constrained to put into these places for want of victuals , sometime for to haue their certificats to testifie of our being there : sometimes we were weather bound , and sundrie accidents worth the noting happened vnto vs in many of these places , and our welcome in all places deserueth due commendations , the particulars wherof hereafter followeth .

After we had passed Grauesend as is aforesayd , we came to the lands end , then we bent our course to Margat , which place hauing passed , we woone the forelande with some high billowes .

From thence to the south forelande , and soone after we put in at Douer , where we stayed about vi . houres , and where we were greatly entertayned .

From thence we tooke to the Camber nestes , which is betwéene Rie and Douer , and so along the mayne Sea towards fayre Lée . Then we rowed and sayled along the Coast vntill we came to Beachie and passing by it we harbored at new Hauen in Sussex ; where we had reasonable good weather fill we came betwéene the Ile of Wight and Portchmouth : there we had a great storme , and in such sort ouerpressed with weather , that wee were constrayned to make towardes a Castle called Hurst Castle , from whence at the fall of winde and tide , we put foorth againe to sea , and recouered to Sandwitch in Dorcetshire . From thence we passed through a race called S. Albons which is a hed land , where we were in a great frett by reason of the race and so continued hazarding our liues by meanes of that fret , to the great and daungerous race of Portland , where by the good direction of our Pilot and master , we sought and stroue by great labour to take the aduantage of the tide and weather , whereby we passed through it in one houre .

Here did the billowes rise verie hie , so that we were in great daunger , yet God be thanked we escaped them without any dammage . From thence we passed to Lime bay , where we staied but one night and from thence to Seaton , at which place we were compelled to carrie and lift vp our boate on shoare , by extremitie of foule weather , for wee were there in great danger , by reason of frets , sands , and fowle weather , which greatly troubled vs .

From thence we went to Tingmoth , and so to Dartmoth , there we remained two daies , and had good intertainement , and great courtesie offred vs by the inhabitants thereof . And vppon the next day morning being Sunday , wée put to Sea againe , there hauing a faire winde and tide wée came to the Start , where the winde rose and hemde vs in round about , into a verie dangerous race , ( this was on the fifteenth of Iuly ) where wée were in such an extremitie , that we had like to haue béene drowned , yet it pleased God so farre to worke for vs , that we escaped the danger thereof , which done , wée went to the westward of Sawcombe , there wée were constrained to hale vppe our Bote in a coue called S●wer Mill , behind a rocke neare to Sir William Courtney , a verie bountiful knight , at whose house wée laie all that night , and would haue had vs to haue staide longer . But from thence hauing faire weather wée came to Plimmoth .

Heere wee mette with her Maiesties shippes , where maister Captaine Fenner and maister Captaine Wilkinson , gaue vs great intertainement , especially for that they saw we had leaue giuen vs from the right Honourable of her Maiesties counsell , for our quiet and safe passage . And for that I was her Maiesties messenger , they gaue vs the greater intertainement , and staide there one night , from thence we went to Lowe , and there staide one night , from thence to Sainte Mawes , with verie calme and good weather , vntil wee came to the Lizard , being a place well knowen to be most dangerous and full of rockes and rases , where God be thanked we passed in the currant of the tide , with great swiftness , but with wonderfull danger , where had it not beene well looked vnto of the maister wée had all beene cast away .

Then we did cutte ouer the Mouse bay to Mouthole which is foure myles beyond the mount , where we were constrained for want of necessarie victuals to come backe againe to Pensance , where we lodged all night .

The next morning , we set out to goe for the landes end , where setting from Pensans with our halfe tyde , to recouer the first of the tyde at the lands end , we being in our Boate a great way from the shore , our maister descryed a Pyrate , hauing a vessel of foure tunne , who made towards vs amaine , meaning doubtles to haue robbed vs , but doubting such a matter , we rowed so neare the shoare as wee might : and by that time as he was almost come at vs , we were neare to a rocke standing in the sea , where this Pyrate thought to haue taken vs at an aduantage : for being come close to the out side of the saide rocke , called Raynalde stones , he was becalmed & could make no way , and so were we . But God who neuer faileth those that put their trust in him , sent vs a comfort vnlooked for : for as we rowed to come about by this rocke , suddenly we espyed a plaine and verie easie way for vs to passe on the inner side of the saide rocke , where we went through very pleasantly , and by reason thereof he could not follow vs : thus we escaped safely , but he was soone after taken and brought in at Bristow . Here we found great breaches , races and rocks , the winde then being Northerly and altogether against vs , which was wonderfull painefull , troublesome , and daungerous to vs , neuerthelesse ( God be thanked ) we escaped in safetie , and recouered to Saint Iues , where we were well entertained . The next day we put to sea againe , but being within fiue myles of Saint Iues , we were constrained to séeke for a Coue , which we found called Saint Dryuey in Cornwale .

Here , for that we wanted victualles , our maister was constrained to goe climbe the great Cliffe at Goodryvey which is at the least fortie fatham hye , and wonderfull stéepe , which none of vs durst venture to doe , and ( God be blessed for it ) he had no harme at all , but surely to all likelyhoodes , had his foote once slipped , there could haue béene no recouery to haue saued him , but that he would haue béene brused in péeces .

At this place we stayed two dayes at maister Aro●dalles house , where we were greatly welcome , and from thence we went to Bottricks Castell , where dwelleth a gentleman called maister Hynder , there we were wether bound , and constrained to stay full seuentéene dayes , where we had great entertainement , he himselfe offering vs , if we would stay a whole yeare , wee should be welcome , and the rather for that I was one of her Maiesties seruants . But vpon the eightéenth day , the foule wether seasing we did againe put to the sea through the race of Hartland , alias Hartipointe , which is as ill as the race of Portlande , which wee escaped and recouered to Cleuelley , where wee were entertained by a very courteous gentleman called maister Carey . And from thence wee came to Ilforde Coume , which was on Satterday at night the first of August last past , whereupon for that wee were so neare Bristow , I desired my company that wee might put to sea that night , which they were loth to doe , yet at my importunate sute they graunted thereto . But being at sea , the winde arose very sore from of the land , which put vs all in great feare , whereby I my selfe was constrained to row foure houres alone on the Larboorde side , and my fellowe Rower was compelled to lade forth water so fast as it came into the Boate , which did beate vpon me and ouer me , very sore , the winde then being East and by South . Thus I was constrained to labour for life , and yet had almost killed my selfe through the heate I tooke in that time , rowing as is aforesaide , vntill we came to Mynette .

This done , we went from Mynytte , and so betwéene the two homes came to Bristow in one tyde , and arriued at the backe of Bristow , about sixe of the clocke at night .

But it was wonderfull to sée and heare what reioycing there was on all sides at our coming : The Maior of Bristow , with his bretheren the Aldermen , came to the water side , and welcomed vs most louingly , and the people came in great multitudes to sée vs , in so much as by the consent of the Magistrates , they tooke our Boate from vs , not suffering vs once to meddle with it , in respect that we were all extreame wearie , and carried our saide Boate to the high Crosse , in the Citie , from thence it was conuaied to the towne house , there locked safe all night . And on the next morning the people of the Citie gathered them selues together , & had prepared Trumpets , Drummes , Fyfes , & Ensignes to go before the Boate , which was carried vpon mens shoulders round about the Citie , with the Wait●s of the saide Citie , playing orderly in honour of our rare and daungerous attempt atchiued . Afterwardes we were had to maister Maiors , to the Aldermen and Sherifies houses , where we were feasted most royally and spared for no cost all the time that we remained there . Thus hauing a while refreshed our selues after our so tedious labours , we came to London on Saterday being the eight of August .1590 . where to speake truth without dissembling , our entertainement at our coming was great and honourable , especially at the Court , and in the Cities of London and Westminster , and generally I found that the people greatly reioyced to sée vs in all places ?

To conclude , I haue giuen order that the saide Boate shal be brought by land from Bristow to London , where the watermen & sundry other haue promised to grace the saide Boate with great melodie , and sundry volleyes of shot , which very shortly is entended to be performed .

Here is to be remembred , that betwéene Hartie-point and Cleuelly , the winde being verie strong , my companion and oare fellow Andrew Hill in taking downe our sayle , fell ouer boord into the sea , where by great good happe , and by meanes that he helde fast to a péece of our sayle , we recouered him and got him vp againe ( although he were a verie waightie man ) which if we had not done I could not haue gotten any man to haue supplyed his roome : but when we sawe that he was amended , we gaue God thankes for his recouerie .

Thus to God I with my fellow mates , giue most hartie prayers and thankes for our safe deliuerance from so imminent daungers as we haue béene in since our departure from the Court at Gréenewitch , being still defended by the mightie and handie worke of Almightie God , to whom we in all obedience and duetie dayly pray for the prosperous health of her Maiestie , and her honourable Councell , whose liues and welfare is the strength and maintenance of this land , and whom Almightie God , prosper and preserue now and euer . Amen .