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The Observations of Sir Richard Hawkins

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The Observations of Sir Richard Hawkins This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com iVO.\ i WORKS ISSUED BY THE OBSERVATIONS OF SIR RICHARD HAWKINS. M.nCCC.XLvII, \ , t. THE OBSERVATIONS SIR RICHARD HAWKINS, KNI IN HIS VOYAGE INTO THE SOUTH SEA IN THE YEAR 15 93. REPRINTED FROM THE EDITION OF 1622. EDITED BF C. R. DRINKWATER BETHUNE, CAPTAIN B.N. 4 D LONDON: PRINTED FOB THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY. M.DCCC.xLVII. /3 6.-T; Jar HARVARD COLLEGE LIBKARf RICHARDS, 100, ST. MARTIN'S LANE. THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY. Cornwtl. SIR RODERICK 1MPEY MURCHISON, G.C.St-S., F.R.S., Corr. Mem. Inst. Fr.; Hon. Mem. Imp. Acad. Sc. St. Petersburg, &c. &c., President. Vice-Admiral SIR CHARLES MALCOLM, Kt. , The Ret. H. H. MILMAN, MA. Ir Vice-Presidents. CHARLES T. BEKE, ESQ., PHIL. D., F.S.A. CAPTAIN C. R. DRINKWATER BETHUNE, R.N., C.B MAJOR-GENERAL J. BRIGGS, F.R.S. CAPTAIN F. BULLOCK, R.N. BOLTON CORNEY, ESQ., M.R.S.L. CHARLES DARWIN, ESQ., F.RS. SIR HENRY ELLIS, K.H., F.R.S. JOHN FORSTER, ESQ. J. E. GRAY, ESQ., F.R.S. W. R. HAMILTON, ESQ., F.RS. T. HODGKIN, ESQ., M.D. SIR JAMES M'GRIGOR, BARONET, M.D., F.R.S. R. H. MAJOR, ESQ. R. MONCKTON MILNES, ESQ., MP. SIR J. RICHARDSON, M.D., F.R.S. ANDREW SMITH, ESQ., M.D. SIR GEORGE T. STAUNTON, BARONET, MP., F.R.S. WILLIAM DESBOROUGH COOLEY, Esq., F.R.G.S., Secretary. / EDITOR'S PREFACE. Many of the early voyages to the Spanish posses sions in South America, are open to the charge of having been conducted more upon buccaneering principles, than on those that should guide nations in their intercourse with each other. Even Sir Francis Drake, on his return from one of the most memorable, endured the mortification of being considered little better than a pirate, and it required all the honors conferred on him by Queen Elizabeth, to set him right in public opinion. This is not the proper place to discuss the question, whether England was justified in allow ing such expeditions to leave her shores ; it is sufficient to state, that our author is not liable to any animadversion, as his voyage was undertaken under the authority of the Queen's commission ; and viii editor's preface. his conduct was marked throughout by humanity and benevolence. We can hardly appreciate too highly the ad venturous daring of these early navigators ; but while we give due credit to them for attempting such long voyages into almost unknown seas, in vessels of small burthen, we must not imagine that they were utterly unprovided for the nature of the expected service : on the contrary, great care seems have been taken both in selecting proper crews, and in providing them with everything needful. Sir Richard Hawkins, at page 12, alludes generally to his own preparations ; and we read in the ac counts of Sir Francis Drake's expedition, "that his vessels were plentifully furnished with all manner of provisions and necessaries for so long and danger ous a voyage ; and such as served only for ornament and delight were likewise not forgotten. For this purpose he took with him very expert musicians for several instruments. His furniture of all kinds was rich and sumptuous ; all the vessels for his table, and many in the cook-room, being of pure silver, curiously wrought, and many other things whereby the magnificence of his native country might be displayed." EDITORS PREFACE. IX We find even more detail in the North West Fox, or Fox from the North-west passage, London, 1635 : a work professing to give an account of all Northern voyagers, commencing with King Arthur, and ending with Captain Luke Fox. We quote from the preface to the latter voyage : — " The ship of his Majesties, was (of my own chusing, and the best for condition and quality, especially for this voyage, that the world could afford), of burthen eighty tonnes, the number of men twenty, and two boyes, and by all our cares was sheathed, cordaged, builded, and repaired ; all things being made exactly ready against an appointed time. My greatest care was to have my men of godly conversation, and such as their years, of time not exceeding thirty-five, had gained good experi ence, that I might thereby be the better assisted, especially by such as had been upon those frost biting voyages, by which they were hardened for indurance, and could not so soone be dismayed at the sight of the ice. For beardless younkers, I knew as many as could man the boate was enough ; and for all our dependances was upon God alone, for I had neither private ambition or vaine glory. "And all these things I had con tractedly done by b x editor's preface. the master, wardens, and assistants of the Trinity House. For a lieutenant I had no use; but it grieved me much that I could not get one man that had been on the same voyage before, by whose counsaile or discourse I might better have shunned the ice. I was victualled compleatly for eighteene months; but whether the baker, brewer, butcher, and other, were master of their arts, or professors or no, I know not ; but this I am sure of, I had excellent fat beefe, strong beere, good wheaten bread, good Iceland ling, butter and cheese of the best, admirable sacke and aqua-vitas, pease, oat- meale, wheat-meale, oyle, spice, sugar, fruit, and rice; with chyrugerie, as sirrups, julips, condits, trechisses, antidotes, balsoms, gummes, unguents, implaisters, oyles, potions, suppositors, and purging pills ; and if I wanted instruments, my chyrugion had enough. My carpenter was fitted from the thickest bolt to the pumpe nayle, or tacket. The gunner, from the sacor to the pistol. The boat- swaine, from the cable to the sayle twine. The steward and cooke, from the caldron to the spoone. " And for books, if I wanted any I was to blame, being bountifully furnisht from the treasurer with money to provide me, especially for those of study editor's preface. xi there would be no leisure, nor was there, for I found work enough." Besides this abundant preparation of all things needful for the body, rules for good discipline were not wanting, which we also transcribe, considering they have some relation to the matter in hand. " May 7, anno 1631 — The voyage of Captaine Luke Fox, in his Majesties pinnace the Charles, burthen seventy tonnes, twenty men, and two boyes, victuals for eighteen months, young Sir John Wolstenholme being treasurer. " Orders and articles for civill government, to be duly observed amongst us in this voyage. " Forasmuch as the good successe and prosperity of every action doth consist in the due service and glorifying of God, knowing that not only our being and preservation, but the prosperity of all our actions and enterprizes doe immediately depend upon His Almighty goodness and mercy ; of which this being none of the least, eyther of nature or quality. For the better governing and managing of this present voyage, in his Majesties ship the Charles, bound for the North-west Passage, towards the South Sea, May 7, 1631, as followeth: — " 1. That all the whole company, as well officers xii editor's preface. as others, shall duly repaire every day twice, at the call of the bell, to heare publike prayers to be read (such as are authorized by the Church), and that in a godly and devout manner, as good Christians ought. " 2. That no man shall swear by the name of God, nor use any prophane oath, or blaspheme his holy name, upon pain of severe punishment. " 3. That no man shall speak any vile or unbe seeming word, against the honour of his Majestie, our dread soveraigne, his lawes or ordinances, or the religion established and authorized by him here in England, but as good subjects shall duly pray for him. " 4. That no man shall speake any doubtfull or despairing words against the good successe of the voyage, or make any doubt thereof, eyther in pub- lique or private, at his messe, or to his watch-mate, or shall make any question of the skill and know ledge eyther of superiour or inferior officer, or of the undertakings ; nor shall offer to combine against the authority thereof, upon the paine of severe punishment, as well to him that shall first heare and conceale the same, as to the first beginner. " 5. That no man do offer to filch or steale any editor's preface. xiii of the goods of the ship or company, or doe offer to breake into hould, there to take his pleasure of such provisions as are layd in generall for the whole company of the ship ; nor that any officer appointed for the charge and oversight thereof, doe other wayes than shall be appointed him, but shall every man bee carefull for the necessary preservation of the victuall and fuell conteyned in the hould ; and that also every officer be so carefull of his store, as hee must not be found (upon examination) to deserve punishment. " 6. That no man doe grumble at his allowance of victuall, or steale any from others, nor shall give cross language, eyther to superior or equal, in re viling words or daring speeches, which do tend to the inflaming of blood or inraging of choller; remembering this also, that a stroke or a blow is the breach of his Majesties peace, and may not want his punishment therefore, as for other reasons.
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