On Whitsunday Eve, being the 24th of May, in the year 1572, Captain
DRAKE in the _Pascha_ of Plymouth of 70 tons, his admiral [flag-ship];
with the _Swan_ of the same port, of 25 tons, his vice-admiral, in which
his brother JOHN DRAKE was Captain (having in both of them, of men and
boys seventy-three, all voluntarily assembled; of which the eldest was
fifty, all the rest under thirty: so divided that there were forty-seven
in the one ship, and twenty-six in the other. Both richly furnished with
victuals and apparel for a whole year; and no less heedfully provided
of all manner of munition, artillery, artificers, stuff and tools, that
were requisite for such a Man-of-war in such an attempt: but especially
having three dainty pinnaces made in Plymouth, taken asunder in all
pieces, and stowed aboard, to be set up as occasion served), set sail,
from out of the Sound of Plymouth, with intent to land at Nombre de
Dios.
The wind continued prosperous and favourable at northeast, and gave us
a very good passage, without any alteration or change: so that albeit
we had sight (3rd June) of Porto Santo, one of the Madeiras, and of
the Canaries also within twelve days of our setting forth: yet we never
struck sail nor came to anchor, nor made any stay for any cause, neither
there nor elsewhere, until twenty-five days after; when (28th June)
we had sight of the island Guadaloupe, one of the islands of the West
Indies, goodly high land.
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