Page 69
An. 1682
His Departure from Virginia.
stood away with her immediately for the Isle of Vacca, before any notice of this surprize could reach the French Governor of that Isle; so deceiving him also by a Stratagem, they got on board the rest of their Countrymen, who had been left on that Island; and going thence they took a Ship newly come from France, laden with Wines. They took also a Ship of good force, in which they resolved to em- bark themselves, and make a new Expedition into the South Seas, to cruize on the Coast of Chili and Peru. But first they went for Virginia with their Prizes; where they arrived the April after my com- ing thither. The best of their Prizes carried 18 Guns: this they fitted up there with Sails, and eve- ry thing necessary for so long a Voyage; selling the Wines they had taken for such Provisions as they wanted. My self, and those of our Fellow- travellers over the Isthmus of America, who came with me to Virginia the year before this (most of which had since made a short Voyage to Carolina, and were again return'd to Virginia) resolved to join our selves to these new Adventurers: and as many more engaged in the same design as made our whole Crew consist of about 70 Men. So having furnished our selves with necessary materials, and agreed up- on some particular Rules, especially of Temperance and Sobriety, by reason of the length of our in- tended Voyage, we all went on board our Ship.
August 23. 1682: we sailed from Achamack in Vir- ginia, under the Command of Captain Cook, bound for the South Seas. I shall not trouble the Reader with an account of every days run, but hasten to the less known parts of the World, to give a de- scription of them: only relating such memorable ac- cidents as hapned to us, and such places as we touch- ed at by the way.
We met nothing worth observation till we came to the Islands of Cape Verd, except a terrible Storm, which