A briefe note of a voyage to the East Indies, begun the 10 of April, 1591, wherein were three tall ships—the Penelope of Captaine Raimond, Admirall; the Merchant Royall, whereof was Captaine Samuel Foxcroft, Vioe-Admirall; the Edward Bonaventure, whereof was Captaine M. James Lancaster, Rere-Admirall, with a small pinnesse. Written by Henry May, who, in his returne homeward by the West Indies, suffred shipwraeke vpon the Isle of Bermuda, whereof here is annexed a large description.

The tenth of April, 1591, we departed from Plymmouth with the ships aforesayd. In May following wee arriued at Grand Canaria, one of the fortunate islands. Also, toward the end of this month we tooke a Portugall shippe being bound for Brasil, within three degrees to the northward of the equinoctiall, which serued greatly to our refreshing. The 29 of July following we came to Aguada Saldania, a good harbour neere the Cape of Buona Speranca, where we stayed about a month with the Merchant royall, which by reason of sicknesse in our fleet was sent home for England with diuers weake men. Here we bought an oxe for a knife of threepence, a sheepe for a broken knife, or any other odd trifle of the people which were Negros, clad in cloaks or mantles of raw hides, both men and women. The 8 of September the Penelope and the Edward Bonaventure weyed anker, and that day we doubled the Cape of Buona Speranca. The 12 following we were taken with an extreame tempest or huricano. This evening we saw a great sea breake ouer our Adniirall, the Penelope, and their light strooke out: and after that we neuer saw them any more.