ABSTRACT
Our fleet (therefore) consisted of foure good ships, viz. the New Yeares Guift, and the Hector, the Marchants Hope, and the Salomon; which together set sayle from the Downes about the ninth of March 1613 [1614]; of burthen from three hundred to eight hundred tonnes; compleatly furnisht (besides private provisions) with varieties for health and preservation of life; warlike appoynted, though peaceably intended, in a faire and generous way of trading, however report may wrong our reputation. Our Generall, or cheife commander, an understanding gentleman, Captaine Nicolas Downton, whose religious orders (besides the Honorable Companies), both for divine duties and civill societie, publisht and hung up in every shippe, with his owne good example, no doubt prevented many grosse offences, which usually happen in promiscuous multitudes.
