Master Iohn Haukins hauing made diners voyages to the yles of the Canaries, and there by his good and vpright dealing being growne in loue and fauour with the people, informed himself amongst them by diligent inquisition, of the state of the West India, whereof he had receiued some knowledge by the instructions of his father, but increased the same by the aduertisements and reports of that people. And being amongst other particulars assured that Negroes were very good marchandise in Hispaniola, and that store of Negroes might easily be had upon the coast of Guinea, resolued with himselfe to make trial thereof, and communicated that deuise with his worshipfull friends of London : namely, with sir Lionel Ducket, ¹ sir Thomas Lodge, ² m. Gunston, ³ his father-in-lawe, Sir William Winter, m, Bron-field, and others. All which persons liked so well of his intention, that they became liberall contributers and adventurers in the action. For which purpose there were 3. good shippes immediately prouided. The one called the Salomon of the burthen of 120. tunne, wherein M. Haukins himselfe went as Generall; the 2. the Swallow, of 100 tunnes, 6wherein went for Captaine M. Thomas Hampton: And the 3. the lonas, a barke of 40. tunnes, wherein the Master supplied the Captaine’s roome: in which small fleete, M. Hau-kins tooke with him not aboue 100. men, for feare of sicke-nesse, and other inconueniences, whereunto men in long voyages are commonly subiect.