Travel Reference
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an utter ruin of all . . . his intention was ever to run away. This is God's
will that I should put him in trust that should be the end of my life, and
the decay of the whole action: For had not these two small ships par-
ted from us we could not have miscarried on the coast of Brazil, for the
only decay of us was that we could not get into their barred harbours.
What became of these small ships I am not able to judge, but sure it is
most like they went back again for Port Desire, a place of relief for two
so small ships, for they might lie on ground there without danger and
being so few men they might relieve themselves with seals and birds
and so take a good time of year and pass the straits. The men in these
small ships were all lusty and in health, wherefore the likelier to hold
out. The short of all is this: Davis his only intent was utterly to over-
throw me, which he hath well performed . . .
14
Davis later denied the charge of desertion. He claimed that it
was the flagship which altered course during the night and that he
had spent several weeks searching for his leader. But Cavendish's
surmise was certainly correct: the two lost ships
did
put into Port
Desire and they
did
subsequently make three attempts to sail
through the Straits. The temptation for Davis must have been con-
siderable. By slipping into a shallow harbour where the
Galleon
Leicester
could not follow he might rid himself of a commander who
was no longer making rational decisions. We shall never know the
truth. What is clear is that Cavendish made no attempt to find his er-
rant vessels, but sailed resolutely on for Brazil.
Events rapidly moved from bad to worse. Raiding along the
Brazilian coast brought some provisions but Cavendish lost several
men. The
Roebuck
was severely mauled by storms. The crews, now
totally demoralised, were anxious to return home while their ships
were still intact. Their leader treated them with contempt. He
secretly resolved to transfer men, food and gear from the
Roebuck
to his own ship, burn the consort and then sail once more for the
