[Footnote 97:  There are three islands or groups of that name off the coast of Peru.  The southern Lobos is in lat. 7 deg.  S. near fifty miles from the nearest land; the middle, or inner Lobos, in lat. 6 deg. 22’ S. is only about nine miles from the coast of Peru; and the northern Lobos is in lat. 5 deg. 8’ S. almost close to the shore.  It is probably the middle or inner Lobos that is meant in the text.—­E.]

The 10th of August three of the Dutch ships battered the town of Payta, and afterwards sent a party of armed men on shore, who found the inhabitants had fled to the mountains with all their valuables.  The Dutch sent five of the Peruvian captives on shore to endeavour to procure fruit, and to learn with more certainty what had become of the Spanish admiral.  On their return they brought word that the Spanish admiral had gone to the bottom, six only of her crew escaping.  They brought letters also from the lady of Don Gasper Calderon, the commandant of Payta, who had fled to the town of St Michael, thirty miles from Payta; who, in commiseration of the captives, sent many citrons and other provisions to the Dutch ships.  Towards the sea the town of Payta is strongly fortified, and almost impregnable.  It is a place of some importance, having two churches, a monastery, and many good buildings; and has an excellent harbour, to which many ships resort from Panama, whence their cargoes are transmitted by land to Lima, to avoid the dangers of the wind and the seas at that place.  While at the island of Lobos, the Dutch took two birds of enormous size, not unlike an eagle in beak, wings, and talons; their necks being covered with down resembling wool, and their heads having combs like those of a cock.  They were two ells in height, and their wings, when displayed, measured three ells in breadth.[98]

[Footnote 98:  Probably the Condour, or Vultur Gryphus of naturalists, which is of vast size, sometimes measuring sixteen feet between the tips of the wings when extended.

At this place we have omitted a vague rambling account of the kingdoms of Peru and Chili, as in 1616, which could have conveyed no useful information, farther than that Don Juan de Mendoza, Marquis des Montes Claros, was then viceroy of Peru.—­E.]

The Dutch set sail from Payta on the 21st of August, and anchored on the 23d in the road off the mouth of the Rio Tumbez, in lat. 3 deg. 20’ S. They here agreed to return to the isle of Coques, in lat. 5 deg.  S.[99] that they might endeavour to procure refreshments.  But they were so distressed by storms of wind, with rain and excessive thunder, that they in vain endeavoured to get to that island till the 13th September, and in the mean time became very sickly.  Proceeding therefore towards the north they came in sight of New Spain on the 20th September, in lat. 13 deg. 30’ N. when the weather became again very tempestuous.  After much bad weather they came in sight of a pleasant land on the 1st October,