of the total of two hundred and sixty men aboard two of the ships, which sailed from the port of Nostradama—­while the other two sailed from the port of Rrotadama [Rotterdam]—­on the eleventh or twelfth of August, in the year 1598.  They laid their course toward the straits of Magellanes; and while skirting the coast of Brasil, the Portuguese there hoisted a flag of peace.  This being seen by the English and Irish, twelve of them went ashore in the shallop, where the Portuguese, who numbered perhaps ten or twelve, received them with pleasant countenances, and invited them to dine.  But while at dinner the Portuguese murdered all the Irishmen, among them the chief pilot, upon whom the others relied because of his familiarity with the said course and voyage.  Thereupon the enemy, furious at the manner in which they had been treated, landed forty or fifty arquebusiers in order to avenge the injury that they had received.  The Portuguese, in anticipation of this, intrenched themselves very strongly, so that the enemy was unable to enter their fort, but was, on the contrary, forced to retire to his boats with a loss of six men.  They set sail and laid their course for the strait [of Magellan], where they arrived a year and seven months from the time when they sailed from their own country.  When they arrived there they encountered many storms and head-winds, and sickness to such an extent that they were obliged to transfer the men still remaining on one ship to the other three.  Then they sunk this vessel, and with the three vessels pursued their course, followed continually by storms which never left them.  They sighted a vessel, which upon investigation turned out to be English.  By it they were informed that another squadron of four vessels had sailed from Yngalaterra [England], and that this vessel, being unable to carry so much sail as the others, had been left to its fate, and knew naught more of the others.  The Dutch ships continued their course and sailed ahead, so that within a few days they lost sight of this vessel.  They passed through the strait, where they lost four or five months.  After this it happened that the general fell out with his admiral, whom he charged with negligence of his orders.  The admiral was tried, the charges sustained, and traitorous misdeeds proved against him; therefore he was abandoned on a desert island near the coast of Chile. [23] Then the general appointed as admiral one of the most valiant and experienced soldiers of his band.  He reached the coast of Chile, where he made a few captures, although of no especial importance.  The first was a fragata, [24] which was seized near the island of Sancta Maria Domingo de Rramos in the year 1600.  They were informed by this vessel that two ships had gone to Arica for the king’s silver; but they were warned that there were war-vessels at Callao.  This fragata, they say, was carrying three consignments of gold; but our men, upon seeing that they were lost, threw it overboard.  The enemy seized the pilot,