The Hector, Captain Hawkins, and the Dragon, Captain Keeling, sailed on the 7th of March from Erith. The wind proving unfavourable, the vessels did not reach the Downs until the end of the month. The Hector, while in the Downs, was found to leak badly, but her own carpenter was able to execute the necessary caulking.

On the 16th of April the two ships left Plymouth, from which port the Consent had sailed a few days previously.

The Island of Maio was visited in hopes of obtaining a supply of fresh water, but as none could be obtained, the vessels put to sea again, “God still furtheringe our jorney with prosspurus winde, though our wicked actiones and inhewmayne vilenes merited instead hereof fearfull judgmentes”.

The weather on the 14th of May was very stormy, and “the raigne which we had this morninge mad our cabbenes and all thinges yet weate smell verey noysomely”.

From the latitude of Cape St. Augustine, on the coast of Brazil, the Hector and Dragon were driven by contrary winds to the northward of the Line.

For the purpose of refilling the water casks, the general put into Sierra Leone. At this place, as “for cattell theare weare none to be gooten, for the countrye seemed baggerly, and the people verey idle, but for ought wee perceived harmlesse”.