commanders in a paper which Downton has left on record, in which the position is discussed with a gloomy determination to face the facts, however mipalatable they might be. He descanted upon the lamentable outcome thus far of this voyage "begun with glory (which drew great expectations in all estates) and set out with great charges," showing how after two years' travel they found themselves with our victuals spent, our ship's cables and furniture far worn, men's wages for twenty-four months already past, ourselves deluded and abut'ed in most places we have come to."
The real question they had to face, he said, was "whether better we wish a languishing end or a shameful return."
After many dark communings Downton came to the conclusion that the best hope of retrieving the well-nigh desperate situation was to repair to the Red Sea and attempt to obtain satisfaction there for the injuries done at Aden. This was the decision ultimately arrived at by the commanders, and it was promptly acted upon, much to the relief of the Portuguese, who had been thrown into a state of great consternation by the presence of the English ships at Dabul.
Arriving with his ships before Aden early in April, 1611, Middleton at once instituted a blockade. The operations were extended eventually to the Red Sea and were participated in to a certain extent by Captain John Saris with two ships of the fleet of the seventh voyage, which had been intercepted in the vicinity of the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb. But Saris's heart was not in the work and serious disagreements arose between the two commanders on questions of policy as well as with regard to the apportionment of the compensation as soon as it should be obtained. At last, when the dispute had become an open rupture, Saris went
