Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 15.djvu/365

 vsed vs with great kindnesse, so that we were all perfectly well before we departed from this place. For here we stayed vntil the 25 of Nouember. From Dominica we sayled to Margarita, betweene the Isle and the maine, thinking to meete with the perle dredgers, but wee found them not. And comming to the point of Araia in the road of Cumaná, we sawe a Flemish ship riding; the marchant and men whereof came aboord vs, and brought with them my lord Admirals passe. By which meanes our General would in no sort meddle with them, yet they were very rich. Departing thence by Cape Coadera, going for Cape de la Vela at the Isle Buenaire our Fliboat was cast away, and some of the men lost, but the most part saued. Coasting all the shore from Cape de la Vela, being bound for S. Martha, we tooke a small frigat laden with Guiny corne, the eleuenth of September: she had in her money to the valew of 500 pound, linnen cloth and China silke, all which our General bestowed vpon his company to comfort them after their long sustained miseries: Out of which frigat we had 2 good pilots for those coasts: for our pilot, that promised many things before we came thither, was now absent in the Woolfe, who, we thinke, did wilfully loose vs.

Arriuing at S. Martha, two leagues West from the town in a faire bay, we landed the 12 of September, and so marched to the towne being often times encountered by the way, and in a narrow way at our descent downe a hill, they had placed two cast pieces of brasse, which we recouered, and so entred the towne, the enemie flying before vs. While we abode in this towne, there came one Don Martin de Castilla, a gentleman of good education and a very great traueller, who knew the whole state of the West India, Malucos, and Philippinas: he had bene in China, and made many relations to our Generall, his purpose was to saue the towne from burning, wherin he preuailed, but ransome I know of none we had: for this gentleman made many great protestations of great pouerty to be in that place. So wee departed, onely taking their ordinance, and a prisoner lost there by sir Francis Drake, with some reliefe of victuals. Hauing stayed there al the time of Christmas, we departed thence on Newyeres day, with termes of great content to our General in the Spaniards great submission vnto him, for they were now within a league of vs with 700 souldiers. And being challenged by him to defend their towne like men of worth, they did notwithstanding intreat fauour with great humilitie.