Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/231

 *dition that from that day forward, whatsoeuer other fugitiue Negros should resort vnto them, they should returne them home either dead or aliue, if not, that they should pay for them. Vpon these conditions, and to make all quiet in the mountaines, all things were concluded and agreed vpon. So that now the Negros dwell in great townes, where they haue Spaniardes for their teachers, and a Spaniard for their Iudge, and with this they holde themselues very well contented, and are obedient vnto their rulers.

The Spaniards since they conquered those parts haue seene many Frenchmen on that coast, but neuer any Englishmen in that place, saue those two onely which I haue mentioned. And although the Frenchmen haue come strong, yet durst they neuer put foot on shore as the English did. But the king of Spaine hearing that Englishmen as well as Frenchmen beganne to haunt that coast, caused two gallies to be made and well appointed, to keepe the coast.

The first yeere that they were made they tooke sixe or seuen French ships.

So soone as this was knowen there vsed fewe English or French men of warre to come on the coast, vntill this yeere 1586. when as the aforesaid Francis Drake came with a strong fleete of about foure and twentie ships, and did such harme as is well knowen vnto all Christendome. (But (God sparing the king of Spaine life) hee will sufficiently prouide to keepe his subiectes from the inuasions of other Nations.

Now to go forward with our begunne discourse, the next towne vpon this coast beyond Nombre de Dios is Cartagena: it standeth in a more heathfull place, and is a greater towne then the other, bordering vpon a better countrey, which aboundeth with plentie of victuals, and hauing a very good port for the harbour of ships: and it is called Cartagena, because it resembleth very much the citie of Cartagena in Spaine. It containeth aboue foure hundred households. It is very rich by reason of the ships staying there, when they goe or come from Spaine. And if the ships chance to winter before they goe home into Spaine, then they lie at Cartagena. Also it is greatly enriched by the merchandize, which is there discharged to be carryed to the new kingdome of Granada, from which kingdome much golde is brought vnto Cartagena. This new kingdome of Granada is two hundred leagues within the land: