Page:Voyages and adventures of the renowned Admiral Drake.pdf/15

15 weight of gold, a crucifix of the same metal, some emeralds of a finger’s length, and some cordage. In a few days after he came up with the Cacofoga, and shooting her fore-mast by the board, presently made himself master of her; wherein, besides pearls and precious stones, he took eighty pounds weight of gold, 13 chests full of silver coined, and a great quantity of other silver. Having removed all this into his own ship, he let the Cacofogo go.

Drake continued his course to the northward, sailed along the coast of Mexico, and landing at Agnatulco, sacked that town. Here he found a Court of Justice sitting in the town-hall, and a judge just going to pronounce sentence against some poor Negroes, who were accused of a plot to set the town on fire; but Drake thought fit to make a small alteration in the sentence, and to order the judge, court, and criminals, to be conveyed prisoners on board his ship; and the sentence was no sooner pronounced than executed.

Drake having now made more than sufficient reprisals on the Spaniards for his former losses, proposed returning to England; in doing which, he boldly attempted to find a passage by North America, sailing to the latitude of 42 degrees on that coast: but meeting with nothing but severe cold, and open shores covered with snow, he came back into the latitude of 38, and there putting into a convenient harbour in the north of California, met with a very kind reception from Indians inhabiting the same; who, by significant tokens offered to make him their king. To this country Drake gave the name of ; and raising a pillar, inscribed upon it the name of Queen Elizabeth, the date of the year, the time of his arrival there, and put under it some of the Queen’s