Our Captaine willing to use those Negroes well ( not hurting himselfe ) set them a shoare upon the maine , that they might perhaps joyn themselves to their Countrimen the Symerons , and gaine their liberty if they would , or if they would not , yet by reason of the length and troublesomenesse of the way by land to Nombre de Dios , he might prevent any notice of his comming , which they should be able to give . For he was loath to put the Towne to too much charge ( which he knew they would willingly bestow ) in providing before-hand for his entertainment , and therfore he hastened his going thither , with as much speed and secrecy as possibly he could .

To this end , disposing of all his companies , according as they inclined most , he left the three Ships and the Carvell with Captaine Rause , and chose into his foure Pinnases ( Captaine Rauses Shallop made the fourth ) besides fifty three of our men , twenty more of Captain Rauses company , with which he seemed competently furnished , to atchieve what he intended : especially having proportioned , according to his own purpose , and our mens disposition , their severall armes , viz. six Targets , six Firepikes , twelve Pikes , twenty four Muskets and Callivers , sixteen Bowes , and six Partizans , two Drums , and two Trumpets .

Iuly 28. Thus having parted from our company , we arrived at the Iland of Cativaas , being twenty five leagues distant ; about five dayes after there we landed all in the morning betimes ; and our Captain trained his men delivering them their severall weapons and armes , which hitherto he had kept very faire and safe in good caske ; and exhorting them after his manner , he declared the greatnesse of the hope of good things that was there : the weakenesse of the towne being unwalled , and the hope he had of prevailing , to recompence his wrongs , especially now that he should come with such a crew , who were like minded with himselfe ; and at such a time , as he should be utterly undiscovered .

Therefore even that afternoone , he causeth us to set saile for Nombre de dios , so that before sun set we were as farre as Rio Francisco : thence he led us hard aboard the shore ( that we might not be descried of the Watch house ) untill that being come within two leagues of the point of the Bay , he caused us to strike a hull , and cast our grappers , riding so untill it was darke night .

Then we weighed againe and set sayle , rowing hard aboard the shoare , with as much silence as we could , till we recovered the point of the harbour under the high land : there we stayed all silent , purposing to attempt the towne in the dawning of the day , after that we had reposed our selves for a while .

But our Captain with some others of his best men , finding that our people were talking of the greatnesse of the towne and what their strength might be , especially by the report of the Negroes that we tooke in the Isle of Pinos : thought it best to put these conceits out of their heads , and therefore to take the opportunity of the rising of the Moone that night , perswading them that it was the day dawning . By this occasion we were at the Towne a large hour sooner then first was purposed . For we arrived there by three of the clocke after midnight : at what time it fortuned that a ship of Spaine , of sixty tunnes , laden with Canary wines and other Commodities , which had but lately come into the Bay , and had not yet furld her sprit sayle , espying our four Pinnases , being an extraordinary number , and those rowing with many Oares , sent away her Gundeloe towards the Towne , to give warning ; but our Captaine perceiving it , our betwixt her and the Towne , forcing her to go to th' other side of the Bay : whereby we landed without impeachment , although we found one Gunner upon the Platform , in the very place where we landed , being a Sandy Bay and no Key at all , not past twenty yards from the Houses .

There we found six great Pieces of brasse Ordnance , mounted upon their Carriages , some Demy , some whole Culvering : we presently dismounted them , the Gunner fled , the Towne tooke alarme ( being very ready thereto , by reason of their often disquieting , by their neer neighbours the Symerons ) as we perceived , not only by the noyse and cryes of the people , but by the Bell ringing out , and Drums running up and down the Towne .

Our Captaine , according to the directions which he had given over night , to such as he had made choyce of for the purpose , left twelve to keep the Pinnaces , that we might be sure of a safe retreit , if the worst befell . And having made sure worke of the Platforme before he would enter the Town , he thought best , first to view the Mount , on the East side of the Towne , where he was informed , by sundry intelligences the yeare before , they had an intent to plant Ordnance , which might scower round about the Towne . Therefore leaving one halfe of his company , to make a stand at the foot of the mount , he marched up presently unto the top of it , with all speed , to try the truth of the report for the more safety . There we found no peece of Ordnance , but onely a very fit place prepared for such use , and therefore we left it without any of our men , and with all celerity returned downe the Mount . Then our Captaine appointed his Brother , with John Oxnam and sixteene other of his men to goe about behind the Kings treasure-house , and enter neere the Easter end of the market-place : himselfe with the rest , would passe up the broad street , into the market-place , with sound of Drum and Trumpet .

The Firepikes divided halfe to the one , and halfe to the other company , served no lesse for fright to the Enemy , then light of our Men , who by this meanes might discerne every place very well , as if it were neere day , whereas the Inhabitants stood amazed at so strange a sight , marvelling what the matter might be ; and imagining , by reason of our Drums and Trumpets sounding in so sundry places , that we had beene a farre greater number then we were .

Yet by meanes of the Souldiers which were in the Towne , and by reason of the time which we spent in marching up and downe the Mount , the Souldiers and the Inhabitants had put themselves in Armes , and brought their Companies in some order , at the South-east end of the Market-place , neere the Governours House , and not farre from the Gate of the Towne , which is onely one , leading towards Panama , having ( as it seemes ) gathered themselves thither , either that in the Governours sight they might shew their Valour , if it might prevaile , or else that by the Gate they might best take their Vale , and escape readiest .

And to make a shew of farre greater numbers of shot , or else of a custome they had , by the like device to terrifie the Symerons , they had hung Lines with Matches lighted , overthwart the Wester-end of the Market-place , betweene the Church and the Crosse , as though there had beene in a readinesse some company of shot , whereas indeed there was not past two or three that taught these Lines to dance , till they themselves ran away , as soone as they perceived they were discovered .

But the Souldiers , and such as were joyned with them , presented us with a jolly hot volley of shot , beating full upon the egresse of that Street in which we marched , and levelling very low , so as their Bullets oft-times grazed on the Sand. We stood not to answer them in like tearmes ; but having discharged our first volley of shot , and feathered them with our arrowes ( which our Captaine had caused to be made of purpose in England , not great sheafe arrowes , but fine roving shafts , very carefully reserved for the service ) we came to the push of Pike , so that our fire-pikes being well armed and made of purpose , did us very great service . For our men with their Pikes and short weapons , in short time tooke such order among these Gallants , some using the but-end of their Peeces in stead of other weapons , that partly by reason of our arrowes , which did us there notable service , partly by occasion of this strange and sudden closing with them , in this manner unlooked for , and the rather for that at the very instant , our Captaines brother , with the other Company , with their fire-pikes , entred the market-place by the Easter-street : they casting downe their weapons , fled all out of the Towne by the gate aforesaid , which had been built for a barre to keepe out of the Towne the Symerons , who had often assailed it , but now served for a gap for the Spaniards to fly at .

In following and returning , diverse of our men were hurt , with the weapons which the Enemy had let fall as he fled : somewhat , for that we marched with such speed , but more for that they lay so thicke and crosse one on the other .

Being returned , we made our stand neer the midst of the market place , where a tree groweth hard by the crosse ; whence our Captaine sent some of our men to stay the ringing of the alarme Bell , which had continued all this while : but the Church being very strongly built and fast shut , they could not without firing ( which our Captaine forbad ) get into the steeple where the Bell hung .

In the meane time , our Captaine having taken two or three Spaniards in their flight , commanded them to shew them the Governours house , where he understood was the ordinary place of unlading the Moyles , of all the treasure which came from Panamah by the Kings appointment : Although the silver onely was kept there : the gold , pearle and jewels ( being there once entred by the Kings Officer ) was carried from thence to the Kings treasure house not farre off , being a house very strongly built of lime and stone , for the safe keeping thereof .

At our comming to the Governours house , we found the great doore ( where the Moyles do usually unlade ) even then opened ; a Candle lighted upon the top of the stayers ; and a faire Gennet ready sadled , either for the Governour himselfe or some other of his house-hold to carry it after him . By meanes of this light , we saw a huge heape of Silver , in that nether roome : being a pile of bars of silver , of as ( neere as we could guesse ) seventy foot in length , of ten foot in breadth , and twelve foot in height , piled up against the wall , each barre was between thirty five and forty pound in weight . At sight hereof our Captaine commanded straightly that none of us should touch a barre of silver , but stand upon our weapons , because the Towne was full of people , and there was in the Kings treasure house neere the waters side , more gold and jewels then all our four Pinnaces would carry , which we would presently set some in hand to break open , notwithstanding the Spaniards reports of the strength of it .

We were no sooner returned to our strength , but there was a report brought by some of our men , that our Pinnaces were in danger to be taken , and that if we our selves got not aboard before day , we should be opprest with multitudes both of Souldiers and townes people . This report had his ground from one Diego a Negro , who in the time of the first conflict , came and called to our Pinnaces , to know whether they were Captaine Drakes ? and upon answer received , continued intreating to be taken aboard ( though he had first three or foure shot made at him ) untill at length they fetch him , and learned by him , that not past eight dayes before our arrivall the King had sent thither some hundred and fifty Souldiers to guard the Towne against the Symerons , and the Towne at this time was full of people besides : which , all the rather beleeved , because it agreed with the report of the Negroes , which we tooke before at the Isle of Pinos : and therefore our Captaine sent his brother and John Oxnam to understand the truth thereof . They found our men , which we left in our Pinnaces , much frighted , by reason that they saw great Troopes and Companies running up and downe , with matches light , some with other weapons ; crying Que gente ? que gente ? which having not been at the first conflict but comming from the utter ends of the Towne ( being at least as bigge as Plimouth ) came many times neere us , and understanding that we were English , discharged their Peeces and ran away .

Presently after this , a mighty shower of raine , with a terrible storme of thunder and lightning , fell , which powred downe so vehemently ( as it usually doth in those Countries ) that before we could recover the shelter of a certaine shade or pent-house , at the Wester end of the Kings treasure-house ( which seemeth to have been built there of purpose to avoid Sunne and Raine ) some of our bow-strings were wet , and some of our match and powder hurt : which while we were carefull of to refurnish and supply ; diverse of our men , harping on the reports lately brought us , were muttering of the Forces of the Towne , which our Captaine perceiving , told them , that he had brought them to the mouth of the treasure of the World , if they would want it , they might henceforth blame no body but themselves . And therefore as soone as the storme began to asswage of his fury ( which was a long halfe houre ) willing to give his Men no longer leasure to demurre of those doubts , nor yet allow the Enemy farther respite to gather themselves together ; he stept forward , commanding his Brother , with John Oxnam and the Company appointed them , to breake the Kings Treasure-house ; the rest to follow him , to keep the strength of the market place , till they had dispatched the businesse for which they came .

But as he stept forward , his strength and sight and speech failed him , and he began to faint for want of blood , which as then we perceived , had , in great quantity , issued upon the Sand , out of a wound received in his legge in the first incounter , whereby though he felt some paine , yet ( for that he perceived diverse of the Company , having already gotten many good things , to be very ready to take all occasions , of winding themselves , out of that conceited danger ) would he not have it knowne to any , till this his fainting , against his will , bewrayed it , the blood having first filled the very prints which our foot-steps made , to the great dismay of all our Company , who thought it not credible , that one man should be able to spare so much blood and live .

And therefore even they , which were willingest to have adventured most , for so faire a booty , would in no case hazzard their Captaines life ; but ( having given him somewhat to drinke wherewith he recovered himselfe , and having bound his Scarfe about his legge , for the stopping of the blood ) entreated him to be content to goe with them aboard , there to have his wound searched and drest , and then to returne a shoare againe if he thought good .

This when they could not perswade him unto ( as who knew it utterly ) impossible , at least very unlikely , that ever they should ( for that ) returne againe , to recover the state in which they now were ; and was of opinion , that it were more honourable for himselfe , to jeopard his life for so great a benefit , then to leave off so high an enterprize unperformed : ) they joyned altogether , and with force mingled with faire intreaty , they bare him aboard his Pinnace , and so abandoned a most rich spoyle for the present , onely to preserve their Captaines life , as being resolved of him , that while they enjoyed his presence , and had him to command them , they might recover wealth sufficient ; but if once they lost him , they should hardly be able to recover home , no not with that which they had gotten already .

July 29 Thus we embarqued by breake of the day , having besides our Captaine , many of our Men wounded , though none slaine but one Trumpeter : whereupon though our Chyrurgeons were busily employed , in providing remedies and Salves for their wounds ; yet the maine care of our Captaine was respected by all the rest : so that before we departed out of the Harbour for the more comfort of our Company , we tooke the aforesaid Ship of Wines without great resistance . But before we had her free off the Haven , they of the Towne had made meanes to bring one of their Culverins , which we had dismounted , so as they made a shot at us , but hindered not us from carrying forth the Prize to the Isle Bastimientes , or The Isle of Victuales ; which is an Iland that lyeth without the Bay to the Westwards , about a league off the Towne , where we stayed the two next dayes , to cure our wounded Men , and to refresh our selves in the goodly Gardens which we there found , abounding with great store of all dainty Roots and Fruits , besides great plenty of Poultery and other Fowles , no lesse strange then delicate .

Shortly upon our first arrivall in this Iland , the Governour and the rest of his assistants in the Towne ( as we afterwards understood ) sent unto our Captaine a proper Gentleman of meane stature , good complexion , and faire spoken , a principall Souldier of the late sent Garrison , to view in what state we were . At his comming he protested he came to us of meere good will , for that we had attempted , so great and incredible a matter with so few men : and that at the first they feared that we had beene French , at whose hands they knew they should finde no mercy : but after they perceived by our Arrowes , that we were English men , their feares were the lesse , for that they knew , that though we tooke the Treasure of the place , yet we would not use cruelty towards their persons .

But albeit this his affection gave him cause enough , to come aboard such whose vertues he so honoured , yet the Governour also had not only consented to his comming , but directly sent him , upon occasion that diverse of the Towne affirmed ( said he ) that they knew our Captaine , who the last two yeares had beene often on their Coast , and had alwayes used their persons very well . And therefore desired to know , first , whether our Captaine were the same Captaine Drake or no ? and next , because many of their men were wounded with our Arrowes , whether they were poysoned or no ? And how their wounds might best be cured ? Lastly , what victuals we wanted or other necessaries ? Of which the Governour promised by him to supply and furnish us , as largely as he durst . Our Captaine although he thought this Souldier but a Spy : yet used him very courteously , and answered him to his Governours demands . That he was the same Drake whom they meant : it was never his manner to poyson his Arrowes : they might cure their wounded by ordinary Chyrurgery : as for wants he knew the Iland of Bastimientos had sufficient , and could furnish him if he listed : but he wanted nothing but some of that speciall commodity , which that Countrey yeelded , to content himselfe and his Company . And therefore he advised the Governour to hold open his eyes , for before he departed , if God lent him life and leave , he meant to reape some of their Harvest , which they get out of the Earth , and send into Spaine to trouble all the Earth .

To this answer unlooked for , this Gentleman replyed : If he might without offence move such a question , what should then be the cause of our departing from that Towne at this time , where was above three hundred and sixty Tun of silver ready for the Fleet , and much more Gold in value , resting in Iron Chests in the Kings Treasure-house ? But when our Captaine had shewed him the true cause of his unwilling retreat aboard ; he acknowledged , that we had no lesse reason in departing , then courage in attempting : and no doubt did easily see , that it was not for the Towne to seeke revenge of us , by manning forth such Frigates or other vessels , as they had : but better to content themselves and provide for their owne defence .

Thus with great favour and courteous entertainment , besides such gifts from our Captaine as most contented him : after dinner he was in such sort dismissed , to make report of that he had seen , that he protested , he was never so much honoured of any in his life .

After his departure , the Negroe fore-mentioned , being examined more fully , confirmed this report of the Gold and Silver , with many other intelligences of importance , especially how we might have Gold and Silver enough if we would , by meanes of the Symerons , whom though he had betrayed diverse times ( being used thereto by his Masters ) so that he knew they would kill him , if they gat him : yet if our Captaine would undertake his protexion , he durst adventure his life , because he knew our Captaines name was most precious and highly honoured of them .

This report ministred occasion to further consultation : for which , because this place seemed not the safest ; as being neither the healthiest nor quietest . The next day in the morning we all set our course for the Isle of Pinos or Port Plentie , where we had left our Ships , continuing all that day and the next , till towards night before we recovered it . We were the longer in this course , for that our Captaine sent away his Brother and Ellis Hixon to the westward , to search the river Chagro , where himselfe had been the yeare before , and yet was carefull to gaine more notice of , it being a River which tendeth to the Southward within six leagues of Panamah , where is a little Town called Venta Cruz , whence all the treasure , that was usually brought thither from Panamah by Moyles , was imbarqued in Frigates , downe the River into the North Sea , and so to Nombre de dios . It ebbeth and floweth not farre into the land , and therefore it asketh three dayes rowing with a fine Pinnace to passe from the mouth to Venta Cruz , but one day and a night serveth to returne downe the River .