hastened to go aboard the Pinnace, with their Captain in company.
In the meantime, Captain QUAILE had shut his portholes close and hid his ordnance; discovering not above five men above the hatches, who seemed to carry sickly faces and weak bodies, and were all unarmed. The Spaniards were joyfully embraced and welcomed. Such poor victuals as they had aboard, were with arguments of much love set before them. Holland cheeses were cut in the middle; and such wine and beer offered them, as they were furnished with.
This entertainment carrying away all suspicion with it: Captain QUAILE invited the Spanish Captain and the rest of his company to his cabin. In passing into which, the Spanish commander espied a piece of ordnance: at which, starting back, and, not half well pleased, demanding "why it lay there;" QUAILE excused it and said "that it was all the protection they carried about them to defend them from dangers: "and so, with much cunning as he could, he drew by compliment and disguised fair language all the Spaniards into his cabin. Whither with good words he welcomed them, and saluted them with cans of wine: which, while they were tossing—albeit the Spaniard is the most temperate drinker in the world—Captain QUAILE, with his foot giving a knock for more; that sign of the foot was a watchword to fetch up all mariners. Who, crying "St. George!" appeared in their full number, every man armed with a charged pistol and a short sword drawn in his hand.
The Spaniards, astonished at this unexpected surprisal, seeing no remedy, yielded themselves; and so were all taken prisoners: an assurance being given them by the English Captain—upon the oath of a soldier (his honour) and the faith of an Englishman (which to an enemy he scorns to break)—that not a Spaniard there should be in any danger for his life, so they would be quiet and silent; otherwise death!
Certain fishermen were all this while round about them, at their labour; yet perceived nothing.
With all speed therefore that possibly could be used, Captain QUAILE and his Lieutenant, making their prisoners sure; manned out the two Spanish skiffs with his English musketeers: every one of them lying down in the skiffs flat
