as yet there is not laid downe to our knowledge any such enterprise as may seeme conuenient to be vndertaken with such few as we are presently able to make, and withall of such certaine likelihoode, as with Gods good successe which it may please him to bestow vpon vs, the same may promise to yeeld vs any sufficient contentment: We doe therefore conclude hereupon, that it is better to hold sure as we may the honour already gotten, and with the same to returne towards our gracious Soueraigne and Countrey, from whence if it shall please her Maiestie to set vs foorth againe with her orderly meanes and intertainment, we are most ready and willing to goe through with any thing that the vttermost of our strength and indeuour shall be able to reach vnto: but therewithal wee doe aduise and protest that it is farre from our thoughts, either to refuse, or so much as to seeme to be wearie of any thing, which for the present shalbe further required or directed to be done by vs from our Generall.
The third and last poynt is concerning the ransome of this citie of Cartagena, for the which, before it was touched with any fire, there was made an offer of some xxvij. or xxviij. thousand pounds sterling.
Thus much we vtter herein as our opinions agreeing (so it be done
in good sort) to accept this offer aforesayde, rather then to breake
off by standing still vpon our demands of one hundred thousand
poundes, which seemes a matter impossible to bee performed for
the present by them, and to say trueth, wee may now with much
honour and reputation better be satisfied with that summe offered
by them at the first (if they will now bee contented to giue it)
then wee might at that time with a great deale more, inasmuch
as we haue taken our full pleasure both in the vttermost sacking
and spoyling of all their householde goods and marchandize, as
also in that we haue consumed and ruined a great part of their
Towne with fire. And thus much further is considered herein
by vs, that as there bee in the Voyage a great many poore men,
who haue willingly aduentured their liues and trauailes, and
diuers amongst them hauing spent their apparell and such other
little prouisions as their small meanes might haue giuen them
leaue to prepare, which being done vpon such good and allowable
intention as this action hath alwayes caried with it, meaning,
against the Spanyard our greatest and most dangerous enemie:
