Barkes or Boates, and so standing all open in them, were suddenly shotte at by a troope of Spanyardes out of the bushes: by which volley of shotte there were slaine Captain Varney, which dyed presently, and Captaine Moone, who dyed some fewe dayes after, besides some foure or fiue others that were hurt: and so our folkes returned without their purpose, not hauing any sufficient number of souldiers with them to fight on shore. For those men they caryed were all Mariners to rowe, few of them armed, because they made account with their ordinance to haue taken the Barkes well enough at sea, which they might full easily haue done, without any losse at all, if they had come in time to the harbour mouth, before the Spaniards boates had gotten so neere the shore.
During our abode in this place, as also at S. Domingo, there passed diuers courtesies betweene vs and the Spaniards, as feasting, and vsing them with all kindnesse and fauour: so as amongst others there came to see the Generall, the Gouernour of Cartagena, with the Bishop of the same, and diuers other Gentlemen of the better sort.
This towne of Cartagena we touched in the out parts, and consumed much with fire, as we had done S. Domingo vpon discontentments, and for want of agreeing with vs in their first treaties touching their ransome, which at the last was concluded between vs, should be 100. and 10000. Ducats for that which was yet standing, the Ducat valued at fiue shillings sixe pence sterling.
This towne though not halfe so bigge as S. Domingo, giues as you see, a farre greater ransome, being in very deede of farre more importance, by reason of the excellencie of the Harbour, and the situation thereof, to serue the trade of Nombre de Dios and other places, and is inhabited with farre more richer Merchants. The other is chiefly inhabited with Lawyers and braue Gentlemen, being the chiefe or highest appeale of their suites in law of all the Islands about it, and of the maine land coast next vnto it. And it is of no such accompt as Cartagena, for these and some other like reasons, which I could giue you, ouer long to be now written.
The warning which this towne receiued of our comming towards them from S. Domingo, by the space of twentie dayes before our arriuall here, was cause that they had both fortified and euery way prepared for their best defence. As also that
