- thelesse sometimes they are driuen ashore and so cast away, and all
because they dare not vier cable ynough, because of so many shelues and rockes which are in both those places: also the shippes doe roule very much in the harbour, by reason in foule weather the Sea will be mightily growen, which is the cause that their cables do oftentimes breake, and their ruthers are vnhanged, the cause thereof is by reason the shippes doe ride but in little water, yet goeth there a great sea.
The citie is builded and situated very well if it were a good harbour, it standeth vpon the Eastside vpon a rocke where they may builde a very good fort, according to the platforme for the safegard of this harbour: but seeing it is but a bad hauen and shallow water, therefore I doe thinke that it is not needefull for your maiestie to be at any charges in fortifying that place, but onely a trench to be made of earth or clay, so that these townesmen may defend themselues from danger of 3. or 4. ships.
The citie of Panama is eighteene leagues from Nombre de Dios, the wayes are exceeding bad thitherwards; yet notwithstanding all the siluer is brought this way to Nombre de Dios, as well your maiesties treasure as other marchandize; so likewise the most part of those commodities which are caried to Peru, and the rest of the marchandize are carried to the riuer of Chagre which is some 18 leagues from this citie and it is brought vp by this riuer within fiue leagues of Panama vnto an Inne or lodge called Venta de Cruzes, and from this place afterwards they are transported to Panama vpon Mules. The high way which goeth from Nombre de Dios to Panama may be very wel mended, only to remooue this way and to stop it quite vp, and so to make it againe vpon the side of a mountaine.
Nombre de Dios in 9. deg. and one tierce. This citie lieth in nine degrees and one tierce, and if your maiestie will giue order that this citie should be plucked downe and newly builded againe in Puerto Bello, then you are to make a new way through the mountaines of Capira, by reason it may not be frequented and because the high wayes are very bad: with little charges they may be broken and so shut vp, and the chanell of this harbour may bee stopt with the timber of those old ships which are laid vp here euery yeere, and then afterwards may be cast a great number of stones into the same, and so by this meanes to damme vp the harbour: and here is a great want of stones to ballast the shippes: wherefore they are faine to goe to an Island three leagues from Cartagena called Isla de los Bastimentos, and
