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During this interval, being about half an hour, some of the men began to murmur and express their discontent at the dangerous situation into which Drake had brought them. He being made acquainted with this told them, that he had led them to the mouth of the treasure of the world, which if, by their cowardice, they went away without, they had none to blame but themselves.
As soon as the fury of the storm was in some measure abated, he being unwilling to give his men more time to think on their dangerous situation, and the enemy an opportunity of assembling together, he ordered his brother and John Oxenham, with their company, to break open the King’s treasure-house, while he with his company secured the market place till their business was done. But in the instant Drake was giving out the orders his strength, sight, and speech failed him, and he fainted, with the loss of a large quantity of blood, by a wound he had received in his leg at the beginning of the action, but which he had till then concealed, to prevent his men from being disheartened. When he was a little recovered, his company used all the persuasions they could to induce him to go on board, to have his wound dressed, promising to return with him again, and pursue their design. But he having his scarf tied about his wound, and being sensible that if they now lost ground, it would be in vain to return, persisted in holding and improving the advantage they had obtained. However, the major-part of his men uniting against his resolution, they carried him almost by force on board his pinnace, and put off from the shore with the booty they had already gotten. It is said by the writer of his life, That by force, mingled with fair words, they carried
