with plenty of
maize and sundry fruits.

Touching their affection in religion, they have no kind of priests,
only they held the Cross in great reputation. But at our Captain's
persuasion, they were contented to leave their crosses, and to learn the
_Lord's Prayer_, and to be instructed in some measure concerning GOD's
true worship. They kept a continual watch in four parts, three miles off
their town, to prevent the mischiefs, which the Spaniards intend against
them, by the conducting of some of their own coats [i.e., Cimaroons],
which having been taken by the Spaniards have been enforced thereunto:
wherein, as we learned, sometimes the Spaniards have prevailed over
them, especially when they lived less careful; but since, they [watch]
against the Spaniards, whom they killed like beasts, as often as they
take them in the woods; having aforehand understood of their coming.

We stayed with them that night, and the next day (7th February) till
noon; during which time, they related unto us diverse very strange
accidents, that had fallen out between them and the Spaniards, namely
one. A gallant gentleman entertained by the Governor of the country,
undertook, the year last past (1572), with 150 soldiers, to put this
town to the sword, men, women, and children. Being conducted to it by
one of them, that had been taken prisoner, and won by great gifts; he
surprised it half an hour before day, by which occasion most of the
men escaped, but many of their women and children were slaughtered, or
taken: but the same morning by sun rising (after that their guide was
slain, in following another man's wife, and that the Cimaroons had
assembled themselves in their strength) they behaved themselves in such
sort, and drove the Spaniards to such extremity, that what with the
disadvantage of the woods (having lost their guide and thereby their
way), what with famine and want, there escaped not past thirty of them,
to return answer to those which sent them.

Their king [chief] dwelt in a city within sixteen leagues southeast of
Panama; which is able to make 1,700 fighting men.

They all intreated our Captain very earnestly, to make his abode with
them some two or three days; promising that by that time, they would
double his strength if he thought good. But he thanking them for their
offer, told them, that "He could stay no longer! It was more than time
to prosecute his purposed voyage. As for strength, he would wish no more
than he had