rgrown again, as that we doubted, at first,
whether this was the same place or not.

At our entrance into this bay, our Captain having given order to his
brother what to do, if any occasion should happen in his absence, was
on his way, with intent to have gone aland with some few only in his
company, because he knew there dwelt no Spaniards within thirty-five
leagues of that place. [Santiago de] Tolou being the nearest to the
eastwards, and Nombre de Dios to the westwards, where any of that nation
dwelt.

But as we were rowing ashore, we saw a smoke in the woods, even near the
place where our Captain had aforetime frequented; therefore thinking it
fit to take more strength with us, he caused his other boat also to be
manned, with certain muskets and other weapons, suspecting some enemy
had been ashore.

When we landed, we found by evident marks, that there had been lately
there, a certain Englishman of Plymouth, called JOHN GARRET, who had
been conducted thither by certain English mariners which had been there
with our Captain, in some of his former voyages. He had now left a plate
of lead, nailed fast to a mighty great tree (greater than any four men
joining hands could fathom about) on which were engraven these words,
directed to our Captain.

CAPTAIN DRAKE

If you fortune to come to this Port, make haste away! For the Spaniards
which you had with you here, the last year, have bewrayed this place,
and taken away all that you left here.

I depart from hence, this present 7th of July, 1572.

Your very loving friend, John Garret.

The smoke which we saw, was occasioned by a fire, which the said Garret
and his company had made, before their departure, in a very great tree,
not far from this which had the lead nailed on it, which had continued
burning at least five days before our arrival.

This advertisement notwithstanding, our Captain meant not to depart
before he had built his pinnaces; which were yet aboard in pieces: for
which purpose he knew this port to be a most convenient place.

And therefore as soon as we had moored our ships, our Captain commanded
his pinnaces to be brought ashore for the carpenters to set up; himself
employing all his other company in fortifying a place (which he had
chosen out, as a most fit plot) of three-quarters of an acre of ground,
to make some strength or safety for the present, as sufficiently as
the means he had would afford. Which was performed by felling of
great t