n, their several arms, viz., six targets, six firepikes,
twelve pikes, twenty-four muskets and calivers, sixteen bows, and six
partisans, two drums, and two trumpets.

Thus having parted (23rd July) from our company: we arrived at the
island of Cativaas, being twenty-five leagues distant, about five days
afterward (28th July). There we landed all in the morning betimes: and
our Captain trained his men, delivering them their several weapons
and arms which hitherto he had kept very fair and safe in good caske
[casks]: and exhorting them after his manner, he declared "the greatness
of the hope of good things that was there! the weakness of the town,
being unwalled! and the hope he had of prevailing to recompense his
wrongs! especially now that he should come with such a crew, who were
like-minded with himself; and at such a time, as he should be utterly
undiscovered."

Therefore, even that afternoon, he causeth us to set sail for Nombre de
Dios, so that before sunset we were as far as Rio Francisco. Thence, he
led us hard aboard the shore, that we might not be descried of the Watch
House, until that being come within two leagues of the point of the bay,
he caused us to strike a hull, and cast our grappers [grappling irons],
riding so until it was dark night.

Then we weighed again, and set sail, rowing hard aboard the shore, with
as much silence as we could, till we recovered the point of the harbour
under the high land. There, we stayed, all silent; purposing to attempt
the town in the dawning of the day: after that we had reposed ourselves,
for a while.

But our captain with some other of his best men, finding that our people
were talking of the greatness of the town, and what their strength might
be; especially by the report of the Negroes that we took at the Isle
of Pinos: thought it best to put these conceits out of their heads, and
therefore to take the opportunity of the rising of the moon that night,
persuading them that "it was the day dawning." By this occasion we were
at the town a large hour sooner than first was purposed. For we arrived
there by three of the clock after midnight. At that time it fortuned
that a ship of Spain, of 60 tons, laden with Canary wines and other
commodities, which had but lately come into the bay; and had not
yet furled her spirit-sail (espying our four pinnaces, being an
extraordinary number, and those rowing with many oars) sent away her
gundeloe [? gondola] towards the town, to