nted, so as they
made a shot at us, but hindered us not from carrying forth the prize to
the Isle of _Bastimentos_, or the Isle of Victuals: which is an island
that lieth without the bay to the westward, about a league off the town,
where we stayed the two next days, to cure our wounded men, and refresh
ourselves, in the goodly gardens which we there found abounding with
great store of all dainty roots and fruits; besides great plenty of
poultry and other fowls, no less strange then delicate.

Shortly upon our first arrival in this island, the Governor and the rest
of his Assistants in the town, as we afterwards understood, sent unto
our Captain, a proper gentleman, of mean stature, good complexion, and
a fair spoken, a principal soldier of the late sent garrison, to view in
what state we were. At his coming he protested "He came to us, of mere
good will, for that we had attempted so great and incredible a matter
with so few men: and that, at the first, they feared that we had been
French, at whose hands they knew they should find no mercy: but after
they perceived by our arrows, that we were Englishmen, their fears were
the less, for that they knew, that though we took the treasure of the
place, yet we would not use cruelty toward their persons. But albeit
this his affection gave him cause enough, to come aboard such, whose
virtue he so honoured: yet the Governor also had not only consented to
his coming, but directly sent him, upon occasion that divers of the town
affirmed, said he, 'that they knew our Captain, who the last two years
had been often on our coast, and had always used their persons very
well.' And therefore desired to know, first, Whether our Captain was
the same Captain DRAKE or not? and next, Because many of their men were
wounded with our arrows, whether they were poisoned or not? and how
their wounds might best be cured? lastly, What victuals we wanted, or
other necessaries? of which the Governor promised by him to supply and
furnish us, as largely as he durst."

Our Captain, although he thought this soldier but a spy: yet used him
very courteously, and answered him to his Governor's demands: that "He
was the same DRAKE whom they meant! It was never his manner to poison
his arrows! They might cure their wounded by ordinary surgery! As for
wants, he knew the Island of _Bastimentos_ has sufficient, and could
furnish him if he listed! But he wanted nothing but some of that
special commodity which that