ithin six leagues of Panama, where is a little town called Venta Cruz
[Venta de Cruzes], whence all the treasure, that was usually brought
thither from Panama by mules, was embarked in frigates [sailing] down
that river into the North sea, and so to Nombre de Dios.

It ebbeth and floweth not far into the land, and therefore it asketh
three days' rowing with a fine pinnace to pass [up] from the mouth to
Venta Cruz; but one day and a night serveth to return down the river.

At our return to our ships (1st August), in our consultation, Captain
RANSE (forecasting divers doubts of our safe continuance upon that
coast, being now discovered) was willing to depart; and our Captain
no less willing to dismiss him: and therefore as soon as our pinnaces
returned from Chagres (7th August) with such advertisement as they were
sent for, about eight days before; Captain RANSE took his leave, leaving
us at the isle aforesaid, where we had remained five or six days.

In which meantime, having put all things in a readiness, our captain
resolved, with his two ships and three pinnaces to go to Cartagena;
whither in sailing, we spent some six days by reason of the calms which
came often upon us: but all this time we attempted nothing that we might
have done by the way, neither at [Santiago de] Tolou nor otherwhere,
because we would not be discovered.

We came to anchor with our two ships in the evening [13th August], in
seven fathom water, between the island of Charesha and St. Bernards [San
Bernardo].

Our Captain led the three pinnaces about the island, into the harbour of
Cartagena; where at the very entry, he found a frigate at anchor, aboard
which was only one old man; who being demanded, "Where the rest of his
company was?" answered, "That they were gone ashore in their gundeloe [?
gondola or ship's boat], that evening, to fight about a mistress:" and
voluntarily related to our Captain that, "two hours before night, there
past by them a pinnace, with sail and oars, as fast as ever they could
row, calling to him 'Whether there had not been any English or Frenchmen
there lately?' and upon answer that, 'There had been none!' they bid
them 'look to themselves!' That, within an hour that this pinnace was
come to the utterside [outside] of Cartagena, there were many great
pieces shot off, whereupon one going to top, to descry what might be
the cause? espied, over the land, divers frigates and small shipping
bringing themselves within the