ntent, as soon as our Captain was
aboard, we hauled off upon our grapner and rid awhile.

They presently came forth upon the sand, and sent a youth, as with a
message from the Governor, to know, "What our intent was, to stay upon
the coast?"

Our Captain answered: "He meant to traffic with them; for he had tin,
pewter, cloth, and other merchandise that they needed."

The youth swam back again with this answer, and was presently returned,
with another message: that, "The King had forbidden to traffic with any
foreign nation for any commodities, except powder and shot; of which, if
he had any store, they would be his merchants."

He answered, that "He was come from his country, to exchange his
commodities for gold and silver, and is not purposed to return without
his errand. They are like, in his opinion, to have little rest, if that,
by fair means, they would not traffic with him."

He gave this messenger a fair shirt for a reward, and so returned him:
who rolled his shirt about his head and swam very speedily.

We heard no answer all that day; and therefore toward night we went
aboard our frigates and reposed ourselves, setting and keeping very
orderly all that night our watch, with great and small shot.

The next morning (22nd October) the wind, which had been westerly in the
evening, altered to the Eastward.

About the dawning of the day, we espied two sails turning towards
us, whereupon our Captain weighed with his pinnaces, leaving the two
frigates unmanned. But when we were come somewhat nigh them, the wind
calmed, and we were fain to row towards them, till that approaching very
nigh, we saw many heads peering over board. For, as we perceived, these
two frigates were manned and set forth out of Cartagena, to fight with
us, and, at least, to impeach or busy us; whilst by some means or other
they might recover the frigates from us.

But our Captain prevented both their drifts. For commanding JOHN OXNAM
to stay with the one pinnace, to entertain these two Men-of-war; himself
in the other made much speed, that he got to his frigates which he
had left at anchor; and caused the Spaniards, (who in the meantime had
gotten aboard in a small canoe, thinking to have towed them within the
danger of their shot) to make the greater haste thence, than they did
thither.

For he found that in shifting thence, some of them were fain to swim
aland (the canoe not being able to receive them) and had left their
apparel, some