their rapiers and targets, some their flasks and calivers
behind them; although they were towing away of one of them.

Therefore considering that we could not man them, we sunk the one, and
burnt the other, giving them to understand by this, that we perceived
their secret practices.

This being done, he returned to JOHN OXNAM; who all this while lay by
the Men-of-war without proffering to fight. And as soon as our Captain
was come up to these frigates, the wind blew much for the sea, so that,
we being betwixt the shore and them, were to a manner forced to bear
room into the harbour before them, to the great joy of the Spaniards;
who beheld it; in supposing, that we would still have fled before
them. But as soon as we were in the harbour, and felt smooth water, our
pinnaces, as we were assured of, getting the wind, we sought, with them
upon the advantage, so that after a few shot exchanged, and a storm
rising, they were contented to press no nearer. Therefore as they let
fall their anchors, we presently let drop our grapner in the wind of
them; which the Spanish soldiers seeing, considering the disadvantage
of the wind, the likelihood of the storm to continue, and small hope of
doing any good, they were glad to retire themselves to the town.

But by reason of the foul and tempestuous weather, we rode therein four
days, feeling great cold, by reason we had such sore rains with westerly
wind, and so little succour in our pinnaces.

The fifth day (27th October) there came in a frigate from the sea, which
seeing us make towards her, ran herself ashore, unhanging her rudder and
taking away her sails, that she might not easily be carried away. But
when we were come up to her, we perceived about a hundred horse and
foot, with their furniture, come down to the point of the Main, where we
interchanged some shot with them. One of our great shot passed so near
a brave cavalier of theirs, that thereby they were occasioned to advise
themselves, and retreat into the woods: where they might sufficiently
defend and rescue the frigate from us, and annoy us also, if we stayed
long about her.

Therefore we concluded to go to sea again, putting forth through _Boca
Chica_, with intent to take down our masts, upon hope of fair weather,
and to ride under the rocks called _Las Serenas_, which are two leagues
off at sea, as we had usually done aforetime, so that they could not
discern us from the rocks. But, there, the sea was mightily grow