r they were deep in the ground.
Within four or five days after, we came (27th November) to our ship,
where we found all other things in good order; but received very heavy
news of the death of JOHN DRAKE, our Captain's brother, and another
young man called RICHARD ALLEN, which were both slain at one time (9th
October), as they attempted the boarding of a frigate, within two days
after our departing from them.
The manner of it, as we learned by examination of the company, was this.
When they saw this frigate at sea, as they were going towards their fort
with planks to make the platforms, the company were very importunate on
him, to give chase and set upon this frigate, which they deemed had been
a fit booty for them. But he told them, that they "wanted weapons to
assail; they knew not how the frigate was provided, they had their boats
loaded with planks, to finish that his brother had commanded." But when
this would not satisfy them, but that still they urged him with words
and supposals: "If you will needs," said he, "adventure! It shall never
be said that I will be hindmost, neither shall you report to my brother,
that you lost your voyage by any cowardice you found in me!"
Thereupon every man shifted as they might for the time: and heaving
their planks overboard, took them such poor weapons as they had: viz.,
a broken pointed rapier, one old visgee, and a rusty caliver: JOHN DRAKE
took the rapier, and made a gauntlet of his pillow, RICHARD ALLEN the
visgee, both standing at the head of the pinnace, called _Eion_. ROBERT
took the caliver and so boarded. But they found the frigate armed round
about with a close fight of hides, full of pikes and calivers, which
were discharged in their faces, and deadly wounded those that were in
the fore-ship, JOHN DRAKE in the belly, and RICHARD ALLEN in the
head. But notwithstanding their wounds, they with oars shifted off the
pinnace, got clear of the frigate, and with all haste recovered their
ship: where within an hour after, this young man of great hope, ended
his days, greatly lamented of all the company.
Thus having moored our ships fast, our Captain resolved to keep himself
close without being descried, until he might hear of the coming of the
Spanish Fleet; and therefore set no more to sea; but supplied his
wants, both for his own company and the Cimaroons, out of his aforesaid
magazine, beside daily out of the woods, with wild hogs, pheasants, and
guanas: continuing
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