p he had sunk, and also the rich leather hangings and
household stuff belonging to the cacique's house, which he discovered.
In the garden were fruits and vegetables of every sort in great
abundance, and numbers of horses, oxen, and fat sheep on the
pasture-grounds, together with turkeys, ducks, hens, and poultry of
great size. Not believing that any enemy in the neighbourhood would
venture to attack them, the party on shore had wandered about in search
of provisions, when suddenly a large body of Spanish soldiers made their
appearance, accompanied by a number of natives.

The English were driven back to the water's side, but held the enemy in
check, notwithstanding their overpowering numbers, until a boat arrived
to carry them off. In the meantime several English had been killed, and
the boat was so overloaded that four were left behind. They, however,
held their own under a cliff until the boat returned, after she had
carried the rest on board. Altogether twelve Englishmen were killed,
and forty-six of the enemy slain. Next day Cavendish landed with
seventy men, drove the Spaniards before him, and set fire to the town,
which contained three hundred houses. They then ravaged the fields,
orchards, and gardens, and burnt four large ships building on the
stocks.

The Spaniards not daring again to molest them, the _Content_ was hauled
on shore and graved, and on the 5th of June the squadron sailed from
Puna, and brought up to obtain water at a place named Rio Dolce. Here,
for want of men, the _Hugh Gallant_ was burnt.

After having sighted the coast of New Spain on the 9th of July, they
took what proved to them a valuable prize, a ship of one hundred and
twenty tons, on board of which the pilot was a certain Michael Sancius.
Having no special love for the Spaniards, he told the Admiral that a
rich galleon, the _Santa Anna_, was shortly expected from the Philippine
Islands.

This news exhilarated the hearts of the rovers, who hoped that she might
prove as rich an argosy as that taken by Drake. The rest of the crew,
six in number, with the ropes and fire-wood, being transferred to the
_Desire_, the prize was set on fire. The next day another vessel was
captured, engaged in warning the inhabitants that the English were on
the coast, as also intended to give information to the galleon of her
danger. The crew had got on shore, so their vessel was burnt. Putting
into Acapulco, they found a bark laden with cocoas a