Sir Francis Drake Revived | Page 8

For he was loath to put the
town to too much charge (which he knew they would willingly bestow)
in providing beforehand for his entertainment; and therefore he
hastened his going thither, with as much speed and secrecy as possibly
he could.
To this end, disposing of all his companies, according as they inclined
most; he left the three ships and the caravel with Captain RANSE; and
chose into his four pinnaces (Captain RANSE'S shallop made the
fourth) beside fifty-three of our men, twenty more of Captain RANSE'S
company; with which he seemed competently furnished, to achieve
what he intended; especially having proportioned, according to his own
purpose, and our men's disposition, their several arms, viz., six targets,
six firepikes, twelve pikes, twenty-four muskets and calivers, sixteen
bows, and six partisans, two drums, and two trumpets.
Thus having parted (23rd July) from our company: we arrived at the
island of Cativaas, being twenty-five leagues distant, about five days
afterward (28th July). There we landed all in the morning betimes: and
our Captain trained his men, delivering them their several weapons and
arms which hitherto he had kept very fair and safe in good caske
[casks]: and exhorting them after his manner, he declared "the
greatness of the hope of good things that was there! the weakness of the
town, being unwalled! and the hope he had of prevailing to recompense
his wrongs! especially now that he should come with such a crew, who
were like-minded with himself; and at such a time, as he should be
utterly undiscovered."
Therefore, even that afternoon, he causeth us to set sail for Nombre de
Dios, so that before sunset we were as far as Rio Francisco. Thence, he

led us hard aboard the shore, that we might not be descried of the
Watch House, until that being come within two leagues of the point of
the bay, he caused us to strike a hull, and cast our grappers [grappling
irons], riding so until it was dark night.
Then we weighed again, and set sail, rowing hard aboard the shore,
with as much silence as we could, till we recovered the point of the
harbour under the high land. There, we stayed, all silent; purposing to
attempt the town in the dawning of the day: after that we had reposed
ourselves, for a while.
But our captain with some other of his best men, finding that our
people were talking of the greatness of the town, and what their
strength might be; especially by the report of the Negroes that we took
at the Isle of Pinos: thought it best to put these conceits out of their
heads, and therefore to take the opportunity of the rising of the moon
that night, persuading them that "it was the day dawning." By this
occasion we were at the town a large hour sooner than first was
purposed. For we arrived there by three of the clock after midnight. At
that time it fortuned that a ship of Spain, of 60 tons, laden with Canary
wines and other commodities, which had but lately come into the bay;
and had not yet furled her spirit-sail (espying our four pinnaces, being
an extraordinary number, and those rowing with many oars) sent away
her gundeloe [? gondola] towards the town, to give warning. But our
Captain perceiving it, cut betwixt her and the town, forcing her to go to
the other side of the bay: whereby we landed without impeachment,
although we found one gunner upon the Platform [battery] in the very
place where we landed; being a sandy place and no key [quay] at all,
not past twenty yards from the houses.
There we found six great pieces of brass ordinance, mounted upon their
carriages, some Demy, some Whole-Culvering.
We presently dismounted them. The gunner fled. The town took alarm
(being very ready thereto, by reason of their often disquieting by their
near neighbours the Cimaroons); as we perceived, not only by the noise
and cries of the people, but by the bell ringing out, and drums running
up and down the town.

Our captain, according to the directions which he had given over night,
to such as he had made choice of for the purpose, left twelve to keep
the pinnaces; that we might be sure of a safe retreat, if the worst befell.
And having made sure work of the Platform before he would enter the
town, he thought best, first to view the Mount on the east side of the
town: where he was informed, by sundry intelligences the year before,
they had an intent to plant ordnance, which might scour round about
the town.
Therefore, leaving one half of his company to make a stand at the foot
of the Mount, he marched up presently unto