Being Requested To Come
Aboard, They Said They Were Enjoined To The Contrary, Wherefore I Made
Wine And Bread Be Handed Down To Them From The Poop, Which They Fell To
Lustily, Although Under The Heaviest Rain I Ever Saw, Yet Would Not Come
Aboard.
I told them we were subjects of the king of Great Britain, as
they might well see by our
Colours; but they said the Dutch had often
passed by scot-free by shewing British colours, which was the reason
they had fired the second sharp-shot at us, thinking we were Dutch. I
sent word to the Spanish commandant, that I had every inclination to
serve the subjects of the king of Spain, as far as in my power, but
meant to anchor farther on, where, if Don Fernando pleased to come
aboard, I should give him the best welcome I could.
The Spaniards went away well satisfied with this answer, and as a fine
breeze immediately sprung up, we stood along shore. The captain-general
sent off to me the pilot-major of the gallies, Francisco Gomez, a man of
good presence, to bid me welcome, offering his assistance to bring my
ship into the best anchorage under the fort; or any where else about the
island. Being dark, he brought us to an anchorage, about a league and a
half from the fort, at a place where he said there was no force; and,
after supper, he entreated to be set ashore, as the captain-general
meant to dispatch letters to Don Jeronimo de Sylva, the maestre del
campo at Ternate, for instructions concerning our visit.
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