But Because It
May Be Supposed That Herein We Forget Not The Private Benefit Of
Ourselves, And Are Thereby The
Rather moved to incline ourselves
to this composition, we do therefore think good for the clearing
ourselves of all such
Suspicion, to declare hereby, that what part
or portion soever it be of this ransom or composition for
Carthagena which should come unto us, we do freely give and bestow
the same wholly upon the poor men who have remained with us in the
voyage (meaning as well the sailor as the soldier), wishing with
all our hearts it were such or so much as might see a sufficient
reward for their painful endeavour. And for the firm confirmation
thereof, we have thought meet to subsign these presents with our
own hands in the place and time aforesaid.
But while we were yet there, it happened one day that our watch called
the sentinel, upon the church-steeple, had discovered in the sea a
couple of small barks or boats, making in with the harbour of
Carthagena. Whereupon Captain Moon and Captain Varney, with John
Grant, the master of the Tiger, and some other seamen, embarked
themselves in a couple of small pinnaces, to take them before they
should come nigh the shore, at the mouth of the harbour, lest by some
straggling Spaniards from the land, they might be warned by signs from
coming in. Which fell out accordingly, notwithstanding all the
diligence that our men could use: for the Spanish boats, upon the
sight of our pinnaces coming towards them, ran themselves ashore, and
so their men presently hid themselves in bushes hard by the sea-side,
amongst some others that had called them by signs thither. Our men
presently without any due regard had to the quality of the place, and
seeing no man of the Spaniards to shew themselves, boarded the Spanish
barks or boats, and so standing all open in them, were suddenly shot
at by a troop of Spaniards out of the bushes; by which volley of shot
there were slain Captain Varney, which died presently, and Captain
Moon, who died some few days after, besides some four or five others
that were hurt: and so our folks returned without their purpose, not
having any sufficient number of soldiers with them to fight on shore.
For those men they carried were all mariners to row, few of them
armed, because they made account with their ordnance to have taken the
barks well enough at sea; which they might full easily have done,
without any loss at all, if they had come in time to the harbour
mouth, before the Spaniards' boats had gotten so near the shore.
During our abode in this place, as also at St. Domingo, there passed
divers courtesies between us and the Spaniards, as feasting, and using
them with all kindness and favour; so as amongst others there came to
see the General the governor of Carthagena, with the bishop of the
same, and divers other gentlemen of the better sort.
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