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. This town of
Carthagena we touched in the out parts, and consumed much with fire,
as we had done St. Domingo, upon discontentments, and for want of
agreeing with us in their first treaties touching their ransom; which
at the last was concluded between us should be 110,000 ducats for that
which was yet standing, the ducat valued at five shillings sixpence
sterling.
This town, though not half so big as St. Domingo, gives, as you see, a
far greater ransom, being in very deed of far more importance, by
reason of the excellency of the harbour, and the situation thereof to
serve the trade of Nombre de Dios and other places, and is inhabited
with far more richer merchants.
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