of the Spaniards returne was, for that they had no Ordinance, nor victuals to tarry any longer out.
Three ships sent after captaine Drake. Then the Viceroy caused sixe pieces of Ordinance to bee made, neither could hee make any more, in regard of the shortness of time: so with these pieces of Ordinance, and three shippes, and two hundred and fifty men in them hee sent after captaine Drake; who after hee had winde stayed no where, nor tooke any ships at all, notwithstanding hee met with many comming from Panama laden with merchandize, but still hee inquired after the shippe that was gone to Panama before him:
A rich prize taken by sir Francis Drake at Cape S. Francisco situate one degree to the north of the Equinoctial. of which ship he had sight about the cape of Sant Francisco, the Master whereof was a Biskaine, called Iuan de Anton: who seeing this ship of the Englishmens, thought that the Viceroy of Peru had sent him some message, and therefore strooke all his sailes: but so soone as hee might discerne the shippe somewhat better, hee would then faine haue gone his way, for hee knew that it was none of that coast, and then hee began to hoise his sailes, but could by no meanes get from Captaine Drake because hee was within the reach of his great Ordinance, for the Spaniards not hauing so much as a rapier to defend themselues, were soone constrained to yeelde.
Read *Nun da Sylua concerning this treasure. There were in this shippe aboue eight hundred and fifty thousand pezos of siluer, and forty thousand pezos of gold, all which siluer and golde was customed; but what store of treasure they had besides vncustomed I knowe not, for many times they cary almost as much more as they pay custome for; otherwise the king would take it from them, if they should be knowen to haue any great summe; wherefore euery shippe carieth his bill of cnstome, that the king may see it. All this treasure that captaine Drake tooke was merchants and other mens goods, sauing one hundred and eighty thousand pezos of the kings. He had also out of this ship good store of victuals with other necessaries. which were to bee carried for Panama, and was fiue dayes taking out of such things as hee needed. This done, he sayled from hence to the coast of Nueua Espanna without going to Panama. Surely this was a great plague of God iustly inflicted vpon vs for our sinnes: for the taking of these ships is an especiall cause of all the dangerous warres that are likely to ensue betweene Spaine and England.
