SIR FRANCIS DRAKE a.d. 



1586. 

 to the Spanyards a Negro boy with a flagge of white, 

 signifying truce, as is the Spanyards ordinarie maner to 

 doe there, when they approch to speake to us : which 

 boy unhappily was first mette withall by some of those, 

 who had bene belonging as officers for the King in the 

 Spanish Galley, which with the Towne was lately fallen 

 into our hands, who without all order or reason, & 

 contrary to that good usage wherewith wee had inter- 

 tained their messengers, furiously strooke the poore boy 

 thorow the body with one of their horsemens staves : with 

 which wound the boy returned to the General, and after 

 hee had declared the maner of this wrongfull crueltie, 

 died foorthwith in his presence, wherewith the Generall 

 being greatly passioned, commaunded the Provost Martiall, 

 to cause a couple of Friers then prisoners, to be caried 

 to the same place where the boy was stroken, accom- 

 panied with sufficient guard of our souldiers, and there 

 presently to be hanged, dispatching at the same instant 

 another poore prisoner, with this reason wherefore this 

 execution was done, & with this message further, that 

 until the party who had thus murdered the Generals 

 messenger were delivered into our hands, to receive 

 condigne punishment, there should no day passe, wherein 

 there should not two prisoners be hanged, until they 

 were all consumed which were in our hands. 



Whereupon the day following, hee that had bene 

 Captaine of the kings Galley, brought the offender to the 

 townes end, offi'ing to deliver him into our hands ; but 

 it was thought to be a more honourable revenge to make 

 them there in our sight, to performe the execution them- 

 selves : which was done accordingly. 



During our being in this towne, as formerly also at 

 S. lago there had passed justice upon the life of one of 

 our owne company for an odious matter, so heere like- 

 wise was there an Irishman hanged, for the murthering of 

 his Corporall. 



In this time also passed many treaties betweene their 

 Commissioners and us, for ransome of their Citie; but 

 X 113 H 



