SIR FRANCIS DRAKE a.d. 



1586. 



to goe through with any thing that the uttermost of our 



strength and indevour shall be able to reach unto; but 



therewithal wee doe advise and protest that it is farre from 



our thoughts, either to refuse, or so much as to seeme to 



be wearie of any thing, which for the present shalbe 



further required or directed to be done by us from our 



Generall. 



The third and last poynt is concerning the ransome of 

 this citie of Cartagena, for the which, before it was 

 touched with any fire, there was made an offer of 

 some xxvij. or xxviij. thousand pounds sterling. 



THus much we utter herein as our opinions agreeing 

 (so it be done in good sort) to accept this offer afore- 

 sayde, rather then to breake off by standing still upon our 

 demaunds of one hundred thousand poundes, which 

 seemes a matter impossible to bee performed for the 

 present by them, and to say trueth, wee may now with 

 much honour and reputation better be satisfied with that 

 summe offered by them at the first (if they will now bee 

 contented to give it) then wee might at that time with a 

 great deale more, inasmuch as we have taken our full 

 pleasure both in the uttermost sacking and spoyling of all 

 their householde goods and marchandize, as also in that we 

 have consumed and ruined a great part of their Towne 

 with fire. And thus much further is considered herein 

 by us, that as there bee in the Voyage a great many poore 

 men, who have willingly adventured their lives and 

 travailes, and divers amongst them having spent their 

 apparell and such other little provisions as their small 

 meanes might have given them leave to prepare, which 

 being done upon such good and allowable intention as 

 this action hath alwayes caried with it, meaning, against 

 the Spanyard our greatest and most dangerous enemie : 

 so surely wee cannot but have an inward regarde so farre 

 as may lye in us, to helpe eyther in all good sort towards 

 the satisfaction of this their expectation, and by procuring 

 them some little benefite to incourage them and to nourish 



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