SIR ANTHONY SHERLEY a,d 



1597- 

 frigat we had 2 good pilots for those coasts : for our 



pilot, that promised many things before we came 

 thither, was now absent in the Woolfe, who, we thinke, 

 did wilfully loose us. Arriving at S. Martha, two Sanfa^Marta 

 leagues West from the towne in a faire bay, we landed the ^^^^''• 

 12 of September, & so marched to the towne being often 

 times encountred by the way, and in a narrow way 

 at our descent downe a hill, they had placed two cast 

 pieces of brasse, which we recovered, and so entred 

 the towne, the enemie flying before us. While we abode 

 in this towne, there came one Don Martin de Castilla, a 

 gentleman of good education and a very great traveller, 

 who knew the whole state of the West India, Malucos, 

 & Philippinas : he had bene in China, and made many 

 relations to our Generall, his purpose was to save the 

 towne from burning, wherin he prevailed, but ransome I 

 know of none we had : for this gentleman made many 

 great protestations of great poverty to be in that place. 

 So wee departed, onely taking their ordinance, and a 

 prisoner lost there by sir Francis Drake, with some reliefe 

 of victuals. Having stayed there al the time of Christ- 

 mas, we departed thence on Newyeres day, with termes of 

 great content to our General in the Spaniards great sub- 

 mission unto him, for they were now within a league 

 of us with 700 souldiers. And being challenged by him 

 to defend their towne like men of worth, they did not- 

 withstanding intreat favour with great humilitie. Whilest 

 we were at S. Martha, the Wolfe came againe unto us : 

 so wee shaped our course for Jamaica, and missing the 

 rode, were constrained to saile round about the Isle, a 

 thing not before done. In this place the Wolfe abso- 

 lutely againe forsooke us with the smal barke that we 

 tooke at S. lago, and returned for England with hard 

 newes of our ruine, but by Gods favourable help wee 

 arrived in the road of Jamaica the 29 of January, which is 

 very dangerous to enter by reason of the sholds and 

 rocks that lie before it. Here we landed and marched 

 6 miles into the countrey, where the towne standeth ; 

 X 273 s 



