LOPEZ VAZ A.D. 



1572-87. 

 that the men of Nombre de Dios gave him, went with 

 his Pinnesses into the said bay or sound of Dariene, 

 where having conference with certaine Negros which were 

 ranne away from their masters of Panama and Nombre de 

 DioSj he was informed that at the very same time many 

 mules were comming from Panama to Nombre de Dios 

 laden with gold and silver. Upon this newes Francis 

 Drake taking with him an hundred shot, and the said 

 Negros, stayed in the way till the treasure came by, accom- 

 panied and guarded onely by those that drove the mules, 

 who mistrusted nothing at all. When captaine Drake 

 met with them, he tooke away their golde : but the silver 

 he left behinde, because he could not carrie it over the 

 mountaines. And two dayes after this he went to the 

 house of crosses called by the Spaniards Venta de Cruzes, V^nta de 

 where all the merchants leave their goods, where hee slew ^^'^^^^• 

 sixe or seven of the marchants, but found neither gold 

 nor silver, but great store of marchandize : and so he fired 

 the said house, with all the goods, which were judged to 

 be worth above two hundred thousand ducats. Thus not 

 finding golde in this house to satisfie his minde, hee burned 

 the marchants goods, and foorthwith recovered his Pin- 

 nesses : where fortune so favoured his proceedings, that he 

 had not bene aboord halfe an houre, but there came to the 

 sea side above three hundred souldiers, which were sent 

 of purpose to take him : but God suffered him to escape 

 their hands, to be a farther plague unto the Spaniards. 



Also another Englishman named John Oxenham hear- JohnOxenham 

 ing what spoyle Captaine Drake had done upon that coast, ^^^^ ^575- 

 made a voyage thither to enterprize the like. His ship 

 was of burthen about an hundred and twentie tunnes, and 

 he was accompanied with seventie persons : he had con- 

 ference also with the foresaid Negros, but being advertized 

 that the treasure was conducted by souldiers, he deter- 

 mined with himselfe to doe that which never any man 

 before durst undertake to doe. For being most resolute 

 of his purpose, and not looking nor forecasting what 

 danger might ensue of this bold enterprize, he landed his 



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