JAMES LANCASTER a.d. 



1595- 



this answere : Are they not gone yet r And about 

 two of the clocke he came aland, and then they tolde 

 him they were departed. Many of the better sort of 

 our men marvelled, and thought much, because he 

 would not vouchsafe to come and have conference with 

 such men of account as they seemed to be. But the 

 admiral made them this answere, Sirs, I have bene 

 brought up among this people, I have lived among 

 them as a gentleman, served with them as a souldier, 

 and lived among them as a merchant, so that I should 

 have some understanding of their demeanors and 

 nature ; and I know when they cannot prevaile with 

 the sword by force, then they deale with their deceiveable 

 tongues ; for faith and trueth they have none, neither 

 will use any, unlesse it be to their owne advantage. 

 And this I give you warning, that if you give them 

 parle, they will betray us ; and for my part, of all 

 nations in the world, it would grieve me most to be 

 overtaken by this nation & the Spaniards : and I am 

 glad it was my fortune to pay them with one of their 

 owne fetches, for I warrant you they understand me 

 better then you thinke they do. x'\nd with this I pray 

 you be satisfied ; I hope it is for all our goods : for 

 what shall we gaine by parle, when (by the helpe of 

 God) we have gotten already that we came for, should 

 we venture that we have gotten with our swords, to 

 see if they can take it from us by words and policy ^ 

 there were no wisedome in so doing. You know what 

 it hath cost us, and how many men lie wounded that 

 be not yet hole of this other nights hurts : and there- 

 fore from hencefoorth I give this commission, that if 

 any be taken, he be sent away with this order, although 

 he come as a friend, that if either he or any other 

 approch us from henceforth, he shalbe hanged out of 

 hand : and other course then this I will not take with 

 them. Which course was followed, for within 3 or 4 

 dayes after it was performed by two taken in the 

 night : and after that we were never troubled with 



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