168 
DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. XI.-B. S. 
spot and finding the treasure gone, followed with im¬ 
petuosity, and regardless of the inequality of number. 
The consequence was, that they fell into an ambush, 
and were totally defeated. A party of Spaniards soon 
after discovered Oxenham’s ship, with the stores and 
ordnance, which he had taken such pains to conceal. 
The English who survived this train of misfortunes 
lived for some time among the Darien Indians, em¬ 
ployed in building canoes, in which they hoped to 
effect their escape. But at length they were taken by 
the Spaniards and carried to Panama, where Oxenham 
and his companions, with the exception of five hoys, 
were put to death. Thus ended the first Englishmen 
who navigated the Pacific. 
Drake, after his famous voyage round the world, 
was employed by Queen Elizabeth against Philip II. 
In 1595 the Queen fitted out an expedition destined 
to strike a blow at the power of Spain, by attacking 
the West Indies. The armament, consisting of six 
ships, was unfortunate. Sir John Hawkins, one of 
the commanders, died; Drake’s smallest ship was 
taken by the Spaniards, who, by putting her crew to 
the torture, extracted information respecting the plans 
of the expedition, and when Drake attacked Porto 
Eico he found it fully warned. Sailing away, he took 
and burnt Eiohacha, Eanehera, Santa Martha, and 
Hombre de Dios, getting no greater spoil than twenty 
tons of silver and two bars of gold. Whilst Drake re¬ 
mained in the harbour of Hombre de Dios, Sir Thomas 
Baskerville, with a part of the land forces, made an 
attempt to cross the Isthmus, and destroy the city of 
