Page 184
An. 1685
Course of the Spanish Armada.
be a Grandee among these Indians, together with 5 or 6 more of that quality, went off to the Sloop in their long Gowns, as the Custom is for such to wear among them. Being received aboard they expected to find every thing friendly, and John Gret talkt to them in English; but these English Men, having no know- ledge at all of what had happened, endeavoured to make them Slaves (as is commonly done) ; for upon carrying them to Jamaica they could have sold them for 10 or 12 pound a piece. But John Gret, and the reft, perceiving this, leapt all over board, and were by the others killed every one of them in the Water. The Indians on shore never came to the knowledge of it ; if they had, it would have endangered our Cor- respondence. Several times after, upon our conver- fing with them, they enquired of us what was become of their Countrymen : but we told them we knew not, as indeed it was a great while after that we heard this story ; so they concluded the Spaniards had met with them, and killed, or taken them.
But to return to the account of the progress of the Armada which we left at Cartagena : After an ap- pointed stay there of about 60 days, as I take it, it goes thence to Portobel, where it lies 30 days, and no longer. Therefore the Viceroy of Lima on notice of the Armada's arrival at Cartagena, immediately sends away the Kings Treasure to Panama, where it is land- ed, and lies ready to be sent to Portobel upon the first News of the Armada's arrival there. This is the rea- fon partly of their sending Expresses so early to Lima, that upon the Armada's first coming to Portobel, the Treasure and Goods may lye ready at Panama, to be sent away upon the Mules: and it requires some time for the Lima Fleet to unlade, because the Ships ride not at Panama, but at Perica, which are 3 small Islands 2 leagues from thence. The Kings Treasure is said to amount commonly to about 24000000 of Pieces of Eight ; besides abundance of Merchants Money.