"
After his departure, the Negro formentioned, being examined more fully,
confirmed this report of the gold and the silver; with many other
intelligences of importance: especially how we might have gold and
silver enough, if we would by means of the Cimaroons, whom though he
had betrayed divers times (being used thereto by his Masters) so that
he knew they would kill him, if they got him: yet if our Captain would
undertake his protection, he durst adventure his life, because he knew
our Captain's name was most precious and highly honoured by them.
This report ministered occasion to further consultation: for which,
because this place seemed not the safest; as being neither the
healthiest nor quietest; the next day, in the morning, we all set our
course for the Isle of _Pinos_ or Port Plenty, where we had left our
ships, continuing all that day, and the next till towards night, before
we recovered it.
We were the longer in this course, for that our Captain sent away his
brother and ELLIS HIXOM to the westward, in search of the River of
Chagres, where himself had been the year before, and yet was careful to
gain more notice of; it being a river which trendeth to the southward,
within six leagues of Panama, where is a little town called Venta Cruz
[Venta de Cruzes], whence all the treasure, that was usually brought
thither from Panama by mules, was embarked in frigates [sailing] down
that river into the North sea, and so to Nombre de Dios.
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