Bernards [San
Bernardo].
Our Captain led the three pinnaces about the island, into the harbour of
Cartagena; where at the very entry, he found a frigate at anchor, aboard
which was only one old man; who being demanded, "Where the rest of his
company was?" answered, "That they were gone ashore in their gundeloe [?
gondola or ship's boat], that evening, to fight about a mistress:" and
voluntarily related to our Captain that, "two hours before night, there
past by them a pinnace, with sail and oars, as fast as ever they could
row, calling to him 'Whether there had not been any English or Frenchmen
there lately?' and upon answer that, 'There had been none!' they bid
them 'look to themselves!' That, within an hour that this pinnace was
come to the utterside [outside] of Cartagena, there were many great
pieces shot off, whereupon one going to top, to descry what might be
the cause? espied, over the land, divers frigates and small shipping
bringing themselves within the Castle."
This report our Captain credited, the rather for that himself had heard
the report of the ordnance at sea; and perceived sufficiently, that he
was now descried. Notwithstanding in farther examination of this old
mariner, having understood, that there was, within the next point, a
great ship of Seville, which had here discharged her loading, and
rid now with her yards across, being bound the next morning for Santo
Domingo: our Captain took this old man into his pinnace to verify that
which he had informed, and rowed towards this ship, which as we came
near it, hailed us, asking, "Whence our shallops were?"
We answered, "From Nombre de Dios!"
Straightway they railed and reviled! We gave no heed to their words, but
every pinnace, according to our Captain's order, one on the starboard
bow, the other on the starboard quarter, and the Captain in the
midship on the larboard side, forthwith boarded her; though we had some
difficulty to enter by reason of her height, being of 240 tons.
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