the Spaniards San Juan. But
heavy Rains coming on, we were obliged to beat back and come to Gorgona
again, building a Tent ashore for our Armour and Sick Men. We spent
till the 25th in Careening; on the 28th we got all aboard agen, rigged
and stowed all ready for sea; the Spaniards who were our Prisoners, and
who are very Dilatory Sailors (for they hearken more to their Saints
than to the Boatswain's Pipe), were much amazed at our Despatch; telling
us that they usually took Six Weeks or a Month to Careen one of their
King's Ships at Lima, where they are well provided with all Necessaries,
and account that Quick Expedition. We allowed Liberty of Conscience on
board our floating Commonwealth to our Prisoners; for there being a
Priest in each ship, they had the Great Cabin for their Mass, whilst we
used the Church-of-England Service over them on the Quarter-deck. So
that the Papists here were the Low Churchmen. Shortly after the
beginning of July we freed our prisoners at fair Ransom in Gold-dust;
but the Village where we landed them was so poor in common Necessaries,
that we were obliged to give them some corned beef and biscuit for their
subsistence until they could get up the Country, where there was a
Town. Same day a Negro belonging to the _Delight_ was bit by a small
brown speckled Snake, and died in a few hours.

We had with us, too, a very good prize taken by the _Hope_, and
continued unloading this and transferring the rich contents to our
ships, having promised to restore the Hull itself to the Spaniards, on
her being handsomely Ransomed; and the Don that was to be Governor of
Baldivia was appointed Agent for us, and suffered to go freely on his
Parole to and fro to arrange Money-Matters with the Authorities up the
Country.

_Memorandum,_--Amongst our Prisoners (taken on board the Panama ship)
there was a Gentlewoman and her Family, the Eldest Daughter, a pretty
young woman of Eighteen, newly Married, and had her husband with her. We
assigned them the Great Cabin on board the Prize, and none were suffered
to intrude amongst them; yet the Husband (we were told) showed evident
Marks of a Violent Jealousy, which is the Spaniard's Epidemic Disease.
I hope he had not the least Reason for it, seeing that the Prize-Master
(our Second Lieutenant) was above Fifty years of Age, and of a very
Grave Countenance, appearing to be the most secure Guardian to females
that had the least Charm, though all our young Men (that wer