ifty-seven wedges of silver, each of them weighing about 20
lb. weight, and every of these wedges were of the fashion and bigness of
a brickbat. In all these three barks, we found not one person. For
they, mistrusting no strangers, were all gone a-land to the town, which
consisteth of about twenty houses; which we would have ransacked if our
company had been better and more in number. But our General, contented
with the spoil of the ships, left the town and put off again to sea,
and set sail for Lima, and, by the way, met with a small bark, which he
boarded, and found in her good store of linen cloth. Whereof taking some
quantity, he let her go.

To Lima we came the 13th of February; and, being entered the haven, we
found there about twelve sail of ships lying fast moored at an anchor,
having all their sails carried on shore; for the masters and merchants
were here most secure, having never been assaulted by enemies, and
at this time feared the approach of none such as we were. Our General
rifled these ships, and found in one of them a chest full of reals of
plate, and good store of silks and linen cloth; and took the chest into
his own ship, and good store of the silks and linen. In which ship he
had news of another ship called the Cacafuego, which was gone towards
Payta, and that the same ship was laden with treasure. Whereupon we
stayed no longer here, but, cutting all the cables of the ships in the
haven, we let them drive wither they would, either to sea or to the
shore; and with all speed we followed the Cacafuego toward Payta,
thinking there to have found her. But before we arrived there she was
gone from thence towards Panama; whom our General still pursued, and by
the way met with a bark laden with ropes and tackle for ships, which
he boarded and searched, and found in her 80 lb. weight of gold, and a
crucifix of gold with goodly great emeralds set in it, which he took,
and some of the cordage also for his own ship. From hence we departed,
still following the Cacafuego; and our General promised our company that
whosoever should first descry her should have his chain of gold for his
good news. It fortuned that John Drake, going up into the top, descried
her about three of the clock. And about six of the clock we came to her
and boarded her, and shot at her three pieces of ordnance, and strake
down her mizen; and, being entered, we found in her great riches, as
jewels and precious stones, thirteen chests full of r