dwelt.

But as we were rowing ashore, we saw a smoke in the woods, even near the
place where our Captain had aforetime frequented; therefore thinking it
fit to take more strength with us, he caused his other boat also to be
manned, with certain muskets and other weapons, suspecting some enemy
had been ashore.

When we landed, we found by evident marks, that there had been lately
there, a certain Englishman of Plymouth, called JOHN GARRET, who had
been conducted thither by certain English mariners which had been there
with our Captain, in some of his former voyages. He had now left a plate
of lead, nailed fast to a mighty great tree (greater than any four men
joining hands could fathom about) on which were engraven these words,
directed to our Captain.


CAPTAIN DRAKE

If you fortune to come to this Port, make haste away! For the Spaniards
which you had with you here, the last year, have bewrayed this place,
and taken away all that you left here.

I depart from hence, this present 7th of July, 1572.

Your very loving friend, John Garret.


The smoke which we saw, was occasioned by a fire, which the said Garret
and his company had made, before their departure, in a very great tree,