of anything which for the present shall be further required or directed
to be done by us from our General.'

THE THIRD and last point is concerning the ransom of this city of
Carthagena, for the which, before it was touched with any fire, there
was made an offer of some 27,000 or 28,000 pounds sterling:--

'Thus much we utter herein as our opinions, agreeing, so it be done in
good sort, to accept this offer aforesaid, rather than to break off by
standing still upon our demands of 100,000 pounds; which seems a matter
impossible to be performed for the present by them. And to say truth,
we may now with much honour and reputation better be satisfied with that
sum offered by them at the first, if they will now be contented to give
it, than we might at that time with a great deal more; inasmuch as we
have taken our full pleasure, both in the uttermost sacking and spoiling
of all their household goods and merchandise, as also in that we have
consumed and ruined a great part of their town with fire. And thus much
further is considered herein by us; that as there be in the voyage
a great many poor men, who have willingly adventured their lives and
travails, and divers amongst them having spent their apparel and such
other little provisions as their small means might have given them leave
to prepare, which being done upon such good and allowable intention as
this action hath always carried with it (meaning, against the Spaniard,
our greatest and most dangerous enemy), so surely we cannot but have an
inward regard, so far as may lie in us, to help them in all good sort
towards the satisfaction of this their expectation; and by procuring
them some little benefit to encourage them, and to nourish this ready
and willing disposition of theirs, both in them and in others by their
example, against any other time of like occasion. But because it may be
supposed that herein we forget not the private benefit of ourselves, and