ABSTRACT
Among other issues of interest raised by the Spanish commentaries is the problem ofDrake's intentions after leaving Nombre de Dios. The Spaniards' speculations, based on prisoners' statements, suggest that had he lived he might have attempted a desperate attack by way of the river. It was probably fortunate for the English that no such venture was launched, for in the three weeks before Drake's death the already weakened force had been sadly reduced and enfeebled by disease, the most effective of Panama's defences. 1
It was a long time since I had learned that the fleet, which according to your majesty's advices was being prepared in England, might be coming to these parts ; and the last dispatch, which arrived in November, ordered only the collection of the royal treasure for delivery to the fleet due in September, without mentioning the English force. Nevertheless I took care to have munitions brought from Cartagena at my expense and to do whatever else was necessary in the light of the position of this place and the few men it has to set against a fleet which would inevitably comprise many ships and men. For our numbers were insufficient to defend this port, which in fact is not a port, but a low-lying land and beach, on which for more than eight leagues to leeward and windward one can disembark without the slightest trouble; and it seemed impossible to defend so wide a front with some fifty citizens and as many soldiers at my disposal, the few others being stationed at the pearling
1 Antoneli to the king, Panama, 24 May 1596 (A. de I., Panama, 44): 'He cannot bring many men and the long voyage spoils and consumes his manpower, besides which, after the arrival and landing of his force, the injurious quality of the country and its air, together with the change of climate, must cause much sickness, and the water must infect them. Of this we have much experience, and lately have observed it upon the arrival of the English this year at Nombre de Dios, Panama and Porto Belo, when the worst obstacle they encountered was the evil condition of the country and its waters, which were the reasons why the beaches were peopled with dead bodies.'
