The first, the Pacha, of seventy tons, carrying forty-seven men and boys, was commanded by Captain Francis Drake himself.

By her side was the Swanne, of twenty-five tons, carrying twenty-six men and boys, and commanded by Captain John Drake.

This was truly but a small affair to undertake so great a voyage.
In those days the Spaniards were masters of the whole of South America, and of the Isles of the West Indies.

They had many very large towns full of troops, and great fleets armed to carry the treasure which was collected there to Spain.

It did seem almost like an act of madness that two vessels, which by the side of those of the Spaniards were mere cockleshells, manned in all by less than eighty men, should attempt to enter a region where they would be regarded, and rightly, as enemies, and where the hand of every man would be against them.
Captain Drake and his men thought little of these things.