That lack of records is in itself eloquent.

We know that they were made fast as they landed, and considering the offence they had given I am not disposed to doubt that they had every reason to regret the survival.
The mystery of the succour that had come at the eleventh hour to wreak vengeance upon the Spaniards, and to preserve for the island the extortionate ransom of a hundred thousand pieces of eight, remained yet to be probed.

That the Cinco Llagas was now in friendly hands could no longer be doubted after the proofs it had given.

But who, the people of Bridgetown asked one another, were the men in possession of her, and whence had they come?
The only possible assumption ran the truth very closely.

A resolute party of islanders must have got aboard during the night, and seized the ship.