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diff --git a/38632-h/38632-h.htm b/38632-h/38632-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c0ea732 --- /dev/null +++ b/38632-h/38632-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8846 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Monarchs of the Main, Volume II (of 3), by Walter Thornbury</title> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover2.png" /> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +hr.chap {width: 65%} + +.pagenum { + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + display: inline; + right: 3%; + font-size: x-small; + text-align: right; + color: #808080; + font-style: normal; + border: 1px solid silver; + padding: 1px 4px 1px 4px; + font-variant: normal; + font-weight: normal; + text-decoration: none; + text-indent: 0em; + } + +.tocnum { + position: absolute; + display: inline; + right: 10%; + text-align: right; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Monarchs of the Main, Volume II (of 3), +by Walter Thornbury</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Monarchs of the Main, Volume II (of 3)</p> +<p> Or, Adventures of the Buccaneers</p> +<p>Author: Walter Thornbury</p> +<p>Release Date: January 21, 2012 [eBook #38632]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MONARCHS OF THE MAIN, VOLUME II (OF 3)***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by Adam Buchbinder, Rory OConor,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from scanned images of public domain material<br /> + generously made available by<br /> + the Google Books Library Project<br /> + (<a href="http://books.google.com/">http://books.google.com/</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Project Gutenberg has the other two volumes of this work.<br /> + <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38631/38631-h/38631-h.htm">Volume I</a>: see http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38631/38631-h/38631-h.htm<br /> + <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38633/38633-h/38633-h.htm">Volume III</a>: see http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38633/38633-h/38633-h.htm<br /> + <br /> + Images of the original pages are available through + the the Google Books Library Project. See + <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ASYCAAAAYAAJ&id"> + http://books.google.com/books?vid=ASYCAAAAYAAJ&id</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">i</a></span></p> + +<h1><small>THE</small><br /> + +MONARCHS OF THE MAIN;<br /> + +<small>OR,</small><br /> + +ADVENTURES OF THE BUCCANEERS.</h1> + +<h3><small>BY</small><br /> + +GEORGE W. THORNBURY, ESQ.</h3> + + +<p class="center">"One foot on sea and one on shore,<br /> +To one thing constant never."<br /> + <span class="smcap">Much Ado about Nothing.</span></p> + + +<p class="center">IN THREE VOLUMES.</p> + +<h1><small>VOL. II.</small></h1> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">LONDON:<br /> +HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS,<br /> +SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN,<br /> +13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.<br /> +1855.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">ii</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center p6">LONDON: SERCOMBE AND JACK, 16 GREAT WINDMILL STREET. +</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">iii</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2 class="p6"><a name="CONTENTS_OF_VOL_II" id="CONTENTS_OF_VOL_II"></a>CONTENTS OF VOL. II.</h2> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.—SIR HENRY MORGAN.</a></p> + +<p>Son of a Welsh farmer—Runs to sea—Turns Buccaneer—Joins +Mansvelt and takes the Island of St. Catherine—Mansvelt +dies—St. Catherine re-taken by the +Spaniards—Morgan takes Port au Prince—Quarrel of +French and English adventurers about a marrow-bone—Takes +Porto Bello—Captures <i>Le Cerf Volant</i>, a French +vessel—It blows up—Takes Maracaibo—-City deserted—Tortures +an Idiot beggar—Le Picard, his guide—Takes +Gibraltar—Also deserted—Tortures the citizens—With a +Fire-ship destroys the Spanish fleet and repasses the bar—Escapes +the fort by a stratagem—The Rancheria expedition—Sails +for Panama—Captain Bradley takes the +Castle of Chagres—Anecdote of a wounded Buccaneer <span class="tocnum">1</span></p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.—CONQUEST OF PANAMA.</a></p> + +<p>March from Chagres over the Isthmus—Famine—Ambuscades +of Indians—Wild bulls driven down upon +them—Victory in the Savannah—Battle of the Forts—Takes +the city—Burns part of it—Cruelties—Revels—Virtue +of the Spanish prisoner, and her sufferings—Retreats +with prisoners—Ransom—Divisions of booty—Treason +of Morgan—Escapes by night to Jamaica—Dispersion +of his fleet—Morgan's subsequent fate <span class="tocnum">125</span></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">iv</a></span></p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.—THE COMPANIONS AND SUCCESSORS OF MORGAN.</a></p> + +<p>Œxmelin's interview with the old Buccaneer—Adventure +with Indians—Esquemeling's escapes—D'Ogeron's +escape from the Spaniards—Buccaneers' fight in +Tobago against the Dutch—Captain Cook captures a +Spanish vessel—Captains Coxen and Sharp begin their +cruise <span class="tocnum">189</span></p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.—THE CRUISES OF SAWKINS AND SHARP.</a></p> + +<p>The South sea now visited—Buccaneers land at +Darien—March overland—Take Santa Maria—Sail to +Panama—Ringrose is wrecked—Failure of Expedition—Driven +off by Spanish fleet—Partial victory—Coxen +accused of cowardice—Sharp elected commander, deposed—Plunder +Hillo and take La Serena—Take Arica—Sharp +re-elected—Retreat with difficulty—Conspiracy +of the prisoners—Land at Antigua—Return to +England—Sharp's trial for piracy—Seizes a French +ship in the Downs—Returns to Jamaica <span class="tocnum">215</span></p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.—DAMPIER'S VOYAGES.</a></p> + +<p>Dampier leaves Captain Sharp—Land march over +the Isthmus—Joins Captain Wright—Wreck of D'Estrèes +and the French fleet—Returns to England—Second +voyage—With Captain Cook—Guinea coast—Visits +Juan Fernandez—Takes Ampalla—Plunders Paita—Scheme +for working the Spanish mines—Attacks Manilla +Galleon—Captain Swan—Dampier's death unknown—Van +Horn, a Dutch sailor—Entraps the Galleons—Takes +Vera Cruz—Killed in a duel with De Graff—His +Dress <span class="tocnum">277</span></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">1</a></span></p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h2 class="p6"><a name="MONARCHS_OF_THE_MAIN" id="MONARCHS_OF_THE_MAIN"></a>MONARCHS OF THE MAIN.</h2> + +<hr class="chap" /> + + + +<h2 class="p6"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.<br /> + +<small>SIR HENRY MORGAN.</small></h2> + +<blockquote><p>Son of a farmer—Runs to sea—Turns Buccaneer—Joins +Mansvelt, and takes the Island of St. Catherine—Mansvelt +dies—St. Catherine retaken by the Spaniards—Takes +Port-au-Prince—Quarrel of French and +English Buccaneers about a marrow-bone—Takes +Porto Bello—Captures <i>Le Cerf Volant</i>, a French vessel—It +blows up—Takes Maracaibo—City deserted—Tortures +an Idiot—Le Picard—Storms Gibraltar—Also +deserted—Tortures the Citizens—With a Fire-ship +destroys Spanish fleet, and repasses the Bar—Escapes +by stratagem—Rancheria expedition—Sails for Panama—Captain +Bradley takes the Castle of Chagres—Anecdote +of wounded Buccaneer.</p></blockquote> + + +<p>Morgan's campaigns furnish one of the amplest +chapters of Buccaneer history. Equally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">2</a></span> +daring, but less cruel than Lolonnois, less +fanatical than Montbars, and less generous +and honest than De Lussan or Sharp, he +appears to have been the only freebooting +leader who obtained any formal recognition +from the English government. From an old +pamphlet, we find, that the expedition to +Panama was undertaken under the commission +and with the full approbation of the +English governor of Jamaica.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Morgan was the son of a Welsh +farmer, of easy circumstances, "as most who +bear that name in Wales are known to be," +says Esquemeling, his Dutch historian. Taking +an early dislike to the monotonous, unadventurous +life of his father's house, he ran +away from home, and, coming to the coast, +turned sailor, and went to sea.</p> + +<p>Embarking on board a vessel bound for +Barbadoes, that lay with several others in +the port, he engaged himself in the usual +way to a planter's agent, who resold him for +three years immediately on his arrival in the +West Indies. Having served his time and +obtained his hard-earned liberty, he repaired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">3</a></span> +to Jamaica, a place of which wild stories +were told all over the Main. He resolved to +seek his fortune at that El Dorado, and +arriving there, saw two Buccaneer vessels +just fitting out for an expedition. Being +now in search of employment, and finding +this suit his daring and restless spirit, he +determined to embrace the life of a Flibustier. +The gentlemen of fortune were successful, +and had not been long at sea before they +took a valuable prize.</p> + +<p>This early success was as fatal to Morgan +as good luck is to a young gambler on his +first visit to a hell. It roused his ambition, +heightened his hope, and encouraged him +to continue a career so auspiciously begun. +He followed the Buccaneer chiefs, and learnt +their manners of living. In the course of +only three or four voyages, he signalized +himself so much as to acquire the reputation +of a good soldier, remarkable for his valour +and success. He was a good shot, and renowned +for his intrepidity, coolness, and +determination. He seemed to foresee all +contingencies, and set about his schemes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">4</a></span> +with a firm confidence that insured their +success.</p> + +<p>Having already laid by much money, and +being fortunate both in his voyages and in gambling, +Morgan agreed with a few rich comerades +to join stock, and to buy a vessel, of which +he was unanimously appointed commander. +Such was the usual beginning of an adventurer's +career. Setting out from Jamaica, he +soon became remarkable for the number of +prizes which he took, his well known stations +being round the coast of Campeachy. With +these prizes he returned triumphantly to +Jamaica, his name established as a terror to +the Spaniard, and a war-cry to the English. +Finding Mansvelt, an old Buccaneer, lying +in harbour, about to start on a grand expedition +to the mainland, he joined him, and was +at once elected as vice-admiral of a small +fleet of fifteen vessels and 600 men, part +English and part French.</p> + +<p>They sailed first to the island of St. +Catherine, near the continent of Costa Rica, +and distant about thirty-five degrees from +the river of Chagres. Here they made their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">5</a></span> +first descent, and found the Spaniards well +entrenched in forts, strongly built of hewn +stone, but landing most of their men they +soon forced the garrisons to surrender. Morgan +distinguished himself remarkably in this +expedition, forcing even his very enemies to +laud his skill and valour. He now proceeded +to demolish all the castles but one, in which +he placed 100 men, and the slaves and +prisoners, and proceeded to attack a small +neighbouring island. In a few days they +threw over a bridge to join it to St. +Catherine's, and conveyed over it all the larger +ordnance which they had taken, laying waste +their first conquest with fire and sword. +They then set sail again, having first set their +prisoners ashore near Portobello, intending to +cruise along Costa Rica, as far as the river +Colla, and burn and pillage all the towns up +to Nata. They had, in fact, only taken the +island in order to procure a guide who could +lead them on their way to Nata, knowing +that the Spaniards used St. Catherine's as a +depôt for their prisoners of all nations. The +first step towards a Buccaneer expedition was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">6</a></span> +to procure a guide. They found, to their +delight, a mulatto who knew Nata, and who +undertook to lead them to the destruction of +a people whom he hated. It is probable, too, +that Mansvelt had already projected founding +a colony at St. Catherine's, which might be +neither dependent on the French nor the English. +But their schemes were frustrated, for +the governor of Panama, hearing of their +approach, and of their past success, advanced +to meet them with a body of men, and compelled +them to retreat suddenly, for the whole +country was now alarmed and their plans all +known.</p> + +<p>Morgan, however, seeing St. Catherine's to +be a well-fortified island, easily defended, and +important as to situation, because its harbour +was good and near the Spanish settlements, +resolved to hold it, appointing as governor +Le Sieur Simon, a Frenchman, whom he left +behind, with a garrison of 100 men. St. +Simon had behaved well in his absence, and +put the island in a good posture of defence, +had strengthened the four large forts, and +turned the smaller island into a citadel,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span> +guarding carefully the three accessible spots, +planting vegetables and clearing plantations +in the smaller island, where abundance of +fresh water could be procured, providing +victual enough for the fleet for two voyages.</p> + +<p>The two commanders now determined to +return to Jamaica, promising to send recruits +to Simon, for fear of an invasion, and themselves +to bring speedy succours, intending to +make the island a sanctuary and refuge for +the brotherhood of both nations. The governor +of Jamaica refused to accede to Mansvelt's +requests for soldiers, afraid to weaken the +forces of the island without permission from +England. Mansvelt, worn out with delay, +hastened to Tortuga, and died while collecting +volunteers, his plans being still in embryo. +Had his scheme succeeded, and been +pushed with energy, the Buccaneers might +have founded a republic, and have eventually +driven the Spaniards out of the +Indies.</p> + +<p>While Simon was impatiently expecting +succour from Jamaica, and astonished at +Mansvelt's really unavoidable silence, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">8</a></span> +Spaniards were preparing to smoke out the +wasps' nest that lay so dangerously near their +orchard. A new governor of Costa Rica +threw unusual decision into their plans. +Fearing they should lose the Indies piecemeal, +they resolved to crush the evil ere it grew +indestructible. Don Juan Perez de Guzman +equipped a fleet of four vessels with fifty or +sixty men each, commanded by Don Joseph +Sancho Ximenes, major-general of the garrison +of Porto Bello. Don Juan, in a letter to Simon, +promised him a reward if he would surrender +the island to his Catholic Majesty, and threatened +him with punishment if he resisted. +Simon, seeing the impossibility and uselessness +of resistance, surrendered it after a few +shots, on the same condition with which +Morgan had obtained it from the enemy.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards made much of their victory, +publishing "a true relation and particular +account of the victory obtained by the arms +of his Catholic Majesty, against the English +pirates, by the direction and valour of Don +Juan Perez de Guzman, knight of the order +of St. James, governor and captain-general of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span> +Terra Firma, and the province of Veraguas."</p> + +<p>The account goes on to describe the arrival +of fourteen English vessels on the coast, +1665, their arrival at Puerto de Naos, and the +capture of St. Catherine's from the governor, +Don Estevan del Campo, the enemy landing +unperceived. Upon this the valorous Don +Juan called a council of war, wherein he declared +the great progress the said pirates had +made in the dominions of his Catholic Majesty, +and propounded, "that it was absolutely +necessary to send some forces to the +isle of St. Catherine, sufficient to retake it +from the pirates, the honour and interest of +his Majesty of Spain being very narrowly +concerned herein, otherwise the pirates, by +such conquests, might <i>easily</i>, in course of +time, possess themselves of 'all the countries +thereabout.'" The less vapouring, or more +pacific, ingeniously proposed to leave the +pirates alone till they perished for want of +provisions, but Don Juan, overruling their +timidity, sent stores to the militia of Porto +Bello, and conveyed himself there, with no +small danger of his life. At this port he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span> +found the <i>St. Vincent</i>, a good ship, belonging +to the Negro Company, which he equipped +with a crew of 270 soldiers, thirty-seven +prisoners, thirty-two of the Spanish garrison, +twenty-nine mulattos of Panama, twelve +Indian archers, seven gunners, two lieutenants, +two pilots, a surgeon, and a Franciscan +chaplain. Before they set sail, Don +Juan (<i>who did not go with them</i>) encouraged +them to fight against the enemies of their +country and their religion, "those inhuman +pirates who had committed so many horrid +cruelties upon the subjects of his Catholic +Majesty," promising liberal rewards to all +who behaved themselves well in the service +of their king and country. At Carthagena, +they received a reinforcement of one frigate, +one galleon, a boat, and 127 men.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the island, the pirates discharged +three guns, refused to surrender, +and declared they preferred to lose their +lives. The next day three negro deserters, +swimming to the admiral, told him there +were only seventy-two men on the island, +and two days after the day of the Assumption<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span> +the Spaniards landed and commenced +the affray. The <i>St. Vincent</i> attacked the +Conception battery, the <i>St. Peter</i> the St. +James's forts, the pirates driving off many of +the enemy by loading their guns with part +of the pipes of a church organ, threescore +pipes at a time. The pirates lost six men before +surrendering, the Spaniards one. They +found in the island 800 lbs. of powder, and +250 lbs. of bullets. Two Spanish deserters, +discovered amongst the prisoners, were "shot +to death" the next day. The prisoners were +transported to Puerto Velo, all but three, +who, by order of the governor, were kept as +a trophy, like chained Samsons, to work in +the castle of St. Jerome at Panama, a fortress +building by the governor at his own expense.</p> + +<p>A day or two after this unavoidable surrender, +a vessel arrived at St. Catherine, +bringing reinforcements and provisions from +the governor of Jamaica, who had repented +of his rejection of Mansvelt's proposal, but +had not even yet the courage to be boldly +dishonest. The Spaniards, hoisting an English +flag, persuaded Simon to welcome it, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> +betray it into their hands. There were fourteen +men on board and two women, all of +whom were made prisoners.</p> + +<p>On the death of Mansvelt, Morgan became +without opposition the leader of all the adventurers +of Jamaica. He at once published +far and wide his intention of setting out on +a grand expedition, and named Cuba as a +rendezvous, St. Catherine's not being far distant. +Morgan had been no less anxious than +Mansvelt to make this island a fortress and +a storehouse. He had written to the merchants +of Virginia and New England, to contract +with them for ammunition and provisions; +but this hope being ended by the Spanish +conquest, he felt himself free to embark on +a wider and more ambitious field. His plans +were for a moment defeated, but his courage +and ambition were not a whit humbled.</p> + +<p>Two months spent in the southern ports of +Cuba sufficed him to collect a fleet of twelve +sail, with 700 fighting men, part English, +part French, resolved to follow him to the +death. To prevent the disunion so frequent +between the two nations, Morgan had a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span> +clause inserted in the charter-party, empowering +him to condemn to instant death +any adventurer who killed or wounded another. +A council was then called to decide +on what place they should first fall. Some +proposed Santiago, which had been before +sacked, others a swoop on the tobacco of the +Havannah, or the dye-woods of Campeachy. +Many voices were strong for a night assault +on the Havannah, which, they said, could be +taken before the castle could be ready to +defend itself. The very ransom of the +clergy they might carry off, would be worth +more than the pillage of a smaller town. +But some Buccaneers, who had been prisoners +there, said nothing could be done with +less than 1500 men, and the proposal was +abandoned, when they proved that they must +first go to the island de los Pinos, and land +in small boats at Matamana, fourteen leagues +from the city.</p> + +<p>At last some one proposed a visit to Port-au-Prince, +a town of Cuba, very rich from its +traffic in hides, and which, being far inland +and built on a plain, could be very easily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> +surprised. The speaker knew the city well, +and was sure that it never had been sacked. +Despairing of collecting forces enough to +attempt the Havannah, they pursued the +Spaniard's plan. Morgan at once acceded to +this scheme, and, giving the captain the signal +of weighing anchor, steered for Port St. +Mary, the nearest harbour to Port-au-Prince. +The night of their arrival in the bay a +Spanish prisoner threw himself into the sea, +and swimming on shore went to inform the +governor of the Buccaneers' plans, having, +with a scanty knowledge of English, gathered +a full insight, deeper than history tells us, of +Morgan's intentions.</p> + +<p>The governor instantly sent to the neighbouring +town for succour, and collected, in a +few hours, a force of 800 armed freemen and +slaves, occupying a pass which the Buccaneers +must traverse. He cut down the trees, +barricaded the approaches, and planned eight +ambuscades, strengthened by cannon to play +upon them on their march. He then marched +out into a savannah, where he might see the +Buccaneers at a long distance.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span></p> + +<p>The townsmen, in the meanwhile, prepared +for the worst with the usual timidity of the +rich, hiding their riches and carrying away +their movables. The adventurers, on entering +the place, found the paths almost impassable +with trees, but, supposing themselves +discovered, took to the woods, and thus +fortunately escaped the ambuscade.</p> + +<p>The governor, seeing the enemy, to his +astonishment, emerge from the trees into the +plain, instantly ordered his cavalry to surround +them as he would have done a troop of +wolves, intending to disperse them first with +his horse and then pursue them with his +main body. The Buccaneers, nothing daunted +by the flashing of the spears or the tramp of +the horsemen, advanced boldly, with drums +beating and colours displayed. They drew +up in a semicircle to receive the charge, and +advanced swiftly towards the enemy, not +waiting to be attacked. The Spaniards +charged them hotly for a while, but, finding +their enemies dexterous at their arms, +moving their feet forward rather than backward; +and seeing their governor and many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> +of their companions dead at their feet, fled +headlong to the town; those who escaped +towards the wood were killed before they +could reach it. The Buccaneers with few men +either killed or wounded, advancing still in +their phalanx, killed without mercy all they +met, for the space of the four hours that the +fight lasted. The fugitives of the town +barred themselves in their houses and kept +up a fire from the windows and loopholes. +The shots from the roofs and balconies still +continuing, though the town was taken, the +Buccaneers threatened, if the firing did not +cease, to set the town in a flame, and cut the +women and children in pieces before the +eyes of the survivors.</p> + +<p>Having thus silenced all resistance, Morgan +drove all his prisoners, men, women, +children, and slaves, into the cathedral, where +he placed a guard. He then gave the +town over to pillage, for the benefit of his +joint-stock company, finding much that was +valuable, but little money, so skilful had the +Spaniards grown in hiding. Parties were +next sent out, as usual, to plunder the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> +suburbs, and bring in provisions and prisoners +for the torture.</p> + +<p>The revelry then began, while the prisoners +were allowed to starve in the churches; old +women and children were daily tortured to +make them disclose where their money was +hidden.</p> + +<p>The monks had been the first to fly from +the English heretics, but bands of them were +frequently captured in the woods, and thrown, +half dead with fear, to confess the dying in +the prisons. When pillage and provisions +grew scanty, and they themselves began to +feel the privations they had inflicted on others, +the Buccaneers resolved to depart, after fifteen +days' residence, a favourite time with the +brotherhood.</p> + +<p>They now demanded a double ransom of +their chief prisoners; first, for themselves, +under pain of being transported to Jamaica; +and secondly, for the town, or it would be +burned to the ground. Four merchants were +chosen to collect the contributions, and some +Spaniards were first tortured in their presence, +to increase the zeal of their applications.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span> +After a few days, they returned empty-handed, +and demanded a respite of fifteen +days, which Morgan granted. They had +searched all the woods, they said, and found +none of their countrymen. Delay now grew +dangerous—a party of foragers had captured +a negro, with letters from the governor of +Santiago, telling the citizens not to make too +much haste to pay the ransom, but to put off +the pirates with excuses till he could come +to their aid. Enraged at what he deemed +treachery, Morgan swore he would have no +more delay, and would burn the town the +next day if the ransom was not paid down, +but not alluding to the detected letter, and +betraying no apprehension. Still unable to +obtain money, Morgan consented to take 500 +oxen, which he insisted on the Spaniards +placing on board his ships at Port-au-Prince, +together with salt enough to "powder" them, +needing the flesh to re-victual for a fresh and +more profitable expedition.</p> + +<p>The same day Morgan left the city, taking +with him six of the principal citizens as +hostages. The next day came the cattle, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> +he now required the Spaniards to assist him +in killing and salting them. This was done +in a great hurry, Morgan expecting every +moment the Santiago vessels would appear in +sight. As soon as the butchering was completed +he released his hostages and set sail, +unwilling to fight when nothing could be +gained by victory.</p> + +<p>At this juncture, the smouldering jealousy +of the two nations that formed his crews +broke into a flame. The grudges of the last +voyage had been perpetuated, and had grown +into a deep and lasting feud, producing ultimately +a disunion fatal to all increase of the +power of the brotherhood of the coast.</p> + +<p>While the prisoners were toiling at salting +the beeves, the sailors employed themselves +in drinking and rejoicing at their success, +cooking the richest morsels while they were +still fresh, and all hands intent on securing +the hot marrow bones, the favourite delicacy +of the hunters of Hispaniola. A Frenchman, +employed as one of the butchers, had drawn +out the dainty and placed it by his side, as a +<i>bonne bouche</i> when his work was over. An<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span> +English Buccaneer, more hungry than polite, +passing by, and knowing no reservation of +property in such a republic, snatched up the +reeking bone and carried it off. The Frenchman, +pursuing him with angry vociferations, +challenged him to fight for it, but before +they could reach the place of combat, the +aggressor stabbed his adversary in the back, +and laid him dead on the spot. The Frenchmen, +rising in arms, made it a national +quarrel, and demanded redress. Morgan, +just and impartial by nature and from policy, +arrested the murderer and condemned him to +be instantly shot, declaring that he had a right +to challenge his adversary, but not to stab him +treacherously. Œxmelin says, the man was +sent in chains to Jamaica (and there tried +and hung), Morgan promising to see justice +done upon him. The French, however, +remained discontented, lamented the fate of +their comrade, and vowed revenge.</p> + +<p>Morgan, not waiting for the governor of +Jamaica to share his spoil, sailed to a small +island, at some distance, to make the dividend. +To the general grief and disgust, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span> +found the whole amounted to only 60,000 +crowns, not enough to pay their debts at +Jamaica: this did not include the silk stuffs +and other merchandise, which gave a poor +pittance of 80 crowns to each man, as the +return for so much danger and privation.</p> + +<p>Morgan, as unwilling as the rest to revisit +Port Royal empty-handed, proposed a new +expedition, in search of a greater prize. But +the French, not able to agree with the +English, left the fleet, in spite of all their +commander's persuasions, but still with every +external mark of friendship, entreating to the +last to have justice done to the "<i>infame</i>."</p> + +<p>Morgan, who had always placed great +reliance on the courage of the French adventurers, +was not going to relinquish his new +expedition on account of their desertion. He +had inspired his men with courage and the hope +of acquiring riches, and they all resolved to +follow him to the attack of the place, whose +name he would not yet disclose, exciting them +by a mystery, which prevented the possibility +of treachery.</p> + +<p>He put forth to sea with eight small<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span> +vessels, but was soon joined by an adventurer +of Jamaica, just returning from Campeachy; +with this new ally, he had now a force of +nine vessels and 470 men, many French +being still among them, and arrived at Costa +Rica with all his fleet safe.</p> + +<p>As soon as they sighted land, he disclosed +his design to his captains, and soon after to +all his seamen. He intended to storm Porto +Bello by night, and to put the whole city to +the sack: he was confident of success, because +no one knew of his secret; although some of +his men thought their force too small for such +an enterprise. To these Morgan replied, that +if their number was small, their courage was +great, and the fewer they were the more +booty for each, with the greater prospect of +union and secresy; and upon this, all agreed +unanimously to the design.</p> + +<p>By good fortune, or by preconcerted arrangement, +one of Morgan's crew turned out +to be an Englishman who, only a short +time before, had been a prisoner at Porto +Bello, and his past sufferings now proved +to have been the foundation of his future<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> +good fortune. Having escaped from that +place, he knew every inch of the coast, +which had been so painfully impressed on +his mind, and Morgan submitted, with perfect +confidence, to his guidance. By his +advice, they steered straight for the bay of +Santa Maria, arriving there purposely about +dusk, and reached a spot about twelve +leagues from the city, without meeting any +vessel. They then sailed up the river to +Puerto Pontin, four leagues distant, taking +advantage of the land wind that sprang up, +cool and fresh, at night.</p> + +<p>They here anchored, and embarked in +boats, leaving a few men to bring on the +ships. Rowing softly, they reached about +midnight a place called Estera de Longa +lemos, where they all landed, and marched +upon the outposts of the city.</p> + +<p>Michael Scott describes Porto Bello as +built in a miserable, dirty, damp hole, surrounded +by high forest-clad hills, wreathed +in mist, and reeking with dirt and fever. +Everlasting vapours obscure the sun, and +mingle with the exhalation of the steaming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> +marshes of the lead-coloured, land-locked cove +that forms the harbour.</p> + +<p>They were now within reach of the +strongest city in the Spanish West Indies, +except Havannah and Carthagena, the port +of Panama, and the great mart for silver and +negroes. Leaving as usual a party to guard +the boats, and preceded by their guide, they +began halfway to the town to prepare their +arms. Upon approaching the first sentinel, +Morgan sent forward the guide and three +or four others to surprise him. They did it +cunningly, before he could fire his musket, +and brought him with his hands bound to +Morgan, who, threatening him with death, +asked him how things in the city went, and +what forces they had, making a "thousand +menaces to kill him if he did not speak the +truth." The terrified Spaniard informed +them that the town was well garrisoned, but +that there were very few inhabitants; the +merchants only residing in the town while +the galleons are loading, and that he would +be able to take the place in spite of all the +fortresses and the 300 soldiers. Morgan then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span> +pushed on to the fort, carrying the man +bound before them, and after a quarter of a +league reached the castle, where the man's +company was stationed, closely surrounding +it, so that no one could get in or go out. The +prisoner had in vain attempted to avoid this +redoubt, to which he had served as picket, +encouraged by Morgan's promises of reward, +and avowal that he would not give him up to +his countrymen.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards, finding the sentinel gone, +had already spread the alarm of the Buccaneers' +approach. From beneath the walls +Morgan commanded the sentinel to summon +the garrison to surrender at once to his discretion, +or they should be cut in pieces +without quarter. Not regarding these threats, +the Spaniards began instantly to discharge +their guns and muskets to alarm the town +and obtain succour. But though they made +a good resistance they were soon overpowered, +and the Buccaneers, driving them into one +room, set fire to the powder which lay about +on the floor, and blew the tower and its +defenders together into the air; all the survivors<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> +they put to the sword, in order to +strike terror in the city.</p> + +<p>At daybreak they fell upon the city, and +found the inhabitants, some still asleep and +others scared and alarmed; many had thought +of nothing but hiding their treasure, and only +the professional soldier prepared for resistance. +The governor, unable to rally the +citizens, fled into the citadel, and fired upon +the town as well as the enemy. The +frightened herd, stupid with fear, were +throwing their money and jewels into wells +and cisterns, or burying their treasure +in their courtyards, cellars, gardens, and +chapels. The adventurers, abstaining from +pillage, sent a chosen party to the convents +to make prisoners of the religious, male and +female; while another division prepared +ladders to escalade the fort, not relaxing for +a moment either in attack or defence. They +attempted in vain to burn down a castle-gate +which proved to be of iron, and baffled +their efforts, and kept up a warm fire at the +embrasures, aiming with such dexterity at +the mouths of the guns as to kill a gunner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> +or two every time the pieces were either +run out or loaded.</p> + +<p>The firing continued from daybreak till +noon, and even then the result seemed doubtful, +for when the adventurers approached the +walls with their grenades to burn the doors +the defenders threw down upon them earthen +pots full of powder, and lighted by a fusee, +together with showers of stones and other +missiles. Morgan himself began to despair +of success, and did not know how to escape +from that strait, when the English flag arose +above the smaller fort, and a troop of men +ran forth to proclaim victory with shouts of +joy. The remaining castle, however, was +the <i>pièce de resistance</i>, being the storehouse +of the church plate, and the wealth of the +richer citizens now with the garrison. A +stratagem was suggested, appealing strongly +to Spanish superstition, and, as it happened, +successfully. Ten or twelve ladders were made +so broad and strong that three or four men +might mount them abreast. To all threats +the governor replied he would never surrender +alive, although the religious should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> +themselves plant the ladders. The monks +and nuns were then dragged to the heads of +the companies, and forced to plant the ladders, +in spite of the hot rain of fire and shot; +the governor "using his utmost endeavours +to destroy all who came near the walls, firing +on the servants of God, although his kinsmen, +and prisoners, and forced to the service. +Delicate women and aged men were goaded +at the sword's point to this hateful labour, +derided by the English, and unpitied by their +countrymen."</p> + +<p>All this time the Buccaneers maintained +an unceasing fire along the whole line of grey +battlements at every aperture where a pike +head glittered or a lighted match smouldered; +suffering much in return, unarmed as they +were, guarded neither by steel-cap nor cuirass, +and unsheltered by palisade or earthwork. +In spite of the cries of the religious as they +reared the ladders, their prayers to the saints, +and their entreaties to the garrison to remember +their common blood and nation, +many of the priests were shot before the +walls could be scaled. The more superstitious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> +of the Spaniards were unnerved at +hearing the dying curse of the consecrated +servants of God, rising shrill above the roar +of the battle. The ladders were at last +planted, amid a shower of fire-pots that killed +almost as many of the Spaniards as the English, +and the Buccaneers sprang up with all the +agility of sailors and the determination of Berserkers; +their best marksmen shooting down +the few Spaniards who awaited their arrival +at the summit. Their falling bodies struck +a few Buccaneers from their ladders. Every +man that went up carried hand grenades, +pistols, and sabre, but the musket was now +laid aside, for it had done its work, and was +a mere encumbrance in the grapple of closer +combat. The English swarmed up in great +numbers, and reaching the top kindled their +fusees and threw down their fire-pots upon the +crowded ranks of the enemy, with destructive +effect. Before they could recover their dismay, +sabre in hand, as if they were boarding, +they leaped down upon the garrison, who +drove them off with pikes and clubbed +muskets, and, closing with them, hurled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span> +many from the ramparts, or, stabbing them, +fell clenched with the foe in their despair. +When their cannon was taken, the Spaniards +threw down their arms and begged for quarter, +except the governor and a few officers, who +determined to die fighting against the robbers +and heretics, the enemies of God and Spain.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers, seeing the red flag flying +from the first fort, which was the strongest, +and built on an eminence which commanded +the towers below, advanced with confidence +to the attack of the remaining one, hitherto +thought impregnable, which defended the +port, and prevented the entrance of their +vessels, which they wished to secure safe in +the harbour, as the number of their wounded +would require their long stay in the place +they had captured. The governor, proud +and brave, still refused to surrender, and +fired upon them with his cannon, which were +soon silenced by the superior fire of the +newly-taken fort, which flanked his position. +Out of this last stronghold, the weary and +despairing defenders were quickly driven.</p> + +<p>Major Castellon, the stout-hearted governor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> +disdaining to ask quarter of a pack of +heretic seamen, killed several of his own men +who would not stand to their arms and called +on him to save their lives, and struck down +many of the hunters who tried to take him +alive, not from a generous compassion, for +pity seldom entered a Buccaneer's heart, +but in order to obtain his ransom. A +still more cruel trial of his courage, and +duty to his king, awaited him: his wife and +children fell at his knees, and, with cries +and tears, begged him to lay down his arms +and save both their lives. But he obstinately +and sternly refused, replying, "Better this +than a scaffold," preferring to die as a +valiant soldier at his post, than to be hanged +as a coward for deserting it. He died the +death of a brave man, fighting desperately, +and was found buried under the bodies of +his dead enemies. If unpitied by his ferocious +foes, he has left a name to be honoured +by all brave men, as one worthy of a more +chivalrous age, and a better cause.</p> + +<p>It now being nearly sunset, and the city +their own, the adventurers enclosed all their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span> +prisoners in the citadel, separating the +wounded, and, although heedless of their +sufferings, employing the female slaves to +wait upon them. It now being nearly night, +they gave way to all the excesses of soldiers +in a town taken by storm, exasperated by +the recollection of past danger, and the +death of friends, and maddened by both the +certainty of present pleasure and the power +of indulging in every success. Œxmelin +says, fifty brave Spaniards might have put +all the revellers to death, and recovered the +place. We do not, however, hear that a +single Spanish Jael was found to revenge +herself on these modern Siseras.</p> + +<p>The following morning Morgan summoned +his vessels into the harbour, and collecting +all the loose wealth of the town, had it +brought into the fort. Directing the repairs +of the ramparts, scorched and shattered, he +remounted the guns, in order to be ready +to repel any attack from Panama. He collected +a few of the prisoners who had been +persuaded to say they were the richest merchants +in Porto Bello, and put all who would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> +not confess to the torture. He maimed some +and killed others, who remained silent because +they were in reality poor, and had concealed +no treasure. Having spent fifteen +days in these alternate cruelties and debaucheries, +Morgan resolved to retreat. No Buccaneer +general had ever taken a city which +could not be stripped clean in fourteen days. +Famine and disease began ungratefully to +take the part of the Spaniard against the +nation that had fed them with so many victims. +Wild waste compelled them already +to devour their mules and horses, rather than +die of hunger, or turn cannibals. Parties of +hunters were sent into the suburbs to hunt +the cattle, whose flesh they then devoured, +saving the mules for the prisoners, who, +between their wounds and their hunger, were +reduced to dreadful extremities.</p> + +<p>A death more terrible than that of a blow +in battle now appeared in their midst. Many +had already died victims of excess, and even +the most prudent perished. The bad food, +the sudden transition from excess to want, +and the impurity of the tainted air, produced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> +a pestilence. The climate of Porto Bello, +always unhealthy, as Hosier's squadron afterwards +experienced, was poisoned by the putrefaction +of the dead bodies, hastily buried, +and scarcely covered by earth. The wounded +nearly all sickened, and the intemperate were +the first to die.</p> + +<p>The prisoners, crowded together, and already +weakened mentally by despondency, and +physically by famine, soon caught the fever, +and died with dreadful rapidity. Rich merchants, +accustomed to every luxury, and to the +most varied and seasoned food, pined under a +diet of half-putrid mule's flesh, and bad, unfiltered +water. Everything warned Morgan that +it was time to weigh anchor, for the president +of Panama was already on his march towards +the city at the head of 1500 men. Informed +of their approach from a slave captured +by a hunting party, Morgan held a +council, at which it was agreed not to retreat +until they had obtained a ransom for the town +greater than the spoil at present collected; +and, in order to prevent a surprise, he placed +a body of 100 well-armed men in a narrow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span> +defile, where but a few men could go abreast, +and through which the president must pass. +They found that that general had fewer +troops with him than was reported, and these +took flight at the first encounter, and did not +attempt again to force a passage, but waited +for reinforcements. The president, with the +usual gasconade of a Spaniard, sent word to +Morgan, that if he did not at once leave +Porto Bello he should receive no quarter +when he should take him and his companions, +as he hoped soon to do.</p> + +<p>To this, Morgan, knowing he had a sure +means of escape, said he should not leave +till he had received 180,000 pieces of eight +as a ransom for the city, and if he could not +get this he should kill all his prisoners, blow +up the castle, and burn the town, and two +men were sent by him to the president to +procure the money.</p> + +<p>The president, seeing that nothing could +either deceive or intimidate Morgan, gave up +Porto Bello to its fate, not caring to erect a +silver bridge for a flying enemy. In vain he +sent to Carthagena for a fleet to block up the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> +ships in the river; in vain he kept the citizens +in suspense as to the money, in hopes of +gaining time. He was deaf and obdurate to +all the entreaties of the citizens, who sent to +inform him that the pirates were not men +but devils, and that they fought with such +fury that the Spanish officers had stabbed +themselves, in very despair, at seeing a supposed +impregnable fortress taken by a handful +of people, when it should have held out +against twice the number.</p> + +<p>Don Juan Perez de Guzman, the president, +a man of "great parts," and who had attained +high rank in the war in Flanders, +expressed himself, with candour, as astonished +at the exploits of 400 men (not regular soldiers) +who, with no other arms but their +muskets, had taken a city which any general +in Europe would have found necessary to +have blockaded in due form. He gave the +people of Porto Bello, at the same time, leave +to compound for their safety, but offered +them no aid to insure it.</p> + +<p>To Morgan himself he could not refrain +from expressing astonishment. He admired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span> +his success, with no ordnance for batteries, +and against the citizens of a place who bore +the reputation of being good soldiers, never +wanting courage in their own defence. He +begged, at the same time, that he would send +him some small pattern of the arms wherewith +he had, with such vigour, taken so great +a city. Morgan received the messenger with +great kindness and civility, flattered by the +compliment from an enemy, and glad of an +opportunity of expressing contempt of any +assailants. He took a hunter's musket from +one of his men, and sent it, together with a +handful of Buccaneer bullets, to the president, +begging him to accept it as a small +pattern of the arms wherewith he had taken +Porto Bello, hoping he would keep it a +twelvemonth or two, at which time he hoped +to visit Panama and fetch it away. The +Spaniard, astonished at the wit and civility of +the captain, whom he had deemed a mere +brutal sea thief, sent a messenger to return the +present, as he did not need the loan of weapons, +but thanking Morgan and praising his +courage, remarking at the same time that it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span> +was a pity that such a man should not be +employed in a just war, and in the service of +a great and good prince, and hoping, in conclusion, +that he would not give himself the +trouble of coming to see him at Panama, as +he would not fare there so well as he had +done at Porto Bello. Having delivered this +message, so chivalrous in its tone, the messenger +presented Morgan with a beautiful +gold ring, set with a costly emerald, as a remembrance +of his master Don Guzman, who +had already supplied the English chief with +fresh provisions.</p> + +<p>Having now provided himself with all +necessaries, and stripped the unfortunate +city of almost everything but its tiles and +its paving stones, carried off half of the +castle guns and spiked the rest, he then +set sail, taking on board the ransom, which +was punctually paid in the shape of silver +bars. Corn seldom grew where his foot had +once been, and he left behind him famine, +pestilence, poverty, and death. Orphans +and widows, mutilated men and violated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> +women leaped for joy as his fleet melted into +the distance.</p> + +<p>Setting sail, with great speed, he arrived +in eight days at Cuba, where the spoil was +divided.</p> + +<p>They found that they had in gold and +silver, whether in coin or bar, and in +jewels, which from haste and ignorance were +seldom estimated at one-fourth part of their +value, to the value of 260,000 pieces of +eight. This did not include the silks and +merchandise, of which they paid little heed, +only valuing coin or bullion, and regarding +the richest prize without coin as scarce +worth the taking. This division accomplished, +to the general satisfaction of all +but the people of Porto Bello, who were +now poor enough to defy all thieves, +they returned at once to Jamaica, where +they were magnificently received, Œxmelin +says, "<i>surtout des cabaretiers</i>." Every door +was open to them, and for a whole week +all loudly praised their generosity and their +courage; at the end of a month, every door<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> +was shut in their faces, all but one—the +prison for debts, and that closed behind their +backs. "They spent in a short time," says +one of their historians, "with boundless prodigality, +what they had gained with boundless +danger and unremitting toil." The people +of Tortuga considered them as mere slaves, +who dived to get their pearls, and cared not +whether they perished by the wave or by the +shark, so the pearls which they had gathered +could be first secured.</p> + +<p>"Not long after their arrival in Jamaica," +says Esquemeling, "being that short time +needed to lavish away all their riches, they +concluded on another enterprise to seek new +fortunes:" a sailor spends his money quickly, +and so does a highwayman—in them both +trades were combined. Morgan remained +at rest as long as most Buccaneers did, that +is to say, till he had drunk out half his +money, strung the jewels of Spanish matrons +around the necks of the fairest courtesans in +Jamaica, and stripped himself at the gambling-table +to-day in the hope of recovering +the losses of yesterday. As his purse grew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> +thin his heart grew stout, as his hunger +grew greater his thirst for blood began also +to increase. At last he looked seaward, +turned his back on the lotus-land and the +sirens, and prepared for sea.</p> + +<p>His rendezvous this time was fixed in a +small island on the south side of Hispaniola, +in order to invite both the French hunters +and the sailors of Tortuga. By this sign of +confidence Morgan hoped to remove all +rankling prejudice between the French and +English adventurers, and to obtain recruits +from both nations. He resolved this time +upon an expedition which would enable him +and his men to retire from the sea life for +ever, or at least to hold a longer revel.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers of the coast seeing him +always successful, and never returning without +booty, less cruel and less rash than Lolonnois, +and not only very brave but very +fortunate, flocked to his flag almost without +a summons. Every one furbished up his +musket, cast bullets, bought powder, or +fitted up a canoe. Parties were at once +despatched to hunt in the savannahs, and to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> +prepare salted meat sufficient for the voyage. +Great numbers of French and English +crowded to Cow Island.</p> + +<p>A powerful ally appeared at this crisis, in +the shape of a French vessel, <i>Le Cerf Volant</i>, +of St. Malo, which had come out to the +Indies, virtuously intending to trade with +the Spaniards, but, finding this difficult or +unprofitable, had less virtuously determined +to live by plundering them, and was now +manned by French adventurers from Tortuga, +no friends to Morgan, but anxious to share +his booty. The vessel, which had also a +long-boat towing at its stern, had a short +time before attacked a Genoese ship, trading +with negroes, but which, mounting forty-eight +cannon, had driven it off, and compelled the +captain to return home and refit. The crew +seemed unwilling to trust the English, and +would not listen to any terms. Morgan, who +had just been joined by a ship from New +England with thirty-six cannon, longed to +add the twenty-four iron guns and the twelve +brass ones of <i>Le Cerf Volant</i> to his collection. +In spite of his wish to unite the two nations,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> +and close the green and still rankling wound, +the temptation was rather too strong for him. +His guardian angel slept for a moment, and +when she awoke the English flag floated at +the Frenchman's peak.</p> + +<p>The change happened thus: the French +captain having refused to join Morgan's expedition, +unless he drew up a peculiar charter +party opposed to all Buccaneer law, and +quarrelling about this, he swore <i>ventre St. +Gris</i>, he would return to Tortuga, reload his +cargo, and return to France.</p> + +<p>The blow was to be struck now or never. +The English part of the St. Malo crew had +already deserted to Morgan. Some of these +men furnished him with an opportunity of +revenge. The merchant captain, unaccustomed +to the looseness of Buccaneer discipline, +had treated them as sailors, and not as +<i>matelots</i> and brothers. They told Morgan, +that being short of victual, he had lately +stopped an English vessel, and taken provisions +by force, paying the commander only +with bills of exchange, cashable at Jamaica, +and that he carried secretly a Spanish commission,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span> +empowering him to plunder the +English. These charges, though full of malice, +had a specious appearance of truth. +The captain had indeed stopped an English +vessel, but had paid for all he had taken with +honest bills. He did also carry a Spanish +commission, having been driven to anchor at +the port of Baracoa, on the north-east side +of Cuba, where he had obtained letters of +marque from the governor, in order to conceal +his real errand. Morgan considered this a +sufficient pretext, and sounded his crew to +ascertain how far they would help him at the +moment of need. It was at this very moment +of indecision that the New England +vessel joined the fleet, and enabled him to +bear down any opposition. This ship, which +Œxmelin calls the <i>Haktswort</i> (Oxford?) +carried a crew of 300 men. It was said to +belong to the king of England (Charles +II.), and to have been lent by him to the +present captain.</p> + +<p>[A strange, improbable story, unless the +English government had really determined to +encourage the Buccaneer movement. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> +<i>Haktswort</i> was really sent by the governor +of Jamaica to join the expedition.]</p> + +<p>With this timely succour Morgan's mind +was instantly made up. He asked the St. +Malo captain and all his officers to dinner, on +board the newly-arrived vessel, and there +made them prisoners, without any resistance, +away from their crew, and with their ship exposed +to an overwhelming fire. He then affected +the anger of indignant justice, declared +they were robbers, who plundered the English +under a commission from the enemy, +and came there as mere spies and traitors. +Fortunately for him, the English vessel that +had been stopped by the St. Malo crew arrived +at the very moment to repeat and exaggerate +the charge. The ship was now his +own, and only God could take it from him. +And "God did so," says Esquemeling, who +sees a judgment in all misfortunes that befal +an enemy, but none in those that befal his +friends.</p> + +<p>Morgan, victorious and exulting, called a +council of war, and summoned all his captains +to attend him on board his large prize. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> +praised the vessel, laughed at the tricked +Frenchmen, and discussed their plans. They +calculated what provisions they had in store, +and of what their force was capable. The +island of Savona was agreed upon as a rendezvous, +as at that east corner of Hispaniola +they might lurk and cut off stragglers from +the armed Spanish flota, now daily expected. +Having completed their arrangements they +gave way to pleasure, the real occupation +and business of a Buccaneer's life, his toil +being only expended to procure the means +for pleasure, and time to enjoy it. They +began to feast and drink healths, the officers +below and the sailors on deck. Prayers for +a successful voyage were blended with drunken +songs, and unintelligible blasphemies. The +captain and the cook were both drunk, the +very gunners who discharged a broadside +when the toasts were drained, fell senseless +beside their smoking guns. Those who could +not move slept, those who could walk drank +on. By some accident, a spark from a smoking +match caught the powder, and in an instant +the vessel blew up. In perfect equality<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span> +all ranks were lifted up towards heaven, in +a column of flame, only to fall back again to +perish, burnt and helpless, in the sea. More +than 350 of the 400 men that formed the +crew were drowned. By a singular coincidence, +the officers nearly all escaped. The +English having their powder stored in the +fore part of the vessel, and not in the stern +like the French, the sailors only perished; +the officers and the St. Malo prisoners who +were drinking with them were merely blown, +much bruised, into the water. The English +adventurers, declaring that the French had +set fire to the powder, would have killed +them on the spot, but Morgan, not apparently +the least chapfallen by the disappointment, +sent them all as prisoners to Jamaica. The +thirty men, seated in the great cabin at +some distance from the main force of the +powder, escaped, and many more would have +been saved had they been sober.</p> + +<p>The French prisoners in vain endeavoured +to obtain justice in Jamaica, were long detained +in confinement, and threatened with +death when they demanded a trial. Had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span> +Morgan returned unsuccessful they might +have perhaps been listened to.</p> + +<p>Eight days after this loss Morgan commanded +his men to collect the floating bodies +now putrifying, not to give them Christian +burial, but to save the clothes, and to remove +the heavy gold rings which the English Buccaneers +wore upon their forefingers, abandoning +their unsaleable bodies to the birds and +to the sharks.</p> + +<p>Undaunted by this accident, Morgan +found he had still a force of fifteen vessels, +and 860 men, but his gun ship, the largest of +all, only carried fourteen small guns. They +now made way to Savona, where all were to +repair and careen, and the swift to wait for +the slow. Letters were soon placed in +bottles, and buried at a spot indicated by a +mark agreed on. Coasting Hispaniola, they +were detained by contrary winds, and attempted +for three weeks in vain to double +Cape Lobos. Their provisions ran short, but +they were relieved by an English vessel, +bound to Jamaica, which had a superfluity +for sale.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span></p> + +<p>Always seeking for pleasure, though in +emergencies capable of the severest self-denials, +six or seven of the fleet remained +clustering round this vessel to purchase +brandy, as eager and thoughtless as stragglers +round a vivandière. The more thoughtful +and earnest pressed on with Morgan, and, +reaching the bay of Ocoa, waited for them +there, the men spending their time usefully, +as they had agreed before, in hunting, and +foraging for water and provisions, killing some +oxen and a few horses. Detained here by +continued bad weather, Morgan maintained +strict discipline, compelling every captain to +send, daily, on shore eight men from each +ship, making a total force of sixty-four. He +also instituted a convoy, or a body of armed +men, who attended the hunters as a guard, +for they were now near St. Domingo, which +was full of Greek soldiers and Spanish matadors. +The Spaniards, few in number, did +not attack them, but, adopting a Fabian +policy, which suited their pride and phlegm, +sent for 300 or 400 men to kill all the cattle +round the bay. Another party drove all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span> +herds far into the interior, wishing to starve +the foe out of the island, knowing that a +Buccaneer, pressed by hunger, did not care +whether he ate horse, mule, or ass, falling +back upon monkeys and parrots, and resorting +to sharks' flesh or his own shoes as a +last resource. But when the Buccaneers +spread further inland, a body of soldiers was +despatched to the coast, to practise a stratagem, +and to form an ambuscade.</p> + +<p>The following was their plan, which completely +succeeded, but nevertheless ended in +the Spaniards' total rout. A band of fifty +Buccaneers having resolved to venture further +than usual into the woods, a party of +Spanish muleteers were ordered to drive the +bait, a small herd of cattle, past the shore, +where they had landed, pretending to fly +when they caught sight of their enemies. +When they approached the ambuscade two +Spaniards were sent out, carrying a white +flag of truce. The Buccaneers, ceasing the +pursuit, pushed forward two men to parley.</p> + +<p>The treacherous Spaniards beseeched them +plaintively not to kill their cows, offering to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span> +sell them cattle, or furnish them with food. +The Buccaneers, with all the good faith of +seamen, replied that they would give a +crown and a-half for each ox, and that the +seller could make his own profit besides +on the hide and the tallow. During this +time, which was planned to give time for the +operation, the Spanish troops were turning +the flank of the enemy, and had now surrounded +the small band on all sides. They +interrupted the conversation by breaking out +of the wood, with shots and cries of "<i>Mata, +mata</i>"—"kill, kill," imagining they could cut +to pieces so small a force without a struggle. +The Buccaneers, differing from them in +opinion, faced about with good heart, threw +themselves into a square, and beat a slow +retreat to the forest, keeping up a rolling fire +from all four sides of their brave phalanx.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards, considering the retreat a +sure proof of despair and fear, attacked them +with great courage, but great loss. The +Buccaneers losing no men, while the Spaniards +fell thick and fast, cried out, in imprudent +bravado, that they were only trying to frighten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> +them, and put no balls in their muskets. +This jest cost them dear, for the Spaniards +had been only aiming high, wishing to kill +them on the spot and to make no prisoners. +They now tried to maim as well as kill, and +soon wounded so many in the legs that the +Buccaneers were obliged to retreat to a +clump of trees, where they stood at bay, and +from whence the Spaniards did not dare to beat +them. They then began to prepare to carry off +their dead and wounded to the vessels, but +seeing a small party of Spaniards piercing +one of the bodies with their swords, they +fired upon them, charged them, and drove +them off, tracking their way by their dead, +and then retreated, killing the cattle and +bearing them off in sorrowful triumph to their +vessels. The very next day, at the first +light, Morgan, furious to revenge this +treachery of the Spaniards, landed himself at +the head of 200 men, and entered the woods, +visiting the scene of the last night's skirmish. +But the Spaniards had long since fled, discovering +that in driving cattle towards the +shore as a lure for the Buccaneer, they only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> +brought destruction upon themselves, and a +dangerous enemy nearer to their homes and +treasures. Morgan, finding his search useless, +returned to his ship, having first burned +down all the deserted huts he could find: +"Returning," says Esquemeling, "somewhat +more satisfied in his mind for having done +considerable damage to the enemy, which +was always his ardent desire."</p> + +<p>The day after, deciding not to venture an +attack upon Bourg d'Asso, Morgan, impatient +at the delay of his vessels, resolved +to sail without them, and visit Savona, +hoping there to meet his lingering companions. +Alarming the people of St. Domingo, +he coasted round Hispaniola. He +determined to wait eight days at Savona, and, +weary of rest, still wanting provisions, he +sent some boats and 150 men to plunder the +towns round St. Domingo, but they, finding +the Spaniards vigilant and desperate, gave +up the enterprise as hopeless, and returned +empty-handed to endure the curses and sneers +of their commander. Morgan now held a +council of war, for provisions were very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span> +scanty and time was going. The eight ships +did not arrive, and all agreed, with their +seven small vessels and their 300 men, some +place of importance might still be taken. +Morgan had hitherto resolved to cruise about +the Caraccas and plunder the towns and +villages, mere hen-roost robbing and footpad +work, compared with the enterprise proposed +by one of his French captains amid great +applause.</p> + +<p>This captain was Pierre le Picard, the +<i>matelot</i> of the famous Lolonnois when he took +Maracaibo: he it was who had steered the +vessels over the bar, and had served both as +pilot at sea and guide on land; he reefed +and fought, and could handle a rope as well +as a musket. He now proposed a second +attack upon the same place, and, with all the +rude eloquence of sincerity, proved the facility +of the attempt, and the riches that lay within +their reach. As he spoke good English that +could be understood by all, and was, moreover, +much esteemed by Morgan, the scheme +for a new campaign was at once rapturously +approved. He disclosed in the council all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> +the entries, passages, forces, and means. A +charter-party was drawn up, containing a +clause, that if the rest of the fleet joined +them before they had taken a fortress, they +should be allowed to share like the rest.</p> + +<p>Having left a letter at Savona, buried in +the usual way, the Buccaneers set sail for +Curaçoa, stopping after some days' sail at +the island of Omba, to take in water and +provisions. This place was distant some +twelve leagues from Maracaibo. Here they +stayed twenty-four hours, buying goats of +the natives for hanks of thread and linen. +Sheep, lambs, and kids were the only products +of the island, which abounded with +spiders whose bite produced madness, unless +the sufferer was tied hands and feet, and left +without food for a night and a day. The +fleet set sail in the night, to prevent the +islanders discovering the object of their voyage.</p> + +<p>The next morning they sighted the small +islands that lie at the entrance of the lake of +Maracaibo, anchoring out of sight of the +Vigilia, in hopes to escape notice, but were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span> +observed by the sentries, whose signal gave +the Spaniards ample time for defence. The +fleet remained becalmed, unable to reach the +bar till four o'clock in the afternoon. The +canoes were instantly manned, in order to +take the Bar Fort, rebuilt since Picard's last +visit. Its guns played upon the boats as +they pulled to land. Morgan exhorted his +men to be brave and not to give way—for he +expected the Spaniards would defend themselves +desperately, seeing their fire was so +rolling and incessant that the fort seemed +like the crater of a small volcano, and +they could now see that the huts round the +wall had been burnt and removed, to leave +them no protection or shelter. "The dispute +continued very hot, being managed with +great courage from morning till dark night."</p> + +<p>That latterly the fighting died away to occasional +shots is evident, for, at six o'clock when +it grew dusk, Morgan reconnoitred the fort, and +found it deserted. The cessation of the fire had +already roused their suspicions. Suspecting +treachery, Morgan searched the place to see if +any lighted fuses had been placed near the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span> +powder, and a division was employed to enter +the place before the main body. There was +no lack of volunteers for this experimental +and cat's-paw work. Morgan himself clambered +up first. As they expected, they found +a lighted match, and a dark train of powder +communicating with the magazine. A little +later and the whole band had perished together. +Morgan himself snatched up the +match. This fort was a redoubt of five toises +high, six long, and three round. In the +magazine they found 3,000 pounds of gunpowder +that would have been wasted had the +place been blown up; fourteen pieces of +cannon, of eight, twelve, and fourteen pounds +calibre, and abundance of fire-pots, hand-grenades, +and carcases; twenty-four muskets +and thirty pikes and bandoliers had been left +by the runaways. The fort was only accessible +by an iron ladder, which could be drawn +up into the guard-room. But courage requires +no ladder, and, like love, can always +find out a way. When they had once +examined the place, the Buccaneers broke +down the parapet, spiked the cannon,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span> +threw them over the walls, and burnt the +gun-carriages.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards waited in vain for the roar +of their bursting mine. Their own city was +rocking beneath their feet; a more dreadful +visitation than the earthquake or the hurricane +was at their doors. At daybreak the +fleet sailed up the lake, the ruined fort +smoking behind them. Making great haste, +they arrived at Maracaibo the next day, +having first divided among themselves the +arms and ammunition of the fort. The water +being very low and the shoals numerous, they +disembarked into their boats, with a few +small cannon. From some cavaliers whom +they could see on the walls they believed +that the Spaniards were fortifying themselves. +The Buccaneers therefore landed at some +distance from the town, anchoring and disembarking +amid discharges of their own +cannon, intending to clear the thickets on +the shore. Their men they divided into two +divisions, in order to embarrass the enemy +by a double attack.</p> + +<p>But these precautions were useless. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span> +timid people had already fled into the woods; +only the beggars, who feared no plunderers, +and the sick, who were praying for death, +remained in Maracaibo. The brave fled with +the coward, the monk with the sinner, the +thief from the thieves, the soldiers from +the seamen, the Catholic from the dreaded +Protestant, and the Spaniard from the enemies +of his name and race. The sick were +expecting death, and cared not if it came by +the hand of the doctor or the Buccaneer; +the beggar hoped to benefit by those who +could not covet, and might pity, their rags. +"A few miserable folk, who had nothing to +lose," says Esquemeling, "alone remained." +Crippled slaves, not worth removing, lay in +the streets; the dying groaned untended in +the hospital. Children fled from parents, and +parents from children; rich old age was left +to die in spite of all the inducements of +avarice. The prostitute fled to escape dishonour, +and the murderer to avoid bloodshed.</p> + +<p>The houses were empty, the doors open, +the chambers stripped of every movable,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span> +costly or precious. The first care of the +invaders was to search every corner for +prisoners, the next to secure, each party as +they arrived, the richest palaces for their +barracks. The palaces were their dens, the +churches their prisons; everything they defiled +and polluted, the loathsome things they +made still more horrible, the holy they in +some degree contaminated. At sea they +were brave, obedient, self-denying, religious +in formula (half the world goes no further), +determined, and irresistible; on land cruel, +bloody, rebellious, and ferocious. At sea +they exceeded most men in the practice of +the sterner virtues, on land they were demons +of wrath, devils of drunkenness and lust, +mercenaries and outlaws in their bearing and +their actions. The three former days of +terror had sapped the courage of the bravest, +and alarm and fear had, by a common panic, +induced the inhabitants to hide the merchandise +in the woods. The men who fled +had had fathers and children killed and tortured +in the first expedition. Friends, still +maimed by the rack, increased their fears by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> +their narrations. The Buccaneers seemed a +judgment from God, irresistible and unavertable. +The desire to defend riches seems to +be a weaker principle in the human mind +than the desire to obtain them. Great conquerors +have generally been poorer than the +nations they have conquered.</p> + +<p>Scarcely any provisions remained in the +town. There was no vessel or boat in the +port, all had been removed into the wide lake +beyond. The small demilune fort, with its +four cannon, that was intended to guard the +harbour, was also deserted. The richer the +man, the further he had escaped inland; the +needy were in the woods, the drunken beggars +revelled alone in the town, rejoicing in an +event that at least made them rich: "It is an +ill wind that blows nobody good."</p> + +<p>The very same day the Buccaneers despatched +a body of 100 men to search the woods +for refugees, any attempt to secrete treasure +being a heavy offence in the eyes of Morgan. +These men returned the next evening +with thirty prisoners, fifty mules, and several +horses laden with baggage and rich merchandise.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> +Both the male and female prisoners +seemed poor and worthless. They were immediately +tortured, in order to induce them +to disclose where their richer and more +virtuous fellow citizens were hidden. Morgan, +finding none to resist him, quartered his +men in the richest houses, selecting the +church as their central guard-house and +rallying point, their store-room for plunder, +their court of justice (blind and with false +weights), and their torture-chamber.</p> + +<p>Some of the prisoners offered to act as +guides to places where they knew money and +jewels were hidden. As several places were +named, two parties went out the same night +upon this exciting search. The one party +returned on the morrow with much booty, +the other did not wander in for two days, +having been misled by a prisoner, who, in +the hopes of finding means to escape through +his knowledge of the country, had led them +into such dangerous and uninhabited places +that they had had a thousand difficulties in +avoiding. Furious at finding themselves +mocked by their guide, they hung him on a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> +tree without any parley. In returning they +came, however, suddenly upon some slaves +who were seeking for food by night, having +been hiding in the woods all day. Torture +was at once resorted to, to find out where +the masters lay, for slaves could not be there +alone. The braver of the two suffered the +most horrible pain without disclosing a syllable, +and was eventually cut to pieces without +confessing; the weaker, and perhaps +younger negro, endured his sufferings at first +with equal fortitude, although he was offered +liberty and reward if he would speak. But +when the seamen drew their sabres, still red +with the blood of his companion, and began +to hew and gash his brother's limbs that +still lay palpitating on the ground, his +courage fell, and he offered to lead them to +his master. The Spaniard was soon taken +with 30,000 crowns' worth of plate.</p> + +<p>For eight days the men practised unheard-of +cruelties upon the wretched townsmen, +already starved and beggared, wretches whose +only crime had been their yielding to the +natural impulse of self-preservation. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span> +hung them up by their beards and by the +hair of their heads, by an arm or a leg; they +stretched their limbs tight with cords, and +then beat with rattans upon the rigid flesh; +they placed burning matches between their +fingers; they twisted cords about their heads, +tightening the strain by the leverage of their +pistol stocks, till the eyes sprang from the +sockets. The deathblow was never given +from pity, but as the climax and consummation +of suffering, and when the executioners +were weary of their cruelty. In vain the +tortured Spaniards screamed that the treasure +was all removed to Gibraltar, and that they +were not the rich citizens but very poor men, +monks and servants of Jesus, God help them! +Many died before the rack could be loosened.</p> + +<p>Captain Picard, exulting in the success of +his expedition, was now very urgent in +pressing Morgan to advance on Gibraltar +before succours could arrive there from Merida, +believing that it would surrender as it +had done to Lolonnois. Morgan having in +his custody about 100 of the chief families of +Maracaibo, and all the accessible booty, embarked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> +eight days after his landing, and +proceeded to Gibraltar, hoping to rival Lolonnois +in every virtue. His prisoners and +plunder went with him, and he determined +to hazard a battle. Expecting an obstinate +defence, every Buccaneer made his will, consoling +himself by the thought of revelry at +Jamaica if he was one of those lucky enough +to escape. "Death," says Œxmelin, "was +never much mixed up in their thoughts, +especially when there was booty in view, for +if there were only some hopes of plunder they +would fight like lions." Before the fleet +started, two prisoners had been sent to +Gibraltar to warn the governor that Captain +Morgan would give him no quarter if he did +not surrender.</p> + +<p>Picard, who remembered the former dangerous +spots, made his men land about a +quarter of a league from the town, and march +through the woods in hopes of taking the +Spaniards in the rear, in case they should be +again entrenched. The enemy received them +with quick discharges of cannon, but the +men cheered each other, saying, "We must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span> +make a breakfast of these bitter things ere +we sup on the sweetmeats of Gibraltar." +They landed early in the morning, and +found no more difficulty than at Maracaibo. +The Spaniards, deceived by a stratagem, had +expected their approach by the road, and not +by the woods. They had no time to throw +up entrenchments, and only a few barricades, +planted with cannon, protected their flight. +They remembered Lolonnois; their hearts +became as water, and they fled as the Buccaneers +took peaceable possession of the town. +The Spaniards took with them their riches, +and all their ammunition, to use at some more +convenient period. Morgan, rejoicing in +the easy victory, posted his men at the +strong points of the town, while 100 men, +under Picard, went out to pursue and bring +in prisoners. They found the guns spiked, +and every house sacked by its owner, much +spoiled, much carried off, and the heavy and +the worthless alone left.</p> + +<p>The only inhabitant remaining in the +town was a poor half-witted Spaniard, who +had not clearly ascertained what he ought to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> +do. He was so well dressed that they at +first took him, much to his delight, for a man +of rank, and asked him what had become of +all the people of Gibraltar. He replied, "they +had been gone a day, but he did not know +where; he had not asked, but he dare say +they would soon be back, and for his part +he, Pepé, did not care." When they inquired +where the sugar-mills were, he replied +that he had never seen any in his life. The +church money, he knew, was hid in the +sacristy of the great church. Taking them +there he showed them a large coffer, where he +pretended to have seen it hid. They opened +it and found it empty. To all other inquiries +he now answered, "I know nothing, I know +nothing." Some of the Buccaneers, angry +at the disappointment, and vexed at the +subtlety of the Spaniards, declared the fellow +was more knave than fool, and dragged him to +torture. They gave him first the strapado, till +he began to wish the people were returned; +they then hung him up for two hours with +heavy stones tied to his feet, till his arms +were dislocated. At last he cried out, "Do not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span> +plague me any more, but come with me and +I will show you my goods and my riches." +He then led them to a miserable hovel, containing +only a few earthen pots and three +pieces of eight, wrapped in faded finery, +buried under the hearth. He then said his +name was Don Sebastian Sanchez, brother of +the governor of Maracaibo, that he was +worth more than 50,000 crowns, and that he +would write for it and give it up if they +would cease to hang and plague him so. +They then tortured him again, thinking he +was a grandee in disguise, till he offered, if +he was released, to show them a refinery. +They had not got a musket-shot from the hut +before he fell on his knees and gave himself +up as a criminal. "Jesu Maria!" he cried, +"what will you do with me, Englishmen? I +am a poor man who live on alms, and sleep in +the hospital." They then lit palm-leaves +and scorched him, and would have burnt off +all his clothes had he not been released by +one of the Buccaneers who now saw he was +an idiot. The poor fellow died in great +torment in about half-an-hour, and before he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> +grew cold was dragged into the woods and +buried.</p> + +<p>The following day Picard brought in an +old peasant and his two daughters; the old +man, his crippled limbs having been tortured, +offered to serve as guide, and lead them to +some houses in the suburbs. Half blind and +frightened, he mistook his way, and the Buccaneers, +thinking the error intentional, made +a slave, who declared he had intentionally +misled them, hang him on a tree by the +road side.</p> + +<p>Slavery here brought its own retribution, +for this same slave, burning to avenge some +ill treatment he had received, offered, on +being made free, to lead them to many of the +Spanish places of refuge. Before evening ten +or twelve families, with all their wealth, were +brought into Gibraltar. It had now become +difficult to track the fugitives, as fathers +refused even to trust their children; no one +slept twice in the same spot, for fear that +some one who knew of the retreat would be +captured, and then, under torture, betray the +spot, generally huts in the darkest recesses<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span> +of the woods, where their goods were stored +from the weather. These exiles were, however, +obliged to steal at night to their country houses +to obtain food, and then they were intercepted. +From some of these merchants Morgan +heard that a vessel of 100 tons, and three +barges laden with silver and merchandise +belonging to Maracaibo, now lay in the river; +about six leagues distant, and 100 men were +despatched to secure the prize.</p> + +<p>In scouring the woods again with a body +of 200 human bloodhounds, Morgan surprised +a large body of Spaniards. Some of these he +forced the negro guide to kill before the eyes +of the others, in order to implicate him in +the eyes of the survivors. After eight days' +search the band returned with 250 prisoners, +and a long train of baggage mules, bound for +Merida. The prisoners were each separately +examined as to where the treasure was hid. +Those who would not confess, and even those +who had nothing to confess, were tortured to +death—burnt, maimed, or had their life +slowly crushed out of them.</p> + +<p>Amongst the greatest sufferers in this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span> +purgatory on earth was an old Portuguese of +venerable appearance, perhaps either a miser +or purposely disguised. This man the blood-thirsty +negro, now high in favour with the +Buccaneers, and trying to rival them in +cruelty, declared was very rich. The poor +old man, tearing his thin grey hair, swore by +the Virgin and all the saints that he had but +100 pieces of eight in the whole world, and +these had been stolen from him a few days +before, during the general chaos, by a runaway +slave. This he vowed on his knees +with tears and prayers, doubly vehement +when coming from one already on the grave's +brink. The cruel slave still looked sneeringly +on, and swore he was known to be the richest +merchant in all Gibraltar. The Buccaneers +then stretched the Portuguese with cords till +both his arms broke at the shoulder, and +then bound him by the hands and feet to the +four corners of a room, placing upon his loins +a stone, weighing five cwt., while four men, +laughing at his cries, kept the cords that +tied him in perpetual motion. This inhuman +punishment they called "swimming on land."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> +As he still refused to speak, they held fire +under him as he swung groaning, burnt +off his beard and moustaches, and then left +him hanging while they strapadoed another. +The next man they threw into a ditch, after +having pierced him with many sword thrusts, +for they seem to have been as insatiable for +variety of cruelty as they were for cruelty +itself. They left him for dead, but he +crawled home, and eventually recovered, +although several sword blades had passed +completely through his body.</p> + +<p>As for the old Portuguese, his sufferings were +far from ended; putting him on a mule they +brought him into Gibraltar, and imprisoned +him in the church, binding him to a pillar +apart from the rest, supplying him with food +barely sufficient to enable him to endure his +tortures. Four or five days having passed, he +entreated that a certain fellow prisoner, whom +he named, might be brought to him. This +request being complied with, as the first +step to obtaining a ransom while he still +remained alive, he offered them, through +this agent, a sum of 500 pieces of eight.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> +But the Buccaneers laughed at so small a +sum, and fell upon him with clubs, crying +"500,000, old hunx, and not 500, or you +shall not live." After several more days of +continued suffering, during which he incessantly +protested that he was a poor man and +kept a small tavern, the miser confessed that +he had a store of 2000 pieces of eight, buried +in an earthen jar, and all these, bruised and +mutilated as he was and much as he loved +money, he gave for his liberty, and a few +days more of life.</p> + +<p>Upon the other prisoners, without regard +to age, sex, or rank, they inflicted tortures +too disgusting and shocking to mention. Fear, +hatred, and avarice generated crimes, till the +prisoners grew as vile as their persecutors.</p> + +<p>A slave, who had been cruelly treated by +his master, persuaded the Buccaneers to +torture him on the plea that he was very +rich, although he was in reality a man of no +wealth. The other prisoners, roused from +the selfishness of self-preservation by a thrill +of involuntary compassion, told Morgan that +the Spaniard was a poor man, and that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> +slave had perjured himself to obtain revenge. +Morgan released the Spaniard directly, but +he had been already tortured. The slave +was given up to his master to be punished +by any sort of death he chose to inflict. +Handed over to the Buccaneers, he was +chopped to pieces in his master's presence, +still exulting in his revenge. "This," says +Œxmelin, with a cold <i>naïveté</i>, "satisfait +l'Espagnol, quoyqu'il fust fort mal traité, et +en danger d'estre estropié" (this satisfied the +Spaniard, though he had been very badly +treated, and almost lamed for life). Some of +the prisoners were crucified, others were burnt +with matches tied between their toes or +fingers, many had their feet forced into the +fires till they dropped from the leg black and +charred. All that the Indians had suffered +was now retaliated on the Spaniards. The +Buccaneers themselves considered the punishment +a vengeance of Providence. The only +mercy ever shown to a Spaniard was to end +his sufferings by death. The <i>coup de grace</i> +was a kindness when it ended the misery of +a groaning wretch, bruised and burnt, lying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> +in the hot sun, half mortified, or with his +body already paralyzed four or five days since. +The masters being all tortured, the slaves +next received the strapado. These men, +weaker in their moral nature and with no +motive for concealment but fear, told everything. +Many of the hiding-places were, however, +not known to them. One of them, +during the fever of his wound, declared he +knew where the governor of the town was +secreted, with many of the ladies of Gibraltar, +and a large portion of the treasure. +Threats of death revealed the rest, and he +confessed that a ship and four boats, laden +with Maracaibo wealth, lay in a river of the +lake. The Buccaneers were instantly on +their feet. Morgan, with 200 men and the +slave guide, set out to capture the governor; +and 100 others, in two large <i>settees</i> (boats), +sallied out to capture the treasure and the +ships. The governor was not easily caught, +for it needed a battalion of balloons to surprise +him. His first retreat was a fort thrown +up in the centre of a small island in the river, +two days' march distant. Hearing that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span> +Morgan was coming in force, he retreated to +the top of an adjoining mountain, into which +there was but one ascent, so straight, narrow, +and perilous, that it could only be mounted +in single file.</p> + +<p>The expedition altogether broke down, +the rock proved inaccessible to any but +eagles; a "huge rain" wetted their baggage +and ammunition; in fording a river +swollen by this "huge rain," many of their +female prisoners were lost, and, what they +valued more, several mules laden with plate +were whirled down the torrents. Many of +the women and children sank under the +fatigue, and some escaped. Involved in a +marshy country, up to their middles in water, +the Buccaneers had to toil on for miles. A +few lost their lives, others their arms (the +means of preserving them). A body of fifty +determined men, the Buccaneer historian +himself says, could have destroyed the whole +body. But the Spaniards were already so +paralyzed by fear that they fled at the very +rustle of a leaf. Twelve days were spent in +this dangerous and useless expedition. Two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span> +days after them arrived their comrades, who +had been somewhat more successful. The +Spaniards had unloaded the vessels, and were +beginning to burn them when they arrived, +but many bales were left in the haste of +flight, and the boats, full of plunder, were +brought away in tow.</p> + +<p>Morgan had now been lord in Gibraltar +for five whole weeks, practising all insolences +that a conqueror ever inflicts on the conquered; +revenging on them the sufferings of +the conquest, and trampling them under foot +for the very pleasure of destruction. Provisions +now failing, he resolved to depart; the +provisions of Gibraltar, except the fruits, +coming entirely from Maracaibo, were delayed +and intercepted. He first sent some +prisoners into the woods to collect a ransom +from the fugitives, under pain of again burning +down their newly rebuilt city. He +demanded 5,000 pieces of eight. They promised +to pay it in eight days, and gave four +of their richest citizens as hostages. The +governor, safe from all danger himself, had, +however, forbidden them to pay any ransom,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> +and they prayed Morgan to have patience.</p> + +<p>Setting sail with his hostages he arrived +in three days at Maracaibo, afraid that, during +his long absence, the Spaniards had fortified +themselves, and he should have to fight his +way through the passes. Before his departure +he released all his prisoners who had +paid ransom, but detained the slaves. He +refused particularly to give up the treacherous +negro, because he knew they would +burn him alive.</p> + +<p>The only inmate of all the rich palaces +and wide squares of Maracaibo, was a poor +sick man, who informed him (Morgan), to his +astonishment, that three Spanish men-of-war +had arrived at the bar, and had repaired and +garrisoned the fort. Their commander was +Don Alonso del Campo d'Espinosa, the vice-admiral +of the Indian fleet, who had been +despatched to those seas to protect the +Spanish colonists, and put to the sword +every adventurer he could meet. This news +did not alarm those who every day "set their +lives upon the hazard of a die," but it +enraged men who thought themselves secure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> +of their plunder, and which they now might +have to throw off to lighten them in their +retreat. Morgan instantly despatched his +swiftest vessel to reconnoitre the bar. The +men returned next day, assuring him that the +story was too true, and they were in very +imminent danger. They had approached so +near as to be in peril of the shot, the +biggest ship mounted forty guns, the next +thirty, and the smallest twenty, while Morgan's +flag-ship had only fourteen. They had +seen the flag of Castile waving on the redoubt. +There was no means of escape by +sea or land, and all were in despair at such +enemies so placed.</p> + +<p>Morgan, undaunted and roused to new +courage by the extremity, grew more full of +audacity than ever. He at once sent a flag +of truce to the <i>Magdalene</i>, the Spanish admiral's +vessel, demanding 20,000 pieces of eight, +or he should set Maracaibo in flames. The +admiral, amused and astonished at such +temerity, wrote back to say, that hearing +that they had committed hostilities in the +dominions of his Catholic Majesty, his sovereign<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> +lord and master, he had come to +dispute their passage out of the lake, from +that castle, which they had taken out of the +hands of a parcel of cowards, and he intended +to follow and pursue them everywhere, as +was his duty. The letter continued: "Notwithstanding +if you be contented to surrender +with humility all you have taken, together +with the slaves and other prisoners, I will let +you pass freely without trouble or molestation, +on condition that you retire home presently +to your own country. But if you make any +resistance or opposition to what I offer you, I +assure you I will command boats to come from +the Caraccas, wherein I will put my troops, +and, coming to Maracaibo, will put you every +man to the sword. This is my last and +absolute resolution; be prudent, therefore, +and do not abuse my bounty with ingratitude. +I have with me very good soldiers, who +desire nothing more ardently than to revenge +on you and your people all the cruelties and +base infamous actions you have committed +upon the Spanish nation in America."</p> + +<p>This vapouring letter Morgan read aloud<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span> +to his men in the broad market-place at +Maracaibo, first in French and then in English, +begging their advice on the whole +matter—asking them whether they would +surrender everything for liberty, or fight for +both liberty and hard-won treasure. They all +answered unanimously, they did not care for +the Spanish brag, and they would rather fight +to the last drop of their blood than surrender +booty got with such peril. One of the men, +stepping forward, cried, "You take care of +the rest, I'll build a <i>brûlot</i>, and with twelve +men will burn the biggest of the three +Spaniards."</p> + +<p>The scheme was adopted, but resolved +once more to try negotiation, now that he +was prepared for the worst, Morgan wrote +again to Don Alonso, offering to leave Maracaibo +uninjured, surrender all the prisoners, +half the slaves, and to give up the hostages. +The Don, trusting in his superior strength, +and believing Morgan fairly intimidated or +at least entirely in his mercy, refused to +listen to any terms but those he had proposed, +adding, that in two days he should come and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> +force him to yield. Morgan resolved upon +this to fight his way out and surrender +nothing, his men, though discouraged, being +still brave and desperate. All things were +put in order to fight. The Englishman of +Morgan's crew proceeded as fast as possible +with his <i>brûlot</i>, or fire-ship. He took the +small vessel captured in the Rivière des +Espines, and filled it full of palm-leaves dipped +in tar, and a mixture of brimstone and gunpowder. +He put several pounds of powder +under each of the ten sham guns, which +were formed of negro drums. The partitions +of the cabins were then broken down, so that +the flame might spread unimpeded. The +crew were wooden posts, dressed up with +swords, muskets, bandoliers, and hats or +montero caps. This fire-ship bore the English +colours, so that it might pass for Morgan's +vessel; and in eight days, by all hands +working upon it, it was ready. During the +preparation an extra guard was kept upon +the prisoners, for one escaping would have +destroyed all their hopes of safety. The +male prisoners were kept in one boat, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> +the females, slaves, plate, and jewels in another. +In others, guarded by twelve men +each, came the merchandise. The <i>brûlot</i> was +to go first and grapple with the admiral's +ship.</p> + +<p>All things being now completed, Morgan, +with a heart as gay as if he fought for God and +the right, made his men take the usual Buccaneer +oath, employed on all occasions of +pressing danger, when mutual confidence +was peculiarly necessary. They vowed to +fight till death, and neither to give nor take +quarter. He promised a reward to all who +distinguished themselves, exciting all the +strongest feelings of their nature—revenge, +avarice, and self-preservation.</p> + +<p>With these desperate resolves, full of hope, +for they were accustomed to consider his +promises of victory as certain prophecies, +they set sail on the 30th day of April, 1669, +to seek the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>They found the Spanish fleet riding at +anchor in the middle of the entry of the +lake, like gaolers of their spacious prison. It +being late and almost dark, Morgan gave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> +orders to anchor within range of the enemy, +determined to resist if attacked, but to wait +for light. They kept a strict watch, and at +daybreak lifted anchor and set sail, bearing +down straight upon the Spaniards, who, +seeing them move, advanced to meet them.</p> + +<p>Poor fishing boats the Buccaneers' barks +seemed beneath those proud floating castles; +"but the race is not always to the swift, nor +the battle to the strong." The <i>brûlot</i> sailed +first, pushing on to the admiral's vessel, +which lay stately between its two companions, +and was suffered to approach within cannon +shot. The Spaniards believing that it was +Morgan's vessel, and intended to board them, +waited till it came closer to crush it with a +broadside. They little thought that they +were fighting with the elements. The fire-ship +fell upon the Spaniard and clung to its +sides, like a wild cat on an elephant. Too +late the Spaniard attempted to push her off, +but the flames had already leaped from their +lurking places; first the sails were swathed +in fire, then the tackling shrivelled up, and +soon the solid timbers burst into a blaze.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span> +The stern was first consumed, and the fore +part sank hissing into the sea. The wretched +crew, flying from one element to the other, +perished, some by fire, some by water; the +half-drowning clung to the burning planks +and withered in the glare; the burning +sailors were sucked down by the vortex of +the sinking wreck. Don Alonso, seeing the +danger, called out to them in vain to cut down +the masts, and, throwing himself with difficulty +into his sloop, escaped to land. The sailors, +refusing quarter, were allowed to perish by +the Buccaneers' boats' crews, who at first +offered to save them. Perhaps the recollection +of their oath lessened their exertions.</p> + +<p>The boats were pulling round the burning +vessel in hopes of saving plunder, and not of +saving lives. The second vessel was boarded +by the Buccaneers and taken, in the confusion, +almost without resistance. The third ship, +cutting its cables, drifted towards the fort, +and there ran ashore, the crew setting fire to +her to prevent capture. The Buccaneers, +proud of their victory, determined to push it +to extremities by landing and attempting to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> +storm the fort at the bar, without ladders, +and relying only on their hand grenades, but +their artillery was too small to make any +practicable breach. The fort they found well +supplied with men, cannon, and ammunition. +The garrison had not suffered personally by +the loss of a fleet manned by strangers, +and they repulsed all attacks. Unwilling to +retire, Morgan spent the whole of the day till +dusk in firing muskets at any defenders who +showed themselves above the walls, and at +dusk lit them up with a shower of fireballs, +but the Spaniards desperately resisted, and +shot so furiously at them as to drive them +back to the ships, with the loss of thirty +killed and as many wounded—more loss than +they had suffered in the capture of Maracaibo +and Gibraltar, while the fleet had been +destroyed without the loss of a single +man. The garrison, expecting a fresh +attack at daybreak, laboured all night +to strengthen their works, levelling the +ground towards the sea, and throwing up +entrenchments from spots that commanded +the castle.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span></p> + +<p>The next day Morgan, not intending to +renew the attack, employed himself in saving +the Spanish sailors who were still floating on +charred pieces of the wreck; not rescuing +them from mercy, but in order to make them +help in recovering part of the sunk treasure. +They acknowledged that Don Alonso had +compelled them before the engagement, after +they had confessed to the chaplain, to come +and take an oath to give the enemy no +quarter, which was the reason many had +refused to be saved. The admiral's vessel, +the <i>Magdalene</i>, had carried thirty-eight guns +and twelve small brass pieces, and was +manned by 350 sailors; the second, the <i>St. +Louis</i>, had thirty-four guns and 200 men; and +the third, the <i>Marquise</i>, twenty-two guns +and 150 men. The <i>Marquise</i> derived its +name from the Marquis de Coquin, who had +fitted it out as a privateer. The <i>Concepcion</i> +and <i>Nostra Signora de la Soledad</i>, two larger +vessels, had been sent back to Spain from +Carthagena; a fourth, <i>Nostra Signora del +Carmen</i> (for the Spaniards generally drew +the names of their war vessels from the lady<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span> +of love and peace), had sunk near Campeachy.</p> + +<p>The pilot of the smaller vessel being saved, +and promised his life, disclosed all Don +Alonso's plans. He had been sent, upon the +tidings of the loss of Porto Bello, by direction +of the supreme council of state, with orders +to root out the English pirates in those parts, +and to destroy as many as he could, for dismal +lamentations had been made to the court of +Spain, to the Catholic king, to whom belonged +the care and preservation of the New +World, of the damages and hostilities committed +by the English, and he had resolved +to punish these proceedings and avenge his +subjects. The king of England being complained +to, constantly replied that he never +gave any letters-patent to such men or such +ships. Sending home his more cumbrous +ships, the Don had heard at St. Domingo of +the fleet sailing from Jamaica, and a prisoner, +taken at Alta Grecia, disclosed Morgan's plan +on the Caraccas. On arriving there the wild +fire had already broken out at Maracaibo a +second time, and hither he came to extinguish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> +it. A negro slave had indeed +informed the admiral of the fire-ship, but +with short-sighted pride he derided the idea, +saying that the English had had neither wit, +tools, nor time to build it.</p> + +<p>The pilot who made these disclosures was +rewarded by Morgan, and, yielding to his +promises, entered into his service. He informed +him, with the usual zeal of a deserter, +that there was plate to the value of 40,000 +pieces of eight in the sunken ship, for he +had seen it brought on board in boats. The +divers eventually recovered 2000 pounds' +worth of it, some "in plate" and others in +piastres, that had melted into large lumps, +together with many silver hilts of swords and +other valuables.</p> + +<p>Leaving a vessel to superintend this profitable +fishery, Morgan hurried back to Maracaibo, +and, fitting up his largest prize for +himself, gave his own ship to a companion. +He also sent to the governor, now somewhat +crest-fallen, to re-demand the ransom, threatening +more violently than before to burn +down the city in eight days if it was not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> +brought in. He also demanded, in addition, +500 cows as victual for his fleet. These were +brought in in the short space of two days, +with part of the money, and eleven more days +were spent in salting the meat and preparing +for sea. Then returning to the mouth of +the lake, he sent to Don Alonso to demand +a free passage, offering to send all +the prisoners on shore as soon as he had +once passed out, but otherwise to tie the +prisoners to the rigging, exposing them to +the shot of the fort, and then to kill and +throw overboard those who were not struck. +The prisoners also sent a petition, praying +the governor to spare their lives. But the +Don, quite undaunted, sternly answered to +the hostages, who besought him on their +knees to save them from the sword and rope, +"If you had been as loyal to your king +in hindering the entry of these pirates as I +shall be in hindering their going out, you +had never caused these troubles, either to +yourselves or to our whole nation, which +hath suffered so much through your pusillanimity. +I shall not grant your request, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span> +shall endeavour to maintain that respect +which is due to my king, according to my +duty."</p> + +<p>When the terrified messengers returned +and told Morgan, he replied, "If Alonso will +not let me pass, I will find out a way without +him," resolving to use either force or +stratagem, and perhaps both.</p> + +<p>Fearing that a storm might separate his fleet, +or that some might not succeed in escaping, +Morgan divided the booty before he attempted +to pass the bar. Having all taken +the usual oath, he found they had collected +250,000 pieces of eight, including money +and jewels, and in addition a vast bulk of +merchandise and many slaves. Eight days +were spent in this division, which took place +within sight of the exasperated garrison in +the fort.</p> + +<p>The following stratagem was then resorted +to. Knowing that the Spaniards were expecting +a final and desperate attack on the day +before their departure, the Buccaneers made +great show of preparing to land and attack +the fort. Part of each ship's crew embarked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> +with their colours in their canoes, +which were instantly rowed to shore. Here +the men, concealed by the boughs on the +banks, lay down flat in their boats, and were +rowed back again to their vessels by only +two or three sailors. This feigned landing +they repeated several times in the day. The +Spaniards, certain of an escalade, at night +brought down the great eighteen pound ship +guns of the fort to the side of the island +looking towards the land, and left the sea-shore +almost defenceless. When night came +Morgan weighed anchor, and, by moonlight +setting sail, at the commencement of the ebb +tide, dropped gently down the river, till the +vessels were almost alongside of the castle. +Then spreading sails, quick as magic, he +drove past, firmly but warily. Every precaution +was taken. The crew were couched +flat on the poop, and some placed below to +plug the shot-holes as they came. The +Spaniards, astonished at their daring, and +enraged at their escape, ran with all speed +and shifted their battery, firing hastily, +furiously, and with little certainty; but by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span> +this time, a favourable wind springing up, +the Buccaneers were almost out of reach, few +men were killed, and little damage done.</p> + +<p>In this manner escaped Morgan from the +clutches of Don Alonso, who had thought himself +sure of his prey. The baffled rage of the +Spaniards and the wild joy of the Buccaneers, +their clamorous approval of Morgan's skill, +the exultation of their triumph, and the +prisoners' dismay, may be easily imagined. +Generous in success, Morgan, once out of +range of the guns that thundered in pursuit, +sent a canoe on shore with his prisoners from +Maracaibo, but those of Gibraltar he carried off, +as they had not yet paid their ransom. The +joy of one and the grief of the other, their +parting and the tears, were painful to witness. +As he set sail, and the fort was still looming +to the right, Morgan discharged a farewell +salute of eight guns, to which the chapfallen +Spaniards had not the heart to return even a +single musket shot.</p> + +<p>But out of Scylla into Charybdis was a +Buccaneer's fate: one danger was succeeded +by another, hope by hope, despair by despair.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> +The very day of their escape the judgment +of Heaven seemed to overtake the sea rovers, +as if to warn them that no stratagems could +defeat God. The fleet was surprised by such +a tempest that they were compelled to anchor +in five or six fathom water. The storm +increased, they were obliged to weigh +again, and at any risk keep off the land. +Their only choice seemed to be death by the +Spaniard, the Indian, or the wave—all equally +hostile and deaf to mercy.</p> + +<p>Œxmelin says he was on board the least +seaworthy vessel of the whole fleet, that, +having lost anchors and mainsail, they had +great difficulty in keeping afloat, and were +obliged to bale as well as work night and +day at the pumps, amid deafening thunder +and mountainous seas that threatened to +drown them even while the vessel still floated. +The ship, but for the ropes that held it together, +would have instantly sunk. The +lightning and the wave disputed for their +prey, but the rude arbiter, the wind, came +in and snatched them from these destroyers. +"Indeed," says Œxmelin, "though worn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> +out with fatigue and toil, we could not make +up our minds to close our eyes on that blessed +light which we might so soon lose sight of +for ever, for no hope of safety now remained. +The storm had lasted four days, and there +was no probability of its termination. On +one side we saw rocks on which our vessel +threatened every instant to drive, on the +other were Indians who would no more +have spared us than the Spaniards who were +behind us; and by some evil fortune the +wind drove us ceaselessly towards the rocks +and the Indians, and away from the place +whither we desired to go."</p> + +<p>In the midst of these distresses, six armed +vessels gave them chase through the storm +when they were near the bay of Venezuela. +They turned out to be vessels of the Count +d'Estreés, the French admiral, who generously +rendered them aid, and the wind +abating enabled them to reach the shore. +Morgan and some others made for Jamaica, +and the French for St. Domingo,—the +Spaniards at the fort probably believing +they had perished in the gale.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span></p> + +<p>The laggers of Morgan's fleet, who had +never joined him, were less fortunate than +the admiral they deserted. 400 in number, +they landed at Savona, but could not find +the buried letter. They determined to attack +the town of Comana, on the Caraccas, +choosing Captain Hansel, who had distinguished +himself at Porto Bello, as their +commander. This town was distant sixty +leagues from Trinidad. On landing they +killed a few Indians who awaited them on +the beach, but the Spaniards, disputing +briskly the entry of the town, drove them +back at last to their ships with great loss +and confusion. On returning to Jamaica +they were jeered at by Morgan's men, who +used to say, "Let us see what sort of money +you brought from Comana, and if it be as +good as that which we won at Maracaibo."</p> + +<p>Morgan, encouraged by success, soon determined +on fresh enterprises. On arriving +at Jamaica, "he found many of his officers +and soldiers already reduced to their former +indigency by their vices and debaucheries. +Hence they perpetually importuned him for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span> +new exploits, thereby to get something to +expend still in wine and strumpets, as they +had already done what they got before. +Captain Morgan, willing to follow fortune's +call, stopped the mouths of many inhabitants +of Jamaica who were creditors to his men +for large sums, with the hopes and promises +of greater achievements than ever in a new +expedition. This done, he could easily levy +men for any enterprise, his name being so +famous through all these islands, as that +alone would readily bring him in more men +than he could well employ."</p> + +<p>Affecting a mystery, attractive in itself, +and necessary where Spanish spies might be +present, Morgan appointed a rendezvous at +Port Couillon, on the south side of Hispaniola, +and made known his intentions to the English +and French adventurers, whether in +Tortuga or St. Domingo. He wrote letters +to all the planters and old Buccaneers in +Hispaniola, and desired their attendance at +a common council. At many a hunting +fire this announcement was read, and many +an <i>engagé's</i> heart beat high at the news, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span> +Morgan was now the champion and hero of +the Buccaneers of America. Great numbers +flocked to the port in ships and canoes, +others traversed the woods and arrived there +by land, through a thousand dangers. Such +crowds came that it soon became difficult +to obtain a place in the crews. Vessels and +provisions were now all that was wanted. +Plunder was certain, and they had but to +choose on what rich coast they should land. +The French adventurers, ever gay and ready, +were first in the field. Morgan himself, +punctual and prompt, followed in the <i>Flying +Stag</i>, the St. Malo vessel we have before +mentioned, carrying forty-two guns. The +vessel had been lately confiscated and sold by +the governor of Jamaica, the unfortunate +captain escaping with his life, happy in being +free although penniless.</p> + +<p>At the rendezvous on the 24th day of +October, 1670, 1600 men were present, and +twenty-four vessels assembled at the muster, +amid shouting, gun firing, flag waving, +and great joy and hope. Morgan's proposition +was to attack some rich place which was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span> +well defended—the more danger the more +booty, for it was only rich places that the +Spaniards cared to defend. Several previous +expeditions had failed from want of provisions, +and the necessity of attacking small places to +obtain food gave the alarm to the Spaniards +and frustrated their plans. They therefore +resolved to visit La Rancheria, a small place on +the banks of the River de la Hache, on the +mainland, with four vessels and 400 men. +This was a place where corn and maize were +brought by the farmers for the supply of the +neighbouring city of Carthagena, and they +hoped to capture in the port some pearl +vessels from that place.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, Morgan, not caring for +lesser prey, employed his men in careening, +cleaning, rigging, and pitching their vessels +ready for sea, that all might be ready to +weigh anchor the moment the expedition of +foragers returned. It augured terribly to +the Spaniard that it was necessary to sack a +town or two before the Buccaneer fleet could +even set sail.</p> + +<p>Part of the men were in the woods boar-hunting,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> +and others salting the flesh for the +voyage. Each crew had a certain part of the +woods allotted it for its own district, so +perfect was Morgan's discipline. Each party +prepared the salt pork for its own use, while +the cauldrons of pitch were smoking on the +beach, and the clank of the shipwrights' +hammers could be heard all night by the +hunters. The English, who were not so +expert in hunting as their Gallic brethren +(so says a French writer), generally took a +French hunter with them, to whom they +gave 150 or 200 piastres. Some of these +men had trained packs of dogs that would kill +enough boars in a day to load twenty or +thirty men.</p> + +<p>The Rancheria expedition arrived in six +days within sight of the river, and was +unfortunately becalmed for some time within +a gunshot of land. This gave the Spaniards +time to prepare for their defence, and either +to bury their goods or throw up entrenchments, +for these repeated visits of the Buccaneers +had rendered them quick on such +occasions. A land-wind at last springing up,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span> +gave a corn vessel from Carthagena, lying in +the river, an opportunity to sally out and +attempt its escape, but being a bad sailer it +was soon captured, much to the Englishmen's +delight, for corn was the object of their visit. +By a singular coincidence, it turned out to +be that very cocoa vessel which Lolonnois +sold to the governor of Tortuga, who, on its +return from France, had sold it to Captain +Champaigne, a French adventurer, who in +his turn sold it to the same merchant captain +who then commanded it. He told the Buccaneers +that it made the twelfth vessel taken +from him by the brotherhood of the coast in +five years only, and yet that with all these +losses he had contrived to make a fortune of +500,000 crowns. "On peut juger par là," +says Œxmelin, with a shrug, "s'il y a des +gens riches dans l'Amérique."</p> + +<p>Landing at daybreak, in spite of the +mowing fire from a battery, and under protection +of their own cannon, they drove the +Spaniards back to their strongly fortified +village, which they at once attacked. Here +the enemy rallied and fought desperately,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> +hand-to-hand, sword blow and push of pike, +from ten in the morning till night, when +they fled, having suffered great loss, into +secret places in the woods. The Buccaneers, +who had suffered scarcely less loss, pushed +on at once headlong to the town, which they +found deserted; and next day pursuing the +Spaniards took many prisoners, and proceeded +to torture them, inflicting on fear and innocence +all the horrors of the Madrid inquisition. +In fifteen days they captured many prisoners +and much booty, and with the usual threats +of destroying the town, they obtained 4000 +hanegs, or bushels of maize, sufficient for the +whole of the fleet. They preferred this to +money, and in three days, the whole quantity +being brought in by the people, eager for +their departure, they at once sailed.</p> + +<p>Morgan, alarmed at their five weeks' absence, +had begun to despair of their return, +thinking Rancheria must have been relieved +from Carthagena or Santa Maria. He also +thought that they might have had good +fortune, and deserted him to return to Jamaica. +His joy was great to see them arrive laden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> +with corn, and more in number than when +they departed. A council of war was actually +holding to plan a new expedition, when +Captain Bradley and his six vessels hove in +sight. The maize was divided among the +fleet, but the plunder was awarded to the +captain who had risked his life for the general +good.</p> + +<p>The captured ship arrived very opportunely, +and it was instantly awarded by +general consent to Le Gascon, a French +adventurer who had lately lost his vessel. +Morgan having divided the meat and corn, +and personally inspected every bark, set sail +for Cape Tiburon, at the west end of Hispaniola, +a spot convenient for laying in stores +of wood and water. Here he was joined by +several ships from New England, refitted at +Jamaica. Morgan now found himself suzerain +of a fleet of thirty-seven vessels, large +and small, carrying sixteen, fourteen, twelve, +ten, even down to four pound guns. To +man these there were 2200 sailors, well +armed and ready for flight and plunder. The +fleet was divided into two squadrons, under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span> +his vice-admiral and subordinate officers. +To the captains he gave letters-patent, +guaranteeing them from all the effects of +Spanish hostility, from "the open and declared +enemies of the King his master," (Charles II.)</p> + +<p>The charter-party which we give elsewhere +was then signed, the rewards were +higher than usual, and many modifications +introduced. In the private council three places +were proposed as rich and accessible—Panama, +Carthagena, and Vera Cruz. In these +consultations the only thing considered was +whether a town was rich or poor, not whether +it was well or ill defended.</p> + +<p>"The lot fell" on Panama, as the richest +of the three, though the least known to them, +being further from the North Pacific than +any Buccaneer had yet gone. Panama was +the galleon-port and the El Dorado of the +adventurer's yarns. Being so unknown a +place they determined to first recapture St. +Catherine's, where in the prisons they might +obtain many guides, who had seen both the +North and South Pacifics, for outlaws made, +they found, the best guides for outlaws; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span> +they agreed before sailing that, if they took +a Spanish vessel, the first captain who +boarded it should have for his reward a tenth +part of her cargo.</p> + +<p>They had begun by sacking a town to +victual their fleet, they now proposed to +storm a fort to obtain a guide—St. Catherine's +batteries, if resolutely manned, being able to +beat off three such fleets.</p> + +<p>The admiral, it was agreed, should have a +share for every hundred men, and every +captain eight shares if the vessel they took +was large. The crews then one by one took +the oath of fidelity. On the 18th December, +1670, the fleet set sail for St. Catherine's, +whose prisoners would rejoice at their arrival.</p> + +<p>The one squadron carried the royal English +and the other a white flag. The admiral's +division bore a red banner with a white cross, +"le pavillon du parlement," and at the bow-sprit +one of three colours, blue, white, and +red. Those of the other divisions carried a +white and red flag. Morgan also appointed +peculiar signals for all emergencies.</p> + +<p>On their way to St. Catherine's they chased<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span> +two Dutch vessels from Cuba, which escaped +by aid of contrary winds that baffled their +pursuers. In four days the fleet arrived at +St. Catherine's, and Morgan despatched two +small vessels to guard the port.</p> + +<p>This island was renowned for its vast flocks +of migratory pigeons, and is watered by four +streams, two of which are dry in summer. +The land, though fertile, was not cultivated.</p> + +<p>The next day, before sunrise, they anchored +in the bay of Aguada Grande, where +the Spaniards had erected a four-gun battery. +Morgan, at the head of 100 men, landed and +made his way through the woods, having no +guides but some old Buccaneers who had +been there before with Mansvelt. On arriving +that night at the governor's house and +the Platform Battery they found the Spaniards +had retreated by a bridge into the smaller +and almost impregnable island, which they +had made strong enough to beat off 10,000 +men. Being driven back at first by a tremendous +fire, Morgan was obliged to encamp +that night in the woods or open country—no +hardship to hunters or sailors in fine weather.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> +There still remained a whole league of dense +brush between them and their enemies, at once +their protection and destruction. A chilling +torrent of rain began to beat upon them, and +instead of ceasing, as they had hoped, lasted +till noon of the next day. They pulled +down two or three thatched huts, and made +small damp fires, that scorched a few but +warmed none. They could not shelter +themselves, and, what was worse, could not +keep their arms and powder dry. But more +than this, they suffered from hunger, having +had no food for a whole day. The men for +the greater part being dressed with no clothes +but a seaman's shirt and trowsers, and without +shoes or stockings, suffered dreadfully +after the burning of a tropic noon from this +freezing cold and rain. One hundred men, +says Esquemeling, even indifferently well +armed, might have cut them all to pieces. +At daybreak they were roused from their +shivering sleep by the Spanish drums beating +the <i>Diane</i>, or <i>reveillé</i>. The rain had now +ceased, and their courage rose as high as +ever. But they could not answer this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span> +challenge, for their own drums were loose +and soaked with wet, and they had now to +employ themselves in quickly drying their +arms. Scarcely had they done this, when it +began to cloud over and rain with increased +fury, as if the "sky were melting into +waters," which blinded them and prevented +them again from advancing to the attack. +Many of them grew faint-hearted, and talked +of returning. The men were now feeble for +want of sleep, and faint with cold and hunger. +The eager foragers found in a field "an old +horse, lean, and full of scabs and blotches, with +galled back and sides." This was instantly +killed and flayed, and divided in small pieces +among as many as could get any, and eagerly +eaten without salt or bread by the few lucky +epicures—"eaten," says the historian, "more +like ravenous wolves eat than men."</p> + +<p>The rain still gushing down, and the men, +worn out in mind and body, growing angry, discontented, +and clamorous, it became necessary +for Morgan to act with promptitude. About +noon, to his great joy, the rain ceased and +the sun broke out. Taking advantage of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> +this lull—for the rain had barred even their +retreat—Morgan ordered a canoe to be rigged +out in great haste, and dispatched four men +with a white flag to the Spanish governor, +declaring that if they did not all surrender +he would put them to the sword without +quarter. His audacity was luckily crowned +with success. Opposed armies are often men +mutually afraid, trying to frighten each other. +The governor was intimidated. He demanded +two hours to confer with his officers. At +the end of this time, on Morgan giving +hostages, two soldiers with white flags were +sent to arrange terms. The governor had +decided in full conference that he could not +defend the island against such an armada, but +he proposed a certain (Dalgetty-like) stratagem +of war to save his own head, and preserve +the reputation of his officers at home +and abroad.</p> + +<p>Morgan was to come at night and assault +the fort of St. Jerome, which stood near the +bridge that joined the two islands, and at the +same moment his fleet was to attack the castle +of Santa Teresa by sea, and land troops<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> +near the battery of St. Matthew. These +men were to intercept and take prisoner +the governor as he made his way to the St. +Jerome batteries. He would then at once +lead them to the castle, as if they were his +own men. On both sides there was to be +continual firing, but only with powder, and +no bullets. The forts thus taken, the island +would of course surrender.</p> + +<p>This well-arranged performance took place +with great <i>éclat</i>. Morgan, in acceding to the +terms, had insisted on their strict performance +of every item, and gave notice, for fear +of ambush, that every straggling Spaniard +would be shot. Afraid of a stratagem, some +Buccaneers loaded their muskets with ball, +and held themselves ready for any danger. +With much smoke and great consumption of +powder, the unsuspecting Spaniards were +driven like sheep into the church, the island +surrendered, and by this bloodless artifice +Spanish pride remained unhurt.</p> + +<p>But a cruel massacre now commenced. +The Buccaneers had eaten nothing for nearly +two days. They made war upon all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> +poultry and cattle—the oldest cow was slain, +the toughest rooster strangled. For several +days the island was lit up with huge fires, +round which the men roasted their meat, and +revelled and caroused. When wood grew +scarce they pulled down cottages to light +their fires, and having no wine very wisely +made use of water.</p> + +<p>The day after the surrender they numbered +their prisoners, and found they had +collected 450 souls—seventy of the garrison, +forty-three children, and thirty-one slaves. +The men were all carefully disarmed, and +sent to the plantations to bring in provisions; +the women were left in the church to pray +and weep. They next inspected all the ten +batteries, wondering in their strength and +exulting in their victory. The fort St. +Jerome contained eight great guns and sixty +muskets; the St. Matthew three guns; the +Santa Teresa twenty guns and 120 muskets. +The castle was very strong, and moated; +impregnable on the sea side, and on the land +side ascended by a narrow mountain path, +while the guns on its summit commanded the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> +port. The St. Augustine fort mounted three +guns; the Platform two; the St. Salvador +and another also two; the Santa Cruz three; +and the St. Joseph six and twelve muskets. +In the magazine they found 30,000 pounds +of powder, which they at once shipped, with +all the other ammunition. In the St. Jerome +battery Morgan left a guard, but in all the +other forts the guns were spiked and the gun-carriages +burnt.</p> + +<p>The object of his visit was still to seek. +Examining the prisoners, who were now +crowded in with merchants and grandees, he +inquired for banditti from Panama, and three +slaves stepped forward who knew every path +and avenue to the city. These men he chose as +guides, promising them a full Buccaneer's share +of the spoil if they brought him by a secure +way to the city, and, in addition, their liberty +when they reached Jamaica. These volunteers +consisted of two Indians and a mulatto. +The former denied all knowledge of the place; +the latter—a "rogue, thief, and assassin, who +had deserved breaking on the wheel rather +than mere garrison service"—readily accepted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span> +Morgan's propositions, and promised to serve +him faithfully. He had a great ascendancy +over the two Indians, and domineered over +them as he pleased, without their daring to +disobey a half-blood already on the point +of preferment.</p> + +<p>The next step to Panama was to capture +Chagres and its castle, and Morgan at once +dispatched five vessels, well equipped, with +400 men on board, to undertake this expedition, +remaining himself at St. Catherine's, lest +the people of Panama should be alarmed. He +was to follow his van-guard in eight days, +guided by the Indians, who knew Chagres. +This time he and his men prudently spent +in pulling manioc roots for cassava, and +digging potatoes for the voyage.</p> + +<p>The Chagres expedition was led by the +same Captain Bradley who commanded at +Rancheria. He had been with Mansvelt +formerly, and had rendered himself famous +by his exploits both among the Buccaneers +and the Spaniards. He arrived in three +days at Chagres, opposite Fort St. Lawrence, +which was built on a mountain commanding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> +the entrance of the river. As soon as the +Spaniards saw the red flag spreading from his +vessels, they displayed the royal colours of +Spain, and saluted him with a volley too +hasty and angry to be very destructive. The +Buccaneers, according to their usual stratagem, +landed at Narangui, a place a quarter +of a league distant from the castle, their +guide leading them through thick woods, +through which they had to cut a path with +their sabres. It was early morning when they +landed, and requiring half a day to perform +the short distance, they did not reach a hill +commanding the castle till two o'clock. The +mire and dirt of the road combined, with the +darkness of the way, to lengthen their march. +The guides served them well, but brought +them at one spot so near to the castle, and +in so open and bare a place, that they lost +many men by the shot. In other parts the +wood was so thick that they could only tell +that they were near the castle by the discharge +of the cannon. The hill they had now +reached was not within musket range, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> +they were thus deprived of the use of their +favourite weapon. Could they have dragged +cannon so far they might have taken the place +without losing a man.</p> + +<p>The castle of Chagres was built on a high +mountain at the entry of a river, and surrounded +by strong wooden palisadoes banked +with earth. The top of the mountain was +divided into two parts, between which ran a +ditch thirty feet deep; the tower had but one +entrance by a drawbridge, towards the land +it had four bastions, and towards the sea two +more. The south wall was inaccessible crag, +the north was moated by the broad river. +At the foot of the hill lay a strong fort with +eight guns, which commanded the river's +mouth; a little lower down were two other +batteries, each of six guns, all pointing the +same way. At another side were two great +store-houses, full of goods, brought from the +inland, and near these a flight of steps, cut +in the rock, led to the castle of the summit. +On the west side was a small port not more +than seven or eight fathoms deep, with good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span> +anchorage for small vessels, and before the +hill a great rock rose from the waves, which +almost covered it at low water.</p> + +<p>The place appeared such a perfect volcano +of fire, and so threatening and dangerous, +that the Buccaneers, but for fear of Morgan's +rage and contempt, would have at once turned +back. After many disputes and much doubt +and perplexity, they resolved to hazard the +assault and risk their lives. When they +descended from their hill into the plain, they +had to throw themselves on their faces to +escape the desolating shower of balls; but +their marksmen, quite uncovered and without +defence, shot at the Spanish gunners through +the loops of the palisading, and killed all +who showed themselves. This skirmishing +continued till the evening, when the +Buccaneers, who had lost many men, their +commander having his leg broken with a +cannon shot, began to waver and to think of +retiring, having in vain tried to burn down +the place with their fireballs, and charged up +to the very walls, which they tried in vain to +climb, sword in hand. When the Spaniards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span> +saw them drawing back through the dusk, in +some disorder, carrying their wounded men +and gnashing their teeth in rage at the dark +lines of defence, they shouted out "Come on, +you dogs of heretics; come on, you English +devils: you shan't get to Panama this bout, +for we'll serve your comerades as we have +served you." The Buccaneers, astonished at +their cries, now for the first time learnt that +Morgan's expedition had been heard of at +Panama.</p> + +<p>Night had already begun, and the rain of +bullets, shot, and Indian arrows (more deadly +almost than the bullets), harassing and well-aimed, +continued as grievous as by day. +Taking advantage of the gloom, another +party advanced to the palisadoes; the light of +their burning fuses directed the aim of the +Spaniards.</p> + +<p>A singular accident of war gave the place, +so briskly defended, into the hands of the +assailants. A party of the French musketeers +were talking together, devising a plan +of advance, when a swift Indian arrow fell +among them and pierced one of the speakers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> +in the shoulder (Esquemeling says in the +back and right through the body, another +writer says in the eye). A thought struck the +wounded man, for the wound had spurred his +imagination: coolly drawing the point from +his shoulder, he said to those near him, +"Attendez, mes frères, je m'en vais faire périr +tous les Espagnols—tous—avec cette sacré +flèche" (wait a bit, my mates, I'll kill all the +Spaniards—all—with this d—— arrow); so +saying he drew from his pocket a handful of +wild cotton, which the Buccaneers kept as +lint to staunch their wounds, and wound it +round the dart; then putting it in his loaded +musket, from which he extracted the ball, he +fired it back at the castle roof. It alighted on +some dry thatch, which in a moment began +to smoke, and in another second broke into a +bright flame, more visible for the darkness. +The Buccaneers shouted and pushed on to the +attack, and the wounded men forgot their +wounds. Some of the men, seeing the result +of the experiment, gathered up the Indian +arrows that lay thick around them, and fired +them at the roofs. Many houses were soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span> +in flames. The Spaniards, busy with the +defence, did not see the fire until it had +gained some head, and reaching a parcel of +powder blown it up and caused ruin and consternation +within the fort. If they left the +walls the Buccaneers gained ground, if they +left the fire the flames spread more terribly +than before; the want of sufficient water +increased the confusion, and while they tried +to quench the conflagration, the Buccaneers +set fire to the palisadoes.</p> + +<p>Œxmelin, who was present as a surgeon at +this attack of Chagres, relates an anecdote +of courage which he himself witnessed, to +show the indomitable fury of the assailants. +One of his own friends was pierced in the eye +by an Indian arrow, and came to him to beg +him to pull it out, the pain was so intense +and unbearable. Although a surgeon, Œxmelin +had not the nerve to inflict such +torture, however momentary, on a friend, +and turned away in pity, upon which the +hardy seaman tore out the arrow with a +curse, and, binding up the wound, rushed +forward to the wall. The few Buccaneers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> +who had retreated, seeing the flames, now +hurried back to the attack. The Spaniards +could no longer see the enemy at whom they +fired, the night was so dark and starless, +while the Buccaneers shot down with the +unerring aim of hunters the Spaniards, whose +bodies stood out dark and well-defined against +the bright background of flame. All this +time, before the fire of the roofs could be +extinguished, the Buccaneers had swarmed +through the fosse, and, mounting upon each +other's shoulders, burnt down part of the +palisadoes, as we have before described, in +spite of the hand grenades that were thrown +from above, and which burst among them. +The fire ran along the wall, leaping like a +winged thing, and devoured wherever it +clung, spreading with dreadful rapidity.</p> + +<p>The fight continued all night, and when +the calm daylight broke on the worn soldiers, +the Buccaneers saw with sparkling eyes +that the gabions had smouldered through, +and that the earth had fallen down in large +heaps into the fosse. The breaches in many +places were practicable. The armour had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> +fallen piece-meal from their giant adversary, +and he now stood before them bare, wounded, +and defenceless. The Buccaneers, creeping +within musket shot of the walls, shot down +the gunners in the breaches to which the +cannon had been dragged by the governor's +orders during the night. Divided into two +bands, one party kept up a constant fire on +the guns, and the other watched the motions +of the enemy. About noon they advanced +to a spot which the governor himself defended, +belted round with twenty-five brave +Spaniards, armed with pikes, halberds, swords, +and muskets. They advanced under a dreadful +hail of fire and lead, the defenders casting +down flaming pots full of combustible matter +and "<i>odious smells</i>," which destroyed many of +the English. But we do not know how smells +could drive back men who would have +marched through hell if it had been the +shortest way to Panama.</p> + +<p>Nothing could equal the unflinching courage +of the Spaniards—they disputed every +inch of ground—they yielded slowly like +wounded lions when the hunters narrow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> +their circles. They showered stones and all +available missiles on their assailants, only +wishing to kill a Buccaneer, but feeling that +resistance was hopeless; some, rather than +yield, threw themselves from the cliffs into +the sea, and few survived the fall. As the +Buccaneers won their way to the castle the +Spaniards retreated to the <i>garde du corps</i>, +where they entrenched themselves with two +cannon; to the last the governor refused +quarter, and at last fell shot through the +brain. The few who remained surrendered +when the guns were taken and would have +been turned against them.</p> + +<p>Only fourteen men were found unhurt in +the fort and about nine or ten wounded, who +had hid themselves among the dead. They +told Morgan that they were all that were +left of a garrison of 314 soldiers. The +governor, seeing that he was lost, had despatched +the survivors to Panama to alarm the +city, and remained behind to die. No officer +was left alive; they had been the first to set +their men the example of a glorious death. +It appeared that a Buccaneer deserter, an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span> +Irishman, whom Morgan had not even informed +of his design, had come to the port, +and assured them of the attack on La Rancheria, +and the contemplated movement on +Panama. The governor of that place had +instantly sent to Chagres a reinforcement of +164 men, with ammunition and provisions, +and had placed ambuscades along the river. +He was at that very moment, they said, +awaiting them in the savannah with 3600 +men: of these 2000 were infantry, 400 +cavalry, and 600 Indians. He had also employed +200 muleteers and hunters to collect +a drove of 1000 wild cattle to drive down +upon the invaders.</p> + +<p>"The taking of this castle," says Esquemeling, +"cost the pirates excessively dear, +in comparison to what they were wont to +lose, and their toil and labour was greater +than at the conquest of the Isle of St. +Catherine." On numbering their thinned +ranks, many voices were silent at the roll +call. More than 100 men were found to be +dead, and more than seventy grievously +wounded. There were sixty who could not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span> +rise, and many in the ranks wore on their arms +strips of the Spanish colours, or had their +heads bound round with bloody cloths. The +prisoners they compelled to drag their own +dead to the edge of the cliffs and cast them +among the shattered bodies on the beach, and +then to bury them where the sea could not +wash them out of their graves, or the birds +devour them. The castle chapel they turned +into an hospital for the wounded, and the +female slaves were employed to tend them, +for the surgeons in the heat of battle had +only had time to amputate a limb or bind +an artery.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2 class="p6"><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.<br /> + +<small>CONQUEST OF PANAMA.</small></h2> + +<blockquote><p>March from Chagres—Famine—Ambuscade of Indians—Wild +bulls driven down upon them—Victory—Battle +of the Forts—Takes the City—Burns part of +it—Cruelties—Debauchery—Retreat with prisoners—Virtue +of the Spanish prisoner, and her sufferings—Ransom—Division +of booty—Treason of Morgan—Escapes +by night to Jamaica—Dispersion of the Fleet—Morgan's +subsequent fate.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The bodies of their comerades, who had +died that they who survived might conquer, +were buried, not without some tears even +from these rude men, in large (plague pit) +graves, dug by the prisoners. The women +were violated in the first fury of the sack. +During their plunder they found a great +quantity of provisions and ammunitions stored<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> +up for the use of the fleet. Their next act +was to repair the fort and render it tenable.</p> + +<p>Morgan, instantly informed of the fall of +Chagres, did not remain long behind. Having +first collected all the Indian wheat and +cassava he could carry, he embarked his +prisoners and provisions, taking with him +Don Joseph Ramirez de Leiba, the governor, +and the chief officers. The cannon he spiked +or threw into the sea, in places where he +might recover them, intending to return and +fortify the place, as a stronghold if his design +on Panama failed. The forts, and church, +and house he fired, with the exception of the +castle of Santa Teresa.</p> + +<p>In sailing to Chagres a storm arose and +dispersed his vessels, keeping them many +days at sea. The admiral, always watchful +in danger, suffered himself for a moment to +sleep in the hour of prosperity. When he +approached the river mouth and saw the +English flag floating from the blackened +walls, he could not restrain the heedless joy +of his crew—not waiting for the pilot canoe +that was putting out to warn them of their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span> +danger, he drove on the sunken rock at the +foot of the castle hill. His own and three +other vessels sank, yet the crews and cargoes +were all saved, and but for a strong "norther" +the ships themselves would have been +preserved.</p> + +<p>Brought into the castle with acclamations +and hearty congratulations at his escape, +Morgan employed the Spanish prisoners from +St. Catherine's in repairing the palisading +of the fort, carefully destroying all thatched +sheds for fear of fire. He then chose a garrison +by lot, and divided the stores. He +heard with delight the details of the victory, +and lamented the absent dead and the many +brave men that had shared so often his +own hopes and fears. His next movement +was to seize some <i>chatten</i>, or small Spanish +vessels that were still in the river. They +were small craft that went to and fro between +Chagres and Porto Bello, or Nicaragua, or +plied with merchandise up and down the +river. They mounted six guns, two iron, +and four small brass, and were navigated by +six men. He also took four small frigates<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span> +of fourteen and eight guns, and all the canoes +he could lay hands on, requiring them for +the expedition. He left behind him 100 +men, under command of Captain Le Maurice, +and 150 men to guard the ships.</p> + +<p>For Panama, Morgan took with him 1300 +of the best armed and the most robust of his +band, five boats with artillery, and thirty-two +canoes. He imprudently carried little provisions, +expecting to obtain plenty from the +Spaniards they should kill in the ambuscades. +In spite of the recent victory, and of Morgan's +certainty of conquest, many of the Buccaneers +were less sanguine than on former +expeditions. The Spanish prisoners had +succeeded in alarming them by rumours of +the dangers and intricacy of the road, and +the ambuscades that had been two months in +preparation. Some, more superstitious than +the rest, thought the wreck of Morgan's ship, +and the severe loss at Chagres, bad omens +for their success at Panama. But these were +mocked at by the rest, as white-livered, and +Morgan having divided the provisions between +the garrison and the St. Catherine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> +prisoners, reviewed his men, and examined +himself their arms and ammunition. He +quieted their fears and spoke of victory as +already obtained. He exhorted them to show +more than usual courage, in order to return +as soon as possible rich and glorious to +Jamaica. With a shout of "Long live the +King of England, and long live Henry Morgan," +they began their march towards the +doomed city on the 18th of January, 1670.</p> + +<p>The first day they advanced only six +leagues to Rio de los Braços, where they got +out of their canoes to sleep on shore, being +crippled with overcrowding in the boats. +They could have brought no provisions, for +few had any food that day, but a pipe of +tobacco "to stop the orifice of the stomach." +They could find nothing in the deserted +plantations, where even the unripe fruits had +been plucked and the roots pulled up before +their arrival. The men longed to fight, in order +that they might eat. By noon of the next day +they reached Cruz de Juan Gallego, where they +were obliged to leave their canoes; the river +was very dry and shallow from want of rain,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span> +and much impeded with fallen trees, but +their hopes were excited by the guide's +intelligence, that about two leagues further +the roads grew better. Here they left their +boats with 160 men to guard them, as a +resource in case of defeat, giving them strict +injunctions not to land for fear of ambuscades +in the neighbouring woods, which were so +thick as to seem impenetrable. Finding the +forest almost impassable, Morgan ordered a +few of the canoes to be rowed, though with +immense labour, to a place called Cedro +Bueno, further up the river, taking half the +men at a time and returning for the rest, +so by nightfall all the men were once more +united. From discovering no ambuscades, +in spite of all the wishes of these hungry +soldiers, it was supposed that the Spanish spies, +willing to avoid a fight, had frightened their +officers by exaggerating the number of the +adventurers. On the third day Morgan sent +forward some guides, who could find no +road, the country being flat, inundated, and +marshy. The men, who had scarcely eaten +anything since their departure, grew faint<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> +and hungry, and a few of them gathered the +leaves from the forest trees. It being night +before they could pass the river, they slept +on the bank, exposed, half-clothed as they +were, to the tropical damps and cold.</p> + +<p>The fourth day's march they advanced in +divisions; the largest went by land, the +smaller in canoes. The guides were always +kept two musket shots in advance, to give +notice of ambuscades, and in hopes of capturing +stragglers who might furnish intelligence. +But the Spaniards had also scouts, very wary, +and very "dexterous" in giving notice of all +accidents, frequently bringing the Panama +men intelligence of the Buccaneers' approach +six hours before the enemy arrived. About +noon the army reached a post named Torna +Cavallos, so called probably from the roughness +of the road, and at this spot the guide +of the canoes cried out that he saw an ambuscade. +With infinite joy, the hungry men, +thirsting for blood, flew to arms, knowing that +the Spaniards always went luxuriously provided +with food, and knowing that a dead +Spaniard could want no more provender. As<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span> +soon as they came within sight of the entrenchment, +which was shaped like a half-moon, +and the palisading formed of entire +trees, they uttered a dreadful shout, and, +driven on by rage and hunger, began to race +like starved wolves, seeing which could first +cross swords with the enemy, whom they +believed to be about 400 strong. But their +hearts fell within them when they found +the place a mere deserted rampart, and all +the provisions, but a few crumbs which +lay scattered about, either burnt or carried +off. Some leather bags lay here and there, +as if left in a hasty retreat. Enraged at +this, they at once pulled down the Spanish +huts, and cutting the leather bags, tore +them up for food. Quarrels then arose for +the largest messes, but before they could well +finish this unsavoury banquet, the drum +sounded for the march. About 500 Spaniards +seem to have held these entrenchments, and +many of the men threatened to devour the +first fugitive they could meet with. About +night they reached another deserted ambuscade, +called Torna Munni, equally bare of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span> +food, and the remainder of the bags were now +devoured. Those fortunate enough to obtain +a strip first soaked slices of it in water, next +beat it between two stones, then scraped off +the hair with their hunters' knives, and, +roasting it in the fire, ate it leisurely in small +pieces. "I can assure the reader," says +Œxmelin, "that a man can live on this fare, +but he can hardly get <i>very fat</i>." Frequent +draughts of water (which, by good fortune, +they had at hand) seasoned this not very +palatable food of men accustomed to revel +on venison and brandy. "Some who were +never out of their mothers' kitchens," says +Esquemeling, "may ask how these pirates +could eat and digest those pieces of leather, +so hard and dry, whom I answer, that could +they once experience what hunger, or rather +famine, is, they would find the way as the +pirates did."</p> + +<p>The fifth day at noon they arrived at a +place called Barbacoa, where there were more +deserted barricades, and the adjacent plantations +were equally bare of either man, animal, +or plant. Searching with all the zeal and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> +perseverance of hungry men, they found at +last, buried in the floor of a cave lately hewn +out of the rock, two sacks of flour, two jars +of wine, and some plantains, and Morgan +generously divided these among the most +exhausted of his troops, some being now +nearly dead with famine. The flour they +mixed with water, and, wrapping the dough +in banana leaves, baked it in the fire. +Somewhat refreshed, they renewed their +march with increased skill and vigour. The +lagging men they placed in the canoes, till +they reached at night some deserted plantations +known as the Tabernillas, where they +slept.</p> + +<p>On the sixth day they marched slowly, +after resting a time from real weakness, +some of the strongest being sent into the +woods to pluck berries and pull roots, many +even eating leaves and grass. The same day +at noon they arrived at a plantation. Eagerly +foraging here, but not expecting to find anything, +they turned a little from the road, and +came upon a barn full of maize in the husk. +Beating down the door, they fell upon it and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> +devoured it as rapaciously as a herd of swine, +till they fell off satiated. A distribution was +then made of it to each man, for hunger does +not care for cooking. Loaded with this grain +they continued their march in high spirits +for about two hours, when they came suddenly +on about 200 Indians, and soon after passed +a deserted ambuscade. Those who had maize +still left threw it away, thinking that the +Spaniards and better food were at hand. +These archers were on the opposite side of +the river. The Buccaneers, firing, killed a +few, and pursued the others as far as Santa +Cruz. The nimblest escaped by swimming, +and two or three adventurers, who waded +after them, were pierced with arrows at the +ford. The Indians, as they fled, hooted—"Ah +perros Ingleses, à la savanah, à la savanah:" +"<i>English dogs, English dogs, come to the +savannah.</i>" Passing the river they were +now compelled to begin their march on the +opposite side. There was little sleep that +night, but great dejection, and murmurs +arose against Captain Morgan and his conduct. +He was blamed for not having brought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> +provisions, and for not having yet met the +Spaniards; condemned for irreconcilable +errors, and reviled for even his past successes. +Some declared they would return home, others +would willingly have done so, yet were afraid +to retreat; but a large party declared they +would rather die than go back a step. One +of the guides, perhaps bribed by Morgan, +promised that it should not be long before +they met with people from whom they +should derive no small advantage, and this +comforted them. A tinge of superstition +would have soon converted this into one of +those prophecies by which Cromwell and +Cortes both consoled their desponding +troopers.</p> + +<p>On the seventh morning, expecting enemies, +the men all cleaned their arms, and +every one discharged his musket and pistols +without ball to let the Spaniards hear they +were coming, and that their ammunition was +not damaged. Leaving Santa Cruz, where +they had rested, they crossed the river in +their canoes, and arrived at the town of Cruz.</p> + +<p>At some distance from Cruz they had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> +beheld to their great joy a great smoke rising +above the roofs, which they thought arose +from kitchen chimneys, and quickening their +pace they began to laugh, and shout, and +leap,—joking at the Spanish waste of fuel, +and saying, "the Spanish cooks are roasting +meat for our dinner when we have mastered +their masters;" but as the smoke grew +thicker, they began to think that the enemy +were burning some houses that interfered +with the fire of the entrenchments.</p> + +<p>Two hours after, on arriving panting and +hot at Cruz, they found the place deserted +and stripped, and no meat, but many fires, +for every Spaniard had burnt his own house, +and only the royal store-house and stables +were left standing. A few crackling ruins +were all that remained of the great halfway +house between Chagres and Panama, for +here the Chagres merchandise was always +landed and transported to Panama on the +backs of mules, being distant only twenty-six +Spanish leagues from the river of Chagres, +and eight from Panama. The disappointed +Buccaneers spent the remainder of the day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> +at Cruz in seeking food and resting. Every +cat and dog was soon killed and eaten, for the +cattle had been all driven off. Morgan, growing +now more strict in discipline, gave orders +that no party of less than 100 men should +leave the town. Five or six Englishmen +who disobeyed the order were killed by the +Indians. In the king's stables fifteen or +sixteen jars of Peruvian wine were found, +and a leather sack full of biscuit. Morgan, +afraid that his men would fall into excesses, +spread a report that the Spaniards had +poisoned the wine—a report confirmed by the +violent sickness of all who drank of it; although +half-starved men, fed for a week on +vegetable refuse, would have been injured by +any excess. It was, however, eagerly drunk, +and would have been had there been death +in every cup. This sickness detained them +a day at Cruz. The canoes, being now +useless, were sent back, guarded by sixty +men, to join the other boats, one alone being +hid in a thicket for fear of any emergency +or any necessity arising, and to transmit +intelligence to the vessels. He feared that,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> +if left at Cruz, they might be captured, and +would at least require an extra guard.</p> + +<p>On the eighth day at morning Morgan +reviewed his troop, and found he had 1100 +able and resolute men still at his back. He +persuaded them that their comerade who was +carried off by the Indians had returned, +having only lost his way in the woods, +fearing they might be discouraged at his +disappearance. He then chose a band of +the best marksmen as a forlorn hope, and a +"hundred of these men," says Œxmelin, +"are worth six hundred of any other nation." +He divided the remainder into a van and +wings, knowing that he should have to pass +many places where not more than two men +could pass abreast.</p> + +<p>After ten hours' march they arrived at a +place called <i>Quebrada Obscura</i>, a dark wooded +gorge where the sunlight rarely entered. +Here, on a sudden, a shower of 300 or 400 +arrows poured down upon them, killing eight +or nine men, and wounding ten. These arrows +came from an Indian ambuscade hid +on a wooded and rocky mountain, perforated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> +by a natural arch, through which only one +laden beast could pass. The Buccaneers, +though they could see nothing but rocks and +trees, instantly returned the fire, and two +Indians rolled down into the path. One of +these, who appeared to be a chief, for he +wore a coronet of variegated feathers, attempted +to stab an English adventurer with +his javelin, but a companion, parrying the +thrust with his sabre, slew the Indian. This +brave man was, it is supposed, the leader of +the ambuscade, for the savages seeing him +fall took at once to flight, and never discharged +another shaft. As they entered +a wood the rest of the Indians fled to seize +the next height, from whence they might +observe them and harass their march. The +Buccaneers found them too swift to capture, +and pursued them in vain: but two or three +of the wounded fugitives were found dead +in the road. A few armed and disciplined +men could have made this pass good against +a hundred, but these Indians were now +scattered and without a leader, and they had +only fired at random, and in haste, through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> +trees and thickets that intercepted their arrows. +On leaving this defile the Buccaneers +entered a broad prairie, where they rested +while the wounded were tended. At a long +distance before them they could see the +Indians on a rocky eminence, commanding +the road where they must pass. Fifty active +men were dispatched to take them in the +rear in the hopes of obtaining some prisoners, +but all in vain, for the Indians were not only +more agile but knew all the passes. Two +hours after they were seen at about two gunshots' +distance, on the same eminence from +which they had been just driven, while the +Buccaneers were now on an opposite height, +and between them lay a wood. The Buccaneers +supposed that a Spanish ambuscade was +hid here, for whenever they came near enough +the Indians cried out "À la savanah, à la +savanah, cornudos perros Ingleses:" "To the +savannah, to the savannah, you cuckold English +dogs." Morgan sent 100 men to search +this wood, and upon this the Spaniards and +Indians came down from the mountain as if +to attack them, but appeared no more.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span></p> + +<p>About night, a great rain falling, the Buccaneers +marched faster, in order to prevent +their arms getting wet, but they could find +no houses to barrack in, for the Indians had +burnt them all and driven away the cattle, +hoping to starve out the men whom they +could not drive out. They left the main +road after diligent search, and found a few +shepherds' huts, but too few to shelter all +their company; they therefore piled their +arms, and chose a small number from each +company to guard them. Those who slept in +the open air endured much hardship, the rain +not ceasing all night. They made temporary +sheds, which they covered with boughs, in +order to sleep under a shelter, however imperfect; +and sentinels were placed, Morgan +being afraid of the Indians, who chose wet +nights for their onslaughts, when fire-arms +were often useless.</p> + +<p>Next morning very early, being the ninth +of their tedious journey, they recommenced +their march, Morgan bidding them all discharge +their guns and then reload them, for +fear of the wet having damped the powder.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> +The fresh air of the morning, clear after the +storm, was still about them, and the clouds +had not yet yielded to the tropical sun as +they pushed on over a path more difficult +than before. In about two hours' time a +band of twenty Spaniards began to appear +in the distance, and the Indians were also +visible, but Morgan could obtain no prisoners, +though he offered a reward of 300 crowns +for every Spaniard brought in. When pursued +the enemy hid themselves in caves and +eluded all search.</p> + +<p>At last, toiling slowly up a high mountain, +the adventurers unexpectedly beheld from +the top the South Sea glittering in the +distance. This caused them as great joy as +the sight of "Thalatta" did to the soldiers of +Xenophon. They thought their expedition +now completed, for to them victory was a +certainty. They could discern upon the sea, +never before beheld, a large ship and six +small boats setting forth from Panama to the +islands of Tavoga and Tavogilla, which were +only six leagues distant. Fortune smiled +upon them to-day, for, descending this mountain,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> +they came into a grassy prairie valley, +full of all sorts of cattle, which were being +pursued by mounted Spaniards, who fled at +the sight of the Buccaneers. Upon these +animals Morgan's men rushed with the avidity +of half-starved hunters, the eagerness +of sailors to obtain fresh meat, and all the +haste that brave men exhibit to get at an +enemy. One shot a horse, another felled +a cow, but the greater part slaughtered the +mules, which were the most numerous. +Some kindled fires, others collected wood, +and the strongest hunted the cattle, while +the invalids slew, and skinned, and flayed. +The whole plain was soon alight with a +hundred fires. The hungry men cut off +lumps of flesh, carbonadoed them in the +flame, and ate them half raw with incredible +haste and ferocity. "They resembled," Esquemeling +says, "rather cannibals than +Christians, the blood running down their +beards to the middle of their bodies." But +no hunger, no fear, no passion threw Morgan +off his guard. Hungry and weary himself, +and sympathising with his men's hunger, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> +saw the danger of this reckless gluttony, +which produced a reaction of inertness as +dangerous as intoxication. Dreading surprise, +for he was surrounded by enemies, he +beat a false alarm, and seizing their arms, his +men, ashamed of their excess, renewed their +march. The remainder of the meat, half-roasted +or quite raw, they strung to their +bandoliers. "The very look of these men," +says Esquemeling, "was enough to have +terrified the boldest, for we know that in +love as well as war, the eyes are the soonest +conquered." Morgan, anxious at not having +yet obtained a prisoner as guide, again despatched +a vanguard of fifty men, who about +evening saw in the distance 500 Spaniards, +who shouted to them they knew not what.</p> + +<p>Soon after, almost at dusk, mounting a +small eminence, they saw a better sight than +even the South Sea—the highest steeples of +Panama, bright in the sunset; upon this, +like the German soldiers at the sight of the +Rhine, the Buccaneers gave three cheers, to +show their extreme joy, leaping and shouting, +and throwing their hats into the air as if they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span> +had already won the victory. At the same +time the drums beat stormily and proudly, and +each man shot off his piece, while the red +flag was displayed and waved in defiance of +the Spaniard, and high above all the trumpet +sounded.</p> + +<p>The camp was pitched for the night by the +men, who waited impatiently for the morning +when the battle should join; with equal pride +and courage 200 mounted Spaniards shouted +in return as they dashed up within musket +shot, "To-morrow, to-morrow, ye dogs, we +shall meet in the savannah;" and as they +ended, their trumpet sounded clearer than +even that of Morgan's. These horsemen +were soon joined by several companies of +infantry and several squadrons of cavalry, who +wheeled round them within cannon shot. +These troops had been despatched when the +sounds of the Buccaneers' approach reached the +gates of the city. There were still two hours +of light, but Morgan determined not to fight +till early in the morning, when he might +be able to move freely in the unknown +country, and when there would be a whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span> +clear, bright day for the battle. As night drew +on all the Spaniards retired to the city, excepting +seven or eight troopers, who hovered +about to watch the enemy's motions and +give the alarm, if a night attack was contemplated. +On his side Morgan placed +double sentinels, and every now and then +ordered false alarms to be beat to keep his +men on the alert. Those who had any meat +left ate it raw, as they had often done when +hunters. No fires were allowed to be kindled, +and the men lying, ready armed, on the +grass, waited eagerly for the daylight. 120 +cavaliers again joined the Spanish scouts, +and affected to maintain a strict blockade, +and the city all night played with its biggest +guns upon the camp, but being at so great +a distance did little harm to the Buccaneers.</p> + +<p>At daybreak of the tenth day of their +march the Spaniards beat the <i>Diane</i>, and +Morgan, replying heartily, began with great +eagerness to push forward to the city, the +Spaniards wheeling cautiously around his +wings. One of the guides warned Morgan +against the high road, which he knew would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> +be blocked up and crowded with ambuscades, +and the army defiled into a wood to the right, +where the passage was so difficult that none +but Buccaneers could have forced a way, +"very irksome indeed," says Esquemeling. +The Spaniards, completely baffled and astonished +by this diversion, left their batteries +in a hurry, and, without any distinct plan of +attack, crowded out into the plain. After +two hours' march the Buccaneers reached the +top of a small hill. From this eminence they +could now see their goal, and Panama, with +all the roofs that hid its treasure, lay before +them. Below, on the plain, they might also +discern the Spanish army drawn up in battalia, +awaiting their descent. Even Esquemeling +admits that the forces seemed numerous. +"There were two squadrons of cavalry, +four regiments of foot, and a still more terrible +enemy, a huge number of wild bulls, +roaring and tossing their horns, driven by a +great number of Indians, and a few negroes +and mounted matadors." The historian, +more truthful in his confessions than his +boasts, says, "They were surprised with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> +fear, much doubting the fortune of the day; +yea, few or none there were but wished +themselves at home, or at least free from the +obligation of that engagement, it so nearly +concerning their lives. Having been for +some time wavering in their minds, they at +last reflected on the strait they had brought +themselves into, and that now they must +either fight resolutely or die, for no quarter +could be expected from an enemy on whom +they had committed so many cruelties. Hereupon +they encouraged one another, resolving +to conquer or spend the last drop of their +blood."</p> + +<p>They then divided themselves into three +battalions, sending before 200 Buccaneers, +very dexterous at their guns, who descended +the hill, marching directly upon the Spaniards, +and the battle closed. The Spanish +cavalry uttered cries of joy, as if they were +going to a bull-fight. The infantry shouted +"Viva el rey!" and the vari-coloured silks +of their doublets glistened in the sun. The +Buccaneers, giving three cheers, charged +upon the enemy. The forlorn hope Morgan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> +despatched against the cavalry and the bulls. +The cavalry galloped forward to meet them, +but, the ground being marshy, they could not +advance with speed, and sank one by one +before the unceasing dropping fire of 200 +Buccaneers, who fell on one knee and poured +in a full volley of shot, the foot and horse +in vain trying to break through this hot +line of flame and death. The bulls proved +as fatal to those who employed them, as the +elephants to Porus. Driven on the rear of +the Buccaneers, they took fright at the noise +of the battle, a few only broke through the +English companies, and trampled the red +colours under foot, but these were soon shot +by the old hunters; a few fled to the savannah, +and the rest tore back and carried +havoc through the Spanish ranks.</p> + +<p>The firing lasted for two hours; at the +end of that time the cavalry and infantry +had separated, and the troopers had fled, +only about fifty of their number succeeding +in escaping. The infantry, discouraged at +their defeat, and despairing of success, fired +off one more volley, and then threw down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> +their arms; the victory was won. Morgan, +having no cavalry, could not pursue, and +a mountain soon hid the fugitives from the +Buccaneers' sight, who would not follow, +expecting the flight was a mere decoy to +lure them into an ambuscade. The Buccaneers, +weary and faint, threw themselves +down to rest. A few Spaniards, found hiding +in the bushes by the sea-shore, were at once +slain, and several cordeliers belonging to the +army, being dragged before Morgan, were +pistolled in spite of all their cries and entreaties. +A Spanish captain of cavalry was +taken prisoner by the English musketeers, +who had hitherto given no quarter, and +confessed that the governor of Panama had +led out that morning 2000 men, 200 bulls, +1450 horse, and twenty-four companies of +foot, 100 men in each, sixty Indians, and +some negroes. In the city, he said, were +many trenches and batteries, and at the entrance +a fort with fifty men and eight brass +guns. The women and wealth had all been +sent to Tavoga, and 600 men with twenty-eight +pieces of cannon were inside the town,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span> +defended by ramparts of flour sacks. The +ambuscade had been waiting fifteen days in +the savannah, expecting Morgan.</p> + +<p>On reviewing their men, the English +found a much greater number of killed and +wounded than they had expected, so Esquemeling +confesses, but does not give the number. +Œxmelin puts the loss at only two +killed and two wounded, an incredible statement, +trustworthy as he generally is. The +Spaniards lost 600 men.</p> + +<p>"The pirates, nothing discouraged," says +the former historian, "seeing their number +so diminished, but rather filled with greater +pride, perceiving what huge advantage they +had obtained against their enemies, having +rested some time, prepared to march courageously +towards the city, plighting their +oaths one to another, that they would fight +till not a man was left alive. With this +courage they recommenced their march, either +to conquer or be conquered, carrying with +them all the prisoners."</p> + +<p>They avoided the high road from Vera +Cruz, on which the Spaniards had placed a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span> +battery of eight pieces of cannon, and selecting +that from Porto Bello, they advanced to the +town before the people could rally, and while +the exaggerated rumours of the defeat were +still uncontradicted. Trembling fugitives +filled the streets, and terror was in every +face.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards fought desperately, but +without hope. In spite of Morgan's endeavour +to maintain strict discipline, his men +began to undervalue the enemy, and to advance +straggling and reckless. The Spaniards, +observing this, fired a broadside, killing +twenty-five or thirty of the vanguard +at the first discharge, and wounding nearly as +many, but before they could reload were +overpowered and slain at their guns, the +Buccaneers stabbing all whom they met.</p> + +<p>Of this attack, Esquemeling gives the following +graphic but rambling account: "They +found much difficulty in their approach to +the city, for within the town the Spaniards +had placed many great guns at several quarters, +some charged with small pieces of iron, +and others with musket bullets. With all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span> +these they saluted the pirates at their approaching, +and gave them full and frequent +broadsides, firing at them incessantly, so that +unavoidably they shot at every step great +numbers of men. But neither these manifest +dangers of their lives, nor the sight of so +many as dropped continually at their sides, +could deter them from advancing, and gaining +ground every moment on the enemy; and +though the Spaniards never ceased to fire +and act the best they could for their defence, +yet they were forced to yield after three hours' +combat, and the pirates having possessed +themselves, killed and destroyed all that +attempted in the least to oppose them."</p> + +<p>Morgan was now master of Panama, as he +had been of St. Catherine's, la Rancheria, +Maracaibo, and Gibraltar, but his vigilance +did not yet relax. As soon as the first fury +of their entrance was over, he assembled his +men, and commanded them, under great penalties, +not to drink or taste any wine, as he +had been informed by a prisoner that it had +been poisoned by the Spaniards. Though much +wealth had been hidden, great warehouses of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span> +merchandise, they rejoiced to find, were still +well stocked with silks, cloths, and linens. +Morgan's only fear now was, that with so +small a body of men as remained to him, the +Spaniards might rally, or his men, grown intoxicated +by success and intent on plunder, +be cut off without resistance. Having placed +guards at all the important points of defence +within and without the city, he ordered +twenty-five men to seize a boat laden with +merchandise, that owing to the low water in +the harbour could not put out to sea. The +command of this vessel he gave to an English +captain.</p> + +<p>The houses of Panama were built chiefly +of cedar, and a few of stone.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, Michael Scott sketches for +us nearly the whole scenery of Morgan's +march. One side of the harbour of Chagres +is formed, he says, by a small promontory +that runs 500 yards into the sea. This bright +little bay looks upon an opposite shore, long +and muddy, and covered with mangroves to +the water's brink. On the uttermost bluff +is a narrow hill, with a fort erected on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span> +its apex. The rock is precipitous on three +sides. The river of Chagres is about 100 +yards across, and very deep. It rolls sluggishly +along, through a low, swampy country. +It is covered down to the water with +thick sedges and underwood, and where the +water is stagnating, generates mosquitoes and +fevers. The gigantic trees grow close to the +water, and are laced together by black, snake-like +withes. Here and there, black, slimy +banks of mud slope out near the shore, and +on these, monstrous alligators roll or sleep, +like logs of rotting drift-wood. For some +miles below Cruz, where the river ceases to +be navigable by canoes, oars are laid aside, +and long poles used to propel the boats, +like punts, over the shoals. Panama is distant +about seven leagues from Cruz. The +roads are only passable for mules: in some +places it has been hewn out of the rock, and +zig-zags along the face of hills, in parts +scarcely passable for two persons meeting.</p> + +<p>"The scenery on each side is very beautiful, +as the road winds for the most part amongst +steeps, overshadowed by magnificent trees,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span> +among which birds of all sizes, and of the +most gorgeous plumage, are perpetually glancing, +while a monkey every here and there +sits grimacing and chattering overhead. The +small, open savannahs gradually grow larger, +and the clear spaces widen, until the forest +you have been travelling under breaks into +beautiful clumps of trees, like those of a gentleman's +park, and every here and there are +placed clear pieces of water, spreading out +full of pond-turtle, and short grass, that +sparkles in the dew."</p> + +<p>As you approach the town, the open spaces +become more frequent, until at length you +gain a rising ground, about three miles from +Panama, where the view is enchanting. +Below lies the city, and the broad Pacific, +dotted with ships, lies broad and glassy beyond.</p> + +<p>Basil Hall, an accurate but less poetical +observer, sketches the bay of Panama, its +beach fringed with plantations shaded by +groves of oranges, figs, and limes, the tamarinds +surmounting all but the feathery tops +of the cocoa-nut trees; the ground hidden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> +with foliage, among which peep cane-built +huts and canoes pulling to shore. Tavoga +he describes as a tangle of trees and flowers. +"The houses of the city, very curious and +magnificent," says Esquemeling, "and richly +adorned with paintings and hangings, of which +a part only had been removed." The buildings +were all stately, and the streets broad and +well arranged. There were within the walls +eight monasteries, a cathedral, and an hospital, +attended by the religious. The churches +and monasteries were richly adorned with +paintings, and in the subsequent fire may +have perished some of the masterpieces of +Titian, Murillo, or Velasquez. The gold plate +and fittings of these buildings the priests had +concealed. The number of rich houses was +computed at 2000, and the smaller shops, &c., +at 5000 additional. The grandest buildings +in the town were the Genoese warehouses +connected with the slave trade; there were +also long rows of stables, where the horses +and mules were kept that were used to convey +the royal plate from the South to the +North Pacific Ocean. Before the city, like<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span> +offerings spread before a throne, lay rich +plantations and pleasant gardens.</p> + +<p>Panama was the city to which all the +treasures of Peru were annually brought. +The plate fleet, laden with bars of gold and +silver, arrived here at certain periods brimming +with the crown wealth, as well as that of +private merchants. It returned laden with +the merchandise of Panama and the Spanish +main, to be sold in Peru and Chili, and still +oftener with droves of negro slaves that the +Genoese imported from the coast of Guinea to +toil and die in the Peruvian mines. So wealthy +was this golden city that more than 2,000 +mules were employed in the transport of the +gold and silver from thence to Porto Bello, +where the galleons were loaded. The merchants +of Panama were proverbially the +richest in the whole Spanish West Indies. +The Governor of Panama was the suzerain of +Porto Bello, of Nata, Cruz, Veragua, &c., and +the Bishop of Panama was primate of the Terra +Firma, and suffragan to the Archbishop of +Peru. The district of Panama was the most +fertile and healthy of all the Spanish colonies,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span> +rich in mines, and so well wooded that its +ship-timber peopled with vessels both the +northern and the southern seas; its land +yielded full crops, and its broad savannahs +pastured innumerable herds of wild cattle.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers found the booty in the +half-devastated town ample beyond their +expectations, in spite of all that had +been destroyed, buried, or removed. The +stores were still full of wealth, which not +even a month of alarm had given the merchants +time to remove to their overcharged +vessels. Some rooms were choked with corn, +and others piled high with iron, tools, plough-shares, +&c., for Peru. In many was found +"metal more attractive," in the shape of +wine, olive oil, and spices, while silks, cloths, +and linen lay around in costly heaps.</p> + +<p>Morgan, still afraid of surprise, resorted to +a reckless scheme to avert the danger. The +very night he entered Panama he set fire to a +few of the chief buildings, and before morning +the greater part of the city was in a flame, +although the first blaze had been detected +in the suburbs. No one knew his motive,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span> +and few that the enemy had not done it. +He carefully spread a report, both among +the prisoners and his own people, that the +Spaniards themselves were the authors of the +fire. The citizens and even the English +strove to extinguish the flames, by blowing +up some houses with gunpowder and pulling +down others, but being of wood, the fire +spread rapidly from roof to roof. In less +than half an hour a whole street was consumed. +The Genoese warehouses and many +of the slaves were burnt, and only one church +was left standing; 200 store buildings were +destroyed. Œxmelin seems to lament chiefly +the slaves and merchandise, and scarcely even +affects a regret for the stately city. The +ruins continued to smoke and smoulder for a +month, and at daybreak of the morning after +their arrival, little of the great city they had +lately seen glorious in the sunset remained +but the president's house, where Morgan and +his staff lodged, a small clump of muleteers' +cottages, and two convents, that of St. Joseph +and that of the Brothers of the Redemption. +Still fearful of surprise, the adventurers encamped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span> +outside the walls in the fields, from a +wish to avoid the confusion, and in order to +keep together in case of an attack by a +superior force. The wounded were put into +the only church that had escaped the fire.</p> + +<p>The next day Morgan despatched 160 men +to Chagres to announce his victory, and to +see that his garrison wanted for nothing. +They met whole troops of Spaniards running +to and fro in the savannah, but, in spite of +their expectations, they never rallied. In +the afternoon the Buccaneers re-entered the +city, and selected houses of the few left to +barrack in. They then dragged all the available +cannon they could find and placed them +round the church of the Fathers of the Trinity, +which they entrenched. In this they placed +in separate places the wounded and the +prisoners. The evening they spent in searching +the ruins for gold, melted or hidden, and +found much spoil, especially in wells and +cisterns.</p> + +<p>A few hours after, Morgan's vessels returned +with three prizes, laden with plate and other +booty, taken in the South Sea. The day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> +they sailed, arriving at one of the small +islands of refuge near Panama, they took a +sloop with its crew of seven men, belonging +to a royal Spanish vessel of 400 tons, laden +with church plate and jewels, removed by +the richest merchants in Panama; there were +also on board all the religious women of the +nunnery, with the valuable ornaments of their +church, and she was so deeply laden as not +to require ballast. It carried only seven +guns and a dozen muskets, had no more sails +than the "uppermost of the mizen," was +short of ammunition and food, and even of +water. The Buccaneers received this intelligence +from some Indians who had spoken +to the seamen of the galleon when they +came ashore in a cock-boat for water. Had +they given chase they might have easily +captured it, but Captain Clark let the golden +opportunity slip through his hands. Thinking +himself sure of his prize as he had got +her sloop, his men spent the night in +drinking the rich wines they found in the +sloop, and reposing in the arms of their +Spanish mistresses, the more beautiful for their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span> +tears and despair. During these debaucheries +the galleon slipped by and was no more seen, +and so they lost a prize of greater value than +all the treasure found in Panama. In the +morning, weary of the revel, they crowded +all sail and despatched a well-armed boat to +pursue the cripple, ascertaining that the +Spanish ship was in bad sailing order and +incapable of making any resistance. In the +islands of Tavoga and Tavogilla they captured +several boats laden with merchandise. Informed +by a prisoner of the probable moorings +of the galleon, Morgan, enraged at her escape, +sent every boat in Panama in pursuit of +her, bidding them seek till they found her. +They were eight days cruising from port to +creek. Returning to the isles, they found +here a large ship newly come from Payta, +laden with cloth, soap, sugar, biscuit, and +20,000 pieces of eight; another small boat +near was also taken and laden with the +divided merchandise. With these glimpses +of wealth the boats returned to Panama +somewhat consoled for the loss of their larger +prize. The Buccaneers' vessels now began to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span> +excite the astonishment of the Spaniards, +they being the first Englishmen, since +Drake, who had appeared as enemies on those +seas.</p> + +<p>During this expedition Morgan had employed +the rest of his men in scouring the +country in daily companies of 200, one party +relieving another, and perpetually bringing +in flocks of pale and bleeding prisoners, or +mules laden with treasure. Some tortured the +captives, others explored the mines, and the +rest burnt glittering heaps of gold and silver +stuffs, merely to obtain the metal, expecting to +have to fight their way back to their ships at +Chagres, and not wishing to be encumbered +with unwieldy bundles on that toilsome and +dangerous march. Morgan, complaining much +of the fruitless labours of his foragers, at last +placed himself at the head of 350 men, and +sallied into the country to torture every +wealthy Spaniard he could meet.</p> + +<p>The following anecdote presents us with +such a complete picture of the demoralisation +of a panic, that it reminds us of Thucydides' +description of Athens during the plague, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span> +Boccaccio's of Florence during the raging of +the pest. On one occasion Morgan's men met +with a poor Spaniard, who, during the general +confusion, had strolled into a rich man's house +and dressed himself in the costume of a +merchant of rank. He had just stripped off +his rags, and, first luxuriating in a change of +costly Dutch linen, had slipped on a pair of +breeches of fine red taffety, and picking up +the silver key of some coffer, had tied it to +one of his points. Esquemeling represents +the man as a poor retainer of the house. He +was still wondering childishly at his unwonted +finery, when the Buccaneers broke +into the house and seized him as a prize. +Finding him richly dressed and in a fine +house, they believed him at once to be the +master. His story they treated as a subtle +invention. In vain he pointed to the black +rags he had thrown off—in vain he protested, +by all the saints, that he lived on charity, +and had wandered in there and put on the +clothes by the merest chance, and without a +motive but of venial theft. Spying the little +key at his girdle they became sure that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> +lied, and they demanded where he had hid +his cabinet. They had at first laughed at +his ingenious story—they now grew angry +at his denials of wealth. They stretched +him on the rack and disjointed his arms, +they twisted a cord round his wrinkled forehead +"till his eyes appeared as big as eggs, +and were ready to fall out," and as he still +refused to answer, they hung him up and +loaded him with stripes. They then cut +off his nose and ears, singing his face with +burning straw till he could not even groan +or scream, and at last, despairing of obtaining +a confession, gave him over to their attendant +band of negroes to put him to death with +their lances. "The common sport and recreation +of the pirates," says Esquemeling, +"being such cruelties."</p> + +<p>They spared no sex, age, or condition; +priest or nun, peasant or noble, old man, +maiden, and child were all stretched on the +same bed of torture. They granted no +quarter to any who could not pay a ransom, +or who would not pay it speedily. The most +beautiful of the prisoners became their mistresses, +and the virtuous were treated with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span> +rigour and cruelty. Captain Morgan himself +seduced the fairest by alternate presents +and threats. There were women found +base enough to forsake their religion and +their homes to become the harlots of a pirate +and a murderer. But to his iron heart +love found a way, and enervated the mind +of the man whom nothing before could soften.</p> + +<p>After ten days spent in the country beyond +the walls, Morgan returned to Panama, +and found a shipload of Spanish prisoners +newly arrived. Amongst these was a woman +of exquisite beauty, the wife of a Spanish merchant, +then absent on business in Peru. He +had left her in the care of some relations, with +whom she was captured. Esquemeling says: +"Her years were few, and her beauty so great, +as, peradventure, I may doubt whether in +all Christendom any could be found to surpass +her perfections, either of comeliness or +honesty." Œxmelin, a more skilful observer, +and who saw her, being a sharer in the expedition, +describes her hair as ink black, and +her complexion of dazzling purity. Her eyes +were piercing, and the Spanish pride, usually<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> +so cold and repulsive, served in her only as a +foil to her surpassing beauty, and to attract +respect. The roughest sailors and rudest +hunters grew eloquent when they praised her. +The common men would willingly have drawn +swords for such a prize. But their commander +was already the slave of her whom +he had captured. His demeanour changed: +he was no longer brutal and truculent: he +became sociable in manner, and more attentive +to the richness of his dress, for lovers +grow either more careless or more regardful +of their attire.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneer's aspect was changed. He +separated the lady from the other prisoners, +and treated her with marked respect. An +old negress, who waited on her, served at +once as an attendant and a spy. She was +told to assure her mistress, that the Buccaneers +were gentlemen and no thieves, and +men who knew what politeness and gallantry +were as well as any. The lady wept and entreated +to be placed with the other prisoners, +for she had heard that her relations were +afraid of some plot against her good fame.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span></p> + +<p>The lady, like other Spanish women, had +been told by their priests and husbands, that +the Buccaneers had the shape of beasts and +not of men. The more intelligent reported +they were robbers, murderers, and heretics; +men who forswore the Holy Trinity, and did +not believe in Jesus Christ. "The <i>oaths</i> of +<i>Morgan</i>," says Esquemeling, with most commendable +gravity, "<i>soon convinced her that +he had heard of a God</i>." It was said, that a +woman of Panama who had long desired to +see a pirate, on their first entrance into the +city cried out, "Jesu Maria, the thieves are +men, like the Spaniards, after all;" and some +volunteers, when they went out to meet Morgan's +army, had promised to bring home a +pirate's head as a curiosity.</p> + +<p>Morgan, refusing to restore the beauty to +her friends, treated her with more flattering +care than before. Tapestries, robes, jewels, +and perfumes, lay at her disposal. Such +kindness, after all, was cheap generosity, and +part of this treasure may even have been her +husband's. In her innocence, she began to +think better of the Buccaneers. They might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span> +be thieves, but they were not, she found, +atheists, nor very cruel, for Captain Morgan +sent her dishes from his own table. She at +first received his visits with gratitude and +pleasure, surprised at the rough, frank kindness +of the seaman, and loudly denounced his +slanderers, that had so cruelly attempted to +poison her mind against him, her guardian +and protector. The snares were well set, +and the bird was fluttering in. But Heaven +preserved her, and she passed through the +furnace unhurt. Morgan soon threw off his +disguise, and offered her all the treasures of +the Indies if she would become his mistress. +She refused his presents of gold and pearl, +and resisted all his artifices. In vain he +tried alternately kindness and severity. He +threatened her with a thousand cruelties, and +she replied, that her life was in his hands, +but that her body should remain pure, though +her soul was torn from it. On his advancing +nearer, and threatening violence, she drew +out a poignard, and would have slain him or +herself, had he not left her uninjured. Enraged +at her pride, as he miscalled her virtue,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span> +he determined to break her spirit by +suffering. She was stripped of her richest +apparel, and thrown into a dark cellar, with +scarcely enough food allowed her to support +life, and the chief demanded 30,000 piastres +as her ransom, to prevent her being sold as a +slave in Jamaica. Under this hardship the +lady prayed like a second Una daily to God, +for constancy and patience. Morgan, now convinced +of her purity, and afraid of his men, +who already began to express openly their +sympathy with her sufferings, to account for +his cruelty, accused her to his council of having +abused his kindness by corresponding +with the Spaniards, and declared that he had +intercepted a letter written in her own hand. +"I myself," says Esquemeling, "was an +eye-witness of the lady's sufferings, and could +never have judged such constancy and chastity +to be found in the world, if my own +eyes and ears had not assured me thereof." +Amid the blood, and dust, and vapour of +smoke, the virtue of this incomparable lady +shines out like a pale evening star, visible<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span> +above all the murky crimson of an autumn +sunset.</p> + +<p>A new danger now arose to Morgan from +this adventure, for the seamen began to +murmur, saying that the love of this beautiful +Spaniard kept them lingering at Panama, +and gave the Spaniards time to collect their +forces, and surprise them on their return. +But Morgan, having now stayed three weeks, +and nothing more being left to plunder, gave +orders to collect enough mules to carry the +spoil to Cruz, where it could be shipped for +Chagres, and so sent homeward.</p> + +<p>There can be no doubt that various causes +had for some time been undermining the +long subsisting attachment between Morgan +and his men. He had shown himself a slave +to the passions which enchained their own +minds, and their riches perhaps made them +independent, and therefore mutinous. It +was while the mules were collecting that he +became aware of the loaded mine over which +he stood. A plot was discovered, in which +there were 100 conspirators. They had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span> +resolved to seize the two vessels they had +captured in the South Sea, and with these to +take possession of an island, which they +could fortify for a stronghold. They would +then fit out the first large Spanish vessel +they could obtain, and with a good pilot +and a bold captain start privateering on +their own account, and work home by the +straits of Magellan. As the spoil had not +yet been divided, it is probable that all these +men had broken the Buccaneer oath, and had +secreted part of the plunder. They had +already hidden in private places, cannons, +muskets, provisions, and ammunition. They +were on the very point of raising the anchor, +when one of them betrayed the scheme, and +Morgan at once ordered the vessel to be dismasted +and the rigging burnt. The vessels +he would also have destroyed, but these he +spared at the intercession of the friend he had +appointed their captain. From this time all +confidence seems to have ceased between +Morgan and his men. Many a king has +been made a tyrant by the detection of a +conspiracy. The men dreaded his vengeance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span> +and he their treachery. From this hour he +appears to have resolved to enrich himself +and his immediate friends at any risk, leaving +the French to shift for themselves. It is not +improbable but that the old French and +English feud may have had something to +do with this quarrel. In war it ceased, but +rankled out again in peace. The French +seem to have been his greatest enemies, and +the English friendly or indifferent. This +distinction is visible even in the historians, +for Esquemeling speaks of him with mere +distrust, and Œxmelin with bitter hatred.</p> + +<p>In a few days the mules were ready, +and the gold packed in convenient bales, for +Spanish or English gold it was all one to the +mules. The costly church plate was beaten +up into heavy shapeless lumps, and the +heavier spoil was left behind or destroyed. +Better burn it, they thought, than leave it +to the accursed Spaniard, for we always hate +those whom we have injured. The artillery +of the town being carefully spiked, and all +ready to depart, Morgan informed his prisoners +that he was about to march, and that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span> +should take with him all those who were either +unable or unwilling at once to bring in their +ransom. The sight was heart-rending, and +the panic general. At his words, says the +historian, there was not one but trembled, +not one but hurried to write to his father, +his brother, or his friends, praying for instant +deliverance or it would be too late. The +slaves were also priced, and hostages were sent +to collect the money. While this was taking +place, a party of 150 men were sent to Chagres +to bring up the boats and to look out for +ambuscades, it being reported that Don Juan +Perez de Guzman, the fugitive president of +Panama, had entrenched himself strongly at +Cruz, and intended to dispute the passage. +Some prisoners confessed that the president +had indeed so intended, but could get no +soldiers willing to fight, though he had sent +for men as far as Carthagena; for the scattered +troopers fled at the sight of even their +own friends in the distance.</p> + +<p>Having waited four days impatiently for +the ransom, Morgan at last set out on his +return on the 24th of February, 1671. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span> +took with him a large amount of baggage, +175 beasts of burden laden with gold, silver, +and jewels, and about 600 prisoners, men, +women, children, and slaves, having first +spiked all the cannon and burnt the gun-carriages. +He marched in good order for +fear of attack, with a van and rear-guard, +and the prisoners guarded between the two +divisions.</p> + +<p>The departure was an affecting sight, as +even the two historians, who were Buccaneers +themselves and eye-witnesses, admit. Lamentations, +cries, shrieks, and doleful sighs of +women and children filled the air. The men +wept silently, or muttered threats between +their teeth, to avoid the blows of their unpitying +drivers. Thirst and hunger added +to their sufferings. Many of the women +threw themselves on their knees at Morgan's +feet and begged that he would permit them +to return to Panama, there to live with their +dear husbands and children in huts till the +city could be rebuilt. But his fierce answer +was, that he did not come there to hear +lamentations, but to seek money, and that if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span> +that was not found, wherever it was hid, they +should assuredly follow him to Jamaica. All +the selfishness and all the goodness of each +nature now came to the surface. The selfish +fell into torpid and isolated despair—the +good forgot their own sufferings in trying to +relieve those of others.</p> + +<p>Some gazed at each other silently and +hopelessly; others wailed and wept, a few +cursed and raged. Here stood one mourning +for a brother—there another lamenting a wife. +Many believed that they should never see +each other again; but would be sold as slaves +in Jamaica. The first evening the army +encamped in the middle of a green savannah +on the banks of a cool and pleasant river. +This was a great relief to the wretched +prisoners, who had been dragged all day +through the heat of a South American noon +by men themselves insensible to climate—urged +forward by the barrels of muskets and +blows from the butts of pikes. Some of the +women were here seen begging the Buccaneers, +with tears in their eyes, for a drop of water, +that they might moisten a little flour for their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span> +children, who hung crying at their parched +and dried-up breasts. The next day, when +they resumed the march, the shrieks and +lamentations were more terrible than before. +"They would have caused compassion in the +hardest heart," says Esquemeling; "but Captain +Morgan, as a man little given to mercy, +was not moved in the least." The lagging +Spaniards were driven on faster with blows, +till some of the women swooned with the +intense heat, and were left as dead by the +road-side. Those who had husbands gave +them the children to carry. The young +and the beautiful fared best. The fair +Spaniard was led between two Buccaneers, +still apart from the rest. She wept as she +walked along, crying that she had entrusted +two priests in whom she relied to procure her +ransom money, 30,000 piastres, from a certain +hidden place, and that they had employed +it in ransoming their friends. A slave had +brought a letter to the lady and disclosed the +treachery. Her complaint being told to +Morgan he inquired into it, and found it +to be true. The religious men confessed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> +their crime, but declared they had only +borrowed the money, intending to repay it +in a week or so. He therefore at once +released the lady, and detained the monks +in her place, taking them on to Chagres +and despatching two men to obtain their +ransom.</p> + +<p>On arriving at Cruz the mules were unloaded, +preparatory to embarkation. The +Buccaneers encamped round the king's warehouse, +where it was stored. Three days were +given to collect the ransom. The Spaniards, +tardy or unwilling in the collection, brought +in the money the day after. Vast quantities +of corn, rice, and maize were collected here +for victualling the ships. Morgan embarked +150 slaves, and a few poor and obstinate Spaniards +who had not yet paid their ransom. The +monks were redeemed, and escaped happy +enough. A part of the Buccaneers marched +by land. Many tears of joy and sorrow +were shed when the prisoners and those who +were liberated took farewell.</p> + +<p>On reaching Barbacoa the division of the +spoil began. Mustering his men, Morgan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span> +compelled them all to swear they had concealed +nothing, even of the smallest value, +and, what was more unusual, he ordered them +all to be individually searched from top to +toe, down even to the very soles of their +shoes. This search was suspicious and insulting. +The Frenchmen, hot-blooded and +mutinous, would have openly resisted had +they not been in the minority. Morgan +allowed himself to be first searched to lessen +the general discontent, and one man in every +company was employed as searcher. No precautions +were neglected that could be suggested +by long experience of plundering.</p> + +<p>This unusual vigilance was a mere cloak +for Morgan's own dishonesty. Every man +was now compelled to discharge his musket +before the searchers, that they might be sure +no precious stones were hidden in the barrel. +These searchers were generally the lieutenants +of each crew, and had all taken an additional +oath to perform their duty with fidelity. The +murmurs against Morgan had now reached +such a height, and were so hourly increasing, +that many Frenchmen threatened to take his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span> +life before they reached Jamaica. The more +temperate controlled the younger and the more +impetuous, and the band reached Chagres +without any revolt. They found the garrison +short of provisions and glad to be relieved, +but the wounded had nearly all died of +their wounds.</p> + +<p>From Chagres Morgan sent a great boat +to Porto Bello with all the St. Catherine's +prisoners, and demanded a ransom for sparing +the castle of Chagres. The people of Porto +Bello replied they would not give one farthing, +and he might burn it as he chose.</p> + +<p>The day after their arrival, Morgan divided +the booty. It amounted to only 443,000 +pounds, estimating at ten piastres the pound. +The jewels were sold unfairly, the admiral +and his cabal buying the greater part very +cheap, having already, it was believed, retained +all the best of the spoil. Every one +had expected at least 1000 pieces each, and +was disappointed and indignant at receiving +only about 200. There was an end now +to all co-operation between English and +French adventurers, and the hopes of a Buccaneer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span> +republic were at an end for ever. +The murmurs again rose incontrollably high, +and some proposed to seize Morgan and force +him to a fair division.</p> + +<p>The suspected admiral, trying in vain to +pacify them, and finding he could obtain no +price for Chagres, divided the provisions of +the fort among the vessels, removed the +cannon and ammunition, then demolished +the fortifications, and burnt the buildings. +Suddenly taking alarm, or more probably +following a preconcerted plan, Morgan sailed +out of the harbour without any signal or +notice, and hurried to Jamaica, followed by +four English vessels, whose captains had been +his confidants.</p> + +<p>In the first paroxysm of their rage, the +French adventurers would have pursued +Morgan, and attacked his vessel, but he +escaped while they were still hesitating. We +shall find him finally settled in Jamaica, and +married to the daughter of the chief person of +the island, a sure proof, says the indignant +and philosophical Œxmelin, that any one is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span> +esteemed in this world provided he has +money.</p> + +<p>The same vivacious writer gives a lively +picture of the rage of the crews at the treacherous +flight of Morgan. They shouted, swore, +stamped, clenched their fists, gnashed their +teeth, and tore their hair, fired off their pistols +in the air, and brandished their arms, +with imprecations loud and deep. They longed +for the plunder they had lost, and longed +still more eagerly for revenge. They never +now mentioned the Welsh name but with an +execration. Strange anomaly of the human +mind, that men who lived by robbery, should +be astonished at a small theft committed by +a comrade! In the first bitterness of their +vexation, they drew their sabres, and hewed +and thrust at their imaginary enemy. They +bared their arms, and pointed out to each +other the cicatrices of their half-healed +wounds.</p> + +<p>Confirmations of the admiral's treachery +reached them from every side.</p> + +<p>They remembered that Morgan had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span> +latterly unusually reserved and unsociable, +closeting himself with a few English confidants, +to whom he had been seen whispering +even during public conferences. He +had, it was now recollected, grown silent +during all discussions, and more particularly +when the booty was mentioned.</p> + +<p>Œxmelin (a surgeon) also mentions, that +on one occasion, as he was visiting a wounded +Buccaneer, Morgan came up to the hammock, +and said in English, thinking he could not +be overheard, "Courage, get soon well, you +have helped me to conquer, and you must +help me to profit by the conquest." Another +day, as Œxmelin was searching by the river +for a medical herb, he turned round suddenly, +and saw Morgan secreting something in the +corner of a canoe, and looking frequently over +his shoulder to see if he was observed. When +he observed Œxmelin, he looked troubled, +and, coming up, asked him what he was doing +there, to which the surgeon made no answer, +but, stooping down, picked the plant he +was in search of, and began to tell him its +properties. Morgan turned off the subject,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span> +beginning to converse on indifferent topics, +and, although the proudest of men, insisted +on accompanying him home. Œxmelin took +care to find an opportunity afterwards to +rummage the canoe, but found nothing; but +this same canoe he always observed Morgan +took great care of, and never permitted to +row out of his sight. But these stories none +had dared to utter, for since the victory of +Panama, the admiral, always proud, sensual, +and cruel, had grown every day more stern, +and had rendered himself dreaded by his +severities.</p> + +<p>The adventurers sought for a long time +some means of avenging themselves on Morgan +for his successful treachery. They at last +heard that he had resolved to take possession +of St. Catherine's island, being apprehensive +of the governor of Jamaica. In this spot he +had determined to fortify himself, renew his +Buccaneering, and defy both open enemies and +treacherous friends. The Buccaneers agreed +to waylay him on his passage, and carry him +off, with his wife, children, and ill-gotten +treasure. They then planned either to kill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span> +him, or compel him to render an account of +the spoil of Panama. But an unexpected +accident saved Morgan, and defeated their +scheme of vengeance. At the very crisis, +a new governor, Lord G. Vaughan, arrived +at Port Royal, and brought a royal order for +Morgan to be sent to England to answer the +complaints of the King of Spain and his subjects. +Of his trial we hear nothing, but we +soon after see the culprit knighted by Charles +II., and appointed Commissioner of Admiralty +for Jamaica. The king, who frolicked with +Rochester, and smiled at the daring villany +of Blood, had no scruples in disgracing +knighthood by such an addition.</p> + +<p>In the autumn of 1680, the Earl of Carlisle, +then governor of Jamaica, finding his +constitution undermined by the climate, returned +to England, leaving Morgan as his +deputy.</p> + +<p>His opportunity of revenge had now come, +and he remembered his old dangers of ruin +and assassination. Many of the Buccaneers +were hung by his authority, and some of them +were delivered up to the governor of Carthagena.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span> +A new governor arrived, and terminated +his cruelties, and the justice inspired +by a personal hatred. He still remained commissioner. +In the next reign he was thrown +into prison, where he remained three years. +Of his final fate we know nothing certain.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2 class="p6"><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.<br /> + +<small>THE COMPANIONS AND SUCCESSORS OF MORGAN.</small></h2> + +<blockquote><p>Dispersion of the fleet—Œxmelin's interview with +the old Buccaneer—Adventure with Indians—Esquemeling's +Escapes—1673. D'Ogeron's Escape +from the Spaniards—1676. Buccaneers' Fight at +Tobago against the Dutch—1678. Captain Cook +captures a Spanish vessel—1679. Captains Coxen +and Sharp begin their cruise.</p></blockquote> + + +<p>On the departure of Morgan, the Buccaneers, +without food, and without leaders, +underwent many sufferings, and remained +uncertain what to do.</p> + +<p>Œxmelin and a few of his French friends +being informed by a female slave that an old +Buccaneer lived in the neighbourhood, determined +to go to him and barter goods, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span> +they were told that, although a Spaniard, +such was his custom. Following the slave +with great expectation, they reached the +veteran's fort after about six hours' march. +The Buccaneers' "peel" towers were scattered +all over the West Indies, and Waterton mentions +seeing the ruins of one near Demerara. +This fort was defended by a fosse of immense +depth, and by massy walls of an extraordinary +thickness, flanked at each corner by +a bastion well supplied with cannon. The +Frenchmen displayed their colours and beat +their drums as a greeting, yet no one appeared, +and no one answered; but, at the +end of a quarter of an hour, they saw a light +in one of the bastions, and perceived a man +about to discharge a cannon. Throwing +themselves on their faces with professional +dexterity, the shot flew over their heads, +and they then rose and retreated out of range. +Believing at once that they had been betrayed, +for many dangers had made them +suspicious, they were about to cut their guide +to pieces, when, running from them, she cried +to the gunner, "Why is your master false<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span> +to his word? did he not promise to receive +these gentlemen?" "It is true," cried the +soldier, "but he has changed his mind; and +if you and your people do not go off, I will +blow out your brains." The Buccaneers, +enraged at the insolence of this threat, and +the capricious change of intention, were about +to attempt to storm the place, when four +Spaniards advanced and demanded a truce, in +the name of their master. "We had," they +explained, "been alarmed at your numbers, +and feared foul play or treachery." +The old adventurer was now willing to receive +them, if they would send four of their +band as ambassadors and hostages. Œxmelin +was one of the four chosen. They found the +old man, grey and venerable, seated between +two others. He was so old and feeble that +he could not speak audibly, but he smiled +and moved his lips, and stroked his long +white beard, as they entered, and they could +observe that he was pleased to see once more +the well-remembered dress of the Buccaneer +seamen. His majestic bearing was impressive. +Though he could not rise to welcome<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span> +them, he bent his head in answer to their +greetings, and beckoned to one of his attendants +to speak for him. By his orders they +were at once taken to his store-rooms, where +they bartered their goods, and obtained all +that they required. They first eagerly selected +some brandy, and Œxmelin is never +tired of repeating "ses gens l'aiment avec +passion." On their way back to the ships +with the guide, delighted at their success, +the Spaniards who carried the goods they had +bought told them their master's history. He +was, it appeared, properly speaking, neither +an adventurer nor a Castilian, but a Portuguese, +who had lived long both with adventurers +and with Spaniards. A Spanish ship +had picked him up in a drifted canoe when +quite a boy, and he had been employed +among the slaves in a cocoa plantation, where +he soon became a successful steward, and +much beloved by his master. His patron +sent every year a vessel to his plantation to +be loaded with cocoa. One day, as the +steward was on board superintending the +lading, a sudden squall came on, snapped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span> +the cable, and drove them out to sea. He +being a good pilot, and accustomed to navigation, +attempted to put back to land as soon +as the storm abated, but the slaves, with one +voice, declared that they would not return, and +that he should not take them, for they knew +that their master would suspect, and would +cruelly punish them. At that time the +slightest offence of a slave was punished +with death. The steward remonstrated with +them; but the slaves resolved to be free, +although they knew not where to steer. At +this crisis the bark was pursued by a Buccaneer +vessel, from which a storm for a short +time released them, but they were eventually +overtaken and captured.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneer captain brought these prisoners +to the fortress they had just visited. +Here he became again a faithful steward, +and finally inherited the place at his master's +death, and continued to trade with the Buccaneers, +as his predecessor had done. The +fortress had been originally built to repel +the Spaniards, who had been several times +beaten off with loss.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span></p> + +<p>It is very seldom that we can follow the +Buccaneer to the last scene of all: he flashes +across our scene from darkness to darkness, +and we hear of him no more. In the present +instance, Œxmelin enables us to fill up the +vacuum and tell out the tale. In a subsequent +voyage he returned to the old spot, the +scene of an oft told story. Devastation had +fallen upon the devastator, the fortress was +completely demolished and no dwelling remained. +He ascertained from the Spaniards +that the old man had died and left his riches to +his two sons, who, impatient of a slothful +wealth, and with imaginations excited from +their youth by the recital of Buccaneer adventures, +had at last turned Flibustiers. Before +their father's death they had often expressed +a wish to conquer the country of the ferocious +Bravo Indians, but he had always discouraged +them from the dangerous and unprofitable +expedition, being afraid of attacks from the +Spaniards in their absence. They were +never heard of again, but report was current +that, having been shipwrecked, the two Buccaneers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span> +had been taken by the Indians, and +killed and eaten.</p> + +<p>Leaving the Boca del Toro, about thirty +leagues distant from Chagres, Œxmelin and +his companions arrived at the country of the +very dreaded Bravo Indians. These people +were known to be warlike cannibals, cruel +and very treacherous. They were expert +archers, and could discharge their arrows, like +the Parthians, even when in full retreat. +They had axes and spears, and wore metal +ornaments, the clash of which animated them +to the charge. They carried tortoise-shells +for shields, which covered their whole bodies, +and were most to be dreaded when few in +number and quite overpowered, for they +would then throw themselves like wild-cats +on the foe, and think only of destroying their +enemy's life, regardless of their own. Morgan, +who seems to have made every preparation +for an extensive Buccaneer empire, had often +sworn to totally destroy this nation which +had slain so many shipwrecked men, and +so frequently frustrated his plans. No Buccaneer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span> +historian ever seems to have reflected +that these savages, rude as they were, fought +as patriots defending their country. We sing +of Tell and rave of Wallace, but we have no +interest in a hero without breeches!</p> + +<p>These Indians had at first been friendly to +the Buccaneers, who had sold them iron in +exchange for food, but on one fatal occasion, +at a Buccaneer debauch, a quarrel had arisen, +and some Indians had been killed and their +wives carried off. From this time irreconcilable +hatred existed between the two +people, and to be wrecked on the Bravo shore +was equivalent to certain death. On reaching +Cape Diego (so called, like many other points +of land, from an old adventurer), Œxmelin +was compelled by hunger to feed on crocodile +eggs, which were found buried in the sand. +Meeting here with some French adventurers, +they all removed to an adjacent spot, where +they caught turtle and salted it for the +voyage.</p> + +<p>Ascending a river to obtain provisions, +they surprised and killed two Indians, of +whom one had a beard-case of tortoise-shell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span> +and another of beaten gold: the latter they +took for a chief. Putting off from here, and +meeting with contrary winds that drove them +from Jamaica, they returned again to Chagres, +and were pursued by a ship of Spanish +build, which they feared had been sent from +Carthagena to rebuild the fort.</p> + +<p>They attempted in vain to escape, and +were clearing the decks, preparing to fight +to the last, when the enemy hoisted the red +flag, and proved to be one of their companions' +vessels driven back by the <i>bise</i>, or +north-east wind. They lost two days' sail by +this accident, more than they could regain +in a fortnight, and returned to the Boca del +Toro to get provisions and kill sea-cows, and +then passed on to the Boca del Drago. The +islands here they knew to be inhabited, for +the fragrance of the fruits was wafted on the +sea wind. One day a fishing party gave +chase to two Indians in a canoe, which they +instantly drew ashore and carried with them +into the woods. This boat, weighing above +2,000 lbs. and requiring 11 men afterwards +to launch it, was made of wild cedar, roughly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span> +hewn; being nimble the savages both escaped +the Buccaneers. A pilot who had been often +in those parts, told them that a few years +before, a Buccaneer squadron arriving in +that place, the men went in canoes to catch +the humming birds that swarmed round the +flowering trees of the coast. They were +observed by some Indians who had hid themselves +in the trees, who, leaping down into +the sea, carried off the boats and men before +their companions could arrive to their aid. +The admiral instantly landed 800 men to +rescue the prisoners, but so many Indians +collected that they found it necessary to +retreat in haste to their ships.</p> + +<p>The next day the Buccaneers arrived at +Rio de Zuera, but the Spaniards were all fled, +leaving no provisions; they therefore filled +their boats with plantains, coasting for a +fortnight along the shore to find a convenient +place to careen, for the vessel had now grown +so leaky that slaves and men were obliged to +work night and day at the pumps. Arriving +at a port, called the Bay of Blevelt, from a +Buccaneer who used to resort there, half the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span> +crew were employed to unload and careen +the bark on the shore, and half to hunt in +the woods—still much afraid of the Indians, +though they had as yet seen none.</p> + +<p>The huntsmen shot several porcupines of +great size, and many monkeys and pheasants. +The men took great pleasure in the midst of +their danger in this pursuit. They laughed +to see the females carrying their little ones +on their backs, just like the negro women, +and they admired the love and fidelity +which some showed when their friends were +wounded, and were delighted when they +pelted their pursuers with fruit and dead +boughs. The men were obliged to shoot +fifteen or sixteen to secure three or four, as +even when dead they remained clinging to +the trees, and remained so for several days, +hanging by their fore-paws or their tails. +When one was wounded the rest came chattering +round him, and would lay their paws on +the wound to stop the flow of blood, and others +would gather moss from the tress to bandage +the place, or, gathering certain healing herbs, +chew them and apply them as a poultice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> +If a mother was killed the young ones would +not leave the body till they were torn away.</p> + +<p>But these amusements were soon to come to +an end. The Indians were upon their track. +They had been now eight days hunting. It +was the daybreak of the ninth day, and the +fishermen and hunters were preparing their +nets and guns to start for the sea and for the +woods. The slaves were on the beach burning +shells to make lime, which served instead +of pitch for the vessels, and the women were +drawing water at the wells which had been +dug in the shore. A few of them were washing +dishes, and others sewing, for they had risen +earlier than usual. While the rest went to +the wells, one of them lingered behind to +pick some fruit that grew near the beach. +Seeing suddenly some Indians running from +the spot where she had left her companions, +she ran to the tents, crying, "Indians, Indians, +Christians, the Indians are come." +The Buccaneers, running to arms, discovered +that three of their female slaves were lying +dead in the wood, pierced with fourteen or +fifteen flint-headed arrows. These darts were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span> +about eight feet long, and as thick as a man's +thumb; at one end was a wooden hook, tied +on with a string, at the other, a case containing +a few small stones. Searching the +woods, no traces of Indians, or any canoes, +were to be found, and the Buccaneers, fearing +they should be surrounded and overpowered, +re-embarked all their goods, and +sailed in great haste and fear.</p> + +<p>They soon arrived at Cape Gracias à Dios, +and rejoiced to find themselves once more +among friendly Indians; and at a port where +Buccaneer vessels often resorted, the rudest +sailors giving thanks to God for having +delivered them out of so many dangers, and +brought them to a place of refuge. The +Indians provided them with every necessary, +and treated them with friendship. For an +old knife or hatchet the men each bought an +Indian woman, who supplied them with food. +These people often went to sea with the +Buccaneers, and, remaining several years, returned +home with a good knowledge of French +and English. They were used as fishermen, +and for striking tortoises and manitees, one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span> +Indian being able to victual a vessel of 100 +men. Œxmelin's crew having on board two +sailors who could speak the Indian tongue, +they were unusually well received.</p> + +<p>This nation was not more than 1700 +in number, including a few negro slaves, +who had swum ashore from a wreck, having +murdered the Spanish crew, and, in their ignorance +of navigation, stranded the vessel. +Some of them cultivated the ground, and +others wandered about hunting and fishing. +They wore little clothes but a palm leaf hat, +and a short apron, made of the bark of some +tree. Their arms were spears, pointed with +crocodile's teeth. They believed in a Supreme +Being, and, as Esquemeling quaintly +says, "believe not in nor serve the devil, as +many other nations of America do, and hereby +they are not so much tormented by him as +other nations are." Their food was chiefly +fruit and fish. They prepared pleasant and +intoxicating liquors from the plantain, and +from the seed of the palm, and at their banquets +every guest was expected to empty a +four-quart calabash full of achioc, as the palm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> +drink was called, merely a whet to the feast +to follow. Their achioc was as thick as gruel. +When they were in love, they pierced themselves +with arrows to prove their sincerity. +When a youth wished to marry a maiden, +the first question of the bride's father to the +lover was, whether he could make arrows, or +spin the thread with which they bound them. +If he answered in the affirmative, the father +called for a calabash of achioc, and he himself, +the bride, and the bridegroom, all tasted of +the beverage. When one of these hardy +women was delivered, she rose, went to the +nearest brook, washed and swathed the +child, and went about her ordinary labour. +When a husband died, the wife buried him, +with all his spears, aprons, and ear jewels, +and for fifteen moons after (a year) brought +meat and drink daily to the grave. Some +writers contend that the devil visited the +graves, and carried away these offerings to +the manes; but Esquemeling says, he knows +to the contrary, having often taken away the +food, which was always of the choicest and +best sort. At the end of the year, an extraordinary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span> +custom prevailed. The widow had +then to open the grave, and take out all the +bones; she scraped, washed, and dried them +in the sun; then placed them in a satchel, +and for a whole year was obliged to +carry them upon her back by day, and sleep +upon them by night. At the end of the +year, she hung up the bag at her door-post, +or, if she was not mistress of her house, at +the door of her nearest relation. A widow +could not marry again till this painful ceremony +was completed, and if an Indian woman +married a pirate, the same custom prevailed. +The negroes maintained the habits of their +own countries.</p> + +<p>After refreshing themselves in this friendly +region, the Buccaneers steered for the island +de los Pinos, and, arriving in fifteen days, +refitted their vessel, now become dangerously +leaky. Half the crew were employed in +careening, and half in fishing, and by the +help of some of the Cape Gracias Indians +who accompanied them they killed and salted +a sufficient number of wild cattle and turtle +to revictual the ship. In six hours they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span> +could capture fish sufficient for a thousand +persons. "This abundance of provision," +says Esquemeling, "made us forget the miseries +we had lately endured, and we began +to call one another again by the name of +<i>brother</i>, which was customary among us, but +had been disused in our miseries." They +feasted here plentifully, and without fear of +enemies, for the few Spaniards who were on +the island were friendly, and past dangers +grew mere dreams in the distance. Their +only anxiety now was about the crocodiles, +which swarmed in the island, and, when +hungry, would devour men.</p> + +<p>On one occasion a Buccaneer and his negro +slave, while hunting in the wood, were attacked +by one of these monsters. With +incredible agility it fastened upon the Englishman's +leg, and brought him to the ground. +The negro fled. The hunter, a robust and +courageous man, drawing his knife, stabbed +the crocodile to the heart, after a desperate +fight, and then, tired with the combat and +weak with loss of blood, fell senseless by its +side. The negro, returning, from curiosity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span> +rather than compassion, to see how the duel +had ended, lifted his master on his back and +brought him to the sea-shore, a whole league +distant, where he placed him in a canoe and +rowed him aboard. After this, no Buccaneer +dared to go into the woods alone, but the +next day, sallying out in troops, they killed +all the monsters they could meet. These +animals would come every night to the sides +of the vessel and attempt to climb up, attracted +probably by the smell of food. One of +these, when seized with an iron hook, instead +of diving or swimming, began to mount the +ladder of the ship, till they killed him with +blows of pikes and axes. After remaining +some time here they sailed for Jamaica, and arrived +there in a few days after a prosperous +voyage, being the first adventurers who had +arrived there from Panama since Morgan.</p> + +<p>In 1673, when the war between the French +and Hollanders (Dutch) was still raging, the +inhabitants of the French West Indian colonies +equipped a fleet to attack the Dutch +settlements at Curaçoa, engaging all the Buccaneers +that could be induced to join the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span> +white flag, either from hopes of plunder or +from hatred to the Dutch. M. D'Ogeron, the +Governor of Tortuga, the planner of this +invasion, headed the fleet in a large vessel +named after himself, built by himself, and +manned by 500 picked adventurers. His +unlucky star led them to misfortune. The +new frigate ran upon the rocks near the +Guadanillas Islands, and broke into a thousand +pieces, during a storm near Porto Rico. Being +at the time very near to land, the governor +and all his men swam safe to shore. The +next day, discovered by the Spaniards, they +were attacked by a large force, who supposed +they had come purposely to plunder the islands +as the Buccaneers had done before. The whole +country, alarmed, rose in arms. The shipwrecked +men were surrounded by an overpowering +army, who, finding them almost +without arms, refused to give them quarter, +slew the greater part without mercy, and +made the remainder prisoners. Binding them +with cords, two by two, they drove them +through the woods into the open champaign. +To all inquiries as to the fate of their commander,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span> +whom they could not distinguish +from the rest, they replied that he had sunk +with the wreck. D'Ogeron, following up this +deception with French sagacity, behaved +himself as a mere half-witted suttler, diverting +the Spanish soldiers by his tricks and +mimicry, and was the only Buccaneer whom +they allowed to go at liberty. The troopers +at their camp fires gave him scraps from their +meals and rewarded him with more food than +his companions.</p> + +<p>Among the prisoners there was also a +French surgeon who had on former occasions +done some service to the Spaniards, and him +they also allowed to go at large. D'Ogeron +agreed with him to attempt an escape at all +risks, and after mature deliberation, they both +agreed upon a plan, and succeeded in escaping +safely into the woods, and in making +their way to the sea-side. They determined +to attempt to build a canoe, although unsupplied +with any tool except a hatchet. By +the evening they reached the sea-shore, to +their great joy, and caught some shell fish on +the beach from a shoal that ran in upon the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span> +sands in pursuit of their prey. Fire to roast +them they obtained by rubbing two sticks +together in the Indian fashion. The next +morning early they began to cut down and +prepare timber to build the canoe in which +to escape to Vera Cruz. While they were +toiling at their work they observed in the +distance a large boat, which they supposed +to contain an enemy, steering directly towards +them. Retreating to the woods, they discovered +as soon as it touched land that it +held only two poor fishermen. These unsuspecting +men they determined if possible to +overpower, and to capture the boat. As the +mulatto came on shore alone, with a string of +calabashes on his back to draw water, they +killed him with a blow of their axe, and +then slew the Spaniard, who, alarmed at the +sound of voices, was attempting in vain to +push from the shore. Having filled the dead +man's calabashes they set sail, using the +precaution of taking the dead bodies with +them out into the deep sea, in order to conceal +their death from the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>They steered at once for Porto Rico, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span> +passed on to Hispaniola. A fair wind soon +brought them to Samana, where they found +a party of their people. Leaving the surgeon +to collect men at Samana, D'Ogeron sailed +to Tortuga to collect vessels and crews to +return and deliver his companions, and revenge +his late disaster. He sailed eventually +with 300 men, and took great precautions to +prevent the Spaniards being aware of his +coming, using only his lower sails in order +that his masts should not rise above the +horizon. In spite of this the Spaniards, informed +of his approach, had placed troops of +horse upon the shore at various assailable +points.</p> + +<p>D'Ogeron landed his men under favour of +a discharge from his great guns, which drove +the horsemen into the woods, where, as he +little suspected, the infantry lay in ambush. +Eagerly pursuing, his men, who thought the +victory their own, found themselves hemmed +in on every side. Few escaped even to the +ships. The Spaniards, cruel from the reaction +of fear, cut off the limbs of the dead and +carried them home as trophies. They lighted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span> +bonfires on the shore as tokens of defiance to +the retreating fleet.</p> + +<p>The first prisoners were now treated worse +than ever. Some of them were sent to +Havannah and employed on the fortifications +all day, and chained up like wild beasts at +night to prevent their desperate attempts at +escape. Many were sent to Cadiz, and from +thence escaped over the Pyrenees into France, +and, assembling together, like sworn members +of a common brotherhood, returned by the +first ship to Tortuga.</p> + +<p>These very men some time after equipped +a small fleet, under command of Le Sieur +Maubenon, which sacked Trinidad, and put +the island to a ransom of 10,000 pieces of +eight, and from thence proceeded to the +Caraccas.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers fought against the Dutch, +in 1676, and helped the French to recover +Cayenne, that had been taken by Vice-Admiral +Binkes. After this conquest, M. D'Estrees +attacked Tobago, but was repulsed with the +loss of 150 killed, and 200 wounded. His +ship, the <i>Glorieux</i>, of seventy guns, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span> +blown up, and two others stranded; several +of the Dutch vessels were, however, burnt.</p> + +<p>D'Estrees, returning to Brest, was ordered +back to Tobago, with twenty sail of vessels +of war, besides a great number of small +craft. 1500 men were landed, and, approaching +a fortified place called Le Cort, summoned +Heer Binkes to surrender. The French began +their attack by throwing fire-balls into +the castle; the third grenade fell upon some +loose powder in the path leading to the magazine, +and blew it up. Heer Binkes and all +his officers but one were killed. 500 French +instantly stormed the works, killing all but +300 men, who were sent prisoners to France. +D'Estrees then destroyed every fort and house +in the island, and sailed away.</p> + +<p>It was in 1678 that the same Comte +D'Estrees collected 1200 Buccaneers from +Hispaniola, and twenty vessels of war, besides +fire-ships, to capture Curaçoa, which +could have been taken with 300 Buccaneers +and three vessels. This fleet was, however, +lost on the Isles d'Aves, as we shall describe +in Dampier's voyage.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span></p> + +<p>In the year 1678, Captain Cook loaded +his vessel with logwood, at Campeachy, and, +while anchoring at the island of Rubia, on +his way to Tobago, was captured by three +Spanish men-of-war, who left his crew upon +the shore, and carried off his ship and cargo. +They had not lain there long before a Spanish +sloop of sixteen men arrived, laden with +cocoa and plate, and gave them opportunity for +escape and for revenge. Borrowing muskets +of the Dutch governor, they employed six of +their men in seizing the sloop's boat as it +came to land, and then embarked and took +the larger vessel, leaving their prisoners +bound upon the beach, to watch the combat +that would decide their fate. Two men navigated, +two more loaded the guns, and two +others fired into the enemy as fast as they +could pour their shot into the stern-ports. +The Spaniards resisted stoutly for some time, +but, seeing their priest and captain shot dead, +threw their arms overboard, and cried for +quarter. The Buccaneers gave the Dutch +governor a handsome reward, with a recompence +for the arms, and divided among themselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span> +about £4,000 worth of plate. On +arriving at Jamaica they burnt the prize, +and embarked their goods for England.</p> + +<p>In the year of our Lord 1679, a Buccaneer +fleet of five sail, commanded by Captains +Coxen, Essex, Alliston, Rose, and +Sharp, set sail from Port-Royal, and steered +for the island of Pines, losing two vessels +in their passage, at the Zamballos islands. +They met a French ship, whose commission +was only for three months, and showed its captain, +with great exultation, their forged commission +for three years, purchased for only ten +pieces of eight.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2 class="p6"><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br /> + +<small>THE CRUISES OF SAWKINS AND SHARP.</small></h2> + +<blockquote><p>Land at Darien—March Overland—Take Santa Maria—Sail +to Panama—Ringrose is wrecked—Failure of +Expedition—Driven off by Spanish Fleet—Coxen +accused of cowardice—Sharp elected Commander—Plunder +Hillo and take La Serena—Take Aries—Saved +with difficulty—Conspiracy of slaves—Land +at Antigua—Return to England—Sharp's trial—Seizes +a French ship in the Downs, and returns to +Jamaica.</p></blockquote> + + +<p>The cruises of Sawkins and Sharp are +recorded in the travels of Ringrose, who +was present at all their exploits. At this +time the Buccaneers widened their field of +operations, and passed from the South into +the North Pacific. The whole coast of South<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span> +America, on either side, met the fate of the +West Indian islands. The gold mines of +Peru were the next object of their speculation.</p> + +<p>A fleet which took Porto Bello a second +time rendezvoused at Boca del Toro. A +new expedition was then formed to follow +Captain Bournano, a French commander, +who had lately attacked Chepo, to Tocamora, +a great and very rich place, whither the +Darien Indians had offered to conduct him, +in spite of a late treaty with the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>The vessels first dispersed into coves and +creeks to careen and salt turtle, and then reunited +at the Water key. The fleet consisted +of nine vessels, with a total of 22 guns and +458 men, in the following order:—Captain +Coxen, a ship of 80 tons, with 8 guns, and +197 men; Captain Harris, 150 tons, 5 guns, +and 107 men; Captain Bournano, 90 tons, +6 guns, and 86 men; Captain Sawkins, 16 +tons, 1 gun, and 35 men; Captain Sharp, +25 tons, 2 guns, and 40 men; Captain Cook, +35 tons, and 43 men; Captain Alleston, 18 +tons, and 24 men; Captain Row, 20 tons,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">217</a></span> +and 25 men; Captain Macket, 14 tons, and +20 men.</p> + +<p>The expedition sailed March 26, 1679. +The first place to touch at was the Zemblas +Islands, where they traded with the friendly +Indians, who brought fruits and venison in +exchange for beads, needles, knives, and +hatchets. These Indians were quite naked, +but richly decorated with gold and silver +plates of a crescent form, and gold rings +worn in the nose, which they had to lift up +when they drank. They were generally +painted with streaks of black and red, but +were a handsome race, and frequently as fair +as Europeans. The sailors believed that they +could see better by night than by day.</p> + +<p>The Indians dissuaded the captains from +the march upon Tocamora, and agreed to +guide them to the vicinity of Panama. The +way to Tocamora, they declared, was mountainous +and uninhabited, and ran through +wild places, where no provisions could be +obtained. In this change of plan, Row and +Bournano, whose crews were all French, separated, +being unwilling to risk a long march<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">218</a></span> +by land, and remained at the Zemblas, while +Andræas, an Indian chief, guided the remaining +vessels to the Golden Island, a little +to the westward of the mouth of the great +river of Darien. There the seven remaining +vessels rendezvoused April 3, 1680.</p> + +<p>They here agreed to follow the Indians' +advice, and attack the town of Santa Maria, +situated on the river of the same name, +which runs into the South Sea by the gulf +of St. Miguel. It was garrisoned by 400 +soldiers, and from hence the gold gathered +in the neighbouring mountains was carried +to Panama, on which they could march if +they could not find enough at Santa Maria.</p> + +<p>On the 5th of April they landed 331 men, +leaving Captains Alleston and Macket to +guard the ships in their absence. Each man +carried with him three or four "dough-boys" +(cakes), trusting to the rivers for drink. +Captain Sharp, who went at their head, was +still faint from a late sickness. His company +carried a red flag and a bunch of white and +green ribbons. The second division, led by +Captain Richard Sawkins, had a red flag, +striped with yellow. Captain Peter Harris,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span> +with the third and fourth divisions, had two +green flags; Captain John Coxen, two red +flags; while Captain Edmund Cook bore red +colours, striped with yellow, with a hand +and sword for the device. All the men +carried fusees, pistols, and hangers.</p> + +<p>The Indian guides led them through a +wood and over a bay two leagues up a +woody valley, along a good path, with here +and there old plantations. At a river, then +nearly dry, they built huts to rest in. Another +Indian chief, a man "of great parts," and +called Captain Antonio, now promised to be +their leader, as soon as his child, who was +then sick, had died, which he expected would +be next day. This Indian warned them +against lying in the grass, which was full of +large snakes.</p> + +<p>The men, breaking some of the stones +washed down from the mountains, found +them glitter like gold; but, in spite of this, +several grew tired and returned to the ships, +leaving only 327 sailors and six Indian +guides.</p> + +<p>The next day they ascended a very steep +hill, and found at the foot of it a river,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span> +on which Andræas told them Santa Maria +was built. About noon they ascended another +and higher mountain, by so perpendicular and +narrow a path that only one man could pass at +a time. Having marched eighteen miles, they +halted that night on the banks of the same +river, much rain falling during both nights. +The next day they crossed the river, after +wading sometimes up to the knee, sometimes +to the middle, in a steep current. At noon +they reached the Indian village, near which +the king of Darien resided. The houses +were neatly built of cabbage-tree, with the +roofs of wild canes, thatched with palmito +royal, and were surrounded by plantain +walks; they had no upper storeys. The king, +queen, and family, came to visit them in +royal robes. Like most savages, he was all +ornament and nakedness, gold and dirt. His +crown was made with woven white reeds, +lined with red silk. In the middle was a +thin plate of gold, some beads, and several +ostrich feathers; in each ear a gold ring; +and in his nose a half-moon of the same +metal. His robe was of thin white cotton,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span> +and in his hand he held a long bright lance, +sharp as a knife. The queen wore several red +blankets, and her two marriageable daughters +and young child were loaded with coloured +beads, and covered with strips of rag. The +women seemed "free, easy, and brisk," but +modest and afraid of their husbands. The +king gave the sailors each three plantains +and some sugar-canes to suck, but, after that +regal munificence, did not disdain to sell his +stores like his subjects, who proved very +cunning dealers in their purchases of knives, +pins, and needles. Resting here a day, Captain +Sawkins was appointed to lead the +forlorn hope of eighty men. Their march +still lay along the river, and here and there +they found a house. The Indians, standing +at the doors, would present each with a ripe +plantain or cassave root, or count them by +dropping a grain of millet for each one that +passed. They rested at night at some native +houses.</p> + +<p>The next day Sharp, Coxen, and Cook, +and ninety men, embarked in fourteen canoes +to try how far the stream was navigable,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span> +Captain Andræas being with them, and two +Indians in each canoe serving as guides. But +the water proved more tedious than the land; +for at the distance of every stone's-cast, they +were constrained to get out of the boats and +haul them over sands, rocks, or fallen trees, +and sometimes over spits of land. That +night they built huts on the bank, being +worn out with fatigue.</p> + +<p>The next day proved a repetition of the +past; at night a tiger came near them, but +they dared not fire for fear of alarming the +Spaniards. The following day was worse than +before, and their men grew mutinous and +suspicious of the Indians, who, they thought, +had divided the troop in order to betray +them. The fourth day, resting on "a beachy +point of land," where another arm joined the +river, they were joined by their companions, +whom they had sent their Indians to seek, +and who had grown alarmed at their continued +absence. That night they prepared +their arms for action. On the morrow they +re-embarked, in all sixty-eight canoes and +327 Englishmen, with fifty Indian guides.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span> +They made themselves paddles, threw away +the Indian poles, and rowed with all speed, +meeting several boats laden with plantains. +About midnight they arrived within half-a-mile +of Santa Maria, and landed. The mud +was so deep that they had to lay down their +paddles and lift themselves up by the boughs +of the trees; then cutting a way through the +woods, they took up their lodging there for +the night, hoping to surprise the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>At daybreak, to their disappointment, they +were awoke by the discharge of a musket +and the beating of a drum. The Spaniards +had already prepared some lead for their +reception, and had sent away their gold to Panama. +Directly they emerged into the plain, +the enemy ran into a large palisaded fort, +twelve feet high, and began to fire quick and +close. The vanguard, running up, pulled +down part of the stockade and broke in and +took them prisoners, the whole 280 men. +A few English were wounded, not one being +killed of the fifty men who led the attack. +200 other Spaniards were in the mines conveying +away the gold, the mines there being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span> +the richest of the western world. Twenty-six +Spaniards were killed in the fort and sixteen +wounded, but the governor, priest, and chief +men all escaped by flight. The town proved +to be merely a few cane houses, built to +check the Indians, who frequently rebelled. +Some days before, three cwt. of gold had +been sent in a bark to Panama, the same quantity +being despatched twice or thrice a-year.</p> + +<p>During the fight the Indians, frightened +at the whistling of the bullets, had hid themselves +in a hollow; when all was over they +entered the place, with great courage stabbing +the prisoners with their lances, and putting +about twenty to death in the woods, till the +Buccaneers interfered. In the town the +Indians found the eldest daughter of the +Darien king, whom one of the garrison had +carried off, and who was then with child by +him. Rather than be left to the mercy of +the Indians, this man offered to lead them to +Panama, where they hoped to capture all the +riches of Potosi and Peru. Sawkins in a +canoe attempted in vain to overtake the +governor and his officers, and rather than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span> +return empty-handed, resolved to go to +Panama, to satisfy what Ringrose calls +"their hungry appetite of gold and riches."</p> + +<p>Captain Coxen was chosen commander, +and the booty and prisoners sent back to the +ships under a guard of twelve men. The +Indians, being rewarded with presents of +needles and beads, also returned, all but the +king. Captain Andræas, Captain Antonio, +and the king's son, King Golden Cap (bonete +d'oro), as the Spaniards called him, resolved +to go on, desiring to see Panama sacked, +and offering to aid them with a large +body of men. The Spanish guide declared +he would not only lead them into the town, +but even to the very door of the governor of +Panama's bed-chamber, and that they should +take him by the hand, and seize him and +the whole city, before they should be discovered +by the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>After remaining two days at Santa Maria, +they departed April 17th, 1680, for Panama.</p> + +<p>They embarked in thirty-five canoes and a +piragua which they had found lying at +anchor, rowing down the river to the gulf<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span> +of Belona, where they would enter the South +Sea and work round to Panama. At the +request of the Indian king the fort, church, +and town were all burnt. The Spanish +prisoners, afraid of being put to death by the +savages if left behind, collected some bark +logs and leaky canoes, although the Buccaneers +could scarcely find boats for themselves, +and went with them.</p> + +<p>Ringrose and four other men were put in +the heaviest and slowest canoe, and, getting +entangled between a shoal two miles long, +and obliged to wait for high water, the boat +being too heavy to row against tide, were soon +left behind. At night, it being again low +water, they stuck up an oar in the river, and, +in spite of a weltering rain, slept all night by +turns in the canoe. The next morning, +rowing two leagues, they overtook their +companions filling water at an Indian hut, +there being no more for six days' journey. +Hurrying to a pond a quarter of a mile distant +with their calabashes, they returned to +their boats and found the rest again gone and +out of sight. "Such," moralises Ringrose,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">227</a></span> +"is the procedure of these wild men, that they +care not in the least whom they lose of their +company or leave behind. We were now +more troubled in our minds than before, +fearing lest we should fall into the same +misfortune we had so lately overcome."</p> + +<p>They rowed after them as fast as possible, +but in vain, and lost their way among the innumerable +islands of the river's mouth; but +at last, with much trouble and toil, hit the +Bocca Chica, the desired passage. But +though they saw the door, they could not +pass through, the "young flood" running violently +against them—although it was only a +stone's-cast off, and not a league broad. +Here, then, in despair they put ashore, fastening +the rope to a tree, almost covered by a +tide that flowed four fathoms deep.</p> + +<p>As soon as the tide turned, they rowed to +an island about a league-and-a-half from the +river's mouth, in the gulf of St. Miguel, +in much danger from the waves, their boat +being twenty feet long, but not quite a foot-and-a-half +broad. Here they rested for the +night, wet through with the continual and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">228</a></span> +impetuous rain, without water to drink, and +unable to light a fire, "for the loss of our +company, and the dangers we were in," says +Ringrose, "made it the sorrowfullest night +that, until then, I ever experimented." None +slept that tedious night, for a vast sea surrounded +them on one side, and the mighty +power of the Spaniards on the other. They +were all without shoes, and their clothes +were drenched through. They could see +nothing but sea, mountain, and rock.</p> + +<p>At break of day they rowed past several +islands to the Point St. Laurence, one man +incessantly employed in baling. As they +passed one of these islands, a huge sea overturned +their boat, but they gained the beach, +swimming for life, and the canoe came +tumbling beside them. The arms fast lashed +at the bottom of the boat, the locks cased +and waxed down like the cartouche boxes, +and powder horns, escaped uninjured, but +the bread and fresh water were either spoiled +or lost. While carefully wiping and cleaning +their arms, for a Buccaneer's musket +was as his wife and child to him, they saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span> +another canoe tossed to shore, a little to leeward. +This proved to be six of the Spanish +prisoners, who had escaped in an old piragua +which was split to pieces, the English boat, +formed of wood, six inches thick, having +escaped unhurt. A common misfortune +makes all men friends, and the English and +Spaniards sat down together and broiled their +meat amicably at the same fire. They then +held a council, discussing for two or three +hours what course to take, and all the men but +Ringrose were for returning and living with +the Indians, if they could not reach the ships +lying in the northern sea. With much ado, +Ringrose prevailed on them to persist for +one day longer, and, just as they were concluding +their debate, the man on the look-out +cried that he saw Indians. Pursued into +the woods by two Buccaneers, they found +that he was one of the expedition, and had +arrived with seven others in a great canoe. +They were glad to see them, and declared, +to their joy, that, all in one canoe, they could +overtake the boats in the course of a day. +On seeing the Spaniards (Wankers they called<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span> +them), they would have put them to death +but for Ringrose's interposition, for his men +stood by indifferent. They then insisted +on keeping one as a slave. Ringrose, still +fearing for their lives, gave the five Spaniards +his own canoe, and bade them shift for their +lives. Now in a large canoe, with a good +sail, and a fresh and strong gale, they made +brave way, with infinite joy and comfort of +heart, the smooth and easy passage, and the +pleasant, fresh ripple of the sea, filling them +with hope and gladness; but that very evening +it grew very dark, and rained heavily. +Suddenly two fires were seen to blaze up +from the opposite shore of the continent, +and the Indians, thinking they must indicate +the encampment of their people, shouted, +"Captain Antonio, Captain Andræas," and +made for the shore as fast as they could pull. +The canoe, however, had hardly got amongst +the breakers, before sixty Spaniards, armed +with clubs, leaped from the woods; and, +drawing the boat on land, made all the crew +their prisoners. Ringrose seized his gun, +and prepared for resistance, but was pulled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span> +down by four or five of the enemy. The +Indians, leaping overboard, escaped nimbly +into the woods. Ringrose spoke to his captors +in French and English, without obtaining +any answer. On addressing the strangers +in Latin, he discovered that they were the +Spanish prisoners from Santa Maria, who +had been liberated, for fear they might escape +when nearer Panama, and inform the city of +the Buccaneers' approach. The Englishmen +were presently taken with shouts of joy into +a hut made of boughs, and examined by the +Spanish captain, who meditated retaliating +upon them the injuries inflicted on the town. +At this critical juncture, the Spaniards whom +Ringrose had liberated came in, and explained +how they had been delivered from +the Indians. On hearing this, the Spanish +captain rose, and, embracing Ringrose, said, +"The English were good people, and very +friendly enemies, but the Indians very rogues, +and a treacherous nation." He then made +him sit down and eat with him, and consented, +for the kindness he had shown his +countrymen, to give him and all his men,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span> +and even the Indians, if they could find them, +their lives and liberties, which otherwise +would have been forfeited. Finally, giving +them a canoe, the noble-hearted enemy bade +them go in God's name, praying that they +might be as fortunate as they had been generous. +All that night they skirted a dangerous +and iron coast, without daring to land.</p> + +<p>The next morning, after sailing, paddling, +and rowing for a few hours, they saw a canoe +suddenly making towards them. It was one +of the English boats, which had mistaken +them for a Spanish piragua. They at once +conducted them to a deep bay, sheltered by +rocks, where the rest lay at anchor. They +were all delighted to see Ringrose and his +men, having given them up as lost. They +then made their way with all speed to a +hilly island, about seven leagues distant, and +surprised an old man, who was stationed +there to watch. The road up to the hut was +very steep, and the Buccaneers surrounded the +old man, who did not see them till they had +already entered his plantain walk. They +were much encouraged by his declaration,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span> +that no tidings of their arrival had yet +reached Panama. About dusk, two of their +boats surprised a small bark that came and +anchored outside the island. The crew had +been absent eight days from the city, landing +soldiers on the adjacent shore, to curb +and drive back the Indians. The crews of +the smaller canoes now crowded into this +vessel to the number of 137 men, together +with Captain Cook and Captain Sharp, the +latter of whom Ringrose calls "a sea artist, +and valiant commander."</p> + +<p>Next morning, rowing all day over shallow +water, they chased a bark, which Captain +Harris took after a sharp dispute, putting +on board a prize crew of thirty men. During +this pursuit the vessels scattered, and did +not reunite till next day at the island of +Chepillo, a preconcerted rendezvous. They +again chased a bark, but with less success, +and Captain Coxen's canoe missed the prize, +owing to a breeze springing up, having +one man killed and another wounded, and, +what was worst of all, the vessel not only +escaped, but spread the alarm at Panama.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span> +At Chepillo they took fourteen negro and +mulatto prisoners, and secured two fat hogs, +plenty of plantains, and some good water. +Believing it useless now to attack Panama, +the Buccaneers resolved to hurry on to the +town to at least surprise some of the shipping. +Their boats had the addition of +another piragua, which they found lying at +Chepillo. Before starting, the captains +cruelly decided, for reasons which Ringrose +could not fathom, to allow the Indians to +murder all the Spanish prisoners before their +eyes, the savages having long thirsted for +their blood. But by a singular coincidence +the prisoners, though without arms, forced +their way by a sudden rush through all the +Indian spears and arrows, and escaped unhurt +into the woods, to the chagrin of both +white and black savages.</p> + +<p>Staying only a few hours at Chepillo, the +boats started at four o'clock in the evening, +intending to reach Panama, which was only +seven leagues distant, before the next morning. +The next day (St. George's day), +before sunrise they arrived at Panama, "a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">235</a></span> +city," says Ringrose, "which has a very +pleasant prospect seaward." They could see +all the ships of the city lying at anchor at +the island of Perico, two leagues distant, +where storehouses had been built. There +now rode at anchor five great ships and three +smaller armadillas, (little men-of-war). This +fleet, which had been hastily manned to defend +the city, as soon as they saw the Buccaneers, +weighed anchor, got under sail, and +bore down at once upon them, directly before +the wind, and with such velocity as to +threaten to run them down. The Spanish +admiral's vessel was manned by ninety Biscayans, +agile seamen and stout soldiers. +They were all volunteers, and had come out +to show their valour under the command of +Don Jacinto de Barahona, high-admiral of +those seas. In the second were seventy-seven +negroes, led by a brave old Andalusian, +Don Francisco de Peralta. In the third, +making 228 men in all, were sixty-five mulattoes, +under Don Diego de Carabaxal. The +Spaniards had strict orders given them to +grant no quarter.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">236</a></span></p> + +<p>To add to the disparity of numbers, only +a few of the Buccaneers' boats were able to +arrive in time. The first five canoes that +came up, leaving the heavy piraguas still +lagging behind, contained only thirty-seven +men, and these were tired with rowing in the +wind's eye, and trying to get close to the +windward of the enemy. The lesser piragua +coming up with thirty-two more men, +made a total force of sixty Buccaneers, including +the king of Darien, engaged in this +daring resistance to an overwhelming force.</p> + +<p>Carabaxal's vessel, passing between Sawkins's +and Ringrose's canoes, fired at both, +wounding four men in the former and one in +the latter, but being slow in tacking, the +Spaniard paid dear for his passage, the first return +volley killing several men upon his decks. +Almost before they had time to reload, the +admiral passed, but the Buccaneers' second +volley quite disabled their giant antagonist, +killing the man at the helm; and the ship ran +into the wind and her sails lay aback. She +fell now like a lamed elephant at the mercy +of the hunters; the canoes, pulling under her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">237</a></span> +stern, fired continually upon the deck, killing +all who dared to touch the helm, and cutting +asunder the mainsheet and mainbrace. Sawkins, +whose canoe was disabled, went next +into the piragua to meet Peralta, leaving the +four canoes to harass the admiral. Between +Sawkins and Peralta, lying alongside of each +other, the fight was desperate, each crew +trying to board, and firing as quick as they +could load. In the mean time the first vessel +tacked about and came to relieve the admiral, +but the canoes, seeing the danger of being +beaten from the admiral's stern and allowing +him to rally, sent two of their number +(Springer and Ringrose) to meet Peralta. +The admiral stood upon his quarter-deck, +waving his handkerchief as a signal for his +captains to come at once to his help. The +canoes pursued Peralta, and would have +boarded him had he not given them the helm +and made away.</p> + +<p>Giving a loud shout, the remaining boats +wedged up the admiral's rudder and poured +in a blinding volley, that killed the admiral +and chief pilot. Two-thirds of the Spaniards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">238</a></span> +being now killed, many wounded, and all +disheartened at the bloody massacre of the +Buccaneers' shot, cried for quarter, which +they had been already several times offered, +and at once surrendered. Captain Coxen +then boarded the prize, taking with him +Captain Harris, who had been shot through +both legs as he was heading a boarding party. +They put all their other wounded men on +board, and, manning two canoes, hurried off +to aid Sawkins, who had already been three +times beaten off by Peralta.</p> + +<p>Coming close under his side and giving +him a full volley, they were expecting a return, +when suddenly a volcano of fire spouted +up from the deck, and all the Spaniards abaft +the mast were blown into the air or sea. +While the brave captain, leaping overboard, +was helping the drowning men in spite of +the rain of shot and the pain of his own +burns, another jar of powder blew up in the +forecastle. Under cover of the smoke and +confusion, Sawkins boarded and took the +ship, or at least all that was left of it. +Ringrose says it was a miserable sight, not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">239</a></span> +a man but was either killed or desperately +wounded, blind, or horribly burnt with the +powder. In some cases the white wounds +where the flesh had peeled to the bone, +showed through the blackening of the powder. +The admiral had but twenty-five men +left out of eighty-six, and of these twenty-five +only eight were now able to bear +arms.</p> + +<p>The blood ran down the deck in streams, +and every rope and plank was smeared with +gore.</p> + +<p>Peralta, as prudent as he was brave, attempted +by every possible argument, forgetful +of his own wounds and the death of his +men, to induce the Buccaneers not to attack +the remaining vessels in the harbour. In +the biggest alone he said there were 350 +men, and the rest were well defended. But +a dying sailor, lifting up his head from the +deck, contradicted him, and said that they +had not a man on board, all their crews being +placed in the armadillas. Trusting to dying +treason rather than living fidelity, the Buccaneers +instantly proceeded to the island,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">240</a></span> +and found the ships deserted. The largest, <i>La +Santissima Trinidada</i>, had been set on fire, the +crew, loosing her foresail, having pierced her +bottom. The captains soon quenched the fire, +and stopping the leak turned their prize into +a floating hospital-ship. They found they +had eighteen men killed and twenty-two +wounded (only two of whom died) in this +desperate sea battle, which began an hour after +sunrise and ended at noon. The third vessel, +it appeared, while running away had met +with two others, but even with this reinforcement +refused to fight.</p> + +<p>Their brave prisoner, Peralta, now that all +was over, broke out into repeated praises of +their courage, which was so congenial to his +own. He said: "You Englishmen are the +valiantest men in the whole world, always +desiring to fight open, while all other nations +invent all the ways imaginable to barricade +themselves, and fight as close as possible." +"Notwithstanding all this," adds Ringrose, +"we killed more of our enemies than they +of us." Two days after the battle the Buccaneers +buried Captain Harris, a brave Englishman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">241</a></span> +of the county of Kent, whose death +was much lamented by the fleet.</p> + +<p>The new city of Panama, built four miles +more easterly than that which Morgan burnt, +had been three times destroyed by fire since +that event. A few people still lived round +the cathedral in the old town. The new city +was bigger than the old one, and built chiefly +of brick and stone, and was defended by a +garrison of 300 soldiers and 1,000 militiamen. +They afterwards learnt that the troops +were then absent, and that if they had +landed instead of attacking the fleet, they +might have taken the place, all the best +shots being on board the admiral's vessel.</p> + +<p>In the five vessels taken at Perico there +was much spoil. The <i>Trinidada</i> (400 tons) +was laden with wine, sugar, sweetmeats, +skins, and soap. The second, of 300 tons, +partly laden with bars of iron, one of the +richest commodities brought into the South +Sea, was burnt by the Buccaneers, because +the Spaniards would not redeem it. The +third, of 180 tons, laden with sugar, was +given to Captain Cook; the fourth, an old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">242</a></span> +vessel (60 tons), laden with meal, was burnt +as useless, with all her cargo. The fifth, of +50 tons, with a piragua, fell to the lot of +Captain Coxen. The two armadillas, the +rigging and sails being saved, and a bark +laden with poultry, were also burnt.</p> + +<p>Captain Coxen, indignant at charges made +against him of cowardice in the late action, determined +to rejoin the ships in the northern +seas, together with seventy men who had +assisted in his election. The Indian king, +Don Andræas, and Don Antonio, returned +with him. The king left his son and nephew +in the care of Captain Sawkins, who was now +commander-in-chief, and desired him not to +spare the Spaniards. A few days after Captain +Sharp returned from the King's islands, +having taken a Spanish vessel and burnt his +own. Captain Harris's crew had also taken a +vessel, and, dismasting their own, turned +their prisoners adrift in the hulk, and soon +after taking a poultry vessel, the meanest of +the Spaniards were treated in the same way.</p> + +<p>Having remained now ten days at Panama, +the fleet steered to the island of Tavoga,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">243</a></span> +where they found a village of 100 houses +quite deserted, and many of these were burnt +by the carelessness of a drunken sailor. The +Panama merchants came here to sell the Buccaneers +commodities and to purchase the +plunder from their own vessels, giving 200 +pieces of eight for every negro. Staying +eight days, they captured a vessel from +Truxillo laden with money to pay the garrison +of Panama, while in the hold were 2,000 +jars of wine and fifty jars of gunpowder. A +flour vessel from the same place informed +them that a ship was coming in a few days +laden with 100,000 more pieces of eight.</p> + +<p>To a message from the President, who +sent by some merchants to ask why they +came into those parts, Captain Sawkins replied, +that he came to assist the King of +Darien, the true lord of the country, and he +required a ransom of 500 pieces of eight for +each sailor, and 1,000 for the commander. +He must also promise not to molest the Indians, +who were the natural owners of the +soil. Hearing from the messengers that a +certain priest, now bishop of Panama, formerly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">244</a></span> +of Santa Martha, lay in the city, Sawkins, +remembering that he had been his prisoner +when he took that city five years before, +sent him two loaves of sugar as a present. +The next day the bishop replied by forwarding +him a gold ring. The President, at the +same time, sent another letter, desiring to +see his commission, that he might know to +what power to complain. Sawkins replied, +that as yet all his men were not come together, +but when they had met, they would +come up to Panama, and bring their commissions +on the muzzles of their guns, at +which time he should read them as plain as +the flame of gunpowder would let him.</p> + +<p>The men growing now mutinous for fresh +meat, Sawkins was compelled to give up his +hopes of capturing the rich vessel from Peru, +and to sail to the island of Otoque, to buy +fowls and hogs, losing two barks, one with +seven, and the other with fifteen men. While +lying off the pearl fishery of Cayboa, Sawkins +and Sharp made an unfortunate attack +with sixty men on the town of Puebla Nueva. +They were piloted up the river in canoes by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">245</a></span> +a negro prisoner. A mile below the town, +great trees had been laid to block up the +stream, and before the town three strong +breastworks were thrown up. Sawkins, +running furiously up the sloping ramparts, +was shot dead, and his men driven back to +their boats, two men being killed, and three +wounded, in the retreat, which was made in +pretty good order. They soon after, however, +captured a vessel laden with indigo, +and burnt two others. This Captain Sawkins, +Ringrose says, was as valiant and courageous +as any, and, next to Captain Sharp, +the best beloved. His death was much lamented, +and occasioned another overland expedition. +Sharp, surrendering his last prize to +Captain Cook, took his vessel and gave it to +the sixty-three men who wished to return +home. They led with them all the Indians +to serve as guides overland.</p> + +<p>Before they started, Sharp, in full council +on board the <i>Trinidada</i>, offered to insure to all +who would carry out Sawkins's scheme, and +go home by the Straits of Magellan, a £1000 +profit, but none would stay. Ringrose himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">246</a></span> +acknowledges he should have left with +them, but was afraid of the Indians, and the +long and dangerous journey in the rainy +season.</p> + +<p>At Cayboa, the men took in water and +cut wood, killing alligators, and salting deer +and turtle. Here two "remarkable events" +happened to Ringrose. In the first place, +he ate an oyster so large that he found it +necessary to cut it into four large mouthfuls: +secondly, as he was washing himself in a +pond, some drops fell on him from a mançanilla +tree, and these drops broke out into a +red eruption that lasted a week. Here +Sharp burnt one of his prizes for the sake +of the iron work, and received Captain Cook, +whose men had revolted, on board his own +ship, making John Cox, a New Englander, +commander in his stead.</p> + +<p>Sharp now determined to careen at the island +of Gorgona, and then to proceed to Guayaquil, +where Captain Juan, the captain of the +Tavoga money ship, assured them they might +throw away their silver and lade with gold. +They selected Gorgona, because, on account<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">247</a></span> +of the perpetual rain, the Spaniards seldom +touched there. The sailors, who had lost +their money at gambling, were impatient of +these delays, and declared that the Spaniards +would now gain time, and the whole coast +be alarmed, and on the defensive. But the +richer men, wanting rest, decided for Gorgona.</p> + +<p>In this island, they fished their mainmast, +shot at whales, killed monkeys, snakes, +and turtle for food, being short of provision, +caught a large sloth, and killed a serpent, +fourteen inches thick, and twelve feet long. +While moored here, Joseph Gabriel, the +Chilian, who stole the Indian king's daughter, +died of a malignant calenture. He had +been very faithful, and discovered many +plots and conspiracies among the prisoners of +intended escapes and murders.</p> + +<p>Sharp now abandoned the design on Guayaquil, +and resolved to attack Arica, the dépôt +of all the Potosi plate. An old man who had +served much with the Spaniards, promised +them £2000 a-man.</p> + +<p>After a fortnight's sail they arrived at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">248</a></span> +island of Plate, so called from Drake dividing +his plunder there among his men. The +Spaniards had a tradition, that he took +twelve score tons of plate in the galleon +armada, and that each of his forty-five men +had sixteen bowls full of coined money—his +ships being so full that they were obliged to +throw much of it overboard. In the adjoining +bay of Manta, in Cromwell's time, a +Lima vessel, laden with thirty millions of +dollars, on its way as a present to Charles I., +was lost by keeping too near the shore. +While catching goats on this island, on which +the cross of the first Spanish discoverer still +stood, they were joined by Captain Cox, +whom they had lost a fortnight before, as +they feared, irrecoverably. They killed and +salted on this island 100 goats in a day, +and one man alone, in a few hours, in one +small bay turned seventeen turtle. Peralta +congratulated them on getting as far to windward +in two weeks as the Spanish captains +did in three months, from their keeping boldly +so far from the shore.</p> + +<p>While passing Guayaquil, they espied a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">249</a></span> +Spanish vessel and gave chase. Being hailed +in Spanish by an Indian prisoner, to lower +their topsails, the enemy replied they would +pull down the Englishman's first, and answered +with their arquebuses to the Buccaneers' +muskets, till, one bullet killing the man at +the helm and another cutting their maintop +halliards, they cried out for quarter. There +were thirty-five men on board, including +twenty-four Spaniards and several persons of +quality. The captain's brother, since the +death of Don Jacinto de Barahona at Panama, +was admiral of the armada. The Buccaneers' +rigging was much cut during the fight, and +two men were wounded, besides a sailor who +was shot by an accident. The captain, it +appears, had in a bravado sworn to attack +their fleet if he could meet it. The Spaniard, +a very "civil and meek gentleman," informed +them that the governor of Lima, hearing of +their visit to Panama, had collected five ships +and 750 sailors; while two other vessels and +400 soldiers, furnished by the viceroy, were +preparing to start. A patache with twenty-four +guns was also lying at Callao, ready to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">250</a></span> +remove the king's plate from Arica. At +Guayaquil they had built two forts, and +mustered 850 men of all colours. The same +day the English unrigged their new prize +and sank her.</p> + +<p>Reckoning up the pillage, they found they +had now 3,276 pieces of eight, which were at +once divided. The same day they punished +a Spanish friar, who was chaplain in the last +prize, and, shooting him on the deck, flung +him overboard before he was dead. "Such +cruelties," says Ringrose, "though I abhorred +very much in my heart, yet here I was +forced to hold my tongue and not contradict +them, as having no authority to oversway +them." The prisoners now confessed they +had killed a boat full of the Buccaneers' men, +lost near Cayboa, and had discovered from +the only survivor the plan on Guayaquil.</p> + +<p>Captain Cox's vessel being so slow as to +require towing, they sank it, so there were now +140 men and boys and fifty-five prisoners in +one and the same bottom. While to the +leeward of Tumbes, Peralta told them a +legend of a priest having once landed there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">251</a></span> +in the face of 10,000 Indians, who stared at +his uplifted cross. As he stepped out of his +boat on the shore, before the water could +efface his footprints, two lions and two tigers +came out of the woods to meet him, but when +he gently laid the cross on their backs, they +fell down and worshipped it, upon which all +the Indians came forward and were baptised.</p> + +<p>The night they passed Paita they espied a +sail and gave chase, following it by the lights +which it showed through negligence. Scantiness +of provisions made them more eager +in the pursuit, and coming up the Spaniard instantly +lowered all her sails and surrendered. +The Buccaneers casting dice as to who should +first board, the lot fell to the larboard watch. +The vessel contained fifty packs of cocoa, and a +great deal of raw silk and India cloth, besides +many bales of thread stockings. The prize +being plundered and dismasted, the prisoners +were turned adrift in it, supplied with only +a foresail, some water, and a little flour. +The chief prisoners, as Don Thomas de +Argandona, commander of the Guayaquil +vessel, and his friends Don Christoval and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">252</a></span> +Don Baltazar, gentlemen of quality, Captain +Peralta, Moreno, a pilot, and twelve slaves, +to do the drudgery, were still kept. The +next day the sailor wounded in taking the +Guayaquil vessel, died, and was buried with +ceremony, three French volleys being fired +as the body was let down into the deep.</p> + +<p>Their next expedition was to attack Arica +with 112 men, first sending five boats to +capture some fishermen at the river of Juan +Diaz, whom they might employ as spies.</p> + +<p>To their great chagrin they found the +landing impracticable, and the whole coast +in arms. Troops of horse covered the low +hills round the bay, and close beneath six ships +rode at anchor. Abandoning this project, +these indefatigable marauders (more pirates +than real Buccaneers) despatched four +canoes and fifty men, to plunder the town +of Hillo. On the shore the English were +met by some horsemen, who fled after a few +volleys. Marching to the town, they forced +their way through a small breastwork of clay +and sandbags, and took the town. Keeping +good watch for fear of surprise, a dying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">253</a></span> +Indian, wounded in the skirmish, told them +that the townspeople had heard from Lima +nine days before, and expected their coming. +In the town they found pitch, wine, oil, and +flour, and sixty of the ablest men were sent up +the adjoining valley to reconnoitre. They +found it beautifully planted with fig, lemon, +lime, olive, and orange trees, and four miles +up came to a sugar-mill, the greater part of +the sugar having been removed. The Spaniards, +watching them from the hills, rolled +stones upon them, but hid themselves when +a musket-shot was fired in retaliation. Captain +Cox and a Dutch interpreter being +despatched with a flag of truce to the Spaniards, +they agreed to give eighty beeves +as a ransom for the mill, and a message was +despatched to Captain Sharp not to injure +the drivers of the oxen when they came. +Hearing that sixteen beeves had already arrived +at the port, the men, contrary to Ringrose's +opinion, returned to the ships laden +with sugar, and found the whole story of the +oxen's arrival a mere <i>ruse de guerre</i>. The +Spaniards being appealed to promised the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">254</a></span> +cattle should arrive that night, but at last +declared the wind was so high they could +not drive the herds. Enraged at this delay, +the Buccaneers, who had now taken in +water, marched 100 men up the valley, and +burned the house, the mill, and the canes, +carried off the sugar, broke the oil jars, and +cracked the copper wheels. Near the shore +they were charged by a body of 300 horsemen, +who took them by surprise, but not +before they had thrown down the sugar and +taken up their arms.</p> + +<p>Ringrose shall tell the rest: "We being in +good rank and order," he says, "fairly proffered +them battle upon the bay; but as we advanced +to meet them, they retired and rid +towards the mountains, to surround us, and +take the rocks from us, if possibly they could. +Hereupon, perceiving their intentions, we returned +back and possessed ourselves of the +said rocks, and also of the lower town, as +the Spaniards themselves did of the upper +town (at the distance of half-a-mile from the +lower), the hills and the woods adjoining +thereunto. The horsemen being now in possession<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">255</a></span> +of those quarters, we could perceive +as far as we could see, more and more men +resort unto them, so that their forces increased +hourly to considerable numbers. We +fired at one another as long as we could see, +and the day would permit. But in the mean +time we observed that several of them rid +to the watch hill and looked out often to the +seaward. This gave us occasion to fear that +they had more strength and forces coming +that way, which they expected every minute. +Hereupon, lest we should speed worse than +we had done before, we resolved to embark +silently in the dark of the night." They carried +off a great chest of sugar (seven pounds +and a-half to each man), thirty jars of oil, +and much fruit, wild and cultivated. From +appearances next morning they believed the +enemy had also fled in the night, as only fifty +men could be seen. The prisoners, seeing +a comet at dusk, told the Englishmen that +many such appearances had preceded the +arrival of the Buccaneers in the South Sea. +Their brave prisoner, Captain Peralta, began +at this time to show signs of insanity, his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">256</a></span> +mind being shaken by continued hardship +and despair at his long imprisonment.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers next landed 100 men, +hoping to take by surprise the city of La +Serena. Here, too, they found the Spaniards +vigilant, and had to break through 100 horsemen +to reach the town, killing three officers +and wounding four men. The town contained +seven great churches and many rich +merchants' houses surrounded by gardens. +The inhabitants had fled, and either carried +away or buried all their treasures, and a Chilian +prisoner said the Spaniards had killed most +of their negro and even their Chilian slaves, +for fear of their revolting and joining the +Buccaneers. A party of forty men, with a +Chilian guide, searched the woods in vain to +secure prisoners for guides. The Spaniards, +sending a flag of truce, agreed to pay 95,000 +pieces of eight as ransom for the town; but, +not bringing it in, the place was set on fire. +Taking advantage of an earthquake, the +Spaniards opened the sluices and inundated +the streets. Every house, Ringrose says, was +separately fired to render the conflagration<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">257</a></span> +complete. Two parties were then despatched +laden with booty to the ships, who on their +way beat up an ambuscade of 250 Spanish +horse. During their absence, a daring attempt +was made to burn their ship. The +enemy hired a man who floated under the +stern of the ship on a horse's hide, blown out +like a bladder. He then stuffed oakum +and brimstone between the keel and the +stern-post, and set the rudder on fire. The +men, alarmed at the smoke, ran up and down, +not knowing where the fire could be, and +believing the prisoners had done it in order +to escape. The source of the evil was at last +discovered, and the flames extinguished. The +Buccaneers, before sailing, released all their +prisoners, not knowing what to do with them, +and fearing that they would revolt or perhaps +try to burn the ship.</p> + +<p>On reaching the island of Juan Fernandez, +they solemnized the festival of Christmas by +discharging three volleys of shot, and killing +sixty goats in one day. The shore was +covered so thick with seals that they were +obliged to shoot a few in order to land. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">258</a></span> +then filled 200 water-jars, and were nearly +lost in a place called "False Wild Harbour," +where they killed several sea-lions. Their +beds they made of fern. It was on this +island, their pilot told them, a deserted sailor +(Alexander Selkirk) had lived five years.</p> + +<p>The men now in the midst of storms +and dangers, were all in a mutiny. Some +were for going back to England or the plantations, +and returning by the straits of Magellan; +others for continuing longer in those +seas. All agreed to depose Captain Sharp +and elect John Watling, an old privateer, +"and a stout seaman." The next Sunday +was the first, says Ringrose, that had been +kept by common consent since the death of +Sawkins, who would throw the dice overboard +if he found any in use on that day.</p> + +<p>Juan Fernandez abounded in cabbage palms +and building timber. The fish swarmed in +such quantities that they could be caught +with the bare hook, one sailor in a few hours +capturing enough for the whole crew. Shoals +a mile long were seen in the bay. While +busily employed in catching fish, shooting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">259</a></span> +goats, and cutting timber, the hunters suddenly +gave the alarm of three Spanish men-of-war +approaching the island, and, slipping +their cables, the Buccaneers put out hurriedly +to sea. In the confusion, William, a Mosquito +Indian, who could not be found at the +time, was left behind to endure the hardships +that a few days before he may have heard +the pilot relate as experienced by the celebrated +Alexander Selkirk (the prototype of +Robinson Crusoe).</p> + +<p>The three Spanish vessels proved to be the +<i>El Santo Christo</i>, of 800 tons, carrying twelve +guns; the <i>San Francisco</i>, of 600 tons, with +ten guns; and a third of 350 tons. As soon +as they came in sight, they hung out "bloody +flags;" and the Buccaneers, nothing daunted, +did the same. The English, keeping close +under the wind, were very unwilling to fight, +as the Spaniards held together, and their +new commander, Watling, showed a faint +heart. The trio eventually sheered off, glad +to escape uninjured.</p> + +<p>Determining to pay a second visit to Arica, +twenty-five men and two canoes were despatched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">260</a></span> +to obtain guides from the island of +Yqueque. On the shore of the mainland +they found a hut built of whales' bones, a +cross, and some broken jars.</p> + +<p>They brought away from the island, which +they could not at first discover, two old +white men and two Indians. The people of +Arica, they found, came to this place to +buy clay, and the natives were obliged to +fetch all the water they used from the mainland. +The Indians wore no clothes, and +chewed leaves which dyed their teeth green. +One of the old prisoners being examined was +shot to death by order of the commander, +who believed him to be lying, although, as +it afterwards appeared, he told nothing but +the truth. Sharp was troubled and dissatisfied +at this cruel and rash order, and, +taking water and washing his hands, he +said, "Gentlemen, I am clear of the blood +of this old man, and will warrant you a hot +day for this piece of cruelty whenever we +come to fight at Arica." The other prisoner +said that he was the superintendent of fifty +slaves belonging to the governor of the town.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">261</a></span> +These slaves caught fish and sold them when +dried in the inland towns. There were then +three Chilian ships and a bark in the harbour, +and a fortification of twelve guns in +the town. The people had already, he said, +heard from Coquimbo of their arrival, and +removed and buried their treasure. There +were also, they heard, breast-works round +the town, and barricades in every street.</p> + +<p>Disregarding these warnings, the Buccaneers +embarked next day in a launch and +four canoes, rowing and sailing all night, in +hopes of surprising Arica. At daybreak +they hid themselves under the cliffs for fear +of being seen, and at night began again to +row. On Sunday (Jan. 30), 1680—"sacred +to the memory of King Charles the Martyr"—they +landed among some rocks four miles +to the south of the town, ninety-two men +going on shore, the rest staying to defend +the boats. The signal agreed on was, that at +one smoke, they should come up to the harbour +in one canoe; but if there were two +smokes, they should "bring all away, leaving +only fifteen men with the boats." Mounting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">262</a></span> +a steep hill, they could see no Spaniards, +and hoped that the surprise was complete; +but as they were descending the other side, +three horsemen on the look-out hill rode +down at full speed and alarmed the city. The +forty men who attacked the fort with hand +grenades, seeing their companions overpowered, +ran down into the valley to join them. +"Here the battle was very desperate, and +they killed and wounded two more of our +men from their outworks before we could +gain upon them. But our rage increasing +with our wounds, we still advanced, and at +last beat the enemy out of all, and filled +every street in the city with dead bodies. +The enemy made several retreats from one +breast-work to another, but, we had not a +sufficient number of men to man all places +taken. Insomuch, that we had no sooner +beat them out of one place but they came +another way, and manned it again with new +forces and fresh men." So says Ringrose.</p> + +<p>Imprudently overburdening themselves +with prisoners, they found there were in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">263</a></span> +the place 400 soldiers from Lima, 200 armed +townsmen, and 300 men garrisoning the +fort. Being now nearly masters of the place, +the English sent to demand the surrender of +the fort, and, receiving no answer, advanced +to the attack. Several times repulsed, the +Buccaneers at last mounted the top of a +neighbouring house and fired down into the +castle; but, being again surrounded by the +enemy, they were obliged to desist. The +number and vigour of the enemy increased +hourly, and, almost overpowered, the English +were compelled to retreat to the hospital where +the surgeons were tending the wounded. +Captain Watling and both quartermasters +were killed, and many were disabled. We +will let Ringrose tell the rest:—</p> + +<p>"So that now, the enemy rallying against +us, and beating us from place to place, we +were in a very distracted condition, and in +more likelihood to perish, every man, than +escape the bloodshed of that day. Now we +found the words of Captain Sharp true, +being all very sensible that we had a day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">264</a></span> +too hot for us, after that cruel heat in killing +and murdering in cold blood the old Mestizo +Indian.</p> + +<p>"Being surrounded with difficulties on all +sides, and in great disorder, having nobody +to give orders, what was to be done? We +were glad to have our eyes upon our good +old commander, Captain Bartholomew Sharp, +and beg of him very earnestly to commiserate +our condition, and carry us off. It was +a great while before he would take any notice +of our request, so much was he displeased +with the former mutiny of our people +against him, all which had been occasioned +by the instigation of Mr. Cook.</p> + +<p>"But Mr. Sharp is a man of an undaunted +courage, and excellent conduct, not fearing +in the least to look an insulting enemy in +the face, and a person that knows both the +theory and practice of navigation as well as +most do. Hereupon, at our earnest request +and petition, he took upon him the command +in chief again, and began to distribute his +orders for our safety. He would have brought +off our surgeons, but they, having been drinking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">265</a></span> +while we assaulted the fort, would not come +with us when they were called. They killed +and took of our number twenty-eight men, besides +eighteen that we brought off, who were +desperately wounded. At that time we were +all extremely faint for want of water and victuals, +whereof we had none all that day. We +were likewise almost choked with the dust of +the town, being so much raised by the work +that their guns had made, that we could +scarce see each other. They beat us out of +the town, then followed us into the savannahs, +still charging as fast as they could. +But when they saw that we rallied, again +resolving to die one by another, they ran +from us into the town, and sheltered themselves +under their breast-works. Thus we +retreated in as good order as we possibly +could observe in that confusion. But their +horsemen followed us as we retired, and fired +at us all the way, though they would not +come within reach of our guns, for theirs +reached further than ours, and outshot us +above one-third. We took the sea-side for +our greater security, which when the enemy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">266</a></span> +saw, they betook themselves to the hills, +rolling down great stones and whole rocks +to destroy us. Meanwhile, those of the +town examined our surgeons, and other men +whom they had made prisoners. These gave +them our signs that we had left to our boats +that were behind us, so that they immediately +blew up two fires, which were perceived +by the canoes. This was the greatest +of our dangers; for had we not come at that +instant that we did to the sea-side, our boats +had been gone, they being already under +sail, and we had inevitably perished every +man. Thus we put off from the shore, and +got on board about ten at night, having been +involved in a bloody fight with the enemy +all the day."</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers, thus cruelly baffled, plied +for some time outside the port, hoping to be +revenged on the three ships, but they did +not venture out. Arica Ringrose describes as +a square place, with the castle at one corner. +The houses were only eleven feet high, and +built of earth. It was the place of embarkation +for all minerals sent to Lima. Of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">267</a></span> +the English prisoners, only ten survived. +The Spaniards lost more than seventy men, +three times as many being wounded, and of +forty-five allies from Hillo only two returned +alive.</p> + +<p>On dividing the plate, they found only +thirty-seven pieces of eight fell to each man. +Landing at Guasco, they took in 500 jars of +water, and carried off 120 sheep, 80 goats, +and 200 bushels of flour. At Hillo they +surprised the townsmen asleep, and heard a +false report that 5000 Englishmen had taken +Panama. They carried off eighteen jars of +wine and some new figs, and, ascending to the +sugar-work they had before visited, laded +seven mules with molasses and sugar. The +townsmen told them, that the owner of the +mill had brought an action against them for +having done him more injury than the Buccaneers.</p> + +<p>A few days after this another mutiny +broke out, and forty-seven men, refusing to +serve any longer under Captain Sharp, landed +near the island of Plate, with five Indian +slaves to serve as guides. Near the island<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">268</a></span> +of Chica they captured two Spanish vessels, +one of them the very ship they had captured +before at Panama. They heard here that +some of their overland parties had taken a +good ship at Porto Bello. Capturing some +Spanish shipwrights at this place, they employed +them for a fortnight in altering +their vessel, and then set them at liberty, +with some others of their prisoners, giving +them one of their prizes, and manning the +other with six men and two slaves.</p> + +<p>They now agreed in council to bear up for +Golfo Dolce, there to careen their vessels, and +then to cruise about under the equinoctial. +They landed in Golfo Dolce, and, treating +kindly some Indians whom they took prisoners, +bought honey and plantains of them. Here +they learned that the Spaniards, having +treacherously captured forty Darien chiefs, +had forced the natives into a peace. Having +careened here, they soon after captured a rich +prize, the <i>San Pedro</i>, bound from Truxillo +to Panama, deeply laden with 37,000 pieces +of eight, in chest and bags, besides plate. +This was the same vessel they had taken the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">269</a></span> +year before, and it was now their prize a +second time in fourteen months. The crew +consisted of forty men, besides friars and +merchants. Taking out part of her lading +of cocoa, they cut down her masts and turned +her adrift with all the old slaves, as "<i>a reward +for good service</i>," taking new ones from the +prize. Francisco, a negro, who had attempted +to escape by swimming on shore in the Golfo +Dolce, they retained as a prisoner, as a punishment +for his insubordination. From this prize +each Buccaneer received 234 pieces of eight, +much being left for a future division. They +learnt from this vessel that a new Viceroy of +Peru, arrived at Panama, had not dared to +venture to Lima in his ship of twenty-five +guns, but had waited for the armada as a +convoy. A few days later, they captured +the packet that ran between Lima and Panama. +A friar and five negroes escaped on +shore, but two white women were captured. +Rummaging the boat, they found nothing of +value but a letter announcing the departure +of the viceroy with four ships. The prisoners +and the boat were then released. "That<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">270</a></span> +week," says Ringrose, "we stood out to +sea all night long, most of our men being +fuddled."</p> + +<p>The next day they captured a Spanish +vessel that had at first frightened them by +its size. The volleys of the Buccaneers +soon drove the Spaniards into the hold and +made them cry for quarter, having killed the +captain at the first fire, and wounded the +boatswain. Captain Sharp and twelve +others were the first to board. She proved +to be <i>El Santo Rosario</i>, commanded by Don +Diego Lopez, bound from Callao to Panama. +The crew were forty in number. She was +deeply laden with plate and coined money, +and carried 620 jars of wine and brandy. At +Cape Passao Sharp sank the bark taken at +Nicoya, preserving her rigging, and disabling +the last prize set the prisoners adrift in it, +keeping only the one man, named Francisco, +who had described himself as the best pilot +in those seas. They then divided the booty, +which came to ninety-four pieces of eight +a man. From these prisoners they learned +that their men taken at Arica had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">271</a></span> +kindly treated at Callao. Of the last party +that one had been captured, and the rest +had had to fight their way overland through +Indians and Spaniards. Ten Buccaneers +were also announced as about to enter the +South Sea. In August they landed again to +kill goats on the island of Plate, where Ringrose +and James Chappel, a quartermaster, +fought a duel on shore, with what result +we do not know. The same evening a conspiracy +of the slaves was detected, in which +they had plotted to slay all their masters +when in drink, not sparing any. The ringleader, +San Jago, a prisoner from Yqueque, +leaped overboard when the plot was discovered, +and was shot by the captain. The +rest, being terrified at his death, were forgiven, +and the same night the usual debauch +took place in spite of the danger. From +their pilot they heard that a Lima vessel +bound for Guayaquil had run ashore lately +on Santa Clara, losing 100,000 pieces of +eight, that would have been their prize. +They heard also that the Viceroy of Peru +had beheaded the great Admiral Ponce for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">272</a></span> +not destroying the Buccaneer fleet while at +Gorgona.</p> + +<p>They next made a descent on Paita, but +found the place garrisoned by three companies +horse and foot, well armed, from +Puira, twelve leagues up the country. 150 +musketeers and 400 lancers occupied a hill +and a breast-work, and fired upon the canoes. +Had they suffered them to land they might +have killed them to a man. Finding the +whole coast now alarmed, they bore at once +away for the Straits of Magellan. Touching +at some unknown islands, they were almost +inclined to winter there. Here they shot +geese, made broth of limpets, and one of +the boats captured an Indian and shot +another dead. The prisoner was clad in a +seal's skin, and carried a net to catch penguins. +He was so strong as to be able to +open mussels with his fingers, and they kept +him as a slave, and called him Orson. They +then proceeded to divide eight chests of +money still unallotted, and each man received +322 pieces of eight. On December 7th Captain +Sharp received intelligence of a conspiracy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">273</a></span> +to shoot him during the ensuing +festivities of Christmas-day. The only precaution +he took was at once to divide all the +wine in store, believing that no sober man +would attempt so dastardly an act. Each +mess received three jars. The cold grew +now so intense that several of the negro +slaves had their feet mortify, and some died. +Christmas-day was celebrated by killing a fat +sow, this being the first flesh the men had +eaten since they left the island of Plata. By +January 16th the days grew very hot again, +and the nights cool and dewy. The men, weary +of the voyage, offered a piece of eight "each +man" to him who first discovered land. The +sight of birds soon indicated this, and January +28th the look-out spied Barbadoes; but +hearing of peace they dared not put in for +fear of being seized, and therefore steered for +Antigua, much afraid of frigates, and shunning +even a Bristol interloper that lay in the +offing. Ringrose says: "Here I cannot +easily express the infinite joy we were possessed +with all this day, to see our own +countrymen again." They then freed a negro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">274</a></span> +shoemaker, whom they had kept as a prisoner, +and who had been very serviceable +during the voyage. To Captain Sharp the men +gave a mulatto boy as slave, for a token of +the respect of his whole company to him for +having led them safely through so many +dangerous adventures. They then divided +the last parcels of money, and received +twenty-four pieces of eight a man. A little +Spanish shock dog, taken from a prize, was +also sold at the mast by public outcry, for +forty pieces of eight, the owner promising all +he gained should be devoted to a general feast. +Captain Sharp bought the dog, saying he +would eat it if they did not soon get leave to +land. 100 pieces of eight was also added +to the store, the boatswain, carpenter, and +quartermaster having quarrelled about the +last dividend.</p> + +<p>On reaching Antigua Sharp sent a canoe +ashore to buy tobacco and other necessaries, +and to ask leave of the governor to land. +The conclusion of Ringrose's book tells the +rest: "The gentry of the place and common<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">275</a></span> +people were very willing and desirous to receive +us, but on Wednesday, February 1st, +the governor flatly refused us entry, at +which all the gentry were much troubled, +showing themselves very kind to us; hereupon +we agreed among ourselves to give the +ship to those of our company who had no +money left them of all their purchase in this +voyage, having lost it at play, and then put +ourselves on board two ships bound for England. +So I myself and thirteen more of our +company went on board Captain Robert +Porteen's ship called the <i>Lisbon Merchant</i>, +set sail from La Antigua February 11th, +and landed in England March 26th, anno +1682."</p> + +<p>On his arrival in England Captain Sharp +was tried for piracy and acquitted. He at +once resolved to return to the West Indies, +but all the merchant ships refused to carry +him, afraid he would tempt their men to +revolt against their master, and run away +with the ship for a privateer, as he had done +before. No promises or entreaties could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">276</a></span> +avail, and he seemed doomed to remain a +prisoner in an island for which he entertained +no filial affection.</p> + +<p>He therefore hit upon a desperate scheme, +worthy of such a man. Collecting a little +money he bought an old, half-rotten boat, +lying near London-bridge, for £20, and embarked +with sixteen desperadoes equally +fearless as himself, carrying a supply of butter +and cheese, and two dozen pieces of salt beef. +He sailed down the river and reached the +Downs, and there he boarded and captured a +French vessel and sank his boat. By a +foray on Romney Marsh he supplied himself +with cattle, and sailed away like a bold Buccaneer +as he was, to die no one knows where.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">277</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2 class="p6"><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.<br /> + +<small>DAMPIER'S VOYAGES.</small></h2> + + +<blockquote><p>Leaves Captain Sharp—Land march over the Isthmus—Joins +Captain Wright—Wreck of the French fleet—Returns +to England—Second voyage with Captain +Cook—Guinea coast—Juan Fernandez—Takes Ampalla—Takes +Paita—Dampier's scheme of seizing the +mines—Attacks Manilla galleon—Captain Swan—Death +unknown. Van Horn—Captures galleons—Takes +Vera Cruz—Killed in a duel by Le Graff.</p></blockquote> + + +<p>Dampier, one of the wisest and best of +English travellers, was himself a Buccaneer. +Son of a Somersetshire farmer, he went early +to sea, and became a freebooter without much +compunction, just at the time when the +brothers of the coast were sinking into mere +pirates. "No peace beyond the line" was +their early motto; "Friends to God and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">278</a></span> +enemies to all mankind," was the later. The +flag, once reddened by the Spaniards' blood, +grew now black with the shadows of death +and of the grave.</p> + +<p>Dampier was among those who left Captain +Sharp after the dreadful repulse from +Arica. His party consisted of forty-four +Englishmen and two Mosquito Indians, who +determined to re-cross the Isthmus of Darien, +and return to the North Pacific Ocean. They +carried with them a large quantity of flour +and chocolate mixed with sugar, and took a +mutual and terrible oath, that if any of their +number sank from fatigue, he should be shot +by his comrades, rather than allow him to +fall into the hands of the Spaniards, who +would not only torture him horribly, but +compel him to betray his companions.</p> + +<p>In a fortnight after leaving the vessels they +landed at the mouth of a river in the Bay of +St. Michael, where unloading their provisions +and arms they sank their boats; and while +preparing for the inland journey, the Indians +caught fish, and built huts for them to sleep +in. The next day they struck into an Indian<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">279</a></span> +path and reached a village, but found, to +their alarm, that the Spaniards had placed +armed ships at the mouths of all the navigable +rivers to intercept them on their +return. Hiring an Indian guide, they reached +the day after a native house, but the +savage would neither give them food nor +information. At any other time the Buccaneers +would have at once put him on the +rack, or hung him at his own door, but they +felt this was no place to be angry, for their +lives lay in the enemy's hands. Neither +dollars, hatchets, nor knives, would move +this stubborn man, till a sailor pulled a sky +blue petticoat from his bag and threw it over +the head of the Indian's wife. Delighted with +the gift, she coaxed her husband till he gave +them information and found a guide. It had +rained hard for two days, the country was +difficult and fatiguing, and there was no +path that even an Indian eye could discover. +They guided themselves by day by +the rivers, and at night by the stars. They +had frequently to ford the rivers twenty +or thirty times in twelve hours. Rain, cold,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">280</a></span> +fatigue, and hunger made them forget even +the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>In a few days they reached the house of a +young Spanish Indian, who had lived with +the bishop of Panama, and who received them +kindly. Here, while resting to dry their +arms and powder, their surgeon, Mr. Wafer, +had his knee burnt by an accidental explosion. +After dragging himself along with pain for +another day, he determined to remain behind +with two or three more. He stayed five +months with the Indians, and the published +account of his experiences still exists.</p> + +<p>The rainy season that frightened Mr. Ringrose +had now set in, and the thunder and +lightning was frequent and violent. The +valleys and river banks were overflowed, and +the Buccaneers had to sleep in trees or under +their shade, instead of building warm and +sheltering huts. In the very height of their +misery, the slaves fled and carried away all +they could. Dampier, whose only anxiety +was to preserve his journal, placed it in a +bamboo, closed at both ends with wax. In +fording one of the rivers, a Buccaneer, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">281</a></span> +carried 300 dollars on his back, was swept +down the stream and drowned, but the survivors +were too hopeless and weary to look +for either body or gold.</p> + +<p>In eighteen days the English reached the +river Concepcion, and, obtaining Indian +canoes, rowed to Le Sound's Key, one of the +Samballas islands, where Buccaneers rendezvoused. +Here they embarked on board a +French privateer, commanded by Captain +Tristian, dismissing their Indian guides +with presents of money, beads, and hatchets. +At Springer's Key, Tristian joined them with +other vessels, and would have attacked Panama +had not Dampier and his men deterred +them. For a week the council deliberated +about the available towns worth +plundering from Trinidad to Vera Cruz. The +French and English could not agree, but at +last all sailed for Carpenter's River, touching +at the isle of St. Andreas. The ships +separated in a gale; and Dampier taking a +dislike to his French commander, induced Captain +Wright, an Englishman, to fit out a small +vessel and cruise for provisions along the coast.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">282</a></span> +While the sailors shot pecary, deer, parrots, +pigeons, monkeys, and cuvassow birds, their +Mosquito Indians struck turtle for their use.</p> + +<p>On returning to Le Sound's Key they were +joined by Mr. Wafer, who had escaped from +the Darien Indians, but he was so painted +and bedizened that it was some time before +they could recognize him. An Indian chief +had offered him his daughter in marriage, +and he had only got away by pretending +to go in search of English dogs for hunting. +Passing Carthagena, they cast wistful eyes +at the convent dedicated to the Virgin, situated +on a steep hill behind the town. There +was immense wealth hoarded in this place, +rich offerings being frequently made to it, +and many miracles worked by our Lady. +Any misfortune that befel the Buccaneer +was attributed to this Lady's doing, and the +Spaniards reported that she was abroad that +night the <i>Oxford</i> man-of-war blew up at +the isle of Vaca, and that she came home +all wet, and with clothes soiled and torn.</p> + +<p>Captain Wright's company pillaged several +small places about the Rio de la Hache<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">283</a></span> +and the Rancherias pearl fisheries, and captured, +after a smart engagement, an armed +ship of twelve guns and forty men, laden +with sugar, tobacco, and marmalade, bound +to Carthagena from Santiago, in Cuba. The +Dutch governor of Curaçoa, having much +trade with the Spaniards, would not openly +buy the cargo, but offered, if it was sent +among the Danes of St. Thomas, to purchase +it through his agents. The rovers, declining +this, sold it at another Dutch colony, +and then sailed for the isle of Aves, so called +from the quantity of boobies and men-of-war +birds. On a coral reef, near this island, +Count d'Estrees had shortly before lost the +whole French fleet. He himself had first run +ashore, and firing guns to warn the rest of +the danger, they hurried on to the same +shoal, thinking, in the darkness, that he +had been attacked by the enemy. The ships +held together till the next day, and many +men were saved. The ordinary seamen died +of hunger and fatigue, but the Buccaneers, +hardier, and accustomed to frequent wrecks, +made the escape an excuse for revel and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">284</a></span> +debauchery. As Dampier says, they, "being +used to such accidents, lived merrily, and if +they had gone to Jamaica with £30 in their +pockets, could not have enjoyed themselves +more; for they kept a gang by themselves +and watched when the ships broke up, to +get the goods that came out of them, and, +though much was staved against the rocks, +yet abundance of wine and brandy floated +over the reef where they waited to take it +up." * * "There were about forty Frenchmen +on board one of the ships, in which +was good store of liquor, till the after part +of her broke, and floated over the reef and +was carried away to sea, with all the men +drinking and singing, who, being in drink, +did not mind the danger, but were never +heard of afterwards."</p> + +<p>This wreck having left the Bird Island a +storehouse of masts and spars, the Buccaneer +vessels had begun to repair thither to careen +and refit. Among others, a Captain Pan, a +Frenchman, had been there. A Dutch vessel +of twenty guns, despatched from Curaçoa +to fish up the sunken cannon, observing the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">285</a></span> +privateer, resolved to capture him before he +began his diving. Pan, afraid of the Dutchman's +superior force, abandoned his vessel, +and, landing his guns, prepared to throw up +a redoubt. While thus engaged, a Dutch +sloop entered the road, and at night anchored +at the opposite end of the island. In the +night, Pan, with two canoes, boarded the +ship, and made off, leaving his empty hulk +for the Dutch man-of-war.</p> + +<p>At this island, Dampier's men careened +their largest vessel, scrubbed the sugar prize, +and recovered two guns from the wreck. +At the island of Rocas, a Knight of Malta, +captain of a French thirty-six gun ship, +bought ten tons of their sugar. Failing to +sell any more sugar at Petit Guaves, they +sailed for Blanco, an uninhabited island, full +of lignum-vitæ trees, and teeming with iguanas, +that were to be found in the swamps, +among the bushes, or in the trees. Their +eggs were eaten by the Buccaneers, who +made soup of the flesh for their sick.</p> + +<p>While cruising on the Caraccas coast, they +landed in some of the bays, and took seven<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">286</a></span> +or eight tons of cocoa, and three barks laden +with hides, brandy, earthenware, and European +goods. Returning to the Rocas, they +divided the spoil, and Dampier and nineteen +others embarking in one of the prizes, +reached Virginia July 1682.</p> + +<p>Dampier's next voyage was with a Creole, +named Cook, who arrived at Virginia with a +French vessel he had captured by a trick at +Petit Guaves. He had been quartermaster, +or second in command, under a French Flibustier +named Gandy. By the usual Buccaneer +law, he had been made captain of a +large Spanish prize. The French commanders +in the same fleet, jealous of this promotion, +seized the ship, plundered the English +prize crew, and sent them ashore. Tristan, +another French captain, took ten of them +with him to Petit Guaves. Cook and his +nine companions, taking advantage of a day +when Tristan and many of his men were absent, +overpowered the rest of the crew, sent them +ashore, and sailed to the Isle à la Vache. Here +he picked up a crew of English Buccaneers, +and steered for Virginia, taking two prizes by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">287</a></span> +the way, one of which was a French vessel, +laden with wines. He then sold his wine and +two of the ships, and equipped the largest, +the <i>Revenge</i>, with eighteen guns. Amongst +the crew were Dampier, Wafer, and Cowley, +all of whom have written narratives of their +voyages. They sailed from the Chesapeak +on the 23rd of August 1683, and captured a +Dutch vessel, laden with wine and provisions. +At the Cape de Verd islands they +encountered a dreadful storm, that lasted a +week. While the ship scudded before wind +and sea under bare poles, she was suddenly +broached to by order of the master, and would +have foundered but for Dampier and another +man who, going aloft and spreading out +the flaps of their coats, righted the ship. At +the isle of Sal, the sailors feasted on flamingo +tongues. These birds stood in ranks round the +feeding ponds, so as to resemble a new brick +wall. They purchased here some ambergris, +which Dampier says he had in a lump of +100 lbs. weight. Its origin was at that +time unknown; it is now believed to be a +secretion of the whale. The governor and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">288</a></span> +his court at this island rejoiced in rags, their +revenues being small, and drawn principally +from the salt ponds, from which the island +derives its name. Having dug wells, watered, +and careened, they went to Mayo to obtain +provisions, but were not allowed to land, as +only about a week before Captain Bond, a +pirate of Bristol, had carried off the governor +and some of his people.</p> + +<p>Steering to the Straits of Magellan, they +were driven to the Guinea coast, and there +captured a Danish ship by a stratagem. +Captain Cook, concealing his men under deck, +approached the Dane like a weak, unarmed +merchant vessel. When quite close, he commanded +in a loud voice the helm to be put +one way, while by a preconcerted plan the +steersman shifted into another, and fell on +board the Dane, which was captured with +the loss of only five men. She was double +their size, carried thirty-six guns, and was +equipped and victualled for a long voyage.</p> + +<p>This vessel they called <i>The Bachelor's +Delight</i>, and they at once burned the <i>Revenge</i>, +that she might "tell no tales."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">289</a></span></p> + +<p>During frequent tornadoes near the straits, +being short of fresh meat, the sailors +caught sharks during the calms, and boiling +their flesh, stewed it with pepper and vinegar. +When they reached the Falkland, or Sebald +de Weist islands, as they were then called, +Dampier proposed to the captain to reach +Juan Fernandez by Cape Horn, avoiding the +straits. Their men being privateers, wilful, +and not much in command, he feared would +not give sufficient attention in a passage so +difficult, and, though he owns they were +more than usually obedient, he says he could +not expect to find them at an instant's call in +critical moments. At these islands they +found the sea for a mile round red with +shoals of small, scarlet-shelled lobsters. Dampier's +advice was not taken, but on entering +the South Sea they met the <i>Nicholas</i>, of +London, a vessel fitted out ostensibly as a +trader, but being in reality a Buccaneer. +The captain came on board, related his adventures, +and gave them a supply of bread +and beef. They reached Juan Fernandez +together, and heard from the <i>Nicholas</i> of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">290</a></span> +vessel from London, called the <i>Cygnet</i>, commanded +by Captain Swan, which was sailing +in those latitudes. It was a trader, holding +a licence from the Duke of York, then High +Admiral of England.</p> + +<p>The crews discovered on the island the +Mosquito Indian left behind by Captain Watling, +in Lussan's expedition, because he was +hunting goats when the vessel sailed. He +was warmly greeted by Dampier, a fellow-countryman +named Robin, and some old +messmates. Robin, running up to him, fell +flat on his face at his feet, and then rose and +embraced him. They found he had killed +three goats, and prepared some cabbage palms, +to feast his visitors. The interview, writes +Dampier, was tender, solemn, and affecting. +When abandoned, William had nothing with +him but his gun and a knife, some powder, +and some shot. By notching his knife into +a saw, he cut his gun barrel into pieces. +These he hammered in the fire, and ground +them into lances, harpoons, hooks, and knives. +He hunted goats, fished, and killed seals. +His clothes he made of skins, and with these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">291</a></span> +also he had lined his hut; and he had contrived +to elude the search of the Spaniards. +Wild goats, originally brought by the Spaniard, +abounded on the hills and in the grassy +valleys. There was abundance of water and +good timber, and the bays abounded with seals +and sea-lions, that covered the sea for a mile.</p> + +<p>Remaining here sixteen days, for the sake +of the sick and those ill with the scurvy, +and getting in water and provision, Cook +then steered for the American coast, standing +out fourteen or fifteen leagues to escape the +notice of the Spaniard. The ridges were +blue and mountainous. They soon captured +a timber ship from Guayaquil laden with +timber for Lima, from whose crew they heard +that their arrival was known. They anchored +next at the sandy islet of Lobos de la Mar, +and scrubbed their ships. Captain Eaton, of +the <i>Nicholas</i>, proposing to march with them in +their descents, and the two vessels mustering +108 able men, Cook soon took another +prize, and Eaton two more, which he pursued. +They were laden with flour from +Lima for Panama, and in one of them was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">292</a></span> +eight tons of quince marmalade. The prisoners +informed them that, on the rumour of +their approach, 800,000 pieces of eight had +been landed at an intermediate port. They +sailed next to the Galapagos islands, abandoning +a design on Truxillo, which they heard +had been lately fortified. On these rocky, +barren shores they feasted on turtle, pigeons, +fish, and the leaves of the mammee tree. Off +Cape Blanco, Captain Cook died, and was +buried on land.</p> + +<p>Capturing some Spanish Indians who had +been sent as spies by the Governor of Panama, +they used them as guides, and landed +on the coast in search of cattle. Here a few +of the men were surprised by fifty armed +Spaniards, and their boat burned. The +sailors thus imperilled waded out neck deep +to an insulated rock near the shore, and remained +there for seven hours exposed to the +Spanish bullets, till they were taken off by a +boat from their ship just as the tide was +rising to devour them. The Spanish, lurking +in ambush, made no attempt to resist the +rescue.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">293</a></span></p> + +<p>The quartermaster, Edward Davis, was +now elected commander; and after cutting +lancewood for the handles of their oars, they +bore away for Ria Lexa, steering for a high +volcano that rises above the town and the +island that forms the harbour. But here, +too, the Spaniards had thrown up breast-works +and placed sentinels, and the Buccaneers +sailed for the Gulf of Ampalla and the island +of Mangera. Davis captured the padre of a +village and two Indian boys, and, proceeding +to Ampalla, informed the people that he commanded +a Biscay ship, sent by the King of +Spain to clear those seas of pirates, and that +he had come there to careen. The sailors +were well received, and entertained with +feasts and music, and they all repaired together +to celebrate a festival by torchlight +in the church. Here Davis hoped to cage +them till he could dictate a ransom, but the +impatience of one of his men frustrated the +plan. Pushing in a lingering Indian, the +man spread an alarm, the people all fled, +and the Buccaneers, firing, killed one of +their chiefs. They remained, however, good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">294</a></span> +friends, and these very Indians soon after +helped to store the ship with cattle belonging +to a nunnery, situated on an island in the +gulf. On leaving, Davis gave them one +of his prize ships, and a quantity of flour, +and released the priest who had helped him +in his first stratagem.</p> + +<p>The crews now quarrelled, and Davis, who +claimed the largest share of the common +plunder, left them, taking Dampier with +him. Eaton touched at Cocos island, purchased +a store of flour, and took in water and cocoa +nuts. Davis landed at Manta, a village near +Cape St. Lorenzo, and captured two old +women, in order to obtain information. +They learnt that many Buccaneers had lately +crossed the isthmus, and were coming along +the coast in canoes and piraguas. The +viceroy had left no means untried to check +them; the goats on the uninhabited islands +had been destroyed, provisions were removed +from the shore, and ships even burnt to save +them from the enemy. At La Plata, Davis +was joined by Captain Swan in the <i>Cygnet</i>, +who had turned freebooter in self-defence.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">295</a></span> +He had been joined by Peter Harris, who +commanded a small bark, and was nephew of +the Buccaneer commander killed in a sea-fight +at Panama three years before. They +now sent for Eaton, but found from a letter +at the rendezvous at Lobos, that he had already +sailed for the East Indies. While the +ships were refitting at La Plata, a small bark +taken by Davis, after the Spaniards had set +it on fire, captured a Spaniard of 400 tons, +laden with timber, and brought word that +the viceroy was fitting out ten frigates to +sweep them from the seas. Captain Swan, +at this crisis, turned wholly freebooter, and +cleared his ship of goods by selling them to +every Buccaneer on credit. The bulky bales +he threw overboard, the silks and muslins he +kept, and retained the iron bars for ballast. +In compensation for these sacrifices, the +Buccaneers agreed to set aside ten shares of +all booty for Captain Swan's owners.</p> + +<p>Having cleaned the vessels and fitted up a +fire-ship, the squadron landed at Paita, but +found it deserted. Anchoring off the place, +they demanded as ransom 300 pecks of flour,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">296</a></span> +3000 pounds of sugar, twenty-five jars of +wine, and 1000 of water, and having coasted +six days and obtained nothing, they burnt +the town in revenge, and sailed away. They +found afterwards that Eaton had been there +not long before, landed his prisoners, and +burnt a ship in the road. Burning Harris's +vessel, which proved unseaworthy, the squadron +steered for the island of Lobos del Tierra, +and, being short of food, took in a supply of +seals, penguins, and boobies, their Mosquito +men supplying them with turtle, while the +ships were cleaned and provided with firewood, +preparatory to a descent upon Guayaquil. +Embarking in their canoes, they captured in +the bay a small ship laden with Quito cloth +and two vessels full of negroes. One of these +they dismasted, and a few only of the slaves +they took with them. From disagreement +between the two crews, the expedition failed. +Having lain in the woods all night, and cut +a road with great difficulty, they abandoned +the scheme without firing a shot, when almost +within a mile of the town, which they believed +was alarmed, and on the watch.</p> + +<p>Dampier now proposed a scheme as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">297</a></span> +feasible and grand as any of Raleigh's. He +declared that they never had a greater opportunity +of enriching themselves. His bold +plan was, with the 1000 negroes lying in the +three prizes, to go and work the gold mines +of St. Martha. The Indians would at once +join them from their hatred of the Spaniards. +For provision they had 200 tons of flour laid +up in the Galapagos islands; the North Sea +would be open to them; thousands of Buccaneers +would join them from all parts of the +West Indies; united they would be a match +for all the forces of Peru, and might be at once +masters of the west coast as high as Quito. +This golden cloud melted into mere fog. The +Buccaneers returned to La Plata, divided the +Quito cloth, and turned the Guayaquil vessel +into a tender for the <i>Swan</i>. The old Buccaneers +of Davis now quarrelled with the +new recruits in the <i>Swan</i>, accused them +of cowardice and of having baulked the +attempt on Guayaquil, and complained of +having to supply them with flour and +turtle, for they had neither provisions nor +Indian fishermen. Unable to divorce, the ill-assorted +pair proceeded to attack together<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">298</a></span> +Lavelia, in the Bay of Panama. From charts +found in the prizes they checked the deceptions +and errors of the Spanish and Indian +prisoners whom they employed as pilots. Their +object was now to search for canoes in rivers +unvisited by the Spaniards, where their +schemes might remain still undiscovered.</p> + +<p>Such rivers abounded from the equinoctial +line to the Gulf of St. Michael. When five +days out from La Plata they made a sudden +swoop on the village of Tomaco, and captured +a vessel laden with timber, with a Spanish +knight, eight sailors, and a canoe containing +twelve jars of old wine. A boat party +that rowed up the St. Jago river visited a +house belonging to a lady of Lima, whose +servants traded with the Indians for gold, +several ounces of which were found left by +them in their calabashes when they fled.</p> + +<p>The twin vessels next sailed for the island +of Gallo, capturing by the way a packet boat +from Lima, fishing up the letters, which the +Spaniards had thrown overboard attached to +a buoy. From these they learnt that the +governor of Panama was hastening the departure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">299</a></span> +of the triennial plate fleet from Callo +to Panama, where it would be carried on +mules across the isthmus. To intercept this +fleet and to grow millionaires in a day was +now their only dream. They proceeded at +once to careen their ships at the Pearl islands +in the bay of Panama. Their force consisted +of two ships, three barks, a fire-ship, +and two small tenders. Near the uninhabited +island of Gorgona they captured a flour ship, +and landing most of their prisoners at Gorgona, +they proceeded to the bay, captured +a small provision boat, and continued their +watch, cruising round the city.</p> + +<p>Having cut off all communication between +Panama and the islands in the bay, Davis +proposed an exchange of prisoners, surrendering +forty monks, whom he was glad to get +rid of, for one of Harris's band and a sailor +who had been surprised while hunting on an +island. The Lima fleet still delaying, the +Buccaneers anchored at Tavoga, an island +abounding in cocoa and mammee trees, and +beautiful water. About this time they were +nearly ensnared by a Spanish ship, sent to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">300</a></span> +island at midnight under pretence of clandestine +traffic. This scheme originated in +Captain Bond, an English pirate who had +deserted to the enemy. The squadron, which +had scattered in alarm, to avoid the fire-ship, +were just re-uniting and looking for their +abandoned anchors, when a cry rose that a +fleet of armed canoes were steering direct +towards them through the island channel. +This was the French Flibustiers of which we +have given an account in the adventures of +Ravenau de Lussan. After joining in the +sea-fight off Panama, and the descent upon +Leon and Ria Lexa, the Buccaneers again split +into small parties. Dampier joined Swan and +Townley, who determined to cruise along the +shores of the mine country of Mexico, and +then, sailing as high as the south-west point of +California, cross the Pacific, and return to +England by India. At Guatalico, famous for +its blowing rock, they landed their sick for a +few days, and obtained provisions, and, in a +descent near Acapulco, stopped a string of +sixty laden mules and killed eighteen beeves, +carrying off all the cattle safely to their ships.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">301</a></span></p> + +<p>To obtain provisions, Swan sacked the +town of St. Pecaque, on the coast of New +Gallicia, where large stores were kept for +the use of the slaves of the neighbouring +mines. A great many of these he carried off +the first day on horseback and on the +shoulders of his men. These visits were repeated—a +party of Buccaneers keeping the +town till the Spaniards had collected a force. +Of this Captain Swan gave his men due warning, +exhorting them, on their way to their +canoes with the burdens of maize, to keep +together in a compact body, but they chose +to follow their own course, every man +straggling singly while leading his horse, or +carrying a load on his shoulder. They accordingly +fell into the ambush the Spaniards +had laid for them, and to the amount of +fifty were surprised and mercilessly +butchered. The Spaniards, seizing their +arms and loaded horses, fled, before Swan, +who heard the distant firing, could come to +the assistance of his men. Fifty-four Englishmen +and nine blacks fell in this affair, +which was the most severe the Buccaneers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">302</a></span> +had encountered in the South Sea. Dampier +relates that Captain Swan had been warned +of this disaster by an astrologer he had consulted +before he sailed from England. Many +of the men, too, had foreboded the misfortune; +and the previous night, while lying in the +church of St. Pecaque, had been disturbed +by frequent groanings which kept them from +sleeping.</p> + +<p>This disaster drove Swan from the coast to +careen at Cape St. Lucas, the south point of +California—in revenge for his loss leaving +his pilot and prisoners on an uninhabited +island. While lying here, Dampier was +cured of dropsy by being buried all but his +head in hot sand. The whole 150 men were +now living on short allowances of maize, and +the fish the Indians struck salted for store. +One meal a-day was now the rule, and the +victuals were served out by the quartermaster +with the exactness of gold. Yet, +even in this distress, two dogs and two cats +received their daily shares. They now +started for their cruise among the Philippines. +In a long run of 7,302 miles they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">303</a></span> +saw no living thing—neither bird, fish, nor +insect, except one solitary flight of boobies. +At the end of the voyage the men were +almost in mutiny at the want of food, and +had secretly resolved to kill and eat their +captain (Swan), and afterwards, in regular +order, all who had promoted the voyage. +At the island of Gualan, where there was a +Spanish fort and a garrison of thirty men, +the Buccaneers traded with the natives, who +took them for Spaniards from Acapulco.</p> + +<p>Captain Eaton, who had visited the island +before them on his way to India, had, at the +instigation of the Spaniards, plundered and +killed many of the natives, and driven the +rest to emigration. While trading here the +Acapulco vessel arrived, and, being signalled +by the governor, took to flight; but in her +hurry to escape ran upon a shoal, from which +she was with difficulty extricated. Swan, +who now grew anxious for quiet commerce, +discouraged the pursuit, and proceeded +quietly on his voyage. At Mindanao, Captain +Swan and thirty-six men were left behind +by his crew, who were only anxious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">304</a></span> +for plunder, and soon after captured a Spanish +vessel bound for Manilla. Captain +Swan was eventually drowned while attempting +to escape to a Dutch vessel lying in the +river. Weary of the mean robberies of the +crew, who now turned mere pirates, Dampier +left them at the Nicobar islands, and, embarking +in canoes, reached Sumatra, and +eventually sailed for England.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers left behind in the South +Sea prospered, and made many successful +descents. At Lavelia Townley captured the +treasure and merchandise landed from the +Lima ship in the former year, for which +Swan had watched so long in vain, and for +which the Buccaneers had fought in the Bay +of Panama. Townley died of his wounds. +Harris followed Swan across the Pacific; +and Knight, another English Buccaneer, +satiated with plunder, returned home laden +with Spanish gold; and off Cape Corrientes +they lay in wait in vain for the Manilla +ship, the great prize aimed at by all adventurers. +Soon after, a malignant fever breaking +out among the crews, many left the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">305</a></span> +squadron and returned towards Panama, +carrying back the Darien Indians, but leaving +the Mosquito Indians in the <i>Cygnet</i>.</p> + +<p>Davis sailed from Guayaquil to careen at +the Galapagos islands, which were in the +South Pacific what Tortuga was in the North, +the harbour and sanctuary of the Buccaneers. +In returning by Cape Horn, Davis discovered +Easter island, and left five of his men and +five negro slaves on Juan Fernandez. These +men had been stripped at the gambling-table, +and were unwilling to return empty-handed. +The <i>Bachelor's Delight</i> eventually doubled +Cape Horn, and he reached the West Indies +just in time to avail himself of a pardon +offered by royal proclamation.</p> + +<p>Dampier reached England in 1691, and +having published his travels, was sent out in +1691 by William III. on a voyage of discovery +to New Holland, and was wrecked +near Ascension. In Queen Anne's reign, +during the war of the succession, he commanded +two privateers, and cruised against +the Spaniards in the South Sea. His objects +were to capture the Spanish plate vessels sailing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">306</a></span> +from Buenos Ayres, to lie in wait for the +gold ship from Boldivia to Lima, and to seize +the Manilla galleon. Off Juan Fernandez +he fought a French Buccaneer vessel for +seven hours, but parted without effecting +a capture. So strong were his old Flibustier +habits upon him, that he confesses +it with reluctance he attacked any vessel not +a Spaniard. Before they reached the proper +latitude the Boldivia vessel had sailed.</p> + +<p>Captain Stradling, the commander of his +companion ship, parted company. A surprise +of Santa Maria, in the bay of Panama, failed, +but Dampier made a few small prizes. +While lying in the gulf of Nicoya, his chief +mate, John Clipperton, mutinied, and, seizing +his tender, with its ammunition and stores, +put out to sea. A worse disappointment +awaited the commander—off the Fort de +Narida he came suddenly upon the Manilla +galleon, and gave her several broadsides +before she could clear for action. But even +at this disadvantage the Spaniards' twenty-four +pounders soon silenced Dampier's five<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">307</a></span> +pounders, drove in the rotten planks of his +vessel, the <i>St. George</i>, and compelled him to +sheer off—the galleon's crew quadrupling +that of the English.</p> + +<p>The men growing despondent and weary +of the voyage, Dampier put thirty-four of +them into a prize brigantine of seventy tons, +and appointed one named Funnel as their +commander. Allowing them to sail for +India, he with twenty-nine men returned to +Peru and plundered the town of Puna. The +vessel being no longer fit for sea, they abandoned +her at Lobos de la Mar, and embarking +in a Spanish brigantine crossed the +Pacific. In India, Dampier, having had his +commission stolen by some of his deserters, +was imprisoned by the Dutch. When he +reached England at last, he found that +Funnel had returned and published his +voyage to the West Indies. A few of his +men who had lost their money in gambling +remained in the <i>Bachelor's Delight</i> with +Davis.</p> + +<p>It is supposed he now fell into very extreme<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">308</a></span> +poverty, for in 1708 we find him acting as +pilot to the two Bristol privateers that circumnavigated +the globe, and were as successful +as he had been unfortunate. At Juan +Fernandez the commander, Woodes Rogers, +brought off the celebrated Alexander Selkirk, +who had been abandoned here four years +before, by Dampier's mutinous consort, Captain +Stradling, and, by the traveller's advice, +the poor outcast was made second mate of the +<i>Duke</i>. At Guayaquil, where Dampier commanded +the artillery, they obtained plunder +to the value of £21,000, besides 27,000 dollars, +as ransom for the town. Off Cape Lucas +they captured a rich Manilla ship, laden with +merchandise, and containing £12,000 in gold +and silver. They also encountered the great +Manilla galleon, but were beaten off after a +severe engagement with a loss of twenty-five +men. After a run of two months they +reached Gualan, and obtained provisions by +anchoring under Spanish colours. Visiting +Batavia, they waited a long time at the Cape +for a home-bound fleet, and in July, 1711, +entered the Texel five-and-twenty sail, Dutch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">309</a></span> +and English; and in October sailed up the +Thames with booty valued at £150,000. Of +the great Dampier we hear no more, and his +very burial place is unknown.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Van Horn</span> was originally a common Dutch +sailor, who, having, by dint of the prudence +of his nation, saved 200 dollars, entered +into partnership with a messmate who had +laid by the same sum, and, going to France, +obtained a privateer's commission, and fitted +up a fishing-boat with a crew of thirty men. +Cruising first as Dutch, he then purchased +a large vessel at Ostend, and, hoisting the +French flag, made war on all nations. The +French court ordered M. d'Estrees to detain +this Flying Dutchman, whose commission +had now expired, and a ship was sent for +the purpose; but as the commander had no +orders to proceed to extremities, and Van +Horn was determined not to go alive, he +was suffered to escape. Quite undaunted +he proceeded to Puerto Rico, entered the +bay, sounding his trumpets, and, sending +on shore, told the governor that he had come +to offer his services to escort the galleons<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">310</a></span> +which were then ready to sail. The governor +accepted the offer, and Van Horn sailed +off with them; but being soon joined by +some Buccaneer companions, he turned on +the prey, seized the richest, sank some +others, and pursued the rest. Such was +the commencement of this adventurer's +career. His after life was worthy of such +a beginning.</p> + +<p>Van Horn was immensely rich. He usually +wore a string of pearls of extraordinary size, +and a large ruby of great beauty. His +widow lived afterwards at Ostend.</p> + +<p>In 1683, Van Horn, who had all his life +fought under French colours, though not +very scrupulous about what nation a vessel +was, so it were rich, having gone to St. +Domingo to sell negroes, had his ship confiscated +by the Spanish governor. The Buccaneer's +ungovernable passions could no +more brook such an insult than a knight +would have borne a blow. Buccaneer pride +desired revenge; Buccaneer cupidity desired +redress. Resolved on vengeance, the angry +Dutchman hastened to Petit Guaves, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">311</a></span> +took out a commission from the governor of +Tortuga, and at once enrolled 300 of the +bravest Buccaneers, with a determination of +attacking Vera Cruz. Among his crew were +enrolled several of the leading Buccaneer +chiefs. Grammont, who had lately lost his +ship at the Isles des Aves, lately a commander, +was now a mere volunteer. Such +were the vicissitudes of Buccaneer life. +Laurence de Graff was also there. He was a +Dutchman like Van Horn, but one came +from Ostend and the other from Dort. +Among the less celebrated were Godefroy +and Jonqué. Their numbers soon swelled +to 1,200 picked men, in six vessels, under +the command of Van Horn and De Graff, +who had each a frigate of fifty guns, while +the rest had simple barks. Their common +aim was Vera Cruz, the emporium of all the +riches of New Spain, and they needed no +other incitement to urge them to speed and +unity.</p> + +<p>From some Spanish prisoners they heard +that two large vessels laden with cocoa were +hourly expected at Vera Cruz from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">312</a></span> +Caraccas. The Buccaneer leaders instantly +fitted up two of their largest ships in the +Spanish fashion, and, hoisting the Spanish +flag, sent them boldly into the harbour, as if +just returning as peaceful but armed traders +from a long and successful voyage. It was +the eve of the Assumption, crowds of sailors +and townsmen lined the quays, and the expectant +populace cheered the rich merchantmen +as they steered with a stately sweep +into the haven. The keener eyes, however, +soon observed that the Caraccas vessels advanced +very slowly, although the wind was +good, and their suspicions became excited +almost before the Buccaneers could work +into port. Some even ran to tell the governor +that all was not right, but Don Luis de +Cordova told them that their fears were +foolish, the two vessels he knew by unmistakable +signs to be the two vessels he +expected; and he returned the same answer to +the commander of the fort at St. Jean d'Ulloa, +who also sent to bid him be upon his guard.</p> + +<p>About midnight the French, under cover +of the dark, landed at the old town, about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">313</a></span> +three leagues to the west of the more modern +city. They obtained easy access to the place, +and surprised the governor in his bed. The +drowsy sentinels once overpowered, the small +fortress with its twelve guns was in the +possession of their men. At every corner +pickets were placed. The surprise was so +complete, that when the tocsin rang at daybreak, +the watchmen being alarmed at some +musket shots they heard, they found the town +already bound hand and foot. At the first +clang of the bell, the garrison rushed out of +their barracks, and ranged themselves under +their colours, but saw the French already in +arms at the head of all the principal streets. +They were surrounded and helpless. When +the day broke, nobody dare show themselves, +for all those who ran out armed were +instantly struck down. Sentinels were placed +at every door in the principal streets, a +barrel of powder with the lid off by their +sides, ready to fire the train that connected +one with the other at the least signal of +danger. We believe it was on this occasion +that Van Horn forced a monk into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">314</a></span> +cathedral, who preached to the people on +the vanity of worldly riches, and the necessity +of abandoning them to the spoiler. The +Buccaneers then drove all the Spaniards into +their houses, and forced the women and +children into the churches. Here they +remained, crowded together, weeping and +hungry, for three days, while their enemies +collected the booty. The Buccaneers, now +safe, abandoned themselves, as usual, to +debauchery and gluttony—some dying from +immoderate gluttony. Fortunately for this +wretched people, the bishop of the town, +happening to be near Vera Cruz at the +time, began to treat for their ransom. It +was fixed at two million piastres, of which +a part was paid the very same day—the +Buccaneers only dispensing with the remaining +million, as the Vice-Royal was +already approaching the town at the head of +a large force. Dangers were now hemming +in the Dutchman and his band. About +eleven o'clock in the morning, the look-out +on the tower of St. Catherine's reported that a +fleet of fourteen sail was approaching the city.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">315</a></span></p> + +<p>The Buccaneers, alarmed, sprang to arms. +Aghast at this intelligence, the French, +dreading to be shut in between two fires, +decided upon an immediate retreat. The +townspeople, terrified at the prospect of +being massacred by their infuriated and +despairing enemies, were as apprehensive of +danger as the Buccaneers themselves. Van +Horn embarked with speed all the plate +and cochineal, and the more valuable and +portable of the spoil, and waited eagerly for +the ransom which was now almost in sight. +It, however, never arrived, for the drivers of +the mules, hearing the firing, halted till the +fleet came within sight. The Buccaneers +had no time to lose, and compensated themselves +by carrying off 1,500 slaves to their +vessels, which lay moored at some leagues' +distance, at Grijaluc, a place of safety.</p> + +<p>They spent the night in great disorder, in +continual apprehension of being attacked by +the Spanish fleet, which was, at the same +time, congratulating itself on reaching Vera +Cruz unharmed. The danger of the Buccaneers +was indeed not yet removed, for they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">316</a></span> +had neither water nor sufficient provisions, +and some 1,500 prisoners were on board. +About these hostages the leaders differed in +opinion, and words ran high. The two +chiefs fought, and Van Horn received a +sword thrust in the arm from De Graff. +The several crews took up their captains' +quarrels, and would have come to blows, had +not De Graff divided the prey, and at once +set sail. Van Horn followed, but died on +the passage, a gangrene having formed upon +a wound at first very slight. He was devotedly +beloved by his men, says Charlevoix, +though he was in the habit of cutting down +any sailor whom he saw flinch at his guns. +He left his frigate with his dying breath to +Grammont, who reached St. Domingo, after +dreadful sufferings, having lost three-fourths +of his prisoners by famine—his patache being +cast away and taken by the Spaniards. De +Graff's vessel was also wrecked, but the +crew made their way one by one to St. Domingo, +where, in spite of the ill reception of +the governor, they were welcomed by the +hospitality of the inhabitants, who longed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">317</a></span> +share the treasure of Vera Cruz. The +governor, M. de Franquesnoy, without fortress +or garrison, and exposed to the inroads +of the Spaniards, could make no resistance +to these wild refugees, who, on one occasion, +hearing that he intended to seize upon +part of the Vera Cruz booty, surrounded +his house to the number of 120 men, +and threatened his life. At this time, a +general outbreak of the French was expected.</p> + +<p>It was in the very next year that the +governor of Carthagena, hearing that Michael +le Basque and Jonqué were cruising near his +port, sent two vessels against them, one of +48 guns and 300 men, and the other of +40 guns and 250 men, with a small bark as +a decoy. The Buccaneer chiefs each commanded +a vessel of 30 guns and 200 men. +They both grappled the Spaniards, held +them for an hour and a-half, swept their +decks with musketry, tortured them with +hand grenades and missiles, and eventually +bore them off in triumph. All the Spaniards +who were not killed were put on shore with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">318</a></span> +a note to the governor, thanking him for +having sent them two such good vessels, as +their own had long been unfit for service. +They, moreover, promised to wait fifteen +days off Carthagena for any other vessel he +might wish to get rid of, provided he would +send money in them, of which they were in +great need.</p> + +<p class="center p6">END OF VOL. II.</p> + +<p class="center p6">LONDON: SERCOMBE AND JACK, 16 GREAT WINDMILL STREET.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MONARCHS OF THE MAIN, VOLUME II (OF 3)***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 38632-h.txt or 38632-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/8/6/3/38632">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/6/3/38632</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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