University of Virginia Library

I. Chap. i.

CAptain Morgan perceived now that Fortune
did favour his Arms, by giving good
Success unto all his Enterprizes, which
occasion'd him, as it is usual in humane Affairs, to
aspire unto greater things, trusting she would always
be constant unto him. Such was the burning
of Panama; wherein Fortune failed not to assist
him, in like manner as she had done before,
crowning the Event of his Actions with Victory,
howbeit she had led him thereunto through thousands
of Difficulties. The History hereof I shall

now begin to relate, as being so much remarkable
in all its Circumstances, as peradventure nothing
more deserving Memory, may occur to be
read by future Ages.

Not long after Captain Morgan arrived at Jamaica,
he found many of his chief Officers and Souldiers
reduced to their former state of Indigency,
through their immoderate Vices and Debauchery.

Hence they ceased not to importune him for new
Invasions and Exploits, thereby to get something
to expend anew in Wine and Strumpets, as they
had already wasted what was purchased so little
before. Captain Morgan being willing to follow
Fortune while she call'd him, hereupon stopp'd
the mouths of many of the Inhabitants of Jamaica,
who were Creditors unto his Men for large
summs of Money, with the hopes and promises
he gave them, of greater Atchievments than ever,
by a new Expedition he was going about. This
being done, he needed not give himself much
trouble, to levy Men for this or any other Enterprize,
his Name being now so famous through all
those Islands, as that alone would readily bring
him in more Men than he could well imploy. He
undertook therefore to equipp a new Fleet of
Ships; for which purpose he assigned the Southside
of the Isle of Tortùga, as a Place of Rendez-
vous. With this resolution, he writ divers Letters
unto all the ancient and expert Pirats there inhabiting,
as also to the Governour of the said Isle,
and to the Planters and Hunters of Hispaniola, giving
them to understand his Intentions, and desiring
their Appearance at the said Place, in case
they intended to go with him. All these people
had no sooner understood his Designs, but they
flocked unto the Place assigned in huge numbers,
with Ships, Canows, and Boats, being desirous
to obey his Commands. Many who had not the
convenience of coming unto him by Sea, traversed
the Woods of Hispaniola, and with no small
Difficulties arrived there by Land. Thus all were
present at the place assigned, and in a readiness,
against the 24th. day of October of 1670.

Captain Morgan was not wanting to be there ac-

cording to his punctual custom, who came in his
Ship unto the same side of the Island, to a Port
called by the French, Port Couillon, over against
the Island de la Vaca, this being the Place which
he had assigned unto others. Having now gathered
the greatest part of his Fleet, he called a
Councel, to deliberate about the means of finding
Provisions sufficient for so many People. Here
they concluded to send four Ships, and one Boat,
manned with 400 Men, over to the Continent, to
the intent they should rifle some CountreyTowns
and Villages, and in these get all the
Corn or Maiz they could gather. They set Sail
for the Continent, towards the River de la Hàcha,

with design to assault a small Village, called la
Rancherìa, where is usually to be found the greatest
quantity of Maiz, of all those Parts thereabouts.
In the mean while Captain Morgan sent
another Party of his Men to hunt in the Woods,
who killed there an huge number of Beasts, and
salted them: The rest of his Companions remained
in the Ships, to clean, fit, and rigg them
out to Sea, so that at the return of those who were
sent abroad, all things might be in a readiness to
weigh Anchors, and follow the course of their
Designs.