University of Virginia Library

Chap. II.

THe four Ships above-mentioned, after they
had set Sail from Hispaniola, steered their
course till they came within sight of the River de
la Hacha, where they were suddenly overtaken
with a tedious Calm. Being thus within sight of
Land becalmed for some days, the Spaniards inhabiting
along the Coasts, who had perceived them
to be Enemies, had sufficient time to prepare
themselves for the Assault, at least to hide the best
part of their Goods, to the end that without any
care of preserving them, they might be in a readiness
to retire, when they found themselves unable
to resist the Force of the Pirats, of whose frequent
Attempts upon those Coasts, they had already
learnt what they had to do in such Cases.
There was in the River at that present a good
Ship, which was come from Cartagèna to lade
Maiz, and was now when the Pirats came, almost
ready to depart. The Men belonging to
this Ship, endeavoured to escape, but not being
able to do it, both they and the Vessel fell into
their hands. This was a fit Purchase for their
Mind, as being good part of what they came to
seek for, with so much care and toil. The next
morning about break of day, they came with their
Ships towards the shoar, and landed their Men,
although the Spaniards made huge resistance, from
a Battery which they had raised on that side,
where of necessity they were to land: but not-
withstanding what defence they could make, they
were forced to retire towards a Village, unto
which the Pirats followed them. Here the Spaniards
rallying again, fell upon them with great fury,
and maintained a strong Combat, which lasted
till night was come: but then perceiving they
had lost great number of Men, which was no
smaller on the Pirats side, they retired unto Places
more occult in the Woods.

The next day when the Pirats saw they were

all fled, and the Town left totally empty of People,
they pursued them as far as they could possible.
In this pursuit they overtook a Party of
Spaniards, whom they made all Prisoners, and
exercised with most cruel Torments, to discover
where they had hid their Goods: some were
found, who by the force of intolerable Tortures,
confessed; but others who would not do the same,
were used more barbarously than the former.
Thus in the space of 15 days that they remained
there, they took many Prisoners, much Plate,
and moveable Goods, with all other things they
could rob, with which Booty they resolved to return
unto Hispaniola. Yet not contented with
what they had already got, they dispatcht some
Prisoners into the Woods, to seek for the rest of
the Inhabitants, and to demand of them a Ransom
for not burning the Town: Unto this they
answered, They had no Money nor Plate, but in
case they would be satisfied with a certain quantity
of Maiz, they would give as much as they could
afford. The Pirats accepted this proffer, as being

more useful to them at that occasion than ready
Money, and agreed they should pay 4000 Hanegs,
or Bushels of Maiz. These were brought in three
days after, the Spaniards being desirous to rid themselves
as soon as possible, of that inhumane sort of
People. Having laded them on board their Ships,

together with all the rest of their Purchase, they
returned unto the Island of Hispaniola, to give account
unto their Leader Captain Morgan, of all
they had performed.

They had now been absent five entire Weeks,
about the Commission aforementioned, which
long delay occasioned Captain Morgan almost to
despair of their Return, as fearing least they were
fallen into the hands of the Spaniards, especially
considering that the place whereunto they went,
could easily be relieved from Cartagèna, and Santa
Maria, if the Inhabitants were any thing careful to
alarum the Countrey: on the other side he feared,
left they should have made some great Fortune in
that Voyage, and with it escaped unto some other
place. But at last seeing his Ships return, and in
greater number than they had departed, he resumed
new Courage, this sight causing both in him

and his Companions infinite joy. This was much
increased, when being arrived, they found them
full laden with Maiz, whereof they stood in great
need, for the maintenance of so many people, by
whose help they expected great Matters, through
the Conduct of their Commander.

After that Captain Morgan had divided the said
Maiz, as also the Flesh which the Hunters
brought in, among all the Ships, according to
the number of Men that were in every Vessel, he
concluded upon the departure, having viewed
before-hand every Ship, and observed their being
well equipped and clean. Thus he set Sail, and
directed his course towards Cape Tiburòn, where
he determined to take his measures and resolution,

of what Enterprize he should take in hand. sooner were they arrived there, but they met
with some other Ships, that came newly to joyn
them, from Jamaica. So that now the whole
Fleet consisted of 37 Ships, wherein were 2000
fighting-Men, besides Mariners and Boys; the
Admiral hereof was mounted with 22 great Guns,
and 6 small ones, of Brass; the rest carried some
20, some 16, some 18. and the smallest Vessel at
least 4. besides which, they had great quantity of
Ammunition and Fire-balls, with other Inventions
of Powder.

Captain Morgan finding himself with such a

great number of Ships, divided the whole Fleet
into two Squadrons, constituting a Vice-Admiral,
and other Officers and Commanders of the second
Squadron, distinctly from the former. Unto
every one of these he gave Letters Patents, or
Commissions, to act all manner of Hostility against
the Spanish Nation, and take of them what Ships
they could, either abroad at Sea, or in the Harbours,
in like manner as if they were open and
declared Enemies (as he term'd it) of the King
of England, his pretended Master. This being
done, he called all his Captains, and other Offi-
cers together, and caused them to sign some Articles
of common Agreement betwixt them, and
in the Name of all. Herein it was stipulated,
that he should have the hundredth part of all that
was gotten, to himself alone: That every Captain
should draw the Shares of 8 Men, for the Expences
of his Ship, besides his own: That the
Surgeon, beside his ordinary Pay, should have
200 pieces of Eight, for his Chest of Medicaments:
And every Carpenter, above his common
Salary, should draw 100 pieces of Eight.
As to Recompences and Rewards, they were regulated
in this Voyage much higher than was expressed
in the first part of this Book. Thus, for
the loss of both Legs, they assigned 1500 pieces
of Eight, or 15 Slaves, the Choice being left to
the election of the Party. For the loss of both
Hands, 1800 pieces of Eight, or 18 Slaves. For
one Leg, whether the right or the left, 600 pieces
of Eight, or 6 Slaves. For a Hand, as much
as for a Leg. And for the loss of any Eye, 100
pieces of Eight, or one Slave. Lastly, Unto
him that in any Battel should signalize himself, either
by entring the first any Castle, or taking down
the Spanish Colours, and setting up the English,
they constituted 50 pieces of Eight for a Reward.
In the head of these Articles it was stipulated, that
all these extraordinary Salaries, Recompences
and Rewards, should be paid out of the first Spoil
or Purchase they should take, according as every
one should then occur to be either rewarded or
paid.

This Contract being signed, Captain Morgan
commanded his Vice-Admirals and Captains to
put all things in order, every one in their Ships,
for to go and attempt one of three Places, either

Cartagena, Panama, or Vera Cruz; but the lot fell
upon Panama, as being believed to be the richest
of all three: notwithstanding this City being situated
at such distance from the Northern Sea, as
they knew not well the Avenues and Entries necessary
to approach unto it, they judg'd it necessa-

ry to go before-hand to the Isle of St. Catharin,
there to find and provide themselves with some
Persons, who might serve them for Guides in this
Enterprize; for in the Garison of that Island, are
commonly imployed many Banditi, and Outlaries,
belonging to Panama, and the neighbouring
Places, who are very expert in the knowledge of
all that Countrey. But before they proceeded
any farther, they caused an Act to be published
through the whole Fleet, containing, that in case
they met with any Spanish Vessel, the first Captain
who with his Men should enter, and take the
said Ship, should have for his Reward the 10th.
part of whatsoever should be found within her.