University of Virginia Library

CHAP. VII.

THe next morning, which was on April the 23. 1680.

that day being dedicated unto St George, our Patron
of England, we came before Sun-rise within view of the
City of Panama, which maketh a pleasant shew unto the
Vessels that are at sea from off the shoar. Soon after we
saw also the Ships belonging to the said City, which lay at
Anchor at an Island called Perico, distant only two Leagues
from Panama. On the aforesaid Island are to be seen several
Store-houses which are built there, to receive the Goods
delivered out of the Ships. At that present there rid at
Anchor at Perico five great ships, and three pretty big
Barks, called Barcos de la Armadilla, or little men of War;
the word Armadilla signifying a Little Fleet. These had

been suddainly Manned out, with design to fight us, and
prevent any farther attempts we should make upon the
City, or Coasts of those Seas. As soon as they espied us,
they instantly weighed Anchor, and got under sail, coming
directly to meet us, whom they expected very shortly, according
to the intelligence they had received of our coming.
Our two Periaguas being heavy, could not row so
fast as we that were in the Canoas, and hence we were
got pretty far before them. In our five Canoas (for so
many we were now in company) we had only thirty six
men, and these but in a very unfit condition to fight, as
being tyred with so much rowing, and so few in number,
in comparison of the enemy that came against us. They
sailed towards us directly before the wind, insomuch that
we feared lest they should run us down before it. Hereupon
we rowed up into the winds eye, as the Seamen term
it, and got close to windward of them. Mean while we
were doing this, our lesser Periagua came up with us, in
which were thirty two more of our Company. So that
we were in all sixty eight men that were engaged in the
fight of that day; the King himself being one of our number,
who was in the Periagua aforementioned. In the
vessel that was Admiral of these three small men of war,
were fourscore and six Biscayners, who have the repute of
being the best Mariners, and also the best Souldiers amongst
the Spaniards. These were all Voluntiers, who came designedly
to shew their Valour, under the Command of
Don Jacinto de Barahona, who was High Admiral of those
Seas. In the second were seventy seven Negro's, who were
commanded by an old and stout Spaniard, Native of Andalusia
in Spain, named Don Francisco de Peralta. In the third
and last were sixty five Mestizos, or Mulato's, or Tawnymores,
Commanded by Don Diego de Carabaxal. So that in
all they made the number of two hundred twenty & eight
men. The Commanders had strict orders given them, and
their resolutions were to give quarters to none of the Pirats
or Bucaniers. But such bloody Commands as these
seldom or never do happen to prosper.

The Canoa of Captain Sawkins, and also that wherein I
was, were much to Leeward of the rest. So that the ship
of Don Diego de Carabaxal came between us two, and fired
presently on me to Windward, and on him to Leeward,
wounding with these broad sides, four men in his Canoa,
and one in that I was in. But he paid so dear for his passage
between us, that he was not very quick in coming about
again and making the same way. For we killed with our
first volly of shot, several of his men dead upon the decks.
Thus we also got to Windward, as the rest were before.
At this time the Admiral of the Armadilla, or Little Fleet,
came up with us suddainly, scarce giving us time to charge,
and thinking to pass by us all with as little or less damage,
as the first of his Ships had done. But as it hapned, it fell
out much worse with him, for we were so fortunate, as to
kill the man at the Helm. So that his Ship ran into the
wind, and her Sails lay a back, as is usually said in Marinery.
By this means we had time to come all up under his
stern, and firing continually into his Vessel, we killed as
many as came to the Helm. Besides which slaughter, we
cut asunder his main sheet and brace with our shot. At
this time the third vessel, in which Captain Peralta was,
was coming up to the aid of their General. Hereupon
Captain Sawkins, who had changed his Canoa, and was gone
into the Periagua, left the Admiral to us four Canoas, (for
his own was quite disabled) and met the said Peralta. Between
him & Captain Sawkins the dispute, or fight, was very
hot, lying board on board together, and both giving and receiving
death unto each other as fast as they could charge.
In the mean while that we were thus engaged, the first
ship tackt about, and came up to relieve the Admiral. But
we perceiving that, and foreseeing how hard it would go
with us, if we should be beaten from the Admirals stern, determined
to prevent his design. Hereupon two of our
Canoas, to wit, Captain Springers and my own, stood off
to meet him. He made up directly towards the Admiral,
who stood upon the quarter deck, waving unto him with a
Handkerchief so to do But we engaged him so closely, in
the middle of his way, that had he not given us the Helm,
and made away from us, we had certainly been on board
him. We killed so many of the men, that the vessel had
scarce men enough left alive, or unwounded, to carry her
off. Yet the wind now blowing fresh, they made shift to
get away from us, and hereby save their lives.

The Vessel which was to relieve the Admiral being thus

put to slight, we came about again upon the Admiral, and
all together gave a loud hallow, which was answered by
our men in the Periagua, though at a distance from us. At
that time we came so close under the stern of the Admiral,
that we wedged up the Rudder; and withal, killed
both the Admiral himself, and the chief Pilot of his ship;
so that now they were almost quite disabled and dis-heartned
likewise, seeing what a bloody Massacre we had made
among them with our shot. Hereupon, two thirds of their
men being killed, and many others wounded, they cryed
for Quarter, which had several times been offered unto
them, and as stoutly denyed until then. Captain Coxon
entred on board the Admiral, and took with him Captain
Harris, who had been shot through both his Legs, as he
boldly adventured up along the side of the ship. This
vessel being thus taken, we put on board her also all the
rest of our wounded men, and instantly manned two of
our Canoas to go and aid Captain Sawkins, who now had
been three times beaten from on board Peralta, such valiant
defence had he made. And indeed, to give our Enemies
their due, no men in the world did ever act more bravely
than these Spaniards.

Thus coming up close under Peralta's side, we gave him
a full volley of shot, and expected to have the like return
from him again. But on a suddain we saw his men blown
up that were abaft the Mast; some of them falling on the
deck, and others into the Sea. This disaster was no sooner
perceived by their valiant Captain Peralta, but he leaped
over board, and in spight of all our shot, got several of
them into the ship again; though he was much burnt in
both his hands himself. But as one misfortune seldom
cometh alone, mean while he was recovering these men to
reinforce his ship withal, and renew the fight, another Jar
of powder took fire forward, and blew up several others
upon the Fore-castle. Among this smoak, and under the
opportunity thereof, Captain Sawkins laid them on board,
and took the ship. Soon after they were taken, I went on
board Captain Peralta, to see what condition they were in.
And indeed, such a miserable sight I never saw in my life.
For not one man there was found, but was either killed,
desperately wounded, or horribly burnt with Powder. Insomuch,
that their black skins were turned white in several
places, the powder having torn it from their flesh and
bones. Having compassionated their misery, I went after-
wards on board the Admiral, to observe likewise the condition
of his Ship and men. Here I saw what did meerly
astonish me, and will scarcely be believed by others than
ourselves who saw it. There were found on board this ship
but twenty five men alive, whose number before the fight
had been four score and six, as was said above. So that threescore
and one, out of so small a number, were destroyed in
the Battle. But what is more, of these twenty five men,
only eight were able to bear Arms, all the rest being desperately
wounded, and by their wounds totally disabled
to make any resistance, or defend themselves. Their blood
ran down the decks in whole streams, and not scarce one
place in the ship was found that was free from blood.

Having possessed our selves of these two Armadilla ves-

sels, or Little men of War, Captain Sawkins asked the prisoners,
how many Men there might be on board the greatest
ship that we could see from thence, lying in the Harbour
of the Island of Perico above-mentioned, as also in
the others that were something smaller. Captain Peralta
hearing these questions, disswaded him as much as he could
from attempting them; saying, that in the biggest alone
there were Three hundred and fifty men, and that he would
find the rest too well provided for defence against his small
number. But one of his men, who lay a dying upon the
deck, contradicted him as he was speaking, and told Captain
Sawkins, there was not one man on board any of those
ships that werein view; for they had all been taken out of
them to fight us in these three vessels called the Armadilla,
or Little Fleet. Unto this relation we gave credit, as proceeding
from a dying man; and steering our course unto the
Island, we went on board them, and found, as he had said,
not one person there. The biggest ship of these, which
was called La Santissima Trinidad, or the Blessed Trinity,
they had set on fire, made a hole in her, and loosened her
fore-sail. But we quenched the fire with all speed, and
stopt the leak. This being done, we put our wounded
men on board her, and thus constituted her for that present
to be our Hospital.

Having surveyed our own loss and damages, we found
that eighteen of our men had been killed in the fight, and
twenty two were wounded. These three Captains against
whom we fought, were esteemed by the Spaniards to be
the valiantest in all the South Seas. Neither was this reputation
undeservedly conferred upon them, as may easily
be inferred from the relation we have given of this bloody
Engagement. As the third ship was running away from
the fight, she met with two more that were coming out to
their assistance; but withal, gave them so little encouragement,
that they returned back, and dared not engage us.
We began the Fight about half an hour after Sun-rise, and
by noon had finished the Battle, and quite overcome them.
Capt. Peralta, mean while he was our Prisoner, would often
break out into admirations of our Valour, and say, surely,
We Englishmen were the valiantest men in the whole world, who
designed always to fight open, whilst all other Nations invented
all the ways imaginable to barricade themselves, and fight
as close as they could. And yet not withstanding, we killed
more of our Enemies than they of us.

Two days after our Engagement, we buryed Captain
Peter Harris, a brave and stout Souldier, and a valiant Englishman,
born in the County of Kent; whose death we very
much lamented. He dyed of the wounds he received
in the Battel, and besides him, only one man more; all the
rest of our wounded men recovered. Being now come
before Panama, I here enquired of Don Francisco de Peralta,
our Prisoner, many things concerning the state and condition
of this City, and the Neighbouring Country; and he
satisfied me in manner following.