Of the Island of Cuba--Captain Morgan attempts to preserve the
Isle of St. Catherine as a refuge to the nest of pirates,
but fails of his design--He arrives at and takes the
village of El Puerto del Principe.
Captain Morgan seeing his predecessor and admiral Mansvelt were dead,
used all the means that were possible, to keep in possession the isle
of St. Catherine, seated near Cuba. His chief intent was to make it a
refuge and sanctuary to the pirates of those parts, putting it in a
condition of being a convenient receptacle of their preys and
robberies. To this effect he left no stone unmoved, writing to several
merchants in Virginia and New England, persuading them to send him
provisions and necessaries, towards putting the said island in such a
posture of defence, as to fear no danger of invasion from any side.
But all this proved ineffectual, by the Spaniards retaking the said
island: yet Captain Morgan retained his courage, which put him on new
designs. First, he equipped a ship, in order to gather a fleet as
great, and as strong as he could. By degrees he effected it, and gave
orders to every member of his fleet to meet at a certain port of Cuba,
there determining to call a council, and deliberate what was best to
be done, and what place first to fall upon. Leaving these preparations
in this condition, I shall give my reader some small account of the
said isle of Cuba, in whose port this expedition was hatched, seeing I
omitted to do it in its proper place.
Cuba lies from east to west, in north latitude, from 20 to 23 deg. in
length one hundred and fifty German leagues, and about forty in
breadth. Its fertility is equal to that of Hispaniola; besides which,
it affords many things proper for trading and commerce; such as hides
of several beasts, particularly those that in Europe are called hides
of Havanna. On all sides it is surrounded with many small islands,
called the Cayos: these little islands the pirates use as ports of
refuge. Here they have their meetings, and hold their councils, how
best to assault the Spaniards. It is watered on all sides with
plentiful and pleasant rivers, whose entries form both secure and
spacious ports; beside many other harbours for ships, which along the
calm shores and coasts adorn this rich and beautiful island; all which
contribute much to its happiness, by facilitating trade, whereto they
invited both natives and aliens. The chief of these ports are San
Jago, Bayamo, Santa Maria, Espiritu Santo, Trinidad, Zagoa, Cabo de
Corientes, and others, on the south side of the island; on the north
side are, La Havanna, Puerto Mariano, Santa Cruz, Mata Ricos, and
Barracoa.
This island hath two chief cities, to which all the towns and villages
thereof give obedience. The first is Santa Jago, or St. James, seated
on the south side, and having under its jurisdiction one half of the
island. The chief magistrates hereof are a bishop and a governor, who
command the villages and towns of the said half. The chief of these
are, on the south side, Espiritu Santo, Puerto del Principe, and
Bayamo. On the north it has Barracoa, and De los Cayos. The greatest
part of the commerce driven here comes from the Canaries, whither they
transport much tobacco, sugar, and hides, which sort of merchandise
are drawn to the head city from the subordinate towns and villages.
Formerly the city of Santa Jago was miserably sacked by the pirates of
Jamaica and Tortuga, though it is defended by a considerable castle.
The city and port De la Havanna lies between the north and west side
of the island: this is one of the strongest places of the West Indies;
its jurisdiction extends over the other half of the island; the chief
places under it being Santa Cruz on the north side, and La Trinidad on
the south. Hence is transported huge quantities of tobacco, which is
sent to New Spain and Costa Rica, even as far as the South Sea,
besides many ships laden with this commodity, that are consigned to
Spain and other parts of Europe, not only in the leaf, but in rolls.
This city is defended by three castles, very great and strong, two of
which lie towards the port, and the other is seated on a hill that
commands the town. It is esteemed to contain about ten thousand
families. The merchants of this place trade in New Spain, Campechy,
Honduras, and Florida. All ships that come from the parts before
mentioned, as also from Caraccas, Carthagena and Costa Rica, are
necessitated to take their provisions in at Havanna to make their
voyage for Spain; this being the necessary and straight course they
must steer for the south of Europe, and other parts. The plate-fleet
of Spain, which the Spaniards call Flota, being homeward bound,
touches here yearly to complete their cargo with hides, tobacco, and
Campechy wood.
Captain Morgan had been but two months in these ports of the south of
Cuba, when he had got together a fleet of twelve sail, between ships
and great boats, with seven hundred fighting men, part English and
part French. They called a council, and some advised to assault the
city of Havanna in the night, which they said might easily be done, if
they could but take any few of the ecclesiastics; yea, that the city
might be sacked before the castles could put themselves in a posture
of defence. Others propounded, according to their several opinions,
other attempts; but the former proposal was rejected, because many of
the pirates, who had been prisoners at other times in the said city,
affirmed nothing of consequence could be done with less than one
thousand five hundred men. Moreover, that with all these people, they
ought first to go to the island De los Pinos, and land them in small
boats about Matamona, fourteen leagues from the said city, whereby to
accomplish their designs.
Finally, they saw no possibility of gathering so great a fleet, and
hereupon, with what they had, they concluded to attempt some other
place. Among the rest, one propounded they should assault the town of
El Puerto del Principe. This proposition he persuaded to, by saying he
knew that place very well, and that being at a distance from sea, it
never was sacked by any pirates, whereby the inhabitants were rich,
exercising their trade by ready money, with those of Havanna who kept
here an established commerce, chiefly in hides. This proposal was
presently admitted by Captain Morgan, and the chief of his companions.
Hereupon they ordered every captain to weigh anchor and set sail,
steering towards that coast nearest to El Puerto del Principe. Here is
a bay named by the Spaniards El Puerto de Santa Maria: being arrived
at this bay, a Spaniard, who was prisoner aboard the fleet, swam
ashore by night to the town of El Puerto del Principe, giving an
account to the inhabitants of the design of the pirates, which he
overheard in their discourse, while they thought he did not understand
English. The Spaniards upon this advice began to hide their riches,
and carry away their movables; the governor immediately raised all the
people of the town, freemen and slaves, and with part of them took a
post by which of necessity the pirates must pass, and commanded many
trees to be cut down and laid cross the ways to hinder their passage,
placing several ambuscades strengthened with some pieces of cannon to
play upon them on their march. He gathered in all about eight hundred
men, of which detaching part into the said ambuscades, with the rest
he begirt the town, drawing them up in a spacious field, whence they
could see the coming of the pirates at length.
Captain Morgan, with his men, now on the march, found the avenues to
the town unpassable; hereupon they took their way through the wood,
traversing it with great difficulty, whereby they escaped divers
ambuscades; at last they came to the plain, from its figure called by
the Spaniards La Savanna, or the Sheet. The governor seeing them come,
detached a troop of horse to charge them in the front, thinking to
disperse them, and to pursue them with his main body: but this design
succeeded not, for the pirates marched in very good order, at the
sound of their drums, and with flying colours; coming near the horse
they drew into a semicircle, and so advanced towards the Spaniards,
who charged them valiantly for a while; but the pirates being very
dextrous at their arms, and their governor, with many of their
companions, being killed, they retreated towards the wood, to save
themselves with more advantage; but before they could reach it, most
of them were unfortunately killed by the pirates. Thus they left the
victory to these new-come enemies, who had no considerable loss of men
in the battle, and but very few wounded. The skirmish lasted four
hours: they entered the town not without great resistance of such as
were within, who defended themselves as long as possible, and many
seeing the enemy in the town, shut themselves up in their own houses,
and thence made several shots upon the pirates; who thereupon
threatened them, saying, “If you surrender not voluntarily, you shall
soon see the town in a flame, and your wives and children torn in
pieces before your faces.” Upon these menaces the Spaniards submitted
to the discretion of the pirates, believing they could not continue
there long.
As soon as the pirates had possessed themselves of the town, they
enclosed all the Spaniards, men, women, children, and slaves, in
several churches, and pillaged all the goods they could find; then
they searched the country round about, bringing in daily many goods
and prisoners, with much provision. With this they fell to making
great cheer, after their old custom, without remembering the poor
prisoners, whom they let starve in the churches, though they tormented
them daily and inhumanly to make them confess where they had hid their
goods, money, &c., though little or nothing was left them, not sparing
the women and little children, giving them nothing to eat, whereby the
greatest part perished.
Pillage and provisions growing scarce, they thought convenient to
depart and seek new fortunes in other places; they told the prisoners,
“they should find money to ransom themselves, else they should be all
transported to Jamaica; and beside, if they did not pay a second
ransom for the town, they would turn every house into ashes.” The
Spaniards hereupon nominated among themselves four fellow-prisoners to
go and seek for the above-mentioned contributions; but the pirates, to
the intent that they should return speedily with those ransoms,
tormented several cruelly in their presence, before they departed.
After a few days, the Spaniards returned, telling Captain Morgan, “We
have ran up and down, and searched all the neighbouring woods and
places we most suspected, and yet have not been able to find any of
our own party, nor consequently any fruit of our embassy; but if you
are pleased to have a little longer patience with us, we shall
certainly cause all that you demand to be paid within fifteen days;”
which Captain Morgan granted. But not long after, there came into the
town seven or eight pirates who had been ranging in the woods and
fields, and got considerable booty. These brought amongst other
prisoners a negro, whom they had taken with letters. Captain Morgan
having perused them, found that they were from the governor of Santa
Jago, being written to some of the prisoners, wherein he told them,
“they should not make too much haste to pay any ransom for their town
or persons, or any other pretext; but on the contrary, they should put
off the pirates as well as they could with excuses and delays,
expecting to be relieved by him in a short time, when he would
certainly come to their aid.” Upon this intelligence Captain Morgan
immediately ordered all their plunder to be carried aboard; and
withal, he told the Spaniards, that the very next day they should pay
their ransoms, for he would not wait a moment longer, but reduce the
whole town to ashes, if they failed of the sum he demanded.
With this intimation, Captain Morgan made no mention to the Spaniards
of the letters he had intercepted. They answered, “that it was
impossible for them to give such a sum of money in so short a space of
time, seeing their fellow-townsmen were not to be found in all the
country thereabouts.” Captain Morgan knew full well their intentions,
but thought it not convenient to stay there any longer, demanding of
them only five hundred oxen or cows, with sufficient salt to powder
them, with this condition, that they should carry them on board his
ships. Thus he departed with all his men, taking with him only six of
the principal prisoners as pledges. Next day the Spaniards brought the
cattle and salt to the ships, and required the prisoners; but Captain
Morgan refused to deliver them, till they had helped his men to kill
and salt the beeves: this was performed in great haste, he not caring
to stay there any longer, lest he should be surprised by the forces
that were gathering against him; and having received all on board his
vessels, he set at liberty the hostages. Meanwhile there happened some
dissensions between the English and the French: the occasion was as
follows: A Frenchman being employed in killing and salting the beeves,
an English pirate took away the marrow-bones he had taken out of the
ox, which these people esteem much; hereupon they challenged one
another: being come to the place of duel, the Englishman stabbed the
Frenchman in the back, whereby he fell down dead. The other Frenchmen,
desirous of revenge, made an insurrection against the English; but
Captain Morgan soon appeased them, by putting the criminal in chains
to be carried to Jamaica, promising he would see justice done upon
him; for though he might challenge his adversary, yet it was not
lawful to kill him treacherously, as he did.
All things being ready, and on board, and the prisoners set at
liberty, they sailed thence to a certain island, where Captain Morgan
intended to make a dividend of what they had purchased in that voyage;
where being arrived, they found nigh the value of fifty thousand
pieces of eight in money and goods; the sum being known, it caused a
general grief to see such a small purchase, not sufficient to pay
their debts at Jamaica. Hereupon Captain Morgan proposed they should
think on some other enterprise and pillage before they returned. But
the French not being able to agree with the English, left Captain
Morgan with those of his own nation, notwithstanding all the
persuasions he used to reduce them to continue in his company. Thus
they parted with all external signs of friendship, Captain Morgan
reiterating his promises to them that he would see justice done on
that criminal. This he performed; for being arrived at Jamaica, he
caused him to be hanged, which was all the satisfaction the French
pirates could expect.