Captain Morgan resolving to attack and plunder the city of
Puerto Bello, equips a fleet, and with little expense and
small forces takes it.
Some may think that the French having deserted Captain Morgan, the
English alone could not have sufficient courage to attempt such great
actions as before. But Captain Morgan, who always communicated vigour
with his words, infused such spirit into his men, as put them
instantly upon new designs; they being all persuaded that the sole
execution of his orders would be a certain means of obtaining great
riches, which so influenced their minds, that with inimitable courage
they all resolved to follow him, as did also a certain pirate of
Campechy, who on this occasion joined with Captain Morgan, to seek new
fortunes under his conduct. Thus Captain Morgan in a few days gathered
a fleet of nine sail, either ships or great boats, wherein he had four
hundred and sixty military men.
All things being ready, they put forth to sea, Captain Morgan
imparting his design to nobody at present; he only told them on
several occasions, that he doubted not to make a good fortune by that
voyage, if strange occurrences happened not. They steered towards the
continent, where they arrived in a few days near Costa Rica, all their
fleet safe. No sooner had they discovered land but Captain Morgan
declared his intentions to the captains, and presently after to the
company. He told them he intended to plunder Puerto Bello by night,
being resolved to put the whole city to the sack: and to encourage
them he added, this enterprise could not fail, seeing he had kept it
secret, without revealing it to anybody, whereby they could not have
notice of his coming. To this proposition some answered, “they had not
a sufficient number of men to assault so strong and great a city.” But
Captain Morgan replied, “If our number is small, our hearts are great;
and the fewer persons we are, the more union and better shares we
shall have in the spoil.” Hereupon, being stimulated with the hope of
those vast riches they promised themselves from their success, they
unanimously agreed to that design. Now, that my reader may better
comprehend the boldness of this exploit, it may be necessary to say
something beforehand of the city of Puerto Bello.
This city is in the province of Costa Rica, 10 deg. north latitude,
fourteen leagues from the gulf of Darien, and eight westwards from the
port called Nombre de Dios. It is judged the strongest place the king
of Spain possesses in all the West Indies, except Havanna and
Carthagena. Here are two castles almost impregnable, that defend the
city, situate at the entry of the port, so that no ship or boat can
pass without permission. The garrison consists of three hundred
soldiers, and the town is inhabited by about four hundred families.
The merchants dwell not here, but only reside awhile, when the
galleons come from or go for Spain, by reason of the unhealthiness of
the air, occasioned by vapours from the mountains; so that though
their chief warehouses are at Puerto Bello, their habitations are at
Panama, whence they bring the plate upon mules, when the fair begins,
and when the ships belonging to the company of negroes arrive to sell
slaves.
Captain Morgan, who knew very well all the avenues of this city and
the neighbouring coasts, arrived in the dusk of the evening at Puerto
de Naos, ten leagues to the west of Puerto Bello. Being come hither,
they sailed up the river to another harbour called Puerto Pontin,
where they anchored: here they put themselves into boats and canoes,
leaving in the ships only a few men to bring them next day to the
port. About midnight they came to a place called Estera longa Lemos,
where they all went on shore, and marched by land to the first posts
of the city: they had in their company an Englishman, formerly a
prisoner in those parts, who now served them for a guide: to him and
three or four more they gave commission to take the sentinel, if
possible, or kill him on the place: but they seized him so cunningly,
as he had no time to give warning with his musket, or make any noise,
and brought him, with his hands bound, to Captain Morgan, who asked
him how things went in the city, and what forces they had; with other
circumstances he desired to know. After every question they made him a
thousand menaces to kill him, if he declared not the truth. Then they
advanced to the city, carrying the said sentinel bound before them:
having marched about a quarter of a league, they came to the castle
near the city, which presently they closely surrounded, so that no
person could get either in or out.
Being posted under the walls of the castle, Captain Morgan commanded
the sentinel, whom they had taken prisoner, to speak to those within,
charging them to surrender to his discretion; otherwise they should
all be cut in pieces, without quarter. But they regarding none of
these threats, began instantly to fire, which alarmed the city; yet
notwithstanding, though the governor and soldiers of the said castle
made as great resistance as could be, they were forced to surrender.
Having taken the castle, they resolved to be as good as their words,
putting the Spaniards to the sword, thereby to strike a terror into
the rest of the city. Whereupon, having shut up all the soldiers and
officers as prisoners into one room, they set fire to the powder
(whereof they found great quantity) and blew up the castle into the
air, with all the Spaniards that were within. This done, they pursued
the course of their victory, falling upon the city, which, as yet, was
not ready to receive them. Many of the inhabitants cast their precious
jewels and money into wells and cisterns, or hid them in places
underground, to avoid, as much as possible, being totally robbed. One
party of the pirates, assigned to this purpose, ran immediately to the
cloisters, and took as many religious men and women as they could
find. The governor of the city, not being able to rally the citizens,
through their great confusion, retired to one of the castles
remaining, and thence fired incessantly at the pirates: but these were
not in the least negligent either to assault him, or defend
themselves, so that amidst the horror of the assault, they made very
few shots in vain; for aiming with great dexterity at the mouths of
the guns, the Spaniards were certain to lose one or two men every time
they charged each gun anew.
This continued very furious from break of day till noon; yea, about
this time of the day the case was very dubious which party should
conquer, or be conquered. At last, the pirates perceiving they had
lost many men, and yet advanced but little towards gaining either
this, or the other castles, made use of fire-balls, which they threw
with their hands, designing to burn the doors of the castles; but the
Spaniards from the walls let fall great quantities of stones, and
earthen pots full of powder, and other combustible matter, which
forced them to desist. Captain Morgan seeing this generous defence
made by the Spaniards, began to despair of success. Hereupon, many
faint and calm meditations came into his mind; neither could he
determine which way to turn himself in that strait. Being thus
puzzled, he was suddenly animated to continue the assault, by seeing
English colours put forth at one of the lesser castles, then entered
by his men; of whom he presently after spied a troop coming to meet
him, proclaiming victory with loud shouts of joy. This instantly put
him on new resolutions of taking the rest of the castles, especially
seeing the chiefest citizens were fled to them, and had conveyed
thither great part of their riches, with all the plate belonging to
the churches and divine service.
To this effect, he ordered ten or twelve ladders to be made in all
haste, so broad, that three or four men at once might ascend them:
these being finished, he commanded all the religious men and women,
whom he had taken prisoners, to fix them against the walls of the
castle. This he had before threatened the governor to do, if he
delivered not the castle: but his answer was, “he would never
surrender himself alive.” Captain Morgan was persuaded the governor
would not employ his utmost force, seeing the religious women, and
ecclesiastical persons, exposed in the front of the soldiers to the
greatest danger. Thus the ladders, as I have said, were put into the
hands of religious persons of both sexes, and these were forced, at
the head of the companies, to raise and apply them to the walls: but
Captain Morgan was fully deceived in his judgment of this design; for
the governor, who acted like a brave soldier in performance of his
duty, used his utmost endeavour to destroy whosoever came near the
walls. The religious men and women ceased not to cry to him, and beg
of him, by all the saints of heaven, to deliver the castle, and spare
both his and their own lives; but nothing could prevail with his
obstinacy and fierceness. Thus many of the religious men and nuns were
killed before they could fix the ladders; which at last being done,
though with great loss of the said religious people, the pirates
mounted them in great numbers, and with not less valour, having
fire-balls in their hands, and earthen pots full of powder; all which
things, being now at the top of the walls, they kindled and cast in
among the Spaniards.
This effort of the pirates was very great, insomuch that the Spaniards
could no longer resist nor defend the castle, which was now entered.
Hereupon they all threw down their arms, and craved quarter for their
lives; only the governor of the city would crave no mercy, but killed
many of the pirates with his own hands, and not a few of his own
soldiers; because they did not stand to their arms. And though the
pirates asked him if he would have quarter; yet he constantly
answered, “By no means, I had rather die as a valiant soldier, than be
hanged as a coward.” They endeavoured as much as they could to take
him prisoner, but he defended himself so obstinately, that they were
forced to kill him, notwithstanding all the cries and tears of his own
wife and daughter, who begged him, on their knees, to demand quarter,
and save his life. When the pirates had possessed themselves of the
castle, which was about night, they enclosed therein all the
prisoners, placing the women and men by themselves, with some guards:
the wounded were put in an apartment by itself, that their own
complaints might be the cure of their diseases; for no other was
afforded them.
This done, they fell to eating and drinking, as usual; that is,
committing in both all manner of debauchery and excess: these two
vices were immediately followed by many insolent actions of rape and
adultery, committed on many very honest women, as well married as
virgins; who being threatened with the sword, were constrained to
submit their bodies to the violence of those lewd and wicked men. Thus
they gave themselves up to all sorts of debauchery, that fifty
courageous men might easily have retaken the city, and killed all the
pirates. Next day, having plundered all they could find, they examined
some of the prisoners (who had been persuaded by their companions to
say they were the richest of the town), charging them severely to
discover where they had hid their riches and goods. Not being able to
extort anything from them, they not being the right persons, it was
resolved to torture them: this they did so cruelly, that many of them
died on the rack, or presently after. Now the president of Panama
being advertised of the pillage and ruin of Puerto Bello, he employed
all his care and industry to raise forces to pursue and cast out the
pirates thence; but these cared little for his preparations, having
their ships at hand, and determining to fire the city, and retreat.
They had now been at Puerto Bello fifteen days, in which time they had
lost many of their men, both by the unhealthiness of the country, and
their extravagant debaucheries.
Hereupon, they prepared to depart, carrying on board all the pillage
they had got, having first provided the fleet with sufficient victuals
for the voyage. While these things were doing, Captain Morgan demanded
of the prisoners a ransom for the city, or else he would burn it down,
and blow up all the castles; withal, he commanded them to send
speedily two persons, to procure the sum, which was 100,000 pieces of
eight. To this effect two men were sent to the president of Panama,
who gave him an account of all. The president, having now a body of
men ready, set forth towards Puerto Bello, to encounter the pirates
before their retreat; but they, hearing of his coming, instead of
flying away, went out to meet him at a narrow passage, which he must
pass: here they placed a hundred men, very well armed, which at the
first encounter put to flight a good party of those of Panama. This
obliged the president to retire for that time, not being yet in a
posture of strength to proceed farther. Presently after, he sent a
message to Captain Morgan, to tell him, “that if he departed not
suddenly with all his forces from Puerto Bello, he ought to expect no
quarter for himself, nor his companions, when he should take them, as
he hoped soon to do.” Captain Morgan, who feared not his threats,
knowing he had a secure retreat in his ships, which were at hand,
answered, “he would not deliver the castles, before he had received
the contribution money he had demanded; which if it were not paid
down, he would certainly burn the whole city, and then leave it,
demolishing beforehand the castles, and killing the prisoners.”
The governor of Panama perceived by this answer that no means would
serve to mollify the hearts of the pirates, nor reduce them to reason:
hereupon, he determined to leave them, as also those of the city whom
he came to relieve, involved in the difficulties of making the best
agreement they could. Thus in a few days more the miserable citizens
gathered the contributions required, and brought 100,000 pieces of
eight to the pirates for a ransom of their cruel captivity: but the
president of Panama was much amazed to consider that four hundred men
could take such a great city, with so many strong castles, especially
having no ordnance, wherewith to raise batteries, and, what was more,
knowing the citizens of Puerto Bello had always great repute of being
good soldiers themselves, and who never wanted courage in their own
defence. This astonishment was so great, as made him send to Captain
Morgan, desiring some small pattern of those arms wherewith he had
taken with such vigour so great a city. Captain Morgan received this
messenger very kindly, and with great civility; and gave him a pistol,
and a few small bullets, to carry back to the president his master;
telling him, withal, “he desired him to accept that slender pattern of
the arms wherewith he had taken Puerto Bello, and keep them for a
twelvemonth; after which time he promised to come to Panama, and fetch
them away.” The governor returned the present very soon to Captain
Morgan, giving him thanks for the favour of lending him such weapons
as he needed not; and, withal, sent him a ring of gold, with this
message, “that he desired him not to give himself the labour of coming
to Panama, as he had done to Puerto Bello: for he did assure him, he
should not speed so well here, as he had done there.”
After this, Captain Morgan (having provided his fleet with all
necessaries, and taken with him the best guns of the castles, nailing
up the rest) set sail from Puerto Bello with all his ships, and
arriving in a few days at Cuba, he sought out a place wherein he might
quickly make the dividend of their spoil. They found in ready money
250,000 pieces of eight, besides other merchandises; as cloth, linen,
silks, &c. With this rich purchase they sailed thence to their common
place of rendezvous, Jamaica. Being arrived, they passed here some
time in all sorts of vices and debaucheries, according to their
custom; spending very prodigally what others had gained with no small
labour and toil.