What happened in the river De la Hacha.
These four ships setting sail from Hispaniola, steered for the river
De la Hacha, where they were suddenly overtaken with a tedious calm.
Being 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, at least to hide the best of
their goods, that, without any care of preserving them, they might be
ready to retire, if they proved unable to resist the pirates, by whose
frequent attempts on those coasts they had already learned what to do
in such cases. There was then in the river a good ship, come from
Carthagena to lade with maize, and now almost ready to depart. The men
of 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
them, being good part of what they came for. Next morning, about break
of day, they came with their ships ashore, and landed their men,
though the Spaniards made good resistance from a battery they had
raised on that side, where, of necessity, they were to land; but they
were forced to retire to a village, whither the pirates followed them.
Here the Spaniards rallying, fell upon them with great fury, and
maintained a strong combat, which lasted till night; but then,
perceiving they had lost a great number of men, which was no less on
the pirates’ side, they retired to secret places in the woods.
Next day the pirates seeing them all fled, and the town left empty of
people, they pursued them as far as they could, and overtook a party
of Spaniards, whom they made prisoners, and exercised with most cruel
torments, to discover their goods. Some were forced, by intolerable
tortures, to confess; but others, who would not, were used more
barbarously. Thus, in fifteen days that they remained there, they took
many prisoners, much plate and movables, with which booty they
resolved to return to Hispaniola: yet, not content with what they had
got, they dispatched some prisoners into the woods to seek for the
rest of the inhabitants, and to demand a ransom for not burning the
town. They answered, they had no money nor plate; but if they would be
satisfied with a quantity of maize, they would give as much as they
could. The pirates accepted this, it being then more useful to them
than ready money, and agreed they should pay four thousand hanegs, or
bushels of maize. These were brought in three days after, the
Spaniards being desirous to rid themselves of that inhuman sort of
people. Having laded them on board with the rest of their purchase,
they returned to Hispaniola, to give account to their leader, Captain
Morgan, of all they had performed.
They had now been absent five weeks on this commission, which long
delay occasioned Captain Morgan almost to despair of their return,
fearing lest they were fallen into the hands of the Spaniards;
especially considering the place whereto they went could easily be
relieved from Carthagena and Santa Maria, if the inhabitants were
careful to alarm the country. On the other side, he feared lest they
should have made some great fortune in that voyage, and with it have
escaped to some other place. But seeing his ships return in greater
numbers than they departed, he resumed new courage, this sight causing
both in him and his companions infinite joy, especially when they
found them full laden with maize, which they much wanted for the
maintenance of so many people, from whom they expected great matters
under such a commander.
Captain Morgan having divided the said, maize, as also the flesh which
the hunters brought, among his ships, according to the number of men,
he concluded to depart; having viewed beforehand every ship, and
observed their being well equipped and clean. Thus he set sail, and
stood for Cape Tiburon, where he determined to resolve what enterprise
he should take in hand. No sooner were they arrived, but they met some
other ships newly come to join them from Jamaica; so that now their
fleet consisted of thirty-seven ships, wherein were two thousand
fighting men, beside mariners and boys. The admiral hereof was mounted
with twenty-two great guns, and six small ones of brass; the rest
carried some twenty, some sixteen, some eighteen, and the smallest
vessel at least four; besides which, they had great quantities of
ammunition and fire-balls, with other inventions of powder.
Captain Morgan having such a number of ships, divided the whole fleet
into two squadrons, constituting a vice-admiral, and other officers of
the second squadron, distinct from the former. To these he gave
letters patent, or commissions to act all manner of hostilities
against the Spanish nation, and take of them what ships they could,
either abroad at sea, or in the harbours, as if they were open and
declared enemies (as he termed it) of the king of England, his
pretended master. This done, he called all his captains and other
officers together, and caused them to sign some articles of 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:
that every captain should draw the shares of eight men for the
expenses of his ship, besides his own. To the surgeon, beside his pay,
two hundred pieces of eight for his chest of medicaments. To every
carpenter, above his salary, one hundred pieces of eight. The rewards
were settled in this voyage much higher than before: as, for the loss
of both legs, fifteen hundred pieces of eight, or fifteen slaves, the
choice left to the party: for the loss of both hands, eighteen hundred
pieces of eight, or eighteen slaves: for one leg, whether right or
left, six hundred pieces of eight, or six slaves: for a hand, as much
as for a leg; and for the loss of an eye, one hundred pieces of eight,
or one slave. Lastly, to him that in any battle should signalize
himself, either by entering first any castle, or taking down the
Spanish colours, and setting up the English, they allotted fifty
pieces of eight for a reward. All which extraordinary salaries and
rewards to be paid out of the first spoil they should take, as every
one should 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, to attempt one of these three
places; either Carthagena, Panama, or Vera Cruz. But the lot fell on
Panama, as the richest of all three; though this city being situate at
such a distance from the North Sea as they knew not well the
approaches to it, they judged it necessary to go beforehand to the
isle of St. Catherine, there to find some persons for guides in this
enterprise; for in the garrison there are commonly many banditti and
outlaws belonging to Panama and the neighbouring places, who are very
expert in the knowledge of that country. But before they proceeded,
they published an act through the whole fleet, promising, if they met
with any Spanish vessel, the first captain who should take it should
have for his reward the tenth part of what should be found in her.