_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 of
the party of 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.
[Illustration: "MORGAN COMMANDED THE RELIGIOUS MEN AND WOMEN TO PLACE
THE LADDERS AGAINST THE WALLS"--_Page 128_]
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, so 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 much 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.