_Captain Morgan takes the city of Maracaibo on the coast of Neuva
Venezuela--Piracies committed in those seas--Ruin of three Spanish
ships, set forth to hinder the robberies of the pirates._
NOT long after their arrival at Jamaica, being that short time they
needed to lavish away all the riches above mentioned, they concluded on
another enterprise to seek new fortunes: to this effect Captain Morgan
ordered all the commanders of his ships to meet at De la Vacca, or the
Cow Isle, south of Hispaniola, as is said. Hither flocked to them great
numbers of other pirates, French and English; the name of Captain Morgan
being now famous in all the neighbouring countries for his great
enterprises. There was then at Jamaica an English ship newly come from
New England, well mounted with thirty-six guns: this vessel, by order of
the governor of Jamaica, joined Captain Morgan to strengthen his fleet,
and give him greater courage to attempt mighty things. With this supply
Captain Morgan judged himself sufficiently strong; but there being in
the same place another great vessel of twenty-four iron guns, and twelve
brass ones, belonging to the French, Captain Morgan endeavoured also to
join this ship to his own; but the French not daring to trust the
English, denied absolutely to consent.
The French pirates belonging to this great ship had met at sea an
English vessel; and being under great want of victuals, they had taken
some provisions out of the English ship, without paying for them,
having, perhaps, no ready money aboard: only they gave them bills of
exchange for Jamaica and Tortuga, to receive money there. Captain Morgan
having notice of this, and perceiving he could not prevail with the
French captain to follow him, resolved to lay hold on this occasion, to
ruin the French, and seek his revenge. Hereupon he invited, with
dissimulation, the French commander, and several of his men, to dine
with him on board the great ship that was come to Jamaica, as is said.
Being come, he made them all prisoners, pretending the injury aforesaid
done to the English vessel.
This unjust action of Captain Morgan was soon followed by Divine
punishment, as we may conceive: the manner I shall instantly relate.
Captain Morgan, presently after he had taken these French prisoners,
called a council to deliberate what place they should first pitch upon
in this new expedition. Here it was determined to go to the isle of
Savona, to wait for the flota then expected from Spain, and take any of
the Spanish vessels straggling from the rest. This resolution being
taken, they began aboard the great ship to feast one another for joy of
their new voyage, and happy council, as they hoped: they drank many
healths, and discharged many guns, the common sign of mirth among
seamen. Most of the men being drunk, by what accident is not known, the
ship suddenly was blown up, with three hundred and fifty Englishmen,
besides the French prisoners in the hold; of all which there escaped but
thirty men, who were in the great cabin, at some distance from the main
force of the powder. Many more, it is thought, might have escaped, had
they not been so much overtaken with wine.
This loss brought much consternation of mind upon the English; they knew
not whom to blame, but at last the accusation was laid on the French
prisoners, whom they suspected to have fired the powder of the ship out
of revenge, though with the loss of their own lives: hereupon they added
new accusations to their former, whereby to seize the ship and all that
was in it, by saying the French designed to commit piracy on the
English. The grounds of this accusation were given by a commission from
the governor of Barracoa, found aboard the French vessel, wherein were
these words, "that the said governor did permit the French to trade in
all Spanish ports," &c. "As also to cruise on the English pirates in
what place soever they could find them, because of the multitudes of
hostilities which they had committed against the subjects of his
Catholic Majesty in time of peace betwixt the two crowns." This
commission for trade was interpreted as an express order to exercise
piracy and war against them, though it was only a bare licence for
coming into the Spanish ports; the cloak of which permission were those
words, "that they should cruise upon the English." And though the French
did sufficiently expound the true sense of it, yet they could not clear
themselves to Captain Morgan nor his council: but in lieu thereof, the
ship and men were seized and sent to Jamaica. Here they also endeavoured
to obtain justice, and the restitution of their ship, but all in vain;
for instead of justice, they were long detained in prison, and
threatened with hanging.
Eight days after the loss of the said ship, Captain Morgan commanded the
bodies of the miserable wretches who were blown up to be searched for,
as they floated on the sea; not to afford them Christian burial, but for
their clothes and attire: and if any had gold rings on their fingers,
these were cut off, leaving them exposed to the voracity of the monsters
of the sea. At last they set sail for Savona, the place of their
assignation. There were in all fifteen vessels, Captain Morgan
commanding the biggest, of only fourteen small guns; his number of men
was nine hundred and sixty. Few days after, they arrived at the Cabo de
Lobos, south of Hispaniola, between Cape Tiburon and Cape Punta de
Espada: hence they could not pass by reason of contrary winds for three
weeks, notwithstanding all the utmost endeavours Captain Morgan used to
get forth; then they doubled the cape, and spied an English vessel at a
distance. Having spoken with her, they found she came from England, and
bought of her, for ready money, some provisions they wanted.
Captain Morgan proceeded on his voyage till he came to the port of Ocoa;
here he landed some men, sending them into the woods to seek water and
provisions, the better to spare such as he had already on board. They
killed many beasts, and among others some horses. But the Spaniards, not
well satisfied at their hunting, laid a stratagem for them, ordering
three or four hundred men to come from Santo Domingo not far distant,
and desiring them to hunt in all the parts thereabout near the sea, that
so, if the pirates should return, they might find no subsistence. Within
few days the same pirates returned to hunt, but finding nothing to kill,
a party of about fifty straggled farther on into the woods. The
Spaniards, who watched all their motions, gathered a great herd of cows,
and set two or three men to keep them. The pirates having spied them,
killed a sufficient number; and though the Spaniards could see them at a
distance, yet they could not hinder them at present; but as soon as they
attempted to carry them away, they set upon them furiously, crying,
"Mata, mata," _i.e._, "Kill, kill." Thus the pirates were compelled to
quit the prey, and retreat to their ships; but they did it in good
order, retiring by degrees, and when they had opportunity, discharging
full volleys on the Spaniards, killing many of their enemies, though
with some loss.
The Spaniards seeing their damage, endeavoured to save themselves by
flight, and carry off their dead and wounded companions. The pirates
perceiving them flee, would not content themselves with what hurt they
had already done, but pursued them speedily into the woods, and killed
the greatest part of those that remained. Next day Captain Morgan,
extremely offended at what had passed, went himself with two hundred men
into the woods to seek for the rest of the Spaniards, but finding
nobody, he revenged his wrath on the houses of the poor and miserable
rustics that inhabit those scattering fields and woods, of which he
burnt a great number: with this he returned to his ships, somewhat more
satisfied in his mind for having done some considerable damage to the
enemy; which was always his most ardent desire.
The impatience wherewith Captain Morgan had waited a long while for some
of his ships not yet arrived, made him resolve to sail away without
them, and steer for Savona, the place he always designed. Being arrived,
and not finding any of his ships come, he was more impatient and
concerned than before, fearing their loss, or that he must proceed
without them; but he waiting for their arrival a few days longer, and
having no great plenty of provisions, he sent a crew of one hundred and
fifty men to Hispaniola to pillage some towns near Santo Domingo; but
the Spaniards, upon intelligence of their coming, were so vigilant, and
in such good posture of defence, that the pirates thought not convenient
to assault them, choosing rather to return empty-handed to Captain
Morgan, than to perish in that desperate enterprise.
At last Captain Morgan, seeing the other ships did not come, made a
review of his people, and found only about five hundred men; the ships
wanting were seven, he having only eight in his company, of which the
greatest part were very small. Having hitherto resolved to cruise on the
coasts of Caraccas, and to plunder the towns and villages there, finding
himself at present with such small forces, he changed his resolution by
advice of a French captain in his fleet. This Frenchman having served
Lolonois in the like enterprises, and at the taking of Maracaibo, knew
all the entries, passages, forces, and means, how to put in execution
the same again in company of Captain Morgan; to whom having made a full
relation of all, he concluded to sack it the second time, being himself
persuaded, with all his men, of the facility the Frenchman propounded.
Hereupon they weighed anchor, and steered towards Curasao. Being come
within sight of it, they landed at another island near it, called Ruba,
about twelve leagues from Curasao to the west. This island, defended by
a slender garrison, is inhabited by Indians subject to Spain, and speak
Spanish, by reason of the Roman Catholic religion, here cultivated by a
few priests sent from the neighbouring continent.
The inhabitants exercise commerce or trade with the pirates that go or
come this way: they buy of the islanders sheep, lambs, and kids, which
they exchange for linen, thread, and like things. The country is very
dry and barren, the whole substance thereof consisting in those three
things, and in a little indifferent wheat. This isle produces many
venomous insects, as vipers, spiders, and others. These last are so
pernicious, that a man bitten by them dies mad; and the manner of
recovering such is to tie them very fast both hands and feet, and so to
leave them twenty-four hours, without eating or drinking anything.
Captain Morgan, as was said, having cast anchor before this island,
bought of the inhabitants sheep, lambs, and wood, for all his fleet.
After two days, he sailed again in the night, to the intent they might
not see what course he steered.
Next day they arrived at the sea of Maracaibo, taking great care not to
be seen from Vigilia, for which reason they anchored out of sight of it.
Night being come, they set sail again towards the land, and next
morning, by break of day, were got directly over against the bar of the
said lake. The Spaniards had built another fort since the action of
Lolonois, whence they now fired continually against the pirates, while
they put their men into boats to land. The dispute continued very hot,
being managed with great courage from morning till dark night. This
being come, Captain Morgan, in the obscurity thereof, drew nigh the
fort, which having examined, he found nobody in it, the Spaniards having
deserted it not long before. They left behind them a match lighted near
a train of powder, to have blown up the pirates and the whole fortress
as soon as they were in it. This design had taken effect, had not the
pirates discovered it in a quarter of an hour; but Captain Morgan
snatching away the match, saved both his own and his companions' lives.
They found here much powder, whereof he provided his fleet, and then
demolished part of the walls, nailing sixteen pieces of ordnance, from
twelve to twenty-four pounders. Here they also found many muskets and
other military provisions.
Next day they commanded the ships to enter the bar, among which they
divided the powder, muskets, and other things found in the fort: then
they embarked again to continue their course towards Maracaibo; but the
waters being very low, they could not pass a certain bank at the entry
of the lake: hereupon they were compelled to go into canoes and small
boats, with which they arrived next day before Maracaibo, having no
other defence than some small pieces which they could carry in the said
boats. Being landed, they ran immediately to the fort De la Barra, which
they found as the precedent, without any person in it, for all were fled
into the woods, leaving also the town without any people, unless a few
miserable folks, who had nothing to lose.
As soon as they had entered the town, the pirates searched every corner,
to see if they could find any people that were hid, who might offend
them unawares; not finding anybody, every party, as they came out of
their several ships, chose what houses they pleased. The church was
deputed for the common corps du guard, where they lived after their
military manner, very insolently. Next day after they sent a troop of a
hundred men to seek for the inhabitants and their goods; these returned
next day, bringing with them thirty persons, men, women, and children,
and fifty mules laden with good merchandise. All these miserable people
were put to the rack, to make them confess where the rest of the
inhabitants were, and their goods. Among other tortures, one was to
stretch their limbs with cords, and then to beat them with sticks and
other instruments. Others had burning matches placed betwixt their
fingers, which were thus burnt alive. Others had slender cords or
matches twisted about their heads, till their eyes burst out. Thus all
inhuman cruelties were executed on those innocent people. Those who
would not confess, or who had nothing to declare, died under the hands
of those villains. These tortures and racks continued for three whole
weeks, in which time they sent out daily parties to seek for more people
to torment and rob, they never returning without booty and new riches.
Captain Morgan having now gotten into his hands about a hundred of the
chief families, with all their goods, at last resolved for Gibraltar, as
Lolonois had done before: with this design he equipped his fleet,
providing it sufficiently with all necessaries. He put likewise on board
all the prisoners, and weighing anchor, set sail with resolution to
hazard a battle. They had sent before some prisoners to Gibraltar, to
require the inhabitants to surrender, otherwise Captain Morgan would
certainly put them all to the sword, without any quarter. Arriving
before Gibraltar, the inhabitants received him with continual shooting
of great cannon bullets; but the pirates, instead of fainting hereat,
ceased not to encourage one another, saying, "We must make one meal upon
bitter things, before we come to taste the sweetness of the sugar this
place affords."
Next day very early they landed all their men, and being guided by the
Frenchman abovesaid, they marched towards the town, not by the common
way, but crossing through the woods, which way the Spaniards scarce
thought they would have come; for at the beginning of their march they
made as if they intended to come the next and open way to the town,
hereby to deceive the Spaniards: but these remembering full well what
Lolonois had done but two years before, thought it not safe to expect a
second brunt, and hereupon all fled out of the town as fast as they
could, carrying all their goods and riches, as also all the powder; and
having nailed all the great guns, so as the pirates found not one person
in the whole city, but one poor innocent man who was born a fool. This
man they asked whither the inhabitants were fled, and where they had hid
their goods. To all which questions and the like, he constantly
answered, "I know nothing, I know nothing:" but they presently put him
to the rack, and tortured him with cords; which torments forced him to
cry out, "Do not torture me any more, but come with me, and I will show
you my goods and my riches." They were persuaded, it seems, he was some
rich person disguised under those clothes so poor, and that innocent
tongue; so they went along with him, and he conducted them to a poor
miserable cottage, wherein he had a few earthen dishes and other things
of no value, and three pieces of eight, concealed with some other
trumpery underground. Then they asked him his name, and he readily
answered, "My name is Don Sebastian Sanchez, and I am brother unto the
governor of Maracaibo." This foolish answer, it must be conceived, these
inhuman wretches took for truth: for no sooner had they heard it, but
they put him again upon the rack, lifting him up on high with cords, and
tying huge weights to his feet and neck. Besides which, they burnt him
alive, applying palm-leaves burning to his face.
[Illustration: "'THEY HANGED HIM ON A TREE'"--_Page 146_]
The same day they sent out a party to seek for the inhabitants, on whom
they might exercise their cruelties. These brought back an honest
peasant with two daughters of his, whom they intended to torture as they
used others, if they showed not the places where the inhabitants were
hid. The peasant knew some of those places, and seeing himself
threatened with the rack, went with the pirates to show them; but the
Spaniards perceiving their enemies to range everywhere up and down the
woods, were already fled thence farther off into the thickest of the
woods, where they built themselves huts, to preserve from the weather
those few goods they had. The pirates judged themselves deceived by the
peasant, and hereupon, to revenge themselves, notwithstanding all his
excuses and supplication, they hanged him on a tree.
Then they divided into parties to search the plantations; for they knew
the Spaniards that were absconded could not live on what the woods
afforded, without coming now and then for provisions to their country
houses. Here they found a slave, to whom they promised mountains of gold
and his liberty, by transporting him to Jamaica, if he would show them
where the inhabitants of Gibraltar lay hid. This fellow conducted them
to a party of Spaniards, whom they instantly made prisoners, commanding
this slave to kill some before the eyes of the rest; that by this
perpetrated crime, he might never be able to leave their wicked company.
The negro, according to their orders, committed many murders and
insolencies upon the Spaniards, and followed the unfortunate traces of
the pirates; who eight days after returned to Gibraltar with many
prisoners, and some mules laden with riches. They examined every
prisoner by himself (who were in all about two hundred and fifty
persons), where they had hid the rest of their goods, and if they know
of their fellow-townsmen. Such as would not confess were tormented after
a most inhuman manner. Among the rest, there happened to be a
Portuguese, who by a negro was reported, though falsely, to be very
rich; this man was commanded to produce his riches. His answer was, he
had no more than one hundred pieces of eight in the world, and these had
been stolen from him two days before by his servant; which words, though
he sealed with many oaths and protestations, yet they would not believe
him, but dragging him to the rack, without any regard to his age of
sixty years, they stretched him with cords, breaking both his arms
behind his shoulders.
This cruelty went not alone; for he not being able or willing to make
any other declaration, they put him to another sort of torment more
barbarous; they tied him with small cords by his two thumbs and great
toes to four stakes fixed in the ground, at a convenient distance, the
whole weight of his body hanging on those cords. Not satisfied yet with
this cruel torture, they took a stone of above two hundred pounds, and
laid it upon his belly, as if they intended to press him to death; they
also kindled palm leaves, and applied the flame to the face of this
unfortunate Portuguese, burning with them the whole skin, beard, and
hair. At last, seeing that neither with these tortures, nor others, they
could get anything out of him, they untied the cords, and carried him
half dead to the church, where was their corps du guard; here they tied
him anew to one of the pillars thereof, leaving him in that condition,
without giving him either to eat or drink, unless very sparingly, and so
little that would scarce sustain life for some days; four or five being
past, he desired one of the prisoners might come to him, by whose means
he promised he would endeavour to raise some money to satisfy their
demands. The prisoner whom he required was brought to him, and he
ordered him to promise the pirate five hundred pieces of eight for his
ransom; but they were deaf and obstinate at such a small sum, and
instead of accepting it, beat him cruelly with cudgels, saying, "Old
fellow, instead of five hundred, you must say five hundred thousand
pieces of eight; otherwise you shall here end your life." Finally, after
a thousand protestations that he was but a miserable man, and kept a
poor tavern for his living, he agreed with them for one thousand pieces
of eight. These he raised, and having paid them, got his liberty; though
so horribly maimed, that it is scarce to be believed he could survive
many weeks.
Others were crucified by these tyrants, and with kindled matches burnt
between the joints of their fingers and toes: others had their feet put
into the fire, and thus were left to be roasted alive. Having used these
and other cruelties with the white men, they began to practise the same
with the negroes, their slaves, who were treated with no less inhumanity
than their masters.
Among these slaves was one who promised Captain Morgan to conduct him to
a river of the lake, where he should find a ship and four boats, richly
laden with goods of the inhabitants of Maracaibo: the same discovered
likewise where the governor of Gibraltar lay hid, with the greatest part
of the women of the town; but all this he revealed, upon great menaces
to hang him, if he told not what he knew. Captain Morgan sent away
presently two hundred men in two settees, or great boats, to this river,
to seek for what the slave had discovered; but he himself, with two
hundred and fifty more, undertook to go and take the governor. This
gentleman was retired to a small island in the middle of the river,
where he had built a little fort, as well as he could, for his defence;
but hearing that Captain Morgan came in person with great forces to seek
him, he retired to the top of a mountain not far off, to which there was
no ascent but by a very narrow passage, so straight, that whosoever did
attempt to gain the ascent, must march his men one by one. Captain
Morgan spent two days before he arrived at this little island, whence he
designed to proceed to the mountain where the governor was posted, had
he not been told of the impossibility of ascent, not only for the
narrowness of the way, but because the governor was well provided with
all sorts of ammunition: beside, there was fallen a huge rain, whereby
all the pirates' baggage and powder was wet. By this rain, also, they
lost many men at the passage over a river that was overflown: here
perished, likewise, some women and children, and many mules laden with
plate and goods, which they had taken from the fugitive inhabitants; so
that things were in a very bad condition with Captain Morgan, and his
men much harassed, as may be inferred from this relation: whereby, if
the Spaniards, in that juncture, had had but fifty men well armed, they
might have entirely destroyed the pirates. But the fears the Spaniards
had at first conceived were so great, that the leaves stirring on the
trees they often fancied to be pirates. Finally, Captain Morgan and his
people, having upon this march sometimes waded up to their middles in
water for half, or whole miles together, they at last escaped, for the
greatest part; but the women and children for the major part died.
Thus twelve days after they set forth to seek the governor they returned
to Gibraltar, with many prisoners: two days after arrived also the two
settees that went to the river, bringing with them four boats, and some
prisoners; but the greatest part of the merchandise in the said boats
they found not, the Spaniards having unladed and secured it, having
intelligence of their coming; who designed also, when the merchandise
was taken out, to burn the boats: yet the Spaniards made not so much
haste to unlade these vessels, but that they left in the ship and boats
great parcels of goods, which the pirates seized, and brought a
considerable booty to Gibraltar. Thus, after they had been in possession
of the place five entire weeks, and committed an infinite number of
murders, robberies, and such-like insolencies, they concluded to depart;
but first they ordered some prisoners to go forth into the woods and
fields, and collect a ransom for the town, otherwise they would
certainly burn it down to the ground. These poor afflicted men went as
they were sent, and having searched the adjoining fields and woods,
returned to Captain Morgan, telling him they had scarce been able to
find anybody, but that to such as they had found they had proposed his
demands; to which they had answered, that the governor had prohibited
them to give any ransom for the town, but they beseeched him to have a
little patience, and among themselves they would collect five thousand
pieces of eight; and for the rest, they would give some of their own
townsmen as hostages, whom he might carry to Maracaibo, till he had
received full satisfaction.
Captain Morgan having now been long absent from Maracaibo, and knowing
the Spaniards had had sufficient time to fortify themselves, and hinder
his departure out of the lake, granted their proposition, and made as
much haste as he could for his departure: he gave liberty to all the
prisoners, first putting every one to a ransom; yet he detained the
slaves. They delivered him four persons agreed on for hostages of what
money more he was to receive, and they desired to have the slave
mentioned above, intending to punish him according to his deserts; but
Captain Morgan would not deliver him, lest they should burn him alive.
At last, they weighed anchor, and set sail in all haste for Maracaibo:
here they arrived in four days, and found all things as they had left
them; yet here they received news from a poor distressed old man, whom
alone they found sick in the town, that three Spanish men-of-war were
arrived at the entry of the lake, waiting the return of the pirates:
moreover, that the castle at the entry thereof was again put into a good
posture of defence, well provided with guns and men, and all sorts of
ammunition.
This relation could not choose but disturb the mind of Captain Morgan,
who now was careful how to get away through the narrow entry of the
lake: hereupon he sent his swiftest boat to view the entry, and see if
things were as they had been related. Next day the boat came back,
confirming what was said; assuring him, they had viewed the ships so
nigh, that they had been in great danger of their shot, hereunto they
added, that the biggest ship was mounted with forty guns, the second
with thirty, and the smallest with twenty-four. These forces being much
beyond those of Captain Morgan, caused a general consternation in the
pirates, whose biggest vessel had not above fourteen small guns. Every
one judged Captain Morgan to despond, and to be hopeless, considering
the difficulty of passing safe with his little fleet amidst those great
ships and the fort, or he must perish. How to escape any other way, by
sea or land, they saw no way. Under these necessities, Captain Morgan
resumed new courage, and resolving to show himself still undaunted, he
boldly sent a Spaniard to the admiral of those three ships, demanding of
him a considerable ransom for not putting the city of Maracaibo to the
flames. This man (who was received by the Spaniards with great
admiration of the boldness of those pirates) returned two days after,
bringing to Captain Morgan a letter from the said admiral, as follows:--
_The Letter of Don Alonso del Campo y Espinosa,
Admiral of the Spanish Fleet, to Captain Morgan,
Commander of the Pirates._
"Having understood by all our friends and
neighbours, the unexpected news that you have
dared to attempt and commit hostilities in the
countries, cities, towns, and villages belonging
to the dominions of his Catholic Majesty, my
sovereign lord and master; I let you understand by
these lines, that I am come to this place,
according to my obligation, near that castle
which you took out of the hands of a parcel of
cowards; where I have put things into a very good
posture of defence, and mounted again the
artillery which you had nailed and dismounted. My
intent is, to dispute with you your passage out of
the lake, and follow and pursue you everywhere, to
the end you may see the performance of my duty.
Notwithstanding, if you be contented to surrender
with humility all that you have taken, together
with the slaves and all other prisoners, I will
let you freely pass, without trouble or
molestation; on condition that you retire home
presently to your own country. But if you make any
resistance or opposition to what I offer you, I
assure you I will command boats to come from
Caraccas, wherein I will put my troops, and coming
to Maracaibo, will put you every man to the sword.
This is my last and absolute resolution. Be
prudent, therefore, and do not abuse my bounty
with ingratitude. I have with me very good
soldiers, who desire nothing more ardently than to
revenge on you, and your people, all the
cruelties, and base infamous actions, you have
committed upon the Spanish nation in America.
Dated on board the royal ship named the
_Magdalen_, lying at anchor at the entry of the
lake of Maracaibo, this 24th of April, 1669.
"DON ALONSO DEL CAMPO Y ESPINOSA."
As soon as Captain Morgan received this letter, he called all his men
together in the market-place of Maracaibo, and after reading the
contents thereof, both in French and English, asked their advice and
resolution on the whole matter, and whether they had rather surrender
all they had got to obtain their liberty, than fight for it.
They answered all, unanimously, they had rather fight to the last drop
of blood, than surrender so easily the booty they had got with so much
danger of their lives. Among the rest, one said to Captain Morgan, "Take
you care for the rest, and I will undertake to destroy the biggest of
those ships with only twelve men: the manner shall be, by making a
brulot, or fire-ship, of that vessel we took in the river of Gibraltar;
which, to the intent she may not be known for a fireship, we will fill
her decks with logs of wood, standing with hats and montera caps, to
deceive their sight with the representation of men. The same we will do
at the port-holes that serve for the guns, which shall be filled with
counterfeit cannon. At the stern we will hang out English colours, and
persuade the enemy she is one of our best men-of-war going to fight
them." This proposition was admitted and approved by every one; howbeit,
their fears were not quite dispersed.
For, notwithstanding what had been concluded there, they endeavoured the
next day to come to an accommodation with Don Alonso. To this effect,
Captain Morgan sent to him two persons, with these propositions: First,
that he would quit Maracaibo, without doing any damage to the town, or
exacting any ransom for the firing thereof. Secondly, that he would set
at liberty one half of the slaves, and all the prisoners, without
ransom. Thirdly, that he would send home freely the four chief
inhabitants of Gibraltar, which he had in his custody as hostages for
the contributions those people had promised to pay. These propositions
were instantly rejected by Don Alonso, as dishonourable: neither would
he hear of any other accommodation, but sent back this message: "That if
they surrendered not themselves voluntarily into his hands, within two
days, under the conditions which he had offered them by his letter, he
would immediately come, and force them to do it."
No sooner had Captain Morgan received this message from Don Alonso, than
he put all things in order to fight, resolving to get out of the lake by
main force, without surrendering anything. First, he commanded all the
slaves and prisoners to be tied, and guarded very well, and gathered all
the pitch, tar, and brimstone, they could find in the whole town, for
the fire-ship above-mentioned; then they made several inventions of
powder and brimstone with palm leaves, well annointed with tar. They
covered very well their counterfeit cannon, laying under every piece
many pounds of powder; besides, they cut down many outworks of the ship,
that the powder might exert its strength the better; breaking open,
also, new port-holes, where, instead of guns, they placed little drums
used by the negroes. Finally, the decks were handsomely beset with many
pieces of wood, dressed up like men with hats, or monteras, and armed
with swords, muskets, and bandeleers.
The fire-ship being thus fitted, they prepared to go to the entry of the
port. All the prisoners were put into one great boat, and in another of
the biggest they placed all the women, plate, jewels, and other rich
things: into others they put the bales of goods and merchandise, and
other things of bulk: each of these boats had twelve men aboard, very
well armed; the brulot had orders to go before the rest of the vessels,
and presently to fall foul with the great ship. All things being ready,
Captain Morgan exacted an oath of all his comrades, protesting to defend
themselves to the last drop of blood, without demanding quarter;
promising withal, that whosoever behaved himself thus, should be very
well rewarded.
With this courageous resolution they set sail to seek the Spaniards. On
April 30, 1669, they found the Spanish fleet riding at anchor in the
middle of the entry of the lake. Captain Morgan, it being now late and
almost dark, commanded all his vessels to an anchor, designing to fight
even all night if they forced him to it. He ordered a careful watch to
be kept aboard every vessel till morning, they being almost within shot,
as well as within sight of the enemy. The day dawning, they weighed
anchor, and sailed again, steering directly towards the Spaniards; who
seeing them move, did instantly the same. The fire-ship sailing before
the rest fell presently upon the great ship, and grappled her; which the
Spaniards (too late) perceiving to be a fire-ship, they attempted to put
her off, but in vain: for the flame seizing her timber and tackling,
soon consumed all the stern, the fore part sinking into the sea, where
she perished. The second Spanish ship perceiving the admiral to burn,
not by accident, but by industry of the enemy, escaped towards the
castle, where the Spaniards themselves sunk her, choosing to lose their
ship rather than to fall into the hands of those pirates. The third,
having no opportunity to escape, was taken by the pirates. The seamen
that sunk the second ship near the castle, perceiving the pirates come
towards them to take what remains they could find of their shipwreck
(for some part was yet above water), set fire also to this vessel, that
the pirates might enjoy nothing of that spoil. The first ship being set
on fire, some of the persons in her swam towards the shore; these
pirates would have taken up in their boats, but they would not ask or
take quarter, choosing rather to lose their lives than receive them from
their hands, for reasons which I shall relate.
[Illustration: "'THE FIRE-SHIP, SAILING BEFORE THE REST, FELL PRESENTLY
UPON THE GREAT SHIP'"--_Page 158_]
The pirates being extremely glad at this signal victory so soon
obtained, and with so great an inequality of forces, conceived greater
pride than they had before, and all presently ran ashore, intending to
take the castle. This they found well provided with men, cannon, and
ammunition, they having no other arms than muskets, and a few hand
granadoes: their own artillery they thought incapable, for its
smallness, of making any considerable breach in the walls. Thus they
spent the rest of the day, firing at the garrison with their muskets,
till the dusk of the evening, when they attempted to advance nearer the
walls, to throw in their fire-balls: but the Spaniards resolving to sell
their lives as dear as they could, fired so furiously at them, that they
having experimented the obstinacy of the enemy, and seeing thirty of
their men dead, and as many more wounded, they retired to their ships.
The Spaniards believing the pirates would next day renew the attack with
their own cannon, laboured hard all night to put things in order for
their coming; particularly, they dug down, and made plain, some little
hills and eminences, when possibly the castle might be offended.
But Captain Morgan intended not to come again, busying himself next day
in taking prisoners some of the men who still swam alive, hoping to get
part of the riches lost in the two ships that perished. Among the rest,
he took a pilot, who was a stranger, and who belonged to the lesser ship
of the two, of whom he inquired several things; as, What number of
people those three ships had in them? Whether they expected any more
ships to come? From what port they set forth last, when they came to
seek them out? He answered, in Spanish, "Noble sir, be pleased to pardon
and spare me, that no evil be done to me, being a stranger to this
nation I have served, and I shall sincerely inform you of all that
passed till our arrival at this lake. We were sent by orders from the
Supreme Council of State in Spain, being six men-of-war well equipped,
into these seas, with instructions to cruise upon the English pirates,
and root them out from these parts by destroying as many of them as we
could.
"These orders were given, upon the news brought to the court of Spain of
the loss and ruin of Puerto Bello, and other places; of all which
damages and hostilities committed here by the English, dismal
lamentations have often been made to the catholic king and council, to
whom belongs the care and preservation of this new world. And though the
Spanish court hath many times by their ambassadors complained hereof to
the king of England; yet it hath been the constant answer of his Majesty
of Great Britain, that he never gave any letters patent, nor
commissions, for acting any hostility against the subjects of the king
of Spain. Hereupon the catholic king resolved to revenge his subjects,
and punish these proceedings: commanded six men-of-war to be equipped,
which he sent under the command of Don Augustine de Bustos, admiral of
the said fleet. He commanded the biggest ship, named _N. S. de la
Soleda_, of forty-eight great guns, and eight small ones. The
vice-admiral was Don Alonso del Campo y Espinosa, who commanded the
second ship called _La Conception_, of forty-four great guns, and eight
small ones; besides four vessels more, whereof the first was named the
_Magdalen_, of thirty-six great guns, and twelve small ones, with two
hundred and fifty men. The second was called _St. Lewis_, with
twenty-six great guns, twelve small ones, and two hundred men. The third
was called _La Marquesa_, of sixteen great guns, eight small ones, and
one hundred and fifty men. The fourth and last, _N. S. del Carmen_, with
eighteen great guns, eight small ones, and one hundred and fifty men.
"Being arrived at Carthagena, the two greatest ships received orders to
return to Spain, being judged too big for cruising on these coasts. With
the four ships remaining, Don Alonso del Campo y Espinosa departed
towards Campechy to seek the English: we arrived at the port there,
where, being surprised by a huge storm from the north, we lost one of
our ships, being that which I named last. Hence we sailed for
Hispaniola, in sight of which we came in a few days, and steered for
Santo Domingo: here we heard that there had passed that way a fleet from
Jamaica, and that some men thereof had landed at Alta Gracia; the
inhabitants had taken one prisoner, who confessed their design was to go
and pillage the city of Caraccas. On this news, Don Alonso instantly
weighed anchor, and, crossing over to the continent, we came in sight of
the Caraccas: here we found them not, but met with a boat, which
certified us they were in the lake of Maracaibo, and that the fleet
consisted of seven small ships, and one boat.
"Upon this we came here, and arriving at the entry of the lake, we shot
off a gun for a pilot from the shore. Those on land perceiving we were
Spaniards, came willingly to us with a pilot, and told us the English
had taken Maracaibo, and that they were now at the pillage of Gibraltar.
Don Alonso, on this news, made a handsome speech to his soldiers and
mariners, encouraging them to their duty, and promising to divide among
them all they should take from the English: he ordered the guns we had
taken out of the ship that was lost to be put into the castle, and
mounted for its defence, with two eighteen-pounders more, out of his own
ship. The pilots conducted us into the port, and Don Alonso commanded
the people on shore to come before him, whom he ordered to repossess the
castle, and reinforce it with one hundred men more than it had before
its being taken. Soon after, we heard of your return from Gibraltar to
Maracaibo, whither Don Alonso wrote you a letter, giving you an account
of his arrival and design, and exhorting you to restore what you had
taken. This you refusing, he renewed his promises to his soldiers and
seamen, and having given a very good supper to all his people, he
ordered them not to take or give any quarter, which was the occasion of
so many being drowned, who dared not to crave quarter, knowing
themselves must give none. Two days before you came against us, a negro
came aboard Don Alonso's ship, telling him, 'Sir, be pleased to have
great care of yourself; for the English have prepared a fire-ship, with
design to burn your fleet.' But Don Alonso not believing this, answered,
'How can that be? Have they, peradventure, wit enough to build a
fire-ship? Or what instruments have they to do it withal?'"
This pilot having related so distinctly these things to Captain Morgan,
was very well used by him, and, after some kind proffers made to him,
remained in his service. He told Captain Morgan, that, in the ship which
was sunk, there was a great quantity of plate, to the value of forty
thousand pieces of eight; which occasioned the Spaniards to be often
seen in boats about it. Hereupon, Captain Morgan ordered one of his
ships to remain there, to find ways of getting out of it what plate they
could; meanwhile, himself, with all his fleet, returned to Maracaibo,
where he refitted the great ship he had taken, and chose it for himself,
giving his own bottom to one of his captains.
Then he sent again a messenger to the admiral, who was escaped ashore,
and got into the castle, demanding of him a ransom of fire for
Maracaibo; which being denied, he threatened entirely to consume and
destroy it. The Spaniards considering the ill-luck they had all along
with those pirates, and not knowing how to get rid of them, concluded to
pay the said ransom, though Don Alonso would not consent.
Hereupon, they sent to Captain Morgan, to know what sum he demanded. He
answered, that on payment of 30,000 pieces of eight, and five hundred
beeves, he would release the prisoners and do no damage to the town. At
last they agreed on 20,000 pieces of eight, and five hundred beeves to
victual his fleet. The cattle were brought the next day, with one part
of the money; and, while the pirates were busied in salting the flesh,
they made up the whole 20,000 pieces of eight, as was agreed.
But Captain Morgan would not presently deliver the prisoners, as he had
promised, fearing the shot of the castle at his going forth out of the
lake. Hereupon he told them he intended not to deliver them till he was
out of that danger, hoping thus to obtain a free passage. Then he set
sail with his fleet in quest of the ship he had left, to seek for the
plate of the vessel that was burnt. He found her on the place, with
15,000 pieces of eight got out of the work, beside many pieces of plate,
as hilts of swords, and the like; also a great quantity of pieces of
eight melted and run together, by the force of the fire.
Captain Morgan scarce thought himself secure, nor could he contrive how
to avoid the shot of the castle: hereupon he wished the prisoners to
agree with the governor to permit a safe passage to his fleet, which,
if he should not allow, he would certainly hang them all up in his
ships. Upon this the prisoners met, and appointed some of their
fellow-messengers to go to the said governor, Don Alonso: these went to
him, beseeching and supplicating him to have compassion on those
afflicted prisoners, who were, with their wives and children, in the
hands of Captain Morgan; and that to this effect he would be pleased to
give his word to let the fleet of pirates freely pass, this being the
only way to save both the lives of them that came with this petition, as
also of those who remained in captivity; all being equally menaced with
the sword and gallows, if he granted them not this humble request. But
Don Alonso gave them for answer a sharp reprehension of their cowardice,
telling them, "If you had been as loyal to your king in hindering the
entry of these pirates, as I shall do their going out, you had never
caused these troubles, neither to yourselves nor to our whole nation,
which hath suffered so much through your pusillanimity. In a word, I
shall never grant your request, but shall endeavour to maintain that
respect which is due to my king, according to my duty."
[Illustration: "MORGAN DIVIDING THE TREASURE TAKEN AT MARACAIBO"--_Page
166_]
Thus the Spaniards returned with much consternation, and no hopes of
obtaining their request, telling Captain Morgan what answer they had
received: his reply was, "If Don Alonso will not let me pass, I will
find means how to do it without him." Hereupon he presently made a
dividend of all they had taken, fearing he might not have an opportunity
to do it in another place, if any tempest should rise and separate the
ships, as also being jealous that any of the commanders might run away
with the best part of the spoil, which then lay much more in one vessel
than another. Thus they all brought in according to their laws, and
declared what they had, first making oath not to conceal the least
thing. The accounts being cast up, they found to the value of 25,000
pieces of eight, in money and jewels, beside the huge quantity of
merchandise and slaves, all which purchase was divided to every ship or
boat, according to her share.
The dividend being made, the question still remained how they should
pass the castle, and get out of the lake. To this effect they made use
of a stratagem, as follows: the day before the night wherein they
determined to get forth, they embarked many of their men in canoes, and
rowed towards the shore, as if they designed to land: here they hid
themselves under branches of trees that hang over the coast awhile,
laying themselves down in the boats; then the canoes returned to the
ships, with the appearance of only two or three men rowing them back,
the rest being unseen at the bottom of the canoes: thus much only could
be perceived from the castle, and this false landing of men, for so we
may call it, was repeated that day several times: this made the
Spaniards think the pirates intended at night to force the castle by
scaling it. This fear caused them to place most of their great guns
on the land side, together with their main force, leaving the side
towards the sea almost destitute of defence.
Night being come, they weighed anchor, and by moonlight, without setting
sail, committed themselves to the ebbing tide, which gently brought them
down the river, till they were near the castle; being almost over
against it, they spread their sails with all possible haste. The
Spaniards perceiving this, transported with all speed their guns from
the other side, and began to fire very furiously at them; but these
having a very favourable wind, were almost past danger before those of
the castle could hurt them; so that they lost few of their men, and
received no considerable damage in their ships. Being out of the reach
of the guns, Captain Morgan sent a canoe to the castle with some of the
prisoners, and the governor thereof gave them a boat to return to their
own homes; but he detained the hostages from Gibraltar, because the rest
of the ransom for not firing the place was yet unpaid. Just as he
departed, Captain Morgan ordered seven great guns with bullets to be
fired against the castle, as it were to take his leave of them, but they
answered not so much as with a musket shot.
Next day after, they were surprised with a great tempest, which forced
them to cast anchor in five or six fathom water: but the storm
increasing, compelled them to weigh again, and put to sea, where they
were in great danger of being lost; for if they should have been cast on
shore, either into the hands of the Spaniards or Indians, they would
certainly have obtained no mercy: at last, the tempest being spent, the
wind ceased, to the great joy of the whole fleet.
While Captain Morgan made his fortune by these pillagings, his
companions, who were separated from his fleet at the Cape de Lobos, to
take the ship spoken of before, endured much misery, and were
unfortunate in all their attempts. Being arrived at Savona, they found
not Captain Morgan there, nor any of their companions, nor had they the
fortune to find a letter which Captain Morgan at his departure left
behind him in a place where in all probability they would meet with it.
Thus, not knowing what course to steer, they concluded to pillage some
town or other. They were in all about four hundred men, divided into
four ships and one boat: being ready to set forth, they constituted an
admiral among themselves, being one who had behaved himself very
courageously at the taking of Puerto Bello, named Captain Hansel. This
commander attempted the taking of the town of Commana, on the continent
of Caraccas, nigh sixty leagues to the west of the Isle de la Trinidad.
Being arrived there, they landed their men, and killed some few Indians
near the coast; but approaching the town, the Spaniards having in their
company many Indians, disputed the entry so briskly, that, with great
loss and confusion, they were forced to retire to the ships. At last
they arrived at Jamaica, where the rest of their companions, who came
with Captain Morgan, mocked and jeered them for their ill success at
Commana, often telling them, "Let us see what money you brought from
Commana, and if it be as good silver as that which we bring from
Maracaibo."