_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 coast, 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 in despair of their return, fearing
lest they were fallen in to 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.