_Captain Morgan sends canoes and boats to the South Sea--He fires the
city of Panama--Robberies and cruelties committed there by the pirates,
till their return to the Castle of Chagre._
CAPTAIN MORGAN, as soon as he had placed necessary guards at several
quarters within and without the city, commanded twenty-five men to seize
a great boat, which had stuck in the mud of the port, for want of water,
at a low tide. The same day about noon, he caused fire privately to be
set to several great edifices of the city, nobody knowing who were the
authors thereof, much less on what motives Captain Morgan did it, which
are unknown to this day: the fire increased so, that before night the
greatest part of the city was in a flame. Captain Morgan pretended the
Spaniards had done it, perceiving that his own people reflected on him
for that action. Many of the Spaniards, and some of the pirates, did
what they could, either to quench the flame, or, by blowing up houses
with gunpowder, and pulling down others, to stop it, but in vain: for in
less than half an hour it consumed a whole street. All the houses of the
city were built with cedar, very curious and magnificent, and richly
adorned, especially with hangings and paintings, whereof part were
before removed, and another great part were consumed by fire.
There were in this city (which is the see of a bishop) eight
monasteries, seven for men, and one for women; two stately churches, and
one hospital. The churches and monasteries were all richly adorned with
altar-pieces and paintings, much gold and silver, and other precious
things, all which the ecclesiastics had hidden. Besides which, here were
two thousand houses of magnificent building, the greatest part inhabited
by merchants vastly rich. For the rest of less quality, and tradesmen,
this city contained five thousand more. Here were also many stables for
the horses and mules that carry the plate of the king of Spain, as well
as private men, towards the North Sea. The neighbouring fields are full
of fertile plantations and pleasant gardens, affording delicious
prospects to the inhabitants all the year.
[Illustration: "'MORGAN RE-ENTERED THE CITY WITH HIS TROOPS'"--_Page
215_]
The Genoese had in this city a stately house for their trade of negroes.
This likewise was by Captain Morgan burnt to the very ground. Besides
which building, there were consumed two hundred warehouses, and many
slaves, who had hid themselves therein, with innumerable sacks of meal;
the fire of which continued four weeks after it had begun. The greatest
part of the pirates still encamped without the city, fearing and
expecting the Spaniards would come and fight them anew, it being known
they much outnumbered the pirates. This made them keep the field, to
preserve their forces united, now much diminished by their losses. Their
wounded, which were many, they put into one church, which remained
standing, the rest being consumed by the fire. Besides these decreases
of their men, Captain Morgan had sent a convoy of one hundred and fifty
men to the castle of Chagre, to carry the news of his victory at Panama.
They saw often whole troops of Spaniards run to and fro in the fields,
which made them suspect their rallying, which they never had the courage
to do. In the afternoon Captain Morgan re-entered the city with his
troops, that every one might take up their lodgings, which now they
could hardly find, few houses having escaped the fire. Then they sought
very carefully among the ruins and ashes, for utensils of plate or gold,
that were not quite wasted by the flames: and of such they found no
small number, especially in wells and cisterns, where the Spaniards had
hid them.
Next day Captain Morgan dispatched away two troops, of one hundred and
fifty men each, stout and well armed, to seek for the inhabitants who
were escaped. These having made several excursions up and down the
fields, woods, and mountains adjacent, returned after two days, bringing
above two hundred prisoners, men, women, and slaves. The same day
returned also the boat which Captain Morgan had sent to the South Sea,
bringing three other boats which they had taken. But all these prizes
they could willingly have given, and greater labour into the bargain,
for one galleon, which miraculously escaped, richly laden with all the
king's plate, jewels, and other precious goods of the best and richest
merchants of Panama: on board which were also the religious women of the
nunnery, who had embarked with them all the ornaments of their church,
consisting in much gold, plate, and other things of great value.
The strength of this galleon was inconsiderable, having only seven guns,
and ten or twelve muskets, and very ill provided with victuals,
necessaries, and fresh water, having no more sails than the uppermost of
the mainmast. This account the pirates received from some one who had
spoken with seven mariners belonging to the galleon, who came ashore in
the cockboat for fresh water. Hence they concluded they might easily
have taken it, had they given her chase, as they should have done; but
they were impeded from following this vastly rich prize, by their
gluttony and drunkenness, having plentifully debauched themselves with
several rich wines they found ready, choosing rather to satiate their
appetites than to lay hold on such huge advantage; since this only prize
would have been of far greater value than all they got at Panama, and
the places thereabout. Next day, repenting of their negligence, being
weary of their vices and debaucheries, they set forth another boat, well
armed, to pursue with all speed the said galleon; but in vain, the
Spaniards who were on board having had intelligence of their own danger
one or two days before, while the pirates were cruising so near them;
whereupon they fled to places more remote and unknown.
The pirates found, in the ports of the island of Tavoga and Tavogilla,
several boats laden with very good merchandise; all which they took, and
brought to Panama, where they made an exact relation of all that had
passed to Captain Morgan. The prisoners confirmed what the pirates said,
adding, that they undoubtedly knew where the galleon might then be, but
that it was very probable they had been relieved before now from other
places. This stirred up Captain Morgan anew, to send forth all the boats
in the port of Panama to seek the said galleon till they could find her.
These boats, being in all four, after eight days' cruising to and fro,
and searching several ports and creeks, lost all hopes of finding her:
hereupon they returned to Tavoga and Tavogilla; here they found a
reasonable good ship newly come from Payta, laden with cloth, soap,
sugar, and biscuit, with 20,000 pieces of eight; this they instantly
seized, without the least resistance; as also a boat which was not far
off, on which they laded great part of the merchandises from the ship,
with some slaves. With this purchase they returned to Panama, somewhat
better satisfied; yet, withal, much discontented that they could not
meet with the galleon.
The convoy which Captain Morgan had sent to the castle of Chagre
returned much about the same time, bringing with them very good news;
for while Captain Morgan was on his journey to Panama, those he had left
in the castle of Chagre had sent for two boats to cruise. These met with
a Spanish ship, which they chased within sight of the castle. This being
perceived by the pirates in the castle, they put forth Spanish colours,
to deceive the ship that fled before the boats; and the poor Spaniards,
thinking to take refuge under the castle, were caught in a snare, and
made prisoners. The cargo on board the said vessel consisted in victuals
and provisions, than which nothing could be more opportune for the
castle, where they began already to want things of this kind.
This good luck of those of Chagre caused Captain Morgan to stay longer
at Panama, ordering several new excursions into the country round about;
and while the pirates at Panama were upon these expeditions, those at
Chagre were busy in piracies on the North Sea. Captain Morgan sent
forth, daily, parties of two hundred men, to make inroads into all the
country round about; and when one party came back, another went forth,
who soon gathered much riches, and many prisoners. These being brought
into the city, were put to the most exquisite tortures, to make them
confess both other people's goods and their own. Here it happened that
one poor wretch was found in the house of a person of quality, who had
put on, amidst the confusion, a pair of taffety breeches of his
master's, with a little silver key hanging out; perceiving which, they
asked him for the cabinet of the said key. His answer was, he knew not
what was become of it, but that finding those breeches in his master's
house, he had made bold to wear them. Not being able to get any other
answer, they put him on the rack, and inhumanly disjointed his arms;
then they twisted a cord about his forehead, which they wrung so hard
that his eyes appeared as big as eggs, and were ready to fall out. But
with these torments not obtaining any positive answer, they hung him up
by the wrists, giving him many blows and stripes under that intolerable
pain and posture of body. Afterwards they cut off his nose and ears, and
singed his face with burning straw, till he could not speak, nor lament
his misery any longer: then, losing all hopes of any confession, they
bade a negro run him through, which put an end to his life, and to their
inhuman tortures. Thus did many others of those miserable prisoners
finish their days, the common sport and recreation of these pirates
being such tragedies.
Captain Morgan having now been at Panama full three weeks, commanded all
things to be prepared for his departure. He ordered every company of men
to seek so many beasts of carriage as might convey the spoil to the
river where his canoes lay. About this time there was a great rumour,
that a considerable number of pirates intended to leave Captain Morgan;
and that, taking a ship then in port, they determined to go and rob on
the South Sea, till they had got as much as they thought fit, and then
return homewards, by way of the East Indies. For which purpose they had
gathered much provisions, which they had hid in private places, with
sufficient powder, bullets, and all other ammunition: likewise some
great guns belonging to the town, muskets, and other things, wherewith
they designed not only to equip their vessel, but to fortify themselves
in some island which might serve them for a place of refuge.
This design had certainly taken effect, had not Captain Morgan had
timely advice of it from one of their comrades: hereupon he commanded
the mainmast of the said ship to be cut down and burnt, with all the
other boats in the port: hereby the intentions of all or most of his
companions were totally frustrated. Then Captain Morgan sent many of the
Spaniards into the adjoining fields and country to seek for money, to
ransom not only themselves, but the rest of the prisoners, as likewise
the ecclesiastics. Moreover, he commanded all the artillery of the town
to be nailed and stopped up. At the same time he sent out a strong
company of men to seek for the governor of Panama, of whom intelligence
was brought, that he had laid several ambuscades in the way by which he
ought to return: but they returned soon after, saying they had not found
any sign of any such ambuscades. For confirmation whereof, they brought
some prisoners, who declared that the said governor had had an intention
of making some opposition by the way, but that the men designed to
effect it were unwilling to undertake it: so that for want of means he
could not put his design in execution.
February 24, 1671, Captain Morgan departed from Panama, or rather from
the place where the city of Panama stood; of the spoils whereof he
carried with him one hundred and seventy-five beasts of carriage, laden
with silver, gold, and other precious things, beside about six hundred
prisoners, men, women, children and slaves. That day they came to a
river that passes through a delicious plain, a league from Panama: here
Captain Morgan put all his forces into good order, so as that the
prisoners were in the middle, surrounded on all sides with pirates,
where nothing else was to be heard but lamentations, cries, shrieks, and
doleful sighs of so many women and children, who feared Captain Morgan
designed to transport them all into his own country for slaves. Besides,
all those miserable prisoners endured extreme hunger and thirst at that
time, which misery Captain Morgan designedly caused them to sustain, to
excite them to seek for money to ransom themselves, according to the tax
he had set upon every one. Many of the women begged Captain Morgan, on
their knees, with infinite sighs and tears, to let them return to
Panama, there to live with their dear husbands and children in little
huts of straw, which they would erect, seeing they had no houses till
the rebuilding of the city. But his answer was, "He came not thither to
hear lamentations and cries, but to seek money: therefore they ought
first to seek out that, wherever it was to be had, and bring it to him;
otherwise he would assuredly transport them all to such places whither
they cared not to go."
Next day, when the march began, those lamentable cries and shrieks were
renewed, so as it would have caused compassion in the hardest heart: but
Captain Morgan, as a man little given to mercy, was not moved in the
least. They marched in the same order as before, one party of the
pirates in the van, the prisoners in the middle, and the rest of the
pirates in the rear; by whom the miserable Spaniards were at every step
punched and thrust in their backs and sides, with the blunt ends of
their arms, to make them march faster.
A beautiful lady, wife to one of the richest merchants of Tavoga, was
led prisoner by herself, between two pirates. Her lamentations pierced
the skies, seeing herself carried away into captivity often crying to
the pirates, and telling them, "That she had given orders to two
religious persons, in whom she had relied, to go to a certain place, and
fetch so much money as her ransom did amount to; that they had promised
faithfully to do it, but having obtained the money, instead of bringing
it to her, they had employed it another way, to ransom some of their
own, and particular friends." This ill action of theirs was discovered
by a slave, who brought a letter to the said lady. Her complaints, and
the cause thereof, being brought to Captain Morgan, he thought fit to
inquire thereinto. Having found it to be true--especially hearing it
confirmed by the confession of the said religious men, though under some
frivolous exercises of having diverted the money but for a day or two,
in which time they expected more sums to repay it--he gave liberty to
the said lady, whom otherwise he designed to transport to Jamaica. But
he detained the said religious men as prisoners in her place, using them
according to their deserts.
Captain Morgan arriving at the town called Cruz, on the banks of the
river Chagre, he published an order among the prisoners, that within
three days every one should bring in their ransom, under the penalty of
being transported to Jamaica. Meanwhile he gave orders for so much rice
and maize to be collected thereabouts, as was necessary for victualling
his ships. Here some of the prisoners were ransomed, but many others
could not bring in their money. Hereupon he continued his voyage,
leaving the village on the 5th of March following, carrying with him all
the spoil he could. Hence he likewise led away some new prisoners,
inhabitants there, with those in Panama, who had not paid their
ransoms. But the two religious men, who had diverted the lady's money,
were ransomed three days after by other persons, who had more compassion
for them than they had showed for her.
About the middle of the way to Chagre, Captain Morgan commanded them to
be mustered, and caused every one to be sworn, that they had concealed
nothing, even not to the value of sixpence. This done, Captain Morgan
knowing those lewd fellows would not stick to swear falsely for
interest, he commanded every one to be searched very strictly, both in
their clothes and satchels, and elsewhere. Yea, that this order might
not be ill taken by his companions, he permitted himself to be searched,
even to his very shoes. To this effect, by common consent, one was
assigned out of every company to be searchers of the rest. The French
pirates that assisted on this expedition disliked this new practice of
searching; but, being outnumbered by the English, they were forced to
submit as well as the rest. The search being over, they re-embarked, and
arrived at the castle of Chagre on the 9th of March. Here they found all
things in good order, excepting the wounded men whom they had left at
their departure; for of these the greatest number were dead of their
wounds.
From Chagre, Captain Morgan sent, presently after his arrival, a great
boat to Puerto Bello, with all the prisoners taken at the isle of St.
Catherine, demanding of them a considerable ransom for the castle of
Chagre, where he then was; threatening otherwise to ruin it. To this
those of Puerto Bello answered, they would not give one farthing towards
the ransom of the said castle, and the English might do with it as they
pleased. Hereupon the dividend was made of all the spoil made in that
voyage; every company, and every particular person therein, receiving
their proportion, or rather what part thereof Captain Morgan pleased to
give them. For the rest of his companions, even of his own nation,
murmured at his proceedings, and told him to his face that he had
reserved the best jewels to himself: for they judged it impossible that
no greater share should belong to them than two hundred pieces of eight,
per capita, of so many valuable plunders they had made; which small sum
they thought too little for so much labour, and such dangers, as they
had been exposed to. But Captain Morgan was deaf to all this, and many
other like complaints, having designed to cheat them of what he could.
At last, finding himself obnoxious to many censures of his people, and
fearing the consequence, he thought it unsafe to stay any longer at
Chagre, but ordered the ordnance of the castle to be carried on board
his ship; then he caused most of the walls to be demolished, the
edifices to be burnt, and as many other things ruined as could be done
in a short time. This done, he went secretly on board his own ship,
without giving any notice to his companions, and put out to sea, being
only followed by three or four vessels of the whole fleet. These were
such (as the French pirates believed) as went shares with Captain Morgan
in the best part of the spoil, which had been concealed from them in the
dividend. The Frenchmen could willingly have revenged themselves on
Captain Morgan and his followers, had they been able to encounter him at
sea; but they were destitute of necessaries, and had much ado to find
sufficient provisions for their voyage to Jamaica, he having left them
unprovided for all things.
THE END
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors were corrected.
This text uses both main-mast and mainmast; French-man and Frenchman;
sea-side and seaside; such-like and suchlike.
Page xiii, "Robinsoe" changed to "Robinson" (Robinson Crusoe)
Page xx, "West-Indies" was removed from the italics to match rest of
usage (dominions of the_ West-Indies)
Page xxi, "Soudiers" changed to "Souldiers" (either Souldiers or)
Page xxi, "fortifie" moved into italics to match rest of usage (_both
fortifie themselves)
Page 9, "of" changed to "or" (or China root)
Page 89, "chief" changed to "chiefs" (of the chiefs)
Page 95, "fish" changed to "flesh" (eat human flesh)
Page 116, "el" changed to "El" (of El Puerto del)
Page 199, "then" changed to "than" (courage than ever)