VIII. The King of _Great Britain_ shall hold and enjoy all the lands,
countries, &c. he is now possessed of in _America_.
IX. The subjects on each side shall forbear trading or sailing to any
places whatsoever under the dominion of the other, without particular
licence.
XIV. Particular offences shall be repaired in the common course of
justice, and no reprisals made unless justice be denied, or unreasonably
retarded.
When notice of this Treaty was received in the _West Indies_, the
Buccaneers, immediately as of one accord, resolved to undertake some grand
expedition. Many occurrences had given rise to jealousies between the
English and the French in the _West Indies_; but Morgan's reputation as a
commander was so high, that adventurers from all parts signified their
readiness to join him, and he appointed _Cape Tiburon_ on the West of
_Hispaniola_ for the place of general rendezvous. In consequence of this
summons, in the beginning of December 1670, a fleet was there collected
under his command, consisting of no less than thirty-seven vessels of
different sizes, and above 2000 men. Having so large a force, he held
council with the principal commanders, and proposed for their
determination, which they should attempt of the three places,
_Carthagena_, _Vera Cruz_, and _Panama_. _Panama_ was believed to be the
richest, and on that City the lot fell.
A century before, when the name of Buccaneer was not known, roving
adventurers had crossed the _Isthmus of America_ from the _West Indies_ to
the _South Sea_; but the fate of Oxnam and his companions deterred others
from the like attempt, until the time of the Buccaneers, who, as they
increased in numbers, extended their enterprises, urged by a kind of
necessity, the _West Indies_ not furnishing plunder sufficient to satisfy
so many men, whose modes of expenditure were not less profligate than
their means of obtaining were violent and iniquitous.
[Sidenote: Expedition of the Buccaneers against Panama.] The rendezvous
appointed by Morgan for meeting his confederates was distant from any
authority which could prevent or impede their operations; and whilst they
remained on the coast of _Hispaniola_, he employed men to hunt cattle, and
cure meat. He also sent vessels to collect maize, at the settlements on
the _Tierra Firma_. Specific articles of agreement were drawn up and
subscribed to, for the distribution of plunder. Morgan, as commander in
chief, was to receive one hundredth part; each captain was to have eight
shares; provision was stipulated for the maimed and wounded, and rewards
for those who should particularly distinguish themselves. [Sidenote:
December. They take the Island S^{ta} Katalina.] These matters being
settled, on December the 16th, the whole fleet sailed, from _Cape
Tiburon_; on the 20th, they arrived at the Island _S^{ta} Katalina_, then
occupied by the Spaniards, who had garrisoned it chiefly with criminals
sentenced to serve there by way of punishment. Morgan had fully entered
into the project of Mansvelt for forming an establishment at _S^{ta}
Katalina_, and he was not the less inclined to it now that he considered
himself as the head of the Buccaneers. The Island surrendered upon
summons. It is related, that at the request of the Governor, in which
Morgan indulged him, a military farce was performed; Morgan causing cannon
charged only with powder to be fired at the fort, which returned the like
fire for a decent time, and then lowered their flag.
Morgan judged it would contribute to the success of the proposed
expedition against _Panama_, to make himself master of the fort or castle
of _San Lorenzo_ at the entrance of the _River Chagre_. For this purpose
he sent a detachment of 400 men under the command of an old Buccaneer
named Brodely, and in the mean time remained himself with the main body of
his forces at _S^{ta} Katalina_, to avoid giving the Spaniards cause to
suspect his further designs.
[Sidenote: Attack of the Castle at the River Chagre.] The Castle of
_Chagre_ was strong, both in its works and in situation, being built on
the summit of a steep hill. It was valiantly assaulted, and no less
valiantly defended. The Buccaneers were once forced to retreat. They
returned to the attack, and were nearly a second time driven back, when a
powder magazine in the fort blew up, and the mischief and confusion
thereby occasioned gave the Buccaneers opportunity to force entrance
through the breaches they had made. The Governor of the castle refused to
take quarter which was offered him by the Buccaneers, as did also some of
the Spanish soldiers. More than 200 men of 314 which composed the garrison
were killed. The loss on the side of the Buccaneers was above 100 men
killed outright, and 70 wounded.
[Sidenote: 1671. January. March of the Buccaneers across the Isthmus.] On
receiving intelligence of the castle being taken, Morgan repaired with the
rest of his men from _S^{ta} Katalina_. He set the prisoners to work to
repair the Castle of _San Lorenzo_, in which he stationed a garrison of
500 men; he also appointed 150 men to take care of the ships; and on the
18th of January 1671[11], he set forward at the head of 1200 men for
_Panama_. One party with artillery and stores embarked in canoes, to mount
the _River Chagre_, the course of which is extremely serpentine. At the
end of the second day, however, they quitted the canoes, on account of the
many obstructions from trees which had fallen in the river, and because
the river was at this time in many places almost dry; but the way by land
was also found so difficult for the carriage of stores, that the canoes
were again resorted to. On the sixth day, when they had expended great
part of their travelling store of provisions, they had the good fortune to
discover a barn full of maize. They saw many native Indians, who all kept
at a distance, and it was in vain endeavoured to overtake some.
On the seventh day they came to a village called _Cruz_, the inhabitants
of which had set fire to their houses, and fled. They found there,
however, fifteen jars of Peruvian wine, and a sack of bread. The village
of _Cruz_ is at the highest part of the _River Chagre_ to which boats or
canoes, can arrive. It was reckoned to be eight leagues distant from
_Panama_.
On the ninth day of their journey, they came in sight of the _South Sea_;
and here they were among fields in which cattle grazed. Towards evening,
they had sight of the steeples of _Panama_. In the course of their march
thus far from the Castle of _Chagre_, they lost, by being fired at from
concealed places, ten men killed; and as many more were wounded.
_Panama_ had not the defence of regular fortifications. Some works had
been raised, but in parts the city lay open, and was to be won or defended
by plain fighting. According to the Buccaneer account, the Spaniards had
about 2000 infantry and 400 horse; which force, it is to be supposed, was
in part composed of inhabitants and slaves.
[Sidenote: 27th. The City of Panama taken.] January the 27th, early in the
morning, the Buccaneers resumed their march towards the city. The
Spaniards came out to meet them. In this battle, the Spaniards made use of
wild bulls, which they drove upon the Buccaneers to disorder their ranks;
but it does not appear to have had much effect. In the end, the Spaniards
gave way, and before night, the Buccaneers were masters of the city. All
that day, the Buccaneers gave no quarter, either during the battle, or
afterwards. Six hundred Spaniards fell. The Buccaneers lost many men, but
the number is not specified.
[Sidenote: The City burnt.] One of the first precautions taken by Morgan
after his victory, was to prevent drunkenness among his men: to which end,
he procured to have it reported to him that all the wine in the city had
been poisoned by the inhabitants; and on the ground of this intelligence,
he strictly prohibited every one, under severe penalties, from tasting
wine. Before they had well fixed their quarters in _Panama_, several
parts of the city burst out in flames, which spread so rapidly, that in a
short time many magnificent edifices built with cedar, and a great part of
the city, were burnt to the ground. Whether this was done designedly, or
happened accidentally, owing to the consternation of the inhabitants
during the assault, has been disputed. Morgan is accused of having
directed some of his people to commit this mischief, but no motive is
assigned that could induce him to an act which cut off his future prospect
of ransom. Morgan charged it upon the Spaniards; and it is acknowledged
the Buccaneers gave all the assistance they were able to those of the
inhabitants who endeavoured to stop the progress of the fire, which
nevertheless continued to burn near four weeks before it was quite
extinguished. Among the buildings destroyed, was a factory-house belonging
to the Genoese, who then carried on the trade of supplying the Spaniards
with slaves from _Africa_.
The rapacity, licentiousness, and cruelty, of the Buccaneers, in their
pillage of _Panama_, had no bounds. 'They spared,' says the narrative of a
Buccaneer named Exquemelin, 'in these their cruelties no sex nor condition
whatsoever. As to religious persons and priests, they granted them less
quarter than others, unless they procured a considerable sum of money for
their ransom.' Morgan sent detachments to scour the country for plunder,
and to bring in prisoners from whom ransom might be extorted. Many of the
inhabitants escaped with their effects by sea, and went for shelter to the
Islands in the _Bay of Panama_. Morgan found a large boat lying aground in
the Port, which he caused to be lanched, and manned with a numerous crew,
and sent her to cruise among the Islands. A galeon, on board which the
women of a convent had taken refuge, and in which money, plate, and other
valuable effects, had been lodged, very narrowly escaped falling into
their hands. They made prize of several vessels, one of which was well
adapted for cruising. This opened a new prospect; and some of the
Buccaneers began to consult how they might quit Morgan, and seek their
fortunes on the _South Sea_, whence they proposed to sail, with the
plunder they should obtain, by the _East Indies_ to _Europe_. But Morgan
received notice of their design before it could be put in execution, and
to prevent such a diminution of his force, he ordered the masts of the
ship to be cut away, and all the boats or vessels lying at _Panama_ which
could suit their purpose, to be burnt.
[Sidenote: Feb. 24th. The Buccaneers depart from Panama.] The old city of
_Panama_ is said to have contained 7000 houses, many of which were
magnificent edifices built with cedar. On the 24th of February, Morgan and
his men departed from its ruins, taking with them 175 mules laden with
spoil, and 600 prisoners, some of them carrying burthens, and others for
whose release ransom was expected. Among the latter were many women and
children. These poor creatures were designedly caused to suffer extreme
hunger and thirst, and kept under apprehensions of being carried to
_Jamaica_ to be sold as slaves, that they might the more earnestly
endeavour to procure money to be brought for their ransom. When some of
the women, upon their knees and in tears, begged of Morgan to let them
return to their families, his answer to them was, that 'he came not there
to listen to cries and lamentations, but to seek money,' Morgan's thirst
for money was not restrained to seeking it among his foes. He had a hand
equally ready for that of his friends. Neither did he think his friends
people to be trusted; for in the middle of the march back to _Chagre_, he
drew up his men and caused them to be sworn, that they had not reserved or
concealed any plunder, but had delivered all fairly into the common stock.
This ceremony, it seems, was not uncustomary. 'But Captain Morgan having
had experience that those loose fellows would not much stickle to swear
falsely in such a case, he commanded every one to be searched; and that it
might not be esteemed an affront, he permitted himself to be first
searched, even to the very soles of his shoes. The French Buccaneers who
had engaged on this expedition with Morgan, were not well satisfied with
this new custom of searching; but their number being less than that of the
English, they were forced to submit.' On arriving at _Chagre_, a division
was made. The narrative says, 'every person received his portion, or
rather what part thereof Captain Morgan was pleased to give him. For so it
was, that his companions, even those of his own nation, complained of his
proceedings; for they judged it impossible that, of so many valuable
robberies, no greater share should belong to them than 200 pieces of eight
_per_ head. But Captain Morgan was deaf to these, and to many other
complaints of the same kind.'
As Morgan was not disposed to allay the discontents of his men by coming
to a more open reckoning with them, to avoid having the matter pressed
upon him, he determined to withdraw from his command, 'which he did
without calling any council, or bidding any one adieu; but went secretly
on board his own ship, and put out to sea without giving notice, being
followed only by three or four vessels of the whole fleet, who it is
believed went shares with him in the greatest part of the spoil.'
The rest of the Buccaneer vessels soon separated. Morgan went to
_Jamaica_, and had begun to levy men to go with him to the Island _S^{ta}
Katalina_, which he purposed to hold as his own, and to make it a common
place of refuge for pirates; when the arrival of a new Governor at
_Jamaica_, Lord John Vaughan, with orders to enforce the late treaty with
_Spain_, obliged him to relinquish his plan.
[Sidenote: Exquemelin's History of the Buccaneers of America.] The
foregoing account of the destruction of _Panama_ by Morgan, is taken from
a History of the Buccaneers of America, written originally in the Dutch
language by a Buccaneer named Exquemelin, and published at Amsterdam in
1678, with the title of _De Americaensche Zee Roovers_. Exquemelin's book
contains only partial accounts of the actions of some of the principal
among the Buccaneers. He has set forth the valour displayed by them in the
most advantageous light; but generally, what he has related is credible.
His history has been translated into all the European languages, but with
various additions and alterations by the translators, each of whom has
inclined to maintain the military reputation of his own nation. The
Spanish translation is entitled _Piratas_, and has the following short
complimentary Poem prefixed, addressed to the Spanish editor and
emendator:--
De Agamenon canto la vida Homero
Y Virgilio de Eneas lo piadoso
Camoes de Gama el curso presurosso
Gongora el brio de Colon Velero.
Tu, O Alonso! mas docto y verdadoro,
Descrives del America ingenioso
Lo que assalta el Pirata codicioso:
Lo que defiende el Espanol Guerrero.
The French translation is entitled _Les Avanturiers qui se sont signalez
dans les Indes_, and contains actions of the French Flibustiers which are
not in Exquemelin. The like has been done in the English translation,
which has for title _The Bucaniers of America_. The English translator,
speaking of the sacking of _Panama_, has expressed himself with a strange
mixture of boasting and compunctious feeling. This account, he says,
contains the unparalleled and bold exploits of Sir Henry Morgan, written
by one of the Buccaneers who was present at those tragedies.
It has been remarked, that the treaty of _America_ furnishes an apology
for the enterprises of the Buccaneers previous to its notification; it
being so worded as to admit an inference that the English and Spaniards
were antecedently engaged in a continual war in _America_.
[Sidenote: 1671.] The new Governor of _Jamaica_ was authorized and
instructed to proclaim a general pardon, and indemnity from prosecution,
for all piratical offences committed to that time; and to grant 35 acres
of land to every Buccaneer who should claim the benefit of the
proclamation, and would promise to apply himself to planting; a measure
from which the most beneficial effects might have been expected, not to
the British colonists only, but to all around, in turning a number of able
men from destructive occupations to useful and productive pursuits, if it
had not been made subservient to sordid views. The author of the _History
of Jamaica_ says, 'This offer was intended as a lure to engage the
Buccaneers to come into port with their effects, that the Governor might,
and which he was directed to do, take from them the tenths and fifteenths
of their booty as the dues of the Crown [and of the Colonial Government]
for granting them commissions.' Those who had neglected to obtain
commissions would of course have to make their peace by an increased
composition. In consequence of this scandalous procedure, the Jamaica
Buccaneers, to avoid being so taxed, kept aloof from _Jamaica_, and were
provoked to continue their old occupations. Most of them joined the French
Flibustiers at _Tortuga_. Some were afterwards apprehended at _Jamaica_,
where they were brought to trial, condemned as pirates, and executed.
[Sidenote: 1672.] A war which was entered into by _Great Britain_ and
_France_ against _Holland_, furnished for a time employment for the
Buccaneers and Flibustiers, and procured the Spaniards a short respite.
[Sidenote: 1673. Flibustiers shipwrecked at Porto Rico;] In 1673, the
French made an attempt to take the Island of _Curacao_ from the Dutch, and
failed. M. d'Ogeron, the Governor of _Tortuga_, intended to have joined in
this expedition, for which purpose he sailed in a ship named l'Ecueil,
manned with 300 Flibustiers; but in the night of the 25th of February, she
ran aground among some small islands and rocks, near the North side of the
Island _Porto Rico_. The people got safe to land, but were made close
prisoners by the Spaniards. After some months imprisonment, M. d'Ogeron,
with three others, made their escape in a canoe, and got back to
_Tortuga_. The Governor General over the French West-India Islands at that
time, was a M. de Baas, who sent to _Porto Rico_ to demand the deliverance
of the French detained there prisoners. The Spanish Governor of _Porto
Rico_ required 3000 pieces of eight to be paid for expences incurred. De
Baas was unwilling to comply with the demand, and sent an agent to
negociate for an abatement in the sum; but they came to no agreement. M.
d'Ogeron in the mean time collected five hundred men in _Tortuga_ and
_Hispaniola_, with whom he embarked in a number of small vessels to pass
over to _Porto Rico_, to endeavour the release of his shipwrecked
companions; but by repeated tempests, several of his flotilla were forced
back, and he reached _Porto Rico_ with only three hundred men.
[Sidenote: And put to death by the Spaniards.] On their landing, the
Spanish Governor put to death all his French prisoners, except seventeen
of the officers. Afterwards in an engagement with the Spaniards, D'Ogeron
lost seventeen men, and found his strength not sufficient to force the
Spaniards to terms; upon which he withdrew from _Porto Rico_, and returned
to _Tortuga_. The seventeen French officers that were spared in the
massacre of the prisoners, the Governor of _Porto Rico_ put on board a
vessel bound for the _Tierra Firma_, with the intention of transporting
them to _Peru_; but from that fate they were delivered by meeting at sea
with an English Buccaneer cruiser. Thus, by the French Governor General
disputing about a trifling balance, three hundred of the French
Buccaneers, whilst employed for the French king's service under one of his
officers, were sacrificed.