The voyages and adventures of Capt. Barth. Sharp and others in the South Sea being a journal of the same : also Capt. Van Horn with his buccanieres surprizing of la Veracruz : to which is added the true relation of Sir Henry Morgan his expedition against the Spaniards in the West-Indies and his taking Panama : together with the president of Panama's [i.e. Juan Perez de Guzman] account of the same expedition, translated out of Spanish : and Col. Beeston's adjustment of the peace between the Spaniards and English in the West Indies / published by P.A., Esq.

Captain Van Horn's taking of la Vera Cruz.

I Thought it might not be unaccep∣table to the Reader, to adjoyn this account from Iamaica of the late Acti∣on of certain Privateers under com∣mand of Captain Van Horn, a Hol∣lander, in taking of la Vera Cruz; be∣ing the Barrador or Port where the Spaniards land their Merchandise for conveyance up to the city of Mexico; and where they likewise ship off their goods on board the Gallions for Spain.

Upon the 7. day of April 1683. The Buccaneers had a rendezvouz at Cape Catroche, being the South Cape of the Bay of Mexico with this force follow∣ing,

Van Horn a Hollander, in an English Ship of 50. Guns, who was Admiral.

Laurence a Hollander, in a Prize of 26. Guns, Vice-Admiral.

Christian a Hollander, in Van Horn's Patach of 40. Guns.

Mitchel a French-man, in a Prize of Lau∣rences of 26. Guns.

Tanchey, a Hollander, in a Prize of 16. Guns.

Bloat a Hollander, in a Prize of 8. Guns.

Iacob Hall, a Bermudean, in a small Vessel of 8. Guns.

Spurre, an English-man, in a Sloop of Iamaica: And,

A Barco Longo of Laurences.

These Vessels had between nine hun∣dred and a thousand men, most of them French and Dutch, and some few Eng∣lish. On the 8▪ day of May, they came on the Coast of la Vera Cruz, and lay by; there the men that were to land, were put on Board Yanchy and Christian, and then stood off.

On the 9. these two Ships stood in, and in the Night the Spaniards in the Castle and on Shoar, made fires to Pilot them in, supposing them to be two of their Flota; so they came to an An∣chor, and landed before one a Clock in

the Morning, about two Miles from the Town, seven hundred seventy and four Men.

Van Horn had the Main Body, as Ge∣neral, & was to attack the Placa or chief part of the Town, where they expect∣ed the Court of Guard, but found only four Men: Laurence commanded the Forlorn, and with it attempted the two Forts, the one of twelve, the other of eight Guns, both close Forts, but they found them open, and the Centinel asleep; so with the loss of one man kil∣led by the Spaniards, and three by a mistake of the French, by break of day they had made themselves Masters of the Forts and Town; and had they, as Laurence advised, sent at the same time, but two Canoes and fifty Men, they had without doubt surprized the Castle, which stands upon a Rock in the Sea, three quarters of a Mile from the Town, and has in it seventy Guns mounted.

But the Pyrates thinking it more safe and profitable to plunder the Town: set Guards at the Streets ends, and sent Parties to break open the Houses, where they found every body as quiet, as in their Graves, and for three days they

continued breaking of Houses, plun∣dering them, and dragging the mise∣rable Inhabitants to the Cathedral, and though at this time they got abundance of Jewels, Plate, &c. and about three hundred and fifty Bags of Co∣chenelle, each containing one hundred and fifty or two hundred pound weight, as they say; yet were they not satis∣fied, but put the considerable people to ransome, and threatned to burn the Cathedral and Prisoners in it, which were five thousand and seven hundred, if they did not immediately discover all they had; so that the fourth day they got more than the other three; and had seventy thousand pieces of Eight for the Governour Don Luis de Cordoua's Ransome, which Spurre found hid amongst Grass in a Stable.

The Buccaneers feared the Spanish Flo∣ta, which had been two days in sight, consisting of twelve great Ships, and likewise apprehended succours might come to the Spaniards from los Angelos, a City thirty Leagues from la Vera Cruz, so they left the Town, and carryed their Prisoners and Plunder to a Cay, where the Ships rode, called

los Sacrificios, from a famous Indian Temple that was there; and at their passing by the Spanish Fleet, lying at the mouth of the Harbour, which they expected would have fought them; the Buccaneers perceiving that they suf∣fered them to go off with their Booty so quietly, resolved to have a Bout with them, but the Spaniards preparing to be gone away, it prevented their in∣gagement.

Here at los Sacrificios the Pyrates stay'd eight dayes, to receive Ransomes, and to divide what they had got, which is generally said to be eight hundred pieces of eight, a share in Plate and Mony, and they made near twelve hun∣dred shares for Men and Ships; and Van Horn had about fourscore shares coming to him, for himself and his two Ships.

But Laurence and Van Horn quarrel∣ling about the dividend, sought, and Van Horn being wounded in the Wrist, no body thinking it to be but a slight wound, they all embarked, and Van Horn once more proposed to attack the Flota, and engaged to board the Admiral; but Laurence utterly refusing

it, away they went, carrying also with them about a thousand Ne∣groes and Mulatos.

About fifteen days after, Van Horn dyed of his Wound which had gan∣greened, and was thrown into the Sea off of Cape Iucatan, leaving his Son, a Youth of about ten or twelve years of Age, to the value (as they say) of twenty thousand Pounds Sterling on Board; and his Lieutenant Gramont, took upon him the command of the Ship, intending for Petit Guave.

Laurence and the rest of the Fleet were seen not long after, off of the Island of Iamaica, and went for Guantanamo, a Port on the South side of Cuba: since that, Spurre and three or four hundred more of them, are said to be dead; and his excellency Sir Thomas Linch the Governour of Iamaica, was endea∣vouring to seize Spurre's Sloop.

This Account was sent in August, 1683. from Iamaica.

Notes

• 1683.