Bucaniers of America the second volume : containing the dangerous voyage and bold attempts of Captain Bartholomew Sharp, and others, performed upon the coasts of the South Sea, for the space of two years, &c. : from the original journal of the said voyage / written by ... Basil Ringrose, Gent., who was all along present at those transactions.

CHAP. III. They take the Town of Santa Maria with no loss of Men, and but small purchase of what they sought for. Description of the Place, Country, and River adjacent. They resolve to go and plunder the second time the City of Panama.

THe next morning, which was Thursday April the Fif∣teenth,* 1.1 about break of day, we heard from the Town a small Arm discharged, and after that a Drum bea∣ting a travailler. With this we were roused from our sleep, and taking up our Arms, we put our selves in order and marched towards the Town. As soon as we came out of the Woods into the open ground, we were descryed by the Spaniards, who had received before-hand intelligence of our coming, and were prepared to receive us, having al∣ready conveyed away all their Treasure of Gold, and sent it to Panama. They ran immediately into a large Paliza∣da Fort, having each Pale or Post twelve foot high, and began to fire very briskly at us as we came. But our Vanguard ran up unto the place, and pulling down two or three of their Palizadas,* 1.2 entred the Fort incontinently,

and made themselves Masters thereof. In this Action there were not fifty of our men that came up before the Fort was taken; and on our side only two were wounded, and not one killed. Notwithstanding within the place were found two hundred and threescore men, besides which number, two hundred others were said to be absent, being gone up into the Countrey unto the Mines to fetch down Gold, or rather to convey away what was already in the Town. This golden Treasure cometh down another branch of this River unto Santa Maria, from the neighbour∣ing Mountains, where are thought to be the richest Mines of the Indies, or, at least, of all these parts of the Western World. Of the Spaniards we killed in the assault twenty six, and wounded to the number of sixteen more. But their Governour, their Priest, and all, or most of their chief men, made their escape by flight.

Having taken the Fort,* 1.3 we expected to find here a con∣siderable Town belonging unto it. But it proved to be only some wild houses made of Cane, the place being chief∣ly a Garrison designed to keep the Indians in subjection, who bare a mortal hatred, and are often apt to rebel against the Spaniards. But as bad a place as it was, our fortune was much worse. For we came only three days too late, or else we had met with three hundred weight of Gold,* 1.4 which was carried thence to Panama in a Bark, that is sent from thence twice or thrice every year, to fetch what Gold is brought to Santa Maria from the Mountains. This Ri∣ver, called by the name of the Town, is hereabouts twice as broad as the River of Thames is at London, and floweth above threescore miles upwards, rising to the heighth of two fathom and a half at the Town it self. As soon as we had taken the place, the Indians who belonged to our com∣pany, and had served us for Guides, came up unto the Town. For mean while they heard the noise of the Guns, they were in a great consternation, and dared not approach the Palizadas, but had hidden themselves closely in a small hol∣low ground, insomuch that the bullets, while we were fighting flew over their heads.

* 1.5Here we found and redeemed the eldest Daughter of the King of Darien, of whom we made mention above. She had, as it should seem, been forced away from her Fathers house by one of the Garison, (which Rape had hugely in∣censed him against the Spaniards) and was with Child by him. After the Fight the Indians destroyed as many more of the Spaniards, as we had done in the assault, by taking them into the adjoyning Woods, and there stabbing them to death with their Lances. But so soon as we understood this their barbarous cruelty, we hindred them from taking any more out of the Fort, where we confined them every one Prisoners. Captain Sawkins with a small party of ten more,* 1.6 put himself into a Canoa, and went down the River, to pursue and stop, if it were possible, those that had escaped, who were the chiefest of the Town and Garrison. But now our great expectations of making an huge pur∣chase of Gold at this place being totally vanished, we were unwilling to come so far for nothing, or go back empty-handed; especially, considering what vast riches were to be had at no great distance from thence. Hereupon, we resolved to go for Panama, which place if we could take, we were assured we should get Treasure enough, to satisfie our hungry appetite of Gold and Riches, that City being the receptacle of all the Plate, Jewels, and Gold that is dig∣ged out of the Mines of all Potost and Peru. Unto this effect therefore, and to please the humours of some of our com∣pany, we made choice of Captain Coxon to be our General, or Commander in chief.* 1.7 Before our departure, we sent back what small booty we had taken here by some prisoners, and these under the charge of twelve of our men to con∣vey it unto the Ships.

* 1.8Thus we prepared to go forward on that dangerous en∣terprize of Panama. But the Indians who had conducted us having gotten from us what Knives, Sizars, Axes, Nee∣dles, and Beads they could obtain, would not stay any lon∣ger, but all, or the greatest part of them returned to their home.* 1.9 Which notwithstanding, the King himself, Captain

Andraeas, Captain Antonio, the Kings Son,* 1.10 called by the Spa∣niards, Bonete de Oro, or King Golden-cap, as also his Kins∣man, would not be perswaded by their falling off to leave us, but resolved to go to Panama, out of the desire they had to see that place taken and sackt. Yea, the King pro∣mised, if there should be occasion, to joyn fifty thousand men unto our Forces. Besides which promises, we had al∣so another encouragement very considerable to undertake this journey. For the Spaniard who had forced away the Kings Daughter, as was mentioned above, fearing lest we should leave him to the mercy of the Indians, who would have had but little on him, having shewed them∣selves so cruel unto the rest of his Companions, for the safe∣ty of his life had promised to lead us, not only into the Town, but even to the very bed-chamber door of the Go∣vernour of Panama, and that we should take him by the hand, and seize both him and the whole City, before we should be discovered by the Spaniards, either before or after our arrival.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈…〉〈…〉 the Town and Fort.
• * 1.2

  They take the place.
• * 1.3

  Description of the Town.
• * 1.4

  They miss of their design••.
• * 1.5

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.6

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.7

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Panama.
• * 1.9

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.10

  The chiefest re∣main.