The history of the bucaniers being an impartial relation of all the battels, sieges, and other most eminent assaults committed for several years upon the coasts of the West-Indies by the pirates of Jamaica and Tortuga, both English & other nations : more especially the unparallel'd atchievements of Sir H.M. / made English from the Dutch copy ; written by J. Esquemeling, one of the bucaniers ; very much corrected from the errours of the original by the relations of some English gentlemen that then resided in those parts.

CHAP. VII. Of the Famous Exploits, and Remark∣able Actions of Capt. H. Morgan.

WE are now to tell of Actions more humane, and more agree∣able to the temper of Men truly valiant. This person having serv'd his Time at the Barbado's, after he got his Liberty, trans∣ported himself to Jamaica, where he found two Vessels of Sparks that were going to seek their Fortunes which he thought a ve∣ry good opportunity for himself to do the fame. Thereupon he got into the Society, and in a short time learnt the Trade so exactly, that after he had made three or four Voyages with some profit and suc∣cess, he agreed with some of his Com∣rades with a joynt stock to buy a Ship. And such was the esteem which the rest had of him, that they agreed to submit to him as their Captain.

With this Ship he set forth from Ja∣maica, with an intention to cruze upon the Coasts of Campeche, in which Voyage

he had the good fortune to take several prizes, with which he returned trium∣phant to his first Port.

At his return he met with an Old Gamester, whose name was Mansfeildt, of whom mention has already been made, who was at the same time setting out a considerable Fleet, with a design to land upon the Continent, and make Booty of all that came in his way. This Mansfeildt seeing C. M. return with so many prizes, judg'd him to be what he was, a person of courage and conduct, and therefore chose him for his Vice-Admiral. And thus having fitted out fifteen Ships great and small, they set sail from Jamaica with five hundred Men, part Walloons, part French.

The first place where they landed was the Island of St. Katherines in twelve de∣grees and a half of Northern Latitude, near the Continent of Costa Ricca. There in a short time they forc'd the Garrison to surrender, and to deliver into their hands all the other Forts belonging to it. All which they demolish'd but only one, where they put a Garrison of their own, and all the Slaves they had taken from the Spaniards. For it was not reasonable that they should keep Slaves, who were now Slaves themselves. Having so done,

they passed over by the help of a Bridge, which they made in a few days into ano∣ther Island close adjoyning, you may be sure by the story, to that of St. Catherines, and so having destroyed and ruined both the Islands with Fire and Sword, after they had left all necessary Orders with their Garrison, they put forth to Sea again, with the Spaniards they had taken priso∣ners, whom they afterwards set ashoar near Puerto Velo, and then fell to cruzing upon the Coast of Costa Ricca, with a de∣sign to plunder all the Towns in those parts, and so to go forward to Nata. But hearing that the Governour of Pana∣ma was coming on to encounter them with a numerous Force, and seeing the whole Country alarum'd, they retir'd with all speed, and return'd to St. Cathe∣rines, where they found that the Gover∣nour of the Garrison had not only put the great Island into a good posture of de∣fence, but had advanc'd several Planta∣tions in the lesfer, suffcient to revictual the whole Fleet upon occasion, which made Mansfeildt desirous to take a Lease of those two Islands lying so near the Spanish Dominions, without sealing Inden∣tures, or paying Rent, whether the Spa∣niards would or no; but the Governour of Jamaica, not liking his Proposal, he went

to Tortuga to see what Assistance he could get there for the same purpose: But there Death took him in Execution at Natures Suit, and carry'd him away to Goal, so that he was never heard of more.

In the mean time, Monsieur Simon, who was left Governour of St. Catherines by the Pirates, hearing no News of Mans∣feildt, receiv'd a Summons from the Go∣vernour of Costa Ricca, to deliver up the two Islands to his Catholick Majesty; for he did not like him for a Neighbour by no means, promising withal, if he would surrender them fairly without thumps and knocks, a good reward; but Death and the Cobler was to be his doom, if he held out to extremity. Monsieur Simon to this return'd an Answer bold enough, if words would have done it, that he would rather die than surrender. Whereupon the Spaniards much more po∣tent than he, landed in spite of his teeth, and after as stout a defence as his number could make, and the lofs of most of his Men, forc'd him to surrender upon the same terms it had been delivered by the Spaniards. There was found upon the Island eight hundred pound of Powder, two hundred and fifty l. of small Bullets, & some other provisions of War. Soon after the Island was taken, appear'd an English

Vessel, which being seen at a distance, Monsieur Simon was sent to decoy it into the Port, as if it had been still in the Pi∣rates possession, which he perform'd, be∣cause he could not help it, with a perfect fidelity to the loss of fourteen Men, one Woman and her Daughter, which it seems were sent from Jamaica, to stock this new Plantation. Thus far there was no great harm done; the King of Spain had his Mare again, and all's well.