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. VIII. Captain Morgan attempts to preserve the Isle of St. Catherines, but fails of his Design. He takes Puerto del Principe.

CAptain Morgan finding that his Pre∣decessor Mansfeildt was dead, us'd all his Endeavours imaginable to preserve the Island of St. Catherines, by reason of the conveniency of its Situation to infest the Spaniards. To which purpose he wrote to several Merchants in Virginia and New-England, to send provisions and other ne∣cessary

things to secure and strengthen the Island against all hopes of ever being retaken, together with some chast Wo∣men for procreation. But all these thoughts and cares were laid aside, when he heard it was surrender'd back to the Spaniards; and thereupon he put himself upon other new Designs. To which pur∣pose he sail••d away to the Island of Cuba, in hopes to reinforce his number as he pass'd along.

Cuba is a fertile and pleasant Island, in length an hundred and fifty German Leagues, and forty in breadth, in twenty and twenty three degrees of Northern Latitude. It is surrounded with a great number of small Islands, by the name of Los Caos, of which the Pirates make as great use as of their own proper Ports, where they generally keep their Rende∣vouze, and hold their Councils of War, where with most advantage to assail the Spaniards. This great Island is water'd with divers fair and large Rivers, then En∣trances in which form several commodi∣ous Havens. Of which the most remark∣able on the South side Sant Jago, Bayame, Santa Maria, Spirito Santo, Trinidad, Xagua, and Cabo de Corrientes. To the North, La Havana, Puerto Mariano, Santa Cruz, Mata Ricos, and Barracoa.

There are besides two Principal Cities which govern the whole Island; Sant Jago to the South, with a Bishop & a Governour ex∣tending their Jurisdiction over the one half of the Island; the chief Trade of the City being Tobacco, Sugar and Hides.

The other is the City of Havana, one of the most famous and strongest places in the West-Indies, governing the other half of the Island. It is defended by three Castles, large and strong, and contains about ten thousand Families; and here the Plate-Fleet touches, homeward bound for Spain, to take in the rest of their Cargo, as Hides, Tobacco, and Campeche Wood.

Captain Morgan had not been above two months in the South Ports of the Island before he had got together a Fleet of twelve sail, and about seven hundred Men, part English, part French. Being thus reinforc'd, they call'd a Council (for 'tis good to do nothing rashly) what En∣terprize to undertake. The bolder sort were for assaulting the City of Havana it self under the shelter of the night. But that proposal being rejected as an attempt of too great difficulty, they concluded to pour all their Force upon Puerto del Prin∣cipe, whose Inhabitants were look'd upon to be very rich, as driving a ready money

Trade with Havana, and for that the Town had never yet experienc'd the Courtesies of the Pirates, being at a di∣stance from the Sea. This being therefore resolv'd upon, away they steer'd to the Coasts that were nearest to it, and came to an Anchor in the Bay of Puerto de Santa Maria, where it fell out unluckily for their Design, that a Spanish prisoner swam ashoar in the night time, and gave Intel∣ligence to the Town of their approach; which caus'd the Spaniard immediately to hide their Wealth, and carry away their moveable goods. The Governour also arm'd all the people of the Town, both Freemen and Slaves, cut down the Trees, and laid several Ambuscado's in their way.

But Captain Morgan finding the ordi∣nary passages to the Town impassable, took another way, cutting his passage tho∣row a Wood, and by that means escaping the Ambuscado's, got safe to the Plain that lies before the Town call'd La Sa∣vana or the Sheet. The Governour see∣ing his new Guests come, sent a Party of Horse to welcom them into the Country, thinking to over-run them immediately; but the Pirates maintain'd their Order so exactly, and made such a dextrous use of their Fire-Arms, that the poor Spaniards

dropt from their Horses like rotten Pears, with their Governour for one; which made the rest turn tail, thinking to flie to the Woods for Refuge; but ere they could reach their Sanctuaries, they were most of them cut off, with very little loss to their Adversaries, who now en∣ter'd the Town, where the Inhabitants defended themselves like the true Race of the Goths & Vandals for a time. But hearing the dreadful Menaces of the Foe, who threaten'd to fire the Town, and chop their Wives and Children as small as Herbs to the Pot, if they did not present∣ly surrender; they presently surrender'd at discretion.

Having thus got possession of the Town, they lock'd up all the Spaniards, with their Wives and Children, in the several Churches, and there leaving them to their Prayers and Devotions, they fell to their own business of plundering and ransack∣ing, not only the Town, but the Country round about; from whence they brought in daily great store of goods, prisoners, and provision, with which they made good cheer, and feasted themselves, but never remember'd the poor prisoners, who starv'd in the Churches for hunger. Nor did the Pirates think they could die in a better place; besides that, their Graves

were at hand; the Women also ran the same hard fortune. From whence you may easily ghess they were none of the handsomest.

At length finding no more to plunder, and that provisions grew scarce, they thought it high time to break up house∣keeping. However, before they went, they laid two Taxes upon the people; the first to redeem themselves from being trans∣ported to Jamaica, and the second to pre∣serve the Town from being reduc'd into Ashes. For this the unfortunate Spaniards earnestly begg'd some time, which was generously granted: But the Pirates ha∣ving after that, intercepted a Negro with Letters from the Governor of St. Jago, exhorting them not to make too much hast to pay their Ransoms, in regard he was pre∣paring to come to their relief, the Captain was fain to be contented with a Present of five hundred Beeves, and salt proportio∣nable, to be carried aboard by themselves, since they could not pay the Porters: and when they were aboard, the Spaniards were made to help, kill, and salt the meat to boot.

After this, they parted from Puerto del Principe, and steered to a certain Island, where they made a dividend of the pur∣chase, which amounted to about fifty

thousand pieces of Eight in Mony and Goods. But when they came to cast up their Accounts, and found the smallness of the sum not enough to pay their debts, the lean mischief they had done, not on∣ly caus'd great sorrow and tribulation, but great confusion among 'em. Captain Morgan propounded to seek out for a fat∣ter Purchase, but the French not agreeing complacently with the English, were for going by themselves, and seeking their own Fortunes; with which resolution they parted company, and left Captain Mor∣gan, not in the suds, but alone with those of his own Nation; so that he was for the present constrain'd to return to Jamaica.