The Buccaneers in the West Indies in the XVII CenturyHaring, Clarence Henry
History
The Buccaneers in the West Indies in the XVII Century
Haring, Clarence Henry
Buccaneers; West Indies -- History
"To this effect, therefore, he ordered ten or twelve ladders to be made,
in all possible haste, so broad that three or four men at once might
ascend by them. These being finished, he commanded all the religious men
and women whom he had taken prisoners to fix them against the walls of
the castle. Thus much he had beforehand threatened the Governor to
perform, in case he delivered not the castle. But his answer was: 'He
would never surrender himself alive.' Captain Morgan was much persuaded
that the Governor would not employ his utmost forces, seeing religious
women and ecclesiastical persons exposed in the front of the soldiers to
the greatest dangers. Thus the ladders, as I have said, were put into
the hands of religious persons of both sexes; and these were forced, at
the head of the companies, to raise and apply them to the walls. But
Captain Morgan was deceived in his judgment of this design. For the
Governor, who acted like a brave and courageous soldier, refused not, in
performance of his duty, to use his utmost endeavours to destroy
whosoever came near the walls. The religious men and women ceased not to
cry unto him and beg of him by all the Saints of Heaven he would deliver
the castle, and hereby spare both his and their own lives. But nothing
could prevail with the obstinacy and fierceness that had possessed the
Governor's mind. Thus many of the religious men and nuns were killed
before they could fix the ladders. Which at last being done, though with
great loss of the said religious people, the Pirates mounted them in
great numbers, and with no less valour; having fireballs in their hands,
and earthen pots full of powder. All which things, being now at the top
of the walls, they kindled and cast in among the Spaniards.
"This effort of the Pirates was very great, insomuch as the Spaniards
could no longer resist nor defend the castle, which was now entered.
Hereupon they all threw down their arms, and craved quarter for their
lives. Only the Governor of the city would admit or crave no mercy; but
rather killed many of the Pirates with his own hands, and not a few of
his own soldiers, because they did not stand to their arms. And although
the Pirates asked him if he would have quarter, yet he constantly
answered: 'By no means; I had rather die as a valiant soldier, than be
hanged as a coward.' They endeavoured as much as they could to take him
prisoner. But he defended himself so obstinately that they were forced
to kill him; notwithstanding all the cries and tears of his own wife and
daughter, who begged of him upon their knees he would demand quarter and
save his life. When the Pirates had possessed themselves of the castle,
which was about night, they enclosed therein all the prisoners they had
taken, placing the women and men by themselves, with some guards upon
them. All the wounded were put into a certain apartment by itself, to
the intent their own complaints might be the cure of their diseases; for
no other was afforded them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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