The Pirates of Panama: or, The Buccaneers of America; a True Account of the Famous Adventures and Daring Deeds of Sir Henry Morgan and Other Notorious Freebooters of the Spanish MainExquemelin, A. O. (Alexandre Olivier)
History
The Pirates of Panama: or, The Buccaneers of America; a True Account of the Famous Adventures and Daring Deeds of Sir Henry Morgan and Other Notorious Freebooters of the Spanish Main
Exquemelin, A. O. (Alexandre Olivier)
Buccaneers; Pirates; Spanish Main; West Indies -- History
The tenth day, betimes in the morning, they put all their men in order,
and, with drums and trumpets sounding, marched directly towards the
city; but one of the guides desired Captain Morgan not to take the
common highway, lest they should find in it many ambuscades. He took his
advice, and chose another way through the wood, though very irksome and
difficult. The Spaniards perceiving the pirates had taken another way
they scarce had thought on, were compelled to leave their stops and
batteries, and come out to meet them. The governor of Panama put his
forces in order, consisting of two squadrons, four regiments of foot,
and a huge number of wild bulls, which were driven by a great number of
Indians, with some negroes, and others, to help them.
The pirates, now upon their march, came to the top of a little hill,
whence they had a large prospect of the city and champaign country
underneath. Here they discovered the forces of the people of Panama, in
battle array, to be so numerous, that they were surprised with fear,
much doubting the fortune of the day: yea, few or none there were but
wished themselves at home, or at least free from the obligation of that
engagement, it so nearly concerning their lives. Having been some time
wavering in their minds, they at last reflected on the straits they had
brought themselves into, and that now they must either fight resolutely,
or die; for no quarter could be expected from an enemy on whom they had
committed so many cruelties. Hereupon they encouraged one another,
resolving to conquer, or spend the last drop of blood. Then they divided
themselves into three battalions, sending before two hundred bucaniers,
who were very dextrous at their guns. Then descending the hill, they
marched directly towards the Spaniards, who in a spacious field waited
for their coming. As soon as they drew nigh, the Spaniards began to
shout and cry, "Viva el rey!" "God save the king!" and immediately their
horse moved against the pirates: but the fields being full of quags, and
soft underfoot, they could not wheel about as they desired. The two
hundred bucaniers, who went before, each putting one knee to the ground,
began the battle briskly, with a full volley of shot: the Spaniards
defended themselves courageously, doing all they could to disorder the
pirates. Their foot endeavoured to second the horse, but were
constrained by the pirates to leave them. Finding themselves baffled,
they attempted to drive the bulls against them behind, to put them into
disorder; but the wild cattle ran away, frighted with the noise of the
battle; only some few broke through the English companies, and only tore
the colours in pieces, while the bucaniers shot every one of them dead.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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