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
Next day he fell into another ambuscade, which he assaulted with such
horrible fury, that in less than an hour's time he routed the Spaniards,
and killed the greatest part of them. The Spaniards thought by these
ambuscades better to destroy the pirates, assaulting them by degrees,
and for this reason had posted themselves in several places. At last he
met with a third ambuscade, where was placed a party stronger, and more
advantageously, than the former: yet notwithstanding, the pirates, by
continually throwing little fire-balls in great numbers, for some time,
forced this party, as well as the former, to flee, and this with so
great loss of men, that before they could reach the town, the greatest
part of the Spaniards were either killed or wounded. There was but one
path which led to the town, very well barricaded with good defences; and
the rest of the town round was planted with shrubs called raqueltes,
full of thorns very sharp pointed. This sort of fortification seemed
stronger than the triangles used in Europe, when an army is of necessity
to pass by the place of an enemy; it being almost impossible for the
pirates to traverse those shrubs. The Spaniards posted behind the said
defences, seeing the pirates come, began to ply them with their great
guns; but these perceiving them ready to fire, used to stoop down, and
when the shot was made, to fall upon the defendants with fire-balls and
naked swords, killing many of the town: yet notwithstanding, not being
able to advance any farther, they retired, for the present: then they
renewed the attack with fewer men than before, and observing not to
shoot till they were very nigh, they gave the Spaniards a charge so
dextrously, that with every shot they killed an enemy.
The attack continuing thus eager on both sides till night, the Spaniards
were compelled to hang forth a white flag, and desired to come to a
parley: the only conditions they required were, "that the pirates should
give the inhabitants quarter for two hours." This little time they
demanded with intent to carry away and hide as much of their goods and
riches as they could, and to fly to some other neighbouring town.
Granting this article, they entered the town, and continued there the
two hours, without committing the least hostility on the inhabitants;
but no sooner was that time past, than Lolonois ordered that the
inhabitants should be followed, and robbed of all they had carried away;
and not only their goods, but their persons likewise to be made
prisoners; though the greatest part of their merchandise and goods were
so hid, as the pirates could not find them, except a few leathern
sacks, filled with anil, or indigo.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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