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
There were found on the island eight hundred pounds of powder, two
hundred and fifty pounds of small bullets, with many other military
provisions. Among the prisoners were taken also, two Spaniards, who had
bore arms under the English against his Catholic Majesty: these were
shot to death the next day, by order of the major. The 10th day of
September arrived at the isle an English vessel, which being seen at a
great distance by the major, he ordered Le Sieur Simon, who was a
Frenchman, to go and visit the said ship, and tell them that were on
board, that the island belonged still to the English. He performed the
command, and found in the said ship only fourteen men, one woman and her
daughter, who were all instantly made prisoners.
The English pirates were all transported to Puerto Velo, excepting
three, who by order of the governor were carried to Panama, there to
work in the castle of St. Jerom. This fortification is an excellent
piece of workmanship, and very strong, being raised in the middle of the
port of a quadrangular form, and of very hard stone: its height is
eighty-eight geometrical feet, the wall being fourteen, and the curtains
seventy-five feet diameter. It was built at the expense of several
private persons, the governor of the city furnishing the greatest part
of the money; so that it cost his Majesty nothing.
CHAPTER X
_Of the Island of Cuba--Captain Morgan attempts to preserve the Isle of
St. Catherine as a refuge to the nest of pirates, but fails of his
design--He arrives at and takes the village of El Puerto del Principe._
CAPTAIN MORGAN seeing his predecessor and admiral Mansvelt were dead,
used all the means that were possible, to keep in possession the isle of
St. Catherine, seated near Cuba. His chief intent was to make it a
refuge and sanctuary to the pirates of those parts, putting it in a
condition of being a convenient receptacle of their preys and robberies.
To this effect he left no stone unmoved, writing to several merchants in
Virginia and New England, persuading them to send him provisions and
necessaries, towards putting the said island in such a posture of
defence, as to fear no danger of invasion from any side. But all this
proved ineffectual, by the Spaniards retaking the said island: yet
Captain Morgan retained his courage, which put him on new designs.
First, he equipped a ship, in order to gather a fleet as great, and as
strong as he could. By degrees he effected it, and gave orders to every
member of his fleet to meet at a certain port of Cuba, there determining
to call a council, and deliberate what was best to be done, and what
place first to fall upon. Leaving these preparations in this condition,
I shall give my reader some small account of the said isle of Cuba, in
whose port this expedition was hatched, seeing I omitted to do it in its
proper place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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