MORGAN IN CUBA. 31 



its figure called by the Spaniards La Savanna, or the Sheet. The governor seeing them 

 come, detached a troop of horse to charge them in the front, thinking to disperse th^pi, 

 and to pursue them with his main body; but this design succeeded not, for the pirates 

 marched in very good order at the sound of their drums, and with flying colours. Coming 

 near the horse, they drew into a semicircle, and so advanced towards the Spaniards, who 

 charged them vehemently for a while; but the pirates being very dexterous at their arms, 

 and their governor and many of their companions being killed, they retreated towards the 

 wood, to save themselves with more advantage; but before they could reach it most of 

 them were killed. Thus they left the victory to these new-come enemies, who had no 

 considerable loss of men in the battle, and but very few wounded. The skirmish lasted 

 four hours ; after which they entered the town, not without very great resistance of such as 

 were within, who defended themselves as long as possible, and many seeing the enemy in 

 the town shut themselves up in their own houses and thence made several shots upon the 

 pirates, who therefore threatened them, saying, ' If you surrender not voluntarily, you shall 

 soon see the town in a flame, and your wives and children torn in pieces before your faces/ 

 Upon these menaces, the Spaniards submitted to the discretion of the pirates, believing 

 they could not continue there long." 



As soon as the pirates had captured the town, they imprisoned all the Spaniards men, 

 women, children, and slaves in several churches, and pillaged all the goods they could 

 find. They then searched the country round about, bringing in daily prisoners, goods, and 

 provision. "With this they fell to making great cheer, after their old custom, without 

 remembering the poor prisoners, whom they let starve in the churches, though they tormented 

 them daily and inhumanly to make them confess where they had hid their goods, money, 

 &c., though little or nothing was left them; not sparing the women and children; giving 

 them nothing to eat, whereby the greater part perished. 



"Pillage and provisions growing scarce, they thought convenient to depart and seek 

 new fortunes in other places. They told the prisoners they should find money to ransom 

 themselves, or else they should all be transported to Jamaica; and beside, if they did not 

 pay a second ransom for the town, they would burn every house to the ground." The 

 Spaniards hereupon nominated among themselves four fellow-prisoners to go and seek for 

 the above-named contributions; but the pirates, to the intent they should return presently 

 with those ransoms, tormented several cruelly in their presence before they departed. After 

 a few days the Spaniards returned, telling Captain Morgan, "We have run up and down 

 and searched all the neighbouring woods and places we most suspected, and yet have not 

 been able to find any of our own party, nor consequently any fruit of our embassy ; but if 

 you are pleased to have a little longer patience with us, we shall certainly cause all that 

 you demand within fifteen days ; " which Captain Morgan granted. But not long after,, 

 there came into the town seven or eight pirates who had been ranging in the woods andt 

 fields, and got considerable booty. These brought, amongst other prisoners, a negro, whom; 

 they had taken with letters. Captain Morgan having perused them, found they were from 

 the Governor of Santa lago, being written to some of the prisoners, wherein he told them : 

 "They should not make too much haste to pay any ransom for their town or persons or 

 any other pretext; but, on the contrary, they should put off the pirates as well as they 



