MORGAN AT PUERTO BELLO. 33 



the coast of Costa Rica, keeping his intended plan of action closely locked within his own 

 bosom. 



The land was now in sight, and a council of war was called. Morgan informed his 

 company that he intended to plunder Puerto Bello by night, and put the whole city to the 

 sack. He recalled to them the fact that he had kept the matter entirely secret, and that 

 his victims could therefore have had no notice. Some thought that they had not a sufficient 

 number of men to successfully attack the town. Morgan's answer was characteristic. " If 

 our numbers are small/' said he, "our hearts are great, and the fewer persons we are, the 

 more union, and the better shaves we shall have in the spoil." The attack was settled. 



The city or town of Puerto Bello was in those days one of the strongest of the Spanish 

 main, or West Indian isles, Havannah and Carthagena alone out-ranking it. Two forts 

 defended the entrance to its harbour; it had a garrison of 300 soldiers; and was inhabited 

 by some 400 families. The merchants did not generally reside there, owing to the 

 unhealthiness of the climate, but stopped at Panama, and brought their commodities over 

 at regular seasons, when the Spanish galleons or slave-ships were expected. Captain 

 Morgan, who knew the neighbouring country thoroughly, anchored his vessels some little 

 distance from the town to be attacked, and leaving a few men on board to bring them into 

 port next day, proceeded with the bulk of his company in boats and canoes. About mid- 

 night they reached a place called Estera longa Lemos, where they all went on shore, and 

 marched to the city. They had with them an Englishman who had formerly been a 

 prisoner there, and he with three or four others contrived to seize the sentinel before he 

 had time to give any warning. The latter was brought with his hands bound to Captain 

 Morgan, and closely interrogated as to the strength of the place, with threats of death 

 if he did not speak truly. Then, having gathered all the information they could, they 

 marched up to the castle or fort near the city, and closely surrounded it. Let Esquemeling 

 now describe to us the sequence. 



" Being posted under the walls of the castle, Captain Morgan commanded the sentinel 

 whom they had taken prisoner to speak to those within, charging them to surrender to 

 his discretion, otherwise they should all be cut in pieces without quarter. But they, 

 regarding none of these threats, began instantly to fire, which alarmed the city; yet, not- 

 withstanding, though the governor and soldiers of the said city made as great resistance 

 as could be, they were forced to surrender. Having taken the castle, they resolved to be 

 as good as their words, putting the Spaniards to the sword, thereby to strike a terror into 

 the rest of the city. Whereupon, having shut up all the officers and soldiers into one 

 room, they set fire to the powder (whereof they found great quantity) and blew up the 

 castle into the air, with all the Spaniards that were within. This done, they pursued the 

 course of their victory, falling upon the city, which, as yet, was not ready to receive them. 

 Many of the inhabitants cast their precious jewels and money into wells and cisterns, or 

 hid them in places underground, to avoid as much as possible being totally robbed. One 

 party of the pirates, being assigned to this purpose, ran immediately to the cloisters, and 

 took as many religious men and women * as they could find. The governor of the city, not 



* Wherever " religious men and women " are mentioned in these old records, the meaning is priests or monks, 

 and nuns. 



85 



