PANAMA TAKEN. 49 



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 enemy. Their infantry endeavoured to second the cavalry, but 

 were constrained by the pirates to leave them. Finding themselves baffled, they attempted 

 to drive a number of half-wild bulls against them behind, to put them into disorder ; but 

 the cattle ran away frightened with the noise of the battle ; some few broke through 

 the English companies, and only tore the colours in pieces, while the bucaniers shot every 

 one of them dead. 



The battle having continued two hours, the greater part of the Spanish horse was 

 routed, and almost all killed; the rest fled, which the foot seeing, and finding that they 

 could not possibly prevail, they discharged the shot they had in their muskets, and throwing 

 them down, fled away, every one as he could. The pirates could not follow them, being 

 too much harassed and wearied with their long journey. Many, not being able to fly whither 

 they desired, hid themselves temporarily among the shrubs of the sea-side, but very 

 unfortunately, for most of them being found by the pirates were instantly killed, without 

 any quarter. Some priests were brought prisoners before Captain Morgan, but he was deaf 

 to their cries, and commanded them all to be pistolled, which was done. Soon after they 

 brought a captain to him, whom he examined very strictly as to the forces of Panama. 

 He answered, their whole strength consisted in four hundred horse, twenty-four companies 

 of foot, each of one hundred men complete ; sixty Indians and some negroes, who were to 

 drive two thousand wild bulls upon the English, and thus, by breaking their files, put them 

 into a total disorder ; besides, that in the city they had made trenches and raised batteries 

 in several places ; and that at the entry of the highway leading to the city, they had 

 built a fort mounted with eight great brass guns, defended by fifty men. The pirates 

 were now, however, both elated by their successes and furious at their losses, and that 

 same day the city fell completely into their hands. Strict injunctions were given to the 

 freebooters not to even taste the wine they found, as the captain feared that a con- 

 siderable amount of debauchery must ensue after the privations they had endured. He 

 gave out, however, that he had been informed that the wine was poisoned. Captain 

 Morgan, as soon as he had placed the necessary guards, commanded twenty-five men 

 to seize a large boat, which had stuck in the mud of the port, for want of water, at 

 a low tide. The same day, about noon, he fired privately several great edifices of the 

 city, nobody knowing who was the author of the outrage; the fire increased so that 

 before night the greater part of the city was in flames. Captain Morgan pretended that 

 the Spaniards had done it, finding that his own people blamed him for the action. Many 

 of the Spaniards, and some of the pirates, did what they could either to quench the flames, 

 or, by blowing up houses with gunpowder, and pulling down others, to stop it, but almost 

 in vain, for in less than half an hour it consumed a whole street. All the houses of the 

 city were then built of cedar. 



Next day Captain Morgan despatched away two troops, of 150 men each, to seek for 



the inhabitants who had escaped. Above 200 prisoners, men, women, and slaves, were taken. 



Three other boats were also taken. But all these prizes they would willingly have given 



for one galleon, which miraculously escaped, richly laden with the king's plate, jewels, and 



87 



