Mexico. 



MEXICO, OR NEW SPAIN. 



65 



the firing of mulkets the alarm-bell was rung, and the foldiers began to run 

 to their colours ; every body was extremely furprized to fee the buccaneers 

 in arms. Thus with the lofs of only four men, by break of day, they had 

 gained pofTellion of the town and forts. They caufed all the inhabitants to 

 quit their houfes, and fliut up in the church the garrifon, burgefles, men, 

 women and children, for three days and nights, without either meat or drink, 

 during which time they continued plundering the town. They got abun- 

 dance of jewels and plate, about 60,000 pound of cochineal, 70,000 pieces 

 of eio-ht for the jrovernor's ranfom, and 2,000,000 of piaftres for the town 

 and citizens. They were permitted by the liota to carry off this great booty, 

 it beino- ftruck witli too great a o.innic to attack them. 



Laurence and Vanhorn (whole fhare came to above 16,000 pieces of eight) 

 quarrcHing about their dividend, lought j the latter received a wound in the 

 wrift, which was thought flight at firft, but when it was leaft expedted it 

 f>-aagreened, and he died in fifteen days after, greatly lamented by all his 

 crew, who had the greatefl: efleem and affection for him. His body was 

 thrown over-board off Tucatan-, he left 20,000 pound fterling on board to 

 his fon, a youth of twelve years of age. 



Captahi Uri/ig, in his account of the buccaneers, fays, that they having 

 mullered all their force, refolved on facking this town, and landed their men 

 undifcovered about eighteen miles from it, and marched in the night 

 about ten miles, and in the morning reared between the fand-hills, which lay 

 on the coafl. They marched again the next night, and in the morning at 

 day-break appeared before the town, and having feized one of the gates by 

 flratagem, entered it, and at the fame time having attacked and taken another 

 fmall work, marched diredfly to the parade. Mofl of the Spaniards being 

 in bed, could not prefently get together, but foon took the alarm, formed 

 a body of horfe and foot, and marched in j^-ood order to attack the buccaneers 

 in form j who being upon the parade, drew up at the end of the ftreet, in 

 which the Spaniards were marching, and difpofed themfelves in fuch order, 

 that as foon as their firft rank had fired, they gave way for the fecond to take 

 place, as did the fecond for the third rank, by which means they kept a con- 



K tinual 



