THE TOWN OF PAITA BURNED. 



351 



the musketry, seconded by the great guns. The ships of both 

 fleets came up in succession and joined battle. The pomp and 

 circumstance of war were not neglected, for the braying of the 

 cannon was accompanied by the sounding of tambours and 

 trumpets. The Spanish San Francisco received a broadside 

 which the Great Sun could spare from the Jesu Maria, and soon 

 after went to the bottom. The Sun sent out one of her boats 

 for a rescue; but it was mistaken by the Huntsman for an 

 enemy's boat, and was blown out of the water by a cannon-shot. 

 The night becoming very dark, the fleets were gradually sepa- 

 rated. The next morning five of the Spanish ships sent word 

 to their admiral that they were going to escape if they could. 

 The Spanish admiral and vice-admiral were lashed together for 

 mutual support, and were, in this condition, attacked by the 

 Great Sun and the Half-Moon. The Spanish seamen several 

 times hung out a white flag in token of surrender, which was as 

 often cut down by their officers, who chose rather to die than 

 yield, especially as they had sworn to the Viceroy of Peru to 

 bring him all the Hollanders in chains. At nightfall, the Jesu 

 Maria cut herself loose and fled from pursuit ; but her leaks and 

 damages were so serious that she went to the bottom before 

 dawn. This decided the victory in favor of the Dutch, who are 

 accused of allowing many of the enemy to drown who might 

 easily have been saved. 



The victorious fleet sailed directly for Callao ; but the Spanish 

 shipping in the port was so well protected by batteries that it 

 was not thought prudent to attack them. Soon after, a vessel 

 laden with salt and sugar was captured and the cargo distributed. 

 The town of Paita was plundered and burned. No money or 

 treasure is mentioned among the booty. Keeping a sharp 

 watch for the fleet of Panama, which the Dutch did not care to 

 meet or engage, they proceeded to the north, and, on the 11th 

 of October, entered the harbor of Acapulco, in Mexico or New 

 Spain. Negotiations were entered into and a treaty was made, 



