165 
CHAPTER XI. 
RISE OP THE BUCCANEERS.-HENRY MORGAN.—INVASION OP THE 
ISTHMUS OP PANAMA.-STORMING OF CHAGRES.-DESTRUCTION 
OP OLD PANAMA. 
The treasure constantly conveyed across the Isthmus 
by the Spaniards from their rich possessions on the 
west coast of America did not escape the vigilant eyes 
of the pirates, who towards the middle of the sixteenth 
century, were beginning to get numerous in the Carib¬ 
bean Sea. The galleons were too well armed to suffer 
an attack to be made on them with impunity. Other 
schemes had therefore to he resorted to by these rovers. 
In 1572 the‘ Planchd’ and ‘Swan’ were fitted out in 
England, and the command given to Francis Drake and 
his brothers. The object of this expedition was to in¬ 
tercept a treasure of great value which was said to 
be carried from Panama to hi ombre de Dios. Drake 
being joined on the coast of South America by an¬ 
other hark, landed at biombre de Dios, dismounted the 
guns of the platform, and while the alarm-bells were 
