Chap. XI.—B. S.] ARRIVAL OF THE FLEET. 
177 
and out of a body of three hundred and fourteen men, 
only thirty were made prisoners. 
The victory had been dearly purchased ; the pirates 
had one hundred killed and seventy wounded. From 
the prisoners it was learnt that the Governor of Panama 
had received notice of their intended invasion about 
three weeks previously, and, that in consequence of 
this information, he had sent one hundred and sixty- 
four men to strengthen San Lorenzo, placed ambus¬ 
cades on the banks of the Chagres, and collected two 
thousand six hundred men on the plains of Panama to 
repulse, if necessary, any attack on the capital. A 
vessel was immediately dispatched to acquaint the 
admiral of the buccaneers with the success achieved 
and the information extracted. Shortly after the 
whole piratical fleet hove in sight, and great was the 
rejoicing on board, when the English colours were 
seen waving from San Lorenzo, a castle hitherto deemed 
impregnable. The eagerness of the ships, however, 
to get into the river proved disastrous. Unacquainted 
with the sunken rocks at its entrance, four, among 
them that of Morgan, grounded, and the crews with 
difficulty saved their lives. 
The arrival of the fleet gave a fresh impulse to the 
execution of the invaders’ plans. By compelling the 
Spanish prisoners to work, and by their own exer¬ 
tions, the castle was partially restored; five hundred 
men were left for its defence, and the coasting-vessels 
which still remained in the river, and usually carried 
two or three guns, were seized; in fine, every precau¬ 
tion was taken to secure a safe retreat. On the 18 th 
N 
