muscles were torn out from their sockets or fastenings, and the bones from their joints. There were some (shame and humility make one tremble with horror), who were suspended in a posture most disgusting, till their horribly mutilated bodies fell down from their own weight. In this manner, the unfortunate wretches languished four or five days under the most dreadful sufferings, unless some robber, from an impulse of compassion, terminated their woes by putting them to death.
The ever execrable authors of these atrocities exercised them indiscriminately on all their victims, whatever their age, condition, or colour might be. Women, decorated with all the graces of their sex.–children, who were protected by their innocence,–aged persons, whose weakness was their protection,–whites, mulattos, negroes,–all were involved in the same fate.
The slaves who betrayed their masters were for the most part rewarded with their liberty; though there were few who were willing to purchase it at that price. Some there were, who, out of revenge, wickedness, or inveterate hatred, denounced their masters, notwithstanding they had nothing to disclose. One of these false informations furnished the ferocious Morgan with an opportunity to disguise his cruelty under the mask of justice. A slave, who having denounced his master as being opulent, and who had thereby drawn upon him the most cruel tortures, was contradicted by the fact. For this atrocious falsehood the Spanish prisoners in a body demanded revenge: he was immediately abandoned by Morgan to the discretion of his master; who having refused that offer, and referred to that chieftain the care of pronouncing the wretch’s fate, Morgan caused him to be instantly cut to pieces.
After six weeks’ residence at Gibraltar, he demanded a ransom for the city, which he threatened to commit to the flames, and carried away several prisoners with him as hostages. Some of them who could not bear the idea of seeing their city, which had been so recently rebuilt, again become a heap of ruins, conjured him to allow them to go through the woods, that they might make an effort to raise the sums required. Morgan granted them a delay of eight days, commanding them to bring him the result of their inquiries at Maracäibo, whether he conducted their companions.
On his arrival at that city, he for the first time perhaps experienced a sensation of terror; nor could all the freebooters, who were in other respects so intrepid, dissemble their consternation. The first news they received was that three Spanish ships of war had already been dispatched in pursuit of them, and had already moored at the entrance of the lake. The fort of La Barra, which the pirates had deserted, had again been put into a state of defence. The largest vessel they had carried only fourteen small cannons; while one of the three Spanish men of war carried forty, another thirty-eight, and the other twenty-four pieces of cannon. To escape such superior force was utterly impossible: for the Spaniards had so disposed themselves, as to leave only a narrow and very dangerous passage between the ships of war on one side, and the fort on the other, by which the freebooters could not go out. These robbers considered themselves lost without resource: Morgan alone, who soon recovered himself from his first terror, still retained some hope, and displayed his usual courage.
His first operation was to send out one of his ships to the mouth of the river, to acquire exact information as to the position of the Spaniards, as well as concerning the number and strength of their ships. The reports which were in consequence made to him were not the most consolatory. They confirmed the first news, with this addition,– that the Spanish crews were very considerable, and were labouring with great activity to repair the fort, on which their flag was hoisted. However embarrassing this situation was, Morgan thought that, in order to maintain the character of
The ever execrable authors of these atrocities exercised them indiscriminately on all their victims, whatever their age, condition, or colour might be. Women, decorated with all the graces of their sex.–children, who were protected by their innocence,–aged persons, whose weakness was their protection,–whites, mulattos, negroes,–all were involved in the same fate.
The slaves who betrayed their masters were for the most part rewarded with their liberty; though there were few who were willing to purchase it at that price. Some there were, who, out of revenge, wickedness, or inveterate hatred, denounced their masters, notwithstanding they had nothing to disclose. One of these false informations furnished the ferocious Morgan with an opportunity to disguise his cruelty under the mask of justice. A slave, who having denounced his master as being opulent, and who had thereby drawn upon him the most cruel tortures, was contradicted by the fact. For this atrocious falsehood the Spanish prisoners in a body demanded revenge: he was immediately abandoned by Morgan to the discretion of his master; who having refused that offer, and referred to that chieftain the care of pronouncing the wretch’s fate, Morgan caused him to be instantly cut to pieces.
After six weeks’ residence at Gibraltar, he demanded a ransom for the city, which he threatened to commit to the flames, and carried away several prisoners with him as hostages. Some of them who could not bear the idea of seeing their city, which had been so recently rebuilt, again become a heap of ruins, conjured him to allow them to go through the woods, that they might make an effort to raise the sums required. Morgan granted them a delay of eight days, commanding them to bring him the result of their inquiries at Maracäibo, whether he conducted their companions.
On his arrival at that city, he for the first time perhaps experienced a sensation of terror; nor could all the freebooters, who were in other respects so intrepid, dissemble their consternation. The first news they received was that three Spanish ships of war had already been dispatched in pursuit of them, and had already moored at the entrance of the lake. The fort of La Barra, which the pirates had deserted, had again been put into a state of defence. The largest vessel they had carried only fourteen small cannons; while one of the three Spanish men of war carried forty, another thirty-eight, and the other twenty-four pieces of cannon. To escape such superior force was utterly impossible: for the Spaniards had so disposed themselves, as to leave only a narrow and very dangerous passage between the ships of war on one side, and the fort on the other, by which the freebooters could not go out. These robbers considered themselves lost without resource: Morgan alone, who soon recovered himself from his first terror, still retained some hope, and displayed his usual courage.
His first operation was to send out one of his ships to the mouth of the river, to acquire exact information as to the position of the Spaniards, as well as concerning the number and strength of their ships. The reports which were in consequence made to him were not the most consolatory. They confirmed the first news, with this addition,– that the Spanish crews were very considerable, and were labouring with great activity to repair the fort, on which their flag was hoisted. However embarrassing this situation was, Morgan thought that, in order to maintain the character of
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