Читать книгу The Life of Sir Henry Morgan. With an account of the English settlement of the island of Jamaica онлайн

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"Having his Crew so much at Command," he wrote, "he set off with Four Hundred and Fifty Men in Nine small Ships, and made towards Costa Rica; there he imparted his Design of attacking Puerto Velo to his whole Company. Several objected against the Attempt because they had not a sufficient number to think of Success against so strong a City. But Morgan replied: If our Numbers are small our Hearts are great; and the fewer we are the better shares we shall have in the Spoils.[141]

"The Hope of Riches made them quit their Fears, and they showed an Ambition of daring the Danger. Indeed, if we consider the Boldness of the Attempt, it will scarce find a Parallel in History.

"Puerto Velo is about Fourteen Leagues from the Gulf of Darien and Eight Westward of Nombre de Dios, and is one of the strongest Places in the West Indies. It is guarded by three Castles, which are almost impregnable. Two of them are situate at the Entry to the Port, so that no Ship or Boat can pass without Permission; These are not only well garrisoned, but the Town consists of near Five Hundred Families. The Merchants have here their chief Warehouses and 'tis a Place of extraordinary Trade.