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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"The Place now being in their Power they fell to their usual Debaucheries, committed the most horrid Rapes and Murders, tortured their Prisoners, and barbarously derided them in their Miseries, till at last they began to think of retreating, when they offered their Captives that if they would pay 100,000 Pieces of Eight[143] for Ransom they would liberate them. Two of that miserable Number were deputed by the rest to go to Panama to raise that Sum, but the President, having raised a large Body of Men, was on his march to encounter the Pyrates. The Deputies waited the Event which proved fatal to the President's Party, for a Hundred Pyrates beat and dispersed them, having killed an incredible Number in the time of the Engagement. This disaster convinced these Gentlemen, who had been sent to procure the Ransom, that there was a Necessity of complying with Morgan's Demands, therefore having raised the Sum, they returned and gave it into his Hands.

"Having victualled his Ships, he set sail but first dismounted the great Guns on the Castles and levelled several Redoubts which had been raised by the Spaniards. He soon got to Jamaica and found that his Purchase amounted to 250,000 Pieces of Eight, besides all other Merchandises. Thus successfully ended one of the boldest Attempts that was perhaps ever made; Four hundred Men to attack a strong and populous City, guarded by three Castles, well garrisoned and abounding with all manner of Military Stores, while the Pyrates had nothing but Sword and Pistol to fight with. What will not such Resolution surmount?"[144]