:LO ICO :CN N 5 MAX-OF-WAR GAVE THEM CHASE*' Page 43 THE PIEATES OF PANAMA OR THE BUCCANEEES OF AMERICA A TRUE ACCOUNT OP THE FAMOUS ADVENTURES AND DARING DEEDS OP SIR HENRY MOR- GAN AND OTHER NOTORIOUS FREEBOOTERS OP THE SPANISH MAIN BY JOHN ESQUEMELING On of tht Buccanttn who wot Frtsent at thosg Tragtditi EDITED AND ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS NEW YORK FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1914, by FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPACT All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages. Printed in the United States of America CONTENTS PAGE (1) INTRODUCTION BY GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS xi (2) THE TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION . xv CHAPTER I. The Introduction The Author sets forth for the Western Islands,, in the service of the West India Company of France They meet with an English frigate, and arrive at the Island of Tortuga CHAPTER II. A description of Tortuga The fruits and plants there How the French first settled there, at two several times, and forced out the Spaniards The Author twice sold in the said island 7 CHAPTER III. A description of Hispaniola Also a relation of the French Buccaneers ,.19 CHAPTER IV. Original of the most famous pirates of the coasts of America Famous exploit of Pierre le Grand 34? vi CONTENTS CHAPTER V. PAGE How the pirates arm their vessels, and regulate their voyages . 39 CHAPTER VI. Of the origin of Francis Lolonois, and the beginning of his rob- beries 57 CHAPTER VII. Lolonois equips a fleet to land upon the Spanish islands of America, with intent to rob, sack, and burn whatsoever he met with 63 CHAPTER VIII. Lolonois makes new preparations to take the city of St. James de Leon; as also that of Nicaragua; where he miserably perishes 81 CHAPTER IX. THe origin and descent of Captain Henry Morgan His ex- ploits, and the most remarkable actions of his life . .101 CHAPTER X. Of the Island of Cuba Captain Morgan attempts to preserve nest of the Isle of St. Catherine as a refuge to the pirates ; but fails of his design He arrives at, and takes, the vil- lage of El Puerto del Principe . 112 CHAPTER XI. Captain Morgan resolving to attack and plunder the City of Puerto Bello, equips a fleet, and with little expense and small forces takes it . .. ... > . 123 CONTENTS vii CHAPTER XII. PAGE Captain Morgan takes the City of Maracaibo, on the coast of Neuva Venezuela Piracies committed in those seas Ruin of three Spanish ships set forth to hinder the robberies of the pirates 134 CHAPTER XIII. to Captain Morgan goes Hispaniola to equip a new fleet, with intent to on the pillage again coast of the West Indies . .170 CHAPTER XIV. What happened in the river De la Hacha 173 CHAPTER XV. Captain Morgan leaves Hispaniola, and goes to St. Catherine's, which he takes 179 CHAPTER XVI. Captain Morgan takes the Castle of Chagre, with four hundred men sent to this purpose from St. Catherine's . .187 CHAPTER XVII. Captain Morgan departs from Chagre, at the head of twelve hundred men, to take the city of Panama 195 CHAPTER XVIII. Captain Morgan sends canoes and boats to the South Sea He fires the city of Panama Robberies and cruelties com- mitted there by the pirates, till their return to the Castle of Chagre ILLUSTRATIONS "The Man-of-War gave them chase" . Frontispiece FACING PAGE Pierre le Grand commanding the Spanish Captain to sur- render the ship 36 "Portugues made the best of his way to del Golpho Triste" 46 "They boarded the ship with great agility" .... 9^ "Lolonois, with those that remained, had much ado to es- cape aboard their boats" . ., . 96 Captain Morgan recruiting his forces 114 "Being come to the place of the duel, the Englishman stabbed the Frenchman in the back" 120 "Morgan commanded the religious men and women to place the ladders against the walls" 128 "They hanged him on a tree" 146 "The fire-ship sailing before the rest fell presently upon the great ship" 158 Morgan dividing the treasure taken at Maracaibo . 166 Sacking of Panama "Morgan re-entered the city with his troops" , ; INTRODUCTION This volume was originally written in Dutch by John Esquemeling, and first published in Amsterdam in 1678 under the title of De Americaeneche Zee Hoovers. It immediately became very popular and this first hand history of the Buccaneers of America was soon translated into the principal European lan- guages. The first English edition was printed in 1684. Of the author, John Esquemeling, very little is known although it is generally conceded that he was in all probability a Fleming or Hollander, a quite natural supposition as his first works were written in the Dutch language. He came to the island of Tortuga, the head- quarters of the Buccaneers, in 1666 in the employ of the French West India Company. Several years later this same company, owing to unsuccessful business ar- rangements, recalled their representatives to France and gave their officers orders to sell the company's land and all its servants. Esquemeling then a servant of the company was sold to a stern master by whom he was treated with great cruelty. Owing to hard work, poor his food and exposure he became dangerously ill, and master seeing his weak condition and fearing to lose the money Esquemeling had cost him resold him to a sur- xi xii INTRODUCTION geon. This new master treated him kindly so that Esquemeling's health was speedily restored, and after one year's service he was set at liberty upon a promise to pay his benefactor, the surgeon, 100 pieces of eight at such a time as he found himself in funds. Once more a free man he determined to join the pirates and was received into their society and remained with them until 1672. Esquemeling served the Buc- caneers in the capacity of barber-surgeon, and was present at all their exploits. Little did he suspect that his first hand observations would some day be cherished as the only authentic and true history of the Buccaneers and Marooners of the Spanish Main. From time to time new editions of this work have been published, but in many cases much new material, not always authentic, has been added and the result has been to mar the original narrative as set forth by Esquemeling. In arranging this edition, the original English text only has been used, and but few changes made by cutting out the long and tedious descrip- tion of plant and animal life of the West Indies of which Esquemeling had only a smattering of truth. But, the history of Captain Morgan and his fellow buc- caneers is here printed almost identical with the original English translation, and we believe it is the first time this history has been published in a suitable form for the juvenile reader with no loss of interest to the adult. The world wide attention at this time in the Isthmus INTRODUCTION xiii of Panama and the great canal connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific Ocean lends to this narrative an addi- tional stimulus. Here are set forth the deeds of daring of the wild freebooters in crossing the isthmus to attack the cities, Puerto Bellow and Panama. The sacking and burning of these places accompanied by pillage, fire, and treasure seeking both on land and on sea form exciting reading. The Buccaneers and Marooners of America well deserves a place on the book shelf with those old world-wide favorites Robinsoe Crusoe and the Swiss Family Robinson. GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS. THE TRANSLATOR TO THE READER (OF 1684). present Volume, both for its Curiosity and I THEIngenuity, dare recommend unto the perusal of our English nation, whose glorious actions it containeth. What relateth unto the curiosity hereof, this Piece, both of Natural and Humane History, was no sooner published in the Dutch Original, than it was snatch't up for the most curious Library's of Holland; it was Translated into Spanish (too impressions thereof sent into in it being Spain one year) ; was taken notice of by the learned Academy of Paris; and finally recom- mended as worthy our esteem, by the ingenious Author of the Weekly Memorials for the Ingenious, printed here at London about two years ago. Neither all this undeservedly, seeing it enlargeth our acquaintance of Natural History, so much prized and enquired for, by the Learned of this present Age, with several observa- tions not easily to be found in other accounts already received from America: and besides, it informeth us (with huge novelty) of as great and bold attempts, in point of Military conduct and valour, as ever were per- formed by mankind; without excepting, here, either xv xvi TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE Alexander the Great, or Julius Caesar, or the rest of the Nine Worthy's of Fame. Of all which actions, as we cannot confess ourselves to have been ignorant hitherto (the very name of Bucaniers being, as yet, known but unto few of the Ingenious; as their Lives, Laws, and Conversation, are in a manner unto none) so can they not choose but be admired, out of this in- genuous Author, by whosoever is curious to learn the various revolutions of humane affairs. But, more es- pecially by our English Nation; as unto whom these things more narrowly do appertain. We having here more than half the Book filled with the unparalleVd, if not inimitable, adventures and Heroick exploits of our own Country-men, and Relations; whose undaunted, and exemplary courage, when called upon by our King and Country, we ought to emulate.