nished by their losses. Their
wounded, which were many, they put into one church, which remained
standing, the rest being consumed by the fire. Besides these decreases
of his men, Captain Morgan had sent a convoy of one hundred and fifty
men to the castle of Chagre, to carry the news of his victory at Panama.

They saw often whole troops of Spaniards run to and fro in the fields,
which made them suspect their rallying, which they never had the courage
to do. In the afternoon Captain Morgan reentered the city with his
troops, that every one might take up their lodgings, which now they
could hardly find, few houses having escaped the fire. Then they sought
very carefully among the ruins and ashes, for utensils of plate or gold,
that were not quite wasted by the flames: and of such they found no
small number, especially in wells and cisterns, where the Spaniards had
hid them.

Next day Captain Morgan dispatched away two troops, of one hundred and
fifty men each, stout and well armed, to seek for the inhabitants who
were escaped. These having made several excursions up and down the
fields, woods, and mountains adjacent, returned after two days, bringing
above two hundred prisoners, men, women, and slaves. The same day
returned also the boat which Captain Morgan had sent to the South Sea,
bringing three other boats which they had taken. But all these prizes
they could willingly have given, and greater labor into the bargain, for
one galleon, which miraculously escaped, richly laden with all the
king's plate, jewels, and other precious goods of the best and richest
merchants of Panama: on board which were also the religious women of the
nunnery, who had embarked with them all the ornaments of their church,
consisting in much gold, plate, and other things of great value.

The strength of this galleon was inconsiderable, having only seven guns,
and ten or twelve muskets, and very ill provided with victuals,
necessaries, and fresh water, having no more sails than the uppermost of
the mainmast. This account the pirates received from some one who had
spoken with seven mariners belonging to the galleon, who came ashore in
the cockboat for fresh water. Hence they concluded they might easily
have taken it, had they given her chase, as they should have done; but
they were impeded from following this vastly rich prize, by their
gluttony and drunkenness, having plentifully debauched themselves with
several rich wines they found ready,