saw a troop
of about five hundred Spaniards, all well armed, at the sea-side:
against these they let fly several guns, wherewith they forced them to
quit the sands, and retire, with no small regret to see these pirates
carry away so much plate of their churches and houses, though distant at
least forty leagues from the sea.

These pirates got, on this occasion, above four thousand pieces of eight
in money, besides much plate, and many jewels; in all, to the value of
fifty thousand pieces of eight, or more: with all this they arrived at
Jamaica soon after. But this sort of people being never long masters of
their money, they were soon constrained to seek more by the same means;
and Captain John Davis, presently after his return, was chosen admiral
of seven or eight vessels, he being now esteemed an able conductor for
such enterprises. He began his new command by directing his fleet to the
north of Cuba, there to wait for the fleet from New Spain; but missing
his design, they determined for Florida. Being arrived there, they
landed their men, and sacked a small city named St. Augustine of
Florida. The castle had a garrison of two hundred men, but could not
prevent the pillage of the city, they effecting it without the least
damage from the soldiers or townsmen.

CHAPTER VI

_Of the origin of Francis Lolonois, and the beginning of his robberies._

FRANCIS LOLONOIS was a native of that territory in France which is
called Les Sables d'Olone, or The Sands of Olone. In his youth he was
transported to the Caribbee islands, in quality of servant, or slave,
according to custom; of which we have already spoken. Being out of his
time, he came to Hispaniola; here he joined for some time with the
hunters, before he began his robberies upon the Spaniards, which I shall
now relate, till his unfortunate death.

At first he made two or three voyages as a common mariner, wherein he
behaved himself so courageously as to gain the favour of the governor of
Tortuga, Monsieur de la Place; insomuch that he gave him a ship, in
which he might seek his fortune, which was very favourable to him at
first; for in a short time he got great riches. But his cruelties
against the Spaniards were such, that the fame of them made him so well
known through the Indies, that the Spaniards, in his time, would choose
rather to die, or sink fighting, than surrender, knowing they should
have no mercy at his hands. But Fortune, being seldom constant,