much more especially, since that_ Curasao, Tortuga,
_and_ Jamaica _have been inhabited by_ English, French, _and_ Dutch,
_and bred up that race of_ Hunts-men, _than which, no other ever was
more desperate, nor more mortal enemies to the Spaniards, called
Bucaniers. Now shall we say, that these People, through too long
continuation of Peace, have utterly abolished the exercises of War,
having been all-along incessantly vexed with the Tumults and Alarms
thereof?_

_In like manner is it false, to accuse their defect of Military
Discipline for want of_ European _Commanders. For who knoweth not that
all places, both Military and Civil, through those vast dominions of
the_ West-Indies, _are provided out of_ Spain? _And those of the Militia
most commonly given unto expert Commanders, trained up from their
infancy in the Wars of_ Europe, _either in_ Africa, Milan, Sicily,
Naples, _or_ Flanders, _fighting against either_ English, French, Dutch,
Portuguese, _or_ Moors? _Yea their very Garrisons, if you search them in
those parts, will peradventure be found to be stock'd three parts to
four with Souldiers both born and bred in the Kingdom of_ Spain.

_From these Considerations it may be inferr'd what little difference
ought to be allowed betwixt the Spanish Souldiers, Inhabitants of the_
West-Indies, _and those of_ Europe. _And how little the Soil or Climate
hath influenced or caused their Courage to degenerate towards cowardize
or baseness of mind. As if the very same Argument, deduced from the
nature of that Climate, did not equally militate against the valour of
our famous Bucaniers, and represent this to be of as degenerate Metal as
theirs._

_But nothing can be more clearly evinced, than is the Valour of the_
American Spaniards, _either Souldiers or Officers, by the sequel of this
History. What men ever fought more desperately than the Garrison of_
Chagre? _Their number being 314, and of all these, only thirty
remaining; of which number scarce ten were unwounded; and among them,
not one officer found alive? Were not 600 killed upon the spot at_
Panama, _500 at_ Gibraltar, _almost as many more at_ Puerto del
Principe, _all dying with their Arms in their hands, and facing bravely
the Enemy for the defence of their Country and private Concerns? Did not
those of the Town of_ San Pedro _both fortifie themselves, lay several
Ambuscades, and lastly sell their lives as dear as any European Souldier
could do; Lolonois being forced