ers, robberies, and such-like insolencies, they concluded to depart;
but first they ordered some prisoners to go forth into the woods and
fields, and collect a ransom for the town, otherwise they would
certainly burn it down to the ground. These poor afflicted men went as
they were sent, and having searched the adjoining fields and woods,
returned to Captain Morgan, telling him they had scarce been able to
find anybody, but that to such as they had found they had proposed his
demands; to which they had answered, that the governor had prohibited
them to give any ransom for the town, but they beseeched him to have a
little patience, and among themselves they would collect five thousand
pieces of eight; and for the rest, they would give some of their own
townsmen as hostages, whom he might carry to Maracaibo, till he had
received full satisfaction.

Captain Morgan having now been long absent from Maracaibo, and knowing
the Spaniards had had sufficient time to fortify themselves, and hinder
his departure out of the lake, granted their proposition, and made as
much haste as he could for his departure: he gave liberty to all the
prisoners, first putting every one to a ransom; yet he detained the
slaves. They delivered him four persons agreed on for hostages of what
money more he was to receive, and they desired to have the slave
mentioned above, intending to punish him according to his deserts; but
Captain Morgan would not deliver him, lest they should burn him alive.
At last, they weighed anchor, and set sail in all haste for Maracaibo:
here they arrived in four days, and found all things as they had left
them; yet here they received news from a poor distressed old man, whom
alone they found sick in the town, that three Spanish men-of-war were
arrived at the entry of the lake, waiting the return of the pirates:
moreover, that the castle at the entry thereof was again put into a good
posture of defence, well provided with guns and men, and all sorts of
ammunition.

This relation could not choose but disturb the mind of Captain Morgan,
who now was careful how to get away through the narrow entry of the
lake: hereupon he sent his swiftest boat to view the entry, and see if
things were as they had been related. Next day the boat came back,
confirming what was said; assuring him, they had viewed the ships so
nigh, that they had been in great danger of their shot, hereunto they
added, that the biggest ship was mounted with forty