ing you an account
of his arrival and design, and exhorting you to restore what you had
taken. This you refusing, he renewed his promises to his soldiers and
seamen, and having given a very good supper to all his people, he
ordered them not to take or give any quarter, which was the occasion of
so many being drowned, who dared not to crave quarter, knowing
themselves must give none. Two days before you came against us, a negro
came aboard Don Alonso's ship, telling him, 'Sir, be pleased to have
great care of yourself; for the English have prepared a fire-ship, with
design to burn your fleet.' But Don Alonso not believing this, answered,
'How can that be? Have they, peradventure, wit enough to build a
fire-ship? Or what instruments have they to do it withal?'"

This pilot having related so distinctly these things to Captain Morgan,
was very well used by him, and, after some kind proffers made to him,
remained in his service. He told Captain Morgan, that, in the ship which
was sunk, there was a great quantity of plate, to the value of forty
thousand pieces of eight; which occasioned the Spaniards to be often
seen in boats about it. Hereupon, Captain Morgan ordered one of his
ships to remain there, to find ways of getting out of it what plate they
could; meanwhile, himself, with all his fleet, returned to Maracaibo,
where he refitted the great ship he had taken, and chose it for himself,
giving his own bottom to one of his captains.

Then he sent again a messenger to the admiral, who was escaped ashore,
and got into the castle, demanding of him a ransom of fire for
Maracaibo; which being denied, he threatened entirely to consume and
destroy it. The Spaniards considering the ill-luck they had all along
with those pirates, and not knowing how to get rid of them, concluded to
pay the said ransom, though Don Alonso would not consent.

Hereupon, they sent to Captain Morgan, to know what sum he demanded. He
answered, that on payment of 30,000 pieces of eight, and five hundred
beeves, he would release the prisoners and do no damage to the town. At
last they agreed on 20,000 pieces of eight, and five hundred beeves to
victual his fleet. The cattle were brought the next day, with one part
of the money; and, while the pirates were busied in salting the flesh,
they made up the whole 20,000 pieces of eight, as was agreed.

But Captain Morgan would not presently deliver the prisoners, as he had
promised, fearing the shot of the cast