le at his going forth out of the
lake. Hereupon he told them he intended not to deliver them till he was
out of that danger, hoping thus to obtain a free passage. Then he set
sail with his fleet in quest of the ship he had left, to seek for the
plate of the vessel that was burnt. He found her on the place, with
15,000 pieces of eight got out of the work, beside many pieces of plate,
as hilts of swords, and the like; also a great quantity of pieces of
eight melted and run together, by the force of the fire.

Captain Morgan scarce thought himself secure, nor could he contrive how
to avoid the shot of the castle: hereupon he wished the prisoners to
agree with the governor to permit a safe passage to his fleet, which,
if he should not allow, he would certainly hang them all up in his
ships. Upon this the prisoners met, and appointed some of their
fellow-messengers to go to the said governor, Don Alonso: these went to
him, beseeching and supplicating him to have compassion on those
afflicted prisoners, who were, with their wives and children, in the
hands of Captain Morgan; and that to this effect he would be pleased to
give his word to let the fleet of pirates freely pass, this being the
only way to save both the lives of them that came with this petition, as
also of those who remained in captivity; all being equally menaced with
the sword and gallows, if he granted them not this humble request. But
Don Alonso gave them for answer a sharp reprehension of their cowardice,
telling them, "If you had been as loyal to your king in hindering the
entry of these pirates, as I shall do their going out, you had never
caused these troubles, neither to yourselves nor to our whole nation,
which hath suffered so much through your pusillanimity. In a word, I
shall never grant your request, but shall endeavour to maintain that
respect which is due to my king, according to my duty."

[Illustration: "MORGAN DIVIDING THE TREASURE TAKEN AT MARACAIBO"--_Page
166_]

Thus the Spaniards returned with much consternation, and no hopes of
obtaining their request, telling Captain Morgan what answer they had
received: his reply was, "If Don Alonso will not let me pass, I will
find means how to do it without him." Hereupon he presently made a
dividend of all they had taken, fearing he might not have an opportunity
to do it in another place, if any tempest should rise and separate the
ships, as also being jealous that any of the commanders might run aw