f them what ships they could, either abroad at
sea, or in the harbours, as if they were open and declared enemies (as
he termed it) of the king of England, his pretended master. This done,
he called all his captains and other officers together, and caused them
to sign some articles of agreement betwixt them, and in the name of all.
Herein it was stipulated, that he should have the hundredth part of all
that was gotten to himself: that every captain should draw the shares of
eight men for the expenses of his ship, besides his own. To the surgeon,
beside his pay, two hundred pieces of eight for his chest of
medicaments. To every carpenter, above his salary, one hundred pieces of
eight. The rewards were settled in this voyage much higher than before:
as, for the loss of both legs, fifteen hundred pieces of eight, or
fifteen slaves, the choice left to the party, for the loss of both
hands, eighteen hundred pieces of eight, or eighteen slaves: for one
leg, whether right or left, six hundred pieces of eight, or six slaves:
for a hand, as much as for a leg; and for the loss of an eye, one
hundred pieces of eight, or one slave. Lastly, to him that in any battle
should signalize himself, either by entering first any castle, or taking
down the Spanish colours, and setting up the English, they allotted
fifty pieces of eight for a reward. All which extraordinary salaries and
rewards to be paid out of the first spoil they should take, as every one
should occur to be either rewarded or paid.

This contract being signed, Captain Morgan commanded his vice-admirals
and captains to put all things in order, to attempt one of these three
places; either Carthagena, Panama, or Vera Cruz. But the lot fell on
Panama, as the richest of all three; though this city being situate at
such a distance from the North Sea as they knew not well the approaches
to it, they judged it necessary to go beforehand to the isle of St.
Catherine, there to find some persons for guides in this enterprise; for
in the garrison there are commonly many banditti and outlaws belonging
to Panama and the neighbouring places, who are very expert in the
knowledge of that country. But before they proceeded, they published an
act through the whole fleet, promising, if they met with any Spanish
vessel, the first captain who should take it should have for his reward
the tenth part of what should be found in her.

CHAPTER XV

_Captain Morgan leaves Hispaniola and goes to