abroad and at home,
which should be as follows:--That Captain Morgan would come with his
troops by night to the bridge that joined the lesser island to the great
one, and there attack the fort of St. Jerome: that at the same time all
his fleet would draw near the castle of Santa Teresa, and attack it by
land, landing, in the meanwhile, more troops near the battery of St.
Matthew: that these troops being newly landed, should by this means
intercept the governor as he endeavoured to pass to St. Jerome's fort,
and then take him prisoner; using the formality, as if they forced him
to deliver the castle; and that he would lead the English into it, under
colour of being his own troops. That on both sides there should be
continual firing, but without bullets, or at least into the air, so that
no side might be hurt. That thus having obtained two such considerable
forts, the chiefest of the isle, he need not take care for the rest,
which must fall of course into his hands.

These propositions were granted by Captain Morgan, on condition they
should see them faithfully observed; otherwise they should be used with
the utmost rigour: this they promised to do, and took their leave, to
give account of their negotiation to the governor. Presently after,
Captain Morgan commanded the whole fleet to enter the port, and his men
to be ready to assault, that night, the castle of St. Jerome. Thus the
false battle began, with incessant firing from both the castles, against
the ships, but without bullets, as was agreed. Then the pirates landed,
and assaulted by night the lesser island, which they took, as also both
fortresses; forcing the Spaniards, in appearance, to fly to the church.
Before this assault, Captain Morgan sent word to the governor, that he
should keep all his men together in a body; otherwise, if the pirates
met any straggling Spaniards in the streets, they should certainly shoot
them.

This island being taken by this unusual stratagem, and all things put in
order, the pirates made a new war against the poultry, cattle, and all
sorts of victuals they could find, for some days; scarce thinking of
anything else than to kill, roast, and eat, and make what good cheer
they could. If wood was wanting, they pulled down the houses, and made
fires with the timber, as had been done before in the field. Next day
they numbered all the prisoners they had taken upon the island, which
were found to be in all four hundred and fifty-nine perso