was forced to go to
sea again to seek his fortune. He set forth towards the coast of
Campechy, his common rendezvous: fifteen days after his arrival, he put
himself into a canoe to espy the port of that city, and see if he could
rob any Spanish vessel; but his fortune was so bad, that both he and all
his men were taken and carried before the governor, who immediately cast
them into a dungeon, intending to hang them every one; and doubtless he
had done so, but for a stratagem of Brasiliano, which saved their lives.
He wrote a letter to the governor, in the names of other pirates that
were abroad at sea, telling them he should have a care how he used those
persons he had in custody; for if he hurt them in the least, they swore
they would never give quarter to any Spaniard that should fall into
their hands.

These pirates having been often at Campechy, and other places of the
West Indies in the Spanish dominions, the governor feared what mischief
their companions abroad might do, if he should punish them. Hereupon he
released them, exacting only an oath on them that they would leave their
exercise of piracy for ever; and withal he sent them as common mariners,
in the galleons, to Spain. They got in this voyage, all together, five
hundred pieces of eight; so that they tarried not long there after their
arrival. Providing themselves with necessaries, they returned to
Jamaica, from whence they set forth again to sea, committing greater
robberies and cruelties than before; but especially abusing the poor
Spaniards, who fell into their hands, with all sorts of cruelty.

The Spaniards, finding they could gain nothing on these people, nor
diminish their number, daily resolved to lessen the number of their
trading ships. But neither was this of any service; for the pirates,
finding few ships at sea, began to gather into companies, and to land on
their dominions, ruining cities, towns, and villages; pillaging,
burning, and carrying away as much as they could.

The first pirate who began these invasions by land was Lewis Scot, who
sacked the city of Campechy, which he almost ruined, robbing and
destroying all he could; and after he had put it to an excessive
ransom, he left it. After Scot came another named Mansvelt, who invaded
Granada, and penetrated even to the South Sea; till at last, for want of
provision, he was forced to go back. He assaulted the isle of St.
Catherine, which he took, with a few prisoners. These directed him