nto the rest of the city. Hereupon, having shut up all the
soldiers and officers as prisoners into one room, they instantly set
fire to the powder (whereof they found great quantity), and blew up the
whole castle into the air, with all the Spaniards that were within. This
being done, they pursued the course of their victory, falling upon the
city, which as yet was not in order to receive them. Many of the
inhabitants cast their precious jewels and moneys into wells and
cisterns or hid them in other places underground, to excuse, as much as
were possible, their being totally robbed. One party of the Pirates
being assigned to this purpose, ran immediately to the cloisters, and
took as many religious men and women as they could find. The Governor of
the city not being able to rally the citizens, through the huge
confusion of the town, retired unto one of the castles remaining, and
from thence began to fire incessantly at the Pirates. But these were not
in the least negligent either to assault him or defend themselves with
all the courage imaginable. Thus it was observed that, amidst the horror
of the assault, they made very few shot in vain. For aiming with great
dexterity at the mouths of the guns, the Spaniards were certain to lose
one or two men every time they charged each gun anew.

"The assault of this castle where the Governor was continued very
furious on both sides, from break of day until noon. Yea, about this
time of the day the case was very dubious which party should conquer or
be conquered. At last the Pirates, perceiving they had lost many men and
as yet advanced but little towards the gaining either this or the other
castles remaining, thought to make use of fireballs, which they threw
with their hands, designing, if possible, to burn the doors of the
castle. But going about to put this in execution, the Spaniards from the
walls let fall great quantity of stones and earthen pots full of powder
and other combustible matter, which forced them to desist from that
attempt. Captain Morgan, seeing this generous defence made by the
Spaniards, began to despair of the whole success of the enterprise.
Hereupon many faint and calm meditations came into his mind; neither
could he determine which way to turn himself in that straitness of
affairs. Being involved in these thoughts, he was suddenly animated to
continue the assault, by seeing the English colours put forth at one of
the lesser castles, then entered by his men