"Hereupon they prepared for a departure, carrying on board their ships
all the pillage they had gotten. But, before all, they provided the
fleet with sufficient victuals for the voyage. While these things were
getting ready, Captain Morgan sent an injunction unto the prisoners,
that they should pay him a ransom for the city, or else he would by fire
consume it to ashes, and blow up all the castles into the air. Withal,
he commanded them to send speedily two persons to seek and procure the
sum he demanded, which amounted to one hundred thousand pieces of eight.
Unto this effect, two men were sent to the President of Panama, who gave
him an account of all these tragedies. The President, having now a body
of men in readiness, set forth immediately towards Porto Bello, to
encounter the Pirates before their retreat. But these people, hearing of
his coming, instead of flying away, went out to meet him at a narrow
passage through which of necessity he ought to pass. Here they placed an
hundred men very well armed; the which, at the first encounter, put to
flight a good party of those of Panama. This accident obliged the
President to retire for that time, as not being yet in a posture of
strength to proceed any farther. Presently after this rencounter he sent
a message unto Captain Morgan to tell him: 'That in case he departed not
suddenly with all his forces from Porto Bello, he ought to expect no
quarter for himself nor his companions, when he should take them, as he
hoped soon to do.' Captain Morgan, who feared not his threats knowing he
had a secure retreat in his ships which were nigh at hand, made him
answer: 'He would not deliver the castles, before he had received the
contribution money he had demanded. Which in case it were not paid down,
he would certainly burn the whole city, and then leave it, demolishing
beforehand the castles and killing the prisoners.'

"The Governor of Panama perceived by this answer that no means would
serve to mollify the hearts of the Pirates, nor reduce them to reason.
Hereupon he determined to leave them; as also those of the city, whom he
came to relieve, involved in the difficulties of making the best
agreement they could with their enemies.[271] Thus, in a few days more,
the miserable citizens gathered the contribution wherein they were
fined, and brought the entire sum of one hundred thousand pieces of
eight unto the Pirates, for a ransom of the cruel captivity they were
fallen into.