their own as dropped down continually at their sides, could
deter them from advancing farther, and gaining ground every moment upon
the enemy. Thus, although the Spaniards never ceased to fire and act the
best they could for their defence, yet notwithstanding they were forced
to deliver the city after the space of three hours' combat.[307] And the
Pirates, having now possessed themselves thereof, both killed and
destroyed as many as attempted to make the least opposition against
them. The inhabitants had caused the best of their goods to be
transported to more remote and occult places. Howbeit they found within
the city as yet several warehouses, very well stocked with all sorts of
merchandise, as well silks and cloths as linen, and other things of
considerable value. As soon as the first fury of their entrance into the
city was over, Captain Morgan assembled all his men at a certain place
which he assigned, and there commanded them under very great penalties
that none of them should dare to drink or taste any wine. The reason he
gave for this injunction was, because he had received private
intelligence that it had been all poisoned by the Spaniards. Howbeit it
was the opinion of many he gave these prudent orders to prevent the
debauchery of his people, which he foresaw would be very great at the
beginning, after so much hunger sustained by the way. Fearing withal
lest the Spaniards, seeing them in wine, should rally their forces and
fall upon the city, and use them as inhumanly as they had used the
inhabitants before."

Exquemelin accuses Morgan of setting fire to the city and endeavouring
to make the world believe that it was done by the Spaniards. Wm. Frogge,
however, who was also present, says distinctly that the Spaniards fired
the town, and Sir William Godolphin, in a letter from Madrid to
Secretary Arlington on 2nd June 1671, giving news of the exploit which
must have come from a Spanish source, says that the President of Panama
left orders that the city if taken should be burnt.[308] Moreover the
President of Panama himself, in a letter to Spain describing the event
which was intercepted by the English, admits that not the buccaneers but
the slaves and the owners of the houses set fire to the city.[309] The
buccaneers tried in vain to extinguish the flames, and the whole town,
which was built mostly of wood, was consumed by twelve o'clock midnight.
The only edifices which escaped were the government buildings, a