Colon., 1661-68, No. 1264, slightly condensed from
the original.]

[Footnote 248: C.S.P. Colon., 1661-68, Nos. 1142, 1147. The Governor of
Havana wrote concerning this same exploit, that on Christmas Eve of 1665
the English entered and sacked the town of Cayo in the jurisdiction of
Havana, and meeting with a vessel having on board twenty-two Spaniards
who were inhabitants of the town, put them all to the sword, cutting
them to pieces with hangers. Afterwards they sailed to the town of
Bayamo with thirteen vessels and 700 men, but altering their plans, went
to Sancti Spiritus, landed 300, plundered the town, cruelly treated both
men and women, burnt the best houses, and wrecked and desecrated the
church in which they had made their quarters. (S.P. Spain, vol. 49, f.
50.)

Col. Beeston says that Mansfield conducted the raid; but according to
the Spanish account to which Duro had access, the leader was Pierre
Legrand. (Duro, _op. cit._, v. p. 164).]

[Footnote 249: C.S.P. Colon., 1661-68, No. 1147; Beeston's Journal.
Beeston reports that after a six weeks' search for Mansfield and his men
he failed to find them and returned to Jamaica.]

[Footnote 250: C.S.P. Colon., 1661-68, No. 1213.]

[Footnote 251: Exquemelin, however, says that he had 500 men. If he
attacked Providence Island with only 200 he must have received
reinforcements later.]

[Footnote 252: Duro, _op. cit._, v. p. 167; S.P. Spain, vol. 49, f. 50.
The accounts that have come down to us of this expedition are obscure
and contradictory. Modyford writes of the exploit merely that "they
landed 600 men at Cape Blanco, in the kingdom of Veragua, and marched 90
miles into that country to surprise its chief city, Cartago; but
understanding that the inhabitants had carried away their wealth,
returned to their ships without being challenged." (C.S.P. Colon.,
1661-68, No. 1213.) According to Exquemelin the original goal of the
buccaneers was the town of Nata, north of Panama. The Spanish accounts
make the numbers of the invaders much greater, from 800 to 1200.]

[Footnote 253: C.S.P. Colon., 1661-68, No. 1263.]

[Footnote 254: Ibid., Nos. 1309, 1349. The capture of Providence Island
was Mansfield's last exploit. According to a deposition found among the
Colonial papers, he and his ship were later captured by the Spaniards
and carried to Havana where the old buccaneer was put in irons and soon
after executed. (Ibid., No. 1827.) Exquemelin says that Mansfield,
ha