heir extravagant debaucheries.

Hereupon, they prepared to depart, carrying on board all the pillage
they had got, having first provided the fleet with sufficient victuals
for the voyage. While these things were doing Captain Morgan demanded of
the prisoners a ransom for the city, or else he would burn it down, and
blow up all the castles; withal, he commanded them to send speedily two
persons, to procure the sum, which was 100,000 pieces-of-eight. To this
effect two men were sent to the president of Panama, who gave him an
account of all. The president, having now a body of men ready, set forth
towards Puerto Bello, to encounter the pirates before their retreat;
but, they, hearing of his coming, instead of flying away, went out to
meet him at a narrow passage, which he must pass: here they placed a
hundred men, very well armed, which at the first encounter put to flight
a good party of those of Panama. This obliged the president to retire
for that time, not being yet in a posture of strength to proceed
farther. Presently after, he sent a message to Captain Morgan, to tell
him, "that if he departed not suddenly with all his forces from Puerto
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 at hand, answered, "he would not deliver the castles, before
he had received the contribution-money he had demanded; which if 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:
whereupon, he determined to leave the inhabitants of the city to make
the best agreement they could. In a few days more the miserable citizens
gathered the contributions required, and brought 100,000 pieces-of-eight
to the pirates for their ransom. The president of Panama was much amazed
that four hundred men could take such a great city, with so many strong
castles, especially having no ordnance, wherewith to raise batteries,
and, knowing the citizens of Puerto Bello had always great repute of
being good soldiers themselves, who never wanted courage in their own
defence. His astonishment was so great, that he sent to Captain Morgan,
desiring some small patter