ther arms than swords and
pistols: while they were fighting, those who were the routed ambuscade,
not being able to get into the castle, retired into Maracaibo in great
confusion and disorder, crying "The pirates will presently be here with
two thousand men and more." The city having formerly been taken by this
kind of people, and sacked to the uttermost, had still an idea of that
misery; so that upon these dismal news they endeavored to escape towards
Gibraltar in their boats and canoes, carrying with them all the goods
and money they could. Being come to Gibraltar, they told how the
fortress was taken, and nothing had been saved, nor any persons escaped.

The castle thus taken by the pirates, they presently signified to the
ships their victory, that they should come farther in without fear of
danger: the rest of that day was spent in ruining and demolishing the
said castle. They nailed the guns, and burnt as much as they could not
carry away, burying the dead, and sending on board the fleet the
wounded. Next day, very early, they weighed anchor, and steered directly
towards Maracaibo, about six leagues distant from the fort; but the wind
failing that day, they could advance little, being forced to await the
tide. Next morning they came in sight of the town, and prepared for
landing under the protection of their own guns, fearing the Spaniards
might have laid an ambuscade in the woods. They put their men into
canoes, brought for that purpose, and landed, shooting meanwhile
furiously with their great guns. Of those in the canoes, half only went
ashore, the other half remained aboard. They fired from the ships as
fast as possible, towards the woody part of the shore, but could
discover nobody; then they entered the town, whose inhabitants were
retired to the woods, and Gibraltar, with their wives children and
families. Their houses they left well provided with victuals, as flour,
bread, pork, brandy, wines, and poultry, and with these the pirates fell
to making good cheer, for in four weeks before they had no opportunity
of filling their stomachs with such plenty.

They instantly possessed themselves of the best houses in the town, and
placed sentinels wherever they thought necessary;--the great church
served them for their main guard. Next day they sent out an hundred and
sixty men to find out some of the inhabitants in the woods thereabouts.
These returned the same night, bringing with them 20,000
pieces-of-eight, sev