wn, and by reason
of the time which we spent in marching up and down the Mount, the
soldiers and inhabitants had put themselves in arms, and brought their
companies in some order, at the south-east end of the Market Place, near
the Governor's House, and not far from the gate of the town, which is
the only one, leading towards Panama: having (as it seems) gathered
themselves thither, either that in the Governor's sight they might shew
their valour, if it might prevail; or else, that by the gate they might
best take their _Vale_, and escape readiest.
And to make a shew of far greater numbers of shot, or else of a custom
they had, by the like device to terrify the Cimaroons; they had hung
lines with matches lighted, overthwart the western end of the Market
Place, between the Church and the Cross; as though there had been in a
readiness some company of shot, whereas indeed there were not past two
or three that taught these lines to dance, till they themselves ran
away, as soon as they perceived they were discovered.
But the soldiers and such as were joined with them, presented us with
a jolly hot volley of shot, beating full upon the full egress of that
street, in which we marched; and levelling very low, so as their bullets
ofttimes grazed on the sand.
We stood not to answer them in like terms; but having discharged our
first volley of shot, and feathered them with our arrows (which our
Captain had caused to be made of purpose in England; not great sheaf
arrows, but fine roving shafts, very carefully reserved for the service)
we came to the push of pike, so that our firepikes being well armed and
made of purpose, did us very great service.
For our men with their pikes and short weapons, in short time took such
order among these gallants (some using the butt-end of their pieces
instead of other weapons), that partly by reason of our arrows which did
us there notable service, partly by occasion of this strange and sudden
closing with them in this manner unlooked for, and the rather for that
at the very instant, our Captain's brother, with the other company, with
their firepikes, entered the Market Place by the eastern street:
they casting down their weapons, fled all out of the town by the gate
aforesaid, which had been built for a bar to keep out of the town the
Cimaroons, who had often assailed it; but now served for a gap for the
Spaniards to fly at.
In following, and returning; divers of our men were hurt with
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