ot at all
inconsistent with the traits of character he had displayed as a pirate.
He did not hesitate to rob his own men, according to Esquemeling from
whose narrative of the great expedition against Panama the following
paragraphs are taken as indicative of the methods of this great
freebooter of the Spanish Main:

"Not long after Captain Morgan arrived at Jamaica, he found many of his
chief officers and soldiers reduced to their former state of indigence
through their immoderate vices and debauchery. Hence they ceased not
to importune him for new invasions and exploits, thereby to get
something to expend anew in wine, as they had already wasted what was
secured so little before. Captain Morgan being willing to follow
fortune while she called him, hereupon stopped the mouths of many of
the inhabitants of Jamaica, who were creditors to his men for large
sums of money, with the hopes and promises he gave them of greater
achievements than ever, by a new expedition he was going about. This
being done, he needed not give himself much concern to levy men for
this or any other enterprise, his name being now so famous through all
those islands that that alone would readily bring him in more men than
he could readily employ. He undertook therefore to equip a new fleet
of ships; for which purpose he assigned the south side of the Isle of
Tortuga as a place of rendezvous. With this resolution he wrote divers
letters to all the ancient and expert Pirates there inhabiting, as also
to the Governor of the said Isle, and to the planters and hunters of
Hispaniola, giving them to understand his intentions, and desiring
their appearance at the said place, in case they intended to go with
him. All these people had no sooner understood his designs than they
flocked to the place assigned in huge numbers, with ships, canoes, and
boats, being desirous to obey his commands.... Thus all were present
at the place assigned, and in readiness, against the 24th day of
October, 1670."

Special articles of agreement for the division of the treasure of
Panama were drawn up by Morgan before his fleet sailed. "Herein it was
stipulated that he should have the hundredth part of all that was
gotten to himself alone: That every captain should draw the shares of
eight men, for the expenses of his ship, besides his own: That the
surgeon, besides his ordinary pay, should have two hundred pieces of
eight, for his chest of medicine: And every carpenter,