illage all the towns and villages along
the coast of the gulf. Thus they passed from one place to another,
seeking still more provisions, with which they were not sufficiently
supplied. Having searched and rifled many villages, where they found no
great matter, they came at last to Puerto Cavallo: here the Spaniards
have two storehouses to keep the merchandises that are brought from the
inner parts of the country, till the arrival of the ships. There was
then in the port a Spanish ship of twenty-four guns, and sixteen
pedreros or mortar-pieces: this ship was immediately seized by the
pirates, and then drawing nigh the shore, they landed, and burnt the two
storehouses, with all the rest of the houses there. Many inhabitants
likewise they took prisoners, and committed upon them the most inhuman
cruelties that ever heathens invented; putting them to the cruellest
tortures they could devise. It was the custom of Lolonois, that having
tormented persons not confessing, he would instantly cut them in pieces
with his hanger, and pull out their tongues, desiring to do so, if
possible, to every Spaniard in the world. It often happened that some of
these miserable prisoners, being forced by the rack, would promise to
discover the places where the fugitive Spaniards lay hid, which not
being able afterwards to perform, they were put to more cruel deaths
than they who were dead before.
The prisoners being all dead but two (whom they reserved to show them
what they desired), they marched hence to the town of San Pedro, or St.
Peter, ten or twelve leagues from Puerto Cavallo, being three hundred
men, whom Lolonois led, leaving behind him Moses van Vin his lieutenant,
to govern the rest in his absence. Being come three leagues on their
way, they met with a troop of Spaniards, who lay in ambuscade for their
coming: these they set upon, with all the courage imaginable, and at
last totally defeated. Howbeit, they behaved themselves very manfully at
first; but not being able to resist the fury of the pirates, they were
forced to give way, and save themselves by flight, leaving many pirates
dead in the place, some wounded, and some of their own party maimed, by
the way. These Lolonois put to death without mercy, having asked them
what questions he thought fit for his purpose.
There were still remaining some few prisoners not wounded; these were
asked by Lolonois, if any more Spaniards did lie farther on in
ambuscade? They answered, there
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