person in it, for all were fled
into the woods, leaving also the town without any people, unless a few
miserable folks, who had nothing to lose.

As soon as they had entered the town, the pirates searched every corner,
to see if they could find any people that were hid, who might offend
them unawares; not finding anybody, every party, as they came out of
their several ships, chose what houses they pleased. The church was
deputed for the common corps du guard, where they lived after their
military manner, very insolently. Next day after they sent a troop of a
hundred men to seek for the inhabitants and their goods; these returned
next day, bringing with them thirty persons, men, women, and children,
and fifty mules laden with good merchandise. All these miserable people
were put to the rack, to make them confess where the rest of the
inhabitants were, and their goods. Among other tortures, one was to
stretch their limbs with cords, and then to beat them with sticks and
other instruments. Others had burning matches placed betwixt their
fingers, which were thus burnt alive. Others had slender cords or
matches twisted about their heads, till their eyes burst out. Thus all
inhuman cruelties were executed on those innocent people. Those who
would not confess, or who had nothing to declare, died under the hands
of those villains. These tortures and racks continued for three whole
weeks, in which time they sent out daily parties to seek for more people
to torment and rob, they never returning without booty and new riches.

Captain Morgan having now gotten into his hands about a hundred of the
chief families, with all their goods, at last resolved for Gibraltar, as
Lolonois had done before: with this design he equipped his fleet,
providing it sufficiently with all necessaries. He put likewise on board
all the prisoners, and weighing anchor, set sail with resolution to
hazard a battle. They had sent before some prisoners to Gibraltar, to
require the inhabitants to surrender, otherwise Captain Morgan would
certainly put them all to the sword, without any quarter. Arriving
before Gibraltar, the inhabitants received him with continual shooting
of great cannon bullets; but the pirates, instead of fainting hereat,
ceased not to encourage one another, saying, "We must make one meal upon
bitter things, before we come to taste the sweetness of the sugar this
place affords."

Next day very early they landed all their men, and being gui