hereby spare both his and their own lives. But nothing could prevail with the ob-
     stinacy and fierceness that had possessed the Governor's mind. Thus many of the
     religious men and nuns were killed before they could fix the ladders. Which at
     last being done, though with great loss of the said religious people, the Pirates
     mounted them in great numbers, and with no less valour; having fireballs in their
     hands, and earthen pots full of power. All which things, being now at the top of
     the walls, they kindled and cast in among the Spaniards.
     This effort of the Pirates was very great: insomuch as the Spaniards could no lon-
     ger resist nor defend the castle, which was now entered. Hereupon they all threw
     down their arms, and craved quarter for their lives. Only the Governor of the city
     would admit or crave no mercy; but rather killed many of the Pirates with his own
     hands, and not a few of his own soldiers, because they did not stand to their
     arms. And although the Pirates asked him if he would have quarter, yet he con-
     stantly answered: By no means: I had rather die as a valiant soldier than be han-
     ged as a  coward. They endeavoured, as much as they could, to take him prisoner.
     But he defended himself so obstinately that they were forced to kill him; notwith-
     standing all the cries and tears of his own wife and daughter, who begged of him
     upon their knees he would demand quarter and save his life. When the Pirates had
     possessed themselves of the castle, which was about night, they enclosed therein
     all the prisoners they had taken, placing the women and men by themselves, with
     some guards upon them. All the wounded were put into a certain apartment by it-
     self, to the intent their own complaints might be the cure of their own diseases;
     or no other was afforded them.
     This being done, they fell to eating and drinking after their usual manner; that
     is to say, committing in both these things all manner of debauchery and excess.
     After such manner they delivered themselves up to all sort of debauchery, that if
     they there had been found only fifty courageous men, they might easily have reta-
     ken the city, and killed all the Pirates. The next day, having plundered all they
     could find, they began to examine some of the prisoners (who had been persuaded
     by their companions to say they were the richest of the town), charging them seve-
     rely to discover where they had hidden their riches and goods. But not being able
     to extort anything out of them, as they were not the right persons who possessed
     any wealth, they at last resolved to torture them. This they performed with such
     cruelty that many of them died upon the rack, or presently after. Soon after, the
     President of Panama had news brought him of the pillage and ruin of Porto Bello.
     This intelligence caused him to employ all his care and industry to raise forces,
     with design to pursue and cast out the Pirates thence. But these cared little for
     what extraordinary means the President used, as having their ships near at hand,
     and being determined to set fire to the city and retreat. They had now been at