Porto Bello fifteen days, in which space of time they had lost many of their men,
     both by unhealthiness of the country and the extravagant debaucheries they had
     committed.
     Hereupon they prepared for a departure, carrying on board their ships all the pil-
     lage they had got. But, before all, they provided the fleet with sufficient vic-
     tuals for the voyage. While these things were getting ready, Captain Morgan sent
     an injunction to the prisoners, that they should pay him a ransom for the city,
     or else he would by fire consume it to ashes, and blow up all the castles into the
     air. Withal, he commanded them to send speedily two persons to seek and procure
     the sum he demanded, which amounted to one hundred thousand pieces of eight. To
     this effect, two men were sent to the President of Panama, who gave him an account
     of all these tragedies. The President having now a body of men in readiness, set
     forth immediately towards Porto Bello, to encounter the Pirates before their re-
     treat. But these people, hearing of his coming, instead of flying away, went out
     to meet him at a narrow passage through which of necessity he ought to pass. Here
     they placed a hundred men very well armed; who, at the first encounter, put to
     flight a good party of those of Panama. This accident obliged the President to re-
     tire for that time, as not being yet in a posture of strength to proceed any far-
     ther. Presently after this encounter, he sent a message to Captain Morgan, to tell
     him: that in case he departed not suddenly with all his forces from Porto Bello,
     he ought to expect no quarter for himself not his companions, when he should take
     them, as he hoped soon to do. Captain Morgan, who feared not his threats, knowing
     he had a secure retreat in his ships which were near at hand, made him answer: He
     would not deliver the castles, before he had received the contribution-money he
     had demanded. Which in case it were not paid down, he would certainly burn the
     whole city, and then leave it; demolishing beforehand the castles, and killing the
     prisoners.
     The Governor of Panama perceived by this answer that no means would serve to mol-
     lify the hearts of the Pirates, nor reduce them to reason. Hereupon he determined
     to leave them; as also those of the city, whom he came to relieve, involved in the
     difficulties of making the best agreement they could with their enemies. Thus, in
     few days more, the miserable citizens gathered the contribution wherein they were
     fined, and brought the entire sum of one hundred thousand pieces of eight to the
     Pirates, for a ransom of the cruel captivity they were fallen into. But the Presi-
     dent of Panama, by these transactions, was brought into an extreme admiration,
     considering that four hundred men had been able to take such a great city, with
     so many strong castles: especially seeing they had no pieces of cannon, nor other
     great guns, wherwith to raise batteries against them. And what was more, knowing