THE Design I had long since form'd, of a Naval Expedition, that might be both honourable and advantage­ous, was put off from time to time by intervening Accidents, although Mons. Pontchartrain had received His Majesty's Ap­probation of the Project I had the Honour to present him; and had, likewise, obtained the Ships, Men, and Ammunitions, which I proposed to take with me.

[Page 2]But at length, the laying up of the Fleet, brought by Count Chateau Renault from Tou­lon, leaving all the Marine, in a manner, idle; and the Measures I had taken with Treasurer-General Vanolles, seeming to promise a suffi­cient Fond for the Expence, there appear'd no farther Obstacles to the Execution of this Enterprize.

Hereupon we propos'd our Design to the Publick; which was so generally lik'd, and People were so forward to bring in their Mo­ney, that Vanolles was not able to receive it fast enough; insomuch, that he fancy'd he should be forc'd to refuse several Persons, by reason we had agreed upon the Sum, and re­solved not to exceed it.

But the Face of Affairs became soon altered; for the Peace being concluded with Savoy, made it hop'd, that it would suddenly be at­tended with a General One: And 'twas be­liev'd, that if the War should be at an end, before I was under Sail, I should be order'd to the contrary; and so the Money employ'd upon our Armament, would be infallibly lost. And now People were so far from offering new Sums, that those who had already en­gag'd in the Design, would have been very wil­ling to have withdrawn their Contributions.

I could not inform every Body, That Count Maurepas, who was acquainted with the Par­ticulars of our Project, had engag'd Mons. Pontchartrain, to ask his Majesty, What should [Page 3] be done with our Armament, in case the Peace should be agreed upon? And that His Majesty was pleas'd to answer, That I might go on with it; for, if the Peace should be concluded, he would take Care to re-imburse the Adventurers. And we were assur'd of this Favour, by an express Article inserted in the Margin of the Minutes of the Marine Council, that was held upon this Matter: Nevertheless, many Persons considering, that the best which could happen, would be to receive their Mo­ney again, chose rather to keep it in their Purses.

And besides this Prejudice, the ill Success of some Attempts that preceded mine, and from which great Matters were expected, discourag'd the Publick more than the appearance of an approaching Peace.

By this means we were oblig'd to proceed upon the Fond that was already advanc'd, which was much inferiour to what I had pro­pos'd; and this compell'd me to lessen our Preparations, and consequently weaken the Armament. However, being determin'd to go thorough with my Undertaking, I resolv'd to make use of the Advantages which the Court was pleased to confer on me, in allow­ing me such considerable Succours. So I re­turn'd to Brest in the beginning of October, 1696; and to work we went, with all ima­ginable Diligence, to fit out our Fleet: But the bad Weather hinder'd our Careening; so [Page 4] that we could not get out of Brest, but lay in that Road 'till the 6th of January; from whence my Project was to have sailed the be­ginning of the preceeding November.

To add to our Misfortune, I was at that time not able to take the Opportunity of a fair Wind, that then offer'd; because I staid for a great Convoy of Arms, and Provisions, that were laden for me at Rochel, without which I could not proceed; I had continually ex­pected it for three Months. In the midst of these Perplexities, I understood they were, at last, arrived at Port Lewis; where they were forc'd to put in, to avoid a Squadron of the Enemy, that had for some time cruis'd upon that Coast, and had them in sight. By this, I found our Naval Preparation upon the very point of miscarrying; our Provisions were already much diminish'd, and the Appearance very great, that the Enemy's Squadron would remain there, and we utterly consume our Provisions in the Road of Brest: Upon which I fix'd my Resolution; which, altho' it seem'd very hazardous, was yet the only Method that the Posture of my Affairs would permit me to take: It was, to find out my Convoy, and even to disengage them at the hazard of a Battle: Now, altho' I should have the best of it, yet it could not be with­out a mighty Inconveniency to me: But I flatter'd my self, that possibly I might not be discover'd by the Enemy; or, in case of meet­ing [Page 5] with them, get indifferently well off, and refit at Port Lewis; and then try to get out; and happen what would, by whatsoever way it should be my Fate to be lost, I had rather have been ruin'd with our Arms in our Hands, than miscarry for want of Resolution, and in a shameful Abode there.

Accordingly I had given my Orders to sail the next Day; at which time I understood by Signals from Ʋshant, that they descried a very large Fleet. We knew very well, by several Accounts, that there were about Forty English Men of War abroad, with Orders to cruize before Brest, and by all manner of means to prevent my passage; by which my Departure seem'd impossible, my Enterprize defeated, and my Misfortune unavoidable. However, I propos'd other Matters to my self, and stuck to my first Resolution, not thinking my Condi­tion much worse for this News; the little way between Brest and Port Lewis, or the entrance into the River of Morbian, of which I had taken particular Care to inform my self, that I might secure my Retreat into it, gave me some Hopes to believe, that I might probably get in thither, before I should be too deeply engag'd in a Battle; and then having once got on Board what the Convoy had brought me, I might, by the Favour of the long Nights, get away, without being seen by the Enemy; or, at the worst, escape with small damage, in a running Fight. So this great Fleet did no [Page 6] more alter my Circumstances, than if it had been a small Squadron; against which, in the Juncture I was in, the hazard of fighting was as dangerous as with a Capital Fleet, my Care being to get away, and prosecute the Business of my Project. Besides, if I could get a little before the Enemies, there was no great appearance for them either to come easi­ly up with me, or that they could be in Con­dition to pursue me for Two thousand Leagues that I might lead them: I had, moreover, the opportunity of separating my Ships in the Night, by ordering them different Courses to the appointed Rendezvous.

The Governor of Ʋshant sent an Express to assure me, That he could discern Forty Men of War, amongst which were Five English, or Dutch Flags: I received this News at Midnight, and making use of it in a manner quite diffe­rent to the Opinions of them that sent it me, I made the sailing Signal, and was under Sail by that time it was Day, it being upon the Seventh of January, 1697. I had, some Days before, sent my Orders to the Vessels at Port Lewis, to come away immediately, running all Hazards, to join me; but to keep so near the Shoar, that the Enemies Ships might not dare to approach them, or to avoid their Cannon by running into the Ports that are upon that Coast; which are good enough to cover such small Vessels, as I expected, from the Danger of Cruisers. I had sent the Mutine-Frigat, and [Page 7] the Providence-Brigantine, to Convoy them, who expected them at Pennemarc-Point.

We were hardly got out of the Goulet when we saw the Fleet appear at Point Raz, with the small Convoy I had sent to them; whereupon I came immediately to an Anchor at Ber­theaume, where I made all the haste I could to get our Provisions on Board our Ships and Fly-boats, and by extraordinary Diligence, I was in a Condition of Sailing the next Day.

We had hardly got into our Course, when the Scepter struck upon a place, where, ac­cording to the Rules of Navigation, there could be no manner of danger, after having struck three times very violently, we thought she was just upon sinking, especially when we saw a great many Planks floating upon the Water; at the same time we perceiv'd her to float, and running immediately to the Pumps, we found she did not make one drop of Wa­ter: We could not tell what to think of this Accident; however, it was concluded, that it could not be a Rock she had struck upon, but upon some sunk Vessel that floated under Water, which being less strong than the Sce­pter, had occasioned us that Alarm by the breaking of her Planks, without any ways prejudicing the Scepter. We continu'd our Course, endeavouring to avoid the Enemies: I had so regulated my self to the Tides, as to be, by the beginning of the Night, at Pennemarc-Point; [Page 8] besides, there was no great probabili­ty I should be discover'd in sailing so little a way, especially by reason of our holding so near to the Coast. I resolv'd at the same time to steer directly from Pennemarc, to the Coast of Spain, which I design'd to leave to the Southward. This Course, so contrary to what is customarily taken, to get clear of the Land, which the Enemies must know I de­sign'd; and upon which, most probably, they form'd their Method of Cruising, was the most likeliest Expedient to deceive them. This had the desired Effect, and the Wind continuing favourable, I first made Cape Or­tegal, and afterwards continued my Course towards the Island of St. Domingo, where I arriv'd in Fifty five Days; during which there happen'd nothing remarkable, unless it was, that after having pass'd the Tropick, we met with West South-West Winds, and consequent­ly contrary, which is not usual.

The pleasure of arriving at Cape Francis, which was that part of S. Domingo that I came to, was mitigated by several Accidents. I un­derstood there, that Capt. Desaugets, who commanded Three Ships in those Seas, for whom I had Orders to join himself with my Squadron, was Eight Days before my Arrival sail'd upon his Return to France. I was there likewise inform'd by Mons. Daunou, Lieutenant-Governour of the Island, that the Succours which Mons. Du Casse, Gover­nour [Page 9] of the Coast had prepar'd for me, con­sisted in about Four hundred Men, altho' he had Orders to join me with the Strength of the whole Colony.

It is true, that by good Fortune all the Py­rates of those parts, which are usually called Buccaniers, were met together at that time: It was thought that I might find a Party of them; but it was no ways to be imagin'd, that I should find them all; for they go out and come in as they please; consequently, this Assistance could not be computed at 14 or 1500 Men, as I was made to believe I should find at St. Domingo; neither did they exceed 600: So I was near upon a Thousand Men behind of my Account.

The Departure of Capt. Desaugets, depriv'd me of a like Number of Men, and two great Ships. Moreover, I was fallen short of two great Ships, and several Frigats, specified in my first Project, by which means I found my self reduc'd to half the Force I propos'd at the beginning.

I did not think fit to come to an Anchor at the Cape, but left there Three Frigates, the Mutine, the Avenant, and the Marin, to take in such Forces as might be drawn from thence, and the fresh Provisions which Commissary Du Tilleul was to supply my Squadron with.

[Page 10]S. Vandrille, Commander of the Marin, that was sent two Months before I left France, with Orders for Mons. Du Casse to have the Forces ready that were appointed for my assist­ance, after he had carried his Dispatches to Petit Guaves, sailed for the Cape, and attend­ed me there.

In his passage from France to St. Domin­go, he was attack'd by an English Ship of 54 Guns, who notwithstanding her Superio­rity, was forc'd to retire with Shame, after a Fight of several Hours.

Desaugets going for the Hondura's, before he return'd to France, had order'd the Che­valier De la Motte d'Heran, on Board the Christ, taken from the Spaniards, to sail directly for France, with the Favorite-Frigat, whom I found at the Cape upon his departure. These two Ships were both mann'd with the Favo­rite's Crew only, consequently very weak Men of War; wherefore I resolv'd to make use of but one of them, to put all the Men into her, and leave the other Ship at Petit Guaves. By Virtue of the King's Letter, which I had to Desaugets, and his Squadron, I order'd La Motte d'Heran, to join me; which he did, and chose the Christ that he commanded.

About Eight a Clock, upon the Sixth of March, I came to an Anchor over-against Ex­ter, the usual Residence of Mons. Du Casse; who came immediately on Board, to advise with me about the shipping of the Men he [Page 11] was to bring me; and seeing that I did not dissemble neither my surprize, nor my trouble, at the small Number of Men he had provided for me, he protested, that he had done all he could; and continually endeavoured to make me have a great Opinion of the good Success of this Attempt; for, that the Buccaniers were at that Juncture all together, and would every Man of 'em perform Wonders. We agreed that he should go to Petit Guaves, and that I would be ready by that time it was Day, to get into the Port: Du Casse came thither to join me, having a Design on foot which I did not ima­gine; I brought him the Duplicate of the Or­der which he had received from St. Vandrille, which he did not read when I delivered it to him, by reason it was wrote in Cyphers. There was added in that Letter, without my know­ledge, that he was to contrive the Means of succeeding in an Attempt that was approv'd by His Majesty, without damaging the Colo­ny: This Restriction did in some measure deprive me of the Power of commanding his Forces, seeing he had an opportunity of pre­tending to keep them for the preservation of his Colony. He said, That he would not insist upon Terms with me, as being perswaded that I would have a regard to his Character. I re­plied, That the greatest Character he could pretend to, was that of being Captain of a Ship, which he had the Honour to command by his Commission; all that I could do, was, [Page 12] that he should serve in that Capacity, accord­ing to his Seniority, which did submit him to several others, who, nevertheless, would not pretend to concern themselves with the Forces of his Government; in relation to whom, I should address my self to him, that he was to accept this Proposition, or not to embark with me, for I had no Orders to compel him.

After refusing these Offers he left me; and thinking no more of him, I was surpriz'd to hear, that he took all imaginable Care for what was personally necessary to him in this Expedition; and that he reported, He would rather come on Board as a private Soldier, than not engage in so glorious an Affair. He shew­ed much Courage and Desire of Glory in his Discourse, and it is pity, that he afterwards discover'd his Resolution to proceed from Motives, and Interests, something less gene­rous.

In the mean time we employ'd our selves in getting of Water, Wood, and other things necessary for the Squadron; and to fit up the Vessels of the Buccaniers, which were all un­rigg'd; without the help of the Rigging and Cordage, that I ordered to be delivered them by my Squadron, it would have been impos­sible for them to put to Sea; we likewise distributed the Provisions there, which I had brought for the Forces that were to em­bark with me; in short, we prepared all things for our Departure. It was then necessary to [Page 13] regulate the Pretensions of the Buccaniers, who desir'd to be assur'd of their Shares of the expected Prizes.

These Free-booters, are, for the most part, compos'd of those that desert from Ships that come upon the Coast: The Advantage they bring to the Governours, protects them against the Prosecutions of the Law; besides, all those that are apprehended in France, as Va­gabonds, or such as can give no Account of themselves, are sent to these Islands, where they are oblig'd to serve for Three Years. The first that gets them, obliges them to work in the Plantations; at the end of the Term of Servitude, some Body lends them a Gun, and to Sea they go a Buccaniering. This Profession hath maintain'd it self a long while by this sort of Recruits, and subsist by their Pyracies; they were formerly altogether independent, but of late Years, they have been reduc'd under the Government of the Coast of S. Domingo; they have Commissions given them for which they pay the Tenth of all their Prizes, and are now call'd the King's Subjects: For the Governors of St. Domingo being enrich'd by them, do mightily extol them for the Damages they do to the Spaniards, and endeavour to have it believed, that the Buccaniers are the strength and support of the Colony; whereas, they are, in effect the Ruine of it: For if such as are convey'd thither, were kept from the Liberty of embra­cing this infamous Profession, which an Im­punity [Page 14] for all sorts of Crimes renders so much belov'd, we should not have lost, in a few Years, above Six thousand Men, that might have improv'd and peopl'd the Colony. And thus, indeed, they would have been truly the strength and support of the place.

As to other Matters, altho' they are pleas'd to be counted the King's Subjects, yet it is with so much Arrogance, as obliges all those that are desirous to make use of them, to court them in the most flattering Terms. This not being agreeable to my Disposition, and being they were in the Dominions of His Maiesty, and esteeming them as His Subjects, which the Governor was oblig'd to deliver to me; I plainly told them, That they should find me a Commander to lead them on, but not as a Companion of their Fortune; that if they made any Difficulties, either to embark or o­bey, I would certainly burn all their Vessels, even to the poorest Boats, and inevitably de­prive them of the Means for some Years, if not for ever, of continuing their Depreda­tions.

It was fear'd, that upon these Threats they would betake themselves to the Woods, as be­ing their usual Retreat upon any Dissatisfacti­ons: But I knew they apprehended very much the Execution of my Menaces; and more­over, that the Governor, who is so highly concern'd in their Pyracies, would omit no sort of Care to retain them in their Duty.

[Page 15]The Demand they made, of having their Share, in the Division of the Prizes, secur'd to them, was very reasonable; therefore I explain'd my self in Writing, and caus'd it to be fix'd up in several places, implying, That they should, Man for Man, have the same Shares of Booty, that was allowed to the Men on Board the King's Ships.

I was informed of their Customs, and that of divers ways of dividing the Shares, (which is commonly a very troublesome Business); the most usual Method was this, of reckon­ing by the Number of the Men; for Exam­ple: A Vessel of a Hundred Men, hath dou­ble the Allowance that is made to another of but Fifty, so the rest in proportion. I made no manner of delay in the Choice I was to make; as likewise, to acquaint them, that I could not meddle with any thing that be­long'd to the King, the Admiral, and the Undertakers of the Armament. That His Ma­jesty had been pleased to allow to the several Ships Companies, the Tenth of the First Mil­lion, and a Thirtieth part of all the others: And I engag'd my self in Writing, to give the Buccaniers the same Terms. Du Casse told me, that I had taken the easiest Method, desiring me only to leave with him the Original of that Writing, including the Frigat Pontchar­train, commanded by Lieutenant Mornay, who desired to serve in the Squadron upon the same Conditions that I had granted to the [Page 16] Buccaniers: There was likewise comprehend­ed, at the Desires of Du Casse, a Frigat of S. Malo, fitted both for War and Traffick. We shall have occasion to mention this Wri­ting again, in the Sequel of our Story.

Upon the Eighteenth, all the Ships that I had left at Cape Francis, having join'd my Squadron with La Motte d'Heran, whom I had likewise ordered to join me; I made ready on the Nineteenth to go and Anchor at Cape Tiburon, being the furthest Western Point of S. Domingo; the Water there is bet­ter, and easier to be got, than in any other place, so it was absolutely necessary for me to touch there; besides, I was very desirous to get out of Port, to oblige the Buccaniers to come on Board, which they ever defer to the last moment; however they at last got on Board, seeing me at some distance, and fol­low'd the Squadron, as also the Pontchartrain, which Du Casse had chosen for himself; when, on a sudden, a violent North-Wind, which is very extraordinary, and rarely known in this Season, scatter'd not only the Buccaniers, but likewise all the Ships of my Squadron, insomuch that I continu'd alone for above Thirty Hours, two Chaloups sent from the Scepter, to the assistance of two Buccaniers in danger of stranding, not being able to get up with me; but good Weather coming on, we all met upon the 28th, in the Road of Irois, three Leagues distant from Cape Tiburon.

[Page 17]Until then, I had kept my Design se­cret, not being wholly determin'd on the Matter: Du Casse, who understood by his Letters from Court, that the principal de­sign of the Expedition was upon Cartha­gena, did judge the execution impossible, by reason of the several Accidents already mention'd, and the small number of For­ces with me. He represented unto me, with much appearance of Reason, That, according to the last Advices from the In­dian Coasts, the Galleons must be at Porto Bello, or upon their way to Carthagena, in order to their return for Spain; that we might reasonably hope to meet with them, by steering that course; and that, by our strength, we might reckon our selves se­cure of them, altho' we found them in Porto Bello; for notwithstanding the Port is defended by three Castles, yet it is o­pen enough for us to get in, and possess our selves of those Castles, by means of our Bombs. But I had my Reasons not to follow this Opinion: The Galleons might as well be at Carthagena, as at Sea, and I was sensible, by my own Experi­ence, how uncertain 'tis to meet Ships at Sea, a thing not to be depended upon; moreover, it seem'd plain to me, that the less the Spaniards were in a Condition to [Page 18] defend themselves at Porto Bello, the less Reason I had to hope for an Advantage by their Defeat, otherwise than in the Ho­nour I might gain; for they would cer­tainly have burnt, or sunk, their Ships, upon the approach of such a Squadron as I had the Honour to Command, and that Treasure not lost to them, must have been absolutely so to me, since I could not pos­sibly have continued long enough there, to get it out of the Water.

These Considerations absolutely dissua­ded me from going first of all to Porto Bello, which Voyage would have spent my Provisions, and render'd me uncapable of any other considerable Attempt. Vera Cruz was a more likely place; for we were well assur'd, that one of the Flotas had been there ever since the beginning of Septem­ber, and that they could not go away be­fore the beginning of May, therefore I could not miss meeting with them; more­over, my Forces were sufficient to make me Master of the City, which may be en­tred without our being exposed to the Fire of the Castle, which is impregnable by its advantageous situation: It is built on a Rock, in the middle of the Sea, and sur­rounded on all sides with extraordinary Fortifications. However, with my great [Page 19] store of Artillery, I could, in a very lit­tle time, have reduc'd that Castle to Ash­es; besides the Bombs that I could have us'd from my Ships, I might have rais'd what Batteries of Cannon and Mortars I pleas'd on Shoar, which is not above 200 Yards from it.

I should not have run the Risque here, as I must have done at Porto Bello, of see­ing the Spaniards burn their Ships, to de­prive me of the Silver: For it being well known, that they do embark the Plate there, but a very few Days before the de­parture of the Flota, consequently, at the worst, I could only have lost the Mer­chandizes, of which I made little account. In short, 'tis probable, I should have en­gag'd in this Expedition, had I not recei­ved some Advices at St. Domingo, that oc­casioned me new Perplexities, viz. that tho' the Plate was not us'd to be embark'd until the Day before the Fleet sail'd, and was brought from Mexico to Vera Cruz, long before 'twas put on Board; yet, of late Years, upon some Jealousies, they bring it no farther than Pueblo de los An­gelos, forty Leagues up the Country, from whence 'tis convey'd directly on Board the Galleons.

[Page 20]According to the Rules of Navigation, which 'tis not necessary to insert here, the Galleons could not sail until the Month of May, yet they might come away later, even until the Month of August; so if they had not by chance taken the resolution of coming away with the first of the Season, it being then but March, and we not above three Weeks sail from them, I did foresee that our Design would be ruin'd by my arrival before the Plate was brought down, and I was no ways in a condition of march­ing forty Leagues, with such a small Body of Forces, in an Enemy's, and well-inha­bited Country. Moreover, I was not wil­ling to begin with a place, that would have frustrated my farther Intentions, in case I had been unsuccessful: For such is the Nature of the Gulf of Mexico, at the bottom whereof Vera Cruz is situated, that at our coming out again, it would not be possible for us to entertain any other Thoughts, but those of returning to Eu­rope, as well because of the length of the Voyage, as because the Winds and the set­ting of the Currents, would have pre­vented all other Attempts to the East­ward.

[Page 21]The only place I could fix my Reso­lutions upon, was Carthagena, which lay to Windward; and altho' I should have miss'd of my Aim there, yet it would not have been any Obstacle to my other Designs, not even against Vera Cruz, un­less I consum'd my time by adventurously falling upon the first place, without a well-grounded assurance of carrying it: The small number of my Forces, was the only thing that could disswade me from this Attempt: But this want of Strength, might be remedied by good Manage­ment.

Capt. Venner, an English-man, having been several Years in the Service of the Spaniards, in the West-Indies and Commanded several of their Ships, was lately come into the Service of France, and was plac'd on Board Desaugets, until some other Employ should be given him. This Officer was very well acquainted with the Coasts and Places of the West-Indies; he had likewise some knowledge of Geometry, and by the assist­ance of Canette, my principal Ingenier, I got him to draw several Plans, especially that of Carthagena, which we found to be [Page 22] as exact as any thing could be expected that was made by Memory.

My first Design was to have immediately landed with Five thousand Men, near Car­thagena, not including the Seamen: I ex­pected to have drawn these Forces from the places before-mentioned, with which I reckoned I should be able to force the place, tho' besides its ordinary defence, the whole strength of the Galleons should have been in it. But I was all manner of ways very much mistaken in my Account, scarce ha­ving one half of the Forces I propos'd, with which there was no probability of taking a place so famous in India, and so well known in Europe, for its Fortificati­ons which I found to be even better than they were reputed to be. The Ships were to Anchor in the open Sea, and by that means must have been expos'd to all the Inconveniences of the bad Season, which was not quite over; besides, I might have been surpriz'd by the English Squadron, which I knew had Orders to follow me. In this case there was no likelihood for me to expect any Service from the Sea-men, it being altogether ne­cessary to leave them on Board to work the Ships in bad Weather; but then agen, ha­ving [Page 23] only the Land-Forces to re-embark, I might, upon any occasion, soon put my self into a posture of defence.

Then I imagin'd, that if instead of at­tacking Carthagena, I only attempted Boc­cachica, which defends the entrance into that vast Harbour, called the Lagune of Carthagena, and should carry that Fort, the rest would be easily acquired, by rea­son I might bring my Ships under the Pro­tection of this Fort, and thereby make use of the Sea-men that might be then spar'd from the Ships, which would in some measure make up the want of Land-Forces.

However, this Design had its Difficul­ties likewise: For the passage which this Fort defends, is so narrow, and winding, that there's no sailing through it, but you must warp your Ships along by their An­chors and Cables; now two Ships riding within, can prevent this work, and alone defend the entrance against the strongest Fleet: I could not imagine, but that the Spaniards would use that Precaution, in case the Galleons had been at Cartha­gena.

[Page 24]On the other hand, if I could make a Descent on any other part of the Island, at one end of which stands Carthagena, at the other Boccachica, I might probably surmount all Difficulties, by expeditiously landing of my Cannon; with which cros­sing the Island, and raising of Batteries on the Banks of the Tagon, I knew very well, I could either sink, or force away any Ships that should be posted to defend the en­trance: As to the Fort, I did no ways doubt the taking of it with the help of my Bombs, in spight of any Succours the Enemy might bring to it by Land.

Being once in possession of Boccachica, I had several Reasons for good hopes, in case the Galleons were not there, that I should, by the help of the Sea-men (which I might take when the Ships were secur'd) be enabled to attempt Carthagena; and if the Galleons were there, then I purpos'd to attack them; and in case they should resolve to sink themselves, then I should be able so to terrifie the place with my Bombs, that they would yield to a Con­tribution, that might re-imburse my Un­dertakers; and from thence I could after­wards steer to some other Leeward place.

[Page 25]After I had duly weigh'd these Matters, I absolutely resolv'd upon sailing to Car­thagena, and I publish'd my Resolution; which was applauded and received with all the signs of Satisfaction from the Sol­diers. Du Casse propos'd the sending away two Frigats of Buccaniers, to precede me, which should land in the Night near Car­thagena, to take what Prisoners they could make, and carry them to Sambee, twelve Leagues to Windward of Carthagena, and there expect our coming. Capt. Pierre, and Capt. Blou, were instantly commanded to sail upon this Design; but instead of executing these Orders, the desire of pil­laging, according to their usual Custom, engag'd them to chase some small Vessels they met, which they had not the Courage to board, after they had driven them a­ground; and this occasioned them to lose so much time, that without having been at Carthagena, they arrived after me at Sam­bee, where a sudden Gust from the North-East, called here a Breeze, had forc'd me to come to an Anchor, and wait for bet­ter Weather to appear before Carthagena in.

[Page 26]On the Thirteenth, the Wind being a­bated, we got under Sail, and directed our Course for Carthagena. The whole Fleet was compos'd of these Ships: Seven Fri­gats from Eight to Twenty four Guns, on board them about Six hundred and fifty Buccaniers. One hundred and ten Inhabi­tants of S. Domingo, One hundred and seventy Garrison Soldiers of the Coast, and One hundred and eighty Negroes; were dispers'd on board the Men of War, and Flyboats belonging to the Squa­dron. This was all the assistance which I received from the Government of St. Do­mingo.

The Pontchartrain, and the French Fri­gat were join'd to us as before mentioned, the one having Forty Guns, and One hun­dred Men; the other Twenty four Guns, and Sixty Men.

The Squadron was compos'd of Seven great Ships.

The Scepter carrying Eighty four Guns, and Six hundred and fifty Men, commanded by Guillotin: I was on board this Ship.

[Page 27]The St. Lewis of Sixty four Guns, and Four hundred and twenty Men, command­ed by Levy, who acted as Vice-Admi­ral.

The Fort of Seventy Guns, and Four hundred and fifty Men, commanded by the Viscount Coetlogon, who serv'd as Rear-Admiral.

The Vermandois, Apollo, Furieux, and St. Michael, all four of Sixty Guns each, and Three hundred and fifty Men, were commanded by Dubuisson, Gombaud, La Motte Michel, and the Chevalier de Ma­rolles.

The Christ, a Spanish-Prize, commanded by the Chevalier de la Motte d'Heran, of Two hundred and twenty Men, and Forty four Guns.

The Avenant, by the Chevalier Francine, Two hundred Men, and Thirty Guns.

The Marin, commanded by St. Van­drille, had One hundred and eighty Men, and Twenty eight Guns.

[Page 28]The Eclatant, Bomb-Vessel, command­ed by De Mons, had Sixty Men.

The Providence-Brigantine, of Thirty Men, and Four Guns, commanded by the Chevalier De L'Escouet.

Two Flyboats.

Four Boats, call'd by the French Traversier, who had each of them one Gun, and a Mortar.

On board these Ships, and Vessels, were One hundred and ten Officers, Fifty five Guards Marine, Two thousand one hun­dren Sea-men, One thousand seven hun­dred and fifty Soldiers, effective Men.

Before I left the Road of Irois, or Cape Tiburon, which is the same place, I had regulated the Descent, and the Manner of employing our Forces.

The Captains of the Men of War, viz. those that effectually were so, (but not all those who commanded for such, as did se­veral Galliot-Captains, and some Men of War Lieutenants) were to serve as General-Officers, dividing themselves according to [Page 29] their Seniority, to be alternately ashoar and on board; for it was absolutely necessary to have some of them always in Command on board the Ships. Du Casse had the Com­mand of all the Buccaniers, and Inhabitants of the Coast, whom I left to him, under their ancient Captains.

By Order of the Court, there was a State Major, compos'd of Sorel, Inspector-General of the Marine Troops of Brittany. The desire of serving in this Expedition, induc'd him likewise to take upon him the Function of Major-General, but taking place only as Captain: of Thesut, Major: of two Aid-Majors-General, who were the Chevaliers Jaucour, and De Pointis: a Sub-Major-General Beraudin; and some Guards Marine, as Sub-Majors:

Of Du Tilleul, Commissary.

One principal Ingenier, and another, viz. Canette and Tangey, for whom were compos'd two Brigades of Officers, or Guards-Marine, as also some Voluntier-Soldiers, that were in some measure thought capable of serving as Ingeniers. The Che­valier de Ferriere, du Crest, and Coursy, were the chief of these Brigades; the Che­valiers de Nesmond, and Pouillermont, En­seignes; [Page 30] La Lande, du Ches, and Roche­bonne, Guards-Marine, chose to serve as Aids de Camps under me.

Six Battalions were compos'd of the Sol­diers on board the King's Ships; the first was a Body of Two hundred and fifty Grenadiers, drawn out of all the rest, commanded by La Roche de Vigier, Captain of a Frigat, but then serving as second Captain on board the Scepter, commanded, I say, by him, as Collonel, le Chevalier de Vezins, Lieutenant of a Man of War, as Lieutenant-Collonel; Vaujoux serv'd as Major, St. Lazare d' Ayde, Framine, Mon­trosier, and Vignancourt, had the Command of the Five Companies that made this Batta­lion.

The Five Senior Lieutenants of Infantry Marine, commanded as Collonels in the Five other Battalions of Three hundred Men each; who were the Chevalier Ma­rolles, le Chenau, de Bresme, Simonet; the Guards-Marine were divided among them to augment the number of Officers. Be­sides these, I made Detachments of Four hundred Seamen, under their own Officers, all arm'd with Scythes and Pistols; upon occasion, these were to be commanded by [Page 31] Lieutenants of Ships, that had no Compa­nies, who were de Vaulx, Longuejoue, Car­cavy, Siglas, and Sabran, these were to be reliev'd by Five Captains of Fireships that were on board our Squadron.

The One hundred and seventy Soldiers drawn out of the Garrisons on the Coast of St. Domingo, were in a separate Body, and commanded by Beaumont. The One hundred and ten Inhabitants, and the One hundred and eighty Negroes, made each of them another. The Buccaniers were all in one Troop.

The Plans, and Memoirs, which I had of several places, of whose Errors I have much reason to complain, were neverthe­less true in one point: For they gave me a plain assurance, that if we did not seize at our arrival at Carthagena, upon a consi­derable Eminence, and a Church called Nostre Dame de la Pouppe, that commands the Avenues, all the Treasure would be carried off, the greatest part being in Gold and Emeraulds, easily to be transported up into the Country; which the Spaniards would not fail to do, upon the approach of such a formidable Fleet.

[Page 32]To get possession of this Post, I resolv'd to land the Buccaniers, the Night after my coming to an Anchor, they being very pro­per for such an Attempt, as being accu­stomed to marching and subsisting in the Woods, where each of them carries his own Provisions, and lives upon what he kills; so I was inform'd at least: Thus, not being encumber'd with any Baggage, their March might be kept secret, their Ir­ruption unexpected, and, in case of ne­cessity, their Retreat secure, by ways un­passable to others. I had concerted with Du Casse all things relating to this Design, which he undertook to see executed: We agreed upon the Signals he should make me by Fires from the Hills, to acquaint me whether he wanted any assistance, or Ves­sels to re-imbark his Men; or upon taking of the Post, whether he was in a Condition of maintaining it, or not. On my part, I was to inform him by Signals from the Ships, of my Condition, and the Resolu­tions which various Accidents might oblige me to take.

Having concluded upon this Method of executing our Design, we arriv'd between Carthagena, and Point Hicacos, four Leagues [Page 33] to the Eastward, where finding good An­chorage in a great Bay, which the Land makes by running out to the Southward, we came to an Anchor about Four a Clock, two Leagues from the City, on the same Day, being the Thirteenth. The Squa­dron was got ready in the Morning at Sambee, and I delivered all my Orders by Signals: By this diligence I was sure to make a secure Descent, it not being possi­ble that an Enemy could be able to guard all the Shoar, or march down time enough to hinder our landing.

So soon as the Ships were come to an Anchor, I made the Signal for the Cha­loups, (that were to land the Buccaniers) to go on board their Frigats, so soon as it was dark; and to them to be in a readiness for the Boats, altho' it was resolved they should not embark until Midnight, to the end they might be ashoar some Hours only before Day-light.

In the mean time, the Fort, the Mutine, and the Bomb-Vessel, according to their Orders, were advanc'd towards the City; the last near enough to bombard, and the other two to guard her. I expected, by thus employing of the Enemy with my [Page 34] Bombs, to divert them from taking other necessary Precautions.

When the Buccaniers were to be em­bark'd, in order to their landing, they did not behave themselves so heroically as Du Casse had boasted of them: For this separation from the King's Forces, afforded them a prospect of the dreadfullest Dan­gers; they began to apprehend the want of Provisions in the Woods, where they were us'd to subsist many Days, when they were only to rob and cut Peoples Throats sleeping, whereas now they were to march against a People that stood on their De­fence; yet to take away one of their pre­tences that covered their fear, we deliver­ed them Provision, and the Major-Gene­ral, after much stirring, got them at last into the Boats.

All was in a readiness for the Descent, when I fortunately resolv'd to visit the Shoar; for the most proper place of landing: One would not have thought, that in a great Bay, shelter'd from the Winds that usually Reign upon this Coast, where Ships find a good Ancho­rage, and the Sea calm, it should be im­possible to get ashoar; but scarce were [Page 35] we come to it, when the Waves breaking upon the Rocks even with the Water, did but little miss of filling my Canoa quite full of Water at once: Levy, Du Casse, and Tilleul, were with me. We rowed down the Strand towards Cartha­gena, in hopes of finding some proper place; but there the Sea ran higher than it did from whence we came; and when we were fall'n so low, that it was not possible to proceed farther without en­gaging our selves among several little Lakes that from this part water all the Territory of Carthagena, our Canoe came a-thwart a Sea, that filled her half full of Water; and now, in all probability, our Enterprize, as yet not begun, was like to end in a Goal: But Levy leaping into the Water, and by his Example en­couraging the Sea-men, that followed him, to use their utmost Efforts, we at length got our Canoa a-float, that had struck on the Rock, and deliver'd our selves from that imminent Danger. Our first Care was, by the other Canoas of the Majors, to dispatch Orders to the Chaloups, not to come near the Shoar; where, embar­rass'd by the great number of People on board them, and being every way larger, drawing more Water, and not so well [Page 36] provided with Rowers, as my Canoa was, their Ruine must have been inevi­table.

We were then, notwithstanding all our Draughts and Memoirs, oblig'd to a­gree, that Carthagena was inaccessible on this side: For if in so calm a Day, the Sea was so boisterous as we found it, what were we to expect in other Weather? In short, the stay we made in this Country, hath shewn us by Experience, as well as inform'd us by the Relations of the Inha­bitants, that the Sea upon all this Coast, and in all Seasons, is a natural and invin­cible Rampart; and that Carthagena is ap­proachable only by the Lake, which makes the Harbour.

I reflected with Concern on this dis­astrous Adventure; I foresaw, that in not being able to possess my self of that con­siderable Post of Nostre Dame de la Pouppe, I should afford the Spaniards an opportu­nity of several Days to carry off whatso­ever they were desirous to save, by reason I could not be able to come at them, until I had taken the Fort of Boccachica.

[Page 37]Being wholly bent upon Boccachica, the Fleet got into a readiness of sailing in the Morning on the Fourteenth. We design­ed to pass so nigh the Walls of Cartha­gena, as to do them all the mischief my Guns could afford them; but notwith­standing my utmost care to provide all things necessary for every Vessel of the Buccaniers, who have the Reputation of knowing this Coast, we found them so very ignorant, and so much at a loss, that we durst not attempt any thing upon the small Informations that we could get from them; so we resolv'd to take the surest Precautions possible, by ordering the Chaloups to sound before us. The Sce­pter not finding Water enough, could not come within Shot of the Town; the Lewis, and the Fort, that drew less, even touch'd in several places. However, that did not hinder them from firing, until I made them a Signal to join the Fleet. The Enemy made no great Fire; yet we perceiv'd they had great Pieces, and good store of them: To our admiration, we observ'd, that Carthagena was inclos'd only on this side with Pallisades, and old Walls that were in many places fall'n down; whereupon we founded our Projects and [Page 38] Hopes of a lucky Event; not knowing that Nature had sufficiently provided for the Security of this part, by the great Violence of the Sea that washes it: I touch'd twice, and came not this Night to an Anchor before Boccachica, being de­sirous first to inform my self of all the Soundings; but came to an Anchor so soon as we found a proper depth. We understood afterwards, that the place we had been in all Day, was about eight Years since a Plain, where the People of Carthagena us'd to walk.

I sent away all the Chaloups, to sound the Coast, even up to the Fort. I order'd St. Vandrille, on board the Marine, to an Anchor over-against the entrance, that so he might prevent any Boats from carrying of Advice, or Silver, to Porto Bello. All the Officers and Pilots, that had been out to sound, assur'd me, that there was every where Water enough, even to Twenty Fathom, and near the Shoar; and the Coast jetting out to the Southward, had form'd near the Fort, a sort of a Haven se­cure from the Violences of the Sea, which ran too high every-where else for a De­scent, and a small neck of Land, or Pro­montory, did likewise protect us from [Page 39] the Fire of the Fort; whereupon it was resolv'd to come to an Anchor there, by Break of Day, next Morning, being the Fifteenth, and to take our Anchoring Births, according to the Disposition of the place.

All the Fleet were at Anchor on the Fifteenth at Noon: I immediately di­spatch'd away Major Thesut, to observe what part of the Shoar was most proper for a Descent. Upon his return I made the Signal for landing, and order'd Du Casse to take eighty Negroes, that were on board the Furieux, to embark with them on board the Pereagoes, which are a very light Vessel, and therefore are in no dan­ger of stranding; with these I order'd him to make up towards Carthagena, and to come very near the Shoar, in two or three places, without endeavouring to land, but only to draw out the Enemies, if there were any, and by that means oblige them to discover what they were; and if there was no appearance of any, he was to inform me of it by a Signal: The Woods lie close to the Sea-shoar, where the Spaniards might have kept themselves conceal'd, and discharg'd up­on us without appearing, which oblig'd [Page 40] me to this precaution; but Du Casse find­ing no such matter, landed with his Ne­groes, and hoisted the white Flag upon a Rock. This acquainted me that he was landed: The Chaloups immediately made to shoar, and the Descent was made with­out any opposition. The Negroes were forthwith employed with their Bills and Hatchets, to make a way through the Wood to the Lake, on the other side of the Island, where we design'd to encamp, and make our Approaches to the Fort, the Ground on this side, towards the open Sea, not being so proper; besides, it was necessary to cut off their Com­munication with Carthagena by Land. The Island, which is but narrow at the Point where the Fort is situated, is but a good quarter of a League from the Sea to the Lake, at the place our Negroes were cut­ting, within half Cannon-shot of the Fort, from which we were covered by the Woods: The Way was made in a very little time, so that all our Troops were ranged quite cross the Island, ma­king places of Arms in the several Paths of the Wood that lead to Carthagena; by this means we were soon posted, and the Places of Arms, or Corps de Garde, were near enough to speak to each other.

[Page 41]While we were thus settling our selves a-shoar, the Lewis made a little more out, and began to Cannonade the Fort; sometime afterwards, the Fort Man of War doing the same, as likewise the Sce­pter, that follow'd at a little distance, the Battery began to be very warm, the Bomb-Galliot, and the Traversier with one Mortar, having taken their Stations, played their parts very well, which con­tinued until Night. The Enemy only made a very slow Fire, which did not occasion us much damage, only our Yards and Rigging suffer'd a little, and three Men were kill'd or wounded.

In our approach to the Lake, we had a little crook'd the Way leading towards the Fort, to the end we might fall di­rectly in with a little Plain, which (the People of St. Domingo brought hither for our Guides, told us) lay between the Lake, the Wood, and the Fort; so we came out at the foot of a rising Ground, that was high and large enough to co­ver us, and from whence we had the li­berty of examining the Fort, which is not above Musquet-shot from it: We lodg'd our selves here, expecting the ap­proach [Page 42] of Night, to examine the Ditch, and where it was proper, to open the Trenches, by cutting down a part of the Wood, which we perceiv'd to be much nearer to the Fort, than the Way we had cut: So soon as it was dark, the Major-General, and Canette, slipt away to make the Tour of the place, upon the Bank of the Ditch; which they did without be­ing discover'd: Levy, Jaucourt, and I, being without design insensibly advanc'd into the Wood, until we perceiv'd our selves near to the Ditch, we were de­sirous to examine it. The obscurity, and great stil [...]ess of the Night, favour'd our Attempt; we met the Major-General and Canette who had been round; our Meeting happen'd to occasion some lit­tle Noise, upon which the Sentinels fir'd, and we return'd, sounding the Ground; which being proper for the Work, con­firm'd us in the Opinion of opening the Trench in that part of the Wood which I said was nearest to the Fort; besides, a little Fen being between the Eminency and the Fort, did deprive us of the con­veniency of carrying on our Work on that side.

[Page 43]Upon the Sixteenth in the Morning, we began to make our Fascines, Gabi­ons, and to get our Artillery on Shoar, which we wanted, one of the Mortars being brought a-shoar in the Night, was ready to fire, and another was getting ready, when one of those great Perea­goes, that are much us'd in the West-Indies, and big enough to carry Sixty Men, came gently sailing on to Boccachica, under the Shoar, which she did not imagine to be in our possession; but being perceiv'd by our Grenadiers there, they resolutely took their opportunity, without waiting for Orders, and fir'd so thick into her, that at the first Discharge, they kill'd and wounded fifteen or sixteen Men, seven or eight more being perfectly scar'd, leap'd into the Water, and were drown'd, the rest throwing themselves into the bottom of the Pereagoe; she lay floating on the Water, until some of our Negroes launch­ing off a little Boat, that was by chance there, made to her, and brought her a­shore. Besides the kill'd and wounded, there were Eight and twenty Men in her, among whom were two Franciscan Friars, one of which had receiv'd a small hurt in his Arm: By these Prisoners I was in­form'd, [Page 44] that the Galleons were at Porto Bello, of which I had no certain Account since my coming out. They had been there ever since the end of October, and were expected every moment at Carthage­na; their stay at Porto Bello having been contrary to all the Rules of Commerce, much longer than usual.

I made use of one of these Friars, to represent unto the Governour, (whom I design'd to summon) the insignificancy of his Defence, against such unequal Forces, I multiplied them in the Eyes of the Friar, by drawing forth all the Troops in the Wood, and whilst they amus'd him, I made some of them file off through the By-ways, and advance them­selves beyond those he had seen; the Ammunition, and Train of Artillery, were shewed him; insomuch, that if the Matter had depended on him only, the Fort would have been surrender'd at that very instant: However, he made use of all his Eloquence to the Gover­nour; to whom he carried from me ve­ry honourable Proposals. He answer'd, by my Drummer, That he was not re­duc'd to the Condition of Capitulating; but when he was, he would be willing [Page 45] to accept of the Offers I had made him: Moreover, he charg'd the Franciscan, in particular, with many Civilities to me.

The Fort Man of War return'd to her Station to batter the Fort; but the Bul­lets that flew over it, falling into a Quar­ter of the Camp, that we design'd not to quit, I sent her Orders to retire, and to the Scepter, and S. Lewis, going to the same work, to return to their first Births. The Mortars on Board, and those on Shoar, be­gan to Fire at the same time.

About two in the Afternoon, two greater Pereagoes than that in the Mor­ning, came before the Wind, to land Succours at the Fort, which the Governor of Carthagena had been sollicited to send thither, upon finding their mistake, in believing that my Expedition was upon the Galleons, and to land at Porto Bello; and that I durst not engage upon an En­terprize of that moment, as was the at­tacking of Carthagena; but came thi­ther only to see if the Galleons were there.

[Page 46]The Adventure and Example of the Morning, inspir'd some of the Buccaniers with a Resolution of doing what the Grenadiers had done: These last Perea­goes having pass'd something wide from the Post of the last, drew to the Shoar only when they were pretty near the Fort; these Buccaniers, at the head of whom may be about twenty Men, that deserve to be distinguish'd for their Cou­rage, my intention being very far from comprehending them in the Descriptions which I make of the others; these Bucca­niers, I say, having possess'd themselves of some little Houses on the Lake-side, made a very great Fire upon the Perea­goes; the Noise brought the Major-Ge­neral, Canette, Gougon, and some other Officers to them, who encouraging this small number of Buccaniers accidentally join'd by some Soldiers, led them to­wards the Fort, to prevent the Pereagoes that kept on their way, from landing the Forces on Board them. The other Buccaniers, by the Example of the first, having taken Arms, ran to the Shoar, where they made an extraordinary Fire; but the place being within Musket-shot of the Fort, the Enemy began to fire upon [Page 47] them; and the Buccaniers, who are not us'd to engage where there is any dan­ger, made the most of their Heels, to bring themselves under shelter: I met them in their way, and finding that words were of no weight with them, I lighted on a Cudgel, and with that forc'd them to return to the Post they had aban­don'd. Du Casse was surpriz'd at this way of carrying Men on, yet conceal'd, in silence, the vexation he conceiv'd at the Action. In this space of time, the Pereagoes, terrified with the Discharge they had sustain'd, were tack'd about, and on their return towards Carthagena: The Major-General taking the advantage of this opportunity, posted himself with the small Troop that followed him, at the foot of the Counterscarp, which the blindness of the Spaniards had left so, as it cover'd us from the Fire of the Ram­parts. Canette, Le Cher, Marin, and Gougon, were wounded in this Action; fifteen Soldiers and Buccaniers were kil­led and wounded. La Mothe, Ensign of the Buccaniers, pitch'd his Colours, yet neither his Signal, nor my Blows, were sufficiently powerful to make his Compa­nions advance. I then imagin'd, that by sustaining those that were at the foot of [Page 48] the Counterscarp, I might make an ad­vantageous Business of this accidental At­tempt: So I abandon'd the Buccaniers to their Cowardize, and order'd two Com­panies of Grenadiers, with the Battalion of de la Chenau that was at hand, to march: Levy put himself at their head, and to shorten the way, march'd up to his Belly through the Water, and so pos­sess'd himself likewise of the foot of the Counterscarp; at this instant Du Casse re­ceiv'd a Contusion on the Thigh, by a Cannon-Ball falling among a heap of Stones. The Major-General did not for­get to send me word, that the Post he had taken might be kept, by causing the Troops to march, altho' at the hazard of some Men, by reason of the Fire which they were to sustain in going to it; but those Men were got to him, be­fore his Messenger had spoke to me, so there was no time for deliberati­on, it being necessary to maintain this Lodgement; because the Counterscarp almost environing the place, through the fault of not being cut sloping at the foot, afforded shelter from the Fire of the Ramparts, and was capable of receiving a greater number of Men than mine. I sent Major Thesut to bring up the Batta­lions, [Page 49] as likewise the Ladders, with all imaginable expedition, to be at Hand, in case there should be occasion for them; and as the Battalions came up, so they defil'd off to the foot of the Counterscarp. The Besieg'd fir'd very briskly, but being oblig'd to expose their whole Bodies, that their Shot might not be made too high, and being easily reach'd in that posture, they soon bethought themselves of firing from behind their Defences, and thereby occasion'd us but very little damage.

Du Buisson Varenne, was at the place of our descent with two Battalions, who hearing the Noise of our Fire, imagin'd we were attacking the place, altho' he knew not in what manner; he made through the Wood, into the place where the two Mortars were rais'd, and by the way of the little Plain, which is but a quarter so long as that in the Wood which makes a Circle, he brought us that Supply at the Minute the Besieged call'd out, They were willing to capitulate, if they might have good Quarter. I an­swer'd them, That there was good Quar­ter for them; but that was all: And, that, if they did not immediately throw [Page 50] their Arms into the Ditch, for an instance of their Sincerity to surrender, I would continue the setting up of my Ladders; after which, they were not to hope for Quarter. Several of them obeyed, and we saw the Harquebuzes in the Air, falling into the Ditch. By this being assur'd of their intention, I confirm'd the first assurance of fair Quar­ter, with my farther Promises of good usage: I requir'd to have the Gate open'd at that instant, my Impatience not be­ing satisfied with their calling from the place that they were actually at work upon clearing of it: For I was appre­hensive, that some alteration might hap­pen by the delay. But to appease me, they let down a Man by a Cord, who came to assure me from the Governour, That they us'd the utmost diligence to deliver themselves into my Hands. In a moment of time the Gate was open'd, and old Sanchez Ximenez, who had been Governour for above Twenty five Years, came and delivered the Keys into my possession. I gave him all the Comfort I could, in the good usage I shewed him, by giving him, and his Officers, their Liberties, and among the rest to, the President of the Isle of St. Martha, who [Page 51] happen'd to be at that time in the Fort, and to be wounded: Moreover, I permitted the Governour to carry away whatsoever belong'd to him; and the next Day he retir'd, with his Domesticks and Slaves, to his Country-Houses, on the other side of the Lake.

This piece of Success did not stand me in above Fifty Men, therein compre­hending all the several Bodies, as Gre­nadiers, Soldiers, Inhabitants of the Coasts, Negroes, and Buccaniers. The Garrison being Prisoners of War, were confin'd. La Roche du Vigier, that com­manded the Grenadiers, I made Gover­nour; to whom, besides Cannoniers, and other necessary Workmen, I left the Soldiers of the Coast for his Garrison. By this I put him into a Condition of defending me, if occasion were. The Enemies Garrison did consist of about Three hundred Men, whereof Two hun­dred and Ten remain'd fit for Service, the rest were either kill'd or wounded in the Bombardment, Cannonading, and Attack.

On the Seventeenth we re-embark'd all that we had on Shoar, towards the [Page 52] main Sea, and began to work our selves into the Lake, but the careful tran­sporting of our Ammunition and Provi­sion being of the highest consequence, and could only be counted safe in the Lake, I resolv'd not to stir, until they were got in: For which Reason I was oblig'd to defer our March until the next Day, to the second Fort, that was about two Leagues and a half from us, called St. Croix; the taking of which was not less necessary to enable our Ships to come within Cannon-shot of Cartha­gena, than that of Boccachica, to facili­tate the entrance into the Lake.

My intention all along was to cut off the Avenues of Carthagena, so soon as it was possible, by securing the Post of Nostre Dame de la Pouppe; to which pur­pose, I had in the Morning sent away the Brigantin, Traversiers, and Chaloups, necessary for the carrying of the Bucca­niers, which I order'd upon this Expe­dition, for the Reasons before-mention­ed. Du Casse fearing that a long trouble­some March might bring his Contusion into a Wound, refus'd to charge him­self with the Command: His Major, that had formerly serv'd with those Py­rates, [Page 53] and was at present in a conside­rable Employ, ought to have had this Command; but he likewise distrusted his Health: Thus there was only Dau­nou left, who was no ways agreeable to them, as well by reason of his Misfor­tune, in not having acquir'd on the Coast of St. Domingo, either the Esteem or Love of any Body; as likewise, up­on the account of his being Lieutenant-Governour in a place where they never make any stay; so they could not be perswaded, that he had any Right to command them: However, it was ne­cessary I should make use of him, for want of another. I dispos'd all things for it, deliver'd him his Instructions, and even made most of them embark in my Presence; yet no sooner was my Back turn'd, but he came running with Tears in his Eyes, to demand Justice up­on their Insolence, for pressing them to go into the Boats, that attended on them, it was murmur'd about, That they did not know him, neither would they obey him: In short, they refus'd to em­bark; whereupon he took one of them by the Arm, to push him into the Ca­noa, which the Fellow had the Impudence to return, very insolently. I forthwith [Page 54] order'd the Delinquent to be shew'd to me, and upon the spot, I had him tied to a Tree, a Confessor was called, a Cloth bound over his Eyes, and the Musketiers were marching to do Justice on him; when Daunou, whom 'twas very necessary for me to reconcile to the Buccaniers, having before-hand instructed him what he was to do, threw himself at my Feet, protesting, he would not rise, until I had bestow'd Mercy on the unfortunate Offender. I seem'd to be very difficult, upon the Account of good Order; but at length, at the pressing Desires of the Company, I gave him his Life. And much trouble there was, to revive the Condemn'd; who could not believe, that it was possi­ble for him to be alive again, after the Ceremony of binding his Eyes.

Being desirous to put an end to this Affair, I went to the nearest Vessel, where Captain Pierre was embark'd; who was, as I had been inform'd, the first Beginner of the Mutiny; but, in the time of bringing the Fellow to Exe­cution, he had consider'd the Matter, and was march'd on Board with his Buc­caniers; I commanded him to be imme­diately [Page 55] dragg'd out, and put into my Canoa, and ordered him to prepare to die: But there appearing from the rest of the Company, many signs of Sub­mission, and Acclamations of, God save the King, I at last resolv'd to forgive the Offence; yet, withal, threatning to decimate them, upon the least Complaint that Daunou should make of their misbe­haviour.

This Usage, so different from the Ca­jolements they had been accustom'd to receive, from those that made use of them; did me very good Service, during the whole time they were under me, so as to make 'em tolerably obedient to Daunou; yet not to the exposing them­selves to the Dangers of Fire and Sword: For having without trouble possess'd themselves of Nostre Dame de la Pouppe, that was utterly abandon'd by the Ene­my; and believing, that upon their ap­proach to the little Fort of S. Lazare, between La Pouppe, and Carthagena, they might happen to frighten the Garrison to retire from thence also, he propos'd this Attempt to them; but it was to no purpose: And in a Council where he did not preside, they resolv'd to at­tend [Page 56] my coming, encamp'd in the Wood, at the foot of the Fort; where they got about Thirty Hours before me.

On the Seventeenth, all the Ships be­ing drawn into Order, at the entrance into the Lake, they pass'd it in the Mor­ning of the Eighteenth. The Diep Fly­boat touch'd; the great many Banks of Sand in the Lake, which our Pilots did not know, was the occasion we did not advance very much that Day: The A­pollo ran a-ground this Day; but these Banks being only Sand and Ouse, min­gled with a very fine Turf, there was no fear of danger.

In the mean time, being sure of having the Ships suddenly follow me, we be­gan our March by Break of Day; and for Security against all Hazards, took two Days Provision with us for the Forces, which was dignified with the Title of the Land-Army: This, after the departure of the Six hundred and fif­ty Buccaniers, that were gone to the o­ther side, and the Garrison of One hun­dred and seventy Men remaining behind us in the Fort of Boccachica, might con­sist of about One thousand seven hundred [Page 57] Men, not including some Sea-men, One hundred and ten Inhabitants of St. Do­mingo form'd into Companies, Fifteen or Twenty Voluntiers, that follow'd Du Casse, and One hundred and eighty Negroes.

I was oblig'd to defer making use of my Sea-men, until the Ships were arriv'd, and had taken their Stations: The smallness of our Forces was no discourage­ment to us. The Marines especially, being highly pleas'd with the execution of a Business, in which they had never before been employ'd, did apply them­selves with all imaginable Diligence and Good-will, every one of them chearful­ly undertaking whatsoever was appointed to him.

After we had cross'd the Mountains covered with Woods, which the Negroes examin'd before us, we met with the Plain, that is here and there cover'd with Shrub-wood, and at Noon came to an old ruin'd Castle, within half a Mile of St. Croix: Here we rested the Troops; and besides the Pits, that are there easily made in the Sand, and af­ford indifferent good Water, we had [Page 58] the good Fortune to find a great Cistern that was a mighty Conveniency to us. After this Refreshment, the Vicount de Coetlogon, whose Day it was, march'd on with a part of the Grenadiers, to observe how we might encamp as near as possi­ble to the Fort, and to seize upon the Passages that are in those Marshes, that encompass the Fort; in the mean time we continu'd our March, not being able to leave the Shoar, because the Lake ap­proaching, in divers places, within a few paces of the Sea, permits you the choice of that way only, until we came down from the Mountains, below which the Island is pretty spacious. This way having brought us within Cannon-shot of the Bastion of Carthagena, called S. Domingo, we struck short off to the right, by a way that the Marsh leaves cross the low Woods, called Maugliers, that grow in the Water.

In this place I was informed by the Of­ficers that Coetlogon sent me, that he was at the foot of Fort S. Croix, which the Enemy had abandon'd, having carried off their Cannon, and set fire to the Lodgements that were there; likewise, that some part of the Forces might en­camp [Page 59] upon a Spot of Ground about the Fort, but that the rest must be left in the way worn near the Fort by a Rill of Water running from the neighbouring Marshes; that the bottom was good, and the Water not above Knee-deep, which would no ways prevent a communica­tion.

Levy, the Major-General, and my self, with some Grenadiers, were in the mean time so near advanc'd to Carthagena, as easily to observe, that the place could not be attack'd on one side, the Marshes and Sea not leaving there a Sandy space of about twenty Fathom over, which was expos'd to the fire of three Bastions; besides, there was no sinking two Foot deep, without being in Water. The great Number of People that we saw on the Ramparts, who quietly look'd on us, made me desirous to summon them; the Governour was there, and answer'd my Drum, That he was ready to de­fend himself better than we could attack him.

We could not exactly discern the foot of the Rampart; and being desirous to know, if there was a Ditch, I order'd [Page 60] De Bresme, whose Battalion was encamp'd at the least distance from it, to examine at Night how it was; which he per­form'd very well, and assur'd me, That the Water of the Marsh went up even to the foot of the Walls, and that there was only a small dry space of Sand, that environ'd part of the great Bastion called S. Domingo, and that on the other side, the Sea came up to the foot of this Ba­stion. This Report made us conclude, not to attack Carthagena in this place.

The next Day, being the Nineteenth, so soon as it was Day, we cross'd the Lake, with much diligence: Pally, that commanded the Negroes, whom I had order'd to seek out a convenient place of descent, having assur'd me, that he had found out two, which came almost up to the great way; I immediately pass'd over with Levy, Sorel, and the Grena­diers of the Battalion of de la Chenau, being conducted by some Prisoners, that Pally had taken on Board of a Perea­goe, which had endeavour'd to get from Carthagena: These Prisoners, in hopes of being the better treated, had offer'd themselves for our Guides; and, indeed, led us very nigh to the foot of the Emi­nency, [Page 61] upon which Fort St. Lazare is si­tuated. At this place we found the Buc­caniers, (Daunou had left a Detachment of 'em to guard Nostre Dame de la Pouppe) Coetlogon, La Motte Michel, and La Motte d'Heran, whom I had left at S. Croix, to bring away the rest of the Troops, as the Chaloups came to them; insomuch, that we were all got together by Break of Day next Morning, leaving only a Ser­jeant, and Twenty Men, in Fort S. Croix, with Orders to keep the Gate always shut, that and the Situation being suffi­cient to prevent the Enemy from reposses­sing themselves of it.

We had in the Evening of the Nine­teenth Day, view'd all the places adja­cent to St. Lazare, and perceiv'd, that without getting it into our possession, it would not be possible to advance a step towards Carthagena, by reason it commands all the Avenues: We beheld, with much trouble, the time it must cost us, if we attack'd it in Form, and brought our Artillery to batter it. This whole little Mountain is defended with a natu­ral Glacis, very steep, cover'd with Shrub­wood, which runs up to the foot of the Wall, where we suppos'd was a [Page 62] Ditch; the Wood being extreamly thick, and very difficult to pass, prevented us from going to it; upon which I order'd the Chevalier de Pointis, to seek out two Negroes to examine the Matter; but un­derstanding to what purpose I sent for them, he betook himself to the Wood, at the same time he sent them to me; which he cross'd in the best manner he could, until he took hold of the very Wall; the Negroes went almost as fast as he, and then came to as­sure me, that the Ground was level to the foot of the Fort: The Chevalier de Pointis quietly heard their Report, which being exactly true, he said not a word of what he had done. In all this occa­sion, there was only a Grenadier kill'd upon our return.

Upon the next Day, being the Twen­tieth, Levy, Coetlogon, and Sorel, having got up to an Eminency, that was above all the others, sent to me, to come to them; from whence they shewed me, that the Fort did not take up (as we had imagin'd) all the Eminency, which ex­tended a good distance farther to the right; and, that if we could make a Way, through the Wood, to that heighth, [Page 63] we might afterwards go upon a level from thence to the foot of the Fort, all the way, being cover'd with Woods; and that we could fix a Miner to it, if the Garrison should resolve not to quit it. Upon this, I order'd the Major-General to call to Arms, and having call'd the Negroes to me at the moment I came down, I put them to work upon cutting of a Way, to facilitate the March of the Troops; this was carried on half way up the Hill, where dividing the Way, to encompass the Fort, Levy mar­ched to the right, Coetlogon to the left, and the Major-General visited every place as his Presence was requisite. This Work being found shorter than what we had expected, we arriv'd at the foot of the Fort in a very little time, where we made the greatest Fire that was possible for us to make, at the same time calling out for the Ladders; not that we expect­ed to use them, but to terrifie the Gar­rison; however, I sent for the Miner in good earnest.

During which time, the Enemy made no great Fire, by reason we made our Shot upon them, so soon as they expos'd their Bodies to view. They had for a [Page 64] good while perceiv'd, that we were pier­cing through the Wood; and we under­stood, by the sounding of a Bell, how much every step we made increas'd their trouble. This Bell was a Signal to the City, to acquaint them with their Con­dition; at first it struck only now and then, keeping sounding more and more by degrees, until at length it rung full out, when their fear gave them occasion to think they would be attack'd on all sides; which had effectually happen'd, if they had not chose rather to retire, for the Quarter towards the Gate was then free to them.

In this manner we possess'd our selves of the Fort: In the place there was only nine kill'd and wounded. On our side, the Chevalier de Vezins, that commanded the Grenadiers, since La Roche du Vigier was made Governour of Boccachica, was kill'd, with five Grenadiers; Simmonet, Colonel of a Battalion, dangerously hurt in the Head, and St. Lazare, Ca­ptain of Grenadiers, wounded in the Thigh.

The taking of St. Lazare, giving us the liberty to open our selves, we cross'd [Page 65] the way, and advanc'd our Camp to the Chappel of St. Lazare Hospital, which is a great breadth; being co­ver'd on one side, with several little Ca­nals, that have a communication with the Lake; and on the other, by a high thick Wall, which besides the Trees that co­ver'd us, did prevent the Bastions of the City from discerning the place we pos­sess'd; the kill'd and wounded that we had, were only by chance Balls: In the mean time, this little Chappel gave us the opportunity of going cover'd within a small Musket-shot of the place, which is not above that distance from it.

Whilst we were thus employ'd, the Ships, by the care of Du Buisson, were come nearer to the Town; insomuch, that in the Morning, a Bomb-Galliot with a Mor­tar, and a Traversier, were moor'd, and began to fire. In the Evening the Tra­versier was oblig'd to retire, being shot through with several Balls, and ready to sink; Bois Pinault, Lieutenant of the Artillery, commanded her; De Mons was in the Galliot, which likewise suffer'd so much, that she was also oblig'd to retire a little; besides, she had a great many kill'd on Board her; but the strength of [Page 66] these Vessels enabling them to endure a great deal of Fire, she began again in the Morning of the Twenty first of the same Month.

My chief Ingenier was wounded, and ill; whereby I was oblig'd to execute that Function. The Officers of the Ma­rine, which I had form'd into Brigades, had only their own Readiness to enable them to execute every thing, which could not supply the want of Practice and Judgment. I had, by good Luck, at the first, agreed with the Major-General, where to begin the Opening and Advance­ment of the Trenches. I had, moreover, design'd the Batteries of Cannons and Mortars, and given Orders for the things necessary to the Works; by which means, the Accident that happen'd to me a few Hours afterwards, did not much inter­rupt our Proceedings: In the mean time, all Hands were at work, the Soldiers upon Fascines and Gabions, the Sea-men upon landing the Artillery; in the drawing of which, the Hundred and eighty Negroes were a mighty assistance to us: For as to the Buccaniers, we were never able to make the least use of them; and the share which they ought [Page 67] to have perform'd of the Work, falling upon others, who were by this means over-wrought, did not a little contri­bute to the causing of those Distempers, which so lamentably reign'd among us af­terwards.

Our small number, and the great ma­ny things to be done, forc'd us to keep the Troops with their Arms in one hand, and their Working-Tools in the other, the Soldiers were at one and the same time, both on the Guard, and working; the nearness of the Woods, on whose sides we were encamp'd, were a great conveniency to us: For when we drew out our Troops, they left their Arms upon that spot, and went to the Wood with their Tools; and upon the first Beat of Drum, they quitted their Tools, and running to their Arms, were imme­diately in a Condition of marching; the Battalion of Grenadiers, was ever at the Head of the Camp, to sustain what­soever might be presented; and that was sufficient, by reason the disposition of the Ground was such, that the Camp was on all parts inaccessible, but on that only towards the City.

[Page 68]Nor were they less diligent on Board the Fleet: Du Buisson caus'd the Scepter to advance, commanded by Guilotin, the Saint Lewis by Sabran, and the Vermandois, aboard which he com­manded; with these Ships he made up towards the City, notwithstanding the Spaniards had purposely sunk a Gal­leon to render the passage difficult: We were oblig'd to leave on Board these Ships that were to fight, a great many Sea-men to work the Guns; which diminish'd the number of those employ'd upon the Dis­imbarkment, and transporting of the Ar­tillery that was necessary to us on Shoar: It is hardly to be imagin'd, how so small a parcel of our Men was able, in six Days to disimbark, draw half a League upon Land, and bring into a State of Battery, Twenty seven of the greatest Cannon we used, five Mortars, and all the Equipage necessary to the execution of both the one and the other, besides the Provisions that we were oblig'd to bring to the Camp; but it is true, that Du Tilleul being charg'd with this Care, attended it with such application, that making use of the Sea-men only at certain Intervals, he constantly kept our Magazines fill'd with Provision and Ammunition, with­out [Page 69] ever interrupting any other Busi­ness.

Our Affairs being in this State, and having, moreover, rais'd a Mortar to prevent the Enemy from going on with a Work, that we perceiv'd they had be­gun upon a Platform over the Gate: We having twice neglected to throw up a Breast-work that I had mark'd out; and fearing, least at the third time there might not be something farther necessary to be done, that might occasion a delay, I re­solv'd to continue my Presence there un­til it was perfected; my stay inconside­rately brought a great many Officers, this number of People being moreover re­markable for their Cloaths, drew upon us the Enemies Fire, and particularly that of their Cannon, with Hail-shot, by which I was wounded; my hurt was more painful than dangerous, yet I was very fearful that this Accident might dis­courage our Men, which indeed was too apparent at first: Moreover, I was ap­prehensive, least the Officers, whom I had by good Fortune maintain'd in a perfect Union hitherto, should not continue the same, which would have been detri­mental to our Design: I resolv'd there­fore, [Page 70] to struggle with the Pain which I felt; insomuch, that after the Third Day I was carried into every part that I could have visited in another Condition: But during that interval, I committed all things that I could not inspect, to the Care of Levy; who certainly acquitted himself to a degree above all manner of Praise; indefatigable, full of Expedients and Contrivances for the Work; neglect­ful of his Rest, and his Meals; he was every-where, and forwarded every thing, with an incredible vigour.

The Vicount de Coetlogon, was to have commanded the Artillery; but I was over-joyed to understand, that his In­clinations were rather to enter, with the rest, into the general Service; this gave me an opportunity of choosing several Persons, to manage the Artillery, who did their Duty with more expedition than would have been possible for any single Man to have done: So he had the Guard only of the Battery of five Cannons of Twelve and Eighteen Pounders, which he rais'd at the foot of Fort St. Lazare; in which Fort we had got mounted Se­ven Pieces of Twelve, Eight, and Six, that terribly shatter'd the Bastions of the [Page 71] place. Mornay, Commander of the Pont­chartrain, was in the Fort with his Ship's Company; the Chevalier De la Motte d'Heran, took upon him the Care of a great Battery of nine Guns, that was likewise upon the same Eminency with the Fort, but more to the right than the first: La Motte Michel, had the Charge of that we called, The Royal Battery, consisting of six Pieces of Thirty six, and Twenty four, planted Sixty Fathoms distant from the Gate, and designed to make the Breach: Gombaud play'd the Mortars, which he had been exercis'd in from his Youth, and doubtless never any did better execution than these; for one would have thought the Bombs had been plac'd by Hand, in the places where they were design'd to fall. These Mortars were plac'd between the Batteries of the Cannon, in such manner, that as soon as they began to play, the place was on fire in several parts at once; the Galliot was at work on her side, but the Bombs she spent the first Days, were of little or no effect.

The Twenty first, Twenty second, Twenty third, and Twenty fourth, were employ'd in transporting the Cannon, [Page 72] and getting together the things necessary; the Vermandois only was advanc'd to Cannonade the Town; but I being in­form'd, that she being alone, did solely bear the whole Fire of a Bastion, that could conveniently reach her; I order'd her to retire, and to wait for the other Ships that were to go on with her; we were likewise constrain'd to bring away two small Cannons that we had rais'd in the Chappel of St. Lazare, without any other Parapet than the Wall, upon which the Enemy making an extraordinary Fire, render'd this Post untenable, we brought off the Cannon with the loss of eight or ten Men.

Canette, altho' wounded, return'd to the Camp on this Day, being the Twenty fourth; and I continu'd to regulate, up­on my Bed, with him, what was ne­cessary to be done. In the Evening of the same Day, he open'd the Trench a little below the Door of the Chappel of St. Lazare, where we were under cover, being the same place I had agreed upon with the Major-General. Levy, whose Day it was, did not Command, by rea­son he was entrusted with the General Management of the Siege in my stead: [Page 73] Coetlogon mounted the Guard in the Trench, which was advanc'd the same Night Seventy two Fathoms, being as far as was necessary to attack the City-Gate, when the Breach should be perfectly made. The following Days the Captains took their turns, according to their pla­ces, and mounted every Twenty four Hours; the Batteries were likewise brought into a condition for Service, and on the Twenty eighth begun to play, our Fire, until then, being only from some little Pieces that were mounted in haste. The Enemies Fire, which had always been ve­ry moderate, grew now something slower; for the Bombs, and the Cannon of the Fort, and the Hill, had dismounted se­veral of their Pieces; yet they troubled us less with their Sallies, for they did not so much as attempt to make one in the whole Siege.

At this time, a Bark sent from Porto Bello, by the General of the Galleons, to the Governour of Carthagena, not know­ing what pass'd in this place, came qui­etly into Boccachica, and fell into the hands of the Avenant, and Marin, that I had left there, who took her with their Canoes: The Letters on Board her, [Page 74] were in Answer to those which the Go­vernour of Carthagena had sent to the Ge­neral, informing him, that the French Fleet was upon the Coast; they contain'd a particular of the Precautions that were us'd to secure the Galleons, viz. By bring­ing them to the very lower end of the Port, and defending the approach to them by an Estoccade of Piles, and Plat­forms of Cannon: They added farther, That part of the Silver which they had, was already brought into the Castles; for that they had suspended their Reso­lutions of sending it back to Panama, un­til they had received some farther Infor­mation of our Designs; which the Ge­neral press'd the Governour to send him immediately, either by the same Bark, or a second, that was to come away in Four and twenty Hours after the first: But what most acquainted us with the misera­ble Condition they were in, was the ear­nest Desires of the General, in the most pressing Terms, to send him fifty Pullets, and some Quintals of white Biskit.

Altho' the Batteries, as I said, were not in a Condition to fire, until the Twenty eighth, yet that design'd to make the Breach, was play'd so successfully, [Page 75] by La Motte Michel, Siglas, Longjoue, and some other Officers under him, assisted by the Gunner of the Scepter, that on the Twenty ninth in the Morning, the Wall seem'd to totter; our Fire had not been discontinued, because of the Night, but it increas'd so much in the Day, that in the Evening the Front of the Rampart being quite fall'n down, Levy, and So­rel, who would lose no time, imagin'd the Breach was passable, and came to pro­pose the Assault to me. I was resolv'd neither to lose, nor neglect a Minute; but likewise determin'd not to hazard any thing upon ill Grounds: I order'd to Arms, and dispos'd all things for an Assault; yet resolving not to engage be­fore I judg'd it feasible: In short, Night being come, whilst we prepar'd our selves, the Chevalier de Pointis passing up to the Arm-pits in Water, over the little Marsh upon which the Causey, and the Bridge, that communicates with the City, are built, went to view the Breach. He as­sur'd me, That the Wall was indeed ve­ry much ruin'd; but that it was not pos­sible, as yet, to mount it without Lad­ders.

[Page 76]The Chevalier de Ferriere, Captain of a Fire-ship, who was at the Head of the Brigade of Ingeniers, that I had sent to observe the Condition of the wooden Bridge, (which the Enemy had endea­vour'd to blow up, by running under it a Pereagoe fill'd with Powder) brought me word, That the Bridge had suffer'd; yet might not be altogether unserviceable to us: And, that the Gate beyond it, which we imagin'd was beat down by the Cannon, was strongly terrass'd on the inside; of this he was positively cer­tain, by reason he had put his Hand into the Holes which the Cannon had made, and therefore there was no hopes of car­rying the place by that; but that the Breach must be pass'd, to the foot of which he could not get from the place where he was; and that it was, by all that he could perceive in the Night, but little ad­vanc'd.

These two Officers were too well known, to doubt of their having been where they said they were: Moreover, Canette told me, he was not quite ready; that all the Gabions, and Fascines, which he had got together, were spent; and, [Page 77] that if by chance we should find so much resistance as to be oblig'd to lodge upon the Breach, we should not be able to do it, our Earth-sacks being at the Lake-side, for want of Hands to bring them; that there were two little Flanks unruin'd, that would destroy a great many Men in the Attack; all these Reasons engag'd me to dismiss the Troops from their Duty, and we agreed not to make the Assault until the first of the next Month; in the mean time, to employ both Night and Day in the finishing of the Breach, and to get together all such things as would be necessary upon that occasion.

Upon the Twenty ninth, Du Buisson being advanc'd with the three Ships, Sce­pter, St. Lewis, and Vermandois, within a small Cannon-shot of the City, they fir'd upon it with all their Artillery; but seeing it only reach'd the tops of the Houses, and my Business being to have two Bastions silenc'd that annoy'd my Camp, I sent to let them know, That when they were retired in the Evening, they should wait new Orders before they begun again.

[Page 78]In the mean time, we prepar'd our selves for the Business of the next Day; the Order of Attack I had regulated with the Major-General, in this man­ner:

A Serjeant, with ten Grenadiers, should begin, sustained by the Company of Grenadiers on Guard, there being always one at the Head of the Trench; the whole Body of Grenadiers were likewise to advance to the Head of it, to sustain the first, and to precede a Battalion, in whose Rear should be Canette, the Che­valier de Ferriere, du Crest, Coursy, and One hundred and fifty Workmen, with the Sub-Ingeniers, and all necessary Im­plements; after whom should follow the same number of Buccaniers and Negroes. The Head of the Trench was twenty Fa­thom distant from the little Ravelin, that in some sort covers the Bridge, whose Wall was so low, that it might have been pass'd, if it had not been easier to pass through a single Barrier that was there, and these Troops fill'd all the Trench, unto the Gate of the Chappel: All the rest of the Battali­ons were posted according to their [Page 79] Ranks, within the Close of the Hospital, to march into the Trench as fast as the first Troops advanc'd out of it, to the Attack, and to follow 'em up, and su­stain 'em. I recommended to Major Thesut, in particular, the good Order which these Battalions were to observe, to the end, that too much Precipitation might not cause Confusion in their March, nor too much Slowness occasion as much Inconveniency by any Interval being left open.

All things were thus regulated for the next Day, when Du Casse, whose Day it was, came to tell me, about Three a Clock, That he saw the Breach from the Head of the Trench, plainly enough to assure me, that it was passable; that he believ'd the Enemies were at work be­hind, in throwing up a Retrenchment. A delay, in this case, would have been so very inconvenient to me, by reason of the time I should have given the Ene­mies, to finish their Work, that I forth­with resolv'd to attack the Enemies at that instant, provided I found the Breach to be as it was describ'd to me. I was the more inclin'd to believe it, by being inform'd on all Hands, in the Morning, [Page 80] with the good Effects of the Royal Battery, which at every Discharge brought pro­digious Ruines from the Wall; and, at the worst, I could not be more asham'd in retiring, if things should not appear in the Condition reported, than I had been the Night before.

I immediately sent for Levy, the Ma­jor-General, Canette, and some other Of­ficers, that were gone to Nostre Dame de la Pouppe, to discover from that place the Condition of the Town; but hearing a general Alarm beaten, they presently re­turn'd; and being inform'd what was to be done, every one of them ran to give the necessary Orders to what belong'd to him. The Troops at work in the Woods, being called by the Drums, instantly came to their Arms, and put themselves into order; there was only a small Body in the Trench, that were not exactly pla­ced where they were to be; but the Ma­jor-General dispos'd of them with all possible Expedition: At which time Nesmond, Poullermont, La Linde, Du Che, and Rochebonne, who (as I said before) chose rather to serve as my Aids de Camps, than to be employ'd in any other Service, not knowing but that the Troops were [Page 81] in perfect order, came to acquaint me, That every thing was ready, and that they waited for my Orders to march: I gave it, imagining like the rest, that all the Wall was fall'n.

The Order was immediately carried by my Aids de Camp; who having all undertaken to deliver it, took that oc­casion to run to the head of the Trench, Du Tilleul only, that could not be any where else, was with me; Du Casse was on his Day in the Trench; but Levy be­ing the eldest of all, and this Action be­ing regarded as a General Affair, by rea­son all were employed in it, put himself at the Head, and gave the Motion to the Troops to begin, at the moment he re­ceiv'd the Order; which was as sudden­ly executed, as it was speedily carried.

What ought to have been a great Ad­vantage, had like to have caus'd a great Inconveniency; the Officers, notwith­standing the Remonstrances that had been made them, upon the necessity of each of them being at his Post, to see the Troops perform their Duty; carried on by their Courage, the greatest part of them ad­vanced before the Troops, and assaulted [Page 82] the Breach with Sword in Hand, without observing how they were follow'd; and the Troops, unprovided of Leaders, did indeed march on, but slower than the Safety of their Officers requir'd, who re­main'd for a considerable time expos'd upon the Breach which they had gain'd. We were all deceiv'd in our Reckoning, for it was the steepest way imaginable: The Grenadiers, who were order'd not to fire, could not abstain from it, when they came to be expos'd out of the Trench, and to suffer the Fire of the Ramparts; but the time they employ'd to Re-charge, detaining them in the way between the Trench and the Breach, was the reason of their Officers being alone at the top: Le­vy repair'd the inconveniency of this Ac­cident so soon as it was possible, by ha­stening on the Troops, as likewise by his Words and his Actions. In the mean time, the Chevalier de Pointis, who had first mounted, was in an instant joyn'd by Gougon, Jaucourt, and Marolles, whose Battalion was on the Trench-Guard; Daye, Vignancourt, Montrosier, Du Rol­lon, Vaujoux, young Marolles, Marigny, Fouilleuse, and my Aids de Camp: They endeavour'd to maintain themselves, not­withstanding all the Efforts of the Ene­my, [Page 83] who were attack'd at the time they least expected it; yet not being dismayed, they attempted to drive us off with Sword and Pike. Marolles, and Du Rol­lon, were already mortally wounded, and upon the Ground; Fouilleuse had his Leg broke, Gougon, Montrosier, young Ma­rolles, Marigny, Daye, and Moussac, were all wounded; some shot, others hurt with Pikes; some of them had several Wounds, as Montrosier, and Vaujoux; when at length Levy, and the Grenadiers, came to their assistance, and repuls'd the Enemy; who rallying nevertheless at the end of the Streets, were several times charg'd before they could be dri­ven off. Du Casse, not so nimble as the rest, altho' one of the first at the foot of the Breach, maugre all his Good-will, had so much trouble to climb it, that he was out of Breath by that time he got to the top, where he thought he should ne­ver recover his Wind. He was follow'd by fifteen or twenty Voluntiers, Inhabi­tants of the Coast, who did very good Service; for firing upon such of the Ene­mies as were yet upon the Ramparts, be­hind two little Flankers that fir'd upon the Bridge, and very much annoy'd our Troops; they at length oblig'd them to [Page 84] follow those that were driven from the Platform, where the Breach ended; the Major-General, who at the bottom of the Breach was wounded by a Musket-Ball in the Neck, follow'd by Baraudin, one of his Aids, and Francin, Captain of Gre­nadiers with his Arm broken, notwith­standing mounted the Breach together; but the Captain's strength failing, so soon as he was up, he was forc'd to be brought off, for the same reason the Major-General was not able to make a much longer stay.

All the Troops defiling in the mean time one after another, I found my self at last rid of all Uneasiness for the Suc­cess of an Action, that may, with Mo­desty, be term'd very bold, and very ex­traordinary, for Seafaring Men.

A Party of the Negroes of Pally, who conducted them, in defiling off to the Ramparts on the left, push'd the Enemy from Bastion to Bastion, unto the Causey that divides this part of the City, parti­cularly called Hihimani, from the other call'd by the general Name of Carthagena; but the Buccaniers to exempt themselves from the Attack of the Breach, had con­sulted [Page 85] the Matter upon the Bridge, and the little Causey of Hihimani, and resolv'd to line the Hedge over-against the Ramparts, where they made an extraordinary Fire, not perceiving the part they chose out of fear, was much more dangerous than that they endeavour'd to avoid: But by good Fortune for them, the Enemy was dri­ven from off those Ramparts, and those Indian Heroes adventur'd to enter, when they thought the Business was pretty well at an end; yet were they a little mistaken in this Account: For the Enemy, after having stood firm at all the Corners of the Streets, were at length driven to the Causey of Hihimani, towards Carthagena, into which they designed to retreat; but the Governour, who perhaps fear'd, that upon opening the Gates we might enter Pell-mell with his People, plainly told them, That he would not let them in, until they had attack'd us in Hihimani: So after the loss of about 800 Men, urg'd by necessity, and possibly the Wine they had drunk, infusing fresh Courage into them; they got together in a Croud, and with a great Cry came and charg'd us at the Head of the great Street, which ends at the Causey: We had just begun to cast up a Retrenchment there, and the Troops [Page 86] not having time to bring themselves into Order, surpriz'd with this Attack, mov'd a little backwards, to cover themselves with the Houses of the Streets which cros­sed that: But while Levy, and the Offi­cers, brought them into order, which was instantly done, Vignancourt, the Cheva­lier de Pointis, Gougon, and Jaucourt, with a small number of Grenadiers, sustain'd this impetuous Attack; but the Troops being brought back to the Charge, made a very great slaughter of the Enemies; above 150 were found the next Day upon the Causey, pierc'd with Bayonets, besides those that went off wounded: In this Charge the Vicount de Coetlogon was wounded with a Musket-Ball in the Shoulder, who was come hither from the Battery, accompanied by De la Motte Mi­chel, and De la Motte d'Heran; his Wound did not at first appear to be considerable, but by weakning of him, it contributed to his Death, caus'd by a malignant Fe­ver; and here the Chevalier de Pointis, after having pass'd through so many Dangers, to which he expos'd himself, received the Wound he died of; the Marquis Du Boury was at this time likewise hurt in his Face, St. Amant on the Side, and many other Officers received Contusions.

[Page 87]The Enemy being drove back again were received by a little Port into Cartha­gena; we applied our selves in Hihimani, to making of Retrenchments at all the Avenues, to secure us from Surprizes, and to permit our Troops to pass the Night quietly, in the convenient Lodgings of a handsome City; the Fire of the Enemies Cannon kill'd some Men in this Work, that were commanded by the Chevalier de la Ferriere, du Crest, and Coursy, under the direction of Canette, about Ten at Night all was in good order.

In this Action I lost about sixty Men, and had some more than that number wounded, without comprehending the Officers before-mentioned.

It was resolv'd to rest the Troops, the next Day being the first of May, and to work only upon the opening of the Gate, and repairing of the Bridge for the passage of the great Cannon, with which we de­sign'd to beat down the Rampart we had to pass, before we could enter into the other part of the City. Canette went in the Morning early, to view the places of Battery that were to be rais'd, and having [Page 88] shew'd them to me in the Evening, I found them so near the Wall, that I did not doubt making a very considerable Breach in a very little time; this whole Causey, and that part of the Marsh which divides Carthagena, are not a Musket-shot over.

This Day I sent on Board the Scepter, St. Lewis, and the Vermandois, a part of the Detachment of Sea-men, call'd Scythe-men, by reason of the small Scythes fix'd upon Staffs, which they had for their Arms; I order'd these Ships to endeavour again the next Day, to ruine the Defences of a Bastion that could hurt us more than the others. About Three a Clock, on the Second, they began to Cannonade; in the mean time we put all things into a readiness, towards the bringing of the great Cannon into Hihimani; this Can­nonading continu'd until Six; when at the sight of four white Flags flying, two on Hihimani side, and the others towards the Sea, I order'd the Ships to forbear firing, until I knew the Intentions of the Besieg'd. They told Du Casse, who by the means of a little Spanish, run himself into all things, That they were willing to capitulate upon honourable Terms. I sent them word, That before I enter'd [Page 89] upon it, I expected Hostages that very moment, without giving any other Assu­rance than my Parole, to return them the next Day, in case we did not agree upon Terms. This hard Condition was ac­cepted; which plainly shewed me, that the Enemies were straiten'd. In short, the Precedent of Hihimani terrified them, and the Bombs permitted them no manner of rest; so they brought me two of the most considerable Men amongst them. At this instant I received Advice from two pla­ces of 1000, or 1200 Men, being upon their March to throw themselves into Cartha­gena: An Indian was the first that brought me this Account; which was afterwards confirmed to me, by a Letter from a Lieu­tenant at Boccachica; who seeking for fresh Provisions in the Country, had been besieg'd in one of the Houses of Don San­chez Ximenez, defended by his People a­gainst a small Detachment of that Body on their March. The Indian said, That he had been among the Troops; who knowing that we possess'd the common High-way, did design to go round the great Lake, and passing afterwards through By-ways into the little Lakes that lie about Carthagena, to go on a long the Sea-side, and get into the City by the Bastions of [Page 90] St. Catherine. I immediately order'd a-shoar all the Scythe-men, and Sea-men, that could possibly be spar'd, who were also provided with Arms; these were set to guard the Batteries, for all the Artil­lery was as yet there. I detach'd Du Casse with 500 Buccaniers, and a Battalion of 300 Soldiers, to stop the passage of these Succours; he posted himself amongst the little Lakes, where the Enemies would be oblig'd to come; and the advantage of the place wherein he was posted, enabled him to have given a very good Account of them. The next Day I sent Daunou with a less number, being inform'd it would be suf­ficient to repel the Succours, in case it should be attempted; but they did not appear, neither did I ever know the Rea­sons of it.

In the mean time we were employed upon the Capitulation. Du Casse, ever an importunate Advocate for the Spani­ards, continually tormented me, to mi­tigate the Conditions I impos'd upon them; but being not only charg'd with the support of the Honour due to His Ma­jesty's Arms, but having likewise my Under­takers Interests to manage, I stood firm to my Demands, altho' an infinite number [Page 91] of Reasons might have occasion'd me to be more impatient than any Body else, to have this Affair determin'd. At length I propos'd to the Governour, the honou­rable Articles of passing out through the Breach, with all those carrying Arms, Drums beating, to take four Pieces of Cannon; and as to the rest, it was a­greed, That all the Silver, without Exce­ption, or Reserve, in favour of whom­soever it might be, should belong to me; that the Effects of all such as went out, or were absent, of whatsoever Nature the said Effects were, should devolve to me; that such of the Inhabitants as would continue in the place, excepting their Plate, should enjoy all their Possessions and Priviledges, and for the future be regarded as the King's Subjects, being they were so by Conquest: And farther, that all the Churches and Convents should be preserv'd.

This Matter agreed on, I demanded until such time as the Governour march'd out, which could not be in some Days, that they should deliver me up one of the Gates; which they did, and I or­der'd the Grenadiers to it. I had regu­lated what every Man, according to his [Page 92] Condition, was to carry out with him in Silver for their Subsistance; to which, that I might not be impos'd upon, I had added this Condition, That I reserv'd to my self the liberty of searching the Men and Baggage at the Gate. The Governor sent to desire I would permit, out of Courtesie, (which was the Expression) the principal Officers, and some other considerable Persons that I permitted to follow him, the double of what was sti­pulated. This amounted unto 2000 Crowns a Head; but they being a small number, I readily acquiesc'd to it, and was convinc'd by the Fervency of their Acknowledgments, that it was really ne­cessary to them.

It was of great consequence to me, that those who were allow'd to retire where they pleas'd, after the Garrison was march'd out, should remain until they were oblig'd to reveal what Sums they had in their Houses; therefore I was very exact in my Measures, that no Body might escape: In the mean time, several Officers went freely up and down the City; and Du Casse, whom I had declar'd Governour, that they might believe I design'd to keep the City, took upon him to deliver to [Page 93] some People Certificates, that were not Pasports, yet had some resemblance to them, by which those People pass'd the Gates, the Officers on the Guard belie­ving it was my Order. I do believe he had no ill Intention in it, and I did at­tribute that manner of acting to the kind­ness he ever affected to shew to the Spa­niards; yet common Report did not for­bear saying, that he got very considera­ble Sums; which I did not believe. How­ever, I would not have it thought, that I tolerated his Conduct; therefore I forbid him the continuance of it: And this Or­der so much displeas'd him, that he never came afterwards to me.

The Governour delayed his departure all that he could; but at length I ac­quainted him, That he must positively march out upon the Sixth, and that on the same Day I would enter at the Head of the Troops; which was accordingly executed. The Count Ʋgnez de los Rios, follow'd with his Garrison, being listed Men, to the number of about 2800, march'd out through a Lane of our Soldiers and Sea-men, (whom I had order'd on Shoar to enlarge the number) Buccaniers, Inha­bitants of the Coast, and Negroes. We [Page 94] two were upon our Horses, and having saluted me with his Sword, after some Expressions of Civility, he continu'd his way with the City-Colours, and two of the four Cannon allowed him, not ha­ving Equipage convenient for the expor­ting of the others; even these were the smallest, and drawn by Men.

These People were narrowly search'd as they came out; but when I was in­form'd of their Number, which was al­most equal to ours; and perceiving that this Search would bring the Night upon us, before we could dispatch them, I was afraid, least the danger of losing a little Money, should occasion some disorder when it was dark; so I sent my Orders to the Gates, to hasten their March, with­out delaying of it by a Search, which produc'd little; and the Garrison all marched out before Sun-set. It was not without a great deal of trouble, that I continued upon my Horse, to receive the Salute of the Governour; but that being pass'd, I was oblig'd through the great pain of my Wound, to get into my Chair, wherein I was us'd to be carried; in this Condition, and in the midst of the Guards Marine, who were cloath'd [Page 95] alike, I went (preceded by a Battalion of Grenadiers) to take possession of the City.

I was well assur'd there was Silver in Carthagena; but the difficulty was how to get it: The worst that could happen to those in possession of it, was the loss of it, when we had discover'd it; it was therefore necessary to search all the Hou­ses: But by whom could it be done? With what Surety, that the best part should not remain undiscover'd? The number of Officers was not great enough, to disperse them into all the necessary places; and if I would not have left any thing, it must have requir'd me above six Months time. In this perplexity I bethought my self of this Expedient: I publickly declar'd, and order'd it to be set up in the principal places, That I would give the Tenth to the Proprietors, of whatsoever they honestly brought me; and a Tenth to them that should inform me, of any Persons that did not declare their Effects. To these Promises I join'd my Threats, of punishing them for for­mal Disobedience.

[Page 96]The hopes of preserving a part of what was otherwise all in danger to be lost; the fear of Neighbours, and ill Friends, who at the same time had the opportunity of profiting and being trou­blesome, induc'd them all to be ingenu­ous in the matter; which was done with so much forwardness, that Tilleul, who was charg'd with the Treasure, was not able to receive and weigh the Silver fast enough.

The Convents only were of the Opini­on, that they were exempted from this Search, under the Article of the Capitu­lation, that they should be preserv'd; by this means they quietly kept both their own Money, and what was confided to them. I order'd that Article to be ex­plain'd to them, to the end they might know, that the preservation of the Con­vents, consisted, in not permitting them to be destroy'd; but as to the Money, I had in formal Terms, reserv'd that to my self: Otherwise they might have got to­gether all the Riches of the City into their Houses, to have depriv'd me of it. Not­withstanding these Reasons, several of them continu'd so obstinate, and among [Page 97] the rest, Father Grenelli a Jesuit, the Guardian, and Procurator of the Corde­liers, that I was forc'd to have them se­cur'd, and to threaten them with worse usage. The Rector of the Jesuits obey'd, and brought about Twenty thousand Crowns in Gold, that he found in the Chamber of Father Grenelli, and about as much from the whole House besides; and then desired, that I would order the House to be every-where visited, by which Conduct he engag'd me to release his Re­ligious. So soon as the Cordeliers per­ceiv'd that the Buccaniers were brought, who have a particular Talent at discover­ing hidden Treasures, they protested, they were ready to reveal all they had, so the Buccaniers retired; but when they were gone, the Reverend Fathers fell into their first Silence; in short, I resolv'd to charge the Captains with the Care of searching the Religious Houses, to the end the Presence of these principal Officers might preserve all necessary Order and Reservedness. This Search produc'd enough to make amends for the trouble it gave us; and in regard to the Churches, prevented even the ap­pearance of Profanation. After I had se­verely commanded 'em not to touch any of the sacred Vessels, or any thing apper­taining to the Sacrifice, I order'd our [Page 98] Chaplains to gather up what was only for the Decoration of the Churches. Father Paul, a Dominican, who hath (by I know not what Authority) given himself a sort of a Mission among the Buccaniers; and usually living upon the Coast, had follow­ed the Army, and put himself among our Chaplains; aided them with a mighty Zeal to execute my Orders, which seem'd to him sufficiently just, in relation to the other Convents; but when he was to go to the Dominicans, supported with the Credit of Du Casse, he thought to have prevented this Visit; but seeing there was no great Notice taken first of his Threats, nor afterwards of his Prayers, was then transported with horrour at the profana­tion, and came running to denounce up­on me, from God Almighty, the Anger of Heaven; yet they did not forbear going on with the Business.

Altho' the Silver was brought in great abundance to the Contadore; that is, the Town-House, where I had my Quarters; yet we did not receive, by much, what we might have expected. We had scarce got to the Coast of St. Martha, which I had been told was a Desert, but they were acquainted with it at Carthagena; and be­ing likewise inform'd by three several Ex­presses [Page 99] from the King of Spain, of all Par­ticulars, they were amply acquainted with my Project, my Forces, and, in a man­ner, the time I should get thither; so they begun to bestir themselves upon that very Alarm: All the Women, of any Quality, with their Jewels, the Nuns, and what was worst of all, 120 Mules laden with Gold, went out in four Days time; they retir'd to Monpos, a Town forty Leagues from thence; and altho' we had not miscarried in our first De­scent, to attempt Nostre Dame de la Poup­pe, yet we could not have got thither un­til the greatest part of those Treasures was gone. However, the Honour which his Majesty's Arms acquir'd in this occasion, besides near upon Eight or Nine Millions that could not escape us, comforted us for the loss of the rest.

There is, in the Year, one intemperate Season, that never misses this part of the Indian Coast, and it seem'd, as if the great Rains, and Thunder, which are the Fore­runners of it, had, for a time desisted, to afford us the Opportunity of taking Car­thagena; for no sooner were we in pos­session of it, but the Air became infected: Eight hundred Men, in six Days time, were seiz'd with a contagious Distemper, [Page 100] of whom the greatest part died; and, in a little time, we were scarce able to receive into the Hospital, which was with much Expedition established, the great Number that was brought from all parts, every Day were we informed of some melan­choly Example; all Ideas of Triumphs and Treasures, were effac'd, by those of Sickness and Mortality. In short, if the Distemper had continued with this Ri­gour, I must have beheld my inevitable Ruine in the fairest Port of the World, and no Enemy near me; not only have lost the Fruits of all our Labours, but likewise the Squadron entrusted to me.

There was a Report spread about, the Author of it I did not find out until some Days afterwards, That I could not carry back the King's Ships, without ma­king use of the Buccaniers; who being accustom'd to these Climates, were no more infected with the Unhealthiness of the Air, than the Natives that are very rarely touch'd with it. In this Conditi­on, Du Casse, that conceal'd his Spite at Hihimani, where he was retired, sent to me, by his Major, a Writing, insinua­ting, That his Colony was in danger of being destroyed, in case the Enemies should attempt a Descent there, which [Page 101] was no ways to be doubted; that he de­manded of me the Forces I had drawn from thence; and in case of refusal, he thereby made me responsible for all Ac­cidents. I answered by the same way, That his Colony was as much recom­mended to me, as it had been to him; that concurring to his Sentiments, as to that Matter, I did consent, whatsoever Inconveniency might attend the weakning of my self by his departure, that he might return with three parts of his Buccaniers, all the Inhabitants, and part of the Ne­groes; and, that what I kept with me, would therefore be too inconsiderable for the Coast to suffer by it. This Answer, which I designed with sincerity, happen'd to be contrary to what he expected, he did not imagine I could have taken that Resolution, thinking, by the Report spread about, to have made me so well compre­hend the occasion I should have for the Buccaniers, as to have determin'd my self against their return; but seeing my firm­ness, he begun to be more compliant, and better dispos'd, without speaking of go­ing away; and thereby plainly shewed us, what sort of Interest detained him at Carthagena. As the Silver was brought in, so it was immediately carried on Board the King's Ships; upon which he em­ploy'd [Page 102] Daunou to acquaint me, That the Buccaniers were disgusted, that I did not call some of them to be Witnesses of what pass'd at the Contadore; and propos'd to have me admit some Body from them. I found so much Insolence in this Propo­sition, that I suspected from whence it proceeded: I told Daunou, That if he happen'd to charge himself with any more such Commissions, I would make him re­pent it. I was at that instant inform'd, That some of the Buccaniers, contrary to my Prohibition of pillaging Houses, had broke through the Roof of a House, and stole some Merchandizes: I took my Guards, and went through all the Quar­ters of the City, resolv'd to make an Ex­ample of those who fell into my Hands; but they were all retired to the Posts as­signed them, where they received all the Threats I made them with a most pro­found Submission: Moreover, I was not so ill serv'd by my Spies, as not to be in­form'd, that the seditious Discourses they sometimes held, upon the Silver being carried on Board the King's Ships, was in­spir'd into them, by People wholly aban­don'd to their own Interest, who took all Opportunities to express their own Thoughts with the Tongues of the Bucca­niers.

[Page 103]I was not so much a Stranger to the Buccaniers Courage, as to apprehend any manner of Attempt from that part; but a Rumour being underhand whisper'd, that they had a mind to pillage the Con­tadore, to secure the share they pretended to of the Booty; I was apprehensive, least they might force me to punish them so, that I should not be able to ex­pect any farther Service from them, and I might possibly have occasion for their assi­stance on Board the King's Ships, in my return to France. Upon this I proceed­ed upon a Method which seem'd most likely to satisfie them, without engaging me to an unbecoming Condescension: I liberally recompens'd such of the Bucca­niers as were wounded, and gave more to the lam'd; there being so few of the one, or the other, that I could not there­by much prejudice the Interests of the Ar­mament; I order'd very considerable Gra­tifications to their Captains, and some o­thers that had distinguish'd themselves; I thought by the kindness I shewed to Du Casse, and his Adherents, which were so excessive, that I am asham'd to own it; I thought, I say, to have engag'd them to have made no farther Pretensions; but I was surpriz'd to find, that by his Cal­culation, [Page 104] of the eight Millions, he rec­kon'd two of them belong'd to the Buc­caniers; and of these two Millions, he esteem'd himself sure of one; for he shares with them as Captain-General, as first Ca­ptain of each Frigat, as Proprietor of the Frigats of which he lends some to them, and lets them have others belong­ing to the King, which with divers Pre­texts he detains upon the Coasts, at exor­bitant Interest. When I was made ac­quainted with the Particulars, I resolv'd with my Authority and Diligence to ex­tricate my self out of this Affair: But this Diligence was the difficult Matter, a great part of the Equipage necessary in a Siege, which we had brought from the Fleet, was yet ashoar, the Distempers depriv'd me of half my Men, and I had scarce got on Board half of the Silver. The Brass Cannons of Carthagena were yet on the Ramparts; I entreated the Buccaniers to undertake this Work, which they re­fus'd; and I was inform'd, they had not only resolv'd not to work, but likewise to make neither Watch or Ward, until they were put into possession of their share of the Booty. I shew'd no Concern at this time, but prevailing by Dint of Mo­ney, upon the small Number I had in a Condition of working, to use their ut­most [Page 105] Efforts, I got on Board my Squadron all the Cannon of Carthagena, all that remain'd of what was brought on Shoar; and part of the Bastions being already thrown down, on the 25th of May the Powder was put to the other Mines; I re-embark'd all my Troops, and my self, leaving Du Casse, his Officers, and Buccaniers, in the City; I acquainted both the one and the other, That if they pillag'd the least of the Houses I had mark'd, I would instantly fire their Frigates: They were too well laden, to suffer them to be expos'd to the Effects of my Threats, for having resolv'd not to bring any Mer­chandizes on Board the King's Ships, that I might be in a better Condition of De­fence, I did permit the Buccaniers to take what belong'd not to the Inhabitants that remained in the Town. Du Casse wrote me word, That he would answer for the Obedience of the Buccaniers; adding withal, That if their Conduct was any ways to be blam'd, it proceeded from that Severity which was us'd to them, in not letting them know what they were to expect of the Booty. He might have said with more Truth, that it was his own Inquietude; and in reality, for some Days past, he had continually complain'd against the embarking of all the Silver; [Page 106] which, he said, they could not tell how to get from the King's Ships: But yet, that he could not believe I would deprive him of any thing that so justly belong'd to him; having engag'd my self by Wri­ting, to let the Buccaniers divide Man for Man, with the Seamen of the King's Ships. He had a great deal of Reason to insist upon this Writing; which was what I ever design'd to have observ'd; but when I understood, that by his Cal­culation, Two of the Eight Millions be­long'd to him, I was surpriz'd at his meaning, believing him inform'd, as eve­ry Body else was, that what appertain'd to the Seamen of the King's Ships, and consequently to the Buccaniers, whom I had receiv'd upon these express'd Terms, was the Tenth of the First Million, and the Thirtieth of all the others; which his Majesty had been pleas'd to grant to the said Men on Board his Ships, to excite them to do well, and as a Recompence for their Services, as it was explain'd in the Conditions upon which his Majesty had consented to this Armament. At length, altho' Du Tilleul was Night and Day employ'd in the Receipt, and Em­barking of the Silver, and the infinite Particulars appertaining to a great Squa­dron, had not the time to examine his [Page 107] Books, and consequently we could not exactly know what Silver there was; yet I so press'd him to make an Estimate of the whole Affair, to satisfie Du Casse, and his Cabal, what did belong to them, that he made out the Account, and signed it.

Upon the 29th I sent this Account to Du Casse; who, upon my reiterated Or­ders that I had sent him, was at last em­bark'd with his Buccaniers, and come down pretty near to the Fort of Bocca­chica; below which was the whole Squa­dron, except the Scepter, who through the Ignorance of the Pilots, was got be­tween two Banks, upon which she had struck, and had not then got clear of them.

Du Casse was extreamly surpriz'd upon the reading of the Account, wherein he saw that his, and the Buccaniers Shares, amounted only to about 40000 Crowns. He reckon'd, that the whole would have been divided into Four equal Parts, and he being very near a Fourth of the Ar­my, one of these Parts would consequent­ly fall to his Share: But when he opened his Eyes, and saw that dividing Man for Man with the King's Ships, signified sha­ring of what appertain'd to the said Ships [Page 108] Companies, but not what appertain'd to the King, and the Armatures; and when it appear'd, that the part of the Ships Companies consisted in the Tenth of the First Million, and the Thirtieth of the others; of which the Fourth, that might belong to him, amounted only to 40000 Crowns, he fell into such a Rage, that not considering, that the leaving of his Government, without a Permission from Court, and upon a particular Interest, was by all manner of Laws, a Criminal Action; yet he resolv'd to steer for France; probably to demand Justice of himself, for being mistaken; for as to any thing else, there cannot appear any pretence of Complaint. I must acknow­ledge, I was a long time before I could comprehend, that his Misapprehension should carry him so far, as to imagine, that the Credit of so many People was us'd, much Address employ'd, great Sums of Money collected and expended, and so long a Voyage undertaken, to give the Fourth of what it produced, to the Governour of S. Domingo, and a Troop of Banditti; who without being at any Charge, and only for about six Weeks, at least the greatest part of them, idle Spectators of a great Action; me­thinks Justice seems so repugnant to such [Page 109] a Thought, that Du Casse cannot be ex­cus'd entertaining it. By allowing a Sub­sistance, and Share, as I did to this Rab­ble, they received too much Honour, especially being joyn'd in the Division with the Companies of the King's Ships, whose continual Service, which they ren­der to the King, and the State, so glo­riously distinguish them from that base kind of Life that the others lead. More­over, I do not see what Reply can be made to this Argument: If they are the King's Subjects, they were order'd to serve in this Enterprize, upon which his Ma­jesty did not declare there should be any Distinction in favour of them; accord­ing to the Orders, the whole Strength of the Colony was to joyn the Forces I brought from France; and if they did not, I was to treat them as Rebels: And I was much in the wrong, to associate them to the Consideration that was pro­mis'd to the King's faithful Subjects.

When I was getting under Sail, to come out of Carthagena, I was forc'd to set on fire the Bomb-Galliot, her Masts and Hulk were so shatter'd, that she was not in a Condition of going to Sea. I left also the Providence-Brigantine, (of whose Com­pany there was not one Man capable of [Page 110] Service) with a Buccanier-Captain, until farther Order. The necessity I was in, of dismounting some Ship, to afford some assistance to the others, by dividing of her Company amongst them, had engag'd me to have fir'd the Christ-Ship, if Du Casse, to whom it was necessary I should give a Ship, to transport his People to the French Cape, had not been contented with that; which he arm'd as well as he could, to carry back the Buccaniers, In­habitants, and Negroes, to St. Domingo.

On the 30th I was taken so very ill with the Distemper, that all that I could do, before I fell into a Condition that depriv'd me of my Intellect, was to ac­quaint Levy, that I committed the Care of the Squadron to him; and that he should steer his Course for Cape Tiburon, according to the Resolution he knew I had taken, to return from thence to France, without touching at Petit Guaves, where, as I was inform'd, the Air was not infect­ed less than at Carthagena, by which the rest of our Men would have infallibly perish'd: From that time, I order'd no­thing that pass'd; but the Account that follows, Levy, and the Major-General, gave me in Writing, as likewise by Word of Mouth.

[Page 111]Upon the last of the Month of May, compleating the Ruine of the Fort of Boccachica, where we had some Days been at work, Daunou, after many fruit­less Attempts to speak with me, went to them, and acquainted them, That the Buccaniers being enrag'd at the small part I gave them of the Booty, had propos'd to board and plunder the Scepter; but that afterwards they were come to the Resolution, to return and plunder Car­thagena: And in reality, they perceiv'd at that Instant, the greatest part of their Frigates making into the Port, to sail to it: He said further, that they had pass'd under the Stern of the Pontchartrain, where Du Casse was on Board, to whom they had declar'd their Design; and, that he had exhorted them, not to commit such an Infraction of the Treaty up­on which the City surrender'd; that he had likewise sent his Major to endeavour to disswade them from it; that for his own part, it gave him so much trouble, that he desired only a hundred Sea-men, with which he should think himself strong enough to prevent their Designs on the City.

[Page 112]All the Squadron was out at Sea, excepting the Scepter, who was some­thing nearer to them; but in such a Con­dition by reason of the Distemper a­mong the Sea-men, that we were very far from being able to make this Detachment; And altho' they might have been, yet how could it be possible, for a hundred Men, several Hours behind the Buccaniers, to prevent them from landing? The ridicu­lous and true Motive of this Proposition was palpably apparent; and accordingly Levy, and the Major-General, express'd their Opinion very freely to Daunou, whose Passion increas'd upon the Con­tempt they shew'd him. Yet Levy, de­sirous to apply all the Remedy that was to be us'd, made all the haste he could on Board the Frigate of Macary, being nearest the Fort, and longer in getting ready than the other, and by that able to be reach'd, and by his Authority he made her come to an Anchor again, believing, that afterwards she would not dare but to come out with the Scepter; yet this Ship being got through the passage, the Frigate was no longer afraid of being stopp'd by her Cannon; Macary having for some time follow'd us, suddenly tack'd about, and stood after the rest of his [Page 113] Companions, after having conferr'd with Du Casse, with whom he stayed most part of the Night.

It looks as if Du Casse was entirely be­reft of his Sence, in not more carefully covering his Connivance with the Buc­caniers, in their violating of an Au­thentick Capitulation. The Pontchartrain, aboard which he was, and the Malouin-Frigate, that he could have commanded, were both of them among the Buccaniers Frigates, when they resolv'd upon this Course; Why did he not go after them, on all sides firing on them? Yet shooting so high, or so low, as not to do them any damage? He might have made it to have been believ'd, that he was no Ac­complice in this Perfidiousness, and at the same time have justified to the World, that it was not by my Orders committed, being it would then have appear'd, that it was done by Mutiniers; whereas this scandalous Herd being, in appearance, un­der my Command, as formerly, I am be­come responsible for their Conduct to the K. of Spain; who might, if I should ever happen to fall into his Power, with some Justice, use me as a Breaker of Treaties: For what appears in sum of this Action, is a Capitulation manifestly broken by the [Page 114] King's Army. It was plain to us, Du Casse only thought of making the best of his way to get first of all into France, quit­ting the Squadron without leave, and even without the knowledge of any one, he brought to all the Sails of the Pont­chartrain, and we heard no more of him until the Fourth of June. The Squadron left Boccachica on the First, after having disingag'd themselves of the Misfortune which the Scepter and Fort had, in stri­king the first Night after their coming out, upon two Banks three Leagues from the Coast, whereby they were like to have been lost. The Squadron after this, stood for Cape Tiburon, when a Vessel from Petit Guaves brought us a Pacquet; he met Du Casse, to whom he had likewise deliver'd one, which was a Duplicate of that he had for me: They came from Robert, Intendant of the Isles, who had dispatch'd away a Bark to inform me, That upon the Twenty seventh of April, Thirteen English Men of War, of which Eight were Capital Ships, were arriv'd at Barbadoes, where there were several o­thers; that it was not to be doubted but this was the Squadron, (as he had been inform'd from France) that the E­nemies was to send after me, to prevent the Execution of my Designs; that this [Page 115] Squadron was not to make any stay at Barbadoes, upon which I was to take my Measures. The Day before I left France, I was advis'd, that to whatsoever place I went, Admiral Nevil, with Fifteen Eng­lish Ships, was to follow me, so soon as they knew the Course I steer'd. These Informations concurring with each other, we did not doubt of the arrival of that Squadron in the Indian Seas, as likewise that we must meet them: For their Course, of consequence, if they were inform'd at Jamaica of our Success at Carthagena, as it was very probable, would be to expect us at Cape Tiburon, there not being any likelihood that we should return to France, without passing upon that Coast to take in fresh Provisions, and leave the Men I had taken from thence. I was then a little recovered from the Extremity of my Ill­ness, and upon this News I held the first Council of this Expedition; there was no diversity of Opinions, all the Captains a­greeing, that we ought to steer for the Gulf of the Streights of Bahama; that we ought to supply our want of Water, by the most extraordinary good Management of what we had; that there would be an opportunity of taking in more upon the Coast of Accadia, which was the most probable way of missing the Enemy, who [Page 116] could not be gone to expect us there, knowing we had a more convenient pas­sage upon many Accounts. Upon this Resolution we alter'd our Course that we were steering to Tiburon, for that of Bahama, which we continu'd until the Sixth. It may here be observ'd, how lit­tle one ought to depend upon the seve­rest Reasons, when Fortune is in the Scale: The Course of Cape Tiburon, our Ruine, in appearance, was free of all Danger, the Enemy pass'd very wide of it; and the way of Bahama, so sure in our Rec­koning, carried us into that between Ja­maica, and Carthagena, which they then steer'd, and occasion'd us to fall into the midst of them in the Night, between the Sixth and the Seventh. Some Hours be­fore Day, I was inform'd, that from time to time, they perceiv'd Fires made in a Ship behind us; this Signal not being to be made by any of ours, we began to be­lieve, it was some advanc'd Frigate of the Enemies, who inform'd them by her Fires, that she followed us, and that by keeping after her, they could not lose us. There was then no other Resolution to be taken, than to wait for the Day; we did not know our situation, in relation to that of the Enemies, so by any other manner of working, we should have run [Page 117] the same Risque, to have fallen in with them, as to have steer'd clear of them. The first appearance of Day presented us with the Image of an inevitable and dis­mal Misfortune; we at first reckon'd Twenty Sail, then Twenty five, a little afterwards Twenty nine, and among them a Ketch. Eight of these Ships seem'd to be of an equal force to the Scepter, Ten or Twelve others, with the St. Lewis, the Furieux, and our other Ships of that Rate, the rest with our Frigates from Thirty six to Forty four Guns; half of this Fleet was to Windward of our Squadron, and wanted but little of Cannon-shot of us; some others were exactly on our Lee; and the rest, which were the great Ships before-mentioned, were in our Sterns, a little below us.

Our great Misfortune was not only to have Eight and twenty Ships against our Seven Ships, and Three Frigates; but as an addition, our unfortunate Squadron was so strangely weaken'd by the Morta­lity, that she was rather a general Hospi­tal for the rest of the Officers, and Sea-men; insomuch, that when we went to put our selves into a Condition of making some sort of a resistance, by the paleness of our Faces, and the weakness of our [Page 118] Motion and Stirring, it look'd as if the Hospital of Paris was brought under Arms. To give an Idea of the Condition we were in, I need only say, that the other Ships were possibly in a much worse Condition than the Scepter, who out of her Complement of 700 Men, had not above 350 that were able to take Arms, or work our Artillery. What an alteration for me in particular! My Expedition had acquir'd some Honour to the King's Arms, and would have produc'd considerable Advantages to my Armatures. The ta­king of Carthagena seem'd to have acquir'd me a pleasing Distinction; and being en­rich'd, I had, at my Return, a prospect of Glory and Pleasures, all which now pass'd like a shadow; and I had conti­tinually before my Eyes, the destruction of a flourishing Squadron, which I had the Honour to be entrusted with; the Displeasure of the King and his Ministers, in the Circumstances of this Loss, which not only depriv'd His Majesty of so ma­ny Ships, but so much advantag'd his E­nemies, and carried them those Riches, that were in a manner ready to have en­ter'd France; the Grief of my Armatures, for whom all was lost by this unhappy Rencounter; and my continual Despair in the Remainder of a Life, which after [Page 119] a long Imprisonment, I must have pass'd in Obscurity, if the Report of my bad Fortune had not render'd me remarka­ble.

These were my Reflections, when ha­ving acquainted all my People, that we ought to die like Men of Honour, I had two occasions of being comforted; the first was, the Officers protesting to me, with an Air of Assurance, that the Ships should be defended, whilst any of them were living; and the Ships Company en­tred into the same Sentiment; insomuch, that the Sick, at least those not at extre­mity, shew'd themselves as forward as the others; so I beheld Resolution on all sides of me. The other was, so soon as the Signal for the Order of Battle was made, the St. Lewis, Furieux, Verman­dois, St. Michael, and the Mutine, came up so fast, and fell so well into their Sta­tions, that they allow'd us no occasion of doubting of their having the same Resolu­tion with ours; the Fort, the Apollo, L'A­venant, and Marin, did not obey the Sig­nal, but kept to Windward, where they chanc'd to be; the Captains of the two last were sick, and I had taken from them the greatest part of their Men, to streng­then the great Ships, and had design'd [Page 120] them for Fire-ships; but not having time to fit them up for it, nor to fetch away their Sick, they were become altogether uncapable of any Service, so I could no ways wonder they did not fall into their order'd Station; as to the Fort, and the Apollo, I was apprehensive that the first had lost so many of her Men, that she was not able to make any sort of a Fight; the other being her Second, did believe, as it is the Custom, that she was not to a­bandon her Flag, Du Buisson, by the Death of the Vicount Coetlogon, then car­rying the Flag of Rear-Admiral. At this instant, one of the Enemies Ships having fir'd a Gun upon the Fly-boat, called, The City of Amsterdam, who was a good way a-stern of us; she struck Sail, and sur­render'd: They found a great many sick Men on Board her, and a very conside­rable quantity of Ammunition and Pro­vision. The only Traversier left me had the same Destiny with the Fly-boat, with whom she was. But while these things pass'd, we found that half of their Fleet, who in a little time were got within reach of us, were unwilling to engage, until the others to Leeward could come to the Action: Yet being unwilling to hand in their Sails, to stay for the others behind, they kept themselves in a Line, and per­mitted [Page 121] us to get before them. We per­ceiv'd by their working, that we were yet to have some Hours of quiet, and none of us being strong enough to support a long Action, we repos'd our selves in ex­pectation of the Event. About two a Clock in the Afternoon, the Major-Ge­neral came to me, and told me, There was no farther hopes of delays, that the advanc'd part of the Enemies Fleet was got within less than Cannon-shot, and to Windward of our Squadron, and their great Ships exact a-broadside of our Lee. This being so, the Signal general for the Order of Battle was given, without loss of time; I added to it the particular Sig­nal of the Fort, to bring her to her Station; but she only did so much as was necessary, to let us know that she knew her Signal, and then standing to Wind­ward, she confirm'd me in the Thoughts I had in the Morning.

The Affair was sufficiently serious to keep us attentive: We observ'd first of all, that the Ships which might have at­tack'd us, chose rather to slacken their way, and fell from us; with much re­garding of them, I was partly of the O­pinion, that it was by going larger away than we who kept close to the Wind, that [Page 122] their great Ships had gain'd so much upon us. The fear of deceiving my self in this matter, made me consult all those that I reckon'd able to inform me; and they all being of the same Opinion, I easily pene­trated into the Thoughts of the English Admiral, who reckon'd there was no Safety for me, but to go before the Wind, for the Streights of Bahama; so he pro­pos'd to get so much a Head of me, as to hinder my passage; but I perceiv'd at the same time, that he might be mistaken in his working; because, instead of sail­ing parallel to the Course we steer'd, his coming up opened an Angle; which in truth, brought him into my Traverse, but in reality at a greater distance than when he was a little a-stern of us; therefore by tacking about, I should be at a greater di­stance than I was before; besides, I was sure to get something by it.

I was certain, that the Ships which might have attack'd me, durst not do it, and therefore it would not much trouble me, if I did find them in my passage. Upon this, I sent the Marine-Frigate, to order all the Ships of the Squadron to tack about, precisely, at the shutting in of Night; that I would light no Fires, nor make any Signal, and that they should [Page 123] go as close haul'd to the Wind as it was possible. At the time appointed we went about, but we were too near the Enemy to conceal our working from them; one of their small Frigates being likewise got in amongst us, I was oblig'd to give him some Cannon-shot from the Scepter, and the Furieux, who was something nearer to him; with which he stood so corre­cted, that we saw him no more afterwards. But the different Signals which the Ene­mies Ships made by Fires to each other, assur'd us, that they who were most ad­vanc'd, communicated to them behind what pass'd, so we doubted not of our being follow'd. However, the next Day, so soon as it was light, we found the suc­cess of our working; for we could only reckon 14 Ships, who follow'd us in a Line one after the other, and not so nigh by far as the Day before; but at the same time we miss'd the Fort, Apollo, L'Avenant, Marin, and the Diep Flyboat: We having not heard any Cannon-shot, we could not think they were taken: However, it was not until the next Day that I was eas'd of this Apprehension, by report of the Mutine, that rejoin'd me, acquaint­ing me, That when she carried the Orders for the Ships to go about, those we miss'd being considerably to Windward of us, [Page 124] who had by much the Wind of the Ene­mies when we tack'd, it was much easier for them to get clear, by keeping on their way, than in following me: Simonet added, that the Fort had lost her Foretop-mast: But having seen all the Enemies Ships standing as we did, at a great di­stance from each other, there was no rea­son to fear that ours were pursued.

This separation being not to be reme­died, my Thoughts were wholly employ­ed to the preservation of the rest of the Squadron, and to make use of the advan­tage I had got; I continu'd the same Board, until within twenty Leagues of Carthagena, where we were on the 9th of the same Month of June. In the Even­ing I made the Signal of holding the con­trary Course; and when it was quite dark, I acquainted the other Ships, with three Guns, that they were to steer West, directly before the Wind: There was then but three of the Enemies Ships that kept within sight of us, and they were a great way from us; they could not ima­gine what this Signal mean'd, and so kept on the same Board. In the mean while, we ran this Night 22 Leagues, and the next Day found our selves perfectly out of all Business on that side. But to one [Page 125] Trouble ended, commonly comes ano­ther: It was not possible for us to reach Bahama, by holding through the usual passage, that lies between Cuba and Ja­maica, and which is not at all dangerous; but we were oblig'd to take that to the Southward, terrible for the Shelves, a­mong which we were forc'd to pass, al­tho' we were altogether ignorant of them; however, supplying the want of Experi­ence, with our utmost Care and Dili­gence, we escap'd all the Rocks, and ha­ving doubled the Cape of St. Anthony, found our selves on the 26th in the en­trance of the Streight of Bahama; where we understood by a small English Vessel, who fell into our Squadron, coming from Jamaica, laden with Indigo and Cotton, to the value of about 25000 Crowns, that the English Fleet we had met was commanded by Nevil, and was compos'd, at Barbadoes, of 13 Ships that came from England, of three that were in the Island, and eight Hollanders, of which four were very large Ships, and came out of the Streights, who made in all 24 Men of War, to whom were be­longing four Fire-ships, and a Ketch: Which was exactly the Number we had seen; their Intention was to have stayed 24 Hours only at Jamaica, but the con­trary [Page 126] Winds had detained them eight Days; that their Ships were in good Health, but very ill mann'd, the greatest of them not having above 350 Men, and those of between 50 and 60 Guns, 150 Men: This last Circumstance diminish'd the admiration I was in, that none of them who could have attack'd me, had not begun the Fight by engaging of me, until such time as the rest could get up to them; it may be, they were ignorant of the ill state we were reduc'd to by Sick­ness, or possibly they did not give Cre­dit to what they might have known by the Amsterdam Flyboat; for the Counte­nance that we shewed them, was no ways answerable to what she could have told them.

Having detach'd away the Mutine-Fri­gat for St. Domingo, with the Forces, In­habitants, and Negroes, that were on Board that part of the Squadron then with me, we steer'd on our Course; nothing material happen'd to us, excepting an Er­ror in our Reckoning: For we were got to the Eastward of Newfoundland, when we thought we had been to the Westward; which oblig'd us to go into Conception-Bay for Water, that we de­sign'd to have taken at Plaicentia: We [Page 127] came to an Anchor on the Fourth of the Month of August, having only six Days Water on Board. The Captain of a small Vessel coming from Barbadoes, which we took on the Second Instant, did us very good Service in our Anchorage, which we did not know; but this Vessel which the Vermandois mann'd, happend to lose the Squadron in a Mist; as did also ano­ther small Vessel, that we found aban­don'd at Sea, upon which we sent likewise some Men, and since we never heard more of them. The great want of some fresh Provisions, oblig'd me to send the Captain of the Prize, taken at Bahama, to propose to some Fisher-men, retir'd to the bottom of the Bay, called La Carbonniere, to sup­ply me with what Cattle they could, and to lend me their Boats to take in Water; upon which I promis'd, to do them no harm. They answer'd me by the same Messenger, That they had scarce any fresh Provisions; but they would give me what they had, and accommodate me with their Boats; provided, I gave them Ho­stages. The assistance was not conside­rable enough, to accept it upon this Con­dition; so I resolv'd to burn a dozen, or fourteen, pitiful Houses that were there, after I had taken in my Water.

[Page 128]In the mean time, I was informed by a Prisoner, That there were eight English Men of War at St. John's, eight Leagues from us; sent thither for the Re-esta­blishment of that Colony, ruined by the Governour of Plaicentia; that these Ships, whereof two carried 70 Guns each, and the rest from 50 to 60, had brought 13 Foot-Companies, commanded by Gibson, Lieutenant-Governour of Portsmouth, who were to stay there; that Norris command­ed the Fleet; and, that in a Council of War, held at our arrival, it was resolv'd, to stand out to fight us. This News made us double our Diligence to get in the Water we wanted, and to prepare our selves, not only to fight the English, but to seek them out. To this purpose we got under Sail; on the Seventh of Au­gust we stood to La Carbonniere, to burn the little Houses; but the Weather being so bad, that we could not get to them without danger, besides the inconsidera­bleness of the place, rendering this Action not sufficiently important, to consume a­way time upon it, I took the Party to go before St. John's, to attack the Enemies, if they had been out; but apparently, some reflection of the force and largeness of our Ships, had prevented them from [Page 129] coming out, and the Port was so streight, as to render any Attempt upon them im­practicable; I was contented to shew my self, and offer them Battle, which seeing they did not Answer we steer'd for the Coast of France upon the Eighth of the same Month of August: and on the Twenty fourth of the said Month, in the Fourth Degree of Latitude, and . . Longi­tude, we perceiv'd six Ships cruising ex­actly in the Course we steer'd. Notwith­standing the weakness to which we were reduc'd, our Ships not having then by much, one half of our Complement of Men; the Number of the Enemies, supposing they were so, did no ways oc­casion us to fear meeting them; besides, this place not being a usual cruising sta­tion with them; and on the contrary, very common for the French Ships; there was a great deal of appearance that they were such, and many Conveniences would attend this joining; so I continu'd on my way: But when I came up with them, three of them appear'd to be three Deck Ships, the fourth equal to ours of 64 Guns, a Frigate of 40 Guns, and ano­ther small Vessel, that did not bring her self into the Line; whilst we were con­sidering of what Country they were, and had brought our selves into Order of Bat­tle, [Page 130] with the Wind upon the Beam, be­ing the same Method which they had ta­ken in expecting us, they put forth English Colours, and contrary to the Custom of that Nation, they did not fire first, altho' we were in less than Cannon-shot. We put forth our Colours, at the same time they shewed theirs; and to do them Ju­stice, it was impossible to make a bolder working than what they shewed; little did they guess the badness of our Condi­tion, nor that the Scepter, St. Lewis, Fu­rieux, Vermandois, and St. Michael, were reduc'd to the weakness of 40 Gun Fri­gates, not knowing these Circumstances, it must be allowed that they shew'd a great deal of Resolution.

We were so far advanc'd, that the Ho­nour of His Majesty's Arms would not permit us to turn back, but rather to make our selves a passage; and more­over, that Attempt which would infalli­bly have discovered our weakness, would as certainly have encourag'd the Enemy, upon whom we came within the reach of a Fusil Boucanniere, where we then per­ceiv'd their Beds and Hamocks to be pass'd from the Forecastle to the Quarter-deck, to cover them from our small Shot; this hindered us from discerning the space [Page 131] between the Forecastle and Quarter-deck, and occasion'd us to believe them Three-deck-ships; it was easie to mistake them, three being of those great Frigates of 72 Guns, which have that length, width, and depth, so they wanted only some Beams and Planks to unite them; the fourth was something less, and about the strength of the Furieux; the fifth a Fri­gate of 40 Guns: The Commander was in the midst of his Squadron, and my self also in the Center of His Majesty's Ships, both sides being exactly in a Line, I was only to spring my Loofe to come a-broadside of him, and upon my Signal the Fire began, which continu'd from half an Hour after Three, until Seven; and with much more briskness on our side, than I could have expected from our weakness; the Enemy, altho' better provided, in my Opinion, shewed not altogether so much; however, they kept as close to the Wind as it was possi­ble for them.

At the same time the Fight began, they set their Sails as we did, that is, so as to continue on the Course upon which we found them, which was North North-West, a very contrary Course to what I [Page 132] was to steer, and from which I could not depart; so I went about in our Line of Battle, to leave the Cape to the East.

In the execution of this, the Fire was pretty violent on both sides; but the E­nemies, instead of going about, conti­nued their Broadsides, which pass'd in a moment, and we got far enough to ap­prehend any farther damage. In a very little while afterwards, the Enemies went about likewise all at once; yet I was fully perswaded, they would not endeavour to begin the Fight again, by reason they continu'd their lower Sails furl'd as well as we, who wrought with much trouble through the want of Hands to repair the great damage we suffered in our Sails and Rigging: For as to the Men, there was not abroad the Scepter above eleven killed and wounded, and in the other Ships yet less in proportion; but the Vermandois having lost her Foretop-mast, I was ex­treamly troubled, because I did not think her able to get up another; yet she did not only attempt it in the Night, but per­fectly accomplished it early the next Day.

[Page 133]We continu'd our Course all Night, with an easie Sail, and our usual Lights. The next Day we were in a Condition to have begun again, if the Enemy had fol­lowed us; which we doubted of in the Night, as not discerning any of their Lights; but it is probable, that they had not less work to repair than we had, so I presume they spent the Night at work, and the next Day we were almost out of fight.

We had done our Business, which was to pass without shame: We had no Ad­vantage to expect from a second En­gagement; but on the contrary, many Inconveniences, and one almost inevita­ble; which was, that the Squadron would perish at Sea for want of Provisions, if any endamag'd Ship should considerably detain us. Therefore we kept on our way, and the Enemies followed us until the 26th at Noon, at which time they went about to the other Board.

I cannot refuse making the Officers and Seamen the Acknowledgments I owe them; for they did, in this occasion, by much go beyond their Strength; and [Page 134] with the Good-will they express, if our Force had been something less unequal, the Enemies would have had more trou­ble to have disengag'd themselves. We came at last into Brest, upon the 29th of August, 1697.