AN ACCOUNT Of the Taking of CARTHAGENA BY THE FRENCH In the Year 1697. Containing all the Particulars of that Expedition from their first setting out to their return into BREST By Monsieur De Pointis Commander in Chief Illustrated with a large Copper Plate Describing the Situation of Carthagena and Parts adjacent LONDON Printed for Sam. Buckley at the Dolphin over-against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-Street 1698. THE PREFACE THE City of Carthagena in the West-Indies which now gives Title to a considerable Government of the same Name and is reckon'd a Province of New Granada or according to some Writers of New Andaluzia but by others is annex'd to the Golden Castille was begun to be built in the Year 1532. by Peter de Heredia and was finished by Georgio Robledo about Eight Years after the Foundation was laid The Situation of its Port was found so convenient for the Spanish Fleets and such Quantities of rich Merchandize were brought down near to it by the Confluence of the great Rivers of Santa Martha and the Magdalena that the Town encreased in Wealth Number of People Stately Edifices and in a Jurisdiction over Five or Six petty Cities till in the Year 1585 It was sack'd by the Valour of a few English under the Command of Sir Francis Drake in a Reign when the Publick Good and Honour of England was the chief Business at Court and our Land enrich'd with the Spoils of our Proud Enemies who were humbled by the Conduct of our Fleets abroad and our Naval Applications at Home But this City of Carthagena received a greater Blow before it was perfectly repair'd from Five Privateers led on by a disgusted Spaniard who burnt the Place to Ashes after they had surpriz'd the Governour asleep and seiz'd a mighty Treasure Yet for all this it rais'd its Head again number'd above Twenty Thousand Inhabitants whereof Four Thousand were Spaniards the rest Mesticoes and Slaves and improv'd daily in Riches and Magnificence till taken by the French from Brest and the Bucaniers from Petit Guaves who severally plunder'd it as is particularly related by Monsieur de Pointis Into such a fatal Stupidity are a certain People by Nature Brave formerly Conquerors and Heroes of late degenerated either from the ill Influences of their State or Church or both that now they fall a Prey to every Invader and even to Privateers and Vagabonds The Causes whereof are too manifest and own'd by a judicious and honest Writer of their own Country whose Sense I shall here deliver Vnreasonable Taxes are multiply'd and entail'd upon the Spaniards under Pretence of making good Deficiencies and Funds of Interest The Treasury grown Monstrous either by obstructing or diverting the Publick Aliment and by contracting new Debts The Grandees themselves conspire to cheat in their several Stations in order to advance or support their own Extravagancies The Court Officers Gabellers and such Swarms of mercenary Vermine are innumerable draining the very Blood of the People The Standing Forces upon Free Quarter the Shipping neglected the Garrisons and Magazines very ill supply'd most of the Governours and Men in Trust like so many Vultures griping whatever comes within the Catch of their Talons Trade is discourag'd by seemingly advantagious Loans by high Customs Indulto's and other Imposts The Church is over-grown with Revenues Inquisitions and Dominion all which have contributed to impoverish and despirit the Mass of the Body Politick and to reduce it into the Figure we now behold it in all over Rickets with large Heads and wither'd Limbs for want of a proportionable Circulation and a due Administration These Chronical Distempers in the Spanish Governments in Europe have infected the rest in America where their Weakness is discovered upon all Occasions Indeed Monsieur de Pointis carried Twenty times the Force that Sir Francis Drake or the Privateers after him did yet considering the Spaniards had frequent and very early Intelligence of the French Preparations and of their Arrival in the West-Indies methinks their Defence was very Languid and scarce credible to one unacquainted with their present Constitution which will produce the like Symptomes and bad Effects in any other Nation that has the Misfortune to suck in the same Contagions But to return to Carthagena whose Territory is related to be very fruitful only a little too moist by the violent and frequent Rains The Journals of Sir Francis Drake's Voyages commend the Plenty and Variety of Fruits found there Oranges Citrons Limes Guavo's some Spices and Balsams especially a sort of long Pepper and the Tolu mentioned by Carolus Clusius Franciscus Ximenes John de Laet Margrave Hernandes and others are brought from the adjacent Parts in great Quantities Gold is wash'd down by the Torrents from the Mountains where some precious Stones are found In a Word the Country is much the same with the neighbouring Isthmus of Darien which has been so well described by Mr. Ringrose Monsieur Raveneau de Lussan and more lately by Captain Dampier and Mr. Wafer that nothing more need be said here of this Part of the Terra Firma EXPLANATION A. Cartagena B. Hihimani C. Fort St Lazare D. Fort St Croix E. Fort of Boccachica F. Redout at the entrance of the Basin G. the Trenches H. a Battery of 6 Guns I. a Battery of 3 Guns two Mortars K. a Battery of 6 Guns one Mortar L. a Battery of one Mortar in the high-way M. a Battery of one Mortar in a little Island N. Notre Dame de la Poupe O. Lake of N. D. de La Poupe P. the Place where the French landed their Troops Q. their Artillery landed R. the Scepter S. the Vermandois T. the St Lewis V. a Galliot Bombarding the City Y. a Galliot Bombarding Boccachica 1. 2 Mortars battering Boccachica 2. the Ships Anchoring before Boccachica 3. the Descent upon Boccachica 4. the Descent of the Buccaniers frustrated by the roughness of the Sea 5. two Spanish Vessels burnt 6. the French Camp A Scale of one Mile Sold by Sam Buckley at the Dolphin in Fleet street London A DRAUGHT OF THE CITY OF CARTAGENA ITS HARBOUR AND FORTS Mons r DE POINTI'S ACCOUNT OF HIS EXPEDITION TO Carthagena In the YEAR 1697. 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 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
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 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. 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 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 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 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 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 Being wholly bent upon Boccachica the Fleet got into a readiness of sailing in the Morning on the Fourteenth
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 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 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 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 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 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 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
many other Officers received Contusions 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Vgnez 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 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 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 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 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 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 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