All This While, However, We Had Not Determined
Who Should Be The Bearer Of The Flag Of Truce; For My People, After So
Much Treachery Among Them, Feared That The Messenger Might Only Make
Terms For Himself With The Governor, And Not Return Again:
Wherefore, my
son was chosen as the fittest person for the purpose, as being sure of
his return, for my sake.
On the 17th another bark came down upon us, but after coming pretty
near, sheared off; on which I sent Mr Randal in our canoe, to inform
them of our design, but they hoisted Spanish colours on his approach,
and fired at him. Next morning we looked into the bay, where we found
this bark at anchor, but she renewed her fire on our approach. On this,
at his own request, I sent the master of the Holy Sacrament in a canoe,
with four negroes and a flag of truce, to inform the people in the other
bark of our intentions. A gale of wind interrupted this plan, and forced
the canoe on shore, I dare say without danger to their lives, as they
seemed to land of choice. On the 19th we saw a sail ahead of us
standing along shore, on which we let go the bark we had in tow, in
which were four of our own people and five Spaniards, spreading all the
sail we could, so that by night we were at a considerable distance from
the bark. I was for lying-to all night, for the bark to come up, but the
majority insisted we should crowd sail all night, so that by day-break
of the 20th we were within less than gun-shot of the chase. I
immediately hoisted our colours, fired a gun to leeward, and sent a man
to wave a white flag on our poop, in token of truce: But they
continually fired at us, having their decks full of men, who kept
hallooing and abusing us with the grossest epithets. Still I made no
return, till I came close on their quarter, and then sent one of their
countrymen to our boltsprit-end, to inform them we were bound for
Panama, and wished to treat with them peaceably: But the only reply they
made was by continuing their fire, calling us borachos and peros
Ingleses, drunkards and English dogs; so that at length I thought it
full time to begin with them. I therefore met them with the helm, and
soon convinced them of their error, giving them so warm a reception that
they soon sheered-off. We just missed catching hold of them, and as it
fell calm, we continued to engage her for two or three hours at the
distance of musket-shot. A breeze at length sprung up, when we neared
them, and their courage subsided in proportion as we approached. Their
captain still encouraged them to fight, bravely exposing himself in an
open manner, till he was at length shot through the body, and dropt down
dead; on which they immediately called out for quarter, and thus ended
the dispute.
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