which they had been the theatres, were entitled, of the massacre; such as the hill of the massacre; the plain of the massacre; the valley of the massacre; which names they retain to this day.

At length the Spaniards grew tired of this way of proceeding, and had recourse to their old method of surprife, which, against enemies of more courage than vigilance, was like to succeed better. This put the bucaniers under a necessity of never hunting but in large parties, and fixing the boucans in the little islands on the coast, where they retired every evening. This expedient succeeded; and the boucans, by being more fixed, soon acquired the air and confiftency of little towns.

When the bucaniers had once fixed themselves, as related, each boucan ordered scouts every morning to the highest part of the island, in order to reconnoitre the coast, and see if any Spanish parties were abroad. If no enemy appeared, they appointed a place and hour of rendezvous in the evening, and were never absent if not killed or prisoners. When therefore any one of the company was missing, it was not lawful for the rest to hunt again till they had got intelligence of him if taken, or avenged his death if killed.

Things continued in this situation for a long time, till the Spaniards made a general hunt over the whole island; and, by destroying their game, put the bucaniers under a necessity of betaking themselves to another course of life. Some of them turned planters; and thereby increased some of the French settlements on the coast, and formed others. The rest, not relishing so confined and regular a life, entered among the free-booters, who thereby became a very powerful body.

France, who had hitherto disclaimed for her subjects these ruffians whose successes were only temporary, acknowledged them, however, as soon as they formed themselves into settlements; and took proper measures for their government and defence. See the article St Domingo.

The hunting both of the bull and boar is at this day carried on, and proves of considerable importance. That of the former furnishes France with the finest hides brought from America. The bucaniers put the hides in packs which they call loads, mixing together hides of full grown bulls, of young bullocks, and of cows. Each of these loads is composed of two bull-hides, or of an equivalent; that is to say, either of two real bull-hides, or of one bull-hide and two cow-hides, or of four cow-hides, or of three young bullocks hides; three bullocks hides being reckoned equivalent to two full-grown bulls hides, and two cows hides equivalent to one bull’s hide. These bulls they commonly call oxen in France, though they be not gelt. Each load is commonly sold for six pieces of eight reals, which is a Spanish coin, the French coin being but little current, or not at all, in the island of St Domingo.

The boar meat bucanied in the manner above mentioned is sold by the bundle or pack, weighing commonly 60 pounds, at the rate of six pieces of eight per pack. The palmetto leaves serve to pack it up in; but their weight is deducted, so that there must be in each pack 60 pounds of net flesh. These bucaniers have also a great trade of the lard of boars, which they melt, and gather in large pots called potiches. This lard, which is called mantegua, is also sold for about eight pieces of eight per pot. There is a great trade, and a great consumption of each of these merchandizes in the French settlements of the island of St Domingo, and in those of Tortuga: besides which, they used to send great quantities of them to the Antilles, and even into the continent of French America. There is also a great deal of it sold for the support of the crews of the ships that come from France for trading, or which the privateers of Tortuga fit out for cruising against the Spaniards.

The Spaniards, who have large settlements in the island of St Domingo, have also their bucaniers there, whom they call matadores or monteros. Their chase has something noble, which favours of the Spanish pride: the huntman being on horseback uses the lance to strike the bull, thinking it beneath his courage to shoot him at a distance. When the servants who are on foot, have discovered the beast, and with their dogs have driven it into some savannah or meadow, in which the master waits for them on horseback, armed with two lances, the matador goes and hamstringing it with the first lance, the head of which is made like a crescent or half-moon, and extremely sharp, and kills it afterwards with the other lance, which is a common one. The chase is very agreeable; the huntman making commonly, in order to attack the bull, the same turns and the same ceremonies which are practised in those festivals so famous in Spain, wherein the greatest lords expose themselves sometimes to the view of the people, to make them admire their dexterity and intrepidity in attacking those furious animals: but then it is a very dangerous chase; those bulls, in their fury, often running directly against the huntman, who may think himself very happy if he comes off only with the loss of his horse, and if he himself is not mortally wounded.

The Spaniards dress their hides like the French, who have learned it from them; and these hides being carried to the Havannah, a famous harbour in the island of Cuba, are a part of the trade of that celebrated town. The flota and the galleons scarce ever fail touching there, on their return from Vera Cruz and Porto Bello, and load there those hides which they carry into Spain, where they are sold for Havannah hides, the most esteemed of any that are brought from America into Europe.

II. Bucaneers, the Pirates. Before the English had Raynal’s made any settlement at Jamaica, and the French at St Hill of the Domingo, some pirates of both nations, who have since been so much distinguished by the name of Bucaneers, had driven the Spaniards out of the small island of Tortuga; and, fortifying themselves there, had with an amazing intrepidity made excursions against the common enemy. They formed themselves into small companies, consisting of 50, 100, or 150 men each. A boat, of a greater or smaller size, was their only armament. Here they were exposed night and day to all the inclemencies of the weather; having scarce room enough to lie down. A love of absolute independence, the greatest blessing to those who are not proprietors of land, rendered them averse from those mutual restraints which the members of society impose upon themselves for the common good; some of them chose to sing, while others were deafened by going to sleep. As the authority they had conferred on their captain was confined Bucaner, to his giving orders in battle, they lived in the greatest confusion. Like the savages, having no apprehension of want, nor any care to preserve the necessaries of life, they were constantly exposed to the severest extremities of hunger and thirst. But deriving, even from their very difficulties, a courage superior to every danger, the sight of a ship transported them even to a degree of frenzy. They never deliberated on the attack, but it was their custom to board the ship as soon as possible. The smallness of their vessels, and the skill they showed in the management of them, screened them from the fire of the greater ships; and they presented only the forepart of their little vessels filled with sailors; who fired at the port-holes with so much exactness, that it entirely confounded the most experienced gunners. As soon as they threw out the grappling, the largest vessel seldom escaped them.

In cases of extreme necessity, they attacked the people of every nation, but fell upon the Spaniards at all times. They thought that the cruelties the latter had exercised on the inhabitants of the new world justified the implacable aversion they had sworn against them. But this was heightened by a personal pique, from the mortification they felt in seeing themselves deprived of the privileges of hunting and fishing, which they considered as natural rights. Such were their principles of justice and religion, that, whenever they embarked on any expedition, they used to pray to heaven for the success of it; and they never came back from the plunder, but they constantly returned thanks to God for their victory.

The ships that sailed from Europe to America seldom tempted their avidity. The merchandise they contained would not easily have been sold, nor been very profitable to those barbarians in those early times. They always waited for them on their return, when they were certain they were laden with gold, silver, jewels, and all the valuable productions of the new world. If they met with a single ship, they never failed to attack her. As to the fleets, they followed them till they sailed out of the gulf of Bahama; and as soon as any one of the vessels was separated by accident from the rest, it was taken. The Spaniards, who trembled at the approach of the buccaneers, whom they called devils, immediately surrendered. Quarter was granted, if the cargo proved to be a rich one; if not, all the prisoners were thrown into the sea.

The buccaneers, when they had got a considerable booty, at first held their rendezvous at the island of Tortuga, in order to divide the spoil; but afterwards the French went to St Domingo, and the English to Jamaica. Each person, holding up his hand, solemnly protested that he had secreted nothing of what he had taken. If any one among them was convicted of a perjury, a case that seldom happened, he was left, as soon as an opportunity offered, upon some deserted island, as a traitor unworthy to live in society. Such brave men among them as had been maimed in any of their expeditions, were first provided for. If they had lost a hand, an arm, a leg, or a foot, they received 26l. An eye, a finger, or a toe, lost in fight, was valued only at half the above sum. The wounded were allowed 2s. 6d. a day for two months, to enable them to have their wounds taken care of. If they had not money enough to answer these several demands, the whole company were obliged to engage in some fresh expedition, and to continue it till they had acquired a sufficient stock to enable them to satisfy such honourable contracts.

After this act of justice and humanity, the remainder of the booty was divided into as many shares as there were buccaneers. The commander could only lay claim to a single share with the rest; but they complimented him with two or three, in proportion as he had acquitted himself to their satisfaction. Favour never had any influence in the division of the booty; for every share was determined by lot. Instances of such rigid justice as this are not easily met with; and they extended even to the dead. Their share was given to the man who was known to be their companion when alive, and therefore their heir. If the person who had been killed had no intimate, his part was sent to his relations when they were known. If there were no friends or relations, it was distributed in charity to the poor and to the churches, which were to pray for the person in whose name these benefactions were given.

When these duties had been complied with, they then indulged themselves in all kinds of profusion. Unbounded licentiousness in gaming, wine, women, every kind of debauchery, was carried to the utmost pitch of excess, and was stopped only by the want which such profusion brought on. Those men who were enriched with several millions, were in an instant totally ruined, and destitute of clothes and provisions. They returned to sea; and the new supplies they acquired were soon lavished in the same manner.

The Spanish colonies, flattering themselves with the hopes of seeing an end to their miseries, and reduced almost to despair in finding themselves a perpetual prey to these ruffians, grew weary of navigation. They gave up all the power, conveniences, and fortune, which their connections procured them, and formed themselves almost into so many distinct and separate states. They were sensible of the inconveniences arising from such a conduct, and avowed them; but the dread of falling into the hands of rapacious and savage men, had greater influence over them than the dictates of honour, interest, and policy. This was the rise of that spirit of inactivity which continues to this time.

This despondency served only to increase the boldness of the buccaneers. As yet they had only appeared in the Spanish settlements, in order to carry off some provisions when they were in want of them. They no sooner found their captures begin to diminish, than they determined to recover by land what they had lost at sea. The richest and most populous countries of the continent were plundered and laid waste. The culture of lands was equally neglected with navigation; and the Spaniards dared no more appear in their public roads, than fail in the latitudes which belonged to them.

Among the buccaneers who signalized themselves in this new species of excursions, Montbar, a gentleman of Languedoc, particularly distinguished himself. Having by chance, in his infancy, met with a circumstantial account of the cruelties practised in the conquest of the new world, he conceived an aversion which he carried to a degree of frenzy against that nation which Bucaner, which had committed such enormities. The enthusiasm this spirit of humanity worked him up to, was turned into a rage more cruel than that of the religious fanaticism, to which so many victims had been sacrificed. The manes of these unhappy sufferers seemed to rouse him, and call upon him for vengeance. He had heard some account of the buccaneers, who were said to be the most inveterate enemies to the Spanish name; he therefore embarked on board a ship, in order to join them.

In the passage they met with a Spanish vessel; attacked it; and, as it was usual in those times, immediately boarded it. Montbar, with a sabre in his hand, fell upon the enemy; broke through them; and, hurrying twice from one end of the ship to the other, levelled every thing that opposed him. When he had compelled the enemy to surrender, leaving to his companions the happiness of dividing so rich a booty, he contented himself with the savage pleasure of contemplating the dead bodies of the Spaniards, lying in heaps together, against whom he had worn a constant and deadly hatred.

Fresh opportunities soon occurred; that enabled him to exert this spirit of revenge, without extinguishing it. The ship he was in arrived at the coast of St Domingo; where the buccaneers on land immediately applied to barter some provisions for brandy. As the articles they offered were of little value, they alleged in excuse, that their enemies had overrun the country, laid waste their settlements, and carried off all they could. "Why (replied Montbar) do you tamely suffer such insults?" "Neither do we (answered they in the same tone); the Spaniards have experienced what kind of men we are, and have therefore taken advantage of the time when we were engaged in hunting. But we are going to join some of our companions, who have been still worse treated than we; and then we shall have warm work." "If you approve of it (answered Montbar), I will head you, not as your commander, but as the foremost to expose myself to danger." The buccaneers, perceiving from his appearance that he was such a man as they wanted, cheerfully accepted his offer. The same day they overtook the enemy, and Montbar attacked them with an impetuosity that astonished the bravest. Scarce one Spaniard escaped the effects of his fury. The remaining part of his life was equally distinguished as on this day. The Spaniards suffered so much from him, both by sea and land, that he acquired the name of the Exterminator.

His savage disposition, as well as that of the other buccaneers who attended him, having obliged the Spaniards to confine themselves within their settlements, these freebooters resolved to attack them there. This new method of carrying on the war required superior forces; and their associations in consequence became more numerous. The first that was considerable was formed by L'Olonois, who derived his name from the lands of Olones the place of his birth. From the abject state of a bondsman, he had gradually raised himself to the command of two canoes, with 22 men. With these he was so successful as to take a Spanish frigate on the coast of Cuba. He then repaired to Port-au-Prince, in which were four ships, fitted out purposely to fail in pursuit of him. He took them, and threw all the crews into the sea, except one man, whom he saved, in order to send him with a letter to the governor of Bucaner, the Havannah, acquainting him with what he had done, and affording him that he would treat in the same manner all the Spaniards that should fall into his hands, not excepting the governor himself, if he should be so fortunate as to take him. After this expedition, he ran his canoes and prize-ships aground, and failed with his frigate only to the island of Tortuga.

Here he met with Michael de Bafo, who had distinguished himself by having taken, even under the cannon of Porto-Bello, a Spanish ship, estimated at 218,500l. and by other actions equally brave and daring. These two gave out, that they were going to embark together on an expedition equally glorious and profitable; in consequence of which they soon collected together 440 men. This body of men, the most numerous the buccaneers had yet been able to muster, sailed to the bay of Venezuela, which runs up into the country for the space of 50 leagues. The fort that was built at the entrance of it for its defence was taken; the cannon were nailed up; and the whole garrison, consisting of 250 men, put to death. They then reembarked, and came to Maracaybo, built on the western coast of the lake of the same name, at the distance of ten leagues from its mouth. This city, which had become flourishing and rich by its trade in skins, tobacco, and cocoa, was deserted. The inhabitants had retired with their effects to the other side of the bay. If the buccaneers had not lost a fortnight in riot and debauch, they would have found at Gibraltar, near the extremity of the lake, everything that the inhabitants had secreted to secure it from being plundered. On the contrary, they met with fortifications lately erected, which they had the useless satisfaction of making themselves masters of, at the expense of a great deal of blood; for the inhabitants had already removed to a distance the most valuable part of their property. Exasperated at this disappointment, they set fire to Gibraltar. Maracaybo would have shared the same fate, had it not been ransomed. Besides the sum they received for its ransom, they also carried off with them all the crockery, pictures, and bells of the churches; intending, as they said, to build a chapel in the island of Tortuga, and to consecrate this part of their spoils to sacred purposes. Such was the religion of these barbarous people, who could make no other offering to heaven than that which arose from their robberies and plunder.

While they were idly dissipating the spoils they had made on the coast of Venezuela, Morgan, the most renowned of the English buccaneers, sailed from Jamaica to attack Porto-Bello. His plan of operations was so well contrived, that he surprised the city, and took it without opposition.

The conquest of Panama was an object of much greater importance. To secure this, Morgan thought it necessary to sail in the latitudes of Costa-Ricca, to procure some guides in the island of St Catherine's, where the Spaniards confined their malefactors. This place was so strongly fortified, that it ought to have held out for ten years against a considerable army. Notwithstanding this, the governor, on the first appearance of the pirates, sent privately to concert measures how he might surrender himself without incurring the imputation of cowardice. The result of this consultation was, that Morgan, in the nighttime, should Bucaner. attack a fort at some distance, and the governor should fall out of the citadel to defend a post of so much consequence; that the assailants should then attack him in the rear, and take him prisoner, which would consequently occasion a surrender of the place. It was agreed that a smart firing should be kept on both sides, without doing mischief to either. This farce was admirably carried on. The Spaniards, without being exposed to any danger, appeared to have done their duty; and the buccaneers, after having totally demolished the fortifications, and put on board their vessels a prodigious quantity of warlike ammunition which they found at St Catharine's, steered their course towards the river Chagre, the only channel that was open to them to arrive at the place which was the object of their utmost wishes.

At the entrance of this considerable river, a fort was built upon a steep rock, which the waves of the sea constantly beat against. This bulwark, very difficult of access, was defended by an officer whose extraordinary abilities were equal to his courage, and by a garrison that deserved such a commander. The buccaneers, for the first time, here met with a resistance that could only be equalled by their perseverance: it was a doubtful point, whether they would succeed or be obliged to raise the siege, when a lucky accident happened that proved favourable to their glory and their fortune. The commander was killed, and the fort accidentally took fire; the besiegers then taking advantage of this double calamity, made themselves masters of the place.

Morgan left his vessels at anchor, with a sufficient number of men to guard them; and sailed up the river in his sloops for 33 miles, till he came to Cruces, where it ceases to be navigable. He then proceeded by land to Panama, which was only five leagues distant. Upon a large and extensive plain that was before the city, he met with a considerable body of troops, whom he put to flight with the greatest ease, and entered into the city, which was now abandoned. Here were found prodigious treasures concealed in the wells and caves. Some valuable commodities were also taken upon the boats that were left aground at low water; and in the neighbouring forests were also found several rich deposits.

Having burnt the city, they set sail with a great number of prisoners, who were ransomed a few days after, and came to the mouth of the Chagre with a prodigious booty.

In 1603, an expedition of the greatest consequence was formed by Van Horn, a native of Ostend, but who had served all his life among the French. His intrepidity would never let him suffer the least signs of cowardice among those who associated with him. In the heat of an engagement, he went about his ship; successively observed his men; and immediately killed those who shrank at the sudden report of a pistol, gun, or cannon. This extraordinary discipline had made him become the terror of the coward and the idol of the brave. In other respects, he readily shared with the men of spirit and bravery the immense riches that were acquired by so truly warlike a disposition. When he went upon these expeditions, he generally failed in his frigate, which was his own property. But these new designs requiring greater numbers to carry them into execution, he took to his assistance Gramont, Godfrey, and Jonqué, three Frenchmen distinguished by their exploits; and Lawrence de Graff, a Dutchman, who had signalized himself still more than they. Twelve hundred buccaneers joined themselves to these famous commanders, and sailed in six vessels for Vera Cruz.

The darkness of the night favoured their landing, which was effected at three leagues from the place, where they arrived without being discovered. The governor, the fort, the barracks, and the posts of the greatest consequence, every thing, in short, that could occasion any resistance, was taken by the break of day. All the citizens, men, women, and children, were shut up in the churches, whither they had fled for shelter. At the door of each church were placed barrels of gunpowder to blow up the building. A buccaneer, with a lighted match, was to set fire to it upon the least appearance of an insurrection.

While the city was kept in such terror, it was easily pillaged; and after the buccaneers had carried off what was most valuable, they made a proposal to the citizens who were kept prisoners in the churches to ransom their lives and liberties by a contribution of 437,500l. These unfortunate people, who had neither ate nor drank for three days, cheerfully accepted the terms that were offered them. Half of the money was paid the same day; the other part was expected from the internal parts of the country; when there appeared on an eminence a considerable body of troops advancing, and near the port a fleet of 17 ships from Europe. At the sight of this armament, the buccaneers, without any marks of surprize, retreated quietly, with 1500 slaves they had carried off with them as a trifling indemnification for the rest of the money they expected, the settling of which they referred to a more favourable opportunity.

Their retreat was equally daring. They boldly sailed through the midst of the Spanish fleet; which let them pass without firing a single gun, and were in fact rather afraid of being attacked and beaten. The Spaniards would not probably have escaped so easily and with no other inconvenience but what arose from their fears, if the vessels of the pirates had not been laden with silver, or if the Spanish fleet had been freighted with any other effects but such merchandise as was little valued by these pirates.

A year had scarcely elapsed since their return from Mexico, when, on a sudden, they were all seized with the rage of going to plunder the country of Peru. It is probable that the hopes of finding greater treasures upon a sea little frequented, than on one long exposed to piracies of this kind, was the cause of this expedition. But it is somewhat remarkable, that both the English and French, and the particular affections of these two nations, had projected this plan at the same time, without any communication, intercourse, or design of acting in concert with each other. About 4000 men were employed in this expedition. Some of them came by Terra Firma, others by the straits of Magellan, to the place that was the object of their wishes. If the intrepidity of these barbarians had been directed, under the influence of a skilful and respectable commander, to one single uniform end, it is certain that they would have deprived the Spaniards of this important But their natural character was an invincible obstacle to so rare an union; for they always formed themselves into several distinct bodies, sometimes even so few in number as ten or twelve, who acted together, or separated, as the most trifling caprice directed. Grognier, Lecuyer, Picard, and Le Sage, were the most distinguished officers among the French; David Samms, Peter Wilner, and Towley, among the English.

Such of these adventurers as had got into the South sea by the straits of Darien, seized upon the first vessel they found upon the coast. Their associates, who had failed in their own vessels, were not much better provided. Weak, however, as they were, they beat several times the squadrons that were fitted out against them. But these victories were prejudicial to them, as they interrupted their navigation. When there were no more ships to be taken, they were continually obliged to make descents upon the coasts to get provisions, or to go by land in order to plunder those cities where the booty was secured. They successively attacked Seppa, Puebla-Nuevo, Leon, Realajo, Puebla-Viejo, Chiriquita, Lefparlo, Granada, Villia, Nicoy, Tecoanteca, Mucumuna, Chiloteca, New Segovia, and Guayaquil, the most considerable of all those places.

Many of them were taken by surprise; and most of them deserted by their inhabitants, who fled at the sight of the enemy. As soon as they took a town, it was directly set on fire, unless a sum proportioned to its value was given to save it. The prisoners taken in battle were massacred without mercy, if they were not ransomed by the governor or some of the inhabitants: gold, pearls, or precious stones, were the only things accepted of for the payment of their ransom. Silver being too common, and too weighty for its current value, would have been troublesome to them. The chances of fortune, that seldom leave guilt unpunished, nor adversity without a compensation for its suffering, atoned for the crimes committed in the conquest of the new world, and the Indians were amply revenged of the Spaniards.

While such piracies were committed on the southern ocean, the northern was threatened with the same by Gramont. He was a native of Paris, by birth a gentleman, and had distinguished himself in a military capacity in Europe; but his passion for wine, gaming, and women, had obliged him to join the pirates. He was, however, affable, polite, generous, and eloquent; he was endowed with a sound judgment, and was a person of approved valour; which soon made him be considered as the chief of the French buccaneers. As soon as it was known that he had taken up arms, he was immediately joined by a number of brave men. The governor of St Domingo, who had at length prevailed upon his master to approve of the project, equally wise and just, of fixing the pirates to some place, and inducing them to become cultivators, was desirous of preventing the concerted expedition, and forbade it in the king's name. Gramont, who had a greater share of sense than his associates, was not on that account more inclined to comply, and sternly replied: "How can Louis disapprove of a design he is unacquainted with, and which has been planned only a few days ago?" This answer highly pleased all the buccaneers; who directly embarked, in 1685, to attack Campeachy.

They landed without opposition. But at some distance from the coast, they were attacked by 800 Spaniards, who were beaten and pursued to the town; where both the parties entered at the same time. The cannon they found there was immediately levelled against the citadel. As it had very little effect, they were contriving some stratagem to enable them to become masters of the place, when intelligence was brought that it was abandoned. There remained in it only a gunner, an Englishman; and an officer of such signal courage, that he chose rather to expose himself to the greatest extremities, than basely to fly from the place with the rest. The commander of the buccaneers received him with marks of distinction, generously released him, gave him up all his effects, and besides complimented him with some valuable presents: such influence have courage and fidelity even on the minds of those who seem to violate all the rights of society.

The conquerors of Campeachy spent two months in searching all the environs of the city, for 12 or 15 leagues, carrying off every thing that the inhabitants, in their flight, thought they had preserved. When all the treasure they had collected from every quarter was deposited in the ships, a proposal was made to the governor of the province, who still kept the field with 900 men, to ransom his capital city. His refusal determined them to burn it, and demolish the citadel. The French, on the festival of St Louis, were celebrating the anniversary of their king; and in the transports of their patriotism, intoxication, and national love of their prince, they burnt to the value of a million of logwood; a part, and a very considerable one too, of the spoil they had made. After this singular and extravagant instance of folly, of which Frenchmen only could boast, they returned to St Domingo.

In 1697, 1200 buccaneers were induced to join a squadron of seven ships that sailed from Europe under the command of Pointis, to attack the famous city of Carthagena. This was the most difficult enterprise that could be attempted in the new world. The situation of the port, the strength of the place, the badness of the climate, were so many obstacles that seemed insurmountable to any but such men as the buccaneers were. But every obstacle yielded to their valour and good fortune: the city was taken, and booty gained to the amount of 1,750,000l. Their rapacious commander, however, deprived them of the advantages resulting from their success. He scrupled not, as soon as they fell fail, to offer 5250l. for the share of those who had been the chief instruments in procuring him so considerable a spoil.

The buccaneers, exasperated at this treatment, resolved immediately to board the vessel called the Sceptre, where Pointis himself was, and which at that time was too far distant from the rest of the ships to expect to be assisted by them. This avaricious commander was upon the point of being massacred, when one of the malecontents cried out: "Brethren, why should we attack this rascal? he has carried off nothing that belongs to us. He has left our share at Carthagena, and there we must go to recover it." This proposal was received Buccaneer received with general applause. A savage joy at once succeeded that gloomy melancholy which had seized Buccina, and without further deliberation all their ships sailed towards the city.

As soon as they had entered the city without meeting with any resistance, they shut up all the men in the great church; and exacted payment of £18,750, the amount of their share of booty which they had been defrauded of; promising to retreat immediately upon their compliance, but threatening the most dreadful vengeance if they refused. Upon this, the most venerable priest in the city mounted the pulpit, and made use of all the influence his character, his authority, and his eloquence gave to him, to persuade his hearers to yield up without reserve all the gold, silver, and jewels they had. The collection which was made after the sermon, not furnishing the sum required, the city was ordered to be plundered.

At length, after amassing all they could, these adventurers let fall; when unfortunately they met with a fleet of Dutch and English ships, both which nations were then in alliance with Spain. Several of the pirates were either taken or sunk, with all the cargo they had on board their ships; the rest escaped to St Domingo.

Such was the last memorable event in the history of the buccaneers. The separation of the English and French, when the war, on account of the prince of Orange, divided the two nations; the successful means they both made use of to promote the cultivation of land among their colonies, by the assistance of these enterprising men; and the prudence they showed in fixing the most distinguished among them, and entrusting them with civil and military employments; the protection they were both under the necessity of affording to the Spanish settlements, which till then had been a general object of plunder; all these circumstances, and various others, besides the impossibility there was of supplying the place of these remarkable men, who were continually dropping off, concurred to put an end to a society as extraordinary as ever existed. Without any regular system, without laws, without any degree of subordination, and even without any fixed revenue, they became the astonishment of that age in which they lived, as they will be also of posterity.

BUCELLARIUS, an order of soldiery under the Greek emperors, appointed to guard and distribute the ammunition bread; though authors are somewhat divided as to their office and quality. Among the Visigoths bucellarius was a general name for a client or vassal who lived at the expense of his lord. Some give the denomination to parasites in the courts of princes, some make them the body-guards of emperors, and some fancy they were only such as emperors employed in putting persons to death privately.

BUCELLATUM, among ancient military writers, denotes camp-bread, or biscuit baked hard and dry, both for lightness and keeping. Soldiers always carried with them enough for a fortnight, and sometimes much longer, during the time that military discipline was kept up.