THE
TREACHERY OF THE SPANIARDS OF PORTO RICO
TO THE
DARTMOUTH FRIGOT
AND HER COMPANY.
Composed by Hovender Walker on board of Dartmouth.
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WHen the Dartmouth Riggot lay off a the Town,
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Thats call'd Porto Rico, of some Renown;
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The Captain sent thither to know if he cou'd
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Come peaceably in for Water and Wood.
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They answered, We were welcome there
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And might venture in without all Fear;
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And said it should be their only Care
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Whatever we wanted to prepare.
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On the Governour's promised Honour then
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We took up the Pilot, who carry'd us in:
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We [?] undisturbed and safe all the Night;
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Nor smoak'd any Cheat, till the Morning's Light
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Discovered their base and D------ Intent;
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For when to the [w]at'ring place we went,
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We were seiz'd and into Prison sent;
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And then we found out what 'twas they meant.
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Quoth the Governour, now you shall ne're be free,
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Till I your Commissions and Orders do see:
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For your Ship is become a Forfeiture,
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And I'le sink her if she but dares to stirr:
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For her my Guns can command you all,
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If she goes not where I say shee shall
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Il'e batter her sides with my iron Ball
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From every Fort and the City Wall.
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The Council was call'd, and demurely they sate,
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To manage the Business by grave Debate:
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The Bald-pated Rascals (as if they were full
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Of [?] Tricks) did squint and look dull;
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Yet knew not what to doe in the Case,
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They could hardly look us in the Face;
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Their Action was so openly base,
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And Guilt made 'em conscious of their Disgrace.
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Till the Don cry'd out to the grey-bearded Knaves,
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We've now got a parcel of brawny Slaves,
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With Provision enough to furnish the Town;
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For (unless wee are fools) the Ship is our own:
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And Since they are in, we'll make 'em sure,
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Our Harbour's mouth is the Prison door:
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Take my Advice, and I will secure,
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They never shall goe to Sea any more:
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And because that the Ship is under Command,
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Nor can they the force of our walls withstand,
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Wee'll suffer these silly Poltroons to go free,
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For their Friggot thereby gets no Libertie:
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But I'le order them to goe where I
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Will maul 'em with more Conveniency,
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Or where upon the Shoals they may ly;
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And then they may bid their SHip Goodby.
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The busines when they had consulted so well,
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They sent us away, and sent one to tell,
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That if our Commander refus'd to obey,
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And did'nt immediately order to weigh,
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And further within the Harbour sail,
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For certain then that he would not fail
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To send some Bullets to fork our T___
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And those would be Words that should prevail.
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In vain said the CAPTAIN you threaten us, Sirs,
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For I value your Guns but as barking of Currs;
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Begin when you please, you shall find us to be
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As brave English Hearts as e're saw the Sea:
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To morrow, I will certainly Weigh,
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And brave all your Guns in open day;
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Maugre [when]ever you do or say,
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Your Governours Orders I'le not obey.
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Next day, to decoy us, he cunningly sent
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A fawning Excuse with a Complement;
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And said he would try to dispatch us that day,
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And send us in Peace, and in Safety away:
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For he had no Design in the thing,
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But Writing Letters unto our KING,
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Which a Messenger he said should bring,
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Before the Sun was near Setting.
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Our Top-sails w__ [?]oose, and the Sheats were haul'd home,
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We wai[t]ed all day, but no Messenger come:
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We fan ou the Shoar the Friars so gay,
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And some were in Black, but most were in Grey;
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To ev'ry Port and Castle they went;
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But the LORD in heav'n knowes what they meant,
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Unless (that it might be their intent)
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To bless e'ry Man, Gun, and Battlement
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No sooner the Fryars were gone to their home,
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But we heard an Alarm beat by the Drum,
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And ther a Command was sent us agen,
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To furl our Top-sails and warp further in:
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And if wee did 'nt immediately
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With what the Governour said comply
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From all Forts he'd let the Guns fly,
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And batter us most confoundedly.
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Then streight from the City we plainly could see.
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The Souldiers were marching most hastily,
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And headed they were by their fat General,
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To man e'ry Fort and each Castle wall:
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But we were quite careless all the while,
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And at their grand Folly did only smile,
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Resolving the Spaniards to beguile,
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And leave 'em without their wish't-for Spoil.
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By this time the busie old Son was gone down,
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And Candles were lighting about the Town,
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The COMMANDER then cheared his men so brave,
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And the word for cutting the Cable gave,
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Which was done i'th twinkling of an eye,
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And the Sails were set as suddenly,
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Which as soon as e're they could espy,
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A Volley of small shott did let fly.
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This Warning when every Castle had got,
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They fire,d on us (like mad) theire great Shott;
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With louder Huzza's we answer'd agen,
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And shew'd 'em that we were true English men;
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Thus under Sail alongst ,em we past,
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And till convenient we kept all Fast
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But Halloo'd out, nor were agast,
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And sent a Broad-side amongst 'em at last.
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Thus Fireing, and Fireing we held a good space,
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And gave 'em the go by to their Disgrace;
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Three hours or more continu'd the Fight,
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With Fire and Smoke and a very calm night,
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And tho within Pistol shoot we were
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Yet nevertheless we got well clear,
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Without much hurt or any Fear,
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And to tell you the Tale, are now come here.
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FINIS.
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