The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-02-22


liant defenders, Morgan undertook a
special plan for bringing the governor
and his garrison to terms. The nara
tor proceeds with his CHASTITY descrip-
ton:
Therefore, he ordered ten or twelve
ladders to be made, so broad that
three or four men at once might
ascend by them. These being finished,
he commanded all the religious men
and women whom he had taken pris-
Oners to fix them against the walls of
the castle. Thus much he had before
form in case he delivered not the cas-
tie. Captain Morgan was much per-
suaded that the governor would not
employ his utmost forces, seeing re-
ligious women and ecclesiastical per-
sons exposed in the front of the SOL
diers to the greatest dangers.
"Thus the ladders, as have said,
were put into the hands of religious
persons of both sexes; and these were
forced, at the head Of the companies,
to raise and apply them to the walls.
But Captain Morgan was fully de-
ceived in his judgment of this design.
For the governor, who acted like
brave and courageous soldier, refused
not, in performance of his duty, to
use his utmost endeavors to destroy
whosoever came near the walls. The
religious men and women ceased not
70 hnr Of oil
the saints of heaven he would deliver
the castle and thereby spare both his
and their own lives. But nothing could
prevail with the obstinacy and fierce
ness that had possessed the governors
mind. Thus many of the religious
could fix the ladders-which at last
being done, though with great loss of
the said religious people, the pirates
mounted them in great numbers, and
with no less valor, having lireballs in
their hands, and earthen pots full of
powder-all which things, Oeing now
at the top of the walls, they kindled
and cast in among the Spaniards.
Violence After the Fighting.
"This effort of the pirates was very
great, insomuch as the Spaniards
could no longer resist nor defend the
castle, which was now entered. Here
upon they all threw down their arms
and craved quarter for their lives.
Only the governor of the city would
admit or crave no mercy, but rather
killed many of the pirates with his
own hands, and not a few of his own
soldiers because they did not stand to
their arms. And, although the pirates
asked him If he would have quarter,
yet ne constantly answered: BY no
means: / had rather die as valiant
soldier than be hanged as coward.
"They endeavored as much as they
could, to take him prisoner. But he
defended himself so obstinately that
they were forced to kill him, nOtwith-
standing all the cries and tears of his
own wife and daughter, who begged
of him upon their knees he would de-
mand quarter and save his life. When
the pirates had possessed themselves
of the castle, which was about night,
they enclosed therein all the prisoners
they had taken, placing the women
and men by themselves with some
guards upon them. All the wounded
were put into a certain apartment by
itself, to the intent their own COM
plants might be the cure of their dis
eases, for no other was afforded
them"
The night which followed was
night out of Dante's inferno.
"Now," says the virtuous Esquem-
ling, they fell to eating and drinking
after their usual manner-that is to
say, committing in both these things
all manner of debauchery and excess.
These two vices were Immediately fol-
lowed by many attacks committed
upon very honest women, as well mar
ried as virgins, who being threatened
with the sword were constrained to
submit to the violence of these wicked
men. After such manner they deliv-
cred themselves up to all sort of de-
bauchery of this kind, that if there
had been found only fifty courageous
men they might easily have retaken
the city. and killed all the pirates"
Morgan Scares the Governor.
The coming of dawn brought no
respite to the ravished city. Esquem-
ling tells quite casually what ensued
"The next day. having plundered all
they could find. they began to exam