Overcrowding and want of provisions caused sickness on board the buccaneer fleet, and numbers perished. Lorencillo and his squadron were next seen off Jamaica. Grammont sailed for the island of Little Guayove, where he arrived in safety, though with the loss of two thirds of his prisoners. A vessel which accompanied him was chased by a Spanish armadillo;[1] and the crew were compelled to take to their boats, securing their treasure, but leaving behind them the slaves and merchandise. No further attempt was made to pursue or punish the marauders. The Spaniards contented themselves with offering up thanks to the Almighty for their deliverance, and an order was issued that in all churches, chapels, and convents founded by the crown, a solemn annual mass should be celebrated in gratitude "for the happy event of the flight of Lorencillo."
After the departure of the pirates those who remained on the island of Sacrificios were at once transferred to the city, which was now guarded by a large force of cavalry. During the raid over three hundred of the inhabitants perished, and many of the survivors were reduced to beggary. The entire loss amounted to several millions of pesos. None of the buildings were destroyed, but all were more or less injured, and most of them were found in a filthy condition. Several months were required to purify the churches. The streets were choked with garbage, and the air was poisoned with the stench of decomposed bodies.
For many years the name of Lorencillo was remembered with terror by the people of New Spain, and even to this day it is not forgotten.[2] Such was
- ↑ On June 17, 1683, it was reported from Goazacoalcos that the pirates demanded 60,000 pesos of ransom for their negro and mulatto captives. An armadillo of 6 vessels with 600 men left Vera Cruz for Goazacoalcos in the middle of July, in pursuit of the pirates; but was drived back by a storm and detained for about a week. About the 20th of August the armament returned with 6 prizes and 90 slaves taken from the enemy. Robles, Diario, in Doc. Hist. Mex., i. 370, 380-3. The recapture of the slaves is confirmed in Esquemelin, but it is nowhere mentioned except in Robles that the Spaniards took more than one vessel.
- ↑ The name of Lorencillo afterward became a byword in Vera Cruz.
