ABSTRACT

The corsair entrenched himself in the city and burned the buildings outside his trenches, which were some 250. For those which remained within his trenches, although they were half demolished, these people have been pusillanimous enough to give him 1 1 o,ooo ducats to keep him from burning them. It was of no avail for me to advise the governor that to do so was contrary to the good of Your Majesty's service. He nevertheless himself negotiated with the corsair for the ransom and went into Cartagena under the enemy's safeconduct. Finally they effected the ransom at the price mentioned. The Franciscan monastery, which stood outside the trenches, was ransomed for 700 ducats and they would not let me defend it, saying that ifl did the enemy would burn their houses.