The Treachery of the Spaniards of Porto Rico to the Dartmouth Frigot and her Company

When the Dartmouth friggot lay off the town
That's call'd Porto Rico, of some renown,
The captain sent thither to know if he cou'd
Come peaceably in for water and wood.
They answered we were welcome there,
And might venture in without all fear
And said it should be their only care
Whatever we wanted to prepare.

On the governor's promised honour then
We took up the pilot, who carry'd us in.
We rid undisturbed and safe all the night,
Nor smoak'd any cheat till the morning's light
Discovered their base and d[amned] intent ;
For when to the wat'ring place we went
We were seiz'd and into prison sent;
And then we found out what 'twas they meant.

Quoth the governor, ' Now you shall ne're be free
Till I your commissions and orders do see ;
For your ship is become a forfeiture,
And I'le sink her if she but dares to stirr:
For here my guns can command you all.
If she goes not where I say shee shall
I'le batter her sides with my iron ball
From every fort and the city wall.'

The council was call'd, and demurely they sate,
To manage the business by grave debate:
The bald-pated rascals (as if they were full
Of politick tricks) did squint and look dull,
Yet knew not what to doe in the case ;
They could hardly look us in the face,
Their action was so openly base,
And guilt made 'em conscious of their digrace,

Till the Don cry'd out to the grey-bearded knaves,
'We've now got a parcel of brawny slaves,
With provision enough to furnish the town ;
For (unless we are fools) the ship is our own:
And since they are in, we'll make 'em sure,
Our harbour's mouth is the prison door.
Take my advice, and I will secure
They never shall goe to sea any more.

'And because that the ship is under command,
Nor can they the force of our walls withstand,
Wee'll suffer these silly poltroons to go free,
For their friggot thereby gets no libertie :
But I'le order them to goe where I
Will maul 'em with more conveniency,
Or where upon the shoals they may ly,
And then they may bid their ship good-by.'

The business they had consulted so well,
They sent us away, and sent one to tell
That if our commander refus'd to obey,
And didn't immediately order to weigh,
And further within the harbour sail,
For certain then that he would not fail
To send some bullets to ferk our t[ail],
And those would be words that should prevail.

'In vain,' said the captain, ' you threaten us, sirs,
For I value your guns but as barking of currs ;
Begin when you please, you shall find us to be
As brave English hearts as e're saw the sea.
To-morrow I will certainly weigh,
And brave all your guns in open day ;
Maugre whatever you do or say,
Your governour's orders I'le not obey.'

Next day, to decoy us, he cunningly sent
A fawning excuse and a complement,
And said he would try to dispatch us that day
And send us in peace and in safety away ;
But he had no design in the thing
But writing letters unto our King,
Which a messenger, he said, should bring
Before the sun was near setting.

Our top-sails were loose, and the sheats were haul'd home,
We waited all day, but no messenger come.
We saw on the shoar the friars so gay,
And some were in black, but most were in grey;
To ev'ry fort and castle they went;
But the Lord in heav'n knowes what they meant,
Unless (that it might be their intent)
To bless e'ry man, gun, and battlement.

No sooner the fryars were gone to their home
But we heard an alarm beat by the drum,
And then a command was sent us agen
To furl our top-sails and warp further in;
And if we didn't immediately
With what the governour said comply,
From all his forts he'd let the guns fly,
And batter us most confoundedly.

Then straight from the city we plainly could see,
The souldiers were marching most hastily,
And headed they were by their fat general,
To every fort and each castle wall:
But we were quite careless all the while,
And at their grand folly did only smile,
Resolving the Spaniards to beguile
And leave 'em without their wish't-for spoil.

By this time the busie old sun was gone down,
And candles were lighting about the town ;
The commander then cheared his men so brave,
And the word for cutting the cable gave,
Which was done ith' twinkling of an eye,
And the sails were set as suddenly,
Which as soon as e're they could espy
A volley of small shott did let fly.

The warning when every castle had got,
They fired on us (like mad) theire great shott;
With louder huzzas we answer'd agen,
And shew'd 'em that we were true Englishmen;
Thus under sail alongst 'em we past,
And till convenient we kept all fast;
But halloo'd out, nor were agast,
And sent a broadside amongst 'em at last

Thus fireing, and fireing, we held a good space,
And gave ?em the go by to their disgrace;
Three hours or more continu'd the fight,
With fire and smoke, and a very calm night,
And tho' within pistol shott we were,
Yet nevertheless we got well clear,
Without much hurt or any fear,
And to tell you the tale are now come here.