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194 Laurent, or as he is more frequently known by the chroniclers Lorencillo, by which name we shall henceforth call him, was appointed commander of the fleet, while Van Horn was in charge of the land forces. The former is described as a tall, well proportioned, and handsome man; light-haired and comely of aspect, a generous ruffian withal, though of course always alieni profusus, and one very popular among his comrades. He was in fact a model corsair. It is not recorded that he was ever guilty of quite such diabolic atrocities as were laid to the charge of Morgan or L'Olonnois, but if we can believe the Spanish records of this period, his deeds were sufficiently diabolical to be interesting. It is there stated that while still a youth he was punished by an alcalde of Tabasco for some offence. Vowing vengeance he disappeared, and not long afterward returned with a gang of malefactors who sacked and burned the town and outraged the women. But the account given by Esquemelin, one of his fraternity, and probably the more truthful version is that, being captured by pirates while serving on board a Spanish vessel, he consented to join the buccaneers. This writer describes the character of his favorite hero in glowing colors, giving him credit for all the qualities of a true gentleman, and remarking with amusing naïveté that his only fault was his impatience and a habit of swearing a little too frequently.

Toward sunset on the 17th of May, 1683, two large ships flying Spanish colors were seen to the leeward of Vera Cruz, crowding all sail to make the port, for a