Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/304

284 of the widest streets to attack the invaders. The pirates were drawn up in three lines, each of which, after firing a volley, withdrew to reload and allow those in the rear to deliver their fire. The Spanish troops began to waver; their horses taking fright plunged through their ranks, and soon the garrison were routed and fled through the city, hotly pursued by the buccaneers, until they reached one of the gates and scattered over the adjacent country.

Meanwhile the alarm had been given at the castle of San Juan de Ulúa, and a brisk fire was opened on the town. The pirates then held a council, and it was resolved to seize the padres, and after cutting off the heads of several, to send others to the castle with instructions to present them to the governor and tell him that unless the firing ceased the remainder would be treated in the same way. The governor answered by redoubling his fire; whereupon the buccaneers closed all the gates and drove the inhabitants in a body to the part of the city which was most exposed to the shot from the fort. Orders were now given to cease firing, and the freebooters were left undisturbed to plunder the town; but finding no great booty, they carried off to their ships a number of the principal citizens, and demanded a large sum for their ransom. Soon after their departure the Spaniards erected watch-towers and posted sentinels along the coast to guard against surprise for the future.

No other incidents worthy of note occurred during the reign of Alburquerque. Toward the close of his administration he was invested with the order of the golden fleece, the honor being conferred on him by the senior inquisitor, Francisco de Deza. During his long term of office he lived in royal state, giving magnificent banquets, and freely distributing