The Green Bottle

We gathered ourselves together and watched all the action of the ships, and all the manoeuvring that was taking place; we could see everything from the poop deck. It was dead ahead now at full speed. We were now trying to come abreast of the Spaniards and all the time we were closing the gap. The Captain ordered all the gun ports to be opened. We then cut away from the Margareta, using the wind again to pick up the maximum speed, then turning back again we came right abreast of her and closing in on her. All the gunners were standing by ready to give the Spaniards a full broadside with all our canons as soon as the captain gave the order. The Captain shouted. ‘Remember lads take out the masts and rigging first. Swivel guns, you rake the deck with your grapeshot. Don’t hit her below the water line; we don’t want to sink her, not yet. Not until we lighten her of all her treasure.’ All the men cheered. This must have unnerved the Spaniards because they fired a full broadside, it was well short, there were great splashes in the water about ten feet from us, a couple of the cannon balls skipped along the water like stones on a pond hitting our hull but doing no damage. ‘Hold your fire-men. Remember your drill; I want two broadsides into her, in four minutes flat before we board her.’ ‘Ready when you are captain.’ said the gunnery officer Billy Binks. ‘Give her a little Starboard helm Hickman.’ ‘Aye aye captain.’ The Spaniards fired again this time they drenched the ship with water as most of their shot landed right next to us, but still doing no damage to our hull. Although four large holes appeared in the mizzen sail where some of their cannon balls had went through. The tension was electric, ‘Spot get ready for the noise from our cannons when we return fire.’ The captain gave the order to the helmsman. ’Take her in Hickman, NOW.’ ‘Aye aye captain.’ We were about ten feet away from the Spaniard. Surely now the Spaniards would be ready to fire a broadside at us again. On the roll men ready, ‘F-I-R-E ‘Captain Flack roared’ The tremendous noise of the cannons deafened me. Our ship once again heeled right over under the recoil of the broadside we had just fired, As the smoke cleared, we could see the Spaniards rigging and Masts, or what was left of them, hanging in shreds. We were rolling again on the next wave, again Captain Flack once more roared, F-I-R-E’. Another tremendous crescendo of noise and smoke, I couldn’t believe how quickly the men had reloaded and fired our guns again. As we came back on an even keel. I looked at the Margareta; it had turned from a beautiful sailing ship that was in full sail, into a mass of tangled and burning rigging. Two of her masts had vanished altogether. As we drew right alongside her the Buccaneers swarmed aboard her cutting the shell shocked Spaniards to pieces. The Seaslug came alongside on the Margareta’s Larboard side, and her Buccaneers joined in the fight. The Spaniards were soon overcome and surrendered very quickly, to the joy of our men. The men who seconds ago were trying to kill all the Spaniards, had now disarmed them and were treating them with kindness, and the reason Tom told me later, was that they were now valuable prisoners, and would bring a lot of gold on their release. Captain Flack demanded the Captain of the Margareta to step forward; he stepped forward, bowed to Captain Flack, and spoke. ‘Senior Captain” no me mateis os dire la verda,” ‘What was that all about Tom?’ ‘The Captain has asked him to hand over all his gold and silver.’ The Spanish Captain said to Captain Flack. ‘Don’t kill me I will tell the truth.’ ‘Speak English you dog.’ ‘My name is Captain Don Juan Perez De Campo of his majesty King Philips ship, the Margareta.’ ‘I am Captain Flack of my ship the Anna at your service, now show me your papers so we can relieve you of some of your cargo before you sink.’ He took Captain Flack to his cabin and handed over the ships Manifest detailing everything that was on board. In the ships hold. The men quickly located the treasure and anything else that was of any real value, Gold Silver. Jewels of all kinds, Spices and lots of leather hides, and as much gunpowder as they could lay their hands on, it was all quickly taken up onto the deck and loaded onto the Anna. ‘These Buccaneers were bandits, but you had to admire their professionalism, and the speed that they worked stripping the burning ship of her valuables. The Spaniards that were still alive were all taken prisoners and put on board the Anna. We then cut ourselves free from the burning hulk of the Margareta. Just in time I might add, we were about a hundred yards from her when she blew up and was gone in an instant. We immediately set sail. We were once again soon under full sail, speeding away from the scene of our crime.