“Senor Governor Don Juan Faro, you must be well aware of the reasons of our coming so near and of our intentions.  Therefore, I, Bowdoin Hendrick, general of these forces, in the name of the States General and of his Highness the Prince of Orange, do hereby demand that you deliver this castle and garrison into our hands, which doing we will not fail to come to terms with you.  And if not, I give you notice, that from this day forward we will spare neither old nor young, woman nor child; and to this we wait your answer in a few words.

“BOWDOIN HENDRICK.”

To which epistle the governor replied: 

“I have seen your paper, and am surprised that you should ask such a thing of me, seeing that I have served thirteen years in Flanders, where I have learned to value your boastings and know what sieges are.  On the contrary, if you will deliver the ships in which you have come to me, I will let you have one to return with.  And these are the orders of my King and Master, and none other, with which I have answered your paper, in the Castle of San Felipe del Morro, the 30th of September, 1625.

“JUAN DE HARO.”

The next day a heavy cannonading commenced, the Hollanders firing over 150 shots at the castle with small effect.  The same day a Spanish ship arrived with wine and provisions, but seeing the danger it ran of being taken, did not enter the port, but steered to la Espanola, to the great disappointment of the people in the fort.

On the 4th of October the governor ordered a sortie of 80 men in three parties.  On the 5th Captain Juan de Amezquita led another sortie, and so between sorties, surprises, night attacks, and mutual cannonadings things continued till the 21st of October.

On that day Bowdoin sent another letter announcing his intention of burning the city if no understanding was arrived at.  To which letter the governor replied that there was building material enough in the island to construct another city, and that he wished the whole army of Holland might be here to witness Spanish bravery.

Bowdoin carried his threat into effect, and the next day over a hundred houses were burned.  Bishop Balbueno’s palace and library and the city archives were also destroyed.  To put a stop to this wanton destruction Captains Amezquita and Botello led a sortie of 200 men.  They attacked the enemy in front and rear with such elan that they drove them from their trenches and into the water in their haste to reach their launches.

This, and other remarkable exploits, related by the native chroniclers, so discouraged the Hollanders that they abandoned the siege on the 2d of November, leaving behind them one of their largest ships, stranded, and over 400 dead.

The fleet repaired to la Aguada to refit.  Bowdoin, who, apparently, was a better letter writer than general, sent a third missive to the governor, asking permission to purchase victuals, which was, of course, flatly refused.