He departed with seven hundred men and six ships, stopping on the way near the coast of Cuba, and robbing some poor fishermen of their boats, which he would need in shallow water.  Their voyage was a very long one, and they were beset by calms, and instead of reaching Nicaragua, they drifted into the Gulf of Honduras.  Here they found themselves nearly out of provisions, and were obliged to land and scour the country to find something to eat.  Leaving their ships, they began a land march through the unfortunate region where they now found themselves.  They robbed Indians, they robbed villages; they devastated little towns, taking everything that they cared for, and burning what they did not want, and treating the people they captured with viler cruelties than any in which the buccaneers had yet indulged.  Their great object was to take everything they could find, and then try to make the people confess where other things were hidden.  Men and women were hacked to pieces with swords; it was L’Olonnois’ pleasure, when a poor victim had nothing to tell, to tear out his tongue with his own hands, and it is said that on some occasions his fury was so great that he would cut out the heart of a man and bite at it with his great teeth.  No more dreadful miseries could be conceived than those inflicted upon the peaceful inhabitants of the country through which these wretches passed.  They frequently met ambuscades of Spaniards, who endeavored to stop their progress; but this was impossible.  The pirates were too strong in number and too savage in disposition to be resisted by ordinary Christians, and they kept on their wicked way.

At last they reached a town called San Pedro, which was fairly well defended, having around it a great hedge of prickly thorns; but thorns cannot keep out pirates, and after a severe fight the citizens surrendered, on condition that they should have two hours’ truce.  This was given, and the time was occupied by the people in running away into the woods and carrying off their valuables.  But when the two hours had expired, L’Olonnois and his men entered the town, and instead of rummaging around to see what they could find, they followed the unfortunate people into the woods, for they well understood what they wanted when they asked for a truce, and robbed them of nearly everything they had taken away.

But the capture of this town was not of much service to L’Olonnois, who did not find provisions enough to feed his men.  Their supplies ran very low, and it was not long before they were in danger of starvation.  Consequently they made their way by the most direct course to the coast, where they hoped to be able to get something to eat.  If they could find nothing else, they might at least catch fish.  On their way every rascal of them prepared himself a net, made out of the fibres of a certain plant, which grew in abundance in those regions, in order that he might catch himself a supper when he reached the sea.