Note XXIX‑24 — Chapter XXIX · CORSAIRS IN THE SOUTH SEA. 1671-1682.

The city of Panamá was usually garrisoned by 300 regular troops and 1,100 militia, but when the buccaneers arrived in the bay most of their soldiers were absent from the city, and the people were in the utmost consternation, having only some twelve hours' notice of the impending attack. The best of the soldiers remaining were placed on board the squadron, so it seems highly probable that if the pirates had landed instead of engaging the war-ships they might have gained possession of the place. Bucaniers of Amer., ii.; Ringrose's Voy., 28-9.