WILLIAM THE THIRD.

269

understanding the first principles of legislation. “ Benefitsreceived and good services done shall always be generouslyand thankfully compensated, whether a prior bargain hathbeen made or not; and, if it shall happen to be otherwise,and the Benefactor obliged justly to complain of the ingra-titude , the Ungrateful shall in such case be obliged to givethreefold satisfaction at the least.” An article much morecreditable to the little Parliament, and much needed in acommunity which was likely to be constantly at war, pro-hibits, on pain of death, the violation of female captives.

By this time all the Antilles and all the shores of theGulf of Mexico were in a ferment. The new colony was theobject of universal hatred. The Spaniards began to fit outarmaments. The chiefs of the French dependencies in theWest Indies eagerly offered assistance to the Spaniards.The governors of the English settlements put forth pro-clamations interdicting all communication with this nestof buccaneers. Just at this time, the Dolphin, a vesselof fourteen guns, which was the property of the ScotchCompany, was driven on shore by stress of weather underthe walls of Carthagena. The ship and cargo were con-fiscated, the crew imprisoned and put in irons. Someof the sailors were treated as slaves, and compelled tosweep the streets and to work on the fortifications. Others,and among them the captain, were sent to Seville to betried for piracy. Soon an envoy with a flag of truce arrivedat Carthagena, and, iu the name of the Council of Cale-donia, demanded the release of the prisoners. He deli-

CIIAP.

XXIV.

1G99.