Captain Willis
at the two Stands, Willis heard more about the dye-wood then
called "braziletta" growing at the mouth of the Texach, the
river to which he later gave his name.
 Father Du Tertre, of the Ordre des Freres Precheurs, in
his "Histoire des Antilles," 1667, tells us that "the French
buccaneers were twice driven away from Tortuga before
the English were driven away in 1638 by a Spanish general
who put to the sword all the English who fell into his hands.
But shortly afterwards they returned, and having attracted
some French buccaneers they reached the number of 300,
and of which 'un anglais' had made himself the chief."
 Father Francois Xavier de Charlevoix, S.J., in his "His-
toire de L'Ile Espagnole ou de St. Domingue," of 1730, which
is mainly based on the memoir manuscript of Father J. B.
Le Pers, missionary at Saint Domingue for 25 years, and on
the original documents of the French naval depot says that
"the buccaneers felt the necessity of defending themselves
against the Spaniards from whom they had no hopes of peace,
and this caused them to think of electing a chief. Amongst
the English who were with them was one named Willis-
"homme de tete et resolution." They tendered him the com-
mand, but quickly repented it. They noticed that this man
was attracting as many as possible of his own nation, and
what worried them still more was his mocking them when
they wished to elect a new general."
 In 1678 the Flemish buccaneer doctor Exquemeling or
Oexmelin, who had lived on Tortuga, mentions Willis' ex-
pulsion from Tortuga in his work "De Americaensche Zee-
roovers." Father J. B. Labat, in his "Voyages aux Antilles,
1693-1705," also gives us the story of Willis's expulsion from
Tortuga in the last days of August 1640.
 The retreat was the only sensible thing for Willis to do
under the circumstances. There is no doubt he would have
given battle to cover his retreat, but with the disaffection of
such of his men who were waiting for Le Vasseur it would
have been stupid. For weeks he could feel the reins slipping
through his fingers and his mind flashing to the logwood