Hello Jim and Happy Easter!
Too bad you don't still have that sword you found with the motto. I'm one to talk, though, as I traded mine away as well! If you remember, mine was the German-made Solingen sword with Spanish motto, classic Spanish 6-sided broadsword blade with brass cast lion hilt. I traded it for a naval officer's lion pommel hanger-
I think Jesse's sword is a very important piece of pirate history and he's a lucky gent to have it! If you ever wish to part with it, Jesse...
OK, finally, here is the Spanish colonial bilbo I mentioned with similar blade, marking almost completely undiscernable, with similar decorations. As Jim pointed out, the Spanish trade routes passed directly through the so called Barbary States, so a captured Spanish colonial piece may have had a bilbo type hilt, cup hilt, etc.