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diff --git a/27090-h/27090-h.htm b/27090-h/27090-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f5f0155 --- /dev/null +++ b/27090-h/27090-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10628 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Great Pirate Stories, by Various + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,.p4 {margin-bottom: 2em;} + h2,h3,h4 {font-weight: normal;} + h4 {font-size: large; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} + hr {width: 65%; margin: 2em auto; clear: both;} + .tb {width: 45%;} + table,.tb,.poem {margin: 1em auto;} + td {vertical-align: top;} + .td1 {text-align: left; padding-bottom: .25em; width: 32em;} + .td2 {text-align: left; font-size: small; padding-left: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em; width: 32em;} + .td3 {padding-left: 4em; text-align: right;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; right: 1%; font-size: small; font-style: normal; text-align: right; text-indent: 0em;} + .blockquot {margin: 1em 10%;} + .center,h1,h2,h3,h4 {text-align: center;} + .smcap,.smcapl,h1 {font-variant: small-caps;} + .smcapl {text-transform: lowercase;} + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px; margin-top: 2em;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: 0.25em; font-size: .8em;} + .poem {text-align: left; width: 18em;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i6 {display: block; margin-left: 6em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15% 1em; padding: 1em; text-align: justify;} + a:link,a:visited {text-decoration: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .p1 {margin-top: -1em;} + .p2 {margin-top: 6em; margin-bottom: 6em;} + .p3 {margin-top: 3em;} + .p5 {padding-left: 4em; text-indent: -2em;} + .p6 {margin-top: 1.5em;} + .bk1 p {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;} + .sp1 {font-size: x-large;} + .rgt {text-align: right; margin-top: .75em;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Great Pirate Stories, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Great Pirate Stories + +Author: Various + +Editor: Joseph Lewis French + +Release Date: October 29, 2008 [EBook #27090] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREAT PIRATE STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Stephen Blundell and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1><big>Great Pirate Stories</big></h1> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Edited by</span></p> + +<h2>JOSEPH LEWIS FRENCH</h2> +<div class="p1"><p class="center">Editor of "Great Sea Stories," "Masterpieces of Mystery,"<br /> +"Great Ghost Stories," etc.</p></div> + +<div class="p2"><p class="center"><span class="smcap">Two Volumes<br /> +in One</span></p></div> + +<p class="center"><span class="sp1">TUDOR PUBLISHING CO.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">New York</span></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="center">First Printing, November, 1922<br /> +Second Printing, January, 1923<br /> +Third Printing, November, 1923<br /> +Fourth Printing, November, 1929</p> + +<div class="p3"><p class="center"><i>Printed in the United States of America</i></p></div> +<p class="center">Copyright, 1922, by Brentano's</p> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> +Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. +Archaic, dialect and quoted spellings (including inconsistent proper nouns), in addition to irregular hyphenation, remain as printed.</div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">Go tell your King, he is King of the Land;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But I am the King of the Sea!<br /></span> +<div class="rgt"><span class="smcap">Barbarossa to Charles V.</span></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>FOREWORD</h2></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Piracy</span> embodies the romance of the sea at its +highest expression. It is a sad but inevitable +commentary on our civilization, that, so far +as the sea is concerned, it has developed from its +infancy down to a century or so ago, under one +phase or another of piracy. If men were savages +on land they were doubly so at sea, and all the +years of maritime adventure—years that added to +the map of the world till there was little left to +discover—could not wholly eradicate the piratical +germ. It went out gradually with the settlement +and ordering of the far-flung British colonies. Great +Britain, foremost of sea powers, must be credited +with doing more both directly and indirectly for the +abolition of crime and disorder on the high seas than +any other force. But the conquest was not complete +till the advent of steam which chased the sea-rover +into the farthest corners of his domain. It is +said that he survives even today in certain spots in +the Chinese waters,—but he is certainly an innocuous +relic. A pirate of any sort would be as +great a curiosity today if he could be caught and +exhibited as a fabulous monster.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span></p><p>The fact remains and will always persist that in +the lore of the sea he is far and away the most picturesque +figure,—and the more genuine and gross +his career, the higher degree of interest does he inspire.</p> + +<p>There may be a certain human perversity in this, +for the pirate was unquestionably a bad man—at +his best, or worst—considering his surroundings and +conditions,—undoubtedly the worst man that ever +lived. There is little to soften the dark yet glowing +picture of his exploits. But again, it must be +remembered, that not only does the note of distance +subdue, and even lend a certain enchantment +to the scene, but the effect of contrast between our +peaceful times and his own contributes much to +deepen our interest in him. Perhaps it is this latter, +added to that deathless spark in the human +breast that glows at the tale of adventure, which +makes him the kind of hero of romance that he is +today.</p> + +<p>He is undeniably a redoubtable historical figure. +It is a curious fact that the commerce of the seas +was cradled in the lap of buccaneering. The constant +danger of the deeps in this form only made +hardier mariners out of the merchant-adventurers, +actually stimulating and strengthening maritime enterprise.</p> + +<p>Buccaneering—which is only a politer term for +piracy—thus became the high romance of the seas +during the great centuries of maritime adventure. +It went hand in hand with discovery,—they were in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span> +fact almost inseparable. Most of the mighty mariners +from the days of Leif the Discoverer, through +those of the redoubtable Sir Francis Drake down to +our own Paul Jones, answer to the roll-call.</p> + +<p>It was a bold hardy world—this of ours—up to +the advent of our giant-servant, Steam,—every foot +of which was won by fierce conquest of one sort or +another. Out of this past the pirate emerges as a +romantic, even at times heroic, figure. This final +niche, despite his crimes, cannot altogether be denied +him. A hero he is and will remain so long as +tales of the sea are told. So, have at him, in these +pages!</p> + +<div class="rgt"><span class="smcap">Joseph Lewis French.</span></div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span></p> +<h2><b>CONTENTS</b></h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> + +<tr><td class="td3" colspan="2"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">The Piccaroon</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>Tom Cringle's Log</i>. By <span class="smcap">Michael Scott</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">The Capture of Panama, 1671</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>The Buccaneers of America</i>. By <span class="smcap">John Esquemeling</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">The Malay Proas</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>Afloat and Ashore</i>. By <span class="smcap">James Fenimore Cooper</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">The Wonderful Fight of the <i>Exchange</i> of Bristol with the +Pirates of Algiers</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>Purchas, His Pilgrims</i>. By <span class="smcap">Samuel Purchas</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">The Daughter of the Great Mogul</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>The King of the Pirates</i>. By <span class="smcap">Daniel Defoe</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">Barbarossa—King of the Corsairs</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>Sea Wolves of the Mediterranean</i>. By <span class="smcap">E. Hamilton Currey, R.N</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">Morgan at Puerto Bello</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>The Buccaneers of America</i>. By <span class="smcap">John Esquemeling</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">The Ways of the Buccaneers</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>Buccaneer Customs on the Spanish Main</i>. By <span class="smcap">John Masefield</span> after <span class="smcap">John Esquemeling</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">A True Account of Three Notorious Pirates</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>The Buccaneers of America</i>. By <span class="smcap">Howard Pyle, Ed</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">Narrative of the Capture of the Ship <i>Derby</i>, 1735</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_196">196</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">By <span class="smcap">Captain Anselm</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">Francis Lolonois, the Slave Who Became a Pirate King</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_209">209</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>The Buccaneers of America</i>. By <span class="smcap">John Esquemeling</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">The Fight between the <i>Dorrill</i> and the <i>Moca</i></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_232">232</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>The Indian Antiquary</i>, Vol. 49.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">Jaddi the Malay Pirate</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>The Indian Antiquary</i>, Vol. 49.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">The Terrible Ladrones</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>The Ladrone Pirates</i>. By <span class="smcap">Richard Glasspoole</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">The Female Captive</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_276">276</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From an Old Pamphlet, published in 1825. By <span class="smcap">Lucretia Parker</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">The Passing of Mogul Mackenzie, the Last of the North Atlantic Pirates</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_298">298</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From <i>Blackwood's Magazine</i>. By <span class="smcap">Arthur Hunt Chute</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">The Last of the Sea-Rovers: The Riff Coast Pirates</td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_312">312</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">From the <i>Nautical Magazine</i>. By <span class="smcap">W. B. Lord</span>.</td><td class="td3"> </td></tr> + +</table></div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h1>GREAT PIRATE STORIES</h1> + +<div class="p4"><h2>THE PICCAROON<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Michael Scott</span></h3> + +<p class="center">"Ours the wild life in tumult still to range."—<i>The Corsair.</i></p></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">We</span> returned to Carthagena, to be at hand +should any opportunity occur for Jamaica, +and were lounging about one forenoon on +the fortifications, looking with sickening hearts out +to seaward, when a voice struck up the following +negro ditty close to us:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Fader was a Corramantee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Moder was a Mingo,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Black picaniny buccra wantee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So dem sell a me, Peter, by jingo.<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Jiggery, jiggery, jiggery."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>"Well sung, Massa Bungo!" exclaimed Mr. +Splinter; "where do you hail from, my hearty?"</p> + +<p>"Hillo! Bungo, indeed! free and easy dat, anyhow. +Who you yousef, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Peter," continued the lieutenant, "don't +you know me?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Cannot say dat I do," rejoined the negro, very +gravely, without lifting his head, as he sat mending +his jacket in one of the embrasures near the +water-gate of the arsenal—"Hab not de honour of +your acquaintance, sir."</p> + +<p>He then resumed his scream, for song it could +not be called:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Mammy Sally's daughter<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lose him shoe in an old canoe<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dat lay half full of water,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And den she knew not what to do.<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Jiggery, jig——"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>"Confound your jiggery, jiggery, sir! But I +know you well enough, my man; and you can +scarcely have forgotten Lieutenant Splinter of the +Torch, one would think?"</p> + +<p>However, it was clear that the poor fellow really +had not known us; for the name so startled him, +that, in his hurry to unlace his legs from under him, +as he sat tailor-fashion, he fairly capsized out of his +perch, and toppled down on his nose—a feature, +fortunately, so flattened by the hand of nature, that +I question if it could have been rendered more obtuse +had he fallen out of the maintop on a timber-head, +or a marine officer's.</p> + +<p>"Eh!—no—yes, him sure enough; and who is de +picaniny hofficer—Oh! I see, Massa Tom Cringle? +Garamighty, gentlemen, where have you drop from? +Where is de old Torch? Many a time hab I, Peter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +Mangrove, pilot to Him Britannic Majesty squadron, +taken de old brig in and through amongst de +keys at Port Royal!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, and how often did you scour her copper +against the coral reefs, Peter?"</p> + +<p>His Majesty's pilot gave a knowing look, and laid +his hand on his breast—"No more of dat if you +love me, massa."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, it don't signify now, my boy; she +will never give you that trouble again—foundered—all +hands lost, Peter, but the two you see before +you."</p> + +<p>"Werry sorry, Massa Plinter, werry sorry—What! +de black cook's-mate and all?—But misfortune +can't be help. Stop till I put up my needle, and +I will take a turn wid you." Here he drew himself +up with a great deal of absurd gravity. "Proper +dat British hofficer in distress should assist one +anoder—we shall consult togeder.—How can I +serve you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Peter, if you could help us to a passage to +Port Royal, it would be serving us most essentially. +When we used to be lying there a week seldom +passed without one of the squadron arriving from +this; but here have we been for more than a month +without a single pennant belonging to the station +having looked in: our money is running short, and +if we are to hold on in Carthagena for another six +weeks, we shall not have a shot left in the locker—not +a copper to tinkle on a tombstone."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + +<p>The negro looked steadfastly at us, then carefully +around. There was no one near.</p> + +<p>"You see, Massa Plinter, I am desirable to serve +you, for one little reason of my own; but, beside +dat, it is good for me at present to make some +friend wid de hofficer of de squadron, being as how +dat I am absent widout leave."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I perceive—a large R against your name in +the master-attendant's books, eh?"</p> + +<p>"You have hit it, sir, werry close; besides, I long +mosh to return to my poor wife, Nancy Cator, dat +I leave, wagabone dat I is, just about to be confine."</p> + +<p>I could not resist putting in my oar.</p> + +<p>"I saw Nancy just before we sailed, Peter—fine +child that; not quite so black as you, though."</p> + +<p>"Oh, massa," said Snowball, grinning, and showing +his white teeth, "you know I am soch a terrible +black fellow—But you are a leetle out at present, +massa—I meant, about to be confine in de work-house +for stealing de admiral's Muscovy ducks;" +and he laughed loud and long.—"However, if you +will promise dat you will stand my friends, I will +put you in de way of getting a shove across to de +east end of Jamaica; and I will go wid you too, for +company."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," rejoined Mr. Splinter; "but how +do you mean to manage this? There is no Kingston +trader here at present, and you don't mean to +make a start of it in an open boat, do you?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I don't; but in de first place—as you are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +a gentleman, will you try and get me off when we +get to Jamaica? Secondly, will you promise dat +you will not seek to know more of de vessel you +may go in, nor of her crew, than dey are willing to +tell you, provided you are landed safe?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Peter, I scarcely think you would deceive +us, for you know I saved your bacon in that awkward +affair, when through drunkenness you +plumped the Torch ashore, so——"</p> + +<p>"Forget dat, sir—forget dat! Never shall poor +black pilot forget how you saved him from being +seized up, when de gratings, boatswain's mates, and +all, were ready at de gangway—never shall poor +black rascal forget dat."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I do not think you would wittingly betray +us into trouble, Peter; and as I guess you mean +one of the forced traders, we will venture in her, +rather than kick about here any longer, and pay a +moderate sum for our passage."</p> + +<p>"Den wait here five minute"—and so saying, he +slipped down through the embrasure into a canoe +that lay beneath, and in a trice we saw him jump on +board of a long low nondescript kind of craft that +lay moored within pistol-shot of the walls.</p> + +<p>She was a large shallow vessel, coppered to the +bends, of great breadth of beam, with bright sides, +like an American, so painted as to give her a clumsy +mercantile sheen externally, but there were many +things that belied this to a nautical eye: her copper, +for instance, was bright as burnished gold on her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +very sharp bows and beautiful run; and we could +see, from the bastion where we stood, that her decks +were flush and level. She had no cannon mounted +that were visible; but we distinguished grooves on +her well-scrubbed decks, as from the recent traversing +of carronade slides, while the bolts and rings in +her high and solid bulwarks shone clear and bright +in the ardent noontide. There was a tarpaulin +stretched over a quantity of rubbish, old sails, old +junk, and hencoops, rather ostentatiously piled up +forward, which we conjectured might conceal a long +gun.</p> + +<p>She was a very taught-rigged hermaphrodite, or +brig forward and schooner aft. Her foremast and +bowsprit were immensely strong and heavy, and her +mainmast was so long and tapering, that the wonder +was how the few shrouds and stays about it +could support it; it was the handsomest stick we had +ever seen. Her upper spars were on the same scale, +tapering away through topmast, topgallant-mast, +royal and skysail-masts, until they fined away into +slender wands. The sails, that were loose to dry, +were old, and patched, and evidently displayed to +cloak the character of the vessel by an ostentatious +show of their unserviceable condition; but her rigging +was beautifully fitted, every rope lying in the +chafe of another being carefully served with hide. +There were several large bushy-whiskered fellows +lounging about the deck, with their hair gathered +into dirty net-bags, like the fishermen of Barcelona;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +many had red silk sashes round their waists, through +which were stuck their long knives, in shark-skin +sheaths. Their numbers were not so great as to +excite suspicion: but a certain daring, reckless manner, +would at once have distinguished them, independently +of anything else, from the quiet, hard-worked, +red-shirted, merchant seaman.</p> + +<p>"That chap is not much to be trusted," said the +lieutenant; "his bunting would make a few jackets +for Joseph, I take it." But we had little time to +be critical, before our friend Peter came paddling +back with another blackamoor in the stern, of as +ungainly an exterior as could well be imagined. He +was a very large man, whose weight every now and +then, as they breasted the short sea, cocked up the +snout of the canoe with Peter Mangrove in it, as if +he had been a cork, leaving him to flourish his paddle +in the air, like the weather-wheel of a steam-boat +in a sea-way. The new-comer was strong and +broad-shouldered, with long muscular arms, and a +chest like Hercules; but his legs and thighs were, +for his bulk, remarkably puny and misshapen. A +thick fell of black wool, in close tufts, as if his face +had been stuck full of cloves, covered his chin and +upper-lip; and his hair, if hair it could be called, was +twisted into a hundred short plaits, that bristled out, +and gave his head, when he took his hat off, the appearance +of a porcupine. There was a large saber-cut +across his nose and down his cheek, and he wore +two immense gold earrings. His dress consisted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +of short cotton drawers, that did not reach within +two inches of his knee, leaving his thin cucumber +shanks (on which the small bullet-like calf appeared +to have been stuck before, through mistake, in place +of abaft) naked to the shoe; a check shirt, and an +enormously large Panama hat, made of a sort of +cane, split small, and worn shovel-fashion. Notwithstanding, +he made his bow by no means ungracefully, +and offered his services in choice Spanish, but +spoke English as soon as he heard who we were.</p> + +<p>"Pray, sir, are you the master of that vessel?" +said the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I am the mate, and I learn you are desirous +of a passage to Jamaica." This was spoken +with a broad Scotch accent.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we are," said I, in very great astonishment, +"but we will not sail with the devil; and who +ever saw a negro Scotchman before, the spirit of +Nicol Jarvie conjured into a blackamoor's skin!"</p> + +<p>The fellow laughed. "I am black, as you see; so +were my father and mother before me." And he +looked at me, as much as to say, I have read the +book you quote from. "But I was born in the good +town of Port-Glasgow notwithstanding, and many +a voyage I have made as cabin-boy and cook in the +good ship the Peggy Bogle, with worthy old Jock +Hunter; but that matters not. I was told you +wanted to go to Jamaica; I dare-say our captain will +take you for a moderate passage-money. But here +he comes to speak for himself.—Captain Vanderbosh,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +here are two shipwrecked British officers, who +wish to be put on shore on the east end of Jamaica; +will you take them, and what will you charge for +their passage?"</p> + +<p>The man he spoke to was nearly as tall as himself; +he was a sunburnt, angular, raw-boned, iron-visaged +veteran, with a nose in shape and color +like the bowl of his own pipe, but not at all, according +to the received idea, like a Dutchman. His +dress was quizzical enough—white-trousers, a long-flapped +embroidered waistcoat that might have belonged +to a Spanish grandee, with an old-fashioned +French-cut coat, showing the frayed marks where +the lace had been stripped off, voluminous in the +skirts, but very tight in the sleeves, which were +so short as to leave his large bony paws, and six +inches of his arm above the wrist, exposed; altogether, +it fitted him like a purser's shirt on a hand-spike.</p> + +<p>"Vy, for von hondred thaler I will land dem safe +in Mancheoneal Bay; but how shall ve manage, +Villiamson? De cabin vas point yesterday."</p> + +<p>The Scotch negro nodded. "Never mind; I dare-say +the smell of the paint won't signify to the gentlemen."</p> + +<p>The bargain was ratified; we agreed to pay the +stipulated sum, and that same evening, having +dropped down with the last of the sea-breeze, we +set sail from Bocca Chica, and began working up +under the lee of the headland of Punto Canoa.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +When off the San Domingo Gate, we burned a blue-light, +which was immediately answered by another +in-shore of us. In the glare we could perceive two +boats, full of men. Any one who has ever played +at snapdragon, can imagine the unearthly appearance +of objects when seen by this species of firework. In +the present instance it was held aloft on a boat-hook, +and cast a strong spectral light on the band of lawless +ruffians, who were so crowded together that they +entirely filled the boats, no part of which could be +seen. It seemed as if two clusters of fiends, suddenly +vomited forth from hell, were floating on the +surface of the midnight sea, in the midst of brimstone +flames. In a few moments our crew was +strengthened by about forty as ugly Christians as +I ever set eyes on. They were of all ages, countries, +complexions, and tongues, and looked as if +they had been kidnapped by a pressgang as they had +knocked off from the Tower of Babel. From the +moment they came on board, Captain Vanderbosh +was shorn of all his glory, and sank into the petty +officer while, to our amazement, the Scottish negro +took the command, evincing great coolness, energy, +and skill. He ordered the schooner to be wore as +soon as we had shipped the men, and laid her head +off the land, then set all hands to shift the old suit +of sails, and to bend new ones.</p> + +<p>"Why did you not shift your canvas before we +started?" said I to the Dutch captain, or mate, or +whatever he might be.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Vy vont you be content to take a quiet passage +and hax no question?" was the uncivil rejoinder, +which I felt inclined to resent, until I remembered +that we were in the hands of the Philistines, where +a quarrel would have been worse than useless. I +was gulping down the insult as well as I could, when +the black captain came aft, and, with the air of +an equal, invited us into the cabin to take a glass of +grog. We had scarcely sat down before we heard +a noise like the swaying up of guns, or some other +heavy articles, from the hold.</p> + +<p>I caught Mr. Splinter's eye—he nodded, but said +nothing. In half an hour afterwards, when we went +on deck, we saw by the light of the moon twelve +eighteen-pound carronades mounted, six of a side, +with their accompaniments of rammers and sponges, +water-buckets, boxes of round, grape, and canister, +and tubs of wadding, while the coamings of the +hatchways were thickly studded with round-shot. +The tarpaulin and lumber forward had disappeared, +and there lay long Tom, ready levelled, grinning +on his pivot.</p> + +<p>The ropes were all coiled away, and laid down +in regular man-of-war fashion; while an ugly gruff +beast of a Spanish mulatto, apparently the officer +of the watch, walked the weatherside of the quarterdeck +in the true pendulum style. Look-outs were +placed aft, and at the gangways and bows, who every +now and then passed the word to keep a bright +look-out, while the rest of the watch were stretched<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +silent, but evidently broad awake, under the lee of +the boat. We noticed that each man had his cutlass +buckled round his waist—that the boarding-pikes +had been cut loose from the main boom, round +which they had been stopped, and that about thirty +muskets were ranged along a fixed rack that ran +athwart ships near the main hatchway.</p> + +<p>By the time we had reconnoitred thus far the +night became overcast, and a thick bank of clouds +began to rise to windward; some heavy drops of rain +fell, and the thunder grumbled at a distance. The +black veil crept gradually on, until it shrouded the +whole firmament, and left us in as dark a night as +ever poor devils were out in. By-and-by a narrow +streak of bright moonlight appeared under the +lower-edge of the bank, defining the dark outlines +of the tumbling multitudinous billows on the horizon +as distinctly as if they had been pasteboard waves +in a theater.</p> + +<p>"Is that a sail to windward in the clear, think +you?" said Mr. Splinter to me in a whisper. At +this moment it lightened vividly. "I am sure it is," +continued he—"I could see her white canvas glance +just now."</p> + +<p>I looked steadily, and at last caught the small +dark speck against the bright background, rising and +falling on the swell of the sea like a feather.</p> + +<p>As we stood on, she was seen more distinctly, +but, to all appearance, nobody was aware of her +proximity. We were mistaken in this, however, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +the captain suddenly jumped on a gun, and gave his +orders with a fiery energy that startled us.</p> + +<p>"Leroux!" A small French boy was at his side +in a moment. "Forward, and call all hands to shorten +sail; but, <i>doucement</i>, you land-crab!—Man the +fore clew-garnets.—Hands by the top-gallant clew-lines— +jib down-haul—rise tacks and sheets—peak +and throat haulyards—let go—clew up—settle +away the main-gaff there!"</p> + +<p>In almost as short a space as I have taken to +write it, every inch of canvas was close furled—every +light, except the one in the binnacle, and that +was cautiously masked, carefully extinguished—a +hundred and twenty men at quarters, and the ship +under bare poles. The head-yards were then +squared, and we bore up before the wind. The +stratagem proved successful; the strange sail could +be seen through the night-glasses cracking on close +to the wind, evidently under the impression that we +had tacked.</p> + +<p>"Dere she goes, chasing de Gobel," said the +Dutchman.</p> + +<p>She now burned a blue-light, by which we saw +she was a heavy cutter—without doubt our old fellow-cruiser +the Spark. The Dutchman had come to +the same conclusion.</p> + +<p>"My eye, captain, no use to dodge from her; it is +only dat footy little King's cutter on de Jamaica +station."</p> + +<p>"It is her, true enough," answered Williamson;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +"and she is from Santa Martha with a freight of +specie, I know. I will try a brush with her, by——"</p> + +<p>Splinter struck in before he could finish his irreverent +exclamation. "If your conjecture be true, +I know the craft—a heavy vessel of her class, and +you may depend on hard knocks, and small profit +if you do take her; while if she takes you——"</p> + +<p>"I'll be hanged if she does"—and he grinned at +the conceit—then setting his teeth hard, "or rather, +I will blow the schooner up with my own hand before +I strike; better that than have one's bones bleached +in chains on a key at Port Royal. But you see you +cannot control us, gentlemen; so get down into the +cable-tier, and take Peter Mangrove with you. I +would not willingly see those come to harm who +have trusted me."</p> + +<p>However, there was no shot flying as yet, we +therefore stayed on deck. All sail was once more +made; the carronades were cast loose on both sides, +and double-shotted, the long-gun slewed round, the +tack of the fore-and-aft foresail hauled up, and we +kept by the wind, and stood after the cutter, whose +white canvas we could still see through the gloom +like a snow-wreath.</p> + +<p>As soon as she saw us, she tacked and stood towards +us, and came bowling along gallantly, with +the water roaring and flashing at her bows. As +the vessels neared each other they both shortened +sail, and finding that we could not weather her, +we steered close under her lee.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> + +<p>As we crossed on opposite tacks, her commander +hailed, "Ho, the brigantine, ahoy!"</p> + +<p>"Hillo!" sung out Blackie, as he backed his main-top-sail.</p> + +<p>"What schooner is that?"</p> + +<p>"The Spanish schooner Caridad."</p> + +<p>"Whence, and whither bound?"</p> + +<p>"Carthagena to Porto Rico."</p> + +<p>"Heave-to, and send your boat on board."</p> + +<p>"We have none that will swim, sir."</p> + +<p>"Very well, bring-to, and I will send mine."</p> + +<p>"Call away the boarders," said our captain, in +a low stern tone; "let them crouch out of sight behind +the boat."</p> + +<p>The cutter wore, and hove-to under our lee quarter, +within pistol-shot; we heard the rattle of the +ropes running through the davit-blocks, and the +splash of the jolly-boat touching the water, then +the measured stroke of the oars, as they glanced +like silver in the sparkling sea, and a voice calling +out, "Give way, my lads."</p> + +<p>The character of the vessel we were on board of +was now evident; and the bitter reflection that we +were chained to the stake on board of a pirate, on +the eve of a fierce contest with one of our own +cruisers, was aggravated by the consideration, that +the cutter had fallen into a snare by which a whole +boat's crew would be sacrificed before a shot was +fired.</p> + +<p>I watched my opportunity as she pulled up alongside,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +and called out, leaning well over the nettings, +"Get back to your ship!—treachery! get back to +your ship!"</p> + +<p>The little French serpent was at my side with the +speed of thought, his long clear knife glancing in +one hand, while the fingers of the other were laid +on his lips. He could not have said more plainly, +"Hold your tongue, or I'll cut your throat;" but +Sneezer now startled him by rushing between us, +and giving a short angry growl.</p> + +<p>The officer in the boat had heard me imperfectly; +he rose up—"I won't go back, my good man, until +I see what you are made of;" and as he spoke he +sprang on board, but the instant he got over the +bulwarks, he was caught by two strong hands, +gagged, and thrown bodily down the main-hatchway.</p> + +<p>"Heave," cried a voice, "and with a will!" and +four cold 32-pound shot were hove at once into the +boat alongside, which, crashing through her bottom, +swamped her in a moment, precipitating the miserable +crew into the boiling sea. Their shrieks still +ring in my ears as they clung to the oars and some +loose planks of the boat.</p> + +<p>"Bring up the officer, and take out the gag," +said Williamson.</p> + +<p>Poor Walcolm, who had been an old messmate of +mine, was now dragged to the gangway half-naked, +his face bleeding, and heavily ironed, when the +blackamoor, clapping a pistol to his head, bid him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +as he feared instant death, hail "that the boat had +swamped under the counter, and to send another." +The poor fellow, who appeared stunned and confused, +did so, but without seeming to know what he +said.</p> + +<p>"Good God," said Mr. Splinter, "don't you mean +to pick up the boat's crew?"</p> + +<p>The blood curdled to my heart, as the black savage +answered in a voice of thunder, "Let them +drown and be d——d! Fill, and stand on!"</p> + +<p>But the clouds by this time broke away, and +the mild moon shone clear and bright once more +upon this scene of most atrocious villainy. By her +light the cutter's people could see that there was +no one struggling in the water now, and that the +people must either have been saved, or were past +all earthly aid; but the infamous deception was not +entirely at an end.</p> + +<p>The captain of the cutter, seeing we were making +sail, did the same, and after having shot ahead of +us, hailed once more.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Walcolm, why don't you run to leeward, +and heave-to, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Answer him instantly, and hail again for another +boat," said the sable fiend, and cocked his pistol.</p> + +<p>The click went to my heart. The young midship-man +turned his pale mild countenance, laced with +his blood, upwards towards the moon and stars, as +one who had looked his last look on earth; the large +tears were flowing down his cheeks, and mingling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +with the crimson streaks, and a flood of silver light +fell on the fine features of the poor boy, as he said +firmly, "Never." The miscreant fired, and he fell +dead.</p> + +<p>"Up with the helm, and wear across her stern." +The order was obeyed. "Fire!" The whole broadside +was poured in, and we could hear the shot rattle +and tear along the cutter's deck, and the shrieks and +groans of the wounded, while the white splinters +glanced away in all directions.</p> + +<p>We now ranged alongside, and close action commenced, +and never do I expect to see such an infernal +scene again. Up to this moment there had been +neither confusion nor noise on board the pirate—all +had been coolness and order; but when the yards +locked the crew broke loose from all control—they +ceased to be men—they were demons, for they +threw their own dead and wounded, as they were +mown down like grass by the cutter's grape, indiscriminately +down the hatchways to get clear of them. +They had stripped themselves almost naked; and +although they fought with the most desperate courage, +yelling and cursing, each in his own tongue, most +hideously, yet their very numbers, pent up in a small +vessel, were against them. At length, amidst the +fire and smoke and hellish uproar, we could see that +the deck had become a very shambles; and unless +they soon carried the cutter by boarding, it was clear +that the coolness and discipline of my own glorious +service must prevail, even against such fearful odds;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +the superior size of the vessel, greater number of +guns, and heavier metal. The pirates seemed aware +of this themselves, for they now made a desperate +attempt forward to carry their antagonist by boarding, +led on by the black captain. Just at this moment +the cutter's main-boom fell across the schooner's +deck, close to where we were sheltering ourselves +from the shot the best way we could; and +while the rush forward was being made, by a sudden +impulse Splinter and I, followed by Peter and the +dog (who with wonderful sagacity, seeing the uselessness +of resistance, had cowered quietly by my +side during the whole row), scrambled along it as +the cutter's people were repelling the attack on her +bow, and all four of us, in our haste, jumped down +on the poor Irishman at the wheel.</p> + +<p>"Murder, fire, rape, and robbery!—it is capsized, +stove in, sunk, burned, and destroyed I am! Captain, +captain, we are carried aft here—Och, hubbaboo +for Patrick Donnally!"</p> + +<p>There was no time to be lost; if any of the crew +came aft we were dead men, so we tumbled down +through the cabin skylight, men and beast, the hatch +having been knocked off by a shot, and stowed ourselves +away in the side berths. The noise on deck +soon ceased—the cannon were again plied—gradually +the fire slackened, and we could hear that the +pirate had scraped clear and escaped. Some time +after this the lieutenant commanding the cutter came +down. Poor Mr. Douglas! both Mr. Splinter and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +I knew him well. He sat down and covered his +face with his hands, while the blood oozed down +between his fingers. He had received a cutlass +wound on the head in the attack. His right arm +was bound up with his neckcloth, and he was very +pale.</p> + +<p>"Steward, bring me a light.—Ask the doctor how +many are killed and wounded; and—do you hear?—tell +him to come to me when he is done forward, +but not a moment sooner. To have been so mauled +and duped by a buccaneer; and my poor boat's +crew——"</p> + +<p>Splinter groaned. He started—but at this moment +the man returned again.</p> + +<p>"Thirteen killed, your honor, and fifteen +wounded; scarcely one of us untouched." The poor +fellow's own skull was bound round with a bloody +cloth.</p> + +<p>"God help me! Gold help me! but they have +died the death of men. Who knows what death the +poor fellows in the boat have died!"—Here he was +cut short by a tremendous scuffle on the ladder, +down which an old quartermaster was trundled neck +and crop into the cabin. "How now, Jones?"</p> + +<p>"Please your honor," said the man, as soon as he +had gathered himself up, and had time to turn his +quid and smooth down his hair; but again the uproar +was renewed, and Donnally was lugged in, +scrambling and struggling between two seamen—"this +here Irish chap, your honor, has lost his wits,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +if so be he ever had any, your honor. He has gone +mad through fright."</p> + +<p>"Fright be d——d!" roared Donnally; "no man +ever frightened me; but as his honor was skewering +them bloody thieves forward, I was boarded and +carried aft by the devil, your honor—pooped by +Beelzebub, by ——," and he rapped his fist on the +table until everything on it danced again. "There +were four of them, yeer honor—a black one and +two blue ones—and a pie-bald one, with four legs +and a bushy tail—each with two horns on his head, +for all the world like those on Father M'Cleary's +red cow—no, she was humbled—it is Father Clannachan's, +I mane—no, not his neither, for his was +the parish bull; fait, I don't know what I mane, except +that they had all horns on their heads, and +vomited fire, and had each of them a tail at his +stern, twisting and twining like a conger eel, with a +blue light at the end on't."</p> + +<p>"And dat's a lie, if ever dere was one," exclaimed +Peter Mangrove, jumping from the berth. "Look +at me, you Irish tief, and tell me if I have a blue +light or a conger eel at my stern!"</p> + +<p>This was too much for poor Donnally. He +yelled out, "You'll believe your own eyes now, yeer +honor, when you see one o' dem bodily before you! +Let me go—let me go!" and, rushing up the ladder, +he would, in all probability, have ended his earthly +career in the salt sea, had his bullet-head not encountered +the broadest part of the purser, who was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +in the act of descending, with such violence, that he +shot him out of the companion several feet above +the deck, as if he had been discharged from a culverin; +but the recoil sent poor Donnally, stunned +and senseless, to the bottom of the ladder. There +was no standing all this; we laughed outright, and +made ourselves known to Mr. Douglas, who received +us cordially, and in a week we were landed at Port +Royal.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> From <i>Tom Cringle's Log</i>.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>THE CAPTURE OF PANAMA, 1671<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">John Esquemeling</span></h3></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Captain Morgan</span> set forth from the castle +of Chagre, towards Panama, August 18, +1670. He had with him twelve hundred men, +five boats laden with artillery, and thirty-two canoes. +The first day they sailed only six leagues, and came +to a place called De los Bracos. Here a party of +his men went ashore, only to sleep and stretch their +limbs, being almost crippled with lying too much +crowded in the boats. Having rested awhile, they +went abroad to seek victuals in the neighboring +plantations; but they could find none, the Spaniards +being fled, and carrying with them all they had. This +day, being the first of their journey, they had such +scarcity of victuals, as the greatest part were forced +to pass with only a pipe of tobacco, without any +other refreshment.</p> + +<p>Next day, about evening, they came to a place +called Cruz de Juan Gallego. Here they were compelled +to leave their boats and canoes, the river +being very dry for want of rain, and many trees +having fallen into it.</p> + +<p>The guides told them, that, about two leagues<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +farther, the country would be very good to continue +the journey by land. Hereupon they left one hundred +and sixty men on board the boats, to defend +them, that they might serve for a refuge in necessity.</p> + +<p>Next morning, being the third day, they all went +ashore, except those who were to keep the boats. +To these Captain Morgan gave order, under great +penalties, that no man, on any pretext whatever, +should dare to leave the boats, and go ashore; fearing +lest they should be surprised by an ambuscade +of Spaniards in the neighboring woods, which appeared +so thick as to seem almost impenetrable. +This morning beginning their march, the ways +proved so bad, that Captain Morgan thought it +more convenient to transport some of the men in +canoes (though with great labor) to a place farther +up the river, called Cedro Bueno. Thus they reëmbarked, +and the canoes returned for the rest; so +that about night they got altogether at the said +place. The pirates much desired to meet some +Spaniards or Indians, hoping to fill their bellies with +their provisions, being reduced to extremity and +hunger.</p> + +<p>The fourth day the greatest part of the pirates +marched by land, being led by one of the guides; +the rest went by water farther up, being conducted +by another guide, who always went before them, +to discover, on both sides of the river, the ambuscades. +These had also spies, who were very dextrous +to give notice of all accidents, or of the arrival<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +of the pirates, six hours, at least, before they came. +This day, about noon, they came near a post called +Torna Cavallos: here the guide of the canoes cried +out, that he perceived an ambuscade. His voice +caused infinite joy to all the pirates, hoping to find +some provisions to satiate their extreme hunger. +Being come to the place, they found nobody in it, +the Spaniards being fled, and leaving nothing behind +but a few leathern bags, all empty, and a few +crumbs of bread scattered on the ground where they +had eaten. Being angry at this, they pulled down a +few little huts which the Spaniards had made, and +fell to eating the leathern bags, to allay the ferment +of their stomachs, which was now so sharp as to +gnaw their very bowels. Thus they made a huge +banquet upon these bags of leather, divers quarrels +arising concerning the greatest shares. By the bigness +of the place, they conjectured about five hundred +Spaniards had been there, whom, finding no +victuals, they were now infinitely desirous to meet, +intending to devour some of them rather than +perish.</p> + +<p>Having feasted themselves with those pieces of +leather, they marched on, till they came about night +to another post, called Torna Munni. Here they +found another ambuscade, but as barren as the former. +They searched the neighboring woods, but +could not find anything to eat, the Spaniards having +been so provident, as not to leave anywhere the +least crumb of sustenance, whereby the pirates were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +now brought to this extremity. Here again he was +happy that he had reserved since noon any bit of +leather to make his supper of, drinking after it a +good draught of water for his comfort. Some, who +never were out of their mothers' kitchens, may ask, +how these pirates could eat and digest those pieces +of leather, so hard and dry? Whom I answer, that, +could they once experiment what hunger, or rather +famine, is, they would find the way as the pirates +did. For these first sliced it in pieces, then they beat +it between two stones, and rubbed it, often dipping +it in water, to make it supple and tender. Lastly, +they scraped off the hair, and broiled it. Being thus +cooked, they cut it into small morsels, and ate it, +helping it down with frequent gulps of water, which, +by good fortune, they had at hand.</p> + +<p>The fifth day, about noon, they came to a place +called Barbacoa. Here they found traces of another +ambuscade, but the place totally as unprovided +as the former. At a small distance were several +plantations, which they searched very narrowly, +but could not find any person, animal, or other thing, +to relieve their extreme hunger. Finally, having +ranged about, and searched a long time, they found +a grot, which seemed to be but lately hewn out of +a rock, where were two sacks of meal, wheat, and +like things, with two great jars of wine, and certain +fruits called platanoes. Captain Morgan, knowing +some of his men were now almost dead with hunger, +and fearing the same of the rest, caused what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +was found to be distributed among them who were +in greatest necessity. Having refreshed themselves +with these victuals, they marched anew with greater +courage then ever. Such as were weak were put +into the canoes, and those commanded to land that +were in them before. Thus they prosecuted their +journey till late at night; when coming to a plantation, +they took up their rest, but without eating +anything; for the Spaniards, as before, had swept +away all manner of provisions.</p> + +<p>The sixth day they continued their march, part +by land and part by water. Howbeit, they were +constrained to rest very frequently, both for the +ruggedness of the way, and their extreme weakness, +which they endeavored to relieve by eating leaves of +trees and green herbs, or grass; such was their miserable +condition. This day at noon they arrived at +a plantation, where was a barn full of maize. Immediately +they beat down the doors and ate it dry, +as much as they could devour; then they distributed +a great quantity, giving every man a good allowance. +Thus provided, and prosecuting their journey +for about an hour, they came to another ambuscade. +This they no sooner discovered, but +they threw away their maize, with the sudden +hopes of finding all things in abundance. +But they were much deceived, meeting neither +Indians nor victuals, nor anything else: but +they saw, on the other side of the river, about a hundred +Indians, who, all fleeing, escaped. Some few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +pirates leaped into the river to cross it, and try to +take any of the Indians, but in vain: for, being much +more nimble than the pirates, they not only baffled +them, but killed two or three with their arrows; +hooting at them, and crying, "Ha, perros! a la +savana, a la savana."—"Ha, ye dogs! go to the +plain, go to the plain."</p> + +<p>This day they could advance no farther, being +necessitated to pass the river, to continue their march +on the other side. Hereupon they reposed for that +night, though their sleep was not profound; for +great murmurings were made at Captain Morgan, +and his conduct; some being desirous to return home, +while others would rather die there than go back a +step from their undertaking: others, who had +greater courage, laughed and joked at their discourses. +Meanwhile, they had a guide who much +comforted them, saying, "It would not now be long +before they met with people from whom they should +reap some considerable advantage."</p> + +<p>The seventh day, in the morning, they made clean +their arms, and every one discharged his pistol, or +musket, without bullet, to try their firelocks. This +done, they crossed the river, leaving the post where +they had rested, called Santa Cruz, and at noon +they arrived at a village called Cruz. Being yet +far from the place, they perceived much smoke from +the chimneys: the sight hereof gave them great +joy, and hopes of finding people and plenty of good +cheer. Thus they went on as fast as they could, encouraging<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +one another, saying, "There is smoke +comes out of every house: they are making good +fires, to roast and boil what we are to eat;" and +the like.</p> + +<p>At length they arrived there, all sweating and +panting, but found no person in the town, nor anything +eatable to refresh themselves, except good +fires, which they wanted not; for the Spaniards, before +their departure, had every one set fire to his +own house, except the king's storehouses and stables.</p> + +<p>They had not left behind them any beast, alive or +dead, which much troubled their pursuers, not finding +anything but a few cats and dogs, which they immediately +killed and devoured. At last, in the +king's stables, they found, by good fortune, fifteen +or sixteen jars of Peru wine, and a leathern sack full +of bread. No sooner had they drank of this wine, +when they fell sick, almost every man: this made +them think the wine was poisoned, which caused a +new consternation in the whole camp, judging themselves +now to be irrecoverably lost. But the true +reason was, their want of sustenance, and the manifold +sorts of trash they had eaten. Their sickness +was so great, as caused them to remain there till +the next morning, without being able to prosecute +their journey in the afternoon. This village is +seated in 9 deg. 2 min. north latitude, distant from +the river Chagre twenty-six Spanish leagues, and +eight from Panama. This is the last place to which +boats or canoes can come; for which reason they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +built here storehouses for all sorts of merchandise, +which to and from Panama are transported on the +backs of mules.</p> + +<p>Here Captain Morgan was forced to leave his +canoes, and land all his men, though never so weak; +but lest the canoes should be surprised, or take up +too many men for their defense, he sent them all +back to the place where the boats were, except one, +which he hid, that it might serve to carry intelligence. +Many of the Spaniards and Indians of this +village having fled to the near plantations, Captain +Morgan ordered that none should go out of the village, +except companies of one hundred together, +fearing lest the enemy should take an advantage +upon his men. Notwithstanding, one party contravened +these orders, being tempted with the desire of +victuals: but they were soon glad to fly into the +town again, being assaulted with great fury by some +Spaniards and Indians, who carried one of them +away prisoner. Thus the vigilancy and care of +Captain Morgan was not sufficient to prevent every +accident.</p> + +<p>The eighth day in the morning Captain Morgan +sent two hundred men before the body of his army, +to discover the way to Panama, and any ambuscades +therein: the path being so narrow, that only +ten or twelve persons could march abreast, and +often not so many. After ten hours' march they +came to a place called Quebrada Obscura: here, +all on a sudden, three or four thousand arrows were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +shot at them, they not perceiving whence they came, +or who shot them: though they presumed it was +from a high rocky mountain, from one side to the +other, whereon was a grot, capable of but one horse +or other beast laded. This multitude of arrows +much alarmed the pirates, especially because they +could not discover whence they were discharged. At +last, seeing no more arrows, they marched a little +farther, and entered a wood: here they perceived +some Indians to fly as fast as they could, to take the +advantage of another post, thence to observe their +march; yet there remained one troop of Indians on +the place, resolved to fight and defend themselves, +which they did with great courage till their captain +fell down wounded; who, though he despaired of +life, yet his valor being greater than his strength, +would ask no quarter, but, endeavoring to raise himself, +with undaunted mind laid hold of his azagayo, +or javelin, and struck at one of the pirates; but +before he could second the blow, he was shot to +death. This was also the fate of many of his companions, +who, like good soldiers, lost their lives with +their captain, for the defense of their country.</p> + +<p>The pirates endeavored to take some of the Indians +prisoners, but they being swifter than the pirates, +every one escaped, leaving eight pirates dead, +and ten wounded: yea, had the Indians been more +dextrous in military affairs, they might have defended +the passage, and not let one man pass. A +little while after they came to a large champaign,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +open, and full of fine meadows; hence they could +perceive at a distance before them some Indians, on +the top of a mountain, near the way by which they +were to pass: they sent fifty men, the nimblest they +had, to try to catch any of them, and force them to +discover their companions: but all in vain; for they +escaped by their nimbleness, and presently showed +themselves in another place, hallooing to the English +and crying, "A la savana, a la savana, perros +Ingleses!" that is, "To the plain, to the plain, ye +English dogs!" Meanwhile the ten pirates that +were wounded were dressed, and plastered up.</p> + +<p>Here was a wood, and on each side a mountain. +The Indians possessed themselves of one, and the +pirates of the other. Captain Morgan was persuaded +the Spaniards had placed an ambuscade +there, it lying so conveniently; hereupon, he sent +two hundred men to search it. The Spaniards and +Indians perceiving the pirates descended the mountain, +did so too, as if they designed to attack them; +but being got into the wood, out of sight of the +pirates, they were seen no more, leaving the passage +open.</p> + +<p>About night fell a great rain, which caused the +pirates to march the faster, and seek for houses +to preserve their arms from being wet; but the Indians +had set fire to every one, and driven away +all their cattle, that the pirates, finding neither +houses nor victuals, might be constrained to return: +but, after diligent search, they found a few shepherds'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +huts, but in them nothing to eat. These not +holding many men, they placed in them, out of every +company, a small number, who kept the arms of +the rest: those who remained in the open field endured +much hardship that night, the rain not ceasing +till morning.</p> + +<p>Next morning, about the break of day, being the +ninth of that tedious journey, Captain Morgan +marched on while the fresh air of the morning +lasted; for the clouds hanging yet over their heads, +were much more favorable than the scorching rays +of the sun, the way being now more difficult than +before. After two hours' march, they discovered +about twenty Spaniards, who observed their motions: +they endeavored to catch some of them, but +could not, they suddenly disappearing, and absconding +themselves in caves among the rocks unknown +to the pirates. At last, ascending a high mountain, +they discovered the South Sea. This happy sight, +as if it were the end of their labors, caused infinite +joy among them: hence they could descry also one +ship, and six boats, which were set forth from +Panama, and sailed towards the islands of Tavoga +and Tavogilla: then they came to a vale where they +found much cattle, whereof they killed good store: +here, while some killed and flayed cows, horses, +bulls, and chiefly asses, of which there were most; +others kindled fires, and got wood to roast them: +then cutting the flesh into convenient pieces, or gobbets, +they threw them into the fire, and, half carbonadoed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +or roasted, they devoured them, with incredible +haste and appetite. Such was their hunger, +that they more resembled cannibals than Europeans; +the blood many times running down from their +beards to their waists.</p> + +<p>Having satisfied their hunger, Captain Morgan +ordered them to continue the march. Here, again, +he sent before the main body fifty men to take some +prisoners, if they could; for he was much concerned, +that in nine days he could not meet one person to inform +him of the condition and forces of the Spaniards. +About evening they discovered about two +hundred Spaniards, who hallooed to the pirates, but +they understood not what they said. A little while +after they came in sight of the highest steeple of +Panama: this they no sooner discovered but they +showed signs of extreme joy, casting up their hats +into the air, leaping and shouting, just as if they +had already obtained the victory, and accomplished +their designs. All their trumpets sounded, and +drums beat, in token of this alacrity of their +minds. Thus they pitched their camp for that night, +with general content of the whole army, waiting +with impatience for the morning, when they intended +to attack the city. This evening appeared fifty +horses, who came out of the city, on the noise of +the drums and trumpets, to observe, as it was +thought, their motions: they came almost within +musket-shot of the army, with a trumpet that +sounded marvelously well. Those on horseback<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +hallooed aloud to the pirates, and threatened them, +saying, "Perros! nos veremos," that is, "Ye dogs! +we shall meet ye." Having made this menace, they +returned to the city, except only seven or eight +horsemen, who hovered thereabouts to watch their +motions. Immediately after the city fired, and +ceased not to play their biggest guns all night long +against the camp, but with little or no harm to the +pirates, whom they could not easily reach. Now +also the two hundred Spaniards, whom the pirates +had seen in the afternoon, appeared again, making +a show of blocking up the passages, that no pirates +might escape their hands: but the pirates, though in +a manner besieged, instead of fearing their blockades, +as soon as they had placed sentinels about their +camp, opened their satchels, and, without any napkins +or plates, fell to eating, very heartily, the +pieces of bulls' and horses' flesh which they had reserved +since noon. This done, they laid themselves +down to sleep on the grass, with great repose and +satisfaction, expecting only, with impatience, the +dawning of the next day.</p> + +<p>The tenth day, betimes in the morning, they put +all their men in order, and, with drums and trumpets +sounding, marched directly towards the city; +but one of the guides desired Captain Morgan not +to take the common highway, lest they should find +in it many ambuscades. He took his advice, and +chose another way through the wood, though very +irksome and difficult. The Spaniards perceiving the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +pirates had taken another way they scarce had +thought on, were compelled to leave their stops and +batteries, and come out to meet them. The governor +of Panama put his forces in order, consisting +of two squadrons, four regiments of foot, and a +huge number of wild bulls, which were driven by a +great number of Indians, with some negroes, and +others, to help them.</p> + +<p>The pirates, now upon their march, came to the +top of a little hill, whence they had a large prospect +of the city and champaign country underneath. +Here they discovered the forces of the people of +Panama, in battle array, to be so numerous, that +they were surprised with fear, much doubting the +fortune of the day: yea, few or none there were but +wished themselves at home, or at least free from +obligation of that engagement, it so nearly concerning +their lives. Having been some time wavering +in their minds, they at last reflected on the +straits they had brought themselves into, and that +now they must either fight resolutely, or die; for +no quarter could be expected from an enemy on +whom they had committed so many cruelties. Hereupon +they encouraged one another, resolving to conquer, +or spend the last drop of blood. Then they +divided themselves into three battalions, sending +before two hundred buccaneers, who were very dextrous +at their guns. Then descending the hill, they +marched directly towards the Spaniards, who in a +spacious field waited for their coming. As soon as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +they drew nigh, the Spaniards began to shout and +cry, "Viva el rey!" "God save the king!" and immediately +their horse moved against the pirates: +but the fields being full of quags, and soft under-foot, +they could not wheel about as they desired. +The two hundred buccaneers, who went before, each +putting one knee to the ground, began to battle +briskly, with a full volley of shot: the Spaniards +defended themselves courageously, doing all they +could to disorder the pirates. Their foot endeavored +to second the horse, but were forced by the fire +of the pirates to retreat. Finding themselves baffled, +they attempted to drive the bulls against them +behind, to put them into disorder; but the wild cattle +ran away, frighted with the noise of the battle. +Only some few broke through the English companies, +and only tore the colors in pieces, while the +buccaneers shot every one of them dead.</p> + +<p>The battle having continued two hours, the greatest +part of the Spanish horse was ruined, and almost +all killed: the rest fled, which the foot seeing, and +that they could not possibly prevail, they discharged +the shot they had in their muskets, and throwing +them down, fled away, every one as he could. The +pirates could not follow them, being too much +harassed and wearied with their long journey. +Many, not being able to fly whither they desired, +hid themselves, for that present, among the shrubs +of the sea-side, but very unfortunately; for most of +them being found by the pirates, were instantly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +killed, without any quarter. Some religious men +were brought prisoners before Captain Morgan; but +he, being deaf to their cries, commanded them all +to be pistoled, which was done. Soon after they +brought a captain to him, whom he examined very +strictly; particularly, wherein consisted the forces of +those of Panama? He answered, their whole +strength consisted in four hundred horse, twenty-four +companies of foot, each one hundred men +complete; sixty Indians, and some negroes, who were +to drive two thousand wild bulls upon the English, +and thus, by breaking their files, put them into a total +disorder: beside, that in the city they had made +trenches, and raised batteries in several places, in +all which they had placed many guns; and that at +the entry of the highway, leading to the city, they +had built a fort mounted with eight great brass +guns, defended by fifty men.</p> + +<p>Captain Morgan having heard this, gave orders +instantly to march another way; but first he made a +review of his men, whereof he found both killed and +wounded a considerable number, and much greater +than had been believed. Of the Spaniards were +found six hundred dead on the place, besides the +wounded and prisoners. The pirates, nothing discouraged, +seeing their number so diminished, but +rather filled with greater pride, perceiving what +huge advantage they had obtained against their enemies, +having rested some time, prepared to march +courageously towards the city, plighting their oaths<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +to one another, that they would fight till not a man +was left alive. With this courage they recommenced +their march, either to conquer or be conquered; +carrying with them all the prisoners.</p> + +<p>They found much difficulty in their approach to +the city, for within the town the Spaniards had +placed many great guns, at several quarters, some +charged with small pieces of iron, and others with +musket bullets. With all these they saluted the pirates +at their approaching, and gave them full and +frequent broadsides, firing at them incessantly; so +that unavoidably they lost at every step great numbers +of men. But not these manifest dangers of +their lives, nor the sight of so many as dropped continually +at their sides, could deter them from advancing, +and gaining ground every moment on the +enemy; and though the Spaniards never ceased to +fire, and act the best they could for their defense, +yet they were forced to yield, after three hours' +combat. And the pirates having possessed themselves +at last of the city, killed all that attempted in +the least to oppose them. The inhabitants had +transported the best of their goods to more remote +and secret places; howbeit, they found in the city +several warehouses well stocked with merchandise, +as well silks and cloths, as linen and other things +of value. As soon as the first fury of their entrance +was over, Captain Morgan assembled his +men, and commanded them, under great penalties, +not to drink or taste any wine; and the reason he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +gave for it was, because he had intelligence that it +was all poisoned by the Spaniards. Howbeit, it +was thought he gave these prudent orders to prevent +the debauchery of his people, which he foresaw +would be very great at the first, after so much hunger +sustained by the way; fearing, withal, lest the +Spaniards, seeing them in wine, should rally, and, +falling on the city, use them as inhumanly as they +had used the inhabitants before.</p> + +<p>Captain Morgan, as soon as he had placed necessary +guards at several quarters within and without +the city, commanded twenty-five men to seize a great +boat, which had stuck in the mud of the port, for +want of water, at a low tide. The same day about +noon, he caused fire privately to be set to several +great edifices of the city, nobody knowing who were +the authors thereof, much less on what motives +Captain Morgan did it, which are unknown to this +day: the fire increased so, that before night the +greatest part of the city was in a flame. Captain +Morgan pretended the Spaniards had done it, perceiving +that his own people reflected on him for that +action. Many of the Spaniards, and some of the +pirates, did what they could, either to quench the +flames or by blowing up houses with gunpowder, +and pulling down others to stop it, but in vain: for +in less than half an hour it consumed a whole street. +All the houses of the city were built with cedar, +very curious and magnificent, and richly adorned, +especially with hangings and paintings, whereof part<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +were before removed, but another great part were +consumed by fire.</p> + +<p>There were in this city (which is the see of a +bishop) eight monasteries, seven for men, and one +for women; two stately churches, and one hospital. +The churches and monasteries were all richly +adorned with altar-pieces and paintings, much gold +and silver, and other precious things, all which the +ecclesiastics had hidden. Besides which, here were +two thousand houses of magnificent building, the +greatest part inhabited by merchants vastly rich. +For the rest of less quality, and tradesmen, this +city contained five thousand more. Here were also +many stables for the horses and mules that carry +the plate of the king of Spain, as well as private +men, towards the North Sea. The neighboring +fields were full of fertile plantations and pleasant +gardens, affording delicious prospects to the inhabitants +all the year.</p> + +<p>The Genoese had in this city a stately house for +their trade of negroes. This likewise was by Captain +Morgan burnt to the very ground. Besides +which building, there were consumed two hundred +warehouses, and many slaves, who had hid themselves +therein, with innumerable sacks of meal; the +fire of which continued four weeks after it had begun. +The greatest part of the pirates still encamped +without the city, fearing and expecting the +Spaniards would come and fight them anew, it being +known they much outnumbered the pirates. This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +made them keep the field, to preserve their forces +united, now much diminished by their losses. Their +wounded, which were many, they put into one church, +which remained standing, the rest being consumed +by the fire. Besides these decreases of his men, +Captain Morgan had sent a convoy of one hundred +and fifty men to the castle of Chagre, to carry the +news of his victory at Panama.</p> + +<p>They saw often whole troops of Spaniards run +to and fro in the fields, which made them suspect +their rallying, which they never had the courage to +do. In the afternoon Captain Morgan reëntered +the city with his troops, that every one might take +up their lodgings, which now they could hardly find, +few houses having escaped the fire. Then they +sought very carefully among the ruins and ashes, +for utensils of plate or gold, that were not quite +wasted by the flames: and of such they found no +small number, especially in wells and cisterns, where +the Spaniards had hid them.</p> + +<p>Next day Captain Morgan dispatched away two +troops, of one hundred and fifty men each, stout +and well armed, to seek for the inhabitants who +were escaped. These having made several excursions +up and down the fields, woods, and mountains +adjacent, returned after two days, bringing above +two hundred prisoners, men, women, and slaves. +The same day returned also the boat which Captain +Morgan had sent to the South Sea, bringing +three other boats which they had taken. But all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +these prizes they could willingly have given, and +greater labor into the bargain, for one galleon, +which miraculously escaped, richly laden with all +the king's plate, jewels, and other precious goods +of the best and richest merchants of Panama: on +board which were also the religious women of the +nunnery, who had embarked with them all the ornaments +of their church, consisting in much gold, plate, +and other things of great value.</p> + +<p>The strength of this galleon was inconsiderable, +having only seven guns, and ten or twelve muskets, +and very ill provided with victuals, necessaries, and +fresh water, having no more sails than the uppermost +of the mainmast. This account the pirates +received from some one who had spoken with seven +mariners belonging to the galleon, who came ashore +in the cockboat for fresh water. Hence they concluded +they might easily have taken it, had they +given her chase, as they should have done; but they +were impeded from following this vastly rich prize, +by their gluttony and drunkenness, having plentifully +debauched themselves with several rich wines they +found ready, choosing rather to satiate their appetites +than to lay hold on such huge advantage; since +this one prize would have been of far greater value +than all they got at Panama, and the places thereabout. +Next day, repenting of their negligence, being +weary of their vices and debaucheries, they set +forth another boat, well armed, to pursue with all +speed the said galleon; but in vain, the Spaniards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +who were on board having had intelligence of their +own danger one or two days before, while the pirates +were cruising so near them; whereupon they fled to +places more remote and unknown.</p> + +<p>The pirates found, in the ports of the island of +Tavoga and Tavogilla, several boats laden with +very good merchandise; all which they took, and +brought to Panama, where they made an exact relation +of all that had passed to Captain Morgan. +The prisoners confirmed what the pirates said, adding, +that they undoubtedly knew where the galleon +might then be, but that it was very probable they +had been relieved before now from other places. +This stirred up Captain Morgan anew, to send forth +all the boats in the port of Panama to seek the said +galleon till they could find her. These boats, being +in all four, after eight days' cruising to and fro, and +searching several ports and creeks, lost all hopes of +finding her, whereupon they returned to Tavoga and +Tavogilla. Here they found a reasonable good ship +newly come from Payta, laden with cloth, soap, +sugar, and biscuit, with 20,000 pieces-of-eight. This +they instantly seized, without the least resistance; +as also a boat which was not far off, on which they +laded great part of the merchandises from the ship, +with some slaves. With this spoil they returned +to Panama, somewhat better satisfied; yet, withal, +much discontented that they could not meet with the +galleon.</p> + +<p>The convoy which Captain Morgan had sent to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +the castle of Chagre returned much about the same +time, bringing with them very good news; for while +Captain Morgan was on his journey to Panama, +those he had left in the castle of Chagre had sent for +two boats to cruise. These met with a Spanish +ship, which they chased within sight of the castle. +This being perceived by the pirates in the castle, +they put forth Spanish colors, to deceive the ship +that fled before the boats; and the poor Spaniards, +thinking to take refuge under the castle, were caught +in a snare, and made prisoners. The cargo on board +the said vessel consisted in victuals and provisions, +than which nothing could be more opportune for the +castle, where they began already to want things of +this kind.</p> + +<p>This good luck of those of Chagre caused Captain +Morgan to stay longer at Panama, ordering +several new excursions into the country round about; +and while the pirates at Panama were upon these +expeditions, those at Chagre were busy in piracies +on the North Sea. Captain Morgan sent forth, +daily, parties of two hundred men, to make inroads +into all the country round about; and when one +party came back, another went forth, who soon +gathered much riches, and many prisoners. These +being brought into the city, were put to the most +exquisite tortures, to make them confess both other +people's goods and their own. Here it happened +that one poor wretch was found in the house of a +person of quality, who had put on, amidst the confusion,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +a pair of taffety breeches of his master's, +with a little silver key hanging out; perceiving which, +they asked him for the cabinet of the said key. His +answer was, he knew not what was become of it, +but that finding those breeches in his master's house, +he had made bold to wear them. Not being able +to get any other answer, they put him on the rack, +and inhumanly disjointed his arms; then they twisted +a cord about his forehead, which they wrung so hard +that his eyes appeared as big as eggs, and were ready +to fall out. But with these torments not obtaining +any positive answer, they hung him up by the wrists, +giving him many blows and stripes under that intolerable +pain and posture of body. Afterwards +they cut off his nose and ears, and singed his face +with burning straw, till he could not speak, nor +lament his misery any longer: then, losing all hopes +of any confession, they bade a negro to run him +through, which put an end to his life, and to their +inhuman tortures. Thus did many others of those +miserable prisoners finish their days, the common +sport and recreation of these pirates being such +tragedies.</p> + +<p>Captain Morgan having now been at Panama full +three weeks, commanded all things to be prepared +for his departure. He ordered every company of +men to seek so many beasts of carriage as might +convey the spoil to the river where his canoes lay. +About this time there was a great rumor, that a +considerable number of pirates intended to leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +Captain Morgan; and that, taking a ship then in +port, they determined to go and rob on the South +Sea, till they had got as much as they thought fit, +and then return homewards, by way of the East +Indies. For which purpose they had gathered much +provisions, which they had hid in private places, +with sufficient powder, bullets, and all other ammunition: +likewise some great guns belonging to the town, +muskets, and other things, wherewith they designed +not only to equip their vessel, but to fortify themselves +in some island which might serve them for a +place of refuge.</p> + +<p>This design had certainly taken effect, had not +Captain Morgan had timely advice of it from one +of their comrades; hereupon he commanded the +mainmast of the said ship to be cut down and burnt, +with all the other boats in the port: hereby the intentions +of all or most of his companions were +totally frustrated. Then Captain Morgan sent +many of the Spaniards into the adjoining fields and +country to seek for money, to ransom not only themselves, +but the rest of the prisoners, as likewise the +ecclesiastics. Moreover, he commanded all the artillery +of the town to be nailed and stopped up. At +the same time he sent out a strong company of men +to seek for the governor of Panama, of whom intelligence +was brought, that he had laid several ambuscades +in the way by which he ought to return: but +they returned soon after, saying they had not found +any sign of any such ambuscades. For confirmation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +whereof, they brought some prisoners, who declared +that the said governor had had an intention +of making some opposition by the way, but that the +men designed to effect it were unwilling to undertake +it: so that for want of means he could not put his +design in execution.</p> + +<p>February 24, 1671, Captain Morgan departed +from Panama, or rather from the place where the +city of Panama stood; of the spoils whereof he carried +with him one hundred and seventy-five beasts +of carriage, laden with silver, gold, and other precious +things, beside about six hundred prisoners, men, +women, children and slaves. That day they came +to a river that passes through a delicious plain, a +league from Panama: here Captain Morgan put all +his forces into good order, so as that the prisoners +were in the middle, surrounded on all sides with +pirates, where nothing else was to be heard but lamentations, +cries, shrieks, and doleful sighs of so +many women and children, who feared Captain Morgan +designed to transport them all into his own +country for slaves. Besides, all those miserable prisoners +endured extreme hunger and thirst at that time, +which misery Captain Morgan designedly caused +them to sustain, to excite them to seek for money to +ransom themselves, according to the tax he had set +upon every one. Many of the women begged Captain +Morgan, on their knees, with infinite sighs and +tears, to let them return to Panama, there to live +with their dear husbands and children in little huts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +of straw, which they would erect, seeing they had +no houses till the rebuilding of the city. But his +answer was, "He came not thither to hear lamentations +and cries, but to seek money: therefore they +ought first to seek out that, wherever it was to be +had, and bring it to him; otherwise he would assuredly +transport them all to such places whither +they cared not to go."</p> + +<p>Next day, when the march began, those lamentable +cries and shrieks were renewed, so as it would +have caused compassion in the hardest heart: but +Captain Morgan, as a man little given to mercy, +was not moved in the least. They marched in the +same order as before, one party of the pirates in +the van, the prisoners in the middle, and the rest of +the pirates in the rear; by whom the miserable Spaniards +were at every step punched and thrust in their +backs and sides, with the blunt ends of their arms, +to make them march faster.</p> + +<p>A beautiful lady, wife to one of the richest merchants +of Tavoga, was led prisoner by herself, between +two pirates. Her lamentations pierced the +skies, seeing herself carried away into captivity often +crying to the pirates, and telling them, "That she +had given orders to two religious persons, in whom +she had relied, to go to a certain place, and fetch +so much money as her ransom did amount to; that +they had promised faithfully to do it, but having +obtained the money, instead of bringing it to her, +they had employed it another way, to ransom some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +of their own, and particular friends." This ill action +of theirs was discovered by a slave, who brought +a letter to the said lady. Her complaints, and the +cause thereof, being brought to Captain Morgan, +he thought fit to inquire thereinto. Having found it +to be true—especially hearing it confirmed by the +confession of the said religious men, though under +some frivolous excuses of having diverted the +money but for a day or two, in which time they expected +more sums to repay it—he gave liberty to +the said lady, whom otherwise he designed to transport +to Jamaica. But he detained the said religious +men as prisoners in her place, using them according +to their desserts.</p> + +<p>Captain Morgan arriving at the town called Cruz, +on the banks of the river Chagre, he published an +order among the prisoners, that within three days +every one should bring in their ransom, under the +penalty of being transported to Jamaica. Meanwhile +he gave orders for so much rice and maize to +be collected thereabouts, as was necessary for victualing +his ships. Here some of the prisoners were +ransomed, but many others could not bring in their +money. Hereupon he continued his voyage, leaving +the village on the 5th of March following, carrying +with him all the spoil he could. Hence he likewise +led away some new prisoners, inhabitants there, with +those in Panama, who had not paid their ransoms. +But the two religious men, who had diverted the +lady's money, were ransomed three days after by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +other persons, who had more compassion for them +than they had showed for her.</p> + +<p>About the middle of the way to Chagre, Captain +Morgan commanded them to be mustered, and +caused every one to be sworn, that they had concealed +nothing, even not to the value of sixpence. +This done, Captain Morgan knowing those lewd fellows +would not stick to swear falsely for interest, he +commanded every one to be searched very strictly, +both in their clothes and satchels, and elsewhere. +Yea, that this order might not be ill taken by his +companions, he permitted himself to be searched, +even to his very shoes. To this effect, by common +consent, one was assigned out of every company to +be searchers of the rest. The French pirates that +assisted on this expedition disliked this new practice +of searching; but, being outnumbered by the +English, they were forced to submit as well as the +rest. The search being over, they reëmbarked, and +arrived at the castle of Chagre on the 9th of March.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> From <i>The Buccaneers of America</i>.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>THE MALAY PROAS<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">James Fenimore Cooper</span></h3></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">We</span> had cleared the Straits of Sunda early +in the morning, and had made a pretty +fair run in the course of the day, though +most of the time in thick weather. Just as the +sun set, however, the horizon became clear, and we +got a sight of two small sail, seemingly heading +in toward the coast of Sumatra, proas by their rig +and dimensions. They were so distant, and were +so evidently steering for the land, that no one gave +them much thought, or bestowed on them any particular +attention. Proas in that quarter were +usually distrusted by ships, it is true; but the sea +is full of them, and far more are innocent than are +guilty of any acts of violence. Then it became dark +soon after these craft were seen, and night shut +them in. An hour after the sun had set, the wind +fell to a light air, that just kept steerage-way on +the ship. Fortunately, the <i>John</i> was not only fast, +but she minded her helm, as a light-footed girl turns +in a lively dance. I never was in a better-steering +ship, most especially in moderate weather.</p> + +<p>Mr. Marble had the middle watch that night, and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +of course, I was on deck from midnight until four +in the morning. It proved misty most of the watch, +and for quite an hour we had a light drizzling rain. +The ship the whole time was close-hauled, carrying +royals. As everybody seemed to have made up +his mind to a quiet night, one without any reefing +or furling, most of the watch were sleeping about +the decks, or wherever they could get good quarters, +and be least in the way. I do not know what kept +me awake, for lads of my age are apt to get all +the sleep they can; but I believe I was thinking of +Clawbonny, and Grace, and Lucy; for the latter, +excellent girl as she was, often crossed my mind +in those days of youth and comparative innocence. +Awake I was, and walking in the weather-gangway, +in a sailor's trot. Mr. Marble, he I do believe +was fairly snoozing on the hen-coops, being, like +the sails, as one might say, barely "asleep." At +that moment I heard a noise, one familiar to seamen; +that of an oar falling in a boat. So completely +was my mind bent on other and distant +scenes, that at first I felt no surprise, as if we were +in a harbor surrounded by craft of various sizes, +coming and going at all hours. But a second +thought destroyed this illusion, and I looked eagerly +about me. Directly on our weather-bow, distant, +perhaps, a cable's length, I saw a small sail, and I +could distinguish it sufficiently well to perceive it +was a proa. I sang out "Sail ho! and close +aboard!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Marble was on his feet in an instant. He +afterward told me that when he opened his eyes, +for he admitted this much to me in confidence, they +fell directly on the stranger. He was too much of +a seaman to require a second look in order to ascertain +what was to be done. "Keep the ship away—keep +her broad off!" he called out to the man at +the wheel. "Lay the yards square—call all hands, +one of you. Captain Robbins, Mr. Kite, bear a +hand up; the bloody proas are aboard us!" The +last part of this call was uttered in a loud voice, +with the speaker's head down the companion-way. +It was heard plainly enough below, but scarcely at +all on deck.</p> + +<p>In the meantime everybody was in motion. It +is amazing how soon sailors are wide awake when +there is really anything to do! It appeared to me +that all our people mustered on deck in less than +a minute, most of them with nothing on but their +shirts and trousers. The ship was nearly before +the wind by the time I heard the captain's voice; +and then Mr. Kite came bustling in among us forward, +ordering most of the men to lay aft to the +braces, remaining himself on the forecastle, and +keeping me with him to let go the sheets. On the +forecastle, the strange sail was no longer visible, +being now abaft the beam; but I could hear Mr. +Marble swearing there were two of them, and that +they must be the very chaps we had seen to leeward, +and standing in for the land at sunset. I also<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +heard the captain calling out to the steward to +bring him a powder-horn. Immediately after, +orders were given to let fly all our sheets forward, +and then I perceived that they were wearing ship. +Nothing saved us but the prompt order of Mr. +Marble to keep the ship away, by which means, instead +of moving toward the proas, we instantly +began to move from them. Although they went +three feet to our two, this gave us a moment of +breathing time.</p> + +<p>As our sheets were all flying forward, and remained +so for a few minutes, it gave me leisure to +look about. I soon saw both proas, and glad +enough was I to perceive that they had not approached +materially nearer. Mr. Kite observed +this also, and remarked that our movements had +been so prompt as to "take the rascals aback." He +meant they did not exactly know what we were at, +and had not kept away with us.</p> + +<p>At this instant, the captain and five or six of the +oldest seamen began to cast loose all our starboard, +or weather guns, four in all, and sixes. We had +loaded these guns in the Straits of Banca, with +grape and canister, in readiness for just such pirates +as were now coming down upon us; and nothing was +wanting but the priming and a hot loggerhead. It +seems two of the last had been ordered in the fire, +when we saw the proas at sunset; and they were +now in excellent condition for service, live coals +being kept around them all night by command. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +saw a cluster of men busy with the second gun +from forward, and could distinguish the captain +pointing to it.</p> + +<p>"There cannot well be any mistake, Mr. +Marble?" the captain observed, hesitating whether +to fire or not.</p> + +<p>"Mistake, sir? Lord, Captain Robbins, you +might cannonade any of the islands astern for a +week, and never hurt an honest man. Let 'em have +it, sir; I'll answer for it, you do good."</p> + +<p>This settled the matter. The loggerhead was +applied, and one of our sixes spoke out in a smart +report. A breathless stillness succeeded. The +proas did not alter their course, but neared us fast. +The captain levelled his night-glass, and I heard +him tell Kite, in a low voice, that they were full +of men. The word was now passed to clear away +all the guns, and to open the arm-chest, to come at +the muskets and pistols. I heard the rattling of +the boarding-pikes, too, as they were cut adrift +from the spanker-boom, and fell upon the decks. +All this sounded very ominous, and I began to think +we should have a desperate engagement first, and +then have all our throats cut afterward.</p> + +<p>I expected now to hear the guns discharged in +quick succession, but they were got ready only, not +fired. Kite went aft, and returned with three or +four muskets, and as many pikes. He gave the +latter to those of the people who had nothing to +do with the guns. By this time the ship was on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +a wind, steering a good full, while the two proas +were just abeam, and closing fast. The stillness +that reigned on both sides was like that of death. +The proas, however, fell a little more astern; the +result of their own manœuvering, out of all doubt, +as they moved through the water much faster than +the ship, seeming desirous of dropping into our +wake, with a design of closing under our stern, and +avoiding our broadside. As this would never do, +and the wind freshened so as to give us four or five +knot way, a most fortunate circumstance for us, +the captain determined to tack while he had room. +The <i>John</i> behaved beautifully, and came round like +a top. The proas saw there was no time to lose, +and attempted to close before we could fill again; +and this they would have done with ninety-nine +ships in a hundred. The captain knew his vessel, +however, and did not let her lose her way, making +everything draw again as it might be by instinct. +The proas tacked, too, and, laying up much nearer +to the wind than we did, appeared as if about to +close on our lee-bow. The question was, now, +whether we could pass them or not before they got +near enough to grapple. If the pirates got on board +us, we were hopelessly gone; and everything depended +on coolness and judgment. The captain +behaved perfectly well in this critical instant, commanding +a dead silence, and the closest attention to +his orders.</p> + +<p>I was too much interested at this moment to feel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +the concern that I might otherwise have experienced. +On the forecastle, it appeared to us all that +we should be boarded in a minute, for one of the +proas was actually within a hundred feet, though +losing her advantage a little by getting under the +lee of our sails. Kite had ordered us to muster +forward of the rigging, to meet the expected leap +with a discharge of muskets, and then to present +our pikes, when I felt an arm thrown around my +body, and was turned inboard, while another person +assumed my place. This was Neb, who had thus +coolly thrust himself before me, in order to meet +the danger first. I felt vexed, even while touched +with the fellow's attachment and self-devotion, but +had no time to betray either feeling before the +crews of the proas gave a yell, and discharged some +fifty or sixty matchlocks at us. The air was full +of bullets, but they all went over our heads. Not +a soul on board the <i>John</i> was hurt. On our side, +we gave the gentlemen the four sixes, two at the +nearest and two at the stern-most proa, which was +still near a cable's length distant. As often happens, +the one seemingly farthest from danger, fared +the worst. Our grape and canister had room to +scatter, and I can at this distant day still hear the +shrieks that arose from that craft! They were like +the yells of fiends in anguish. The effect on that +proa was instantaneous; instead of keeping on after +her consort, she wore short round on her heel, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +stood away in our wake, on the other tack, apparently +to get out of the range of our fire.</p> + +<p>I doubt if we touched a man in the nearest proa. +At any rate, no noise proceeded from her, and she +came up under our bows fast. As every gun was +discharged, and there was not time to load them, +all now depended on repelling the boarders. Part +of our people mustered in the waist, where it was +expected the proa would fall alongside, and part +on the forecastle. Just as this distribution was +made, the pirates cast their grapnel. It was admirably +thrown, but caught only by a ratlin. I saw this, +and was about to jump into the rigging to try what +I could do to clear it, when Neb again went ahead +of me, and cut the ratlin with his knife. This was +just as the pirates had abandoned sails and oars, +and had risen to haul up alongside. So sudden was +the release, that twenty of them fell over by their +own efforts. In this state the ship passed ahead, +all her canvas being full, leaving the proa motionless +in her wake. In passing, however, the two +vessels were so near, that those aft in the <i>John</i> distinctly +saw the swarthy faces of their enemies.</p> + +<p>We were no sooner clear of the proas than the +order was given, "Ready about!" The helm was +put down, and the ship came into the wind in a +minute. As we came square with the two proas, all +our larboard guns were given to them, and this +ended the affair. I think the nearest of the rascals +got it this time, for away she went, after her consort,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +both running off toward the islands. We +made a little show of chasing, but it was only a +feint; for we were too glad to get away from them, +to be in earnest. In ten minutes after we tacked +the last time, we ceased firing, having thrown some +eight or ten round-shot after the proas, and were +close-hauled again, heading to the southwest.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> From <i>Afloat and Ashore</i>.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>THE WONDERFUL FIGHT OF THE +<i>EXCHANGE</i> OF BRISTOL<br /> +WITH THE PIRATES OF ALGIERS<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Samuel Purchas</span></h3></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">In</span> the yeere 1621, the first of November, there +was one <i>Iohn Rawlins</i>, borne in <i>Rochester</i>, and +dwelling three and twenty yeere in <i>Plimmoth</i>, +imployed to the Strait of <i>Gibraltar</i>, by Master <i>Richard</i>, +and <i>Steven Treviles</i>, Merchants of Plimmoth, +and fraighted in a Barke, called the <i>Nicholas</i> of +<i>Plimmoth</i>, of the burden of forty Tun, which had +also in her company another ship of <i>Plimmoth</i>, +called the <i>George Benaventure</i> of seventy Tun burthen, +or thereabouts; which by reason of her greatnesse +beyond the other, I will name the <i>Admirall</i>; +and <i>Iohn Rawlins</i> Barke shall, if you please, be the +<i>Vice-admirall</i>. These two according to the time of +the yeere, had a faire passage, and by the eighteenth +of the same moneth came to a place at the entring of +the straits, named <i>Trafflegar</i>: but the next morning, +being in the sight of <i>Gibraltar</i>, at the very mouth +of the straits, the watch descried five saile of ships, +who as it seemed, used all the means they could to +come neere us, and we as we had cause, used the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +same means to go as farre from them: yet did their +<i>Admirall</i> take in both his top sailes, that either we +might not suspect them, or that his owne company +might come up the closer together. At last perceiving +us <i>Christians</i>, they fell from devices to apparent +discovery of hostility, and making out against us: +we againe suspecting them Pirats, tooke our course +to escape from them, and made all the sailes we +possibly could for <i>Tirriff</i>, or <i>Gibraltar</i>: but all we +could doe, could not prevent their approach. For +suddenly one of them came right over against us to +wind-ward, and so fell upon our quarter: another +came upon our luffe, and so threatened us there, +and at last all five chased us, making great speed +to surprise us.</p> + +<p>Their <i>Admirall</i> was called <i>Callfater</i>, having upon +her maine top-saile, two top-gallant sailes, one above +another. But whereas we thought them all five to be +<i>Turkish</i> ships of war, we afterwards understood, +that two of them were their prizes, the one a smal +ship of <i>London</i>, the other of the West-countrey, that +came out of the <i>Quactath</i> laden with figges, and +other Merchandise, but now subiect to the fortune +of the Sea, and the captivity of Pirats. But to our +businesse. Three of these ships got much upon us, +and so much that ere halfe the day was spent, the +<i>Admirall</i> who was the best sailer, fetcht up the +<i>George Bonaventure</i>, and made booty of it. The +<i>Vice-Admirall</i> againe being neerest unto the lesser +Barke, whereof <i>Iohn Rawlins</i> was Master, shewed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +him the force of a stronger arme, and by his <i>Turkish</i> +name, called <i>Villa-Rise</i>, commanded him in like sort +to strike his sailes, and submit to his mercy, which +not to be gaine-saied nor prevented, was quickly +done: and so <i>Rawlins</i> with his Barke was quickly +taken, although the <i>Reare-Admirall</i> being the +worst sayler of the three, called <i>Reggiprise</i>, came +not in, till all was done.</p> + +<p>The same day before night, the <i>Admirall</i> either +loth to pester himselfe with too much company, or +ignorant of the commodity that was to be made by +the sale of <i>English</i> prisoners, or daring not to trust +them in his company, for feare of mutinies, and +exciting others to rebellion; set twelve persons who +were in the <i>George Bonaventure</i> on the land, and +divers other <i>English</i>, whom he had taken before, to +trie their fortunes in an unknowne Countrey. But +<i>Villa-Rise</i>, the <i>Vice-Admirall</i> that had taken <i>Iohn +Rawlins</i>, would not so dispence with his men, but +commanded him and five more of his company to be +brought aboord his ship, leaving in his Barke three +men and his boy, with thirteene <i>Turkes</i> and <i>Moores</i>, +who were questionlesse sufficient to over-master the +other, and direct the Barke to Harbour. Thus they +sailed directly for <i>Algier</i>; but the night following, +followed them with great tempest and foule +weather, which ended not without some effect of a +storme: for they lost the sight of <i>Rawlins</i> Barke, +called the <i>Nicholas</i>, and in a manner lost themselves, +though they seemed safe a shipboord, by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +fearefull coniecturing what should become of us: at +last, by the two and twentieth of the same moneth, +they, or we (chuse you whether) arrived at <i>Algier</i>, +and came in safety within the Mould, but found not +our other Barke there; nay, though we earnestly inquired +after the same, yet heard we nothing to our +satisfaction; but much matter was ministred to our +discomfort and amazement. For although the Captaine +and our over-seers, were loth we should have +any conference with our Country-men; yet did we +adventure to informe ourselves of the present affaires, +both of the Towne, and the shipping: so +that finding many <i>English</i> at worke in other ships, +they spared not to tell us the danger we were in, +and the mischiefes we must needs incurre, as being +sure if we were not used like slaves, to be sold as +slaves; for there had beene five hundred brought +into the market for the same purpose, and above a +hundred hansome youths compelled to turne <i>Turkes</i>, +or made subiect to more viler prostitution, and all +<i>English</i>: yet like good <i>Christians</i>, they bade us be +of good cheere, and comfort ourselves in this, that +Gods trials were gentle purgations, and these crosses +were but to cleanse the drosse from the gold, and +bring us out of the fire againe more cleare and +lovely. Yet I must needs confesse, that they afforded +us reason for this cruelty, as if they determined +to be revenged of our last attempt to fire their +ships in the Mould, and therefore protested to +spare none whom they could surprise and take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +alive; but either to sell them for money, or torment +them to serve their owne turnes. Now their customes +and usages in both these was in this manner.</p> + +<p>First, concerning the first. The <i>Bashaw</i> had the +over-seeing of all prisoners, who were presented +unto him at their first comming into the harbour, +and to choose one out of every eight for a present or +fee to himselfe: the rest were rated by the Captaines, +and so sent to the Market to be sold; whereat if +either there were repining, or any drawing backe, +then certaine <i>Moores</i> and Officers attended either +to beate you forward, or thrust you into the sides +with Goades; and this was the manner of the selling +of Slaves.</p> + +<p>Secondly, concerning their enforcing them, either +to turne <i>Turke</i>, or to attend their filthines and impieties, +although it would make a Christians heart +bleed to heare of the same, yet must the truth not +be hid, nor the terror left untold. They commonly +lay them on their naked backs or bellies, beating +them so long, till they bleed at the nose and mouth; +and if yet they continue constant, then they strike +the teeth out of their heads, pinch them by their +tongues, and use many other sorts of tortures to convert +them; nay, many times they lay them their +whole length in the ground like a grave, and so +cover them with boords, threatening to starve them, +if they will not turne; and so many even for feare +of torment and death, make their tongues betray +their hearts to a most fearefull wickednesse, and so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +are circumcised with new names, and brought to confesse +a new Religion. Others againe, I must confesse, +who never knew any God, but their own sensuall +lusts and pleasures, thought that any religion +would serve their turnes, and so for preferment or +wealth very voluntarily renounced their faith, and +became <i>Renegadoes</i> in despight of any counsell which +seemed to intercept them: and this was the first +newes wee encountred with at our comming first to +<i>Algier</i>.</p> + +<p>The 26. of the same moneth, <i>Iohn Rawlins</i> his +Barke, with his other three men and a boy, came +safe into the Mould, and so were put all together to +be carried before the <i>Bashaw</i>, but that they tooke +the Owners servant, and <i>Rawlins</i> Boy, and by force +and torment compelled them to turne <i>Turkes</i>: then +were they in all seven <i>English</i>, besides <i>Iohn Rawlins</i>, +of whom the <i>Bashaw</i> tooke one, and sent the +rest to their Captaines, who set a valuation upon +them, and so the Souldiers hurried us like dogs into +the Market, whereas men sell Hacknies in <i>England</i>. +We were tossed up and downe to see who would +give most for us; and although we had heavy hearts, +and looked with sad countenances, yet many came to +behold us, sometimes taking us by the hand, sometimes +turning us round about, sometimes feeling our +brawnes and naked armes, and so beholding our +prices written on our breasts, they bargained for us +accordingly, and at last we were all sold, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +Souldiers returned with the money to their Captaines.</p> + +<p><i>Iohn Rawlins</i> was the last who was sold, by reason +of his lame hand, and bought by the Captaine +that tooke him, even that dog <i>Villa Rise</i>, who better +informing himselfe of his skill fit to be a Pilot, +and his experience to bee an over-seer, bought him +and his Carpenter at very easie rates. For as we +afterwards understood by divers <i>English Renegadoes</i>, +he paid for <i>Rawlins</i> but one hundred and +fiftie Dooblets, which make of <i>English</i> money seven +pound ten shilling. Thus was he and his Carpenter +with divers other slaves sent into his ship to worke, +and imployed about such affaires, as belonged to the +well rigging and preparing the same. But the villanous +<i>Turkes</i> perceiving his lame hand, and that +he could not performe so much as other Slaves, +quickly complained to their Patron, who as quickly +apprehended the inconvenience; whereupon hee sent +for him the next day, and told him he was unserviceable +for his present purpose, and therefore unlesse +he could procure fifteene pound of the <i>English</i> +there for his ransome, he would send him up into +the Countrey, where he should never see <i>Christendome</i> +againe, and endure the extremity of a miserable +banishment.</p> + +<p>But see how God worketh all for the best for his +servants, and confounded the presumption of Tyrants, +frustrating their purposes, to make his wonders +knowne to the sonnes of men, and releeves his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +people, when they least thinke of succour and releasement. +Whilest <i>Iohn Rawlins</i> was thus terrified +with the dogged answere of <i>Villa Rise</i>, the <i>Exchange</i> +of <i>Bristow</i>,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> a ship formerly surprised by the +Pirats, lay all unrigged in the Harbour, till at last +one <i>Iohn Goodale</i>, an <i>English Turke</i>, with his confederates, +understanding shee was a good sailer, +and might be made a proper Man of Warre, bought +her from the <i>Turkes</i> that tooke her, and prepared +her for their owne purpose. Now the <i>Captaine</i> that +set them at worke, was also an <i>English Renegado</i>, +by the name of <i>Rammetham Rise</i>, but by his Christian +name <i>Henrie Chandler</i>, who resolved to make +<i>Goodale</i> Master over her; and because they were +both <i>English Turkes</i>, having the command notwithstanding +of many <i>Turkes</i> and <i>Moores</i>, they concluded +to have all <i>English</i> slaves to goe in her, and +for their Gunners, <i>English</i> and <i>Dutch Renegadoes</i>, +and so they agreed with the Patrons of nine <i>English</i> +and one <i>French</i> Slave for their ransoms, who were +presently imployed to rig and furnish the ship for a +Man of Warre, and while they were thus busied, +two of <i>Iohn Rawlins</i> men, who were taken with him, +were also taken up to serve in this Man of Warre, +their names, <i>Iames Roe</i>, and <i>Iohn Davies</i>, the one +dwelling in <i>Plimmoth</i>, and the other in <i>Foy</i>, where +the Commander of this ship was also borne, by which +occasion they came acquainted, so that both the Captaine, +and the Master promised them good usage,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +upon the good service they should performe in the +voyage, and withall demanded of them, if they knew +of any <i>Englishman</i> to be bought, that could serve +as a Pilot, both to direct them out of Harbour, +and conduct them in their voyage. For in truth +neither was the Captaine a Mariner, nor any +<i>Turke</i> in her of sufficiency to dispose of her through +the Straites in securitie, nor oppose any enemie, that +should hold it out bravely against them. <i>Davies</i> +quickly replied, that as farre as he understood, <i>Villa +Rise</i> would sell <i>Iohn Rawlins</i> his Master, and Commander +of the Barke which was taken, a man every +way sufficient for Sea affaires, being of great resolution +and good experience; and for all he had a lame +hand, yet had he a sound heart and noble courage +for any attempt or adventure.</p> + +<p>When the Captaine understood thus much, he imployed +<i>Davies</i> to search for Rawlins, who at last +lighting upon him, asked him if the <i>Turke</i> would sell +him: <i>Rawlins</i> suddenly answered, that by reason of +his lame hand he was willing to part with him; but +because he had disbursed money for him, he would +gaine something by him, and so prized him at three +hundred Dooblets, which amounteth to fifteene +pound <i>English</i>; which he must procure, or incurre +sorer indurances. When <i>Davies</i> had certified this +much, the <i>Turkes</i> a ship-boord conferred about the +matter, and the Master whose Christen name was +<i>Iohn Goodale</i> joyned with two <i>Turkes</i>, who were +consorted with him, and disbursed one hundred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +Dooblets a piece, and so bought him of <i>Villa Rise</i>, +sending him into the said ship, called the <i>Exchange</i> +of <i>Bristow</i>, as well to supervise what had been done, +as to order what was left undone, but especially to +fit the sailes, and to accommodate the ship, all which +<i>Rawlins</i> was very carefull and dilligent in, not yet +thinking of any peculiar plot of deliverance, more +than a generall desire to be freed from this <i>Turkish</i> +slaverie, and inhumane abuses.</p> + +<p>By the seventh of Januarie, the ship was prepared +with twelve good cast Pieces, and all manner of +munition and provision, which belonged to such a +purpose, and the same day haled out of the Mould +of <i>Algier</i>, with this company, and in this manner.</p> + +<p>There were in her sixtie three <i>Turkes</i> and +<i>Moores</i>, nine <i>English</i> slaves, and one <i>French</i>, foure +<i>Hollanders</i> that were free men, to whom the <i>Turkes</i> +promised one prise or other, and so to returne to +Holland; or if they were disposed to goe backe +againe for <i>Algier</i>, they should have great reward +and no enforcement offered, but continue as they +would, both their religion and their customes: and +for their Gunners they had two of our Souldiers, +one <i>English</i> and one <i>Dutch</i> Renegado; and thus +much for the companie. For the manner of setting +out, it was as usuall as in other ships, but that the +<i>Turkes</i> delighted in the ostentous braverie of their +Streamers, Banners, and Top-sayles; the ship being +a handsome ship, and well built for any purpose. +The Slaves and <i>English</i> were imployed under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +Hatches about the Ordnance, and other workes of +order, and accommodating themselves: all which +<i>Iohn Rawlins</i> marked, as supposing it an intolerable +slaverie to take such paines, and be subiect to such +dangers, and still to enrich other men and maintaine +their voluptuous filthinesse and lives, returning <i>themselves</i> +as Slaves, and living worse than their Dogs +amongst them. Whereupon hee burst out into these, +or the like abrupt speeches: "Oh Hellish slaverie to +be thus subiect to Dogs! Oh, God strengthen my +heart and hand, that something shall be done to ease +us of these mischiefs, and deliver us from these cruell +<i>Mahumetan</i> Dogs." The other Slaves pittying his +distraction (as they thought) bad him speake +softly, lest they should all fare the worse for his +distemperature. "The worse (quoth <i>Rawlins</i>) what +can be worse? I will either attempt my deliverance +at one time, or another, or perish in the enterprise: +but if you would be contented to hearken after +a release, and joyne with me in the action, I would +not doubt of facilitating the same, and shew you a +way to make your credits thrive by some worke of +amazement, and augment your glorie in purchasing +your libertie." "I prethee be quiet (said they +againe) and think not of impossibilities: yet if you +can but open such a doore of reason and probabilitie, +that we be not condemned for desperate and distracted +persons, in pulling the Sunne as it were out +of the Firmament, wee can but sacrifice our lives, +and you may be sure of secrecie and faithfulnesse."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>The fifteenth of Januarie, the morning water +brought us neere <i>Cape de Gatt</i>, hard by the shoare, +we having in our companie a smal <i>Turkish</i> ship of +Warre, that followed us out of <i>Algier</i> the next day, +and now ioyning with us, gave us notice of seven +small vessels, sixe of them being <i>Sallees</i>, and one +<i>Pollack</i>, who very quickly appeared in sight, and so +we made toward them: but having more advantage +of the <i>Pollack</i>, then the rest, and loth to lose all, we +both fetcht her up, and brought her past hope of +recoverie, which when she perceived, rather then +she would voluntarily come into the slaverie of these +<i>Mahumetans</i>, she ran her selfe a shoare, and so all +the men forsooke her. We still followed as neere as +we durst, and for feare of splitting, let fall our +anchors, sending out both our boates, wherein were +many Musketeers, and some <i>English</i> and <i>Dutch</i> +Renegadoes, who came aboord home at their <i>Conge</i>, +and found three pieces of Ordnance, and foure +Murtherers: but they straightway threw them all +over-boord to lighten the ship, and so they got her +off, being laden with Hides, and Logwood for dying, +and presently sent her to <i>Algier</i>, taking nine <i>Turkes</i>, +and one <i>English</i> Slave, out of one ship, and six out +of the lesse, which we thought sufficient to man her.</p> + +<p>In the rifling of this <i>Catelaynia</i>, our <i>Turkes</i> fell at +variance one with another, and in such a manner, +that we divided our selves, the lesser ship returned +to <i>Algier</i>, and our <i>Exchange</i> tooke the opportunitie +of the wind, and plyed out of the Streights, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +reioyced <i>Iohn Rawlins</i> very much, as resolving on +some Stratageme, when opportunities should serve. +In the meane-while, the <i>Turkes</i> began to murmurre, +and would not willingly goe into the <i>Marr Granada</i>, +as the phrase is amongst them: notwithstanding the +<i>Moores</i> being very <i>superstitious</i>, were contented to +be directed by their <i>Hoshea</i>, who with us, signifieth +a Witch, and is of great account and reputation +amongst them, as not going in any great Vessell to +Sea without one, and observing whatsoever he concludeth +out of his Divination. The Ceremonies they +use are many, and when they come into the Ocean, +every second or third night they make their Conjuration; +it beginneth and endeth with Prayer, using +many Characters, and calling upon God by divers +names: yet at this time, all that they did consisted in +these particulars.</p> + +<p>Upon the sight of two great ships, and as wee +were afraid of their chasing us, they beeing supposed +to bee <i>Spanish</i> men of Warre, a great silence is commanded +in the ship, and when all is done, the company +giveth as great a skreech; the Captaine comming +to <i>John Rawlins</i>, and sometimes making him +take in all his sayles, and sometimes causing him to +hoyst them all out, as the Witch findeth by his Booke, +and presages; then have they two Arrowes, and a +Curtleaxe, lying upon a Pillow naked; the Arrowes +are one for the Turkes, and the other for the Christians; +then the Witch readeth, and the Captaine or +some other taketh the Arrowes in their hand by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +the heads, and if the Arrow for the Christians commeth +over the head of the Arrow for the <i>Turkes</i>, +then doe they advance their sayles, and will not endure +the fight, whatsoever they see: but if the Arrow +of the <i>Turkes</i> is found in the opening of the +hand upon the Arrow of the Christians, then will +they stay and encounter with any shippe whatsoever. +The Curtleaxe is taken up by some Childe, +that is innocent, or rather ignorant of the Ceremonie, +and so layd downe againe; then doe they +observe, whether the same side is uppermost, which +lay before, and so proceed accordingly.</p> + +<p>They also observe Lunatickes and Changelings, +and the Coniurer writeth downe their Sayings in a +Booke, groveling on the ground, as if he whispered to +the Devil to tell him the truth, and so expoundeth +the Letter, as it were by inspiration. Many other +foolish Rites they have, whereupon they doe dote as +foolishly.</p> + +<p>Whilest he was busied, and made demonstration +that all was finished, the people in the ship gave a +great shout, and cryed out, "a sayle, a sayle," which +at last was discovered to bee another man of Warre +of <i>Turkes</i>. For he made toward us, and sent his +Boat aboord us, to whom our Captain complained, +that being becalmed by the Southerne Cape, and +having made no Voyage, the <i>Turkes</i> denyed to goe +any further Northward: but the Captaine resolved +not to returne to <i>Algier</i>, except he could obtayne +some Prize worthy his endurances, but rather to goe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +to <i>Salle</i>, and tell his Christians to victuall his ship; +which the other Captaine apprehended for his +honour, and so perswaded the <i>Turkes</i> to be obedient +unto him; whereupon followed a pacification +amongst us, and so that <i>Turke</i> tooke his course for +the Streights, and wee put up Northward, expecting +the good houre of some beneficiall bootie.</p> + +<p>All this while our slavery continued, and the +<i>Turkes</i> with insulting tyrannie set us still on worke +in all base and servile actions, adding stripes and +inhumane revilings, even in our greatest labour, +whereupon <i>Iohn Rawlins</i> resolved to obtane his libertie, +and surprize the ship; providing Ropes with +broad spikes of Iron, and all the Iron Crowes, +with which hee knew a way, upon consent of the +rest, to ramme up or tye fast their Scuttels, Gratings, +and Cabbins, yea, to shut up the Captaine himselfe +with all his consorts, and so to handle the matter, +that upon the watch-word given, the <i>English</i> +being Masters of the Gunner roome, Ordnance, and +Powder, they would eyther blow them into the +Ayre, or kill them as they adventured to come +downe one by one, if they should by any chance open +their Cabbins. But because hee would proceed the +better in his enterprise, as he had somewhat +abruptly discovered himselfe to the nine <i>English</i> +slaves, so he kept the same distance with the foure +<i>Hollanders</i>, that were free men, till finding them +comming somewhat toward them, he acquainted +them with the whole Conspiracie, and they affecting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +the Plot, offered the adventure of their lives in the +businesse. Then very warily he undermined the +<i>English</i> Renegado, which was the Gunner, and three +more his Associats, who at first seemed to retract. +Last of all were brought in the <i>Dutch</i> Renegadoes, +who were also in the Gunner roome, for alwayes +there lay twelve there, five Christians, and seven +<i>English</i>, and <i>Dutch Turkes</i>: so that when another +motion had settled their resolutions, and <i>Iohn Rawlins</i> +his constancie had put new life as it were in the +matter, the foure <i>Hollanders</i> very honestly, according +to their promise, sounded the <i>Dutch</i> Renegadoes, +who with easie perswasion gave their consent +to so brave an Enterprize; whereupon <i>Iohn +Rawlins</i>, not caring whether the <i>English</i> Gunners +would yeeld or no, resolved in the Captaines morning +watch, to make the attempt. But you must understand +that where the <i>English</i> slaves lay, there +hung up alwayes foure or five Crowes of Iron, being +still under the carriages of the Peeces, and when the +time approached being very darke, because <i>Iohn +Rawlins</i> would have his Crow of Iron ready as other +things were, and other men prepared in their severall +places, in taking it out of the carriage, by +chance, it hit on the side of the Peece, making such +a noyse, that the Souldiers hearing it awaked the +<i>Turkes</i>, and bade them come downe: whereupon the +Botesane of the <i>Turkes</i> descended with a Candle, +and presently searched all the slaves places, making +much adoe of the matter, but finding neyther<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +Hatchet nor Hammer, nor any thing else to move +suspicion of the Enterprize, more then the Crow of +Iron, which lay slipped downe under the carriages +of the Peeces, they went quietly up againe, and certified +the Captaine what had chanced, who satisfied +himselfe, that it was a common thing to have a +Crow of Iron slip from its place. But by this occasion +wee made stay of our attempt, yet were resolved +to take another or a better oportunitie.</p> + +<p>For we sayled still more North-ward, and <i>Rawlins</i> +had more time to tamper with his Gunners, and +the rest of the <i>English</i> Renegadoes, who very willingly, +when they considered the matter, and perpended +the reasons, gave way unto the Proiect, and +with a kind of joy seemed to entertayne the motives: +only they made a stop at the first on-set, who should +begin the enterprize, which was no way fit for them +to doe, because they were no slaves, but Renegadoes, +and so had always beneficiall entertaynment +amongst them. But when it is once put in practice, +they would be sure not to faile them, but venture +their lives for God and their Countrey. But once +againe he is disappointed, and a suspitious accident +brought him to recollect his spirits anew, and studie +on the danger of the enterprize, and thus it was. +After the Renegado Gunner, had protested secrecie +by all that might induce a man to bestow some beliefe +upon him, he presently went up the Scottle, but +stayed not aloft a quarter of an houre; nay he came +sooner down, & in the Gunner roome sate by <i>Rawlins</i>,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +who tarryed for him where he left him: he +was no sooner placed, and entred into some conference, +but there entred into the place a furious <i>Turke</i>, +with his Knife drawne, and presented it to <i>Rawlins</i> +his body, who verily supposed, he intended to kill +him, as suspitious that the Gunner had discovered +something, whereat <i>Rawlins</i> was much moved, and +hastily asked what the matter meant, and whether +he would kill him, observing his companion's countenance +to change colour, whereby his suspitious +heart, condemned him for a Traytor: but at more +leisure he sware the contrary, and afterward proved +faithfull and industrious in the enterprize. For the +present, he answered <i>Rawlins</i> in this manner, "no +Master, be not afraid, I thinke hee doth but <i>iest</i>." +With that <i>John Rawlins</i> gave backe a little and +drew out his Knife, stepping also to the Gunners +sheath and taking out his, whereby he had two +Knives to one, which when the <i>Turke</i> perceived, +he threw downe his Knife, saying, hee did but iest +with him. But when the Gunner perceived, <i>Rawlins</i> +tooke it so ill, hee whispered something in his eare, +that at last satisfied him, calling Heaven to witnesse, +that he never spake word of the Enterprize, nor +ever would, either to the preiudice of the businesse, +or danger of his person. Notwithstanding, <i>Rawlins</i> +kept the Knives in his sleeve all night, and was +somewhat troubled, for that hee had made so many +acquainted with an action of such importance; but +the next day, when hee perceived the Coast cleere,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +and that there was no cause of further feare, hee +somewhat comforted himselfe.</p> + +<p>All this while, <i>Rawlins</i> drew the Captaine to lye +for the Northerne Cape, assuring him, that thereby +he should not misse a prize, which accordingly +fell out, as a wish would have it: but his drift was in +truth to draw him from any supply, or help +of <i>Turkes</i>, if God should give way to their Enterprize, +or successe to the victorie: yet for the present +the sixth of February, being twelve leagues from the +Cape, wee descryed a sayle, and presently took the +advantage of the wind in chasing her, and at last +fetched her up, making her strike all her sayles, +whereby wee knew her to be a Barke belonging to +<i>Tor Bay</i>, neere <i>Dartmouth</i>, that came from <i>Auerure</i> +laden with Salt. Ere we had fully dispatched, it +chanced to be foule weather, so that we could not, +or at least <i>would not</i> make out our Boat, but caused +the Master of the Barke to let downe his, and come +aboord with his Company, being in the Barke but +nine men, and one Boy; and so the Master leaving +his Mate with two men in the ship, came himselfe +with five men, and the boy unto us, whereupon our +<i>Turkish</i> Captain sent ten <i>Turkes</i> to man her, +amongst whom were two <i>Dutch</i>, and one English +Renegado, who were of our confederacie, and acquainted +with the businesse.</p> + +<p>But when <i>Rawlins</i> saw this partition of his +friends; before they could hoyst out their Boat for +the Barke, he made meanes to speake with them,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +and told them plainly, that he would prosecute the +matter eyther that night, or the next and therefore +whatsoever came of it they should acquaint the <i>English</i> +with his resolution, and make toward <i>England</i>, +bearing up the helme, whiles the <i>Turkes</i> slept, and +suspected no such matter: for by Gods grace in his +first watch about mid-night, he would shew them a +light, by which they might understand, that the Enterprize +was begunne, or at least in a good forwardnesse +for the execution: and so the Boat was let +downe, and they came to the Barke of <i>Tor Bay</i>, +where the Masters Mate beeing left (as before you +have heard) apprehended quickly the matter, and +heard the Discourse with amazement. But time +was precious, and not to be spent in disputing, or +casting of doubts, whether the <i>Turkes</i> that were +with them were able to master them, or no, beeing +seven to sixe, considering they had the helme of +the ship, and the <i>Turkes</i> being Souldiers, and ignorant +of Sea Affaires, could not discover, whether +they went to <i>Algier</i> or no; or if they did, they resolved +by <i>Rawlins</i> example to cut their throats, or +cast them over-boord: and so I leave them to make +use of the Renegadoes instructions, and returne to +<i>Rawlins</i> againe.</p> + +<p>The Master of the Barke of <i>Tor Bay</i>, and his +Company were quickly searched, and as quickly pillaged, +and dismissed to the libertie of the shippe, +whereby <i>Rawlins</i> had leisure to entertayne him with +the lamentable newes of their extremities, and in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +word, of every particular which was befitting to the +purpose: yea, he told him, that that night he should +lose the sight of them, for they would make the +helme for <i>England</i> and hee would that night and +evermore pray for their good successe, and safe deliverance.</p> + +<p>When the Master of the Barke of <i>Tor Bay</i> had +heard him out, and that his company were partakers +of his Storie, they became all silent, not +eyther diffident of his Discourse, or afraid of the +attempt, but resolved to assist him. Yet to shew +himselfe an understanding man, hee demanded of +<i>Rawlins</i>, what weapons he had, and in what manner +he would execute the businesse: to which he answered, +that he had Ropes, and Iron Hookes to +make fast the Scottels, Gratings, and Cabbines, he +had also in the Gunner roome two Curtleaxes, and +the slaves had five Crowes of Iron before them: +Besides, in the scuffling they made no question of +some of the Souldiers weapons. Then for the manner, +hee told them, they were sure of the Ordnance, +the Gunner roome, and the Powder, and so blocking +them up, would eyther kill them as they came +downe, or turne the Ordnance against their Cabbins, +or blow them into the Ayre by one Strategeme +or other; and thus were they contented on all sides, +and resolved to the Enterprize.</p> + +<p>The next morning, being the seventh of February, +the Prize of <i>Tor Bay</i> was not to bee seene +or found, whereat the Captaine began to storme<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +and sweare, commanding <i>Rawlins</i> to search the +Seas up and downe for her, who bestowed all that +day in the businesse, but to little purpose: whereupon +when the humour was spent, the Captaine +pacified himselfe, as conceiting he should sure find +her at <i>Algier</i>: but by the permission of the Ruler of +all actions, that <i>Algier</i> was England, and all his +wickednesse frustrated: for <i>Rawlins</i> beeing now +startled, lest hee should returne in this humour for +the Streights, on the eight of February went downe +into the hold, and finding a great deale of water +below, told the Captaine of the same, adding, that +it did not come to the Pumpe, which he said very +politickly, that he might remove the Ordnance. For +when the Captaine askt him the reason, he told him +the ship was too farre after the head: then hee +commanded to use the best meanes he could to +bring her in order: "sure then," quoth <i>Rawlins</i>, "wee +must quit our Cables, and bring foure Peeces of +Ordnance after, and that would bring the water to +the Pumpe;" which was presently put in practice, so +the Peeces beeing usually made fast thwart the +ship, we brought two of them with their mouthes +right before the Binnacle, and because the Renegadoe +<i>Flemmings</i> would not begin, it was thus concluded: +that the ship having three Deckes, wee that did belong +to the Gunner roome should bee all there, and +breake up the lower Decke. The <i>English</i> slaves, +who always lay in the middle Decks, should doe the +like, and watch the Scuttels: <i>Rawlins</i> himselfe prevayled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +with the Gunner, for so much Powder, as +should prime the Peeces, and so told them all there +was no better watch-word, nor meanes to begin, then +upon the report of the Peece to make a cry and +shout, for God, and King <i>Iames</i>, and Saint <i>George</i> +for <i>England</i>!</p> + +<p>When all things were prepared, and every man +resolved, as knowing what hee had to doe, and the +houre when it should happen, to be two in the afternoone, +<i>Rawlins</i> advised the Master Gunner to +speake to the Captaine, that the Souldiers might attend +on the Poope, which would bring the ship +after: to which the Captaine was very willing, and +upon the Gunners information, the Souldiers gat +themselves to the Poope, to the number of twentie, +and five or sixe went into the Captaines Cabbin, +where always lay divers Curtleaxes, and some Targets, +and so wee fell to worke to pumpe the water, +and carryed the matter fairely till the next day, +which was spent as the former, being the ninth of +February, and as God must have the prayse, the +triumph of our victorie.</p> + +<p>For by that time all things were prepared, and the +Souldiers got upon the Poope as the day before: +to avoid suspition, all that did belong to the Gunner-roome +went downe, and the slaves in the middle +decke attended their business, so that we could cast +up our account in this manner. First, nine <i>English</i> +slaves, besides <i>Iohn Rawlins</i>: five of the <i>Tor Bay</i> +men, and one boy, foure <i>English</i> Renegadoes, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +two <i>French</i>, foure <i>Hollanders</i>: in all four and +twenty and a boy: so that lifting up our hearts and +hands to God for the successe of the businesse, we +were wonderfully incouraged; and setled our selves, +till the report of the peece gave us warning of the +enterprise. Now, you must consider, that in this +company were two of <i>Rawlins</i> men, <i>Iames Roe</i>, and +<i>Iohn Davies</i>, whom he brought out of <i>England</i>, and +whom the fortune of the Sea brought into the same +predicament with their Master. These were imployed +about noone (being as I said, the ninth of +February) to prepare their matches, while all the +<i>Turkes</i> or at least most of them stood on the +Poope, to weigh down the ship as it were, to bring +the water forward to the Pumpe: the one brought +his match lighted betweene two spoons, the other +brought his in a little peece of a Can: and so in the +name of God, the <i>Turkes</i> and <i>Moores</i> being placed +as you have heard, and five and forty in number, +and <i>Rawlins</i> having proined the Tuch-holes, <i>Iames +Roe</i> gave fire to one of the peeces, about two of the +clocke in the afternoone, and the confederates upon +the warning, shouted most cheerefully: the report +of the peece did teare and breake down all the +Binnacle, and compasses, and the noise of the slaves +made all the Souldiers amased at the matter, till +seeing the quarter of the ship rent, and feeling the +whole body to shake under them: understanding the +ship was surprised, and the attempt tended to their +utter destruction, never Beare robbed of her whelpes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +was so fell and mad: For they not onely cald us +dogs, and cried out, <i>Usance de Lamair</i>, which is +as much to say, the Fortune of the wars: but attempted +to teare up the planckes, setting a worke +hammers, hatchets, knives, the oares of the Boate, +the Boat-hooke, their curtleaxes, and what else +came to hand, besides stones and brickes in the +Cooke-roome, all which they threw amongst us, attempting +still and still to breake and rip up the +hatches, and boords of the steering, not desisting +from their former execrations, and horrible blasphemies +and revilings.</p> + +<p>When <i>Iohn Rawlins</i> perceived them so violent, +and understood how the slaves had cleared the +deckes of all the <i>Turkes</i> and <i>Moores</i> beneath, he +set a guard upon the Powder, and charged their +owne Muskets against them, killing them from +divers scout-holes, both before and behind, and so +lessened their number, to the ioy of all our hearts, +whereupon they cried out, and called for the Pilot, +and so <i>Rawlins</i>, with some to guard him, went to +them, and understood them by their kneeling, that +they cried for mercy, and to have their lives saved, +and they would come downe, which he bade them +doe, and so they were taken one by one, and bound, +yea killed with their owne Curtleaxes; which when +the rest perceived, they called us <i>English</i> dogs, and +reviled us with many opprobrious termes, some +leaping over-boord, crying, it was the chance of +war; some were manacled, and so throwne over-boord,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +and some were slaine and mangled with the +Curtleaxes, till the ship was well cleared, and our +selves assured of the victory.</p> + +<p>At the first report of our Peece, and hurliburly +in the decks, the Captaine was a writing in his Cabbin, +and hearing the noyse, thought it some strange +accident, and so came out with his Curtleaxe in his +hand, presuming by his authority to pacifie the mischiefe: +But when hee cast his eyes upon us, and saw +that we were like to surprise the ship, he threw +downe his Curtleaxe, and begged us to save his life, +intimating unto <i>Rawlins</i>, how he had redeemed him +from <i>Villa-Rise</i>, and ever since admitted him to place +of command in the ship, besides honest usage in the +whole course of the Voyage. All which <i>Rawlins</i> +confessed, and at last condescended to mercy, and +brought the Captaine and five more into <i>England</i>. +The Captain was called <i>Ramtham-Rise</i>, but his +Christen name, <i>Henry Chandler</i>, and as they say, +was a Chandler's sonne in Southwarke. <i>Iohn Goodale</i>, +was also an <i>English Turke</i>. <i>Richard Clarke</i>, in +<i>Turkish</i>, <i>Iafar</i>; <i>George Cooke</i>, <i>Ramdam</i>; <i>Iohn +Browne</i>, <i>Mamme</i>; <i>William Winter</i>, <i>Mustapha</i>; besides +all the slaves and <i>Hollanders</i>, with other +Renegadoes, who were willing to be reconciled to +their true Saviour, as being formerly seduced with +the hopes of riches, honour, preferment, and such +like devillish baits, to catch the soules of mortall +men, and entangle frailty in the fetters of horrible +abuses, and imposturing deceit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>When all was done, and the ship cleared of the +dead bodies, <i>Iohn Rawlins</i> assembled his men together, +and with one consent gave the praise unto +God, using the accustomed service on ship-boord, +and for want of bookes lifted up their voyces to +God, as he put into their hearts, or renewed their +memories: then did they sing a Psalme, and last of +all, embraced one another for playing the men in +such a Deliverance, whereby our feare was turned +into joy, and trembling hearts exhillirated, that we +had escaped such inevitable dangers, and especially +the slavery and terror of bondage, worse than death +it selfe. The same night we washed our ship, put +every thing in as good order as we could, repaired +the broken quarter, set up the Binnacle, and bore up +the Helme for <i>England</i>, where by Gods grace and +good guiding, we arrived at <i>Plimmoth</i>, the thirteenth +of February, and were welcommed like the +recovery of the lost sheepe, or as you read of a loving +mother, that runneth with embraces to entertaine +her sonne from a long Voyage and escape of many +dangers.</p> + +<p>Not long after we understood of our confederats, +that returned home in the Barke of <i>Torbay</i>, +that they arrived in <i>Pensance</i> in <i>Corne-wall</i> the +eleventh of February: and if any aske after their +deliverance, considering there were ten <i>Turkes</i> sent +to man her, I will tell you that too: the next day +after they lost us, as you have heard and that the +three Renegadoes had acquainted the Masters<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +Mate, and the two <i>English</i> in her with <i>Rawlins</i> determination, +and that they themselves would be true +to them, and assist them in any enterprise: then +if the worst came, there were but seven to sixe: but +as it fell out, they had a more easie passage, then +turmoile, or man-slaughter. For they made the +<i>Turkes</i> beleeve, the wind was come faire, and that +they were sayling to <i>Algier</i>, till they came within +sight of <i>England</i>, which one of them amongst the +rest discovered, saying plainely, that that land was +not like <i>Cape Vincent</i>; "yes faith," said he, that was +at the Helme, "and you will be contented, and goe +downe into the hold, and trim the salt over to wind-ward, +whereby the ship may beare full saile, you shall +know and see more to morrow": Whereupon five of +them went downe very orderly, the Renegadoes +faining themselves asleep, who presently start up, +and with the helpe of the two <i>English</i>, nailed downe +the hatches, whereat the principall amongst them +much repined, and began to grow into choller and +rage, had it not quickly beene suppressed. For one +of them stepped to him, and dasht out his braines, +and threw him over-boord: the rest were brought +to <i>Excester</i>, and either to be arraigned, according +to the punishment of delinquents in such a kind, or +disposed of, as the King and Counsell shall thinke +meet and this is the story of this deliverance, and +end of <i>Iohn Rawlins</i> Voyage. The Actors in this +Comick Tragedie are most of them alive; The +<i>Turkes</i> are in prison; the ship is to be seene, and +<i>Rawlins</i> himselfe dare justifie the matter.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> From <i>Purchas, His Pilgrims</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Bristol.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>THE DAUGHTER OF THE GREAT +MOGUL<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Daniel Defoe</span></h3></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">In</span> this time I pursued my voyage, coasted the +whole Malabar shore, and met with no purchase +but a great Portugal East India ship, which I +chased into Goa, where she got out of my reach. +I took several small vessels and barks, but little of +value in them, till I entered the great Bay of Bengal, +when I began to look about me with more expectation +of success, though without prospect of +what happened.</p> + +<p>I cruised here about two months, finding nothing +worth while; so I stood away to a port on the +north point of the isle of Sumatra, where I made +no stay; for here I got news that two large ships +belonging to the Great Mogul were expected to +cross the bay from Hoogly, in the Ganges, to the +country of the King of Pegu, being to carry the +granddaughter of the Great Mogul to Pegu, who +was to be married to the king of that country, with +all her retinue, jewels, and wealth.</p> + +<p>This was a booty worth watching for, though it +had been some months longer; so I resolved that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +we would go and cruise off Point Negaris, on the +east side of the bay, near Diamond Isle; and here +we plied off and on for three weeks, and began to +despair of success; but the knowledge of the booty +we expected spurred us on, and we waited with +great patience, for we knew the prize would be immensely +rich.</p> + +<p>At length we spied three ships coming right up +to us with the wind. We could easily see they were +not Europeans by their sails, and began to prepare +ourselves for a prize, not for a fight; but were a +little disappointed when we found the first ship full +of guns and full of soldiers, and in condition, had +she been managed by English sailors, to have fought +two such ships as ours were. However, we resolved +to attack her if she had been full of devils as +she was full of men.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, when we came near them, we fired a +gun with shot as a challenge. They fired again immediately +three or four guns, but fired them so confusedly +that we could easily see they did not understand +their business; when we considered how to lay +them on board, and so to come thwart them, if we +could; but falling, for want of wind, open to them, +we gave them a fair broadside. We could easily +see, by the confusion that was on board, that they +were frightened out of their wits; they fired here a +gun and there a gun, and some on that side that was +from us, as well as those that were next to us. The +next thing we did was to lay them on board, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +we did presently, and then gave them a volley of +our small shot, which, as they stood so thick, killed +a great many of them, and made all the rest run +down under their hatches, crying out like creatures +bewitched. In a word, we presently took the ship, +and having secured her men, we chased the other +two. One was chiefly filled with women, and the +other with lumber. Upon the whole, as the granddaughter +of the Great Mogul was our prize in the +first ship, so in the second was her women, or, in a +word, her household, her eunuchs, all the necessaries +of her wardrobe, of her stables, and of her kitchen; +and in the last, great quantities of household stuff, +and things less costly, though not less useful.</p> + +<p>But the first was the main prize. When my men +had entered and mastered the ship, one of our lieutenants +called for me, and accordingly I jumped on +board. He told me he thought nobody but I ought +to go into the great cabin, or, at least, nobody should +go there before me; for that the lady herself and +all her attendance was there, and he feared the men +were so heated they would murder them all, or do +worse.</p> + +<p>I immediately went to the great cabin door, taking +the lieutenant that called me along with me, and +caused the cabin door to be opened. But such a +sight of glory and misery was never seen by buccaneer +before. The queen (for such she was to +have been) was all in gold and silver, but frightened +and crying, and, at the sight of me, she appeared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +trembling, and just as if she was going to die. She +sat on the side of a kind of a bed like a couch, with +no canopy over it, or any covering; only made to lie +down upon. She was, in a manner, covered with +diamonds, and I, like a true pirate, soon let her see +that I had more mind to the jewels than to the lady.</p> + +<p>However, before I touched her, I ordered the +lieutenant to place a guard at the cabin door, and +fastening the door, shut us both in, which he did. +The lady was young, and, I suppose, in their country +esteem, very handsome, but she was not very much +so in my thoughts. At first, her fright, and the +danger she thought she was in of being killed, +taught her to do everything that she thought might +interpose between her and danger, and that was to +take off her jewels as fast as she could, and give +them to me; and I, without any great compliment, +took them as fast as she gave them me, and put +them into my pocket, taking no great notice of +them or of her, which frighted her worse than all +the rest, and she said something which I could not +understand. However, two of the other ladies +came, all crying, and kneeled down to me with their +hands lifted up. What they meant, I knew not at +first; but by their gestures and pointings I +found at last it was to beg the young queen's life, +and that I would not kill her.</p> + +<p>When the three ladies kneeled down to me, and +as soon as I understood what it was for, I let +them know I would not hurt the queen, nor let any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +one else hurt her, but that she must give me all her +jewels and money. Upon this they acquainted her +that I would save her life; and no sooner had they +assured her of that but she got up smiling, and went +to a fine Indian cabinet, and opened a private +drawer, from whence she took another little thing +full of little square drawers and holes. This she +brings to me in her hand, and offered to kneel down +to give it me. This innocent usage began to rouse +some good-nature in me (though I never had +much), and I would not let her kneel; but sitting +down myself on the side of her couch or bed, made +a motion to her to sit down too. But here she was +frightened again, it seems, at what I had no thought +of. But as I did not offer anything of that kind, +only made her sit down by me, they began all to be +easier after some time, and she gave me the little +box or casket, I know not what to call it, but it was +full of invaluable jewels. I have them still in my +keeping, and wish they were safe in England; for I +doubt not but some of them are fit to be placed on +the king's crown.</p> + +<p>Being master of this treasure, I was very willing +to be good-humored to the persons; so I went out of +the cabin, and caused the women to be left alone, +causing the guard to be kept still, that they might +receive no more injury than I would do them myself.</p> + +<p>After I had been out of the cabin some time, a +slave of the women's came to me, and made sign to +me that the queen would speak with me again. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +made signs back that I would come and dine with +her majesty; and accordingly I ordered that her +servants should prepare her dinner, and carry it in, +and then call me. They provided her repast after +the usual manner, and when she saw it brought in +she appeared pleased, and more when she saw me +come in after it; for she was exceedingly pleased +that I had caused a guard to keep the rest of my +men from her; and she had, it seems, been told +how rude they had been to some of the women that +belonged to her.</p> + +<p>When I came in, she rose up, and paid me such +respect as I did not well know how to receive, and +not in the least how to return. If she had understood +English, I could have said plainly, and in good +rough words, "Madam, be easy; we are rude, rough-hewn +fellows, but none of our men should hurt +you, or touch you; I will be your guard and protection; +we are for money indeed, and we shall take +what you have, but we will do you no other harm." +But as I could not talk thus to her, I scarce knew +what to say; but I sat down, and made signs to have +her sit down and eat, which she did, but with so +much ceremony that I did not know well what to +do with it.</p> + +<p>After we had eaten, she rose up again, and drinking +some water out of a china cup, sat her down on +the side of the couch as before. When she saw I +had done eating, she went then to another cabinet, +and pulling out a drawer, she brought it to me; it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +was full of small pieces of gold coin of Pegu, about +as big as an English half-guinea, and I think there +were three thousand of them. She opened several +other drawers, and showed me the wealth that was +in them, and then gave me the key of the whole.</p> + +<p>We had revelled thus all day, and part of the +next day, in a bottomless sea of riches, when my +lieutenant began to tell me, we must consider what +to do with our prisoners and the ships, for that +there was no subsisting in that manner. Upon this +we called a short council, and concluded to carry +the great ship away with us, but to put all the prisoners—queen, +ladies, and all the rest—into the lesser +vessels, and let them go; and so far was I from +ravishing this lady, as I hear is reported of me, that +though I might rifle her of everything else, yet, I assure +you, I let her go untouched for me, or, as I am +satisfied, for any one of my men; nay, when we +dismissed them, we gave her leave to take a great +many things of value with her, which she would +have been plundered of if I had not been so careful +of her.</p> + +<p>We had now wealth enough not only to make +us rich, but almost to have made a nation rich; and +to tell you the truth, considering the costly things +we took here, which we did not know the value of, +and besides gold and silver and jewels,—I say, we +never knew how rich we were; besides which we had +a great quantity of bales of goods, as well calicoes +as wrought silks, which, being for sale, were perhaps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +as a cargo of goods to answer the bills which might +be drawn upon them for the account of the bride's +portion; all which fell into our hands, with a great +sum in silver coin, too big to talk of among Englishmen, +especially while I am living, for reasons +which I may give you hereafter.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> From <i>The King of the Pirates</i>.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>BARBAROSSA—KING OF THE CORSAIRS<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">E. Hamilton Currey, R.N.</span></h3></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">At</span> the coming of spring Barbarossa was at sea +again with thirty-two ships ready for any +eventuality, his crews aflame with ardor for +revenge against those by whom they had been so +roughly handled. He chose for the scene of operations +a place on the coast of Majorca some fifteen +miles from Palma; from here he commanded the +route of the Spaniards from their country to the +African coast, and it was against this nation that +he felt a great bitterness owing to recent events. +Eagerly did the corsair and his men watch for the +Spanish ships, the heavier vessels lying at anchor, +but the light, swift galleys ranging and questing afar +so that none might be missed. Very soon the vigilance +of the Moslems was rewarded by the capture +of a number of vessels, sent by Bernard de Mendoza +laden with Turkish and Moorish slaves, destined to +be utilized as rowers in the Spanish galleys. These +men were hailed as a welcome reinforcement, and +joyfully joined the forces of Kheyr-ed-Din when he +moved on Minorca, captured the castle by a surprise +assault, raided the surrounding country, and captured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +five thousand seven hundred Christians, +amongst whom were eight hundred men who had +been wounded in the attack on Tunis—all these unfortunates +were sent to refill the bagnio of Algiers.</p> + +<p>This private war of revenge was, however, destined +soon to come to an end, as Soliman the Magnificent +in this year became involved in disputes with +the Venetian Republic, and recalled "that veritable +man of the sea," as Barbarossa had been described +by Ibrahim, to Constantinople.</p> + +<p>In this city by the sea there had taken place a +tragedy which, although it only involved the death +of a single man, was nevertheless far-reaching in +its consequences; for the man was none other than +that great statesman Ibrahim, Grand Vizier, and +the only trusted counsellor of the Padishah. He +who had been originally a slave had risen step by +step in the favor of his master until he arrived +at the giddy eminence which he occupied at the time +of his death. It is a somewhat curious commentary +on the essentially democratic status of an autocracy +that a man could thus rise to a position second only +to that of the autocrat himself; and, in all probability, +wielding quite as much power.</p> + +<p>Ibrahim had for years been treated by Soliman +more as a brother than as a dependent, which, in +spite of his Grand Viziership, he was in fact. They +lived in the very closest communion, taking their +meals together, and even sleeping in the same room, +Soliman, a man of high intelligence himself, and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +ruler who kept in touch with all the happenings +which arose in his immense dominions, desiring always +to have at hand the man whom he loved; from +whom, with his amazing grip of political problems +and endless fertility of resource, he was certain of +sympathy and sound advice. But in an oriental despotism +there are other forces at work besides those +of <i>la haute politique</i>, and Ibrahim had one deadly +enemy who was sworn to compass his destruction. +The Sultana Roxalana was the light of the harem +of the Grand Turk. This supremely beautiful +woman, originally a Russian slave, was the object of +the most passionate devotion on the part of Soliman; +but she was as ambitious as she was lovely, +and brooked no rival in the affections of Soliman, +be that person man, woman, or child. In her hands +the master of millions, the despot whose nod was +death, became a submissive slave; the undisciplined +passions of this headstrong woman swept aside from +her path all those whom she suspected of sharing +her influence, in no matter how remote a fashion. +At her dictation had Soliman caused to be murdered +his son Mustafa, a youth of the brightest promise, +because, in his intelligence and his winning ways he +threatened to eclipse Selim, the son of Roxalana +herself.</p> + +<p>This woman possessed a strong natural intelligence, +albeit she was totally uneducated; she saw +and knew that Ibrahim was all-powerful with her +lover, and this roused her jealousy to fever-heat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +She was not possessed of a cool judgment, which +would have told her that Ibrahim was a statesman +dealing with the external affairs of the Sublime +Porte, and that with her and with her affairs he +neither desired, nor had he the power, to interfere. +What, however, the Sultana did know was that in +these same affairs of State her opinion was dust in +the balance when weighed against that of the Grand +Vizier.</p> + +<p>Soliman had that true attribute of supreme greatness, +the unerring aptitude for the choice of the +right man. He had picked out Ibrahim from among +his immense entourage, and never once had he regretted +his choice. As time went on and the intellect +and power of the man became more and more +revealed to his master, that sovereign left in his +hands even such matters as despots are apt to guard +most jealously. We have seen how, in spite of the +murmurings of the whole of his capital, and the almost +insubordinate attitude of his navy, he had persevered +in the appointment of Kheyr-ed-Din Barbarossa, +because the judgment of Ibrahim was in favor +of its being carried out. This, to Roxalana, +was gall and wormwood; well she knew that, as long +as the Grand Vizier lived, her sovereignty was at +best but a divided one. There was a point at which +her blandishments stopped short; this was when she +found that her opinion did not coincide with that of +the minister. She was, as we have seen in the instance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +of her son, not a woman to stick at trifles, and +she decided that Ibrahim must die.</p> + +<p>There could be no hole-and-corner business about +this; he must die, and when his murder had been accomplished +she would boldly avow to her lover +what she had done and take the consequences, believing +in her power over him to come scatheless +out of the adventure. In those days, when human +life was so cheap, she might have asked for the +death of almost any one, and her whim would have +been gratified by a lover who had not hesitated to +put to death his own son at her dictation. But with +Ibrahim it was another matter; he was the familiar +of the Sultan, his <i>alter ego</i> in fact. It says much for +the nerve of the Sultana that she dared so greatly +on this memorable and lamentable occasion.</p> + +<p>On March 5th, 1536, Ibrahim went to the royal +seraglio, and, following his ancient custom, was admitted +to the table of his master, sleeping after the +meal at his side. At least so it was supposed, but +none knew save those engaged in the murder what +passed on that fatal night; the next day his dead +body lay in the house of the Sultan.</p> + +<p>Across the floor of jasper, in that palace which +was a fitting residence for one rightly known as +"The Magnificent," the blood of Ibrahim flowed to +the feet of Roxalana. The disordered clothing, the +terrible expression of the face of the dead man, the +gaping wounds which he had received, bore witness +that there had taken place a grim struggle before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +that iron frame and splendid intellect had been +leveled with the dust. This much leaked out afterwards, +as such things will leak out, and then the +Sultana took Soliman into her chamber and gazed +up into his eyes. The man was stunned by the immensity +of the calamity which had befallen him and +his kingdom, but his manhood availed him not +against the wiles of this Circe. Ibrahim had been +foully done to death in his own palace, and this +woman clinging so lovingly round his neck now was +the murderess. The heart's blood of his best friend +was coagulating on the threshold of his own apartment +when he forgave her by whom his murder had +been accomplished. This was the vengeance of +Roxalana, and who shall say that it was not complete?</p> + +<p>The Ottoman Empire was the poorer by the loss +of its greatest man, the jealousy of the Sultana was +assuaged, the despot who had permitted this unavenged +murder was still on the throne, thrall to the +woman who had first murdered his son and then his +friend and minister. But the deed carried with it +the evil consequences which were only too likely to +occur when so capable a head of the State was removed +at so critical a time. Renewed strife was in +the air, and endless squabbles between Venice and +the Porte were taking place. With these we have +no concern, but, in addition to other complaints, +there were loud and continuous ones concerning the +corsairs. Venice, "The Bride of the Sea," had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +neither rest nor peace; the pirates swarmed in +Corfu, in Zante, in Candia, in Cephalonia, and the +plunder and murder of the subjects of the Republic +was the theme of the perpetual representations to +the Sultan. The balance of advantage in this guerilla +warfare was with the corsairs until Girolame +Canale, a Venetian captain, seized one of the Moslem +leaders known as "The Young Moor of Alexandria." +The victory of Canale was somewhat an +important one as he captured the galley of "The +Young Moor" and four others; two more were sunk, +and three hundred Janissaries and one thousand +slaves fell into the hands of the Venetian commander. +There being an absence of nice feeling on the +part of the Venetians, the Janissaries were at once +beheaded to a man.</p> + +<p>The whole story is an illustration of the extraordinary +relations existing among the Mediterranean +States at this time. Soliman the Magnificent, Sultan +of Turkey, had lent three hundred of his Janissaries, +his own picked troops, to assist the corsairs +in their depredations on Venetian commerce. Having +done this, and the Janissaries having been caught +and summarily and rightly put to death as pirates, +the Sultan, as soon as he heard of what had occurred, +sent an ambassador, one Yonis Bey, to Venice +to demand satisfaction for the insult passed upon +him by the beheading of his own soldiers turned pirates. +The conclusion of the affair was that the +Venetians released "The Young Moor of Alexandria"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +as soon as he was cured of the eight wounds +which he had received in the conflict, and sent him +back to Africa with such of his galleys as were left. +There was one rather comical incident in connection +with this affair, which was that when Yonis Bey +was on his way from Constantinople to Venice he +was chased by a Venetian fleet, under the command +of the Count Grandenico, and driven ashore. The +Count was profuse in his apologies when he discovered +that he had been chasing a live ambassador; +but the occurrence so exasperated Soliman that +he increased his demands in consequence.</p> + +<p>Barbarossa, who had spent his time harrying the +Spaniards at sea ever since the fall of Tunis, was +shortly to appear on the scene again. He received +orders from the Sultan, and came as fast as a favoring +wind would bring him. Kheyr-ed-Din had +been doing well in the matter of slaves and plunder, +but he knew that, with the backing of the Grand +Turk, he would once again be in command of a +fleet in which he might repeat his triumph of past +years, and prove himself once more the indispensable +"man of the sea."</p> + +<p>Soon after his arrival his ambitions were gratified, +and he found himself with a fleet of one hundred +ships. Since the death of Ibrahim, and the incident +which terminated with the dispatch of Yonis +Bey to Venice, the relations between the Grand +Turk and the Venetian Republic had become steadily +worse, and at last the Sultan declared war. On<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +May 17th, 1537, Soliman, accompanied by his two +sons, Selim and Mohammed, left Constantinople. +With the campaign conducted by the Sultan we are +not concerned here; it was directed against the +Ionian Islands, which had been in the possession of +Venice since 1401. On August 18th Soliman laid +siege to Corfu, and was disastrously beaten, re-embarking +his men on September 7th, after losing +thousands in a fruitless attack on the fortress. He +returned to Constantinople utterly discomfited. It +was the seventh campaign which the Sultan had conducted +in person, but the first in which the ever-faithful +Ibrahim had not been by his side.</p> + +<p>This defeat at the hands of the Venetians was +not, however, the only humiliation which he was +destined to experience in this disastrous year; for +once again Doria, that scourge of the Moslem, was +loose upon the seas, and was making his presence felt +in the immediate neighborhood of Corfu, where +the Turks had been defeated. On July 17th Andrea +had left the port of Messina with twenty-five galleys, +had captured ten richly laden Turkish ships, +gutted and burned them. Kheyr-ed-Din was at sea +at the time, but the great rivals were not destined +to meet on this occasion. Instead of Barbarossa, +Andrea fell in with Ali-Chabelli, the lieutenant of +Sandjak Bey of Gallipoli. On July 22nd the Genoese +admiral and the Turkish commander from the +Dardanelles met to the southward of Corfu, off the +small island of Paxo, and a smart action ensued. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +ended in the defeat of Ali-Chabelli, whose galleys +were captured and towed by Doria into Paxo. That +veteran fighter was himself in the thickest of the +fray, and, conspicuous in his crimson doublet, had +been an object of attention to the marksmen of Chabelli +during the entire action. In spite of the receipt +of a severe wound in the knee, the admiral refused +to go below until victory was assured. He +was surrounded at this time by a devoted band of +nobles sworn to defend the person of their admiral +or to die in his defense. His portrait has been +sketched for us at this time by the Dominican Friar, +Padre Alberto Guglielmotto, author of "La guerra +dei Pirati e la marina Pontifica dal 1500 al 1560." +The description runs thus: "Andrea Doria was of +lofty stature, his face oval in shape, forehead broad +and commanding, his neck was powerful, his hair +short, his beard long and fan-shaped, his lips were +thin, his eyes bright and piercing."</p> + +<p>Once again had he defeated an officer of the +Grand Turk; and it may be remarked that Ibrahim +was probably quite right in the estimation, or rather +in the lack of estimation, in which he held the sea-officers +of his master, as they seem to have been +deficient in every quality save that of personal +valor, and in their encounters with Doria and the +knights were almost invariably worsted. For the +sake of Islam, for the prestige of the Moslem arms +at sea, it was time that Barbarossa should take matters +in hand once more.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>The autumn of this year 1537 proved that the +old Sea-wolf had lost none of his cunning, that his +followers were as terrible as ever. What did it +seem to matter that Venetian and Catalan, Genoese +and Frenchman, Andalusian and the dwellers in the +Archipelago, were all banded together in league +against this common foe? Did not the redoubtable +Andrea range the seas in vain, and were not all the +efforts of the Knights of Saint John futile, when the +son of the renegado from Mitylene and his Christian +wife put forth from the Golden Horn? What +was the magic of this man, it was asked despairingly, +that none seemed able to prevail against him? Had +it not been currently reported that Carlos Quinto, +the great Emperor, had driven him forth from Tunis +a hunted fugitive, broken and penniless, with +never a galley left, without one ducat in his pocket? +Was he so different, then, from all the rest of mankind +that his followers would stick to him in evil +report as well as in the height of his prosperity? +Men swore and women crossed themselves at the +mention of his name.</p> + +<p>"Terrible as an army with banners," indeed, was +Kheyr-ed-Din in this eventful summer: things had +gone badly with the crescent flag, the Padishah was +unapproachable in his palace, brooding perchance +on that "might have been" had he not sold his +honor and the life of his only friend to gratify the +malice of a she-devil; those in attendance on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +Sultan trembled, for the humor of the despot +was black indeed.</p> + +<p>But "the veritable man of the sea" was in some +sort to console him for that which he had lost; as +never in his own history—and there was none else +with which it could be compared—had the Corsair +King made so fruitful a raid. He ravaged the coasts +of the Adriatic and the islands of the Archipelago, +sweeping in slaves by the thousand, and by the end +of the year he had collected eighteen thousand in the +arsenal at Stamboul. Great was the jubilation in +Constantinople when the Admiralissimo himself returned +from his last expedition against the infidel; +stilled were the voices which hinted disaffection—who +among them all could bring back four hundred +thousand pieces of gold? What mariner could offer +to the Grand Turk such varied and magnificent +presents?</p> + +<p>Upon his arrival Barbarossa asked permission to +kiss the threshold of the palace of the Sultan, which +boon being graciously accorded to him, he made his +triumphal entry. Two hundred captives clad in +scarlet robes carried cups of gold and flasks of silver; +behind them came thirty others, each staggering +under an enormous purse of sequins; yet another +two hundred brought collars of precious stones or +bales of the choicest goods; and a further two hundred +were laden with sacks of small coin. Certainly +if Soliman the Magnificent had lost a Grand +Vizier he had succeeded in finding an admiral!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> + +<p>All through the earlier months of 1538 the dockyards +of Constantinople hummed with a furious +activity, for Soliman had decreed that the maritime +campaign of this year was to begin with no less +than one hundred and fifty ships. His admiral, +however, did not agree with this decision; to the +Viziers he raged and stormed. "Listen," he said, +"O men of the land who understand naught of the +happenings of the sea. By this time Saleh-Reis must +have quitted Alexandria convoying to the Bosphorus +twenty sail filled with the richest merchandise; +should he fall in with the accursed Genoese, Doria, +where then will be Saleh-Reis and his galleys and +his convoy? I will tell you: the ships in Genoa, +the galleys burned, Saleh-Reis and all his mariners +chained to the rowers' bench."</p> + +<p>The Viziers trembled as men did when Barbarossa +stormed and turned upon them those terrible +eyes which knew neither fear nor pity. "We be +but men," they answered, "and our lord the Sultan +has so ordained it."</p> + +<p>"I have forty galleys," replied the corsair; "you +have forty more. With these I will take the sea; +but, mark you," he continued, softening somewhat, +"you do right to fear the displeasure of the Sultan, +and I also have no wish to encounter it; but vessels +raised and equipped in a hurry will be of small use +to me. In the name of Allah the compassionate +and his holy Prophet give me my eighty galleys and +let me go."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>In Kheyr-ed-Din Barbarossa sound strategical +instinct went hand in hand with the desperate valor +of the corsair. To dally in the Golden Horn +while so rich a prey was at sea to be picked up by +his Christian foes was altogether opposed to his instincts: +never to throw away a chance in the game +of life had ever been his guiding principle.</p> + +<p>Soliman, great man as he undoubtedly was, had +not the adamantine hardness of character which +enabled his admiral to risk all on the hazards of the +moment; or possibly the Grand Turk was deficient +in that clearness of strategical instinct which never +in any circumstances foregoes a present advantage +for something which may turn out well in a problematical +future. Soliman, sore, sullen, and unapproachable, +dwelt in his palace brooding over the +misfortunes which had been his lot since the death +of Ibrahim. Barbarossa, who so recently had lost +practically all that he possessed, and who had +reached an age at which most men have no hopes +for the future, was as clear in intellect, as undaunted +in spirit, as if he had been half a century +younger: to be even once more with those by whom +he had been defeated and dispossessed was the only +thing now in his mind. The capture of Saleh-Reis +and his convoy would be a triumph of which he could +not bear to think. Further, it would add to the demoralization +of the sea forces of the Sultan, which +were sadly in need of some striking success after +the defeats which had so recently been their portion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +The Sultan had decided that one hundred and +fifty ships were necessary; his admiral thought otherwise. +There was too much at stake for him to dally +at Constantinople; his fiery energy swept all before +it, and in the end he had his way. On June 7th, +1538, he finally triumphed over the hesitations of +the Viziers and put to sea with eighty sail.</p> + +<p>The Sultan, from his kiosk, the windows of which +opened on the Bosphorus, counted the ships.</p> + +<p>"Only eighty sail; is that all?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The trembling Viziers prostrated themselves before +him.</p> + +<p>"O our Lord, the Padishah," they cried, "Saleh-Reis +comes from Alexandria with a rich convoy; +somewhere lurking is Andrea Doria, the accursed; +it was necessary, O Magnificent, to send succor."</p> + +<p>There was a pause, in which the hearts of men +beat as do those who know not but that the next +moment may be their last on earth.</p> + +<p>The Sultan stared from his window at the retreating +ships in a silence like the silence of the +grave. At last he turned:</p> + +<p>"So be it," he answered briefly; "but see to it +that reinforcements do not lag upon the road."</p> + +<p>If there had been activity in the dockyards before +it was as nothing to the strenuous work that was +to be done henceforward.</p> + +<p>Before starting on this expedition Kheyr-ed-Din +had made an innovation in the manning of some +of the most powerful of his galleys, which was of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +the utmost importance, and which was to add enormously +to the success of his future maritime enterprises. +The custom had always been that the Ottoman +galleys had been rowed by Christians, captured +and enslaved; of course the converse was true +in the galleys of their foes. There were, for the +size of the vessels, an enormous number of men carried +in the galleys of the sixteenth century, and an +average craft of this description would have on +board some four hundred men; of these, however, +the proportion would be two hundred and fifty slaves +to one hundred and fifty fighting men. That which +Kheyr-ed-Din now insisted upon was that a certain +proportion of his most powerful units should be +rowed by Moslem fighting men, so that on the day +of battle the oarsmen could join in the fray instead +of remaining chained to their benches, as was the +custom with the slaves. It is, however, an extraordinary +testimony to the influence which the corsair +had attained in Constantinople that he had been +able to effect this change in the composition of some +of his crews; it must have been done with the active +coöperation of the Sultan, as no authority less potent +than that of the sovereign himself could have +induced free men to undertake the terrible toil of +rower in a galley. This was reserved for the unfortunate +slave on either side owing to the intolerable +hardship of the life, and results, in the pace +at which a galley proceeded through the water, were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +usually obtained by an unsparing use of the lash +on the naked bodies of the rowers.</p> + +<p>This human material was used up in the most +prodigal manner possible, as those in command had +not the inducement of treating the rowers well, +from that economic standpoint which causes a man +to so use his beast of burden as to get the best +work from him. In the galley, when a slave would +row no more he was flung overboard and another +was put in his place.</p> + +<p>The admiral, however, even when backed by the +Padishah, could not man a large fleet of galleys +with Moslem rowers, and, as there was a shortage +in the matter of propelling power, his first business +was to collect slaves, and for this purpose he visited +the islands of the Archipelago. The lot of the unhappy +inhabitants of these was indeed a hard one. +They were nearer to the seat of the Moslem power +than any other Christians; they were in those days +totally unable to resist an attack in force, and in +consequence were swept off in their thousands.</p> + +<p>Seven islands cover the entrance to the Gulf of +Volo. The nearest to the coast is Skiathos, which is +also the most important; it was defended by a +castle built upon a rock. This castle was attacked +by Barbarossa, who bombarded it for six days, carried +it by assault, and massacred the garrison. He +spared the lives of the inhabitants of the island, and +by this means secured three thousand four hundred +rowers for his galleys. He had to provide motor-power<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +for the reinforcements which he expected. In +July he was reinforced from Constantinople by +ninety galleys, while from Egypt came Saleh-Reis, +who had succeeded in avoiding the terrible Doria, +with twenty more; the fleet was thus complete.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> From <i>Sea Wolves of the Mediterranean</i>.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>MORGAN AT PUERTO BELLO<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">John Esquemeling</span></h3></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Some</span> may think that the French having deserted +Captain Morgan, the English alone +could not have sufficient courage to attempt +such great actions as before. But Captain Morgan, +who always communicated vigor with his +words, infused such spirit into his men, as put them +instantly upon new designs. He inspired them +with the belief that the sole execution of his orders +would be a certain means of obtaining great riches, +which so influenced their minds, that with inimitable +courage they all resolved to follow him, as did also a +certain pirate of Campechy, on this occasion joined +with Captain Morgan, to seek new fortunes under +his conduct. Thus Captain Morgan in a few days +gathered a fleet of nine sail, either ships or great +boats, wherein he had four hundred and sixty military +men.</p> + +<p>All things being ready, they put forth to sea, Captain +Morgan imparting his design to nobody at +present; he only told them on several occasions, that +he doubted not to make a good fortune by that voyage, +if strange occurrences happened not. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +steered towards the continent, where they arrived +in a few days near Costa Rica, all their fleet safe. +No sooner had they discovered land but Captain +Morgan declared his intentions to the captains, and +presently after to the company. He told them he intended +to plunder Puerto Bello by night, being resolved +to put the whole city to the sack: and to encourage +them he added, this enterprise could not +fail, seeing he had kept it secret, without revealing +it to anybody, whereby they could not have notice +of his coming. To this proposition some answered, +they had not a sufficient number of men to assault +so strong and great a city. But Captain Morgan +replied, "If our number is small, our hearts are +great; and the fewer persons we are, the more +union and better shares we shall have in the spoil." +Hereupon, being stimulated with the hope of those +vast riches they promised themselves from their +success, they unanimously agreed to that design. +Now, that my reader may better comprehend the +boldness of this exploit, it may be necessary to say +something beforehand of the city of Puerto Bello.</p> + +<p>This city is in the province of Costa Rica, 10 deg. +north latitude, fourteen leagues from the gulf of +Darien, and eight westwards from the port called +Nombre de Dios. It is judged the strongest place +the king of Spain possesses in all the West Indies, +except Havanna and Carthagena. Here are two +castles almost impregnable, that defend the city, situate +at the entry of the port, so that no ship or boat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +can pass without permission. The garrison consists +of three hundred soldiers, and the town is inhabited +by four hundred families. The merchants +dwell not here, but only reside a while, when the +galleons come from or go for Spain, by reason of +the unhealthiness of the air, occasioned by vapors +from the mountains; so that though their chief +warehouses are at Puerto Bello, their habitations +are at Panama, whence they bring the plate upon +mules when the fair begins, and when the ships belonging +to the company of negroes arrive to sell +slaves.</p> + +<p>Captain Morgan, who knew very well all the +avenues of this city and the neighboring coasts, arrived +in the evening with his men at Puerto de Naos, +ten leagues to the west of Puerto Bello. Being +come hither, they sailed up the river to another harbor +called Puerto Pontin, where they anchored: +here they put themselves into boats and canoes, leaving +in the ships only a few men to bring them next +day to the port. About midnight they came to a +place called Estera longa Lemos, where they all +went on shore and marched by land to the first posts +of the city. They had in their company an Englishman, +formerly a prisoner in those parts, who now +served them for a guide. To him and three or four +more they gave commission to take the sentinel, if +possible, or kill him on the place: but they seized +him so cunningly, as he had no time to give warning +with his musket, or make any noise, and brought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +him, with his hands bound, to Captain Morgan, who +asked him how things went in the city, and what +forces they had; with other circumstances he desired +to know. After every question they made him +a thousand menaces to kill him, if he declared not +the truth. Then they advanced to the city, carrying +the said sentinel bound before them: having marched +about a quarter of a league, they came to the castle +near the city, which presently they closely surrounded, +so that no person could get either in or +out.</p> + +<p>Being posted under the walls of the castle, Captain +Morgan commanded the sentinel, whom they +had taken prisoner, to speak to those within, charging +them to surrender to his discretion; otherwise +they should all be cut in pieces, without quarter. +But disregarding these threats, they began instantly +to fire, which alarmed the city; yet notwithstanding, +though the governor and soldiers of the said +castle made as great resistance as could be, they +were forced to surrender. Having taken the castle, +Morgan resolved to be as good as his word, putting +the Spaniards to the sword, thereby to strike a terror +into the rest of the city. Whereupon, having +shut up all the soldiers and officers as prisoners into +one room, they set fire to the powder (whereof they +found great quantity) and blew up the castle into +the air, with all the Spaniards that were within. +This done, they pursued the course of their victory, +falling upon the city, which as yet was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +ready to receive them. Many of the inhabitants +cast their precious jewels and money into wells and +cisterns, or hid them in places underground, to +avoid as much as possible, being totally robbed. +One of the party of pirates, assigned to this purpose, +ran immediately to the cloisters, and took as +many religious men and women as they could find. +The governor of the city, not being able to rally +the citizens, through their great confusion, retired +to one of the castles remaining, and thence fired incessantly +at the pirates: but these were not in the +least negligent either to assault him, or defend +themselves, so that amidst the horror of the assault, +they made very few shots in vain; for aiming with +great dexterity at the mouths of the guns, the Spaniards +were certain to lose one or two men every +time they charged each gun anew.</p> + +<p>The fight continued very furious from break of +day till noon; indeed, about this time of the day the +case was very dubious which party should conquer, +or be conquered. At last, the pirates perceiving they +had lost many men, and yet advanced but little +towards gaining either this, or the other castles, +made use of fire-balls, which they threw with their +hands, designing to burn the doors of the castles. +But the Spaniards from the walls let fall great quantities +of stones, and earthen pots full of powder, and +other combustible matter, which forced them to +desist. Captain Morgan seeing this desperate defence +made by the Spaniards, began to despair of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +success. Hereupon, many faint and calm meditations +came into his mind; neither could he determine +which way to turn himself in that strait. Being thus +puzzled, he was suddenly animated to continue the +assault, by seeing the English colors put forth at one +of the lesser castles, then entered by his men; of +whom he presently after spied a troop coming to +meet him, proclaiming victory with loud shouts of +joy. This instantly put him on new resolutions of +taking the rest of the castles, especially seeing the +chiefest citizens were fled to them, and had conveyed +thither great part of their riches, with all the plate +belonging to the churches and divine service.</p> + +<p>To this effect, he ordered ten or twelve ladders +to be made in all haste, so broad, that three or +four men at once might ascend them: these being +finished, he commanded all the religious men and +women, whom he had taken prisoners, to fix them +against the walls of the castle. This he had before +threatened the governor to do, if he delivered not +the castle: but his answer was, "he would never surrender +himself alive." Captain Morgan was persuaded +the governor would not employ his utmost +force, on seeing the religious women and ecclesiastical +persons exposed in the front of the soldiers to +the greatest danger. Thus the ladders, as I have +said, were at once put into the hands of religious +persons of both sexes, and these were forced, at the +head of the companies, to raise and apply them to +the walls. But Captain Morgan was fully deceived<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +in his judgment of this design; for the governor, +who acted like a brave soldier in performance of his +duty, used his utmost endeavor to destroy whomsoever +came near the walls. The religious men and +women ceased not to cry to him, and beg of him, by +all the saints of heaven, to deliver the castle, and +spare both his and their own lives; but nothing could +prevail with his obstinacy and fierceness. Thus many +of the religious men and nuns were killed before they +could fix the ladders; which at last being done, +though with great loss of their number, the pirates +mounted them in great numbers, and with reckless +valor, having fire-balls in their hands, and earthen +pots full of powder; which, being now at the top of +the walls, they kindled and cast down among the +Spaniards.</p> + +<p>This effort of the pirates was very great, insomuch +that the Spaniards could not longer resist nor +defend the castle, which was now entered. Hereupon +they all threw down their arms, and craved +quarter for their lives; only the governor of the +city would crave no mercy, but killed many of the +pirates with his own hands, and not a few of his +own soldiers; because they did not stand to their +arms. And though the pirates asked him if he +would have quarter; yet he constantly answered, +"By no means, I had rather die as a valiant soldier, +than be hanged as a coward." They endeavored as +much as they could to take him prisoner, but he defended +himself so obstinately, that they were forced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +to kill him, notwithstanding all the cries and tears +of his own wife and daughter, who begged him, on +their knees, to demand quarter, and save his life. +When the pirates had possessed themselves of the +castle, which was about nightfall, they enclosed +therein all the prisoners, placing the women and men +by themselves, with some guards. The wounded +were put in an apartment by themselves, that their +own complaints might be the cure of their diseases; +for no other was afforded them.</p> + +<p>This done, they fell to eating and drinking, and as +usual, to committing all manner of debauchery and +excess, so that fifty courageous men might easily +have retaken the city, and killed all the pirates. +Next day, having plundered all they could find, +they examined some of the prisoners (who had been +persuaded by their companions to say they were +the richest of the town), charging them severely +to discover where they had hid their riches and +goods. Not being able to extort anything from +them, they not being the right persons, it was resolved +to torture them: this they did so cruelly, that +many of them died on the rack, or presently after. +Now the president of Panama being advertised of +the pillage and ruin of Puerto Bello, he employed +all his care and industry to raise forces to pursue +and cast out the pirates thence; but these cared +little for his preparations, having their ships at hand, +and determining to fire the city, and retreat. They +had now been at Puerto Bello fifteen days, in which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +time they had lost many of their men, both by the +unhealthiness of the country, and their extravagant +debaucheries.</p> + +<p>Hereupon, they prepared to depart, carrying on +board all the pillage they had got, having first provided +the fleet with sufficient victuals for the voyage. +While these things were doing Captain Morgan +demanded of the prisoners a ransom for the +city, or else he would burn it down, and blow up all +the castles; withal, he commanded them to send +speedily two persons, to procure the sum, which was +100,000 pieces-of-eight. To this effect two men +were sent to the president of Panama, who gave +him an account of all. The president, having now a +body of men ready, set forth towards Puerto Bello, +to encounter the pirates before their retreat; but, +they, hearing of his coming, instead of flying away, +went out to meet him at a narrow passage, which +he must pass: here they placed a hundred men, very +well armed, which at the first encounter put to flight +a good party of those of Panama. This obliged +the president to retire for that time, not being yet in +a posture of strength to proceed farther. Presently +after, he sent a message to Captain Morgan, to tell +him, "that if he departed not suddenly with all his +forces from Puerto Bello, he ought to expect no +quarter for himself, nor his companions, when he +should take them, as he hoped soon to do." Captain +Morgan, who feared not his threats, knowing +he had a secure retreat in his ships, which were at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +hand, answered, "he would not deliver the castles, +before he had received the contribution-money he +had demanded; which if it were not paid down, he +would certainly burn the whole city, and then leave +it, demolishing beforehand the castles, and killing +the prisoners."</p> + +<p>The governor of Panama perceived by this answer +that no means would serve to mollify the +hearts of the pirates, nor reduce them to reason: +whereupon, he determined to leave the inhabitants +of the city to make the best agreement they could. +In a few days more the miserable citizens gathered +the contributions required, and brought 100,000 +pieces-of-eight to the pirates for their ransom. The +president of Panama was much amazed that four +hundred men could take such a great city, with so +many strong castles, especially having no ordnance, +wherewith to raise batteries, and, knowing the citizens +of Puerto Bello had always great repute of +being good soldiers themselves, who never wanted +courage in their own defence. His astonishment +was so great, that he sent to Captain Morgan, +desiring some small pattern of those arms wherewith +he had taken with such vigor so great a city. +Captain Morgan received this messenger very +kindly, and with great civility; and gave him a pistol, +and a few small bullets, to carry back to the president +his master; telling him, withal, "he desired +him to accept that slender pattern of the arms +wherewith he had taken Puerto Bello, and keep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +them for a twelvemonth; after which time he +promised to come to Panama, and fetch them +away."<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> The governor returned the present very +soon to Captain Morgan, giving him thanks for the +favor of lending him such weapons as he needed not; +and, withal, sent him a ring of gold, with this message, +"that he desired him not to give himself the +labor of coming to Panama, as he had done to +Puerto Bello: for he did assure him, he should not +speed so well here, as he had done there."</p> + +<p>After this, Captain Morgan (having provided his +fleet with all necessaries, and taken with him the best +guns of the castles, nailing up the rest) set sail +from Puerto Bello with all his ships, and arriving in +a few days at Cuba, he sought out a place wherein +he might quickly make the dividend of their spoil. +They found in ready money 250,000 pieces-of-eight, +besides other merchandise; as cloth, linen, +silks, etc. With this rich purchase they sailed thence +to their common place of rendezvous, Jamaica. +Being arrived, they passed here some time in all +sorts of vices and debaucheries, according to their +custom; spending very prodigally what others had +gained with no small labor and toil.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> From <i>The Buccaneers of America</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> This promise was kept. See <a href="#Page_23">The Capture of Panama</a> (footnote).</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>THE WAYS OF THE BUCCANEERS<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">John Masefield</span> after <span class="smcap">John Esquemeling</span></h3></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Throughout</span> the years of buccaneering, +the buccaneers often put to sea in canoas and +periaguas, just as Drake put to sea in his +three pinnaces. Life in an open boat is far from +pleasant, but men who passed their leisure cutting +logwood at Campeachy, or hoeing tobacco in Jamaica, +or toiling over gramma grass under a hot +sun after cattle, were not disposed to make the worst +of things. They would sit contentedly upon the +oar bench, rowing with a long, slow stroke for hours +together without showing signs of fatigue. Nearly +all of them were men of more than ordinary +strength, and all of them were well accustomed to +the climate. When they had rowed their canoa to +the Main they were able to take it easy till a ship +came by from one of the Spanish ports. If she +seemed a reasonable prey, without too many guns, +and not too high charged, or high built, the privateers +would load their muskets, and row down to +engage her. The best shots were sent into the bows, +and excused from rowing, lest the exercise should +cause their hands to tremble. A clever man was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +put to the steering oar, and the musketeers were +bidden to sing out whenever the enemy yawed, so +as to fire her guns. It was in action, and in action +only, that the captain had command over his men. +The steersman endeavored to keep the masts of the +quarry in a line, and to approach her from astern. +The marksmen from the bows kept up a continual +fire at the vessel's helmsmen, if they could be seen, +and at any gun-ports which happened to be open. +If the helmsmen could not be seen from the sea, the +canoas aimed to row in upon the vessel's quarters, +where they could wedge up the rudder with wooden +chocks or wedges. They then laid her aboard over +the quarter, or by the after chains, and carried her +with their knives and pistols. The first man to get +aboard received some gift of money at the division +of the spoil.</p> + +<p>When the prize was taken, the prisoners were +questioned, and despoiled. Often, indeed, they +were stripped stark naked, and granted the privilege +of seeing their finery on a pirate's back. Each +buccaneer had the right to take a shift of clothes +out of each prize captured. The cargo was then +rummaged, and the state of the ship looked to, +with an eye to using her as a cruiser. As a rule, +the prisoners were put ashore on the first opportunity, +but some buccaneers had a way of selling +their captives into slavery. If the ship were old, +leaky, valueless, in ballast, or with a cargo useless +to the rovers, she was either robbed of her guns,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +and turned adrift with her crew, or run ashore in +some snug cove, where she could be burnt for the +sake of the iron-work. If the cargo were of value, +and, as a rule, the ships they took had some rich +thing aboard them, they sailed her to one of the +Dutch, French or English settlements, where they +sold her freight for what they could get—some +tenth or twentieth of its value. If the ship were a +good one, in good condition, well found, swift, and +not of too great draught (for they preferred to +sail in small ships), they took her for their cruiser +as soon as they had emptied out her freight. They +sponged and loaded her guns, brought their stores +aboard her, laid their mats upon her deck, secured +the boats astern, and sailed away in search of other +plunder. They kept little discipline aboard their +ships. What work had to be done they did, but +works of supererogation they despised and rejected +as a shade unholy. The night watches were partly +orgies. While some slept, the others fired guns and +drank to the health of their fellows. By the light of +the binnacle, or by the light of the slush lamps in the +cabin, the rovers played a hand at cards, or diced +each other at "seven and eleven," using a pannikin +as dice-box. While the gamblers cut and shuffled, +and the dice rattled in the tin, the musical sang songs, +the fiddlers set their music chuckling, and the seaboots +stamped approval. The cunning dancers +showed their science in the moonlight, avoiding the +sleepers if they could. In this jolly fashion were the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +nights made short. In the daytime, the gambling +continued with little intermission; nor had the captain +any authority to stop it. One captain, in the +histories, was so bold as to throw the dice and cards +overboard, but, as a rule, the captain of a buccaneer +cruiser was chosen as an artist, or navigator, +or as a lucky fighter. He was not expected to spoil +sport. The continual gambling nearly always led +to fights and quarrels. The lucky dicers often won +so much that the unlucky had to part with all their +booty. Sometimes a few men would win all the +plunder of the cruise, much to the disgust of the +majority, who clamored for a redivision of the spoil. +If two buccaneers got into a quarrel they fought it +out on shore at the first opportunity, using knives, +swords, or pistols, according to taste. The usual +way of fighting was with pistols, the combatants +standing back to back, at a distance of ten or twelve +paces, and turning round to fire at the word of command. +If both shots missed, the question was decided +with cutlasses, the man who drew first blood +being declared the winner. If a man were proved +to be a coward he was either tied to the mast, and +shot, or mutilated, and sent ashore. No cruise came +to an end until the company declared themselves +satisfied with the amount of plunder taken. The +question, like all other important questions, was +debated round the mast, and decided by vote.</p> + +<p>At the conclusion of a successful cruise, they sailed +for Port Royal, with the ship full of treasure, such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +as vicuna wool, packets of pearls from the Hatch, +jars of civet or of ambergris, boxes of "marmalett" +and spices, casks of strong drink, bales of silk, +sacks of chocolate and vanilla, and rolls of green +cloth and pale blue cotton which the Indians had +woven in Peru, in some sandy village near the sea, +in sight of the pelicans and the penguins. In addition +to all these things, they usually had a number +of the personal possessions of those they had taken +on the seas. Lying in the chests for subsequent division +were swords, silver-mounted pistols, daggers +chased and inlaid, watches from Spain, necklaces of +uncut jewels, rings and bangles, heavy carved furniture, +"cases of bottles" of delicately cut green +glass, containing cordials distilled of precious mints, +with packets of emeralds from Brazil, bezoar stones +from Patagonia, paintings from Spain, and medicinal +gums from Nicaragua. All these things were divided +by lot at the main-mast as soon as the anchor +held. As the ship, or ships, neared port, her men +hung colors out—any colors they could find—to +make their vessel gay. A cup of drink was taken as +they sailed slowly home to moorings, and as they +drank they fired off the cannon, "bullets and all," +again and yet again, rejoicing as the bullets struck +the water. Up in the bay, the ships in the harbor answered +with salutes of cannon; flags were dipped +and hoisted in salute; and so the anchor dropped in +some safe reach, and the division of the spoil began.</p> + +<p>After the division of the spoil in the beautiful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +Port Royal harbor, in sight of the palm-trees and +the fort with the colors flying, the buccaneers packed +their gear, and dropped over the side into a boat. +They were pulled ashore by some grinning black +man with a scarlet scarf about his head and the brand +of a hot iron on his shoulders. At the jetty end, +where the Indians lounged at their tobacco and the +fishermen's canoas rocked, the sunburnt pirates put +ashore. Among the noisy company which always +gathers on a pier they met with their companions. +A sort of Roman triumph followed, as the "happily +returned" lounged swaggeringly towards the +taverns. Eager hands helped them to carry in their +plunder. In a few minutes the gang was entering +the tavern, the long, cool room with barrels round +the walls, where there were benches and a table and +an old blind fiddler jerking his elbow at a jig. +Noisily the party ranged about the table, and sat +themselves upon the benches, while the drawers, or +potboys, in their shirts, drew near to take the orders. +I wonder if the reader has ever heard a sailor +in the like circumstance, five minutes after he has +touched his pay, address a company of parasites in +an inn with the question: "What's it going to be?"</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> From <i>Buccaneer Customs on the Spanish Main</i>.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THREE +NOTORIOUS PIRATES<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Howard Pyle, Ed.</span></h3></div> + +<h4>I<br /> +<span class="smcap">Captain Teach</span> <i>alias</i> <span class="smcap">Black-beard</span></h4> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Edward Teach</span> was a Bristol man born, +but had sailed some time out of Jamaica, in +privateers, in the late French war; yet +though he had often distinguished himself for his +uncommon boldness and personal courage, he was +never raised to any command, till he went a-pirating, +which, I think, was at the latter end of the year +1716, when Captain Benjamin Hornygold put him +into a sloop that he had made prize of, and with +whom he continued in consortship till a little while +before Hornygold surrendered.</p> + +<p>In the spring of the year 1717 Teach and Hornygold +sailed from Providence, for the main of America, +and took in their way a billop from the Havana, +with 120 barrels of flour, as also a sloop from Bermuda, +Thurbar master, from whom they took only +some gallons of wine, and then let him go; and a +ship from Madeira to South Carolina, out of which +they got plunder to a considerable value.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>After cleaning on the coast of Virginia, they returned +to the West Indies, and in the latitude of 24, +made prize of a large French Guineaman, bound +to Martinico, which, by Hornygold's consent, Teach +went aboard of as captain, and took a cruise in her. +Hornygold returned with his sloop to Providence, +where, at the arrival of Captain Rogers, the governor, +he surrendered to mercy, pursuant to the king's +proclamation.</p> + +<p>Aboard of this Guineaman Teach mounted forty +guns, and named her the <i>Queen Ann's Revenge</i>; and +cruising near the island of St. Vincent, took a large +ship, called the <i>Great Allen</i>, Christopher Taylor, +commander; the pirates plundered her of what they +thought fit, put all the men ashore upon the island +above mentioned, and set fire to the ship.</p> + +<p>A few days after Teach fell in with the <i>Scarborough</i>, +man-of-war, of thirty guns, who engaged him +for some hours; but she, finding the pirate well-manned, +and having tried her strength, gave over +the engagement and returned to Barbadoes, the +place of her station, and Teach sailed towards the +Spanish America.</p> + +<p>In this way he met with a pirate sloop of ten guns, +commanded by one Major Bonnet, lately a gentleman +of good reputation and estate in the island of +Barbadoes, whom he joined; but in a few days after, +Teach, finding that Bonnet knew nothing of a maritime +life, with the consent of his own men, put in +another captain, one Richards, to command Bonnet's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +sloop, and took the Major on board his own +ship, telling him, that as he had not been used to the +fatigues and care of such a post, it would be better +for him to decline it and live easy, at his pleasure, +in such a ship as his, where he would not be obliged +to perform the necessary duties of a sea-voyage.</p> + +<p>At Turniff, ten leagues short of the Bay of Honduras, +the pirates took in fresh water, and while +they were at anchor there, they saw a sloop coming +in, whereupon Richards, in the sloop called the <i>Revenge</i>, +slipped his cable and run out to meet her; +who, upon seeing the black flag hoisted, struck his +sail and came to under the stern of Teach, the commodore. +She was called the <i>Adventure</i>, from Jamaica, +David Harriot, master. They took him and +his men aboard the great ship, and sent a number +of other hands with Israel Hands, master of Teach's +ship, to man the sloop for the piratical account.</p> + +<p>The 9th of April they weighed from Turniff, +having lain there about a week, and sailed to the bay, +where they found a ship and four sloops; three of +the latter belonged to Jonathan Bernard, of Jamaica, +and the other to Captain James. The ship +was of Boston, called the <i>Protestant Cæsar</i>, Captain +Wyar, commander. Teach hoisted his black colors +and fired a gun, upon which Captain Wyar and all +his men left their ship and got ashore in their boat. +Teach's quartermaster and eight of his crew took +possession of Wyar's ship, and Richards secured all +the sloops, one of which they burnt out of spite to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +the owner. The <i>Protestant Cæsar</i> they also burnt, +after they had plundered her, because she belonged +to Boston, where some men had been hanged for +piracy, and the three sloops belonging to Bernard +they let go.</p> + +<p>From hence the rovers sailed to Turkill, and +then to the Grand Caimanes, a small island about +thirty leagues to the westward of Jamaica, where +they took a small turtler, and so to the Havana, and +from thence to the Bahama Wrecks; and from the +Bahama Wrecks they sailed to Carolina, taking a +brigantine and two sloops in their way, where they +lay off the bar of Charles Town for five or six days. +They took here a ship as she was coming out, bound +for London, commanded by Robert Clark, with +some passengers on board for England. The next +day they took another vessel coming out of Charles +Town, and also two pinks coming into Charles +Town; likewise a brigantine with fourteen negroes +aboard; all of which, being done in the face of the +town, struck so great a terror to the whole province +of Carolina, having just before been visited by Vane, +another notorious pirate, that they abandoned themselves +to despair, being in no condition to resist their +force. There were eight sail in the harbor, ready +for the sea, but none dared to venture out, it being +almost impossible to escape their hands. The inward +bound vessels were under the same unhappy +dilemma, so that the trade of this place was totally +interrupted. What made these misfortunes heavier<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +to them was a long, expensive war the colony had +had with the natives, which was but just ended when +these robbers infested them.</p> + +<p>Teach detained all the ships and prisoners, and, +being in want of medicines, resolved to demand a +chest from the government of the province. Accordingly, +Richards, the captain of the <i>Revenge</i> +sloop, with two or three more pirates, were sent +up along with Mr. Marks, one of the prisoners +whom they had taken in Clark's ship, and very insolently +made their demands, threatening that if +they did not send immediately the chest of medicines +and let the pirate ambassadors return, without offering +any violence to their persons, they would +murder all their prisoners, send up their heads to +the governor, and set the ships they had taken on +fire.</p> + +<p>Whilst Mr. Marks was making application to the +council, Richards and the rest of the pirates walked +the streets publicly in the sight of all people, who +were fired with the utmost indignation, looking upon +them as robbers and murderers, and particularly the +authors of their wrongs and oppressions, but durst +not so much as think of executing their revenge for +fear of bringing more calamities upon themselves, +and so they were forced to let the villains pass with +impunity. The government was not long in deliberating +upon the message, though it was the greatest +affront that could have been put upon them, yet, +for the saving so many men's lives (among them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +Mr. Samuel Wragg, one of the council), they complied +with the necessity and sent aboard a chest, +valued at between three and four hundred pounds, +and the pirates went back safe to their ships.</p> + +<p>Black-beard (for so Teach was generally called, +as we shall hereafter show), as soon as he had received +the medicines and his brother rogues, let go +the ships and the prisoners, having first taken out +of them in gold and silver about £1,500 sterling, +besides provisions and other matters.</p> + +<p>From the bar of Charles Town they sailed to +North Carolina, Captain Teach in the ship, which +they called the man-of-war, Captain Richards and +Captain Hands in the sloops, which they termed privateers, +and another sloop serving them as a tender. +Teach began now to think of breaking up the company +and securing the money and the best of the +effects for himself and some others of his companions +he had most friendship for, and to cheat +the rest. Accordingly, on pretense of running into +Topsail inlet to clean, he grounded his ship, and +then, as if it had been done undesignedly and by +accident, he orders Hands' sloop to come to his assistance +and get him off again, which he, endeavoring +to do, ran the sloop on shore near the other, and +so were both lost. This done, Teach goes into the +tender sloop, with forty hands, and leaves the <i>Revenge</i> +there, then takes seventeen others and maroons +them upon a small sandy island, about a league +from the main, where there was neither bird, beast,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +or herb for their subsistence, and where they must +have perished if Major Bonnet had not, two days +after, taken them off.</p> + +<p>Teach goes up to the governor of North Carolina, +with about twenty of his men, and they surrender +to his Majesty's proclamation, and receive +certificates thereof from his Excellency; but it did +not appear that their submitting to this pardon was +from any reformation of manners, but only to await +a more favorable opportunity to play the same game +over again; which he soon after effected, with +greater security to himself, and with much better +prospect of success, having in this time cultivated +a very good understanding with Charles Eden, +Esq., the governor above mentioned.</p> + +<p>The first piece of service this kind governor did +to Black-beard was to give him a right to the vessel +which he had taken when he was a-pirating in the +great ship called the <i>Queen Ann's Revenge</i>, for +which purpose a court of vice-admiralty was held at +Bath Town, and, though Teach had never any commission +in his life, and the sloop belonging to the +English merchants, and taken in time of peace, yet +was she condemned as a prize taken from the Spaniards +by the said Teach. These proceedings show +that governors are but men.</p> + +<p>Before he sailed upon his adventures, he married +a young creature of about sixteen years of age, the +governor performing the ceremony. As it is a custom +to marry here by a priest, so it is there by a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +magistrate; and this, I have been informed, made +Teach's fourteenth wife whereof about a dozen +might be still living.</p> + +<p>In June, 1718, he went to sea upon another expedition, +and steered his course towards Bermudas. +He met with two or three English vessels in his +way, but robbed them only of provisions, stores, and +other necessaries, for his present expense; but near +the island before mentioned, he fell in with two +French ships, one of them was laden with sugar and +cocoa, and the other light, both bound to Martinico. +The ship that had no lading he let go, and putting +all the men of the loaded ship aboard her, he +brought home the other with her cargo to North +Carolina, where the governor and the pirates shared +the plunder.</p> + +<p>When Teach and his prize arrived he and four of +his crew went to his Excellency and made affidavit +that they found the French ship at sea without a +soul on board her; and then a court was called, and +the ship condemned. The governor had sixty hogsheads +of sugar for his dividend, and one Mr. +Knight, who was his secretary and collector for the +province, twenty, and the rest was shared among +the other pirates.</p> + +<p>The business was not yet done; the ship remained, +and it was possible one or other might come into +the river that might be acquainted with her, and so +discover the roguery. But Teach thought of a contrivance +to prevent this, for, upon a pretence that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +was leaky, and that she might sink, and so stop up +the mouth of the inlet or cove where she lay, he +obtained an order from the governor to bring her +out into the river and set her on fire, which was +accordingly executed, and she was burnt down to the +water's edge, her bottom sunk, and with it their +fears of her ever rising in judgment against them.</p> + +<p>Captain Teach, alias Black-beard, passed three or +four months in the river, sometimes lying at anchor +in the coves, at other times sailing from one inlet +to another, trading with such sloops as he met for +the plunder he had taken, and would often give them +presents for stores and provisions he took from +them; that is, when he happened to be in a giving +humor; at other times he made bold with them, and +took what he liked, without saying "By your leave," +knowing well they dared not send him a bill for the +payment. He often diverted himself with going +ashore among the planters, where he revelled +night and day. By these he was well received, but +whether out of love or fear I cannot say. Sometimes +he used them courteously enough, and made +them presents of rum and sugar in recompense of +what he took from them; but, as for liberties, which +it is said he and his companions often took with the +wives and daughters of the planters, I cannot take +upon me to say whether he paid them <i>ad valorem</i> +or no. At other times he carried it in a lordly manner +towards them, and would lay some of them under +contribution; nay, he often proceeded to bully<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +the governor, not that I can discover the least cause +of quarrel between them, but it seemed only to be +done to show he dared do it.</p> + +<p>The sloops trading up and down this river being +so frequently pillaged by Black-beard, consulted with +the traders and some of the best planters what +course to take. They saw plainly it would be in +vain to make an application to the governor of +North Carolina, to whom it properly belonged to +find some redress; so that if they could not be relieved +from some other quarter, Black-beard would +be like to reign with impunity; therefore, with as +much secrecy as possible, they sent a deputation to +Virginia, to lay the affair before the governor of +that colony, and to solicit an armed force from the +men-of-war lying there to take or destroy this pirate.</p> + +<p>This governor consulted with the captains of the +two men-of-war, viz., the <i>Pearl</i> and <i>Lime</i>, who had +lain in St. James's river about ten months. It was +agreed that the governor should hire a couple of +small sloops, and the men-of-war should man them. +This was accordingly done, and the command of +them given to Mr. Robert Maynard, first lieutenant +of the <i>Pearl</i>, an experienced officer, and a gentleman +of great bravery and resolution, as will appear by +his gallant behavior in this expedition. The sloops +were well manned, and furnished with ammunition +and small arms, but had no guns mounted.</p> + +<p>About the time of their going out the governor +called an assembly, in which it was resolved to publish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +a proclamation, offering certain rewards to any +person or persons who, within a year after that time, +should take or destroy any pirate. The original +proclamation, being in our hands, is as follows:—</p> + +<p class="center">By his Majesty's Lieutenant-Governor and Commander-in-Chief<br /> +of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia.</p> +<p class="center">A PROCLAMATION,</p> +<p class="center">Publishing the Rewards given for apprehending or killing Pirates.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Whereas</span>, by an Act of Assembly, made at a Session of +Assembly, begun at the capital in Williamsburg, the eleventh +day of November, in the fifth year of his Majesty's reign, +entitled, An Act to Encourage the Apprehending and Destroying +of Pirates: It is, amongst other things, enacted, +that all and every person, or persons, who, from and after +the fourteenth day of November, in the Year of our Lord +one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, and before the +fourteenth day of November, which shall be in the Year of +our Lord one thousand seven hundred and nineteen, shall +take any pirate, or pirates, on the sea or land, or, in case of +resistance, shall kill any such pirate, or pirates, between the +degrees of thirty-four and thirty-nine of northern latitude, +and within one hundred leagues of the continent of Virginia, +or within the provinces of Virginia, or North Carolina, upon +the conviction, or making due proof of the killing of all and +every such pirate, and pirates, before the Governor and Council, +shall be entitled to have, and receive out of the public +money, in the hands of the Treasurer of this Colony, the +several rewards following: that is to say, for Edward Teach, +commonly called Captain Teach, or Black-beard, one hundred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +pounds; for every other commander of a pirate ship, +sloop, or vessel, forty pounds; for every lieutenant, master, +or quartermaster, boatswain, or carpenter, twenty pounds; +for every other inferior officer, fifteen pounds; and for every +private man taken on board such ship, sloop, or vessel, ten +pounds; and that for every pirate which shall be taken by +any ship, sloop, or vessel, belonging to this colony, or North +Carolina, within the time aforesaid, in any place whatsoever, +the like rewards shall be paid according to the quality and +condition of such pirates. Wherefore, for the encouragement +of all such persons as shall be willing to serve his +Majesty, and their country, in so just and honourable an +undertaking as the suppressing a sort of people who may +be truly called enemies to mankind: I have thought fit, +with the advice and consent of his Majesty's Council, to +issue this Proclamation, hereby declaring the said rewards +shall be punctually and justly paid, in current money of +Virginia, according to the directions of the said Act. And +I do order and appoint this proclamation to be published +by the sheriffs at their respective country houses, and by +all ministers and readers in the several churches and chapels +throughout this colony.</p> + +<div class="bk1"><p class="p5">Given at our Council-Chamber at Williamsburgh, this<br /> +24th day of November, 1718, in the fifth year of<br /> +his Majesty's reign.</p> + +<p class="center">GOD SAVE THE KING.</p> + +<p class="td3"><span class="smcap">A. Spotswood.</span></p></div></div> + +<p>The 17th of November, 1718, the lieutenant +sailed from Kicquetan, in James river in Virginia, +and the 31st, in the evening, came to the mouth of +Okerecock inlet, where he got sight of the pirate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +This expedition was made with all imaginable secrecy, +and the officer managed with all the prudence +that was necessary, stopping all boats and vessels he +met with in the river from going up, and thereby +preventing any intelligence from reaching Black-beard, +and receiving at the same time an account +from them all of the place where the pirate was +lurking. But notwithstanding this caution, Black-beard +had information of the design from his Excellency +of the province; and his secretary, Mr. +Knight, wrote him a letter particularly concerning +it, intimating "that he had sent him four of his men, +which were all he could meet with in or about town, +and so bid him be upon his guard." These men belonged +to Black-beard, and were sent from Bath +Town to Okerecock inlet, where the sloop lay, which +is about twenty leagues.</p> + +<p>Black-beard had heard several reports, which +happened not to be true, and so gave the less credit +to this advice; nor was he convinced till he saw the +sloops. Then it was time to put his vessel in a +posture of defense. He had no more than twenty-five +men on board, though he gave out to all the +vessels he spoke with that he had forty. When he +had prepared for battle he sat down and spent the +night in drinking with the master of a trading sloop, +who, it was thought, had more business with Teach +than he should have had.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Maynard came to an anchor, for the +place being shoal, and the channel intricate, there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +was no getting in where Teach lay that night; but +in the morning he weighed, and sent his boat ahead +of the sloops to sound, and coming within gun-shot +of the pirate, received his fire; whereupon Maynard +hoisted the king's colors, and stood directly towards +him with the best way that his sails and oars could +make. Black-beard cut his cable, and endeavored to +make a running fight, keeping a continual fire at his +enemies with his guns. Mr. Maynard, not having +any, kept a constant fire with small arms, while +some of his men labored at their oars. In a little +time Teach's sloop ran aground, and Mr. Maynard's, +drawing more water than that of the pirate, +he could not come near him; so he anchored within +half gun-shot of the enemy, and, in order to lighten +his vessel, that he might run him aboard, the lieutenant +ordered all his ballast to be thrown overboard, +and all the water to be staved, and then weighed +and stood for him; upon which Black-beard hailed +him in this rude manner: "Damn you for villains, +who are you; and from whence came you?" The +lieutenant made him answer, "You may see by our +colors we are no pirates." Black-beard bid him +send his boat on board that he might see who he +was; but Mr. Maynard replied thus: "I cannot +spare my boat, but I will come aboard of you as soon +as I can with my sloop." Upon this Black-beard +took a glass of liquor, and drank to him with these +words: "Damnation seize my soul if I give you +quarter, or take any from you." In answer to which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +Mr. Maynard told him "that he expected no quarter +from him, nor should he give him any."</p> + +<p>By this time Black-beard's sloop fleeted as Mr. +Maynard's sloops were rowing towards him, which +being not above a foot high in the waist, and consequently +the men all exposed, as they came near together +(there being hitherto little or no execution +done on either side), the pirate fired a broadside +charged with all manner of small shot. A fatal +stroke to them!—the sloop the lieutenant was in +having twenty men killed and wounded, and the +other sloop nine. This could not be helped, for +there being no wind, they were obliged to keep to +their oars, otherwise the pirate would have got away +from him, which it seems, the lieutenant was resolute +to prevent.</p> + +<p>After this unlucky blow Black-beard's sloop fell +broadside to the shore; Mr. Maynard's other sloop, +which was called the <i>Ranger</i>, fell astern, being for +the present disabled. So the lieutenant, finding his +own sloop had way and would soon be on board +of Teach, he ordered all his men down, for fear of +another broadside, which must have been their destruction +and the loss of their expedition. Mr. +Maynard was the only person that kept the deck, +except the man at the helm, whom he directed to +lie down snug, and the men in the hold were ordered +to get their pistols and their swords ready for close +fighting, and to come up at his command; in order +to which two ladders were placed in the hatchway<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +for the more expedition. When the lieutenant's +sloop boarded the other Captain Teach's men threw +in several new-fashioned sort of grenades, viz., case-bottles +filled with powder and small shot, slugs, and +pieces of lead or iron, with a quick-match in the +mouth of it, which, being lighted without side, presently +runs into the bottle to the powder, and, as it +is instantly thrown on board, generally does great +execution besides putting all the crew into a confusion. +But, by good Providence, they had not that +effect here, the men being in the hold. Black-beard, +seeing few or no hands aboard, told his men "that +they were all knocked to head, except three or four; +and therefore," says he, "let's jump on board and +cut them to pieces."</p> + +<p>Whereupon, under the smoke of one of the bottles +just mentioned, Black-beard enters with fourteen +men over the bows of Maynard's sloop, and were +not seen by him until the air cleared. However, he +just then gave a signal to his men, who all rose in +an instant, and attacked the pirates with as much +bravery as ever was done upon such an occasion. +Black-beard and the lieutenant fired the first shots +at each other, by which the pirate received a wound, +and then engaged with swords, till the lieutenant's +unluckily broke, and stepping back to cock a pistol, +Black-beard, with his cutlass, was striking at that instant +that one of Maynard's men gave him a terrible +wound in the neck and throat, by which the lieutenant +came off with only a small cut over his fingers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + +<p>They were now closely and warmly engaged, the +lieutenant and twelve men against Black-beard and +fourteen, till the sea was tinctured with blood round +the vessel. Black-beard received a shot into his +body from the pistol that Lieutenant Maynard discharged, +yet he stood his ground, and fought with +great fury till he received five-and-twenty wounds, +and five of them by shot. At length, as he was cocking +another pistol, having fired several before, he +fell down dead; by which time eight more out of +the fourteen dropped, and all the rest, much +wounded, jumped overboard and called out for +quarter, which was granted, though it was only prolonging +their lives a few days. The sloop <i>Ranger</i> +came up and attacked the men that remained in +Black-beard's sloop with equal bravery, till they +likewise cried for quarter.</p> + +<p>Here was an end of that courageous brute, who +might have passed in the world for a hero had he +been employed in a good cause.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant caused Black-beard's head to be +severed from his body, and hung up at the boltsprit +end; then he sailed to Bath Town, to get relief for +his wounded men.</p> + +<p>In rummaging the pirate's sloop, they found several +letters and written papers, which discovered the +correspondence between Governor Eden, the secretary +and collector, and also some traders at New +York, and Black-beard. It is likely he had regard +enough for his friends to have destroyed these papers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +before action, in order to hinder them from +falling into such hands, where the discovery would +be of no use either to the interest or reputation of +these fine gentlemen, if it had not been his fixed resolution +to have blown up together, when he found +no possibility of escaping.</p> + +<p>When the lieutenant came to Bath Town, he made +bold to seize from the governor's storehouse the +sixty hogsheads of sugar, and from honest Mr. +Knight, twenty; which it seems was their dividend of +the plunder taken in the French ship. The latter +did not survive this shameful discovery, for, being +apprehensive that he might be called to an account +for these trifles, fell sick, it is thought, with the +fright, and died in a few days.</p> + +<p>After the wounded men were pretty well recovered, +the lieutenant sailed back to the men-of-war +in James River, in Virginia, with Black-beard's head +still hanging at the boltsprit end, and fifteen prisoners, +thirteen of whom were hanged, it appearing, +upon trial, that one of them, viz., Samuel Odell, +was taken out of the trading sloop but the night +before the engagement. This poor fellow was a little +unlucky at his first entering upon his new trade, +there appearing no less than seventy wounds upon +him after the action; notwithstanding which he +lived and was cured of them all. The other person +that escaped the gallows was one Israel Hands, the +master of Black-beard's sloop, and formerly captain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +of the same, before the <i>Queen Ann's Revenge</i> was +lost in Topsail inlet.</p> + +<p>The aforesaid Hands happened not to be in the +fight, but was taken afterwards ashore at Bath +Town, having been sometime before disabled by +Black-beard, in one of his savage humors, after the +following manner: One night, drinking in his +cabin with Hands, the pilot, and another man, Black-beard, +without any provocation, privately draws out +a small pair of pistols, and cocks them under the +table, which being perceived by the man, he withdrew +and went upon deck, leaving Hands, the pilot, +and the captain together. When the pistols were +ready he blew out the candle, and, crossing his +hands, discharged them at his company; Hands, the +master, was shot through the knee and lamed for life, +the other pistol did no execution. Being asked the +meaning of this, he only answered by damning them, +that "if he did not now and then kill one of them, +they would forget who he was."</p> + +<p>Hands being taken, was tried and condemned, +but just as he was about to be executed a ship arrived +at Virginia with a proclamation for prolonging +the time of his Majesty's pardon to such of the +pirates as should surrender by a limited time therein +expressed. Notwithstanding the sentence, Hands +pleaded the pardon, and was allowed the benefit of +it, and was alive some time ago in London, begging +his bread.</p> + +<p>Now that we have given some account of Teach's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +life and actions, it will not be amiss that we speak +of his beard, since it did not a little contribute +towards making his name so terrible in those +parts.</p> + +<p>Plutarch and other grave historians have taken +notice that several great men amongst the Romans +took their surnames from certain odd marks in their +countenances—as Cicero, from a mark, or vetch, on +his nose—so our hero, Captain Teach, assumed the +cognomen of Black-beard, from that large quantity +of hair which, like a frightful meteor, covered his +whole face, and frightened America more than any +comet that has appeared there a long time.</p> + +<p>This beard was black, which he suffered to grow +of an extravagant length; as to breadth, it came up +to his eyes. He was accustomed to twist it with ribbons, +in small tails, after the manner of our Ramilie +wigs, and turn them about his ears. In time of action +he wore a sling over his shoulders, with three +brace of pistols hanging in holsters like bandoliers, +and stuck lighted matches under his hat, which, appearing +on each side of his face, his eyes naturally +looking fierce and wild, made him altogether such a +figure that imagination cannot form an idea of a +fury from hell to look more frightful.</p> + +<p>If he had the look of a fury, his humors and passions +were suitable to it.</p> + +<p>In the commonwealth of pirates, he who goes the +greatest length of wickedness is looked upon with +a kind of envy amongst them as a person of a more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +extraordinary gallantry, and is thereby entitled to be +distinguished by some post, and if such a one has +but courage, he must certainly be a great man. The +hero of whom we are writing was thoroughly accomplished +this way, and some of his frolics of wickedness +were so extravagant, as if he aimed at making +his men believe he was a devil incarnate; for being +one day at sea, and a little flushed with drink, +"Come," says he, "let us make a hell of our own, +and try how long we can bear it." Accordingly he, +with two or three others, went down into the hold, +and closing up all the hatches, filled several pots +full of brimstone and other combustible matter, and +set it on fire, and so continued till they were almost +suffocated, when some of the men cried out for air. +At length he opened the hatches, not a little pleased +that he held out the longest.</p> + +<p>The night before he was killed he sat up and +drank till the morning with some of his own men +and the master of a merchantman; and having had +intelligence of the two sloops coming to attack him, +as has been before observed, one of his men asked +him, in case anything should happen to him in the +engagement with the sloops, whether his wife knew +where he had buried his money? He answered, +"That nobody but himself and the devil knew where +it was, and the longest liver should take all."</p> + +<p>Those of his crew who were taken alive told a +story which may appear a little incredible; however, +we think it will not be fair to omit it since we had it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +from their own mouths. That once upon a cruise +they found out that they had a man on board more +than their crew; such a one was seen several days +amongst them, sometimes below and sometimes upon +deck, yet no man in the ship could give an account +who he was, or from whence he came, but that he +disappeared a little before they were cast away in +their great ship; but it seems they verily believed it +was the devil.</p> + +<p>One would think these things should induce them +to reform their lives, but so many reprobates together, +encouraged and spirited one another up in +their wickedness, to which a continual course of +drinking did not a little contribute, for in Black-beard's +journal, which was taken, there were several +memorandums of the following nature found writ +with his own hand: Such a day rum all out; our +company somewhat sober; a damned confusion +amongst us; rouges a-plotting; great talk of separation; +so I looked sharp for a prize; such a day took +one with a great deal of liquor on board, so kept +the company hot, damned hot, then all things went +well again.</p> + +<p>Thus it was these wretches passed their lives, +with very little pleasure or satisfaction in the possession +of what they violently take away from +others, and sure to pay for it at last by an ignominious +death.</p> + +<p>The names of the pirates killed in the engagement, +are as follows:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>Edward Teach, commander; Philip Morton, gunner; +Garret Gibbens, boatswain; Owen Roberts, carpenter; +Thomas Miller, quartermaster; John +Husk, Joseph Curtice, Joseph Brooks (1), Nath. +Jackson. All the rest, except the two last, were +wounded, and afterwards hanged in Virginia:—John +Carnes, Joseph Brooks (2), James Blake, +John Gills, Thomas Gates, James White, Richard +Stiles, Cæsar, Joseph Philips, James Robbins, John +Martin, Edward Salter, Stephen Daniel, Richard +Greensail, Israel Hands, pardoned, Samuel Odel, +acquitted.</p> + +<p>There were in the pirate sloops, and ashore in a +tent near where the sloops lay, twenty-five hogsheads +of sugar, eleven tierces, and one hundred and +forty-five bags of cocoa, a barrel of indigo, and a +bale of cotton; which, with what was taken from +the governor and secretary, and the sale of the +sloop, came to £2,500, besides the rewards paid by +the governor of Virginia, pursuant to his proclamation; +all which was divided among the companies +of the two ships, <i>Lime</i> and <i>Pearl</i>, that lay in +James River; the brave fellows that took them coming +in for no more than their dividend amongst the +rest, and were paid it not till four years afterwards.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> +<h4>II<br /> +<span class="smcap">Captain William Kid</span></h4> + +<p>We are now going to give an account of one +whose name is better known in England than most +of those whose histories we have already related; +the person we mean is Captain Kid, whose public +trial and execution here rendered him the subject +of all conversation, so that his actions have been +chanted about in ballads; however, it is now a considerable +time since these things passed, and though +the people knew in general that Captain Kid was +hanged, and that his crime was piracy, yet there +were scarce any, even at that time, who were acquainted +with his life or actions, or could account +for his turning pirate.</p> + +<p>In the beginning of King William's war, Captain +Kid commanded a privateer in the West Indies, and +by several adventurous actions acquired the reputation +of a brave man, as well as an experienced seaman. +About this time the pirates were very troublesome +in those parts, wherefore Captain Kid was +recommended by the Lord Bellamont, then governor +of Barbadoes, as well as by several other persons, to +the Government here, as a person very fit to be entrusted +with the command of a Government ship, +and to be employed in cruising upon the pirates, as +knowing those seas perfectly well, and being acquainted +with all their lurking places; but what reasons +governed the politics of those times I cannot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +tell, but this proposal met with no encouragement +here, though it is certain it would have been of great +consequence to the subject, our merchants suffering +incredible damages by those robbers.</p> + +<p>Upon this neglect the Lord Bellamont and some +others, who knew what great captures had been +made by the pirates, and what a prodigious wealth +must be in their possession, were tempted to fit out +a ship at their own private charge, and to give the +command of it to Captain Kid; and to give the thing +a great reputation, as well as to keep their seamen +under the better command, they procured the King's +Commission for the said Captain Kid, of which the +following is an exact copy:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">William Rex</span>,—William the Third, by the grace of +God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender +of the Faith, &c. To our trusty and well-beloved +Captain William Kid, Commander of the ship the <i>Adventure</i> +galley, or to any other the commander of the same for the +time being, greeting; Whereas we are informed, that Captain +Thomas Too, John Ireland, Captain Thomas Wake, and +Captain William Maze, or Mace, and other subjects, natives +or inhabitants of New York, and elsewhere, in our plantations +in America, have associated themselves, with divers +others, wicked and ill-disposed persons, and do, against the +law of nations, commit many and great piracies, robberies, +and depredations on the seas upon the parts of America, and +in other parts, to the great hindrance and discouragement of +trade and navigation, and to the great danger and hurt of our +loving subjects, our allies, and all others, navigating the seas +upon their lawful occasions. Now know ye, that we being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +desirous to prevent the aforesaid mischiefs, and, as much as +in us lies, to bring the said pirates, freebooters and sea-rovers +to justice, have thought fit, and do hereby give and grant to +the said William Kid (to whom our Commissioners for +exercising the office of Lord High Admiral of England, have +granted a commission as a private man-of-war, bearing date +December 11, 1695), and unto the commander of the said +ship for the time being, and unto the officers, mariners, and +others, which shall be under your command, full power and +authority to apprehend, seize, and take into your custody as +well the said Captain Thomas Too, John Ireland, Captain +Thomas Wake, and Captain William Maze, or Mace, as all +such pirates, freebooters and sea-rovers, being either our subjects, +or of other nations associated with them, which you +shall meet with upon the seas or coasts of America, or upon +any other seas or coasts, with all their ships and vessels; and +all such merchandises, money, goods, and wares as shall be +found on board, or with them, in case they shall willingly +yield themselves; but if they will not yield without fighting, +then you are by force to compel them to yield. And we do +also require you to bring, or cause to be brought, such pirates, +freebooters, or sea-rovers, as you shall seize, to a legal trial, +to the end they may be proceeded against according to the +law in such cases. And we do hereby command all our +officers, ministers, and other our loving subjects whatsoever, +to be aiding and assisting to you in the premisses. And we +do hereby enjoin you to keep an exact journal of your proceedings +in the execution of the premisses, and set down the +names of such pirates, and of their officers and company, and +the names of such ships and vessels as you shall by virtue of +these presents take and seize, and the quantities of arms, +ammunition, provision, and lading of such ships, and the true<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +value of the same, as near as you judge. And we do hereby +strictly charge and command you as you will answer the +contrary at your peril, that you do not, in any manner, offend +or molest our friends or allies, their ships, or subjects, by +colour or pretence of these presents, or the authority thereby +granted. In witness whereof we have caused our Great Seal +of England to be affixed to these presents. Given at our +Court of Kensington, the 26th day of January, 1695, in the +seventh year of our reign."</p></div> + +<p>Captain Kid had also another commission, which +was called a Commission of Reprisals; for it being +then war time, this commission was to justify him in +the taking of French merchant ships, in case he +should meet with any.</p> + +<p>With these two commissions he sailed out of +Plymouth in May, 1696, in the <i>Adventure</i> galley of +thirty guns and eighty men. The place he first designed +for was New York; in his voyage thither he +took a French banker, but this was no act of piracy, +he having a commission for that purpose, as we have +just observed.</p> + +<p>When he arrived at New York he put up articles +for engaging more hands, it being necessary to his +ship's crew, since he proposed to deal with a desperate +enemy. The terms he offered were that every +man should have a share of what was taken, reserving +for himself and owners forty shares. Upon +which encouragement he soon increased his company +to a hundred and fifty-five men.</p> + +<p>With this company he sailed first for Madeira,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +where he took in wine and some other necessaries; +from thence he proceeded to Bonavist, one of the +Cape de Verde islands, to furnish the ship with salt, +and from thence went immediately to St. Jago, another +of the Cape de Verde islands, in order to +stock himself with provisions. When all this was +done he bent his course to Madagascar, the known +rendezvous of pirates. In his way he fell in with +Captain Warren, commodore of three men-of-war; +he acquainted them with his design, kept them company +two or three days, and then leaving them made +the best way for Madagascar, where he arrived in +February, 1696, just nine months from his departure +from Plymouth.</p> + +<p>It happened that at this time the pirate ships were +most of them out in search of prey, so that, according +to the best intelligence Captain Kid could +get, there was not one of them at this time about +the island, wherefore, having spent some time in +watering his ship and taking in more provisions, he +thought of trying his fortune on the coast of Malabar, +where he arrived in the month of June following, +four months from his reaching Madagascar. +Hereabouts he made an unsuccessful cruise, touching +sometimes at the island of Mahala, sometimes +at that of Joanna, between Malabar and Madagascar. +His provisions were every day wasting, and +his ship began to want repair; wherefore, when he +was at Joanna, he found means of borrowing a sum +of money from some Frenchmen who had lost their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +ship, but saved their effects, and with this he purchased +materials for putting his ship in good repair.</p> + +<p>It does not appear all this while that he had the +least design of turning pirate, for near Mahala and +Joanna both he met with several Indian ships richly +laden, to which he did not offer the least violence, +though he was strong enough to have done what he +pleased with them; and the first outrage or depredation +I find he committed upon mankind was after +his repairing his ship and leaving Joanna. He +touched at a place called Mabbee, upon the Red +Sea, where he took some Guinea corn from the +natives, by force.</p> + +<p>After this he sailed to Bab's Key, a place upon +a little island at the entrance of the Red Sea. Here +it was that he first began to open himself to his +ship's company, and let them understand that he intended +to change his measures; for, happening to +talk of the Moca fleet which was to sail that way, he +said, "We have been unsuccessful hitherto; but +courage, my boys, we'll make our fortunes out of +this fleet." And finding that none of them appeared +averse to it he ordered a boat out, well +manned, to go upon the coast to make discoveries, +commanding them to take a prisoner and bring to +him, or get intelligence any way they could. The +boat returned in a few days, bringing him word +that they saw fourteen or fifteen ships ready to sail, +some with English, some with Dutch, and some with +Moorish colors.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p>We cannot account for this sudden change in his +conduct, otherwise than by supposing that he first +meant well, while he had hopes of making his fortune +by taking of pirates; but now, weary of ill-success, +and fearing lest his owners, out of humor at +their great expenses, should dismiss him, and he +should want employment, and be marked out for +an unlucky man—rather, I say, than run the hazard +of poverty, he resolved to do his business one way, +since he could not do it another.</p> + +<p>He therefore ordered a man continually to watch +at the mast-head, lest this fleet should go by them; +and about four days after, towards evening it appeared +in sight, being convoyed by one English and +one Dutch man-of-war. Kid soon fell in with them, +and, getting into the midst of them, fired at a +Moorish ship which was next him; but the men-of-war, +taking the alarm, bore down upon Kid, and, +firing upon him, obliged him to sheer off, he not being +strong enough to contend with them. Now he +had begun hostilities he resolved to go on, and therefore +he went and cruised along the coast of Malabar. +The first prize he met was a small vessel belonging +to Aden; the vessel was Moorish, and the +owners were Moorish merchants, but the master was +an Englishman; his name was Parker. Kid forced +him and a Portuguese that was called Don Antonio, +which were all the Europeans on board, to take on +with them; the first he designed as a pilot, and the +last as an interpreter. He also used the men very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +cruelly, causing them to be hoisted up by the arms, +and drubbed with a naked cutlass, to force them to +discover whether they had money on board, and +where it lay; but as they had neither gold nor silver +on board he got nothing by his cruelty; however, he +took from them a bale of pepper, and a bale of coffee, +and so let them go.</p> + +<p>A little time after he touched at Carawar, a place +upon the same coast, where, before he arrived, the +news of what he had done to the Moorish ship had +reached them; for some of the English merchants +there had received an account of it from the owners, +who corresponded with them; wherefore, as soon as +Kid came in, he was suspected to be the person who +committed this piracy, and one Mr. Harvey and +Mr. Mason, two of the English factory, came on +board and asked for Parker and Antonio, the Portuguese, +but Kid denied that he knew any such persons, +having secured them both in a private place in +the hold, where they were kept for seven or eight +days, that is till Kid sailed from thence.</p> + +<p>However, the coast was alarmed, and a Portuguese +man-of-war was sent out to cruise. Kid met +with her, and fought her about six hours, gallantly +enough; but finding her too strong to be taken, he +quitted her, for he was able to run away from +her when he would. Then he went to a place +called Porco, where he watered the ship, and bought +a number of hogs of the natives to victual his company.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>Soon after this he came up with a Moorish ship, +the master whereof was a Dutchman, called Schipper +Mitchel, and chased her under French colors, +which, they observing, hoisted French colors too. +When he came up with her he hailed her in French, +and they, having a Frenchman on board, answered +him in the same language; upon which he ordered +them to send their boat on board. They were +obliged to do so, and having examined who they +were, and from whence they came, he asked the +Frenchman, who was a passenger, if he had a French +pass for himself? The Frenchman gave him to +understand that he had. Then he told the Frenchman +he must pass for captain, and "by G—d," says +he, "you are the captain." The Frenchman durst +not refuse doing as he would have him. The meaning +of this was, that he would seize the ship as fair +prize, and as if she had belonged to French subjects, +according to a commission he had for that +purpose; though, one would think, after what he had +already done, that he need not have recourse to a +quibble to give his actions a color.</p> + +<p>In short, he took the cargo and sold it some time +after; yet still he seemed to have some fears upon +him lest these proceedings should have a bad end, +for, coming up with a Dutch ship some time, when +his men thought of nothing but attacking her, Kid +opposed it; upon which a mutiny arose, and the majority +being for taking the said ship, and arming +themselves to man the boat to go and seize her, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +told them, such as did, never should come on board +him again, which put an end to the design, so that +he kept company with the said ship some time, without +offering her any violence. However, this dispute +was the occasion of an accident, upon which +an indictment was afterwards grounded against +Kid; for Moor, the gunner, being one day upon +deck, and talking with Kid about the said Dutch +ship, some words arose between them, and Moor +told Kid that he had ruined them all; upon which +Kid, calling him dog, took up a bucket and struck +him with it, which, breaking his skull, he died the +next day.</p> + +<p>But Kid's penitential fit did not last long, for, +coasting along Malabar, he met with a great number +of boats, all which he plundered. Upon the +same coast he also lighted upon a Portuguese ship, +which he kept possession of a week, and then, having +taken out of her some chests of Indian goods, +thirty jars of butter, with some wax, iron, and a +hundred bags of rice, he let her go.</p> + +<p>Much about the same time he went to one of the +Malabar islands for wood and water, and his cooper, +being ashore, was murdered by the natives; upon +which Kid himself landed, and burnt and pillaged +several of their houses, the people running away; +but having taken one, he caused him to be tied to a +tree, and commanded one of his men to shoot him; +then putting to sea again he took the greatest prize +which fell into his hands while he followed his trade.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +This was a Moorish ship of four hundred tons, +richly laden, named the <i>Queda</i>, merchant, the master +whereof was an Englishman—he was called +Wright, for the Indians often make use of English +or Dutch men to command their ships, their own +mariners not being so good artists in navigation. +Kid chased her under French colors, and, having +come up with her, he ordered her to hoist out her +boat and to send on board of him, which, being +done, he told Wright he was his prisoner; and informing +himself concerning the said ship, he understood +there were no Europeans on board except two +Dutch, and one Frenchman, all the rest being Indians +or Armenians, and that the Armenians were +part owners of the cargo. Kid gave the Armenians +to understand that if they would offer anything that +was worth his taking for their ransom, he would +hearken to it; upon which they proposed to pay him +twenty thousand rupees, not quite three thousand +pounds sterling; but Kid judged this would be making +a bad bargain, wherefore he rejected it, and setting +the crew on shore at different places on the +coast, he soon sold as much of the cargo as came to +near ten thousand pounds. With part of it he also +trafficked, receiving in exchange provisions or such +other goods as he wanted. By degrees he disposed +of the whole cargo, and when the division was made +it came to about two hundred pounds a man, and, +having reserved forty shares to himself, his dividend +amounted to about eight thousand pounds sterling.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Indians along the coast came on board and +trafficked with all freedom, and he punctually performed +his bargains, till about the time he was ready +to sail; and then, thinking he should have no further +occasion for them, he made no scruple of taking +their goods and setting them on shore without any +payment in money or goods, which they little expected; +for as they had been used to deal with +pirates, they always found them men of honor in +the way of trade—a people, enemies to deceit, and +that scorned to rob but in their own way.</p> + +<p>Kid put some of his men on board the <i>Queda</i>, +merchant, and with this ship and his own sailed +for Madagascar. As soon as he was arrived and +had cast anchor there came on board of him a canoe, +in which were several Englishmen who had formerly +been well acquainted with Kid. As soon as +they saw him they saluted him and told him they +were informed he was come to take them, and hang +them, which would be a little unkind in such an old +acquaintance. Kid soon dissipated their doubts by +swearing he had no such design, and that he was now +in every respect their brother, and just as bad as +they, and, calling for a cup of bomboo, drank their +captain's health.</p> + +<p>These men belonged to a pirate ship, called the +<i>Resolution</i>, formerly the <i>Mocco</i>, merchant, whereof +one Captain Culliford was commander, and which +lay at an anchor not far from them. Kid went on +board with them, promising them his friendship and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +assistance, and Culliford in his turn came on board +of Kid; and Kid, to testify his sincerity in iniquity, +finding Culliford in want of some necessaries, made +him a present of an anchor and some guns, to fit +him out for the sea again.</p> + +<p>The <i>Adventure</i> galley was now so old and leaky +that they were forced to keep two pumps continually +going, wherefore Kid shifted all the guns and tackle +out of her into the <i>Queda</i>, merchant, intending her +for his man-of-war; and as he had divided the money +before, he now made a division of the remainder of +the cargo. Soon after which the greatest part of +the company left him, some going on board Captain +Culliford, and others absconding in the country, +so that he had not above forty men left.</p> + +<p>He put to sea and happened to touch at Amboyna, +one of the Dutch spice islands, where he was told +that the news of his actions had reached England, +and that he was there declared a pirate.</p> + +<p>The truth of it is, his piracies so alarmed our +merchants that some motions were made in Parliament, +to inquire into the commission that was given +him, and the persons who fitted him out. These proceedings +seemed to lean a little hard upon the Lord +Bellamont, who thought himself so much touched +thereby that he published a justification of himself +in a pamphlet after Kid's execution. In the meantime +it was thought advisable, in order to stop the +course of these piracies, to publish a proclamation, +offering the king's free pardon to all such pirates as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +should voluntarily surrender themselves, whatever +piracies they had been guilty of at any time, before +the last day of April, 1699. That is to say, for all +piracies committed eastward of the Cape of Good +Hope, to the longitude and meridian of Socatora +and Cape Camorin. In which proclamation Avery<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> +and Kid were excepted by name.</p> + +<p>When Kid left Amboyna he knew nothing of +this proclamation, for certainly had he had notice +of his being excepted in it he would not have been +so infatuated to run himself into the very jaws of +danger; but relying upon his interest with the Lord +Bellamont, and fancying that a French pass or two +he found on board some of the ships he took would +serve to countenance the matter, and that part of +the booty he got would gain him new friends—I say, +all these things made him flatter himself that all +would be hushed, and that justice would but wink +at him. Wherefore he sailed directly for New +York, where he was no sooner arrived but by the +Lord Bellamont's orders he was secured with all his +papers and effects. Many of his fellow-adventurers +who had forsook him at Madagascar, came over +from thence passengers, some to New England, and +some to Jersey, where, hearing of the king's proclamation +for pardoning of pirates, they surrendered +themselves to the governor of those places. At first +they were admitted to bail, but soon after were laid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +in strict confinement, where they were kept for some +time, till an opportunity happened of sending them +with their captain over to England to be tried.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, a Sessions of Admiralty being held +at the Old Bailey, in May, 1701, Captain Kid, +Nicholas Churchill, James How, Robert Lumley, +William Jenkins, Gabriel Loff, Hugh Parrot, Richard +Barlicorn, Abel Owens, and Darby Mullins, +were arraigned for piracy and robbery on the high +seas, and all found guilty except three: these were +Robert Lumley, William Jenkins, and Richard +Barlicorn, who, proving themselves to be apprentices +to some of the officers of the ship, and producing +their indentures in court, were acquitted.</p> + +<p>The three above mentioned, though they were +proved to be concerned in taking and sharing the +ship and goods mentioned in the indictment, yet, as +the gentlemen of the long robe rightly distinguished, +there was a great difference between their circumstances +and the rest; for there must go an intention +of the mind and a freedom of the will to the committing +an act of felony or piracy. A pirate is not +to be understood to be under constraint, but a free +agent; for, in this case, the bare act will not make +a man guilty, unless the will make it so.</p> + +<p>Kid was tried upon an indictment of murder also—viz., +for killing Moor, the gunner—and found +guilty of the same.</p> + +<p>As to Captain Kid's defense, he insisted much +upon his own innocence, and the villainy of his men.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +He said he went out in a laudable employment, and +had no occasion, being then in good circumstances, +to go a-pirating; that the men often mutinied against +him, and did as they pleased; that he was threatened +to be shot in his cabin, and that ninety-five left him +at one time, and set fire to his boat, so that he was +disabled from bringing his ship home, or the prizes +he took, to have them regularly condemned, which +he said were taken by virtue of a commission under +the broad seal, they having French passes. The +captain called one Colonel Hewson to his reputation, +who gave him an extraordinary character, and declared +to the court that he had served under his +command, and been in two engagements with him +against the French, in which he fought as well as +any man he ever saw; that there were only Kid's +ship and his own against Monsieur du Cass, who +commanded a squadron of six sail, and they got the +better of him. But this being several years before +the facts mentioned in the indictment were committed, +proved of no manner of service to the prisoner +on his trial.</p> + +<p>As to the friendship shown to Culliford, a notorious +pirate, Kid denied, and said he intended to have +taken him, but his men, being a parcel of rogues and +villains, refused to stand by him, and several of them +ran away from his ship to the said pirate. But the +evidence being full and particular against him, he +was found guilty as before mentioned.</p> + +<p>When Kid was asked what he had to say why<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +sentence should not pass against him, he answered +that "he had nothing to say, but that he had been +sworn against by perjured, wicked people." And +when sentence was pronounced, he said, "My lord, +it is a very hard sentence. For my part I am the +innocentest person of them all, only I have been +sworn against by perjured persons."</p> + +<p>Wherefore, about a week after, Captain Kid, +Nicholas Churchill, James How, Gabriel Loff, +Hugh Parrot, Abel Owen, and Darby Mullins, were +executed at Execution Dock, and afterwards hung +up in chains, at some distance from each other down +the river, where their bodies hung exposed for many +years.</p> + +<h4>III<br /> +<span class="smcap">Captain Bartholomew Roberts and His Crew</span></h4> + +<p>Bartholomew Roberts sailed in an honest employ +from London, aboard of the <i>Princess</i>, Captain +Plumb, commander, of which ship he was second +mate. He left England November, 1719, and +arrived at Guinea about February following and +being at Anamaboe, taking in slaves for the West +Indies, was taken in the said ship by Captain Howel +Davis. In the beginning he was very averse to this +sort of life, and would certainly have escaped from +them had a fair opportunity presented itself; yet +afterwards he changed his principles, as many besides +him have done upon another element, and perhaps +for the same reason too, viz., preferment; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +what he did not like as a private man he could reconcile +to his conscience as a commander.</p> + +<p>Davis having been killed in the Island of Princes +whilst planning to capture it with all its inhabitants, +the company found themselves under the necessity +of filling up his post, for which there appeared +two or three candidates among the select part of +them that were distinguished by the title of Lords—such +were Sympson, Ashplant, Anstis, &c.—and +on canvassing this matter, how shattered and weak a +condition their government must be without a head, +since Davis had been removed in the manner before +mentioned, my Lord Dennis proposed, it is said, +over a bowl, to this purpose:</p> + +<p>"That it was not of any great signification who +was dignified with title, for really and in good truth +all good governments had, like theirs, the supreme +power lodged with the community, who might doubtless +depute and revoke as suited interest or humor. +We are the original of this claim," says he, "and +should a captain be so saucy as to exceed prescription +at any time, why, down with him! It will be a caution +after he is dead to his successors of what fatal +consequence any sort of assuming may be. However, +it is my advice that while we are sober we +pitch upon a man of courage and skilled in navigation, +one who by his council and bravery seems best +able to defend this commonwealth, and ward us +from the dangers and tempests of an unstable element, +and the fatal consequences of anarchy; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +such a one I take Roberts to be—a fellow, I think, +in all respects worthy your esteem and favor."</p> + +<p>This speech was loudly applauded by all but Lord +Sympson, who had secret expectations himself, but +on this disappointment grew sullen and left them, +swearing "he did not care who they chose captain +so it was not a papist, for against them he had conceived +an irreconcilable hatred, for that his father +had been a sufferer in Monmouth's rebellion."</p> + +<p>Roberts was accordingly elected, though he had +not been above six weeks among them. The choice +was confirmed both by the Lords and Commoners, +and he accepted of the honor, saying that, since he +had dipped his hands in muddy water and must be +a pirate, it was better being a commander than a +common man.</p> + +<p>As soon as the government was settled, by promoting +other officers in the room of those that were +killed by the Portuguese, the company resolved to +avenge Captain Davis's death, he being more than +ordinarily respected by the crew for his affability and +good nature, as well as his conduct and bravery upon +all occasions; and, pursuant to this resolution, about +thirty men were landed, in order to make an attack +upon the fort, which must be ascended to by a steep +hill against the mouth of the cannon. These men +were headed by one Kennedy, a bold, daring fellow, +but very wicked and profligate; they marched directly +up under the fire of their ship guns, and as +soon as they were discovered, the Portuguese<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +quitted their post and fled to the town, and the +pirates marched in without opposition, set fire to +the fort, and threw all the guns off the hill into the +sea, which after they had done they retreated quietly +to their ship.</p> + +<p>But this was not looked upon as a sufficient satisfaction +for the injury they received, therefore most +of the company were for burning the town, which +Roberts said he would yield to if any means could be +proposed of doing it without their own destruction, +for the town had a securer situation than the fort, +a thick wood coming almost close to it, affording +cover to the defendants, who, under such an advantage, +he told them, it was to be feared, would +fire and stand better to their arms; beside, that bare +houses would be but a slender reward for their trouble +and loss. This prudent advice prevailed; however, +they mounted the French ship they seized at +this place with twelve guns, and lightened her, in +order to come up to the town, the water being shoal, +and battered down several houses; after which they +all returned on board, gave back the French ship to +those that had most right to her, and sailed out of +the harbor by the light of two Portuguese ships, +which they were pleased to set on fire there.</p> + +<p>Roberts stood away to the southward, and met +with a Dutch Guineaman, which he made prize of, +but, after having plundered her, the skipper had his +ship again. Two days after he took an English +ship, called the <i>Experiment</i>, Captain Cornet, at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +Cape Lopez; the men went all into the pirate service, +and having no occasion for the ship they burnt her +and then steered for St. Thome, but meeting with +nothing in their way, they sailed for Annabona, and +there watered, took in provisions, and put it to a +vote of the company whether their next voyage +should be to the East Indies or to Brazil. The latter +being resolved on, they sailed accordingly, and in +twenty-eight days arrived at Ferdinando, an uninhabited +island on that coast. Here they watered, +boot-topped their ship, and made ready for the designed +cruise.</p> + +<p>Upon this coast our rovers cruised for about nine +weeks, keeping generally out of sight of land, but +without seeing a sail, which discouraged them so +that they determined to leave the station and steer +for the West Indies; and, in order thereto, stood +in to make the land for the taking of their departure; +and thereby they fell in unexpectedly with a +fleet of forty-two sail of Portuguese ships off the bay +of Los Todos Santos, with all their lading in, for +Lisbon, several of them of good force, who lay-to +waiting for two men-of-war of seventy guns each, +their convoy. However, Roberts thought it should +go hard with him, but he would make up his market +among them, and thereupon mixed with the fleet, and +kept his men hid till proper resolutions could be +formed. That done, they came close up to one of +the deepest, and ordered her to send the master on +board quietly, threatening to give them no quarter if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +any resistance or signal of distress was made. The +Portuguese, being surprised at these threats, and the +sudden flourish of cutlasses from the pirates, submitted +without a word, and the captain came on +board. Roberts saluted him after a friendly manner +telling him that they were gentlemen of fortune, +but that their business with him was only to be +informed which was the richest ship in that fleet; +and if he directed them right he should be restored +to his ship without molestation, otherwise he must +expect immediate death.</p> + +<p>Whereupon this Portuguese master pointed to +one of forty guns and a hundred and fifty men, a +ship of greater force than the <i>Rover</i>; but this no +ways dismayed them; they were Portuguese, they +said, and so immediately steered away for him. +When they came within hail, the master whom they +had prisoner was ordered to ask "how Seignior Captain +did?" and to invite him on board, "for that he +had a matter of consequence to impart to him;" +which being done, he returned for answer that "he +would wait upon him presently," but by the bustle +that immediately followed, the pirates perceived +that they were discovered, and that this was only a +deceitful answer to gain time to put their ship in a +posture of defense; so without further delay they +poured in a broadside, boarded, and grappled her. +The dispute was short and warm, wherein many of +the Portuguese fell, and two only of the pirates. By +this time the fleet was alarmed: signals of top-gallant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +sheets flying and guns fired to give notice to the +men-of-war, who rid still at an anchor, and made but +scurvy haste out to their assistance; and if what the +pirates themselves related to be true, the commanders +of those ships were blameable to the highest +degree, and unworthy the title, or so much as the +name, of men. For Roberts, finding the prize to +sail heavy, and yet resolving not to lose her, lay +by for the headmost of them, which much outsailed +the other, and prepared for battle, which was ignominiously +declined, though of such superior force; +for, not daring to venture on the pirate alone, he +tarried so long for his consort as gave them both +time leisurely to make off.</p> + +<p>They found this ship exceedingly rich, being +laden chiefly with sugar, skins, and tobacco, and in +gold forty thousand moidores, besides chains and +trinkets of considerable value; particularly a cross +set with diamonds designed for the king of Portugal, +which they afterwards presented to the governor +of Caiana, by whom they were obliged.</p> + +<p>Elated with this booty, they had nothing now to +think of but some safe retreat where they might +give themselves up to all the pleasures that luxury +and wantonness could bestow; and for the present +pitched upon a place called the Devil's Islands in +the river of Surinam, on the coast of Caiana, where +they arrived, and found the civilest reception imaginable, +not only from the governor and factory, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +their wives, who exchanged wares, and drove a considerable +trade with them.</p> + +<p>They seized in this river a sloop, and by her +gained intelligence that a brigantine had also sailed +in company with her from Rhode Island, laden with +provisions for the coast—a welcome cargo! They +growing short in the sea store, and, as Sancho says, +"No adventures to be made without belly-timber." +One evening, as they were rummaging their mine of +treasure, the Portuguese prize, this expected vessel +was descried at the masthead, and Roberts, imagining +nobody could do the business so well as himself, +takes forty men in the sloop, and goes in pursuit +of her; but a fatal accident followed this rash, +though inconsiderable adventure, for Roberts, thinking +of nothing less than bringing in the brigantine +that afternoon, never troubled his head about the +sloop's provision, nor inquired what there was on +board to subsist such a number of men; but out he +sails after his expected prize, which he not only lost +further sight of, but after eight days' contending +with contrary winds and currents, found themselves +thirty leagues to leeward. The current still opposing +their endeavors, and perceiving no hopes of beating +up to their ship, they came to an anchor, and inconsiderately +sent away the boat to give the rest of +the company notice of their condition, and to order +the ship to them; but too soon—even the next day—their +wants made them sensible of their infatuation, +for their water was all expended, and they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +had taken no thought how they should be supplied +till either the ship came or the boat returned, which +was not likely to be under five or six days. Here, +like Tantalus, they almost famished in sight of the +fresh streams and lakes, being drove to such extremity +at last that they were forced to tear up the +floor of the cabin and patch up a sort of tub or tray +with rope-yarns to paddle ashore and fetch off immediate +supplies of water to preserve life.</p> + +<p>After some days the long-wished-for boat came +back, but with the most unwelcome news in the +world; for Kennedy, who was lieutenant, and left, +in absence of Roberts, to command the privateer +and prize, was gone off with both. This was mortification +with a vengeance, and you may imagine they +did not depart without some hard speeches from +those that were left and had suffered by their treachery. +And that there need be no further mention of +this Kennedy, I shall leave Captain Roberts to vent +his wrath in a few oaths and execrations, and follow +the other, whom we may reckon from that time +as steering his course towards Execution Dock.</p> + +<p>Kennedy was now chosen captain of the revolted +crew, but could not bring his company to any determined +resolution. Some of them were for pursuing +the old game, but the greater part of them seemed +to have inclinations to turn from those evil courses, +and get home privately, for there was no act of +pardon in force; therefore they agreed to break up, +and every man to shift for himself, as he should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +see occasion. The first thing they did was to part +with the great Portuguese prize, and having the +master of the sloop (whose name, I think, was +Cane) aboard, who, they said, was a very honest +fellow—for he had humored them upon every occasion—told +them of the brigantine that Roberts +went after; and when the pirates first took him he +complimented them at any odd rate, telling them +they were welcome to his sloop and cargo, and +wished that the vessel had been larger and the loading +richer for their sakes. To this good-natured man +they gave the Portuguese ship, which was then above +half loaded, three or four negroes, and all his own +men, who returned thanks to his kind benefactors, +and departed.</p> + +<p>Captain Kennedy, in the <i>Rover</i>, sailed to Barbadoes, +near which island they took a very peaceable +ship belonging to Virginia. The commander +was a Quaker, whose name was Knot; he had +neither pistol, sword, nor cutlass on board; and Mr. +Knot appearing so very passive to all they said to +him, some of them thought this a good opportunity +to go off; and accordingly eight of the pirates went +aboard, and he carried them safe to Virginia. They +made the Quaker a present of ten chests of sugar, +ten rolls of Brazil tobacco, thirty moidores, and +some gold dust, in all to the value of about £250. +They also made presents to the sailors, some more, +some less, and lived a jovial life all the while they +were upon their voyage, Captain Knot giving them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +their way; nor, indeed, could he help himself, unless +he had taken an opportunity to surprise them when +they were either drunk or asleep, for awake they +wore arms aboard the ship and put him in a continual +terror, it not being his principle (or the +sect's) to fight, unless with art and collusion. He +managed these weapons well till he arrived at the +Capes; and afterwards four of the pirates went off +in a boat, which they had taken with them for the +more easily making their escapes, and made up the +bay towards Maryland, but were forced back by a +storm into an obscure place of the country, where, +meeting with good entertainment among the +planters, they continued several days without being +discovered to be pirates. In the meantime Captain +Knot, leaving four others on board his ship who intended +to go to North Carolina, made what haste +he could to discover to Mr. Spotswood, the governor, +what sort of passengers he had been forced +to bring with him, who, by good fortune, got them +seized; and search being made after the others, who +were revelling about the country, they were also +taken, and all tried, convicted, and hanged; two +Portuguese Jews, who were taken on the coast of +Brazil and whom they brought with them to Virginia, +being the principal evidences. The latter had +found means to lodge part of their wealth with the +planters, who never brought it to account. But Captain +Knot surrendered up everything that belonged +to them that were taken aboard, even what they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +presented to him, in lieu of such things as they +had plundered him of in their passage, and obliged +his men to do the like.</p> + +<p>Some days after the taking of the Virginiaman +last mentioned, in cruising in the latitude of +Jamaica, Kennedy took a sloop bound thither from +Boston, loaded with bread and flour; aboard of this +sloop went all the hands who were for breaking +the gang, and left those behind that had a mind to +pursue further adventures. Among the former was +Kennedy, their captain, of whose honor they had +such a despicable notion that they were about to +throw him overboard when they found him in the +sloop, as fearing he might betray them all at their +return to England; he having in his childhood been +bred a pick-pocket, and before he became a pirate a +house-breaker; both professions that these gentlemen +have a very mean opinion of. However, Captain +Kennedy, by taking solemn oaths of fidelity to +his companions, was suffered to proceed with them.</p> + +<p>In this company there was but one that pretended +to any skill in navigation (for Kennedy could +neither write nor read, he being preferred to the +command merely for his courage, which indeed he +had often signalized, particularly in taking the Portuguese +ship), and he proved to be a pretender +only; for, shaping their course to Ireland, where +they agreed to land, they ran away to the north-west +coast of Scotland, and there were tossed about +by hard storms of wind for several days without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +knowing where they were, and in great danger of +perishing. At length they pushed the vessel into a +little creek and went all ashore, leaving the sloop +at an anchor for the next comers.</p> + +<p>The whole company refreshed themselves at a +little village about five miles from the place where +they left the sloop, and passed there for shipwrecked +sailors, and no doubt might have travelled +on without suspicion, but the mad and riotous manner +of their living on the road occasioned their +journey to be cut short, as we shall observe presently.</p> + +<p>Kennedy and another left them here, and, travelling +to one of the seaports, shipped themselves for +Ireland, and arrived there in safety. Six or seven +wisely withdrew from the rest, travelled at their +leisure, and got to their much-desired port of London +without being disturbed or suspected, but the +main gang alarmed the country wherever they +came, drinking and roaring at such a rate that the +people shut themselves up in their houses, in some +places not daring to venture out among so many +mad fellows. In other villages they treated the +whole town, squandering their money away as if, +like Æsop, they wanted to lighten their burthens. +This expensive manner of living procured two of +their drunken stragglers to be knocked on the head, +they being found murdered in the road and their +money taken from them. All the rest, to the number +of seventeen, as they drew nigh to Edinburgh,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +were arrested and thrown into gaol upon suspicion +of they knew not what; however, the magistrates +were not long at a loss for proper accusations, for +two of the gang offering themselves for evidences +were accepted of, and the others were brought to a +speedy trial, whereof nine were convicted and executed.</p> + +<p>Kennedy having spent all his money, came over +from Ireland and kept a public-house on Deptford +Road, and now and then it was thought, made an +excursion abroad in the way of his former profession, +till one of his household gave information +against him for a robbery, for which he was committed +to Bridewell; but because she would not do +the business by halves she found out a mate of a +ship that Kennedy had committed piracy upon, as +he foolishly confessed to her. This mate, whose +name was Grant, paid Kennedy a visit in Bridewell, +and knowing him to be the man, procured a warrant, +and had him committed to the Marshalsea prison.</p> + +<p>The game that Kennedy had now to play was to +turn evidence himself; accordingly he gave a list of +eight or ten of his comrades, but, not being acquainted +with their habitations, one only was taken, +who, though condemned, appeared to be a man of a +fair character, was forced into their service, and +took the first opportunity to get from them, and +therefore received a pardon; but Walter Kennedy, +being a notorious offender, was executed July 19, +1721, at Execution Dock.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>The rest of the pirates who were left in the ship +<i>Rover</i> stayed not long behind, for they went ashore +to one of the West India islands. What became of +them afterwards I cannot tell, but the ship was +found at sea by a sloop belonging to <i>St. Christophers</i>, +and carried into that island with only nine +negroes aboard.</p> + +<p>Thus we see what a disastrous fate ever attends +the wicked, and how rarely they escape the punishment +due to their crimes, who, abandoned to such +a profligate life, rob, spoil, and prey upon mankind, +contrary to the light and law of nature, as well as +the law of God. It might have been hoped that +the examples of these deaths would have been as +marks to the remainder of this gang, how to shun +the rocks their companions had split on; that they +would have surrendered to mercy, or divided themselves +for ever from such pursuits, as in the end +they might be sure would subject them to the same +law and punishment, which they must be conscious +they now equally deserved; impending law, which +never let them sleep well unless when drunk. But all +the use that was made of it here, was to commend +the justice of the court that condemned Kennedy, for +he was a sad dog, they said, and deserved the fate +he met with.</p> + +<p>But to go back to Roberts, whom we left on the +coast of Caiana, in a grievous passion at what +Kennedy and the crew had done, and who was now +projecting new adventures with his small company<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +in the sloop; but finding hitherto they had been but +as a rope of sand, they formed a set of articles to +be signed and sworn to for the better conservation +of their society, and doing justice to one another, excluding +all Irishmen from the benefit of it, to whom +they had an implacable aversion upon the account of +Kennedy. How, indeed, Roberts could think that +an oath would be obligatory where defiance had +been given to the laws of God and man, I cannot +tell, but he thought their greatest security lay in +this—"that it was every one's interest to observe +them, if they minded to keep up so abominable a +combination."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>The following is the substance of articles as taken +from the pirates' own informations:—</p> + +<div class="p6"><p class="center">I</p></div> + +<p>Every man has a vote in affairs of moment, has +equal title to the fresh provisions or strong liquors +at any time seized, and may use them at pleasure, +unless a scarcity (no uncommon thing among them) +make it necessary for the good of all to vote a retrenchment.</p> + +<div class="p6"><p class="center">II</p></div> + +<p>Every man to be called fairly in turn by list, on +board of prizes, because, over and above their +proper share, they were on these occasions allowed a +shift of clothes. But if they defrauded the company +to the value of a dollar, in plate, jewels, or +money, marooning was their punishment. (This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +was a barbarous custom of putting the offender on +shore, on some desolate or uninhabited cape or +island, with a gun, a few shot, a bottle of water, a +bottle of powder, to subsist with or starve.) If the +robbery was only between one another, they contented +themselves with slitting the ears and nose of +him that was guilty, and set him on shore, not in an +uninhabited place, but somewhere where he was +sure to encounter hardships.</p> + +<div class="p6"><p class="center">III</p></div> + +<p>No person to game at cards or dice for money.</p> + +<div class="p6"><p class="center">IV</p></div> + +<p>The lights and candles to be put out at eight +o'clock at night. If any of the crew after that hour +still remained inclined for drinking, they were to do +it on the open deck. (Which Roberts believed +would give a check to their debauches, for he was +a sober man himself, but found at length that all +his endeavors to put an end to this debauch proved +ineffectual.)</p> + +<div class="p6"><p class="center">V</p></div> + +<p>To keep their piece, pistols, and cutlass clean, and +fit for service. (In this they were extravagantly +nice, endeavoring to outdo one another in the beauty +and richness of their arms, giving sometimes at an +auction—at the mast—£30 or £40 a pair for pistols. +These were slung in time of service, with different +colored ribbons, over their shoulders, in a way peculiar +to these fellows, in which they took great delight.)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> + +<div class="p6"><p class="center">VI</p></div> + +<p>No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. +If any man were found seducing any of the latter +sex, and carried her to sea disguised, he was to suffer +death. (So that when any fell into their hands, +as it chanced in the <i>Onslow</i>, they put a sentinel +immediately over her to prevent ill consequences +from so dangerous an instrument of division and +quarrel; but then here lies the roguery—they contend +who shall be sentinel, which happens generally +to one of the greatest bullies.)</p> + +<div class="p6"><p class="center">VII</p></div> + +<p>To desert the ship or their quarters in battle, was +punished with death or marooning.</p> + +<div class="p6"><p class="center">VIII</p></div> + +<p>No striking one another on board, but every +man's quarrel to be ended on shore, at sword and +pistol. Thus the quartermaster of the ship, when +the parties will not come to any reconciliation, accompanies +them on shore with what assistance he +thinks proper, and turns the disputants back to back +at so many paces distance. At the word of command +they turn and fire immediately, or else the +piece is knocked out of their hands. If both miss, +they come to their cutlasses, and then he is declared +victor who draws the first blood.</p> + +<div class="p6"><p class="center">IX</p></div> + +<p>No man to talk of breaking up their way of living +till each had shared £1,000. If, in order to this,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +any man should lose a limb, or become a cripple in +their service, he was to have 800 dollars out of the +public stock, and for lesser hurts proportionably.</p> + +<div class="p6"><p class="center">X</p></div> + +<p>The captain and quartermaster to receive two +shares of a prize; the master, boatswain, and gunner, +one share and a half, the other officers one and +a quarter.</p> + +<div class="p6"><p class="center">XI</p></div> + +<p>The musicians to have rest on the Sabbath-day, +but the other six days and nights none without special +favor.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>These, we are assured, were some of Roberts's +articles, but as they had taken care to throw overboard +the original they had signed and sworn to, +there is a great deal of room to suspect the remainder +contained something too horrid to be disclosed +to any, except such as were willing to be +sharers in the iniquity of them. Let them be what +they will, they were together the test of all newcomers, +who were initiated by an oath taken on a +Bible, reserved for that purpose only, and were subscribed +to in presence of the worshipful Mr. Roberts. +And in case any doubt should arise concerning +the construction of these laws, and it should remain +a dispute whether the party had infringed +them or no, a jury was appointed to explain them, +and bring in a verdict upon the case in doubt.</p> + +<p>Since we are now speaking of the laws of this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +company, I shall go on, and, in as brief a manner +as I can, relate the principal customs and government +of this roguish commonwealth, which are +pretty near the same with all pirates.</p> + +<p>For the punishment of small offences which are +not provided for by the articles, and which are not +of consequence enough to be left to a jury, there +is a principal officer among the pirates, called the +quartermaster, of the men's own choosing, who +claims all authority this way, excepting in time of +battle. If they disobey his command, are quarrelsome +and mutinous with one another, misuse prisoners, +plunder beyond his order, and in particular, +if they be negligent of their arms, which he musters +at discretion, he punishes at his own arbitrament, +with drubbing or whipping, which no one else dare +do without incurring the lash from all the ship's +company. In short, this officer is trustee for the +whole, is the first on board any prize, separating +for the company's use what he pleases, and returning +what he thinks fit to the owners, excepting gold +and silver, which they have voted not returnable.</p> + +<p>After a description of the quartermaster and his +duty, who acts as a sort of civil magistrate on board +a pirate ship, I shall consider their military officer, +the captain; what privileges he exerts in such +anarchy and unruliness of the members. Why, +truly very little—they only permit him to be captain, +on condition that they may be captain over +him; they separate to his use the great cabin, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +sometimes vote him small parcels of plate and +china (for it may be noted that Roberts drank his +tea constantly), but then every man, as the humor +takes him, will use the plate and china, intrude into +his apartment, swear at him, seize a part of his +victuals and drink, if they like it, without his offering +to find fault or contest it. Yet Roberts, by a +better management than usual, became the chief director +in everything of moment; and it happened +thus:—The rank of captain being obtained by the +suffrage of the majority, it falls on one superior for +knowledge and boldness—pistol proof, as they call +it—who can make those fear who do not love him. +Roberts is said to have exceeded his fellows in these +respects, and when advanced, enlarged the respect +that followed it by making a sort of privy council +of half a dozen of the greatest bullies, such as were +his competitors, and had interest enough to make his +government easy; yet even those, in the latter part +of his reign, he had run counter to in every project +that opposed his own opinion; for which, and because +he grew reserved and would not drink and +roar at their rate, a cabal was formed to take away +his captainship, which death did more effectually.</p> + +<p>The captain's power is uncontrollable in chase or +in battle, drubbing, cutting, or even shooting any +one who dares deny his command. The same privilege +he takes over prisoners, who receive good or ill +usage mostly as he approves of their behavior, for +though the meanest would take upon them to misuse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +a master of a ship, yet he would control herein +when he sees it, and merrily over a bottle give his +prisoners this double reason for it: first, that it preserved +his precedence; and secondly, that it took the +punishment out of the hands of a much more rash +and mad set of fellows than himself. When he +found that rigor was not expected from his people +(for he often practiced it to appease them), then +he would give strangers to understand that it was +pure inclination that induced him to a good treatment +of them, and not any love or partiality to their +persons; for, says he, "there is none of you but will +hang me, I know, whenever you can clinch me within +your power."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>And now, seeing the disadvantages they were under +for pursuing their plans, viz., a small vessel ill +repaired, and without provisions or stores, they resolved, +one and all, with the little supplies they +could get, to proceed for the West Indies, not +doubting to find a remedy for all these evils and to +retrieve their loss.</p> + +<p>In the latitude of Deseada, one of the islands, +they took two sloops, which supplied them with provisions +and other necessaries, and a few days afterwards +took a brigantine belonging to Rhode Island, +and then proceeded to Barbadoes, off of which +island they fell in with a Bristol ship of ten guns, +in her voyage out, from whom they took abundance +of clothes, some money, twenty-five bales of goods,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +five barrels of powder, a cable, hawser, ten casks of +oatmeal, six casks of beef, and several other goods, +besides five of their men; and after they had detained +her three days let her go, who, being bound +for the aforesaid island, she acquainted the governor +with what had happened as soon as she arrived.</p> + +<p>Whereupon a Bristol galley that lay in the harbor +was ordered to be fitted out with all imaginable +expedition, of 20 guns and 80 men, there being +then no man-of-war upon that station, and also a +sloop with 10 guns and 40 men. The galley was +commanded by one Captain Rogers, of Bristol, and +the sloop by Captain Graves, of that island, and +Captain Rogers, by a commission from the governor, +was appointed commodore.</p> + +<p>The second day after Rogers sailed out of the +harbor he was discovered by Roberts, who, knowing +nothing of their design, gave them chase. The +Barbadoes ships kept an easy sail till the pirates +came up with them, and then Roberts gave them a +gun, expecting they would have immediately struck +to his piratical flag; but instead thereof, he was +forced to receive the fire of a broadside, with three +huzzas at the same time, so that an engagement ensued; +but Roberts, being hardly put to it, was +obliged to crowd all the sail the sloop would bear +to get off. The galley, sailing pretty well, kept company +for a long while, keeping a constant fire, which +galled the pirate; however, at length, by throwing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +over their guns and other heavy goods, and thereby +lightening the vessel, they, with much ado, got clear; +but Roberts could never endure a Barbadoes man +afterwards, and when any ships belonging to that +island fell in his way, he was more particularly +severe to them than others.</p> + +<p>Captain Roberts sailed in the sloop to the island +of Dominico, where he watered and got provisions +of the inhabitants, to whom he gave goods in exchange. +At this place he met with thirteen Englishmen, +who had been set ashore by a French Guard +de la Coste, belonging to Martinico, taken out of +two New England ships that had been seized as +prizes by the said French sloop. The men willingly +entered with the pirates, and it proved a seasonable +recruiting.</p> + +<p>They stayed not long here, though they had immediate +occasion for cleaning their sloop, but did +not think this a proper place; and herein they judged +right, for the touching at this island had like to +have been their destruction, because they, having +resolved to go away to the Granada Islands for the +aforesaid purpose, by some accident it came to be +known to the French colony, who, sending word to +the governor of Martinico, he equipped and manned +two sloops to go in quest of them. The pirates +sailed directly for the Granadilloes, and hall'd into +a lagoon at Corvocoo, where they cleaned with unusual +dispatch, staying but a little above a week, by +which expedition they missed of the Martinico<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +sloops only a few hours, Roberts sailing overnight +and the French arriving the next morning. This +was a fortunate escape, especially considering that +it was not from any fears of their being discovered +that they made so much haste from the island, but, +as they had the impudence themselves to own, for +the want of wine and women.</p> + +<p>Thus narrowly escaped, they sailed for Newfoundland, +and arrived upon the banks the latter +end of June, 1720. They entered the harbor of +Trepassi with their black colors flying, drums beating, +and trumpets sounding. There were two-and-twenty +vessels in the harbor, which the men all +quitted upon the sight of the pirate, and fled ashore. +It is impossible particularly to recount the destruction +and havoc they made here, burning and sinking +all the shipping except a Bristol galley, and destroying +the fisheries and stages of the poor planters +without remorse or compunction; for nothing is so +deplorable as power in mean and ignorant hands—it +makes men wanton and giddy, unconcerned at the +misfortunes they are imposing on their fellow-creatures, +and keeps them smiling at the mischiefs that +bring themselves no advantage. They are like madmen +that cast fire-brands, arrows, and death, and +say, Are not we in sport?</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> A contemporary narrative. From <i>The Buccaneers of America</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Avery was called "The King of the Pirates." See "<a href="#Page_89">The +Daughter of the Great Mogul</a>."</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTURE OF THE +SHIP <i>DERBY</i>, 1735</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Captain Anselm</span></h3></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">I fell</span> in with the Land of <i>Madagascar</i>, the +Latitude of about 24 Degrees, 13 Minutes +North: And some time before I had made it, +I met with nothing but light Airs of Winds, and +Calms, and continued so long. My People dropping +down with the Scurvy, I took a small Still that +I had, and distill'd Salt Water into Fresh. I allow'd +them as much Pease and Flower as they could +eat, that they might not eat any Salt Provision, tho' +I boil'd it in fresh Water. I had been very liberal +with my fresh Provision in my Passage, to my +People, and the Passage so long, that I had hardly +any left, and that only a few Fowls; and myself and +Officers too had been much out of Order. At last, +being got to the Northward of <i>Augustin</i> Bay, seeing +my poor People fall down so very fast, it gave me +very great Concern for them, but still was willing, +in Hopes of Change of Wind, for <i>Johanna</i>. But the +small Airs trifled with me, and what there were +Northerly, a Current setting to the Southward, that +what to do I could not well tell. To go into <i>Augustin</i> +Bay I was very unwilling: I had two Boats came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +off to me, the People talking tolerable good <i>English</i>. +At last, my Doctor, <i>Sharp</i>, told me there were +above Thirty People down with the Scurvy, and all +the rest, even some of the Petty Officers, were +touch'd with the same. If I did not soon put into +Port, I plainly found I should have been in a bad +Condition, for Men; I consulted with my Officers, +to go into <i>Augustin</i> Bay, and we agreed, and bore +away for it. Soon after, the Wind came Southerly, +and I bore away for <i>Johanna</i>. A fine Passage I +had, and anchor'd the next Day about Four +in the Afternoon, being <i>Sept.</i> 13. I thank God +I brought all my People in alive, and that is as much +I can say of a good many of them. I had a +Tent made ashore for them, and supplied them all +that ever I could, and the Doctors assisting with +every thing in their Way for their speedy Recovery. +After I had been here a Fortnight, the Winds +in the Day-time set in very fresh from the N. N. W. +to the N. N. E. Finding the People recover so very +slowly, what to do I could not tell. To go out with +my People as bad as when they came in, I was not +willing, but resolv'd to have Patience one Week +more. I consulted with Mr. <i>Rogers</i>, my Chief-Mate, +and told him that we must consider the Condition +of the People, and how we met the Winds and +Currents before we came in. The People of the +Island told me, that this was about the time of Year +for the Northerly Winds and Southerly Currents, +and I told him I thought it better to trim all our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +Casks, and fill what Water we could, fearing of a +long Passage, if our Stay was a little longer. Mr. +<i>Rogers</i> was of my Opinion. This I must say, I +found the Cask not so well used in the Hold, as they +ought to have been, which caus'd the Coopers more +Work; neither did I make a little Noise about it, because +I had more Words with my Chief and Second +Mate, about my Third and Fourth Mate, than +any thing else.</p> + +<p>Having all my Water aboard, about 80 Tun, 25 +Head of Oxen, <i>&c.</i>, I sail'd the 13th of <i>October</i>, +with several of my Men not recover'd; some I +buried at <i>Johanna</i>, and some after, to the Number +of Ten, or thereabouts. Having a fine Gale, I made +all the Sail I could, except Studding-sails, which I +thought needless. The Wind veer'd to the Northward, +and I was resolved to make the <i>Mallabar</i> +Course as soon as possible, for the Advantage +of the Land and Sea Winds. I had one Passenger +aboard, a sad troublesome wicked Fellow, +whose Behaviour was so bad, that I could hardly +forbear using him ill. I forbid my Officers keeping +Company with him; but Mr. <i>B——s</i> would do it at +all Events. I turn'd him once off the Quarter-Deck +for being with him there, yet that did not avail. I +came out one Night about half an Hour past Ten, +my second Mate's Watch, and this <i>B——s's</i> Turn +to sleep; and seeing a Light in his Cabin, I sent Mr. +<i>Cuddon</i>, the second Mate, to him, to know how he +would be able to sit up one Watch, and keep his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +own. Upon this <i>B——s</i> came up half way the +Steerage-Ladder, with his Pipe in his Hand, and +talk'd to me very pertly; and that was not the first +time. This put me into a Passion, to be so talk'd +to by a Boy, that I did dismiss him for two or three +Days, and then re-stated him, which was more than +he deserv'd, for keeping Company with him for +whom the worst of Names is good enough, and +those who recommended him to his Commission. +<i>B——s</i> was told of this by Mr. <i>Rogers</i>, by my Orders, +and I told him of it on the Quarter-Deck, and +told him at the same time I was resolv'd to tell the +Gentlemen at Home of ——; and ask'd him what he +imagin'd they would think of him for keeping such +swearing drunken Company. This was before I dismiss'd +him.</p> + +<p>Before I came in with the Land, hearing much +talk of <i>Angria</i>,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> by Capt. <i>Scarlet</i>, and Mr. <i>Rogers</i>, +and of his great Force (for I had very little Notion +of him before) I took care to put the Ship in a +proper Posture of Defence: Powder-Chests on the +Quarter-Deck, Poop, and Forecastle, a Puncheon +fill'd with Water in the Main-top, a Hogshead in +the Fore-top, and a Barrel in the Mizen-top, all +fill'd with Water: Chests with good Coverings in +the Tops for Grenado-Shells; all the small Arms, +with 50 new ones in Readiness. My Ship being too +deep to get the Gun-room Ports open, as the Gunner +inform'd me, the Ship <i>sending</i>, and the Sea<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +washing above the Tops of the Ports; I got those +Guns into the Great Cabin; Quarter-Bills over the +Guns; the Rewards and Close-quarters, <i>&c.</i> at +the Mizen-mast, Shot-lockers and Shot in their +proper Station; Pluggs for Shot-holes; and every +thing that I could think of: and gave particular Orders +to my Gunner, Carpenter, and Boatswain, to +have every thing in their way, in Readiness, the two +lower Yards flung with the Top-chains. Not being +easy in my Mind about these Gun-room Stern-Ports, +I sent Mr. <i>Rogers</i>, it being smooth Water, to open +one of the Gun-room Stern-Ports, to see, if we could, +on Occasion, get Guns out there, but he brought me +Word it could not be done with Safety, the Ship +being so deep. A few Days before I made the +Land, the Winds used to vere and haul, that Offing +in an Hour I could hardly up from E. N. E. to S. E. +but the Winds chiefly kept to the Northward. I +was very desirous to make the Land, not knowing +how far the Southwest Currents might set me to the +Westward. At noon, being <i>Dec.</i> 12, I made the +Land of <i>Goa</i>, in the Latitude of 15 Degrees North. +My Chief Mate wanted me to go into <i>Goa</i>, but I +was resolved not, but to make the best of my Way +for <i>Bombay</i>. The next Morning, having a fine Six-Knot-Gale, +about Nine o' Clock Mr. <i>Rogers</i> told +me, he saw <i>Gereah</i>, and desired me to haul further +off Shore, and said, if <i>Angria</i> and his Grabbs should +see us in his River, he would send them out after +us. I asked him, if his Grabbs came out of Sight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +of Land. He told me they were afraid to do that, +fearing the <i>Bombay</i> Vessels should get between +them and the Shore, and keep them out of their +Ports. To prevent running into Danger, I kept out +of Sight of Land: I thought it better to do so, since +it would make but a few Days Difference in getting +at <i>Bombay</i>; making no Doubt I should get there +the last of the Month, as doubtless we should, if we +had not met with our sad Misfortune.</p> + +<p>When it was too late, I was acquainted by those +taken in the <i>Severn</i>, that Mr. <i>Rogers</i> inform'd me +wrong; for <i>Angria</i> sometimes keeps the Shore +aboard, and sometimes goes directly out to Sea 60 +Leagues off. It was too late to reflect; neither +could I blame myself, knowing I had done every +thing to the best of my Judgment: But had I been +better inform'd, it is my Opinion we might have +escaped those cursed Dogs, by keeping in Shore, +and taken the Advantage of the Land and Sea +Winds.</p> + +<p>I have since repented that we did not go into +<i>Goa</i>; but God knows whether a Man goes too fast +or too slow; for I had certainly a very suitable +Cargo for that Place; But my earnest Desire was to +get to <i>Bombay</i>, the Season of the Year being far +advanc'd.</p> + +<p><i>December</i> 26, being my second Mate's Morning +Watch, about Five o' Clock he came to me, and told +me he saw Nine Sail of Gallivats. I got up, and +found them to be Five Top-mast Vessels, and Four<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +Gallivats, not above two Miles from us. I order'd +all Hands to be call'd, and down with the Cabins in +the Steerage, which was done in an Instant, and +every body to their respective Quarters. They came +up with us apace, having but light Airs of Winds, +and found them to be <i>Angria's</i> Fleet. I had the +Transome in the great Cabin, and the Balcony in +the Round-house cut away, for traversing the Stern-Chase +Guns. They came up with me very boldly +within Pistol-shot. Before Six, they began firing +upon us, throwing their Shot in at our Stern, raking +us afore and aft. I order'd everything to be got +ready for going about, to give them my Broad-side, +when my Chief-Mate Mr. <i>Rogers</i>, and my Third +Mate Mr. <i>Burroughs</i> came to me, and begg'd that +I would not put about, for if I did, they would certainly +board us. As to my Part, being a Stranger to +this Coast and <i>Angria</i>, knowing my Chief Mate had +been often this Way, and my Third Mate had sail'd +in the Gallies, I was over prevail'd upon not to tack +about. As the Enemy kept under my Stern, playing +their Shot in very hot upon us, and destroying +my Rigging so fast, I soon after endeavour'd to +wear the Ship upon the Enemy; but the Wind dying +away to a Calm, she would not regard her Helm, +but lay like a Log in the Water. By Eight o' Clock +most of my Rigging was destroy'd, and the Long-boat +taking Fire a-stern, was forc'd to cut her away. +The Yaul being stove by their shot, we launch'd her +overboard. By Nine, the Top-chain that flung the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +Main-yard, was shot away, with Geer and Geer-Blocks. +The Main-yard came next down, with the +Sails almost torn to Pieces with the Shot. As fast +as our People knotted and spliced the Rigging, it +was shot away in their Hands. The Water-Tubs in +the Tops were shot to pieces, and the Boatswain's +Mate's Leg shot off in the Main-top. One +of the Foremast-Men's Leg was shot off in the Fore-top, +and one wounded. By Ten, the Mizen-mast +was shot by the Board. Wanting People to cut the +Mast-Rigging, <i>&c.</i> from her Side, found them appear +very thin upon Deck, and desired my younger +Mates to drive them out of their Holes. Word +was then brought me, that my Chief Mate's Leg +was shot off, but that he was in good Heart. All +this time it was a Calm, and our Guns of the Broad-side +of no Service, not being able, during the Engagement, +to bring one Gun to bear upon them. +They kept throwing their shot so thick in at our +Stern, with a continual Fire, and we return'd it as +fast as we could load and fire. About One, my +Main-mast was shot by the Board, and the Fall of +that stove the Pinnace on the Booms. The Loss of +my Main-mast gave me a very great Concern, and +seeing the Condition of the Fore-mast, the Fore-yard +half way down, and the Top-sail Yard-arm sprung +in several Places, the Head of the Top-gallant-Mast +shot away, render'd that Mast quite useless. I +could not see which way it was in the Power of +Men to save us from these Dogs. However, I made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +myself as easy as could be expected, and kept my +Thoughts to myself. Tho' the Shot were like Hail +about my Ears, I thank God I escaped them, neither +did they give me much Uneasiness as to my Person. +The Grabbs perceiving their great Advantage by the +Fall of our Main-mast, <i>&c.</i> tho' all the time before +within Musket-Shot, come up boldly within Call, +throwing in at our Stern Double-round and Partridge +as fast as they could load and fire; we doing the +same with Bolts, <i>&c.</i> We saw a great many Holes in +their Sails. Soon after this, they lodg'd two Double-head-Shot, +and a large Stone in the Fore-mast, the +Shrowds of which were mostly gone. I often sent +Capt. <i>Scarlet</i> to Mr. <i>Cudden</i>, to encourage the +People, and to take care to cool his Guns, and not +fire in Haste, but take good Aim. We received two +Double-headed-Shot in the Bread-room, which were +soon plugg'd up, and one Shot under the Larboard +Chesstree, but so low in the Water, that could not +get at it, and the Ship prov'd leaky. I had a Pack +of sad cowardly, ignorant Dogs as ever came into a +Ship. As to my common Sailors, who were not +above Twelve Seamen, with the Officers, they stood +by me. It was all owing to my Misfortune on the +<i>Mouse</i>, that I was so poorly Mann'd. As to my +Third Mate, <i>B——s</i>, he did not seem to stomach +what he was about; he was sometimes on the Quarter-Deck +(not being able to use any Guns but the +Stern-Chase) and every Shot the Enemy fir'd, he +cowardly trembled, with his Head almost down to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +the Deck. This Captain <i>Scarlet</i> has often declared +to the Gentlemen at <i>Bombay</i>, and before those that +are now coming Home. I had six Men kill'd, and +six their Legs shot off, with several others wounded +by their Partridge-Shot, <i>&c.</i> Had our People kept +the Deck like Men, there must have been several +more kill'd and wounded. About Three, I heard a +great Call for Shot, and desired Capt. <i>Scarlet</i> to go +to Mr. <i>Cuddon</i>, and tell him not to fire in Waste.</p> + +<p>We lay now just like a Wreck in the Sea, and at +our Wits Ends. Our Shot being almost spent, we +had a Hole cut in the Well to try to come at the +Company's. We continued on with Double-round +and Partridge, and Bolts, <i>&c.</i> with a Double Allowance +of Powder to each Gun, doing the utmost we +could to save the Ship. The Tiller-rope was now +shot away, tho' of no Service before. The Carpenter +told me the Ship made a great deal of Water, +and had above two Foot in her Hold. The Caulker +afterwards told me she had three Foot. I saw +nothing we could do more than firing our Stern-Chase. +There was a sad Complaint for Shot; however +we fir'd Bolts. I call'd out to the People to +have good Hearts, and went into the Round-house +to encourage them there. It was very hard we could +stand no Chance for a Mast of theirs, nor no lucky +Shot to disable some of them, in all the Number that +we fir'd. As to our small Arms, they were of little +Service, they keeping their Men so close. The Rigging +of the Foremast being gone, and that fetching<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +so much way, I expected it to go every Minute; and +about Seven in the Evening, the Ship falling off into +the Trough of the Sea, the Foremast came by the +Board. It was now about Four o' Clock, when Mr. +<i>Thomas Rogers</i>, my Chief Mate, sent my Steward +to desire to speak with me. When I went to him, +he spoke to me to this Purpose. "Sir," says he, "I +am inform'd what Condition the Ship is in; as +her Masts are gone, you had better not be obstinate, +in standing out longer; it will only be the +Means of making more Objects, of murdering +more Men, and all to no Purpose, but to be used +worse by the Enemy, for it is impossible to get +away. Therefore you had better surrender." To +the best of my Knowledge, I hardly made him any +Answer; nor had I, before he sent to me, the least +Thoughts of surrendering, which I declare before +God and Man; tho' I was well convinc'd within myself, +that it was impossible to save the Ship. I went +up to my old Station the Quarter-Deck, and took +several Turns, as usual, and proceeded in the Engagement. +I begun to consider what Mr. <i>Rogers</i> +told me, and the Condition of the Ship, and argue +within myself the Impossibility of doing any more +(for if a Gale had sprung up, it could be of no +Service) and all the time from the Fall of our +Main-mast, the Enemy were got so near, that I could +hear them talk, and my Second Mate did the same. +As to our Masts, they had gain'd their Ends, and +their only Business now was to fire at the Hull.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +There was no Hopes of their leaving us, considering +the condition they had brought us to, and it could +not be long before we sunk: for as they lay so near +us, and so low in Water, our Shot must doubtless fly +over them. At last I was of Mr. <i>Rogers's</i> Opinion, +that it was only sacrificing the Men to no Purpose; +for they had so large a Mark of us, they could not +miss us; and during all the Engagement, as they +play'd their Shot so hot at our Stern, it is surprizing +there were not many more Men Kill'd. I then sent +for my Second and Third Mate, and told them Mr. +<i>Rogers's</i> Opinion and my own. They both agreed +to it, and consented to the surrendering of the Ship. +So we submitted to the Enemy, finding it in vain to +proceed. By my Watch it was Five o' Clock. My +Second and Third Mate went in to the Steerage to +forbid firing, and myself in the Round-House, did +the same. Every Body seem'd to be very well satisfied +as to the surrendering Part, and no Objection +was made. Colours we had none to strike; those +and the Ensign-Staff were shot to Pieces; and what +was left of the Ensign being made fast to the Main-Shrowds, +went with the Mast. Capt. <i>Scarlet</i> went +into the Round-House, and call'd the Enemy on +board, and told them we had no Boats. They sent +their Dingey aboard with Four Men for me and my +chief Officers. They left Two of the Four aboard +the <i>Derby</i>. Myself and my Second Mate went in +the Dingey aboard the Grabb. We were gone an +Hour and a half good, if not more; then we return'd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +in a Gallivat with 50 or 60 Men, but not a Soul +went aboard the <i>Derby</i>, till we return'd. Then came +aboard more Gallivats and more Men, and secured +the Arms, <i>&c.</i> and drove our People up, some to the +Pumps, and some to clear the Rigging off the Ship's +Side. They transkipt to their Grabbs what Treasure +could be got at, and the next Day turn'd out the +Remainder, with myself, <i>Scarlet</i>, <i>Cuddon</i>, the two +Ladies, and my Servants, into one of the Grabbs.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> A noted pirate.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>FRANCIS LOLONOIS</h2> +<div class="sp1"><p class="center"><span class="smcap">The Slave Who Became a Pirate King</span><a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p></div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">John Esquemeling</span></h3></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Francis Lolonois</span> was a native of that +territory in France which is called Les Sables +d'Olone, or The Sands of Olone. In his +youth he was transported to the Caribbee islands, +in quality of servant, or slave, according to custom. +Having served his time, he came to Hispaniola; +here he joined for some time with the hunters, before +he began his robberies upon the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>At first he made two or three voyages as a common +mariner, wherein he behaved himself so courageously +as to gain the favor of the governor of +Tortuga, Monsieur de la Place; insomuch that he +gave him a ship, in which he might seek his fortune, +which was very favorable to him at first; for in a +short time he got great riches. But his cruelties +against the Spaniards were such, that the fame of +them made him so well known through the Indies, +that the Spaniards, in his time, would choose rather +to die, or sink fighting, than surrender, knowing they +should have no mercy at his hands. But Fortune,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +being seldom constant, after some time turned her +back; for in a huge storm he lost his ship on the +coast of Campechy. The men were all saved, but +coming upon dry land, the Spaniards pursued them, +and killed the greatest part, wounding also Lolonois. +Not knowing how to escape, he saved his life by a +stratagem; mingling sand with the blood of his +wounds, with which besmearing his face, and other +parts of his body, and hiding himself dextrously +among the dead, he continued there till the Spaniards +quitted the field.</p> + +<p>They being gone, he retired to the woods and +bound up his wounds as well as he could. These +being pretty well healed, he took his way to Campechy, +having disguised himself in a Spanish habit; +here he enticed certain slaves, to whom he promised +liberty if they would obey him and trust to his conduct. +They accepted his promises, and stealing a +canoe, they went to sea with him. Now the Spaniards, +having made several of his companions prisoners, +kept them close in a dungeon, while Lolonois +went about the town and saw what passed. These +were often asked, "What is become of your captain?" +To whom they constantly answered, "He is +dead:" which rejoiced the Spaniards, who made +thanks to God for their deliverance from such a +cruel pirate. Lolonois, having seen these rejoicings +for his death, made haste to escape, with the slaves +above-mentioned, and came safe to Tortuga, the +common refuge of all sorts of wickedness, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +seminary, as it were, of pirates and thieves. Though +now his fortune was low, yet he got another ship +with craft and subtlety, and in it twenty-one men. +Being well provided with arms and necessaries, he +set forth for Cuba, on the south whereof is a small +village, called De los Cayos. The inhabitants drive +a great trade in tobacco, sugar, and hides, and all +in boats, not being able to use ships, by reason of +the little depth of that sea.</p> + +<p>Lolonois was persuaded he should get here some +considerable prey; but by the good fortune of some +fishermen who saw him, and the mercy of God, they +escaped him: for the inhabitants of the town dispatched +immediately a vessel overland to the Havannah, +complaining that Lolonois was come to destroy +them with two canoes. The governor could +hardly believe this, having received letters from +Campechy that he was dead: but, at their importunity, +he sent a ship for their relief, with ten guns +and ninety men, well armed; giving them this express +command, "that they should not return into +his presence without having totally destroyed those +pirates." To this effect he gave them a negro to +serve for a hangman, and orders, "that they should +immediately hang every one of the pirates, excepting +Lolonois, their captain, whom they should bring +alive to the Havannah." This ship arrived at +Cayos, of whose coming the pirates were advertised +beforehand, and instead of flying, went to seek it in +the river Estera, where she rode at anchor. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +pirates seized some fishermen, and forced them by +night to show them the entry of the port, hoping +soon to obtain a greater vessel than their two canoes, +and thereby to mend their fortune. They arrived, +after two in the morning, very nigh the ship; and +the watch on board the ship asking them, whence +they came, and if they had seen any pirates abroad. +They caused one of the prisoners to answer, they +had seen no pirates, nor anything else. Which answer +made them believe that they were fled upon +hearing of their coming.</p> + +<p>But they soon found the contrary, for about break +of day the pirates assaulted the vessel on both sides, +with their two canoes, with such vigor, that though +the Spaniards behaved themselves as they ought, +and made as good defense as they could, making +some use of their great guns, yet they were forced +to surrender, being beaten by the pirates, with sword +in hand, down under the hatches. From hence Lolonois +commanded them to be brought up, one by +one, and in this order caused their heads to be struck +off. Among the rest came up the negro, designed to +be the pirates' executioner; this fellow implored +mercy at his hands very dolefully, telling Lolonois +he was constituted hangman of that ship, and if he +would spare him, he would tell him faithfully all that +he should desire. Lolonois, making him confess +what he thought fit, commanded him to be murdered +with the rest. Thus he cruelly and barbarously +put them all to death, reserving only one alive,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +whom he sent back to the governor of the Havannah, +with this message in writing: "I shall never +henceforward give quarter to any Spaniard whatsoever; +and I have great hopes I shall execute on +your own person the very same punishment I have +done upon them you sent against me. Thus I have +retaliated the kindness you designed to me and my +companions." The governor, much troubled at this +bad news, swore, in the presence of many, that he +would never grant quarter to any pirate that should +fall into his hands. But the citizens of the Havannah +desired him not to persist in the execution of +that rash and rigorous oath, seeing the pirates would +certainly take occasion from thence to do the same, +and they had an hundred times more opportunity of +revenge than he; that being necessitated to get their +livelihood by fishery, they should hereafter always +be in danger of their lives. By these reasons he was +persuaded to bridle his anger, and remit the severity +of his oath.</p> + +<p>Now Lolonois had got a good ship, but very few +provisions and people in it; to purchase both which +he resolved to cruise from one port to another. Doing +thus, for some time, without success, he determined +to go to the port of Maracaibo. Here he +surprised a ship laden with plate, and other merchandises, +outward bound, to buy cocoa-nuts. With +this prize he returned to Tortuga, where he was +received with joy by the inhabitants; they congratulating +his happy success, and their own private interest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +He stayed not long there, but designed to +equip a fleet sufficient to transport five hundred men, +and necessaries. Thus provided, he resolved to pillage +both cities, towns, and villages, and finally, to +take Maracaibo itself. For this purpose he knew +the island of Tortuga would afford him many resolute +and courageous men, fit for such enterprises: +besides, he had in his service several prisoners well +acquainted with the ways and places designed upon.</p> + +<p>Of this design Lolonois giving notice to all the +pirates, whether at home or abroad, he got together, +in a little while, above four hundred men; beside +which, there was then in Tortuga another pirate, +named Michael de Basco, who, by his piracy, had +got riches sufficient to live at ease, and go no more +abroad; having, withal, the office of major of the +island. But seeing the great preparations that Lolonois +made for this expedition, he joined him, and +offered him, that if he would make him his chief +captain by land (seeing he knew the country very +well, and all its avenues) he would share in his fortunes, +and go with him. They agreed upon articles +to the great joy of Lolonois, knowing that Basco +had done great actions in Europe, and had the repute +of a good soldier. Thus they all embarked in eight +vessels, that of Lolonois being the greatest, having +ten guns of indifferent carriage.</p> + +<p>All things being ready, and the whole company +on board, they set sail together about the end of +April, being, in all, six hundred and sixty persons.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +They steered for that part called Bayala, north of +Hispaniola: here they took into their company some +French hunters, who voluntarily offered themselves, +and here they provided themselves with victuals and +necessaries for their voyage.</p> + +<p>From hence they sailed again the last of July, and +steered directly to the eastern cape of the isle called +Punta d'Espada. Hereabouts espying a ship from +Puerto Rico, bound for New Spain, laden with cocoa-nuts, +Lolonois commanded the rest of the fleet to +wait for him near Savona, on the east of Cape +Punta d'Espada, he alone intending to take the said +vessel. The Spaniards, though they had been in +sight full two hours, and knew them to be pirates, +yet would not flee, but prepared to fight, being well +armed, and provided. The combat lasted three +hours, and then they surrendered. This ship had +sixteen guns, and fifty fighting men aboard: they +found in her 120,000 weight of cocoa, 40,000 pieces-of-eight, +and the value of 10,000 more, in jewels. +Lolonois sent the vessel presently to Tortuga to be +unladed, with orders to return as soon as possible +to Savona, where he would wait for them: meanwhile, +the rest of the fleet being arrived at Savona, +met another Spanish vessel coming from Coman, +with military provisions to Hispaniola, and money +to pay the garrisons there. This vessel they also +took, without any resistance, though mounted with +eight guns. In it were 7,000 weight of powder, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +great number of muskets, and like things, with 12,000 +pieces-of-eight.</p> + +<p>These successes encouraged the pirates, they seeming +very lucky beginnings, especially finding their +fleet pretty well recruited in a little time: for the +first ship arriving at Tortuga, the governor ordered +it to be instantly unladen, and soon after sent back, +with fresh provisions, and other necessaries, to +Lolonois. This ship he chose for himself, and gave +that which he commanded to his comrade, Anthony +du Puis. Being thus recruited with men in lieu of +them he had lost in taking the prizes, and by sickness, +he found himself in a good condition to set sail +for Maracaibo, in the province of Neuva Venezuela, +in the latitude of 12 deg. 10 min. north. This island +is twenty leagues long, and twelve broad. To this +port also belong the islands of Onega and Monges. +The east side thereof is called Cape St. Roman, and +the western side Cape of Caquibacoa: the gulf is +called, by some, the Gulf of Venezuela, but the pirates +usually call it the Bay of Maracaibo.</p> + +<p>At the entrance of this gulf are two islands extending +from east to west; that towards the east +is called Isla de las Vigilias, or the Watch Isle; because +in the middle is a high hill, on which stands +a watch-house. The other is called Isla de la Palomas, +or the Isle of Pigeons. Between these two +islands runs a little sea, or rather lake of fresh water, +sixty leagues long, and thirty broad; which disgorging +itself into the ocean, dilates itself about the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +said two islands. Between them is the best passage +for ships, the channel being no broader than +the flight of a great gun, of about eight pounds. +On the Isle of Pigeons standeth a castle, to impede +the entry of vessels, all being necessitated to come +very nigh the castle, by reason of two banks of sand +on the other side, with only fourteen feet water. +Many other banks of sand there are in this lake; +as that called El Tablazo, or the Great Table, no +deeper than ten feet, forty leagues within the lake; +others there are, that have no more than six, seven, +or eight feet in depth: all are very dangerous, especially +to mariners unacquainted with them. West +hereof is the city of Maracaibo, very pleasant to the +view, its houses being built along the shore, having +delightful prospects all round: the city may contain +three or four thousand persons, slaves included, all +which make a town of reasonable bigness. There +are judged to be about eight hundred persons able +to bear arms, all Spaniards. Here are one parish +church, well built and adorned, four monasteries, +and one hospital. The city is governed by a deputy +governor, substituted by the governor of the Caraccas. +The trade here exercised is mostly in hides and +tobacco. The inhabitants possess great numbers of +cattle, and many plantations, which extend thirty +leagues in the country, especially towards the great +town of Gibraltar, where are gathered great quantities +of cocoa-nuts, and all other garden fruits, +which serve for the regale and sustenance of the inhabitants<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +of Maracaibo, whose territories are much +drier than those of Gibraltar. Hither those of +Maracaibo send great quantities of flesh, they making +returns in oranges, lemons, and other fruits; +for the inhabitants of Gibraltar want flesh, their +fields not being capable of feeding cows or sheep.</p> + +<p>Before Maracaibo is a very spacious and secure +port, wherein may be built all sorts of vessels, having +great convenience of timber, which may be transported +thither at little charge. Nigh the town lies +also a small island called Borrica, where they feed +great numbers of goats, which cattle the inhabitants +use more for their skins than their flesh or milk; +they slighting these two, unless while they are tender +and young kids. In the fields are fed some sheep, +but of a very small size. In some islands of the +lake, and in other places hereabouts, are many savage +Indians, called by the Spaniards bravoes, or +wild: these could never be reduced by the Spaniards, +being brutish, and untameable. They dwell mostly +towards the west side of the lake, in little huts built +on trees growing in the water; so to keep themselves +from innumerable mosquitoes, or gnats, which infest +and torment them night and day. To the east of +the said lake are whole towns of fishermen, who +likewise live in huts built on trees, as the former. +Another reason of this dwelling, is the frequent inundations; +for after great rains, the land is often +overflown for two or three leagues, there being no +less than twenty-five great rivers that feed this lake.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +The town of Gibraltar is also frequently drowned +by these, so that the inhabitants are constrained to +retire to their plantations.</p> + +<p>Gibraltar, situate at the side of the lake about +forty leagues within it, receives its provisions of +flesh, as has been said, from Maracaibo. The town +is inhabited by about 1,500 persons, whereof four +hundred may bear arms; the greatest part of them +keep shops, wherein they exercise one trade or another. +In the adjacent fields are numerous plantations +of sugar and cocoa, in which are many tall +and beautiful trees, of whose timber houses may +be built, and ships. Among these are many handsome +and proportionable cedars, seven or eight feet +about, of which they can build boats and ships, so +as to bear only one great sail; such vessels being +called piraguas. The whole country is well furnished +with rivers and brooks, very useful in +droughts, being then cut into many little channels +to water their fields and plantations. They plant +also much tobacco, well esteemed in Europe, and +for its goodness is called there <i>tobacco de sacerdotes</i>, +or priest's tobacco. They enjoy nigh twenty leagues +of jurisdiction, which is bounded by very high mountains +perpetually covered with snow. On the other +side of these mountains is situate a great city called +Merida, to which the town of Gibraltar is subject. +All merchandise is carried hence to the aforesaid +city on mules, and that but at one season of the year, +by reason of the excessive cold in those high mountains.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +On the said mules returns are made in flour +of meal, which comes from towards Peru, by the +way of Estaffe.</p> + +<p>Lolonois arriving at the gulf of Venezuela, cast +anchor with his whole fleet out of sight of the Vigilia +or Watch Isle; next day very early he set sail thence +with all his ships for the lake of Maracaibo, where +they cast anchor again; then they landed their men, +with design to attack first the fortress that commanded +the bar, therefore called <i>de la barra</i>. This +fort consisted only of several great baskets of earth +placed on a rising ground, planted with sixteen great +guns, with several other heaps of earth round about +for covering their men: the pirates having landed a +league off this fort, advanced by degrees towards +it; but the governor having espied their landing, +had placed an ambuscade to cut them off behind, +while he should attack them in front. This the +pirates discovered, and getting before, they defeated +it so entirely, that not a man could retreat to the +castle: this done, Lolonois, with his companions, advanced +immediately to the fort, and after a fight +of almost three hours, with the usual desperation +of this sort of people, they became masters thereof, +without any other arms than swords and pistols: +while they were fighting, those who were the routed +ambuscade, not being able to get into the castle, retired +into Maracaibo in great confusion and disorder, +crying "The pirates will presently be here with +two thousand men and more." The city having formerly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +been taken by this kind of people, and sacked +to the uttermost, had still an idea of that misery; +so that upon these dismal news they endeavored to +escape towards Gibraltar in their boats and canoes, +carrying with them all the goods and money they +could. Being come to Gibraltar, they told how the +fortress was taken, and nothing had been saved, nor +any persons escaped.</p> + +<p>The castle thus taken by the pirates, they presently +signified to the ships their victory, that they +should come farther in without fear of danger: the +rest of that day was spent in ruining and demolishing +the said castle. They nailed the guns, and burnt +as much as they could not carry away, burying the +dead, and sending on board the fleet the wounded. +Next day, very early, they weighed anchor, and +steered directly towards Maracaibo, about six +leagues distant from the fort; but the wind failing +that day, they could advance little, being forced to +await the tide. Next morning they came in sight +of the town, and prepared for landing under the +protection of their own guns, fearing the Spaniards +might have laid an ambuscade in the woods. They +put their men into canoes, brought for that purpose, +and landed, shooting meanwhile furiously with +their great guns. Of those in the canoes, half only +went ashore, the other half remained aboard. They +fired from the ships as fast as possible, towards the +woody part of the shore, but could discover nobody;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +then they entered the town, whose inhabitants were +retired to the woods, and Gibraltar, with their wives +children and families. Their houses they left well +provided with victuals, as flour, bread, pork, brandy, +wines, and poultry, and with these the pirates fell to +making good cheer, for in four weeks before they +had no opportunity of filling their stomachs with +such plenty.</p> + +<p>They instantly possessed themselves of the best +houses in the town, and placed sentinels wherever +they thought necessary;—the great church served +them for their main guard. Next day they sent out +an hundred and sixty men to find out some of the inhabitants +in the woods thereabouts. These returned +the same night, bringing with them 20,000 pieces-of-eight, +several mules laden with household goods and +merchandise, and twenty prisoners, men, women, +and children. Some of these were put to the rack, +to make them confess where they had hid the rest +of the goods; but they could extort very little from +them. Lolonois, who valued not murdering, though +in cold blood, ten or twelve Spaniards, drew his cutlass, +and hacked one to pieces before the rest, saying, +"If you do not confess and declare where you +have hid the rest of your goods, I will do the like +to all your companions." At last, amongst these +horrible cruelties and inhuman threats, one promised +to show the place where the rest of the Spaniards +were hid. But those that were fled, having intelligence +of it, changed place, and buried the remnant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +of their riches underground, so that the pirates +could not find them out, unless some of their own +party should reveal them. Besides, the Spaniards +flying from one place to another every day, and often +changing woods, were jealous even of each other, so +that the father durst scarce trust his own son.</p> + +<p>After the pirates had been fifteen days in Maracaibo, +they resolved for Gibraltar; but the inhabitants +having received intelligence thereof, and that +they intended afterwards to go to Merida, gave notice +of it to the governor there, who was a valiant +soldier, and had been an officer in Flanders. His +answer was, "he would have them take no care, for +he hoped in a little while to exterminate the said +pirates." Whereupon he came to Gibraltar with +four hundred men well armed, ordering at the same +time the inhabitants to put themselves in arms, so +that in all he made eight hundred fighting men. +With the same speed he raised a battery toward the +sea, mounted with twenty guns, covered with great +baskets of earth: another battery he placed in another +place, mounted with eight guns. This done, +he barricaded a narrow passage to the town through +which the pirates must pass, opening at the same +time another one through much dirt and mud into a +wood which was totally unknown to the pirates.</p> + +<p>The pirates, ignorant of these preparations, having +embarked all their prisoners and booty, took +their way towards Gibraltar. Being come in sight +of the place, they saw the royal standard hanging<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +forth, and that those of the town designed to defend +their homes. Lolonois seeing this, called a council +of war what they ought to do, telling his officers +and mariners, "That the difficulty of the enterprise +was very great, seeing the Spaniards had had so +much time to put themselves in a posture of defense, +and had got a good body of men together, with +much ammunition; but notwithstanding," said he, +"have a good courage; we must either defend ourselves +like good soldiers, or lose our lives with all +the riches we have got. Do as I shall do who am +your captain: at other times we have fought with +fewer men than we have in our company at present, +and yet we have overcome greater numbers than +there possibly can be in this town: the more they +are, the more glory and the greater riches we shall +gain." The pirates supposed that all the riches of +the inhabitants of Maracaibo were transported to +Gibraltar, or at least the greatest part. After this +speech, they all promised to follow, and obey him. +Lolonois made answer, "'Tis well; but know ye, +withal, that the first man who shall show any fear, +or the least apprehension thereof, I will pistol him +with my own hands."</p> + +<p>With this resolution they cast anchor nigh the +shore, near three-quarters of a league from the +town: next day before sun-rising, they landed three +hundred and eighty men well provided, and armed +every one with a cutlass, and one or two pistols, and +sufficient powder and bullet for thirty charges.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +Here they all shook hands in testimony of good +courage, and began their march, Lolonois speaking +thus, "Come, my brethren, follow me, and have +good courage." They followed their guide, who, +believing he led them well, brought them to the way +which the governor had barricaded. Not being able +to pass that way, they went to the other newly made +in the wood among the mire, which the Spaniards +could shoot into at pleasure; but the pirates, full of +courage, cut down the branches of trees and threw +them on the way, that they might not stick in the +dirt. Meanwhile, those of Gibraltar fired with their +great guns so furiously, they could scarce hear nor +see for the noise and smoke. Being passed the +wood, they came on firm ground, where they met +with a battery of six guns, which immediately the +Spaniards discharged upon them, all loaded with +small bullets and pieces of iron; and the Spaniards +sallying forth, set upon them with such fury, as +caused the pirates to give way, few of them caring +to advance towards the fort, many of them being +already killed and wounded. This made them go +back to seek another way; but the Spaniards having +cut down many trees to hinder the passage, they +could find none, but were forced to return to that +they had left. Here the Spaniards continued to +fire as before, nor would they sally out of their batteries +to attack them any more. Lolonois and his +companions not being able to climb up the bastion +of earth, were compelled to use an old stratagem,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +wherewith at last they deceived and overcame the +Spaniards.</p> + +<p>Lolonois retired suddenly with all his men, making +show as if he fled; hereupon the Spaniards crying +out "They flee, they flee, let us follow them," +sallied forth with great disorder to the pursuit. Being +drawn to some distance from the batteries, which +was the pirates only design, they turned upon them +unexpectedly with sword in hand, and killed above +two hundred men; and thus fighting their way +through those who remained, they possessed themselves +of the batteries. The Spaniards that remained +abroad, giving themselves over for lost, fled +to the woods: those in the battery of eight guns +surrendered themselves, obtaining quarter for their +lives. The pirates being now become masters of +the town, pulled down the Spanish colors and set +up their own, taking prisoners as many as they could +find. These they carried to the great church, where +they raised a battery of several great guns, fearing +lest the Spaniards that were fled should rally, and +come upon them again; but next day, being all fortified, +their fears were over. They gathered the dead +to bury them, being above five hundred Spaniards, +besides the wounded in the town, and those that +died of their wounds in the woods. The pirates had +also above one hundred and fifty prisoners, and nigh +five hundred slaves, many women and children.</p> + +<p>Of their own companions only forty were killed, +and almost eighty wounded, whereof the greatest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +part died through the bad air, which brought fevers +and other illness. They put the slain Spaniards +into two great boats, and carrying them a quarter of +a league to sea, they sunk the boats; this done, +they gathered all the plate, household stuff, and +merchandise they could, or thought convenient to +carry away. The Spaniards who had anything left +had hid it carefully; but the unsatisfied pirates, not +contented with the riches they had got, sought for +more goods and merchandise, not sparing those who +lived in the fields, such as hunters and planters. +They had scarce been eighteen days on the place, +when the greatest part of the prisoners died for +hunger. For in the town were few provisions, especially +of flesh, though they had some, but no sufficient +quantity of flour of meal, and this the pirates +had taken for themselves, as they also took the +swine, cows, sheep, and poultry, without allowing +any share to the poor prisoners. For these they only +provided some small quantity of mules' and asses' +flesh; and many who could not eat of that loathsome +provision died for hunger, their stomachs not +being accustomed to such sustenance. Of the prisoners +many also died under the torment they sustained +to make them discover their money or jewels; +and of these, some had none, nor knew of none, and +others denying what they knew, endured such horrible +deaths.</p> + +<p>Finally, after having been in possession of the +town four entire weeks, they sent four of the prisoners<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +to the Spaniards that were fled to the woods, +demanding of them a ransom for not burning +the town. The sum demanded was 10,000 pieces-of-eight, +which if not sent, they threatened to reduce +it to ashes. For bringing in this money, they allowed +them only two days; but the Spaniards not +having been able to gather so punctually such a +sum, the pirates fired many parts of the town; +whereupon the inhabitants begged them to help +quench the fire, and the ransom should be readily +paid. The pirates condescended, helping as much +as they could to stop the fire; but, notwithstanding +all their best endeavors, one part of the town was +ruined, especially the church belonging to the monastery +was burned down. After they had received +the said sum, they carried aboard all the riches they +had got, with a great number of slaves which had +not paid the ransom; for all the prisoners had sums +of money set upon them, and the slaves were also +commanded to be redeemed. Thence they returned +to Maracaibo, where being arrived, they found a +general consternation in the whole city, to which +they sent three or four prisoners to tell the governor +and inhabitants, "they should bring them 30,000 +pieces-of-eight aboard their ships, for a ransom of +their houses, otherwise they should be sacked anew +and burned."</p> + +<p>Among these debates a party of pirates came on +shore, and carried away the images, pictures, and +bells of the great church, aboard the fleet. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +Spaniards who were sent to demand the sum aforesaid +returned, with orders to make some agreement; +who concluded with the pirates to give for their +ransom and liberty 20,000 pieces-of-eight, and five +hundred cows, provided that they should commit no +further hostilities, but depart thence presently after +payment of money and cattle. The one and the +other being delivered, the whole fleet set sail, causing +great joy to the inhabitants of Maracaibo, to +see themselves quit of them: but three days after +they renewed their fears with admiration, seeing the +pirates appear again, and re-enter the port with all +their ships: but these apprehensions vanished, upon +hearing one of the pirate's errand, who came ashore +from Lolonois, "to demand a skilful pilot to conduct +one of the greatest ships over the dangerous +bank that lieth at the very entry of the lake." +Which petition, or rather command, was instantly +granted.</p> + +<p>They had now been full two months in these +towns, wherein they committed those cruel and insolent +actions we have related. Departing thence, they +took their course to Hispaniola, and arrived there +in eight days, casting anchor in a port called Isla +de la Vacca, or Cow Island. This island is inhabited +by French buccaneers, who mostly sell the flesh +they hunt to pirates and others, who now and then +put in there to victual, or trade. Here they unladed +their whole cargazon of riches, the usual +storehouse of the pirates being commonly under the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +shelter of the buccaneers. Here they made a dividend +of all their prizes and gains, according to the +orders and degree of every one, as has been mentioned +before. Having made an exact calculation +of all their plunder, they found in ready money +260,000 pieces-of-eight: this being divided, every +one received for his share in money, as also in silk, +linen, and other commodities, to the value of 100 +pieces-of-eight. Those who had been wounded received +their first part, after the rate mentioned before, +for the loss of their limbs: then they weighed +all the plate uncoined, reckoning ten pieces-of-eight +to a pound; the jewels were prized indifferently, +either too high or too low, by reason of their ignorance: +this done, every one was put to his oath again, +that he had not smuggled anything from the common +stock. Hence they proceeded to the dividend +of the shares of such as were dead in battle, or +otherwise: these shares were given to their friends, +to be kept entire for them, and to be delivered in due +time to their nearest relations, or their apparent +lawful heirs.</p> + +<p>The whole dividend being finished, they set sail +for Tortuga. Here they arrived a month after, to +the great joy of most of the island; for as to the +common pirates, in three weeks they had scarce +any money left, having spent it all in things of little +value, or lost it at play. Here had arrived, not long +before them, two French ships, with wine and +brandy, and suchlike commodities; whereby these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +liquors, at the arrival of the pirates, were indifferent +cheap. But this lasted not long, for soon +after they were enhanced extremely, a gallon of +brandy being sold for four pieces-of-eight. The +governor of the island bought of the pirates the +whole cargo of the ship laden with cocoa, giving +for that rich commodity scarce the twentieth part +of its worth. Thus they made shift to lose and +spend the riches they had got, in much less time +than they were obtained. The taverns and stews, +according to the custom of pirates, got the greatest +part; so that, soon after, they were forced to seek +more by the same unlawful means they had got the +former.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> <i>The Buccaneers of America.</i></p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE <i>DORRILL</i> AND THE <i>MOCA</i><a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a></h2></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">These</span> truly representeth a scheem of what +misfortune has befell us as we were going +through the streights of Malacca, in the persuance +to our pretended voyage, <i>vizt.</i>, Wednesday +the 7th July, 5 o'clock morning we espied a ship to +windward; as soon as was well light perceived her +to bare down upon us. Wee thought at first she had +been a Dutchman bound for Atcheen or Bengall, +when perceived she had no Gallerys, did then suppose +her to be what after, to our dreadful sorrow, +found her. Wee gott our ship in the best posture +of defence that suddain emergent necessity would +permitt. Wee kept good looking out, expecting to +see an Island called Pullo Verello [Pulo Barahla], +but as then saw it not.</p> + +<p>About 8 of the clock the ship came up fairely +within shott. Saw in room of our Gallerys there +was large sally ports, in each of which was a large +gunn, seemed to be brass. Her tafferill was likewise +taken downe. Wee having done what possibly +could to prepare ourselves, fearing might be suddenly +sett on, ordered our people to their respective +stations for action. Wee now hoisted our colours.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +The Captain commanded to naile our Ensigne to +the staff in sight of the enimie, which was immediately +done. As they perceived wee hoisted our +colours they hoisted theirs, with the Union Jack, and +let fly a broad red Pendant at their maintopmast +head.</p> + +<p>The Pirate being now in little more than half +Pistoll shott from us, wee could discerne abundance +of men who went aft to the Quarter Deck, which +as wee suppose was to consult. They stood as we +stood, but wee spoke neither to other. Att noone it +fell calme, so that [wee] were affraid should by the +sea have been hove on one another. Att 1 a clock +sprang up a gale. The Pirate kept as wee kept. +Att 3 a clock the villain backt her sailes and they +went from us. Wee kept close halled, having a contrary +wind for Mallacca. When the Pirate was +about 7 miles distant tackt and stood after us. Att +6 that evening saw the lookt for island, and the +Pirate came up with us on our starboard side within +shott. Wee see he kept a man at each topmast +head, looking out till it was darke, then he halled +a little from us, but kept us company all night.</p> + +<p>At 8 in the morning he drew near us, but wee had +time to mount our other four guns that were in +hold, and now wee were in the best posture of defence +could desire. He drawing near us and seeing +that if [wee] would, [wee] could not gett from +him, he far outsailing us by or large [in one direction +or another], the Captain resolved to see what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +the rogue would doe, soe ordered to hand [furl] all +our small sailes and furled our mainesaile. He, +seeing this, did the like, and as [he] drew near us +beat a drum and sounded trumpets, and then hailed +us four times before we answered him.</p> + +<p>At last it was thought fitt to know what he would +say, soe the Boatswaine spoke to him as was ordered, +which was that wee came from London. +Then he enquired whether peace or war with France. +Our answer, there was an universall peace through +Europe, att which they paused and then said, +"That's well." He further enquired if had touched +at Attcheen. Wee said a boat came off to us, but +[wee] came not near itt by several leagues. Further +he enquired our Captain's name and whither +wee were bound. Wee answered to Mallacca. +They too and [would have] had the Captain gone +aboard to drink a glass of wine. Wee said that +would see one another at Mallacca. Then he called +to lye by and he would come aboard us. Our +answer was as before, saying it was late. He said, +true, it was for China, and enquired whether should +touch at the Water Islands [Pulo Ondan, off Malacca]. +Wee said should. Then said he, So shall +wee. After he had asked us all these questions wee +desired to know from whence he was. He said from +London, their Captain name Collyford, the ship +named the <i>Resolution</i>, bound for China. This Collyford +had been Gunners Mate at Bombay, and +after run away with the Ketch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus past the 8th July. Friday the 9th do., he +being some distance from us, About ½ an hour +after 10 came up with us. Then it grew calme. +Wee could discerne a fellow on the Quarter Deck +wearing a sword. As he drew near, this Hellish +Imp cried, Strike you doggs, which [wee] perceived +was not by a general consent for he was called away. +Our Boatswaine in a fury run upon the poop, unknown +to the Captain, and answered that wee would +strike to noe such doggs as he, telling him the rogue +Every and his accomplices were all hanged. The +Captain was angry that he spake without order, +then ordered to haile him and askt what was his reason +to dogg us. One stept forward on the forecastle, +beckoned with his hand and said, Gentlemen, +wee want not your ship nor men, but money. +Wee told them had none for them but bid them +come up alongside and take it as could gett it. Then +a parcell of bloodhound rogues clasht their cutlashes +and said they would have itt or our hearts blood, +saying, "What doe you not know us to be the +<i>Moca</i>?" Our answer was Yes, Yes. Thereon they +gave a great shout and so they all went out of sight +and wee to our quarters. They were going to hoist +colours but the ensigne halliards broke, which our +people perceiving gave a great shout, so they lett +them alone.</p> + +<p>As soon as they could bring their chase gunns to +bear, fired upon us and soe kept on our quarter. +Our gunns would not bear in a small space, but as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +soon as did hap, gave them better than [the pirates] +did like. His second shott carried away our spritt +saile yard. About half on hour after or more he +came up alongside and soe wee powered in upon +him and continued, some time broadsides and sometimes +three or four gunns as opportunity presented +and could bring them to doe best service. He was +going to lay us athwart the hawse, but by God's +providence Captain Hide frustrated his intent by +pouring a broadside into him, which made him give +back and goe asterne, where he lay and paused +without fireing, then in a small space fired one +gunn. The shott come in at our round house window +without damage to any person, after which he +filled and bore away, and when was about ¼ +mile off fired a gunn to leeward, which wee answered +by another to windward. About an hour after he +tackt and came up with us againe. Wee made noe +saile, but lay by to receive him, but he kept aloof +off. The distance att most in all our fireing was +never more than two ships length; the time of our +engagement was from ½ an hour after 11 till about +3 afternoon.</p> + +<p>When [wee] came to see what damage [wee] +had sustained, found our Cheife Mate, Mr. Smith, +wounded in the legg, close by the knee, with a splinter +or piece of chaine, which cannot well be told, +our Barber had two of his fingers shott off as was +spunging one of our gunns, the Gunner's boy had his +legg shott off in the waste, John Amos, Quartermaster,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +had his leg shott off [while] at the helme, +the Boatswaine's boy (a lad of 13 years old) was +shott in the thigh, which went through and splintered +his bone, the Armorer Jos. Osborne in the +round house wounded by a splinter just in the temple, +the Captain's boy on the Quarter Deck a small +shott raised his scull through his cap and was the +first person wounded and att the first onsett. Wm. +Reynolds's boy had the brim of his hatt ½ shott +off and his forefinger splintered very sorely. John +Blake, turner, the flesh of his legg and calfe a great +part shott away.</p> + +<p>Our ships damage is the Mizentopmast shott +close by the cap and it was a miracle stood soe long +and did not fall in the rogues sight. Our rigging +shott that had but one running rope left clear, our +mainshrouds three on one side, two on the other cutt +in two. Our mainyard ten feet from the mast by a +shott cutt 8 inches deep, our foretopmast backstays +shott away, a great shott in the roundhouse, one on +the Quarter Deck and two of the roundhouse shott +came on the said deck, severall in the stearidge betwixt +decks and in the forecastle, two in the bread +room which caused us to make much water and damaged +the greatest part of our bread. They dismounted +one of our gunns in the roundhouse, two +in the stearidge, two in the waste, one in the forecastle, +with abundance more damage which may +seem tedious to rehearse.</p> + +<p>Their small shott were most Tinn and Tuthenage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +[<i>tutenaga</i>, spelter]. They fired pieces of glass-bottles, +do. teapots, chains, stones and what not, +which were found on our decks. We could observe +abundance of great shott to have passed through +the rogues foresaile, and our hope is have done +that to him which [will] make him shunn having +to do with any Europe ship againe. Att night wee +perceived kept close their lights. Wee did the like +and lay by. In the morning they were as far off as +[wee] could discerne upon deck. Wee sent up to +see how they stood, which was right with us. In +the night wee knotted our rigging and in the morning +made all haist to repare our carriages.</p> + +<p>Our men, seeing they stood after us, [wee] could +perceive their countinances to be dejected. Wee +cheared them what wee could, and, for their encouragement, +the Captain and wee of our proper money +did give them, to every man and boy, three dollars +each, which animated them, and promised to give +them as much more if engaged againe, and that if +[wee] took the ship, for every prisoner five pounds +and besides a gratuity from the Gentlemen Employers. +Wee read the King's Proclamation about +Every, &c., and the Right Honble. Company's.</p> + +<p>About 9 o'clock the 10th July wee perceived the +rogue made from us, soe wee gave the Almighty +our most condigne thanks for his mercy that delivered +us not to the worst of our enimies, for truly +he [the pirate] was very strong, having at least an +hundred Europeans on board, 34 gunns mounted,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +besides 10 pattererers and 2 small mortars in the +head; his lower tier, some of them, as wee judged, +sixteen and eighteen pounders. We lay as near our +course as could, and next day saw land on our starboard +side which was the Maine [Land]. Kept on +our way.</p> + +<p>The 12th July dyed the Boatswaine's boy, George +Mopp, in the morning. Friday the 16th do. in the +evening dyed the Gunner's boy, Thomas Matthews. +Sunday the 18th at anchor two leagues from the +Pillo Sumbelong [Pulo Sembîlan] Islands dyed the +Barber, Andrew Miller. Do. the 31st dyed the +Cheife Mate, Mr. John Smith. The other two are +yet in a very deplorable condition and wee are +ashore here to refresh them.... The Chinese +further report ... the <i>Mocco</i> was at the Maldives +and creaned [careened]; there they gave an end to +the life of their commanding rogue Stout, who they +murdered for attempting to run away.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> From <i>The Indian Antiquary</i>, Vol. 49.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>JADDI THE MALAY PIRATE<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a></h2></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Long</span> before that action with the English man-of-war +which drove me to Singapore, I +sailed in a fine fleet of prahus belonging to +the Rajah of Johore [Sultân Mahmâd Shâh]. We +were all then very rich—ah! such numbers of +beautiful wives and such feasting!—but, above all, +we had a great many most holy men in our force! +When the proper monsoon came, we proceeded to +sea to fight the Bugismen [of Celebes] and Chinamen +bound from Borneo and the Celebes to Java; +for you must remember our Rajah was at war with +them. (Jadee always maintained that the proceedings +in which he had been engaged partook of a +purely warlike, and not of a piratical character.)</p> + +<p>Our thirteen prahus had all been fitted out in +and about Singapore. I wish you could have seen +them, Touhan [<i>Tüan</i>, Sir]. These prahus we see +here are nothing to them, such brass guns, such +long pendants, such creeses [Malay <i>kris</i>, dagger]! +Allah-il-Allah! Our Datoos [<i>datuk</i>, a chief] were +indeed great men!</p> + +<p>Sailing along the coast as high as Patani, we then +crossed over to Borneo, two Illanoon prahus acting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +as pilots, and reached a place called Sambas [West +Borneo]: there we fought the Chinese and Dutchmen, +who ill-treat our countrymen, and are trying +to drive the Malays out of that country. Gold-dust +and slaves in large quantities were here taken, most +of the latter being our countrymen of Sumatra and +Java, who are captured and sold to the planters +and miners of the Dutch settlements.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say," I asked, "that the Dutch +countenance such traffic?"</p> + +<p>"The Hollanders," replied Jadee, "have been the +bane of the Malay race; no one knows the amount +of villainy, the bloody cruelty of their system +towards us. They drive us into our prahus to +escape their taxes and laws, and then declare us +pirates and put us to death. There are natives in +our crew, Touhan, of Sumatra and Java, of Bianca +[Banka] and Borneo; ask them why they hate the +Dutchmen; why they would kill a Dutchman. It is +because the Dutchman is a false man, not like the +white man [English]. The Hollander stabs in the +dark; he is a liar!"</p> + +<p>However, from Borneo we sailed to Biliton +[island between Banka and Borneo] and Bianca, +and there waited for some large junks that were +expected. Our cruise had been so far successful, +and we feasted away—fighting cocks, smoking +opium and eating white rice. At last our scouts +told us that a junk was in sight. She came, a lofty-sided +one of Fokien [Fuhkien]. We knew these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +Amoy men would fight like tiger-cats for their sugar +and silks; and as the breeze was fresh, we only +kept her in sight by keeping close inshore and following +her. Not to frighten the Chinamen, we did +not hoist sail but made our slaves pull. "Oh!" said +Jadee, warming up with the recollection of the +event—"oh! it was fine to feel what brave fellows +we then were!"</p> + +<p>Towards night we made sail and closed upon the +junk, and at daylight it fell a stark calm, and we +went at our prize like sharks. All our fighting men +put on their war-dresses; the Illanoons danced their +war-dance, and all our gongs sounded as we opened +out to attack her on different sides.</p> + +<p>But those Amoy men are pigs! They burnt joss-paper; +sounded their gongs, and received us with +such showers of stones, hot-water, long pikes, and +one or two well-directed shots that we hauled off to +try the effect of our guns, sorry though we were to +do it, for it was sure to bring the Dutchmen upon us. +Bang! bang! we fired at them, and they at us; three +hours did we persevere, and whenever we tried to +board, the Chinese beat us back every time, for her +side was as smooth and as high as a wall, with galleries +overhanging.</p> + +<p>We had several men killed and hurt; a council +was called; a certain charm was performed by one +of our holy men, a famous chief, and twenty of our +best men devoted themselves to effecting a landing +on the junk's deck, when our look-out prahus made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +the signal that the Dutchmen were coming; and +sure enough some Dutch gun-boats came sweeping +round a headland. In a moment we were round and +pulling like demons for the shores of Biliton, the +gun-boats in chase of us, and the Chinese howling +with delight. The sea-breeze freshened and brought +up a schooner-rigged boat very fast. We had been +at work twenty-four hours and were heartily tired; +our slaves could work no longer, so we prepared for +the Hollanders; they were afraid to close upon us +and commenced firing at a distance. This was just +what we wanted; we had guns as well as they, and +by keeping up the fight until dark, we felt sure of +escape. The Dutchmen, however, knew this too, +and kept closing gradually upon us; and when they +saw our prahus bailing out water and blood, they +knew we were suffering and cheered like devils. We +were desperate; surrender to Dutchmen we never +would; we closed together for mutual support, and +determined at last, if all hope of escape ceased, to +run our prahus ashore, burn them, and lie hid in +the jungle until a future day. But a brave Datoo +with his shattered prahus saved us; he proposed to +let the Dutchmen board her, creese [stab with a +<i>kris</i>] all that did so, and then trust to Allah for his +escape.</p> + +<p>It was done immediately; we all pulled a short +distance away and left the brave Datoo's prahu like +a wreck abandoned. How the Dutchmen yelled and +fired into her! The slaves and cowards jumped out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +of the prahu, but our braves kept quiet; at last, as +we expected, one gun-boat dashed alongside of their +prize and boarded her in a crowd. Then was the +time to see how the Malay man could fight; the +creese was worth twenty swords, and the Dutchmen +went down like sheep. We fired to cover our countrymen, +who, as soon as their work was done, +jumped overboard and swam to us; but the brave +Datoo, with many more died as brave Malays +should do, running a-muck against a host of enemies.</p> + +<p>The gun-boats were quite scared by this punishment, +and we lost no time in getting away as rapidly +as possible; but the accursed schooner, by keeping +more in the offing, held the wind and preserved her +position, signaling all the while for the gun-boats to +follow her. We did not want to fight any more; +it was evidently an unlucky day. On the opposite +side of the channel to that we were on, the coral +reefs and shoals would prevent the Hollanders following +us: it was determined at all risks to get there +in spite of the schooner. With the first of the land-wind +in the evening we set sail before it and steered +across for Bianca. The schooner placed herself in +our way like a clever sailor, so as to turn us back; +but we were determined to push on, take her fire, +and run all risks.</p> + +<p>It was a sight to see us meeting one another; but +we were desperate: we had killed plenty of Dutchmen; +it was their turn now. I was in the second +prahu, and well it was so, for when the headmost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +one got close to the schooner, the Dutchman fired +all his guns into her, and knocked her at once into a +wrecked condition. We gave one cheer, fired our +guns and then pushed on for our lives. "Ah! sir, it +was a dark night indeed for us. Three prahus in +all were sunk and the whole force dispersed."</p> + +<p>To add to our misfortunes a strong gale sprang +up. We were obliged to carry canvas; our prahu +leaked from shot-holes; the sea continually broke +into her; we dared not run into the coral reefs on +such a night, and bore up for the Straits of Malacca. +The wounded writhed and shrieked in their agony, +and we had to pump, we fighting men, and bale like +<i>black fellows</i> [Caffre or negro slaves]! By two in +the morning we were all worn out. I felt indifferent +whether I was drowned or not, and many threw +down their buckets and sat down to die. The wind +increased and, at last, as if to put us out of our +misery, just such a squall as this came down upon +us. I saw it was folly contending against our fate, +and followed the general example. "God is great!" +we exclaimed, but the Rajah of Johore came and +reproved us. "Work until daylight," he said, "and +I will ensure your safety." We pointed at the black +storm which was approaching. "Is that what you +fear?" he replied, and going below he produced just +such a wooden spoon and did what you have seen +me do, and I tell you, my captain, as I would if the +"Company Sahib" stood before me, that the storm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +was nothing, and that we had a dead calm one hour +afterwards and were saved. God is great and +Mahomet is his prophet!—but there is no charm +like the Johore one for killing the wind!</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> From <i>The Indian Antiquary</i>, Vol. 49.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>THE TERRIBLE LADRONES<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Richard Glasspoole</span></h3></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">On</span> the 17th of September, 1809, the Honorable +Company's ship <i>Marquis of Ely</i> anchored +under the Island of <i>Sam Chow</i>, in +China, about twelve English miles from Macao, +where I was ordered to proceed in one of our cutters +to procure a pilot, and also to land the purser +with the packet. I left the ship at 5 <span class="smcapl">P.M.</span> with seven +men under my command, well armed. It blew a +fresh gale from the N. E. We arrived at Macao +at 9 <span class="smcapl">P.M.</span>, where I delivered the packet to Mr. Roberts, +and sent the men with the boat's sails to sleep +under the Company's Factory, and left the boat in +charge of one of the Compradore's men; during the +night the gale increased. At half-past three in the +morning I went to the beach, and found the boat +on shore half-filled with water, in consequence of the +man having left her. I called the people, and baled +her out; found she was considerably damaged, and +very leaky. At half-past 5 <span class="smcapl">A.M.</span>, the ebb-tide making, +we left Macao with vegetables for the ship.</p> + +<p>One of the Compradore's men who spoke English +went with us for the purpose of piloting the ship<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +to Lintin, as the Mandarines, in consequence of a +late disturbance at Macao, would not grant permission +for regular pilots. I had every reason to expect +the ship in the roads, as she was preparing to get +under weigh when we left her; but on our rounding +Cabaretta-Point, we saw her five or six miles to leeward, +under weigh, standing on the starboard tack: +it was then blowing fresh at N. E. Bore up, and +stood towards her; when about a cable's length to +windward of her, she tacked; we hauled our wind +and stood after her. A hard squall then coming +on, with a strong tide and heavy swell against us, +we drifted fast to leeward, and the weather being +hazy, we soon lost sight of the ship. Struck our +masts, and endeavored to pull; finding our efforts +useless, set a reefed foresail and mizzen, and stood +towards a country-ship at anchor under the land to +leeward of Cabaretta-Point. When within a quarter +of a mile of her she weighed and made sail, leaving +us in a very critical situation, having no anchor, +and drifting bodily on the rocks to leeward. Struck +the masts: after four or five hours hard pulling, +succeeded in clearing them.</p> + +<p>At this time not a ship in sight; the weather clearing +up, we saw a ship to leeward, hull down, shipped +our masts, and made sail towards her; she proved to +be the Honourable Company's ship <i>Glatton</i>. We +made signals to her with our handkerchiefs at the +mast-head, she unfortunately took no notice of them, +but tacked and stood from us. Our situation was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +now truly distressing, night closing fast, with a +threatening appearance, blowing fresh, with hard +rain and a heavy sea; our boat very leaky, without +a compass, anchor or provisions, and drifting fast +on a lee-shore, surrounded with dangerous rocks, +and inhabited by the most barbarous pirates. I +close-reefed my sails, and kept tack and tack 'till +daylight, when we were happy to find we had +drifted very little to leeward of our situation in the +evening. The night was very dark, with constant +hard squalls and heavy rain.</p> + +<p>Tuesday, the 19th, no ships in sight. About ten +o'clock in the morning it fell calm, with very hard +rain and a heavy swell;—struck our masts and +pulled, not being able to see the land, steered by the +swell. When the weather broke up, found we had +drifted several miles to leeward. During the calm +a fresh breeze springing up, made sail, and endeavored +to reach the weather-shore, and anchor with +six muskets we had lashed together for that purpose. +Finding the boat made no way against +the swell and tide, bore up for a bay to leeward, +and anchored about one <span class="smcapl">A.M.</span> close under the land +in five or six fathoms water, blowing fresh, with +hard rain.</p> + +<p>Wednesday, the 20th, at daylight, supposing the +flood-tide making, weighed and stood over to the +weather-land, but found we were drifting fast to +leeward. About ten o'clock perceived two Chinese +boats steering for us. Bore up, and stood towards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +them, and made signals to induce them to come +within hail; on nearing them, they bore up, and +passed to leeward of the islands. The Chinese +we had in the boat advised me to follow them, and +he would take us to Macao by the leeward passage. +I expressed my fears of being taken by the Ladrones. +Our ammunition being wet, and the muskets rendered +useless, we had nothing to defend ourselves +with but cutlasses, and in too distressed a situation +to make much resistance with them, having been +constantly wet, and eaten nothing but a few green +oranges for three days.</p> + +<p>As our present situation was a hopeless one, and +the man assured me there was no fear of encountering +any Ladrones, I complied with his request, and +stood in to leeward of the islands, where we found +the water much smoother, and apparently a direct +passage to Macao. We continued pulling and sailing +all day. At six o'clock in the evening I discovered +three large boats at anchor in a bay to leeward. +On seeing us they weighed and made sail towards +us. The Chinese said they were Ladrones, and that +if they captured us they would most certainly put +us all to death! Finding they gained fast on us, +struck the masts, and pulled head to wind for five or +six hours. The tide turning against us, anchored +close under the land to avoid being seen. Soon after +we saw the boats pass us to leeward.</p> + +<p>Thursday, the 21st, at daylight, the flood making, +weighed and pulled along shore in great spirits,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +expecting to be at Macao in two or three hours, as +by the Chinese account it was not above six or seven +miles distant. After pulling a mile or two perceived +several people on shore, standing close to the beach; +they were armed with pikes and lances. I ordered +the interpreter to hail them, and ask the most direct +passage to Macao. They said if we came on +shore they would inform us; not liking their hostile +appearance, I did not think proper to comply with +the request. Saw a large fleet of boats at anchor +close under the opposite shore. Our interpreter +said they were fishing-boats, and that by going there +we should not only get provisions, but a pilot also +to take us to Macao.</p> + +<p>I bore up, and on nearing them perceived there +were some large vessels, very full of men, and +mounted with several guns. I hesitated to approach +nearer; but the Chinese assuring me they were Mandarine +junks<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> and salt-boats, we stood close to one +of them, and asked the way to Macao. They gave +no answer, but made some signs to us to go in +shore. We passed on, and a large rowboat pulled +after us; she soon came alongside, when about +twenty savage-looking villains, who were stowed at +the bottom of the boat, leaped on board us. They +were armed with a short sword in each hand, one of +which they laid on our necks, and the other pointed +to our breasts, keeping their eyes fixed on their +officer, waiting his signal to cut or desist. Seeing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +we were incapable of making any resistance, he +sheathed his sword, and the others immediately followed +his example. They then dragged us into their +boat, and carried us on board one of their junks, +with the most savage demonstrations of joy, and as +we supposed, to torture and put us to a cruel death. +When on board the junk, they searched all our +pockets, took the handkerchiefs from our necks, and +brought heavy chains to chain us to the guns.</p> + +<p>At this time a boat came, and took me, with one +of my men and the interpreter, on board the chief's +vessel. I was then taken before the chief. He was +seated on deck, in a large chair, dressed in purple +silk, with a black turban on. He appeared to be +about thirty years of age, a stout commanding-looking +man. He took me by the coat, and drew me +close to him; then questioned the interpreter very +strictly, asking who we were, and what was our +business in that part of the country. I told him to +say we were Englishmen in distress, having been +four days at sea without provisions. This he would +not credit, but said we were bad men, and that he +would put us all to death; and then ordered some +men to put the interpreter to the torture until he +confessed the truth.</p> + +<p>Upon this occasion, a Ladrone, who had been +once to England and spoke a few words of English, +came to the chief, and told him we were really Englishmen, +and that we had plenty of money, adding, +that the buttons on my coat were gold. The chief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +then ordered us some coarse brown rice, of which +we made a tolerable meal, having eat nothing for +nearly four days, except a few green oranges. During +our repast, a number of Ladrones crowded +round us, examining our clothes and hair, and giving +us every possible annoyance. Several of them +brought swords, and laid them on our necks, making +signs that they would soon take us on shore, and +cut us in pieces, which I am sorry to say was the fate +of some hundreds during my captivity.</p> + +<p>I was now summoned before the chief, who had +been conversing with the interpreter; he said I must +write to my captain, and tell him, if he did not send +a hundred thousand dollars for our ransom, in ten +days he would put us all to death. In vain did I assure +him it was useless writing unless he would agree +to take a much smaller sum; saying we were all poor +men, and the most we could possibly raise would not +exceed two thousand dollars. Finding that he was +much exasperated at my expostulations, I embraced +the offer of writing to inform my commander of our +unfortunate situation, though there appeared not +the least probability of relieving us. They said the +letter should be conveyed to Macao in a fishing-boat, +which would bring an answer in the morning. A +small boat accordingly came alongside, and took the +letter.</p> + +<p>About six o'clock in the evening they gave us +some rice and a little salt fish, which we ate, and +they made signs for us to lay down on the deck to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +sleep; but such numbers of Ladrones were constantly +coming from different vessels to see us, and examine +our clothes and hair, they would not allow us a +moment's quiet. They were particularly anxious for +the buttons of my coat, which were new, and as they +supposed gold. I took it off, and laid it on the deck +to avoid being disturbed by them; it was taken away +in the night, and I saw it on the next day stripped +of its buttons.</p> + +<p>About nine o'clock a boat came and hailed the +chief's vessel; he immediately hoisted his mainsail, +and the fleet weighed apparently in great confusion. +They worked to windward all night and part of the +next day, and anchored about one o'clock in a bay +under the island of Lantow, where the head admiral +of Ladrones was lying at anchor, with about two +hundred vessels and a Portuguese brig they had captured +a few days before, and murdered the captain +and part of the crew.</p> + +<p>Saturday, the 23d, early in the morning, a fishing-boat +came to the fleet to inquire if they had +captured an European boat; being answered in the +affirmative, they came to the vessel I was in. One +of them spoke a few words of English, and told me +he had a Ladrone-pass, and was sent by Captain Kay +in search of us; I was rather surprised to find he had +no letter. He appeared to be well acquainted with +the chief, and remained in his cabin smoking opium, +and playing cards all the day.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> +<p>In the evening I was summoned with the interpreter +before the chief. He questioned us in a +much milder tone, saying, he now believed we were +Englishmen, a people he wished to be friendly with; +and that if our captain would lend him seventy thousand +dollars 'till he returned from his cruise up the +river, he would repay him, and send us all to Macao. +I assured him it was useless writing on those terms, +and unless our ransom was speedily settled, the English +fleet would sail, and render our enlargement +altogether ineffectual. He remained determined, +and said if it were not sent, he would keep us, and +make us fight, or put us to death. I accordingly +wrote, and gave my letter to the man belonging to +the boat before mentioned. He said he could not +return with an answer in less than five days.</p> + +<p>The chief now gave me the letter I wrote when +first taken. I have never been able to ascertain his +reasons for detaining it, but suppose he dare not +negotiate for our ransom without orders from the +head admiral, who I understood was sorry at our +being captured. He said the English ships would +join the mandarines and attack them.<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> He told the +chief that captured us, to dispose of us as he pleased.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> +<p>Monday, the 24th, it blew a strong gale, with +constant hard rain; we suffered much from the cold +and wet, being obliged to remain on deck with no +covering but an old mat, which was frequently taken +from us in the night by the Ladrones who were on +watch. During the night the Portuguese who were +left in the brig murdered the Ladrones that were +on board of her, cut the cables, and fortunately escaped +through the darkness of the night. I have +since been informed they ran her on shore near +Macao.</p> + +<p>Tuesday, the 25th, at daylight in the morning, +the fleet, amounting to about five hundred sail of different +sizes, weighed, to proceed on their intended +cruise up the rivers, to levy contributions on the +towns and villages. It is impossible to describe +what were my feelings at this critical time, having +received no answers to my letters, and the fleet under-way +to sail,—hundreds of miles up a country +never visited by Europeans, there to remain probably +for many months, which would render all opportunities +of negotiating for our enlargement totally +ineffectual; as the only method of communication +is by boats, that have a pass from the Ladrones,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +and they dare not venture above twenty miles from +Macao, being obliged to come and go in the night, +to avoid the Mandarines; and if these boats should +be detected in having any intercourse with the Ladrones, +they are immediately put to death, and all +their relations, though they had not joined in the +crime,<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> share in the punishment, in order that not a +single person of their families should be left to imitate +their crimes or revenge their death. This severity +renders communication both dangerous and +expensive; no boat would venture out for less than a +hundred Spanish dollars.</p> + +<p>Wednesday, the 26th, at daylight, we passed in +sight of our ships at anchor under the island of +Chun Po. The chief then called me, pointed to the +ships, and told the interpreter to tell us to look at +them, for we should never see them again. About +noon we entered a river to the westward of the +Bogue, three or four miles from the entrance. We +passed a large town situated on the side of a beautiful +hill, which is tributary to the Ladrones; the +inhabitants saluted them with songs as they passed.</p> + +<p>The fleet now divided into two squadrons (the red +and the black)<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> and sailed up different branches of +the river. At midnight the division we were in anchored +close to an immense hill, on the top of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +which a number of fires were burning, which at daylight +I perceived proceeded from a Chinese camp. +At the back of the hill was a most beautiful town, +surrounded by water, and embellished with groves +of orange trees. The chop-house (custom-house)<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> +and a few cottages were immediately plundered, and +burned down; most of the inhabitants, however, escaped +to the camp.</p> + +<p>The Ladrones now prepared to attack the town +with a formidable force, collected in rowboats from +the different vessels. They sent a messenger to the +town, demanding a tribute of ten thousand dollars +annually, saying, if these terms were not complied +with, they would land, destroy the town, and murder +all the inhabitants; which they would certainly +have done, had the town laid in a more advantageous +situation for their purpose; but being placed +out of the reach of their shot, they allowed them +to come to terms. The inhabitants agreed to pay +six thousand dollars, which they were to collect by +the time of our return down the river. This finesse +had the desired effect, for during our absence they +mounted a few guns on a hill, which commanded +the passage, and gave us in lieu of the dollars a +warm salute on our return.</p> + +<p>October the 1st, the fleet weighed in the night,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +dropped by the tide up the river, and anchored very +quietly before a town surrounded by a thick wood. +Early in the morning the Ladrones assembled in +rowboats and landed; then gave a shout, and rushed +into the town, sword in hand. The inhabitants fled +to the adjacent hills, in numbers apparently superior +to the Ladrones. We may easily imagine to +ourselves the horror with which these miserable +people must be seized, on being obliged to leave +their homes, and everything dear to them. It was +a most melancholy sight to see women in tears, clasping +their infants in their arms, and imploring mercy +for them from those brutal robbers! The old and +the sick, who were unable to fly, or to make resistance, +were either made prisoners or most inhumanly +butchered! The boats continued passing and +repassing from the junks to the shore, in quick succession, +laden with booty, and the men besmeared +with blood! Two hundred and fifty women, and +several children, were made prisoners, and sent on +board different vessels. They were unable to +escape with the men, owing to that abominable practice +of cramping their feet: several of them were +not able to move without assistance, in fact, they +might all be said to totter, rather than walk. +Twenty of these poor women were sent on board +the vessel I was in; they were hauled on board by +the hair, and treated in a most savage manner.</p> + +<p>When the chief came on board, he questioned +them respecting the circumstances of their friends,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +and demanded ransoms accordingly, from six thousand +to six hundred dollars each. He ordered them +a berth on deck, at the after part of the vessel, +where they had nothing to shelter them from the +weather, which at this time was very variable,—the +days excessively hot, and the nights cold, with heavy +rains. The town being plundered of every thing +valuable, it was set on fire, and reduced to ashes by +the morning. The fleet remained here three days, +negotiating for the ransom of the prisoners, and +plundering the fish-tanks and gardens. During all +this time, the Chinese never ventured from the hills, +though there were frequently not more than a hundred +Ladrones on shore at a time, and I am sure +the people on the hills exceeded ten times that number.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></p> + +<p>October 5th, the fleet proceeded up another +branch of the river, stopping at several small villages +to receive tribute, which was generally paid +in dollars, sugar and rice, with a few large pigs +roasted whole, as presents for their joss (the idol +they worship).<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> Every person on being ransomed, +is obliged to present him with a pig, or some fowls, +which the priest offers him with prayers; it remains +before him a few hours, and is then divided amongst<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +the crew. Nothing particular occurred 'till the +10th, except frequent skirmishes on shore between +small parties of Ladrones and Chinese soldiers. +They frequently obliged my men to go on shore, and +fight with the muskets we had when taken, which did +great execution, the Chinese principally using bows +and arrows. They have match-locks, but use them +very unskillfully.</p> + +<p>On the 10th, we formed a junction with the +black squadron, and proceeded many miles up a +wide and beautiful river, passing several ruins of +villages that had been destroyed by the black squadron. +On the 17th, the fleet anchored abreast four +mud batteries, which defended a town, so entirely +surrounded with wood that it was impossible to +form any idea of its size. The weather was very +hazy, with hard squalls of rain. The Ladrones remained +perfectly quiet for two days. On the third +day the forts commenced a brisk fire for several +hours: the Ladrones did not return a single shot, +but weighed in the night and dropped down the +river.</p> + +<p>The reasons they gave for not attacking the town, +or returning the fire, were that Joss had not promised +them success. They are very superstitious, and +consult their idol on all occasions. If his omens +are good, they will undertake the most daring enterprizes.</p> + +<p>The fleet now anchored opposite the ruins of the +town where the women had been made prisoners.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +Here we remained five or six days, during which +time about a hundred of the women were ransomed; +the remainder were offered for sale amongst the Ladrones, +for forty dollars each. The woman is considered +the lawful wife of the purchaser, who would +be put to death if he discarded her. Several of them +leaped overboard and drowned themselves, rather +than submit to such infamous degradation.</p> + +<p>The fleet then weighed and made sail down the +river, to receive the ransom from the town before +mentioned. As we passed the hill, they fired several +shots at us, but without effect. The Ladrones were +much exasperated, and determined to revenge themselves; +they dropped out of reach of their shot, and +anchored. Every junk sent about a hundred men +each on shore, to cut paddy, and destroy their +orange-groves, which was most effectually performed +for several miles down the river. During +our stay here, they received information of nine +boats lying up a creek, laden with paddy; boats were +immediately dispatched after them.</p> + +<p>Next morning these boats were brought to the +fleet; ten or twelve men were taken in them. As +these had made no resistance, the chief said he +would allow them to become Ladrones, if they +agreed to take the usual oaths before Joss. Three +or four of them refused to comply, for which they +were punished in the following cruel manner: their +hands were tied behind their back, a rope from the +mast-head rove through their arms, and hoisted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +three or four feet from the deck, and five or six +men flogged them with three rattans twisted together +'till they were apparently dead; then hoisted +them up to the mast-head, and left them hanging +nearly an hour, then lowered them down, and repeated +the punishment, 'till they died or complied +with the oath.</p> + +<p>October the 20th, in the night, an express-boat +came with the information that a large mandarine +fleet was proceeding up the river to attack us. The +chief immediately weighed, with fifty of the largest +vessels, and sailed down the river to meet them. +About one in the morning they commenced a heavy +fire till daylight, when an express was sent for the +remainder of the fleet to join them: about an hour +after a counter-order to anchor came, the mandarine +fleet having run. Two or three hours afterwards +the chief returned with three captured vessels +in tow, having sunk two, and eighty-three sail made +their escape. The admiral of the mandarines blew +his vessel up, by throwing a lighted match into the +magazine as the Ladrones were boarding her; she +ran on shore, and they succeeded in getting twenty +of her guns.</p> + +<p>In this action very few prisoners were taken: the +men belonging to the captured vessels drowned +themselves, as they were sure of suffering a lingering +and cruel death if taken after making resistance. +The admiral left the fleet in charge of his brother, +the second in command, and proceeded with his own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +vessel towards Lantow. The fleet remained in this +river, cutting paddy, and getting the necessary supplies.</p> + +<p>On the 28th of October, I received a letter from +Captain Kay, brought by a fisherman, who had told +him he would get us all back for three thousand dollars. +He advised me to offer three thousand, and if +not accepted, extend it to four; but not farther, as +it was bad policy to offer much at first: at the same +time assuring me we should be liberated, let the ransom +be what it would. I offered the chief the three +thousand, which he disdainfully refused, saying he +was not to be played with; and unless they sent ten +thousand dollars, and two large guns, with several +casks of gunpowder, he would soon put us all to +death. I wrote to Captain Kay, and informed him +of the chief's determination, requesting if an opportunity +offered, to send us a shift of clothes, for which +it may be easily imagined we were much distressed, +having been seven weeks without a shift; although +constantly exposed to the weather, and of course +frequently wet.</p> + +<p>On the first of November, the fleet sailed up a +narrow river, and anchored at night within two miles +of a town called Little Whampoa. In front of it +was a small fort, and several mandarine vessels lying +in the harbor. The chief sent the interpreter +to me, saying I must order my men to make cartridges +and clean their muskets, ready to go on shore +in the morning. I assured the interpreter I should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +give the men no such orders, that they must please +themselves. Soon after the chief came on board, +threatening to put us all to a cruel death if we refused +to obey his orders. For my own part I remained +determined, and advised the men not to +comply, as I thought by making ourselves useful we +should be accounted too valuable.</p> + +<p>A few hours afterwards he sent to me again, +saying, that if myself and the quartermaster would +assist them at the great guns, that if also the rest +of the men went on shore and succeeded in taking +the place, he would then take the money offered for +our ransom, and give them twenty dollars for every +Chinaman's head they cut off. To these proposals +we cheerfully acceded, in hopes of facilitating our +deliverance.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning the forces intended for +landing were assembled in rowboats, amounting in +the whole to three or four thousand men. The largest +vessels weighed, and hauled in shore, to cover +the landing of the forces, and attack the fort and +mandarine vessels. About nine o'clock the action +commenced, and continued with great spirit for +nearly an hour, when the walls of the fort gave +way, and the men retreated in the greatest confusion.</p> + +<p>The mandarine vessels still continued firing, having +blocked up the entrance of the harbor to prevent +the Ladrone boats entering. At this the Ladrones +were much exasperated, and about three hundred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +of them swam on shore, with a short sword +lashed close under each arm; they then ran along +the banks of the river 'till they came abreast of the +vessels, and then swam off again and boarded them. +The Chinese thus attacked, leaped overboard, and +endeavored to reach the opposite shore; the Ladrones +followed, and cut the greater number of +them to pieces in the water. They next towed the +vessels out of the harbor, and attacked the town +with increased fury. The inhabitants fought about +a quarter of an hour, and then retreated to an adjacent +hill, from which they were soon driven with +great slaughter.</p> + +<p>After this the Ladrones returned, and plundered +the town, every boat leaving it when laden. The +Chinese on the hills perceiving most of the boats +were off, rallied, and retook the town, after killing +near two hundred Ladrones. One of my men was +unfortunately lost in this dreadful massacre! The +Ladrones landed a second time, drove the Chinese +out of the town, then reduced it to ashes, and put +all their prisoners to death, without regarding either +age or sex!</p> + +<p>I must not omit to mention a most horrid (though +ludicrous) circumstance which happened at this +place. The Ladrones were paid by their chief ten +dollars for every Chinaman's head they produced. +One of my men turning the corner of a street was +met by a Ladrone running furiously after a Chinese; +he had a drawn sword in his hand, and two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +Chinaman's heads which he had cut off, tied by +their tails, and slung round his neck. I was witness +myself to some of them producing five or six to +obtain payment!</p> + +<p>On the 4th of November an order arrived from +the admiral for the fleet to proceed immediately to +Lantow, where he was lying with only two vessels, +and three Portuguese ships and a brig constantly annoying +him; several sail of mandarine vessels were +daily expected. The fleet weighed and proceeded +towards Lantow. On passing the island of Lintin, +three ships and a brig gave chase to us. The Ladrones +prepared to board; but night closing we lost +sight of them: I am convinced they altered their +course and stood from us. These vessels were in +the pay of the Chinese government, and style themselves +the Invincible Squadron, cruising in the river +Tigris to annihilate the Ladrones!</p> + +<p>On the fifth, in the morning, the red squadron anchored +in a bay under Lantow; the black squadron +stood to the eastward. In this bay they hauled several +of their vessels on shore to bream their bottoms +and repair them.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon of the 8th of November, four +ships, a brig and a schooner came off the mouth of +the bay. At first the pirates were much alarmed, +supposing them to be English vessels come to rescue +us. Some of them threatened to hang us to the +mast-head for them to fire at; and with much difficulty +we persuaded them that they were Portuguese.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +The Ladrones had only seven junks in a fit state for +action; these they hauled outside, and moored them +head and stern across the bay; and manned all the +boats belonging to the repairing vessels ready for +boarding.</p> + +<p>The Portuguese observing these maneuvers hove +to, and communicated by boats. Soon afterwards +they made sail, each ship firing her broadside as she +passed, but without effect, the shot falling far short. +The Ladrones did not return a single shot, but +waved their colors, and threw up rockets, to induce +them to come further in, which they might easily +have done, the outside junks lying in four fathoms +water which I sounded myself: though the Portuguese +in their letters to Macao lamented there +was not sufficient water for them to engage closer, +but that they would certainly prevent their escaping +before the mandarine fleet arrived!</p> + +<p>On the 20th of November, early in the morning, +I perceived an immense fleet of mandarine vessels +standing for the bay. On nearing us, they formed +a line, and stood close in; each vessel as she discharged +her guns tacked to join the rear and reload. +They kept up a constant fire for about two hours, +when one of their largest vessels was blown up by a +firebrand thrown from a Ladrone junk; after which +they kept at a more respectful distance, but continued +firing without intermission 'till the 21st at night, +when it fell calm.</p> + +<p>The Ladrones towed out seven large vessels,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +with about two hundred rowboats to board them; +but a breeze springing up, they made sail and escaped. +The Ladrones returned into the bay, and anchored. +The Portuguese and mandarines followed, +and continued a heavy cannonading during that +night and the next day. The vessel I was in had +her foremast shot away, which they supplied very +expeditiously by taking a mainmast from a smaller +vessel.</p> + +<p>On the 23d, in the evening, it again fell calm; +the Ladrones towed out fifteen junks in two divisions, +with the intention of surrounding them, which +was nearly effected, having come up with and +boarded one, when a breeze suddenly sprung up. +The captured vessel mounted twenty-two guns. +Most of her crew leaped overboard; sixty or seventy +were taken immediately, cut to pieces and +thrown into the river. Early in the morning the +Ladrones returned into the bay, and anchored in +the same situation as before. The Portuguese and +mandarines followed, keeping up a constant fire. +The Ladrones never returned a single shot, but always +kept in readiness to board, and the Portuguese +were careful never to allow them an opportunity.</p> + +<p>On the 28th, at night, they sent in eight fire-vessels, +which if properly constructed must have done +great execution, having every advantage they could +wish for to effect their purpose; a strong breeze and +tide directly into the bay, and the vessels lying so +close together that it was impossible to miss them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +On their first appearance the Ladrones gave a general +shout, supposing them to be mandarine vessels +on fire, but were very soon convinced of their mistake. +They came very regularly into the center of +the fleet, two and two, burning furiously; one of +them came alongside of the vessel I was in, but they +succeeded in booming her off. She appeared to be +a vessel of about thirty tons; her hold was filled +with straw and wood, and there were a few small +boxes of combustibles on her deck, which exploded +alongside of us without doing any damage. The Ladrones, +however, towed them all on shore, extinguished +the fire, and broke them up for fire-wood. +The Portuguese claim the credit of constructing +these destructive machines, and actually sent a dispatch +to the Governor of Macao, saying they had +destroyed at least one-third of the Ladrones' fleet, +and hoped soon to effect their purpose by totally annihilating +them!</p> + +<p>On the 29th of November, the Ladrones being all +ready for sea, they weighed and stood boldly out, +bidding defiance to the invincible squadron and imperial +fleet, consisting of ninety-three war-junks, six +Portuguese ships, a brig, and a schooner. Immediately +the Ladrones weighed, they made all sail. +The Ladrones chased them two or three hours, +keeping up a constant fire; finding they did not come +up with them, they hauled their wind and stood to +the eastward.</p> + +<p>Thus terminated the boasted blockade, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +lasted nine days, during which time the Ladrones +completed all their repairs. In this action not a +single Ladrone vessel was destroyed, and their loss +about thirty or forty men. An American was also +killed, one of three that remained out of eight taken +in a schooner. I had two very narrow escapes: the +first, a twelve-pounder shot fell within three or four +feet of me; another took a piece out of a small +brass-swivel on which I was standing. The chief's +wife frequently sprinkled me with garlic-water, +which they consider an effectual charm against shot. +The fleet continued under sail all night, steering towards +the eastward. In the morning they anchored +in a large bay surrounded by lofty and barren mountains.</p> + +<p>On the 2nd of December I received a letter from +Lieutenant Maughn, commander of the Honorable +Company's cruiser <i>Antelope</i>, saying that he had the +ransom on board, and had been three days cruising +after us, and wished me to settle with the chief on +the securest method of delivering it. The chief +agreed to send us in a small gunboat, 'till we came +within sight of the <i>Antelope</i>; then the Compradore's +boat was to bring the ransom and receive us.</p> + +<p>I was so agitated at receiving this joyful news, +that it was with considerable difficulty I could scrawl +about two or three lines to inform Lieutenant +Maughn of the arrangements I had made. We were +all so deeply affected by the gratifying tidings, that +we seldom closed our eyes, but continued watching<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +day and night for the boat. On the 6th she returned +with Lieutenant Maughn's answer, saying he would +respect any single boat; but would not allow the +fleet to approach him. The chief then, according to +his first proposal, ordered a gunboat to take us, +and with no small degree of pleasure we left the +Ladrone fleet about four o'clock in the morning.</p> + +<p>At one <span class="smcapl">P.M.</span> saw the <i>Antelope</i> under all sail, +standing toward us. The Ladrone boat immediately +anchored, and dispatched the Compradore's boat +for the ransom, saying, that if she approached +nearer, they would return to the fleet; and they were +just weighing when she shortened sail, and anchored +about two miles from us. The boat did not reach +her 'till late in the afternoon, owing to the tide's +being strong against her. She received the ransom +and left the <i>Antelope</i> just before dark. A mandarine +boat that had been lying concealed under the +land, and watching their maneuvers, gave chase to +her, and was within a few fathoms of taking her, +when she saw a light, which the Ladrones answered, +and the Mandarine hauled off.</p> + +<p>Our situation was now a most critical one; the +ransom was in the hands of the Ladrones, and the +Compradore dare not return with us for fear of a +second attack from the mandarine boat. The Ladrones +would not remain 'till morning, so we were +obliged to return with them to the fleet.</p> + +<p>In the morning the chief inspected the ransom, +which consisted of the following articles: two bales<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +of superfine scarlet cloth; two chests of opium; two +casks of gunpowder; and a telescope; the rest in +dollars. He objected to the telescope not being +new; and said he should detain one of us 'till another +was sent, or a hundred dollars in lieu of it. +The Compradore however agreed with him for the +hundred dollars.</p> + +<div class="p4"><p>Every thing being at length settled, the chief ordered +two gunboats to convey us near the <i>Antelope</i>; +we saw her just before dusk, when the Ladrone +boats left us. We had the inexpressible pleasure of +arriving on board the <i>Antelope</i> at 7 <span class="smcapl">P.M.</span>, where we +were most cordially received, and heartily congratulated +on our safe and happy deliverance from a miserable +captivity, which we had endured for eleven +weeks and three days.</p></div> + +<h3><i>A few Remarks on the Origin, Progress, Manners, +and Customs of the Ladrones</i></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Ladrones are a disaffected race of Chinese, +that revolted against the oppressions of the mandarins. +They first commenced their depredations on +the Western coast (Cochin-China), by attacking +small trading vessels in rowboats, carrying from +thirty to forty men each. They continued this system +of piracy several years; at length their successes, +and the oppressive state of the Chinese, had +the effect of rapidly increasing their numbers. Hundreds +of fishermen and others flocked to their standard; +and as their number increased they consequently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +became more desperate. They blockaded +all the principal rivers, and captured several large +junks, mounting from ten to fifteen guns each.</p> + +<p>With these junks they formed a very formidable +fleet, and no small vessels could trade on the coast +with safety. They plundered several small villages, +and exercised such wanton barbarity as struck horror +into the breasts of the Chinese. To check these +enormities the government equipped a fleet of forty +imperial war-junks, mounting from eighteen to +twenty guns each. On the very first rencontre, +twenty-eight of the imperial junks struck to the pirates; +the rest saved themselves by a precipitate retreat.</p> + +<p>These junks, fully equipped for war, were a great +acquisition to them. Their numbers augmented so +rapidly, that at the period of my captivity they were +supposed to amount to near seventy thousand men, +eight hundred large vessels, and nearly a thousand +small ones, including rowboats. They were divided +into five squadrons, distinguished by different colored +flags: each squadron commanded by an admiral, +or chief; but all under the orders of A-juo-Chay +(Ching yĭh saou), their premier chief, a most +daring and enterprising man, who went so far as to +declare his intention of displacing the present Tartar +family from the throne of China, and to restore +the ancient Chinese dynasty.</p> + +<p>This extraordinary character would have certainly +shaken the foundation of the government, had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +he not been thwarted by the jealousy of the second +in command, who declared his independence, and +soon after surrendered to the mandarines with five +hundred vessels, on promise of a pardon. Most of +the inferior chiefs followed his example. A-juo-Chay +(Ching yĭh saou) held out a few months +longer, and at length surrendered with sixteen thousand +men, on condition of a general pardon, and +himself to be made a mandarine of distinction.</p> + +<p>The Ladrones have no settled residence on shore, +but live constantly in their vessels. The after-part +is appropriated to the captain and his wives; he generally +has five or six. With respect to conjugal +rights they are religiously strict; no person is allowed +to have a woman on board, unless married to +her according to their laws. Every man is allowed +a small berth, about four feet square, where he +stows with his wife and family.</p> + +<p>From the number of souls crowded in so small a +space, it must naturally be supposed they are horridly +dirty, which is evidently the case, and their +vessels swarm with all kinds of vermin. Rats in +particular, which they encourage to breed, and eat +them as great delicacies; in fact, there are very few +creatures they will not eat. During our captivity we +lived three weeks on caterpillars boiled with rice. +They are much addicted to gambling, and spend +all their leisure hours at cards and smoking opium.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> From <i>The Ladrone Pirates</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> <i>Junk</i> is the Canton pronunciation of <i>chuen</i>, ship.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> The pirates had many other intimate acquaintances on shore, +like Doctor <i>Chow</i> of Macao.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> The pirates were always afraid of this. We find the following +statement concerning the Chinese pirates, taken from the records +in the East-India House, and printed in Appendix C. to the <i>Report +relative to the trade with the East-Indies and China</i>, in the sessions +1820 and 1821 (reprinted 1829), p. 387. +</p><p> +"In the year 1808, 1809, and 1810, the Canton river was so infested +with pirates, who were also in such force, that the Chinese +government made an attempt to subdue them, but failed. The +pirates totally destroyed the Chinese force; ravaged the river in +every direction; threatened to attack the city of Canton, and destroyed +many towns and villages on the banks of the river; and +killed or carried off, to serve as Ladrones, several thousands of +inhabitants. +</p><p> +"These events created an alarm extremely prejudicial to the +commerce of Canton, and compelled the Company's supercargoes +to fit out a small country ship to cruize for a short time against +the pirates."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> That the whole family must suffer for the crime of one individual, +seems to be the most cruel and foolish law of the whole +Chinese criminal code.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> We know by the "History of the Chinese Pirates," that these +"wasps of the ocean," to speak with <i>Yuen tsze yung lun</i>, were +originally divided into six squadrons.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> In the barbarous Chinese-English spoken at Canton, all things +are indiscriminately called <i>chop</i>. You hear of a chop-house, chop-boat, +tea-chop, Chaou-chaou-chop, etc. To give a bill or agreement +on making a bargain is in Chinese called <i>chă tan</i>; chă in the +pronunciation of Canton is <i>chop</i>, which is then applied to any +writing whatever.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> The following is the <i>Character of the Chinese of Canton, as +given in ancient Chinese books</i>: "People of Canton are silly, light, +weak in body, and weak in mind, without any ability to fight on +land."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> <i>Joss</i> is a Chinese corruption of the Portuguese <i>Dios</i>, <i>God</i>. The +Joss, or idol, of which Mr. Glasspoole speaks is the <i>San po shin</i>, +which is spoken of in the work of Yuen tsze.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE FEMALE CAPTIVE<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Lucretia Parker</span></h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> event which is here related is the capture +by the Pirates of the English sloop +<i>Eliza Ann</i>, bound from St. Johns to Antigua, +and the massacre of the whole crew (ten +in number) with the exception of one female passenger, +whose life, by the interposition of Divine +Providence, was miraculously preserved. The particulars +are copied from a letter written by the +unfortunate Miss Parker (the female passenger +above alluded to) to her brother in New York.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="rgt">St. Johns, April 3, 1825.</p> + +<p>Dear Brother,</p> + +<p>You have undoubtedly heard of my adverse fortune, +and the shocking incident that has attended +me since I had the pleasure of seeing you in November +last. Anticipating your impatience to be +made acquainted with a more circumstantial detail +of my extraordinary adventures, I shall not on +account of the interest which I know you must feel +in my welfare, hesitate to oblige you; yet, I must +declare to you that it is that consideration alone<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +that prompts me to do it, as even the recollection +of the scenes which I have witnessed you must be +sensible must ever be attended with pain: and that +I cannot reflect on what I have endured, and the +scenes of horror that I have been witness to, without +the severest shock. I shall now, brother, proceed +to furnish you with a detail of my misfortunes +as they occurred, without exaggeration, and if it +should be your wish to communicate them to the +public, through the medium of a public print, or +in any other way, you are at liberty to do it, and +I shall consider myself amply rewarded if in a +single instance it proves beneficial in removing a +doubt in the minds of such, who, although they dare +not deny the existence of a Supreme Being, yet +disbelieve that he ever in any way revealed Himself +to his creatures. Let Philosophy (as it is +termed) smile with pity or contempt on my weakness +or credulity, yet the superintendence of a +particular <span class="smcap">Providence</span>, interfering by second +causes, is so apparent to me, and was so conspicuously +displayed in the course of my afflictions, that +I shall not banish it from my mind from the beginning +to the end of my narration.</p> + +<p>On the 28th February I took passage on board +the sloop <i>Eliza Ann</i>, captain Charles Smith, for +Antigua, in compliance with the earnest request of +brother Thomas and family, who had advised me +that they had concluded to make that island the +place of their permanent residence, having a few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +months previous purchased there a valuable Plantation. +We set sail with a favorable wind, and with +every appearance of a short and pleasant voyage, +and met with no incident to destroy or diminish +those flattering prospects, until about noon of the +14th day from that of our departure, when a small +schooner was discovered standing toward us, with +her deck full of men, and as she approached us +from her suspicious appearance there was not a +doubt in the minds of any on board, but that she +was a Pirate. When within a few yards of us, they +gave a shout and our decks were instantly crowded +with the motley crew of desperadoes, armed with +weapons of almost every description that can be +mentioned, and with which they commenced their +barbarous work by unmercifully beating and maiming +all on board except myself. As a retreat was +impossible, and finding myself surrounded by +wretches, whose yells, oaths, and imprecations, made +them more resemble demons than human-beings, +I fell on my knees, and from one who appeared +to have the command, I begged for mercy, and for +permission to retire to the cabin, that I might not be +either the subject or a witness of the murderous +scene that I had but little doubt was about to +ensue. The privilege was not refused me. The +monster in human shape (for such was then his +appearance) conducted me by the hand himself to +the companionway, and pointing to the cabin said +to me, "Descend and remain there and you will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +perfectly safe, for although Pirates, we are not +barbarians to destroy the lives of innocent females!" +Saying this he closed the companion doors and left +me alone, to reflect on my helpless and deplorable +situation. It is indeed impossible for me, brother, +to paint to your imagination what were my feelings +at this moment; being the only female on board, +my terror it cannot be expected was much less than +that of the poor devoted mariners! I resigned my +life to the Being who had lent it, and did not fail +to improve the opportunity (which I thought it not +improbable might be my last), to call on Him for +that protection, which my situation so much at this +moment required—and never shall I be persuaded +but that my prayers were heard.</p> + +<p>While I remained in this situation, by the sound +of the clashing of swords, attended by shrieks and +dismal groans, I could easily imagine what was going +on on deck, and anticipated nothing better than +the total destruction by the Pirates of the lives of +all on board. After I had remained about one hour +and a half alone in the cabin, and all had become +silent on deck, the cabin doors were suddenly thrown +open, and eight or ten of the Piratical crew entered, +preceded by him whom I had suspected to be +their leader, and from whom I had received assurances +that I should not be injured. By him I was +again addressed and requested to banish all fears +of personal injury—that they sought only for the +money which they suspected to be secreted somewhere<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +on board the vessel, and which they were +determined to have, although unable to extort a +disclosure of the place of its concealment by threats +and violence from the crew. The Pirates now commenced +a thorough search throughout the cabin, +the trunks and chests belonging to the captain and +mate were broken open, and rifled of their most +valuable contents—nor did my baggage and stores +meet with any better fate, indeed this was a loss +which at this moment caused me but little uneasiness. +I felt that my life was in too much jeopardy +to lament in any degree the loss of my worldly +goods, surrounded as I was by a gang of the most +ferocious looking villains that my eyes ever before +beheld, of different complexions, and each with a +drawn weapon in his hand, some of them fresh +crimsoned with the blood (as I then supposed) of +my murdered countrymen and whose horrid imprecations +and oaths were enough to appal the bravest +heart!</p> + +<p>Their search for money proving unsuccessful +(with the exception of a few dollars which they +found in the captain's chest) they returned to the +deck, and setting sail on the sloop, steered her for +the place of their rendezvous, a small island or key +not far distant I imagine from the island of Cuba, +where we arrived the day after our capture. The +island was nearly barren, producing nothing but a +few scattered mangroves and shrubs, interspersed +with the miserable huts of these outlaws of civilization,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +among whom power formed the only law, and +every species of iniquity was here carried to an +extent of which no person who had not witnessed a +similar degree of pollution, could form the most +distant idea.</p> + +<p>As soon as the sloop was brought to an +anchor, the hatches were thrown off and the unfortunate +crew ordered on deck—a command which to +my surprise was instantly obeyed, as I had harboured +strong suspicions that they had been all murdered +by the Pirates the day previous. The poor devoted +victims, although alive, exhibited shocking proofs +of the barbarity with which they had been treated +by the unmerciful Pirates; their bodies exhibiting +deep wounds and bruises too horrible for me to +attempt to describe! Yet, however great had been +their sufferings, their lives had been spared only to +endure still greater torments. Being strongly +pinioned they were forced into a small leaky boat +and rowed on shore, which we having reached and +a division of the plunder having been made by the +Pirates, a scene of the most bloody and wanton +barbarity ensued, the bare recollection of which still +chills my blood. Having first divested them of +every article of clothing but their shirts and +trousers, with swords, knives, axes, etc., they fell +on the unfortunate crew of the <i>Eliza Ann</i> with the +ferocity of cannibals. In vain did they beg for +mercy and intreat of their murderers to spare their +lives. In vain did poor Capt. S. attempt to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +touch their feelings and to move them to pity by +representing to them the situation of his innocent +family; that he had a wife and three small children +at home wholly dependent on him for support. But, +alas, the poor man intreated in vain. His appeal +was to monsters possessing hearts callous to the +feelings of humanity. Having received a heavy +blow from one with an ax, he snapped the cords +with which he was bound, and attempted an escape +by flight, but was met by another of the ruffians, +who plunged a knife or dirk to his heart. I stood +near him at this moment and was covered with his +blood. On receiving the fatal wound he gave a +single groan and fell lifeless at my feet. Nor were +the remainder of the crew more fortunate. The +mate while on his knees imploring mercy, and +promising to accede to anything that the vile assassins +should require of him, on condition of his +life being spared, received a blow from a club, +which instantaneously put a period to his existence! +Dear brother, need I attempt to paint to your +imagination my feelings at this awful moment? +Will it not suffice for me to say that I have described +to you a scene of horror which I was compelled to +witness! and with the expectation too of being the +next victim selected by these ferocious monsters, +whose thirst for blood appeared to be insatiable. +There appeared now but one alternative left me, +which was to offer up a prayer to Heaven for the +protection of that Being who has power to stay the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +assassin's hand, and "who is able to do exceeding +abundantly above what we can ask or think,"—sincerely +in the language of scripture I can say, "I +found trouble and sorrow, then called I upon the +name of the Lord."</p> + +<p>I remained on my knees until the inhuman +wretches had completed their murderous work, and +left none but myself to lament the fate of those who +but twenty-four hours before, were animated with +the pleasing prospects of a quick passage, and a +speedy return to the bosoms of their families! The +wretch by whom I had been thrice promised protection, +and who seemed to reign chief among them, +again approached me with hands crimsoned with +the blood of my murdered countrymen, and, with a +savage smile, once more repeated his assurances that +if I would but become reconciled to my situation, +I had nothing to fear. There was indeed something +truly terrific in the appearance of this man, or +rather monster as he ought to be termed. He was +of a swarthy complexion, near six feet in height, his +eyes were large, black and penetrating; his expression +was remarkable, and when silent, his looks were +sufficient to declare his meaning. He wore around +his waist a leathern belt, to which was suspended a +sword, a brace of pistols and a dirk. He was as I +was afterward informed the acknowledged chief +among the Pirates, all appeared to stand in awe of +him, and no one dared to disobey his commands. +Such, dear brother, was the character who had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> +promised me protection if I would become reconciled +to my situation, in other words, subservient to +his will. But, whatever might have been his intentions, +although now in his power, without a visible +friend to protect me, yet such full reliance did I +place in the Supreme Being, who sees and knows +all things, and who has promised his protection to +the faithful in the hour of tribulation, that I felt +myself in a less degree of danger than you or any +one would probably imagine.</p> + +<p>As the day drew near to a close, I was conducted +to a small temporary hut or cabin, where I was informed +I might repose peaceably for the night, +which I did without being disturbed by any one. +This was another opportunity that I did not suffer +to pass unimproved to pour out my soul to that +Being, who had already given me reasons to believe +that he did not say to the house of Jacob, seek you +me in vain. Oh! that all sincere Christians would +in every difficulty make Him their refuge; He is a +hopeful stay.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning ensuing I was visited by the +wretch alone whom I had viewed as chief of the +murderous band. As he entered and cast his eyes +upon me, his countenance relaxed from its usual +ferocity to a feigned smile. Without speaking a +word, he seated himself on a bench that the cabin +contained, and drawing a table toward him, leaned +upon it resting his cheek upon his hand. His eyes +for some moments were fixed in stedfast gaze<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +upon the ground, while his whole soul appeared to +be devoured by the most diabolical thoughts. In a +few moments he arose from his seat and hastily +traversed the hut, apparently in extreme agitation, +and not unfrequently fixing his eyes stedfastly upon +me. But, that Providence, which while it protects +the innocent, never suffers the wicked to go unpunished, +interposed to save me and to deliver me +from the hands of this remorseless villain, at the +very instant when in all probability he intended to +have destroyed my happiness forever.</p> + +<p>On a sudden the Pirate's bugle was sounded, +which (as I was afterward informed) was the usual +signal of a sail in sight. The ruffian monster thereupon +without uttering a word left my apartment, +and hastened with all speed to the place of their +general rendezvous on such occasions. Flattered by +the pleasing hope that Providence might be about +to complete her work of mercy, and was conducting +to the dreary island some friendly aid, to rescue me +from my perilous situation, I mustered courage to +ascend to the roof of my hovel, to discover if possible +the cause of the alarm, and what might be the +issue.</p> + +<p>A short distance from the island I espied a sail +which appeared to be lying to, and a few miles +therefrom to the windward, another, which appeared +to be bearing down under a press of sail +for the former—in a moment the whole gang of +Pirates, with the exception of four, were in their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +boats, and with their oars, etc., were making every +possible exertion to reach the vessel nearest to +their island; but by the time they had effected their +object the more distant vessel (which proved to be +a British sloop of war disguised) had approached +them within fair gunshot, and probably knowing or +suspecting their characters, opened their ports and +commenced a destructive fire upon them. The +Pirates were now, as nearly as I could judge with +the naked eye, thrown into great confusion. Every +possible exertion appeared to have been made by +them to reach the island, and escape from their +pursuers. Some jumped from their boats and +attempted to gain the shore by swimming, but these +were shot in the water, and the remainder who remained +in their boats were very soon after overtaken +and captured by two well manned boats +dispatched from the sloop of war for that purpose; +and, soon had I the satisfaction to see them all on +board of the sloop, and in the power of those from +whom I was fully satisfied that they would meet +with the punishment due to their crimes.</p> + +<p>In describing the characters of this Piratical band +of robbers, I have, dear brother, represented them +as wretches of the most frightful and ferocious +appearance—blood-thirsty monsters, who, in acts of +barbarity ought only to be ranked with cannibals, +who delight to feast on human flesh. Rendered +desperate by their crimes and aware that they +should find no mercy if so unfortunate as to fall into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +the hands of those to whom they show no mercy, +to prevent a possibility of detection, and the just +execution of the laws wantonly destroy the lives of +every one, however innocent, who may be so unfortunate +as to fall into their power—such, indeed, +brother, is the true character of the band of Pirates +(to the number of 30 or 40) by whom it was my +misfortune to be captured, with the exception of a +single one, who possessed a countenance less savage, +and had the appearance of possessing a heart less +callous to the feelings of humanity. Fortunately +for me, as Divine Providence ordered, this person +was one of the four who remained on the island, +and on whom the command involved after the unexpected +disaster which had deprived them forever +of so great a portion of their comrades. From this +man (after the capture of the murderous tyrant to +whose commands he had been compelled to yield) +I received the kindest treatment, and assurances +that I should be restored to liberty and to my +friends when an opportunity should present, or +when it could be consistently done with the safety +of their lives and liberty.</p> + +<p>This unhappy man (for such he declared himself +to be) took an opportunity to indulge me with a +partial relation of a few of the most extraordinary +incidents of his life. He declared himself an +Englishman by birth, but his real name and place of +nativity was he said a secret he would never disclose! +"although I must (said he) acknowledge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +myself by profession a Pirate, yet I can boast of +respectable parentage, and the time once was when +I myself sustained an unimpeachable character. +Loss of property, through the treachery of those +whom I considered friends, and in whom I had +placed implicit confidence, was what first led me +to and induced me to prefer this mode of life, to +any of a less criminal nature—but, although I voluntarily +became the associate of a band of wretches +the most wicked and unprincipled perhaps on earth, +yet I solemnly declare that I have not in any one +instance personally deprived an innocent fellow +creature of life. It was an act of barbarity at which +my heart ever recoiled, and against which I always +protested. With the property I always insisted we +ought to be satisfied, without the destruction of the +lives of such who were probably the fathers of +families, and who had never offended us. But our +gang was as you may suppose chiefly composed of +and governed by men without principle, who appeared +to delight in the shedding of blood, and +whose only excuse has been that by acting with too +much humanity in sparing life, they might thereby +be exposed and themselves arraigned to answer for +their crimes at an earthly tribunal. You can have +no conception, madam (continued he), of the immense +property that has been piratically captured, +and of the number of lives that have been destroyed +by this gang alone, and all without the loss of a +single one on our part until yesterday, when by an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +unexpected circumstance our number has been reduced +as you see from thirty-five to four! This +island has not been our constant abiding place, but +the bodies of such as have suffered here have always +been conveyed a considerable distance from the +shore, and thrown into the sea, where they were +probably devoured by the sharks, as not a single one +has ever been known afterward to drift on our +shores. The property captured has not been long +retained on this island, but shipped to a neighboring +port, where we have an agent to dispose of it.</p> + +<p>"Of the great number of vessels captured by us +(continued he) you are the first and only female +that has been so unfortunate as to fall into our +hands—and from the moment that I first saw you +in our power (well knowing the brutal disposition +of him whom we acknowledged our chief) I +trembled for your safety, and viewed you as one +deprived perhaps of the protection of a husband or +brother, to become the victim of an unpitying +wretch, whose pretended regard for your sex, and +his repeated promises of protection, were hypocritical—a +mere mask to lull your fears until he +could effect your ruin. His hellish designs, agreeable +to his own declarations, would have been +carried into effect the very morning that he last +visited you, had not an all-wise Providence interfered +to save you—and so sensible am I that the +unexpected circumstance of his capture, as well as +that of the most of our gang, as desperate and unprincipled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +as himself, must have been by order of +Him, from whose all-seeing eye no evil transaction +can be hidden, that were I so disposed I should be +deterred from doing you any injury through fear of +meeting with a similar fate. Nor do my three remaining +companions differ with me in opinion, and +we all now most solemnly pledge ourselves, that so +long as you remain in our power, you shall have +nothing to complain of but the deprivation of the +society of those whose company no doubt would be +more agreeable to you; and as soon as it can be +done consistently with our own safety, you shall be +conveyed to a place from which you may obtain a +passage to your friends. We have now become too +few in number to hazard a repetition of our +Piratical robberies, and not only this, but some of +our captured companions to save their own lives, +may prove treacherous enough to betray us; we are +therefore making preparation to leave this island +for a place of more safety, when you, madam, shall +be conveyed and set at liberty as I have promised +you."</p> + +<p>Dear brother, if you before doubted, is not the +declaration of this man (which I have recorded as +correctly as my recollection will admit of) sufficient +to satisfy you that I owe my life and safety to the +interposition of a Divine Providence! Oh, yes! +surely it is—and I feel my insufficiency to thank and +praise my Heavenly Protector as I ought, for his +loving kindness in preserving me from the evil designs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +of wicked men, and for finally restoring me +to liberty and to my friends!</p></div> + +<div class="poem" style="width: 14em;"> +<span class="i0">I cannot praise Him as I would,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But He is merciful and good.<br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>From this moment every preparation was made +by the Pirates to remove from the island. The +small quantity of stores and goods which remained +on hand (principally of the <i>Ann Eliza's</i> cargo) was +either buried on the island, or conveyed away in +their boats in the night to some place unknown to +me. The last thing done was to demolish their +temporary dwellings, which was done so effectually +as not to suffer a vestige of any thing to remain that +could have led to a discovery that the island had +ever been inhabited by such a set of beings. Eleven +days from that of the capture of the <i>Ann Eliza</i> +(the Pirates having previously put on board several +bags of dollars, which from the appearance of the +former, I judged had been concealed in the earth) +I was ordered to embark with them, but for what +place I then knew not.</p> + +<p>About midnight I was landed on the rocky shores +of an island which they informed me was Cuba, +they furnished me with a few hard biscuit and a +bottle of water, and directed me to proceed early in +the morning in a northeast direction, to a house +about a mile distant, where I was told I would be +well treated and be furnished with a guide that +would conduct me to Mantansies. With these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> +directions they left me, and I never saw them more.</p> + +<p>At daybreak I set out in search of the house to +which I had been directed by the Pirates, and which +I had the good fortune to reach in safety in about +an hour and a half. It was a humble tenement +thatched with canes, without any flooring but the +ground, and was tenanted by a man and his wife +only, from whom I met with a welcome reception, +and by whom I was treated with much hospitality. +Although Spaniards, the man could speak and +understand enough English to converse with me, +and to learn by what means I had been brought so +unexpectedly alone and unprotected to his house. +Though it was the same to which I had been +directed by the Pirates, yet he declared that so far +from being in any way connected with them in their +Piratical robberies, or enjoying any portion of their +ill-gotten gain, no one could hold them in greater +abhorrence. Whether he was sincere in these declarations +or not, is well known to Him whom the +lying tongue cannot deceive—it is but justice to them +to say that by both the man and his wife I was +treated with kindness, and it was with apparent +emotions of pity that they listened to the tale of my +sufferings. By their earnest request I remained with +them until the morning ensuing, when I set out on +foot for Mantansies, accompanied by the Spaniard +who had kindly offered to conduct me to that place, +which we reached about seven in the evening of +the same day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span></p> + +<p>At Mantansies I found many Americans and +Europeans, by whom I was kindly treated, and who +proffered their services to restore me to my friends, +but as there were no vessels bound direct from +thence to Antigua or St. Johns, I was persuaded to +take passage for Jamaica, where it was the opinion +of my friends I might obtain a passage more +speedily for one or the other place, and where I +safely arrived after a pleasant passage of four days.</p> + +<p>The most remarkable and unexpected circumstance +of my extraordinary adventures, I have yet, +dear brother, to relate. Soon after my arrival at +Jamaica, the Authority having been made acquainted +with the circumstance of my recent capture +by the Pirates, and the extraordinary circumstance +which produced my liberation, requested that I +might be conducted to the Prison, to see if I could +among a number of Pirates recently committed, +recognize any of those by whom I had been captured. +I was accordingly attended by two or three +gentlemen, and two young ladies (who had politely +offered to accompany me) to the prison apartment, +on entering which, I not only instantly recognized +among a number therein confined, the identical +savage monster of whom I have had so much occasion +to speak (the Pirates' Chief) but the most of +those who had composed his gang, and who were +captured with him!</p> + +<p>The sudden and unexpected introduction into +their apartment of one, whom they had probably<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +in their minds numbered with the victims of their +wanton barbarity, produced unquestionably on their +minds not an inconsiderable degree of horror as well +as surprise! and, considering their condemnation +now certain, they no doubt heaped curses upon their +more fortunate companions, for sparing the life and +setting at liberty one whom an all-wise Providence +had conducted to and placed in a situation to bear +witness to their unprecedented barbarity.</p> + +<p>Government having through me obtained the +necessary proof of the guilt of these merciless +wretches, after a fair and impartial trial they were +all condemned to suffer the punishment due to their +crimes, and seven ordered for immediate execution, +one of whom was the barbarian their chief. After +the conviction and condemnation of this wretch, +in hopes of eluding the course of justice, he made +(as I was informed) an attempt upon his own life, +by inflicting upon himself deep wounds with a knife +which he had concealed for that purpose; but in this +he was disappointed, the wounds not proving so +fatal as he probably anticipated.</p> + +<p>I never saw this hardened villain or any of his +equally criminal companions after their condemnation, +although strongly urged to witness their execution, +and am therefore indebted to one who daily +visited them, for the information of their behavior +from that period until that of their execution; +which, as regarded the former, I was informed was +extremely impenitent—that while proceeding to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +place of ignominy and death, he talked with shocking +unconcern, hinting that by being instrumental in the +destruction of so many lives, he had become too +hardened and familiar with death to feel much intimidated +at its approach! He was attended to +the place of execution by a Roman Catholic Priest, +who it was said labored to convince him of the +atrociousness of his crimes, but he seemed deaf to +all admonition or exhortation, and appeared insensible +to the hope of happiness or fear of torment +in a future state—and so far from exhibiting a +single symptom of penitence, declared that he knew +of but one thing for which he had cause to reproach +himself, which was in sparing my life and not ordering +me to be butchered as the others had been! +How awful was the end of the life of this miserable +criminal! He looked not with harmony, regard, or +a single penitent feeling toward one human being +in the last agonies of an ignominious death.</p> + +<p>After remaining nine days at Jamaica, I was so +fortunate as to obtain a passage with Capt. Ellsmore, +direct for St. Johns—the thoughts of once +more returning home and of so soon joining my +anxious friends, when I could have an opportunity +to communicate to my aged parents, to a beloved +sister and a large circle of acquaintances, the sad +tale of the misfortunes which had attended me since +I bid them adieu, would have been productive of +the most pleasing sensations, had they not been +interrupted by the melancholy reflection that I was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +the bearer of tidings of the most heart-rending +nature, to the bereaved families of those unfortunate +husbands and parents who had in my presence +fallen victims to Piratical barbarity. Thankful +should I have been had the distressing duty fell to +the lot of some one of less sensibility—but, unerring +Providence had ordered otherwise. We arrived +safe at our port of destination after a somewhat +boisterous passage of 18 days. I found my +friends all well, but the effects produced on their +minds by the relation of the distressing incidents +and adverse fortune that had attended me since +my departure, I shall not attempt to describe—and +much less can you expect, brother, that I should +attempt a description of the feelings of the afflicted +widow and fatherless child, who first received from +me the melancholy tidings that they were so!</p> + +<p>Thus, brother, have I furnished you with as +minute a detail of the sad misfortunes that have +attended me, in my intended passage to Antigua, in +February and March last, as circumstances will +admit of—and here permit me once more to repeat +the enquiry—is it not sufficient to satisfy you and +every reasonable person, that I owe my life and +liberty to the interposition of a Divine Providence?—so +fully persuaded am I of this, dear brother, +and of my great obligations to that Supreme Being +who turned not away my prayer nor his mercy from +me, that I am determined to engage with my whole +heart to serve Him the residue of my days on earth,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +by the aid of his heavenly grace—and invite all who +profess to fear Him (should a single doubt remain +on their minds) to come and hear what he hath +done for me!</p> + +<div class="bk1"><p>I am, dear brother, affectionately yours,</p> +<p class="td3"><span class="smcap">Lucretia Parker</span>.</p></div></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> From an Old Pamphlet, published in 1825.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>THE PASSING OF MOGUL MACKENZIE</h2> + +<div class="sp1"><p class="center">The Last of the North Atlantic Pirates<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></p></div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Arthur Hunt Chute</span></h3></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">In</span> the farther end of the Bay of Fundy, about a +mile off from the Nova Scotian coast, is the Isle +of Haut. It is a strange rocky island that rises +several hundred feet sheer out of the sea, without +any bay or inlets. A landing can only be effected +there in the calmest weather; and on account of the +tremendous ebb of the Fundy tides, which rise and +fall sixty feet every twelve hours, the venturesome +explorer cannot long keep his boat moored against +the precipitous cliffs.</p> + +<p>Because of this inaccessibility little is known of +the solitary island. Within its rampart walls of +rock they say there is a green valley, and in its center +is a fathomless lake, where the Micmac Indians +used to bury their dead, and hence its dread appellation +of the "Island of the Dead." Beyond +these bare facts nothing more is certain about the +secret valley and the haunted lake. Many wild and +fabulous descriptions are current, but they are +merely the weavings of fancy.</p> + +<p>Sometimes on a stormy night the unhappy navigators +of the North Channel miss the coast lights<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> +in the fog, and out from the Isle of Haut a gentle +undertow flirts with their bewildered craft. Then +little by little they are gathered into a mighty current +against which all striving is in vain, and in the +white foam among the iron cliffs their ship is +pounded into splinters. The quarry which she +gathers in so softly at first and so fiercely at last, +however, is soon snatched away from the siren +shore. The ebb-tide bears every sign of wreckage +far out into the deeps of the Atlantic, and not a +trace remains of the ill-starred vessel or her crew. +But one of the boats in the fishing fleet never comes +home, and from lonely huts on the coast reproachful +eyes are cast upon the "Island of the Dead."</p> + +<p>On the long winter nights, when the "boys" +gather about the fire in Old Steele's General Stores +at Hall's Harbor, their hard gray life becomes +bright for a spell. When a keg of hard cider is +flowing freely the grim fishermen forget their taciturnity, +the ice is melted from their speech, and the +floodgates of their souls pour forth. But ever in +the background of their talk, unforgotten, like a +haunting shadow, is the "Island of the Dead." Of +their weirdest and most blood-curdling yarns it is +always the center; and when at last, with uncertain +steps, they leave the empty keg and the dying fire +to turn homeward through the drifting snow, fearful +and furtive glances are cast to where the island +looms up like a ghostly sentinel from the sea. +Across its high promontory the Northern Lights<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> +scintillate and blaze, and out of its moving brightness +the terrified fishermen behold the war-canoes of +dead Indians freighted with their redskin braves; +the forms of <i>cœur de bois</i> and desperate Frenchmen +swinging down the sky-line in a ghastly snake-dance; +the shapes and spars of ships long since forgotten +from the "Missing List"; and always, most dread-inspiring +of them all, the distress signals from the +sinking ship of Mogul Mackenzie and his pirate +crew.</p> + +<p>Captain Mogul Mackenzie was the last of the +pirates to scourge the North Atlantic seaboard. +He came from that school of freebooters that was +let loose by the American Civil War. With a letter +of marque from the Confederate States, he +sailed the seas to prey on Yankee shipping. He and +his fellow-privateers were so thorough in their work +of destruction, that the Mercantile Marine of the +United States was ruined for a generation to come. +When the war was over the defeated South called +off her few remaining bloodhounds on the sea. But +Mackenzie, who was still at large, had drunk too +deeply of the wine of a wild, free life. He did not +return to lay down his arms, but began on a course +of shameless piracy. He lived only a few months +under the black flag, until he went down on the Isle +of Haut. The events of that brief and thrilling +period are unfortunately obscure, with only a ray of +light here and there. But the story of his passing is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +the most weird of all the strange yarns that are +spun about the "Island of the Dead."</p> + +<p>In May, 1865, a gruesome discovery was made +off the coast of Maine, which sent a chill of fear +through all the seaport towns of New England. A +whaler bound for New Bedford was coming up +Cape Cod one night long after dark. There was no +fog, and the lights of approaching vessels could +easily be discerned. The man on the lookout felt +no uneasiness at his post, when, without any warning +of bells or lights, the sharp bow of a brigantine +suddenly loomed up, hardly a ship's length in +front.</p> + +<p>"What the blazes are you trying to do?" roared +the mate from the bridge, enraged at this unheard-of +violation of the right of way. But no voice answered +his challenge, and the brigantine went swinging +by, with all her sails set to a spanking breeze. +She bore directly across the bow of the whaler, +which just grazed her stern in passing.</p> + +<p>"There's something rotten on board there," said +the mate.</p> + +<p>"Ay," said the captain, who had come on the +bridge, "there's something rotten there right +enough. Swing your helm to port, and get after the +devils," he ordered.</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir!" came the ready response, and nothing +loth the helmsman changed his course to follow +the eccentric craft. She was evidently bound on +some secret mission, for not otherwise would she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +thus tear through the darkness before the wind +without the flicker of a light.</p> + +<p>The whaler was the swifter of the two ships, and +she could soon have overhauled the other; but fearing +some treachery, the captain refrained from running +her down until daylight. All night long she +seemed to be veering her course, attempting to escape +from her pursuer. In the morning, off the coast +of Maine, she turned her nose directly out to sea. +Then a boat was lowered from the whaler, and +rowed out to intercept the oncoming vessel. When +they were directly in her course, they lay on their +oars and waited. The brigantine did not veer +again, but came steadily on, and soon the whalemen +were alongside, and made themselves fast to a +dinghy which she had in tow. A few minutes of +apprehensive waiting followed, and as nothing happened, +one of the boldest swung himself up over the +tow-rope on to the deck. He was followed by the +others, and they advanced cautiously with drawn +knives and pistols.</p> + +<p>Not a soul was to be seen, and the men, who were +brave enough before a charging whale, trembled +with fear. The wheel and the lookout were alike +deserted, and no sign of life could be discovered +anywhere below. In the galley were the embers of a +dead fire, and the table in the captain's cabin was +spread out ready for a meal which had never been +eaten. On deck everything was spick and span, and +not the slightest evidence of a storm or any other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +disturbance could be found. The theory of a derelict +was impossible. Apparently all had been well +on board, and they had been sailing with good +weather, when, without any warning, her crew had +been suddenly snatched away by some dread power.</p> + +<p>The sailors with one accord agreed that it was +the work of a sea-serpent. But the mate had no +place for the ordinary superstitions of the sea, and +he still scoured the hold, expecting at any minute to +encounter a dead body or some other evil evidence +of foul play. Nothing more, however, was found, +and the mate at length had to end his search with +the unsatisfactory conclusion that the <i>St. Clare</i>, a +brigantine registered from Hartpool, with cargo of +lime, had been abandoned on the high seas for no apparent +reason. Her skipper had taken with him the +ship's papers, and had not left a single clue behind.</p> + +<p>A crew was told off to stand by the <i>St. Clare</i> to +bring her into port, and the others climbed into the +long-boat to row back to the whaler.</p> + +<p>"Just see if there is a name on that there dinghy, +before we go," said the mate.</p> + +<p>An exclamation of horror broke from one of the +men as he read on the bow of the dinghy the name, +<i>Kanawha</i>.</p> + +<p>The faces of all went white with a dire alarm +as the facts of the mystery suddenly flashed before +them. The <i>Kanawha</i> was the ship in which Captain +Mogul Mackenzie had made himself notorious +as a privateersman. Every one had heard her awe-inspiring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +name, and every Yankee seafaring man +prayed that he might never meet her on the seas. +After the <i>Alabama</i> was sunk, and the <i>Talahassee</i> +was withdrawn, the <i>Kanawha</i> still remained to +threaten the shipping of the North. For a long +time her whereabouts had been unknown, and then +she was discovered by a Federal gunboat, which +gave chase and fired upon her. Without returning +fire, she raced in for shelter amongst the dangerous +islands off Cape Sable, and was lost in the fog. Rumor +had it that she ran on the rocks off that perilous +coast, and sank with all on board. As time went by, +and there was no more sign of the corsair, the rumor +was accepted as proven. Men began to spin +yarns in the forecastle about Mogul Mackenzie, +with an interest that was tinged with its former fear. +Skippers were beginning to feel at ease again on the +grim waters, when suddenly, like a bolt from the +blue, came the awful news of the discovery of the +<i>St. Clare</i>.</p> + +<p>Gunboats put off to scour the coast-line; and +again with fear and trembling the look-out began to +eye suspiciously every new sail coming up on the +horizon.</p> + +<p>One afternoon, toward the end of May, a +schooner came tearing into Portland harbor, with +all her canvas, crowded on, and flying distress signals. +Her skipper said that off the island of Campabello +he had seen a long gray sailing-ship with auxiliary +power sweeping down upon him. As the wind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> +was blowing strong inshore, he had taken to his +heels and made for Portland. He was chased all +the way, and his pursuer did not drop him until he +was just off the harbor bar.</p> + +<p>Many doubted his story, however, saying that no +one would dare to chase a peaceful craft so near to +a great port in broad daylight. And, again, it was +urged that an auxiliary vessel could easily have overhauled +the schooner between Campabello and Portland. +The fact that the captain of the schooner +was as often drunk as sober, and that when he was +under the influence of drink he was given to seeing +visions, was pointed to as conclusive proof that his +yarn was a lie. After the New Bedford whaler +came into port with the abandoned <i>St. Clare</i>, it +was known beyond doubt that the <i>Kanawha</i> was still +a real menace. But nobody cared to admit that +Mogul Mackenzie was as bold as the schooner's report +would imply, and hence countless arguments +were put forward to allay such fears.</p> + +<p>But a few days later the fact that the pirates +were still haunting their coast was absolutely corroborated. +A coastal packet from Boston arrived +at Yarmouth with the news that she had not only +sighted <i>Kanawha</i> in the distance, but they had +crossed each other's paths so near that the name +could be discerned beyond question with a spyglass. +She was heading up the Bay of Fundy, and did not +pause or pay any heed to the other ship.</p> + +<p>This news brought with it consternation, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +every town and village along the Fundy was a-hum +with stories and theories about the pirate ship. The +interest, instead of being abated, was augmented as +the days went by with no further report. In the +public-houses and along the quays it was almost the +only topic of conversation. The excitement became +almost feverish when it was known that several captains, +outward bound, had taken with them a supply +of rifles and ammunition. The prospect of a fight +seemed imminent.</p> + +<p>About a week after the adventure of the Boston +packet Her Majesty's ship <i>Buzzard</i> appeared off +Yarmouth harbor. The news of the <i>Kanawha</i> had +come to the Admiral at Halifax, and he had dispatched +the warship to cruise about the troubled +coast.</p> + +<p>"That'll be the end of old Mogul Mackenzie, +now that he's got an English ship on his trail," +averred a Canadian as he sat drinking in the "Yarmouth +Light" with a group of seafaring men of +various nationalities. "It takes the British jack-tar +to put the kibosh on this pirate game. One of them +is worth a shipload of Yankees at the business."</p> + +<p>"Well, don't you crow too loud now," replied a +Boston skipper. "I reckon that that Nova Scotian +booze-artist, who ran into Portland the other day +scared of his shadow, would not do you fellows +much credit."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but what about your gunboats that have +had the job of fixing the <i>Kanawha</i> for the last three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> +years, and haven't done it yet?" The feelings between +Canada and the United States were none too +good just after the Civil War, and the Canadian +was bound not to lose this opportunity for horse-play. +"You're a fine crowd of sea-dogs, you are, +you fellows from the Boston Tea-Party. Three +years after one little half-drowned rat, and haven't +got him yet. Wouldn't Sir Francis Drake or Lord +Nelson be proud of the record that you long-legged, +slab-sided Yankees have made on the sea!"</p> + +<p>"Shut your mouth! you blue-nosed, down-East +herring-choker!" roared the Yankee skipper. "I +reckon we've given you traitors that tried to stab +us in the back a good enough licking; and if any +more of your dirty dogs ever come nosing about +down south of Mason and Dixon's Line, I bet +they'll soon find out what our record is."</p> + +<p>"Well, you fools can waste your tongue and +wind," said a third man, raising his glass, "but for +me here's good luck to the <i>Buzzard</i>."</p> + +<p>"So say we all of us," chimed in the others, and +the Yankee and the Canadian drank together to the +success of the British ship, forgetting their petty +jealousies before a common foe.</p> + +<p>Everywhere the news of the arrival of the British +warship was hailed with delight. All seemed to +agree that her presence assured the speedy extermination +of the pirate crew. But after several days +of futile cruising about the coast, her commander, +to escape from a coming storm, had to put into St.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +Mary's Bay, with the object of his search still eluding +his vigilance. He only arrived in time to hear +the last chapter of the <i>Kanawha's</i> tale of horrors.</p> + +<p>The night before, Dominic Lefountain, a farmer +living alone at Meteighan, a little village on the +French shore, had been awakened from his sleep +by the moaning and wailing of a human voice. For +days the imminent peril of an assault from the +pirates had filled the people of the French coast with +forebodings. And now, awakened thus in the dead +of night, the lonely Frenchman was wellnigh paralyzed +with terror. With his flesh creeping, and his +eyes wide, he groped for his rifle, and waited in the +darkness, while ever and anon came those unearthly +cries from the beach. Nearly an hour passed before +he could gather himself together sufficiently to investigate +the cause of the alarm. At last, when the +piteous wailing had grown weak and intermittent, +the instinct of humanity mastered his fears, and he +went forth to give a possible succor to the one in +need.</p> + +<p>On the beach, lying prostrate, with the water +lapping about his feet, he found a man in the last +stage of exhaustion. The blood was flowing from +his mouth, and as Dominic turned him over to +stanch its flow, he found that his tongue had been +cut out, and hence the unearthly wailing which had +roused him from his sleep. The beach was deserted +by this time, and it was too dark to see far out into +the bay.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dominic carried the unfortunate man to his house, +and nursed him there for many weeks. He survived +his frightful experiences, and lived on for +twenty years, a pathetic and helpless figure, supported +by the big-hearted farmers and fishermen of +the French shore. Evidently he had known too +much for his enemies, and they had sealed his mouth +forever. He became known as the "Mysterious +Man of Meteighan," and his deplorable condition +was always pointed to as a mute witness of the last +villainy of Mogul Mackenzie.</p> + +<p>On the night following the episode of the "Mysterious +Man of Meteighan," a wild and untoward +storm swept down the North Atlantic and over the +seaboard far and near. In the Bay of Fundy that +night the elements met in their grandest extremes. +Tide-rips and mountain waves opposed each other +with titanic force. All along the bleak and rock-ribbed +coast the boiling waters lay churned into +foam. Over the breakwaters the giant combers +crashed and soared far up into the troubled sky; +while out under the black clouds of the night the +whirlpools and the tempests met. Was ever a night +like this before? Those on shore thanked God; and +those with fathers on the sea gazed out upon a +darkness where no star of hope could shine.</p> + +<p>Now and again through the Stygian gloom a torrent +of sheet-lightning rolled down across the +heavens, bringing in its wake a moment of terrible +light. It was in one of these brief moments of illumination<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> +that the wan watchers at Hall's Harbor +discerned a long gray ship being swept like a specter +before the winds towards the Isle of Haut. Until +the flash of lightning the doomed seamen appeared +to have been unconscious of their fast approaching +fate; and then, as if suddenly awakened, +they sent a long thin trail of light, to wind itself far +up into the darkness. Again and again the rockets +shot upward from her bow, while above the noises +of the tempest came the roar of a gun.</p> + +<p>The people on the shore looked at each other +with blanched faces, speechless, helpless. A lifetime +by that shore had taught them the utter puniness +of the sons of men. Others would have tried +to do something with what they thought was their +strong arm. But the fishermen knew too well that +the Fundy's arm was stronger. In silence they +waited with bated breath while the awful moments +passed. Imperturbable they stood there, with their +feet in the white foam and their faces in the salt +spray, and gazed at the curtain of the night, behind +which a tragedy was passing, as dark and dire as any +in the annals of the sea.</p> + +<p>Another flash of lightning, and there, dashing +upon the iron rocks, was a great ship, with all her +sails set, and a cloud of lurid smoke trailing from +her funnel. She was gray-colored, with auxiliary +power, and as her lines dawned upon those who saw +her in the moment of light, they burst out with one +accord, "It's the <i>Kanawha</i>! It's the <i>Kanawha</i>!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> +As if an answer to their sudden cry another gun +roared, and another shower of rockets shot up into +the sky; and then all was lost again in the darkness +and the voices of the tempest.</p> + +<p>Next morning the winds had gone out with +the tide, and when in the afternoon the calm waters +had risen, a boat put off from Hall's Harbor and +rowed to the Isle of Haut. For several hours the +rocky shores were searched for some traces of the +wreck, but not a spar or splinter could be found. +All about the bright waters laughed, with naught +but the sunbeams on their bosom, and not a +shadow remained from last night's sorrow on the +sea.</p> + +<p>So Mogul Mackenzie, who had lived a life of +stress, passed out on the wings of storm. In his +end, as always, he baffled pursuit, and was sought +but could not be found. His sailings on the sea +were in secret, and his last port in death was a +mystery. But, as has been already related, when +the Northern Lights come down across the haunted +island, the distress signals of his pirate crew are still +seen shooting up into the night.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> From <i>Blackwood's Magazine</i>.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span></p> +<div class="p4"><h2>THE LAST OF THE SEA-ROVERS</h2> + +<div class="sp1"><p class="center">The Riff Coast Pirates<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a></p></div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">W. B. Lord</span></h3> + +<div class="poem" style="width: 16em;"> +<span class="i0">O nay, O nay, then said our King,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">O nay, this must not be,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To yield to such a rover<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Myself will not agree;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He hath deceived the Frenchman,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Likewise the King of Spain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And how can he be true to me,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That hath been false to twain?<br /></span> +<div class="rgt"><small>OLD SEA SONG OF THE YEAR 1620.</small></div></div></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Probably</span> by this time the greater part of +the piratical craft along the Riff coast has +been destroyed, and the long-promised Moorish +gunboat stationed there to protect foreign shipping.<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> +These steps have doubtless been hastened by +the fact that the pirates, unfortunately for themselves, +attacked a vessel some little time ago belonging +to the Sultan of Morocco. For years past the +Governments of several European Powers have +sought to put friendly pressure upon the Sultan of +Morocco to effectually stop the depredations of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> +Riffian coast pirates. No strong measures, however, +were really taken until the above episode occurred. +It is said that in early days the Moors were +some time in accustoming themselves to the perils +of the deep. At first they marvelled greatly at +"those that go down to the sea in ships, and have +their business in great waters," but they did not +hasten to follow their example. One eminent ruler +of ancient times, in that region, when asked what +the sea was like, replied, "The sea is a huge beast +which silly folk ride like worms on logs." But it +afterwards became clear that the Moors had a +strong fancy for the "worms" and "logs" too. +They gave up marvelling at those who went to sea, +and went on it themselves in search of plunder. The +risk, the uncertainty, the danger, the sense of superior +skill and ingenuity, that attract the adventurous +spirit, and the passion for sport, are stated by +some writers to have brought such a state of things +into existence. One fact seems to be pretty certain, +that when these depredations were first made, they +took the form of reprisals upon the Spaniards. No +sooner was Granada fallen, than thousands of desperate +Moors left the land, disdaining to live under +a Spanish yoke. Settling along a portion of the +northern coast of Africa, they immediately proceeded +to first attack all Spanish vessels that could +be found. Their quickness and knowledge of the +coasts gave them the opportunity of reprisals for +which they longed. Probably this got monotonous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> +in course of time, for in their wild sea courses they +took to harrying the vessels belonging to other nations, +and so laid the foundation for a race of +pirates, which has continued down to quite recently. +As nowadays, the Moors cruised in boats from the +commencement of their marauding expeditions. +Each man pulled an oar, and knew how to fight as +well as row. Drawing little water, a small squadron +of these craft could be pushed up almost any +creek, or lie hidden behind a rock, till the enemy +came in sight. Then oars out, and a quick stroke +for a few minutes. Next they were alongside their +unsuspecting prey, and pouring in a first volley. Ultimately +the prize was usually taken, the crew put +in irons, and the pirates returned home with their +capture, no doubt being received with acclamation +upon their arrival.</p> + +<p>As far back as the sixteenth century the Spanish +forts at Alhucemas—not to mention other places—were +established for the purpose of repressing piracy +in its vicinity. Considerable interest is attached +to several of the piracies committed during the past +few years, as they culminated in strong representations +being made to the Sultan of Morocco by the +various Governments under whose flag the respective +vessels sailed. Some of them went so far as +to send warships to cruise along the Riffian coast. +This step apparently had some moral effect upon +the pirates, for from that time onwards attacks +upon foreign vessels practically ceased. Something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> +more than this, however, was needed, for no one +could say how soon the marauding expeditions might +be renewed upon a larger scale than ever, so as to +make up for lost opportunities. On August 14, +1897, the Italian three-masted schooner <i>Fiducia</i> +was off the coast of Morocco, in the Mediterranean, +homeward bound from Pensacola to Marseilles. +Here she got becalmed, and while in that +condition two boats approached her from the shore. +At first the crew of the <i>Fiducia</i> thought they were +native fishing boats. When, however, the latter got +within a hundred yards or so of the helpless vessel, +the suspicions of the crew were aroused. The captain +warned the Moors not to approach any nearer; +a volley of bullets was returned by way of reply, +followed by a regular fusillade as the boats advanced. +There were only three revolvers on board +the schooner, and with these the crew prepared to +defend themselves. Soon, however, their supply of +ammunition became exhausted, and the pirates +boarded the schooner without further opposition. +The vessel was at once ransacked, even the clothes +of the crew being taken. The ship's own boat was +lowered, and into this the marauders put their +booty, and took it ashore, also carrying the captain +and one of the crew with them. About an hour +later another boat, containing about twenty pirates, +came off and fired on the ship. The crew, seeing +that they could offer no effective resistance, hid +themselves away in the hold. The other pirates had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> +left very little for the new arrivals to take, and this +seemed to annoy them so much that they gave vent +to their ill-feelings in several ways, not the least +wanton being the pollution of the ship's fresh water. +They also smashed the vessel's compass, and tore up +the charts. For the next two days the crew existed +on a few biscuits, which the pirates had left behind. +The following day the British steamship <i>Oanfa</i>, of +London, hove in sight. The crew of the schooner +hoisted a shirt as a signal, which was fortunately +seen, and a boat sent off in response thereto. Assistance +was promptly rendered, and the <i>Fiducia</i> put in +a position to resume her voyage. This was done until +spoken by the Italian cruiser <i>Ercole</i>, which assisted +the schooner to her destination.</p> + +<p>In October, 1896, the French barque <i>Prosper +Corue</i> was lying becalmed off Alhucemas, a place +fortified by the Spaniards to keep the pirates in +check, when several boats full of armed Moors +seized the vessel and made the crew prisoners. They +then completely pillaged the ship, removing almost +everything of any use or value. While the miscreants +were thus busily engaged a Spanish merchant +steamship, named the <i>Sevilla</i>, happened to +come along, and was in time to capture one boat and +rescue several of the prisoners. The <i>Sevilla</i> then +made towards the barque, but the pirates opened +fire on the steamer, killing and wounding some of +the crew. The Spaniard was compelled to retire, +leaving the captain of the barque in the hands of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +Moors. Subsequently the barque was picked up in +an abandoned condition by the British steamship +<i>Oswin</i>, and towed into Almeria. An arrangement +was afterwards made with the pirates to release +the captains of the <i>Fiducia</i> and the Portuguese +barque <i>Rosita Faro</i>—a much earlier capture—and +some members of both crews, in exchange for the +Riffians captured by the Spanish steamer <i>Sevilla</i> and +a ransom of 3,000 dollars. It was only after prolonged +negotiations and a large sum of money that a +French warship succeeded in obtaining the freedom +of the captain of the <i>Prosper Corue</i> and a few other +Frenchmen. For some reason or other, the pirates +seemed very much disinclined to part with these +prisoners. Only a short time before the attack on +the French barque took place, a notice was issued +by the British Board of Trade, in which the attention +of ship-owners and masters of vessels was called +to the dangers attending navigation off the coast of +Morocco. The document then proceeded to detail +the case of the British schooner <i>Mayer</i>, of Gibraltar, +which was boarded about 10 miles from the Riff +coast by twenty Moors armed with rifles and daggers. +As usual, the pirates ransacked the vessel, destroyed +the ensign and ship's papers, brutally assaulted +the men on board, and then made off in their +boat. Scarcely had the foregoing notice been generally +circulated than another case of a similar character +happened in connection with the Italian +schooner <i>Scatuola</i>. Again, there is the Spanish cutter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> +<i>Jacob</i>. She was running along the Moorish +coast one fine summer's evening a few years since, +when a boat full of pirates suddenly came alongside, +and speedily upset the quietness which had previously +reigned on board the <i>Jacob</i>. Five of the +crew managed to escape in the cutter's boat and were +picked up some days later by a passing vessel. Those +who remained on board the cutter fared very badly. +After the vessel had been pillaged, the rigging and +sails destroyed, the men were all securely bound +and left to their fate. Fortunately the weather +continued fine, and the <i>Jacob</i> drifted towards the +Spanish coast, where she was seen and assistance +promptly rendered.</p> + +<p>The captain of another Spanish vessel had quite a +"thrilling" adventure among these pirates in May, +1892. He left Gibraltar in command of the barque +<i>San Antonio</i> for Alhucemas, and when about six +miles from Peñon de la Gomera a boat manned by +thirteen Moors was observed to be approaching the +vessel. When near enough they opened fire, and ordered +the captain to lower his sails, which was done, +as the Spaniards were, practically speaking, without +arms. The Moors then boarded the <i>San Antonio</i> +and took her in tow. When close to the land the +captain was rowed ashore, and the pirates spent part +of the night in unloading the cargo. Next morning +the <i>San Antonio</i> was seen drifting out to sea, and +the captain, who was afraid of being put to death, +suggested that he should go on board and bring her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +back to the anchorage. Probably thinking that some +of their comrades were on the barque, but unable to +set the necessary canvas to return, only two Moors +were sent off with the captain, and these remained +in the boat when the vessel was reached. Upon +gaining the deck of the barque the captain was surprised +to find himself alone. Without hesitating for +a moment he released the crew, who were confined +below, hoisted sail and stood out to sea. The +Moors who had been left in the boat were speedily +cut adrift, much to their amazement, for it so happened +that none of the pirates had stayed on board. +No doubt they were eager to find a safe hiding-place +for their plunder, and, thinking the barque quite secure +till morning, took no further heed of the matter. +A few days later the <i>San Antonio</i> arrived at +Gibraltar, where full particulars of the outrage were +furnished to the authorities. Space will not admit +of details being given of the attacks on the Spanish +barque <i>Goleta</i>, the Portuguese barque <i>Rosita Faro</i>, +the British felucca <i>Joven Enrique</i>, and other vessels. +It should be mentioned, however, that several famous +British and foreign sailing yachts upon various +occasions have had remarkably narrow escapes +from being captured by these sea ruffians.</p> + +<p>It is sincerely to be hoped that the Sultan of +Morocco is carrying out his task in such a manner +as will induce the inhabitants of the Riff coast to +follow some occupation in future which is more +likely to be appreciated by those who have to navigate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> +vessels in the Mediterranean. Previous to +stern measures being taken by the Sultan, it was not +at all uncommon for his envoys to the native tribes—for +the purpose of obtaining the release of captives—to +be received with derision. Often, too, +they were maltreated to such an extent that they +were glad to escape with their lives. Some of the +neighboring tribes continually endeavored to purchase +captives for the pleasure of killing them, but it +is satisfactory to learn that no sales are recorded, +as the anticipated ransom was always largely in excess +of the sums offered by the bloodthirsty natives.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> From the <i>Nautical Magazine</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> About twenty years ago.</p></div> + +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Great Pirate Stories, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREAT PIRATE STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 27090-h.htm or 27090-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/0/9/27090/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Stephen Blundell and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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