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diff --git a/27090-8.txt b/27090-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dca13c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/27090-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8106 @@ +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 + + + + + + + + + + GREAT PIRATE STORIES + + + EDITED BY + + JOSEPH LEWIS FRENCH + Editor of "Great Sea Stories," "Masterpieces of Mystery," + "Great Ghost Stories," etc. + + + TWO VOLUMES + IN ONE + + + TUDOR PUBLISHING CO. + NEW YORK + + + + + First Printing, November, 1922 + Second Printing, January, 1923 + Third Printing, November, 1923 + Fourth Printing, November, 1929 + + + _Printed in the United States of America_ + + Copyright, 1922, by Brentano's + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + 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. The + oe ligature is shown as [oe], whilst [)a] and [)i] indicate a breve + over the relevant vowel. + + + + + Go tell your King, he is King of the Land; + But I am the King of the Sea! + + BARBAROSSA TO CHARLES V. + + + + +FOREWORD + + +Piracy 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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! + + JOSEPH LEWIS FRENCH. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + The Piccaroon 1 + From _Tom Cringle's Log_. By MICHAEL SCOTT. + + The Capture of Panama, 1671 23 + From _The Buccaneers of America_. By JOHN ESQUEMELING. + + The Malay Proas 52 + From _Afloat and Ashore_. By JAMES FENIMORE COOPER. + + The Wonderful Fight of the _Exchange_ of Bristol with the + Pirates of Algiers 61 + From _Purchas, His Pilgrims_. By SAMUEL PURCHAS. + + The Daughter of the Great Mogul 89 + From _The King of the Pirates_. By DANIEL DEFOE. + + Barbarossa--King of the Corsairs 97 + From _Sea Wolves of the Mediterranean_. By E. HAMILTON + CURREY, R.N. + + Morgan at Puerto Bello 115 + From _The Buccaneers of America_. By JOHN ESQUEMELING. + + The Ways of the Buccaneers 126 + From _Buccaneer Customs on the Spanish Main_. By JOHN + MASEFIELD after JOHN ESQUEMELING. + + A True Account of Three Notorious Pirates 132 + From _The Buccaneers of America_. By HOWARD PYLE, ED. + + Narrative of the Capture of the Ship _Derby_, 1735 196 + By CAPTAIN ANSELM. + + Francis Lolonois, the Slave Who Became a Pirate King 209 + From _The Buccaneers of America_. By JOHN ESQUEMELING. + + The Fight between the _Dorrill_ and the _Moca_ 232 + From _The Indian Antiquary_, Vol. 49. + + Jaddi the Malay Pirate 240 + From _The Indian Antiquary_, Vol. 49. + + The Terrible Ladrones 247 + From _The Ladrone Pirates_. By RICHARD GLASSPOOLE. + + The Female Captive 276 + From an Old Pamphlet, published in 1825. By LUCRETIA + PARKER. + + The Passing of Mogul Mackenzie, the Last of the North Atlantic + Pirates 298 + From _Blackwood's Magazine_. By ARTHUR HUNT CHUTE. + + The Last of the Sea-Rovers: The Riff Coast Pirates 312 + From the _Nautical Magazine_. By W. B. LORD. + + + + +GREAT PIRATE STORIES + + + + +THE PICCAROON[1] + +MICHAEL SCOTT + +"Ours the wild life in tumult still to range."--_The Corsair._ + + +We 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:-- + + "Fader was a Corramantee, + Moder was a Mingo, + Black picaniny buccra wantee, + So dem sell a me, Peter, by jingo. + Jiggery, jiggery, jiggery." + +"Well sung, Massa Bungo!" exclaimed Mr. Splinter; "where do you hail +from, my hearty?" + +"Hillo! Bungo, indeed! free and easy dat, anyhow. Who you yousef, eh?" + +"Why, Peter," continued the lieutenant, "don't you know me?" + +"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." + +He then resumed his scream, for song it could not be called:-- + + "Mammy Sally's daughter + Lose him shoe in an old canoe + Dat lay half full of water, + And den she knew not what to do. + Jiggery, jig----" + +"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?" + +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. + +"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 Mangrove, pilot to Him +Britannic Majesty squadron, taken de old brig in and through amongst de +keys at Port Royal!" + +"Ay, and how often did you scour her copper against the coral reefs, +Peter?" + +His Majesty's pilot gave a knowing look, and laid his hand on his +breast--"No more of dat if you love me, massa." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +The negro looked steadfastly at us, then carefully around. There was no +one near. + +"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." + +"Oh, I perceive--a large R against your name in the master-attendant's +books, eh?" + +"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." + +I could not resist putting in my oar. + +"I saw Nancy just before we sailed, Peter--fine child that; not quite so +black as you, though." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"No, sir, I don't; but in de first place--as you are 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?" + +"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----" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +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 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. + +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; 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. + +"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 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. + +"Pray, sir, are you the master of that vessel?" said the lieutenant. + +"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. + +"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!" + +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, 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?" + +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. + +"Vy, for von hondred thaler I will land dem safe in Mancheoneal Bay; but +how shall ve manage, Villiamson? De cabin vas point yesterday." + +The Scotch negro nodded. "Never mind; I dare-say the smell of the paint +won't signify to the gentlemen." + +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. 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. + +"Why did you not shift your canvas before we started?" said I to the +Dutch captain, or mate, or whatever he might be. + +"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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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 the captain suddenly jumped on a gun, and gave his orders with a +fiery energy that startled us. + +"Leroux!" A small French boy was at his side in a moment. "Forward, and +call all hands to shorten sail; but, _doucement_, 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!" + +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. + +"Dere she goes, chasing de Gobel," said the Dutchman. + +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. + +"My eye, captain, no use to dodge from her; it is only dat footy little +King's cutter on de Jamaica station." + +"It is her, true enough," answered Williamson; "and she is from Santa +Martha with a freight of specie, I know. I will try a brush with her, +by----" + +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----" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +As we crossed on opposite tacks, her commander hailed, "Ho, the +brigantine, ahoy!" + +"Hillo!" sung out Blackie, as he backed his main-top-sail. + +"What schooner is that?" + +"The Spanish schooner Caridad." + +"Whence, and whither bound?" + +"Carthagena to Porto Rico." + +"Heave-to, and send your boat on board." + +"We have none that will swim, sir." + +"Very well, bring-to, and I will send mine." + +"Call away the boarders," said our captain, in a low stern tone; "let +them crouch out of sight behind the boat." + +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." + +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. + +I watched my opportunity as she pulled up alongside, and called out, +leaning well over the nettings, "Get back to your ship!--treachery! get +back to your ship!" + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Bring up the officer, and take out the gag," said Williamson. + +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, 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. + +"Good God," said Mr. Splinter, "don't you mean to pick up the boat's +crew?" + +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!" + +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. + +The captain of the cutter, seeing we were making sail, did the same, and +after having shot ahead of us, hailed once more. + +"Mr. Walcolm, why don't you run to leeward, and heave-to, sir?" + +"Answer him instantly, and hail again for another boat," said the sable +fiend, and cocked his pistol. + +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 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. + +"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. + +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; 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. + +"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!" + +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 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. + +"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----" + +Splinter groaned. He started--but at this moment the man returned again. + +"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. + +"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?" + +"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, if so be he ever had any, your honor. He has gone mad +through fright." + +"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." + +"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!" + +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 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. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] From _Tom Cringle's Log_. + + + + +THE CAPTURE OF PANAMA, 1671[2] + +JOHN ESQUEMELING + + +Captain Morgan 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. + +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. + +The guides told them, that, about two leagues 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 +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. + +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 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." + +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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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 built here storehouses for all sorts of +merchandise, which to and from Panama are transported on the backs of +mules. + +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. + +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 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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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' 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 were +before removed, but another great part were consumed by fire. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +The convoy which Captain Morgan had sent to 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. + +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, 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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 other persons, who had more compassion for +them than they had showed for her. + +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. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] From _The Buccaneers of America_. + + + + +THE MALAY PROAS[3] + +JAMES FENIMORE COOPER + + +We 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 +_John_ 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. + +Mr. Marble had the middle watch that night, and, 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!" + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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 saw a cluster +of men busy with the second gun from forward, and could distinguish the +captain pointing to it. + +"There cannot well be any mistake, Mr. Marble?" the captain observed, +hesitating whether to fire or not. + +"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." + +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. + +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 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 man[oe]uvering, 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 _John_ 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. + +I was too much interested at this moment to feel 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 _John_ 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 stood away in our wake, on the other tack, +apparently to get out of the range of our fire. + +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 _John_ distinctly saw the swarthy faces of their enemies. + +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, 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. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] From _Afloat and Ashore_. + + + + +THE WONDERFUL FIGHT OF THE _EXCHANGE_ OF BRISTOL WITH THE PIRATES OF +ALGIERS[4] + +SAMUEL PURCHAS + + +In the yeere 1621, the first of November, there was one _Iohn Rawlins_, +borne in _Rochester_, and dwelling three and twenty yeere in _Plimmoth_, +imployed to the Strait of _Gibraltar_, by Master _Richard_, and _Steven +Treviles_, Merchants of Plimmoth, and fraighted in a Barke, called the +_Nicholas_ of _Plimmoth_, of the burden of forty Tun, which had also in +her company another ship of _Plimmoth_, called the _George Benaventure_ +of seventy Tun burthen, or thereabouts; which by reason of her +greatnesse beyond the other, I will name the _Admirall_; and _Iohn +Rawlins_ Barke shall, if you please, be the _Vice-admirall_. 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 _Trafflegar_: but the next morning, being in the sight of +_Gibraltar_, 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 same means to go as farre +from them: yet did their _Admirall_ 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 _Christians_, 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 _Tirriff_, or _Gibraltar_: +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. + +Their _Admirall_ was called _Callfater_, having upon her maine +top-saile, two top-gallant sailes, one above another. But whereas we +thought them all five to be _Turkish_ ships of war, we afterwards +understood, that two of them were their prizes, the one a smal ship of +_London_, the other of the West-countrey, that came out of the +_Quactath_ 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 _Admirall_ who was the best sailer, fetcht +up the _George Bonaventure_, and made booty of it. The _Vice-Admirall_ +againe being neerest unto the lesser Barke, whereof _Iohn Rawlins_ was +Master, shewed him the force of a stronger arme, and by his _Turkish_ +name, called _Villa-Rise_, 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 _Rawlins_ with his Barke was quickly +taken, although the _Reare-Admirall_ being the worst sayler of the +three, called _Reggiprise_, came not in, till all was done. + +The same day before night, the _Admirall_ either loth to pester himselfe +with too much company, or ignorant of the commodity that was to be made +by the sale of _English_ 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 _George Bonaventure_ on the land, and +divers other _English_, whom he had taken before, to trie their fortunes +in an unknowne Countrey. But _Villa-Rise_, the _Vice-Admirall_ that had +taken _Iohn Rawlins_, 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 _Turkes_ and +_Moores_, who were questionlesse sufficient to over-master the other, +and direct the Barke to Harbour. Thus they sailed directly for _Algier_; +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 _Rawlins_ Barke, called the _Nicholas_, and in a manner +lost themselves, though they seemed safe a shipboord, by 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 _Algier_, +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 _English_ 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 _Turkes_, or made subiect to more viler prostitution, +and all _English_: yet like good _Christians_, 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 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. + +First, concerning the first. The _Bashaw_ 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 _Moores_ 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. + +Secondly, concerning their enforcing them, either to turne _Turke_, 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 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 _Renegadoes_ +in despight of any counsell which seemed to intercept them: and this was +the first newes wee encountred with at our comming first to _Algier_. + +The 26. of the same moneth, _Iohn Rawlins_ 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 _Bashaw_, but that they tooke the +Owners servant, and _Rawlins_ Boy, and by force and torment compelled +them to turne _Turkes_: then were they in all seven _English_, besides +_Iohn Rawlins_, of whom the _Bashaw_ 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 +_England_. 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 Souldiers +returned with the money to their Captaines. + +_Iohn Rawlins_ was the last who was sold, by reason of his lame hand, +and bought by the Captaine that tooke him, even that dog _Villa Rise_, +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 _English +Renegadoes_, he paid for _Rawlins_ but one hundred and fiftie Dooblets, +which make of _English_ 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 _Turkes_ 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 _English_ there for his ransome, he +would send him up into the Countrey, where he should never see +_Christendome_ againe, and endure the extremity of a miserable +banishment. + +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 people, +when they least thinke of succour and releasement. Whilest _Iohn +Rawlins_ was thus terrified with the dogged answere of _Villa Rise_, the +_Exchange_ of _Bristow_,[5] a ship formerly surprised by the Pirats, lay +all unrigged in the Harbour, till at last one _Iohn Goodale_, an +_English Turke_, with his confederates, understanding shee was a good +sailer, and might be made a proper Man of Warre, bought her from the +_Turkes_ that tooke her, and prepared her for their owne purpose. Now +the _Captaine_ that set them at worke, was also an _English Renegado_, +by the name of _Rammetham Rise_, but by his Christian name _Henrie +Chandler_, who resolved to make _Goodale_ Master over her; and because +they were both _English Turkes_, having the command notwithstanding of +many _Turkes_ and _Moores_, they concluded to have all _English_ slaves +to goe in her, and for their Gunners, _English_ and _Dutch Renegadoes_, +and so they agreed with the Patrons of nine _English_ and one _French_ +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 +_Iohn Rawlins_ men, who were taken with him, were also taken up to serve +in this Man of Warre, their names, _Iames Roe_, and _Iohn Davies_, the +one dwelling in _Plimmoth_, and the other in _Foy_, 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, upon +the good service they should performe in the voyage, and withall +demanded of them, if they knew of any _Englishman_ 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 _Turke_ 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. _Davies_ quickly replied, that as farre as he +understood, _Villa Rise_ would sell _Iohn Rawlins_ 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. + +When the Captaine understood thus much, he imployed _Davies_ to search +for Rawlins, who at last lighting upon him, asked him if the _Turke_ +would sell him: _Rawlins_ 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 _English_; which he +must procure, or incurre sorer indurances. When _Davies_ had certified +this much, the _Turkes_ a ship-boord conferred about the matter, and the +Master whose Christen name was _Iohn Goodale_ joyned with two _Turkes_, +who were consorted with him, and disbursed one hundred Dooblets a +piece, and so bought him of _Villa Rise_, sending him into the said +ship, called the _Exchange_ of _Bristow_, 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 _Rawlins_ 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 _Turkish_ +slaverie, and inhumane abuses. + +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 _Algier_, with +this company, and in this manner. + +There were in her sixtie three _Turkes_ and _Moores_, nine _English_ +slaves, and one _French_, foure _Hollanders_ that were free men, to whom +the _Turkes_ promised one prise or other, and so to returne to Holland; +or if they were disposed to goe backe againe for _Algier_, 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 _English_ and one _Dutch_ Renegado; +and thus much for the companie. For the manner of setting out, it was as +usuall as in other ships, but that the _Turkes_ 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 +_English_ were imployed under Hatches about the Ordnance, and other +workes of order, and accommodating themselves: all which _Iohn Rawlins_ +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 _themselves_ 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 _Mahumetan_ 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 _Rawlins_) +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." + +The fifteenth of Januarie, the morning water brought us neere _Cape de +Gatt_, hard by the shoare, we having in our companie a smal _Turkish_ +ship of Warre, that followed us out of _Algier_ the next day, and now +ioyning with us, gave us notice of seven small vessels, sixe of them +being _Sallees_, and one _Pollack_, who very quickly appeared in sight, +and so we made toward them: but having more advantage of the _Pollack_, +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 _Mahumetans_, 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 +_English_ and _Dutch_ Renegadoes, who came aboord home at their _Conge_, +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 _Algier_, taking nine _Turkes_, and one _English_ +Slave, out of one ship, and six out of the lesse, which we thought +sufficient to man her. + +In the rifling of this _Catelaynia_, our _Turkes_ fell at variance one +with another, and in such a manner, that we divided our selves, the +lesser ship returned to _Algier_, and our _Exchange_ tooke the +opportunitie of the wind, and plyed out of the Streights, which +reioyced _Iohn Rawlins_ very much, as resolving on some Stratageme, when +opportunities should serve. In the meane-while, the _Turkes_ began to +murmurre, and would not willingly goe into the _Marr Granada_, as the +phrase is amongst them: notwithstanding the _Moores_ being very +_superstitious_, were contented to be directed by their _Hoshea_, 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. + +Upon the sight of two great ships, and as wee were afraid of their +chasing us, they beeing supposed to bee _Spanish_ 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 _John Rawlins_, 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 the heads, and if the Arrow for the Christians +commeth over the head of the Arrow for the _Turkes_, then doe they +advance their sayles, and will not endure the fight, whatsoever they +see: but if the Arrow of the _Turkes_ 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. + +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. + +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 +_Turkes_. 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 _Turkes_ denyed to goe any further Northward: +but the Captaine resolved not to returne to _Algier_, except he could +obtayne some Prize worthy his endurances, but rather to goe to _Salle_, +and tell his Christians to victuall his ship; which the other Captaine +apprehended for his honour, and so perswaded the _Turkes_ to be obedient +unto him; whereupon followed a pacification amongst us, and so that +_Turke_ tooke his course for the Streights, and wee put up Northward, +expecting the good houre of some beneficiall bootie. + +All this while our slavery continued, and the _Turkes_ 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 +_Iohn Rawlins_ 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 _English_ 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 _English_ slaves, so he kept the same distance with the foure +_Hollanders_, that were free men, till finding them comming somewhat +toward them, he acquainted them with the whole Conspiracie, and they +affecting the Plot, offered the adventure of their lives in the +businesse. Then very warily he undermined the _English_ Renegado, which +was the Gunner, and three more his Associats, who at first seemed to +retract. Last of all were brought in the _Dutch_ Renegadoes, who were +also in the Gunner roome, for alwayes there lay twelve there, five +Christians, and seven _English_, and _Dutch Turkes_: so that when +another motion had settled their resolutions, and _Iohn Rawlins_ his +constancie had put new life as it were in the matter, the foure +_Hollanders_ very honestly, according to their promise, sounded the +_Dutch_ Renegadoes, who with easie perswasion gave their consent to so +brave an Enterprize; whereupon _Iohn Rawlins_, not caring whether the +_English_ Gunners would yeeld or no, resolved in the Captaines morning +watch, to make the attempt. But you must understand that where the +_English_ 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 _Iohn Rawlins_ 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 _Turkes_, and bade them come downe: whereupon the Botesane +of the _Turkes_ descended with a Candle, and presently searched all the +slaves places, making much adoe of the matter, but finding neyther +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. + +For we sayled still more North-ward, and _Rawlins_ had more time to +tamper with his Gunners, and the rest of the _English_ 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 _Rawlins_, 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 _Turke_, with his Knife drawne, and +presented it to _Rawlins_ his body, who verily supposed, he intended to +kill him, as suspitious that the Gunner had discovered something, +whereat _Rawlins_ 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 _Rawlins_ in this manner, "no Master, be not +afraid, I thinke hee doth but _iest_." With that _John Rawlins_ 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 _Turke_ perceived, he threw downe his Knife, saying, hee did but +iest with him. But when the Gunner perceived, _Rawlins_ 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, _Rawlins_ 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, and that there was no cause of further +feare, hee somewhat comforted himselfe. + +All this while, _Rawlins_ 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 _Turkes_, 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 _Tor Bay_, neere +_Dartmouth_, that came from _Auerure_ laden with Salt. Ere we had fully +dispatched, it chanced to be foule weather, so that we could not, or at +least _would not_ 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 _Turkish_ Captain sent ten _Turkes_ to man her, amongst +whom were two _Dutch_, and one English Renegado, who were of our +confederacie, and acquainted with the businesse. + +But when _Rawlins_ saw this partition of his friends; before they could +hoyst out their Boat for the Barke, he made meanes to speake with them, +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 _English_ with his resolution, and make toward _England_, +bearing up the helme, whiles the _Turkes_ 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 _Tor Bay_, +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 _Turkes_ 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 _Turkes_ being Souldiers, and ignorant of Sea Affaires, +could not discover, whether they went to _Algier_ or no; or if they did, +they resolved by _Rawlins_ 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 _Rawlins_ againe. + +The Master of the Barke of _Tor Bay_, and his Company were quickly +searched, and as quickly pillaged, and dismissed to the libertie of the +shippe, whereby _Rawlins_ had leisure to entertayne him with the +lamentable newes of their extremities, and in a 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 _England_ and hee would that night and evermore pray for their +good successe, and safe deliverance. + +When the Master of the Barke of _Tor Bay_ 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 _Rawlins_, 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. + +The next morning, being the seventh of February, the Prize of _Tor Bay_ +was not to bee seene or found, whereat the Captaine began to storme and +sweare, commanding _Rawlins_ 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 _Algier_: but by the permission of +the Ruler of all actions, that _Algier_ was England, and all his +wickednesse frustrated: for _Rawlins_ 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 _Rawlins_, +"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 _Flemmings_ 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 +_English_ slaves, who always lay in the middle Decks, should doe the +like, and watch the Scuttels: _Rawlins_ himselfe prevayled 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 _Iames_, +and Saint _George_ for _England_! + +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, _Rawlins_ 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. + +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 _English_ slaves, besides _Iohn Rawlins_: five of the _Tor +Bay_ men, and one boy, foure _English_ Renegadoes, and two _French_, +foure _Hollanders_: 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 _Rawlins_ men, _Iames Roe_, and _Iohn Davies_, +whom he brought out of _England_, 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 _Turkes_ 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 _Turkes_ and _Moores_ being placed as you have heard, and five and +forty in number, and _Rawlins_ having proined the Tuch-holes, _Iames +Roe_ 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 was so fell and mad: For they not +onely cald us dogs, and cried out, _Usance de Lamair_, 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. + +When _Iohn Rawlins_ perceived them so violent, and understood how the +slaves had cleared the deckes of all the _Turkes_ and _Moores_ 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 _Rawlins_, 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 _English_ 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, and some were +slaine and mangled with the Curtleaxes, till the ship was well cleared, +and our selves assured of the victory. + +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 _Rawlins_, how he had redeemed him from _Villa-Rise_, and ever +since admitted him to place of command in the ship, besides honest usage +in the whole course of the Voyage. All which _Rawlins_ confessed, and at +last condescended to mercy, and brought the Captaine and five more into +_England_. The Captain was called _Ramtham-Rise_, but his Christen name, +_Henry Chandler_, and as they say, was a Chandler's sonne in Southwarke. +_Iohn Goodale_, was also an _English Turke_. _Richard Clarke_, in +_Turkish_, _Iafar_; _George Cooke_, _Ramdam_; _Iohn Browne_, _Mamme_; +_William Winter_, _Mustapha_; besides all the slaves and _Hollanders_, +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. + +When all was done, and the ship cleared of the dead bodies, _Iohn +Rawlins_ 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 _England_, where by Gods grace and good guiding, we +arrived at _Plimmoth_, 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. + +Not long after we understood of our confederats, that returned home in +the Barke of _Torbay_, that they arrived in _Pensance_ in _Corne-wall_ +the eleventh of February: and if any aske after their deliverance, +considering there were ten _Turkes_ 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 Mate, and the two +_English_ in her with _Rawlins_ 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 +_Turkes_ beleeve, the wind was come faire, and that they were sayling to +_Algier_, till they came within sight of _England_, which one of them +amongst the rest discovered, saying plainely, that that land was not +like _Cape Vincent_; "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 _English_, 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 _Excester_, 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 _Iohn Rawlins_ Voyage. The Actors in this Comick +Tragedie are most of them alive; The _Turkes_ are in prison; the ship is +to be seene, and _Rawlins_ himselfe dare justifie the matter. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] From _Purchas, His Pilgrims_. + +[5] Bristol. + + + + +THE DAUGHTER OF THE GREAT MOGUL[6] + +DANIEL DEFOE + + +In 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. + +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. + +This was a booty worth watching for, though it had been some months +longer; so I resolved that 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] From _The King of the Pirates_. + + + + +BARBAROSSA--KING OF THE CORSAIRS[7] + +E. HAMILTON CURREY, R.N. + + +At 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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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 _la haute politique_, 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. + +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. 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. + +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 of +her son, not a woman to stick at trifles, and she decided that Ibrahim +must die. + +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 _alter ego_ in +fact. It says much for the nerve of the Sultana that she dared so +greatly on this memorable and lamentable occasion. + +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. + +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 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? + +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 +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. + +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" 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. + +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." + +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 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. + +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 +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." + +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. + +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. + +"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 +Sultan trembled, for the humor of the despot was black indeed. + +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? + +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! + +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." + +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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. 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. + +The Sultan, from his kiosk, the windows of which opened on the +Bosphorus, counted the ships. + +"Only eighty sail; is that all?" he asked. + +The trembling Viziers prostrated themselves before him. + +"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." + +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. + +The Sultan stared from his window at the retreating ships in a silence +like the silence of the grave. At last he turned: + +"So be it," he answered briefly; "but see to it that reinforcements do +not lag upon the road." + +If there had been activity in the dockyards before it was as nothing to +the strenuous work that was to be done henceforward. + +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 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 usually obtained by an unsparing use of the lash on the naked +bodies of the rowers. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[7] From _Sea Wolves of the Mediterranean_. + + + + +MORGAN AT PUERTO BELLO[8] + +JOHN ESQUEMELING + + +Some 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 time they had lost many of their men, both +by the unhealthiness of the country, and their extravagant debaucheries. + +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 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." + +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 them for a twelvemonth; after which +time he promised to come to Panama, and fetch them away."[9] 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." + +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. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[8] From _The Buccaneers of America_. + +[9] This promise was kept. See The Capture of Panama (footnote). + + + + +THE WAYS OF THE BUCCANEERS[10] + +JOHN MASEFIELD after JOHN ESQUEMELING + + +Throughout 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 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. + +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, +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 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. + +At the conclusion of a successful cruise, they sailed for Port Royal, +with the ship full of treasure, such 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. + +After the division of the spoil in the beautiful 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?" + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] From _Buccaneer Customs on the Spanish Main_. + + + + +A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THREE NOTORIOUS PIRATES[11] + +HOWARD PYLE, ED. + + +I + +CAPTAIN TEACH _alias_ BLACK-BEARD + +Edward Teach 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. + +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. + +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. + +Aboard of this Guineaman Teach mounted forty guns, and named her the +_Queen Ann's Revenge_; and cruising near the island of St. Vincent, took +a large ship, called the _Great Allen_, 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. + +A few days after Teach fell in with the _Scarborough_, 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. + +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 +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. + +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 _Revenge_, +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 _Adventure_, 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. + +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 _Protestant +Cæsar_, 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 the owner. The _Protestant Cæsar_ +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. + +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 to them was a long, +expensive war the colony had had with the natives, which was but just +ended when these robbers infested them. + +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 _Revenge_ 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. + +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 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. + +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 Ģ1,500 sterling, besides provisions and other +matters. + +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 _Revenge_ 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, or herb for their subsistence, and where they must +have perished if Major Bonnet had not, two days after, taken them off. + +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. + +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 _Queen Ann's Revenge_, 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. + +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 magistrate; +and this, I have been informed, made Teach's fourteenth wife whereof +about a dozen might be still living. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 _ad +valorem_ 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 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. + +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. + +This governor consulted with the captains of the two men-of-war, viz., +the _Pearl_ and _Lime_, 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 _Pearl_, 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. + +About the time of their going out the governor called an assembly, in +which it was resolved to publish 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:-- + + + By his Majesty's Lieutenant-Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the + Colony and Dominion of Virginia. + + A PROCLAMATION, + + Publishing the Rewards given for apprehending or killing Pirates. + + WHEREAS, 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 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. + + Given at our Council-Chamber at Williamsburgh, this + 24th day of November, 1718, in the fifth year of + his Majesty's reign. + GOD SAVE THE KING. + A. SPOTSWOOD. + +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. 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. + +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. + +Lieutenant Maynard came to an anchor, for the place being shoal, and the +channel intricate, there 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 Mr. Maynard told him +"that he expected no quarter from him, nor should he give him any." + +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. + +After this unlucky blow Black-beard's sloop fell broadside to the shore; +Mr. Maynard's other sloop, which was called the _Ranger_, 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 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." + +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. + +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 _Ranger_ came up and +attacked the men that remained in Black-beard's sloop with equal +bravery, till they likewise cried for quarter. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 of the +same, before the _Queen Ann's Revenge_ was lost in Topsail inlet. + +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." + +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. + +Now that we have given some account of Teach's 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. + +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. + +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. + +If he had the look of a fury, his humors and passions were suitable to +it. + +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 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. + +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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +The names of the pirates killed in the engagement, are as follows:-- + +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. + +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 Ģ2,500, besides the rewards paid by the +governor of Virginia, pursuant to his proclamation; all which was +divided among the companies of the two ships, _Lime_ and _Pearl_, 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. + + +II + +CAPTAIN WILLIAM KID + +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. + +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 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. + +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:-- + + "WILLIAM REX,--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 _Adventure_ 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 + 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 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." + +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. + +With these two commissions he sailed out of Plymouth in May, 1696, in +the _Adventure_ 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. + +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. + +With this company he sailed first for Madeira, 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. + +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 ship, but saved their effects, and with this he purchased +materials for putting his ship in good repair. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. This was a Moorish ship of four +hundred tons, richly laden, named the _Queda_, 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. + +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. + +Kid put some of his men on board the _Queda_, 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. + +These men belonged to a pirate ship, called the _Resolution_, formerly +the _Mocco_, 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 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. + +The _Adventure_ 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 _Queda_, 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. + +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. + +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 +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[12] and Kid were excepted by name. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +Kid was tried upon an indictment of murder also--viz., for killing Moor, +the gunner--and found guilty of the same. + +As to Captain Kid's defense, he insisted much upon his own innocence, +and the villainy of his men. 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. + +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. + +When Kid was asked what he had to say why 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." + +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. + + +III + +CAPTAIN BARTHOLOMEW ROBERTS AND HIS CREW + +Bartholomew Roberts sailed in an honest employ from London, aboard of +the _Princess_, 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 what he did not like as a private man he could reconcile to his +conscience as a commander. + +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: + +"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 such a one I take Roberts to be--a +fellow, I think, in all respects worthy your esteem and favor." + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 +_Experiment_, Captain Cornet, at 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. + +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 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. + +Whereupon this Portuguese master pointed to one of forty guns and a +hundred and fifty men, a ship of greater force than the _Rover_; 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 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. + +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. + +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 their wives, +who exchanged wares, and drove a considerable trade with them. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +Captain Kennedy, in the _Rover_, 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 Ģ250. 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 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 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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +The rest of the pirates who were left in the ship _Rover_ 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 _St. Christophers_, and carried into that island +with only nine negroes aboard. + +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. + +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 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." + + * * * * * + +The following is the substance of articles as taken from the pirates' +own informations:-- + + +I + +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. + + +II + +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 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. + + +III + +No person to game at cards or dice for money. + + +IV + +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.) + + +V + +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--Ģ30 or Ģ40 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.) + + +VI + +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 _Onslow_, 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.) + + +VII + +To desert the ship or their quarters in battle, was punished with death +or marooning. + + +VIII + +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. + + +IX + +No man to talk of breaking up their way of living till each had shared +Ģ1,000. If, in order to this, 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. + + +X + +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. + + +XI + +The musicians to have rest on the Sabbath-day, but the other six days +and nights none without special favor. + + * * * * * + +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. + +Since we are now speaking of the laws of this 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 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." + + * * * * * + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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? + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[11] A contemporary narrative. From _The Buccaneers of America_. + +[12] Avery was called "The King of the Pirates." See "The Daughter of +the Great Mogul." + + + + +NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTURE OF THE SHIP _DERBY_, 1735 + +CAPTAIN ANSELM + + +I fell in with the Land of _Madagascar_, 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 _Augustin_ 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 _Johanna_. 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 _Augustin_ Bay I was +very unwilling: I had two Boats came off to me, the People talking +tolerable good _English_. At last, my Doctor, _Sharp_, 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 _Augustin_ +Bay, and we agreed, and bore away for it. Soon after, the Wind came +Southerly, and I bore away for _Johanna_. A fine Passage I had, and +anchor'd the next Day about Four in the Afternoon, being _Sept._ 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. _Rogers_, 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 Casks, and +fill what Water we could, fearing of a long Passage, if our Stay was a +little longer. Mr. _Rogers_ 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. + +Having all my Water aboard, about 80 Tun, 25 Head of Oxen, _&c._, I +sail'd the 13th of _October_, with several of my Men not recover'd; some +I buried at _Johanna_, 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 _Mallabar_ 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. _B----s_ 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 _B----s's_ Turn to sleep; and seeing a +Light in his Cabin, I sent Mr. _Cuddon_, the second Mate, to him, to +know how he would be able to sit up one Watch, and keep his own. Upon +this _B----s_ 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. _B----s_ was told of this by Mr. _Rogers_, 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. + +Before I came in with the Land, hearing much talk of _Angria_,[13] by +Capt. _Scarlet_, and Mr. _Rogers_, 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 _sending_, and +the Sea 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, _&c._ 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. _Rogers_, 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 _Dec._ 12, I made +the Land of _Goa_, in the Latitude of 15 Degrees North. My Chief Mate +wanted me to go into _Goa_, but I was resolved not, but to make the best +of my Way for _Bombay_. The next Morning, having a fine Six-Knot-Gale, +about Nine o' Clock Mr. _Rogers_ told me, he saw _Gereah_, and desired +me to haul further off Shore, and said, if _Angria_ 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 of Land. He told me they were +afraid to do that, fearing the _Bombay_ 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 _Bombay_; 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. + +When it was too late, I was acquainted by those taken in the _Severn_, +that Mr. _Rogers_ inform'd me wrong; for _Angria_ 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. + +I have since repented that we did not go into _Goa_; 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 +_Bombay_, the Season of the Year being far advanc'd. + +_December_ 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 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 _Angria's_ 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. _Rogers_, and my Third Mate Mr. _Burroughs_ 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 _Angria_, 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 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, _&c._ 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 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, _&c._ 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, _&c._ +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. _Scarlet_ to Mr. _Cudden_, 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 _Mouse_, that I was so poorly Mann'd. As to my Third +Mate, _B----s_, 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 the Deck. This Captain _Scarlet_ has often +declared to the Gentlemen at _Bombay_, 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, _&c._ 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. +_Scarlet_ to go to Mr. _Cuddon_, and tell him not to fire in Waste. + +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, +_&c._ 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 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. _Thomas Rogers_, 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. _Rogers_ 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. 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. _Rogers's_ +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. _Rogers's_ 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. _Scarlet_ 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 _Derby_. 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 in a Gallivat with 50 or +60 Men, but not a Soul went aboard the _Derby_, till we return'd. Then +came aboard more Gallivats and more Men, and secured the Arms, _&c._ 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, +_Scarlet_, _Cuddon_, the two Ladies, and my Servants, into one of the +Grabbs. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[13] A noted pirate. + + + + +FRANCIS LOLONOIS + +THE SLAVE WHO BECAME A PIRATE KING[14] + +JOHN ESQUEMELING + + +Francis Lolonois 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. + +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, 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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, 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. + +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. +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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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 great number of muskets, and like things, with 12,000 +pieces-of-eight. + +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. + +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 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 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. + +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. The town of Gibraltar is +also frequently drowned by these, so that the inhabitants are +constrained to retire to their plantations. + +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 +_tobacco de sacerdotes_, 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. On the said mules returns are +made in flour of meal, which comes from towards Peru, by the way of +Estaffe. + +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 _de la +barra_. 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 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. + +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; 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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. 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, wherewith at last they deceived and +overcame the Spaniards. + +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. + +Of their own companions only forty were killed, and almost eighty +wounded, whereof the greatest 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. + +Finally, after having been in possession of the town four entire weeks, +they sent four of the prisoners 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." + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[14] _The Buccaneers of America._ + + + + +THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE _DORRILL_ AND THE _MOCA_[15] + + +These 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, _vizt._, 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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 _Resolution_, bound for China. This Collyford had been +Gunners Mate at Bombay, and after run away with the Ketch. + +Thus past the 8th July. Friday the 9th do., he being some distance from +us, About 1/2 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 _Moca_?" 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. + +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 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 1/4 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 1/2 an hour +after 11 till about 3 afternoon. + +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, 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 1/2 +shott off and his forefinger splintered very sorely. John Blake, turner, +the flesh of his legg and calfe a great part shott away. + +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. + +Their small shott were most Tinn and Tuthenage [_tutenaga_, 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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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 _Mocco_ 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. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[15] From _The Indian Antiquary_, Vol. 49. + + + + +JADDI THE MALAY PIRATE[16] + + +Long 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.) + +Our thirteen prahus had all been fitted out in and about Singapore. I +wish you could have seen them, Touhan [_Tüan_, Sir]. These prahus we see +here are nothing to them, such brass guns, such long pendants, such +creeses [Malay _kris_, dagger]! Allah-il-Allah! Our Datoos [_datuk_, a +chief] were indeed great men! + +Sailing along the coast as high as Patani, we then crossed over to +Borneo, two Illanoon prahus acting 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. + +"Do you mean to say," I asked, "that the Dutch countenance such +traffic?" + +"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!" + +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 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!" + +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. + +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. + +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 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 _kris_] all that did so, and +then trust to Allah for his escape. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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 +_black fellows_ [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 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! + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[16] From _The Indian Antiquary_, Vol. 49. + + + + +THE TERRIBLE LADRONES[17] + +RICHARD GLASSPOOLE + + +On the 17th of September, 1809, the Honorable Company's ship _Marquis of +Ely_ anchored under the Island of _Sam Chow_, 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 P.M. with seven men under my command, well armed. +It blew a fresh gale from the N. E. We arrived at Macao at 9 P.M., 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 A.M., the ebb-tide making, we +left Macao with vegetables for the ship. + +One of the Compradore's men who spoke English went with us for the +purpose of piloting the ship 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. + +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 _Glatton_. 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 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. + +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 +A.M. close under the land in five or six fathoms water, blowing fresh, +with hard rain. + +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 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. + +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. + +Thursday, the 21st, at daylight, the flood making, weighed and pulled +along shore in great spirits, 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. + +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[18] 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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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.[19] + +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. + +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.[20] He told the chief that +captured us, to dispose of us as he pleased. + +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. + +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, 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,[21] 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. + +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. + +The fleet now divided into two squadrons (the red and the black)[22] 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 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)[23] and a few cottages were immediately +plundered, and burned down; most of the inhabitants, however, escaped to +the camp. + +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. + +October the 1st, the fleet weighed in the night, 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. + +When the chief came on board, he questioned them respecting the +circumstances of their friends, 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.[24] + +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).[25] 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 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. + +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. + +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. + +The fleet now anchored opposite the ruins of the town where the women +had been made prisoners. 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 vessel towards Lantow. The fleet remained in +this river, cutting paddy, and getting the necessary supplies. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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! + +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 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! + +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! + +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. + +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. 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. + +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! + +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. + +The Ladrones towed out seven large vessels, 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. + +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. + +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. 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! + +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. + +Thus terminated the boasted blockade, which 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. + +On the 2nd of December I received a letter from Lieutenant Maughn, +commander of the Honorable Company's cruiser _Antelope_, 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 _Antelope_; then the Compradore's boat was to bring the +ransom and receive us. + +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 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. + +At one P.M. saw the _Antelope_ 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 _Antelope_ 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. + +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. + +In the morning the chief inspected the ransom, which consisted of the +following articles: two bales 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. + +Every thing being at length settled, the chief ordered two gunboats to +convey us near the _Antelope_; we saw her just before dusk, when the +Ladrone boats left us. We had the inexpressible pleasure of arriving on +board the _Antelope_ at 7 P.M., 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. + + +_A few Remarks on the Origin, Progress, Manners, and Customs of the +Ladrones_ + +The 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 became more desperate. They blockaded all the principal +rivers, and captured several large junks, mounting from ten to fifteen +guns each. + +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. + +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 y[)i]h 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. + +This extraordinary character would have certainly shaken the foundation +of the government, had 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 y[)i]h 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. + +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. + +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. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[17] From _The Ladrone Pirates_. + +[18] _Junk_ is the Canton pronunciation of _chuen_, ship. + +[19] The pirates had many other intimate acquaintances on shore, like +Doctor _Chow_ of Macao. + +[20] 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 _Report relative to +the trade with the East-Indies and China_, in the sessions 1820 and 1821 +(reprinted 1829), p. 387. + +"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. + +"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." + +[21] 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. + +[22] We know by the "History of the Chinese Pirates," that these "wasps +of the ocean," to speak with _Yuen tsze yung lun_, were originally +divided into six squadrons. + +[23] In the barbarous Chinese-English spoken at Canton, all things are +indiscriminately called _chop_. 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 _ch[)a] tan_; ch[)a] in the pronunciation +of Canton is _chop_, which is then applied to any writing whatever. + +[24] The following is the _Character of the Chinese of Canton, as given +in ancient Chinese books_: "People of Canton are silly, light, weak in +body, and weak in mind, without any ability to fight on land." + +[25] _Joss_ is a Chinese corruption of the Portuguese _Dios_, _God_. The +Joss, or idol, of which Mr. Glasspoole speaks is the _San po shin_, +which is spoken of in the work of Yuen tsze. + + + + +THE FEMALE CAPTIVE[26] + +LUCRETIA PARKER + + +The event which is here related is the capture by the Pirates of the +English sloop _Eliza Ann_, 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. + + St. Johns, April 3, 1825. + + Dear Brother, + + 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 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 + PROVIDENCE, 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. + + On the 28th February I took passage on board the sloop _Eliza Ann_, + 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 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 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. + + 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 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! + + 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, 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. + + 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 _Eliza Ann_ 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 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 + 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." + + 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 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. + + 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. + + 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 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. + + 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. + + 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 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. + + 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 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. + + 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 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 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. + + "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 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." + + 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 of wicked men, and for finally restoring me to liberty and + to my friends! + + I cannot praise Him as I would, + But He is merciful and good. + + 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 _Ann Eliza's_ 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 _Ann Eliza_ (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. + + 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 directions + they left me, and I never saw them more. + + 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. + + 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. + + 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! + + The sudden and unexpected introduction into their apartment of one, + whom they had probably 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. + + 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. + + 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 + 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. + + 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 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! + + 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, 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! + + I am, dear brother, affectionately yours, + LUCRETIA PARKER. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[26] From an Old Pamphlet, published in 1825. + + + + +THE PASSING OF MOGUL MACKENZIE + +The Last of the North Atlantic Pirates[27] + +ARTHUR HUNT CHUTE + + +In 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. + +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. + +Sometimes on a stormy night the unhappy navigators of the North Channel +miss the coast lights 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." + +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 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 _c[oe]ur de bois_ 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. + +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 the most weird of all the strange yarns +that are spun about the "Island of the Dead." + +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. + +"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. + +"There's something rotten on board there," said the mate. + +"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. + +"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 thus tear +through the darkness before the wind without the flicker of a light. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 _St. Clare_, 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. + +A crew was told off to stand by the _St. Clare_ to bring her into port, +and the others climbed into the long-boat to row back to the whaler. + +"Just see if there is a name on that there dinghy, before we go," said +the mate. + +An exclamation of horror broke from one of the men as he read on the bow +of the dinghy the name, _Kanawha_. + +The faces of all went white with a dire alarm as the facts of the +mystery suddenly flashed before them. The _Kanawha_ was the ship in +which Captain Mogul Mackenzie had made himself notorious as a +privateersman. Every one had heard her awe-inspiring name, and every +Yankee seafaring man prayed that he might never meet her on the seas. +After the _Alabama_ was sunk, and the _Talahassee_ was withdrawn, the +_Kanawha_ 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 _St. Clare_. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 _St. Clare_, it was known beyond doubt +that the _Kanawha_ 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. + +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 _Kanawha_ 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. + +This news brought with it consternation, and 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. + +About a week after the adventure of the Boston packet Her Majesty's ship +_Buzzard_ appeared off Yarmouth harbor. The news of the _Kanawha_ had +come to the Admiral at Halifax, and he had dispatched the warship to +cruise about the troubled coast. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Yes; but what about your gunboats that have had the job of fixing the +_Kanawha_ for the last three 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!" + +"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." + +"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 _Buzzard_." + +"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. + +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. 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 _Kanawha's_ tale of horrors. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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 _Kanawha_! It's the +_Kanawha_!" 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. + +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. + +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. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[27] From _Blackwood's Magazine_. + + + + +THE LAST OF THE SEA-ROVERS + +The Riff Coast Pirates[28] + +W. B. LORD + + O nay, O nay, then said our King, + O nay, this must not be, + To yield to such a rover + Myself will not agree; + He hath deceived the Frenchman, + Likewise the King of Spain, + And how can he be true to me, + That hath been false to twain? + + OLD SEA SONG OF THE YEAR 1620. + + +Probably 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.[29] 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 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 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. + +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 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 _Fiducia_ 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 _Fiducia_ 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 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 +_Oanfa_, 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 _Fiducia_ +put in a position to resume her voyage. This was done until spoken by +the Italian cruiser _Ercole_, which assisted the schooner to her +destination. + +In October, 1896, the French barque _Prosper Corue_ 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 _Sevilla_, +happened to come along, and was in time to capture one boat and rescue +several of the prisoners. The _Sevilla_ 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 Moors. Subsequently the barque was +picked up in an abandoned condition by the British steamship _Oswin_, +and towed into Almeria. An arrangement was afterwards made with the +pirates to release the captains of the _Fiducia_ and the Portuguese +barque _Rosita Faro_--a much earlier capture--and some members of both +crews, in exchange for the Riffians captured by the Spanish steamer +_Sevilla_ 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 _Prosper Corue_ 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 _Mayer_, 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 _Scatuola_. Again, there is the Spanish cutter +_Jacob_. 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 _Jacob_. 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 _Jacob_ drifted towards the Spanish coast, where she was seen +and assistance promptly rendered. + +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 _San Antonio_ for Alhucemas, and when about six miles from Peņon +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 _San +Antonio_ 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 _San Antonio_ 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 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 _San Antonio_ 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 _Goleta_, the Portuguese barque _Rosita +Faro_, the British felucca _Joven Enrique_, 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. + +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 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. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[28] From the _Nautical Magazine_. + +[29] About twenty years ago. + + + + + + +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 27090-8.txt or 27090-8.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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