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diff --git a/old/64954-0.txt b/old/64954-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1bdb53d..0000000 --- a/old/64954-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6850 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Daring Deeds of Famous Pirates, by Edward -Keble Chatterton - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Daring Deeds of Famous Pirates - True stories of the stirring adventures, bravery and resource of - pirates, filibusters & buccaneers - -Author: Edward Keble Chatterton - -Release Date: March 28, 2021 [eBook #64954] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Turgut Dincer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at - https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DARING DEEDS OF FAMOUS PIRATES *** - - - - - -[Illustration: A FIERCE DUEL - -After exchanging shots, when Teach (Blackbeard) was wounded they drew -their swords and fiercely attacked each other. Maynard’s sword broke -in his hand and had it not been for one of his own men, who wounded -Blackbeard in the throat, the duel would have ended then.] - - - - - DARING DEEDS - OF - FAMOUS PIRATES - - TRUE STORIES OF THE STIRRING ADVENTURES, - BRAVERY AND RESOURCE OF PIRATES, - FILIBUSTERS & BUCCANEERS - - BY - LT.-COM. E. KEBLE CHATTERTON, R.N.V.R - B.A. (OXON.), - AUTHOR OF “THE ROMANCE OF THE SHIP” “FORE AND AFT” - “SAILING SHIPS AND THEIR STORY” - _&c. &c. &c._ - - WITH ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOURS - - LONDON - SEELEY, SERVICE & CO. LIMITED - 196 SHAFTESBURY AVENUE - MDCCCCXXIX - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAP. PAGE - - I. THE EARLIEST PIRATES 17 - - II. THE NORTH SEA PIRATES 29 - - III. PIRACY IN THE EARLY TUDOR TIMES 37 - - IV. THE CORSAIRS OF THE SOUTH 48 - - V. THE WASPS AT WORK 60 - - VI. GALLEYS AND GALLANTRY 70 - - VII. PIRACY IN ELIZABETHAN TIMES 79 - - VIII. ELIZABETHAN SEAMEN AND TURKISH PIRATES 89 - - IX. THE STUART NAVY GOES FORTH AGAINST THE “PYRATS” 101 - - X. THE GOOD SHIP _EXCHANGE_ OF BRISTOL 114 - - XI. A WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT 126 - - XII. THE GREAT SIR HENRY MORGAN 136 - - XIII. “BLACK BEARD” TEACH 151 - - XIV. THE STORY OF CAPTAIN KIDD 162 - - XV. THE EXPLOITS OF CAPTAIN AVERY 172 - - XVI. A “GENTLEMAN” OF FORTUNE 183 - - XVII. PAUL JONES, PIRATE AND PRIVATEER 196 - - XVIII. A NOTORIOUS AMERICAN PIRATE 210 - - XIX. THE LAST OF THE ALGERINE CORSAIRS 217 - - XX. PIRATES OF THE PERSIAN GULF 224 - - XXI. THE STORY OF AARON SMITH 235 - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - - - A FIERCE DUEL _Frontispiece_ - - FACING PAGE - - A DARING ATTACK 54 - - GALLEY SLAVES 76 - - GALLANTRY AGAINST ODDS 90 - - BLIGHTED HOPES 104 - - BOMBARDMENT OF ALGIERS 220 - - ATTACKING A PIRATE STRONGHOLD 232 - - -NOTE - -The contents of this book have been taken from Lieutenant Keble -Chatterton’s larger and more expensive volume entitled The Romance of -Piracy. - - - - -THE ROMANCE OF PIRACY - - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE EARLIEST PIRATES - - -I suppose there are few words in use which at once suggest so much -romantic adventure as the words pirate and piracy. You instantly conjure -up in your mind a wealth of excitement, a clashing of lawless wills, and -there pass before your eyes a number of desperate dare-devils whose life -and occupation are inseparably connected with the sea. - -The very meaning of the word, as you will find on referring to a Greek -dictionary, indicates one who _attempts_ to rob. In classical times there -was a species of Mediterranean craft which was a light, swift vessel -called a _myoparo_ because it was chiefly used by pirates. Since the -Greek verb _peirao_ means literally “to attempt,” so it had the secondary -meaning of “to try one’s fortune in thieving on sea.” Hence a _peirates_ -(in Greek) and _pirata_ (in Latin) signified afloat the counterpart -of a brigand or highwayman on land. To many minds piracy conjures up -visions that go back no further than the seventeenth century: but though -it is true that during that period piracy attained unheard-of heights -in certain seas, yet the avocation of sea-robbery dates back very much -further. - -Robbery by sea is certainly one of the oldest professions in the world. -I use the word profession advisedly, for the reason that in the earliest -days to be a pirate was not the equivalent of being a pariah and an -outcast. It was deemed just as honourable then to belong to a company of -pirates as it is to-day to belong to the navy of any recognised power. -It is an amusing fact that if in those days two strange ships met on -the high seas, and one of them, hailing the other, inquired if she were -a pirate or a trader, the inquiry was neither intended nor accepted as -an insult, but a correct answer would follow. It is a little difficult -in these modern days of regular steamship routes and powerful liners -which have little to fear beyond fog and exceptionally heavy weather, -to realise that every merchant ship sailed the seas with fear and -trepidation. When she set forth from her port of lading there was little -certainty that even if the ship herself reached the port of destination, -her cargo would ever be delivered to the rightful receivers. The ship -might be jogging along comfortably, heading well up towards her destined -port, when out from the distance came a much faster and lighter vessel -of smaller displacement and finer lines. In a few hours the latter would -have overhauled the former, the scanty crew of the merchantman would have -been thrown into the sea or pressed into the pirate’s service, or else -taken ashore to the pirate’s haunt and sold as slaves. The rich cargo of -merchandise could be sold or bartered when the land was reached, and the -merchant ship sunk or left to wallow in the Mediterranean swell. - -It is obvious that because the freight ship had to be big-bellied to -carry the maximum cargo she was in most instances unable to run away from -the swift-moving pirate except in heavy weather. But in order to possess -some means of defence it was not unusual for these peaceful craft to be -provided with turrets of great height, from which heavy missiles could -be dropped on to the attacking pirate. In the bows, in the stern and -amidships these erections could easily be placed and as quickly removed. -And as a further aid oars would be got out in an endeavour to accelerate -the ship’s speed. For whilst the pirate relied primarily on oars, the -trader relied principally on sail power. Therefore in fine settled -weather, with a smooth sea, the low-lying piratical craft was at its -best. It could be manœuvred quickly, it could dart in and out of little -bays, it could shelter close in to the shore under the lee of a friendly -reef, and it was, because of its low freeboard, not easy to discern at -any great distance, unless the sea was literally smooth. But all through -history this type of vessel has been shown to be at a disadvantage as -soon as it comes on to blow and the unruffled surface gives way to high -crest and deep furrows. - -It is as impossible to explain the growth of piracy as it is to define -precisely the call of the sea. A man is born with a bias in favour of -the sea or he is not: there is no possibility of putting that instinct -into him if already he has not been endowed with that attitude. So also -we know from our own personal experience, every one of us, that whilst -some of our own friends fret and waste in sedentary pursuits, yet from -the time they take to the sea or become explorers or colonisers they -find their true _métier_. The call of the sea is the call of adventure -in a specialised form. It has been said, with no little truth, that -many of the yachtsmen of to-day, if they had been living in other ages, -would have gone afloat as pirates or privateers. And so, if we want to -find an explanation for the amazing historical fact that for century -after century, in spite of all the efforts which many a nation made -to suppress piracy, it revived and prospered, we can only answer that, -quite apart from the lust of wealth, there was at the back of it all that -love of adventure, that desire for exciting incident, that hatred of -monotonous security which one finds in so many natures. A distinguished -British admiral remarked the other day that it was his experience -that the best naval officers were usually those who as boys were most -frequently getting into disfavour for their adventurous escapades. It is, -at any rate, still true that unless the man or boy has in him the real -spirit of adventure, the sea, whether as a sport or profession, can have -but little fascination for him. - -International law and the growth of navies have practically put an end to -the profession of piracy, though privateering would doubtless reassert -itself in the next great naval war. But if you look through history you -will find that, certainly up to the nineteenth century, wherever there -was a seafaring nation there too had flourished a band of pirates. Piracy -went on for decade after decade in the Mediterranean till at length it -became unbearable, and Rome had to take the most serious steps and use -the most drastic measures to stamp out the nests of hornets. A little -later you find another generation of sea-robbers growing up and acting -precisely as their forefathers. Still further on in history you find the -Barbarian corsairs and their descendants being an irrepressible menace to -Mediterranean shipping. For four or five hundred years galleys waylaid -ships of the great European nations, attacked them, murdered their crews -and plundered the Levantine cargoes. Time after time were these corsairs -punished: time after time they rose again. In vain did the fleets of -southern Christian Europe or the ships of Elizabeth or the Jacobean navy -go forth to quell them. Algiers and Tunis were veritable plague-spots -in regard to piracy. Right on through time the northern coast of Africa -was the hotbed of pirates. Not till Admiral Lord Exmouth, in the year -1816, was sent to quell Algiers did Mediterranean piracy receive its -death-blow, though it lingered on for some little time later. - -But piracy is not confined to any particular nation nor to any particular -sea, any more than the spirit of adventure is the exclusive endowment -of any particular race. There have been notorious pirates in the North -Sea as in the Mediterranean, there have been European pirates in the -Orient just as there have been Moorish pirates in the English Channel. -There have been British pirates on the waters of the West Indies as there -have been of Madagascar. There have flourished pirates in the North, -in the South, in the East and the West—in China, Japan, off the coast -of Malabar, Borneo, America and so on. The species of ships are often -different, the racial characteristics of the sea-rovers are equally -distinct, yet there is still the same determined clashing of wills, the -same desperate nature of the contests, the same exciting adventure; and -in the following pages it will be manifest that in spite of differences -of time and place the romance of piratical incident lives on for the -reason that human nature, at its basis, is very much alike the whole -world over. - -But we must make a distinction between isolated and collected pirates. -There is a great dissimilarity, for instance, between a pickpocket and -a band of brigands. The latter work on a grander, bolder system. So it -has always been with the robbers of the sea. Some have been brigands, -some have been mere pickpockets. The “grand” pirates set to work on a -big scale. It was not enough to lie in wait for single merchant ships: -they swooped down on to seaside towns and villages, carried off by sheer -force the inhabitants and sold them into slavery. Whatever else of value -might attract their fancy they also took away. If any important force -were sent against them, the contest resolved itself not so much into a -punitive expedition as a piratical war. There was nothing petty in piracy -on these lines. It had its proper rules, its own grades of officers and -drill. _Lestarches_ was the Greek name for the captain of a band of -pirates, and it was their splendid organisation, their consummate skill -as fighters, that made them so difficult to quell. - -I have said that piracy was regarded as an honourable profession. In -the earliest times this is true. The occupation of a pirate was deemed -no less worthy than a man who gained his living by fishing on the sea -or hunting on land. Just as in the Elizabethan age we find the sons of -some of the best English families going to sea on a roving expedition to -capture Spanish treasure ships, so in classical times the Mediterranean -pirates attracted to their ships adventurous spirits from all classes of -society, from the most patrician to the most plebeian: the summons of -the sea was as irresistible then as later on. But there were definite -arrangements made for the purpose of sharing in any piratical success, so -there was an incentive other than that of mere adventure which prompted -men to become pirates. - -To-day, if the navies of the great nations were to be withdrawn, and -the policing of the seas to cease, it is pretty certain that those so -disposed would presently revive piracy. Nothing is so inimical to piracy -as settled peace and good government. But nothing is so encouraging -to piracy as prolonged unsettlement in international affairs and weak -administration. So it was that the incessant Mediterranean wars acted -as a keen incentive to piracy. War breeds war, and the spirit of unrest -on sea affected the pirate no less than the regular fighting man. -Sea-brigandage was rampant. These daring robbers went roving over the sea -wherever they wished, they waxed strong, they defied opposition. - -And there were special territories which these pirates preferred to -others. The Liparian Isles—from about 580 B.C. to the time of the Roman -Conquest—were practically a republic of Greek corsairs. Similarly the -Ionians and the Lycians were notorious for piratical activities. After -the period of Thucydides, Corinth endeavoured to put down piracy, but in -vain. The irregularity went on until the conquest of Asia by the Romans, -in spite of all the precautions that were taken. The Ægean Sea, the -Pontus, the Adriatic were the happy cruising-grounds for the corsairs. -The pirate-admiral or, as he was designated, _archipeirates_, with his -organised fleet of assorted craft, was a deadly foe to encounter. Under -his command were the myoparones, already mentioned—light and swift they -darted across the sea; then there were, too, the hemiolia, which were so -called because they were rowed with one and a half banks of oars; next -came the two-banked biremes and the three-banked triremes, and with these -four classes of ships the admiral was ready for any craft that might -cross his wake. Merchantmen fled before him, warships by him were sent to -the bottom: wherever he coasted there spread panic through the sea-girt -towns. Even Athens itself felt the thrill of fear. - -Notorious, too, were the Cretan pirates, and for a long time the Etruscan -corsairs were a great worry to the Greeks of Sicily. The inhabitants -of the Balearic Islands were especially famous for their piratical -depredations and for their skilful methods of fighting. Wherever a fleet -was sent to attack them they were able to inflict great slaughter by -hurling vast quantities of stones with their slings. It was only when -they came to close quarters with their aggressors the Romans, and the -latter’s sharp javelins began to take effect, that these islanders -met their match and were compelled to flee in haste to the shelter of -their coves. At the period which preceded the subversion of the Roman -commonwealth by Julius Cæsar, there was an exceedingly strong community -of pirates at the extreme eastern end of the Mediterranean. They -hailed from that territory which is just in the bend of Asia Minor and -designated Cilicia. Here lived—when ashore—one of the most dangerous body -of sea-rovers recorded in the pages of history. It is amazing to find -how powerful these Cilicians became, and as they prospered in piracy so -their numbers were increased by fellow-corsairs from their neighbours the -Syrians and Pamphylians, as well as by many who came down from the shores -of the Black Sea and from Cyprus. So powerful indeed became these rovers -that they controlled practically the whole of the Mediterranean from east -to west. They made it impossible for peaceful trading craft to venture -forth, and they even defeated several Roman officers who had been sent -with ships against them. - -And so it went on until Rome realised that piracy had long since ceased -to be anything else but a most serious evil that needed firm and instant -suppression. It was the ruin of overseas trade and a terrible menace to -her own territory. But the matter was at last taken in hand. M. Antonius, -proprætor, was sent with a powerful fleet against these Cilician pirates; -they were crushed thoroughly, and the importance of this may be gathered -from the fact that on his return to Rome the conqueror was given an -ovation. - -In the wars between Rome and Mithradates the Cilician pirates rendered -the latter excellent service. The long continuance of these wars and -the civil war between Marius and Sylla afforded the Cilicians a fine -opportunity to increase both in numbers and strength. To give some idea -of their power it is only necessary to state that not only did they take -and rob all the Roman ships which they encountered, but they also voyaged -among the islands and maritime provinces and plundered no fewer than 400 -cities. They carried their depredations even to the mouth of the Tiber -and actually took away from thence several vessels laden with corn. Bear -in mind, too, that the Cilician piratical fleet was no scratch squadron -of a few antique ships. It consisted of a thousand vessels, which were of -great speed and very light. They were well manned by most able seamen, -and fought by trained soldiers, and commanded by expert officers. -They carried an abundance of arms, and neither men nor officers were -lacking in daring and prowess. When again it became expedient that these -Cilicians should be dealt with, it took no less a person than Pompey, -assisted by fifteen admirals, to tackle them; but finally, after a few -months, he was able to have the sea once more cleared of these rovers. - -We can well sympathise with the merchant seamen of those days. The perils -of wind and wave were as nothing compared with the fear of falling into -the hands of powerful desperadoes, who not merely were all-powerful -afloat but in their strong fortresses on shore were most difficult to -deal with. With the Balearic Islanders in the west, the Cilicians in the -east, the Carthaginians in the south, the Illyrians along the Adriatic in -their low, handy liburnian galleys, there were pirates ready to encircle -the whole of the Mediterranean Sea. It is worth noting—for he who reads -naval history must often be struck with the fact that an existing navy -prevents war, but the absence of a navy brings war about—that as long -as Rome maintained a strong navy piracy died down: but so soon as she -neglected her sea-service piracy grew up again, commerce was interrupted -both east and west, numerous illustrious Romans were captured and -either ransomed or put to death, though some others were pressed into -the service of the pirates themselves. By means of prisoners to work at -the oars, by the addition of piratical neighbours and by mercenaries as -well, a huge piratical community with a strong military and political -organisation continued to prevent the development of overseas trade. This -piracy was only thwarted by keeping permanent Roman squadrons always -ready. - -Of course there were pirates in these early times in waters other than -the Mediterranean. On the west coast of Gaul the Veneti had become very -powerful pirates, and you will recollect how severely they tried Cæsar, -giving him more trouble than all the rest of Gaul put together. They -owned such stalwart ships and were such able seamen that they proved most -able enemies. During the time of the Roman Empire piracy continued also -on the Black Sea and North Sea, though the Mediterranean was now for the -most part safe for merchant ships. But when the power of Rome declined, -so proportionately did the pirates reappear in their new strength. There -was no fearful navy to oppose them, and so once more they were able to -do pretty much as they liked. But we must not forget that long before -this they had ceased to be regarded as the equivalent of hunters and -fishermen. They were, by common agreement, what Cicero had designated -“enemies of the human race”: and so they continued till the nineteenth -century, with only temporary intervals of inactivity. - -The thousand ships which the Cilician pirates employed were disposed -in separate squadrons. In different places they had their own naval -magazines located, and during that period already mentioned, when they -were driven off the sea, they resisted capture by retreating ashore to -their mountain fastnesses until such time as it was safe for them to -renew their ventures afloat. When Pompey defeated them he had under him a -fleet of 270 ships. As the inscription, carried in the celebration of his -triumph on his return to Rome, narrated, he cleared the maritime coasts -of pirates and restored the dominion of the sea to the Roman people. But -the pirates could always boast of having captured two Roman prætors, and -Julius Cæsar, when a youth on his way to Rhodes to pursue his studies, -also fell into their hands. However, he was more lucky than many another -Roman who, when captured, was hung up to the yard-arm, and the pirate -ship went proudly on her way. - -In the declining years of the Roman Empire the Goths came down from -the north to the Mediterranean, where they got together fleets, became -very powerful and crossed to Africa, made piratical raids on the coast -and carried on long wars with the Romans. Presently the Saxons in the -northern waters of Europe made piratical descents on to the coasts of -France, Flanders and Britain. Meanwhile, in the south, the Saracens -descended upon Cyprus and Rhodes, which they took, seized many islands -in the Archipelago, and thence proceeded to Sicily to capture Syracuse, -and finally overran the whole of Barbary from Egypt in the east to the -Straits of Gibraltar in the west. From there they crossed to Spain and -reduced the greater part thereof, until under Ferdinand and Isabella -these Moors were driven out of Spain and compelled to settle once more -on the north coast of Africa. They established themselves notably at -Algiers, took to the sea, built themselves galleys and, after living -a civilised life in Spain for seven hundred years, became for the next -three centuries a scourge of the Mediterranean, a terror to ships and -men, inflicted all the cruelties which the fanaticism of the Moslem -race is capable of, and cast thousands of Christians into the bonds -of slavery. In many ways these terrifying Moorish pirates—of which to -this day some still go afloat in their craft off the north coast of -Africa—became the successors of those Cilician and other corsairs of -the classical age. In due course we shall return to note the kind of -piratical warfare which these expatriated Moors waged for most of three -hundred years. But before we come to that period let us examine into an -epoch that preceded this. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE NORTH SEA PIRATES - - -I am anxious to emphasise the fact that piracy is nearly as old as the -ship herself. It is extremely improbable that the Egyptians were ever -pirates, for the reason that, excepting the expedition to Punt, they -confined their navigation practically to the Nile only. But as soon as -men built sea-going vessels, then the instinct to rob and pillage on sea -became as irresistible as on land. Might was right, and the weakest went -to the bottom. - -Bearing this in mind, and remembering that there was always a good deal -of trade from the Continent up the Thames to London, especially in corn, -and that there was considerable traffic between Gaul and Britain across -the English Channel, it was but natural that the sea-rovers of the north -should exist no less than in the south. After Rome had occupied Britain -she established a navy which she called the “Classis Britannica,” and -it cannot have failed to be effective in policing the narrow seas and -protecting commerce from wandering corsairs. We know very well that -after Rome had evacuated Britain, and there was no navy to protect our -shores, came the Angles and Saxons and Jutes. We may permissibly regard -these Northmen, who pillaged and plundered till the time of William the -Conqueror and after, as pirates. In the sense that a pirate is one who -not merely commits robbery on the high seas but also makes descents on -the coast for the purpose of pillage, we may call the Viking seamen -pirates. But, strictly speaking, they were a great deal more than this, -and the object of this book is concerned rather with the incidents of the -sea than the incursions into the land. Although the Vikings did certainly -commit piracy both in their own waters and off the coasts of Britain, -yet their depredations in this respect, even if we could obtain adequate -information thereof, would sink into insignificance before their greater -conquests. For a race of men who first swoop down on to a strange coast, -vanquish the inhabitants and then settle down to live among them, are -rather different from a body of men who lie in wait to capture ships as -they proceed on their voyages. - -The growth of piracy in English waters certainly owed much to the Cinque -Ports. In these havens dwelt a privileged class of seamen, who certainly -for centuries were a very much favoured community. It was their privilege -to do that which in the Mediterranean Cicero had regarded with so much -disfavour. These men of the Cinque Ports, according to Matthew of Paris, -were commissioned to plunder as they pleased all the merchant ships as -they passed up and down the English Channel. This was to be without any -regard to nationality, with the exception that English ships were not -to be molested. But French, Genoese, Venetian, Spanish or any others -could be attacked at the will of the Cinque Port seamen. Some persons -might call this sort of thing by the title of privateering, yet it was -really piracy and nothing else. You can readily imagine that with this -impetus thus given to a class of men who were not particularly prone to -lawfulness, the practice of piracy on the waters that wash Great Britain -grew at a great rate. Thus in the thirteenth century the French, the -Scotch, Irish and Welsh fitted out ships, hung about the narrow seas till -they were able to capture a well-laden merchantman as their fat reward. -So, before long, the English Channel was swarming with pirates, and -during the reign of Henry III. their numbers grew to an alarming extent. -The net result was that it was a grave risk for commodities to be brought -across the Channel, and so, therefore, the price of these goods rose. -The only means of remedy was to increase the English fleet, and this at -length was done in order to cope with the evil. - -But matters were scarcely better in the North Sea, and English merchant -ships sailed in perpetual fear of capture. During the Middle Ages pirates -were always hovering about for any likely ship, and the wool trade -especially was interfered with. Matters became somewhat complicated when, -as happened in the reign of Edward II., peaceable English ships were -arrested by Norway for having been suspected—erroneously—of slaughtering -a Norwegian knight, whereas the latter had been actually put to death -by pirates. “We marvell not a little,” wrote Edward II. in complaint to -Haquinus, King of Norway, “and are much disquieted in our cogitations, -considering the greevances and oppressions, which (as wee have beene -informed by pitifull complaints) are at this present, more than in times -past, without any reasonable cause inflicted upon our subjects, which doe -usually resort unto your kingdome for traffiques sake.” For the fact was -that one nation was as bad as the other, but that whenever the one had -suffered then the other would lay violent hands on a ship that was merely -suspected of having acted piratically. Angered at the loss to their own -countrymen they were prompted by revenge on alien seamen found in their -own waters and even lying quietly in their own havens with their cargoes -of herrings. - -As an attempt to make the North Sea more possible for the innocent -trading ships, the kings of England at different dates came to treaties -with those in authority on the other side. Richard II., for example, -made an agreement with the King of Prussia. In 1403 “full restitution -and recompense” were demanded by the Chancellor of England from the -Master-General of Prussia for the “sundry piracies and molestations -offered of late upon the sea.” Henry IV., writing to the Prussian -Master-General, admitted that “as well our as your marchants ... have, -by occasion of pirates, roving up and downe the sea” sustained grievous -loss. Finally it was agreed that all English merchant ships should be -allowed liberty to enter Prussian ports without molestation. But it -was further decided that if in the future any Prussian cargoes should -be captured on the North Sea by English pirates, and this merchandise -taken into an English port, then the harbour-master or “governour” -was, if he suspected piracy, to have these goods promptly taken out of -the English ship and placed in safe keeping. Between Henry IV. and the -Hanseatic towns a similar agreement was also made which bound the cities -of Lubec, Bremen, Hamburg, Sund and Gripeswold “that convenient, just -and reasonable satisfaction and recompense” might be made “unto the -injured and endamaged parties” “for all injuries, damages, grievances, -and drownings or manslaughters done and committed” by the pirates in the -narrow seas. - -It would be futile to weary the reader with a complete list of all -these piratical attacks, but a few of them may here be instanced. -About Easter-time in the year 1394 a Hanseatic ship was hovering about -the North Sea when she fell in with an English merchantman from -Newcastle-on-Tyne. The latter’s name was the _Godezere_ and belonged -to a quartette of owners. She was, for those days, quite a big craft, -having a burden of 200 tons. Her value, together with that of her sails -and tackle, amounted to the sum of £400. She was loaded with a cargo of -woollen cloth and red wine, being bound for Prussia. The value of this -cargo, plus some gold and certain sums of money found aboard, aggregated -200 marks. The Hanseatic ship was able to overpower the _Godezere_, slew -two of her crew, captured ship and contents and imprisoned the rest of -the crew for the space of three whole years. - -A Hull craft belonging to one Richard Horuse, and named the _Shipper -Berline of Prussia_, was in the same year also attacked and robbed by -Hanseatic pirates, goods to the value of 160 nobles being taken away. -The following year a ship named the _John Tutteburie_ was attacked by -Hanseatics when off the coast of Norway, and goods consisting of wax and -other commodities to the value of 476 nobles were captured. A year later -and pirates of the same federation captured a ship belonging to William -Terry of Hull called the _Cogge_, with thirty woollen broad cloths and a -thousand narrow cloths, to the value of £200. In 1398 the _Trinity_ of -Hull, laden with wax, oil and other goods, was captured by the same class -of men off Norway. Dutch ships, merchant craft from the port of London, -fishing vessels, Prussian traders, Zealand, Yarmouth and other ships were -constantly being attacked, pillaged and captured. - -In the month of September, of the year 1398, a number of Hanseatic -pirates waylaid a Prussian ship whose skipper was named Rorebek. She -carried a valuable cargo of woollen cloth which was the property of -various merchants in Colchester. This the pirates took away with them, -together with five Englishmen, whom they found on board. The latter -they thrust into prison as soon as they got them ashore, and of these -two were ransomed subsequently for the sum of 20 English nobles, while -another became blind owing to the rigours of his imprisonment. In 1394 -another Prussian ship, containing a number of merchants from Yarmouth -and Norwich, was also captured off the Norwegian coast with a cargo of -woollen goods and taken off by the Hanseatic pirates. The merchants were -cast into prison and not allowed their liberty until the sum of 100 marks -had been paid for their ransom. Another vessel, laden with the hides of -oxen and sheep, with butter, masts and spars and other commodities to the -value of 100 marks, was taken in Longsound, Norway. - -In June 1395 another English ship, laden with salt fish, was taken -off the coast of Denmark, the value of her hull, inventory and cargo -amounting to £170. The crew consisted of a master and twenty-five -mariners, whom the pirates slew. There was also a lad found on board, -and him they carried into Wismar with them. The most notorious of -these Hanseatic pirates were two men, named respectively Godekins and -Stertebeker, whose efforts were as untiring as they were successful. -There is scarcely an instance of North Sea piracy at this time in which -these two men or their accomplices do not figure. And it was these same -men who attacked a ship named the _Dogger_. The latter was skippered by -a man named Gervase Cat, and she was lying at anchor while her crew were -engaged fishing. The Hanseatic pirates, however, swept down on them, took -away with them a valuable cargo of fish, beat and wounded the master and -crew of the _Dogger_ and caused the latter to lose their fishing for that -year, “being endamaged thereby to the summe of 200 nobles.” - -In the year 1402 other Hanseatic corsairs, while cruising about near -Plymouth, captured a Yarmouth barge named the _Michael_, the master of -which was one Robert Rigweys. She had a cargo of salt and a thousand -canvas cloths. The ship and goods being captured, the owner, a man named -Hugh ap Fen, complained that he was the loser to the extent of 800 -nobles: and the master and mariners assessed the loss of wages, canvas -and “armour” at 200 nobles. But there was no end to the daring of these -corsairs of the North. In the spring of 1394 they proceeded with a large -fleet of ships to the town of Norbern in Norway, and having taken the -place by assault, they captured all the merchants therein, together with -their “goods and cattels,” burnt their houses and put their persons up to -ransom. Twenty-one houses, to the value of 440 nobles, were destroyed, -and goods to the value of £1815 were taken from the merchants. With -all this lawlessness on the sea and the consequent injury to overseas -commerce, it was none too soon that Henry IV. took steps to put down a -most serious evil. - -We cannot but feel sorry for the long-suffering North Sea fishermen, who, -in addition to having to ride out bad weather in clumsy leaky craft, and -having to work very hard for their living, were liable at any time to see -a pirate ship approaching them over the top of the waves. You remember -the famous Dogger Bank incident a few years ago when one night the North -Sea trawlers found themselves being shelled by the Russian Baltic fleet. -Well, in much the same way were the mediæval ancestors of these hardy -fishermen surprised by pirates when least expecting them and when most -busily occupied in pursuing their legitimate calling. The fisherman was -like a magnet to the pirates, because his catch of fish had only to be -taken to the nearest port and sold. That was the reason why, in 1295, -Edward had been induced to send three ships of Yarmouth across the North -Sea to protect the herring-ships of Holland and Zealand. - -The following incident well illustrates the statement that, in spite of -all the efforts which were made to repress piracy, yet it was almost -impossible to attain such an object. The month is July, and the year -1327, the scene being the English Channel. Picture to your mind a beamy, -big-bellied, clumsy ship with one mast and one great square sail. She -has come from Waterford in Ireland, where she has taken on board a rich -cargo, consisting of wool, hides and general merchandise. She has safely -crossed the turbulent Irish Sea, she has wallowed her way through the -Atlantic swell round Land’s End and found herself making good headway -up the English Channel in the summer breeze. Her port of destination -is Bruges, but she will never get there. For from the eastward have -come the famous pirates of the Cinque Ports, and off the Isle of Wight -they fall in with the merchant ship. The rovers soon sight her, come up -alongside, board her and relieve her of forty-two sacks of wool, twelve -dickers of hides, three pipes of salmon, two pipes of cheese, one bale of -cloth, to say nothing of such valuable articles as silver plate, mazer -cups, jewels, sparrow-hawks and other goods of the total value of £600. -Presently the pirates bring their spoil into the Downs below Sandwich and -dispose of it as they prefer. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -PIRACY IN THE EARLY TUDOR TIMES - - -The kind of man who devotes his life to robbery at sea is not the species -of humanity who readily subjects himself to laws and ordinances. You may -threaten him with terrible punishments, but it is not by these means that -you will break his spirit. He is like the gipsy or the vagrant: he has -in him an overwhelming longing for wandering and adventure. It is not so -much the greed for gain which prompts the pirate, any more than the land -tramp finds his long marches inspired by wealth. But some impelling blind -force is at work within, and so not all the treaties and agreements, not -all the menaces of death could avail to keep these men from pursuing the -occupation which their fathers and grandfathers had for many years been -employed in. - -Therefore piracy was quite as bad in the sixteenth century as it had -been in the Middle Ages. The dwellers on either side of the English -Channel were ever ready to pillage each other’s ships and property. About -the first and second decade of the sixteenth century the Scots rose to -some importance in the art of sea-robbery, and some were promptly taken -and executed. In vain did Henry VIII. write to Francis I. saying that -complaints had been made by English merchants that their ships had been -pirated by Frenchmen pretending to be Scots, for which redress could -not be obtained in France. In 1531 matters had become so bad, and piracy -was so prevalent, that commissioners were appointed to make inquisitions -concerning this illegal warfare round our coasts. Viscount Lisle, -Vice-Admiral of England, and others were appointed to see to the problem. -So cunning had these rovers become that it was no easy affair to capture -them. But in this same year a notorious pirate named Kellwanton was taken -in the Isle of Man; while another, De Melton by name, who was one of his -accomplices, fled with the rest of the crew in the ship to Grimsby. - -Sometimes the very ships which had been sent by the king against the -pirates actually engaged in pillage themselves. There was at least one -instance about this time of some royal ships being unable to resist the -temptation to plunder the richly laden Flemish ships. But after complaint -was made the royal reply came that the Flemings should be compensated -and the plunderers punished. It was all very well to set a thief to -catch a thief, but there were few English seamen of any experience who -had not done some piracy at some time of their career, and when they at -last formed the crews of preventive ships and got wearied of waiting for -pirate craft to come along, it was too much to expect them to remain idle -on the seas when a rich merchantman went sailing past. - -Sometimes the pirates would waylay a whole merchant fleet, and if the -latter were sailing light, would relieve the fleet of their victuals, -their clothes, their anchors and cables and sails. But it was not merely -to the North Sea nor to the English Channel that the English pirates -confined themselves. In October 1533 they captured a Biscayan ship -off the coast of Ireland. And during the reign of Henry VIII. there -was an interesting incident connected with a ship named the _Santa -Maria Desaie_. This craft belonged to one Peter Alves, a Portingale, -who hired a mariner, William Phelipp, to pilot his ship from Tenby to -Bastabill Haven. But whilst off the Welsh coast a piratical bark named -the _Furtuskewys_, containing thirty-five desperate corsairs, attacked -the _Santa Maria_ and completely overpowered her. Alves they promptly -got rid of by putting him ashore somewhere on the Welsh coast, and they -then proceeded to sail the ship to Cork, where they sold her to the mayor -and others, the value of the captured craft and goods being 1524 crowns. -Alves did not take this assault with any resignation, but naturally used -his best endeavours to have the matter set right. From the King’s Council -he obtained a command to the Mayor of Cork for restitution, but such was -the lawlessness of the time that this was of no avail. The mayor, whose -name was Richard Gowllys, protested that the pirates told him they had -captured the ship from the Scots and not from the Portingale, and he -added that he would spend £100 rather than make restitution. - -But stricter vigilance caused the arrest of some of these pirates. Six of -them were sentenced to death in the Admiralty Court at Boulogne, eleven -others were condemned to death in the Guildhall, London: and in 1537 a -ship was lying at Winchelsea “in gage to Bell the mayor” for £35 for the -piracies committed in her, for she had been captured after having robbed -a Gascon merchantman of a cargo of wines. - -The finest of the French sailors for many a century until even the -present day have ever been the Bretons. And just as in the eighteenth -century the most expert sailormen on our coasts were the greatest -smugglers, so in Tudor times the pick of all seamen were sea-rovers. -About the time of Lent, 1537, a couple of Breton pirate ships caused a -great deal of anxiety to our west-country men. One of the two had robbed -an English ship off the Cornish coast and pillaged his cargo of wine. -From Easter-time till August these rovers hung about the Welsh coast, -sometimes coming ashore for provisions and most probably also to sell -their ill-gotten cargoes, but for the most part remaining at sea. It -would seem from the historical records that originally there had been -only one Breton ship that had sailed from St. Malo; but having the good -fortune to capture a fishing craft belonging to Milford Haven, the crew -had been split up into two. Presently the numbers of these French pirates -increased till there was quite a fleet of them cruising about the Welsh -coast. A merchant ship that had loaded a fine cargo at Bristol, bound -across the Bay of Biscay, had been boarded before the voyage had been -little more than begun. For week after week these men robbed every ship -that came past them. But especially were they biding their time waiting -for the English, Irish and Welsh ships who were wont about this period of -the year to come to St. James’s Fair at Bristol. - -However, in the meanwhile, the men of the west were becoming much more -alert, and were ready for any chance that might occur. And a Bristol man -named Bowen, after fourteen Breton pirates had come ashore near Tenby -to obtain victuals, acted with such smartness that he was able to have -the whole lot captured and put into prison. And John Wynter, another -Bristolian, knowing that the pirates were hovering about for those ships -bound for the fair, promptly manned a ship, embarked fifty soldiers, as -well as the able seamen, and cruised about ready to swoop down on the -first pirate ship which showed up on the horizon. The full details of -these men and what they did would make interesting reading if they were -obtainable; but we know that of the above-mentioned fourteen, one, John -du Laerquerac, was captain of the Breton craft. On being arrested he -stoutly denied that he had ever “spoiled” English ships. That was most -certainly a bare-faced lie, and presently Peter Dromyowe, one of his own -mariners, confessed that he himself had robbed one Englishman; whereupon -Laerquerac made a confession that, as a matter of fact, he had taken -ships’ ropes, sailors’ wearing apparel, five pieces of wine, a quantity -of fish, a gold crown in money and eleven silver halfpence or pence, as -well as four daggers and a “couverture”! - -It was because the English merchants complained that they lost so much -of their imports and exports by depredations from the ships of war -belonging to Biscay, Spain, the Low Countries, Normandy, Brittany and -elsewhere, that Henry VIII. had been prevailed upon to send Sir John -Dudley, his Vice-Admiral, to sea with a small fleet of good ships. -Dudley’s orders were to cruise between the Downs on the east and St. -Michael’s Mount on the west—in other words, the whole length of the -English Channel—according as the wind should serve. In addition, he was -to stand off and on between Ushant and Scilly and so guard the entrance -to the Channel. Furthermore, he was to look in at the Isle of Lundy in -the Bristol Channel—for both Lundy and the Scillies were famous pirate -haunts—and after having so done he was to return and keep the narrow -seas. Dudley was especially admonished to be on the look out to succour -any English merchant ships, and should he meet with any foreign merchant -craft which, under the pretence of trading, were actually robbing the -King’s subjects, he was to have these foreigners treated as absolute -pirates and punished accordingly. - -For the state of piracy had become so bad that the King “can no longer -suffer it.” So also Sir Thomas Dudley, as well as Sir John, was busily -employed in the same preventive work. On the 10th of August of that same -year, 1537, he wrote to Cromwell that he had at Harwich arrested a couple -of Frenchmen who two years previously had robbed a poor English skipper’s -craft off the coast of Normandy, and this Englishman had in vain sued -in France for a remedy, since the pirates could never be captured. But -there were so many of these corsairs being now taken that it was a grave -problem as to how they should be dealt with. “If they were all committed -to ward,” wrote Sir Thomas, “as your letters direct, they would fill -the gaol.” Then he adds: “They would fain go and leave the ship behind -them, which only contains ordnance, and no goods or victuals to find -themselves with. If they go to gaol, they are like to perish of hunger, -for Englishmen will do no charity to them. They are as proud naves as I -have talked with.” - -Eleven days later came the report from Sir John Dudley of his experiences -in the Channel. He stated that while on his way home he encountered a -couple of Breton ships in the vicinity of St. Helen’s, Isle of Wight, -where he believed they were lying in wait for two Cornish ships “that -were within Porchemouthe haven, laden with tin to the value of £3000.” -Portsmouth is, of course, just opposite St. Helen’s, and on more than one -occasion in naval history was the latter found a convenient anchorage -by hostile ships waiting for English craft to issue forth from the -mainland. But when these Breton pirates espied Dudley’s ships coming -along under sail, they “made in with Porchemouthe,” where Dudley’s men -promptly boarded them and placed them under arrest, with the intention -of bringing them presently to the Thames. Dudley had no doubt whatever -that these were pirates, but at a later date the French ambassador -endeavoured to show that there was no foundation for such a suspicion. -These two French crafts, he sought to persuade, were genuine merchantmen -who had discharged their cargo at “St. Wallerie’s” (that is to say, -St. Valery-sur-Somme), but had been driven to the Isle of Wight by bad -weather, adding, doubtless as a subtle hint, that they had actually -rescued an Englishman chased by a Spaniard. It is possible that the -Frenchmen were telling the truth, though unless the wind had come -southerly and so made it impossible for these bluff-bowed craft to beat -into their port, it is difficult to believe that they could not have run -into one of their own havens. At any rate, it was a yarn which Dudley’s -sailors found not easy to accept. - -This was no isolated instance of the capture of Breton craft. In the -year 1532 a Breton ship named the _Mychell_, whose owner was one Hayman -Gillard, her master being Nicholas Barbe of St. Malo, was encountered by -a crew of English seamen who entertained no doubts whatsoever as to her -being anything else than a pirate. Their suspicions were made doubly sure -when they found her company to consist of nine Bretons and five Scots. -They arrested her at sea, and when examined she was found well laden with -wool, cloth and salt hides. Some French pirate ships even went so far as -to wear the English flag of St. George, with the red cross on a white -ground. This not unnaturally infuriated English seamen, especially when -it was discovered that the Bretons had also carried Englishmen as their -pilots and chief mariners, and were training them to become experts in -piracy. - -But there were times when English seamen and merchants were able to “get -their own back” with interest, as the following incident will show. At -the beginning of June, in the year 1538, an English merchant, Henry -Davy, freighted a London ship named the _Clement_, which was owned -by one Grenebury, who lived in Thames Street, and dispatched her with -orders to proceed to the “Bay in Breteyne.” She set forth under the -command of a man named Lyllyk, the ship’s purser being William Scarlet, -a London clothworker. Seven men formed her crew, but when off Margate -they took on board nine more. They then proceeded down Channel and took -on board another four from the shore, but espying a Flemish ship of war -they deemed it prudent to get hold of the coast of Normandy as soon as -possible. In the “mayne” sea—by which I understand the English Channel -near the mainland of the Continent—they descried coming over the waves -three ships, and these were found to be Breton merchantmen. - -This caused some discussion on board the _Clement_, and Davy, the -charterer, who had come with the ship, remarked to the skipper Lyllyk -that they had lost as much as £60 in goods, which had been captured by -Breton pirates at an earlier date, and had never been able to obtain -compensation in France in spite of all their endeavours. Any one who has -any imagination and a knowledge of seafaring human nature, can easily -picture Lyllyk and his crew cordially agreeing with Davy’s point of -view, and showing more than a mere passive sympathy. The upshot of the -discussion was that they resolved to take the law into their own hands -and capture one of these three ships. - -The resolution was put into effect, so that before long they had become -possessed of the craft. The Breton crew were rowed ashore in a boat and -left there, and after collecting the goods left behind, the Englishmen -stowed them in the hold of the _Clement_. A prize crew, consisting of a -man whose name was Comelys, and four seamen, were placed in charge of -the captured ship, which now got under way. The _Clement_, too, resumed -her voyage, and made for Peryn in Cornwall, where she was able to sell, -at a good price, the goods taken out of the Breton. The gross amount -obtained was divided up among the captors, and though the figures may not -seem very large, yet the sum represented the equivalent of what would -be to-day about ten times that amount of money. Henry Davy, being the -charterer, received £17; the master, the mate, the quarter-master and -the purser received each thirty shillings, while the mariners got twenty -shillings apiece. Lyllyk and nine of the crew then departed, while Davy, -Scarlet, Leveret the carpenter and two others got the ship under way, -sailed up Channel and brought the _Clement_ back to the Thames, where -they delivered her to the wife of the owner. - -But Englishmen were not always so fortunate, and the North Sea pirates -were still active, in spite of the efforts which had been made by English -kings in previous centuries. In 1538 the cargo ship _George Modye_ put to -sea with goods belonging to a company of English merchant adventurers, -consisting of Sir Ralph Waryn, “good Mr. Lock and Rowland Hyll” and -others. She never reached her port of destination, however, for the -Norwegian pirates pillaged her and caused a loss to the adventurers of -£10,000, whereupon, after complaint had been made, Cromwell was invoked -to obtain letters from Henry VIII. to the kings of Denmark, France and -Scotland that search might be duly made. There was, in fact, a good -deal of luck, even yet, as to whether a ship would ever get to the -harbour whither she was sent. In September 1538 we find Walter Herbart -complaining that twice since Candlemas he had been robbed by Breton -pirates. But, a week later, it is recorded that some pirates, who had -robbed peaceable ships bound from Iceland, had been chased by John -Chaderton and others of Portsmouth and captured about this time. - -And it was not always that Englishmen dealt with these foreigners in any -merciful manner, regardless of right or wrong. I have already emphasised -the fact that, as regards the question of legality, there was little -to choose between the seamen of any maritime nation. Rather it was a -question of opportunity, and the very men who to-day complained bitterly -of the robbery of their ships and cargoes might to-morrow be found -performing piracy themselves. A kind of sea-vendetta went on, and in the -minds of the mariners the only sin was that of being found out. So we -notice that, in the spring of 1539, an instance of a Breton ship being -captured by English corsairs who, according to the recognised custom of -the sea, forthwith threw overboard the French sailors. These were all -drowned except one who, “as if by a miracle, swam six miles to shore.” -So says the ancient record, though it is difficult to believe that even -a strong swimmer could last out so long after being badly knocked about. -The Bretons had their revenge this time, for complaint was made to the -chief justices, who within fifteen days had the culprits arrested and -condemned, and six of them were executed on the 19th of May. Before -the end of the month Francis I. wrote to thank the English king for so -promptly dealing with the culprits. - -Bearing in mind the interest which Henry VIII. took in nautical matters -and in the welfare of his country generally; recollecting, too, the -determination with which he pursued any project to the end when once -his mind had been made up, we need not be surprised to find that a few -months later in that year this resolute monarch again sent ships—this -time a couple of barks of 120 and 90 tons respectively—“well manned and -ordnanced” to scour the seas for these pirate pests that inflicted so -many serious losses on the Tudor merchants. - -A little earlier in that year Vaughan had written to Cromwell that he had -spoken with one who lately had been a “common passenger” in hoys between -London and Antwerp and knew of certain pirates who intended to capture -the merchant ships plying between those two ports. Valuable warning was -given concerning one of these roving craft. She belonged to Hans van -Meghlyn, who had fitted out a ship of the “portage” of 20 lasts and 45 -tons burthen. She was manned by a crew of thirty, her hull was painted -black with pitch, she had no “foresprit,” and her foremast leaned forward -like a “lodeman’s” boat. (“Lodeman” was the olden word for pilot—the man -who hove the lead.) Cromwell was advised that this craft would proceed -first to Orfordness (the natural landfall for a vessel to make when bound -across the North Sea from the Schelde), and thence she would proceed -south and lie in wait for ships at the mouth of the Thames. In order to -be ready to pillage either the inward or outward bound craft which traded -with London, this pirate would hover about off White Staple (Whitstable). -Vaughan’s informant thought that sometimes, however, she would change -her locality to the Melton shore in order to avoid suspicion, and he -advised that it would be best to capture her by means of three or four -well-manned oyster boats. There was also another “Easterling” (that is, -one from the east of Germany or the Baltic) pirate who had received his -commission from the Grave of Odenburg. This rover was named Francis Beme -and was now at Canfyre with his ship, waiting for the Grave of Odenburg’s -return from Brussels with money. But the warning news came in time, and -in order to prevent the English merchant ships from falling into the -sea-rovers’ hands, the former were ordered by proclamation to remain in -Antwerp from Ash Wednesday till Easter. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -THE CORSAIRS OF THE SOUTH - - -When, in the year 1516, Hadrian, Cardinal St. Chryogon, wrote to Wolsey -bitterly lamenting that from Taracina right away to Pisa pirates, -consisting of Turks and African Moors, were swarming the sea, he was -scarcely guilty of any exaggeration. Multifarious and murderous though -the pirates of Northern Europe had long since shown themselves, yet it is -the Mediterranean which, throughout history, and more especially during -the sixteenth century, has earned the distinction of being the favourite -and most eventful sphere of robbery by sea. - -You may ask how this came about. It was no longer the case of the old -Cilicians or the Balearic Islanders coming into activity once more. On -the contrary, the last-mentioned people, far from being pirates in the -sixteenth century, were actually pillaged than pillagers. A new element -had now been introduced, and we enter upon a totally different sphere -of the piratical history. Before we seek to inquire into the origin and -development of this new force which comes across the pages of history, -let us bear in mind the change which had come over the Mediterranean. -During the classical times piracy was indeed bad enough, because, among -other things, it interfered so seriously with the corn ships which -carried the means of sustenance. But in those days the number of freight -ships of any kind was infinitesimal compared with the enormous number of -fighting craft that were built by the Mediterranean nations. And however -much Greece and Rome laboured to develop the warlike galley, yet the -evolution of the merchant ship was sadly neglected, partly, no doubt, -because of the risks which a merchant ship ran and partly because the -centuries of fighting evoked little encouragement for a ship of commerce. - -During the centuries which followed the downfall of the Roman Empire -it must not be supposed that the sea was bereft of pirates. As we have -already seen, the decay of Rome was commensurate with the revival -of piracy. But with the gradual spread of southern civilisation the -importance of and the demand for commercial ships, as differentiated from -fighting craft, increased to an unheard-of extent. No one requires to be -reminded of the rise to great power of Venice and Genoa and Spain. They -became great overseas traders within limits, and this postulated the -ships in which goods could be carried. So it came to this that crossing -and recrossing the Mediterranean there were more big-bellied ships -full of richer cargoes and traversing the sea with greater regularity -than ever had been in the history of the world. And as there will -always be robbers when given the opportunity, either by sea or by land, -irrespective of race or time, so when this amount of wealth was now -afloat the sea-robber had every incentive to get rich quickly by a means -that appealed in the strongest terms to an adventurous temperament. - -In Italy the purely warlike ship had become so obsolete that, in the -opinion of some authorities, it was not till about the middle of the -ninth century that these began to be built, at any rate as regards -that great maritime power, Venice. She had been too concerned with the -production and exchange of wealth to centre her attention on any species -of ship other than those which would carry freights. But so many defeats -had she endured at the hands of the Saracens and pirates that ships -specially suitable for combat had, from the year 841, to be built. The -Saracens hailed from Arabia, and it is notable that at that time the -Arabian sailors who used to sail across the Indian Ocean were far and -away the most scientific navigators in the whole world, many of their -Arabic terms still surviving in nautical terminology to this day. Indeed, -the modern mariner who relies so much on nautical instruments scarcely -realises how much he owes to these early seamen. Just as the Cilicians -and others had in olden times harassed the shores of the Mediterranean, -so now the Saracens made frequent incursions into Sardinia, Corsica, -Sicily, as well as intercepting the ships of the Adriatic. - -Let us remember that both in the north and south of Europe the sailing -seasons for century after century were limited to that period which is -roughly indicated between the months of April and the end of September. -Therefore the pirate knew that if he confined his attentions to that -period and within certain sea-areas, he would be able to encompass -practically the whole of the world’s sea-borne trade. These sailing -periods were no arbitrary arrangement: they were part of the maritime -legislation, and only the most daring and, at the same time, most lawless -merchant skippers ventured forth in the off-season. - -Realising that the mariner had in any lengthy voyage to contend not -merely with bad weather but probably with pirates, the merchant pilots -were instructed to know how to avoid them. For instance, their main -object should be to make the merchant ship as little conspicuous on the -horizon as possible. Thus, after getting clear of the land, the white -sail should be lowered and a black one hoisted instead. They were warned -that it was especially risky to change sail at break of day when the -rising sun might make this action easily observable. A man was to be sent -aloft to scan the sea, looking for these rovers and keep a good look -out. That black sail was called the “wolf,” because it had the colour -and cunning of such an animal. At night, too, similar precautions were -employed against any danger of piratical attack, strict silence being -absolutely enforced, so that the boatswain was not even allowed to use -his whistle, nor the ship’s bell to be sounded. Every one knows how -easily a sound carries on the sea, especially by night, so the utmost -care was to be exercised lest a pirate hovering about might have the rich -merchant ship’s presence betrayed to her avaricious ears. - -But the Saracens, whose origin I have just mentioned, must not be -confused with the Barbarian corsairs. It is with the latter—the grand -pirates of the South—that I pass on now to deal. So powerful did they -become that it took the efforts of the great maritime powers of Europe -till the first quarter of the nineteenth century before they could -exterminate this scourge: and even to-day, in this highly civilised -century, if you were to be becalmed off the coast of North Africa in -a sailing yacht, you would soon find some of the descendants of these -Barbarian corsairs coming out with their historic tendency to kill you -and pillage your ship. If this statement should seem to any reader -somewhat incredible, I would refer him to the captain of any modern -steamship who habitually passes that coast: and I would beg also to call -to his attention the incident a few years ago that occurred to the famous -English racing yacht _Ailsa_, which was lying becalmed somewhere between -Spain and Africa. But for a lucky breeze springing up, her would-be -assailants might have captured a very fine prize. - -I shall use the word Moslem to mean Mussulman, or Mohammedan, or Moor, -and I shall ask the reader to carry his mind back to the time when -Ferdinand and Isabella turned the Moors out from Spain, and sent them -across the straits of Gibraltar back to Africa. For seven hundred years -these Moors had lived in the Iberian peninsula. It must be admitted in -fairness that these Moors were exceedingly gifted intellectually, and -there are ample evidences in Spain to this day of their accomplishments. -On the other hand, it is perfectly easy to appreciate the desire of a -Christian Government to banish these Mohammedans from a Catholic country. -Equally comprehensible is the bitter hatred which these Moors for ever -after manifested against all Christians of any nation, but against the -Spanish more especially. - -What were these Spanish Moors, now expatriated, to do? They spread -themselves along the North African coast, but it was not immediately that -they took to the sea; when, however, they did so accustom themselves it -was not as traders but as pirates of the worst and most cruel kind. The -date of their expulsion from Granada was 1492, and within a few years of -this they had set to work to become avenged. The type of craft which they -favoured was of the galley species, a vessel that was of great length, in -proportion to her extreme shallowness, and was manned by a considerable -number of oarsmen. Sail power was employed but only as auxiliary rather -than of main reliance. Such a craft was light, easily and quickly -manœuvred, could float in creeks and bays close in to the shore, or could -be drawn up the beach if necessary. In all essential respects she was -the direct lineal descendant of the old fighting galleys of Greece and -Rome. From about the beginning of the sixteenth century till the battle -of Lepanto in 1571 the Moslem corsair was at his best as a sea-rover and -a powerful racial force. And if he was still a pest to shipping after -that date, yet his activities were more of a desultory nature. Along -the Barbarian coast at different dates he made himself strong, though -of these strongholds Algiers remained for the longest time the most -notorious. - -In considering these Moslem corsairs one must think of men who were as -brutal as they were clever, who became the greatest galley-tacticians -which the world has ever seen. Their greed and lust for power and -property were commensurate with their ability to obtain these. Let it not -be supposed for one moment that during the grand period these Moorish -pirate leaders were a mere ignorant and uncultured number of men. On -the contrary, they possessed all the instincts of a clever diplomatist, -united to the ability of a great admiral and an autocratic monarch. -Dominating their very existence was their bitter hatred of Christians -either individually or as nations. And though a careful distinction must -be made between these Barbarian corsairs and the Turks, who were often -confused in the sixteenth-century accounts of these rovers, yet from a -very early stage the Moorish pirates and the Turks assisted each other. -You have only to remember that they were both Moslems; to remind yourself -that the downfall of Constantinople in 1453 gave an even keener incentive -to harass Christians; and to recollect that though the Turks were great -fighters by land yet they were not seamen. They had an almost illimitable -quantity of men to draw upon, and for this as well as other reasons it -was to the Moors’ interests that there should be a close association with -them. - -During the fifteenth and especially the sixteenth centuries there was -in general European use a particular word which instantly suggested a -certain character that would stink in the nostrils of any Christian, -be he under the domination of Elizabeth or Charles V. This word was -“renegade,” which, of course, is derived from the Latin _nego_, I deny. -“Renegade,” or, as the Elizabethan sailors often used it, “renegado” -signifies an apostate from the faith—a deserter or turncoat. But it was -applied in those days almost exclusively to the Christian who had so far -betrayed his religion as to become a Moslem. In the fifteenth century a -certain Balkan renegade was exiled from Constantinople by the Grand Turk. -From there he proceeded to the south-west, took up his habitation in the -island of Lesbos in the Ægean Sea, married a Christian widow and became -the father of two sons, named respectively Uruj and Kheyr-ed-din. The -renegade, being a seaman, it was but natural that the two sons should be -brought up to the same avocation. - -Having regard to the ancestry of these two men, and bearing in mind that -Lesbos had long been notorious for its piratical inhabitants, the reader -will in no wise be surprised to learn that these two sons resolved to -become pirates too. They were presently to reach a state of notoriety -which time can never expunge from the pages of historical criminals. -For the present let us devote our attention to the elder brother, Uruj. -We have little space to deal with the events of his full life, but this -brief sketch may suffice. The connection of these two brothers with the -banished Moors is that of organisers and leaders of a potential force of -pirates. Uruj, having heard of the successes which the Moorish galleys -were now attaining, of the wonderful prizes which they had carried off -from the face of the sea, felt the impulse of ambition and responded to -the call of the wild. So we come to the year 1504, and we find him in -the Mediterranean longing for a suitable base whence he could operate; -where, too, he could haul his galleys ashore during the winter and refit. - -[Illustration: A DARING ATTACK - -Uruj with his one craft attacked the two galleys of Pope Julius II -laden with goods from Genoa. His officers remonstrated with Uruj on the -desperate venture, but to enforce his commands and prevent any chance of -flight he had the oars thrown overboard. He then attacked and overcame -the galleys.] - -For a time Tunis seemed to be the most alluring spot in every way: -and strategically it was ideal for the purpose of rushing out and -intercepting the traffic passing between Italy and Africa. He came to -terms with the Sultan of Tunis, and, in return for one-fifth of the booty -obtained, Uruj was permitted to use this as his headquarters, and from -here he began with great success to capture Italian galleys, bringing -back to Tunis both booty and aristocratic prisoners for perpetual exile. -The women were cast into the Sultan’s harem, the men were chained to the -benches of the galleys. - -One incident alone would well illustrate the daring of Uruj, who had now -been joined by his brother. The story is told by Mr. Stanley Lane Poole -in his history of the Barbarian corsairs, that one day, when off Elba, -two galleys belonging to Pope Julius II. were coming along laden with -goods from Genoa for Civita Vecchia. The disparity and the daring may -be realised when we state that each of these galleys was twice the size -of Uruj’s craft. The Papal galleys had become separated, and this made -matters easier for the corsair. In spite of the difference in size, he -was determined to attack. His Turkish crew, however, remonstrated and -thought it madness, but Uruj answered this protestation by hurling most -of the oars overboard, thus making escape impossible: they had to fight -or die. - -This was the first time that Turkish corsairs had been seen off Elba, -and as the Papal galley came on and saw the turbaned heads, a spirit -of consternation spread throughout the ship. The corsair galley came -alongside, there was a volley of firing, the Turkish men leapt aboard, -and before long the ship and the Christians were captured. The -Christians were sent below, and the Papal ship was now manned by Turks -who disguised themselves in the Christians’ clothes. And now they were -off to pursue the second galley. As they came up to her the latter had no -suspicion, but a shower of arrows and shot, followed by another short, -sharp attack, made her also a captive. Into Tunis came the ships, and the -capture amazed both Barbarian corsair and the whole of Christendom alike. -The fame of Uruj spread, and along the whole coast of North Africa he -was regarded with a wonder mingled with the utmost admiration. He became -known by the name Barbarossa, owing to his own physical appearance, the -Italian word _rossa_ signifying red, and _barba_ meaning a beard. He -followed up this success by capturing next year a Spanish ship with 500 -soldiers. And there were other successes, so that in five years he had -eight vessels. But Tunis now became too small for him, so for a time he -moved to the island of Jerba, on the east coast of Tunis, and from there -he again harassed Italy. - -Such was the fame of Barbarossa that he was invited to help the Moors. It -chanced that the Moslem king of Bujeya had been driven out of his city -by the Spaniards, and the exile appealed to Barbarossa to assist him -in regaining his own. The reward offered to the Turk was that, in the -event of victory, Barbarossa should henceforth be allowed the free use -of Bujeya, the strategic advantage of this port being that it commanded -the Spanish sea. The Turk accepted the invitation on these terms, and -having now a dozen galleys, with ample armament, in addition to 1000 -Turkish soldiers, as well as a number of renegades and Moors, he landed -before the town in August of 1512. Here he found the King ready with -his 3000 troops, and they proceeded to storm the bastion, in which an -all too weak Spanish garrison had been left. Still, for eight days the -Spaniards held out, and then when a breach was made and a fierce assault -was being carried out, Barbarossa had the misfortune to have his left arm -amputated, so, Bujeya being now left alone, Barbarossa and his brother -put to sea again. They had not won the victory, but they had captured a -rich Genoese galley full of merchandise. Barbarossa took her back with -him to his headquarters, and while he recovered from his wounds his -brother Kheyr-ed-din acted in his stead. - -Not unnaturally the Genoese were angered at the loss of their fine -galliot and sent forth Andrea Doria, the greatest Christian admiral, with -a dozen galleys to punish the Turks. The Christians landed before Tunis, -drove Kheyr-ed-din back into Tunis, and took away to Genoa one-half -of Barbarossa’s ships. Kheyr-ed-din now proceeded to Jerba to build -other ships as fast as possible, and as soon as his wounds allowed him, -Barbarossa here joined him. Meanwhile the Moors were still chafing at -their inability to get even with the Spaniards, and once more an attempt -was made to take Bujeya, though unsuccessfully, and the corsair’s ships -were burnt lest they might fall into the hands of the enemy. - -At length the Barbarossas resolved to quit Tunis and Jerba, for they -had now chosen to settle at Jijil, sixty miles to the east of Bujeya. -Their fame had come before them; the inhabitants were proud to welcome -the brother corsairs who had done many wonderful things by land and sea, -and before long the elder Barbarossa was chosen as their Sultan. In 1516 -died Ferdinand, and about this time the Algerine Moors declined any -longer to pay tribute to Spain. To Barbarossa came an invitation to aid -these inhabitants of Algiers in driving the Spanish garrison from their -fort. The invitation was accepted, 6000 men and sixteen galliots were -got together. Arrived before the fortress of Algiers, Barbarossa offered -a safe conduct to the garrison if they would surrender, but the latter’s -reply was merely to remind the corsair of Bujeya. Then for twenty days -Barbarossa battered away at the fortress, but without making a breach, -and meanwhile the Moors began to regret that they had asked the red beard -to aid them. But it would be less easy to turn them out now that once -these dare-devils had set foot on their territory. Barbarossa knew this -and waxed insolent. The Algerines made common cause with the soldiers in -the fortress, and a general rising against the red beard was planned. But -they had reckoned without their guest. For Barbarossa had spies at work -and became informed of this plot. - -Whilst at prayers one Friday in the mosque, Barbarossa had the gates -closed, the conspirators brought before him one by one, and then after -twenty-two of them had been put to death there was an end to this -plotting against the corsair of Lesbos. Barbarossa increased in power, -in the number of his galleys, in the extent of his territory and in the -number of his subjects, so that by now he had become Sultan of Middle -Barbary. Practically the whole of that territory marked on our modern -maps of Algeria was under his sway. Step by step, leaping from one -success to another, ignoring his occasional reverses, he had risen from -a mere common pirate to the rank of a powerful Sultan. So potent had he -become, in fact, that he was able to make treaties with other Barbarian -Sultans, and all the summer season his galleys were scouring the seas -bringing back increased wealth and more unfortunate Christian prisoners. -Richly laden merchant ships from Genoa, from Naples, from Venice, from -Spain set forth from home, and neither the ships nor their contents were -ever permitted to return or to reach their ports of destination. - -However, the time came when the Christian States could no longer endure -this terrible condition of affairs. And Charles V. was moved to send a -strong force to deal with the evil. Ten thousand seasoned troops were -sent in a large fleet of galleys to Northern Africa, and at last the -wasp was killed. For Barbarossa, with his 1500 men, was defeated, and he -himself was slain while fighting boldly. Unfortunately the matter ended -there, and the troops, instead of pressing home their victory and wiping -the Barbarian coast clean of this Moorish dirt, left Algiers severely -alone and returned to their homes. Had they, instead, ruthlessly sought -out this lawless piratical brood, the troublesome scourge of the next -three centuries would probably never have caused so many European ships -and so many English and foreign sailors and others to end their days -under the lash of tyrannical monsters. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE WASPS AT WORK - - -But if Barbarossa was dead, his sagacious brother Kheyr-ed-din was ready -to take up his work, and he proceeded on more scientific principles. He -began by sending an ambassador to Constantinople, and begged protection -for the province of Algiers. This, having been granted, he was appointed -officially, in 1519, Governor of Algiers. His next step was to reinforce -his garrisons at different parts of the coast and so secure his territory -from attacks by sea. And in order to make for safety on the southern or -landward side, he entered into alliances with the leading Arabian tribes -up-country. - -He was thus about as secure as it was possible for human diplomacy and -organisation to achieve. His ships could still go on their piratical -cruises and return with little enough risk. In vain did the Spaniards -send an Armada against him. The men indeed landed, but they were driven -back, and a storm springing up did the rest. Gradually more and more -seaports fell into the net of this corsair, so there were plenty of -harbours to run for, plenty of safe shelters whither to bring the -valuable prizes. It was not merely the middle or the eastern end of the -Mediterranean which was now harassed, but the west end. Those were the -days, you will remember, when Spain was developing the rich resources -of the New World, so there was a great opportunity for the Barbarian -pirates to go out some little distance into the Atlantic and capture the -West Indiamen homeward bound for Cadiz with gold and other treasures. -And in addition to these prizes, no less than the merchantmen of Italy, -Kheyr-ed-din occasionally made raids on the Spanish coast or even carried -off slaves from the Balearic Islands. From end to end these Algerine -corsairs were thus masters of the Mediterranean. No commercial ship could -pass on her voyages in any safety—even Spanish flagships found themselves -being brought captive into Algiers. - -True, the small Spanish garrison still remained in Algiers, and because -it was immured within a very strong fortress it held out. The time now -came for this to be attacked with great vigour. For a period of fifteen -days it was bombarded, and at length, after a most stubborn resistance, -it was overcome. The stronghold was then pulled down, and Christian -prisoners who in the summer season had rowed chained to their seats in -the corsair galleys, were in the off-season employed to build with these -stones the great mole to protect the harbour of Algiers from the western -side. It was a stupendous undertaking, and seven thousand of these -unhappy creatures accomplished the work in most of two years. - -Nothing succeeds like success, and the corsair prospered in power and -possession to such an extent that he was pre-eminent. This naturally -attracted to his dominion many thousands of other followers, and there -was thus established not a mere small colony of pirates, but a grand -corsair kingdom where the industry of sea-robbery was well organised with -its foundries and dockyards, and with every assistance to agriculture, -and a firm, hard government to keep the land in fit and proper -cultivation. - -And now yet another invitation came to Kheyr-ed-din. Andrea Doria had -defeated the Turks at Patras and in the Dardanelles. Like the policy -of the corsairs, after each victory the Christian admiral employed the -infidel captives to work at the oars of his galleys. Thus it was that the -Sultan of Turkey—Solyman the Magnificent—realising that the Christian -admiral was draining the best Turkish seafaring men, determined to invite -Kheyr-ed-din to help him against Andrea Doria. So one of the Sultan’s -personal guard was dispatched to Algiers requesting Barbarossa to come -to Constantinople and place himself at the head of the Ottoman navy. -Barbarossa accepted this as he had accepted other invitations, seeing -that it was to his own interest, and in August 1533 left Algiers with -seven galleys and eleven other craft. On the way he was joined by sixteen -more craft belonging to a pirate named Delizuff, but before they had got -to the end of the voyage Delizuff was killed in an attack on a small -island named Biba. There followed some friction between the men of the -deceased pirate and those of Barbarossa, and finally one dark night the -ships of Delizuff stole away from Barbarossa’s fleet. - -Eventually this Sultan of Algiers, with his ships, arrived at -Constantinople. The case stood thus. The Ottoman subject was an excellent -man to fight battles by land, but not by sea. Barbarossa was a true -fighting seaman: therefore let him do for us that which we ourselves -cannot do. He was only three years short of becoming an octogenarian, -yet this veteran corsair was as able as he was wicked, and so, after the -Ottoman dockyards in the following year had provided him with additional -ships, Barbarossa set forth from Constantinople and began by sacking -Reggio, burning Christian ships and carrying off their crews. Thence he -laid waste the coast until he came to Naples, and altogether made 11,000 -Christians prisoners, and returned to the Bosphorus with an abundance -of spoil and slaves. Sardinia, too, was depleted of wealth and humanity -till it was almost bereft of both, and at last the fleet arrived before -Tunis, to the amazement of the inhabitants. To condense a long story it -may be said at once that, after some fighting, Tunis found itself now in -submission to him who was also Sultan of Algiers and commander-in-chief -of the Ottoman fleet. But trouble was brewing. - -Again Christendom was moved to action. The successes of this -all-conquering King of Corsairs were endangering the world, so the great -Charles V. set on foot most elaborate preparations to cope with the -evil. The preparations were indeed slow, but they were sure and they -were extensive. But there was just one disappointing fact. When Francis -the First, King of France, was invited to take his share in this great -Christian expedition it is as true as it is regrettable to have to record -the fact, that not only did he decline, but he actually betrayed the news -of these impending activities to Barbarossa. This news was not welcome -even to such a hardened old pirate, but he set to work in order to be -ready for the foe, employed the Christian prisoners in repairing the -fortifications of Tunis, summoned help to his standard from all sides, -all united in the one desire to defeat and crush utterly any Christian -force that might be sent against the followers of Mahomet. Spies kept him -informed of the latest developments, and from Algiers came all the men -that could possibly be spared. And finally, when all preparations had -been made, there was on the one side the mightiest Christian expedition -about to meet the greatest aggregation of Moslems. By the middle of June -the invaders reached the African coast and found themselves before Tunis. -It was to be a contest of Christian forces against infidels: it was to -represent an attempt once and for all to settle with the greatest pirate -even the Mediterranean had ever witnessed. It was, if possible, to set -free the hordes of brother-Christians from the tyrannous cruelty of a -despotic corsair. Of those who now came over the sea, many had lost wife, -or sister, or father, or son, or brother at the hands of these heathens. -For once, at last, this great Christian Armada had the sea to itself: the -wasps had retreated into their nest. - -So the attack began simultaneously from the land and from the sea. The -men on shore and those in the galleys realised they were battling in -no ordinary contest but in a veritable crusade. Twenty-five thousand -infantry and six hundred lancers, with their horses, had been brought -across the sea in sixty-two galleys, a hundred and fifty transports, -as well as a large number of other craft.[1] The Moslems had received -assistance from along the African coast and from the inland tribes. -Twenty thousand horsemen, as well as a large quantity of infantry, were -ready to meet the Christians. The Emperor Charles V. was himself present, -and Andrea Doria, the greatest Christian admiral, was there opposed to -the greatest admiral of the Moslems. - -Needless to say the fight was fierce, but at last the Christians were -able to make a breach in the walls not once but in several places, and -the fortress had to be vacated. Tunis was destined to fall into Christian -hands. Barbarossa realised this now full well. What hurt him most was -that he was beaten at his own game: his own beloved galleys were to fall -into the enemies’ hands. Presently the corsairs were routed utterly, -and Barbarossa with only about three thousand of his followers escaped -by land. Now inside Tunis were no fewer than 20,000 Christian prisoners. -These now succeeded in freeing themselves of their fetters, opened the -gates to the victorious army, and the latter, unable to be controlled, -massacred the people they had been sent against right and left. The -20,000 Christians were rescued, the victory had been won, the corsair -had been put to flight, and Muley Hassan, a mere puppet, was restored -to his kingdom of Tunis by Charles V. on conditions, amongst which it -was stipulated that Muley Hassan should liberate all Christian captives -who might be in his realm, give them a free passage to their homes, and -no corsair should be allowed again to use his ports for any purpose -whatsoever. - -This was the biggest blow which Barbarossa had ever received. But brute -though he was, cruel tyrant that he had shown himself, enemy of the human -race though he undoubtedly must be reckoned, yet his was a great mind, -his was a spirit which was only impelled and not depressed by disasters. -At the end of a pitiful flight, he arrived farther along the African -coast at the port of Bona, where there remained just fifteen galleys -which he had kept in reserve. All else that was his had gone—ships, -arsenal, men. But the sea being his natural element, and piracy his -natural profession, he began at once to embark. But just then there -arrived fifteen of the Christian galleys, so Barbarossa, not caring for -conflict, drew up his galleys under the fort of Bona, and the enemy -deemed it prudent to let the corsair alone, and withdrew. Soon after -Barbarossa put to sea and disappeared, when Andrea Doria with forty -galleys arrived on the scene too late. - -Just as on an earlier occasion already narrated, the Christian expedition -made the mistake of not pressing home their victory and so settling -matters with the pirates for good and all. Algiers had been drained so -thoroughly of men that it was really too weak to resist an attack. But -no; the Christians left that alone, although they took Bona. About the -middle of August Charles re-embarked his men and, satisfied with the -thrashing he had given these pirates, returned home. But Barbarossa -proceeded to Algiers, where he got together a number of galleys and -waited till his former followers—or as many as had survived battle and -the African desert—returned to him. If Moslem piracy had been severely -crushed, it was not unable to revive, and, before long, Barbarossa with -his veterans was afloat again, looting ships at sea, and carrying off -more prisoners to Algiers. For this piracy was like a highly infectious -disease. You might think for a time that it was stamped out, that the -world had been cleansed of it, but in a short time it would be manifest -that the evil was as prevalent as ever. - -Once more he was summoned to visit Soliman the Magnificent; once more -the arch-corsair sped to Constantinople to receive instructions to -deal with the conquering Christians. Andrea Doria was at sea, burning -Turkish ships, and only this Sultan of Algiers could deal with him. So -away Barbarossa went in his customary fashion, raiding the Adriatic -towns, sweeping the islands of the Archipelago, and soon he returned to -Constantinople with 18,000 slaves, to say nothing of material prizes. -Money was obtained as easily as human lives, and the world marvelled -that this corsair admiral, this scourge of the sea, this enemy of the -Christian race, should, after a crushing defeat, be able to go about his -dastardly work, terrifying towns and ships as though the expedition of -Charles V. had never been sent forth. - -But matters were again working up to a crisis. If the corsair admiral -was still afloat, so was Andrea Doria, the great Christian admiral. At -the extreme south-west corner of the Epirus, on the Balkan side of the -Adriatic, and almost opposite the heel of Italy, lies Prevesa. Hither -in 1569 came the fleets of the Cross and the Crescent respectively. The -Christian ships had been gathered together at the Island of Corfu, which -is thirty or forty miles to the north-west of Prevesa. Barbarossa came, -assisted by all the great pirate captains of the day, and among them must -be mentioned Dragut, about whom we shall have more to say later. - -But Prevesa, from a spectacular standpoint, was disappointing. It was too -scientific, too clearly marked by strategy and too little distinguished -by fighting. If the reader has ever been present at any athletic contest -where there has been more skill than sport, he will know just what I -mean. It is the spirit of the crowd at a cricket match when the batsman -is all on the defensive and no runs are being scored. It is manifested in -the spectators’ indignation at a boxing match when neither party gets in -a good blow, when there is an excess of science, when both contestants, -fairly matched and perhaps overtrained and nervous of the other’s -prowess, hesitate to go in for hard-hitting, so that in the end the match -ends in a draw. - -It was exactly on this wise at Prevesa. Andrea Doria and Barbarossa -were the two great champions of the ring. Neither was young; both had -been trained by years of long fighting. They were as fairly matched -as it was possible to find a couple of great admirals. Each realised -the other’s value; both knew that for spectators they had the whole -of Europe—both Christian and Moslem. Victory to the one would mean -downfall to the other, and unless a lucky escape intervened, one of the -two great admirals would spend the rest of his life rowing his heart out -as a galley-slave. Certainly it was enough to make the boxers nervous -and hesitating. They were a long time getting to blows, and there was -but little actually accomplished. There was an unlucky calm on the sea, -and the _Galleon of Venice_ was the centre of the fighting which took -place. It was the splendid discipline on board this big craft, it was -the excellence of her commander and the unique character of her great -guns which made such an impression on Barbarossa’s fleet that although -the _Galleon_ was severely damaged, yet at the critical time when -the corsairs might have rushed on board and stormed her as night was -approaching, for once in his life the great nerve of the corsair king -deserted him. No one was more surprised than the Venetians when they -found the pirate not pressing home his attack. True, the latter had -captured a few of the Christian ships, but these were a mere handful and -out of all proportion to the importance of the battle. He had been sent -forth to crush Andrea Doria and the Christian fleet; he had failed so to -do. - -Next day, with a fair wind, Andrea Doria made away. The honour of the -battle belonged to the _Galleon of Venice_, but for Barbarossa it was -a triumph because, with an inferior force, he had put the Christian -admiral to flight. Doria’s ship had not been so much as touched, and yet -Barbarossa had not been taken prisoner. That was the last great event in -the career of Kheyr-ed-din, and he died in 1548 at Constantinople as one -of the wickedest and cruellest murderers of history, the greatest pirate -that has ever lived, and one of the cleverest tacticians and strategists -the Mediterranean ever bore on its waters. There has rarely lived a -human being so bereft of the quality of mercy, and his death was received -by Christian Europe with a sigh of the greatest relief. - -In the whole history of piracy there figure some remarkably clever and -consummate seamen. Like many another criminal they had such tremendous -natural endowments that one cannot but regret that they began badly -and continued. The bitterest critic of this Moslem monster cannot but -admire his abnormal courage, resource; his powers of organisation and his -untameable determination. The pity of it all is that all this should have -been wasted in bringing misery to tens of thousands, in dealing death and -robbery and pillage. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -GALLEYS AND GALLANTRY - - -But there was a third great Barbarian corsair to complete this terrible -trio. Uruj and Kheyr-ed-din we have known. There is yet to be mentioned -Dragut, who succeeded to the latter. He too was a Moslem who had been -born in a coast village of Asia Minor, opposite the island of Rhodes. His -early life is that of most pirates. He went to sea when quite young, was -devoted to his profession, was filled with ambition, became an expert -pilot and later became a skipper of his own craft. Then, feeling the call -of the wild, he devoted himself to piracy and rose to notoriety. - -But the turning-point in his career came when he joined himself to the -service of Kheyr-ed-din, who appointed Dragut to the entire command of a -dozen of the corsair king’s galleys. Henceforward his life was that of -his master, ravaging the Italian coasts, pillaging Mediterranean ships -and dragging thousands of lives away into slavery. Two years after the -battle of Prevesa, Dragut was in fame second only to Kheyr-ed-din, and -another Doria—the nephew of Andrea—was sent forth to capture this new -wasp of the sea. Doria succeeded in throwing his net so well that off -the Corsican coast he was able to bring back Dragut as prisoner, and -for the next four years the ex-corsair was condemned to row as a slave -in a Christian galley, until on a day his late master Kheyr-ed-din came -sailing into Genoa. During his active, pillaging life he had obtained -plenty of riches, so it was nothing for him to pay 3000 ducats and thus -redeem from slavery a man who had been particularly useful to his own -schemes. - -And from this day until Dragut fell fighting in 1565, he followed in -the footsteps of the man who brought him his release. When Kheyr-ed-din -died, the Turkish Sultan appointed Dragut as admiral of the Ottoman -fleet. Like Barbarossa, Dragut’s first object was to obtain a base in -Northern Africa, and eventually he was able to capture the town of -“Africa” or Mehedia, to the east of Tunis. His next proceeding was to -fortify this place. The news came to the ears of Charles V. that this had -happened. The two Barbarossas were dead, but there was another almost as -pernicious. Was this pestilence of piracy never to cease? Andrea Doria -was an old man now, but he was bidden by Charles to go after Dragut, -and he went. Nor was he sorry for an opportunity of wiping out his own -undistinguished action at Prevesa. Dragut was away harrying the coasts -of Spain, and his nephew Aisa was left in charge of “Africa.” Meanwhile -Doria searched for him along the African coast, came to “Africa,” but -after losing some men and with great damage to his own ship, Doria, as -the season was getting late, returned home. - -But the following June, Doria with his fleet arrived off Mehedia, -besieged the city, and, after an expenditure of great effort, took it, -capturing Aisa. - -Mehedia was lost, but Dragut was still at large. He repaired to -Constantinople and thence to Jerbah, the island off the east coast of -Tunis. Hither also came Andrea Doria and hemmed the corsair in. At last -the pirate was in a trap, but like many another clever rascal he found -a way out with consummate cleverness. What he did may briefly be summed -up as follows: Outside were the waiting Christian fleet, which was merely -amused by the sight of a new fort becoming daily greater. But these -earthworks were just so much bluff. For Dragut, by means of these, was -able to conceal what was being done on the other side. With marvellous -ingenuity he had caused a road to be made across the island to the sea on -the other side; he had laid down a surface of well-greased planks, and -under the further cover of darkness had made his men drag his galleys -across till they were launched into the sea on the opposite coast. The -rest was easy, and the corsair fleet once more escaped, having fooled -Dorea in a manner that amazed him. To add impudence to insult, Dragut at -once captured a Sicilian galley on its way to Dorea, containing Muley -Hassan, Sultan of Tunis. The latter was promptly sent as a present to the -Sultan of Turkey, who allowed him to end his days in prison. - -Of the rest of the acts of this corsair we have but little space to -speak. It is sufficient if we say that he well bore the mantle which -had fallen to him from the shoulders of Barbarossa. He continued his -scourging of the seas, he fought gallantly, he laid waste and he -captured prisoners for slavery. Power and dominion came to him as to -his predecessors, and before long he was the ruler of Tripoli and more -than ever the enemy of the Christian race. Finally he died at the siege -of Malta, but he in turn was succeeded by Ali Basha of Algiers, who -conquered the kingdom of Tunis, captured Maltese galleys, and showed that -the old corsair spirit was still alive. - -But the day of reckoning was at hand, and there was to be settled in -one of the most momentous events of history a debt that had long been -owing to the Christians. Of all the decisive battles of the world few -stand out more conspicuously than the battle of Lepanto. In spite of all -the great maritime expeditions which had been sent to put down piracy -in the Mediterranean, the evil had recurred again and again. There were -two reasons why Christian Europe was determined to beat these corsairs: -firstly, the latter were natural enemies because they were Moslems; -but, secondly, they were the worst type of pirates. All the losses of -Christian lives, goods and ships merely increased the natural hatred -of these Mohammedans. And in Lepanto we see the last great contest in -which these truculent corsairs fought as a mighty force. Thereafter -there were repeated piratical attacks by these men, but they of a more -individualistic nature than proceeding from an enormous organisation. - -Lepanto was fought sixteen years before the Elizabethans defeated the -Armada. Before we say anything of the contest itself it is necessary to -remind the reader that whereas in the contest which took place in the -waters that wash England, the bulk of the ships were sail-propelled and -had high freeboard (with some exceptions), yet at Lepanto it was the -reverse. The fighting ship of the Mediterranean from the very earliest -times had always been of the galley type, even though it contained -variations of species. And never was this characteristic more clearly -manifested than at the battle of which we are now to speak. There were -galleys and galleasses, but though the former were certainly somewhat big -craft, yet the latter were practically only big editions of the galley. - -The value of Lepanto is twofold. It proved to the world that the great -Ottoman Empire was not invincible on sea. It showed also that in -spite of all that the cleverest corsair seamen could do, there were -sufficient unity and seamanlike ability in Christian Europe to defeat -the combined efforts of organised piracy and Mohammedanism. No one can -deny that Ali Basha distinguished himself as a fine admiral at this -battle, yet he was not on the side of victory. When he found himself -defeated there fell simultaneously the greatest blow which organised -piracy had received since it established itself along the southern shores -of the Mediterranean. Lepanto was no mere isolated event; it was the -logical outcome of the conflict between Christianity on the one hand -and Mohammedanism with piracy on the other. It is as unfair to omit the -consideration of Moslemism from the cause of this battle as it were to -leave out the fact of piracy. - -The solidarity of the Christian expedition was formed by what was called -the Holy League, embracing the ships of the Papal States, Spain and -Venice. The unity of the opposing side was ensured by the fidelity of -the Barbarian corsairs to the Sultan of Turkey. In supreme command of -the former was Don John of Austria, son of that Charles V. who had done -so much to oust these corsair wasps. The Christian fleet numbered about -three hundred, of which two-thirds were galleys, and they collected -at Messina. The scene where the battle was to take place was already -historic. It was practically identical with that of Prevesa, of which we -have already spoken, and with that of the classical Actium in 31 B.C., -though exactly it was a little to the south of where Prevesa had been -fought. Just as in the latter Kheyr-ed-din had fought against Andrea -Doria, so now Dragut was to fight against John Andrea Doria. The Moslem -strength may be gauged from the statement that it contained 250 galleys -plus a number of smaller ships. But just as Prevesa had been marked -by little fighting but much manœuvring, so Lepanto was distinguished -by an absence of strategy and a prevalence of desperate, hard hitting. -Whatever strategy was displayed belonged to Ali Basha. The galleasses -of the Christian side dealt wholesale death into the Moslems, though -Andrea’s own flagship suffered severely in the fight. Spanish, Venetian -and Maltese galleys fought most gallantly, but Ali Basha, after capturing -the chief of the Maltese craft, was obliged to relinquish towing her, and -himself compelled to escape from the battle. At least 5000 Christians -perished at Lepanto, but six times that amount were slaughtered of the -Moslems, together with 200 of the latter’s ships. The corsairs had -rendered the finest assistance, but they had failed with distinction. - -Christian craft had won the great day, and never since that autumn day in -1571 have the pirates of Barbary attained to their previous dominion and -organised power. Ali returned to Constantinople, and even the next year -was again anxious to fight his late enemies, though no actual fighting -took place. Still another year later Tunis was taken from the Turks by -Don John of Austria. For nine years after the event of Lepanto, Ali Basha -lived on, and, like his predecessors, spent much of his time harrying the -Christian coastline of southern Italy. There were many pirates for long -years after his death, but with the decease of Ali Basha closed the grand -period of the Moslem corsairs. It had been a century marked by the most -amazing impudence on the part of self-made kings and tyrants. But if it -showed nothing else, it made perfectly clear what enormous possibilities -the sea offered to any man who had enough daring and self-confidence -in addition to that essential quality of sea-sense. From mere common -sailormen these four great corsairs—the two Barbarossas, Dragut and -Ali Basha—rose to the position of autocrats and admirals. Mere robbers -and bandits though they were, yet the very mention of their names sent -a shudder through Christendom. And it was only the repeated and supreme -efforts of the great European powers which could reduce these pirate -kings into such a condition that honest ships could pursue their voyages -with any hope of reaching their destined ports. Surely, in the whole -history of lawlessness, there never were malefactors that prospered for -so long and to such an extent! - -We have spoken in this chapter of galleys and galleasses. Before we -close, let us add a few words of explanation to facilitate the reader’s -vision. Bearing in mind the interesting survival of the galley type -throughout Mediterranean warfare, it must not be forgotten that in detail -this type of craft varied in subsequent centuries. There remained, -however, the prevailing fact that she relied primarily on oars, and -that she drew comparatively little water and had but little freeboard -in proportion to the caravels, caracks and ocean-going ships of war and -commerce. The great virtue of the galley consisted in her mobility. -Her greatest defect lay in her lack of sea-keeping qualities. For the -galley’s work was concerned with operations within a limited sphere with -the land not far away; in other words, she was suited for conditions the -exact opposite of that kind of craft which could sail to the West Indies -or go round Cape Horn. - -[Illustration: GALLEY SLAVES - -The life of a galley slave was one of dreadful hardship. They were -chained five or six to an oar, fed on the scantiest of food, and a -boatswain walked up and down a gangway in the centre wielding his -terrible lash on those who incurred his anger.] - -The amazing feature of these galleys was the large number of oarsmen -required; but this was an age when human life was regarded more cheaply -than to-day. Slaves could be had by raiding towns or capturing ships. -The work of pulling at the oar was healthy if terribly hard. A minimum -of food and the stern lash of the boatswain as he walked up and down -the gangway that ran fore-and-aft down the centre of the ship kept the -men at their duty, and their shackles prevented them from deserting. But -when their poor, wearied bodies became weak, they were thrown overboard -before their last breath had left them. The prints, which are still -in existence, show that the number of oarsmen in a sixteenth-century -galley ran into hundreds—two or three hundred of these galley-slaves -would be no rare occurrence in one craft. They retained the beak and -the arrangement of the yards from the time of the Romans. At the stern -sat the commander with his officers. When these craft carried cannon -the armament was placed in the bows. By the sixteenth, or at any rate -the seventeenth, century, the galley had reached her climax, and it was -not thought remarkable that her length should be about 170 feet and her -breadth only about 20 feet. She may be easily studied by the reader on -referring to an accompanying illustration. Whether used by Christian or -corsair, by Maltese knights or Moslem Turks, they were not very different -from the picture which is here presented. With five men to each heavy -oar, with seamen to handle the sails when employed, with soldiers to -fight the ship, she was practically a curious kind of raft or floating -platform. Irrespective of religion or race, it was customary for the -sixteenth-century nations to condemn their prisoners to row chained to -these benches. Thus, for example, when the Spaniards captured Elizabethan -seamen, the latter were thus employed, just as Venetian prisoners were -made to row in Moslem galleys. Convicted criminals were also punished by -this means. - -The difference between the old and new was never better seen than in -the late sixteenth century, when the big-bellied man-of-war with sails -and guns were beginning to discard the old boarding tactics. It was -the gun and not the sword on which they were now relying. But the -galley was dependent less on her gunnery than on boarding. It was her -aim to fight not at a distance but at close quarters—to get right close -alongside and then pour her soldiers on to the other ship and obtain -possession. The galeass of the Mediterranean, although the word was -somewhat largely used, signified an attempt to combine the sea-qualities -of the big-bellied ship with the mobility of the galley. Compromises -are, however, but rarely successful, and though the galleass was a much -more potent fighting unit, yet she was less mobile, if a better sea -craft. She began by being practically a big galley with forecastle and -sterncastle and another deck; she ended in being little less clumsy than -the contemporary ship of the line which relied on sails and guns. Anyone -who cares to examine the contemporary pictures of the Spanish galleasses -used by the Armada against England in the reign of Elizabeth can see -this for himself. It is true that even as far north as Amsterdam in the -seventeenth century the galley was employed, and there are many instances -when she fought English ships in the Channel, off Portsmouth and -elsewhere. For a time some lingered on in the British Navy, but they were -totally unsuited for the waters of the North Sea and English Channel, and -gave way to the sail-propelled ships of larger displacement. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -PIRACY IN ELIZABETHAN TIMES - - -But although the Mediterranean was the sphere of the Barbarian corsairs, -yet this sea lawlessness was not confided to that area. The Narrow -Seas were just about as bad as they had been in the Middle Ages. And -Elizabeth, with the determination for which she was famous, took the -matter in hand. - -As early as the year 1564 she commanded Sir Peter Carew to fit out an -expedition to clear the seas of any pirates and rovers that haunted the -coasts of Devonshire and Cornwall; yet it was an almost impossible task. -For the men of these parts especially had gotten the sea-fever. Fishing -was less profitable than it might be, but to capture ships instead of -fish was a very paying industry and had just that amount of adventure -which appealed to the Elizabethans. And bear in mind that, as in the -case of the later smugglers, these men had at their backs for financial -support the rich land-owners, who found the investment tempting. - -It was because the colonies in the New World were yielding such wondrous -treasure that the English pirates found the Spanish ships so well worth -waiting for and pillaging. Again and again did Philip make demands to -Elizabeth that this nuisance should be stopped, insisting that in no -case should a convicted English pirate be pardoned. He requested that -Her Majesty’s officers in the west of England ports should cease from -allowing these marauders to take stores aboard or even frequent these -harbours. Rewards, he begged, should even be offered for their capture, -and all persons on shore who aided these miscreants should be punished -severely. - -It was because of Philip’s complaint, no less than of the complaint of -her own merchants, that the Queen was compelled to adopt severe measures. -She despatched more ships to police the seas, but with what advantage? -Up came a ship bound from Flanders to Spain with a cargo of tapestry, -clocks and various other articles for Philip. The English pirates could -not let such a prize go past, so they stopped the ship and plundered her. -The Queen’s next effort was to cause strict inquiries to be made along -the coast in order to discover the haunts of these Northern corsairs. -Harbour commissioners were appointed, says Lindsay, to inquire and report -on all vessels leaving or entering port, and all landed proprietors who -had encouraged the pirates were threatened with penalties. But it was -an impossible task, as I will explain. First of all, consider the fact -that after centuries of this free sea-roving, no government, no amount of -threats, could possibly transform the character of the English seaman. -If, for instance, to-morrow, Parliament were to make it law forbidding -the North Sea fishermen to proceed in their industry, nothing but shells -from men-of-war would prevent the men putting to sea. Years of occupation -would be too strong to resist. - -So it was with the seamen in the Elizabethan age. It began by that hatred -of their French neighbours; it was encouraged by the privileges which the -Cinque Ports enjoyed, though it was in the blood of the English seamen -quite apart from any royal permission. But there was in the time of -Elizabeth still a further difficulty. Those privateers whom the law had -permitted to go forth sea-roving had become too strong to be suppressed. -Privateering strictly consists of a private ship or ships having a -commission to seize or plunder the ships of an enemy; in effect it -amounts to legalised piracy, and any one can realise that in a none too -law-abiding age, such as the sixteenth century, the dividing line between -piracy and privateering was so very fine that it was almost impossible to -say which pillaging was legal and which was unjustifiable. That alone was -sufficient reason for the frequent releases of alleged pirates at this -time. - -True, the Crown allowed privateering, though the commissions were limited -only to the attacks on our acknowledged enemies, yet it was futile to -expect that these rude Devonshire seamen would have any respect to legal -_finesse_. To control these men adequately was too much to expect. -French and Spanish and Flemish merchantmen, regardless of nationality, -were alike liable to fall into the English pirates’ hands. Some of the -backers were making quite a handsome income, and who shall say that some -of those fine Elizabethan mansions in our country were not built out of -such illegal proceeds? The Mayor of Dover, for instance, with some of the -leading inhabitants of that port, had captured over 600 prizes from the -French, to say nothing of the number of neutrals which he had pillaged. -This was in the year 1563, and already he had plundered sixty-one Spanish -ships. And there was the valuable trade passing to and from Antwerp and -London, which was a steady source of revenue for the pirates of this -time. You cannot be surprised, then, at that important incident in 1564, -that did so much to enrage the English seamen and help matters forward -to the climax in the form of the Spanish Armada; for what happened? -Philip, seeing how little Elizabeth was doing to put down this series -of attacks on his treasure ships, had, in the year mentioned, suddenly -issued an order arresting every English ship and all the English crews -that happened to be found within his own harbours. It was a drastic -measure, but we can quite understand the impetuous and furious Spaniard -acting on this wise. - -During Elizabeth’s reign there were of course some pirates who had the -bad fortune to be arrested. One little batch suspected included a Captain -Heidon, Richard Deigle and a man named Corbet. Included in the same gang -were Robert Hitchins, Philip Readhead, Roger Shaster and others. The -first three mentioned succeeded in fleeing away beyond capture, but the -remainder admitted their guilt. Hitchins was a man about fifty years old -and a native of Devonshire, but both he and his companions protested that -they had been deceived by Heidon and Deigle; they had undertaken a voyage -to Rochelle presumably in a merchant ship, whereas the trip turned out to -be nothing else than a piratical expedition. - -Their version of the incident was that in June 1564 they captured a -Flemish ship, and to her were transferred thirteen Scots who were forming -part of this supposedly merchant ship. The Flemish ship with the Scots on -board now sailed away, as there was some disagreement with the rest of -the party. They proceeded to Ireland, where their skipper joined them, -and they also committed robberies on the coast of Spain. Having captured -a ship with a cargo of wine they proceeded to that extreme south-west -corner of Ireland which, even in this twentieth century, is still a wild, -lonely spot and rarely visited by any craft excepting the British Navy, -an occasional cable-laying ship and sometimes a coaster or two. Berehaven -is a mighty fjord which goes out of Bantry Bay. On the one side rise -high, rocky hills; on the other lies the island of Bere. It is a safe, -clear anchorage and a wild, inaccessible spot. - -Here the captured ship was taken and the wines sold. An arrangement was -made with the Lord O’Sullivan by which the pirates could rely on his -assistance. For Corbet with one ship, and a man named Lusingham, who -had charge of another ship, were prevented by O’Sullivan from falling -into the hands of Elizabeth’s ships that had been sent to capture them. -Lusingham, however, had been slain by “a piece of ordnance,” as he was -in the act of waving his cap towards the Queen’s ships at Berehaven, but -Corbet was yet alive. It was alleged that Heidon and Corbet had agreed -jointly to fit out the _John of Sandwich_, giving her all the necessary -guns with the hope of being able to capture a good ship wherewith to -provide Corbet. But whilst in the English Channel a storm had sprung up -and the ship had sprung a leak. They were therefore forced into Alderney, -where the vessel became a wreck, and Heidon, Corbet, Deigle, as well as -fourteen others, made their escape in a small pinnace. - -It was discovered that Robert Hitchins had been all his life given to -piracy, so, after having been arrested in the Channel Isles, he was -executed at low-water mark near St. Martin’s Point, Guernsey, and there -his body was left in chains as a warning to others. The rest of the -prisoners were afterwards ordered by Elizabeth to be set free, “after -a good and sharp admonition to beware hereafter to fall again into the -damage of our laws.” They were bidden to return to their native places -and to get their living by honest labour. It is a proof that the Crown -really valued her seamen by an interesting proclamation that was made -in 1572 when there was a likeliness of war. The Queen went so far as -to promise pardon for all piracies hitherto committed by any mariners -who should now put their ships into her naval service, and we must not -forget that, at a later date, the first tidings of the Armada’s advent -were brought into Plymouth by a patriotic English pirate named Fleming. -“Fleming,” wrote John Smith, the great Elizabethan traveller and founder -of the English colony of Virginia, “was as expert and as much sought -for” as any other pirates of the Queen’s reign, “yet such a friend to -his Country, that discovering the Spanish Armado, he voluntarily came -to Plymouth, yeelded himselfe freely to my Lord Admirall, and gave him -notice of the Spaniards comming; which good warning came so happily and -unexpectedly, that he had his pardon, and a good reward.” - -“As in all lands,” writes this delightful Elizabethan, “where there are -many people, there are some theeves, so in all seas much frequented, -there are some pirates; the most ancient within the memory of threescore -yeares was one Callis, who most refreshed himselfe upon the Coast of -Wales; Clinton and Pursser his companions, who grew famous, till Queene -Elizabeth of blessed memory, hanged them at Wapping.” Now this John -Callis or Calles, after his arrest, wrote a letter of repentance to -Walsyngham saying: “I bewail my former wicked life, and beseech God and -Her Majesty to forgive me. If she will spare my life and use me in her -service by sea, with those she can trust best, either to clear the coasts -of other wicked pirates or otherwise, as I know their haunts, roads, -creeks, and maintainers so well, I can do more therein than if she sent -ships abroad and spent £20,000.” - -Thinking thereby to obtain pardon, Calles accordingly forwarded -particulars of his fellow pirates, their “maintainers and victuallers -of me and my companies.” This list contained the names and addresses of -the purchasers and receivers of goods which had been pillaged from two -Portuguese, one French, a Spanish and a Scotch ship, which Calles and a -Captain Sturges of Rochelle had pirated. If he were given his liberty, -this loquacious corsair further promised that he would also bring in a -Danish ship, which he had pirated. He promised also to warn Walsyngham to -take care that Sulivan Bere of Berehaven “does not practise any treason” -towards Her Majesty there, as he alleged that Sulivan had told Calles in -the former’s castle at Berehaven that James Fitzmorris and a number of -Frenchmen were determined to land there if they could obtain pilots to -guide them thither. The old pirate further alleged that they had tried -to persuade himself to join them and become their guide, promising him -“large gifts.” “But I would not join any rebel of Her Majesty,” he wrote -grandiloquently, “hoping her mercy in time to come.” - -Last March, he went on, while he was riding at anchor at Torbay, he met a -Frenchman, commanded by Captain Molloner, who came aboard Calles’s ship -and sought information regarding the Irish coast and the best harbours. -Calles informed him the best were Cork and Kinsale. His inquirers then -asked whether Berehaven and Dingell were not good places where to land. -“They told me if I would go over with them to France, I need not fear the -Queen for any offence I had done.” The French King would pardon him for -anything Calles had done against His Majesty’s subjects, and would give -him 3000 crowns to become his subject and be sworn his man, as well as -a yearly fee during life. “I asked him why his master wanted to use me, -and he said his master shortly meant to do some service on the coast of -Ireland, and wanted pilots.” Calles protested that he had declined this -invitation, to which the other man was reported to have replied that he -would never have such a chance of preferment offered him in England. But -though this made a very fine yarn, the authorities were too well aware of -Calles’s past history to give it too much credence. - -“The misery of a Pirate (although many are as sufficient Seamen as any) -yet in regard of his superfluity,” wrote the founder of Virginia, “you -shall finde it such, that any wise man would rather live amongst wilde -beasts than them: therefore let all unadvised persons take heed, how they -entertaine that quality: and I could wish Merchants, Gentlemen, and all -setters forth of ships, not to bee sparing of a competent pay, nor true -payment, for neither Souldiers nor Seamen can live without meanes, but -necessity will force them to steale: and when they are once entered into -that trade, they are hardly reclaimed.” - -Poverty as well as the love of adventure and the lust for gain had -certainly to be reckoned among the incentives to this life. So steadily -had the evil grown that on 7th August 1579, Yorke complained to Lord -Burghley that the sea had never been so full of pirates, and a Plymouth -ship which had set out from St. Malo bound for Dartmouth had been robbed -and chased on to the rocks. None the less, the “persons of credit” who -had been appointed in every haven, creek or other landing-place round the -coast, in order to deal with the evil, were doing their best, and three -notable pirates had some time before been arrested and placed in York -Castle together with other pirates. - -But the practice of piracy, as we have seen, was the peculiar failing -of no country exclusively, though in certain parts of the world and in -certain centuries pirates were more prevalent than elsewhere. The very -men who in the English Channel might have attained disgrace and wealth as -sea-robbers might, also, when he went into the Mediterranean, be himself -pillaged by those Barbarian corsairs of whom we spoke just now. Many an -exciting brush did the mariners of England encounter with these men, and -many were the sad tales which reached England of the cruelties of these -Moslem tyrants. An interesting account of such an adventure is related by -Master Roger Bodenham. The incident really happened seven years before -Elizabeth came to the throne, but it may not be out of place here to deal -with it. - -After having set forth from Gravesend in the “great barke _Aucher_” bound -for the islands of Candia and Chio in the Levant, the ship arrived at -Messina in Sicily. But it was made known that a good many Moslem galleys -were in the Levant and the rest of the voyage would be more than risky. -The _Aucher’s_ crew got to know of this, so that Bodenham was not likely -to get farther on his way and deliver his cargo at Chio. “Then,” he -writes, “I had no small businesse to cause my mariners to venture with -the ship in such a manifest danger. Neverthelesse I wan them to goe with -me, except three which I set on land.” But these presently begged to -come aboard again and were taken, and the ship got under way. A Greek -pilot was taken on board, and when off Chio three Turkish pirates were -suddenly espied. These were giving chase to a number of small boats -which were sailing rigged with a lateen-sail. It happened that in one -of the latter was the son of the pilot, and at this Greek’s request -Bodenham steered towards the Turks and caused the _Aucher’s_ gunner to -fire a demi-culverin at the chaser that was just about to board one of -the boats. This was such a good shot that the Turk dropped astern. -Presently all the little boats came and begged that they might be allowed -to hang on to the _Aucher’s_ stern till daylight. After clearing from -Chio, Bodenham took his ship to Candia and Messina. But whilst on the way -thither and in the very waters where the battle of Lepanto was presently -to be fought, he found some of the Turkish galleots pirating some -Venetian ships laden with muscatels, and, good Samaritan that he was, -Bodenham succeeded in driving off the Moslem aggressors and rescuing the -merchantmen. “I rescued them,” he writes briefly, “and had but a barrell -of wine for my powder and shot.” - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -ELIZABETHAN SEAMEN AND TURKISH PIRATES - - -But a much more adventurous voyage was that of a ship called _The Three -Half Moones_, which, with a crew of thirty-eight men and well found -in arms—“the better to encounter their enemies withall”—set out from -Portsmouth in the year 1563. - -In some ways the story reads like mere romance, but it has been so -thoroughly well-vouched for that there is not a particle of suspicion -connected with it. Having set forth bound for the south of Spain they -arrived near the Straits of Gibraltar, when they found themselves -surrounded by eight Turkish galleys. (It should be mentioned that the -Elizabethans used the word Turk somewhat loosely to mean Moslems.) It -was rapidly made clear that only two alternatives were possible. Flight -was out of the question, and either the _Aucher_ must fight to a finish -or she must be sunk. But being English and a gallant crew, they decided -to fight. Now, amongst those on board were the owner, the master, the -master’s mate, the boatswain, the purser and the gunner as officers. - -When their desperate situation was realised, the owner exhorted his men -to behave valiantly, to be brave, and to bear a reverse with resignation. -Then, falling on their knees, they all commended themselves to God and -prepared for the fight. “Then stood up one Grove, the master, being -a comely man, with his sword and target, holding them up in defiance -against his enemies. So likewise stood up the Owner, the Master’s mate, -Boatswaine, Purser, and every man well appointed. Nowe likewise sounded -up the drums, trumpets and flutes, which would have encouraged any man, -had he never so litle heart or courage in him.” But next let us introduce -to the reader John Foxe, the ship’s gunner, a man of marvellous resource, -as we will see presently. Foxe saw that the guns were arranged to the -best effect and that the Turks were receiving a hot fire. But three times -as fast as the English shot came the infidel’s fire, and the fight raged -furiously with eight galleys to one big ship. The Turks advanced, and -then came the time for the English bowmen to let fly their arrows, which -fell thickly among the rowers. Simultaneously the English poured out from -their guns a hotter fire than ever, and the Turks fell like ninepins. But -meanwhile the _Aucher_ was receiving serious damage below her waterline, -and this the Turks seeing, the infidels endeavoured now to board the -ship. As they leapt on board many of them fell never again to rise, the -others engaging in a tremendous conflict on the _Aucher’s_ deck. “For -the Englishmen,” writes the narrator in fine, robustous Elizabethan -language, “shewed themselves men in deed, in working manfully with their -browne bills and halbardes: where the owner, master, boateswaine, and -their company stoode to it lustily, that the Turkes were halfe dismaied. -But chiefly the boateswaine shewed himself valiant above the rest: for -he fared amongst the Turkes like a wood Lion: for there was none of them -that either could or durst stand in his face, till at the last there came -a shot from the Turkes, which brake his whistle asunder, and smote him -on the brest, so that he fell downe, bidding them farewell, and to be of -good comfort, encouraging them likewise to winne praise by death, rather -than to live captives in misery and shame.” - -[Illustration: GALLANTRY AGAINST ODDS - -The Englishmen showed themselves men indeed against the Moors, especially -the boatswain, who was brought down by a bullet in his chest. But -overcome by numbers the brave crew were overwhelmed, and the survivors -condemned to the oars.] - -Such was the fine gallantry of these brave men, but they were fighting -against heavy odds. The Turks pressed them sorely, and not one of the -company but behaved as a man, except the master’s mate “who shrunke from -the skirmish, like a notable coward, esteeming neither the valure of his -name, nor accounting of the present example of his fellowes, nor having -respect to the miseries, whereunto he should be put.” The rest of the -crew covered themselves with glory, but at length it was of no avail, -for the Turks won the day. Then, in accordance with the historic custom -of the sea, the crew of the _Aucher_ were placed in the galleys, set to -row at the oars “and they were no sooner in them, but their garments were -pulled over their eares, and torne from their backes,” for the galley -slave was always condemned to row stark naked. - -At length the galleys reached their stronghold at the port of Alexandria, -which was well protected in those days by means of fortifications. The -reader will recollect that it was stated some time back that the sailing -season was confined only to the late spring and summer, and that in -the winter the ships were laid up. The close time now approaching, the -Christian prisoners were brought ashore at Alexandria and cast into -prison until the time came round again for the season of piracy. At this -port, says the Elizabethan chronicler, “the Turkes doe customably bring -their gallies on shoare every yeere, in the winter season, and there doe -trimme them, and lay them up against the spring time. In which road there -is a prison, wherein the captives and such prisoners as serve in the -gallies, are put for all that time, untill the seas be calme and passable -for the gallies, every prisoner being most grievously laden with irons on -their legges, to their great paine.” - -So the voyage of the _Aucher_ had come to a tragic ending. But after a -time the news of this incident evidently reached England, for both the -master and the owner were ransomed by their friends from their prison. -The rest had to bear their ill-treatment and semi-starvation as best they -would. But he who bore it all with wonderful endurance was the gunner -John Foxe and “being somewhat skilfull in the craft of a Barbour, by -reason thereof made great shift in helping his fare now and then with a -good meale.” In the course of time the keeper of the prison became rather -fond of him and allowed him special privileges, so that he could walk as -far as the sea and back when he liked, but he was warned always to return -by night, and he was never allowed to go about without his shackles -on his legs. Later on, six more of the prisoners were allowed a like -privilege. - -The life sped wearily on, and now, for fourteen sorry years, this durance -vile had continued. It was the year 1577, and the winter season had come -round again and the galleys drawn up the beach. The masts and sails -thereof were brought ashore and properly housed till once more the spring -should return, and the Turkish masters and mariners were now “nested in -their own homes,” as the narrative quaintly words it. The galley-slaves -had again resumed their long bondage ashore, and now there were no fewer -than 268 wretched Christians there, languishing in captivity, having been -captured from sixteen different nations. It was then that John Foxe, -man of resource that he was, resolved that escape must be made and his -fellow-prisoners also released. If you consider such a project as the -release of nearly 300 prisoners from the hands of these Turkish pirates, -the idea seems entirely impracticable and utterly visionary. - -To John Foxe, however, it seemed otherwise, and this is how he set to -work. After pondering over a method for a very long time and saying many -prayers that his scheme might be successful, he betook himself to a -fellow-prisoner—a Spanish Christian—named Peter Unticaro, who had been in -captivity no less than thirty years. This man was lodged in “a certaine -victualling house” near the roadstead. He had never attempted escape -during all those years, so was treated with less suspicion and trusted. -Foxe and Unticaro had often discussed their bondage, however, and at last -the Englishman took the risk of making him his confidant, and also one -other fellow-prisoner. These three men put their heads together, and Foxe -unfolded a method of escape. Their chances of meeting were but few and -short, but at the end of seven weeks they had been able to agree on a -definite plan. Five more prisoners were now taken into their confidence -whom they thought they could safely trust. - -The last day of the old year came round, and these eight men agreed to -meet in the prison and inform the rest of the prisoners of the plan. -On the 31st of December, then, this was done. It needed but little -persuasion to cause these two hundred odd to join in the scheme, and -Foxe having “delivered unto them a sort of files, which he had gathered -together for this purpose, by the meanes of Peter Unticaro,” admonished -them to be ready at eight o’clock the next night with their fetters filed -through. So on the next day Foxe, with his six companions, resorted to -the house of Peter Unticaro. In order to prevent any suspicions of a -dark deed, they spent the time in mirth till the night came on and the -hour of eight drew nigh. Foxe then sent Unticaro to the keeper of the -road, pretending that he had been sent by one of the Turkish officials, -ordering him to come at once. The keeper promptly came, and before doing -so, told the warders not to bar the gate as he should not be long away. - -In the meantime the other seven prisoners had been able to arm themselves -with the best weapons they could find in the house of the Spaniard, and -John Foxe was able to lay his hands on a rusty old sword blade “without -either hilt or pomell,” but he managed to make it effective. By now the -keeper had arrived, but as soon as he came to the house and saw it silent -and in darkness he began to be suspicious. John Foxe was ready for him, -and before the keeper had retraced his steps more than a few yards, the -Englishman sprang out, and, calling him a villain and “a bloodsucker -of many a Christian’s blood, lift up his bright shining sword of tenne -yeeres rust” and killed him on the spot. They then marched quietly in -the direction of the warders of the road and quickly dispatched these -six officials. Foxe then barred the gate and put a cannon against it to -prevent pursuit. So far all had worked with remarkable smoothness. They -next proceeded to the gaoler’s lodge, where they found the keys of the -fortress and prison by his bedside. They also found some better weapons -than the arms they were using. But there was also a chest full of ducats. -To three of the party this wonderful sight proved irresistible. Foxe -would not have anything to do with the money for “that it was his and -their libertie which he sought for, to the honour of his God, and not to -make a marte of the wicked treasure of the Infidels.” But Unticaro and -two others helped themselves liberally, and concealed the money between -their skin and their shirt. - -These eight men, armed with the keys, now came to the prison, whose doors -they opened. The captives were ready and waiting. Foxe called on them to -do their share, and the whole band—between two and three hundred—poured -forth. To each section did Foxe bestow some duty. The eight prison -warders were put to death, but some of the prisoners Foxe had wisely sent -down to the water, where they got ready for sea the best galley, called -the _Captain of Alexandria_. Whilst some were getting her launched, -others were rushing about bringing her masts and sails and oars and the -rest of her inventory from the winter quarters. The whole place was -seething with suppressed excitement. Meanwhile there was a warm contest -going on at the prison before all the warders were slain. The latter had -fled to the top of the prison, and Foxe with his companions went after -them with ladders. Blood and slaughter were all round them. Three times -was Foxe shot, but by a miracle the shot only passed through his clothing -on each occasion. But, as if by way of punishment for their greed, -Unticaro and his two companions who had taken the ducats were killed -outright, being “not able to weild themselves, being so pestered with the -weight and uneasie carrying of the wicked and prophane treasure.” - -In this conflict one of the Turks was run through with a sword and, -not yet dead, fell from the top of the prison wall to the ground. Such -a noise did he then begin to make that the alarm was raised, and the -authorities were amazed to find the Christian prisoners were “paying -their ransoms” by dealing death to their late masters. Alexandria was -now roused, and both a certain castle as well as a strong fortress were -bestirring themselves to action. It seemed as if the prisoners, after -all their years of suffering, after having brought about so gallant an -escape, were now to fail just as victory was well in sight. It was -a saddening thought. But there was one road of escape and one only. -Whilst some of the prisoners were still running down to the sea carrying -munitions, some additional oars, victuals and whatever else were required -for the galleys, others were getting ready for pushing off. The last of -the Christians leapt aboard, the final touch was given to the gear, and -up went the yards and the sails were unloosed. There was a good breeze -and this, the swiftest and best of all Alexandria’s ships, was speeding -on at a good pace. But ashore the Turks have already got to their guns, -and the roar of cannon is heard from both the castle and fortress. The -sea is splashing everywhere with Turkish ball and the smoke is swept by -the breeze off the shore. Five and forty times did these guns fire and -never once did a shot so much as graze the galley, although she could see -the splashes all around her. - -On and still on sailed this long, lean galley, increasing her speed all -the time, till at length, by God’s mercy, she, with her long-suffering -crew, who by years of involuntary training had learnt to handle her to -perfection, were at last out of range of any Turkish cannon. In the -distance they could see their late masters coming down to the beach “like -unto a swarme of bees,” and bustling about in a futile endeavour to -get their other galleys ready for the sea. But it was of little avail. -The Christians had long been preparing for flight in the _Captain_, so -the Turks found it took an unbearable time in seeing out the oars and -masts, and cables and everything else necessary to a galley’s inventory -lying hidden away in winter quarters. They had never suspected such a -well-planned escape as this. Nothing was ready; all was confusion. And -even when the galleys were at last launched and rigged, the weather was -so boisterous, there was such a strong wind that no man cared about -taking charge of these fine-weather craft just at that time. - -So the escaping galley got right away, and then, as soon as they were -a safe distance away, Foxe summoned his men to do what Nelson was to -perform less than three centuries later at almost this very spot. You -remember how, after the glorious battle of the Nile, when the British -fleet had obtained such a grand victory over the French, Nelson sent -orders through the fleet to return thanksgiving to Almighty God for the -result of the battle. All work was stopped, and men who had spent the -whole night risking death and fighting for their lives, dishevelled and -dirty with sweat and grime, now stood bareheaded and rendered their -thanks. So it was now on the galley _Captain_. Foxe “called to them all, -willing them to be thankfull unto Almighty God for their deliverie, and -most humbly to fall downe upon their knees, beseeching Him to aide them -unto their friends’ land, and not to bring them into an other daunger, -sith Hee had most mightily delivered them from so great a thraldome and -bondage.” It must have been a momentous occasion. Men who, after being -prisoners for thirty years and less, men who had just come through a -night of wild excitement, men who had fought with their arms and sweated -hard to get their galley ready for sea, men who even at the last minute -had barely escaped being blown into eternity by the Turkish cannon, now -halted in their work and made their thanksgiving, whilst most of them -hardly could realise that at length they were free men and the time of -their tribulation was at an end. - -And then they resumed their rowing, and instead of working till they -dropped for faintness, each man helped his neighbour when weariness was -stealing over the oarsmen. Never did a more united ship’s company put to -sea. One object alone did they all possess—to come to some Christian -land with the least possible delay. They had no charts, but Foxe and his -English fellow-seamen knew something about astronomy, and by studying the -stars in the heavens they roughly guessed the direction in which they -ought to steer. - -With such haphazard navigation, however, they soon lost their position -when variable winds sprang up. Those light-draught ships made a good deal -of leeway, and as the wind had been from so many points of the compass -“they were now in a new maze.” But troubles do not come singly: they were -further troubled by their victuals giving out, so that it seemed as if -they had escaped from one form of punishment only to fall into a worse -kind of hardship. As many as eight died of starvation, but at last, on -the twenty-ninth day after leaving Alexandria, the others picked up the -land again and found it was the island of Candia. Their distance made -good had thus been about 350 miles north-west, which works out at about -twelve miles a day. But though this is ridiculously small it must be -borne in mind that their courses were many and devious, that to row for -twenty-nine consecutive days was a terrible trial for human endurance, -and latterly they were rowing with empty stomachs. They came at length -to Gallipoli in Candia and landed. Here the good abbot and monks of the -Convent of Amerciates received them with welcome and treated them with -every Christian hospitality. They refreshed these poor voyagers and -attended to their wants until well enough to resume their travels. Two -hundred and fifty-eight had survived, and good nourishment, with kindly -treatment on land, restored their health and vigour. - -We need not attempt to suggest the warmth of the welcome which these poor -prisoners received and the congratulations which were showered upon -them in having escaped from the hands of the Turks. It was in itself a -remarkable achievement that so many had come out alive. As a token and -remembrance of this miraculous escape Foxe left behind as a present to -the monks the sword with which the Englishman had slain the keeper of -the prison. Esteeming it a precious jewel it remained hanging up in a -place of honour in the monastery. When the time came for the _Captain_ -to get under way again, she coasted till she arrived at Tarento (in the -heel of Italy) and so concluded their voyage. They were once again in a -Christian land and away from their oppressors. The galley they sold at -this port and immediately started to walk on foot to Naples. Yes, they -had escaped, but by how little may be gathered from the fact that the -Christians having started their long walk in the morning, there arrived -that self-same night seven Turkish galleys. But the latter were too late: -their captives were now inland. - -Having reached Naples without further adventure, the Christians separated -and, according to his nationality, made for their distant homes. But -Foxe proceeded first to Rome, arriving there one Easter Eve, where he -was well entertained by an Englishman who brought the news of this -wonderful escape to the notice of the Pope. Foxe was without any means -of livelihood, and it was a long way to walk to the English Channel, -so he determined to try his luck in Spain. The Pope treated the poor -man with every consideration, and sent him on his journey with a letter -to the King of Spain. “We, in his behalf, do in the bowels of Christ -desire you,” wrote His Holiness, “that, taking compassion of his former -captivity and present penury, you do not only suffer him freely to -pass throughout your cities and towns, but also succour him with your -charitable alms, the reward whereof you shall hereafter most assuredly -receive.” - -Leaving Rome in April 1577, Foxe arrived in Spain apparently the -following August. The Spanish king appointed him to the office of gunner -in the royal galleys at a salary of eight ducats a month. Here he -remained for about two years, and then, feeling homesick, returned to -England in 1579. “Who being come into England,” as we read in Hakluyt, -“went unto the Court, and shewed all his travell unto the Councell: who, -considering of the state of this man, in that hee had spent and lost a -great part of his youth in thraldome and bondage, extended to him their -liberalitie, to helpe to maintaine him now in age, to their right honour, -and to the incouragement of all true heartied Christians.” - -Such, then, was the happy ending to Foxe’s travels sixteen years after -his ship had set forth from Portsmouth. He had shown himself not merely -to be a man of exceptional physical endurance, but a man of considerable -resource and a born leader of men in times of crisis and despair We may -well relish the memory of such a fine character. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE STUART NAVY GOES FORTH AGAINST THE “PYRATS” - - -After the death of Queen Elizabeth and the respite from the Anglo-Spanish -naval fighting there was little employment for those hundreds of our -countrymen who had taken to the sea during the time of Drake. Fighting -the Spaniards or lying in wait for treasure ships bound from the West -Indies to Cadiz was just the life that appealed to them. But now that -these hostilities had passed, they felt that their means of livelihood -were gone. After the exciting sea life with Drake and others, after -the prolonged Armada-fighting, it would be too tame for them to settle -down to life ashore. Fishing was not very profitable, and there was not -sufficient demand for all the men to ship on board merchant ships. - -So numbers of these English seamen unfortunately took to piracy. Some of -them, it would be more truthful to say, _resumed_ piracy and found their -occupation haunting the English Channel, the Scillies being a notorious -nest for pirates. Notwithstanding the number of these robbers of the sea -who were always on the look out, yet, says our friend Smith of Virginia, -“it is incredible how many great and rich prizes the little barques of -the West Country daily brought home, in regard of their small charge.” - -But the strenuous measures which were being now taken in the narrow -seas by the North European governments made piracy in this district -less remunerative than hitherto. In the Mediterranean these unemployed -seamen knew that piracy was a much better paid industry. They knew that -the Moors would be glad to avail themselves of the services of such -experienced seamen, so they betook themselves to Barbary. At first, be it -remembered, these Englishmen had established themselves as North African -pirates “on their own” without any connection with the Moors. Smith -mentions that Ward, “a poore English sailor,” and Dansker, a Dutchman, -here began some time before the Moors scarcely knew how to sail a ship. -An Englishman named Easton made such a profit that he became, says Smith, -a “Marquesse in Savoy,” and Ward “lived like a Bashaw in Barbary.” From -these men the Moors learnt how to become good sea-fighters. Besides -Englishmen there came also French and Dutch adventurers to join them, -attracted by this mode of life, but very few Spaniards or Italians ever -joined their throng. After a time, however, disagreements arose and the -inevitable dissensions followed. - -They then became so split up and disunited that the Moors and Turks began -to obtain the upper hand over them and to compel them to be their slaves. -Furthermore, they made these expert European sailors teach themselves -how to become distinguished in the nautical arts. This “many an accursed -runnagado, or Christian turned Turke, did, till they have made those -Sally men, or Moores of Barbary, so powerfull as they be, to the terror -of all the Straights.” Other English pirates hovered about off the Irish -coasts, and three men, named respectively Gennings, Harris and Thompson, -in addition to some others, were captured and hanged at Wapping. A number -of others were captured and pardoned by James I. - -A contemporary account of rowing in a Barbarian galley in the time of -Elizabeth has been preserved to us, written by one Thomas Sanders. “I and -sixe more of my fellowes,” he writes, “together with fourescore Italians -and Spaniards were sent foorth in a Galeot to take a Greekish Carmosell, -which came into Africa to steale Negroes, and went out of Tripolis unto -that place, which was two hundred and fourtie leagues thence, but wee -were chained three and three to an oare, and wee rowed naked above the -girdle, and the Boteswaine of the Galley walked abaft the maste, and his -Mate afore the maste ... and when their develish choller rose, they would -strike the Christians for no cause. And they allowed us but halfe a pound -of bread a man in a day without any other kinde of sustenance, water -excepted ... we were then also cruelly manackled in such sort, that we -could not put our hands the length of one foote asunder the one from the -other, and every night they searched our chaines three times, to see if -they were fast riveted.” - -And the same man related the unhappy experience of a Venetian and -seventeen captives who, after enduring slavery for some time at the hands -of the Sultan of Tripoli, succeeded in getting a boat and got right away -to sea. Away they sped to the northward, and at length they sighted -Malta. Their hopes ran high: their confidence was now undoubted. On they -came, nearer and nearer to the land, and now they were within only a mile -of the shore. It was beautifully fine weather, and one of them remarked, -“_In dispetto de Dio adesso venio a pittiar terra_”—“In the despite of -God I shall now fetch the shoare.” But the man had spoken with an excess -of confidence. For presently a violent storm sprang up, so that they -were forced to up-helm and to run right before the gale, which was now -blowing right on to the Tripolitan coast. Arrived off there they were -heart-broken to find that they were compelled to row up and down the -very coastline which they had imagined they had escaped from. For three -weeks they held out as best they could, but the weather being absolutely -against them, and their slender victuals being at length exhausted, they -were compelled to come ashore, hoping to be able to steal some sheep. The -Barbarian Moores, however, were on the watch and knew that these unlucky -men would be bound to land for supplies. Therefore a band of sixty -horsemen were dispatched who secreted themselves behind a sandhill near -the sea. There they waited till the Christians had got well inland a good -half mile. Then, by a smart movement, the horsemen cut off all retreat -to the sea, whilst others pursued the starving voyagers and soon came -back with them. They were brought back to the place whence they had so -recently escaped. The Sultan ordered that the fugitives should, some of -them, have their ears cut off, whilst others were most cruelly thrashed. - -[Illustration: BLIGHTED HOPES - -The seamen had escaped from Tripoli and were within sight of Malta when a -violent storm drove them back to the Moorish coast. Compelled by hunger -to land, they were cut off by a party of horsemen, and again thrown into -captivity to be most barbarously treated.] - -The enterprising voyages of the English ships to the Levant in the -sixteenth century had been grievously interfered with by the Algerine -galleys roving about the Mediterranean, especially in proximity to the -Straits of Gibraltar. They would set out from England with goods to -deliver and then return with Mediterranean fruits and other commodities. -But so often were these valuable ships and cargoes captured by the -hateful infidels that the English merchants who had dispatched the -goods became seriously at a loss and were compelled to invoke the aid -of Elizabeth, who endeavoured, by means of diplomacy, to obtain the -release of these ships and to prevent such awkward incidents recurring. -To give the names of a few such ships, and to indicate the loss in regard -to ships’ freights and of men held captive in slavery we have only to -mention the following: The _Salomon_ of Plymouth had been captured with -a load of salt and a crew of thirty-six men. The _Elizabeth_ of Guernsey -was seized with ten Englishmen and a number of Bretons, her value being -2000 florins. The _Maria Martin_, under the command of Thomas More, with -a crew of thirty-five, had been taken while returning from Patrasso in -Morea. Her value was 1400 florins. The _Elizabeth Stokes_ of London, -under the command of David Fillie of London, whilst bound for Patrasso, -had been also captured, but her value was 20,000 or 30,000 florins. The -_Nicolas_ of London, under the command of Thomas Foster, had also been -seized, at a loss of about 5000 florins. So also in like manner could be -mentioned the _Judith_ of London, the _Jesus_ of London, the _Swallow_ of -London. - -But England, of course, was not the only country which suffered by these -piratical acts. In 1617 France was moved to take serious action, and -sent a fleet of fifty ships against these Barbarian corsairs. Off St. -Tropez they captured one of these roving craft, and later on met another -which was captured by a French renegado of Rochelle. The latter defended -himself fiercely for some time, but at length, seeing that the day was -going against him, he sunk his ship and was drowned, together with the -whole of his crew, rather than be captured by the Christians. And from -now onwards, right up to the nineteenth century, there were at different -dates successive expeditions sent against these rovers by the chief -European powers. - -Many of these expeditions were of little value, some were practically -useless, while others did only ephemeral good. Thus, you will remember, -the only active service which the navy of our James I. ever saw was -in 1620, when it was sent against the pirates of Algiers. But they -had become so successful and so daring that they were not easily to -be tackled. Not content now with roving over the Mediterranean, not -satisfied with those occasional voyages out through the Gibraltar Straits -into the Atlantic, they now, if you please, had the temerity to cross -the Bay of Biscay and to cruise about the approaches of the English -Channel. These Algerine pirates actually sailed as far north as the south -of Ireland, where they acted just as they had for generations along -the Mediterranean: that is to say, they landed on the Munster shore, -committed frightful atrocities and carried away men, women and children -into the harsh slavery which was so brutally enforced in their Barbarian -territory. What good did the Jacobean expedition which we sent out, you -may naturally ask? The answer may be given in the fewest words. Although -the fleet contained six of our royal ships and a dozen merchantmen, yet -it returned home with no practical benefit, the whole affair having been -a hopeless muddle. - -In 1655, Blake, the great admiral of Cromwell’s time, was sent to tackle -these pirate pests. It was a big job, but there was no one at that time -better suited for an occasion that required determination. Tunis was a -very plague-spot by its piratical colony and its captives made slaves. -It had to be humbled to the dust, and Blake, with all the austerity -and thoroughness of a Puritan officer, was resolved to do his duty to -Christendom. But Tunis was invulnerable, so it was a most difficult -undertaking. He spent the early spring of this year cruising about the -neighbourhood, biding his time and being put to great inconvenience -by foul winds and tempestuous weather. He found that these Tunis -pirates were obstinate and wilful: they were unprepared to listen to -any reason. Intractable and insolent, it was impossible to treat with -them: force was the only word to which they could be made to hearken. -“These barbarous provocations,” wrote Blake in giving an account of his -activities here, “did so far work upon our spirits that we judged it -necessary, for the honour of the fleet, our nation and religion, seeing -they would not deal with us as friends, to make them feel us as enemies”; -and it was thereupon resolved, at a council of war, to endeavour the -firing their ships in Porto Farina. - -Tunis, itself, being invulnerable, Blake entered the neighbouring -harbour, this Porto Farina, very early in the morning. The singular thing -was that he was favoured with amazingly good luck—a fair wind in and a -fair wind out. But let me tell the story in the Admiral’s own words: -“Accordingly, the next morning very early, we entered with the fleet into -the harbour, and anchored before their castles, the Lord being pleased -to favour us with a gentle gale off the sea, which cast all the smoke -upon them, and made our work the more easy. After some hours’ dispute we -set on fire all their ships, which were in number nine; and, the same -favourable gale still continuing, we retreated out again into the road. -We had twenty-five men slain, and about forty besides hurt, with very -little other loss. It was also remarkable by us that, shortly after our -getting forth, the wind and weather changed, and continued very stormy -for many days, so that we could not have effected the business, had not -the Lord afforded that nick of time in which it was done.” - -But these attacks by the powers were regarded by the pirates as mere -pin-pricks. For it was nothing to them that even all their galleys -should be burnt. Such craft were easily built again, and there was an -overwhelming amount of slave-labour and plenty of captive seamen to rig -these ships as soon as finished. So the evil continued and the epidemic -spread as before. In 1658, these Barbarian corsairs attacked a ship -called the _Diamond_, homeward bound from Lisbon to Venice. She was laden -with a valuable cargo, and her captain saw that he would not be able to -defend his ship against three galleys, so, rather than let her fall into -piratical hands, he determined to destroy her. He placed an adequate -quantity of powder, and then laying a match to the same, he jumped into -his long-boat, from which presently he had the pleasure of seeing his -enemies blown into space by the terrific explosion just as these infidels -were in the act of boarding the _Diamond_. - -Ten years later Sir Thomas Allen was sent during the summer with a -squadron once more to repress Algerine piracy. He arrived before Algiers, -and was so successful that he compelled the release of all the English -captives which had been accumulating there. Indeed, it is amazing to -count up so many of these expeditions from England alone. Thus, in -the early spring of 1671, we find Sir Edward Spragge sent out to the -Mediterranean for the same purpose. The following account is condensed -from his own dispatch and is of no ordinary interest. On the 20th of -April, Spragge was cruising in his flagship the _Revenge_, about fifteen -or twenty miles off Algiers, when he met his other ships, the _Mary_, -_Hampshire_, _Portsmouth_ and the _Advice_, which were all frigates. -These informed him that several Algerine war-craft were at Bougie. He -called a council of war, at which it was agreed that Spragge should make -the best of his way there with the _Mary_, the _Portsmouth_ pink and his -fireships, and he should endeavour to destroy these corsairs in their -own lair. The _Hampshire_ and the _Portsmouth_ were left to cruise off -Algiers till further orders should reach them. - -The wind was now easterly, and one of his ships, named the _Dragon_, had -been gone five days, as she was busy chasing a couple of Algerine corsair -craft: but as the wind for some days had been from the south-west, -Spragge was in hopes that the chase would have carried the ships to the -eastward and thus force the Algerines into Bougie. And so, on the 23rd -of April, the _Dragon_ returned to Spragge, having been engaged for two -days in fighting the two Algerine craft. Unfortunately her commander, -Captain Herbert (whom the reader will remember by his later title when -he became the Earl of Torrington), had been shot in the face by a musket -shot, and nine of his men had also been wounded with small shot. The wind -continued easterly until 28th April, but at eight o’clock that night it -flew round to south-west and the weather became very gusty and rainy. -This caused Spragge’s _Little Eagle_ fireship to become disabled, and -she was dismasted by the wind. But, on the last day of April, Spragge -got her fitted with masts again and re-rigged, for luckily he had with -him a corn ship captured from the corsairs, and her spars, together with -some topmasts and other spars, caused the fireship to be ready again -for service. Unfortunately the same bad weather caused the _Warwick_ -to spring her mast—an accident that frequently befell the ships of the -sixteenth and seventeenth centuries—so she “bore away to the Christian -shore: my Brigantine at the same time bore away, and as yet I have no -news of her.” - -The same day this admiral arrived in Bougie Bay, but here again he had -bad luck. Just as he was within half a shot of the enemy’s castles and -forts the wind dropped and it fell a flat calm. Then the breeze sprang -up, but it blew off shore. So the time passed. On the 2nd of May the -winds were still very fluky, and after twice in vain attempting to do -anything with these varied puffs, Spragge resolved to attack by night -with his ships’ boats and his smallest fireship. The water close to the -forts was very shallow, and the English fireship could be rowed almost -as well as a ship’s long-boat. So about midnight he dispatched all the -boats he could, as well as the _Eagle_ fireship, under the command of “my -eldest Lieutenant, Master Nugent.” It was a dark night, and the high land -was very useful for its obscuring effects. - -Nugent, leaving one of the long-boats with the fireship, in addition to -the fireship’s own boat, now rowed off to reconnoitre the enemy, having -first given the fireship’s captain orders to continue approaching until -he should find himself in shoal water: he was then immediately to anchor. -Nugent had then rowed off and had scarcely left the fireship one minute -when, after proceeding but a little way over the leaden waters, he found -himself quite close to where the English squadron was anchored. He had -thus lost his bearings in the dark and at once steered off again to find -the fireship, when, to his great amazement, he suddenly saw the latter -burst out into a sheet of flame. That, of course, was another piece -of ill-luck, for it entirely upset all the carefully laid plans and -instantly alarmed the enemy. It would have been useless to have attempted -a boat attack that night, so the effort was postponed. What had happened -was this: the little fireship had been all ready when, by an accident, -the gunner had fired off his pistol. This had caused the ignition, and -so the ship had been lost without any good being done. It was a thousand -pities as, owing to her shallow draught, she had been relied upon for -getting right close in. - -With this warning the enemy the next day unrigged their ships, which lay -in their harbour, then gathered together all the yards, the topmasts and -spars generally off these ships, together with their cables. All this -they made into a boom, which was buoyed up by means of casks. Spragge -and his fleet watched this being done, for there was no wind, or, as he -expressed it, we had “no opportunity of wind to do anything upon them.” -On the 8th of May they noticed that the corsairs ashore were reinforced -by the arrival of horse-as well as foot-soldiers, which the Englishmen -suspected rightly had come from Algiers. The Bougie corsairs greeted this -arrival with wild cheering and by firing of the guns in their ships and -castles, as well as by the display of colours. - -About noon, just as Spragge was anxious to reopen operations, he was -harassed by a flat calm. Luckily, however, at 2 p.m. a nice breeze -sprang up, and the _Revenge_, _Dragon_, _Advice_ and _Mary_ advanced and -let go in 3½ fathoms nearer in, mooring stem and stern so that their -broadsides might face Bougie’s fortifications. The position was roughly -thus. Looking towards Bougie, Spragge’s six ships were moored roughly in -a half-circle in the following order from left to right. First came the -_Portsmouth_, then the _Garland_, the _Dragon_, the _Mary_, the _Advice_ -and finally the _Revenge_ flagship. These were all, so to speak, in the -foreground of the picture. In the background were the enemy’s ships on -the left, whilst on the right were the castles and fortifications. In -the middle distance on the left was the boom defence already noted. The -_Revenge_ was in 4 fathoms, being close up to the castles and walls, and -the fight began. For two hours these ships bombarded Bougie’s ships and -fortresses. - -Spragge then decided to make a boat attack, his ships still remaining at -anchor. He therefore sent away his pinnace, under the command of a man -named Harman, “a Reformado seaman of mine.” A “reformado,” by the way, -was a volunteer serving with the fleet without a commission yet with the -rank of an officer. Harman was sent because Spragge’s second lieutenant -had been hurt by a splinter in the leg. Lieutenant Pin was sent in -command of the _Mary’s_ boat, and Lieutenant Pierce had charge of the -_Dragon’s_ boat. The project was to cut the boom, and this was bravely -done by these three boats, though not without some casualties. Eight of -the _Mary’s_ boat’s crew and her lieutenant were wounded with small shot. -In the Admiral’s pinnace seven were killed outright, and all the rest -were wounded excepting Harman. Of the _Dragon’s_ boat’s crew ten were -wounded as well as her lieutenant, and one was killed. - -But the boom had been cut, and that was the essential point. That being -done, the Admiral then signalled to his one remaining fireship, the -little _Victory_, to do her work. She obeyed and got in so well through -the boom that she brought up athwart the enemy’s “bolt-sprits, their -ships being aground and fast to the castles.” The _Victory_ burnt very -well indeed, and destroyed all the enemy’s shipping, ten in all. Of these -ten, seven were the best ships of the Algerine fleet, and of the three -others one was a Genoese prize and the other had been a ship the pirates -had captured from an English crew. The commander, the master’s mate, -the gunner and one seaman of the fireship had been wounded badly in the -fight, but the victory was complete and undoubted. On the 10th of May a -Dutchman who had been captive with the corsairs for three years escaped -by swimming off to the _Revenge_, and Spragge had him taken on board. -The Dutchman informed the English Admiral that the enemy admitted that -at least 360 Turkish soldiers had lost their lives in this engagement by -fire and gunshot, as they could not get ashore from the ships. There were -in all about 1900 men in addition to those 300 who came that morning -from Algiers. The Dutchman, for himself, thought the losses far exceeded -the number assessed by the enemy. - -He stated that the castles and the town itself had been badly damaged, -and as all their medicine-chests were on the ships and so burnt, it was -impossible for the enemy to dress the wounds of their injured. “Old -Treky, their Admiral, is likewise wounded,” wrote Spragge. Among the -enemy’s killed was Dansker, a renegado, and our losses consisted only of -17 killed and 41 wounded. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE GOOD SHIP _EXCHANGE_ OF BRISTOL - - -A satirical English gentleman who lived in the reign of Charles II. and -described himself as formerly “a servant in England’s Navie,” published -a pamphlet in 1648 in which he complained bitterly of the inability of -“the present Government,” even in spite of the expense of vast quantities -of money, “to clear England’s seas of Ireland’s Pyrates.” The latter -belonged at this time especially to Waterford and Wexford. A large -amount of money, he bewailed, had been and was still being spent “to -reduce half a dozen inconsiderable Pyrates,” but yet the “pyrates are -not reduced, neither are the seas guarded.” One of these “pyrates” had -in February 1647 in one day taken three small ships and one pinnace of a -total value of £9000. One of these ships, whilst defending herself, had -lost her master and one of her mates, as well as five mariners, besides -other members of her crew wounded. And this author of _A Cordiall for -the Calenture_ asks if the present Government, with such an expenditure, -cannot reduce half a dozen pirates, “how will England’s Commonwealth be -wasted if the French, the Danes, the Dutch, or all of them shall infest -England’s Seas.” - -Well, we know now that in time England’s navy did actually defeat each of -these—the Dutch, French and Danes. And although the pirates were a real -and lasting trouble, both in the narrow seas and in the Mediterranean, -yet, as the reader has now seen, it was no easy matter to crush them -more than for a short period. In 1675 we find Sir John Narborough with a -squadron sent to chastise the pirates of Tripoli which were interrupting -our overseas trade. At dead of night he arrived before Tripoli, manned -his ships’ boats and sent them into the port under his lieutenant, Mr. -Cloudesly Shovell, who in later times was to achieve such naval fame. -The latter in the present instance seized the enemy’s guard-boat, -and so was able to get right in undiscovered. He then surprised four -Tripolitan ships, which were all that happened to be in port, and having -burnt these, he returned to Narborough’s squadron, having successfully -accomplished that which he was sent to perform without the loss of a man. - -France, too, at this time having risen to the status of a great naval -power, was performing her share in putting down this perpetual nuisance. -In 1681, as the Barbarian corsairs had for some time interrupted the -French trade across the Mediterranean, Du Quesne was sent with a fleet -against them. He was able to destroy eight galleys in the Port of Scio in -the Archipelago, and threw in so many bombs that at length he subjected -the corsairs to terms. Finally, in 1684, he had obtained from them all -the French captives and had caused the pirates to pay 500,000 crowns for -the prizes they had taken. And in 1682 Admiral Herbert had again been -sent out by England against the Algerine pirates. - -And now, before we leave this period, I want to put before the reader -the interesting story which centres round the Bristol ship named the -_Exchange_, which was so happily rescued from the Algerine pirates. - -The story begins on the 1st of November 1621, when two ships were sent -on their voyage from Plymouth. The larger of these was the _George -Bonaventure_, about 70 tons burthen. The smaller of the two was the -_Nicholas_, of 40 tons burthen, and her skipper’s name was John Rawlins, -of whom we shall have much to say. These two vessels, after being -freighted by Plymouth merchants, proceeded down Channel, past Ushant and, -after a fair passage, found themselves across the Bay, round the Spanish -coast and off Trafalgar by the 18th of November. But the next morning, -just as they were getting into the Straits of Gibraltar, the watch -descried five ships under sail coming towards them as fast as they could. - -In a moment the English ships rightly guessed these were pirate craft, -and immediately began to escape. But in spite of all their efforts, the -pirates came the more quickly. There were five of them in all, and the -first came right to windward of the English craft, the second came “up on -our luff,” and presently the remainder also came along. Their Admiral was -one Callfater, whose ship was described as “having upon her main topsail -two topgallant sails, one above another.” For of these five ships two -were prizes, one being a small London ship, and the other a west-country -ship which, homeward bound with a cargo of figs and other goods, had had -the misfortune to fall into the hands of these rovers. - -So the _George Bonaventure_ was taken and the Turkish Vice-Admiral, -whose name was Villa Rise, now called upon the _Nicholas_ to strike -sail also, and Rawlins, seeing it was useless to do otherwise, obeyed. -The same day, before nightfall, the Turkish Admiral sent twelve of the -_George Bonaventure’s_ crew ashore, together with some other Englishmen -whom he had taken prisoners from another previous ship. The Admiral -was doubtless nervous lest with so many English seamen a mutiny might -break out. So some were set upon a strange land to fare as best they -might. Villa Rise, the Vice-Admiral, ordered Rawlins and five of his -company to go aboard Villa Rise’s ship, leaving three men and a boy -on the _Nicholas_. To the latter were sent thirteen Turks and Moors—a -right proportion to overmaster the other four, in case mutiny should be -meditated. The ships then set a course for Algiers. - -But the next night a heavy gale sprang up, so that they lost sight -of the _Nicholas_, and the pirates were afraid their own ships would -likewise perish. On the 22nd of November Rawlins arrived at Algiers, but -the _Nicholas_ had not yet come into port. In this piratical stronghold -he found numerous Englishmen now as slaves, and there were a hundred -“handsome English youths” who had been compelled to turn Turks. For -these inhuman Moslems, these vipers of Africa, these monsters of the -sea, having caught a Christian in their net would next set about trying -to make him change his Christianity for Mohammedanism. If he refused, he -would be tortured without mercy, until some of them, unable to endure -these terrible sufferings any longer, yielded and declared they would -become Turks, being yet Christians at heart. These poor, ill-treated -English slaves, though bowed down with their own troubles, welcomed this -latest batch and, says the contemporary narrator, “like good Christians, -they bade us ‘Be of good cheer! and comfort ourselves in this! That God’s -trials were gentle purgations; and these crosses were but to cleanse the -dross from the gold, and bring us out of the fire again more clear and -lovely.’” - -But if these Algerine pirates and taskmasters were ordinarily cruel -towards English seamen they were now the more embittered than ever, for -they were still smarting from the injury they had received in May of -that year when Sir Robert Mansell’s fleet had attempted to fire their -ships in the Mole. Tortures and all manner of cruelties were dealt out -to them by the infuriated Moslems, and there was but little respect for -the dignity of humanity. Some of these men from the _George Bonaventure_ -and the _Nicholas_ were sold by auction to the highest bidder, and the -bargainers would assemble and look the sailormen over critically as if -they were at a horse fair, for the _Nicholas_ had arrived safely on the -26th of November. The Bashaw was allowed to take one of these prisoners -for himself, the rest being sold. Rawlins was the last to be put up for -sale, as he had “a lame hand.” He was eventually bought by Villa Rise for -the sum which in the equivalent of English money amounted to £7, 10s. The -_Nicholas’_ carpenter was also bought at the same time. - -These and other slaves were then sent into Villa Rise’s ship to do the -work of shipwrights and to start rigging her. But some of these Algerines -became exceedingly angry when they found Rawlins, because of his “lame” -hand, could not do as much work as the other slaves. There was a loud -complaint, and they threatened to send him up-country far into Africa, -where “he should never see Christendom again” and be banished for life. -In the meanwhile there lay at Algiers a ship called the _Exchange_ of -Bristol, which had some time previously been seized by the pirates. -Here she “lay unrigged in the harbour, till, at last, one John Goodale, -an English Turk, with his confederates (understanding she was a good -sailer, and might be made a proper man-of-war) bought her from the Turks -that took her” and got her ready for sea. Now the overseer happened be -an English renegado named Rammetham Rise, but his real name was Henry -Chandler, and it was through him that Goodale became master of the -_Nicholas_. They resolved that as there were so many English prisoners -they should have only English slaves for their crew and only English -and Dutch renegadoes as their gunners, but for soldiers they took also -Moslems on board. - -One of the saddest aspects of this Turkish piracy is the not infrequent -mention of men who either from fear or from love of adventure had denied -their religion and nationality to become renegades. It is easy enough to -criticise those who were made so to act by compulsion and heartrending -tortures, such as placing a man flat on the ground and then piling -weights on to the top of his body till life’s breath was almost crushed -out of him: or thrashing him without mercy till he would consent to -become a Moslem. The ideal man, of course, will in every instance prefer -martyrdom to saving his life by the sacrifice of principles. But when the -matter is pressed home to us as individuals we may well begin to wonder -whether we should have played the man, as some of our ancestors did, or -whether we should, after much torturing, have succumbed to the temptation -of clinging to life at the critical moment. Of those renegades some were -undoubtedly thorough-paced rascals, who were no credit to any community, -but mere worthless men without a spark of honour. Such as these would as -soon become Moslems as Christians, provided it suited their mode of life. -But it was the knowledge of the sufferings of the other English prisoners -which, with the loss of ships and merchandise, caused the Government -repeatedly to send out those punitive expeditions. One would have thought -that the only effective remedy would have been to have left a permanent -Mediterranean squadron to patrol the North African coast and to chase -the corsairs throughout at least the entire summer season. But there -were many reasons which prevented this. The ships could not be spared; -there were the long-drawn-out Anglo-Dutch wars, and it was not English -ships and seamen exclusively that were the objects of these attacks. -But, if by any means some continuous arrangement between the Christian -powers had been possible whereby the North African coast could have been -systematically patrolled, there is little doubt but that endless effort, -time, money, lives, ships, commerce and human suffering might have been -saved. To-day, for instance, if piracy along that shore were ever to -break out again in a serious manner with ships such as might harass the -great European liners trading to the Mediterranean, the matter would -speedily be settled, if not by the British Mediterranean squadron, at -least by some international naval force, as the Boxer troubles in China -were dealt with. - -Nine English slaves and one Frenchman worked away refitting the -_Exchange_, and in this they were assisted by two of Rawlins’ own seamen, -named respectively Roe and Davies. The former hailed from Plymouth, the -latter from Foy (or, as we spell it nowadays, Fowey). Now both Rammetham -Rise (_alias_ Chandler), the captain, and Goodale, the master, were both -west-country men, so they were naturally somewhat favourably disposed to -Roe and Davies, and promised them “good usage” if they did their duty -efficiently. For these men were to go in the _Exchange_ as soon as she -was ready for sea-roving. Let us remind the reader that the position -of the captain in those days was not quite analogous to what we are -accustomed to-day. Rather he was the supreme authority aboard for keeping -discipline. He was a soldier rather than a sailor, and usually was -ignorant of seamanship and navigation. He told the master where he wished -the ship to go, and the latter saw that the sailors did their work in -trimming sheets, steering the ship and so on. But the navigator was known -as the pilot. So, too, the master gunner was responsible for all the -guns, shot, powder, matches and the like. - -Rammetham Rise (the captain) and Goodale (the master), now busying -themselves getting together a crew for this square-rigged _Exchange_, -had to find the right kind of men to handle her. What they needed most -was a good pilot or navigator who was also an expert seaman, for neither -Rammetham Rise nor Goodale were fit to be entrusted with such a task -as soon as the ship should get beyond the Straits of Gibraltar and out -of sight of land. They therefore asked Davies if he knew among these -hundreds of prisoners of any Englishman who could be purchased to serve -in the capacity of pilot. Davies naturally thought of his former skipper, -and after searching for him some time found him, and informed his two -new taskmasters that he understood that Villa Rise would be glad to sell -Rawlins, “and for all he had a lame hand,” continued Davies, “yet had he -a sound heart and noble courage for any attempt or adventure.” So at last -Rawlins was bought for the sum of £10, and he was sent to supervise the -fitting out of the _Exchange_, especially to look after the sails. - -By the 7th of January 1622, the _Exchange_, with her twelve good cannon, -her munitions and provisions, was ready for sea, and the same day she was -hauled out of the Mole. In her went a full ship’s company, consisting -of sixty-three Turks and Moors as soldiers, nine English slaves, one -Frenchman, four Hollanders and two English soldiers as gunners, as -well as one English and one Dutch renegado. The good ship, with this -miscellaneous crew, put to sea. It was better than slaving away ashore, -but it was galling to John Rawlins, a fine specimen of an English sailor, -to have to serve under these dogs. Rawlins, you must understand, was -one of those hot-tempered, blunt and daring seamen such as had made -England what she was in the time of Elizabeth. Forceful, direct, a man of -simple piety, of great national pride, he was also a sailor possessing -considerable powers of resource and organisation, as we shall presently -see. - -The _Exchange_ was as fine and handsome a ship as England had built -during the Elizabethan or early Stuart period. As she began to curtsey -to the swell of the Mediterranean Sea, the slaves were at work looking -after the guns and so on. Rawlins, in his brusque, fierce manner which -is so typical of Drake and many another sailor of the late sixteenth -or early seventeenth century, was working and raging at the same time. -While he was busying himself among his fellow-countrymen, pulling ropes -and looking after the cannon, he complained in no measured terms of the -indignity of having to work merely to keep these Moslem brutes in a life -of wickedness. He broke out into a torrent of complaint, as the other -slaves besought him to be quiet “least they should all fare the worse -for his distemperature.” However, he had firmly resolved to effect an -escape from all this, and after mentioning the matter cautiously to his -fellow-slaves he found they were similarly minded. - -From now onwards there follows one of the best yarns in the history -of piracy, and the story is as true as it is exciting. On the 15th of -January the morning tide had brought the _Exchange_ near to Cape de -Gatte, and they were joined by a small Moslem ship which had followed -them out of Algiers the day after. This craft now gave information that -she had sighted seven small vessels in the distance, six of them being -sattees. (A sattee was a very fast, decked species of galley, with a -long, sharp prow and two or three masts, each setting a lateen sail.) The -seventh craft was a polacca, a three-masted type of Mediterranean ship -which usually carried square sails on her mainmast, but lateen sails on -her fore and mizzen, though some of these vessels had square sails on all -three masts. - -Before long the _Exchange_ also sighted these seven and made towards -them. But when she had separated the polacca from the rest, this craft, -rather than surrender to the infidels, ran herself ashore and split -herself on the rocks, and her crew made their way inland. As near as she -dare go the _Exchange_ followed in-shore and let go anchor when in the -shallows. Both she and the other Moslem ship sent out boats with many -musketeers and some English and Dutch renegades who, rowing off to the -stranded polacca, boarded her without opposition. Seven guns were found -on board, but after these had been hurled into the sea the polacca was so -lightened that she was floated safely off. She was found to have a good -cargo of hides and logwood, the latter to be used for dyeing purposes. - -In the pillaging of this craft there arose a certain amount of dissension -among the pirates, and eventually it was decided to send her and the -Moslem ship which had joined them back to Algiers. Nine Turks and one -English slave were accordingly taken out of the _Exchange_ and six out -of the Moslem craft to man the polacca till she reached Algiers. The -_Exchange_, now alone, with a fair wind proceeded through the Straits -into the Atlantic, which the Turks were wont to speak of as the “Marr -Granada.” Notwithstanding anything which has been said in this book so -far, it must be borne in mind that the Turk was essentially not a seaman: -he had no bias that way. He was certainly a most expert fighter, however. -It was not till the renegade English, Dutch and other sailors settled -among them—notably those Barbarossas and other Levantine sailors—that the -Moslems learnt how to use the sea. Had it not been for these teachers -they would have continued like the Ottomans, strong as land-fighters but -disappointing afloat. These Algerine corsairs in the _Exchange_ had no -sea-sense and they did not relish going beyond the Gibraltar Straits. -So long as they were within sight of land and in their oared galleys -they were—given such able seamanlike leaders as the Barbarossas—able to -acquit themselves well in any fighting. But to embark in an ocean-going, -full-rigged ship, such as the _Exchange_, and to voyage therein beyond -their familiar landmarks was to place them in a state of grave concern. - -These Moslems never went to sea without their Hoshea or wizard, and this -person would, by his charlatanism, persuade these incapable mariners what -to do and how to act. Every second or third night, after arriving at the -open sea, this wizard would go through various ceremonies, consult his -book of wizardry, and from this he would advise the captain as to what -sails ought to be taken in, or what sail to be set. The whole idea was -thoroughly ludicrous to the rude, common-sense Devonshire seamen, who -marvelled that these infidels could be so foolish. - -The _Exchange_ was wallowing on her way when there suddenly went up -the cry, “A sail! A sail!” Presently, however, it was found only to be -another of these Moslem corsairs making towards the _Exchange_. After -speaking each other the ships parted, the _Exchange_ now going north, -past Cape St. Vincent, on the look out for the well-laden ships which -passed between the English Channel and the Straits of Gibraltar. All this -time the English slaves were being subjected to the usual insults and -maltreatment. The desire to capture the _Exchange_ positively obsessed -John Rawlins, and his active brain was busy devising some practical -scheme. He resolved to provide ropes with “broad specks of iron” so that -he might be able to close up the hatchways, gratings and cabins. Roughly -his plan was to shut up the captain and his colleagues and then, on a -signal being given, the Englishmen, being masters of the “gunner-room” -with the cannon and powder, would blow up the ship or kill their -taskmasters one by one if they should open their cabins. - -It was a daring plan and worthy of a man like Rawlins. But in all -attempts at mutiny it is one thing to conceive a plan and it is another -matter to know whom to entrust with the secret. In this respect Rawlins -was as cautious as he was enterprising, and he felt his way so slowly and -carefully that nothing was done hastily or impetuously or with excess of -confidence. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -A WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT - - -Rawlins knew he could rely on his fellow-countrymen, but at first he -hesitated to say anything to the four Hollanders. At last, however, he -found them anxious to join in with the scheme, and his next effort was -equally successful, for he “undermined” the English renegado-gunner and -three more, his associates. Last of all, the Dutch renegadoes of the -“gunner-room” were won over and persuaded by the four Hollanders. - -The secret had been well kept, and Rawlins resolved that during the -captain’s morning watch he would make the attempt. Now where the English -slaves lay in the gunroom there were always four or five crowbars of iron -hanging up. When the time was approaching when the mutiny should take -place, Rawlins was in the act of taking down his iron crowbar when he had -the misfortune to make such a noise with it that it woke up the Turkish -soldiers, and they, in alarm, roused the other Moslems. Everything was in -pitch darkness and it was uncertain as to what would happen. Presently -the Turkish boatswain came below with a candle and searched all the parts -of the ship where the slaves were lying, but he found nothing suspicious -other than the crowbar, which had apparently slipped down. He then went -and informed the captain, who merely remarked that there was nothing to -cause uneasiness, as the crowbar not infrequently slipped down. - -But with this unlucky beginning Rawlins deemed it best to postpone -the undertaking for the present. He had intended, with the aid of his -friends, knife in hand, to press upon the gunner’s breast and the other -English renegadoes, and either force them to help, or else to cut their -throats. “Die or consent”—this was to be the prevailing force, and -the watchword was to be, “For God and King James, and St. George for -England.” In the meantime the _Exchange_ continued on her northerly -voyage, farther and farther away from the coast of Barbary. Still -cautious but keen, Rawlins went about the ship’s company, and now had -persuaded the gunners and the other English renegades to fall in with -his project. This was one of the riskiest moments of his enterprise, but -it resulted that there were “reciprocal oaths taken, and hands given” -to preserve loyalty to each other: yet once again was Rawlins to be -disappointed. - -For after the renegado gunner had solemnly sworn secrecy, he went up -the hatchway on deck for a quarter of an hour, after which he returned -to Rawlins in the “gunner-room.” Then, to Rawlins’ surprise, in came an -infuriated Turk with his knife drawn. This he presented in a menacing -manner to Rawlins’ body. The latter, cleverly feigning innocence, -inquired what was the matter, and whether it was the Turk’s intention to -kill him. To this the Turk answered, “No, master. Be not afraid: I think -he doth but jest.” But it was clear to Rawlins that the other man had -broken his compact and rounded on him. So, drawing back, Rawlins drew -out his own knife and also stepped towards the gunner’s side, so that -he was able to snatch the knife from the gunner’s sheath. The Turk, -seeing that now the Englishman had two knives to his one, threw down his -weapon, protesting that all the time he had been joking. The gunner also -whispered in Rawlins’ ear that he had never betrayed the plan nor would -he do such a thing. However, Rawlins thought otherwise and kept the two -knives with him all the night. - -Very ingenious was the way in which this Rawlins was weaving his net -gradually but surely around the ship. He succeeded in persuading the -captain to head for Cape Finisterre, pretending that thereabouts they -would be likely to come upon a ship to be pillaged. This was perfectly -true, though the Englishman’s intention was to get the _Exchange_ farther -and farther from the Straits of Gibraltar, so that it became less and -less likely that the corsairs would send out reinforcements. On the -6th of February, when about thirty-six miles off the Cape, a sail was -descried. The _Exchange_ gave chase and came up with her, “making her -strike all her sails: whereby we knew her to be a bark belonging to -Torbay, near Dartmouth.” She was laden with a cargo of salt, and her -crew consisted of nine men and a boy. But it came on bad weather, so the -_Exchange_ did not then launch her boat, but ordered the Torbay ship to -let down her boat. Her master, with five men and the boy, now rowed off -to the _Exchange_, leaving behind his mate and two men in the bark. The -Turkish captain now sent ten Moslems to man her. Now among these ten were -two Dutch and one English renegadoes “who were of our confederacy.” - -Just as the latter were about to hoist out their boat from the -_Exchange_, Rawlins was able to have a hurried conversation with them. -He quickly warned them it was his intention that night or the next to -put his plan into action, and he advised these men to inform the mate -and two men of the Torbay bark of this plot and then make for England, -“bearing up the helm, whiles the Turks slept and suspected no such -matter.” Rawlins reminded them that in his first watch, about midnight, -he would show them a light by which the men on the bark might know -that the plan was already in action. So the boat was let down from the -_Exchange_ and rowed off to the Torbay bark. The confederates then told -the mate of their intention, and he entirely approved of the plan, though -at first amazed by its ingenuity. - -The fact was that the idea was really much simpler than was at first -apparent. Being sailors the English “had the helm of the ship,” for the -Turks, being only soldiers and ignorant of sea affairs, could not say -whether their vessel were sailing in the direction of Algiers or in the -opposite direction. They knew nothing of navigation and practically -nothing of seamanship, so they were, in spite of all their brutality, -more at the mercy of the Christians than they had realised. But, resolved -the plotters, if by any chance these Moslems should guess that the ship -was sailing away from Algiers then they would at once cut the Turks’ -throats, and then throw their bodies overboard. It will be remembered -that the master and some of the Torbay bark’s crew were now in the -_Exchange_, and Rawlins made it his business to approach these men -tactfully and ask them to share in the plan. This they resolved to do. - -So far so good. Now the number of Turks had been gradually diminishing -since the beginning of the cruise. For, first of all, nine Turks and one -English slave had been sent back to Algiers with the polacca prize; and -now some more had been sent off to the Torbay bark. Had the _Exchange’s_ -captain fully realised how seriously he was diminishing the strength -of his own force, he could scarcely have done such a foolish thing. -But throughout the whole plot he was, without ever suspecting it, being -fooled by a clever schemer. Rawlins had all the tact and foresight of -a diplomatist combined with the ability to know when to strike and the -power to strike hard. And all this time, while the captain himself was -diminishing the number of Moslems and simultaneously adding to the number -of Englishmen by the arrival of the Torbay ship, Rawlins, in the most -impudent manner, was going about the ship winning every one except the -Turkish soldiers over to his side. One knows not which to admire most: -his wonderful courage or his consummate skill. For had he made one -single error in reposing confidence in the wrong man, the death of the -Englishman would have been both certain and cruel. - -And the following step in Rawlins’ diplomatic advance was even more -interesting still. When morning came again—it was now the 7th of -February—the Torbay prize was quite out of sight. This annoyed the -captain of the _Exchange_ intensely, and he began both to storm and to -swear. He commanded Rawlins to search the seas up and down; but there was -not a vestige of the bark. She was beyond the horizon. In course of time -the captain abated his wrath and remarked that no doubt he would see her -again in Algiers and that all would be well. This remark rather worried -Rawlins, as he began to fear the captain would order the _Exchange_ to -return to the Straits of Gibraltar. But Rawlins did not allow himself to -worry long, and proceeded below down into the hold. Here he found that -there was a good deal of water in the bilges which could not be sucked -up by the pump. He came on deck and informed the captain. The latter -naturally asked how this had come about that the pump would not discharge -this, and Rawlins explained that the ship was too much down by the head -and needed to have more weight aft to raise her bows more out of the -water. - -He therefore ordered Rawlins to get the ship trimmed properly. The -captain was swallowing the bait most beautifully; presently he would be -hooked. Rawlins explained that “We must quit our cables and bring four -pieces of ordnance” further aft, and that would cause the water to flow -to the pump. The captain, being quite ignorant of the ways of a ship, -ordered these suggestions to become orders, and so two of the guns which -usually were forward were now brought with their mouths right before the -binnacle. In the ship were three decks. Rawlins and his mates of the -“gunner-room” were warned to be ready to break up the lower deck; and -the English slaves, who always lay in the middle deck, were likewise -told to watch the hatchways. Rawlins himself persuaded the gunner to let -him have as much powder as would prime the guns, and quietly warned his -confederates to begin the mutiny as soon as ever the gun was fired, when -they were to give a wild shout and hand on the password. - -The time appointed for the crisis was 2 p.m., and about that time Rawlins -advised the master-gunner to speak to the captain that the soldiers might -come on the poop deck and so bring the ship’s bows more out of the water -and cause the pump to work better. To this suggestion the captain readily -agreed, so twenty Turkish soldiers came aft to the poop, while five or -six of the confederates stole into the captain’s cabin and brought away -various weapons and shields. After that Rawlins and his assistants began -to pump the water. Later on, having made every preparation and considered -all details, in order to avoid suspicion the members of the “gunner-room” -went below and the slaves in the middle deck went about their work in -the usual way. Then the nine English slaves and John Rawlins, the five -men and one boy from the Torbay bark, the four English renegades, the -two Dutch and the four Hollanders “lifting up our hearts and thanks to -God for the success of the business” set to work on the final act of the -cleverly conceived plot. - -About noon Roe and Davis were ordered by Rawlins to prepare their -matches, while most of the Turks were on the poop weighing down the -stern to bring the water to the pump. The two men came with the matches, -and at the appointed time Roe fired one of the guns, which caused a -terrific explosion. Immediately this was followed by wild cheering on -the part of the confederates. The explosion broke down the binnacle and -compasses, and the soldiers were amazed by the cheering of the Christian -slaves. And then they realised what had happened—that there had been a -mutiny, that the ship had been surprised. The Turks were mad with fury -and indignation. Calling the mutineers “Dogs,” they began to tear up -planks of the ship and to attack the confederates with hammers, hatchets, -knives, boat’s oars, boat-hook and whatever came into their hands. Even -the stones and bricks of the “cook-room,” or galley, were picked up and -hurled at Rawlins’ party. - -But the carefully arranged plot was working out perfectly. Below, the -slaves had cleared the decks of all the Turks and Moors, and Rawlins now -sent a guard to protect the powder, and the confederates charged their -muskets against the remaining Turks, killing some of them on the spot. -The Moslems, who had been such tyrannical taskmasters, now actually -called for Rawlins, so he, guarded by some of his adherents, went to -them. The latter fell on their knees and begged for mercy, who had shown -no mercy to others. Rawlins knew what he was about, and after these -tyrants had been taken one by one, he caused them to be killed, while -other Turks leapt overboard, remarking that “it was the chance of war.” -Others were manacled and then hurled overboard. Some more had yet to be -killed outright, and then at length the victory and annihilation were -complete. By careful plotting and good organisation and a firmness at the -proper time, the whole scheme had been an entire success. - -It happened that when the explosion had taken place, the captain was -in his cabin writing, and at once rushed out. But when he saw the -confederates and how matters stood and that the ship was already in -other hands, he at once surrendered and begged for his life. He reminded -Rawlins “how he had redeemed him from Villa Rise,” and that he had since -treated him with great consideration. Rawlins had to admit that this was -so, so he agreed to spare the captain his life. As before mentioned the -captain was an English renegade whose real name was Henry Chandler, he -being the son of a chandler in Southwark. So this man was brought back to -England, as well as John Goodale; Richard Clarke, gunner (_alias_ Jafar -in Turkish); George Cook, gunner’s mate (_alias_ Ramedam in Turkish); -John Browne (_alias_ Mamme in Turkish); and William Winter, ship’s -carpenter (_alias_ Mustapha in Turkish); “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 suchlike devilish baits to catch the souls of -mortal men and entangle frailty in the tarriers of horrible abuses and -imposturing deceit.” - -The Englishmen now set to work and cleared the ship of the dead Moslem -bodies, and then Rawlins assembled his men and gave praise to God “using -the accustomed Service on shipboard; and, for want of books, lifted -up their voices to God, as He put into their hearts or renewed their -memories.” And after having sung a psalm, they embraced each other “for -playing the men in such a deliverance.” The same night they washed the -ship of the carnage, put every thing in order, repaired the broken -quarter which had been damaged by the explosion, set up the binnacle -again and made for England. On the 13th February the _Exchange_ arrived -at Plymouth, where they “were welcomed like the recovery of the lost -sheep, or as you read of a loving mother that runneth with embraces to -entertain her son from a long voyage and escape of many dangers.” - -As for the Torbay bark, she too had got back to England, having arrived -at Penzance two days before. Her story is brief but not less interesting. -The mate had been informed of Rawlins’ plan, and he and his friends had -agreed. But the carrying out of this had been a far simpler and neater -matter than that which had taken place on the _Exchange_. For once again -mere landsmen had been fooled at the hands of seamen. It happened on this -wise. They made the Turks believe that the wind had now come fair and -that the prize was being sailed back to Algiers. This they believed until -they sighted the English shore, when one of the Turks remarked that “that -land is not like Cape St. Vincent.” To this the man at the helm replied -very neatly, “Yes; and if you will be contented and go down into the -hold, and turn the salt over to windward, whereby the ship may bear full -sail, you shall know and see more to-morrow.” - -Suspecting nothing the five Turks then went quietly down. But as soon as -they had gone below into the hold, the renegadoes, with the help of two -Englishmen, nailed down the hatches and kept the rascals there till they -reached Penzance. But one of the other Turks was on deck, and at this -incident he broke out into great rage. This was but short-lived, for an -Englishman stepped up to him, dashed out his brains and threw his body -overboard. - -All the other prisoners were brought safely to England and lodged either -in Plymouth gaol or Exeter, “either to be arraigned according to the -punishment of delinquents in that kind, or disposed of as the king -and council shall think meet.” We need not stop to imagine the joy of -welcoming back men who had been lost in slavery. We need not try to -guess the delight of the west-countrymen that at last some of these -renegadoes had been brought back to be punished in England. There is -not the slightest doubt of this story of the _Exchange_ being true, but -it shows that even in that rather disappointing age which followed on -immediately after the defeat of the Armada, there were, at a time when -maritime matters were under a cloud, not wanting English seamen of the -right stamp, men of courage and action, men who could fight and navigate -a ship as in the spacious days of Queen Elizabeth. Happily the type of -man which includes such sailor characters as Rawlins is not yet dead; the -Anglo-Saxon race still rears many of his calibre, and it needs only the -opportunity to display such nerve, daring enterprise and tactful action. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -THE GREAT SIR HENRY MORGAN - - -About the year 1636 a certain London mariner, named Dunton, had an -experience somewhat similar to that which we related in the last chapter -concerning Rawlins. Dunton had the bad luck to be taken by the Sallee -pirates, who then sent him out as master and pilot of a Sallee pirate -ship containing twenty-one Moors and five Flemish renegadoes. The -instructions were that Dunton should sail to the English coast and there -capture Christian prisoners. He had arrived from Barbary in the English -Channel and was off Hurst Castle by the Needles, Isle of Wight, when he -was promptly arrested as a pirate and sent to Winchester to be tried by -law. He was given his release at a later date, but his ten-year-old boy -was still a slave with the Algerines. - -Now about the year when this was taking place, there was born into the -world Henry Morgan, who has become celebrated in history and fiction as -one of the greatest sea-rovers who ever stepped aboard a ship. His career -is one of continual success, of cruelties and amassing of wealth. He was -a buccaneer, and a remarkably clever fellow who rose to the position -of Governor-General of one of our most important colonial possessions. -Adventures are to the adventurous, and if ever there was a Britisher -who longed for and obtained a life of excitement, here you have it in -the story of Henry Morgan. It would be easy enough to fill the whole -of this book and more with his activities afloat, but as our space is -limited, and there are still many other pirates of different seas to be -considered, it is necessary to confine ourselves to the main facts of his -career. - -The date of his birth is not quite certain, but it is generally supposed -to belong to the year 1635. He first saw light in Glamorganshire, and his -existence was tinged with adventure almost from the first. For whilst -he was a mere boy, he was kidnapped and sold as a servant at Barbados. -Thus it was that he was thrust on to the region of the West Indies, -and in this corner of the world, so rich in romance, so historic for -its association with Spanish treasure-ships of Elizabethan times, so -reminiscent of Drake and others, he was to perform deeds of daring which -as such are not unworthy to be ranked alongside the achievements of the -great Elizabethan seamen. But he differed from Drake in one important -respect. The Elizabethan was severe even to harshness, but he was a more -humane being than Morgan. All the wonderful things which the Welshman -performed are overshadowed by his cruel, brutish atrocities. In a cruel, -inhuman age Morgan unhappily stands out as one of the wickedest sailors -of his time. And yet, although we live in an epoch which is somewhat -prone to white-washing the world’s most notorious criminals, yet we -must modify the popular judgment which prevails in regard to Morgan. To -say that he was a pirate and nothing else is not accurate. At heart he -certainly was this. But as Sir John Laughton, our greatest modern naval -historian has already pointed out, he attacked only those who were the -recognised enemies of England. - -I admit that in practice, especially in the case of men of such -piratical character as Henry Morgan, the difference between privateering -and piracy is very slight. The mere possession of a permission to -capture the ships belonging to other people is nothing compared to a -real sea-robbing intention. Morgan was lucky in having been required for -a series of certain peculiar emergencies. His help happened at the time -to be indispensable, and so he was able to do legally what otherwise -he would have done illegally. All those seizures were legalised by the -commission which he was granted at various times. But this is not to say -that without those commissions he would not have acted in a somewhat -similar manner. - -We are accustomed to speak of Morgan and his associates as buccaneers. -Now let us understand at once the meaning of this term. Originally the -word meant one who dried and smoked meat on a “boucan.” A “boucan” was a -hurdle made of sticks on which strips of beef newly salted were smoked -by the West Indians. But the name of buccaneers was first given to the -French hunters of S. Domingo, who prepared their meat according to this -Indian custom. From the fact that these men who so prepared the flesh -of oxen and wild boars were also known for another characteristic, -namely, piracy, the name was applied in its widest sense to those English -and French sea-rovers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries who -employed their time in depredating Spanish ships and territory of the -Caribbean Sea. Hence from signifying a man who treated his food in a -certain fashion, the word buccaneer came to mean nothing more or less -than a robber of the sea. - -After young Morgan had finished his time in service at Barbados, he -joined himself to these buccaneer-robbers after arriving at Jamaica. It -should be added that Morgan’s uncle, Colonel Edward Morgan, went out -from England in 1664 to become Governor-General of Jamaica, but his -death occurred in the following year. There are gaps in Morgan’s life, -and there has been some confusion caused by others possessing the same -surname. But it appears pretty certain now that in the year 1663 Henry -Morgan was at sea in command of a privateer. Even by this time he had -begun to be an expert in depredation and in sacking some of the Caribbean -towns, and striking terror into the hearts of the wretched inhabitants. -We may pass over these minor events and come to the time when, his -uncle having died, Sir Thomas Modyford was sent out from England as -Lieutenant-Governor. Bear in mind that intense hatred of the Spanish -prevailing at this time, and which had not been by any means quenched -by the defeat of the Armada. To put it mildly, the Caribbean Sea was an -Anglo-Spanish cockpit where many and many a fight had taken, and was -still to take, place. Modyford wanted the island of Curaçoa to be taken, -and there was then no better man to do the job than a very celebrated -buccaneer named Edward Mansfield. Sir Thomas therefore commissioned -Mansfield to seize this island. He got together a strong naval expedition -and accomplished the task early in the year 1666, Henry Morgan being in -command of one of Mansfield’s ships. - -Off the Nicaraguan coast lies an island which has been called at -different times Santa Catalina or Providence Island. This had been -taken from the English by the Spaniards more than twenty years before, -and Morgan was also present when Mansfield now recaptured it. A small -garrison was left to occupy it, and Mansfield returned with his ships to -Jamaica. But before long Santa Catalina fell again into the hands of the -Spaniards, and Mansfield died. It is now that Morgan’s career begins to -come into the limelight. For after Mansfield’s decease the buccaneers, -bereft of their leader, thought the matter over and decided to make -Morgan his successor, and the commissions which Mansfield had been -accustomed to receive from Modyford now fell to the Welshman. - -The first of these duties occurred when Modyford became aware of a -rumour that the Spaniards were contemplating an invasion of Jamaica. It -was nothing more than a rumour, but, as governor, he desired to find -out the truth. He therefore despatched Morgan to ascertain the facts. -He was directed to get ten ships together and to carry 500 men in this -fleet. The ships gathered on the south side of Cuba and then, having -accomplished their voyage, Morgan landed his men and found that the -people had fled from the coast, driving all their cattle away. Morgan -marched inland, plundered the town of Puerto Principe, and then was able -to send information to Modyford that considerable forces were being -collected and that an expedition against Jamaica was, in truth, being -planned. He had fulfilled his commission as instructed. - -His next big achievement occurred when he sailed to the mainland in order -to attack Porto Bello, where levies were being made to attack Jamaica. -Several Englishmen were known also to be confined here in grim dungeons. -And if any further incentive were required, this would certainly rouse -the ire and sharpen the keenness of Morgan and his men. Porto Bello -relied for its defence on three forts, and it was likely to be no easy -work to compel these to yield. But Morgan succeeded in his object, and -this is how he went to work: Arrived in the vicinity of Porto Bello, -he left his ships and, under the cover of night, proceeded towards the -shore with his men in about two dozen canoes. By three o’clock in the -morning his force had crept into the shore and landed. The first fort -was assaulted by the aid of ladders, and the garrison was slaughtered. -So, too, the second fort was attacked. Hither the Spanish governor had -betaken himself. For a time it offered a stout resistance, but Morgan had -a number of ladders so made that they were wide enough to allow several -men to climb up abreast of each other. By this means the castle walls -were overcome, the castle itself taken, and the governor slain. The third -fort surrendered, the town was sacked, and then, for over a fortnight, -the buccaneers indulged themselves as was their wont in debauchery. I -have no intention of suggesting the details either of these excesses nor -of the abominable tortures to which the inhabitants were now subjected -in order to compel them to reveal the places where their treasures were -hidden. Not even the most unprincipled admirer of the buccaneers could -honestly find it possible to defend Morgan and his associates against the -most serious charges on the ground of common justice. - -Morgan may not have been any worse than some of his contemporaries at -heart, but whatever else he was, he was an unmerciful tyrant. As for -his enemies, we cannot regard them with much admiration either. This -Dago crowd were morally not much better than the Welshman, and though -sometimes they put up a good fight, they were too often cowards. In -this present instance they adopted that futile and weak plan of buying -off the aggressor. You will remember that, unfortunately, our ancestors -adopted this plan many hundreds of years ago when they sought to ward -off the Viking depredators by buying peace. It was a foolish and an -ineffectual method both then and in the seventeenth century in the case -of Morgan. For what else does such an action mean than a confession -of inferiority? Peace at this price is out of all proportion to the -ultimate value obtained, and the condition is merely a temptation to -the aggressor to come back for more. Stripped of any technicality, -Morgan blackmailed these Panamanians to the extent of 100,000 pieces of -eight, and 300 negroes. On these conditions, which were agreed upon, he -consented to withdraw. So, very well rewarded for his trouble, Morgan -returned joyfully to Jamaica, and for some time the buccaneers were able -to indulge themselves in the pleasures which this booty was capable of -affording them. - -You will generally find that a buccaneer, a highwayman, a gambler, a -smuggler or any kind of pirate by land or by sea is a spendthrift. -There are certainly exceptions, but this is the rule. A man who knows -that he can easily get more money when he runs short shows no reserve -in spending, provided it affords him gratification. So with these -buccaneers. At length they came to the end of their resources and were -ready to go forth again. It is true that Modyford had been in two minds -after Morgan’s return from Porto Bello. He rejoiced at the success of his -arms, but he was nervous of the consequences. The Welshman had certainly -exceeded his commission, and there might be trouble, as a result, at -headquarters. - -And yet there was work to be done, and Morgan was the only man who -could do it. So once more Modyford had to commission him to carry out -hostilities against the Spaniards. To the eastward of Jamaica lies the -island of S. Domingo, or as it was known in those days, Hispaniola. -If you were to examine a chart of Hispaniola you would see in the -south-west corner a bay and a small island. The latter is known as -Vache Island. This was to be the meeting-place where Morgan was now to -collect his ships. Apart from being a good anchorage, it was a convenient -starting-place if one wished to attack either the mainland of Central -America or Cuba. In the present instance the objective was in the latter. -The ships got under way, Morgan arrived at the scene of operations, and -positively ravaged the Cuban Coast, again striking terror wherever he -went. But, important as this was, it is not to be reckoned alongside the -achievement which he performed in the early part of 1669. - -On the north coast of South America is a wide gulf which opens out -into the Caribbean Sea. But as this gulf extends southward, the shores -on either side narrow so closely that the shape resembles the neck -of a bottle. The town here is named Maracaibo. But a little distance -still farther south the shores on either side recede considerably like -the lower portion of a bottle, and there extends a vast lagoon which -takes its name from the town mentioned. It is obvious to any one that -the strategical point is at the neck. And when I mention that here -the navigation was both tricky and shallow, and that the channel was -protected by a strong castle, the reader will instantly appreciate that -any one who tried to bring his ships into the lake would have a very -difficult task. - -Now in the month of March, Morgan, with eight ships and 500 men, had -arrived off this entrance. With great daring and dogged determination -he was able to force his way in through this narrow entrance. He not -only dismantled the fort, but he sacked the town of Maracaibo in his -own ruthless manner; then he followed up his attack by scouring the -neighbouring woods, and put the captured and terrified inhabitants to -cruel tortures in order to compel them to reveal the hiding-places of -their valuables. He captured many a prisoner and at length, very well -satisfied with his success, after the lapse of three weeks decided to -advance still farther. He had got his ships through the most difficult -portion, and now he intended to navigate the lagoon itself. - -At length he arrived at a town called by the inhabitants Gibraltar, after -the European place of that name. Here Morgan again satiated himself -with plunder, with cruelties and with debauchery until the time came -for him to take his ships away with all the booty they could carry. -But the serious news reached them that awaiting them off the entrance -to the gulf were three Spanish men-of-war. Still more serious was the -information that the castle at Maracaibo had now been efficiently manned -and armed. That was more than awkward, for without the permission of the -fort it was quite impossible for his ships to make their exit in safety. -The situation would have puzzled many a fine strategist. Here was the -buccaneer positively trapped with no means of escape. - -But Morgan was quite equal to the occasion, and he set to work. His -first object was to gain time, and so he began by opening negotiations -with the Spanish Admiral Don Alonso del Campo y Espinosa. He knew these -negotiations would prove fruitless, as indeed they did. But in the -meantime Morgan had been busily employing his men in getting ready a -fireship. In our modern days of steel hulls, fireships play no part in -naval tactics, but in the time of oak and hemp this mode of aggression -continued till very late. The fireship would first be filled with -combustible material, and then released, the wind or current taking her -down on to the enemy’s ships. The grapnel irons projecting from her -side would foul the enemy, and it would be no easy matter to thrust the -fireship off until she had done considerable damage by conflagration. -This method of warfare was one of the oldest tactics in the history of -naval fighting. It was successful over and over again, and the reader -can well imagine that the sight of a flaming ship rapidly approaching a -fleet of anchored ships with the tide was really terrifying. And even -if the attacked ships were under way and not brought up it made little -difference: for the flames would immediately set on fire a ship’s sails, -and the tarred rigging would soon be ablaze, rendering the attacked ship -disabled. - -Of course it was possible at times for a fleet under way so to manœuvre -as to get out of the direction towards which the fire-vessel was -travelling. But Morgan was up to every eventuality. The fireship he -disguised as a man-of-war, and she was not yet set alight. With this -craft looking just like one of his own he took his fleet to look for -the Spanish men-of-war. On the 1st of May he found them just within the -entrance to the lagoon. He now made straight for them, and setting the -fireship alight when quite near, sent her right alongside the Spanish -flagship, a vessel of 40 guns. The latter was too late to shake her -off, burst into flames and soon foundered. Another Spanish ship was so -terror-stricken that her crew ran ashore, and she was burnt by her own -men lest she should fall into the hands of the buccaneers. The third -was captured after heavy slaughter. Some of the Spaniards succeeded in -swimming ashore, among whom was the Admiral Don Alonso himself. - -Morgan was able to capture a number of prisoners, and from these men he -learned tidings which must have sent a thrill of great joy through his -avaricious mind. The sunken ship had gone down with 40,000 pieces of -eight! So the buccaneer took steps to recover as much of this treasure -as he could, and salved no less than 15,000, in addition to a quantity -of melted silver. His next work was to have the prize-ship refitted, and -her he adopted as his own flagship. So far, so good. But he was still in -the lagoon, and the door of the trap was yet closed as before, although -the enemy’s ships had been now disposed of. He again opened negotiations -with Don Alonso, and it is surprisingly true that the latter actually -paid Morgan the sum of 20,000 pieces of eight and 500 head of cattle as -a ransom for Maracaibo. But, on the other hand, Don Alonso declined to -demean himself by granting Morgan permission to take his ships out. - -That, of course, set Morgan’s brain working. He was determined to put -to sea, and it was only a question of stratagem. He therefore allowed -the Spaniards to gain the impression that he was landing his men so as -to attack the fort from the landward side. This caused the Spaniards -to move the guns of the fort to that direction, leaving the seaward -side practically unarmed. That was Morgan’s chance and he fully availed -himself thereof. It was night-time and there was the moon to help him. -He waited till the tide was ebbing, and then allowing his ships to drop -down with the current he held on until he was off the fort, when he -spread sail and before long was well on his way to the northward. It was -a clever device for getting out of a very tight corner. - -So he sailed over the Spanish Main with rich booty from Gibraltar, with -15,000 pieces of eight from the wreck, with another 20,000 from Alonso, -with a new ship and other possessions. Certainly the voyage had been -most fortunate and remunerative. He reached Jamaica in safety, but again -Modyford was compelled to reprove him for having exceeded his commission. -But the same thing happened as before. The Spaniards were becoming more -and more aggressive towards the English in the West Indies, and it was -essential that they should be given a severe lesson before worse events -occurred. Morgan was the only man for the task, and he was now appointed -commander-in-chief of the warships of the Jamaican station, and sent -forth with full authority to seize and destroy all the enemy’s vessels -that could be found. He was further to destroy all stores and magazines, -and for his pay he was to have all the goods and merchandise which he -could lay his hands on, his men being paid the customary share that was -usual on buccaneering expeditions. - -We find him, then, at the middle of August 1670, leaving Port Royal (now -better known as Kingston), Jamaica, and as before his rendezvous was -Vache Island. With this as his base he sent ships for several months to -ravage Cuba and the mainland, and as usual “refreshed” himself, as an -Elizabethan would have said, with the things he was in most need, such -as provisions. But he was able also to obtain a great deal of valuable -information, and at length sailed in a south-west direction till he came -to that island of Santa Catalina which we mentioned earlier in this -chapter as having been taken by the Spaniards. This he now recaptured, -and thereafter he was to perform another wonderful feat. The object he -had conceived was to capture Panama. It was another bold idea boldly -carried out. First of all, then, he sent from Santa Catalina four of his -ships, and a boat, and nearly 500 men, under the leadership of Captain -Brodely. These, after a three days’ voyage, arrived off Chagres Castle, -which is at the mouth of the River Chagres, not far from where the modern -Panama Canal comes out. In a remarkably short time Brodely was able to -capture this castle: and presently Morgan arrived with the rest of his -expedition. - -Having made security doubly sure, he proceeded inland, taking his ships -up the River Chagres. But after he had gone some distance it was found -that, through lack of rain, the river had dried considerably. He -therefore left 200 men behind to hold the place, and with the rest of his -forces he set out to march on foot. He did not hamper his expedition with -provisions, as he trusted to obtain supplies from the inhabitants whose -dwellings he passed. On the tenth day he had arrived at his destination. -Before him lay Panama and the Pacific. But the Spaniards were there on -the plain to meet his forces with a considerable strength, consisting of -3000 infantry and cavalry as well as some guns. - -But the Spaniards had also ready a unique tactic which seems almost -ludicrous. We have already referred slightly to the cattle, which were -a feature of this region of the globe. The Spaniards decided to employ -such in battle. So, between themselves and the English, they interposed -a vast herd of wild bulls, which were driven on in the hope of breaking -the English ranks. The wild stampede of creatures of this sort is not -likely to make for order, but, like the boomerang on land and the ram -in naval warfare, such a device is capable of being less damaging to -the attacked than to the attacker. For, as it happened, many of these -bulls were shot dead by the English, and the rest of the animals turned -their heads round and made for the Spanish, trampling many of them under -foot. The English gained the day; the Spaniards were put to flight, and -although the buccaneers lost heavily, yet the other side had lost 600 -dead. The city of Panama was captured early in the afternoon, and yet -again Morgan scooped in an amazing amount of booty. There was the same -series of tortures, of threats, and there was a total absence of anything -noble-minded in the way Morgan went about his way, satisfying his greed -for gold. But he had just missed one very big haul, and this annoyed him -exceedingly. For when the Spaniards saw their men were being defeated, -they sent to sea a Spanish galleon which was full of money, church plate -and other valuables, worth far more than ever Morgan had obtained from -what was left in Panama. - -The expedition started on its return journey overland, and after twelve -days arrived at Chagres. Here the great quantity of booty was divided -up among the crews; but the men were not satisfied with their share, -protested that they had been cheated of their full amount, and much -discontent ensued. There can be little doubt but that this was so, and -that Morgan had enriched himself at the expense of his men. However, -he managed to slip away to his ship, followed by only a handful of his -former fleet, and once again found himself in Jamaica. Here he received -the formal thanks of the governor, but there was trouble brewing. For -while Morgan had been away, a treaty had been signed at Madrid concerning -Spanish America. It is true that Modyford had, in those days of slow -communication, known nothing of it; but he was recalled, and he returned -to England a prisoner to answer for his having supported and encouraged -buccaneering. The following year Morgan was also sent to England in -a frigate, but Charles II. took a great liking to this dare-devil, -and in 1674 sent him back again to Jamaica, this time with the rank -of Colonel and with the title of knighthood, to be not a buccaneer -but Lieutenant-Governor of Jamaica. If ever there was an instance of -the ungodly flourishing, here it is. Fourteen years longer did Morgan -continue to live in this island as a rich man possessing social prestige. -It is true that he made a good governor, but although he had defeated -Alonso, reduced Panama, made a clever escape from Maracaibo, taken Santa -Catalina and been a veritable thorn in the side of the Spaniards, yet -he had been a brute, and he died a brute. He was a blackmailer on a -large scale, he was unmercifully a tyrant, and he was a profligate. -It is only because he attacked the enemies of his own Government, and -because he was lucky to obtain the commissions demanded by law, that he -is prevented from being reckoned as a mere common pirate. But if there is -honour among most thieves, what shall we say of Morgan’s dishonesty and -harshness in cheating the very men who had fought under him of their fair -share of plunder when the battle was won? It is, perhaps, hardly fair to -judge even a Morgan except by the prevailing standard of his time. But -those who care to look up the details of Morgan’s private life will find -much to condemn even if there is something to admire in his exceptional -cleverness and undoubted courage. The sea is a hard school and makes hard -men harder, and in those days when might was right and every ocean more -or less in a chaotic state of lawlessness, when poverty, or chance, or -despair, or the irresistible longing for adventure drove men to become -pirates, there was no living for a soft-hearted sailor. He had to fight -or be fought: he had to swim with the tide, or else sink. The luckiest -and cleverest became the worst terrors of the sea, while the least -fortunate had either to submit to the strong or else end their days in -captivity. Morgan having been kidnapped while young may have been driven -to kidnap others by sea: or there may have been other causes at work. -One thing, however, is certain: the world is not made the richer by the -advent of such a man as this Welsh buccaneer. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -“BLACK-BEARD” TEACH - - -The sea-rovers whom we know by the name of buccaneers had an origin -somewhat similar to that of the Moslem corsairs of Barbary. The reader -will not have forgotten that the latter, after being driven out of Spain, -settled on the north coast of Africa, and then, after being instructed in -the nautical arts by the seamen of different nationalities, rose to the -rank of grand corsairs. - -So, likewise, the buccaneers were at first inoffensive settlers in -Hispaniola, but, after having been driven from their habitations by the -Spaniards, developed an implacable hatred of the latter and devoted -themselves to infesting the shores of Spanish America and intercepting -ships on their way over the sea. And just as the Moslem corsairs were -a mixture of several nations—English, Dutch, Levantine, Italian and so -on—in like manner the company of buccaneers before long was made up of -various European seamen from many a different port. - -But among the English buccaneers a special place must be reserved for a -Bristol seaman named Edward Teach, better known as “Black-Beard” Teach, -just as we remember the great Moslem corsair was known as Red-Beard Uruj, -or Barbarossa. Teach left the west of England, and having arrived at -Jamaica shipped as one of the crew of a privateer during the French war, -and was not long in showing that he was made of the right stuff of which -those who rove the seas for booty are supposed to be. But it was not -until a Captain Benjamin Hornigold gave him the command of a prize which -he had taken that Teach began to have his full opportunity. In the spring -of 1717 Hornigold and Teach sailed away from the West Indies for North -America. Before they had reached their destination they had captured a -vessel with 120 barrels of flour, which they distributed between their -two vessels. A little later they seized two more vessels, from which they -obtained a quantity of wine and treasure. The pirates next proceeded to -the coast of Virginia, where they cleaned ship, and then, after these -diversions, they captured a ship bound for Martinique. - -Hornigold now returned with his prizes to the island of Providence, and -presently surrendered himself to the King’s clemency. But Teach went -about his business as an independent pirate now. The vessel in which he -sailed was fitted with forty guns, and he named her _The Queen Anne’s -Revenge_, and he began rapidly to accumulate wealth. One day, while -cruising near the island of St. Vincent, he captured a large vessel -called the _Great Allan_, pillaged her of what he fancied and then set -her on fire. Only a few days later the _Scarborough_ man-of-war hove in -sight, and for several hours the two ships engaged. The former recognised -that Teach was a pirate and was endeavouring to conquer him: but it is a -fact that after a time the _Scarborough_, seeing she was not a match for -_The Queen Anne’s Revenge_, deemed it better to retire from the contest, -thus allowing Teach to resume his piratical profession. - -He next found himself encountering a sloop, which was commanded by a -Major Bonnet, and Teach and Bonnet agreed to throw in their lot together. -But as “Black Beard” soon saw that Bonnet was inexperienced in naval -matters the former gave the command of the sloop to one of the crew named -Richards, whilst Bonnet transferred to the larger ship. And then the two -craft went roaming over the seas with singular success. Indeed, were one -to mention every ship that Teach captured, the reader would find the -catalogue to be one of mere monotony. The pirate had but to give chase -after a sail, hoist his black flag, and the fleeing ship would heave-to -and surrender. But as I believe the reader would find it more interesting -to become acquainted with the more interesting episodes rather than a -complete list of every single engagement, I propose to confine myself to -the former. - -Teach cruised about the West Indies and off the southern portion of -what are now the United States. He would anchor off Charleston (South -Carolina), wait till an outward-bound ship emerged from the harbour, and -then promptly seize her, or, just to vary matters, he would capture a -couple of others as they were about to enter Charleston. The impudence -of the man was amazing, and his audacity spread terror in the town and -paralysed the trade of the port. No vessel dared to show her nose outside -the harbour, and a whole fleet of ships was thus tied up inside unable to -move. And then, like many of these pirates, Teach showed how remarkably -clever and resourceful he was. By this time he had captured quite a large -number of prisoners, and it became essential that medicine supplies -should be procured by some means. To this end he had the remarkable -impudence to demand a medicine-chest from the governor: and this request -was made neither diplomatically nor even politely. He asked for it with -consummate insolence. He sent some of his own crew ashore, together with -several of the prisoners, demanding these medicinal stores, and it was -made quite clear to the governor that if these were not forthcoming and a -safe return made to the ships, every prisoner should instantly be put to -death, and the captured ships burnt to ashes. Whilst these negotiations -were being carried on by the little deputation of prisoners, the pirate’s -crew were swaggering up and down the streets of Charleston, and not a -hand dared to touch them. - -The governor was in a dilemma and listened carefully to the insolent -demand: but as he was anxious to prevent human carnage, he got together -medicinal supplies to the value of over £300 and sent them aboard. But -to show you what sort of a man Teach was, let it be said that as soon -as the pirate obtained these goods and the safe return of his own men, -he pillaged the captured vessels of all their gold and provisions, then -put the prisoners back on their respective ships and set sail for North -Carolina. On the way thither Teach began to consider how he could best -secure the spoil for himself and a few of his especial friends among the -crew, so he pretended that he was about to give his ship’s bottom a scrub -and headed for the shore, where she grounded. He then called to the sloop -to come to his assistance. This they attempted, but the sloop also took -the ground badly and both ships became total wrecks. Teach then took -the tender, put forty hands therein, had about half of them landed on a -lonely sandy island three miles from the shore, “where there was neither -bird nor beast nor herb for their subsistence.” Had it not been for Major -Bonnet, who afterwards sent a long-boat for them, they would have died. - -Meanwhile Teach, now very rich, with the rest of his crew, went and -surrendered himself to the Governor of North Carolina. Why? Not for any -other reason than in order to plan out bigger piracies. For he knew that -the governor would succumb to bribery, and by this official’s influence -a court of vice-admiralty was held and _The Queen Anne’s Revenge_ -condemned as a lawful prize and the legal property of Teach, although it -was a well-known fact that she belonged to English merchants. - -It was not long before Teach was at sea again, and setting a course -for Bermudas he pillaged four or five English and French merchantmen, -and brought one of the ships back to North Carolina, where he shared -the prizes with the governor who had already obliged him. Teach also -made an affidavit that he had found this French ship at sea with not a -soul on board, so the court allowed him to keep her, and the governor -received sixty hogsheads of sugar for his kindly assistance. Teach was -very nervous lest some one might arrive in the harbour and prove that the -pirate was lying, so on the excuse that this ship was leaky and likely to -stop up the entrance to the harbour if she sank, permission was obtained -from the governor to burn her, and when that had been done, her bottom -was sunk so that she might never exist as a witness against him. - -But the time came when the piracies of this Teach could no longer be -endured. Skippers of trading craft had already lost so heavily that -it was resolved to take concerted action. The skippers knew that the -Governor of Virginia was an honourable man, and they laid the matter -before him, begging that an armed force might be sent from the men-of-war -to settle these infesting pirates. The governor consulted the men-of-war -captains as to what had best be done, and it was decided to hire two -small vessels which could pursue Black Beard into all those inlets and -creeks which exist on the American coast. These were to be manned by -men from the warships, and placed under the command of Lieutenant May. -A proclamation was also issued offering a handsome reward to any who -within a year should capture or destroy a pirate. - -But before we go on to watch the exciting events with which this punitive -expedition was concerned I want the reader to realise something more of -the kind of pirate they were to chase. A few actual incidents will reveal -his character better than many words. The story is told that on a certain -night when Black Beard was drinking in his cabin with Israel Hands (who -was master of _The Queen Anne’s Revenge_), the ship’s pilot and a fourth -man, Teach suddenly took up a pair of pistols and cocked them underneath -the table. When the fourth man perceived this, he went up on deck, -leaving Teach, Hands and the pilot together. As soon as the pistols were -ready, Teach blew out the light, crossed his arms and fired at the two -men. The first pistol did not harm, but the other wounded Hands in the -knee. When Teach was asked why he did this, he replied with an oath, “If -I didn’t now and then kill one of you, you would forget who I was.” - -And there is another anecdote which shows his vanity in a curious -manner. Like most blackguards, he was anxious to pose as a person who -set no limits to his endurance. Those were the days of braggadocio, of -pomposity and hard drinking and hard swearing. It happened that on this -particular occasion the ship was doing a passage, and Teach was somewhat -high-spirited through the effect of the wine, and he became obsessed -with the idea of making his crew believe that he was a devil incarnate. -“Come,” he roared to some of his men, “let us make a hell of our own, and -try how long we can bear it.” It was obviously the prank of a drunken -braggart, but with several others he went down into the hold of the -ship and closed up all the hatches. He then filled several pots full -of brimstone and other combustible matter and set it on fire. Quickly -the hold became so bad that the men were almost suffocated, and some of -them clamoured for air. The hatches were at last opened and Teach was as -proud of having been able to hold out longest as if he had just captured -a well-freighted prize. And, finally, you can also appreciate the man’s -vanity in a totally different manner. His name was derived from his long -black beard, which caused him to look exceedingly repellent; but he would -sometimes even stick lighted matches under his hat, which, burning on -either side of his face, lit up his wild fierce eyes and made his general -appearance so repulsive that he exactly reflected his own character. - -But to resume our story at the point where we digressed. About the -middle of November 1717, Lieutenant Maynard set out in quest of Black -Beard, and four days later came in sight of the pirate. The expedition -had been fitted out with every secrecy, and care was taken to prevent -information reaching Teach. But the tidings had reached Teach’s friend, -the Governor of Bermudas, and his secretary. The latter therefore sent a -letter to warn Teach to be on his guard. But Teach had before now been -the recipient of false news, and he declined to believe that he was -being hunted down. In fact, it was not until he actually saw the sloops -which had been sent to catch him that he could realise the true state of -affairs. - -Maynard had arrived with his sloops in the evening of a November day, and -deemed it wiser to wait till morning before attack. Teach was so little -concerned, however, that he spent the night in drinking with the skipper -of a trader. Black Beard’s men fully realised that there would be an -engagement the next day, and one of them ventured to ask him a certain -question. If, inquired the man, anything should happen to Teach during -the engagement would his wife know where he had buried his money? Black -Beard’s reply was short and concise. “Nobody but the devil and myself,” -he answered, “knows where it is. And the longest liver shall take all.” - -When the morning came, Maynard weighed anchor and sent his boat to sound -the depth of water around where the pirate was lying. Teach then promptly -fired at the boat, but Maynard then hoisted his royal colours and made -towards Black Beard as fast as oars and sails could carry him. Before -long both the pirate and two sloops were aground, but Maynard lightened -his vessel of her ballast and water, and then advanced towards Black -Beard, whereupon the pirate began to roar and rant. “Who are you?” he -hailed, “and whence come you?” The naval officer quietly answered him. -“You see from our colours we are no pirates.” Black Beard then bade him -send his boat aboard that he might see who he was, but Maynard simply -answered this impudent request by replying, “I cannot spare my boat, but -I will come aboard you as soon as I can with my sloop.” - -The swaggering pirate then raised his glass of grog and insolently drank -to the officer, saying, “I’ll give no quarter, nor take any from you.” -Maynard replied that he expected no quarter from him, nor, for his part, -did he intend to give any. But whilst this exchange of courtesies went -on, the tide had risen and the pirate’s ship floated off. As fast as they -could the sloops were being rowed towards Teach’s ship, but as the ships -drew near, Teach fired a broadside and so killed or wounded twenty of the -naval men. A little later Black Beard’s ship drifted in to the shore and -one of the sloops fell astern. But Maynard, finding that his own sloop -was carrying way on and that he would fetch alongside Teach’s ship, -ordered all his own men below, while he and the helmsman were the only -two who remained on deck. The latter he managed to conceal so that only -the officer was visible. But he ordered his crew to take their pistols, -cutlasses and swords and to be ready for any duty immediately, and in -order to make it possible for the men to regain the deck in the minimum -time, he caused two ladders to be placed in the hatchway. - -The sloop now came alongside the pirate, whereupon the latter had -case-boxes, such as were discharged from cannon, thrown on board, having -first been filled with powder, small shot, slugs and pieces of lead and -iron. A quick match was placed in the mouth of these and then they were -dropped on to the sloop’s deck. These would, of course, be exceedingly -destructive, but inasmuch as the naval crew were below at the time, they -did but little harm. And when Black Beard saw that by now there were -only a few hands on deck he believed that these three or four were the -sole survivors. He exulted greatly and cried, “Let us jump on board and -cut to pieces those that are alive.” Now one of these case-boxes was -causing a great cloud of smoke, so that Black Beard was able, together -with fourteen of his men, to leap on the sloop’s deck without being -immediately perceived. But as soon as the smoke began to clear, Maynard -ordered his men up from below, who were on deck in a flash. - -Then there began a fierce fight, and between Maynard and Black Beard -there was a magnificent hand-to-hand encounter. At first they exchanged -shots, and the pirate was wounded. Then they drew their swords, and each -man lunged at the other. Matters were proceeding in an exciting manner -until, by ill-luck, the lieutenant had the misfortune to break his sword. -In a moment Black Beard would have dealt him a fatal blow, had not one -of Maynard’s men instantly given the pirate a terrible wound in the neck -and throat. After this the onslaught became fiercer and fiercer. Both -sides were releasing their pent-up rage, and it was by no means certain -who would win the fight. There were twelve service men against fourteen -of the pirates, not counting Maynard or Teach. It is to be stated that -neither side lacked bravery, and the greatest valour was displayed on -both sides. The deck presented a sickening sight, and blood was seen -spilt everywhere. Teach, though he had been wounded by the shot from -Maynard and the blow from one of the latter’s men, as well as sundry -other ugly cuts, still fought splendidly. But he was employing the very -utmost of his physical resources, and finally, while in the act of -cocking his pistol, fell down with a heavy thud to the deck dead. - -In the meanwhile eight of his men had also perished, and most of the -rest being wounded they clamoured for quarter, a request which was -granted, seeing that Teach himself had been slain. Maynard severed the -pirate’s head from his body, and after affixing it to the end of his -bowsprit, sailed away to Bathtown in order to obtain medical aid for his -wounded men. On ransacking the pirate ship there were found a number -of incriminating documents which showed the close connection between -Teach and the Governor of Bermudas. After Maynard’s men had their wounds -attended to, the sloop left Bathtown, and with Black Beard’s head -still swinging at the bowsprit end, proceeded to Virginia, where there -was great rejoicing that the pirate pest had at last been killed. The -prisoners were brought off from the sloop, tried, condemned and executed, -with the exception of two. Of these one had been taken by Teach from -a trading ship only the day before the fight, and he was suffering -severely from no less than seventy wounds, but of these he presently -recovered. The other man not executed was Israel Hands, who was master of -_The Queen Anne’s Revenge_, who had remained on shore at Bathtown, where -he was recovering from that wound we mentioned just now which Black-Beard -one night in a playful humour had dealt him from his pistol in the dark. - -So the American colonists were able to breathe again, and the trading -ships were allowed to go about once more without fear of this scoundrel. -The blow had been dealt decisively and neatly. It only remains to add -one other fact which well indicates the desperate nature of this pirate. -When, during the engagement, it seemed likely that he would be overcome, -he had placed a negro at the gunpowder door with instructions to blow -the ship up the moment Maynard’s men should come aboard. But inasmuch -as Maynard’s clever stratagem lured the pirate and his men on board the -sloop, a terrible disaster was avoided which would have involved both -ships and doubtless all the men of each contesting party. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -THE STORY OF CAPTAIN KIDD - - -We come now to another historical pirate, who, both in America and -England, will long be remembered for his very interesting exploits. -Following the modern tendency of endeavouring to whitewash notorious -criminals of a bygone age, a recent writer has sought to dismiss the idea -that Kidd was to be numbered among the pirates. I admit that at one time -this man was an honest seaman, and that force of circumstances caused his -career to become completely altered. But a pirate he certainly became, -and no amount of juggling with facts can alter this. - -The story of his life is as follows: He was a Scotsman who was born in -Greenock, which has given to the world so many fine seamen in different -generations, and so many handsome new ships both of wood and of steel. -Sailing ships and steam-propelled liners have been built here during the -past two hundred years by the score. After a while we find Kidd in North -America. He became a resident of New York, and in 1691 married a widow. -He became a prosperous shipmaster sailing out of New York, and they say -that in his house in Liberty Street was the first Turkey carpet ever seen -in New York. He was a man well-known to the local merchants, and for a -time had command of a privateer cruising against the French in West -Indian waters. This was the period during which William III. was at war -with our French neighbours. - -In the year 1695 Kidd had crossed to England and was in London, having -command of the brigantine _Antigoa_, of New York. Now about this time the -King had appointed the Earl of Bellomont to be governor of New England -and New York. And the latter was especially instructed to suppress the -prevailing piracy which was causing so much distress along the coast. -Lord Bellomont, who had been governor of Barbadoes, suggested that Kidd -should be entrusted with a man-of-war, as he was a most suitable person -to send against these sea-rovers, knowing as he did every inch of the -coast and the favourite hiding-places of the pirates. But the Admiralty -did not esteem it suitable for Kidd to have a government ship under him, -and there the matter ended. But Bellomont was one of those far-sighted -men who ever had an eye for the main chance. He and his friends were well -aware of the enormous amount of money which these pirates accumulated, -and since the Admiralty would not give him a frigate, he resolved to -form a small syndicate among his friends and fit out a private ship. He -decided to appoint Kidd as captain. The latter was not anxious to accept -this appointment, but Bellomont pointed out that if he did not, Kidd’s -own vessel would be detained in the Thames; so at last he consented. - -In order to give the project a certain amount of status and in order to -be able to enforce greater discipline over the crew, a King’s commission -was obtained for Kidd, authorising him “to apprehend, seize, and take -into your custody” all “pirates, freebooters, and sea-rovers, being our -subjects, or of other nations associated with them.” But he was also -given a “commission of reprisals.” As it was then time of war, this -second commission gave him justification for capturing any French ships -he might encounter. The ship which had been purchased for him was called -the _Adventure_, of 287 tons, 34 guns and 70 or 80 men. - -In the month of May 1696, we find her sailing out of Plymouth Sound bound -for New York. It should be mentioned that Kidd and a man named Robert -Livingstone had undertaken to pay one-fifth of the expenses, whilst -Bellomont, with the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Lord Chancellor -and certain other gentlemen had put up the other four-fifths of the -capital. On the voyage out, Kidd fell in with a French fishing craft -off the Newfoundland banks and annexed her. Owing to the second of his -commissions just mentioned, this was no act of piracy but perfectly legal -as a privateer. Arrived in New York, Kidd made it known that he needed -a number of additional hands as crew, and, as an incentive, he offered -each man a share, reserving for himself and owners forty shares. He got -an additional number of men, comprising now 155, and then sailed away. -He had shipped a miscellaneous lot of rascals—naval deserters, pirates -out of employment, fugitives from justice, brawlers, thieves, rogues -and vagabonds. They had signed on, attracted by the chance of obtaining -plenty of booty. He set a course across the Atlantic, and his first call -was at Madeira, where he took on board wine and other necessaries. From -there he proceeded to the Cape Verde Islands, where he obtained salt and -provisions, and having all this done, steered in a southerly direction, -rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and hauled up into the Indian Ocean till -he found himself off Madagascar, which was a notorious hunting ground -for pirates. It was now February of 1697, the _Adventure_ having left -Plymouth for New York the previous May. - -But, as it happened, there were no pirate ships to be found off -Madagascar, for they were somewhere out at sea looking for spoil. -Therefore, after watering and taking on board more provisions, he steered -to the north-east across the Indian Ocean till he came to the Malabar -coast in the month of June. His ship was sadly in need of repairs, and -he was in serious need of further stores. He had come a long way from -New York to India, and his ship had not earned a penny since she left -America. But he managed to borrow a sum of money from some Frenchmen who -had lost their ship but had saved their effects, and with this he was -able to buy materials for putting his ship in a seaworthy condition. - -And now there came a change, and from being a privateer he became a -pirate. Once more he crossed the Indian Ocean and arrived at Bab’s Key, -which is on an island at the entrance to the Red Sea. He began to open -his mind to his crew and to let them understand that he was making a -change. So far he had acted according to the law and his commission, -though not a single pirate had he seen. He knew that the Mocha fleet -would presently come sailing that way, and he addressed his men in these -words: “We have been unsuccessful hitherto; but courage, my boys, we’ll -make our fortunes out of this fleet.” There can be little doubt but -that Kidd had been working at this idea as he came across the Indian -Ocean. Before a man becomes a robber either by land or by sea, there -is a previous mental process. A man cannot say that he acted on the -spur of the moment without confessing that he had been entertaining -the suggestion of robbery some time before. It would seem that Kidd -originally had every intention of keeping to the terms and spirit of -his two commissions. But as he had been sailing across the world without -luck, he became despondent. He thought not merely of himself, or of his -crew, but of Bellomont and the rest of the syndicate. Time and expenses -had been running on, and there was nothing on the credit side beyond -that one French ship of a year ago. He was utterly despondent, and as -a man down on his luck thieves on land so he would now act on sea. The -intention was thoroughly wrong, but it was comprehensible. - -He waited for the Mocha fleet, but it came not; so he had a boat hoisted -out, and sent her well-manned along the coast to bring back a prisoner, -or at any rate obtain intelligence somehow. In a few days the boat -returned, announcing there were fourteen ships ready to sail—English, -Dutch and Moorish. He therefore kept a man continually on the look out -at the masthead lest the fleet should sail past without being seen; for -Kidd was well-nigh desperate. And one evening, about four days later, the -ships appeared in sight, being convoyed by two men-of-war—one English -and one Dutch. Kidd soon fell in with them, got among them, and fired at -the Moorish ship which happened to be nearest to him. Thereupon the two -convoys bore down on him, engaged him hotly, and compelled him to sheer -off. So, as he had begun to play the pirate, he resolved to go on. He -crossed the Indian Ocean to the eastward yet again, and cruised along -the Malabar coast, and at last he got a prize. She was a Moorish vessel, -owned by Moorish merchants, but her master was an Englishman named -Parker, and there was also a Portuguese named Don Antonio on board. - -These two men Kidd forced to join him, the former as pilot and the latter -as interpreter. Thus the commissioned privateer was now a full-fledged -pirate; he had sunk deep down into the mire. And he acted with all the -customary cruelty of a pirate. He hoisted his prisoners up by the arms, -drubbed them with a naked cutlass in order that they might reveal where -the money was hidden. But all that he obtained was a bale of pepper and a -bale of coffee. But then he sailed along and touched at Carawar, where he -discovered that already the news of the assault on the Moorish ship had -arrived and was being discussed with great excitement by the merchants. -Kidd was suspected, and two Englishmen came aboard and inquired for -Parker and Don Antonio. Kidd denied that he knew such persons, and as he -had taken the precaution to hide them away in a secret place down the -hold, the visitors, still suspicious, went ashore without any definite -tidings. - -For over a week these two wretched men were kept in their hiding-place, -and once more Kidd put to sea. A Portuguese man-of-war having been -sent to cruise after him, he engaged her for six hours, but as he -could not take her, and as he was the swifter sailer, he cleared off. -Soon afterwards he became possessor of a Moorish ship by a very subtle -quibble, which indicated the man’s astuteness. The vessel was under the -command of a Dutch skipper, and as soon as Kidd gave her chase, the -pirate hoisted French colours. When the merchantship saw this, she also -showed the French ensign. The _Adventure_ soon overtook her and hailed -her in French. The merchantship, having a Frenchman on board, answered -in that language. Kidd ordered her to send her boat aboard, and then -asked the Frenchman—a passenger—if he had a pass for himself. The latter -replied in the affirmative. Kidd then told the Frenchman he must pass -as captain, “and,” he added, “you _are_ captain.” His intention was -simply this. Remembering the terms of his commission, he was untruthfully -insisting that the merchantman was French and therefore legally his -prize. It was a bare-faced quibble, and one wonders why so unprincipled a -man should deem it necessary to go out of his way to make such a pretence. - -So he relieved the ship of her cargo and sold it later on. Presently, -as he began to suffer from qualms of conscience and declined to attack -a Dutch ship with which they came up, his crew mutinied, and one day, -whilst a man named Moore, his gunner, was on deck discussing the Dutch -ship, Moore so far lost control of his tongue as to accuse Kidd of having -ruined them all. The pirate answered this complaint by calling him a dog, -taking up a bucket and breaking the man’s skull therewith, so that he -died the next day. Kidd now cruised about the Malabar coast, plundering -craft, taking in water and supplies from the shore, and pillaging when he -liked. - -And now he came up with a fine 400-ton Moorish merchantman named the -_Queda_, whose master was an Englishman named Wright, for it was by no -means rare for these Eastern owners to employ English or Dutch skippers, -as the latter were such good seamen and navigators. Kidd as before chased -her under French colours, and having got abreast of her compelled her to -hoist out her boat and send it aboard. He then informed Wright he was to -consider himself a prisoner, and he learnt that there were only three -Europeans on board—two Dutch and one Frenchman—the rest being either -Indians or Armenians. The last mentioned were also part-owners of the -cargo. Kidd set the crew of this vessel ashore at different places along -the coast, and soon sold about £10,000 worth of the captured cargo, so -that each man had about £200, whilst Kidd got £8000. - -Putting part of his own crew into the _Queda_, Kidd took the _Adventure_ -and the prize southwards to Madagascar, and when he had come to anchor -a ludicrous incident occurred. For there came off to him a canoe -containing several Englishmen who had previously known Kidd well. They -now saluted him and said they understood that he had come to take -them and hang them, “which would be a little unkind in such an old -acquaintance.” But Kidd at once put them at their ease, swearing he had -no such intention, and that he was now in every respect their brother, -and just as bad as they; and calling for alcohol he drank their captain’s -health. The men then returned on board their ship _Resolution_. But by -now, after all her travels backwards and forwards over the ocean, the -_Adventure_ had become very leaky and her two pumps had to be kept going -continuously. So Kidd transferred all the tackle and guns from her to the -_Queda_, and in future made her his home. He then divided up the spoil on -the sharing principle as before. About a hundred of his men now deserted -him, and, with his forty men and about £20,000 in his ship, he put to -sea, bound at last for America again, for he was under orders to report -to Bellomont at the end of the cruise. - -He arrived at the West Indies, called at one of the Leeward islands and -learnt that the news of his piracies had spread over the civilised world, -and he was wanted as a pirate. The date was now April 1699. He handed -over the _Queda_ to a man named Bolton who was a merchant at Antigua, -and bought from him a sloop named the _San Antonio_, into which he put -all his treasure. He must now press on and swear to Bellomont that he -was innocent of piracy. Being anxious to communicate with his wife, Kidd -steered for Long Island Sound, proceeded as far as Oyster Bay, landed, -and sent her a message, and after going on his northward voyaging, -transferred some of his treasure into three sloops. Towards the end of -June he headed for Boston, arriving there on the 1st July, where he had -various interviews with Bellomont. The sloop and her contents, as well -as the other three sloops’ goods were arrested, and Kidd was afterwards -taken across to England. He and six others were tried at a sessions of -Admirality at the Old Bailey in May 1701 for piracy and robbery on the -high seas, and found guilty. Kidd was further charged with the murder of -the man Moore in the bucket incident, and also found guilty. - -Kidd’s defence was that the man mutinied against him, that his accusers -had committed perjury and that he was “the most innocent person of them -all.” But the Court thought otherwise, and a week or so later he and the -other six men were executed at the Execution Dock, and afterwards their -bodies were hung up in chains, at intervals along the river, where they -remained for a long time. - -Of the treasure which was brought by Kidd to America, and has frequently -been sought for by treasure-hunters unavailingly, the exact total of -gold dust, gold coins, gold bars; silver rings, silver buttons, broken -silver, silver bars; precious stones—diamonds, rubies, green stones, and -so on—reached the following enormous amount— - - Gold 1111 oz. - Silver 2353 ” - Jewels 17 ” - -A certain amount of plate and money was successfully retained by Kidd’s -wife, and of what was left of the booty after payment of the legal -fees involved in his trial, the sum of £6472 was, by special Act of -Parliament, handed over to Greenwich Hospital.[2] - -Surely, with such facts as these before one, it is a hopeless case for -any modern enthusiast to pretend for a moment that the famous Captain -Kidd was not a pirate. If his luck had turned out better, probably -he would have contentedly remained a privateer. But opportunity is -illustrative of the man, and if ever a sailor succeeded in showing -himself to be a pirate with all the avariciousness and cruelty which the -word suggests, here you have it in the life of Captain Kidd. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -THE EXPLOITS OF CAPTAIN AVERY - - -If the sixteenth century was the “grand” period of the Moslem corsairs -of the Mediterranean, the eighteenth will ever remain memorable for the -manifold activities of those English seamen who took to piracy as a far -more remunerative profession than carrying freights. If we look for any -explanation of this, I think it is not far to seek. - -You have to take into consideration several points. Firstly, it seems -to me, in all phases whether political or otherwise, whether concerned -with the sea or with land affairs, you must get at personal and national -character—the very fount and origin of all human energies. Whatever -else the seventeenth century was, it was not a very distinguished era. -There were, of course, exceptions, but speaking broadly, it was a -most disappointing period. Morally it was corrupt, politically it was -degenerate, and artistically it was insincere and pompous. You have only -to read the history of that period in its various aspects to realise -this. This was the time when the reaction after the Puritan period had -led to a dereliction of high principles, when intrigue and bribery had -made such an onslaught on political life that votes were bought for -money, that even admirals allowed petty politics to interfere with their -loyalty when fighting at sea the nation’s enemies. Smug respectability -was the dominating high ideal, and there was no greater sin than that of -being found out. High-handed actions by those in power and lawlessness -by those who were covetous of obtaining wealth were significant of this -period. And if you want to realise the humbug and insincerity of the -eighteenth century, you have only to go into the nearest art gallery and -examine the pictures of that period (excepting perhaps some portraiture), -or to read the letters which the men and women wrote, or to read the -books which the educated people of that time esteemed so highly. Religion -and politics, domestic life, art and literature were in an unhealthy -condition. - -Now a man, whether a sailor or a politician, or whatever else, is -very largely the child of his age. That is to say, given a lawless, -unprincipled, corrupt period, it is more than likely that any particular -individual will be found to exhibit in his activities the marks of that -age. And therefore, bearing such facts as these in mind, it becomes -perfectly comprehensible that the eighteenth century should have been the -flourishing period of English sea-robbery. Add just one item more—the -continual period of unrest caused by years of international wars and -the rumours of war, and you are not surprised that the call of the sea -was accepted by so many more hundreds of men than ever before in the -history of the nation. But naval wars did not mean merely that more men -were wanted to work the ship which fought our battles; there was such -an encouragement and incentive to skippers and capitalists to undertake -privateering that not even in the Elizabethan age had so many ships and -men taken part in that kind of undertaking. So, instead of privateering -being merely an exceptional activity during an occasional period of -hostilities, it became, owing to long drawn-out wars, a regular, -definite profession. There was in it every opportunity to indulge both -personal and national hatred of the foreigner; to enjoy a series of fine -adventures, and then to return home with an accumulation of glory and -prizes. Side by side with this—and well illustrating the tone of the -age—smuggling had become an almost irrepressible national evil. - -In the history of smuggling you not infrequently found that the -preliminary steps to this dishonest livelihood were as follows: First, -the man was employed as an honest fisherman; then, finding this did not -pay him, he became a privateer, or else in the King’s service serving on -board a Revenue cutter. Then, being more anxious for wealth, he threw -in his lot with the very men he had been chasing, and became either an -out-and-out smuggler or else a pirate. For, as has been insisted on -more than once in previous chapters, the line of demarcation between -privateering and piracy, though perfectly visible to lawyers, was -not always sufficiently strong to keep the roving seaman within the -limitations of legal livelihood. In a word, as it is always difficult -suddenly to break a habit, and as this immense body of seamen had so long -been accustomed to earning their money by attacking other ships, so in an -age that had but little respect for what was lawful, it was really not -surprising that dozens of ships put to sea as downright pirates or else -as acknowledged smugglers. In this present volume we are concerned only -with the first of these two classes. - -Typical of the period was a notorious Captain Avery, whose doings -became known throughout Europe. There was nothing petty in these -eighteenth-century corsairs. They had in them the attributes which go -to making a great admiral, they were born rulers of men, they were good -strategists, hard fighters, brave and valorous, daring and determined. -But as against this they were tyrannical, cruel and brutal; and, as is so -frequently the case with all men, the acquisition of wealth ruined them, -made them still more overbearing and swollen-headed, so that with no high -principles, no lofty aims, they descended by degrees into debauchery -and callousness. It was a thousand pities in many ways, for these -were magnificent seamen who took their ill-designed, bluff, old tubs -practically all round the world, keeping the sea for months at a time, -and surviving terrible weather and many changes of climate. If these -great disciplinarians had not become tyrants, and if their unquestioned -abilities could have been legitimately employed, they had in them the -ability which has produced great Empire makers, brilliant admirals and -magnificent administrators. But their misfortune consisted in having -belonged to the eighteenth century. - -Avery, like many of the world’s greatest seamen, was born in Devonshire, -went to sea when quite young, and rose to the rank of mate in a merchant -ship. It happened that there was a good deal of smuggling going on by the -French of Martinique with the Spaniards of the American colonies. And in -order to put a stop to this, the Spanish Government hired foreigners to -act against the delinquents. A number of Bristol merchants accordingly -fitted out a couple of 30-gun ships, and, well-manned, well-found in -everything, sent them to Corunna to await orders. One of these ships was -commanded by a Captain Gibson, and in the year 1715 Avery happened to -be his mate. The Devonshire man possessed all the traditional seafaring -instincts and that love of adventure for which his county was famous, -and he was evidently not unpopular with the rest of the crew. For after -he had won their confidence, he began to point out to them what immense -riches could be obtained on the Spanish coast, and suggested that they -should throw in their lot with him and run off with the ship. This -suggestion was heartily agreed upon, and it was resolved to make the -attempt the following evening at ten o’clock. - -It should be mentioned that Gibson, like many another eighteenth-century -skipper, was rather too fond of his grog, and on the eventful night he -had imbibed somewhat freely and turned into his bunk, instead of going -ashore for his usual refreshment. Those of the crew who were not in the -present plot had also turned in, but the others remained on deck. At -ten o’clock the long-boat from the other ship rowed off to them. Avery -gave her a hail, and the boat answered by the agreed watchword thus. “Is -your drunken boatswain on board?” Avery replied in the affirmative, and -then sixteen able men came on board. The first thing was to secure the -hatches, and then very quietly they hauled up the anchor and put to sea -without making much noise. - -After they had been under way some time, the captain awoke from his -drunken sleep and rang his bell. Avery and one other confederate then -went into the cabin. “What’s the matter with the ship?” queried the “old -man.” “Does she drive; what weather is it?” For as he realised she was -on the move he naturally was forced to the conclusion that the ship was -sheering about at her anchor and that a strong wind had sprung up. Avery -quickly reassured him, and incidentally gave his waking mind something of -a shock. “No,” answered the former mate, “no, we’re at sea, with a fair -wind and good weather.” “At sea?” gasped the captain. “How can that be?” -“Come, don’t be in a fright, but put on your clothes, and I’ll let you -into a secret. You must know,” he went on, “that I am captain of this -ship now, and this is my cabin, therefore you must walk out. I am bound -for Madagascar with the design of making my own fortune and that of all -the brave fellows joined with me.” - -The captain began to recover his senses and to understand what was being -said, but he was still very frightened. Avery begged him not to be -afraid, and that if he liked to join their confederacy they were willing -to receive him. “If you turn sober, and attend to business, perhaps in -time I may make you one of my lieutenants. If not here’s a boat, and you -shall be set on shore.” Gibson preferred to choose this last alternative, -and the whole crew being called up to know who was willing to go ashore -with the captain, there were only about half a dozen who decided to -accompany him to the land. - -So Avery took his ship to Madagascar without making any captures. On -arriving at the north-east portion of the island, he found a couple of -sloops at anchor, but when these espied him they slipped their cables and -ran their ships ashore, while the men rushed inland and hid themselves -in the woods. For these men had guilty consciences. They had stolen the -sloops from the East Indies, and on seeing Avery’s ship arrive they -imagined that he had been sent to punish them. But Avery sent some of -his own men ashore to say that the sloops’ men were his friends, and -suggested that they should form an amalgamation for their common benefit -and safety. The men were well armed and had taken up positions in the -wood, and outposts had been stationed to watch whether they were pursued -ashore. - -But when the latter perceived that two or three men were approaching -unarmed, there was no opposition offered, and on learning that they were -friends, the messengers were led to the main body, where they delivered -Avery’s message. At first the fugitives had feared this was just a -stratagem to entrap them, but when they heard that Avery, too, had run -away with his ship, they conferred and decided to throw in their lot. The -next thing was to get the two sloops refloated, and then the trio sailed -towards the Arabian coast. When they arrived at length off the mouths of -the Indus, a man at the masthead espied a sail, so orders were given to -chase. As they came on nearer, the strange vessel was observed to be a -fine tall craft and probably an East Indiaman. But when they came closer -she was found to be far more valuable and more worth fighting. - -On firing at her the latter hoisted the colours of the Great Mogul and -seemed prepared to fight the matter out. But Avery declined getting at -close quarters and preferred to bombard from a safe distance, whereupon -some of his men began to suspect that he was not the dashing hero they -had taken him for. But the sloops attacked the strange ship vigorously, -one at the bow and the other on her quarter. After a while they succeeded -in boarding her, when she was now compelled to strike colours. It was -found that she was one of the Great Mogul’s ships, carrying a number -of important members of his court on a pilgrimage to Mecca and most -valuable articles to be offered at the shrine of Mahomet. There were -large quantities of magnificent gold and silver vessels, immense sums of -money, and altogether the plunder was very considerable. Everything of -value having been taken out of her, and the entire treasure having been -transferred on board the three ships, the vessel was permitted to depart. - -When at last the ship returned to her home, and the Mogul learned the -news, he was exceedingly wrathful and threatened to send a mighty army -to drive out the English from their settlements along the Indian coast. -This greatly alarmed the East India Company, but the latter managed to -calm him down by promising to send ships after the robbers and deliver -him into their hands. The incident caused great excitement in Europe, and -all sorts of extravagant rumours spread about, so that at one time it -was intended to fit out a powerful squadron and have him captured, while -another suggestion was that he should be invited home with his riches and -receive the offer of His Majesty’s pardon, for he was reputed now to be -about to found a new monarchy. But eventually these foolish notions were -discovered to be baseless. Meanwhile the three treasure-laden ships were -returning to Madagascar, where it was hoped to build a small fort, keep a -few men there permanently and there deposit their ill-gotten treasure. - -But Avery had another plan in his mind, and this well exhibits his true -character. On the voyage he sent out a boat to each of the sloops, -inviting each skipper to repair on board him. They came and he laid -before them the following proposition. If either of the sloops were to -be attacked alone, they could not be able to offer any great resistance, -and so their treasure would vanish. As regards his own ship, he went on, -she was such a swift ship that he could not conceive of any other craft -overtaking her. Therefore he suggested that all the treasure should be -sealed up in three separate chests, that each of the three captains -should have keys, that they should not be opened until all were present, -that these chests should then be kept on his own ship, and afterwards -deposited in a safe place ashore. - -It seems very curious that such wide-awake pirates should not have been -able to see through such an obvious trick. But without hesitation they -agreed with the idea, and all the treasure was placed aboard Avery’s ship -as had been suggested. The little fleet sailed on, and now Avery began -to approach his crew in his usual underhand manner. Here was sufficient -wealth on board to make them all happy for the rest of their lives. -“What,” he asked, “shall hinder us from going to some country where we -are not known and living on shore to the end of our days in affluence?” -The crew thoroughly appreciated the hint, so during the night Avery’s -ship got clear away, altered her course, sailed round the Cape of Good -Hope and made for America. They were strangers in that land, they would -divide up the booty and they would separate, so that each man would -be able to live on comfortably without working. They arrived at the -island of Providence, when it was decided that it would be wiser to get -rid of such a large vessel. So, pretending she had been fitted out for -privateering, and that, having had an unsuccessful voyage, Avery had -received orders from his owners to sell her as best he could, he soon -found a merchant who bought her, and Avery then purchased a small sloop. - -In this craft he and his crew embarked with their treasure, and after -landing at different places on the American coast where no one suspected -them, they dispersed and settled down in the country. Avery had now -immense wealth, but as most thereof consisted of diamonds and he was -afraid of being unable to get rid of them in America without being -suspected as a pirate, he then crossed to the north of Ireland, where -some of his men settled and obtained the King’s pardon. And now began -a series of incidents which might well be taken to show the folly of -ill-gotten gain. The reader has already seen that in spite of the vast -affluence which these eighteenth-century pirates obtained, yet in the -end such wealth brought them nothing but anxiety and final wretchedness. - -Avery could no more dispose of his precious stones in Ireland than in -America, so thinking that perhaps there might be some one in that big -west-country town of Bristol who would purchase them, he proceeded to his -native county of Devonshire and sent to one of his friends to meet him at -Bideford. The “friend” introduced other “friends” and Avery informed them -of his business. It was agreed that the best plan would be to place the -diamonds in the hands of some wealthy merchants who would ask no awkward -questions as to their origin. One of the “friends” asserted that he knew -some merchants who would be able to transact the business, and provided -they allowed a handsome commission the diamonds would be turned into -money. As Avery could think of no other solution to the difficulty, he -agreed with this, so presently the merchants came down to Bideford, and -after strongly protesting their integrity they were handed both diamonds -and vessels of gold, for which they gave him a small sum in advance. -Avery then changed his name and lived quietly at Bideford, but in a short -time he had spent all his money, and in spite of repeated letters to the -wily merchants he could get no answer. But at last they sent him a small -sum, though quite inadequate for paying his debts, and as he could barely -subsist he resolved to go to Bristol and interview the merchants. - -He arrived, but instead of money he was met with a firm refusal and -a threat that they would give information that he was a pirate. This -frightened him so much that he returned to Ireland, and from there kept -writing for his money, which, however, never came. He was reduced to such -a condition of abject poverty that he resolved, in his misery, to go -back to Bristol and throw himself on the merchants’ mercy. He therefore -shipped on board a trading ship, worked his passage to Plymouth and then -walked to Bideford. He had arrived there not many days when he fell ill -and died without so much as the money to buy him a burial. So it was true -that “there be land rats and water rats, land thieves and water thieves, -I mean pirates.” Avery had met a company of men who treated him in the -way he had robbed others. Thus, the whole of his long voyaging from sea -to sea, the entire series of events from the time when he had seized -Gibson’s ship, had been not only profitless but brought upon him the -utmost misery, terror, starvation and ultimate death. He had fought, he -had schemed, he had done underhand tricks, he had told lies and he had -endured bitter anxiety: but all to no purpose whatever. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -A “GENTLEMAN” OF FORTUNE - - -“In an honest service there are commonly low wages and hard labour: in -piracy, satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power; and who would not -balance creditor on this side, when all the hazard that is run for it at -worst is only a sour look or two at choking? No, a merry life and a short -one shall be my motto.” - -Such was the remark which a certain Captain Bartholomew Roberts, a -notorious seventeenth-century pirate, was said to have made, and no doubt -there was a certain amount of truth in this statement. The low wages and -hard labour in other spheres of life contrasted unfavourably with the -possibilities of ease, plenty, liberty and power. This fellow, like the -notorious Henry Morgan, was a Welshman and born in Pembrokeshire. He grew -up to be a tall, dark, ingenious and daring seaman. For a time he led the -hard but honest life of a sailor trading to the Guinea coast, but in the -year 1719 he had the bad luck to be captured by Davis, another pirate -captain. The latter constrained Roberts to lead this lawless form of -life, and it is only fair to state that Roberts at first was distinctly -averse from piracy and would certainly have deserted if an opportunity -had been forthcoming. However, “preferment claimed his conscience and -reconciled him to that which he formerly hated.” - -And when Davis ended his days by death in action, the pirate crew decided -to choose Roberts as their skipper. “It is my advice,” said one of these -at the time of the election, “it is my advice, while we are sober, to -pitch upon a man of courage, and one skilled in navigation—one who, by -his prudence and bravery, seems best able to 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 in all respects -worthy of your esteem and favour.” So the Welshman was prevailed upon -to accept this new honour, adding that since he had dipped his hands in -muddy water, and must be a pirate, it was better being a commander than a -private man. - -So the pirate ship sailed south along the Guinea coast with her new -commander, captured a Dutch Guinea ship, emptied her of everything they -fancied, sent her on her way again, and two days later took an English -ship. From her, too, they extracted all that they desired, and since her -crew were persuaded to join Roberts’ ship the prize was burnt and the -pirate, with a now much bigger company, set sail for the island of St. -Thomas, which is in the South Atlantic some distance off the Congo coast. -But as they had no further luck in these parts, they eventually resolved -by vote to make for Brazil. After a twenty-eight-day voyage across the -Atlantic they arrived off the South American shore and for nine weeks -or so cruised about unsuccessfully, taking care to keep out of sight of -land. But on the way to the West Indies, whither they were now bound, a -little disappointed, they unexpectedly fell in with a fleet of forty-two -Portuguese ships of Bahia. These vessels were bound for Lisbon, and were -now waiting for two 70-gun men-of-war to convoy them home. - -Such a rich sight was too much for the pirate. He was sure that his one -single ship would have but little chance against such a powerful fleet, -especially as some of them were really powerful vessels. But a faint -heart never made a prize, and he was minded to have a try. Among the many -vicissitudes of these pirate wayfarers the reader must have been struck -by the extremely able cunning which these lawless desperate fellows -displayed in many of their captures. Somehow one does not associate skill -with brutality. But it was very rare that these pirate skippers were at -a loss for a stratagem. Force was employed and used without mercy at the -proper time, but that was not allowed to take the place of ingenuity. So -long as these corsairs remained sober and did not set foot on land, they -very rarely met with defeat. They were terrified not by superior forces -but by the possibility of being found out when ashore. The sea and its -ways they understood: in that sphere they were at home. It was only when -they became so foolish as to abandon their natural element that they fell -on evil days. - -So Roberts set about devising some means of getting what he wanted from -this mighty fleet. He got his ship in their midst and kept his own rugged -desperate crew concealed. He then took his ship close to one of the -biggest Portuguese and hailed her to send her master aboard _quietly_. -If the Portuguese should show the slightest resistance, or make any -signal of distress, he would show them no mercy. This cool impudence was -successful: for the master now coming on deck, and seeing the sudden -flash of pirate cutlasses of the men who had for a time been concealed, -there was nothing to do but submit quietly, and the captain repaired -on board the pirate as requested. Roberts saluted him in a friendly -manner and told him he and his crew were gentlemen of fortune. All they -desired from him was to be informed as to which was the richest ship of -the fleet. If the captain informed them correctly, then he should be -permitted to go back to his ship in safety: but if not, he must expect -instant death. - -So the Portuguese pointed out a 40-gun vessel which had a crew of 150 -men. Certainly she appeared far too big a job for Roberts to tackle, but -he made towards her, still keeping the Portuguese captain aboard. As they -came alongside, the pirate ordered the Portuguese prisoner to hail her -and inquire after the commander’s health and invite him on board, as a -matter of importance was waiting to be imparted to him. The reply came -that the commander would come presently. But Roberts was not to be put -off, for, observing signs of unusual activity on board her, he poured a -heavy broadside into her, then ran his ship right alongside in the most -approved Elizabethan manner, grappled and boarded her. In a short space -of time she had been captured, and there were taken out of her into the -pirate’s hold large and valuable quantities of sugar, skins, tobacco, -etc., and 4000 gold moidores. - -After this, just as a dog which has stolen a piece of meat hurries off to -find a secluded spot where he can eat his spoil in peace, so the pirates -began to long for some safe retreat where they could spend their time in -debauchery with the prizes to pay for the cost. They resolved to go to -Devil’s Island, on the river Surinam, in Dutch Guiana, and having safely -arrived there were well received by the governor and inhabitants. But the -pirates were sadly in need of provisions until they fell in with a sloop -which was in the river. This craft, which was now seized, said that she -had been sailing in company with a brigantine loaded with provisions. -The news gladdened the corsairs, and Roberts, believing the matter to -be so important that he ought to attend to it himself, went in command -of the sloop, taking forty men and leaving the pirate ship behind. He -was sure the latter would be all safe, and he would not be away long. -The brigantine would soon be espied and then he would return with the -latter’s welcome cargo. - -But on this occasion Roberts was unlucky. He did not sight the -brigantine, although he sailed for miles and miles during eight days, so -at last he came to anchor off the coast somewhere, and sent a boat ashore -to inform their shipmates left behind in the Surinam River. The boat was -also to bring back provisions to the sloop: but when she returned, after -an almost unbearable delay, she brought no provisions and the unwelcome -knowledge that the lieutenant of the pirate ship had run off with her. -Roberts had certainly been a fool not to have foreseen this probability, -and in order to prevent such mutiny recurring he proceeded to draw up -regulations for preserving order in his present craft. After that, he had -to act. Provisions and water they must have at all costs, and so they -must make for the West Indies. - -They had not gone far, however, before they fell in with a couple of -sloops, which they captured. These afforded them the necessary supplies. -A few days later they also captured a brigantine and then proceeded to -Barbadoes. Off Barbadoes they met a 10-gun ship heavily laden with cargo -from Bristol. Her they plundered, but after three days allowed her to -proceed. But as soon as the latter touched land and informed the governor -of her misfortune, there was dispatched a 20-gun ship with eighty men, -under the command of Captain Rogers, to seek out the pirates. In two -days they came up with her. Roberts was, of course, quite unaware that -any vessel had been sent against him, and the two craft drew near. -Roberts as usual fired a blank shot for the stranger to heave to, and was -very surprised to observe that instead of striking his colours forthwith -she returned his gun with a broadside. A sharp engagement ensued, but -as Roberts was getting distinctly the worst of it, he threw some of his -cargo overboard and hurried off as fast as his ship could travel, being -very lucky to escape in this manner. - -He next made for Dominica, in the Caribbean Sea, and bartered some of his -cargo with the inhabitants for provisions. He watered his ship, and as -he happened to meet fifteen Englishmen who had been left upon the island -by some Frenchmen who had captured the Englishmen’s vessel, Roberts -persuaded these destitutes to join him, and this additional strength was -by no means inappreciable. But his ship was very foul and badly needed -her bottom scrubbed, so Roberts took her for this purpose southwards to -the Grenada Islands. It was fortunate that he did not waste any time -about his cleaning and that he put to sea immediately after, for the -Governor of Martinique got to hear that the pirate was so near, and two -sloops were sent to catch him. But Roberts and his ship had departed only -the very night before the sloops arrived. - -Setting a northerly course, the pirate now proceeded towards -Newfoundland. His ship was well cleaned, so she could sail at her best -pace. He arrived off the Banks in June of 1720, and entered the harbour -of Trepassi with the black pirate’s flag at her masthead, with drums -beating and trumpets sounding. Twenty-two ships were lying in that -harbour as Roberts came in, but as soon as they realised what sort of -a visitor was amongst them, the crews forsook the ships, and Roberts, -with his men, destroyed them by burning or sinking, and then pillaged the -houses ashore, behaving like madmen and fiends let loose. - -He retained just one ship of the lot, which hailed from Bristol, -and after leaving the harbour, encountered ten French ships off the -Newfoundland Banks. All of these he also destroyed excepting one, which -he took for his own use and named the _Fortune_. The Bristol ship he -handed over to these Frenchmen, and then for some time, being in the very -track of the shipping, made some important prizes, after which he sailed -again for the West Indies, took in ample supplies of provisions and then -determined to hasten towards the coast of Guinea, where previously they -had been so successful. On the way they came up with a French ship, -and as she was more suitable for piracy than his own, Roberts made her -skipper exchange ships. They were some time getting towards Surinam, as -they made a mistake in their navigation and got out of the trade winds. -And then trouble overtook them. Water had been running short for some -time, so that they became reduced to one mouthful a day. Famine, too, -overtook them, so that with thirst also tormenting them many of the -crew died, whilst the rest were extremely weak and feeble. Things went -from bad to worse, and now there was not one drop of fluid for drinking -purposes. - -But, fortunately for them, they found they were in seven fathoms of -water, so the anchor was lowered over, but as they were such a long -way off the shore they despaired of relieving their thirst. But the -ship’s boat was sent away, and after a while, to their immense relief, -the little craft returned with plenty of drinking water to end their -sufferings. One would have thought that as an act of gratitude these -men would then have given up their lawless life and ceased their -depredations. But they were a hardened lot of ruffians who feared neither -God nor man, so as soon as they were able they were off to sea at their -old game. They fell in with a ship which gave them all the provisions -they required, and soon afterwards came up with a brigantine which not -only afforded them still further supplies, but also a mate who joined -their company. Then, as they learnt that the governor had dispatched two -ships to capture them, they did a very impudent and a very cruel series -of acts by way of revenge. It should be mentioned that it was the custom -of the Dutch ships to trade with Martinique illegally. To prevent any -trouble they would keep some distance off the island and then hoist their -jacks. The inhabitants were on the look out for the signal and would row -off to do their trading, there being always a sharp contest as to who -should reach the ship first and so secure the pick of the goods. - -The artful Roberts, always ready with some new device, was well aware of -this custom, so when he arrived off the island he hoisted the Dutch jack -and waited. The inhabitants of Martinique saw it and came off in their -craft as fast as they could. As each man came on board he had him killed -until there were only left those who had remained in the small ships -which had come for the cargo. All these ships, to the number of twenty, -he burned, excepting one: and into this one ship he put the survivors -and sent them back to Martinique with the doleful news. It was a cruel, -heartless trick and the basest of all methods of revenge. Roberts’ ships -then put to sea once more. - -And so the life of pillage went on. When they found themselves, after -a successful period, well supplied with everything, they would indulge -their bestial bodies in hard drinking: in fact, it was deemed a crime -among them not to be in this condition of inebriety. And then finding -their wealth diminishing they set a course across the South Atlantic once -more to the Guinea coast in order to forage for gold. They fell in with -two French ships, of which one was a 10-gunner and the other a 75. The -former carried sixty-five men and the latter seventy-five. But so soon as -these cowards recognised the black flag they surrendered. So, taking the -two prizes with them, the pirates went on to Sierra Leone. One of the new -ships Roberts named the _Ranger_: the other he used as a store-ship. - -After six more weeks spent at Sierra Leone in excesses, they put to -sea, and after more captures and more enjoyment of their wealth found -that their resources were still in need of replenishment. Festivity and -mirth had made a big hole in their capital, so that if they were to keep -alive they must needs get busy forthwith. Therefore they cruised about, -held up unprotected merchant ships, relieved them of their cargoes and -then burnt or sunk those strong hulls which had been the pride of many -a shipbuilder and many an owner. But the time of reckoning was at hand, -for H.M.S. _Swallow_ and another man-of-war had now been sent to capture -both Roberts and his craft. Definite news had been gained as to where -the pirates were likely to be found, and the matter was to be dealt with -firmly. Just a little to the south of the Equator, where the “line” -touches the west coast of Africa, is a bold promontory known as Cape -Lopez. Off this point lay Roberts. - -Now the _Swallow_ was fortunate enough to know that the man he wanted -was here and came up as fast as she could to that locality. Those who -were serving under the pirate saw this strange sail in the offing, and so -Roberts sent one of his ships to chase her and bring her back. The pirate -had heard that two men-of-war were sent out to seek him, but he had so -successfully escaped their vigilance so far that he became over-confident -and careless. And in the present instance he judged her to be merely one -more unhappy merchantman that was to add to his list of victims. But when -the pilot of the _Swallow_ saw the detached pirate craft approaching, he -effected a smart stratagem. He altered his course and ran away from her, -but he gave her a good long run for her trouble, and managed to allow her -gradually to overtake the man-of-war. But this was not until the pirate -had got well away from her mother ship. - -As the pirate came up, full of confidence that the prize would shortly be -hers, she hoisted out her black flag as usual and then fired. But when it -was now too late they discovered that this was a man-of-war and much more -than a match for the pirate. The latter was too far from Roberts’ ship to -be assisted, and so, seeing that resistance would be futile, she cried -for quarter. This was granted and her crew promptly made prisoners, but -not till she had lost already ten men killed and twenty wounded, whereas -the _Swallow_ had not received one single casualty. - -The pirate admiral was still lying near the Cape, and one morning her -crew looked up and saw a sight which gave them no pleasure. Over the land -they could see the masts of the _Swallow_ as the ship bore away to round -the Cape. At the time Roberts was below having breakfast, and some of -the crew came down to inform him of the sight. But Roberts was far more -interested in his meal than in the ship and declined to get excited. She -might be a Portuguese craft, or a French slaver, or it might be their own -_Ranger_ coming back. But as the ship came on nearer and nearer the crew -began to get exceptionally interested. That was the man-of-war _Swallow_. -It was useless to dispute the point, for there was among the pirate -crew a man named Armstrong, who had previously served aboard the naval -ship and deserted. He knew her too well to take any heed of others who -disputed her identity. But Roberts was still not nervous, and stigmatised -those as cowards who were disheartening his men. Even if she were the -_Swallow_, what did it matter? Were they afraid to fight her? - -But if there was a man aboard the pirate who still possessed any doubt, -that uncertainty was instantly set at rest when the _Swallow_ was seen -to be hoisting up her ports and getting her guns ready for action. Out -went the British colours, and even Roberts thought it was time to be -doing something. He had driven matters pretty fine, so he had to slip -his cable, got under way, and ordered his men to arms. All the time he -showed no timidity, but dropping an occasional oath he meant to be ready -for all that the _Swallow_ would be willing to attempt. The pirate’s -sails were unloosed and the ship had gathered way. Roberts never lost his -head, although he was not in a good humour at having had to interrupt his -morning meal. He called Armstrong to him and questioned him as to the -trim of the _Swallow_. Armstrong informed him that she sailed best upon a -wind, so that, if Roberts wanted to get away, he would be best advised to -run before the wind, as thus the _Swallow_ would not easily overtake him. - -But the two ships were getting very near to each other and there was no -longer time for thinking out tactics. Quick but not hasty decision must -be made, so this is what Roberts resolved to attempt: He would pass quite -close to the _Swallow_ under full sail, and receive her broadside before -returning a shot. If the pirate should then have the misfortune to be -disabled, or if his masts and sails were shot away, then the ship would -be run ashore at the point, and every man could shift for himself among -the natives. But if this means of escape should turn out impracticable, -Roberts intended to get his ship alongside the _Swallow_ and blow the two -craft up together. The reason why he intended such desperate measures -was that old folly which has been the cause of so much disaster both to -nations, fleets and individual ships. In a word, he was unprepared, so -were his crew. He himself had not been expecting the _Swallow_, and his -own men were either drunk or only passively courageous; in any case not -the keen, alert crew who are likely to win an engagement. - -But there was a curious old-time vanity about the man, which shows how -seriously these pirate-skippers took themselves. Dressed in a rich -crimson damask waistcoat and breeches, a red feather in his hat, a gold -chain round his neck with a diamond cross depending, he stood on his -deck, sword in hand, and two pairs of pistols hanging at the end of a -silk sling flung over his shoulders, as was the custom of the pirates -and such as one sees in the old prints of these men. He played the part -of commander grandly, giving his order with boldness and spirit. When -his ship closed with the _Swallow_, he received her fire and hoisted -his black flag, returning the man-of-war’s fire. He set all the sail -he could, and, as the ship tore through the water, blazed away at -the _Swallow_. It was a pity for his own sake that he did not follow -Armstrong’s advice and run his ship off before the wind. Had he done -so he might have escaped. But either through the wind shifting or else -through bad steerage in the excitement of the contest, his sails, with -the tacks down, were taken aback, and for a second time the _Swallow_ -came quite close to him. From now onwards there would have been a very -desperate fight, but a grape shot struck him in the throat, and presently -he died. He laid himself on the tackles of one of the ship’s guns. The -man at the helm observing him there, and seeing that he was wounded, ran -towards him and swore at him, bidding him stand up and fight like a man. -But when the sailor found to his horror that his chief was already dead, -he burst into tears, and hoped that the next shot might settle himself. -Presently the lifeless body of the daring, plucky, ingenious Roberts was -thrown over the side into the water with his arms and ornaments still -on, just as he had repeatedly expressed the wish to be buried during his -lifetime. - -The rest is quickly told. The pirate ship was now soon captured, and -the crew arrested. The latter were strictly guarded while on board the -man-of-war, and were taken to Cape Coast Castle, where they underwent -a long trial. Like many of the old smugglers, these pirates remained -defiant and impenitent for a long time, but after some experience of the -dull confinement in the castle and the imminence of death, they changed -their disposition, “and became serious, penitent, and fervent in their -devotions.” Their acts of robbery on sea had been so flagrant that there -was no difficulty in bringing in a verdict of guilty. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -PAUL JONES, PIRATE AND PRIVATEER - - -We come now to consider the exploits of another historical character -whose life and adventures will ever be of unfailing interest on both -sides of the Atlantic. And yet, perhaps, this amazing Scotsman is to-day -better known in America than in Great Britain. Like many another before -him he rose from the rank of ordinary seaman to become a man that was -to be had in great fear if not respect. His fame has been celebrated in -fiction, and very probably many a story of which he has been made the -hero had no foundation in fact. - -There is some dispute concerning his birth, but it seems pretty certain -that he was the son of John Paul, head gardener on Lord Selkirk’s estate -near Kirkcudbright. Paul Jones first saw light in the year 1728. Brought -up on the shores of the Solway Firth, it was only likely that he gave -up being assistant to his father and preferred the sea to gardening. -In his character there developed many of those traits which have been -such marked characteristics of the pirate breed. To realise Paul Jones, -you must think of a wild, reckless nature, burning with enthusiasm for -adventure, yet excessively vain and desirous of recognition. He was a -rebel, a privateer, a pirate and a smuggler; he was a villain, he was -quarrelsome, he was petty and mean. Finally, he was a traitor to his -country. When he died he had lived a most varied life, and had seen -service on merchantman, slaver and man-of-war. - -After making several voyages to the West Indies in a merchantman as -ordinary and able-bodied seaman, he was promoted to rank of mate, and -then rose to the rank of master. Soon after the rupture between England -and America he happened to be in New England, and then it was that he -succumbed to the temptation to desert his own national standard and to -throw his aid on to the side of the revolutionists—for which reason he -changed his real name of John Paul to that of Paul Jones. Notwithstanding -that Jones has been justly condemned by biographers for having been a -traitor, yet my own opinion is that this change arose far less from -a desire to become an enemy of the British nation than from that -overwhelming _wanderlust_, and that irrepressible desire for adventure to -which we have already called attention. There are some men who have never -had enough fighting. So soon as one campaign ends they are unhappy till -another begins, so that they may find a full outlet for their spirits. -To such men as these the daily round of a peaceful life is a perpetual -monotony, and unless they can go forth to rove and wander, to fight or to -explore, their very souls would almost cry out for freedom. - -So, I am convinced, it was with Paul Jones. To such a man nationalities -mean nothing more than certain artificial considerations. The only real -differences are those between the land and the sea. He knew that in -the forthcoming war he would find just the adventure which delighted -him; he would have every chance of obtaining booty, and his own natural -endowment, physical and mental, were splendidly suitable for such -activities. He had a special knowledge of British pilotage, so he was a -seaman distinctly worth having for any marauding expeditions that might -be set going. So in the year 1777 we find him very busy as commander, -fitting out the privateer _Ranger_. This vessel mounted 18 guns as well -as several swivel-guns, and had a desperate crew of 150 able men. - -He put to sea and made two captures on the European side of the Atlantic, -sending each of these prizes into a French port. The following spring he -went a step further in his character as a rebel, for he appeared off the -Cumberland coast and began to attack a part of England that must have -been singularly well-known to him. He had made his landfall by daylight, -but stood away until darkness set in. At midnight he ran closer in, and -in grim silence he sent away his boats with thirty men, all well armed -and ready to perform a desperate job. Their objective was Whitehaven, -the entrance to the harbour being commanded by a small battery, so -their first effort must obviously be to settle that. Having landed with -great care, they rushed upon the small garrison and made the whole lot -prisoners. The guns of the battery were next spiked, and now they set -about their next piece of daring. - -In the harbour the ships were lying side by side, the tide being out. The -good people of the town were asleep in their beds, and all the conditions -were ideal for burning the shipping where it stood. Very stealthily the -men went about their business, and had laid their combustibles on the -decks all ready for firing as soon as the signal should be given. But -just then something was happening. At the doors of the main street of -the little town there was a series of loud knockings, and people began -to wake and bustle about; and soon the sound of voices and the sight of -crowds running down to the pier. The marauders had now to hurry on the -rest of their work, for the alarm had been given and there was not a -moment to lose. So hastily the privateer’s men threw their matches on the -decks, then made for their boats and rowed off quickly to their ship. - -But, luckily, the inhabitants of Whitehaven had come down just in time. -For they were able to extinguish the flames before serious damage had -been done. What was their joy was keen annoyance to the privateer’s men. -But who was the good friend who had taken the trouble to rouse the town? -Who had at once been so kind as to knock at the doors and to despoil the -marauders of their night’s work? When the shore party of the privateer -mustered on deck it was found that one man was missing, and this was the -fellow who, for some conscientious or worldly motive, had gone over to -the other side, and so saved both property and lives. - -So Jones went a few miles farther north, crossed his familiar Solway -Firth and entered the river Dee, on the left bank of which stands -Kirkcudbright. He entered the estuary at dawn and let go anchor off Lord -Selkirk’s castle. When the natives saw this warlike ship in their river, -with her guns and her formidable appearance generally, they began to fear -she was a man-of-war come to impress men for the Navy. It happened that -the noble lord was away from home in London, and when the men-servants -at the castle espied what they presumed to be a King’s ship, they begged -Lady Selkirk for leave to go and hide themselves lest they might be -impressed into the service. A boat was sent from the ship, and a strong -body of men landed and marched to the castle, which, to the surprise of -all, they surrounded. Lady Selkirk had just finished breakfast when she -was summoned to appear before the leader of the men, whose rough clothes -soon showed the kind of fellows they were. Armed with pistols, swords, -muskets, and even an American tomahawk, they inquired for Lord Selkirk, -only to be assured his lordship was away. - -The next request was that all the family plate should be handed over. So -all that was in the castle was yielded, even to the silver teapot which -was on the breakfast table and had not yet been washed out. The silver -was packed up, and with many apologies for having had to transact this -“dirty business,” as one of the officers called it, the pirates went back -to their ship rather richer than they had set out. But the inhabitants -of the castle were as much surprised as they were thankful to find their -own lives had not been demanded as well as the plate. The ship got under -way some time after, and put to sea without any further incident. Now -the rest of this story of the plate runs as follows, and shows another -side to the character of the head-gardener’s son: for, a few days after -this visit, Lady Selkirk received a letter from Jones, apologising for -what had been done, and stating that this raid had been neither suggested -nor sanctioned by him. On the contrary he had used his best influence to -prevent its occurrence. But his officers and crew had insisted on the -deed, with a view to capturing Lord Selkirk, for whose ransom they hoped -to obtain a large sum of money. - -As an earnest of his own innocence in the matter, Paul Jones added that -he would try to purchase from his associates the booty which they had -brought away, and even if he could not return the entire quantity he -would send back all that he could. We need not stop to wonder whether -Lady Selkirk really believed such a statement; but the truth is that -about five years later the whole of the plate came back, carriage paid, -in exactly the same condition as it had left the castle. Apparently it -had never been unpacked, for the tea leaves were still in the teapot, -just as they had been taken away on that exciting morning. - -But to come back to the ship. After leaving the Solway Firth astern, -Jones stood over to the Irish coast and entered Belfast Lough, amusing -himself on the way by burning or capturing several fishing craft. But -it happened that he was espied by Captain Burdon of H.M.S. _Drake_, a -sloop. Seeing Jones’ ship coming along, he took her to be a merchantman, -and so from her he could impress some seamen. So the officer lowered a -boat and sent her off. But when the boat’s crew came aboard Jones’ vessel -they had the surprise of their lives, for instead of arresting they -were themselves arrested. After this it seemed to Jones more prudent to -leave Belfast alone and get away with his capture. Meanwhile, Captain -Burdon was getting anxious about his men, as the boat had not returned. -Moreover, he noticed that the supposed merchantman was now crowding on -all possible sail, so he at once prepared his sloop for giving chase and -prepared for action, and, on coming up with the privateer, began a sharp -fire. - -Night, however, intervened, and the firing had to stop, but when daylight -returned the engagement recommenced and continued for an hour. A fierce -encounter was fought on both sides, and at length Captain Burdon and his -first lieutenant were killed, as well as twenty of the crew disabled. The -_Drake’s_ topmast was shot away and the ship was considerably damaged, so -that there was no other alternative but to surrender to the privateer. - -But as both sides of the Irish Channel were now infuriated against -Jones, he determined to leave these parts, and taking his prize with him -proceeded to Brest, where he arrived in safety. In the following year, -instead of the _Ranger_ he had command of a frigate called the _Bon -Homme Richard_, a 40-gun ship with 370 crew. In addition to this vessel -he had also the frigate _Alliance_, of 36 guns and 300 crew; the brig -_Vengeance_, 14 guns and 70 men; a cutter of eighteen tons; and a French -frigate named the _Pallas_. All except the last mentioned were in the -service of the American Congress. A little further down the coast of the -Bay of Biscay than Brest is L’Orient, and from this port Jones sailed -with the above fleet in the summer of 1779, arriving off the Kerry coast, -where he sent a boat’s crew ashore to bring back sheep. But the natives -captured the boat’s crew and lodged them in Tralee gaol. - -After this Jones sailed to the east of Scotland and captured a number -of prizes, all of which he sent on to France. Finally he determined -to attempt no less a plan than burn the shipping in Leith harbour and -collect tribute from the undefended towns of the Fifeshire coast. He came -into the Firth of Forth, but as both wind and tide were foul, he let go -under the island of Inchkeith. Next day he weighed anchor and again tried -to make Leith, but the breeze had now increased to a gale, and he sprung -one of his topmasts which caused him to bear up and leave the Firth. He -now rejoined his squadron and cruised along the east coast of England. -Towards the end of September he fell in with a British convoy bound from -the Baltic, being escorted by two men-of-war, namely, H.M.S. _Serapis_ -(44 guns), and H.M.S. _Countess of Scarborough_ (20 guns). And then -followed a most memorable engagement. In order that the reader may be -afforded some opportunity of realising how doughty an opponent was this -Paul Jones, and how this corsair was able to make a ship of the Royal -Navy strike colours, I append the following despatch which was written -by Captain Pearson, R.N., who commanded the _Serapis_. The _Countess -of Scarborough_ was under command of Captain Thomas Piercy, and this -officer also confirmed the account of the disaster. The narrative is so -succinct and clear that it needs no further explanation. The letter was -written from the Texel, whither Pearson was afterwards taken:— - - “_PALLAS_ FRIGATE IN CONGRESS SERVICE, - TEXEL, _October 6, 1779_. - - “On the 23rd ult. being close in with Scarborough about twelve - o’clock, a boat came on board with a letter from the bailiffs - of that corporation, giving information of a flying squadron - of the enemy’s ship being on the coast, of a part of the said - squadron having been seen from thence the day before standing - to the southward. As soon as I received this intelligence I - made the signal for the convoy to bear down under my lee, and - repeated it with two guns; notwithstanding which the van of - the convoy kept their wind with all sail stretching out to the - southward from under Flamborough-head, till between twelve and - one, when the headmost of them got sight of the enemy’s ships, - which were then in chase of them. They then tacked, and made - the best of their way under the shore for Scarborough, letting - fly their topgallant sheets, and firing guns; upon which I made - all the sail I could to windward, to get between the enemy’s - ship and the convoy, which I soon effected. At one o’clock we - got sight of the enemy’s ship from the masthead, and about four - we made them plain from the deck to be three large ships and a - brig! Upon which I made the _Countess of Scarborough’s_ signal - to join me, she being in-shore with the convoy; at the same - time I made the signal for the convoy to make the best of their - way, and repeated the signal with two guns. I then brought-to - to let the _Countess of Scarborough_ come up, and cleared ship - for action. - - “At half-past five the _Countess of Scarborough_ joined me, - the enemy’s ships bearing down upon us with a light breeze at - S.S.W.; at six tacked and laid our head in-shore, in order to - keep our ground the better between the enemy’s ships and the - convoy; soon after which we perceived the ships bearing down - upon us to be a two-decked ship and two frigates, but from - their keeping end upon us in bearing down, we could not discern - what colours they were under. At twenty minutes past seven, - the largest ship of the two brought-to on our lee-bow, within - musket shot. I hailed him, and asked what ship it was? They - answered in English, the _Princess Royal_. I then asked where - they belonged to? They answered evasively; on which I told - them, if they did not answer directly I would fire into them. - They then answered with a shot, which was instantly returned - with a broadside; and after exchanging two or three broadsides, - he backed his topsails, and dropped upon our quarter, within - pistol-shot; then filled again, put his helm a-weather, and ran - us on board upon our weather quarter, and attempted to board - us, but being repulsed he sheered off: upon which I backed our - topsails in order to get square with him again; which, as soon - as he observed, he then filled, put his helm a-weather, and - laid us athwart hawse; his mizen shrouds took our jib-boom, - which hung for some time, till it at last gave way, and we - dropt alongside each other head and stern, when the fluke - of our spare anchor hooking his quarter, we became so close - fore-and-aft, that the muzzles of our guns touched each other’s - sides. - - “In this position we engaged from half-past eight till - half-past ten; during which time, from the great quantity and - variety of combustible matters which they threw upon our decks, - chains, and, in short, into every part of the ship, we were on - fire not less than ten or twelve times in different parts of - the ship, and it was with the greatest difficulty and exertion - imaginable at times, that we were able to get it extinguished. - At the same time the largest of the two frigates kept sailing - round us during the whole action, and raking us fore and aft, - by which means she killed or wounded almost every man on the - quarter and main decks. At half-past nine, either from a hand - grenade being thrown in at one of our lower-deck ports, or - from some other accident, a cartridge of powder was set on - fire, the flames of which running from cartridge to cartridge - all the way aft, blew up the whole of the people and officers - that were quartered abaft the main mast; from which unfortunate - circumstance all those guns were rendered useless for the - remainder of the action, and I fear the greatest part of the - people will lose their lives. - - “At ten o’clock they called for quarters from the ship - alongside, and said they had struck. Hearing this, I called - upon the captain to say if they had struck, or if he asked for - quarter; but receiving no answer, after repeating my words two - or three times, I called for the boarders, and ordered them to - board, which they did; but the moment they were on board her, - they discovered a superior number lying under cover, with pikes - in their hands, ready to receive them; on which our people - retreated instantly into our own ship, and returned to their - guns again until half-past ten, when the frigate coming across - our stern, and pouring her broadside into us again, without our - being able to bring a gun to bear on her, I found it in vain, - and in short impracticable, from the situation we were in, to - stand out any longer with any prospect of success; I therefore - struck. Our mainmast at the same time went by the board. - - “The first lieutenant and myself were immediately escorted into - the ship alongside, when we found her to be an American ship - of war, called the _Bon Homme Richard_, of forty guns, and - 375 men, commanded by Captain Paul Jones; the other frigate - which engaged us, to be the _Alliance_, of forty guns, and - 300 men; and the third frigate, which engaged and took the - _Countess of Scarborough_, after two hours’ action, to be the - _Pallas_, a French frigate, of thirty guns, and 275 men; the - _Vengeance_, an armed brig, of twelve guns, and 70 men; all in - Congress service, under the command of Paul Jones. They fitted - out and sailed from Port l’Orient the latter end of July, and - came north about. They have on board 300 English prisoners, - which they have taken in different vessels in their way round - since they left France, and have ransomed some others. On my - going on board the _Bon Homme Richard_ I found her in the - greatest distress, her quarters and counter on the lower deck - being entirely drove in, and the whole of her lower-deck guns - dismounted; she was also on fire in two places, and six or - seven feet of water in her hold, which kept increasing upon - them all night and next day, till they were obliged to quit - her. She had 300 men killed and wounded in the action. Our loss - in the _Serapis_ was also very great. - - “My officers, and people in general, behaved well; and I should - be very remiss in my attentions to their merit were I to omit - recommending them to their Lordships’ favour. - - “I must at the same time beg leave to inform their Lordships - that Captain Piercy, in the _Countess of Scarborough_, was - not the least remiss in his duty, he having given me every - assistance in his power; and as much as could be expected - from such a ship in engaging the attention of the _Pallas_, a - frigate of thirty-two guns, during the whole action. - - “I am extremely sorry for the accident that has happened, that - of losing His Majesty’s ship which I had the honour to command; - but at the same time I flatter myself with the hope that their - Lordships will be convinced that she has not been given away; - but, on the contrary, that every exertion has been used to - defend her, and that two essential pieces of service to our - country have arisen from it: the one, in wholly oversetting the - cruise and intentions of this flying squadron; the other is - rescuing the whole of a valuable convoy from falling into the - hands of the enemy, which must have been the case had I acted - any otherwise than I did. We have been driving about the North - Sea ever since the action, and endeavouring to make to any - port we possibly could; but have not been able to get into any - place till to-day we arrived in the Texel. Herewith I enclose - you the most correct list of the killed and wounded I have as - yet been able to procure, from my people being dispersed among - the different ships, and having been refused permission to make - much of them. - - “R. PEARSON. - - “_P.S._ I am refused permission to wait on Sir Joseph Yorke,[3] - and even to go on shore. - - “The killed were—1 boatswain, 1 master’s mate, 2 midshipmen, 1 - quarter-master, 29 sailors, 15 marines—49. - - “Wounded—second lieutenant Michael Stanhope, Lieutenant - Whiteman, marines, 2 surgeon’s mates, 6 petty officers, 46 - sailors, 12 marines—total, 68.” - -It is obvious that the British Officers had fought their ships most -gallantly, and the King showed his appreciation by conferring the honour -of knighthood on Captain Pearson, and soon after Piercy was promoted to -the rank of Post-Captain, and promotion was also granted to the other -officers. But recognition was shown not merely by the State but by the -City, for the Directors of the Royal Exchange Assurance Company presented -Pearson with a piece of plate valued at a hundred guineas, and Piercy -with a similar gift valued at fifty guineas. They further voted their -thanks to the officers for having protected the rich fleets under their -care. - -The British Ambassador, Sir Joseph York, had considerable difficulty in -procuring the release of the prisoners which Paul Jones had made from His -Majesty’s ships, and although he strenuously urged the States General to -detain Jones and his ships as a rebel subject with unlawful ships, yet -the squadron, after being carefully blockaded, succeeded in escaping one -dark night to Dunkirk. Jones had lost his ship the _Bon Homme Richard_ as -a result of the fight, and now made the _Alliance_ his flagship. - -The story of Paul Jones from now is not capable of completion. For a -period of several years his movements were somewhat mysterious, although -it is known that on one occasion he sailed across the Atlantic in -the remarkable time of three weeks with despatches from the American -Congress. Then the fame of this remarkable fellow begins to wane. -After peace was concluded the active brain and fervent spirit of this -Paul Jones were not required, and he chafed against the fetters of -unemployment. It is true that he offered his services to the Empress of -Russia in 1788, but he seems very soon to have gone to Paris, where he -spent the rest of his life. There was no employment for him in the French -Navy, and finally he was reduced to abject poverty and ended his days in -the year 1792. The reader will doubtless have in mind that less than ten -years ago the United States had the body of Paul Jones brought across the -Atlantic and re-buried in North America. - -It is not quite easy, altogether, to estimate the character of a man so -contradictory as Paul Jones. Had he been born in another age and placed -in different circumstances, there is no telling how illustrious he might -not have become. He was certainly a magnificent seaman and fighting man, -but over and above all he was an adventurer. Idolised as a hero both in -America and France, he struck terror in Britain. His latest biographer -has stated that the skull and crossbones never fluttered from his -masthead and that he never sailed with a letter of marque. But that being -so it can only be a mere quibble which can save him from being reckoned -among the most notorious pirates of history. A pirate is a person who -performs acts of piracy. It seems to me that it makes little difference -whether he hoists the conventional black pirate flag or not. It is not -the flag which makes a pirate, but the deeds and intentions of which he -is responsible. And if his biographer is correct in saying that Jones was -never commissioned as a privateer, that is still one more proof that in -raiding Whitehaven, the coasts of Scotland, Ireland, England; capturing -and burning merchant or fishing craft on the seas; taking their crews -into bondage,—he was acting without any shred of legality, and therefore -a pirate pure and simple. - -A pirate—and a very daring pirate—he certainly was, though he was -primarily a sailor of fortune. As one can see from his life his devotion -of adventure was far superior to his devotion to nationality—Scotch, -English, French, American or Russian. He was willing and anxious to go -wherever there was fighting, wherever glory could be obtained. He was a -man who despised those who did not keep their word, and in the incident -of his fulfilment of the promise made to Lady Selkirk in respect of the -family plate, we have, at any rate in the life of Paul Jones, a proof -that sometimes there is honour among thieves. But his death in abject -poverty is but another illustration of the tragic ending which was -customary in the lives of many notorious pirates. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -A NOTORIOUS AMERICAN PIRATE - - -The notorious sea-robber of whom we are to speak in the following chapter -has an especial interest for English and American readers, from the fact -that he was a member of the _Chesapeake_ during her historic duel with -the _Shannon_. This Charles Gibbs was born in the State of Rhode Island -in the year 1794. From the sulky, refractory character which he exhibited -as a child any reader of human nature could have guessed that his career -promised none too well, and when his full powers had been developed he -developed finally into a singularly cruel robber of the sea. From one -cruelty to another he sunk lower and lower until the inevitable gallows -were ready to put an end to his atrocities. - -Possessed of that roving spirit which was ever an early characteristic -of those who were destined to become pirates, he threw up his work as -farm-hand at the age of fifteen, ran away from home and signed on as one -of the crew in the United States sloop-of-war _Hornet_. Off the coast of -Pernambuco this ship was in action and captured H.M.S. sloop _Peacock_. -The commander of the former was Captain Lawrence, and on his return -he was promoted to command the _Chesapeake_, and to that ship Gibbs -accompanied him. When the _Shannon_ emerged from the fray victorious, -the survivors were taken as prisoners and imprisoned in Dartmoor, among -them being Charles Gibbs. When prisoners were exchanged, he returned to -Boston, Captain Lawrence having fallen in the engagement. - -For a time Gibbs now abandoned the sea and set up in business, but he -was unable to lead a respectable life ashore, so back he went to sea, -this time on board a privateer belonging to Buenos Ayres; but a quarrel -arising between the officers of the one part and the crew regarding the -division of prize-money, there ensued a mutiny. The mutineers won the -victory and took possession of the ship. They proceeded to the coast of -Florida, landed some of the ship’s company, and thence sailed to the -West Indies to perform their piratical exploits, and in a short time had -captured more than twenty ships and murdered about four hundred human -beings, Havannah being used as the port where they could conveniently -dispose of their plunder. It is difficult to speak of a man like Charles -Gibbs in cold blood. He was not a mere pirate, but a blackguard and -murderer of the vilest type. Of him it may be said in very truth that -with his death the world lost nothing, but was the gainer. A pirate who -in the heat of the moment, when he is being violently opposed by another, -kills his aggressor, is a criminal whom we can understand though not -acquit. But a human fiend who, for no particular reason, unnecessarily -sheds blood and bereaves women of husbands and children of fathers, is a -devil incarnate. Such was Gibbs. - -In the year 1819 he departed from Havannah and returned to the United -States, his accumulated wealth, as a result of so many piracies, -amounting to about £6000. After passing some time in New York and Boston -he sailed for England on the _Emerald_, but in 1826 was back again in the -United States. Hearing of the war between Brazil and the Buenos Ayres -republic, he sailed from Boston to fight, if possible, on behalf of the -republic. He made himself known to Admiral Brown, and presently received -a lieutenant’s commission, being assigned to a 34-gun ship. For four -months he served in this ship, and then, as a result of his satisfactory -conduct, he was given command of a privateer schooner which carried -two 24-pounders and forty-six men. Sailing from Buenos Ayres he made a -couple of successful privateering cruises, and then was able to purchase -a half-share in a Baltimore schooner. But after putting to sea he was -captured seven days out and taken into Rio de Janeiro, where he remained -until the declaration of peace and eventually returned to New York. - -There followed another year’s interval in roaming about from place to -place, and then the French campaign against Algiers attracted him, not -to fight on behalf of the French but for the pirates. He accordingly -embarked on a ship that landed him at Barcelona, whence he crossed to -Port Mahon and tried to make his way to Algiers; but the vigilance of -the French fleet prevented him from getting any nearer than Tunis, and -at last returned from Marseilles to Boston. A few days later he went -to New Orleans, and there he signed on as one of the crew on board the -_Vineyard_ brig. Up till now he had led a restless, wandering, wicked -life of self-indulgence. He had robbed and murdered. But now we come -to the climax and decline of his career. The details which follow are -essential to the story, and they indicate better than any number of words -the type of character to which Gibbs belonged. - -The skipper of this brig was William Thornby. She sailed away from New -Orleans, bound for Philadelphia, with a valuable cargo of cotton, sugar, -molasses, as well as over £10,000 in dollars. When the ship was about -five days out from her port the crew began to talk about the money on -board, and some of them, including Charles Gibbs, made up their minds to -seize the ship. Before attaining this object they realised they would -have to kill the captain and mate. On the night of the 23rd of November, -soon after midnight, the opportunity for putting this dastardly deed -into action arrived. One of the crew named Dawes was at the helm. As the -brig was ploughing her way over the lonely sea, rolling her masts across -the star-specked sky, the steersman suddenly saw the steward emerge from -below with a light in one hand and a knife in the other. He set down the -light, and then, taking the top of the pump, struck the captain on the -head. The latter cried “Murder!” but he was then seized firmly by Gibbs -and the cook at the head and the heels, and without further delay hove -overboard. - -Roused by the unwonted noise on deck, the mate now came up the hatchway, -but, as he approached, two others of the crew named Atwell and Church -were waiting for him, and struck him over the head just as he was asking -for the reason of the noise. The mate then rushed back into his cabin, -followed by Gibbs, who, by reason of the darkness, could not find him. -So the murderer ran on deck, fetched the binnacle light, with the aid of -which the helmsman was steering, and returned below. This time he found -his victim, and two others of the crew knocked him down and then dragged -him on deck. Dawes, since he could not now see his compass to steer by, -left the helm to see what was going on. And as the other men were hauling -the mate along, they called to Dawes to assist them. In a few moments the -mate was thrown over the side alive and was even heard to cry out from -the water twice. He was never picked up, so must have been drowned. - -Dawes was terrified beyond expression at these two incidents, so that he -scarcely knew what to do. The confederates then ordered him to call a man -named James Talbot who had declined to take part in the plot. Talbot was -in the forecastle saying his prayers. He came up, and the confederates -did not instantly put him to death, as he had quite expected, but, on -the contrary, gave him some grog. The captain and mate being now out of -the way, the confederates then got up a keg containing dollars. They -then divided the captain’s clothes, the sum of eight pounds, which he -possessed, and a gold watch. Dawes was ordered to go back to the helm and -to steer for Long Island, while Talbot was likewise compelled to do as he -was told. The next day several more kegs of specie, amounting to £1000 -each, were divided and the specie placed into bags and sewn up. After -this the money was divided up without counting it. - -Gibbs had been acting as captain ever since the two murders, and when -they arrived about fifteen miles south-south-east of Southampton Light -the ship’s boats were ordered out, half the money was placed in each, and -the survivors got in. Before doing so, however, the ship was scuttled and -set fire to in the cabin, so that before long she would founder and so -not exist as possible evidence against the assassins. But after the boats -had rowed away towards the shore, soon after daylight, they stuck on the -bar. One of them was saved by throwing overboard about £1000 in dollars, -but the other was seen to fill and founder as the men in her vainly -sought to cling to the masts of the craft. Those in the other craft, -however, were more fortunate and landed on Barron Island, buried the -money in the sand and soon afterwards fell in with a man who took them to -the only house on the island. - -But justice, if delayed, advanced with sure and certain steps. In the -month of February 1831, Charles Gibbs and a man named Wansley, who had -been one of the confederates, were brought up for trial in New York -on a charge of murdering Captain Thornby. Wansley was a negro and was -found guilty and condemned to death. Gibbs, in his defence, said that -when the ship started out from New Orleans he was a stranger to all on -board excepting Dawes and one other. He pretended that it was not he -himself who first suggested taking the money, but that after the subject -had been discussed for some days he agreed to join in the plot. He even -protested, he alleged, that it would be better to give up the plan, as -it was a serious thing to take human life and commit piracy. This, be it -remembered, was Gibbs’ version of the affair, but having regard to his -past record there is every reason to suppose that he was now adding lies -to his other guilt. Three days later, he averred, the murder took place, -and all that he did was to help throw the captain’s body overboard after -he had been struck, when he presumed he had been killed. He protested -further that he was innocent of the mate’s murder. - -But the judge pointed out that even if Gibbs had not actually done -the deed, he was there strongly instigating the murderers on without -stretching out a hand to save them. “It is murder as much to stand by -and encourage the deed as to stab with a knife, strike with a hatchet -or shoot with a pistol. It is not only murder in law, but in your own -feelings and in your own conscience.” So spoke the judge, and he who -had spent a life of licence and piracy, marked by murders with only -occasional legitimate fighting, was condemned to the scaffold. To the -end Gibbs, while admitting his guilt of piracy, yet insisted that he was -innocent of the charge of murdering the captain, although “it is true I -stood by and saw the fatal deed done, and stretched not forth my arm to -save him.” Wansley, however, frankly admitted the justice of the sentence -and died penitent. We need say no more, but if there are any to-day who -have still a secret affection for the pirates of yesterday, we can only -suggest that although few of these pirates were cowards yet there is not -one who showed himself little more than a vulture in human form. Very -rare indeed does one find instances of these rude fellows giving mercy. -There is now and again such an occasion, but it is like the stray blade -of herbage in a wilderness. Personal vanity—the determination to get rich -at all costs—has brought many a crime in its wake, and if men are still -dishonest in other ways, we can at least be thankful that the wholesale -murders of the days of the pirates have long since ended. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -THE LAST OF THE ALGERINE CORSAIRS - - -And now let us take a final look at that pestilential spot, Algiers. We -have seen how that during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries it had -been constantly attacked and conquered, but before long the Algerines had -again broken out into piracy. So soon as their invaders withdrew their -forces the corsairs rebuilt their walls, fitted out their new craft and -went roving the seas and harassing innocent ships. They had pillaged the -coastline of the French Riviera, burning and killing and destroying in -their ruthless manner. And then the French had been compelled to send -Admiral Du Quesne against them, who had bombarded the place for a time -until bad weather had caused him to withdraw his ships from Algiers. - -The pirate trouble had therefore begun afresh, and the Dey had sent to -Louis the impudent message that if the French monarch would give him half -the money the last French expedition had cost, the Dey would be pleased -to burn down his city! So once more Du Quesne had been sent out, who had -bombarded Algiers and caused wholesale destruction. Then he had consented -to cease firing and discuss terms, but in the meantime the Dey had been -assassinated by his own followers, who now elected a new one and ordered -the Algerine flag to be re-hoisted on their walls. With greater fervour -hostilities were now resumed, and in a few days the place was reduced to -ashes and large numbers of the Algerines had perished. This so infuriated -the new Dey that he ordered all the French captives to be cruelly -murdered, and with great brutality caused Father Vacher to be bound hand -and foot, tied to a mortar and fired off like a bomb against the French -fleet outside. - -Du Quesne had then brought his ships as near in as possible, destroyed -all their shipping, fortifications and buildings, and, having done all -that he could, sailed away, leaving the Algerines plenty of subjects for -meditation. And yet it was not long before these pirates had regained -their good spirits and were again engaged in piracy. Was it not their -profession and calling? Was it not by such methods that they kept -themselves alive? They knew perfectly well they were rogues, but as other -men were traders so they were pirates. Therefore, diplomatic measures -being obviously impotent, the only way to treat with them was to keep on -sending expedition after expedition. In 1700 Captain Beach attacked seven -of their craft, drove them on shore and burnt them. Less than a hundred -years later ten American ships had been seized by these corsairs and 150 -men from their crews taken into captivity. In order to obtain these men -back, the Americans had to pay a heavy ransom, and build the Dey a 36-gun -frigate, but thereby they also received protection for the American ships -and the right of free trade with Algiers. - -At an earlier stage of this book I have had occasion, in discussing the -Moslem corsairs, to refer to the port of Bona, a little to the east of -Algiers. In the year 1816 there was an establishment here for carrying on -the coral fishery under the protection of the British flag. Hither came a -number of Corsican, Neapolitan and other Italian fishercraft. Ascension -Day in that year fell on the 23rd of May, and as the fishermen were about -to attend Mass there was a gun fired from the castle, and simultaneously -there rushed into sight 2000 infantry and cavalry, consisting of -Moors, Turks and Levanters. Fire was opened on the poor fishermen, and -practically the whole lot were massacred. The English flags were then -torn to pieces and trampled on, the British Vice-Consul’s house was -pillaged, as well as the supplies of coral which had been obtained by the -fishermen. - -As soon as news of this incident reached England the country was roused -to immediate action, and a punitive expedition was got together and sent -out under Admiral Lord Exmouth. He had been delayed by head winds, but -got under way in the last week of July. His flagship was the 120-gun -_Queen Charlotte_, Rear-Admiral Sir David Milne being second in command -in the 90-gun _Impregnable_. There were also three 74-gun ships in -addition to a number of frigates, brigs, bombs, fireships and several -smaller ships well supplied with shrapnel and the ordinary means of -warfare of those times. By the 9th of August the fleet had arrived and -anchored at Gibraltar, where it was joined by the Dutch fleet of five -frigates and a corvette under Admiral Van Cappillen. Meanwhile H.M.S. -_Prometheus_ had been dispatched ahead to Algiers to bring away the -British Consul and his family, but did not succeed in the entire task. By -disguising them in midshipmen’s uniform the Consul’s wife and daughter -were able to escape, but the Consul had been seized by the Dey and thrown -into chains. For the Algerine had learnt from French papers of the -forthcoming British expedition, and having heard of the escape of Mrs. -and Miss Macdonell, he immediately ordered the detention of two of the -boats from the _Prometheus_ which chanced to be ashore. The crews were -thrown into slavery; but when this information reached the ears of Lord -Exmouth, this, if anything were wanting, completed his eagerness to wipe -out the plague-spot of European civilisation. - -So the fleet left Gibraltar and arrived before Algiers on 27th August. -An interpreter was sent ashore with Lieutenant Burgess (the Admiral’s -flag-lieutenant), under a flag of truce, with a letter to the Dey -demanding reparation, and while this was being done the fleet, taking -advantage of a light breeze springing up, came into the bay and hove -to about a mile from Algiers. But after waiting beyond the stipulated -time, since no answer was forthcoming, Mr. Burgess and the interpreter -returned to the flagship, where every one was ready and anxious for the -order to blaze away at the enemy. The Admiral now made a signal to know -whether all the ships were prepared, and the affirmative answer being -returned, the _Queen Charlotte_ led the line towards the shore, and to -the amazement of the enemy ran across all the batteries without firing or -receiving a single shot. She then brought up within eighty yards of that -mole which the reader will recollect had been built long years before -by Christian captives. The spot selected by the Admiral was where an -Algerine brig was seen lying. The rest of the fleet, including the Dutch -vessels, then took up their assigned positions in regular order. - -[Illustration: THE BOMBARDMENT OF ALGIERS - -When Lord Exmouth attacked this den of piracy and cruelty, even the -British women served at the same guns as their husbands, and never -shrank.] - -The position of the _Queen Charlotte_ had been selected with great -foresight, for here she was exposed to only three or four flanking guns, -while her own broadside swept the whole of the enemy’s batteries. But -so far not a shot had been fired, and the shore batteries were lined -with spectators who gazed in astonishment at the quiet order with which -the ships had each come to her berth in such close proximity to the -defensive works. For a time Lord Exmouth was in hopes that the Dey would -yield to his lordship’s demands, but this delay was not caused by any -such intention on the part of the enemy but owing to the fact that the -Algerines were completely unprepared for such a sudden approach, and -their guns were not even shotted. It was only as the fleet came to anchor -that the gunners ashore could be seen getting busy. To the last minute -the British Admiral was minded to spare human life and even was seen on -the quarter-deck repeatedly waving his hat as a warning to the crowd to -retire from the mole. - -So at 2.45 p.m. the enemy opened fire at the _Queen Charlotte_. Before -the sound of the firing reached his ears, and while the first smoke was -visible, Lord Exmouth gave the order to fire, and then three broadsides -were fired in about six minutes, the rest of the fleet following the -example. This caused terrible devastation ashore, as many as 500 people -being killed or wounded. Then the attack began in deadly earnest. It was -a repetition of the history of the sixteenth century. On the one hand, -the Christian forces of Europe: on the other, the infidel corsairs and -enemies of the human race. Both sides fought with the same fierceness -which had marked their contests in many a previous generation. In the -hot, overpowering sun, with the last vestige of breeze vanished away, the -gunners blazed away in fine style. Algerine vessels in close proximity -to the English fleet burst forth into flames and for a time endangered -the wooden walls of England. On both sides frightful slaughter was -taking place. The Dey had 500 guns mounted and doing their work to our -great loss, but our own men and guns were hurling death into the nest -of pirates in a manner that surprised the Algerines. There was in the -breasts of the invaders, not merely the hatred of the Algerines as -infidels and pirates, but the fact that these men had been responsible -for the capture of so many Christian ships and the cruelties to so many -European seamen, sufficed to increase the determination and enthusiasm -with which the destruction was being dealt out to these poisonous wasps. - -But if the enemy was clearly suffering heavy losses, the attackers were -not without heavy casualties. About sunset Rear-Admiral Milne made a -signal to Lord Exmouth announcing the losses on the _Impregnable_ alone -as 150 killed and wounded, and requesting that if possible a frigate -might be sent to take off some of the enemy’s fire. The _Glasgow_ was -therefore ordered to go, and actually got up her anchor, but the wind was -so scant that she was obliged again to let go, though in a rather more -favourable position. But meanwhile on shore flames were bursting out and -making an end to matters. One of the enemy’s frigates had been gallantly -boarded and set on fire, but now all the Algerine ships in the port were -in flames, and thence the fire spread with all-devouring force to the -arsenal and storehouse, causing a marvellous sight against the background -of darkness. Our shells had been splendidly aimed, and although in some -cases they had to be fired right across our own men-of-war, yet never an -accident occurred to our ships as they went to find their billet in the -home of the Algerine pirates. And then, as if to bring about the climax -of this hot battle, the attacking fleet had brought near to the battery -of the enemy the special ship which had been specially charged with -explosives. And as she blew up there was another wealth of damage done to -the cause of the defenders. And so by midnight the enemy’s batteries had -been silenced, and in the morning the Dey was compelled to surrender. - -The net result of Lord Exmouth’s fine attack was as follows. Twelve -hundred Christians were released from their terrible slavery, all the -demands were complied with, the British Consul had been indemnified -for his losses, and the Dey, in the presence of all his officers, made -an apology for the insults offered. Even though, a few years later, -the French had further trouble with these Algerines, yet Exmouth’s -expedition had the effect of giving the death-blow to a monster that had -worried Europe for about three centuries. The scourge of the tideless -Mediterranean had been obliterated: the murders and enslavery of so -many thousands and thousands of European Christians of past centuries -had been avenged, and a universal enemy which neither Charles V., nor -Andrea Doria, nor many another had been able to exterminate was now laid -low. The combined squadrons of those two historic maritime nations—Great -Britain and Holland—had shown that even a race so long accustomed to the -sea as the Algerine pirates could not resist for all time. In the history -of the world few nations have ever done so much for the development of -ships and sea-power as these two northern peoples, and the chance which -enabled them to combine forces against a common evil of such antiquity -was singularly happy. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -PIRATES OF THE PERSIAN GULF - - -We have seen throughout this volume that there have always been certain -geographical areas which have been favoured by pirates as their suitable -sphere for roving. Madagascar, Malabar, the north coast of Africa, the -West Indies—these and others have been the scene, not of one piratical -incident, but of scores. - -The Persian Gulf is to this day not quite the peaceful corner of the -globe that undoubtedly some day it will become. It is still patrolled -by the Royal Navy for various reasons, including the prevention of -gun-running. Just how long the Persian Gulf has been navigated it would -be impossible to say: but there is every reason to suppose that if -the first kind of boat which ever floated was seen on the Tigris or -Euphrates, the first sea-going craft was observed in the Persian Gulf. At -any rate it is certain that the Arabians who occupy that peninsula which -separates the Red Sea from the Persian Gulf were in the early stages of -history the greatest navigators and seamen anywhere. Even right down -to the Middle Ages, for scientific navigation, with the aid of those -nautical instruments which were the forerunners of our modern sextant, -there were no mariners who could find their way across the trackless seas -so skilfully as these inhabitants of Arabia. - -From time immemorial there have dwelt on the west side of the Persian -Gulf an Arabian tribe named the Joassamees, engaged in maritime pursuits -either in trading, or pearl-fishing, or as pilots to strange ships -entering the Gulf, or else acting as pirates. For it was obvious to them -that this last mentioned occupation held out much that was tempting. -So the Joassamees began in a small way, pillaging the coasting vessels -of the Gulf, and as they found their efforts in this respect were so -successful they aspired to bigger things. We are speaking now of that -fascinating period of the sailing ship which belongs to the end of the -eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries. - -The reader will instantly call to mind those fine ships of the East -India Company, so smart and similar to the ships of the Royal Navy in -appearance, and so similar in discipline and actual build. Shortly before -the close of the eighteenth century the _Viper_, a 10-gun East Indiaman, -was lying at anchor in the Bushire Roads. (Bushire is a port on the east -or Persian side of the Gulf.) In the same harbour there were at anchor -also a few dhows. Up till now these pirates had never molested an English -ship: they had confined their attentions to native craft, so no efforts -had been made to deal with them. - -Now the skippers of these dhows had applied to the Persian agent of the -East India Company for a supply of gunpowder and cannon shot to last -them out their cruise, and, as the agent had no suspicions whatever, he -gave them an order to the commanding officer on board for the desired -quantity. It happened that the _Viper’s_ captain was ashore, so the -order was produced to the officer in charge, the quantity mentioned was -handed over, and the dhows began to make sail. The _Viper’s_ crew were -breakfasting on deck, and the officers below, when, without any warning, -a couple of these dhows began to cannonade the _Viper_, and the crews -attempted to come aboard. No time was lost on the Indiaman, however, for -the officers rushed up on deck, called the crew to quarters, cut the -hempen cable, got sail on her so as to be ready for manœuvring, and a -regular engagement began between the _Viper_ and the four dhows which had -plenty of men and big guns. It was a determined onslaught, and Lieutenant -Carruthers, the commanding officer, was wounded in the lower part of the -body, but bravely kept on, until he was killed by a ball in the forehead. - -The command now fell on Mr. Salter, midshipman, who continued the fight -not less courageously, and, after a keen encounter, drove the pirates -off and chased them out to sea. This gave them a severe lesson, so that -years passed by before another similar attempt was made on the British -flag. But in the year 1804 there was a renewed attempt, and the following -story, though a little involved, is of real interest. It begins with -the East India Company’s cruiser named _Fly_, and the scene is still -the Persian Gulf. At the time we are speaking of this ship was off the -island of Kenn when she had the bad fortune to be attacked by a French -privateer. In order, however, to prevent the enemy boarding her, she was -purposely run on to a shoal, and the Government dispatches which she -was carrying, together with some treasure, were thrown overboard in 2½ -fathoms, cross-bearings having first been taken so that perhaps these -might be recovered at some future date. The passengers and crew were -taken to Bushire and set at liberty. - -They then purchased a dhow by subscription, fitted her out and sailed -down the Gulf bound for Bombay. On their way they stopped near Kenn -Island to recover the dispatches and treasure. The former they managed to -get up again, and as there was no time to waste they left the treasure -and were hurrying on to their goal. But when they got to the south of -the Gulf they had even worse fortune, for they were attacked by a fleet -of Joassamee pirates and taken into the port of Ras-el-Khyma, which was -to these Arabian rovers what Algiers had been to the corsairs of the -Mediterranean. Here the English remained in the hope of being ransomed, -but no such opportunity occurred. Months went by, and at last they -determined to do what they could. They informed the pirate-chief of the -treasure which lay sunk in the Gulf, and assured him that having taken -good cross-bearings of the spot by the marks on shore the wealth could be -recovered if some of these Arabians, so accustomed to pearl-diving, would -assist them. The arrangement was that if the treasure was recovered the -English should regain their liberty. - -So English and Arabian sailed to the spot, and anchored where the -cross-bearings indicated. The first divers who went down were so -successful that all the crew dived down to the bottom of the fifteen feet -in turns. And then came the great chance of escape. While practically all -these men were below the water on the floor of the sea, it seemed that -the real opportunity was at hand after all those months to get away. The -picture is not without humour—the prisoners above in the craft, while -the captors are left behind with no alternative but to swim ashore. But -the best laid schemes of mice and men often work out differently from -mere theory. The cable was cut, and either the splash of the rope in the -water, or some suspicious instinct in these primitive people betrayed -the plot, so the divers rushed up again to the surface and prevented the -consummation of the prisoners’ desires. - -But for all that, the pirates kept their word. The treasure had been -recovered, so the prisoners were given their liberty. The promise was -kept _literally_ and no more. For being placed on the island of Kenn -there was no means of escaping from this limited freedom; and, further, -there was practically nothing to eat. The pirates came ashore at the -same time and put to death all the inhabitants, and the Englishmen, -thinking it might be their own turn next, took to hiding in the rocks -as best they might, going out under cover of night to steal a goat or -whatever food might fall into their hands. But when at last the pirates -had completed their bloody work they departed, leaving the Englishmen the -sole inhabitants. - -It was clear to the latter that if they wished to keep alive, they too -must quit the island; but what were they to do for a boat? And here again -we have one of those instances which, in fiction, would be far-fetched. -When they were most in despair they had the good fortune to find a -wrecked boat on the beach which might be capable of being repaired. -Through the silent, deserted town the mariners searched until they were -able to bring down to the beach an adequate supply of timber for patching -up the boat and for making also a raft. In a few days both of these were -ready, and the party in two sections began to endeavour to cross to the -Persian shore. But one of the sections foundered and were never seen -again, while the other reached the mainland and then, following the line -of coast, obtaining food and water from the villages through which they -passed, they arrived at length after terrible privations at Bushire, -still having preserved their Government dispatches. Thence they proceeded -to Bombay, but out of the whole company there were only two that -survived, though the bag of dispatches was brought at last into safety. - -In the following year two English brigs were also captured by these -pirates, while the former were sailing from Bombay to Bussorah, and the -crew taken to an Arabian port, whence they succeeded in escaping, though -the piracies now continued unabated. By the year 1808 these Joassamees -were becoming exceedingly strong and impudent. Their many successes had -made them more desperate than ever, and the time-honoured practice of -heaving the resisting captain overboard was, of course, resorted to. -One of the most daring attacks was that on the _Sylph_, an East India -Company’s cruiser of 60 tons, mounting 8 guns. She was bound from Bombay -to Persia, and when she had arrived in the Gulf she was attacked by a -fleet of these Arab dhows. The commander of the _Sylph_ was a Lieutenant -Graham. He, of course, observed these craft approaching him, but he had -been previously warned by the Bombay Government not to fire upon any of -these dhows until he had first been fired at. - -Under the circumstances one would have thought that was a clear instance -when orders might have been disobeyed: for before he had even time to -hoist his colours to indicate his nationality, the dhows had thrown -themselves against the _Sylph_, poured in a shower of stones, wounded -many of the crew, and then leapt aboard and captured the vessel before -a single shot had been fired. Those whom they had not killed were now -slain with the sword, and the enemy being in sole possession made sail -and took the ship along triumphantly, their dhows bearing them company. -But before long the Commodore of the squadron hove in sight, cruising in -the frigate _Nereid_. Seeing the _Sylph_ with so many dhows alongside, -he correctly surmised that the East Indiaman had fallen a victim to the -pirates. So giving chase to this assorted fleet he soon came up to the -East Indiaman, and the Arabs having leapt again into their dhows, the -Commodore was able to regain the _Sylph_, though he was unable to capture -either dhow or Arab. - -And then the East India Government began to realise that something ought -to be done to end these repeated attacks: so an expedition was sent from -Bombay consisting of a frigate and a 38-gun ship as well as eight East -India Company’s cruisers, four large transports and a bomb-ketch. These -at length arrived at Ras-el-Khyma, anchored before the town and landed -the troops. The Arabs assembled in crowds to attack the invaders, but the -trained troops were too great a match for them. The regular volleys and -the charge at the point of the bayonet caused very heavy losses to the -enemy. The place was burnt down, sixty of their dhows and boats as well -as an English ship which they had previously captured were also consumed -in flames, and the troops were allowed to plunder all that they found. -With very small loss to the invaders the whole place had been wiped out, -though it was thought that the treasures had been taken inland by the -pirates. - -The expedition afterwards sailed to Linga, another of these pirate ports, -and burnt it to the ground. And after an exciting encounter yet another -port, named Luft, was also overcome. It happened on this wise. Because -the channel was very difficult and narrow, the ships had to be warped to -their anchorages. The troops were then landed, and it was hoped to have -been able to blow up the gate of the fortress with a howitzer specially -brought for such a purpose. The fortress’s walls were fourteen feet -thick, so it would have been a tough business to have razed them to the -ground. But the English were picked off by the enemy so disastrously -from the loopholes of the fortress that a general flight took place of -our men, and the howitzer was left behind. The troops lay hidden till -darkness came on, and were thus enabled to make for the beach, where they -embarked without further assault from the enemy. But as the dawn came, -judge of the surprise of the invaders when they saw a man on the top of -the fortress walls waving the Union Jack! The whole squadron marvelled -and rubbed their eyes in amazement. Who was it, and how had he remained -there alive, and what were the enemy doing? The answer was soon found. -This gallant gentleman was Lieutenant Hall who was in command of the -_Fury_, one of the ships nearest to the shore. During the darkness he -had put off from his ship, landed alone with a Union Jack and advanced -to the castle gate. Here he found the fortress had been for the most -part abandoned, but there were a few of the enemy still remaining. When -they saw the British officer these presumed that there were more of his -followers coming on, so they fled precipitately. All that the officer now -had to do was to take possession single-handed. It was a plucky, cool -act, and well worthy of remembrance. - -The fleet got under way again, bombarded for several days another pirate -stronghold named Shenaz. A breach was made in the castle walls, and even -now a stubborn resistance was made, the Arabs fighting finely till the -last, but the town was overcome and left a mere ruin. And such was the -effect of this protracted expedition, that for some years following the -pirates were compelled to reverence the British flag whenever they were -tempted to attack our ships at sea. But as it was with Algiers, so with -these Arabian pirates. The respite did not continue long, and by the -year 1815 the Arabian dhows were infesting the entrance of the Red Sea. -Under their admiral, Ameer Ibrahim, a fleet of them, the following year, -captured near the Straits of Babelmandeb four British vessels richly -laden with cargo from Surat. - -So again a British squadron had to be sent against them. This consisted -of H.M.S. _Challenger_ and the East India Company’s cruisers _Mercury_, -_Ariel_ and _Vestal_, which were dispatched to the port of Ras-el-Khyma, -where a demand was presented for the return of the four Surat ships -or, if not forthcoming, then the payment of four lacks of rupees, -coupled with the handing over of Ameer Ibrahim. This town stands on a -narrow tongue of sandy land, pointing to the north-east, presenting its -north-west edge to the open sea and its south-east edge to a creek which -ran up to the south-west and affords a safe harbour for small craft. -Round towers and isolated walls were seen, but no continuous wall. There -were about 10,000 inhabitants in the town, and the port boasted of 60 -dhows manned by crews of from 80 to 300 men. In the present instance -they were assisted by another 40 dhows from other ports. In short, the -concentrated force amounted to about 100 dhows and 8000 fighting men. - -After some fruitless negotiations, the signal was made to the British -squadron to get up anchors and stand in close to the shore. This was -followed by another signal to engage with the enemy, and the squadron -bore down nearly in line before the wind, under easy sail, till they -got near where four dhows were lying at anchor, the depth of the water -gradually shoaling till they found themselves in 2½ fathoms. At this -sounding the squadron anchored with springs on the cables, so that -each vessel lay with her broadside to the shore. Fire was now opened -against these four of the enemy’s craft, the latter seething with men, -brandishing their weapons in the air. At first some of our shells reached -the shore and buried themselves in the sand, others fell across the bows -of the Arab craft. On all the forts were seen the Arabs’ colours flying, -and crowds of armed men were visible on the beach. But, unhappily, the -whole of this bombardment availed nothing and a bloodless battle was -brought to an end. - -[Illustration: ATTACKING A PIRATE STRONGHOLD - -A breach was made in the wall by the British, but a stubborn resistance -was made, the Arabs fighting finely till the last, but the town was -overcome and left a mere ruin.] - -In the year 1818, as these pirates had assumed such strength and daring -to the great menace of commercial shipping, another fleet had to be sent -against them. For the Arab dhows had not merely plundered ships at sea -but ravaged the sea-coast towns on islands as well as mainland. But the -British ships now dispatched intercepted them and drove them back into -the Gulf. In one day as many as seventeen dhows were being chased by one -of ours, but the wind just suited the Arabian craft so that they managed -to get away. And so we might continue. For years these pirates caused -grievous trouble, and for years they had to be dealt with. Perhaps the -time will come when the Persian Gulf will be as safe for navigation -as the English Channel is to-day, with regard to the elimination of -pirate craft. Matters have, thanks to the patrolling by the Royal Navy, -improved considerably: but that there is still danger is well-known, -and it would be foolish to ignore it. For we must remember that it is -a hard task to exterminate such an ancient profession as piracy, and -especially when the practice is carried on by such an historic race of -seamen as the Arabs. When any community has been accustomed for centuries -and centuries, either in the Persian Gulf or the Red Sea or the Arabian -Sea or the Indian Ocean, to gain their living by sea robbery; when they -have made such a careful study of the local navigation and the habits -of their potential victims,—it is no easy matter for these men suddenly -to relinquish their previous habits and to give up their hard-earned -knowledge. It would be just as easy for a Brixham or Lowestoft fisherman -to give up his vocation and take to farming or manufacture, as it has -been for the Arab slaver and pirate to become a law-abiding seaman. -But as so many of the notorious piratical seas in the past have been -cleansed beyond all expectation, so, doubtless, the time will come when -the last sea-robber has disappeared from both hemispheres and the pirate -has become as extinct as the dodo. But whether the story of the sea will -thereby be as interesting and exciting as in previous ages is quite -another matter. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -THE STORY OF AARON SMITH - - -If the expression had not been used already so many thousand times, one -might well say of the following story that truth is indeed stranger than -fiction. Had you read the yarn which is here to be related you would, at -its conclusion, have remarked that it was certainly most interesting and -exciting, but it was too exaggerated, too full of coincidences, too full -of narrow escapes ever to have occurred in real life. But I would assure -the reader at the outset that Smith’s experiences were actual and not -fictional, and that his story was carefully examined at the time by the -High Court of Admiralty. The prelude, the climax and the conclusion of -this drama with its exciting incidents, its love interest and its happy -ending; the romantic atmosphere, the picturesque characters, the colours -and the symmetry of the narrative are so much in accord with certain -models such as one used to read in mere story-books of one’s boyhood, -that it is well the reader should be fully assured that what is here set -forth did in very truth happen. In some respects the narrative reads like -pages from one of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novels, and yet though I have, -by the limits of the space at my disposal, been compelled to omit many of -the incidents which centred around Smith and his pirate associates, yet -the facts which are set forth have been taken from contemporary data and -can be relied upon implicitly. - -The story opens in the year 1821, and the hero is an English seaman -named Aaron Smith. In the month of June, Smith departed from England and -embarked on the merchant ship _Harrington_, which carried him safely over -the Atlantic to the West Indies. Subsequent events induced him to resign -his billet on that vessel, and as he found that the West Indian climate -was impairing his health, he made arrangements to get back home to -England. Being then at Kingston in the island of Jamaica, he interviewed -the captain of the British merchant ship _Zephyr_ and was appointed -first mate. The _Zephyr_, like many of the ships of the eighteenth and -early nineteenth centuries, was rigged as a brig, that is to say with -square sails on each of her two masts, with triangular headsails and a -quadrilateral sail abaft the second mast much like the mainsail of a -cutter-rigged craft. Brigs nowadays are practically obsolete, but at -the time we are speaking of they were immensely popular in the merchant -service and for carrying coals from Newcastle-on-Tyne to London. - -The _Zephyr_, after taking on board her West Indian cargo together with -a few passengers, weighed anchor in the month of June 1822—just a year -after Smith had left Europe—and set sail for England. From the very first -Smith saw that things were not quite as they should be. The pilot who -took the ship out into the open sea was a very incapable man, but his -duties were soon ended and he left the ship. The name of the _Zephyr’s_ -captain was Lumsden, and even he was far from being the capable mariner -which one would have expected in a man whose duty it was to take a ship -across the broad Atlantic. Presently, before they had left Kingston far -astern, a strong breeze sprang up from the north-east, and a heavy -easterly swell got up, which made the brig somewhat lively. Most people -are aware that the navigation among the islands and in the tricky -channels of the West Indies needs both great care and much knowledge, -such as ought to have been possessed by a man in Lumsden’s position. -Judge of Smith’s surprise, therefore, when the latter found his captain -asking his advice as to which passage he ought to take. - -Whatever else Smith had in his character, he was certainly extremely -shrewd and cautious, and he replied in a non-committal answer to the -effect that the “windward” passage might prolong the voyage but that the -“leeward” one would expose the ship to the risk of being plundered by -the pirates, which in those days were far from rare. Lumsden weighed the -pros and cons in his mind, and at last resolved to choose the “leeward” -passage. About two o’clock one afternoon Smith was pacing up and down -deck when he suddenly espied a schooner of a very suspicious appearance -standing out from the land. Not quite happy as to her character, he then -went aloft with his telescope and examined her closely. In the case of a -man of his sea experience it did not take long for him to realise that -the schooner was a pirate-ship. Lumsden was below at the time, so Smith -called him on deck and, pointing out the strange vessel, suggested to -the captain that it would be best to alter the brig’s course to avoid -her. But Lumsden, like most ignorant men, was exceedingly obstinate, -and stoutly declined the proffered advice. With characteristic British -sentiment he opined that “because he bore the English flag no one would -dare to molest him.” The skipper of the schooner, as we shall presently -see, did not think of the matter in that way. - -Half an hour passed by, the brig held on her original course, and the -two ships drawing closer together it was observed that the schooner’s -deck was full of men. Clearly, too, she was about to hoist out her boats. -This gave cause for alarm even in the stubborn breast of Lumsden, and -now he gave orders for the course to be altered a couple of points. But -the decision had been arrived at too leisurely, for the stranger was -already within gunshot. Before much time had sped on, the sound of voices -was heard from the schooner, and short, sharp orders came across the -heaving sea, ordering the _Zephyr_ to lower her stern boat and to send -the captain aboard the schooner. Lumsden pretended not to understand, -but a brisk volley of musketry from the stranger instantly quickened the -skipper’s comprehension, and he promptly gave orders to lay the mainyard -aback and heave-to. - -The boat which had been lowered from the schooner was quickly rowed -alongside the brig, and nine or ten men, ferocious of appearance and -well-armed with knives, cutlasses and muskets, now leapt aboard. -It was obvious before they had left the schooner’s deck that these -were desperate pirates, such as had many a dark, cruel deed to their -consciences. With no wasting of formality they at once took charge of -the brig and ordered Lumsden, Smith, the ship’s carpenter, and also a -Captain Cowper who was travelling as a passenger, to proceed on board -the schooner without delay. In order to hurry them on, the pirates gave -them repeated blows over the back from the flat part of their cutlasses, -accompanying these strokes with threats of shooting them. So the company -got into the schooner’s boat and were rowed off; Lumsden recollected -having left on the cabin table of the _Zephyr_ the ship’s books -containing an account of all the money aboard the brig. - -Arrived alongside the schooner, the prisoners were ordered on deck. It -was the pirate captain who now issued the commands, a man of repulsive -appearance with his savage expression, his short, stout stature. His -age was not more than about thirty-two, his appearance denoted that in -his veins ran Indian blood. Standing not more than five and a half feet -high, he had an aquiline nose, high cheek bones, a large mouth, big full -eyes, sallow complexion and black hair. The son of a Spanish father and a -Yucatan squaw, there was nothing in him that suggested anything but the -downright brigand of the sea. - -But with all this savage temperament there was nothing in him of the -fool, and his wits and eyes were ever on the alert. Already he had -observed a cluster of vessels in the distance, and he questioned Lumsden -as to what kind of craft they might be. On being informed that probably -they were French merchantmen, the pirate captain gave orders for all -hands to get the schooner ready to give chase. Meanwhile the _Zephyr_, -with part of the pirate crew on board, made sail and stood in towards -the land in the direction of Cape Roman, some eighteen miles away. And -as the schooner pushed on, cleaving her way through the warm sea, the -pirate applied himself to questioning the skipper of the brig. What was -his cargo? Lumsden answered that it consisted of sugars, rum, coffee, -arrowroot, and so on. But what money had he on board? Lumsden replied -that there was no money. Such an answer only infuriated the pirate. -“Don’t imagine I’m a fool, sir,” he roared at him. “I know that all -vessels going to Europe have specie on board, and”—he added—“if you will -give up what you have, you shall proceed on your voyage without further -molestation.” But Lumsden still continued in his protestations that money -there was none: to which the pirate remarked that if the money were not -forthcoming he would throw the _Zephyr’s_ cargo overboard. - -Night was rapidly approaching, and the breeze was certainly dying down, -so that although the schooner had done fairly well through the water, yet -the pirate despaired of ever coming up with the Frenchmen. Disappointed -at his lack of success, he was compelled to abandon the chase, and -altered his course to stand in the direction of the _Zephyr_. When night -had fallen the pirates began to prepare supper, and offered spirits to -their captives, which the latter declined. The pirate captain now turned -his attention to Smith, and observed that as he was in bad health, and -none of the schooner’s crew understood navigation, it was his intention -to detain Smith to navigate her. We need not attempt to suggest the -feelings of dismay with which Smith received this information. To resist -forceably was obviously out of the question, though he did his best to -be allowed to forego the doubtful honour of being appointed navigating -officer to a pirate-ship. Lumsden, too, uneasy at the thought of being -bereft of a man indispensable to the safety of his brig, expressed a -nervous hope that Smith might not be detained. But the pirate’s reply -to the last request came prompt and plain. “If I do not keep him,” he -growled at Lumsden, “I shall keep you.” That sufficiently alarmed the -brig’s master to subdue him to silence. - -The captives sat down to supper with their pirate captain and the -latter’s six officers. The meal consisted of garlic and onions chopped -up into fine pieces and mixed with bread in a bowl. From this every one -helped himself as he pleased with his fingers, and the coarse manners -of the schooner’s company were in keeping with the brutality of their -profession. A breeze had sprung up in the meanwhile and they began fast -to approach the _Zephyr_. When at length the two vessels were within -a short distance, the pirate ordered a musket to be fired and then -proceeded to tack shorewards. This signal was answered immediately by the -pirates on board the brig, and the _Zephyr_ then proceeded to follow the -schooner. One of the brig’s crew who had been brought aboard the schooner -at the time when Lumsden and Smith were taken, was now ordered to heave -the lead and to give warning as soon as the schooner got into soundings. -It is significant that whatever else these pirates may have been, they -were brigands first and sailormen only a bad second, who had taken to -roving less through nautical enthusiasm than from a greed for gain and -a means of indulging their savage tastes. Thus, although on waylaying a -merchant ship their first object was to pillage, yet they made it also -their aim to carry off any useful members of the trader’s crew who were -expert in the arts of seamanship or navigation. - -As soon as the leadsman, then, found bottom at fourteen fathoms, the -pirate commanded a boat to be lowered and therein were placed Lumsden -and some of the crew which had belonged to the _Zephyr_. Smith, however, -and with him the brig’s carpenter, were detained on the schooner. The -pirate captain himself accompanied Lumsden, left the latter on board the -brig and brought back the crew of the pirate, who in the first instance -had been left to take charge of the _Zephyr_. They also brought away to -the schooner a number of articles, including Cowper’s watch, the brig’s -spy-glass, Smith’s own telescope, some clothes belonging to the latter -and a goat. To show what kind of cruel rascals Smith had now become -shipmate with may be seen from the fact that as soon as the animal had -been brought aboard, one of the pirate’s crew instantly cut the goat’s -throat with his knife, flayed the poor creature alive, and promised the -same kind of treatment to his friends if no money were found in the -_Zephyr_. Even the most stalwart British sailor could not help his heart -beating the more rapidly at such cowardly and bullying treatment. - -By now the schooner had stood so near to the shore that she was in four -fathoms and the anchor was let go. The _Zephyr_ also let go and brought -up about fifty yards away. Relieved from work, the pirates now began to -exult and to congratulate each other on their fine capture. Night came -on again and a watch was set. Smith and Cowper, still in the schooner, -were ordered to sleep in the companion-way, but with the fearful anxiety -imminent and the possibility of never being allowed to wake again, they -never relapsed into unconsciousness. Conversation was kept up stealthily -between them, and Cowper, knowing that the _Zephyr_ carried a quantity of -specie and that Lumsden had hoodwinked the pirate captain, dreaded lest -this should be found out. With the certain assurance in his mind of being -put to death, a horrible night of suspense and fear was passed by the two -seamen. - -When daylight came, some of the pirates were seen on the brig’s deck -beating the _Zephyr’s_ crew with their cutlasses. Great activity of a -most business-like nature was being manifested on the English ship, -boats were being hoisted out, a rope cable—those were still the days of -hemp—was being coiled on deck, the hatches were being removed and all -was being made ready for taking out the _Zephyr’s_ cargo. The pirate -commanded Smith to go aboard the brig and fetch everything that might -be essential for the purposes of navigation, for the former was most -determined to retain the former mate of the English merchantman. To -accentuate his determination the half-caste brute raised his arm into -the air and, brandishing a cutlass over poor Smith’s head, threatened him -with instant death if he showed any reluctance. “Mind and you obey me,” -he taunted, “or I will take off your skin.” - -We need not stop to depict Smith’s feelings, nor to suggest with what -dismay he found himself compelled to obey the behests of a coarse, -ignorant freebooter. It was humiliating to the last degree for a man who -had been mate and served under the red ensign thus to have to submit to -such abominable treatment. But there was no choice between submission and -death, though from what eventually followed it was obvious that Smith -was not a coward and was not so proud of his skin as to fear death. He -proceeded aboard the brig, discovered that she had been well ransacked -and with a heavy heart began to collect his belongings. He brought off -his gold watch and sextant, packed his clothes and then returned to the -schooner. But before doing so he acted as a man about to pass out of -the world and anxious to dispose of his remaining effects. With almost -humorous pathos, one might remark, he set about this last duty. “My -books, parrot and various other articles I gave in charge to Mr. Lumsden, -who engaged to deliver them safely into the hands of my friends, should -he reach England:” and it needs no very gifted imagination to see the -sentimental sailor of the great sailing-ship age painfully taking a last -look at these cherished possessions. - -The cargo having been transferred to the schooner, the pirates indulged -themselves in liquor and became intoxicated. But meanwhile the crew of -the brig were not allowed to stand idle. The pirate captain was going -to get all that he could from his capture, and ordered the _Zephyr’s_ -fore t’gallant mast and yard to be sent down, and these, together with -whatever other spars might seem useful, were to be sent on board the -schooner. The merchant ship was positively gutted of everything the -pirates fancied. There was not left even so much as a bed or a blanket: -even the ear-rings on the ears of the children passengers were snatched -from the latter. In addition to this the whole of the live stock such -as an ocean-going ship carried in those days prior to the invention of -refrigerating rooms and tinned food was transferred to the schooner and a -certain amount of drinking water. - -But the pirates had not yet concluded their dastardly work. Lumsden and -Cowper were warned that unless they produced the money, which the pirate -was convinced still remained, the _Zephyr_, with all her people in her, -should be burnt to the water’s edge. It is to the credit of these two men -that they strenuously declined to oblige the pirate. This only served as -fuel to the latter’s temper, and he sent them below and began a series -of heartless tortures which were more in keeping with some of the worst -features of the Middle Ages than the nineteenth century. Determined to -attain his object, no matter what the cost, he caused the two men to be -locked to the ship’s pumps and proceeded to carry out the threat which -he had just promised. Every preparation was made for starting a fire, -combustibles were piled round about the unfortunate men, and the light -was just about to be applied when Lumsden, unable to endure the torture -any longer, confessed that there was money. He was accordingly released, -and rummaging about produced a small box of doubloons. - -This, however, far from satisfying the pirate’s thirst, merely increased -his desire for more. Lumsden protested that that was all. So again the -skipper was lashed to the pumps, again fire was ordered to be put to -the fuel, and again the victim was about to be immolated. Once more, at -the last minute, Lumsden yielded and offered to surrender all that he -had. Thereupon, for the second time he was released, and producing nine -more doubloons declared that this money had been entrusted to his care on -behalf of a poor woman. Such human sentiments, however, rarely fell on -more unsympathetic ears. “Don’t speak to me of poor people,” howled the -pirate. “I am poor, and your countrymen and the Americans have made me -so. I know there is more money, and I will either have it or burn you and -the vessel.” - -Following up his threat with deeds, he once more ordered Lumsden below, -yet again had the combustibles laid around. But the Englishman stood his -torture well: his being was becoming accustomed to the treatment and for -a while he never flinched. Then the monsters of iniquity applied a light -to the fire, and the red and yellow flames leapt forward and already -began to lick the skipper’s body. For a time he endured the grievous pain -as the fire burnt into his flesh. With agonising cries and heartrending -shouts he begged to be relieved of his tortures—to be cut adrift in a -boat and left solitary on the wide open ocean—anything rather than this. -Money he had not: already he had given up all that he possessed. And -after this slow murder had continued for some time the stubborn dulled -intellect of the pirate captain began to work, and seeing that not even -fire could call forth more money from a suffering man, he was inclined -to believe that the last coin had now been yielded up. Then turning to -some of his own crew, he ordered them to throw water on to the flames, -and the long-suffering Lumsden, more dead than alive, racked by physical -and mental tortures, was released and allowed to regain his freedom. As -if to accentuate their own bestial natures the pirates then proceeded to -carouse once more and to exult again in their ill-gotten treasures. - -But even in the most villainous criminal there is always at least -one small trait of human nature left, and it is often surprising how -this manifests itself when circumstances had seemed to deny its very -existence. It was so in the case of this pirate captain. Everything so -far had indicated the most unmitigated bully and murderer without one -single redeeming feature of any sort whatever. And yet, in spite of -all the vain entreaties of Lumsden for mercy, the pirate showed that -the last spark of human kindness was not yet quenched. The reader will -remember that among the articles which Smith had brought away from the -brig was his gold watch. The pirate took this in his hands, examined -it, and instead of promptly annexing the same, threw out a strong hint -that he would like to retain it. Such moderation from one who had not -hesitated to burn a man at the stake was in itself curious. But his -inconsistency did not stop at that. Smith remarked that the watch was -a gift from his aged mother, whom he now never expected to see again, -adding that he would like to be allowed to send it to her by Lumsden, but -was afraid that the pirates would take it away from the English captain -if it were entrusted to him. It was then that the pirate manifested the -extraordinary contradiction which his character possessed. “Your people,” -he began, “have a very bad opinion of us, but I will convince you that -we are not so bad as we are represented to be; come along with me, and -your watch shall go safely home.” And with this he took Smith on board -the _Zephyr_ once more, handed the watch into Lumsden’s keeping and gave -strict orders that on no account was any one to take it away from the -English captain. - -Smith now took a final farewell of his old messmates, but lest he should -take advantage of the indulgence which had been just granted him, the -pirate captain instantly ordered him back to the schooner, and even -impelled him forward at the point of his murderous knife. All this time -the two ships had been lying alongside lashed together by warps. Being -at last content with the ample cargo which he had extracted from the -_Zephyr_, and being convinced that there was nothing else aboard of much -value, the pirate now ordered the warps to be cast loose and informed -Lumsden that he might consider himself free to resume his voyage. But, he -insisted, on no account was he to steer for Havannah. Should he do so, -the schooner would pursue him, and on being overtaken Lumsden and his -ship should be destroyed without further consideration. - -So at last the brig _Zephyr_, robbed of most of her valuables, lacking -some of her gear and minus her mate, and with a tortured skipper, hove up -her anchor, let loose her canvas and cleared out into the open sea. - - - - -FOOTNOTES - - -[1] See _Sea-Wolves of the Mediterranean_, by Commander E. Hamilton -Currey, R.N., to which I am indebted for certain information regarding -these corsairs and their Christian foes. - -[2] I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness for some of the facts here -mentioned to an interesting article by Mr. Winfield M. Thompson in the -_Rudder_ for the year 1909. - -[3] The British Ambassador. - -_Printed by MORRISON & GIBB LIMITED, Edinburgh, 1917_ - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DARING DEEDS OF FAMOUS PIRATES *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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