pa
Herman Le Roy Edgar.
seance 1.16


3 son

6. Mars


A GENERAL
HISTORY
OF THE
PYRATES
FROM
Their firſt Rise and SETTLEMENT in the Iſland of
Providence, to the preſent Time.
With the remarkable Actions and Adventures of the two Female Pyrates
Mary Read and Anne BONNY;
Containd in the following Chapters,
Introduction.
IX. Of Capt. Roberts,
Chap. I. Of Capt. Avery.
X. Of Capt. Anſtis.
II. Of Capt. Martel
. XI. Of Capt. Worley.
III. Of Capt. Teach. XII. Of Capt. Lowiber.
IV. Of Capt. Bonnet. XIII. Of Capt. Low.
V. Of Capt. England. XIV. Of Capt. Evans.
VI. of Capt. Vane.
XV. Of Capt. Phillips.
VII. Of Capt. Rackan. XVI. Of Capr. Spriggs.
VIII. Of Capt. Davis.
And their ſeveral Crews.
To which is added.
A fhort ABSTRACT of the Statute and Civil
Law, in Relation to Pyracy.
The ſecond EDITION, with confiderable ADDITIONS
By Captain CHARLES JOHNSON.
LONDON:
Printed for, and ſold by T. Warner, at the Black-Boy in batera
Nofter Row, 1724

SOLEIL
.

THE
PREFACE.
AVİNG taken more than ordinary Pains in
colletting the Materials which compoſe the
following Hiſtory, we could not be ſatisfied
with our ſelves, if any Thing were wanting to
it, which might render it entirely ſatisfactory
to the Publick : It is for this Reaſon we have ſubjoined to
the Work, a ſhort Abſtract of the Laws now in Force againſt
Pyrates, and made Choice of ſome particular Caſes, (the
moſt curious we could meet with) which have been hereto-
fore tried, by which it will
appear
what Actions have, and
what have not been adjudged Pyracy.
It is poſſible this Book may fall into the Hands of ſome
Maſters of Ships, and other honeſt Mariners, who frequent-
ly, by contrary Winds or Tempeſts, or other Accidents incie
dent to long Voyages, find themſelves reduced to great Di-
ſtreſſes, either through Scarcity of Proviſions, or Want of
Stores. I ſay, it may be a Direction to ſuch as thoſe, what
Lengths they may venture to go, without violaring the Law
of Nations, in caſe they ſhould meet other Ships at Sea, or
be cast on ſome in oſpitable Shore, which ſhouldreful en
trade with them for ſuch Things as are abſolutely neceffary
for the Preſervation of their Lives, or the safety of the
Ship and Cargoe.
We have given a few Inſtances in the Courſe of this
Hiſtory of the Inducements Men have to engage themſelves
A 2
beada

The PREF A C E.
beadlong in a Life of ſo much Peril to themſelves, and so
deſtructive to the Navigation of the trading World; to re-
medy which Evil there ſeems to be but two Ways, either to
find Employment for the great Numbers of Seamen turn'd
adrift at the Concluſion of a War, and thereby prevent
their running into ſuch Undertakings, or to guard ſuffici-
ently the Coaſt of Africa, the Weſt-Indies, and other
Places whereto Pyrates refort.
I cannot but take Notice in this place, that during this
long Peace, I have not ſo much as heard of a Dutch Py-
rate : It is not that I take them to be honeſter than their
Neighbours ; but when we account for it, it will
, perhaps, be
a Reproach to our ſelves for our want of Induſtry: The Rea-
Son I take to be, that after a War, when the Dutch Ships
are laid up, they have a Fiſhery, where their Seamen find
immediate Buſineſs, and as comfortable Bread as they had
before. Had ours the ſame Recourſe in their Neceſſities,
I'm certain we ſhould find the ſame Effect from it; for a
Fiſhery is a Trade that cannot be overſtock’d; the Sea is
wide enough for us all, we need not quarrel for Elbow-room:
Its Stores are infinite, and will ever reward the Labourer.
Beſides, our own Coast, for the moſt Part, ſupply the Dutch,
who employ ſeveral hundred Sail conſtantly in the Trade,
and ſo fell to us our own Fiſh. I call it our own, for the
Sovereignty of the Britiſh Seas, are to this Day acknowledg-
ed us by the Dutch, and all the neighbouring Nations
wherefore, if there was a publick Spirit among us, it would
be well worth our while to eſtabliſh a National Fiſhery, which
would be the best Means in the World to prevent Pyracy,
employ a Number of the Poor, and eaſe the Nation of a
great Burthen, by lowering the Price of Proviſion in general,
as well as of ſeveral other Commodities.
I need not bring any Proofs of what I advance, viz. that
there are Multitudes of Seamen at this Day unemployd; it
is but too evident by their ſtraggling, and begging all over the
Kingdom. Nor is it so much their Inclination to Idleneſs, as
their own hard Fate, in being cast off after their work is
done, to ſtarve or ſteal. I have not known a Man of
War

The P R EF A CE.
War commiſſion'd for ſeveral years past, but three times her
Compliment of Men have offer'd themſelves in 24 Hours ;
the Merchants take their Advantage of this, leffen their
Wages, and thoſe fem who are in Buſineſs are poorly paid,
and but poorly fed; ſuch Uſage breeds Diſcontents amongſt
them, and makes them eager for any Change.
I ſhall not repeat what I have ſaid in the Hiſtory con-
cerning the Privateers of the Weſt-Indies, where I have
taken Notice they live upon Spoil; and as Cuſtom is a ſecond
Nature, it is no Wonder that, when an honest Livlyhood is
not eaſily had, they run into one ſo like their own ; ſo that
it may be ſaid, that Privateers in Time of War are a Nur-
ſery for Pyrates against a Peace.
Nome we have accounted for their Riſe and Beginning, it
will be natural to enquire why they are not taken and de-
ſtroy'd, before they come to any Head, ſeeing that they are
ſeldom leſs than twelve Men of War ſtationed in our Ame-
rican Plantations, even in Time of Peace ; a Force ſuffi-
cient to contend with a powerful Enemy. This Enquiry,
perhaps, will not turn much to the Honour of thoſe concern'd
in that Service ; however, I hope I may be excus’d, if what
I bint is with a Deſign of ſerving the Publick.
I ſay, 'tis ſtrange that a few Pyrates ſhould ravage the
Seas for years, without ever being light upon, by any of our
Ships of War; wohen in the meantime, they (the Pyrates) ſhall
take Fleets of Ships ; it looks as if one mas much more dili-
gent in their Affairs, than the other. Roberts and his Crew,
alone, took 400 Sail, before he was deſtroy’d.
This Matter, I may probably ſet right another Time,
and only obſerve for the preſent, that the Pyrates at Sea,
have the ſame Sagacity with Robbers at Land; as the latter
underſtand what Roads are most frequented, and where it is
most likely to meet with Booty, ſo the former know what
Latitude to lie in, in order to intercept Ships; and as the
Pyrates happen to be in want of Proviſions, Stores, or any
particular Lading, they cruiſe accordingly for ſuch Ships,
and are morally certain of meeting with them; and by the
Same Reaſon, if the Men of War cruiſe in thoſe Latitudes,
they
A3

The PRE FACE.
they might be as ſure of finding the Pyrates, as the Pyrat es
are to find the Merchant Ships ; and if the Pyrates are not to
be m’t with by the Men of War in ſuch a Latitude, then
ſurely down the ſame Latitude may the Merchant Ships ar-
rive fafely to their Port.
To make this a little plainer to my Country Readers,
I must obſerve that all our outward bound Ships, ſometime
after they leave the Land; ſteer into the Latitude of
the Place they are bound to ; if to the Weſt-India Iſlands,
or any Part of the Main of America, as New-York,
New-England, Virginia, &c. becauſe the Latitude is
the only Certainty in thoſe Voyages to be found, and then
they ſail due Weſt, till they come to their Port, without
altering their Courſe. In this Weſt Way lie the Pyrates,
whether it be to Virginia, &c. or Nevis, St. Chriſto-
phers, Montſerat, Jamaica, &c. ſo that if the Mer-
chant Ships bound thither, do not fall a Prey to them one
Day, they must another. Therefore I ſay, if the Men of War
take the ſame Track, the Pyrates muſt unavoidably fall into
their Mouths, or be frighted away, for where the Game is,
there will the Vermin be; if the latter ſhould be the Caſe,
the trading Ships, as I ſaid before, will paſs unmoleſted and
ſafe, and the Pyrates be reduced to take Refuge in ſome of
their lurking Holes about the uninhabited iſands, where
their Fate would be like that of the Fox in his Den, if they
fhould venture out, they would be hunted and taken, and if
they ſtay within they muſt ſtarve.
I must obſerve another Thing, that the Pyrates general-
ly ſhift their Rovings, according to the Seaſon of the Year ;
in the Summer they cruiſe moſtly along the Coaſt of the Cone
tinent of America, but the Winters there, being a little
too cold for them, they follow the Sun, and go
towards the
Iſlands, at the approach of cold Weather. Every Man
who has uſed the Weſt-India Trade, knows this to be
true; therefore, ſince we are ſo well acquainted with all
their Motions, I cannot ſee why our Men of War under a
proper Regulation, may not go to the Southward, inſtead of
lying up all the Winter uſeleſs: But I ſhall proceed too far
in

The PREFACE,
in this Enquiry, 1 fall therefore quit it, and ſay fome,
thing of the following Sheets, which the Author may venture
to aſſure the Reader that they have one Thing to recommend
them, which is Truth; thoſe Facts which he himſelf was
not an Eye-Witneſs of, he had from the authentick Relatie
ons of the Perſons concern'd in taking the Pyrates, as well
as from the Mouths of the Pyrates themſelves, after they
were taken, and he conceives no Man can produce better
Teſtimonies to ſupport the Credit of any Hiſtory.
It will be obſerved, that the Account of the Actions of
Roberts runs into a greater Length, than that of any other
Pyrate, for which we can aſſign two Reaſons, first, becauſe
he ravaged the Seas longer than the rest, and of Conſequence
there must be a greater Scene of Buſineſs in his Life: Second-
ly, being reſolved not to weary the Reader, with tireſome
Repetitions:When we found the Circumſtances in Roberts's
Life, and other Pyrates, either as to pyratical Articles, or
any Thing elſe, to be the ſame, we thought it best to give them
once, and choſe Roberts's Life for that Purpoſe, he ha-
ving made more Noiſe in the World, than ſome others.
As to the Lives of our two female Pyrates, we must con-
feſs they may appear a little Extravagant, yet they are
never the leſs true for ſeeming ſo, but as they were pub-
lickly tryd for their Pyracies, there are living Witneſſes
enough to juſtify what we have laid down concerning them;
it is certain, we have produced ſome Particulars which were
not ſo publickly known, the Reaſon is, we were more inquiſi-
tive into the Circumſtances of their past Lives, than other
People, who had no other Deſign, than that of gratifying
their own private Curioſity: If there are ſome Incidents and
Turns in their Stories, which may give them a little the
Air of a Novel, they are not invented or contrived for
that Purpoſe, it is a Kind of Reading this Author is but
little acquainted with, but as he himfelf was exceedingly
diverted with them, when they were related to him, he
thought they might have the ſame Effect upon the Reader.
I preſume we need make no Apology for giving the Name
of a H ſtory to the following Sheets, though they contain no-
thing
but
A 4

The PREF A C E.
thing but the Actions of a Barcel of Robbers. It is Bra-
vory and Stratagem in War which make Actions worthy of
Record ; in which Senſe the Adventures here related will
be thought deſerving that Name. Plutarch is very cir-
cumſtantial in relating the Aitions of Spartacus, the Slave,
and makes the Conquest of him, one of the greatest Glories
of Marcus Craſſus; and it is probable, if this Slave had
liv'd a little longer, Plutarch would have given us his
Life at large. Rome, the Miſtreſs of the World, mas no
more at first than a Refuge for Thieves and Outlaws, and
if the Progreſs of our Pyrates had been equal to their Be-
ginning ; bad they all united, and ſettled in ſome of thoſe
Iſands, they might, by this Time, have been honoured with
the Name of a Commonwealth, and no Power in thoſe Parts
of the World could have been able to diſpute it with them.
if we have ſeem'd to glance, with ſome Freedom, at the
Behaviour of ſome Governor's of Provinces abroad, it has
been with Caution; and, perhaps, we have, not declar'd as
much as we knew : However, we hope thoſe Gentlemen in the
fame Station, who have never given Occaſion for the like
Cenfure, will take no Offence, tho' the Word Governor is
Sometimes made uſe of.
P.S. It will be neceſſary to add a Word or two to this
Preface, in order to inform the Reader, that there are ſe-
veral material Additions made to this ſecond Impreſſion,
arhich fwelling the Book in Bulk, must of Conſequence add a
mall Matter to its Price.
The first Impreſſion having been received with ſo much
Succeſs by the Publick, occaſioned a very earneſt Demand
for a ſecond : In the mean Time, ſeveral Perſons who had
been taken by the Pyrates, as well as others who had been
concerned in taking of them, have been ſo kind to commu-
nicate feveral Facts and Circumſtances to us, which had
eſcaped us in the first Impreſſion. This occaſioned fome De-
l'ay, therefore if we have not brought it out, as ſoon
foon as
wiſh’d, it was to render it the more compleat.
We ſhall not enter into a Detail of all the new Matter
inſerted here, but the Deſcription of the Iſlands St. Thome,
&c.

The PREFACE.
&c. and that of Brafil are not to be paſſed by, with-
out a little Notice. It must be obſerved, that our ſpe-
culative Mathematicians and Geographers, who are, no
doubt, Men of the greatest Learning, ſeldom travel far-
ther than their Cloſets for their knowledge, &c. are
therefore unqualified to give us a good Deſcription of
Countries: It is for this Reaſon that all our Maps and
Atlaffes are e ſo monſtrouſly faulty, for theſe Gentlemen are
obliged to take their Accounts from the Reports of illite-
rate Men.
It must be noted alſo, that when the Maſters of Ships
make Diſcoveries this Way, they are not fond of commu-
nicating them; a Man's knowing this or that Coaſt, bet-
ter than others, recommends him in his Buſineſs, and
makes him more uſeful, and he'll no more diſcover it than a
Tradeſman will the Myſtery of bis Trade.
The Gentleman who has taken the Pains to make theſe
Obſervations, is Mr. Atkins, a Surgeon, an ingenious
Man in his own Profeſſion, and one who is not tyd down
by any narrom Conſiderations from doing a Service to the
Publick, and has been pleaſed generouſly to communicate
them for the good of others. I don't doubt, but his ob-
ſervations will be found curious and very ſerviceable to
ſuch as Trade to thoſe Parts, beſides a Method of Trade is
bere laid down with the Portugueſe, which may prove
great Profit to ſome of our Countrymen, if followed ac-
cording to his Plan.
It is hoped theſe Things will ſatisfy the Publick, that
the Author of the following Sheets conſidered nothing fo
much as making the Book uſeful;—tho' he has been in-
formed, that ſome Gentlemen have rais’d an Objection aus
gainst the Truth of its Contents, viz. that it ſeems calcu-
lated to entertain and divert. If the Facts are related
with ſome Agreeableneſs and Life, we hope it will not be
imputed as a Fault; but as to its Credit, we can aſſure them
that the Sea-faring Men, that is all that know the Na-
ture of theſe Things, bave not been able to make the leaſt
Objection to its Credit : And he will be bold to affirm,
that

The PREFACE.
that there is not a Fact or Circumſtance in the whole Book,
but he is able to prove by credible Witneſſes.
There have been ſome other Pyrates, beſides thoſe whoſe
Hiſtory are here rela ed, ſuch as are bereafter named,
and their Adventures are as extravagant and full of Mil-
chief, as thoſe who are the Subje&t of this Book. The
Author has already begun to digest them into Method, and
as ſoon as he receives fome Materials to make them com-
pleat, (which he ſhortly expects from the Weſt-Indies) If
the Publick gives him Encouragement he intends to venture
upon a ſecond Volume.
Τ Η Ε

70
THE
CONTENT S.
INTRODUCTIO N.
ROW HE Danger of Commonwealths from an Increaſe of Py-
T
rates, 17
Pyrates in the Times of Marius and Sylla,
18. Takes Julius Cæſar, 19. The Barbarity of thoſe
His
Pyrates, ib.
They ſpare Cæſar, and why, ib.
Behaviour amongſt them, ib. " Cæſar obtains his Liberty for a
Ranſom, ib. Attacks and takes the Pyrates, 20.
Hangs
then at Troy, ib.
They increaſe again to a prodigious Strengih,
ib. Plunder at the Gates of Rome, 21. The mock Homage
they paid the Romans, ib. Pompey the Great, appointed Gene-
ral againſt them, 22. A prodigious Fleet and Army aſign’d
him, ib. His Conduct and good Fortune, ib,
The Gallan-
try of thoſe Pyraies, 23. Receive an Overthrow, ib, Barba-
rouſe, a Pyrate, his Beginning, ib. His great Strength, 24.
Selim Eutemi, King of Algiers, courts his Friendſhip, ib. Makes
himſelf King, and how, ib. The King of Tunis overthr wn
by him, ib. Leaves the Inheritance to his Brother, ib. The
Weſt-Indies commodious for Pyrates, and why, 24, 25.
Ibe
Explanation of the Word Keys, 25.
The Pyrates conceal their
Booty on them, ib. The Pyrates Security in thoſe Parts, 26.
The Riſe of Pyrates ſince the peace of Utrecht accounted for,
An Expedition from Jamaica, to plunder the Spa-
niards, 28. The Spaniards ſue for Juſtice to the Government
of Jamaica, ib.
The Plunderers turn Pyrates, 29.
The
Spaniards make Repriſals, ib. The Names of Ships taken
by them, ib. The plunder'd Seamen join the Pyrates, ib.
Pro-
vidence fixed on as a Place of Retreat by them, 30.
That Iſland
de furibed, ib. The Lords Addreſs to her late Majeſty for ſecuring
Providence, ib. An Order of Council in this Reign to the ſame
Purpoſe, 31.
A Liſt of Men of War employ'd for the Defence of
tbe
26, 27.

The CONTENTS.
the plantations, 32.
Captain Woods Rogers made Covernos
of Providence, ib. The King's Ivoclamation for fuppvelling
Pyrates, 33, 34 How the Pyrates uſed the Proclamation, 34.
Great Diviſions amongſt them, 35. How made quiet, ib. Se-
veral of ihe Pyrates ſurrender to the Governor of Bermudas, ib.
The Fate of the reft, ib. Woods Rogers his Arrival at Pro-
vidence, ib. Vane's Bebavtour, 36. Woods Rogers em-
ploys the pardon d Pyrates, ib. Their Conduct, ib. Some of
them hang'd for new Pyracies, 37. Their ſtrange Behaviour at
the Place of Execution, ib. Some Proceedings betwixt the Enga
liſh and Spaniards, 38. The Spaniards ſurprize the Grey-
hound Man of War, and bow, ib. Quit ber, 39.
The Crew
of a Spaniſh Guarda del Cofta hangºd at Jamaica, and why, ib.
Sir Nicholas Laws his Letter to the Alcaldes of Trinidado, 39,
40. Mr. Joſeph Laws, Lieutenant of the Happy Snow his
Letter to the Alcaldes of Trinidado, 41. The Alcaldes An-
fwer to the Lieutenant's Leiter, 41, 42. The Lieutenant's Re-
ply to the Alcaldes Anſwer, 42, 43,
The Alcaldes Anſwer
again, 43, Some Account of Richard Holland, ib. Prizes
taken by him, 44.
z CHA P. I.
Of Captain AVERY, and his CREW.
RO
Omantick Reports of bis Greatneſs, 45, 46. His Birth, 4.6
Is Mate of a Briſtol Man, 47, For whet Voyage deſign'd, ib.
Tampers with the Seamen, ib. Forms a Plot for carrying off the
Ship, 47, 48. Executes it, and how, ib. The Pyrates take
a rich ship belonging to the Great Mogul, 50. The Great Mo-
gul threaten the Engliſh Settlements, 51. The Pyrates ſteer
their Courſe back for Madagaſcar, 52. Call a Council. Put all
the Treaſure on Board of Avery's ship, ib. Avery and his
Crew treacherouſly leaves his Confederates ; go to the Iſle of Pro-
vidence in the Weſt-Indies, 53. Sell the Ship, go to North-
America in a Sloop, 54. They diſperſe, Avery goes to New-
England, ib. From thence to Ireland, ib. Avery afraid to
expoſe his Diamonds to ſale. Goes over to England, ib. Puts
his Wealth into Merchants Hands, of Briſtol, 55. Changes his
„Nansea Lives at Biddiford, ib. The Merchants ſend him no
Supplies, ib. Importunes them. Goes privately to Briſtol, they
threaten to dif:over him, ib. Goes over to Ireland, ſollicites them
from thence, 56. Is very poor, works bis Paſſage over to Ply-
mouth, walks to Biddiford. Dies a Beggar, ib. An Account
of Avery's Confederates, ib. Their Settlement au Madagaſcar,
57 They meet other Pyrates; an Account of them, ib. The
Pyrates

The CONTENTS."
Pyrates arrive to great Power. The Inhabitants deſcribed, 58.
Their Policy, Government, &c. Places deſcrib'd, 59. The Arrival
of Captain Woods Rogers at that part of the iſland, 61. Their
Deſign of ſurprizing his Ship, 62. One of theſe Princes former-
ly a Waterman on the Thames, 63, Their Secretaries, Men of
70 Learning. Could neither write nor read, ib.
СНА Р. ІІ.
Of Captain MARTEL, and his Crew.
W40
Ar to ſuppreſs Pyrates, 64. The Increaſe of Pyrates ac-
counted for, 65. Where Martel learned his Trade, ib.
The Names of ſeveral Prizes taken, by him, 65, 66, 67. His
-Strength at Sancta Cruz, 67. His Manner of fortifying him-
ſelf there, ib. Is attack'd by the Scarborough Man of War, 68.
His defence by Land and Sea, ib. His deſperate Eſcape, 69. Hi
miferable End, ib.
CH A P. III. .
Of Captain TEACH, alias BLACK-BEARD.
H
IS Beginning, 70. His Confederacy with Hornygold, ib.
The Confederacy broke, 71. Takes a large Guiney Man, ib.
Engages-the Scarborough Man of war, ib. His Alliance with
Major Stede Bonnet, ib. Depoſes his new Ally, ib. His Ad
vice to the Major, ib. His Progreſs and succeſs, 72. Takes
Prizes in sight of Charles-Town, 73. Sends Ambaſſadors to
the Governor of Carolina, upon an impudent Demand, ib. Runs
his ship aground deſignedly, 74. His Cruelty to ſome of his
own Companions. Surrenders to the King's Proclamation, 75.
The Governor of North-Carolina's exceeding Generoſity to him, ib.
He marries, ib. The Number of his Wives then living, ib. His
sconjugal Virtues, 75, 76. Makes a ſecond Excurſion in the Way of
Pyrating, 76. Some State Legerdemain betwixt him and the Go-
vernor, ib.
His modeft Behaviour in the River, 77.
His From
dicks on shore, ib. The Merchants apply for a Force againſt him,
and where, 75. A Proclamation with a Reward for taking or
killing of Pyrates, 79, 80. Lieutenant Maynard ſent in pur-
ſuit of him, 80. Black-beard's good Intelligence, 81. The
Lieutenant engages Black-beard, ib. A moſt execrable Health
drank by Black-beard-82. The Fight bloody ; the Particulars
of it, 82, 83, 84. Black-beard kiud, 84. His Sloop ta-
ken, ib.
The Lieutenant's Conduct, 84, 85. A Reflection on
the Humours of Seamen, 85. Black-beard's Correſpondents diſ-
cover'd

The CONTENTS
sover'd by his papers, ib. Black-beard's deſperate Reſolution
before the Fight, ib. The Lieutenant and Governor no very good
Friends, 86. The Priſoners hang'd, ib. Samuel Odel ſaved,
and why, ib. The good Luck of Iſrael Hands, 87. Black-
beard's miſchievous Frol'cks, ib. His Beard deſcribed, ib. Se-
veral Inſtances if his Wickedneſs, 88, 89. Some Memorandums
taken from his Journal, 89. The Names of the Pyrates kiud in
the Engagement, 90.
of thoſe executed, ib. The value of
the Prize, ib.
fes, ib.
CH A P. IV.
Of Major STEDE BONNET, and his Crew.
RED a Gentleman, 91.
BRE ,
Suppoſed to be diſorder'd in his Sen.
His Beginning as a Pyrate, ib.
Takes Prizes, 92.
Diviſions in his Crew, ib. Meets Black-beard, ib. Is de
poſed from his Command, 93. His melancholy Reflections, ib.
Surrenders to the King's Proclamation, ib. His new Project, ib.
Saves ſome Pyrates marroon'd, 94. Begins the old Trade again,
95. An Account of Prizes taken by him, 95, 96.
Colonel Rhet
goes in Queſt of Pyrates, 97. Yates the Pyrate ſurrenders, 98.
An Engagement betwixt Colonel Rhet and Major Bonnet, 100.
An Account of the kill'd and wounded, ib. The Priſoners carried
to Charles-Town, ib. The Major and the Maſter Eſcape, ib.
Taken again by Colonel Rhet, 101. A Court of Vice-Admiralty
Joeld, ib.
The Names of thoſe arraign’d, 102, 103.
The Form
of their Indi&tment, 104.
Their Defence, 105 The Names of
thoſe who received Sentence, IC6. An excelleot Speech made by the
Lord Chief Juſtice on pronouncing Sentence on the Major, 107
$0 II 2.
CH AP. V.
Of Capt. EDW. ENGLAND, and his CREW.
HS
IS Beginning and Character, 113, 114. A moft barbarous
Aktion of his Crew, 114, 115,
The Names of Prizes taken
by him, 115, 116. The Misfortunes of his Confederates, 116,
117. England's Progreſs half round the Globe, 117, 118. A fort
Deſcription of the coaſt of Malabar, ib. What they did at
Madagaſcar, 118. Takes an Eaſt-India Man, ib. The
Particulars of the Action in Captain Mackra's Letter, 119 to 122.
Captain Mackra ventures on Board the Pyrate, 122. Is in Dan-
ger of being murder'd; 123. Preferu'd by a pleaſant Incident,
ib. The Pyrates Generoſity to him, ib. Captain England
depoſed,

The CONTENTS.
depoſed, and why, 124. Marcond on the Iſland Mauritius, ib.
Some Account of that Iſland, ib. The Adventures of the com-
pany continued, 124, to 126. Angria, an Indian Pyrate, 127.
bis Strength by Land and Sea, ib.
The Eaſt-India Company's
Wars with him, 127, 128. The Pyr tes go to the iſland of
Melinda, 129.
Their barbarous Behaviour there, ib. Hear
of Captain Mackra's Deſigns againſt them, ib. Their Reflecti-
ons thereupon, 130. Sail for Cochin, a Dutch Settlement, ib.
Mutual
The Pyrates and the Dutch very good friends, 131.
Preſents made betwixt the Pyrates and the Governor, ib. The
Pyrates in a Fright, 133. Almoft ſtaro'd, ib.
Take a
Prize of an immenſe Value, 134. Take an Oftend Eaft-India
Man, ib.
A port Deſcription of Madagaſcar, 135, 136. A
prodigious Dividend made by the Pyrates, 136.
A Fellow's Way
of increaſing his Diamonds, ib. Some of the Pyrates quit, and
join th. Remains of Avery, ib. The Proceedings of the Men of
War in thoſe Parts, 137, 138. Some Durch Men petition to be
among the Pyrates, 138. The Pyrates divided in their Mea-
fures, 139. Break up, ib. What became of them, 139, 140.
C H A P. VI.
Of Capt. CHALES VANE, and his CREW.
TANE's Behaviour af Providence, 141. The Names of
Prizes taken by him, 141, 142. Is deſerted by his Confort
Yates, 143
Yates ſurrenders at Charles-Town, ib. A
Stratagem of Vane's, 144. Black-beard and Vane meet,
145 They falute after the Pyrates Manner, ib. Vane de-
pored from his Command, and wby, 146. 15 Hands degra-
ded, and turned out with him, ib. A sloop given them, 147.
They ſail in Queft of Adventures, and take Prizes, ib. Vane
caſi away wpon an uninhabited Iſland, ib. Meets with an old
Acquaintance, 148. Vane ſeiz'd with a Qualm of Honour, ib.
Ships himſelf on Board a Vefſel, paſſing for another Man, ib. IS
diſcover'd, with the Manner how, 149. Carried to Jamaica, anal
bang'd, ib.
VA
CH A P. VII.
Of Capt. RACKAM, and his Crew.
A CK'AM's beginning as a Pyrate, 150, 151.
RA
An Account
of Prizes taken by him, 151. Is attack'd by a Spaniſh Guard
Ship, ib.
His Stratagem to eſcape, 152. More Prizes tan
Is taken, and how, 154.
Tried, condema
neda
ken by him, 153

The CONTENTS.
Mches
, 158
.
ned, and executed at Jamaica, ib. The Names of his Crew
condemn'd with him, 154. An extraordinary Caſe of nine taken
with bim, ib. Some Account of the Proceedings againſt them,
154, 155.
The LIFE of MARY READ.
ARY Read's Birth, 157. Reaſons for dreſſing her in Bree-
ches, 158. Waits upon a Lady; goes into the Army, 159.
Her Behaviour in ſeveral Engagements, ib. She falls in Love
with her Comrade, ib. Her Sex diſcovered; the two Troopers
married, 160.
Settles at Breda, ib. Her Husband dies, ſe
reaſſumes the Breeches, ib. Goes to Holland. To the Weſt-
Indies, 161. Turns Fyrate. Anne Bonny, another Pyrate;
falls in Love with her, 162. Her Adventures to 165.
The LIFE of ANNE BONNY.
NNE Bonny born a Baftard, 166. Her Mother's In-
trigues ftrangely diſcover'd, 167. Her Father lies with his
own Wife, by miſtake, 169. She proves with Child; the Hus-
band jealous, 1 70. He ſeparates from his Wife; lives with Anne
Bonny's Mother, 171. Anne Bonny put into Breeches for a
Diſguiſe, how diſcovered, ib., . The Father becomes poor. Goes to
Carolina, 172.
Improves his Fortune. Anne Bonny marries
againſt bis Conſent. Her fierce Temper, ib. Goes to Provi-
dence with her Husband, ib. Enticed to Sea in Men's Cloaths,
by Rackam the Pyrate, 173. Reproaches Rackam with Cowar-
dice at his Execution, ib.
CHA P. IX.
Of Capt. HOWEL DAvis, and his CREW.
T
HE Original of Davis, 174. Is taken by the Pyrate Eng-
land, ib. England's Generoſity to him, 175. Is caft
into Priſon at Barbadoes, and why, ib. Goes to Provi-
dence, ib. Employ'd in a trading Veffel, ſeizes the ship, 176.
An Inſtance of his great Courage and good conduct, 177, 178.
Goes to Cape de Verd Iſlands, ib. Take ſeveral Prizes, ib. Take
the Fort of St. Jago by Storm, 180. A Council cald, ib. Sail
for Gambia, 181. Takes Gambia Cafile by Stratagem, 181 to
184. Meets La Bouche, a French Pyrate
, 184. His Adven-
tures with Cocklyn the Pyrate, at Sierraleone, 185.
The Fort
attack d and taken, by theee Confederate Pyrates, 186.
The
Pyrates quarrel and part, ib. The laconick Speech of Davis
to
them, ib.
His fierce Engagement with a large Dutch ship, 187.
An Account of ſeveral Prizes taken by him, ib. A Deſcription of

The CONTENTS.
H 209
the iſland of st. Thome, Del Principe, and Annobono, from
188 to 204. The Dutch Goverror of Acra taken by Davis,
205.
His
Davis well received by the Governor of Princes, ib.
Is coun-
Stratagem to come at the Wealth of the Iſland, 206.
terplotted and kill'd, by an Ambuſcade, 207.
C H A P. XI.
I Of Capt. BAR, ROBERTS, and his Crew.
IS Beginning, 208. Elected Captain in the Room of Davis,
Lord
209. The Speech of Lord Dennis at the Election, ib.
Sympſon objects againft a Papift, ib. The Death of Davis
reveng’d, 210. Roberts fails Southward, in queſt of Ad-
ventures, 2II. The Names of the Prizes taken by them, ib.
Braſil deſcrib'd, from 211 to 221. Roberts falls into a Fleet of
Portugueſe, 221. Boards and takes the richest ship amongſt
them, 222.9 Make the Devil's Iſlands, 223. An unfortunate
Adventure of Roberts, 224. Kennedy's Treachery, 225.
Iriſhmen excluded by Roberts and bis Crew, 230... Articles
Sworn to by them, ib. A Copy of them from, 230 to 233. Some
Account of the Laws and Cuſtoms of the Pyrates, 233, 234.
Inſtance of Roberts bis Cunning, 234. He proceeds again upor
Buſineſs, and takes Prizes, 235 Narrowly eſcapes being ta-
ken, 236. Sails for the Iſland Dominico, ib. Another
Eſcape, 237
Sails for Newfoundland, ib. Plunders, ſinks
and burns 22 Sail in the Harbour of Trepaſſi, ib. Plunders
ten Sail of French Men, 238. The mad Behaviour of the Crew,
238, 239 4 Correſpondence hinted at, 240. The Pyrates ca-
reſs'd at the Iſland of St. Bartholomew, ib. In extream
Diſtreſs, 241, 242.
sail for Martinico, 243.. A Stratda
gem of Roberts, ib.
The infolent Device in bis Colours, 244.
And odd Compliment paid to Roberts, ib.
Three Men deſert
the Pyrates, and are taken by them, 245.
Their Tryal, 245,
246. Two executed, and one ſaved, 247.
zine deſerts them, 24.8. Great Diviſions in the Company,
248, 249. A Deſcription of Serraleone River, 250.
The
Nams of Engliſh ſettled there, and Way of Life, 251, 252, 253.
The Onſlow. belonging to the African Company taken, 254. The
Pyrates Contempt of Soldiers, ib. They are for entertaining a Chap-
lain, ib. Their skirmiß with the Calabar Negroes, 256. The
King Solomon, belonging to the African Company, taken, 258.
The Frolicks of the Pyrates, ib. Take eleven sail in Whydah
Road, 259. A comical Receipt given by the Pyrates, 260. A
cruel Action of Roberts, 261. sails for Anna Bona, 262.
The Progreſs of the Swallow Man of War, in Purſuit of Roberts,
from 262 to 267. Roberts his Confort taken, 267.
The
The Brigan-
Bravery

The CONTENT S.
IS
A Confpi-
Brahery of Skyrme, a Welch Pyrate, 268. The furly Humoud
of ſome of the Priſoners, 268, 269.
The Swallow comes up
with Roberts, 270. Roberts his Drefs deſcribed, 271.
kill'd, 272. His Character, ib.
His ship taken, 273:
The Behaviour of the Pyrates, when Priſoners, 275.
racy of theirs diſcovered, 276, 277. Reflections on the Manner of
trying them, 278, 279, 280. The Form of the Commiſſion for trys
ing the Pyrates, 281.
The Oath taken by the Commiſſioners,
282,
The Names of those arraign'd taken in the ship Ranger,
282, 283, 284
The Form of the Indictment, 284, 285. The
Sun of the Evidence againſt them, 285, 286. Their Defence,
287, 288.
The Names of the Priſoners of the Royal Fortune,
288, 289, 290. Proceedings againſt them, 291 to 304. Har
ry Glasby acquitted, 304, The particular Tryal of Captain
James Skyrme, 304, 305, of John Walden, 305 to 308.
of Peter Scudamore, 308 to 311.
Of Robert Johnſon, 311,
312. Of George Wilſon, 312 to 317. of Benjamin Jef-
fries, 317,318. of John Mansfield, 318, 319.
Of Wil -
liam Davis, 319 to 321. The Names of thoſe executed at Cape
Corſo, 321, 322
The Petition of ſome condemnd, 323. The
Courts Reſolution, ibid. The form of an Indenture of a par-
don'd Pyrate, 324.
The Names of thoſe pardon d upon Inden-
ture to ferve ſeven Tears, 325. The Pyrates how diſpoſed of, 326.
The dying Behaviour of thoſe exécuted, 326 to 329.
CH A P. XII.
OF Capt. ANSTIs, and his CREW.
IS Begirning as a Pyrate, 330. A moſt brutiſh Action ſuppo-
ſed to be committed by his Crew, 331.
Civil Diſcords amongſt
them, 332. The Pyrates Term of Round Robin explain'd, ib.
They land on an uninhabited iſland, ib. A Petition for Pardon
The Form of that Petition, 333. Their Di-
serfions, and Manner of living on the iſland, 334, 335. Their
mock Tryal of one another, 336 to 338. They put to Sea again,
Their Petition not anſwer'd, ib.
The Morning
Srar wreck'd, ib.
Anſtis narrowly eſcapes being taken, 3396
A Plot diſcover'd, ib. The Crew gathers Strength again, 240.
Surpriſed by the Winchelſea Man of War at Tobago, ib. Fire
one of their ships, ib. Anſtis efcapes, ib.
Is killed by a
Conſpiracy of his own Men, 341. The ship ſurrender'd at Cu-
Several bang'd there, ib. Fen hanged at An-
The good Luck of thoſe who fled to the Woods, ib.
agreed on, ib.
338.
raco, ib.
tegoa, ib.
СНААР.

The CONTENT S.
ged, ib.
A A Copy
CH A P. XII.
OF Capt. WORLEY, and his Crew.
mad Beginning, .
His Succeſs, 343, 344.
Bind
themſelves by Oath to take no Quarters, 344, A falſe A-
larm at James-Town, 345. Worley catches a Tartar, ib.
The deſperate Reſolution of the Pyrates, 346. Worley han-
CHA P. XIII.
Of Capt. GEO. LOWTHER, and his Crew.
Plots with Maſſey, 349.
IS Beginning, 349.
Maſſey's
H Н
Conduct, 350, 351.
Lowther's Propoſal, 351.
of Articles drawn up, and ſworn to, 352.
The Pyrates going
by the Ears, 354 How Rogues are made Friends, ib.
Low-
ther and Maſſey part, 355. A Digreſſion concerning Maſſey's
An
mad Conduct, 355 to 357. Lowther and Low meet, 358.
Alliance betwixt them, ib. A Lift of prizes taken by them, 359.
An unlucky Adventure at Cape Mayo, 359, 360, Lowther and
Low break the Alliance, and part, 361.
The Bravery of Caps
tain Gwatkins, ib. The Pyrates much redused, 362. Winter
in North-Carolina , ib.
Put to sea again, ib.
Make for
the Iſland of Blanco, 363. The Iſland defcribed, ib. Are
ſurpriſed and taken, 364. Lowther eſcapes, ib. The Names
of the priſoners, and Fate, ib.
Lowther's Death, 365.
CH A P. XIV.
Of Capt. Low and his CREW..
OW's Original, 366, 367. The Virtues of his family, ib.
His bold Beginning's, 368. Declares War againſt the whole
World, ib.
His Succeſs, 369, 370. Like to periſh by a Storm,
371, 372. Sail for the Weſtern Iſland, 373.
Treats with
the Governor of St. Michael for Water, ib.
Several Inſtances
of their wanton Cruelty, 374. Low's Confort taken, and how,
A horrid Maſſacre committed by Low. 376,377. Takes
a Multitude of Prizes, 377.
Another barbarous Maſſacre, 379.
More Cruelties, 379, 380. Low and his Confort attack'd by the
Greyhound Man of War, 380, 381. Low deſerts his con-
fort, 381. The Confort taken, ib. Carried to Rhode Iſland,
The Names, Age, and Flaces of Birth, of the Priſoners,
382, 383 A Compliment paid to Captain Solgard, by the
Corporation of New-York, 384. The Reſolution of the Mayor
and Common-Council, ib. The Preamble of the Captain's Free-
dom, 385.
More Inſtances of Low's Cruelty, 388, 389. His
Adventures continued to 390.
CH AP.
L
376.
382.

The CONTENTS
pyrating, ib.
A Copy
JIH
CHA P. XIV.
Of Capt. JOHN EVANS and his Crew.
BPO
BGINS with Houſe-breaking, 391.
Seizes a sloop, 392
Robs a Houſe the ſame Night, ib. Put to Sea, and take van
luable Prizes, 393:
Evans ſhot dead by his Boatſwain, 394,
His Death reveng'd, ib. The Company breaks up, 395.
OCH A P. XVI.
Of Capt. John PHILLIPS, and his Crew..
How he became a Fy-
PHILLIPS is original, 396.
His Return to England accounted for, ib. Ships
again for Newfoundland, ib.
Deſerts his ship in Peter Har-
bour, 397
He and four others ſeize a Veſel, ib.
sail out a
Articles ſworn to upon a Hatchet, ib.
of the Articles, 397, 398. IU Blood amongſt them, and why,
399. Are almoſt ſtarved, ib, Take Prizes, ib.
Phillips
propoſes to clean at Tobago, and why, ib. Meets an old Acquain-
tance, 400. Frighten'd from the Iſland, ib.
A Conſpiracy
to run away with the Prize, ib. A skirmiſh, ib. The Car
penter's Dexterity in cutting off Legs, ib. Fern kill'd by Phillips,
and why, 401.
The Danger of attempting an Eſcape among the
Captain Mortimer's Brauery, and hard Fate, 401,
402.
Captain Mortimer's Brother eſcapes, and how, 402.
Cheeſeman's Steps for overthrowing the Pyrates Government, 403.
A Digreſſion concerning Newfoundland, and its Trade, 403, 404.
The Pyrates recruited with Men from thence, 405. Phillips his
Conſcience pricks him, ib. Dependence Ellery, a Saint, ohlig'd
to dance by the Pyrates, 406. A brave Action perform'd by Cheeſe-
men, 407. Carries the Pyrate ship into Boſton, 408. The dy-
ing Declarations of John Roſe Archer, and William White, 408,
409
CH A P. XVIII.
Of Captain SPRIGGS, and his CREW.
PRIGGS bis Beginning, 411. How he ſet up for himſelf, ib.
Sweats his Priſoners for Diverſion, 412. The Pyrates miſtake
in drinking Healths, 413.
Take Hawkins a ſecond time, 414.
Burn his ship, and why, ib. An odd Entertainment given him
by the Pyrates, ib. Captain Hawkins how diſpoſed of, 414, 415.
Spriggs barbarous Uſage of his Priſoners, 415, 416.
Takes a
Ship loaden with Horſes, 416. An odd Frolick of the Pyrates, ib.
Two particular Relations of Pyracy, from 217 to 224,
THE
Pyrates, ib.
SPORTS

( 17 )
ora
OOOGO
OOOOOO
THE
HISTORY
PYRAT E S.
OF THE
INTRODUCTION.
A
S the Pyrates in the Weſt-Indies have
been fó formidable and numerous,
that they have interrupted the
Trade of Europe into thoſe Parts ;
and our Engliſh Merchants, in parti-
cular, have ſuffered more by their
Depredations, than by the united
Force of France and Spain, in the late War: We do
not doubt but the World will be curious to know
the Original and Progreſs of theſe Deſperadoes,
who were the Terror of the trading Part of the
World.
But before we enter upon their particular Hi-
ſtory, it will not be amiſs, by way of Introduction,
to fhew, by fome Examples drawn from Hiftory,
the great Miſchiet and Danger which threaten
Kingdoms and Commonwealths, from the Increaſe
B

18 The INTRODUCTION.
of theſe ſort of Robbers; when either by the Trou-
bles of particular Times, or the Neglect of Go-
vernments, they are not cruſh'd before they gather
Strength.
It has been the Cafe heretofore, that when a fin-
gle Pyrate has been ſuffered to range the Seas, as
not being worth the Notice of a Government, he
has by Degrees grown fo powerful, as to put them
to the Expence of a great deal of Blood and Trea-
fure, before he was ſuppreſs’d. We ſhall not exanine
how it came to paſs, that our Pyrates in the Weſt-Ina
dies have continually increaſed till of late ; this is an
Enquiry which belongs to the Legiſlature, or Repre-
ſentatives of the People in Parliament, and to them
we ſhall leave it.
Our Buſineſs ſhall be briefly to fhew, what from
Beginnings, as inconſiderable as theſe, other Nations
have ſuffered.
In the Times of Marius and Sylla, Rome was in
her greateſt Strength, yet ſhe was fo torn in Pieces
by the Factions of thoſe two great Men, that every
Thirg which concerned the publick Good was
altogether neglected, when certain Pyrates broke
out from Cicilia, a Country of Aſia Minor, ſituate
on the coaſt of the Mediteranean, betwixt Syria on
the Eaſt, from whence it is divided by Mount Tau-
ris, and Armenia Minor on the Weſt. This Begir-
ning was mean and inconfiderable, having but two
or three Ships, and a few Men, with which they
cruiſed about the Greek Iſlands, taking fuch Ships as
were very ill arm'd or weakly defended; however,
by the taking of many Prizes, they foon increaſed
in Wealth and Power: The firſt A&tion of their's
which made a Noiſe, was the taking of Julius Caſar,
who was as yet a Youth, and who being obliged to
fly from the Cruelties of Sylla, who fought his Life,
went into Bithinia, and ſojourned a while with Ni-
comedes, King of that Country; in his Return back
by

The INTRODUCTION. 19
by Sea, he was met with, and taken, by ſome of
theſe Pyrates, near the Iſland of Pharmacuſa : Theſe
Pyrates had a barbarous Cuftom of tying their Priſo-
ners Back to Back and throwing them into the Sea 3
but, fuppofing Cafar to be ſome Perſon of a high
Rank, becauſe of his purple Robes, and the Num-
ber of his Attendants, they thought it would be
more for their Profit to preſerve him, in hopes of
receiving a great Sum for his Ranfom; therefore
they told him he fhould have his Liberty, provided
he would pay them twenty Talents, which they
judgd to be a very high Demand, in our Money,
about three thouſand fix hundred Pounds Sterling;
he ſmiled, and of his own Accord promiſed them
fifty Talents; they were both pleaſed, and ſurpriz'd
ac his Anſwer, and conſented that ſeveral of his
Attendants ſhould go by his Direction and raiſe the
Money, and he was left among theſe Ruffians with
no more than 3 Attendants. He paſs'd
He paſs'd eight and
thirty Days, and ſeemed ſo little concerned or
afraid, that often when he went to ſleep, he uſed
to charge them not to make a Noiſe, threatning,
if they diſturbed him, to hang them all; he alſo
play'd at Dice with them, and fometimes wrote
Verſes and Dialogues, which he uſed to repeat,
and alſo cauſe them to repeat, and if they did not
praiſe and admire them, he would call themi Beaſts
and Barbarians, telling them he would crucify thema
They took all theſe as the Sallies of a juvenile Hu-
mour, and were rather diverted, than diſpleaſed at
them.
At length his Attendants return’d with his Rana
fon, which he paid, and was diſcharged; he fail'd
for the Port of Miletum, where, as ſoon as he was
arriv'd, he uſed all his Art and induftry to fitting
out a Squadron of. Ships, which he equipp'd and
arm'd at his own Charges; and failing in Queſt of
the Pyrates, he ſurpriz'd them as they lay at Ana
chor
B 2

20
The INTRODUCTION.
chor among the Iſlands, and took thoſe who had
taken him before, with ſome others; the Money he
found
upon them he made Prize of, to reimburſe
his Charges, and he carry'd the Men to Pergarnus or
Troy, and there ſecured them in Priſon: In the mean
Time, he apply'd himſelf to Junius, then Governor
of Aſia, to whom it belonged to judge and deter-
mine of the Puniſhment of theſe Men; but Junius
finding there was no Money to be had, anſwered
Ceſar, that he would think at his Leiſure, what
was to be done with thoſe Priſoners; Cafar took his
Leave of him, returned back to Pergamus, and com-
manded that the Priſoners ſhould be brought out
and executed, according to Law in that Caſe provi-
ded; which is taken Notice of, in a Chapter at the
End of this Book, concerning the Laws in Caſes of
Pyracy: And thus he gave them that Puniſhment in
Earneſt, which he had often threatned them with
in Jeft.
Cafar went ſtrait to Rome, where, being engaged
in the Deſigns of his own private Ambition, as
were almoſt all the leading Men in Rome, the Py-
rates who were left, had Time to increaſe to a pro-
digious Strength; for while the civil Wars laſted,
the Seas were left unguarded, ſo that Plutarch tells
us, that they ere&ted diverſe Arſenals full of all
manner of warlike Stores, made commodious Har-
up
Watch-Towers and Beacons all along
the Coaſts of Cilicia ; that they had a mighty Fleet,
well equipp'd and furniſh'd, with Galliots of Oars,
mann'd, not only with Men of deſperate Courage,
but alſo with expert Pilots and Mariners ; they
had their Ships of Force, and light Pinnaces for
cruiſing and making Diſcoveries, in all 110 leſs than
a thouſand Sail; ſo gloriouſly ſet out, that they
were as much to be envied for their gallant Shew,
as feard for their Force; having the Stern and
Quarters all gilded with Gold and their Oars plated
with
bours, fet

The INTRODUCTION. 21
with Silver, as well as purple Sails; as if their
greateſt Delight had been to glory in their Iniquity.
Nor were they content with committing Pyracies
and Inſolencies by Sea, they committed as great
Depredations by Land, or rather made Conqueſts;
for they took and fack'd no leſs than four hundred
Cities, laid ſeveral others under Contributions,
plundered the Temples of the Gods, and inriched
themſelves with the Offerings depoſited in them ;
they often landed Bodies of Men, who not only
plundered the Villages along the Sea Coaſt, but
ranſacked the fine Houſes of the Noblemen along
the Tiber. A Body of them once took Sextillius and
Bellinus, two Roman Prætors, in their purple Robes,
going from Rome to their Governments, and carried
them away with all their Sergeants, Officers and
Vergers; they alſo took the Daughter of Antonius
a conſular Perſon, and one who had obtained the
Honour of a Triumph, as ſhe was going to the
Country Houſe of her Father.
But what was moſt barbarous, was a Cuſtom they
had when they took any Ship, of enquiring of the
Perſon on Board, concerning their Names and
Country; if any of them ſaid he was a Roman, they
fell down upon their Knees, as if in a Fright at
the Greatneſs of that Name, and begg’d Pardon for
what they had done, and imploring his Mercy, they
uſed to perform the Offices of Servants about his
Perſon, and when they found they had deceived
him into a Belief of their being fincere, they hung
out the Ladder of the Ship, and coming with a few
of Courteſy, told him, he had his Liberty, defiring
him to walk out of the Ship, and this in the Middle
of the Sea, and when they obſerved him in Sur-
prize, as was natural, they uſed to throw him over-
board with mighty ſhouts of Laughter; ſo wanton
they were in their Cruelty.
B 3
Thus

The INTRODUCTION.
Thus, while Rome was Miſtreſs of the World, ſhe
ſuffered Inſults and Affronts, almoſt at her Gates,
from theſe powerful Robbers, but what for a while
made Faction ceaſe, and rouſed the Genius of that
People, never uſed to ſuffer Wrongs from a fair
Enemy, was an exceffive Scarcity of Proviſions in
Rome, occafioned by all the Ships loaden with Corn
and Proviſions from Sicily, Corſica, and other places,
being intercepted and taken by theſe Pyrates, inſo-
much that they were almoſt reduced to a Famine:
Upon this, Pompey the Great was immediately ap-
pointed General to manage this War; five hundered
Ships were immediately fitted out, he had fourteen
Senators, Men of Experience in the War, for his
Vice-Admirals; and ſo confiderable an Enemy,
were there Ruffians become, that no leſs than an
Army of a hundred thouſand Foot, and five thou-
fand Horſe was appointed to invade them by Land;
but it happened very luckily for Rome, that Pompey
faild out before the Pyrate had Intelligence of a
Deſign againſt them, ſo that their Ships were ſcat-
tered all over the Mediterranean, like Bees gone out
from a Hive, ſome one Way, fome another, to
bring Home their Lading; Pompey divided his Fleet
into thirteen Squadrons, to whom he appo nted
their ſeveral Stations, ſo that great Numbers of the
Pyrates fell into their Hands, Ship by Ship, with-
out any Lofs; forty Days he paſſed in ſcouring the
Mediterranean, ſome of the Fleet cruizing along
the Coaſt of Africk, ſome about the Iſlands, and
ſome upon the Italian Coafts, ſo that often thoſe
Pyrates who were flying from one Squadron, fell
in with another; however, ſome of them eſcaped,
and theſe making dire&tly to Cilicia, and acquaint-
ing their Confederates on Shore with what had
happened, they appointed a Rendezvous of all the
Ships that had eſcaped at the Port of Coraceftum, in
the ſame Country. Pompey finding the Mediterranean
quite

The INTRODUCTION. 23
quite clear, appointed a Meeting of all his Fleet at
the Haven of Brundufium, and from thence failing
round into the Adriatick, he went directly to attack
theſe Pyrates in their Hives; as ſoon as he came
near the Coreceſium in Cilicia, where the Remainder of
the Pyrates now lay, they had the Hardineſs to
come and give him Battle, but the Genius of old
Rome prevailed, and the Pyrates received an entire
Overthrow, being all either taken or deſtroyed; but
as they made many ſtrong Fortreſſes upon the Sea
Coaſt, and built Caſtles and ſtrong Holds up the
Country, about the Foot of Mount Taurus, he was
obliged to beſiege them with his Army ; fome Pla-
ces he took by Storm, others ſurrendered to his
Mercy, to whom he gave their Lives, and at length
he made an entire Conqueft.
But it is probable, that had theſe Pyrates receiv'd
ſufficient Notice of the Roman Preparation againſt
them, ſo as they might have had Time to draw
their ſcattered Strength into a Body, to have met
Pompey by Sea, the Advantage appeared greatly on
their Side, in Numbers of Shipping, and of Men;
nor did they want Courage, as may be ſeen by their
coming out of the Port of Coracefium, to give the
Romans Battle, with a Force much inferior to their’s;
I ſay, had they overthrown Pompey, it is likely they
would have made greater Attempts, and Rome,
which had conquer'd the whole World, might have
been ſubdued by a Parcel of Pyrates.
This is a Proof how dangerous it is to Govern-
ments to be negligent, and not take an early Care
in ſuppreſſing theſe Sea Banditti, before they gather
Strength
The Truth of this Maxim may be better exem-
plified in the Hiſtory of Barbarouſe, a Native in
the City of Mitylene, in the Iſland of Lesbos, in the
Egean Sea ; a Fellow of ordinary Birth, who being
bred to the Sea, firſt ſet out from thence upon
the
В 4

24
The INTRODUCTION.
the pyrating Account with only one ſmall Veſſel,
but by the Prizes he took, he gain'd immenſe Riches,
ſo that getting a great Number of large Ships,
all the bold and diffolute Fellows of thoſe Inands
flock'd to him, and liſted in his Service, for the
Hopes of Booty; ſo that his Strength was increa-
ſed to a formidable Fleet : With theſe he perform’d
ſuch bold and adventurous A&tions, that he became
the Terror of the Seas About this Time it hap-
pened that Selim Eutemi, King of Algiers, having re-
fuſed to pay the accuſtomed Tribute to the Spani-
ards, was apprehenſive of an Invaſion from thence;
wherefore he treated with Barbarouſe, upon the Foot
of an Ally, to come and aſſiſt him, and deliver him
from paying this Tribute ; Barbarouſe readily came
into it, and failing to Algiers with a great Fleet,
he put part of his Men on Shore, and having laid á
Plot to ſurprize the City, he effected it with great
Succeſs, and murder'd Selim in a Bath; ſoon after
which, he was himſelf crowned King of Algiers ;
after this he made War upon Abdilabde, King of
Tunis, and overthrew him in Battle ; he extended
his Conqueſts on all Sides; and thus from a Thief
became a mighty King: and tho' he was at laſt kill'd
in Battle, yet he had ſo well eſtablished himſelf
up-
on that Throne, that, dying without Iſſue, he left
the Inheritance of the Kingdom to his Brother,
another Pyrate.
I come now to ſpeak of the Pyrates infeſting the
West-Indies, where they are more numerous than in
any other Parts of the World, on ſeveral Reaſons :
First, Becauſe there are ſo many uninhabited
little Iſlands and Keys, with Harbours convenient
and ſecure for cleaning their Vefſels, and aboun-
ding with what they often want, Provifion ; I mean
Water, Sea-Fowl, Turtle, Shell, and other Fiſh;
where, if they carry in but trong Liquor, they
indulge

The INTRODUCTION.
25
indulge a Time, and become ready for new Expe-
ditions before any Intelligence can reach to hurt
them.
It may here perhaps be no unneceſſary Digref-
fion, to explain upon what they call Keys in the
Weft-Indies: Theſe are ſmall fandy Iſlands, appear-
ing a little above the Surf of the Water, with only
a few Buſhes or Weeds upon them, but abound
(thoſe moſt at any Diſtance from the Main) with
Turtle, amphibious Animals, that always chuſe
the quieteſt and moſt unfrequented Place, for lay-
ing their Eggs, which are to a vaſt Number in the
Seaſons, and would ſeldom be ſeen, but for this,
(except by Pyrares :) Then Veſſels from Jamaica
and the other Governments make Voyages, called
Turtling, for ſupplying the People, a common and
approved Food with them. I am apt to think theſe
Keys, eſpecially thoſe nigh Iſlands, to have been once
contiguous with them, and ſeparated by Earth-
quakes (frequently there) or Inundations, becaufe
ſome of them that have been within continual
View, as thoſe nigh Jamaica, are obſerved within
Our Time, to be entirely waſted away and loft, and
others daily wafting. There are not only of the
Uſe above taken Notice of to Pyrates; but it is
commonly believed were always in buccaneering
pyratical Times, the hiding Places for their Riches,
and often Times a Shelter for themſelves, till their
Friends on the Main, had found Means to obtain
Indemnity for their Crimes; for you muſt under-
ſtand, when A&ts of Grace were more frequent,
and the Laws leſs ſevere, theſe Men continually
found Favours and Incouragers at Jamaica, and
perhaps they are not all dead yet; I have been
told many of them them ſtill living have been of
the fame Trade, and left it off only becauſe they
can live as well honeſtly, and gain now at the ha-
zard of others Necks,
VODOM
Secondly
(2001 mot

26 The INTRODUCTION,
SO
Secondly, another Reaſon why theſe Seas are
choſe by Pyrates, is the great Commerce thither
by Erench, Spaniards, Dutch, and eſpecially Engliſh
Ships: They are ſure in the Latitude of theſe tra-
ding Iſlands, to meet with Prizes, Booties of Proq
viſion, Cloathing, and Naval-Stores, and ſome-
times Money; there being great Sums remitted
this Way to England ; (the Returns of the Affiento,
and private Slave-Trade, to the Spaniſh Weſt-Indies:)
And in ſhort, by ſome one or other, all the Riches
of Potofi.
A third Reaſon, is the inconveniency and Diffi-
culty of being purſued by the Men of War, the
many (mall Inlets, Lagoons and Harbours, on theſe
folitary Iſlands and Keys, is a natural Security.
1 'Tis generally here that the Pyrates begin their
Enterprizes, ſetting out at firſt with a very ſmall
Force; and by infeſting theſe Seas, and thoſe of
the Continent of North-America, in a Year's Time,
if they have good luck on their Sides, they accu-
mulate ſuch Strength, as enables them to make
foreign Expeditions : The firft, is uſually to Guiney,
taking the Azores and Cape de Verd Iſlands in their
Way, and then to Brazil and the Eaft-Indies, where
if they meet" with proſperous Voyages, they ſet
down at Madagaſcar, or the neighbouring Iſlands,
and enjoy their ill gotten Wealth, among their
elder Brethren, with Impunity. But that I may
not give too much Encouragement to the Profeſ-
fion, I muſt inform 'my maritime Readers, that the
far greater Part of theſe Rovers are cut fhort in the
Purſuit, by a ſudden Precipitation into the other
World.
The Riſe of theſe Rovers, fince the Peace of
Utrecht, or at leaſt, the great Encreaſe of them, may
juftly be computed to the Spaniſh Settlements in the
Weft-Indies; the Governors of which, being often
fome hungry Courtiers, ſent thither to repair or
Vibutoos
make

The INTRODUCTION.
27
make a Fortune, generally Countenance all Pro-
ceedings that bring in Profit: They grant Com-
miſſions to great Numbers of Veſſels of War, on
Pretence of preventing an interloping Trade, with
Orders to ſeize all Ships or Veſſels whatſoever,
within five Leagues of their Coaſts, which our Eng-
lifh Ships cannot well avoid coming, in their Voyage
to Jamaica. But if the Spaniſh Captains chance to
exceed this Commiſſion, and rob and plunder at
Diferetion, the Sufferers are allowed to complaini,
and exhibit a Proceſs in their Court, and after great
Expence of Suit, Delay of Time, and other Incon-
veniencies, obtain a Decree in their Favour, but
then when the Ship and Cargo comes to be claim’d,
with Cofts of Suit, they find, to their Sorrow,
that it has been previouſly condemn’d, and the
Plunder divided among the Crew, the Comman-
der that made the Capture, who alone is reſpon-
fible, is found to be a poor raskally Fellow, not
worth a Groat, and, no doubt, is plac'd in that
Station for the like Purpoſes.
The frequent Loſes fuſtain'd by our Merchants
abroad, by thefe Pyrates, was Provocation enough
to attempe fomething by way of Repriſal; and a
fair Opportunity offering it felf in the Year 1716,
the Traders of the West-Indies, took Care not to flip
it over, but made the beſt Uſe of it their Circum-
ftances would permit.
V It was about two Years before, that the Spaniſh
:
Galleons, or Plate Fleet, had been caft away in
the Gulf of Florida ; and ſeveral Veſſels from the
Havana, were at work, with diving Engines, to fiſh
up the Silver that was on board the Galleons.
The Spaniards had recovered ſome Millions of
Pieces of Eight, and had carried it all to the Ha-
vana;
but they had at preſent about 350000 Pieces
of Eight in Silver, then upon the Spot, and were
daily

28 The INTRODUCTION.
daily taking up more. In the mean time, two
Ships, and three Sloops, fitted out from famaica,
Barbadoes, &c. under Captain Henry Jennings, fail'd
to the Gulf, and found the Spaniards there upon the
Wreck ; the Money before ſpoken of, was left on
Shore, depoſited in a Store-Houſe, under the Go-
vernment of two Commiſſaries, and a Guard of
about 60 Soldiers.
The Rovers came dire&tly upon the Place, bring-
ing their little Fleet to an Anchor, and, in a Word,
landing 300 Men, they attack'd the Guard, who
immediately ran away, and thus they ſeized the
Treaſure, which they carried off, making the beſt
of their way to Jamaica.
In their way they unhappily met with a Spaniſla
Ship, bound from Porto Bello to the Havana, with
a great many rich Goods, viz. Bales of Cochineal,
Casks of Indico, and 60000 Pieces of Eight more,
which their Hands being in, they took, and having
rifled the Veffel, let her go.
They went away to Jamaica with their Booty,
and were followed in View of the Port, by the Spa-
niards, who having ſeen them thither, went back
to the Governor of the Havana, with the Account
of it, who immediately ſent a Veffel to the Go-
vernor of Jamaica to complain of this Robbery, and
to reclaim the Goods.
As it was in full Peace, and contrary to all Juſtice
and Right, that this Fat was committed, they
were foon made ſenſible that the Government at
Jamaics would not ſuffer them to go unpuniſhed,
much leſs proteft them. Therefore they ſaw a
Neceſſity of ſhifting for themſelves; fo, to make
bad worſe, they went to Sea again, tho? not without
diſpoſing of their Cargo to good Advantage, and fur-
niſhing themſelves with Ammunition, Proviſions,
da and being thus made deſperate, they turn'd
Pyrates,

The INTRODUCTION.
29
Pyrates, robbing not the Spaniards only, but their
own Countrymen, and any Nation they could lay
their Hands on.
dit verle
It happened about this Time, that the Spaniards,
with three or four ſmall Men of War, fell upon our
Logwood Cutters, in the Bay of Campeachy, and
Bay of Honduras ; and after they had made Prizes
of the following Ships and Veſſels, they gave the
Men belonging to them, three Sloops to carry them
home, but theſe Men being made deſperate by their
Misfortunes, and meeting with the Pyrates, they
took on with them, and ſo encreas'd their Number.
sto)
The LIST of Ships and Veſſels taken by the Spanish Men
loq soz of War in the Year 1716. OOO
TYS
The Stafford, Captain Knocks, from Newp-England,
So bound for London.
Gerniſ, for ditto.
Dove obrt Grimſtone, for New-England,
A Sloop,
Alden, for ditto. sroosa
A Brigantine, Möſſon, for ditto.
A Brigantine, Turfield, for ditto.
A Brigantine, Tennis, for ditto.
A Ship
Porter, for ditto.
Indian Emperor, Wentworth, for New-England.
A Ship
Rich, Maſter.
bu
Ditto, Bay.
9
bas Ditto,
Ditto, Smith.
Wit
bon Ditto,
Stockum. o odbinov
e Ditto, -- Satlely.org
Richards, belonging to Nem-
dotas England.
Two Sloops,
belonging to famaisa.
One Sloop
of Barbadoes.
Two Ships
from Scotland.
Two Ships
from Holland.
Anne,
A Sloop,
The

30
The INTRODUCTION.
The Rovers being now pretty ſtrong, they cond
ſulted together about getting fome Place of Re-
treat, where they might lodge their Wealth, clean
and repair their Ships, and make themſelves a kind
of Abode. They were not long in reſolving, but
fixed
upon the Island of Providence, the moſt confia
derable of the Bahama Iſlands, lying in the Latia
tude of about 24 Degrees North, and to the Eaſt-
ward of the Spaniſh Florida.
This Iſland is about 28 Miles long, and eleven
where broadeft, and has a Harbour big enough to
hold 500 Sail of Ships ; before which lies a ſmall
Illand, which makes two Inlets to the Harbour ; at
either Way there is a Bar, over which no Ship of
soo Tun can paſs. The Bahama Iſlands were poſ-
ſeſs’d by the Engliſh till the Year 1700; when the
French and Spaniards from Petit Guavus, invaded them,
took the Fort and Governor in the land of Pro-
vidence, plunder’d and deſtroy'd the Settlements, c.
carried off half the Blacks, and the reſt of the
People, who fled to the Woods, retired afterwards
to Carolina.
.O 101
In March 1705-6, the Houſe of Lords did in
an Addreſs to her late Majeſty, ſet forth, That the
French and Spaniards had twice, during the Time
of the War, over run and plundered the Bahama
Iſlands, that there was no Form of Government
there : That the Harbour of the Ile of Providence,
might be eafily put in a Pofture of Defence, and
that it would be of dangerous Conſequence, ſhould
thoſe Iſlands fall into the Hands of the Enemy;
wherefore the Lords humbly befought her Ma-
jefty to uſe ſuch Methods as the thould think
proper for taking the ſaid Iland into her Hands,
in order to ſecure the ſame to the Crown of this
Kingdom, and to the Security and Advantage
of the Trade thereof.
But,
C
c
C
C

The INTRODUCTION. 31
But, however it happened, no Means were uſed
in compliance to that Addreſs, for ſecuring the Bas
hama Islands, till the Engliſh Pyrates had made Prom
vidence their Retreat and general Recepticle ;, then
Ptwas found abſolutely neceſſary, in order to dif-
lodge that troubleſome Colony ; and Information
being made by the Merchants to the Government,
of the Miſchief they did, and were likely to do,
his Majeſty was pleaſed to grant the following
Order
C
Whitehall September 15, 1716.
Yomplaint having been made to his Majeſty,
by great Number of Merchants, Maſters of
Ships and others, as well as by ſeveral Gover-
nors
of his Majeſty's Illands and Plantations in the
Weſt-Indies; that the Pyrates are grown ſo nume-
rous, that they infeft not only the Seas near Fa-
maica, b'it even thoſe of the Northern Continent
of America ; and that, unleſs ſome effe&tual Means
be uſed, the whole Trade from Great Britain to
thoſe Parts, will not be only obſtructed, but in
imminent Danger of being loſt: His Majeſty has,
upon mature Deliberation in Council, been plea-
fed, in the firſt place, to order a proper Force
to be employ'd for the ſuppreſſing the ſaid Py-
rates, which Force fo to be employed, is as
follows.
105
A

32
The INTRODUCTION.
"A Lift of his Majeſty's Ships and Veſſels employ-
ed, and to be employed, at the Britiſh Go-
vernments and Plantations in the Weſt-Indies.
Place where. Rates, Ships, Guns.
r 5 Adventure, 40. Now there.
Diamond, 40
Sail'd from hence this
ther sth oflaft Month.
Ludlow Caſtle, 40
Tocarry the Governor
Jamaica,
Swift Sloop,
Now there..
Surveying the Coaſt of
the Welt-Indies, and
then to return Home;
but, during her being
6 Winchelſea, 20 at Jamaica, is to join
3
the others, for Secu-
rity of the Trade, and
intercepting Pyrates.
Barbadoes,
85 Scarborough,
30 Now there.
Leeward Iſlands,
6 Seaford,
Now there.
Tryal Sloop, 6
6 Lime,
Now there.
20
Virginia,
5 Shoreham, 30 Order'd Home.
Sailed hither from
2
Home the 7th of laſt
Pearl,
40
Month, and is to cruiſe
about the Capes.
New-Tork,
6 Phonix,
30 Now there.
Squirrel, 20
Dawn Rose,
20
Order'd Home.
9310
Thoſe at Famaica, Barbadoes and the Leeward
Iſlands, are to join upon Occafion, for annoying
the Pyrates, and the Security of the Trade: And
thoſe at New-England, Virginia and New-York, are
to do the like.
Beſides theſe Frigots, two Men of War were or-
dered to attend Captain Rogers, late Commander of
the two Briſtol Ships, called the Duke and Dutcheſs,
that took the rich Acapulca Ship, and made a Tour
round the Globe. This Gentleman received a Com-
miffion from his Majeſty, to be Governor of the
Iſland of Providence, and was veſted with Power
to make Uſe of all poſſible Methods for reducing
the
New-England, {

The INTRODUCTION. 33
the Pyrates; and that nothing might be wanting,
he carried with him, the King's Proclamation of
Pardon, to thoſe who ſhould return to their
Duty by a certain Time; the Proclamation is as
follows;
By the KING,
A PROCLAMATION, for ſuppreſſing of
PYRATES.
W
GEORGER
Hereas we have received Information, that ſeveral
Perſons, Subjects of Great Britain, have fincë
dhe 24th Day of June, in the Tear of our Lord 1715,
committed divers Pyracies and Robberies upon the High-
Seas, in the Weſt-Indies, or adjoyning to our Plantations,
which hath and may Occaſion great Damage to the Mere
chants of Great Britain, and others trading into thoſe
Parts; and tho’ we have appointed ſuch a Force as we
judge ſufficient for ſuppreſſing the ſaid Pyrates, yet the
more effe&tually to put an End to the ſame, we have thought
fit, by and with the Advice of our Privy Council, to ſue
this our Royal Proclamation, and we do hereby promiſe,
and declare, that in Caſe any of the ſaid Pyrates, shall
on or before the 5th of September, in the Year of our Lord
1718, ſurrender him or themſelves, to one of our Prin
cipal Secretaries of State in Great Britain or Ireland,
or to any Governor or Deputy Governor of any of our
Plantations beyond the Seas; every ſuch Pyrate and Pyrates
So Surrendering him, or themſelves, as aforeſaid, ſhall have
our gracious Pardon, of and for ſuch, his or their Pyracy,
or Fyracies, by him or them committed before the fifth of
January next enſuing. And we do hereby ftri&tly charge
and command all our Admirals, Captains, and other of
ficers at Sea, and all our Governors and Commanders of
any Forts, Caftles, or other Places in our Plantations, and
all other our Officers Civil and Military, to ſeize and take
C
ſuch

34
The INTRODUCTION.
Fuch of the Pyrates, who ſhall refuſe or neglect to furren-
der themſelves accordingly. And we do hereby further de-
clare, that in Cafe any perſon or Perſons, on, or a ter, the
6th Day of September 1718, ſhall diſcover or ſeize, or
cauſe or procure to be diſcovered or ſeized, any one or more of
the ſaid Pyrates, ſo refuſing or negle&ting to ſurrender them-
ſelves as aforeſaid, ſo as they may be brought to Juſtice,
and convicted of the ſaid Offence, ſuch Perſon or Perſons,
ſo making ſuch Diſcovery or Seizure, or caufing or procu-
ring ſuch Diſcovery or Seizure to be made, ſhall have and
receive as a Reward for the ſame, viz. for every Com-
mander of any private Ship or Veffel, the Sum of 100 l. for
every Lieutenant, Maſter, Boatſwain, Carpenter, and
Gunner, the Sum of 401; for every inferior Officer, the
Sum of 30 l. and for every private Man, the Sum of 201.
And if any Perſon or Perſons, belonging to and being
Part of the Crew of any ſuch Pyrate Ship or Veffel, ſhall on
or after the ſaid fixth Day of September 1718, ſeize
and deliver, or cauſe to be ſeized or delivered, any Com-
mander or Commanders, of ſuch Pyrate Ship or Veſſel, ſo
as that he or they be brought to Juſtice, and convilted of
the ſaid offence, ſuch Perſon or Perſons, as a Reward for
the ſame, shall receive for every ſuch Commander, the Sumn
of 2001. which ſaid Sums, the Lord Treaſurer, or the
Commiſioners of our Treaſury for the Time being, are here-
by required, and deſired to pay accordingly.
Given at our Court, at Hampton-Court, the
fifth Day of September, 1717, in the
fourth Year of our Regin.
God ſave the KING.
Before Governor Rogers went over, the Procla-
mation was ſent to them, which they took as Teague
took the Covenant, that is, they made Prize of the
Ship and Proclamation too; however, they ſent
for thoſe who were out a Cruiſing, and called a
general Council, but there was ſo much Noiſe and
Clamour, that nothing could be agreed on; ſome
were

The INTRODUCTION. 35
were for fortifying the Inland, to ſtand upon their
own Terms, and Treating with the Government upon
the Foot of a Commonwealth; others were allo
for ſtrengthening the Iſland for their own Security,
but were not ftrenuous for theſe Pun&illios, ſo that
they might have a general Pardon, without being
obliged to make any Reſtitution, and to retire,
with all their Effects, to the neighbouring Britiſh
Plantations.
But Captain Jennings, who was their Commadore,
and who always bore a great Sway among
them, being a Man of good Underſtanding, and a
good Eſtate, before this Whim took him of going
a Pyrating, reſolved upon ſurrendering, without
more ado, to the Terms of the Proclamation, which
ſo diſconcerted all their Meaſures, that the Con-
greſs broke up very abruptly without doing any
Thing; and preſently Jennings, and by his Exam-
ple, about 150 more, came in to the Governor of
Bermudas, and had their Certificates, tho the
greateſt Part of them returned again, like the Dog
to the Vomit. The Commanders who were then
in the Iſland, beſides Captain Jennings abo remen-
tioned, I think were theſe, Benjamin Hornigold, Edward
Teach, Fohn Martel, James Fife, Chriſtopher Winter, Na
cholas Brown, Paul Williams, Charles Bellamy, Oliver la
Bouche, Major Penner, Ed. England, T. Burgeſs Tho. Cock-
lyn, R. Sample, Charles Vane, and two or three others :
Hornigold, Williams Burgeſs and la Bouche were after-
wards caſt away ; Teach and Penner killed, and their
Crews taken; fames Fife killed by his own Men;
Martel's Crew deſtroyed, and he forced on an un-
inhabited Illand ; Cocklyn; Sample and Vane hanged;
Winter and Brown ſurrendered to the Spaniards at
Cuba, and England lives now at Madagaſcar.
In the Month of May or June 1718, Captain
Rogers arrived at his Government, with two of his
Majeſty's Ships, and found ſeveral of the abovefaid
Pyrates
C2

36 The INTRODUCTION.
Pyrates there, who upon the coming of the Men
of War, all ſurrendered to the Pardon, except
Charles Vane and his Crew, which happened after
this Manner.
I have before deſcribed the Harbour to have two
Inlets, by Means of a ſmall Iſland lying at the
Mouth of it; at one of which, both the Men of
War entered, and left the other open, ſo that Vane
flip'd his Cable, fet Fire to a large Prize they had
there, and reſolutely put out, firing at the Man
of War as he went off.
As ſoon as Captain Rogers had ſettled himſelf in
his Government, he built a Fort for his Deferice,
and garriſoned it with the People he found upon
the Iſland ; the quondam Pyrates, to the Number of
400, he formed into Companies, appointed Officers
of thoſe whom he moſt confided in, and then
ſet about to ſettle a Trade with the Spaniards, in
the Gulf of Mexico; in one of which Voyages,
Captain Burgeſs abovementioned, died, and Captain
Hornigold, another of the famous Pyrates, was
caft away upon Rocks, a great way from Land,
and periſhed, but five of his Men got into a Canoe
and were ſaved.
Captain Rogers ſent out a Sloop to get Proviſions,
and gave the Command to one John Augur, one
of the Pyrates, who had accepted of the A&t of
Grace; in their Voyage they met with two Sloops,
and John and his Comrades not yet forgetting
their former Buſineſs, made Uſe of their old Free-
dom, and took out of them in Money and Goods,
to the Value of about 500 1. after this they
Steered away for Hiſpaniola, not being ſatisfy'd whe-
ther the Governor would admit them to carry on
two Trades at once, and ſo thought to have bidden
Farewel to the Bahama Ilands; but as ill Luck would
have it, they met with a violent Turnado, wherein
they loſt their Maſt, and were drove back to one of
the

The INTRODUCTION.
37
the uninhabited Bahama's, and loſt their Sloop; the
Men got all afhore, and lived up and down in the
Wood, for a little Time, till Governor Rogers
happening to hear of their Expedition, and where
they had got to, ſent out an armed Sloop to the
aforeſaid Iſland, the Mafter of which, with good
Words and fair Promiſes, got them on Board,
and brought them all to Providence, being a eleven
Perſons, ten of which were try'd at a Court of Ad-
miralty, convicted, and hanged by the other's Evi-
dence, in the Sight of all their former Compa-
nions and fellow Thieves. The Criminals would
fain have ſpirited up the pardoned Pyrates, to
reſcue them out of the Hands of the Officers of
Juſtice, telling them from the Gallows, that, They
never thought to have ſeen the Time, when ten ſuch Men as
they ſhould be ty'd up and hanged like Dogs, and four
hundered of their ſworn Friends and Companions quietly
ſtanding by to behold the Spectacle. One Humphrey More
rice urged the Matter further than the reít, taxing
them with Pufilanimity and Cowardice, as if it
were a Breach of Honour in them not to riſe and
ſave them from the ignominious Death they were
going to fuffer. But 'twas all in vain, they were
now told, it was their Buſineſs to turn their Minds
to another World, and fincerely to repent of
what Wickedneſs they had done in this. Yes, an-
ſwered one of them, I do heartily repent ; I repent I
had not done more Miſchief, and that we did not cut the
Throat's of them that took us, and I am extremely ſorry
that you an't all hang'd as well as we. So do I, ſays
another : And I, ſays a third ; and then they were
all turned off, without making any other dying
Speeches, except one Dennis Macarty, who told the
People, That ſome Friends of his had often ſaid he ſhould
die in his Shoes, but that he would make them Lyars, and
ſo kicked them off. And thus ended the Lives,
with their Adventures of thoſe miſerable Wretches,
who
C 3

38
The INTRODUCTION,
who may ſerve as fad Examples of the little Effet
Mercy has upon Men once abandoned to an evil
Courle of Life.
Leaſt I be thought ſevere in my Animadverſions
upon the Spaniſh Proceedings in the Weſt-Indies, in
reſpect to their Dealings with us; I ſhall mention
an inſtance or two, wherein I'll be as conciſe as pof-
fible, and then tranſcribe fome original Letters from
the Governor of Jamaica, and an Officer of a Man of
War, to the Alcaldees of Trinidado, on the Island
of Cuba, with their Anſwers, tranſlated into Eng-
liſh, and then proceed to the particular Hiſtories
of the Pyrates and their Crews, that have made
moft Noiſe in the World in our own Times.
About March 1722, one of our Men of War
trading upon the Coaſt, viz. the Greyhound Galley,
Captain Walron, the ſaid Captain invited ſome of the
Merchants to Dinner, who with their Attendants and
Friends came on Board to the Number of 16 or 18 in
all; and having concerted Meaſures, about fix or
eight dined in the Cabin, and the reſt were waiting
on the Deck. While the Captain and his Gueſts
were at Dinner, the Boatſwain Pipes for the Ship’s
Company to dine ; accordingly the Men take their
Platters, receive their Proviſions, and down they
go between Decks, leaving only 4 or 5 Hands be-
fides the Spaniards, above, who were immediately
diſpatched by them, and the Hatches laid on
the reft; thoſe in the Cabin were as ready as their
Companions, for they pulled out their Piſtols and
fhot the Captain, Surgeon and another dead, and
grievouſly wounded the Lieutenant; but he get-
ing out of the Window upon a Side-Ladder, there-
by ſaved his Life, and ſo they made themſelves
Maſters of the Ship in an Inſtant : But by acciden-
tal good Fortune, ſhe was recovered before ſhe was
carry'd off; for Captain Walron having mam'd a Sloop
with
30
Hands out of his Ship’s Company, had ſert
her

The INTRODUCTION.
39
her to Windward fome Days before, alſo for Trade,
which the Spaniards knew very well; and juſt as the
A&tion was over they ſaw this Sloop coming down,
before the Wind, towards their Ship; upon which the
Spaniards took about iooool. in Specie, as I am it-
formed, quitted the Ship, and went off in their
Launch unmoleſted.
About the ſame Time, a Guard le Coaft, of Porto
Rico, commanded by one Marehem Luke, an Italian,
took four Engliſh Vellels, and murthered all the
Crews : He was taken by the Lancetar Man of
War, in May 1722, and brought to Jamaica, were
they were all but leven deferveily hanged. It is
likely the Man of War might not bave meddled
with her, but that the blindly laid the Lanceton on
Board, thinking the had been a Merchant Ship,
who thereupon catched a Tartar. Afterwards in
rummaging there was found a Cartridge of Powder
made up with a Piece of an Engliſh Journal, belong-
ing, I believe, to the Crean Snow; and upon Ex-
amination, at laft, it was diſcovered that they
had taken this Veffel and murthered the Crew;
and one of the Spaniards, when he came to die, con-
feſſed that he had killed twenty Engliſh Men with
his own Hands.
S. Jago de la Vega, Febr 20.
A Letter from bis Excellency Sir Nicolas Laws,
our Governor, to the Alcaldes of Trinidado
on Cuba, dated the 26th of Jan. 1721-2.
Gentlemen,
6 THE frequent Depredations, Robberies, and
T
other A&ts of Hoſtility, which have been
committed on the King my Royal Maſter's Sub-
jects, by a Parcel of Banditti, who pretend to
have
с 4-

40
The INTRODUCTION.
C
©
6
$
©
C
have Commiffions from you, and in Reality are
ſheltered under your Government, is the Oc-
cafion of my ſending the Bearer Captain Cham-
berlain, Commander of his Majeſty's Snow Happy,
to demand Satisfaction of you for ſo many noto-
rious Robberies which your People have lately
committed on the King's Subjects of this Iſland;
particularly by thoſe Traytors, Nicolas Brown
and Chriſtopher Winter, to whom you have given
Protection, Such Proceedings as theſe are not
only a Breach of the Law of Nations, but muſt
appear to tļie World of a very extraordinary
Nature, when conſidered that the Subjects of a
Prince in Amity and Friendſhip with another,
ſhould give Countenance and encourage ſuch vile
Practices. I confeſs I have had long Patience, and
declined uſing any violent Meaſures to obtain
Satisfa&tion, hoping the Ceſſation of Arms, ſo
happily concluded upon between our reſpective
Sovereigns, would have put an effe&tual Stop to
thoſe Diſorders; but on the contrary, I now find
the-Port of Trinidado a Receptacle to Villains
of all Nations. I do therefore think fit to ac-
quaint you, and aſſure you in the King my Ma-
ſter's Name, that if I do meet with any of your
Rogues for the future upon the Coaſt of this
Iſland, I will order them to be hariged directly
without Mercy; and I expe&t and demand of
you to make ample Reftitution to Captain Cham-
berlain of all the Negroes which the ſaid Brown
and Winter have lately taken off from the North-
Side of this Iſland, and alſo of ſuch Sloops and
other Effects as they have been taken and robbed
of, ſince the Ceffation of Arms, and that you
will deliver up to the Bearer ſuch Engliſh Men
as are now detained, or otherwiſe remain at Tri-
nidado ; and alſo expect you will hereafter forbear
granting any Commiſſions, or ſuffer any ſuch
noto
c
C
<
6

The INTRODUCTION, 41
? notorious Villains to be equipp'd and fitted out
from your Port: otherwiſe you may depend upon
it, thoſe that I can meet with, ſhall be eſteemed
Pyrates, and treated as ſuch ; of which I thought
proper to give you Notice, and am, &c.
A Letter from Mr. Joſeph Laws, Lieutenant
of bis Majeſty's Ship, Happy Snow, to the
Alcaldes of Trinidado.
"I
©
6
Genlemen,
Am ſent by Commadore Vernon, Commander
in Chief of all his Majeſty's Ships in the
Weſt-Indies, to demand in the King our Maſter's
Name, all the Vefſels, with their Effects, 6C,
and alſo the Negroes taken from Jamaica fince the
Ceflation of Arms; likewiſe all Engliſhmen now
detained, or otherwiſe remaining in your Port of
Trinidado, particularly Nicholas Brown and Chriſte-
pher Winter, both of them being Traytors, Py-
rates and common Enemies to all Nations: And
the faid Commadore hath ordered me to acquaint
you,
that he is ſurprized that the Subjects of a
Prince in Amity and Friendſhip with another,
ſhould give Countenance to fuch notorious Vil-
$ lains. In Expectation of your immediate Compli-
ance, I am, Gentlemen,
Off the River Trini Your humble Servant,
dado, Feb. 8. 1720.
Fofeph Lars,
6
The Anſwer of the Alcaldes of Trinidado, to
Mr. Laws's Letter.
Capt. Lams,
N Anſwer to yours, this ſerves to acquaint
you, that neither in this City, nor Port, are
there any Negroes or Veſſels which have been ta-
ken
IN

42
The INTRODUCTION.
6
"ken at your liland of Jamaica, nor on that Coaft,
fince the Ceff tion of Arms; and what Veffels
have been taken fince that Time, have been for
trading in an unlawful Commerce on this Coaſt;
and as for thoſe Engliſh Fugitives you mention,
they are here as other Subječts of our Lord the
King, being brought voluntarily to our 'holy Ca-
tholick Faith, and have received the water of
Baptiſm; but if they fhould prove Rogues, and
should not comply with their Duty, in which
they are bound at preſent, then they shall be
chaftized according to the Ordinances of our
King, whom God preſerve. And we beg you will
weigh Anchor as ſoon as poſſible, and leave this
Port and its Coafts, becauſe upon no Account you
fhall be ſuffered to trade, or any Thing elſe, for
we are reſolved not to admit thereof. God pre-
ſerve you. We kiſs you Hand.
Trinidado, Signed, Hieronimo de Fuentes,
Feb. 8, 1722
Benette Alfonſo del Manzano.
Mr. Laws's Reply to the Alcaldes Letter.
'
Yo
Gentlmen,
OUR refuſing to deliver up
the King my Maſter, is ſomewhat ſurpri-
zing, it being in a Time of Peace, and the detain-
ing them conſequently againſt the Law of Na-
• tions. Notwithſtanding your trifling Pretence
(for which you have no Foundation but to forge an
Excufe) to prevent my making any Enquiry in-
to the Truth of the Falts I have alledged in my
' former, I muſt tell you my Reſolutions are, to
ſtay on the Coaſt till I have made Reprizals; and
• Should I meet any Veiſels belonging to your Port,
I fhall not treat them as the Subjects of the Crown
of
C

The INTRODUCTION.
43
YOU.may affure
of Spain, but as Pyrates, finding it a part of
your
Religion in this place to protect ſuch Villains.
Off the River Trinio Your humble Servant,
dado, Feb. 8. 1720.
Joſeph Laws.
The Anſwer of one of the Alcaldes to Mr. Laws's
Reply.
Captain Laws,
OU may aſſure your ſelf, I will never be
wanting in the Duty of my Poft. The
Priſoners that are here are not in Priſon, but
only kept here to be ſent to the Governor of the
Havana: If you (as you ſay) command at Sea, I
command on Shoar: If you treat the Spaniards,
you ſhould happen to take, as Pyrates, I will do
the ſame by every one of your People I can
take up: I will not be wanting to good Manners,
if you will do the ſame. I can likewiſe act the
Soldier, if any Occaſion ſhould offer that way,
for I have very good People here for that purpoſe.
If you pretend any Thing elſe, you may execute
it on this Coaft. God preſerve you. I kiſs your
“ Hand.
Trinidado, Signed,
Feb. 20. 1720.
Bennette Alfonſo del Menzano,
C
C
The laſt Advices we have received from our
Plantat ons in America, dated June 9th, 1724,
gives us the following Account, viz. That Captain
Fones in the Ship John and Mary, on the 5th of the
ſaid Month, met with, near the Capes of Virginia,
a Spaniſh Guard del Coaſt, commanded by one Don
Benito, ſaid to be commiſſioned by the Governor
of Cuba: She was manned with 60 Spaniards, 18
French Men and 18 Engliſh, and had an Engliſh Cap-
tain as well as Spaniſh, one Richard Holland, who for-
merly belonged to the Suffolk Man of War, which
he

44
The INTRODUCTION.
he deſerted at Naples, and took Shelter in a Con-
vent. He ſerved on Board the Spaniſh Fleet under
Admiral Cammock, in the War in the Mediterranean ;
and after the Ceſſation of Arms with Spain, ſettled
with ſeveral of his Countrymen (Iriſh) in the Spaniſh
Weſt-Indies. This Guard del Coaſt made Prize of
Captain Jones's Ship, and kept Poffeffion of her
from sth to the 8th, during which Time ſhe took
alſo the Prudent Hannah of Boſton, Thomas Mou-
fell Mafter, and the Dolphin of TopSaam, Theodore
Bare Maſter, both laden and bound for Virginia :
The former they ſent away together with three
Men and the Mate, under the Command of a
Spaniſh Officer and Crew, the fame Day ſhe was
taken; the latter they carried off with them, put-
ting the Maſter and all the Crew aboard Captain
Fones's Ship. They plundered Captain Jones of
thirty fix Men Slaves, fome Gold-Duft, all his
Cloaths, four great Guns and ſmall Arms, and
about four hundred Gallons of Rum, beſides his
Proviſions and Stores, computed in all to 1500 l,
Sterling
WUDI
EDITALUL
СНАР.

7 45
SOMS50-4930 MS50 650065000$50 US
C H A P. I.
Ο F
Captain A VERY,
And his CREW
.
N
ONE of theſe bold Adventurers were
ever ſo much talked of, for a while, as
Avery; he made as great a Noiſe in the
World as Meriveis does now, and was looked upon
to be a Perſon of as great Conſequence; he was re-
preſented in Europe, as one that had raiſed himſelf
to the Dignity of a King, and was likely to be the
Founder of a new Monarchy; having, as it was ſaid,
taken immenſe Riches, and married the Great Mo-
gul's Daughter, who was taken in an Indian Ship,
which fell into his Hands; and that he had by her
many Children, living in great Royalty and State ;
that he had built Forts, erected Magazines, and
was Maſter of a ftout Squadron of Ships, mann'd
with able and deſperate Fellows of all Nations; that
he gave Commiſſions out in his own Name to the
Captains of his Ships, and to the Commanders of
his Forts, and was acknowledged by them as their
Prince. A Play was writ upon him, called, the Suc-
ceſsful Pyrate; and, theſe Accounts obtained fuch
Belief, that ſeveral Schemes were offered to the
Council for fitting out a Squadron to take him ;
while others were for offering him and his Compa.
nions an A&t of Grace, and inviting them to Eng-
land, with all their Treaſure, leaſt his growing
Greatneſs

46 Of Captain AV ERI.
Greatneſs might hinder the Trade of Europe to the
Eaſt-Indies.
Yet all theſe were no more than falſe Rumours,
improved by the Credulity of ſome, and the Hu-
mour of others who love to tell ftrange Things ; for,
while it was ſaid, he was aſpiring at a Crown, he
wanted a Shilling; and at the ſame Time it was
given out he was in Poffeffion of ſuch prodigious
Wealth in Madagaſcar, he was ſtarving in England.
No doubt, but the Reader will have a Curioſity
of knowing what became of this Man, and what
were the true Grounds of ſo many falſe Reports
concerning him; therefore, I ſhall, in as brief a Man-
ner as I can, give his Hiftory.
He was born in the Weſt of England near Ply-
mouth in Devonſhire, being bred to the Sea, he
ſerved as a Mate of a Merchant-Man, in ſeveral
trading Voyages : It happened before the Peace of
Ryſwick, when there was an Alliance betwixt Spain,
England, Holland, Ge. againſt France, that the French
in Martinico, carried on a ſingling Trade with the
Spaniards on the Continent of Peru, which by the
Laws of Spain, is not allowed to Friends in Time
of Peace, for none but native Spaniards are permite
ted to Traffick in thoſe Parts, or ſet their Feet oli
Shore, unleſs at any Time they are brought as Priſo >
ners; wherefore they conſtantly keep certain Ships
cruiſing along the Coaſt, whom they call Guarda del
Coſta, who have the Orders to make Prizes of
all Ships they can light of within five Leagues of
Land. Now the French growing very bold in Trade,
and the Spaniards being poorly provided with Ships,
and thoſe they had being of no Force, it often fell
out, that when they light of the French Smuglers,
they were not ſtrong enough to attack then, there-
fore it was refolv'd in Spain, to hire two or three
ftout foreign Ships for their Service, which being
known at Briſtol, fome Merchants of that City,
fitted

Of Captain AV ERY.
47
fitted out two Ships of thirty odd Guns, and 120
Hands each, well furnished with Proviſion aud Am-
munition, and all other Stores; and the Hire being
agreed for, by ſome Agents for Spain, they were
commanded to fail for Corunna or the Groine, there
to receive their Orders, and to take on Board ſome
Spaniſh Gentlemen, who were to go Paſſengers to
Nem Spain.
Of one of theſe Ships, which I take to be call'd the
Duke, Capt. Gibſon Commander, Avery was firft Mate;
and being a Fellow of more Cunning than Courage,
he infinuated himſelf into the good Will of ſeveral
of the boldeſt Fellows on Board the other Ship, as
well as that which he was on Board of; having ſoun-
ded their Inclinations before he opened himſelf,
and finding them ripe for his Deſign, he, at length,
propoſed to them, to run away with the Ship,
telling them what great Wealth was to be had up-
on the Coaſts of India ::It was no ſooner ſaid than
agreed to, and they reſolved to execute their Plot
at Ten a Clock the Night following.
It muſt be obſerv'd, the Captain was one of thoſe
who are mightily addicted to Punch, ſo that he
paſſed moſt of his Time on Shore, in ſome little
drinking Ordinary; but this Day he did not go on
Shore as uſual; however, this did not ſpoil the De-
ſign, for he took his uſual Doſe on Board, and ſo
got to Bed before the Hour appointed for the Buſi-
neſs: The Men alſo who were not privy to the De-
fign, turn'd into their Hammocks, leaving none up-
on Deck but the Conſpirators, who, indeed, were
the greateſt Part of the Ship’s Crew. At the Time
agreed on, the Dutcheſs's Long-Boat appear’d, which
Avery, hailing in the uſual Manner, was anſwered by
the Men in her, Is your drunken Boatſwain on Board ?
Which was the Watch-Word agreed between them,
and Avery replying in the Affirmative, the Boat
came

48
of Captain AV ERY.
came aboard with fixteen fout Fellows, and joined
the Company
When our Gentry ſaw that all was clear, they
ſecured the Hatches, ſo went to work ; they did
not ſlip the Anchor, but weigh'd it leiſurely, and
ſo put to Sea without any Diſorder or Confuſion,
tho? there were ſeveral Ships then lying in the Bay,
and among them a Dutch Frigate of forty Guns,
the Captain of which was offered a great Reward
to go out after her ; but Mynheer, who perhaps
would not have been willing to have been ſerved fo
himſelf, could not be prevaild upon to give ſuch
Uſage to another, and ſo let Mr. Avery purſue his
Voyage, whither he had a Mind to.
The Captain, who by this Time, was awaked, ei-
ther by the Motion of the Ship, or the Noiſe of
working the Tackles, rung the Bell; Avery and
two others went into the Cabin; the Captain, half
aileep, and in a kind of Fright, ask'd, What was
the Matter? Avery anſwered cooly, Nothing ; the
Captain replied, ſomething's the Matter with the ship,
Does the drive? What Weather is it? Thinking
nothing leſs then that it had been a Storm, and
that the Ship was driven from her Anchors: No, no,
anſwered Avery, we're at Sea, with a fair Wind and
good Weather. At Sea! ſays the Captain, How can
that he ? Come, ſays Avery, don't be in a Fright, but put
on your Cloaths, and I'll let you into a Secret :
You muſt know, that I am Captain of this Ship now, and
tleis is my Cabin, therefore you muſt walk out ; I am
bound to Madagaſcar, with a Deſign of making my
own Fortune, and that of all the brave Fellows joined
The Captain having a little recovered his Senſes,
began to apprehend the meaning ; however, his
Fright was a great as before, which Avery per-
ceiving, bad him fear nothing, for, ſays he, if you
have
with me.

Of Captain AV ERT.
49
have a Mind to make one of us, we will receive you,
and if you'll turn fober, and mind your Buſineſs,
perhaps in Time I may make you one of ту
Lieu-
tenants, if not, here's a Boat a-long-fide, and you
ſhall be fet afhore.
The Captain was glad to hear this, and therefore
accepted of his Offer, and the whole Crew being
called up, to know who was willing to go on Shore
with the Captain, and who to ſeek their Fortunes
with the reſt ; there were not above five or fix who
were willing to quit this Enterprize; wherefore
they were put into the Boat with the Captain that
Minute, and made their way to the Shore as well
as they could
They proceeded on their Voyage to Madagaſcar,
but I do not find they took any Ships in their way;
when they arrived at the N. E. Part of that Iſland,
they found two Sloops at Anchor, who, upen ſeeing
them, flip'd their Cables and run themſelves aſhore,
the Men all landing, and running into the Woods
theſe were two Sloops which the Men had run away
with from the Weſt-Indies, and ſeeing Avery, they
ſuppoſed him to be ſome Frigate ſent to take them,
and therefore not being of Force to engage him,
they did what they could to ſave themſelves.
He gueſſed where they were, and ſento ſome of his
Men on Shore to let them know they were Friends,
and to offer they might join together for their com-
mon Safety ; the Sloops Men were well arm’d, and
had pofted themſelves in a Wood, with Centinels
Juſt on the out-fide; to obſerve whether the Ship
landed her Men to purſue them, and they obſer-
ving only two or three Men to come towards them
without Arms, did not oppoſe them, but having
challenged them, and they anſwering they were
Friends, they lead them to their Body, where they
delivered their Meſſage; at firſt, they apprehen-
ded it was a Stratagem to decoy them on Bjard,
but

50 Of Captain AV ER Y.
but when the Ambaſſadors offered that the Captain
himſelf, and as many of the Crew as they ſhould
name, would meet them on Shore without Arms,
they believed them to be in Earneſt, and they ſoon
entered into a Confidence with one another; thoſe
on Board going on Shore, and ſome of thoſe on
Shore going on Board.
The Sloops Men were rejoiced at the new Ally,
for their Vefſels were ſo ſmall, that they could not
attack a Ship of any force, ſo that hitherto they
had not taken any conſiderable Prize, but now they
hop'd to fly at high Game ; and Avery was as well
pleaſed at this Reinforcement, to frrengthen them
for any brave Enterprize, and tho' the Booty muſt
be letlened to each, by being divided into ſo many
Shares, yet he found out an Expedient not to ſuffer
by it himſelf, as ſhall be ſhewn in its Place.
Having conſulted what was to be done, they re-
ſolved to ſail out together upon a Cruize, the Gal-
ley and two Sloops; they therefore fell to work
to get the Sloops off, which they foon effected, and
ſteered towards the Arabian Coaſt; near the River
Indus, the Man at the Maft-Head ſpied a Sail, upon
which they gave Chace, and as they came nearer to
her, they perceived her to be a tall Ship, and fancied
the might be a Dutch Eaſt-India Man homeward
bound; but the proved a better Prize; when they
fired at her to bring too, the hoifted Mogul's Colours,
and ſeemed to ſtand upon her Defence; Avery only
canonaded at a Diſtance, and ſome of his Men
began to ſuſpect that he was noc the Hero they
took him for: However, the Sloops made Uſe of
their Time, and coming one on the Bow, and the
other on the Quarter, of the Ship, clapt her on Board,
and enter'd her, upon which the immediately ftruck
her Colours and yielded; ſhe was one of the Great
Mogul's own Ships, and there were in her ſeveral
of the greateſt Perſons of his Court, among whom it
was

Of Captain AVERY.
Ší
was ſaid was one of his Daughters, who were going
on a Pilgrimage to Mecca, the Mahometans think
ing themſelves obliged once in their Lives to viſit
that Place, and they were carrying with them
rich Offerings to preſent at the Shrine of Mahomet.
It is known that the Eaſtern People travel with
the utmoſt Magnificence, ſo that they had with
them all their Slaves and Attendants, their rich
Habits and Jewels, with Veſſels of Gold and Silver;
and great Sums of Money to defray the Charges
of their journey by Land; wherefore the Plunder
got by this Prize, is not eaſily computed:
Having taken all the Treaſure on Board their
own Ships, and plundered their Prize of every
Thing elſe they either wanted or liked, they let
her
go; ſhe not being able to continue her Voyage,
returned back: As ſoon as the News came to the
Mogul, and he knew that they were Engliſh who
had robbed them, hé threatened loud, and talked
of ſending a mighty Army with Fire and Swordz
to extirpate the Engliſh from all their Settlements
on the Indian Coaſt. The Eaſt-India Company in
England, were very much alarmed at it; howeverz
by Degrees, they found Means to pacify him, by
promiſing to do their Endeavours to take the Roba
bers, and deliver them into his Hands; however;
the great Noiſe this Thing made in Europe, as well
as India, was the Occaſion of all theſe romantick
Stories which were formed of Avery's Greatneſs.
In the mean Time our ſucceſsful Plunderers as
greed to make the beſt of their way back to Mää
dagaſcar, intending to make that Place their Magaa
zine or Repoſitory for all their Treaſure, and to
build a ſmall Fortification there, and leave a few
Hands always aſhore to look after it, and de
fend it from any Attempts of the Natives ; but
Avery put an End to this Projet, and made it alto-
gether unneceffary:
D 2

52 Of Captain AV ERY.
As they were Steering their Courſe, as has been
faid, he ſends a Boat on Board of each of the Sloops,
defiring the Chief of them to come on Board of
him, in order to hold a Council ; they did fo,
and he told them he had ſomething to propoſe to
them for the common Good, which was to provide
againſt Accidents; he bad them conſider the Trea-
fure they were poffefs’d of, would be ſufficient for
them all if they could ſecure it in ſome Place on
Shore; therefore all they had to fear, was ſome
Misfortune in the Voyage; he bad them conſider
the Confequences of being ſeparated by bad Wea-
ther, in which Cafe, the Sloops, if either of them
ſhould fall in with any Ships of Force, muſt be
either taken or funk, and the Treaſure on Board
her loft to the reſt, beſides the common Accidents
of the Sea ; as for his Part he was ſo ſtrong, he
was able to make his Party good with any Ship
they were like to meet in thoſe Seas; that if he met
1 with any Ship of fuch Strength, that he could
not take her, he was fafe from being taken, being
ſo well mann'd; beſides his Ship was a quick Sailor,
and could carry Sail, when the Sloops could not,
wherefore, he propoſed to them, to put the Trea-
fure on Board his Ship, to ſeal up each Cheſt with 3
Seals, whereof each was to keep one, and to appoint
a Rendezvous, in Caſe of Separation.
Upon conſidering this Propoſal, it appeared fo
ſeaſonable to them, that they readily came into it,
for they argued to themſelves, that an Accident
might happen to one of the Sloops and the other
eſcape, wherefore it was for the common Good.
The Thing was done as agreed to, the Treaſure
put on Board of Avery, and the Cheſts feald; they
kept Company that Day and the next, the Wea-
ther being fair, in which Time Avery tampered
with his Men, telling them they now had ſufficient
to make them all eaſy, and what should hinder
them
1

Of Captain AV ERT.
53
them from going to ſome Country, where they
were not known, and living on Shore all the reft of
their Days in Plenty ; they underſtood what he
meant: And in thort, they all agreed to bilk their
new Allies, the Sloop's Men, nor do I find that any
of them felt any Qualms of Honour rifing in his
Stomach, to hinder them from conſenting to this
Piece of Treachery. In fine, they took Advantage
of the Darkneſs that Night, ſteer'd another Courſe,
and, by Morning, loft Sight of them.
I leave the Reader to judge, what Swearing and
Confuſion there was among the Sloop's Men, in
the Morning, when they ſaw that Avery had given
them the Slip; for they knew by the Fairneſs of
the Weather, and the Courſe they had agreed to
fteer, that it muſt have been done on purpoſe : But
we leave them at preſent to follow Mr. Avery.
Avery, and his Men, having conſulted what to do
with themſelves, came to a Reſolution, to make the
beſt of their way towards America; and none of them
being known in thoſe Parts, they intended to divide
the Treaſure, to change their Names, to go aſhore,
fome in one place, fome in other, to purchaſe fome
Settlements, and live at Eaſe. The firſt Land they
made, was the Iſland of Providence, then newly
fettled; here they ſtaid fome Time, and having
confidered that when they ſhould go to New-Eng-
land, the Greatneſs of their Ship, would cauſe much
Enquiry about them ; and poſibly ſome People
from England, who had heard the Story of a Ship’s
being run away with from the Groine, might fuſ-
pect them to be the People; they therefore took a
Reſolution of diſpoſing of their Ship at Providence :
Upon which, Avery pretending that the Ship being
fitted out upon the privateering Account, and ha-
ving had no Succeſs, he had received Orders from
the Owners, to diſpoſe of her to the beſt Advan-
tage,
D 3

54 Of Captain AV ERT.
tage, he foon met with a Purchaſer, and immedi-
ately bought a sloop.
In this Sloop, he and his Companions embarq’d,
they touchd at ſeveral Parts of America, where no
Perſon ſuſpected them; and ſome of them went on
Shore, and diſperſed themſelves about the Country,
having received ſuch Dividends as Avery would give
them; for he concealed the greateſt Part of the Dia-
monds from them, which in the firſt Hurry of plun-
dering the Ship, they did not much regard, as not
knowing their
Value.
At length he came to Boſton, in New-England, and
ſeem'd to have a Defire or ſettling in thoſe Parts,
and ſome of his Companions went on Shore there
alſo, but he changed his Reſolution, and propoſed
to the few of his Companions who were left, to fail
for Ireland, which they confented to: He found out
that New-England was not a proper Place for him,
becauſe a great deal of his Wealth lay in Diamonds;
and ſhould he have produced them there, he would
have certainly been ſeiz'd on Suſpicion of Pyracy.
In their Voyage to Ireland, they avoided St.
George's Channel, and ſailing North about, they put
into one of the Northern Ports of that Kingdom ;
there they diſpoſed of their Sloop, and coming on
Shore they ſeparated themſelves, ſome going to Cork,
and ſome to Dublin, 18 of whom obtain'd their Pardons
afterwards of K. William. When Avery had remain'd
ſome Time in this Kingdom, he was afraid to offer his
Diamonds to fale, leaft an Enquiry into his Manner
of coming by them fhould occaſion a Diſcovery ;
therefore conſidering with himſelf what was beſt
to be done, he fancied there were ſome Perſons at
Briſtol, whom he might venture to truſt ; upon
which, he reſolved to paſs over into England; he
did ſo, and going into Devonſhire, he ſent to one of
theſe Friends to meet him at a Town called Biddi-
ford;

Of Captain AV ERY.
55.
ford; when he had communicated himſelf to his
Friends, and conſulted with him about the Means
of his Effects, they agreed, that the ſafeſt Method
would be, to put them in the Hands of ſome Mer-
chants, who being Men of Wealth and Credit in
the World, no Enquiry would be made how they
came by them; this Friend telling him he was very
intimate with ſome who were very fit for the Pur-
poſe, and if he would but allow them a good Com-
miffion would do the Buſineſs very faithfully.
Avery liked the Propoſal, for he found no other
Way of managing his Affairs, fince he could not
appear in them himſelf; therefore his Friend go-
ing back to Briſtol, and opening the Matter to the
Merchants, they made Avery a Viſit at Biddiford,
where, after ſome Proteftations of Honour and Inte-
grity, he delivered them his Effects, conſiſting of
Diamonds and ſome Veſſels of Gold; they gave
him a little Money for his preſent Subfiftance, and
ſo they parted.
He changed his Name and lived at Biddiford,
without making any Figure, and therefore there
was no great Notice taken of him; yet let one
or two of his Relations know where he was, who
came to ſee him. In ſome Time his little Money
was ſpent, yet he heard nothing from his Mer-
chants; he writ to them often, and after much Im-
portunity they ſent him a ſmall Supply, but ſearce
ſufficient to pay his Debts: In fine, the Supplies
they ſent him from Time to Time, were ſo ſmall,
that they were not fufficient to give him Bread,
nor could he get that little, without a great deal
of Trouble and Importunity, wherefore being
weary of his Life, he went privately to Briſtol, to
ſpeak to the Merchants himſelf, where inſtead of
Money he met a moſt ſhocking Repulſe, for when
he defired them to come to an Account with him,
they filenced him by threatening to diſcover him,
D 4
fo

$6
Of Captain AVERY.
ſo that our Merchants were as good Pyrates at
Land as he was at Sea.
Whether he was frightened by theſe Menaces,
or had ſeen ſome Body elſe he thought knew him,
is not known; but he went immediately over to
Ireland, and from thence follicited his Merchants
very hard for a Supply, but to no Purpoſe, for he
was even reduced to beggary : In this Extremity
he was reſolved to return and caſt himſelf
uponi
them, let the Conſequence be what it would. He
put himſelf on Board a trading Veſſel, and work'd
his Paſſage over to Plymouth, from whence he tra-
velled on Foot to Biddiford, where he had been but
a few Days before he fell fick and died; not being
worth as much as would buy him a Coffin.
Thus have I given all that could be collected
of any Certainty concerning this Man; rejecting
the idle Stories which were made of his fantaſtick
Greatneſs, by which it appears, that his A&tions
were more inconfiderable than thoſe of other Py-
rates, fince him, though he made more Noiſe in
the World.
Now we ſhall turn back and give our Readers
ſome Account of what became of the two Sloops.
We took Notice of the Rage and Confuſion,
which muſt have ſeized them, upon their miſſing
of Avery; however, they continued their Courſe,
Tome of them ftill flattering themſelves that he
had only out failed them in the Night, and that
they ſhould find him at the Place of Rendezvous :
But when they came there, and could hear no Ty-
dings of him, there was an End of Hope. It was
Time to conſider what they ſhould do with them-
ſelves, their Stock of Sea Proviſion was almoſt ſpent,
and tho' there was Rice and Fish, and Fowl to
be had aſhore, yet theſe would not keep for Sea,
without being properly cured with Salt, which
they had no Çanveniency of doing; therefore,
fince

Of Captain AVERY,
57
fince they could not go a Cruizing any more, it
was Time to think of eſtabliſhing themſelves at
Land; to which Purpoſe they took all Things out
of the Sloops, made Tents of the Sails, and encam-
ped themſelves, having a large Quantity of Ammu-
nition, and abundance of ſmall Arms.
Here they met with ſeveral of their Countrymen,
the Crew of a Privateer Sloop which was comman-
ded by Captain Thomas Ter; and fince it will be
but a ſhort Digreſſion, we will give an Account
how they came here.
Captain George Dew and Captain Thomas Tew, ha-
ving received Commiſſions from the then Gover-
nor of Bermudas, to fail directly for the River Gam-
bia in Africa; there, with the Advice and Affift-
ance of the Agents of the Royal African Company,
to attempt the taking the French Factory at Goorie,
lying upon that Coaft. In a few Days after they
failed out, Dew in a violent Storm, not only ſprung
his Mast, but loft Sight of his Conſort; Dew there-
fore returned back to refit, and Tem inſtead of pro-
ceeding on his Voyage, made for the Cape of Good
Hope, and doubling the ſaid Cape, ſhaped his Courſe
for the Straits of Babel Mandel, being the Entrance
into the Red Sea. Here he came up with a large
Ship, richly laden, bound from the Indies to Ara-
bia, with three hundred Soldiers on Board, beſides
Seamen; yet Tem had the Hardineſs to board
her, and ſoon carried her; and, 'tis faid, by this
Prize, his Men ſhared near three thouſand Pounds
a Piece: They had Intelligence from the Priſoners,
of five other rich Ships to paſs that Way, which
Tew would have attacked, tho' they were very
ftrong, if he had not been over-ruled by the Quar-
ter-Maſter and others. -- This differing in Opi-
nion created fome ill Blood amongſt them, ſo that
they reſolved to break up pyrating, and no Place
was fo fit to receive them as Madagaſcar; hither they
fteered

58
Of Captain AV ERY.
fteered, reſolving to live on Shore and enjoy what
they got.
As for Tew himſelf, he with a few others in a
fhort Time went off to Rhode Iſand, from whence
he made his Peace.
Thus have we accounted for the Company our
Pyrates met with here.
It muſt be obſerved that the Natives of Madagaſ-
car are a kind of Negroes, they differ from thoſe
of Guiney in their Hair, which is long, and their
Complexion is not ſo good a Jet; they have innu-
merable little Princes among them, who are con-
tinually making War upon one another ; their Pri-
ſoners are their Slaves, and they either ſell them,
or put them to death, as they pleaſe: When our
Pyrates firſt ſettled amongſt them, their Alliance
was much courted by theſe Princes, ſo they fome-
times joined one, ſometimes another, but wherefo-
ever they fided, they were ſure to be Victorious ;
for the Negroes here had no Fire-Arms, nor did
they underſtand their Uſe; ſo that at length theſe
Pyrates became ſo terrible to the Negroes, that if
two or or three of them were only ſeen on one side,
when they were going to engage, the oppoſite Side
would fly without ſtriking a Blow.
By theſe Means they not only became feared,
but powerful ; all the Priſoners of War, they took
to be their Slaves ; they married the moſt beautiful
of the Negroe Women, not one or two, but as many
as they liked; ſo that every one of them had as
great a Seraglio as the Grand Seignior at Conftanti-
nople: Their Slaves they employed in planting Rice,
in Fiſhing Hunting, &c. beſides which, they had
abundance of others, who lived, as it were, under
their Protection, and to be ſecure from the Diſtur-
bances or Attacks of their powerful Neighbours;
there ſeemed to pay them a willing Homage. Now
they began to divide from one another, each living
with

Of Captain AVERT.
59
than upon
with his own Wives, Slaves and Dependants, like
a ſeparate Prince ; and as Power and Plenty na-
turally beget Contention, they ſometimes quarrel-
led with one another, and attacked each other at
the Head of their ſeveral Armies; and in theſe
civil Wars, many of them were killed; but an Ac-
cident happened, which obliged them to unite
again for their common Safety.
It muft be obſerved that theſe ſudden great Men,
had uſed their power like Tyrants, for they grew
wanton in Cruelty, and nothing was more com-
mon,
the ſlighteſt Diſpleaſure, to cauſe
one of their Dependants to be tied to a Tree and
fhot thro' the Heart, let the Crime be what it
would, whether little or great, this was always
the Punishment; wherefore the Negroes conſpi-
red together, to rid themſelves of theſe Deſtroyers,
all in one Night; and as they now lived ſeparate,
the Thing might eaſily have been done, had not a
Woman, who had been Wife or Concubine to one
of them, run near twenty Miles in three Hours,
to diſcover the Matter to them: Immediately upon
the Alarm they ran together as faſt as they could,
ſo that when the Negroes approached them, they
found them all up in Arms; wherefore they retired
without making any Attempt.
This Eſcape made them very cautious from that
Time, and it will be worth while to deſcribe the
Policy of theſe brutiſh Fellows, and to fhew what
Meaſures they took to ſecure themſelves.
They found that the Fear of their Power could not
fecure them againſt a Surprize, and the braveſt Man
may be kill'd when he is aſleep, by one much his infe-
rior in Courage and strength, therefore, as their
firſt Security, they did all they could to foment
War betwixt the neighbouring Negroes, remaining
Neuter themſelves, by which Means, thoſe who
were overcome conſtantly fled to them for Pro-
tection,

60 of Captain AV ERT.
te{tion, otherwiſe they muſt be either killed or
made Slaves. They ftrengthened their Party, and
tied fome to them by Intereſt; when there was no
War, they contrived to fpirit up private Quar-
rels among them, and upon every little Diſpute
or Miſunderſtanding, puſh on one Side or other to
Revenge; Inftru&t them how to attack or furprize
their Adverſaries, and lend them loaded Piſtols or
Firelocks to diſpatch them with; the Conſequence
of which was, that the Murderer was forced to
fly to them for the ſafety of his Life, with his
Wives, Children and Kindred.
Such as theſe were faſt Friends, as their Lives
depended upon the ſafety of his Protectors; for as
we obſerved before, our Pyrates were grown fo
terrible, that none of their Neighbours had Refo-
lution enough to attack them in an open War.
By fuch Arts as theſe, in the Space of a few
Years, their Body was greatly increaſed, they then
began to feparate themſelves, and remove at a
greater Diſtance from one another, for the Conve-
nience of more Ground, and were divided like Jews,
into Tribes, each carrying with him his Wives and
Children, (of which, by this Time they had a large
Family,) as alſo their Quota of Dependants and
Followers; and if Power and Command be the
Thing which diſtinguiſh a Prince, theſe Ruffians
had all the Marks of Royalty about them, nay more,
they had the very Fears which commonly diſturb
Tyrants, as may be ſeen by the extream Caution
they took in fortifying the places where they
dwelt.
In this Plan of Fortification they imitated one
another, their Dwellings were rather Citadels than
Houſes; they made Choice of a Place overgrown,
with Wood, and ſcituate near a Water ; they rai-
ſed a Rampart or high Ditch round it, fo ftrait and
high, that it was impoflible to climb it, and eſpe-
cially

Of Captain AveRr. 61
cially by thoſe who had not the Uſe of ſcaling Lad-
ders: Over this Ditch there was one Paſſage into
the Wood; the Dwelling, which was a Hut, was
built in that Part of the Wood which the Prince,
who inhabited it, thought fit, but ſo covered that
it could not be ſeen till you came at it; but the
greateſt Cunning lay in the Paſſage which lead to
the Hut, which was ſo narrow, that no more than
one Perſon could go a Breaſt, and contrived in ſo
intricate a Manner, that it was a perfe& Maze or
Labyrinth, it being round and round, with ſeveral
little croſs Ways, ſo that a Perſon that was not
well acquainted with the Way, might walk feveral
Hours round and croſs theſe Ways without being
able to find the Hut; moreover all along the Sides
of theſe narrow Paths, certain large Thorns which
grew upon a Tree in that Country, were ftruck
into the Ground with their Points uppermoſt, and
the Path it ſelf being made crooked and ſerpentine,
if a Man fhould attempt to come near the Hut at
Night, he would certainly have ftruck upon theſe
Thorns, tho' he had been provided with that Clue
which Ariadne gave to Theſeus when he entered the
Cave of the Minat aur.
Thus Tyrant like they lived, fearing and feared
by all; and in this Scituation they were found by
Captain Woods Rogers, when he went to Madagaſcar,
in the Delicia, a Ship of forty Guns, with a Deſign
of buying Slaves in order to ſell to the Dutch at
Batavia or New-Holland: He happened to touch up-
on a Part of the Iſland, where no Ship had been
ſeen for ſeven or eight years before, where he met
with ſome of the Pyrates, at which Time, they
had been upon the Iſland above 25 Years, having
a large motly Generation of Children and Grand-
Children deſcended from them, there being about
that Time, eleven of them remaining alive.
Upon

62 Of Captain AV ERY.
as ſuch.
Upon their firſt ſeeing a Ship of this Force and
Burthen, they ſuppoſed it to be a Man of War
ſent to take them; they therefore lurked within
their Faſtneſſes, but when ſome from the Ship came
on Shore, without any fhew of Hoftility, and offer-
ing to trade with the Negroes, they ventured to
come out of their Holes, attended like Princes
S;
and fince they actually are Kings De Facto, which
is a kind of a Right, we ought to ſpeak of them
Having been ſo many Years upon this Iſland,
it may be imagined, their Cloaths had long been
worn out, ſo that their Majeſties were extreamly
out at the Elbows; I cannot ſay they were ragged,
fince they had no Cloaths, they had nothing to
cover them but the Skins of Beaſts without any
tanning, but with all the Hair on, nor a Shoe nor
Stocking, ſo they looked like the Pictures of Her-
cules in the Lion's Skin; and being overgrown with
Beard, and Hair upon their Bodies, they appeared
the moſt favage Figures that a Man's linagination
However, they foon got rigg'd, for they ſold
great Numbers of thoſe poor People under them,
for Cloaths, Knives, Saws, Powder and Ball, and
many other Things, and became ſo familiar that
they went aboard the Delicia, and were obſerved
to be very curious, examining the inſide of the
Ship, and very familiar with the Men, inviting them
alhore. Their Deſign in doing this, as they after-
wards confeſſed, was to try if it was not practi-
cable to furprize the Ship in the Night, which
they judged very eaſy, in caſe there was but a
Nender Watch kept on Board, they having Boats
and Men enough at Command, but it ſeems the
Captain was aware of them, and kept ſo ſtrong a
Watch upon Deck, that they found it was in vaiii
to make any Attempt; wherefore, when ſome of
the
can frame.

Of Captain AV ERY.
63
the Men went aſhore, they were for inveigling them,
and drawing them into a Plot, for ſeizing the Cap-
tain and ſecuring the reſt of the Men under Hat-
ches, when they ſhould have the Night-Watch,
promiſing a Signal to come on Board to join them
propofing, if they ſucceeded, to go a Pyrating to-
gether, not doubting but with that Ship they
ſhould be able to take any Thing they met on the
Sea : But the Captain obſerving an Intimacy grow-
ing betwixt them and ſome of his Men, thought
it could be for no good, he therefore broke it off
in Time, not ſuffering them ſo much as to talk to-
gether; and when he fent a Boat on Shore with an
Officer to treat with them about the Sale of Slaves,
the Crew remained on Board the Boat, and no Man
was ſuffered to talk with them, but the Perſon de-
puted by him for that Purpoſe.
Before he failed away, and they found that no-
thing was to be done, they confeſſed all the Deſigns
they had formed againſt him. Thus he left them
as he found them, in a great deal of dirty State
and Royalty, but with fewer Subje&ts than they
had, having, as we obſerved, fold many of them;
and if Ambition be the darling Paffion of Men, no
doubt they were happy. One of theſe great Prin-
ces had formerly been a Waterman upon the
Thames, where having committed a Murder, he fled
to the Weſt-Indies, and was of the Number of thoſe
who run away with the Sloops; the reft had been
all foremaft Men, nor was there a Man amongſt
them, who could either read or write, and yet
their Secretaries of State had no more Learning
than themſelves. This is all the Account we can
give of theſe Kings of Madagaſcar, ſome of whom
it is probable are reigning to this Day.
СНАР.

64
CHA P. II.
OF
riducbork
Captain MARTEL,
And his CREW.
Come now to the Pyrates that have roſe fince
the Peace of Utrecht; in War Time there is no
room for any, becauſe all thoſe of a roving
advent'rous Difpofition find Employment in Pri-
vateers, ſo there is 110 Opportunity for Pyrates;
like our Mobs in London, when they come to any
Height, our Superiors order out the Train Bands,
and when once they are raiſed, the others are ſup-
preſſed of Courſe; I take the Reaſon of it to be,
that the Mob go into the tame Army, and immedi-
ately from notorious Breakers of the Peace, be-
come, by being put into order, folemn Prefer-
vers of it. And ſhould our Legiſlators put fonte
of the Pyrates into Authority, it would not only
lefſen their Number, but, I imagine, ſet them upon
the reſt, and they would be the likelieft People to
find them out, according to the Proverb, ſet a Thief
to catch a Thief
To bring this about, there needs no other Encou-
ragement, but to give all the Effects taken aboard a
Pyrate Vellel to the Captors; for in Caſe of Plunder
and Gain, they like it as well from Friends, as Ene-
mies, but are not fond, as Things are carry'd, of ruina
ing poor Fellowes, ſay the Creoleans, with no Advantage to
thenafelves.
The

Of Captain MARTEL.
65
The Multitude of Men and Veſſels, employ'd
this Way, in Time of War, in the Weſt-Indies, is ano-
ther Reaſon, for the Number of Pyrates in a Time
of Peace: This cannot be ſuppoſed to be a Re.
flection on any of our American Governments, much
leſs on the King himſelf, by whoſe Authority ſuch
Commiſſions are granted, becauſe of the Reaſona-
bleneſs, and abſolute Neceſſity, there is for the
doing of it ; yet the Obſervation is juft; for ſo many
idle People employing themſelves in Privateers, for
the ſake of Plunder and Riches, which they al-
ways ſpend as faſt as they get, that when the War
is over, and they can have no farther Buſineſs
in the Way of Lite they have been uſed to, they
too readily engage in A&ts of Pyracy, which being
but the fame Practice without a Commiſſion, they
make very little Diftinction betwixt the Law-
fulneſs of one, and the Unlawfulneſs of the
other.
I have not enquired fo far back, as to know the
Original of this Rover, but I believe he and his
Gang, were ſome Privateer's Men belonging to the
Iſland of Jamaica, in the preceeding War; his Story
is but ſhort, for his Reign was fo; an End ha-
ving been put to his Adventures in good Time,
when he was growing ſtrong and formidable. We
find himi Commander of a Pyrate Sloop of eight
Guns, and 80 Men, in the Month of September, 1716,
cruiſing off Jamaica, Cuba, c. about which Time
he took the Berkley Galley, Captain Saunders, and
plundered him of roool. in Money, and after-
wards met with a Sloop calld the King Solomon, from
whom he took ſome Money, and Proviſions, beſides
Goods, to a good Value.
They proceeded after this to the Port of Cavena, at
the Iſland of Cuba,and in their way took two Sloops,
which they plundered, and let go; and off the
Port fell in with a fine Galley, with 20 Guns,
call's

66
Of Captain MARTEL.
calld the fohn and Martha, Captain Wilſon, which
they attacked under the pyratical Black-Flag,
and made themſelves Maſters of her. They put
fome of the Men afhore, and others they detain'd,
as they had done ſeveral Times, to encreaſe their
Company ; but Captain Martel, charged Captain
Wilſon, to adviſe his Owners, that their Ship would
anſwer his purpoſe exactly, by taking one Deck
down, and as for the Cargo, which conſiſted chiefly
of Logwood and Sugar, he would take Care it
fhould be carry'd to a good Market.
Having fitted up the aforeſaid Ship, as they de-
fign'd, they mounted her with 22 Guns, roo Men,
and left 25 Hands in the Sloop, and fo proceeded
to Cruize off the Leeward Iſlands, where they met
with but too much Succeſs. After the taking of
a Sloop and a Brigantine, they gave Chaſe to a
ftout Ship, which they came up with, and, at Sight
of the Pyrate's Flag, ſhe ſtruck to the Robbers,
being a Ship of 20 Guns, call'd the Dolphin, bound
for Newfoundland. Captain Martel made the Men
Priſoners, and carry'd the Ship with him.
The middle of December the Pyrates took ano-
ther Galley in her Voyage home from Jamaica, call'd
the Kent, Captain Lawton, and ſhifted her Provi-
fions aboard their own Ship, and let her go, which
obliged her to Sail back to Jamaica for a Supply for
her Voyage. After this they met with a ſmall Ship
and a Sloop, belonging to Barbadoes, out of both
they took Proviſions, and then parted with them,
having firſt taken out ſome of their Hands, who
were willing to be forced to go along with them.
The Greyhound Galley of London, Captain Evans, from
Guincy to Jamaica, was the next that had the Mis-
fortune to fall in their way, which they did not
detain iong, for as ſoon as they could get out all her
Gold Duſt, Elephant's Teeth, and 40 Slaves, they
fent her onwards upon her Voyage.
They

Of Captain MARTEL.
67
They concluded now, that 'twas high Time to
get into Harbout and refit, as well as to get Re-
freſhments themſelves, and wait an Opportunity.
to diſpoſe of their Cargo ; therefore 'twas reſol-
ved to make the beſt of their Way to Santa Crux,
a ſmall Ifland in the Lattitude of 18, 30, N. ten
Mile long, and two broad, lying South-Eaſt of
Porto Rico, belonging to the French Settlements.
Here they thought they might lye privately enough
for fome Time, and fit themſelves for further Miſ-
chief. They met with a Sloop by the Way, which
they took along with them, and in the Beginning
of the Year 1716-17, they arrived at their Port,
having a Ship of 20 Guns, a Sloop of eight, and
three Prizes, viz. another Ship of 20 Guns, a Sloop
of four Guns, and another Sloop laſt taken; with
this little Fleet, they got into a ſmall Harbour, or
Road, the N. W. Part of the Iſland, and warp'd
up two Creeks, which were made by a little Iſland
lying within the Bay; (I am the more particular
now, becauſe I ſhall take Leave of the Gentlemen,
at this place.) They had here bare 16 Foot Water,
at the deepeſt, and but 13 or 14, at the ſhallow-
eft, and nothing but Rocks and Sands without,
which ſecured them from Wind and Sea, and
likewiſe from any confiderable Force coming a-
gainſt them.
When they had all got in, the firſt thing they
had to do, was to Guard themſelves in the beſt
Manner they could ; they made a Battery of four
Guns upon the Iſland, and another Battery of two
Guns on the North Point of the Road, and warp'd
in one of the Sloops with eight Guns, at the Mouth
of the Channel, to hinder any Veſſels from coming
in; when this was done they went to Work on
their Ship, unrigging, and unloading, in order to
Clean, where I ſhall leave them a while, till I bring
other Company to 'em.
lo

68 Of Captain MARTEL.
In the Month of November, 1916, General Ha-
milton, Commander in chief of all the Leeward Car-
ribee Iſlands, ſent a Sloop Expreſs to Captain Hume,
at Barbadoes, Commander of his Majeſty's Ship,
Scarborough, of 30 Guns, and 140 Men, to acquaint
him, that two Pyrate Sloops of 12 Guns each,
moleſted the Colonies, having plundered ſeveral
Veſſels. The Scarborough had bury'd twenty Men,
and had rear forty Sick, and therefore was but in
ill State to go to Sea : However, Captain Hume
left his fick Men behind, and failed to the other
Iſlands, for a ſupply of Men, taking 20 Soldiers
from Antegoa ; at Nevis, he took 10, and to at
St. Chriſtophers, and then failed to the Iſland of An-
guilla, where he learned, that ſome Time before,
2 fuch Sloops had been at Spaniſh-Town, otherwiſe
called, one of the Virgin Iſlands : Accordingly, the
next Day, the Scarborough came to Spaniſh-Town, but
could hear no News of the Sloops, only, that they
had been there about Chriſtmas, (it being then the
15th of January.)
Captain Hume, finding 110 Account could be had of
theſe Pyrates, deſigned to go back, the next Day,
to Barbadoes; but, it happened, that Night, that
a Boat anchor'd there from Santa Crux, and infor-
med him, that he ſaw a Pyrate Ship of 22 or 24
Guns, with other Vefſels, going in to the North
Weſt Part of the Iſland aforeſaid. The Scarborough
weigh'd immediately, and the next Morning came
in Sight of the Rovers, and their Prizes, and ſtood
to them, but the Pilot refuſed to venture in with
the Ship; all the while the Pyrates fir'd red hot
Bullets from the Shore. At length, the Ship came
to an Anchor, along Side the Reef, near the Chan-
nel, and cannonaded for ſeveral Hours, both the
Veffels and Batteries : About four in the After-
noon, the Sloop that guarded the Channel, was
funk by the Shot of the Man of War; then ſhe
canino-

Of Captain MARTEL.
69
cannonaded the Pyrate Ship of 22 Guus, that lay
behind the Iſland. The next Night, viz. the 18th,
it falling Calm, Captain Hume weigh’d, fearing he
might fall on the Reef, and ſo ftood off and on for
a Day or two, to block them up.
On the 20th,
in the Evening, they obſerved the Man of War to
ſtand off to Sea, and took the Opportunity to
warp out, in order to flip away from the Iſland;
but at Twelve o'Clock they run a-ground, and
then ſeeing the Scarborough about, ſtanding in again,
as their Caſe was deſperate, ſo they were put into
the utmoſt Confufion; they quitted their Ship, and
ſet her on Fire, with 20 Negroes in her, who
were all burnt; 19 of the Pyrates made their
Eſcape in a ſmall Sloop, but the Captain and the
reſt, with 20 Negroes, betook to the Woods,
where 'twas probable they might ftarve, for we
never heard what became of 'em afterwards : Cap-
tain Hume releaſed the Priſoners, with the Ship and
Sloop that remained, and then went after the two
Pyrate Sloops firſt mentioned.
VITESSAGE
virolo
E 3
СНАР.

70
CH A P. III.
Ο F
Captain TEACH,
alias BLACK-BEARD.
E E
Dward Teach was a Briſtol Man born, but had
failed fome Time out of Jamaica in Priva-
teers, in the late French War; yet tho' he
had often diſtinguiſhed himſelf for his uncommon
Boldneſs and perſonal Courage, he was never raiſed
to any Command, till he went a-pyrating, which
I think was at the latter End of the Year 1716,
when Captain Benjamin Hornigold put him into a
Sloop that he had made Prize of, and with whom
he contiuned in Confortfhip till a little while before
Hornigold ſurrendered.
In the Spring of the Year 1717, Teach and Hora
nigold failed from Providence, for the Main of America,
and took in their way a Billop from the Havana,
with 120 Barrels of Flower, as alſo a Sloop from
Bermuda, Thurbar Maſter, from whom they took only
ſome Gallons of Wine, and then let him go; and
a Ship from Madera to South-Carolina, out of which
they got Plunder to a conſiderable Value.
After cleaning on the coaſt of Virginia, they re-
turned to the Weſt-Indies, and in the Latitude of
24, made Prize of a large French Guiney Man,
bound


Page 70
MV
B.Cole Hulp
Blackbeard the Pirate.

Of BLACK-BEARD.
71
bound to Martinica, which by Hornigold's Conſent,
Teach went aboard of as Captain, and took a Cruize
in her ; Hornigold returned with his Sloop to Provi-
dence, where, at the Arrival of Captain Rogers, the
Governor, he ſurrendered to Mercy, purſuant to
the King's Proclamation.
Aboard of this Guiney Man Teach mounted
40
Guns, and named her the Queen Ann's Revenge ; and
cruiſing near the Iſland of St. Vincent, took a large
Ship, called the Great Allen, Chriſtopher Taylor Com-
mander; the Pyrates plundered her of what they
though fit, put all the Men alhore upon the Iſland
above mentioned, and then ſet Fire to the Ship.
A few Days after, Teach fell in with the Scar-
borough Man of War, of 30 Guns, who engaged
him for ſome Hours; but the finding the Pyrate
well mann'd, and having tried her ſtrength, gave
over the Engagement, and returned to Barbadoes,
the Place of her Station; and Teach failed towards
the Spaniſh America.
In his Way he met with a Pyrate Sloop of ten
Guns, commanded by one Major Bonnet, lately a
Gentleman of good Reputation and Eſtate in the
Iſland of Barbadoes, whom he joyned; but in a few
Days after, Teach, finding that Bonnet knew nothing
of a maritime Life, with the Conſent of his own
Men, put in another Captain, one Richards, to
Command Bonnet's Sloop, and took the Major on
aboard his own Ship, telling him, that as he had not
been uſed to the Fatigues and Care of ſuch a Poft, it would
be better for him to decline it, and live eaſy and at his Plea-
ſure, in ſuch a ship as his, where he ſhould not be obliged to
perform Duty, but follow his own Inclinations.
At Turniff, ten Leagues ſhort of the Bay of Hon-
duras, the Pyrates took in freſh Water; and while
they were at an Anchor there, they ſaw a Sloop
coming in, whereupon, Richards in the Sloop called
the Revenge, flipped his Cable, and run out to meet
her
E 4

72
Of BLACK-BEARD.
her; who upon ſeeing the black Flag hoifted,
ſtruck his Sail and came to, under the Stern of
Teach the Commadore. She was called the Adventure,
from Jamaica, David Harriot Mafter. They took
him and his Men aboard the great Ship, and ſent
a Number of other Hands with Ifrael Hands, Ma-
fter of Teach's Ship, to Man the Sloop for the pyra-
tical Account.
The oth of April, they weighed from Turniff,
having lain there about a Week, and failed to the
Bay, where they found a Ship and four Sloops,
three of the latter belonged to Jonathan Bernard, of
Jamaica, and the other to Captain James ; the Ship
was of Boſton, called the Proteſtant Cæſar, Captain
Wyar Commander. Teach hoifted his Black Colours,
and fired a Gun, upon which Captain Wyar and all
his Men, left their Ship, and got aſhore in their
Boat. Teach's Quarter-Mafter, and eight of his
Crew, took Poffeffion of Wyar’s Ship, and Richards
ſecured all the Sloops, one of which they burnt
out of ſpight to the Owner ; the Proteſt ant Ca-
Far they alſo burnt, after they had plundered
her, becauſe ſhe belonged to Boſton, where ſome
Men had been hanged for Pyracy; and the three
Sloops belonging to Bernard they let go.
From hence the Rovers failed to Turkill, and then
to the Grand Caimanes, a ſmall Iſland about thirty
Leagues to the Weſtward of Jamaica, where they
took a ſmall Turtler, and ſo to the Havana, and
from thence to the Bahama Wrecks, and from the
Baham a Wrecks, they failed to Carolina, taking a
Brigantine and two Sloops in their way, where
they lay off the Bar of Charles-Town for five or fix
Days. They took here a Ship as ſhe was coming
out, bound for London, commanded by Robert Clark,
with ſome Paſſengers on Board for England; the
next Day they took another Velfel coming out of
Charles-Town, and alſo two Pinks coming into Charles-
Town

Of BLACK-BEARD.
73
Town , likewiſe a Brigantine with 14 Negroes a-
board; all which being done in the Face of the
Town, ftruck a great Terror to the whole Pro-
vince of Carolina, having, juſt before been viſited
by Vane, ancther notorious Pyrate, that they
abandoned themſelves to Diſpair, being in no
Condition to refift their Force. They were
eight Sail in the Harbour, ready for the Sea,
but none dared to venture out, it being almoſt
impoffible to eſcape their Hands. The inward
bound Veſſels were under the fame unhappy Di-
lemma, ſo that the Trade of this place was to-
tally interrupted: What made theſe Misfortunes
heavier to them, was a long expenſive War, the
Colony had had with the Natives, which was but
juſt ended when theſe Robbers infeſted them.
Teach detained all the Ships and Priſoners,
and, being in want of Medicines, reſolves to de
mand a Cheſt from the Government of the Pro-
vince; accordingly Richards, the Captain of the Re-
penge Sloop, with two or three more Pyrates, were
fent up along with Mr. Marks, one of the Priſoners,
whom they had taken in Clark's Ship, and very in-
folently made their Demands, threatning, that if
they did not ſend immediately the Cheft of Medi-
cines, and let the Pyrate-Ambaſſadors return,
without offering any Violence to their Perſons,
they would murder all their Priſoners, ſend up
their Heads to the Governor, and ſet the Ships
they had taken on Fire.
Whilft Mr. Marks was making Application to the
Council, Richards, and the reſt of the Pyrates,
walk'd the Streets publickly, in the Sight of all
People, who were fired with the utmoſt Indigna-
tion, looking upon them as Robbers and Mur-
therers, and particularly the Authors of their
Wrongs and Oppreſſions, but durft not ſo much
as think of executing their Revenge, for fear
of

74
Of BLACK-BEARD.
of bringing more Calamities upon themſelves,
and ſo they were forced to let the Villains paſs
with Impunity. The Government were not long
in deliberating upon the Meſſage, tho' 'twas the
greateſt Affront that could have been put upon
them; yet for the ſaving ſo many Mens Lives,
(among them, Mr. Samuel Wragg, one of the
Council; ) they comply'd with the Neceffity,
and fent aboard a Cheſt, valued at between 3 and
400 l. and the Pyrates went back ſafe to their
Ships.
Blackbeard, (for fo Teach was generally called, as
we ſhall hereafter ſhew) as ſoon as he had received
the Medicines and his Brother Rogues, let go the
Ships and the Priſoners ; having firſt taken out of
them in Gold and Silver, about 1500 l. Sterling,
beſides Proviſions and other Matters.
From the Bar of Charles-Town, they failed to North-
Carolina; Captain Teach in the Ship, which they
called the Man of War, Captain Richards and Cap-
tain Hands in the Sloops, which they termed Pri-
Wteers, and another Sloop ſerving them as a Tender.
Teach began now to think of breaking up the
Company, and ſecuring the Money and the beſt
of the Effects for himſelf, and ſome others of his
Companions he had moſt Friendſhip for, and to
cheat the reſt : Accordingly, on Pretence of run-
ning into Topfail Inlet to clean, he grounded his
Ship, and then, as if it had been done undefign-
edly, and by Accident; he orders Hands's Sloop
to come to his Affiftance, and get him off again,
which he endeavouring to do, ran the Sloop on
Shore near the other, and ſo were both loft.
This done, Teach goes into the Tender. Sloop,
with forty Hands, and leaves the Revenge there;
then takes ſeventeen others and Marroons them
upon a ſmall ſandy Iſland, about a League from
the Main, where there was neither Bird, Beaft
or

Of BLACK-BEARD.
75
or Herb for their Subſiſtance, and where they muſt
have periſhed if Major Bonnet had not two Days
after taken them off.
Teach goes up to the Governor of North-Carolina,
with about twenty of his Men, furrender to his
Majeſty's Proclamation, and receive Certificates
thereof, from his Excellency; but it did not ap-
pear that their ſubmitting to this Pardon was from
any Reformation of Manners, but only to wait a
more favourable Opportunity to play the ſame
Game over again; which he ſoon after effected,
with greater Security to himſelf, and with much
better Profpe&t of Succeſs, having in this Time cul-
tivated a very good underſtanding with Charles Eden,
Efq; the Governor above mentioned.
The firſt Piece of Service this kind Governor
did to Black-Beard, was, to give him a Right to
the Veffel which he had taken, when he was a
pyrating in the great Ship called the Queen Ann's
Revenge ; for which purpoſe, a Court of Vice-Admi-
ralty was held at Bath-Town; and, tho' Teach had
never any Commiſſion in his Life, and the Sloop
belonging to the Engliſh Merchants, and taken in
Time of Peace; yet was fhe condemned as a Prize
taken from the Spaniards, by the ſaid Teach. Theſe
Proceedings fhew that Governors are but Men.
Before he failed upon his Adventures, he mar-
ry'd a young Creature of about fixteen Years of
Age, the Governor performing the Ceremony. As
it is a Cuftom to marry here by a Prieſt, ſo it is
there by a Magiſtrate; and this, I have been in-
formed, made Teach's fourteenth Wife, whereof,
about a dozen might be ſtill living. His Beha-
viour in this State, was ſomething extraordinary ;
for while his Sloop lay in Okerecock Inlet, and he
aſhore at a Plantation, where his Wife lived, with
whom after he had lain all Night, it was his Cu-
ftom to invite five or fix of his brutal Compani-
ons

76
Of BLACK-BEARD.
das;
Ons to come afhore, and he would force her to
proſtitute her ſelf to them all, one after another,
before his Face.
In June 1718, he went to Sea, upon another
Expedition, and ſteered his Courſe towards Bermu-
he met with two or three Engliſh Veſſels in
his Way, but robbed them only of Proviſions,
Stores and other Neceſſaries, for his preſent Ex-
pence; but near the Iſland aforementioned, he fell
in with two French Ships, one of them was loaden
with Sugar and Cocoa, and the other light, both
bound to Martinico; the Ship that had no Lading
he let go, and putting all the Men of the loaded
Ship aboard her, he brought home the other with
her Cargo to North-Carolina, where the Governor
and the Pyrates ſhared the Plunder.
When Teach and his Prize arrived, he and four
of his Crew went to his Excellency, and made Af-
fidavit, that they found the French Ship at Sea,
without a Soul on Board her; and then a Court
was called, and the Ship condemned: The Gover-
nor had fixty Hogſheads of Sugar for his Dividend,
and one Mr. Knight, who was his Secretary, and
Collečtor for the Province, twenty, and the reſt was
ſhared among the other Pyrates.
The Buſineſs was not yet done, the Ship re-
mained, and it was poſſible one or other might
come into the River, that might be acquainted
with her, and ſo diſcover the Roguery ; but Teach
thought of a Contrivance to prevent this, for,
upon a Pretence that ſhe was leaky, and that ſhe
might fink, and fo ſtop up the Mouth of the Inlet
or Cove where ſhe lay, he obtained an Order
from the Governor, to bring her out into the
River, and ſet her on Fire, which was accor-
dingly executed, and ſhe was burnt down to the
Water's Edge, her Bottom funk, and with it,
their

Of BLACK-BEARD.
79
their Fears of her ever riſing in Judgment againſt
them.
Captain Teach, alias Black-beard, paſſed three or
four Months in the River, ſometimes lying at An-
chor in the Coves, at other Times failing from one
Inlet to another, trading with ſuch Sloops as he
met, for the Plunder he had taken, and would of
ten give them Preſents for Stores and Proviſions
took from them; that is, when he happened to be
in a giving Humour ; at other Times he made bold
with them, and took what he liked, without ſay-
ing, by your Leave, knowing well, they dared not
fend him a Bill for the Payment. He often di-
verted himſelf with going afhore among the Plan-
ters, where he revelled Night and Day: By theſe
he was well received, but whether out of Love
or Fear, I cannot ſay, ſometimes he uſed them cour-
teouſly enough, and made them Preſents of Rum
and Sugar, in Recompence of what he took from
them ; but, as for Liberties (which 'tis faid) he
and his Companions often took with the Wives
and Daughters of the Planters, I cannot take
upon me to ſay, whether he paid them ad valorem,
or no. At other Times he carried it in a lordly
Manner towards them, and would lay ſome of them
under Contribution ; nay, he often proceeded to
bully the Governor, not, that I can diſcover the
leaſt Cauſe of Quarrel betwixt them, but it ſeemed
only to be done, to fhew he dared do it.
The Sloops trading up and down this River,
being ſo frequently pillaged by Black-beard, con-
ſulted with the Traders, and ſome of the beft of the
Planters, what Courſe to take ; they ſaw plainly
it would be in vain to make any Application to
the Governor of North-Carolina, to whom it pro-
perly belonged to find ſome Redreſs; fo that if
they could not be relieved from ſome other Quar-
ter

78
Of BLACK-BEARD
ter, Black-beard would be like to reign with Impu-
nity, therefore, with as much Secrecy as poft ble,
they fent a Deputation to Virginia, to lay the Affair
before the Governor of that Colony, and to ſolicit
an armed Force from the Men of War lying there,
to take or deſtroy this Pyrate.
This Governor conſulted with the Captains of
the two Men of War, viz. the Pearl and Lime,
who had lain in St. James's River, about ten Months,
It was agreed that the Governor ſhould hire
a couple of ſmall Sloops, and the Men of War
fhould Man them; this was accordingly done,
and the Command of them given to Mr. Robert
Maynard, firſt Lieutenant of the Pearl, an expe-
rienced Officer, and a Gentleman of great Bravery
and Reſolution, as will appear by his gallant Be-
haviour in this Expedition. The Sloops were well
mann'd and furniſhed with Ammunition and ſmall
Arms, but had no Guns mounted.
About the Time of their going out, the Gover-
nor called an Aſſembly, in which it was reſolved to
publiſh a Proclamation, offering certain Rewards
to any perſon or Perſons, who, within a Year after
that Time, ſhould take or deſtroy any Pyrate : The
original Proclamation being in our Hands, is as
follows.
Ву

Of BLACK-BEARD.
79
By his Majeſty's Lieutenant Governor,
and
Commander in Chief, of the Colony and
Dominion of Virginia,
A PROCLAMATION,
Publiſhing the Rewards given for apprehending,
or killing, Pyrates.
W
Hereas, by an Act of Aſſembly, made at -
Seſſion of Aſſembly, begun at the Capital in Wil-
liamsburgh, the eleventh Day of November, in the
fifth Tear of his Majeſty's Reign, entituled, An A&t to en-
courage the apprehending and deſtroying of Pyrates:
It is, amongst other Things enałted, that all and every per-
fon, or Perſons, who, from and after the fourteenth Day of
November, in the Year of our Lord one thouſand ſeven
bundred and eighteen, and before the fourteenth Day of
November, which ſhall be in the rear of our Lord one
thouſand ſeven hundred and nineteen, ſhall take any Pyrate,
or Pyrates, on the Sea or Land, or in Caſe of Reſiſtance,
Jhall kill any ſuch Pyrate, or Pyrates, between the Degrees
of thirty four, and thirty nine, of Northern Latitude, and
within one hundred Leagues of the Continent of Virgi-
aia, or within the Provinces of Virginia, or North-
Carolina, upon the Conviction, or making due Proof of
the killing of all, and every ſuch Pyrate, and Pyrates,
before the Governor and Council, ſhall be entitled to have,
and receive out of the publick Money, in the Hands of
the Treaſurer of this Colony, the ſeveral Rewards follow-
ing ; that is to ſay, for Edward Teach, commonly
call’d Captain Teach, or Black Beard, one hundred
Pounds, for every other Commander of a Pyrate Ship,
Sloop, or Veffel, forty Pounds ; for every Lieutenant, Man
ſter, or Quarter-Maſter, Boatſwain, or Carpenter, t'men-
ty Pounds; for every other inferior Officer, fifteen Pounds,
and for every private Man taken on Board ſuch Ship,
Sloop,

80
Of BLACK-BEARD.
Sloop, or Veffel, ten Pounds; and, that for every Pyrate;
which ſhall be taken by any Ship, Sloop or Veffel, belonging
to this Colony, or North-Carolina, within the Time
aforeſaid, in any place whatſoever, the like Rewards
Shall be paid according to the Quality and Condition
of ſuch Fyrates. Wherefore, for the Encouragement of
all ſuch perſons as Mall be willing to ſerve his Majeſty,
and their Country, in ſo just and honourable an Under-
taking, as the ſuppreſſing a Sort of People, who may be
truly called Enem es to Mankind : I have thought fit,
with the Advice and Conſent of his Majesty's Council,
to fue this Proclamation, hereby declaring, the ſaid
Rewards shall be punctually and justly paid, in current
Money of Virginia, according to the Directions of the
faid Act.
And, I do order and appoint this Procida
mation, to be publiſhed by the Sheriffs, at their reſpe-
Etive County-Houſes, and by all Miniſters and Readers,
in the ſeveral Churches and Chappels, throughout this
Colony.
Given at our Council-Chamber at Williams-
burgh, this 24th Day of November, 1718,
in the fifth Year of his Majeſty's Reign.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
A. SPOTSWOOD
The 17th of November, 1718, the Lieutenant
faild from Kicquetan, in James River in Virginia,
and, the 21ſt in the Evening, came to the Mouth of
Okerecock Inlet, where he got Sight of the Pyrate.
This Expedition was made with all imaginable
Secrecy, and the Officer manag'd with all the Pru-
dence that was neceffary, ſtopping all Boats and
Veſſels he met with, in the River, from going up,
and thereby preventing any Intelligence from reach-
ing Black-Beard, and receiving at the ſame time an
Account from them all, of the place where the Pyrate
was lurking ; but notwithſtanding this Caution,
Black

Of BLACK-BEARD.
81
Black-beard had Information of the Deſign, from
his Excellency of the Province ; and his Secretary,
Mr. Knight, wrote him a Letter, particularly con-
cerning it, intimating, That he had ſent him four of his
Men, which were all he could meet with, in or about Town,
and fo bid him be upon his Guard. Theſe Men belonged
to Black-beard, and were ſent from Bath-Town to
Okerecock Inlet, where the Sloop lay, which is about
20 Leagues.
bio
Black-beard had heard ſeveral Reports, which hap-
pened not to be true, and ſo gave the leſs Cre-
dit to this, nor was he convinced till he ſaw the
Sloops: Whereupon he put his Vefſel in a Poſture
of Defence; he had no more than twenty five Men
on Board, tho' he gave out to all the Veſſels he
ſpoke with, that he had 40. When he had pre-
pared for Battle, he ſet down and ſpent the Night
in drinking with the Maſter of a trading Sloop,
who, 'twas thought, had more Buſineſs with Teach,
than he ſhould have had.
Lieutenant Maynard came to an Anchor, for the
Place being ſhoal, and the Channel intricate, there
was no getting in, where Teach lay, that Night;
but in the Morning he weighed, and ſent his
Boat a-head of the Sloops to found; and com-
ing within Gun-Shot of the Pyrare, received his
Fire; whereupon Maynard hoiſted the King's Co-
lours, and ſtood dire&ly towards him, with the
beft Way that his Sails and Oars could made. Black-
beard cut his Cable, and endeavoured to make a
Tunning Fight, keeping a continual Fire at his
Enemies, with his Guns ; Mr. Maynard not having
any, kept a conſtant Fire with ſmall Arms, while
ſome of his Men laboured at their Oars. In a little
Time Teach's Sloop ran a-ground, and Mr. May-
nard's drawing more Water than that of the Pyrate,
he could not come near him; fo he anchored within
half Gun-Shot of the Enemy, and, in order to
F
lighten

82 Of BLACK-BEARD.
lighten his Vefſel, that he might run him aboard,
the Lieutenant ordered all his Ballaſt to be thrown
over-board, and all the Water to be ftaved, and
then weigh'd and ſtood for him ; upon which Black-
beard hail'd him in this rude Manner : Damn you
for Villains, who are you? And, from whence came you?
The Lieutenant made him Anſwer, You may ſee by
01X Colours we are no Pyrates. Black-beard bid him
ſend his Boat on Board, that he might ſee who he
was; but Mr. Maynard reply'd thus; I cannot ſpare
my Boat, but I will come aboard of you as ſoon as I can,
with my Sloop. Upon this, B'ack-beard took a Glaſs
of Liquor, and drank to him with theſe Words:
Damnation ſeize my Soul if I give you Quarters, or take any
from you. In Anſwer to which, Mr. Maynard told
him, That he expected no Quarters from him, nor ſhould
be give him any
By this time Black-beard's Sloop fleeted, as Mr.
Maynard's Sloops were rowing towards him, which
being not above a Foot high in the Wafte, and con-
ſequently the Men all expoſed, as they came near
together, there being hitherto little or no Exe-
cution done, on either Side,) the Pyrate fired a
Broadſide, charged with all Manner of ſmall Shot.
A fatal Stroke to them ! The Sloop the
Lieutenant was in, having twenty Men killed
and wounded, and the other Sloop nine : This
could not be helpd, for there being no Wind, they
were oblig'd to keep to their Oars, otherwiſe
the Pyrate would have got away from him, which,
it ſeems, the Lieutenant was reſolute to pre-
vent.
After this unlucky Blow, Black-beard's Sloop
fell Broadſide to the Shore; Mr. Maynard's other
Sloop, which was called the Ranger, fell a-ftern,
being, for the preſent, diſabled; to the Lieutenant
finding his own Sloop had Way, and would ſoon
be on Board of Teach, he ordered all his Men
down,

Of BLACK-BEARD.
83
down, for fear of another Broadfide, which muſt
have been their Deſtruction, and the loſs of their
Expedition. Mr. Maynard was the only Perfon
that kept the Deck, except the Man at the Helm,
whom he directed to lye down ſnug, and the Men
in the Hold were ordered to get their Piſtols and
their Swords ready for cloſe fighting, and to
come up at his Command ; in order to which,
two Ladders were placed in the Hatch-Way
for the more Expedition. When the Lieutenant's
Sloop boarded the other, Captain Teach's Men
threw in ſeveral new faſhioned ſort of Grenadoes,
viz. Caſe Bottles filled with Powder, and ſmall
Shot, Slugs, and Pieces of Lead or Iron, with a
quick Match in the Mouth of it, which being
lighted without Side, preſently runs into the Bot-
tle to the Powder, and as it is inſtantly thrown
on Board, generally does great Execution, beſides
putting all the Crew into a Confuſion; but by
good Providence, they had not that Effect here;
the Men being in the Hold, and Black-beard ſeeing
few or no Hands aboard, told his Men, That they
were all knock'd on the Head, except three or four ; and
therefore, ſays he, let's jump on Board, and cut them to
Pieces.
Whereupon, under the Smoak of one of the
Bottles juſt mentioned, Black-beard enters with
fourteen Men, over the Bows of Maynard's Sloop,
and were not ſeen by him till the Air cleared ;
however, he juſt then gave a Signal to his Men,
who all roſe in an Inſtant, and attack'd the Pyrates
with as much Bravery as ever was done upon ſuch
an Occaſion: Black-beard and the Lieutenant fired
the firſt Piſtol at each other, by which the Pyrate
received a Wound, and then engaged with Swords,
till the Lieutenant's unluckily broke, and ſtepping
back to cock a Piſtol, Black-beard, with his Cut-
laſh, was ſtriking at that Inſtant, that one of May-
F 2
nard's

84
Of BLACK-BE ARD.
rard's Men gave him a terrible Wound in the Neck
and Throat, by which the Lieutenant came off
with a ſmall Cut over his Fingers.
They were now cloſely and warmly engaged,
the Lieutenant and twelve Men, againſt Black-
beard and fourteen, till the Sea was tin&tur'd with
Blood round the Veſſel; Black-beard received a Shot
into his Body from the Piſtol that Lieutenant May-
nard diſcharg'd, yet he ftood his Ground, and fought
with great Fury, till he received five and twenty
Wounds, and five of them by Shot. At length,
as he was cocking arother Piftol, having fired ſe-
veral before, he fell down dead; by which Time
eight more out of the fourteen dropp'd, and all the
reſt, much wounded, jump'd over-board, and call'd
out for Quarters, which was granted, tho it was
only prolonging their Lives for a few Days. The
Sloop Ranger came up, and attack'd the Men that
remain'd in Black-beard's Sloop, with equal Bra-
very, till they likewiſe cry'd for Quartets.
Here was an End of that couragious Brute, who
might have paſs'd in the World for a Heroe, had
he been employ'd in a good Cauſe; his Deſtruction,
which was of ſuch Conſequence to the Plantations,
was entirely owing to the Conduct and Bravery
of Lieutenant Maynard and his Men, who might
have deſtroy'd him with much leſs Loſs, had they
had a Vefſel with great Guns ; but they were
obliged to uſe ſmall Veſſels, becauſe the Holes
and Places he lurk'd in, would not admit of others
of greater Draught; and it was no ſmall Difficulty
for this Gentleman to get to him, having groun-
ded his Veffel, at leaſt, a hundred times, in get-
ting up the River, beſides other Diſcouragements,
enough to have turn’d back any Gentleman with-
out Diſhonour, who was leſs reſolute and bold than
this Lieutenant. The Broadſide that did ſo much
Miſchief before they boarded, in all Probabiliy fa-
ved

Of BLACK-BEARD.
85
ved the reſt from Deſtruction; for before that
Teach had little or no Hopes of eſcaping, and
therefore had poſted a reſolute Fellow, a Negroe,
whom he had bred up, with a lighted Match, in
the Powder-Room, with Commands to blow up,
when he ſhould give him Orders, which was as ſoon
as the Lientenant and his Men could have en-
tered, that fo he might have deſtroy'd his Conque-
rors: and when the Negro found how it went
with Black-beard, he could hardly be perſwaded
from the rath A&tion, by two Priſoners that were
then in the Hold of the Sloop.
What ſeems a little odd, is, that ſome of theſe
Men, who behaved ſo bravely againſt Black-beard,
went afterwards a pyrating themſelves, and one
of them was taken along with Roberts; but I
do not find that any of them were provided for,
except one that was hanged; but this is a Di-
greffion,
The Lieutenant cauſed Black-beard's Head to be
ſevered from his Body, and hung up at the Bolt-
ſprit End, then he failed to Bath-Town, to get Relief
for his wounded Men.
It muſt be obſerved, that in rummaging the Py-
rate's Sloop, they found ſeveral Letters and writ-
ten Papers, which diſcovered the Correſpondence
betwixt Governor Eden, the Secretary and Col-
le&tor, and alſo fome Traders at New-York, and
Black-beard. It is likely he had Regard enough
for his Friends, to have deſtroyed theſe Papers
before the A&ion, in order to hinder them from
falling into fuch Hands, where the Diſcovery would
be of no Uſe, either to the Intereſt or Reputation
of theſe fine Gentlemen, if it had not been his
fixed Reſolution to have blown up together, when
he found no poffibility of eſcaping.
When the Lieutenant came to Bath-Town, he made
bold to ſeize in the Governor's Store-Houſe, the
F 3
fixty

86 Of BLACK-BEARD.
fixty Hogſheads of Sugar, and from honeft Mr.
Knight, twenty ; which it ſeems was their Dividend
of the Plunder taken in the French Ship; the latter
did not long ſurvive this ſhameful Diſcovery, for
being apprehenſive that he might be called to an
Account for theſe Trifles, fell fick with the Fright,
and died in a few Days.
After the wounded Men were pretty well reco-
ver’d, the Lieutenant failed back to the Men of
War in James River, in Virginia, with Black-beard's
Head ſtill hanging at the Bolt-ſprit End, and five-
teen Priſoners, thirteen of whom were hanged.
It appearing upon Tryal, that one of them, viz.
Samuel Odell, was taken out of the trading Sloop,
but the Night before the Engagement. This poor
Fellow was a little unlucky at his firſt entering up-
on his new Trade, there appearing no leſs than 70
Wounds upon him after the A&tion, notwithſtand-
ing which, he lived, and was cured of them all. The
other Perſon that eſcaped the Gallows, was one
Iſrael Hands, the Maſter of Black-beard's Sloop, and
formerly Captain of the fame, before the Queen
Ann's Revenge was loft in Topſail Inlet.
The aforeſaid Hands happened not to be in the
Fight, but was taken afterwards afhore at Bath-
Town, having been ſometime before diſabled by
Black-beard, in one of his favage Humours, after
the following Manner. ---- One Night drinking in
his Cabin with Hands, the Pilot, and another Man;
Black-beard without any Provocation privately draws
out a ſmall Pair of Piſtols, and cocks them under
the Table, which being perceived by the Man, he
withdrew and went upon Deck, leaving Hands,
the Pilot, and the Captain together. When the
Piſtols were ready, he blew out the Candle, and
croſſing his Hands, diſcharged them at his Com-
pany ; Hands, the Maſter, was ſhot thro'the Knee,
and lam'd for Life; the other Piſtol did no Execu-
tion

Of BLACK-BEARD.
87
tion. - Being asked the meaning of this, he
only anſwered, by damning them, that if he did not
now and then kill one of them, they would forget toho
be was.
Hands being taken, was try'd and condemned,
but juſt as he was about to be executed, a Ship
arrives at Virginia with a Proclamation for pro-
longing the Time of his Majeſty's Pardon, to
fuch of the Pyrates as ſhould ſurrender by a limi-
ted Time therein expreſſed : Notwithſtanding the
Sentence, Hands pleaded the Pardon, and was al-
lowed the Benefit
of it, and is alive at this Time in
London, begging his Bread.
Now that we have given fome Account of Teach's
Life and A&tions, it will not be amiſs, that we
ſpeak of his Beard, ſince it did not a little contri-
bute towards making his Name ſo terrible in thoſe
Parts.
Plutarch, and other grave Hiſtorians have taken
Notice, that ſeveral great Men amongſt the Ro-
mans,
took their Sir-Names from certain odd Marks
in their Countenances; as Cicero, from a Mark or
Vetch on his Nofe ; fo our Heroe, Captain Teach,
affumed the Cognomen of Black-beard, from that
large Quantity of Hair, which, like a frightful Me-
teor, covered his whole Face, and frightened Ame-
rica more than any Comet that has appeared there
a long Time.
This Beard was black, which he ſuffered to grow
of an extravagant Length; as to Breadth, it canze
up to his Eyes; he was accuſtomed to twiſt it with
Ribbons, in ſmall Tails, after the Manner of our
Ramilies Wiggs, and turn them about his Ears : In
Time of A&tion, he wore a Sling over his Shoul-
ders, with three brace of Piſtols, hanging in Hol-
fters like Bandaliers, and ſtuck lighted Matches
under his Hat, which appearing on each Side of
his Face, his Eyes naturally looking fierce and
F4!
wild,

88
Of BLACK-BEARD.
wild, made him altogether ſuch a Figure, that
Imagination cannot form an Idea of a Fury, from
Hell, to look more frightful.
If he had the look of a Fury, his Humours and
Paffions were ſuitable to it; we ſhall relate two
or three more of his Extravagancies, which we
omitted in the Body of his Hiſtory, by which it
will appear, to what a Pitch of Wickedneſs, hu-
man Nature may arrive, if it's Paffions are not
checked.
In the Commonwealth of Pyrates, he who goes
the greateſt Length of Wickedneſs, is looked upon
with a kind of Envy amongſt them, as a Perſon of
a more extraordinary Gallantry, and is thereby
entitled to be diſtinguiſhed by ſome Poft, and if
ſuch a one has but Courage, he muſt certainly be
a great Man. The Hero of whom we are writing,
was thoroughly accompliſhed this way, and ſome
of his Frolicks of Wickedneſs, were ſo extrava-
gant, as if he aimed at making his Men believe he
was a Devil incarnate ; for being one Day at Sea,
and a little flushed with drink: -- Come, ſays he,
let us make a Hell of our own, and try how long we can
bear it ; accordingly he, with two or three others,
went down into the Hold, and cloſing up all the
Hatches, filled ſeveral Pots full of Brimſtone, and
other combuſtible Matter, and ſet it on Fire, and
fo continued till they were almoſt fuffocated, when
ſome of the Men cried out for Air ; at length he
opened the Hatches, not a little pleaſed that he
held out the longeſt.
The Night before he was killed, he ſet up and
drank till the Morning, with ſome of his own
Men, and the Maſter of a Merchant-Man, and ha-
ving had Intelligence of the two Sloops coming to
attack him, as has been before obſerved; one of
his Men asked him, in Cafe any thing ſhould hap-
pen to him in the Engagement with the Sloops,
whether

OF BLACK-BEARD.
89
whether his Wife knew where he had buried his
Money? He aniwered, That no Body but himſelf and
the Devil, knew where it was, and the longeſt Liver Should
take all.
Thoſe of his Crew who were taken alive, told
a Story which may appear a little incredible ;
however, we think it will not be fair to omit it;
fince we had it from their own Mouths. That
once upon a Cruize, they found out that they had
a Man on Board more than their Crew ; ſuch a one
was ſeen ſeveral Days amongſt them, ſometimes
below, and ſometimes upon Deck, yet no Man ini
the Ship could give an Account who he was, or
from whence he came; but that he diſappeared a
little before they were caſt away in their great
Ship, but, it ſeems, they verily believed it was
the Devil
One would think theſe Things ſhould induce
them to reform their Lives, but ſo many Repro-
bates together, encouraged and ſpirited one ano-
ther up in their Wickedneſs, to which a conti-
nual Courſe of drinking did not a little contribute ;
for in Black-beard's Journal, which was taken, there
were ſeveral Memorandums of the following
Nature, found writ with his own Hand.
Such a Day, Rum all out : Our Company ſomewhat
ſober: - A damn'd Confufion amongſt us! Rogues
a plotting; great Talk of Separation. So I look'd
Sharp for a Prize; - Such a Day took one, with a great
deal of Liquor on Board, ſo kept the Company hot, damned
hot, then all Things went well again.
Thus it was theſe Wretches paſſed their Lives,
with very little Pleaſure or Satisfa&tion, in the
Poffeffion of what they violently take away from
others, and fure to pay for it at laft, by an ignomi-
nious Death.
The

90
Of BLACK-BEARD.
The Names of the Pyrates killed in the Engage-
ment, are as follow.
Edward Teach, Commander.
Phillip Morton, Gunner.
Garrat Gibbens, Boatſwain.
Owen Roberts, Carpenter.
Thomas Miller, Quarter-Maſter.
Fohn Husk,
Foſeph Curtice,
Joſeph Brooks, (1)
Nath. Jackſon.
All the reft, except the two laft, were wounded and
afterwards hanged in Virginia.
Fohn Carnes,
Joſeph Philips,
Foſeph Brooks, (2) James Robbins,
Fames Blake,
John Martin,
Fohn Gills,
Edward Salter,
Thomas Gates,
Stephen Daniel,
Fames White,
Richard Greenfail.
Richard Stiles,
Iſrael Hands, pardoned.
Cafar,
Samuel Odel, acquited.
There were in the Pyrate Sloops, and aſhore in a
Tent, near
where the Sloops lay, 25 Hogſheads of
Sugar, 11 Teirces, and 145 Bags of Cocoa, a Bar-
rel of Indigo, and a Bale of Cotton; which, with
what was taken from the Governor and Secretary,
and the Sale of the Sloop, came to 2500 l. beſides
the Rewards paid by the Governor of Virginia, pur-
ſuant to his Proclamation; all which was divided
among the Companies of the two Ships, Lime and
Pearl, that lay in James River; the brave Fellows
that took them coming in for no more than their
Dividend amongſt the reſt, and was paid it within
theſe three Months.
CHAP

91
CH A P. IV.
OF
Major Stede Bonnet,
And his Crew.
T
HE Major was a Gentleman of good Re-
putation in the Iſland of Barbadoes, was
Maſter of a plentiful Fortune, and had
the Advantage of a liberal Education. He had the
leaſt Temptation of any Man to follow ſuch a Courſe
of Life, from the Condition of his Circumſtances.
It was very ſurprizing to every one, to hear of
the Major’s Enterprize, in the Iſland were he
liv'd; and as he was generally eſteem'd and honour-
ed, before he broke out into open A&ts of Pyracy,
ſo he was afterwards rather pitty'd than condem-
ned, by thoſe that were acquainted with him,
believing that this Humour of going a pyrating,
proceeded from a Diſorder in his Mind, which
had been but too viſible in him, ſome Time before
this wicked Undertaking; and which is ſaid to
have been occafioned by ſome Diſcomforts be
found in a married State; be that as it will, the
Major was but ill qualify’d for the Buſineis, as
not underſtanding maritime Affairs.
However, he fitted out a Sloop with ten Guns
and 70 Men, entirely at his own Expence, and in
the Night-Time failed from Barbadoes. He called
his Sloop the Revenge ; his firſt Cruize was off the
Caſes of Virginia, where he took ſeveral Ships,
and plundered them of their Proviſions, Cloaths,
Money,

2
Of Major STEDE BONNET.
Money, Ammunition, óc. in particular the Anne,
Captain Montgomery, from Glaſcow ; the Turbet from
Barbadoes, which for Country fake, after they had
taken out the principal part of the Lading, the
Pyrate Crew ſet her on Fire; the Endeavour, Cap-
tain Scot, from Briſtol, and the Young from Leith.
From hence they went to New-York, and off the
Eaſt End of Long-Iſland, took a Sloop bound for the
IV cjt-Indies, after which they ſtood in and landed
fome Men at Gardner's Iſland, but in a peaceable
Manner, and bought Provifions for the Company's
Uſe, which they paid for, and fo went off again
without Moleſtation. IM
Some Time after, which was in Auguſt 1717, Bon-
net came off the Bar of South-Carolina, and took a
Sloop and a Brigantine bound in; the Sloop belong-
ed to Barbadoes, Joſeph Palmer Maſter, laden with
Rum, Sugar and Negroes; and the Brigantine came
from New-England, Thomas Porter Maſter, whom they
plundered, and then diſmiſs’d; but they failed away
with the Sloop, and at an Inlet in North-Carolina
careened by her, and then ſet her on Fire.
After the Sloop had cleaned, they put to Sea,
but came to no Reſolution what Courſe to take ;
the Crew were divided in their Opinions, fome be-
ing for one Thing, and ſome another, ſo that nothing
but Confuſion ſeem'd to attend all their Schemes.
The Major was no Sailor as was ſaid before, and
therefore had been obliged to yield to many Things
that were impoſed on him, during their Underta-
king, for want of a competent Knowledge in mari-
time Affairs; at length happening to fall in Com-
pany with another Pyrate, one Edward Teach, (who
for his remarkable black ugly Beard, was more com-
monly called Black-Beard :) This Fellow was a good
Sailor, but a moſt cruel hardened Villain, bold and
daring to the laſt Degree, and would not ſtick at the
perpetrating the moſt abominable Wickedneſs ima-
ginable

Of Major STEDE BONNET.
93
ginable ; for which he was made Chief of that exe-
crable Gang, that it might be ſaid that his Poft was
not unduly filled, Black-beard being truly the Su-
perior in Roguery, of all the Company, as has been
already related
Tohim Bonnet's Crew joined in Confortſhip, and
Bonnet himſelf was laid aſide, notwithftanding the
Sloop was his own; he went aboard Black-beard's
Ship, not concerning himſelf with any of their Af-
fairs, where he continued till ſhe was loft in Topſail
Inlet, andone Richards was appointed Captain in his
Room. The Major now ſaw his Folly, but could
not help himſelf, which made him Melancholy; he
reflected upon his paft Courſe of Life, and was con-
founded with Shame, when he thought upon what
he had done : His Behaviour was taken Notice of
by the other Pyrates, who liked him never the bet-
ter for it; and he often declared to ſome of them,
that he would gladly leave off that Way of Living,
being fully tired of it, but he ſhould be aſhamed to
ſee the Face of any Engliſh Man again; therefore if
he could get to Spain or Portugal, where he might be
undiſcovered, he would ſpend the Remainder of his
Days in either of thoſe Countries, otherwiſe he
muſt continue with them as long as he lived.
When Black-beard loft his Ship at Topfail Inlet,
and ſurrendered to the King's Proclamation, Bon-
net reaffumed the Command of his own Sloop,
Revenge, goes directly away to Bath-Town in North-
Carolina, ſurrenders likewiſe to the King's Par-
don, and receives a Certificate. The War was now
broke out between the Tripple Allies and Spain; fo
Major Bonnet gets a Clearence for his Sloop at North-
Carolina, to go to the Iſland of St. Thomas, with a De-
ſign (at leaſt it was pretended fo) to get the Empe-
ror's Commiſſion, to go a Privateering upon the Spa-
niards. When Bonnet came back to Topſail Inlet, he
found that Teach and his Gang were gone, and that
they

94 Of Major STEDE BONNET.
had taken all the Money, ſmall Arms and Effects
of Value out of the great Ship, and ſet aſhore
on a ſmall fandy Iſland above a League from the
Main, ſeventeen Men, no doubt with a Defign
they ſhould periſh, there being no Inhabitant, or
Proviſions to ſubfift withal, nor any Boat or Mate-
rials to build or make any kind of Launch or
Veffel, to eſcape from that deſolate Place: They
remained there two Nights and one Day, without
Subſiſtance, or the leaſt Proſpect of any, expecting
nothing elſe but a lingering Death ; when to their
inexpreffable Comfort, they ſaw Redemption at
Hand; for Major Bonnet happening to get Intellia
gence of their being there, by two of the Pyrates
who had eſcaped Teach's Cruelty, and had got to
a poor little Village at the upper End of the Har-
bour, fent his Boat to make Diſcovery of the
Truth of the Matter, which the poor Wretches
ſeeing, made a ſignal to them, and they were all
brought on Board Bonnet's Sloop.
Major Bonnet told all his Company, that he
would take a Commiſſion to go againſt the Spani-
ards, and to that End, was going to St. Thomas's
therefore if they would go with him, they ſhould
be welcome; whereupon they all conſented, but
as the Sloop was preparing to fail, a Bom-Boat,
that brought Apples and Sider to ſell to the Sloop's
Men, informed them, that Captain Teach lay at Öc-
ricock Inlet, with only 18 or 20 Hands. Bonnet,
who bore him a mortal Hatred for ſome Inſults
offered him, went immediately in purſuit of Black-
beard, but it happened too late, for he miſſed of
him there, and after four Days Cruize, hearing no
farther News of him, they fteered their Courſe to-
wards Virginia.
In the Month of July, theſe Adventurers came
off the Capes, and meeting with a Pink with a Stock
of Proviſions on Board, which they happened to
be

Of Major STEDE BONNET.
95
be in Want of, they took out of her ten or twelve
Barrels of Pork, and about 400 Weight of Bread;
but becauſe they would not have this ſet down
to the Account of Pyracy, they gave them eight
or ten Casks of Rice, and an old Cable, in lieu
thereof.
Two Days afterwards they chaſed a Sloop of
fixty Ton, and took her two Leagues off of Cape
Henry; they were ſo happy here as to get a Supply
of Liquor to their Vi&tuals, for they brought from
her two Hogſheads of Rum, and as many of Mo-
loſſes, which, it ſeems, they had need of, tho’ they
had not ready Money to purchaſe them: What Se-
curity they intended to give, I can't tell, but Bonnet
ſent eight Men to take care of the Prize Sloop,
who, perhaps, not caring to make Uſe of thoſe
accuftom'd Freedoms, took the firſt Opportunity
to go off with her, and Bonnet (who was pleaſed
to have himſelf called Captain Thomas,) ſaw them
no more.
After this, the Major threw off all Reſtraint,
and though he had juſt before received his Ma-
jeſty's Mercy, in the Name of Stede Bonnet, he re-
lapsd in good Earneft into his old Vocation, by
the Name of Captain Thomas, and recommenced
a down-right Pyrate, by taking and plundering
all the Veſſels he met with : He took off Cape
Henry, two Ships from Virginia, bound to Glaſcono,
out of which they had very little beſides an hun-
dred Weight of Tobacco. The next Day they
took a ſmall Sloop bound from Virginia to Bermu-
das, which ſupply'd them with twenty Barrels of
Pork, fome Bacon, and they gave her in return, two
Barrels of Rice, and a Hogſhead of Moloſſus; out
of this Sloop two Men enter'd voluntarily. The
next they took was another Virginia Man, bound to
Glaſcot, out of which they had nothing of Value,
ſave only a few Combs, Pins and Needles, and
gave

96
Of Major STEDE BONNET.
gave her inſtead thereof, a Barrel of Pork, and two
Barrels of Bread.
From Virginia they failed to Philadelphia, and
in the Latitude of 38 North, they took a Scooner,
coming from North-Carolina, bound to Boſton, they
had out of her only two Dozen of Calf-Skins, to
make Covers for Guns, and two of their Hands,
and detained her fome Days. All this was but ſmall
Game, and ſeem'd as if they defign'd only to make
Proviſion for their Sloop againſt they arrived at
St. Thomas's; for they hitherto had dealt favou-
rably with all that were ſo unhappy as ſo fall
into their Hands; but thoſe that came after, fared
mot ſo well, for in the Latitude of 32, off of De-
laware River, near Philadelphia, they took two Snows
bound to Briſtol, out of whom they got ſome Mo-
ney, beſides Goods, perhaps to the Value of 150
Pounds; at the fame Time they took a Sloop of
fixty Tons bound from Philadelphia to Barbadoes,
which after taking ſome Goods out, they diſmiſſed
along with the Snows.
The 29th Day of July, Captain Thomas took a
50 Tons, fix or ſeven Leagues off Dela-
ware Bay, bound from Philadelphia to Barbadoes, Tho-
mas Read Maſter, loaden with Proviſions, which
they kept, and put four or five of their Hands on
Board her. The laſt Day of July, they took ano-
ther Sloop of 60 Tons, commanded by Peter Man-
maring, bound from Antegoa to Philadelphia, which
they likewiſe kept with all the Cargo, conſiſting
chiefly of Rum, Moloſſes, Sugar, Cotton, Indigo,
and about 25 Pound in Money, valued in all to 500
Pound,
The laſt Day of July, our Rovers with the Veſſels
laſt taken, left Delaware Bay, and failed to Cape
Fear River, where they fraid too long for their
Safety, for the Pyrate Sloop which they now new
named the Royal James, proved very leaky, ſo that
they
Sloop of

Of Major STEDE BONNET.
92
they were obliged to remain here almoſt two
Months, to refit and repair their Veiſel : They
took in this River a ſmall Shallop, which they rip-
ped up to mend the Sloop, and retarded the fur-
ther Proſecution of their Voyage, as before menti-
oned, till the News came to Carolina, of a Pyratë
Sloop's being there to carreen with her Prizes.
Upon this Information, the Council of South-Caros
lira was alarmed, and apprehended they ſhould
receive another Viſit from them ſpeedily ; to pre-
vent which, Colonel William Rhet, of the ſame Pro-
vince, waited on the Governor, and generouſly of
fered himſelf to go with two Sloops to attack this
Pyrate; which the Governor readily accepted, and
accordingly gave the Colonel a Commiſſion and
full Power, to fit ſuch Veſſels as he thought pro-
sug
per for the Defign.
In a few Days two Sloops were equipped and
manned: The Henry with 8 Guns and 70 Men, com-
manded by Captain Fohn Maſters, and the Sea
Nymph, with 8 Guns and 60 Men, commanded by
Captain Fayrer Hall
, both under the entire Directi-
on and Command of the aforeſaid Colonel Rhet,
who, on the 14th of September, went on Board the
Henry, and, with the other Sloop, failed from
Charles-Town to Swillivants Illand, to put them-
ſelves in order for the Cruize. Juſt then arri-
ved a ſmall Ship from Antigoa, one Cock Maſter,
with an Account, that in Sight of the Bar he was
taken and plundered by one Charles V ane, a Pyrate,
in a Brigantine of 12 Guns and 96 Men, and
who had alſo taken two other Vefſels bound in
there, one a ſmall Sloop, Captain Dill Maſter, from
Barbadoes ; the other a Brigantine, Captain Thomp-
Son Maſter, from Guiney, with ninety odd Negroes,
which they took out of the Veſſel, and put on
Board another Sloop then under the Command of
one Yeats, his Confort, with 25 Men. This prov'd
fora

98 Of Major STEDE BONNET.
fortunate to the Owners of the Guiney Man, for
Yeats having often attempted to quit this Courſe
of Life, took an Opportunity in the Night, to
leave Vane and to run into North-Edifto River, to
the Southward of Charles-Town, and ſurrendered to
his Majeſty's Pardon. The Owners got their Ne-
groes, and Yeats and his Men had Certificates given
them from the Government.
Vane cruiſed fome Time off the Bar, in hopes to
catch Yeats, and unfortunately for them, took two
Ships coming out, bound to London, and while the
Priſoners were aboard, ſome of the Pyrates gave
out, that they deſigned to go into one of the
Rivers to the Southward.
Colonel Rhet, upon
hearing this, failed over the Bar the 15th of Sep-
tember, with the two Sloops before mentioned ; and
having the Wind Northerly, went after the Pyrate
Vane, and ſcoured the Rivers and Inlets to the
Southward ; but not meeting with him, tacked
and ſtood for Cape Fear River, in Proſecution of
his firſt Deſign. On the 26th following, in the
Evening, the Colonel with his ſmall Squadron,
entered the River, and ſaw, over a Point of Land,
three Sloɔps at an Anchor, which were Major Bonnet
and his Prizes ; but it happened that in going up
the River, the Pilot run the Colonel's Sloops aground,
and it was dark before they were on Float, which
hindered their getting up that Night. The Pyrates
foon diſcovered the Sloops, but not knowing who
they were, or upon what Deſign they came into
that River, they manned three Canoes, and ſent
them down to take them, but they quickly found
their Miftake, and returned to the Sloop, with the
unwelcome News. Major Bonnet made Preparations
that Night for engaging, and took all the Men out
of the Prizes. He fhewed Captain Manwaring, one
of his Priſoners, a Letter, he had juſt wrote,
which he declared he would ſend to the Governor
of

Of Major STEDE BONNET.
99
of Carolina; the Letter was to this Effect, viz. That
if the Sloops, which then appeared, were ſent out againſt
him, by the ſaid Govenrır, and he ſhould get clear off
that he would burn and deſtroy all Ships or Veſels going
in or coming out of South-Carolina. The next Morn-
ing they got under Sail, and came down the River,
deſigning only a running Fight. Colonel Rhet's
Sloops got likewiſe under Sail, and ſtood for him,
getting upon each Quarter of the Pyrate, with In-
tent to board him, which he perceiving, edged in
towards the Shore, and being warmly engaged,
their Sloop ran a-ground: The Carolina Sloops
being in the ſame fhoal Water, were in the ſame
Circumftances; the Henry, in which Colonel Rhet
was, grounded within Piftol ſhot of the Pyrate, and
on his Bow; the other Sloop grounded right a-head
of him, and almoſt out of Gun-Shot, which made
her of little Service to the Colonel, while they
lay a-ground.
* At this Time the Pyrate had a conſiderable Ad-
vantage ; for their Sloop, after ſhe was a-ground,
lifted from Colonel Rhet's, by which Means they
were all covered, and the Colonel's Sloop liſting
the fame Way, his Men were much expoſed ; not-
withſtanding which, they kept a brisk Fire the
whole Time they lay thus a-ground, which was
near five Hours. The Pyrates made a Wiff in their
bloody Flag, and beckoned ſeveral Times with their
Hats in Deriſion to the Colonel's Men, to come
on Board, which they anſwered with chearful Huz-
za's, and laid, that they would ſpeak with them by and
by; which accordingly happened, for the Colonel's
Sloop being firſt a float, he got into deeper Wa-
ter, and after mending the Sloop's Rigging, which
was much fhattered in the Engagement, they
ſtood for the Pyrate, to give the finiſhing Stroke,
and deſigned to go directly on Board him ; which
he prevented, by ſending a Flag of Truce, and
G 2
after

100 Of Major STEDE BONNET.
after fome Time capitulating, they ſurrendered
themſelves Priſoners. The Colonel took Poſſeſſion
of the Sloop, and was extreamly pleaſed to find
that Captain Thomas, who commanded her, was the
individual Perſon of Major Stede Bonnet, who had
done them the Honour ſeveral Times to viſit their
own Coaſt of Carolina.
There were killed in this A&tion, on Board the
Henry, ten Men, and fourteen wounded ; on Board
the Sea Nymph, two killed and four wounded. The
Officers and Sailors in both Sloops behaved then-
felves with the greateſt Bravery; and had not
the Sloops ſo unluckily run a-ground, they had
taken the Pyrate with much leſs loſs of Men ; but
as he deſigned to get by them, and ſo make a run-
ning Fight, the Carolina Sloops were obliged to
keep near him, to prevent his getting away. Of
the Pyrates there were ſeven killed and five wound-
ed, two of which died ſoon after of their Wounds.
Colonel Rhet weigh'd the 30th of September, from
Cape Fear River, and arrived at Charles-Town the 3d
of O&tober, to the great Joy of the whole Province
of Carolina.
Bonnet and his Crew, two Days after, were put
aſhore, and there not being a publick Prifon, the
Pyrates were kept at the Watch-Houſe, under
a Guard of Militia ; but Major Bonnet was com-
mitted into the Cuſtody of the Marſhal, at his
Houſe; and in a few Days after, David Hariot the
Maſter, and Ignatius Pell the Boatſwain, who were
deſigned for Evidences againſt the other Pyrates,
were removed from the reſt of the Crew, to the
ſaid Marſhal's Houſe, and every Night two Cen-
tinals fet about the ſaid Houſe ; but whether thro'
any Corruption, or want of Care in guarding the
Priſoners, I can't ſay; but on the 24th of O&tober,
the Major and Hariot made their Eſcape, the Boat-
Tivain refuſing to go along with them. This made
a great

IOI
Of Major STEDE BONNET.
a great Noiſe in the Province, and People were
open in their Reſentments, often refleeting on the
Governor, and others in the Magiftracy, as tho'
they had been brib’d, for conniving at their
Eſcape. Theſe Invectives aroſe from their Fears,
that Bonnet would be capable of raiſing another
Company, and proſecute his Revenge againſt this
Country, for what he had lately, tho' juftly, ſuf-
fered: But they were in a fhort l'ime made eaſy
in thoſe Reſpects; for as ſoon as the Governor
had the Account of Bonnet's Eſcape, he immedi-
ately iſſued out a Proclamation, and promiſed a
Reward of 700 Pounds to any that would take him,
and ſent ſeveral Boats with armed Men, both to
the Northward and Southward, in purſuit of him.
Bonnet ftood to the Northward, in a ſmall Veſſel,
but wanting Neceſſaries, and the Weather being
bad, he was forced back, and fo return'd with his
Canoe, to Swillivants Iſland, near Charles-Town, to
fetch Supplies; but there being fome Information
ſent to the Governor, he ſent for Colonel Rhet,
and deſired him to go in purſuit of Bonnet ; and
accordingly gave him a Commiſſion for that Pur-
poſe: Wherefore the Colonel, with proper Craft,
and ſome Men, went away that Night for Swilli-
vant's Iſland, and, after a very diligent Seach, diſ-
covered Bonnet and Hariot together; the Colonel's
Men fired upon them, and killed Hariot upon the
Spot, and wounded one Negro and an Indian. Bon-
net fubmitted, and ſurrender'd himſelf; and the
next Morning, being November the 6th, was brought
by Colonel Rhet to Charles-Town, and, by the Gover-
nor's Warrant, was committed into fafe Cuſtody,
in order for his being brought to his Tryal.
On the 28th of October, 1718, a Court of Vice-
Admiralty was held at Charles-Town, in South-Caro-
lina, and, by ſeveral Adjournments, continued to
Wedneſday, the 12th of November following, for
G3
the

102 Of Major STEDE BONNET.
the Tryal of the Pyrates taken in a Sloop former-
ly called the Revenge, but afterwards the Royal James,
before Nicholas Trot, Efq; Judge of the Vice-Admi-
ralty, and Chief Juſtice of the ſaid Province of South-
Carolina, and other Affiftant Judges.
The King's Commiſſion to Judge Trot was read,
and a Grand Jury ſworn, for the finding of the fe-
veral Bills, and a learned Charge given them by
the ſaid Judge, wherein he iſt fhewed, That the Sea
was given by God, for the Uſe of Men, and is Subject to
Dominion and Property, as well as the Land.
2dly, He particularly remark'd to them, the So-
vereignty of the King of England over the Britiſh
Seas.
M
3dly, He obſerved, that as Commerce and Naviga-
tion could not be carried on without Laws; ſo there have
been always particular Laws, for the better ordering and
regulating marine Affairs ; with an hiſtorical Account
of thoſe Laws, and Origine.
u 4thly, He proceeded to fhew, that there have been
particular Courts and Judges appointed; to whoſe Juriſdi-
Etion maritime Cauſes do belong, and that in Matters both
Civil and Criminal.
And then sthly, He particularly ſhewed them,
the Conſtitution and furifdi&tion of that Court of Admi-
ralty Seffions.
VOY
And laſtly, the Crimes cognizable therein ; and par-
ticularly enlarged upon the Crime of Pyracy, which
was then brought before them. So bers
The Indi&tments being found, a petit Jury was
ſworn, and the following Perfons arraigned and
tried.
Stede Bonnet, alias Edwards, alias Thomas, late of
Barbadoes, Mariner.
Robert Tucker, late of the Iſland of Jamaica, Ma-
riner.
Edward

Of Major STEDE BONNET.
103
Edward Robinſon, late of New-Caſtle upon Tine, Ma-
riner.
Neal Paterſon, late of Aberdeen, Mariner.
William Scot, late of Aberdeen, Mariner.
William Eddy, alias Neddy, late of Aberdeen, Ma-
riner. 9002
Alexander Annand, late of Jamaica, Mariner.
George Rose, late of Glaſcon, Mariner.
George Dunkin, late of Glaſcow, Mariner.
Thomas Nicholas, late of London, Mariner.
Fohn Ridge, late of London, Mariner.
Matthew King, late of Jamaica, Mariner.
Daniel Perry, late of Guernſey, Mariner.
Henry Virgin, late of Briſtol, Mariner.
Femes Robbins, alias Rattle, late of London, Ma-
riner.
James Mullet, alias Millet, late of London, Mac
*
riner.
9
Thomas Price, late of Briſtol, Mariner.
James Wilſon, late of Dublin, Mariner.de
John Lopez, late of Oporto, Mariner.
Zachariah Long, late of the Province of Holland,
Mariner.
Fob Bayly, late of London, Mariner.
Fohn-William Smith, late of Charles-Town, Carolina,
Mariner.
Thomas Carman, late of Maidſtone in Kent, Ma-
riner.
John Thomas, late of Jamaica, Mariner.
William Morriſon, late of Jamaica, Mariner.
Samuel Booth, late of Charles-Town, Mariner.
William Hewet, late of Jamaica, Mariner.
John Levit, late of North-Carolina, Mariner.
William Livers, alias Evis.
John Brierly, alias Timberhead, late of Bath-Town in
North-Carolina, Mariner.
Robert Boyd, late of Bath-Town aforeſaid, Ma-
riner.
* Route
GA

104 Of Major STEDE BONNETS
*
TE
* Rowland Sharp, of Bath-Town, Mariner.
Jonathan Clarke, late of Charles-Town, South Caroli-
na, Mariner.
* Thomas Gerrard, late of Antegoa, Mariner.
And all, except the three laſt, and Thomas Nicho-
las, were found Guilty, and received Sentence of
Death. niska
They were moſt of them try'd upon two Indiet-
ments, as follows.
HE Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King, do up-
on their Oath preſent, that Stede Bonnet, late
of Barbadoes, Mariner, Robert Tucker, &c. &c.
The 2d Day of Auguſt, in the fifth Year of the Reign
of our Sovereign Lord George, &c. By Force of Arms
upon the High-Sea, in a certain Place called Cape James,
&c. did pyratically, and fellonionfly ſet upon, break,
board, and enter, a certain Merchant Sloop, called the
Frances, Peter Manwaring Commander, by Force, &c.
upon the High-Sea, in a certain Place, called Cape James,
alias Cape Inlopen, about two Miles diſtant from the
Shore, in the Lattitude of 39, or thereabouts; and within
the Juriſdi&tion of the Court of Vice-Admiralty, of South-
Carolina, being a Sloop of certain Perſons, (to the fu-
rors, unknown) and then, and there, pyratically, and fello-
niouſly did make an Afault, in, and upon the ſaid Peter
Manwaring, and others his Mariners, (whoſe Names to
the Furors aforeſaid, are unknown,) in the ſame Șloop,
againſt the peace of God, and of our ſaid now Sovereign
Lord the King, then, and there being, pyratically and fel-
loniouſly, did put the aforeſaid Peter Manwaring, and
others, his. Mariners, of the ſame Sloop, in the Sloop
aforeſaid, then being, in corporal Fear of their Lives, then
and there, in the Sloop aforeſaid, upon the High-Sea, in
the Place aforeſaid, called Cape James, alias Cape In-
lopen, about two Miles from the Shore, in the Lattitude
of 39, or thereabouts, as aforeſaid, and within the Juriſ-
diction aforeſaid; pyratically, and felloniouſly, did ſteal,
take,

Of Major STEDE BONNET. 105
take, and carry away the ſaid Merchant Sloop, called the
Frances, and alſo twenty fix Hogſheads, &c. &c. &c.
being found in the aforeſaid Sloop, in the Cuſtody and Poffer-
fion of the ſaid Peter Manwaring, and others, his Maria
ners of the ſaid Sloop, and from their Cuſtody and Poffef-
fion, then and there, upon the High-Sea aforeſaid, called
Cape James, alias Cape Inlopen, as aforeſaid, and
within the juriſdiction aforeſaid, againſt the Peace of
our now Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and
Dignity.
This was the Form of the Indi&tments they were
arraigned upon, and tho' they might have proved
ſeveral more Facts upon the major part of the
Crew, the Court thought fit to proſecute but two;
the other was for ſeizing in a py ratical and felonious
Manner, the Sloop Fortune, Thomas Read Commander;
which Indictment running in the ſame Form with
the above-mentioned, it will be unneceſſary to fay
more of it.
All the Priſoners arraigned, pleaded Not Guilty,
and
put
themſelves upon their Tryals, except James
Wilſon, and John Levit, who pleaded Guilty to
both Indi&tments, and Daniel Perry, to one only.
The Major would have gone through both the In-
di&tments at once, which the Court not admitting,
he pleaded Not Guilty to both Indi&tments, but
being convi&ted of one, he retracted his former
Plea to the ſecond Indi&tment, and pleaded Guil-
The Priſoners made little or no Defence, every
one pretending only that they were taken off a
Maroon Shore, and were ſhipped with Major
Bonnet to go to St. Thomas's ; but being out at Sea,
and wanting Proviſions, they were obliged to do
what they did by others; and fo did Major Bon-
net himſelf, pretend that 'twas Force, not Incli-
nation, that occafioned what had happened. Howa
ty to it.
ever,

106 Of Major STEDE BONNET.
ever, the Fa&ts being plainly proved, and that
they had all ſhared ten or eleven Pounds a Man,
excepting the three laft, and Thomas Nichols, they
were all but they, found Guilty. The Judge made
a very grave Speech to them, ſetting forth the E-
normity of their Crimes, the Condition they were now in,
and the Nature and Neceſſity of an unfeigned Repentance
and then recommended them to the Miniſters of
the Province, for more ample Directions, to fit
them for Eternity, for (concluded he) the Prieſt's
Lips shall keep Knowledge, and you shall ſeek the Law at
their Mouths; for they are the Meſſengers of the Lord.
Mat. II. 57. And the Ambaſſadors of Chriſt, and unto
them is committed the Word (or Do&trine] of Reconci-
liation, 2 Cor. V. 19. 20. And then pronounced Sen-
tence of Death upon them.
On Saturday November the 8th, 1711. Robert Tucker,
Edward Robinſon, Neal Paterſon, William Scot, Job
Bayley, John-William Smith, John Thomas, William
Morriſon, Samuel Booth, William Hewit, William Eddy,
alias Neddy, Alexander Annand, George Roſs, George
Dunkin, Matthew King, Daniel Perry, Henry Virgin,
James Robbins, James Mullet, alias Millet, Thomas
Price, John Lopez, and Zachariah Long, were executed
at the White-Point near Charles-Town, purſuant to their
Sentence.
As for the Captain, his Eſcape protracted his
Fate, and ſpun out his Life a few Days longer, for
he was try'd the roth, and being found Guilty,
received Sentence in like Manner as the former ;
before which Judge Trot, made a moft excellent
Speech to him, rather fomewhat too long to be
taken into our Hiſtory, yet I could not tell how to
paſs by 'ſo good and uſeful a piece of Inſtruction,
not knowing whoſe Hands this Book may happen to
fall into.
not
bad
The

Of Major STEDE BONNET.
107
The Lord Chief Juſtices's SPEECH,
cilt upon
bis
pronouncing Sentence on Major
STEDE BONNET.
TOR
SSW DOV
M
US 235
Ajor Stede Bonnet, you ſtand here convi&ted
upon two
Indi&tments of Pyracy; one by
the Verdict of the Jury, and the other by your own
Confeffion. a 100
Alcho' you were indi&ted but for two Facts, yet
you know that at your Tryal it was fully proved
even by an unwilling Witneſs, that you pyratically
took and rifled no leſs than thirteen Veſſels, ſince
you
fail'd from North-Carolina.
orib ITS
So that you might have been indi&ted, and colle
więted of eleven more A&s of Pyracy, ſince you took
the Benefit of the King's A&t of Grace, and pretended
to leave that wicked Courſe of Life.
Not to mention the many Acts of Pyracy you
committed before; for which if your Pardon from
Man was never ſo authentick, yet you muſt expect
to anſwer for them before God.
You know that the Crimes you have committed
are evil in themſelves, and contrary to the Light
and Law of Nature, as well as the Law of God, by
which you are commanded that you shall not ſteal,
Exod. 20. 15. And the Apoſtle St. Paul exprefly
affirms, That Thieves ſhall not inherit the Kingdom of
God, i Cor. 6.10.
But to Theft you have added a greater Sin, which
is Murder. How many you may have killed of thoſe
that refifted you in the committing your former
Pyracies, I know not : But this we all know, That
beſides the Wounded, you kill'd no leſs than eighteen
Perſons out of thoſe that were ſent by lawful Au-
tho-

108 Of Major STEDE BONNET.
thority to fuppreſs you, and put a Stop to thoſe
Rapines that you daily acted.
And however you may fancy that that was killing
Men fairly in open Fight, yet this know, that the
Power of the Sword not being committed into your
Hands by any lawful Authority, you were not im-
powered to uſe any Force, or fight any one; and
therefore thoſe Perſons that fell in that A&tion, in
doing their Duty to their King and Country, were
murdered, and their Blood now cries out for Ven-
geance and Juſtice againſt you: For it is the Voice of
Nature, confirmed by the Law of God, That whoſoever
Sheddeth Man's Blood, by Man ſhall bis Blood be sheda
Gen. 9. 6. 18
HOV
And confider that Death is not the only Puniſh-
ment due to Murderers ; for they are threatened to
have their part in the Lake which burneth With Fire and
Brimſtone, which is the ſecond Death, Rev. 21. 8. See
Chap. 22. 15. Words which carry that Terror
with them, that conſidering your Circumſtances
and your Guilt, ſurely the Sound of them muft
make you tremble ;-For who can dwell with everlaſt-
ing Burnings? Chap. 33. 14. U
As the Teſtimony of your Conſcience muſt convince
you of the great and many Evils you have com-
mitted, by which you have highly offended God,
and provoked moſt juftly his Wrath and Indigna-
tion againſt you, ſo I ſuppoſe I need not tell
you
that the only Way of obtaining Pardon and Remif-
fion of your Sins from God, is by a true and un-
feigned Repentance and Faith in Chrift, by whoſe
meritorious Death and Paffion, you can only hope
for Salvation. visi DOY CHA wot
19 You being a Gentleman that have had the Ad-
vantage of a liberal Education, and being generally
eſteemed a Man of Letters, I believe it will be need-
leſs for me to explain to you the Nature of Repen-
-O
tance

Of Major STEDE BONNET.
109
tance and Faith in Chrift, they being ſo fully and
ſo often mentioned in the Scriptures, that you can-
not but know them. And therefore, perhaps, for
that Reafon it might be thought by ſome impro-
per for me to have ſaid ſo much to you, as I have
already upon this Occaſion; neither ſhould I have
done it, but that conſidering the Courſe of your
Life and A&tions, I have juſt Reaſon to fear, that
the Principles of Religion that had been inſtilled
into you by your Education, have been at leaſt
corrupted, if not entirely defaced, by the Scepti-
ciſm and Infidelity of this wicked Age ; and that
what Time you allowed for Study, was rather ap-
plied to the Polite Literature, and the vain Philoſophy of
the Times, than a ſerious Search after the Law and
Will of God, as revealed unto us in the Holy Scrip-
tures : For had your Delight been in the Law of the Lord,
and that
you
bad meditated therein Day and Night, Pfal.
1. 2. you would then have found that God's Word
was a Lamp unto your Feet, and a Light to your Path,
Pfal. 119. 105. and that you would account all
other Knowledge but Loſs, in Compariſon of the
Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jeſus, Phil. 3. 8.
who to them that are called is the Power of God, and the
Wiſdom of God, I Cor. 1. 24. even the hidden Wiſdom
which God ordained before the World, Chap. 2.7.
You would then have eſteemed the Scriptures as
the Great Charter of Heaven, and which delivered
to us not only the moſt perfe&t Laws and Rules of
Life, but alſo diſcovered to us the Acts of Pardon
from God, wherein they have offended thoſe righte-
ous Laws: For in them only is to be found the great
Myſtery of fallen Man's Redemption, which the Angels
deſire to look into, 1 Pet. 1.12.
50 bar
And they would have taught you that Sin is the
debafing of Human Nature, as being a Derivation from
that Purity, Re&titude, and Holineſs, in 'which God
created

IIO
Of Major STEDE BONNET.
created us, and that Virtue and Religion, and walk
ing by the Laws of God, were altogether preferable
to the Ways of Sin and Satan; for that the Ways of
Virtue are Ways of Pleaſantneſs, and all their Paths are
Peace, Prov. 3.17. do bistavsi osam 102 199
But what you could not learn from God's Word,
by reaſon of your careleſly, or but fuperficially con-
fidering the ſame, I hope the Courſe of his Pros
vidence, and the preſent Afli&tions that he hath laid
upon you, hath now convinced you of the fame:
For however in your ſeeming Profperity you might
make a Mock at your Sins Prov. 3. 17. yet now
that you ſee that God's Hand hath reached you,
and brought you to publick Juftice, I hope your
preſent unhappy Circumſtances hath made you
ſeriouſly refle&t upon your paft A&tions and Courſe
of Life ; and that you are now ſenſible of the Great-
neſs of your Sins, and that you find the Burden of
them is intolerable.
niet duo
And that therefore being thus labouring, and heavy
laden with Sin, Mat. 11. 28. you will efteem that
as the moſt valuable Knowledge, that can fhéw
you how you can be reconciled to that Supreme
God that you have ſo highly offended; and that
can reveal to you Him who is not only the power-
ful Advocate with the Father for you, 1 John 2. I.
but alſo who hath paid that Debt that is due for
your Siris by his own Death upon the Croſs for
you ,
and thereby made full Satisfaction for the Ju
ftice of God. And this is to be found no where
but in God's Word, which diſcovers to us that
Lamb of God which takes away the Sins of the World,
John 1. 29. which is Christ the Son of God: For
this know, and be aſſured, that there is none other
Name under Heaven given among Men, whereby we must
be ſaved, Ats
4:
12. but only by the Name of the
Lord Fefus.
2010
But

Of Major STEDE BONNET.
III
But then conſider how he invites all Sinners to
come unto him, and, that he will give them rest, Matt.
II. 28. for he aſſures us, that he came to ſeek and to
Save that which was lost, Luke 19.10, Mat. 18. 11.
and hath promiſed, that be that cometh unto him, he
mill in no wiſe cast out, John 6.37.
So that it now you will fincerely turn to him,
tho? late, even at the eleventh Hour, Mat. 20. 6, 9.
he will receive you. so
But ſurely I need not tell you, that the Terms of
his Mercy is Faith and Repentance.
And do not miſtake the Nature of Repentance
to be only a bare Sorrow for your Sins, ariſing from
the Confideration of the Evil and Puniſhment they
have now brought upon you ; but your Sorrow
muſt ariſe from the Confideration of your having
offended a gracious and merciful God.
But I ſhall not pretend to give you any particu-
lar Directions as to the Nature of Repentance: I
conſider that I ſpeak to a Perſon, whoſe Offences
have proceeded not ſo much from his 110t knowing,
as his ſlighting and neglecting his Duty: Neither is
it proper
for me to give Advice out of the Way of
my own Profeffion.
You may have that better delivered to you by
thoſe who have made Divinity their particular
Study ; and who, by their knowledge, as well as
their Office, as being the Ambaſſadors of Christ, 2 Cor.
5. 20. are beſt qualified to give you Inſtructions
therein.
I only heartily wiſh, that what, in Compaſſion
to your Soul, I have now ſaid to you upon this
ſad and folemn Occaſion, by exhorting you in ge-
neral to Faith and Repentance, may have that due
Effect
upon you, that thereby you may become a
true Penitent.
And therefore having now diſcharged my Duty
to you as a Chriſtian, by giving you the bett Coun-

II2
Of Major" STEDE BONNET.
ſel I can, with reſpect to the Salvation of your Soul,
I muſt now do my Office as a Judge.
The Sentence that the Law hath appointed to paſs
upon you for your Offences, and which this Court
doth therefore award, is,
That
you,
the ſaid Stede Bonnet, fhall go from hence
to the Place from whence you came, and from thence to
the Place of Execution, where you ſhall be hanged by the
Neck till you are dead.
And the God of infinite Mercy be merciful to your Soul.
thon
Panord was
pa
MARTIN
sisted
1 luopu
Saddox 310
А С НАР
b von 910791
gia e DARE

113
ARACASTELO
CHAP. V.
Ο Ε
Capt. Edward England,
And his Crew.
E
Dward England went Mate of a Sloop that faild
out of Jamaica, and was taken by Captain
Winter, a Pyrate, juſt before their Settle-
ment at Providence, from whence England had the
Command of a Sloop in the ſame laudable Em-
ployment: It is ſurprizing that Men of good Un-
derſtanding ſhould engage in a Courſe of Life, that
ſo much debaſes humane Nature, and ſets them
upon a Level with the wild Beaſts of the Foreſt,
who live and prey upon their weaker Fellow
Creatures : A Crime ſo enormous ! That it includes
almoſt all others, as Murder, Rapine, Theft, In-
gratitude, cc. and tho' they make theſe Vices fa-
miliar to them by their daily Pra&tice, yet theſe
Men are ſo inconſiſtent with themſelves, that a Re-
flection made upon their Honour, their Juſtice, or
their Courage, is look'd upon as an Offence that
ought to be puniſhed with the Life of him that
commits it : England was one of theſe Men, who
ſeem'd to have ſuch a Share of Reaſon, as ſhould
have taught him better Things. He had a great
deal of good Nature, and did not want for Cou-
H

114
Of Capt. ENGLAND.
rage; he was not avaritious, and always averſe to
the ill Uſage Priſoners received: He would have
been contented with moderate Plunder, and leſs
miſchievous Pranks, could his Companions have
been brought to the ſame Temper, but he was ge-
nerally over-ruld, and as he was engaged in that
abominable Society, he was obliged to be a Partner
in all their vile A&tions.
Captain England faild to the Coaſt of Africa, af-
ter the Iſland of Providence was ſettled by the Eng-
liſh Government, and the Pyrates ſurrendered to
his Majeſty's Proclamation ; and took ſeveral Ships
and Veſſels, particularly the Cadogan Snow belong-
ing to Briſtol, at Sierraleone, one Skinner Maſter, who
was inhumanly murthered by ſome of the Crew,
that had lately been his own Men, and ſerved in
the ſaid Veffel. It ſeems fome Quarrel had hap-
pened between them, so that Skinner thought fit
to remove theſe Fellows on Board of a Man of
War, and at the ſame Time refuſed them their
Wages; not long after they found Means to deſert
that Service, and ſhipping themſelves aboard a
Sloop in the Weſt-Indies, was taken by a Pyrate,
and brought to Providence, and failed
upon
the ſame
Account along with Captain England.
Affoon as Skinner had ftruck to the Pyrate, he
was ordered to come on Board in his Boat, which
he did, and the Perſon that he firſt caſt his Eye
upon, proved to be his old Boatſwain, who ſtar'd
him in the Face like his evil Genius, and acco-
fted him in this Manner. Ah, Captain Skinner !
Is it you ? The only Man I wiſhed to ſee; I am much
in your Debt, and now I ſhall pay you all in your own
Coin.
The poor Man trembled every Joint, when he
found into what Company he had fallen, and drea-
ded the Event, as he had Reaſon enough fo to do;
for the Boatſwain immediately called to his Con-
forts,

Of Capt. ENGLAND. 115
ſorts, laid hold of the Captain, and made him faft
to the Windleſs, and there pelted him with Glaſs
Bottles, which cut him in a fad Manner, after
which they whipp'd him about the Deck, till they
were weary, being deaf to all his Prayers and In-
treaties; and at laſt, becauſe he had been a good
Maſter to his Men, they ſaid, he ſhould have an
eafy Death, and ſo ſhot him thro' the Head. They
took ſome few Things out of the Snow, but gave
the Vefſel and all her Cargo to Howel Davis the
Mate, and the reſt of the Crew, as will be hereaf-
ter mentioned in the Chapter of Captain Davis.
Captain England took a Ship called the Pearl, Cap-
tain Tyzard Commander, for which he exchanged
his own Sloop, fitted her up for the pyratical Ac-
count, and new chriften’d her, the Royal James, with
which he took ſeveral Ships and Veſſels of dif-
ferent Nations at the Azores and Cape de Verd
Iſlands.
In the Spring, 1719, thè Rovers returiied to
Africa, and beginning at the River Gambia, failed
all down the Coaſt; and between that and Cape Corſoz
took the following Ships and Veſſels.
The Eagle Pink, Captain Rickets Commander be-
longing to Cork, taken the 25th of March, having 6
Guns and 17 Men on Board, ſeven of which turned
Pyrates.
The Charlotte, Captain Oldſon, of
London, taken May
the 26th, having 8 Guns and 18 Men on Board, 13
of which turned Pyrates.
The Sarah, Captain Stunt, of London, taken the 27th
of May, having 4 Guns and 18 Men on Board, 3 of
which turned Pyrates.
The Bentworth, Captain Gardener, of Briſtol, taken
the 27th of May, having 12 Guns and 30 Men on
· Board, 12 of which turned Pyrates.
H2
The

116 Of Capt. ENGLAND.
The Buck Sloop, Captain Sylveſter, of Gambia, taken
the 27th of May, having 2 Guns and 2 Men on Board,
and both turned Pyrates.
The Carteret, Captain Snow, of London, taken the
28th of May, having 4 Guris and 18 Men on Board, s
of which turned Py rates.
The Mercury, Captain Maggott, of London, taken the
29th of May, having 4 Guns and 18 Men on Board,
5
of which turned Pyrates.
The Coward Galley, Captain Creed, of London, taken
the 17th of June, having 2 Guns and 13 Men on
Eoard, 4 of which turned Pyrates.
The Elizabeth and Katherine, Captain Bridge of Bar-
badoes, taken June the 27th, having 6 Guns and 14
Men on Board, 4 of which turned Pyrates.
The Eagle Pink being bound to Jamaica, the Sarah
to Virginia, and the Buck to Maryland, they let them
go, but the Charlotte, the Bentworth, the Carteret, and
the Coward Galley, they burnt; and the Mercury,
and the Elizabeth and Katherine were fitted up for
Pyrate Ships, the former was new nam’d Queen
Ann's Revenge, and commanded by one Lane, and
the other was calld the Flying King, of which Ro-
bert Sample was appointed Captain, Theſe two left
England upon the Coaſt, faild to the Weſt-Indies,
where they took ſome Prizes, clean'd, and fail'd to
Braſil in November ; they took ſeveral Portugueſe
Ships there, and did a great deal of Miſchief, but
in the height of their Undertakings, a Portugueſe
Man of War, which was an excellent Sailor, came
a very unwelcome Gueſt to them, and gave them
Chace; the Queen Ann's Revenge got off, but was
loft a little while after upon that Coaft; and the
Flying King, giving herſelf over for loit, ran afhore:
There were then 70 Men on Board, 12 of which
were kill d, and the reſt taken Priſoners, of whom
the Portugueſe liang'd 38, of which 32 were Engliſh,
three

Of Capt. ENGLAND.
117
three Dutch, two French, and one of their own
Nation,
England, in going down the Coaſt, took the Peter-
borough Galley of Briſtol, Captain Owen ; and the Vi-
Etory, Captain Ridout ; the former they detained,
but plundered the latter, and let her go. In Cape
Corſo Road, they ſaw two Sail at Anchor, but be-
fore they could reach them, they flipp'd their Ca-
bles and got cloſe under Cape Corſo Caſtle, theſe were
the Whydah, Captain Prince, and the John, Captain
Kider: The Pyrates upon this made a fire Ship of
a Veſſel they had lately taken, and attempted to
burn them, as tho' they had been a common Ene-
my, which if effected, they could not have been
one Farthing the better for it; but the Caſtle fir-
ing warmly upon them, they withdrew, and fail'd
down to Whydah Road, where they found another
Pyrate, one Captain la Bouche, who getting thither
before England arrived, had foreftalld the Market,
and greatly diſappointed their Brethren.
Captain England, after this Baulk, went into a
Harbour, clean’d his own Ship, and fitted up the
Peterborough, which he call'd the Victory; they liv'd
there very wantonly for ſeveral Weeks, making
free with the Negroe Women, and committing
ſuch outragious A&ts, that they came to an open
Rupture with the Natives, ſeveral of whom they
kill'd, and one of their Towns they ſet on Fire.
When the Pyrates came out to Sea, they put it.
to a Vote what Voyage to take, and the Majority
carrying it for the Eaſt-Indies, they thap'd their
Courſe accordingly, and arrived at Madagaſcar, the
Beginning of the Year 1720. They ſtaid not long
there, but after taking in Water and Provifions,
failu for the Coaſt of Malabar, which is a fine fruit-
ful Country in the Eaſt-Indies, in the Empire of
the Mogul, but immediately ſubject to its own Prin-
ces: It reaches from the coaſt of Canara to Cape
Camoa
H 3

118 Of Capt. ENGLAND.
Camorin, which is between 7° 30, and 12° North
Lattitude, and in about 75° Eaſt Longitude, coun-
ting from the Meridian of London. The old Na-
tives are Pagans, but there are a great Number of
Mahometans inhabiting among them, who are Mer-
chants, and generally rich. On the ſame Coaſt, but
in a Province to the Northward lies Goa, Surat, Bom-
bay, where the Engliſh, Dutch, and Portugueſe have
Settlements.
Hither our Pyrates came, having made a Tour
of half the Globe, as the Pfalmift ſays of the De-
vils, Going about like roaring Lions, ſeeking whom they
might devour. They took ſeveral Country Ships,
that is, Indian Veſſels, and one European, a Dutch
Ship, which they exchanged for one of their own,
and then came back to Madagaſcar.
They ſent ſeveral of their Hands on Shore with
Tents, Powder, and Shot, to kill Hogs, Veniſon,
and ſuch other freſh Proviſion as the Iſland afforded,
and a Whim came into their Heads to ſeek out for
the Renains of Avery's Crew, whom they knew to
be ſettled ſomewhere in the Iſland. Accor-
dingly fome of them travell’d ſeveral Days Jour-
ney, without hearing any Intelligence of them, and
ſo were forc'd to return with the Loſs of their La-
bour, for theſe Men were ſettled on the other Side
of the Iſland, as has been taken Notice of under the
Chapter of Avery.
They ſtay'd not long here, after they had clean'd
their Ships, but failing to Juanna ; they met two
Engliſh, and one Oſtend India Men, coming out of
that Harbour, one of which, after a deſperate Re-
ſiſtance, they took; the Particulars of which A&tion
is at length related in the following Letter, wrote
by the Captain from Bombay.
A Let-

Of Capt. ENGLAND.
119
A LETTER from Captain Mackra, dated at
Bombay, Nov. 16, 1720.
WE
E arrived the 25th of July last, in Company of
the Greenwich, at Juanna, (an Iſland not far
from Madagaſcar) putting in there to refreſh our Men,
we found fourteen Pyrates that came in their Canoes from
the Mayotta, where the Pyrate Ship to which they be-
long’d, viz. the Indian Queen, two hundred and fifty Tons,
twenty eight Guns, and ninety Men, commanded by Capt.
Oliver de la Bouche, bound from the Guinea Coast to the
Eaft-Indies, had been bulged and loft. They ſaid they left
the Captain and 40 of their Men building a new Veſſel to
proceed on their wicked Deſign. Capt. Kirby and I conclu-
ding it might be of great Service to the Eaſt-India Company
to deſtroy ſuch a Nest of Rogues, were ready to fail for that
Purpoſe the 17th of Auguit, about Eight o'clock in the
Morning, wben we diſcovered two Pyrate Ships ftanding
into the Bay of Juanna, one of thirty four, and the other of
thirty Guns. I immediately went on Board the Greenwich,
wbere they ſeem'd very diligent in Preparations for an En-
gagement, and I left Capt. Kirby with mutual Promiſes of
ſtanding by each other. I then unmoor’d, got under Sail,
and brought two Boats a-bead to row me cloſe to the Green-
wich; but be being open to a Valley and a Breeze,
made the best of his Way from me; which an Oftender in
our Company, of 22 Guns, ſeeing, did the ſame, though
the Captain bad promiſed beartily to engage with US,
and
I believe would have been as good as his Word, if Capt.
Kirby bad kept his. About half an Hour after Twelve, 1
called ſeveral times to the Greenwich to bear down to our
Alift ance, and fir'd Shot at him, but to no Purpoſe. For tho?
we did not doubt but he would join us, becauſe when he
got
about a League from us, he brought his Ship to, and look'd
on, yet both he and the Oftender baſely deſerted us, and
left us engaged with barbarous and inhuman Enemies, with
their
H 4

120 Of Capt. ENGLAND.
their black and blocdy Flags hanging over us, without the
least Appearance of eſcaping being cut to Pieces. But God,
in his good Providence, determind otherwiſe ; for notwith-
ſtanding their Superiority, we engaged 'em both about three
Hours, during which, the biggest received ſome Shot bet mixt
Wind and Water, which made her keep off a little to ſtop
her Leaks. The other endeavoured all she could to board
us, by rowing with her Oars, being within half a ship's
Length of us above an Hour ; but by good Fortune we ſhot
all her Oars to Pieces, which prevented them, and by con-
ſequence ſaved our Lives.
About Four oClock, most of the Officers and Men
poſted on the Quarter-Deck being killed and wounded, the
largest Ship making up to us with all Diligence, being ſtill
within a Cable’s Length of us, often giving us a Broadſide,
and no hopes of Capt. Kirby's coming to our Aſſiſtance, we
endeavoured to run afhoar ; and tho'we drem four Foot Wa-
ter more than the Pyrate, it pleaſed God that he ſtuck faft
on a higher Ground than me happily fell in with ; ſo was
diſappointed a ſecond time from boarding us. Here we
bad a more violent Engagement than before. All my Of-
ficers, and moſt of my Men, behaved with unexpečted Cou-
rage; and as we had a conſiderable Advantage by having a
Broadſide to his Bow, we did him great Damage, ſo that
had Capt. Kirby come in then, I believe we ſhould have
taken both, for we had one of them ſure ; but the other Py-
rate (who was ſtill firing at us) ſeeing the Greenwich did
not offer to affist us, he ſupplied his Confort with three
Boats full of freſh Men. About Five in the Evening the
Greenwich ſtood clear away to Sea, leaving us ſtruggling
hard for Life in the very Faws of Death, which the other
Pyrate, that was afloat, ſeeing, got a-marp out, and was
hauling under our Stern; by which time many of my Men
being killed and wounded, and no Hopes left us from being
all murdered by enraged barbarous Conquerors, I order'd all
that could, to get into the Long-Boat under the Cover of the
Smoak of our Guns ; ſo that with what ſome did in Boats,
and others by ſwimming; moſt of us that were able got a
fhoar,

Of Capt. ENGLAND. 121
fhoar by Seven o'clock. When the Pyrates came aboard,
they cut three of our wounded Men to pieces. I, with a
few of my People, made what haſte I could to the King's-
Town, twenty five Miles from us, where I arrived next
Day, almost deed with Fatigue and Loſs of Blood, having
been forely wounded in the Head by a Musket Ball.
At this Town I heard that the Pyrates had offered ten
thouſand Dollars to the Country People to bring me in, which
many of them would have accepted, only they knew the
King and all his chief People were in my Interest. Mean
time, I cauſed a Report to be ſpread, that I was dead of my
Wounds, which much abated their Fury. About ten Days
after, being pretty well reccovered, and hoping the Malice
of our Enemies was nigh over, I began to conſider the diſ-
mal Condition we were reduced to, being in a place where
we had no Hopes of getting a Paſſage home, all of us in a
manner naked, not having bad Time to get another Shirt,
or a pair of shoes.
Having obtained Leave to go on Board the Pyrates, and
a Promiſe of Safety, ſeveral of the Chief of them know me,
and ſome of them had ſailed with me, which I found of
great Advantar e ; becauſe, notwithſtanding their Promiſe,
Some of them would have cut me, and all that would not
enter with them, to Pieces, had it not been for the chief
Captain, Edward England, and ſome others I knew. They
talked of burning one of their Ships, which we had ſo entire-
diſabled, as to be no farther uſeful to them, and to fit the
Caffandra in her room ; but in the End I managed my Tack
so well, that they made me a Preſent of the ſaid Mattered
Ship, which was Dutch built, called the Fancy, about three
hundred Tons, and alſo a hundred and twenty nine Bales of
the Company's Cloth, tho they would not give me a Rag
of my Cloathes.
They ſailed the 3d of September; and with Jury-Mafts,
and ſuch old Sails as they left me, I made ſhift to do the
like on the 8th, together with forty three of my ship's
Crew, including two Paſſengers and twelve Soldiers, having
but five Tons of Water aboard ; and after a paſſage of
forty

122 Of Capt. ENGLAND.
forty eight Days, I arrived here O&tober 26, almost naked
and ſtarv’d, having been reduced to a Pint of Water a Day,
and almost in deſpair of ever ſeeing Land, by Reaſon of the
Calms we met with between the coast of Arabia and Mala-
bar. -We had in all thirteen Men killed and twenty
four wounded; and we were told, that we had deſtroyed
about ninety or a hundred of the Pyrates. When they left
us, they were about three hundred Whites and eighty Blacks
in both Ships. I'am perſuaded, bad our Conſort the Green-
wich done his Duty, we had deſtroyed both of them, and
got two hundred thouſand Pounds for our Owners and
ſelves; whereas to his deſerting us, the Loſs of the Caſſan-
dra
may juſtly be imputed. I have delivered all the Bales
that were given me into the Company's Warehouſe, for which
the Governor and Council have ordered me a Reward.
Our Governor, Mr. Boon, who is extreme kind and civil
has ordered me home with this Pacquet ; but Captain
Harvey, who had a prior Promiſe, being come in with the
Fleet, goes in my room. The Governor bath promis'd me a
Country Voyage, to help make me up my Loſſes, and would
have me ſtay to go home with him next Year.
to me,
Captain Mackra certainly run a great Hazard,
in going aboard the Pyrate, and began quickly
to repent his Credulity; for though they had pro-
miſed, that no Injury ſhould be done to his Per-
fon, he found their Words were not to be truft-
ed; and it may be ſuppoſed, that nothing but the
deſperate Circumſtances Captain Mackra imagined
himſelf to be in, could have prevailed upon
him
to fling himſelf and Company into their Hands,
perhaps not knowing how firmly the Natives of
that Iſland were attach'd to the Engliſh Nation 3
for about 20 Years ago, Captain Cornwall, Comma-
dore of an Engliſh Squadron, affifted them againſt
another Iſland called Mobilla, for which they have
ever ſince communicated all the grateful Offices
in their Power, inſomuch that it became a Pro-
verb,

of Capt. ENGLAND
123
verb, That an Engliſhman, and a Juanna Man were
all one.
England was inclined to favour Captain Mackra;
but he was ſo free to let him know, that his In-
tereft was declining amongſt them; and that the
Pyrates were ſo provoked at the Reſiſtance he
made againſt them, that he was afraid he ſhould
hardly be able to protect him ; he therefore advi-
ſed him to footh up and manage the Temper of
Captain Taylor, a Fellow of a moft barbarous Na-
ture, who was become a great Favourite amongſt
them for no other Reaſon than becauſe he was a
greater Brute than the reſt. Mackra did what he
could to ſoften this Beaft, and ply'd him with warm
Punch; notwithſtanding which, they were in a Tu-
mult whether they ſhould make an End of him, or
no, when an Accident happen'd which turn’d to
the Favour of the poor Captain ; a Fellow with a
terrible pair of Whiskers, and a wooden Leg, be-
ing ſtuck round with Piſtols, like the Man in the
Almanack with Darts, comes ſwearing and vapou-
ring upon the Quarter-Deck, and asks, in a dam-
ning Manner, which was Captain Mackra : The Cap-
tain expected no leſs than that this Fellow would
be his Executioner
3
but when he came near
him, he took him by the Hand, ſwearing, Damn
him he was glad to ſee him ; and ſhew me the Man, ſays he,
that offers to hurt Captain Mackra, for I ll ſtand by him;
and ſo with many Oaths told him, he was an honeſt
Fellow, and that he had formerly ſail'd with him.
This put an End to the Diſpute, and Captain
Tayior was ſo mellow'd with the Punch, that he
conſented that the old Pyrate Ship, and ſo many
Bales of Cioth ſhould be given to Captain Mackra,
and ſo he fell aſleep. England adviſed Captain
Mackra to get off with all Expedition, leaſt when
the Beaſt ſhould awake, he might repent his Genero-
fity: Which Advice was followed by the Captain.
Captain

124
Of Capt. ENGLAND.
Captain England having fided ſo much to Captain
Mackra's Intereſt, was a Means of making him
many Enemies among the Crew; they thinking
fuch good Uſage inconſiſtent with their Polity, be-
cauſe it looked like procuring Favour at the Ag-
gravation of their Crimes ; therefore upon Ima-
gination or Report, that Captain Mackra was fitting
out againſt them, with the Company's Force, he
was ſoon abdicated or pulled out of his Government,
and marooned with three more on the Iſland of
Mauritius : An Hand indeed, not to be complained
of, had they accumulated any Wealth by their
Villanies that would have afforded ſome future com-
fortable Proſpekt, for it abounds with Fiſh, Deer,
Hogs and other Fleſh. Sir Thomas Herbert, ſays, the
Shores with Coral and Ambergreaſe; but I believe
the Dutch had not deſerted it, had there been
much of theſe Commodities to have been found.
It was in 1722, reſettled by the French, who have
a Fort at another neighbouring Inand, called Don
Mafcarine, and are touched at for Water, Wood,
and Refreſhments, by French Ships bound to, or
for India; as St. Helena and Cape Bon Eſperance, are
by us and the Dutch. From this Place, Captain
England and his Companions having made a little
Boat of Staves and old Pieces of Deal left there,
went over to Madagaſcar, where they fubfift at
preſent on the Charity of ſome of their Brethren,
who had made better Proviſion for themſelves, than
they had done.
The Pyrates detained ſome Officers and Men be-
longing to Captain Mackra, and having repaired
the Damages received in their Rigging, they failed
for India. The Day before they made Land, faw
two Ships to the Eaſtward, who at firſt Sight, they
took to be Engliſh, and ordered one of the Priſo-
ners, who had been an Officer with Captain Mackra,
to tell them the private Signals between the Com-
pany's

Of Capt. ENGLAND.
I 5
pany's Ships, the Captain ſwearing he would cut
him in pound Pieces, if he did not do it immediate-
ly; but unable, was forced to bear their Scurility,
till they came up with them, and found they were
two Moor Ships from Muſcat, with Horſes, they
brought the Captain of them, and Merchants, on
Board, torturing them, and rifling the Ships,
in order to diſcover Riches, as believing they
came from Mocha; but being baulked in their Ex-
pectation, and next Morning ſeeing Land, and at
the ſame Time a Fleet in Shore plying to Wind-
ward, they were puzzled how to diſpoſe of them;
to let them go, was to diſcover and ruin the Voyage,
and it was cruel to fink the Men and Horſes with
the Ships, (as many of them were inclined to,) there-
fore, as a Medium, they brought them to an
Anchor, threw all their Sails over-board, and cut
one of the Ships Maſts half through.
While they lay at an Anchor, and were all the
next Day employed in taking out Water, one of
the aforementioned Fleet bore towards them with
Engliſh Colours, anſwered with a red Enſign from
the Pyrates, but did not ſpeak with one another.
At Night they left the Muſcatt Ships, weighed
with the Sea Wind, and ſtood to the Northward
after this Fleet: About four next Morning, juſt
as they were getting under fail, with the Land
Wind, the Pyrates came amongſt them, made no
ſtop, but fired their great and ſmall Guns very
briskly, till they got through; and as Day-Light
cleared, were in a great Confternation in their
Minds, having all along taken them for Angria's
Fleet; what to do was the Point, whether run or
purſue? They were ſenſible of their Inferiority of
Strength, having no more than 300 Men in both
Ships, and
40 of them Negroes; beſides, the Vi-
Etory had then four Pumps at Work, and muſt in-
evitably been loft before, had it not been for fome
Hand-

126
Of Capt. ENGLAND.
Hand-Pumps, and ſeveral pair of Standards brought
out of the Caſandra, to relieve and forengthen her;
but obſerving the Indifferency of the Fleet, choſe
rather to chaſe than run; and thought the beſt
Way to ſave themſelves, was to play at Bullbeggar
with the Enemy : So they came up with the Sea
Wind, about Gun-Shot to Leeward, the great Ships
of the Fleet a-head, and ſome others a-ſtern;
which latter they took for Fire-Veſſels: And theſe
a-head gaining from them by cutting away
their
Boats, they could do nothing more than conti-
nue their Courſe all Night, which they did, and
found them next Morning out of Sight, excepting
a Ketch and ſome few Gallivats, (ſmall fort of
Veſſels ſomething like the Feluccas of the Mediterranean,
and hoiſts, like them, triangular Sails.) They bore down,
which the Ketch perceiving, tranſported her Peo-
ple on Board a Gallivat, and ſet fire to her, the
other proved too nimble and made off. The ſame
Day they chaſed another Gallivat and took her,
being come from Gogo, bound for Callicut with
Cotton. Of theſe Men they enquired concerning
the Fleet, ſuppoſing they muſt have been in it;
and altho' they proteſted they had not ſeen a Ship
or Boat ſince they left Gogo, and pleaded very ear-
neſtly for Favour; yet they threw all their Cargo
over-board, and ſquezed their Joints in a Vice, to
extort Confeſſion: But they entirely ignorant of
who or what this Fleet ſhould be, were obliged not
only to ſuſtain this Torment, but next Day a freſh
eaſterly Wind having ſplit the Gallivats Sails,
they put her Company into the Boat, with nothing
but a Try fail, no Proviſions, and only four Gallons
of Water, (half of it Salt,) and then out of Sight
of Land, to ſhift for themſelves.
For the better elucidating of this Story, it may
be convenient to inform the Reader, who Angria
is,

of Capt. ENGLAND.
127
is, and what the Fleet were, that had ſo ſcurvily
behaved themſelves.
Angria is a famous Indian Pyrate, of confiderable
Strength and Territories, that gives continual Di-
fturbance to the European (and eſpecially the Engliſh)
Trade: His chief Hold is Callaba, not many Leagues
from Bombay, and has one Iſland in Sight of that
Port, whereby he gains frequent Opportunities of
annoying the Company. It would not be ſo inſu-
perable a Difficulty to ſuppreſs him, if the Shallow-
neſs of the Water did not prevent Ships of War
coming nigh: And a better Art he has, of bribing
the Mogul's Miniſters for Protection, when he finds
an Enemy too powerful.
In the Year 1720, the Bombay Fleet conſiſting of
four Grabbs, (Ships built in India by the Company, and
have three Mafts, a Prow like a Row-G alley, inſtead of
a Boltſprit, about 150 Tons ; are officered and armed
like a Man of War, for Defence and Protection of the
Trade,) the London, Chandois, and two other Ships
with Gallivats, who beſides their proper Compli-
ments, carried down 1000 Men to bombard and bat-
ter Gayra, a Fort belonging to Angria, on the Ma-
labar Coaſt, which they having performed ineffectu-
ally, were returning to Bornbay, and to make amends,
fell in with the Pyrates, to the Purpoſe has been
already related. Captain Opton, Commadore of
that Fleet, prudently objecting to Mr. Brown, (who
went General,) That the Ships were not to be ha-
zarded, ſince they failed without their Governor
Boon's Orders to engage; and beſides, that they
did not come out with ſuch a Deſign. This favou-
rable Opportunity of deſtroying the Pyrates, an-
gered the Governor, and he transferred the Com-
mand of the Fleet to Captain Mackra, who had
Orders immediately to purſue and engage, where
ever he met them.
The

128
Of Capt. ENGLAND.
The Vice-Roy of God, affifted by the Engliſh
Company's Fleet from Bombay, did attempt the
Reduction of Callaba, his principal Place, landed 8 or
10000 Men the next Year, the Engliſh Squadron of
Men of War being then in thoſe Seas; but having
viewed the Fortification well, and expended ſome
of their Army by Sickneſs and the Fatigues of a
Camp, carefully withdrew again.
I return to the Pyrates, who, after they had
fent
away the Gallivats People, reſolved to cruiſe
to the Southward; and the next Day, between Goa
and Carwar, heard ſeveral Guns, which brought
them to an Anchor, and they ſent their Boat on
the Scent, who returned about two in the Morn-
ing, and brought Word of two Grabs lying at
Anchor in the Road. They weighed and ran to-
wards the Bay, till Day-Light gave the Grabs
Sight of them, and was but juſt Time enough to
get under India Diva Caſtle, out of their reach;
this diſpleaſed the Pyrates the more, in that they
wanted Water; and ſome were for making a Del-
cent that Night and taking the Iſland, but it not being
approved of by the Majority, they proceeded to
the Southward, and took next in their Way, a
ſmall Ship out of Onnore Road, with only a Dutch
Man and two Portugueſe on Board. They ſent one of
there on Shore to the Captain, to acquaint him,
if he would ſupply them with ſome Water, and
freſh Proviſions, he ſhould have his Ship again;
the Maſter returned for anſwer, by his Mate Frank
Harmleſs, that if they would deliver him Poffeffion
over the Bar, he would comply with their Requeſt;
the Propoſal the Mate thought was collufive, and
they rather jump'd into Harmleſs's Opinion, (who
very honeſtly entered with them,) and reſolved to
feek Water at the Laccadeva Iſlands ; ſo having ſent
the other Perſons on Shore, with threats, that he
thould be the laſt Man they would give Quarter
and
to,

Of Capt. ENGLAND'
129
1
too, (by Reaſon of this uncivil Uſage ;) they put
dire&tly for the Hilands, and arrived there in three
Days: Where being informed by a Menchew they
took (with the Governor of Canwars Paſs) of there
being no Anchor-Ground among them, and Melin-
da being the next convenient Iſland, they ſent their
Boats on Shore, to ſee if there was any Water, and
whether it was inhabited or not; who returned
with an Anſwer to their Satisfaction, viz. that there
was abundance of good Water, and many Houſes,
but deſerted by the Men, who had fled to the
neighbouring Iſlands on the Approach of Ships,
and left only the Women and Children to guard
one another. The Women they forced in a Bar-
barous Manner to their Lufts, and to requite them,
deſtroyed their Cocoa Trees, and fired ſeveral of
their Houſes and Churches. (I ſuppoſe built by the
Portugueſe, who formerly uſed there, in their Voy-
ages to India.)
legisogno
While they were at this Iſland, they loſt three
or four Anchors, by the Rockyneſs of the Ground,
Freſhneſs of Winds, and at laſt were forced thence
by a harder Gale than ordinary, leaving 70 People,
Blacks and Whites, and moſt of their Water Casks:
In ten Days they regained the Iſland again, filled
their Water, and took the People on Board.
Proviſions were very ſcarce, and they now re-
ſolved to viſit their good Friends the Dutch, at Co-
chin, who, if you will believe theſe Rogues, never
fail of ſupplying Gentlemen of their Profeſſion.
After three Days fail, they arrived off Tellechery,
and took a ſmall Veſſel belonging to Governor
Adams, Fohn Tamke Maſter, whom they brought on
Board very drunk, and he giving an Account of
Captain Mackra's fitting out, put them in a Tem-
peft of Paffion: A Villain, ſay they, that we have
treated ſo civilly, as to give him a Ship and other Preſents,
and not to be armed againſt us be ought to be banged;
I
and

130 Of Capt. ENGLAND.
and ſince we cannot ſhow our Reſentment on him, let us
bang the Dogs his People, who wiſh bim well, and would
do the ſame, if clear. If it be in my Power, ſays the
Quarter-Maſter, both Maſters and Officers of Ships shall
be carried with us for the future, only to plague them.
domn England.
Thence they proceeded to Calicut, where they én-
deavoured to take a large Moor Ship out of the Road,
but was prevented by ſome Guns mounted on
Shore, and diſcharged at them: Mr. Lafinby, who
was one of Captain Mackra's Officers, and detained,
was under the Deck at this Time, and command
ed both by the Captain and Quarter Maſter of the
Pyrates, to tend the Braces on the Booms, in hopes,
it was believed, a Shot would take him before they
got clear, asking the Reaſon why he was not there
before? And when he would have excufed himſelf,
threat'ned on the like Neglect to ſhoot him; at
which the other beginning to expoftulate farther,
and claim their Promiſe of putting him aſhore,
got an unmerciful beating from the Quarter-Maſter.
Captain Taylor, who was now Succeſſor to England,
and whoſe Priviledge it was to do ſo, being lame of
his Hands, and unable.
The next Day in their Paſſage down, came up
with a Dutch Galliot, bound for Calicut with Lime
Stone, and aboard of her they put Captain Tamke,
and ſent him away, and ſeveral of the People inter-
ceeded for Laſinby in vain, For, ſays Taylor and his
Party, if we let this Dog go, who has heard our Deſigns
and Reſolutions, we overſet all our well adviſed Projections,
and particularly this Supply we are not ſeeking for, at the
Hands of the Dutch.
It was but one Day more before they arrived off
Cochin, where, by a Fiſhing-Canoe, they ſent a Let-
ter on Shore; and in the Afternoon, with the Sea-
breeze, ran into the Road and anchored, faluting
the Fort with 11 Guns each Ship, and received the
Return

Of Capt. ENGLAND.
131
Return, in an equal Number ; a good Omen of the
welcome Reception they found; for at Night there
came on Board a large Boat, deeply laden with
freſh Proviſions and Liquors, and with it a Servant
(of a favourite Inhabitant) called fohn Trumpet : He
told them they muft immediately weigh, and run
farther to the Southward, where they ſhould be
ſupplied with all Things they wanted, riaval Stores
or Provifions.
They had not been long at Anchor again, before
they had ſeveral Canoes on Board with both black
and white Inhabitants, who continued, without In-
terruption, all good Offices; during the r Stay;
particularly John Trumpet brought a large Boát of
Arrack, than which, nothing could be more plea-
fing (about 90 Legers,) as alſo 6c Bales of Sugar;
an Offering, its preſumed, from the Governor and
his Daughter, who, in Return, had a fine Table-
Clock ſent him, (the Plunder of Captain Mackra's
Ship,) and the a large Gold Watch, Earneſts of the
Pay they deſigned to make:
When they had all on Board, they paid Mr.
Trumpet to his Satisfa&tion, it was computed, 6 or
7000 l. gave him three Cheers, 1 Guns each Ship,
and throw'd Ducatoons into his Boat by hand-
fuls, for the Boat-Men to ſcramble for.
That Night being little Wind, did not weigh,
and Trumpet, in the Morning, waked them to the
Sight of more Arrack, Cheſts of Piece-Goods, and
ready made Clothes, bringing the Fifcal of the
Place alſo with him. At Noon, while thoſe were
on Board, ſaw a Sail to the Southward, which they
weighed, and chaсed after; but ſhe having a good
Offing, got to the Northward of them, and an-
chored a ſmall Diftance from Cochin Fort; the afore-
mentioned Gentlemen aſſuring them, that they
would not be moleſted in taking her from under
the Caſtle, ſollicited before hand for the buying her,
and
1 2

132 Of Capt. ENGLAND.
a
and adviſed them to ſtand in, which they did bold
ly, to board her ; but when they came within
Cable’s length or two of the Chace, now near Shore,
the Fort fired two ſmall Guns, whoſe Shot falling
nigh their Muzzels, they inſtantly bore out of the
Road, made an eaſy Sail to the Southward, and an-
chored at Night in their former Birth, where John
Trumpet, to engage their Stay a little longer, in-
formed them, that in a few Days a very rich Ship
was to paſs by, commanded by the General of Bom-
bay's Brother
This Governor is an Emblem of foreign Power.
What Inconvenience and Injury muſt the Maſter's
Subjects fuftain under one who can truckle to fuch
treacherous and baſe Means, as correſponding and
trading with Pyrates to enrich himſelf? Certainly
ſuch a Man will ſtickle at no Injuſtice to repair or
make a Fortune. He has the Argumentum bacillum
always in his own Hands, and can convince, when
he pleaſes, in half the Time of other Arguments,
that Fraud and oppreſſion is Law. That he im-
ploys Inſtruments in ſuch dirty Work, expreſſes
the Guilt and Shame, but no way mitigates the
Crime. John Trumpet was the Tool; but, as the Dog
ſaid in the Fable, on another Occaſion, What is
done by the Maſter's Orders, is the Maſter's Actions.
I cannot but refle&t, on this Occaſion, what a vile
Government Sancho Pancho had of it ; he had not on-
ly ſuch Perquifites reſcinded, but was really almoſt
ftarved; the Vi{tuals taken from him almoſt every
Day, and only under a Pretence of preſerving his
Excellency's Health: But Governments differ.
From Cochin ſome were for proceeding to Mada-
gaſcar dire&ly ; others thought it proper to cruize
till they got a Store-Ship, and theſe being the Ma-
jority, they ply'd to the Southward, and after ſome
Days ſaw a Ship in Shore, which being to Wind-
ward of them, they could not get nigh, till the
Sea

Of Capt. ENGLAND.
133
Sea Wind, and Night, favouring, they ſeparated,
one to the Northward, the other to the Southward,
thinking to encloſe her between : But to their
Aftoniſhment, and contrary to Expectation, when
Day broke, inſtead of the Chace, found themſelves
very near five Sail of tall Ships, who immediately
making a Signal for the Pyrates to bear down, put
them in the utmoſt Confuſion, particularly Taylor's
Ship, becauſe their Confort was at a Diſtance from
them, (at leaſt three Leagues to the Southward)
they ſtood to one another, and joined, and then to-
gether made the beſt of their way from the Fleet,
whom they judged to be commanded by Captain
Mackra; of whoſe Courage having Experience,
they were glad to ſhun any farther Taſte of.
In three Hours Chace, none of the Fleet gaining
upon them, excepting one Grab, their dejected
Countenances cleared up again, the more, in that
a Calm fucceeded for the Remainder of that Day;
and in the Night, with the Land Wind, they raz
dire&tly off Shore, and found next Day, to their
great Conſolation, that they had loft Sight of all
the Fleet.
This Danger eſcaped, they propoſed to ſpend
Chriſtmas (the Chriſtmas of 1720) in Carowzing
and Forgetfulneſs, and kept it for three Days in a
wanton and riotous Way, not only eating, but
waſting their freſh Proviſions in fo wretched and
inconſiderable a Manner, that when they had
agreed after this to proceed to Mauritius, they were
in that Paſſage at an Allowance of a Bottle of Wa-
ter per Diem, and not above two Pounds of Beef,
and a ſmall Quantity of Rice, for ten Men for a
Day ; ſo that had it not been for the leaky Ship,
(which once they were about to have quitted, and
had done, but for a Quantity of Arrack and Sugar
She had on Board,) they muſt moſt of them have
periſhed.
1 3
In

134 Of Capt. ENGLAND.
In this condition they arrived at the Ifland
of Mauritius, about the Middle of February, ſheath-
ed and refitted the Victory, and on the sth of April
failed again, leaving this terrible Inſcription on
one of the Walls. Left this place the 5th of April,
to go to Madagaſcar for Limes, and this, leaft (like
Lawyers and Men of Buſineſs) any Vifits ſhould be
paid in their Abſence : However, they did not fail
dire&tly for Madagaſcar, but the Iſland Maſcarine,
and luckily as Rogues could wiſh, they found at
their Arrival on the 8th, a Portugueſe Ship at An-
chor, of 70 Guns, but moſt of them thrown over-
board, her Mafts loſt, and ſo much diſabled by a
violent Storm they had met with in the Latitude
of
13° South, that ſhe became a Prize to the Py-
rates, with very little or no Reſiſtance, and a glo-
rious one indeed, having the Conde de Ericeira, Viceroy
of Goa, who made that fruitleſs Expedition againſt
Angria, the Indian, and ſeveral other Paſſengers on
Board', who, as they could not be ignorant of the
Treaſure ſhe had in, did affert, that in the ſingle
Article of Diamonds, there was to the Value of
between three and four Millions of Dollars.
The Vice-Roy, who came on Board that Morn-
ing, in Expectation of the Ships being Engliſh, was
made a Priſoner, and obliged to ranſome; but in
Confideration of his great Loſs, (the Prize being
Part his own,) they agreed after ſome Demurrings,
to accept of 2000 Dollars, and ſet him and the
other Priſoners aſhore, with Promiſes to leave a
Ship that they might Tranſport themſelves, becauſe
the Iſland was not thought in a Condition to maintain
ſo great a Number, and tho' they had learned
from them, the Account of an Oftender being to
Leeward of the Inand, which they took on that
Information, (being formerly the Greyhound Galley
of London,) and could conveniently have comply'd
with fo reaſonable a Requeſt; yet they ſent the
Oftender

Of Capt. ENGLAND. 135
Oſtender with ſome of their People to Madagaſcara
with News of their Succeſs, and to prepare Maſts
for the Prize ; and followed themſelves ſoon after,
without regard to the Sufferers, carrying 200 Mo-
zambique Negroes with them in the Portugueſe Ship.
Madagaſcar is an Iſland larger than Great-Britain,
moſt of it within the Tropick of Capricorn, and lays
Eaſt from the Eaſtern Side of Africa: It abounds
with Proviſions of all Sorts, Oxen, Goats, Sheep,
Poultry, Fish, Citrons, Oranges, Tamarinds, Dates,
Coco-Nuts, Bananas, Wax, Honey, Rice; or in
Short, Cotton, Indigo, or any other Thing they
will take Pains to plant, and have Underſtanding
to manage: They have likewiſe Ebony, a hard Wood
like Braſil, of which they make their Lances; and
Gum of ſeveral Sorts, Benzin, Dragon's Blood,
Aloes, (c. What is moſt incommodious, are the
numerous Swarms of Locufts on the Land, and
Crocodiles or Alligators in their Rivers. Hither,
in St. Auguſtin's Bay, the Ships fometimes touch
for Water, when they take the inner Paſſage for
India, and do not deſign to ſtop at Fohanna ; and we
may obſerve from the fixth general Voyage ſet
forth by the Eaſt-India Company, in Confirmation
of what is hereafter ſaid in Relation to Currents
in general; that this inner Paſſage or Channel,
has its Northern and Southern Currents ſtron-
geſt where the Channel is narroweſt, and is leſs,
and varies on different Points of the Compaſs, as
the Sea comes to ſpread again, in the Paſſage croſs
the Line.
Since the Diſcovery of this Iſland by the Portu-
gueſe, A. D. 1505, the Europeans, and particularly
Pyrates, have increaſed a dark Mulatto Race there,
tho’ ſtill few in Compariſon with the Natives,
who are Negroes, with curled ſhort Hair, A&tive,
and formerly repreſented malicious and revenge-
tul, now tra&table and communicable, perhaps ow-
14
ing

136
Of Capt. ENGLAND.
ing to the Favours and Generoſity in Cloathing
and Liquors, they from Time to Time have re-
ceived from theſe Fellows, who live in all poſſible
Friendſhip, and can, any ſingle Man of them, com-
mand a Guard of 2 or 300 at a Minute's warning:
This is farther the Native's Intereſt, to cultivate
with them, becauſe the Iſland being divided into
petty Governments and Commands, the Pyrates,
ſettled here, who are now a conſiderable Number, and
have little Caſtles of their own, can preponderate
where-ever they think fit to fide.
When Taylor came with the Portugueſe Prize here,
they found the Oſtender had played their Men a
Trick, for they took Advantage of their Drink,
riſe upon them, and (as they heard afterwards)
carried the Ship to Mozambique, whence the Gover-
nor ordered her for Goa. 10
Here the Pyrates came, cleaned the Caſſandra,
and divided their Plunder, ſharing 42 ſmall Dia-
monds a Man, or in leſs Proportion according to
their Magnitude. An ignorant, or a merry Fellow,
who had only one in this Diviſion, as being judged
equal in Value to 42, ſmall, muttered very much
at the Lot, and went and broke it in a Morter,
ſwearing afterwards, he had a better Share than
any of them, for he had beat it, he ſaid, into
43 Sparks.
Thoſe who were not for running the Hazard of
their Necks, with 42 Diamonds, beſides other
Treaſure, in their Pockets, knocked off, and ſtay'd
with their old Acquaintance at Madagaſcar, on
mutual Agreements, the longer Livers to take all.
The Reſidue having therefore no Occaſion for
two Ships, the Vistory being leaky, fhe was burnt,
the Men (as many as would coming into the caf-
Sandra, under the Command of Taylor, who we
muſt leave a Time, projecting either for Cochin, to
diſpoſe of their Diamonds among their old Friends
the

Of Capt. ENGLAND.
937
the Dutch, or elſe for the Red or China Seas, to
avoid the Men of War, that continually clamou-
red in their Ears, a Noiſe of Dariger, and give
the little Account we are able, of that Squadron,
who arrived in India, early in the Year 1721.
At Cape Good Hope, in fune, the Commadore met
with a Letter, which was left for him by the Go-
vernor of Madras, to whom it was wrote by the Go-
vernor of Pandicherry, a French Factory, on the Coro-
mondel Coaft, fignifying, the Pyrates at the Writing
of it, were then ſtrong in the Indian Seas, having 11
Sail and 1500 Men, but that many of them went
away about that Time, for the Coaſt of Brazil and
Guinea ; others ſettled and fortified themſelves at
Madagaſcar, Mauritius, Johanna and Mohilla: And
that others under Conden, in a Ship called the Dra-
gon, took a large Moor's Veffel, coming from Iud-
da and Mocho, with thirteen Lackies of Rupees on
Board, (1. e. 1300000 half Crowns,) who having
divided the Plunder, burnt their Ship and Prize,
and fat down quietly with their other Friends at
Madagaſcar. MOTO
The Account contain'd ſeveral other Things
which we have before related. - Commadore
Matthews, upon receiving this Intelligence, and be-
ing fond of the Service he came out for, haftened
to thoſe Iſlands, as the moſt hopeful Places of
Succeſs; at St. Mary's would have engaged England
with Promiſes of Favour, if he would commu-
nicate what he knew, concerning the Caſſandra,
and the reſt of the Pyrates, and aſſiſt in the Pilo.
tage; but England was wary, and thought this
was to ſurrender at Diſcretion, ſo they took up the
Judda Ship’s Guns that was burnt, and the Men
of War diſperſed themſelves on ſeveral Voyages
and Cruiſes afterwards, as was thought likelieſt
to ſucceed, tho? to no Purpoſe: Then the Squa-
dron

138
Of Capt. ENGLAND.
dron went down to Bombay, were ſaluted by the
Fort, and came home.
The Pyrates, I mean thoſe of the Caſſandra, now
Captain Taylor, fitted the Portugueſe Man of War,
and reſolved upon another Voyage to the Indies,
notwithſtanding the Riches they had heaped up;
but as they were preparing to fail, they heard of
the four Men of War coming after them to thoſe
Seas, therefore they altered their Minds, fail'd for
the Main of Africa, and put in at a little Place
called Delagoa, near the River de Spiritu Santo, on
the Coaſt of Monomot apa, in 264 South Latitude.
They believed this to be a Place of Security, in
regard that the Squadron could not poſſibly get
Intelligence of them, there being no Correſpon-
dence over Land, nor any Trade carried on by
Sea, between that and the Cape, where the Men
of War were then ſuppoſed to be. The Pyrates
came to in the Evening, and were ſurprized with a
few Shot from the Shore, not knowing of any
Fortification or European Settlement in that part of
the World; ſo they anchored at a Diſtance that
Night, and perceiving, in the Morning, a ſmall
Fort of fix Guns, they run up to it, and bat-
tered it down.
This Fort was built and ſettled by the Dutch
Eaſt-India Company, a few Months before, for
what Purpoſe, I know not, and having left 150
Men upon the place, they were then dwindled to a
third Part by Sickneſs and Caſualties, and never
after received any Relief or Neceſſaries ; ſo that
Sixteen of thoſe that were left, upon their hum-
ble Petition, were admitted on Board the Pyrates,
and all the reſt would have had the ſame Favour
(they faid) had they been any other than Dutch.
I mention this, as an Inſtance of their Ingratitude,
who had been ſo much obliged to their Country-
men for Support.
Here

Of Capt. ENGLAND,
139
Here they ſtaid above four Months, carreened
both their Ships, and took their Diverſions with
Security, till they had expended all their Provi-
fions, and then put to Sea, leaving confiderable
Quantities of Mullins, Chintzes, and ſuch Goods
behind, to the half ſtarved Dutch Men, which en-
abled them to make good Pennyworths to the next
that came, to whom they bartered for Proviſions,
at the Rate of three Farthings an Engliſh Yard.
They left Delagna the latter End of December
1722, but not agreeing where, or how to proceed,
they concluded to part, ſo thoſe who were for con-
tinuing that ſort of Life, went on Board the Portu-
gueſe Prize, and ſteered for Madagaſcar to their
Friends, with whom I hear they are now ſettled;
and the reſt took the Caſſandra and failed for the
Spaniſh Weſt-Indies. The Mermaid Man of War hap-
pening then to be down on the Main with a Convoy,
about 30 Leagues from theſe Pyrates, would have
gone and attacked them; but on a Conſultation
of the Mafters, whoſe Safety he was particularly
to iegard, they agreed their own Protečtion was of
more Service than deſtroying the Pyrate, and ſo
the Commander was unwillingly withheld. He dif-
patched a Sloop to Jamaica, with the News, which
brought down the Lanceſton, only a Day, or two, too
late, they having juſt before he came, ſurrendered
with all their Riches, to the Governor of Porto
Bello.
Here they fate down to ſpend the Fruits of their
diſhoneſt Induſtry, dividing the Spoil and Plunder
of Nations among themſelves, without the leaſt
Remorſe or Compun&tion, ſatisfying their conſci-
ence with this Salvo, that other people would
have done as much, had they the like Opportu-
nitiess. I can't ſay, but that if they had known
what was doing in England, at the ſame Time by
the South-Sea Directors, and their Directors, they
would

140 Of Capt. ENGLAND.
would certainly have had this Reflection for their
Conſolation, viz. That what ever Robberies they had
committed, they might be pretty ſure they were not the
greateſt Villains then living in the World.
It is a difficult Matter to make a Computation
of the Miſchief that was done by this Crew, in
about five Years Time, which is much more than
the Plunder they gained, for they often ſunk or
burnt the Veſſel they took, as it ſuited their Hu-
mour or Circumſtances, ſometimes to prevent gi-
ving Intelligence, ſometimes becauſe they did not
leave Men to navigate them, and at other Times
out of Wantonneſs, or becauſe they were diſplea-
fed at the Maſter's Behaviour; for any of theſe,
it was but to give the Word, and down went Ships
and Cargoes to the Bottom of the Sea.
Since their Surrender to the Spaniards, I am in-
formed ſeveral of them have left the place, and
diſperſed themſelves elſewhere; eight of them
were fhipp'd about November laſt, in one of the
South-Sea Company's Affiento Sloops, and paſſed for
Ship-wreck'd Men, came to Jamaica, and there failed
in other Veſſels; and I know one of them that came
to England this Spring from that Iſland. 'Tis ſaid
that Captain Taylor has taken a Commiſſion in the
Spaniſh Service, and commanded the Man of War
that lately attack'd the Engliſh Log-Wood Cutters,
in the Bay of Honduras.
NULLE
СНАР"

141
C H A P. VI.
OF
Captain Charles Vane,
And his Crew.
C
Harles Vane was one of thoſe who ſtole away
the Silver which the Spaniards had fiſhed up
from the Wrecks of the Galleons, in the
Gulph of Florida, and was at Providence (as has
been before hinted) when Governor Rogers arrived
there with two Men of War.
All the Pyrates who were found at this Colony
of Rogues, fubmitted, and received Certificates of
their Pardon, except Captain Vane and his Crew;
who, as ſoon as they ſaw the Men of War enter,
flipp'd their Cable, ſet Fire to a Prize they had in
the Harbour, and failed out with their pyratical
Colours flying, firing at one of the Men of War as
they went off.
Two Days after they went out, they met with
a Sloop belonging to Barbadoes, which they made
Prize of, and kept the Veſſel for their own Uſe,
putting aboard five and twenty Hands, with one
Yeats to command them.
A Day or two after-
wards they fell in with a ſmall interloping Trader,
with a Quantity of Spaniſh Pieces of Eight aboard,
bound into Providence, called the John and Elizabeth,
which

142 Of Capt. CHARLES VANE.
which they alſo took along with them. With theſe
two Sloops Vane went to a ſmall Iſland and cleaned;
where they ſhared their Booty, and ſpent ſome
Time in a riotous Manner of Living, as is the Cu-
ftom of Pyrates.
The latter End of May 1718, they fail'd, and
being in want of Proviſions, they beat up for the
Windward Iſlands, and met with a Spaniſh Sloop
bound from Porto Rico to the Havana, which they
burnt, and ſtowed the Spaniards in a Boat, and left
them to get to the Iſland, by the Light of their Vef-
ſel. But ſteering between St. Chriſtopher's and An-
guilla, they fell in with a Brigantine and a Sloop,
with the Cargo they wanted; from whom they
got Proviſions for Sea-Store.
Sometime after this, ſtanding to the Northward,
in the Track the Old-England Ships take, in their
Voyage to the American Colonies, they took ſeveral
Ships and Veſſels, which they plundered of what
they thought fit, and let them paſs.
The latter End of Auguſt, Vane, with his Confort
Yeats, came off South-Carolina, and took a Ship be-
longing to Ipſwich, one Coggerſhall Commander, laden
with Logwood, which was thought convenient
enough for their own Buſineſs, and therefore order-
ed their Priſoners to work, and throw all the La-
ding over-board; but when they had more than
half cleared the Ship, the Whim changed, and
then they would not have her ; fo Coggerſhall had
his Ship again, and he was ſuffered to purſue
his Voyage home. In this Cruize the Rover took
ſeveral other Ships and Veſſels, particularly a
Sloop from Barbadoes, Dil Maſter ; a ſmall Ship
from Antegoa, Cock Maſter; a Sloop belonging to
Curacco, Richards Maſter
3 and a large Brigantine,
Captain Thompſon, from Guiney, with ninety odd
Negroes aboard. The Pyrates plundered them all
and let them go, putting the Negroes out of the
Brigana

Of Capt. CHARLES VANE.
143
Brigantine aboard of Year's Vefſel, by which Means
they came back again to the right Owners.
For Captain Vane, having always treated his
Confort with very little Reſpect, affuming a Supe-
riority over Yeats and his ſmall Crew, and regar-
ding the Veſſel but as a Tender to his own ; gave
them a Diſguft, who thought themſelves as good
Pyrates, and as great Rogues as the beſt of them ;
ſo they caballd together, and reſolved to take the
firft Opportunity to leave the Company; and accept
of his Majeſty's Pardon, or ſet up for themſelves,
either of which they thought more honourable than
to be Servants to the former; and the putting
aboard fo many Negroes, where they found ſo few
Hands to take care of them, ſtill aggravated the
Matter, though they thought fit to conceal or ftifle
their Reſentments at that Time.
A Day or two afterwards, the Pyrates lying off
at Anchor, Yeats in the Evening ſlipp?d his Cable,
and put his Vefſel under Sail, ſtanding into the
Shore; which, when Vane faw, he was highly pro-
voked, and got his Sloop under Sail to chaſe his
Confort, who, he plainly perceived, had a Mind to
have no further Affairs with him: Vane's Brigan-
tine failing beft, he gained Ground of Yeats, and
would certainly have come up with him, had he
had a little longer Run for it; but juſt as he got over
the Bar, when Vane came within Gun-fhot of him,
he fired a Broadſide at his old Friend, (which did
him no Damage,) and fo took his Leave.
Teats came into North Ediſto River, about ten
Leagues Southward of Charles-Town, and ſent an
Expreſs to the Governor, to know if he and his
Comrades might have the Benefit of his Majeſty's
Pardon, and they would ſurrender themſelves to
his Mercy, with the Sloops and Negroes; which
being granted, they all came up and received Cer-
tificates;

144
Of Capt. CHARLES VANE.
tificates; and Captain Thompſon, from whom the
Negroes were taken, had them reſtored to him,
for the Uſe of his owners.
Vane cruiſed fome Time off the Bar, in hopes to
catch Teats at his coming out again, but therein he
was diſappointed; however, he unfortunately for
them, took two Ships from Charles-Town, bound home
to England. It happen'd that juſt at this Time two
Sloops well mann'd and arm’d, were equipp'd to go
after a Pyrate, which the Governor of South-Carolina
was informed, lay then in Cape Fear River, a clean-
ing: But Colonel Rhet, who commanded the Sloops,
meeting with one of the Ships that Vane had plun-
dered, going back over the Bar, for ſuch Neceffa-
ries as had been taken from her, and ſhe giving the
Colonel an Account of her being taken by the Py.
rate Vane, and alſo, that ſome of her Men, while
they were Priſoners on Board of him, had heard
the Pyrates ſay, they ſhould clean in one of the
Rivers to the Southward; he altered his firſt
Deſign, and inſtead of ſtanding to the Northward,
in purſuit of the Pyrate in Cape Fear River, he
turns to the Southward after Vane ; who had order-
ed fuch Reports to be given out, on purpoſe to
ſend any Force that ſhould come after him, upon
a wrong Scent ; for in Reality he ſtood away to
the Northward, ſo that the Purſuit proved to be
the contrary Way.
Colonel Rhet's ſpeaking with this Ship, was the
moſt unlucky Thing that could have happened, be-
cauſe it turned him out of the Road, which in all
Probability, would have brought him into the Com-
pany of Vane; as well as of the Pyrate he went
and ſo they might have been both deſtroy'd;
whereas, by the Colonel's going a different Way, he
not only loſt the Opportunity of meeting with
one, but if the other had not been infatuated, to
lye fix Weeks together at Cape Fear, he would
after ;
have

Of Capt. CHARLES VĀNE. 143
have miſſed of him likewiſe : However, the Collo-
nel having ſearched the Rivers and Inlets, as di-
rected, for ſeveral Days, without Succefs, at length
failed in Proſecution of his firſt Defign, and met
with the Pyrate accordingly, whom he fought and
took, as has been before ſpoken of, in the Hiftory of
Major Bonnet.
Captain Vane went into an Inlet to the North-
ward, where he met with Captain Thatch, or Teach
otherwiſe call'd Black-beard, whom he faluted (when
he found who he was) with his great Guns, loaded
with Shot, (as is the Cuſtom among Pyrates when
they meet) which are fired wide, or up into the Air:
Black-beard anſwered the Salute in the ſame Manner,
and mutual Civilities paſſed for ſome Days; when
about the Beginning of Otober, Vane took Leave, and
failed further to the Northward.
On the 23d of October, off of Long Iſland, he took
a ſmall Brigantine, bound from Famaica to Salem
in New-England, John Shattock Maſter, and a little
Sloop; they rified the Brigantine, and ſent her
away. From hence they reſolved on a Cruize be-
tween Cape Meiſe and Cape Nicholas, where they
ſpent ſome Time, without ſeeing or ſpeaking with
any Veſſel, till the latter End of November; then they
fell upon a Ship, which 'twas expected would have
ftruck as ſoon as their black Colours were hoiſted ;
but inſtead of that, ſhe diſcharged a Broadſide upon
the Pyrate, and hoiſted Colours, which fhewed her
to be a French Man of War. V are defired to have
nothing further to ſay to her, bu& trimm'd his
Sails, and ſtood away from the French Man; but
Monſieur having a Mind to be better informed who
he was, ſet all his Sails, and crowded after him.
During this Chace, the Pyrates were divided in
their Reſolutions what to do: Vane, the Captain,
was for making off as faſt as he could, alledging
the

146 Of Capt. CHARLES VANE.
a
the Man of War was too ſtrong to cope with; but
one Jobs Rackam, who was an Officer, that had
kind of a Check upon the Captain, rofe up in De
fence of a contrary Opinion, ſaying, That tho?
had more Guns, and a greater Weight of Mettal, they
might board ber, and then the beſt Boys would carry the
Day. Rackam was well feconded, and the Majority
was for boarding, but Vane urged, That it was too
raſh and deſperate an Enterprize, the Man of War ap-
pearing to be twice their Force; and that their Brigan-
tine might be funk by her before they could reach on board.
The Mate, one Robert Deal, was of Vane's Opinion,
as were about fifteen more, and all the reft joined
with Rackam, the Quarter-Mafter. At length the
Captain made uſe of his power to determine this
Diſpute, which, in theſe Cales, is abſolute and un-
controu lable, by their own Laws, viz. in fighting,
chaſing, or being chaſed; in all other Matters whatſo-
ever, he is governed by a Majority; ſo the Brigan-
tine having the Heels, as they term it, of the French
Man, ſhe came clear off.
But the next Day, the Captain's Behaviour was
obliged to ſtand the Teſt of a Vote, and a Re-
ſolution paſſed againſt his Honour and Dignity,
branding him with the Name of Coward, depo-
fing him from the Command, and turning him
out of the Company, with Marks of Infamy;
and, with him, went all thoſe who did not Vote for
boarding the French Man of War. They had with
them a ſmall Sloop that had been taken by them
fome Time before, which they gave to Vane, and
the diſcarded Members; and, that they might be
in a Condition to provide for themſelves, by their
own honeſt Endeavours, they let them have a fuf-
ficient Quantity of Proviſions and Ammunition along
with them.
Fohn

Of Capt. CHARLES VANE.
147
John Rackam was voted Captain of the Brigantine,
in Vane’s Room, and proceeded towards the Caribbee
Iſlands, where we muft leave him, till we have
finished our Story of Charles Vane.
The Sloop failed for the Bay of Honduras, and
Vane and his Crew put her into as good a Condi-
tion as they could by the Way, to follow the old
Trade. They cruiſed two or three Days off the
North-Weſt Part of Jamaica, and took a Sloop and
two Pettiagas, and all the Men entered with them;
the Sloop they kept, and Robert Deal went Captain
of her.
On the 16th of December the two Sloops came
into the Bay, where they found only one at an
Anchor, calld the Pearl, of Jamaica, Captain Charles
Romling Maſter, who got under Sail at the Sight of
them; but the Pyrate Sloops coming near Rowling,
and fhewing no Colours, he gave them a Gun or
two ; whereupon they hoiſted the black Flag, and
fired three Guns each, at the Pearl ; ſhe ftruck, and
the Pyrates took Poffeffion, and carried her away
to a ſmall Iſland called Barnacko, and there they
cleaned, meeting in the Way with a Sloop from
Famaica, Captain Wallden Commander, going down
to the Bay, which they alſo made Prize of.
In February, Vane failed from Barnacko, in order
for a Cruize; but fome Days after he was out, a
violent Turnado overtook him, which ſeparated
him from his Confort, and after two Days Diftreſs,
threw his Sloop upon a ſmall uninhabited Illand,
near the Bay of Honduras, where ſhe was fraved to
Pieces, and moſt of her Men drowned: Vane him
ſelf was ſaved, but reduced to great Streights, for
want of Neceffaries, having no Opportunity to get
any Thing from the Wreck. He lived here ſome
Weeks, and was fubfifted chiefly by Fiſhermen,
who frequented the Iſland with ſmall Craft, from
the Main, to catch Turtles, c.
While
K 2

148
Of Capt. CHARLES VANE.
While Vane was upon this Ifland, a Ship put in
from Jamaica for Water, the Captain of which, one
Holford, an old Buccaneer, happened to be Vane's
Acquaintance; he thought this a good Opportu-
nity to get off, and accordingly applied to his old
Friend; but he abſolutely refuſed him, ſaying to
him, Charles, I ſhan't trust you aboard my Ship, un-
leſs I carry you a Priſoner ; for I ſhall have you caballing
with my Men, knock me on the Head, and run away with
my Ship a pyrating. Vane made all the Proteſtations
of Honour in the World to him ; but, it ſeems,
Captain Holford was too intimately acquainted with
him, to repoſe any Confidence at all in his Words
or Oaths. He told him, He might eaſily find a way
to get of, if he had a Mind to it: I am now going down
the. Bay, ſays he, and shall return hither, in about
Month ; and if I find you upon the Iſland when I come
back, f'll carry you to Jamaica, and hang you. Which
Way can I get away? Anſwers Vane. Are there not
Fiſhermen's Dories
upon
the Beach? Can't
you
take one of
them? Replies Holford. What, ſays Vane, would you
have me ſteal a Dory then? Do you make it a Matter of
Conſcience ? Said Holford, to ſteal a Dory, when you
been a common Robber and Pyrate, ſtealing Ships and Car-
goes, and plundering all Mankind that fell in your Way
Stay there, and be don'd, if you are ſo Sque amiſh : And
10 left him.
After Captain Holford's Departure, another Ship
put in to the fame Iſland in her Way home for
Water; none of whoſe Company knowing Vane,
he eaſily paſſed upon them for another Man, and
ſo was shipp'd for the Voyage. One would be apt
to think that Vane was now pretty ſafe, and like-
ly to eſcape the Fate which his Crimes had me-
rited; but here a croſs Accident happen'd that
ruind all: Holford, returning from the Bay, was met
with by this Ship; the Captains being very well
acquainted together, Holford was invited to dine
have
aboard

Of Capt. CHARLES VANE,
149
aboard of him, which he did; and as he paſſed a-
long to the Cabin, he chanced to caft his Eye down
the Hold, and there faw Charles Vane at work ; he
immediately ſpoke to the Captain, ſaying, Do you
know who you have
got aboard bere? Why, ſays he, I
have ſh pd a Man at ſuch an Ifand, who was cast away
in a trading Sloop, he ſeems to be a brisk Hand. I tell
you, ſays Captain Holford, it is Vane the notorious
Pyrate. If it be bim, replies the other, I won't keep
him: Why then, ſays Holford, I'll ſend and take him
aboard, and ſurrender him at Jamaica., Which being
agreed to, Captain Holford, as ſoon as he returned
to his Ship, ſent his Boat with his Mate armed,
who coming to Vane, ſhewed him a Piſtol, and told
him, He was his Priſoner; which none oppofing, he
was brought aboard, and put in Irons; and when
Captain Holford arrived at Jamaica, he delivered
his old Acquaintance into the Hands of Juſtice;
at which place he was try'd, convicted, and exe-
cuted, as was, ſome Time before, Vane's Confort,
Robert Deal, brought thither by one of the Men of
War.
teab VALUE
K3
CHAP

150
ASAS SAARE7673
CHA P. VII.
10 OF
Captain John Rackam
,
And his CREV.
DOGS 52 VE 21
i ono
THIS John Rackam, as has been mentioned
in the laft Chapter, was Quarter-Maſter
to Vane's Company, till they were divided,
and Vane turned out for refuſing to board and fight
the French Man of War; then Rackam was voted
Captain of that Diviſion that remained in the Bri-
gantine. The 24th of November 1718, was the firſt
Day of his Command, and his firſt Cruize was
among the Caribbee Iſlands, where he took and plun-
der'd ſeveral Veſſels.
We have already taken Notice, that when Cap-
tain Woodes Rogers went to the Iſland of Providence
,
with the King's Pardon to ſuch as ſhould furren-
der, this Brigantine, which Rackam now comman-
ded, made its Eſcape, thro' another Paſſage, bid-
ding Defiance to Mercy.
To Windward of Jamaica, a Madera Man fell
into the Pyrates Way, which they detained two
or three Days, till they had made their Market out
of her, and then gave her back to the Maſter, and
permitted one Hoſea Tiſdell, a Tavern-Keeper at
Jamaica, who had been pick'd up in one of their
Prizes,

Of Capt. John RACKAM.
151
Prizes, to depart in her, ſhe being then bound for
that Illand.
After this Cruize, they went into a ſmall Iſland
and cleaned, and ſpent their Chriſtmas afhore, drink-
ing and carouſing as long as they had any Liquor
left, and then went to Sea again for more, where
they ſucceeded but too well, though they took no
extraordinary Prize, for above two Months, ex-
cept a Ship laden with Thieves from Newgate,
bound for the Plantations, which, in a few Days, was
retaken with all her Cargo, by an Engliſh Man of
War.
Rackam ftood off towards the Iſland of Barmudas,
and took a Ship bound to England from Carolina,
and a ſmall Pink from New-England, and brought
them to the Bahama Iſlands, where with the Pitch,
Tar, and Stores, they clean’d again, and refitted
their own Veſſel ; but ſtaying too long in that
Neighbourhood, Captain Rogers, who was Gover-
nor of Providence, hearing of theſe Ships being ta-
ken, ſent out a Sloop well mann’d and arm’d,
which retook both the Prizes, and in the mean
while the Pyrate had the good Fortune to ef-
са ре.
From hence they failed to the Back of Cuba,
where Rackam kept a little kind of a Family, at
which Place, they ftaid a conſiderable Time, li-
ving aſhore with their Dalilahs, till their Money
and Provifion were expended, and then they con-
cluded it Time to look out: They repaired to their
Veſſel, and was making ready to put Sea, when a
Guarda del Coſta came in with a ſmall Engliſh Sloop,
which ſhe had taken as an Interloper on the Coaſt.
The Spaniſh Guardſhip attack d the Pyrate, but
Rackam being cloſe in behind a little Ifland, the
could do but little Execution where ſhe lay, there-
fore the Spaniard warps into the Channel that Eve-
ning, in order to make ſure of her the next Mor-
ning.
I 4

152
Of Capt
. JOHN RACKAM.
ning. Rackam finding his Caſe deſperate, and hard-
ly any Poffibility of eſcaping, reſolved to attempt
the following En-erprize : The Spaniſh Prize lying
for better Security cloſe into the Land, between
the little Iand and the Main ; Račkam takes his
Crew into the Boat, with their" Piſtols and Cut-
laſhes, rounds the little Iſland, and falls aboard their
Prize filently in the dead of the Night, without be-
ing diſcovered, telling the Spaniards that were
aboard of her, that if they ſpoke a Word, or made
the leaſt Noiſe, they were dead Men, and fo be-
came Maſter of her ; when this was done, he flipt
her Cable, and drove out to Sea : The Spaniſh Man
of War, was ſo intent upon their expected Prize,
that they minded nothing elſe, and affoon as Day
broke, made a furious Fire upon the empty Sloop,
but it was not long before they were rightly ap-
prized of the Matter, and curſed themſelves for
Fools, to be bit out of a good rich Prize, as ſhe
prov'd to be, and to have nothing but an old crazy
Hull in the room of her.
Rackam and his Crew had no Occaſion to be diſ-
pleaſed at the Exchange, that enabled them to
continue fome Time longer in a Way of Life that
ſuited their depraved Tempers : In Auguſt 1720, we
find him at Sea again, ſcouring the Harbours and
Inlets of the North and Weſt Parts of Jamaica,
where he took ſeveral ſmall Craft, which proved
no great Booty to the Rovers, but they had but
few Men, and therefore they were obliged to
run at low Game, till they could encreaſe their
Company.
In the Beginning of September, they took ſeven
or eight Fiſhing-Boats in Harbour Iſland, ftole their
Nets and other Tackle, and then went off the
French Part of Hiſpaniola, and landed, and took
Catcle away,
with two or three French Men they
found near the Water-Side, hunting of wild Hogs

Of Capt. John RACKAM,
153
in the Evening: The French Men came on Board,
whether by Conſent or Compulfion, I can't ſay.
They afterwards plundered two Sloops, and re-
turned to Jamaica, on the North Coaſt of which
Illand, near Porto Maria Bay, they took a Scooner,
Thomas Spenlow Mafter ; it was then the 19th of
Otober. The next Day, Rackam ſeeing a Sloop in
Dry Harbour Bay, he food in and fired a Gun;
the Men all run afhore, and he took the Sloop
and Lading, but when thoſe aſhore found them to be
Pyrates, they hailed the Sloop, and let them know
they were all willing to come aboard of them.
Rackam's coafting the Iſland in this Manner, pro-
ved fatal to him, for Intelligence came to the Go-
vernor, of his Expedition, by a Canoa which he
had ſurprized afhore, in Ocho Bay ; upon which a
Sloop was immediately fitted out, and ſent round
the Iſland in queſt of him, commanded by Cap.
tain Barnet, with a good Number of Hands. Rae
ckam rounding the Iſland, and drawing near the
Weftermoft Point, called Point Negril, ſaw a ſmall
Pettiauger, which at fight of the Sloop, run
afhore and landed her Men; when one of them
hailed her, Anſwer was made, They were Engliſh
Men; and deſired the Pettiauger's Men to come on
Board, and drink a Bowl of Punch, which they
were prevailed upon to do; accordingly the Com-
pany came all aboard of the Pyrate, conſiſting of
nine Perſons, in an ill Hour; they were armed
with Muskets and Cutlashes, but, what was their
real Deſign by ſo doing, I ſhall not take upon me
to ſay ; but they had no ſooner laid down their
Arms, and taken up their Pipes, but Barnet's Sloop,
which was in Purſuit of Rackam's, came in Sight.
The Pyrates finding ſhe ſtood directly towards
her, fear d the Event, and weighed their Anchor,
which they but lately let go, and food off : Cap-
tain Barnet gave them Chace, and having the Ad-
vantage

134 Of Capt. JOHN RACKAM,
vantage of little Breezes of Wind, which blew off
the Land, came up with her, and, after a very
ſmall Diſpute, took her, and brought her into Port
Royal, in Jamaica.
In about a Fortnight after the Priſoners were
brought afhore, viz. November 16, 1720, a Court
of Admiralty was held at St. Fago de la Vega, be-
fore which the following Perſons were convicted,
and Sentence of Death pailed upon them, by the
Prefident, Sir Nicholas Laws, viz. John Rackam Cap-
tain, George Ferberffon Maſter, Richard Corner Quarter-
Maſter, fohn Davis, John Howell, Patrick Carty, Tho-
mas Earl, James Dobbin and Noah Harwood. The
five firft were executed the next Day at Gallovos
Point, at the Town of Port Rayal, and the reſt, the
Day after, at King fron; Rackam, Feverſton and Corner,
were afterwards taken down and hang d up in
Chains, one at Plumb Point, one at Buſh Key, and
the other at Gun Key.
But what was very ſurprizing, was, the Con-
vi&tion of the nine Men that came aboard the
Sloop the fame Day she was taken. They were
tryd at an Adjournment of the Court, on the 24th
of January, waiting all that Time, it is ſuppoſed, for
Evidence, to prove the pyratical Intention of go-
ing aboard the faid Sloop; for it ſeems there was
110 A&t of Pyracy committed by them, after their
coming on Board, as appeared by the Witneſſes
againſt them, who were two French Men taken by
Rackam, off from the Inland of Hiſpaniola, and de-
poſed in the following Manner.
« That the Priſoners at the Bar, viz. John Eatin,
Edward Warner, Thomas Baker, Thomas Quick, John
Cole, Benjamin Palmer, Walter Rouſe, John Hanſon,
and John Howard, came aboard the Pyrate's Sloop
at Negril Point, Rackan ſending his Canoe afhore
for that Purpoſe: That they brought Guns and
Cutlaſhes on Board with them: That when Cap-
C
tain

of Capt. John RACKAM.
155
C
- tain Barnet chaſed them, fome were drinking,
and others walking the Deck: That there was a
great Gun and a ſmall Arm fired by the Pyrate
Sloop, at Captain Barnet's Sloop, when he chaſed
* her; and that when Captain Barnet's Sloop fired
at Rackam's Sloop, the Priſoners at the Bar went
down under Deck. That during the Time Cap-
tain Barnet chaſed them, ſome of the Priſoners
at the Bar (but which of them he could not tell)
helped to row the Sloop, in order to eſcape from
Barnet: That they all ſeemed to be conſorted to-
gether.
Duserl 199
al 9VII Jomo
This was the Subſtance of all that was evidenced
againſt them, the Priſoners anſwered in their De-
fence, That they had no Witneſſes : That they
had bought a Pettiauger in order to go a Turtle-
irg; and being at Negril Point, and juſt got afhore,
they ſaw a Sloop with a white Pendant coming
towards them, upon which they took their Arms,
and hid themſelves in the Buſhes : That one of
them hail'd the Sloop, who anſwer’d, They were
Engliſh Men, and defired them to come aboard
and drink a Bowl of Punch; which they at firſt
refuſed, but afterwards with much perſwafion,
they went on Board, in the Sloop's Canoe, and
left their own Pettiauger at Anchor : That they
had been but a short Time on Board, when Cap-
tain Barnet's Sloop heaved in Sight: That Rackam
ordered them to help to weigh, the Sloop's A17-
chor immediately, which they all refuſed: That
• Rackam uſed violent Means to oblige them; and
that when Captain Barnet came up with them,
they all readily and willingly ſubmitted.
When the Priſoners were taken from the Bar,
and the Perſons preſent being withdrawn, the
Court conſidered the Priſoners Caſes, and the Ma-
jority of the Commiſſioners being of Opinion,
that they were all Guilty of the Pyracy and Fe.
lony
c
C

156 of Capt. John RACKAM.
lonly they were charged with, which was, the go
ing over with a pyratical and felonious Intent to John Ra
ckam, &c. then notorious Pyrates, and by them known
to be ſo, they all received Sentence of Death;
which every Body muft allow proved ſomewhat
unlucky to the poor Fellows,
On the 17th of February, John Eaton, Thomas Quick
and Thomas Baker, were executed at Gallows Point,
at Port Royal, and the next Day Fohn Cole, Fohn Ho-
ward and Benjamin Palmer, were executed at Kingſton ;
whether the other three were executed afterwards,
or not, I never heard.
Two other Pyrates were try'd that belonged to
Rackam’s Crew, fand being convicted, were brought
up,
and asked if either of them had any Thing to
- Say why Sentence of Death ſhould not pafs upon
them, in like Manner as had been done to all the
reft; and both of them pleaded their Bellies, be-
ing quick with Child, and pray'd that Execution
might be ftay'd, whereupon the Court paſſed Sen-
tence, as in Caſes of Pyracy, but ordered them
back, till a proper Jury ſhould be appointed to en,
quire into the Matter.
pool
550
The


Pag 157
Bitote seulp
Ann Bonny and Mary Read convicted of Piracy Nov? 28 th
720 at

157
The LIFE of Mary READ,
TOW we are to begin a Hiſtory full of fur-
prizing Turns and Adventures; I mean,
that
of Mary Read and Anne Bonny, alias Bonn, which
were the true Names of theſe two Pyrates; the
odd Incidents of their rambling Lives are ſuch,
that ſome may be tempted to think the whole
Story no better than a Novel or Romance; but
fince it is ſupported by many thouſand Witneſſes,
I mean the People of Jamaica, who were preſent
at their Tryals, and heard the Story of their Lives,
upon the firſt diſcovery of their Sex; the Truth of
it can be no more conteſted, than that there were
fuch Men in the World, as Roberts and Black-beard,
who were Pyrates.
Mary Read was born in England, her Mother was
married young, to a Man who uſed the Sea, who
going a Voyage ſoon after their Marriage, left her
with Child, which Child proved to be a Boy. As
to the Husband, whether he was caſt away, or
died in the Voyage, Mary Read could not tell; but
however, he never returned more ; nevertheleſs,
the Mother, who was young and airy, met with
an Accident, which has often happened to Women
who are young, and do not take a great deal of
Care; which was, the foon proved with Child
again, without a Husband to Father it, but how,
or by whom, none but her ſelf could tell, for ſhe
carried a pretty good Reputation among her Neigh-
bours. Finding her Burthen grow, in order to
conceal her Shame, ſhe takes a formal Leave of her
Husband's Relations, giving out, that ſhe went to
live with ſome Friends of her own, in the Country:
Accordingly ſhe went away, and carried with her
her young Son, at this Time, not a Year old: Soon
after

158
Of MART READ.
after her Departure her Son died, but Providence
in Return, was pleaſed to give her a Girl in his
Room, of which the was ſafely delivered, in her
Retreat, and this was our Mary Read.
Here the Mother liv'd three or four Years, till
what Money fhe had was almoſt gone; then ſhe
thought of returning to London, and confidering
that her Husband's Mother was in fome Circum-
ftances, ſhe did not doubt but to prevail upon her,
to provide for the Child, if ſhe could but paſs it
upon her for the fame, but the changing a Girl
into a Boy, feem'd a difficult Piece of Work, and
how to deceive an experienced old Woman, in ſuch
a Point, was altogether as impoffible; however,
the ventured to dreſs it up as a Boy, brought it
to Town, and preſented it to her Mother in Law,
as her Husband's Son; the old Woman would have
taken it, to have bred it up, but the Mother
pre-
tended it would break her Heart, to part with it;
ſo it was agreed betwixt them, that the Child ſhould
live with the Mother, and the ſuppoſed Grand-
mother ſhould allow a Crown a Week for it's
Maintainance.
Thus the Mother gained her Point, ſhe bred up
her Daughter as a Boy, and when ſhe grew up
to ſome Senſe, ſhe thought proper to let her into
the Secret of her Birth, to induce her to conceal
her Sex. It happen’d that the Grandmother died,
by which Means the Subfiftance that came from
that Quarter, ceaſed, and they were more and more
reduced in their Circumſtances; wherefore ſhe was
obliged to put her Daughter out, to wait on a
French Lady, as a Foot-boy, being now thirteen
Years of Age: Here ſhe did not live long, for
growing bold and ſtrong, and having alſo a roving
Mind, the entered her ſelf on Board a Man of War,
where the ſerved fome Time, then quitted it,
went over into Flanders, and carried Arms in a Re-
giment

Of MARY READ.
159
giment of Foot, as a Cadet ; and tho’upon all Actions,
ihe behaved herſelf with a great deal of Bravery,
yet ſhe could not get a Commiſſion, they being ge-
nerally bought and ſold; therefore ſhe quitted the
Service, and took on in a Regiment of Horſe; the
behaved ſo well in ſeveral Engagements, that the
got the Efteem of all her Officers; but her 'Com-
rade who was a Fleming, happening to be a hand-
ſome young Fellow, ſhe falls in Love with him, and
from that Time, grew a little more negligent in
her Duty, fo that, it ſeems, Mars and Venus could
not be ſerved at the ſame Time; her Arms and
Accoutrements which were always kept in the
beft Order, were quite neglected : 'tis true, when
her Comrade was ordered out upon a Party, ſhe
uſed to go without being commanded, and fre-
quently run herſelf into Danger, where ſhe had
no Buſineſs, only to be near him; the reſt of the
Troopers little fufpe&ting the ſecret Cauſe which
moved her to this Behaviour, fancied her to be
mad, and her Comrade himſelf could not account
for this ſtrange Alteration in her, but Love is in-
genious, and as they lay in the fame Tent, and
were conſtantly together, the found a way of let-
ting him diſcover her Sex, without appearing that
it was done with Deſign.
He was much ſurprized at what he found out,
and not a little pleaſed, taking it for granted, that
he fhould have a Miſtreſs ſolely to himſelf, which
is an unuſual Thing in a Camp, ſince there is ſcarce
one of thoſe Campaign Ladies, that is ever true
to a Troop or Company; ſo that he thought of
nothing but gratifying his Paffions with very lit-
tle Ceremony ; but he found himſelf ftrangely mi-
ſtaken, for the proved very reſerved and modeft,
and refifted all his Temptations, and at the ſame
Time was fo obliging and infinuating in her Car-
riage, that ſhe quite changed his Purpoſe, fo far
from

160 Of MARY READ.
from thinking of making her his Miſtreſs, he
now courted her for a Wife.
This was the utmoft Wish of her Heart, in ſhort,
they exchanged Promiſes, and when the Campaign
was over, and the Regiment marched into Winter
| Quarters, they bought Woman's Apparel for her,
with ſuch Money as they could make up betwixt
them, and were publickly married.
The Story of two Troopers marrying each other,
made a great Noiſe, ſo that ſeveral Officers were
drawn by Curioſity to affiſt at the Ceremony, and
they agreed among themſelves that every one of
them fhould make a ſmall Preſent to the Bride,
towards Houſe-keeping, in Confideration of her
having been their fellow Soldier. Thus being ſet
up, they ſeemed to have a Defire of quitting the
Service, and ſettling in the World, the Adventure
of their Love and Marriage had gained them fo
much Favour, that they eaſily obtained their Dif-
charge, and they immediately ſet up an Eating
Houſe or Ordinary, which was the Sign of the
Three Horſe-Shoes, near the Caſtle of Breda, where
they ſoon run into a good Trade, a great many
Officers eating with them conſtantly.
But this Happineſs laſted not long, for the Hus-
band ſoon died, and the Peace of Reſwick being
concluded, there was n10 Reſort of Officers to Breda,
as uſual; ſo that the Widow having little or no
Trade, was forced to give up Houſekeeping, and
her Subſtance being by Degrees quite ſpent, ſhe
again afſumes her Man's Apparel, and going into
Holland, there takes on in a Regiment of Foot,
quarter'd in one of the Frontier Towns: Here
The did not remain long, there was no likelihood
of Preferment in Time of Peace, therefore the took
a Reſolution of ſeeking her Fortune another Way;
and withdrawing from the Regiment, fhips her-
ſelfon Board of a Veffel bound for the Weſt-Indies.
IC

Of MARY READ.
161
It happen’d this Ship was taken by Engliſh Py-
rates, and Mary Read was the only Engliſh Per-
fori on Board, they kept her amorigſt them, and
having plundered the Ship, let it go again ; after
following this Trade for fome Time, the King's
Proclamation came out, and was publiſh'd in all
Parts of the Weſt-Indies, for pardoning ſuch Py-
rates, who ſhould voluntarily ſurrender themſelves
by a certain Day therein mentioned. The Crew
of Mary Read took the Benefit of this Proclama-
tion, and having ſurrender'd, liv'd quietly on Shore;
but Money beginning to grow ſhort, and hearing
that Captain Woods Rogers, Governor of the land
of Providence, was fitting out fome Privateers to
cruiſe againſt the Spaniards, fhe with ſeveral othe
embark'd for that Inland, in order to go upon the
privateering Account, being reſolved to make her
Fortune one way or other.
Theſe Privateers were no ſooner faild out, but
the Crews of ſome of them, who had been pardo-
ned, roſe againſt their Commanders, and turned
themſelves to their old Trade : In this Number
was Mary Read. It is true, ſhe often declared, that
the Life of a Pyrate was what ſhe always abhor'd,
and went into it only upon Compulfion, both this
Time, and before, intending to quit it, whenever
a fair Opportunity ſhould offer it ſelf; yet fome of
the Evidence againſt her, upon her Tryal, who
were forced Men, and had failed with lier, depoſed
upon Oath, that in Times of A&tion, no Perſon
amongſt them were more reſolute, or ready to
Board or undertake any Thing that was hazardous,
as ſhe and Anne Bonny; and particularly at the Time
they were attack'd and taken, when they came
to cloſe Quarters, none kept the Deck except
Mary Read and Anne Bonny, and one more; up-
on which, fhe, Mary Read, called to thoſe under
Deck, to come up and fight like Men, and finding
L
they

162
Of MARY READ.
"they did not ftir, fired her Arms down the Hold
amongſt them, killing one, and wounding others.
This was part of the Evidence againſt her, which
The denied; which, whether true or no, thus much
is certain, that the did not want Bravery, nor in-
deed was fhe leſs remarkable for her Modeſty,
according to her Notions of Virtue: Her Sex was
not ſo much as ſuſpected by any Perſon on Board,
till Anne Bonny, who was not altogether ſo reſerved
in point of Chaſtity, took a particular liking to
her; in ſhort, Anne Bonny took her for a handſome
young Fellow, and for ſome Reaſons beſt known to
herſelf, firſt diſcovered her Sex to Mary Read; Mary
Read knowing what ſhe would be at, and being
very ſenſible of her own Incapacity that Way, was
forced to come to a right Underſtanding with her,
and fo to the great Diſappointment of Anne Bonny,
She let her know ſhe was a Woman alſo; but this
Intimacy fo diſturb’d Captain Rackam, who was the
Lover and Gallant of Anne Bonny, that he grew
furiouſly jealous, ſo that he told Anne Bonny, he
would cut her new Lover's Throat, therefore, to
quiet him, ſhe let him into the Secret alſo.
Captain Rackam, (as he was enjoined,) kept the
Thing a Secret from all the Ship’s Company, yet,
notwithſtanding all her Cunning and Reſerve, Love
found her out in this Diſguiſe, and hinder'd her
from forgetting her Sex. In their Cruize they took
a great Number of Ships belonging to Jamaica,
and other parts of the Weſt-Indies, bound to and
from England; and when ever they meet any good
Artiſt, or other Perſon that might be of any great
Vſe to their Company, if he was not willing to
enter, it was their Cuftom to keep him by Force.
Among theſe was a young Fellow of a moft engage-
ing Behaviour, or, at leaſt, he was ſo in the Eyes
of Mary Read, who became ſo ſmitten with his
Perſon and Addreſs, that ſhe could neither reſt,
Night

Of MART READ
163
Night or Day; but as there is nothing more inges
nious than Love, it was no hard Matter for her,
who had before been practiced in theſe Wiles, to
find a way to let him diſcover her Sex: She firſt
infinuated her ſelf into his liking, by talking againſt
the Life of a Pyrate, which he was altogether averſe
to, ſo they became Meſs-Mates and ftri&t Compa
nions: When ſhe found he had a Friendſhip for her,
as a Man, ſhe ſuffered the Diſcovery to be made,
by carelefly fhewing her Breaſts, which were very
White.
The young Fellow, who was made of Fleſh and
Blood, had his Curioſity and Deſire fo rais’d by
this Sight, that he never ceaſed importuning her,
till fhe confeiſed what ſhe was. Now begins the
Scene of Love; as he had a Liking and Eſteem for
her, under her ſuppoſed Character, it was now
turn'd into Fondneſs and Defire; her Paffion was
no leſs violent than his, and perhaps fhe expreſs'd
it, by one of the moſt generous A&tions that ever
Love inſpired. It happened this young Fellow had
a Quarrel with one of the Pyrates, and their Ship
then lying at an Anchor, near one of the Iſlands,
they had appointed to go aſhore and fight, accor-
ding to the Cuſtom of the Pyrates: Mary Read,
was to the laſt Degree uneaſy and anxious, for the
Fate of her Lover; ſhe would not have had him
refuſe the Challenge, becauſe, the could not bear
the Thoughts of his being branded with Cowardiſe;
on the other Side, ſhe dreaded the Event, and ap-
prehended the Fellow might be too hard for him :
When Love once enters into the Breaſt of one
who has any Sparks of Generoſity, it ftirs the
Heart up to the moſt noble A&tions ; in this Dilem-
ma, ſhe ſhew'd, that ſhe feard more for his Life
than ſhe did for her own; for ſhe took a Reſolution
of quarreling with this Fellow her ſelf, and ha-
ving challenged him aſhore, the appointed the
Time
L 2

164 Of MART READ.
Time two Fours ſooner than that when he was
to meet her Lover, where ſhe fought him at Sword
and Piſtol, and killed him upon the Spot.
It is true, ſhe had fought before, when ſhe had
been isſulted by ſome of thoſe Fellows, but now
it was altogether in her Lover's Cauſe, the ſtood
as it were betwixt him and Death, as if ſhe could
not live without him. If he had no regard for her
before, th's A&tion would have bound him to her
for ever, but there was n10 Occaſion for Ties or
Obligations, his Inclination towards her was fuffi-
cient; in fine, they applied their Troth to each
other, which Mary Read ſaid, ſhe look'd upon to be
as good a Marriage, in Conſcience, as if it had
been done by a Miniſter in Church; and to this
was owing her great Belly, which the pleaded to
fave her Life.
She declared ſhe had never committed Adultery
or Fornication with any Man, ſhe commended the
Juftice of the Court, before which fhe was tried, for
diſtinguiſhing the Nature of their Crimes; her Hus-
band, as ſhe call'd him, with ſeveral others, being
acquitted ; and being ask'd, who he was ? fhe would
not tell, but, ſaid he was an honeſt Man, and hai
no Inclination to fuch Practices, and that they
had both reſolved to leave the Pyrates the firft
Opportunity, and apply themſelves to ſome ho-
neſt Livelyhood.
It is no doubt, but many had Compaſſion for her,
yet the Court could not avoid finding her Guilty;
for among other Things, one of the Evidences
againſt her, depoſed, that being taken by Rackam,
and detain’d fome Time on Board, he fell acciden-
tally into Diſcourſe with Mary Read, whom he ta-
king for a young Man, ask'd her, what Pleaſure the
could have in being concerned in ſuch Enterprizes
,
where her - Life was continually in Danger, by
Fire or Sword; and not only fo, but the muſt be
lure

OF MARY READ.
155
ſure of dying an ignominious Death, if fhe ſhould
be taken alive? She anſwer'd, that as to hang-
ing, ſhe thought it no great Hardihip, for, were ic
not for that, every cowardly Fellow would turn
Pyrate, and fo infeft the Seas, that Men of Courage
muft ftarve: - That if it was put to the Choice
of the Pyrates, they would not have the punish-
ment leſs than Death, the Fear of which, kept
ſome daftardly Rogues honeft; that many of thoſe
who are now cheating the Widows and Orphans,
and oppreffing their poor Neighbours, who have
no Money to obtain Juftice, would then rob at Sea,
and the Ocean would be crowded with Rogues,
like the Land, and no Merchant would venture
out; ſo that the Trade, in a little Time, would not
be worth following:
Being found quick with Child, as has been oh-
ſerved, her Execution was reſpited, and it is pof-
fible fhe would have found Favour, but ſhe was
ſeiz'd with a violent Fever, foon after her Tryal,
of which the died in Priſon.
33
The LIFE of Anne BONNY.
A
S we have been more particular in the Lives
of theſe two Women, than thoſe of other
Pyrates, it is incumbent on us, as a faithful Hi-
ftorian, to begin with their Birth. Anne Bonny was
born at a Town near Cork, in the Kingdom of Ire-
land, her Father an Attorney at Law, but Anne
was not one of his legitimate Ilſue, which ſeems
to croſs an old Proverb, which ſays, that Baſtards
L 3
have

166
Of ANNE BONNT.
have the beſt Luck. Her Father was a Married Man,
and his Wife having been brought to Bed, con-
tra&ted an Illneſs in her lying in, and in order
to recover her Health, fhe was adviſed to remove
for Change of Air ; the Place the choſe, was a few
Miles diſtance from her Dwelling, where her Hus-
band's Mother liv'd. Here fhe ſojourn’d fome Time,
her Husband ftaying at Home, to follow his Af-
fairs. The Servant-Maid, whom ſhe left to look
after the Houſe, and attend the Family, being a
handſome young Woman, was courted by a young
Man of the fame Town, who was a Tanger; this
Tanner uſed to take his Opportunities, when the
Family was out of the Way, of coming to purſue
his Courtſhip'; and being with the Maid one Day
as ſhe was eniploy'd in the Houſhold Buſineſs, not
having the Fear of God before his Eyes, he takes
his Opportunity, when her Back was turned, of
whipping three Silver Spoons into his Pocket. The
Maid foon miſs’d the Spoons, and knowing that
no Body had been in the Room, but herſelf and
the young Man, ſince ſhe ſaw them laft, fhe char-
ged him with taking them; he very ftifly denied it,
upon which ſhe grew outragious, and threatned to
go to a Conſtable, in order to carry him before a
Juſtice of Peace : Theſe Menaces frightend him out
of his Wits, well knowing he could not ſtand
Search; wherefore he endeavoured to pacify her,
by defiring her to examine the Drawers and other
Places, and perhaps the might find them; in this
Time he ſlips into another Room, where the Maid
uſually lay, and puts the Spoons betwixt the Sheets,
and then makes his Eſcape by a back Door, con-
cluding ſhe muſt find them, when ſhe went to Bed,
and fo riext Day he might pretend he did it only to
frighten her, and the Thing might be laugh'd off
for a Jeft.
As

Of ANNE BONNr.
16
As ſoon as ſhe miſs'd him, ſhe gave over her
Search, concluding he had carried them off, and
went directly to the Conſtable, in order to have him
apprehended: The young Man was informed, that
a Conſtable had been in Search of him, but he
regarded it but little, not doubting but all would
be well next Day. Three or four Days paſſed, and
ſtill he was told, the Conſtable was upon the Hunt
for him, this made him lye concealed, he could
not comprehend the Meaning of it, he imagined
no leſs, than that the Maid had a Mind to convert
the Spoons to her own Uſe, and put the Robbery
upon him.
It happened, at this Time, that the Miſtreſs be-
ing perfectly recovered of her late Indiſpoſition,
was return'd Home, in Company with her Mother-
in-Law; the firſt News ſhe heard, was of the Loſs
of the Spoons, with the Manner how; the Maid
telling her, at the fame Time, that the young Man
was run away. The young Fellow had Intelligence
of the Miſtreſs's Arrival, and confidering with
himſelf, that he could never appear again in his
Bufineſs, unleſs this Matter was got over, and ſhe
being a good natured Woman, he took a Reſolution
of going directly to her, and of telling her the
whole Story, only with this Difference, that he did
it for a Jeft.
The Miſtreſs could ſcarce believe it, however,
ſhe went directly to the Maid's Room, and turn-
ing down the Bed Cloaths, there, to her great
Surprize, found the three Spoons; upon this ſhe
deſired the young Man to go Home and mind
his Bufineſs, for he ſhould have no Trouble a-
bout it.
The Miſtreſs could not imagine the Meaning of
this, fhe never had found the Maid guilty of any
pilfering, and therefore it could not enter her
Head, that the deſigned to ſteal the Spoons her
felf;
1 4

168 Of ANNE BONNY,
ſelf; upon the whole, fhe concluded the Maid had
not been in her Bed, from the Time the Spoons
were miſs'd, the grew immediately jealous upon it,
and ſuſpected, that the Maid ſupplied her Place
with her Husband, during her Abſence, and this
was the Reaſon why the Spoons were no ſooner
found.
She call’d to Mind ſeveral A&tions of Kindneſs,
her Husband had fhewed the Maid, Things that
paſs d unheeded by, when they happened, but now
ſhe had got that Tormentor, Jealouſy, in her Head,
amounted to Proofs of their Intimacy; another Cir-
cumſtance which ſtrengthen’d the whole, was, that
tho' her Husband knew fhe was to come Home
that Day, and had had no Communication with
her in four Months, which was before her laſt
Lying in, yet he took an Opportunity of going out
of Town that Morning, upon fome ſlight Pretence:
--All theſe Things put together, confirm'd her in
her Jealouſy.
As Women ſeldom forgive Injuries of this kind,
ſhe thought of diſcharging her Revenge upon the
Maid: In order to this, ſhe leaves the Spoons where
fhe found them, and orders the Maid to put clean
Sheets upon the Bed, telling her, ſhe intended to
lye there herſelf that Night, becauſe her Mother
in Law was to lye in her Bed, and that she (the
Maid) muft lye in another part of the Houſe; the
Maid in making the Bed, was ſurprized with the
Sight of the Spoons, but there were very good
Reaſons, why it was not proper for her to tell
where the found them, therefore ſhe takes them
up, puts them in her Trunk, intending to leave
them in ſome place, where they might be found
by chance.
The Miſtreſs, that every Thing might look to
be done without Deſign, lies that Night in the
Majd's Bed, little dreaming of what an Adventure
it

Of ANNE BONNr.
169
it would produce: After ſhe had been a Bed fome
Time, thinking on what had paſs’d, for Jealouſy
kept her awake, ſhe heard ſome Body enter the
Room ; at firſt ſhe apprehended it to be Thieves,
and was ſo fright'ned, ſhe had not Courage enough
to call out; but when ſhe heard theſe Words, Mary,
are you awake? She knew it to be her Husband's
Voice; then her Fright was over, yet ſhe made no
Anſwer, leaft he ſhould find her out, if ſhe ſpoke,
therefore ſhe reſolved to counterfeit Sleep, and take
what followed.
The Husband came to Bed, and that Night
play'd the vigorous Lover ; but one Thing ſpoild
the Diverfion on the Wife's Side, which was,
the Reflection that it was not deſign’d for her ;
however ſhe was very paffive, and bore it like a
Chriſtian. Early before Day, the ſtole out of
Bed, leaving him aſleep, and went to her Mother
in Law, telling her what had paſſed, not forgetting
how he had uſed her, as taking her for the Maid ;
the Husband alſo ſtole out, not thinking it conve-
nient to be catch'd in that Room; in the mean Time,
the Revenge of the Miſtreſs was ſtrongly againſt
the Maid, and without conſidering, that to her ſhe
ow'd the Diverſion of the Night before, and that
one good Turn fhould deſerve another ; ſhe ſent for
a Conſtable, and charged her with ſtealing the
Spoons: The Maid's Trunk was broke open, and
the Spoons found, upon which ſhe was carried be-
fore a Juſtice of Peace, and by him committed to
Goal.
The Husband loiter'd about till twelve a Clock
at Noon, then comes Home, pretended he was
juſt come to Town; as ſoon as he heard what had
paſſed, in Relation to the Maid, he fell into a great
Paffion with his Wife; this ſet the Thing into a
greater Flame, the Mother takes the Wife's Part
againſt her own Son, inſomuch that the Quarrel
increa-

170
OF ANNE BONNr.
increaſing, the Mother and Wife took Horſe im-
mediately, and went back to the Mother's Houſe,
and the Husband and Wife never bedded toge-
ther after.
The Maid lay a long Time in the Priſon, it being
near half a Year to the Affizes; but before it hap-
pened, it was diſcovered ſhe was with Child; when
the was arraign’d at the Bar, ſhe was diſcharged for
want of Evidence; the Wife's Conſcience touch'd
her, and as ſhe did not believe the Maid Guilty
of any Theft, except that of Love, ſhe did not
appear againſt her , ſoon after her Acquittal, the
was delivered of a Girl.
But what alarm'd the Husband moſt, was, that
it was diſcovered the Wife was with Child allo,
he taking it for granted, he had had no Intimacy
with her, ſince her laſt lying in, grew jealous of
her, in his Turn, and made this a Handle to juſti-
fy himſelf, for his Uſage of her, pretending now
he had ſuſpected her long, but that here was
Proof; fhe was delivered of Twins, a Boy and
a Girl.
The Mother fell ill, ſent to her Son to recou-
cile him to his Wife, but he would not hearken to
it; therefore ſhe made a Will, leaving all the had
in the Hands of certain Truſtees, for the Uſe
of the Wife and two children lately born, and
died a few Days after.
This was an ugly Turn upon him, his greateſt
Deperdance being upon his Mother ; however,
his Wife was kinder to him than he deſerved,
for ſhe made him a yearly Allowance out of what
was left, tho' they continued to live ſeparate : It
lafted near five Years; at this Time having a great
Affection for the Girl he had by his Maid, he had
a Mind to take it Home, to live with him ; but as
all the Town knew it to be a Girl, the better to
diſguiſe the Matter from them, as well as from his
Wife,

OF ANNE Bonnr.
171:
Wife, he had it put into Breeches, as a Boy, pre-
tending it was a Relation's Child he was to breed
up to be his Clerk.
The Wife heard he had a little Boy at Home
he was very fond of, but as ſhe did not know anys
Relation of his that had ſuch a Child, ſhe em-
ploy'd a Friend to enquire further into it; this
Perſon by talking with the Child, found it to be a
Girl, diſcovered that the Servant-Maid was its
Mother, and that the Husband ſtill kept up his
Correſpondence with her.
Upon this Intelligence, the Wife being unwil-
ling that her Children's Money ſhould go towards
the Maintenance of Baſtards, ftopped the Allowance:
The Husband enraged, in a kind of Revenge, takes
the Maid home, and lives with her publickly, to
the great Scandal of his Neighbours; but he ſoon
found the bad Effe&t of it, for by Degrees loft his
Pratice, fo that he ſaw plainly he could not live
there, therefore he thought of removing, and
turning what Effects he had into ready Money ;
he goes to Cork, and there with his Maid and
Daughter embarques for Carolina.
At firſt he followed the Practice of the Law in
that Province, but afterwards fell into Merchan-
dize, which proved more ſucceſsful to him, for he
gained by it fufficient to purchaſe a conſiderable
Plantation : His Maid, who paſſed for his Wife,
happened to dye, after which his Daughter, our
Anne Bonny, now grown up, kept his Houſe.
She was of a fierce and couragious. Temper,
wherefore, when the lay under Condemnation, ſe-
veral Stories were reported of her, much to her
Diſadvantage, as that ſhe had kill'd an Engliſh Ser-
vant-Maid once in her Paffion with a Caſe-Knife,
while ſhe look'd after her Father's Houſe; but
upon further Enquiry, I found this Story to be
groundleſs: It was certain ſhe was fo robuft, that
once

172 Of ANNE BONNY.
once, when a young Fellow would have lain with
her, againſt her Will, ſhe beat him fo, that he
lay ill of it a conſiderable Time.
While ſhe lived with her Father, fhe was look'd
upon as one that would be a good Fortune, where-
fore it was thought her Father expected a good
Match for her ; but the ſpoilt all, for without
his Conſent, the marries a young Fellow, who be-
longed to the Sea, and was not worth a Groat;
which provoked her Father to ſuch a Degree, that
he turned her out of Doors, upon which the young
Fellow, who married her, finding himſelf diſap-
pointed in his Expectation, ſhipped himſelf and
Wife, for the Iſland of Providence, expecting Em-
ployment there.
Here ſhe became acquainted with Rackam the
Pyrate, who making Courtſhip to her, foon found
Means of withdrawing her Affections from her
Husband, ſo that ſhe conſented to elope from him,
and go to Sea with Rackam in Men's Cloaths:
She was as good as her Word, and after fhe had
been at Sea fome Time, ſhe proved with Child,
and beginning to grow big, Rackam landed her on
the Iſland of Cuba ; and recommending her there
to fome Friends of his, they took care of her,
till ſhe was brought to Bed : When ſhe was up
and well again, he ſent for her to bear him
Company.
The King's Proclamation being out, for pardon-
ing of Pyrates, he took the Benefit of it, and ſur-
rendered ; afterwards being fent upon the priva-
teering Account, he returned to his old Trade, as
has been already hinted in the Story of Mary Read.
In all theſe Expeditions, Anne Bonny bore him Com-
pany, and when any Buſineſs was to be done in
their Way, no Body was more forward or coura-
gious than fhe, and particularly when they were
taken; ſhe and Mary Read, with one more, were
all

Of ANNE BONNY.
173
all the Perſons that durft keep the Deck, as has
been before hinted.
Her Father was known to a great many Gentle-
men, Planters of Jamaica, who had dealt with him,
and among whom he had a good Reputation; and
ſome of them, who had been in Carolina, remem-
ber'd to have ſeen her in his Houſe; wherefore
they were inclined to fhew her Favour, but the
A&tion of leaving her Husband was an ugly Cir-
cumſtance againſt her. The Day that Rackam was
executed, by ſpecial Favour, he was admitted to
ſee her ; but all the Comfort the gave him, was,
that ſhe was ſorry to ſee him there, but if he had fought
like a Man, he need not have been hang'd like a Dog.
She was continued in Priſon, to the Time of
her lying in, and afterwards reprieved from Time
to Time; but what is become of her ſince, we can-
not tell; only this we know, that ſhe was not
executed.
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Captain Howel Davis,
And his Crew
C
Aptain Homel Davis was born at Milford, ili
Monmouthſhire, and was from a Boy brought
up to the Sea. The laſt Voyage he made
from England, was in the Cadogan Snow of Briſtol,
Captain Skinner Commander, bound for the Coaſt
of Guiney, of which Snow Davis was chief Mate :
They were no ſooner arrived at Sierraleon on the
aforeſaid Coaſt, but they were taken by the Py-
rate England, who plunder'd them, and Skinner was
barbaroully murdered, as has been related before
in the Story of Captain England.
After the Death of Captain Skinner, Davis pre-
tended that he was mightily follicited by England
to engage with him; but that he reſolutely an-
ſwered, he would ſooner be ſhot to Death than fign
the Pyrates Articles. Upon which, England, plea-
ſed with his Bravery, ſent him and the reſt of the
Men again on Board the Snow, appointing him
Captain of her, in the Room of Skinner, comman-
ding him to purſue his Voyage. He alſo gave him
a written Paper ſealed up, with Orders to open
it when he ſhould come into a certain Latitude,
and

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
175
and at the Peril of his Life follow the Orders there.
in fet down. This was an Air of Grandeur like
what Princes practice to their Admirals and Gene-
rals. It was pun&tually complied with by Davis,
who read it to the Ship’s Company ; it contained
no leſs than a generous Deed of Gift of the Ship
and Cargoe, to Davis and the Crew, ordering him
to go to Braſil and diſpoſe of the Lading to the beſt
Advantage, and to make a fair and equal Dividend
with the reſt.
Davis propoſed to the Crew, whether they were
willing to follow their Directions, but to his great
Surprize, found the Majority of them altogether
averſe to it, wherefore in a Rage, he bad them be
damn'd, and go where they would. They knew
that Part of their Cargoe was configned to certain
Merchants at Barbadoes, wherefore they ſteered
for that Iſland. When they arrived, they related
to theſe Merchants the unfortunate Death of Skin-
ner, and the Propoſal which had been made to them
by Davis; upon which Davis was ſeized and com-
mitted to Priſon, where he was kept three Months ;
however, as he had been in no A&t of Pyracy, he was
diſcharged without being brought to any Tryal,
yet he could not expe&t any Employment there ;
wherefore knowing that the Iſland of Providence was
a kind of Rendevouz of Pyrates, he was reſolved
to make one amongſt them, it poſſible, and to that
Purpoſe, found Means of ſhipping himſelf for that
Illand; but he was again diſappointed, for when
he arrived there, the Pyrates had newly, ſurren-
dered to Captain Woods Rogers, and accepted of the
A&t of Grace, which he had juſt brought from
England.
However, Davis was not long out of Buſineſs,
for Captain Rogers having fitted out two Sloops
for Trade, one called the Buck, the other the Mum-
wil Trader; Davis found an Employment on Board
of

176
Of Cap. HOWEL DAVIS.
of one of them ; the Lading of theſe Sloops was of
conſiderable Value, confifting of European Goods, in
order to be exchanged with the French and Spaniards;
and many of the Hands on Board of them, were
the Pyrates lately come in upon the late A&t of
Grace. The firſt place they touched at, was the
Irland of Martinico, belonging to the French, where
Davis having conſpired with ſome others, riſe in
the Night, ſecured the Mafter and ſeized the
Sloop; as foon as this was done, they called to
the other Sloop, which lay a little Way from
them, among whom they knew there were a great
many Hands ripe for Rebellion, and ordered them
to come on Board of them, they did ſo, and the
greateſt Part of them agreed to join with Davis;
thoſe who were otherwiſe inclined, were ſent back
on Board the Mumvil Sloop, to go where they
pleaſed, Davis having firſt taken out of her, every
Thing which he thought night be of Uſe.
After this, a Counſel of War was called over a
large Bowl of Punch, at which it was propoſed to
chuſe a Commander; the Ele&tion was foon over,
for it fell upon Davis by a great Majority of legal
Pollers, there was no Scrutiny demanded, for all
acquiefced in the Choice: As ſoon as he was poffefs?d
of his Command, he drew up Articles, which were
figned and ſworn to by himſelf and the reft, then
he made a ſhort Speech, the ſum of which, was,
a Declaration of War againſt the whole World.
After this they conſulted about a proper Place
where they might clean their Sloop, a light Pair
of Heels being of great Uſe either to take, or ef-
cape being taken; for this purpoſe they made
Choice of Coxon's Hole, at the Eaſt End of the
Iſland of Cuba, a place where they might ſecure
themſelves from Surprize, the Entrance being ſo
narrow, that one Ship might keep out a hundred.
Here

177
Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
Here they cleaned with much Difficulty, for they
had no Carpenter in their Company, a Perſon of
great Uſe
upon ſuch Exigencies; from hence they
put to Sea, making to the North-Side of the Iſland
of Hiſpaniola.
The firſt Sail which fell in their
Way, was a French Ship of twelve Guns ; it muſt
be obſerved, that Davis had but thirty five Hands,
yet Proviſions began to grow fhort with him ;
wherefore he attacked this ship, the loon ftruck,
and he ſent twelve of his Hands on Board of her,
in order to plunder: This was no ſooner done, but
a Sail was ſpied a great way to Windward of them;
they enquired of the French Man what the might
be, he anſwered, that he had ſpoke with a Ship, the
Day before, of 24. Guns and 60 Men, and he took
this to be the ſame.
Davis then propoſed to his Men to attack her,
telling them, ſhe would be a rare Ship for their
Uſe, but they looked upon it to be an extravagant
Attempt, and diſcovered no Fondneſs for it, but
he aſſured them he had a Stratagem in his Head
would make all ſafe ; wherefore he gave Chace,
and ordered his Prize to do the ſame. The Prize
being a flow Sailor, Davis firſt came up with the
Enemy, and ſtanding along Side of them, ſhewed
his pyratical Colours: They, much ſurpriz’d, called
to Davis, telling him, they wondered at his Im-
pudence in venturing to come fo near them, and
ordered him to ſtrike; but he anſwered, that he in-
tended to keep them in Play, till his Confort came
up, who was able to deal with them, and that if they
did not ſtrike to him, they ſhould have but bad
Quarters; whereupon he gave them a Broad-Side,
which they returned.
In the mean Time the Prize drew near, who
obliged all the Priſoners to come upon Deck in
white Shirts, to make a Shew of Force, as they had
been dire&ted by Davis; they alſo hoiſted a dirty
M
Tar-

178 of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
Tarpawlin, by way of black Flag, they having
no other, and fir'd a Gun: The French Men were ſo
intimidated by this Appearance of Force, that they
ftruck. Davis called out to the Captain to come on
Board of him, with twenty of his Hands; he did
fo, and they were all for the greater Security clapt
into Irons, the Captain excepted: Then he ſent
four of his own Men on Board the firſt Prize, and
in order ſtill to carry on the Cheat, ſpoke aloud,
that they ſhould give his Service to the Captain,
and defire him to ſend ſome Hands on Board the
Prize, to ſee what they had got; but at the ſame
Time gave them a written Paper, with Inſtructions
what to do. Here he ordered them to nail
up
the
Guns in the little Prize, to take out all the ſmall
Arms and Powder, and to go every Man of them
on Board the ſecond Prize; when this was done,
he ordered that more of the Priſoners ſhould be
removed out of the great Prize, into the little
one, by which he ſecured himſelf from any At-
tempt which might be feared from their Numbers;
for thoſe on Board of him were faſt in Irons, and
thoſe in the little Prize had neither Arms nor Am-
munition.
Thus the three Ships kept Company for 2 Days,
when finding the great Prize to be a very dull Sai-
lor, he thought ſhe would not be fit for his Pur-
poſe, wherefore he reſolved to reſtore her to the
Captain, with all his Hands; but firſt, he took
Care to take out all her Ammunition, and every
Thing elſe which he might poffibly want. The
French Captain was in ſuch a Rage, at being ſo out-
witted, that when he got on Board his own Ship,
he was going to throw himſelf over-board, but was
prevented by his Men.
Having let go both his Prizes, he ſteered North-
ward, in which Courſe he took a ſmall Spaniſh Sloop;
after this, he made towards the Weſtern Iſlands,
but

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
179
but met with no Booty thereabouts ; then he
ſteered for the Cape de Verde Iſlands, they caft An-
the
chor at St. Nicholas, hoiſting Engliſh Colours ;
Portugueſe inhabiting there, took him for an Engliſh
Privateer, and Davis going afhore, they both trea-
ted him very civilly, and alſo traded with him.
Here he remained five Weeks, in which Time, he
and half his Crew, for their Pleaſure, took a Jour
ney to the chief Towi of the liland, which was
19 Miles up the Country : Davis making a good Ap-
pearance, was careſſed by the Governor and the In-
habitants, and no Diverſion was wanting which the
Portugueſe could fhew, or Money could purchaſe;
after about a Week's Stay, he came back to the Ship,
and the reſt of the Crew went to take their Pleaſure
up to the Town, in their Turn.
At their Return they clean’d their Ship, and put
to Sea, but not with their whole Company; for
five of them, like Hannibal's Men, were ſo charm'd
with the Luxuries of the Place, and the free Cone
verſation of ſome Women, that they ſtaid behind ;
and one of them, whoſe Name was Charles Franklin,
a Monmouthſhire Man, married and ſettled himſelf,
and lives there to this Day.
From hence they failed to Boneviſta, and looked
into that Harbour, but finding nothing, they ſteerd
for the Iſle of May: When they arrived here, they
met with a great many Ships and Veſſels in the
Road, all which they plundered, taking out of them
whatever they wanted; and alſo ſtrengthen’d thema
ſelves with a great many freſh Hands, who moft
of them enter'd voluntarily. One of the Ships they
took to their own Uſe, mounted her with twenty
fix Guns, and calld her the King James. There be-
ing no freſh Water hereabouts, they made towards
St. Jago, belonging to the Portugueſe, in order to lay
in a Store; Davis, with a few Hands, going ashore
to find the moft commodious Place to water at, the
Gover
M 2

180 Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
Governor, with ſome Attendants, came himſelf and
examined who they were, and whence they came ?
And not liking Davis's Accountof himſelf, the Gover-
nor was ſo plain to tell them, he ſuſpected them to
be Pyrates. Davis ſeemed mightily affronted, ftan-
ding much upon his Honour, replying to the Gover ,
nor, he ſcorn'd his Words; however, as ſoon as his
Back was turn'd, for fear of Accidents, he got on
Board again as faſt as he could. Davis related what
had happened, and his Men ſeemed to reſent the Af-
front which had been offered him. Davis, upon this,
told them, he was confident he could ſurprize the Fort
in the Night; they agreed with him to attempt it,
and accordingly, when it grew late, they went afhore
well arm’d; and the Guard which was kept, was ſo
negligent, that they got within the Fort before any
Alarm was given: When it was too late there was
ſome little Reſiſtance made, and three Men killed
on Davis's Side. Thoſe in the Fort, in their Hur-
ry, run into the Governor's Houſe to ſave them-
ſelves, which they barricadoed fo ftrongly, that Dan
vis's Party could not enter it; however, they threw
in Granadoe-Shells, which not only ruin'd all the
Furniture, but kill'd ſeveral Men within.
When it was Day the whole Country was alarm’d,
and came to attack the Pyrates; wherefore it not
being their Buſineſs to ſtand a Siege, they made the
beſt of their Way on Board their Ship again, after
having diſinounted the Guns of the Fort. By this
Enterprize they did a great Deal of Miſchief to
the Portugueſe, and but very little Good to them-
ſelves.
Having put to Sea they muſter'd their Hands,
and found themſelves near ſeventy ſtrong; then
it was propoſed what Courſe they ſhould ſteer, and
differing in their Opinions, they divided, and by a
Majority it was carried for Gambia on the Coaſt of
Guiney; of this Opinion was Davis, he having been
employd

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
181
employ'd in that Trade, was acquainted with the
Coaft: He told them, that there was a great deal
of Money always kept in Gambia Caſtle, and that it
would be worth their while to make an Attempt
upon it. They ask'd him how it was poſſible, ſince
it was garriſoned? He deſired they would leave the
Management of it to him, and he would undertake
to make them Maſters of it. They began now to
conceive ſo high an Opinion of his Condu&t, as well
as Courage, that they thought nothing impoffible
to him, therefore they agreed to obey him, without
enquiring further into his Deſign.
Having come within Sight of the Place, he or-
dered all his Men under Deck, except as many as
were abſolutely neceſſary for working the Ship,
that thoſe from the Fort ſeeing a Ship with ſo few
Hands, might have no Suſpicion of her being any
other than
a trading Veffel , then he ran cloſe un-
der the Fort, and there caft Anchor; and having
ordered out the Boat, he commanded fix Men in
her, in old ordinary Jackets, while he himſelf, with
the Maſter and Doctor, dreſſed themſelves like
Gentlemen; his Deſign being, that the Men Should
look like common Sailors, and they like Merchants.
In rowing afhore he gave his Men Inftru&tions
what to ſay in Caſe any Queſtions ſhould be asked
them.
Being conie to the landing Place, he was recei-
ved by a File of Muſqueteers, and conducted into
the Fort, where the Governor accoſting theni civil.
ly, ask'd them who they were, and whence they
came? They anſwered they were of Liverpool,
bound for the River of Sinnegal, to trade for Gum
and Elephants Teeth, but that they were chaced
on that Coaſt by two French Men of War, and nar-
rowly eſcaped being taken, having a little the
Heels of them; but now they were reſolved to
make the beſt of a bad Market, and would Trade
here
M 3

182 Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS,
here for Slaves; then the Governor ask'd them,
what was the chief of their Cargo ? They anſwer-
ed, Iron and Plate, which were good Things
there; the Governor told them he would Slave
them to the full Value of their Cargoe, and asked
them, if they had any European Liquor on Board ?
they anſwered, a little for their own Uſe; how-
ever, a Hamper ſhould be at his Service. The Go-
vernor then very civilly invited them all to ſtay
and dine with him; Davis told him, that being
Commander of the Ship, he muſt go on Board to
ſee her well moored, and give ſome other Orders,
ut thoſe two Gentlemen might ſtay, and that he
himſelf would alſo return before Dinner, and brin
the Hamper of Liquor with him.
While he was in the Fort, his Eyes were very
buſy in obſerving how Things lay; he took Notice
there was a Centry at the Entrance, and a Guard-
Houſe juſt by it, where the Soldiers upon Duty
commonly waited, their Arms ſtanding in a Cor-
ner, in a Heap; he ſaw alſo a great many ſmall
Arms in the Governor's Hall, now when he came
on Board, he aſſured his Men of Succeſs, deſiring
them not to get drunk, and that as ſoon as they
ſaw the Flag upon the Caſtle ftruck, they might
conclude he was Mafter, and fend twenty Hands
immediately afhore; in the mean Time, there be-
ing a Sloop at Anchor near them, he ſent ſome
Hands in a Boat, to ſecure the Maſter and all the
Men, and bring them on Board of him, leaſt they
obſerving any Buſtle or arming in his Ship, might
ſend aſhore and give Intelligence.
Theſe Precautions being taken, he ordered his
Men, who were to go in the Boat with him, to put
two Pair of Piſtols each under their Cloaths, he
doing the like himſelf, and gave them Directions
to go into the Guard-Room, and to enter into
Converſation with the Soldiers, and obſerve when
he

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
183
he ſhould fire a Piſtol thro' the Governor's Win-
dow, to ſtart up at once and ſecure the Arms in
the Guard-Room.
When Davis arrived, Dinner not being ready,
the Governor propoſed that they should paſs their
Time in making a Bowl of Punch till Dinner-Time:
It muſt be obſerved, that Davis's Coxen waited
upon them, who had an Opportunity of going
about all parts of the Houſe, to ſee what Strength
they had, he whiſpered Davis, there being no
Perſon then in the Room, but he, (Davis) the Ma-
fter, the Doctor, the Coxen and Governor; Davis
on a ſudden drew out a Piſtol, clapt it to the Go-
vernor's Breaſt, telling him, he muſt ſurrender the
Fort and all the Riches in it, or he was a dead
Man. The Governor being no Ways prepared for
ſuch an Attack, promiſed to be very Paflive, and
do all they deſired, therefore they ſhut the Door,
took down all the Arms that hung in the Hall,
and loaded them. Davis fires his Piſtol thro' the
Window, upon which his Men, without, executed
their Part of the Scheme, like Heroes, in an Inſtant;
getting betwixt the Soldiers and their Arms, ali
with their Piſtols cock'd in their Hands, while one
of them carried the Arms out. When this was
done, they locked the Soldiers into the Guard-
Room, and kept Guard without.
In the mean Time one of them ftruck the Union
Flag on the Top of the Caſtle, at which Signal
thoſe on Board ſent on Shore a Reinforcement of
Hands, and they got Poffeffion of the Fort with-
out the leaſt Hurry or Confuſion, or ſo much as a
Man loft of either Side.
Davis harangued the Soldiers, upon which a
great many of them took on with him, thoſe
who refuſed, he ſent on Board the little Sloop,
and becauſe he would not be at the Trouble of a
Guard for them, he ordered all the Sails and Cables
Qut
V 4

184
of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
out of her, which might hinder them from attempt-
ing to get away.
This Day was ſpent in a kind of Rejoycing, the
Caſtle firing her Guns to falute the Ship, and the
Ship the Caſtle ; but the next Day they minded
their Buſineſs, that is, they fell to plundering, but
they found Things fall vaitly fhort of their Ex-
pe&tation ; for they diſcovered, that a great deal of
Money had been lately ſent away; however, they
met with the Value of about two thouſand Pounds
Sterling in Bar Gold, and a great many other rich
Effects: Every Thing they liked, which was por-
table, they brought aboard their Ship; fome Things
which they had no Uſe for, they were ſo generous
to make a Preſent of, to the Maſter and Crew of the
little Sloop, to whom they alſo returned his Veffel
again, and then they fell to work in diſmounting
the Guns, and demolishing the Fortifications.
After they had done as much Miſchief as they
could, and were weighing Anchor to be gone, they
fpy'd a Ship bearing down upon them in full Sail;
they ſoon got their Anchor's up, and were in a
Readineſs to receive her. This Ship prov'd to be
a French Pyrate of fourteen Guns and fixty four
Hands, half French, half Negroes; the Captain's
Name was La Boufe ; he expeted no leſs than a rich
Prize, which made him ſo eager in the Chace ; but
when he came near enough to ſee their Guris, and
the Number of their Hands upon Deck, he began
to think he thould catch a Tartar, and ſuppoſed her
to be a ſmall Engliſh Man of War; however, ſince
there was no eſcaping, he reſolved to do a bold and
deſperate A&tion, which was to board Davis. As
he was making towards her, for this purpofe, he
fired a Gur, and hoiſted his black Colours ; Davis
returned the Salute, and hoiſted his black Colours
alſo. The French Man was not a little pleaſed at this
happy Miftake; they both hoiſted out their Boats,
and

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
185
and the Captains went to meet and congratulate
one another with a Flag of Truce in their Sterns;
a great many Civilities paſſed between them, and
La Bouſe deſired Davis, that they might fail down
the Coaſt together, that he (La Bouſe) might get
a better Ship : Davis agreed to it, and very cour-
teouſly promiſed him the firſt Ship he took, fit for
his Ufe, he would give him, as being willing to
encourage a willing Brother.
The firſt place they touch'd at, was Sierraleon,
where at firſt going in, they ſpied a tall Ship at
Archor; Davis being the beſt Sailor firſt came up
with her, and wondering that ſhe did not try to make
off, ſuſpected her to be a Ship of Force. As ſoon as
he came along Side of her, ſhe brought a Spring
upon her Cable, and fired a whole Broadſide upon
Davis, at the ſame Time hoifted a black Flag;
Davis hoiſted his black Flag in like Manner, and
fired one Gun to Leeward.
In fine, fhe proved to be a Pyrate Ship of twenty
four Guns, commanded by one Cocklyn, who expect-
ing theſe two would prove Prizes, let them come
in, leaſt his getting under Sail might frighten
them away:
This Satisfa&tion tas great on all Sides, at this
Junction of Confederates and Brethren in Iniquity;
two Days they ſpent in improving their Acquain-
tance and Friendſhip, the third Day Davis and Cock-
lyn, agreed to go in La Bouſe's Brigantine and attack
the Fort; they contrived it ſo, as to get up thither
by high Water; thoſe in the Fort ſuſpected them
to be what they really were, and therefore ſtood
upon their Defence; when the Brigantine came
within Musket-Shot, the Fort fired all their Guns
upon her, the Brigantine did the like upon the
Fort, and fo held each other in Play for ſeveral
Hours, when the two confederate Ships were come
up to the Aſiſtance of the Brigantine; thoſe who
defend-

186 Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
defended the Fort, ſeeing ſuch a Number of Hands
on Board theſe Ships, had not the Courage to
ftand it any longer, but abandoning the Fort, left
it to the Mercy of the Pyrates.
They took Poffeffion of it, and continued there
near feven Weeks, in which Time they all cleaned
their Ships. We ſhould have obſerved, that a Galley
came into the Roal while they were there, which
Davis inſiſted ſhould be yielded to La Boufe, accor-
ding to his Word of Honour before given ; Cock-
lyn did not oppoſe it, fo La Boufe went into her,
with his Crew, and cutting away her half Deck,
mounted her with twenty four Guns.
Having called a Counſel of War, they agreed to
fail down the Coaſt together, and for the greater
Grandeur, appointed a Commadore, which was
Davis ; but they had not kept Company long,
when drinking together on Board of Davis, they
had like to have fallen together by the Ears, the
ftrong Liquor ſtirring up a Spirit of Diſcord among
them, and they quarrelled, but Davis put an End
to it, by this ſhort Speech: Heark ye, you Cock-
lin and La Bouſe, I find by ſtrengthening you, I have
put a Rod into your Hands to whip my ſelf, but I'm ſtill able
to deal mith you both; but fince we met in Love, let us
part in Love, for I find, that three of a Trade can never
agree. Upon which the other two went on Board
their reſpective Ships, and immediately parted, each
ſteering a different Courſe.
Davis held on his Way down the Coaſt, and
making Cape Appollonie, he met with two Scotch
and one Engliſh Veffel, which he plundered, and then
let go. About five Days after he fell in with a Dutch
Interloper of thirty Guns and ninety Men, (half
being Engliſh,) off Cape Three Points Bay; Davis com-
ing up along Side of her, the Dutch Man gave the
firſt fire, and pouring in a broad-Side upon Davis,
killed nine of his Men, Davis returned it, and a
very

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
187
very hot Engagement followed, which laſted from
one a Clock at Noon, till nine next Morning,
when the Dutch Man ftruck, and yielded her ſelf
their Prize.
Davis fitted up the Dutch Ship for his own
Uſe, and called her the Rover, aboard of which he
mounted thirty two Guns, and twenty ſeven Swi-
vels, and proceeded with her and the King James,
to Anamaboe; he entered the Bay betwixt the Hours
of twelve and one at Noon, and found there three
Ships lying at Anchor, who were trading for Ne-
groes, Gold and Teeth: The Names of theſe Ships
were the Hink Pink, Captain Hall Commander, the
Princeſs, Captain Plumb, of which Roberts, who will
make a conſiderable Figure in the ſequel of this
Hiſtory, was ſecond Mate, and the Morrice Sloop,
Captain Fin; he takes theſe Ships without any Re-
fiſtance, and having plundered them, he makes a
Preſent of one of them, viz. the Morrice Sloop, to
the Dutch Men, on Board of which alone were found
a hundred and forty Negroes, beſides dry Goods,
and a confiderable Quantity of Gold-Duft.
It happened there were ſeveral Canoes along Side
of this laft, when Davis came in, who ſaved them-
ſelves and got afhore; theſe gave Notice at the
Fort, that thefe Ships were Pyrates, upon which
the Fort fired upon them, but without any Exe-
cution, for their Mettle was not of Weight enough
to reach them; Davis therefore, by Way of De-
fiance, hoiſted his black Flag and returned their
Compliment.
The fame Day he fail'd with his three Ships,
making his Way down the Coaſt towards Princes, a
Portugueſe Colony : But, before we proceed any far-
ther in Davis's Story, we fhall give our Reader an
Account of the Portugueſe Settlements on this Coaſt,
with other curious Remarks, as they were commu-
nicated to me by an ingenious Gentleman, lately ar-
ved from thoſe parts,
A De-

188
Of Capt. HOWEL DAT IS.
A Deſcription of the Iſlands of St. THOME,
DEL PRINCIPE, and ANNOBONO.
S the Portugueſe were the great Improvers of
Navigation, and the firſt Europeans who traded
too and ſettled on the Coaſts of Africa, even round
to India, and made thoſe Diſcoveries, which now
turn ſo much to the Advantage of other Nations,
it may not be amiſs, previouſly to a Deſcription
of thoſe Iſlands, to hint on that wonderful Pro-
perty of the Loadſtone, that a little before had been
found out, and enabled them to purſue ſuch new and
daring Navigations.
The attra&tive Power of the Loadſtone, was uni-
verſally known with the Ancients, as may be be-
lieved by its being a native Foffil of the Grecians,
(Magnes a Magneſia) but its dire&tive, or polar Vir-
tue, has only been known to us within this 350
Years, and ſaid to be found out by John Goia of
Malphi, in the Kingdom of Naples, Prima dedit nau-
tis ufum magnetis Amalphi ; tho' others think, and
affure us, it was tranſported by Paulus Venetus from
China to Italy, like the other famous Arts of modern
Uſe with us, PRINTING and the Uſe of GUNS.
The other Properties or Improvements of the
Magnet, viz. Variation, or its Defluction from an
exa&t N. or S. Line, Variation of that Variation, and
its Inclination, were the Inventions of Sebaſtian Ca-
bot, Mr. Gellibrand, and Mr. Norman ; the Inclinati-
on of the Needle, or that Property whereby it
keeps an Elevation above the Horizon, in all Pla-
ces but under the Equator, (where its Parallel) is
as ſurprizing a Phænomenon as any, and was the
Diſcovery of our Countrymen, and could it be
found regular, I imagine would very much help to-
wards the Diſcovery of Longitude, at leaſt would
point

of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
189
point out better Methods than hitherto known,
when Ships drew nigh Land, which would anſwer
as uſeful an End.
Before the Verticity and Uſe of the Compaſs, the
Portugueſe Navigations had extended no farther
than Cape Non, (it was their ne plus ultra,) and
therefore ſo called ; diſtreſs of Weather, indeed,
had drove fome Coaſters to Porto Santo, and Madera,
before any certain Method of ſteering was inven-
ted; but after the Needle was ſeen thus inſpired,
Navigation every Year improved under the great
Incouragements of Henry, Alphonſus, and John II.
Kings of Portugal, in Part of the 14th and in
the 15th Century.
King Alphonſus was not ſo much at leaſure as his
Predeceffor, to purſue theſe Diſcoveries, but ha.
ving ſeen the Advantages accrued to Portugal by
them, and that the Pope had confirmed the
per-
petual Donation of all they ſhould diſcover be
tween Cape Bajadore and India, incluſively, he reſol-
ved not to negle&t the proper Aſliſtance, and farm-
ed the Profits that did or might enſue to one Bernard
Gomez, a Citizen of Lisbon, who was every Voyage
obliged to diſcover 100 Leagues, ftill farther on:
And about the Year 1470 made theſe Iſlands, the
only Places (of all the conſiderable and large
Colonies they had in Africa,) that do now remain
to that Crown.
St. Thome is the principal of the three, whoſe
Governour is ftiled Captain General of the Iſlands,
and from whom the other at Princes receives his
Commiffion, tho' nominated by the Court of Portugal :
It is a Biſhoprick with a great many ſecular Clergy
who appear to have neither Learning nor Devotion,
as may be judged by ſeveral of them being Ne-
groes: One of the Chief of them, invited us to
hear Maſs, as a Diverſion to paſs Time away,
where he and his inferior Brethren acted ſuch af-
feeted

190 Of Capt. HOWEL DAVÍS:
fected Geſtures and Strains of Voice, as fhewed to
their Diſhonour, they had no other Aim than
pleaſing us ; and what I think was ſtill worſe, it
was not without a View of Intereft; for as theſe
Clergy are the chief Traders, they ſtoop to piti-
ful and ſcandalous Methods for ingratiating them-
ſelves: They and the Government, on this tra-
ding Account, maintain as great Harmony, being
ever jealous of each other, and practiſing little
deceitful Arts to monopolize what Strangers have
to offer for ſale, whether Toys or Cloaths, which
of all sorts are ever Commodious with the Portu-
gueſe, in all parts of the World; an ordinary Suit of
Black will ſell for ſeven or eight Pound; a Turnſtile
Wig of four Shillings, for a Moidore; a Watch of
forty Shillings, for fix Pound, Óc.
The Town is of mean Building, but large and рорица
lous, the Reſidence of the greater Part of the Na-
tives, who, thro' the whole Iſland, are computed
at 10000, the Militia at 3000, and are in general,
a raſcally thieviſh Generation, as an old grave
Friend of mine can Witneſs; for he having car-
ried a Bag of ſecond hand Cloaths on Shore, to
truck for Proviſions, feated himſelf on the Sand
for that Purpoſe, preſently gathered a Crowd
round him, to view them; one of which deſired to
know the Price of a black Suit, that unluckily
lay uppermoſt, and was the beſt of them, agree-
ing to the Demand, with little Heſitation, provid-
ed it would but fit him; he put them on ima
mediately, in as much hurry as poſſible, without
any co-licentia Seignor; and when my Friend was
about to commend the Goodneſs of the Suit, and
Exa&tneſs they ſet with, not dreaming of the In-
pudence of running away froin a Crowd, the Raſcal
took to his Heels, my Friend followed and bawl-
ed very much, and tho' there was goo People
about the Place, it ſerved to no other End but
making

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
191
y
making him a clear Stage, that the beſt Pair of
Heels might carry it; ſo he loſt the Suit of Cloaths,
and before he could return to his Bag, others of
them had beat off his Servant, and ſhared the
reft.
Moſt of the Ships from Guiney, of their own
Nation, and frequently thoſe of ours, call at one
or other of theſe Inands, to recruit with freih Pro-
viſions, and take in Water, which on the Coaſt
are not ſo good, nor ſo conveniently to come by :
Their own Ships likewiſe, when they touch here,
are obliged to leave the King his Cuſtom for their
Slaves, which is always in Gold, at ſo much a
Head, without any Dedu£tion at Braſil, for the
Mortality that may happen afterwards ; this by
being a conſtant Bank to pay off the civil and mi-
litary Charges of the Government, prevents the
Inconveniency of Remittances, and keeps both it
and Princes Ille rich enough to pay ready Money
for every Thing they want of Europe ans.
Their Beefs are ſmall and lean, (two hundred
Weight or a little more,) but the Goats, Hogs and
Fowls very good, their Sugar courſe and dirty,
and Rum very ordinary; as theſe Refreſhments
lay moſt with People who are in want of other
Neceffaries, they come to us in Way of bartering,
very cheap: A good Hog for an old Cutlaſh; a fac
Fowl for a Span of Brafil Tobacco, (110 other Sort
being valued, c.) But with Money you give
eight Dollars per Head for Cattle; three Dollars for
a Goat; fix Dollars for a grown Hog; a Teftune and
a Half for a Fowl; a Dollar per Gallon for Rum;
two Dollars a Roove for Sugar; and half a Dollar
for a Dozen of Paraquets: Here is Plenty like-
wiſe of Corn and Farine, of Limes; Citrons and
Yamms.
The Iſland is reckoned nigh a Square, each Side
18 Leagues long, hilly, and lays under the Æqui-
noctial,

192 Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
noctial, a wooden Bridge juſt without the Town,
being ſaid not to deviate the leaſt Part of a Minute,
either to the Southward or Northward ; and not-
withſtanding this warm Scituation, and continual
vertical Suns, the Iſlanders are very healthy, im-
puted by thoſe who are diſpoſed to be merry, in a
great Meaſure to the Want of even ſo much as
one Surgeon or Phyſician amongſt them.
Ille Del Principe, the next in Magnitude, a plea-
ſant and delightful Spot to the grave, and thought-
full Diſpoſition of the Portugueſe, an Improvement of
Country Retirement, in that, this may be a happy
and uninterrupted Retreat from the whole World.
I ſhall divide what I have to ſay on this Iſland,
into Obſervations made on our Approach to it,
on the Seas round it, the Harbour, Produce of
the Iſland and Seaſons, Way of Living among the
Inhabitants, fome Cuftom of the Negroes, with
ſuch proper Deductions on each as may illuſtrate
the Deſcription, and inform the Reader.
We were bound hither from Whydah, at the
latter Part of the Month July, when the Rains
are over, and the Winds hang altogether S. W. (as
they do before the Rains, S. E.) yet with this
Wind (when at Sea) we found the Ship gained
unexpectedly ſo far to the Southward, (i. e. Wind-
ward,) that we could with eaſe have weathered
any of the Iſlands, and this ſeems next to impoſe
fible ſhould be, if the Currents, which were ſtrong
to Leeward, in the Road of Whydah, had extended
in like Manner croſs the Bite of Benin: No, it muſt
then have been very difficult to have weathered
even Cape Formoſa : On this Occaſion, I ſhall farther
expatiate upon the Currents on the whole Coaſt
of Guiney.
The Southern Coaſt of Africa runs in a Line of
Latitude, the Northern on an Eaſtern Line, but
both ftrait, with the feweſt Inlets, Gulphs or
Bays,

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
193
Bays, of either of the four Continents; the only
large and remarkable one, is that of Benin and can
labar, towards which the Currents of each Coaſt
tend, and is ſtrongeſt from the Southward, be-
cauſe more open to a larger Sea, whoſe rifing it
is (tho' little and indiſcernable at any Diſtance
from the Land,) that gives rile to theſe Currents
cloſe in Shore, which are nothing but Tides altered
and diſturbed by the Make and Shape of Lands.
For Proof of this, I ſhall lay down the following
Obſervations as certain Fa&ts. That in the Rivers
of Gambia and Sierraleon, in the Straits and Chan-
nels of Benin, and in general along the whole
Coaſt, the Flowings are regular on the Shores,
with this Difference; that, in the abovemention'd
Rivers, and in the Channels of Benin, where the
Shore contract the Waters into a narrow Compaſs,
the Tides are ftrong and high, as well as regular;
but on the dead Coaſt, where it makes an equal
Reverberation, flow and low, (not to above two
or three Foot,) increaſing as you advance towards
Benin ; and this is farther evident in that at Cape
Corſo, Succonda and Commenda, and where the Land
rounds and gives any Stop, the Tides flow regularly
to four Foot and upwards; when on an evener
Coaſt, (tho' next adjoining,) they ſhall not exceed
two or three Foot; and ten Leagues out at Sea,
(where no ſuch Interruption is,) they become
ſcarcely, if at all, perceptible.
What I would deduce from this, beſides a Con-
firmation of that ingenious Theory of the Tides,
by Captain Halley; is firſt, that the Ships bound to
Angola, Cabenda, and other places on the Southern
Coaſt of Africa, ſhould croſs the Aquinoctial from
Cape Palmas, and run into a Southern Latitude,
without keeping too far to the Weftward ; and
the Reaſon feems plain, for if you endeavour
to croſs it about the Iſlands, you meet Calms,
N
ſoutherly

194 Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
ſoutherly Winds and oppoſite Currents; and if
too far to the Weftward, the trade Winds are ſtrong
and unfavourable ; for it obliges you to ſtand in-
to 28 or 30% Southern Latitude, till they are va-
riable.
Secondly, On the Northern Side of Guiney, if
Ships are bound from the Gold Coaſt to Sierraleon,
Gambia, or elſewhere to Windward, conſidering
the Weakneſs of theſe Currents, and the Favou-
rableneſs of Land Breezes, and Southerly in the
Rains, Turnadoes, and even of the Trade Wind, when
a-breaſt of Cape Palmas, it is more expeditious to
purſue the Paffage this Way, than by a long per-
ambulatory Courſe of 4 or soo Leagues to the
Weſtward, and as many more to the Northward,
which muſt bebefore a Wind can be obtained, that
could recover the Coaſt.
Laſtly, It is, in a great Meaſure, owning to this
want of Inlets, and the Rivers þeing ſmall and
unnavigable, that the Seas rebound with fo dan-
gerous a Surff thro' the whole Continent.
Round the Shores of this Illand, and at this Sea-
ſon, (July, Auguſt and September, there is a great
Reſort of Whale-Fish, tame, and ſporting very
nigh the Ships as they fail in, always in Pairs, the
Female much the ſmaller, and often ſeen to turn
on their Backs for Dalliance, the Prologue to en-
gendring : It has an Enemy, called the Threſher,
a large Fiſh too, that has its Haunts here at this
Seaſon, and encounters the Whale, raiſing him-
ſelf out of the Water a conſiderable Heighth, and
falling again with great Weight and Force; it is
commonly ſaid alſo, that there is a Sword Fith
in theſe Battles, who pricks the Whale up to the
Surface again, but without this, I believe, he would
fuffocate when put to quick Motions, unleſs fre-
quently approaching the Air, to ventilate and re-
move the Impediments to a ſwifter Circulation :
Nor
vloot

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
195
Nor do I think he is battled for Prey, but to re-
move him from what is perhaps the Food of both.
The Number of Whales here has put me fomes
times on thinking an advantageous Fiſhery might
be made of it, but I preſume they (no more than
thoſe of Braſil) are the Sort which yield the pro-
fitable Part, called Whale-Bone: All therefore that
the Inlanders do, is now and then to go out with
two or three Canoes, and ſet on one for Dis
verſion.
The Rocks and outer Lines of the Iſland, are
the Haunts of variety of Sea-Birds, eſpecially
Boobies and Noddies; the former are of the Big-
of a Gull, and a dark Colour, named ſo from their
Simplicity, becauſe they often fit ftill and let the
Sailors take them up in their Hands; but I fancy
this fucceeds more frequently from their Weari.
neſs, and the Largeneſs of their Wings, which;
when they once have refted, cannot have the Scope
neceffary to raiſe and float them on the Air again
The Noddies are ſmaller and flat footed alſo.
What I would remark more of them, is, the ada
mirable Inftin&t in theſe Birds, for the proper Sea-
fons, and the proper Places for Support. In the
aforemention’d Months, when the large Fiſh were
here, numerous Flocks of Fowl attend for the
Spawn and Superfluity of their Nouriſhment; and
in January few of either; for the fame Reaſon,
there are ſcarce any Sea Fowl ſeen on the African
Coaft; Rocks and Ifands being generally their
beſt Security and Subſiſtance.
The Harbour of Princes is at the E.S. E. Point
of the Iſland; the North-Side has gradual Souna
dings, but here deep Water, having no Ground
at a Mile off with 140 Fathom of Line. The Port
(when in) is a ſmooth narrow Bay, fafe from Winds,
(unle's a little Swell when Southerly) and draugh
ted into other ſmaller and fandy Ones, convenient
N 2
for

196 Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
Seam;
for raiſing of Tents, Watering, and hawling the
the whole protected by a Fort, or rather
Battery, of a dozen Guns on the Larboard-Side,
At the Head of the Bay ſtands the Town, about a
Mile from the anchoring Place, and conſiſts of two
or three regular Streets, of wooden built Houſes
where the Governor and chief Men of the Iſland
refide. Here the Water grows fhallow for a con-
fiderable Diſtance, and the Natives, at every Ebb,
(having before encompaſſed every convenient Angle
with a Riſe of Stones, ſomething like Weirs in Eng-
land) reſort for catching of Fiſh, which, with them,
is a daily Diverſion, as well as Subſiſtance, 500 at-
tending with Sticks and wicker Baskets; and if they
cannot dip them with one Hand, they knock them
down with the other. The Tides riſe regularly 6
Foot in the Harbour, and yet not half that Heighth
without the Capes that make the Bay.
Here are conſtantly two Miſſionaries, who are
lent for fix Years to inculcate the Chriſtian Prin-
ciples, and more eſpecially attend the Converſion
of the Negroes ; the preſent are Venetians, inge-
nious Men, who ſeem to deſpiſe the looſe Morals
and Behaviour of the Seculars, and complain of
them as of the Slaves, ut Color Mores ſunt nigri. They
have a neat Conventual-Houſe and a Garden appro-
priated, which, by their own Induſtry and Labour,
not only thrives with the ſeveral Natives of the
Soil, but many Exoticks and Curioſities. A Fruit
in particular, larger than a Cheſnut, yellow, con-
taining two Stones, with a Pulp, or clammy Sub-
ftance about them, which, when fuck'd, exceeds in
Sweetneſs, Sugar or Honey, and has this Property
beyond them, of giving a ſweet Taſte to every Li-
quid you ſwallow for the whole Evening after. The
only Plague infefting the Garden, is a Vermin called
Land-Crabs, in vaft Numbers, of a bright red Co-
lour, (in other Reſpects like the Sea ones) which
burrough

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
197
burrough in theſe fandy Soils like Rabbets, and are
as fhy.
The Iſland is a pleaſant Intermixture of Hill
and Valley; the Hills ſpread with Palms, Coco-
Nuts, and Cotton-Trees, with Numbers of Mon-
keys and Parrots among them; the Valleys with
fruitful Plantations of Tamms, Kulalu, Papas, Va-
riety of Sallating, Ananas, or Pine-Apples, Guam
vas, Plant anes, Bonanas, Manyocos, and Indian
Corn; with Fowls, Guinea Hens, Muſcovy Ducks,
Goats, Hogs, Turkies, and wild Beefs, with each a
little Village of Negroes, who, under the Direction
of their feveral Maſters, manage the Cultivation,
and exchange or ſell them for Money, much after
the ſame Rates with the People of St. Thome. lo
I ſhall run a Deſcription of the Vegetables, with
their Properties, not only becauſe they are the Pro-
duce of this Iſland, but moſt of them of Africa in
general.
The Palm-Trees are numerous on the shores of
Africa, and may be reckoned the firſt of their na-
tural Curiofities, in that they afford them Meat,
Drink and Cloathing; they grow very ftraight to
40 and 50 Foot high, and at the top (only) have
3 or 4 Circles of Branches, that ſpread and make a
capacious Umbrella.
The Trunk is very rough
with Knobs, either Excreſcencies, or the Healings
of thoſe Branches that were lopped off to forward
the Growth of the Tree, and make it anſwer bet-
ter in its Fruit. The Branches are ſtrongly tied
together with a Cortex, which may be unravelled
to a conſiderable Length and Breadth; the inward
Lamella of this Cortex, I know are wove like a
Cloath at Benin, and afterwards died and worn:
Under the Branches, and cloſe to the Body of the
Tree, hang the Nuts, thirty Bunches perhaps on
a Tree, and each of thirty Pound Weight, with
prickly Films from between them, not unreſem-
bling
N3

198 Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
fembling Hedge-Hogs; of theſe Nuts comes a lie
quid and pleaſant ſcented Oyl, uſed as Food and
Sauce all over the Coaſt, but chiefly in the Wind-
ward Parts of Africa, where they ſtamp, boil and
skim it off in great Quantities ; underneath, where
the Branches faften, they tap for Wine, called
Cockra, in this Manner; the Negroes who are
moftly limber active Fellows, encompaſs them-
felves and the Trees with a Hoop of ſtrong With,
and run up with a great deal of Agility ; at the
Bottom of a Branch of Nuts, he males an Exca-
vation of an Inch and a half over, and tying faft
his Calabaſh, leaves it to deftil, which it does to
two or three Quarts in a Nights Time, when done
he plugs it up, and chooſes another ; for if ſuffered
to run too much, or in the Day Time, the Sapis
unwarily exhauſted, and the Tree ſpoiled : The
Liquor thus drawn, is of a wheyiſh Colour, in-
toxicating and fours in 24 Hours, but when new
drawn, is pleaſanteſt to thirſt and hunger both: It is
from theſe Wines they draw their Arack in India
.
On the very Top of the Palm, grows a Cabbage,
called fo, I believe, from fome reſemblance its Taft
is thought to have with ours, and is uſed like it ;
the Covering has a Down that makes the beſt of
Tinder, and the Weavings of other parts are drawn
out into ſtrong Threads.
Coco-Nut-Trees are branch'd like, but not ſo tall
as, Palm Trees, the Nut like them, growing under
the Branches, and cloſe to the Trunk; the milky
Liquor they contain, (to half a Pint or more,) is
often drank to quench Thirſt, but furfeiting, and
this may be obſerved in their Way of Nouriſh-
ment, that when the Quantity of Milk is large,
the Shell and Meat are very thin, and harden and
thicken in Proportion, as that loſes.
Cotton Trees alſo are the Growth of all parts of
Africk, as well as the Iſlands, of vaft Bigrieſs, yet
not

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
199
not ſo incremental as the Shrubs or Buſhes of five
or fix Foot high; theſe bear a Fruit (if it may be
ſo called) about the Bigneſs of Pigeons Eggs, which
as the Sun fwells and ripens, burſts forth and dif-
covers three Cells loaded with Cotton, and Seeds
in the Middle of them: This in moft Parts the Ne-
groes know how to ſpin, and here at Nicongo and
the Iſland St. Jago, how to weave into Cloths.
Yamms are a common Root, ſweeter but not un.
like Potato's : Kulalu, a Herb like Spinnage : Papa,
a Fruit leſs than the ſmalleſt Pumkins; they are
all three for boiling, and to be eat with Meat;
the latter are improved by the Engliſh into a Tur-
nip or an Apple Taft, with a due Mixture of But-
ter or Limes.
Guava's, a Fruit as large as a Pipin, with Seeds
and Stones in it, of an uncouth aftringing Taft, tho'
never ſo much be ſaid in Commendation of it, at the
Weft-Indies, it is common for Cræolians, (who has
tafted both,) to give it a Preference to Peach or
Nectarine, no amazing Thing when Men whoſe
Tafts are ſo degenerated, as to prefer a Toad in a
Shell, (as Ward calls Turtle,) to Veniſon, and Ne-
groes to fine Engliſh Ladies.
Plant anes and Bonano's are Fruit of oblong Fi-
gure, that I think differ only ſecundum Major &
Minus, if any, the latter are preferable, and by be-
ing leſs, are juicier ; they are uſually, when ſtrip-
ped of their Coat, eat at Meals inſtead of Bread:
The Leaf of this Plantane is an admirable Deter-
gent, and, externally applied, I have ſeen cure the
moſt obftinate fcorbutick Ulcers.
Manyoco. A Root that ſhoots its Branches about
the heighth of a Currant Buſh; from this Root
the Iſlanders make a Farine or Flower, which they
ſell at three Ryals a Roove, and drive a confidera-
ble Trade for it with the Ships that call in. The
manner of making it, is firſt to preſs the Juice from it,
(which
N 4

200 of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
(which is poiſonous) done here with Engines, and
then the Negroe Women, upon a rough Stone, rub
it into a granulated Flower, reſerved in their Hou-
ſes, either to boil, as we do our Wheat, and is a
hearty Food for the Slaves; or make it into a
Bread, fine, white, and well tafted, for themſelves,
One thing worth taking Notice about Manyoco in this
Illand, is, that the Woods abound with a wild poi-
ſonous and more mortifero'is Sort, which ſometimes
Men, unskilled in the Preparation of it, feed on to
their Deſtruction : This the Miſſionaries aſſured me
they often experimented in their Hogs, and belie-
ved we did in the Mortality of our Sailors.
Indian Corn, is likewiſe as well as the Farine de
Manyoco and Rice, the common Vi&tualling of our
Slave Ships, and is afforded here at 1000 Heads for
two Dollars. This Corn grows eight or nine Foot
high, on a hard Reed or Stick, ſhooting forth at e.
very fix Inches Heighth, ſome long Leaves; it has
always an Ear, or rather Head, at top, of, perhaps,
400 Fold Increaſe; and often two, three, or more,
Midway.
Here are ſome Tamarind Trees; another called
Cola, whoſe Fruit, or Nut (about twice the Bigneſs
of a Cheſtnut, and bitter) is chewed by the Pora
rugueze, to give a ſweet Guft to their Water which
they drink; but above all, I was fhewn the Bark of
one (whoſe Name I do not know) gravely affirm'd
to have a peculiar Property of enlarging the Virile
Member ; I am not fond of ſuch Conceits, nor be-
lieve it in the Power of any Vegetables, but muſt
acknowledge, I have ſeen Sights of this kind among
the Negroes very extraordinary ; yet, that there
may be no Wiſhes among the Ladies for the Impor-
tation of this Bark, I muſt acquaint them, that
they are found to grow leſs merry, as they enereale
in Bulk. 'I had like to have forgot their Cinnamon
Trees, there is only one Walk of them, and is the
Entrance

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
201
Entrance of the Governor's Villa ; they thrive ex-
treemly well, and the Bark not inferior to our Cin-
namon from India ; why they and other Spice, in a
Soil fo proper, receive no farther Cultivation, is,
probably, their Suſpicion, that ſo rich a Produce,
might make ſome potent Neighbour take a Fancy to
the Iſland.
They have two Winters, or rather Springs, and
two Summers: Their Winters, which are the rainy
Seaſons, come in September and February, or March,
and hold two Months, returning that Fatneſs and
generative Power to the Earth, as makes it yield
a double Crop every Year, with little Sweat or
Labour.
Hic Ver Aſſiduum atque Alienis Menſibus Aftas
-Bis gravida Pecudes, bis Pomis utilis arbos.
Their firſt coming is with Travado's, i. e. ſudden
and hard Gufts of Wind, with Thunder, Light-
ning and heavy Showers, but ſhort ; and the next
new or full Moon at thoſe Times of the Year, infal-
libly introduces the Rains, which once begun, fall
with little Intermiflion, and are obſerved coldeſt in
February. Similar to theſe are rainy Seaſons alſo
over all the coaſt of Africa : If there may be al-
lowed any general Way of calculating their Time,
they happen from the Courſe of the Sun, as it re-
fpečts the Aquinoctial only; for if theſe Æquinoxes
prove rainy Seaſons all over the World (as I am apt
to think they are) whatever ſecret Cauſe operates
with that Station of the Sun to produce them, will
more effe&tually do it in thoſe vicine Latitudes;
and therefore, as the Sun advances, the Rains are
brought on the Whydah and Gold Coaſt, by April,
and on the Windwardnioft Part of Guiney by May:
The other Seaſon of the Sun's returning to the
Southward, make them more uncertain and irregu-
lar in Northern Africa ; but then to the Southward
again,

202 Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
again, they proceed in like manner, and are at
Cape Lopez in October, at Angola in November, &c.
The Manner of living among the Portugueze here
is, with the utmoſt Frugality and Temperance, e-
vén to Penury and Starving; a familiar Inſtance of
Proof is, in the Voracity of their Dogs, who find-
ing ſuch clean Cupboards at home, are wild in a
manner with Hunger, and tare up the Graves of
the Dead for Food, as I have often feen: They
themſelves are lean with Covetouſneſs, and that
Chriſtian Vertue, which is often the Reſult of it,
Selfdenyal ; and would train up their Cattle in the
ſame way, could they fetch as much Money, or
had no they their Proviſion more immediately of
Providence. The beſt of them (excepting the Go-
vernor now and then) neither pay nor receive any
Vifits of Eſcapade or Recreation; they meet and
fit down at each others Doors in the Street every
Evening, and as few of them, in ſo ſmall an Iſland,
can have their Plantations at any greater Diſtance,
than that they may ſee it every Day if they will
,
ſo the Subject of their Talk is moſtly how Affairs
went there, with their Negroes, or their Ground,
and then part with one another innocently, but
empty,
The Negroes have yet no hard Duty with them,
they are rather Happy in Slavery; for as their Food
is chiefly Vegetables, that could no way elſe be ex-
pended, there is no Murmurs bred on that account;
and as their buſineſs is Domeſtick, either in the Ser-
vices of the Houſe, or in Gardening, Sowing,
or Planting, they have no more than what every
Man would prefer for Health and Pleaſure, the
hardeſt of their work is the Carriage of their
Pateroons, or their Wives, to and from the Planta-
tions ; this they do in Hammocks (calld at Whydah,
Serpentines) llung croſs a Pole, with a Cloath over,
to ſcreen the Perſon, ſo carried, from Sun and
Weather,

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
203
Weather, and the Slaves are at each End; and yet
even this, methinks, is better than the ſpecious
Liberty a Man has for himſelf and his Heirs to
work in a Coal Mine.
The Negroes are, moſt of them, thro' the Care
of their Patroons, Chriſtians, at leaſt nominal, but
excepting to ſome few, they adhere ſtill to many
filly Pagan Cuſtoms in their Mournings and Re-
joycings, and in ſome Meaſure, powerfu Majority
has introduced them with the Vulgar of the Mulatto
and Portugueze Race.
If a Perſon die in that Colour, the Relations and
Friends of him meet at the Houſe, where the Corpſe
is laid out decently on the Ground and covered (all
except the Face) with a Sheet; they fit round it,
crying and howling dreadfully, not unlike what our
Countrymen are ſaid to do in Ireland : This Mour-
ning laſts for eight Days and Nights, but not e-
qually intenſe, for as the Friends, who compoſe
the Chorus, go out and in, are weary, and unequal-
ly affected, the Tone lefſens daily, and the Inter-
vals of Grief are longer.
In Rejoycings and Feſtivals they are equally
ridiculous ; theſe are commonly made on ſome
Friend's Eſcape from Shipwreck, or other Danger:
They meet in a large Room of the Houſe, with a
Strum Strum, to which one of the Company, per-
haps, fings wofully; the reſt ſtanding round the
Room cloſe to the Petitions, take it in their Turns
(one or two at a time) to ſtep round, called Dan-
cing, the whole clapping their Hands continually,
and hooping out every Minute Abeo, which fignify
no more, than, how do you. And this fooliſh Mith
will continue three or four Days together at a
Houſe, and perhaps twelve or fixteen Hours at a
time.
The Portugueze, tho’eminently abftemious and tem-
perate in all other Things, are unbounded in their
Lufts;

204 Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
Lufts; and perhaps they ſubſtitute the former in
room of a Surgeon, as a Counterpoiſon to the
Miſchiefs of a promiſcuous Salacity : They have moſt
of them Venereal Taints, and with Age become
meager and he{tick: I ſaw tivo Inſtances here of
Venereal Ulcers that had cancerated to the Bowels,
Spectacles that would have effe&tually perſwaded
Men (I think) how Salutary the Reſtri&tion of
Laws are.
Annobono is the laſt, and of the leaſt Confequence
of the three Mands; there are plenty of Fruits and
Proviſions, exchanged to Ships for old Cloaths and
Trifles of any Sort; they have a Governor nomi .
mated from St. Thome, and two or three Prieſts, nei-
ther of which are minded, every one living at Di-
fcretion, and filld with Ignorance and Luft.
To return to Davis, the next Day after he left
Anamaboe, early in the Morning, the Man at the
Maft-Head eſpied a Sail. It muſt be obſerved, they
keep a good Look-out; for, according to their Ar-
ticles, he who firft efpies a Sail, if the proves a Prize,
is entitled to the beſt Pair of Piſtols on Board, over
and above his Dividend, in which they take a ſingu-
lar Pride, and a pair of Piſtols has ſometimes been
fold for thirty Pounds, from one to another.
Immediately they gave Chace, and ſoon came up
with her; the Ship proved to be a Hollander, and
being betwixt Davis and the Shore, the made all
the Sail ſhe could, intending to run aground; Davis
gueſſed her Deſign, and putting out all his ſmall
Sails, came up with her before ſhe could effe&t it,
and fired a Broad-fide, upon which ſhe immediate-
Jy ftruck, and called for Quarter. It was granted,
for according to Davis's Articles, it was agreed,
that Quarter ſhould be given whenever it was cal-
led for, upon Pain of Death.
This

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
205
This Ship proved a very rich Prize, having the
Governor of Acra on Board, with all his Effects, go-
ing to Holland ; there was in Money to the Value of
15000 l. Sterling, beſides other valuable Merchandi-
zes, all which they brought on Board of themſelves.
Úpon this new Succeſs, they reſtored Captain
Hall and Captain Plumb, before-mentioned, their
Ships again, but ftrengthened their Company with
thirty five Hands, all white Men, taken out of
theſe two and the Morrice Sloop; they alſo re-
ſtored the Dutch their Ship, after having plunder'd
her, as is mentioned.
Before they got to the Iſland of Princes, one of
their Ships, viz. that call'd the King Fames, ſprung
a Leak; Davis order'd all Hands out of her, on
Board his own Ship, with every thing elſe of Ule,
and left her at an Anchor at High Cameroon. As ſoon
as he came in Sight of the Iſland, he hoiſted Engliſh
Colours, the Portugueſe obſerving a large Ship fail-
ing towards them, ſent out a little Sloop to exa-
mine what ſhe might be; this Sloop hailing of Davis,
he told them he was an Engliſh Man of War, in
Queſt of Pyrates, and that he had received Intelli-
gence there were ſome upon that Coaft; upon this
they received him as a welcome Gueſt, and piloted
him into the Harbour. He ſaluted the Fort, which
they anſwered, and he came to an Anchor juft under
their Guns, and hoiſted out the Pinnace, Man of
War Faſhion, ordering nine Hands and a Coxen in
it, to row him aſhore.
The Portugueze, to do him the greater Honour,
fent down a File of Muſqueteers to receive him,
and conduct him to the Governor. The Governor
not in the leaſt ſuſpecting what he was, received
him very civilly, promiſing to ſupply him with
whatever the Iſland afforded; Davis thanked him,
telling him, the King of England would pay for what-
ever he fhould take ; fo after ſeveral Civilities
paſs’d

206 Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
paſs’d between him and the Governor, he returned
again on Board.
It happened a French Ship came in there to ſupply
it ſelf with ſome Neceſſaries, which Davis took in
to his Head to plunder, but to give the Thing a
Colour of Right, he perſuaded the Portugueze, that
ſhe had been trading with the Pyrates, and that
he found ſeveral Pyrates Goods on Board, which
he ſeized for the King's Uſe: This Story paſſed fo
well upon the Governor, that he commended Da-
vis's Diligence.
A few Days after, Davis, with about fourteen more,
went privately aſhore, and walk'd up the Country
towards a Village, where the Governor and the
other chief Men of the Iſland kept their Wives, in
tending, as we may ſuppoſe, to ſupply their Huse
bands Places with them ; but being diſcovered, the
Women fled to a neighbouring Wood, and Davis and
the reſt retreated to their Ship, without effecting
their Deſign: The Thing made ſome Noiſe, but as
no body knew them, it paſſed over.
Having cleaned his Ship, and put all Things in
Order, his 'Thoughts now were turned upon the
main Buſineſs, viz. the Plunder of the Iſland, and
not knowing where the Treaſure lay, a Stratagem
came into his Head, to get it (as he thought) with
little Trouble, he conſulted his Men upon it, and
they liked the Deſign: His Scheme was, to make a
Preſent to the Governor, of a Dozen Negroes, by
Way of Return for the Civilities received from him,
and afterwards to invite him, with the chief Men,
and ſome of the Friers, on Board his Ship, to an En-
tertainment; the Minute they came on Board, they
were to be ſecured in Irons, and there kept till they
fhould pay a Ranſom of 40000l. Sterling.
But this Stratagem proved fatal to him, for a Pora
tugueze Negroe ſwam aſhore in the Night, and diſco-
vered the whole Plot to the Governor, and alſo let
him

Of Capt. HOWEL DAVIS.
207
him know, that it was Davis who had made the At-
tempt upon their Wives. However, the Governor
diffembled, received the Pyrates Invitation civilly,
and promiſed that he and the reſt would go.
The next Day Davis went on Shore himſelf, as
if it were out of greater Reſpect to bring the Gover-
nor on Board: He was received with the uſual Ci-
vility, and he, and other principal Pyrates, who, by
the Way, had aſſumed the Title of Lords, and as
ſuch took upon them to adviſe or councel their
Captain upon any important Occaſion; and like-
wife held certain Priviledges, which the common
Pyrates were debarr'd from, as walking the Quar-
ter-Deck, uſing the great Cabin, going afhore at
Pleaſure, and treating with foreign Powers, that is,
with the Captains of Ships they made Prizeof; I ſay,
Davis and ſome of the Lords were deſired to walk
up
to the Governor's Houſe, to take ſome Refreſhment
before they went on Board ; they accepted it with-
out the leaſt Suſpicion, but never returned again;
for an Ambuſcade was laid, a Signal being given, a
whole Volley was fired upon them; they every Man
dropp?d, except one, this one fled back, and eſcaped
into the Boat, and got on Board the Ship: Davis
was ſhot through the Bowels, yet he riſe again, and
made a weak Effort to get away, but his Strength
foon forſook him, and he dropp'd down dead; juſt
as he fell, he perceived he was followed, and draw-
ing out his Piſtols, fired them at his Purſuers; Thus
like a game Cock, giving a dying Blow, that he
might not fall unrevenged. In ST10
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CHAP

208
C H A P. XI.
Ο Ε
Captain Bartho. Roberts,
And his CREW.
B В
Artholomew Roberts ſailed in an honeſt Employ,
from London aboard of the Princeſs, Captain
Plumb Commander, of which Ship he was
ſecond Mate : He left England, November 1719, and
arrived at Guiney about February following, and be
ing at Anamaboe, taking in Slaves for the Weſt-
Indies, was taken in the ſaid Ship by Captain How-
el Davis, as mentioned in the preceeding Chapter
In the beginning he was very averſe to this fort
of Life, and would certainly have eſcaped from
them, had a fair Opportunity preſented it ſelf ;
yet afterwards he changed his Principles, as many
beſides him have done upon another Element, and
perhaps for the ſame Reaſon too, viz. Preferment,
and what he did not like as a private Man
he could reconcile to his Conſcience as a Com-
mander.
Davis being cut off in the manner beforementi-
oned, the Company found themſelves under a Ne-
ceffity of filling up his Poft, for which there apa
pear'd two or three Candidates among the ſelect Part
of

тол от на .10
99 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
20,9
of them, that were diſtinguiſh'd by the Title of
Lords, ſuch were Sympſon, Aſhplant, Anſtis, &c. and
on canvaſſing this Matter, how ſhatter'd and weak
a Condition their Government muſt be without a
Head, fince Davis had been remov'd, in the man-
ner beforemention'd, my Lord Dennis propos’d, its
ſaid, over a Bowl to this purpoſe.
That it was not of any great Signification who was diga
mify'd with Title ; for really and in Truth, all good 604
vernments had (like theirs) the fupream Power lodged with
the Community, who might doubtleſs depute and revoke a's
ſuited Intereſt or Humour. We are the Original of this
Claim (ſays he) and ſhould a Captain be ſo ſawcy as to ex*
ceed Preſcription at any time, why down with Him!
it will be a Caution after he is dead to his Succeffors, of what
fat al Conſequence any ſort of affuming may be. However,
it is my Advice, that, while we are ſober, we pitch upon a
Man of Courage, and skilled in Navigation, one, who by
his Council and Bravery ſeems beſt able to defend this Coma
monwealth, and ward us from the Dangers and Tempeſts of
an inſtable Element, and the fatal Conſequences of Anarchy:
and ſuch a one I take Roberts to be. A Fellono! I think,
in all Reſpects, worthy your Eſteem and Favour,
This Speech was loudly applauded by all but Lord
Sympſon, who had ſecret Expectations himſelf, but
on this Diſappointment, grew fullen, and left them,
fwearing, he did not care who they choſe Captain, so it
was not a Papift, for againſt them he had conceiv’d an ira
reconcileable Hatred, for that his Father had been a Suffera
er in Monmouth's Rebellion. D'S
Roberts was accordingly elected, tho he had not
been above fix Weeks among them, the Choice was
confirm'd both by the Lords and Commoners, and
he accepted of the Honour, ſaying, That ſince he båd
klipp?d bis Hands in muddy Water, and muſt be a Pyrare, it
was better being a Commander than a common Man,
As ſoon as the Government was ſettled, by promě
ting other Officers in the room of thoſe that were kill'd
O
by

210 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
by the Portugueze, the Company reſolv'd to revenge
Captain Davis's Death, he being more than ordina
rily reſpected by the Crew for his Affability and
good Nature, as well as his Conduct and Bravery
upon all Occaſions; and purſuant to this Reſolution,
about 30 Men were landed in order to make an At
tack upon the Fort, which niuft be afcended to by a
ſteep Hill againſt the Mouth of the Cannon. Theſe
Men were headed by one Kennedy, a bold daring
Fellow, but very wicked and profligate ; they
march'd directly up under the Fire of their Ship
Guns, and as ſoon as they were diſcover'd, the Por-
tugueze quitted their Poſt and fled to the Town, and
the Pyrates march'd in without Oppoſition, ſet Fire
to the Fort, and threw all the Guns off the Hill into
the Sea, which after they had done, they retreated
quietly to their Ship.
But this was not look'd upon as a fufficient Sa-
tisfa&tion for the Injury they received, therefore
moſt of the Company were for burning the Town,
which Roberts ſaid he would yield to, if any Means
could be propoſed of doing it without their own
Deſtruction, for the Town had a ſecurer Scituation
than the Fort, a thick Wood coming almoſt cloſe
to it, affording Cover to the Defendants, who
under ſuch an Advantage, he told them, it was to
be fear’d, would fire and ſtand better to their Arms;
beſides, that bare Houſes would be but a flender
Reward for their Trouble and Loſs. This prudent
Advice prevailed; however, they mounted the
French Ship, they ſeiz'd at this place, with 12 Guns,
and light'ned her, in order to come up to the Town,
the Water being fhoal, and battered down ſeveral
Houſes; after which they all returned on Board,
gave back the French Shiy to thoſe that had moſt
Right to her, and failed out of the Harbour by the
light of two Portugueſe Ships, which they were plea-
ſed to ſet on Fire there.
949W
and Roberts

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
2II
Roberts ſtood away to the Southward, and met
with a Dutch Guiney Man, which he made Prize ot,
but after having plundered her, the Skipper had
his Ship again: Two Days after, he took an Engliſh
Ship, called the Experiment, Captain Cornet, at Cape
Lopez, the Men went all into the pyrate Service,
and having no Occaſion for the Ship, they burnt
her, and then fteered for St. Thome, but meeting
with nothing in their way, they failed for Annabo-
nag
and there water'd, took in Provifions, and put
it to a Vote of the Company, whether their next
Voyage should be, to the Eaſt-Indies, or to Braſil;
the latter being reſolved on, they failed according-
ly, and in 28 Days arrived at Ferdinando, an unin-
habited INand, on that Coaft: Here they water’d,
boot-top'd their Ship, and made ready for the de-
ſigned Cruiſe.
Now that we are upon this Coaft, I think it will
be the proper Place to preſent our Readers with a
Deſcription of this Country, and ſome ingenious
Remarks of a Friend, how beneficial a Trade might
be carried on here by our Weſt-India Merchants, at
a little Hazard.
А
DESCRIPTION
OF
BRASIL, &c.
BR
RASIL (a Name ſignifying the holy Croſs)
was diſcovered for the King of Portugal, by
Alvarez Cabral, Ann. Dom. 1501. extending almoſt
from the Equinoctial to 28 ° South. The Air is
temperate and cool, in compariſon of the Weſt-In-
dies,

212 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
dies, from ſtronger Breezes and an opener Country,
which gives leſs Interruption to the Winds.
The northernmoſt part of it ſtretching about
180 Leagues, (a fine fertile Country,) was ta-
ken from the Portugueſe by the Dutch Weſt-India
Company, Anno. 1637 or thereabouts ; but the
Conquerors, as is natural where there is little or
no Religion ſubfifting, made fuch heavy Exactions
on the Portugueſe, and extended ſuch Cruelty to
the Natives, that prepared them both eafily to
unite for a Revolt, facilitated by the Dutch Mil
management: For the States being at this Time
very intent on their India Settlements, not only re-
called Count Morrice their Governor, but negle&-
ed Supplies to their Garriſons; however, tho the
others were countenanced with a Fleet from Pore
tugal, and had the Affection of the Natives, yet
they found Means to withſtand and ſtruggle with
this fuperior Power, from 1643 to 1660, and then
was wholly abandoned by them, on Articles dila
honourable to the Portugueſe, viz.
That the Dutch, on Relinquiſhing, ſhould keep
all the Places they had conquered in India from
Portugal. That they ſhould pay the States 800000 1.
and permit them ftill the Liberty of Trade to Afria
ca and Braſil, on the ſame Cuſtom and Duties with
the King of Portugal's Subječts. But ſince that
Time, new Stipulations and Treaties have been
made ; wherein the Dutch, who have been totally
excluded the Braſil Trade, have, in lieu thereof, a
Compoſition of 10 per cent. for the Liberty of tra-
ding to Africa, and this is always left by every
Portugueſe Ship (before ſhe begins her Slaving)
with the Dutch General of the Gold-Coaſt, at Des
Minas. A
There are only three principal Towns of Trade
on the Braſil Coaſt, St. Salvadore, St. Sebaſtian, and
Pernambuca.
e CO
St.

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
213
St. Salvadore in the Bahia los todos Santos, is an
Archbiſhoprick and Seat of the Viceroy, the chief
Port of Trade for Importation, where moſt of the
Gold from the Mines is lodged, and whence the
Fleets for Europe generally depart. The Seas about
it abound with Whale-Fiſh, which in the Seaſon
they catch in great Numbers; the Fleſh is falted
up generally to be the Victualling of their Slave-
Ships, and the Train reſerved for Exportation, at
30 and 35 Millrays a Pipe.
Rio Janeiro (the Town St. Sebaſtian) is the South-
ernmoſt of the Portugueſe, the worſt provided of
Neceffaries, but commodious for a Settlement, be-
cauſe nigh the Mine, and convenient to ſuperviſe
the Slaves, who, as I have been told, do uſually al-
low their Mafter a Dollar per Diem, and have the
Overplus of their Work (if any) to themſelves.
The Gold from hence is eſteemed the beſt, (for
being of a copperiſh Colour,) and they have a Mint
to run it into Coin, both here and at Bahia; the
Moidors of either having the initial Letters of each
Place upon them.
Pernambuca (tho' mention’d laſt) is the ſecond in
Dignity, a large and populous Town, and hasits riſe
from the Ruins of Olinda, (or the handſome,) a
City of a far pleaſanter Situation, fix Miles up the
River, but not ſo commodious for Traffick and
Commerce. Juſt above the Town the River divides
it ſelf into two Branches, not running dire&tly into
the Sea, but to the Southward ; and in the Nook of
the Illand made by that Diviſion, ſtands the Gover-
nor's Houſe, a ſquare plain Building of Prince Mau-
rice's, with two Towers, on which are only this
Date inſcribed, Anno 1641. The Avenues to its
are every way pleaſant, thro' Vifto's of tall Coco-
Nut Trees. 19
O plano
Over each Branch of the River is a Bridge; that
leading to the Country is all of Timber, but the
other
O 3

214
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
other to the Town (of twenty fix or twenty eight
Arches) is halfof Stone, made by the Dutch, who
their Time had little Shops and gaming Houſes
On each side for Recreation.
The Pavements alſo of the Town are in fome
Places of broad Tiles, the remaining Fragments of
their Conqueft. The Town has the outer Branch
of the River behind it, and the Harbour before it,
jetting into which latter are cloſe Keys for the
weighing and receiving of Cuſtomage on Merchan-
dize, and for the meeting and conferring of Mer-
chants and Traders. The Houſes are ſtrong built,
but homely, letticed like thoſe of Lisbon, for the
Admiffion of Air, without Cloſets, and what
is worſe, Hearths; which makes their Cookery
confit all in frying and ftewing upon Stoves; and
that they do till the Fleſh become tender enough
to Shake it to Pieces, and one Knife is then thought
fufficient to ſerve a Table of half a Score.
The greateſt Inconvenience of Pernambuca is, that
there is not one Publick-Houſe in it; ſo that Stran-
gers are obliged to hire any ordinaryone they
can get, at a Guinea a Month : And others
who come to tranfa&t Affairs of Importance, muſt
come recommended, if it were only for the ſake of
Privacy bandar
The Market is ftocked well enough, Beef being at
five Farthings perl. a Sheep or Goat at nine Shillings,
a Turkey four Shillings, and Fowls two Shillings, the
largeſt I ever faw, and may be procured much
Cheaper, by hiring a Man to fetch them out of
the Country. The deareit in its kind is Water,
which being fetch'd in Vefſels from Olinda, will not
be put on Board in the Road under two Cruſado's
a Pipe. 26
The Portugueſe here are darker than thoſe of Eu-
yope, not only from a warmer Climate, but their
many Intermarriages with the Negroes, who are
Sudedati do
a pune
.

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
215
numerous there, and ſome of them of good Credit
and Circumſtances. The Women (not unlike the
Mulatto Generation every where elle) are fond of
Strangers ; not only the Courtezans, whoſe Inte-
reſt may be ſuppoſed to wind up their Affe&tions,
but alſo the marryed Women who think them-
ſelves obliged, when you favour them with the
Secrecy of an Appointment; but the Unhap-
pineſs of purſuing Amours, is, that the gene-
rallity of both Sexes are touched with veneral
Taints, without ſo much as one Surgeon among
them, or any Body skilled in Phyfick, to cure or
palliate the progreſſive Miſchief: The only Per-
ſon pretending that Way, is an Iriſh Father, whoſe
Knowledge is all comprehended in the Virtues of
two or three Simples, and thoſe, with the Salubrity
of the Air and Temperance, is what they depend on,
for ſubduing the worſt of Malignity ; and it may
not be unworthy Notice, that tho' few are exemp-
ted from the Misfortune of a Running, Eruptions,
or the like, yet I could hear of none precipitated
into thoſe deplorable Circumſtances we lee common
in unskillful mercurial Procefſes.
There are three Monaſteries, and about fix
Churches, none of them Rich or Magnificent, un-
leſs one dedicated to St. Antonio, the Patron of
their Kingdom, which ſhines all over with exqui-
fite Pieces of Paint and Gold.
The Export of Braſil (beſides Gold)is chiefly Su->
gars and Tobacco; the latter are ſent off in Rowls
of a Quintal Weight, kept continually moiſtened
with Muloffus, which, with the Soil it ſprings from,
imparts a ſtrong and peculiar Scent, more fenfi-
ble in the Snuff made from it, which tho' under
Prohibition of importing to Lisbon, ſells here at
2 s. per l. as the Tobacco does at about 6 Millraies
a Rowl. The fineſt of their Sugars ſells at 8 s. per
Roove, and a finall ill tafted Rum drawn from
the
0 4

216 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
the Dregs and Muloffus, at two Teftunes a Gal-
lon.
Befides theſe, they ſend off great Quantities of
Braſil Wood, and Whale Oyl, fome Gums and Par-
rots, the latter are different from the African in Co.
lour and Bigneſs, for as they are blue and larger,
theſe are green and ſmaller; and the Females of
them ever retain the wild Note, and cannot be
þrought to talk
In lieu of this produce, the Portugueze, once every
Year by their Fleet from Lisbon, import all manner
of European Commodities; and whoever is unable
or negligent of fupplying himſelf at that Seaſon,
buys at a very advanced Rate, before the Return of
another.
To tranſport Paſſengers, Slaves, or Merchan-
dize from one Settlement to another, or in Fiſhing;
they make uſe of Bark-Logs, by the Braſilians called
fingadahs: They are made of four Pieces of Timber
(the two outermoft longeft) pinned and faſtened to
gether, and sharpened at the Ends: Towards each
Extremity a Stool is fixed to fit on for paddling, or
halding by, when the Agitation is more than ordina-
ry, with theſe odd. fort of Engines, continually
waſhed over by the Water, do theſe People, with
a little triangular Sail ſpreeted about the Middle of
it; Venture but of Sight of Land, and along the
Coaſts for many Leagues, in any ſort of Weather ;
and if they overſet with a Squall (which is not un-
common) they ſwim and preſently turn it up right
again.
The Natives are of the darkeſt Copper Colour,
with thin Hair, of a ſquare ſtrong make, and mul-
cular; but not fo well looking as the Wooley Ge
neration: They acquiefce patiently to the Portugueze
Government, who uſe them much more humanly
and Chriftian-like than the Dutch did, and by that
Means have extended Quietneſs and Peace, as well
as

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
217
as their Poffeffions, three or four hundred Miles in.
to the Country. A Country abounding with fine
Paſtures and numerous Herds of Cattle, and yields
a vaft Increaſe from every thing that is fown:
Hence they bring down to us Parrots, ſmall Mon-
kies, Armadillos and Sanguins, and I have been af
fured, they have, (far In-land,) a Serpent of a vaſt
Magnitude, called Šiboya, able, they ſay, to ſwallow
a whole Sheep; I have ſeen my ſelf here the Skin
of another Specie full fix Yards long, and therefore
think the Story not improbable.
The Harbour of Pernambuca is, perhaps, fingular,
it is made of a Ledge of Rocks, half a Cables length
from the Main, and but little above the Surface of
the Water, running at that equal Diſtance and
Heighth ſeveral Leagues, towards Cape Auguſtine, at
Harbour running between them capable of receiving /
Ships of the greateſt Burthen: The Northermofte
End of this Wall of Rock, is higher than any part of
the contiguous Line, on which a little Fort is built,
commanding the Paffage either of Boat or Ship, as
they come over the Bar into the Harbour : On the it
Starboard Side, (i. e, the Main) after you have en--o
tered a little way, ſtands another Fort (a Pentagon)
that would prove of ſmall Account, I imagine, ao
gainft a few diſciplined Men; and yet in theſe confifts
all their Strength and Security, either for the Har-
bour or Town: They have begun indeed a Wall,
ſince their removing from Olinda, deſigned to fur-
round the latter ; but the flow Progreſs they 10
make in raiſing it, leaves Room to ſuſpect 'twill be a
long time in finiſhing.
The Road without, is uſed by the Portugueze,
when they are nigh failing for Europe, and wait for
the Convoy, or are bound to Bahia to them, and by
Strangers only when Neceflity compels; the beſt of it
is in ten Fathom Water, near three Miles W.N.W.
from the Town; nigher in, is foul with the many
Anchors

218 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
Anchors loft there by the Portugueze Ships; and far-
ther out (in 14 Fathom) corally and Rocky. July
is the worſt and Winter Seaſon of this Coaſt, the
Trade Winds being then very ſtrong and dead,
bringing in a prodigious and unſafe Swell into the
Road, intermixed every Day with Squalls, Rain,
and a hazey Horizon, but at other times ſerener
Skies and Sunſhine.
In theſe Southern Latitudes is a Conſtellation,
which from ſome Reſemblance it bears to a Feruſ de
lem Croſs, has the Name of Croſiers, the brighteſt of
this Hemiſphere, and are obſerved by, as the North
Star is in Northern Latitudes ; but what I mention
this for, is, to introduce the admirable Phænomenon
in theſe Seas of the Megellanick Clouds, whoſe Ri.
fings and Sittings are fo regular, that I have been aſ-
fured, the fame Nocturnal Obſervations are made
by them as by the Stars ; They are two Clouds,
ſmall and whitiſh, no larger in Appearance than a
Man's Hat, and are ſeen here in July in the Latitude
of 89 S. about four of the Clock in the Morning ; if
their Appearance ſhould be faid to be the Reflection
of Light, from fome Stellary Bodies above them, yet
the Difficulty is not eafily anfvered, how theſe, be-
yond others, become ſo durable and regular in their
Motions.
From theſe cafual Obſervations on the Country,
the Towns, Coaſt, and Seas of Braſil, it would be an
Omiffior to leave the Subje&t, without ſome Eſſay
on an interloping Slave Trade here, which none of
our Countrymen are adventrous enough to purſue,
though it very probably, under a prudent Manager,
would be attended with Safety and very great Pro-
fit; and I admire the more it is not ftruck at, be-
cauſe Ships from the Southern Coaſt of Africa, don't
Jengthen the Voyage to the Weſt-Indies a great deal,
by taking a Part of Braſil in their way.
The
azon

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 219
The Diſadvantages the Portugueze are under for
purchaſing Slaves, are theſe, that they have very
few proper Commodities for Guiney, and the Gold,
which was their chiefeſt, by an Edi&t in July 1722,
ſtands now prohibited from being carried thither,
ſo that the Ships employed therein are few, and in-
fufficient for the great Mortality and Call of their
Mines; beſides, fhould they venture at breaking ſo
deftru&tive a Law, as the abovementioned (as no
doubt they do, or they could make little or no Pur-
chace) yet Gold does not raiſe its Value like Mer-
chandize in travelling (eſpecially to Africa) and
when the Compoſition with the Dutch is alſo paid,
they may be ſaid to buy their Negroes at almoſt
double the Price the Engliſh, Dutch, or French do,
which neceſarily raiſes their Value extravagantly
at Braſil; (thoſe who can purchaſe one, buying a
certainer Annuity than South-Sea Stock.)
Thus far of the Call for Slaves at Braſil; I ſhall
now conſider and obviate ſome Difficulties objected
againſt any Foreigners (ſuppoſe Engliſh) interpo-
fing in fuch a Trade, and they are ſome on theirs,
and ſome on our Side.
On their Side it is prohibited under Pain of Death,
a Law lefseffe&tual to the Prevention of it than pecu-
niary Mul&ts would be, becauſe a Penalty ſo inade-
quate and diſproportioned, is only In terrorem, and
makes it merciful in the Governor, or his Inftru-
ments, to take a Compoſition of eight or ten Moi-
dors, when any Subjeit is catched, and is the com.
mon Cuſtom fo to do as often as they are found
out.
On our Side it is confiſcation of what they cari
get, which conſidering, they have no Men of Wa
to guard the Coaſt, need be very little, without ſu-
pine Negle&t and Careleſſneſs.
I am a Man of War, or Privateer, and being in
Want of Provifions, or in Search of Pyrates, put
in
adainuo

220 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
in to Pernambuca for Intelligence, to enable me for
the Purſuit: The Dread of Pyrates keeps every
one off, till you have firſt fent an Officer, with
the proper Compliments to the Governor, who
immediately gives Leave for your buying eve-
ry Neceſſary you are in want of, provided it be
with Money, and not an Exchange of Merchandize,
which is againſt the Laws of the Country.
On this firſt time of going on Shore, depends
the Succeſs of the whole Affair, and requires a cau-
tious and diſcreet Management in the Perſon entru-
fted : He will be immediately ſurrounded at landing
with the great and the ſmall Rabble, to enquire
who ? and whence he comes ? and whether bound?
c. and the Men are taught to anſwer, from Guiney,
denying any thing of a Slave on Board, which are
under' Hatches, and make no Shew ; nor need they,
for thoſe who have Money to lay out will conclude
on that themſelves.
By that time the Compliment is paid to the Go-
vernor,
the News has ſpread all round the Town,
and ſome Merchant addreſſes you, as a Stranger, to
the Civility of his Houſe, but privately deſires to
know what Negroes he can have, and what Price.
A Governor may poſſibly uſe an Inſtrument in fif-
ting this, but the Appearance of the Gentleman,
and the Circumſtance of being ſo foon engaged after
leaving the other, will go a great way in forming a
Man's Judgment, and leaves him no room for the
Sufpicion of ſuch a Snare; however, to have a due
Guard, Intimations will ſuffice, and bring him, and
Friends enough to carry off the beſt part of a
Cargo in two Nights time, from 20 to 30 Moidors
a Boy, and from 30 to 40 a Man Slave. The Haz-
ard is leſs at Rio Janeiro.
There has been another Method attempted, of
ſettling a Correſpondence with ſome Portugueze Mer-
chant or two, who, as they may be certain within a
Fortnight

Capt, BARTHO. ROBERTS. 221
Fortnight of any Veſſels arriving on their Coast
with Slaves, might ſettle Signals for the debar-
quing them at an unfrequenced Part of the Coaſt,
but whether any Exceptions were made to the Price,
or that the Portugueſe dread Diſcovery, and the leve-
reft Proſecution on ſo notorious a Breach of the Law,
I cannot tell but it has hitherto proved abortive.
However, Stratagems laudable, and attended
with Profit, at no other Hazard (as I can perceive)
then loſs of Time, are worth attempting; it is
what is every Day practiſed with the Spaniards from
Jamaica
pales
Upon this Coaſt our Rovers cruiz'd for about
nine Weeks, keeping generally out of Sight of
Land, but without ſeeing a Sail, which diſcourag'd
them ſo, that they determined to leave the Station,
and ſteer for the Weſt-Indies, and in order thereto,
ſtood in to make the Land for the taking of their
Departure, and thereby they fell in, unexpectedly,
with a Fleet of
4.2 Sail of Portugueſe Ships, off the
Bay of los todos Santos, with all their Lading in for
Lisbon, leveral of them of good Force, who lay too
waiting for two Men of War of 70 Guns each,
their Convoy. However, Roberts thought it ſhould
go hard with him, but he would make up his Mar-
ket among them, and thereupon mix'd with the
Fleet, and kept his Men hid till proper Reſolutions
could be form’d; that done, they came cloſe up to
one of the deepeſt, and ordered her to ſend the Ma-
Iter on Board quietly, threat’ning to give them no
Quarters, if any Reſiſtance, or Signal of Diſtreſs
was made. The Portugueſe being ſurprized at theſe
Threats, and the ſudden flouriſh of Cutlaſhes
from the Pyrates, ſubmitted without a Word, and
the Captain came on Board: Roberts faluted him
after a friendly manner, telling him, that they
were Gentlemen of Fortune, but that their Bufies
ners

222
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
neſs with him, was only to be informed which
was the richeſt Ship in that Fleet; and if he di-
rected them right, he ſhould be reſtored to his Ship
without Moleſtation, otherwiſe, he muſt expe&t im-
mediate Death.
Whereupon this Portugueſe Mafter pointed to one
of 40 Guns, and 150 Men, a Ship of greater Force
than the Rover, but this no Ways diſmayed them,
they were Portugueſe, they ſaid, and ſo immediate-
ly ſteered away for him. When they came with-
in Hail, the Maſter whom they had Priſoner, was
ordered to ask, how Seignior Capitain did ? And to
invite him on Board, for that he had a Matter of
Conſequence to impart to him, which being done, he
returned for "Anſwer, That he would wait upon him
preſently: But by the Buſtle that immediately fol.
lowed, the Pyrates perceived, they were diſcovered,
and that this was only a deceitful Anſwer to gain
Time to put their Ship in a Poſture of Defence;
fo without further Delay, they poured in a Broad-
Side, boarded and grapled her; the Diſpute was
short and warm, wherein many of the Portugueſe
fell, and two only of the Pyrates. By this Time
the Fleet was alarmed, Signals of Top-gallant
Sheets flying, and Guns fired, to give Notice to
the Men of War, who rid ſtill at an Anchor, and
made but fcurvy haft out to their Affiſtance; and
if what the Pyrates themſelves related, be true,
the Commanders of thoſe Ships were blameable to
the higheſt Degree, and unworthy the Title, or fo
much as the Name of Men: For Roberts finding the
Prize to fail heavy, and yet reſolving not to looſe
her, lay by for the headmoſt of them (which
much out failed the other) and prepared for Bat-
tle, which was ignominiouſly declined, tho' of
ſuch ſuperior Force ; for not daring to venture on
the Pyrate alone, he tarried ſo long for his Confort
as gave them both time leiſurely to make off.
They

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
223
They found this Ship exceeding rich, being la-
den chiefly with Sugar, Skins, and Tobacco, and
in Gold 40000 Moidors, beſides Chains and Trinc-
kets, of confiderable Value; particularly a Croſs
ſet with Diamonds, deſigned for the King of Portu-
gal; which they afterwards preſented to the Gover-
nor of Caiana, by whom they were obliged.
Elated with this Booty, they had nothing now
to think of but ſome ſafe Retreat, where they
might give themſelves up to all the Pleaſures that
Luxury and Wantonneſs could beſtow, and for the
preſent pitch'd upon a Place called the Devil's
Iſlands, in the River of Surinam, on the Coaft of
Cai ana, where they arrived, and found the civileſt
Reception imaginable, not only from the Gover-
nor and Factory, but their Wives, who exchan-
ged Wares and drove a confiderable Trade with
them.
They ſeiz'd in this River a Sloop, and by her
gained Intelligence, that a Brigantine had alſo
failed in Company with her, from Rhode-Iſlandy la-
den with Proviſions for the Coaſt. A Welcome Car-
go! They growing ſhort in the Sea Store, and as
Sancho ſays, No Adventures to be made without Belly-
Timber. One Evening as they were rumaging their
Mine of Treaſure) the Portugueſe Prize, this expect-
ed Vefſel was deſcryd at Maft-Head, and Roberts,
imagining no Body could do the Buſineſs ſo well as
himſelf, takes 40 Men in the Sloop, and goes in
purſuit of her ; but a fatal Accident followed this
rafh, tho' inconfiderable Adventure, for Roberts think-
ing of nothing leſs than bringing in the Brigantine
that Afternoon, never troubled his Head about.
the Sloop's Proviſion, nor inquired what there was
on Board to fubfiſt ſuch a Number of Men; but
out he fails after his expected Prize, which he not
only loſt further Sight of, but after eight Days
centending with contrary Winds and Currents,
found

224
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
found themſelves thirty Leagues to Leeward. The
Current ſtill oppoſing their Endeavours, and per-
ceiving no Hopes of beating up to their Ship, they
came to an Anchor, and inconſiderately ſent away
the Boat to give the reſt of the Company Notice
of their Condition, and to order the Ship to them;
but too ſooni, even the next Day, their Wants made
them fenfible of their Infatuation, for their Water
was all expended, and they had taken no thought
how they ſhould be ſupply'd, till either the Ship
came, or the Boat returned, which was not likely
to be under five or fix Days. Here like Tantalus,
they almoſt famiſhed in Sight of the freſh Streams
and Lakes; being drove to ſuch Extremity at laft
,
that they were forc'd to tare up the Floor of the
Cabin, and patch up a ſort of Tub or Tray with
Rope Yarns, to padůle afhore, and fetch off imme-
diate Supplies of Water to preſerve Life,
After fome Days, the long-with’d-for Boat came
back, but with the moſt unwellcome News in the
World, for Kennedy, who was Lieutenant, and left
in Abfence of Roberts, to Command the Privateer
and Prize, was gone off with both. This was Mor-
tification with a Vengeance, and you may imagine,
they did not depart without ſome hard Speeches
from thoſe that were left, and had ſuffered by their
Treachery : And that there need be no further
mention of this Kennedy, I ſhall leave Captain Rom
berts, for a Page or two, with the Remains of his
Crew, to vent their Wrath in a few Oaths and
Execrations, and follow the other, whom we may
reckon from that Time, as ſteering his Courſe to-
wards Execution Dock.
Kennedy was now choſen Captain of the revolted
Crew, but could not bring his Company to any
determined Reſolution; ſome of them were for
purſuing the old Game, but the greater Part of
them ſeem'd to have Inclinations to turn from thoſe
evil

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 225
evil Courſes, and get home privately, (for there
was no A&t of Pardon in Force,) therefore they
agreed to break up, and every Man to ſhift for him.
felf, as he ſhould ſee Occaſion. The firſt Thing they
did, was to part with the great Portugueze Prize, and
having the Maſter of the Sloop (whoſe Name I
think was Cane) aboard, who they ſaid was a very
honeft Fellow, (for he had humoured them upon
every Occaſion,) told them of the Brigantine that
Roberts went after, and when the Pyrates firſt took
him, he complemented them at an odd Rate, tel-
ling them they were welcome to his Sloop and
Cargo, and wiſh'd that the Veſſel had been iar-
ger, and the Loading richer for their Sakes: To
this good natured Man they gave the Portugueze
Ship, (which was then above half loaded,) three or
four Negroes, and all his own Men, who returned
Thanks to his kind Benefactors, and departed.
Captain Kennedy in the Rover, failed to Barbadoes,
near which hand, they took a very peaceable
Ship belonging to Virginia ; the Commander was a
Quaker, whoſe Name was Knot, he had neither
Piſtol, Sword, nor Cutlaſh on Board; and Mr.
Knot appearing ſo very paſſive to all they ſaid to him,
ſome of them thought this a good opportunity to
go off, and accordingly eight of the Pyrates went
aboard, and he carried them ſafe to Virginia: They
made the Quaker a Preſent of 10 Cheſts of Sugar,
10 Roils of Braſil Tobacco, 30 Moidors, and ſome
Gold-Duft, in all to the value of about 250 1. They
alſo made Preſents to the Sailors, fome more, fome
leſs, and lived a jovial Life all the while they
were upon their Voyage, Captain Knot giving them
their Way ; nor indeed could he help himſelf, un-
leſs he had taken an Opportunity to ſurprize them,
when they were either drunk or aſleep, for a-
wake they wore Arms aboard the Ship, and put
him in a continual Terror; it not being his Prin-
P
ciple

226
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
ciple (or the Se&t's) to fight, unleſs with Art and
Collufion; he managed theſe Weapons well till
he arrived at the Capes, and afterwards four of
the Pyrates went off in a Boat, which they had
taken with them, for the more eaſily making
their Eſcapes, and made up the Bay towards Mary-
land, but were forced back by a Storm into an oh-
fcure Place of the Country, where meeting with
good Entertainment among the Planters, they con-
tinued ſeveral Days without being diſcovered to
be Pyrates. In the mean Time Captain Knot leav-
ing four others on Board his Ship, (who intended
to go to North-Carolina,) made what haft he could
to diſcover to Mr. Spotſwood the Governor, what
fort of Paſſengers he had been forced to bring with
him, who by good Fortune got them ſeized; and
Search being made after the others, who were
revelling about the Country, they were alſo taken,
and all try'd, convicted and hang’d, two Portu-
gueſe Jews who were taken on the Coaſt of Braſil
,
and whom they brought with them to Virginia, be-
ing the principal Evidences. The latter had found
Means to lodge Part of their Wealth with the
Planters, who never bro'ight it to Account: But
Captain Knot ſurrendered up every Thing that
belouged to them, that were taken aboard, even
what they preſented to him, in lieu of ſuch Things
as they had plundered him of in their Paffage,
and obliged his Men to do the like.
Some Days after the taking of the Virginia Man
laft mentioned, in cruiſing in the Latitude of Ja-
maca, Kennedy took a Sloop bound thither from
Bofron, loaded with Bread and Flower ; aboard of
this Sloop went all the Hands who were for breaking
the Gang, and left thoſe behind that had a Mind
to purſue further Adventures. Among the for-
mer tere Kennedy, their Captain, of whole Honour
they had ſuch a diſpicable Notion, that they were
about

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 227
about to throw him over-board, when they found
him in the Sloop, as fearing he might betray them
all, at their return to England; he having in his
Childhood been bred a Pick-pocket, and before
he became a Pyrate, a Houſe-breaker ; both Pro-
feffions that theſe Gentlemen have a very mean
Opinion of. However, Captain Kennedy, by ta-
king folemn Oaths of Fidelity to his Companions,
was ſuffered to proceed with them.
In this Company there was but one that pretend-
ed to any skill in Navigation, (for Kennedy could nei-
ther write nor read, he being preferred to the
Command merely for his Courage, which indeed
he had often fignaliz'd, particularly in taking
the Portugueſe Ship,) and he proved to be a
Pretender only; for ſhaping their Courſe to Ire-
land, where they agreed to land, they ran away
to the North-Weſt Coaſt of Scotland, and there
were toſt about by hard Storms of Wind for ſe-
veral Days, without knowing where they were,
and in great Danger of periſhing: At length they
puſhed the Vefſel into a little Creek, and went all
afhore, leaving the Sloop ar an Anchor for the
next Comers.
The whole Company refreſh'd themſelves at a
little Village about five Miles from the Place
where they left the Sloop, and paſſed there for
Ship-wreck'd Sailors, and no doubt might have
travelled on without Suſpicion ; but the mad and
riotous Manner of their Living on the Road,
occaſion'd their journey to be cut ſhort, as we ſhall
obſerve preſently.
Kennedy and another left them here, and travel-
ling to one of the Sea-Ports, ſhip'd themſelves for
Ireland, and arrived there in Safety. Six or ſeven
wiſely withdrew from the reſt, travelled at their
leaſure, and got to their much deſired Port of Lon-
don, without being diſturbed or ſuſpected, but the
main
P2

223
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
main Gang alarm'd the Country where-ever they
came, drinking and roaring at ſuch a Rate, that the
People ſhut themſelves up in their Houſes, in ſome
Places, not daring to venture out among ſo many
mad Fellows: In other Villages, they treated the
whole Town, ſquandering their Money away, as
if, like Æſop, they wanted to lighten their Bur-
thens : This expenſive manner of Living procu-
red two of their drunken Straglers to be knocked
on the Head, they being found murdered in the
Road, and their Money taken from them: All the
reſt, to the Number of ſeventeen as they drew nigh
to Edinburgh, were arreſted and thrown into Goal,
upon Sufpicion, of they knew not what; However, the
Magiſtrates were not long at a Loſs for proper Ac-
cuſations, for two of the Gang offering themſelves
for Evidences were accepted of; and the others were
brought to a ſpeedy Tryal, whereof nine were con-
victed and executed.
Kennedy having ſpent all his Money, came over
from Ireland, and kept a common B----y-Houſe
on
Deptford Road, and now and then, 'twas thought
,
made an Excurfion abroad in the Way of his for-
mer Profeſſion, till one of his Houſhold WS
gave Information againſt him for a Robbery, for
which he was committed to Bridewell; but becauſe
ſhe would not do the Buſineſs by halves, ſhe found
out a Mate of a Ship that Kennedy had committed
Pyracy upon, as he fooliſhly confeſs'd to her. This
Mate, whoſe Name was Grant, paid Kennedy a
Viſit in Bridemell, and knowing him to be the Man,
procured a Warrant, and had him committed to
the Marſhalſea Priſon.
The Game that Kennedy had now to play was to
turn Evidence himſelf; accordingly he gave a Lift
of eight or ten of his Comrades; but not being ac-
quainted with their Habitations, one only was ta-
ken, who, tho' condemn’d, appeared to be a Man
of

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
229
of a fair Chara&ter, was forc'd into their Service,
and took the firſt Opportunity to get from them,
and therefore receiv'd a Pardon; but Walter Ken-
nedy being a notorious Offender, was executed the
19th of July, 1721, at Execution Dock.
The reſt of the Pyrates who were left in the
Ship Rover, ſtaid not long behind, for they went
afhore to one of the Weſt-India Iſlands; what be-
came of them afterwards, I can't tell, but the
Ship was found at Sea by a Sloop belonging to St.
Chriſtophers, and carried into that Iſland with only
nine Negroes aboard.
Thus we ſee what a diſaſtrous Fate ever attends
the Wicked, and how rarely they eſcape the Pu-
niſhment due to their Crimes, who, abandon'd
to ſuch a profligate Life, rob, ſpoil, and prey up-
on Mankind, contrary to the Light and Law of Na-
ture, as well as the Law of God. It might have
been hoped, that the Examples of theſe Deaths,
would have been as Marks to the Remainder of
this Gang, how to fhun the Rocks their Companions
had fplit on; that they would have furrendered to
Mercy, or divided themſelves, for ever from ſuch
Purſuits, as in the End they might be ſure would
ſubject them to the ſame Law and Puniſhment, which
they muſt be conſcious they now equally deſerved;
impending Law, which never let them ſleep well,
unleſs when drunk. But all the Uſe that was made
of it here, was to commend the Juſtice of the
Court, that condemnd Kennedy, for he was a ſad Dog
(they ſaid) and deſerved the Fate he met with.
But to go back to Roberts, whom we left on the
Coaſt of Caiara, in a grievous Paſſion at what Ken-
medy and the Crew had done; and who was now
projecting new Adventures with his fmall Com-
ny in the Sloop; but finding hitherto they had
beei but as a Rope of Sand, they formed a Set of
Articles, to be ſigned and ſworn to, for the better
Con-
P 3

230 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
Conſervation of their Society, and doing Juſtice
to one another ; excluding all Iriſh Men from the
Benefit of it, to whom they had an implacable
Averfion upon the Account of Kennedy. How indeed
Roberts could think that an Oath would be obliga-
tory,
where Defiance had been given to the Laws
of God and Man, I can't tell, but he thought
their greateſt Security lay in this, That it was every
one's Intereſt to obſerve them if they were minded to keep
up fo abominable a Combination.
The following, is the Subſtance of the Articles, as
taken from the Pyrates own Informations,
1.
E
Very Man has a Vote in Affairs of Moment; has
equal Title to the freſh Proviſions, or ſtrong Liquors,
at any Time ſeized, and uſe them at pleaſure, unleſs a
Scarcity (no uncommon Thing among them) make
it neceſſary, for the good of all, to vote a Retrenchment,
II.
Every Man to be called fairly in turn, by Lift, on Board
of Prizes, becauſe, (over and above their proper Share,
They were on theſe Occaſions allowed a Shift of Cloaths :
But if they defrauded the Company to the Va ue of a Dollar,
in Plate, Jerpels, or Money, MAROONING was their
Puniſhment. This was a Barbarous Cuſtom of put-
țing the Offender on Shore, on ſome deſolate or
uninhabited Cape or Iſland, with a Gun, a few Shot,
a Bottle of Water, and a Bottle of Powder, to ſub-
fift with, or farve. If the Robbery was only between
one another, they contented themſelves with ſitting
Ears and Nofe of him that was Guilty, and ſet him on
Shore, not in an uninhabited Place, but somewhere, where
he was ſure to encounter Hardjhips.
the
III.

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
231
III.
No Perſon to Game at Cards or Dice for Money.
IV.
The Lights and Candles to be put out at eight o'Clock
at Night: If any of the Crew, after that Hour, ſtill re-
mained inclined for Drinking, they were to do it on the
open Deck; which Roberts believed would give a
Check to their Debauches, for he was a ſober Man
himſelf, but found at length, that all his Endea-
vours to put an End to this Debauch, proved
ineffe&tual.
V.
To keep their Piece, Piſtols, and Cutlaſh clean, and fit
for Service : In this they were extravagantly nice,
endeavouring to outdo one another, in the Beauty
and Richneſs of their Arms, giving ſometimes at
an Au&tion (at the Maft,) 30 or 401. a Pair, for
Piſtols. Theſe were flung in Time of Service,
with different coloured Ribbands, over their Shoul-
ders, in a way peculiar to theſe Fellows, in which
they took great Delight.
VI.
No Boy or Woman to be allowed amongſt them. If any
Man were found ſeducing anny of the latter Sex, and car-
ried her to Sea, diſguiſed, he was to ſuffer Death; ſo
that when any fell into their Hands, as it chanced
in the Onſlow, they put a Centinel immediately
over her to prevent ill Conſequences from fo dange-
rous an Inſtrument of Diviſion and Quarrel; but
then here lies the Roguery; they contend who ſhall
be Centinel, which happens generally to one of the
greateſt
P 4

232 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
greateſt Bullies, who, to ſecure the Lady's Virtue,
will let none lye with her but himſelf.
VII.
To Deſert the ship, or their Quarters in Battle, was pua
griſhed with Death, or Marooning.
VIII.
No ſtriking one another on Board, but every Man's
Quarrels to be ended on Shore, at Sword and Piftol, Tbus ;
The Quarter-Mafter of the Ship, when the Parties
will not come to any Reconciliation, accompanies
them on Shore with what Affiftance he thinks
proper, and turns the Difputants Back to Back, at
ſo many Paces Diſtance : At the Word of Com-
mand, they turn and fire immediately, (or elſe the
Piece is knocked out of their Hands :) If both miſs,
they come to their Cutlaſhes, and then he is decla-
red Victor who draws the firſt Blood.
IX.
No Man to talk of breaking up their Way of Living,
till each bad ſhared a 1000l. If in order to this, any
Man ſhould loſe a Limb, or become a Cripple in their ser-
Pice, he was to have 800 Dollars, out of the publick Stock,
and for leffer Hurts, proportionably.
X
The Captain and Quarter-Mafter to receive two Shares
of a Prize; the Maſter, Boatſwain, and Gunner, one Share
and a half, and other Officers, one and a Quarter,
XI.
The Múſicians to have Reft on the Sabbath Day, but
the other fix Days and Nights, none without ſpecial
Favour
Theſe

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
233
Theſe, we are aſſured, were ſome of Roberts's
Articles, but as they had taken care to throw
over-board the Original they had fign'd and ſworn
to, there is a great deal of Room to ſuſpect, the
remainder contained fomething too horrid to be dif-
cloſed to any, except ſuch as were willing to be
Sharers in the Iniquity of them; let them be what
they will, they were together the Teſt of all new
Comers, who were initiated by an Oath taken on a
Bible, reſerv'd for that Purpoſe only, and were ſub-
ſcribd to in Preſence of the worſhipful Mr. Roberts.
And in Caſe any Doubt ſhould ariſe concerning the
Conſtruction of theſe Laws, and it fhould remain a
Diſpute whether the Party had infringd them or
no, a Jury is appointed to explain them, and bring
in a Verdi&t upon the Caſe in Doubt.
Since we are now ſpeaking of the Laws of this
Company, I ſhall go on, and, in as brief a Man-
ner as I can, relate the principal Cuftoms, and
Government, of this roguiſh Common-Wealth ;
which are pretty near the ſame with all Pyrates.
For the Puniſhment of ſmall Offences, which are
not provided for by the Articles, and which are
not of Conſequence enough to be left to a Jury,
there is a principal Officer among the Pyrates,
called the Quarter-Mafter, of the Mens own chu-
fing, who claims all Authority this Way, (except-
ing in Time of Battle :) If they diſobey his Com-
mand, are quarrelſome and mutinous with one ano-
ther, miſuſe Priſoners, plunder beyond his Order,
and in particular, if they be negligent of their
Arms, which he muſters at Diſcretion, he puniſhes
at his own Arbitrement, with drubbing or whip-
ping, which no one elſe dare do without incurring
the Laſh from all the Ships Company : In ſhort,
this Officer is Truſtee for the whole, is the firſt on
Board any Prize, ſeparating for the Company's Uſe,
what

234 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
what he pleaſes, and returning what he thinks fit
to the Owners, excepting Gold and Silver, which
they have voted not returnable.
After a Deſcription of the Quarter-Maſter, and
his Duty, who acts as a ſort of a civil Magiſtrate
on Board a Pyrate Ship; I ſhall conſider their mi-
litary Officer, the Captain ; what Privileges he ex-
erts in ſuch anarchy and unrulyneſs of the Mem-
bers: Why truly very little, they only permit
him to be Captain, on Condition, that they may be
Captain over him; they ſeparate to his Uſe the
great Cabin, and ſometimes vote him ſmall Parcels
of Plate and China, (for it may be noted that Ro-
berts drank his Tea conſtantly) but then every Man,
as the Humour takes him, will uſe the Plate and
China, intrude into his Apartment, fwear at him,
ſeize a part of his Vi&tuals and Drink, if they like
it, without his offering to find Fault or conteſt it:
Yet Roberts, by a better Management than uſual
,
became the chief Director in every Thing of Mo-
ment, and it happened thus:--- The Rank of Cap-
tain being obtained by the Suffrage of the Majority,
it falls on one ſuperior for Knowledge and Boldneſs,
Piſtol Proof (as they call it,) and caii make thoſe
fear, who do not love him ; Roberts is ſaid to have
exceeded his Fellows in theſe Reſpects, and when
advanced, enlarged the Reſpect that followed it,
by making a ſort of Privy-Council of half a Do-
zen of the greateſt Bullies ; ſuch as were his Compe-
titors, and had Intereſt enough to make his Go-
vernment eafy; yet even thoſe, in the latter Part
of his Reign, he had run counter to in every
Project that oppoſed his own Opinion; for which,
and becauſe he grew reſerved, and would not
drink and roar at their Rate, a Cabal was formed
to take away his Captainſhip, which Death did
more effe ftually.
The

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
235
The Captain's Power is uncontroulable in Chace,
or in Battle, drubbing, cutting, or even ſhooting
any one who dares deny his Command. The fame
Privilege he takes over Priſoners, who receive good
or ill Uſage, moſtly as he approves of their Ben
haviour, for tho' the meaneſt would take upon
them to miſuſe a Maſter of a Ship, yet he would
controul herein, when he ſee it, and merrily over
a Bottle, give his Priſoners this double Reaſon
for it. Firſt, That it preſerved his Precedence;
and ſecondly, That it took the Punilhment out of
the Hands of a much more raſh and mad Sett of
Fellows than himſelf. When he found that Ri-
gour was not expected from his People, (for
he often practiſed it to appeaſe them,) then he
would give Strangers to underſtand, that it was
pure Inclination that induced him to a good Treat-
ment of them, and not any Love or Partiality to
their Perfons ; for, ſays he, there is none of you but
will hang me, I know, whenever you can clinch me within
Your Power.
And now ſeeing the Difadvantages they were
under for purſuing the Account, viz. a ſmall Vef-
ſel ill repaired, and without Proviſions, or Stores ;
they reſolved one and all, with the little Supplies
they could get, to proceed for the Weſt-Indies, not
doubting to find a Remedy for all theſe Evils, and
to retreive their Loſs.
In the Latitude of Deſeada, one of the Iſlands,
they took two Sloops, which ſupply'd them with
Proviſions and other Neceſſaries; and a few Days
afterwards, took a Brigantine belonging to Rhode
Iſland, and then proceeded to Barbadoes, off of
which Iſland, they fell in with a Briſtol Ship of 10
Guns, in her Voyage out, from whom they took
abundance of Cloaths, ſome Money, twenty five
Bales of Goods, five Barrels of Powder, a Cable,
Hawſer,

236 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
Hawſer, 1o Casks of Oatmeal, fix Casks of Beef,
and ſeveral other Goods, beſides five of their Men;
and after they had detained her three Days, let her
go, who being bound for the aboveſaid Irland, the
acquainted the Governor with what had happened,
as ſoon as the arrived.
Whereupon a Briſtol Galley that lay in the Har-
bour, was ordered to be fitted out with all imagi-
hable Expedition, of 20 Guns, and 80 Men, there
being then no Man of War upon that Station, and
alſo a Sloop with 10 Guns, and 40
Men: The Gal-
ley was commanded by one Captain Rogers, of Briſtol,
and the Sloop by Captain Graves, of that Illand, and
Captain Rogers by a Commiſſion from the Governor,
was appointed Commadore.
The ſecond Day after Rogers ſailed out of the
Harbour, he was diſcovered by Roberts, who know.
ing nothing of their Deſign, gave them Chaſe: The
Barbadoes Ships kept an eaſy fail till the Pyrates
came up with them, and then Roberts gave them a
Gun, expecting they would have immediately ſtruck
to his pyratical Flag, but inſtead thereof, he was
forced to receive the Fire of a Broadſide, with
three Huzzas at the ſame Time ; ſo that an En-
gagement enſued, but Roberts being hardly put to
it, was obliged to crowd all the Sail the Sloop
would bear, to get off: The Galley failing pretty
well, kept Company for a long while, keeping a
cônſtant Fire, which gaild the Pyrate; however,
at length hy throwing over their Guns, and other
heavy Goods, and thereby lightning the Veſſel,
they, with much ado, got clear ; but Roberts could
hever endure a Barbadoes Man afterwards, and when
any Ships belonging to that Iſland fell in his Way,
che was more particularly ſevere to them than
others.
ova Captain Roberts failed in the Sloop to the Iſland
of Dominico, where he watered, and got Proviſions
20 vs
of

Capt. BARTHO, ROBERTS.
237
of the Inhabitants, to whom he gave Goods in Ex-
change. At this place he met with 13 Engliſhmen,
who had been fet afhore by a French Guard de la
Cofte, belonging to Martinico, taken out of two
New-England Ships, that had been ſeiz'd, as Prize,
by the laid French Sloop: The Men willingly en-
tered with the Pyrates, and it proved a ſeafonable
Recruit.
They ſtaid not long here, tho' they had imme.
diate Occaſion for cleaning their Sloop, but did not
think this a proper Place, and herein they judg?
right; for the touching at this Iſland, had like
to have been their Deſtruction, becauſe they ha-
ving reſolved to go away to the Granada Iſlands,
for the aforeſaid Purpoſe, by fome Accident it
came to be known to the French Colony, who fend
ing Word to the Governor of Martinico, he équip-
ped and manned two Sloops to go in Queft of
them. The Pyrates ſailed dire&ly for the Grans-
dilloes, and halld into a Lagoon, at Corvocoo, where
they cleaned with muſual Diſpatch, ſtaying but
a little above a Week, by which Expedition they
miſſed of the Martinico Sloops, only a few Hours,
Roberts ſailing over Night, that the French arrived the
next Morning. This was a fortunate Eſcape, eſpe-
cially conſidering, that it was not from any
Fears
of their being diſcovered, that they made ſo much
haſt from the Iſland; but, as they had the Impu-
dence themſelves to own, for the want of Wire
and Women.
Thus narrowly eſcaped, they failed for Newfound-
land, and arrived upon the Banks the latter end
of June, 1720. They entered the Harbour of Tre-
paffi, with their black Colours Aying, Drums bear
ting, and Trumpets founding. There were two
and twenty Veſſels in the Harbour, which the
Men all quitted upon the Sight of the Pyrate, and
Med afhore. It is impoſible particularly to recount
the

238
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
the Deſtruction and Havock they made here, burn-
ing and finking all the ſhipping, except a Briſtol
Galley, and deſtroying the Fiſheries, and Stages of
the poor Planters, without Remorſe or Compun-
&tion; for nothing is ſo deplorable as Power in
mean and ignorant Hands, it makes Men wanton
and giddy, unconcerned at the Misfortunes they
are impoſing on their Fellow Creatures, and keeps
them ſmiling at the Miſchiefs, that bring them-
ſelves no Advantage. They are like mad Men, that
caft Fire-Brands, Arrows, and Death, and ſay, are not
we in Sport?
Roberts mann'd the Briſtol Galley he took in the
Harbour, and mounted 16 Guns on Board her, and
cruiſing out upon the Banks, he met with nine or
ten Sail of French Ships, all which he deitroyed ex-
cept one of 26 Guns, which they ſeiz'd, and car-
ried off for their own Uſe. This Ship they chri-
ft'ned the Fortune, and leaving the Briſtol Galley to
the French Men, they failed away in Company
with the Sloop, on another Cruiſe, and took ſeve-
ral Prizes, viz. the Richard of Biddiford, Jonathan
Whitfield Maſter; the Willing Mind of Pool; the
Expe&tation of Topfham; and the Samuel, Captain Ca-
ry, of London ; out of theſe Ships they encreaſed
their Company, by entring all the Men they could
well ſpare, in their own Service. The Samuel was
a rich Ship, and had ſeveral Paſſengers on Board,
who were uſed very roughly, in order to make
them diſcover their Money, threatning them every
Moment with Death, if they did not reſign every
Thing up to them. They tore up the Hatches
and entered the Hold like a parcel of Furies, and
with Axes and Cutlaſhes, cut and broke open all
the Bales, Cafes, and Boxes, they could lay their
Hands on; and when any Goods came upon
Deck, that they did not like to carry aboard,
inſtead of toffing them into the Hold again,
threy

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
239
threw them over-board into the Sea ; all this was
done with inceſſant; curfing and ſwearing, more
like Fiends than Men. They carried with them,
Sails, Guns, Powder, Cordage, and 8 or 9000 l.
worth of the choiceſt Goods, and told Captain
Cary, That they ſhould accept of no Act of Grace ; that
the
Kand P
and P--t might be damned with their Acts of
G--for them; neither would they go to Hope-Point,
to be hangºd up a Sun drying, as Kidå's, and Braddith's
Company were ; but that if they ſhould ever be overpower’d,
they would ſet Fire to the Powder, with a Piſtol, and go all
merrily to Hell together,
After they had brought all the Booty aboard,
a Conſultation was held whether they ſhould fink
or burn the Ship, but whilft they were debating
the Matter, they ſpyed a Sail, and ſo left the Sa-
muel, to give her Chace; at Midnight they came
up with the ſame, which proved to be a Snow from
Briſtol, bound for Bofton, Captain Bowles Mafter :
They usd him barbarouſly, becauſe of his Coun-
try, Captain Rogers, who attack'd them off Barba-
does, being of the City of Briſtol.
July the 16th, which was two Days afterwards,
they took a Virginia Man called the Little York, James
Philips Maſter, and the Love, of Leverpool, which
they plundered and let go; the next Day a Snow
from Briſtol, call'd the Phenix, John Richards Maſter,
met with the ſame Fate from them; as alſo a Bri-
gantine, Captain Thomas, and a Sloop called the Sad-
bury; they took all the Men out of the Brigantine,
and funk the Veffel.
When they left the Banks of Newfoundland, they
failed for the Weſt-Indies, and the Proviſions grow-
ing fhort, they went for the Latitude of the Iſland
Deſeada, to cruiſe, it being eſteemed the likelieſt
Place to meet with ſuch Ships as (they uſed in their
Mirth to ſay) were conſigned to them, with Sup-
plies. And it has been very much ſuſpected that
Ships

340 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
Ships have loaded with Proviſions at the Engliſh
Colonies, on pretence of Trading on the Coaft of
Africa, when they have in reality been con-
figned to them; and tho' a fhew of Violence is
offered to them when they meet, yet they are
pretty ſure of bringing their Cargo to a good
Market.
However, at this Time they miſſed with their
uſual Luck, and Proviſions and Neceſſaries be-
coming more ſcarce every Day, they retired to-
wards St. Chriſtophers, where being deny'd all Suc-
cour or Aſſiſtance from the Government, they fir'd
in Revenge on the Town, and burnt two Ships in
the Road, one of them commanded by Captain
Cox, of Briſtol ; and then retreated farther to the
Inand of St. Bartholomew, where they met with
much handſomer Treatment. The Governor not
only fupplying them with Refreſhments, but he
and the Chiefs carreſſing them in the moſt friendly
Manner: And the Women, from ſo good an Ex-
ample, endeavoured to outvie each other in Dreſs,
and Behaviour, to attract the good Graces of ſuch ge-
nerous Lovers, that paid well for their Favours.
Sated at length with theſe Pleaſures, and has
ving taken on Board a good ſupply of freſh Pro-
vifions, they voted unanimouſly for the Coaft of
Guiney, and in the Latitude of 22 N. in their Voyage
thither, met with a French Ship from Martinico, rich-
ly laden, and, which was unlucky for the Maſter,
had a property of being fitter for their Purpoſe,
than the Banker. Exchange was no Robbery they ſaid,
and fo after a little mock Complaiſance to Monſieur,
for the Favour he had done them, they ſhifted
their Men, and took leave: This was their firſt
Royal Fortune.
In this ship Roberts proceeded on his deſigned
Voyage; but before they reached Guiney, he pro-
poſed to touch at Brava, the Southermoſt of Cape
Verd

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 241
got
Verd Iſlands and clean. But here again by an
intolerable Stupidity and want of Judgment, they
ſo far to Leeward of their Port, that del
pairing to regain it, or any of the Windward
Parts of Africa, they were obliged to go back
again with the Trade-Wind, for the Weſt-Indies ;
which had very near been the Deſtruction of them
all. Surinam was the Place now defigned for, which
was at no leſs than 900 Leagues Diſtance, and they
had but one Hogſhead of Water left to ſupply
124 Souls for that Paſſage; a fad Circumſtance
that eminently expoſes the Folly and Madneſs
among Pyrates, and he muſt be an inconſiderate
Wretch indeed, who, if he could ſeparate the
Wickedneſs and Puniſhment from the Fait, would
yet hazard his Life amidſt ſuch Dangers, as their
want of Skill and Forecast made them liable to.
Their Sins, we may preſume were never ſo trou-
bleſome to their Memories, as now, that inevita-
ble Deſtruction ſeem'd to threaten them, without
the leaſt Glympſe of Comfort or Alleviation to
their Miſery; for, with what Face could Wretches
who had ravaged and made ſo many Neceſſitous,
look up for Relief; they had to that Moment li-
ved in Defiance of the Power that now alone they
muft truft for their Preſervation, and indeed with.
out the miraculous Intervention of Providence, there
appeared only this miſerable Choice, viz. a pre-
ſent Death by their own Hands, or a ling'ring one
by Famine.
They continued their Courſe, and came to an
Allowance of one ſingle Mouthful of Water for
24. Hours; many of them drank their Urine, or
Sea Water, which, inſtead of allaying, gave themi
an inextinguiſhable Thirſt, that killed hem: Others
pined and waited a little more Time in Fluxes
and Apyrexies, ſo that they dropped away daily :
Thoſe that ſuſtaind the Miſery beſt, were ſuch as
almoſt

242 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
almoft ftarved themſelves, forbearing all ſorts of
Food, unleſs a Mouthful or two of Bread the whole
Day, ſo that thoſe who ſurvived were as weak as
it was poffible for Men to be and alive.
But if the diſmal Proſpect they ſet out with,
gave them Anxiety, Trouble, or Pain, what muft
their Fears and Apprehenſions be, when they had
not one Drop of Water left, or any other Liquor
to moiſten or animate. This was their Cafe, when
(by the working of Divine Providence, no doubt,)
they were brought into Soundings, and at Night
anchored in ſeven Fathom Water: This was an
inexpreſſible Joy to them, and, as it were, fed the
expiring Lamp of Life with freſh Spirits ; but this
could not hold long. When the Morning came,
they ſaw Land from the Maft-Head, but it was at
ſo great a Diſtance, that it afforded but an indiffe-
rent Proſpect to Men who had drank nothing for
the two laſt Days; however, they diſpatch'd their
Boat away, and late the fame Night it return'd,
to their no ſmall Comfort, with a load of Water,
informing them, that they had got off the Mouth
of Meriwinga River on the Coaſt of Surinam.
One would have thought ſo miraculous an Eſcape
fhould have wrought fome Reformation, but alaſs,
they had no ſooner quenched their Thirft, but they
had forgot the Miracle, till Scarcity of Proviſions
awakened their Senſes, and bid them guard againſt
ſtarving ; their allowance was very ſmall, and yet
they would profanely fay, That Providence which had
gave them Drink, would, no doubt, bring them Meat alſo,
if they would uſe but
an honeſt Endeavour.
In purſuance of theſe honeſt Endeavours, they
were ſteering for the Latitude of Barbadoes, with
what little they had left, to look out for more, or
Starve ; and, in their way, met a Ship that anſwer-
ed their Neceſſities, and after that a Brigantine ;
the former was called the Greyhound, belonging to
St.

Capt. BÁRTHO. ROBERTS. 243
St. Chriſtophers, and bound to Philadelphia, the Mate
of which figned the Pyrate's Articles, and was
afterwards Captain of the Ranger; Confort to the
Royal
. Fortune.
Out of the Ship and Brigantine, tlie Pyratęs got
a good ſupply of Proviſions and Liquor, ſo that
they gave over the deſigned Cruiſe, and watered
at Tobago, and hearing of the two Sloops that had
been fitted out and ſent after them at Corvocoo, they
failed to the Iſland of Martinico, to make the Go-
vernor fome ſort of an Equivalent, for the Care
ånd Expedition he had ſhewn in that Affair,
It is the Cuſtom at Martinico, for the Dutch In-
terlopers that have a Mind to Trade with the Peo-
ple of the Island, to hoiſt their Jacks when they
come before the Town : Roberts knew the Signal,
and being an utter Enemy to them, he bent his
Thoughts upon Miſchief; and accordingly came
in with his Jack flying, which, as he expe&ted, they
miftook for a good Market, and thought them
felves happieſt that could ſooneft diſpatch off their
Sloops and Veſſels for Trade. When Roberts had
got them within his Power, (one after anothers)
he told them, he would not have it ſaid that they
came off for nothing, and therefore ordered them
to leave their Money behind, for that they were
a Parcel of Rogues, and hoped they would always
meet with ſuch a Dutch Trade as this was, he
reſerved one Vefſel to ſet the Paſſengers on Shore
again, and fired the reſt, to the Number of
twenty:
Roberts was fo enraged at the Attempts that had
been made for taking of him, by the Governors of Bars
bados and Martinico, that he ordered a new Jack to
be made, which they ever after hoiſted, with his
own Figure pourtray'd, ſtanding upon two Skulls;
and under them the Letters AB H and AMH,
figni-

244
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS,
fignifying a Barbadian's and a Martin cam's Head,
as may be ſeen in the Plate of Captain Roberts.
At Dominico, the next land they touched at, they
took a Dutch Interloper of 22 Guns and 75 Men,
and a Brigantine belonging to Rhode Iſland, one Nor-
toi Maſter. The former made ſome Defence, till
fome of his Men being killed, the reſt were dif-
couraged and ftruck their Colours. With theſe
two Prizes they went down to Guadalupe, and
brought out a Sloop, and a French Fly-Boat laden
with Sagar; the Sloop they burnt, and went ou
to Moonay, another Ifand, thinking to clean, but
finding the Sea ran too high there to undertake
it wich Safety, they bent their Courſe for the
North Part of Hifpaniola, where, at Bennet's Key,
in the Gulf of Saminah, they cleaned both the
Ship and the Brigantine. For tho' Hiſpaniold be
ſettled by the Spaniards and French, and is the Re-
fidence of a Preſident from Spain, who receives, and
"finally determines Appeals from all the other
Spari Weft-India Iſlands; yer is its People by no
Means proportioned to its Magnitude, ſo that there
are many Harbours in it, to which Pyrates may
fecurely reſort without Fear of Diſcovery from
the Inhabitants.
While they were here, two Sloops came in, as
they pretended, to pay Roberts a Viſit, the Maſters,
whoſe Names were Porter and Tuckerman, addreſſed
the Pyrate, as the Queen of Sheba did Solamon, to
wit, That having beard of his Fame and Atchievements;
they had put in there to learn his Art and Wir-
dom in the Bufineſs of pyrating, being Veſſels on
the ſame honourable Deſign with himſelf, and
boped with the Communication of his knowledge,
they ſhould alſo receive his Charity, being in want
of Neceflaries for fuch Adventures. Roberts was
wow upon by the peculiarity and Bluntneſs of theſe
two

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
245
two Men, and gave them Powder, Arms, and what
ever elſe they bad Occaſions for, fpent two or three
merry Nights with them, and at parting, faid, be
hoped the would Proſper obeir bandy Works.
They palled fome Time here, after they had got
their Veiſel ready, in their uſual Debaucheries;
they had taken a conſiderable Quanty of Rum
and Sugar, ſo that Liquor was as plenty as Wa-
ter, and few there were, who denied themſelves
the immoderate Uſe of it, nay, Sobriety brought
a Man under a Suſpicion of being in a Plot against
the Commonwealth, and in their Senſe, he was
looked upon to be a Villain that would not be
drunk. This was evident in the Affair of Harry
Glasby, chofen Mafter of the Royal Forrunt, who,
with two others, laid hold of the Opportunity
at the laft Iſland they were at, to move off with-
out bidding Farewel to his Friends. Glashy was
a reſerved fober Man, and therefore gave Occa-
fion to be fufpe&ted, ſo that he was foon milled
after he went away, and a Detachment being
ſent in queft of the Deſerters, they were all three
brought back again the next Day. This was a
capital Offence, and for which they were ordered
to be brought to an immediate Tryal.
Here was the Form of Juſtice kept up, which
is as much as can be faid of ſeveral other Courts,
that have more lawful Commiffions for what they
do. Here was no feeing of Council, and bri-
bing of Witnefles was a Cuſtom 110t known among
them ; no packing of Juries, no torturing and wrėſt-
ing the Senſe of the Law, for bye Ends and Purpo-
fes, no puzzling or perplexing the Cauſe with un-
intelligible canting Terms, and uſeleſs Diſtinctions;
nor was their Seffions burthened with numberleſs
Officers, the Minifters of Rapine and Extortion,
with ill boring Aſpects, enough to fright Aftree
Bor
Q3
from the Court. A eldgiver The

246 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
large
The Place appointed for their Tryals, was the
Steerage of the Ship; in order to which, a
Bowl of Rum Punch was inade, and placed upon
the Table, the Pipes and Tobacco being ready,
the judicial Proceedings began, the Priſoners were
brought forth, and Articles of Indi&tment againſt
them read; they were arraigned upon a Statute
of their own making, and the Letter of the Law
being ſtrong againſt them, and the Fa& plainly
proved, they were about to pronounce Sentence,
when one of the Judges mov'd, that they ſhould
firft Smoak t'other Pipe; which was according-
ly done.
All the Priſoners pleaded for Arreft of Judg.
ment very movingly, but the Court had ſuch an
Abhorrence of their Crime, that they could not
be prevailed upon to thew Mercy, till one of the
Judges, whofe Name was Valentine Aſhplant, ftood
up, and taking his Pipe out of his Mouth, ſaid,
he had ſomething to offer to the Court in behalf
of orie of the Priſoners; and ſpoke to this Effect
.
By G-L, Glasby ſhall not dye ; don me if he
ſhall. After this learned Speech, he ſat down in
his Place, and reſumed his Pipe. « This Motion
was loudly oppofed by all the reſt of the Judges,
in equivalent Terms; but Aſhplant, who was re-
folute in his Opinion, made another pathetical
Speech in the following Manner.
ye Gentlemen, I am as good a Man as the beſt of you"
d_mmy S-1 if ever I turned
my Back to any Man
in my Life, or ever will, by G-; Glasby is an
honeſt Fellow, notwithſtanding this Misfortune, and I love
bin, Duld -1 me if I don't : I hope he'll live and
repent of mhar he has done; but dan me if he muſt
dye, 'I will dye along with him. And thereupon, he
pulled out a pair of Piſtols, and preſented them
to ſóme of the learned Judges: upon the Bench;
who, perceiving his Argument to well fupported,
thought

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 247
thought it reaſonable that Glasby ſhould be ac-
quitted; and ſo they all came over to his Opinion,
and allowed it to be Law.
But all the Mitigation that could be obtained
for the other Priſoners, was, that they ſhould have
the Liberty of chooſing any four of the whole
Company to be their Executioners.
Wretches were ty'd immediately to the Maſt, and
there ſhot dead, purſuant to their villainous. Sen-
The poor
tence.
When they put to Sea again, the Prizes which
had been detained only for fear of ſpreading any
Rumour concerning them, which had like to have
been ſo fatal at Corvocoo, were thus diſpoſed of:
They burnt their own Sloop, and maund Norton's
Brigantine, ſending the Maſter away in the Dutch
Interloper, not diſſatisfied.
With the Royal Fortune, and the Brigantine, which
they chriſtened the Good Fortune, they puſhed to-
wards the Latitude of Deſeada, to look out for Pro-
vifions, being very ſhort again, and juſt to their
Wiſh, Captain Hingſtone's ill Fortune brought him
in their Way, richly laden for Famaica; him
they carried to Berbudas and plundered; and
ſtretching back again to the Weſt-Indies, they con-
tinually met with ſome Conſignment or other,
(chiefly French,) which ſtored them with plenty
of Proviſions, and recruited their ſtarving Con-
dition; ſo that ſtocked with this ſort of Am,
munition, they began to think of ſomething wor-
thier their Aim, for theſe Robberies that only
ſupplied what was in conftant Expenditure, by
no Means anſwered their Intentions; and accor-
dingly they proceeded again for the Coaſt of
Guiney, where they thought to buy Gold-Duft very
cheap. In their Paffage thither, they took Num-
bers of Ships of all Nations, ſome of which they
burnt
Q4

248 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
burnt or ſunk, as the Carriage or Chara&ters of the
Maſters diſpleaſed them.
Notwithſtanding the ſucceſsful Adventures of
this Crew, yet it was with great Difficulty they
could be kept together, under any kind of Re-
gulation; for being almoſt always mad or drunk,
their Behavio'ır produced infinite Diſorders, every
Man being in his own Imagination a Captain, a
Prince, or a King. When Roberts ſaw there was no
managing of ſuch a Company of wild ungovernable
Brutes, by gentle means, nor to keep them from
drinking to exceſs, the Cauſe of all their Diſtur-
bances, he put on a rougher Deportment, and a
more magefterial Carriage towards them, correct-
ing whom he thought fit; and if any ſeemed to
reſent his Uſage, he told them, they might go aſhore
and take Satisfaction of him, if they thought fit, at Sword
and Piſtol, for he neither valu'd or fear d any of them.
About 400 Leagues from the coaſt of Africa,
the Brigantine who had hitherto lived with them,
in all amicable Correſpondence, thought fit to take
the Opportunity of a dark Night, and leave the
Commadore, which leads me back to the Re
lation of an Accident that happened at one of the
Iſlands of the Weſt-Indies, where they water'd be-
fore they undertook this Voyage, which had like
to have thrown their Government (ſuch as it
was) off the Hinges, and was partly the Occaſion
of the Separation: The Story is as follows.
Captain Roberts having been inſulted by one of
the drunken Crew, (whoſe Name I have forgot,)
he, in the Heat of his Paſſion killed the Fellow on
the Spot, which was relented by a great many
others, put particularly onę Jones, a brisk active
young Man, who died lately in the Marſhalſea, and
was his Meſs-Mate. This Fones was at that Time
aſhore a watering the Ship, but as ſoon as he came
on Board, was told that Captain Roberts had killed
his

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
249
his Comrade; upon which he curſed Roberts, and
faid, he ought to be ſerved fo himſelf.
Roberts
hearing Jones's Invective, ran to him with a Sword,
and ran him into the Body ; who, notwithſtanding
his Wound, ſeized the Captain, threw him over
a Gun, and beat him handſomely. This Adven-
ture put the whole Company in an Uproar, and
ſome taking Part with the Captain, and others
against him, there had like to have enſued a gerie-
ral Battle with one another, like my Lord Tho-
mont's Cocks; however, the Tumult was at length
appeas?d by the Mediation of the Quarter-Maſter;
and as the Majority of the Company were of Opi-
nion that the Dignity of the Captain, ought
to be ſupported on Board ; that it was a Poſt of
Honour, and therefore the Perſon whom they
thought fit to confer it on, ſhould not be violated
by any fingle Member ; wherefore they ſentenced
fones to undergo two Laſhes from every one of the
Company, for his Miſdemeanour, which was ex-
ecuted upon him as ſoon as he was well of his
Wound.
This ſevere Puniſhment did not at all convince
Jones that he was in the wrong, but rather ani-
mated him to fome fort of a Revenge ; but not be-
ing able to do it upon Roberts's Perſon, on Board
the Ship, he and ſeveral of his Comrades, correſ-
pond with Anſtis, Captain of the Brigantine, and
conſpire with him and ſome of the principal Py-
rates on Board that Veſſel, to go off from the Com-
pany. What made Anſtis a Malecontent, was, the
Inferiority he ftood in, with Reſpect to Roberts, who
carried himſelf with a haughty and magifterial
Air, to him and his Crew, he regarding the Brix
gantine only as a Tender, and, as ſuch, left them no
more than the Refuſe of their Plunder. In fhort,
Jones and his Confort go on Board of Captain An-
ftis, on Pretence of a Viſit, and there conſulting
with

250 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
with their Brethren, they find a Majority for lea-
ving of Roberts, and ſo came to a Relolution to bid
a ſoft Farewel, as they call it, that Night, and to
throw over-board whoſoever fhould ſtick out; but
they proved to be unanimous, and effected their De-
fign as above-mentioned.
I ſhall have no more to ſay of Captain Anſtis,
till the Story of Roberts is concluded, therefore i
return to him, in the purſuit of his Voyage to
Guiney. The loſs of the Brigantine was a ſenſible
Shock to the Crew, ſhe being an excellent Sailor,
and had 70 Hands aboard; however, Roberts who
was the Occafion of it, put on a Face of Uncon-
cern at this his ill Conduct and Miſmanagement,
and reſolved not to alter his purpoſes upon that
Account.
Roberts fell in to Windward nigh the Senegal, a Ri-
ver of great Trade for Gum, on this part of the
Coaft, monopolized by the French, who conſtantly
keep Cruiſers, to hinder the interloping Trade?
At this Time they had two ſmall Ships on that Ser-
vice, one of 10 Guns and 65 Men, and the other
of 16 Guns and 75 Men; who having got a Sight
of Mr. Roberts, and ſuppoſing him to be one of
theſe prohibited Traders, chaſed with all the Sail
they could make, to come up with him ; but their
Hopes which had brought them very nigh, too late
deceived them, for on the hoiſting of Folly Roger,
(the Name they give their black Flag,) their French
Hearts failed, and they both ſurrendred without
any, or at leaſt very little Reſiſtance. With theſe
Prizes they went into Sierraleon, and made one of
them their Confort, by the Name of the Ranger, and
the other a Store-Ship, to clean by.
Sierraleon River diſgorges with a large Mouth,
the Starboard-Side of which, draughts into little
Bays, ſafe and convenient for cleaning and water-
ing ; what ſtill made it preferable to the Pyrates,
is,

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS,
251
is, that the Traders ſettled here, are naturally
their Friends. There are about 30 Engliſh Men in
all, Men who in ſome part of their Lives, have
been either privateering, buccaneering, or pyrating,
and ſtill retain and love the Riots, and humours,
common to that ſort of Life. They live very
friendly with the Natives, and have many of them
of both Sexes, to be their Grometta's, or Servants :
The Men are faithful, and the Women ſo obedient,
that they are very ready to proſtitute themſelves
to whomſoever their Maſters Thall command them.
The Royal African Company has a Fort on a ſmall
Iſland call'd Bence Iſland, but 'tis of little Uſe, befides
keeping their Slaves; the Diſtance making it in-
capable of giving any Moleſtation to their Star-
board Shore. Here lives at this place an old Fel-
low, who goes by the Name of Crackers, who was
formerly a noted Buccaneer, and while he followed
the Calling, robb’d and plundered many a Man
he keeps the beſt Houſe in the Place, has two or
three Guns before his Door, with which he Salutes
his Friends, (the Pyrates, when they put in) and lives
a jovial Life with him, all the while they are there.
Here follows a Lift, of the reſt of thoſe lawleſs
Merchants, and their Servants, who carry on a
private Trade with the Interlopers, to the great
Prejudice of the Royal African Company, who with
extraordinary Induſtry and Expence, have made,
and maintain, Settlements without any conſidera-
tion from thoſe, who, without ſuch Settlements
and Forts, would ſoon be under an Incapacity of
purſuing any ſuch private Trade. Wherefore, 'tis to
be hop'd, proper Means will be taken, to root out a
pernicious ſet of People, who have all their Lives,
fupported themſelves by the Labours of other Men.
Two of theſe Fellows enter'd with Robert's Crew,
and continued with them, till the Deſtruction of
the Company
A

252 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
19 64 bits
A Liſt of the White-Men, now living on the
bigh Land of Sierraleon, and the Craft they
OCCUPJ.
Vovovi
JO
2
OHN Leadſtone, three Boats and Periagoe.
His Man Tom,
His Man Fohn Brown.
Alexander Middleton, one Long-Boat,
1 His Man Charles Harpkins.
John Pierce,
William Mead,
Partners, one Long-Boat.
Their Man John Vernon.
David Charmers, one Long-Boat.
John Charmers, one Long-Boat. Ydega ole
Richard Richardſon, orie Long-Boat.
do Norton,
Partners, two Long-Boats, and
Richard Warren, S two ſmall Boats.
Glynn,
His Man Jokna Franks.
William Waits, and one young Manolo
but
John Bonnerman.
Fohn England, one Long-Boat.
Robert Samples, one Long-Boat.
William Preſgrove,
Hørrybut
one Sloop, two Long-Boats,
% Davis,
a ſmall Boat, and Periagoe.
Mitchel,
Richard Lamb, l.
With Roguis Rodrigus; a Portugueſe. or even
George Bifhop.
Peter Brown.
John Jones, olie Long-Boat,
2
His

Caft. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
253
His Iriſh young Man.
At Rio Pungo, Benjamen Gun.
a do
At Kidham, George Yeats. ob sod
At Gallyneas, Richard Lemmons.
၁//M9
The Harbour is fo convenient for Wooding and
Watering, that it occaſions many of our trading
Ships, eſpecially thoſe of Briſtol, to call in there,
with large Cargoes of Beer, Syder, and ſtrong Li-
quors, which they Exchange with theſe private
Traders, för Slaves and Teeth, purchaſed by them
at the Rio Nune's, and other places to the North-
ward, ſo that here was what they call good
Living.
Hither Roberts came the End of June, 1721, and
had Intelligence that the Swallow, and Weymouth, two
Men of War, of so Guns each, had left that River a
bout a Month before, and deſigned to return about
Chriſtmas ; ſo that the Pyrates could indulge them-
ſelves with all the Satisfaction in the World, in
that they knew they were not only ſecure whilft
there, but that in going down the Coaft, after
the Men of War, they ſhould always be able to
get ſuch Intelligence of their Rendezvous, as would
ſerve to make their Expedition fafe. So after fix
Weeks ftay, the Ships being cleaned and fitted,
and the Men weary of whoring and drinking, they
bethought themſelves of Buſineſs, and went to
Sea the Beginning of Auguſt, taking their Progreſs
down the whole Coaſt, as low as faquin, plunder-
ing every Ship they met, of what was valuable in
her, and ſometimes to be more miſchieviouſly wick-
ed, would throw what they did not want, over-
board, accumulating Cruelty to Theft.
In this Range, they exchanged their old French
Ship, for a fine Frigate built Ship, calld the Onſlono,
belonging to the Royal African Company, Captain
Gee

254 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
Gee Commander, which happened to lye at Seftos, to
get Water and Neceſſaries for the Company. A
great many of Captain Gee's Men were afhore,
when Robert's bore down, and fo the Ship con-
ſequently ſurpriz'd into his Hands, tho had
they been all on Board, it was not likely the Caſe
would have been otherwiſe, the Sailors, moft of
them, voluntarily joyning the Pyrates, and encou-
raging the ſame Diſpoſition in the Soldiers, (who
were going Paſſengers with them to Cape-Corſo-Caſtle)
whoſe Ears being conſtantly tickled with the
Feats and Gallantry of thoſe Fellows, made them
fancy, that to go, was only being bound on a Voy.
age of Knight Errantry (to relieve the Diſtreſs'd,
and gather up Fame) and ſo they likewiſe offers
themſelves; but here the Pyrates were at a Stand,
they entertain’d fo contemptible a Notion of Land
men, that they put 'em off with Refufals for ſome
time, till at length, being weary'd with Solicita-
tions, and pittying a Parcel of ftout Fellows, which
they ſaid, were going to ſtarve upon a little Canky
and Plantane, they accepted of them, and allow'd
them Share, as it was then term'd out of Cha-
rity.
There was a Clergyman on Board the Onflono,
ſent from England, to be Chaplain of Cape-Corſo-
Caſtle, ſome of the Pyrates were for keeping him,
alledging merrily, that their Ship wanted a Cha-
plain; accordingly they offered him a Share, to
take on with them; promiſing, he ſhould do now
thing for his Money, but make Punch, and ſay
Prayers ; yet, however brutiſh they might be in
other Things, they bore ſo great a Reſpect to his
Order, that they reſolved not to force him againſt
his Inclinations; and the Parſon having no Reliſh
for this ſort of Life, excuſed himſelf from accepting
the Honour they deſigned him ; they were ſatisfied,
and generous enough to deliver him back every
Thing

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 255
Thing he owned to be his : The Parſon laid hold
of this favourable Diſpofition of the Pyrates, and
laid Claim to ſeveral Things, belonging to others,
which were alſo given up, to his great Satisfa&tions
in fine, they kept nothing which belonged to the
Church, except three Prayer-Books, and a Bottle-
Screw.
The Pyrates kept the Onſlow for their own
Uſe, and gave Captain Gee the French Ship, and
then fell to making ſuch Alterations as might fit
her for a Sea-Rover, pulling down her Bulk-Heads,
and making her fluſh, ſo that ſhe became, in all
Reſpects, as compleat a Ship for their Purpoſe, as
any they could have found; they continued to her
the Name of the Royal Fortune, and mounted her
with
40
Guns.
She and the Ranger proceeded (as I ſaid before,)
to Faquin, and from thence to Old Calabar, where
they arrived about Ołtober, in order to clean their
Ships, a Place the moſt ſuitable along the whole
Coaſt, for there is a Bar with not above 15 Foot
Water upon it, and the Channel intricate, ſo that
had the Men of War been fure of their being har-
bour'd here, they might ftill have bid Defiance to
their Strength, for the Depth of Water at the Bar,
as well as the want of a Pilot, was a fufficient Se-
curity to the Rovers, and invincible Impediments
to them. Here therefore they fat eaſy, and divi-
ded the Fruits of their diſhoneft Inftuftry, and drank
and drove Care away. The Pilot who brought them
into this Harbour, was Captain L-, who for
this, and other Services, was extreamly well paid,
according to the Journal of their own Accounts,
which do not run in the ordinary and common way,
of Debtor, contra Creditor, but much more conciſe,
'umping it to their Friends, and ſo carrying the
Debt in their Heads, againſt the next honeſt Trader
they meet.
They

256 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
They took at Calabar, Captain Loane, and two
or three Briſtol Ships, the Particulars of all
which would be an umeceſſary Prolixity, there-
fore I come now to give an Account of the
Uſage they received from the Natives of this place.
The Calabar Negroes did not prove ſo civil as they
expected, for they refuſed to have any Commerce
orTrade with them, when they underſtood they were
Pyrates: An Indication that theſe poor Creatures,
in the narrow Circumſtances they were in, and
without the Light of the Goſpel, or the Advan-
tage of an Education, havé, notwithſtanding, ſuch a
moral innate Honeſty, as would upbraid and ſhame
the moſt knowing Chriſtian : But this did but ex-
afperate theſe lawleſs Fellows, and ſo a Party of
40
Men were detach'd to force a Correſpondence,
or drive the Negroes to Extremities; and they
accordingly landed under the Fire of their own
Cannon. The Negroes drew up in a Body of 2000
Men, as if they intended to diſpute the Matter with
them, and ſtaid till the Pyrates advanced within
Piſtol-fhot ; but finding the Loſs of two or three,
made no Impreſſion on the reft, the Negroes
thought fit to retreat, which they did, with ſome
Loſs: The Pyrates ſet Fire to the Town, and then
return'd to their Ships. This terrified the Na-
tives, and put an entire ſtop to all the Intercourſe
between them; fo that they could get no Sup.
plies, which obliged them, as ſoon as they had
finiſhed the cleaning and triming of their Ships, to
lofe no Time, but went for Cape Lopez, and watered,
and at Anna-Bona took aboard a Stock of freſh Pro-
vifions, and then failed for the Coaſt again.
This was their laſt and fatal Expedition, which
we ſhall be more particular in, becauſe, it camot
be imagined that they could have had Affurance
to have undertaken it, but upon a Preſumption,
that the Men of War, (whom they knew were
upon

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS,
257
uponi
the Coaſt,) were unable to attack them, or
elſe purſuant to the Rumour that had indiſcretio-
nally obtained at Sierraleon, were gone thither
again.
It is impoſſible at this Time, to think they could
know of the weak and fickly Condition they were
in, and therefore founded the Succeſs of this les
cond Attempt upon the Coaſt, on the latter Pre-
ſumption, and this ſeems to be confirmed by their
falling in with the Coaſt as low as Cape Lahou, (and
even that was higher than they deſigned,) in the
beginning of January, and took the Ship called the
King Solomon, with 20 Men in their Boat, and a
trading Veſſel, both belonging to the Company,
The Pyrate Ship happened to fall about a League
to Leeward of the King Solomon, at Cape Appollonia,
and the Current and Wind oppoſing their working
up with the Ship, they agreed to ſend the Long-
Boat, with a fufficient Number of Men to take
her: The Pyrates are all Voluntiers on theſe Oc-
caſions, the Word being always given, who will go ?
And preſently the ſtanch and firm Men offer them
ſelves ; becauſe, by ſuch Readineſs, they recom-
mend their Courage, and have an Allowance alſo
of a Shift of Cloaths, from Head to Foot, out of
the Prize.
They rowed towards the King Solomon with a
great deal of Alacrity, and being hailed by the
Commander of her, anſwered, Defiance ; Captain
Trahern, before this, obſerving a great Number of
Men in the Boat, began not to like his Vifitors,
and prepared to receive them, firing a Musket
as they come under his Stern, which they re-
turned with a Volley, and made greater Speed
to get on Board. Upon this, he applied to his
Men, and ask'd them, whether they would ſtand
by him, to defend the Ship, it being a Shame they
should be taken by half their Number, without
R
any

258 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
any Repulſe? But his Boatſwain, Philips, took
upon
him to be the Mouth of the People, and put
an End to the Diſpute; he ſaid plainly, he would
not, laid down his Arms in the King's Name, as he
was pleaſed to term it, and called out to the Boat
for Quarters, ſo that the reſt, by his Example,
were milead to the loſing of the Ship.
When they came on Board, they brought her
under Sail, by an expeditious Method, of cutting
the Cable; Walden, one of the Pyrates, telling
the Mafter, this yo hope of heaving up the Anchor
was a needleſs trouble, when they deſigned to
burn the Ship. They brought her under Com-
madore Roberts's Stern, and not only rifled her
of what Sails, Cordage, cc. they wanted for them-
felves, but wantonly throw'd the Goods of the
Company overboard, like Spend-thriſts, that nei-
ther expected or deſigned any Accouit.
On the fame Day alſo, they took the Fluſhing, a
Dutch Ship, robbed her of Mafts, Yards and Stores,
and then cut down her Fore-Maft; but what fat
as heavily as any thing with the Skipper, was, their
taking ſome fine Sauſages he had on Board, of his
Wife's making, and ſtringing them in a ludicrous
Manner, round their Necks, till they had ſuffici-
ently few'd their contempt of them, and then
threw them into the Sea. Others chopp'd the
Heads of his Fowls off, to be dreſſed for their
Supper, and courteouſly invited the Landlord, pro-
vided he would find Liquor. It was a melancholly
Requeſt to the Man, but it muſt be comply'd with,
and he was obliged, as they grew drunk, to fit
quietly, and hear them fing French and Spaniſh Songs
out of his Dutch Prayer-Books, with other Pro-
phanefs, that he (tho' a Dutch Man) ftood ama-
zed at.
In chafing too near in, they alarmed the Coaft,
and Expreſſes were ſent to the Engliſh and Dutch
Facto-

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS,
259
Fa£tories, giving an Account of it: They were
fenfible of this Error immediately, and becauſe
they would make the beſt of a bad Market, re-
folved to keep out of ſight of Land, and loſe the
Prizes they might expect between that and Why-
dah, to make the more fure of that Port, where
commonly is the beſt Booty; all Nations trading
thither, eſpecially Portugueſe, who purchaſe chiefly
with Gold, the Idol their Hearts were bent upon.
And notwithſtanding this unlikely Courſe, they
met and took ſeveral Ships between Axim and that
Place; the circumſtantial Stories of which, and
the pannick Térrors they ſtruck into his Majeſty's
Subjects, being tedious and unneceſſary to relate,
I fall paſs by, and come to their Arrival in that
Road.
They came to Whydah with a St. George's Enſign,
a black Silk Flag flying at their Mizen-Peek, and
a Jack and Pendant of the ſame: The Flag had a
Death in it, with an Hour-Glaſs in one Hand,
and croſs Bones in the other, a Dart by it, and
underneath a Heart dropping three Drops of Blood.
- The Jack had a Man pourtray'd in it, with
a flaming Sword in his Hand, and ſtanding on two
Skulls, ſubſcribed A B H and A MH i.e. a Bara
badian's and a Martinican's Head, as has been be-
fore taken Notice of. Here they found eleven
Sail in the Road, Engliſh, French and Portugueſe ; the
French were three ftout Ships of 30 Guns, and up-
wards of 100 Men each, yet when Roberts came
to Fire, they, with the other Ships, immediately
ftruck their Colours and ſurrendred to his Mercy.
One Reaſon, it muſt be confeſs’d, of his eaſy
Vi&tory, was, the Commanders and a good part of
the Men being aſhore, according to the Cuſtom of
the Place, to receive the Cargoes, and return the
Slaves, they being obliged to watch the Seaſons for
it, which otherwiſe, in fo dangerous a Sea as here,
would
R 2

260 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
would be impracticable. Theſe all, except the
Porcupine, ranſomed with him for eight Pound of
Gold-Duft, a Ship, not without the trouble of ſome
Letters paſſing and repaſſing from the Shore, before
they could ſettle it; and notwithſtanding the
Agreement and Payment, they took away one of
the French Ships, tho" with a Promiſe to return
her, if they found ſhe did not fail well, taking
with them ſeveral of her Men for that End.
Some of the Foreigners, who never had Dealing
this Way before, deſired for Satisfaction to their
Owners, that they might have Receipts for their
Money, which were accordingly given, a Copy of
one of them, I have here fubjoined, viz.
T.
HIS is to certify whom it may or doth concern, that
we GENTLEMEN OF FORTUNE, have
received eight Pounds of Gold-Duſt, for the Ranſom of the
Hardey, Captain Dittwitt Commander, ſo that we Dij,
charge the ſaid Ship
Witneſs our Hands, this
Batt. Roberts,
13th of Jan. 1721-2.
Harry Glasby.
Others were given to the Portugueſe Captains,
which were in the ſame Form, but being ſign’d by
two waggiſh Fellows, viz. Sutton, and Sympſon, they
ſubſcribed by the Names of,
Aaron Whifflingpin,
Sim. Tugmutton.
But there was ſomething ſo fingularly cruel
and barbarous done here to the Porcupine, Captain
Fletcher, as muſt not be paſſed over without ſpecial
Remark.
This Ship lay in the Road, almoſt ſlaved, when
the Pyrates came in, and the Conımander being
on Shore, fettling his Accounts, was ſent to for the
Ranſom, but he excuſed it, as having no Orders
from

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 261
from the Owners; though the true Reaſon might
be, that he thought it difhonourable to treat with
Robbers; and that the Ship, ſeparate from the
Slaves, towards whom he could miſtruſt no Cruel-
ty, was not worth the Sum demanded; hereupon,
Roberts ſends the Boat to tranſport the Negroes, in
order to ſet her on Fire ; but being in haft, and
finding that unſhackling them coft much Time and
Labour, they a&tually ſet her on Fire, with eighty
of thoſe poor Wretches on Board, chained two and
two together, under the miſerable Choice of periſh-
ing by Fire or Water: Thoſe who jumped over-
board from the Flames, were ſeized by Sharks, a
voracious Fiſh, in Plenty in this Road, and, in their
Sight, tore Limb from Limb alive. A Cruelty un,
paralell’d! And for which had every Individual been
hanged, few I imagine would think that Juſtice had
been rigorous.
The Pyrates, indeed, were obliged to diſpatch
their Buſineſs here in haft, becauſe they had in-
tercepted a Letter from General Phips to Mr. Bald-
win, the Royal African Company's Agent at Whydah,
(giving an Account, that Roberts had been ſeen to
Windward of Cape Three Points) that he might
the better guard againſt the Damages to the Com-
pany's Ships, if he ſhould arrive at that Road
before the Swallow Man of War, which he aſſured
him, (at the Time of that Letter,) was purſuing
them to that place. Roberts call’d up his Company,
and deſired they would hear Phip’s Speech, (for fo
he was pleaſed to call the Letter,) and notwith-
ftanding their vapouring, perſwaded them of the
Neceflity of moving ; for, Tays he, fuch brave Fel-
lows cannot be ſuppoſed to be frightned at this
News, yet that it were better to avoid dry Blows,
which is the beft that can be expected, if over-
taken.
C
R3
This

262
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERT S.
This Advice weigh'd with them, and they got
under Sail, having ſtay'd only from Thurſday to
Saturday Night, and at Sea voted for the land of
Anna Bona; but the Winds hanging out of the Way,
croſſed their Purpoſe, and brought them to Cape
Lopez, where I ſhall leave them for their approach-
ing Fate, and relate ſome further Particulars of
his Majeſty's Ship the Swallow, viz. where it was
ſhe had ſpent her Time, during the Miſchief that
was done, and by what Means unable to prevent it;
what alſo was the Intelligence ſhe received, and the
Meaſures thereon formed, that at laſt brought two
ſuch Strangers as Mr Roberts and Capt. Ogle, to meet
in ſo remote a Corner of the World.
The Swallow and Weymouth left Sierraleon, May 28,
where, I have already taken Notice, Roberts arrived
about a Month after, and doubtleſs learn’d the
Intent of their Voyage, and cleaning on the Coaft;
which made him ſet down with more Security to
his Diverſion, and furniſh him with ſuch Intima-
tions, as made his firſt Range down the Coaft in
Auguſt following, more proſperous ; the Swallow
and Weymouth being then at the Port of Princes a
cleaning
Their Stay at Princes was from July 28 to Sept. 20,
1721, where, by a Fatality, common to the Ir-
regularities of Seamen, (who cannot in ſuch Caſes
be kept under due Reſtraints,) they buried 100
Men in three Weeks time, and reduced the Re-
mainder of the Ships Companies into fo fickly a
State, that it was with Difficulty they brought
them to ſail ; and this Misfortune was probably
the Ruin of Roberts, for it prevented the Men of
War's going back to Sierraleon, as it was intended,
there being a Neceflity of leaving his Majeſty's
Ship Weymouth (in much the worſe Condition of
the two) under the Guns of Cape Corſo, to impreſs
Men, being unable at this Time, either to hand
the

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
263
the Sails, or weigh her Anchor; and Roberts being
ignorant of the Occaſion or Alteration of the
firſt Deſign, fell into the Mouth of Danger, when
he thought himſelf the fartheft from it; for the
Men of War not endeavouring to attain further to
Windward (when they came from Princes) then to
ſecure Cape Corſo Road under their Lee, they lucki-
ly hovered in the Track he had took.
The Swallow and Weymouth fell in with the Con-
tinent at Cape Appollonia, Oito. 20th, and there re-
ceived the ungrateful News from one Captain Bird ;
a Notice that awaken'd and put them on their
Guard; but they were far from expeting any Te-
merity should ever bring him a ſecond Time on the
Coaft, while they were there; therefore the Swal-
lom having ſeen the Weymouth into Cape Corſo Road
Nov. 1oth, ſhe ply'd to Windward as far as Baffam,
rather as an Airing to recover a fickly Ship’s Com-
piny, and fhew herſelf to the Trade, which was
found every where undifturb’d, and were, for that
Reafon, returning to her Confort, when accident-
ly meeting a Portugueſe Ship, the told her, that the
Day before the law two Ships Chace into Funk,
an Engliſh Veſſel, which ſhe believed muft have
fallen into their Hands. On this Story, the Smal-
low clung her Wind, and endeavoured to gain that
Place, but receiving ſoon after (O&to. the 14th) a
contrary Report from Captain Plummer, an intel-
ligent Man, in the Jaſon of Briſtol, who had come
further to Windward, and neither faw or heard
any Thing of this, ſhe turned her Head down the
ſecond Time, anchored at Cape Appollonia the 23d,
at Cape Tres Punt as the 27th, and in Corſo Road
January the 7th, 1721-2.
They learned that their Confort the Wey-
mouth, was, by the Aſſiſtance of fome Soldiers from
the Caſtle, gone to Windward, to demand Refri-
ftution of fome Goods or Men belonging to the
Africa
R 4

264
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
African Company, that were illegally detained by
the Dutch at Des Minas ; and while they were re-
gretting ſo long a Separation, an Expreſs came
to General Phips, from Axim, the 9th, and followed
by another from Dixcove, (an Engliſh Factory,) with
Information that three Ships had chaſed and taken
a Galley nigh Axim Caſtle, and a trading Boat
belonging to the Company: No doubt was made,
concerning what they were, it being taken for
granted they were Pyrates, and ſuppoſed to be the
fame that had the Auguſt before infeſted the Coaft,
The natural Reſult therefore, from theſe two Ad-
Vices, was, to haften for Whydah; for it was con-
clued the Prizes they had taken, had informed them
how nigh the Swalloro was, and withal, how much
better in Health than ſhe had been for ſome
Months paſt; ſo that unleſs they were very mad
indeed, they would (after being diſcovered) make
the beſt of their way for Whydah, and ſecure the
Booty there, without which, their Time and In-
duſtry had been entirely loſt; moſt of the Gold
lying in that Corner.
The Swallozo weighed from Cape-Corſo, Fanuary the
Toth, but was retarded by waiting ſome Hours on
the Margaret, a Company's Ship, at Accra, again
on the Portugal, and a whole Day at Apong, on a
Perſon they uſed to ſtile Miſs Betry: A Conduct that
Mr. Phips blamed, when he heard the Pyrates were
miſs’d at Whydah, altho? he had given it as his
Opinion, they could not be paſſed by, and inti-
mated, that to ſtay a few Hours would prove 110
Prejudice.
This, however, hinder'd the Swallor's catching
them at Whydah, for the Pyrates came into that
Road, with a freſh Gale of Wind, the fame Day
the Swallow was at Apong, and fail'd the 13th of
Fanuary from thence, that the arrived the 17th.
She gained Notice of them by a French Shallop
from

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
265
from Grand Papa, the 14th at Night, and from
Little Papa next Morning by a Dutch Ship; ſo that
the Man of War was on all Sides, as fhe thought,
ſure of her Purchaſe, particularly when she made
the Ships, and diſcovered three of them to get.
under Sail immediately at Sight of her, making
Signals to one another, as tho' they deſigned a
Defence; but they were found to be three French
Ships, and thoſe at Anchor, Portugueſe and Engliſh,
all honeft Traders, who had been ranſack'd and
ranſom’d.
This Diſappointment chagreen’d the Ship’s Com-
pany, who were very intent upon their Market;
which was reported to be an Arm-Cheft full of
Gold, and kept with three Keys; tho' in all likly-
hood, had they met with them in that open Road,
one or both would have made their Eſcapes; or
if they had thought fit to have fought, an Emu-
lation in their Defence would probably have made
it defperate.
While they were contemplating on the Matter,
a Letter was received from Mr. Baldwin, (Gover-
nor here for the Company,) fignifying, that the
Pyrates were at Faquin, ſeven Leagues lower. The
Swallow weighed at two next Morning, January the
16th, and got to Jaquin by Day-Light, but to no
other End, than frightening the Crews of two
Portugueſe Ships on Shore, who took her for the
Pyrate that had ſtruck fuch Terror at Whydab:
She returned therefore that Night, and having
been ſtrengthened with thirty Voluntiers, Engliſla
and French, the diſcarded Crews of the Porcupine,
and the French Ship they had carried from hence,
She put to Sea again January the 19th, conje&turing,
that either Calabar, Princes, the River Gabone,
Cape Lopez, or Annabona, muſt be touched at for
Water and Refreſhment, tho' they ſhould reſolve
to leave the Coaſt. As to the former of thoſe
Places

266 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
Places, I have before obſerved, it was hazardous
to think of, or rather impracticable, Princes had
been a fower Grape to them, but being the firft
in the Way, ſhe came before the Harbour the
29th, where learning no News, without looſing
Time, fteered for the River Gabone, and anchored
at the Mouth of it February the ift.
This River is navigable by two Channels, and
has an Ifland about five Leagues up, called Popaguays
or Parrots, where the Dutch Cruiſers, for this Coaſt,
generally Clean, and where ſometimes Pyrates
come in to look for Prey, or to Refit, it being very
convenient, by Reaſon of a foſt Mud about it,
that admits a Ship’s lying on Shore, with all her
Guns and Stores in, without Damage. Hither
Captain Ogle lent his Boat and a Lieutenant, who
fpoke with a Dutch Ship, above the land, from
whom he had this Account, viz. That he had been
four Days from Cape Lopez, and had left no Ship
there. However, they beat up for the Cape, with-
out regard to this Story, and on the 5th, at Dawn-
ing, was ſurprized with the Noiſe of a Gun, which,
as the Day brightened, they found was from Cape
Lopez Bay, where they diſcovered three Ships at
Anchor, the largeſt with the King's Colours and
Pendant flying, which was ſoon after concluded to
be Mr. Roberts and his Conforts ; but the Swallow
being to Windward, and unexpe&tedly deep in
the Bay, was obliged to Steer off, for avoiding a
Sand, called the French Man's Bank, which the Py-
rates obſerved for ſome Time, and rafhly inter-
preting it to be Fear in her, righted the French Ran-
ger, which was then on the Heel, and ordered her
to chaſe out in all haſt, bending ſeveral of their
Sails in the Purſuit. The Man of War finding
they had fooliſhly miſtaken her Deſign, humoured
the Deceit, and kept off to Sea, as if ſhe had been
really afraid, and managed her Steerage fo,
under

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
267
under the Direction of Lieutenant Sun, an experi-
enced Officer, as to let the Ranger come up with
her, when they thought they had got ſo far as not
to have their Guns heard by her Conſort at the
Cape. The Pyrates had ſuch an Opinion of their
own Courage, that they could never dream any
Body would uſe a Stratagem to ſpeak with them,
and ſo was the more eafily drawn into the Snare.
The Pyrates now drew nigh enough to fire their
Chaſe Guns; they hoiſted the black Flag that was
worn in Whydah Road, and got their Spritfail Yard
along-ſhips, with Intent to board ; no one having
ever asked, all this while, what Country Ship they
took the Chaſe to be; they would have her to be
a Portugueſe, (Sugar being then a Commodity among
them,) and were ſwearing every Minute at the
Wind or Sails to expedite ſo ſweet a Chaſe; but,
alaſs, all turned four in an Inſtant: It was with
the utmoft Confternation they ſaw her ſudden-
ly bring to, and hawl up her lower Ports, now with-
in Piftol-ſhot, and ſtruck their black Flag upon it
dire&tly. After the firſt Surprize was over, they
kept firing at a Diſtance, hoifted it again, and va-
poured with their Cutlaſhes on the Poop; tho?
wiſely endeavouring at the fame Time to get away.
Being now at their Wits end, boarding was pro-
poſed by the Heads of them, and ſo to make one
deſperate Puſh; but the Motion not being well fe.
conded, and their Main-Top-Maft coming down by
a Shot, after two Hours firing, it was declin'd;
they grew Sick, ftruck their Colours, and called
out for Quarters; having had 10 Men killed out
right, and 20 wounded, without the loſs or hurt
of one of the King's Men. She had 32 Guns,
mann'd with 16 French Men, 20 Negroes, and 77
Engliſh. The Colours were thrown over board,
that they might not riſe in Judgment, nor be dif-
play'd in Tryumph over them.
While

268 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
While the Swallow was ſending their Boat to
fetch the Priſoners, a Blaſt and Smoak was ſeen
to pour out of the great Cabin, and they thought
they were blowing up; but upon enquiry after-
wards, found that half a dozen of the moft Deſpe-
rate, when they ſaw all Hopes fled, had drawn
themſelves round what Powder they had left in the
Steerage, and fired a Piſtol into it, but it was too
ſmall a Quantity to effect any Thing more, than
burning them in a frightful Manner.
This Ship was commanded by one Skyrme, a
Welch Man, who, tho' he had loſt his Leg in the
A&tion, would not fuffer himſelf to be dreſſed, or
carried off the Deck; but, like Widrington, fought
upon his Stump. The reſt appeared gay and brisk,
moft of them with white Shirts, Watches, and a
deal of Silk Veſts, but the Gold-Duſt belonging to
them, was moſt of it left in the Little Ranger in
the Bay, (this Company's proper Ship) with the
Royal Fortune.
I cannot but take Notice of two among the
Crowd, of thoſe disfigured from the Blaft of Pow-
der just before mentioned, viz. William Main and
Roger Ball. An Officer of the Ship feeing a Silver
Call hang at the Waft of the former, ſaid to him,
I preſume you are Boatſwain of this ship. Then you pre-
ſume wrong, anſwered he, for I am Boatſwain of the
Royal Fortune, Captain Roberts Commander. Then
Mr. Boatſwain you will be hanged I believe, replies
the Officer. That is as your Honour pleaſes, anfwered
he again, and was for turning away: But the Of-
ficer defired to know of him, how the Powder,
which had made them in that Condition, came to
take Fire.
BY G- lays he, they are all mad and
bewitch’d, for I have loſt a good Hat by it. (the Hat and
he being both blown out of the Cabin Gallery,
into the Sea.) But what ſignifies a Hat Friend, ſays
the Oficer.
Not much anſwer'd he, the Men
being

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS,
269
being buſy in ſtripping him of his Shoes and Stoc-
kings.
The Officer then enquired of him, whe-
ther Roberts's Company were as likely Fellows as
theſe. There are 1 20 of them, (anſwered he) as
clever Fellows as ever trod Shoe Leather: Would I were
with them! No doubt on't, ſays the Officer.
By G-- it is naked Truth, anſwered he, looking
down and ſeeing himſelf, by this Time, quite
Striped.
The Officer then approached Roger Ball, who
was ſeated in a private Corner, with a Look as ful
len as Winter, and asked him, how he came blown
up in that frightful Manner. - -Why, ſays he;
John Morris fired a Piſtol into the Powder, and if he
had not done it, I would, (bearing his Pain without the
leaft Complaint.) The Officer gave him to unders
ſtand he was Surgeon, and if he deſired it, he
would dreſs him, but he ſwore it should not be
done, and that if any Thing was applied to him,
he would tear it off.Nevertheleſs the Surgeon had
good Nature enough to dreſs him, tho? with much
trouble: At Night he was in a kind of Delirium,
and raved on the Bravery of Roberts, ſaying, he
fhould ſhortly be releaſed, as ſoon as they ſhould
meet him, which procured him a laſhing down upon
the Forecaſtle, which he refifting with all his
Force, cauſed him to be uſed with the more Vio
lence, ſo that he was tied down with ſo much
Severity, that his Fleſh being ſore and tender
with the blowing up, he died next Day of a More
tification.
They fecured the Priſoners with Pinions, and
Shackles, but the ship was ſo much diſabled in the
Engagement, that they had once Thoughts to ſet
her on Fire, but this would have given them the
Trouble of taking the Pyrates wounded Men on
Board themſelves, and that they were certain the
Reyal Fortune would wait for their Confort's Return,
they

270 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
they lay by her two Days, repaired her Rigging and
other Damages, and ſent her into Princes, with the
French Men, and four of their own Hands.
On the oth in the Evening, the Swallow gained the
Cape again, and ſaw the Royal Fortune ſtanding into
the Bay with the Neptune, Captain Hill, of London: A
good Preſage of the next Day’s Succeſs, for they did
not doubt but the Temptation of Liquor, and Plun-
der, they might find in this their new Prize, would
make the Pyrates very confuſed; and ſo it hap-
pened.
On the roth, in the Morning, the Man of War
bore away to rourd the Cape. Roberts's Crew dif
cerning their Mafts over the Land, went down
into the Cabin, to acquaint him of it, he being
then at Breakfaſt with his new Gueſt, Captain
Hill, on a favory Difh of Solomongundy, and ſome
of his own Beer. He took no Notice of it, and
his Men almoſt as little, ſome ſaying ſhe was a Por-
tugueſe Ship, others a French Slave Ship, but the
major Part ſwore it was the French Ranger return-
ing, and were merrily debating for ſome Time,
on the Manner of Reception, whether they ſhould
ſalute, or not ; but as the Swallow approached
nigher, Things appeared plainer, and though they
were ſtigmatiz'd with the Name of Cowards, who
ſhewed any Apprehenſion of Danger, yet ſome of
them, now undeceived, declared it to Roberts, e-
ſpecially one Armſtrong, who had deſerted from that
Ship, and knew her well : Thoſe Roberts ſwore at as
Cowards, who meant to diſhearten the Men, asking
them if it were ſo, whether they were afraid to
fight, or no ? And hardly refrained from Blows.
What his own Apprehenfions were, till fhe haw-
led
up
her Ports, and hoiſted their proper Colours,
is uncertain; but then being perfectly convinced,
he flipped his Cable, got under Sail, and ordered
his Men to Arms, without any fhew of Timidity,
dropping

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 271
dropping a firſt Rate Oath, that it was a Bite, but, at
the ſame Time, reſolved, like a gallant Rogue, to
get clear, or die.
There was one Armſtrong, as I juit mention'd, a
Deſerter from the Swallow, whom they enquired of
concerning the Trim and Sailing of that Ship; he
told them fhe fail'd beſt upon a Wind, and there-
fore, if they deſigned to leave her, they fhould go
before it.
The Danger was imminent, and Time very ſhort,
to conſult of Means to extricate himſelf; his Refo-
lution in this Streight, was as follows: To país
cloſe to the Swallow, with all their Sails, and re-
ceive her Broadſide, before they returned a Shot;
if diſabled by this, or that they could not depend
on failing, then to run on Shore at the Point,
(which is ſteep to) and every one to ſhift for him-
ſelf among the Negroes; or failing in theſe, to
board, and blow up together, for he ſaw that the
greateſt Part of his Men were drunk, paffively Cou-
ragious, unfit for Service.
Roberts himſelf made a gallant Figure, at the
Time of the Engagement, being dreſſed in a rich
crimſon Damask Waſtcoat and Breeches, a red Fea-
ther in his Hat, a Gold Chain round his Neck, with
a Diamond Croſs hanging to it, a Sword in his Hand,
and two Pair of Piſtols hanging at the End of a Silk
Sling, flung over his Shoulders (according to the Fa.
ſhion of the Pyrates ;) and is ſaid to have given his
Orders with Boldneſs, and Spirit ; coming, accord-
ing to what he had purpoſed, cloſe to the Man of
War, received her Fire, and then hoiſted his Black
Flag, and returned it, ſhooting away from her,
with all the Sail he could pack; and had he took
Armſtrong's Advice, to have gone before the Wind,
he had probably eſcaped; but keeping his Tacks
down, either by the Winds ſhifting, or ill Steerage,
or both, he was taken a-back with his Sails, and the
Swallow

272 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS,
Swallow came a ſecond Time very nigh to him: He
had now perhaps finiſhed the Fight very deſperate-
ly, if Death, who took a ſwift Paſſage in a Grape-
Shot, had not interpoſed, and ſtruck him direčtly
on the Throat. He ſettled himſelf on the Tackles
of a Gun, which one Stephenſon, from the Helm, ob-
ſerving, ran to his Affiſtance, and not perceiving
him wounded, ſwore at him, and bid him ſtand up,
and fight like a Man; but when he found his Mi-
ſtake, and that his Captain was certainly dead, he
guſhed into Tears, and wiſhed the next Shot might
be his Lot. They preſently threw him over-board,
with his Arms and Ornaments on, according to the
repeared Requeſt he made in his Life-time.
Roberts was a tall black Man, near forty Years of
Age, born at Newey-bagh, nigh Haverford-Weft, in
Pembrokſhire, of good natural Parts, and perſonal
Bravery, tho he applied them to ſuch wicked Pur-
poſes, as made them of no Commendation, frequent-
Ty drinking to him who ever lived to wear a
Halter. He was forc'd himſelf at firſt among this
Company out of the Prince, Captain Plamb at Ana-
maboe, about three years before, where he ſerved as
fecond Mate, and ſhed, as he us'd to tell the freſlo
Men, as many Crocodile Tears then as they did
now, but Time and good Company had wore it off
He could not plead Want of Employment, nor
Incapacity of getting his Bread in an honeſt way,
to favour ſo vile a Change, nor was he ſo much a
Coward as to pretend it; but frankly own'd, it was
to get rid of the diſagreeable Superiority of ſome
Mafters he was acquainted with, and tlie Love of
Novelty and Change, Maritime Peregrinations had
accuſtom'd him to. In an honeſt Service, ſays he, there
is thin Commons, low Wages, and hard Labour; in this,
Plenty and Satiety, Pleaſure and Eaſe, Liberty and Pow-
er;
and who would not ballance Creditor on this Side,
when all the Hazard that is run for it, at worſt, is only a
four

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 273
four Look or two at choaking. No, A merry Life and
a ſhort one, ſhall be my Motto. Thus he preach'd
himſelf into an Approbation of what he at firſt ab-
horrid; and being daily regal'd with Mufick, Drink-
ing, and the Gaiety and Diverſions of his Compa-
nions, theſe depravid Propenſities were quickly
edg’d and ſtrengthen'd, to the extinguiſhing of Fear
and Conſcience. Yet among all the vile and igno-
minious A&ts he had perpetrated, he is ſaid to have
had an Averſion towards forcing Men into that Ser-
vice, and had procured ſome their Diſcharge, noto
withſtanding ſo many made it their Plea. .
When Roberts was gone, as tho' he had been the
Life and Soul of the Gang, their Spirits funk;
many deſerted their Quarters, and all ſtupidly neg-
lected any Means for Defence, or Eſcape; and their
Main-maft ſoon after being ſhot by the Board, they had
no Way left, but to ſurrender and call for Quar-
ters. The Swallow kept aloof, while her Boat paf-
ſed, and repaſſed for the Priſoners; becauſe they
underſtood they were 'under an Oath to blow up;
and ſome of the Deſperadoes ſhewed a Willingneſs
that Way, Matches being lighted, and Scuffles hap-
pening between thoſe who would, and thoſe who
oppoſed it : But I cannot eafily account for this
Humour, which can be term'd no more than a
falſe Courage, fince any of them had Power to de .
ftroy his own Life, either by Piſtol, or Drowning,
without involving others in the ſame Fate, who
are in no Temper of Mind for it: And at beft, it
had been only dying, for fear of Death.
She had 40 Guns, and 157 Men, 45 whereof were
Negroes; three only were killed in the A&tion,
without any Loſs to the Swallow. There was found
upwards of 2000l. in Gold-Duſt in her. The Flag
could not be got eaſily from under the fallen Maft,
and was therefore recover'd by the Swallow ; it had
the Figure of a Skeleton in it, and a Man pourtray'd
S
with

274 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
with a flaming Sword in his Hand, intimating a De-
fyance of Death it ſelf.
The Swallovo returned back into Cape Lopez Bay,
and found the little Ranger, whom the Pyrates had
deſerted in haft, for the better Defence of the Ship:
She had been plunder'd, according to what I could
learn, of 20001. in Gold-Duft, (the Shares of thoſe
Pyrates who belonged to her ;) and Captain Hill,
in the Neptune, not unjuſtly ſuſpected, for he would
not wait the Man of War's returning into the Bay
again, but fail'd away immediately, making no
Scruple afterwards to own the Seizure of other
Goods out of her, and ſurrender'd, as a Confirma-
tion of all, 50 Ounces at Barbadoes, for which, ſee
the Article at the End of this Book.
All Perſons who after the 29th of Septem. 1690, &c.
To ſum up the whole, if it be confidered, firſt
,
that the fickly State of the Men of War, when they
fail'd from Princes, was the Misfortune that hin-
dered their being as far as Sierraleon, and conſe-
quently out of the Track the Pyrates then took,
That thoſe Pyrates, directly contrary to their De-
ſign, in the ſecond Expedition, ſhould get above
Cape Corſo, and that nigh Axim, a Chace ſhould of-
fer, that inevitably muſt diſcover them, and be foon
communicated to the Men of War. That the fati-
ating their evil and malicious Tempers at Whydah,
in burning the Porcupine, and running off with the
French Ship, had ſtrengthened the Swallow with 30
Men. That the Swallow ſhould miſs them in that
Road, where probably ſhe had not, or at leaſt ſo ef-
fe£tually obtained her End. That they ſhould be
ſo far infatuated at Cape Lopez, as to divide their
Strength, which when colle&ted, might have been
ſo formidable. And laſtly, that the Conqueſt ſhould
be without Bloodſhed : I ſay, conſidering all theſe
Circumſtances, it ſhews that the Hand of Provi.
dence was concerned in their Deftru&tion.
As

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS,
275
As to their Behaviour after they were taken, it
was found that they had great Inclinations to rebel,
if they could have laid hold of any Opportunity.
For they were very uneaſy under Reſtraint, having
been lately all Commanders themſelves; nor could
they brook their Diet, or Quarters, without curſing
and ſwearing, and upbraiding each other, with the
Folly that had brought them to it.
So that to ſecure themſelves againſt any mad deſ-
perate Undertaking of theirs, they ftrongly bar-
ricado'd the Gun-Room, and made another Priſon
before it ; an Officer, with Piſtols and Cutlaſhes,
doing Duty, Night and Day, and the Priſoners
within, manacled and ſhackled,
They would yet in theſe Circumſtances be im-
pudently merry, ſaying, when they viewed their
Nakedneſs, that they had not left them a halfpenny, to
give old Charon, to ferry them over Stix: And at their
thin Commons, they would obſerve, that they fell
away ſo faſt, that they ſhould not have Weight
left to hang them. Sutton uſed to be very pro
phane; he happening to be in the ſame Irons with
another Priſoner, who was more ſerious than ordi-
nary, and read and pray'd often, as became his
Condition, this Man Sutton uſed to ſwear at, and
ask him, what he propoſed by ſo much Noiſe and Des
votion ? Heaven, ſays the other, I hope. Heaven, you
Fool, ſays Sutton, did you ever hear of any Pyrates going
thither? Give me H-ll, it's a merrier Place : I'll give
Roberts a Salute of 13 Guns at Entrance. And when
he found ſuch ludicrous Expreſſions had no Effect
on him, he made a formal Complaint, and requeſted
that the Officer would either remove this Man, or
take his Prayer-Book away, as a common Diſturber,
A Combination and Conſpiracy was formed, he
twixt Moody, Aſkplant, Magnes, Mare, and others,
to riſe, and kill the Officers, and run away with
the ship. This they had carried on by Means of
2 My.

276 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
a Mulatto Boy, who was allow'd to attend them,
and proved very truſty in his Meſſages, between
the Principals ; but the Evening of that Night
they were to have made this Struggle, two of the
Priſoners that fat next to Aſhplant, heard the Boy
whiſper them upon the Project, and naming to him
the Hour they fhould be ready, preſently gave
Notice of it to the Captain, which put the Ship
in an Alarm, for a little Time; and, on Examina-
tion, ſeveral of them had made fhift to break off,
or loſe, their Shackles, (no doubt for ſuch Purpoſe;)
but it tended only to procure to themſelves worſe
Uſage and Confinement.
In the fame Paſſage to Cape Corſo, the Prize,
Royal Fortune, was in the fame Danger. She was
left at the Iſland of St. Thomas's, in the Poffeffion
of an Officer, and a few Men, to take in ſome
freſh Proviſions, (which were ſcarce at Cape Corſo
)
with Orders to follow the Ship. There were only
ſome of the Pyrates Negroes, three or four wound-
ed Priſoners, and Scudamore, their Surgeon; from
whom they ſeemed to be under no Apprehenſion,
eſpecially from the laſt, who might have hoped for
Favour, on Account of his Employ; and had ftood
ſo much indebted for his Liberty, eating ard
drink-
ing conſtantly with the Officer; yet this Fellow,
regardleſs of the Favour, and loſt to all Senſe of
Reformation, endeavoured to bring over the Ne-
groes to his Deſign of murdering the People, and
running away with the Ship. He eaſily prevailed
with the Negroes to come into the Deſign; but
when he came to communicate it to his Fellow Pri-
foners, and would have drawn them into the ſame
Meaſures, by telling them, he underſtood Naviga-
tion, that the Negroes were ſtout Fellows, and by
a Smattering he had in the Angolan Language,
had found willing to undertake tuch an Enterprize ;
and that it was better venturing to do this, run
down
he

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
277
down the Coaſt, and raiſe a new Company, than
to proceed to Cape Corſo, and be hanged like a Dog,
and Sun dry'd. One of them abhorring the Cruel-
ty, or fearing the Succeſs, diſcovered it to the Of-
ficer, who made him immediately a Priſoner, and
brought the Ship ſafe.
When they came to be lodgd in Cape Corſo-Caſtle,
their Hopes of this kind all cut off, and that they
were aſſured they muſt there foon receive a final
Sentence; the Note was changed among moſt of
them, and from vain infolent jeſting, they became
ſerious and devout, begging for good Books, and
joyning in publick Prayers, and ſinging of Pſalms,
twice at leaſt every Day.
As to their Tryals, if we ſhould give them at
length, it may appear tedious to the Reader, for
which Reaſon, I have, for the avoiding Tautology
and Repetition, put as many of them together as
were try'd for the ſame Faet, reſerving the Cir-
cumſtances which are moſt material, with Obſer-
vations on the dying Behaviour of ſuch of them, as
came to my Knowledge.
And firſt, it may be obſerved from the Lift, that
a great part of theſe Pyrate Ships Crews, were Men
entered on the Coaſt of Africa, not many Months
before they were taken; from whence, it may be
concluded, that the pretended Conſtraint of Roberts,
on them, was very often a Complotment between
Parties equally willing: And this Roberts ſeveral
Times openly declared, particularly to the Onſlow's
People, whom he called aft, and ask'd of them, who
was willing to go, for he would force no Body? As was
depoſed, by ſome of his beſt Hands, after Acquit-
tal; nor is it reaſonable to think, he ſhould reject
Iriſh Voluntiers, only from a Pique againſt Kennedy,
and force others, that might hazard, and, in Time,
deſtroy his Government: But their Behaviour foon
put him out of this Fear, and convincd him, that
the
S 3

278
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
the Plea of Force was only the beft Artifice they
had to fhelter themſelves under, in caſe they
fhould be taken ; and that they were leſs Rogues
than others, only in Point of Time.
It may likewiſe be taken Notice of, that the
Country, wherein they happened to be tried, is
among other Happineſſes, exempted from Law-
yers,
and Law-Books, ſo that the Office of Regi-
fter, of neceſſity fell on one, 1100 verſed in thoſe
Affairs, which might juſtify the Court in want of
Form, more eſſentially ſupply'd with Integrity
and Impartiality.
But, perhaps, if there was leſs Law, there might
be more Juſtice, than in ſome other Courts; for,
if the civil Law be a Law of univerſal Reaſon,
judging of the Re&titude, or Obliquity of Mens
A&tions, every Man of common Senſe is endued
with a Portion of it, at leaſt fufficient to make him
diſtinguiſh Right from Wrong, or what the Civili-
ans call, Malum in fe.
Therefore, here, if two Perſons were equally
Guilty of the ſame Fait, there was no convicting
one, and bringing the other off, by any Quirk, or
turn of Law; for they form’d their judgments
upon the Conſtraint, or Willingneſs, the Ain, and
Intention of the Parties, and all other Circumſtan-
ces, which make a material Difference. Beſides
,
in Crimes of this Nature, Men bred up to the Sea,
muſt be more knowing, and much abler, than
others more learned in the Law; for, before a Man
can have a right Idea of a Thing, he muſt know
the Terns ſtanding for that Thing: The Sea-
Terms being a Language by it felf, which no Law-
yer can be fuppoſed to underſtand, he muft of
Conſequence want that diſcriminating Faculty,
which ſhould direct him to judge right of the Facts
meant by thole Terms,
The

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
279
The Court well knew, it was not poſſible to get
the Evidence of every Sufferer hy this Crew, and
therefore, firſt of all, conſidered how that Deficien-
cy ſhould be ſupplied ; whether, or no, they could
pardon one fo. Dennis, who had early offered him.
ſelf, as King's Evidence, and was the beſt read in
their Lives and Converſations: Here indeed, they
were at a Loſs for Law, and concluded in the Ne-
gative, becauſe it look'd like compounding with a
Man to ſwear fallly, loſing by it, thoſe great Helps
he could have afforded.
Another great Difficulty in their Proceedings,
wasy
how to underſtand thoſe words in the AEt of
Parliament, of, particularly ſpecifying in the Charge, the
Circumſtances of Time, Place, &c. i.e. fo to underſtand
them, as to be able to hold a Court ; for if they
had been indi&ted on particular Robberies, the Evi-
dence had happened moſtly from the Royal African
Company's Ships, on which theſe Gentlemen of
Cape-Corſo-Caſtle, were not qualify'd to fit, their Oath
running, That they have no Intereſt directly, or indi-
rectly, in the Ship, or Goods, for the Robbery of which,
the Party ſtands accuſed : And this they thought they
had, Commiſſions being paid them, on ſuch Goods:
And on the other Side, if they were incapacitated,
no Court could be formed, the Commiſſion abfolute-
ly requiring three of them by Name.
To reconcile all Things, therefore, the Court
reſolved, to bottom the whole of their Proceedings
on the Swallow's Depoſitions, which were clear and
plain, and had the Circumſtance of Time when,
Place where, Manner how, and the like, particu-
larly ſpecified according to the Statute in that Caſe
made, and provided. But this admitted only a ge-
neral Intimation of Robbery in the Indi&tment,
therefore to approve their Clemency, it looking Arbi-
trary on the Lives of Men, to lump them to the
Gallows, in ſuch a ſummary Way as nuſt have
been
S4

280
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
been done, had they ſolely adhered to the Swallow's
Charge, they reſolved to come to particular Tryals.
Secondly, That the Priſoners might not be ignorant
whereon to anſwer, and ſo have all fair Advantages,
to excuſe and defend themſelves; the Court fara
ther agreed with Juſtice and Equanimity, to hear
any Evidence that could be brought, to weaken or
corroborate the three Circumſtances that compleat
a Pyrate; firſt, being a Voluntier amongſt them at
the Beginning ; ſecondly, being a Voluntier at the
taking or robbing of any Ship; or laſtly, volunta-
rily accepting a Share in the Booty of thoſe that
did; for by a Parity of Reaſon, where theſe A&tions
were of their own diſpoſing, and yet committed by
them, it muſt be believed their Hearts and Hands
joyned together, in what they a{ted againſt his Ma-
jeſty's Ship the Swallow.
Tbs

Capt. BARTHO, ROBERTS.
281
The Trvals of the PYRATES,
Taken by his Majeſty's Ship the Swallow, begun
at Cape Corſo-Caſtle, on the Coaſt of Africa,
March the 28th, 1722.
T
HE Commiſſion impowered any three named
therein, to call to their Affiftance, ſuch a
Number of qualified Perſons as might make the
Court always confift of ſeven: And accordingly
Summons were figned to Lieut. Jo. Barnſey, Lieut.
Ch. Fanſhaw, Capt. Samuel Hart ſeaſe, and Capt. Wil-
liam Menzies, viz.
BY
Y Virtue of a Power and Authority, to us
given, by a Commiſſion from the King, un-
der the Seal of Admiralty, You are hereby re-
quired to attend, and make one of the Court, for the
trying and adjudging of the Pyrates, lately taken
on this Coaſt, by his Majeſty's Ship the Swallow.
Given under our Hands this 28th of March,
1722, at Cape Corſo-Caſtle.
Mungo Heardman,
Francis Boy,
Fames Phips,
Edward Hide.
Henry Dodſon,
The Commiſſioners being met in the Hall of the
Caſtle, the Commiſſion was firſt read, after which,
the Preſident, and then the other Members, took
the Oath, preſcribed in the A&t of Parliament, and
having directed the form of that for Witneſſes, as
follows, the Court was opened.
I, A. B.

282 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
I
A. B. ſolemnly promiſe and ſwear on the Holy Evan-
gelists, to bear true and faithful Witneſs between the
King and Priſoner, or Priſoners, in Relation to the Falt, or
Falls, of Pyracy and Robbery, he or they do now ſtand ac-
cuſed of So help me God.
The Court conſiſted of
Captain Mungo Heardman, Preſident.
James Phips, Eſq; General Mr. Edward Hyde, Secre-
of the Coaſt,
tary to the Company.
Mr. H. Dodſon, } Mer.
Lieut. John Barnſley,
Lieut. Ch. Fanſhaw.
Oct. 1720
The following Priſoners, out of the Pyrate Ship
Ranger, having been commanded before them, the
Charge, or Indi&tment, was exhibited.
Priſoners taken in the Ranger:
Mens Namnes.
Ships from
Time when
James Skyrm Greyhound Sloop
* Rich. Hardy Pyrate with Davis
1718
*Wm. Main Brigantine Capt. Peet
June 1720
* Henry Dennis
1718
* Val. Aſhplant Pyrates with Capt. Darsis 1719
* Rob. Birdſon
1719
* Rich. Harris 2 Phoenix of Briſtol, Capt. ?
* D. Littlejohn S Richards
* Thomas How at Newfoundland
* Her. Hunkins Succeſs Sloop
* Hugh Harris Willing Mind
*W.Mackintosh
Thomds Wills
Richard of Biddiford
July 1720
* Fohn Wilden Mary and Martha
*Ja. Greenban Little York, Phillips Mr.
* Fohn Jaynſon Love of Lancaſter
Chri. Lang
Thomas Brigantine
Sept. 1720
June 1720
x John

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
283
*
T.Withſtandenot }Non
Oct. 1720
20£t. 1727
John Mitchel ?Norman Galley
Peter la Fever }feremiah and Ann
Ap. 1720
Wm. Shurin
* Wm.Wats 3Sierraleon } of Seis. Glorcé }July 1721
* Wm. Davis
I fames Barrom } Martha Snow Capt Lady
Rob
. Hartley (1) Robinſon of Leverpole Capt. Aug.1721
* James Crane
Š Kanning
George Smithſon
Roger Pye
Stanwich Galley Captain
?
Tarlton
Rob. Fletcher
|
Aug.1721
*Ro.Hartley (2)
of Andremo Rance A Dutch Ship
* Cuthbert Goſs
Mercy Galley of Briſtol ogt.
* Tho. Giles
* Iſrael Hynde
at Callibar
S
William Church Gertruycht of Holland
Fluſhingham of ditto
William Smith
}Elizabeth Capt. Sharp
Adam Comry
William Graves
2
Peter de Vine King Solomon Capt. Tre-
Fohn Fohnſon
hern off Cape Appollonia
Fohn Stodgill
Henry Dawſon 3Whydah Sloop at Jaquin
William Glaſs
>Jan. 172)
Fofiah Robinſon
7
John Arnaught
John Davis
of Henry Graves >Tarlton Capt. Tho. Tarlton,
Tho. Howard
* Fohn Rimer
Thomas Clephen
Porcupine Capt. Fletcher
+ James Cofins
Tho,
21
Philip Haak
*
Wm. Guineys

284
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
Tho. Stretton
*William Petty
Mic. Lemmon
>Onſlow Capt. Gee at Ceſtos Jan. 172
* Wm. Wood
* Ed. Watts
* John Horn J
Pierre Ravon Peter Groffey 1
Fohn Dugan
Rence Frogier
Lemis Arnaut
From the
Ettrien Gilliot Rence Thoby
Frenchſhip
Ren. Marraud Meth Roulac
Sin Whydah
John Gumar
Road Feb.
Fo. Richarde au John Paquete
1721-2.
John Lavogue
Allan Pigan
John Duplaiſſey Pierce Shillot
Fames Ardeon
Fohn Gittin
You, James Skyrm, Michael Lemmon, Robert Hart-
ley, &c.
YE
E, and every one of you, are in the Name, and by the
Authority, of our dread Sovereign Lord, George,
King of Great Britain, indi&ted as follows ;
Foraſmuch as in open Contempt of the Laws of your
Country, ye have all of you been wickedly united, and arti-
cled together, for the Annoyance and Diſturbance of his
Majeſty's trading Subjects by Sea. And have in Confor-
mity to the most evil and miſchievous Intentions, been
twice down the coast of Africa, with two Ships ; once in
the Beginning of Auguſt, and a ſecond Time, in January
last, ſinking, burning, or robbing ſuch Ships, and Veffels,
as then happened in your Way.
Particularly, yeſt and charged at the Inſtance, and In-
formation of Captain Chaloner Ogle, as Traytors and
Pyrates, for the unlawful Oppoſition ye made to his Ma-
jeſty's Ship, the Swallow, under his Command.
For that on the sth of February last past, zapon Sight
of the aforeſaid King's Ship, ye did iminediately weigh
Anchor from under Cape Lopez, on the Southern Coast of
Africa, in a French built Ship of 32 Guns, called the
Ranger,

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
285
Ranger, and did purſue and chaſe the aforeſaid King's
Ship, with ſuch Diſpatch and Precipitancy, as declared ye
common Robbers and Pyrates.
That about Ten of the Clock the ſame Morning, drawing
within Gun-fhot of his Majeſty's aforeſaid Ship the Swal-
low, ye hoiſted a pyratical black Flag, and fired ſeveral
chace Guns, to deter, as much as ye were able his Majeſty's
Servants from their Duty.
That an Hour after this, being very nigh to the aforea
ſaid King's Ship, ye did audaciouſly continue in a hoſtile
Defence and Aſault, for about two Hours more, in open
Violation of the Laws, and in Defiance to the King's Co-
lours and Commiſſion.
And laſtly, that in the acting, and compaſing of all this,
ye
were all, and every one of you, in a wicked Combination,
voluntarily to exert, and actually did, in your ſeveral Sta-
tions, uſe your utmost Endeavours to diſtreſs the ſaid King's
Ship, and murder his Majeſty's good Subjects.
To which they ſeverally pleaded, Not Guilty.
Then the Court called for the Officers of the
Swallow, Mr. Iſaac Sun, Lieutenant, Ralph Baldrick,
Boatſwain, Daniel Maclauglin, Mate, defiring them
to view the Priſoners, whether they knew them?
And to give an Account in what Manner they had
attack'd and fought the King's Ship; and they
agreed as follows.
That they had viewed all the Priſoners, as they
ſtood now before the Court, and were aſſured they
were the ſame taken out of one, or other, of the
Pyrate Ships, Royal Fortune, or Ranger ; but verily
believe them to be taken out of the Ranger. LOR
That they did in the King's Ship, at break of
Day, on Monday, the 5th of February, 1721-2, diſ-
cover three Ships at Anchor, under Cape Lopez,
on the Southern Coaſt of Africa ; the Cape bearing
then W.S. W. about three Leagues, and perceiving
one

286 1
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
one of them to have a Pendant flying, and having
heard their Morning-Gun before, they immediately
fufpected them to be Roberts the Pyrate, his con-
fort, and a French Ship, they knew had been lately
carried out of Whydah Road.
The King's Ship was obliged to hawl off N.
W. and W. N. W. to avoid a Sand, called, the
French Man's Bank, the Wind then at S. S. E. and
found in half an Hour's time, one of the three had
got under Sail from the Careen, and was bending
her Sails, in a Chace towards them. To encourage
this Raſhneſs and Precipitancy, they kept away be-
fore the Wind, (as though afraid,) but with their
Tacks on Board, their Main-Yard braced, and ma.
king, at the fame Time, very bad Steerage.
About half an Hour after Ten, in the Morning,
the Pyrate Ship came within Gun-fhot, and fired
four Chace Guns, hoiſted a black Flag at the Mizen-
Peek, and got their Sprit-fail Yard under their Bow-
ſprit, for boarding. In half an Hour more, ap-
proaching ſtill nigher, they Starboarded their Helm,
and gave her a Broadſide, the Pyrate bringing to,
and returning the ſame.
After this, the Deponents ſay, their Fire grew
Black for ſome Time, becauſe the Pyrate was ſhot ſo
far a Head on the Weather-Bow, that few of their
Guns could Point to her ; yet in this Interval their
black Flag was either Shot away, or hawled down
a little Space, and hoiſted again.
At length, by their ill Steerage, and Favour of
the Wind, they came near, a ſecond Time ; and
about Two in the Afternoon fhot away their Main-
topmaft.
The Colours they fought under, beſides a black
Flag, were a red Engliſh Enſign, a King's Jack, and
a Dutch Pendant, which they ftruck at, or about,
Three in the Afternoon, and called for Quarters,
ic

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 287
it proving to be a French built Ship of 32 Guns, cal-
led the Ranger
Iſaac Sun,
Ralph Baldrick,
Daniel Maclauglin.
When the Evidence had been heard, the Priſo-
ners were called upon to anſwer, how they came
on Board this Pyrate Ship; and their Reaſon for
ſo audacious a Refiftance, as had been made againſt
the King's Ship
To this, each, in his Reply, owned himſelf to
be one of thoſe taken out of the Ranger ; that he
had ſigned their pyratical Articles, and ſhared in
their Plunder, ſome few only accepted, who had
been there too ſhort a Time. But that neither in
this figning, or sharing, nor in the Reſiſtance
had been made againſt his Majeſty's Ship, had they
been Voluntiers, but had acted in theſe ſeveral
Parts, from a Terror of Death ; which a Law
amongſt them, was to be the Portion of thoſe who
refuſed. The Court then ask'd, who made thoſe
Laws? How thoſe Guns came to be fired? Or why
they had not deſerted their Stations, and mutinied,
when fo fair a Proſpect of Redemption offered ?
They replied ſtill, with the fame Anſwers, and
could extenuate their Crimes, with no other Plea,
than being forced Men. Wherefore the Court
were of Opinion, that the Indi&tment, as it char-
ged them with an unlawful Attack and Reſiſtance
of the King's Ship, was ſufficiently proved; but
then it being undeniably evident, that many of
theſe Priſoners had been forced, and fome of them
of
very fhort ſtanding, they did, on mature Deli-
beration, come to this merciful Reſolution ;
That they would hear further Evidence for, or
againſt, each Perfon fingly, in Relation to thoſe
Parts of the Indi&ment, which declared them Vo-
luntiers

288 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
luntiers, or charged them with aiding and aſſiſting,
at the burning, ſinking, or robbing of other Ships;
for if they acted, or affifted, in any Robberies or
Devaſtations, it would be a Convi&tion they were
Voluntiers ; here ſuch Evidence, though it might
want the Form, ſtill carried the Reaſon of the
Law with it.
1718.
25 Newfoundland
The Charge was exhibited alſo againſt the following
Pyrates taken out of the Royal Fortune.
* Mich. Mare in the Rover 5 Years ago
* Chrif. Moody under Davis
* Mar. Johnſon a Dutch Ship
18.
* James Philips the Revenge Pyrate Sloop 17.
* David Symfon}Pyrates with Davis
* Tbo. Sutton
* Hag. Jacobſon a Dutch Ship
1719
*W. Williams 1
* Wm. Fernon
Sadbury Captain Thomas?
*W. Willams 2
SJune 1720
.
* Roger Scot
* Tho
. Owen }York of Briſtol
* Wm. Taylor
May 1720
* foſeph Nofiter Expedition of Topham
* John Parker Willing Mind of Pool ha
* Robert Crom Happy Return Sloop
George Smith Mary and Martha
Suly 1720
* Ja. Clements Succeſs Sloop
* John Walden Bleſſing of Lymington
* 7o. Mansfield from Martinica
** James Harris Richard Pink
* John Philips a fiſhing Boat
Harry Glasty }Samuel Capt. Cary.
July 1720.
Hugh Menzies
* Wm. Magnus
* jojeph Moon May Flower Sloop
Feb. 1720,
3
S
* John

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
289
} A.
* John du Frock
May
George Danſon
ston
Jaac Rufel
Robert Lilbourn
* Robert Johnſon Jeremiah and Ann, Capt. Ap. 1721.
Wm. Darling
Turner
* Wm. Mead
Thomas Diggles Chriſtopher Snow
* Ben. Jeffreys Norman Galley
John Francia a Sloop at St. Nicholas
Ap. 1721
* D. Harding a Dutch Ship
* John Coleman Adventure Sloop
* Charbes Bunce a Dutch Galley
* R. Armſtrong ditto run from the Swallow j)
* Abra. Harper
* Peter Leſley
* John Jeſup 1
Thomas Watkins
* Philip Bill Onſlovo Capt. Gee at Seftos, May17212
* 7o. Stephenſon
James Cromby
Thomas Garrat
- George Ogle
Roger Gorſuch
Au. 1721.
John Watſon }Martha Snow
William Child
* John Griffin
Mercy Gally at Callabar O&t. 1721.
* Pet. Scudamore
Chrift. Granger
Nicho. Brattle
James White
Tho. Davis
Cornwall Galley at Cal-} ditto,
Tho. Sever
labar
Rob. Bevins
*T.Oughterlaney
David Rice
*
-} disto:
T
Rob

290 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
Oxt. 1721.
Fa. 1721.
*
* Rob. Haws
Foceline Capt. Loane
Hugh Riddle
}Diligence Boat
Stephen Thomas
* John Lane
Sam. Fletcher
*Wm. Philips >King Solomon
ditto.
Jacob Johnſon
John King
Benjamin Par Robinſon Capt. Kanning
ditto.
William May }Elizabeth Capt. Sharp
Ed. Thornden
que
ditto.
George Wilſon Tarlton of Leverpool at
Edward Tarlton
ns
* Robert Hays
Cape la Hou
Thomas Roberts
Fohn Richards Charlton Capt. Allwright Feb. 1721
.
John Cane
Richard Wood
Richard Scot Porcupine Capt. Fletcher
Wm. Daviſon
Whydah Road
Feb.
Sam. Mormell
Edward Evans
* John Jeſſup 2 ſurrender'd up at Princes
.
Feb. 1721.
Y".
You, Harry Glasby, William Daviſon, William Champ-
nies, Samuel Morwell, &c.
E, and every one of you, are, in the Name, and by
the Authority of our moſt dread Sovereign Lord
George, King of Great Britain, inditted as follows.
Foraſmuch as in open Contempt and Violation of the
Laws of your Country, to which ye ought to have been ſub-
ject,) ye have all of you been wickedly united and articled
together, for the Annoyance and Deſtruction of his Ma-
jeſty's trading Subjects by Sea, and in Conformity to ſo wick-
ed an Agreement and Affociation, ye bave been twice lately
down this Coaft of Africa, once in Auguſt, and a ſecond
Time in January laft, Spoiling and deſtroying many Goods
and

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 291
and Veſſels of his Majeſty's Subjects, and other trading
Nations.
Particularly ye ſtand indięted at the Information and
Inſtance of Captain Chaloner Ogle, as Traytors, Rob-
bers, Pyrates, and common Enemies to Mankind.
For that on the roth of February laſt, in a Ship ye
were poſſeſs’d of called the Royal Fortune, of 40 Guns,
ye
did maintain a hoſtile Defence and Reſiſtance for ſome
Hours, againſt his Majeſty's Ship the Swallow, nigh Cape
Lopez Bay, on the Southern Coaſt of Africa.
That this Fight and infolent Refiftance againſt the
King's Ship, was made, not only without any Pretence of
Authority, more than that of your own private depraved
Wills, but was done alſo under a black Flag, flagrantly
by that, denoting your ſelves common Robbers and Traitors,
Oppoſers and Violators of the Laws.
And laſtly, that in this Reſiſtance, ye mere all of you
Voluntiers, and did, as ſuch, contribute your utmoſt Ef-
forts, for diſabling and diſtreſſing the aforeſaid King's
Ship, and deterring his Majeſty's Servants therein, from
their Duty.
To which they ſeverally pleaded, Not Guilty.
Whereupon the Officers of his Majeſty's Ship,
the Swallow, were called again, and teſtified as
follows.
That they had ſeen all the Priſoners now before
the Court, and knew them to be the ſame which
were taken out of one or other of the Pyrate Ships,
Royal Fortune or Ranger, and verily believe them to
be thoſe taken out of the Royal Fortune.
That the Priſoners were poſſeſs’d of a Ship of
40 Guns, called the Royal Fortune, and were at an
Anchor under Cape Lopez, on the coaſt of Africa,
with two others: When his Majeſty's Ship the
Swallow, (to which the Deponents belongd, and were
Officers,) ftood in for the Place, on Saturday the
1oth of February 1721-2: The largeſt had a Jack,
T 2
Enfign

292 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
Enſign and Pendant flying, (being this Royal For-
tune,) who on Sight of them, had their Boats pal-
fing and repaffing, from the other two, which they
ſuppoſed to be with Men: The Wind not favouring
the aforeſaid King's Ship, ſhe was obliged to make
two Trips to gain nigh enough the Wind, to fetch
in with the Pyrates; and being at length little
more than random Shot from them, they found the
flipped her Cable, and got under Sail.
At Eleven, the Pyrate was within Piſtol-Shot, a
Breaſt of them, with a black Flag, and Pendant
hoiſted at their Main-copmaft Head. The Depo-
nents ſay, they then ftruck the French Enſign that
had continued hoiſted at their Staff all the Morn-
ing till then; and diſplay'd the King's Colours,
giving her, at the fanie Time, their Broadſide,
which was immediately returned.
The Pyrate's Mizen-topmaft fell, and ſome of
her Rigging was torn, yet ſhe ſtill out failed the
Man of War, and flid half Gun-Shot from them,
while they continued to fire without Intermiſſion,
and the other to return ſuch Guis as could be
brought to bear, till by favour of the Winds, they
were advanced very nigh again ; and after ex-
changing a few more Shot, about half an Hour paſt
one, his Main-Maſt came down, having received a
Shot a little below the Parrel.
At Two fhe ſtruck her Colours, and called for
Quarters, proving to be a Ship, formerly call'd the
Onfl. 2, but by them, the Royal Fortune ; and the
Priſoners from her, aſſured them, that the ſmalleſt
Ship of the two, then remaining in the Road,
belong'd to them, by the Name of the Little Ran-
which they had deſerted on this Occaſion.
Iſaac Sun,
Ralph Baldrick,
Daniel Maclaughlin.
The

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
293
The Priſoners were asked by the Court, to the
ſame Purpoſe the others had been in the Morn-
ing; what Exception they had to make againſt
what had been ſworn ? And what they had to ſay
in their Defence? And their Reply were much
the ſame with the other Priſoners; that they
were forc'd Men, had not fired a Gun in this Re-
ſiſtance againſt the Swallow, and that what little
Aſſiſtance they did give on this Occaſion, was to
the Sails and Rigging, to comply with the arbi-
trary Commands of Roberts, who had threaten'd,
and they were perſwaded would, have Shot them
on Refuſal.
The Court, to diſpenſe equal Juſtice, mercifully
reſolved for theſe, as they had done for the other
Pyrate Crew; that further Evidence fhould be
heard againft each Man fingly, to the two Points, of
being a Voluntier at firſt, and to their particular
Acts of Pyracy and Robbery ſince: That fo Men,
who had been lately received amongſt them, and
as yet, had not been at the taking, or plundering,
of any Ship, night have the opportunity, and Be-
nefit, of clearing their Innocence, and not fall pro-
miſcuouſly with the Guilty.
By Order of the Court,
John Atkins, Regiſter.
Wm. Magnes, Tho. Oughterlauney, Wm. Man, Im.
Mackintoſh, Val. Alhplant, John Walden, Iſrael Hind,
Marcus Johnſon, Wm. Petty, Wm. Fernon, Abraham Har-
per, Wm. Wood, Tho. How, John Stephenſon, Ch. Bunce,
and John Griffin.
Againſt the e it was depoſed by Captain Foſeph
Trahern, and George Fenn, his Mate, that they were
all of them, either at the attacking and taking of
the Ship King Solomon, or afterwards at the robbing
and plundering of her, and in this Manner;
T3
That

-94 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
That on the 6th of January laſt their Ship riding
at Anchor near Cape Appollonia in Africa, diſcovered
a Boat rowing towards them, againſt Wind and
Stream, from a Ship that lay about three Miles
to Leeward. They judged from the Number of
Men in her, as ſhe nearer advanced, to be a Pyrate,
and made ſome Preparation for receiving her, be-
lieving, on a nigher View, they would think fit to
withdraw from an Attack that muſt be on their Side
with great Diſadvantage in an open Boat, and a-
gainſt double the Number of Men ; yet by the
Raſhneſs, and the Pufillanimity of his own People
(who laid down their Arms, and immediately cal-
led for Quarter) the Ship was taken, and after-
wards robbed by them.
Preſident. Can you charge your Memory with any
Particulars in the Seizure and Robbery ?
Evidence. We know that Magnes, Quarter-Mafter
of the Pyrate Ship, commanded the Men in this
Boat that took us, and affumed the Authority of or-
dering her Proviſions and Stores out, which being
of different kinds, we ſoon found, were ſeized and
ferit
away
under more particular Directions; for
Main, as Boatſwain of the Pyrate Ship, carried
away two Cables, and ſeveral Coils of Rope, as what
belonged to his Province, beating ſome of our own
Men for not being brisk enough at working in the
Robbery. Petty, as Sail-maker, ſaw to the Sails and
Canvas; Harper, as Cooper to the Cask and Tools; Grif-
fin, to the Carpenter's Stores, and Oughterlauney, as Pi-
lot, having ſhifted himſelf with a Suit of my
Clothes, a new tye Wig, and called for a Bottle of
Wine, ordered the Ship, very arrogantly, to be
ſteered under Commadore Robert's Stern, (I ſuppoſe
to know what Orders there were concerning her.)
So far particularly. In the general, Sir, they were
very outragious and emulous in Miſchief.
Preſident

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 295
Preſident. Mr. Caſtel, acquaint the Court of what
you know in Relation to this Robbery of the King
Solomon ; after what Manner the Pyrate-Boat was
diſpatch'd for this Attempt.
Tho. Caſtel. I was a Priſoner, Sir, with the Pyrates
when their Boat was ordered upon that Service,
and found, upon a Reſolution of going, Word was
paſſed through the Company, Who would go ? And
I ſaw all that did, did it voluntarily; no Compul-
fion, but rather preſſing who ſhould be foremoſt.
The Priſoners yielded to what had been ſworn
about the Attack and Robbery, but denied the lat-
ter Evidence, ſaying, Roberts heltord, and upbrai-
ded them of Cowardice on this very Occafion; and
told fome, they were very ready to ſtep on Board
of a Prize when within Command of the Ship, but
now there ſeem'd to be a Tryal of their Valour,
backward and fearful.
Preſident. So that Roberts forc'd ye upon this
Attack.
Priſoners. Roberts commanded us into the Boat, and
the Quarter-Mafter to rob the Ship; neither of
whoſe Commands we dared to have refuſed.
Preſident. And granting it ſo, thoſe are ſtill your
own Alts, ſince done by Orders from Officers of
your own Election. Why would Men, honeſtly
diſpoſed, give their Votes for ſuch a Captain and
ſuch a Quarter-Mafter as were every Day comman-
ding them on diftaftful Services ?
Here ſucceeded a Silence among the Priſoners, but
at length Fernon very honeſtly own’d, that he did
not give his Vote to Magnes, but to David Sympſon
(the old Quarter-Maſter, for in Truth, ſays he, 1
took Magnes for too honeſt a Man, and unfit for the Bu-
fineſs.
The Evidence was plain and home, and the
Court, without any Heſitation, brought them in
Guilty
I 4
WILL

296 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERT S.
WIE
LIAM Church, Phil. Haak, James
White, Nich.
Brattle, Hugh Riddle, William Thomas, Tho. Ro-
berts, Jo. Richards, fo. Cane, R. Wood, R. Scot, Wm.
Dav Son, Sam. Morwell, Edward Evans, Wm. Guineys,
and 18 French Men.
The four firſt of theſe Priſoners, it was evident
to the Court, ſerved as Muſick on Board the Py-
rate, were forced lately from the ſeveral Merchant
Ships they belonged to; and that they had, du-
ring this Confinement, an uneaſy Life of it, ha-
ving ſometimes their Fiddles, and often their Heads
broke, only for excuſing themſelves, or ſaying
they were tired, when any Fellow took it in his
Head to demand a Tune.
The other Engliſh had been a very few Days on
Board the Pyrate, only from Whydah to Cape Lopez,
and no Capture or Robbery done by them in that
Time. And the French Men were brought with a
Deſign to reconduct their own Ship (or the Little
Ranger in Exchange) to Whydah Road again, and
were uſed like Priſoners; neither quarter'd nor
ſuffered to carry Arms. So that the Court imme-
diately acquieſced in,
Acquitting them.
HO. Sutton, David Sympſon, Chriſtopher Moody,
Phil. Bill, R. Hardy, Hen. Dennis, David Rice
,
Wm. Williams, R. Harris, Geo. Smith, Ed. Watts, fo.
Mitchell and James Barrom.
The Evidence againſt theſe Priſoners, were Geret
de Haen, Maſter of the Fluſhingham, taken nigh
Axim, the Beginning of January laſt.
Benj: Kreft Mafter, and James Groet Mate of the
Gertruycht, takel nigh Gabone in December laſt, and
Mr. Caftel, Wingfield ard others, that had been Pri-
foners with the Pyrates.
The former depoſed, that all theſe Priſoners
(excepting Hardy) were on Board at the Robbery
and Plunder of their Ships, behaving in a vile out-
T
ragious

Caft. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
297
ragious Manner, putting them in bodily Fears,
ſometimes for the Ship, and ſometimes for them-
ſelves; and in particular, Kreft charged it on Sutton,
that he had ordered all their Gunner's Stores out;
on which that Priſoner preſently interrupted, and
faid, he was perjured, That he had not taken half. A
Reply, I believe, not deſigned as any fawcy Way
of jefting, but to give their Behaviour an Appea-
rance of more Humanity than the Dutch would
allow.
From Mr. Caſtel, Wingfield and others, they were
proved to be diſtinguished Men, Men who were
conſulted as Chiefs in all Enterprizes ; belonget
moſt of them to the Houſe of Lords, (as they call'd
it,) and could carry an Authority over others.
The former faid, particularly of Hardy, (Quarter-
Maſter of the Ranger,) that when the Dil gence
Sloop was taken, (whereto he belonged,) none was
buſier in the Plunder, and was the very Man
who ſcuttled and funk that Veffel.
From ſome of the Priſoners acquitted, it was
farther demanded, whether the Acceptance or Re-
fuſal of any Office was not in their own Option?
And it was declared, that every Officer was choſe
by a Majority of Votes, and might refuſe, if he
pleaſed, fince others gladly embraced what brought
with it an additional Share of Prize. Guilty
The Court on the 31ſt of March, remanded
the following fix before them, for Sentence, viz.
Dav. Sympſon, Wm. Magnes, R. Hardy, Thomas Sutton,
Chriſtopher Moody, and Valen. Afhplant.
To whom the Preſident ſpoke to the following
Purpoſe; The Crime of Pyracy, of which all of ye have
been juftly conviếted, is of all other Robberies the moſt ag-
gravating and inhumane, in that being removed from the
Fears of Surprize, in remote and diſtant Parts, ye do
in Wantonneſs of Power often add Cruelty to Theft.
Tyrates

298
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
Pyrates unmoved at Diſtreſs or Poverty, not only Spoil
and rob, but do it from Men needy, and who are purcha-
ſing their Livlihoods thro' Hazards and Difficulties,
which ought rather to move Compaſſion; and what is ſtill
morſe, do often, by Perſwafion or Force, engage the incon-
ſiderate Part of them, to their own and Families Ruin,
removing them from their Wives and Children, and by
that, from the Means that ſhould ſupport them from
Miſery and Want.
To a trading Nation, nothing can be ſo Deſtructive as
Pyracy, or call for more exemplary Puniſhment; beſides,
the national Reflection it infers : It cuts off the Returns
of Induſtry, and thoſe plentiful Importations that alone
can make an Iſland flouriſhing; and it is your Aggra-
vation, that ye have been the Chiefs and Rulers in theſe
licentious and lawleſs Practices.
Homever, contrary to the Meaſures ye have dealt, ye
have been heard with Patience, and tho' little bas, or
poſſibly could, have been ſaid in Excuſe or Extenuation of
your Crimes, yet Charity makes us hope that a true and
ſincere Repentance (which we heartily recommend) may en-
title ye to Mercy and Forgiveneſs, after the Sentence of
the Law has taken Place, which not remains upon me
to pronounce.
OU Dav. Simpſon, William Magnes, R. Hardy,
Tho. Sutton, Chriſtopher Moody, and Val.
Athplant.
Ye, and each of you, are adjudged and ſentenced, to be
carried back to the Place from whence ye came, from thence
to the Place of Execution, without the Gates of this Caſtle
,
and there within the Flood-Marks, to be hangedby the
Neck till ye are decd.
After this, ye, and each of you ſhall be taken down, and
Your Bodies hanged in Chains.
Yº
War-

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
299
;
Warrant for Execution.
URSU ANT to the Sentence given on Saturday,
by the Court of Admiralty, at Cape-Corſo-Caſtle,
againſt Dav, Simpſon, Wm. Magnes, R. Hardy,
Tho. Sutton, Chriſtopher Moody, and Valentine
Athplant.
You are hereby directed to carry the aforeſaid Malefa-
itors to the Place of Execution, without the Gates of this
Caſtle, to Morrow Morning at Nine of the Clock, and
there within the Flood-Marks, cauſe them to be hanged
by the Neck till they are dead, for which, this ſhall be
your
Warrant. Given under my Hand, this ad Day of
April 1722
To Joſeph Gordyn,
Mungo Fieardman.
Provoſt-Marſhal.
The Bodies remove in Chains, to the Gibbets already
erected on the adjacent Hillocks.
M. H.
William Phillips.
T appeared by the Evidence of Captain Jo. Tra-
bern, and George Fenn, Mate of the King Solomon,
that this Priſoner was Boatſwain of the ſame Ship,
when ſhe was attacked and taken off Cape Appollonia,
the oth of January laſt, by the Pyrate's Boat.
When the Boat drew nigh, (they ſay, it was
judged from the Number of Men in her, that they
were Pyrates, and being hailed, anſwered, Defiance;
at which the Commander ſnatched a Muſquet from
one of his Men, and fired, asking them at the ſame
Time, whether they would ſtand by him, to de-
fend the Ship? But the Pyrates returning a Vol-
ley, and crying out, they would give no Quarters
if any Reſiſtance was made; this Priſoner took
upon him to call out for Quarters, without the
Maſter's Confent, and miſlead the reſt to the laying
down their Arms, and giving up the Ship, to half
the Number of Men, and in an open Boat. It was
further

300 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
further evident he became, after this, a Volun-
tier amongſt them. Firſt, becauſe he was preſently
very forward and brisk, in robbing the Ship King
Solomon, of her Proviſions and Stores. Secondly,
becauſe he endeavoured to have his Captain ill
ufed, and laſtly, becauſe he had confeſſed to Fenn,
that he had been obliged to ſign their Articles
that Night, (a Piſtol being laid on the Table, to
fignify he muſt do it, or be ſhot,) when the whole
appeared to be an Untruth from other Evidence,
who alſo aſſerted his being armed in the A&tion
againſt the Swallow.
In anſwer to this, he firſt obſerved upon the
Unhappineſs of being friendleſs in this part of
the World, which, elſewhere, by witneſſing to the
Honeſty of his former Life, would, he believed,
in a great Meafure, have invalidated the wrong Evi-
dence had been given of his being a Voluntier with
the Pyrates. He owns indeed, he made no Appli-
cation to his Captain, to intercede for a Diſcharge,
but excuſes it with faying, he had a diflike to him,
and therefore was ſure that ſuch Application would
have availd him nothing.
The Court obſerved the Pretences of this, and
other of the Pyrates, of a Piſtol and their Articles
being ſerved up in a Difh together, or of their
being miſuſed and forced from an honeſt Service,
was often a Complotment of the Parties, to ren-
der them leſs fufpected of thoſe they came from,
and was to anſwer the End of being put in a News-
Paper or Affidavit: and the Ryrates were ſo ge-
nerous as 10t to refuſe a Compliment to a Brother
that coft them nothing, and, at the fame Time,
ſecured them the beſt Hands, the beſt I call them,
hecauſe ſuch a Dependance made them aft more
boldly. Guilty.
Harry

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
301
TH
Harry Glasby, Maſter.
Here appearing ſeveral Perſons in Court, who
had been taken by Roberts's Ship, whereof
the Priſoner was Maſter, their Evidence was accept-
ed as follows.
Fo. Trahern, Commander of the King Solomon, de-
poſed, the Priſoner, indeed, to act as Maſter of the
Pyrate Ship (while he was under Reſtraint there)
but was obſerved like no Mafter, every one obey-
ing at Diſcretion, of which he had taken Notice,
and complained to him, how hard a Condition it
was, to be a Chief among Brutes; and that he was
weary of his Life, and ſuch other Expreſſions, (110w
out of his Memory,) as fhew'd in him a great
Diſinclination to that Courſe of Living.
fo. Wingfield, a Priſoner with them at Calabar,
ſays the ſame, as to the Quality he aĉted in, but
that he was Civil beyond any of them, and verily
believes, that when the Brigantine he ſerved on
Board of, as a Factor for the African Company, was
voted to be burnt, this Man was the Inſtrument of
preventing it, expreſſing himſelf with a great deal of
Sorrow, for this and the like malicious Rogueries
of the Company he was in; that to him ſhewed,
he had a&ted with Relu&ancy, as one who could
not avoid what he did. He adds further, that when
one Hamilton, a Surgeon, was taken by them, and
the Articles about to be impoſed on him, he op-
poſed, and prevented it. And that Hunter, another
Surgeon, among them, was cleared at the Priſoner's
Inſtance and Perſwafion; from which laft, this De-
ponent had it aſſured to him, that Glasby had once
been under Sentence of Death, on Board of them,
with two more, for endeavouring an Eſcape in the
West-Indies, and that the other two were really ſhot
for it.
Elizabeth

302
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
Elizabeth Trengrove, who was taken a Paſſenger in
the African Company's Ship Onſlow, ſtrengthen’d the
Evidence of the laſt Witneſs, for having heard a
good Character of this Glasby, fhe enquired of the
Quarter-Mafter, who was then on Board a robbing,
whether or no ſhe could ſee him? And he told her,
No ; they never ventured him from the Ship, for he
had once endeavoured his Eſcape, and they had ever
fince continued jealous of him.
Edward Criſp, Captain Trengrove, and Captain Sharp,
who had all been taken in their Turns, acknow-
ledge for themſelves and others, who had unluckily
fallen into thoſe Pyrates Hands, that the good
Uſage they had met with, was chiefly thro the
Priſoner's Means, who often interpoſed, for leaving
ſufficient Stores and Inftruments on Board the Ships
they had robbed, alledging, they were fuperfluous
and unneceſſary there.
Fames White, whoſe Buſineſs was Mufick, and was
on the Poop of the Pyrate Ship in Time of A&tion
with the Smallow, depoſed, that during the Engage-
ment, and Defence ſhe made, he never ſaw the Pri-
foner bufied about the Guns, or giving Orders,
either to the loading or firing of them ; but that he
wholly attended to the ſetting, or trimming, of
the Sails, as Roberts commanded; and that in the
Concluſion, he verily believed him to be the Man
who prevented the Ship’s being blown up, by
ſetting truſty Centinels below, and oppoſing him-
ſelf againſt fuch hot-headed Fellows as had procu-
red lighted Matches, and were going down for that
Tool
Purpoſe.
Tſaac Sun, Lieutenant of the Man of War, depoſed,
that when he came to take Poffeifion of the Prize,
in the King's Boat, he found the Pyrates in a very
diſtracted and divided Condition ; ſome being for
blowing up, and others (who perhaps ſuppoſed
themſelves leaft culpable) oppoſing it: That in
this

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
303
this Confufion he enquired for the Priſoner, of
whom he had before heard a good Character; and
thinks he rendered all the Service in his Power,
for preventing it; in particular, he underſtood by
all Hands, that he had ſeized, and taken, from one
James Philips, a lighted Match, at the Inſtant he
was going down to the Magazine, ſwearing, that
he ſhould ſend them all to H--1 together. He
had heard alſo, that after Roberts was killed, the
Priſoner ordered the Colours to be ftruck, and had
fince ſhowni, how oppoſite his Practice and Principles
had been, by diſcovering who were the greateſt
Rogues among them.
The Priſoner, in his own Defence, ſays, when
he had the Misfortune of falling into the Pyrates
Hands, he was chief Mate of the Samuel, of Lon-
don, Captain Cary; and when he had hid himſelf,
to prevent the Deſign of carrying him away, they
found him, and beat and threw him over-board.
Seven Days afterwards, upon his obje&ing againſt,
and refuſing to fign their Articles, he was cut and
abus’d again: That tho' after this he ingratiated him-
felf, by a more humble Carriage, it was only to make
Lifé eaſy; the Shares they had given him, having
been from Time to Time returned again to ſuch Pri-
ſoners as fell in his Way; till of late, indeed, he had
made a ſmall Reſervation, and had defired Captain
Loan to take two or three Moidores from him, to car-
ry to his Wife. He was once taken, he ſays, at ma-
king his Eſcape, in the West-Indies, and, with two
more, fentenced to be fhot for it, by a drunken
Jury; the latter actually ſuffered, and he was pre-
Terved only by one of the chief Pyrates taking a
fudden Liking to him, and bullying the others. A
fecond time he ran away at Hiſpaniola, carrying
a Pocket Compaſs, for conducting him through
the Woods, but that being a moſt deſolate and
wild Part of the Iſland he fell upon, and he igno-
rant

304
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
rant how to direct his Courſe, was obliged, after
two or three Days wandering, to return towards the
Ship again, denying with egregious Oaths, the De-
ſign he was chargd with, for Fear they ſhould ſhoot
him. From this Time he hopes it will be ſome Ex-
tenuation of his Fault, that moſt of the acquitted
Priſoners can witneſs, they entertained Jealouſies
of him, and Roberts would not admit him into his
Secrets; and withal, that Captain Cary, (and four
other Paſſengers with him) had made Affidavit of
his having been forced from his Employ, which
tho' he could not produce, yet he humbly hoped
the Court would think highly probable from the
Circumſtances offered.
On the whole, the Court was of Opinion Ar-
tiſts had the beſt Pretenſion to the Plea of Force,
from the Neceffity Pyrates are fometinies under
of engaging fuch, and that many parts of his own
Defence had been confirmed by the Evidence, who
had aſſerted he acted with Reluctance, and had
expreſſed a Concern and Trouble for the little
Hopes remained to him, of extricating himſelf
.
That he had uſed all Priſoners (as they were called)
well, at the hazard of ill Uſage to himſelf. That
he had not in any military Capacity aſlifted their
Robberies. That he hai twice endeavoured his
Eſcape, with the utmoſt Danger. Acquitred him.
I
Captain James-Skyrm.
T appeared from the Evidence of ſeveral Pri-
ſoners acquitted, that this Skyrm commanded
the Ranger, in that Defence ſhe made againſt the
King's Ship; that he ordered the Men to their
Quarters, and the Guns to be loaded and fired,
having a Sword in his Hand, to enforce thoſe Com-
mands; and beat ſuch to their Duty whom he
eſpied any way negligent or backward. That
altho' he had loft a Leg in the A&tion, his Temper
was

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERT S.
305
was ſo warm, as to refuſe going off the Deck, till he
found all was loſt.
In his Defence, he ſays, he was forced from a
Mate's Employ on Board a Sloop call’d the Greyhound,
of St. Chriſtophers, O&t. 1720. The Pyrate having drub-
bed him, and broke his Head, only for offering
to go away when that Sloop was diſmiſſed. Cuſtom
and Succeſs had fince indeed blunted, and, in ſome
Meaſure, worn out the Senſe of Shame, but that
he had really for ſeveral Months paſt been fick, and
diſqualified for any Duty, and though Roberts had
forced him on this Expedition much againſt his
Will, yet the Evidence muſt be ſenſible, the Title
of Captain gave him no Pre-eminence, for he could
not be obeyed, though he had often called to them,
to leave off their Fire, when he perceived it to be
the King's Ship:
The Sicknefs he alledged, but more eſpecially the
Circumſtance of loſing his Leg, were Aggravations
of his Fault, fhewing him more alert on ſuch
Occaſions, than he was now willing to be thought :
As to the Name of Captain, if it were allowed to
give him no Precedence out of Battle, yet here
it was proved a Title of Authority; ſuch an Au-
thority as could direct an Engagement againſt the
King's Colours, and therefore he was in the high-
eft Degree, Guilty.
CA
John Walden.
Aptain Foba Trahern, and George Fenn, depoſed,
the Priſoner to be one of the Number, who,
in an open Boat, pyratically affailed, and took their
Ship, and was remarkably buſy at Miſchief, ha-
ving a Pole-Ax in his Hand, which ſerved' him
inſtead of a Key, to all the lock'd Doors and
Boxes he come nigh: Alſo in particular, he cut
the Cable of our Ship, when the other Pyrates
were willing, and bufied at heaving up the Anchor
fay?

306 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
ſaying, Captain, what ſignifies this Trouble of Yo
Hope, and ſtraining in hot Weather , there are
more Anchors at London, and beſides, your Ship is
to be burnt.
William Smith, (a Priſoner acquitted) ſays Wal-
den was known among the Pyrates moſtly, by the
Nick-Name of Miſs Nanney (ironically its pre-
fumed from the Hardneſs of his Temper) that he
was one of the twenty who voluntarily came on
Board the Ranger, in the Chace ſhe made out af-
ter the Swallow, and by a Shot from that Ship, loft
his Leg; his Behaviour in the Fight, till then, be-
ing bold and daring.
The Preſident, called for Harry Glasby, and bid
him relate a Character of the Priſoner, and what
Cuſtom was among them, in Relation to theſe vo-
luntary Expeditions, out of their proper Ship;
and this of going on Board the Ranger, in par-
ticular.
And he gave in for Evidence, that the Priſoner
was looked on as a brisk Hand, (i, e. as he farther
explained it, a ſtanch Pyrate, a great Rogue) that
when the Swallow firſt appeared in Sight, every one
was willing to believe her a Portugueſe, becauſe Su-
gar was very much in Demand, and had made fome
Jarring and Diffention between the two Compa-
nies, (the Fortune's People drinking Punch, when
the Ranger's could not) that Roberts, on Sight of the
Swallom, hailed the new Ranger, and bid them right
Ship, and get under Sail; there is, fays he, Sugar
in the Offing, bring it in, that we may have no
more Mumbling; ordering at the ſame Time the
Word to be paſs'd among the Crew, who would
go to their Affiſtance, and immediately the Boat
was full of Men, to tranſport themſelves.
Preſident. Then every one that goes on Board of
any Prize, does it voluntarily ? Or were there here
any other Reaſons for it?
H.

Capt. BÁRTÃO. ROBERTS: 307
H. Glasby. Every Man is commonly called by Lift:
and inſiſts, in his Turn, to go on Board of a Prizes
becauſe they then are allowed a Shift of Cloaths,
(the beſt they can find) over and above the Divis
dend from the Robbery, and this they are fo far
from being compelled to, that it often becomes
the Occaſion of Conteſt and Quarrel amongſt therti :
But in the preſent, or ſuch like Caſes, where there
appears a Proſpect of Trouble, the Lazy and Times
rous are often willing to decline this Turn, and
yield to their Betters, who thereby eſtabliſh a grea-
ter Credit.
The Priſoner, and the reſt of thoſe Men who
went from the Fortune on Board the Ranger, to af-
fiſt in this Expedition, were Voluntiers, and the
truſtieft Men among us.
Preſident. Were there 10 Jealoufies of the Ranger's
leaving you in this Chace, or at any other Time, in
order to furrender?
H. Glasby. Moſt of the Ranger's Crew were freſh
Men, Men who had been enter'd only ſince their
being on the coaſt of Guiney, and therefore had not
ſo liberal a Share in freſh Provifions, or Wine, as
the Fortune's People, who thought they had born the
Burthen and Heat of the Day, which had giveni
Occafion indeed to ſome Grumblings and Whiſ-
pers, as tho they would take an Opportunity to
leave us, but we never fuppoſed (if they did it
would be with any other Deſign then ſetting up for
themſelves, they having (many of them) behaved
with greater Severity than the old Standers.
The Priſoner appeared undaunted, and rather
ſolicitous, about refting his Stump, than giving
any Anſwer to the Court, or making any Defence
for himſelf, till called upon ; then he related in a
careleſs, or rather hopeleſs Manner, the Circum-
ſtances of his firſt Entrance, being forced, he ſaid,
out of the Bleſſing of Lemmington, at Newfoundlandı
U2
about

308 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
about 12 Months paft; this, he is ſure, moſt of the
old Pyrates knew, and that he was for ſome Time
as ſick of the Change as any Man; but Cuſtom and
ill Company had altered him, owning very frankly,
that he was at the Attack, and taking of the King
Solomon, that he did cut her Cable, and that none
were forced on thoſe Occaſions.
As to the laſt Expedition in the Ranger, he con-
feffes he went on Board of her, but that it was by
Roberts's Order; and in the Chace loaded one Gun,
to bring her to, but when he ſaw it was a Bite, he
declared to his Comrades, that it was not worth
while to refift, forbore firing, and aſſiſted to reeve
the Braces, in order, if they could, to get away, in
which fort of Service he was bufied, when a Shot
from the Man of War took off his Leg : And be-
ing asked, that ſuppoſing the Chace had proved a
Portugueſe? Why then, ſays he, I dont know what
I might have done, intimating withal, that every
Body then would have been ready enough at
plundering. Guilty....
SOLO
Peter Scudamore.
Arry Glasby, Jo. Wingfield, and Nicholas Brattle,
depoſe thus much, as to his being a Voluntier
with the Pyrates, from Capt. Rolls, at Calabar. Firſt,
That he quarrelled with Moody, (one of the Heads
of the Gang) and fought with him, becauſe he
oppoſed his going, asking Rolls, in a leering man-
ner,
whether he would not be ſo kind, as to put
him into the Gazette, when he came Home. And,
at another Time, when he was going from the
Pyrate Ship, in his Boat, a Turnado aroſe, I wiſh,
ſays he, the Raſcal may be drowned, for he is a great
Rogue, and has endeavoured to do me all the ill Offices he
could among theſe Gentlemen, (i.e. Pyrates.)
And ſecondly, That he had ſigned the Pyrate's
Articles with a great deal of Alacrity, and gloried
H Η
in

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 309
in having been the firſt Surgeon that had done fo,
(for before this, it was their Cuſtom to change
their Surgeons, when they deſired it, after ha-
ving ſerved a Time, and never obliged them to
fign, but he was reſolved to break thro' this, for
the good of thoſe who were to follow,) ſwearing im-
mediately upon it, he was now, he hoped, as great a
Rogue as any of them.
Captain Jo. Trahern, and George Fenn, his Mate,
depoſed, the Priſoner to have taken out of the
King Solomon, their Surgeon's capital Inſtruments,
ſome Medicines, and a Back-Gammon Table; which
latter became the Means of a Quarrel between one
Wincon, and he, whoſe Property they ſhould be, and
were yielded to the Priſoner.
fo. Sharp, Maſter of the Elizabeth, heard the
Priſoner ask Roberts leave to force Comry, his Sur-
geon, from him, which was accordingly done, and
with him, carried alſo ſome of the Ship’s Medi-
cines: But what gave a fuller Proof of the diſho-
nefty of his Principles, was, the treacherous De-
fign he had formed of running away with the
Prize, in her Paſſage to Cape Corſo, though he had
been treated with all Humanity, and very unlike
a Priſoner, on Account of his Employ and better
Education, which had rendred him leſs to be fuf-
pected.
Mr. Child, (acquitted) depos’d, that in their Paſ-
fage from the Iſland of St. Thomas, in the Fortune
Prize, this Priſoner was ſeveral Times tempting
him, into Meaſures of riſing with the Negroes,
and killing the Swallow's People, Shewing him,
how eaſily the white Men might be demoliſhed,
and a new Company raiſed at Angola, and that
Part of the Coaft, for, ſays he, I underſtand how to
navigate & Ship, and can ſoon teach you to ſteer ;
and is it not better to do this, than to go back to
Cape-Corſo, and be hanged and Sun-dryed ? To
which
U 3

310 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
which the Deponent replying, he was not afraid
of being hanged, Scudamore bid him be ſtill, and 110
Harm ſhould come to him ; but before the next
Day-Evening, which was the deſigned Time of
executing this Project, the Deponent diſcovered it
to the officer, and aſſured him, Scudamore had been
talking all the preceeding Night to the Negroes, in
Angolan Language.
Iſaac Buinet heard the Priſoner ask James Harris,
a Pyrate, (left with the wounded in the Prize,
whether he was willing to come into the Project of
running away with the Ship, and endeavour the
raiſing of a new Company, but turned the Dif-
courſe to Horſe Racing, as the Deponent crept
nigher; he acquainted the Officer with what he
had heard, who kept the People under Arms all
Night, their Apprehenſions of the Negroes not be-
ing groundleſs ; for many of them having lived a
long Time in this pyratical Way, were, by the thin
Commons they were now reduced to, as ripe for
Miſchief as any,
Brno
The Priſoner in his Defence ſaid, he was a forced
Man from Captain Rolls, in October laſt, and if he
had not ſhewn ſuch a Concern as became him, at
the Alteration, he muſt remark the Occaſion to
be, the Diſagreement and Enmity between them
but that both Roberts, and Val. Afhplant, threațned
him into figning their Articles, and that he did it
in Terror
The King Solomon, and Elizabeth Medicine-Cheſt,
he owns he plundered, by Order of Hunter, the
then chief Surgeon, who, by the Pyrates Laws,
always directs in this Province, and Mr. Child,
(tho acquitted) had by the fame Orders taken
out a whole French Medicine-Cheſt, which he muſt
be ſenſible for me, as well as for himſelf, we rei-
ther of us dared to have denied ; it was their
being the proper Judges, made ſo ungrateful an
Office

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS, 311
a
Office impoſed. If after this he was elected chief
Surgeon himſelf, both Comry and Wilſon were ſet
up alſo, and it might have been their chance to
have carried it, and as much out of their Power
to have refuſed.
As to the rAttempt of rifing and running away
with the Prize, he denies, it altogether as untrue;
few foolifh Words, but only by Way of Suppo-
fition, that if the Negroes ſhould take it in their
Heads (conſidering the Weakneſs, and ill look-out
that was kept ; ) it would have been an eaſy
Matter, in his Opinion for them to have done it;
but that he encouraged ſuch a Thing, was falſe,
his talking to them in the Angolan Language, was
only a Way of ſpending his Time, and trying his
Skill to tell twenty, he being incapable of fur-
ther Talk. As to his underſtanding Navigation,
he had frequently acknowledg?d it to the Deponent
Child, and wonders he ſhould now ſo circumfran-
tiate this Skill againſt him. Guilty.
I
Robert Johnſon
T appeared to the Court, that the Priſoner was
one of the twenty Men, in that Boat of the
Pyrates, which afterwards robb’d the King Solomon,
at an Anchor near Cape Appollonia: That all Py-
rates on this, and the like Service, were Volun-
tiers, and he, in particular, had conteſted his going
on Board a ſecond Time, tho' ouć of his Turn.
The Priſoner in his Defence, called for Harry
Glasby, who witneſſed to his being ſo very drunk,
when he firſt came among their Crew, that they
were forced to hoiſt him out of one Ship into
the other, with a Tackle, and therefore without
his Conſent; but had ſince been a truſty Man, and
was placed to the Helm, in that running Battle
they made with the Swallow.
VA
He

312 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
He infifted for himſelf likewiſe, on Captain Tura
ner's Affidavit of his being forced, on which others
(his Ship-mates) had been cleared.
The Court conſidering the Partiality that might
be objected in acquitting one, and condemning
another of the fame ſtanding, thought fit to re-
mark it as a clear Teſtimony of their Integrity,
that their Care and Indulgence to each Man, in
allowing his particular Defence, was to exempt
from the Rigour of the Law, ſuch, who it muſt be
allowed, would have ſtood too promiſcuouſly con-
demned, if they had not been heard upon any
other Fact than that of the Swallow; and herein what
could better direct them, than a Character and
Behaviour from their own Aſſociates ; for tho?
a voluntary Entry with the Pyrates may be doubt-
ful, yet his conſequent A&tions are not, and it is
not ſo material how a Man comes among Pyrates, as
how he acts when he is there.
Guilty.
J
George Wilſon.
OHN Sharp, Maſter of the Elizabeth, in which
Ship the Priſoner was Paſſenger, and fella ſecond
Time into the Pyrates Hands, depoſes, that he
took the ſaid Wilſon off from Seftos, cn this Coaft,
paying to the Negroes for his Ranfom, the Value
of three Pound five Shillings in Goods, for which
he had taken a Note, that he thought he had done
a charitable A& in this, till meeting with one
Captain Canning, he was ask'd, why he would re-
leaſe ſuch a Rogue as Wilfon was? For that he had
been a Voluntier with the Pyrates, out of fohn
Tarlton. And when the Deponent came to be a Pri-
foner himſelf, he found Thomas, the Brother of
this "John Tarlton, a Priſoner with the Pyrates alſo,
who was immediately on Wilſon’s Inſtigation, in a
moſt fad manner miſuſed and beat, and had been
shot, through the Fury and Rage of ſome of thoſe
Fellows

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
313
Fellows, if the Town-fide, (i. e. Liverpool) Men, had
not hid him in a Stay-Sail, under the Bowſprit ;
for Moody and Harper, with their Piſtols cock,
ſearched every Corner of the Ship to find him,
and came to this Deponent's Hammock, whom
they had like fatally to have miſtaken for Tarlton,
but on his calling out, they found their Error,
and left him with this comfortable Anodyne, That
he was the honeſt Fellow who brought the Doctor.
At coming away, the Priſoner asked about his
Note, whether the Pyrates had it or no ? Who not
being able readily to tell, he reply'd, it's no Mat-
ter Mr. Sharp, I believe I ſhall hardly ever come to
England to pay it.
dan midsog bad
Adam Comry, Surgeon of the Elizabeth, ſays, that
altho' the Priſoner had, on Account of his Indiſpod
ſition and Want, received many Civilities from
him, before meeting with the Pyrates, he yet un-
derſtood it was thro' his and Scud'amore's Means,
that he had been compelled among them : The Pri-
foner was very alert and chearful, he ſays, at meet-
ing with Roberts, hailed him, told him he was
glad to ſee him, and would come on Board pre-
fently, borrowing of the Deponent a clean Shirt
and Drawers, for his better Appearence and Re-
ception; he figned their Articles willingly, and uſed
Arguments with him to do the ſame, ſayias,
they ſhould make their Voyage in eight Months,
to Braſil, Share 6 or 7col. a Man, and then break-
up. Again, when the Crew came to an Election of a
chief Surgeon, and this Deponent was fet up with
the others, Wilſon told him, he hoped he ſhould
carry it from Scudamore, for that a quarter Share
(which they had more than others) would be
worth looking after ; but the Deponent miſſed
the Preferment, by the good Will of the Ranger's
People, who, in general, voted for Scudamore, to get
rid

314 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
rid of him, (the chief Surgeon being always to re-
main with the Commadore.)
on
It appeared likewiſe by the Evidence of Captain
Jo. Trabern, Tho. Caſtel, and others, who had been
taken by the Pyrates, and thence had Opportu-
nities of obſerving the Priſoners Conduct, that
he ſeem'd thoroughly ſatisfy'd with that Way of
Life, and was particularly intimate with Roberts ;
they often ſcoffing at the Mention of a Man of
War, and ſaying, if they ſhould meet with any
of the Turnip-Man's Ships, they would blow up,
and go to Hll together. Yet ſetting afide theſe
lilly Freaks, to recommend himſelf, his Lazineſs
had got him many Enemies, even Roberts told him,
(on the Complaint of a wounded Man, whom he
had refuſed to dreſs) that he was a double Rogue,
to be there a ſecond Time, and threat'ned to cut
his Ears off.
The Evidence further aſſured the Court, from
Captain Thomas Tarlton, that the Priſoner was ta-
ken out of his Brother's Ship, ſome Months be-
fore, a firſt Time, and being forward to oblige
his new Company, had preſently ask'd for the Py.
rates Boat, to fetch the Medicine Cheft away ;
when the Wind and Current proving too hard to
contend with, they were drove on Shore at Cape
Montzerado.
The Priſoner called for William Darling, and Samu-
Sel Morwel, (acquitted) and Nicholas Butler.
William Darling depoſed, the firſt Time the Pri-
foner fell into their Hands, Roberts miſtook him for
Jd. Tarlton the Maſter, and being informed it was the
Surgeon who came to repreſent him, (then indiſ-
poſed,) he preſently ſwore he fhould be his Meſs-
Mate, to which Wilſon reply'd, he hop'd not, he had
a Wife and Child, which the other laughed at ;
and tlvat he had been two Days on Board, before he
went

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
315
went in that Boat, which was drove on Shore at
Cape Montzerado. And at his ſecond coming, in
the Elizabeth, he heard Roberts order he ſhould be
brought on Board in the firſt Boat.
Samuel Morwel fays, that he has heard him be-
wail his Condition, while on Board the Pyrate,
and deſired one Thomas, to uſe his Intereſt with
Roberts, for a Diſcharge, ſaying, his Employ, and
the little Fortune he had left at Home, would, he
hop'd, exempt him the further Trouble of ſeeking
his Bread at Sea.
Nicholas Butler, who had remained with the Py-
rates about 48 Hours, when they took the French
Ships at Whydah, depoſes, that in this Space the
Priſoner addreſſed him in the French Language, ſeve-
ral Times, deploring the Wretchedneſs and ill For=
tune of being confined in ſuch Company.
The Priſoner defiring Liberty of two or three
Queſtions, ask'd, whether or no he had not expo-
ftulated with Roberts, for a Reaſon of his obliging
Surgeons to fign their Articles, when heretofore
they did not ; Whether he had not expreſſed him-
ſelf glad of having formerly eſcaped from them?
Whether he had not ſaid, at taking the Ships
in Whydah Road, that he could like the Sport,
were it lawful ? And whether if he had not told
him, ſhould the Company diſcharge any Surgeon,
that he would infift on it as his Turn? The Depo-
nent anſwered, Yes, to every Queſtion ſeparately ;
and farther, that he believes Scudamore had not ſeen
Wilſon when he firſt came and found him out of the
Elizabeth. Stanos
sobre
He added, in his own Defence, that being Surgeon
with one John Tarlton, of Leverpool, he was met a firſt
Time on this Coaſt of Guiney, by Roberts the Pyrate;
who, after a Day or two, told him, to his Sorrow,
that he was to ſtay there, and ordered him to fetch
his Cheſt, (1ọt Medicines, as aſſerted,) which Op-
portu-

316 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
portunity he took to make his Eſcape; for the
Boat's Crew happening to conſiſt of five French and
one Engliſh Man, all as willing as himſelf, they
agreed to puſh the Boat on Shore, and truſt them-
felves with the Negroes of Cape Montzerado: Hazar-
dous, not only in Reſpect of the dangerous Seas
that run there, but the Inhumanity of the Natives,
who fometimes take a liking to huniane Carcaſſes.
Here he remained five Months, till Thomas Tarlton,
Brother to his Captain chanced to put in the Road
for Trade, to whom he repreſented his Hardſhips
and ſtarving Condition ; but was, in an unchriſtian
Manner, both refuſed a Releaſe of this Captivity,
or ſo much as a ſmall Supply of Biſcuit and ſale
Meat, becauſe, as he ſaid, he had been among the
Pyrates. A little Time after this, the Maſter of a
French Ship paid a Ranſom for him, and took him
off; but, by Reaſon of a naſty leperous Indiſpoſi-
tion he had contracted by hard and bad living,
was, to his great Misfortune fet afhore at Seſtos
again, when Captain Sharp met him, and generouſly
procured his Releaſe in the Manner himſelf has
related, and for which he ſtands infinitely obli-
ged.That ill Luck threw him a ſecond Time into
the Pyrate's Hands, in this Ship Elizabeth, where he
met Thomas Tarlton, and thoughtleily uſed fome Re-
proaches of him, for his ſevere Treatment at Mont-
zerado; but proteſts without Deſign his Words
fhould have had ſo bad a Conſequence; for Ro-
berts took upon him, as a Diſpenſer of Juſtice, the
Correction of Mr. Tarlton, beating him unmercifully;
and he hopes it will be belived, contrary to any
Intention of his it ſhould fo happen, becauſe as a
Stranger he might be fuppoſed to have no Influ-
ence,
and believes there were ſome other Motives
for it. --- He cannot remember he expreffed him-
ſelf glad to ſee Roberts this ſecond Time, or that
he dropped thoſe Expreſſions about Comry, as
are

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
317
are fworn; but if immaturity of Judgment had oc-
cafioned him to flip raſh and inadvertent Words,
or that he had paid any undue Compliments to
Roberts, it was to ingratiate himſelf, as every Pri-
foner did, for a more civil Treatment, and in
par-
ticular to procure his Diſcharge, which he had been
promiſed, and was afraid would have been revo-
ked, if ſuch a Perſon as Comry did not remain there
to ſupply his Room; and of this, he ſaid, all the
Gentlemen (meaning the Pyrates) could witneſs
for him.
He urged alſo his Youth in Excuſe for his Rafh-
neſs. The firſt time he had been with them (on-
ly a Month in all,) and that in no military Employ;
but in particular, the Service he had done in diſco-
vering the Deſign the Pyrates had to riſe in their
Paſſage on Board the Swallow. Guilty.
But Execution reſpited till the King's Pleaſure
be known, becauſe the Commander of the Swallow
had declared, the firſt Notice he received of this
Deſign of the Pyrates to riſe, was from him.
Benjamin Jefferys .
Y the Depoſitions of Glasby and Lillburn (acquit-
his Drunkenneſs was what at first detained him from
going away in his proper Ship, the Norman Galley ;
and next Morning, for having been abuſive in his
Drink; ſaying to the Pyrates, there was not a Man
amongſt them, he received for a Welcome, fix
Laſhes from every perſon in the Ship, which diſ-
ordered him for ſome Weeks, but on Recovery
was made Boatſwain's Mate; the ſerving of which,
or any Office on Board a Pyrate, is at their own
Option, (tho' elected,) becauſe others are glad to ac-
cept what brings an additional Share in Prize.
'The

318
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
it,
The Deponents further ſay, that at Sierraleon eve-
ry Man had more eſpecially the Means of eſcaping;
and that this Priſoner, in particular, neglected
and came off from that place after their Ship was
under Sail, and going out of the River.
The Priſoner, in his Defence, proteſts, he was at
firſt forc’d; and that the Office of Boatſwain's Mate
was impoled on him, and what he would have been
glad to have relinquiſh’d. That the barbarous
Whipping he had received from the Pyrates at firft,
was for telling them, that none who could get
their Bread in an honeſt Way, would be on ſuch an
Account. And he had certainly taken the Oppor-
tunity which preſented at Sierraleon, ofridding him-
ſelf from fo diftaftful a Life, it there had not
been three or four of the old Pyrates on Shore
at the ſame Time, who, he imagined, muſt know
of him, and would doubtleſs have ſerved him the
fame, if not worſe, than they fince had done Wila
liam Williams; who, for ſuch a Deſign, being de-
livered up by the treacherous Natives, had re-
ceived two Laſhes thro' the whole Ship’s Company.
The Court obſerved, the Excuſes of theſe Pya
rates, about want of Means to eſcape, was often-
times as poor and evaſive as their Pleas of being
forced at firſt; for here, at Sierraleon, every Man
had his Liberty on Shore, and it was evident,
might have kept it, if he, or they, had fo pleaſed.
And ſuch are further culpable, who having
been
introduced into the Society, by ſuch uncivil Me-
thods, as whipping, or beating, negle&t leſs likely
Means of regaining Liberty; it thews ſtrong In-
clinations to Diſhoneſty, and they ſtand inexcu-
ſably, Guilty. vel sus
Fo. Mansfield.
T was proved againſt this Priſoner, by Captain
Trabern and George Fenn, that he was one of
thoſe Voluntiers who was at the Attack and Rob-
bery
IT

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
319
bas
bery of the Company's Ship, called the King Solo-
mons That he bully'd well among them who dar'd
not make any Reply, but was very eaſy with his
Friends, who knew him ; for Moody, on this Occa-
fion, took a large Glaſs from him, and threatned
to blow his Brains out, (a favourite Phraſe with
theſe Pyrates) if he muttered at it.
From others acquitted, it likewiſe appeared, that
he was at firft a Voluntier among them, from an
Ifland calld Dominico, in the Weſt-Indies, and had
to recommend himſelf, told them, he was a Deſer-
ter from the Roſe Man of War, and before that,
had been on the High-Way; he was always drunk,
they ſaid, and ſo bad at the Time they met with
the Swallow, that he knew nothing of the Action,
but came up vapouring with his Cutlaſh, after
the Fortune had ftruck her Colours, to know who
would ga on Board the Prize; and it was ſome
Time before they could perſwade him into the
Truth of their Condition.
He could ſay little in Defence of himſelf, ac-
knowledg'd this latter Part of Drunkenneſs; a Vice,
he ſays, that had too great a Share in inſnaring him
into this Courſe of Life, and had been a greater Mo-
tive with him than Gold. Guilty.
W
William Davis.
Illiam Allen depoſed, he knew this Priſoner
V-at Sierraleon, belonging to the Ann Galley;
that he had a Quarrel with, and beat the Mate of
that Ship, for which (as he ſaid) being afraid to
return to his Duty, he conforted to the idle Cu-
ftoms and Ways of living among the Negroes,
from whom he received a Wife, and ungratefully
fold her, one Evening, for ſome Punch to quench
his Thirst. After this, having put himſelf under
the Protection of Mr. Plunket, Governor there for
the Royal African Company: The Relations and
Friends

320 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
3
Friends of the Woman, apply'd to him for Re
dreſs, who immediately, ſurrendered the Priſoner,
and told them, he did not care if they took his
Head off ; but the Negroes wiſely judging it would
not fetch ſo good a Price, they fold him in his
Turn again to Seignior Joffee, a Chriftian Black,
and Native of that Place; who expected and agreed
for two Years Service from him, on Confideration
of what he had disburſed, for the Redemption of
the Woman: But long before the Expiration of this
Time, Roberts came into Sierraleon River, where the
Priſoner, (as Seignior Joffee aſſured the Deponent,)
entered a Voluntier with them.
The Deponent further corroborates this part of
the Evidence; in that he being obliged to call at
Cape Mount, in his Paſſage down hither, met there
with two Deſerters from Roberts’s Ship, who aſſured
him of the fame, and that the Pyrates did deſign to
turn Davis a way the next Opportunity, as an idle
good-for-nothing Fellow.
From Glasby and Lilburn, it was evident, that
every Pyrate, while they ſtay'd at Sierraleon, went
on Shore at Diſcretion. That Roberts had often
aſſured Mr. Glyn and other Traders, at that place,
that he would force no Body; and in ſhort, there
was no Occaſion for it; in particular, the Priſoner's
Row-Mate went away, and thinks, he might have
done the ſame, if he had pleaſed.
The Priſoner alledged his having been detained
againſt his Will, and ſays, that returning with Ele-
phants Teeth for Sierraleon, the Pyrate's Boat pur-
ſued and brought him on Board, where he was kept
on Account of his underſtanding the Pilotage and
Navigation of that River. Ton
It was obvious to the Court, not only how fri-
volous Excuſes of Conſtraint and Force were
among theſe People, at their firſt commencing Py-
rates, but alſo it was plain to them, froin theſe
two

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
321
two Deſerters, met at Cape Mount; and the dif-
cretional Manner they lived in, at Sierraleon ; thro"
how little Difficulty ſeveral of then did, and
others might, have eſcaped afterwards, if they
could but have obtained their own Conſents for it.
Guilty
This is the Subſtance of the Tryals of Robertsºs
Crew, which may ſuffice for others, that occcur in
this Book. The foregoing Liits, fhews, by a * be
fore the Names, who were condemn'd; thoſe
Names with a f were referred for Tryal to the
Marſhalſed, and all the reſt were acquitted:
The following Pyrates were executed, according to
their Sentence, without the Gates of Cape Corſo
Caſtle, within the Flood-Marks, vizi
Mens Nanies Years of Habitations,
Age
William Magnes
35 Minehead
Richard Hardy
25 Wales.
David Sympſon
36 North-Bertbick:
Chriſtopher Moody 28
Thomas Sutton
23 Berwick.
Valentine Aſhplant
32 Minories:
Peter de Vine
42 Stepney.
William Philips
29 Lower-Shadweli
27 St. Thomas's .
William Main
28
William Mackintofle
21 Canterbury
William Williams
40 nigh Plymouth.
Robert Harps
31 Yarmouth.
William Petty
30 Deptford.
John Jaynſon 22 nigh Lancaſtera
Marcus Johnson 21 Smyrna
Robert Croto
44 Iſle of Man
Michael Maer
di Ghent.
X
Daniel
Philip Bill

322 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
44 Wales.
Daniel Harding
26 Croomsbury in Somerſet fhire.
William Fernon 22 Somerſetfhire.
Fo. More
19 Meer in Wiltſhire.
Abraham Harper
23 Briſtol.
Fo. Parker
22 Winfred in Dorſetſhire.
Jo. Philips
28 Alloway in Scotland,
James Clement 20 Jerſey.
Peter Scudamore
35 Briſtol.
James Skyrm
John Walden
24 Somerſetſhire.
fo. Stephenſon
40 Whitby.
Fo. Mansfield 30 Orkneys.
Ifrael Hynde
30 Briſtol.
Peter Leſley
21 Aberdeen.
Charles Bunce
26 Exeter.
Robert Birtfon
30 Other St.Maries Devonſhire.
Richard Harris
Foſeph Nofiter 26 Sadbury in Devonſhire.
William Williams
30 Speechleſs at Execution.
Agge Jacobſon
30 Holland.
Benjamin Fefferys 21 Briſtol.
Cuthbert Goſs
21 Topſham.
John Jeſſup
20 Plymouth.
Edward Watts
22 Dunmore.
Thomas Giles
26 Mine-head.
William Wood
27 York.
Thomas Armſtrong
34 London, executed on board
the Weymouth.
Robert Johnſon
32 at Whydah.
George Smith
William Watts
23 Ireland.
James Philips 35 Antegoa.
Fohn Coleman
Wales.
Robert Hays
20 Liverpool.
William Davis
45 Cornwall.
25 Wales.
24
23 Wales.
The Remainder of the Pyrates, whoſe Names are
under mentioned, upon their humble Petition to
the

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 323
the Court, had their Sentence changed from Death,
to ſeven Years Servitude, conformable to our Sen-
tence of Tranſportation; the Petition is as follows.
To the Honourable the Preſident and fudges of
the Court of Admiralty, for trying of Pyrates,
fitting at Cape Corfo-Caſtle. the 20th Day of
April, 1722.
The humble Petition of Thomas How, Samuel
Fletcher, &c.
T"
Humbly ſheweth,
THAT
your
Petitioners being unhappily, and unwari-
ly drawn into that wretched and deteſtable Crime
of Pyracy, for which they noin ſtand juſly condemned, they
most humbly pray the Clemency of the Court, in the Miti
gation of their Sentence, that they may be permitted to
ſerve the Royal African Company of England, in this
Country for ſeven years, in ſuch a Manner as the Court
Shall think proper ; that by their just Puniſhment, being
made ſenſible of the Error of their former Ways, they will
for the future become faithful Subjects, good Servants, and
uſeful in their Stations, if it pleaſe the Almighty to pro-
long their Lives.
And your Petitioners, as in Duty, &c.
The Reſolution of the Court was,
HAT the Petitioners have Leave by this Court of Ada
miralty, to interchange Indentures with the Captain
General of the Gold Coaſt, for the Royal African Com-
pany, for ſeven Years Servitude, at any of the Royal Afri-.
can Company's Settlements in Africa, in ſuch Manner as
he the said Captain General ſhall think proper.
On Thurſday the 26th Day of April, the Indentures
being all drawn out, according to the Grant made to the
X2
Petitia

324 Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
Petitioners, by the Court held on Friday the 20th of this
Inſtant; each Priſoner was ſent for up, figned, ſealed and
exchanged them in the Preſence of
Captain Mungo Herdmanı, Preſident,
James Phipps, Eſq;
Mr. Edward Hyde,
Mr. Charles Fanſhaw,
And Mr. John Atkins, Regiſter.
A Copy of the Indenture.
The Indenture of a Perſon condemned to ſerve
abroad for Pyracy, which, upon the humble
Petition of the Pyrates therein mentioned, was
moſt mercifully granted by his Imperial Majeſty's
Commiſſioners and Judges appointed to hold a
Court of Admiralty, for the Tryal of Pyrates
at Cape Corſo-Caſtle, in Africa, upon Condition of
ſerving ſeven Years, and other Conditions, are as
follows, viz.
HIS Indenture made the twenty fixth Day of April
,
THAN
Anno Regni Regis Georgii magnæ Britanniæ,
Cc. Septimo, Domini, Milleffino, Sepcenteſimo
viginti duo, between Roger Scot, late of the City of
Briſtol Mariner, of the one Part, and the Royal African
Company of England, their Captain General and Com-
mander in Chief, for the Time being, on the other Part,
Witneſſeth, that the ſaid Roger Scot, doth bereby co-
venant,
and
agree to, and with, the ſaid Royal African
Company, their Captain General, and Commander in chief
for the Time being, to ſerve him, or his lawful Succeſſors
,
in any of the Royal African Company's Settlements on
the Coast of Africa, from the Day of the Date of theſe
Preſents, to the full Term of ſeven Years, from bence next
enſuing, fully to be compleat and ended, there to ſerve in
Such Employment, as the ſaid Captain General, or bis Suc-
ceffors

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. 325
ceffors ſhall employ him; according to the Cuſtom of the Coun-
try in like Kind.
In Confideration whereof, the ſaid Captain General, and
Commander in chief doth covenant and agree, to, and with,
the ſaid Roger Scot, to find and allow him Meat, Drink,
Apparel and
Lodging, according to the Cuſtom of the Country.
In witneſs whereof, the Parties aforeſaid, to theſe Pre-
ſents, have interchangably put their Hands and Seals, the
Day and Year first above written.
Signed, ſealed and delivered, in the Preſence of us, at
Cape Corſo-Caſtle, in Africa, where no ſtamp'd
Paper was to be had.
Mungo Heardman, Preſident, } Witneſſes.
John Atkins, Regiſter,
In like Manner was drawn out and exchanged
the Indentures of
T"
Homas How of Barnſtable, in the County of Devon.
Samuel Fletcher of East-Smithfield, London.
John Lane of Lombard-Street, London,
David Littlejohn of Briſtol.
John King of Shadwell Pariſh, London.
Henry Dennis of Bidiford.
Hugh Harris of Corf-Caſtle, Devonſhire.
William Taylor of Briſtol.
Thomas Owen of Briſtol.
John Mitchel of Shadwell Pariſh, London.
Folloua Lee of Leverpool.
William Shuren of Wapping Pariſh, London,
Robert Hartley of Leverpool.
John Griffin of Blackwall, Middleſex.
Fames Cromby of London, Wapping.
James Greenham of Marſhfield, Glouceſterſhire.
John Horn of St. James's Pariſh, London.
John Jesſop of Wisbich, Cambridgſhire.
David Rice of Briſtole
None
X 3

326
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
None of which, i hear, are now living, two
others, viz. George Wilſon and Thomas Oughterlaney,
were reſpited from Execution, till his Majeſty's
Pleaſure fhould be known; the former dy'd a-
broad, and the latter came Home, and received
his Majeſty's Pardon; the Account of the whole
ſtands thus,
Acquitted,
74
Executed,
52
Reſpited,
To Servitude,
To the Marſhalſea,
Kill'd
,
,
in the Paſſage to Cape Corſo, 15
Dy'd afterwards in the Caſtle,
Negroes in both Ships,
2
20
17
10
3
4
70
Total, 276
I am not ignorant how acceptable the Behaviour
and dying Words of Malefactors are to the
gene-
rallity of our Countrymen, and therefore fhall de
liver what occurr'd, worthy of Notice, in the Beha-
haviour of theſe Criminals.
The firſt fix that were called to Execution,
were Magnes, Moody, Sympſon, Sutton, Aſhplant, and
Hardy; all of them old Standers and notorious Of-
fenders : When they were brought out of the Hold,
on the Parade, in order to break off their Fet-
ters, and fit the Halters; none of them, it was
obſerved, appeared the leaſt dejected, unleſs Sut-
ton, who ſpoke faint, but it was rather imputed to
a Flux that had ſeiz'd him two or three Days be-
fore, than Fear. A Gentleman, who was Surgeon
of the Ship, was ſo charitable at this Time, to of-
fer himſelf in the room of an Ordinary, and repre-
ſented to them, as well as he was able, the Heinouſneſs
of their Sin, and Neceffity which lay on them of Re-
pentance

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS. .
327
pentance; one particular Part of which ought to
be, acknowledging the Juſtice they had met with.
They ſeem'd heedleſs for the preſent, ſome calling
for Water to drink, and others applying to the
Soldiers for Caps, but when this Gentleman
preſs'd them for an Anſwer, they all exclaim'd
againſt the Severity of the Court, and were ſo
harden'd, as to curſe, and with the ſame Juſtice
might overtake all the Members of it, as had been
dealt to them. They were poor Rogues, they ſaid, and
fo hang’d, while others, no leſs guilty in another Way,
eſcaped.
When he endeavoured to compoſe their Minds,
exhorting them to dye in Charity with all the
World, and would have diverted them from ſuch
vain Diſcourſe, by asking them their Country,
Age, and the like; fome of them anſwered, 'What
was that to him, they ſuffered the Law, and ſhould
give no Account but to God;' walking to the Gal-
lows without a Tear, in Token of Sorrow for
their paſt Offences, or fhewing as much Concern
as a Man would expreſs at travelling a bad Road;
nay, Sympſon, at feeing a Woman that he knew, ſaid,
he had lain with that B-h three times, and now
ſhe was come to ſee him hang’d.' And Hardy,
when his Hands were tyd behind him, (which
happened from their not being acquainted with the
Way of bringing Malefactors to Execution) ob-
ſerved, that he had ſeen many a Man hang’d, but
this Way of the Hands being tyd behind them, he
was a Stranger to, and never ſaw before in his
Life.' I mention theſe two little Inſtances, to
fhew how ftupid and thoughtleſs they were of
their End, and that the ſame abandoned and re-
probate Temper that had carried them thro' their
Rogueries, abided with them to the laſt.
Samuel Fletcher, another of the Pyrates ordered
for Execution, but reprieved, ſeem'd to have a
quicker
X 4

328
Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS,
quicker Senſe of his Condition; for when he ſaw thoſe
he was allotted with gone to Execution, he ſent a
Meſſage by the Provoft-Marſhal to the Court, to be
inform’d of the Meaning of it, and humbly deſir'd
to know whether they deſign'd hini Mercy, or not?
If they did, he ftood infinitely oblig’d to them, and
thought the whole Service of his Life anincompe-
tent Return for ſo great a Favour, but that if he
was to ſuffer, the ſooner the better, he ſaid, that
he might be out of his Pain.'
There were others of theſe Pyrates the reverſe
of this, and tho deftitute of Miniſters, or fit Per-
fons to repreſent their Sins, and aſſiſt them with
Spiritual Advice, were yet always imploying their
Time to good Purpoſes, and behaved with a great
deal of ſeeming Devotion and Penitence ; among
theſe may be reckon'd Scudamore, Williams, Philips,
Stephenſon, Jefferys, Lefly, Harper, Armſtrong, Bunce, and
others. "
Scudamore too lately diſcerned the Folly and
Wickedneſs of the Enterprize, that had chiefly
brought him under Sentence of Death, from which,
feeing there was no Hopes of eſcaping, he petiti-
gned for two or three Days Reprieve, which was
granted ; and for that Time apply'd himſelf in-
ceſſantly to Prayer, and reading the Scriptures,
ſeem'd to have a deep Senſe of his Sins, of this in par
ticular, and deſired, at the Gallows, they would
have Patience with him, to ſing the firſt part of
the thirty firſt Pfalm; which he did by himſelf
throughout.
Armſtrong, having been a Deſerter from his Ma-
jeſty's Service, was executed on Board the Wey
mouth, and the only one that was ;) there was
no Body to preſs him to an Acknowledgement of the
Crime he died for, nor of ſorrowing in particular
for it, which would have been exemplary, and
made ſuitable Impreffions on Seamen; ſo that his
laſt

Capt. BARTHO. ROBERTS.
229
daft Hour was ſpent in lamenting and bewailing his
Sins in general, exhorting the Spectators to an ho-
neft and good Life, in which alone they could find
Satisfaction. In the End, he deſir'd they would join
with him in finging two or three latter Verſes of the
140th Pſalm ; and that being concluded, he was, at
the firing of a Gun, tric'd up at the Fore-Yard-Arm.
Bunce was a young Man, not above 26 Years old,
but made the moſt pathetical Speech of any at
the Gallows. He firſt declaim'd againſt the guilded
Bates of Power, Liberty, and Wealth, that had
enſnar'd him among the Pyrates, his unexperienc'd
Years not being able to withſtand the Temptation;
but that the Briskneſs he had fhewn, which ſo fa-
tally had procured him Favour amongſt them, was
not ſo much a Fault in Principle, as the Livelineſs
and Vivacity of his Nature. He was now ex-
treamly affli&ted for the Injuries he had done to
all Men, and begg’d their's and God's Forgiveneſs,
very earneſtly exhorting the Spe&tators to remem-
ber their Creator in their Youth, and guard be-
times, that their Minds took not a wrong Byaſs,
concluding with this apt Similitude, That he ſtood
there as a Beacon upon a Rock, (the Gallows ſtanding on
one) to warn erring Marriners of Danger.
WRITERRUTTON
СНАР.

330
SOCAR
CHA P. XII.
OF
Captain ANSTIS,
And his CREW.
T
HOMAS Anſtis ſhip'd himſelf at Providence
in the Year 1718, aboard the Buck Sloop,
and was one of fix that conſpired together
to go off a pyrating with the Veſſel; the reſt were,
Howel Davis, Roberts's Predeceffor, killed at the
Iſland of Princes; Dennis Topping, killed at the taking
of the rich Portugueſe Ship on the coaſt of Braſil;
Walter Kennedy, hanged at Execution-Dock, and two
others, which I forbear to name, becauſe, I under-
ſtand they are at this Day employ'd in an honeſt
Vocation in the City.
What followed concerning Anſtis's Pyracies, has
been included in the two preceeding Chapters; I
Shall only obſerve that the Combination of theſe
fix Men abovementioned, was the Beginning of that
Company, that afterwards proved ſo formidable
under Captain Roberts, from whom Anſtis ſeparated
the 18th of April 1721, in the Good Fortune Bri-
gantine, leaving his Commadore to purſue his Ad-
ventures upon the Coast of Guiney, whilft he re-
turned to the Weſt-Indies, upon the like Deſign.
About

of Capt. Tho. ANSTIS.
. 331
About the Middle of Fune, thefe Pyrates met
with one Captain Marſton, between H ſpaniola and
Jamaica, bound on a Voyage to New-York; from
whom they took all the wearing Apparel they
could find, as alſo his Liquors and Proviſion, and
five of his Men, but did not touch his Cargo; two
or three other Veſſels were alſo plundered by them,
in this Cruiſe, out of whom they ſtocked them-
ſelves with Proviſion and Men; among the reſt,
I think, was the Irwin, Captain Roſs, from Cork in
Ireland; but this I won't be pofitive of, becauſe
they denied it themſelves. This Ship had 600
Barrels of Beef aboard, beſides other Proviſions,
and was taken off Martinico, wherein Colonel
Doyly of Montſerrat, and his Family were Paſſengers.
The Colonel was very much abuſed and wounded,
for endeavouring to ſave a poor Woman, that was
alſo a Paſſenger, from the Inſults of that brutiſh
Crew; and the Pyrates prevailing, twenty one
of them forced the poor Creature ſucceſſively,
afterwards broke her Back and flung her into the
Sea. I ſay, I will not be poſitive it was Anſtis's
Crew that a&ted this unheard of Violence and
Cruelty, tho' the Circumítances of the Place, the
Time, the Force of the Veffel, and the Number
of Men, do all concur, and I can place the Villany
no where elſe; but that ſuch a Faet was done, there
is too much Evidence for it to be doubted of.
When they thought fit to put an End to this
Cruize, they went into one of the Iſlands to clean,
which they effected without any Diſturbance, and
came out again, and ſtretching away towards Bur-
mudas, met with a ſtout Ship, called the Morning
Star, bound from Guiney to Carolina; they made
Prize of her, and kept her for their own Uſe. In
a Day or two, a Ship from Barbadoes bound to Nem-
York, fell into their Hands, and taking out her Guns
and

332 Of Capt. Tho. ANSTIS.
and Tackle, mounted the Morning Star with 32
Pieces of Canron, mann'd her with a 100 Men,
and appointed one John Fenn Captain ; for the Bri-
gantine being of far leſs Force, the Morning Star
would have fallen to Anſtis, as elder Officer, yet
he was fo in Love with his own Veſſel, (ſhe being
an excellent Sailor,) that he made it his Choice
to ſtay in her, and let Fenn, who was, before, his
Gunner, Command the great Ship.
Now, that they had two good Ships well mann'd,
it may be ſuppoſed they were in a Condition to
undertake ſomething bold: But their Government
was diſturbed by Malecontents, and a Kingdom
divided within it ſelf cannot ftand; they had ſuch
a Number of new Men amongſt them, that ſeem'd
not fo violently enclined for the Game; that what-
ever the Captain propoſed, it was certainly carried
againft him, ſo that they came to no fix'd Reſolution
for the undertaking any Enterprize; therefore
there was nothing to be done, but to break up the
Company, which ſeemed to be the Inclination of
the Majority, but the Manner of doing ſo, con-
cerned their common Safety ; to which Purpoſe
various Means were propoſed, at length it was
concluded to ſend home a Petition to his Majeſty
(there being then no A&t of Indemnity in Force)
for a Pardon, and wait the Iſſue; at the ſame Time
one Jones, Boatſwain of the Good Fortune, propoſed
a Place of ſafe Retreat, it being an uninhabited
Iſland near Cuba, which he had been uſed to in the
late War, when he went a privateering againſt the
Spaniards.
This being approved of, it was unanimouſly
reſolved on, and the underwritten Petition drawn
up and figned by the whole Company in the Man-
ner of what they call a Round Robin, that is, the
Names were writ in a Circle, to avoid all Appear-
anice

Of Capt. Tho. ANSTIS.
333
ance of Pre-eminence, and leaſt any Perſon ſhould
be mark'd out by the Government, as a principal
Rogue among them.
To his moſt facred Majeſty George, by the
Grace of God, of Great-Britain, France
and Ireland, King, Defender of the
Faith, &c.
The humble PETITION of the Company,
now belonging to the Ship Morning Star,
and Brigantine Good Fortune, lying under
the ignominious Name and Denomination
of PYRATES.
TH
Humbly ſheweth,
HAT we your Majeſty's moſt loyal Subječts, have,
at ſundry Times, been taken by Bartholomew
Roberts, the then Captain of the aboveſaid Veſſels and
Company, together with another Ship, in which we left
him; and have been forced by him and his wicked $c-
complices, to enter into, and ſerve, in the ſaid Company,
as Pyrates, much contrary to our Wills and Inclinations :
And we your loyal Subječts utterly abhoring and deteſting
that impious way of Living, did, with an unanimous
Conſent, and contrary to the Knowledge of the ſaid Ro-
berts, or his Accomplices, on, or about the 18th Day of
April 1721, leave, and ran away with the aforeſaid
Ship Morning Star, and Brigantine Good Fortune,
with no other Intent and Meaning than the Hopes of ob-
taining your Majeſty's moft gracious Pardon. And, that
we your Majeſty's moſt loyal Subjects, may with more Safery
return to our native Country, and ſerve the Nation,
unto which we belong, in our reſpective Capacities, with-
out Fear of being proſecuted by the Injured, whoſe Eſtates
have

334 Of Capt. THO. ANSTIS.
have ſuffered by the ſaid Roberts and his Accomplices,
during our forcible Det ainment, by the ſaid Company : We
moſt bumbly implore your Majefiy's moſt royal Affent,
to this our humble Petition.
And your Petitioners fhall ever pray.
This Petition was ſent home by a Merchant
Ship bound to England, from Jamaica, who promi-
fed to ſpeak with the Petitioners, in their Return,
about 20 Leagues to Windward of that Inland,
and let them know what Succeſs their Petition
met with. When this was done, the Pyrates re-
tires to the Iſland before propoſed, with the Ship
and Brigantine.
This Iſland (which I have no Name for) lies off
the Southweſt End of Cuba, uninhabited, and lit-
tle frequented. On the Eaſt End is a Lagune, ſo
narrow, that a Ship can but juſt go iri, tho there's
from 15 to 22 Foot Water, for almoft a League up:
On both Sides of the Lagune grows red Mangrove
Trees, very thick, that the Entrance of it, as well
as the Veſſels laying there, is hardly to be ſeen.
In the Middle of the Iſland are here and there a
ſmall thick Wood of tall Pines, and other Trees
ſcattered about in different places.
Here they ſtaid about nine Months, but not ha-
ving Proviſion for above two, they were forced to
take what the Iſland afforded, which was Fiſh of
ſeveral Sorts, particularly Turtle, which latter
was the chiefeſt Food they lived on, and was found
in great Plenty on the Coaſts of this Iſland; whe-
ther there might be any wild Hogs, Beef, or other
Cattle, cominon to ſeveral Inlands of the Weft-Indies,
or that the Pyrates were too idle to hunt them, or
whether they preferr’d other Provifions to that ſort
of Diet, I know not; but I was informed by them,
that for the whole Time they eat not a Bit of any
kind of Fleſh-Meat, nor Bread; the latter was
ſupply'd

Of Capt. THO. ANSTIS. 335
fupply'd by Rice, of which they had a great Quan-
tity aboard: This was boyld and ſqueez'd dry,
and ſo eat with the Turtle.
There are three or four Sorts of theſe Creatures
in the Weſt-Indies, the largeſt of which will weigh
150 or 200 Pound Weight or more, but thoſe that
were found upon this Iſland were of the ſmalleſt
Kind, weighing to or 12 Pounds each, with a fine
natural wrought Shell, and beautifully clouded; the
Meat ſweet and tender, ſome Part of it eating like
Chicken, ſome like Veal, &c. ſo that it was no ex-
traordinary Hardſhip for them to live upon this
Provifion alone, ſince it affords variety of Meats to
the Taſte, of it ſelf. The manner of catching
this Fish is very particular; you muſt underſtand,
that in the Months of May, June and July, they lay
their Eggs in order to hatch their Young, and this
three times in a Seafon, which is always in the Sand
of the Sea-ſhore, each laying 80 or 90 Eggs at a
time. The Male accompanies the Female, and come
aſhore in the Night only, when they muſt be
watch'd, without making any Noiſe, or having a
Light; as ſoon as they land, the Men that watch
for them, turn them on their Backs, then haul them
above high Water Mark, and leave them till next
Morning, where they are ſure to find them, for they
can't turn again, nor move from the Place. It is to
be obſerv'd, that beſides their laying time, they
come afhore to feed, but then what's very remarka-
ble in theſe Creatures, they always reſort to dif
ferent Places to breed, leaving their uſual Haunts
for two or three Months, and 'tis thought they eat
nothing in all that Seaſon.
They paſs’d their Time here in Dancing, and o-
ther Diverſions, agreeable to theſe ſort of Folks;
and among the reſt, they appointed a Mock Court of
Judicature to try one another for Pyracy, and he that
was a Criminal one Day was made Judge another.---
I had

336
Of Capt. THO. ANSTIS.
I had an Account given me of one of theſe merry
Tryals, and as it appeared diverting, I ſhall give
the Readers a fhort Account of it.
The Court and Criminals being both appointed,
as alſo Council to plead, the Judge got up in a Tree,
and had a dirty Taurpaulin hung over his Shoul-
ders; this was done by Way of Robe, with a
Thrum Cap on his Head, and a large Pair of Spes
{tacles
upon
his Noſe: Thus equipp'd, he ſettled
himſelf in his Place, and abundance of Officers at-
tending him below, with Crows, Handſpikes, &c.
inſtead of Wands, Tipftaves, and ſuch like. --The
Criminals were brought out, making a thouſand
four Faces, and one who a&ted as Attorney-General
opened the Charge againſt them; their Speeches
were very laconick, and their whole Proceedings
conciſe. We ſhall give it by Way of Dialogue.
Attorn. Gen. An't pleaſe your Lordſhip, and you
Gentlemen of the Jury, here is a Fellow before you
that is a fad Dog, a fad ſad Dog; and I humbly
hope your Lordſhip will order him to be hang'd
out of the Way immediately. He has commit-
ted Pyracy upon the High Seas, and we ſhall prove,
an't pleaſe your Lordfhip, that this Fellow, this
ſad Dog before you, has eſcap'd a thouſand Storms,
nay, has got ſafe afhore when the Ship has been caff
away, which was a certain Sign he was not born to
be drown'd; yet not having the Fear of hanging be-
fore his Eyes, he went on robbing and raviſhing
Man, Woman and Child, plundering Ships Cargoes
fore and aft, burning and finking Ship, Bark and
Boat, as if the Devil had been in him. But this
is not all, my Lord, he has committed worſe Vil-
lanies than all theſe, for we fhall prove, that he has
been guilty of drinking Small-Beer; and your
Lordſhip kuows, there never was a fober Fellow but
what was a Rogue.
My Lord, I fhould have
ſpoke much finer than I do now, but that, as your
Lordſhip

Of Capt. THO. ANSTIS. 337
you louſy;
Lordſhip knows our Rum is all out, and how ſhould
a Man ſpeak good Law that has not drank a Dram.
However, I hope, your Lordſhip will order the
Fellow to be hang'd.
Judge.
Hearkee me, Sirrah,
pittiful, ill-look'd Dog; what have you to ſay why
you ſhould not be tuck'd up immediately, and ſet a
Sun-drying like a Scare-crow? Are you guilty,
or not guilty ?
Priſ. Not guilty, an’t pleaſe your Worſhip.
Judge
. Not guilty ! fay ſo again, Sirrah, and
I'll have you hang?d without any Tryal.
Prif. An't pleaſe your Worſhip’s Honour, my
Lord, I am as honeft a poor Fellow as ever went be-
tween Stem and Stern of a Ship, and can hand, reef,
fteer, and clap two Ends of a Rope together, as well
as e'er a He that ever croſs'd ſalt Water ; but I
was taken by one George Bradley [the Name of him
that fat as Judge,] a notorious Pyrate, a fad Rogue
as ever was unhang'd, and he forc'd me, an't pleaſe
your Honour.
Judge. Anſwer me, Sirrah, How will you
be try'd ?
Priſ: By G- and my country.
fudge. The Devil you will. Why then, Gerd
tlemen of the Jury, I think we have nothing to do
but to proceed to Judgrient.
Attor. Gen. Right, my Lord; for if the Fellow
fhould be ſuffer'd to ſpeak, he may clear himſelf,
and that's an Affront to the Court.
Priſ. Pray, my Lord, I hope your Lordſhip wilt
confider
Judge: Confider! How dare you talk of con:
ſidering ? Sirrah, Sirrah, I never confider'd in
all my Life. I'll make it Treaſon to conſider,
Prif. But, I hope, your Lordſhip will hear ſome
Reaſon
Y
Onder

338
Of Capt. THO. ANSTIS.
Judge. D’ye hear how the Scoundrel prates ?
What have we to do with Reaſon ?-_I'd have you
to know, Raskal, we don't fit here to hear Rea-
ſon; we go according to Law. Is our Dinner
ready?
Attor. Gen. Yes, my Lord.
Judge. Then heark’ee, you Raskal at the Bar
;
hear me, Sirrah, hear me. -
You muſt ſuffer,
for three Reaſons; firſt, becauſe it is not fit I ſhould
fit here as Judge, and no Body be hangd.
Secondly, you muſt be hang’d, becauſe you have a
damn'd hanging Look:-
And thirdly, you muft
be hang'd, becauſe I am hungry; for know, Sir-
rah, that 'tis a Cuſtom, that whenever the Judge's
Dinner is ready before the Tryal is over, the Pri-
ſoner is to be hang'd of Courſe. There's Law
for you, ye Dog.--So take him away Goaler.
This is the Tryal juſt as it was related to me ;
the Deſign of my ſetting it down, is only to fhew
how theſe Fellows can jeft upon Things, the Fear
and Dread of which, ſhould make them tremble.
The beginning of August 1722, the Pyrates made
ready the Brigantine, and came out to Sea, and bea-
ting up to Windward, lay in the Track for their
Correſpondant in her Voyage to Jamaica, and ſpoke
with her; but finding nothing was done in England
in their Favour, as 'twas expected, they return'd to
their Conforts at the Iſland with the ill News, and
found themſelves under a Neceſſity, as they fan-
cied, to continue that abominable Courſe of Life
they had lately practis'd; in order thereto, they
faild with the Ship and Brigantine to the South-
ward, and the next Night, by intolerable Neglect,
they run the Morning Star upon the Grand Caimanes,
and wreck'd her; the Brigantine ſeeing the Fate
of her Confort, halld off in Time, and ſo weather’d
the Iſland. The next Day Captain Anſtis put in,
and

Of Capt. THO. ANSTIS.
339
and found that all, or the greateſt part of the Crew,
were ſafe afhore, whereupon ſhe came to an An-
chor, in order to fetch them off; and having
brought Fenn the Captain, Philips the Carpenter, and
a few others aboard, two Men of War came down
upon them, viz. the Hector and Adventure, ſo that
the Brigantine had but juft Time to cut their Ca-
ble, and get to Sea, with one of the Men of War af-
ter her, keeping within Gun-fhot for ſeveral Hours.
Anſtis and his Crew were now under the greateſt
Confternation imaginable, finding the Gale freſhen,
and the Man of War gaining Ground upon them,
ſo that, in all Probability, they muſt have been
Priſoners in two Hours more; but it pleafed God
to give them a little longer Time, the Wind dying
away, the Pyrates got out their Oars, and row'd for
their Lives, and thereby got clear of their Enemy.
The Hector landed her Men upon the Iſland, and
took 40 of the Morning Star's Crew, without any
Reſiſtance made by them, but on the contrary,alledg-
ing, they were forc'd Men, and that they were glad
of this Opportunity to eſcape from the Pyrates; the
reft hid themſelves in the Woods, and could not
be found. George Bradley the Maſter, and three
more, ſurrender'd afterwards to a Burmudas Sloop,
and were carried to that Iſland.
The Brigantine, after her Eſcape, faild to a ſmall
Iſland near the Bay of Honduras, to clean and refit,
and, in her Way thither, took a Rhode Iſand Sloop,
Captain Durfey, Commander, and two or three other
Vefſels, which they deſtroy'd, but brought all the
Hands aboard their own.
While fhe was cleaning, a Scheme was concerted
between Captain Durfey, ſome other Priſoners, and
two or three of the Pyrates, for to ſeize ſome of
the Chiefs; and carry off the Brigantine; but the
fame being diſcovered before ſhe was fit for failing,
their Deſign was prevented: However, Captain
Durfey,

340 Of Capt. THO. ANSTIS.
Durfey, and four or five more, got aſhore with ſome
Arms and Ammunition ; and when the Pyrates
Canoe came in for Water, he ſeiz'd the Boat with
the Men ; upon which Anſtis ordered another Boat
to be mann'd with 30 Hands and ſent alhore, which
was accordingly done ; but Captain Durfey, and the
Company he had by that Time got together, gave
them ſuch a warm Reception, that they were con-
tented to betake themſelves to their Vefſel again.
About the beginning of December, 1722, Anſtis
left this place and return'd to the Iſlands, de-
figning to accumulate all the Power and Strength
he could, ſince there was no looking back. He took
in the Cruiſe a good Ship, commanded by Cap-
tain Smith, which he mounted with 24 Guns, and
Fenn, a one handed Man, who commanded the
Morning-Star when ſhe was loft, went aboard to
command her. They cruis’d together, and took a
Vefſel or two, and then went to the Bahama Iſlands,
and there met with what they wanted, viz. a Sloop
loaded with Provifiors, frem Dublin, called the An-
telope.
It was time now to think of ſome place to fit
up
and clean their Frigate lately taken, and put her
in a Condition to do Buſineſs; accordingly they
pitch'd upon the Iſland of Tobago, where they arri-
ved the beginning of April, 1723, with the Antelope
Sloop and her Cargo.
They fell to work immediately, got the Guns,
Stores, and every Thing elſe out upon the Iſland,
and put the Ship upon the Heel; and juſt then,
as ill Luck would have it, came in the Winchelſea
Man of War, by Way of Vifit, which put the Ma-
rooners into ſuch a Surprize, that they ſet Fire to
the Ship and Sloop, and fled aſhore to the Woods.
Anſtis, in the Brigantine, eſcap'd, by having a light
Pair of Heels, but it put his Company into ſuch
a Diſorder, that their Government could never be
fet

Of Capt. THO. ANSTIS. 341
ſet to rights again ; for ſome of the New-Comers,
and thoſe who had been tir’d with the Trade, put
an End to the Reign, by ſhooting Tho. Anſtis in his
Hammock, and afterwards the Quarter-Mafter, and
two or three others; the reſt ſubmitting, they
put into Irons, and ſurrender'd them up, and the
Vefſel, at Curacco, a Dutch Settlement, where they
were try'd and hang'd; and thoſe concerned in deli-
vering up the Veffel, acquitted.
But to return to Captain Fenn, he was taken ftrag-
ling with his Gunner and three more, a Day or two
after their Misfortune, by the Man of War's Men,
and carry'd to Antegoa, where they were all execu-
ted, and Fenn hang'd in Chains. Thoſe who re-
main’d, ſtaid fome Time in the Iſland, keeping up
and down in the Woods, with a Hand to look out;
at length Providence ſo order'd it, that a ſmall
Sloop came into the Harbour, which they all got
aboard of, except two or three Negroes, and thoſe
they left behind. They did not think fit to purſue
any further Adventures, and therefore unanimouſly
reſolved to fteer for England, which they according-
ly did, and in O&tober laſt came into Briſtol Channel,
funk the Sloop, and getting aſhore in the Boat, diſa
perſed themſelves to their Abodes.
Y 3
CHAP

342
CH A P. XIII.
OF
Captain WORLEY,
And his Crew.
H
'IS Reign was but ſhort, but his Beginning
ſomewhat particular, ſetting out in a ſmall
open Boat, with eight others, from New-
York. This was as refolute a Crew as ever went
upon this Account: They took with them a few
Biſcuits, and a dry'd Torgue, or two, a little Cag
of Water, half a dozen old Muskets and Ammuni-
tion accordingly. Thus provided, they left New-
York the latter End of September 1718, but it can-
not be ſuppoſed that ſuch a Man of War as this,
could undertake any confiderable Voyage, or at-
tempt any extraordinary Enterprize; ſo they ſtood
down the Coaſt, till they came to Delaware River,
which is about 150 Miles diſtant, and not meeting
with any Thing in their way, they turn'd up the
ſame River as high as Newcaſtle, near which Place
they fell upon a Shallop belonging to George Grant,
who was bringing Houfhold Goods, Plate, &c.
from Oppoquenimi to Philadelphia; they made Prize
of the moſt valuable Part of them, and let the Shal-
lop go. This Fact could not come under the Ar-
ticle of Pyrący, it not being committed ſuper altum
Mare, upon the High-Sea, therefore was a fimple
Robbery

Of Capt. WORLEY.
343
Robbery only ; but they did not ftand for a Point
of Law in the Caſe, but eaſing the Shallop Man of his
Lading, the bold Adventurers went down the River
again.
The Shallop came ftraight to Philadelphia, and
brought the ill News thither, which ſo alarm'd
the Government, as if War had been declared
againſt them; Expreſſes were ſent to Nem-York,
and other Places, and ſeveral Veſſels fitted out
againſt this powerful Rover, but to no manner of
Purpoſe ; for after ſeveral Days Cruize, they all
return’d, without ſo much as hearing what became
of the Robbers.
Worley and his Crew, in going down the River,
met with a Sloop of Philadelphia, belonging to a
Mulatto, whom they callid Black Robbin; they quit-
ted their Boat for this Sloop, taking one of Black
Robin's Men along with them, as they had alſo
done from George Grant, beſides two Negroes, which
encreaſed the Company one Third. A Day or two
after, they took another Sloop belonging to Hull,
homeward bound, which was ſomewhat fitter for
their Purpoſe; they found aboard her, Proviſions
and Neceſſaries, which they ſtood in need of, and
enabled them to proſecute their Deſign, in a manner
more ſuitable to their Wiſhes.
Upon the Succeſs of theſe Rovers, the Gover-
nor iſſued out a Proclamation, for the apprehend-
ing and taking all Pyrates, who had refuſed or neg-
lečted to ſurrender themſelves, by the Time limi-
ted in his Majeſty's Proclamation of Pardon; and
thereupon, ordered his Majeſty's Ship Phoenix, of 20
Guns, which lay at Sandy Hook, to Sea, to cruize
upon this Pyrate, and ſecure the Trade to that,
and the adjoining Colonies.
In all probability, the taking this Sloop ſav'd their
Bacons, for this Time, tho' they fell into the Trap
preſently afterwards; for they finding themſelves
I A
in

844 Of Capt. WORLEY.
in tolerable good Condition, having a Vefſel newly
cleaned, with Proviſions, eớc. they ſtood off to
Sea, and ſo miſſed the Phenix, who expected them
to be ſtill on the Coaſt.
About fix Weeks afterwards they returned, ha-
ving taken both a Sloop and a Brigantine, among
the Bahama Iſlands; the former they ſunk, and the
other they let go: The Sloop belonged to Nem-
York, and they thought the finking of her good Poli-
cy, to prevent her returning to tell Tales at Home.
Worley had by this Time encreaſed his Company
to about five and twenty Men, had fix Guns
mounted, and ſmall Arms as many as were neceſ-
ſary for them, and feem'd to be in a good thriving
ſort of a Way. He made a black Enfign, with a
white Death's Head in the Middle of it, and other
Colours ſuitable to it. They all ſigned Articles,
and bound themſelves under a folemn Oath, to
take no Quarters, but to ſtand by one another to
the laſt Man, which was rafhly fulfilld a little
afterwards.
For going into an Inlet in North Carolina, to
clean, the Governor received Information of it, and
fitted out two Sloops, one of eight Guns, and the
other with fix, and about ſeventy Men between
them. Worley had clean'd his Sloop, and fail'd be-
fore the Carolina Sloops reached the Place, and
fteered to the Northward; but the Sloops juft men-
tioned, purſaing the ſame Courſe, came in fight of
Worley, as he was cruiſing off the Capes of Vire
ginia, and being in the Offin, he ſtood in as toon
as he faiv the Sloops, intending thereby to have
cut them off from James River; for he verily belie-
ved they had been bound thither, not imagining, in
the leaſt, they were in Purſuit of him.
The two Sloops ftanding towards the Capes at
the ſame Time, and Worley hoiſting of his black
Flag, the Inhabitants of James Town were in
the

Of Capt. WORLEY.
345
the utmoſt Confternation, thinking that all three
had been Pyrates, and that their Deſign had been
upon them; ſo that all the Ships and Veſſels that
were in the Road, or in the Rivers up the Bay,
had Orders immediately to hale in to the Shore,
for their Security, or elſe to prepare for their De-
fence, if they thought themſelves in a Condition
to fight. Soon after two Boats, which were ſent out
to get Intelligence, came crowding in, and brought
an Account, that one of the Pyrates was in the
Bay, being a ſmall Sloop of fix Guns. The Gover-
nor expecting the reft would have followed,
and altogether make ſome Attempt to land, for the
ſake of Plunder, beat to Arms, and collected all the
Force that could be got together, to oppoſe them ;
he ordered all the Guns out of the Ships, to make a
Platform, and, in ſhort, put the whole Colony in a
warlike Poſture; but was very much ſurpriſed at
laſt, to ſee all the ſuppoſed Pyrates fighting with
one another.
"The Truth of the Matter is, Worley gained the
Bay, thinking to make ſure of his two Prizes,
by keeping them from coming in; but by the hoiſt-
ing of the King's Colours, and firing a Gun, he
quickly was ſenſible of his Miſtake, and too foon
perceived that the Tables were turned upon him ;
that inſtead of keeping them out, he found himſelf,
by a fuperiour Force kept in. When the Pyrates
ſaw how Things went, they reſolutely prepar'd them-
ſelves for a deſperate Defence; and tho' three to one
odds, Worley and his Crew determined to fight to
the laſt Gaſp, and receive no Quarters, agreeably
to what they had before ſworn; ſo that they muſt
either Dye or Conquer upon the Spot.
The Carolina Men gave the Pyrate a Broadfide,
and then Boarded him, one Sloop getting upon his
Quarter, and the other on his Bow; Worley and
the Crew, drew up upon the Deck, and fought
very

346
Of Capt. WORLEY.
very obſtinately, Hand to Hand, ſo that in a few
Minutes, abundance of Men lay weltering in their
Gore; the Pyrates proved as good as their Words,
not a Man of them cry'd out for Quarter, nor
would accept of ſuch, when offered, but were all
killed except the Captain and another Man, and
thoſe very much wounded, whom they reſerved
for the Gallows. They were brought afhore in
Irons, and the next Day, which was the 17th of
February 1718-19, they were both hanged up, for
fear they ſhould dye, and evade the Puniſhment as
was thought due to their Crimes.
СНАР.

347
AASTATAAAHZZZZE
CHA P. XIV.
OF
Capt. George Lowther,
And his Crew.
G
Eorge Lorther ſailed out of the River of
Thames, in one of the Royal African Com-
pany's Ships, called the Gambia Caſtle, of 16
Guns and 30 Men, Charles Ruffel Commander; of
which Ship, the ſaid Lowther was ſecond Mate.
Aboard of the fame Ship, was a certain Number
of Soldiers, commanded by one John Maſſey, who
were to be carried to one of the Company's Set-
tlements, on the River of Gambia, to Garriſon a
Fort, which was ſometime ago taken and deſtroy'd
by Captain Davis the Pyrate.
In May 1721, the Gambia Caſtle came ſafe to her
Port in Africa, and landed Captain Maſſey and his
Men on James's Iſland, where he was to Command
under the Governor, Colonel Whitney, who arrived
there at the fame Time, in another Ship: And here,
by a fatal Miſunderſtanding, between the military
Folks and the Trading People, the Fort and Gar-
riſon not only came to be loſt again to the Company,
but a fine Galley well provided, and worth 10000 l.
turned againſt her Maſters.
The

348 Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER.
The Names of Governor and Captain ſounded
great, but when the Gentlemen found that the
Power that generally goes along with thoſe Titles,
was overſway'd and born down by the Merchants
and Factors, (mechanick Fellows as they thought
them) they grew very impatient and diſatisfy'd,
eſpecially Maſſey, who was very loud in his Com-
plaints againſt them, particularly at the ſmall Al-
lowance of Proviſions to him and his Men; for
the Garriſon and Governor too, were vi&tualled by
the Merchants, which was no ſmall Grievance and
Mortification to them. And as the want of eating
was the only Thing that made the great Sancho
quit his Government, ſo did it here rend and tare
their's to Pieces: For Maſſey told them, that he did not
conce there to be a Guiney Slave, and that he had promiſed
bis Men good Treatment, and Proviſions fitting for Soldiers:
That as be had the Care of ſo many of his Majeſty's Sub-
je&ts, if they would not provide for them in a handſome
Manner, he ſhould take ſuitable Meaſures for the Preſer-
vation of ſo many of his Countrymen and Companions.
The Governor at this Time was very ill of a
Fever, and, for the better Accomodation in his
Sickneſs, was carried aboard the Ship Gambia Ca-
file, where he continued for about three Weeks,
and therefore could have little to ſay in this Dif-
pute, tho’he reſolved not to ſtay in a Place, where
there was ſo little Occaſion for him, and where his
Power was fo confin’d. The Merchants had cer-
tainly Orders from the Company, to iſſue the Pro-
viſions out to the Garriſon, and the ſame is done
along the whole Coaſt; but whether they had cut
them ſhort of the Allowance that was appointed
them, I can't ſay, but if they did, then is the Loſs
of the Ship and Garriſon owing principally to
their ill Conduct.
However

Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER. 34
However, an Accident that happened on Board
the Ship, did not a little contribute to this Mis-
fortune, which was a Pique that the Captain of
her took againſt his ſecond Mate, George Lowther,
the Man who is the Subject of this ſhort Hiſtory;
and who loſing his Favour, found Means to ingra-
tiate himſelf into the good liking of the common
Sailors, inſomuch that when Captain Ruffel ordered
him to be puniſhd, the Men took up Handſpikes,
and threat'ned to knock that Man down, that offer-
ed to lay hold of the Mate. This ſerved but to
widen the Differences between him and the Cap-
tain, and more firmly attach'd Lowther to the
Ship’s Company, the greateſt Part of which, he
found ripe for any Miſchief in the World.
Captain Maſſey was no wit the better reconciled
to the Place, by a longer Continuance, nor to the
Uſage he met with there, and having often Oppor-
tunities of converfing with Lomther, with whom he
had contracted an Intimacy in the Voyage; they
aggravated one another’s Grievances to ſuch a
height, that they reſolved upon Meaſures to curb
the Power that contrould them, and to provide for
themſelves after another Manner.
When the Governor recover'd of his Fever, he
went afhore to the Iſland, but took no Notice of
Maſſey's Behaviour, tho' it was ſuch as might give
Suſpicion of what he deſigned; and Lowther, and the
common Sailors, who were in the Secret of Affairs,
grew infolent and bold, even refuſing to obey when
commanded to their Duty by Captain Ruffel and the
chief Mate. The Captain ſeeing how Things were
carried, goes aſhore early one Morning to the Go-
vernor and Fa{tory, in order to hold a Council,
which Lowther apprehending, was in order to pre-
vent his Deſign, ſent a Letter in the ſame Boat to
Maffey, intimating it to him, and that he ſhould repair
OM

350 Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER.
on Board, for it was high Time to put their Projeɛt in
Execution.
As ſoon as Maffey received this Letter, he went
to the Soldiers at the Barracks, and ſaid to them,
and others, You that have a Mind to go to England,
now is your Time ; and they generally conſenting,
Maſſey went to the Store-Room, burſt open the
Door, ſet two Centinels upon it, and ordered that
no Body ſhould come near it, then he went to the
Governor's Apartment, and took his Bed, Bag-
gage, Plate and Furniture, (in Expectation that
the Governor himſelf, as he had promiſed Maſſey,
would have gone on Board, which he afterwards
refuſed, by Reaſon, as he ſaid, he believed they
were going a-pyrating; which at firſt, whatever
Lowther deſigned, Maſſey certainly propoſed only
the going to England ;) when this was done, he
ferit the Boat off to the chief Mate, with this Mef-
fage, That he should get the Guns ready, for that the
King of Barro [a Negro Kingdon near the Royal
African Settlement] would come aboard to Dinner.
But Lowther underſtanding beſt, the meaning of thoſe
Orders, he confined the chief Mate, fhotted the
Guns, and put the Ship in a Condition for failing.
In the Afternoon Maſſey came on Board with the
Governor's Son, having ſent off all the Proviſions
of the Iſland, and eleven Pipes of Wine, leaving
only two half Pipes behind in the Store-Houſe,
and diſmounted all the Guns of the Fort.
In the Afternoon they weigh'd one Anchor, but
fearing to be too late to get out of the River, they
flipp'd the other, and ſo fell down; in doing of
which, they run the Ship a-ground. Maſſey fhew'd
himſelf a Soldier upon this Accident, for as ſoon as
the Misfortune happen'd, he left the Ship with
about fixteen Hands, and rows directly to the
Fort, remounts the Guns, and keeps Garriſon
there

of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER.
351
there all the Night, while the Ship was alhore;
and obliged ſome of the Factory to aſſiſt in
get-
ting her clear. In the mean while, Ruffel came
off, but not being ſuffered to come on Board, he
calựd to Lowther, and offered him and the Company,
whatever Terms they would be pleaſed to accept
of, upon Condition of ſurrendering up the Ship,
which had no Effect upon any of them. In the
Morning they got her afloat, and Maſſey and his
Men came aboard, after having nailed up and dif
mounted all the Cannon of the Fort: They put the
Governor's Son, and two or three others aſhore, who
were not willing to go without the Governor, and
fail'd out of the River, having exchanged ſeveral
Shot with the Martha, Otter, br. that lay there,
without doing Execution on either Side.
When the Ship came out to Sea, Lowther called
up all the Company, and told them, it was the
greateſt Folly imaginable, to think of returning to Eng-
land, for what they had already done, could not be juſtify-
ed upon any Pretence whatſoever, but would be look'd upa
in the Eye of the Law, a capital Offence, and that none of
them were in a Condition to withſtand the Attacks of ſuch
powerful Adverſaries, as they would meet with at Home 3
for his Part he was determined not to run ſuch a Hazard,
and therefore if bis Propoſal was not agreed to, he deſired
to be ſet a Shore in ſome Place of Safety: That they had a
good Ship under them, a parcel of brave Follows in her,
that it was not their Buſineſs to ſtarve, or be made Slaves ;
and therefore, if they were all of his Mind, they ſhould
ſeek their Fortunes upon the Seas, as other Adventurers bad
done before them. They one and all came into the
Meaſures, knocked down the Cabins, made the
Ship flush fore and aft, prepared black Colours,
new named her, the Delivery, having about so Hands
and 16 Guns, and the following fhort Articles were
drawn up, figned and ſworn to upon the Bible.
on,
The

352
Of Capt. WORLET,
The Articles of Captain George Lowther, and his
Company.
T"
I.
HE Captain is to have two full Shares; the Ma-
ster is to have one Share and a half; the Do-
Etor, Mate, Gunner, and Boatſwain, one Share and a
quarter.
2. He that ſhall be found Guilty of taking up any un-
lawful Weapon on Board the Prijateer, or any Prize, by
us taken, ſo as to ſtrike or abuſe one another, in any re-
gard, ſhall ſuffer what Puniſhment the Captain and Majo-
rity of the Company ſhall think fit.
3. He that Mall be found Guilty of Comardize, in the
Time of Engagement, ſhall ſuffer what Puniſhment the
Captain and Majority ſhall think fit.
4. If any Gold, Fewels, Silver, &c. be found on Board
of any Prize or Prizes, to the Value of a Piece of Eight;
and the Finder do not deliver it to the Quarter-Maſter,
in the Space of 24 Hours, ſkall ſuffer what Puniſhment the
Captain and Majority ſhall think fit.
5. He that is found Guilty of Gaming, or Defrauding
another to the value of a Shilling, ſhall ſuffer what Pro
niſhment the Captain and Majority of the Company fhall
think fit.
6. He that ſhall have the Misfortune to loſe a Limb,
in Time of Engagement, ſhall have the Sum of one hundred
and fifty Pounds Sterling, and remain with the Company as
long as he shall think fit.
7. Good Quarters to be given when call'd for.
3. He that ſees a Sail forfta ſhall have the beſt Piſtol,
or Small- Arm, on Board her.
It was the 13th of June, that Lowiher left the
Settlement, and on the 20th, being then within
twenty Leagues of Barbadoes, he came up with a
Brigantine, belonging to Boſton, called the Charles,
James Douglaſs Mafter, which they plundered in a
pyra

of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER. 353
pyratical Manner, and let the Veſſel go ; but leaſt
the ſhould meet with any of the Station Ships, and ſo
give Information of the Robbery, in Terrorem, to pre-
vent a Purſuit, Lowther contrived a ſort of a Certifi-
cate, which he directed the Mafter to fhew to their
Confort, if they ſhould meet with her; and upon
Sight of it the Brigantine would paſs unmolefted :
This Confort, he pretended, was a 40 Gun Ship,
and cruiſing thereabouts.
After this the Delivery proceeded to Hiſpaniola ;
near the Weſt End of the Iſland fhe met with a
French Sloop loaden with Wine and Brandy; aboard
of this Veffel went Captain Maſſey, as a Merchant,
and ask'd the Price of one Thing, and then another,
bidding Money for the greateſt Part of the Cargo;
but after he had trifled a while, he whiſper'd a
Secret in the French Man's Ear, viz. That they must
bave it all without Money. Monſieur preſently under-
food his Meaning, and unwillingly agreed to the
Bargain. They took out of her thirty Casks of
Brandy, five Hogſheads of Wine, ſeveral Pieces of
Chintzes, and other valuable Goods, and about 70 1.
Engliſh, in Money ; of which Lowther generouſly re-
turn'd five Pounds back to the French Maſter for his
Civilities.
But as all Conſtitutions grow old, and thereby
ſhake and totter, ſo did our Commonwealth in
about a Month of its Age, feel Commotions and in-
teſtine Diſturbances, by the Diviſions of its Mem-
bers, which had hear hand terminated in its De-
ſtruction; theſe civil Diſcords were owing to
the following Occaſion. Captain Maſſey had been
a Soldier almoſt from his Infancy, but was but very
indifferently acquainted with Maritime Affairs, and
having an enterprizing Soul, nothing would ſatisfy
him, but he muſt be doing Buſineſs in his own
Way, therefore he required Lomther to let him have
thirty Hands to land with, and he would attack
Z
the

354 Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER.
the French Settlements, and bring aboard the Devil
and all of Plunder.
Loweber did all that he could do, and ſaid all
that he could ſay, to dillwade Maſſey from fo rafh
and dangerous an Attempt; pointing out to him
the Hazard the Company would run, and the Con-
ſequences to them all, if he ſhould not ſucceed, and
the little Likelihood there was to expe&t Succeſs
from the Undertaking : But 'twas all one for that,
Malley would go and attack the French Settlements,
for any thing Lovther could ſay againft it; ſo that
he was obliged to propoſe the Matter to the Com-
paiiy, among whom Maffey found a few Fellows
as reſolute as himſelf; however, a great Majori-
ty being againſt it, the Affair was over-ruled in
Oppoſition to Captain Maſſey, notwithſtanding
which, Maſſey grew fractious, quarrelled with
Lowrber, and the Men divided into Parties, fome
fiding with the Land Pyrate, and ſome with the
Sea Rover, and were all ready to fall together by
the Ears, when the Man at the Maft-Head cry'd
out, A Sail! A Sail! then they gave over the Dif-
pute, ſet all their Sails, and fteered after the Chace.
In a few Hours they came up with her, ſhe being
a ſmall Ship from Jamaica, bound to England; they
took what they thought fit out of her, and a Hand
or two, and then Lowther was for finking the Ship,
with ſeveral Paſſengers that were in her, for what
Reaſon I know not, but Maſſey ſo that he interpoſed,
prevented their cruel Fate, and the Ship ſafely ar-
rived afterwards in England.
The next Day they took a ſmall Sloop, an
interloping Trader, which they detain’d with her
Cargo. All this while Maſſey was uneaſy, and de-
card his Reſolution to leave them, and Lomther
finding him a very troubleſome Man to deal with,
conſented that he ſhould take the Sloop, laft made
Prize of, with what Hands had a Mind to go
with

Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER. 355
with him, and ſhift for himſelf. Whereupon Maffey,
with about ten more Malecontents, goes aboard
the Sloop, and comes away in her dire&tly for Ja-
maica.
Notwithſtanding what had paſſed, Captain Maſſey
puts a bold Face upon the Matter, and goes to Sir
Nicholas Lams, the Governor, informs him of his
leaving Lowther the Pyrate, owns, That he aſſiſted in
going off with the Slip, at the River Gambia; but faid,
Otwas to ſave ſo many of his Majeſty's Subjects from periſh-
ing, and that his Deſign was to return to England; but
Lowther conſpiring with the greater Part of the Company,
went a pyrating with the ships and that he had taken this
Opportunity to leave him, and ſurrender himſelf and Vef-
fel to his Excellency.
Maffey was very well received by the Governor,
and had his Liberty given him, with a Promiſe of
his Favour, and ſo forth ; and, at his own Ree
queſt, he was ſent on Board the Happy Sloop, Cap-
tain Laws, to cruiſe off Hiſpaniola, for Lowther;
but not being ſo fortunate as to meet with him,
Captain Maſſey returned back to Jamaica in the
Sloop, and getting a Certificate, and a Supply of
Money, from the Governor, he came home Pallen-
ger to England.
When Maffey came to Town, he writes a long
Letter to the Deputy Governor and Diretors of
the African Company, wherein he imprudently re-
lates the whole Tranſactions of his Voyage, the
going off with the Ship, and the Acts of Pyracy he
had committed with Lowther; but excuſes it as
Raſhneſs and inadvertency in himſelf, occaſioned by
his being ill uſed, contrary to the Promiſes that had
been made him, and the Expectations he had en-
tertained; but own'd, that he deſerved to dye for
what he had done ; yet, if they had Generoſity
enough to forgive him, as he was ſtill capable to
do them Service, as a Soldier, ſo he ſhould be ve-
Z 2
ry

356 Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER.
ry ready to do it; but if they reſolved to proſecute
him, he begg’d only this Favour, that he might
110t be hang'd like a Dog, but to die like a Soldier,
as he had been bred from his childhood, that is,
that he might be fhot.
This was the Subſtance of the Letter, which,
however, did not produce fo favourable an Anſwer
as he hoped for, Word being brought back to
him, That he should be fairly. hang’d. Whereupon,
Maſſey reſolved not to be out of the Way, when
he found what important Occaſion there was like-
ly to be for him, but takes a Lodging in Alderſgate-
Street, the next Day went to the Lord Chief Juſtice's
Chambers, and enquired, if my Lord had granted
a Warrant againſt Captain John Maſſey, for Pyracy:
But being told by the Clerks, that they knew of
no ſuch Thing; he informed them, he was the
Man, that my Lord would ſoon be apply'd to for
that Purpoſe, and the Officer might come to him
at ſuch a Place, where he lodg’d: They took the
Directions in Writing, and, in a few Days, a War-
rant being iſſued, the Tipftaff went directly, by
his own Information, and apprehended him, with
out any other Trouble, than walking to his
Lodging
There was then no Perſon in Town to charge
him with any Fact, upon which he could be com-
mitted ; nor could the Letter be proved to be of
his Hand-Writing, ſo that they had been obliged
to let him go again, if he had not helped his Ac-
cuſers out at Pinch: The Magiſtrate was reduced
to the putting of this Queſtion to him, Did you write
this Letter? He anſwered, He did: And not only
that, but confeſſed all the Contents of it ; upon
which, he was committed to Newgate, but was af-
terwards admitted to a hundred Pounds Bail, or
thereabouts.
On

Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER. 357
On the 5th of July 1723, he was brought to his
Tryal, at a Court of Admiralty held at the Old-
Baily, when Captain Ruffel, Governor Whitney's
Son, and others, appeared as Evidences, by whom
the Indictment was plainly proved againſt him;
which, if it had not been done, the Captain was of
ſuch an heroick Spirit, that he would have deny'd
nothing; for inſtead of making a Defence, he on-
ly entertained the Court with a long Narrative of
his Expedition, from the firſt ſetting out, to his Re-
turn to England, mentioning two A&ts of Pyracy
committed by him, which he was not charged with,
often challenging the Evidences to contradi&t him,
if in any Thing he related the leaſt Syllable of ani
Untruth ; and inſtead of denying the Crimes fet
forth in the Indi&tment, he charged himſelf with
various Circumſtances, which fixed the Faits more
home upon him. Upon the whole, the Captain
was found Guilty, received Sentence of Death,
and was executed three weeks after, at Executi-
on-Dock.
We return now to Lowther, whom we left crui-
fing off Hiſpaniola, from whence he plyed to Wind-
ward, and, near Porto Rico, chaſed two Sail, and ſpoke
with them; they proving to be a ſmall Briſtol Ship,
commanded by Captain Smith, and a Spaniſh Pyrate,
who had made Prize of the ſaid Ship. Lowther exami-
ned into the Spaniard's Authority for taking an Engliſh
Vefſel, and threatned to put every Man of them to
death, for ſo doing ; ſo that the Spaniards fancied
themſelves to be in a very pittiful Condition, til!
Matters cleared up, and they found their Maſters
as great Rogues as themſelves, from whom fome
Mercy might be expected, in regard to the near
Relation they ſtood with them, as to their profer.
fion; in ſhort, Lowther firſt rified, and then burnt
both the Ships, ſending the Spaniards away in their
Launch,
23

358 Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER.
Launch, and turning all the Engliſh Sailors into
Pyrates.
After a few Days Cruiſe, Lowther took a ſmall
Sloop belonging to St. Chriſtophers, which they
mann'd and carried along with them to a ſmall
Iſland, where they cleaned, and ſtay'd fome Time
to take their Diverſions, which conſiſted in un-
heard of Debaucheries, with drinking, ſwearing
and rioting, in which there ſeemed to be a kind
of Emulation among them, reſembling rather Devils
than Men, ſtriving who ſhould out do one another
in new invented Oaths and Execrations.
They all got aboard about Chriſtmas, obſerving
neither Times nor Seaſons, for perpetrating their
villainous Actions, and failed towards the Bay of
Honduras ; but ſtopping at the Grand Caimanes for
Water, they met with a ſmall Veſſel with 13
Hands, in the ſame honourable Employment with
themſelves; the Captain of this Gang was one
Edward Lowe, whom we ſhall particularly diſcourſe
of in a Chapter by it felf: Lowther received them
as Friends, and treated them with all imaginable
Reſpect, inviting them, as they were few in Num-
ber, and in no Condition to purſue the Account,
(as they called it) to join their Strength together,
which on the Confideration aforeſaid, was accepted
of, Lowther ſtill continuing Commander, and Lome
was made Lieutenant: The Vefſel the new Pyrates
came out of, they ſunk, and the Confederates proceed
on the Voyage as Lowther before intended.
The roth of January, the Pyrates came into the
Bay, and fell upon a Ship of 200 Tun, called the
Greyhound, Benjamin Edwards Commander, belong-
ing to Boſton. Lowther hoiſted his pyratical Co-
lours, and fired a Gun for the Greyhound to bring to,
which ſhe refuſing, the Happy Delivery (the Name
of the Pyrate) edg'd down, and gave her a Broad-
fide,

Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER. 359
fide, which was returned by Captain Edwards very
bravely, and the Engagement held for an Hour;
but Captain Edwards, finding the Pyrate too ftrong
for him, and fearing the Conſequence of too ob-
ftinate a Reſiſtance againſt thoſe lawleſs Fellows,
ordered his Enfig to be ftruck. The Pyråtes
Boat came aboard, and not only rified the Ship, but
whipp'd, beat, and cut the Men in a cruel Manner,
turned them aboard their own Ship, and then
ſet Fire to their's.
In cruiſing about the Bay, they met and took ſe-
veral other Veſſels without any Refiftance, viz.
two Brigantines of Boſton in New-England, one of
which they burnt, and ſunk the other; a Sloop
belonging to Connecticut, Captain Airs, which they
alſo burnt ; a Sloop of Jamaica, Captain Hamilton,
they took for their own Uſe; a Sloop of Virginia
they unladed, and was ſo generous as to give her
back to the Maſter that own'd her. They took
a Sloop of 100 Ton, belonging to Rhode Iſland,
which they were pleaſed to keep, and mount
with eight Carriage, and ten Swivel Guns.
With this little Fleet, viz. Admiral Lowther, in
the Happy Delivery ; Captain Low, in the Rhode Iſand
Sloop; Captain Harris, (who was ſecond Mate in
the Greyhound when taken,) in Hamilton's Sloop, and
the little Sloop formerly mentioned, ſerving as a
Tender ; I ſay, with this Fleet the Pyrates left
the Bay, and came to Port Mayo in the Gulph of
Matique, and there made Preparations to careen;
they carried aſhore all their Sails, and made Tents
by the Water-Side, wherein they laid their Plunder,
Stores, &c. and fell to work, and at the Time
that the Ships were upon the Heel, and the good
Folks employ'd in heaving down, fcrubing, tallow-
ing, and ſo forth ; of a ſudden came down a confi-
derable Body of the Natives, and attack'd the Py-
rates
74

360 Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER.
rates unprepared. As they were in no Condition
to defend themſelves, they fled to their Sloops, lea:
ving them Maſters of the Field and the Spoil thereof,
which was of great Value, and ſet Fire to the Hap
py Delivery, their capital Ship.
Lowther made the beſt Proviſion he could in the
largeſt Sloop, which he called the Ranger, having
ten Guns and eight Swivels, and ſhe failing beſt, the
Company went all aboard of her, and left the other
at Sea.
Proviſions was now very fhort, which,
with the late Loſs, put them in a confounded ilí
Humour, inſomuch that they were every now and
then going together by the Ears, laying the Blame
of their ill Condu& ſometimes upon one, then
up-
on another
The Beginning of May 1722, they got to the
Weſt-Indies, and near, the Iſland of Diſeada, took
a Brigantine, one Payne Mafter, that afforded them
what they ſtood in need of, which put them
in better Temper, and Buſineſs ſeemed to go on
well again. After they had pretty well plundered
the Brigantine, they fent her to the Bottom. They
went into the Iſland and watered, and then ſtood
to the Northward, intending to viſit the Main-Coaſt
of America.
In the Latitude of 38, they took a Brigantine
called the Rebecca of Boſton, Captain Smith, bound
thither from St. Chriſtophers. At the taking of this
Vefſel; the Crews divided; for Low, whom Low-
ther joined at the Grand Caimanes, proving always a
very unruly Member of the Commonwealth, al-
ways aſpiring, and never ſatisfy'd with the Pro-
ceedings of the Commander; he thought it the
fafeſt Way to get rid of him, upon any Terms;
and according to the Vote of the Company, they
parted the Bear Skin between them: Low with 44
Hands went aboard the Brigantine, and Lomber
with

Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER. 361
with the fame Number ftay'd in the Sloop, and
ſeparated that very Night, being the 28th of
May 1722.
Lowther proceeding on his way to the Main-
Coaft, took three or four fiſhing Veſſels off New-York,
which was no great Booty to the Captors. The 3d
of June, they met with a ſmall New-England Ship,
bound home from Barbadoes, which ftood an Attack
a ſmall Time, but finding it to no Purpoſe, yielded
herſelf a Prey to the Booters: The Pyrates took
out of her fourteen Hogſheads of Rum, fix Barrels
of Sugar, a large Box of Engliſh Goods, ſeveral
Casks of Loaf Sugar, a conſiderable Quantity of
Pepper, fix Negroes, beſides'a Sum of Money and
Plate, and then let her go on her Voyage.
The next Adventure was not ſo fortunate for
them, for coming pretty near the coaſt of South-
Carolina, they met with a Ship juſt come out, on
her Voyage to England ; Lowther gave her a Gun,
and hoiſted his pyratical Colours; but this Ship,
which was called the Amy, happening to have a
brave gallant Man to command her, who was not
any ways daunted with that terrible Enfign, the
black Flag, he inftead of ftriking immediately, as
'twas expected, let fly a'Broadſide at the Pyrate. Low-
ther (not at all pleaſed with the Compliment, tho'
he put up with it for the preſent) was for taking
Leave; but the Amy getting the Pyrate between
her and the Shore, ftood after him to clap him
aboard ; to prevent which, Lowther run the Sloop
a-ground, and landed all the Men with their Arms.
Captain Gwatkins, the Captain of the Amy, was
obliged to ſtand off, for fear of running his own
Ship afhore; but at the ſame Time thought fit
for the publick Good, to deſtroy the Enemy; and
thereupon went into the Boat, and rowed towards
the Sloop, in order to ſet her on Fire; but before
he reached the Veffel, a fatal Shot from Lowther's
Company

362 of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER.
Company aſhore, put an End to their Deſign and
Captain Gwatkin's Life.
After this unfortunate
Blow, the Mate returned aboard with the Boat,
and not being enclined to purſue them any farther,
took Charge of the Ship.
door
Lowther got off the Sloop after the Departure of
the Any, and brought all his Men aboard again,
but was in a poor fhattered Condition, having fuf-
fered much in the Engagement, and had a great
many Men kill'd and wounded : He made Shift to
get into an lulet ſomewhere in North-Carolina, where
he ſtaid a long while before he was able to put to
Sea again. Ce sod
He and his Crew laid up all the Winter, and
fhifted as well as they could among the Woods,
divided themſelves into fmall Parties, and hunted
generally in the Day Times, killing of black Cat-
tle, Hogs, c. for their Subfiftance, and in the
Night retired to their Tents and Huts, which they
made for Lodging; and ſometimes when the Wea-
ther grew very cold, they would ſtay aboard of
their Sloop.
obation or balls
In the Spring of the Year 1723, they made Shift
to get to Sea, and fteered their Courſe for New-
foundland, and upon the Banks took a Scooner, calld
the Swift, John Hood Maſter; they found a good
Quantity of Proviſions aboard her, which they
very much wanted at that Time, and after taking
three of their Hands, and plundering her of what
they thought fit, they let her depart. They took
feveral other Veſſels upon the Banks, and in the
Harbour, but none of any great Account; and
then ſteering for a warmer Climate, in Auguſt arri-
ved at the Weft-Indies. In their Paffage thither,
they met with a Brigantine, called the John and Eli-
zabeth, Richard Stanny Maſter, bound for Boſton,
which they plundered, took two of her Men, and
diſcharged her. doda
Lowther

Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER. 363
Lowther cruiſed a pretty while among the Iſlands
without any extraordinary Succeſs, and was redu.
ced to a very ſmall Allowance of Proviſions, till
they had the luck to fall in with a Martinico Man,
which proved a ſeaſonable Relief to them; and
after that, a Guiney Man had the ill Fortune to be-
come a Prey to the Rovers ; ſhe was called the Prin-
ceſs, Captain Wickfied Commander. a boon ni misis
It was now thought neceſſary to look out for a
Place to clean their Sloop in, and prepare for new
Adventures: Accordingly the Iſland of Blanco was
pitched upon for that. Purpoſe, which lies in the
Latitude of 11° 50 m. N. about 3o Leagues from
the Main of the Spaniſh America, between the Iſlands
of Margarita and Rocas, and not far from Tortuga. It is
a low even Iſland, but healthy and dry, uninhabi-
ted, and about two Leagues in Circumference, with
Plenty of Lignum Vitæ Trees thereon, growing
in Spots, with ſhrubby Buſhes of other Wood about
them. There are, beſides Turtle, great Numbers of
Guanoes, which is an amphibious Creature like a
Lizard, but much larger, the Body of it being as
big as a Man's Leg; they are very good to eat,
and are much uſed by the Pyrates that come here:
They are of divers Colours, but ſuch as live upon
dry Ground, as here at Blanco, are commonly yel-
low. On the N. W. End of this Iſland, there is
a ſmall Cove or fandy Bay, all round the reſt of
the Illand is deep Water, and ſteep cloſe to the
Iſland. Here Lowther reſorted to, the Beginning
of October laft, unrigged his Sloop, ſent his Guns,
Sails, Rigging, ác. afhore, and put his Veſſel upon
the Careen. The Eagle Sloop of Barbadoes, belong-
ing to the South-Sea Company, with 35 Hands, com-
manded by Walter Moore, coming near this Iſland,
in her Voyage to Comena, on the Spaniſh Continent,
ſaw the ſaid Sloop juſt careen’d, with her Guns out,
and Sails unbent, which fhe ſuppoſed to be a Pyrate,
becauſe

364 Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER.
becauſe it was a place where Traders did not com
monly uſe, ſo took the Advantage of attacking
her, as ſhe was then unprepared; the Eagle having
fired a Gun to oblige her to ſhew her Colours, the
Pyrate hoifted the St. George's Flag at their Topmaft-
Head, as it were to bid Defiance to her ; but when
they found Moore and his Crew reſolved to board
them in good earneſt, the Pyrates cut their Cable
and hawled their Stern on Shore, which obliged
the Eagle to come to an Anchor a-thwart their
Hawſe, where ſhe engaged them till they called
for Quarter and ſtruck; at which Time Lowther
and twelve of the Crew made their Eſcape out of
the Cabin Window. The Maſter of the Eagle got
the Pyrate Sloop off, ſecured her, and went
aſhore with 25 Hands, in Purſuit of Lowther and his
Gang; but after five Day's ſearch, they could find
but five of them, which they brought aboard,
and then proceeded with the Sloop and Pyrates to
Comena aforefaid, where they foon arrived.
The Spaniſh Governor being informed of this
brave A&tion, condemned the Sloop to the Captors,
and ſent a ſmall Sloop with 23 Hands to ſcower
the Buſhes and other places of the Iſland of Blanco,
for the Pyrates that remained there, and took four
more, with ſeven ſmall Arms, leaving behind them
Captain Lowther, three Men, and a little Boy, which
they could not take; the above four the Spaniards
try'd and condemned to Slavery for Life ; three to
the Gallies, and the other to the Caſtle of Ar-
raria.
con
The Eagle Sloop brought all their Priſoners af-
terwards to St. Chriſtopher's, where the following
were try'd by a Court of Vice Admiralty, there
held March the uth, 1722, viz. John Churchill,
Edward Mackdondd, Nicholas Lewis, Richard Weſt,
Sam. Levercott, Robert White, Fohn Shaw, Andrew Hun-
tex, Fonathan Delve, Matthew Freebarn, Henry Wat-
song

Of Capt. GEORGE LOWTHER. 365
fon, Roger Grange, Ralph Candor, and Robert Willis ;
the three laſt were acquitted, the other thirteen
were found Guilty, two of which were recom-
mended to Mercy by the Court, and accordingly
pardoned ; and the reſt executed at that Iſland, on
the 20th of the fame Month.
As for Captain Lowther, it is ſaid that he after-
wards fhot himſelf upon that fatal Iſland, where
his Pyracies ended, being found, by fome Sloop's
Men, dead, and a Piſtol burft by his Side.
CHAP ,

366
9
Todo orijo ot po Sisw
spois sisw sonr: 9
so ant sx orobic
nem erste stories are
Tour CH A P. XV. 102A
Sodybos 35 totalement sor abus
Egoela smo vd bod bebrairytaid
sbi at ydo Folias bebom
Captain Edward Lom,
And his CREW.
E
Edward Low was born in Weſtminſter, and had
his Education there, ſuch as it was, for he
could neither write or read. Nature ſeem'd
to have deſigned him for a Pyrate from his Child-
hood, for very early he began the Trade of plun-
dering, and was wont to raiſe Contributions
among
all the Boys of Weſtminſter; and if any were bold
enough to refuſe it, a Battle was the Conſequence;
but Low was ſo hardy, as well as bold, there was
no getting the better of him, ſo that he robbed
the Youths of their Farthings, with Impunity;
when he grew bigger he took to Gaming in a low
Way, for it was commonly among the Footmen
in the Lobby of the Houſe of Commons, where he
uſed to play the whole Game, (as they term it)
that is, cheat all he could, and thoſe who pretended
to diſpute it with him, muft fight him.
The Virtues of ſome of his family were equal
to his; one of his Brothers was a Youth of Genius,
when he was but ſeven Years old, he uſed to be
carried in a Basket, upon a Porter's Back, into a
Crowd, and fnatch Hats and Wigs : According to
the

Of Capt. EDWARD LOT
367
3
the exa&t Chronology of Newgate, he was the firit
who practiſed this ingenious Trick. After this,
he applied himſelf to picking of Pockets when
he increaſed in Strength, he attempted greater
Things, ſuch as Houſe-breaking, (c. But after
he had run a ſhort Race, he had the Misfortune of
ending his Days at Tyburn, in Company with Stephen
Burice, and the celebrated fack Hall the Chimney-
Sweeper.
But to return to Ned, when he came to Man's
Eftate, at his eldeſt Brother's Deſire, he went to
Sea with him, and fo continued for three or four
Years, and then parted; and Ned work'd in a Rig-
ging-Houſe in Boſton in Neto-England, for a while.
About fix Years ago, he took a Trip home to Eng-
land, to ſee his Mother, who is yet Living. His
Stay was not long here, but taking Leave of his
Friends and Acquaintance, for the laſt Time he
Thould ſee them; for ſo he was pleaſed to ſay ; he
returned to Boſton, and work'd a Year or two lon-
ger at the Rigging Bufineſs. But being too apt to
diſagree with his Maſters, he left them, and ſhipp'd
himſelf in a Sloop that was bound to the Bay of
Honduras, isofi
When the Sloop arrived in the Bay, Ned Low
was appointed Patron of the Boat, which was em-
ployd in cutting of Logwood, and bringing it
aboard to lade the Ship; for that is the Commo-
dity they make the Voyage for : In the Boat were
twelve Men beſides Low, who all go arm’d, be-
cauſe of the Spaniards, from whom this Logwood
is but little better than ſtole. It happened that
the Boat one Day came aboard juſt before Dinner
was ready, and Low defired that they might ſtay and
Dine; but the Captain, being in a Hurry for his
Lading, ordered them a Bottle of Rum, and to
take t'other Trip, becauſe no Time ſhould be loft:
This provoked the Boat's Crew, but particularly
Low,

368
Of Capt. EDWARD Low:
Low, who takes up a loaded Muſquet and fires at
the Captain, but miſſing him, fhot another poor
Fellow thro' the Head, then put off the Boat, and
with his twelve Companions goes to Sea: The
next Day they took a ſmall Vefſel, and go in her,
make a black Flag, and declare War againſt all the
World.
They then proceeded to the Iſland of the Grand
Caimanes, intending to have fitted up their ſmall
Vefſel, and prepare themſelves as well as their Cir-
cumſtances would permit, for their honourable
Employment; but falling in Company with George
Lowther, another Pyrate there, who paying his Com-
pliments to Low, as great Folks do to one another
when they meet, and offering himſelf as an Ally;
Love accepted of the Terms, and ſo the Treaty was
preſently ſign’d without Plenipo's or any other For-
malities.
We have already given an Account of their joynt
Pyracies, under Lomther as chief Commander, till
the 28th of May, 1722, when they took a Bri-
gantine of Boſton, bound thither from St. Chriſto-
phers, at which Time they parted, and Edward Lowo
went into the Brigantine, with forty four others,
who choſe him their Captain: They took with
them two Guns, four Swivels, fix Quarter-Casks
of Powder, Proviſions and ſome Stores, and ſo left
Lowther to proſecute his Adventures, with the Men
he had left.
Their firſt Adventure in the Brigantine, was on
Sunday the 3d Day of June, when they took a Veſ
fel belonging to Amboy, John Hance Maſter, whom
he rifled of his Proviſions, and let go ; the ſame
Day he met with a Sloop, James Calquhoon Maſter,
off of Rhode Iſland, bound into that Port, whom he
firft plundered, and then cut away his Boltſprit,
and all his Rigging, alſo his Sails from the Yards,
and wounded the Maſter, to prevent his getting
in

Of Capt. EDWARD Low. 369
in to give Intelligence, and then ſtood away to the
South-Eaſtward, with all the Sail he could make,
there being then but little Wind.
Low judged right in making fail from the Coaſt;
for a longer ſtay had proved fatal to him, for
notwithſtanding the diſabled Condition he had
rendered the Sloop in, ſhe made thift to get into
Block Iſland, at 12 o'clock that Night, and imme.
diately diſpatched a Whale-Boat to Rhode Iand,
which got thither by ſeven the next Morning, with
an Account of the Pyrate, his Force, and what
had happened to him: As ſoon as the Governor
had received this Information, he ordered a Drum
to beat up for Volunteers, and two of the beſt
Sloops then in the Harbour, to be fitted out: He
gave Commiſſions to one Captain John Headland,
and Captain John Broton, jun. for ten Days; the
former had eight Guns and two Swivels, and the
latter fix Guns, well fitted with ſmall Arms, and
in both Sloops 140 ſtout Fellows; all this was
performed with ſo much Expedition, that before
Sun-ſet, they were under Sail, turning out of the
Harbour, at the ſame Time the Pyrate was ſeen
from Block Iſland, which gave great Hopes that the
Sloops would be Maſters of her the next Day, which
however did not happen, for the Sloops returned in-
to Harbour fome Days afterwards, without ſo much
as ſeeing their Enemy.
After this Eſcape, Captain Loro, went into Port;
upon the Coaſt, for he had not freſh Water enough
to run to the Iſlands, where he ſtaid a few Days,
getting Proviſions and what Neceffaries the Crew
wanted, and then failed for Purchaſe, (as they call
it) ſteering their Courſe towards Marblehead.
About the 12th of July, the Brigantine failed
into the Harbour of Port Roſemary, and there found
thirteen Ships and Veſſels, but none of Force, at
Anchor, they ſpread their black Flag, and ran in
among

370 Of Capt. EDWARD LOW.
among them; Lom telling them from the Brigan-
tine, they ſhould have no Quarters if they re-
fifted; in the mean Time they mann'd and arm'd
their Boat, and took Poſſeſſion of every one of
them, plundered them of what they thought fit,
and converted one to their own Uſe, viz. a Scoo-
ner of 80 Tuns, aboard of which they put 10 Car-
riage Guns, and 50 Men, and Lot himſelf went
Captain, and nam’d her the Fancy, making one
Charles Harris, (who was at firſt forced into their
Service out of the Greyhound of Boſton, by Lowther,
of which Ship Harris was ſecond Mate) Captain of
the Brigantine: Out of theſe Veſſels they took ſeve-
ral Hands, and encreaſed the Company to 80 Men,
who all figned the Articles, ſome willingly, and
a few perhaps by Force, and ſo failed away from
Marblehead.
Some Time after this, they met with two Sloops
bound for Boſton, with Proviſions for the Garriſon,
and the Scooner coming up firſt, attacked them,
but there happening to be an Officer and ſome Sol
diers on Board, who gave them a warm Reception,
Low choſe to ſtay till he ſhould be joyned by the
Brigantine z in the mean while the Sloops made
the beſt of their Way, and the Pyrates gave them
Chace two Days, and at laſt loft fight of them in
a Fog.
They now fteered for the Leeward Iſlands, but
in their Voyage met with ſuch a Hurricane of
Wind, that the like had not been known; the
Sea ran Mountains high, and ſeemed to threater
them every Moment with Deſtruction ; it was no
Time now to look out for Plunder, but to ſave
themſelves, if poſſible, from periſhing. All Hands
were continually employed Night, and Day, on
Board the Brigantine, and all little enough, for
the Waves went over her, fo that they were forced
to keep the pump conſtantly going, beſides baling
with

Of Capt. EDWARD Low.
371
With Buckets; but finding themſelves not able to
keep her free, and ſeeing the utmoſt Danger before
their Eyes; they turn'd to the Takle, and hoiſted out
their Proviſions, and other heavy Goods, and threw
them over-board, with fix of their Guns, ſo that
by lightening the Veſſel, ſhe might riſe to the Top
of the Sea with the Waves: They were alſo going
to cut away their Maft; but conſidering how dan-
gerous it would be, to be left in ſuch a Condition,
they reſolved to delay it to the laſt, which was
Prudence in them to do; for a Ship without Mafts
or Sails, lies like a Log upon the Water, and it at-
tack'd, muft fight with Diſadvantage, the working
of her being the moſt artful Part of the Engage-
ment, becauſe ſhe may ſometimes bring all her great
Guns on one Side, to bear upon her Enemy, when
the diſabled Ship can do little or nothing.
But to proceed; by their throwing over-board
the heavy Goods, the Veſſel made conſiderable leſs
Water, and they could keep it under with the
Pump only, which gave them Hopes and new Life;
ſo that inſtead of cutting all away, they took nea
ceſſary Meaſures to ſecure the Maſt, by making
Preventor-Shrowds, &c. and then wore and lay too
upon the other Tack, till the Storm was over. The
Scooner made ſomewhat better Weather of it, of
the two, but was pretty roughly handled nota
withſtanding, having ſplit hier Main-fail, ſprung
her Boltſprit, and cut her Anchors from her
Bows. The Brigantine by running away to Leen
ward, when ſhe wore upon the Larboard Tack, had
loft Sight of the Scooner ; but not knowing whe-
ther ſhe might be ſafe or not, as ſoon as the Wind
abated, ſhe fet her Main-Sail and Top-Sail, and
made fhort Trips to Windward ; and the next
Day had the good Fortune to come in Sight of
their Confort, who, upon a Signal, which the other
knew, bore down to her, and the Crew were over-
A a 2
joyd

372 Of Capt. EDWARD Low.
joy'd to meet again, after ſuch ill Treatment from
the Winds and Seas.
After the Storm, Low got ſafe to a ſmall Iſland,
one of the Weathermoſt of the Caribbees, and there
fitted their Vefſels, as well as the Place could af-
ford; they got Proviſions of the Natives, in ex-
change for Goods of their own; and as ſoon as
the Brigantine was ready, 'twas judg’d neceffary
to take a ſhort Cruize, and leave the Scooner in
the Harbour till her Return.
The Brigantine
fail?d out accordingly, and had not been out many
Days before they met a Ship at Sea, that had loſt
all her Mafts ; on Board of whom they went, and
took from her in Money and Goods, to the Value
of 1000 l. and ſo left her in the Condition they
found her: This Ship was bound home from Bar-
badoes, but loſing her Maſts in the late Storm, was
making for Antegoa, to refit, where ſhe afterwards
arriv'.
The Storm juft ſpoken of, was found to have
done incredible Damage in thoſe parts of the
World; but however, it appear’d to have been more
violent at Jamaica, both to the Iſland and Shipping,
there was ſuch a prodigious Swell of the Sea, that
Several hundred Tuns of Stones and Rocks, were
thrown over the Wall of the Town of Port Royal, and
the Town ſelf was overflowed, and above half
deſtroy'd, there being the next Morning five Foot
Water from one End to the other; the Cannon of
Fort Charles were diſmounted, and ſome waſhed
into the Sea, and four hundred People loſt their
Lives; a more melancholly Sight was ſcarce ever
ſeen when the Water ebb'd away, all the Streets
being covered with Ruins of Houſes, Wrecks of
Vefſels, and a great Number of dead Bodies, for
förty Sail of Ships, in the Harbour, were caft
away.
The

Of Capt. EDWARD LOW.
373
of
The Brigantine return'd to the Iſland, where
ſhe had left the Scooner, who being ready to fail,
it was put to the Vote of the Company, what
Voyage to take next; and herein they follow'd the
Advice of the Captain, who thought it not adviſe-
able to go any farther to Leeward, becauſe of the
Men of War who were cruiſing in their ſeveral
Stations, which they were not at all fond of meet-
ing, and therefore it was agreed to go to the Azores,
or Weſtern Iflands.
The latter End of July, Low took a French Ship
34 Guns, and carried her along with him to the
Azores. He came into St. Michael's Road the
3d of Auguſt, and took ſeven Sail that were lying
there, viz. the Notre Dame, Mere de Diez, Captain
Roach Commander; the Dove, Capt. Cox; the Roſe
Pink, formerly a Man of War, Capt. Thompſon; ano.
ther Engliſh Ship, Capt. Chandler; and three other
Veſſels. He threatened all with preſent Death who
reſifted, which ſtruck ſuch a Terror to them, that
they yielded themſelves up a Prey to the Villains,
without firing a Gun.
The Pyrates being in great Want of Water and
freſh Proviſions, Low ſent to the Governor of St.
Michael's for a Supply, and promiſed upon that
Condition to releaſe the Ships he had taken, but
otherwiſe to burn them all; which Demand the
Governor thought it not prudent to refuſe, but
ſent the Proviſion he required, upon which he re-
leaſed fix of the Ships, (after he had plundered
them of what he thought fit,) and the other, viz.
the Roſe Pink, was made a Pyrate Ship, which
Low himſelf took the Command of.
The Pyrates took ſeveral of the Guns out of the
French Ship, and mounted them aboard the Roſe,
which proved very fit for their Turn, and con-
demned the former to the Flames. They took all
the Crew out of her, but the Cook, who, they ſaid,
being
Aa 3

374 Of Capt. EDWARD Low.
being a greazy Fellow would fry well in the Fire;
ſo the poor Man was bound to the Main-Maft, and
burnt in the Ship, to the no ſmall Diverfion of Lon
and his Mirmidons.
Lov ordered the Scooner to lye in the Fare be
tween St. Michaels and St. Mary's, where, about
the 20th of Auguſt, Captain Carter in the Wright
Galley, had the ill Fortune to come in her Way;
and becauſe at firſt they ſhewed Inclinations to de
fend themſelves, and what they had, the Pyrates
cut and mangled them in a barbarous Manner; par-
ticularly fome Portugueſe Paſſengers, two of which
being Friers, they triced up at each Arm of the
Fore-Yard, but let them down again before they
were quite dead, and this they repeated ſeveral
Times out of Sport.
Another Portugueſe, who was alſo Captain Car-
ter's Paſſenger, putting on a ſorrowful Counte-
nance at what he ſaw acted, one of this vile Crew
attacked him upon the Deck, ſaying, he did not
like his Looks, and thereupon gave him one Blow
a-croſs his Belly with his Cutlaſh, that cut out his
Bowels, and he fell down dead without ſpeaking
a Word. At the ſame Time another of theſe
Rogués cutting at a Priſoner, miſſed his Mark,
and Captain Low ftanding in his Way, very oppor-
tunely received the Stroke upon his under Jaw,
which laid the Teeth bare ; upon this the Surgeon
was called, who immediately ſtitched up the
Wound, but Lop finding fault with the Operation,
the Surgeon being tollerably drunk, as it was cufto-
mary for every Body to be, ftruck Lom ſuch a Blow
with his Fift, that broke out all the Stitches, and
then bid him ſew up his Chops himſelf and be
damned, ſo that Lom made a very pitiful Figure
for fome Time after.
When they had plundered Captain Carter's Ship,
ſeveral of them were for burning her, as they had
done

Of Capt. EDWARD Low.
375
done the French Man, but it was otherwiſe reſolved
at laſt; for after they had cut her Cables, Rigging
and Sails to Pieces, they left her to the Mercy of
the Sea.
After theſe Depredations, they ſteered for the
Iſland of Madera, where miſſing other Booty, they
took
up
with a Fiſhing-Boat, with two old Men
and a Boy in her, one of which they detained on
Board, but ſent the other afhore with a Flag of
Truce, demanding a Boat of Water of the Gover-
nor, on Pain of taking away the old Man's Life,
whom they threatened to hang at the Yard-Arm,
upon their refuſal, but the Thing being complied
with, the old Man was honourably (as the Pyrates
day) diſcharged, and all the three much handſomer
cloathed than when they took them. From this
Inland they failed to the Canaries, but meeting
with no Prey there, they continued their Courſe
for the Cape de Verd Iſlands, and at Bonaviſta, took
a Ship called the Liverpool Merchant, Captain Goule
ding, from whom they ſtole a great Quantity of
Proviſions and dry Goods, 300 Gallons of Brandy,
two Guns and Carriages, a Maft, Yard and Hawa
ſers, beſides fix of his Men, and then would not
let them Trade there, nor at St. Nicholas, but obli-
ged Captain Goulding to go with his Ship, to the
Iſle of May.
The Pyrate alſo took among theſe Iſlands, a Ship
belonging to Liverpool, Scot Commander; two Portu-
gueſe Sloops bound for Braſil; a ſmall Engliſla Sloop
trading there, Fames Peaſe Maſter, bound to Sanétæ
Crux, and three Sloops from St. Thomas bound to
Curaſo, the Maſters Names were Lilly, Staples and
Simpkins, all which they plundered, and then let
go about their Bufineſs, except one Sloop which
they fitted up for the following Purpoſe.
Low had heard by one of the above mentioned
Ships, that two ſmall Gallies were expected every
Day
Aa 4

376
Of Capt. EDWARD LOW.
Day at the Weſtern Irands, viz. the Greyhound, Cap
tain Glaſs, and the Foliff, Captain Aram; the for-
mer of which was deligned to be fitted for the
pyratical Trade to Braſil, if Things had happened
to their Minds. They mann'd the Sloop, and fent
her in Queſt of one or both of theſe Ships to the
Weſtern Iſlands aforeſaid, whilſt they carreen'd their
Ship Roſe, at one of the Cape de Verds: But now For-
tune that had hitherto been ſo propitious to them,
left her Minions, and baffled for the preſent ali
their Hopes, for the Sloop miſſing of their Prey,
was reduced to great Neceſſities for want of Pro
viſions and Water, ſo that they ventured to go
aſhore at St. Michael's for a Supply, and paſs for a
Trader ; but they play'd their Parts fo aukwardly,
that they were ſuſpected by the Governor to be
what they really were, and he was ſoon put out
of doubt by a Vifit fome Portugueſe made them,
who happened unluckily to be Paſſengers in Cap-
tain Carter's Ship, when Low took her, and knew
the Gentlemen's Faces very well; upon which the
whole Crew was conducted into the Caſtle, where
they were provided for as long as they liv'd.
Low, in the mean Time, did not fare quite fo ill,
but had his intended Voyage to Braſil ſpoild, by
the overſetting of his Ship, when he was upon
the Careen, whereby ſhe was loft, ſo that he was
reduc'd to his old Scooner, which he called the
Fancy, aboard of which they all went, to the Num-
ber of 100, as vile Rogues as ever ended their
Lives at Tyburn. They proceeded now to the Weſt-
Indies, but before they had gotten far on their
Voyage, they attack'd a rich Portugueſe Ship, call’d
the Noſtre Signiora de Victoria, bound home from
Bahia, and after ſome Reſiſtance, took her. Lom
tortur'd ſeveral of the Men, to make them declare
where the Money, (which he ſuppos’d they had
on Board) lay, and extorted by that Means, a Con-
feſſion

Of Capt. EDWARD Low.
377
feffion that the Captain had, during the Chace,
hung out of the Cabin Window, a Bag with 11,000
Moidores, which, alſoon as he was taken, he cut
the Rope off, and let it drop into the Sea.
Low, upon hearing what a Prize had eſcap'd him,
rav'd like a Fury, ſwore a thouſand Oaths, and
ordered the Captain's Lips to be cut off, which
he broil'd before his Face, and afterwards mur-
thered him and all the Crew, beintg thirty two
Perſons.
After this bloody A&tion, they continued their
Courſe, till they came to the Northward of all the
Iſlands, and there cruiz'd for about a Month, in
which Time they made Prizes of the following
Veſſels, viz. a Snow from New-Tork to Curacoa, Ro-
bert Leonard Maſter ; a Sloop from the Bay, bound
to New-York, Craig Maſter ; a Snow from London and
Jamaica, bound to New-York; and the Stanhope Pink,
Andrem Delbridge Maſter, from Jamaica to Boſton ;
which laſt they burnt, becauſe of Lom's irreconcilea-
ble Averſion to New-England Men.
After this Cruize, they went into one of the
Iſlands and clean’d, and then ſteered for the Bay
of Honduras, where they arrived about the Middle
of March 1722-3, and met a Sloop turning out of
the ſaid Bay. The Pyrates had hoiſted up Spaniſh
Colours, and continued them till they drew near
the Sloop, then they halld them down, hoiſted
their black Flag, fired a Broadfide, and boarded
her. This Sloop was a Spaniard of fix Guns, and
70 Men, that came into the Bay that Morning,
and meeting there with five Engliſh Sloops, and a
Pink, made Prizes of them all, plundered them,
and brought the Maſters of the Veſſels away Pri-
foners, for the ranſom of the Logwood; their
Names were Tuthill, Norton, Newbury, Sprafort, Clark
and Parrot. The Spaniards made no Reſiſtance, fo
that the Engliſh Pyratęs ſoon became their Maſters
and'

378
Of Capt. EDWARD Low.
and fell to rifling; but finding the above-menti-
oned People in the Hold, and ſeveral Engliſh Goods,
they conſulted Lom the Captain thereupon, and
without examining any further, the Reſolution
paſs’d to kill all the Company; and the Pyrates,
without any Ceremony, fell Pell-Mell to Execu-
tion with their Swords, Cutlaſhes, Poll-Axes and
Piſtols, cutting, flaſhing and ſhooting the poor
Spaniards at a fad Rate. Some of the miſerable
Creatures jump'd down into the Hold, but could
not avoid the Maſſacre; they met Death every
where, for if they eſcaped it from one Hand, they
were fure to perifh by another; the only Profpeét
they had of Life, was to fly from the Rage of
thoſe mercileſs Men, and to truſt to the niore
merciful Sea ; and accordingly a great many leap'd
over-board, and ſwam for the Shore; bnt Lom
perceiving it, ordered the Canoa to be mann'd, and
ſent in purſuit of them, by which Means ſeveral
of the poor unhappy Men were knock'd in the
Head in the Water, as they were endeavouring to
get to Land ; however, about 12 of them did
reach the Shore, but in a miſerable Condition, be-
ing very much wounded, and what became of
them afterwards was not known, except one, who
while the Pyrates were at their Sports and Paftimes
afhore, finding himſelf very weak and fainting with
his Wounds, and not knowing where to go for
Help and Relief, in this Extremity, he came back
to them, and begg'd for God ſake, in the moſt ear-
neft Manner poſſible, that they would give him
Quarters ; upon which, one of the Villains took
hold of him, and ſaid, - d -n him, he would
give him good Quarters preſently, and made the
Spaniard kneel down on his Knees, then taking his
Fufil, put the Muzzle of it into his Mouth, and
fired down his Throat. 'Twas thought the reſt
did not long ſurvive their miſerable Condition,
poor
and

of Capt. EDWARD Low.
379
and could only prolong their Lives, to add to the
Miſery of them.
When the murdering Work was over, they
rumaged the Spaniſh Pyrate, and brought all the
Booty aboard their own Veſels: The fix Maſters
aforementioned, found in the Hold, they reſtored
to their reſpective Veſſels : They forced away the
Carpenter from the Pink, and then ſet Fire to
the Spaniſlo Sloop, and burnt her; which laſt Scene
concluded the Deſtruction of their Enemy, Ship
and Crew.
Low ſet the Maſters of the Veſſels free, but would
not ſuffer them to ſteer for Famaica, where they
were then bound, for fear the Men of War ſhould
get Intelligence of them, but forced them all to go
to New-York, threat'ning them with Death, when
they met them again, if they refuſed to comply with
their Demands.
In the next Cruize, which was between the Lee-
ward Iſlands and the Main, they took two Snows,
bound from Jamaica to Liverpool, and a Snow from
Jamaica to London, Bridds Maſter ; as alſo a Ship
from Biddford to Jamaica, John Pinkham Commander ;
and two Sloops from Jamaica to Virginia.
On the 27th of May, Low and his Confort Har-
ris, came off South-Carolina, and met w 'th three good
Ships, viz. the Crown, Captain Lovereigne, the King
William, the Carteret, and a Brigantine, who all came
out of Carolina together two Days before. The Py-
rates were at the Trouble of chacing them, and
Captain Lovereigne being the ſternmoſt, ſhe fell firſt
a Prey into their Hands; and they ſpent all the
Day in coming up with the reſt.
Within a few Days they took a Ship called the
Amſterdam Merchant, Captain Willard, from Jamaica,
but belonging to New-England; as Lom let none of
that Country depart without ſome Marks of his
Rage, he cut off this Gentleman's Ears, ſlit up his
Noſe,

380 Of Capt. EDWARD LOW.
Nofe, and cut him in ſeveral Places of his Body,
and, after plundering his Ship, let him purſue his
Voyage.
After this he took a Sloop bound to Amboy, Wile
liam Frazier, Mafter, with whom Mr. Low happen-
ing to be diſpleaſed, he ordered lighted Matches to
be tyd between the Mens Fingers, which burnt all
the Fleſh off the Bones; then cut them in ſeveral
Parts of their Bodies with Knives and Cutlaſhes
;
afterwards took all their Proviſions away, and fet
fome of them aſhore in an uninhabited Part of the
Country
The Kingſton, Captain Eſtwick, another Ship, one
Burrington Mafter, two Brigantines from Carolina to
London ; a Sloop from Virginia to Bermudas; a Ship
from Glaſgow to Virginia; a Scooner from New-York
to South-Carolina; a Pink from Virginia to Dartmouth,
and a Sloop from Philadelphia to Surinam, fell a Prey
to theſe Villains, upon this Cruize, beſides thoſe
above-mentioned.
It happened that at this Time one of his Ma-
jeſty's Ships was upon a Cruize, on this Station,
and got Intelligence of ſome of the miſchievous
Actions of this Miſcreant, by one of the Veſſels
that had been plundered by him, who fteering as
directed, came in Sight of the Pyrates by break of
Day, on the 10th of June, of all Days in the Year.
The Rovers looking out for Prey, foon faw, and gave
Chace to the Man of War, which was called the
Greyhound, a Ship of 20 Guns, and 120 Men, rather
inferiour in Force to the two Pyrate Veffels: The
Greyhound finding them ſo eager, was in no doubt
what they ſhould be, and therefore tack'd and
ftood from them, giving the Pyrates an opportu-
nity to chace her for two Hours, till all Things
were in Readineſs for an Engagement, and the
Pyrates about Gun-Shot off; then the Greyhound
tack'd again, and food towards the two Sloops, one
of

Of Capt. EDWARD Low.
381
of them called the Fancy, commanded by Lor him-
ſelf, and the other the Ranger, commanded by
Harris, both which hoiſted their pyratical com
lours, and fired each a Gun. When the Grey
hound came within Muſquet-ſhot, ſhe halled up
her Main-fail, and clapp'd cloſe upon a Wind, to
keep the Pyrates from running to Leeward, and
then engaged : But when the Rogues found who
they had to deal with, they edg'd away under the
Man of War's Stern, and the Greyhound ſtanding after
them, they made a running Fight for about two
Hours; but little Wind happening, the Sloops gain-
ed from her, by the help of their Oars; upon which
the Greyhound left off firing, and turned all Hands
to her own Oars, and at three in the Afternoon
came up with them. The Pyrates hauld upon
a Wind to receive the Man of War, and the
Fight was immediately renewed, with a brisk
Fire on both sides, till the Ranger's Main-Yard
was fhot down, and the Greyhound preſſing cloſe
upon the diſabled Sloop, Lor, in the other, thought
fit to bear away and leave his Confort a Sacrifice
to his Enemy, who (ſeing the Cowardice and Trea-
chery of his Commadore and Leader, having ten
or twelve Men killed aud wounded, and that there
was no poſſibility of eſcaping,) called out for Quar-
ters, and ſurrendered themſelves to Juſtice, which
proved levere enough to them a-while after-
wards.
The Conduct of Low was ſurprizing in this Ad-
venture, becauſe his reputed Courage and Bold-
neſs, had, hitherto, fo poſſeſs'd the Minds of all peo-
ple, that he became a Terror, even to his own Men;
but his Behaviour throughout this whole A&ion,
ſhewed him to be a baſe cowardly Villain, for had
Low's Sloop fought half ſo briskly as Harris's had
done, (as they were under a folemn Oath to do,)
the

382
Of Capt. EDWARD LOW.
the Man of War, in my Opinion, could never have
hurted them.
The Greyhound carried in their Prize to Rhode
Iſland, to the great Joy of the whole Province, tho
it had been more compleat, if the great LOW him-
ſelf had grac'd the Triumph. The Priſoners were
ſtrongly ſecured in a Goal, till a Court of Vice-
Admiralty could be held for their Tryals, which
begun on the roth of July, at Newport, and conti-
nued three Days. The Court was made up of the
following Gentlemen.
William Dummer, Eſq; Lieutenant Governor of the
Maſſachuſets, Preſident.
Nathaniel Paine, Eſq; John Valentine, Eſq; Ad-
Addington Davonport, Efq; vocate-General.
Thomas Fitch, Eſq; Samuel Cranſton, Gover-
Spencer Phipps, Eſq;
nor of Rhode-iſland.
fohn Lechmeré, Eſq; Sür- Fohn Menzies, Eſq; Judge
veyor-General.
of the Admiralty,
Richard Ward, Efq; Regiſter.
Mr. Jahleel Brinton, Provoft-Marſhal.
Robert Auchmuta, Eſq; was aſſigned, by the Court,
Council for the Priſoners here under mention’d.
Priſoners Names. Ages. Places of Birth.
Charles Harris, Captain 25 London.
William Blads
28 Rhode-Iſland.
Daniel Hide
23 Virginia.
Thomas Powel, jun 21 Connecticut, N. E.
Stephen Mundon
20 London.
Thomas Huggit
William Read
35 Londonderry, Ireland.
Peter Kneeves
32 Exeter in Devon.
James Brinkly 28 Suffolk in England.
Foſeph Sound
28 City of Weſtminſter
30 London.
Willian

Of Capt. EDWARD Low. 383
John Browon
John Tomkins
William Shutfield 40 Lancafter in England.
Edward Eaton
38 Wrexham in Wales.
W 29 County of Durhama
Edward Lawson tous 20 Iſle of Man.
Owen Rice
27 South-Wales.
23 Glouceſterſhire. xor
John Fitzgerrald 20 Limerick in Ireland.
Abrahain Lacy 21 Devonſhire. fronti
Thomas Liniſter 21 Lancaſhire.
Francis Leyton
39 New-York.
John Waters,Quart.-Mr.35. County of Devon.
William Jones
28 London,
Charles Church
21 St. Margaret's, Weſtm.
Thomas Hazel
50
John Bright
25
Thele 25 were found guilty, and executed the
19th of July, 1723, near Newport in Rhodes
Iland.
10YW
John Brown 17 Liverpoole.
Patrick Cunningham 25
Theſe two were found guilty, but refpited for
one Year, and recommended to the King's
Favour. debutor
John Wilſon
23 New-London County
Henry Barnes
22 Barbadoes.
Thomas Jones
17 Flur in Wales.
Foſeph Switzer 24 Boſton in New-England.
Thomas Mumper, Indian. Mather's Vineyard N. E.
Fohn Hincher, Doctor 22 Near Edinburgh, Scot.
John Fletcher
17
Thomas Child
IS
Theſe eight were found Not Guilty.
The deſtroying this Pyrate was look'd
upon by
the Province, to be of ſuch a ſignal Service to the
Publick, and particular Advantage to the Colony
of

384 Of Capt. EDWARD LOW.
of New-York, that it was thought neceffary to make
ſome handſome Acknowledgement to Captain Peter
Solgard for it ; and therefore it was reſolved, in an
Afſembly of the Common-Council, to compliment
him with the Freedom of their Corporation. The
Reſolution, together with the Preamble of the Cap-
tain's Freedom, being curious in their Kind, I fuba
join them for the Satisfa&tion of the Reader.
THA
Reſolution of the Mayor and Common-Coun-
cil of the City of New-York, at a Common-
Council held at the City Hall of the ſaid Ci-
ty, on Thurſday the 25th of July, Anno. Domna
1723.
Preſent Robert Walter, Eſq; Mayor.
City of New York, .
HIS Court having taken into their conſideration the
great Service lately done to this Province in par-
ticular, as well as to all other his Majeſty's good Subjects in
general, by Captain Peter Solgard, Commander of his
Majeſty's Ship the Greyhound, the Station Ship of the
Province, who lately in a Cruize upon this Coast, in due
Execution and Diſcharge of bis Duty, upon Intelligence
given him, fought for, purſued and engaged two Pyrate
Sloops, commanded by one Low, (a notorious and inhumane
Pyrate,) one of which Sloops he took, after a reſolute Reo
ſiſtance, and very much ſhattered the other, who by the
Favour of the Night eſcaped. Twenty fix of which Pyrates
ſo taken, being lately executed at Rhode Iſland, not only
eaſed this City and Province of a very great Trouble, but
of a very conſiderable Expence, &c. It is therefore reſol-
ved (Nemine Contradicente) that this Corporation do
preſent the ſaid Captain Solgard with the Freedom of this
Corporation, as a Mark of the great Eſteem they have for
bis Perfon, as well as for the aforeſaid great and good Ser-
vices

of Capt. EDWARD LOW.
385
vices; and that the Seal of the ſaid Freedom be encloſed
in a Gold Box ; that Mr. Recorder and Mr. Bickley
do draw the Draught of the ſaid Freedom, ſignifying therein,
the grateful Senſe of this Corporation, for Jo ſignal a Sera
vice to the Publick, and Benefit and Advant age of Mankind.
That Alderman Kip, and Alderman Cruger, do prepare
the ſaid Box ; that the Arms of the Corporation be en-
graved on one side thereof, and a Repreſentation of the
Engagement on the other, with this Motto, (viz.) [Que-
fitos Humani Generos Hoftes Debellare ſuperbum,
10 Junii, 1723.] That the Town-Clerk cauſe the ſame
Freedom to be handſomly engroſſed on Parchment, and
that the whole Corporatión do wait upon him, to preſent
By Order of the Common-Council.
William Sharpas, Clerka
the ſame.
The Preamble of Captain Peter Solgard's Copy
of his Freedom.
Robert Walter, Efq; Mayor, and the Aldermen of the
City of New-York.
City of New-York,
Ти
o all whom theſe Perſents ſhall come, ſend Greetings
WHEREAS, Captain Peter Solgard, Commander
of his Majeſty's Ship the Greyhound, (the preſent Station
Ship of this Province,) in his Cruize, having Intelligence of
two Pyrate Sloops of conſiderable Force in Confortſhip, under
the Command of one Low, a notorious Pyrate, that had for
upward of two Years, committed many Depredations, Mur-
ders and Barbarities, upon many of his Majeſty's Subjects and
Allies, lately come upon this Coaſt, hath, with great Dili-
gence, and utmoſt Application, purſued, overtaken, and after
a ſtubborn Reſiſtance, vanquiſhed and overcome both of them,
taking one, and driving the other from our Coaft ; which
Action, as it is glorious in it felf, ſo it is glorious in the
publick Benefits and Advantages that flow from it, (to
wit) The Safety and Freedom of our own Trade and Conza
Bb
merce,

386 Of Capt. EDWARD Low.
merce, and of all the neighbouring Provinces on this Corza
tinent, ſuch ſignal Service done againſt the Enemies of
Mankind, merits the Applauſe of all good Men, but more
immediately from thoſe of this Province, who are appointed
bis particular Care and Charge. WE therefore, the Mayor,
Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New York,
asſembled in Common Council, to expreſs our grateful Senſe
and Acknowledgment, to the ſaid Captain Peter Solgard,
for ſo noble and faithful a Diſcharge of his Duty, and as
a particular Mark of the great Eſteem and juſt Regard
we bear to his kind Acceptance of the Freedom of the
Corporation of this City of New York, and that he
will pleaſe to become a Fellow Citizen with us. Theſe are
therefore to certify and declare, that the ſaid Captain
Peter Solgard is hereby admitted, received and allowed
a Freeman and Citizen of the ſaid City of New-York, to
have, hold, enjoy and part ake of all and fingular Advan-
tages, Benefits, Liberties, Privileges, Franchiſes, Free-
doms and Immunities whatſoever, granted or belonging to
the ſame City: In Teſtimony thereof, the ſaid Mayor
bath hereunto ſubſcribed his Name, and cauſed the Seal
of the ſaid City to be affix?d the 25th Day of July, in the
ninth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George,
by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France
and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. Anno. Dom.
1723
William Sharpas,
R. Walter Mayor.
Clerk.
This narrow Eſcape of Low and his Companions,
one would have thought might have brought them
to a little Confideration of their black and horrid
Crimes, and to look upon this Interval as an Op-
portunity put into their Hands by Providence,
to reconcile themſelves to God, by a hearty and
fincere Repentance. But alaſs they were dead to
all Goodneſs, and had not ſo much as one Spark of
Virtue to ftir them up to be thankful for ſuch an
eminent

Of Capt. EDWARD Low.
387
eminent Deliverance: But inſtead thereof, vented
a Million of Oaths and Curſes upon the Captain
of the Greyhound, vowing to execute Vengeance
upon all they ſhould meet with afterwards, for the
Indignity he put upon them.
The firſt Prey that they met with, after their
Flight, was a ſmall Sloop belonging to Nantucket,
a Whale-Fiſhing, about 80 Miles from Land, the
Maſter of which, one Nathan Skiff, a brisk young
Fellow, the Pyrates cruelly whipp'd naked about
the Deck, making his Torture their Sport; after
which they cut of his Ears, and laſt of all ſhot him
through the Head, and then funk his Veffel; put-
ting the reſt of the Hands into their Whale-Boat,
with a Compaſs, a little Water, and a few Biskets;
and it being good Weather, they providentially got
ſafe to Nantucket, beyond all Expectation.
There was another Whale-Boat belonging to
this Sloop laft mentioned, which happened to be
at ſome Diftarice from her, and perceiving what
was doing, rowed with all ſpeed to another Sloop
not far off, to acquaint her with the Misfortune,
that the Men might take care of themſelves; and
the happily got away in Time. Some Days after,
Low took a Fiſhing-Boat off of Block Iſland, but did
not perpetrate ſo much Cruelty to her, contenting
himſelf with only cutting off the Maſter's Head :
But after taking two Whale-Boats near Rhode Iſland,
he cauſed one of the Maſter's Bodies to be ripp?dup,
and his Intrails to be taken out; and cut off the
Ears of the other, and made him eat them him-
ſelf with Pepper and Salt; which hard Injun-
Eion he comply'd with, without making a Word.
Several other Perſons he would have murthered,
but Humanity prevailing in the tender Hearts of
his Companions, they refuſed to put his favage
Orders in Execution.
Bb2
From

388
of Capt. EDWARD Low.
From the coaſt of New-England, Low failed die
re&tly for Newfoundland, and, near Cape Briton, took
two or three and twenty French Veſſels, and one
of them of 22 Guns he mann'd with Pyrates, ma-
king a ſort of a Man of War of her ; with which he
fcower'd the Harbours and Banks of Newfoundland,
and took fixteen or eighteen other Ships and Veſſels,
all which they plundered, and ſome deſtroyed.
Thus theſe inhumane Wretches went on, who
could not be contented to ſatisfy their Avarice
only, and travel in the common Road of Wicked-
neſs; but, like their Patron, the Devil, muſt make
Miſchief their Sport, Cruelty their Delight, and
damning of Souls their conſtant Employment. Of
all the pyratical Crews that were ever heard of,
none of the Engliſh Name came up to this, in Bar-
barity ; their Mirth and their Anger had much the
fame Effect, for both were uſually gratified with
the Cries and Groans of their Priſoners; fo that
they almoſt as often murthered a Man from the
Exceſs of good Humour, as out of Paſſion and Re-
ſentment; and the Unfortunate could never be
affured of Safety from them, for Danger lurked in
their very Smiles. An Inſtance of this had liked
to have happened to one Captain Graves, Maſter of
a Virginia Ship laſt taken; for as ſoon as he came
aboard of the Pyrate, Low takes a Bowl of Punch
in his Hand, and drinks to him, ſaying, Captain
Graves, here's half this to you. But the poor Gen-
tleman being too ſenſibly touched at the Misfor-
tune of falling into his Hands, modeſtly deſired
to be excuſed, for that he could not drink;
where-
upon Low draws out a Piſtol, cocks it, and with
the Bowl in "tother Hand, told him, he ſhould
either take one or the other : So Graves, without
Heſitation, made Choice of the Vehicle that con-
tained the Punch, and guttled down about a Quart,
when he had the leaſt Inclination that ever he had
in his Lifę to be merry.
The
7

of Capt. EDWARD LOW. 389
The latter End of July, (1723) Eow took a large
Ship, called the Merry Chriſtmas, and fitted her for
a Pyrate, cut ſeveral Ports in her, and mounted
her with 34 Guns. Low goes aboard of this Ship,
affumes the Title of Admiral, and hoiſts a black
Flag, with the Figure of Death in red, at the
Main-topmaft Head, and takes another Voyage to
the Weſtern Iſlands, where he arrived the Beginning
of September. The firſt Veffel he met with there,
was a Brigantine, formerly an Engliſh Sloop, com-
manded by Elias Wild, but lately bought by a Por-
tugueſe Nobleman, and altered : She was manned
partly with Engliſh, and partly Portugueſe; the lat-
ter Low cauſed to be hang’d, by Way of Repriſal,
for ſome of his own Men ſent thither in a Sloop
from the Cape de Verd Idlands, as has been mention-
ed: The Engliſh Men he thruſt into their own Boat,
to ſhift for themſelves, and ſet Fire to the Veſſel.
At St. Michaels, they ſent in their Boats and cut
out of the Road, a new London built Ship of 14
Guns, commanded by Captain Thompſon, who was
taken there the Year before, by Low, in the Roſe
Pink. The Boats had fewer Men than the Ship,
and Captain Thompſon would have defended him-
ſelf, but his Men through Cowardize, or too great
an Inclination of becoming Pyrates themſelves, re-
fuſed to ſtand by him, and he was obliged to fur-
render; and when he came aboard the Pyrate, had
his Ears cut off cloſe to his Head, for only pro-
pofing to reſiſt Admiral Lon's black Flag; they
gave him one of his own Boats, and burnt his
Ship.
The next was a Portugueſe Bark that fell into
their Hands, whoſe Men came off ſomewhat bet-
ter than uſual, for they only cut them with their
Cutlaſhes, out of Wantonneſs, turned them all into
their Boat, and ſet their Vefſel on Fire. When
the Boat was going from the Side of the Ship, one
of
Bb 3

390 of Capt. EDWARD Low.
of Low's Men, who, we may ſuppoſe, was forced
into his Gang, was drinking with a Silver Tankard
at one of the Ports, and took his Opportunity to
drop into the Boat among the Portugueſe, and lye
down in the Bottom, in order to eſcape along with
them: After he had ftowed himſelf in the Boat,
ſo as not to be ſeen, it came into his Head, that
the Tankard might prove of ſome Uſe to him,
where he was going; ſo he got up again, laid hold
of the Utenfil, and went off, without being diſco-
ver’d: In which Attempt had he failed, 110 doubt
his Life, if not the Lives of all the People in the
Boat, would have paid for it: The Name of this
Man is Richard Hains.
Low took his old Tour to the Canaries, Cape de
Verd Iſlands, and ſo to the Coaſt of Guiney ; but
nothing extraordinary happened till they arrived
near Sierraleon in Africa, where they met with a
Ship call'd the Delight, Captain Hunt Commander ;
this Ship they thought fit for their own Purpoſe,
for ſhe had been a ſmall Man of War, and carried
12 Guns ; however, they mounted 16 on Board
her, mann'd her with 60 Men, and appointed one
Spriggs, who was then their Quarter Maſter, to be
Captain of her, who, two Days after, ſeparated from
the Admiral, and went to the Weſt-Indies a-pyra-
ting, upon his own, and particular Company's, Ac-
count, where for the preſent we fhall leave him.
In January laſt, Low took a Ship, called the Squir-
rel, Captain Stephenſon ; but what became of him
afterwards, I can't tell; we have had no News con-
cerning him come to England, fince this I have now
mentioned ; but I have heard that he talk'd of go-
ing to Brazil; and if ſo, it is likely we may too
foon hear of ſome Exploit or other; tho' the beſt
Information we could receive, would be, that he
and all his Crew were at the Bottom of the Sea.
СНАР.

391
AAAAAA2E2ZCZE
CH A P. XVI.
OF
Capt. JOHN EVANS,
And his Crew.
OHN Evans was 2 Welch Man, had been former
ly Maſter of a Sloop belonging to Nevis, but
loſing his Employ there, he failed for ſome
Time out of Jamaica as Mate, till happening in Com-
pany
of three or four of his Comrades, and Wages not
being ſo good as formerly, and Births ſcarce, be-
cauſe of the great Number of Seamen; they agreed
to go abroad in ſearch of Adventures. They failed,
or rather rowed out of Port Royal in Jamaica, the
latter End of September 1722, in a Canoa; and com-
ing on the North-Side of the Iſland, went alhore
in the Night, broke open a Houſe or two, and
robb’d them of ſome Money, and every Thing elſe
they could find that was portable, and brought the
Booty on Board the Canoa.
This was very well for the firſt Time, but this
kind of Robbery did not pleaſe ſo well, they wan-
ted to get out to Sea, but having no Vefſel but
their Canoa, they were prevented in their lauda-
ble Deſign ; however, they kept a good look
and traverſed the Iſland, in Expectation that Pro-
vidence would ſend ſome unfortunate Veffel as a
Sacris
out,
Bb 4

392 Of Capt. JOHN EVANS.
Sacrifice, and in a few Days their Wiſhes were ac-
compliſhed; for at Duns Hole, they found a ſmall
Sloop at an Anchor, belonging to Bermudas : They
made bold and went aboard, and Evans informed
the Folks that belonged to her, that he was Cap-
tain of the Veffel, which was a piece of News
they knew not before. After they had put their
Affairs in a proper Diſpoſition aboard, they went
aſhore to a little Village for Refreſhments, and
lived jovially the remaining Part of the Day, at a
Tavern, ſpending three Piſtols, and then departed.
The People of the Houſe admired at the merry
Gueſts they had got, were mightily pleaſed, and
wiſhed for their Company at another Time, which
happened too ſoon for their Profit ; for, in the
middle of the Night, they came aſhore all Hands,
rifled the Houſe, and carried what they could
aboard their Sloop.
The next Day they weighed in the Sloop, aboard
of which they mounted four Guns, called her
the Scowerer, and failed to Hiſpaniola ; on the North
Part of which Iſland they took a Spaniſh Sloop, which
proved an extraordinary rich Prize, as it fell among
ſo few Perſons as this Company confifted of, for
they ſhared upwards of 150 1. a Man.
In Purſuance of the Game, and beating up for
the Windward Iſlands, the Scomerer met with a Ship
from New-England, bound to Jamaica, 120 Tons,
called the Dove, Captain Diamond Maſter, off Porto
Rico: They plundered her, and ſtrengthened their
own Company, by taking out the Mate, and two or
three other Men; they diſcharged the Prize, and
run into one of the Iſlands for freſh Water and Ne-
ceffaries, and ſtaid there ſome Time.
The next Prize they made, was the Lucretin and
Catherine, Captain Mills, of 200 Ton Burthen; they
came up with her near the Iſland Diſſeada, January
Ith. Upon ſeizing of this Ship, the Pyrates be-
gan

Of Capt. JOHN EVANS.
393
gan to take upon themſelves the Diſtribution of
Juſtice, examining the Men concerning their Ma-
fter's Uſage of them, according to the Cuſtom of
other Pyrates; but the Captain over-hearing the
Matter, put an End to the judicial Proceedings,
and fell to rumaging the Ship, ſaying to them,
What have we to do to turn Reformers, 'tis Money we want ?
And ſpeaking to the Priſoners, he asked them, Does
your Captain give you Viktuals enough? And they anſwer-
ing in the Affirmative: Why then, ſaid he, he ought to
give you Work enough Shot
After the taking of this Prize, they went to the
little Inand of Avis, with a Deſign to clean, and
carried the Lucretia along with them, in order to
heave down the Scomerer by her ; but meeting there
with a Sloop, the Pyrate gave Chace till the Eve-
ning, when ſhe was within Gun-Shot of her; but
fearing to loſe Company with the Lucretia, who
was a heavy Sailor, they left off, and ſaw her no
more. This Chace brought them to Leeward of
their Port, ſo that they were obliged to look out
for another place of Retreat, and the Iſland of
Ruby not being far diftant, they fteered for that,
and anchored there accordingly; but the next Day
a Dutch Sloop coming as it were, into their Mouths,
they could not forbear dealing, and ſo making her
their Prize, they plundered her of what came, when
ſhared, to fifty Pounds a Man.
They found this Sloop more for their Purpoſe
than the Lucretia, to clean their own Sloop by, as
being much lower in the Waft, and therefore capa-
ble of heaving her Bottom farther out of the Wa-
ter, fo she was diſcharged, and the Dutch Man kept
in her Room ; but not thinking it convenient to
lay up here, for fear a diſcovery Thould be made,
they turned their Thoughts another Way, and
fteered to the Coaſt of Jamaica, where they took a
Sugar Drover, and then run to the Grand Caimanes,
about

394 Of Capt. JOHN EVANS.
about 30 Leagues to Leeward of Famaica, with In-
tention to clean there, but an unhappy Accident
put an End to their Pyracies, which hitherto had
proved very ſucceſsful to theni. ud
The Boatſwain of the Pyrate being a noiſy furly
Fellow, the Captain had at ſeveral Times Words with
him, relating to his Behaviour, who thinking him-
ſelf ill treated, not only returned ill Language, but
alſo challenged the Captain to fight him on the
next Shore they came to, with Piſtols and Sword,
as is the Cuſtom among theſe Outlaws. When the
Sloop arrived, as abovementioned, the Captain
propoſed the Duel; but the cowardly Boatſwain re-
fuſed to fight, or go aſhore, tho’ it was his own
Challenge. When Captain Evans ſaw there was no-
thing to be done with him, he took his Cane, and
gave him a hearty drubbing; but the Boatſwain
not being able to bear ſuch an Indignity, drew out a
Piſtol and fhot Evans thro’ the Head, ſo that he
fell down dead ; and the Boatſwain immediately
jumped over-board, and ſwam towards the Shore ;
but the Boat was quickly mann'd and ſent after him,
which took him up and brought him aboard.nl
The Death of the Captain in that Mariner, pro-
voked all the Crew, and they reſolved the Crimi-
nal ſhould die by the moſt exquiſite l'ortures; but
while they were conſidering of the Puniſhment,
the Gunner, tranſported with Paffion, diſcharged
a Piſtol, and ſhot him thro? the Body; but not kil-
ling him outright, the Delinquent in very moving
Words, defired a Week for Repentance only;
but another ftepping up to him, told him, that he
Should repent and be damned to him, and without more
ado fhot him dead.
I ſhould have obſerved, that when the Lucretia
and Katharine was fuffered to go away, the Pyrates
detained their Mate, who was now the only Man
aboard, who underſtood Navigation, and him they
defired

Of Capt. JoHN EVANS.
395
deſired to take upon him the Command of the
Sloop, in the Room of Captain Evans deceaſed; but
he deſired to be excuſed that Honour, and at length
poſitively refuſed it ; ſo they agreed to break up
the Company, and leave the Mate in Poffeffion of
the Veſſel : Accordingly they went afhore at the
Caimanes, carrying with them about nine thouſand
Pounds among thirty Perſons; and it being fair
Weather, the Mate and a Boy brought the Veſſel
into Port Royal, in Jamaica.
bra
TOS
doza
O DOE
Сң АР.

396
CH A P. XVII.
OF
Captain John Phillips,
And his Crew.
J
OHN Phillips was bred a Carpenter, and fail-
ing to Newfoundland in a Weft-Country Ship,
was taken by Anſtis in the Good Fortune Brigan-
tine, the next Day after he had left his Confort
and Commadore, Captain Roberts. Phillips was ſoon
reconciled to the Life of a Pyrate, and being a brisk
Fellow, was appointed Carpenter of the Veſſel, for
at firſt his Ambition reach'd no higher; there
he remain'd till they broke up at Tabago, and was
one of thoſe who came home in a Sloop that we
have mentioned to be ſunk in Briſtol Channel.
His Stay was not long in England, for whilft he
was paying his firſt Viſits to his Friends in Devon-
ſhire, he heard of the Misfortune of ſome of his
Companions, that is, of their being taken and com-
mitted to Briſtol Goal; and there being good Rea-
ſon for his apprehending Danger from a Wind that
blew from the ſame Quarter, he mov'd off imme-
diately to Topham, the neareſt Port, and there
Shipp'd himſelf with one Captain Wadham, for a
Voyage to Newfoundland, and home again ; which,
by the way, Mr. Phillips never deſign'd to perform,
or

Of Capt. John PHILLIPS.
397
or to fee England any more.
When the Ship came
to Peter Harbour in Newfoundland aforeſaid, he ran
away from her, and hired himſelf a Splitter in
the Fiſhery, for the Seaſon : But this was only
till he could have an Opportunity of proſecu-
ting his intended Rogueries; in order to which,
he combined with ſeveral others, in the ſame Em-
ploy, to go
off with one of the Veſſels that lay in
the Harbour, upon the pyratical Account; accor-
dingly the Time was fix'd, viz. the 29th of Auguſt
1723, at Night; but whether Remorſe or Fear
prevented their coming together, I know not, but
of fixteen Men that were in the Combination, five
only kept the Appointment : Notwithſtanding
which, Phillips was for puſhing forward with that
ſmall Number, aſſuring his Companions, that they
ſhould foon encreaſe their Company; and they
agreeing, a Veſſel was feiz'd on, and out of the
Harbour they failed.
The firſt Thing they had now to do, was to
chuſe Officers, draw up Articies, and ſettle their
little Commonwealth, to prevent Diſputes and Rang-
lings afterwards; fo Fohn Phillips was made Captain,
John Nutt, Mafter, (or Navigator) of the Vefſel
James Sparks, Gunner; Thomas Fern, Carpenter; and
Wiliam White was the only private Man in the
whole Crew : When this was done, one of them
writ out the following Articles (which we have
taken verbatim) and all ſwore to 'em upon a Hatchet
for want of a Bible.
The Articles on Board the Revenge.
ET
Very Man fhall obey civil Command ; the Captain
ſhall have one full Share and a half in all Prizes; the
Maſter, Carpenter, Boatſwain and Gunner ſhall have one
Share and quarter.
2. If

398 Of Capt. JOHN PHILLIPS.
2.
or ſhot. Tado el
10305
in od mod
Belgiast 09 10
As if any Man fhall offer to run arôay, or keep any Secret
from the Company, he ſhall be marroond, with one Bottle of
Powder, one Bottle of Water, one ſmall Arm, and Shot.
-color
Vairuoto99 3. v bio
If any Man fhall ſteal any Thing in the Company, or
gamey to the Value of a Piece of Eight, he ſhall be marroon'd
atte V on 30 now to og volg
4.
do noq
"If at any Time we ſhould meet another Marrooner (that is,
Pyrate,] that Man that shall ſign bis Articles without the
Conſent of our Company, ſhall ſuffer fuch Puniſhment as the
Captain and Company ſhall think fit. das
Motto
J01905.A 910
GGA ant 3 vino
3. That Man that ſhall ſtrike another whilst theſe Articles
are in force, Mall receive Moſes's Law (that is, 40 Stripes
lacking one) on the bare Back.boono to
su 10 bits no 6.
6. WISESVE
That Man that shall ſnap his Arms, or (moak Tobacco
in the Hold, without a Cap to his Pipe, or carry a Candle
lighted without a Lanthorn, ſhall ſuffer the ſame Puniſhment
as in the former Article.
7.
That Man that ſhall not keep his Arms clean, fit for
an Engagement, or neglect bis Buſineſs, fhall be cut off from
his Share, and ſuffer ſuch other Puniſhmeret as the Captain
and the Company ſhall think fit.
8. voor lo
If any Man ſhall loſe a Joint in time of an Engage
ment, ſhall have 400 Pieces of Eight; if a Limb, 800.
9.
If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that
Man that offers to meddle with her, without her Confent,
fhall ſuffer preſent Death.
Thus prepar'd, this bold Crew ſet out, and before
they left the Banks they made Prize of ſeveral ſmall
Fiſhing-Veifels, out of which they got a few Hands,
ſome

of Capt. John PHILLIPS.
399
ſome French and ſome Engliſh, and then fail'd for the
Weft-Indies ; in one of theſe Veſſels they took out
one Fohn Roſe Archer, who having been a Pyrate un-
der the famous Black-beard, was immediately pre-
ferr'd over other People's Heads, to be Quarter-
Mafter to the Company, which fudden Promo-
tion ſo diſguſted ſome of the older Standers, eſpe-
cially Fern, the Carpenter, that it occafioned ſome
Miſchief to follow, asiwe ſhall fhew by and by..
os The Pyrates came off Barbadoes the beginning of
O&ober, and cruiſed there, and among other Iſlands,
above three Months, without ſpeaking with a Veſ
fel, fo that they were almoft ſtarv'd for want of
Proviſions, being reduc'd to a Pound of Meat a
Day between ten; at length they fell in with a Marca
tinico Man of 12 Guns and 35 Hands, far fuperior
in Force, and what they would not have ventur'd
on at another Time, but Hunger will break down Stone
Walls; they were reſolved to ſhew the French
Men their black Flag; and if that would not do,
they muſt ſeek out elſewhere ; accordingly, they
boldly ran up a-long-ſide of the Sloop, with their
pyratical Colours flying, and told them, if they
did not ftrike immediately, they would give them
no Quarters; which ſo intimidated the Frenchmer,
that they never fired a Gun. This proved a fea-
fonable Supply; they took her Proviſions, and four
of her Men, and let her go. They took preſently
after, a Sloop belonging to New-York, and a Virginia
Man, Huffam Mafter.
Having now occafion to clean their Vefſel, Phil
lips propos'd Tobago, where the Company he for-
merly belong'd to, under Anſtis and Fenn, broke up:
to induce them to it, he told them when he left
the Iſland, there was left behind fix or eight of
their Company that were not willing to go to Eng-
land, with three Negroes: Whereupon they ſaild
to the Iſland, and after a careful Search, found only
One

400 Of Capt. John PHILLIPS.
one of the Negroes, whoſe Name was Pedro, who
inform’d Captain Phillips, that thoſe that were left
behind were taken by a Man of War's Crew, and
hang'd at Antegoa, among whom was Fenn, their
Captain.
They took Pedro on Board, and then fell to Bufi-
neſs, careening their Vefſel; and juſt as they had
finiſhed their work, a Man of War's Boat came
into the Harbour, the Ship being cruiſing to Lee-
ward of the Iſland. It was eaſily gueſs'd upon what
Errant ſhe was ſent, and therefore they loft no
Time, but, as ſoon as the Boat went away, warp'd
out, and ply'd to Windward for Security, but left
the four French Men, they took out of the Martinica
Sloop, behind.
In a few Days they took a Snow with a few
Hands, and Fern, the Carpenter, one William Phil.
lips, Wood and Taylor, went aboard to take Poffeffion
of her.
Fern, not forgetting the Affront of ha-
ving Archer preferr'd before him, reſolv'd to go
off with the Prize, and brought the reſt into the
fame Meaſures; however Phillips, the Captain, kee-
ping a good Look-out, perceiv'd their Deſign, and
gave them Chace, who coming up with the Veſſel,
a Skirmiſh enfu’d, wherein Wood was kill'd and Tay-
lor wounded in his Leg ; upon which the other two
furrender'd. There was no Surgeon aboard, and
therefore it was advis’d, upon a learned Conſulta-
tion, that Phillips's Leg ſhould be cut off; but who
ſhould perform the Operation was the Diſpute ; at
length the Carpenter was appointed, as the moſt
proper Man: Upon which, he fetch'd up the big-
geſt Saw, and taking the Limb under his Arm, fell
to Work, and ſeparated it from the Body of the
Patient, in as little Time as he could have cut a
Deal Board in two; after that he heated his Ax red
hot in the Fire, and cauteriz'd the Wound, but not
with ſo much Art as he perform'd the other part,
for

Of Capt. PHILLIPS.
401
for he fo burnt his Fleſh diftant from the Place of
Amputation, that it had like to have mortify'd;
however nature perform'd a Cure at laſt without a-
riy other Affiftance.
From Tobago they ſtood away to the Northward
and took a Portugueze bound for Brazil, and two or
three Sloops from Jamaica, in one of which, Fern the
Carpenter, endeavouring to go off; was kill'd by
Phillips the Captain, purſuant to their Articles ; ano-
ther had the ſame Fate ſome Days after for the like
Attempt. Theſe Severities made it dangerous for
any to confult or project an Eſcape ; the Terror of
which made ſeveral ſign their Articles and fet down
quietly, waiting impatiently for Redemption, which
as yet they ſaw no great likelyhood of, and ſhould
they have been taken before ſuch. Circumſtances
appear'd in their A&tions or Characters, as after-
wards happen'd, to denote their Innocence; they
might have loſt their Lives upon a Tryal at a Court
of Admiralty; for pretty ſtrong Evidence is ex-
pected in their Favour, to ballance that of being
taken aboard a Vefſel which is prov'd to be in actual
Pyracy, and they aſliſting therein.
Thus was many an honeſt Man's Caſe made moft
deſperate by the conſummate Villany of a few hard-
ned Wretches, who fear neither God or Devil, as
this Phillips us’d often blafphemouſly to expreſs
himſelf.
On the 25th of March they took two Ships from
Virginia for London, John Phillips, the Pyrate Captain's
Nameſake, was Mafter of one, and Captain Robert
Mortimer, the other, a brisk young Fellow, that de-
ſerv'd a better Fate than he met with. Phillips the
Pyrate ſtaid on Board of Captain Mortimer's Ship;
while they tranſported the Crew to the Sloop, and
the Boat returning along ſide, one of the Pyrates
therein calls to Phillips, and tells him, there was a
Mutiny aboard their Veſſel, Mortimer had two Men
Cc

402 Of Capt. PHILIPLS.
in his Ship, and the Pyrate Captain had two, there
fore thought it a good Opportunity to recover his
Ship, and dire&tly took up a Handſpike and ſtruck
Phillips over the Head, giving him a dangerous
wound, but not knocking him down, he recovered
and wounded Mortimer with his Sword; and the two
Pyrates that were aboard coming in to Captain
Phillips's Aſſiſtance, Captain Mortimer was preſently
cut to Pieces, while his own two Men ſtood by and
did nothing.
This was the firſt Voyage that Mortimer had the
Command of a Veſſel, by whoſe Death is a poor
diſconfolate Widow made miſerable, more in re-
gard of the mutual Love and Fidelity they lived in,
than the Loſs of what would have been a handſome
and comfortable Proviſion for themſelves and Chil-
dren, which, I think, now ought to be made up by
the Publick, fince 'twas in the publick Service he
fell; for had his Attempt ſucceeded, in all Pro-
bability he would not only havé regained his own
Ship, but entirely ſubdued and deſtroy'd the
Enemy, there being ſeveral, as it afterwards pro-
ved, that would have ſeconded ſuch an Enterprize
when ever they found a Beginning made.
This Affair ended without any other Conſe-
quence
than a ftri&t Search after a Brother of Cap-
tain Mortimer, who was on Board, in order to
have put him likewiſe to death; but he had the
good Fortune to meet with a Townſman among
the Crew, who hid him for four and twenty Hours
in a Stay-Sail, till the Heat of their Fury was over,
and by that Means happily miſſed of the Fate de-
figned him.
Out of the other Virginia Man before fpoken of,
they took ore Edward Cheejeman, a Carpenter, to
fupply the Place of their late Carpenter, Fern, He
was a modeft fober young Man, very averſe to
their unlawful Practice, and a brave gallánt Fellow.
There

Of Capt. John PHILLIPS, 403
There was one John Philmore of Ipſwich, formerly
taken by them, ordered to row Cheeſeman aboard
of Mortimer's Ship, which the Pyrates poſſeſs’d
themſelves of, who, ſeeing with what Reluctance
and Uneaſineſs Cheeſeman was brought away, told
him, he would join with him, in fome Meaſures,
to over-throw the pyratical Government, telling
him withal, their preſent Condition, what Diffi-
culties Phillips had met with to make up his Com-
pany, and how few voluntary Pyrates there were
on Board, and the like. But, however ſpecious this
ſeemed, Cheeſeman out of Prudence rejected his
Offers of Aſliftance, till he ſaw ſome Proofs of his
Sincerity, which after a few Days he was convinced
of, and then they often conſulted; but as the
old Pyrates were always jealous of the new Comers,
and conſequently obſervant of their Behaviour ;
this was done with the utmoſt Caution, chiefly
when they were lying down together, as tho' aſleep,
and, at other Times, when they were playing at
Cards; both which they feigned often to do for
that Purpoſe.
The Pyrates went on all the while, plundering and
robbing ſeveral Ships and Veſſels, bending their
Courſe towards Newfoundland, where they deſigned
to raiſe more Men, and do all the Miſchief they
could on the Banks, and in the Harbours.
Newfoundland is an Iſland on the North Continent
of America, contained between the 45 and 53% of
N. Latitude, diſcovered firſt by St. Sebaſtion Cabot
A. D. 1497, but riever ſettled till the Year 1610;
when Mr. Guy of Briſtol revived the Afair, and
obtained a Patent, and himſelf to be Governor.
The Iſland is deſerted by the Natives and negle&ted
by us, being deſolate and Woody, and the Coaſt
and Harbour only held for the Conveniency of the
Cod Fiſhery, for which alone they were ſettled.
Сс 2
The

404 Of Capt. JOHN PHILLIPS.
The Bays and Harbours about it, are very nu-
merous and convenient, and being deeply indented,
makes it eaſy for any Intelligence quickly to paſs
from one Ha bour to another over Land; eſpecially
the principal,
St. John's and Placentia, when the Ap-
pearance of an Enemy makes them apprehend Danger.
They are able to cure and export about 1coooo
Quintals (100 Weight each) of Fiſh, annually,
which returns to England in Money, or the necef-
fary Commodities of Portugal, Spain and Italy. As it
therefore expends abundance of Rum, Moloſſus and
Sugar, the Product of our Weſt-India Colonies, and
employs a Number of Fiſhermen from home every
Seaſon, by whoſe Induſtry and Labour only this Fiſh
is purchaſed, it may very well be reckon’d an ad-
vantagious Branch of Trade.
But the preſent Deſign of this Digreffion being
not to give an exa&t Deſcription of the Country
or Fifhery; but rather how it accidentally con-
tributes to raiſe, or ſupport the Pyrates already
rais’d, I ſhall obſerve,
Brod
Firſt, That our Weſt Country Fiſhing-Ships, viz.
from Topfham, Barnſtable and Briſtol, who chiefly at-
tend the Fiſhing Seaſons, tranſport over a confi-
derable Number of poor Fellows every Summer,
whom they engage at low Wages, and are by their
Terms to pay for Paſſage back to England. When
the Newfoundland Ships left that Country, towards
Winter, in the Year 1720, theſe Paffengers muſter'd
T100, who, during the Seaſon of Buſineſs, (the
Hardneſs of their Labour, and Chilueſs of the
Nights, pinching them very much) are moſtly fond
of drinking Black Strap, (a ſtrong Liquor uſed
there, and made from Rum, Moloſſus, and Chow-
der Beer ;) by this the Majority of them out-run
the Conſtable, and then are neceffitated to come
under hard Articles of Servitude for their Mainte-
nance in the Winter, no ordinary Charge, indeed,
when

Of Capt. John PHILLIPS.
405
when the Barre ineſs of the Country is conſider'd,
and the Stock or Proviſion laid in, happen to fall
fort, in Proportion to the Computation made of
the People remaining there the Winter, which are
generally about 17 or 1800. The Maſters reſiding
there think Advantages taken on their Neceffities,
no more than a juft and lawful Gain; and either
bind fuch for the next Summer's Service, or fell
their Proviſions out to them at extravagant Rates;
Bread from 15s. to 50, immediately at the depar-
ting of the Ships, and ſo of other forts of Food in
Proportion; wherefore not being able to fubfift
themselves, or in any likely Way of clearing the
Reckoning to the Maſters, they ſometimes run
away with Shallops and Boats, and begin on pyrati-
cal Exploits, as Phillips and his Companions, whom
we are now treating of, had done.
And ſecondly (which is more opportunely for
them.) they are viſited every Summer, almoft, by
ſome Set of Pyrates or other, already rais'd, who
cail here for the ſame Purpoſe, (if young Beginners)
and to lay in a Store of Water and Proviſions,
which they find imported, much or little, by all the
Ships that uſe the Trade.
Towards this Country Phillips was making his
Way, and took on the Voyage, beſides thoſe above-
mentioned, one Salter, in a Sloop off the Ile of Sa-
bles, which Velfel they made uſe of themſelves, and
gave back Mortimer's ship to the Mate and Crew. The
ſame Day, viz. the 4th of April, took a Scooner,
one Chadwell, Maſter, which they ſcuttled, in or-
der to fink; but Capt. Phillips underſtanding that
ſhe belong?d to Mr. Minors at Newfoundland, with
whoſe Veiſel they firft went off a pyrating, a Qualm
of Conſcience came athwart his Stomach, and he
ſaid to his Companions, We have done him Injury
enough already; ſo order'd the Veffel immediately to
be repaird, and return'd her to the Maſter.
That
Сс 3

406. Of Capt. John PHILLIPS.
That Afternoon they chac'd another Veſſel, and
at Night came up with her, the Mafter of which
was a Saint of New-England, nam'd Dependance Elle-
ry, who taking Phillips for a Pyrate, he told him was
the Reaſon that he gave him the Trouble of cha-
cing ſo long; which being reſented by theſe Men of
Honour, they made poor Dependance dance about
the Deck till he was weary.
Within few Days ſeveral other Veſſels had the
ſame Misfortune, the Mafters Names were as fol.
low, Foſhua Elwell, Samuel Elmell, Mr. Combs, Mr. Lan-
sy, James Balſton, Edward Freeman, Mr. Start, Obe-
diab Beal, Erick Erickſon and Benjamin Wheeler.
The 14th of April they took a Sloop belonging
to Cape Ann, Andrew Harradine Mafter ; they look'd
upon this Veiſel more fit for their Purpoſe, and ſo
came aboard, keeping only the Maſter of her Pri-
foner, and ſending Harradine's Crew away in Sal-
ter's Veífel, which they, till this Time, detain'd.
To this Harradine, Cheeſeman the Carpenter, broke
his Mind, and brought him into the Confederacy
to deſtroy the Crew, which was put in Execution
four Days afterwards.
Harradine and the reſt were for doing the Bu-
fineſs in the Night, as believing they might be more
ofportunely ſurpriz'd; for Nut, the Maſter, being a
Fellow of great Strength, and no leſs Courage, it was
thought dangerous to attack him without Fire-Arms;
however, Cheeſeman was reſolute to have it per-
form'd by Day-light, as the leaſt liable to Contu-
fion, and as to the Mafter, he offer'd to lay Hands
on him firft : Upon this 'twas concluded on, 12 at
Noon was the appointed Time; in order for the Bufi-
net's Cheeſeman leaves his working Tools on the Deck,
as though he had been going to uſe them, and wal-
ked aft; but perceiving fome Signs of Timidity in
Harradine, he comes back, fetches his Brandy Bottle
and gives him and the reſt a Dram, then drnak

Of Capt. JOHN PHILLIPS.
407
to Burril, the Boatſwain, and the Maſter, To their
next merry Meeting, and up he puts the Bottle ; then
he takes a Turn with Nut, asking what he thought
of the Weather, and fuch like. In the mean while
Filemore takes up the Axe, and turns it round up-
on the Point, as if at Play, then both he and Har-
radine wink at him, thereby letting him know they
were ready ; upon which Signal he ſeizes Nut by
the Collar, with one Hand between his Legs, and
toſs'd him over the side of the Veſſel, but, he holding
by Cheeſeman's Sleeve, faid, Lord have Mercy upon me!
what are you going to do, Carpenter ? He told him it was
an unneceſſary Queſtion, For, ſays he, Maſter, you
are a dead Man, fo ftrikes him over the Arm, Nut
looſes his Hold, tumbles into the Sea, and never
ſpoke more.
By this time the Boatſivain was dead; for as foon
as Filemore ſaw the Maſter laid hold of, he raiſed
чр
the Axe, and divided his Enemy's Head in two: The
Noiſe brought the Captain upon Deck, whom Cheeſe
man faluted with the Blow of a Mallet, which broke
his Jaw-Bone, but did not knock him down; Har-
radine came in then with the Carpenter's Adds, but
Sparks, the Gunner, interpofing between him and
Captain Phillips, Cheeſeman trips up his Heels, and
flung him into the Arms of Charles Jvymay, one of
his Conforts, who that Inſtant diſcharg'd him in-
to the Sea: arid at the ſame Time Harradine com-
paſſed his Bufineſs with the Captain aforeſaid :
Cheeſeman loft no Time, but from the Deck jumps
into the Hold, and was about to beat out the Brains
of Archer, the Quarter-Mafter, having ſtruck him
two or three Blows with his blunt Weapon the Mal-
let, when Harry Giles, a young Lad, came down af-
ter him, and defir'd his Life might be ſpar'd, as an
Evidence of their own Innocence; that he having
all the Spoil and Plunder in his Cuftody, it may ap-
pear, that theſe tragick Proccedings were not un-
dertakejte
Сс 4

408 of Capt. John PHILLIPS.
dertaken with any diſhoneft View of ſeizing or ap-
propriating the Effects to themſelves; which
pru-
dent Advice prevail'd, and he and three more were
made Priſoners, and ſecured.
The Work being done, they went about Ship, al-
tered the Courſe from Nemfoundland to Boſton, and
arrived ſafe the 3d of May following, to the great
Joy of that Province.
odyba
On the 12th of May, 1724, a ſpecial Court of Ad-
miralty was held for the Tryal of theſe Pyrates,
when John Filmore, Edward Cheeſeman, John Combs,
Henry Giles, Charles Ivymay, John Bootman, and Hen-
ry Payne, the ſeven that confederated together for
the Pyrates Deſtruction, were honourably acquit-
fed; as alſo three French Men, John Baptis, Peter Taf-
fery, and Iſaac Laffen, and three Negroes, Pedro, Fran-
ciſco, and Pierro. And John Roſe Archer, the Quarter-
Mafter, William White, William Taylor, and William
Phillips, were condemned; the two latter were re-
prieved for a Year and a Day, in order to be re-
commended (though I don't know for what) as Ob-
jects of his Majeſty's Mercy. The two former were
executed on the 2d of Fune, and dy'd very penitent-
ly, making the following Declarations at the Place
of Execution, with the Aſſiſtance of two grave Di-
vines that attended them.
The dying Declarations of John Rofe Archer
and William White, on the Day of their Exe-
tion at Boſton, June 2, 1724, for the Crimes
of Pyracy.
Firſt, ſeparately, of Archer.
I
Day, and my Diſobedience to my Parents.
And my Curfing and Swearing, and my blafpe-
ming the Name of the glorious God,
Unto

of Capt. OHN PHILLIPS.
409
Unto which I have added, the Sins of Urichaſtity.
And I have provoked the Holy One, at length, to
leave me unto the Crimes of Pyracy and Robbery ;
wherein, at laſt, I have brought my ſelf under the
Guilt of Murder allo.
But one Wickedneſs that has led me as much
as any, to all the reft, has been my brutish Drun-
kenneſs. By ſtrong Drink I have been heated and
hardened into the Crimes that are now more bita
ter than Death unto me.
I could wiſh that Maſters of Vefſels would not uſe
their Men with ſo much Severity, as many of them
do, which expoſes to great Temptations.
And then of White.
I am now, with Sorrow, reaping the Fruits of my
Diſobedience to my parents, who uſed their Endea-
yours to have me inſtructed in my Bible, and my
Catechifm.
And the Fruits of my neglecting the publickWor-
Thip of God, and prophaning the holy Sabbath.
And of my blaſpheming the Name of God, my
Maker.
But my Drunkenneſs has had a great Hand in
bringing my Ruin upon me. I was drunk when I
was enticed aboard the Pyrate.
And now, for all the vile Things I did aboard, I
own the Juſtice of God and Man, in what is done
unto me.
Of both together.
We hope, we truly hate the Sins, whereof we
have the Burthen lying ſo heavy upon our Con-
ſciences.
We warn all People, and particularly young Peo-
ple, againſt ſuch Sins as theſe. We with, all may
take Warning by us.
We beg for Pardon, for the ſake of Chriſt, our
Saviour ; and our Hope is in him alone. Oh ! that

410 Of Capt. JOHN PHILIIPS.
be all waſh-
full of
in bis Blood our Scarlet and Crimfon Guilt may
ed away!
We are fenfible of an hard Heart in
us,
Wickednefs. And we look upon God for his renew-
ing Grace upon us.
We bleſs God for the Space of Repentance which
he has given us; and that he has not cut us off in
the Midft and Heighth of our Wickedneſs.
We are not without Hope, that God has been fa
vingly at work upon our Souls.
We are made fenſible of our abfolute Need of the
Righteoufnefs of Chrift; that we may ſtand jufti-
fied before God in that. We renounce all Depen-
dance on our own.
We are humbly thankful to the Miniſters of
Chriſt, for the great Pains they have taken for our
Good. The Lord Reward their Kindneſs.
We don't Deſpair of Mercy ; but hope, through
Chriſt, that when we dye, we ſhall-find Mercy with
God, and be received into his Kingdom.
We wilh others, and eſpecially the Sea-faring,
may get Good by what they ſee this Day befalling
of us.
Declæred in the Preſence of
J. W. D.M.
СНАР.

411
BAXTIYOYEV
Sexcalisaatioalaat
C H A P. XVII.
OF
Captain SPRIGGS,
And his Crew.
S
Priggs failed with Low for a pretty while, and
I believe came away from Lowther, along with
him, he was Quarter-Maſter to the Compa-
ny, and conſequently had a great Share in all the
Barbarities committed by that execrable Gang, till
the Time they parted; which was about Chrift-
mas laft, when Low took a Ship of 12 Guns on the
Coaſt of Guiney, called the Delight (formerly the Squir-
rel Man of War,) commanded by Captain Hunt.
Spriggs took Poſſeſſion of the Ship with eighteen
Men, left Low in the Night, and came to the Weſt-
Indies. This Separation was occafioned by a Quar-
rel with Low, concerning a piece of Juſtice Spriggs
would have executed upon one of the Crew, for
killing a Man in cold Blood, as they call it, one in-
fiſting that he ſhould be hang'd, and the other that
hefhould not.
A Day or two after they parted, Spriggs was choſe
Captain by the reſt, and a black Enſign was made,
which they called Folly Roger, with the ſame De-
vice that Captain Low carried, viz. a white Skeliton
in the Middle of it, with a Dart in one Hand ſtrik-
ing

412 Of Captain SPRIGGS.
ing a bleeding Heart, and in the other, an Hour-
Glals; when this was finiſhed and hoiſted, they
fired all their Guns to falute their Captain and
themſelves, and then looked out for Prey.
In their Voyage to the Weſt Indies, theſe Pyrates
took a Portugueſe Bark, wherein they got valuable
Plunder, but not contented with that alone, they
faid they would have a little Game with the Men,
and fo ordered them a Sweat, more for the Brutes
Diverſion, than the poor Men's Healths; which
Operation is performed after this Manner; they
fick up lighted Candles circularly round the Mi
zon-Maft, between Decks, within which the Pati-
ents one at a Time enter ; without the Candles,
the Pyrates poſt themſelves, as many as can ſtand,
forming another Circle, and armed with Pen-
Knives, Tucks, Forks, Compaffes, &c. and as he
runs round and round, the Mufick playing at the
fame Time, they prick him with thoſe Inſtuments;
this uſually laſts for 10 or 12 Minutes, which is as
long as the miſerable Man can fupport himſelf.
When the Sweating was over, they gave the Portu-
gueſe their Boat with a ſmall Quantity of Proviſions,
and ſet their Vefſel on Fire.
Near the Iſland of St. Lucia, they took a Sloop
belonging to Barbadoes, which they plundered, and
then burnt, forcing ſome of the Men to ſign their
Articles, the others they beat and cut in a barba-
rous Manner, becauſe they refuſed to take on with
the Crew, and then ſent then away in the Boat,
who all got ſafe afterwards to Barbadoes.
The next was a Martinico Man, which they ſer-
ved as bad as they had done the others, but did not
burn their Ship. Some Days afterwards in run-
ning down to Leeward, they took one Captain
Hawkins, coming from Jamaica, loaden chiefly with
Logwood; they sok out of her, Stores, Arms,
Ammunition, and ſeveral other. Things, as they
thought

of Captain SPRIGGS.
413
thought fit, and what they did not want they
threw over-board or deſtroy d; they cut the Ca-
bles to pieces, knocked down the Cabins, broke
all the Windows, and in ſhort took all the Pains in
the World to be Miſchievous. They took by
Force, out of her, Mr. Burridge and Mr. Stephens,
the two Mates, and ſome other Hands; and after
detaining the Ship from the 22d of March, to the
29th, they let her go. On the 27th they took a
Rhode Iſland Sloop, Captain Pike, and all his Men
were obliged to go aboard the Pyrate; but the
Mate being a grave ſober Man, and not inclinable
to ſtay, they told him, he should have his Dif-
charge, and that it fhould be immediately writ on
his Back; whereupon he was ſentenced to receive
ten Laſhes from every Man in the Ship, which was
rigorouſly put in Execution.
The next Day Mr. Burridge, Captain Hawkins's
Mate, fign'd their Articles, which was ſo agreea-
ble to them (he being a good Artiſt and Sailor)
that they gave three Huzza's, fir'd all the Guns in
the Ship, and appointed him Mafter: The Day
was fpent in boyſterous Mirth, roaring and drink-
ing of Healths, among which was, by Miftake,
that of King George the II. for you muſt know, now
and then the Gentry are provok'd to ſudden Fits of
Loyalty, by the Expectation of an A& of Grace :
It ſeems Captain Pike had heard at Jamaica that
the King was dead, fo the Pyrates immediately
hoiſted their Enfign Half-Maft (the Death Signal)
and proclaim'd his Royal Highneſs, ſaying, They
doubted not but there would be a general Pardon in a
twelve Month, which they would embrace and come in up-
on, but damn 'em if they ſhould be excepted out of it, they
would murder every Engliſhman that should fall into their
Hands.
The ſecond of April, they ſpy'd a Sail, and gave
her Chace till 12 O'Clock at Night, the Pyrates be-
lieved

414
Of Captain SPRIGGS.
lieved her to be a Spaniard, when they came cloſe
up to her, they diſcharged a Broadfide, with ſmall
and great Shot, which was follow'd by another, but
the Ship making a lamentable Cry for Quarters,
they ceas'd firing, and ordered the Captain to come
aboard, which he did, but how diſappointed the
Rogues were when they found 'twas their old Friend
Captain Hawkins, whom they had ſent away thrée
Days before, worth not one Penny ? This was ſuch
a Baulk to them, that they reſolved he ſhould ſuf-
fer for falling in their way, tho' it was fo contra-
ry to his own Inclinations: About us of them fur-
rounded the poor Man with ſharp Cutlaſhes, and
fell upon him, whereby he was foon laid flat on
the Deck ; at that Inſtant Burridge flew amongft
the thickeſt of the Villains, and begg'd earneſtly
for his Life, upon whoſe Requeſt 'tuvas granted.
They were now moft of 'em drunk, as is uſual at
this Time of Night, ſo they unanimouſly agreed to
make a Bonfire of Hawkins's Ship, which was im-
mediately done, and in half an Hour ſhe was all ofà
Blaze.
After this, they wanted a little more Diverfion,
and fo Captain Harkins was ſent for down to the
Cabin to Supper; what ſhould the Provifion be
but a Difh of Candles, which he was forced to eat,
having a naked Sword and a Piſtol held to his
Breaft all the while; when this was over, they
buffeted him about for ſome Time, and ſent him
forward amongſt the other Priſoners, who had been
treated with the ſame Delicacies.
Two Days afterwards, they anchor'd at a little
uninhabited Iſand, call?d Rattan, near the Bay of Mon-
duras, and put aſhore Captain Hawkins, and ſeveral
other Men, (one of them his Paſſenger) who dy'd
there of the Hardſhips he underwent. They gave
them Powder and Ball, and a Muſquet, with which
they

Of Captain SPRIGGS.
415
they were to ſhift as they could, ſailing away the nex
Day for other Adventures.
Captain Hawkins, and his unfortunate Compani-
ons, ſtaid 19 Days upon this Iſland, ſupplying them-
ſelves with both Fiſh and Fowl, ſuch as they were,
at which Time came two Men in a Canoe, that
had been left upon another marroon Iſland near
Ben acca, who carry'd the Company at ſeveral
Times thither, it being more convenient in having
a good Well of freſh Water, and Plenty of Fiſh,
c. Twelve Days afterwards they ſpy'd a Sloop
off at Sea, which, upon their making a great Smoke,
ſtood in, and took them off ; ſhe was the Merriam,
Captain Fones, lately eſcaped out of the Bay of Hon-
duras, from being taken by the Spaniards.
At an Illand to the Weſtward, the Pyrates clean'd
their Ship, and ſaild towards the Iſland of St.
Chriſtophers, to wait for one Captain Moor, who com-
manded the Eagle Sloop, when ſhe took Lowrber's
upon the Careen, at Blanco ; Spriggs reſolved to put
him to Death, whenever he took him, for falling
upon his Friend and Brother, but inſtead of Moor,
he found a French Man of War from Martinico, up-
on the Coaſt, which Spriggs not thinking fit to con-
tend with, run away with all the Sail he could
make, the French Man crowded after him, and was
very likely to ſpeak with Mr. Spriggs, when un-
fortunately his Main-Top-Maft came by the Board,
which obliged him to give over the Chace.
Spriggs then ſtood to the Northward, towards
Burmudas, or the Summer Iſles, and took a Scooner
belonging to Boſton; he took out all the Men and
ſunk the Veſſel, and had the Impudence to tell the
Mafter, that he deſigned to encreaſe his Compa-
ny on the Banks of Newfoundland, and then would
fail for the Coaft of New-England in queſt of Cap-
tain Solgard, who attack'd and took their Confort
Charles Harris, Spriggs being then in Low's Sloop,
who

416
of Captain SPRIGGS.
who very fairly run for it. The Pyrate ask'd the
Mafter it he knew Captain Solgard, who anſwering
No, he ask'd another the ſame Queſtion, and then
a third, who faid he knew him very well, upon
which Spriggs ordered him to be ſweated, which was
done in the Männer before defcrib'd.
Inſtead of going to Newfoundland as the Pyrates
threat ned, they came back to the Iſlands, and to
Windward of St. Chriſtophers, on the 4th of June
laft, took a Sloop, Nicholas Trot Maſter, belonging
to St. Euji atia, and wanting a little Diverſion, they
hoifted the Men as high as the Main and Fore Tops,
and let them run dowri amain, enough to break ali
the Bones in their Skins, and after they had pret-
ty well crippled them by this cruel Uſage, and
whipp'u them about the Deck, they gave Trot his
Sloop, and let him go, keeping back only 2 of his
Men, beſides the Plunder of the Veifel.
Within two or three Days they took a Ship co-
ming from Rhode Iſland to St. Chriſtophers, loaden
with Proviſions and ſome Horſes ; the Pyrates
mounted the Horſes and rid them about the Deck
backwards and forwards a full Gallop, liké Mada
men at New-Market, curfing, ſwearing, and hallow.
ing, at ſuch a Rate, that made the poor Creatures
wild, and at length, two or three of them throw-
ing their Riders, they fell upon the Ship’s Crew,
and whipp'd, and cut, and beat them in a barbarous
Manner, telling them, it was for bringing Horſes
without Boots and Spurs, for want of which they
were not able to ride them.
This is the laft Account we have had of Captain
Spriggs, I ſhall only add the two following Relations,
and conclude.
Brigantine belonging to Briſtol, one Mr. Rot-
ry Mafter, had been trading at Gambia, in
Africa, and falling as low as Cape Mount, to finiſh
the
A

( 417 )
the flaving of the Veſſel, he had, by a Misfortune
ufual at that Part of the Coaſt, his Mate, Surgeon,
and two more of his Men, * Panyarr'd by the Ne-
groes. The Remairider of his Company, which was
not above 5 or 6 in Number, took this opportunity;
and ſeiz'd the Veſſel in the Road, making the Ma-
fter Priſoner.
You will think it prodigious impudent that ſo
ſmall á Number ſhould undertake to proceed a
pyrating, eſpecially when neither of them had fuf-
ficient Skill in Navigation : Yet this they did, lea-
ving thoſe People, their Ship-Mates abovemention’d,
to the Mercy of the barbarous Natives, and fail'd
away down the Coaſt, making them a black Flag,
which they merrily ſaid, would be as good as so
Men more, i.e. would carry as much Terror; and
that they did not doubt of ſoon increaſing their
Crew, to put them in an enterprizing Capacity ; but
their vain Projection was foon happily fruſtrated,
and after this Manner.
The Mafter whoſe Life they had preſerved, (per-
haps orily for ſupplying their own Unskillfulneſs
in Navigation,) adviſed them, that fince contrary
to their Expectations, they had met with no Ship
between Cape Mount, and the B'te of Calabar, to pro-
ceed to the Iſland of St. Thomas's, where they might
recruit with Proviſions and Water, and ſell off the
Slaves (about 70 of them) which they perceived
would be a uſeleſs Lumber, and incommodious to
their Deſign. They arrived there in Auguſt 1721,
and one Evening, while Part of them were on Shore,
applying for this purpoſe to the Governor, and the
other Part careleſly from the Deck, Mr. Rowry
ſtepp'd into the Boat belonging to the Veffel, and
puthed off, very ſuddenly: They heard the Noiſe
it made, and ſoon were upon Deck again, but ha-
* Term for ſtealing of Men uſed all over the Coaft.
D d
ving

(418)
ving no other Boat to purſue, nor a Musket, ready
to fire, he got ſafe on Shore, and ran to the Gover-
nor with his Complaint, who immediately impri-
ſoned thoſe already there, and ſent a Launch off to
take the reſt out of the Ship.
The Swallow arrived at St. Thomas's the Beginning
of Oktober following, where, on Mr. Rowry’s Remon-
ftrance, Application was made to the Portugueſe Go-
vernor of that Iſland, for a Surrendery of theſe five
Engliſh Priſoners then in the Caſtle; but he not on-
iy peremptorily excuſed himſelf from it, as a Mat-
ter out of his Power, without particular Direction
from the Court of Portugal; but withal infinuated,
that they had only taken Refuge there from the
Hardſhips and Severity they had met with from
their Maſter. The manner of Denial, and the ava-
ritious Temper of the Gentleman, which I had Oc-
caſion to be acquainted with, makes it very ſuſpi-
cious, that he propoſed conſiderable Gains to him-
ſelf; for if Mr. Rowry had not made ſuch an Eſcape
to him, the Slaves had been his for little or nothing,
as a Bribe to ſilence his Suſpicions, which any Man,
leſs acute than he, muſt have had from the awkward
and unskilful Carriage of ſuch Merchants. But e-
nough of this; perhaps he is not the only Governor
abroad that finds an Intereſt in countenancing theſe
Fellows.
An Account of the Pyracies and Murders
committed by Philip Roche, Gc.
P
Hilip Roche was born in Ireland, and from his Youth
had been bred up to the Sea; he was a brisk
genteel Fellow, of 30 Years of Age at the Time of
his Death , one whoſe black and ſavage Nature did
no

(419)
no ways anſwer the Comlineſs of his Perſon, his
Life being almoſt one continued Scene of Villany, be-
fore he was diſcovered to have committed the hor-
rid Murders we are now ſpeaking of.
This inhumane Monſter had been concerned with
others, in inſuring Ships to a great Value, and then
deſtroying them ; by which Means, and other
Rogueries, he had got a little Money; and being
Mate of a Ship, was dilligent enough in trading for
himſelf between Ireland and France, ſo that he was
in a way of getting himſelf a comfortable Liveli-
hood: But, as he reſolved to be rich, and finding
fair Dealing brought in Wealth but ſlowly, he con-
triv'd to put other Things in Execution, and cer-
tainly had murthered ſeveral innocent Perſons in
the Proſecution of his abominable Schemes ; but as
I have now forgot the particular Circumſtances of
thoſe Relations, I ſhall confine my ſelf at preſent to
the Fa£t for which he ſuffer'd.
Roch getting acquainted with one Neal, a Fiſher-
man at Cork, whom he found ready for any villainous
Attempt, he imparted his Deſign to him, who be-
ing pleas'd with the Proje&t, brings one Pierce Cullen
and his Brother into the Confederacy, together
with one Wiſe, who at firſt was very unwilling to
come into their Meaſures, and, indeed, had the leaſt
Hand in the Perpetration of what follows.
They pitch'd upon a Veſſel in the Harbour, bem
longing to Peter Tartoue, a French Man, to execute
their cruel Intentions upon, becauſe it was a ſmall
one, and had not a great Number of Hands on
Board, and 'twas eaſy afterwards to exchange it
for one more fit for Pyracy; and therefore they ap-
ply'd themſelves to the Maſter of her, for a Paſſage
to Nantz, whereto the Ship was bound; and accor-
dingly, the Beginning of November 1721, they went
aboard; and when at Sea, Philip Roche being an expe-
rienced Sailor, the Maſter of the Veſſel readily
D d 2
trusted

(420)
trufted him with the Care of her, at times, while
he and the Mate went to reft.
The 15th of November, at Night, was the Time
deſigned for the Tragedy ; but Francis Wife relented,
and appear'd defirous to divert them from their
bloody Purpoſes. Roche (ſometimes called Cap-
tain) told him, That as Cullen and he had ſuſtained
great Loffes at Sea, unleſs every Iriſhman preſent would
aſſiſt in repairing their Loſſes, by murthering all the French
Rogues, and running away with the Ship, he ſhould ſuffer
the ſame Fate with the French Men ; but if all would
af-
Sist, all ſhould have a Share in the Booty. Upon this,
they all reſolved alike, and Captain Roche ordered
three Frenchmen and a Boy up to hand the Topfails,
the Maſter and Mate being then aſleep in their Ca-
bins, The two firſt that came down, they beat out
their Brains and threw them over-board :. The
other two ſeeing what was done, ran up to the Top-
maft Head, but Cullen followed them, and taking the
Boy by the Arm, toft him into the Sea ; then dri-
ving down the Man, thoſe below knocked him on
the Head, and threw him over-board:
Thoſe who were aſleep, being awakened by the
diſmal Skrieks and Groans of dying Men, ran upon
Deck in Confuſion, to enquire into the Cauſe of
ſuch unuſual Noiſes ; but the fame Cruelty was
immediately afted towards them, e’er they could
be ſenſible of the Danger that threat'ned them.
They were now (as Roche himſelf afterwards con-
feſs’d) all over as wet with the Blood that had been ſpilt
,
as if they had been dipp?d in Water, or ſtood in a shower of
Rain, nor did they regard it any more. Roche ſaid,
Captain Tartoue uſed many Words for Mercy, and
asked them, if he had not uſed them with Civility
and Kindneſs? If they were not of the fame Chri-
ftian Religion, and owned the fame bleſſed Jeſus, and
the like? But they, not regarding what he ſaid,
took Cords and bound the poor Maſter and his
Mate

(421)
Mate Back to Back, and while that was doing,
both of them begged with the utmoſt Earneſtneſs,
and uſed the moſt folemn Intreaties, that they would
at leaſt allow them a few Minutes to ſay their Pra-
yers, and beg Mercy of God for the various Sins and
Offences of their Lives: But it did not move them,
(though all the reſt were dead, and no Danger could
be apprehended from them two alone) for the bound
Perſons were hurry'd up and thrown into the Sea.
The Maſſacre being finiſhed, they waſhed them-
ſelves a little from the Blood, and ſearched the
Cheſts and Lockers, and all Places about the Ship,
and then ſet down in the Captain's Cabin, and
refreſhed themſelves with ſome Rum they found
there, and (as Roche confeſſed) were never merrier
in their Lives. They inveſted Roche with the
Command of the Ship, and calling him Captain,
talked over their Liquor, what rare Actions they
would perform about Cape Briton, Sable iſe, and the
Banks of Newfoundland, whither they deſigned to
go as ſoon as they had recruited their, Company,
and got a better Ship, which they propoſed ſpee-
dily to do,
Roche taking upon himſelf the Command of the
Veſſel, Andrew Cullen was to paſs for a Merchant or
Super-cargo; but when they bethought themſelves,
that they were in Danger of being diſcovered by
the Papers of the Ship, relating to the Cargo, as
Bills of Lading, &c. therefore they eraſe and take
out the Name of the French Maſter, and inſtead
thereof, mferted the Name of Roche, ſo that it
ſtood in the Ship’s Papers, Peter Rache Maſter; that
then having fo few Hands on Board, they contri-
ved if they met any Ships, to give out, that they
had loſt ſome Hands by their being waſhed over-
board in a Storm, and by that Means ſcreen them-
ſelves from being ſuſpected of having committed
ſome ſuch wicked A&t, by Reaſon of the Fewneſs of
their
D'd 3

(422)
their Hands on Board ; and alſo might prevail with
fome Ship to ſpare them fome, on Confideration of
their pretended Diſaſter.
In going to Cales they were in Diſtreſs by the
Weather, and being near Lisbon, they made Com-
plaint to a Ship, but obtained no Aſſiſtance. They
were then obliged to fail back for England, and
put
into the Port of Dartmouth; but then they were in
fear leaſt they might be diſcovered, therefore to
pre-
vent that, they reſolve to alter the Ship, and getting
Workmen, they take down the Mizzen-Maft, and
build a Spar Deck, and made Rails, (on pretence
that the Sailors had been waſh'd overboard) to fe-
cure the Men. Then they took down the Image of
St. Peter at the Head of the Ship, and put up a Lion
in its Place, and painted over the Stern of the Ship
with Red, and new nam'd her the Mary Snow. The
Ship being thus alter'd that they thought it could
not he known, they fancy'd themſelves pretty fe-
cure ; but wanting Money to defray the Charge of
theſe Alterations, Roche, as Maſter of the Veffel,
and Andrew Cullen, as Merchant, apply themſelves
to the Officers of the Cuſtoms for Liberty to diſpoſe
of ſome of the Cargo, in order to pay the Work-
men ; which they having obtained, they ſold fifty
eight Barrels of Beef, and having hired three more
Hands, they ſet Sail for Offend, and there having
1old more Barrels of Beef, they fteer their Courſe
to Rotterdam, diſpoſe of the reſt of the Cargo, and
took in one Mr. Annefly, who freighted the Ship for
England; but in their Paſſage, in a ſtormy Night,
it being very dark, they took up Mr. Anneſly their
Paſſenger, and threw him into the Sea, who ſwam
about the Ship a pretty while, calling out for Life
,
and telling them they ſhould have all his Goods,
if they would receive him again into the Veffel:
But in vain were his Cries!
After

( 423)
After this, they were obliged to put into ſeve-
ral Ports, and by contrary Winds, came to the
Coaſt of France, and hearing there was an Enqui-
ry made after the Ship, Roche quits her at Havre de
Grace, and leaves the Management to Cullen and the
reft; who having ſhipp'd other Men, fail'd away
to Scotland, and there quitted the Veſſel, which was
afterwards ſeized and brought into the River of
Thames.
Some Tinie after this, Philip Roche came to London,
and making ſome Claim for Money, he had made
Inſurance of, in the Name of John Euſtace, the
Officer was apprized of the Fraud, and he arreſted
and flung into the Compter; from whence directing
a Letter to his Wife, ſhe ſhewed it to a Friend,
who diſcovered by it, that he was the principal
Villain concerned in the Deſtruction of Peter Tartoue,
and the Crew. Upon this, an Information was given
to my Lord Carteret, that the Perſon who went by the
Name of John Euſtace, was Philip Roche, as aforeſaid;
and being brought down by his Lordſhips Warrant,
he ſtifly deny'd it for ſome Time, notwithſtanding
a Letter was found in his Pocket, directed to him
by the Name of Roche ; but being confronted by a
Captain of a Ship, who knew him well, he con-
feſſed it, but prevaricated in ſeveral Particulars;
whereupon he was committed to Newgate upon
violent Sufpicion, and the next Day was brought
down again at his own Requeſt, confelled the whole,
defired to be made an Evidence, and promiſed to
convi&t three Men worſe than himſelf. Two were
diſcovered by him, who died miſerably in the Mar-
ſhalſea, and Roche himſelf was afterwards try’d, (no
more being taken,) found Guilty of the Pyracy,
and executed,
Dd 4

(424)
An ABSTRACT of the Civil Law
and Statute Law now in Force, in Re.
lation to PYRACY.
Pyrate is Hoftis humanis generis, a common
Enemy, with whom neither Faith nor Oath is
to be kept, according to Tully. And by the
Laws of Nature, Princes and States are re-
Sponſible for their Negle&t, if they do not provide Reme-
dies for reftraining theſe ſort of Robberies. Though Py-
rates are called common Enemies, yet they are properly not
to be term’d ſo. He is only to be honour'd with that Name,
ſays Cicero, who hath a Commonwealth, a Court, a Trea-
ſury, Conſent and Concord of Citizens, and ſome way, if
Occaſion be, of Peace and League : But when they have
reduced themſelves into a Government or State, as thoſe of
Algier, Sally, Tripoly, Tunis, and the like, they then
are allowed the Solemnities of War, and the Rights of Le-
gation.
If Letters of Marque be granted to a Merchant, and
be furniſhes out a Ship, with a Captain and Mariners, and
they, inſtead of taking the Goods, cr Ships of that Nation
againft whom their Commiſſion is awarded, take the ship
and Goods of a Friend, this is Pyracy; and if the Ship
arrive in any Part of his Majeſty's Dominions, it will be
ſeized, and for ever loſt to the Owners; but they are no
way
liable to make Satisfaction.
If a ship is aſſaulted and taken by the Pyrates, for Re-
demption of which, the Maſter becomes a Slave to the Cap-
tors, by the Law Marine, the ship and Lading are tacitly
obliged for his Redemption, by a general Contribution, but if

(425)
it happen through his own Folly, then no Cortribution is to
be made.
If Subječts in Enmity with the Crown of England, are
abord an Engliſh Pyrate, in Company with Engliſh, and
a Robbery is committed, and they are taken ; it is Felony in
the Engliſh, but not in the Stranger; for it was no Py-
racy in them, but the Depredation of an Enemy, and they
will be tried by a Martial Law.
If Pyracy is committed by Subjects in Enmity with Eng-
land, upon the Britiſh Seas, it is properly only puniſhable
by the Crown of England, who have iftud regimen &
Dominnm excluſive of all other Power.
If Pyracy be committed on the Ocean, and the Pyrates in
the Attempt be overcome, the Captors may,
without
any
S.-
lemnity of Condemnation, hang them up at the Main-Tard;
if they are brought to the next Port, and the Judge re-
jects the Tryal, or the Captors cannot wait for the Judge,
without Peril or Lofs, Juſtice may be done upon them by
the Captors.
If Merchandize be delivered to a Maſter, to carry to one
Port, and he carries it to another, and ſells and diſpoſes of it,
this is not Felony ; but if, after unlading it at the first Port,
be retakes it, it is Pyracy.
If a Pyrate attack a Ship, and the Maſter for Redemption,
gives his Oath to pay a Sum of Money, tho' there be nothing
taken, yet it is Pyracy by the Law Marine.
If a ship is riding at Anchor, and the Mariners all am
Shore, and a Pyrate attack her, and rob her, this is Pyracy.
If a Man commt Pyracy upon the subjects of any Prince,
or Republick, (though in Amity with us,) and brings the
Goods into England, and ſells them in a Market Overt,
the ſame ſhall bind, and the Owners are for ever excluded.
If a Pyrate enters a Port of this Kingdom, and robs a
Ship at Anchor there, it is not Pyracy, becauſe not done,
fuper altum Mare; but is Robbery at common Lam, be-
Cauſe infra Corpus Comitatus. A Pardon of all Felonies
dies not extend to Pyracy, but the ſame ought to be eſpecially
named.
By

(426)
By 28 H. 8. Murthers and Robberies committed upon
the Sea, or in other Places, where the Admiral pretends
Juriſdiction, Mall be enquired into, try'd, heard, and de-
termined, in ſuch Places and Counties within the Realm,
as ſhall be limited by the King's Commiſſion, in like Manner
as if ſuch Offences were done at Land. And ſuch Commif-
fions (being under the Great Seal) fall be directed to the
Lord Admiral, his Lieutenant or Deputy, and to three or
four ſuch others as the Lord Chancellor fall name.
The faid Commiſſioners, or three of them, have power to
enquire of ſuch Offences by twelve lawful Men of the Coun-
ty, ſo limited in their Commiſſion, as if ſuch Offences were
done at Land, within the ſame County; and every Indieta
ment ſo found and preſented, ſhall be good in Law; and
ſuch Order, Progreſs, Judgment, and Execution ſhall be uſed,
had, done, and made thereupon, as against Offenders for
Murder and Felony done at Land. Alſo the Tryal of ſuch
Offences (if they be denied) ſhall be had by twelve Men of
the County, limited in the ſaid Commiſſion, (as aforeſaid,)
and no Challenge fhall be had for the Hundred : And ſuch
As shall be convict of ſuch Offences, ſhall ſuffer Death with
out Benefit of Clergy, and forfeit Land and Goods, as in
Caſe of Felonies and Murders done at Land.
This AEt ſhall not prejudice any Perfon, or Perfons,
(urged by Neceſſity) for taking Vi&tuals, Cables, Ropes,
Anchors or Sails, out of another Ship that may ſpare them,
ſo as they either pay ready Money, or Money worth for them,
or give a Bill for the Payment thereof; if on this Side the
Straits of Gibraltar, within four Months; if beyond,
within twelve Months.
When any ſuch Commiſſion ſhall be ſent to any Place
within the Juriſdiction of the Cinque-Ports, it ſhall be
directed to the Warden of the ſaid Ports, or his Deputy
with three or four other Perſons, as the Lord Chancellor ſhall
Name; and the Inquiſition or Tryal of ſuch Offences,
there, ſhall be made and had, by the Inhabitants of the faid
Ports, and Members of the ſame.
By

(427)
By II and 12 W. 3. c. 7. If any natural born Sub-
jeſts or Denizons of England, commit Pyracy, or any Act
of Hoſtility, againſt his Majeſty's Subjects at Sea, under
Colour of a Commiſſion or Authority, from any foreign
Prince or State, or perſon whatſoever, ſuch Offenders shall
be adjudged Pyrates.
If any Commander or Maſter of a Ship, or Seaman or Ma-
riner, give up his Ship, &c. to Pyrates, or combine to yield
up, or run away with any Ship, or lay violent Hand on his
Commander, or endeavour to make a Revolt in the Ship, he
ſhall be adjudged a Pyrate.
All Perſons who after the 29th of September 1720,
ſhall ſet forth any Pyrate (or be aiding and aſſiſting to any
ſuch Pyrate,) committing Pyracy on Land or Sea, or ſhall
conceal ſuch Pyrates, or receive any Veſſel or Goods pyrati-
cally taken, fhall be adjudged acceſſary to ſuch Pyracy, and
Suffer as Principals.
By 4 G. c. 11. Sezt. 7. All Perſons who have commit-
ted, or shall commit any Offences, for which they ought to
be adjudged Pyrates, by the A&t and 12 W. 3. c. 7
may be tried for every ſuch Offence, in ſuch Manner as by
the Act 28 H. 8. c. 15. is directed for the Tryal of Py-
rates, and ſhall not have the Benefit of Clergy.
Sešt. 8. This Act
This Act fhall not extend to Perſons convitted or
attainted in Scotland.
Sect. 9, This Act ſhall extend to his Majeſty's Domini-
ons in America, and be taken as a publick Act.
FI NI S.
@exa

SC 55004550.550.0SS0SS0950
Next Week will be publiſhed,
JOTES on ſeveral Chyrurgical Subjects.
By JOHN
ATKINS, Surgeon.
N.B. One entire Chapter on the Diſtempers
of Guiney. Printed for T. Warner in Pater-
Nofter-Row.
NB
90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00


Johnson, Charles.
35821
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1724



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Johnson Charles
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