Illustration 207
BArtholomew Robertssailed in an honest Employ, fromLondonaboard of thePrincess, CaptainPlumbCommander, of which Ship he was second Mate: He leftEngland, November1719, and arrived atGuineyaboutFebruaryfollowing, and being atAnamaboe, taking in Slaves for theWest-Indies, was taken in the said Ship by CaptainHowel Davis, as mentioned in the preceeding Chapter. In the beginning he was very averse to this sort 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 Commander.
Davisbeing cut off in the manner beforementioned, the Company found themselves under a Necessity of filling up his Post, for which there appear’d two or three Candidates among the select Partof them, that were distinguish’d by the Title of Lords, such wereSympson, Ashplant, Anstis, &c. and on canvassing this Matter, how shatter’d and weak a Condition their Government must be without a Head, sinceDavishad been remov’d, in the manner beforemention’d, my LordDennispropos’d, its said, over a Bowl to this Purpose.
That it was not of any great Signification who was dignify’d with Title; for really and in Truth, all good Governments had(like theirs)the supream Power lodged with the Community, who might doubtless depute and revoke as suited Interest or Humour. We are the Original of this Claim(says he)and should a Captain be so sawcy as to exceed Prescription at any time, why down with Him!it will be a Caution after he is dead to his Successors, of what fatal Consequence any sort of assuming may be. However, it is my Advice, that, while we are sober, we pitch upon a Man of Courage, and skill’d in Navigation, one, who by his Council and Bravery seems best able to defend this Commonwealth, and ward us from the Dangers and Tempests of an instable Element, and the fatal Consequences of Anarchy; and such a one I takeRobertsto be. A Fellow! I think, in all Respects, worthy your Esteem and Favour.
This Speech was loudly applauded by all but LordSympson, who had secret Expectations himself, but on this Disappointment, grew sullen, and left them, swearing,he did not care who they chose Captain, so it was not a Papist, for against them he had conceiv’d an irreconcileable Hatred, for that his Father had been a Sufferer inMonmouth’s Rebellion.
Robertswas accordingly elected, tho’ he had not been above six Weeks among them, the Choice was confirm’d both by the Lords and Commoners, and he accepted of the Honour, saying,That since he had dipp’d his Hands in muddy Water, and must be a Pyrate, it was better being a Commander than a common Man.
As soon as the Government was settled, by promoting other Officers in the room of those that were kill’dby thePortugueze, the Company resolv’d to revenge CaptainDavis’s Death, he being more than ordinarily respected by the Crew for his Affability and good Nature, as well as his Conduct and Bravery upon all Occasions; and pursuant to this Resolution, about 30 Men were landed in order to make an Attack upon the Fort, which must be ascended to by a steep Hill against the Mouth of the Cannon. These Men were headed by oneKennedy, 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, thePortuguezequitted 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 sufficient Satisfaction for the Injury they received, therefore most of the Company were for burning the Town, whichRobertssaid 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 slender Reward for their Trouble and Loss. This prudent Advice prevailed; however, they mounted theFrenchShip, they seiz’d at this Place, with 12 Guns, and light’ned her, in order to come up to the Town, the Water being shoal, and battered down several Houses; after which they all returned on Board, gave back theFrenchShip to those that had most Right to her, and sailed out of the Harbour by the light of twoPortugueseShips, which they were pleased to set on Fire there.
Robertsstood away to the Southward, and met with aDutch GuineyMan, which he made Prize of, but after having plundered her, the Skipper had his Ship again: Two Days after, he took anEnglishShip, called theExperiment, CaptainCornet, atCape Lopez, the Men went all into the Pyrate Service, and having no Occasion for the Ship, they burnt her, and then steered for St.Thome, but meeting with nothing in their Way, they sailed forAnnabona, and there water’d, took in Provisions, and put it to a Vote of the Company, whether their next Voyage should be, to theEast-Indies, or toBrasil; the latter being resolved on, they sailed accordingly, and in 28 Days arrived atFerdinando, an uninhabited Island, on that Coast: Here they water’d, boot-top’d their Ship, and made ready for the designed Cruise.
Now that we are upon this Coast, 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 ourWest-IndiaMerchants, at a little Hazard.
BRASIL(a Name signifying the holy Cross) was discovered for the King ofPortugal, byAlvarez Cabral, Ann. Dom.1501. extending almost from theÆquinoctialto 28° South. The Air is temperate and cool, in comparison of theWest-Indies,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 taken from thePortugueseby theDutch West-IndiaCompany,Anno.1637 or thereabouts; but the Conquerors, as is natural where there is little or no Religion subsisting, made such heavy Exactions on thePortuguese, and extended such Cruelty to the Natives, that prepared them both easily to unite for a Revolt, facilitated by theDutchMismanagement: For the States being at this Time very intent on theirIndiaSettlements, not only recalled CountMorricetheir Governor, but neglected Supplies to their Garrisons; however, tho’ the others were countenanced with a Fleet fromPortugal, and had the Affection of the Natives, yet they found Means to withstand and struggle with this superior Power, from 1643 to 1660, and then was wholly abandoned by them, on Articles dishonourable to thePortuguese, viz.
That theDutch, on Relinquishing, should keep all the Places they had conquered inIndiafromPortugal. That they should pay the States 800000l.and permit them still the Liberty of Trade toAfricaandBrasil, on the same Custom and Duties with the King ofPortugal’s Subjects. But since that Time, new Stipulations and Treaties have been made; wherein theDutch, who have been totally excluded theBrasilTrade, have, in lieu thereof, a Composition of 10per Cent. for the Liberty of trading toAfrica; and this is always left by everyPortugueseShip (before she begins her Slaving) with theDutchGeneral of theGold-Coast, atDes Minas.
There are only three principal Towns of Trade on theBrasilCoast, St.Salvadore, St.Sebastian, andPernambuca.
St.Salvadorein theBahia 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 forEuropegenerally depart. The Seas about it abound with Whale-Fish, which in the Season they catch in great Numbers; the Flesh is salted 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 Southernmost of thePortuguese, the worst provided of Necessaries, but commodious for a Settlement, because nigh the Mine, and convenient to supervise the Slaves, who, as I have been told, do usually allow their Master a Dollarper 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 atBahia; 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 has its rise from the Ruins ofOlinda, (or the handsome,) a City of a far pleasanter Situation, six 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 directly into the Sea, but to the Southward; and in the Nook of the Island made by that Division, stands the Governor’s House, a square plain Building of PrinceMaurice’s, with two Towers, on which are only this Date inscribed,Anno1641. The Avenues to it are every way pleasant, thro’ Visto’s of tall Coco-Nut Trees.
Over each Branch of the River is a Bridge; that leading to the Country is all of Timber, but theother to the Town (of twenty six or twenty eight Arches) is half of Stone, made by theDutch, who in their Time had little Shops and gaming Houses on each Side for Recreation.
The Pavements also of the Town are in some Places of broad Tiles, the remaining Fragments of their Conquest. 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 Merchandize, and for the meeting and conferring of Merchants and Traders. The Houses are strong built, but homely, letticed like those ofLisbon, for the Admission of Air, without Closets, and what is worse, Hearths; which makes their Cookery consist all in frying and stewing upon Stoves; and that they do till the Flesh become tender enough to shake it to Pieces, and one Knife is then thought sufficient to serve a Table of half a Score.
The greatest Inconvenience ofPernambucais, that there is not one Publick-House in it; so that Strangers are obliged to hire any ordinary one they can get, at a Guinea a Month: And others who come to transact Affairs of Importance, must come recommended, if it were only for the sake of Privacy.
The Market is stocked well enough, Beef being at five Farthingsper l. a Sheep or Goat at nine Shillings, a Turkey four Shillings, and Fowls two Shillings, the largest I ever saw, and may be procured much Cheaper, by hiring a Man to fetch them out of the Country. The dearest in its kind is Water, which being fetch’d in Vessels fromOlinda, will not be put on Board in the Road under two Crusado’s a Pipe.
ThePortuguesehere are darker than those ofEurope, not only from a warmer Climate, but their many Intermarriages with the Negroes, who arenumerous there, and some of them of good Credit and Circumstances. The Women (not unlike the Mulatto Generation every where else) are fond of Strangers; not only the Courtezans, whose Interest may be supposed to wind up their Affections, but also the marryed Women who think themselves obliged, when you favour them with the Secrecy of an Appointment; but the Unhappiness of pursuing Amours, is, that the generallity of both Sexes are touched with veneral Taints, without so much as one Surgeon among them, or any Body skilled in Physick, to cure or palliate the progressive Mischief: The only Person pretending that Way, is anIrishFather, 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 exempted from the Misfortune of a Running, Eruptions, or the like, yet I could hear of none precipitated into those deplorable Circumstances we see common in unskillful mercurial Processes.
There are three Monasteries, and about six Churches, none of them Rich or Magnificent, unless one dedicated to St.Antonio, the Patron of their Kingdom, which shines all over with exquisite Pieces of Paint and Gold.
The Export ofBrasil(besides Gold) is chiefly Sugars and Tobacco; the latter are sent off in Rowls of a Quintal Weight, kept continually moistened with Mulossus, which, with the Soil it springs from, imparts a strong and peculiar Scent, more sensible in the Snuff made from it, which tho’ under Prohibition of importing toLisbon, sells here at 2s. per l. as the Tobacco does at about 6 Millraies a Rowl. The finest of their Sugars sells at 8s. perRoove, and a small ill tasted Rum drawn fromthe Dregs and Mulossus, at two Testunes a Gallon.
Besides these, they send off great Quantities of Brasil Wood, and Whale Oyl, some Gums and Parrots, the latter are different from theAfricanin Colour 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 brought to talk.
In lieu of this Produce, thePortugueze, once every Year by their Fleet fromLisbon, import all manner of European Commodities; and whoever is unable or negligent of supplying himself at that Season, buys at a very advanced Rate, before the Return of another.
To transport Passengers, Slaves, or Merchandize from one Settlement to another, or in Fishing; they make use of Bark-Logs, by theBrasilianscalledJingadahs: They are made of four Pieces of Timber (the two outermost longest) pinned and fastened together, and sharpened at the Ends: Towards each Extremity a Stool is fixed to sit on for paddling, or holding by, when the Agitation is more than ordinary; with these odd sort of Engines, continually washed over by the Water, do these People, with a little triangular Sail spreeted about the Middle of it, venture out 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 uncommon) 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 muscular; but not so well looking as the Wooley Generation: They acquiesce patiently to thePortuguezeGovernment, who use them much more humanly and Christian-like than theDutchdid, and by that Means have extended Quietness and Peace, as wellas their Possessions, three or four hundred Miles into the Country. A Country abounding with fine Pastures and numerous Herds of Cattle, and yields a vast Increase from every thing that is sown: Hence they bring down to us Parrots, small Monkies, Armadillos and Sanguins, and I have been assured, they have, (far In-land,) a Serpent of a vast Magnitude, calledSiboya, able, they say, to swallow a whole Sheep; I have seen my self here the Skin of another Specie full six Yards long, and therefore think the Story not improbable.
The Harbour ofPernambucais, perhaps, singular, 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 CapeAugustine, a Harbour running between them capable of receiving Ships of the greatest Burthen: The Northermost End of this Wall of Rock, is higher than any Part of the contiguous Line, on which a little Fort is built, commanding the Passage either of Boat or Ship, as they come over the Bar into the Harbour: On the Starboard Side, (i. e.the Main) after you have entered a little way, stands another Fort (aPentagon) that would prove of small Account, I imagine, against a few disciplined Men; and yet in these consists all their Strength and Security, either for the Harbour or Town: They have begun indeed a Wall, since their removing fromOlinda, designed to surround the latter; but the slow Progress they make in raising it, leaves Room to suspect ’twill be a long time in finishing.
The Road without, is used by thePortugueze, when they are nigh sailing forEurope, and wait for the Convoy, or are bound toBahiato them, and by Strangers only when Necessity 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 manyAnchors lost there by thePortuguezeShips; and farther out (in 14 Fathom) corally and Rocky.Julyis 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 aJerusalemCross, has the Name ofCrosiers, 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 Risings and Sittings are so regular, that I have been assured, the same 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 inJulyin the Latitude of 8° S. about four of the Clock in the Morning; if their Appearance should be said to be the Reflection of Light, from some Stellary Bodies above them, yet the Difficulty is not easily answered, how these, beyond others, become so durable and regular in their Motions.
From these casual Observations on the Country, the Towns, Coast, and Seas ofBrasil, it would be an Omission to leave the Subject, without some Essay on an interloping Slave Trade here, which none of our Countrymen areadventurous enough to pursue, though it very probably, under a prudent Manager, would be attended with Safety and very great Profit; and I admire the more it is not struck at, because Ships from the Southern Coast ofAfrica, don’t lengthen the Voyage to theWest-Indiesa great deal, by taking a Part ofBrasilin their Way.
The Disadvantages thePortuguezeare under for purchasing Slaves, are these, that they have very few proper Commodities forGuiney, and the Gold, which was their chiefest, by an Edict inJuly1722, stands now prohibited from being carried thither, so that the Ships employed therein are few, and insufficient for the great Mortality and Call of their Mines; besides, should they venture at breaking so destructive a Law, as the abovementioned (as no doubt they do, or they could make little or no Purchace) yet Gold does not raise its Value like Merchandize in travelling (especially toAfrica) and when the Composition with theDutchis also paid, they may be said to buy their Negroes at almost double the Price theEnglish, Dutch, orFrenchdo, which necessarily raises their Value extravagantly atBrasil; (those who can purchase one, buying a certainer Annuity thanSouth-SeaStock.)
Thus far of the Call for Slaves atBrasil; I shall now consider and obviate some Difficulties objected against any Foreigners (supposeEnglish) interposing in such 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 less effectual to the Prevention of it than pecuniary Mulcts would be, because a Penalty so inadequate and disproportioned, is onlyIn terrorem, and makes it merciful in the Governor, or his Instruments, to take a Composition of eight or ten Moidors, when any Subject is catched, and is the common Custom so to do as often as they are found out.
On our Side it is Confiscation of what they can get, which considering, they have no Men of War to guard the Coast, need be very little, without supine Neglect and Carelessness.
I am a Man of War, or Privateer, and being in Want of Provisions, or in Search of Pyrates, putin toPernambucafor Intelligence, to enable me for the Pursuit: The Dread of Pyrates keeps every one off, till you have first sent an Officer, with the proper Compliments to the Governor, who immediately gives Leave for your buying every 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 cautious and discreet Management in the Person entrusted: 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, fromGuiney, 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 Governor, 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 sifting this, but the Appearance of the Gentleman, and the Circumstance of being so soon engaged after leaving the other, will go a great way in forming a Man’s Judgment, and leaves him no room for the Suspicion 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 Hazard is less atRio Janeiro.
There has been another Method attempted, of settling a Correspondence with somePortuguezeMerchant or two, who, as they may be certain within aFortnight of any Vessels arriving on their Coast with Slaves, might settle Signals for the debarquing them at an unfrequented Part of the Coast, but whether any Exceptions were made to the Price, or that thePortuguesedread Discovery, and the severest Prosecution on so notorious a Breach of the Law, I cannot tell but it has hither to 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 theSpaniardsfromJamaica.
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 theWest-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 42 Sail ofPortugueseShips, off the Bay oflos todos Santos, with all their Lading in forLisbon, several of them of good Force, who lay too waiting for two Men of War of 70 Guns each, their Convoy. However,Robertsthought it should go hard with him, but he would make up his Market 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 Master on Board quietly, threat’ning to give them no Quarters, if any Resistance, or Signal of Distress was made. ThePortuguesebeing surprized at these Threats, and the sudden flourish of Cutlashes from the Pyrates, submitted without a Word, and the Captain came on Board;Robertssaluted him after a friendly manner, telling him, that they were Gentlemen of Fortune, but that their Businesswith him, was only to be informed which was the richest Ship in that Fleet; and if he directed them right, he should be restored to his Ship without Molestation, otherwise, he must expect immediate Death.
Whereupon thisPortugueseMaster pointed to one of 40 Guns, and 150 Men, a Ship of greater Force than theRover, but this no Ways dismayed them,they werePortuguese, they said, and so immediately steered away for him. When they came within Hail, the Master whom they had Prisoner, was ordered to ask,how Seignior 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 followed, 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; so without further Delay, they poured in a Broad-Side, boarded and grapled her; the Dispute was short and warm, wherein many of thePortuguesefell, 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 scurvy hast out to their Assistance; 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 so much as the Name of Men: ForRobertsfinding the Prize to sail heavy, and yet resolving not to loose her, lay by for the headmost of them(which much out sailed the other) and prepared for Battle, which was ignominiously declined, tho’ of such superior Force; for not daring to venture on the Pyrate alone, he tarried so long for his Consort as gave them both time leisurely to make off.
They found this Ship exceeding rich, being laden chiefly with Sugar, Skins, and Tobacco, and in Gold 40000 Moidors, besides Chains and Trinckets, of considerable Value; particularly a Cross set with Diamonds, designed for the King ofPortugal; which they afterwards presented to the Governor ofCaiana, 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 theDevil’sIslands, in the River ofSurinam, on the Coast ofCaiana, where they arrived, and found the civilest Reception imaginable, not only from the Governor and Factory, but their Wives, who exchanged Wares and drove a considerable Trade with them.
They seiz’d in this River a Sloop, and by her gained Intelligence, that a Brigantine had also sailed in Company with her, fromRhode-Island, laden with Provisions for the Coast. A Welcome Cargo! They growing short in the Sea Store, and asSanchosays,No Adventures to be made without Belly-Timber. One Evening as they were rumaging (their Mine of Treasure) thePortuguesePrize, this expected Vessel was descry’d at Mast-Head, andRoberts, 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 rash, tho’ inconsiderable Adventure, forRobertsthinking of nothing less than bringing in the Brigantine that Afternoon, never troubled his Head about the Sloop’s Provision, nor inquired what there was on Board to subsist such a Number of Men; but out he sails after his expected Prize, which he not only lost further Sight of, but after eight Days contending with contrary Winds and Currents,found themselves thirty Leagues to Leeward. The Current still opposing their Endeavours, and perceiving no Hopes of beating up to their Ship, they came to an Anchor, and inconsiderately sent away the Boat to give the rest of the Company Notice of their Condition, and to order the Ship to them; but too soon, even the next Day, their Wants made them sensible of their Infatuation, for their Water was all expended, and they had taken no thought how they should be supply’d, till either the Ship came, or the Boat returned, which was not likely to be under five or six Days. Here likeTantalus, they almost famished in Sight of the fresh Streams and Lakes; being drove to such Extremity at last, 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 paddle ashore, and fetch off immediate Supplies of Water to preserve Life.
After some Days, the long-wish’d-for Boat came back, but with the most unwellcome News in the World, forKennedy, who was Lieutenant, and left in Absence ofRoberts, to Command the Privateer and Prize, was gone off with both. This was Mortification with a Vengeance, and you may imagine, they did not depart without some hard Speeches from those that were left, and had suffered by their Treachery: And that there need be no further mention of thisKennedy, I shall leave CaptainRoberts, 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 towardsExecution Dock.
Kennedywas 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 thoseevil Courses, and get home privately, (for there was no Act of Pardon in Force,) therefore they agreed to break up, and every Man to shift for himself, as he should see Occasion. The first Thing they did, was to part with the greatPortuguezePrize, and having the Master of the Sloop (whose Name I think wasCane) aboard, who they said was a very honest Fellow, (for he had humoured them upon every Occasion,) told them of the Brigantine thatRobertswent after; and when the Pyrates first took him, he complemented them at an odd Rate, telling them they were welcome to his Sloop and Cargo, and wish’d that the Vessel had been larger, and the Loading richer for their Sakes: To this good natured Man they gave thePortuguezeShip, (which was then above half loaded,) three or four Negroes, and all his own Men, who returned Thanks to his kind Benefactors, and departed.
CaptainKennedyin theRover, sailed toBarbadoes, near which Island, they took a very peaceable Ship belonging toVirginia; the Commander was a Quaker, whose Name wasKnot; he had neither Pistol, Sword, nor Cutlash on Board; and Mr.Knotappearing 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 toVirginia; They made the Quaker a Present of 10 Chests of Sugar, 10 Rolls ofBrasilTobacco, 30 Moidors, and some Gold-Dust, in all to the value of about 250l.They also made Presents to the Sailors, some more, some less, and lived a jovial Life all the while they were upon their Voyage, CaptainKnotgiving them their Way; nor indeed could he help himself, unless he had taken an Opportunity to surprize them, when they were either drunk or asleep; for awake they wore Arms aboard the Ship, and put him in a continual Terror; it not being his Principle(or the Sect’s) to fight, unless with Art and Collusion; he managed these Weapons well till he arrived at the Capes, and afterwards four of the Pyrates went off in a Boat, which they had taken with them, for the more easily making their Escapes, and made up the Bay towardsMaryland, but were forced back by a Storm into an obscure Place of the Country, where meeting with good Entertainment among the Planters, they continued several Days without being discovered to be Pyrates. In the mean Time CaptainKnotleaving four others on Board his Ship, (who intended to go toNorth-Carolina,) made what hast he could to discover to Mr.Spotswoodthe Governor, what sort of Passengers he had been forced to bring with him, who by good Fortune got them seized; and Search being made after the others, who were revelling about the Country, they were also taken, and all try’d, convicted and hang’d, twoPortugueseJews who were taken on the Coast ofBrasil, and whom they brought with them toVirginia, being the principal Evidences. The latter had found Means to lodge Part of their Wealth with the Planters, who never brought it to Account: But CaptainKnotsurrendered up every Thing that belonged to them, that were taken aboard, even what they presented to him, in lieu of such Things as they had plundered him of in their Passage, and obliged his Men to do the like.
Some Days after the taking of theVirginiaMan last mentioned, in cruising in the Latitude ofJamaica, Kennedytook a Sloop bound thither fromBoston, 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 former wereKennedy, their Captain, of whose Honour they had such a dispicable Notion, that they wereabout to throw him over-board, when they found him in the Sloop, as fearing he might betray them all, at their return toEngland; he having in his Childhood been bred a Pick-pocket, and before he became a Pyrate, a House-breaker; both Professions that these Gentlemen have a very mean Opinion of. However, CaptainKennedy, by taking solemn Oaths of Fidelity to his Companions, was suffered to proceed with them.
In this Company there was but one that pretended to any skill in Navigation, (forKennedycould neither write nor read, he being preferred to the Command merely for his Courage, which indeed he had often signaliz’d, particularly in taking thePortugueseShip,) and he proved to be a Pretender only; for shaping their Course toIreland, where they agreed to land, they ran away to the North-West Coast ofScotland, and there were tost about by hard Storms of Wind for several Days, without knowing where they were, and in great Danger of perishing: At length they pushed the Vessel into a little Creek, and went all ashore, leaving the Sloop at an Anchor for the next Comers.
The whole Company 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.
Kennedyand another left them here, and travelling to one of the Sea-Ports, ship’d themselves forIreland, and arrived there in Safety. Six or seven wisely withdrew from the rest, travelled at their leasure, and got to their much desired Port ofLondon, without being disturbed or suspected; but themain 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, likeÆsop, they wanted to lighten their Burthens: This expensive manner of Living procured 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 toEdinburgh, were arrested and thrown into Goal, upon Suspicion, of they knew not what; However, the Magistrates were not long at a Loss for proper Accusations, for two of the Gang offering themselves for Evidences were accepted of; and the others were brought to a speedy Tryal, whereof nine were convicted and executed.
Kennedyhaving spent all his Money, came over fromIreland, and kept a common B—y-House onDeptfordRoad, and now and then, ’twas thought, made an Excursion abroad in the Way of his former Profession, till one of his Houshold W—s gave Information against him for a Robbery, for which he was committed toBridewell; but because she would not do the Business by halves, she found out a Mate of a Ship thatKennedyhad committed Pyracy upon, as he foolishly confess’d to her. This Mate, whose Name wasGrant, paidKennedya Visit inBridewell, and knowing him to be the Man, procured a Warrant, and had him committed to theMarshalseaPrison.
The Game thatKennedyhad now to play was to turn Evidence himself; accordingly he gave a List of eight or ten of his Comrades; but not being acquainted with their Habitations, one only was taken, who, tho’ condemn’d, appeared to be a Manof a fair Character, was forc’d into their Service, and took the first Opportunity to get from them, and therefore receiv’d a Pardon; butWalter Kennedybeing a notorious Offender, was executed the 19th ofJuly, 1721, atExecution Dock.
The rest of the Pyrates who were left in the ShipRover, staid not long behind, for they went ashore to one of theWest-IndiaIslands; what became 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 Punishment due to their Crimes, who, abandon’d to such a profligate Life, rob, spoil, and prey upon Mankind, contrary to the Light and Law of Nature, as well as the Law of God. It might have been hoped, that the Examples of these Deaths, would have been as Marks to the Remainder of this Gang, how to shun the Rocks their Companions had split on; that they would have surrendered to Mercy, or divided themselves, for ever from such Pursuits, as in the End they might be sure would subject them to the same Law and Punishment, which they must be conscious they now equally deserved;impending Law, which never let them sleep well, unless when drunk. But all the Use that was made of it here, was to commend the Justice of the Court, that condemn’dKennedy, for he was a sad Dog(they said)and deserved the Fate he met with.
But to go back toRoberts, whom we left on the Coast ofCaiana, in a grievous Passion at whatKennedyand the Crew had done; and who was now projecting new Adventures with his small Company in the Sloop; but finding hitherto they had been but as a Rope of Sand, they formed a Set of Articles, to be signed and sworn to, for the betterConservation of their Society, and doing Justice to one another; excluding allIrishMen from the Benefit of it, to whom they had an implacable Aversion upon the Account ofKennedy. How indeedRobertscould think that an Oath would be obligatory, 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 so abominable a Combination.
The following, is the Substance of the Articles, as taken from the Pyrates own Informations.
EVery 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.
Every Man to be called fairly in turn, by List, on Board of Prizes, because, (over and above their proper Share,)they were on these Occasions allowed a Shift of Cloaths: But if they defrauded the Company to the Value of a Dollar, in Plate, Jewels, or Money, MAROONINGwas their Punishment. This was a Barbarous Custom of putting the Offender on Shore, on some desolate or uninhabited Cape or Island, with a Gun, a few Shot, a Bottle of Water, and a Bottle of Powder, to subsist with, or starve.If the Robbery was only between one another, they contented themselves with slitting the Ears and Nose of him that was Guilty, and set him on Shore, not in an uninhabited Place, but somewhere, where he was sure to encounter Hardships.
No Person to Game at Cards or Dice for Money.
The Lights and Candles to be put out at eight o’Clock at Night: If any of the Crew, after that Hour, still remained inclined for Drinking, they were to do it on the open Deck; whichRobertsbelieved would give a Check to their Debauches, for he was a sober Man himself, but found at length, that all his Endeavours to put an End to this Debauch, proved ineffectual.
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 Auction (at the Mast,) 30 or 40l.a Pair, for Pistols. These were slung in Time of Service, with different coloured Ribbands, over their Shoulders, in a Way peculiar to these Fellows, in which they took great Delight.
No Boy or Woman to be allowed amongst them. If any Man were sound seducing anny of the latter Sex, and carried her to Sea, disguised, he was to suffer Death; so that when any fell into their Hands, as it chanced in theOnslow, they put a Centinel immediately over her to prevent ill Consequences from so dangerous an Instrument of Division and Quarrel; but then here lies the Roguery; they contend who shall be Centinel, which happens generally to one of thegreatest Bullies, who, to secure the Lady’s Virtue, will let none lye with her but himself.
To Desert the Ship, or their Quarters in Battle, was punished with Death, or Marooning.
No striking one another on Board, but every Man’s Quarrels to be ended on Shore, at Sword and Pistol, Thus; The Quarter-Master of the Ship, when the Parties will not come to any Reconciliation, accompanies them on Shore with what Assistance he thinks proper, and turns the Disputants Back to Back, at so many Paces Distance: At the Word of Command, they turn and fire immediately, (or else the Piece is knocked out of their Hands:) If both miss, they come to their Cutlashes, and then he is declared Victor who draws the first Blood.
No Man to talk of breaking up their Way of Living, till each had shared a1000l. If in order to this, any Man should lose a Limb, or become a Cripple in their Service, he was to have800Dollars, out of the publick Stock, and for lesser Hurts, proportionably.
The Captain and Quarter-Master to receive two Shares of a Prize; the Master, Boatswain, and Gunner, one Share and a half, and other Officers, one and a Quarter.
The Musicians to have Rest on the Sabbath Day, but the other six Days and Nights, none without special Favour.
These, we are assured, were some ofRoberts’s Articles, but as they had taken Care to throw over-board the Original they had sign’d and sworn to, there is a great deal of Room to suspect, the remainder contained something too horrid to be disclosed to any, except such as were willing to be Sharers in the Iniquity of them; let them be what they will, they were together the Test of all new Comers, who were initiated by an Oath taken on a Bible, reserv’d for that Purpose only, and were subscrib’d to in Presence of the worshipful Mr.Roberts.And in Case any Doubt should arise concerning the Construction of these Laws, and it should remain a Dispute whether the Party had infring’d them or no, a Jury is appointed to explain them, and bring in a Verdict upon the Case in Doubt.
Since we are now speaking of the Laws of this Company, I shall go on, and, in as brief a Manner as I can, relate the principal Customs, and Government, of this roguish 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-Master, of the Mens own chusing, who claims all Authority this Way, (excepting in Time of Battle:) If they disobey his Command, are quarrelsome and mutinous with one another, misuse Prisoners, plunder beyond his Order, and in particular, if they be negligent of their Arms, which he musters at Discretion, he punishes at his own Arbitrement, with drubbing or whipping, 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 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 military Officer, the Captain; what Privileges he exerts in such anarchy and unrulyness of the Members: Why truly very little, they only permit him to be Captain, on Condition, that they may be Captain over him; they separate to his Use the great Cabin, and sometimes vote him small Parcels of Plate and China, (for it may be noted thatRobertsdrank his Tea constantly) but then every Man, as the Humour takes him, will use the Plate and China, intrude into his Apartment, swear at him, seize a Part of his Victuals and Drink, if they like it, without his offering to find Fault or contest it: YetRoberts, by a better Management than usual, became the chief Director in every Thing of Moment, and it happened thus:—The Rank of Captain being obtained by the Suffrage of the Majority, it falls on one superior for Knowledge and Boldness,Pistol Proof(as they call it,) and can make those fear, who do not love him;Robertsis said to have exceeded his Fellows in these Respects, and when advanced, enlarged the Respect that followed it, by making a sort of Privy-Council of half a Dozen of the greatest Bullies; such as were his Competitors, and had Interest enough to make his Government easy; yet even those, in the latter Part of his Reign, he had run counter to in every Project that opposed his own Opinion; for which, and because he grew reserved, and would not drink and roar at their Rate, a Cabal was formed to take away his Captainship, which Death did more effectually.
The Captain’s Power is uncontroulable in Chace, or in Battle, drubbing, cutting, or even shooting any one who dares deny his Command. The same Privilege he takes over Prisoners, who receive good or ill Usage, mostly as he approves of their Behaviour, 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 Punishment out of the Hands of a much more rash and mad Sett of Fellows than himself. When he found that Rigour 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 Treatment of them, and not any Love or Partiality to their Persons; for, says he,there is none of you but will hang me, I know, whenever you can clinch me within your Power.
And now seeing the Disadvantages they were under for pursuing the Account,viz.a small Vessel ill repaired, and without Provisions, or Stores; they resolved one and all, with the little Supplies they could get, to proceed for theWest-Indies, not doubting to find a Remedy for all these Evils, and to retreive their Loss.
In the Latitude ofDeseada, 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 toRhode Island, and then proceeded toBarbadoes, off of which Island, they fell in with aBristolShip 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, 10 Casks of Oatmeal, six Casks of Beef, and several other Goods, besides five of their Men; and after they had detained her three Days, let her go; who being bound for the abovesaid Island, she acquainted the Governor with what had happened, as soon as she arrived.
Whereupon aBristolGalley that lay in the Harbour, was ordered to be fitted out with all imaginable Expedition, of 20 Guns, and 80 Men, there being then no Man of War upon that Station, and also a Sloop with 10 Guns, and 40 Men: The Galley was commanded by one CaptainRogers, ofBristol, and the Sloop by CaptainGraves, of that Island, and CaptainRogersby a Commission from the Governor, was appointed Commadore.
The second Day afterRogerssailed out of the Harbour, he was discovered byRoberts, who knowing nothing of their Design, gave them Chase: TheBarbadoesShips kept an easy sail till the Pyrates came up with them, and thenRobertsgave 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 Engagement ensued, butRobertsbeing hardly put to it, was obliged to crowd all the Sail the Sloop would bear, to get off: The Galley sailing pretty well, kept Company for a long while, keeping a constant Fire, which gail’d the Pyrate; however, at length by throwing over their Guns, and other heavy Goods, and thereby light’ning the Vessel, they, with much ado, got clear; butRobertscould never endure aBarbadoesMan afterwards, and when any Ships belonging to that Island fell in his Way, he was more particularly severe to them than others.
CaptainRobertssailed in the Sloop to the Island ofDominico, where he watered, and got Provisionsof the Inhabitants, to whom he gave Goods in Exchange. At this Place he met with 13Englishmen, who had been set ashore by aFrench Guard de la Coste, belonging toMartinico, taken out of twoNew-EnglandShips, that had been seiz’d, as Prize, by the saidFrenchSloop: The Men willingly entered with the Pyrates, and it proved a seasonable Recruit.
They staid not long here, tho’ they had immediate Occasion for cleaning their Sloop, but did not think this a proper Place, and herein they judg’d right; for the touching at this Island, had like to have been their Destruction, because they having resolved to go away to theGranadaIslands, for the aforesaid Purpose, by some Accident it came to be known to theFrenchColony, who sending Word to the Governor ofMartinico, he equipped and manned two Sloops to go in Quest of them. The Pyrates sailed directly for theGranadilloes, and hall’d into a Lagoon, atCorvocoo, where they cleaned with unusual Dispatch, staying but a little above a Week, by which Expedition they missed of theMartinicoSloops, only a few Hours;Robertssailing over Night, that theFrencharrived the next Morning. This was a fortunate Escape, especially considering, that it was not from any Fears of their being discovered, that they made so much hast from the Island; but, as they had the Impudence themselves to own, for the want of Wine and Women.
Thus narrowly escaped, they sailed forNewfoundland, and arrived upon the Banks the latter end ofJune, 1720. They entered the Harbour ofTrepassi, with their black Colours flying, Drums beating, and Trumpets sounding. There were two and twenty Vessels in the Harbour, which the Men all quitted upon the Sight of the Pyrate, and fled ashore. It is impossible particularly to recountthe Destruction and Havock they made here, burning and sinking all the shipping, except aBristolGalley, and destroying the Fisheries, and Stages of the poor Planters, without Remorse or Compunction; for nothing is so deplorable as Power in mean and ignorant Hands, it makes Men wanton and giddy, unconcerned at the Misfortunes they are imposing on their Fellow Creatures, and keeps them smiling at the Mischiefs, that bring themselves no Advantage.They are like mad Men, that cast Fire-Brands, Arrows, and Death, and say, are not we in Sport?
Robertsmann’d theBristolGalley 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 ofFrenchShips, all which he destroyed except one of 26 Guns, which they seiz’d, and carried off for their own Use. This Ship they christ’nedthe Fortune, and leaving theBristolGalley to theFrenchMen, they sailed away in Company with the Sloop, on another Cruise, and took several Prizes,viz.theRichardofBiddiford, Jonathan WhitfieldMaster; theWilling MindofPool; theExpectationofTopsham; and theSamuel, CaptainCary, ofLondon; out of these Ships they encreased their Company, by entring all the Men they could well spare, in their own Service. TheSamuelwas 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, Cases, 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 tossing them into the Hold again,threw them over-board into the Sea; all this was done with incessant cursing 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 CaptainCary, That they should accept of no Act of Grace; that the K— and P—t might be damned with their Acts of G— for them; neither would they go toHope-Point,to be hang’d up a Sun drying, asKidd’s, andBraddish’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 sink or burn the Ship, but whilst they were debating the Matter, they spyed a Sail, and so left theSamuel, to give her Chace; at Midnight they came up with the same, which proved to be a Snow fromBristol, bound forBoston, CaptainBowlesMaster: They us’d him barbarously, because of his Country, CaptainRogers, who attack’d them offBarbadoes, being of the City ofBristol.
Julythe 16th, which was two Days afterwards, they took aVirginiaMan called theLittle York, James PhilipsMaster, and theLove, ofLeverpool, which they plundered and let go; the next Day a Snow fromBristol, call’d thePhoenix, John RichardsMaster, met with the same Fate from them; as also a Brigantine, CaptainThomas, and a Sloop called theSadbury; they took all the Men out of the Brigantine, and sunk the Vessel.
When they left the Banks ofNewfoundland, they sailed for theWest-Indies, and the Provisions growing short, they went for the Latitude of the IslandDeseada, 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 Supplies. And it has been very much suspected thatShips have loaded with Provisions at theEnglishColonies, on pretence of Trading on the Coast ofAfrica, when they have in reality been consigned to them; and tho’ a shew 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 becoming more scarce every Day, they retired towards St.Christophers, where being deny’d all Succour 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 CaptainCox, ofBristol; and then retreated farther to the Island of St.Bartholomew, where they met with much handsomer Treatment. The Governor not only supplying them with Refreshments, but he and the Chiefs carressing them in the most friendly Manner: And the Women, from so good an Example, endeavoured to outvie each other in Dress, and Behaviour, to attract the good Graces of such generous Lovers, that paid well for their Favours.
Sated at length with these Pleasures, and having taken on Board a good supply of fresh Provisions, they voted unanimously for the Coast ofGuiney, and in the Latitude of 22 N. in their Voyage thither, met with aFrenchShip fromMartinico, richly laden, and, which was unlucky for the Master, had a property of being fitter for their Purpose, than the Banker.Exchange was no Robberythey said, and so after a little mock Complaisance toMonsieur, for the Favour he had done them, they shifted their Men, and took leave: This was their firstRoyal Fortune.
In this ShipRobertsproceeded on his designed Voyage; but before they reachedGuiney, he proposed to touch atBrava, the Southermost ofCapeVerdIslands and clean. But here again by an intolerable Stupidity and want of Judgment, they got so far to Leeward of their Port, that despairing to regain it, or any of the Windward Parts ofAfrica, they were obliged to go back again with the Trade-Wind, for theWest-Indies; which had very near been the Destruction of them all.Surinamwas the Place now designed for, which was at no less than 700 Leagues Distance, and they had but one Hogshead of Water left to supply 124 Souls for that Passage; a sad 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 Fact, 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 troublesome to their Memories, as now, that inevitable 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 lived in Defiance of the Power that now alone they must trust for their Preservation, and indeed without the miraculous Intervention of Providence, there appeared only this miserable Choice, viz. a present 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 them an inextinguishable Thirst, that killed them: Others pined and wasted a little more Time in Fluxes and Apyrexies, so that they dropped away daily. Those that sustain’d the Misery best, were such asalmost starved 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 possible for Men to be and alive.
But if the dismal Prospect they set out with, gave them Anxiety, Trouble, or Pain, what must 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 Case, 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 Mast-Head, but it was at so great a Distance, that it afforded but an indifferent Prospect to Men who had drank nothing for the two last Days; however, they dispatch’d their Boat away, and late the same Night it return’d, to their no small Comfort, with a load of Water, informing them, that they had got off the Mouth ofMeriwingaRiver on the Coast ofSurinam.
One would have thought so miraculous an Escape should have wrought some Reformation, but alass, they had no sooner quenched their Thirst, 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 say,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 ofBarbadoes, with what little they had left, to look out for more, or Starve; and, in their Way, met a Ship that answered their Necessities, and after that a Brigantine; the former was called theGreyhound, belonging toSt.Christophers, and bound toPhiladelphia, the Mate of which signed the Pyrate’s Articles, and was afterwards Captain of theRanger, Consort to theRoyal Fortune.
Out of the Ship and Brigantine, the Pyrates got a good supply of Provisions and Liquor, so that they gave over the designed Cruise, and watered atTobago, and hearing of the two Sloops that had been fitted out and sent after them atCorvocoo, they sailed to the Island ofMartinico, to make the Governor some sort of an Equivalent, for the Care and Expedition he had shewn in that Affair.
It is the Custom atMartinico, for theDutchInterlopers that have a Mind to Trade with the People of the Island, to hoist their Jacks when they come before the Town:Robertsknew 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 expected, they mistook for a good Market, and thought themselves happiest that could soonest dispatch off their Sloops and Vessels for Trade. WhenRobertshad got them within his Power, (one after another,) 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 aDutchTrade as this was; he reserved one Vessel to set the Passengers on Shore again, and fired the rest, to the Number of twenty.
Robertswas so enraged at the Attempts that had been made for taking of him, by the Governors ofBarbadosandMartinico, 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 LettersA B HandA M H,signifying aBarbadian’s and aMartinican’s Head, as may be seen in the Plate of CaptainRoberts.
AtDominico, the next Island they touched at, they took aDutchInterloper of 22 Guns and 75 Men, and a Brigantine belonging toRhode-Island, oneNortonMaster. The former made some Defence, till some of his Men being killed, the rest were discouraged and struck their Colours. With these two Prizes they went down toGuadalupe, and brought out a Sloop, and aFrenchFly-Boat laden with Sugar; the Sloop they burnt, and went on toMoonay, another Island, thinking to clean, but finding the Sea ran too high there to undertake it with Safety, they bent their Course for the North Part ofHispaniola, where, at Bennet’s Key, in the Gulf ofSaminah, they cleaned both the Ship and the Brigantine. For tho’Hispaniolabe settled by theSpaniardsandFrench, and is the Residence of a President fromSpain, who receives, and finally determines Appeals from all the otherSpanish West-IndiaIslands; yet is its People by no Means proportioned to its Magnitude, so that there are many Harbours in it, to which Pyrates may securely resort without Fear of Discovery from the Inhabitants.
Whilst they were here, two Sloops came in, as they pretended, to payRobertsa Visit, the Masters, whose Names werePorterandTuckerman, addressed the Pyrate, as the Queen ofShebadidSolomon, to wit,That having heard of his Fame and Atchievements, they had put in there to learn his Art and Wisdom in the Business of pyrating, being Vessels on the same honourable Design with himself; and hoped with the Communication of his Knowledge, they should also receive his Charity, being in want of Necessaries for such Adventures.Robertswas won upon by the Peculiarity and Bluntness of thesetwo Men, and gave them Powder, Arms, and what ever else they had Occasion for, spent two or three merry Nights with them, and at parting, said,he hoped the L— would Prosper their handy Works.
They passed some Time here, after they had got their Vessel ready, in their usual Debaucheries; they had taken a considerable Quanty of Rum and Sugar, so that Liquor was as plenty as Water, 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 ofHarry Glasby, chosen Master of theRoyal Fortune, who, with two others, laid hold of the Opportunity at the last Island they were at, to move off without bidding Farewel to his Friends.Glasbywas a reserved sober Man, and therefore gave Occasion to be suspected, so that he was soon missed after he went away; and a Detachment being sent in quest 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 said of several other Courts, that have more lawful Commissions for what they do.—Here was no feeing of Council, and bribing of Witnesses was a Custom not known among them; no packing of Juries, no torturing and wresting the Sense of the Law, for bye Ends and Purposes, no puzzling or perplexing the Cause with unintelligible canting Terms, and useless Distinctions; nor was their Sessions burthened with numberless Officers, the Ministers of Rapine and Extortion, with ill boding Aspects, enough to frightAstræafrom the Court.The Place appointed for their Tryals, was the Steerage of the Ship; in order to which, a large Bowl of Rum Punch was made, and placed upon the Table, the Pipes and Tobacco being ready, the judicial Proceedings began; the Prisoners were brought forth, and Articles of Indictment 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 Fact plainly proved, they were about to pronounce Sentence, when one of the Judges mov’d, that they should first Smoak t’other Pipe; which was accordingly done.
All the Prisoners pleaded for Arrest of Judgment very movingly, but the Court had such an Abhorrence of their Crime, that they could not be prevailed upon to shew Mercy, till one of the Judges, whose Name wasValentine Ashplant, stood up, and taking his Pipe out of his Mouth, said, he had something to offer to the Court in behalf of one of the Prisoners; and spoke to this Effect.—By G—, Glasbyshall not dye; d—n me if he shall.After this learned Speech, he sat down in his Place, and resumed his Pipe. This Motion was loudly opposed by all the rest of the Judges, in equivalent Terms; butAshplant, who was resolute in his Opinion, made another pathetical Speech in the following Manner.G— d—n ye Gentlemen, I am as good a Man as the best of you; d—m myS—lif ever I turned my Back to any Man in my Life, or ever will, by G—; Glasbyis an honest Fellow, notwithstanding this Misfortune, and I love him, D—l d—n me if I don’t: I hope he’ll live and repent of what he has done; but d—n me if he must dye, I will dye along with him.And thereupon, he pulled out a pair of Pistols, and presented them to some of the learned Judges upon the Bench; who, perceiving his Argument so well supported,thought it reasonable thatGlasbyshould be acquitted; 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. The poor Wretches were ty’d immediately to the Mast, and there shot dead, pursuant to their villainous Sentence.
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 atCorvocoo, were thus disposed of: They burnt their own Sloop, and mann’dNorton’s Brigantine, sending the Master away in theDutchInterloper, not dissatisfied.
With theRoyal Fortune, and the Brigantine, which they christened theGood Fortune, they pushed towards the Latitude ofDeseada, to look out for Provisions, being very short again, and just to their Wish, CaptainHingstone’s ill Fortune brought him in their Way, richly laden forJamaica; him they carried toBerbudasand plundered; and stretching back again to theWest-Indies, they continually met with some Consignment or other, (chieflyFrench,)which stored them with Plenty of Provisions, and recruited their starving Condition; so that stocked with this sort of Ammunition, they began to think of something worthier their Aim, for these Robberies that only supplied what was in constant Expenditure, by no Means answered their Intentions; and accordingly they proceeded again for the Coast ofGuiney, where they thought to buy Gold-Dust very cheap. In their Passage thither, they took Numbers of Ships of all Nations, some of which theyburnt or sunk, as the Carriage or Characters 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 Regulation; for being almost always mad or drunk, their Behaviour produced infinite Disorders, every Man being in his own Imagination a Captain, a Prince, or a King. WhenRobertssaw 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 Disturbances, he put on a rougher Deportment, and a more magesterial Carriage towards them, correcting 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.