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AsRobertsthe Pyrate, by the bold Sweep made inAugust, had struck a Pannick into the Traders, we were several times in our late Cruise alarmed with Stories of their being again to Windward; which kept usPlying, till others contradicting such Report, and considered with the rashness of the Attempt, returned us to our Rendesvouz in CapeCorsoRoad, where we had scarce well arrived, before Mr.Phipsreceived Intelligence by two or three Canoos dispatched to him, of Vessels chased and taken by them a few Leagues off, committing great Cruelties. They were well manned, we understood, having increased their number greatly by this double Expedition, and the Reputation of their Success; the Seamen every where entering, notwithstanding our neighbourhood, and where they refused, by report, ’twas oftner thro’ Fear, than any detestation of the Practice.
The Conclusion from our Advices, was to follow them toWhydah; for avoiding this Road, (which it might be imagined they would do, in respect to our being there) the next and chiefest Place for Booty was there. We missed them however by 24 hours, butfollowing quickly to CapeLopez, luckily fixed the Limits of their Navigation; their Drunkenness, Inadvertency, and Disorder, making them fall an easy Prize to us.
Discipline is certainly an excellent Path to Victory; we see it through all Nations, who in some ages are warlike, in others effeminate. Courage, locutory or military, like a Trade, is gained by an Apprenticeship. The Coward to-day, may seven years hence become a brave Fellow, and metamorphosed again, perhaps by a bad Wife, or other adverse Fortune. What makes our Militia laughed at, even by Men draughted from them? only because they want that constant Discipline, the red Coat and martial Law, that makes the other terrible: Every Man in standing Troops, is in a School of Exercise, where, if not dull, he may acquire the Tread, the Talk, and Courage of a Hero.[37]Subordination is an Essential to it in this very Discipline; the Gentleman brought up ever so tamely, finding a Courage with his Commission, and for the most part, increasing as he becomes a Captain, a Colonel, or a General. The Pyrates, tho’ singly Fellows of Courage, yet wanting such a Tye of Order, some Director to unite that Force, were a contemptible Enemy, neither killed nor wounded us a man in taking them, and mustever, in the same Circumstances, be the Fate of such Rabble.
We found in the three Ships about 200Englishmen, 60 or 70 stoutNegroSlaves, great plenty of trading Goods, and, what more attracted the Eye, a large quantity of Gold Dust, by computation, 8 or 10000l.the Searches made, and the Diligence of the Officers in those Searches, imagining themselves to have some share in the Heap, makes that Sum very probable; the Pyrates themselves giving out double: for all which, the Commander at home obtained the Privy-Seal.
The People, their Wives, and Widows, who thought themselves injured in this Seclusion, petitioned the Lords-Commissioners of the Admiralty, the Secretaries, and other Officers of State, for a Recall of this Grant;sine Auspiciis. The Officersjoined also in aPetition for the E—— ofB——y’s Interposition, to obtain for them the Division of any Sum they might prove, over and above what was suggested in obtaining the Privy-Seal;—and with the same Success.
To return from this Excursion; the number of our Prisoners gave a great deal of fatigue and uneasiness, during a six Weeks Passage, lest the danger of a Halter should prompt them to some desperate Attempt for their Liberty; but arriving safe at CapeCorsoagain, they were there brought to their Tryals,hang’d, or acquitted; the Court allowing for the Office of Register,
The General of the Coast gave the Table, which made the whole Charge rest upon those two Articles, the cheapest since the Reformation.