At their Return toJohannathe Queen made a Festival, and magnified the Bravery and Service of her Guests, Friends, and Allies. This Feast lasted four Days, at the Expiration of which Time the Queen’s Brother proposed to CaptainMissonthe making another Descent, in which he would go in Person, and did not doubt subjecting theMohilians; but this was not the Design ofMisson, who had Thoughts of fixing a Retreat on the North West Side ofMadagascar, and look’d upon the Feuds between these two Islands advantageous to his Views, and therefore no way his Interest to suffer the one to overcome the other; for while the Variance was kept up, and their Forces pretty much upon a Level, it was evident their Interest would make both Sides caress him; he therefore answer’d, that they ought to deliberate on the Consequences, for they might be deceived in their Hopes, and find the Conquest less easy than they imagined. That the King ofMohilawould be more upon his Guard, and not only intrench himself, but gall them with frequent Ambuscades, by which they must inevitably lose a Number of Men; and, if they were forced to retire with Loss, raise theCourage of theMohilians, and make them irreconcilable Enemies to theJohannians, and intirely deprive him of the Advantages with which he might now make a Peace, having twice defeated them: That he could not be always with them, and at his leavingJohannahe might expect the King ofMohilawould endeavour to take a bloody Revenge for the late Damages. The Queen gave intirely intoMisson’s Sentiments.
While this was in Agitation fourMohiliansarrived as Ambassadors to propose a Peace. They finding theJohanniansupon high Terms, one of them spoke to this Purpose;O yeJohannians, do not conclude from your late Success, that Fortune will be always favourable; she will not always give you the Protection of theEuropeans, and without their Help its possible you might now sue for a Peace, which you seem averse to. Remember the Sun rises, comes to its Meridian Height, and stays not there, but declines in a Moment. Let this admonish you to reflect on the constant Revolution of all sublunary Affairs, and the greater is your Glory, the nearer you are to your Declension. We are taught by every Thing we see, that there is no Stability in the World, but Nature is in continual Movement. The Sea which o’er flows the Sands has its Bounds set, which it cannot pass, which the Moment it has reached, without abiding, returns back to the Bosom of the Deep. Every Herb, every Shrub and Tree, and even our own Bodies, teach us this Lesson, that nothing is durable, or can be counted upon. Time passes away insensibly, one Sun follows another, and brings its Changes with it. To Day’s Globe of Light sees you strengthened by theseEuropeanselate with Victory, and we, who have been used to conquer you, come to ask a Peace. To Morrow’s Sun may see you deprived of your present Succours, and theJohannianspetitioning us; as therefore we cannot say what to Morrow may bring forth, it would be unwise on uncertain Hopes to forego a certain Advantage,as surely Peace ought to be esteem’d by every wise Man.
Having said this, the Ambassadors withdrew, and were treated by the Queen’s Orders. After the Council had concluded, they were again call’d upon, and the Queen told them, that by the Advice of her good Friends, theEuropeans, and those of her Council, she agreed to make a Peace, which she wish’d might banish all Memory of former Injuries. That they must own the War was begun by them, and that she was far from being the Agressor; she only defended her self in her own Kingdom, which they had often invaded, though, till within few Days, she had never molested their Coasts. If then they really desired to live amicably with her, they must resolve to send two of the King’s Children, and ten of the first Nobility, as Hostages, that they might, when they pleased, return, for that was the only Terms on which she would desist prosecuting the Advantages she now had, with the utmost Vigour.
The Ambassadors return’d with this Answer, and, about ten Days after, the two Ships appearing upon their Coasts, they sent off to give Notice, that their King comply’d with the Terms proposed, would send the Hostages, and desired a Cessation of all Hostility, and, at the same Time, invited the Commanders on Shoar. TheJohannaMen on Board disswaded their accepting the Invitation; butMissonandCaraccioli, fearing nothing, went, but arm’d their Boat’s Crew. They were received by the King with Demonstrations of Friendship, and they dined with him under a Tamerane Tree; but when they parted from him, and were returning to their Boats, they were inclosed by, at least, 100 of theMohilians, who set upon them with the utmost Fury, and, in the first Flight of Arrows, wounded both the Captains, andkilled four of their Boat’s Crew of eight, who were with them; they, in return, discharged their Pistols with some Execution, and fell in with their Cutlasses; but all their Bravery would have stood them in little Stead, had not the Report of their Pistols alarm’d and brought the rest of their Friends to their Assistance, who took their Fuzils, and coming up while they were engaged, discharged a Volley on the Back of the Assailants, which laid twelve of them dead on the Spot. The Ships hearing this Fire, sent immediately the Yawls and Long-Boats well mann’d. Though the Islanders were a little damp’d in their Courage by this Fire of the Boats Crew, yet they did not give over the Fight, and one of them desperately threw himself uponCaraccioli, and gave him a deep Wound in his Side, with a long Knife, but he paid for the Rashness of the Attempt with his Life, one of the Crew cleaving his Skull. The Yawls and Long-Boats now arrived, and being guided by the Noise, reinforced their Companions, put the Traytors to Flight, and brought off their dead and wounded. TheEuropeanslost by this Treachery seven slain outright, and eight wounded, six of which recovered.
The Crew were resolved to revenge the Blood of their Officers and Comrades the next Day, and were accordingly on the Point of Landing, when two Canoes came off with two Men bound, the pretended Authors of this Treason, without the King’s Knowledge, who had sent ’em that they might receive the Punishment due to their Villany. TheJohannaMen on Board were call’d for Interpreters, who having given this Account, added, that the King only sacrificed these Men, but that they should not believe him, for he certainly had given Orders for assassinating theEuropeans; and the better Way was to kill all theMohiliansthatcame in the Canoes as well as the two Prisoners; go back toJohanna, take more of their Countrymen, and give no Peace to Traytors; butMissonwas for no such violent Measures, he was averse to every Thing that bore the Face of Cruelty and thought a bloody Revenge, if Necessity did not enforce it, spoke a groveling and timid Soul; he, therefore, sent those of the Canoes back, and bid them tell their King, if before the Evening he sent the Hostages agreed upon, he should give Credit to his Excuse, but if he did not, he should believe him the Author of the late vile Attempt on his Life.
The Canoes went off but returned not with an Answer, wherefore, he bid theJohannaMen tell the two Prisoners that they should be set on Shore the next Morning, and order’d them to acquaint their King, he was no Executioner to put those to Death whom he had condemn’d, but that he should find, he knew how to revenge himself of his Treason. The Prisoners being unbound, threw themselves at his Feet, and begg’d that he would not send them ashore, for they should be surely put to Death, for the Crime they had committed, was, the dissuading the barbarous Action of which they were accused as Authors.
Next Day the two Ships landed 200 Men, under the Cover of their Canon; but that Precaution of bringing their Ships close to the Shore they found needless; not a Soul appearing, they march’d two Leagues up the Country, when they saw a Body of Men appear behind some Shrubs;Caraccioli’s Lieutenant, who commanded the right Wing, with fifty Men made up to them, but found he had got among Pit Falls artificially cover’d, several of his Men falling into them, which made him halt, and not pursue thoseMohilianswho made a feint Retreat to ensnare him, thinking it dangerous to proceed farther;and seeing no Enemy would face them, they retired the same Way they came, and getting into their Boats, went on Board the Ships, resolving to return with a strong Reinforcement, and make Descents at one and the same Time in different Parts of the Island. They ask’d the two Prisoners how the Country lay, and what the Soil was on the North Side the Island; and they answer’d it was morass, and the most dangerous Part to attempt, it being a Place where they shelter on any imminent Danger.
The Ships return’d toJohanna, where the greatest Tenderness and Care was shewn for the Recovery and Cure of the two Captains and of their Men; they lay six Weeks before they were able to walk the Decks, for neither of them would quit his Ship. TheirJohannaWives expressed a Concern they did not think them capable of, nay, a Wife of one of the wounded Men who died, stood some Time looking upon the Corpse as motionless as a Statue, then embracing it, without shedding a Tear, desired she might take it ashore to wash and bury it; and at the same Time, by an Interpreter, and with a little Mixture ofEuropeanLanguage, she had, begg’d her late Husband’s Friends would take their Leave of him the next Day.
Accordingly a Number went ashore, and carried with them the Dividend, which fell to his Share, which the Captain order’d to be given his Widow; when she saw the Money, she smil’d, and ask’d if all, all that was for her? Being answered in the affirmative, and what Good will all that shining Dirt do me, if I could with it purchase the Life of my Husband, and call him back from the Grave, I would accept it with Pleasure, but as it is not sufficient to allure him back to this World,I have no Use for it; do with it what you please. Then she desired they would go with her and perform the last Ceremonies to her Husband’s dead Body, after their Country Fashion, least he should be displeased, that she could not stay with them, to be a Witness, because she was in haste to go and be married again. She startled theEuropeanswho heard this latter Part of her Speech so dissonant from the Beginning; however, they followed her, and she led them into a Plantane Walk, where they found a great manyJohannaMen and Women, sitting under the Shade of Plantanes, round the Corpse, which lay (as they all sate) on the Ground, covered with Flowers. She embraced them round, and then theEuropeans, one by one, and after these Ceremonies, she poured out a Number of bitter Imprecations against theMohilaMen, whose Treachery had darken’d her Husband’s Eyes, and made him insensible of her Caresses, who was her first Love, to whom she had given her Heart, with her Virginity. She then proceeded in his Praises, calling him the Joy of Infants, the Love of Virgins, the Delight of the old, and the Wonder of the young, adding, he was strong and beautiful as the Cedar, brave as the Bull, tender as the Kid, and loving as the Ground Turtle; having finished this Oration, not unlike those of theRomans, which the nearest Relation of the deceas’d used to pronounce from the Rostrum, she laid her down by the Side of her Husband, embracing him, and sitting up again, gave herself a deep Wound under the left Breast with a Bayonet, and fell dead on her Husband’s Corpse.
TheEuropeanswere astonished at the Tenderness and Resolution of the Girl, for she was not, by what her Mien spoke her, past seventeen; and they now admired, as much as they had secretly detestedher, for saying she was in haste to be married again, the Meaning of which they did not understand.
After the Husband and Wife were buried, the Crew return’d on Board, and gave an Account of what had pass’d; the Captains Wives (forMissonand his were on Board theBijoux, the Name they had given their Prize from her Make and Gilding) seem’d not in the least surprized, andCaraccioli’s Lady only said, she must be of noble Descent, for none but the Families of the Nobility had the Privilege allowed them of following their Husbands, on pain, if they transgressed, of being thrown into the Sea, to be eat by Fish; and they knew, that their Souls could not rest as long as any of the Fish, who fed upon them, lived.Missonasked, if they intended to have done the same Thing had they died? We should not, answer’d his Wife, have disgraced our Families; nor is our Tenderness for our Husbands inferior to hers whom you seem to admire.
After their Recovery,Missonproposed a Cruize, on the Coast ofZangueber, which being agreed to, he andCaracciolitook Leave of the Queen and her Brother, and would have left their Wives on the Island, but they could by no Means be induced to the Separation; it was in vain to urge the Shortness of the Time they were to Cruize; they answer’d it was farther thanMohilathey intended to go, and if they were miserable in that short Absence, they could never support a longer; and if they would not allow them to keep them Company the Voyage, they must not expect to see them at their Return, if they intended one.
In a Word they were obliged to yield to them, but told them, if the Wives of their Men should insist as strongly on following their Example, their Tenderness, would be their Ruin, and make thema Prey to their Enemies; they answer’d the Queen should prevent that, by ordering no Woman should go on Board, and if any were in the Ships, they should return on Shore: This Order was accordingly made, and they set Sail for the River ofMozembique. In about ten Days Cruize after they had leftJohanna, and about 15 Leagues to the Eastward of this River, they fell in with a stoutPortugueseShip of 60 Guns, which engaged them from Break of Day till Two in the Afternoon, when the Captain being killed, and a great Number of Men lost, she struck: This proved a very rich Prize, for she had the Value of 250000 l. Sterling on Board, in Gold-Dust. The two Women never quitted the Decks all the Time of the Engagement, neither gave they the least Mark of Fear, except for their Husbands: This Engagement cost them thirty Men, andCaracciolilost his right Leg; the Slaughter fell mostly on theEnglish, for of the above Number, twenty were of that Nation: ThePortugueselost double the Number.Caraccioli’s Wound made them resolve to make the best of their Way forJohanna, where the greatest Care was taken of their wounded, not one of whom died, tho’ their Number amounted to Twenty seven.
Caracciolikept his Bed two Months, butMissonseeing him in a fair way of Recovery, took what Hands could be spar’d from theBijoux, leaving her sufficient for Defence, and went out, having mounted ten of thePortugueseGuns, for he had hitherto carried but thirty, though he had Ports for forty. He stretched over toMadagascar, and coasted along this Island to the Northward, as far as the most northerly Point, when turning back, he enter’d a Bay to the northward ofDiego Suares. He run ten Leagues up this Bay, and on the larboard Side found it afforded a large, and safe, Harbour, with plenty of fresh Water. He came here to anAnchor, went ashore and examined into the Nature of the Soil, which he found rich, the Air wholesome, and the Country level. He told his Men, that this was an excellent Place for an Asylum, and that he determined here to fortify and raise a small Town, and make Docks for Shipping, that they might have some Place to call their own; and a Receptacle, when Age or Wounds had render’d them incapable of Hardship, where they might enjoy the Fruits of their Labour, and go to their Graves in Peace. That he would not, however, set about this, till he had the Approbation of the whole Company; and were he sure they would all approve this Design, which he hoped, it being evidently for the general Good, he should not think it adviseable to begin any Works, lest the Natives should, in his Absence, destroy them; but however, as they had nothing upon their Hands, if they were of his Opinion, they might begin to fall and square Timber, ready for the raising a wooden Fort, when they return’d with their Companions.
The Captain’s Motion was universally applauded, and in ten Days they fell’d and rough hew’d a hundred and fifty large Trees, without any Interruption from, or seeing any of, the Inhabitants. They fell’d their Timber at the Waters Edge, so that they had not the Trouble of hawling them any way, which would have employ’d a great deal more Time: They returned again, and acquainted their Companions with what they had seen and done, and with the Captain’s Resolution, which they one and all came into.
CaptainMissonthen told the Queen, as he had been serviceable to her in her War with the Island ofMohila, and might continue to be of farther Use, he did not question her lending him Assistance in the settling himself on the Coast ofMadagascar, and to that end, furnish him with 300 Men, to help in his Buildings; the Queen answered, she could do nothing without Consent of Council, and that she would assemble her Nobility, and did not question their agreeing to any Thing he could reasonably desire, for they were sensible of the Obligations theJohannianshad to him. The Council was accordingly called, andMisson’s Demand being told, one of the eldest said, he did not think it expedient to comply with it, nor safe to refuse; that they should in agreeing to give him that Assistance, help to raise a Power, which might prove formidable to themselves, by the being so near a Neighbour; and these Men who had lately protected, might, when they found it for their Interest, enslave them. On the other hand, if they did not comply, they had the Power to do them great Damage. That they were to make choice of the least of two possible Evils, for he could prognosticate no Good toJohanna, by their settling near it. Another answered, that many of them hadJohannaWives, that it was not likely they would make Enemies of theJohannaMen at first settling, because their Friendship might be of Use to them; and from their Children there was nothing to be apprehended in the next Generation, for they would be half their own Blood; that in the mean while, if they comply’d with the Request, they might be sure of an Ally, and Protector, against the King ofMohila; wherefore, he was for agreeing to the Demand.
After a long Debate, in which every Inconvenience, and Advantage, was maturely considered, it was agreed to send with him the Number of Men he required, on Condition he should send them back in four Moons, make an Alliance with them, and War againstMohila; this being agreedto, they staid tillCaraccioliwas thoroughly recovered, then putting theJohannianson board thePortugueseShip with 40FrenchandEnglishand 15Portugueseto work her, and setting Sail, they arrived at the Place whereMissondesigned his Settlement, which he calledLibertalia, and gave the Name ofLiberito his People, desiring in that might be drown’d the distinguish’d Names ofFrench,English,Dutch,Africans, &c.
The first Thing they sat about was, the raising a Fort on each Side the Harbour, which they made of an octogon Figure, and having finished and mounted them with 40 Guns taken out of thePortuguese, they raised a Battery on an Angle of ten Guns, and began to raise Houses and Magazines under the Protection of their Forts and Ships; thePortuguesewas unrigg’d, and all her Sails and Cordage carefully laid up. While they were very busily employed in the raising a Town, a Party which had often hunted and rambled four or five Leagues off their Settlement, resolved to venture farther into the Country. They made themselves some Huts, at about 4 Leagues distance from their Companions, and travell’d East South East, about 5 Leagues farther into the Country, when they came up with a Black, who was arm’d with a Bow, Arrows, and a Javelin; they with a friendly Appearance engaged the Fellow to lay by his Fear and go with them. They carried him to their Companions, and there entertained him three Days with a great Deal of Humanity, and then returned with him near the Place they found him, made him a Present of a Piece of scarlet Baze, and an Ax; he appeared overjoy’d at the Present, and left them with seeming Satisfaction.
The Hunters imagined that there might be some Village not far off, and observing that helook’d at the Sun, and then took his Way direct South, they travell’d on the same Point of the Compass, and from the Top of a Hill they spied a pretty large Village, and went down to it; the Men came out with their Arms, such as before described, Bows, Arrows, and Javelins, but upon two only of the Whites advancing, with Presents of Axes, and Baze in their Hands, they sent only four to meet them. The Misfortune was, that they could not understand one another, but by their pointing to the Sun, and holding up one Finger, and making one of them go forward, and return again with shewing their Circumcision, and pointing up to Heaven with one Finger, they apprehended, they gave them to understand, there was but one God, who had sent one Prophet, and concluded from thence, and their Circumcision they wereMahometans; the Presents were carried to their Chief, and he seem’d to receive them kindly, and by Signs invited the Whites into their Village; but they, remembring the late Treachery of theMohilians, made Signs for Victuals to be brought them where they were.
More of the History of these Adventurers in another Place.
Theexact Time of this Person’s setting out I am not certain of; I find him cruising on theMallabarCoast in the Year 1700, commanding a Ship called theSpeaker, whose Crew consisted of Men of all Nations, and their Pyracies were committed upon Ships of all Nations likewise. The Pyrates here met with no Manner of Inconveniencies in carrying on their Designs, for it was made so much a Trade, that the Merchants of one Town never scrupled the buying Commodities taken from another, though but ten Miles distant, in a publick Sale, furnishing the Robbers at the same Time with all Necessaries, even of Vessels, when they had Occasion to go on any Expedition, which they themselves would often advise them of.
Among the rest anEnglish East-IndiaMan, CaptainConewayfromBengal, fell into the Hands of this Crew, which they made Prize of, nearCallequilon; they carried her in, and put her up to sale, dividing the Ship and Cargoe into three Shares; one Third was sold to a Merchant, Native ofCallequilonaforesaid, another Third to a Merchant ofPorca, and the other to oneMalpa, aDutchFactor.
Loaded with the Spoil of this and several Country Ships, they left the Coast, and steer’d forMadagascar; but in their Voyage thither, meeting with adverse Winds, and, being negligent in their Steerage, they ran upon St.Thomas’s Reef, at the Island ofMauritius, where the Ship was lost; butBowenand the greatest Part of the Crew got safe ashore.
They met here with all the Civility and good Treatment imaginable;Bowenwas complimented in a particular Manner by the Governor, and splendidly entertained in his House; the sick Men were got, with great Care, into the Fort, and cured by their Doctor, and no Supplies of any sort wanting for the rest. They spent here three Months, but yet resolving to set down atMadagascar, they bought a Sloop, which they converted into a Brigantine, and, about the middle ofMarch1701, departed, having first taken formal Leave of the Governor, by making a Present of 2500 Pieces of Eight, leaving him, besides, the Wreck of their Ship, with the Guns, Stores, and every Thing else that was saved. The Governor, on his Part, supply’d them with Necessaries for their Voyage, which was but short, and gave them a kind Invitation to make that Island a Place of Refreshment in the Course of their future Adventures, promising that nothing should be wanting to them that his Government afforded.
Upon their Arrival atMadagascar, they put in at a Place on the East-Side, calledMaritan, quitted their Vessel, and settled themselves ashore in a fruitful Plain on the Side of a River. They built themselves a Fort on the River’s Mouth towards the Sea, and another small one on the other Side towards the Country; the first to prevent a Surprize from Shipping, and the other as a Security from the Natives, many of whom they employedin the Building. They built also a little Town for their Habitation, which took up the Remainder of the Year 1701.
When this was done, they soon became dissatisfied with their new Situation, having a hankering Mind after their old Employment, and accordingly resolved to fit up the Brigantine they had from theDutchatMauritius, which was laid in a Cove near their Settlement, but an Accident, that they improved, provided for them in a better Manner, and saved them a great deal of Trouble.
It happened that about the beginning of the Year 1702, a Ship called theSpeedy Return, belonging to theScotch-AfricanandEast-IndiaCompany, CaptainDrummondCommander, came into the Port ofMaritaninMadagascar, with a Brigantine that belonged to her; they had before taken in Negroes at St.Mary’s, a little Island adjoining to the main Island ofMadagascar, and carried them to DonMascarenhas, from whence they sailed to this Port on the same Trade.
On the Ship’s Arrival, CaptainDrummond, withAndrew Wilky, his Surgeon, and several others of the Crew, went on Shore; in the mean whileJohn Bowen, with four others of his Consorts, goes off in a little Boat, on Pretence of buying some of their Merchandize brought fromEurope, and finding a fair Opportunity, the chief Mate, Boatswain, and a Hand or two more only upon the Deck, and the rest at Work in the Hold, they threw off their Mask; each drew out a Pistol and Hanger, and told them, they were all dead Men if they did not retire that Moment to the Cabin. The Surprize was sudden, and they thought it necessary to obey; one of the Pyrates placed himself Centry at the Door, with his Arms in his Hands, and the rest immediately laid the Hatches, and then made a Signal to their Fellows on Shore, as agreed on;upon which, about forty or fifty came on Board, and took quiet Possession of the Ship, and afterwards the Brigantine, without Bloodshed, or striking a Stroke.
Bowenwas made, or rather made himself, of Course, Captain; he detained the old Crew, or the greatest Part thereof, burnt the Brigantine as being of no Use to them, cleaned and fitted the Ship, took Water, Provisions, and what Necessaries were wanting, and made ready for new Adventures.
I shall leave them a while, to relate an unfortunate Story of a worthy honest Gentleman, who suffered through the Rashness and Folly of a headstrong People, for pyratically taking and murdering the Captain and Crew of this very ShipBowenand his Gang now seized.
AnEnglish-IndiaMan, commanded by CaptainThomas Green, called theWorcester, in her Voyage home toEngland, was drove by southerly Winds intoScotland, in the Month ofJuly1704, and anchored inLeithRoad; the Captain, and several of the Ship’s Company, going ashore for Refreshments, the People of the Town, who had Acquaintance and Friends in CaptainDrummond’s Ship, understanding theWorcestercame from theEast-Indies, were very importunate in their Enquiries after this Ship, and being told that they had heard of no such Ship inIndia, the Enquirers pretended to be very much surprized; so that, in short, it grew into a Suspicion that theWorcesterhad not dealt fairly by theScotchShip, which they had not heard of themselves since her Departure. In short, the Magistrates were inform’d that some of the Crew had dropt Words that plainly indicated the supposed Robbery and Murders of their Countrymen. Upon this several Men were privately examined; sometimes they were threaten’d to be hanged, andthen again large Promises were made to encourage ’em to discover the pretended Fact; till at length anIndianBoy was prevailed on to confess the whole Matter upon Oath, as they might think. Then the Captain, chief Mate and Crew, were seized and sent to Prison, the Ship was unloaded, and almost ripp’d to Pieces, to search for Goods, Writings,&c.to confirm theIndian’s Deposition, but nothing could be found; therefore they were obliged to try them, and try them they did, upon this Evidence, and some small Circumstances sworn to byCharles May, the Surgeon, which carried great Improbabilities along with it. The Depositions were as follow; theIndian, whose Name wasAntonio Ferdinandoswore,‘That on the Coast ofMallabarhe came aboard the Sloop that attended theWorcester, and thereafter saw an Engagement between the said Sloop, theWorcesterand another Ship, sailed by White Men, speakingEnglish, and bearingEnglishColours. That they did engage the said Ship for three Days, and on the third Day the said Ship was boarded by those in the Sloop, who took up the Crew of the said Ship from under Deck, killed them with Hatchets, and threw them overboard.’
Charles Mayonly deposed,‘That being ashore atCallequillonhe heard Guns firing at Sea, and asking some Body he met at the Landing Place, what meant this shooting? He was answered, theWorcesterwas gone out, and was fighting at Sea with another Ship. That the next Morning he saw theWorcesterriding at her Birth, where she had rid the Day before, and another Ship riding at her Stern. That theWorcester’s Long-Boat coming ashore, and he asking the Men what brought them ashore? They answered, they were sent for Water, they having spilt and staved all their Water; and that they had been busking allNight. Thatthis Evidencegoing aboard five or six Days after, saw the Ship lumber’d with Goods, and that he was inform’d that the Ship that was riding at theWorcester’s Stern, was sold toCogo Comodo, Merchant atQuilon. ThatAntonio Ferdinandowas wounded, and some others; and when he ask’d the Patients how they came by their Wounds, they were forbid to answer by Mr.Madder, the chief Mate. That all this fell out between the Months ofJanuaryandFebruary1703.’
As toAntonio’s Deposition, it appear’d to be all Invention, and nothing true in it; andCharles May’s a Heap of sly Insinuations, drawn from a known Fact, which was this; theWorcesterdeparting fromCallequillontoCarnipole, was drove by Stress of Weather from near the Road ofQuillontoAnjango, where coming near theAureng Zeb,IndiaMan, she saluted her with five Guns, which were the Guns the Surgeon heard; and theAureng Zebcame in along with theWorcester, and anchor’d at her Stern, which was the Ship taken Notice of by him. By busking all Night is meant only beating to Windward, which she did in order to fetchQuillon, the Wind being contrary. TheWorcesterspar’d her Water to theAureng Zeb, which occasioned their sending for more, and the wounded Men, which were proved to be no more than three in the Voyage; one was from a Fall in the Hold, another by fighting with Knives, between twoDutchMen, and the other by cutting of Wood.
’Tis observable likewise, thatMay’s Evidence, which is brought to supportAntonio’s, contradicted it in several Parts; forAntonioswore the Fact to be done betweenCallicutandTallecherry, (where, by the Way, the Ship never was, as was own’d by the Surgeon, and prov’d by the Captain’sand other Journals) andMayheard the Guns atCallequillon, which could not be less then 140 Miles asunder.Antoniomakes the supposed Engagement hold three Days; according toMay, theWorcesterwas busking only one Night; all the rest of his Evidence is,As he was inform’d,As he was told, &c. And what’s remarkable of thisMay, is, he was eighteen Months after this in the said Ship, and own’d on the Trial, that he never heard in all that Time one Word spoken of a Fight with any other Ship, or a Prize taken, or any Thing relating to such an Action, which must be very strange, if the Matter had been true.
In short, CaptainGreenand the rest of the Crew were convicted, and received Sentence for the supposed Crimes, as follows,Green,Madder,Sympson,KeigleandHainesto be hanged onWednesday, April4th.Taylor,Glenn,KitchenandRobertson, onWednesday, April11th, andBrown,Bruckley,Wilcocks,BallantyneandLinsey, onWednesday, April18th.
I cannot but here take Notice (though with much Concern) that upon the Condemnation of these unhappy Men, there seemed a universal Joy in and about the City; it was the only Discourse for some Days, and every Man thought himself nearly concerned in it; and some could not forbear in Words openly to express their brutal Joy:Now, said they,we’llDarien’em: By this they shall see we’ll do our selves Justice,&c.
After Sentence, the Prisoners desired not to be disturb’d in their dying Moments, that they might improve ’em to the best Advantage; but now they were not only insulted with the most opprobrious Language, by such as could get to ’em, but continually worried by the religious Kirk Teachers. The most dismal Threatnings were denounc’d against ’em, and nothing but God’s Wrath and eternal Torments in all its Horrors, were to be their Portion,if they died obdurate (as they call’d it) that is, without owning themselves guilty; and all this delivered with that Passion peculiar to that bitter Sett of Men. Nay, so restless were they, that even now, after Condemnation, they singled out some they found more terrified by their Cant, and assur’d ’em of Life if they would ingenuously acknowledge the Crimes they were condemned for; and, at last, worked so far uponHainesandLinsey, that they brought them to own almost what they pleased. The former of these, upon their Pardons being granted, gave a frightful Account of the whole Pyracy and Murther uponDrummond’s Ship, and took Care, as near as he could, to keep close withFerdinando’s Evidence, only here and there he was out in very material Points, as Men always are that don’t relate Matters of Fact. There was a great many bloody Circumstances added to colour the whole, as their Manner of Swearing when they commenced Pyrates (much like the ridiculous Ceremonies at making of Witches) which, he said, was thus; Every one of ’em was let Blood, which they mixed together, and after every Man had drank part, they all swore to Secrecy,&c.with abundance of such Stuff.Linsey, a Man of better Sense, contented himself with saying as little as possible, which was excusable, he being on shoar in the pretended Engagement, so that most of what he said, consisted in Hearsays of theIndians,&c.Thus these poor Wretches screen’d themselves from this fatal Blow, at the Expence of Faith and a good Conscience, and to enjoy a troublesome Life, perhaps a few Years.
As soon as their Confessions were made publick, the Gentry, as well as the Mob, was transported with Rage, and the poor Wretches were blackened and reviled in a shameful Manner; and so violent was the Torrent of their Fury, that it reachedeven their Council for their Tryals, and they were obliged, for their own Safety, to withdraw into the Country.
In the midst of this Confusion two Men, who were known to be ofDrummond’s Crew, came home in theRaperGalley, and made Affidavits of the Loss of the said Ship to the Pyrates, as has been mentioned; upon which her Majesty and Council first reprieved them for eight Days, and afterwards desired Execution might be farther respited till they heard from above.
The common People, who for some Time past, with raised Expectations, had waited for the Execution, began to grow very impatient, bitterly inveighing against the Reprieve; and the Council met on the 11th ofAprilin the Morning, to consider what was to be done; which the Mob perceiving, imagined ’twas in order to a further Reprieve or Pardon; immediately all Shops were shut up, and the Streets filled with incredible Numbers of Men, Women and Children, calling for Justice upon thoseEnglishMurtherers. The Lord ChancellourSeafield’s Coach happening to pass by, they stopp’d it, broke the Sashes, haul’d him out, and oblig’d him to promise Execution should speedily be done before he could get from ’em.
According to the Chancellor’s Promise, soon after, on the same Day, beingWednesday, CaptainGreen,Madder, andSympsonwere brought out, and convey’d to Execution, which was atLeith Roadupon the Sands, and all the Way were huzza’d in triumph as it were, and insulted with the sharpest and most bitter Invectives.
Thus fell these unhappy Men a well-pleasing Sacrifice to the Malice of wicked Men.
As for CaptainGreen’s Speech; after he had taken Notice of the Crimes he was to dye for, and appealed to all present to charge him, or the Crew,with any Injustice, since he had lived there; he goes on in giving an Account of his Faith, his living and dying in the Church ofEngland, of their Manner of Life abroad, their Observance of religious Duties, and the Sense he had of the Impossibility of Salvation, if he dy’d with a Falshood in his Mouth. Then follows,—‘Pursuant to which, I in the Presence of Almighty God, declare to you his People, that I am innocent in Design or Deed, and free from the Crimes for which I am condemned. That to my Knowledge, I never all my Life-time wrong’d Man in his Person or Goods, or had Accession thereto. What the Custom of Pyrates is, I thank God I know not: But I understand my Accusers and Persecuters will have you to believe, that I think it unnecessary to confess before Men. Take what I say as good Christians ought to do; if you have no Charity, you wrong your selves, and cannot hurt me.’
‘I am told some of my Crew have confess’d the Crimes, and load us with Guilt; this is done since Sentence, and in hopes of saving themselves, which I wish they may do by lawful Means, and not have Accession to the shedding innocent Blood. I am a dying, these are still in hopes to live, chuse you which of us to believe,&c.’
To return to CaptainBowen, who pyratically possessed himself of CaptainDrummond’s Ship and Brigantine, as aforesaid, he, being inform’d by the Crew, that when they left DonMascarenhas, a Ship called theRookGalley, CaptainHoneycombCommander, was lying in that Bay, resolved, with the other Pyrates, to sail thither, but it taking up seven or eight Days in watering their Vessels, and settling their private Affairs, they arrived not at the Island till after the Departure of the said Galley, who thereby happily escaped the villainous Snare of their unprovok’d Enemies.
The Night after the Pyrates leftMaritan, the Brigantine ran on a Ledge of Rocks off the West Side of the IslandMadagascar, which not being perceived by the Ship,Bowencame intoMascarenhaswithout her, not knowing what was become of his Consort.
Here CaptainBowenstaid eight or ten Days, in which Time he supplied the Ship with Provisions, and judging, that theRookGalley was gone to some other Island, the Ship sail’d toMauritius, in search of her; but the Pyrates seeing four or five Ships in the N. W. Harbour, they thought themselves too weak to attempt any thing there, so they stood immediately forMadagascaragain, and arrived safe, first toPort Dauphin, and then toAugustin Bay. In a few Days theContentBrigantine, which they supposed either to have been lost, or revolted that honourable Service, came into the same Bay, and informed their Brethren of the Misfortune that happened to them: The Rogues were glad, no doubt, of seeing one another again, and calling a Council together, they found the Brigantine in no Condition for Business, being then very leaky, therefore she was condemned, and forthwith halled ashore and burnt, and the Crew united, and all went aboard theSpeedy Return.
At this Place the Pyrates were made acquainted, by the Negroes, of the Adventures of another Gang that had settled for some Time near that Harbour, and had oneHowardfor their Captain. It was the Misfortune of anIndiaShip called theProsperous, to come into the Bay at a Time that these Rogues were looking out for Employment; who, under the Pretence of trading (almost in the same Manner thatBowenand his Gang had seized theSpeedy Return) made themselves Masters of her, and sailed with her toNew Mathelage.Bowenand his Gang consulting together on thisIntelligence, concluded ’twas more for their Interest to join in Alliance with this new Company, than to act single, they being too weak of themselves to undertake any considerable Enterprize, remembring how they were obliged to bear away from the Island ofMauritius, when they were in search of theRookGally, which they might have taken, with several others, had they had at that Time a Consort of equal Force to their own Ship.
They accordingly set sail from the Bay, and came intoNew Mathelage, but found no Ship there, tho’ upon Enquiry they understood that the Pyrate they look’d for, had been at the Place, but was gone; so after some Stay they proceeded toJohanna, but theProsperousnot being there neither, they sailed toMayotta, where they found her lying at Anchor; this was aboutChristmas1702.
Here these two Powers struck up an Alliance,Howardliking the Proposals, came readily into it, and the Treaty was ratified by both Companies. They staid above two Months at this Island, thinking it, perhaps, as likely a Place to meet with Prey as cruising out for it, and so indeed it happened; for about the beginning ofMarch, the ShipPembrokebelonging to ourEast-IndiaCompany, coming in for Water, was boarded by their Boats, and taken, with the Loss of the chief Mate and another Man that were killed in the Skirmish.
The two Pyrate Ships weighed, and went out to Sea along with their Prize, and that Day and the next plundered her of the best Part of her Cargo, Provisions and Stores, and then taking the Captain and Carpenter away, they let thePembrokego where the Remainder of her Crew pleased, and came with their Ships intoNew Methelage. Here the two Captains consulted, and laid a Plan for aCruize toIndia, for which Purpose they detained CaptainWoolleyof thePembrokelately taken, in order to be their Pilot in those Seas; but a very hot Dispute arose between the two Companies, which Ship he should go aboard of, insomuch that they had gone together by the Ears, if an Expedient had not been found to satisfy each Party, that one might not have the Advantage of the other by the Captain’s Skill and Knowledge of theIndianCoast, and this was to knock the poor Man on the Head; and murder him; but at last, by the Authority ofBowen, CaptainWoolleyescaped the threaten’d Danger, by bringing his Company to consent to his remaining on board theProsperous, where he then was.
TheSpeedy Returnbeing foul, and wanting a little Repair, it was judged proper for her to go back toAugustinBay to clean; in the mean while theProsperouswas to have a Pair of Boot-Tops where she lay, and likewise to take in Water and Provision, and then to join their Consort again atMayotta, the Island appointed for the Rendezvous.
TheProsperousput intoMayottaas agreed on, and waiting there some Time forBowen’s Ship, without seeing or hearing any News of her, went toJohanna, but not meeting with her there, they apprehended some Accident had befel her, and therefore left the Place, and sailed on the Expedition themselves. As to theSpeedy Return, she arrived safe at St.Augustin’s Bay atMadagascar, and there cleaned and victualled; but tarrying there somewhat too long, the Winds hung contrary, and they could not for their Lives beat up toMayotta, and therefore went toJohanna, where, hearing that their Friends had lately left that Island, they steered for theRed Sea, but the Wind not proving fair for their Design, they bore away for the HighLand of St.John’s, nearSurrat, where they once more fell in Company with their Brethren of theProsperous.
They cruiz’d together, as was first agreed on, and after some Time they had Sight of four Ships, to whom they gave Chace; but these separating, two standing to Northward, and two to the Southward, the Pyrates separated likewise,Bowenstanding after those that steered Southerly, andHowardcrowded after the others.Bowencame up with the heaviest of the two, which proved to be aMoorishShip of 700 Tun, bound from the Gulph ofMochatoSurat. The Pyrates brought the Prize intoRajapora, on the Coast ofIndia, where they plundered her; the Merchandize they sold to the Natives, but a small Sum of current Gold they found aboard, amounting to 22,000l.EnglishMoney, they put into their Pockets. Two Days after theProsperouscame in, but without any Prize; however, they soon made their Friends acquainted that they had not succeeded worse than themselves, for atSuratRiver’s Mouth, where all the four Ships were bound, they came up with their Chace; and with a Broadside, one of them struck, but the other got into the Bay. They stood down the Coast with the Prize till they had plundered her of the best of her Cargoe, the most valuable of which was 84,000Chequins, a Piece of about ten Shillings each, and then they left her adrift, without either Anchor or Cable, offDaman.
While they were lying atRajaporathey past a Survey on their Shipping, and judging their own to be less serviceable than their Prize, they voted them to the Flames, and straightway fitted up theSuratShip; they transported both Companies aboard of her, and then set Fire to theProsperousandSpeedy Return. They mustered at this Place 164 fighting Men, 43 only wereEnglish, the greaterNumberFrench, the restDanes,SwedesandDutch; they took aboard 70Indiansto do the Drudgery of the Ship, and mounted 56 Guns, calling her theDefiance, and sailed fromRajaporathe latter End ofOctober, in the Year 1703, to cruize on the Coast ofMallabar:
But not meeting with Prey in this first Cruise, they came to an Anchor about three Leagues to the Northward ofCochen, expecting some Boats to come off with Supplies of Refreshments, for which Purpose they fired several Guns, by way of Signal, but none appearing, the Quarter-Master was sent in the Pinnace to confer with the People, which he did with some Caution, keeping the Boat upon their Oars at the Shore-Side: In short, they agreed very well, the Pyrates were promised whatever Necessaries they wanted, and the Boat returned aboard.
The next Day a Boat came off from the Town with Hogs, Goats, Wine,&c.with a private Intimation fromMalpa, theDutchBroker, an old Friend of the Pyrates, that a Ship of that Country called theRimæ, lay then inMudbay, not many Leagues off, and if they would go out and take her, he would purchase the Cargo of them, and likewise promised that they should be further supplied with Pitch, Tar, and all other Necessaries, which was made good to them; for People from the Factory flocked aboard every Hour, and dealt with them as in open Market, for all Sorts of Merchandize, Refreshments, Jewels and Plate, returning with Coffers of Money,&c.to a great Value.
The Advice of the Ship was taken very kindly, but the Pyrates judging their own Ship too large to go close into the Bay, consulted their Friend upon Means for taking the said Ship, who readily treated with them for the Sale of one of lessBurthen that lay then in the Harbour; butMalpaspeaking to onePuntof the Factory to carry her out, he not only refused to be concerned in such a Piece of Villainy, but reprovedMalpafor corresponding with the Pyrates, and told him, if he should be guilty of so base an Action, he must never see the Face of any of his Countrymen more; which made the honest Broker change both his Countenance and his Purpose.
At this Place CaptainWoolley, whom they had taken for their Pilot on theIndiaCoast, being in a very sick and weak Condition, was, at his earnest Intreaty, discharged from his severe Confinement among them, and set ashore, and the next Day the Pyrates sailed, and ranged along theMallabarCoast, in quest of more Booty. In their Way they met a second time with thePembroke, and plundered her of some Sugar, and other small Things, and let her go again. From the Coast they sail’d back for the Island ofMauritius, where they lay some Time, and lived after their usual extravagant Manner.
AtMauritiustwo of the Crew,viz.Israel PhipenyandPeter Freeland, left the Pyrates and concealed themselves in the Island till the Ship sailed. These two Men were part ofDrummond’s Crew, who found an Opportunity of coming toEnglandsoon after on board theRaperGalley, and arrived atPortsmouthinMarch1725. When this came to be known, Mr.John Green, Brother to Capt.Green, then under Sentence, went thither and got the Affidavits of the saidPhipenyandFreeland, made before the Mayor ofPortsmouth, containing several Matters herein mentioned, which Affidavits were immediately brought toLondon, and by the Secretary of State sent away Express toScotland, which arrived there some Hours before Capt.Greenwas executed.
Weare now going to give an Account of one whose Name is better known inEngland, than most of those whose Histories we have already related; the Person we mean is CaptainKid, whose publick Trial and Execution here, rendered him the Subject of all Conversation, so that his Actions have been chanted about in Ballads; however, it is now a considerable Time since these Things passed, and though the People knew in general that CaptainKidwas hanged, and that his Crime was Pyracy, yet there were scarce any, even at that Time, who were acquainted with his Life or Actions, or could account for his turning Pyrate.
In the Beginning of KingWilliam’s War, CaptainKidcommanded a Privateer in theWest-Indies, and by several adventurous Actions acquired the Reputation of a brave Man, as well as an experienced Seaman. About this Time the Pyrates were very troublesome in those Parts, wherefore CaptainKidwas recommended by the LordBellamont, then Governor ofBarbadoes, as well as by several other Persons, to the Government here, as a Person very fit to be entrusted with the Command of a Government Ship, and to be employed in cruising upon the Pyrates, as knowing those Seas perfectly well,and being acquainted with all their lurking Places; but what Reasons governed the Politicks of those Times, I cannot tell, but this Proposal met with no Encouragement here, though it is certain it would have been of great Consequence to the Subject, our Merchants suffering incredible Damages by those Robbers.
Upon this Neglect the LordBellamontand some others, who knew what great Captures had been made by the Pyrates, and what a prodigious Wealth must be in their Possession, were tempted to fit out a Ship at their own private Charge, and to give the Command of it to CaptainKid; and, to give the Thing a greater Reputation, as well as to keep their Seamen under the better Command, they procured the King’s Commission for the said CaptainKid, of which the following is an exact Copy.
William Rex,