As I had resolv’d, before I went on Board, upon what I purpos’d to do, so I had laid out all the Money I had left in such Things as I knew I should want, and had caus’d one of my Men to pretend he was going to ——— to build or buy a Ship there, and that he wanted Freight for a great deal of Cordage, Anchors, eight Guns, Powder and Ball, with about 20 Tun of Lead and other bulky Goods, which were all put on Board as Merchandize.
We had not abundance of Bail Goods on Board, which I was glad of; not that I made any Conscience or Scruple of carrying them away, if the Ship had been full of them; but we had no Market for them: Our first Business was to get a larger Store of Provision on Board than we had, our Voyage being long; and having acquainted the Men with our Design, and promis’d the new Men a Share of the Wealth we had there, which made them very hearty to us, we set Sail: We took in some Beef and Fish, at ——— where we lay fifteen Days, but out of all Reach of the Castle or Fort; and having done our Business, sail’d away for theCanaries, where we took in some Butts of Wine, and some fresh Water: With the Guns the Ship had, and those eight I had put on Board as Merchandize, we had then two and thirty Guns mounted, bur were but slenderly Mann’d, tho’ we gat fourEnglishSeamen at theCanaries; but we made up the Loss atFiall, where we made bold with threeEnglishShips we found, and partly by fair Means, and partly by Force, shipp’d twelve Men there; after which, without any farther Stop for Men or Stores, we kept the Coast ofAfricaon Board ’till we pass’d the Line, and then stood off to St.Helena.
Here we took in fresh Water, and some fresh Provisions, and went directly for theCape of Good Hope, which we pass’d, stopping only to fill about 22 Butts of Water, and with a fair Gale enter’d the Sea ofMadagascar, and sailing up the West Shore, between the Island and the Coast ofAfrica, came to an Anchor over against our Settlement, about two Leagues Distance, and made the Signal of our Arrival, with firing twice seven Guns at the Distance of a Two-Minute Glass between the Seven; when, to our infinite Joy, the Fort answer’d us, and the Long-boat, the same that belong’d to our former Ship, came off to us.
We embrac’d one another with inexpressible Joy, and the next Morning I went on Shore, and our Men brought our Ship safe into Harbour, lying within the Defence of our Platform, and within two Cables length of the Shore, good soft Ground, and in eleven Fathom Water, having been three Months and eighteen Days on the Voyage, and almost three Years absent from the Place.
When I came to look about me here, I found our Men had encreas’d their Number, and that a Vessel which had been cruising, that is to say, Pirating on the Coast ofArabia, having sevenDutchmen, threePortuguese, and fiveEnglishmenon Board, had been cast away upon the Northern Shore of that Island, and had been taken up and reliev’d by our Men, and liv’d among them. They told us also of another Crew ofEuropeanSailors, which lay, as we did, on the Main of the Island, and had lost their Ship and were, as the Islanders told them, above a hundred Men, but we heard nothing who they were.
Some of our Men were dead in the mean Time, I think about three; and the first Thing I did was to call a Muster, and see how Things stood as to Money: I found the Men had been very true to one another; there lay all the Money, in Chests piled up as I left it, and every Man’s Money having his Name upon it: Then acquainting the rest with the Promise I had made the Men that came with me, they all agreed to it; so the Money belonging to the dead Men, and to the rest of the forty Men who belong’d to the Sloop, was divided among the Men I brought with me, as well those who join’d at first, as those we took in at theCape de Verd, and theCanaries: And the Bails of Goods which we found in the Ship, many of which were valuable for our own Use, we agreed to give them all to the fifteen Men mention’d above, who had been sav’d by our Men, and so to buy what we wanted of those Goods of them, which made their Hearts glad also.
And now we began to consult what Course to take in the World: As for going toEngland, tho’ our Men had a great Mind to be there, yet none of them knew how to get thither, notwithstanding I had brought them a Ship; but I, who had now made myself too publick to think any more ofEngland, had given over all Views that Way, and began to cast about for farther Adventures; for tho’, as I said, we were immensely rich before, yet I abhorr’d lying still, and burying my self alive, as I call’d it, among Savages and Barbarians; besides, some of our Men were young in the Trade, and had seen nothing; and they lay at me every Day not to lie still in a Part of the World where, as they said, such vast Riches might be gain’d; and that theDutchmenandEnglishmenwho were cast away, as above, and who our Mencall’d theComelings, were continually buzzing in my Ears what infinite Wealth was to be got, if I would but make one voyage to the Coast ofMalabar,Coromandel, and the Bay ofBengale; nay, the threePortugueseSeamen offer’d themselves to attack and bring off one of their biggest Galleons, even out of the Road ofGoa, on theMalabarCoast, the Capital of thePortugueseFactories in theIndies.
In a Word, I was overcome with these new Proposals, and told the rest of my People, I was resolv’d to go to Sea again, and try my good Fortune; I was sorry I had not another Ship or two, but if ever it lay in my Power to master a good Ship, I would not fail to bring her to them.
While I was thus fitting out upon this new Undertaking, and the Ship lay ready to Sail, and all the Men who were design’d for the Voyage, were on Board, being 85 in Number; among which were all the Men I brought with me, the 15 Comelings, and the rest made up out of our old Number; I say, when I was just upon the Point of setting Sail, we were all surpriz’d just in the Grey of the Morning to spy a Sail at Sea; we knew not what to make of her, but found she was anEuropeanShip; that she was not a very large Vessel, yet that she was a Ship of Force too: She seem’d to shorten Sail, as if she look’d out for some Harbour; at first Sight I thought she wasEnglish; immediately I resolv’d to slip Anchor and Cable and go out to Sea and speak with her, if I could, let her be what she would: As soon as I was got a little clear of the Land, I fir’d a Gun, and spreadEnglishColours: She immediately brought too, fir’d three Guns, and mann’d out herBoat with a Flag of Truce: I did the like, and the two Boats spoke to one another in about two Hours, when, to our infinite Joy, we found they were our Comrades who we left in the South Seas, and to whom we gave the Fregate at the Isle ofJuan Fernando.
Nothing of this Kind could have happen’d more to our mutual Satisfaction, for tho’ we had long ago given them over either for Lost, or Lost to us; and we had no great Need of Company, yet we were overjoy’d at meeting, and so were they too.
They were in some Distress for Provisions, and we had Plenty; so we brought their Ship in for them, gave them a present Supply, and when we had help’d them to moor and secure the Ship in the Harbour, we made them lock all their Hatches and Cabins up, and come on Shore, and there we feasted them five or six Days, for we had a Plenty of all Sorts of Provisions, not to be exhausted; and if we had wanted an hundred Head of fat Bullocks, we could have had them for asking for of the Natives, who treated us all along with all possible Courtesy and Freedom in their Way.
The History of the Adventures and Success of these Men, from the Time we left them to the Time of their Arrival at our new Plantation, was our whole Entertainment for some Days. I cannot pretend to give the Particulars by my Memory; but as they came to usThieves, they improv’d in their Calling to a great Degree, and, next to ourselves, had the greatest Success of any of the Buccaneers whose Story has ever been made publick.
I shall not take upon me to vouch the whole Account of their Actions, neither will this Letter contain a full History of their Adventures; but if the Account which they gave us was true, you may take it thus:
First, that having met with good Success after they left us, and having taken some extraordinary Purchase, as well in some Vessels they took at Sea, as in the Plunder of some Towns on the Shore nearGuyaquil, as I have already told you, they got Information of a large Ship which was loading the King’s Money atPuna, and had Orders to sail with it toLima, in order to its being carry’d from thence toPanamaby the Fleet, under the Convoy of theFlotilla, or Squadron of Men of War, which the King’s Governor atPanamahad sent to prevent their being insulted by the Pirates, which they had Intelligence were on the Coast; by which, we suppose, they meant us who were gone, for they could have no Notion of these Men then.
Upon this Intelligence they cruis’d off and on upon the Coast for near a Month, keeping always to the Southward ofLima, because they would not fall in the Way of the saidFlotilla, and so be overpower’d and miss of their Prize: At last they met with what they look’d for, that is to say, they met with the great Ship abovenam’d: But to their great Misfortune and Disappointment, (as they first thought it to be) she had with her a Man of War for her Convoy, and two other Merchant Ships in her Company.
The Buccaneers had with them the Sloop which they first sent to us for our Intelligence, and which they made a little Fregate of, carryingeight Guns, and some Patareroes: They had not long Time to consult, but in short they resolv’d to double man the Sloop, and let her attack the great Merchant-Ship, while the Fregate, which was the whole of their Fleet, held the Man of War in Play, or at least kept him from assisting her.
According to this Resolution, they put 50 Men on Board the Sloop, which was, in short, almost as many as would stand upon her Deck one by another; and with this Force they attack’d the great Merchant-Ship, which, besides its being well mann’d, had 16 good Guns, and about 30 Men on Board. While the Sloop thus began the unequal Fight, the Man of War bore down upon her to succour the Ship under her Convoy, but the Fregate thrusting in between, engag’d the Man of War, and began a very warm Fight with her, for the Man of War had both more Guns and more Men than the Fregate after she had parted with 50 Men on Board the Sloop: While the two Men of War, as we may now call them, were thus engag’d, the Sloop was in great Danger of being worsted by the Merchant-Ship, for the Force was too much for her, the Ship was great, and her Men fought a desperate and close Fight: Twice the Sloop-Men enter’d her, and were beaten off, and about nine of their Men kill’d, several other wounded, and an unlucky Shot taking the Sloop between Wind and Water, she was oblig’d to fall a-Stern, and heel her over to stop the Leek; during which theSpaniardssteer’d away to assist the Man of War, and pour’d her Broadside in upon the Fregate, which tho’ but small, yet at a Time when she lay Yard-arm and Yard-arm close by the Side of theSpanishMan of War, was a great Extremity; however, the Fregate return’dher Broadside, and therewith made her sheer off, and, which was worse, shot her Main-mast thro’, tho’ it did not come presently by the Board.
During this Time, the Sloop having many Hands, had stopp’d the Leak, was brought to rights again, and came up again to the Engagement, and at the first Broadside had the good Luck to bring the Ship’s Foremast by the Board, and thereby disabled her; but could not for all that lay her athwart, or carry her by Boarding, so that the Case began to be very doubtful; at which, the Captain of the Sloop, finding the Merchant Ship was disabled, and could not get away from them, resolv’d to leave her a while and assist the Fregate; which he did, and running a Longside our Fregate, he fairly laid the Man of War on Board just thwart his Hawser; and besides firing into her with his great Shot, he very fairly set her on Fire; and it was a great Chance but that they had been all three burnt together, but our Men helpt theSpaniardsthemselves to put out the Fire, and after some Time master’d it: But theSpaniardswere in such a terrible Fright at the Apprehension of the Fire, that they made little Resistance afterwards, and in short, in about an Hour’s Fight more, theSpanishMan of War struck, and was taken; and after that the Merchant Ship also, with all the Wealth that was in her: And thus their Victory was as compleat as it was unexpected.
The Captain of theSpanishMan of War was kill’d in the Fight, and about 36 of his Men, and most of the rest wounded, which it seems happen’d upon the Sloop’s lying athwart her. This Man of War was a new Ship, and with some Alterationin her upper Work, made a very good Fregate for them, and they afterwards quitted their own Ship, and went all on Board theSpanishShip, taking out the Main-mast of their own Ship, and making a new Fore-mast for theSpanishShip, because her Fore-mast was also weaken’d with some Shot in her; this, however, cost them a great deal of Labour and Difficulty, and also some Time, when they came to a certain Creek, where they all went on Shore, and refresh’d themselves a while.
But if the taking the Man of War was an unexpected Victory to them, the Wealth of the Prize was much more so; for they found an amazing Treasure on Board her, both in Silver and Gold; and the Account they gave me was but imperfect, but I think they calculated the Pieces of Eight to be about 13 Tun in Weight, besides that they had 5 small Chests of Gold, some Emeralds, and, in a Word, a prodigious Booty.
They were not, however, so modest in their Prosperity as we were; for they never knew when to have done, but they must Cruise again to the Northward for more Booty, when to their great Surprize, they fell in with the Flotilla or Squadron of Men of War, which they had so studiously avoided before, and were so surrounded by them, that there was no Remedy but they must fight, and that in a Kind of Desperation, having no Prospect now but to sell their Lives as dear as they could.
This unlucky Accident befel them before they had chang’d their ship, so that they had now the Sloop and both the Men of War in Company, but they were but thinly mann’d; and as for theBooty, the greater Part of it was on Board the Sloop, that is to say, all the Gold and Emeralds, and near half the Silver.
When they saw the Necessity of fighting, they order’d the Sloop, if possible, to keep to Windward, that so she might as Night come on, make the best of her Way, and escape; but aSpanishFregate of 18 Guns tended her so close, and sail’d so well, that the Sloop could by no Means get away from the rest; so she made up close to the Buccaneers Fregate, and maintain’d a Fight as well as she could, till in the Dusk of the Evening theSpaniardsboarded and took her, but most of her Men gat away in her Boat, and some by swimming on Board the other Ship: They only left in her five woundedEnglishmen, and sixSpanishNegroes. The fiveEnglishthe barbarousSpaniardshang’d up immediately, wounded as they were.
This was good Notice to the other Men to tell them what they were to expect, and made them fight like desperate Men till Night, and kill’d theSpaniardsa great many Men. It prov’d a very dark rainy Night, so that theSpaniardswere oblig’d by Necessity to give over the Fight till the next Day, endeavouring, in the mean time, to keep as near them as they could: But the Buccaneers concerting their Measures where they should meet, resolv’d to make Use of the Darkness of the Night to get off if they could; and the Wind springing up a fresh Gale at S. S. W. they chang’d their Course, and, with all the Sail they could make, stood away to the N. N. W. slanting it to Seawards as nigh the Wind as they could; and getting clear away from theSpaniards, who they never saw more, they made no Staytill they pass’d the Line, and arriv’d in about 22 Days Sail on the Coast ofCalifornia, where they were quite out of the Way of all Enquiry and Search of theSpaniards.
Here it was they chang’d their Ship, as I said, and quitting their own Vessel, they went all on Board theSpanishMan of War, fitting up her Masts and Rigging, as I have said, and taking out all the Guns, Stores,&c.of their own Ship, so that they had now a stout Ship under them, carrying 40 Guns, (for so many they made her carry) and well furnish’d with all Things; and tho’ they had lost so great a Part of their Booty, yet they had still left a vast Wealth, being six or seven Tun of Silver, besides what they had gotten before.
With this Booty, and regretting heartily they had not practis’d the same Moderation before, they resolv’d now to be satisfy’d, and make the best of their Way to the Island ofJuan Fernando; where keeping at a great Distance from the Shore, they safely arriv’d, in about two Months Voyage, having met with some contrary Winds by the Way.
However, here they found the other Sloop which they had sent in with their first Booty, to wait for them: And here understanding that we were gone for St.Julien, they resolv’d, (since the Time was so long gone that they could not expect to find us again) that they would have t’other Touch with theSpaniards, cost what it would. And accordingly, having first bury’d the most Part of their Money in the Ground, on Shore in the Island, and having revictual’dtheir Ship in the best Manner they could in that barren Island, away they went to Sea.
They beat about on the South of the Line all up the Coast ofChili, and Part ofPeru, till they came to the Height ofLimaitself.
They met with several Ships, and took several, but they were loaden chiefly with Lumber or Provisions, except that in one Vessel they took between 40 and 50000 Pieces of Eight, and in another 75000. They soon inform’d themselves that theSpanishMen of War were gone out of those Seas up toPanama, to boast of their good Fortune, and carry Home their Prize; and this made them the bolder. But tho’ they spent near five Months in this second Cruise, they met with nothing considerable; theSpaniardsbeing every where alarm’d, and having Notice of them, so that nothing stirr’d Abroad.
Tir’d then with their long Cruise, and out of Hope of more Booty, they began to look Homeward, and to say to one another that they had enough; so, in a Word, they came back toJuan Fernando, and there furnishing themselves as well as they could with Provisions, and not forgeting to take their Treasure on Board with them, they set forward again to the South; and after a very bad Voyage in rounding theTerra del Fuego, being driven to the Latitude of 65 Degrees, where they felt Extremity of Cold, they at length obtain’d a more favourable Wind,viz.at S. and S. S. E; with which, steering to the North, they came into a milder Sea and a milder Coast, and at length arriv’d atPort St. Julien, where, to their great Joy, they found the Post or Cross erected by us; and understanding that we were gone toMadagascar, and that we would be sure to remain there to hear from them, and withal that we had been gone there near two Year, they resolv’d to follow us.
Here they staid, it seems, almost half a Year, partly fitting and altering their Ship, partly wearing out the Winter Season, and waiting for milder Weather; and having victuall’d their Ship in but a very ordinary Manner for so long a Run,viz.only with Seals Flesh and Penguins, and some Deer they kill’d in the Country, they at last launch’d out, and crossing the greatAtlantick Ocean, they made theCape of Good Hopein about 76 Days, having been put to very great Distresses in that Time for Want of Food, all their Seals Flesh and Penguins growing nauseous and stinking in little less than half the Time of their Voyage; so that they had nothing to subsist on for seven and twenty Days, but a little Quantity of dry’d Venison which they kill’d on Shore, about the Quantity of 3 Barrels ofEnglishBeef, and some Bread; and when they came to theCape of Good Hope, they gat some small Supply, but it being soon perceiv’d on Shore what they were, they were glad to be gone as soon as they had fill’d their Casks with Water, and gat but a very little Provisions; so they made to the Coast ofNatalon the South East Point ofAfrica, and there they gat more fresh Provisions, such as Veal, Milk, Goats-Flesh, some tolerable Butter, and very good Beef: And this held them out till they found us in the North Part ofMadagascar, as above.
We staid about a Fortnight in our Port, and in a sailing Posture, just as if we had been Wind-bound, meerly to congratulate and make merrywith our new-come Friends, when I resolv’d to leave them there, and set Sail; which I did with a Westerly Wind, keeping away North till I came into the Latitude of seven Degrees North; so coasting along theArabianCoast E. N. E. towards the Gulph of Persia, in the Cruise I met with twoPersianBarks loaden with Rice; one of which I mann’d and sent away toMadagascar, and the other I took for our own Ship’s Use. This Bark came safe to my new Colony, and was a very agreeable Prize to them; I think verily almost as agreeable as if it had been loaded with Pieces of Eight, for they had been without Bread a great while; and this was a double Benefit to them, for they fitted up this Bark, which carry’d about 55 Tun, and went away to the Gulph ofPersiain her to buy Rice, and brought two or threeFreightsof that which was very good.
In this Time I pursu’d my Voyage, coasted the wholeMalabarShore, and met with no Purchase but a greatPortugal East-IndiaShip, which I chac’d intoGoa, where she got out of my Reach: I took several small Vessels and Barks, but little of Value in them, till I enter’d the great Bay ofBengale, when I began to look about me with more Expectation of Success, tho’ without Prospect of what happen’d.
I cruis’d here about two Months, finding nothing worth while; so I stood away to a Port on the North Point of the Isle ofSumatra, where I made no Stay; for here I gat News that two large Ships, belonging to the Great Mogul, were expected to cross the Bay fromHugelyin theGangesto the Country of the King ofPegu, being to carry the Grandaughter of the Great Mogul toPegu, who was to be marry’d to the King ofthat Country, with all her Retinue, Jewels, and Wealth.
This was a Booty worth watching for, tho’ it had been some Months longer; so I refolv’d that we would go and Cruise off of PointNegaris, on the East Side of the Bay, nearDiamond Isle; and here we ply’d off and on for three Weeks, and began to despair of Success; but the Knowledge of the Booty we expected spurr’d us on, and we waited with great Patience, for we knew the Prize would be immensely rich.
At length we spy’d three Ships coming right up to us with the Wind; we could easily see they were notEuropeansby their Sails, and began to prepare ourselves for a Prize, not for a Fight; but were a little disappointed, when we found the first Ship full of Guns, and full of Soldiers, and in Condition, had she been manag’d byEnglishSailors, to have fought two such Ships as ours were; however, we resolv’d to attack her if she had been full of Devils as she was full of Men.
Accordingly, when we came near them, we fir’d a Gun with Shot as a Challenge; they fir’d again immediately three or four Guns; but fir’d them so confusedly that we could easily see they did not understand their Business; when we consider’d how to lay them on Board, and so to come thwart them, if we could; but falling, for want of Wind, open to them, we gave them a fair Broadside; we could easily see, by the Confusion that was on Board, that they were frighted out of their Wits; they fir’d here a Gun and there a Gun, and some on that Side that was from us, as well as those that were next to us. The nextThing we did was to lay them on Board, which we did presently, and then gave them a Volley of our Small-shot, which, as they stood so thick, kill’d a great many of them, and made all the rest run down under their Hatches, crying out like Creatures bewitch’d: In a Word, we presently took the Ship, and having secur’d her Men, we chac’d the other two: One was chiefly fill’d with Women, and the other with Lumber. Upon the Whole, as the Grandaughter of the Great Mogul was our Prize in the first Ship, so, in the second was her Women, or, in a Word, her Houshold, her Eunuchs, all the Necessaries of her Wardrobe, of her Stables, and of her Kitchin; and in the last, great Quantities of Houshold-stuff, and Things less costly, tho’ not less useful.
But the first was the main Prize. When my Men had enter’d and master’d the Ship, one of our Lieutenants call’d for me, and accordingly I jump’d on Board; he told me, he thought no Body but I ought to go into the great Cabin, or, at least, no Body should go there before me; for that the Lady herself and all her Attendance was there, and he fear’d the Men were so heated they would murder them all, or do worse.
I immediately went to the great Cabin-door, taking the Lieutenant that call’d me, along with me, and caus’d the Cabin-door to be open’d: But such a Sight of Glory and Misery was never seen by Buccaneer before; the Queen (for such she was to have been) was all in Gold and Silver, but frighted; and crying, and at the Sight of me she appear’d trembling, and just as if she was going to die. She sate on the Side of a kind of a Bed like a Couch with no Canopy over it, or any Covering, only made to lie down upon; she was,in a Manner, cover’d with Diamonds, and I, like a true Pirate, soon let her see that I had more Mind to the Jewels than to the Lady.
However, before I touch’d her, I order’d the Lieutenant to place a Guard at the Cabin-door; and fastening the Door, shut us both in, which he did: The Lady was young, and, I suppose, in their Country Esteem, very handsome, but she was not very much so in my Thoughts: At first, her Fright, and the Danger she thought she was in of being kill’d, taught her to do every Thing that she thought might interpose between her and Danger; and that was to take off her Jewels as fast as she could, and give them to me; and I, without any great Compliment, took them as fast as she gave them me, and put them into my Pocket, taking no great Notice of them, or of her, which frighted her worse than all the rest, and she said something which I could not understand; however, two of the other Ladies came, all crying, and kneel’d down to me with their Hands lifted up: What they meant I knew not at first, but by their Gestures and Pointings I found at last it was to beg the young Queen’s Life, and that I would not kill her.
I have heard that it has been reported inEnglandthat I ravish’d this Lady, and then used her most barbarously; but they wrong me, for I never offer’d any Thing of that Kind to her, I assure you; nay, I was so far from being inclin’d to it, that I did not like her; and there was one of her Ladies who I found much more agreeable to me, and who I was afterwards something free with, but not even with her either by Force, or by Way of Ravishing.
We did, indeed, ravish them of all their Wealth, for that was what we wanted, not the Women; nor was there any other Ravishing among those in the great Cabin, that I can assure you: As for the Ship where the Women of inferior Rank were, and who were in Number almost two hundred, I cannot answer for what might happen in the first Heat; but even there, after the first Heat of our Men was over, what was done, was done quietly, for I have heard some of the Men say, that there was not a Woman among them but what was lain with four or five Times over, that is to say, by so many several Men; for as the Women made no Opposition, so the Men even took those that were next them, without Ceremony, when and where Opportunity offer’d.
When the three Ladies kneel’d down to me, and as soon as I understood what it was for, I let them know I would not hurt the Queen, nor let any one else hurt her, but that she must give me all her Jewels and Money: Upon this they acquainted her that I would save her Life; and no sooner had they assur’d her of that, but she got up, smiling, and went to a fineIndianCabinet, and open’d a private Drawer, from whence she took another little Thing full of little square Drawers and Holes; this she brings to me in her Hand, and offer’d to kneel down to give it me. This innocent Usage began to rouse some Good-Nature in me, (tho’ I never had much) and I would not let her kneel; but sitting down myself on the Side of her Couch or Bed, made a Motion to her to sit down too: But here she was frighted again, it seems, at what I had no Thought of; for sitting on her Bed, she thought I would pull her down to lie with her, and so did all her Women too; for they began to hold their Hands beforetheir Faces, which, as I understood afterwards, was that they might not see me turn up their Queen: But as I did not offer any Thing of that Kind, only made her sit down by me, they began all to be easier after some Time, and she gave me the little Box or Casket, I know not what to call it, but it was full of invaluable Jewels. I have them still in my Keeping, and wish they were safe inEngland; for I doubt not but some of them are fit to be plac’d on the King’s Crown.
Being Master of this Treasure, I was very willing to be good-humour’d to the Persons; so I went out of the Cabin, and caus’d the Women to be left alone, causing the Guard to be kept still, that they might receive no more Injury than I would do them myself.
After I had been out of the Cabin some Time, a Slave of the Womens came to me, and made Sign to me that the Queen would speak with me again. I made Signs back, that I would come and dine with her Majesty: And accordingly I order’d that her Servants should prepare her Dinner, and carry it in, and then call me. They provided her Repast after the usual Manner, and when she saw it brought in, she appear’d pleas’d, and more, when she saw me come in after it; for she was exceedingly pleas’d that I had caus’d a Guard to keep the rest of my Men from her; and she had, it seems, been told how rude they had been to some of the Women that belong’d to her.
When I came in, she rose up, and paid me such Respect as I did not well know how to receive, and not in the least how to return. If she had understoodEnglish, I could have said plainly, andin good rough Words, Madam, be easy, we are rude rough-hewn Fellows, but none of our Men should hurt you, or touch you; I will be your Guard and Protection; we are for Money, indeed and we shall take what you have, but we will do you no other Harm. But as I could not talk thus to her, I scarce knew what to say; but I sate down, and made Signs to have her sit down and eat, which she did, but with so much Ceremony, that I did not know well what to do with it.
After we had eaten, she rose up again, and drinking some Water out of aChinaCup, sate her down on the Side of the Couch, as before: When she saw I had done eating, she went then to another Cabinet, and pulling out a Drawer, she brought it to me; it was full of small Pieces of Gold Coin ofPegu, about as big as anEnglishHalf Guinea, and I think there were three thousand of them. She open’d several other Drawers, and shew’d me the Wealth that was in them and then gave me the Key of the Whole.
We had revell’d thus all Day, and Part of the next Day, in a bottomless Sea of Riches, when my Lieutenant began to tell me, we must consider what to do with our Prisoners, and the Ships, for that there was no subsisting in that Manner; besides, he hinted privately, that the Men would be ruin’d, by lying with the Women in the other Ship, where all Sorts of Liberty was both given and taken: Upon this we call’d a short Council, and concluded to carry the great Ship away with us, but to put all the Prisoners, Queen, Ladies, and all the rest, into the lesser Vessels, and let them go: And so far was I from ravishing this Lady, as I hear is reported of me, that tho’ Imight rifle her of every Thing else, yet I assure you I let her go untouch’d for me, or, as I am satisfy’d, for any one, of my Men; nay, when we dismiss’d them, we gave her Leave to take a great many Things of Value with her, which she would have been plunder’d of, if I had not been so careful of her.
We had now Wealth enough, not only to make us rich, but almost to have made a Nation rich; and to tell you the Truth, considering the costly Things we took here, which we did not know the Value of, and besides Gold, and Silver, and Jewels, I say, we never knew how rich we were; besides which, we had a great Quantity of Bales of Goods, as well Calicoes as wrought Silks; which being for Sale, were, perhaps, as a Cargo of Goods to answer the Bills which might be drawn upon them for the Account of the Bride’s Portion; all which fell into our Hands, with a great Sum in Silver Coin, too big to talk of amongEnglishmen, especially while I am living, for Reasons which I may give you hereafter.
I had nothing to do now but to think of coming back toMadagascar, so we made the best of our Way; only that, to make us quite distracted without other Joy, we took in our Way a small Bark loaden with Arack and Rice, which was good Sawce to our other Purchace; for if the Women made our Men drunk before, thisArackmade them quite mad; and they had so little Government of themselves with it, that I think it might be said, the whole Ship’s Crew was drunk for above a Fortnight together, till six or seven of them kill’d themselves; two fell overboard and were drown’d, and several more fell into raging Fevers,and it was a Wonder, in the whole, they were not all kill’d with it.
But, to make short of the Story as we did of the Voyage, we had a very pleasant Voyage, except those Disasters, and we came safe back to our Comrades atMadagascar, having been absent in all about seven Months.
We found them in very good Health, and longing to hear from us; and we were, you may be assur’d, welcome to them; for now we had amass’d such a Treasure as no Society of Men ever possess’d in this World before us, neither could we ever bring it to an Estimation, for we could not bring particular Things to a just Valuation.
We liv’d now and enjoy’d ourselves in full Security; for tho’ some of theEuropeanNations, and perhaps all of them had heard of us; yet they heard such formidable Things of us, such terrible Stories of our great Strength, as well as of our great Wealth, that they had no Thought of undertaking any Thing against us; for, as I have understood, they were told atLondon, that we were no less than 5000 Men; that we had built a regular Fortress for our Defence by Land, and that we had 20 Sail of Ships; and I have been told that inFrancethey have heard the same Thing: But nothing of all this was ever true, any more than it was true, that we offer’d ten Millions to the Government ofEnglandfor our Pardon.
It is true, that had the Queen sent any Intimation to us of a Pardon, and that we should have been receiv’d to Grace at Home, we should all have very willingly embrac’d it; for we had Money enough to have encourag’d us all to live honest;and if we had been ask’d for a Million of Pieces of Eight, or a Million of Pounds Sterling, to have purchas’d our Pardon, we should have been very ready to have comply’d with it; for we really knew not what to do with ourselves, or with our Wealth; and the only Thing we had now before us, was to consider what Method to take for getting Home, if possible, to our own Country with our Wealth, or at least with such Part of it as would secure us easy and comfortable Lives; and, for my own Part, I resolv’d, if I could, to make full Satisfaction to all the Persons who I had wrong’d inEngland, I mean by that, such People as I had injur’d by running away with the Ship; as well the Owners, and the Master or Captain, who I set a-shore inSpain, as the Merchant whose Goods I had taken with the Ship; and I was daily forming Schemes in my Thoughts how to bring this to pass: But we all concluded that it was impossible for us to accomplish our Desires as to that Part, seeing the Fact of our Piracy was now so publick all over the World, that there was not any Nation in the World that would receive us, or any of us; but would immediately seize on our Wealth, and execute us for Pirates and Robbers of all Nations.
This was confirm’d to us after some Time, with all the Particulars, as it is now understood inEurope; for as the Fame of our Wealth and Power was such, that it made all the World afraid of us, so it brought some of the like Sort with our selves to join with us from all Parts of the World; and particularly, we had a Bark, and 60 Men of all Nations, fromMartinico, who had been cruising in the Gulph ofFlorida, came over to us, to try if they could mend their Fortunes; and these went afterwards to the Gulph ofPersia, wherethey took some Prizes, and return’d to us again. We had after this three Pirate Ships came to us, mostEnglish, who had done some Exploits on the Coast ofGuinea, had made several good Prizes, and were all tolerably rich.
As these People came and shelter’d with us, so they came and went as they would, and sometimes some of our Men went with them, sometimes theirs staid with us: But by that Coming and Going our Men found Ways and Means to convey themselves away, some one Way, some another. For I should have told you at first, that after we had such Intelligence fromEngland,viz.that they knew of all our successful Enterprizes, and that there was no Hopes of our returning, especially of mine and some other Men who were known: I say, after this we call’d a general Council to consider what to do; and there, one and all, we concluded that we liv’d very happy where we were; that if any of us had a Mind to venture to get away to any Part of the World, none should hinder them, but that else we would continue where we were; and that the first Opportunity we had we would cruise upon theEnglishEast IndiaShips, and do them what Spoil we could, fancying that some Time or other they would proclaim a Pardon to us, if we would come in; and if they did, then we would accept of it.
Under these Circumstances we remain’d here, off and on, first and last, above three Year more; during which Time our Number encreas’d so, especially at first, that we were once eight hundred Men, stout brave Fellows, and as good Sailors as any in the World. Our Number decreas’d afterwards upon several Occasions; such as the going Abroad to Cruise, wandering to the South Part ofthe Island, (as above) getting on BoardEuropeanShips, and the like.
After I perceiv’d that a great many of our Men were gone off, and had carry’d their Wealth with them, I began to cast about in my own Thoughts how I should make my Way Home also: Innumerable Difficulties presented to my View; when at last, an Account of some of our Mens Escape intoPersiaencourag’d me. The Story was this: One of the small Barks we had taken, went toGuzaratteto get Rice, and having secur’d a Cargo, but not loaded it, ten of our Men resolv’d to attempt their Escape; and accordingly they drest themselves like Merchant-Strangers, and bought several Sorts of Goods there, such as anEnglishman, who they found there, assisted them to buy; and with their Bales, (but in them pack’d up all the rest of their Money) they went up toBassorain the Gulph ofPersia, and so travell’d as Merchants with the Caravan toAleppo, and we never heard any more of them, but that they went clean off with all their Cargo.
This fill’d my Head with Schemes for my own Deliverance; but however, it was a Year more before I attempted any Thing, and not till I found that many of our Men shifted off, some and some, nor did any of them miscarry; some went one Way, some another; some lost their Money, and some sav’d it; nay, some carry’d it away with them, and some left it behind them: As for me, I discover’d my Intentions to no Body, but made them all believe I would stay here till some of them should come and fetch me off, and pretended to make every Man that went off promise to come for me, if it ever was in his Power, and gave every one of them Signals to make for me, when theycame back, upon which I would certainly come off to them. At the same Time nothing was more certain, than that I intended from the Beginning to get away from the Island, as soon as I could any Way make my Way with Safety to any Part of the World.
It was still above two Years after this that I remain’d in the Island; nor could I, in all that Time, find any probable Means for removing my self with Safety.
One of the Ways I thought to have made my Escape was this: I went to Sea in a Long-boat a fishing, (as we often did) and having a Sail to the Boat, we were out two or three Days together; at length it came into my Thoughts that we might Cruise about the Island in this Long-boat, a great Way, and perhaps some Adventure might happen to us which we might make something of; so I told them I had a Mind to make a Voyage with the Long-boat to see what would happen.
To this Purpose we built upon her, made a State-Room in the Middle, and clapt four Patareroes upon her Gunnel, and away we went, being sixteen stout Fellows in the Boat, not reckoning my self: Thus we ran away, as it were, from the rest of our Crew, tho’ not a Man of us knew our own Minds as to whither we were going, or upon what Design. In this Frolick we ran South quite away to the Bay of St.Angustine’s, in the Latitude of 24 Degrees, where the Ships fromEuropeoften put in for Water and Provisions.
Here we put in, not knowing well what to do next; I thought myself disappointed very muchthat we saw noEuropeanShip here, tho’ afterwards I saw my Mistake, and found that it was better for us that we were in that Port first: We went boldly on Shore; for as to the Natives, we understood how to manage them well enough, knew all their Customs, and the Manner of their treating with Strangers as to Peace or War; their Temper, and how to oblige them, or behave if they were disoblig’d; so we went, I say, boldly on Shore, and there we began to chaffer with them for some Provisions, such as we wanted.
We had not been here above two or three Days, but that, early in the Morning, the Weather thick and haizy, we heard several Guns fire at Sea; we were not at a Loss to know what they meant, and that it was certainly someEuropeanShips coming in, and who gave the Signal to one another that they had made the Land, which they could easily see from the Sea, tho’ we, who were also within the Bay, could not see them from the Shore: However, in a few Hours, the Weather clearing up, wet saw plainly five large Ships, three withEnglishColours, and two withDutch, standing into the Bay, and in about four or five Hours more they came to an Anchor.
A little while after they were come to an Anchor, their Boats began to come on Shore to the usual Watering-place to fill their Casks; and while they were doing that, the rest of the Men look’d about them a little, as usual, tho’ at first they did not stir very far from their Boats.
I had now a nice Game to play, as any Man in the World ever had: It was absolutely necessary for us to speak with these Men; and yethow to speak with them, and not have them speak with us in a Manner that we should not like, that was the main Point: It was with a great deal of Impatience that we lay still one whole Day, and saw their Boats come on Shore, and go on Board again, and we were so irresolute all the while, that we knew not what to do; at last I told my Men, it was absolutely necessary we should speak with them, and seeing we could not agree upon the Method how to do it friendly and fairly, I was resolv’d to do it by Force, and that if they would take my Advice, we would place ourselves in Ambuscade upon the Land somewhere, that we might see them when they were on Shore, and the first Man that straggled from the rest we would clap in upon and seize him, and three or four of them if we could. As for our Boat, we had secur’d it in a Creek three or four Miles up the Country, where it was secure enough out of their Reach or Knowledge.
With this Resolution we plac’d ourselves in two Gangs; eleven of us in one Place, and only three of us in another, and very close we lay: The Place we chose for our Ambuscade was on the Side of a rising Ground almost a Mile from the Watering-place, but where we could see them all come towards the Shore, and see them if they did but set their Foot on Shore.
As we understood afterwards, they had the Knowledge of our being upon the Island, but knew not in what Part of it, and were therefore very cautious and wary how they went on Shore, and came all very well arm’d. This gave us a new Difficulty, for in the very first Excursion that any of them made from the Watering-place, there was not less than twenty of them, all well arm’d,and they pass’d by in our Sight; but as we were out of their Sight we were all very well pleas’d with seeing them go by, and being not oblig’d to meddle with them, or show our selves.
But we had not long lain in this Circumstance, but, by what Occasion we knew not, five of the Gentlemen Tarrs were pleas’d to be willing to go no farther with their Companions; and thinking all safe behind them, because they had found no Disturbance in their going out, came back the same Way, straggling without any Guard or Regard.
I thought now was our Time to show our selves; so taking them as they came by the Place where we lay in Ambuscade, we plac’d ourselves just in their Way, and as they were entring a little Thicket of Trees, we appear’d; and calling to them inEnglish, told them they were our Prisoners; that if they yielded, we would use them very well, but if they offer’d to resist, they should have no Quarter: One of them looking behind, as if he would show us a Pair of Heels, I call’d to him, and told him, if he attempted to run for it, he was a dead Man, unless he could out-run a Musquet-Bullet; and that we would soon let him see we had more Men in our Company; and so giving the Signal appointed, our three Men, who lay at a Distance, shew’d themselves in the Rear.
When they saw this, one of them, who appear’d as their Leader, but was only the Purser’s Clerk, ask’d, Who we were they must yield to? And if we were Christians? I told them, jestingly, We were good honest Christian Pirates, and belong’dto CaptainAvery, (not at all letting them know that I wasAveryhimself) and if they yielded it was enough; that we assur’d them they should have fair Quarter and good Usage upon our Honour; but that they must resolve immediately, or else they would be surrounded with 500 Men, and we could not answer for what they might do to them.
They yielded presently upon this News, and deliver’d their Arms; and we carry’d them away to our Tent, which we had built near the Place where our Boat lay. Here I enter’d into a particular serious Discourse with them about CaptainAvery, for ’twas this I wanted, upon several Accounts: First, I wanted to enquire what News they had had of us inEurope? and then to give them Ideas of our Numbers and Power as romantick as I could.
They told us, that they had heard of the great Booty CaptainAveryhad taken in the Bay ofBengale; and among the rest, a bloody Story was related ofAveryhimself,viz.That he ravish’d the Great Mogul’s Daughter, who was going to be marry’d to the Prince ofPegu; that we ravish’d and forc’d all the Ladies attending her Train, and then threw them into the Sea, or cut their Throats; and that we had gotten a Booty of ten Millions in Gold and Silver, besides an inestimable Treasure of Jewels, Diamonds, Pearls,&c.but that we had committed most inhuman Barbarities on the innocent People that fell into our Hands. They then told us, but in a broken imperfect Account, how the Great Mogul had resented it; and that he had raised a great Army against theEnglishFactories, resolving to root them out of his Dominions; but that the Company had appeas’d him by Presents, and by assuringhim that the Men who did it, were Rebels to theEnglishGovernment, and that the Queen ofEnglandwould hang them all when ever they could be taken. I smil’d at that, and told them, CaptainAverywould give them Leave to hang him, and all his Men, when they could take them; but that I could assure him they were too strong to be taken; that if the Government ofEnglandwent about to provoke them, CaptainAverywould soon make those Seas too hot for theEnglish, and they might even give over theirEast-IndiaTrade, for they little thought Circumstances CaptainAverywas in.
This I did, as well to know what Notions you had of us inEngland, as to give a formidable Account of us, and of our Circumstances toEngland, which I knew might be of Use to us several Ways hereafter. Then I made him tell his Part, which he did freely enough; he told us, that indeed they had receiv’d an Account inEnglandthat we were exceeding strong; that we had several Gangs of Pirates from theSpanish West-Indies, that had taken great Booties there, and were gone all toMadagascarto join CaptainAvery; that he had taken three greatEast-IndiaShips, oneDutch, and twoPortuguese, which they had converted into Men of War; that he had 6000 Men under his Command; that he had twelve Ships, whereof three carry’d 60 Guns a-piece, and six more of them, from 40 to 50 Guns; that they had built a large Fort to secure their Habitations; and that they had two large Towns, one on one Side, one on the other of a River, cover’d by the said Fort, and two great Platforms or Batteries of Guns to defend the Entrance where their Ships rode; that they had an immense invaluable Treasure; and that it was said, CaptainAverywas resolv’d to People the whole Island ofMadagascarwithEuropeans, and to get Women fromJamaicaand theLeeward Islands; and that it was not doubted but he would subdue, and make himself King of that Country, if he was let alone a little longer.
I had enjoin’d my Men, in the first Place, not to let him know that I wasAvery, but that I was one of his Captains; and in the next Place, not to say a Word but justAy, andNo, as Things occurr’d, and leave the rest to me. I heard him patiently out in all the Particulars above, and when he had done, I told him it was true, CaptainAverywas in the Island ofMadagascar, and that several other Societies of Buccaneers and Freebooters were join’d him from theSpanish West-Indies; for, said I, the Plenty and Ease of our living here is such, and we are so safe from all the World, that we do not doubt but we shall be twenty thousand Men in a very little Time, when two Ships which we have sent to theWest-Indiesshall come back, and shall have told the Buccaneers at the Bay ofCampeachy, how we live here.
But, said I, you inEnglandgreatly wrong CaptainAvery, our General, (so I call’d myself, to advance our Credit) for I can assure you, that except plundering the Ship, and taking that immense Booty which he got in the great Ship where the Great Mogul’s Daughter was, there was not the least Injury done to the Lady, no Ravishing or Violence to her, or any of her Attendance; and this, said I, you may take of my certain Knowledge; for, said I, I was on Board the Ship with our General all the while: And if any of the Princess’s Women were lain with, said I, on Board the other Ship, as I believe most of them were, yet it was done with their own Consent andgood Will, and no otherwise; and they were all dismiss’d afterwards, without so much as being put in Fear or Apprehensions of Life or Honour.
This I assur’d him, (as indeed it was just) and told him, I hop’d, if ever he came safe toEngland, he would do CaptainAvery, and all of us, Justice in that particular Case.
As to our being well fortify’d on the Island, and our Numbers, I assur’d them all they were far from thinking too much of us; that we had a very good Fleet, and a very good Harbour for them; that we were not afraid of any Force fromEurope, either by Land or Water; that it was, indeed, in vain to pretend to attack us by Force; that the only Way for the Government ofEnglandto bring us back to our Duty, would be to send a Proclamation fromEnglandwith the Queen’s Pardon for our General and all his People, if they came in by a certain Time: And, added I, we know you want Money inEngland, I dare say, said I, our General, CaptainAvery, and his particular Gang, who have the main Riches, would not grudge to advance five or six Millions of Ducats to the Government, to give them Leave to return in Peace toEngland, and sit down quietly with the rest.
This Discourse, I suppose, was the Ground of the Rumour you have had inEngland, ThatAveryhad offer’d to come in and submit, and would give six Millions for his Pardon: For as these Men were soon after this dismiss’d, and went back toEngland, there is no Doubt but they gave a particular Account of the Conference they had with me, who they call’d one of CaptainAvery’s Captains.
We kept these five Men six or seven Days, and we pretended to show them the Country from some of the Hills, calling it all our own, andpointing every Way how many Miles we extended ourselves; we made them believe also that all the rest of the Country was at our Disposal, that the wholeIslandwas at our Beck; we told them we had Treasure enough to enrich the whole Kingdom ofEngland; that our General had several Millions in Diamonds, and we had many Tuns of Silver and Gold; that we had fifty large Barns full of all Sorts of Goods, as wellEuropeanasIndian; and that it would be truly the best Way forEnglandto do as they said, namely, to invite us all Home by a Proclamation with a Pardon: And if they would do this, said I, they can ask no reasonable Sum, but our General might advance it; besides, getting Home such a Body of stout able Seamen as we were, such a Number of Ships, and such a Quantity of rich Goods.
We had several long Discourses with them upon these Heads, and our frequent offering this Part to them with a Kind of feeling Warmth, (for it was what we all desir’d) has caus’d, I doubt not, the Rumour of such great Offers made by us, and of a Letter sent by me to the Queen, to beg her Majesty’s Pardon for myself and my Company, and offering ten Millions of Money Advance to the Queen for the publick Service: All which is a meer Fiction of the Brain of those which have publish’d it; neither were we in any Condition to make such an Offer; neither did I, or any of my Crew or Company, ever write a Letter or Petition to the Queen, or to any one in the Government, or make any Application in the Case other than as above, which was only Matter of Conversation or private Discourse.
Nor were we so strong in Men or Ships, or any Thing like it. You have heard of the Number of Ships which we had now with us, which amounted to two Ships and a Sloop, and nomore, except the Prize in which we took the Mogul’s Daughter; (which Ship we call’d,The Great Mogul) but she was fit for nothing, for she would neither sail or steer worth a Farthing, and indeed was fit for no Use but a Hulk, or a Guard-Ship.
As to Numbers of Men, they bely’d us strangely, and particularly, they seem’d only to mistake Thousands for Hundreds: For whereas they told us, that you inEnglandhad a Report of our being six thousand Men, I must acknowledge that I think we were never, when we were at the most, above six hundred; and at the Time when I quitted the Country, I left about one hundered and eight Men there, and no more, and I am assur’d, all the Number that now remains there, is not above twenty two Men, no, not in the whole Island.
Well, we thought, however, that it was no Business of ours at that Time to undeceive them in their high Opinion of our great Strength, so we took Care to magnify ourselves, and the Strength of our General, (meaning myself) that they might carry the Story toEngland, depending upon it,That a Tale loses nothing in the carrying.When they told us of our Fort, and the Batteries at the Mouth of the River where our Ships lie, we insinuated, that it was a Place where we did not fear all the Fleets in the World attacking us; and when they told us of the Number of Men, we strove to make them believe that they were much many more.
At length, the poor Men began to be tir’d of us, and indeed we began to be tir’d of them; for we began to be afraid very much that they would prye a little Way into our Affairs, and that a little too narrowly that Way; so as they began to sollicit their Deliverance, we began to listen to their Importunities: In a Word, we agreed to dismissthem; and accordingly we gave them Leave to go away to the Watering-place, as if they had made their Escape from us; which they did, carrying away their Heads full of all those unlikely projected Things which you have heard above.
In all this, however, I had not the good Luck to advance one Step towards my own Escape; and here is one Thing remarkable,viz.That the great Mass of Wealth I had gotten together, was so far from forwarding my Deliverance, that it really was the only Thing that hinder’d it most effectually; and I was so sensible of it, that I resolv’d once to be gone, and leave all my Wealth behind me, except some Jewels, as several of our Men had done already: For many of them were so impatient of staying here, that they found Means to get away, some and some, with no more Money than they could carry about them; particularly, thirteen of our Men made themselves a Kind of Shaloup with a Mast and Sail, and went for the Red Sea, having two Patareroes for her Defence, and every Man a thousand Pieces of Eight, and no more, except that oneMacmowanIrishman, who was their Captain, had five Rubies and a Diamond, which he got among the Plunder of the Mogul’s Ship.
These Men, as I heard, gat safe toMoccain theArabianGulph, where they fetch the Coffee, and their Captain manag’d for them all so well, that of Pirates he made them Merchants, laid out all the Stock in Coffee, and got a Vessel to carry it up the Red Sea toSues, where they sold it to the Factors for theEuropeanMerchants, and came all safe toAlexandria, where they parted the Money again; and then every one separated as they thought fit, and went their own Way.
We heard of this by mere Accident afterwards, and I confess I envy’d their Success; and tho’ it was a great while after this that I took a like Run, yet you may be sure I form’d a Resolution from that Time to do the like; and most of the Time that I stay’d after this, was employ’d in picking out a suitable Gang that I might depend upon, as well to trust with the Secret of my going away, as to take with me; and on whom I might depend, and they on me, for keeping one another’s Council when we should come intoEurope.
It was in Pursuit of this Resolution that I went this little Voyage to the South of the Island, and the Gang I took with me prov’d very trusty, but we found no Opportunity then for our Escape: Two of the Men that we took Prisoners would fain have gone with us, but we resolv’d to trust none of them with the real and true Discovery of our Circumstances; and as we had made them believe mighty Things of ourselves, and of the Posture of our Settlement, that we had 5000 Men, 12 Men of War, and the like, we were resolv’d they should carry the Delusion away with them, and that no Body should undeceive them; because, tho’ we had not such an immense Wealth as was reported, and so as to be able to offer ten Millions for our Pardon, yet we had a very great Treasure; and, being nothing near so strong as they had imagin’d, we might have been made a Prey, with all our Riches, to any Set of Adventurers who might undertake to attempt us, by Consent of the Government ofEngland, and make the Expedition,No Purchase no Pay.
For this Reason we civily declin’d them, told them we had Wealth enough, and therefore did not now Cruise Abroad as we used to do, unless we should hear of another Wedding of a King’s Daughter; or unless some rich Fleet, or someHeathen Kingdom was to be attempted; and that therefore a new Comer, or any Body of new Comers, could do themselves no good by coming over to us: If any Gang of Pirates or Buccaneers would go upon their Adventures, and when they had made themselves rich, would come and settle with us, we would take them into our Protection, and give them Land to build Towns and Habitations for themselves, and so in Time we might become a great Nation, and inhabit the whole Island: I told them, theRomansthemselves were, at first, no better than such a Gang of Rovers as we were; and who knew but our General, CaptainAvery, might lay the Foundation of as great an Empire as they.
These big Words amaz’d the Fellows, and answer’d my End to a Tittle; for they told such Rhodomantading Stories of us, when they came back to their Ships, and from them it spread so universally all over theEast-Indies, (for they were Outward-bound) that none of theEnglishorDutchShips would come nearMadagascaragain, if they could help it, for a great while, for Fear of us; and we, who were soon after this dwindled away to less than 100 Men, were very glad to have them think us too strong to meddle with, or so strong that no Body durst come near us.
After these Men were gone, we rov’d about to the East Side of the Island, and in a Word, knew not what to do, or what Course to take, for we durst not put out to Sea in such a Bauble of a Boat as we had under us; but tir’d at last, we came back to the South Point of the Island again; in our rounding the Island we saw a greatEnglish-built Ship at Sea, but at too far Distance to speak with her; and if it had not, we knew not what to have said to her, for we were not strong enough to attack her: We judg’d by her Course, she stoodaway from the Isle of St.MauriceorMauritius, for theCape of Good Hope, and must, as we suppos’d, come from theMalabarCoast, bound Home forEngland; so we let her go.
We are now return’d back to our Settlement on the North Part of the Island; and I have singl’d out about 12 or 13 bold brave Fellows, with whom I am resolv’d to venture to the Gulph ofPersia; twenty more of our Men have agreed to carry us thither as Passengers in the Sloop, and try their own Fortunes afterwards, for they allow we are enough to go together. We resolve, when we come toBassaro, to separate into three Companies, as if we did not know one another; to dress ourselves as Merchants, for now we look like Hell-hounds and Vagabonds; but when we are well dress’d, we expect to look as other Men do. If I come thither, I purpose, with two more, to give my Companions the Slip, and travel asArmeniansthro’Persiato theCaspianSea, so toConstantinople; and I doubt not we shall, one Way or other, find our Way, with our Merchandize and Money, to come intoFrance, if not quite Home to my own Country. Assure yourself, when I arrive in any Part of Christendom, I will give you a farther Account of my Adventures.
Your Friend and Servant,
AVERY.
The End of the First Letter.
SIR,
IIWROTE my last Letter to you fromMadagascar, where I had continu’d so long till my People began to drop from me, some and some, and, indeed, I had, at last, but few left; so that I began to apprehend they would give an Account inEurope, how weak I was, and how easy it was to attack me; nay, and to make their Peace, might some of them, at least, offer their Service to be Pilots to my Port, and might guide the Fleets or Ships that should attempt me.
With these Apprehensions, I not only was uneasy myself, but made all my Men uneasy too; for, as I was resolv’d to attempt my own Escape, I did not care how many of my Men went before me: But this you must take with you by the Bye, that I never let them imagine that I intended to stir from the Spot myself; I mean, after my Return from the Ramble that I had taken round the Island, of which I have given you an Account; but, that I resolv’d to take up my Rest inMadagascaras long as I liv’d; indeed, before, Isaid otherwise, as I wrote you before, and made them all promise to fetch me away, but now I gave it out that I was resolv’d to live and die here; and therefore, a little before I resolv’d upon going, I set to Work to build me a new House, and to plant me a pretty Garden at a Distance from our Fort; only I had a select Company, to whom I communicated every Thing, and who resolv’d that, at last, we would go altogether, but that we would do it our own Way.
When I had finish’d my new House, (and a mighty Palace you would say it was, if you had been to see it) I remov’d to it, with eight of the Gang that were to be my Fellow adventurers; and to this Place we carry’d all our private Wealth, that is to say, Jewels and Gold; as to our Share of Silver, as it was too heavy to remove, and must be done in Publick, I was oblig’d to leave it behind; but we had a Stratagem for that too, and it was thus:
We had a Sloop, as you have heard, and she lay in our Harbour, ’tis true; but she lay ready to sail upon any Occasion; and the Men, who were of our Confederacy, who were not with me at my Country-house, were twelve in Number: These Men made a Proposal, that they would take the Sloop, and go away to the Coast ofMalabar, or where else they could speed to their Mind, and buy a Fraight of Rice for the publick Account: In a free State as we were, every Body was free to go wherever they would, so that no Body oppos’d them; the only Dispute at any Time, was about taking the Vessel we had to go in: However, as these Men seem’d only to act upon the publick Account, and to go to buy Provisions, no Body offer’d to deny them the Sloop, sothey prepar’d for their Voyage: Just as they were ready to go, one of them starts it to the rest, that it was very hazardous and difficult to run such a Length every now and then to get a little Rice, and if they would go, why should they not bring a good Quantity? This was soon resolv’d; so they agreed, they should take Money with them to buy a good Ship wherever they could find her, and then to buy a Loading of Rice to fill her up, and so come away with her.
When this was agreed, they resolv’d to take no Money out of the grand Stock, but to take such Mens Money as were gone, and had left their Money behind; and this being consented to, truly, my Friends took the Occasion, and took all their own Money, and mine, (being 64 little Chests of Pieces of Eight) and carry’d it on Board, as if it had been of Men that were Prick’d-run, and no Body took any Notice of it. These twelve Men had also now got twelve more with them, under Pretence of manning a Ship, if we should buy one, and in this Pickle away they put to Sea.
We had due Notice of every Thing that was done; and having a Signal given of the Time they resolv’d to go, we pack’d up all our Treasure, and began our March to the Place appointed, which from our Quarters was about forty Mile farther North.
Our Habitation, that is to say, my new House, was about sixteen Miles up the Country, so that the rest of our People could have no Notice of our March, neither did they miss us, at least, as I heard of, for we never heard any more of them; nor can I imagine what Condition or Circumstance they can be in at present, if they are stillupon the Place, as, however, I believe some of them are.
We join’d our Comrades, with a great Deal of Ease, about three Days afterwards, for we march’d but softly, and they lay by for us: The Night before we went on Board, we made them a Signal by Fire, as we had appointed to let them know where we were, and that we were at Hand; so they sent their Boat and fetch’d us off, and we embark’d without any Notice taken by the Rest.
As we were now loose, and at Sea, our next Business was to resolve whither we should go; and I soon govern’d the Point, resolving forBassaroin the Gulph ofPersia, where I knew we might shift for ourselves: Accordingly, we steer’d away for theArabianCoast, and had good Weather for some Time, even till we made the Land at a great Distance, when we steer’d Eastward along the Shore.
We saw several Ships, in our Way, bound to and from the Red Sea, as we suppos’d, and, at another Time, we would have been sure to have spoken with them: But, we had done Pirating; our Business now was, how to get off, and make our Way to some Retreat, where we might enjoy what we had got; so we took no Notice of any Thing by the Way; but, when we was thus sailing merrily along, the Weather began to change, the Evening grew black and cloudy, and threaten’d a Storm: We were in Sight or a little Island, (I know nothing of its Name) under which we might have anchor’d with Safety enough, but our People made light of it, and went on.
About an Hour after Sun-set the Wind began to rise, and blew hard at N. E. and at N. E. by N. and in two Hours Time encreas’d to such a Tempest, as in all my Rambles I never met with the like; we were not able to carry a Knot of Sail, or to know what to do, but to stow every Thing close, and let her drive; and, in this Condition we continu’d all the Night, all the next Day, and Part of the Night after; towards Morning the Storm abated a little, but not so as to give us any Prospect of pursuing our voyage; all the Ease we had, was, that we could just carry a little Sail to steddy the Vessel, and run away before it; which we did at that violent Rate, that we never abated ’till we made Land on the East Side ofMadagascar, the very Island we came from, only on the other Side of the Island.
However, we were glad we had any Place to run to for Harbour; so we put in under the Lee of a Point of Land that gave us Shelter from the Wind, and where we came to an Anchor, after being all of us almost dead with the Fatigue; and, if our Sloop had not been an extraordinary Sea-boat, she could never have born such a Sea, for twelve Days together, as we were in, the worst I ever saw before or since. We lay here, to refresh ourselves, about twenty Days; and, indeed, the Wind blew so hard all the while, that if we had been dispos’d to go to Sea, we could not have done it; and, being here, about seven of our Men began to repent their Bargain, and left us, which I was not sorry for. It seems, the principal Reason of their looking back, was, their being of those who had left their Money behind them. They did not leave us without our Consent, and therefore our Carpenters built them a Boat, during the three Weeks we stay’d here, and fitted itvery handsomely for them, with a Cabin for their Convenience, and a Mast and Sail, with which they might very well sail round to our Settlement, as we suppose they did: We gave them Fire-arms and Ammunition sufficient, and left them furnishing themselves with Provisions; and this, we suppose, was the Boat, tho’ with other Men in it, which adventur’d afterwards as far as theCape of Good Hope, and was taken up by aPortugesein Distress, by which Means they got Passage for themselves toLisbone, pretending they had made their Escape from the Pirates atMadagascar; but we were told, that thePortugueseCaptain took a good deal of their Money from them, under Pretence of keeping it from his own Seamen; and that when they came on Shore, and began to claim it, he threaten’d them with taking them up, and prosecuting them for Pirates, which made them compound with him, and take about 10000 Dollars for above 120000, which they had with them; which, by the Way, was but a scurvy Trick: They had, it seems, a considerable Quantity of Gold among them, which they had the Wit to conceal from the Captain of the Ship, and which was enough for such Fellows as them, and more than they well knew what to do with; so that they were rich enough still, tho’ thePortugalCaptain was nevertheless a Knave for all that.
We left them here, as I have said, and put to Sea again; and, in about twenty Days Sail, having pretty good Weather, we arriv’d at the Gulph ofPersia: It would be too long to give you an Account of the particular Fortunes of some of our People after this, the Variety of which would fill a Volume by itself: But, in the first Place, we, who were determin’d to travel, went on ShoreatBassaro, leaving the rest of our Men to buy Rice, and load the larger Vessel back to their Comrades, which they promis’d to do; but how far they perform’d I know not.
We were thirteen of us that went on Shore here; from whence we hir’d a kind of Barge, or rather a Bark, which, after much Difficulty, and very unhandy Doings of the Men who we had hir’d, brought us toBabylon, orBagdat, as it is now call’d.
Our Treasure was so great, that if it had been known what we had about us, I am of Opinion we should never have troubl’dEuropewith our Company: However, we gat safe toBabylonorBagdat, where we kept ourselvesIncogfor a while, took a House by ourselves, and lay four or five Days still, till we had got Vests and long Gowns made to appear Abroad in asArmenianMerchants. After we had got Cloaths, and look’d like other People, we began to appear Abroad; and I, that from the Beginning had meditated my Escape by myself, began now to put it into Practice; and, walking one Morning upon the Bank of the RiverEuphrates, I mus’d with myself what Course I should take to make off, and get quite away from the Gang, and let them not so much as suspect me.