led prisoner by herself, between two pirates. Her lamentations pierced
the skies, seeing herself carried away into captivity often crying to
the pirates, and telling them, "That she had given orders to two
religious persons, in whom she had relied, to go to a certain place, and
fetch so much money as her ransom did amount to; that they had promised
faithfully to do it, but having obtained the money, instead of bringing
it to her, they had employed it another way, to ransom some of their
own, and particular friends." This ill action of theirs was discovered
by a slave, who brought a letter to the said lady. Her complaints, and
the cause thereof, being brought to Captain Morgan, he thought fit to
inquire thereinto. Having found it to be true--especially hearing it
confirmed by the confession of the said religious men, though under some
frivolous excuses of having diverted the money but for a day or two, in
which time they expected more sums to repay it--he gave liberty to the
said lady, whom otherwise he designed to transport to Jamaica. But he
detained the said religious men as prisoners in her place, using them
according to their desserts.
Captain Morgan arriving at the town called Cruz, on the banks of the
river Chagre, he published an order among the prisoners, that within
three days every one should bring in their ransom, under the penalty of
being transported to Jamaica. Meanwhile he gave orders for so much rice
and maize to be collected thereabouts, as was necessary for victualing
his ships. Here some of the prisoners were ransomed, but many others
could not bring in their money. Hereupon he continued his voyage,
leaving the village on the 5th of March following, carrying with him all
the spoil he could. Hence he likewise led away some new prisoners,
inhabitants there, with those in Panama, who had not paid their ransoms.
But the two religious men, who had diverted the lady's money, were
ransomed three days after by other persons, who had more compassion for
them than they had showed for her.
About the middle of the way to Chagre, Captain Morgan commanded them to
be mustered, and caused every one to be sworn, that they had concealed
nothing, even not to the value of sixpence. This done, Captain Morgan
knowing those lewd fellows would not stick to swear falsely for
interest, he commanded every one to be searched very strictly, both in
their clothes and satchels, and elsewhere. Yea, that this order might
not be ill taken by his companions, he permitted himself to be searched,
even to his very shoes. To this effect, by common consent, one was
assigned out of every company to be searchers of the rest. The French
pirates that assisted on this expedition disliked this new practice of
searching; but, being outnumbered by the English, they were forced to
submit as well as the rest. The search being over, they reembarked, and
arrived at the castle of Chagre on the 9th of March.
FOOTNOTES:
[2] From _The Buccaneers of America_.
THE MALAY PROAS[3]
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
We had cleared the Straits of Sunda early in the morning, and had made a
pretty fair run in the course of the day, though most of the time in
thick weather. Just as the sun set, however, the horizon became clear,
and we got a sight of two small sail, seemingly heading in toward the
coast of Sumatra, proas by their rig and dimensions. They were so
distant, and were so evidently steering for the land, that no one gave
them much thought, or bestowed on them any particular attention. Proas
in that quarter were usually distrusted by ships, it is true; but the
sea is full of them, and far more are innocent than are guilty of any
acts of violence. Then it became dark soon after these craft were seen,
and night shut them in. An hour after the sun had set, the wind fell to
a light air, that just kept steerage-way on the ship. Fortunately, the
_John_ was not only fast, but she minded her helm, as a light-footed
girl turns in a lively dance. I never was in a better-steering ship,
most especially in moderate weather.
Mr. Marble had the middle watch that night, and, of course, I was on
deck from midnight until four in the morning. It proved misty most of
the watch, and for quite an hour we had a light drizzling rain. The ship
the whole time was close-hauled, carrying royals. As everybody seemed to
have made up his mind to a quiet night, one without any reefing or
furling, most of the watch were sleeping about the decks, or wherever
they could get good quarters, and be least in the way. I do not know
what kept me awake, for lads of my age are apt to get all the sleep they
can; but I believe I was thinking of Clawbonny, and Grace, and Lucy; for
the latter, excellent girl as she was, often crossed my mind in those
days of youth and comparative innocence. Awake I was, and walking in the
weather-gangway, in a sailor's trot. Mr. Marble, he I do believe was
fairly snoozing on the hen-coops, being, like the sails, as one might
say, barely "asleep." At that moment I heard a noise, one familiar to
seamen; that of an oar falling in a boat. So completely was my mind bent
on other and distant scenes, that at first I felt no surprise, as if we
were in a harbor surrounded by craft of various sizes, coming and going
at all hours. But a second thought destroyed this illusion, and I looked
eagerly about me. Directly on our weather-bow, distant, perhaps, a
cable's length, I saw a small sail, and I could distinguish it
sufficiently well to perceive it was a proa. I sang out "Sail ho! and
close aboard!"
Mr. Marble was on his feet in an instant. He afterward told me that when
he opened his eyes, for he admitted this much to me in confidence, they
fell directly on the stranger. He was too much of a seaman to require a
second look in order to ascertain what was to be done. "Keep the ship
away--keep her broad off!" he called out to the man at the wheel. "Lay
the yards square--call all hands, one of you. Captain Robbins, Mr. Kite,
bear a hand up; the bloody proas are aboard us!" The last part of this
call was uttered in a loud voice, with the speaker's head down the
companion-way. It was heard plainly enough below, but scarcely at all on
deck.
In the meantime everybody was in motion. It is amazing how soon sailors
are wide awake when there is really anything to do! It appeared to me
that all our people mustered on deck in less than a minute, most of them
with nothing on but their shirts and trousers. The ship was nearly
before the wind by the time I heard the captain's voice; and then Mr.
Kite came bustling in among us forward, ordering most of the men to lay
aft to the braces, remaining himself on the forecastle, and keeping me
with him to let go the sheets. On the forecastle, the strange sail was
no longer visible, being now abaft the beam; but I could hear Mr. Marble
swearing there were two of them, and that they must be the very chaps we
had seen to leeward, and standing in for the land at sunset. I also
heard the captain calling out to the steward to bring him a powder-horn.
Immediately after, orders were given to let fly all our sheets forward,
and then I perceived that they were wearing ship. Nothing saved us but
the prompt order of Mr. Marble to keep the ship away, by which means,
instead of moving toward the proas, we instantly began to move from
them. Although they went three feet to our two, this gave us a moment of
breathing time.
As our sheets were all flying forward, and remained so for a few
minutes, it gave me leisure to look about. I soon saw both proas, and
glad enough was I to perceive that they had not approached materially
nearer. Mr. Kite observed this also, and remarked that our movements had
been so prompt as to "take the rascals aback." He meant they did not
exactly know what we were at, and had not kept away with us.
At this instant, the captain and five or six of the oldest seamen began
to cast loose all our starboard, or weather guns, four in all, and
sixes. We had loaded these guns in the Straits of Banca, with grape and
canister, in readiness for just such pirates as were now coming down
upon us; and nothing was wanting but the priming and a hot loggerhead.
It seems two of the last had been ordered in the fire, when we saw the
proas at sunset; and they were now in excellent condition for service,
live coals being kept around them all night by command. I saw a cluster
of men busy with the second gun from forward, and could distinguish the
captain pointing to it.
"There cannot well be any mistake, Mr. Marble?" the captain observed,
hesitating whether to fire or not.
"Mistake, sir? Lord, Captain Robbins, you might cannonade any of the
islands astern for a week, and never hurt an honest man. Let 'em have
it, sir; I'll answer for it, you do good."
This settled the matter. The loggerhead was applied, and one of our
sixes spoke out in a smart report. A breathless stillness succeeded. The
proas did not alter their course, but neared us fast. The captain
levelled his night-glass, and I heard him tell Kite, in a low voice,
that they were full of men. The word was now passed to clear away all
the guns, and to open the arm-chest, to come at the muskets and pistols.
I heard the rattling of the boarding-pikes, too, as they were cut adrift
from the spanker-boom, and fell upon the decks. All this sounded very
ominous, and I began to think we should have a desperate engagement
first, and then have all our throats cut afterward.
I expected now to hear the guns discharged in quick succession, but they
were got ready only, not fired. Kite went aft, and returned with three
or four muskets, and as many pikes. He gave the latter to those of the
people who had nothing to do with the guns. By this time the ship was
on a wind, steering a good full, while the two proas were just abeam,
and closing fast. The stillness that reigned on both sides was like that
of death. The proas, however, fell a little more astern; the result of
their own man[oe]uvering, out of all doubt, as they moved through the
water much faster than the ship, seeming desirous of dropping into our
wake, with a design of closing under our stern, and avoiding our
broadside. As this would never do, and the wind freshened so as to give
us four or five knot way, a most fortunate circumstance for us, the
captain determined to tack while he had room. The _John_ behaved
beautifully, and came round like a top. The proas saw there was no time
to lose, and attempted to close before we could fill again; and this
they would have done with ninety-nine ships in a hundred. The captain
knew his vessel, however, and did not let her lose her way, making
everything draw again as it might be by instinct. The proas tacked, too,
and, laying up much nearer to the wind than we did, appeared as if about
to close on our lee-bow. The question was, now, whether we could pass
them or not before they got near enough to grapple. If the pirates got
on board us, we were hopelessly gone; and everything depended on
coolness and judgment. The captain behaved perfectly well in this
critical instant, commanding a dead silence, and the closest attention
to his orders.
I was too much interested at this moment to feel the concern that I
might otherwise have experienced. On the forecastle, it appeared to us
all that we should be boarded in a minute, for one of the proas was
actually within a hundred feet, though losing her advantage a little by
getting under the lee of our sails. Kite had ordered us to muster
forward of the rigging, to meet the expected leap with a discharge of
muskets, and then to present our pikes, when I felt an arm thrown around
my body, and was turned inboard, while another person assumed my place.
This was Neb, who had thus coolly thrust himself before me, in order to
meet the danger first. I felt vexed, even while touched with the
fellow's attachment and self-devotion, but had no time to betray either
feeling before the crews of the proas gave a yell, and discharged some
fifty or sixty matchlocks at us. The air was full of bullets, but they
all went over our heads. Not a soul on board the _John_ was hurt. On our
side, we gave the gentlemen the four sixes, two at the nearest and two
at the stern-most proa, which was still near a cable's length distant.
As often happens, the one seemingly farthest from danger, fared the
worst. Our grape and canister had room to scatter, and I can at this
distant day still hear the shrieks that arose from that craft! They were
like the yells of fiends in anguish. The effect on that proa was
instantaneous; instead of keeping on after her consort, she wore short
round on her heel, and stood away in our wake, on the other tack,
apparently to get out of the range of our fire.
I doubt if we touched a man in the nearest proa. At any rate, no noise
proceeded from her, and she came up under our bows fast. As every gun
was discharged, and there was not time to load them, all now depended on
repelling the boarders. Part of our people mustered in the waist, where
it was expected the proa would fall alongside, and part on the
forecastle. Just as this distribution was made, the pirates cast their
grapnel. It was admirably thrown, but caught only by a ratlin. I saw
this, and was about to jump into the rigging to try what I could do to
clear it, when Neb again went ahead of me, and cut the ratlin with his
knife. This was just as the pirates had abandoned sails and oars, and
had risen to haul up alongside. So sudden was the release, that twenty
of them fell over by their own efforts. In this state the ship passed
ahead, all her canvas being full, leaving the proa motionless in her
wake. In passing, however, the two vessels were so near, that those aft
in the _John_ distinctly saw the swarthy faces of their enemies.
We were no sooner clear of the proas than the order was given, "Ready
about!" The helm was put down, and the ship came into the wind in a
minute. As we came square with the two proas, all our larboard guns were
given to them, and this ended the affair. I think the nearest of the
rascals got it this time, for away she went, after her consort, both
running off toward the islands. We made a little show of chasing, but it
was only a feint; for we were too glad to get away from them, to be in
earnest. In ten minutes after we tacked the last time, we ceased firing,
having thrown some eight or ten round-shot after the proas, and were
close-hauled again, heading to the southwest.
FOOTNOTES:
[3] From _Afloat and Ashore_.
THE WONDERFUL FIGHT OF THE _EXCHANGE_ OF BRISTOL WITH THE PIRATES OF
ALGIERS[4]
SAMUEL PURCHAS
In the yeere 1621, the first of November, there was one _Iohn Rawlins_,
borne in _Rochester_, and dwelling three and twenty yeere in _Plimmoth_,
imployed to the Strait of _Gibraltar_, by Master _Richard_, and _Steven
Treviles_, Merchants of Plimmoth, and fraighted in a Barke, called the
_Nicholas_ of _Plimmoth_, of the burden of forty Tun, which had also in
her company another ship of _Plimmoth_, called the _George Benaventure_
of seventy Tun burthen, or thereabouts; which by reason of her
greatnesse beyond the other, I will name the _Admirall_; and _Iohn
Rawlins_ Barke shall, if you please, be the _Vice-admirall_. These two
according to the time of the yeere, had a faire passage, and by the
eighteenth of the same moneth came to a place at the entring of the
straits, named _Trafflegar_: but the next morning, being in the sight of
_Gibraltar_, at the very mouth of the straits, the watch descried five
saile of ships, who as it seemed, used all the means they could to come
neere us, and we as we had cause, used the same means to go as farre
from them: yet did their _Admirall_ take in both his top sailes, that
either we might not suspect them, or that his owne company might come up
the closer together. At last perceiving us _Christians_, they fell from
devices to apparent discovery of hostility, and making out against us:
we againe suspecting them Pirats, tooke our course to escape from them,
and made all the sailes we possibly could for _Tirriff_, or _Gibraltar_:
but all we could doe, could not prevent their approach. For suddenly one
of them came right over against us to wind-ward, and so fell upon our
quarter: another came upon our luffe, and so threatened us there, and at
last all five chased us, making great speed to surprise us.
Their _Admirall_ was called _Callfater_, having upon her maine
top-saile, two top-gallant sailes, one above another. But whereas we
thought them all five to be _Turkish_ ships of war, we afterwards
understood, that two of them were their prizes, the one a smal ship of
_London_, the other of the West-countrey, that came out of the
_Quactath_ laden with figges, and other Merchandise, but now subiect to
the fortune of the Sea, and the captivity of Pirats. But to our
businesse. Three of these ships got much upon us, and so much that ere
halfe the day was spent, the _Admirall_ who was the best sailer, fetcht
up the _George Bonaventure_, and made booty of it. The _Vice-Admirall_
againe being neerest unto the lesser Barke, whereof _Iohn Rawlins_ was
Master, shewed him the force of a stronger arme, and by his _Turkish_
name, called _Villa-Rise_, commanded him in like sort to strike his
sailes, and submit to his mercy, which not to be gaine-saied nor
prevented, was quickly done: and so _Rawlins_ with his Barke was quickly
taken, although the _Reare-Admirall_ being the worst sayler of the
three, called _Reggiprise_, came not in, till all was done.
The same day before night, the _Admirall_ either loth to pester himselfe
with too much company, or ignorant of the commodity that was to be made
by the sale of _English_ prisoners, or daring not to trust them in his
company, for feare of mutinies, and exciting others to rebellion; set
twelve persons who were in the _George Bonaventure_ on the land, and
divers other _English_, whom he had taken before, to trie their fortunes
in an unknowne Countrey. But _Villa-Rise_, the _Vice-Admirall_ that had
taken _Iohn Rawlins_, would not so dispence with his men, but commanded
him and five more of his company to be brought aboord his ship, leaving
in his Barke three men and his boy, with thirteene _Turkes_ and
_Moores_, who were questionlesse sufficient to over-master the other,
and direct the Barke to Harbour. Thus they sailed directly for _Algier_;
but the night following, followed them with great tempest and foule
weather, which ended not without some effect of a storme: for they lost
the sight of _Rawlins_ Barke, called the _Nicholas_, and in a manner
lost themselves, though they seemed safe a shipboord, by fearefull
coniecturing what should become of us: at last, by the two and twentieth
of the same moneth, they, or we (chuse you whether) arrived at _Algier_,
and came in safety within the Mould, but found not our other Barke
there; nay, though we earnestly inquired after the same, yet heard we
nothing to our satisfaction; but much matter was ministred to our
discomfort and amazement. For although the Captaine and our over-seers,
were loth we should have any conference with our Country-men; yet did we
adventure to informe ourselves of the present affaires, both of the
Towne, and the shipping: so that finding many _English_ at worke in
other ships, they spared not to tell us the danger we were in, and the
mischiefes we must needs incurre, as being sure if we were not used like
slaves, to be sold as slaves; for there had beene five hundred brought
into the market for the same purpose, and above a hundred hansome youths
compelled to turne _Turkes_, or made subiect to more viler prostitution,
and all _English_: yet like good _Christians_, they bade us be of good
cheere, and comfort ourselves in this, that Gods trials were gentle
purgations, and these crosses were but to cleanse the drosse from the
gold, and bring us out of the fire againe more cleare and lovely. Yet I
must needs confesse, that they afforded us reason for this cruelty, as
if they determined to be revenged of our last attempt to fire their
ships in the Mould, and therefore protested to spare none whom they
could surprise and take alive; but either to sell them for money, or
torment them to serve their owne turnes. Now their customes and usages
in both these was in this manner.
First, concerning the first. The _Bashaw_ had the over-seeing of all
prisoners, who were presented unto him at their first comming into the
harbour, and to choose one out of every eight for a present or fee to
himselfe: the rest were rated by the Captaines, and so sent to the
Market to be sold; whereat if either there were repining, or any drawing
backe, then certaine _Moores_ and Officers attended either to beate you
forward, or thrust you into the sides with Goades; and this was the
manner of the selling of Slaves.
Secondly, concerning their enforcing them, either to turne _Turke_, or
to attend their filthines and impieties, although it would make a
Christians heart bleed to heare of the same, yet must the truth not be
hid, nor the terror left untold. They commonly lay them on their naked
backs or bellies, beating them so long, till they bleed at the nose and
mouth; and if yet they continue constant, then they strike the teeth out
of their heads, pinch them by their tongues, and use many other sorts of
tortures to convert them; nay, many times they lay them their whole
length in the ground like a grave, and so cover them with boords,
threatening to starve them, if they will not turne; and so many even for
feare of torment and death, make their tongues betray their hearts to a
most fearefull wickednesse, and so are circumcised with new names, and
brought to confesse a new Religion. Others againe, I must confesse, who
never knew any God, but their own sensuall lusts and pleasures, thought
that any religion would serve their turnes, and so for preferment or
wealth very voluntarily renounced their faith, and became _Renegadoes_
in despight of any counsell which seemed to intercept them: and this was
the first newes wee encountred with at our comming first to _Algier_.
The 26. of the same moneth, _Iohn Rawlins_ his Barke, with his other
three men and a boy, came safe into the Mould, and so were put all
together to be carried before the _Bashaw_, but that they tooke the
Owners servant, and _Rawlins_ Boy, and by force and torment compelled
them to turne _Turkes_: then were they in all seven _English_, besides
_Iohn Rawlins_, of whom the _Bashaw_ tooke one, and sent the rest to
their Captaines, who set a valuation upon them, and so the Souldiers
hurried us like dogs into the Market, whereas men sell Hacknies in
_England_. We were tossed up and downe to see who would give most for
us; and although we had heavy hearts, and looked with sad countenances,
yet many came to behold us, sometimes taking us by the hand, sometimes
turning us round about, sometimes feeling our brawnes and naked armes,
and so beholding our prices written on our breasts, they bargained for
us accordingly, and at last we were all sold, and the Souldiers
returned with the money to their Captaines.
_Iohn Rawlins_ was the last who was sold, by reason of his lame hand,
and bought by the Captaine that tooke him, even that dog _Villa Rise_,
who better informing himselfe of his skill fit to be a Pilot, and his
experience to bee an over-seer, bought him and his Carpenter at very
easie rates. For as we afterwards understood by divers _English
Renegadoes_, he paid for _Rawlins_ but one hundred and fiftie Dooblets,
which make of _English_ money seven pound ten shilling. Thus was he and
his Carpenter with divers other slaves sent into his ship to worke, and
imployed about such affaires, as belonged to the well rigging and
preparing the same. But the villanous _Turkes_ perceiving his lame hand,
and that he could not performe so much as other Slaves, quickly
complained to their Patron, who as quickly apprehended the
inconvenience; whereupon hee sent for him the next day, and told him he
was unserviceable for his present purpose, and therefore unlesse he
could procure fifteene pound of the _English_ there for his ransome, he
would send him up into the Countrey, where he should never see
_Christendome_ againe, and endure the extremity of a miserable
banishment.