How the pirates arm their vessels, and regulate their voyages.
Before the pirates go to sea, they give notice to all concerned, of
the day on which they are to embark; obliging each man to bring so
many pounds of powder and ball as they think necessary. Being all come
aboard, they consider where to get provisions, especially flesh,
seeing they scarce eat anything else; and of this the most common sort
is pork; the next food is tortoises, which they salt a little:
sometimes they rob such or such hog-yards, where the Spaniards often
have a thousand head of swine together. They come to these places in
the night, and having beset the keeper’s lodge, they force him to
rise, and give them as many heads as they desire, threatening to kill
him if he refuses, or makes any noise; and these menaces are
oftentimes executed on the miserable swine-keepers, or any other
person that endeavours to hinder their robberies.
Having got flesh sufficient for their voyage, they return to their
ship: here they allow, twice a day, every one as much as he can eat,
without weight or measure; nor does the steward of the vessel give any
more flesh, or anything else, to the captain, than to the meanest
mariner. The ship being well victualled, they deliberate whither they
shall go to seek their desperate fortunes, and likewise agree upon
certain articles, which are put in writing, which every one is bound
to observe; and all of them, or the chiefest part, do set their hands
to it. Here they set down distinctly what sums of money each
particular person ought to have for that voyage, the fund of all the
payments being what is gotten by the whole expedition; for otherwise
it is the same law among these people as with other pirates, No prey,
no pay. First, therefore, they mention how much the captain is to have
for his ship; next, the salary of the carpenter, or shipwright, who
careened, mended, and rigged the vessel: this commonly amounts to one
hundred or one hundred and fifty pieces of eight, according to the
agreement. Afterwards, for provisions and victualling, they draw out
of the same common stock about two hundred pieces of eight; also a
salary for the surgeon, and his chest of medicaments, which usually is
rated at two hundred or two hundred and fifty pieces of eight. Lastly,
they agree what rate each one ought to have that is either wounded or
maimed in his body, suffering the loss of any limb; as, for the loss
of a right arm, six hundred pieces of eight, or six slaves; for the
left arm, five hundred pieces of eight, or five slaves; for a right
leg, five hundred pieces of eight, or five slaves; for the left leg,
four hundred pieces of eight, or four slaves; for an eye, one hundred
pieces of eight, or one slave; for a finger, the same as for an eye.
All which sums are taken out of the common stock of what is gotten by
their piracy, and a very exact and equal dividend is made of the
remainder. They have also regard to qualities and places: thus the
captain, or chief, is allotted five or six portions, to what the
ordinary seamen have: the master’s mate only two, and other officers
proportionably to their employ: after which, they draw equal parts
from the highest to the lowest mariner, the boys not being omitted,
who draw half a share; because when they take a better vessel than
their own, it is in the boys’ duty to fire their former vessel, and
then retire to the prize.
They observe among themselves very good orders; for in the prizes
which they take, it is severely prohibited, to every one, to take
anything to themselves: hence all they take is equally divided, as
hath been said before: yea, they take a solemn oath to each other, not
to conceal the least thing they find among the prizes; and if any one
is found false to the said oath, he is immediately turned out of the
society. They are very civil and charitable to each other; so that if
any one wants what another has, with great willingness they give it
one to another. As soon as these pirates have taken a prize, they
immediately set ashore the prisoners, detaining only some few, for
their own help and service: whom, also, they release, after two or
three years. They refresh themselves at one island or another, but
especially at those on the south of Cuba; here they careen their
vessels, while some hunt, and others cruise in canoes for prizes.
The inhabitants of New Spain and Campechy lade their best merchandize
in ships of great bulk: the vessels from Campechy sail in the winter
to Caraccas, Trinity isles, and that of Margarita, and return back
again in the summer. The pirates knowing these seasons (being very
diligent in their inquiries) always cruise between the places
above-mentioned; but in case they light on no considerable booty, they
commonly undertake some more hazardous enterprises: one remarkable
instance of which I shall here give you.
A certain pirate called Pierre Francois, or Peter Francis, waiting a
long time at sea with his boat and twenty-six men, for the ships that
were to return from Maracaibo to Camphecy, and not being able to find
any prey, at last he resolved to direct his course to Rancheiras, near
the River de la Plata, in 12 deg. and a half north latitude. Here lies
a rich bank of pearl, to the fishery whereof they yearly sent from
Carthagena twelve vessels with a man-of-war for their defence. Every
vessel has at least two negroes in it, who are very dextrous in diving
to the depth of six fathoms, where they find good store of pearls. On
this fleet, called the pearl-fleet, Pierre Francois resolved to
venture, rather than go home empty; they then rid at anchor at the
mouth of the River de la Hacha, the man-of-war scarce half a league
distant from the small ships, and the wind very calm. Having spied
them in this posture, he presently pulled down his sails, and rowed
along the coast feigning to be a Spanish vessel coming from Maracaibo;
but no sooner was he come to the pearl-bank, when suddenly he
assaulted the vice-admiral of eight guns and sixty men, commanding
them to surrender. The Spaniards made a good defence for some time,
but at last were forced to submit.
Having thus taken the vice-admiral, he resolved to attempt the
man-of-war, with which addition he hoped to master the rest of the
fleet: to this end he presently sunk his own boat, putting forth the
Spanish colours, and weighed anchor with a little wind which then
began to stir, having with threats and promises compelled most of the
Spaniards to assist him: but so soon as the man-of-war perceived one
of his fleet to sail, he did so too, fearing lest the mariners
designed to run away with the riches they had on board. The pirate on
this immediately gave over the enterprise, thinking themselves unable
to encounter force to force: hereupon they endeavoured to get out of
the river and gain the open seas, by making as much sail as they
could; which the man-of-war perceiving, he presently gave them chase,
but the pirates having laid on too much sail, and a gust of wind
suddenly rising, their main-mast was brought by the board, which
disabled them from escaping.
This unhappy event much encouraged those in the man-of-war, they
gaining upon the pirates every moment, and at last overtook them; but
they finding they had twenty-two sound men, the rest being either
killed or wounded, resolved to defend themselves as long as possible;
this they performed very courageously for some time, till they were
forced by the man-of-war, on condition that they should not be used as
slaves to carry stones, or be employed in other labours for three or
four years, as they served their negroes, but that they should be set
safe ashore on free land. On these articles they yielded with all they
had taken, which was worth, in pearls alone, above 100,000 pieces of
eight, besides the vessel, provisions, goods, &c. All which would have
made this a greater prize than he could desire, which he had certainly
carried off, if his main-mast had not been lost, as we said before.
Another bold attempt like this, no less remarkable, I shall also give
you. A certain pirate of Portugal, thence called Bartholomew
Portugues, was cruising in a boat of thirty men and four small guns
from Jamaica, upon the Cape de Corriente in Cuba, where he met a great
ship from Maracaibo and Carthagena, bound for the Havannah, well
provided with twenty great guns and seventy men, passengers and
mariners; this ship he presently assaulted, which they on board as
resolutely defended. The pirate escaping the first encounter, resolved
to attack her more vigorously than before, seeing he had yet suffered
no great damage: this he performed with so much resolution, that at
last, after a long and dangerous fight, he became master of it. The
Portuguese lost only ten men, and had four wounded; so that he had
still remaining twenty fighting men, whereas the Spaniards had double
the number. Having possessed themselves of the ship, the wind being
contrary to return to Jamaica, they resolved to steer to Cape St.
Anthony (which lies west of Cuba), there to repair and take in fresh
water, of which they were then in great want.
[Illustration: BARTHOLOMEUS DE PORTUGEES.
_Hoost yan een party Franse
en Engelse Roovers_.
BARTHOLOMEW PORTUGES.
(_From the Portrait in “De Americaensche Roovers.”_)]
Being very near the cape abovesaid, they unexpectedly met with three
great ships coming from New Spain, and bound for the Havannah; by
these not being able to escape, they were easily retaken, both ship
and pirates, and all made prisoners, and stripped of all the riches
they had taken but just before. The cargo consisted in 120,000 weight
of cocoa-nuts, the chief ingredient of chocolate, and 70,000 pieces of
eight. Two days after this misfortune, there arose a great storm,
which separated the ships from one another. The great vessel, where
the pirates were, arrived at Campechy, where many considerable
merchants came and saluted the captain; these presently knew the
Portuguese pirate, being infamous for the many insolencies, robberies
and murders he had committed on their coasts, which they kept fresh in
their memory.
The next day after their arrival, the magistrates of the city sent to
demand the prisoners from on board the ship, in order to punish them
according to their desserts; but fearing the captain of the pirates
should make his escape (as he had formerly done, being their prisoner
once before) they judged it safer to leave him guarded on ship-board
for the present, while they erected a gibbet to hang him on the next
day, without any other process than to lead him from the ship to his
punishment; the rumour of which was presently brought to Bartholomew
Portugues, whereby he sought all possible means to escape that night:
with this design he took two earthen jars, wherein the Spaniards carry
wine from Spain to the West Indies, and stopped them very well,
intending to use them for swimming, as those unskilled in that art do
corks or empty bladders; having made this necessary preparation, he
waited when all should be asleep; but not being able to escape his
sentinel’s vigilance, he stabbed him with a knife he had secretly
purchased, and then threw himself into the sea with the earthen jars
before-mentioned, by the help of which, though he never learned to
swim, he reached the shore, and immediately took to the woods, where
he hid himself for three days, not daring to appear, eating no other
food than wild herbs.
Those of the city next day made diligent search for him in the woods,
where they concluded him to be. This strict inquiry Portugues saw from
the hollow of a tree, wherein he lay hid; and upon their return he
made the best of his way to del Golpho Triste, forty leagues from
Campechy, where he arrived within a fortnight after his escape: during
which time, as also afterwards, he endured extreme hunger and thirst,
having no other provision with him than a small calabaca with a little
water: besides the fears of falling again into the hands of the
Spaniards. He ate nothing but a few shell-fish, which he found among
the rocks near the seashore; and being obliged to pass some rivers,
not knowing well how to swim, he found at last an old board which the
waves had driven ashore, wherein were a few great nails; these he
took, and with no small labour whetted on a stone, till he had made
them like knives, though not so well; with these, and nothing else, he
cut down some branches of trees, which with twigs and osiers he joined
together, and made as well as he could a boat to waft him over the
rivers: thus arriving at the Cape of Golpho Triste, as was said, he
found a vessel of pirates, comrades of his own, lately come from
Jamaica.
To these he related all his adversities and misfortunes, and withal
desired they would fit him with a boat and twenty men, with which
company alone he promised to return to Campechy, and assault the ship
that was in the river, by which he had been taken fourteen days
before. They presently granted his request, and equipped him a boat
accordingly. With this small company he set out to execute his design,
which he bravely performed eight days after he left Golpho Triste; for
being arrived at Campechy, with an undaunted courage, and without any
noise, he assaulted the said ship: those on board thought it was a
boat from land that came to bring contraband goods, and so were in no
posture of defence; which opportunity the pirates laying hold of,
assaulted them so resolutely, that in a little time they compelled the
Spaniards to surrender.
Being masters of the ship, they immediately weighed anchor and set
sail from the port, lest they should be pursued by other vessels. This
they did with the utmost joy, seeing themselves possessors of so brave
a ship; especially Portugues, who by a second turn of fortune was
become rich and powerful again, who was so lately in that same vessel
a prisoner, condemned to be hanged. With this purchase he designed
greater things, which he might have done, since there remained in the
vessel so great a quantity of rich merchandise, though the plate had
been sent to the city: but while he was making his voyage to Jamaica,
near the isle of Pinos, on the south of Cuba, a terrible storm arose,
which drove against the Jardines rocks, where she was lost; but
Portugues, with his companions, escaped in a canoe, in which he
arrived at Jamaica, where it was not long ere he went on new
adventures, but was never fortunate after.
Nor less considerable are the actions of another pirate who now lives
at Jamaica, who on several occasions has performed very surprising
things. He was born at Groninghen in the United Provinces. His own
name not being known, his companions gave him that of Roche
Brasiliano, by reason of his long residence in Brasil: hence he was
forced to fly, when the Portuguese retook those countries from the
Dutch, several nations then inhabiting at Brasil (as English, French,
Dutch, and others), being constrained to seek new fortunes.
This person fled to Jamaica, where, being at a stand how to get his
living, he entered himself into the society of pirates, where he
served as a private mariner for some time, and behaved himself so
well, that he was beloved and respected by all. One day some of the
mariners quarrelled with their captain to that degree, that they left
the boat. Brasiliano following them, was chosen their leader, who
having fitted out a small vessel, they made him captain.
Within a few days after, he took a great ship coming from New Spain,
which had a great quantity of plate on board, and carried it to
Jamaica. This action got him a great reputation at home; and though in
his private affairs he governed himself very well, he would oftentimes
appear brutish and foolish when in drink, running up and down the
streets, beating and wounding those he met, no person daring to make
any resistance.
To the Spaniards he was always very barbarous and cruel, out of an
inveterate hatred against that nation. Of these he commanded several
to be roasted alive on wooden spits, for not showing him hog-yards
where he might steal swine. After many of these cruelties, as he was
cruising on the coasts of Campechy, a dismal tempest surprised him so
violently, that his ship was wrecked upon the coasts, the mariners
only escaping with their muskets and some few bullets and powder,
which were the only things they could save. The ship was lost between
Campechy and the Golpho Triste: here they got ashore in a canoe, and,
marching along the coast with all the speed they could, they directed
their course towards Golpho Triste, the common refuge of the pirates.
Being upon his journey, and all very hungry and thirsty, as is usual
in desert places, they were pursued by a troop of an hundred
Spaniards. Brasiliano, perceiving their imminent danger, encouraged
his companions, telling them they were better soldiers, and ought
rather to die under their arms fighting, as it became men of courage,
than surrender to the Spaniards, who would take away their lives with
the utmost torments. The pirates were but thirty; yet, seeing their
brave commander oppose the enemy with such courage, resolved to do the
like: hereupon they faced the troop of Spaniards, and discharged their
muskets on them so dextrously, that they killed one horseman almost
with every shot. The fight continued for an hour, till at last the
Spaniards were put to flight. They stripped the dead, and took from
them what was most for their use; such as were also not quite dead
they dispatched with the ends of their muskets.
Having vanquished the enemy, they mounted on horses they found in the
field, and continued their journey; Brasiliano having lost but two of
his companions in this bloody fight, and had two wounded. Prosecuting
their way, before they came to the port they spied a boat at anchor
from Campechy, well manned, protecting a few canoes that were lading
wood: hereupon they sent six of their men to watch them, who next
morning, by a wile, possessed themselves of the canoes. Having given
notice to their companions, they boarded them, and also took the
little man-of-war, their convoy. Being thus masters of this fleet,
they wanted only provisions, of which they found little aboard those
vessels: but this defect was supplied by the horses, which they
killed, and salted with salt, which by good fortune the wood-cutters
had brought with them, with which they supported themselves till they
could get better.
They took also another ship going from New Spain to Maracaibo, laden
with divers sorts of merchandise and pieces of eight, designed to buy
cocoa-nuts for their lading home: all these they carried to Jamaica,
where they safely arrived, and, according to custom, wasted all in a
few days in taverns and stews, giving themselves to all manner of
debauchery. Such of these pirates will spend two or three thousand
pieces of eight in a night, not leaving themselves a good shirt to
wear in the morning. I saw one of them give a common strumpet five
hundred pieces of eight to see her naked. My own master would buy
sometimes a pipe of wine, and, placing it in the street, would force
those that passed by to drink with him, threatening also to pistol
them if they would not. He would do the like with barrels of beer or
ale; and very often he would throw these liquors about the streets,
and wet peoples’ clothes without regarding whether he spoiled their
apparel.
Among themselves these pirates are very liberal: if any one has lost
all, which often happens in their manner of life, they freely give him
of what they have. In taverns and alehouses they have great credit;
but at Jamaica they ought not to run very deep in debt, seeing the
inhabitants there easily sell one another for debt. This happened to
my patron, to be sold for a debt of a tavern wherein he had spent the
greatest part of his money. This man had, within three months before,
three thousand pieces of eight in ready cash, all which he wasted in
that little time, and became poor as I have told you.
But to return: Brasiliano, after having spent all, was forced to go to
sea again to seek his fortune. He set forth towards the coast of
Campechy, his common rendezvous: fifteen days after his arrival, he
put himself into a canoe to espy the port of that city, and see if he
could rob any Spanish vessel; but his fortune was so bad, that both he
and all his men were taken and carried before the governor, who
immediately cast them into a dungeon, intending to hang them every
one; and doubtless he had done so, but for a stratagem of Brasiliano,
which saved their lives. He wrote a letter to the governor, in the
names of other pirates that were abroad at sea, telling him he should
have a care how he used those persons he had in custody; for if he
hurt them in the least, they swore they would never give quarter to
any Spaniard that should fall into their hands.
These pirates having been often at Campechy, and other places of the
West Indies in the Spanish dominions, the governor feared what
mischief their companions abroad might do, if he should punish them.
Hereupon he released them, exacting only an oath on them that they
would leave their exercise of piracy for ever; and withal he sent them
as common mariners, in the galleons, to Spain. They got in this
voyage, all together, five hundred pieces of eight; so that they
tarried not long there after their arrival. Providing themselves with
necessaries, they returned to Jamaica, from whence they set forth
again to sea, committing greater robberies and cruelties than before;
but especially abusing the poor Spaniards, who fell into their hands,
with all sorts of cruelty.
The Spaniards, finding they could gain nothing on these people, nor
diminish their number, daily resolved to lessen the number of their
trading ships. But neither was this of any service; for the pirates,
finding few ships at sea, began to gather into companies, and to land
on their dominions, ruining cities, towns, and villages; pillaging,
burning, and carrying away as much as they could.
The first pirate who began these invasions by land was Lewis Scot, who
sacked the city of Campechy, which he almost ruined, robbing and
destroying all he could; and after he had put it to an excessive
ransom, he left it. After Scot came another named Mansvelt, who
invaded Granada, and penetrated even to the South Sea; till at last,
for want of provision, he was forced to go back. He assaulted the isle
of St. Catherine, which he took, with a few prisoners. These directed
him to Carthagena, a principal city in Nueva Granada. But the bold
attempts and actions of John Davis, born at Jamaica, ought not to be
forgotten, being some of the most remarkable; especially his rare
prudence and valour showed in the fore-mentioned kingdom of Granada.
This pirate, having long cruised in the Gulf of Pocatauro, on the
ships expected to Carthagena, bound for Nicaragua, and not meeting any
of them, resolved at last to land in Nicaragua, leaving his ship hid
on the coast.
This design he soon executed; for taking eighty men out of ninety,
which he had in all--and the rest he left to keep the ship--he divided
them equally into three canoes. His intent was to rob the churches,
and rifle the houses of the chief citizens of Nicaragua. Thus in the
dark night they entered the river leading to that city, rowing in
their canoes; by day they hid themselves and boats under the branches
of trees, on the banks, which grow very thick along the river-sides in
those countries, and along the sea-coast. Being arrived at the city
the third night, the sentinel, who kept the post of the river, thought
them to be fishermen that had been fishing in the lake: and most of
the pirates understanding Spanish, he doubted not, as soon as he heard
them speak. They had in their company an Indian who had run away from
his master, who would have enslaved him unjustly. He went first
ashore, and instantly killed the sentinel: this done, they entered the
city, and went directly to three or four houses of the chief citizens,
where they knocked softly. These, believing them to be friends, opened
the doors; and the pirates, suddenly possessing themselves of the
houses, stole all the money and plate they could find. Nor did they
spare the churches and most sacred things; all which were pillaged and
profaned, without any respect or veneration.
Meanwhile, great cries and lamentations were heard of some who had
escaped them; so that the whole city was in an uproar, and all the
citizens rallied in order to a defence; which the pirates perceiving,
they instantly fled, carrying away their booty, and some prisoners:
these they led away, that if any of them should be taken by the
Spaniards, they might use them for ransom. Thus they got to their
ship, and with all speed put to sea, forcing the prisoners, before
they let them go, to procure them as much flesh as was necessary for
their voyage to Jamaica. But no sooner had they weighed anchor, when
they saw a troop of about five hundred Spaniards, all well armed, at
the sea-side: against these they let fly several guns, wherewith they
forced them to quit the sands, and retire, with no small regret to see
these pirates carry away so much plate of their churches and houses,
though distant at least forty leagues from the sea.
These pirates got, on this occasion, above four thousand pieces of
eight in money, besides much plate, and many jewels; in all, to the
value of fifty thousand pieces of eight, or more: with all this they
arrived at Jamaica soon after. But this sort of people being never
long masters of their money, they were soon constrained to seek more
by the same means; and Captain John Davis, presently after his return,
was chosen admiral of seven or eight vessels, he being now esteemed an
able conductor for such enterprises. He began his new command by
directing his fleet to the north of Cuba, there to wait for the fleet
from New Spain; but missing his design, they determined for Florida.
Being arrived there, they landed their men, and sacked a small city
named St. Augustine of Florida. The castle had a garrison of two
hundred men, but could not prevent the pillage of the city, they
effecting it without the least damage from the soldiers or townsmen.