Of the origin of Francis Lolonois, and the beginning of his
robberies.
Francis Lolonois was a native of that territory in France which is
called Les Sables d’Olone, or The Sands of Olone. In his youth he was
transported to the Caribbee islands, in quality of servant, or slave,
according to custom; of which we have already spoken. Being out of his
time, he came to Hispaniola; here he joined for some time with the
hunters, before he began his robberies upon the Spaniards, which I
shall now relate, till his unfortunate death.
At first he made two or three voyages as a common mariner, wherein he
behaved himself so courageously as to gain the favour of the governor
of Tortuga, Monsieur de la Place; insomuch that he gave him a ship, in
which he might seek his fortune, which was very favourable to him at
first; for in a short time he got great riches. But his cruelties
against the Spaniards were such, that the fame of them made him so
well known through the Indies, that the Spaniards, in his time, would
choose rather to die, or sink fighting, than surrender, knowing they
should have no mercy at his hands. But Fortune, being seldom constant,
after some time turned her back; for in a huge storm he lost his ship
on the coast of Campechy. The men were all saved, but coming upon dry
land, the Spaniards pursued them, and killed the greatest part,
wounding also Lolonois. Not knowing how to escape, he saved his life
by a stratagem; mingling sand with the blood of his wounds, with which
besmearing his face, and other parts of his body, and hiding himself
dextrously among the dead, he continued there till the Spaniards
quitted the field.
They being gone, he retired to the woods, and bound up his wounds as
well as he could. These being pretty well healed, he took his way to
Campechy, having disguised himself in a Spanish habit; here he enticed
certain slaves, to whom he promised liberty if they would obey him and
trust to his conduct. They accepted his promises, and stealing a
canoe, they went to sea with him. Now the Spaniards, having made
several of his companions prisoners, kept them close in a dungeon,
while Lolonois went about the town and saw what passed. These were
often asked, “What is become of your captain?” To whom they constantly
answered, “He is dead:” which rejoiced the Spaniards, who made
bonfires, and, knowing nothing to the contrary, gave thanks to God for
their deliverance from such a cruel pirate. Lolonois, having seen
these rejoicings for his death, made haste to escape, with the slaves
above-mentioned, and came safe to Tortuga, the common refuge of all
sorts of wickedness, and the seminary, as it were, of pirates and
thieves. Though now his fortune was low, yet he got another ship with
craft and subtlety, and in it twenty-one men. Being well provided with
arms and necessaries, he set forth for Cuba, on the south whereof is a
small village, called De los Cayos. The inhabitants drive a great
trade in tobacco, sugar, and hides, and all in boats, not being able
to use ships, by reason of the little depth of that sea.
[Illustration: FRANCOIS LOLONOIS.
_gebooren in Olonne in Vranckryck
Generaal van de Fransse Roovers in Tortuga_
LOLONOIS.
(_From the Portrait in “De Americaensche Roovers.”_)]
Lolonois was persuaded he should get here some considerable prey; but
by the good fortune of some fishermen who saw him, and the mercy of
God, they escaped him: for the inhabitants of the town dispatched
immediately a vessel overland to the Havannah, complaining that
Lolonois was come to destroy them with two canoes. The governor could
very hardly believe this, having received letters from Campechy that
he was dead: but, at their importunity, he sent a ship to their
relief, with ten guns, and ninety men, well armed; giving them this
express command, “that they should not return into his presence
without having totally destroyed those pirates.” To this effect he
gave them a negro to serve for a hangman, and orders, “that they
should immediately hang every one of the pirates, excepting Lolonois,
their captain, whom they should bring alive to the Havannah.” This
ship arrived at Cayos, of whose coming the pirates were advertised
beforehand, and instead of flying, went to seek it in the river
Estera, where she rode at anchor. The pirates seized some fishermen,
and forced them by night to show them the entry of the port, hoping
soon to obtain a greater vessel than their two canoes, and thereby to
mend their fortune. They arrived, after two in the morning, very nigh
the ship; and the watch on board the ship asking them, whence they
came, and if they had seen any pirates abroad? They caused one of the
prisoners to answer, they had seen no pirates, nor anything else.
Which answer made them believe that they were fled upon hearing of
their coming.
But they soon found the contrary, for about break of day the pirates
assaulted the vessel on both sides, with their two canoes, with such
vigour, that though the Spaniards behaved themselves as they ought,
and made as good defence as they could, making some use of their great
guns, yet they were forced to surrender, being beaten by the pirates,
with sword in hand, down under the hatches. From hence Lolonois
commanded them to be brought up, one by one, and in this order caused
their heads to be struck off: among the rest came up the negro,
designed to be the pirates’ executioner; this fellow implored mercy at
his hands very dolefully, telling Lolonois he was constituted hangman
of that ship, and if he would spare him, he would tell him faithfully
all that he should desire. Lolonois, making him confess what he
thought fit, commanded him to be murdered with the rest. Thus he
cruelly and barbarously put them all to death, reserving only one
alive, whom he sent back to the governor of the Havannah, with this
message in writing: “I shall never henceforward give quarter to any
Spaniard whatsoever; and I have great hopes I shall execute on your
own person the very same punishment I have done upon them you sent
against me. Thus I have retaliated the kindness you designed to me and
my companions.” The governor, much troubled at this sad news, swore,
in the presence of many, that he would never grant quarter to any
pirate that should fall into his hands. But the citizens of the
Havannah desired him not to persist in the execution of that rash and
rigorous oath, seeing the pirates would certainly take occasion from
thence to do the same, and they had an hundred times more opportunity
of revenge than he; that being necessitated to get their livelihood by
fishery, they should hereafter always be in danger of their lives. By
these reasons he was persuaded to bridle his anger, and remit the
severity of his oath.
Now Lolonois had got a good ship, but very few provisions and people
in it; to purchase both which, he resolved to cruise from one port to
another. Doing thus, for some time, without success, he determined to
go to the port of Maracaibo. Here he surprised a ship laden with
plate, and other merchandises, outward bound, to buy cocoa-nuts. With
this prize he returned to Tortuga, where he was received with joy by
the inhabitants; they congratulating his happy success, and their own
private interest. He stayed not long there, but designed to equip a
fleet sufficient to transport five hundred men, and necessaries. Thus
provided, he resolved to pillage both cities, towns, and villages, and
finally, to take Maracaibo itself. For this purpose he knew the island
of Tortuga would afford him many resolute and courageous men, fit for
such enterprises: besides, he had in his service several prisoners
well acquainted with the ways and places designed upon.