CHAPTER XVIII.

Captain Morgan sends canoes and boats to the South Sea--He

fires the city of Panama--Robberies and cruelties committed

there by the pirates, till their return to the Castle of

Chagre.

Captain Morgan, as soon as he had placed necessary guards at several

quarters within and without the city, commanded twenty-five men to

seize a great boat, which had stuck in the mud of the port, for want

of water, at a low tide. The same day about noon, he caused fire

privately to be set to several great edifices of the city, nobody

knowing who were the authors thereof, much less on what motives

Captain Morgan did it, which are unknown to this day: the fire

increased so, that before night the greatest part of the city was in a

flame. Captain Morgan pretended the Spaniards has done it, perceiving

that his own people reflected on him for that action. Many of the

Spaniards, and some of the pirates, did what they could, either to

quench the flame, or, by blowing up houses with gunpowder, and pulling

down others, to stop it, but in vain: for in less than half an hour it

consumed a whole street. All the houses of the city were built with

cedar, very curious and magnificent, and richly adorned, especially

with hangings and paintings, whereof part were before removed, and

another great part were consumed by fire.

There were in this city (which is the see of a bishop) eight

monasteries, seven for men, and one for women; two stately churches,

and one hospital. The churches and monasteries were all richly adorned

with altar-pieces and paintings, much gold and silver, and other

precious things, all which the ecclesiastics had hidden. Besides

which, here were two thousand houses of magnificent building, the

greatest part inhabited by merchants vastly rich. For the rest of less

quality, and tradesmen, this city contained five thousand more. Here

were also many stables for the horses and mules that carry the plate

of the king of Spain, as well as private men, towards the North Sea.

The neighbouring fields are full of fertile plantations and pleasant

gardens, affording delicious prospects to the inhabitants all the

year.

The Genoese had in this city a stately house for their trade of

negroes. This likewise was by Captain Morgan burnt to the very ground.

Besides which building, there were consumed two hundred warehouses,

and many slaves, who had hid themselves therein, with innumerable

sacks of meal; the fire of which continued four weeks after it had

begun. The greatest part of the pirates still encamped without the

city, fearing and expecting the Spaniards would come and fight them

anew, it being known they much outnumbered the pirates. This made them

keep the field, to preserve their forces united, now much diminished

by their losses. Their wounded, which were many, they put into one

church, which remained standing, the rest being consumed by the fire.

Besides these decreases of their men, Captain Morgan had sent a convoy

of one hundred and fifty men to the castle of Chagre, to carry the

news of his victory at Panama.

They saw often whole troops of Spaniards run to and fro in the fields,

which made them suspect their rallying, which they never had the

courage to do. In the afternoon Captain Morgan re-entered the city

with his troops, that every one might take up their lodgings, which

now they could hardly find, few houses having escaped the fire. Then

they sought very carefully among the ruins and ashes, for utensils of

plate or gold, that were not quite wasted by the flames: and of such

they found no small number, especially in wells and cisterns, where

the Spaniards had hid them.

Next day Captain Morgan dispatched away two troops, of one hundred and

fifty men each, stout and well armed, to seek for the inhabitants who

were escaped. These having made several excursions up and down the

fields, woods, and mountains adjacent, returned after two days,

bringing above two hundred prisoners, men, women, and slaves. The same

day returned also the boat which Captain Morgan had sent to the South

Sea, bringing three other boats which they had taken. But all these

prizes they could willingly have given, and greater labour into the

bargain, for one galleon, which miraculously escaped, richly laden

with all the king’s plate, jewels, and other precious goods of the

best and richest merchants of Panama: on board which were also the

religious women of the nunnery, who had embarked with them all the

ornaments of their church, consisting in much gold, plate, and other

things of great value.

The strength of this galleon was inconsiderable, having only seven

guns, and ten or twelve muskets, and very ill provided with victuals,

necessaries, and fresh water, having no more sails than the uppermost

of the mainmast. This account the pirates received from some who had

spoken with seven mariners belonging to the galleon, who came ashore

in the cockboat for fresh water. Hence they concluded they might

easily have taken it, had they given her chase, as they should have

done; but they were impeded from following this vastly rich prize, by

their lascivious exercises with women, which they had carried and

forced on board their boat. To this vice were also joined those of

gluttony and drunkenness, having plentifully debauched themselves with

several rich wines they found ready, choosing rather to satiate their

lusts and appetites than to lay hold on such huge advantage; since

this only prize would have been of far greater value than all they got

at Panama, and the places thereabout. Next day, repenting of their

negligence, being weary of their vices and debaucheries, they set

forth another boat, well armed, to pursue with all speed the said

galleon; but in vain, the Spaniards who were on board having had

intelligence of their own danger one or two days before, while the

pirates were cruising so near them; whereupon they fled to places more

remote and unknown.

The pirates found, in the ports of the island of Tavoga and Tavogilla,

several boats laden with very good merchandise; all which they took,

and brought to Panama, where they made an exact relation of all that

had passed to Captain Morgan. The prisoners confirmed what the pirates

said, adding, that they undoubtedly knew where the galleon might then

be, but that it was very probable they had been relieved before now

from other places. This stirred up Captain Morgan anew, to send forth

all the boats in the port of Panama to seek the said galleon till they

could find her. These boats, being in all four, after eight days’

cruising to and fro, and searching several ports and creeks, lost all

hopes of finding her: hereupon they returned to Tavoga and Tavogilla;

here they found a reasonable good ship newly come from Payta, laden

with cloth, soap, sugar, and biscuit, with 20,000 pieces of eight;

this they instantly seized, without the least resistance; as also a

boat which was not far off, on which they laded great part of the

merchandises from the ship, with some slaves. With this purchase they

returned to Panama, somewhat better satisfied: yet, withal, much

discontented that they could not meet with the galleon.

The convoy which Captain Morgan had sent to the castle of Chagre

returned much about the same time, bringing with them very good news;

for while Captain Morgan was on his journey to Panama, those he had

left in the castle of Chagre had sent forth two boats to cruise. These

met with a Spanish ship, which they chased within sight of the castle.

This being perceived by the pirates in the castle, they put forth

Spanish colours, to deceive the ship that fled before the boats; and

the poor Spaniards, thinking to take refuge under the castle, were

caught in a snare, and made prisoners. The cargo on board the said

vessel consisted in victuals and provisions, than which nothing could

be more opportune for the castle, where they began already to want

things of this kind.

This good luck of those of Chagre caused Captain Morgan to stay longer

at Panama, ordering several new excursions into the country round

about; and while the pirates at Panama were upon these expeditions,

those at Chagre was busy in piracies on the North Sea. Captain Morgan

sent forth, daily, parties of two hundred men, to make inroads into

all the country round about; and when one party came back, another

went forth, who soon gathered much riches, and many prisoners. These

being brought into the city, were put to the most exquisite tortures,

to make them confess both other people’s goods and their own. Here it

happened that one poor wretch was found in the house of a person of

quality, who had put on, amidst the confusion, a pair of taffety

breeches of his master’s, with a little silver key hanging out;

perceiving which, they asked him for the cabinet of the said key. His

answer was, he knew not what was become of it, but that finding those

breeches in his master’s house, he had made bold to wear them. Not

being able to get any other answer, they put him on the rack, and

inhumanly disjointed his arms; then they twisted a cord about his

forehead, which they wrung so hard that his eyes appeared as big as

eggs, and were ready to fall out. But with these torments not

obtaining any positive answer, they hung him up by the testicles,

giving him many blows and stripes under that intolerable pain and

posture of body. Afterwards they cut off his nose and ears, and singed

his face with burning straw, till he could not speak, nor lament his

misery any longer: then, losing all hopes of any confession, they bade

a negro run him through, which put an end to his life, and to their

inhuman tortures. Thus did many others of those miserable prisoners

finish their days, the common sport and recreation of these pirates

being such tragedies.

They spared in these their cruelties no sex nor condition: for as to

religious persons, and priests, they granted them less quarter than

others, unless they could produce a considerable sum, sufficient for a

ransom. Women were no better used, except they submitted to their

filthy lusts; for such as would not consent were treated with all the

rigour imaginable. Captain Morgan gave them no good example in this

point: for when any beautiful woman was brought prisoner to his

presence, he used all means, both of rigour and mildness, to bend them

to his lascivious pleasure. For confirmation of which, I shall give a

short history of a lady, whose virtue and constancy ought to be

transmitted to posterity.

Among the prisoners brought by the pirates from Tavoga and Tavogilla

was a gentlewoman of good quality, and no less virtue and chastity,

wife to one of the richest merchants there. She was young, and so

beautiful, as perhaps few in all Europe surpassed her, either in

comeliness or honesty. Her husband then was from home, being gone as

far as Peru, about his commerce and trade. This virtuous lady, hearing

of the pirates’ coming, had fled, with other friends and relations, to

preserve her life from the cruelties and tyrannies of those

hard-hearted enemies: but no sooner did she appear before Captain

Morgan, but she was designed for his pleasure. Hereupon, he lodged her

in an apartment by herself, giving her a negro, or black woman, to

wait on her, and treated her with all the respect due to her quality.

The poor afflicted lady begged, with many sobs and tears, to lodge

among the other prisoners; her relations fearing that unexpected

kindness of the commander might be a design on her chastity. But

Captain Morgan would by no means hearken to her; but commanded she

should be treated with more particular care than before, and have her

victuals from his own table.

This lady had formerly heard very strange reports concerning the

pirates, as if they were not men, but, as they said, heretics, who did

neither invoke the blessed Trinity, nor believe in Jesus Christ. But

now she began to have better thoughts of them, upon these civilities

of Captain Morgan; especially hearing him many times swear by God, and

Jesus Christ, in whom, she thought, they did not believe. Nor did she

think them to be so bad, or to have the shapes of beasts, as had been

related. As to the name of robbers, or thieves, commonly given them,

she wondered not much at it, seeing, among all nations of the

universe, there were wicked men, covetous to possess the goods of

others. Like this was the opinion of another woman of weak

understanding at Panama, who used to say, before the pirates came

thither, she had a great curiosity to see a pirate, her husband having

often told her that they were not like other men, but rather

irrational beasts. This silly woman happening to see the first of

them, cried out aloud, “Jesus bless me! these thieves are like us

Spaniards.”

This false civility of Captain Morgan towards this lady, as is usual

to such as pretend, and cannot obtain, was soon changed into barbarous

cruelty; for after three or four days he came to see her, and

entertained her with lascivious discourses, desiring the

accomplishment of his lust. The virtuous lady constantly denied him,

with much civility, and many humble and modest expressions; but

Captain Morgan still persisted in his base request, presenting to her

much pearl, gold, and whatever he had that was precious and valuable:

but the lady, not willing to consent, or accept his presents, showing

herself like Susannah for constancy, he presently changed his note,

and addressed her in another tone, threatening a thousand cruelties

and hard usages. To all which she gave only this resolute and positive

answer: “Sir, my life is in your hands: but as to my body, in relation

to that which you would persuade me to, my soul shall sooner be

separated from it, through the violence of your arms, than I shall

condescend to your request.” Captain Morgan understanding this her

heroic resolution, commanded her to be stripped of the best of her

apparel, and imprisoned in a darksome stinking cellar; here she was

allowed a small quantity of meat and drink, wherewith she had much ado

to sustain her life.

Under this hardship the virtuous lady prayed daily to God Almighty for

constancy and patience; but Captain Morgan, now thoroughly convinced

of her chaste resolutions, as also desirous to conceal the cause of

her hard usage--since many of his companions compassionated her

condition--pretended she held intelligence with the Spaniards, and

corresponded with them, abusing his lenity and kindness. I myself was

an eye-witness thereof, and could never have judged such constancy and

chastity to be found in the world, if my own eyes and ears had not

assured me thereof. But of this incomparable lady I shall say

something more hereafter.

Captain Morgan having now been at Panama full three weeks, commanded

all things to be prepared for his departure. He ordered every company

of men to seek so many beasts of carriage as might convey the spoil to

the river where his canoes lay. About this time there was a great

rumour, that a considerable number of pirates intended to leave

Captain Morgan; and that, taking a ship then in the port, they

determined to go and rob on the South Sea, till they had got as much

as they thought fit, and then return homewards, by way of the East

Indies. For which purpose they had gathered much provisions, which

they had hid in private places, with sufficient powder, bullets, and

all other ammunition: likewise some great guns belonging to the town,

muskets, and other things, wherewith they designed not only to equip

their vessel, but to fortify themselves in some island which might

serve them for a place of refuge.

This design had certainly taken effect, had not Captain Morgan had

timely advice of it from one of their comrades: hereupon he commanded

the mainmast of the said ship to be cut down and burnt, with all the

other boats in the port: hereby the intentions of all or most of his

companions were totally frustrated. Then Captain Morgan sent many of

the Spaniards into the adjoining fields and country to seek for money,

to ransom not only themselves, but the rest of the prisoners, as

likewise the ecclesiastics. Moreover, he commanded all the artillery

of the town to be nailed and stopped up. At the same time he sent out

a strong company of men to seek for the governor of Panama, of whom

intelligence was brought, that he had laid several ambuscades in the

way by which he ought to return: but they returned soon after, saying

they had not found any sign of any such ambuscades. For confirmation

whereof, they brought some prisoners, who declared that the said

governor had had an intention of making some opposition by the way,

but that the men designed to effect it were unwilling to undertake it:

so that for want of means he could not put his design in execution.

February 24, 1671, Captain Morgan departed from Panama, or rather from

the place where the city of Panama stood; of the spoils whereof he

carried with him one hundred and seventy-five beasts of carriage,

laden with silver, gold, and other precious things, beside about six

hundred prisoners, men, women, children and slaves. That day they came

to a river that passes through a delicious plain, a league from

Panama: here Captain Morgan put all his forces into good order, so as

that the prisoners were in the middle, surrounded on all sides with

pirates, where nothing else was to be heard but lamentations, cries,

shrieks, and doleful sighs of so many women and children, who feared

Captain Morgan designed to transport them all into his own country for

slaves. Besides, all those miserable prisoners endured extreme hunger

and thirst at that time, which misery Captain Morgan designedly caused

them to sustain, to excite them to seek for money to ransom

themselves, according to the tax he had set upon every one. Many of

the women begged Captain Morgan, on their knees, with infinite sighs

and tears, to let them return to Panama, there to live with their dear

husbands and children, in little huts of straw, which they would

erect, seeing they had no houses till the rebuilding of the city. But

his answer was, “He came not thither to hear lamentations and cries,

but to seek money: therefore they ought first to seek out that,

wherever it was to be had, and bring it to him; otherwise he would

assuredly transport them all to such places whither they cared not to

go.”

Next day, when the march began, those lamentable cries and shrieks

were renewed, so as it would have caused compassion in the hardest

heart: but Captain Morgan, as a man little given to mercy, was not

moved in the least. They marched in the same order as before, one

party of the pirates in the van, the prisoners in the middle, and the

rest of the pirates in the rear; by whom the miserable Spaniards were

at every step punched and thrust in their backs and sides, with the

blunt ends of their arms, to make them march faster.

That beautiful and virtuous lady, mentioned before for her

unparalleled constancy and chastity, was led prisoner by herself,

between two pirates. Her lamentations now 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 deserts.

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

victualling 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 of 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 re-embarked, and arrived at the castle of Chagre on

the 9th of March. Here they found all things in good order, excepting

the wounded men whom they had left at their departure; for of these

the greatest number were dead of their wounds.

From Chagre, Captain Morgan sent, presently after his arrival, a great

boat to Puerto Bello, with all the prisoners taken at the isle of St.

Catherine, demanding of them a considerable ransom for the castle of

Chagre, where he then was; threatening otherwise to ruin it. To this

those of Puerto Bello answered, they would not give one farthing

towards the ransom of the said castle, and the English might do with

it as they pleased. Hereupon the dividend was made of all the spoil

made in that voyage; every company, and every particular person

therein, receiving their proportion, or rather what part thereof

Captain Morgan pleased to give them. For the rest of his companions,

even of his own nation, murmured at his proceedings, and told him to

his face that he had reserved the best jewels to himself: for they

judged it impossible that no greater share should belong to them than

two hundred pieces of eight, per capita, of so many valuable plunders

they had made; which small sum they thought too little for so much

labour, and such dangers, as they had been exposed to. But Captain

Morgan was deaf to all this, and many other like complaints, having

designed to cheat them of what he could.

At last, finding himself obnoxious to many censures of his people, and

fearing the consequence, he thought it unsafe to stay any longer at

Chagre, but ordered the ordnance of the castle to be carried on board

his ship; then he caused most of the walls to be demolished, the

edifices to be burnt, and as many other things ruined as could be done

in a short time. This done, he went secretly on board his own ship,

without giving any notice to his companions, and put out to sea, being

only followed by three or four vessels of the whole fleet. These were

such (as the French pirates believed) as went shares with Captain

Morgan in the best part of the spoil, which had been concealed from

them in the dividend. The Frenchmen could willingly have revenged

themselves on Captain Morgan and his followers, had they been able to

encounter him at sea; but they were destitute of necessaries, and had

much ado to find sufficient provisions for their voyage to Jamaica, he

having left them unprovided for all things.

END OF THE BUCCANEERS.

_A GENUINE ACCOUNT OF FOUR NOTORIOUS

PIRATES._

[Illustration: _Blackbeard the Pirate._]

I.

CAPTAIN TEACH _alias_ BLACK-BEARD.

His beginning--His confederacy with Hornygold--The confederacy

broken--Takes a large Guineaman--Engages the _Scarborough_

man-of-war--His alliance with Major Stede Bonnet--Deposes

his new ally--His advice to the Major--His progress and

success--Takes prizes in sight of Charles Town--Sends

ambassadors to the Governor of Carolina upon an impudent

demand--Runs his ship aground designedly--His cruelty

to some of his own companions--Surrenders to the King’s

Proclamation--The Governor of North Carolina’s exceeding

generosity to him--He marries--The number of his wives

then living--Makes a second excursion in the way of

pirating--Some State legerdemain betwixt him and the

Governor--His frolics on shore--The merchants apply for

a force against him, and where--A proclamation with a

reward for taking or killing of pirates--Lieutenant

Maynard sent in pursuit of him--Black-beard’s good

intelligence--The lieutenant engages Black-beard--A most

execrable health drunk by Black-beard--The fight bloody;

the particulars of it--Black-beard killed--His sloop

taken--The lieutenant’s conduct--A reflection on the

humours of seamen--Black-beard’s correspondents discovered

by his papers--Black-beard’s desperate resolution

before the fight--The lieutenant and Governor no very

good friends--The prisoners hanged--Samuel Odell saved,

and why--The good luck of Israel Hands--Black-beard’s

mischievous frolics--His beard described--Several

instances of his wickedness--Some memoranda taken from

his journal--The names of the pirates killed in the

engagement--Of those executed--The value of the prize.

Edward Teach was a Bristol man born, but had sailed some time out of

Jamaica, in privateers, in the late French war; yet though he had

often distinguished himself for his uncommon boldness and personal

courage, he was never raised to any command, till he went a-pirating,

which, I think, was at the latter end of the year 1716, when Captain

Benjamin Hornygold put him into a sloop that he had made prize of, and

with whom he continued in consortship till a little while before

Hornygold surrendered.

In the spring of the year 1717 Teach and Hornygold sailed from

Providence, for the main of America, and took in their way a billop

from the Havana, with 120 barrels of flour, as also a sloop from

Bermuda, Thurbar master, from whom they took only some gallons of

wine, and then let him go; and a ship from Madeira to South Carolina,

out of which they got plunder to a considerable value.

After cleaning on the coast of Virginia, they returned to the West

Indies, and in the latitude of 24, made prize of a large French

Guineaman, bound to Martinico, which, by Hornygold’s consent, Teach

went aboard of as captain, and took a cruise in her. Hornygold

returned with his sloop to Providence, where, at the arrival of

Captain Rogers, the governor, he surrendered to mercy, pursuant to the

king’s proclamation.

Aboard of this Guineaman Teach mounted forty guns, and named her the

_Queen Ann’s Revenge_; and cruising near the island of St. Vincent,

took a large ship, called the _Great Allen_, Christopher Taylor,

commander; the pirates plundered her of what they thought fit, put all

the men ashore upon the island above mentioned, and set fire to the

ship.

A few days after Teach fell in with the _Scarborough_, man-of-war, of

thirty guns, who engaged him for some hours; but she, finding the

pirate well-manned, and having tried her strength, gave over the

engagement and returned to Barbadoes, the place of her station, and

Teach sailed towards the Spanish America.

In his way he met with a pirate sloop of ten guns, commanded by one

Major Bonnet, lately a gentleman of good reputation and estate in the

island of Barbadoes, whom he joined; but in a few days after, Teach,

finding that Bonnet knew nothing of a maritime life, with the consent

of his own men, put in another captain, one Richards, to command

Bonnet’s sloop, and took the Major on board his own ship, telling him,

that as he had not been used to the fatigues and care of such a post,

it would be better for him to decline it and live easy, at his

pleasure, in such a ship as his, where he would not be obliged to

perform the necessary duties of a sea-voyage.

At Turniff, ten leagues short of the Bay of Honduras, the pirates took

in fresh water, and while they were at anchor there, they saw a sloop

coming in, whereupon Richards, in the sloop called the _Revenge_,

slipped his cable and run out to meet her; who, upon seeing the black

flag hoisted, struck his sail and came to under the stern of Teach,

the commodore. She was called the _Adventure_, from Jamaica, David

Harriot, master. They took him and his men aboard the great ship, and

sent a number of other hands with Israel Hands, master of Teach’s

ship, to man the sloop for the piratical account.

The 9th of April they weighed from Turniff, having lain there about a

week, and sailed to the bay, where they found a ship and four sloops;

three of the latter belonged to Jonathan Bernard, of Jamaica, and the

other to Captain James. The ship was of Boston, called the _Protestant

Cæsar_, Captain Wyar, commander. Teach hoisted his black colours and

fired a gun, upon which Captain Wyar and all his men left their ship

and got ashore in their boat. Teach’s quartermaster and eight of his

crew took possession of Wyar’s ship, and Richards secured all the

sloops, one of which they burnt out of spite to the owner. The

_Protestant Cæsar_ they also burnt, after they had plundered her,

because she belonged to Boston, where some men had been hanged for

piracy; and the three sloops belonging to Bernard they let go.

From hence the rovers sailed to Turkill, and then to the Grand

Caimanes, a small island about thirty leagues to the westward of

Jamaica, where they took a small turtler, and so to the Havana, and

from thence to the Bahama Wrecks; and from the Bahama Wrecks they

sailed to Carolina, taking a brigantine and two sloops in their way,

where they lay off the bar of Charles Town for five or six days. They

took here a ship as she was coming out, bound for London, commanded by

Robert Clark, with some passengers on board for England. The next day

they took another vessel coming out of Charles Town, and also two

pinks coming into Charles Town; likewise a brigantine with fourteen

negroes aboard; all of which, being done in the face of the town,

struck a great terror to the whole province of Carolina, having just

before been visited by Vane, another notorious pirate, that they

abandoned themselves to despair, being in no condition to resist their

force. There were eight sail in the harbour, ready for the sea, but

none dared to venture out, it being almost impossible to escape their

hands. The inward bound vessels were under the same unhappy dilemma,

so that the trade of this place was totally interrupted. What made

these misfortunes heavier to them was a long, expensive war the colony

had had with the natives, which was but just ended when these robbers

infested them.

Teach detained all the ships and prisoners, and, being in want of

medicines, resolved to demand a chest from the government of the

province. Accordingly, Richards, the captain of the _Revenge_ sloop,

with two or three more pirates, were sent up along with Mr. Marks, one

of the prisoners whom they had taken in Clark’s ship, and very

insolently made their demands, threatening that if they did not send

immediately the chest of medicines and let the pirate ambassadors

return, without offering any violence to their persons, they would

murder all their prisoners, send up their heads to the governor, and

set the ships they had taken on fire.

Whilst Mr. Marks was making application to the council, Richards and

the rest of the pirates walked the streets publicly in the sight of

all people, who were fired with the utmost indignation, looking upon

them as robbers and murderers, and particularly the authors of their

wrongs and oppressions, but durst not so much as think of executing

their revenge for fear of bringing more calamities upon themselves,

and so they were forced to let the villains pass with impunity. The

government were not long in deliberating upon the message, though it

was the greatest affront that could have been put upon them, yet, for

the saving so many men’s lives (among them Mr. Samuel Wragg, one of

the council), they complied with the necessity and sent aboard a

chest, valued at between three and four hundred pounds, and the

pirates went back safe to their ships.

Black-beard (for so Teach was generally called, as we shall hereafter

show), as soon as he had received the medicines and his brother

rogues, let go the ships and the prisoners, having first taken out of

them in gold and silver about £1,500 sterling, besides provisions and

other matters.

From the bar of Charles Town they sailed to North Carolina, Captain

Teach in the ship, which they called the man-of-war, Captain Richards

and Captain Hands in the sloops, which they termed privateers, and

another sloop serving them as a tender. Teach began now to think of

breaking up the company and securing the money and the best of the

effects for himself and some others of his companions he had most

friendship for, and to cheat the rest. Accordingly, on pretence of

running into Topsail inlet to clean, he grounded his ship, and then,

as if it had been done undesignedly and by accident, he orders Hands’

sloop to come to his assistance and get him off again, which he,

endeavouring to do, ran the sloop on shore near the other, and so were

both lost. This done, Teach goes into the tender sloop, with forty

hands, and leaves the _Revenge_ there, then takes seventeen others and

maroons them upon a small sandy island, about a league from the main,

where there was neither bird, beast, or herb for their subsistence,

and where they must have perished if Major Bonnet had not, two days

after, taken them off.

Teach goes up to the governor of North Carolina, with about twenty of

his men, and they surrender to his Majesty’s proclamation, and receive

certificates thereof from his Excellency; but it did not appear that

their submitting to this pardon was from any reformation of manners,

but only to await a more favourable opportunity to play the same game

over again; which he soon after effected, with greater security to

himself, and with much better prospect of success, having in this time

cultivated a very good understanding with Charles Eden, Esq., the

governor above mentioned.

The first piece of service this kind governor did to Black-beard was

to give him a right to the vessel which he had taken when he was

a-pirating in the great ship called the _Queen Ann’s Revenge_, for

which purpose a court of vice-admiralty was held at Bath Town, and,

though Teach had never any commission in his life, and the sloop

belonging to the English merchants, and taken in time of peace, yet

was she condemned as a prize taken from the Spaniards by the said

Teach. These proceedings show that governors are but men.

Before he sailed upon his adventures, he married a young creature of

about sixteen years of age, the governor performing the ceremony. As

it is a custom to marry here by a priest, so it is there by a

magistrate; and this, I have been informed, made Teach’s fourteenth

wife whereof about a dozen might be still living.

In June, 1718, he went to sea upon another expedition, and steered his

course towards Bermudas. He met with two or three English vessels in

his way, but robbed them only of provisions, stores, and other

necessaries, for his present expense; but near the island before

mentioned, he fell in with two French ships, one of them was laden

with sugar and cocoa, and the other light, both bound to Martinico.

The ship that had no lading he let go, and putting all the men of the

loaded ship aboard her, he brought home the other with her cargo to

North Carolina, where the governor and the pirates shared the plunder.

When Teach and his prize arrived he and four of his crew went to his

Excellency and made affidavit that they found the French ship at sea

without a soul on board her; and then a court was called, and the ship

condemned. The governor had sixty hogsheads of sugar for his dividend,

and one Mr. Knight, who was his secretary and collector for the

province, twenty, and the rest was shared among the other pirates.

The business was not yet done; the ship remained, and it was possible

one or other might come into the river that might be acquainted with

her, and so discover the roguery. But Teach thought of a contrivance

to prevent this, for, upon a pretence that she was leaky, and that she

might sink, and so stop up the mouth of the inlet or cove where she

lay, he obtained an order from the governor to bring her out into the

river and set her on fire, which was accordingly executed, and she was

burnt down to the water’s edge, her bottom sunk, and with it their

fears of her ever rising in judgment against them.

Captain Teach, alias Black-beard, passed three or four months in the

river, sometimes lying at anchor in the coves, at other times sailing

from one inlet to another, trading with such sloops as he met for the

plunder he had taken, and would often give them presents for stores

and provisions he took from them; that is, when he happened to be in a

giving humour; at other times he made bold with them, and took what he

liked, without saying “By your leave,” knowing well they dared not

send him a bill for the payment. He often diverted himself with going

ashore among the planters, where he revelled night and day. By these

he was well received, but whether out of love or fear I cannot say.

Sometimes he used them courteously enough, and made them presents of

rum and sugar in recompense of what he took from them; but, as for

liberties, which it is said he and his companions often took with the

wives and daughters of the planters, I cannot take upon me to say

whether he paid them _ad valorem_ or no. At other times he carried it

in a lordly manner towards them, and would lay some of them under

contribution; nay, he often proceeded to bully the governor, not that

I can discover the least cause of quarrel between them, but it seemed

only to be done to show he dared do it.

The sloops trading up and down this river being so frequently pillaged

by Black-beard, consulted with the traders and some of the best of the

planters what course to take. They saw plainly it would be in vain to

make any application to the governor of North Carolina, to whom it

properly belonged to find some redress; so that if they could not be

relieved from some other quarter, Black-beard would be like to reign

with impunity; therefore, with as much secrecy as possible, they sent

a deputation to Virginia, to lay the affair before the governor of

that colony, and to solicit an armed force from the men-of-war lying

there to take or destroy this pirate.

This governor consulted with the captains of the two men-of-war, viz.,

the _Pearl_ and _Lime_, who had lain in St. James’s river about ten

months. It was agreed that the governor should hire a couple of small

sloops, and the men-of-war should man them. This was accordingly done,

and the command of them given to Mr. Robert Maynard, first lieutenant

of the _Pearl_, an experienced officer, and a gentleman of great

bravery and resolution, as will appear by his gallant behaviour in

this expedition. The sloops were well manned, and furnished with

ammunition and small arms, but had no guns mounted.

About the time of their going out the governor called an assembly, in

which it was resolved to publish a proclamation, offering certain

rewards to any person or persons who, within a year after that time,

should take or destroy any pirate. The original proclamation, being in

our hands, is as follows:--

By his Majesty’s Lieutenant-Governor and Commander-in-Chief

of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia.

A PROCLAMATION,

Publishing the Rewards given for apprehending or killing

Pirates.

WHEREAS, by an Act of Assembly, made at a Session of Assembly, begun

at the capital in Williamsburg, the eleventh day of November, in

the fifth year of his Majesty’s reign, entitled, An Act to Encourage

the Apprehending and Destroying of Pirates: It is, amongst other

things, enacted, that all and every person, or persons, who, from

and after the fourteenth day of November, in the Year of our Lord

one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, and before the fourteenth

day of November, which shall be in the Year of our Lord one thousand

seven hundred and nineteen, shall take any pirate, or pirates,

on the sea or land, or, in case of resistance, shall kill any

such pirate, or pirates, between the degrees of thirty-four and

thirty-nine of northern latitude, and within one hundred leagues

of the continent of Virginia, or within the provinces of Virginia,

or North Carolina, upon the conviction, or making due proof of

the killing of all and every such pirate, and pirates, before the

Governor and Council, shall be entitled to have, and receive out

of the public money, in the hands of the Treasurer of this Colony,

the several rewards following: that is to say, for Edward Teach,

commonly called Captain Teach, or Black-beard, one hundred pounds;

for every other commander of a pirate ship, sloop, or vessel, forty

pounds; for every lieutenant, master, or quartermaster, boatswain, or

carpenter, twenty pounds; for every other inferior officer, fifteen

pounds; and for every private man taken on board such ship, sloop, or

vessel, ten pounds; and that for every pirate which shall be taken

by any ship, sloop, or vessel, belonging to this colony, or North

Carolina, within the time aforesaid, in any place whatsoever, the

like rewards shall be paid according to the quality and condition of

such pirates. Wherefore, for the encouragement of all such persons

as shall be willing to serve his Majesty, and their country, in so

just and honourable an undertaking as the suppressing a sort of

people who maybe truly called enemies to mankind: I have thought

fit, with the advice and consent of his Majesty’s Council, to issue

this Proclamation, hereby declaring the said rewards shall be

punctually and justly paid, in current money of Virginia, according

to the directions of the said Act. And I do order and appoint this

proclamation to be published by the sheriffs at their respective

country houses, and by all ministers and readers in the several

churches and chapels throughout this colony.

Given at our Council-Chamber at

Williamsburgh, this 24th day of

November, 1718, in the fifth year of

his Majesty’s reign.

GOD SAVE THE KING.

A. SPOTSWOOD.[1]

The 17th of November, 1718, the lieutenant sailed from Kicquetan, in

James river in Virginia, and the 31st, in the evening, came to the

mouth of Okerecock inlet, where he got sight of the pirate. This

expedition was made with all imaginable secrecy, and the officer

managed with all the prudence that was necessary, stopping all boats

and vessels he met with in the river from going up, and thereby

preventing any intelligence from reaching Black-beard, and receiving

at the same time an account from them all of the place where the

pirate was lurking. But notwithstanding this caution, Black-beard had

information of the design from his Excellency of the province; and his

secretary, Mr. Knight, wrote him a letter particularly concerning it,

intimating “that he had sent him four of his men, which were all he

could meet with in or about town, and so bid him be upon his guard.”

These men belonged to Black-beard, and were sent from Bath Town to

Okerecock inlet, where the sloop lay, which is about twenty leagues.

Black-beard had heard several reports, which happened not to be true,

and so gave the less credit to this advice; nor was he convinced till

he saw the sloops. Then it was time to put his vessel in a posture of

defence. He had no more than twenty-five men on board, though he gave

out to all the vessels he spoke with that he had forty. When he had

prepared for battle he sat down and spent the night in drinking with

the master of a trading sloop, who, it was thought, had more business

with Teach than he should have had.

Lieutenant Maynard came to an anchor, for the place being shoal, and

the channel intricate, there was no getting in where Teach lay that

night; but in the morning he weighed, and sent his boat ahead of the

sloops to sound, and coming within gun-shot of the pirate, received

his fire; whereupon Maynard hoisted the king’s colours, and stood

directly towards him with the best way that his sails and oars could

make. Black-beard cut his cable, and endeavoured to make a running

fight, keeping a continual fire at his enemies with his guns. Mr.

Maynard, not having any, kept a constant fire with small arms, while

some of his men laboured at their oars. In a little time Teach’s sloop

ran aground, and Mr. Maynard’s, drawing more water than that of the

pirate, he could not come near him; so he anchored within half

gun-shot of the enemy, and, in order to lighten his vessel, that he

might run him aboard, the lieutenant ordered all his ballast to be

thrown overboard, and all the water to be staved, and then weighed and

stood for him; upon which Black-beard hailed him in this rude manner:

“Damn you for villains, who are you; and from whence came you?” The

lieutenant made him answer, “You may see by our colours we are no

pirates.” Black-beard bid him send his boat on board that he might see

who he was; but Mr. Maynard replied thus: “I cannot spare my boat, but

I will come aboard of you as soon as I can with my sloop.” Upon this

Black-beard took a glass of liquor, and drank to him with these words:

“Damnation seize my soul if I give you quarter, or take any from you.”

In answer to which Mr. Maynard told him “that he expected no quarter

from him, nor should he give him any.”

By this time Black-beard’s sloop fleeted as Mr. Maynard’s sloops were

rowing towards him, which being not above a foot high in the waist,

and consequently the men all exposed, as they came near together

(there being hitherto little or no execution done on either side), the

pirate fired a broadside charged with all manner of small shot. A

fatal stroke to them!--the sloop the lieutenant was in having twenty

men killed and wounded, and the other sloop nine. This could not be

helped, for there being no wind, they were obliged to keep to their

oars, otherwise the pirate would have got away from him, which, it

seems, the lieutenant was resolute to prevent.

After this unlucky blow Black-beard’s sloop fell broadside to the

shore; Mr. Maynard’s other sloop, which was called the _Ranger_, fell

astern, being for the present disabled. So the lieutenant, finding his

own sloop had way and would soon be on board of Teach, he ordered all

his men down, for fear of another broadside, which must have been

their destruction and the loss of their expedition. Mr. Maynard was

the only person that kept the deck, except the man at the helm, whom

he directed to lie down snug, and the men in the hold were ordered to

get their pistols and their swords ready for close fighting, and to

come up at his command; in order to which two ladders were placed in

the hatchway for the more expedition. When the lieutenant’s sloop

boarded the other Captain Teach’s men threw in several new-fashioned

sort of grenades, viz., case-bottles filled with powder and small

shot, slugs, and pieces of lead or iron, with a quick-match in the

mouth of it, which, being lighted without side, presently runs into

the bottle to the powder, and, as it is instantly thrown on board,

generally does great execution besides putting all the crew into a

confusion. But, by good Providence, they had not that effect here, the

men being in the hold. Black-beard, seeing few or no hands aboard,

told his men “that they were all knocked to head, except three or

four; and therefore,” says he, “let’s jump on board and cut them to

pieces.”

Whereupon, under the smoke of one of the bottles just mentioned,

Black-beard enters with fourteen men over the bows of Maynard’s sloop,

and were not seen by him until the air cleared. However, he just then

gave a signal to his men, who all rose in an instant, and attacked the

pirates with as much bravery as ever was done upon such an occasion.

Black-beard and the lieutenant fired the first shots at each other, by

which the pirate received a wound, and then engaged with swords, till

the lieutenant’s unluckily broke, and stepping back to cock a pistol,

Black-beard, with his cutlass, was striking at that instant that one

of Maynard’s men gave him a terrible wound in the neck and throat, by

which the lieutenant came off with only a small cut over his fingers.

They were now closely and warmly engaged, the lieutenant and twelve

men against Black-beard and fourteen, till the sea was tinctured with

blood round the vessel. Black-beard received a shot into his body from

the pistol that Lieutenant Maynard discharged, yet he stood his

ground, and fought with great fury till he received five-and-twenty

wounds, and five of them by shot. At length, as he was cocking another

pistol, having fired several before, he fell down dead; by which time

eight more out of the fourteen dropped, and all the rest, much

wounded, jumped overboard and called out for quarter, which was

granted, though it was only prolonging their lives a few days. The

sloop _Ranger_ came up and attacked the men that remained in

Black-beard’s sloop with equal bravery, till they likewise cried for

quarter.

Here was an end of that courageous brute, who might have passed in the

world for a hero had he been employed in a good cause. His

destruction, which was of such consequence to the plantations, was

entirely owing to the conduct and bravery of Lieutenant Maynard and

his men, who might have destroyed him with much less loss had they had

a vessel with great guns; but they were obliged to use small vessels,

because the holes and place she lurked in would not admit of others of

greater draught. And it was no small difficulty for this gentleman to

get to him, having grounded his vessel at least a hundred times in

getting up the river, beside other discouragements, enough to have

turned back any gentleman without dishonour had he been less resolute

and bold than this lieutenant. The broadside that did so much mischief

before they boarded in all probability saved the rest from

destruction; for, before that, Teach had little or no hopes of

escaping, and therefore had posted a resolute fellow, a negro, whom he

had bred up, with a lighted match in the powder-room, with commands to

blow up when he should give him orders, which was as soon as the

lieutenant and his men could have entered, that so he might have

destroyed his conquerors with himself. And when the negro found how it

went with Black-beard, he could hardly be persuaded from the rash

action by two prisoners that were then in the hold of the sloop.

What seems a little odd is that some of these men, who behaved so

bravely against Black-beard, went afterwards a-pirating themselves,

and one of them was taken along with Roberts; but I do not find that

any of them were provided for, except one that was hanged. But this is

a digression.

The lieutenant caused Black-beard’s head to be severed from his body,

and hung up at the boltsprit end; then he sailed to Bath Town, to get

relief for his wounded men.

It must be observed that, in rummaging the pirate’s sloop, they found

several letters and written papers, which discovered the

correspondence between Governor Eden, the secretary and collector, and

also some traders at New York, and Black-beard. It is likely he had

regard enough for his friends to have destroyed these papers before

the action, in order to hinder them from falling into such hands,

where the discovery would be of no use either to the interest or

reputation of these fine gentlemen, if it had not been his fixed

resolution to have blown up together, when he found no possibility of

escaping.

When the lieutenant came to Bath Town, he made bold to seize in the

governor’s storehouse the sixty hogsheads of sugar, and from honest

Mr. Knight, twenty; which it seems was their dividend of the plunder

taken in the French ship. The latter did not survive this shameful

discovery, for, being apprehensive that he might be called to an

account for these trifles, fell sick, it is thought, with the fright,

and died in a few days.

After the wounded men were pretty well recovered, the lieutenant

sailed back to the men-of-war in James River, in Virginia, with

Black-beard’s head still hanging at the boltsprit end, and fifteen

prisoners, thirteen of whom were hanged, it appearing, upon trial,

that one of them, viz., Samuel Odell, was taken out of the trading

sloop but the night before the engagement. This poor fellow was a

little unlucky at his first entering upon his new trade, there

appearing no less than seventy wounds upon him after the action;

notwithstanding which he lived and was cured of them all. The other

person that escaped the gallows was one Israel Hands, the master of

Black-beard’s sloop, and formerly captain of the same, before the

_Queen Ann’s Revenge_ was lost in Topsail inlet.

The aforesaid Hands happened not to be in the fight, but was taken

afterwards ashore at Bath Town, having been sometime before disabled

by Black-beard, in one of his savage humours, after the following

manner: One night, drinking in his cabin with Hands, the pilot, and

another man, Black-beard, without any provocation, privately draws out

a small pair of pistols, and cocks them under the table, which being

perceived by the man, he withdrew and went upon deck, leaving Hands,

the pilot, and the captain together. When the pistols were ready he

blew out the candle, and, crossing his hands, discharged them at his

company; Hands, the master, was shot through the knee and lamed for

life, the other pistol did no execution. Being asked the meaning of

this, he only answered by damning them, that “if he did not now and

then kill one of them, they would forget who he was.”

Hands being taken, was tried and condemned, but just as he was about

to be executed a ship arrived at Virginia with a proclamation for

prolonging the time of his Majesty’s pardon to such of the pirates as

should surrender by a limited time therein expressed. Notwithstanding

the sentence, Hands pleaded the pardon, and was allowed the benefit of

it, and was alive some time ago in London, begging his bread.

Now that we have given some account of Teach’s life and actions, it

will not be amiss that we speak of his beard, since it did not a

little contribute towards making his name so terrible in those parts.

Plutarch and other grave historians have taken notice that several

great men amongst the Romans took their surnames from certain odd

marks in their countenances--as Cicero, from a mark, or vetch, on his

nose--so our hero, Captain Teach, assumed the cognomen of Black-beard,

from that large quantity of hair which, like a frightful meteor,

covered his whole face, and frightened America more than any comet

that has appeared there a long time.

This beard was black, which he suffered to grow of an extravagant

length; as to breadth, it came up to his eyes. He was accustomed to

twist it with ribbons, in small tails, after the manner of our Ramilie

wigs, and turn them about his ears. In time of action he wore a sling

over his shoulders, with three brace of pistols hanging in holsters

like bandaliers, and stuck lighted matches under his hat, which,

appearing on each side of his face, his eyes naturally looking fierce

and wild, made him altogether such a figure that imagination cannot

form an idea of a fury from hell to look more frightful.

If he had the look of a fury, his humours and passions were suitable

to it. We shall relate two or three more of his extravagances which we

omitted in the body of his history, by which it will appear to what a

pitch of wickedness human nature may arrive if its passions are not

checked.

In the commonwealth of pirates, he who goes the greatest length of

wickedness is looked upon with a kind of envy amongst them as a person

of a more extraordinary gallantry, and is thereby entitled to be

distinguished by some post, and if such a one has but courage, he must

certainly be a great man. The hero of whom we are writing was

thoroughly accomplished this way, and some of his frolics of

wickedness were so extravagant, as if he aimed at making his men

believe he was a devil incarnate; for being one day at sea, and a

little flushed with drink, “Come,” says he, “let us make a hell of our

own, and try how long we can bear it.” Accordingly he, with two or

three others, went down into the hold, and closing up all the hatches,

filled several pots full of brimstone and other combustible matter,

and set it on fire, and so continued till they were almost suffocated,

when some of the men cried out for air. At length he opened the

hatches, not a little pleased that he held out the longest.

The night before he was killed he sat up and drank till the morning

with some of his own men and the master of a merchantman; and having

had intelligence of the two sloops coming to attack him, as has been

before observed, one of his men asked him, in case anything should

happen to him in the engagement with the sloops, whether his wife knew

where he had buried his money? He answered, “That nobody but himself

and the devil knew where it was, and the longest liver should take

all.”

Those of his crew who were taken alive told a story which may appear a

little incredible; however, we think it will not be fair to omit it

since we had it from their own mouths. That once upon a cruise they

found out that they had a man on board more than their crew; such a

one was seen several days amongst them, sometimes below and sometimes

upon deck, yet no man in the ship could give an account who he was, or

from whence he came, but that he disappeared a little before they were

cast away in their great ship; but it seems they verily believed it

was the devil.

One would think these things should induce them to reform their lives,

but so many reprobates together, encouraged and spirited one another

up in their wickedness, to which a continual course of drinking did

not a little contribute, for in Black-beard’s journal, which was

taken, there were several memorandums of the following nature found

writ with his own hand: Such a day rum all out; our company somewhat

sober; a damned confusion amongst us; rogues a-plotting; great talk of

separation; so I looked sharp for a prize; such a day took one with a

great deal of liquor on board, so kept the company hot, damned hot,

then all things went well again.

Thus it was these wretches passed their lives, with very little

pleasure or satisfaction in the possession of what they violently take

away from others, and sure to pay for it at last by an ignominious

death.

The names of the pirates killed in the engagement, are as follows:--

Edward Teach, commander; Philip Morton, gunner; Garret Gibbens,

boatswain; Owen Roberts, carpenter; Thomas Miller, quartermaster; John

Husk, Joseph Curtice, Joseph Brooks (1), Nath. Jackson. All the rest,

except the two last, were wounded, and afterwards hanged in

Virginia:--John Carnes, Joseph Brooks (2), James Blake, John Gills,

Thomas Gates, James White, Richard Stiles, Cæsar, Joseph Philips,

James Robbins, John Martin, Edward Salter, Stephen Daniel, Richard

Greensail, Israel Hands, pardoned, Samuel Odel, acquitted.

There were in the pirate sloops, and ashore in a tent near where the

sloops lay, twenty-five hogsheads of sugar, eleven teirces, and one

hundred and forty-five bags of cocoa, a barrel of indigo, and a bale

of cotton; which, with what was taken from the governor and secretary,

and the sale of the sloop, came to £2,500, besides the rewards paid by

the governor of Virginia, pursuant to his proclamation; all which was

divided among the companies of the two ships, _Lime_ and _Pearl_, that

lay in James River; the brave fellows that took them coming in for no

more than their dividend amongst the rest, and were paid it not till

four years afterwards.

[1] Spottswood.

II.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM KID.

Commanded a privateer in the West Indies--Recommended to the

Government by Lord Bellamont, &c.--Not encouraged--He

is sent out in a private man-of-war with the king’s

commission--He sails for New York--In his way takes a

French banker--Arrived there--Ships more hands--Sails

to Madeira, Bonavista, Cape de Verde Islands, and

Madagascar--Meets three English men-of-war--Meets with

nothing at Madagascar--Goes to the Malabar coast--Cruises

about Mohila and Johanna--Borrows money and repairs his

ship--At Mabbee he takes some corn--From thence steers

for Bab’s Key--He sends a boat along the coast, and

gains intelligence--He falls in with a fleet, but is

obliged to sheer off--Goes to the Malabar coast--Takes a

Moorish vessel--Treats the men cruelly, and discharges

the vessel--Touches at Carawar, and is suspected of

piracy--Engages a Portuguese man-of-war sent after him

and gets off--Takes a Moor ship under pretence of her

being French--Keeps company with a Dutch ship--Quarrels

with and kills his gunner--Plunders a Portuguese ship on

the Malabar coast and lets her go--His cooper is murdered

in one of the Malabar Islands--He burns and pillages

several houses--Commands a native to be shot--He takes the

_Queda_, and shares £200 a man amongst his crew--He cheats

the Indians--Goes to Madagascar--Meets there Culliford

the pirate--Shifts into the _Queda_, and shares the rest

of her cargo--His men desert from him to forty--Goes to

Amboyna--hears he is declared a pirate in England--Lord

Bellamont prints his justification--A pardon granted to

pirates--Avery and Kid excepted--Kid goes to, and is

secured at, New York--Some of his crew depending on the

pardon, are confined--Sent to England and condemned--Three

excepted--A distinction of the lawyers--Kid found guilty of

the murder of his gunner--Some plead the king’s pardon to

no purpose--Mullins’s plea--Kid’s plea useless--He and his

men indicted--Executed

We are now going to give an account of one whose name is better known

in England than most of those whose histories we have already related;

the person we mean is Captain Kid, whose public trial and execution

here rendered him the subject of all conversation, so that his actions

have been chanted about in ballads; however, it is now a considerable

time since these things passed, and though the people knew in general

that Captain Kid was hanged, and that his crime was piracy, yet there

were scarce any, even at that time, who were acquainted with his life

or actions, or could account for his turning pirate.

In the beginning of King William’s war, Captain Kid commanded a

privateer in the West Indies, and by several adventurous actions

acquired the reputation of a brave man, as well as an experienced

seaman. About this time the pirates were very troublesome in those

parts, wherefore Captain Kid was recommended by the Lord Bellamont,

then governor of Barbadoes, as well as by several other persons, to

the Government here, as a person very fit to be entrusted with the

command of a Government ship, and to be employed in cruising upon the

pirates, as knowing those seas perfectly well, and being acquainted

with all their lurking places; but what reasons governed the politics

of those times I cannot tell, but this proposal met with no

encouragement here, though it is certain it would have been of great

consequence to the subject, our merchants suffering incredible damages

by those robbers.

Upon this neglect the Lord Bellamont and some others, who knew what

great captures had been made by the pirates, and what a prodigious

wealth must be in their possession, were tempted to fit out a ship at

their own private charge, and to give the command of it to Captain

Kid; and to give the thing a greater reputation, as well as to keep

their seamen under the better command, they procured the King’s

Commission for the said Captain Kid, of which the following is an

exact copy:--

“WILLIAM REX,--William the Third, by the grace of God,

King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender

of the Faith, &c. To our trusty and well-beloved Captain

William Kid, Commander of the ship the _Adventure_ galley,

or to any other the commander of the same for the time

being, greeting; Whereas we are informed, that Captain

Thomas Too, John Ireland, Captain Thomas Wake, and Captain

William Maze, or Mace, and other subjects, natives or

inhabitants of New York, and elsewhere, in our plantations

in America, have associated themselves, with divers others,

wicked and ill-disposed persons, and do, against the law

of nations, commit many and great piracies, robberies, and

depredations on the seas upon the parts of America, and in

other parts, to the great hindrance and discouragement of

trade and navigation, and to the great danger and hurt of

our loving subjects, our allies, and all others, navigating

the seas upon their lawful occasions. Now know ye, that

we being desirous to prevent the aforesaid mischiefs,

and, as much as in us lies, to bring the said pirates,

freebooters and sea-rovers to justice, have thought fit,

and do hereby give and grant to the said William Kid (to

whom our Commissioners for exercising the office of Lord

High Admiral of England, have granted a commission as a

private man-of-war, bearing date December 11, 1695), and

unto the commander of the said ship for the time being, and

unto the officers, mariners, and others, which shall be

under your command, full power and authority to apprehend,

seize, and take into your custody as well the said Captain

Thomas Too, John Ireland, Captain Thomas Wake, and Captain

William Maze, or Mace, as all such pirates, freebooters

and sea-rovers, being either our subjects, or of other

nations associated with them, which you shall meet with

upon the seas or coasts of America, or upon any other seas

or coasts, with all their ships and vessels; and all such

merchandises, money, goods, and wares as shall be found on

board, or with them, in case they shall willingly yield

themselves; but if they will not yield without fighting,

then you are by force to compel them to yield. And we do

also require you to bring, or cause to be brought, such

pirates, freebooters, or sea-rovers, as you shall seize,

to a legal trial, to the end they may be proceeded against

according to the law in such cases. And we do hereby

command all our officers, ministers, and other our loving

subjects whatsoever, to be aiding and assisting to you

in the premisses. And we do hereby enjoin you to keep an

exact journal of your proceedings in the execution of the

premisses, and set down the names of such pirates, and of

their officers and company, and the names of such ships and

vessels as you shall by virtue of these presents take and

seize, and the quantities of arms, ammunition, provision,

and lading of such ships, and the true value of the same,

as near as you judge. And we do hereby strictly charge

and command you as you will answer the contrary at your

peril, that you do not, in any manner, offend or molest

our friends or allies, their ships, or subjects, by colour

or pretence of these presents, or the authority thereby

granted. In witness whereof we have caused our Great Seal

of England to be affixed to these presents. Given at our

Court of Kensington, the 26th day of January, 1695, in the

seventh year of our reign.”

Captain Kid had also another commission, which was called a Commission

of Reprisals; for it being then war time, this commission was to

justify him in the taking of French merchant ships, in case he should

meet with any; but as this commission is nothing to our present

purpose, we shall not burthen the readers with it.

With these two commissions he sailed out of Plymouth in May, 1696, in

the _Adventure_ galley of thirty guns and eighty men. The place he

first designed for was New York; in his voyage thither he took a

French banker, but this was no act of piracy, he having a commission

for that purpose, as we have just observed.

When he arrived at New York he put up articles for engaging more

hands, it being necessary to his ship’s crew, since he proposed to

deal with a desperate enemy. The terms he offered were that every man

should have a share of what was taken, reserving for himself and

owners forty shares. Upon which encouragement he soon increased his

company to a hundred and fifty-five men.

With this company he sailed first for Madeira, where he took in wine

and some other necessaries; from thence he proceeded to Bonavist, one

of the Cape de Verde islands, to furnish the ship with salt, and from

thence went immediately to St. Jago, another of the Cape de Verde

islands, in order to stock himself with provisions. When all this was

done he bent his course to Madagascar, the known rendezvous of

pirates. In his way he fell in with Captain Warren, commodore of three

men-of-war; he acquainted them with his design, kept them company two

or three days, and then leaving them made the best way for Madagascar,

where he arrived in February, 1696, just nine months from his

departure from Plymouth.

It happened that at this time the pirate ships were most of them out

in search of prey, so that, according to the best intelligence Captain

Kid could get, there was not one of them at that time about the

island, wherefore, having spent some time in watering his ship and

taking in more provisions, he thought of trying his fortune on the

coast of Malabar, where he arrived in the month of June following,

four months from his reaching Madagascar. Hereabouts he made an

unsuccessful cruise, touching sometimes at the island of Mahala,

sometimes at that of Joanna, between Malabar and Madagascar. His

provisions were every day wasting, and his ship began to want repair;

wherefore, when he was at Joanna, he found means of borrowing a sum of

money from some Frenchmen who had lost their ship, but saved their

effects, and with this he purchased materials for putting his ship in

good repair.

It does not appear all this while that he had the least design of

turning pirate, for near Mahala and Joanna both he met with several

Indian ships richly laden, to which he did not offer the least

violence, though he was strong enough to have done what he pleased

with them; and the first outrage or depredation I find he committed

upon mankind was after his repairing his ship and leaving Joanna. He

touched at a place called Mabbee, upon the Red Sea, where he took some

Guinea corn from the natives, by force.

After this he sailed to Bab’s Key, a place upon a little island at the

entrance of the Red Sea. Here it was that he first began to open

himself to his ship’s company, and let them understand that he

intended to change his measures; for, happening to talk of the Moca

fleet which was to sail that way, he said, “We have been unsuccessful

hitherto; but courage, my boys, we’ll make our fortunes out of this

fleet.” And finding that none of them appeared averse to it he ordered

a boat out, well manned, to go upon the coast to make discoveries,

commanding them to take a prisoner and bring to him, or get

intelligence any way they could. The boat returned in a few days,

bringing him word that they saw fourteen or fifteen ships ready to

sail, some with English, some with Dutch, and some with Moorish

colours.

We cannot account for this sudden change in his conduct, otherwise

than by supposing that he first meant well, while he had hopes of

making his fortune by taking of pirates; but now, weary of

ill-success, and fearing lest his owners, out of humour at their great

expenses, should dismiss him, and he should want employment, and be

marked out for an unlucky man--rather, I say, than run the hazard of

poverty, he resolved to do his business one way, since he could not do

it another.

He therefore ordered a man continually to watch at the mast-head, lest

this fleet should go by them; and about four days after, towards

evening, it appeared in sight, being convoyed by one English and one

Dutch man-of-war. Kid soon fell in with them, and, getting into the

midst of them, fired at a Moorish ship which was next him; but the

men-of-war, taking the alarm, bore down upon Kid, and, firing upon

him, obliged him to sheer off, he not being strong enough to contend

with them. Now he had begun hostilities he resolved to go on, and

therefore he went and cruised along the coast of Malabar. The first

prize he met was a small vessel belonging to Aden; the vessel was

Moorish, and the owners were Moorish merchants, but the master was an

Englishman; his name was Parker. Kid forced him and a Portuguese that

was called Don Antonio, which were all the Europeans on board, to take

on with them; the first he designed as a pilot, and the last as an

interpreter. He also used the men very cruelly, causing them to be

hoisted up by the arms, and drubbed with a naked cutlass, to force

them to discover whether they had money on board, and where it lay;

but as they had neither gold nor silver on board he got nothing by his

cruelty; however, he took from them a bale of pepper, and a bale of

coffee, and so let them go.

A little time after he touched at Carawar, a place upon the same

coast, where, before he arrived, the news of what he had done to the

Moorish ship had reached them; for some of the English merchants there

had received an account of it from the owners, who corresponded with

them; wherefore, as soon as Kid came in, he was suspected to be the

person who committed this piracy, and one Mr. Harvey and Mr. Mason,

two of the English factory, came on board and asked for Parker and

Antonio, the Portuguese, but Kid denied that he knew any such persons,

having secured them both in a private place in the hold, where they

were kept for seven or eight days, that is till Kid sailed from

thence.

However, the coast was alarmed, and a Portuguese man-of-war was sent

out to cruise. Kid met with her, and fought her about six hours,

gallantly enough; but finding her too strong to be taken, he quitted

her, for he was able to run away from her when he would. Then he went

to a place called Porco, where he watered the ship, and bought a

number of hogs of the natives to victual his company.

Soon after this he came up with a Moorish ship, the master whereof was

a Dutchman, called Schipper Mitchel, and chased her under French

colours, which, they observing, hoisted French colours too. When he

came up with her he hailed her in French, and they, having a Frenchman

on board, answered him in the same language; upon which he ordered

them to send their boat on board. They were obliged to do so, and

having examined who they were, and from whence they came, he asked the

Frenchman, who was a passenger, if he had a French pass for himself?

The Frenchman gave him to understand that he had. Then he told the

Frenchman he must pass for captain, and “by G--d,” says he, “you are

the captain.” The Frenchman durst not refuse doing as he would have

him. The meaning of this was, that he would seize the ship as fair

prize, and as if she had belonged to French subjects, according to a

commission he had for that purpose; though, one would think, after

what he had already done, that he need not have recourse to a quibble

to give his actions a colour.

In short, he took the cargo and sold it some time after; yet still he

seemed to have some fears upon him lest these proceedings should have

a bad end, for, coming up with a Dutch ship some time, when his men

thought of nothing but attacking her, Kid opposed it; upon which a

mutiny arose, and the majority being for taking the said ship, and

arming themselves to man the boat to go and seize her, he told them,

such as did, never should come on board him again, which put an end to

the design, so that he kept company with the said ship some time,

without offering her any violence. However, this dispute was the

occasion of an accident, upon which an indictment was afterwards

grounded against Kid; for Moor, the gunner, being one day upon deck,

and talking with Kid about the said Dutch ship, some words arose

between them, and Moor told Kid that he had ruined them all; upon

which Kid, calling him dog, took up a bucket and struck him with it,

which, breaking his skull, he died the next day.

But Kid’s penitential fit did not last long, for, coasting along

Malabar, he met with a great number of boats, all which he plundered.

Upon the same coast he also lighted upon a Portuguese ship, which he

kept possession of a week, and then, having taken out of her some

chests of Indian goods, thirty jars of butter, with some wax, iron,

and a hundred bags of rice, he let her go.

Much about the same time he went to one of the Malabar islands for

wood and water, and his cooper, being ashore, was murdered by the

natives; upon which Kid himself landed, and burnt and pillaged several

of their houses, the people running away; but having taken one, he

caused him to be tied to a tree, and commanded one of his men to shoot

him; then putting to sea again he took the greatest prize which fell

into his hands while he followed this trade. This was a Moorish ship

of four hundred tons, richly laden, named the _Queda_, merchant, the

master whereof was an Englishman--he was called Wright, for the

Indians often make use of English or Dutch men to command their ships,

their own mariners not being so good artists in navigation. Kid chased

her under French colours, and, having come up with her, he ordered her

to hoist out her boat and to send on board of him, which, being done,

he told Wright he was his prisoner; and informing himself concerning

the said ship, he understood there were no Europeans on board except

two Dutch, and one Frenchman, all the rest being Indians or Armenians,

and that the Armenians were part owners of the cargo. Kid gave the

Armenians to understand that if they would offer anything that was

worth his taking for their ransom, he would hearken to it; upon which

they proposed to pay him twenty thousand rupees, not quite three

thousand pounds sterling; but Kid judged this would be making a bad

bargain, wherefore he rejected it, and setting the crew on shore at

different places on the coast, he soon sold as much of the cargo as

came to near ten thousand pounds. With part of it he also trafficked,

receiving in exchange provisions or such other goods as he wanted. By

degrees he disposed of the whole cargo, and when the division was made

it came to about two hundred pounds a man, and, having reserved forty

shares to himself, his dividend amounted to about eight thousand

pounds sterling.

The Indians along the coast came on board and trafficked with all

freedom, and he punctually performed his bargains, till about the time

he was ready to sail; and then, thinking he should have no further

occasion for them, he made no scruple of taking their goods and

setting them on shore without any payment in money or goods, which

they little expected; for as they had been used to deal with pirates,

they always found them men of honour in the way of trade--a people,

enemies to deceit, and that scorned to rob but in their own way.

Kid put some of his men on board the _Queda_, merchant, and with this

ship and his own sailed for Madagascar. As soon as he was arrived and

had cast anchor there came on board of him a canoe, in which were

several Englishmen who had formerly been well acquainted with Kid. As

soon as they saw him they saluted him and told him they were informed

he was come to take them, and hang them, which would be a little

unkind in such an old acquaintance. Kid soon dissipated their doubts

by swearing he had no such design, and that he was now in every

respect their brother, and just as bad as they, and, calling for a cup

of bomboo, drank their captain’s health.

These men belonged to a pirate ship, called the _Resolution_, formerly

the _Mocco_, merchant, whereof one Captain Culliford was commander,

and which lay at an anchor not far from them. Kid went on board with

them, promising them his friendship and assistance, and Culliford in

his turn came on board of Kid; and Kid, to testify his sincerity in

iniquity, finding Culliford in want of some necessaries, made him a

present of an anchor and some guns, to fit him out for the sea again.

The _Adventure_ galley was now so old and leaky that they were forced

to keep two pumps continually going, wherefore Kid shifted all the

guns and tackle out of her into the _Queda_, merchant, intending her

for his man-of-war; and as he had divided the money before, he now

made a division of the remainder of the cargo. Soon after which the

greatest part of the company left him, some going on board Captain

Culliford, and others absconding in the country, so that he had not

above forty men left.

He put to sea and happened to touch at Amboyna, one of the Dutch spice

islands, where he was told that the news of his actions had reached

England, and that he was there declared a pirate.

The truth of it is, his piracies so alarmed our merchants that some

motions were made in Parliament, to inquire into the commission that

was given him, and the persons who fitted him out. These proceedings

seemed to lean a little hard upon the Lord Bellamont, who thought

himself so much touched thereby that he published a justification of

himself in a pamphlet after Kid’s execution. In the meantime it was

thought advisable, in order to stop the course of these piracies, to

publish a proclamation, offering the king’s free pardon to all such

pirates as should voluntarily surrender themselves, whatever piracies

they had been guilty of at any time, before the last day of April,

1699. That is to say, for all piracies committed eastward of the Cape

of Good Hope, to the longitude and meridian of Socatora and Cape

Camorin. In which proclamation Avery and Kid were excepted by name.

When Kid left Amboyna he knew nothing of this proclamation, for

certainly had he had notice of his being excepted in it he would not

have been so infatuated to run himself into the very jaws of danger;

but relying upon his interest with the Lord Bellamont, and fancying

that a French pass or two he found on board some of the ships he took

would serve to countenance the matter, and that part of the booty he

got would gain him new friends--I say, all these things made him

flatter himself that all would be hushed, and that justice would but

wink at him. Wherefore he sailed directly for New York, where he was

no sooner arrived but by the Lord Bellamont’s orders he was secured

with all his papers and effects. Many of his fellow-adventurers who

had forsook him at Madagascar, came over from thence passengers, some

to New England, and some to Jersey, where, hearing of the king’s

proclamation for pardoning of pirates, they surrendered themselves to

the governor of those places. At first they were admitted to bail, but

soon after were laid in strict confinement, where they were kept for

some time, till an opportunity happened of sending them with their

captain over to England to be tried.

Accordingly, a Sessions of Admiralty being held at the Old Bailey, in

May, 1701; Captain Kid, Nicholas Churchill, James How, Robert Lumley,

William Jenkins, Gabriel Loff, Hugh Parrot, Richard Barlicorn, Abel

Owens, and Darby Mullins, were arraigned for piracy and robbery on the

high seas, and all found guilty except three: these were Robert

Lumley, William Jenkins, and Richard Barlicorn, who, proving

themselves to be apprentices to some of the officers of the ship, and

producing their indentures in court, were acquitted.

The three above mentioned, though they were proved to be concerned in

taking and sharing the ship and goods mentioned in the indictment,

yet, as the gentlemen of the long robe rightly distinguished, there

was a great difference between their circumstances and the rest; for

there must go an intention of the mind and a freedom of the will to

the committing an act of felony or piracy. A pirate is not to be

understood to be under constraint, but a free agent; for, in this

case, the bare act will not make a man guilty, unless the will make it

so.

Now a servant, it is true, if he go voluntarily and have his

proportion, he must be accounted a pirate, for then he acts upon his

own account, and not by compulsion. And these persons, according to

the evidence, received their part, but whether they accounted to their

masters for their shares afterwards is the matter in question, and

what distinguishes them as free agents or men, that did go under the

compulsion of their masters, which being left to the consideration of

the jury, they found them “Not Guilty.”

Kid was tried upon an indictment of murder also--viz., for killing

Moor, the gunner--and found guilty of the same. Nicholas Churchill and

James How pleaded the king’s pardon, as having surrendered themselves

within the time limited in the proclamation, and Colonel Bass,

governor of West Jersey, to whom they surrendered, being in court, and

called upon, proved the same; however, this plea was overruled by the

court, because there being four commissioners named in the

proclamation, viz., Captain Thomas Warren, Israel Hayes, Peter

Delannoye, and Christopher Pollard, Esqs., who were appointed

commissioners, and sent over on purpose to receive the submissions of

such pirates as should surrender, it was adjudged no other person was

qualified to receive their surrender, and that they could not be

entitled to the benefit of the said proclamation because they had not

in all circumstances complied with the conditions of it.

Darby Mullins urged in his defence that he served under the king’s

commission, and therefore could not disobey his commander without

incurring great punishments; that whenever a ship or ships went out

upon any expedition under the king’s commissioners, the men were never

allowed to call their officers to an account, why they did this, or

why they did that, because such a liberty would destroy all

discipline; that if anything was done which was unlawful, the officers

were to answer it, for the men did no more than their duty in obeying

orders. He was told by the court that acting under the commission

justified in what was lawful but not in what was unlawful. He

answered, he stood in need of nothing to justify him in what was

lawful, but that the case of seamen must be very hard, if they must be

brought into such danger for obeying the commands of their officers,

and punished for not obeying them; and if they were allowed to dispute

the orders, there could be no such thing as command kept up at sea.

This seemed to be the best defence the thing could bear. But his

taking a share of the plunder, the seamen mutinying on board several

times, and taking upon them to control the captain, showed there was

no obedience paid to the commission, and that they acted in all things

according to the custom of pirates and freebooters, which weighing

with the jury they brought him in guilty with the rest.

As to Captain Kid’s defence, he insisted much upon his own innocence,

and the villainy of his men. He said he went out in a laudable

employment, and had no occasion, being then in good circumstances, to

go a-pirating; that the men often mutinied against him, and did as

they pleased; that he was threatened to be shot in his cabin, and that

ninety-five left him at one time, and set fire to his boat, so that he

was disabled from bringing his ship home, or the prizes he took, to

have them regularly condemned, which he said were taken by virtue of a

commission under the broad seal, they having French passes. The

captain called one Colonel Hewson to his reputation, who gave him an

extraordinary character, and declared to the court that he had served

under his command, and been in two engagements with him against the

French, in which he fought as well as any man he ever saw; that there

were only Kid’s ship and his own against Monsieur du Cass, who

commanded a squadron of six sail, and they got the better of him. But

this being several years before the facts mentioned in the indictment

were committed, proved of no manner of service to the prisoner on his

trial.

As to the friendship shown to Culliford, a notorious pirate, Kid

denied, and said he intended to have taken him, but his men, being a

parcel of rogues and villains, refused to stand by him, and several of

them ran away from his ship to the said pirate. But the evidence being

full and particular against him, he was found guilty as before

mentioned.

When Kid was asked what he had to say why sentence should not pass

against him, he answered that “he had nothing to say, but that he had

been sworn against by perjured, wicked people.” And when sentence was

pronounced, he said, “My lord, it is a very hard sentence. For my part

I am the innocentest person of them all, only I have been sworn

against by perjured persons.”

Wherefore, about a week after, Captain Kid, Nicholas Churchill, James

How, Gabriel Loff, Hugh Parrot, Abel Owen, and Darby Mullins, were

executed at Execution Dock, and afterwards hung up in chains, at some

distance from each other down the river, where their bodies hung

exposed for many years.

III.

CAPTAIN BARTHOLOMEW ROBERTS

AND HIS CREW.

His beginning--Elected captain in the room of Davis--The

speech of Lord Dennis at the election--Lord Sympson objects

against a papist--The death of Davis revenged--Roberts

sails southward in quest of adventures--The names of the

prizes taken by them--Brazil described--Roberts falls into

a fleet of Portuguese--Boards and takes the richest ship

amongst them--Make the Devil’s Islands--An unfortunate

adventure of Roberts--Kennedy’s treachery--Irishmen

excluded by Roberts and his crew--Articles sworn to by

them--A copy of them--Some account of the laws and customs

of the pirates--An instance of Roberts’s cunning--He

proceeds again upon business, and takes prizes--Narrowly

escapes being taken--Sails for the Island Dominico--Another

escape--Sails for Newfoundland--Plunders, sinks, and burns

twenty-two sail in the harbour of Trepassi--Plunders

ten sail of Frenchmen--The mad behaviour of the crew--A

correspondence hinted at--The pirates caressed at the

island of St. Bartholomew--In extreme distress--Sail for

Martinico--A stratagem of Roberts--The insolent device

in his colours--Odd compliment paid to Roberts--Three

men desert the pirates, and are taken by them--Their

trial--Two executed and one saved--the brigantine deserts

them--Great divisions in the company--A description of

Sierra Leone River--The names of English settled there,

and way of life--The _Onslow_ belonging to the African

Company taken--The pirates’ contempt of soldiers--They

are for entertaining a chaplain--Their skirmish with the

Calabar negroes--The _King Solomon_, belonging to the

African Company taken--The frolics of the pirates--Take

eleven sail in Whydah Road--A comical receipt given by

the pirates--A cruel action of Roberts--Sails for Anna

Bona--The progress of the _Swallow_ man-of-war, in pursuit

of Roberts--Roberts’s consort taken--The bravery of

Skyrme, a Welsh pirate--The surly humour of some of the

prisoners--The _Swallow_ comes up with Roberts--Roberts’s

dress described--Is killed--His character--His ship

taken--The behaviour of the pirates when prisoners--A

conspiracy of theirs discovered--Reflections on the manner

of trying them--The form of the commission for trying

the pirates--The oath taken by the commissioners--The

names of those arraigned taken in the ship _Ranger_--The

form of the indictment--The sum of the evidence against

them--Their defence--The names of the prisoners of

the _Royal Fortune_--Proceedings against them--Harry

Glasby acquitted--The particular trial of Captain James

Skyrme--Of John Walden--Of Peter Scudamore--Of Robert

Johnson--Of George Wilson--Of Benjamin Jeffries--Of John

Mansfield--Of William Davis--The names of those executed

at Cape Corso--The petition of some condemned--The court’s

resolution--The form of an indenture of a pardoned

pirate--The names of those pardoned upon indenture to

serve seven years--The pirates how disposed of--The dying

behaviour of those executed.

Bartholomew Roberts sailed in an honest employ from London, aboard of

the _Princess_, Captain Plumb, commander, of which ship he was second

mate. He left England November, 1719, and arrived at Guinea about

February following, and being at Anamaboe, taking in slaves for the

West Indies, was taken in the said ship by Captain Howel Davis. In the

beginning he was very averse to this sort of life, and would certainly

have escaped from them had a fair opportunity presented itself; yet

afterwards he changed his principles, as many besides him have done

upon another element, and perhaps for the same reason too, viz.,

preferment; and what he did not like as a private man he could

reconcile to his conscience as a commander.

Davis having been killed in the Island of Princes whilst planning to

capture it with all its inhabitants, the company found themselves

under the necessity of filling up his post, for which there appeared

two or three candidates among the select part of them that were

distinguished by the title of Lords--such were Sympson, Ashplant,

Anstis, &c.--and on canvassing this matter, how shattered and weak a

condition their government must be without a head, since Davis had

been removed in the manner before mentioned, my Lord Dennis proposed,

it is said, over a bowl, to this purpose:

“That it was not of any great signification who was dignified with

title, for really and in good truth all good governments had, like

theirs, the supreme power lodged with the community, who might

doubtless depute and revoke as suited interest or humour. We are the

original of this claim,” says he, “and should a captain be so saucy as

to exceed prescription at any time, why, down with him! It will be a

caution after he is dead to his successors of what fatal consequence

any sort of assuming may be. However, it is my advice that while we

are sober we pitch upon a man of courage and skilled in navigation,

one who by his council and bravery seems best able to defend this

commonwealth, and ward us from the dangers and tempests of an unstable

element, and the fatal consequences of anarchy; and such a one I take

Roberts to be--a fellow, I think, in all respects worthy your esteem

and favour.”

This speech was loudly applauded by all but Lord Sympson, who had

secret expectations himself, but on this disappointment grew sullen

and left them, swearing “he did not care who they chose captain so it

was not a papist, for against them he had conceived an irreconcilable

hatred, for that his father had been a sufferer in Monmouth’s

rebellion.”

Roberts was accordingly elected, though he had not been above six

weeks among them. The choice was confirmed both by the Lords and

Commoners, and he accepted of the honour, saying that, since he had

dipped his hands in muddy water and must be a pirate, it was better

being a commander than a common man.

As soon as the government was settled, by promoting other officers in

the room of those that were killed by the Portuguese, the company

resolved to avenge Captain Davis’s death, he being more than

ordinarily respected by the crew for his affability and good nature,

as well as his conduct and bravery upon all occasions; and, pursuant

to this resolution, about thirty men were landed, in order to make an

attack upon the fort, which must be ascended to by a steep hill

against the mouth of the cannon. These men were headed by one Kennedy,

a bold, daring fellow, but very wicked and profligate; they marched

directly up under the fire of their ship guns, and as soon as they

were discovered, the Portuguese quitted their post and fled to the

town, and the pirates marched in without opposition, set fire to the

fort, and threw all the guns off the hill into the sea, which after

they had done they retreated quietly to their ship.

But this was not looked upon as a sufficient satisfaction for the

injury they received, therefore most of the company were for burning

the town, which Roberts said he would yield to if any means could be

proposed of doing it without their own destruction, for the town had a

securer situation than the fort, a thick wood coming almost close to

it, affording cover to the defendants, who, under such an advantage,

he told them, it was to be feared, would fire and stand better to

their arms; besides, that bare houses would be but a slender reward

for their trouble and loss. This prudent advice prevailed; however,

they mounted the French ship they seized at this place with twelve

guns, and lightened her, in order to come up to the town, the water

being shoal, and battered down several houses; after which they all

returned on board, gave back the French ship to those that had most

right to her, and sailed out of the harbour by the light of two

Portuguese ships, which they were pleased to set on fire there.

Roberts stood away to the southward, and met with a Dutch Guineaman,

which he made prize of, but, after having plundered her, the skipper

had his ship again. Two days after he took an English ship, called the

_Experiment_, Captain Cornet, at Cape Lopez; the men went all into the

pirate service, and having no occasion for the ship they burnt her and

then steered for St. Thome, but meeting with nothing in their way,

they sailed for Annabona, and there watered, took in provisions, and

put it to a vote of the company whether their next voyage should be to

the East Indies or to Brazil. The latter being resolved on, they

sailed accordingly, and in twenty-eight days arrived at Ferdinando, an

uninhabited island on that coast. Here they watered, boot-topped their

ship, and made ready for the designed cruise.

Upon this coast our rovers cruised for about nine weeks, keeping

generally out of sight of land, but without seeing a sail, which

discouraged them so that they determined to leave the station and

steer for the West Indies; and, in order thereto, stood in to make the

land for the taking of their departure; and thereby they fell in

unexpectedly with a fleet of forty-two sail of Portuguese ships off

the bay of Los Todos Santos, with all their lading in, for Lisbon,

several of them of good force, who lay-to waiting for two men-of-war

of seventy guns each, their convoy. However, Roberts thought it should

go hard with him, but he would make up his market among them, and

thereupon mixed with the fleet, and kept his men hid till proper

resolutions could be formed. That done, they came close up to one of

the deepest, and ordered her to send the master on board quietly,

threatening to give them no quarter if any resistance or signal of

distress was made. The Portuguese, being surprised at these threats,

and the sudden flourish of cutlasses from the pirates, submitted

without a word, and the captain came on board. Roberts saluted him

after a friendly manner, telling him that they were gentlemen of

fortune, but that their business with him was only to be informed

which was the richest ship in that fleet; and if he directed them

right he should be restored to his ship without molestation, otherwise

he must expect immediate death.

Whereupon this Portuguese master pointed to one of forty guns and a

hundred and fifty men, a ship of greater force than the _Rover_; but

this no ways dismayed them; they were Portuguese, they said, and so

immediately steered away for him. When they came within hail, the

master whom they had prisoner was ordered to ask “how Seignior Captain

did?” and to invite him on board, “for that he had a matter of

consequence to impart to him;” which being done, he returned for

answer that “he would wait upon him presently,” but by the bustle that

immediately followed, the pirates perceived that they were discovered,

and that this was only a deceitful answer to gain time to put their

ship in a posture of defence; so without further delay they poured in

a broadside, boarded, and grappled her. The dispute was short and

warm, wherein many of the Portuguese fell, and two only of the

pirates. By this time the fleet was alarmed: signals of top-gallant

sheets flying and guns fired to give notice to the men-of-war, who rid

still at an anchor, and made but scurvy haste out to their assistance;

and if what the pirates themselves related be true, the commanders of

those ships were blameable to the highest degree, and unworthy the

title, or so much as the name, of men. For Roberts, finding the prize

to sail heavy, and yet resolving not to lose her, lay by for the

headmost of them, which much outsailed the other, and prepared for

battle, which was ignominiously declined, though of such superior

force; for, not daring to venture on the pirate alone, he tarried so

long for his consort as gave them both time leisurely to make off.

They found this ship exceeding rich, being laden chiefly with sugar,

skins, and tobacco, and in gold forty thousand moidores, besides

chains and trinkets of considerable value; particularly a cross set

with diamonds designed for the king of Portugal, which they afterwards

presented to the governor of Caiana, by whom they were obliged.

Elated with this booty, they had nothing now to think of but some safe

retreat where they might give themselves up to all the pleasures that

luxury and wantonness could bestow; and for the present pitched upon a

place called the Devil’s Islands in the river of Surinam, on the coast

of Caiana, where they arrived, and found the civilest reception

imaginable, not only from the governor and factory, but their wives,

who exchanged wares, and drove a considerable trade with them.

They seized in this river a sloop, and by her gained intelligence that

a brigantine had also sailed in company with her from Rhode Island,

laden with provisions for the coast--a welcome cargo! They growing

short in the sea store, and, as Sancho says, “No adventures to be made

without belly-timber.” One evening, as they were rummaging their mine

of treasure, the Portuguese prize, this expected vessel was descried

at the masthead, and Roberts, imagining nobody could do the business

so well as himself, takes forty men in the sloop, and goes in pursuit

of her; but a fatal accident followed this rash, though inconsiderable

adventure, for Roberts, thinking of nothing less than bringing in the

brigantine that afternoon, never troubled his head about the sloop’s

provision, nor inquired what there was on board to subsist such a

number of men; but out he sails after his expected prize, which he not

only lost further sight of, but after eight days’ contending with

contrary winds and currents, found themselves thirty leagues to

leeward. The current still opposing their endeavours, and perceiving

no hopes of beating up to their ship, they came to an anchor, and

inconsiderately sent away the boat to give the rest of the company

notice of their condition, and to order the ship to them; but too

soon--even the next day--their wants made them sensible of their

infatuation, for their water was all expended, and they had taken no

thought how they should be supplied till either the ship came or the

boat returned, which was not likely to be under five or six days.

Here, like Tantalus, they almost famished in sight of the fresh

streams and lakes, being drove to such extremity at last that they

were forced to tear up the floor of the cabin and patch up a sort of

tub or tray with ropeyarns to paddle ashore and fetch off immediate

supplies of water to preserve life.

After some days the long-wished-for boat came back, but with the most

unwelcome news in the world; for Kennedy, who was lieutenant, and

left, in absence of Roberts, to command the privateer and prize, was

gone off with both. This was mortification with a vengeance, and you

may imagine they did not depart without some hard speeches from those

that were left and had suffered by their treachery. And that there

need be no further mention of this Kennedy, I shall leave Captain

Roberts for a page or two with the remains of his crew, to vent their

wrath in a few oaths and execrations, and follow the other, whom we

may reckon from that time as steering his course towards Execution

Dock.

Kennedy was now chosen captain of the revolted crew, but could not

bring his company to any determined resolution. Some of them were for

pursuing the old game, but the greater part of them seemed to have

inclinations to turn from those evil courses, and get home privately,

for there was no act of pardon in force; therefore they agreed to

break up, and every man to shift for himself, as he should see

occasion. The first thing they did was to part with the great

Portuguese prize, and having the master of the sloop (whose name, I

think, was Cane) aboard, who, they said, was a very honest fellow--for

he had humoured them upon every occasion--told them of the brigantine

that Roberts went after; and when the pirates first took him he

complimented them at an odd rate, telling them they were welcome to

his sloop and cargo, and wished that the vessel had been larger and

the loading richer for their sakes. To this good-natured man they gave

the Portuguese ship, which was then above half loaded, three or four

negroes, and all his own men, who returned thanks to his kind

benefactors, and departed.

Captain Kennedy, in the _Rover_, sailed to Barbadoes, near which

island they took a very peaceable ship belonging to Virginia. The

commander was a Quaker, whose name was Knot; he had neither pistol,

sword, nor cutlass on board; and Mr. Knot appearing so very passive to

all they said to him, some of them thought this a good opportunity to

go off; and accordingly eight of the pirates went aboard, and he

carried them safe to Virginia. They made the Quaker a present of ten

chests of sugar, ten rolls of Brazil tobacco, thirty moidores, and

some gold dust, in all to the value of about £250. They also made

presents to the sailors, some more, some less, and lived a jovial life

all the while they were upon their voyage, Captain Knot giving them

their way; nor, indeed, could he help himself, unless he had taken an

opportunity to surprise them when they were either drunk or asleep,

for awake they wore arms aboard the ship and put him in a continual

terror, it not being his principle (or the sect’s) to fight, unless

with art and collusion. He managed these weapons well till he arrived

at the Capes; and afterwards four of the pirates went off in a boat,

which they had taken with them for the more easily making their

escapes, and made up the bay towards Maryland, but were forced back by

a storm into an obscure place of the country, where, meeting with good

entertainment among the planters, they continued several days without

being discovered to be pirates. In the meantime Captain Knot, leaving

four others on board his ship who intended to go to North Carolina,

made what haste he could to discover to Mr. Spotswood, the governor,

what sort of passengers he had been forced to bring with him, who, by

good fortune, got them seized; and search being made after the others,

who were revelling about the country, they were also taken, and all

tried, convicted, and hanged, two Portuguese Jews, who were taken on

the coast of Brazil and whom they brought with them to Virginia, being

the principal evidences. The latter had found means to lodge part of

their wealth with the planters, who never brought it to account. But

Captain Knot surrendered up everything that belonged to them that were

taken aboard, even what they presented to him, in lieu of such things

as they had plundered him of in their passage, and obliged his men to

do the like.

Some days after the taking of the Virginiaman last mentioned, in

cruising in the latitude of Jamaica, Kennedy took a sloop bound

thither from Boston, loaded with bread and flour; aboard of this sloop

went all the hands who were for breaking the gang, and left those

behind that had a mind to pursue further adventures. Among the former

was Kennedy, their captain, of whose honour they had such a despicable

notion that they were about to throw him overboard when they found him

in the sloop, as fearing he might betray them all at their return to

England; he having in his childhood been bred a pickpocket, and before

he became a pirate a house-breaker; both professions that these

gentlemen have a very mean opinion of. However, Captain Kennedy, by

taking solemn oaths of fidelity to his companions, was suffered to

proceed with them.

In this company there was but one that pretended to any skill in

navigation (for Kennedy could neither write nor read, he being

preferred to the command merely for his courage, which indeed he had

often signalized, particularly in taking the Portuguese ship), and he

proved to be a pretender only; for, shaping their course to Ireland,

where they agreed to land, they ran away to the north-west coast of

Scotland, and there were tossed about by hard storms of wind for

several days without knowing where they were, and in great danger of

perishing. At length they pushed the vessel into a little creek and

went all ashore, leaving the sloop at an anchor for the next comers.

The whole company refreshed themselves at a little village about five

miles from the place where they left the sloop, and passed there for

shipwrecked sailors, and no doubt might have travelled on without

suspicion, but the mad and riotous manner of their living on the road

occasioned their journey to be cut short, as we shall observe

presently.

Kennedy and another left them here, and, travelling to one of the

seaports, shipped themselves for Ireland, and arrived there in safety.

Six or seven wisely withdrew from the rest, travelled at their

leisure, and got to their much-desired port of London without being

disturbed or suspected, but the main gang alarmed the country wherever

they came, drinking and roaring at such a rate that the people shut

themselves up in their houses, in some places not daring to venture

out among so many mad fellows. In other villages they treated the

whole town, squandering their money away as if, like Æsop, they wanted

to lighten their burthens. This expensive manner of living procured

two of their drunken stragglers to be knocked on the head, they being

found murdered in the road and their money taken from them. All the

rest, to the number of seventeen, as they drew nigh to Edinburgh, were

arrested and thrown into gaol upon suspicion of they knew not what;

however, the magistrates were not long at a loss for proper

accusations, for two of the gang offering themselves for evidences

were accepted of, and the others were brought to a speedy trial,

whereof nine were convicted and executed.

Kennedy having spent all his money, came over from Ireland and kept a

common B----y-house on Deptford Road, and now and then it was thought,

made an excursion abroad in the way of his former profession, till one

of his household w----s gave information against him for a robbery,

for which he was committed to Bridewell; but because she would not do

the business by halves she found out a mate of a ship that Kennedy had

committed piracy upon, as he foolishly confessed to her. This mate,

whose name was Grant, paid Kennedy a visit in Bridewell, and knowing

him to be the man, procured a warrant, and had him committed to the

Marshalsea prison.

The game that Kennedy had now to play was to turn evidence himself;

accordingly he gave a list of eight or ten of his comrades, but, not

being acquainted with their habitations, one only was taken, who,

though condemned, appeared to be a man of a fair character, was forced

into their service, and took the first opportunity to get from them,

and therefore received a pardon; but Walter Kennedy, being a notorious

offender, was executed July 19, 1721, at Execution Dock.

The rest of the pirates who were left in the ship _Rover_ stayed not

long behind, for they went ashore to one of the West India islands.

What became of them afterwards I cannot tell, but the ship was found

at sea by a sloop belonging to _St. Christophers_, and carried into

that island with only nine negroes aboard.

Thus we see what a disastrous fate ever attends the wicked, and how

rarely they escape the punishment due to their crimes, who, abandoned

to such a profligate life, rob, spoil, and prey upon mankind, contrary

to the light and law of nature, as well as the law of God. It might

have been hoped that the examples of these deaths would have been as

marks to the remainder of this gang, how to shun the rocks their

companions had split on; that they would have surrendered to mercy, or

divided themselves for ever from such pursuits, as in the end they

might be sure would subject them to the same law and punishment, which

they must be conscious they now equally deserved; impending law, which

never let them sleep well unless when drunk. But all the use that was

made of it here, was to commend the justice of the court that

condemned Kennedy, for he was a sad dog, they said, and deserved the

fate he met with.

But to go back to Roberts, whom we left on the coast of Caiana, in a

grievous passion at what Kennedy and the crew had done, and who was

now projecting new adventures with his small company in the sloop; but

finding hitherto they had been but as a rope of sand, they formed a

set of articles to be signed and sworn to for the better conservation

of their society, and doing justice to one another, excluding all

Irishmen from the benefit of it, to whom they had an implacable

aversion upon the account of Kennedy. How, indeed, Roberts could think

that an oath would be obligatory where defiance had been given to the

laws of God and man, I cannot tell, but he thought their greatest

security lay in this--“that it was every one’s interest to observe

them, if they minded to keep up so abominable a combination.”

* * * * *

The following is the substance of articles as taken from the pirate’s

own informations:--

I.

Every man has a vote in affairs of moment, has equal title

to the fresh provisions or strong liquors at any time

seized, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity (no

uncommon thing among them) make it necessary for the good

of all to vote a retrenchment.

II.

Every man to be called fairly in turn by list, on board of

prizes, because, over and above their proper share, they

were on these occasions allowed a shift of clothes. But if

they defrauded the company to the value of a dollar, in

plate, jewels, or money, marooning was their punishment.

(This was a barbarous custom of putting the offender on

shore, on some desolate or uninhabited cape or island, with

a gun, a few shot, a bottle of water, a bottle of powder,

to subsist with or starve.) If the robbery was only between

one another, they contented themselves with slitting the

ears and nose of him that was guilty, and set him on shore,

not in an uninhabited place, but somewhere where he was

sure to encounter hardships.

III.

No person to game at cards or dice for money.

IV.

The lights and candles to be put out at eight o’clock at

night. If any of the crew after that hour still remained

inclined for drinking, they were to do it on the open

deck. (Which Roberts believed would give a check to their

debauches, for he was a sober man himself, but found at

length that all his endeavours to put an end to this

debauch proved ineffectual.)

V.

To keep their piece, pistols, and cutlass clean, and

fit for service. (In this they were extravagantly nice,

endeavouring to outdo one another in the beauty and

richness of their arms, giving sometimes at an auction--at

the mast--£30 or £40 a pair for pistols. These were slung

in time of service, with different coloured ribbons, over

their shoulders, in a way peculiar to these fellows, in

which they took great delight.)

VI.

No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man

were found seducing any of the latter sex; and carried her

to sea disguised, he was to suffer death. (So that when

any fell into their hands, as it chanced in the _Onslow_,

they put a sentinel immediately over her to prevent ill

consequences from so dangerous an instrument of division

and quarrel; but then here lies the roguery--they contend

who shall be sentinel, which happens generally to one of

the greatest bullies, who, to secure the lady’s virtue,

will let none lie with her but himself.)

VII.

To desert the ship or their quarters in battle, was

punished with death or marooning.

VIII.

No striking one another on board, but every man’s quarrels

to be ended on shore, at sword and pistol. Thus the

quartermaster of the ship, when the parties will not come

to any reconciliation, accompanies them on shore with what

assistance he thinks proper, and turns the disputants

back to back at so many paces distance. At the word of

command they turn and fire immediately, or else the piece

is knocked out of their hands. If both miss, they come to

their cutlasses, and then he is declared victor who draws

the first blood.

IX.

No man to talk of breaking up their way of living till each

had shared £1,000. If, in order to this, any man should

lose a limb, or become a cripple in their service, he was

to have 800 dollars out of the public stock, and for lesser

hurts proportionably.

X.

The captain and quartermaster to receive two shares of a

prize; the master, boatswain, and gunner, one share and a

half, and other officers one and a quarter.

XI.

The musicians to have rest on the Sabbath-day, but the

other six days and nights none without special favour.

* * * * *

These, we are assured, were some of Roberts’s articles, but as they

had taken care to throw overboard the original they had signed and

sworn to, there is a great deal of room to suspect the remainder

contained something too horrid to be disclosed to any, except such as

were willing to be sharers in the iniquity of them. Let them be what

they will, they were together the test of all new-comers, who were

initiated by an oath taken on a Bible, reserved for that purpose only,

and were subscribed to in presence of the worshipful Mr. Roberts. And

in case any doubt should arise concerning the construction of these

laws, and it should remain a dispute whether the party had infringed

them or no, a jury was appointed to explain them, and bring in a

verdict upon the case in doubt.

Since we are now speaking of the laws of this company, I shall go on,

and, in as brief a manner as I can, relate the principal customs and

government of this roguish commonwealth, which are pretty near the

same with all pirates.

For the punishment of small offences which are not provided for by the

articles, and which are not of consequence enough to be left to a

jury, there is a principal officer among the pirates, called the

quartermaster, of the men’s own choosing, who claims all authority

this way, excepting in time of battle. If they disobey his command,

are quarrelsome and mutinous with one another, misuse prisoners,

plunder beyond his order, and in particular, if they be negligent of

their arms, which he musters at discretion, he punishes at his own

arbitrement, with drubbing or whipping, which no one else dare do

without incurring the lash from all the ship’s company. In short, this

officer is trustee for the whole, is the first on board any prize,

separating for the company’s use what he pleases, and returning what

he thinks fit to the owners, excepting gold and silver, which they

have voted not returnable.

After a description of the quartermaster and his duty, who acts as a

sort of a civil magistrate on board a pirate ship, I shall consider

their military officer, the captain; what privileges he exerts in such

anarchy and unruliness of the members. Why, truly very little--they

only permit him to be captain, on condition that they may be captain

over him; they separate to his use the great cabin, and sometimes vote

him small parcels of plate and china (for it may be noted that Roberts

drank his tea constantly), but then every man, as the humour takes

him, will use the plate and china, intrude into his apartment, swear

at him, seize a part of his victuals and drink, if they like it,

without his offering to find fault or contest it. Yet Roberts, by a

better management than usual, became the chief director in everything

of moment; and it happened thus:--The rank of captain being obtained

by the suffrage of the majority, it falls on one superior for

knowledge and boldness--pistol proof, as they call it--and can make

those fear who do not love him. Roberts is said to have exceeded his

fellows in these respects, and when advanced, enlarged the respect

that followed it by making a sort of privy council of half a dozen of

the greatest bullies, such as were his competitors, and had interest

enough to make his government easy; yet even those, in the latter part

of his reign, he had run counter to in every project that opposed his

own opinion; for which, and because he grew reserved and would not

drink and roar at their rate, a cabal was formed to take away his

captainship, which death did more effectually.

The captain’s power is uncontrollable in chase or in battle, drubbing,

cutting, or even shooting any one who dares deny his command. The same

privilege he takes over prisoners, who receive good or ill usage

mostly as he approves of their behaviour, for though the meanest would

take upon them to misuse a master of a ship, yet he would control

herein when he sees it, and merrily over a bottle give his prisoners

this double reason for it: first, that it preserved his precedence;

and secondly, that it took the punishment out of the hands of a much

more rash and mad set of fellows that himself. When he found that

rigour was not expected from his people (for he often practised it to

appease them), then he would give strangers to understand that it was

pure inclination that induced him to a good treatment of them, and not

any love or partiality to their persons; for, says he, “there is none

of you but will hang me, I know, whenever you can clinch me within

your power.”

* * * * *

And now, seeing the disadvantages they were under for pursuing the

account, viz., a small vessel ill repaired, and without provisions or

stores, they resolved, one and all, with the little supplies they

could get, to proceed for the West Indies, not doubting to find a

remedy for all these evils and to retrieve their loss.

In the latitude of Deseada, one of the islands, they took two sloops,

which supplied them with provisions and other necessaries, and a few

days afterwards took a brigantine belonging to Rhode Island, and then

proceeded to Barbadoes, off of which island they fell in with a

Bristol ship of ten guns, in her voyage out, from whom they took

abundance of clothes, some money, twenty-five bales of goods, five

barrels of powder, a cable, hawser, ten casks of oatmeal, six casks of

beef, and several other goods, besides five of their men; and after

they had detained her three days let her go, who, being bound for the

abovesaid island, she acquainted the governor with what had happened

as soon as she arrived.

Whereupon a Bristol galley that lay in the harbour was ordered to be

fitted out with all imaginable expedition of 20 guns and 80 men, there

being then no man-of-war upon that station, and also a sloop with 10

guns and 40 men. The galley was commanded by one Captain Rogers, of

Bristol, and the sloop by Captain Graves, of that island, and Captain

Rogers, by a commission from the governor, was appointed commodore.

The second day after Rogers sailed out of the harbour he was

discovered by Roberts, who, knowing nothing of their design, gave them

chase. The Barbadoes ships kept an easy sail till the pirates came up

with them, and then Roberts gave them a gun, expecting they would have

immediately struck to his piratical flag; but instead thereof, he was

forced to receive the fire of a broadside, with three huzzas at the

same time, so that an engagement ensued; but Roberts, being hardly put

to it, was obliged to crowd all the sail the sloop would bear to get

off. The galley, sailing pretty well, kept company for a long while,

keeping a constant fire, which galled the pirate; however, at length,

by throwing over their guns and other heavy goods, and thereby

lightening the vessel, they, with much ado, got clear; but Roberts

could never endure a Barbadoes man afterwards, and when any ships

belonging to that island fell in his way, he was more particularly

severe to them than others.

Captain Roberts sailed in the sloop to the island of Dominico, where

he watered and got provisions of the inhabitants, to whom he gave

goods in exchange. At this place he met with thirteen Englishmen, who

had been set ashore by a French Guard de la Coste, belonging to

Martinico, taken out of two New England ships that had been seized as

prizes by the said French sloop. The men willingly entered with the

pirates, and it proved a seasonable recruit.

They stayed not long here, though they had immediate occasion for

cleaning their sloop, but did not think this a proper place; and

herein they judged right, for the touching at this island had like to

have been their destruction, because they, having resolved to go away

to the Granada Islands for the aforesaid purpose, by some accident it

came to be known to the French colony, who, sending word to the

governor of Martinico, he equipped and manned two sloops to go in

quest of them. The pirates sailed directly for the Granadilloes, and

hall’d into a lagoon at Corvocoo, where they cleaned with unusual

dispatch, staying but a little above a week, by which expedition they

missed of the Martinico sloops only a few hours, Roberts sailing

overnight that the French arrived the next morning. This was a

fortunate escape, especially considering that it was not from any

fears of their being discovered that they made so much haste from the

island, but, as they had the impudence themselves to own, for the want

of wine and women.

Thus narrowly escaped, they sailed for Newfoundland, and arrived upon

the banks the latter end of June, 1720. They entered the harbour of

Trepassi with their black colours flying, drums beating, and trumpets

sounding. There were two-and-twenty vessels in the harbour, which the

men all quitted upon the sight of the pirate, and fled ashore. It is

impossible particularly to recount the destruction and havoc they made

here, burning and sinking all the shipping except a Bristol galley,

and destroying the fisheries and stages of the poor planters without

remorse or compunction; for nothing is so deplorable as power in mean

and ignorant hands--it makes men wanton and giddy, unconcerned at the

misfortunes they are imposing on their fellow-creatures, and keeps

them smiling at the mischiefs that bring themselves no advantage. They

are like madmen that cast fire-brands, arrows, and death, and say, Are

not we in sport?

Roberts manned the Bristol galley he took in the harbour, and mounted

16 guns on board her, and cruising out upon the banks, he met with

nine or ten sail of French ships, all which he destroyed except one of

26 guns, which they seized and carried off for their own use. This

ship they christened the _Fortune_, and leaving the Bristol galley to

the Frenchmen, they sailed away in company with the sloop on another

cruise, and took several prizes, viz., the _Richard_, of Biddiford,

Jonathan Whitfield, master; the _Willing Mind_, of Pool; the

_Expectation_, of Topsham; and the _Samuel_, Captain Cary, of London;

out of these ships they increased their company by entering all the

men they could well spare in their own service. The _Samuel_ was a

rich ship, and had several passengers on board, who were used very

roughly in order to make them discover their money, threatening them

every moment with death if they did not resign everything up to them.

They tore up the hatches and entered the hold like a parcel of furies,

and with axes and cutlasses cut and broke open all the bales, cases,

and boxes they could lay their hands on; and when any goods came upon

deck that they did not like to carry abroad, instead of tossing them

into the hold again, threw them overboard into the sea. All this was

done with incessant cursing and swearing, more like fiends than men.

They carried with them sails, guns, powder, cordage, and £8,000 or

£9,000 worth of the choicest goods, and told Captain Cary “that they

should accept of no Act of Grace, that the K---- and P----t might be

damned with their Acts of G---- for them; neither would they go to

Hope Point to be hanged up a-sundrying, as Kid’s and Braddish’s

company were; but that if they should ever be overpowered, they would

set fire to the powder with a pistol, and go all merrily to hell

together.”

After they had brought all the booty aboard a consultation was held

whether they should sink or burn the ship, but whilst they were

debating the matter they spied a sail, and so left the _Samuel_, to

give her chase; at midnight they came up with the same, which proved

to be a snow from Bristol, bound for Boston, Captain Bowles, master.

They used him barbarously, because of his countryman, Captain Rogers,

who attacked them off Barbadoes, was of the city of Bristol.

July 16th, which was two days afterwards, they took a Virginiaman

called the _Little York_, James Philips, master, and the _Love_, of

Liverpool, which they plundered and let go. The next day a snow from

Bristol, called the _Phœnix_, John Richards, master, met with the same

fate from them, as also a brigantine, Captain Thomas, and a sloop

called the _Sadbury_; they took all the men out of the brigantine and

sunk the vessel.

When they left the banks of Newfoundland they sailed for the West

Indies, and the provisions growing short, they went for the latitude

of the island Deseada, to cruise, it being esteemed the likeliest

place to meet with such ships as (they used in their mirth to say)

were consigned to them, with supplies. And it has been very much

suspected that ships have loaded with provisions at the English

colonies, on pretence of trading on the coast of Africa, when they

have in reality been consigned to them, and though a show of violence

is offered to them when they meet, yet they are pretty sure of

bringing their cargo to a good market.

However, at this time they missed their usual luck, and provisions and

necessaries becoming more scarce every day, they retired towards St.

Christophers, where, being denied all succour or assistance from the

Government, they fired in revenge on the town, and burnt two ships in

the road, one of them commanded by Captain Cox, of Bristol; and then

retreated farther to the island of St. Bartholomew, where they met

with much handsomer treatment, the governor not only supplying them

with refreshments, but he and the chiefs caressing them in the most

friendly manner; and the women, from so good an example, endeavoured

to outvie each other in dress and behaviour to attract the good graces

of such generous lovers, that paid well for their favours.