_How the pirates arm their vessels, and regulate their voyages._
BEFORE the pirates go to sea, they give notice to all concerned, of the
day on which they are to embark; obliging each man to bring so many
pounds of powder and ball as they think necessary. Being all come
aboard, they consider where to get provisions, especially flesh, seeing
they scarce eat anything else; and of this the most common sort is pork;
the next food is tortoises, which they salt a little: sometimes they rob
such or such hog-yards, where the Spaniards often have a thousand head
of swine together. They come to these places in the night, and having
beset the keeper's lodge, they force him to rise, and give them as many
heads as they desire, threatening to kill him if he refuses, or makes
any noise; and these menaces are oftentimes executed on the miserable
swine-keepers, or any other person that endeavours to hinder their
robberies.
Having got flesh sufficient for their voyage, they return to their ship:
here they allow, twice a day, every one as much as he can eat, without
weight or measure; nor does the steward of the vessel give any more
flesh, or anything else, to the captain, than to the meanest mariner.
The ship being well victualled, they deliberate whither they shall go to
seek their desperate fortunes, and likewise agree upon certain articles,
which are put in writing, which every one is bound to observe; and all
of them, or the chiefest part, do set their hands to it. Here they set
down distinctly what sums of money each particular person ought to have
for that voyage, the fund of all the payments being what is gotten by
the whole expedition; for otherwise it is the same law among these
people as with other pirates. No prey, no pay. First, therefore, they
mention how much the captain is to have for his ship; next, the salary
of the carpenter, or shipwright, who careened, mended, and rigged the
vessel: this commonly amounts to one hundred or one hundred and fifty
pieces of eight, according to the agreement. Afterwards, for provisions
and victualling, they draw out of the same common stock about two
hundred pieces of eight; also a salary for the surgeon, and his chest of
medicaments, which usually is rated at two hundred or two hundred and
fifty pieces of eight. Lastly, they agree what rate each one ought to
have that is either wounded or maimed in his body, suffering the loss of
any limb; as, for the loss of a right arm, six hundred pieces of eight,
or six slaves; for the left arm, five hundred pieces of eight, or five
slaves; for a right leg, five hundred pieces of eight, or five slaves;
for the left leg, four hundred pieces of eight, or four slaves; for an
eye, one hundred pieces of eight, or one slave; for a finger, the same
as for an eye. All which sums are taken out of the common stock of what
is gotten by their piracy, and a very exact and equal dividend is made
of the remainder. They have also regard to qualities and places: thus
the captain, or chief, is allotted five or six portions, to what the
ordinary seamen have: the master's mate only two, and other officers
proportionately to their employ: after which, they draw equal parts from
the highest to the lowest mariner, the boys not being omitted, who draw
half a share; because when they take a better vessel than their own, it
is in the boys' duty to fire their former vessel, and then retire to the
prize.
They observe among themselves very good orders; for in the prizes which
they take, it is severely prohibited, to every one, to take anything to
themselves: hence all they take is equally divided, as hath been said
before: yea, they take a solemn oath to each other, not to conceal the
least thing they find among the prizes; and if any one is found false to
the said oath, he is immediately turned out of the society. They are
very civil and charitable to each other; so that if any one wants what
another has, with great willingness they give it one to another. As soon
as these pirates have taken a prize, they immediately set ashore the
prisoners, detaining only some few, for their own help and service:
whom, also, they release, after two or three years. They refresh
themselves at one island or another, but especially at those on the
south of Cuba; here they careen their vessels, while some hunt, and
others cruise in canoes for prizes.
The inhabitants of New Spain and Campechy lade their best merchandize in
ships of great bulk: the vessels from Campechy sail in the winter to
Caraccas, Trinity isles, and that of Margarita, and return back again in
the summer. The pirates knowing these seasons (being very diligent in
their inquiries) always cruise between the places above-mentioned; but
in case they light on no considerable booty, they commonly undertake
some more hazardous enterprises: one remarkable instance of which I
shall here give you.
A certain pirate called Pierre François, or Peter Francis, waiting a
long time at sea with his boat and twenty-six men, for the ships that
were to return from Maracaibo to Campechy, and not being able to find
any prey, at last he resolved to direct his course to Rancheiras, near
the River de la Plata, in 12 deg. and a half north latitude. Here lies a
rich bank of pearl, to the fishery whereof they yearly sent from
Carthagena twelve vessels with a man-of-war for their defence. Every
vessel has at least two negroes in it, who are very dextrous in diving
to the depth of six fathoms, where they find good store of pearls. On
this fleet, called the pearl-fleet, Pierre François resolved to venture,
rather than go home empty; they then rid at anchor at the mouth of the
River de la Hacha, the man-of-war scarce half a league distant from the
small ships, and the wind very calm. Having spied them in this posture,
he presently pulled down his sails, and rowed along the coast feigning
to be a Spanish vessel coming from Maracaibo; but no sooner was he come
to the pearl-bank, when suddenly he assaulted the vice-admiral of eight
guns and sixty men, commanding them to surrender. The Spaniards made a
good defence for some time, but at last were forced to submit.
Having thus taken the vice-admiral, he resolved to attempt the
man-of-war, with which addition he hoped to master the rest of the
fleet: to this end he presently sunk his own boat, putting forth the
Spanish colours, and weighed anchor with a little wind which then began
to stir, having with threats and promises compelled most of the
Spaniards to assist him: but so soon as the man-of-war perceived one of
his fleet to sail, he did so too, fearing lest the mariners designed to
run away with the riches they had on board. The pirate on this
immediately gave over the enterprise, thinking themselves unable to
encounter force to force: hereupon they endeavoured to get out of the
river and gain the open seas, by making as much sail as they could;
which the man-of-war perceiving, he presently gave them chase, but the
pirates having laid on too much sail, and a gust of wind suddenly
rising, their main-mast was brought by the board, which disabled them
from escaping.
This unhappy event much encouraged those in the man-of-war, they gaining
upon the pirates every moment, and at last overtook them; but finding
they had twenty-two sound men, the rest being either killed or wounded,
resolved to defend themselves as long as possible; this they performed
very courageously for some time, till they were forced by the
man-of-war, on condition that they should not be used as slaves to carry
stones, or be employed in other labours for three or four years, as they
served their negroes, but that they should be set safe ashore on free
land. On these articles they yielded with all they had taken, which was
worth, in pearls alone, above 100,000 pieces of eight, besides the
vessel, provisions, goods, &c. All of which would have made this a
greater prize than he could desire, which he had certainly carried off,
if his main-mast had not been lost, as we said before.
Another bold attempt like this, no less remarkable, I shall also give
you. A certain pirate of Portugal, thence called Bartholomew Portugues,
was cruising in a boat of thirty men and four small guns from Jamaica,
upon the Cape de Corriente in Cuba, where he met a great ship from
Maracaibo and Carthagena, bound for the Havannah, well provided with
twenty great guns and seventy men, passengers and mariners; this ship he
presently assaulted, which they on board as resolutely defended. The
pirate escaping the first encounter, resolved to attack her more
vigorously than before, seeing he had yet suffered no great damage: this
he performed with so much resolution, that at last, after a long and
dangerous fight, he became master of it. The Portuguese lost only ten
men, and had four wounded; so that he had still remaining twenty
fighting men, whereas the Spaniards had double the number. Having
possessed themselves of the ship, the wind being contrary to return to
Jamaica, they resolved to steer to Cape St. Anthony (which lies west of
Cuba), there to repair and take in fresh water, of which they were then
in great want.
Being very near the cape abovesaid, they unexpectedly met with three
great ships coming from New Spain, and bound for the Havannah; by these
not being able to escape, they were easily retaken, both ship and
pirates, and all made prisoners, and stripped of all the riches they had
taken but just before. The cargo consisted in 120,000 weight of
cocoa-nuts, the chief ingredient of chocolate, and 70,000 pieces of
eight. Two days after this misfortune, there arose a great storm, which
separated the ships from one another. The great vessel, where the
pirates were, arrived at Campechy, where many considerable merchants
came and saluted the captain; these presently knew the Portuguese
pirate, being infamous for the many insolencies, robberies and murders
he had committed on their coasts, which they kept fresh in their memory.
The next day after their arrival, the magistrates of the city sent to
demand the prisoners from on board the ship, in order to punish them
according to their deserts; but fearing the captain of the pirates
should make his escape (as he had formerly done, being their prisoner
once before) they judged it safer to leave him guarded on ship-board for
the present, while they erected a gibbet to hang him on the next day,
without any other process than to lead him from the ship to his
punishment; the rumour of which was presently brought to Bartholomew
Portugues, whereby he sought all possible means to escape that night:
with this design he took two earthen jars, wherein the Spaniards carry
wine from Spain to the West Indies, and stopped them very well,
intending to use them for swimming, as those unskilled in that art do
corks or empty bladders; having made this necessary preparation, he
waited when all should be asleep; but not being able to escape his
sentinel's vigilance, he stabbed him with a knife he had secretly
purchased, and then threw himself into the sea with the earthen jars
before-mentioned, by the help of which, though he never learned to swim,
he reached the shore, and immediately took to the woods, where he hid
himself for three days, not daring to appear, eating no other food than
wild herbs.
[Illustration: "'PORTUGUES MADE THE BEST OF HIS WAY TO DEL GOLPHO
TRISTE'"--_Page 46_]
Those of the city next day made diligent search for him in the woods,
where they concluded him to be. This strict inquiry Portugues saw from
the hollow of a tree, wherein he lay hid; and upon their return he made
the best of his way to del Golpho Triste, forty leagues from Campechy,
where he arrived within a fortnight after his escape: during which
time, as also afterwards, he endured extreme hunger and thirst, having
no other provision with him than a small calabaca with a little water:
besides the fears of falling again into the hands of the Spaniards. He
eat nothing but a few shell-fish, which he found among the rocks near
the seashore; and being obliged to pass some rivers, not knowing well
how to swim, he found at last an old board which the waves had driven
ashore, wherein were a few great nails; these he took, and with no small
labour whetted on a stone, till he had made them like knives, though not
so well; with these, and nothing else, he cut down some branches of
trees, which with twigs and osiers he joined together, and made as well
as he could a boat to waft him over the rivers: thus arriving at the
Cape of Golpho Triste, as was said, he found a vessel of pirates,
comrades of his own, lately come from Jamaica.
To these he related all his adversities and misfortunes, and withal
desired they would fit him with a boat and twenty men, with which
company alone he promised to return to Campechy, and assault the ship
that was in the river, by which he had been taken fourteen days before.
They presently granted his request, and equipped him a boat accordingly.
With this small company he set out to execute his design, which he
bravely performed eight days after he left Golpho Triste; for being
arrived at Campechy, with an undaunted courage, and without any noise,
he assaulted the said ship: those on board thought it was a boat from
land that came to bring contraband goods, and so were in no posture of
defence; which opportunity the pirates laying hold of, assaulted them so
resolutely, that in a little time they compelled the Spaniards to
surrender.
Being masters of the ship, they immediately weighed anchor and set sail
from the port, lest they should be pursued by other vessels. This they
did with the utmost joy, seeing themselves possessors of so brave a
ship; especially Portugues, who by a second turn of fortune was become
rich and powerful again, who was so lately in that same vessel a
prisoner, condemned to be hanged. With this purchase he designed greater
things, which he might have done, since there remained in the vessel so
great a quantity of rich merchandise, though the plate had been sent to
the city: but while he was making his voyage to Jamaica, near the isle
of Pinos, on the south of Cuba, a terrible storm arose, which drove
against the Jardines rocks, where she was lost; but Portugues, with his
companions, escaped in a canoe, in which he arrived at Jamaica, where it
was not long ere he went on new adventures, but was never fortunate
after.
Nor less considerable are the actions of another pirate who now lives at
Jamaica, who on several occasions has performed very surprising things.
He was born at Groninghen in the United Provinces. His own name not
being known, his companions gave him that of Roche Brasiliano, by reason
of his long residence in Brasil: hence he was forced to fly, when the
Portuguese retook those countries from the Dutch, several nations then
inhabiting at Brasil (as English, French, Dutch, and others), being
constrained to seek new fortunes.
This person fled to Jamaica, where, being at a stand how to get his
living, he entered himself into the society of pirates, where he served
as a private mariner for some time, and behaved himself so well, that he
was beloved and respected by all. One day some of the mariners
quarrelled with their captain to that degree, that they left the boat.
Brasiliano following them, was chosen their leader, who having fitted
out a small vessel, they made him captain.
Within a few days after, he took a great ship coming from New Spain,
which had a great quantity of plate on board, and carried it to Jamaica.
This action got him a great reputation at home; and though in his
private affairs he governed himself very well, he would oftentimes
appear brutish and foolish when in drink, running up and down the
streets, beating and wounding those he met, no person daring to make any
resistance.
To the Spaniards he was always very barbarous and cruel, out of an
inveterate hatred against that nation. Of these he commanded several to
be roasted alive on wooden spits, for not showing him hog-yards where he
might steal swine. After many of these cruelties, as he was cruising on
the coasts of Campechy, a dismal tempest surprised him so violently,
that his ship was wrecked upon the coasts, the mariners only escaping
with their muskets and some few bullets and powder, which were the only
things they could save. The ship was lost between Campechy and the
Golpho Triste: here they got ashore in a canoe, and, marching along the
coast with all the speed they could, they directed their course towards
Golpho Triste, the common refuge of the pirates. Being upon his journey,
and all very hungry and thirsty, as is usual in desert places, they were
pursued by a troop of an hundred Spaniards. Brasiliano, perceiving their
imminent danger, encouraged his companions, telling them they were
better soldiers, and ought rather to die under their arms fighting, as
it became men of courage, than surrender to the Spaniards, who would
take away their lives with the utmost torments. The pirates were but
thirty; yet, seeing their brave commander oppose the enemy with such
courage, resolved to do the like: hereupon they faced the troop of
Spaniards, and discharged their muskets on them so dextrously, that they
killed one horseman almost with every shot. The fight continued for an
hour, till at last the Spaniards were put to flight. They stripped the
dead, and took from them what was most for their use; such as were also
not quite dead they dispatched with the ends of their muskets.
Having vanquished the enemy, they mounted on horses they found in the
field, and continued their journey; Brasiliano having lost but two of
his companions in this bloody fight, and had two wounded. Prosecuting
their way, before they came to the port they spied a boat at anchor from
Campechy, well manned, protecting a few canoes that were lading wood:
hereupon they sent six of their men to watch them, who next morning, by
a wile, possessed themselves of the canoes. Having given notice to their
companions, they boarded them, and also took the little man-of-war,
their convoy. Being thus masters of this fleet, they wanted only
provisions, of which they found little aboard those vessels: but this
defect was supplied by the horses, which they killed, and salted with
salt, which by good fortune the wood-cutters had brought with them, with
which they supported themselves till they could get better.
They took also another ship going from New Spain to Maracaibo, laden
with divers sorts of merchandise and pieces of eight, designed to buy
cocoa-nuts for their lading home: all these they carried to Jamaica,
where they safely arrived, and, according to custom, wasted all in a few
days in taverns, giving themselves to all manner of debauchery. Such of
these pirates will spend two or three thousand pieces of eight in a
night, not leaving themselves a good shirt to wear in the morning. My
own master would buy sometimes a pipe of wine, and, placing it in the
street, would force those that passed by to drink with him, threatening
also to pistol them if they would not. He would do the like with barrels
of beer or ale; and very often he would throw these liquors about the
streets, and wet peoples' clothes without regarding whether he spoiled
their apparel.
Among themselves these pirates are very liberal: if any one has lost
all, which often happens in their manner of life, they freely give him
of what they have. In taverns and alehouses they have great credit; but
at Jamaica they ought not to run very deep in debt, seeing the
inhabitants there easily sell one another for debt. This happened to my
patron, to be sold for a debt of a tavern wherein he had spent the
greatest part of his money. This man had, within three months before,
three thousand pieces of eight in ready cash, all which he wasted in
that little time, and became as poor as I have told you.
But to return Brasiliano, after having spent all, was forced to go to
sea again to seek his fortune. He set forth towards the coast of
Campechy, his common rendezvous: fifteen days after his arrival, he put
himself into a canoe to espy the port of that city, and see if he could
rob any Spanish vessel; but his fortune was so bad, that both he and all
his men were taken and carried before the governor, who immediately cast
them into a dungeon, intending to hang them every one; and doubtless he
had done so, but for a stratagem of Brasiliano, which saved their lives.
He wrote a letter to the governor, in the names of other pirates that
were abroad at sea, telling them he should have a care how he used those
persons he had in custody; for if he hurt them in the least, they swore
they would never give quarter to any Spaniard that should fall into
their hands.
These pirates having been often at Campechy, and other places of the
West Indies in the Spanish dominions, the governor feared what mischief
their companions abroad might do, if he should punish them. Hereupon he
released them, exacting only an oath on them that they would leave their
exercise of piracy for ever; and withal he sent them as common mariners,
in the galleons, to Spain. They got in this voyage, all together, five
hundred pieces of eight; so that they tarried not long there after their
arrival. Providing themselves with necessaries, they returned to
Jamaica, from whence they set forth again to sea, committing greater
robberies and cruelties than before; but especially abusing the poor
Spaniards, who fell into their hands, with all sorts of cruelty.
The Spaniards, finding they could gain nothing on these people, nor
diminish their number, daily resolved to lessen the number of their
trading ships. But neither was this of any service; for the pirates,
finding few ships at sea, began to gather into companies, and to land on
their dominions, ruining cities, towns, and villages; pillaging,
burning, and carrying away as much as they could.
The first pirate who began these invasions by land was Lewis Scot, who
sacked the city of Campechy, which he almost ruined, robbing and
destroying all he could; and after he had put it to an excessive
ransom, he left it. After Scot came another named Mansvelt, who invaded
Granada, and penetrated even to the South Sea; till at last, for want of
provision, he was forced to go back. He assaulted the isle of St.
Catherine, which he took, with a few prisoners. These directed him to
Carthagena, a principal city in Neuva Granada. But the bold attempts and
actions of John Davis, born at Jamaica, ought not to be forgotten, being
some of the most remarkable; especially his rare prudence and valour
showed in the fore-mentioned kingdom of Granada. This pirate, having
long cruised in the Gulf of Pocatauro, on the ships expected to
Carthagena, bound for Nicaragua, and not meeting any of them, resolved
at last to land in Nicaragua, leaving his ship hid on the coast.
This design he soon executed; for taking eighty men out of ninety, which
he had in all--and the rest he left to keep the ship--he divided them
equally into three canoes. His intent was to rob the churches, and rifle
the houses of the chief citizens of Nicaragua. Thus in the dark night
they entered the river leading to that city, rowing in their canoes; by
day they hid themselves and boats under the branches of trees, on the
banks, which grow very thick along the river-sides in those countries,
and along the sea-coast. Being arrived at the city the third night, the
sentinel, who kept the post of the river, thought them to be fishermen
that had been fishing in the lake: and most of the pirates
understanding Spanish, he doubted not, as soon as he heard them speak.
They had in their company an Indian who had run away from his master,
who would have enslaved him unjustly. He went first ashore, and
instantly killed the sentinel: this done, they entered the city, and
went directly to three or four houses of the chief citizens, where they
knocked softly. These, believing them to be friends, opened the doors;
and the pirates, suddenly possessing themselves of the houses, stole all
the money and plate they could find. Nor did they spare the churches and
most sacred things; all of which were pillaged and profaned, without any
respect or veneration.
Meanwhile, great cries and lamentations were heard of some who had
escaped them; so that the whole city was in an uproar, and all the
citizens rallied in order, to a defence; which the pirates perceiving,
they instantly fled, carrying away their booty, and some prisoners:
these they led away, that if any of them should be taken by the
Spaniards, they might use them for ransom. Thus they got to their ship,
and with all speed put to sea, forcing the prisoners, before they let
them go, to procure them as much flesh as was necessary for their voyage
to Jamaica. But no sooner had they weighed anchor, when they saw a troop
of about five hundred Spaniards, all well armed, at the sea-side:
against these they let fly several guns, wherewith they forced them to
quit the sands, and retire, with no small regret to see these pirates
carry away so much plate of their churches and houses, though distant at
least forty leagues from the sea.
These pirates got, on this occasion, above four thousand pieces of eight
in money, besides much plate, and many jewels; in all, to the value of
fifty thousand pieces of eight, or more: with all this they arrived at
Jamaica soon after. But this sort of people being never long masters of
their money, they were soon constrained to seek more by the same means;
and Captain John Davis, presently after his return, was chosen admiral
of seven or eight vessels, he being now esteemed an able conductor for
such enterprises. He began his new command by directing his fleet to the
north of Cuba, there to wait for the fleet from New Spain; but missing
his design, they determined for Florida. Being arrived there, they
landed their men, and sacked a small city named St. Augustine of
Florida. The castle had a garrison of two hundred men, but could not
prevent the pillage of the city, they effecting it without the least
damage from the soldiers or townsmen.