his Brother coming with what Money he could get; he told us the Country
being alarm’d, he had much ado to get Leave to come to us; that the
Governour of _Barbacore_ was at the Water-side, with above 200 Men
commanded by himself, to prevent our Landing, or that any thing should
be brought to us; and that all the Shore was lined with Men for that
End. We have took out of the Galleon 320 Bails of Linnen, Woolen, a
little Silks, and most Sorts of Goods, usually in Bails, besides Boxes
of Knives, Scizzars, Hatchets, _&c._ The _Dutchess_ and _Marquiss_ have
also taken what they can; so that all our 3 Ships are full. We found
aboard the Galeon a great Quantity of Bones in small Boxes, ticketed
with the Names of _Romish_ Saints, some of which had been dead 7 or 800
Years; with an infinite Number of Brass Medals, Crosses, Beads, and
Crucifixes, religious Toys in Wax, Images of Saints made of all sorts
of Wood, Stone, and other Materials, I believe in all near 30 Tun, with
150 Boxes of Books in _Spanish_, _Latin_, _&c._ which would take up much
more Stowage than 50 Tuns of other Goods: All this came from _Italy_,
and most from _Rome_, design’d for the Jesuits of _Peru_; but being of
small Value to us, we contented our selves to take only a Sample of most
Sorts to shew our Friends in _England_, and left the rest. A large
wooden Effigies of the Virgin _Mary_ being either dropt or thrown over
board, from the Galeon, and drove ashoar near the North Point of the
Island, the _Indians_ that came in the Canoes with Senior _Morell_,
_&c._ from the main Land, being then a Fishing, took up the Image, and
brought her in the Canoe to the Shoar just over against our Ship, where
we gave our Prisoners Liberty to walk that Day: As soon as they saw her,
they cross’d and bless’d themselves, and fancied that this must be the
Virgin _Mary_ come by Water from _Lima_ or _Panama_, to relieve them in
their Necessity: They then set it up on the Shoar, and wip’d it dry with
Cotton; and when they came aboard, told us, that tho’ they had wip’d her
again and again, she continued to sweat very much; and all but those
employ’d in wiping her, stood around devoutly amaz’d, praying and
telling over their Beads: They also shew’d the Cotton to our Linguist
and the Ransomers, wet by the excessive Sweat of the holy Virgin, as
they fondly seem’d to believe, and kept it as a choice Relick. The
_Morells_ perceiving me laugh at the Story, they told me a much
stranger, in order to convince me, _viz._ That a few Years ago, at a
Procession in the Cathedral Church of _Lima_, which was at that time
very richly furnished, and worth some Millions of Pieces of 8 in Gold,
Silver and Jewels; the Image of the Virgin was more richly adorn’d with
Pearls, Diamonds and Gold, than the rest; and those Ornaments being left
in the Church, according to Custom, till the Night after Procession,
without any Guard, because the People concluded that none durst be so
sacrilegiously impious as to rob the Church; an unfortunate Thief,
resolving at once to enrich himself, got into the Church at Midnight,
and made up to the Image; but whilst he was going to take off a rich
String of Pearls from the Virgin’s Wrists, she caught him fast by the
Arm, and held him, till being found in that Posture he was apprehended
and executed. This Story was confirm’d as an unquestionable Truth by all
the other Prisoners, who assured us, That all the Fathers of the Church
at _Lima_ confidently affirm the same, as well as a considerable Number
of Lay-Brethren, who (they say) were Eye-Witnesses of it; so that it
passes amongst them as currant, as an Article of their Faith: By this we
may see how the Belief of those false Miracles, by the Cunning of the
_Romish_ Clergy in these Parts, obtains Credit among those Men who are
not so easily imposed on in their worldly Affairs. Thus I am apt to
believe those Gentlemen invented the Story of the sweating Miracle, out
of Zeal to their Church, and thinking thereby to deter us from carrying
away any more of the Relicks out of Senior _Morell’s_ Galeon. Before
this, when I heard such Stories, I took ’em to have been invented meerly
to ridicule the _Romanists_, but when I heard such silly Stories related
by 8 grave Men, of a handsome Appearance and good Reputation amongst the
_Spaniards_, I was convinc’d of the Ignorance and Credulity of the
Papists.
_July 29._ Having for a long time been importun’d by the Companys of
each Ship, to divide what we was forc’d to agree to as Plunder, we
resolved on a Committee to be called to morrow to settle that Affair,
which we did in the following Manner.
At a Committee on board the _Duke_, the 29th Day of _July_, 1709.
It’s agreed, that the following Articles shall regulate Plunder,
and be in part a Satisfaction allow’d by the Committee of the
_Duke_ and _Dutchess_, for past Services, more than each Man’s
Agreement with the Owners.
[Sidenote: Impr.]
_Gold Rings found in any Place, except in a Gold-smith’s Shop, is
Plunder. All Arms, Sea Books and Instruments, all Cloathing and
Moveables, usally worn about Prisoners, except Women’s Ear-rings,
unwrought Gold or Silver, loose Diamonds, Pearls or Money; all
Plate in use aboard Ships, but not on Shoar, (unless about the
Persons of Prisoners) is Plunder._
[Sidenote: _In Gorgona Road._]
_All manner of Clothes ready made, found on the upper Deck, and
betwixt Decks, belonging to the Ships Company and Passengers, is
Plunder also, except what is above limited, and is in whole Bundles
and Pieces, and not open’d in this Country, that appears not for
the Persons use that owns the Chest, but design’d purposely for
Merchandize, which only shall not be plunder. And for
Encouragement, we shall allow to_ James Stratton _40 Rupees to buy
him Liquor in_ India, _in Part of Amends for his smart Money. To_
William Davis _and_ Yerrick Derrickson _20 Rupees each, as smart
Money, over and above their Shares. We also give the Boats Crews
over and above their Shares, that were engag’d with the_ Marquis,
_when taken, four Bails of Goods, to be sold when and where they
think convenient; which Bail, shall be 1 of Serges, 1 of Linnen,
and 2 of Bays; and this over and above their respective Shares.
Also a good Suit of Clothes to be made for each Man that went up
the River above_ Guiaquil, _the last time in the_ Dutchess’_s
Pinnace._
In witness whereof, _We have hereunto set our Hands the Day and
Year above-mentioned_.
Tho. Dover, _Pres._ John Connely,
Woodes Rogers, William Bath,
Stephen Courtney, Tho. Glendal,
William Dampier, Geo. Melbourne,
Edw. Cooke, John Bridge,
Rob. Frye, John Ballett,
William Stretton, Lan. Appleby.
The Cause why we delay’d adjusting what should be Plunder so long, was
the unreasonable Expectations of some among us: This made us wait till
now we had a proper Opportunity, and could better insist on our Owner’s
Interest: Besides, we were not willing that any Difference should arise
about this knotty Affair, when the Prisoners were on board, nor till we
had finish’d the Rigging of our Ships, lest it should have put a full
Stop to our Business, or at least have hinder’d our Proceeding
chearfully.
_July 30._ We over hall’d our Plunder-Chests, and what was judged to be
Plunder, (by Men appointed with the Owners Agents) was carried aboard
the Galeon, which was kept clear between Decks, in order to divide it.
Mr. _Frye_ and Mr. _Pope_ were to be Appraisers for the _Duke_, and Mr.
_Stratton_ and Mr. _Connely_ for the _Dutchess_, so I hope to get over a
troublesome Job peaceably.
_July 31._ Mr. _Navarr’s_ Bark grew leaky, and _Benjamin Parsons_, one
of our Midshipmen, that had charge of her, ran her a-shore without
Orders, at high Water, thinking to have stop’d her Leak at low Water,
and got her off the next Tide; but contrary to his Expectation, the
Vessel strain’d and sunk; so that we had much ado to get out what we had
a-board her Time enough; and were forced to leave in her 10 Bails of
damag’d Bays, and a great deal of Iron Work, which we gave Senior
_Navarr_, in part of Payment for what we have received of him from the
Settlement on the Main.
_August 1._ The Officers we appointed to praise the Plunder met on
board the Galeon, and valued the Cloathing, in order to divide it
amongst the Officers and Men of each Ship, according to their respective
Shares.
_August 2._ We continued appraising the Plunder, and found it a very
troublesome Task.
_August 3._ Capt. _Cooke_ told me they had discover’d another Leak, and
was troubled at so many Leaks in a Harbour; so that I began to dread
that all our Labour and Time was lost on the _Marquiss_, but hop’d for
the best.
_August 4._ Yesterday in the Afternoon they made an End of appraising
the Clothes at a very low rate, amounting to upwards of 400_l._ and the
Silver-handled Swords, Buckles, Snuff-Boxes, Buttons, and Silver Plate
in use aboard every Prize we took, and allow’d to be Plunder at 4_s._
6_d._ _per_ Piece of 8, amounted to 743_l._ 15_s._ besides 3 ℔ 12℥ of
Gold, which was in Rings, Gold, Snuff-boxes, Ear-rings, and Gold Chains,
taken about Prisoners. This I believe to be an exact Account.
[Sidenote: _In Gorgona Road._]
This Morning we had like to have a Mutiny amongst our Men: The Steward
told me, that several of them had last Night made a private Agreement,
and that he heard some Ring-leaders by way of Encouragement, boast to
the rest, that 60 Men had already signed the Paper. Not knowing what
this Combination meant, or how far it was design’d, I sent for the chief
Officers into the Cabin, where we arm’d our selves, secured two of the
chief of those mutinous Fellows, and presently seized two others. The
Fellow that wrote the Paper we put in Irons; by this time all Hands were
upon Deck, and we had got their Agreement from those who were in the
Cabin, the Purport of which was to oblige themselves, not to take their
Plunder, nor to move from thence till they had Justice done them, as
they term’d it. There being so many concern’d in this Design, Captains
_Dover_ and _Fry_ desired I would discharge those in Confinement upon
their asking Pardon, and faithfully promising never to be guilty of the
like, or any other Combination again. The Reason we shewed ’em this
Favour was, that there were too many guilty to punish them at once: And
not knowing what was design’d a-board the _Dutchess_ and _Marquiss_, we
were of Opinion they had concerted to break the Ice first a-board the
_Duke_, and the rest to stand by them. Upon this I us’d what Arguments I
could offer, shew’d them the Danger and Folly of Combinations, and
exhorted them to believe they would have Justice in _England_, should
any thing seem uneasy to them now, or in the whole Course of the
Voyage; adding that we had done all that we could for their good, and
would continue our Endeavours, not doubting their good Intentions,
provided they were not mis-led. With these and other healing Arguments,
all appear’d easy and quiet, and every Man seem’d willing to stand to
what had been done, provided the Gentlemen that were Officers, and not
Sailors, amongst us, had not such large Shares, which they alledg’d was
unreasonable, and that they could not possibly in a Privateer deserve
what they were allow’d in proportion to the rest of the Ships Company:
This we did in part yield to, in order to appease those Malecontents, by
making some Abatements on Mr. _White’s_, Mr. _Bath’s_, and Mr.
_Vanbrugh’s_ Shares; so that we hoped this difficult Work would, with
less Danger than we dreaded, be brought to a good Conclusion: For
Disputes about Plunder is the common Occasion of Privateers Quarrelling
amongst themselves, and ruining their Voyages. Sailors usually exceed
all Measures when left to themselves, and account it a Privilege in
Privateers to do themselves Justice on these Occasions, tho’ in every
thing else I must own, they have been more obedient than any Ship’s
Crews engag’d in the like Undertaking that ever I heard of. Yet we have
not wanted sufficient Tryal of our Patience and Industry in other
things; so that if any Sea-Officer thinks himself endowed with these two
Virtues, let him command in a Privateer, and discharge his Office well
in a distant Voyage, and I’ll engage he shall not want Opportunities to
improve, if not to exhaust all his Stock. Had Capt. _Courtney_ and I
kept what is always allow’d to be Plunder in Privateers, and not
voluntarily given our Parts amongst the Men, but for a greater and more
generous Design in view, (_viz._ The Good of the Voyage) our Parts of
the Plunder would have been above 10 times so much as now it is, because
very little valuable Plunder was taken out of any Place but the Great
Cabbins; and all this in every Prize is of right due to the Commander
that takes it; but if we had acted thus, we foresaw the fatal
Consequences that we must have suffer’d by it, for the Officers and
Crews would plunder unaccountably, as is too often practis’d in
Privateers to keep their Men together, tho’ but meanly to their Duty; so
that we (to preserve a good Discipline) gave an eminent Example to them,
of preferring the common Interest before our own, to our particular
Loss.
We have had lately almost a general Misunderstanding amongst our Chief
Officers, and some great Abuses which I suppose sprung at first from
several unhappy Differences arising at and before our Attempt on
_Guiaquil_. This made me so particularly relate all that pass’d material
in that Attempt, so that I doubt not any ones contradicting this Journal
to my Disadvantage; yet in Differences of this kind amongst the Sailors
we all join, and I hope agree: Tho’ I long for a Reconciliation and good
Harmony amongst Us, which is so essential to the Welfare of the Voyage;
but not being willing to make the Reader a Party-taker, or trouble his
Patience to read over unreasonable Feuds, I have left ’em as much as
possible out of my Journal.
Capt. _Morell_, that went for the Main to get Victuals, return’d. The
Negro we caught first and punished, we kept in Irons, but this Night
miss’d him. We suppose he got his Irons off, and swam ashore.
We had the following Committees, confirmed the Officers of the
_Marquiss_, agreed to sell the Bark and her Cargo, got off all our Wood
and Water, and made Preparation for Sailing. We design to leave the
Launch we built at _Lobos_ with Sen. _Morells_ and _Navarre_, being of
no farther use to us, tho’ hitherto she had done us very good Service.
Here follows what we agreed on in Council.
At a Committee held on board the _Dutchess_, riding at _Gorgona_,
_August 6. 1709_.
_We whose Names are hereunto subscribed, appointed as a Committee
on board the Ships_ Duke _and_ Dutchess, _do hereby impower and
order Capt._ Cooke _to command the_ Marquiss, _Mr._ Charles Pope
_Lieutenant, Mr._ Robert Knowlman _Master, Mr._ William Page _Chief
Master_, Joseph Parker _Second Mate, Mr._ John Ballet _Doctor_,
Benjamin Long _Boatswain_, George Knight _Gunner_, Edward Gormand
_Carpenter, and other Officers as the Captain shall direct aboard
the_ Marquiss: _Each of the above Officers, or the others, on their
good Behaviour, to have such Wages as those in the same Offices on
board the_ Duke _and_ Dutchess, _and to cruise on this Coast in our
Company, or where else Capt._ Cooke _shall think convenient, in his
Return to_ Bristol, _should he be unfortunately separated from us.
Witness our Hands._
Tho. Dover, _Pres._ Tho. Glendall,
Woodes Rogers, John Connely,
Stephen Courtney, William Bath,
William Dampier, Geo. Milbourne,
Robert Frye, John Bridge,
William Stratton, Lan. Appleby.
[Sidenote: _In Gorgona Road._]
Memorandum,
_We have now done careening, fixing, and loading our Ships, with
the_ Marquiss, _and taken all manner of Goods out of our Prizes, as
much as our Ships can carry, having received a valuable
Consideration of Mr._ Morell _and_ Navarre, _the Masters of our 2
Prizes, we are all of opinion we had best leave them in possession
of their Ships, and what Negroes we can’t carry hence; our present
Circumstances and the Condition of the Prizes not allowing us to
remove them from this Place, could we make ever so great advantage
of ’em elsewhere. So judge it our present Interest to ply to
Windward, to try for other Purchases and Sale of the Goods, and if
possible to take or buy Provisions. We all agree to land one of
the_ Guiaquil _Hostages at_ Manta, _in order to procure Money to
pay for the Ransom of the Town, and a Bark we have sold the same
Man, laden with Prize Goods, Witness our Hands this_ 6th _of_
August, 1709.
Tho. Dover, _Pres._ William Stratton,
Woodes Rogers, Tho. Glendall,
Stephen Courtney, John Connely,
William Dampier, William Bath,
Edw. Cooke, John Ballett,
Robert Frye, Lan. Appleby.
Cha. Pope,
I drew up the following Agreement, to which we Officers swore on the
Holy Evangelists, because I thought it the most proper Method to prevent
the Confusions which were like to happen among us, because of the
Jealousies that were entertain’d of one another, and came to such a
height, that I fear’d a Separation.
_We having made a solemn Agreement, do this Instant sign
voluntarily, and give each other our Oaths on the Holy Bible; and
as we hope for Forgiveness of Sins, and Salvation by the alone
Merits and Intercession of our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, to keep
severely and strictly this serious concerted_ Memorandum. _First we
agree to keep company, and assist each other on all Occasions, and
with all Necessaries, as far as our Abilities reach, and our common
Safety requires. Secondly, that in case we engage at any time with
the Enemy, we design it in Consortship, and that each Commander and
Second in each Ship, hereto subscribed, shall on all Occasions,
without the least Reserve, and to the utmost of his Power, be
forward and ready to assist, rescue or defend each other, with the
utmost Dispatch, Bravery and Conduct, even to the apparent Hazard
of his Ship and all that is dear to him: Well knowing all of us,
that on whatever Occasion should either of our Ships be deserted by
the other two, and taken or lost in these barbarous and remote
Parts, it’s very improbable ever the Men will get home, and the
Survivors would be in as bad, if not in a worse Condition than the
Dead._
_On these and the like Considerations we do hereby solemnly agree
never to desert each other in time of Need, if possibly we can
avoid it, and to be to the utmost of our Power and Knowledge alike
brave in attacking or defending our selves against the Enemy to the
last Extremity._
_But if we are so unfortunate to see one Ship inevitably perish,
then the two remaining (after they have us’d their utmost
Endeavours for the distress’d Ship, and find all past Recovery) may
then agree on the best Methods for their own Security. The like for
one Ship if two are lost, but for no other Reason to desert this
firm and solemn Agreement of Consortship; and to shew that none of
us is so unbecoming a Man as to shrink back, or slight this
agreement in time of Action, we agree it shall not be alter’d
without the Consent of all us three Commanders, and the major part
of the Officers hereto subscrib’d, and to a Duplicate in each Ship
of the same Date in_ Gorgona, _the sixth Day of_ August, 1709.
Tho. Dover, _Pres._ William Stretton,
Woodes Rogers, Charles Pope,
Stephen Courtney, John Connely,
Edward Cooke, Tho. Glendale.
Rob. Fry,
[Sidenote: _From Gorgona towards Manta, in Peru._]
Another Paper was also drawn up for every Man to swear what Clothes,
Goods, _&c._ he had received of the Agents, and to restore whatever he
had taken without the Agents Knowledge, in order to a just distribution
of the Plunder, and every one was to oblige himself in a Penalty of
20_s._ for every Shilling Value that should be found about him
conceal’d, besides the former Penalty agreed on of losing his Share of
any Prize or Purchase for concealing above the Value of half a Piece of
Eight; and for the Incouragement of Discoveries the Informer was to have
half the Penalty, and the Protection of the Commanders. This Paper was
objected against by several of the Officers, who insisted, that there
ought to be a greater Latitude allowed them to advantage themselves,
since they had ventured their Lives hither on so difficult an
Undertaking, which made us defer the signing it till a better
Opportunity; for unless such Agreements as these had been constantly
promoted, as occasion required, the Temptation of Interest wou’d have
made us fall into irrecoverable Confusions abroad, which generally end
in a Separation, or worse.
_Aug. 7._ We gave Sen. _Morell_ and _Navarre_ their Ships, and all the
Goods we could not carry away, for what Money our Agents receiv’d of
’em, tho’ they expected to have had ’em at an easier Rate. We came to
sail this Morning; the dividing the Plunder has took up more Time than
we were willing to spare; but ’twas absolutely necessary to do it. We
took Sen. _Navarre_ with us before we came to sail: I went ashore, and
shew’d Sen. _Morell_ how we left things between his Ship and the other
Prize. Mr. _Navarre_ left his Son-in-law in charge of this Vessel and
Goods, then came with me on board our Ships, expecting to have the Bark
betwixt him and our Ransomers, if they paid us at _Guiaquil_. Wind
veerable in the South West Quarter, a Lee Current.
_August 8._ Yesterday at 6 in the Evening the Island of _Gorgona_ bore
S. by E. distant 6 Leagues. Just before Night we took our Men out of the
Bark, and left her in possession of an old _Indian_ Pilot, and some
Negroes and _Indian_ Prisoners, putting our ordinary Ransomer aboard to
go in her, as we agreed on before we came out. I and Capt. _Dover_
sign’d a Paper to protect them from being seiz’d by the _Spaniards_, if
they should lose Company with us; but order’d them not to stir from us.
I also desir’d the _Spaniards_ aboard the _Duke_, who had agreed for
her, strictly to charge the Crew in the Bark not to leave us willingly,
which they did, because our Agreement was not in Writing, but only
Verbal, promising us 15000 Pieces of Eight for the Bark and her Cargo,
including the Remainder of the Towns Ransom, we designing to have it
under their hand in _Spanish_ and _English_ to morrow, before we would
wholly let go the Bark: But this Morning, to our surprize, the Bark was
out of sight. The _Marquiss_ is very crank, and sails heavy on a Wind.
We held the following Committee to endeavour to help the _Marquiss_’s
sailing.
At a Committee held on board the _Dutchess_ at Sea, off the Island
_Gorgona, August 8th, 1709_.
Memorandum,
_The_ Marquiss _not answering our Expectations, but proving crank
and sailing heavy: We now advise Capt._ Cooke _to heave the_
Dutchess’_s two heavy Guns overboard, and 20 Boxes of Snuff, with
two spare Top-masts, and bring his Ship more by the Stern, stowing
every thing as low as possible in the Ship, to endeavour to make
her stiffer, and if he finds any thing more necessary for the
Benefit of the Ship, we desire him to do it. Witness our Hands._
Signed by the Majority of our Council.
Amongst our Prisoners taken on board Sen. _Navarre_’s Ship from
_Panama_, there was a Gentlewoman and her Family, her eldest Daughter a
pretty young Woman of about 18, was newly married, and had her Husband
with her. We assign’d them the Great Cabin aboard the Galleon, and none
were suffer’d to intrude amongst them, or to separate their Company; yet
the Husband (I was told) shew’d evident Marks of Jealousy, the
_Spaniards_ Epidemick Disease; but I hope he had not the least Reason
for it amongst us, my third Lieutenant _Glendall_ alone having charge of
the Galleon and Prisoners: For being above 50 Years of Age, he appear’d
to be the most secure Guardian to Females that had the least Charm, tho’
all our young Men have hitherto appear’d modest beyond Example among
Privateers; yet we thought it improper to expose them to Temptations. At
this time Lieut. _Connely_, who behav’d himself so modestly to the
Ladies of _Guiaquil_, was some days in possession of _Navarre_’s Ship
before we stopt here, to remove these Prisoners aboard the Galleon,
where he gain’d their Thanks and publick Acknowledgments for his
Civilities to these Ladies, and even the Husband extols him. We had
notice these Ladies had some conceal’d Treasure about them, and order’d
a Female Negro that we took, and who spoke _English_, to search them
narrowly, and found some Gold Chains and other things cunningly hid
under their Clothes. They had before deliver’d to Capt. _Courtney_ Plate
and other things of good Value. We gave them most of their wearing
Apparel and Necessaries, with 3 Female Mullatto Slaves, and parted very
friendly. They confess’d to our People, who put them ashore, that we had
been much civiller than they did expect, or believe their own Countrymen
would have been in the like case, and sent back the Husband with Gold to
purchase some Goods and two Slaves of us. I come next to the Description
of _Gorgona_.
[Sidenote: _From Gorgona towards Manta, in Peru._]