engage her pretty briskly; but soon fell to Leeward out of Cannon-shot,
and lay a considerable Time, which made us think she was some way or
other disabled. I order’d the Pinnace to be mann’d, and sent her away to
her, that if what we suspected prov’d true, and we had not Wind to get
up with them before Night, our Boat might dog the Chase with Signals
till the Morning, that she might not escape us and the other Ships; but
before the Boat could get up with them, the _Marquiss_ made sail and
came up with the Chase, and both went to it again briskly for 4 Glasses
and upwards: Then the Ship which we took to be the _Dutchess_ stretch’d
a-head to Windward of the Enemy, I suppose to fix her Rigging, or stop
her Leaks; mean while the other kept her in play till she bore down
again, and each firing a Broadside or two, left off, because ’twas dark:
They then bore South of us, which was right in the Wind’s Eye, distant
about 2 Leagues. By Midnight we were pretty well up with them, and our
Boat came aboard, having made false Fires, which we answer’d: They had
been on board the _Dutchess_ and _Marquiss_, and told me the former had
her Foremast much disabled, and the Ring of an Anchor shot away, with
several Men wounded, and one kill’d, having receiv’d a Shot in their
Powder Room, and several in their upper Works, but all stopt. They
engag’d the Ship by themselves the Night before, which was what we took
to be the Boats Lights, being out of the hearing of the Guns. At that
time they could perceive the Enemy was in disorder, her Guns not being
all mounted, and consequently their Netting-deck and Close Quarters
unprovided; so that had it been my good Fortune in the _Duke_ to
accompany the _Dutchess_, as I desired, we all believe we might then
have carried this great Ship; or if they in the _Dutchess_ had thought
of taking most of the Men out of the _Marquiss_, who did not sail well
enough to come up to their Assistance at first, they alone might very
probably have taken her by Boarding at once, before the _Spaniards_ had
experienc’d our Strength, being afterwards so well provided, as
encouraged them to lie driving, and give us all Opportunity to board
them when we pleas’d. Capt. _Cooke_ sent me word, that the _Marquiss_
had fired near all her Shot and Powder, but had escap’d very well both
in Masts, Rigging and Men. I sent our Boat with 3 Barrels of Powder, and
Shot in proportion, and Lieut. _Frye_, to consult our Consorts how to
engage the Enemy to the best advantage at Break of Day. The Chase had
made Signals to our Ship all the Day and Night, because she took us for
her Consort, which we had in possession, and after ’twas dark had edg’d
away to us, else I should not have been up with her, having very little
Wind, and that against us. In the Morning as soon as ’twas Day, the Wind
veering at once, put our Ship about, and the Chase fired first upon the
_Dutchess_, who by means of the Wind’s veering was nearest the Enemy;
she return’d it smartly: we stood as near as possible, firing as our
Guns came to bear; but the _Dutchess_ being by this time thwart the
_Spaniards_ Hawse, and firing very fast, those Shot that miss’d the
Enemy flew from the _Dutchess_ over us, and betwixt our Masts, so that
we ran the risque of receiving more Damage from them than from the
Enemy, if we had lain on her Quarters and cross her Stern, as I
design’d, while the Enemy lay driving. This forced us to lie along side,
close aboard her, where we kept firing round Shot, and did not load with
any Bar or Partridge, because the Ship’s Sides were too thick to receive
any Damage by it, and no Men appearing in sight, it would only have been
a Clog to the Force of our Round Shot. We kept close aboard her, and
drove as she did as near as possible. The Enemy kept to their close
Quarters, so that we did not fire our Small Arms till we saw a Man
appear, or a Port open; then we fired as quick as possible. Thus we
continued for 4 Glasses, about which time we received a Shot in the Main
Mast, which much disabled it; soon after that the _Dutchess_ and we
firing together, we came both close under the Enemy and had like to have
been all aboard her, so that we could make little use of our Guns. Then
we fell a-stern in our Birth along side, where the Enemy threw a
Fire-ball out of one of her Tops, which lighting upon our Quarter-deck,
blew up a Chest of Arms and Cartouch Boxes[143] all loaded, and several
Cartridges of Powder in the Steerage by which means Mr. _Vanbrugh_, our
Agent, and a _Dutchman_, were very much burnt; it might have done more
Damage, had it not been quench’d as soon as possible. After we got clear
of each other, the _Dutchess_ stood in for the Shore where she lay
braced to, mending her Rigging, _&c._ The _Marquiss_ fired several Shot,
but to little purpose, her Guns being small. We were close aboard
several times afterwards, till at last we receiv’d a second Shot in the
Main Mast not far from the other, which rent it miserably, and the Mast
settl’d to it, so that we were afraid it would drop by the board, and
having our Rigging shatter’d very much, we sheer’d off, and brought to,
making a Signal to our Consorts to consult what to do; in the interim we
got ordinary Fishes[144] for a port[145] to the Main mast, and fasten’d
it as well as we could to secure it at present. Capt. _Courtney_ and
Capt. _Cooke_ came aboard with other Officers, where we consider’d the
Condition the 3 Ships were in, their Masts and Rigging being much
damnified in a Place where we could get no Recruit, that if we engag’d
her again, we could propose to do no more than what we had already
done, which was evident did her no great Hurt, because we could perceive
few of our Shot enter’d her Sides to any purpose, and our Small Arms
avail’d less, there being not a Man to be seen above-board; that the
least thing in the World would bring our Main-mast, and likewise the
_Dutchess_ Fore-mast by the board, either of which by its Fall might
carry away another Mast, and then we should lie a Battery for the Enemy,
having nothing to command our Ships with, so that by his heavy Guns he
might either sink or take us: That if we went to board her, we should
run a greater hazard in losing a great many Men with little Hopes of
Success, they having above treble the Number aboard to oppose us, and
there being now in all our 3 Ships not above 120 good Men fit for
boarding, and those but weak, having been very short of Provisions a
long time; besides we had the Disadvantage of a Netting-deck[146] to
enter upon, and a Ship every other way well provided; so that if we had
boarded her, and been forc’d off, or left any of our Men behind, the
Enemy by that means might have known our Strength, and then gone into
the Harbour and took possession of the Prize in spight of all we could
do to prevent it: Besides, our Ammunition was very short, having only
enough to engage a few Glasses longer. All this being seriously
consider’d, and knowing the Difficulty we should have to get Masts, and
the Time and Provisions we must spend before we could get ’em fitted,
’twas resolved to forbear attempting her further, since our battering
her signify’d little, and we had not Strength enough to board her:
Therefore we agreed to keep her company till Night, then to lose her,
and make the best of our way into the Harbour to secure the Prize we had
already took. We engag’d first and last about six or seven Hours, during
all which time we had aboard the _Duke_ but eleven Men wounded, 3 of
whom were scorch’d with Gun-powder. I was again unfortunately wounded in
the Left Foot with a Splinter just before we blew up on the
Quarter-deck, so that I could not stand, but lay on my Back in a great
deal of Misery, part of my Heel-bone being struck out, and all under my
Ankle cut above half thro’, which bled very much, and weaken’d me,
before it could be dressed and stopt. The _Dutchess_ had about 20 Men
killed and wounded, 3 of the latter and one of the former were my Men.
The _Marquiss_ had none kill’d or wounded, but 2 scorch’d with Powder.
The
[Sidenote: _Engaging the bigger Manila Ship._]
Enemy’s was a brave lofty new Ship, the Admiral of _Manila_, and this
the first Voyage she had made; she was call’d the _Bigonia_, of about
900 Tuns, and could carry 60 Guns, about 40 of which were mounted, with
as many Patereroes, all Brass; her Complement of Men on board, as we
were inform’d, was above 450, besides Passengers. They added, that 150
of the Men on board this great Ship were _Europeans_, several of whom
had been formerly Pirates, and having now got all their Wealth aboard,
were resolved to defend it to the last. The Gunner, who had a good Post
in _Manila_, was an expert Man, and had provided the Ship extraordinary
well for Defence, which made them fight so desperately; they had filled
up all between the Guns with Bales to secure the Men. She kept a
_Spanish_ Flag at her Main-top mast Head all the time she fought us; we
shatter’d her Sails and Rigging very much, shot her Mizon-yard, kill’d
two Men out of her Tops, which was all the Damage we could see we did
’em; tho’ we could not place less than 500 Shot (6 Pounders) in her
Hull. These large Ships are built at _Manila_ with excellent Timber,
that will not splinter; they have very thick Sides, much stronger than
we build in _Europe_. Whilst the Officers were aboard us, Capt.
_Courtney_ and others desir’d that what we had agreed upon might be put
in Writing, and sign’d by as many as were present, to prevent false
Reflections hereafter, which was done as follows.
At a Committee held on board the _Duke_, after we had engag’d the
bigger _Manila_ Ship, _December 27. 1709_.
_We having consider’d the Condition of all our 3 Ships, and that
our Masts are much damnified in engaging the_ Manila _Ship, do
think it for the Interest of the whole to forbear any further
Attempts upon her, having no Probability of taking her, but to do
our endeavours to secure the Prize we have already took, which will
be much more for the Honour and Interest of our selves and Country.
This is our Opinion, in witness whereof we have set our Hands, the
Day and Year above-written._
Woodes Rogers, Lan. Appleby,
Stephen Courtney, Charles Pope,
William Dampier, Henry Oliphant,
Edw. Cooke, Alex. Selkirk,
Rob. Frye, John Kingston,
Tho. Glendall, Nath. Scotch,
John Connely, John Piller.
John Bridge,
Thus ended our Attempt on the biggest _Manila_ Ship, which I have heard
related so many ways at home, that I thought it necessary to set down
every particular Circumstance of it, as it stood in my Journal. Had we
been together at first and boarded her, we might probably have taken
this great Prize; but after the Enemy had fixed her Netting-deck and
close Quarters, they valued us very little. I believe also we might have
burnt her with one of our Ships, but that was objected against by all
the Officers, because we had Goods of Value on board all our 3 Ships.
The Enemy was the better provided for us, because they heard at _Manila_
from our _English_ Settlements in _India_, that there were 2 small Ships
fitted from _Bristol_, that design’d to attempt them in the _South
Seas_. This was told us by the Prisoners we took on board the other
Ship.
When I proposed parting Companies at the _Tres Marias_, and to cruise
for the _Acapulco_ Ship from _Manila_ with our Ship and Bark at one
Station, and the _Dutchess_ and _Marquiss_ at another, we then expected
but one Ship from _Manila_, and she not so well provided as the least
Ship now was; tho’ as we have found it, we might probably have been
better asunder, for then I make little question but we should have got
some Recruit of Provisions, and consequently our Men had been stronger
and better in heart to have boarded this great Ship at once, before they
had been so well provided; but since Providence or Fate will have it as
it is, we must be content.
_Dec. 28._ The Enemy lay braced to all the time the Council held, and
run out 4 Guns of her lower Teer, expecting we would have the other
Brush with her; but when we made sail, she fil’d and made away, W.N.W.
and we betwixt the S.S.E. and the S. close upon a Wind. At 6 a Clock we
sent the Pinnace with some Men into the Harbour to secure the Prize, not
knowing what might happen before we could get in with our Ships. We
unrigg’d the Main-top-gallant Mast, and got it down, securing our
Main-mast with Runners and Tackles every way we could contrive, had
little Wind all the Afternoon and Night, but this Morning a fresh Breeze
sprung up at E.S.E. and soon after we saw nothing more of the great
Ship.
[Sidenote: _At Anchor in Port Segura on California._]
_Jan. 1._ After we arriv’d again at Port _Segura_, we dispatch’d the
Prisoners away in the Bark, and likewise the _Guiaquil_ Hostages: having
got Security for the Money as aforesaid, we supplied them with Water and
Provisions enough to carry ’em to _Acapulco_; and gave Capt.
_Pichberty_ and his chief Officers, with a Padre, their Clothes,
Instruments, Books, _&c._ So that they parted very friendly, and
acknowledged we had been very civil to ’em, of which they desired me to
accept the following Testimony;
_We, whose Names are hereto subscrib’d, do acknowledge, that ever
since we have been in the Hands of Capt._ Woodes Rogers, _and
Capt._ Stephen Courtney, _Commanders of the_ Duke _and_ Dutchess,
_two_ British _private Men of War, we have been by them very
civilly treated_; _and whatsoever we have transacted or done, had
been voluntary, and by our Consent, and particularly in passing
Bills, and Obligations, thro’ the Hands of Sir_ John Pichberty,
_for the Ransom of the Town of_ Guiaquil, _and other valuable
Considerations. Witness our Hands on the Coast of_ California.
_Jan. 1. 1709._
_Don_ John Pichberty, Manuel de Punta.
_Don_ Antonio Guttera, Manuel Hemanes.
I wrote a Letter to my Owners, to acquaint ’em with our good Success,
but could not be so full as I would, because I sent it by the Hand of an
Enemy. We spent our Time till the 7th, in refitting, wooding, and
watering; and were very glad to find as much Bread on board the Prize as
we hop’d might, with what we had left of our old Store, make enough to
subsist us in our next long Run. Capt. _Courtney_ and his Officers, with
those on board the _Marquiss_, are too willing to complement Capt.
_Dover_ with the chief Command of the Prize; which till now I thought he
would not have accepted, his Posts already being above a Commander of
any of our Prizes; but I and my Officers are against it; because we
believe Capt. _Frye_ or others, are fitter Persons to take Charge of
her, which we insisted on; and Capts. _Courtney_ and _Cooke_ came to me,
where they agreed to a Paper that was drawn up while we were all
together, in such a Manner as I thought would have satisfied every one.
Capt. _Courtney_ carried this Agreement to Capt. _Dover_ to sign it, not
doubting but all would be content with what we had concluded; yet to our
Surprize, they spent the Remainder of the Day, and instead of making
Capt. _Dover_ comply with it, undid all, and brought a Paper which
impower’d him to be sole Commander, without the least Restraint, of not
molesting those that should navigate the Ship, but to order every thing
as he should think fit.
_Jan. 9._ We fetch’d our 3 wounded Men from on board the _Dutchess_;
one of ’em was _Tho. Young_, a _Welchman_, who lost one of his Legs; the
other, _Tho. Evans_, a _Welchman_, whose Face was miserably torn; the
third, _John Gold_, wounded in the Thigh; and one died of his Wounds,
_viz. Emanuel Gonsalves_, a _Portuguese_: So that out of ten that went,
only 6 return’d safe. I sent a Letter to Capt. _Courtney_ this Morning,
to know what Measures were going forward; having heard nothing from him
since the 7th Instant, and desired that there might be no loss of time,
but that the Committee might meet once more, to try if they would make
use of their unbyass’d Reason. They were than all aboard the _Marquiss_,
where I heard they had, ever since our last Meeting, concerted how to
frame a Protest against me, and my Officers of the Committee, which was
immediately answer’d by a Protest from us, both which are as follows.
_Know all Men, by these Presents, That We, the Commanders of the
Ships_ Dutchess _and_ Marquiss, _and other Officers, being the
major Part of a Committee appointed by the Owners, for the
regulating the Affairs of the Ships_ Duke _and_ Dutchess, _private
Men of War, till their Return to_ Great Britain, _as more largely
appears in their Orders and Instructions. Now, whereas we have
lately taken a rich Prize bound from_ Manila _to_ Acapulco, _and
the said Ship being safe at Anchor in a Bay near Cape_ St. Luke,
_on_ California, _We held a general Committee on board the_ Duke
_the 6th Day of_ January 1709-10. _for appointing a Commander and
other Officers for the said Prize, call’d by the_ Spaniards, _when
in their Possession_, Nostra Seniora del Incarnation de Singano,
_but now named by us_ The Batchelor Frigate, _wherein it was
carried by Majority of Votes for Capt._ Thomas Dover, _who came out
second Captain of the_ Duke, _and President of this Committee, and
Owner of a very considerable Part of both Ships_, Duke _and_
Dutchess, _to command the said Prize, we thinking him the most
proper Person for the Interest of the Owners and Company; we
likewise proposing to put two of the best of our Officers on board,
to command under him, and manage the navigating Part of the said
Ship during the Voyage, with other substantial Officers and Men,
sufficient to work the Ship and take Care of her._
[Sidenote: _At Anchor in Port Segura._]
_Now whereas Capt._ Woodes Rogers, _Commander of the_ Duke, _and
several of his Officers, Members of this Committee, did refuse to
sign to the Agreement of the said Committee (the Like never having
been refus’d by any before, when carried by Majority of Voices) to
acknowledge the said Capt._ Thomas Dover _Commander of the Ship_
Batchelor Frigate; _we do hereby, in the behalf of the Owners of
the Ships_ Duke _and_ Dutchess, _our selves and Company, Protest
against the unadvis’d Proceedings and Practice of the said Capt._
Woodes Rogers, _and the rest of the Officers of the Committee, that
refus’d to sign and agree to the same, it being directly contrary
to the Owners Orders and Instructions, (Reference being had
thereto) and the Union and Peace of the Ships Companies (by them
likewise recommended). And whatever Damage may ensue, either by
Loss of Time, Want of Provisions, or Men sufficient to manage the
said Ship, or any Mutiny or Disagreement that may arise from hence
between the Ships Companies, or any other Disaster whatsoever_, &c.
_we do likewise Protest against, in the behalf of the Owners,
ourselves, and Company, as aforesaid; expecting from the said
Captain_ Woodes Rogers, _and Officers of the Committee aforesaid,
full Satisfaction and Reparation of all Losses and Damages
whatsoever, that may happen to the said Ship during her Voyage to_
Great Britain.
_In witness whereof, we the Commanders and Officers, being the
major Part of the Committee, have set our Hands, this 9th Day of_
January, 1709-10. _on board the_ Marquiss, _at Anchor near Cape
St._ Luke, _on_ California.
Sign’d by the Officers of the _Dutchess_ and
_Marquiss_.
Which Protest was answer’d by another from our Ship.
_We the chief Officers in behalf of ourselves and the rest of the
Ship’s Company of the_ Duke, _having taken a rich_ Spanish _Prize,
in Consortship with the_ Dutchess _and_ Marquiss, _call’d_ Nostra
Seniora del Incarnacion de ingano, _and did design to use the
securest Methods to carry her to_ Great Britain, _both for our
Employers interest and our own Advantage. But being in a remote
part of the World, we offer’d and desired our Consorts to put one
or more able Officers in the principal charge of the aforesaid
Prize, it being so valuable that a Retaliation for all our Risques
and Hardships is in her Riches, which highly behoves us to be very
careful in preserving. But against all our Ships Company’s Consent,
(tho’ we are so nearly concern’d) our said Consorts Officers,
Capt._ Stephen Courtney, _Capt._ Edward Cooke, _Capt._ William
Dampier, _Mr._ William Stretton, _Mr._ Charles Pope, _Mr._ John
Connely, _Mr._ George Milbourne, _Mr._ Rob. Knowlman, _and Mr._
John Ballett, _have sign’d an Instrument, and combin’d together, to
put Capt._ T. Dover _in Command of the said Ship._
_We therefore (being inclin’d to Peace and Quietness aboard and
not to use any Violence to remove the said Captain_ Dover _out of
the aforesaid forc’d Command, although he is utterly uncapable of
the Office) do hereby publickly Protest against the aforesaid
Commander, and every one of those that have already, or shall
hereafter combine to place him in. The Ship now being in safety, we
declare against all Damages that may arise or accrue to the said
Ship, or Cargo under his Command; and that the aforesaid Combiners,
who have put the Care of the said Ship under an uncapable Command,
we expect are accountable and liable to us for all Damages that may
happen. This is our publick Protest. Witness our Hands, aboard the
said Ship_ Duke, _riding at Anchor in a Port of_ California, _the
9th of_ January, 1709-10.
Sign’d by the Officers of the _Duke_.
’Twas our great Unhappiness, after taking a rich Prize, to have a
Paper-War amongst our selves. I am sorry to trouble the Reader with
these Disputes, which continued for two Days about a proper Commander
for this Prize; because it highly concern’d us to take the utmost
Precautions for her Safety, having a long Run through dangerous unknown
Passages, into the _East Indies_, and most of the Recompence for our
great Risques and Hardships lay in her Riches. I had always desired that
Capt. _Dover_ might be aboard her, for being a considerable Owner, we
all agreed he was a very proper Person to take Care of her Cargo, and to
have all the Freedom and Accommodation that could be made for him in
that Ship, which was of such vast Consequence to us and our Employers,
that in their Instructions to me, they strictly charged me to use the
securest Methods to bring her safe home, in case we should be so
fortunate as we now are, to take one of the _Acapulco_ Ships: So that
after the Protests were over on both sides, I desired they might
assemble together, and finally determine what the Majority would agree
on, that no Time might be lost. So all the Council met again on board
the _Batchelor_, to endeavour an Accommodation. I being very weak, and
in much Pain, was not able to stir, therefore sent my Opinion in
Writing, as follows.
[Sidenote: _At Anchor in Port Segura._]
_My Opinion is, That ’tis not for the Safety of the rich_ Spanish
_Prize, that Capt._ Dover _command her, because his Temper is so
violent, that capable Men cannot well act under him, and himself is
uncapable. Our Owners directed me to use the securest Method to
bring the Ship home, if we should have the good Fortune to take
her; and ’tis not so, if an ignorant Person have the Command: And
tho’ it may be pretended that he’ll not command the sailing Part,
there are other Parts necessary for a Commander; so that whosoever
had the Charge of one, ought to act wholly in the rest, or else
Confusion follows a mix’d Command, that would be very pernicious in
this Case; and which it highly concerns us to beware of. I am
content, and desire Capt._ Dover _may be aboard, and have Power to
take Care of the Cargo, and all the Liberty and Freedom in her, he
can in reason otherwise desire, and that none may have the like
Power on board the Prize but himself. This is my Opinion._ Jan. 9.
1709-10.
Woodes Rogers.
This Dispute is against my Desire already put in Print, from the publick
Notes of the Voyage, otherwise I had left it wholly out of my Journal,
as I had done several other of our Differences, being unwilling to
trouble the Reader with the Contests that too often happen’d in the
Government of our sailing Common-wealth.
After a long Debate, they voted Mr. _Frye_ and Mr. _Stretton_, both to
act in equal Posts, to take Charge of the navigating the Ship, tho’
under Capt. _Dover_, but they were to be no ways molested, hinder’d nor
contradicted in their Business by him, whose Duty ’twas to see that
nothing should be done contrary to the Interest of the Owners, and Ships
Companies, in the Nature of an Agent, almost in the same Manner I
proposed at first, only he had the Title of Chief Captain in that Ship,
which was so small a Difference, where Titles are so common, that we all
consented to it; and at the same time they chose Officers, agreeing that
we should put 30 Men aboard her, the _Dutchess_ 25, and the _Marquiss_
13, which with 36 _Manila Indians_, call’d _Las-Carrs_, and other
Prisoners we have left, her Complement will be about 110 Men. The
Majority keeping to their first Agreement I was obliged to come into it,
according to my Instructions from our Owners; so that all our
Differences about this Affair were at an end, and we drank to our safe
Arrival in _Great Britain_.
The Council agreed as follows.
At a Council held on board the _Batchelor Frigate_, at Anchor in
Port _Segura_, on _California_, Jan. 10. 1709/10.
_It is agreed, by the Majority of this Council, that Capt._ Robert
Frye _and Capt._ William Stretton, _shall both act in equal Posts
in the sole Navigating, Sailing and Ingaging, if Occasion should
be, under Capt._ Tho. Dover, _on board the_ Batchelor Frigate, _and
that the said Capt._ Tho. Dover _shall not molest, hinder or
contradict ’em in their Business; and we do appoint_ Alexander
Selkirk _Master_, Joseph Smith _chief Mate_, Benj. Parsons _second
Mate_, Charles May _Surgeon_, John Jones _Carpenter_, Rob.
Hollinsby _Boatswain_, Rich. Beakhouse _Gunner_, Peirce Bray
_Cooper_, James Stretton _and_ Richard Hickman _Midshipmen_, Denis
Reading _Steward, and all other inferior Officers, as the
Commanders shall think fit._
Sign’d by the Majority of our Council.
In the Morning we put 35 good Hands aboard her. The _Dutchess_ and
_Marquiss_ put no more than their Share. Mean while Capts. _Courtney_
and _Cooke_, and 2 or 3 more of the Committee came to me, where we
sign’d a Paper for Capt. _Dover_ and the two Commanders, recommending
Peace and Tranquility amongst them. And that in case of Separation, the
Place of Rendezvous was to be _Guam_, one of the _Ladrones_ Islands,
where we design’d to touch at, God willing, to get Provisions: Every
thing being thus settled, and all in a Readiness to sail; before I
proceed with the Relation of our Voyage from hence, I shall give an
Account of _California_.
California _described_.
[Sidenote: _California Described._]