A GENERAL
HISTORY
OF THE
PYRATES,
FROM
Their first RISE and SETTLEMENT in the Island of
_Providence_, to the present Time.
With the remarkable Actions and Adventures of the two Female Pyrates
Mary Read and Anne Bonny;
Contain'd in the following Chapters,
Introduction.
Chap. I. Of Capt. _Avery_.
II. Of Capt. _Martel_.
III. Of Capt. _Teach_.
IV. Of Capt. _Bonnet_.
V. Of Capt. _England_.
VI. Of Capt. _Vane_.
VII. Of Capt. _Rackam_.
VIII. Of Capt. _Davis_.
IX. Of Capt. _Roberts_.
X. Of Capt. _Anstis_.
XI. Of Capt. _Worley_.
XII. Of Capt. _Lowther_.
XIII. Of Capt. _Low_.
XIV. Of Capt. _Evans_.
XV. Of Capt. _Phillips_.
XVI. Of Capt. _Spriggs_.
And their several Crews.
To which is added.
A short ABSTRACT of the Statute and Civil
Law, in Relation to Pyracy.
The second EDITION, with considerable ADDITIONS
By Captain Charles Johnson.
_LONDON_:
Printed for, and sold by _T. Warner_, at the _Black-Boy_ in
_Pater-Noster-Row_, 1724.
THE PREFACE.
H_AVING taken more than ordinary Pains in collecting the Materials
which compose the following History, we could not be satisfied with our
selves, if any Thing were wanting to it, which might render it entirely
satisfactory to the Publick: It is for this Reason we have subjoined to the
Work, a short Abstract of the Laws now in Force against Pyrates, and made
Choice of some particular Cases, (the most curious we could meet with)
which have been heretofore tried, by which it will appear what Actions
have, and what have not been adjudged Pyracy._
_It is possible this Book may fall into the Hands of some Masters of Ships,
and other honest Mariners, who frequently, by contrary Winds or Tempests,
or other Accidents incident to long Voyages, find themselves reduced to
great Distresses, either through Scarcity of Provisions, or Want of Stores.
I say, it may be a Direction to such as those, what Lengths they may
venture to go, without violating the Law of Nations, in Case they should
meet other Ships at Sea, or be cast on some inhospitable Shore, which
should refuse to trade with them for such Things as are absolutely
necessary for the Preservation of their Lives, or the Safety of the Ship
and Cargoe._
_We have given a few Instances in the Course of this History of the
Inducements Men have to engage themselves headlong in a Life of so much
Peril to themselves, and so destructive to the Navigation of the trading
World; to remedy which Evil there seems to be but two Ways, either to find
Employment for the great Numbers of Seamen turn'd adrift at the Conclusion
of a War, and thereby prevent their running into such Undertakings, or to
guard sufficiently the Coast of _Africa_, the _West-Indies_, and other
Places whereto Pyrates resort._
_I cannot but take Notice in this Place, that during this long Peace, I
have not so much as heard of a _Dutch_ Pyrate: It is not that I take them
to be honester than their Neighbours; but when we account for it, it will,
perhaps, be a Reproach to our selves for our want of Industry: The Reason I
take to be, that after a War, when the _Dutch_ Ships are laid up, they have
a Fishery, where their Seamen find immediate Business, and as comfortable
Bread as they had before. Had ours the same Recourse in their Necessities,
I'm certain we should find the same Effect from it; for a Fishery is a
Trade that cannot be overstock'd; the Sea is wide enough for us all, we
need not quarrel for Elbow-room: Its Stores are infinite, and will ever
reward the Labourer. Besides, our own Coast, for the most Part, supply the
_Dutch_, who employ several hundred Sail constantly in the Trade, and so
sell to us our own Fish. I call it our own, for the Sovereignty of the
_British Seas_, are to this Day acknowledged us by the _Dutch_, and all the
neighbouring Nations; wherefore, if there was a publick Spirit among us, it
would be well worth our while to establish a National Fishery, which would
be the best Means in the World to prevent Pyracy, employ a Number of the
Poor, and ease the Nation of a great Burthen, by lowering the Price of
Provision in general, as well as of several other Commodities._
_I need not bring any Proofs of what I advance, _viz._ that there are
Multitudes of Seamen at this Day unemploy'd; it is but too evident by their
straggling, and begging all over the Kingdom. Nor is it so much their
Inclination to Idleness, as their own hard Fate, in being cast off after
their Work is done, to starve or steal. I have not known a Man of War
commission'd for several Years past, but three times her Compliment of Men
have offer'd themselves in _24_ Hours; the Merchants take their Advantage
of this, lessen their Wages, and those few who are in Business are poorly
paid, and but poorly fed; such Usage breeds Discontents amongst them, and
makes them eager for any Change._
_I shall not repeat what I have said in the History concerning the
Privateers of the _West-Indies_, where I have taken Notice they live upon
Spoil; and as Custom is a second Nature, it is no Wonder that, when an
honest Livlyhood is not easily had, they run into one so like their own; so
that it may be said, that Privateers in Time of War are a Nursery for
Pyrates against a Peace._
_Now we have accounted for their Rise and Beginning, it will be natural to
enquire why they are not taken and destroy'd, before they come to any Head,
seeing that they are seldom less than twelve Men of War stationed in our
American Plantations, even in Time of Peace; a Force sufficient to contend
with a powerful Enemy. This Enquiry, perhaps, will not turn much to the
Honour of those concern'd in that Service; however, I hope I may be
excus'd, if what I hint is with a Design of serving the Publick._
_I say, 'tis strange that a few Pyrates should ravage the Seas for Years,
without ever being light upon, by any of our Ships of War; when in the mean
Time, they (the Pyrates) shall take Fleets of Ships; it looks as if one was
much more diligent in their Affairs, than the other. _Roberts_ and his
Crew, alone, took 400 Sail, before he was destroy'd._
_This Matter, I may probably set right another Time, and only observe for
the present, that the Pyrates at Sea, have the same Sagacity with Robbers
at Land; as the latter understand what Roads are most frequented, and where
it is most likely to meet with Booty, so the former know what Latitude to
lie in, in order to intercept Ships; and as the Pyrates happen to be in
want of Provisions, Stores, or any particular Lading, they cruise
accordingly for such Ships, and are morally certain of meeting with them;
and by the same Reason, if the Men of War cruise in those Latitudes, they
might be as sure of finding the Pyrates, as the Pyrates are to find the
Merchant Ships; and if the Pyrates are not to be met with by the Men of War
in such a Latitude, then surely down the same Latitude may the Merchant
Ships arrive safely to their Port._
_To make this a little plainer to my Country Readers, I must observe that
all our outward bound Ships, sometime after they leave the Land, steer into
the Latitude of the Place they are bound to; if to the _West-India_
Islands, or any Part of the Main of _America_, as _New-York_,
_New-England_, _Virginia_, _&c._ because the Latitude is the only Certainty
in those Voyages to be found, and then they sail due West, till they come
to their Port, without altering their Course. In this West Way lie the
Pyrates, whether it be to _Virginia_, _&c._ or _Nevis_, _St. Christophers_,
_Montserat_, _Jamaica_, _&c._ so that if the Merchant Ships bound thither,
do not fall a Prey to them one Day, they must another: Therefore I say, if
the Men of War take the same Track, the Pyrates must unavoidably fall into
their Mouths, or be frighted away, for where the Game is, there will the
Vermin be; if the latter should be the Case, the trading Ships, as I said
before, will pass unmolested and safe, and the Pyrates be reduced to take
Refuge in some of their lurking Holes about the uninhabited Islands, where
their Fate would be like that of the Fox in his Den, if they should venture
out, they would be hunted and taken, and if they stay within they must
starve._
_I must observe another Thing, that the Pyrates generally shift their
Rovings, according to the Season of the Year; in the Summer they cruise
mostly along the Coast of the Continent of _America_, but the Winters
there, being a little too cold for them, they follow the Sun, and go
towards the Islands, at the approach of cold Weather. Every Man who has
used the _West-India_ Trade, knows this to be true; therefore, since we are
so well acquainted with all their Motions, I cannot see why our Men of War
under a proper Regulation, may not go to the Southward, instead of lying up
all the Winter useless: But I shall proceed too far in this Enquiry, I
shall therefore quit it, and say something of the following Sheets, which
the Author may venture to assure the Reader that they have one Thing to
recommend them, which is Truth; those Facts which he himself was not an
Eye-Witness of, he had from the authentick Relations of the Persons
concern'd in taking the Pyrates, as well as from the Mouths of the Pyrates
themselves, after they were taken, and he conceives no Man can produce
better Testimonies to support the Credit of any History._
_It will be observed, that the Account of the Actions of _Roberts_ runs
into a greater Length, than that of any other Pyrate, for which we can
assign two Reasons, first, because he ravaged the Seas longer than the
rest, and of Consequence there must be a greater Scene of Business in his
Life: Secondly, being resolved not to weary the Reader, with tiresome
Repetitions: When we found the Circumstances in _Roberts_'s Live, and other
Pyrates, either as to pyratical Articles, or any Thing else, to be the
same, we thought it best to give them but once, and chose _Roberts_'s Life
for that Purpose, he having made more Noise in the World, than some
others._
_As to the Lives of our two female Pyrates, we must confess they may appear
a little Extravagant, yet they are never the less true for seeming so, but
as they were publickly try'd for their Pyracies, there are living Witnesses
enough to justify what we have laid down concerning them; it is certain, we
have produced some Particulars which were not so publickly known, the
Reason is, we were more inquisitive into the Circumstances of their past
Lives, than other People, who had no other Design, than that of gratifying
their own private Curiosity: If there are some Incidents and Turns in their
Stories, which may give them a little the Air of a _Novel_, they are not
invented or contrived for that Purpose, it is a Kind of Reading this Author
is but little acquainted with, but as he himself was exceedingly diverted
with them, when they were related to him, he thought they might have the
same Effect upon the Reader._
_I presume we need make no Apology for giving the Name of a History to the
following Sheets, though they contain nothing but the Actions of a Parcel
of Robbers. It is Bravery and Stratagem in War which make Actions worthy of
Record; in which Sense the Adventures, here related will be thought
deserving that Name. _Plutarch_ is very circumstantial in relating the
Actions of _Spartacus_, the Slave, and makes the Conquest of him, one of
the greatest Glories of _Marcus Crassus_; and it is probable, if this Slave
had liv'd a little longer, _Plutarch_ would have given us his Life at
large. _Rome_, the Misstress of the World, was no more at first than a
Refuge for Thieves and Outlaws; and if the Progress of our Pyrates had been
equal to their Beginning; had they all united, and settled in some of those
Islands, they might, by this Time, have been honoured with the Name of a
Commonwealth, and no Power in those Parts of the World could have been able
to dispute it with them._
_If we have seem'd to glance, with some Freedom, at the Behaviour of some
Governors of Provinces abroad, it has been with Caution; and, perhaps, we
have, not declar'd as much as we knew: However, we hope those Gentlemen in
the same Station, who have never given Occasion for the like Censure, will
take no Offence, tho' the Word Governor is sometimes made use of._
P. S. _It will be necessary to add a Word or two to this Preface, in order
to inform the Reader, that there are several material Additions made to
this second Impression, which swelling the Book in Bulk, must of
Consequence add a small Matter to its Price._
_The first Impression having been received with so much Success by the
Publick, occasioned a very earnest Demand for a second: In the mean Time,
several Persons who had been taken by the Pyrates, as well as others who
had been concerned in taking of them, have been so kind to communicate
several Facts and Circumstances to us, which had escaped us in the first
Impression. This occasioned some Delay, therefore if we have not brought it
out, as soon as wish'd, it was to render it the more compleat._
_We shall not enter into a Detail of all the new Matter inserted here, but
the Description of the Islands _St. Thome_, _&c._ and that of _Brasil_ are
not to be passed by, without a little Notice. It must be observed, that our
speculative Mathematicians and Geographers, who are, no doubt, Men of the
greatest Learning, seldom travel farther than their Closets for their
Knowledge, _&c._ are therefore unqualified to give us a good Description of
Countries: It is for this Reason that all our Maps and Atlasses are so
monstrously faulty, for these Gentlemen are obliged to take their Accounts
from the Reports of illiterate Men._
_It must be noted also, that when the Masters of Ships make Discoveries
this Way, they are not fond of communicating them; a Man's knowing this or
that Coast, better than others, recommends him in his Business, and makes
him more useful, and he'll no more discover it than a Tradesman will the
Mystery of his Trade._
_The Gentleman who has taken the Pains to make these Observations, is _Mr.
Atkins_, a Surgeon, an ingenious Man in his own Profession, and one who is
not ty'd down by any narrow Considerations from doing a Service to the
Publick, and has been pleased generously to communicate them for the good
of others. I don't doubt, but his Observations will be found curious and
very serviceable to such as Trade to those Parts, besides a Method of Trade
is here laid down with the _Portuguese_, which may prove of great Profit to
some of our Countrymen, if followed according to his Plan._
_It is hoped these Things will satisfy the Publick, that the Author of the
following Sheets considered nothing so much as making the Book
useful;--tho' he has been informed, that some Gentlemen have rais'd an
Objection against the Truth of its Contents, _viz._ that it seems
calculated to entertain and divert.--If the Facts are related with some
Agreeableness and Life, we hope it will not be imputed as a Fault; but as
to its Credit, we can assure them that the Sea-faring Men, that is all that
know the Nature of these Things, have not been able to make the least
Objection to its Credit:--And he will be bold to affirm, that there is not
a Fact or Circumstance in the whole Book, but he is able to prove by
credible Witnesses._
_There have been some other Pyrates, besides those whose History are here
related, such as are hereafter named, and their Adventures are as
extravagant and full of Mischief, as those who are the Subject of this
Book.--The Author has already begun to digest them into Method, and as
soon, as he receives some Materials to make them compleat, (which he
shortly expects from the _West-Indies_). If the Publick gives him
Encouragement he intends to venture upon a second Volume._