_The Musicians to have Rest on the Sabbath Day, but the other six Days and
Nights, none without special Favour._
These, we are assured, were some of _Roberts_'s Articles, but as they had
taken Care to throw over-board the Original they had sign'd and sworn to,
there is a great deal of Room to suspect, the remainder contained something
too horrid to be disclosed to any, except such as were willing to be
Sharers in the Iniquity of them; let them be what they will, they were
together the Test of all new Comers, who were initiated by an Oath taken on
a Bible, reserv'd for that Purpose only, and were subscrib'd to in Presence
of the worshipful Mr. _Roberts._ And in Case any Doubt should arise
concerning the Construction of these Laws, and it should remain a Dispute
whether the Party had infring'd them or no, a Jury is appointed to explain
them, and bring in a Verdict upon the Case in Doubt.
Since we are now speaking of the Laws of this Company, I shall go on, and,
in as brief a Manner as I can, relate the principal Customs, and
Government, of this roguish Common-Wealth; which are pretty near the same
with all Pyrates.
For the Punishment of small Offences, which are not provided for by the
Articles, and which are not of Consequence enough to be left to a Jury,
there is a principal Officer among the Pyrates, called the Quarter-Master,
of the Mens own chusing, who claims all Authority this Way, (excepting in
Time of Battle:) If they disobey his Command, are quarrelsome and mutinous
with one another, misuse Prisoners, plunder beyond his Order, and in
particular, if they be negligent of their Arms, which he musters at
Discretion, he punishes at his own Arbitrement, with drubbing or whipping,
which no one else dare do without incurring the Lash from all the Ships
Company: In short, this Officer is Trustee for the whole, is the first on
Board any Prize, separating for the Company's Use, what he pleases, and
returning what he thinks fit to the Owners, excepting Gold and Silver,
which they have voted not returnable.
After a Description of the Quarter-Master, and his Duty, who acts as a sort
of a civil Magistrate on Board a Pyrate Ship; I shall consider their
military Officer, the Captain; what Privileges he exerts in such anarchy
and unrulyness of the Members: Why truly very little, they only permit him
to be Captain, on Condition, that they may be Captain over him; they
separate to his Use the great Cabin, and sometimes vote him small Parcels
of Plate and China, (for it may be noted that _Roberts_ drank his Tea
constantly) but then every Man, as the Humour takes him, will use the Plate
and China, intrude into his Apartment, swear at him, seize a Part of his
Victuals and Drink, if they like it, without his offering to find Fault or
contest it: Yet _Roberts_, by a better Management than usual, became the
chief Director in every Thing of Moment, and it happened thus:--The Rank of
Captain being obtained by the Suffrage of the Majority, it falls on one
superior for Knowledge and Boldness, _Pistol Proof_ (as they call it,) and
can make those fear, who do not love him; _Roberts_ is said to have
exceeded his Fellows in these Respects, and when advanced, enlarged the
Respect that followed it, by making a sort of Privy-Council of half a Dozen
of the greatest Bullies; such as were his Competitors, and had Interest
enough to make his Government easy; yet even those, in the latter Part of
his Reign, he had run counter to in every Project that opposed his own
Opinion; for which, and because he grew reserved, and would not drink and
roar at their Rate, a Cabal was formed to take away his Captainship, which
Death did more effectually.
The Captain's Power is uncontroulable in Chace, or in Battle, drubbing,
cutting, or even shooting any one who dares deny his Command. The same
Privilege he takes over Prisoners, who receive good or ill Usage, mostly as
he approves of their Behaviour, for tho' the meanest would take upon them
to misuse a Master of a Ship, yet he would controul herein, when he see it,
and merrily over a Bottle, give his Prisoners this double Reason for it.
First, That it preserved his Precedence; and secondly, That it took the
Punishment out of the Hands of a much more rash and mad Sett of Fellows
than himself. When he found that Rigour was not expected from his People,
(for he often practised it to appease them,) then he would give Strangers
to understand, that it was pure Inclination that induced him to a good
Treatment of them, and not any Love or Partiality to their Persons; for,
says he, _there is none of you but will hang me, I know, whenever you can
clinch me within your Power._
* * *
And now seeing the Disadvantages they were under for pursuing the Account,
_viz._ a small Vessel ill repaired, and without Provisions, or Stores; they
resolved one and all, with the little Supplies they could get, to proceed
for the _West-Indies_, not doubting to find a Remedy for all these Evils,
and to retreive their Loss.
In the Latitude of _Deseada_, one of the Islands, they took two Sloops,
which supply'd them with Provisions and other Necessaries; and a few Days
afterwards, took a Brigantine belonging to _Rhode Island_, and then
proceeded to _Barbadoes_, off of which Island, they fell in with a
_Bristol_ Ship of 10 Guns, in her Voyage out, from whom they took abundance
of Cloaths, some Money, twenty five Bales of Goods, five Barrels of Powder,
a Cable, Hawser, 10 Casks of Oatmeal, six Casks of Beef, and several other
Goods, besides five of their Men; and after they had detained her three
Days, let her go; who being bound for the abovesaid Island, she acquainted
the Governor with what had happened, as soon as she arrived.
Whereupon a _Bristol_ Galley that lay in the Harbour, was ordered to be
fitted out with all imaginable Expedition, of 20 Guns, and 80 Men, there
being then no Man of War upon that Station, and also a Sloop with 10 Guns,
and 40 Men: The Galley was commanded by one Captain _Rogers_, of _Bristol_,
and the Sloop by Captain _Graves_, of that Island, and Captain _Rogers_ by
a Commission from the Governor, was appointed Commadore.
The second Day after _Rogers_ sailed out of the Harbour, he was discovered
by _Roberts_, who knowing nothing of their Design, gave them Chase: The
_Barbadoes_ Ships kept an easy sail till the Pyrates came up with them, and
then _Roberts_ gave them a Gun, expecting they would have immediately
struck to his pyratical Flag, but instead thereof, he was forced to receive
the Fire of a Broadside, with three Huzzas at the same Time; so that an
Engagement ensued, but _Roberts_ being hardly put to it, was obliged to
crowd all the Sail the Sloop would bear, to get off: The Galley sailing
pretty well, kept Company for a long while, keeping a constant Fire, which
gail'd the Pyrate; however, at length by throwing over their Guns, and
other heavy Goods, and thereby light'ning the Vessel, they, with much ado,
got clear; but _Roberts_ could never endure a _Barbadoes_ Man afterwards,
and when any Ships belonging to that Island fell in his Way, he was more
particularly severe to them than others.
Captain _Roberts_ sailed in the Sloop to the Island of _Dominico_, where he
watered, and got Provisions of the Inhabitants, to whom he gave Goods in
Exchange. At this Place he met with 13 _Englishmen_, who had been set
ashore by a _French Guard de la Coste_, belonging to _Martinico_, taken out
of two _New-England_ Ships, that had been seiz'd, as Prize, by the said
_French_ Sloop: The Men willingly entered with the Pyrates, and it proved a
seasonable Recruit.
They staid not long here, tho' they had immediate Occasion for cleaning
their Sloop, but did not think this a proper Place, and herein they judg'd
right; for the touching at this Island, had like to have been their
Destruction, because they having resolved to go away to the _Granada_
Islands, for the aforesaid Purpose, by some Accident it came to be known to
the _French_ Colony, who sending Word to the Governor of _Martinico_, he
equipped and manned two Sloops to go in Quest of them. The Pyrates sailed
directly for the _Granadilloes_, and hall'd into a Lagoon, at _Corvocoo_,
where they cleaned with unusual Dispatch, staying but a little above a
Week, by which Expedition they missed of the _Martinico_ Sloops, only a few
Hours; _Roberts_ sailing over Night, that the _French_ arrived the next
Morning. This was a fortunate Escape, especially considering, that it was
not from any Fears of their being discovered, that they made so much hast
from the Island; but, as they had the Impudence themselves to own, for the
want of Wine and Women.
Thus narrowly escaped, they sailed for _Newfoundland_, and arrived upon the
Banks the latter end of _June_, 1720. They entered the Harbour of
_Trepassi_, with their black Colours flying, Drums beating, and Trumpets
sounding. There were two and twenty Vessels in the Harbour, which the Men
all quitted upon the Sight of the Pyrate, and fled ashore. It is impossible
particularly to recount the Destruction and Havock they made here, burning
and sinking all the shipping, except a _Bristol_ Galley, and destroying the
Fisheries, and Stages of the poor Planters, without Remorse or Compunction;
for nothing is so deplorable as Power in mean and ignorant Hands, it makes
Men wanton and giddy, unconcerned at the Misfortunes they are imposing on
their Fellow Creatures, and keeps them smiling at the Mischiefs, that bring
themselves no Advantage. _They are like mad Men, that cast Fire-Brands,
Arrows, and Death, and say, are not we in Sport?_
_Roberts_ mann'd the _Bristol_ Galley he took in the Harbour, and mounted
16 Guns on Board her, and cruising out upon the Banks, he met with nine or
ten Sail of _French_ Ships, all which he destroyed except one of 26 Guns,
which they seiz'd, and carried off for their own Use. This Ship they
christ'ned _the Fortune_, and leaving the _Bristol_ Galley to the _French_
Men, they sailed away in Company with the Sloop, on another Cruise, and
took several Prizes, _viz._ the _Richard_ of _Biddiford, Jonathan
Whitfield_ Master; the _Willing Mind_ of _Pool_; the _Expectation_ of
_Topsham_; and the _Samuel_, Captain _Cary_, of _London_; out of these
Ships they encreased their Company, by entring all the Men they could well
spare, in their own Service. The _Samuel_ was a rich Ship, and had several
Passengers on Board, who were used very roughly, in order to make them
discover their Money, threatning them every Moment with Death, if they did
not resign every Thing up to them. They tore up the Hatches and entered the
Hold like a parcel of Furies, and with Axes and Cutlashes, cut and broke
open all the Bales, Cases, and Boxes, they could lay their Hands on; and
when any Goods came upon Deck, that they did not like to carry aboard,
instead of tossing them into the Hold again, threw them over-board into the
Sea; all this was done with incessant cursing and swearing, more like
Fiends than Men. They carried with them, Sails, Guns, Powder, Cordage, and
8 or 9000 l. worth of the choicest Goods; and told Captain _Cary, That they
should accept of no Act of Grace; that the K-- and P--t might be damned
with their Acts of G-- for them; neither would they go to_ Hope-Point, _to
be hang'd up a Sun drying, as_ Kidd_'s, and_ Braddish_'s Company were; but
that if they should ever be overpower'd, they would set Fire to the Powder,
with a Pistol, and go all merrily to Hell together._
After they had brought all the Booty aboard, a Consultation was held
whether they should sink or burn the Ship, but whilst they were debating
the Matter, they spyed a Sail, and so left the _Samuel_, to give her Chace;
at Midnight they came up with the same, which proved to be a Snow from
_Bristol_, bound for _Boston_, Captain _Bowles_ Master: They us'd him
barbarously, because of his Country, Captain _Rogers_, who attack'd them
off _Barbadoes_, being of the City of _Bristol._
_July_ the 16th, which was two Days afterwards, they took a _Virginia_ Man
called the _Little York, James Philips_ Master, and the _Love_, of
_Leverpool_, which they plundered and let go; the next Day a Snow from
_Bristol_, call'd the _Phoenix, John Richards_ Master, met with the same
Fate from them; as also a Brigantine, Captain _Thomas_, and a Sloop called
the _Sadbury_; they took all the Men out of the Brigantine, and sunk the
Vessel.
When they left the Banks of _Newfoundland_, they sailed for the
_West-Indies_, and the Provisions growing short, they went for the Latitude
of the Island _Deseada_, to cruise, it being esteemed the likeliest Place
to meet with such Ships as (they used in their Mirth to say) were consigned
to them, with Supplies. And it has been very much suspected that Ships have
loaded with Provisions at the _English_ Colonies, on pretence of Trading on
the Coast of _Africa_, when they have in reality been consigned to them;
and tho' a shew of Violence is offered to them when they meet, yet they are
pretty sure of bringing their Cargo to a good Market.
However, at this Time they missed with their usual Luck, and Provisions and
Necessaries becoming more scarce every Day, they retired towards St.
_Christophers_, where being deny'd all Succour or Assistance from the
Government, they fir'd in Revenge on the Town, and burnt two Ships in the
Road, one of them commanded by Captain _Cox_, of _Bristol_; and then
retreated farther to the Island of St. _Bartholomew_, where they met with
much handsomer Treatment. The Governor not only supplying them with
Refreshments, but he and the Chiefs carressing them in the most friendly
Manner: And the Women, from so good an Example, endeavoured to outvie each
other in Dress, and Behaviour, to attract the good Graces of such generous
Lovers, that paid well for their Favours.
Sated at length with these Pleasures, and having taken on Board a good
supply of fresh Provisions, they voted unanimously for the Coast of
_Guiney_, and in the Latitude of 22 N. in their Voyage thither, met with a
_French_ Ship from _Martinico_, richly laden, and, which was unlucky for
the Master, had a property of being fitter for their Purpose, than the
Banker. _Exchange was no Robbery_ they said, and so after a little mock
Complaisance to _Monsieur_, for the Favour he had done them, they shifted
their Men, and took leave: This was their first _Royal Fortune._
In this Ship _Roberts_ proceeded on his designed Voyage; but before they
reached _Guiney_, he proposed to touch at _Brava_, the Southermost of
_Cape_ _Verd_ Islands and clean. But here again by an intolerable Stupidity
and want of Judgment, they got so far to Leeward of their Port, that
despairing to regain it, or any of the Windward Parts of _Africa_, they
were obliged to go back again with the Trade-Wind, for the _West-Indies_;
which had very near been the Destruction of them all. _Surinam_ was the
Place now designed for, which was at no less than 700 Leagues Distance, and
they had but one Hogshead of Water left to supply 124 Souls for that
Passage; a sad Circumstance that eminently exposes the Folly and Madness
among Pyrates, and he must be an inconsiderate Wretch indeed, who, if he
could separate the Wickedness and Punishment from the Fact, would yet
hazard his Life amidst such Dangers, as their want of Skill and Forecast
made them liable to.
Their Sins, we may presume were never so troublesome to their Memories, as
now, that inevitable Destruction seem'd to threaten them, without the least
Glympse of Comfort or Alleviation to their Misery; for, with what Face
could Wretches who had ravaged and made so many Necessitous, look up for
Relief; they had to that Moment lived in Defiance of the Power that now
alone they must trust for their Preservation, and indeed without the
miraculous Intervention of Providence, there appeared only this miserable
Choice, viz. a present Death by their own Hands, or a ling'ring one by
Famine.
They continued their Course, and came to an Allowance of one single
Mouthful of Water for 24 Hours; many of them drank their Urine, or Sea
Water, which, instead of allaying, gave them an inextinguishable Thirst,
that killed them: Others pined and wasted a little more Time in Fluxes and
Apyrexies, so that they dropped away daily. Those that sustain'd the Misery
best, were such as almost starved themselves, forbearing all sorts of Food,
unless a Mouthful or two of Bread the whole Day, so that those who survived
were as weak as it was possible for Men to be and alive.
But if the dismal Prospect they set out with, gave them Anxiety, Trouble,
or Pain, what must their Fears and Apprehensions be, when they had not one
Drop of Water left, or any other Liquor to moisten or animate. This was
their Case, when (by the working of Divine Providence, no doubt,) they were
brought into Soundings, and at Night anchored in seven Fathom Water: This
was an inexpressible Joy to them, and, as it were, fed the expiring Lamp of
Life with fresh Spirits; but this could not hold long. When the Morning
came, they saw Land from the Mast-Head, but it was at so great a Distance,
that it afforded but an indifferent Prospect to Men who had drank nothing
for the two last Days; however, they dispatch'd their Boat away, and late
the same Night it return'd, to their no small Comfort, with a load of
Water, informing them, that they had got off the Mouth of _Meriwinga_ River
on the Coast of _Surinam._
One would have thought so miraculous an Escape should have wrought some
Reformation, but alass, they had no sooner quenched their Thirst, but they
had forgot the Miracle, till Scarcity of Provisions awakened their Senses,
and bid them guard against starving; their allowance was very small, and
yet they would profanely say, _That Providence which had gave them Drink,
would, no doubt, bring them Meat also, if they would use but an honest
Endeavour._
In pursuance of these honest Endeavours, they were steering for the
Latitude of _Barbadoes_, with what little they had left, to look out for
more, or Starve; and, in their Way, met a Ship that answered their
Necessities, and after that a Brigantine; the former was called the
_Greyhound_, belonging to St. _Christophers_, and bound to _Philadelphia_,
the Mate of which signed the Pyrate's Articles, and was afterwards Captain
of the _Ranger_, Consort to the _Royal Fortune._
Out of the Ship and Brigantine, the Pyrates got a good supply of Provisions
and Liquor, so that they gave over the designed Cruise, and watered at
_Tobago_, and hearing of the two Sloops that had been fitted out and sent
after them at _Corvocoo_, they sailed to the Island of _Martinico_, to make
the Governor some sort of an Equivalent, for the Care and Expedition he had
shewn in that Affair.
It is the Custom at _Martinico_, for the _Dutch_ Interlopers that have a
Mind to Trade with the People of the Island, to hoist their Jacks when they
come before the Town: _Roberts_ knew the Signal, and being an utter Enemy
to them, he bent his Thoughts upon Mischief; and accordingly came in with
his Jack flying, which, as he expected, they mistook for a good Market, and
thought themselves happiest that could soonest dispatch off their Sloops
and Vessels for Trade. When _Roberts_ had got them within his Power, (one
after another,) he told them, he would not have it said that they came off
for nothing, and therefore ordered them to leave their Money behind, for
that they were a Parcel of Rogues, and hoped they would always meet with
such a _Dutch_ Trade as this was; he reserved one Vessel to set the
Passengers on Shore again, and fired the rest, to the Number of twenty.
_Roberts_ was so enraged at the Attempts that had been made for taking of
him, by the Governors of _Barbados_ and _Martinico_, that he ordered a new
Jack to be made, which they ever after hoisted, with his own Figure
pourtray'd, standing upon two Skulls, and under them the Letters _A B H_
and _A M H_, signifying a _Barbadian_'s and a _Martinican_'s Head, as may
be seen in the Plate of Captain _Roberts._
At _Dominico_, the next Island they touched at, they took a _Dutch_
Interloper of 22 Guns and 75 Men, and a Brigantine belonging to
_Rhode-Island_, one _Norton_ Master. The former made some Defence, till
some of his Men being killed, the rest were discouraged and struck their
Colours. With these two Prizes they went down to _Guadalupe_, and brought
out a Sloop, and a _French_ Fly-Boat laden with Sugar; the Sloop they
burnt, and went on to _Moonay_, another Island, thinking to clean, but
finding the Sea ran too high there to undertake it with Safety, they bent
their Course for the North Part of _Hispaniola_, where, at Bennet's Key, in
the Gulf of _Saminah_, they cleaned both the Ship and the Brigantine. For
tho' _Hispaniola_ be settled by the _Spaniards_ and _French_, and is the
Residence of a President from _Spain_, who receives, and finally determines
Appeals from all the other _Spanish West-India_ Islands; yet is its People
by no Means proportioned to its Magnitude, so that there are many Harbours
in it, to which Pyrates may securely resort without Fear of Discovery from
the Inhabitants.
Whilst they were here, two Sloops came in, as they pretended, to pay
_Roberts_ a Visit, the Masters, whose Names were _Porter_ and _Tuckerman_,
addressed the Pyrate, as the Queen of _Sheba_ did _Solomon_, to wit, _That
having heard of his Fame and Atchievements_, they had put in there to learn
his Art and Wisdom in the Business of pyrating, being Vessels on the same
honourable Design with himself; and hoped with the Communication of his
Knowledge, they should also receive his Charity, being in want of
Necessaries for such Adventures. _Roberts_ was won upon by the Peculiarity
and Bluntness of these two Men, and gave them Powder, Arms, and what ever
else they had Occasion for, spent two or three merry Nights with them, and
at parting, said, _he hoped the L-- would Prosper their handy Works._
They passed some Time here, after they had got their Vessel ready, in their
usual Debaucheries; they had taken a considerable Quanty of Rum and Sugar,
so that Liquor was as plenty as Water, and few there were, who denied
themselves the immoderate Use of it; nay, Sobriety brought a Man under a
Suspicion of being in a Plot against the Commonwealth, and in their Sense,
he was looked upon to be a Villain that would not be drunk. This was
evident in the Affair of _Harry Glasby_, chosen Master of the _Royal
Fortune_, who, with two others, laid hold of the Opportunity at the last
Island they were at, to move off without bidding Farewel to his Friends.
_Glasby_ was a reserved sober Man, and therefore gave Occasion to be
suspected, so that he was soon missed after he went away; and a Detachment
being sent in quest of the Deserters, they were all three brought back
again the next Day. This was a capital Offence, and for which they were
ordered to be brought to an immediate Tryal.
Here was the Form of Justice kept up, which is as much as can be said of
several other Courts, that have more lawful Commissions for what they
do.--Here was no feeing of Council, and bribing of Witnesses was a Custom
not known among them; no packing of Juries, no torturing and wresting the
Sense of the Law, for bye Ends and Purposes, no puzzling or perplexing the
Cause with unintelligible canting Terms, and useless Distinctions; nor was
their Sessions burthened with numberless Officers, the Ministers of Rapine
and Extortion, with ill boding Aspects, enough to fright _Astræa_ from the
Court. The Place appointed for their Tryals, was the Steerage of the Ship;
in order to which, a large Bowl of Rum Punch was made, and placed upon the
Table, the Pipes and Tobacco being ready, the judicial Proceedings began;
the Prisoners were brought forth, and Articles of Indictment against them
read; they were arraigned upon a Statute of their own making, and the
Letter of the Law being strong against them, and the Fact plainly proved,
they were about to pronounce Sentence, when one of the Judges mov'd, that
they should first Smoak t'other Pipe; which was accordingly done.
All the Prisoners pleaded for Arrest of Judgment very movingly, but the
Court had such an Abhorrence of their Crime, that they could not be
prevailed upon to shew Mercy, till one of the Judges, whose Name was
_Valentine Ashplant_, stood up, and taking his Pipe out of his Mouth, said,
he had something to offer to the Court in behalf of one of the Prisoners;
and spoke to this Effect.-- _By G--_, Glasby _shall not dye; d--n me if he
shall._ After this learned Speech, he sat down in his Place, and resumed
his Pipe. This Motion was loudly opposed by all the rest of the Judges, in
equivalent Terms; but _Ashplant_, who was resolute in his Opinion, made
another pathetical Speech in the following Manner. _G-- d--n ye Gentlemen,
I am as good a Man as the best of you; d--m my_ S--l _if ever I turned my
Back to any Man in my Life, or ever will, by G_--; Glasby _is an honest
Fellow, notwithstanding this Misfortune, and I love him, D--l d--n me if I
don't: I hope he'll live and repent of what he has done; but d--n me if he
must dye, I will dye along with him._ And thereupon, he pulled out a pair
of Pistols, and presented them to some of the learned Judges upon the
Bench; who, perceiving his Argument so well supported, thought it
reasonable that _Glasby_ should be acquitted; and so they all came over to
his Opinion, and allowed it to be Law.
But all the Mitigation that could be obtained for the other Prisoners, was,
that they should have the Liberty of choosing any four of the whole Company
to be their Executioners. The poor Wretches were ty'd immediately to the
Mast, and there shot dead, pursuant to their villainous Sentence.
When they put to Sea again, the Prizes which had been detained only for
fear of spreading any Rumour concerning them, which had like to have been
so fatal at _Corvocoo_, were thus disposed of: They burnt their own Sloop,
and mann'd _Norton_'s Brigantine, sending the Master away in the _Dutch_
Interloper, not dissatisfied.
With the _Royal Fortune_, and the Brigantine, which they christened the
_Good Fortune_, they pushed towards the Latitude of _Deseada_, to look out
for Provisions, being very short again, and just to their Wish, Captain
_Hingstone_'s ill Fortune brought him in their Way, richly laden for
_Jamaica_; him they carried to _Berbudas_ and plundered; and stretching
back again to the _West-Indies_, they continually met with some Consignment
or other, (chiefly _French,)_ which stored them with Plenty of Provisions,
and recruited their starving Condition; so that stocked with this sort of
Ammunition, they began to think of something worthier their Aim, for these
Robberies that only supplied what was in constant Expenditure, by no Means
answered their Intentions; and accordingly they proceeded again for the
Coast of _Guiney_, where they thought to buy Gold-Dust very cheap. In their
Passage thither, they took Numbers of Ships of all Nations, some of which
they burnt or sunk, as the Carriage or Characters of the Masters displeased
them.
Notwithstanding the successful Adventures of this Crew, yet it was with
great Difficulty they could be kept together, under any kind of Regulation;
for being almost always mad or drunk, their Behaviour produced infinite
Disorders, every Man being in his own Imagination a Captain, a Prince, or a
King. When _Roberts_ saw there was no managing of such a Company of wild
ungovernable Brutes, by gentle means, nor to keep them from drinking to
excess, the Cause of all their Disturbances, he put on a rougher
Deportment, and a more magesterial Carriage towards them, correcting whom
he thought fit; and if any seemed to resent his Usage, he told them, _they
might go ashore and take Satisfaction of him, if they thought fit, at Sword
and Pistol, for he neither valu'd or fear'd any of them._
About 400 Leagues from the Coast of _Africa_, the Brigantine who had
hitherto lived with them, in all amicable Correspondence, thought fit to
take the Opportunity of a dark Night, and leave the Commadore, which leads
me back to the Relation of an Accident that happened at one of the Islands
of the _West-Indies_, where they water'd before they undertook this Voyage,
which had like to have thrown their Government (such as it was) off the
Hinges, and was partly the Occasion of the Separation: The Story is as
follows.
Captain _Roberts_ having been insulted by one of the drunken Crew, (whose
Name I have forgot,) he, in the Heat of his Passion killed the Fellow on
the Spot, which was resented by a great many others, put particularly one
_Jones_, a brisk active young Man, who died lately in the _Marshalsea_, and
was his Mess-Mate. This _Jones_ was at that Time ashore a watering the
Ship, but as soon as he came on Board, was told that Captain _Roberts_ had
killed his Comrade; upon which he cursed _Roberts_, and said, he ought to
be served so himself. _Roberts_ hearing _Jones_'s Invective, ran to him
with a Sword, and ran him into the Body; who, notwithstanding his Wound,
seized the Captain, threw him over a Gun, and beat him handsomely. This
Adventure put the whole Company in an Uproar, and some taking Part with the
Captain, and others against him, there had like to have ensued a general
Battle with one another, like my Lord _Thomont_'s Cocks; however, the
Tumult was at length appeas'd by the Mediation of the Quarter-Master; and
as the Majority of the Company were of Opinion that the Dignity of the
Captain, ought to be supported on Board; that it was a Post of Honour, and
therefore the Person whom they thought fit to confer it on, should not be
violated by any single Member; wherefore they sentenced _Jones_ to undergo
two Lashes from every one of the Company, for his Misdemeanour, which was
executed upon him as soon as he was well of his Wound.
This severe Punishment did not at all convince _Jones_ that he was in the
wrong, but rather animated him to some sort of a Revenge; but not being
able to do it upon _Roberts_'s Person, on Board the Ship, he and several of
his Comrades, correspond with _Anstis_, Captain of the Brigantine, and
conspire with him and some of the principal Pyrates on Board that Vessel,
to go off from the Company. What made _Anstis_ a Malecontent, was, the
Inferiority he stood in, with Respect to _Roberts_, who carried himself
with a haughty and magisterial Air, to him and his Crew, he regarding the
Brigantine only as a Tender, and, as such, left them no more than the
Refuse of their Plunder. In short, _Jones_ and his Consort go on Board of
Captain _Anstis_, on Pretence of a Visit, and there consulting with their
Brethren, they find a Majority for leaving of _Roberts_, and so came to a
Resolution to bid a soft Farewel, as they call it, that Night, and to throw
over-board whosoever should stick out; but they proved to be unanimous, and
effected their Design as above-mentioned.
I shall have no more to say of Captain _Anstis_, till the Story of
_Roberts_ is concluded, therefore I return to him, in the pursuit of his
Voyage to _Guiney._ The loss of the Brigantine was a sensible Shock to the
Crew, she being an excellent Sailor, and had 70 Hands aboard; however,
_Roberts_ who was the Occasion of it, put on a Face of Unconcern at this
his ill Conduct and Mismanagement, and resolved not to alter his Purposes
upon that Account.
_Roberts_ fell in to Windward nigh the _Senegal_, a River of great Trade
for Gum, on this Part of the Coast, monopolized by the _French_, who
constantly keep Cruisers, to hinder the interloping Trade: At this Time
they had two small Ships on that Service, one of 10 Guns and 65 Men, and
the other of 16 Guns and 75 Men; who having got a Sight of Mr. _Roberts_,
and supposing him to be one of these prohibited Traders, chased with all
the Sail they could make, to come up with him; but their Hopes which had
brought them very nigh, too late deceived them, for on the hoisting of
_Jolly Roger_, (the Name they give their black Flag,) their _French_ Hearts
failed, and they both surrendred without any, or at least very little
Resistance. With these Prizes they went into _Sierraleon_, and made one of
them their Consort, by the Name of the _Ranger_, and the other a
Store-Ship, to clean by.
_Sierraleon_ River disgorges with a large Mouth, the Starboard-Side of
which, draughts into little Bays, safe and convenient for cleaning and
watering; what still made it preferable to the Pyrates, is, that the
Traders settled here, are naturally their Friends. There are about 30
_English_ Men in all, Men who in some Part of their Lives, have been either
privateering, buccaneering, or pyrating, and still retain and love the
Riots, and Humours, common to that sort of Life. They live very friendly
with the Natives, and have many of them of both Sexes, to be their
_Grometta_'s, or Servants: The Men are faithful, and the Women so obedient,
that they are very ready to prostitute themselves to whomsoever their
Masters shall command them. The Royal _African_ Company has a Fort on a
small Island call'd _Bence_ Island, but 'tis of little Use, besides keeping
their Slaves; the Distance making it incapable of giving any Molestation to
their Starboard Shore. Here lives at this Place an old Fellow, who goes by
the Name of _Crackers_, who was formerly a noted Buccaneer, and while he
followed the Calling, robb'd and plundered many a Man; he keeps the best
House in the Place, has two or three Guns before his Door, with which he
Salutes his Friends, (the Pyrates, when they put in) and lives a jovial
Life with him, all the while they are there.
Here follows a List, of the rest of those lawless Merchants, and their
Servants, who carry on a private Trade with the Interlopers, to the great
Prejudice of the Royal _African_ Company, who with extraordinary Industry
and Expence, have made, and maintain, Settlements without any Consideration
from those, who, without such Settlements and Forts, would soon be under an
Incapacity of pursuing any such private Trade. Wherefore, 'tis to be hop'd,
proper Means will be taken, to root out a pernicious set of People, who
have all their Lives, supported themselves by the Labours of other Men.
Two of these Fellows enter'd with _Robert_'s Crew, and continued with them,
till the Destruction of the Company.
_A List of the White-Men, now living on the high Land of_ Sierraleon,
_and the Craft they occupy._
J_OHN Leadstone_, three Boats and Periagoe.
His Man _Tom_,