_The bad Life, Qualities and Conditions of Pirates; and how they taught
the_ Turks _and_ Moors _to become men of Warr._
As in all Lands where there are many People, there are some Thieves, so in
all Seas much frequented, there are some Pirates; the most Ancient within
the Memory of threescore Years, was one _Callis,_ who most refreshed
himself upon the Coast of _Wales; Clinton_ and _Purser_ his Companions,
who grew famous till Queen _Elizabeth_ of Blessed Memory, hanged them at
_Wapping; Flemming_ was as expert and as much sought for as they, yet such
a Friend to his Country, that discovering the _Spanish Armado,_ he
voluntarily came to _Plimouth,_ yielded himself freely to my Lord Admiral,
and gave him notice of the _Spaniards_ coming; which good warning came so
happily and unexpectedly, that he had his Pardon, and a good Reward; some
few Pirates there then remained; notwithstanding it is incredible how many
great and rich Prizes the little Barques of the West Country daily brought
home, in regard of their small Charge; {MN} for there are so many
difficulties in a great Navy, by Wind and Weather, Victual, Sickness,
losing and finding one another, they seldom defray half the charge: But
for the Grace, State and Defence of the Coast and narrow Seas, a great
Navy is most necessary, but not to Attempt any far Voyage, except there be
such a Competent flock, they want not wherewith to furnish and supply all
things with expedition; but to the purpose.
* * * * *
{MN} _The difficulties of a great Navy._
{MN} After the death of our most Gracious Queen Elizabeth of Blessed
Memory, our Royal King _James,_ who from his Infancy had Reigned in Peace
with all Nations; had no imployment for those Men of Warr, so that those
that were Rich relied with that they had; those that were poor and had
nothing but from hand to Mouth, turned Pirates; some, because they became
slighted of those for whom they had got much Wealth; some for that they
could not get their Due; some that had lived bravely, would not abase
themselves to Poverty; some vainly, only to get a name; others for
Revenge, Covetousness, or as ill; and as they found themselves more and
more oppressed, their Passions increasing with discontent, made them turn
Pirates.
* * * * *
{MN} _What occasioneth Pirates._
{MN} Now because they grew hatefull to all _Christian_ Princes, they
retired to Barbary, where altho' there be not many good Harbours, but
_Tunis, Argier, Sally, Mamora,_ and _Tituane,_ there are many convenient
Rodes, or the open Sea, which is their chief Lordship: For their best
Harbours _Massalqueber,_ the Towns of _Oran, Mellila, Tangier,_ and
_Ceuta,_ within the Streights, are possessed by the _Spaniards;_ without
the Streights they have also _Arzella_ and _Mazagan; Mamora_ they have
likewise lately taken, and Fortified. _Ward_ a poor _English_ Sailer, and
_Dansker_ a _Dutchman,_ made first here their Marts; when the _Moors_ knew
scarce how to sail a Ship; _Bishop_ was Ancient and did little hurt; but
_Easton_ got so much as made himself a Marquess in _Savoy;_ and _Ward_
lived like a Bashay in _Barbary;_ those were the first that taught the
_Moors_ to be Men of War. _Gennings, Harris, Tompson,_ and divers others
were taken in Ireland, a Coast they much frequented, and died at _Wapping.
Haws, Bough, Smith, Walsingham, Ellis, Collins, Sawkwel, Wollingstone,
Barrow, Wilson, Sayres,_ and divers others, all these were Captains
amongst the Pirates, whom King _James_ Mercifully Pardon'd; and was it not
strange, a few of those should command the Seas. Notwithstanding the
_Malteses,_ the Pope, _Florentines, Genoeses, French, Dutch_ and _Engish,_
Gallies and Men of War, they Would rob before their Faces, and even at
their own Ports, yet seldom more than three, four, five, or six in a
Fleet: many times they had very good Ships, and well Man'd, but commonly
in such Factions amongst themselves, and so Riotous, Quarrellous,
Treacherous, Blasphemous and Villainous, it is more than a wonder they
could so long continue, to do so much Mischief; and all they got, they
basely consumed it amongst _Jews, Turks, Moors,_ and Whores.
* * * * *
{MN} _Their chief Rendezvous._
The best was, they would seldom go to Sea, so long as they could possibly
live on shoar, being compiled of _English, French, Dutch_ and _Moors,_
(but very few _Spaniards_ or _Italians_) commonly running one from
another, till they became so disjointed, disordered, debauched, and
miserable, {MN} that the _Turks_ and _Moors_ began to command them as
Slaves, and force them to instruct them in their best skill, which many an
accursed Runnagado, or _Christian_ turned _Turk_ did, till they have made
those Sally-men or _Moors_ of _Barbary_ so Powerful as they be, to the
Terror of all the Streights, and many times they take Purchase in the Main
Ocean, yea sometimes in the narrow Seas in _England,_ and those are the
most cruel Villains in _Turky_ or _Barbary;_ whose Natives are very Noble,
and of good Natures, in comparison of them.
* * * * *
{MN} _Renegados._
{MN} To conclude, The Misery of a Pirate, (altho' many are sufficient
Seamen as any) yet in regard of his superfluity, you shall find it such,
that any wise Man would rather live amongst wild Beasts, than them;
therefore let all unadvised Persons take heed they entertain that quality;
and I could how wish Merchants, Gentlemen, and all Setters forth of Ships,
not to be sparing of a Competent Pay, nor true Payment; for neither
Soldiers nor Seamen can live without Means, but necessity will force them
to steal; and when they are once entered into that Trade, they are hardly
reclaimed. Those Titles of Seamen and Soldiers, have been most worthily
honoured and esteemed, but now regarded for the most part, but as the
scum of the World; regain therefore your wonted Reputations and endeavour
rather to Adventure to those fair Plantations of our English Nation; which
however in the beginning were scorned contemned, yet now you see how many
Rich and Gallant People come from thence, who went thither as Poor as any
Soldier or Sailer, and gets more in one Year, than you by Piracy in seven.
I intreat you therefore to consider how many Thousands yearly go thither;
also how many Ships and Sailers are imployed to Transport them, and what
Custom they Yearly pay to our most Royal King Charles, whole Prosperity
and his Kingdom's good, I humbly beseech the Immortal God to preserve and
increase.
* * * * *
{MN} _Advertisements for Wild heads._
* * * * *