THE PIRATES AND BUCANIERS (_continued_).
The Pirate Portuguez—Another Successful Boat Attack—Re-taken—A
Gibbet or Life—Escape—Saved by Two Wine-jars—Helped by the
Pirates—Rich again—And suddenly Poor—A Dutch Pirate—From Sailor to
Captain—A grand Capture—And a brutal Commander—No Surrender to the
Spaniards—Victory and Horse-flesh—The Rover’s Prodigality—A
Stratagem—Worse than ever—The Spaniards reduce their
Commerce—Lewis Scot—John Davis—Outrages at Nicaragua—Piratical
Gains—Lolonois the Bad and Brave—His First Wounds—And his Early
Successes—Six Hundred and Sixty Pirates—The Capture of Maracaibo
and Gibraltar—Division of the Gains—His Brutalities—And Deserved
Death.
Bold attempts were the order of the day. A certain pirate named Portuguez
was cruising off the Cape Coriente in Cuba, where he met a ship from
Maracaibo and Carthagena bound to the Havannah provided with twenty
“great” guns of the period, and seventy passengers and crew. This ship he
attacked, and was at first beaten off. The assault was renewed on the part
of the pirates, and after a long and dangerous fight the rovers became the
victors. The Portuguese lost only ten men and had four wounded. But the
Spaniards had a much larger force in those waters.
Being very near the cape before-named, they unexpectedly met with three
vessels coming from New Spain, and bound for the Havannah; by these, not
being able to escape, they were easily re-taken, both ship and pirates,
and all made prisoners, and stripped of all the riches they had taken just
before. The cargo consisted of 120,000 weight of cocoa-nuts,(3) the chief
ingredient of chocolate, and 70,000 pieces of eight. Two days after this
misfortune there arose a great storm, which separated the ships from one
another. The great vessel, where the pirates were, arrived at Campechy,
where a number of merchants resided. The Portuguese pirate was well known
there for the outrages he had committed. The next day after their arrival,
the magistrates of the city sent to demand certain prisoners, but fearing
the Portuguese pirate might escape, kept him guarded on board, while they
erected a gibbet on shore, expecting to hang him next day. Bartholomew
Portuguez was too much for them, and managed to escape, after stabbing his
sentinel, and swimming ashore with the help of two wine-jars, as he was a
bad swimmer. He took to the woods, living on wild herbs, and secreted
himself for days in the hollow of a tree, while his enemies were searching
for him. Eventually he escaped, after travelling some forty leagues, a
fortnight after, half starved and exhausted, to Del Golpho Triste. He had
on his way made a boat or raft from a plank and some osiers. But at Golpho
Triste he met some of his own kidney—pirates of his own kind. They
naturally sympathised, and gave him a boat and twenty men. Eight days
after he accomplished his will. He took the boat to Campechy, and “with an
undaunted courage, and without any noise, he assaulted the said ship;
those on board thought it was a boat from land that came to bring
contraband goods, and so were not in no posture of defence; which
opportunity the pirates laying hold of, assaulted them so resolutely, that
in a little time they compelled the Spaniards to surrender. Being masters
of the ship, they immediately weighed anchor and set sail for the port,
lest they should be pursued by other vessels. This they did with the
utmost joy, seeing themselves possessors of so brave a ship; especially
Portuguez, who by a second turn of fortune was become rich and powerful
again, who was so lately in that same vessel a prisoner condemned to be
hanged. With this purchase he designed greater things which he might have
alone,” and so forth. Piracy did not prosper with him in the end, for his
vessel was afterwards lost, and he was never fortunate again.
“Not less considerable,” wrote Esquemeling, “are the actions of another
pirate who now lives at Jamaica, who on several occasions has performed
very surprising things. He was born at Groninghen, in the United
Provinces. His own name not being known, his companions gave him the name
of Roche Brasiliano, by reason of his long residence in Brazil; hence he
was forced to fly when the Portuguese took those countries from the Dutch,
several nations then inhabiting at Brazil (as English, French, Dutch, and
others) being constrained to seek new fortunes.
“This person fled to Jamaica, where, being at a stand how to get his
living, he entered into the society of pirates, where he served as a
private mariner for some time, and behaved himself so well that he was
beloved and respected by all. One day some of the mariners quarrelled with
that degree that they left the boat. Brasiliano, following them, was
chosen their leader, who, having fitted out a small vessel, they made him
captain.”
Within a few days after he took a rich plate ship coming from New Spain,
and carried it to Jamaica. This action brought him great reputation, and
he was, for the time, a great man ashore. He was, however, a terrible
brute when drunk—the average condition of the pirate on land—and would run
wildly about the streets, insulting, beating, or wounding any one he
chanced to meet. Pleasant Brasiliano!
[Illustration: BRASILIANO’S ESCAPE.]
To the Spaniards he was always barbarous and cruel, out of an inveterate
hatred against their nation. On several occasions he commanded men to be
roasted alive on wooden spits, for not showing hog-yards where he might
steal swine. After committing many such cruelties, as he was cruising on
the coasts of Campechy, a dismal tempest surprised him so violently that
his ship was wrecked upon the coasts, the mariners only escaping with
their muskets and some few bullets and powder, which were the only things
they could save. The ship was lost between Campechy and the Golpho Triste;
here they got ashore in a canoe, and, marching along the shore with all
the speed they could, directed their course towards Golpho Triste, the
common refuge of the pirates. On their journey, all very exhausted and
hungry, they were pursued by a troop of 100 Spaniards. The pirates were
but thirty; yet, seeing their brave commander resolute, they fought
bravely, and facing the troop of Spaniards, discharged their muskets on
them so dexterously that they killed one horseman almost with every shot.
The fight continued for an hour, till at last the Spaniards were put to
flight. They stripped the dead, and took from them what was most for their
use; such as were not quite dead they despatched with the ends of their
muskets.
“Having vanquished the enemy, they mounted on horses they found in the
field, and continued their journey, Brasiliano having lost but two of his
companions in this bloody fight, and had two wounded. Prosecuting their
way, before they came to the port they spied a boat at anchor from
Campechy, well manned, protecting a few canoes that were lading wood;
hereupon they sent six of their men to watch them, who next morning, by a
wile, possessed themselves of the canoes. Having given notice to their
companions, they boarded them, and also took the little man-of-war, their
convoy. Being thus masters of the fleet, they wanted only provisions, of
which they found little aboard those vessels; but this defect was supplied
by the horses, which they killed and salted, which by good fortune the
wood-cutters had brought with them, with which they supported themselves
till they could get better.
“They took also another vessel going from New Spain to Maracaibo, laden
with divers sorts of merchandise and pieces of eight, designed to buy
cocoa-nuts for their lading home; all these they carried to Jamaica, where
they safely arrived, and, according to custom, wasted all in a few days in
taverns and disorderly houses. Some of these pirates will spend two or
three thousand pieces of eight in a night, not leaving themselves a good
shirt to wear in the morning. My own master,” says Esquemeling, “would buy
sometimes a pipe of wine, and placing it in the street, would force those
that passed by it to drink with him, threatening also to pistol them if
they would not. He would do the like with barrels of beer or ale, and very
often he would throw these liquors about the streets and wet people’s
clothes, without regarding whether he spoiled their apparel.
“Among themselves these pirates are very liberal; if any one has lost all,
which often happens in their manner of life, they freely give him of what
they have. In taverns and alehouses they have great credit; but at Jamaica
they ought not to run very deep in debt, seeing the inhabitants there
easily sell one another for debt. This happened to my patron, to be sold
for a debt of a tavern wherein he had spent the greater part of his money.
This man had, within three months before, three thousand pieces of eight
in ready cash, all which he wasted in that little time, and became as poor
as I have told you.”
The history of a pirate is that of many another man made suddenly rich.
Brasiliano, after having spent all, naturally went to sea again, and set
forth for the coast of Campechy. Fifteen days after his arrival he took a
canoe, and went to examine the port, but his fortune failed, and he and
all his men were taken and committed to a dungeon. Doubtless they would
have all been hanged but for a stratagem of Brasiliano, which saved their
lives. He wrote a letter to the governor in the names of his fellow
pirates at sea, warning him of their power, and that their blood would be
on his head. The governor was frightened out of his wits, and released
them on the bare promise that they would not be pirates again. As a
nominal punishment, he sent them as drafts on the Spanish galleons, and
they went to Spain. They returned, to be worse pirates than ever.
The Spaniards about this period became so tired of sending vessels to sea
only to lose them, that they diminished the number considerably. But this
was of no avail, for the pirates then turned their attention to the
Spanish towns and settlements. One Lewis Scot sacked the city of Campechy,
which he almost ruined; another pirate, named Mansvelt, invaded New
Granada; while John Davis gave his unwelcome attentions to Nicaragua.
This freebooter, having long been unfortunate in his enterprises, resolved
on a desperate expedient. Leaving his ship hidden on the coast, he took
eighty out of ninety men which he had in all, and divided them in three
canoes. In the dark of night they entered the river leading to the city;
proceeding cautiously, they hid themselves by day under the thickly wooded
banks. On the third night they arrived at the city, at the outposts of
which, on the river, the guard allowed them to pass, as most of them spoke
Spanish, and he took them for fishermen. They had with them an Indian
guide who had run away from his master in Nicaragua, and he went ashore
and speedily despatched the sentinel. The pirate band then entered the
city, and knocked softly at the houses of several chief citizens, who,
believing them to be friends, opened their doors. The pirates soon
convinced them to the contrary, and rifled them of all the money and plate
they could find. The churches were pillaged and profaned. Meantime the
citizens collected their forces, and the pirates saw that they must get
away with the prisoners they had taken; “these they led away, that if any
of them should be taken by the Spaniards they might use them for ransom.
Thus they got to their ships, and with all speed put to sea, forcing the
prisoners, before they let them go, to procure as much flesh as was
necessary for their voyage to Jamaica. But no sooner had they weighed
anchor when they saw a troop of about 500 Spaniards, all well armed, at
the sea-side; against these they let fly several guns, wherewith they
forced them to quit the sands and retire, with no small regret to see
these pirates carry away so much plate of their churches and houses,
though distant at least forty leagues from the sea.” Davis and his men
divided the Spanish coin and jewels, to the value of about ten thousand
pounds in English money. The captain was afterwards chosen admiral of
seven or eight vessels, and pillaged a town in Florida, named St.
Augustine, although it possessed a castle protected by 200 men.
One of the most famous—or, more properly speaking, infamous—pirates of the
day was Francis Lolonois, a native of France. “In his youth he was
transported to the Caribee Islands, in quality of servant or slave,
according to custom, of which we have already spoken. Being out of his
time, he came to Hispaniola, where he joined for some time the hunters,
before he began his robberies upon the Spaniards, till his unfortunate
death.” These are Esquemeling’s words; some of his victims would hardly
endorse the latter opinion.
At first he made two or three voyages as a common mariner, and behaved
himself so courageously as to gain the favour of the Governor of Tortuga,
Monsieur de la Place, insomuch that he gave him a ship in which he might
seek his fortune, which was very favourable to him at first; for in a
short time he acquired a considerable amount of wealth.
[Illustration: MAP OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS.]
“But his cruelties to the Spaniards were such that the latter in his time
would rather die, or sink fighting, than surrender, knowing they should
have no mercy at his hands. But he was overtaken by a reverse of fortune,
and lost his ship on the coast of Campechy. The men were all saved, but
upon landing, the Spaniards pursued them and killed the greater part,
wounding also Lolonois. Not knowing how to escape, he saved his life by a
stratagem: mingling sand with the blood of his wounds, he besmeared his
face and other parts of his body, and hiding himself dexterously among the
dead, continued there till the Spaniards quitted the field.
“They being gone, he retired to the woods, and bound up his wounds as well
as he could. These being pretty well healed, he took his way to Campechy,
having disguised himself in a Spanish habit; here he enticed certain
slaves, to whom he promised liberty if they would obey him and trust to
his conduct. They accepted his promises, and, stealing a canoe, went to
sea with him. Now the Spaniards having made several of his companions
prisoners, kept them close in a dungeon, while Lolonois went about the
town and saw what passed. These were often asked, ‘What has become of your
captain?’ To whom they constantly answered, ‘He is dead;’ which rejoiced
the Spaniards, who made bonfires, and, knowing nothing to the contrary,
gave thanks to God for their deliverance from such a cruel pirate.
Lolonois, having seen these rejoicings for his death, made haste to
escape, with the slaves above-mentioned, and came safe to Tortuga, the
common refuge of all sorts of wickedness, and the seminary, as it were, of
pirates and thieves. Though now his fortune was low, yet he got another
ship with craft and subtilty, and in it twenty-one men. Being well
provided with arms and necessaries, he set forth for Cuba, on the south
whereof is a small village called De los Cayos. The inhabitants drive a
great trade in tobacco, sugar, and hides, and all in boats, not being able
to use ships, by reason of the little depth of the sea.
“Lolonois was persuaded he should get here some considerable prey; but by
the good fortune of some fishermen who saw him, and the mercy of God, they
escaped him; for the inhabitants of the town despatched immediately a
vessel overland to the Havannah, complaining that Lolonois was come to
destroy them with two canoes. The governor could scarcely believe this,
having received letters from Campechy that he was dead; but at their
importunity he sent a ship to their relief, with ten guns and ninety men
well armed, giving them this express command, ‘that they should not return
into his presence without having totally destroyed those pirates.’ To this
effect he gave them a negro to serve them for a hangman, and orders that
they should immediately hang every one of the pirates excepting Lolonois,
their captain, whom they should bring alive to the Havannah. This ship
arrived at Cayos, of whose coming the pirates were advertised beforehand,
and, instead of flying, went to seek it in the river Estera, where she
rode at anchor. The pirates seized some fishermen, and forced them by
night to show them the entry of the port, hoping soon to obtain a greater
vessel than their two canoes, and thereby to mend their fortune. They
arrived, after two in the morning, very nigh the ship; and the watch on
board the ship asking them whence they came, and if they had seen any
pirates abroad, they caused one of the prisoners to answer that they had
seen no pirates nor anything else; which answer made them believe that the
pirates had fled upon hearing of their coming.
“But they soon found the contrary, for about break of day the pirates
assaulted the vessel on both sides with their two canoes with such vigour
that though the Spaniards behaved themselves as they ought, and made as
good defence as they could, making some use of their great guns, yet they
were forced to surrender, being beaten by the pirates, with sword in hand,
down under the hatches. From thence Lolonois commanded them to be brought
up one by one, and in this order caused their heads to be struck off.
Among the rest came up the negro designed to be the pirates’ executioner.
This fellow implored mercy at his hands very dolefully, telling Lolonois
he was constituted hangman of that ship, and if he would spare him he
would tell him faithfully all that he should desire. Lolonois, making him
confess what he thought fit, commanded him to be murdered with the rest.
Thus he cruelly and barbarously put them all to death, reserving only one
alive, whom he sent back to the Governor of the Havannah, with this
message in writing: ‘I shall never henceforth give quarter to any Spaniard
whatsoever, and I have great hopes I shall execute on your own person the
very same punishment I have done upon them you sent against me. Thus I
have retaliated the kindness you designed to me and my companions.’ The
governor, much troubled at this sad news, swore in the presence of many
that he would never grant quarter to any pirate that should fall into his
hands. But the citizens of the Havannah desired him not to persist in the
execution of that rash and rigorous oath, seeing the pirates would
certainly take occasion from thence to do the same, and they had a hundred
times more opportunity for revenge than he; that being necessitated to get
their livelihood by fishery, they should hereafter always be in danger of
their lives. By these reasons he was persuaded to bridle his anger, and
remit the severity of his oath.
“Now Lolonois had got a good ship, but very few provisions and people in
it; to purchase both which he determined to cruise from one port to
another. Doing thus for some time without success, he determined to go to
the port of Maracaibo. Here he surprised a ship laden with plate and other
merchandise, outward bound to buy cocoa-nuts. With this prize he returned
to Tortuga, where he was received with joy by the inhabitants, they
congratulating his happy success and their own private interest. He stayed
not long there, but designed to equip a fleet sufficient to transport five
hundred men and necessaries. Thus provided, he resolved to pillage both
cities, towns, and villages, and finally to take Maracaibo itself. For
this purpose he knew the island of Tortuga would afford him many resolute
and courageous men, fit for such enterprises; besides, he had in his
service several prisoners well acquainted with the ways and places
designed upon.”
Lolonois gave notice to a large number of the pirates, and gathered
together in a little while above 400 men, among whom was then in Tortuga
another freebooter, named Michael de Basco, who, by his piracy, had become
rich enough to live at ease and go no more abroad, having withal the offer
of major of the island. But seeing the great preparations that Lolonois
made for this expedition, he joined him, and offered him that if he would
make him his chief captain by land (seeing he knew the country very well,
and all its approaches) he would share in his fortunes and go with him.
This precious pair of thieves agreed, to the great joy of Lolonois, who
knew that Basco had done great things in Europe, and had the repute of
being a good soldier. Then they all embarked in eight vessels, that of
Lolonois being the greatest, having ten guns.
All things being ready, and the whole company on board, they set sail
together about the end of April, being in all about six hundred and sixty
persons. They steered for the port of Bayala, north of Hispaniola. Here
they took into their company some French hunters, who volunteered, and
provided themselves with victuals and necessaries for their voyage.
“From hence they sailed again the last of July, and steered directly to
the eastern cape of the isle called Punta d’ Espada. Hereabouts espying a
ship from Puerto Rico, bound for New Spain, laden with cocoa-nuts,
Lolonois commanded the rest of the fleet to wait for him near Savona, on
the east of Cape Punta d’ Espada, he alone intending to take the said
vessel. The Spaniards, though they had been in sight two hours, and knew
them to be pirates, yet would not flee, but prepared to fight, being well
armed and provided. The combat lasted three hours, and then they
surrendered. This ship had sixteen guns and fifty fighting men aboard.
They found in her 120,000 weight of cocoa, 40,000 pieces of eight, and the
value of 10,000 more in jewels. Lolonois sent the vessel presently to
Tortuga to be unladed, with orders to return as soon as possible to
Savona, where he would wait for them. Meanwhile, the rest of the fleet
being arrived at Savona met another Spanish vessel coming from Coman, with
military provisions to Hispaniola, and money to pay the garrisons there.
This vessel they also took, without any resistance, though mounted with
eight guns. In it were 7,000 weight of powder, a great number of muskets
and like things, with 12,000 pieces of eight.”
These successes emboldened the pirates, and we find their next exploit
that of taking a town of no inconsiderable size, that of Maracaibo in
Venezuela. The island on which it is situated is divided by a gulf or bay
from two others; on one was placed a watch-tower, while on the other was a
castle, and as the water about was often shallow, with many dangerous
sand-banks, vessels had to come in very close to it. Maracaibo, the city
or town, had some 3,000 or 4,000 Spanish inhabitants, and about 800 able
to bear arms. There was a large church, four monasteries, and one
hospital; the trade of the town was largely in tobacco, hides, and to an
extent flesh, which they exchanged for cocoa-nuts, oranges, lemons, and
other fruits, with a town named Gibraltar, situated some distance in the
country on the Lake of Maracaibo. The latter is described as delightfully
situated among plantations of sugar, and cocoa, and woods, the timber of
which was often large enough for ship and boat building. The whole country
abounded in rivers and brooks, while the tobacco grown had a high
reputation in Europe, being known as _tobacco de sacerdotes_, or priests’
tobacco.
Lolonois arrived at the Gulf of Venezuela, and cast anchor out of sight of
the watch-tower already mentioned; next morning he made in for the Lake of
Maracaibo, which communicates with the sea, and cast anchor again. Then a
number of the men landed to attack the fortress which commanded the bar,
and which was merely composed of earthworks. The governor, however, knew
of their approach, and had placed an ambuscade to cut them off behind,
while he should attack them in front. This the pirates discovered, and
manœuvred so successfully and fought so desperately that not a man could
retreat to the castle. This done, Lolonois, with his followers, advanced
immediately to the fort, and after a desperate fight of nearly three hours
completely mastered it, without any other arms than swords and pistols.
While this fight was in progress, the routed ambuscade, not being able to
get into the castle, retired into Maracaibo in great confusion and
disorder, crying out, “The pirates will presently be here with two
thousand men and more!” The city had been formerly sacked by pirates, and
the people knew well of what quality was their mercy. There was then a
general stampede in boats and canoes to Gibraltar, with such of the
portable wealth as could be taken. Arrived there, they spread the dismal
news, and there was general dismay.
The castle thus taken by the pirates, they signalled to the ships their
victory, that they should come further in without fear of danger. The rest
of the day was spent in ruining and demolishing the castle. They nailed(4)
the guns, and burnt as much as they could not carry away, burying the
dead, and sending the wounded on board the fleet. Next day, very early,
they weighed anchor, and steered altogether towards Maracaibo, about six
leagues distant from the fort; but the wind failing, they could advance
little, being forced to wait for the tide. Next morning they came in sight
of the town, and prepared for landing under the protection of their own
guns, fearing the Spaniards might have laid an ambuscade in the woods;
they put their men into canoes, brought for the purpose, and landed where
they thought most convenient, shooting still furiously with their great
guns. Of those in the canoes half only went ashore, the other half
remaining aboard. They fired from the ships as fast as possible towards
the woody part of the shore, but could discover nobody. Then they entered
the town, the inhabitants of which had retired to the woods and Gibraltar
with their families. Their houses were found well provided with victuals,
as flour, bread, pork, brandy, wines, and poultry, with which the pirates
fell to, making high havoc; having had no opportunity for four weeks
before of filling their stomachs with such good cheer.
“They instantly possessed themselves of the best houses in the town,” says
the narrator, “and placed sentinels wherever they thought convenient; the
great church serving them for their main guard. Next day they sent out 160
men to find out some of the inhabitants in the woods thereabouts; these
returned the same night, bringing with them 20,000 pieces of eight,
several mules laden with household goods and merchandise, and twenty
prisoners, men, women, and children. Some of these were put to the rack to
make them confess where they had hid the rest of the goods; but they could
extort very little from them. Lolonois, who valued not murdering, though
in cold blood, ten or twelve Spaniards, drew his cutlass, and hacked one
to pieces before the rest, saying, ‘If you do not confess and declare
where you have hid the rest of your goods, I will do the like to all your
companions.’ At last, amongst these horrible cruelties and inhuman
threats, one promised to show the place where the rest of the Spaniards
were hid; but those that were fled, having intelligence of it, changed
place, and buried the remnant of their riches, so that the pirates could
not find them out. Besides, the Spaniards flying from one place to another
every day, and often changing woods, were jealous even of each other, so
as the father durst scarce trust his own son.”
[Illustration: THE STRUGGLE WITH THE PIRATES AT GIBRALTAR.]
After the pirates had been fifteen days in Maracaibo they made up their
minds to capture Gibraltar, not a task quite so difficult as the taking of
that other which guards the portals of the Mediterranean, but still
sufficiently troublesome. The inhabitants had received intelligence of
their approaching advent, and that they afterwards intended to attempt the
capture of Merida, another city of that country, and they therefore
informed the governor, who was a brave soldier, and had served in
Flanders. His answer was, “he would have them take no care, for he hoped
in a little while to exterminate the said pirates;” whereupon he brought a
force of 400 well-armed men to Gibraltar, ordering at the same time the
inhabitants to arm. He soon had a force of 800 fighting men. With the same
speed he raised a battery, mounting twenty guns, and covered with great
baskets of earth. In another place he constructed a smaller battery of
eight guns, and this done, he barricaded a narrow passage, an approach to
the town, through which the pirates must pass; at the same time he opened
another, through morasses of dirt and mud, into the wood, totally unknown
to the freebooters.
“The pirates, ignorant of these preparations, having embarked all their
prisoners and booty, took their way towards Gibraltar. Being come in sight
of the place, they saw the Royal Standard hanging forth, and that those of
the town designed to defend their houses. Lolonois seeing this, called a
council of war, what they ought to do, telling his officers and mariners
‘that the difficulty of the enterprise was very great, seeing the
Spaniards had had so much time to put themselves in a posture of defence,
and had got a good body of men together, with much ammunition; but
notwithstanding,’ said he, ‘have a good courage; we must either defend
ourselves like good soldiers, or lose our lives with all the riches we
have got. Do as I shall do who are your captain. At other times we have
fought with fewer men than we have in our company at present, and yet we
have overcome greater numbers than there possibly can be in this town; the
more there are, the more glory and the greater riches we shall gain.’ The
pirates supposed that all the riches of the inhabitants of Maracaibo were
transported to Gibraltar, or at least the greater part. After this speech
they all promised to follow and to obey him. Lolonois made answer, ‘It is
well; but know ye, withal, that the first man who shall show any fear, or
the least apprehension thereof, I will pistol him with my own hands!’
“With this resolution they cast anchor nigh the shore, near three-quarters
of a league from the town; next day, before sun-rise, they landed 380 men,
well provided, and armed every one with a cutlass and one or two pistols,
and sufficient powder and bullets for thirty charges. Here they all shook
hands, in testimony of good courage, and began their march, Lolonois
speaking thus:—‘Come, my brethren, follow me, and have good courage.’ They
followed their guide, who, believing he led them well, brought them to the
way which the governor had barricaded. Not being able to pass that way,
they went to the other newly made in the wood among the mire, which the
Spaniards could shoot into at pleasure; but the pirates, full of courage,
cut down the branches of trees and threw them on the way, that they might
not stick in the dirt. Meanwhile, those of Gibraltar fired with their
great guns so furiously that they could scarce hear nor see for the noise
and smoke. Being past the wood, they came on firm ground, where they met
with a battery of six guns, which immediately the Spaniards discharged
upon them, all loaded with small bullets and pieces of iron; and the
Spaniards, sallying forth, set upon them with such fury as caused the
pirates to give way, few of them caring to advance towards the fort, many
of them being already killed and wounded. This made them go back to seek
another way, but the Spaniards having cut down many trees to hinder the
passage, they could find none, but were forced to return to that they had
left. Here the Spaniards continued to fire as before; nor would they sally
out of their batteries to attack them any more. Lolonois and his
companions not being able to grimp up the baskets of earth, were compelled
to use an old stratagem, wherewith at last they deceived and overcame the
Spaniards.
“Lolonois retired suddenly with all his men, making show as if he fled,
whereupon the Spaniards, crying out, ‘They flee, they flee! let us follow
them!’ sallied out with great disorder to the pursuit. Being drawn to some
distance from the batteries, which was the pirates’ only design, they
turned upon them unexpectedly, sword in hand, and killed above 200 men,
and thus fighting their way through those who remained, they possessed
themselves of the batteries. The Spaniards that remained abroad, giving
themselves over for lost, fled to the woods; those in the battery of eight
guns surrendered themselves, obtaining quarter for their lives. The
pirates being now become masters of the town, pulled down the Spanish
colours and set up their own, taking prisoners as many as they could find.
These they carried to the great church, where they raised a battery of
several great guns, fearing lest the Spaniards that were fled should rally
and come upon them again; but next day, being all fortified, their fears
were over. They gathered the dead to bury them, being above 500 Spaniards,
besides the wounded in the town and those who died of their wound in the
woods. The pirates had also above 150 prisoners and nigh 500 slaves, many
women and children.”
Of their own companions only forty were killed and about eighty wounded,
of whom, however, the greater part died through the pestilential air of
the place. They put the slain Spaniards into two great boats, and towing
them a quarter of a league to sea, they sunk the boats. This done, they
gathered all the plate, valuables generally, and merchandise they could,
or thought convenient to carry away. “The Spaniards who had anything left
had hid it carefully; but the unsatisfied pirates, not content with the
riches they had got, sought for more goods and merchandise, not sparing
those who lived in the fields, such as hunters and planters. They had
scarce been eighteen days on the place when the greater part of the
prisoners died of hunger; for in the town there were few provisions,
especially of flesh, though they had some, but no sufficient quantity of
flour, and this the pirates had taken for themselves, as they also took
the swine, cows, and poultry, without allowing any share to the poor
prisoners; for these they only provided some small quantity of mule’s and
ass’s flesh; and many who could not eat of that loathsome provision died
of hunger, their stomachs not being accustomed to such sustenance. Only
some women were allowed better cheer, but not for the best reasons.” Of
the prisoners, many also died under the tortures sustained to make them
give up their money or jewels; many died, accordingly, who possessed
neither, or would not admit the facts.
After having been in possession of the town four entire weeks, they sent
four of their prisoners to the Spaniards that were fled to the woods,
demanding of them a ransom of 10,000 pieces; they threatened to reduce it
to ashes. The Spaniards were unable or indisposed to bring in a sum so
considerable in the stipulated time—namely, only two days—and the pirates
fired the town in several places, whereupon the inhabitants begged them to
help extinguish the fire, and the ransom should be readily paid. The
pirates agreed, but in spite of all their best endeavours one part of the
town was ruined. The church belonging to the monastery was burned down.
After they had received the sum fixed they carried on board all the riches
they had gathered, with a great number of slaves which had not paid the
ransom. Thence they returned to Maracaibo, where they found a general
consternation in the city, which was not quieted when they demanded 50,000
pieces of eight to be brought on board, or the inhabitants’ houses should
be sacked anew. Meantime the pirates stripped the great church of all its
valuables. At last a compromise was effected, that on payment of 20,000
pieces of eight, and 500 cows, the pirates would depart peaceably. Both
these demands being paid, the fleet set sail. But three days afterwards,
the townspeople’s fears were renewed at seeing the pirates appear again,
and re-enter the port with all their ships. Their alarm subsided when they
found that the pirates only required a pilot to take them over the bar and
banks at the entrance of the Lake of Maracaibo.
At Hispaniola the freebooters made a division of their gains, according to
the order and rank of every one. They found that they had considerably
over a _quarter of a million_ pieces of eight to share, besides any
quantity of rich spoils. Those who had been wounded received their
proportion for the loss of their limbs after the first general division.
Then they weighed the plate, allowing ten pieces of eight (ten dollars) to
a pound. The jewels were frequently, no doubt, either greatly over-valued
or under-valued by reason of their ignorance. This done, every one was put
to his oath again that he had not concealed anything from the rest or
smuggled anything from the common stock. The shares of those who had died
in battle or otherwise were carefully given to the proper relatives or
friends—honour among thieves with a vengeance! The dividends having been
arranged, they started for Tortuga, where these _nouveaux riches_ were
received with great rejoicings. Two French ships, laden with wine and
brandy, &c., had arrived shortly before, and these liquors were
comparatively cheap when the pirates sailed into harbour; a week or two
afterwards prices had increased wonderfully, and the larger part of the
bucaniers had not a dollar to bless themselves wherewith. The governor of
the island purchased a ship-load of cocoa from them for about a twentieth
part of its worth; and in a week or two the tavern-keepers, gamblers, and
loafers, had acquired a good proportion of the riches, so hardly and
bravely, albeit so dishonestly, earned.
Lolonois was now the great man of Tortuga, as he brought wealth to the
town, and all men flocked to his standard; he had no difficulty in
obtaining all the volunteers he desired. He resolved, therefore, on
another voyage to Nicaragua, that country, as the reader may be reminded,
which in later days has been the scene of the exploits of Walker the
filibuster, and which may some day hold a prominent place in the eyes of
the world in connection with a great ship canal between the Atlantic and
Pacific. Having promulgated his new programme, some seven hundred men
enrolled themselves under him. Of these he put about three hundred on the
great prize ship he took at Maracaibo, and the rest on five smaller
vessels. Fancy an expedition of seven hundred men starting on such an
errand, even in these days! What harm might they not accomplish?
[Illustration: LOLONOIS’ FIGHT WITH THE SPANIARDS.]
The expedition being ready, Lolonois proceeded to a port in Hispaniola to
take in provisions, and afterwards to Matamana, on the south coast of
Cuba, where he intended to rob the poor turtle-hunters of their canoes.
They captured as many as they wanted, to the sorrow of their owners, but
to their own satisfaction, as they were always useful in shallow waters,
and the port to which they were directing their course came under that
category. Hence they steered for the Cape Gracias a Dios, and being at sea
were becalmed for a long while, and were carried by the currents into the
Gulf of Honduras. The ship which carried the commander of the expedition
could not keep up with the rest, and what was worse, they were running
short of provisions, so that they were obliged to send their canoes to the
river Xagua, where there were a number of Indians, whom they first killed.
After that, as a mere matter of secondary importance, they thought it no
harm to carry off the hogs, hens, and millet, of their settlements, which
were found in abundance. They resolved further to remain there till the
bad weather was over, and pillage all the villages and towns on the coast
of the gulf, but were not particularly successful till they came to Puerto
Cavallo. Here the Spaniards had two storehouses, where they kept the
produce of the country till the arrival of their ships. There was then in
the port a Spanish ship of twenty-four guns and sixteen pedreros, or
mortar-pieces. This ship was immediately seized by the pirates, and the
two storehouses burned with all the rest of the houses there. Many of the
inhabitants were made prisoners, and they committed upon them the most
inhuman cruelties that ever heathens invented, putting them to the
cruellest tortures they could devise. “It was the custom of Lolonois that,
having tormented persons not confessing, he would instantly cut them in
pieces with his hanger, and pull out their tongues, desiring to do so, if
possible, to every Spaniard in the world. It often happened that some of
these miserable prisoners, being forced by the rack, would promise to
discover the place where the fugitive Spaniards lay hid, which not being
able afterwards to perform, they were put to more cruel deaths than they
who were dead before.
“The prisoners being all dead but two (whom they reserved to show them
what they desired), they marched hence to the town of San Pedro, or St.
Peter, ten or twelve leagues from Puerto Cavallo, being three hundred men
whom Lolonois led, leaving behind him Moses Van Vin, his lieutenant, to
govern the rest in his absence. Being come three leagues on his way, they
met with a troop of Spaniards, who lay in ambuscade for their coming;
these they set upon with all the courage possible, and at last totally
defeated. Howbeit, they behaved themselves very manfully at first, but not
being able to resist the fury of the pirates, they were forced to give way
and save themselves by flight, leaving many pirates dead in the place,
some wounded, and some of their own party maimed by the way. These
Lolonois put to death without mercy, having asked them what questions he
thought fit for his purpose.”
There were still some five prisoners not wounded; these were asked by
Lolonois, if any more Spaniards remained farther on in ambuscade? They
answered there were. Then, being brought before him one by one, he asked
if there was no other way to the town but that? this he did to avoid those
ambuscades, if possible. But they all constantly answered him they knew
none. Having asked them all, and finding they could show him no other way,
Lolonois grew outrageously passionate, so that he drew his cutlass, and
with it cut open the breast of one of those poor Spaniards, and pulling
out his heart began to bite and gnaw it with his teeth, like a ravenous
wolf, saying to the rest, “I will serve you all alike if you show me not
another way!” The poor wretches promised to show him another way, but
averred that it was a most difficult route. He tried it and found that
they were right. He was so exasperated that he swore the horrible
oath—_Mort Dieu, les Espagnols me le payeront!_ Next day he kept his word,
for meeting an ambuscade of Spaniards, he attacked them with such fury
that few remained to tell the tale. The Spaniards hoped by these
ambuscades to destroy the pirates in detail. Later he met another and a
stronger party, more advantageously placed, but the pirates attacking them
with much vigour, and using fire-balls in great numbers, forced the
remnant to flee leaving the larger part killed and wounded. There was but
one path that led to the town, and this was very well barricaded, while
the settlement was surrounded by planted shrubs of a prickly and pointed
nature, probably something of the cactus variety. The Spaniards, posted
behind their defences, plied the pirates with their artillery, and were
answered with showers of fire-balls; the latter were for the present
unable to advance. A second attack was made, the pirates’ orders being not
to fire until very close to the enemy; and in this they were successful,
as every shot told. The conflict continued raging till night, when the
Spaniards hoisted the white flag and desired to parley, the only
conditions they required being that the pirates should give the
inhabitants quarter for two hours. This was a _ruse_ to enable them to
carry off and hide their valuables. Granting this request, the pirates
marched into the town, and continued there the two hours without
committing the least outrage; but the time past, Lolonois ordered that the
inhabitants should be followed, robbed of all they had carried away, and
made prisoners. They had succeeded, however, knowing the country, in
making such good use of their time that the pirates could only capture a
few sacks of indigo. Having remained there a few days, committing all
kinds of outrages and stealing all they could, they returned to the coast,
rejoining some of their companions, who had been engaged in robbing the
poor fishermen of the coast, and others who came from Guatemala. A vessel
from Spain was daily expected to arrive off this river, and they left two
canoes to attack her, whilst they went over to some islands on the other
side of the gulf to careen and cleanse their ships and obtain provisions,
they knowing well that turtle abounded. They also made a number of ropes
and nets from the rind of the macoa-tree, and obtained a quantity of a
kind of bitumen or pitch, useful on board ship. In short, these islands
would seem to supply nearly all that was required for the seaman’s use.
The pirates, having been in the gulf three months, received advice that
the expected Spanish ship had arrived, and hastened to the spot where she
lay unloading her merchandise. They had previously sent away some of the
boats to seek for a smaller vessel, also expected, richly laden with
plate, indigo, and cochineal. Meanwhile the ship’s crew, expecting an
attack, had prepared for a good defence. Her armament consisted of
forty-two guns, and she had on board one hundred and thirty well-armed
men. Lolonois simply laughed at all this, and assaulted them with great
courage. His own ship had but twenty-two guns. The Spaniards behaved
excellently, and forced the pirates to retire momentarily, but Lolonois
was still equal to the occasion. Taking advantage of the dense smoke
caused by the bad powder of those days, he again attacked the ship,
boarded her from all sides, and forced the Spaniards to surrender. They
were considerably chagrined to find that their fight had been almost for
nothing—piratically considered—for they found on board little more than
fifty bars of iron, a small parcel of paper, and some earthen jars of
wine.
Lolonois now called a council of war, and stated that he was bound for
Guatemala. A division of opinion immediately arose, and he was especially
opposed by some of the men who were but “green hands” in the art of
piracy, and who had expected long ere this to have become wealthy, or, as
the chronicler puts it, had expected “that pieces of eight were gathered
as easy as pears from a tree.” Many of these immediately seceded and left
the fleet, returning home as best they might. Another section averred that
they would rather starve than return without plenty of prize money. The
major part did not approve of the proposed voyage, and separated from
Lolonois and his adherents. Their ring-leaders, Moses Vanclein and Pierre
le Picard, on the voyage home, pillaged a town in Costa Rica, but only
gained some seven or eight pounds of native gold.
Lolonois, thus deserted by the larger number of his companions, remained
alone in the Gulf of Honduras, where all suffered severely from want of
provisions. Roast monkey was their main sustenance. At last, near Cape
Gracias a Dios, his ship struck on a sandbank near the little island, one
of the group named De las Puertas, and although they threw overboard the
guns, iron, and other weighty things on the ship, she stuck fast, and no
art could remove her. They were forced to break her up, and build
themselves a boat to get away. The islands were inhabited by some Indians,
who are described as being very tall and nimble, running as fast as a
fleet horse, and enormously strong; “at diving also,” says the chronicler,
“they are very dexterous and hardy. From the bottom of the sea I saw them
take up an anchor of six hundred-weight, tying a cable to it with great
dexterity, and pulling it from a rock.” Their arms were of wood, and in
place of iron points crocodiles’ teeth were often used. They had
plantations of bananas, potatoes, and other fruits and vegetables. They
occasionally indulged in cannibalism. Two of the men, a Frenchman and a
Spaniard, went into the woods, where they lost themselves. A party of
Indians pursued them. They defended themselves with their swords, but were
at last forced to flee; the nimbler of the two, the Frenchman, escaped,
but the Spaniard was taken. Some days after, twelve well-armed pirates,
conducted by the above-mentioned Frenchman, reached the place where the
Spaniard had been left. Here they found the evidences that the Indians had
camped and made a fire, and at a small distance discovered a man’s bones
well roasted, and with shreds of flesh, ill scraped off, adhering to them.
A human hand, with but two fingers remaining, was also found, and they
could only conclude that these were the last of the poor Spaniard, as he
was never heard of again.
Their boat was now finished, and they determined to make for the river of
Nicaragua. She could not hold the number, and to avoid disputes they cast
lots who should go or stay. Lolonois and half his men embarked in the
long-boat and in the skiff which they had before, the other half remaining
ashore. At the river of Nicaragua that ill-fortune assailed the pirate
leader which of long time had been reserved for him as a punishment due to
the multitude of horrible crimes committed in his wicked and licentious
life. Here he met with both Spaniards and Indians, who, jointly setting
upon him and his companions, were killed on the place. Lolonois with those
that remained alive, had much ado to escape aboard their boats; yet,
notwithstanding this great loss, he resolved not to return to those he had
left at the Isle of Puertas without taking some boats such as he sought.
To this effect he determined to go on to the coasts of Carthagena; but
“God Almighty,” says Esquemeling—“the time of His divine justice being now
come—had appointed the Indians of Darien to be the instruments and
executioners thereof. These Indians of Darien were esteemed as bravoes, or
wild savage Indians, by the neighbouring Spaniards, who never could
civilise them. Hither Lolonois came (brought by his evil conscience that
cried for punishment), thinking to act his cruelties; but the Indians,
within a few days after his arrival, took him prisoner, and tore him in
pieces alive, throwing his body limb by limb into the fire, and his ashes
into the air, that no trace or memory might remain of such an infamous,
inhuman creature. One of his companions gave me an exact account of the
tragedy, affirming that himself had escaped the same punishment with the
greatest difficulty. He believed also that many of his comrades who were
taken in that encounter by those Indians were, as their cruel captain,
torn in pieces and burnt alive. Thus ends the history, the life, and
miserable death of that infernal wretch Lolonois, who, full of horrid,
execrable, and enormous deeds, and debtor to so much innocent blood, died
by cruel and butcherly hands, such as his own were in the course of his
life.” Those that remained on the island De las Puertas waiting for their
companions’ return were later taken off on the ship of another pirate. The
united crews, now in number 500, made for the river at Gracias a Dios,
which they entered in canoes. They took little provision, expecting to
“find”—in the pirate’s meaning, steal—plenty ashore. In this they were
disappointed, for the Indians had got notice of their coming, and had
fled. They were thus reduced to extreme necessity and hunger, and a few
green herbs formed their only sustenance. After a laborious search in the
woods for food, during which time they were reduced to eat their own boots
and the leather sheaths of their swords and knives, and at which period
they also vowed to sacrifice any Indians they might meet to appease their
own appetites—which, fortunately for the Indians, did not happen—their
courage oozed out, and they returned to the ships. The greater part of
them subsequently perished from hunger and exhaustion, or in the same
manner as had their commander Lolonois not long before.
And now to the deeds of another famous freebooter, “who,” as Esquemeling
says, “may deservedly be called the second Lolonois, not being unlike or
inferior to him either in achievements against the Spaniards or in
robberies of many innocent people.” The notorious pirate Captain Morgan
now appears upon the scene.