in _England_, than most of those whose histories we have already
related; the person we mean is Captain _Kid_, whose public Trial and
Execution here, rendered him the subject of all conversation.
In the beginning of King _William's_ War, Captain _Kid_ commanded a
Privateer in the _West-Indies_, and by several adventurous actions
acquired the reputation of a brave man, as well as an experienced
seaman. About this time the Pirates were very troublesome in those
parts, wherefore Captain _Kid_ was recommended by the Lord
_Bellamont_, then Governor of _Barbadoes_, as well as by several other
persons, to the Government here, as a person very fit to be entrusted
with the command of a Government Ship, and to be employed in cruising
upon the Pirates, as knowing those Seas perfectly well, and being
acquainted with their lurking places; but what reasons governed the
politics of those times, I cannot tell, but this proposal met with no
encouragement here, though it is certain it would have been of great
consequence to the subject, our merchants suffering incredible damages
by those robbers.
Upon this neglect the Lord _Bellamont_, and some others who knew what
great captures had been made by the Pirates, and what a prodigious
wealth must be in their possession, were tempted to fit out a ship at
their own private charge, and to give the command of it to Captain
_Kid_; and to give the thing a greater reputation, as well as to keep
their seamen under the better command, they procured the King's
Commission for the said Captain _Kid_.
Captain _Kid_ had also another Commission, which was called a
Commission of Reprisals; for it being then War time, this Commission
was to justify him in the taking of _French_ Merchant Ships, in case
he should meet with any. He sail'd out of _Plymouth_ in _May_ 1696, in
the _Adventure_ Galley of thirty guns, and eighty men; the place he
first design'd for was _New York_; in his Voyage thither he took a
French _Banker_, but this was no Act of Piracy, he having a Commission
for that purpose, as we have just observed.
When he arrived at _New York_ he put up Articles for engaging more
Hands, it being necessary to his Ship's crew, since he proposed to
deal with a desperate enemy: The terms he offered were, that every man
should have a share of what was taken, reserving for himself and
Owners forty shares. Upon this encouragement he soon increas'd his
company to a hundred and fifty five men.
With this company he first sail'd for _Maderas_, where he took in wine
and some other necessaries; from thence he proceeded to _Bonavist_,
one of the _Cape de Verd Islands_, to furnish the ship with salt, and
from thence went immediately to _St. Jago_, another of the _Cape de
Verd Islands_, in order to stock himself with provisions. When all
this was done, he bent his course to _Madagascar_, the known
rendezvous of Pirates; in this way he fell in with Captain _Warren_,
Commodore of three Men-of-War; he acquainted them with his design,
kept them company two or three days, and then leaving them, made the
best way for _Madagascar_, where he arrived in _February_ 1696, just
nine months from his departure from _Plymouth_.
[Illustration]
It does not appear all this while that he had the least design of
turning Pirate; for near _Mahala_ and _Joanna_ both he met with
several _Indian_ ships richly laden, to which he did not offer the
least violence, tho' he was strong enough to have done what he pleas'd
with them; and the first outrage or depredation I find he committed
upon mankind, was after his repairing his ship, and leaving _Joanna_;
he touch'd at a place call'd _Mabbee_, upon the _Red Sea_, where he
took some _Guinea_ Corn from the natives, by force.
After this he sail'd to _Bab's Key_, a Place upon a little Island at
the entrance of the _Red Sea_; here it was that he first began to open
himself to his ship's company, and let them understand that he
intended to change his measures; for, happening to talk of the _Moca_
Fleet, which was to sail that way, he said _We have been unsuccessful
hitherto, but courage, my Boys, we'll make our fortunes out of this
Fleet_: And finding that none of them appear'd averse to it, he
order'd a boat out, well mann'd, to go upon the coast to make
discoveries, commanding them to take a prisoner and bring to him, or
get intelligence any way they could. The boat return'd in a few days,
bringing him word, that they saw fourteen or fifteen ships ready to
sail, some with _English_, some with _Dutch_, and some with _Moorish_
Colours. He therefore order'd a man continually to watch at the
mast-head, least this Fleet should go by them; and about four days
after, towards evening, it appear'd in sight, being convoy'd by one
_English_ and one _Dutch_ Man-of-War. _Kid_ soon fell in with them,
and getting into the midst of them, fir'd at a _Moorish_ ship which
was next him; but the Men-of-War taking the Alarm, bore down upon
_Kid_, and firing upon him, obliged him to sheer off, he not being
strong enough to contend with them. Now he had begun hostilities, he
resolv'd to go on, and therefore he went and cruis'd along the coast
of _Malabar_; the first Prize he met was a small vessel belonging to
_Aden_, the vessel was _Moorish_, and the Owners were _Moorish_
Merchants, but the Master was an _Englishman_, his name was _Parker_.
_Kid_ forc'd him and a _Portugueze_ that was call'd _Don Antonio_,
which were all the _Europeans_ on Board, to take on with them; the
first he design'd as a pilot, and the last as an interpreter. He also
used the men very cruelly, causing them to be hoisted up by the arms,
and drubb'd with a naked cutlass, to force them to discover whether
they had money on board, and where it lay; but as they had neither
gold nor silver on board, he got nothing by his cruelty; however, he
took from them a bale of pepper, and a bale of coffee, and so let them
go.
Soon after this he came up with a _Moorish_ Ship, the Master whereof
was a _Dutchman_, call'd _Schipper Mitchel_, and chased her under
_French_ Colours, which they observing, hoisted _French_ Colours too:
When he came up with her, he hail'd her in _French_, and they having a
_Frenchman_ on board, answer'd him in the same language; upon which he
order'd them to send their boat on board; they were oblig'd to do so,
and having examin'd who they were, and from whence they came; he ask'd
the _Frenchman_, who was a passenger, if he had a _French_ pass for
himself? The _Frenchman_ gave him to understand that he had. Then he
told the _Frenchman_ he must pass for Captain, _and by God_, says he,
_you are the Captain_: The _Frenchman_ durst not refuse doing as he
would have him: The meaning of this was, that he would seize the Ship
as fair Prize, and as if she belonged to _French_ Subjects, according
to a commission he had for that purpose; tho', one would think, after
what he had already done, that he need not have recourse to a quibble
to give his actions a colour.
In short, he took the cargoe and sold it some time after, yet still he
seem'd to have some fears upon him least these proceedings should have
a bad end; for, coming up with a _Dutch_ Ship some time, when his men
thought of nothing but attacking her, _Kid_ oppos'd it; upon which a
mutiny arose, and the majority being for taking the said ship, and
arming themselves to man the boat to go and seize her, he told them,
such as did, never should come on Board him again; which put an end to
the design, so that he kept company with the said ship some time,
without offering her any violence: However, this dispute was the
occasion of an accident, upon which an indictment was afterwards
grounded against _Kid_; for _Moor_, the Gunner, being one day upon
deck, and talking with _Kid_ about the said _Dutch_ Ship, some words
arose betwixt them, and _Moor_ told _Kid_, that he had ruin'd them
all; upon which, _Kid_, calling him _Dog_, took up a bucket and struck
him with it, which breaking his skull, he died the next day.
But _Kid's_ penitential fit did not last long, for coasting along
_Malabar_, he met with a great number of boats, all which he
plunder'd. Upon the same Coast he also lit upon a _Portugueze_ Ship,
which he kept possession of a week, and then having taking out of her
some chests of _Indian_ goods, thirty jars of butter, and some wax,
iron, and a hundred bags of rice, he let her go.
The _Adventure_ Galley was now so old and leaky, that they were forced
to keep two pumps continually going, wherefore _Kid_ shifted all the
guns and tackle out of her into the _Queda_ Merchant, intending her
for his Man-of-War; and as he had divided the Money before, he now
made a division of the remainder of the cargo: Soon after which, the
greatest part of the company left him, some going on board Captain
_Culliford_, and others absconding in the Country, so that he had not
above forty men left.
He put to sea and happened to touch at _Amboyna_, one of the _Dutch_
Spice Islands, where he was told, that the news of his Actions had
reach'd _England_, and that he was there declared a Pirate.
The truth on't is, his Piracies so alarmed our Merchants, that some
motions were made in Parliament, to enquire into the commission that
was given him, and the persons who fitted him out: These proceedings
seem'd to lean a little hard upon the Lord _Bellamont_, who thought
himself so much touch'd thereby, that he published a Justification of
himself in a pamphlet after _Kid's_ execution. In the mean time, it
was thought advisable, to publish a Proclamation, offering the King's
free Pardon to all such Pirates as should voluntarily surrender
themselves, whatever Piracies they had been guilty of at any time,
before the last day of _April_, 1699--That is to say, for all
Piracies committed Eastward of the _Cape of Good_ Hope, to the
Longitude and Meridian of _Socatora_, and _Cape Camorin_. In which
Proclamation, _Avery_ and _Kid_ were excepted by Name.
When _Kid_ left _Amboyna_ he knew nothing of this Proclamation, for
certainly had he had notice of his being excepted in it, he would not
have been so infatuated, to run himself into the very jaws of danger;
but relying upon his interest with the Lord _Bellamont_, and fancying,
that a _French_ Pass or two he found on board some of the ships he
took, would serve to countenance the matter, and that part of the booty
he got would gain him new friends--I say, all these things made him
flatter himself that all would be hushed, and that justice would but
wink at him. Wherefor he sail'd directly for _New York_, where he was
no sooner arrived, but by the Lord _Bellamont's_ orders, he was secured
with all his papers and effects. Many of his fellow-adventurers who had
forsook him at _Madagascar_, came over from thence passengers, some to
_New England_ and some to _Jersey_; where hearing of the King's
Proclamation for pardoning of Pirates, they surrendered themselves to
the Governor of those places: At first they were admitted to bail, but
soon after were laid in strict confinement, where they were kept for
some time, till an opportunity happened of sending them with their
Captain over to _England_ to be tried.
Accordingly a Sessions of Admiralty being held at the _Old Baily_, in
_May_, 1701, _Captain Kid_, _Nicholas Churchill_, _James How_, _Robert
Lumley_, _William Jenkins_, _Gabriel Loff_, _Hugh Parrot_, _Richard
Barlicorn_, _Abel Owens_, and _Darby Mullins_, were arraingn'd for
Piracy and Robbery on the High Seas, and all found guilty, except
three; these were _Robert Lumley_, _William Jenkins_, and _Richard
Barlicorn_, who proving themselves to be apprentices to some of the
officers of the ship, and producing their Indentures in Court, were
acquitted.
_Kid_ was tried upon an indictment of Murder also, _viz._ for killing
_Moor_ the Gunner, and found guilty of the same. _Nicholas Churchill_
and _James How_ pleaded the King's Pardon, as having surrendered
themselves within the time limited in the Proclamation, and Colonel
_Bass_, Governor of _West Jersey_, to whom they surrendered, being in
Court, and called upon, proved the same; however, this plea was
over-ruled by the Court, because there being four Commissioners named
in the Proclamation, it was adjudged no other person was qualified to
receive their surrender, and that they could not be intitled to the
benefit.
As to Captain _Kid's_ Defence, he insisted much upon his own
innocence, and the villany of his men; he said he went out in a
laudable employment and had no occasion, being then in good
circumstances, to go a-Pirating; that the men often mutinied against
him, and did as they pleas'd; that he was threatened to be shot in his
cabin, and that ninety five left him at one time, and set fire to his
boat, so that he was disabled from bringing his ship home, or the
Prizes he took, to have them regularly condemn'd, which he said were
taken by virtue of a commission under the broad seal, they having
_French_ Passes--The Captain called one Col. _Hewson_ to his
Reputation, who gave him an extraordinary character, and declared to
the Court, that he had served under his command, and been in two
engagements with him against the _French_, in which he fought as well
as any man he ever saw; that there were only _Kid's_ Ship and his own
against Monsieur _du Cass_, who commanded a squadron of six sail, and
they got the better of him, but this being several years before the
facts mentioned in the Indictment were committed, prov'd of no manner
of service to the Prisoner on his Trial.
As to the friendship shown to _Culliford_, a notorious Pirate, _Kid_
denied, and said, he intended to have taken him, but his men being a
parcel of rogues and villains refused to stand by him, and several of
them ran away from his ship to the said Pirate.--But the evidence
being full and particular against him, he was found Guilty as before
mentioned.
When _Kid_ was asked what he had to say why Sentence should not pass
against him, he answered, That _he had nothing to say, but that he had
been sworn against by perjured wicked People_. And when Sentence was
pronounced, he said, _My Lord it is a very hard Sentence. For my part
I am the innocentest Person of them all, only I have been sworn
against by perjured Persons_.
Wherefore about a week after, Capt. _Kid_, _Nicholas Churchill_,
_James How_, _Gabriel Loff_, _Hugh Parrot_, _Abel Owen_, and _Darby
Mullins_, were executed at _Execution Dock_, and afterwards hung up in
Chains, at some distance from each other, down the river, where their
Bodies hung exposed for many years.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: CAPTAIN EDWARD ENGLAND]
[Illustration]
CAPTAIN EDWARD ENGLAND, AND HIS CREW
_Edward England_ went Mate of a Sloop that sailed out of _Jamaica_,
and was taken by _Winter_, a Pirate, from whom he had the Command of a
Sloop just before their Settlement at _Providence_. The man was brave
and good natured, and far from being cruel, as most of them are; and
would not have committed such barbarous actions as he did, had not his
comrades compelled him to it.
He sailed to the Coast of _Africa_, after the Island of _Providence_
was inhabited by the _English_. In his Passage he took several Ships,
particularly the _Cadogan_ Snow belonging to _Bristol_, one _Skinner_
Master, who was murdered by those very men who had formerly served
under him, upon a quarrel that happened between _Skinner_ and them,
about their wages: He shipped them on board a Man-of-War, from whence
they deserted, and went on board a ship in the _West-Indies_, where
they were taken by a pirate, and brought to _Providence_, and then
they sailed with Captain _England_ a-Pirating.
As soon as _Skinner_ came on board, he saw his old Boatswain, who
said, _Ah! Captain Skinner is it you, I am much in your Debt, and now
I shall pay you in your own Coin_. These words put the Captain in a
panic Fear: And indeed he had Reason enough to be afraid, for they
immediately seized him, bound him to the Windlass, pelted him with
Glass Bottles, afterwards whipt him about the Deck, and then said,
because he had been a good Master, he should have an easy Death, and
so shot him through the Head; the vessel and her Cargoe being given to
_Howel Davis_.
After this _England_ went into an _Harbour_ to clean his Ship, and
also fitted up the _Peterborough_, which he called the _Victory_.
Then putting out to sea, they sailed for the _East-Indies_, and took
_Madagascar_, by the Way. From thence, after taking in water and
provisions, they went for _Malabar_, in the Empire of the _Mogul_.
Here they took several _Indian_ Vessels, and one _European_, a _Dutch_
Ship, which they exchanged for one of their own, and then came back to
_Madagascar_, where they sent several Hands on shore to kill venison,
and then resolved to seek out for the remains of _Avery's_ Crew; but
returning without success, they being settled on the other side, they
stay'd no longer than till they had cleaned their ships, and then
sailed to _Juanna_.
In the Year 1720, the _Bombay_ Fleet, consisting of four _Grabs_, the
_London Chandois_, and some other ships, carried 1000 Men to bombard
and batter _Gapra_, a fort belonging to _Angria_, on the _Malabar_
Coast; which they not being able to do, fell in with the Pirates, in
their return to _Bombay_: But Captain _Upton_ the Commodore, having no
orders, would not engage them; which so provoked the Governor, for
missing so favourable an opportunity of cutting the Pirates all off,
that he gave the command to Captain _Mackra_, with orders to fight
them wherever he met with them.
But the Pirates proceeded to the southward, and took a small ship out
of _Orincro_ Road, with a _Dutch_ and two _Portugueze_ Men on board,
one of which they sent to the Captain, to inform him, that if he would
supply them with provisions and water he should have his ship again.
But the Master would not agree to it; thereupon they sent other
persons ashore, and swore he should be the last man they would give
quarter to, and so put directly for _Laccadeva_ Island, and arrived
there in three days. But being informed by a _Menchew_, there was no
anchor-ground there, they went to the next Island, called _Melincha_,
whence they were driven by a storm, leaving behind them a hundred
people, and all their water-casks: But in a week's time, they regained
the island, took their people on board, and filled the water-casks.
Provisions being scarce, they resolved to visit the _Dutch_ at
_Cochin_, and after three days sail, arrived off of _Tellechery_,
where they took a small Vessel belonging to Governor _Adams_; who
giving an account of Captain _Mackra's_ fitting out against them, put
them into a grievous passion.
Afterward they arrived at _Mauritius_, where they refitted the
_Victory_, and then sailed the 5th of April for _Madagascar_, but
called first at the Island _Mascarine_, at which they found a
_Portugueze_ ship of seventy guns at anchor, disabled by a violent
storm, so that they easily became a Prize to the Pirates. She had on
board the _Conde Ereceira_ Vice-Roy of _Goa_, also they found on board
her, in diamonds only, to the value of four millions of Dollars. They
made the Vice-Roy a prisoner; but in consideration of his losses,
accepted of a ransom of 2000 dollars and then set him and his
followers ashore. Learning that an _Ostender_ was on the leeward of
that Island, they sailed and took her, and sent her to _Madagascar_
with news of their success, where they followed themselves soon
after, with two hundred _Mozambique_ Negroes in the _Portugueze_ Ship.
When _Taylor_ came with the _Portugueze_ Prize to _Madagascar_, they
found that the _Ostender_ had made his men drunk, and seized his ship,
which they carried to the _Mozambique_; from thence the Governor
ordered her to _Goa_. But the Pirates staid and clean'd the
_Cassandra_, and divided very great plunder. Some, who thought they
had got enough, staid at _Madagascar_, and the rest, having no
occasion for two ships, burnt the _Victory_, she being leaky, and went
on board the _Cassandra_, under the Command of Captain _Taylor_,
designing to go for _Cochin_ to dispose of his diamonds, amongst his
old Friends the _Dutch_, and also to avoid the dangers of the
Men-of-War that were in pursuit of them. But as he was preparing to
sail, and heard of four Men-of-War coming after him; therefore he
altered his mind, and sailed for the Main of _Africa_, and put in at
_Delagoa_: But the Pirates were surprized in the evening with some
shot from the shore. They took it for a desert shore, but it proved
otherwise; for a few months before, the _Dutch East India Company_ had
settled one hundred men upon it, who, not being supplied with
necessaries, were reduced to about sixteen; whom _Taylor_, upon their
humble petition took aboard, and they all became Pirates with him.
Here they stayed about four months, careened their ships, and left
_Delagoa_ the latter end of _December_: But not agreeing among
themselves, they parted those who were weary of that sort of life,
went on board the _Portugueze_ Prize, and sailed for _Madagascar_; the
others went on board the _Cassandra_, and sailed for the _Spanish West
Indies_. The _Mermaid_ Man-of-War, which was a convoy to some
Merchant-men, about 30 leagues distance, would have gone to attack
them, had not the Merchants, whom he had the care of, declar'd their
protection was of more service than destroying the Pirates; and so he
was oblig'd to be content with only dispatching the news of it to
_Jamaica_. This brought down the _Lanceston_, though it was a day or
two too late, for they had just before surrendered, with all their
riches, to the Governor of _Porto-Bello_, where they now live upon
their Spoils, saying, others would have done as much, had they had the
same opportunity; swearing, _That whatever Robberies they had
committed they are not the only Rogues in the World; for that the
South-Sea[A] did more Mischief in one Year, than they were able to do
in their whole Lives_.
[Illustration]
FOOTNOTE:
[A] The South-Sea Bubble.
[Illustration: CAPTAIN JOHN GOW]
[Illustration]
CAPTAIN JOHN GOW, _ALIAS_ SMITH, AND HIS CREW
_John Gow_, alias _Smith_, was born at a place called _Caristoun_, in
the _Orkney_ Islands, and was brought up a sailor from his youth,
having served on board several Men-of-War, and last of all on board
the _Suffolk_, along with _T. Swan_, who was engaged with him in the
conspiracy to murder Captain _Ferneau_, and seize the ship and cargoe,
as they went off the _Texel_, but they were prevented by _James
Belvin_, who was led into the secret and discovered it. Captain
_Ferneau_ taking little notice of it, contented himself with turning
off _Swan_, and preferred _Gow_ to be second Mate and Gunner.
They sailed on board the _George_ Galley, August the 1st, 1724, from
the _Texel_ to _Santa Cruz_, having 15000_l._ on board, when Gow
designed to have seized the Ship as they went out, but could not get a
party strong enough to join with him, till he worked up a
misunderstanding between the Captain and part of the crew, concerning
the provisions of the ship, particularly _Winter_, _Peterson_, _and
Mc.Cawley_, who came upon the Quarter-Deck, in presence of the Owners,
just before they sailed, and made a long complaint against the
Captain; who assured them that if there was any wrong done them, it
was not by his consent; and that he would enquire into it as soon as
they had unmoored the ship.