Sherrard's Churche,[11] who preached unto us, at both times. After the
afternoone's sermon, the poore man that was soe hapely recovered from
the Ronchadores, was introduced by Mr. Sherrarde to make a publicke
thanksgiveinge to God for his deliverance with a confession in
generall tearmes of his former vicious life, and a promise of future
amendment. An act very commendable in itselfe, and a Course fully
approvable: Though itt now brought to every man's minde and
observation, that whereas the apparent evidence of God's mercye in as
highe or higher a nature hadd been manifested towards Captain Axe and
his company in his escape from the enemie, to thoes five persons that
came safe unto us, in an extreme leakinge bote, from St. Christophers;
And towards the fortie nine persons that arrived safely with us from
the Barbadoes;[12] And all this done within the space of foure
monethes; that none of all this should have bin remembered by Mr.
Sherrard, in the same kinde; as if the safe-being of this one only
man, had either bin of more remarkableness in itselfe, or of more
acceptableness with him than all the others putt togither....
[Footnote 11: Rev. Hope Sherrard, one of the two ministers of the
island, and a rigid Puritan, which Governor Butler was not.]
[Footnote 12: Apparently the party led, through remarkable adventures,
by the other minister, Rev. Nicholas Leverton. See Calamy,
_Nonconformists' Memorial_, I. 371.]
21. Early this morneinge I went out in my shalope to Darlies Fort[13]
to looke out for the vessells that wer made the eveninge before and by
sunne riseinge wee againe made them five leagues out to sea standeinge
in with our Harbour; and by ten of the clocke they came ther to an
Anchor: and one of them proved to be the Pinnace called the _Queene of
Bohemia_[14] that I had sent out about five weekes before to looke out
for Purchase upon the coasts of the maine; the other was a Spanish
Frigate which she hadd made her Prize. I dined this daye at a
weddinge.
[Footnote 13: At the extreme north point of the island.]
[Footnote 14: The queen of Bohemia for whom the pinnace had been named
was the princess Elizabeth, the ill-fated daughter of James I.]
22. The Captaine of our last arrived Pinnace came unto me and
certified me concerneinge his voiage, and the takeinge of his Prize;
and I gave him some Advices about the orderinge of every man's shares:
And upon this daye all the montega de Porco, and the Tallow that came
in the first Dutche was sold to the people att reasonable rates....
25. One of our new Companys was exercised upon this daye, by Captaine
Hunt;[15] I went aborde our new prize, to sett downe orders, upon the
Breakeinge of Bulke; And the Prize Goods began this morneinge to be
unshypped, into our Store House. I hadd many Bussinesses brought afore
me this daye, and found trouble ynough in decideinge of them.
[Footnote 15: Capt. Robert Hunt, governor 1636-1638, and an
experienced soldier.]
26. Our new erected Company of Voluntiers exercised this morneinge,
att our new exerciseinge place, and all the Captaines dined with me:
In the afternoone, I called a Counsell of warre, where orders wer sett
downe and given to the Captaines of the Fortes about makeing of all
shotts att the comeinge in of shypps: Witnesses wer also examined in
the Court of Admiraltie[16] about the new come in Prize, and a
preparation made to an Adjudication. I hearde, determined and appeased
divers differences, which might have produced ill bloud.
[Footnote 16: The preceding document associates the council of war in
the governor's exercise of admiralty jurisdiction.]
27. Very early this morneinge, I found worcke ready for me to heare
and decide divers complaincts between the Inhabitants. Some of the
Counsell of Warre dined with me; presently after dinner I caused a
Proclamation pro forma to be made by sound of the Drumme, concerninge
the Bussinesse of our new gotten prize: viz, That if anyone could make
a claime to any of the said Prize goods or saye anything why
adjudication of her being lawfull Prize should not be granted; they
should come in by such a daye and should be heard accordinge to
Justice. This afternoone all our Prize Goodes being landed, I went to
the Store-house to see equall divisions made; And the Lordes
fiftes[17] wer first layde aside; and then my dues as Admirall, and
Captaine Axe's as Vice Admirall; and then some shares wer delivered
accordinge to every man's part, to the common marriner[s]; and all
the Tobacco belonginge to them, was shared and delivered.
[Footnote 17: Dues to the proprietors, under their patent.]
28. We wer all this daye busied att the Store-House in the shareinge
of the dues to the Shyp-Company, out of the Prize Goods; and in
proportioninge the Honorable Companye's Fiftes; and mine owne Admirall
duties, and the Vice Admirall's, Captain Axe....
[March] 2. The Commanders and merchants of the Dutch men of warre
dined with me this daye: our new prize Frigate by the presumption of
her master in takeinge awaye without leave an Anchor and a Cable from
her, which he claimed to be his due, and which she rode by in the
Harbour, was driven ashore; for which fact he was cited to an Admirall
Court....
4. I called a Court of Admiraltie this morneinge; and empannelled
twelve seamen, to deliver their verdict, concerninge a misdeameanour
committed by a master of a shyp, in takeinge awaye a Cable and an
Anchor from a vessell rideinge in the Harbour; wherby the said vessell
was driven on grounds and in perill to be lost: but thes Jurors proved
themselves soe absurde and ignorant as sone made me finde the miserie
of trialls in these dayes by such kinde of men: And it now produced an
Order in a session of the Counsell of Warre in the afternoone, whereby
all future crimes and commissions of this nature wer made punishable
another waye. A new officer in the nature of a fiscall or Advocate[18]
in our Court of Admiraltie was elected and sworne this daye.
[Footnote 18: Representative of the crown or proprietors.]
5. The Prize Vessell that was driven aground was gotten off safe this
morneinge, wherby the penalties inclifted[19] by the verdict in the
Admiraltie Court in case it hadd perished, wer taken off.
[Footnote 19: Inflicted.]
_LA GARCE._
_3. Articles of Copartnership in New Netherland Privateering. December
4 (N.S.), 1646._[1]
[Footnote 1: New York State Archives, Albany; Dutch Manuscripts, vol.
II., p. 153. The dates in the four New Netherland documents which
follow are new style dates. The privateer _La Garce_, of French
origin, began its connection with New Netherland as early as 1642,
from 1644 was chiefly owned there, and from these dates to 1649, or
even 1656, was an object of pecuniary interest and investment to a
considerable number of New Amsterdam men. Many documents among the
Dutch papers at Albany relate to her; they show Dutchmen, Frenchmen,
and Spaniards as sharing in her captures.]
Compareerde voor my Cornelis van Tienhoven Secretarius van wegen de
Generale Geoctroyeerde Westindise Comp'e in nieu nederlandt
geadmitteert den E. Heer Willem Kieft Directeur General van nieu
nederlandt, synde inde voorschreven qualite voor Rekeninge van de
welgedachte Comp'e een meedereder in de fregadt de _la Garce_,
Dewelcke nevens alle de naergenoemde persoonen bekende te Hirrideeren
in dito Fregat een recht achste part, Jan Damen Ingelycx een recht
achste part, Jacob Wolphersen de somma van vyftien hondert gulden,
Marten Crigier een gerecht sestiende part, Jacob Stoffelsen elft
hondert gulden, Hendrick Jacobsen pater vaer een achste part, Hendrick
Arentsen de somme van dertien hondert gulden, Capitain Willem
Albertsen blauvelt een Recht achste part, Cristiaen Pitersen Rams
veertien hondert gulden, Willem de key een Recht sestiende part,
Adriaen dircksen een Recht twee ende dertichste part, Welcke
voornoemde Somme ende parten de voornoemde Persoonen als gemeene
Reders yder voor haer Particulier hebben gedaen ende Hirrideeren op
Winst ende Verlies, ende is desen gemaeckt ende getekent omme in
toecomende hunl[ieden] daer van te connen dienen ende Weten Wat yder
Reder voor syn Winst vande uytgeleyde pen[ningen] te vorderen mocht
hebben. T'Oirconde ende teken der waerheyt is desen by de voornoemde
Reeders getekent, den 4e desember 1646. In Nieu Nederlandt.
CHRISTIAEN PIETERSZ. JAN JANSZ DAMEN.
WYLLEM BLAUFELT. MARTIN CREGIER.
JACOB VAN COUWENHOVEN.
dit ist [X] merck ADRIAEN DIRCKSEN COEN.
van HENDRIC ARENTSEN WILLEM DE KEY.
dit ist merck [P over +] van
HENDRIC JACOBSZ P. VAER.
[circle with horizontal line, +, top right corner bracket]
dit ist merck van
JACOB STOFFELSEN.
In kennisse van my
C. V. TIENH. Secret.
_Translation._
Appeared before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven,[2] authorized secretary
for the Chartered West India Company in New Netherland, the Honorable
Willem Kieft, Director General of New Netherland,[3] being in that
capacity partner in the frigate _La Garce_ on account of the aforesaid
Company, who together with all the persons named hereafter
acknowledged that he was taking a share of one just eighth part in the
said frigate, Jan Damen likewise a just eighth part, Jacob Wolphersen
the sum of 1500 gulden, Marten Crigier a just sixteenth part, Jacob
Stoffelsen 1100 gulden, Hendrick Jacobsen Pater Vaer an eighth part,
Hendrick Arentsen the sum of 1300 gulden, Captain Willem Albertsen
Blauvelt[4] a just eighth part, Christiaen Pitersen Rams 1400 gulden,
William de Key a just sixteenth part, Adriaen Dircksen a just
thirty-second part, which aforesaid sums and parts the aforesaid
persons, as owners in common, each on his own account, have invested
and ventured, for profit or loss, and this [declaration] is made and
signed in order to serve them in the future and to know exactly what
each owner may have a right to demand for his profit on the monies
invested. In witness and token of the truth this is signed by the
aforesaid owners, December 4, 1646, in New Netherland.
[Footnote 2: Book-keeper under Director van Twiller (from 1633),
provincial secretary under Kieft, _schout fiscaal_ under Stuyvesant
till 1656.]
[Footnote 3: Director-general 1637-1646. Of the other partners, Jan
Jansen Damen, Jacob Wolfertsz van Couwenhoven, and Martin Cregier were
among the leading citizens of New Amsterdam. The total venture seems
to have been about 14,000 gulden, say $5600 (worth much more then).]
[Footnote 4: Two Blauvelts or Blawfelts, Albertus and Wyllem,
apparently father and son, appear in the records of the Providence
Island Company (document 1, note 1). The former discovered the inlet
on the Mosquito Shore, excellent for buccaneers, which is still called
by his name, Blewfields Bay, in Nicaragua. After the Spanish conquest
of Providence in 1641, Wyllem Blawfelt took to privateering, and, as
will be seen, pursued it too long.]
CHRISTIAEN PIETERSZ. JAN JANSZ DAMEN.
WYLLEM BLAWFELT. MARTIN CREGIER.
JACOB VAN COUWENHOVEN.
this is the [X] mark ADRIAEN DIRCKSEN COEN.
of HENDRIC ARENTSEN. WILLEM DE KEY.
this is the [P over +] mark
of HENDRIC JACOBSZ P. VAER.
[circle with horizontal line, +, top right corner bracket]
this is the mark of
JACOB STOFFELSEN.
Acknowledged before me,
C. V. TIENH. Secret.
_4. Articles of Copartnership between Augustin Herrman and Wyllem
Blawfelt. December 4 (N.S.), 1646._[1]
[Footnote 1: New York State Archives, Dutch Manuscripts, vol. II., p.
153.]
Wy ondergeschreven bekennen geaccordeert ende verdragen te wesen inde
fregat de _la Garce_ op Winst ende verlies te hirrideeren, de somma
van seventien hondert drie ende t'seventich gulden waer van Sr
Augustyn een rechte seste [substituted for _sestiende_, erased] part
Hirrideert onder den naem van Willem Aelbertsen Blauvelt, die bekent
de voornoemde Somma uyt handen van Augustyn Heerman ontfangen te
hebben ende belooft, soo Godt de heere hem Capitain Willem Albertsen
een ofte meer prysen t'sy groot ofte cleen verleent van dese reyse,
aende voornoemde Sr. Augustyn off syn Ordre uyt te keeren een gerechte
seste [clerk wrote first _sestiende_] part vande veroverde Goederen
uyt syn een achtste part. Ende soo t gebeurde, dat Godt verhoede, dat
de barcque verlooren wiert, sal den voornoemden Sr. Augustyn niets op
Capitain Blauvelt te pretenderen hebben. Aldus gedaen ende getekent de
4e desember a'o 1646. In nieu Amst.
AUGUSTIN HERRMAN.
WYLLEM BLAWFELT.
In kennise van my
CORNELIS VAN TIENHOVEN, Secret's.
_Translation._
We the undersigned acknowledge that we have consented and agreed to
invest in the frigate _La Garce_, for profit or loss, the sum of 1773
gulden, of which the Sieur Augustyn[2] ventures the sixth [substituted
for _sixteenth_, erased] part in the name of Willem Aelbertsen
Blauvelt, who acknowledges that he has received the aforesaid sum from
the hands of Augustyn Heerman and promises, if God the Lord grants to
him, Captain Willem Albertsen, on this voyage one or more prizes,
whether great or small, to turn over to the aforesaid Sieur Augustyn
or his order a sixth [the clerk wrote first _sixteenth_] part of the
captured goods out of his own eighth part. And if it shall happen,
which God forbid, that the bark should be lost, the aforesaid Sieur
Augustyn shall have nothing to claim from Captain Blauvelt. Done and
signed December 4, 1646, in New Amsterdam.
[Footnote 2: Augustin Herrman was a Bohemian of Prague, who had served
in Wallenstein's army, had come out to New Netherland in 1633 as agent
of a mercantile house of Amsterdam, and had become an influential
merchant. A man of varied accomplishments, he made for Lord Baltimore
a fine map of Maryland, and received as his reward the grant of
Bohemia Manor.]
AUGUSTIN HERRMAN.
WYLLEM BLAWFELT.
Acknowledged before me,
CORNELIS VAN TIENHOVEN, Secretary.
_5. Affidavit: the Capture of the Tabasco. July 25 (N.S.), 1649._[1]
[Footnote 1: New York State Archives, Dutch Manuscripts, vol. III., p.
44.]
Wy ondergeschreven (alle t'samen gevaren hebbende met d'fregat de _la
garce_ daer Capetain op is Willem Albertsz Blaeuvelt, gecruyst
hebbende inde West Indisch) attesteeren, getuigen ende verclaren in
plaets ende belofte van Solemneelen Eede, des noots synde, hoe dat
waer ende waerachtich is, dat wy verovert hebben inde reviere van
Tabasko een bercke genaemt _Tabasko_ vande Spanjaerde, welcke
spanjaerden ons niet vermaende van eenige vreede noch treves die
tusschen den Coninck van Spanje ende haere H. Mo. gemaeckt soude syn
geweest, noch dat wy van geene vreede geweeten noch gehoort hebben.
Alle t'welcke wy ondergeschreven verclaren alsoo waer ende waerachtich
te weesen, presenteerende t'selve, des noots synde, altoos met Eede te
verifieeren. Ady desen 25en July a'o 1649. N. Amst.
dit ist [X] marck van
HENDRICK ARENTSZ, Luytenant.
KEMPO SYBADA.
RAIPH CLARCK.
dit merc _eese_ is gestelt by
ANTONY DE MOEDES, Spaenjaert.
_Translation._
We the undersigned, having all voyaged together in the frigate _La
Garce_, of which Willem Albertsz Blaeuvelt is captain, having cruised
in the West Indies, testify, witness, and declare, in place and under
promise of solemn oath if need be, that it is true and certain, that
we captured from the Spaniard, in the river of Tabasko,[2] the bark
named _Tabasko_, which Spaniard did not notify us of any peace or
truce concluded between the King of Spain and their High Mightinesses,
nor had we known or heard of any peace.[3] All which we the
undersigned declare to be true and certain, offering also if need be
to verify it under oath. This 25th of July, 1649, in New Amsterdam.
[Footnote 2: A river of southern Mexico, flowing into the Gulf of
Campeche; in all but its lower portion it is now called the Grijalva.]
[Footnote 3: The deposition of William Nobel, surgeon of the _La
Garce_ (_N.Y. Col. Docs._, I. 398), shows that the _Tabasco_, "laden
with grains of paradise", was captured on April 22, 1649, and that
another prize was taken on July 5, and confirms the narrative given in
the next document. Yet peace had been concluded January 30 (N.S.),
1648. Roger Williams writes to John Winthrop, jr., October 25, 1649,
referring no doubt to the prize mentioned in the next document,
"Blufield is come to Newport and is carrying the ship (his prize) to
Munnadoes [Manhattan], having promised the Governor to answer it to
the Spaniard if demaunded, because she is taken against the Treves"
(truce, peace); _Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll._, fourth ser., VI. 272, 274.]
This is the [X] mark of
HENDRICK ARENTSZ, Lieutenant.
KEMPO SYBADA.[4]
RAIPH CLARCK.
This mark _eese_ is made by
ANTONY DE MOEDES, Spaniard.
[Footnote 4: The pilot of the privateer. The _Records of the Quarterly
Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts_, I. 314-319, show Captain Kempo
Sybada as dwelling in the next ensuing years at New London and on
Block Island, and as suffering in his turn from the depredations of
privateers. He died in London in 1659.]
_6. Affidavit of Antonio Leon and Fyck Herry. September 27 (N.S.),
1649._[1]
[Footnote 1: New York State Archives, Dutch Manuscripts, vol. III., p.
65.]
_Copie_
Compareerde voor my Jacob Hendricksz Kip Clercq by den E. Hr. Dr.
Generael ende E. Raaden van Nieu neederlant geadmiteert, Antony Leon
geboortich inde Mayorke out 26 Jaaren Spanjaert ende Fyck Herry
geboortich van Ierlant in Castilhaven out ontrent 21 Jaaren,
passagiers overgecomen uyt Capetain Flip drest syn Barcque inde
barcque van Willem Albertsz Blaeuvelt, attesteeren, getuygen ende
verclaren, in plaets ende presentatie van Eeden ten versoecke vande
Gemeene Reders van d'Fregat de _La Garce_, daer Capetain op was Willem
Blaeuvelt voornoemt: hoe dat waer ende waerachtich is, dat sy
attestanten weesende op des selfs Capetain Blaeuvelts barcque, gesien
hebben ende hun noch wel bekent is, als dat op den achtienden July
1649 in de Bocht van Compechie alwaer quaem des avonts een Schip,
welcke sy dochten dat het de barcque ofte prys van Blaeuvelt was, waer
over Blaeuvelt datelyck seyl maeckte, ende draeyde hem op de Laey, om
dat sy haer best soude kennen: welcken blaeuvelt de prinse vlagge van
booven ende achteren liet wayen: Hy haer niet verwachtende maer syn
best doende om van haer te koomen: des s'nachts ongeveer ten Elf uyren
syn sy by hem gekoomen, doen riep blaeuvelts Cartiermeester genaemt
Gerrit Hendricksz: Flip, Flip, Maet Flip, welcken geen ant[woor]t en
kreegh, roepende, Stryckt voor de Prins van Orangie: Antwoorde,
Stryckt voor de Coningh van Spanjen: ende schoot met schut datelyk
vier schooten; het vyfde stuck weigerde ende het seste gingh af op
Blaeuvelt: sonder dat by Blaeuvelt Its claer gemaeckt hadde: Welcken
Blaeuvelt resolveerde om by de Wint te steecken om naer syn volck te
geraecken: alle t'welcke wy attestanten voornoemt verclaren alsoo waer
ende waerachtich te weesen, presenteerende t'selve, des versocht
synde, met Eede te verstercken. Ady desen 27 September 1649, opt
Eylant d'Manhatans In Nieu Neederlant. Was onderteckent by dusdanich
merck [sideways H] daer by geschreven: Dit is het merck van Fyck
Herry, selfs gestelt: dusdanich teycken [dash, sideways S] daer by
geschreven dit is het merck van Antony Leon Spanjaert selfs gestelt.
Nevens Albert Cornelisz ende t'merck van Nicolaes Stilwil, byde als
getuygen vande waerheyt des bovenstaenden onderteckenden Mercken:
onderstont In Kennisse van my, Jacob Kip geadmiteerde Clercq.
Naer Collatie is deese met syne principale gedateert ende geteckent
als boven accordeerende bevonden by myn Jacob Kip Clercq ten overstaen
van Francooys Noyret: ende ---- getuygen, hier toe versocht desen ----
Sept 1649 Int fort Amst. In N. Neederlandt.
FRANSSOYS NOIRET, getuyge.
_Translation._
_Copy_
Appeared before me Jacob Hendricksz Kip,[2] authorized clerk to the
Honorable Director General and Honorable Council of New Netherland,
Antony Leon, native of Majorca, 26 years old, Spaniard, and Fyck
Herry, native of Castlehaven in Ireland, about 21 years old,
passengers, who came from Captain Flip Drest's bark into the bark of
Willem Albertsz Blaeuvelt, who testify, witness, and declare, in lieu
and on offer of oaths, at the request of the joint owners of the
frigate _La Garce_, of which the above-named Willem Blaeuvelt was
captain, that it is true and certain that they, the deponents, being
in the said Captain Blaeuvelt's bark, saw, and they recollect very
well, that upon July 18, 1649, in the bay of Campechie,[3] there came
in the evening a ship which they thought to be the bark or prize of
Blaeuvelt, whereupon Blaeuvelt immediately made sail, and turned to
the leeward in order that they might the better make her out. The said
Blaeuvelt ran up the Prince's flag above and at the stern, not waiting
for her, but doing his best to get away from her. About eleven o'clock
at night she came up to him, when Blaeuvelt's quartermaster, named
Gerrit Hendricksz, called: "Flip, Flip, mate Flip", but received no
answer and then cried out, "Strike for the Prince of Orange!"[4] [The
Spaniard] answered, "Strike for the King of Spain!" and immediately
fired with cannon four shots. The fifth piece failed to go off. The
sixth shot struck Blaeuvelt's ship, without his having made any
preparations [to fire]; said Blaeuvelt resolved to sail close to the
wind in order to get to his people. All which we deponents aforesaid
declare to be true and certain, offering on demand to confirm the same
by oath. This 27th of September, 1649, on the Island of Manhattan in
New Netherland. Signed with a mark of the following shape, [sideways
H], against which is written, "This is the mark of Fyck Herry, made by
himself"; a mark of this sort [dash, sideways S] against which is
written, "This is the mark of Antony Leon, the Spaniard, made by
himself"; then, "Albert Cornelisz", and the mark of Nicolaes
Stilwil,[5] both as witnesses of the genuineness of the above marks;
and beneath, "Acknowledged before me, Jacob Kip, authorized clerk".
[Footnote 2: From whom Kip's Bay (East River, about Thirty-sixth
Street) is named.]
[Footnote 3: Between Mexico and Yucatan.]
[Footnote 4: _I.e._, strike ensign and topsail.]
[Footnote 5: Albert Cornelisz was a magistrate of Brooklyn; Nicholas
Stilwell, of Gravesend.]
After comparison with its original, dated and signed as above, this
is found to agree, by me, Jacob Kip, clerk, in the presence of
Francooys Noyret and [_blank_] requested as witnesses hereto, this
[_blank_] September, 1649, in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland.
FRANSSOYS NOIRET, witness.[6]
[Footnote 6: It was judicially decided later that the _Tabasco_ was
not a good prize. A ray of light is cast on Blauvelt's latter end by
an item in an enumeration of English buccaneers in 1663 found among
the Rawlinson manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, "Captain Blewfield,
belonging to Cape Gratia de Dios [Gracia a Dios, Nicaragua], living
among the Indians, a barque, 50 men, 3 guns." Haring, _Buccaneers_, p.
273.]
THE _HOLY GHOST_.
_7. Declaration of the Massachusetts Council, July 20, 1653._[1]
[Footnote 1: Massachusetts Archives, vol. 60, p. 175. The document is
a declaration of the Court of Assistants acting in its executive
capacity, as a council.]
Att A Counsell held at Boston 20th July 1653.