Part 23

_July 16._ Yesterday about Noon came aboard one _Michael Kendall_, a free Negro of _Jamaica_, who had been sold a Slave to the Village we plunder’d; but not being there when our People were ashore, he follow’d them privately in a small Canoe; and the Account he gave of himself was, that when the last War was declared at _Jamaica_, he embark’d under the Command of one Capt. _Edward Roberts_, who was join’d in Commission from the Governour of _Jamaica_ with Capts. _Rash_, _Golding_ and _Pilkington_; they had 106 Men, and design’d to attempt the Mines of _Jaco_ at the Bottom of the Gulph of _Darien_: There were more Commanders and Men came out with them, but did not join in this Design. They had been about 5 Months out, when they got near the Mines undiscover’d; they sail’d 15 Days up the River in Canoes, and travel’d 10 Days by Land afterwards. By this time the _Spaniards_ and _Indians_ being alarm’d, laid Ambushes in the Woods, and shot many of them. The Enemy having assembled at least 500 Men, and the _English_ being diminish’d to about 60, including the Wounded; the _Spaniards_ sent them a Flag of Truce, and offer’d them their Lives after a small Skirmish, wherein the _English_ lost 4, and the Enemy about 12 Men. The _English_ being in want of Provisions, quite tir’d out, and not knowing their Way back, agreed to deliver their Arms, on condition to be us’d as Prisoners of War. Having thus yielded, the _Spaniards_ and _Indians_ carried them in Canoes 3 Days up the River, that leads to the same Mines they design’d to attempt, treated them very well, and gave them the same Food that they eat themselves; but the 4_th_ Day, when they came to a Town beyond the Mines, and thought all Danger had been past, an Order came from the chief _Spanish_ Officer to cut them all off, which the _Indians_ and _Spanish_ Troops did, as those poor disarm’d Wretches sat at Victuals; so that in this barbarous manner they were all massacred in a few Minutes, except a _Scots_, a _French_, and an _English_ Boy, with 12 free Negroes, which at the Intercession of a Priest they kept for Slaves. This Man being one of ’em, happen’d to be sold, first to the Mines, where he says he clear’d at least 3 Pieces of Eight a day for his Master, and from thence he was sold to this Place. By this we may see what a mighty Advantage the _Spaniards_ make of their Slaves to imploy at these Mines, which are accounted the richest in _New Spain_. The rest of the free Negroes being farther up the Country, could have no Opportunity to escape. This is enough to shew what merciless and cowardly Enemies we have to deal with in these Parts of the World. I have heard of many such Cruelties in the _Spanish_ Parts of _America_, to the eternal Scandal of those who encourage or connive at them.

_July 17._ About 10 this Morning, the two _Morells_, Mr. _Navarre_, and his Son in law, our old Prisoners came in a large Canoe, with some Money to ransom what they could of us: We told them of the Barbarity of their Countrymen, and of the different Treatment they met with from us; and that we had reason to apprehend, that if we became Prisoners here, that few of us would ever return to our native Country.

[Sidenote: _In Gorgona Road._]

_July 18._ A Negro belonging to the _Dutchess_ was bit by a small brown speckl’d Snake, and died within 12 Hours, notwithstanding the Doctor us’d his utmost Endeavours to save him. There’s abundance of Snakes on this Island, and the _Spaniards_ say some are as thick as the Middle of a Man’s Thigh. I saw one as big as my Leg, and above 3 Yards long; their Bite proves generally mortal. Yesterday in the Afternoon we had a Consultation, and agreed that the small Bark we took belonging to the Main right against this Island, should be given the Lieutenant’s Brother that we plunder’d, and who came over with our Bark; for being a Man in some Authority ashore, we hope this Favour will have some Influence on ’em to trade with us whilst we are here. This Morning Mr. _Morell_ and _Navarre_ went a second time in our Bark for Money. One of the same sort of Snakes that kill’d the Negro was found on our Forecastle this Morning, and kill’d by our Men; we suppose it came aboard on the Cable, they being often seen in the Water.

_July 19._ We continued discharging the Galleon, and lading the _Marquiss_, and put a Part aboard of us and the _Dutchess_. We found in the _Marquiss_ near 500 Bales of Pope’s Bulls, 16 Reams in a Bale. This took up abundance of Room in the Ship; we throw’d most of them overboard to make room for better Goods, except what we used to burn the Pitch of our Ships Bottoms when we careen’d ’em. These Bulls are imposed upon the People, and sold here by the Clergy from 3 Ryals to 50 Pieces of Eight a-piece, according to the Ability of the Purchaser. Once in two Years they are rated, and all the People obliged to buy them against Lent; they cannot be read, the Print looking worse than any of our old Ballads, yet the Vulgar are made believe it’s a mortal Sin to eat Flesh in Lent, without being licensed by one of these Bulls, the Negro Slaves not being exempted. This is one of the greatest Branches of Income the King of _Spain_ has in this Country, being a free Gift from the Pope to him, as the _Spaniards_ and Natives told us. We should have made something of them, if we had taken the Bishop before mentioned; but now they are of no use to us.

_July 20._ At Noon _Navarre_ return’d with a little more Money, some Limes, Fowls, _&c._ He told us he had left Mr. _Morell_ to get more, and that he would be soon with us.

_July 21._ We sent aboard the _Marquiss 2_ of our Main Deck Guns, and the _Dutchess_ did the like, which with 4 we took at _Guiaquil_, and 12 taken in the same Ship, make 20 good ones. The Carriages are all new, or very much repair’d, and as good and strong as if mounted in _England_. Another Canoe came with Limes, Guavas, and other Fruit, and brought a little Money to trade with us. The Main here is a poor Country, and I believe we might have pick’d up a good Quantity of Money any where else on this Coast, notwithstanding their severe Orders against trading with us.

_July 22._ Two of our Negroes, and three of the _Dutchess_’s ran into the Woods to hide themselves, and go to the _Spaniards_ after we are gone: We caught one of ’em to day, and punish’d him severely.

_July 23._ At 6 last Night our Stream Cable broke, and we lost our Anchor: The Ground here is a black Mud, which in all hot Countries rots Cables in a very little time. We have often Thunder, Rain and Lightning all the Night, tho’ clear dry Days. This is accounted by the _Spaniards_ the worst part of all the Coast for wet dirty Weather. We have had enough of it, but God be thank’d are now pretty well, there not being above 30 Persons in all our Ships unhealthy.

_July 24._ We caught our Negroes that ran away, and one of the _Dutchess_’s, Hunger having brought ’em out of the Woods.

_July 25._ I put 35 Men aboard the _Marquiss_, and Capt. _Courtney_ 26, so that her Complement will be 61 White Men, and 20 Negroes. Captain _Edward Cooke_ Commander, and our Second Lieutenant, Mr. _Charles Pope_, his Second. We design to agree, that the Captain with his Officers and Men shall have equal Wages with others in the like Posts, to encourage them.

_July 26._ Last Night the _Marquiss_ sprung a Leak, and made 8 Inches Water in an Hour; but the Carpenters stopt it. A Canoe came from the Main, and bought some Negroes of us.

_July 27._ At 8 this Morning, the Canoe return’d, with Mr. _John Morell_, who desir’d he might go ashore to his Brother, and forward his getting of more Money to deal with us for Goods, since he saw that we were resolved to leave nothing of Value behind us.

[Sidenote: _In Gorgona Road._]

_July 28._ Yesterday Afternoon, Mr. _John Morell_ return’d, having met his Brother coming with what Money he could get; he told us the Country being alarm’d, he had much ado to get Leave to come to us; that the Governour of _Barbacore_ was at the Water-side, with above 200 Men commanded by himself, to prevent our Landing, or that any thing should be brought to us; and that all the Shore was lined with Men for that End. We have took out of the Galleon 320 Bails of Linnen, Woolen, a little Silks, and most Sorts of Goods, usually in Bails, besides Boxes of Knives, Scizzars, Hatchets, _&c._ The _Dutchess_ and _Marquiss_ have also taken what they can; so that all our 3 Ships are full. We found aboard the Galeon a great Quantity of Bones in small Boxes, ticketed with the Names of _Romish_ Saints, some of which had been dead 7 or 800 Years; with an infinite Number of Brass Medals, Crosses, Beads, and Crucifixes, religious Toys in Wax, Images of Saints made of all sorts of Wood, Stone, and other Materials, I believe in all near 30 Tun, with 150 Boxes of Books in _Spanish_, _Latin_, _&c._ which would take up much more Stowage than 50 Tuns of other Goods: All this came from _Italy_, and most from _Rome_, design’d for the Jesuits of _Peru_; but being of small Value to us, we contented our selves to take only a Sample of most Sorts to shew our Friends in _England_, and left the rest. A large wooden Effigies of the Virgin _Mary_ being either dropt or thrown over board, from the Galeon, and drove ashoar near the North Point of the Island, the _Indians_ that came in the Canoes with Senior _Morell_, _&c._ from the main Land, being then a Fishing, took up the Image, and brought her in the Canoe to the Shoar just over against our Ship, where we gave our Prisoners Liberty to walk that Day: As soon as they saw her, they cross’d and bless’d themselves, and fancied that this must be the Virgin _Mary_ come by Water from _Lima_ or _Panama_, to relieve them in their Necessity: They then set it up on the Shoar, and wip’d it dry with Cotton; and when they came aboard, told us, that tho’ they had wip’d her again and again, she continued to sweat very much; and all but those employ’d in wiping her, stood around devoutly amaz’d, praying and telling over their Beads: They also shew’d the Cotton to our Linguist and the Ransomers, wet by the excessive Sweat of the holy Virgin, as they fondly seem’d to believe, and kept it as a choice Relick. The _Morells_ perceiving me laugh at the Story, they told me a much stranger, in order to convince me, _viz._ That a few Years ago, at a Procession in the Cathedral Church of _Lima_, which was at that time very richly furnished, and worth some Millions of Pieces of 8 in Gold, Silver and Jewels; the Image of the Virgin was more richly adorn’d with Pearls, Diamonds and Gold, than the rest; and those Ornaments being left in the Church, according to Custom, till the Night after Procession, without any Guard, because the People concluded that none durst be so sacrilegiously impious as to rob the Church; an unfortunate Thief, resolving at once to enrich himself, got into the Church at Midnight, and made up to the Image; but whilst he was going to take off a rich String of Pearls from the Virgin’s Wrists, she caught him fast by the Arm, and held him, till being found in that Posture he was apprehended and executed. This Story was confirm’d as an unquestionable Truth by all the other Prisoners, who assured us, That all the Fathers of the Church at _Lima_ confidently affirm the same, as well as a considerable Number of Lay-Brethren, who (they say) were Eye-Witnesses of it; so that it passes amongst them as currant, as an Article of their Faith: By this we may see how the Belief of those false Miracles, by the Cunning of the _Romish_ Clergy in these Parts, obtains Credit among those Men who are not so easily imposed on in their worldly Affairs. Thus I am apt to believe those Gentlemen invented the Story of the sweating Miracle, out of Zeal to their Church, and thinking thereby to deter us from carrying away any more of the Relicks out of Senior _Morell’s_ Galeon. Before this, when I heard such Stories, I took ’em to have been invented meerly to ridicule the _Romanists_, but when I heard such silly Stories related by 8 grave Men, of a handsome Appearance and good Reputation amongst the _Spaniards_, I was convinc’d of the Ignorance and Credulity of the Papists.

_July 29._ Having for a long time been importun’d by the Companys of each Ship, to divide what we was forc’d to agree to as Plunder, we resolved on a Committee to be called to morrow to settle that Affair, which we did in the following Manner.

At a Committee on board the _Duke_, the 29th Day of _July_, 1709. It’s agreed, that the following Articles shall regulate Plunder, and be in part a Satisfaction allow’d by the Committee of the _Duke_ and _Dutchess_, for past Services, more than each Man’s Agreement with the Owners.

[Sidenote: Impr.]

_Gold Rings found in any Place, except in a Gold-smith’s Shop, is Plunder. All Arms, Sea Books and Instruments, all Cloathing and Moveables, usally worn about Prisoners, except Women’s Ear-rings, unwrought Gold or Silver, loose Diamonds, Pearls or Money; all Plate in use aboard Ships, but not on Shoar, (unless about the Persons of Prisoners) is Plunder._

[Sidenote: _In Gorgona Road._]

_All manner of Clothes ready made, found on the upper Deck, and betwixt Decks, belonging to the Ships Company and Passengers, is Plunder also, except what is above limited, and is in whole Bundles and Pieces, and not open’d in this Country, that appears not for the Persons use that owns the Chest, but design’d purposely for Merchandize, which only shall not be plunder. And for Encouragement, we shall allow to_ James Stratton _40 Rupees to buy him Liquor in_ India, _in Part of Amends for his smart Money. To_ William Davis _and_ Yerrick Derrickson _20 Rupees each, as smart Money, over and above their Shares. We also give the Boats Crews over and above their Shares, that were engag’d with the_ Marquis, _when taken, four Bails of Goods, to be sold when and where they think convenient; which Bail, shall be 1 of Serges, 1 of Linnen, and 2 of Bays; and this over and above their respective Shares. Also a good Suit of Clothes to be made for each Man that went up the River above_ Guiaquil, _the last time in the_ Dutchess’_s Pinnace._

In witness whereof, _We have hereunto set our Hands the Day and Year above-mentioned_.

Tho. Dover, _Pres._ John Connely, Woodes Rogers, William Bath, Stephen Courtney, Tho. Glendal, William Dampier, Geo. Melbourne, Edw. Cooke, John Bridge, Rob. Frye, John Ballett, William Stretton, Lan. Appleby.

The Cause why we delay’d adjusting what should be Plunder so long, was the unreasonable Expectations of some among us: This made us wait till now we had a proper Opportunity, and could better insist on our Owner’s Interest: Besides, we were not willing that any Difference should arise about this knotty Affair, when the Prisoners were on board, nor till we had finish’d the Rigging of our Ships, lest it should have put a full Stop to our Business, or at least have hinder’d our Proceeding chearfully.

_July 30._ We over hall’d our Plunder-Chests, and what was judged to be Plunder, (by Men appointed with the Owners Agents) was carried aboard the Galeon, which was kept clear between Decks, in order to divide it. Mr. _Frye_ and Mr. _Pope_ were to be Appraisers for the _Duke_, and Mr. _Stratton_ and Mr. _Connely_ for the _Dutchess_, so I hope to get over a troublesome Job peaceably.

_July 31._ Mr. _Navarr’s_ Bark grew leaky, and _Benjamin Parsons_, one of our Midshipmen, that had charge of her, ran her a-shore without Orders, at high Water, thinking to have stop’d her Leak at low Water, and got her off the next Tide; but contrary to his Expectation, the Vessel strain’d and sunk; so that we had much ado to get out what we had a-board her Time enough; and were forced to leave in her 10 Bails of damag’d Bays, and a great deal of Iron Work, which we gave Senior _Navarr_, in part of Payment for what we have received of him from the Settlement on the Main.

_August 1._ The Officers we appointed to praise the Plunder met on board the Galeon, and valued the Cloathing, in order to divide it amongst the Officers and Men of each Ship, according to their respective Shares.

_August 2._ We continued appraising the Plunder, and found it a very troublesome Task.

_August 3._ Capt. _Cooke_ told me they had discover’d another Leak, and was troubled at so many Leaks in a Harbour; so that I began to dread that all our Labour and Time was lost on the _Marquiss_, but hop’d for the best.

_August 4._ Yesterday in the Afternoon they made an End of appraising the Clothes at a very low rate, amounting to upwards of 400_l._ and the Silver-handled Swords, Buckles, Snuff-Boxes, Buttons, and Silver Plate in use aboard every Prize we took, and allow’d to be Plunder at 4_s._ 6_d._ _per_ Piece of 8, amounted to 743_l._ 15_s._ besides 3 ℔ 12℥ of Gold, which was in Rings, Gold, Snuff-boxes, Ear-rings, and Gold Chains, taken about Prisoners. This I believe to be an exact Account.

[Sidenote: _In Gorgona Road._]

This Morning we had like to have a Mutiny amongst our Men: The Steward told me, that several of them had last Night made a private Agreement, and that he heard some Ring-leaders by way of Encouragement, boast to the rest, that 60 Men had already signed the Paper. Not knowing what this Combination meant, or how far it was design’d, I sent for the chief Officers into the Cabin, where we arm’d our selves, secured two of the chief of those mutinous Fellows, and presently seized two others. The Fellow that wrote the Paper we put in Irons; by this time all Hands were upon Deck, and we had got their Agreement from those who were in the Cabin, the Purport of which was to oblige themselves, not to take their Plunder, nor to move from thence till they had Justice done them, as they term’d it. There being so many concern’d in this Design, Captains _Dover_ and _Fry_ desired I would discharge those in Confinement upon their asking Pardon, and faithfully promising never to be guilty of the like, or any other Combination again. The Reason we shewed ’em this Favour was, that there were too many guilty to punish them at once: And not knowing what was design’d a-board the _Dutchess_ and _Marquiss_, we were of Opinion they had concerted to break the Ice first a-board the _Duke_, and the rest to stand by them. Upon this I us’d what Arguments I could offer, shew’d them the Danger and Folly of Combinations, and exhorted them to believe they would have Justice in _England_, should any thing seem uneasy to them now, or in the whole Course of the Voyage; adding that we had done all that we could for their good, and would continue our Endeavours, not doubting their good Intentions, provided they were not mis-led. With these and other healing Arguments, all appear’d easy and quiet, and every Man seem’d willing to stand to what had been done, provided the Gentlemen that were Officers, and not Sailors, amongst us, had not such large Shares, which they alledg’d was unreasonable, and that they could not possibly in a Privateer deserve what they were allow’d in proportion to the rest of the Ships Company: This we did in part yield to, in order to appease those Malecontents, by making some Abatements on Mr. _White’s_, Mr. _Bath’s_, and Mr. _Vanbrugh’s_ Shares; so that we hoped this difficult Work would, with less Danger than we dreaded, be brought to a good Conclusion: For Disputes about Plunder is the common Occasion of Privateers Quarrelling amongst themselves, and ruining their Voyages. Sailors usually exceed all Measures when left to themselves, and account it a Privilege in Privateers to do themselves Justice on these Occasions, tho’ in every thing else I must own, they have been more obedient than any Ship’s Crews engag’d in the like Undertaking that ever I heard of. Yet we have not wanted sufficient Tryal of our Patience and Industry in other things; so that if any Sea-Officer thinks himself endowed with these two Virtues, let him command in a Privateer, and discharge his Office well in a distant Voyage, and I’ll engage he shall not want Opportunities to improve, if not to exhaust all his Stock. Had Capt. _Courtney_ and I kept what is always allow’d to be Plunder in Privateers, and not voluntarily given our Parts amongst the Men, but for a greater and more generous Design in view, (_viz._ The Good of the Voyage) our Parts of the Plunder would have been above 10 times so much as now it is, because very little valuable Plunder was taken out of any Place but the Great Cabbins; and all this in every Prize is of right due to the Commander that takes it; but if we had acted thus, we foresaw the fatal Consequences that we must have suffer’d by it, for the Officers and Crews would plunder unaccountably, as is too often practis’d in Privateers to keep their Men together, tho’ but meanly to their Duty; so that we (to preserve a good Discipline) gave an eminent Example to them, of preferring the common Interest before our own, to our particular Loss.

We have had lately almost a general Misunderstanding amongst our Chief Officers, and some great Abuses which I suppose sprung at first from several unhappy Differences arising at and before our Attempt on _Guiaquil_. This made me so particularly relate all that pass’d material in that Attempt, so that I doubt not any ones contradicting this Journal to my Disadvantage; yet in Differences of this kind amongst the Sailors we all join, and I hope agree: Tho’ I long for a Reconciliation and good Harmony amongst Us, which is so essential to the Welfare of the Voyage; but not being willing to make the Reader a Party-taker, or trouble his Patience to read over unreasonable Feuds, I have left ’em as much as possible out of my Journal.

Capt. _Morell_, that went for the Main to get Victuals, return’d. The Negro we caught first and punished, we kept in Irons, but this Night miss’d him. We suppose he got his Irons off, and swam ashore.

We had the following Committees, confirmed the Officers of the _Marquiss_, agreed to sell the Bark and her Cargo, got off all our Wood and Water, and made Preparation for Sailing. We design to leave the Launch we built at _Lobos_ with Sen. _Morells_ and _Navarre_, being of no farther use to us, tho’ hitherto she had done us very good Service. Here follows what we agreed on in Council.

At a Committee held on board the _Dutchess_, riding at _Gorgona_, _August 6. 1709_.

_We whose Names are hereunto subscribed, appointed as a Committee on board the Ships_ Duke _and_ Dutchess, _do hereby impower and order Capt._ Cooke _to command the_ Marquiss, _Mr._ Charles Pope _Lieutenant, Mr._ Robert Knowlman _Master, Mr._ William Page _Chief Master_, Joseph Parker _Second Mate, Mr._ John Ballet _Doctor_, Benjamin Long _Boatswain_, George Knight _Gunner_, Edward Gormand _Carpenter, and other Officers as the Captain shall direct aboard the_ Marquiss: _Each of the above Officers, or the others, on their good Behaviour, to have such Wages as those in the same Offices on board the_ Duke _and_ Dutchess, _and to cruise on this Coast in our Company, or where else Capt._ Cooke _shall think convenient, in his Return to_ Bristol, _should he be unfortunately separated from us. Witness our Hands._

Tho. Dover, _Pres._ Tho. Glendall, Woodes Rogers, John Connely, Stephen Courtney, William Bath, William Dampier, Geo. Milbourne, Robert Frye, John Bridge, William Stratton, Lan. Appleby.

[Sidenote: _In Gorgona Road._]

Memorandum,