Part 11

They had not been long at Anchor again, before they had several Canoes on Board with both black and white Inhabitants, who continued, without Interruption, all good Offices, during their Stay; particularly _John Trumpet_ brought a large Boat of Arrack, than which, nothing could be more pleasing (about 90 Legers,) as also 60 Bales of Sugar; an Offering, its presumed, from the Governor and his Daughter, who, in Return, had a fine Table-Clock sent him, (the Plunder of Captain _Mackra_'s Ship,) and she a large Gold Watch, Earnests of the Pay they designed to make.

When they had all on Board, they paid Mr. _Trumpet_ to his Satisfaction, it was computed, 6 or 7000 _l._ gave him three Cheers, 11 Guns each Ship, and throw'd Ducatoons into his Boat by handfuls, for the Boat-Men to scramble for.

That Night being little Wind, did not weigh, and _Trumpet_, in the Morning, waked them to the Sight of more Arrack, Chests of Piece-Goods, and ready made Clothes, bringing the Fiscal of the Place also with him. At Noon, while those were on Board, saw a Sail to the Southward, which they weighed, and chaced after; but she having a good Offing, got to the Northward of them, and anchored a small Distance from _Cochin_ Fort; the aforementioned Gentlemen assuring them, that they would not be molested in taking her from under the Castle, sollicited before hand for the buying her, and advised them to stand in, which they did boldly, to board her; but when they came within a Cable's length or two of the Chace, now near Shore, the Fort fired two small Guns, whose Shot falling nigh their Muzzels, they instantly bore out of the Road, made an easy Sail to the Southward, and anchored at Night in their former Birth, where _John Trumpet_, to engage their Stay a little longer, informed them, that in a few Days a very rich Ship was to pass by, commanded by the General of _Bombay_'s Brother.

This Governor is an Emblem of foreign Power. What Inconvenience and Injury must the Master's Subjects sustain under one who can truckle to such treacherous and base Means, as corresponding and trading with Pyrates to enrich himself? Certainly such a Man will stickle at no Injustice to repair or make a Fortune. He has the _Argumentum bacillum_ always in his own Hands, and can convince, when he pleases, in half the Time of other Arguments, that Fraud and Oppression is Law. That he imploys Instruments in such dirty Work, expresses the Guilt and Shame, but no way mitigates the Crime. _John Trumpet_ was the Tool; but, as the Dog said in the Fable, on another Occasion, _What is done by the Master's Orders, is the Master's Actions_.

I cannot but reflect, on this Occasion, what a vile Government _Sancho Pancho_ had of it; he had not only such _Perquisites_ rescinded, but was really almost starved; the Victuals taken from him almost every Day, and only under a Pretence of preserving his Excellency's Health: But Governments differ.

From _Cochin_ some were for proceeding to _Madagascar_ directly; others thought it proper to cruize till they got a Store-Ship, and these being the Majority, they ply'd to the Southward, and after some Days saw a Ship in Shore, which being to Windward of them, they could not get nigh, till the Sea Wind, and Night, favouring, they separated, one to the Northward, the other to the Southward, thinking to enclose her between: But to their Astonishment, and contrary to Expectation, when Day broke, instead of the Chace, found themselves very near five Sail of tall Ships, who immediately making a Signal for the Pyrates to bear down, put them in the utmost Confusion, particularly _Taylor_'s Ship, because their Consort was at a Distance from them, (at least three Leagues to the Southward) they stood to one another, and joined, and then together made the best of their Way from the Fleet, whom they judged to be commanded by Captain _Mackra_; of whose Courage having Experience, they were glad to shun any farther Taste of.

In three Hours Chace, none of the Fleet gaining upon them, excepting one Grab, their dejected Countenances cleared up again, the more, in that a Calm succeeded for the Remainder of that Day; and in the Night, with the Land Wind, they ran directly off Shore, and found next Day, to their great Consolation, that they had lost Sight of all the Fleet.

This Danger escaped, they proposed to spend _Christmas_ (the _Christmas_ of 1720) in Carowzing and Forgetfulness, and kept it for three Days in a wanton and riotous Way, not only eating, but wasting their fresh Provisions in so wretched and inconsiderable a Manner, that when they had agreed after this to proceed to _Mauritius_, they were in that Passage at an Allowance of a Bottle of Water _per Diem_, and not above two Pounds of Beef, and a small Quantity of Rice, for ten Men for a Day; so that had it not been for the leaky Ship, (which once they were about to have quitted, and had done, but for a Quantity of Arrack and Sugar She had on Board,) they must most of them have perished.

In this Condition they arrived at the Island of _Mauritius_, about the Middle of _February_, sheathed and refitted the _Victory_, and on the 5th of _April_ sailed again, leaving this terrible Inscription on one of the Walls. _Left this Place the_ 5_th of_ April, _to go to_ Madagascar _for Limes_, and this, least (like Lawyers and Men of Business) any Visits should be paid in their Absence: However, they did not sail directly for _Madagascar_, but the Island _Mascarine_, and luckily as Rogues could wish, they found at their Arrival on the 8th, a _Portuguese_ Ship at Anchor, of 70 Guns, but most of them thrown overboard, her Masts lost, and so much disabled by a violent Storm they had met with in the Latitude of 13° South, that she became a Prize to the Pyrates, with very little or no Resistance, and a glorious one indeed, having the _Conde de Ericeira_, Viceroy of _Goa_, who made that fruitless Expedition against _Angria_, the _Indian_, and several other Passengers on Board; who, as they could not be ignorant of the Treasure she had in, did assert, that in the single Article of Diamonds, there was to the Value of between three and four Millions of Dollars.

The Vice-Roy, who came on Board that Morning, in Expectation of the Ships being _English_, was made a Prisoner, and obliged to ransome; but in Consideration of his great Loss, (the Prize being Part his own,) they agreed after some Demurrings, to accept of 2000 Dollars, and set him and the other Prisoners ashore, with Promises to leave a Ship that they might Transport themselves, because the Island was not thought in a Condition to maintain so great a Number; and tho' they had learned from them, the Account of an _Ostender_ being to Leeward of the Island, which they took on that Information, (being formerly the _Greyhound_ Galley of _London_,) and could conveniently have comply'd with so reasonable a Request; yet they sent the _Ostender_ with some of their People to _Madagascar_, with News of their Success, and to prepare Masts for the Prize; and followed themselves soon after, without regard to the Sufferers, carrying 200 _Mozambique_ Negroes with them in the _Portuguese_ Ship.

_Madagascar_ is an Island larger than _Great-Britain_, most of it within the Tropick of _Capricorn_, and lays East from the Eastern Side of _Africa_: It abounds with Provisions of all Sorts, Oxen, Goats, Sheep, Poultry, Fish, Citrons, Oranges, Tamarinds, Dates, Coco-Nuts, Bananas, Wax, Honey, Rice; or in short, Cotton, Indigo, or any other Thing they will take Pains to plant, and have Understanding to manage: They have likewise Ebony, a hard Wood like Brasil, of which they make their Lances; and Gum of several Sorts, Benzin, Dragon's Blood, Aloes, _&c_. What is most incommodious, are the numerous Swarms of Locusts on the Land, and Crocodiles or Alligators in their Rivers. Hither, in St. _Augustin_'s Bay, the Ships sometimes touch for Water, when they take the inner Passage for _India_, and do not design to stop at _Johanna_; and we may observe from the sixth general Voyage set forth by the _East-India_ Company, in Confirmation of what is hereafter said in Relation to Currents in general; that this inner Passage or Channel, has its Northern and Southern Currents strongest where the Channel is narrowest, and is less, and varies on different Points of the Compass, as the Sea comes to spread again, in the Passage cross the Line.

Since the Discovery of this Island by the _Portuguese, A. D._ 1506, the _Europeans_, and particularly Pyrates, have increased a dark Mulatto Race there, tho' still few in Comparison with the Natives, who are Negroes, with curled short Hair, Active, and formerly represented malicious and revengeful, now tractable and communicable, perhaps owing to the Favours and Generosity in Cloathing and Liquors, they from Time to Time have received from these Fellows, who live in all possible Friendship, and can, any single Man of them, command a Guard of 2 or 300 at a Minute's warning: This is farther the Native's Interest, to cultivate with them, because the Island being divided into petty Governments and Commands, the Pyrates, settled here, who are now a considerable Number, and have little Castles of their own, can preponderate where-ever they think fit to side.

When _Taylor_ came with the _Portuguese_ Prize here, they found the _Ostender_ had played their Men a Trick, for they took Advantage of their Drink, rise upon them, and (as they heard afterwards) carried the Ship to _Mozambique_, whence the Governor ordered her for _Goa_.

Here the Pyrates came, cleaned the _Cassandra_, and divided their Plunder, sharing 42 small Diamonds a Man, or in less Proportion according to their Magnitude. An ignorant, or a merry Fellow, who had only, one in this Division, as being judged equal, in Value to 42 small, muttered very much at the Lot, and went and broke it in a Morter, swearing afterwards, he had a better Share than any of them, for he had beat it, he said, into 43 Sparks.

Those who were not for running the Hazard of their Necks, with 42 Diamonds, besides other Treasure, in their Pockets, knocked off, and stay'd with their old Acquaintance at _Madagascar_, on mutual Agreements, the longer Livers to take all. The Residue having therefore no Occasion for two Ships, the _Victory_ being leaky, she was burnt, the Men (as many as would) coming into the _Cassandra_, under the Command of _Taylor_, who we must leave a Time, projecting either for _Cochin_, to dispose of their Diamonds among their old Friends the _Dutch_, or else for the _Red_ or _China_ Seas, to avoid the Men of War, that continually clamoured in their Ears, a Noise of Danger, and give the _little_ Account we are able, of that Squadron, who arrived in _India_, early in the Year 1721.

At _Cape Good Hope_, in _June_, the Commadore met with a Letter, which was left for him by the Governor of _Madras_, to whom it was wrote by the Governor of _Pandicherry_, a _French_ Factory, on the _Coromondel_ Coast, signifying, the Pyrates at the Writing of it, were then strong in the _Indian_ Seas, having 11 Sail and 1500 Men, but that many of them went away about that Time, for the Coast of _Brazil_ and _Guinea_; others settled and fortified themselves at _Madagascar, Mauritius, Johanna_ and _Mohilla_: And that others under _Conden_, in a Ship called the _Dragon_, took a large _Moor_'s Vessel, coming from _Iudda_ and _Mocho_, with thirteen Lackies of Rupees on Board, (_i. e._ 1300000 half Crowns,) who having divided the Plunder, burnt their Ship and Prize, and sat down quietly with their other Friends at _Madagascar_.

The Account contain'd several other Things which we have before related.--Commadore _Matthews_, upon receiving this Intelligence, and being fond of the Service he came out for, hastened to those Islands, as the most hopeful Places of Success; at St. _Mary_'s would have engaged _England_ with Promises of Favour, if he would communicate what he knew, concerning the _Cassandra_, and the rest of the Pyrates, and assist in the Pilotage; but _England_ was wary, and thought this was to _surrender at Discretion_, so they took up the _Judda_ Ship's Guns that was burnt, and the Men of War dispersed themselves on several Voyages and Cruises afterwards, as was thought likeliest to succeed, tho' to no Purpose: Then the Squadron went down to _Bombay_, were saluted by the Fort, and came home.

The Pyrates, I mean those of the _Cassandra_, now Captain _Taylor_, fitted the _Portuguese_ Man of War, and resolved upon another Voyage to the _Indies_, notwithstanding the Riches they had heaped up; but as they were preparing to sail, they heard of the four Men of War coming after them to those Seas, therefore they altered their Minds, sail'd for the Main of _Africa_, and put in at a little Place called _Delagoa_, near the River _de Spiritu Sancto_, on the Coast of _Monomotapa_, in 26° South Latitude. They believed this to be a Place of Security, in regard that the Squadron could not possibly get Intelligence of them, there being no Correspondence over Land, nor any Trade carried on by Sea, between that and the Cape, where the Men of War were then supposed to be. The Pyrates came to in the Evening, and were surprized with a few Shot from the Shore, not knowing of any Fortification or _European_ Settlement in that Part of the World; so they anchored at a Distance that Night, and perceiving, in the Morning, a small Fort of six Guns, they run up to it, and battered it down.

This Fort was built and settled by the _Dutch East-India_ Company, a few Months before, for what Purpose, I know not, and having left 150 Men upon the Place, they were then dwindled to a third Part by Sickness and Casualties, and never after received any Relief or Necessaries; so that Sixteen of those that were left, upon their humble Petition, were admitted on Board the Pyrates, and all the rest would have had the same Favour (they said) had they been any other than _Dutch_. I mention this, as an Instance of their Ingratitude, who had been so much obliged to their Countrymen for Support.

Here they staid above four Months, carreened both their Ships, and took their Diversions with Security, till they had expended all their Provisions, and then put to Sea, leaving considerable Quantities of Muslins, Chintzes, and such Goods behind, to the half starved _Dutch_ Men, which enabled them to make good Pennyworths to the next that came, to whom they bartered for Provisions, at the Rate of three Farthings an _English_ Yard.

They left _Delagoa_ the latter End of _December_ 1722, but not agreeing where, or how to proceed, they concluded to part, so those who were for continuing that sort of Life, went on Board the _Portuguese_ Prize, and steered for _Madagascar_ to their Friends, with whom I hear they are now settled; and the rest took the _Cassandra_ and sailed for the _Spanish West-Indies_. The _Mermaid_ Man of War happening then to be down on the Main with a Convoy, about 30 Leagues from these Pyrates, would have gone and attacked them; but on a Consultation of the Masters, whose Safety he was particularly to regard, they agreed their own Protection was of more Service than destroying the Pyrate, and so the Commander was unwillingly withheld. He dispatched a Sloop to _Jamaica_, with the News, which brought down the _Lanceston_, only a Day, or two, too late, they having just before he came, surrendered with all their Riches, to the Governor of _Porto Bello_.

Here they sate down to spend the Fruits of their dishonest Industry, dividing the Spoil and Plunder of Nations among themselves, without the least Remorse or Compunction, satisfying their Conscience with this Salvo, that other People would have done as much, had they the like Opportunities. I can't say, but that if they had known what was doing in _England_, at the same Time by the _South-Sea_ Directors, and their Directors, they would certainly have had this Reflection for their Consolation, _viz. That what ever Robberies they had committed, they might be pretty sure they were not the greatest Villains then living in the World_.

It is a difficult Matter to make a Computation of the Mischief that was done by this Crew, in about five Years Time, which is much more than the Plunder they gained, for they often sunk or burnt the Vessel they took, as it suited their Humour or Circumstances, sometimes to prevent giving Intelligence, sometimes because they did not leave Men to navigate them, and at other Times out of Wantonness, or because they were displeased at the Master's Behaviour; for any of these, it was but to give the Word, and down went Ships and Cargoes to the Bottom of the Sea.

Since their Surrender to the _Spaniards_, I am informed several of them have left the Place, and dispersed themselves elsewhere; eight of them were shipp'd about _November_ last, in one of the _South-Sea_ Company's Assiento Sloops, and passed for Ship-wreck'd Men, came to _Jamaica_, and there sailed in other Vessels; and I know one of them that came to _England_ this Spring from that Island. 'Tis said that Captain _Taylor_ has taken a Commission in the _Spanish_ Service, and commanded the Man of War that lately attack'd the _English_ Log-Wood Cutters, in the Bay of _Honduras_.

CHAP. VI. OF Captain _Charles Vane_, And his CREW.

C_Harles Vane_ was one of those who stole away the Silver which the _Spaniards_ had fished up from the Wrecks of the Galleons, in the Gulph of _Florida_, and was at _Providence_ (as has been before hinted) when Governor _Rogers_ arrived there with two Men of War.

All the Pyrates who were found at this Colony of Rogues, submitted, and received Certificates of their Pardon, except Captain _Vane_ and his Crew; who, as soon as they saw the Men of War enter, slipp'd their Cable, set Fire to a Prize they had in the Harbour, and sailed out with their pyratical Colours flying, firing at one of the Men of War as they went off.

Two Days after they went out, they met with a Sloop belonging to _Barbadoes_, which they made Prize of, and kept the Vessel for their own Use, putting aboard five and twenty Hands, with one _Yeats_ to command them. A Day or two afterwards they fell in with a small interloping Trader, with a Quantity of _Spanish_ Pieces of Eight aboard, bound into _Providence_, called the _John_ and _Elizabeth_, which they also took along with them. With these two Sloops _Vane_ went to a small Island and cleaned; where they shared their Booty, and spent some Time in a riotous Manner of Living, as is the Custom of Pyrates.

The latter End of _May_ 1718, they sail'd, and being in want of Provisions, they beat up for the Windward Islands, and met with a _Spanish_ Sloop bound from _Porto Rico_ to the _Havana_, which they burnt, and stowed the _Spaniards_ in a Boat, and left them to get to the Island, by the Light of their Vessel. But steering between St. _Christopher_'s and _Anguilla_, they fell in with a Brigantine and a Sloop, with the Cargo they wanted; from whom they got Provisions for Sea-Store.

Sometime after this, standing to the Northward, in the Track the _Old-England_ Ships take, in their Voyage to the _American_ Colonies, they took several Ships and Vessels, which they plundered of what they thought fit, and let them pass.

The latter End of _August, Vane_, with his Consort _Yeats_, came off _South-Carolina_, and took a Ship belonging to _Ipswich_, one _Coggershall_ Commander, laden with Logwood, which was thought convenient enough for their own Business, and therefore ordered their Prisoners to work, and throw all the Lading over-board; but when they had more than half cleared the Ship, the Whim changed, and then they would not have her; so _Coggershall_ had his Ship again, and he was suffered to pursue his Voyage home. In this Cruize the Rover took several other Ships and Vessels, particularly a Sloop from _Barbadoes, Dill_ Master; a small Ship from _Antegoa, Cock_ Master; a Sloop belonging to _Curacco, Richards_ Master; and a large Brigantine, Captain _Thompson_, from _Guiney_, with ninety odd Negroes aboard. The Pyrates plundered them all and let them go, putting the Negroes out of the Brigantine aboard of _Yeat_'s Vessel, by which Means they came back again to the right Owners.

For Captain _Vane_, having always treated his Consort with very little Respect, assuming a Superiority over _Yeats_ and his small Crew, and regarding the Vessel but as a Tender to his own; gave them a Disgust, who thought themselves as good Pyrates, and as great Rogues as the best of them; so they caball'd together, and resolved to take the first Opportunity to leave the Company; and accept of his Majesty's Pardon, or set up for themselves, either of which they thought more honourable than to be Servants to the former; and the putting aboard so many Negroes, where they found so few Hands to take Care of them, still aggravated the Matter, though they thought fit to conceal or stifle their Resentments at that Time.

A Day or two afterwards, the Pyrates lying off at Anchor, _Yeats_ in the Evening slipp'd his Cable, and put his Vessel under Sail, standing into the Shore; which, when _Vane_ saw, he was highly provoked, and got his Sloop under Sail to chase his Consort, who, he plainly perceived, had a Mind to have no further Affairs with him: _Vane_'s Brigantine sailing best, he gained Ground of _Yeats_, and would certainly have come up with him, had he had a little longer Run for it; but just as he got over the Bar, when _Vane_ came within Gun-shot of him, he fired a Broadside at his old Friend, (which did him no Damage,) and so took his Leave.

_Yeats_ came into _North Edisto_ River, about ten Leagues Southward of _Charles-Town_, and sent an Express to the Governor, to know if he and his Comrades might have the Benefit of his Majesty's Pardon, and they would surrender themselves to his Mercy, with the Sloops and Negroes; which being granted, they all came up and received Certificates; and Captain _Thompson_, from whom the Negroes were taken, had them restored to him, for the Use of his Owners.

_Vane_ cruised some Time off the Bar, in hopes to catch _Yeats_ at his coming out again, but therein he was disappointed; however, he unfortunately for them, took two Ships from _Charles-Town_, bound home to _England_. It happen'd that just at this Time two Sloops well mann'd and arm'd, were equipp'd to go after a Pyrate, which the Governor of _South-Carolina_ was informed, lay then in Cape _Fear_ River, a cleaning: But Colonel _Rhet_, who commanded the Sloops, meeting with one of the Ships that _Vane_ had plundered, going back over the Bar, for such Necessaries as had been taken from her, and she giving the Colonel an Account of her being taken by the Pyrate _Vane_, and also, that some of her Men, while they were Prisoners on Board of him, had heard the Pyrates say, they should clean in one of the Rivers to the Southward; he altered his first Design, and instead of standing to the Northward, in pursuit of the Pyrate in Cape _Fear_ River, he turns to the Southward after _Vane_; who had ordered such Reports to be given out, on purpose to send any Force that should come after him, upon a wrong Scent; for in Reality he stood away to the Northward, so that the Pursuit proved to be the contrary Way.