Part 12

Colonel _Rhet_'s speaking with this Ship, was the most unlucky Thing that could have happened, because it turned him out of the Road, which in all Probability, would have brought him into the Company of _Vane_, as well as of the Pyrate he went after; and so they might have been both destroy'd; whereas, by the Colonel's going a different Way, he not only lost the Opportunity of meeting with one, but if the other had not been infatuated, to lye six Weeks together at Cape _Fear_, he would have missed of him likewise: However, the Colonel having searched the Rivers and Inlets, as directed, for several Days, without Success, at length sailed in Prosecution of his first Design, and met with the Pyrate accordingly, whom he fought and took, as has been before spoken of, in the History of Major _Bonnet_.

Captain _Vane_ went into an Inlet to the Northward, where he met with Captain _Thatch_, or _Teach_, otherwise call'd _Black-beard_, whom he saluted (when he found who he was) with his great Guns, loaded with Shot, (as is the Custom among Pyrates when they meet) which are fired wide, or up into the Air: _Black-beard_ answered the Salute in the same Manner, and mutual Civilities passed for some Days; when about the Beginning of _October, Vane_ took Leave, and sailed further to the Northward.

On the 23d of _October_, off of _Long Island_, he took a small Brigantine, bound from _Jamaica_ to _Salem_ in _New-England, John Shattock_ Master, and a little Sloop; they rifled the Brigantine, and sent her away. From hence they resolved on a Cruize between Cape _Meise_ and Cape _Nicholas_, where they spent some Time, without seeing or speaking with any Vessel, till the latter End of _November_; then they fell upon a Ship, which 'twas expected would have struck as soon as their black Colours were hoisted; but instead of that, she discharged a Broadside upon the Pyrate, and hoisted Colours, which shewed her to be a _French_ Man of War. _Vane_ desired to have nothing further to say to her, but trimm'd his Sails, and stood away from the _French_ Man; but _Monsieur_ having a Mind to be better informed who he was, set all his Sails, and crowded after him. During this Chace, the Pyrates were divided in their Resolutions what to do: _Vane_, the Captain, was for making off as fast as he could, alledging the Man of War was too strong to cope with; but one _John Rackam_, who was an Officer, that had a kind of a Check upon the Captain, rose up in Defence of a contrary Opinion, saying, _That tho' she had more Guns, and a greater Weight of Mettal, they might board her, and then the best Boys would carry the Day. Rackam_ was well seconded, and the Majority was for boarding; but _Vane_ urged, _That it was too rash and desperate an Enterprize, the Man of War appearing to be twice their Force; and that their Brigantine might be sunk by her before they could reach on board_. The Mate, one _Robert Deal_, was of _Vane_'s Opinion, as were about fifteen more, and all the rest joined with _Rackam_, the Quarter-Master. At length the Captain made use of his Power to determine this Dispute, which, in these Cases, is absolute and uncontroulable, by their own Laws, _viz_. in _fighting, chasing_, or _being chased_; in all other Matters whatsoever, he is governed by a Majority; so the Brigantine having the Heels, as they term it, of the _French_ Man, she came clear off.

But the next Day, the Captain's Behaviour was obliged to stand the Test of a Vote, and a Resolution passed against his Honour and Dignity, branding him with the Name of Coward, deposing him from the Command, and turning him out of the Company, with Marks of Infamy; and, with him, went all those who did not Vote for boarding the _French_ Man of War. They had with them a small Sloop that had been taken by them some Time before, which they gave to _Vane_, and the discarded Members; and, that they might be in a Condition to provide for themselves, by their own honest Endeavours, they let them have a sufficient Quantity of Provisions and Ammunition along with them.

_John Rackam_ was voted Captain of the Brigantine, in _Vane_'s Room, and proceeded towards the _Caribbee Islands_, where we must leave him, till we have finished our Story of _Charles Vane_.

The Sloop sailed for the Bay of _Honduras_, and _Vane_ and his Crew put her into as good a Condition as they could by the Way, to follow the old Trade. They cruised two or three Days off the North-West Part of _Jamaica_, and took a Sloop and two Pettiagas, and all the Men entered with them; the Sloop they kept, and _Robert Deal_ went Captain of her.

On the 16th of _December_ the two Sloops came into the Bay, where they found only one at an Anchor, call'd the _Pearl_, of _Jamaica_, Captain _Charles Rowling_ Master, who got under Sail at the Sight of them; but the Pyrate Sloops coming near _Rowling_, and shewing no Colours, he gave them a Gun or two; whereupon they hoisted the black Flag, and fired three Guns each, at the _Pearl_; she struck, and the Pyrates took Possession, and carried her away to a small Island called _Barnacko_, and there they cleaned, meeting in the Way with a Sloop from _Jamaica_, Captain _Wallden_ Commander, going down to the Bay, which they also made Prize of.

In _February, Vane_ sailed from _Barnacko_, in order for a Cruize; but some Days after he was out, a violent Turnado overtook him, which separated him from his Consort, and after two Days Distress, threw his Sloop upon a small uninhabited Island, near the Bay of _Honduras_, where she was staved to Pieces, and most of her Men drowned: _Vane_ himself was saved, but reduced to great Streights, for want of Necessaries, having no Opportunity to get any Thing from the Wreck. He lived here some Weeks, and was subsisted chiefly by Fishermen, who frequented the Island with small Craft, from the Main, to catch Turtles, _&c_.

While _Vane_ was upon this Island, a Ship put in from _Jamaica_ for Water, the Captain of which, one _Holford_, an old Buccaneer, happened to be _Vane_'s Acquaintance; he thought this a good Opportunity to get off, and accordingly applied to his old Friend; but he absolutely refused him, saying to him, Charles, _I shan't trust you aboard my Ship, unless I carry you a Prisoner; for I shall have you caballing with my Men, knock me on the Head, and run away with my Ship a pyrating. Vane_ made all the Protestations of Honour in the World to him; but, it seems, Captain _Holford_ was too intimately acquainted with him, to repose any Confidence at all in his Words or Oaths. He told him, _He might easily find a Way to get off, if he had a Mind to it: I am now going down the Bay_, says he, _and shall return hither, in about a Month; and if I find you upon the Island when I come back, I'll carry you to_ Jamaica, _and hang you. Which Way can I get away_? Answers _Vane. Are there not Fishermen's Dories upon the Beach? Can't you take one of them_? Replies _Holford. What_, says _Vane, would you have me steal a Dory then? Do you make it a Matter of Conscience_? Said _Holford, to steal a Dory, when you have been a common Robber and Pyrate, stealing Ships and Cargoes, and plundering all Mankind that fell in your Way? Stay there, and be d--n'd, if you are so Squeamish_: And so left him.

After Captain _Holford_'s Departure, another Ship put in to the same Island in her Way home for Water; none of whose Company knowing _Vane_, he easily passed upon them for another Man, and so was shipp'd for the Voyage. One would be apt to think that _Vane_ was now pretty safe, and likely to escape the Fate which his Crimes had merited; but here a cross Accident happen'd that ruin'd all: _Holford_, returning from the Bay, was met with by this Ship; the Captains being very well acquainted together, _Holford_ was invited to dine aboard of him, which he did; and as he passed along to the Cabin, he chanced to cast his Eye down the Hold, and there saw _Charles Vane_ at work; he immediately spoke to the Captain, saying, _Do you know who you have got aboard here? Why_, says he, _I have shipp'd a Man at such an Island, who was cast away in a trading Sloop, he seems to be a brisk Hand. I tell you_, says Captain _Holford, it is_ Vane _the notorious Pyrate. If it be him_, replies the other, _I won't keep him: Why then_, says _Holford, I'll send and take him aboard, and surrender him at_ Jamaica. Which being agreed to, Captain _Holford_, as soon as he returned to his Ship, sent his Boat with his Mate armed, who coming to _Vane_, shewed him a Pistol, and told him, _He was his Prisoner_; which none opposing, he was brought aboard, and put in Irons; and when Captain _Holford_ arrived at _Jamaica_, he delivered his old Acquaintance into the Hands of Justice; at which Place he was try'd, convicted, and executed, as was, some Time before, _Vane_'s Consort, _Robert Deal_, brought thither by one of the Men of War.

CHAP. VII. OF Captain _John Rackam_, And his CREW.

THIS _John Rackam_, as has been mentioned in the last Chapter, was Quarter-Master to _Vane_'s Company, till they were divided, and _Vane_ turned out for refusing to board and fight the _French_ Man of War; then _Rackam_ was voted Captain of that Division that remained in the Brigantine. The 24th of _November_ 1718, was the first Day of his Command, and his first Cruize was among the _Caribbee Islands_, where he took and plunder'd several Vessels.

We have already taken Notice, that when Captain _Woodes Rogers_ went to the Island of _Providence_, with the King's Pardon to such as should surrender, this Brigantine, which _Rackam_ now commanded, made its Escape, thro' another Passage, bidding Defiance to Mercy.

To Windward of _Jamaica_, a _Madera_ Man fell into the Pyrates Way, which they detained two or three Days, till they had made their Market out of her, and then gave her back to the Master, and permitted one _Hosea Tisdell_, a Tavern-Keeper at _Jamaica_, who had been pick'd up in one of their Prizes, to depart in her, she being then bound for that Island.

After this Cruize, they went into a small Island and cleaned, and spent their _Christmas_ ashore, drinking and carousing as long as they had any Liquor left, and then went to Sea again for more, where they succeeded but too well, though they took no extraordinary Prize, for above two Months, except a Ship laden with Thieves from _Newgate_, bound for the Plantations, which, in a few Days, was retaken with all her Cargo, by an _English_ Man of War.

_Rackam_ stood off towards the Island of _Burmudas_, and took a Ship bound to _England_ from _Carolina_, and a small Pink from _New-England_, and brought them to the _Bahama_ Islands, where with the Pitch, Tar, and Stores, they clean'd again, and refitted their own Vessel; but staying too long in that Neighbourhood, Captain _Rogers_, who was Governor of _Providence_, hearing of these Ships being taken, sent out a Sloop well mann'd and arm'd, which retook both the Prizes, and in the mean while the Pyrate had the good Fortune to escape.

From hence they sailed to the Back of _Cuba_, where _Rackam_ kept a little kind of a Family, at which Place, they staid a considerable Time, living ashore with their Dalilahs, till their Money and Provision were expended, and then they concluded it Time to look out: They repaired to their Vessel, and was making ready to put Sea, when a _Guarda del Costa_ came in with a small _English_ Sloop, which she had taken as an Interloper on the Coast. The _Spanish_ Guardship attack'd the Pyrate, but _Rackam_ being close in behind a little Island, she could do but little Execution where she lay, therefore the _Spaniard_ warps into the Channel that Evening, in order to make sure of her the next Morning. _Rackam_ finding his Case desperate, and hardly any Possibility of escaping, resolved to attempt the following Enterprize: The _Spanish_ Prize lying for better Security close into the Land, between the little Island and the Main; _Rackam_ takes his Crew into the Boat, with their Pistols and Cutlashes, rounds the little Island, and falls aboard their Prize silently in the dead of the Night, without being discovered, telling the _Spaniards_ that were aboard of her, that if they spoke a Word, or made the least Noise, they were dead Men, and so became Master of her; when this was done, he slipt her Cable, and drove out to Sea: The _Spanish_ Man of War, was so intent upon their expected Prize, that they minded nothing else, and assoon as Day broke, made a furious Fire upon the empty Sloop, but it was not long before they were rightly apprized of the Matter, and cursed themselves for Fools, to be bit out of a good rich Prize, as she prov'd to be, and to have nothing but an old crazy Hull in the room of her.

_Rackam_ and his Crew had no Occasion to be displeased at the Exchange, that enabled them to continue some Time longer in a Way of Life that suited their depraved Tempers: In _August_ 1720, we find him at Sea again, scouring the Harbours and Inlets of the North and West Parts of _Jamaica_, where he took several small Craft, which proved no great Booty to the Rovers, but they had but few Men, and therefore they were obliged to run at low Game, till they could encrease their Company.

In the Beginning of _September_, they took seven or eight Fishing-Boats in _Harbour Island_, stole their Nets and other Tackle, and then went off the _French_ Part of _Hispaniola_, and landed, and took Cattle away, with two or three _French_ Men they found near the Water-Side, hunting of wild Hogs in the Evening: The _French_ Men came on Board, whether by Consent or Compulsion, I can't say. They afterwards plundered two Sloops, and returned to _Jamaica_, on the North Coast of which Island, near _Porto Maria_ Bay, they took a Scooner, _Thomas Spenlow_ Master; it was then the 19th of _October_. The next Day, _Rackam_ seeing a Sloop in _Dry Harbour_ Bay, he stood in and fired a Gun; the Men all run ashore, and he took the Sloop and Lading, but when those ashore found them to be Pyrates, they hailed the Sloop, and let them know they were all willing to come aboard of them.

_Rackam_'s coasting the Island in this Manner, proved fatal to him, for Intelligence came to the Governor, of his Expedition, by a Canoa which he had surprized ashore, in _Ocho_ Bay; upon which a Sloop was immediately fitted out, and sent round the Island in quest of him, commanded by Captain _Barnet_, with a good Number of Hands. _Rackam_ rounding the Island, and drawing near the Westermost Point, called Point _Negril_, saw a small Pettiauger, which at sight of the Sloop, run ashore and landed her Men; when one of them hailed her, Answer was made, _They were_ English _Men_, and desired the Pettiauger's Men to come on Board, and drink a Bowl of Punch, which they were prevailed upon to do; accordingly the Company came all aboard of the Pyrate, consisting of nine Persons, in an ill Hour; they were armed with Muskets and Cutlashes, but, what was their real Design by so doing, I shall not take upon me to say; but they had no sooner laid down their Arms, and taken up their Pipes, but _Barnet_'s Sloop, which was in Pursuit of _Rackam_'s, came in Sight.

The Pyrates finding she stood directly towards her, fear'd the Event, and weighed their Anchor, which they but lately let go, and stood off: Captain _Barnet_ gave them Chace, and having the Advantage of little Breezes of Wind, which blew off the Land, came up with her, and, after a very small Dispute, took her, and brought her into _Port Royal_, in _Jamaica_.

In about a Fortnight after the Prisoners were brought ashore, _viz. November_ 16, 1720, a Court of Admiralty was held at St. _Jago de la Vega_, before which the following Persons were convicted, and Sentence of Death passed upon them, by the President, Sir _Nicholas Laws, viz. John Rackam_ Captain, _George Fetherston_ Master, _Richard Corner_ Quarter-Master, _John Davis, John Howell, Patrick Carty, Thomas Earl, James Dobbin_ and _Noah Harwood_. The five first were executed the next Day at _Gallows Point_, at the Town of _Port Royal_, and the rest, the Day after, at _Kingston_; _Rackam, Feverston_ and _Corner_, were afterwards taken down and hang'd up in Chains, one at _Plumb Point_, one at _Bush Key_, and the other at _Gun Key_.

But what was very surprizing, was, the Conviction of the nine Men that came aboard the Sloop the same Day she was taken. They were try'd at an Adjournment of the Court, on the 24th of _January_, waiting all that Time, it is supposed, for Evidence, to prove the pyratical Intention of going aboard the said Sloop; for it seems there was no Act of Pyracy committed by them, after their coming on Board, as appeared by the Witnesses against them, who were two _French_ Men taken by _Rackam_, off from the Island of _Hispaniola_, and deposed in the following Manner.

`That the Prisoners at the Bar, _viz. John Eaton, Edward Warner, Thomas Baker, Thomas Quick, John Cole, Benjamin Palmer, Walter Rouse, John Hanson_, and _John Howard_, came aboard the Pyrate's Sloop at _Negril Point, Rackam_ sending his Canoe ashore for that Purpose: That they brought Guns and Cutlashes on Board with them: That when Captain _Barnet_ chased them, some were drinking, and others walking the Deck: That there was a great Gun and a small Arm fired by the Pyrate Sloop, at Captain _Barnet_'s Sloop, when he chased her; and that when Captain _Barnet_'s Sloop fired at _Rackam_'s Sloop, the Prisoners at the Bar went down under Deck. That during the Time Captain _Barnet_ chased them, some of the Prisoners at the Bar (but which of them he could not tell) helped to row the Sloop, in order to escape from _Barnet_: That they all seemed to be consorted together.

This was the Substance of all that was evidenced against them, the Prisoners answered in their Defence,

`That they had no Witnesses: That they had bought a Pettiauger in order to go a Turtleing; and being at _Negril Point_, and just got ashore, they saw a Sloop with a white Pendant coming towards them, upon which they took their Arms, and hid themselves in the Bushes: That one of them hail'd the Sloop, who answer'd, _They were_ English _Men_, and desired them to come aboard and drink a Bowl of Punch; which they at first refused, but afterwards with much perswasion, they went on Board, in the Sloop's Canoe, and left their own Pettiauger at Anchor: That they had been but a short Time on Board, when Captain _Barnet_'s Sloop heaved in Sight: That _Rackam_ ordered them to help to weigh the Sloop's Anchor immediately, which they all refused: That _Rackam_ used violent Means to oblige them; and that when Captain _Barnet_ came up with them, they all readily and willingly submitted.

When the Prisoners were taken from the Bar, and the Persons present being withdrawn, the Court considered the Prisoners Cases, and the Majority of the Commissioners being of Opinion, that they were all Guilty of the Pyracy and Felony they were charged with, which was, _the going over with a pyratical and felonious Intent to_ John Rackam, &c. _then notorious Pyrates, and by them known to be so_, they all received Sentence of Death; which every Body must allow proved somewhat unlucky to the poor Fellows.

On the 17th of _February, John Eaton, Thomas Quick_ and _Thomas Baker_, were executed at _Gallows Point_, at _Port Royal_, and the next Day _John Cole, John Howard_ and _Benjamin Palmer_, were executed at _Kingston_; whether the other three were executed afterwards, or not, I never heard.

Two other Pyrates were try'd that belonged to _Rackam_'s Crew, and being convicted, were brought up, and asked if either of them had any Thing to say why Sentence of Death should not pass upon them, in like Manner as had been done to all the rest; and both of them pleaded their Bellies, being quick with Child, and pray'd that Execution might be stay'd, whereupon the Court passed Sentence, as in Cases of Pyracy, but ordered them back, till a proper Jury should be appointed to enquire into the Matter.

_The_ LIFE _of_ MARY READ,

NOW we are to begin a History full of surprizing Turns and Adventures; I mean, that of _Mary Read_ and _Anne Bonny_, alias _Bonn_, which were the true Names of these two Pyrates; the odd Incidents of their rambling Lives are such, that some may be tempted to think the whole Story no better than a Novel or Romance; but since it is supported by many thousand Witnesses, I mean the People of _Jamaica_, who were present at their Tryals, and heard the Story of their Lives, upon the first discovery of their Sex; the Truth of it can be no more contested, than that there were such Men in the World, as _Roberts_ and _Black-beard_, who were Pyrates.

_Mary Read_ was born in _England_, her Mother was married young, to a Man who used the Sea, who going a Voyage soon after their Marriage, left her with Child, which Child proved to be a Boy. As to the Husband, whether he was cast away, or died in the Voyage, _Mary Read_ could not tell; but however, he never returned more; nevertheless, the Mother, who was young and airy, met with an Accident, which has often happened to Women who are young, and do not take a great deal of Care; which was, she soon proved with Child again, without a Husband to Father it, but how, or by whom, none but her self could tell, for she carried a pretty good Reputation among her Neighbours. Finding her Burthen grow, in order to conceal her Shame, she takes a formal Leave of her Husband's Relations, giving out, that she went to live with some Friends of her own, in the Country: Accordingly she went away, and carried with her her young Son, at this Time, not a Year old: Soon after her Departure her Son died, but Providence in Return, was pleased to give her a Girl in his Room, of which she was safely delivered, in her Retreat, and this was our _Mary Read_.

Here the Mother liv'd three or four Years, till what Money she had was almost gone; then she thought of returning to _London_, and considering that her Husband's Mother was in some Circumstances, she did not doubt but to prevail upon her, to provide for the Child, if she could but pass it upon her for the same, but the changing a Girl into a Boy, seem'd a difficult Piece of Work, and how to deceive an experienced old Woman, in such a Point, was altogether as impossible; however, she ventured to dress it up as a Boy, brought it to Town, and presented it to her Mother in Law, as her Husband's Son; the old Woman would have taken it, to have bred it up, but the Mother pretended it would break her Heart, to part with it; so it was agreed betwixt them, that the Child should live with the Mother, and the supposed Grandmother should allow a Crown a Week for it's Maintainance.