Part 20

With _Roquis Rodrigus_, a _Portuguese._

_George Bishop._

_Peter Brown._

_John Jones_, one Long-Boat,

His _Irish_ young Man.

At _Rio Pungo, Benjamen Gun._

At _Kidham, George Yeats._

At _Gallyneas, Richard Lemmons._

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The Harbour is so convenient for Wooding and Watering, that it occasions many of our trading Ships, especially those of _Bristol_, to call in there, with large Cargoes of Beer, Syder, and strong Liquors, which they Exchange with these private Traders, for Slaves and Teeth, purchased by them at the _Rio Nune_'s, and other Places to the Northward, so that here was what they call good Living.

Hither _Roberts_ came the End of _June_, 1721, and had Intelligence that the _Swallow_, and _Weymouth_, two Men of War, of 50 Guns each, had left that River about a Month before, and designed to return about _Christmas_; so that the Pyrates could indulge themselves with all the Satisfaction in the World, in that they knew they were not only secure whilst there, but that in going down the Coast, after the Men of War, they should always be able to get such Intelligence of their Rendezvous, as would serve to make their Expedition safe. So after six Weeks stay, the Ships being cleaned and fitted, and the Men weary of whoring and drinking, they bethought themselves of Business, and went to Sea the Beginning of _August_, taking their Progress down the whole Coast, as low as _Jaquin_, plundering every Ship they met, of what was valuable in her, and sometimes to be more mischieviously wicked, would throw what they did not want, overboard, accumulating Cruelty to Theft.

In this Range, they exchanged their old _French_ Ship, for a fine Frigate built Ship, call'd the _Onslow_, belonging to the Royal _African_ Company, Captain _Gee_ Commander, which happened to lye at _Sestos_, to get Water and Necessaries for the Company. A great many of Captain _Gee_'s Men were ashore, when _Robert_'s bore down, and so the Ship consequently surpriz'd into his Hands, tho' had they been all on Board, it was not likely the Case would have been otherwise, the Sailors, most of them, voluntarily joyning the Pyrates, and encouraging the same Disposition in the Soldiers, (who were going Passengers with them to _Cape-Corso-Castle_) whose Ears being constantly tickled with the Feats and Gallantry of those Fellows, made them fancy, that _to go_, was only being bound on a Voyage of Knight Errantry (to relieve the Distress'd, and gather up Fame) and so they likewise offer'd themselves; but here the Pyrates were at a Stand, they entertain'd so contemptible a Notion of Landmen, that they put 'em off with Refusals for some time, till at length, being weary'd with Solicitations, and pittying a Parcel of stout Fellows, which they said, were going to starve upon a little Canky and Plantane, they accepted of them, and allow'd them ¼ Share, as it was then term'd out of Charity.

There was a Clergyman on Board the _Onslow_, sent from _England_, to be Chaplain of _Cape-Corso-Castle_, some of the Pyrates were for keeping him, alledging merrily, that their Ship wanted a Chaplain; accordingly they offered him a Share, to take on with them, promising, he should do nothing for his Money, but make Punch, and say Prayers; yet, however brutish they might be in other Things, they bore so great a Respect to his Order, that they resolved not to force him against his Inclinations; and the Parson having no Relish for this sort of Life, excused himself from accepting the Honour they designed him; they were satisfied, and generous enough to deliver him back every Thing he owned to be his: The Parson laid hold of this favourable Disposition of the Pyrates, and laid Claim to several Things belonging to others, which were also given up, to his great Satisfaction; in fine, they kept nothing which belonged to the Church, except three Prayer-Books, and a Bottle-Screw.

The Pyrates kept the _Onslow_ for their own Use, and gave Captain _Gee_ the _French_ Ship, and then fell to making such Alterations as might fit her for a Sea-Rover, pulling down her Bulk-Heads, and making her flush, so that she became, in all Respects, as compleat a Ship for their Purpose, as any they could have found; they continued to her the Name of the _Royal Fortune_, and mounted her with 40 Guns.

She and the _Ranger_ proceeded (as I said before,) to _Jaquin_, and from thence to _Old Calabar_, where they arrived about _October_, in order to clean their Ships, a Place the most suitable along the whole Coast, for there is a Bar with not above 15 Foot Water upon it, and the Channel intricate, so that had the Men of War been sure of their being harbour'd here, they might still have bid Defiance to their Strength, for the Depth of Water at the Bar, as well as the want of a Pilot, was a sufficient Security to the Rovers, and invincible Impediments to them. Here therefore they sat easy, and divided the Fruits of their dishonest Instustry, _and drank and drove Care away._ The Pilot who brought them into this Harbour, was Captain _L--e_, who for this, and other Services, was extreamly well paid, according to the Journal of their own Accounts, which do not run in the ordinary and common way, of _Debtor, contra Creditor_, but much more concise, lumping it to their Friends, and so carrying the Debt in their Heads, against the next honest Trader they meet. They took at _Calabar_, Captain _Loane_, and two or three _Bristol_ Ships, the Particulars of all which would be an unnecessary Prolixity, therefore I come now to give an Account of the Usage they received from the Natives of this Place. The _Calabar_ Negroes did not prove so civil as they expected, for they refused to have any Commerce or Trade with them, when they understood they were Pyrates: An Indication that these poor Creatures, in the narrow Circumstances they were in, and without the Light of the Gospel, or the Advantage of an Education, have, notwithstanding, such a moral innate Honesty, as would upbraid and shame the most knowing Christian: But this did but exasperate these lawless Fellows, and so a Party of 40 Men were detach'd to force a Correspondence, or drive the Negroes to Extremities; and they accordingly landed under the Fire of their own Cannon. The Negroes drew up in a Body of 2000 Men, as if they intended to dispute the Matter with them, and staid till the Pyrates advanced within Pistol-shot; but finding the Loss of two or three, made no Impression on the rest, the Negroes thought fit to retreat, which they did, with some Loss: The Pyrates set Fire to the Town, and then return'd to their Ships. This terrified the Natives, and put an entire stop to all the Intercourse between them; so that they could get no Supplies, which obliged them, as soon as they had finished the cleaning and triming of their Ships, to lose no Time, but went for Cape _Lopez_, and watered, and at _Anna-Bona_ took aboard a Stock of fresh Provisions, and then sailed for the Coast again.

This was their last and fatal Expedition, which we shall be more particular in, because, it cannot be imagined that they could have had Assurance to have undertaken it, but upon a Presumption, that the Men of War, (whom they knew were upon the Coast,) were unable to attack them, or else pursuant to the Rumour that had indiscretionally obtained at _Sierraleon_, were gone thither again.

It is impossible at this Time, to think they could know of the weak and sickly Condition they were in, and therefore founded the Success of this second Attempt upon the Coast, on the latter Presumption, and this seems to be confirmed by their falling in with the Coast as low as Cape _Lahou_, (and even that was higher than they designed,) in the beginning of _January_, and took the Ship called the _King Solomon_, with 20 Men in their Boat, and a trading Vessel, both belonging to the Company. The Pyrate Ship happened to fall about a League to Leeward of the _King Solomon_, at Cape _Appollonia_, and the Current and Wind opposing their working up with the Ship, they agreed to send the Long-Boat, with a sufficient Number of Men to take her: The Pyrates are all Voluntiers on these Occasions, the Word being always given, _who will go?_ And presently the stanch and firm Men offer themselves; because, by such Readiness, they recommend their Courage, and have an Allowance also of a Shift of Cloaths, from Head to Foot, out of the Prize.

They rowed towards the _King Solomon_ with a great deal of Alacrity, and being hailed by the Commander of her, answered, _Defiance_; Captain _Trahern_, before this, observing a great Number of Men in the Boat, began not to like his Visitors, and prepared to receive them, firing a Musket as they come under his Stern, which they returned with a Volley, and made greater Speed to get on Board: Upon this, he applied to his Men, and ask'd them, whether they would stand by him, to defend the Ship, it being a Shame they should be taken by half their Number, without any Repulse? But his Boatswain, _Philips_, took upon him to be the Mouth of the People, and put an End to the Dispute; he said plainly, he would not, laid down his Arms in the King's Name, as he was pleased to term it, and called out to the Boat for Quarters, so that the rest, by his Example, were mislead to the losing of the Ship.

When they came on Board, they brought her under Sail, by an expeditious Method, of cutting the Cable; _Walden_, one of the Pyrates, telling the Master, this _yo hope_ of heaving up the Anchor was a needless trouble, when they designed to burn the Ship. They brought her under Commadore _Roberts_'s Stern, and not only rifled her of what Sails, Cordage, _&c._ they wanted for themselves, but wantonly throw'd the Goods of the Company overboard, like Spend-thrifts, that neither expected or designed any Account.

On the same Day also, they took the _Flushing_, a _Dutch_ Ship, robbed her of Masts, Yards and Stores, and then cut down her Fore-Mast; but what sat as heavily as any thing with the _Skipper_, was, their taking some fine Sausages he had on Board, of his Wife's making, and stringing them in a ludicrous Manner, round their Necks, till they had sufficiently shew'd their Contempt of them, and then threw them into the Sea. Others chopp'd the Heads of his Fowls off, to be dressed for their Supper, and courteously invited the Landlord, provided he would find Liquor. It was a melancholly Request to the Man, but it must be comply'd with, and he was obliged, as they grew drunk, to sit quietly, and hear them sing _French_ and _Spanish_ Songs out of his _Dutch_ Prayer-Books, with other Prophaness, that he (tho' a _Dutch_ Man) stood amazed at.

In chasing too near in, they alarmed the Coast, and Expresses were sent to the _English_ and _Dutch_ Factories, giving an Account of it: They were sensible of this Error immediately, and because they would make the best of a bad Market, resolved to keep out of sight of Land, and lose the Prizes they might expect between that and _Whydah_, to make the more sure of that Port, where commonly is the best Booty; all Nations trading thither, especially _Portuguese_, who purchase chiefly with Gold, the Idol their Hearts were bent upon. And notwithstanding this unlikely Course, they met and took several Ships between _Axim_ and that Place; the circumstantial Stories of which, and the pannick Terrors they struck into his Majesty's Subjects, being tedious and unnecessary to relate, I shall pass by, and come to their Arrival in that Road.

They came to _Whydah_ with a St. _George_'s Ensign, a black Silk Flag flying at their Mizen-Peek, and a Jack and Pendant of the same: The Flag had a Death in it, with an Hour-Glass in one Hand, and cross Bones in the other, a Dart by it, and underneath a Heart dropping three Drops of Blood.--The Jack had a Man pourtray'd in it, with a flaming Sword in his Hand, and standing on two Skulls, subscribed _A B H_ and _A M H i. e._ a _Barbadian_'s and a _Martinican_'s Head, as has been before taken Notice of. Here they found eleven Sail in the Road, _English, French_ and _Portuguese_; the _French_ were three stout Ships of 30 Guns, and upwards of 100 Men each, yet when _Roberts_ came to Fire, they, with the other Ships, immediately struck their Colours and surrendred to his Mercy. One Reason, it must be confess'd, of his easy Victory, was, the Commanders and a good Part of the Men being ashore, according to the Custom of the Place, to receive the Cargoes, and return the Slaves, they being obliged to watch the Seasons for it, which otherwise, in so dangerous a Sea as here, would be impracticable. These all, except the _Porcupine_, ransomed with him for eight Pound of Gold-Dust, a Ship, not without the trouble of some Letters passing and repassing from the Shore, before they could settle it; and notwithstanding the Agreement and Payment, they took away one of the _French_ Ships, tho' with a Promise to return her, if they found she did not sail well, taking with them several of her Men for that End.

Some of the Foreigners, who never had Dealing this Way before, desired for Satisfaction to their Owners, that they might have Receipts for their Money, which were accordingly given, a Copy of one of them, I have here subjoined, _viz._

* * *

T_HIS is to certify whom it may or doth concern, that we_ GENTLEMEN OF FORTUNE, _have received eight Pounds of Gold-Dust, for the Ransom of the_ Hardey, _Captain_ Dittwitt _Commander, so that we Discharge the said Ship_,

_Witness our Hands, this_ 13_th of_ Jan. 1721-2.

Batt. Roberts, Harry Glasby.

Others were given to the _Portuguese_ Captains, which were in the same Form, but being sign'd by two waggish Fellows, _viz. Sutton_, and _Sympson_, they subscribed by the Names of,

_Aaron Whifflingpin_, _Sim. Tugmutton._

But there was something so singularly cruel and barbarous done here to the _Porcupine_, Captain _Fletcher_, as must not be passed over without special Remark.

This Ship lay in the Road, almost slaved, when the Pyrates came in, and the Commander being on Shore, settling his Accounts, was sent to for the Ransom, but he excused it, as having no Orders from the Owners; though the true Reason might be, that he thought it dishonourable to treat with Robbers; and that the Ship, separate from the Slaves, towards whom he could mistrust no Cruelty, was not worth the Sum demanded; hereupon, _Roberts_ sends the Boat to transport the Negroes, in order to set her on Fire; but being in hast, and finding that unshackling them cost much Time and Labour, they actually set her on Fire, with eighty of those poor Wretches on Board, chained two and two together, under the miserable Choice of perishing by Fire or Water: Those who jumped overboard from the Flames, were seized by Sharks, a voracious Fish, in Plenty in this Road, and, in their Sight, tore Limb from Limb alive. A Cruelty unparalell'd! And for which had every Individual been hanged, few I imagine would think that Justice had been rigorous.

The Pyrates, indeed, were obliged to dispatch their Business here in hast, because they had intercepted a Letter from General _Phips_ to Mr. _Baldwin_, the Royal _African_ Company's Agent at _Whydah_, (giving an Account, that _Roberts_ had been seen to Windward of Cape _Three Points_,) that he might the better guard against the Damages to the Company's Ships, if he should arrive at that Road before the _Swallow_ Man of War, which he assured him, (at the Time of that Letter,) was pursuing them to that Place. _Roberts_ call'd up his Company, and desired they would hear _Phip_'s Speech, (for so he was pleased to call the Letter,) and notwithstanding their vapouring, perswaded them of the Necessity of moving; for, says he, such brave Fellows cannot be supposed to be frightned at this News, yet that it were better to avoid dry Blows, which is the best that can be expected, if overtaken.

This Advice weigh'd with them, and they got under Sail, having stay'd only from _Thursday_ to _Saturday_ Night, and at Sea voted for the Island of _Anna Bona_; but the Winds hanging out of the Way, crossed their Purpose, and brought them to Cape _Lopez_, where I shall leave them for their approaching Fate, and relate some further Particulars of his Majesty's Ship the _Swallow, viz._ where it was she had spent her Time, during the Mischief that was done, and by what Means unable to prevent it; what also was the Intelligence she received, and the Measures thereon formed, that at last brought two such Strangers as Mr _Roberts_ and Capt. _Ogle_, to meet in so remote a Corner of the World.

The _Swallow_ and _Weymouth_ left _Sierraleon, May_ 28, where, I have already taken Notice, _Roberts_ arrived about a Month after, and doubtless learn'd the Intent of their Voyage, and cleaning on the Coast; which made him set down with more Security to his Diversion, and furnish him with such Intimations, as made his first Range down the Coast in _August_ following, more prosperous; the _Swallow_ and _Weymouth_ being then at the Port of _Princes_ a cleaning.

Their Stay at _Princes_ was from _July_ 28 to _Sept._ 20, 1721, where, by a Fatality, common to the Irregularities of Seamen, (who cannot in such Cases be kept under due Restraints,) they buried 100 Men in three Weeks time, and reduced the Remainder of the Ships Companies into so sickly a State, that it was with Difficulty they brought them to sail; and this Misfortune was probably the Ruin of _Roberts_, for it prevented the Men of War's going back to _Sierraleon_, as it was intended, there being a Necessity of leaving his Majesty's Ship _Weymouth_ (in much the worse Condition of the two) under the Guns of Cape _Corso_, to impress Men, being unable at this Time, either to hand the Sails, or weigh her Anchor; and _Roberts_ being ignorant of the Occasion or Alteration of the first Design, fell into the Mouth of Danger, when he thought himself the farthest from it; for the Men of War not endeavouring to attain further to Windward (when they came from _Princes_) then to secure Cape _Corso_ Road under their Lee, they luckily hovered in the Track he had took.

The _Swallow_ and _Weymouth_ fell in with the Continent at Cape _Appollonia, Octo._ 20th, and there received the ungrateful News from one Captain _Bird_; a Notice that awaken'd and put them on their Guard; but they were far from expecting any Temerity should ever bring him a second Time on the Coast, while they were there; therefore the _Swallow_ having seen the _Weymouth_ into Cape _Corso_ Road _Nov._ 10th, she ply'd to Windward as far as _Bassam_, rather as an Airing to recover a sickly Ship's Company, and shew herself to the Trade, which was found every where undisturb'd, and were, for that Reason, returning to her Consort, when accidently meeting a _Portuguese_ Ship, she told her, that the Day before she saw two Ships Chace into _Junk_, an _English_ Vessel, which she believed must have fallen into their Hands. On this Story, the _Swallow_ clung her Wind, and endeavoured to gain that Place, but receiving soon after (_Octo._ the 14th) a contrary Report from Captain _Plummer_, an intelligent Man, in the _Jason_ of _Bristol_, who had come further to Windward, and neither saw or heard any Thing of this; she turned her Head down the second Time, anchored at Cape _Appollonia_ the 23d, at Cape _Tres Puntas_ the 27th, and in _Corso_ Road _January_ the 7th, 1721-2.

They learned that their Consort the _Weymouth_, was, by the Assistance of some Soldiers from the Castle, gone to Windward, to demand Restitution of some Goods or Men belonging to the _African_ Company, that were illegally detained by the _Dutch_ at _Des Minas_; and while they were regretting so long a Separation, an Express came to General _Phips_, from _Axim_, the 9th, and followed by another from _Dixcove_, (an _English_ Factory,) with Information that three Ships had chased and taken a Galley nigh _Axim_ Castle, and a trading Boat belonging to the Company: No doubt was made, concerning what they were, it being taken for granted they were Pyrates, and supposed to be the same that had the _August_ before infested the Coast. The natural Result therefore, from these two Advices, was, to hasten for _Whydah_; for it was conclued the Prizes they had taken, had informed them how nigh the _Swallow_ was, and withal, how much better in Health than she had been for some Months past; so that unless they were very mad indeed, they would (after being discovered) make the best of their Way for _Whydah_, and secure the Booty there, without which, their Time and Industry had been entirely lost; most of the Gold lying in that Corner.

The _Swallow_ weighed from _Cape-Corso, January_ the 10th, but was retarded by waiting some Hours on the _Margaret_, a Company's Ship, at _Accra_, again on the _Portugal_, and a whole Day at _Apong_, on a Person they used to stile _Miss Betty_: A Conduct that Mr. _Phips_ blamed, when he heard the Pyrates were miss'd at _Whydah_, altho' he had given it as his Opinion, they could not be passed by, and intimated, that to stay a few Hours would prove no Prejudice.

This, however, hinder'd the _Swallow_'s catching them at _Whydah_, for the Pyrates came into that Road, with a fresh Gale of Wind, the same Day the _Swallow_ was at _Apong_, and sail'd the 13th of _January_ from thence, that she arrived the 17th. She gained Notice of them by a _French_ Shallop from _Grand Papa_, the 14th at Night, and from _Little Papa_ next Morning by a _Dutch_ Ship; so that the Man of War was on all Sides, as she thought, sure of her Purchase, particularly when she made the Ships, and discovered three of them to get under Sail immediately at Sight of her, making Signals to one another, as tho' they designed a Defence; but they were found to be three _French_ Ships; and those at Anchor, _Portuguese_ and _English_, all honest Traders, who had been ransack'd and ransom'd.

This Disappointment chagreen'd the Ship's Company, who were very intent upon their Market; which was reported to be an Arm-Chest full of Gold, and kept with three Keys; tho' in all liklyhood, had they met with them in that open Road, one or both would have made their Escapes; or if they had thought sit to have fought, an Emulation in their Defence would probably have made it desperate.

While they were contemplating on the Matter, a Letter was received from Mr. _Baldwin_, (Governor here for the Company,) signifying, that the Pyrates were at _Jaquin_, seven Leagues lower. The _Swallow_ weighed at two next Morning, _January_ the 16th, and got to _Jaquin_ by Day-Light, but to no other End, than frightening the Crews of two _Portuguese_ Ships on Shore, who took her for the Pyrate that had struck such Terror at _Whydah_: She returned therefore that Night, and having been strengthened with thirty Voluntiers, _English_ and _French_, the discarded Crews of the _Porcupine_, and the _French_ Ship they had carried from hence, she put to Sea again _January_ the 19th, conjecturing, that either _Calabar, Princes_, the River _Gabone_, Cape _Lopez_, or _Annabona_, must be touched at for Water and Refreshment, tho' they should resolve to leave the Coast. As to the former of those Places, I have before observed, it was hazardous to think of, or rather impracticable; _Princes_ had been a sower Grape to them, but being the first in the Way, she came before the Harbour the 29th, where learning no News, without loosing Time, steered for the River _Gabone_, and anchored at the Mouth of it _February_ the 1st.