Part 4

But Captain _Jennings_, who was their Commadore, and who always bore a great Sway among them, being a Man of good Understanding, and good Estate, before this Whim took him of going a Pyrating, resolved upon surrendering, without more ado, to the Terms of the Proclamation, which so disconcerted all their Measures, that the _Congress_ broke up very abruptly without doing any Thing; and presently _Jennings_, and by his Example, about 150 more, came in to the Governor of _Bermudas_, and had their Certificates, tho' the greatest Part of them returned again, like the Dog to the Vomit. The Commanders who were then in the Island, besides Captain _Jennings_ abovementioned, I think were these, _Benjamin Hornigold, Edward Teach, John Martel, James Fife, Christopher Winter, Nicholas Brown, Paul Williams, Charles Bellamy, Oliver la Bouche, _Major_ Penner, Ed. England, T. Burgess, Tho. Cocklyn, R. Sample, Charles Vane_, and two or three others: _Hornigold, Williams, Burgess _and_ la Bouche_ were afterwards cast away; _Teach_ and _Penner_ killed, and their Crews taken; _James Fife_ killed by his own Men; _Martel_'s Crew destroyed, and he forced on an uninhabited Island; _Cocklyn, Sample_ and _Vane_ hanged; _Winter_ and _Brown_ surrendered to the _Spaniards_ at _Cuba_, and _England_ lives now at _Madagascar_.

In the Month of _May_ or _June_ 1718, Captain _Rogers_ arrived at his Government, with two of his Majesty's Ships, and found several of the abovesaid Pyrates there, who upon the coming of the Men of War, all surrendered to the Pardon, except _Charles Vane_ and his Crew, which happened after this Manner.

I have before described the Harbour to have two Inlets, by Means of a small Island lying at the Mouth of it; at one of which, both the Men of War entered, and left the other open, so that _Vane_ slip'd his Cable, set Fire to a large Prize they had there, and resolutely put out, firing at the Man of War as he went off.

As soon as Captain _Rogers_ had settled himself in his Government, he built a Fort for his Defence, and garrisoned it with the People he found upon the Island; the _quondam_ Pyrates, to the Number of 400, he formed into Companies, appointed Officers of those whom he most confided in, and then set about to settle a Trade with the _Spaniards_, in the Gulf of _Mexico_; in one of which Voyages, Captain _Burgess_ abovementioned, died, and Captain _Hornigold_, another of the famous Pyrates, was cast away upon Rocks, a great Way from Land, and perished, but five of his Men got into a Canoe and were saved.

Captain _Rogers_ sent out a Sloop to get Provisions, and gave the Command to one _John Augur_, one of the Pyrates, who had accepted of the Act of Grace; in their Voyage they met with two Sloops, and _John_ and his Comrades not yet forgetting their former Business, made Use of their old Freedom, and took out of them in Money and Goods, to the Value of about 500 _l._ after this they steered away for _Hispaniola_, not being satisfy'd whether the Governor would admit them to carry on two Trades at once, and so thought to have bidden Farewel to the _Bahama_ Islands; but as ill Luck would have it, they met with a violent Turnado, wherein they lost their Mast, and were drove back to one of the uninhabited _Bahama_'s, and lost their Sloop; the Men got all ashore, and lived up and down in the Wood, for a little Time, till Governor _Rogers_ happening to hear of their Expedition, and where they had got to, sent out an armed Sloop to the aforesaid Island; the Master of which, with good Words and fair Promises, got them on Board, and brought them all to _Providence_, being a eleven Persons, ten of which were try'd at a Court of Admiralty, convicted, and hanged by the other's Evidence, in the Sight of all their former Companions and fellow Thieves. The Criminals would fain have spirited up the pardoned Pyrates, to rescue them out of the Hands of the Officers of Justice, telling them from the Gallows, that, _They never thought to have seen the Time, when ten such Men as they should be ty'd up and hanged like Dogs, and four hundered of their sworn Friends and Companions quietly standing by to behold the Spectacle._ One _Hamphrey Morrice_ urged the Matter further than the rest, taxing them with Pusilanimity and Cowardice, as if it were a Breach of Honour in them not to rise and save them from the ignominious Death they were going to suffer. But 'twas all in vain, they were now told, it was their Business to turn their Minds to another World, and sincerely to repent of what Wickedness they had done in this. _Yes_, answered one of them, _I do heartily repent; I repent I had not done more Mischief, and that we did not cut the Throats of them that took us, and I am extremely sorry that you an't all hang'd as well as we. So do I_, says another: _And I_, says a third; and then they were all turned off, without making any other dying Speeches, except one _Dennis Macarty_, who told the People, _That some Friends of his had often said he should die in his Shoes, but that he would make them Lyars_, and so kicked them off. And thus ended the Lives, with their Adventures, of those miserable Wretches, who may serve as sad Examples of the little Effect Mercy has upon Men once abandoned to an evil Course of Life.

Least I be thought severe in my Animadversions upon the _Spanish_ Proceedings in the _West-Indies_, in respect to their Dealings with us; I shall mention an Instance or two, wherein I'll be as concise as possible, and then transcribe some original Letters from the Governor of _Jamaica_, and an Officer of a Man of War, to the _Alcaldees_ of _Trinidado_, on the Island of _Cuba_, with their Answers, translated into _English_, and then proceed to the particular Histories of the Pyrates and their Crews, that have made most Noise in the World in _our own Times_.

About _March_ 1722, one of our Men of War trading upon the Coast, _viz._ the _Greyhound_ Galley, Captain _Walron_, the said Captain invited some of the Merchants to Dinner, who with their Attendants and Friends came on Board to the Number of 16 or 18 in all; and having concerted Measures, about six or eight dined in the Cabin, and the rest were waiting on the Deck. While the Captain and his Guests were at Dinner, the Boatswain Pipes for the Ship's Company to dine; accordingly the Men take their Platters, receive their Provisions, and down they go between Decks, leaving only 4 or 5 Hands besides the _Spaniards_, above, who were immediately dispatched by them, and the Hatches laid on the rest; those in the Cabin were as ready as their Companions, for they pulled out their Pistols and shot the Captain, Surgeon and another dead, and grievously wounded the Lieutenant; but he getting out of the Window upon a Side-Ladder, thereby saved his Life, and so they made themselves Masters of the Ship in an Instant: But by accidental good Fortune, she was recovered before she was carry'd off; for Captain _Walron_ having mann'd a Sloop with 30 Hands out of his Ship's Company, had sent her to Windward some Days before, also for Trade, which the _Spaniards_ knew very well; and just as the Action was over they saw this Sloop coming down, before the Wind, towards their Ship; upon which the _Spaniards_ took about 10000 _l._ in Specie, as I am informed, quitted the Ship, and went off in their Launch unmolested.

About the same Time, a _Guard le Coast_, of _Porto Rico_, commanded by one _Matthew Luke_, an Italian, took four _English_ Vessels, and murthered all the Crews: He was taken by the _Lanceston_ Man of War, in _May_ 1722, and brought to _Jamaica_, were they were all but seven deservedly hanged. It is likely the Man of War might not have meddled with her, but that she blindly laid the _Lanceston_ on Board, thinking she had been a Merchant Ship, who thereupon catched a Tartar. Afterwards in rummaging there was found a Cartridge of Powder made up with a Piece of an _English_ Journal, belonging, I believe, to the _Crean_ Snow; and upon Examination, at last, it was discovered that they had taken this Vessel and murthered the Crew; and one of the _Spaniards_, when he came to die, confessed that he had killed twenty _English_ Men with his own Hands.

S. Jago de la Vega, Febr. 20. _A Letter from his Excellency Sir _Nicolas Laws_, our Governor, to the Alcaldes of _Trinidado_ on _Cuba_, dated the _26_th of _Jan. 1721-2.

Gentlemen,

`THE frequent Depredations, Robberies, and other Acts of Hostility, which have been committed on the King my Royal Master's Subjects, by a Parcel of Banditti, who pretend to have Commissions from you, and in Reality are sheltered under your Government, is the Occasion of my sending the Bearer Captain _Chamberlain_, Commander of his Majesty's Snow _Happy_, to demand Satisfaction of you for so many notorious Robberies which your People have lately committed on the King's Subjects of this Island; particularly by those Traytors, _Nicolas Brown_ and _Christopher Winter_, to whom you have given Protection. Such Proceedings as these are not only a Breach of the Law of Nations, but must appear to the World of a very extraordinary Nature, when considered that the Subjects of a Prince in Amity and Friendship with another, should give Countenance and encourage such vile Practices. I confess I have had long Patience, and declined using any violent Measures to obtain Satisfaction, hoping the Cessation of Arms, so happily concluded upon between our respective Sovereigns, would have put an effectual Stop to those Disorders; but on the contrary, I now find the Port of _Trinidado_ a Receptacle to Villains of all Nations. I do therefore think fit to acquaint you, and assure you in the King my Master's Name, that if I do meet with any of your Rogues for the future upon the Coast of this Island, I will order them to be hanged directly without Mercy; and I expect and demand of you to make ample Restitution to Captain _Chamberlain_ or all the Negroes which the said _Brown_ and Winter have lately taken off from the North-Side of this Island, and also of such Sloops and other Effects as they have been taken and robbed of, since the Cessation of Arms, and that you will deliver up to the Bearer such _English_ Men as are now detained, or otherwise remain at _Trinidado_; and also expect you will hereafter forbear granting any Commissions, or suffer any such notorious Villains to be equipp'd and fitted out from your Port: otherwise you may depend upon it, those that I can meet with, shall be esteemed Pyrates, and treated as such; of which I thought proper to give you Notice, and am, _&c._

_A Letter from Mr. _Joseph Laws_, Lieutenant of his Majesty's Ship, _Happy_ Snow, to the Alcaldes of _Trinidado_._

Genlemen,

`I Am sent by Commadore _Vernon_, Commander in Chief of all his Majesty's Ships in the _West-Indies_ to demand in the King our Master's Name, all the Vessels, with theirs Effects, _&c._ and also the Negroes taken from _Jamaica_ since the Cessation of Arms; likewise all _Englishmen_ now detained, or otherwise remaining in your Port of _Trinidado_, particularly _Nicholas Brown_ and _Christopher Winter_, both of them being Traytors, Pyrates and common Enemies to all Nations: And the said Commadore hath ordered me to acquaint you, that he is surprized that the Subjects of a Prince in Amity and Friendship with another, should give Countenance to such notorious Villains. In Expectation of your immediate Compliance, I am, Gentlemen,

Off the River _Trinidado_, _Feb._ 8. 1720.

Your humble Servant, _Joseph Laws_.

_The Answer of the Alcaldes of _Trinidado_, to Mr. _Laws_'s Letter._

Capt. Laws,

`IN Answer to yours, this serves to acquaint you, that neither in this City, nor Port, are there any Negroes or Vessels which have been taken at your Island of _Jamaica_, nor on that Coast, since the Cessation of Arms; and what Vessels have been taken since that Time, have been for trading in an unlawful Commerce on this Coast; and as for those English Fugitives you mention, they are here as other Subjects of our Lord the King, being brought voluntarily to our holy Catholick Faith, and have received the Water of Baptism; but if they should prove Rogues, and should not comply with their Duty, in which they are bound at present, then they shall be chastized according to the Ordinances of our King, whom God preserve. And we beg you will weigh Anchor as soon as possible, and leave this Port and its Coasts, because upon no Account you shall be suffered to trade, or any Thing else; for we are resolved not to admit thereof. God preserve you. We kiss your Hand.

_Trinidado_, _Feb._ 8, 1722.

Signed, _Hieronimo de Fuentes, Benette Alfonso del Manzano_.

_Mr. _Laws_'s Reply to the Alcaldes Letter._

Gentlemen,

`YOUR refusing to deliver up the Subjects of the King my Master, is somewhat surprizing, it being in a Time of Peace, and the detaining them consequently against the Law of Nations. Notwithstanding your trifling Pretence (for which you have no Foundation but to forge an Excuse) to prevent my making any Enquiry into the Truth of the Facts I have alledged in my former, I must tell you my Resolutions are, to stay on the Coast till I have made Reprizals; and should I meet any Vessels belonging to your Port, I shall not treat them as the Subjects of the Crown of Spain, but as Pyrates, finding it a Part of your Religion in this Place to protect such Villains.

Off the River _Trinidado_, _Feb._ 8. 1720.

Your humble Servant, _Joseph Laws_.

_The Answer of one of the Alcaldes to Mr. _Laws_'s Reply_.

Captain Laws,

`YOU may assure your self, I will never be wanting in the Duty of my Post. The Prisoners that are here are not in Prison, but only kept here to be sent to the Governor of the _Havana_: If you (as you say) command at Sea, I command on Shoar: If you treat the _Spaniards_, you should happen to take, as Pyrates, I will do the same by every one of your People I can take up: I will not be wanting to good Manners, if you will do the same. I can likewise act the Soldier, if any Occasion should offer that way, for I have very good People here for that purpose. If you pretend any Thing else, you may execute it on this Coast. God preserve you. I kiss your Hand.

_Trinidado_, _Feb._ 20. 1720.

Signed, _Bennette Alfonso del Menzano_.

The last Advices we have received from our Plantations in _America_, dated _June_ 9th, 1724, gives us the following Account, _viz._ That Captain _Jones_ in the Ship _John_ and _Mary_, on the 5th of the said Month, met with, near the Capes of _Virginia_, a _Spanish Guard del Coast_, commanded by one _Don Benito_, said to be commissioned by the Governor of _Cuba_: She was manned with 60 _Spaniards_, 18 _French_ Men and 18 _English_, and had an _English_ Captain as well as _Spanish_, one _Richard Holland_, who formerly belonged to the _Suffolk_ Man of War, which he deserted at _Naples_, and took Shelter in a Convent. He served on Board the _Spanish_ Fleet under Admiral _Cammock_, in the War in the _Mediterranean_; and after the Cessation of Arms with Spain, settled with several of his Countrymen (_Irish_) in the _Spanish_ _West-Indies_. This _Guard del Coast_ made Prize of Captain _Jones_'s Ship, and kept Possession of her from 5th to the 8th, during which Time she took also the _Prudent Hannah_ of _Boston_, _Thomas Mousell_ Master, and the _Dolphin_ of _Topsham_, _Theodore Bare_ Master, both laden and bound for _Virginia_: The former they sent away together with three Men and the Mate, under the Command of a _Spanish_ Officer and Crew, the same Day she was taken; the latter they carried off with them, putting the Master and all the Crew aboard Captain _Jones_'s Ship. They plundered Captain _Jones_ of thirty six Men Slaves, some Gold-Dust, all his Cloaths, four great Guns and small Arms, and about four hundred Gallons of Rum, besides his Provisions and Stores, computed in all to 1500 _l._ Sterling.

CHAP. I. OF Captain _AVERY_, And his CREW.

NONE of these bold Adventurers were ever so much talked of, for a while, as _Avery_; he made as great a Noise in the World as _Meriveis_ does now, and was looked upon to be a Person of as great Consequence; he was represented in _Europe_, as one that had raised himself to the Dignity of a King, and was likely to be the Founder of a new Monarchy; having, as it was said, taken immense Riches, and married the Great _Mogul_'s Daughter, who was taken in an _Indian_ Ship, which fell into his Hands; and that he had by her many Children, living in great Royalty and State; that he had built Forts, erected Magazines, and was Master of a stout Squadron of Ships, mann'd with able and desperate Fellows of all Nations; that he gave Commissions out in his own Name to the Captains of his Ships, and to the Commanders of his Forts, and was acknowledged by them as their Prince. A Play was writ upon him, called, the _Successful Pyrate_; and, these Accounts obtained such Belief, that several Schemes were offered to the Council for fitting out a Squadron to take him; while others were for offering him and his Companions an Act of Grace, and inviting them to _England_, with all their Treasure, least his growing Greatness might hinder the Trade of _Europe_ to the _East-Indies_.

Yet all these were no more than false Rumours, improved by the Credulity of some, and the Humour of others who love to tell strange Things; for, while it was said, he was aspiring at a Crown, he wanted a Shilling; and at the same Time it was given out he was in Possession of such prodigious Wealth in _Madagascar_, he was starving in _England_.

No doubt, but the Reader will have a Curiosity of knowing what became of this Man, and what were the true Grounds of so many false Reports concerning him; there fore, I shall, in as brief a Manner as I can, give his History.

He was born in the West of _England_ near _Plymouth_ in _Devonshire_, being bred to the Sea, he served as a Mate of a Merchant-Man, in several trading Voyages: It happened before the Peace of _Ryfwick_, when there was an Alliance betwixt _Spain_, _England_, _Holland_, _&c._ against _France_, that the _French_ in _Martinico_, carried on a smugling Trade with the _Spaniards_ on the Continent of _Peru_, which by the Laws of _Spain_, is not allowed to Friends in Time of Peace, for none but native _Spaniards_ are permitted to Traffick in those Parts, or set their Feet on Shore, unless at any Time they are brought as Prisoners; wherefore they constantly keep certain Ships cruising along the Coast, whom they call _Guarda del Costa_, who have the Orders to make Prizes of all ships they can light of within five Leagues of Land. Now the _French_ growing very bold in Trade, and the _Spaniards_ being poorly provided with Ships, and those they had being of no Force, it often fell out, that when they light of the _French_ Smuglers, they were not strong enough to attack them, therefore it was resolv'd in _Spain_, to hire two or three stout foreign Ships for their Service, which being known at _Bristol_, some Merchants of that City, fitted out two Ships of thirty odd Guns, and 120 Hands each, well furnished with Provision and Ammunition, and all other Stores; and the Hire being agreed for, by some Agents for _Spain_, they were commanded to sail for _Corunna_ or the _Groine_, there to receive their Orders, and to take on Board some _Spanish_ Gentlemen, who were to go Passengers to _New-Spain_.

Of one of these Ships, which I take to be call'd the _Duke_, Capt. _Gibson_ Commander, _Avery_ was first Mate, and being a Fellow of more Cunning than Courage, he insinuated himself into the good Will of several of the boldest Fellows on Board the other Ship, as well as that which he was on Board of; having sounded their Inclinations before he opened himself, and finding them ripe for his Design, he, at length, proposed to them, to run away with the Ship, telling them what great Wealth was to be had upon the Coasts of _India_. It was no sooner said than agreed to, and they resolved to execute their Plot at Ten a Clock the Night following.

It must be observ'd, the Captain was one of those who are mightily addicted to Punch, so that he passed most of his Time on Shore, in some little drinking Ordinary; but this Day he did not go on Shore as usual; however, this did not spoil the Design, for he took his usual Dose on Board, and so got to Bed before the Hour appointed for the Business: The Men also who were not privy to the Design, turn'd into their Hammocks, leaving none upon Deck but the Conspirators, who, indeed, were the greatest Part of the Ship's Crew. At the Time agreed on, the _Dutchess_'s Long-Boat appear'd, which _Avery_ hailing in the usual Manner, was answered by the Men in her, _Is your drunken Boatswain on Board?_ Which was the Watch-Word agreed between them, and _Avery_ replying in the Affirmative, the Boat came aboard with sixteen stout Fellows, and joined the Company.

When our Gentry saw that all was clear, they secured the Hatches, so went to work; they did not slip the Anchor, but weigh'd it leisurely, and so put to Sea without any Disorder or Confusion, tho' there were several Ships then lying in the Bay, and among them a _Dutch_ Frigate of forty Guns, the Captain of which was offered a great Reward to go out after her; but _Mynheer_, who perhaps would not have been willing to have been served so himself could not be prevail'd upon to give such Usage to another, and so let Mr. _Avery_ pursue his Voyage, whither he had a Mind to.

The Captain, who by this Time, was awaked, either by the Motion of the Ship, or the Noise of working the Tackles, rung the Bell; _Avery_ and two others went into the Cabin; the Captain, half asleep, and in a kind of Fright, ask'd, _What was the Matter?_ _Avery_ answered cooly, _Nothing_; the Captain replied, _something's the Matter with the Ship, Does she drive? What Weather is it?_ Thinking nothing less then that it had been a Storm, and that the Ship was driven from her Anchors: _No, no_, answered _Avery_, _we're at Sea, with a fair Wind and good Weather. At Sea! _says the Captain, _How can that be? Come_, says _Avery, don't be in a Fright, but put on your Cloaths, and I'll let you into a Secret: -- You muse know, that I am Captain of this Ship now, and this is my Cabin, therefore you must walk out; I am bound to _Madagascar_, with a Design of making my own Fortune, and that of all the brave Fellows joined with me._

The Captain having a little recovered his Senses, began to apprehend the meaning; however, his Fright was as great as before, which _Avery_ perceiving, bad him fear nothing, for, says he, if you have a Mind to make one of us, we will receive you, and if you'll turn sober, and mind your Business, perhaps in Time I may make you one of my Lieutenants, if not, here's a Boat a-long-side, and you shall be set ashore.

The Captain was glad to hear this, and therefore accepted of his Offer, and the whole Crew being called up, to know who was willing to go on Shore with the Captain, and who to seek their Fortunes with the rest; there were not above five or six who were willing to quit this Enterprize; wherefore they were put into the Boat with the Captain that Minute, and made their Way to the Shore as well as they could.