Part 6

However, they soon got rigg'd, for they sold great Numbers of those poor People under them, for Cloaths, Knives, Saws, Powder and Ball, and many other Things, and became so familiar that they went aboard the _Delicia_, and were observed to be very curious, examining the inside of the Ship, and very familiar with the Men, inviting them ashore. Their Design in doing this, as they afterwards confessed, was to try if it was not practicable to surprize the Ship in the Night, which they judged very easy, in case there was but a slender Watch kept on Board, they having Boats and Men enough at Command, but it seems the Captain was aware of them, and kept so strong a Watch upon Deck, that they found it was in vain to make any Attempt; wherefore, when some of the Men went ashore, they were for inveigling them, and drawing them into a Plot, for seizing the Captain and securing the rest of the Men under Hatches, when they should have the Night-Watch, promising a Signal to come on Board to join them; proposing, if they succeeded, to go a Pyrating together, not doubting but with that Ship they should be able to take any Thing they met on the Sea: But the Captain observing an intimacy growing betwixt them and some of his Men, thought it could be for no good, he therefore broke it off in Time, not suffering them so much as to talk together; and when he sent a Boat on Shore with an Officer to treat with them about the Sale of Slaves, the Crew remained on Board the Boat, and no Man was suffered to talk with them, but the Person deputed by him for that Purpose.

Before he sailed away, and they found that nothing was to be done, they confessed all the Designs they had formed against him. Thus he left them as he found them, in a great deal of dirty State and Royalty, but with fewer Subjects than they had, having, as we observed, sold many of them; and if Ambition be the darling Passion of Men, no doubt they were happy. One of these great Princes had formerly been a Waterman upon the _Thames_, where having committed a Murder, he fled to the _West-Indies_, and was of the Number of those who run away with the Sloops; the rest had been all foremast Men, nor was there a Man amongst them, who could either read or write, and yet their Secretaries of State had no more Learning than themselves. This is all the Account we can give of these Kings of _Madagascar_, some of whom it is probable are reigning to this Day.

CHAP. II. OF Captain _MARTEL_, And his CREW.

I Come now to the Pyrates that have rose since the Peace of _Utrecht_; in War Time there is no room for any, because all those of a roving advent'rous Disposition find Employment in Privateers, so there is no Opportunity for Pyrates; like our Mobs in London, when they come to any Height, our Superiors order out the Train Bands, and when once they are raised, the others are suppressed of Course; I take the Reason of it to be, that the Mob go into the tame Army, and immediately from notorious Breakers of the Peace, become, by being put into order, solemn Preservers of it. And should our Legislators put some of the Pyrates into Authority, it would not only lessen their Number, but, I imagine, set them upon the rest, and they would be the likeliest People to find them out, according to the Proverb, _set a Thief to catch a Thief._

To bring this about, there needs no other Encouragement, but to give all the Effects taken aboard a Pyrate Vessel to the Captors; for in Case of Plunder and Gain, they like it as well from Friends, as Enemies, but are not fond, as Things are carry'd, _of ruining poor Fellowes_, say the _Creoleans, with no Advantage to themselves._

The Multitude of Men and Vessels, employ'd this Way, in Time of War, in the _West-Indies_, is another Reason, for the Number of Pyrates in a Time of Peace: This cannot be supposed to be a Reflection on any of our _American_ Governments, much less on the King himself, by whose Authority such Commissions are granted, because of the Reasonableness, and absolute Necessity, there is for the doing of it; yet the Observation is just, for so many idle People employing themselves in Privateers, for the sake of Plunder and Riches, which they always spend as fast as they get, that when the War is over, and they can have no farther Business in the Way of Life they have been used to, they too readily engage in Acts of Pyracy, which being but the same Practice without a Commission, they make very little Distinction betwixt the Lawfulness of one, and the Unlawfulness of the other.

I have not enquired so far back, as to know the Original of this Rover, but I believe he and his Gang, were some Privateer's Men belonging to the Island of _Jamaica_, in the preceeding War; his Story is but short, for his Reign was so; an End having been put to his Adventures in good Time, when he was growing strong and formidable. We find him Commander of a Pyrate Sloop of eight Guns, and 80 Men, in the Month of _September_, 1716, cruising off _Jamaica_, _Cuba_, _&c._ about which Time he took the _Berkley_ Galley, Captain _Saunders_, and plundered him of 1000 _l._ in Money, and afterwards met with a Sloop call'd the _King Solomon_, from whom he took some Money, and Provisions, besides Goods, to a good Value.

They proceeded after this to the Port of _Cavena_, at the Island of _Cuba_, and in their Way took two Sloops, which they plundered, and let go; and off the Port fell in with a fine Galley, with 20 Guns, call'd the _John_ and _Martha_, Captain _Wilson_, which they attacked under the pyratical Black-Flag, and made themselves Masters of her. They put some of the Men ashore, and others they detain'd, as they had done several Times, to encrease their Company; but Captain _Martel_, charged Captain _Wilson_, to advise his Owners, that their Ship would answer his Purpose exactly, by taking one Deck down, and as for the Cargo, which consisted chiefly of Logwood and Sugar, he would take Care it should be carry'd to a good Market.

Having fitted up the aforesaid Ship, as they design'd, they mounted her with 22 Guns, 100 Men, and left 25 Hands in the Sloop, and so proceeded to Cruize off the _Leeward_ Islands, where they met with but too much Success. After the taking of a Sloop and a Brigantine, they gave Chase to a stout Ship, which they came up with, and, at Sight of the Pyrate's Flag, she struck to the Robbers, being a Ship of 20 Guns, call'd the _Dolphin_, bound for _Newfoundland_. Captain _Martel_ made the Men Prisoners, and carry'd the Ship with him.

The middle of _December_ the Pyrates took another Galley in her Voyage home from _Jamaica_, call'd the _Kent_, Captain _Lawton_, and shifted her Provisions aboard their own Ship, and let her go, which obliged her to Sail back to _Jamaica_ for a Supply for her Voyage. After this they met with a small Ship and a Sloop, belonging to _Barbadoes_, out of both they took Provisions, and then parted with them, having first taken out some of their Hands, who were willing to be forced to go along with them. The _Greyhound_ Galley of _London_, Captain _Evans_, from _Guiney_ to _Jamaica_, was the next that had the Misfortune to fall in their Way, which they did not detain long, for as soon as they could get out all her Gold Dust, Elephant's Teeth, and 40 Slaves, they sent her onwards upon her Voyage. . . . . .

They concluded now, that 'twas high Time to get into Harbour and refit, as well as to get Refreshments themselves, and wait an Opportunity to dispose of their Cargo; therefore 'twas resolved to make the best of their Way to _Santa Crux_, a small Island in the Lattitude of 18, 30, N. ten Mile long, and two broad, lying South-East of _Porto Rico_, belonging to the _French_ Settlements. Here they thought they might lye privately enough for some Time, and fit themselves for further Mischief. They met with a Sloop by the Way, which they took along with them, and in the Beginning of the Year 1716-17, they arrived at their Port, having a Ship of 20 Guns, a Sloop of eight, and three Prizes, _viz._ another Ship of 20 Guns, a Sloop of four Guns, and another Sloop last taken; with this little Fleet, they got into a small Harbour, or Road, the N. W. Part of the Island, and warp'd up two Creeks, which were made by a little Island lying within the Bay; (I am the more particular now, because I shall take Leave of the Gentlemen, at this Place.) They had here bare 16 Foot Water, at the deepest, and but 13 or 14, at the shallowest, and nothing but Rocks and Sands without, which secured them from Wind and Sea, and likewise from any considerable Force coming against them.

When they had all got in, the first Thing they had to do, was to Guard themselves in the best Manner they could; they made a Battery of four Guns upon the Island, and another Battery of two Guns on the North Point of the Road, and warp'd in one of the Sloops with eight Guns, at the Mouth of the Channel, to hinder any Vessels from coming in; when this was done they went to Work on their Ship, unrigging, and unloading, in order to Clean, where I shall leave them a while, till I bring other Company to 'em.

In the Month of _November_, 1716, General _Hamilton_, Commander in chief of all the _Leeward Carribee Islands_, sent a Sloop Express to Captain _Hume_, at _Barbadoes_, Commander of his Majesty's Ship, _Scarborough_, of 30 Guns, and 140 Men, to acquaint him, that two Pyrate Sloops of 12 Guns each, molested the Colonies, having plundered several Vessels. The _Scarborough_ had bury'd twenty Men, and had near forty Sick, and therefore was but in ill State to go to Sea: However, Captain _Hume_ left his sick Men behind, and sailed to the other Islands, for a supply of Men, taking 20 Soldiers from _Antegoa_; at _Nevis_, he took 10, and 10 at St. _Christophers_, and then sailed to the Island of _Anguilla_, where he learned, that some Time before, 2 such Sloops had been at _Spanish-Town_, otherwise called, one of the _Virgin_ Islands: Accordingly, the next Day, the _Scarborough_ came to _Spanish-Town_, but could hear no News of the Sloops, only, that they had been there about _Christmas_, (it being then the 15th of _January_.)

Captain _Hume_, finding no Account could be had of these Pyrates, designed to go back, the next Day, to _Barbadoes_; but, it happened, that Night, that a Boat anchor'd there from _Santa Crux_, and informed him, that he saw a Pyrate Ship of 22 or 24 Guns, with other Vessels, going in to the North West Part of the Island aforesaid. The _Scarborough_ weigh'd immediately, and the next Morning came in Sight of the Rovers, and their Prizes, and stood to them, but the Pilot refused to venture in with the Ship; all the while the Pyrates fir'd red hot Bullets from the Shore. At length, the Ship came to an Anchor, along Side the Reef, near the Channel, and cannonaded for several Hours, both the Vessels and Batteries: About four in the Afternoon, the Sloop that guarded the Channel, was sunk by the Shot of the Man of War; then she cannonaded the Pyrate Ship of 22 Guns, that lay behind the Island. The next Night, _viz._ the 18th, it falling Calm, Captain _Hume_ weigh'd, fearing he might fall on the Reef, and so stood off and on for a Day or two, to block them up. On the 20th, in the Evening, they observed the Man of War to stand off to Sea, and took the Opportunity to warp out, in order to slip away from the Island; but at Twelve o'Clock they run a-ground, and then seeing the _Scarborough_ about, standing in again, as their Case was desperate, so they were put into the utmost Confusion; they quitted their Ship, and set her on Fire, with 20 Negroes in her, who were all burnt; 19 of the Pyrates made their Escape in a small Sloop, but the Captain and the rest, with 20 Negroes, betook to the Woods, where 'twas probable they might starve, for we never heard what became of 'em afterwards: Captain _Hume_ released the Prisoners, with the Ship and Sloop that remained, and then went after the two Pyrate Sloops first mentioned.

CHAP. III. OF Captain _TEACH_ alias BLACK-BEARD.

E_Dward Teach_ was a _Bristol_ Man born, but had sailed some Time out of _Jamaica_ in Privateers, in the late _French_ War; yet tho' he had often distinguished himself for his uncommon Boldness and personal Courage, he was never raised to any Command, till he went a-pyrating, which I think was at the latter End of the Year 1716, when Captain _Benjamin Hornigold_ put him into a Sloop that he had made Prize of, and with whom he continued in Consortship till a little while before _Hornigold_ surrendered.

In the Spring of the Year 1717, _Teach_ and _Hornigold_ sailed from _Providence_, for the Main of _America_, and took in their Way a Billop from the _Havana_, with 120 Barrels of Flower, as also a Sloop from _Bermuda_, _Thurbar_ Master, from whom they took only some Gallons of Wine, and then let him go; and a Ship from _Madera_ to _South-Carolina_, out of which they got Plunder to a considerable Value.

After cleaning on the Coast of _Virginia_, they returned to the _West-Indies_, and in the Latitude of 24, made Prize of a large _French Guiney_ Man, bound to _Martinico_, which by _Hornigold_'s Consent, _Teach_ went aboard of as Captain, and took a Cruize in her; _Hornigold_ returned with his Sloop to _Providence_, where, at the Arrival of Captain _Rogers_, the Governor, he surrendered to Mercy, pursuant to the King's Proclamation.

Aboard of this _Guiney_ Man _Teach_ mounted no Guns, and named her the _Queen Ann's Revenge_; and cruising near the Island of St. _Vincent_, took a large Ship, called the _Great Allen_, _Christopher Taylor_ Commander; the Pyrates plundered her of what they though fit, put all the Men ashore upon the Island above mentioned, and then set Fire to the Ship.

A few Days after, _Teach_ fell in with the _Scarborogh_ Man of War, of 30 Guns, who engaged him for some Hours; but she finding the Pyrate well mann'd, and having tried her strength, gave over the Engagement, and returned to _Barbadoes_, the Place of her Station; and _Teach_ sailed towards the _Spanish America_.

In his Way he met with a Pyrate Sloop of ten Guns, commanded by one Major _Bonnet_, lately a Gentleman of good Reputation and Estate in the Island of _Barbadoes_, whom he joyned; but in a few Days after, _Teach_, finding that _Bonnet_ knew nothing of a maritime Life, with the Consent of his own Men, put in another Captain, one _Richards_, to Command _Bonnet_'s Sloop, and took the Major on aboard his own Ship, telling him, that _as he had not been used to the Fatigues and Care of such a Post, it would be better for him to decline it, and live easy and at his Pleasure, in such a Ship as his, where he should not be obliged to perform Duty, but follow his own Inclinations._

At _Turniff_ ten Leagues short of the Bay of _Honduras_, the Pyrates took in fresh Water; and while they were at an Anchor there, they saw a Sloop coming in, whereupon, _Richards_ in the Sloop called the _Revenge_, slipped his Cable, and run out to meet her; who upon seeing the black Flag hoisted, struck his Sail and came to, under the Stern of _Teach_ the Commadore. She was called the _Adventure_, from _Jamaica_, _David Harriot_ Master. They took him and his Men aboard the great Ship, and sent a Number of other Hands with _Israel Hands_, Master of _Teach_'s Ship, to Man the Sloop for the pyratical Account.

The 9th of April, they weighed from _Turniff_, having lain there about a Week, and sailed to the Bay, where they found a Ship and four Sloops, three of the latter belonged to _Jonathan Bernard_, of _Jamaica_, and the other to Captain _James_; the Ship was of _Boston_, called the _Protestant Cæsar_, Captain _Wyar_ Commander. _Teach_ hoisted his Black Colours, and fired a Gun, upon which Captain _Wyar_ and all his Men, left their Ship, and got ashore in their Boat. _Teach_'s Quarter-Master, and eight of his Crew, took Possession of _Wyar_'s Ship, and _Richards_ secured all the Sloops, one of which they burnt out of spight to the Owner; the _Protestant Cæsar_ they also burnt, after they had plundered her, because she belonged to _Boston_, where some Men had been hanged for Pyracy; and the three Sloops belonging to _Bernard_ they let go.

From hence the Rovers sailed to _Turkill_, and then to the _Grand Caimanes_, a small Island about thirty Leagues to the Westward of _Jamaica_, where they took a small Turtler, and so to the _Havana_, and from thence to the _Bahama_ Wrecks, and from the _Bahama_ Wrecks, they sailed to _Carolina_, taking a Brigantine and two Sloops in their Way, where they lay off the Bar of _Charles-Town_ for five or six Days. They took here a Ship as she was coming out, bound for London, commanded by _Robert Clark_, with some Passengers on Board for _England_; the next Day they took another Vessel coming out of _Charles-Town_, and also two Pinks coming into _Charles-Town_; likewise a Brigantine with 14 Negroes aboard; all which being done in the Face of the Town, struck a great Terror to the whole Province of _Carolina_, having just before been visited by _Vane_, another notorious Pyrate, that they abandoned themselves to Dispair, being in no Condition to resist their Force. They were eight Sail in the Harbour, ready for the Sea, but none dared to venture out, it being almost impossible to escape their Hands. The inward bound Vessels were under the same unhappy Dilemma, so that the Trade of this Place was totally interrupted: What made these Misfortunes heavier to them, was a long expensive War, the Colony had had with the Natives, which was but just ended when these Robbers infested them.

_Teach_ detained all the Ships and Prisoners, and, being in want of Medicines, resolves to demand a Chest from the Government of the Province; accordingly _Richards_, the Captain of the _Revenge_ Sloop, with two or three more Pyrates, were sent up along with Mr. _Marks_, one of the Prisoners, whom they had taken in _Clark_'s Ship, and very insolently made their Demands, threatning, that if they did not send immediately the Chest of Medicines, and let the Pyrate-Ambassadors return, without offering any Violence to their Persons, they would murder all their Prisoners, send up their Heads to the Governor, and set the Ships they had taken on Fire.

Whilst Mr. _Marks_ was making Application to the Council, _Richards_, and the rest of the Pyrates, walk'd the Streets publickly, in the Sight of all People, who were fired with the utmost Indignation, looking upon them as Robbers and Murtherers, and particularly the Authors of their Wrongs and Oppressions, but durst not so much as think of executing their Revenge, for fear of bringing more Calamities upon themselves, and so they were forced to let the Villains pass with Impunity. The Government were not long in deliberating upon the Message, tho' 'twas the greatest Affront that could have been put upon them; yet for the saving so many Mens Lives, (among them, Mr. _Samuel Wragg_, one of the Council;) they comply'd with the Necessity, and sent aboard a Chest, valued at between 3 and 400 _l._ and the Pyrates went back safe to their Ships.

_Blackbeard_, (for so _Teach_ was generally called, as we shall hereafter shew) as soon as he had received the Medicines and his Brother Rogues, let go the Ships and the Prisoners; having first taken out of them in Gold and Silver, about 1500 _l._ Sterling, besides Provisions and other Matters.

From the Bar of _Charles-Town_, they sailed to _North-Carolina_; Captain _Teach_ in the Ship, which they called the Man of War, Captain _Richards_ and Captain _Hands_ in the Sloops, which they termed Privateers, and another Sloop serving them as a Tender. _Teach_ began now to think of breaking up the Company, and securing the Money and the best of the Effects for himself, and some others of his Companions he had most Friendship for, and to cheat the rest: Accordingly, on Pretence of running into _Topsail_ Inlet to clean, he grounded his Ship, and then, as if it had been done undesignedly, and by Accident; he orders _Hands_'s Sloop to come to his Assistance, and get him off again, which he endeavouring to do, ran the Sloop on Shore near the other, and so were both lost. This done, _Teach_ goes into the Tender Sloop, with forty Hands, and leaves the _Revenge_ there; then takes seventeen others and Marroons them upon a small sandy Island, about a League from the Main, where there was neither Bird, Beast or Herb for their Subsistance, and where they must have perished if Major _Bonnet_ had not two Days after taken them off.

_Teach_ goes up to the Governor of _North-Carolina_, with about twenty of his Men, surrender to his Majesty's Proclamation, and receive Certificates thereof, from his Excellency; but it did not appear that their submitting to this Pardon was from any Reformation of Manners, but only to wait a more favourable Opportunity to play the same Game over again; which he soon after effected, with greater Security to himself, and with much better Prospect of Success, having in this Time cultivated a very good understanding with _Charles Eden_, Esq; the Governor above mentioned.

The first Piece of Service this kind Governor did to _Black-Beard_, was, to give him a Right to the Vessel which he had taken, when he was a pyrating in the great Ship called the _Queen Ann's Revenge_; for which purpose, a Court of Vice-Admiralty was held at _Bath-Town_; and, tho' _Teach_ had never any Commission in his Life, and the Sloop belonging to the _English_ Merchants, and taken in Time of Peace; yet was she condemned as a Prize taken from the _Spaniards_, by the said _Teach_. These Proceedings shew that Governors are but Men.

Before he sailed upon his Adventures, he marry'd a young Creature of about sixteen Years of Age, the Governor performing the Ceremony. As it is a Custom to marry here by a Priest, so it is there by a Magistrate; and this, I have been informed, made _Teach_'s fourteenth Wife, whereof, about a dozen might be still living. His Behaviour in this State, was something extraordinary; for, while his Sloop lay in _Okerecock_ Inlet, and he ashore at a Plantation, where his Wife lived, with whom after he had lain all Night, it was his Custom to invite five or six of his brutal Companions to come ashore, and he would force her to prostitute her self to them all, one after another, before his Face.

In _June_ 1718, he went to Sea, upon another Expedition, and steered his Course towards _Bermudas_; he met with two or three _English_ Vessels in his Way, but robbed them only of Provisions, Stores and other Necessaries, for his present Expence; but near the Island aforementioned, he fell in with two _French_ Ships, one of them was loaden with Sugar and Cocoa, and the other light, both bound to _Martinico_; the Ship that had no Lading he let go, and putting all the Men of the loaded Ship aboard her, he brought home the other with her Cargo to _North-Carolina_, where the Governor and the Pyrates shared the Plunder.

When _Teach_ and his Prize arrived, he and four of his Crew went to his Excellency, and made Affidavit, that they found the _French_ Ship at Sea, without a Soul on Board her; and then a Court was called, and the Ship condemned: The Governor had sixty Hogsheads of Sugar for his Dividend, and one Mr. _Knight_, who was his Secretary, and Collector for the Province, twenty, and the rest was shared among the other Pyrates.