Part 2
The purport of the aforesaid letter sent to _Plymouth_, was to advise _Shelvocke_ of his mutinous behaviour and rudeness to captain _Clipperton_; and that by return of the mail, if the owners did not receive assurances of his intire contentment with the post he had, a commission would be sent down for another person to command the _Speedwel_ in his room. Upon which captain _Shelvocke_ wrote at several times as followeth.
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SIR,
“I Am favour’d with yours; but surpris’d very much at so sudden a change: but the many favours I have received from your hands, has easily brought me to a resolution of submitting.----_Dec. 13. 1718._ I am easy, perfectly easy, and very heartily thankful for all your favours. I am far from thinking it a disrepute to serve you in any capacity. For God’s sake, Sir, pardon small falts: I starve without your friendship. I know the world so well, that I have no other friend----_Dec. 19._ I assure you I shall always act like a faithful servant: and no spirit shall proceed from me, but such as honour and gratitude directs. I shall with the greatest cheerfulness shew captain _Clipperton_ all the respect in the world.----_Jan. 27. 1719._ All resentments are laid aside by me long since, and don’t doubt of brotherhood with captain _Clipperton_. Our ships are much better man’d than ever, both bearing more than their complement; and I am very glad of the addition you have been pleased to make of so many gentlemen to the service.”
All these particulars I had from the said gentleman since my return from the voyage; and captain _Shelvocke_’s letters are here inserted to shew how forward he was to promise, and how little he meant to perform.
By the sequel of his behaviour throughout this book, all mankind will see what conceal’d revenge he had in his heart: Being determin’d henceforth pyratically to act, arbitrarily to manage and destroy so well concerted a scheme for the interest of all parties, and to disappoint the hopes of many other people, who were desirous to shew the _Spanish_ nation how small a force from _England_ could annoy and plunder them in their most powerful, distant settlements.
Here it must be observ’d with what care _Shelvocke_ has avoided giving the true reasons why the command was changed; and has labour’d to throw the miscarriage of the expedition on _Clipperton_’s incapacity, the change of officers, and the frequent mutinies of his own men: whereas I shall fully prove that the ruin of our voyage was the consequence of his own pride, avarice and treachery.
’Tis to be noted that captain _Clipperton_ died before _Shelvocke_ had any thoughts of writing a book: And it’s highly probable that if _Clipperton_ were alive to answer for himself, _Shelvocke_ had never been bold enough to print such a scandalous history. And as to _Shelvocke_’s officers, they were so far from being accessary to any miscarriage, that he never consulted us on any occasion whatever; tho’ he, as well as _Clipperton_, had strict orders in all enterprizes to follow that excellent scheme framed and practised by captain _Woodes Rogers_ in his memorable voyage round the globe; which is certainly the safest method for all navigators, who mean to execute any project of this kind; and for which end _Rogers_’s printed journal was put aboard each ship. It was his rule never to undertake any thing of moment, without first calling a council of his chief officers, who in writing testify’d their approbation of, and concurrence in the execution of the design: But our captain was above confining himself to any precedents or orders, his will being the only reason for all he did, so that he never kept any journal or diary at all; which is perfectly agreeable to his resolution, and the design he first had in view, never to join the _Success_ after he lost company with her in the storm mention’d in the third page of his book: And tho’ he seems sorry at the separation, yet the _Success_ had most reason to be so, for _Shelvocke_ had the whole store of wine and brandy aboard the _Speedwell_; so that _Clipperton_ was forc’d to go a tedious comfortless voyage without any. _Shelvocke_, indeed, says he offer’d him his liquors when at sea, and the other neglected to take them in; which, if true, is not a material objection, because _Clipperton_ expecting no treachery, but a punctual meeting to the windward of grand _Canary_, the first place of rendezvous, doubtless thought it might be then time enough; but I question the fact, because _Taylor_’s journal takes no notice of their speaking with each other that day, which runs thus.
“_Success Feb. 15._ these 24 hours fresh gales and squally with rain. This evening unbent our best and small bowers, stow’d our anchors, and have been oblig’d to shorten sail several times for the _Speedwell_.”
But, however, to shew that _Shelvocke_ was well enough pleas’d to part with his consort, he steer’d a course quite different from the _Success_, and contrary to his duty; as appears by _Taylor_’s journal. “_Feb. 20._ These 24 hours fresh gales and cloudy with small rain. At two this afternoon, the storm being somewhat abated, we wore and made sail, steering away south and by east.” And continuing his course to the Southward, arrived off the _Canaries_ the sixth of _March_ following, which run he made in fourteen days: Whereas _Shelvocke_ p. 4. has it thus. “_Feb. 20._ We had no sight of the _Success_ or any other vessel. At noon we set the mainsail double reefed, and at midnight the topsails, and stood to the north-west,” when it’s plain, he might have steer’d the same course to the southward, but for views of his own went to the northward; and accordingly did not arrive at the _Canaries_, till he might well judge his consort was gone: For page 9. he owns his arrival there on the seventeenth of _March_, which is eleven days difference, and with this aggravation, that instead of going to the windward, I well remember we hawl’d close in under the lee of the said island, being the north-east side thereof; because the winds govern there most part of the year in the south-west board.
The next day after losing company, _Shelvocke_ seeing a piece of a wreck float along the _Speedwell_’s side, endeavour’d to persuade us, that _Clipperton_ was lost in the storm, alledging, for his reasons, that the _Success_ was built very slight, greater regard being had to her sailing than burdening well, and that her weight of metal had torn her sides out, and so was gone to the bottom. But finding this did not pass with us, he then insisted that she bore away for _France_ or _Ireland_, to purchase wine or brandy, without which, according to him, nothing at all was to be done: And I own it was very hard to be forc’d on a long voyage to the southward, when the sun was in his northern course, without either of those chearful supports of nature. But to prove that _Clipperton_ could do his duty without wine and brandy, he like a good officer sail’d to the _Canaries_, being the first place of rendezvous; and cruising there his limited time, proceded to St. _Vincent_, one of the _Cape de Verd_ islands; at one of which places he doubted not of meeting us.
_Taylor_’s journal has it thus,
“_Success, March 15, 1719._ Having cruised ten days off the _Canaries_, without meeting our consort or taking any prize, and in little hopes of either, we steer away to the _Cape de Verd_ islands: And at six this forenoon the island _Gomera_ bore north half west, distant nine leagues, latitude 28 : 00 north, longitude 00 : 00 west, whence I take my departure.”
But _Shelvocke_, who never design’d to give the owners any true account of his captures or procedings, from this time stood resolved to act independently on _Clipperton_, and never meet him again, except by chance: for as soon as we had lost the _Success_, _Hendrie_ and _Dod_, as well as my self, who were at his table, often heard him declare, he never would join her again, or words to that effect: wherein he fulfill’d his promise by knocking his ship on the head at _Fernandes_, the circumstances of which, as I shall hereafter relate them, will make it plainly appear to be done on purpose. And further, he assur’d us all at several times, that on his return to _Europe_, he would avoid _England_, and go to _Hamburgh_, or some other free port, and there remain till he should bring his owners to a composition; adding with an oath, that if they went to law, he would hold them to it with their own money. And herein also he has kept his word; for though he has been in _London_ these five years, he still refuses giving the owners any satisfaction: taking care however by absconding, to avoid being served with a writ in _Chancery_; which I believe would soon put an end to the suit so long carrying on by the gentlemen adventurers, on the evidence of many who serv’d on board the _Speedwell_, as well as my own.
And such was this man’s particular affection for strong liquors, that we have often heard him say, there was but one honest fellow among all the gentlemen adventurers; for he spoke well when he desired we might have brandy and wine enough; tho’ all the time we were fitting out, he was pleas’d to call them men of worth and honour, and never failed at every fresh bottle to drink their healths: But now ’tis damn them; and for his part he would take care of number one. This new way of treating our Patrons, whose property we were then making very free with, somewhat startled us: and I fearing these frequent declarations of his would rather tend to disunite the ship’s company, and ruin our scheme, look’d often towards _Hatley_ our second captain, as expecting he would speak first; but finding him silent, I address’d my self to our commander in these words: Sir, if I may have leave to offer my thoughts upon these frank declarations of your designs, it is my humble opinion, that to act separately from captain _Clipperton_, will terminate in the ruin of this expedition. To which he answered, no, no, we have a good ship, well man’d, and found with all necessaries; we shall do well enough: I reply’d, that surely our owners would have hardly put themselves to the expense of two ships, could they have had any reasonable prospect of making a good voyage with one in these remote parts. This threw _Shelvocke_ into a great rage: He us’d me ill; said I was insolent, and ask’d me if I meant to usurp the command of the ship? The next day at dinner I drank, as usual, the gentlemens health to whom we were all indebted for this favourable prospect of making our fortunes. At this he flung his cann at my Head, while I was drinking, and took it for an insult of his authority. Nor did he spare any of his other officers; but at one time or other struck us all, except Mr. _Dod_, whose greater advance in years perhaps protected him.
This scandalous treatment I was forc’d to undergo for the honour I did the gentlemen owners, and respectfully mentioning the necessity of our rejoining the _Success_. And from this time a universal discontent appear’d in the ship’s company, not only among the officers, but was visible in the faces of the meanest of the crew. For _Shelvocke_, to improve his own design, went so far as to insinuate, that at our return the gentlemen would be cunning enough to defraud us of our proper dividends; tho’ I dare say there was none among us, who did not think it more dishonourable to mistrust a set of worthy gentlemen, than to find our selves deceiv’d by them at last.
Thus may the impartial reader see that all the uneasiness of _Shelvocke_’s men was occasioned by his own inhumanity and perfidiousness: And tho’ none of his officers, except my self, ever offer’d to controvert his base conduct, or absurd sentiments, yet he has the assurance _p_. 4. to say his people mutinied, and pretended the ship was incapable to go through the voyage.
I will allow the men that the ship was very full and much pester’d, but can’t allow _Shelvocke_ that she was so crank or tender as not to carry sail. The wind was then at S. W. or S. W. by W. and he owns he carried his topsails the next day after the storm, which was the 20^{th} of _Feb._ Could she not then make as good way to the southward with her starboard tacks aboard, as she could to the northward with her larboard?
Page 7. _Shelvocke_ gravely tells his readers that _Hatley_, second captain, disputed the command with him. The Story in short is thus: Some questions arising about seamanship, and both of them fuddled, _Hatley_ seem’d too tenacious of his opinion; at which _Shelvocke_ in a fury bolted up, “See, gentlemen, do you mind how the villain disputes the command with me?” These were his very words, using him but in a scurvy manner before all the company, and upon the quarter-deck: after which he order’d the men to call him no otherwise than Mr. _Hatley_. This we’ll suppose they submitted to, and indulg’d the mighty _Shelvocke_ in his mean vanity.
His son _George_ too contributed much to the company’s uneasiness, tho’ he had no real business to go with us; for his name is not among those who subscrib’d the articles: and he knew nothing of sea affairs, or indeed of any thing else that was commendable or manly. His imployment at _London_ was to dangle after the women, and gossip at the tea-table; and aboard us, his whole business was to thrust himself into all society, overhear every thing that was said, then go and tell his father: so that he was more fit for aboarding school than a ship of war. Yet had this insignificant fellow a dividend of 660 pound out of one prize, in prejudice to many honest brave men, destroy’d, lost and begger’d at the captain’s pleasure.
We are now to the leeward of _Grand Canary_, where our captain takes a little fisherman’s bark, I’m positive not above eight or ten ton, and which we all pray’d might be turn’d adrift for the poor owner’s use, but in vain; for tho’ of no import at all to us, yet to him she serv’d as a good pretext for santering away ten or twelve days, fitting her out in a warlike manner to peep into every creek of the lee of that and the neighbouring islands, till _Clipperton_ may be well supposed gone far enough ahead.
The next place of rendezvous he conceals from his officers. By his own account, which follows, one would suspect him to be guilty; but by the help of _Taylor_’s journal I shall convict him throughly.
_Shelvocke_ p. 9. “Having finish’d my cruise without meeting or hearing of the _Success_, I found my self in a very melancholy state, when I came to consider that the next appointed rendezvous was at the island _John Fernandes_ in the great _South Seas_.” And yet p. 11. he says, “We took our departure from _Faro_, one of the _Canaries_, in hopes of meeting captain _Clipperton_ among the _Cape de Verd_ islands, and took our prize along with us.”----which I am sure was not worth a commission ship to be troubled with 300 leagues.
He well knew this was the next place agreed to meet at, tho’ carefully concealed from us; however _Taylor_’s journal confirms it.
“_Success, March 21._ Fresh gales, _&c._ At six this afternoon we saw St. _Vincent_, at ten next morning we anchor’d in the bay and found a _French_ merchant ship and the _Diamond_ of _Bristol_, captain _Cleader_, taking in an odd sort of cargo for _Jamaica_, _viz._ asses. This being appointed the next place of rendezvous, we were in hopes to find the _Speedwell_, but are convinced of the contrary, to our great surprise, and greater concern for the want of our liquors, without the moderate use of which, it’s dull living either ashore or at sea; so that I cannot help saying we all look like the cargo aforemention’d, for suffering _Shelvocke_ to keep our wine and brandy.”
Now let any indifferent person judge whether ’tis probable that _Fernandes_ could be the next appointed rendezvous from the _Canaries_, being a run of no less than 120 degrees.
We arrive next at the isle of _May_, and are taken for pyrates; _Shelvocke_ gives it the softer name of freebooters. Here I remember we had six silver goblets for our common drinking, and he, like a careful officer, lest they should be lost, calls up the armourer to melt and hammer five of them into circles to adorn the outside of a fine pail, made by the cooper, for the more glorious drinking of _Hipsy_, a liquor compounded of wine, water and brandy, which by the admirers of it, is also call’d mear, drink and cloth. And now I took leave of a glass of pure wine; for _Shelvocke_ labouring a little with the gout, imagined this compound to be its best antidote, and so we all lived upon it in a wanton manner, till our wine and brandy was exhausted; which, tho’ designed for the use of both ships, hardly served us a twelve month.
This also proved a means of dividing us; for those, whom hard drinking did not agree with, he distinguish’d with a sour morose behaviour, and look’d on them as malecontents; so that the quantity of _Hipsy_ was the only title to a proportion of merit in our captain’s favour.
_Taylor_’s journal gives the following account of the island of St. _Vincent_, which I thought not improper to insert. “That it affords but little provision or refreshments of any kind, except goats and young asses, which he says are good food, their men having eat very freely thereof. That it’s also but a poor place to wood and water at, there being but one small drein: and that your boats are always in danger, from the greatness of the surf.” From hence they took their departure on the 2d of _April 1719_.
But _Shelvocke_, who was not in so much haste, got no farther than the island of St. _Jago_, on the 18th of the same month, where he sold his small prize to the governer for but 80 dollars, tho’ he says 150. Then he sends away his kinsman _Adams_, our Surgeon, to the chief town of this island, to inform himself privately all that he could learn of the _Success_; and to purchase sugar, without which there was no making _Hipsy_. He return’d with the agreeable news of _Clipperton_’s being gone from St. _Vincent_’s, which, however, was concel’d from us. And now _Shelvocke_ being past all fears of meeting _Clipperton_, resolves to put it out of the power of chance to fall in with him any more, by forming a design of wintering at St. _Catharine_’s, on the coast of _Brasil_: and accordingly, on the 20th of _April_, weighs anchor and sails towards the continent of _America_.
On the 5th of _June_, 1719, we met a _Portuguese_ merchantman near _Cape Frio_. Our captain order’d the Emperor’s colours to be hoisted, which, without any reflection, look the most thief-like of any worn by honest men: those of his Imperial Majesty are a black spread eagle in a yellow field, and those of the pyrates a yellow field and black human skeleton; which at a small distance are not easily distinguished, especially in light gales of wind. So he brings her to, by firing a musket thwart her forefoot; sends aboard her the best busker (as he himself call’d _Hatley_) with a boat’s crew; each man arm’d with a cutlass and a case of pistols.
The _Portuguese_ not only imagines his ship made prize, but thinks also how he shall undergo that piece of discipline used by the merry blades in the _West-Indies_, call’d blooding and sweating; which is done by making the captain, on the ill report of his men, or his declining to discover where his money is hid, to run the gantlet naked thro’ the pyrate’s crew; each of them furnish’d with a sail-needle, pricking him in the buttocks, back and shoulders; thus bleeding they put him into a sugar cask swarming with cock-roaches, cover him with a blanket, and there leave him to glut the vermin with his blood.
_Don Pedro_, to save his bacon, took care however to be very officious or yare handed (as we say) with his present: For no sooner was _Hatley_ on his quarter-deck, but the _Portuguese_ seamen began to hand into the boat the fruits and refreshments they had aboard, as plantins, bananas, lemons, oranges, pomgranates, _&c._ three or four dozen boxes of marmalade and other sweatmeats; some _Dutch_ cheeses, and a large quantity of sugars.----If they had stopp’d here, it was well enough, and might pass as a present; but after this there came above a dozen pieces of silk, several of which were flower’d with gold and silver, worth, at least, three pound a yard, by retale; several dozen of _China_ plates and basins, a small _Japan_ cabinet; not to mention what the men took, who on seeing the _Portuguese_ so brisk at handing their things into the boat, concluded immediately they had as good a right to a present, as any body else. So on board they go, laying hold on what came next to hand: In short, as ’twas all a present, I can’t see who could pretend to restrain them. Among other things, _Hatley_ brought the last and handsomest present of all, a purse of 300 moydors.
This convinc’d _Shelvocke_ he was not deceiv’d in calling _Hatley_ the best busker, that is, an impudent sharp fellow, (from the _Spanish_ word _buscar_, to look out sharp,) who, perhaps, to reingratiate himself, did the devil’s work; by whose laudable example our boat’s crew robb’d the man of more than I can pretend to say: but I remember the boat was pretty well laden with one trade or other; and none of the officers dared so much as peep into her, till all was out. While these things were handing into the ship, a sham kind of quarel ensues between our chieftains.
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Shel. _Zounds! what do you mean by all this, Sir?_
Hat. _By what, Sir?_
Shel. _Bringing me these baubles?_
Hat. _Sir they are very cheap._
Shel. _But I shall want my money for other uses._
Hat. _They’ll fetch double the cost at our next port._
Shel. _You always act contrary to my orders._
Hat. _Sir, I laid out my own money in the same things as I did yours._
Shel. _It’s a hard case I have no officer worth trusting; I can have nothing well done, except I go out of the ship my self upon every occasion._
Hat. _I thought I had done for the better._--
Shel. _I’ll have you know, Sir, I’ll be obey’d._
Hat. _Your commands shall always be to me as a law._
Shel. _Where’s the account or bill of parcels?_
Hat. _Sir, not easily understanding one another, we lump’d it; but I can draw one out._
Shel. _Pray see you do._
Hat. _Yes Sir._
Shel. _Whither is he bound?_
Hat. _To_ Pernambucco.
Shel. _Where belonging to?_
Hat. _To_ Rio Janeiro, _whence he brought these fruits and refreshments, which he presents you with; desiring me to give you his humble service, and that any thing in his ship is at your disposal._
Shel. _Well, I believe he’s a very honest fellow. Take the trumpet; tell him I thank him, and that he may persue his voyage._
Hatley with the speaking trumpet. _O senior capitan, O ho?_
Capt. _Ho la senior._
Hat. _Amigo, Prosiga v, m, su camino con dios_; that is, go on friend, and God bless you.
Capt. muttering. _Y, v, m, el voestro con mille demonios, perro ladron_; that is, go you on, you thieving dog, and a thousand devils along with you.
The _Portuguese_ captain thus fleeced, hoisted his topsails and away he goes, glad enough ’twas no worse. _Shelvocke_ will have it, p. 16. that there were but four or five pieces of silk, but I have as good a memory as himself: And supposing, tho’ not allowing there was no more, and as the 80 dollars, prize money, was laid out in sugar and some refreshments at St. _Jago_, whence must the cost of those silks, china and cabinet come? since I am positive we could not muster up five pounds amongst us all when we left _Plymouth_; answering in that respect the character of right privatiers men; but in no other instance.
He likewise says, p. 22. that _Hatley_’s moydors were but 80 or 100, whereof ten were given the cockswain, and six to each of the boat’s crew, which shall, in the sequel, be set in a fairer light, when _Hatley_ and I were taken prisoners, and 96 of the moydors found upon him.