Part 18
The Captain still cry'd for Mercy, and begg'd an Hour's respite only, but all in vain; he was seized by the Villains, and thrown over Board; catch'd however, and hung by the Main-Sheet, which _Winthorp_ seeing, fetch'd the Cooper's broad Ax, and chopping off the unhappy Master's Hand, he was swallowed up by the Sea.
The Captain being thus dispatched, _Thomas Jenkins_, the Mate, was secured and brought upon Deck, to share the same cruel Fate. His Intreaties were as useless as the Captain's; the Sentence they had passed upon him was not to be reversed; they were deaf to his Prayers and Remonstrances, Strangers to Humanity and Compassion. He was of the Captain's Mess, they said, and they should e'en drink together; it was Pity to part good Company.
Thus they jested with his Agonies; he, however, made some Struggle, which irritating his Murderers, one of them snatched up the Ax, with which _Winthorp_ had lopped off the Captain's Hand, and gave him a great Cut on the Shoulder, by missing his Head, where the Blow was aimed, and he was thrown into the Sea. He swam notwithstanding, and called out to the Doctor to throw him a Rope, who, poor Man, could not hear him, being secured, and laid in Irons in his own Cabin; and had he heard, and been able to have thrown the Rope required, could it be expected that these harden'd Wretches would have relented, and shewn him Mercy? But the sinking Man will catch at a Straw, and Hope, they say, is the last that deserts us. While we have Life we are apt to flatter our selves, some lucky Accident may favour us.
It was next debated what should be done with the Doctor. Some were for sending him to look after the Captain and Mate, but the Majority, as he was a useful Man, thought it better to keep him. All obstacles being removed, _Mitchel_ saluted _Fly_ Captain, and, with the rest of the Crew who had been in the Conspiracy, with some Ceremony, gave him Possession of the great Cabin.
Here a Bowl of Punch being made, _Morice Cundon_ was called down, and one _John Fitzherbert_ set to the Helm in his Place. At the same Time the Carpenter and _Thomas Streaton_ were brought before the Captain, who told them they were three Rascals, and richly deserved to be sent after the Captain and Mate, but that they were willing to shew them Mercy, and not put them to Death in cold Blood, and he would therefore only put them in Irons, for the Security of the Ship's Crew; they were accordingly ordered out, and iron'd. _Fly_ then told his Comrades it was convenient to resolve on some Course, when Word was brought them, that a Ship was very near them. The Council broke up, and made a clear Ship, when, in a very little while after, they found it was the _Pompey_, which had left _Jamaica_ in Company with the Snow; the _Pompey_ standing for the Snow, which did not make from her, soon haled, and asked how Captain _Green_ did, and was answered by _Fly_, that he was very well. They did not think fit to attack this Ship, but returning to hold their Consultation, it was resolved to steer for _North Carolina_.
Upon their Arrival on that Coast they spied a Sloop at Anchor within the _Bar_; she was call'd the _John_ and _Hannah_, and commanded by Captain _Fulker_, who thinking the Snow might want a Pilot stepp'd into his Boat with his Mate, Mr. _Atkinson_, and Mr. _Roan_, two Passengers, and a young Lad, in order to bring her in. When they came on board, they were told, that the _Snow_ was come with a Cargoe from _Jamaica_; Captain _Fulker_ and Mr. _Roan_ were desired to walk down to the Captain, who was in the Cabbin; _Fly_ received them very civilly, ordered a Bowl of Punch, and hearing Captain _Fulker_ had brought another Passenger on Board, Mr. _Atkinson_ was also invited down.
The Punch being brought in, Captain _Fly_ told his Guest, that he was no Man to mince Matters; that he and his Comrades were Gentlemen of Fortune, and should make bold to try if Captain _Fulker_'s Sloop was a better Sailor than the _Snow_, if she was, she would prove much fitter for their Business, and they must have her: The _Snow_ came to an Anchor about a League off the Sloop, and _Fly_ ordered _Fulker_, with six of his own Hands, into the Boat, to bring her alongside of the _Snow_; but the Wind proving contrary, their Endeavours proved also vain, and they returned again in the Boat, bringing Captain _Fulker_ back with them.
As soon as they came on board the _Snow_, _Fly_ fell into a violent Passion, cursing and damning _Fulker_ for not bringing off the Sloop; he gave him his Reason, and said, it was impossible. _Damn ye_, replied the Pyrate, _you lie you Dog, but d--n my B--d, your Hide shall pay for your Roguery, and if I can't bring her off I'll burn her where she lies_. He then order'd Captain _Fulker_ to the Geers; no Reason, no Arguments, could prevail; he was stripp'd and lash'd after a very inhuman Manner: And the Boat's Crew being sent again, with much ado carried her off as far as the Barr, where she bilged and sunk. The Pyrates then endeavoured to set what remained of her out of Water on Fire, but they could not burn her.
The _Snow_ getting under Sail to look out for some Booty, _Fulker_ and the others desired they might be set at Liberty, but it was denied them for the present, tho' not without a Promise that they should be released the first Vessel they took.
The fifth of _June_ they left _Carolina_, and the next Day they spied a Sail, which prov'd the _John_ and _Betty_, commanded by Capt. _Gale_, bound from _Barbadoes_ to _Guiney_. _Fly_ gave Chase, but finding the Ship wronged him, he made a Signal of Distress, hoisting his Jack at the main Top-Mast Head; but this Decoy did not hinder the Ship making the best of her Way. _Fly_ continued the Chace all Night, and the Wind slackening, he came within Shot of the Ship, and fir'd several Guns at her under his black Ensign; the Ship being of no Force, and the Pyrates ready to board, the Captain struck; and _Fly_ manning his Long-Boat, which carried a Pateraro in the Bow, the Crew being well armed with Pistols and Cutlashes went on Board the Prize, and sent Capt. _Gale_, after having secured his Men, Prisoner on board the _Snow_.
This Prize was of little Value to the Pyrates, who took nothing but some Sail-Cloaths and small Arms, and after two Days let her go, but took away six of his Men, setting on board Capt. _Fulker_ and a Passenger (Mr. _Atkinson_ was detained) and Capt. _Green_'s Surgeon; they kept this Gentleman, Mr. _Atkinson_, knowing he was a good Artist, and lately Master of the _Boneta_ Brigantine, as a Pilot for the Coast of _New England_, which they were satisfied he was well acquainted with.
Upon Mr. _Atkinson_'s desiring to have his Liberty with the others, Captain _Fly_ made him the following Speech: Look ye, Captain _Atkinson_, it is not that we care a T--d for your Company, G--d d--n ye; G--d d--n my Soul, not a T--d by G--d, and that's fair; but G--d d--n ye, and G--d's B--d and W--ds, if you don't act like an honest Man G--d d--n ye, and offer to play us any Rogues Tricks by G--d, and G--d sink me, but I'll blow your Brains out; G--d d--n me, if I don't. Now, Capt. _Atkinson_, you may do as you please, you may be a Son of a Whore and pilot us wrong, which, G--d d--n ye, would be a rascally Trick by G--d, because you would betray Men who trust in you; but, by the eternal J--s, you shan't live to see us hang'd. I don't love many Words, G--d d--n ye, if you have a Mind to be well used you shall, G--d's B--d; but if you will be a Villain and betray your Trust, may G--d strike me dead, and may I drink a Bowl of Brimstone and Fire with the D--l, if I don't send you head-long to H--ll, G--d d--n me; and so there needs no more Arguments by G--d, for I've told you my Mind, and here's all the Ships Crew for Witnesses, that if I do blow your Brains out, you may blame no Body but your self, G--d d--n ye.
Mr. _Atkinson_ answered, it was very hard he should be forced to take upon him the Pilotage, when he did not pretend to know the Coast, and that his Life should answer for any Mistake his Ignorance of the Coast might make him guilty of, and therefore begg'd he might be set on board Capt. _Gale_; and that they would trust to their own Knowledge, since he did not doubt there being better Artists on Board. No, No, replied _Fly_, that won't do by G--d, your palavring won't save your Bacon. _Muchas palabras no valen nada_, as the _Spaniards_ say; so either discharge your Trust like an honest Man, for go you shan't by G--d, or I'll send you with my Service to the D--l; so no more Words, G--d d--n ye.
There was no Reply made, and they stood for the Coast of _New England_; off _Delaware_'s Bay they made a Sloop, commanded by one _Harris_, bound from _New York_ to _Pensilvania_: She had on Board about fifty Passengers; _Fly_ gave Chase, and coming up with her, hoisted his black Ensign, and ordered her to strike, which she immediately did; and _Fly_ sent Capt. _Atkinson_ on Board with three of his Hands, to sail her, tho' he would not allow him, (_Atkinson_) any Arms: They, the Pyrates, ransack'd this Prize, but not finding her of any Use to them, after a Detention of 24 Hours, they let her go, with her Men, excepting only a well made young Fellow, whose Name was _James Benbrooke_, whom they kept.
_Fly_, after having releas'd the Prize, ordered Captain _Atkinson_ to carry the _Snow_ into _Martha_'s Vineyard, but, he willfully miss'd this Place. _Fly_ finding himself beyond _Nantuckets_, and that his Design was baulk'd, called to _Atkinson_, and told him, _he was a rascally Son of an envenom'd Bitch, and d--n his Blood it was a Piece of Cruelty to let such a Son of a Whore live, who design'd the Death of so many honest Fellows_. _Atkinson_, in his Defence said, he never pretended to know the Coast, and that it was very hard he should die for being thought an abler Man than he really was; had he pretended to be their Pilot, and did not know his Business, he deserved Punishment; but when he was forc'd upon a Business which he before declared he did not understand, it would be certainly cruel to make him suffer for their Mistake.--_G--d d--n ye_, replied _Fly_, _you are an obstinate Villain, and your Design is to hang us; but, B--d and W--ds you Dog, you shan't live to see it_, and saying this, he ran into his Cabbin and fetch'd a Pistol with Design to shoot _Atkinson_; but by the Interposition of _Mitchell_, who thought him innocent of any Design, he escaped.
_Atkinson_, who perceived his Life every Minute in Danger, began to ingratiate himself with the Pyrates, and gave them Hopes, that with good and gentle Usage, he might be brought to join them; this he did not say in express Terms, but by Words he now and then let drop, as by Accident: They were not a little rejoiced at the View of having so good an Artist to join them; nay, some of them hinted to him, that if he would take upon him the Command, they were ready to dispossess Capt. _Fly_, who carried his Command too high, and was known to all the Crew to be no Artist, and to understand nothing beyond the Business of a Boatswain. _Atkinson_ thought it his Interest to keep them in the Opinion that he would join; but always declined hearing any Thing as to the Command.
This made him less severely us'd, and protected him from the Insults of _Fly_, who imagined he would betray them the first Opportunity, and therefore more than once proposed his being thrown over Board, which was never approved by the _Snow_'s Company.
From _Nantuket_ they stood to the Eastward, and off _Brown_'s _Bank_ made a Fishing Schooner. _Fly_ coming up with her fired a Gun, and hoisting his black Ensign, swore, _d--n his Blood, if they did not instantly bring to, and send their Boat on Board, he would sink her_: The Schooner obeyed, and sent away her Boat on Board the _Snow_; he examined the Captain what Vessels were to be met with, and promised, if he could put him in the Way of meeting with a good Sailor, to let him go, and give him his Vessel, or he should otherwise keep her: The poor Man told him, he had a Companion which would soon be in Sight, and was a much better Vessel; accordingly about 12 at Noon the same Day, which was the 23d of _June_, the other Schooner hove in Sight; upon which, _Fly_ mann'd this Prize with six Pyrates, and a Prisoner nam'd _George Tasker_, and sent her in Chase, having himself on Board the _Snow_, no more than three Pyrates, Captain _Atkinson_, (who had work'd himself into some Favour with him) and fifteen forced Men; but he took Care to have his Arms upon Deck by him.
The Men who had not taken on with _Fly_, were, _Atkinson_, Capt. _Fulker_'s Mate, and two Youths belonging to him; the Carpenter and Gunner belonging formerly to Captain _Green_; six of Captain _Gate_'s Men, and the aforesaid _Benbrooke_, who belonged to Captain _Harris_, with three of the Men out of the Schooner. _Atkinson_ seeing the Prisoners and forced Men were five to one of the Pyrates, thought of delivering himself from the Bondage he was in; and, as by good Luck, several other Fishing Vessels hove in Sight, right a-head of the _Snow_, he call'd to Captain _Fly_, and told him, he spied several other Vessels a-head, desiring, he would come forward and bring his Glass; _Fly_ did so, and leaving his Arms on the Quarter-Deck, sat him on the Windlass to see if he could make what they were. _Atkinson_, who had concerted his Measures, with one _Walker_ and the above-mention'd _Benbrooke_, secured the Arms on the Quarter-Deck, and gave them a Signal to seize _Fly_, which they did, with very little Trouble, and after made themselves Masters of the other three Pyrates and the _Snow_; the rest of the Prisoners, not knowing any Thing of, or what the Design might be, remaining altogether inactive, and brought the _Snow_ and Pyrates to _Great Brewster_, where a Guard was put on Board _June_ 28, 1726.
Soon after, the said Pyrates were brought to their Trial, that is, on the fourth of _July_ following, before the Honourable _William Dummer_, Esq; Lieutenant Governor and Commander in chief, of the Province of _Massachuset_'s Bay, President of the special Court of _Admiralty_, held at the Court-house of _Boston_, assisted by 18 Gentlemen of the Council, before whom they were found guilty of Murder and Pyracy, condemn'd to be executed, and accordingly were executed the 12th of _July_; _Fly_ was order'd to be hang'd in Chains at the Entrance of the Harbour of _Boston_. Thus ended the short Reign of an obdurate Wretch, who only wanted Skill and Power to be as infamous as any who had scoured the Seas; the Names of the three Pyrates, executed with him, were _Samuel Cole_, _George Condick_ and _Henry Greenvill_.
OF Capt. _Thomas Howard_, And his CREW.
We have said in another Life, _viz._ _White_'s, that he was a Lighterman on the River _Thames_, his Father was of the Business, and had the Character of a very honest Man. After his Father's Decease, he grew very extravagant, and squander'd away not only what he had left his Son, but what he had allotted for his Widow Mother to our Adventurer, whose Indulgence putting every Thing into her Son's Hands, was follow'd by being her self turn'd out of Doors, for he sold the House over her Head. After having ruin'd himself and Mother, his Friends fearing the Wickedness of his Inclinations would bring a Scandal upon them, persuaded him to go to Sea, and procur'd him a Voyage to _Jamaica_, on board a Merchant Ship. At this Island he ran away from his Ship, and associating himself with some desperate Fellows, they stole a Canoe, and went away to the grand _Camanas_ to join some others of their own Stamp, who lurked thereabouts, with Design to go on the _Account_, the Term for Pyrating: They met those they look'd for, made up a Company of 20 Men, surprized and made themselves Masters of a Turtling Sloop, and set out in Search of Booty.
The first Prizes they made were only Turtlers, which, however, encreas'd the Number of their Crew, some being willing to join them, others being forced, with Threats of being set ashore on some desolate Key.
They after some Time cruizing met with an _Irish_ Brigantine, who had Provisions and Servants on board. They made an Exchange with the Master, gave him Provision to carry him to _Jamaica_, and allow'd five Hands to go with him; the rest (except the Servants, who readily took on with the Pyrates) were all forced.
Not long after, they surprized a Sloop which had been trading on the _Spanish_ Coast; as she had 6 Guns, and was a fit Vessel for their Turn, they chang'd her against the Brigantine; several Hands belonging to this Sloop enter'd Voluntiers, and several more were obliged to join them by Compulsion.
After this Capture, they steer'd for the Coast of _Virginia_, and, in their Way, met with a large _New England_ Brigantine, laden with Provisions, bound for _Barbadoes_. This they made Prize of; and shifting their own Guns on board her, sent the Master away in the Sloop; after forcing some of his Men with them. They had now a Vessel of 10 Guns, and a Crew of 80 Men, of whom one _James_ was Captain, and _Howard_ Quarter-Master.
While they lay on the Coast of _Virginia_, they made Prize of several Ships from _England_, out of which they took Men, Liquors, Provisions, Cloaths, and whatever else they either liked or thought necessary. As these Ships had several Felons on board, who were Transports, they had out of them a Number of Voluntiers, beside forced Men; so that they had a large Complement. Among other _Virginia_ Ships which fell into their Hands, they made Prize, with little Trouble, of a fine Galley, mounted with 24 Guns, which afforded them a great many Voluntiers, as she had a Number of transported Malefactors and Servants on board. They changed their Brigantine for this Ship, and soon after, the Man of War, which waited on this Coast, heaving in Sight, they thought proper to take their Departure.
From the Coast of _Virginia_, they shap'd their Course for that of _Guiney_, where they took a great many Ships of different Nations, all which they rifled of what they thought fit: Out of these Ships they forced on board a Number of Men, equal to the Number of those formerly compell'd, who desired, and whom they permitted, to be discharged, after much Entreaty.
After they had been some Months on the Coast, they spied a large three deck'd _Portuguese_ Ship from _Brazil_, mounted with 36 Guns; they gave Chase and came up with her: The Captain would make no Resistance, but his Mate, who was an _Englishman_, named _Rutland_, thinking it Shame to give up such a Ship, resolved to defend her; which the _Portuguese_ Captain consented to, but went himself out of Harm's Way. _Rutland_, who had been Master of an _English_ Brigantine, taken from him on the same Coast by another Gang of Pyrates, fought them the better Part of a Forenoon; but the _Portuguese_ flying the Decks, and only thirty Men, who were _English_, _Dutch_, and _French_, standing by him, he was obliged to ask Quarters, which were given. When the Pyrates came on board, they asked _Rutland_, if he was Commander? he answer'd, No. They enquired after him, and being told, he was somewhere in the Hold, they search'd, and found him hid in the Powder-Room; whence they hawled him up, and whipp'd him round the Deck for his Cowardice. _Rutland_, and those who fought the Ship, they forced on board, and their Complement being now 180 Men, they exchanged their Galley for the _Portuguese_ Ship, carried her in Shore, and ripping off her upper Deck, made her deep wasted, and much snugger, by cutting down some of her Gunnel. This Prize they named the _Alexander_.
They went down the Coast in this Ship, and made several Prizes, some of which they discharged, and put on board such of their forced Men as begg'd their Discharge; others, they sunk, and burnt others; but forced on board all Carpenters, Cawlkers, Armorers, Surgeons, and Musicians. In their Way to _Cape Lopez_, where they designed, and afterwards did clean, they found a large _Bristol_ Ship at an Anchor, which had lost a great many Men by Sickness, and had then but few healthy on board, who got into the Boat, and endeavoured to get to Shore, but were prevented by the Pyrates: Here they changed some more of their forced Men, and did intend to change their Ship; but on a Survey, found the _Bristol_ Man too old for their Purpose, and therefore left her at an Anchor, after they had taken what they thought of Use to them; this Ship belong'd to one Mr. _Godly_ of _Bristol_.
They met with nothing else in their Way to _Cape Lopez_, where they clean'd their Ship, took in Wood and Water, and then stood away to Sea again.
At their leaving _Cape Lopez_, they spied an _English_ Ship, which they came up with and engaged; the Merchant Man made an obstinate Defence, and finding the Design to board, made to close Quarters. _Howard_ and seven or eight more entered, but the Pyrate's Boatswain not having secured his lashing, they fell a-stern, and left these Men on board the Merchant-Ship, who seeing themselves in Danger, hawl'd up the Boat, which the Chace had a-stern, and, cutting the Rope, got on board the _Alexander_, which being considerably the larger Ship, and drawing a great deal more Water, stuck on an unknown Bank, which the Merchant Man went over, and by this lucky Accident escaped.
This obliged the Pyrates to start their Water, and throw over the Wood to get the Ship off, which put 'em under a Necessity of going back to _Cape Lopez_ to take in those Necessaries. After having a second time wooded and water'd, they put again to Sea, fell in with and took two _Portuguese_ Brigantines, which they burnt, and setting the Men on Shoar, they made for, and doubled the Cape of _Good Hope_, and shap'd their Course for _Madagascar_, where to the Northward of, and forty Mile from, the Bay of _Augustine_, and near a small Island, they run the Ship on a Reef, where she stuck fast. The Captain being then sick in his Bed, the Men went ashoar on the small adjacent Island, and carried off a great deal of Provision and Water to lighten the Ship, on board of which none but the Captain, the Quarter-Master, and about eleven more were left.
The Quarter-Master, who was _Howard_, with the others, took all the Treasure, and put it on board the Boats, made off for the Main of _Madagascar_; the Captain, hearing no Body stir upon Deck, made shift to crawl out of his Cabbin, and seeing 'em put off, fir'd the two fore chace Guns at 'em, which alarm'd (to no Purpose) the Men ashoar; as the Sea ebb'd, the Ship lay dry, and they could walk to her from the Island. She might have been saved had they had the Boats to carry out an Anchor; but for want of them they brought every Thing ashoar, at Tide of Flood, upon Rafts. As the Ship lay in a quiet Place, they had Opportunity to rip her up, and build a Vessel out of her Wreck. The major Part of the Crew being _English_ and _Dutch_, who sided together, they forced about 36 _Portuguese_ and _French_ (thinking the Crew too numerous for their Provisions in their present Circumstances) to get upon a Raft, and take their Chance with the Sea-Breeze to get to the Island of _Madagascar_, about 3 Leagues from them. They finish'd a Vessel of 60 Tuns, but the Day they design'd to have launch'd her, a Pyrate Brigantine hove in Sight, who took 'em on board.