Part 2
Makes many Prizes; burns most of the _Portuguese_ Vessels, 243. Sinks a _Guiney_ Man in an Engagement, 244. The firing Minute Guns, the Loss of a Ship, 245. The fatal Consequence of Revenge; the Pyrates arrive at _Madagascar_, 246. The History of King _Chimenatto_, 247, 248, 249. The Pyrates in Danger of being taken, 250. _Cornelius_ his Death, 251.
Of Captain WILLIAMS.
His Birth, 252. He is left on _Madagascar_, 253. He is taken Prisoner, 254. Taken a second Time, 255. He is a third Time taken, 256. King _Dempaino_ sends for _Williams_, 256, 257. The King of _Maratan_ refuses to send him, 257. He is obliged to give _Williams_ up, 258. _Williams_ makes a Voyage to the _Red Sea_, 259. He is carried Prisoner on board the _Severn_, 260. He is chosen Captain of the _Scots_ Ship, 261. He is put to a cruel Death, 262. His Men on Board murder'd, 263. His and his Mens Blood reveng'd, 264.
Of Captain BURGESS.
He sets out to trade with the Pyrates; looses his Ship, stays at _Madagascar_, and is forced on board a Pyrate, 265. Makes a Voyage to the _East Indies_, and gets home; he makes two Voyages to _Madagascar_ from _New York_, 266. Is taken by an _East-India_ Man in returning on the second Voyage, 267. Is condemn'd for Pyracy and pardon'd; goes on Board the _Neptune_, 268. Betrays the Ship, and is chosen Quarter-Master, 269. He is stripp'd by his Comrades, recovers his Money, is stripp'd again, 270. Goes on board the _Henry_, 271. Is poyson'd, 272.
CONTENTS OF THE APPENDIX.
The Reception of Captain _Rogers_, Governor of, and at _Providence_, 275. _Rackham_ and _Vane_ part, 281. _Rackham_'s Ship taken, he and his Crew escape ashore, 283. _Rackham_ gets to _Providence_, and is allowed the Benefit of the King's Pardon, 284. _Anne Bonny_ proposes to her Husband his selling her to _Rackham_, 286. _Rackham_ seizes a Sloop, 287. He forces some of _Turnley_'s Men, 289. Governor _Rogers_ his Sloops seized, 292. _Turnley_, &c. maroon'd, 294. Their Hardships, 295 to 303. The Pyrates catch a Tartar, 303. They are all taken, the forced Men sent to _Providence_, 304. Governor _Rogers_ sends to fetch the maroon'd Men, 305. The Pyrates who escaped on Shore intrap'd by Governor _Rogers_, 306 to 308. _Rounsival_'s Generosity, 309. _Teach_ sends Mr. _Mark_ for Druggs, _Wragg_, &c. left Hostages, 313. The Hostages in Jeopardy of their Lives; a Boat coming on board saves them, 314, 315. _Teach_ draws up before _Charles Town_, 316. The Hostages released, 316. A Vindication of Governor _Eden_, 317 to 319. Major _Bonnet_'s Letter to the Governor, 321, 323. The manner of taking Captain _Worley_, 325, 329. The Particulars of Captain _Evan_'s his being taken, from his own Letter, 330, 335. Tryal of the Pyrates, 336 to 355. Their Behaviour and Execution, 356, 360. Captain _Vane_'s Procedure at _Providence_, 362. His Letter to Governor _Rogers_, 363. Captain _King_'s Protest, 365 to 370. Captain _Bowen_'s Birth and first Employment, 371. He is taken by a _French_ Pyrate, 372.
Of Captain NORTH.
His Birth, 373. He's press'd; runs away; goes a Privateering, 374. Press'd a second Time; runs away again; Captain _Lycence_ killed, 376. _North_ is again press'd and escapes, 377. The Temerity of a _Frenchman_, 379. He _&c._ turn Pyrates, 380. Take the King of _Mayotta_, 381. Stand for the _Red Seas_, Consort with _Culliford_ and _Shivers_, take a _Moors_ Ship, 382. Roguery among the Pyrates, 383. A _Moor_ Ship escapes; they take three others of the same Nation, 384. The Captain of the _Dolphin_ gives over Pyrating and returns home; _North_ separated by bad Weather, they plunder a _Dane_, set Fire to the _Dolphin_, the Reason, 385. _North_ overset and swims to Shore, 386. The Pyrates throw over their Guns in a Storm, 387. They are shew'd a Well of Water of a strange Nature, 388. They meet the _Prosperous_, and soon after _Moor_ Ships, 389. They burn the _Speedy Return_; sink the _Prosperous_; they are all poisoned, 390. Four only die; _Bowen_'s Death; _North_ made Captain, 391. Ceremony of making their Captain, 392. By _North_'s Advice the _Moors_ go off with their Ship, 393. The Pyrates settle on _Madagascar_; their Way of Life, 394 to 397. _North_ travels _Southward_ to trade, 397. He joins and goes to War with the _Mangorians_, 398. He besieges a Town, the Manner of the Siege, 399, 400. _North_'s Allies design to deceive him, 401. His Proceedings upon the Discovery, 402, 403, 404. _North_ returns homewards, join'd by the _Timouses_, the Ceremony of swearing among those of _Madagascar_, 405. _Halsey_ comes in, _North_ and Company go on board him, 406. _North_ drives out the _Timouses_, 407. _North_'s Humanity to a _Frenchman_, 410. _North_ revenges the Barbarity of the _Mayottans_ towards some _English_, 412. _North_ murder'd, _ib._
THE HISTORY OF THE PYRATES.
VOL. II.
OF Captain _MISSON_.
We can be somewhat particular in the Life of this Gentleman, because, by very great Accident, we have got into our Hands a _French_ Manuscript, in which he himself gives a Detail of his Actions. He was born in _Provence_, of an ancient Family; his Father, whose true Name he conceals, was Master of a plentiful Fortune; but having a great Number of Children, our Rover had but little Hopes of other Fortune than what he could carve out for himself with his Sword. His Parents took Care to give him an Education equal to his Birth. After he had passed his Humanity and Logick, and was a tolerable Mathematician, at the Age of Fifteen he was sent to _Angiers_, where he was a Year learning his Exercises. His Father, at his Return home, would have put him into the Musketeers; but as he was of a roving Temper, and much affected with the Accounts he had read in Books of Travels, he chose the Sea as a Life which abounds with more Variety, and would afford him an Opportunity to gratify his Curiosity, by the Change of Countries. Having made this Choice, his Father, with Letters of Recommendation, and every Thing fitting for him, sent him Voluntier on board the _Victoire_, commanded by Monsieur _Fourbin_, his Relation. He was received on Board with all possible Regard by the Captain, whose Ship was at _Marseilles_, and was order'd to cruize soon after _Misson_'s Arrival. Nothing could be more agreeable to the Inclinations of our Voluntier than this Cruize, which made him acquainted with the most noted Ports of the _Mediterranean_, and gave him a great Insight into the practical Part of Navigation. He grew fond of this Life, and was resolved to be a compleat Sailor, which made him always one of the first on a Yard Arm, either to Hand or Reef, and very inquisitive in the different Methods of working a Ship: His Discourse was turn'd on no other Subject, and he would often get the Boatswain and Carpenter to teach him in their Cabbins the constituent Parts of a Ship's Hull, and how to rigg her, which he generously paid 'em for; and tho' he spent a great Part of his Time with these two Officers, yet he behaved himself with such Prudence that they never attempted at a Familiarity, and always paid the Respect due to his Family. The Ship being at _Naples_, he obtained Leave of his Captain to go to _Rome_, which he had a great Desire to visit. Hence we may date his Misfortunes; for, remarking the licentious Lives of the Clergy (so different from the Regularity observ'd among the _French_ Ecclesiasticks,) the Luxury of the Papal Court, and that nothing but Hulls of Religion was to be found in the Metropolis of the Christian Church, he began to figure to himself that all Religion was no more than a Curb upon the Minds of the Weaker, which the wiser Sort yielded to, in Appearance only. These Sentiments, so disadvantageous to Religion and himself, were strongly riveted by accidentally becoming acquainted with a lewd Priest, who was, at his Arrival (by meer Chance) his Confessor, and after that his Procurer and Companion, for he kept him Company to his Death. One Day, having an Opportunity, he told _Misson_, a Religious was a very good Life, where a Man had a subtle enterprising Genius, and some Friends; for such a one wou'd, in a short Time, rise to such Dignities in the Church, the Hopes of which was the Motive of all the wiser Sort, who voluntarily took upon them the sacerdotal Habit. That the ecclesiastical State was govern'd with the same Policy as were secular Principalities and Kingdoms; that what was beneficial, not what was meritorious and virtuous, would be alone regarded. That there were no more Hopes for a Man of Piety and Learning in the Patrimony of St. _Peter_, than in any other Monarchy, nay, rather less; for this being known to be real, that Man's rejected as a Visionary, no way fit for Employment; as one whose Scruples might prove prejudicial; for its a Maxim, that Religion and Politicks can never set up in one House. As to our Statesmen, don't imagine that the Purple makes 'em less Courtiers than are those of other Nations; they know and pursue the _Reggione del Stato_ (a Term of Art which means Self-Interest) with as much Cunning and as little Conscience as any Secular; and are as artful where Art is required, and as barefaced and impudent when their Power is great enough to support 'em, in the oppressing the People, and aggrandizing their Families. What their Morals are, you may read in the Practice of their Lives, and their Sentiments of Religion from this Saying of a certain Cardinal, _Quantum Lucrum ex ista fabula Christi!_ which many of 'em may say, tho' they are not so foolish. For my Part, I am quite tir'd of the Farce, and will lay hold on the first Opportunity to throw off this masquerading Habit; for, by Reason of my Age, I must act an under Part many Years; and before I can rise to share the Spoils of the People, I shall, I fear, be too old to enjoy the Sweets of Luxury; and, as I am an Enemy to Restraint, I am apprehensive I shall never act up to my Character, and carry thro' the Hypocrite with Art enough to rise to any considerable Post in the Church. My Parents did not consult my Genius, or they would have given me a Sword instead of a Pair of Beads.
_Misson_ advised him to go with him Voluntier, and offer'd him Money to cloath him; the Priest leap'd at the Proposal, and a Letter coming to _Misson_ from his Captain, that he was going to _Leghorn_, and left to him either to come to _Naples_, or go by Land; he chose the latter, and the _Dominican_, whom he furnish'd with Money, clothing himself very Cavalierly, threw off his Habit, and preceeded him two Days, staying at _Pisa_ for _Misson_; from whence they went together to _Leghorn_, where they found the _Victoire_, and Signor _Caraccioli_, recommended by his Friend, was received on Board. Two Days after they weigh'd from hence, and after a Week's Cruize fell in with two _Sally_ Men, the one of twenty, the other of twenty four Guns; the _Victoire_ had but thirty mounted, though she had Ports for forty. The Engagement was long and bloody, for the _Sally_ Man hop'd to carry the _Victoire_; and, on the contrary, Captain _Fourbin_, so far from having any Thoughts of being taken, he was resolutely bent to make Prize of his Enemies, or sink his Ship. One of the _Sally_ Men was commanded by a _Spanish_ Renegade, (though he had only the Title of a Lieutenant) for the Captain was a young Man who knew little of Marine Affairs.
This Ship was called the _Lyon_; and he attempted, more than once, to board the _Victoire_; but by a Shot betwixt Wind and Water, he was obliged to sheer off, and running his Guns, _&c._ on one Side, bring her on the careen to stop his Leak; this being done with too much Precipitation, she overset, and every Soul was lost: His Comrade seeing this Disaster, threw out all his small Sails, and endeavour'd to get off, but the _Victoire_ wrong'd her, and oblig'd her to renew the Fight, which she did with great Obstinacy, and made Monsieur _Fourbin_ despair of carrying her if he did not board; he made Preparations accordingly. Signior _Caraccioli_ and _Misson_ were the two first on board when the Command was given; but they and their Followers were beat back by the Despair of the _Sally_ Men; the former received a Shot in his Thigh, and was carried down to the Surgeon. The _Victoire_ laid her on board the second time, and the _Sally_ Men defended their Decks with such Resolution, that they were cover'd with their own, and the dead Bodies of their Enemies. _Misson_ seeing one of 'em jump down the Main-Hatch with a lighted Match, suspecting his Design, resolutely leap'd after him, and reaching him with his Sabre, laid him dead the Moment he was going to set Fire to the Powder. The _Victoire_ pouring in more Men, the _Mahometans_ quitted the Decks, finding Resistance vain, and fled for Shelter to the Cook Room, Steerage and Cabbins, and some run between Decks. The _French_ gave 'em Quarters, and put the Prisoners on board the _Victoire_, the Prize yielding nothing worth mention, except Liberty to about fifteen Christian Slaves; she was carried into and sold with the Prisoners at _Leghorn_. The _Turks_ lost a great many Men, the _French_ not less than 35 in boarding, for they lost very few by the great Shot, the _Sally_ Men firing mostly at the Masts and Rigging, hoping by disabling to carry her. The limited Time of their Cruize being out, the _Victoire_ returned to _Marseilles_, from whence _Misson_, taking his Companion, went to visit his Parents, to whom the Captain sent a very advantageous Character, both of his Courage and Conduct. He was about a Month at home when his Captain wrote to him, that his Ship was order'd to _Rochelle_, from whence he was to sail for the _West-Indies_ with some Merchant Men. This was very agreeable to _Misson_ and Signior _Caraccioli_, who immediately set out for _Marseilles_. This Town is well fortified, has four Parish Churches, and the Number of Inhabitants is computed to be about 120,000; the Harbour is esteemed the safest in the _Mediterranean_, and is the common Station for the _French_ Gallies.
Leaving this Place, they steer'd for _Rochelle_, where the _Victoire_ was dock'd, the Merchant Ships not being near ready. _Misson_, who did not care to pass so long a Time in Idleness, proposed to his Comrade the taking a Cruize on board the _Triumph_, who was going into the _English_ Channel; the _Italian_ readily consented to it.
Between the Isle of _Guernsey_ and the _Start Point_, they met with the _Mayflower_, Captain _Balladine_ Commanded, a Merchant Ship of 18 Guns, richly laden, and coming from _Jamaica_. The Captain of the _English_ made a gallant Resistance, and fought his Ship so long, that the _French_ could not carry her into Harbour, wherefore they took the Money, and what was most valuable, out of her; and finding she made more Water than the Pumps could free, quitted, and saw her go down in less than four Hours after. Monsieur _le Blanc_, the _French_ Captain, received Captain _Balladine_ very civilly, and would not suffer either him or his Men to be stripp'd, saying, None but Cowards ought to be treated after that Manner; that brave Men ought to treat such, though their Enemies, as Brothers; and that to use a gallant Man (who does his Duty) ill, speaks a Revenge which cannot proceed but from a Coward Soul. He order'd that the Prisoners should have their Chests; and when some of his Men seem'd to mutter, he bid 'em remember the Grandeur of the Monarch they serv'd; that they were neither Pyrates nor Privateers; and, as brave Men, they ought to shew their Enemies an Example they would willingly have follow'd, and use their Prisoners as they wish'd to be us'd.
They running up the _English_ Channel as high as _Beachy Head_, and, in returning, fell in with three fifty Gun Ships, which gave Chace to the _Triumph_; but as she was an excellent Sailor, she run 'em out of Sight in seven Glasses, and made the best of her Way for the _Lands-End_; they here cruized eight Days, then doubling Cape _Cornwall_, ran up the _Bristol_ Channel, near as far as _Nash Point_, and intercepted a small Ship from _Barbadoes_, and stretching away to the Northward, gave Chase to a Ship they saw in the Evening, but lost her in the Night. The _Triumph_ stood then towards _Milford_, and spying a Sail, endeavour'd to cut her off the Land, but found it impossible; for she got into the Haven, though they came up with her very fast, and she had surely been taken, had the Chase had been any thing longer.
Captain _Balladine_, who took the Glass, said it was the _Port Royal_, a _Bristol_ Ship which left _Jamaica_ in Company with him and the _Charles_. They now return'd to their own Coast, and sold their Prize at _Brest_, where, at his Desire, they left Captain _Balladine_, and Monsieur _le Blanc_ made him a Present of Purse with 40 _Louis_'s for his Support; his Crew were also left here.
At the Entrance into this Harbour the _Triumph_ struck upon a Rock, but received no Damage: This Entrance, called _Gonlet_, is very dangerous on Account of the Number of Rocks which lie on each Side under Water, though the Harbour is certainly the best in _France_. The Mouth of the Harbour is defended by a strong Castle; the Town is well fortified, and has a Citadel for its farther Defence, which is of considerable Strength. In 1694 the _English_ attempted a Descent, but did not find their Market, for they were beat off with the Loss of their General, and a great many Men. From hence the _Triumph_ return'd to _Rochel_, and in a Month after our Voluntiers, who went on board the _Victoire_, took their Departure for _Martineco_ and _Guadalupa_; they met with nothing in their Voyage thither worth noting.
I shall only observe, that Signior _Caraccioli_, who was as ambitious as he was irreligious, had, by this Time, made a perfect Deist of _Misson_, and thereby convinc'd him, that all Religion was no other than human Policy, and shew'd him that the Law of _Moses_ was no more than what were necessary, as well for the Preservation as the Governing of the People; for Instance, said he, the _African_ Negroes never heard of the Institution of Circumcision, which is said to be the Sign of the Covenant made between God and this People, and yet they circumcise their Children; doubtless for the same Reason the _Jews_ and other Nations do, who inhabit the Southern Climes, the Prepuce consolidating the perspired Matter, which is of a fatal Consequence. In short, he ran through all the Ceremonies of the _Jewish_, Christian and _Mahometan_ Religion, and convinced him these were, as might be observed by the Absurdity of many, far from being Institutions of Men inspired; and that _Moses_, in his Account of the Creation, was guilty of known Blunders; and the Miracles, both in the New and Old Testament, inconsistent with Reason. That God had given us this Blessing, to make Use of for our present and future Happiness, and whatever was contrary to it, notwithstanding their School Distinctions of _contrary_ and _above_ Reason, must be false. This Reason teaches us, that there is a first Cause of all Things, an _Ens Entium_, which we call God, and our Reason will also suggest, that he must be eternal, and, as the Author of every Thing perfect, he must be infinitely perfect.
If so, he can be subject to no Passions, and neither loves nor hates; he must be ever the same, and cannot rashly do to Day what he shall repent to Morrow. He must be perfectly happy, consequently nothing can add to an eternal State of Tranquillity, and though it becomes us to adore him, yet can our Adorations neither augment, nor our Sins take from this Happiness.
But his Arguments on this Head are too long, and too dangerous to translate; and as they are work'd up with great Subtlety, they may be pernicious to weak Men, who cannot discover their Fallacy; or, who finding 'em agreeable to their Inclinations, and would be glad to shake off the Yoke of the Christian Religion, which galls and curbs their Passions, would not give themselves the Trouble to examine them to the Bottom, but give into what pleases, glad of finding some Excuse to their Consciences. Though as his Opinion of a future State has nothing in it which impugns the Christian Religion, I shall set it down in few Words.
'That reasoning Faculty, says he, which we perceive within us, we call the Soul, but what that Soul is, is unknown to us. It may die with the Body, or it may survive. I am of Opinion its immortal; but to say that this Opinion is the Dictate of Reason, or only the Prejudice of Education, would, I own, puzzle me. If it is immortal, it must be an Emanation from the Divine Being, and consequently at its being separated from the Body, will return to its first Principle, if not contaminated. Now, my Reason tells me, if it is estranged from its first Principle, which is the Deity, all the Hells of Man's Invention can never yield Tortures adequate to such a Banishment.'
As he had privately held these Discourses among the Crew, he had gained a Number of Proselytes, who look'd upon him as a new Prophet risen up to reform the Abuses in Religion; and a great Number being _Rochellers_, and, as yet, tainted with _Calvanism_, his Doctrine was the more readily embrac'd. When he had experienced the Effects of his religious Arguments, he fell upon Government, and shew'd, that every Man was born free, and had as much Right to what would support him, as to the Air he respired. A contrary Way of arguing would be accusing the Deity with Cruelty and Injustice, for he brought into the World no Man to pass a Life of Penury, and to miserably want a necescessary Support; that the vast Difference between Man and Man, the one wallowing in Luxury, and the other in the most pinching Necessity, was owing only to Avarice and Ambition on the one Hand, and a pusilanimous Subjection on the other; that at first no other than a Natural was known, a paternal Government, every Father was the Head, the Prince and Monarch of his Family, and Obedience to such was both just and easy, for a Father had a compassionate Tenderness for his Children; but Ambition creeping in by Degrees, the stronger Family set upon and enslaved the Weaker; and this additional Strength over-run a third, by every Conquest gathering Force to make others, and this was the first Foundation of Monarchy. Pride encreasing with Power, Man usurped the Prerogative of God, over his Creatures, that of depriving them of Life, which was a Privilege no one had over his own; for as he did not come into the World by his own Election, he ought to stay the determined Time of his Creator: That indeed, Death given in War, was by the Law of Nature allowable, because it is for the Preservation of our own Lives; but no Crime ought to be thus punished, nor indeed any War undertaken, but in Defence of our natural Right, which is such a Share of Earth as is necessary for our Support.