Chapter III: Introduction (1)

AS the Pyrates in the _West-Indies_ have been so formidable and numerous, that they have interrupted the Trade of _Europe_ into those Parts; and our _English_ Merchants, in particular, have suffered more by their Depredations, than by the united Force of _France_ and _Spain_, in the late War: We do not doubt but the World will be curious to know the Original and Progress of these Desperadoes, who were the Terror of the trading Part of the World.

But before we enter upon their particular History, it will not be amiss, by way of Introduction, to shew, by some Examples drawn from History, the great Mischief and Danger which threaten Kingdoms and Commonwealths, from the Increase of these sort of Robbers; when either by the Troubles of particular Times, or the Neglect of Governments, they are not crush'd before they gather Strength.

It has been the Case heretofore, that when a single Pyrate has been suffered to range the Seas, as not being worth the Notice of a Government, he has by Degrees grown so powerful, as to put them to the Expence of a great deal of Blood and Treasure, before he was suppress'd. We shall not examine how it came to pass, that our Pyrates in the _West-Indies_ have continually increased till of late; this is an Enquiry which belongs to the Legislature, or Representatives of the People in Parliament, and to them we shall leave it.

Our Business shall be briefly to shew, what from Beginnings, as inconsiderable as these, other Nations have suffered.

In the Times of _Marius_ and _Sylla_, _Rome_ was in her greatest Strength, yet she was so torn in Pieces by the Factions of those two great Men, that every Thing which concerned the publick Good was altogether neglected, when certain Pyrates broke out from _Cicilia_, a Country of _Asia Minor_, situate on the Coast of the _Mediterranean_, betwixt _Syria_ on the East, from whence it is divided by Mount _Tauris_, and _Armenia Minor_ on the West. This Beginning was mean and inconsiderable, having but two or three Ships, and a few Men, with which they cruised about the _Greek_ Islands, taking such Ships as were very ill arm'd or weakly defended; however, by the taking of many Prizes, they soon increased in Wealth and Power: The first Action of their's which made a Noise, was the taking of _Julius Cæsar_, who was as yet a Youth, and who being obliged to fly from the Cruelties of _Sylla_, who sought his Life, went into _Bithinia_, and sojourned a while with _Nicomedes_, King of that Country; in his Return back by Sea, he was met with, and taken, by some of these Pyrates, near the Island of _Pharmacusa_: These Pyrates had a barbarous Custom of tying their Prisoners Back to Back and throwing them into the Sea; but, supposing _Cæsar_ to be some Person of a high Rank, because of his purple Robes, and the Number of his Attendants, they thought it would be more for their Profit to preserve him, in hopes of receiving a great Sum for his Ransom; therefore they told him he should have his Liberty, provided he would pay them twenty Talents, which they judg'd to be a very high Demand, in our Money, about three thousand six hundred Pounds Sterling; he smiled, and of his own Accord promised them fifty Talents; they were both pleased, and surpriz'd at his Answer, and consented that several of his Attendants should go by his Direction and raise the Money; and he was left among these Ruffians with no more than 3 Attendants. He pass'd eight and thirty Days, and seemed so little concerned or afraid, that often when he went to sleep, he used to charge them not to make a Noise, threatening, if they disturbed him, to hang them all; he also play'd at Dice with them, and sometimes wrote Verses and Dialogues, which he used to repeat, and also cause them to repeat, and if they did not praise and admire them, he would call them Beasts and Barbarians, telling them he would crucify them. They took all these as the Sallies of a juvenile Humour, and were rather diverted, than displeased at them.

At length his Attendants return'd with his Ransom, which he paid, and was discharged; he sail'd for the Port of _Miletum_, where, as soon as he was arriv'd, he used all his Art and Industry in fitting out a Squadron of Ships, which he equipp'd and arm'd at his own Charges; and sailing in Quest of the Pyrates, he surpriz'd them as they lay at Anchor among the Islands, and took those who had taken him before, with some others; the Money he found upon them he made Prize of, to reimburse his Charges, and he carry'd the Men to _Pergamus_ or _Troy_, and there secured them in Prison: In the mean Time, he apply'd himself to _Junius_, then Governor of _Asia_, to whom it belonged to judge and determine of the Punishment of these Men; but _Junius_ finding there was no Money to be had, answered _Cæsar_, that he would think at his Leisure, what was to be done with those Prisoners; _Cæsar_ took his Leave of him, returned back to _Pergamus_, and commanded that the Prisoners should be brought out and executed, according to Law in that Case provided; which is taken Notice of, in a Chapter at the End of this Book, concerning the Laws in Cases of Pyracy: And thus he gave them that Punishment in Earnest, which he had often threatned them with in Jest.

_Cæsar_ went strait to Rome, where, being engaged in the Designs of his own private Ambition, as were almost all the leading Men in Rome, the Pyrates who were left, had Time to increase to a prodigious Strength; for while the civil Wars lasted, the Seas were left unguarded, so that _Plutarch_ tells us, that they erected diverse Arsenals full of all manner of warlike Stores, made commodious Harbours, set up Watch-Towers and Beacons all along the Coasts of _Cilicia_; that they had a mighty Fleet, well equipp'd and furnish'd, with Galliots of Oars, mann'd, not only with Men of desperate Courage, but also with expert Pilots and Mariners; they had their Ships of Force, and light Pinnaces for cruising and making Discoveries, in all no less than a thousand Sail; so gloriously set out, that they were as much to be envied for their gallant Shew, as fear'd for their Force; having the Stern and Quarters all gilded with Gold and their Oars plated with Silver, as well as purple Sails; as if their greatest Delight had been to glory in their Iniquity. Nor were they content with committing Pyracies and Insolencies by Sea, they committed as great Depredations by Land, or rather made Conquests; for they took and sack'd no less than four hundred Cities, laid several others under Contributions, plundered the Temples of the Gods, and inriched themselves with the Offerings deposited in them; they often landed Bodies of Men, who not only plundered the Villages along the Sea Coast, but ransacked the fine Houses of the Noblemen along the Tiber. A Body of them once took _Sextillius_ and _Bellinus_, two _Roman_ Prætors, in their purple Robes, going from Rome to their Governments, and carried them away with all their Sergeants, Officers and Vergers; they also took the Daughter of _Antonius_ a consular Person, and one who had obtained the Honour of a Triumph, as she was going to the Country House of her Father.

But what was most barbarous, was a Custom they had when they took any Ship, of enquiring of the Person on Board, concerning their Names and Country; if any of them said he was a _Roman_, they fell down upon their Knees, as if in a Fright at the Greatness of that Name, and begg'd Pardon for what they had done, and imploring his Mercy, they used to perform the Offices of Servants about his Person, and when they found they had deceived him into a Belief of their being sincere, they hung out the Ladder of the Ship, and coming with a shew of Courtesy, told him, he had his Liberty, desiring him to walk out of the Ship, and this in the Middle of the Sea, and when they observed him in Surprize, as was natural, they used to throw him overboard with mighty shouts of Laughter; so wanton they were in their Cruelty.

Thus, while _Rome_ was Mistress oft he World, she suffered Insults and Affronts, almost at her Gates, from these powerful Robbers; but what for a while made Faction cease, and roused the Genius of that People, never used to suffer Wrongs from a fair Enemy, was an excessive Scarcity of Provisions in _Rome_, occasioned by all the Ships loaden with Corn and Provisions from _Sicily_, _Corsica_, and other Places, being intercepted and taken by these Pyrates, insomuch that they were almost reduced to a Famine: Upon this, _Pompey_ the _Great_ was immediately appointed General to manage this War; five hundered Ships were immediately fitted out, he had fourteen Senators, Men of Experience in the War, for his Vice-Admirals; and so considerable an Enemy, were these Ruffians become, that no less than an Army of a hundred thousand Foot, and five thousand Horse was appointed to invade them by Land; but it happened very luckily for _Rome_, that _Pompey_ sail'd out before the Pyrate had Intelligence of a Design against them, so that their Ships were scattered all over the _Mediterranean_, like Bees gone out from a Hive, some one Way, some another, to bring Home their Lading; _Pompey_ divided his Fleet into thirteen Squadrons, to whom he appointed their several Stations, so that great Numbers of the Pyrates fell into their Hands, Ship by Ship, without any Loss; forty Days he passed in scouring the _Mediterranean_, some of the Fleet cruizing along the Coast of _Africk_, some about the Islands, and some upon the Italian Coasts, so that often those Pyrates who were flying from one Squadron, fell in with another; however, some of them escaped, and these making directly to _Cilicia_, and acquainting their Confederates on Shore with what had happened, they appointed a Rendezvous of all the Ships that had escaped at the Port of _Coracesium_, in the same Country. _Pompey_ finding the _Mediterranean_ quite clear, appointed a Meeting of all his Fleet at the Haven of _Brundusium_, and from thence sailing round into the _Adriatick_, he went directly to attack these Pyrates in their Hives; as soon as he came near the _Coracesium_ in _Cilicia_, where the Remainder of the Pyrates now lay, they had the Hardiness to come and give him Battle, but the Genius of old _Rome_ prevailed, and the Pyrates received an entire Overthrow, being all either taken or destroyed; but as they made many strong Fortresses upon the Sea Coast, and built Castles and strong Holds up the Country, about the Foot of Mount _Taurus_, he was obliged to besiege them with his Army; some Places he took by Storm, others surrendered to his Mercy, to whom he gave their Lives, and at length he made an entire Conquest.

But it is probable, that had these Pyrates receiv'd sufficient Notice of the _Roman_ Preparation against them, so as they might have had Time to draw their scattered Strength into a Body, to have met _Pompey_ by Sea, the Advantage appeared greatly on their Side, in Numbers of Shipping, and of Men; nor did they want Courage, as may be seen by their coming out of the Port of _Coracesium_, to give the _Romans_ Battle, with a Force much inferior to their's; I say, had they overthrown _Pompey_, it is likely they would have made greater Attempts, and _Rome_, which had conquer'd the whole World, might have been subdued by a Parcel of Pyrates.

This is a Proof how dangerous it is to Governments to be negligent, and not take an early Care in suppressing these Sea Banditti, before they gather Strength.

The Truth of this Maxim may be better exemplified in the History of _Barbarouse_, a Native in the City of _Mitylene_, in the Island of _Lesbos_, in the _Egean_ Sea; a Fellow of ordinary Birth, who being bred to the Sea, first set out from thence upon the pyrating Account with only one small Vessel, but by the Prizes he took, he gain'd immense Riches, so that getting a great Number of large Ships, all the bold and dissolute Fellows of those Islands flock'd to him, and listed in his Service, for the Hopes of Booty; so that his Strength was increased to a formidable Fleet: With these he perform'd such bold and adventurous Actions, that he became the Terror of the Seas. About this Time it happened that _Selim Eutemi_, King of _Algiers_, having refused to pay the accustomed Tribute to the _Spaniards_, was apprehensive of an Invasion from thence; wherefore he treated with _Barbarouse_, upon the Foot of an Ally, to come and assist him, and deliver him from paying this Tribute; _Barbarouse_ readily came into it, and sailing to _Algiers_ with a great Fleet, he put part of his Men on Shore, and having laid a Plot to surprize the City, he effected it with great Success, and murder'd _Selim_ in a Bath; soon after which, he was himself crowned King of _Algiers_; after this he made War upon _Abdilabde_, King of _Tunis_, and overthrew him in Battle; he extended his Conquests on all Sides; and thus from a Thief became a mighty King: and tho' he was at last kill'd in Battle, yet he had so well established himself upon that Throne, that, dying without Issue, he left the Inheritance of the Kingdom to his Brother, another Pyrate.

* * *

I come now to speak of the Pyrates infesting the _West-Indies_, where they are more numerous than in any other Parts of the World, on several Reasons:

_First_, Because there are so many uninhabited little Islands and Keys, with Harbours convenient and secure for cleaning their Vessels, and abounding with what they often want, Provision; I mean Water, Sea-Fowl, Turtle, Shell, and other Fish; where, if they carry in but strong Liquor, they indulge a Time, and become ready for new Expeditions before any Intelligence can reach to hurt them.

It may here perhaps be no unnecessary Digression, to explain upon what they call Keys in the _West-Indies_: These are small sandy Islands, appearing a little above the Surf of the Water, with only a few Bushes or Weeds upon them, but abound (those most at any Distance from the Main) with Turtle, amphibious Animals, that always chuse the quietest and most unfrequented Place, for laying their Eggs, which are to a vast Number in the Seasons, and would seldom be seen, but for this, (except by Pyrates:) Then Vessels from _Jamaica_ and the other Governments make Voyages, called Turtling, for supplying the People, a common and approved Food with them. I am apt to think these _Keys_, especially those nigh Islands, to have been once contiguous with them, and separated by Earthquakes (frequently there) or Inundations, because some of them that have been within continual View, as those nigh _Jamaica_, are observed within our Time, to be entirely wasted away and lost, and others daily wasting. There are not only of the Use above taken Notice of to Pyrates; but it is commonly believed were always in buccaneering pyratical Times, the hiding Places for their Riches, and often Times a Shelter for themselves, till their Friends on the Main, had found Means to obtain Indemnity for their Crimes; for you must understand, when Acts of Grace were more frequent, and the Laws less severe, these Men continually found Favours and Incouragers at _Jamaica_, and perhaps they are not all dead yet; I have been told many of them them still living have been of the same Trade, and left it off only because they can live as well honestly, and gain now at the hazard of others Necks.

Secondly, another Reason why these Seas are chose by Pyrates, is the great Commerce thither by _French_, _Spaniards_, _Dutch_, and especially _English_ Ships: They are sure in the Latitude of these trading Islands, to meet with Prizes, Booties of Provision, Cloathing, and Naval-Stores, and sometimes Money; there being great Sums remitted this Way to _England_; (the Returns of the Affiento, and private Slave-Trade, to the _Spanish West-Indies_:) And in short, by some one or other, all the Riches of _Potosi_.

A third Reason, is the Inconveniency and Difficulty of being pursued by the Men of War, the many small Inlets, Lagoons and Harbours, on these solitary Islands and Keys, is a natural Security.

'Tis generally here that the Pyrates begin their Enterprizes, setting out at first with a very small Force; and by infesting these Seas, and those of the Continent of _North-America_, in a Year's Time, if they have good luck on their Sides, they accumulate such Strength, as enables them to make foreign Expeditions: The first, is usually to _Guiney_, taking the _Azores_ and _Cape de Verd_ Islands in their Way, and then to _Brazil_ and the _East-Indies_, where if they meet with prosperous Voyages, they set down at _Madagascar_, or the neighbouring Islands, and enjoy their ill gotten Wealth, among their elder Brethren, with Impunity. But that I may not give too much Encouragement to the Profession, I must inform my maritime Readers, that the far greater Part of these Rovers are cut short in the Pursuit, by a sudden Precipitation into the other World.

The Rise of these Rovers, since the Peace of _Utrecht_, or at least, the great Encrease of them, may justly be computed to the _Spanish_ Settlements in the _West Indies_; the Governors of which, being often some hungry Courtiers, sent thither to repair or make a Fortune, generally Countenance all Proceedings that bring in Profit: They grant Commissions to great Numbers of Vessels of War, on Pretence of preventing an interloping Trade, with Orders to seize all Ships or Vessels whatsoever, within five Leagues of their Coasts, which our _English_ Ships cannot well avoid coming, in their Voyage to _Jamaica_. But if the _Spanish_ Captains chance to exceed this Commission, and rob and plunder at Discretion, the Sufferers are allowed to complain, and exhibit a Process in their Court, and after great Expence of Suit, Delay of Time, and other Inconveniencies, obtain a Decree in their Favour, but then when the Ship and Cargo comes to be claim'd, with Costs of Suit, they find, to their Sorrow, that it has been previously condemn'd, and the Plunder divided among the Crew; the Commander that made the Capture, who alone is responsible, is found to be a poor raskally Fellow, not worth a Groat, and, no doubt, is plac'd in that Station for the like Purposes.

The frequent Losses sustain'd by our Merchants abroad, by these Pyrates, was Provocation enough to attempt something by way of Reprisal; and a fair Opportunity offering it self in the Year 1716, the Traders of the _West-Indies_, took Care not to slip it over, but made the best Use of it their Circumstances would permit.

It was about two Years before, that the _Spanish_ Galleons, or Plate Fleet, had been cast away in the Gulf or _Florida_; and several Vessels from the _Havana_, were at work, with diving Engines, to fish up the Silver that was on board the Galleons.

The _Spaniards_ had recovered some Millions of Pieces of Eight, and had carried it all to the _Havana_; but they had at present about 350000 Pieces of Eight in Silver, then upon the Spot, and were daily taking up more. In the mean time, two Ships, and three Sloops, fitted out from _Jamaica_, _Barbadoes_, _&c._ under Captain _Henry Jennings_, sail'd to the Gulf, and found the _Spaniards_ there upon the Wreck; the Money before spoken of, was left on Shore, deposited in a Store-House, under the Government of two Commissaries, and a Guard of about 60 Soldiers.

The Rovers came directly upon the Place, bringing their little Fleet to an Anchor, and, in a Word, landing 300 Men, they attack'd the Guard, who immediately ran away; and thus they seized the Treasure, which they carried off, making the best of their Way to _Jamaica_.

In their Way they unhappily met with a _Spanish_ Ship, bound from _Porto Bello_ to the _Havana_, with a great many rich Goods, _viz._ Bales of Cochineal, Casks of Indico, and 60000 Pieces of Eight more, which their Hands being in, they took, and having rifled the Vessel, let her go.

They went away to _Jamaica_ with their Booty, and were followed in View of the Port, by the _Spaniards_, who having seen them thither, went back to the Governor of the _Havana_, with the Account of it, who immediately sent a Vessel to the Governor of _Jamaica_ to complain of this Robbery, and to reclaim the Goods.

As it was in full Peace, and contrary to all Justice and Right, that this Fact was committed, they were soon made sensible that the Government at _Jamaica_ would not suffer them to go unpunished, much less protect them. Therefore they saw a Necessity of shifting for themselves; so, to make bad worse, they went to Sea again, tho' not without disposing of their Cargo to good Advantage, and furnishing themselves with Ammunition, Provisions, _&c._ and being thus made desperate, they turn'd Pyrates, robbing not the _Spaniards_ only, but their own Countrymen, and any Nation they could lay their Hands on.

It happened about this Time, that the _Spaniards_, with three or four small Men of War, fell upon our Logwood Cutters, in the Bay of _Campeachy_, and Bay or _Honduras_; and after they had made Prizes of the following Ships and Vessels, they gave the Men belonging to them, three Sloops to carry them home, but these Men being made desperate by their Misfortunes, and meeting with the Pyrates, they took on with them, and so encreas'd their Number.

_The LIST of Ships and Vessels taken by the_ Spanish _Men of War in the Year_ 1716.

The _Stafford_, Captain _Knocks_, from _New-England_, bound for _London_. _Anne_, ------ _Gernish_, for ditto. _Dove_, ------ _Grimstone_, for _New-England_. A Sloop, ------ _Alden_, for ditto. A Brigantine, ------ _Mosson_, for ditto. A Brigantine, ------ _Turfield_, for ditto. A Brigantine, ------ _Tennis_, for ditto. A Ship, ------ ------ _Porter_, for ditto. _Indian Emperor_, _Wentworth_, for _New-England_. A Ship, ------ _Rich_, Master. Ditto, ------ _Bay_. Ditto, ------ _Smith_. Ditto, ------ _Stockum_. Ditto, ------ _Satlely_. A Sloop, ------ ------ _Richards_, belonging to _New-England_. Two Sloops, ------ ------ belonging to _Jamaica_. One Sloop ------ ------ of _Barbadoes_. Two Ships ------ ------ from _Scotland_. Two Ships ------ ------ from _Holland_.

The Rovers being now pretty strong, they consulted together about getting some Place of Retreat, where they might lodge their Wealth, clean and repair their Ships, and make themselves a kind of Abode. They were not long in resolving, but fixed upon the Island of _Providence_, the most considerable of the _Bahama_ Islands, lying in the Latitude of about 24 Degrees North, and to the Eastward of the _Spanish Florida_.

This Island is about 28 Miles long, and eleven where broadest, and has a Harbour big enough to hold 500 Sail of Ships; before which lies a small Island, which makes two Inlets to the Harbour; at either Way there is a Bar, over which no Ship of 500 Tun can pass. The _Bahama_ Islands were possess'd by the _English_ till the Year 1700, when the _French_ and _Spaniards_ from _Petit Guavus_, invaded them, took the Fort and Governor in the Island of _Providence_, plunder'd and destroy'd the Settlements, _&c._ carried off half the Blacks, and the rest of the People, who fled to the Woods, retired afterwards to _Carolina_.

In March 1705-6, the House of Lords did in an Address to her late Majesty, set forth,

`That the
_French_ and _Spaniards_ had twice, during the Time
of the War, over run and plundered the _Bahama_
Islands, that there was no Form of Government
there: That the Harbour of the Isle of _Providence_,
might be easily put in a Posture of Defence, and
that it would be of dangerous Consequence, should
those Islands fall into the Hands of the Enemy;
wherefore the Lords humbly besought her Majesty
to use such Methods as she should think
proper for taking the said Island into her Hands,
in order to secure the same to the Crown of this
Kingdom, and to the Security and Advantage
of the Trade thereof.

But, however it happened, no Means were used in compliance to that Address, for securing the _Bahama_ Islands, till the _English_ Pyrates had made _Providence_ their Retreat and general Receptacle; then 'twas found absolutely necessary, in order to dislodge that troublesome Colony; and Information being made by the Merchants to the Government, of the Mischief they did, and were likely to do, his Majesty was pleased to grant the following Order.

_Whitehall September_ 15, 1716.

`COmplaint having been made to his Majesty,
by great Number of Merchants, Masters of
Ships and others, as well as by several Governors
of his Majesty's Islands and Plantations in the
_West-Indies_; that the Pyrates are grown so numerous,
that they infest not only the Seas near _Jamaica_,
but even those of the Northern Continent
of _America_; and that, unless some effectual Means
be used, the whole Trade from _Great Britain_ to
those Parts, will not be only obstructed, but in
imminent Danger of being lost: His Majesty has,
upon mature Deliberation in Council, been pleased,
in the first Place, to order a proper Force
to be employ'd for the suppressing the said Pyrates,
which Force so to be employed, is as
follows.

`A List of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed, and to be employed, at the British Governments and Plantations in the _West-Indies_.

Place where. Rates, Ships, Guns.

{ 5 Adventure, 40 Now there.
{ Diamond, 40 { Sail'd from hence thither
{ { 5th of last Month.
{ Ludlow Castle, 40 To carry the Governor.
Jamaica, { Swift Sloop, Now there.
{ { Surveying the Coast of
{ { the West-Indies, and
{ { then to return Home;
{ { but, during her being
{ 6 Winchelsea, 20 { at Jamaica, is to join
{ { the others, for Security
{ { of the Trade, and
{ { intercepting Pyrates.
Barbadoes, 5 Scarborough, 30 }
Leeward Islands, 6 Seaford, } Now there.
Tryal Sloop, 6 }
{ 6 Lime, 20 }
Virginia, { 5 Shoreham, 30 Order'd Home.
{ { Sailed thither from
{ { Home the 7th of last
{ Pearl, 40 { Month, and is to cruise
{ { about the Capes.
New-York, 6 Phoenix, 30 Now there.
{ Squirrel, 20
New-England, { Rose, 20 Order'd Home.

`Those at _Jamaica_, _Barbadoes_ and the Leeward
Islands, are to join upon Occasion, for annoying
the Pyrates, and the Security of the Trade: And
those at _New-England_, _Virginia_ and _New-York_, are
to do the like.

Besides these Frigots, two Men of War were ordered to attend Captain _Rogers_, late Commander of the two _Bristol_ Ships, called the _Duke_ and _Dutchess_, that took the rich _Acapulca_ Ship, and made a Tour round the Globe. This Gentleman received a Commission from his Majesty, to be Governor of the Island of _Providence_, and was vested with Power to make Use of all possible Methods for reducing the Pyrates; and that nothing might be wanting, he carried with him, the King's Proclamation of Pardon, to those who should return to their Duty by a certain Time; the Proclamation is as follows;

By the KING,

A PROCLAMATION, for suppressing of PYRATES.

GEORGE R.

W_Hereas we have received Information, that several Persons, Subjects of _Great Britain_, have since the _24_th Day of _June_, in the Year of our Lord _1715_, committed divers Pyracies and Robberies upon the High-Seas, in the _West-Indies_, or adjoyning to our Plantations, which hath and may Occasion great Damage to the Merchants of _Great Britain_, and others trading into those Parts; and tho' we have appointed such a Force as we judge sufficient for suppressing the said Pyrates, yet the more effectually to put an End to the same, we have thought fit, by and with the Advice of our Privy Council, to Issue this our Royal Proclamation; and we do hereby promise, and declare, that in Case any of the said Pyrates, shall on or before the _5_th of _September_, in the Year of our Lord _1718_, surrender him or themselves, to one of our Principal Secretaries of State in _Great Britain_ or _Ireland_, or to any Governor or Deputy Governor of any of our Plantations beyond the Seas; every such Pyrate and Pyrates so surrendering him, or themselves, as aforesaid, shall have our gracious Pardon, of and for such, his or their Pyracy, or Pyracies, by him or them committed before the fifth of _January_ next ensuing. And we do hereby strictly charge and command all our Admirals, Captains, and other Officers at Sea, and all our Governors and Commanders of any Forts, Castles, or other Places in our Plantations, and all other our Officers Civil and Military, to seize and take such of the Pyrates, who shall refuse or neglect to surrender themselves accordingly. And we do hereby further declare, that in Case any Person or Persons, on, or after, the _6_th Day of _September 1718_, shall discover or seize, or cause or procure to be discovered or seized, any one or more of the said Pyrates, so refusing or neglecting to surrender themselves as aforesaid, so as they may be brought to Justice, and convicted of the said Offence, such Person or Persons, so making such Discovery or Seizure, or causing or procuring such Discovery or Seizure to be made, shall have and receive as a Reward for the same, _viz._ for every Commander of any private Ship or Vessel, the Sum of _100_ l. for every Lieutenant, Master, Boatswain, Carpenter, and Gunner, the Sum of _40_ l; for every inferior Officer, the Sum of _30_ l. and for every private Man, the Sum of _20_ l. And if any Person or Persons, belonging to and being Part of the Crew of any such Pyrate Ship or Vessel, shall on or after the said sixth Day of _September 1718_, seize and deliver, or cause to be seized or delivered, any Commander or Commanders, of such Pyrate Ship or Vessel, so as that he or they be brought to Justice, and convicted of the said Offence, such Person or Persons, as a Reward for the same, shall receive for every such Commander, the Sum of _200_ l. which said Sums, the Lord Treasurer, or the Commissioners of our Treasury for the Time being, are hereby required, and desired to pay accordingly._

Given at our Court, at _Hampton-Court_, the fifth Day of _September_, 1717, in the fourth Year of our Regin.

God save the KING.

Before Governor _Rogers_ went over, the Proclamation was sent to them, which they took as _Teague_ took the Covenant, that is, they made Prize of the Ship and Proclamation too; however, they sent for those who were out a Cruising, and called a general Council, but there was so much Noise and Glamour, that nothing could be agreed on; some were for fortifying the Island, to stand upon their own Terms, and Treating with the Government upon the Foot of a Commonwealth; others were also for strengthening the Island for their own Security, but were not strenuous for these Punctillios, so that they might have a general Pardon, without being obliged to make any Restitution, and to retire, with all their Effects, to the neighbouring _British_ Plantations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gentlemen,

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

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

Genlemen,

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

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

Your humble Servant, _Joseph Laws_.

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

Capt. Laws,

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

_Trinidado_, _Feb._ 8, 1722.

Signed, _Hieronimo de Fuentes, Benette Alfonso del Manzano_.

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

Gentlemen,

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

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

Your humble Servant, _Joseph Laws_.

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

Captain Laws,

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

_Trinidado_, _Feb._ 20. 1720.

Signed, _Bennette Alfonso del Menzano_.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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