Chapter VI: Introduction (4)

Altho' you were indicted but for _two_ Facts, yet you know that at your Tryal it was fully proved even by an unwilling Witness, that you _pyratically_ took and rifled no less than _thirteen_ Vessels, since you sail'd from _North-Carolina_.

So that you might have been indicted, and convicted of _eleven_ more Acts of _Pyracy_, since you took the Benefit of the King's _Act of Grace_, and pretended to leave that wicked Course of Life.

Not to mention the many _Acts_ of _Pyracy_ you committed before; for which if your Pardon from _Man_ was never so authentick, yet you must expect to answer for them before God.

You know that the Crimes you have committed are _evil_ in themselves, and contrary to the _Light_ and _Law_ of _Nature_, as well as the _Law_ of God, by which you are commanded that _you shall not steal_, Exod. 20. 15. And the Apostle St. _Paul_ expresly affirms, That _Thieves shall not inherit the Kingdom of God_, 1 Cor. 6. 10.

But to _Theft_ you have added a greater Sin, which is _Murder_. How many you may have _killed_ of those that resisted you in the committing your former _Pyracies_, I know not: But this we all know, That besides the Wounded, you kill'd no less than _eighteen_ Persons out of those that were sent by lawful Authority to suppress you, and put a Stop to those Rapines that you daily acted.

And however you may fancy that that was killing Men fairly in open _Fight_, yet this know, that the Power of the _Sword_ not being committed into your Hands by any lawful Authority, you were not impowered to use any _Force_, or _fight_ any one; and therefore those Persons that fell in that Action, in doing their Duty to their King and Country, were _murdered_, and their _Blood_ now cries out for _Vengeance_ and _Justice_ against you: For it is the _Voice of Nature_, confirmed by the _Law_ of God, That _whosoever sheddeth Man's Blood, by Man shall his Blood be shed_. Gen. 9. 6.

And consider that Death is not the only Punishment due to _Murderers_; for they are threatened to have _their Part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone, which is the second Death_, Rev. 21. 8. See _Chap._ 22. 15. Words which carry that Terror with them, that considering your Circumstances and your Guilt, surely the Sound of them must make you tremble; _For who can dwell with everlasting Burnings?_ Chap. 33. 14.

As the _Testimony_ of your _Conscience_ must convince you of the great and many Evils you have committed, by which you have highly offended God, and provoked most justly his Wrath and Indignation against you, so I suppose I need not tell you that the only Way of obtaining Pardon and Remission of your Sins from God, is by a true and unfeigned _Repentance_ and _Faith_ in Christ, by whose meritorious Death and Passion, you can only hope for Salvation.

You being a Gentleman that have had the Advantage of a _liberal Education_, and being generally esteemed a Man of _Letters_, I believe it will be needless for me to explain to you the Nature of _Repentance_ and _Faith_ in Christ, they being so fully and so often mentioned in the Scriptures, that you cannot but know them. And therefore, perhaps, for that Reason it might be thought by some improper for me to have said so much to you, as I have already upon this Occasion; neither should I have done it, but that considering the Course of your Life and Actions, I have just Reason to fear, that the Principles of Religion that had been instilled into you by your _Education_, have been at least corrupted, if not entirely defaced, by the _Scepticism_ and _Infidelity_ of this wicked Age; and that what Time you allowed for Study, was rather applied to the _Polite Literature_, and the vain _Philosophy_ of the Times, than a serious Search after the _Law_ and _Will_ of God, as revealed unto us in the Holy _Scriptures_: For _had your Delight been in the Law of the Lord, and that you had meditated therein Day and Night_, Psal. 1. 2. you would then have found that God's _Word was a Lamp unto your Feet, and a Light to your Path_, Psal. 119. 105. and that you would account all other Knowledge but _Loss_, in Comparison of _the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus_, Phil. 3. 8. _who to them that are called is the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God_, 1 Cor. 1. 24. _even the hidden Wisdom which God ordained before the World_, Chap. 2. 7.

You would then have esteemed the _Scriptures_ as the _Great Charter_ of Heaven, and which delivered to us not only the most perfect _Laws_ and _Rules_ of Life, but also discovered to us the Acts of _Pardon_ from God, wherein they have offended those righteous Laws: For in them only is to be found the great _Mystery_ of fallen Man's _Redemption, which the Angels desire to look into_, 1 Pet. 1. 12.

And they would have taught you that _Sin_ is the debasing of _Human Nature_, as being a _Derivation_ from that _Purity, Rectitude_, and _Holiness_, in which God created us, and that _Virtue_ and _Religion_, and walking by the Laws of God, were altogether preferable to the Ways of _Sin_ and _Satan_; for that the _Ways_ of Virtue are _Ways of Pleasantness, and all their Paths are Peace_, Prov. 3. 17.

But what you could not learn from God's Word, by reason of your _carelesly_, or but _superficially_ considering the same, I hope the Course of his _Providence_, and the present _Afflictions_ that he hath laid upon you, hath now convinced you of the same: For however in your seeming Prosperity you might make a _Mock at your Sins_ Prov. 3. 17. yet now that you see that God's Hand hath reached you, and brought you to publick Justice, I hope your present unhappy Circumstances hath made you seriously reflect upon your past Actions and Course of Life; and that you are now sensible of the Greatness of your Sins, and that you find the Burden of them is intolerable.

And that therefore being thus _labouring, and heavy laden with Sin_, Mat. 11. 28. you will esteem that as the most valuable _Knowledge_, that can shew you how you can be reconciled to that Supreme God that you have so highly offended; and that can reveal to you Him who is not only the powerful _Advocate with the Father for you_, 1 John 2. 1. but also who hath paid that Debt that is due for your Sins by his own Death upon the Cross for you; and thereby made full Satisfaction for the Justice of God. And this is to be found no where but in God's Word, which discovers to us that _Lamb of God which takes away the Sins of the World_, John 1. 29. which is _Christ_ the Son of God: For this know, and be assured, _that there is none other Name under Heaven given among Men, whereby we must be saved_, Acts 4. 12. but only by the Name of the Lord _Jesus_.

But then consider how he invites all Sinners to come unto him, and, _that he will give them rest_, Matt. 11. 28. for he assures us, _that he came to seek and to save that which was lost_, Luke 19. 10, Mat. 18. 11. and hath promised, _that he that cometh unto him, he will in no wise cast out_, John 6. 37.

So that if now you will sincerely turn to him, tho' late, even at the _eleventh Hour_, Mat. 20. 6, 9. he will receive you.

But surely I need not tell you, that the _Terms_ of his _Mercy_ is _Faith_ and _Repentance_.

And do not mistake the _Nature_ of Repentance to be only a bare Sorrow for your Sins, arising from the Consideration of the _Evil_ and _Punishment_ they have now brought upon you; but your Sorrow must arise from the Consideration of your having offended a gracious and merciful God.

But I shall not pretend to give you any particular Directions as to the Nature of Repentance: I consider that I speak to a Person, whose Offences have proceeded not so much from his not _knowing_, as his _slighting_ and _neglecting_ his _Duty_: Neither is it proper for me to give Advice out of the Way of my own Profession.

You may have that better delivered to you by those who have made Divinity their particular Study; and who, by their Knowledge, as well as their Office, as being the _Ambassadors of Christ_, 2 Cor. 5. 20. are best qualified to give you Instructions therein.

I only heartily wish, that what, in Compassion to your Soul, I have now said to you upon this sad and solemn Occasion, by exhorting you in general to _Faith_ and _Repentance_, may have that due Effect upon you, that thereby you may become a true _Penitent_.

And therefore having now discharged my Duty to you as a _Christian_, by giving you the best Counsel I can, with respect to the Salvation of your Soul, I must now do my Office as a _Judge_.

The _Sentence_ that the Law hath appointed to pass upon you for your Offences, and which this Court doth therefore award, is,

* * *

_That you, the said_ Stede Bonnet, _shall go from hence to the Place from whence you came, and from thence to the Place of Execution, where you shall be hanged by the Neck till you are dead_.

_And the God of infinite Mercy be merciful to your Soul_.

CHAP. V. OF Capt. _Edward England_, And his CREW.

E_Dward England_ went Mate of a Sloop that sail'd out of _Jamaica_, and was taken by Captain _Winter_, a Pyrate, just before their Settlement at _Providence_; from whence _England_ had the Command of a Sloop in the same laudable Employment: It is surprizing that Men of good Understanding should engage in a Course of Life, that so much debases humane Nature, and sets them upon a Level with the wild Beasts of the Forest, who live and prey upon their weaker Fellow Creatures: A Crime so enormous! That it includes almost all others, as Murder, Rapine, Theft, Ingratitude, _&c._ and tho' they make these Vices familiar to them by their daily Practice, yet these Men are so inconsistent with themselves, that a Reflection made upon their Honour, their Justice, or their Courage, is look'd upon as an Offence that ought to be punished with the Life of him that commits it: _England_ was one of these Men, who seem'd to have such a Share of Reason, as should have taught him better Things. He had a great deal of good Nature, and did not want for Courage; he was not avaritious, and always averse to the ill Usage Prisoners received: He would have been contented with moderate Plunder, and less mischievous Pranks, could his Companions have been brought to the same Temper, but he was generally over-rul'd, and as he was engaged in that abominable Society, he was obliged to be a Partner in all their vile Actions.

Captain _England_ sail'd to the Coast of _Africa_, after the Island of _Providence_ was settled by the _English_ Government, and the Pyrates surrendered to his Majesty's Proclamation; and took several Ships and Vessels, particularly the _Cadogan_ Snow belonging to _Bristol_, at _Sierraleone_, one _Skinner_ Master, who was inhumanly murthered by some of the Crew, that had lately been his own Men, and served in the said Vessel. It seems some Quarrel had happened between them, so that _Skinner_ thought fit to remove these Fellows on Board of a Man of War, and at the same Time refused them their Wages; not long after they found Means to desert that Service, and shipping themselves aboard a Sloop in the _West-Indies_, was taken by a Pyrate, and brought to _Providence_, and sailed upon the same Account along with Captain _England_.

Assoon as _Skinner_ had struck to the Pyrate, he was ordered to come on Board in his Boat, which he did, and the Person that he first cast his Eye upon, proved to be his old Boatswain, who star'd him in the Face like his evil Genius, and accosted him in this Manner.-- _Ah, Captain_ Skinner! _Is it you? The only Man I wished to see; I am much in your Debt, and now I shall pay you all in your own Coin_.

The poor Man trembled every Joint, when he found into what Company he had fallen, and dreaded the Event, as he had Reason enough so to do; for the Boatswain immediately called to his Consorts, laid hold of the Captain, and made him fast to the Windless, and there pelted him with Glass Bottles, which cut him in a sad Manner; after which they whipp'd him about the Deck, till they were weary, being deaf to all his Prayers and Intreaties, and at last, because he had been a good Master to his Men, they said, he should have an easy Death, and so shot him thro' the Head. They took some few Things out of the Snow, but gave the Vessel and all her Cargo to _Howel Davis_ the Mate; and the rest of the Crew, as will be hereafter mentioned in the Chapter of Captain _Davis_.

Captain _England_ took a Ship called the _Pearl_, Captain _Tyzard_ Commander, for which he exchanged his own Sloop, fitted her up for the pyratical Account, and new christen'd her, the _Royal James_, with which he took several Ships and Vessels of different Nations at the _Azores_ and _Cape de Verd Islands_.

In the Spring, 1719, the Rovers returned to _Africa_, and beginning at the River _Gambia_, sailed all down the Coast; and between that and _Cape Corso_, took the following Ships and Vessels.

The _Eagle_ Pink, Captain _Rickets_ Commander belonging to _Cork_, taken the 25th of _March_, having 6 Guns and 17 Men on Board, seven of which turned Pyrates.

The _Charlotte_, Captain _Oldson_, of _London_, taken _May_ the 26th, having 8 Guns and 18 Men on Board, 13 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Sarah_, Captain _Stunt_, of _London_, taken the 27th of _May_, having 4 Guns and 18 Men on Board, 3 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Bentworth_, Captain _Gardener_, of _Bristol_, taken the 27th of _May_, having 12 Guns and 30 Men on Board, 12 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Buck_ Sloop, Captain _Sylvester_, of _Gambia_, taken the 27th of _May_, having 2 Guns and 2 Men on Board, and both turned Pyrates.

The _Carteret_, Captain _Snow_, of _London_, taken the 28th of _May_, having 4 Guns and 18 Men on Board, 5 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Mercury_, Captain _Maggott_, of _London_, taken the 29th of _May_, having 4 Guns and 18 Men on Board, 5 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Coward_ Galley, Captain _Creed_, of _London_, taken the 17th of _June_, having 2 Guns and 13 Men on Board, 4 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Elizabeth_ and _Katherine_, Captain _Bridge_ of _Barbadoes_, taken _June_ the 27th, having 6 Guns and 14 Men on Board, 4 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Eagle_ Pink being bound to _Jamaica_, the _Sarah_ to _Virginia_, and the _Buck_ to _Maryland_, they let them go, but the _Charlotte_, the _Bentworth_, the _Carteret_, and the _Coward_ Galley, they burnt; and the _Mercury_, and the _Elizabeth_ and _Katherine_ were fitted up for Pyrate Ships, the former was new nam'd _Queen Ann_'s _Revenge_, and commanded by one _Lane_, and the other was call'd the _Flying King_, of which _Robert Sample_ was appointed Captain. These two left _England_ upon the Coast, sail'd to the _West-Indies_, where they took some Prizes, clean'd, and sail'd to _Brasil_ in _November_; they took several _Portuguese_ Ships there, and did a great deal of Mischief, but in the height of their Undertakings, a _Portuguese_ Man of War, which was an excellent Sailor, came a very unwelcome Guest to them, and gave them Chace; the Queen _Ann's Revenge_ got off, but was lost a little while after upon that Coast; and the _Flying King_, giving herself over for lost, ran ashore: There were then 70 Men on Board, 12 of which were kill'd, and the rest taken Prisoners, of whom the _Portuguese_ hang'd 38, of which 32 were _English_, three _Dutch_, two _French_, and one of their own Nation.

_England_, in going down the Coast, took the _Peterborough_ Galley of _Bristol_, Captain _Owen_; and the _Victory_, Captain _Ridout_; the former they detained, but plundered the latter, and let her go. In _Cape Corso_ Road, they saw two Sail at Anchor, but before they could reach them, they slipp'd their Cables and got close under _Cape Corso Castle_, these were the _Whydah_, Captain _Prince_, and the _John_, Captain _Rider_: The Pyrates upon this made a fire Ship of a Vessel they had lately taken, and attempted to burn them, as tho' they had been a common Enemy, which if effected, they could not have been one Farthing the better for it; but the Castle firing warmly upon them, they withdrew, and sail'd down to _Whydah_ Road, where they found another Pyrate, one Captain _la Bouche_, who getting thither before _England_ arrived, had forestall'd the Market, and greatly disappointed their Brethren.

Captain _England_, after this Baulk, went into a Harbour, clean'd his own Ship, and fitted up the _Peterborough_, which he call'd the _Victory_; they liv'd there very wantonly for several Weeks, making free with the Negroe Women, and committing such outragious Acts, that they came to an open Rupture with the Natives, several of whom they kill'd, and one of their Towns they set on Fire.

When the Pyrates came out to Sea, they put it to a Vote what Voyage to take, and the Majority carrying it for the _East-Indies_, they shap'd their Course accordingly, and arrived at _Madagascar_, the Beginning of the Year 1720. They staid not long there, but after taking in Water and Provisions, sail'd for the Coast of _Malabar_, which is a fine fruitful Country in the _East-Indies_, in the Empire of the _Mogul_, but immediately subject to its own Princes: It reaches from the Coast of _Canara_ to _Cape Camorin_, which is between 7° 30, and 12° North Lattitude, and in about 75° East Longitude, counting from the Meridian of _London_. The old Natives are Pagans, but there are a great Number of _Mahometans_ inhabiting among them, who are Merchants, and generally rich. On the same Coast, but in a Province to the Northward lies _Goa, Surat, Bombay_, where the _English, Dutch_, and _Portuguese_ have Settlements.

Hither our Pyrates came, having made a Tour of half the Globe, as the Psalmist says of the Devils, _Going about like roaring Lions, seeking whom they might devour_. They took several Country Ships, that is, _Indian_ Vessels, and one European, a _Dutch_ Ship, which they exchanged for one of their own, and then came back to _Madagascar_.

They sent several of their Hands on Shore with Tents, Powder, and Shot, to kill Hogs, Venison, and such other fresh Provision as the Island afforded, and a Whim came into their Heads to seek out for the Remains of _Avery_'s Crew, whom they knew to be settled somewhere in the Island.--Accordingly some of them travell'd several Days Journey, without hearing any Intelligence of them, and so were forc'd to return with the Loss of their Labour, for these Men were settled on the other Side of the Island, as has been taken Notice of under the Chapter of _Avery_.

They stay'd not long here, after they had clean'd their Ships, but sailing to _Juanna_; they met two _English_, and one _Ostend India_ Men, coming out of that Harbour, one of which, after a desperate Resistance, they took; the Particulars of which Action is at length related in the following Letter, wrote by the Captain from _Bombay_.

A LETTER from Captain _Mackra_, dated at _Bombay, Nov._ 16, 1720.

W_E arrived the_ 25_th of_ July _last, in Company of the_ Greenwich, _at_ Juanna, (_an Island not far from_ Madagascar) _putting in there to refresh our Men, we found fourteen Pyrates that came in their Canoes from the_ Mayotta, _where the Pyrate Ship to which they belong'd_, viz. _the_ Indian Queen, _two hundred and fifty Tons, twenty eight Guns, and ninety Men, commanded by Capt._ Oliver de la Bouche, _bound from the_ Guinea _Coast to the_ East-Indies, _had been bulged and lost. They said they left the Captain and_ 40 _of their Men building a new Vessel to proceed on their wicked Design. Capt._ Kirby _and I concluding it might be of great Service to the_ East-India _Company to destroy such a Nest of Rogues, were ready to sail for that Purpose the_ 17_th of_ August, _about Eight o'Clock in the Morning, when we discovered two Pyrate Ships standing into the Bay of_ Juanna, _one of thirty four, and the other of thirty Guns. I immediately went on Board the_ Greenwich, _where they seem'd very diligent in Preparations for an Engagement, and I left Capt._ Kirby _with mutual Promises of standing by each other. I then unmoor'd, got under Sail, and brought two Boats a-head to row me close to the_ Greenwich; _but he being open to a Valley and a Breeze, made the best of his Way from me; which an_ Ostender _in our Company, of_ 22 _Guns, seeing, did the same, though the Captain had promised heartily to engage with us, and I believe would have been as good as his Word, if Capt._ Kirby _had kept his. About half an Hour after Twelve, I called several times to the_ Greenwich _to bear down to our Assistance, and fir'd Shot at him, but to no Purpose. For tho' we did not doubt but he would join us, because when he got about a League from us, he brought his Ship to, and look'd on, yet both he and the_ Ostender _basely deserted us, and left us engaged with barbarous and inhuman Enemies, with their black and bloody Flags hanging over us, without the least Appearance of escaping being cut to Pieces. But God, in his good Providence, determin'd otherwise; for notwithstanding their Superiority, we engaged 'em both about three Hours, during which, the biggest received some Shot betwixt Wind and Water, which made her keep off a little to stop her Leaks. The other endeavoured all she could to board us, by rowing with her Oars, being within half a Ship's Length of us above an Hour; but by good Fortune we shot all her Oars to Pieces, which prevented them, and by consequence saved our Lives_.

_About Four o'Clock, most of the Officers and Men posted on the Quarter-Deck being killed and wounded, the largest Ship making up to us with all Diligence, being still within a Cable's Length of us, often giving us a Broadside, and no hopes of Capt._ Kirby_'s coming to our Assistance, we endeavoured to run ashoar; and tho' we drew four Foot Water more than the Pyrate, it pleased God that he stuck fast on a higher Ground than we happily fell in with; so was disappointed a second time from boarding us. Here we had a more violent Engagement than before. All my Officers, and most of my Men, behaved with unexpected Courage; and as we had a considerable Advantage by having a Broadside to his Bow, we did him great Damage, so that had Capt._ Kirby _come in then, I believe we should have taken both, for we had one of them sure; but the other Pyrate_ (_who was still firing at us_) _seeing the_ Greenwich _did not offer to assist us, he supplied his Consort with three Boats full of fresh Men. About Five in the Evening the_ Greenwich _stood clear away to Sea, leaving us struggling hard for Life in the very Jaws of Death; which the other Pyrate, that was afloat, seeing, got a-warp out, and was hauling under our Stern; by which time many of my Men being killed and wounded, and no Hopes left us from being all murdered by enraged barbarous Conquerors, I order'd all that could, to get into the Long-Boat under the Cover of the Smoak of our Guns; so that with what some did in Boats, and others by swimming, most of us that were able got ashoar by Seven o' Clock. When the Pyrates came aboard, they cut three of our wounded Men to Pieces. I, with a few of my People, made what haste I could to the_ King's-Town, _twenty five Miles from us, where I arrived next Day, almost dead with Fatigue and Loss of Blood, having been sorely wounded in the Head by a Musket Ball_.

_At this Town I heard that the Pyrates had offered ten thousand Dollars to the Country People to bring me in, which many of them would have accepted, only they knew the King and all his chief People were in my Interest. Mean time, I caused a Report to be spread, that I was dead of my Wounds, which much abated their Fury. About ten Days after, being pretty well recovered, and hoping the Malice of our Enemies was nigh over, I began to consider the dismal Condition we were reduced to, being in a Place where we had no Hopes of getting a Passage home, all of us in a manner naked, not having had Time to get another Shirt, or a Pair of Shoes_.

_Having obtained Leave to go on Board the Pyrates, and a Promise of Safety, several of the Chief of them knew me, and some of them had sailed with me, which I found of great Advantage; because, notwithstanding their Promise, some of them would have cut me, and all that would not enter with them, to Pieces, had it not been for the chief Captain_, Edward England, _and some others I knew. They talked of burning one of their Ships, which we had so entirely disabled, as to be no farther useful to them, and to fit the_ Cassandra _in her room; but in the End I managed my Tack so well, that they made me a Present of the said shattered Ship, which was_ Dutch _built, called the_ Fancy, _about three hundred Tons, and also a hundred and twenty nine Bales of the Company's Cloth, tho' they would not give me a Rag of my Cloathes_.

_They sailed the_ 3_d of_ September; _and with Jury-Masts, and such old Sails as they left me, I made shift to do the like on the_ 8_th, together with forty three of my Ship's Crew, including two Passengers and twelve Soldiers, having but five Tons of Water aboard; and after a Passage of forty eight Days, I arrived here_ October 26, _almost naked and starv'd, having been reduced to a Pint of Water a Day, and almost in despair of ever seeing Land, by Reason of the Calms we met with between the Coast of_ Arabia _and_ Malabar.--_We had in all thirteen Men killed and twenty four wounded; and we were told, that we had destroyed about ninety or a hundred of the Pyrates. When they left us, they were about three hundred Whites and eighty Blacks in both Ships. I am persuaded, had our Consort the_ Greenwich _done his Duty, we had destroyed both of them, and got two hundred thousand Pounds for our Owners and selves; whereas to his deserting us, the Loss of the_ Cassandra _may justly be imputed. I have delivered all the Bales that were given me into the Company's Warehouse, for which the Governor and Council have ordered me a Reward. Our Governor, Mr._ Boon, _who is extreme kind and civil to me, has ordered me home with this Pacquet; but Captain_ Harvey, _who had a prior Promise, being come in with the Fleet, goes in my room. The Governor hath promis'd me a Country Voyage, to help make me up my Losses, and would have me stay to go home with him next Year_.

* * *

Captain _Mackra_ certainly run a great Hazard, in going aboard the Pyrate, and began quickly to repent his Credulity; for though they had promised, that no Injury should be done to his Person, he found their Words were not to be trusted; and it may be supposed, that nothing but the desperate Circumstances Captain _Mackra_ imagined himself to be in, could have prevailed upon him to fling himself and Company into their Hands, perhaps not knowing how firmly the Natives of that Island were attach'd to the _English_ Nation; for about 20 Years ago, Captain _Cornwall_, Commadore of an _English_ Squadron, assisted them against another Island called _Mohilla_, for which they have ever since communicated all the grateful Offices in their Power, insomuch that it became a Proverb, _That an_ Englishman, _and a_ Juanna _Man were all one_.

_England_ was inclined to favour Captain _Mackra_; but he was so free to let him know, that his Interest was declining amongst them; and that the Pyrates were so provoked at the Resistance he made against them, that he was afraid he should hardly be able to protect him; he therefore advised him to sooth up and manage the Temper of Captain _Taylor_, a Fellow of a most barbarous Nature, who was become a great Favourite amongst them for no other Reason than because he was a greater Brute than the rest. _Mackra_ did what he could to soften this Beast, and ply'd him with warm Punch; notwithstanding which, they were in a Tumult whether they should make an End of him, or no, when an Accident happen'd which turn'd to the Favour of the poor Captain; a Fellow with a terrible pair of Whiskers, and a wooden Leg, being stuck round with Pistols, like the Man in the Almanack with Darts, comes swearing and vapouring upon the Quarter-Deck, and asks, in a damning Manner, which was Captain _Mackra_: The Captain expected no less than that this Fellow would be his Executioner;--but when he came near him, he took him by the Hand, swearing, _Damn him he was glad to see him; and shew me the Man_, says he, _that offers to hurt Captain_ Mackra, _for I'll stand by him_; and so with many Oaths told him, _he was an honest Fellow, and that he had formerly sail'd with him_.

This put an End to the Dispute, and Captain _Taylor_ was so mellow'd with the Punch, that he consented that the old Pyrate Ship, and so many Bales of Cloth should be given to Captain _Mackra_, and so he fell asleep. _England_ advised Captain _Mackra_ to get off with all Expedition, least when the Beast should awake, he might repent his Generosity: Which Advice was followed by the Captain.

Captain _England_ having sided so much to Captain _Mackra_'s Interest, was a Means of making him many Enemies among the Crew; they thinking such good Usage inconsistent with their Polity, because it looked like procuring Favour at the Aggravation of their Crimes; therefore upon Imagination or Report, that Captain _Mackra_ was fitting out against them, with the Company's Force, he was soon _abdicated_ or pulled out of his Government, and marooned with three more on the Island of _Mauritius_: An Island indeed, not to be complained of, had they accumulated any Wealth by their Villanies that would have afforded some future comfortable Prospect, for it abounds with Fish, Deer, Hogs and other Flesh. Sir _Thomas Herbert_, says, the Shores with Coral and Ambergrease; but I believe the _Dutch_ had not deserted it, had there been much of these Commodities to have been found. It was in 1722, resettled by the _French_, who have a Fort at another neighbouring Island, called _Don Mascarine_, and are touched at for Water, Wood, and Refreshments, by _French_ Ships bound to, or for _India_; as St. _Helena_ and _Cape Bon Esperance_, are by us and the _Dutch_. From this Place, Captain _England_ and his Companions having made a little Boat of Staves and old Pieces of Deal left there, went over to _Madagascar_, where they subsist at present on the Charity of some of their Brethren, who had made better Provision for themselves, than they had done.

The Pyrates detained some Officers and Men belonging to Captain _Mackra_, and having repaired the Damages received in their Rigging, they sailed for _India_. The Day before they made Land, saw two Ships to the Eastward, who at first Sight, they took to be _English_, and ordered one of the Prisoners, who had been an Officer with Captain _Mackra_, to tell them the private Signals between the Company's Ships, the Captain swearing he would cut him in pound Pieces, if he did not do it immediately; but unable, was forced to bear their Scurility, till they came up with them, and found they were two _Moor_ Ships from _Muscat_, with Horses; they brought the Captain of them, and Merchants, on Board, torturing them, and rifling the Ships, in order to discover Riches, as believing they came from _Mocha_; but being baulked in their Expectation, and next Morning seeing Land, and at the same Time a Fleet in Shore plying to Windward, they were puzzled how to dispose of them; to let them go, was to discover and ruin the Voyage, and it was cruel to sink the Men and Horses with the Ships, (as many of them were inclined to,) therefore, as a Medium, they brought them to an Anchor, threw all their Sails over-board, and cut one of the Ships Masts half through.

While they lay at an Anchor, and were all the next Day employed in taking out Water, one of the aforementioned Fleet bore towards them with _English_ Colours, answered with a red Ensign from the Pyrates, but did not speak with one another. At Night they left the _Muscatt_ Ships, weighed with the Sea Wind, and stood to the Northward after this Fleet: About four next Morning, just as they were getting under sail, with the Land Wind, the Pyrates came amongst them, made no stop, but fired their great and small Guns very briskly, till they got through; and as Day-Light cleared, were in a great Consternation in their Minds, having all along taken them for _Angria_'s Fleet; what to do was the Point, whether run or pursue? They were sensible of their Inferiority of Strength, having no more than 300 Men in both Ships, and 40 of them Negroes; besides, the _Victory_ had then four Pumps at Work, and must inevitably been lost before, had it not been for some Hand-Pumps, and several pair of Standards brought out of the _Cassandra_, to relieve and strengthen her; but observing the Indifferency of the Fleet, chose rather to chase than run; and thought the best Way to save themselves, was to play at Bullbeggar with the Enemy: So they came up with the Sea Wind, about Gun-Shot to Leeward, the great Ships of the Fleet a-head, and some others a-stern; which latter they took for Fire-Vessels: And these a-head gaining from them by cutting away their Boats, they could do nothing more than continue their Course all Night, which they did, and found them next Morning out of Sight, excepting a Ketch and some few Gallivats, (_small sort of Vessels something like the Feluccas of the_ Mediterranean, _and hoists, like them, triangular Sails_.) They bore down, which the Ketch perceiving, transported her People on Board a Gallivat, and set fire to her; the other proved too nimble and made off. The same Day they chased another Gallivat and took her, being come from _Gogo_, bound for _Callicut_ with Cotton. Of these Men they enquired concerning the Fleet, supposing they must have been in it; and altho' they protested they had not seen a Ship or Boat since they left _Gogo_, and pleaded very earnestly for Favour; yet they threw all their Cargo over-board, and squezed their Joints in a Vice, to extort Confession: But they entirely ignorant of who or what this Fleet should be, were obliged not only to sustain this Torment, but next Day a fresh easterly Wind having split the Gallivats Sails, they put her Company into the Boat, with nothing but a Trysail, no Provisions, and only four Gallons of Water, (half of it Salt,) and then out of Sight of Land, to shift for themselves.

For the better elucidating of this Story, it may be convenient to inform the Reader, who _Angria_ is, and what the Fleet were, that had so scurvily behaved themselves.

_Angria_ is a famous _Indian_ Pyrate, of considerable Strength and Territories, that gives continual Disturbance to the _European_ (and especially the _English_) Trade: His chief Hold is _Callaba_, not many Leagues from _Bombay_, and has one Island in Sight of that Port, whereby he gains frequent Opportunities of annoying the Company. It would not be so insuperable a Difficulty to suppress him, if the Shallowness of the Water did not prevent Ships of War coming nigh: And a better Art he has, of bribing the _Mogul_'s Ministers for Protection, when he finds an Enemy too powerful.

In the Year 1720, the _Bombay_ Fleet consisting of four _Grabbs, (Ships built in_ India _by the Company, and have three Masts, a Prow like a Row-Galley, instead of a Boltsprit, about_ 150 _Tons; are officered and armed like a Man of War, for Defence and Protection of the Trade,)_ the _London, Chandois_, and two other Ships with Gallivats, who besides their proper Compliments, carried down 1000 Men to bombard and batter _Gayra_, a Fort belonging to _Angria_, on the _Malabar_ Coast, which they having performed ineffectually, were returning to _Bombay_, and, to make amends, fell in with the Pyrates, to the Purpose has been already related. Captain _Upton_, Commadore of that Fleet, prudently objecting to Mr. _Brown_, (who went General,) That the Ships were not to be hazarded, since they sailed without their Governor _Boon_'s Orders to engage; and besides, that they did not come out with such a Design. This favourable Opportunity of destroying the Pyrates, angered the Governor, and he transferred the Command of the Fleet to Captain _Mackra_, who had Orders immediately to pursue and engage, where ever he met them.

The Vice-Roy of _Goa_, assisted by the _English_ Company's Fleet from _Bombay_, did attempt the Reduction of _Callaba_, his principal Place, landed 8 or 10000 Men the next Year, the _English_ Squadron of Men of War being then in those Seas; but having viewed the Fortification well, and expended some of their Army by Sickness and the Fatigues of a Camp, carefully withdrew again.

I return to the Pyrates, who, after they had sent away the Gallivats People, resolved to cruise to the Southward; and the next Day, between _Goa_ and _Carwar_, heard several Guns, which brought them to an Anchor, and they sent their Boat on the Scent, who returned about two in the Morning, and brought Word of two Grabs lying at Anchor in the Road. They weighed and ran towards the Bay, till Day-Light gave the Grabs Sight of them, and was but just Time enough to get under _India Diva_ Castle, out of their reach; this displeased the Pyrates the more, in that they wanted Water; and some were for making a Descent that Night and taking the Island, but it not being approved of by the Majority, they proceeded to the Southward, and took next in their Way, a small Ship out of _Onnore_ Road, with only a _Dutch_ Man and two _Portuguese_ on Board. They sent one of these on Shore to the Captain, to acquaint him, if he would supply them with some Water, and fresh Provisions, he should have his Ship again; and the Master returned for answer, by his Mate _Frank Harmless_, that if they would deliver him Possession over the Bar, he would comply with their Request; the Proposal the Mate thought was collusive, and they rather jump'd into _Harmless_'s Opinion, (who very honestly entered with them,) and resolved to seek Water at the _Laccadeva_ Islands; so having sent the other Persons on Shore, with threats, that he should be the last Man they would give Quarter too, (by Reason of this uncivil Usage;) they put directly for the Islands, and arrived there in three Days: Where being informed by a Menchew they took (with the Governor of _Canwars_ Pass,) of there being no Anchor-Ground among them, and _Melinda_ being the next convenient Island, they sent their Boats on Shore, to see if there was any Water, and whether it was inhabited or not; who returned with an Answer to their Satisfaction, _viz._ that there was abundance of good Water, and many Houses, but deserted by the Men, who had fled to the neighbouring Islands on the Approach of Ships, and left only the Women and Children to guard one another. The Women they forced in a Barbarous Manner to their Lusts, and to require them, destroyed their Cocoa Trees, and fired several of their Houses and _Churches_. (I suppose built by the _Portuguese_, who formerly used there, in their Voyages to _India_.)

While they were at this Island, they lost three or four Anchors, by the Rockyness of the Ground, Freshness of Winds, and at last were forced thence by a harder Gale than ordinary, leaving 70 People, Blacks and Whites, and most of their Water Casks: In ten Days they regained the Island again, filled their Water, and took the People on Board.

Provisions were very scarce, and they now resolved to visit their good Friends the _Dutch_, at _Cochin_, who, if you will believe these Rogues, never fail of supplying Gentlemen of their Profession. After three Days sail, they arrived off _Tellechery_, and took a small Vessel belonging to Governor _Adams, John Tawke_ Master, whom they brought on Board very drunk, and he giving an Account of Captain _Mackra_'s fitting out, put them in a Tempest of Passion: _A Villain_, say they, _that we have treated so civilly, as to give him a Ship and other Presents, and now to be armed against us, he ought to be hanged; and since we cannot show our Resentment on him, let us hang the Dogs his People, who wish him well, and would do the same, if clear. If it be in my Power_, says the Quarter-Master, _both Masters and Officers of Ships shall be carried with us for the future, only to plague them. --d--n_ England.

Thence they proceeded to _Calicut_, where they endeavoured to take a large _Moor_ Ship out of the Road, but was prevented by some Guns mounted on Shore, and discharged at them: Mr. _Lasinby_, who was one of Captain _Mackra_'s Officers, and detained, was under the Deck at this Time, and commanded both by the Captain and Quarter Master of the Pyrates, to tend the Braces on the Booms, in hopes, it was believed, a Shot would take him before they got clear, asking the Reason why he was not there before? And when he would have excused himself, threat'ned on the like Neglect to shoot him; at which the other beginning to expostulate farther, and claim their Promise of putting him ashore, got an unmerciful beating from the Quarter-Master. Captain _Taylor_, who was now Successor to _England_, and whose Priviledge it was to do so, being lame of his Hands, and unable.

The next Day in their Passage down, came up with a _Dutch_ Galliot, bound for _Calicut_ with Lime Stone, and aboard of her they put Captain _Tawke_, and sent him away, and several of the People interceeded for _Lasinby_ in vain, _For_, says _Taylor_ and his Party, _if we let this Dog go, who has heard our Designs and Resolutions, we overset all our well advised Projections, and particularly this Supply we are now seeking for, at the Hands of the_ Dutch.

It was but one Day more before they arrived off _Cochin_, where, by a Fishing-Canoe, they sent a Letter on Shore; and in the Afternoon, with the Sea-breeze, ran into the Road and anchored, saluting the Fort with 11 Guns each Ship, and received the Return, in an equal Number; a good Omen of the welcome Reception they found; for at Night there came on Board a large Boat, deeply laden with fresh Provisions and Liquors, and with it a Servant (of a favourite Inhabitant) called _John Trumpet_: He told them they must immediately weigh, and run farther to the Southward, where they should be supplied with all Things they wanted, naval Stores or Provisions.

They had not been long at Anchor again, before they had several Canoes on Board with both black and white Inhabitants, who continued, without Interruption, all good Offices, during their Stay; particularly _John Trumpet_ brought a large Boat of Arrack, than which, nothing could be more pleasing (about 90 Legers,) as also 60 Bales of Sugar; an Offering, its presumed, from the Governor and his Daughter, who, in Return, had a fine Table-Clock sent him, (the Plunder of Captain _Mackra_'s Ship,) and she a large Gold Watch, Earnests of the Pay they designed to make.

When they had all on Board, they paid Mr. _Trumpet_ to his Satisfaction, it was computed, 6 or 7000 _l._ gave him three Cheers, 11 Guns each Ship, and throw'd Ducatoons into his Boat by handfuls, for the Boat-Men to scramble for.

That Night being little Wind, did not weigh, and _Trumpet_, in the Morning, waked them to the Sight of more Arrack, Chests of Piece-Goods, and ready made Clothes, bringing the Fiscal of the Place also with him. At Noon, while those were on Board, saw a Sail to the Southward, which they weighed, and chaced after; but she having a good Offing, got to the Northward of them, and anchored a small Distance from _Cochin_ Fort; the aforementioned Gentlemen assuring them, that they would not be molested in taking her from under the Castle, sollicited before hand for the buying her, and advised them to stand in, which they did boldly, to board her; but when they came within a Cable's length or two of the Chace, now near Shore, the Fort fired two small Guns, whose Shot falling nigh their Muzzels, they instantly bore out of the Road, made an easy Sail to the Southward, and anchored at Night in their former Birth, where _John Trumpet_, to engage their Stay a little longer, informed them, that in a few Days a very rich Ship was to pass by, commanded by the General of _Bombay_'s Brother.

This Governor is an Emblem of foreign Power. What Inconvenience and Injury must the Master's Subjects sustain under one who can truckle to such treacherous and base Means, as corresponding and trading with Pyrates to enrich himself? Certainly such a Man will stickle at no Injustice to repair or make a Fortune. He has the _Argumentum bacillum_ always in his own Hands, and can convince, when he pleases, in half the Time of other Arguments, that Fraud and Oppression is Law. That he imploys Instruments in such dirty Work, expresses the Guilt and Shame, but no way mitigates the Crime. _John Trumpet_ was the Tool; but, as the Dog said in the Fable, on another Occasion, _What is done by the Master's Orders, is the Master's Actions_.

I cannot but reflect, on this Occasion, what a vile Government _Sancho Pancho_ had of it; he had not only such _Perquisites_ rescinded, but was really almost starved; the Victuals taken from him almost every Day, and only under a Pretence of preserving his Excellency's Health: But Governments differ.

From _Cochin_ some were for proceeding to _Madagascar_ directly; others thought it proper to cruize till they got a Store-Ship, and these being the Majority, they ply'd to the Southward, and after some Days saw a Ship in Shore, which being to Windward of them, they could not get nigh, till the Sea Wind, and Night, favouring, they separated, one to the Northward, the other to the Southward, thinking to enclose her between: But to their Astonishment, and contrary to Expectation, when Day broke, instead of the Chace, found themselves very near five Sail of tall Ships, who immediately making a Signal for the Pyrates to bear down, put them in the utmost Confusion, particularly _Taylor_'s Ship, because their Consort was at a Distance from them, (at least three Leagues to the Southward) they stood to one another, and joined, and then together made the best of their Way from the Fleet, whom they judged to be commanded by Captain _Mackra_; of whose Courage having Experience, they were glad to shun any farther Taste of.

In three Hours Chace, none of the Fleet gaining upon them, excepting one Grab, their dejected Countenances cleared up again, the more, in that a Calm succeeded for the Remainder of that Day; and in the Night, with the Land Wind, they ran directly off Shore, and found next Day, to their great Consolation, that they had lost Sight of all the Fleet.

This Danger escaped, they proposed to spend _Christmas_ (the _Christmas_ of 1720) in Carowzing and Forgetfulness, and kept it for three Days in a wanton and riotous Way, not only eating, but wasting their fresh Provisions in so wretched and inconsiderable a Manner, that when they had agreed after this to proceed to _Mauritius_, they were in that Passage at an Allowance of a Bottle of Water _per Diem_, and not above two Pounds of Beef, and a small Quantity of Rice, for ten Men for a Day; so that had it not been for the leaky Ship, (which once they were about to have quitted, and had done, but for a Quantity of Arrack and Sugar She had on Board,) they must most of them have perished.

In this Condition they arrived at the Island of _Mauritius_, about the Middle of _February_, sheathed and refitted the _Victory_, and on the 5th of _April_ sailed again, leaving this terrible Inscription on one of the Walls. _Left this Place the_ 5_th of_ April, _to go to_ Madagascar _for Limes_, and this, least (like Lawyers and Men of Business) any Visits should be paid in their Absence: However, they did not sail directly for _Madagascar_, but the Island _Mascarine_, and luckily as Rogues could wish, they found at their Arrival on the 8th, a _Portuguese_ Ship at Anchor, of 70 Guns, but most of them thrown overboard, her Masts lost, and so much disabled by a violent Storm they had met with in the Latitude of 13° South, that she became a Prize to the Pyrates, with very little or no Resistance, and a glorious one indeed, having the _Conde de Ericeira_, Viceroy of _Goa_, who made that fruitless Expedition against _Angria_, the _Indian_, and several other Passengers on Board; who, as they could not be ignorant of the Treasure she had in, did assert, that in the single Article of Diamonds, there was to the Value of between three and four Millions of Dollars.

The Vice-Roy, who came on Board that Morning, in Expectation of the Ships being _English_, was made a Prisoner, and obliged to ransome; but in Consideration of his great Loss, (the Prize being Part his own,) they agreed after some Demurrings, to accept of 2000 Dollars, and set him and the other Prisoners ashore, with Promises to leave a Ship that they might Transport themselves, because the Island was not thought in a Condition to maintain so great a Number; and tho' they had learned from them, the Account of an _Ostender_ being to Leeward of the Island, which they took on that Information, (being formerly the _Greyhound_ Galley of _London_,) and could conveniently have comply'd with so reasonable a Request; yet they sent the _Ostender_ with some of their People to _Madagascar_, with News of their Success, and to prepare Masts for the Prize; and followed themselves soon after, without regard to the Sufferers, carrying 200 _Mozambique_ Negroes with them in the _Portuguese_ Ship.

_Madagascar_ is an Island larger than _Great-Britain_, most of it within the Tropick of _Capricorn_, and lays East from the Eastern Side of _Africa_: It abounds with Provisions of all Sorts, Oxen, Goats, Sheep, Poultry, Fish, Citrons, Oranges, Tamarinds, Dates, Coco-Nuts, Bananas, Wax, Honey, Rice; or in short, Cotton, Indigo, or any other Thing they will take Pains to plant, and have Understanding to manage: They have likewise Ebony, a hard Wood like Brasil, of which they make their Lances; and Gum of several Sorts, Benzin, Dragon's Blood, Aloes, _&c_. What is most incommodious, are the numerous Swarms of Locusts on the Land, and Crocodiles or Alligators in their Rivers. Hither, in St. _Augustin_'s Bay, the Ships sometimes touch for Water, when they take the inner Passage for _India_, and do not design to stop at _Johanna_; and we may observe from the sixth general Voyage set forth by the _East-India_ Company, in Confirmation of what is hereafter said in Relation to Currents in general; that this inner Passage or Channel, has its Northern and Southern Currents strongest where the Channel is narrowest, and is less, and varies on different Points of the Compass, as the Sea comes to spread again, in the Passage cross the Line.