went forwards with what he knew who of himself made an offer of those Favours he was minded to bestow before they were asked of him and who in short was brave as to his Person Skilful in Maritine Affairs a good Sea-man knew all the Coasts and heights of Lands in America was in great Esteem with the King for his Integrity Wisdom Justice and for all his great Services he had done the Government in the way of Commerce and Discovery of Islands The day after his Death I embarked on board the Virgin a Ship belonging to Bourdeaux and which had been built there in which Port after a Passage of â—ot many days I arrived at last with many different Thoughts and contrary Sentiments within me I do not know whether I have bid the Sea adieu so much has my last Misfortune terrified me or whether I shall go out again to be revenged on the English who have done me so much Mischief or go and traverse the Seas with a Design to get me a little Wealth or rest quiet and eat up what my Relations have left me There is a strange Inclination in Men to undertake Voyages as there is to Gaming whatever Misfortunes befal them they do not believe they will be always unhappy and therefore they will play on Thus it is as to the Sea whatever Accidents befal us we are in hopes to find a favourable Opportunity to make us amends for all our Losses I believe whoever reads this Account will find it an hard Task to give me Counsel thereupon or to take the same himself FINIS The Authors first Adventures and Disposition Embarks at Diep for America Resolvests turn Free-Booter A Description of the Isle of Curassol A strange Story of the Savages The Free-Booters disagree and part They take some Prizes A strange story of a Spanish Soldier The Buccaneers pass over Land to the South-Sea and other Observations Good news of Provision sent them by the other Free-Booters They escape the Spaniards Arrive in the South-Sea The South Sea described A List of the Buccaneers Fleet and Commanders A brief account of the English Adventures in these Seas hitherto Geeeks here who they are Beaten by the Free-Booters The Buccaneers take Seppa A Description of the Islands in the Bay of Panama The Fruits growing there desâ—ribed They fight the Spanish Fleet. The English and French fall out and part A Description of St. John Cueblo c. One of the Buccaneers Quarter-Masters deserts to the Spaniards An odd way of Excommunication among the Spaniards of America The Free-booters take Pueblo Viejo An amuseâ—ent of the Spaniards A Remarkable difference between the North and South Seaâ— A description of the Bay of Caldâ—ira The Buccaneers take Chiriquita They burnt it Chiriquita described They fight the Spaniards by Sea The French oppress the English in their turn but agree again They fire Granada Granadâ— described The misery of the Indians 〈…〉 They disagree and steer different Course â— The Buccaneers take La Villia and a very great Booty The Spaniards surprize and retake the Booty La Villia River described They receive the Ransom of the Prisoners The Greek Captains Stratagem discovered and he killed The Buccaneers beat the Spaniards out of their intrenchments at Boca del Chica The President of Panama's Letter to a Camp Master They took two Spanish Ships They decoy two Spanish Ships more The President of Panama's Letter to the Free-Booters The Bishop of Panama 's Letter to the Free-Booters Another Letter of the President 's The Buscaneers Letter to the President of Panama They beat the Spaniards The Free-booters take St. Lorenzo A Description of St. Lorenzo The Tenient of Chiriquita's Letter to the Commander of St. Lorenzo The Bucaniers in great danger of being Ship-wracked A pretty adventure of the Free-booters They take Sancta Catalina the Town of Nicoya and a good Booty The Governour of Costa Rica his Letter to the President of Panama The President 's Letter to the Governour The Tenient of Sansonat's Letter to the President of Panama The Spaniards pay the Ransom of the Inhabitants of Nicoya Captain Grogniet rejoyns the other Free-booters Grogniet's Adventures The Free-booters burn Nicoya A Description of Nicoya How the Spaniards burn the Roads They part from the English and Grogniet again An Account of the English Adventures A Description of the Isle of Puna They attack and take Queaquilla A Description of Queaquilla They got a â—â—st Bâ—oty in Queaquilla An odd Story of a Spanish Woman Queaquilla fired by accident The death of Captain Grogniet The Spaniards treacherous Captain David worsts the the Spaniards at Sea The Tenient of Queaquilla's Letter to the Viceroy of Lima. la Puna their best Winter Quarters An Adventure of the Author's with a Spanish Woman They joyn the English and fight the Spanish Armadilla's They divided their Booty Captain David sails for the North Sea An Acount of Peru. The Free-booter's Fight with some Spanish Vessels A Description of the Bay of Mapalla Other Adventures Their Adventures iâ— their march to Tecoantepequa which they take A Description of Tecoantepequa An Account of the Hourqua A Description of the Port of Vatulco The Free-booters take the Town of Muemeluna They arrive at Mapalla Some account of the Winds in these parts Consultation about returning to the North-Sea A handful of Free-booters take Chiloteca Being attackt by the Spaniards they kill their Prisoners They resolve to return to the North Sea by Land The reason of their Necessities A notable amusement to facilitate their â—cape They Provide for their Iourney The Author's Device to save his Treasure A Letter writ to the Freebooters The Spaniards burn the Road. The Freebooters enter Segovia Segovia described They continue their Iourney The Spaniards intrenched in a most advantageous Post to obstruct their Passage The Author's Advice about forcing them They 〈◊〉 over 〈◊〉 difficult ways to fall on their Rear They prevail against the Spaniards The strange 〈◊〉 of the Spaniards The General of Costa Rica his Letter to the Chief Officer A Spanish Officer's Spâ—â—ch to a part of the Free booters Their bold Answer They defeat the Spaniards They get to a River and build Piperies A strange way of floating down the River Their Food Of the Indians in these Parts The Freebooters Murder one another for their Money The River proving good they build Canoes The English get first to the Sea-side The length of the River A Description of Cape Gracia de Dios. Of the Indians of these Parts and their manner of Living Fifty of the Freebooters get on Board the English Vessel Their arrival at Petit Guavis
told by one of the Engineers on board her that she belonged to his Royal Highness the Duke of York and that under pretence of coming to treat with the Spaniards she was sent upon no other account than to take a Plan of those parts the Situation of the Cities and Sea-Ports Now Captain David meeting with her made Captain Suams come on board him and threatned to take him unless he would go and make Waâ— with him so that finding himself too weak to resist he chose rather to comply with the Pyrate than be taken and these two together took a great many Prizes which after they had taken out what was for their turn they burnt About a Year after Captain Townsley came over Land with an hundred and fifteen English into these Seas and at the Kings Islands took two Ships laden with Provision and other Refreshments whereof I have already spoken coming from Peru. About a Month after the Captains Groigniet and l' Escuier went also thither over Land with two hundred and seventy Men and who being informed that the English Fleet was before Panama put ashore one night at Tavoga an Island two Leagues off from whence they discerned a Ship on Fire and by break of day they saw the English under fail They went on board them and came to understand that Captain David had taken a Ship called the Saint Rose laded with Corn and Wine bound from Truxillo for Panama the President of which last place had sent to him for to buy her and in order thereunto gave him the meeting at the Isles of Pericos that are a League 's distance from the Port. But instead of sending him the Money they had agreed upon for the Ship he sent a Fire-Ship to burn him but the same through the Cowardice and Ignorance of the Commander spent herself without doing the other any hurt and this made Captain David give the Saint Rose to Groignie and to l' Escuier's Ships Crew who had already lost their Captain As for the other five Ships commanded by Brands Samely Peter Henry and two Quarter-Masters they had been also taken from the Spaniards iâ— these Seas by the two first Frigates who reserved them for those who came thither over Land 〈◊〉 of all our Ships there were none but the first two that had Guns the other eight had none they hâ—ving been Merchant Ships that made use of noâ—â— in the South-Sea where no body but themselves had sailed a long time And now having told you what passed before this Fleet came together we shall now proceed to give an Account of our Adventures since our Junction On the twenty fifth of April we took an Advice-Boat going to the Fleet of Peru which was then 〈◊〉 Anchor in the Port of Callao that was carrying some Packets from Madrid to Panama and Letters from the Vice-Roy of Lima wherein there was an account given how many Men of War Fire-Ships and Merchant-men the Fleet consisted of and about what time the same might arrive at Panama Next day we examined the Commander of the Advice-Boat but we could get no particulars out of him saving that when he saw himself like to be taken he had thrown the King of Spain's Packets and a Cascet of Jewels over-board On the twenty seventh we put the same Questions to the Pilot who according to the Example of his Commander would make no Discovery because they had taken an Oath together rather to lose their Lives than to divulge any secret or to let the said Packet fall into the hands of the Free-Booters On the 28th two of our Men died On the Evening of the same day we departed with two and twenty Canoes manned with five hundred men in order to go and take la Seppa which is a small Town seven Leagues to windward of Panama and on the twenty ninth about ten in the Morning we discovered two Ships bearing up to us which when they came near we found to be two Pirogues mann'd with Greeks which are a People composed of divers Nations to whom the Spaniards gave this Name and who serve them in their Wars These they brought some time before from the North Sea to this Coast to defend them against us because they look upon them to be better Soldiers than themselves We presently sent out two of our best sailing Canoes manned with twenty Men each to attack them These Greeks who quickly took us to be really what we were i. e. Free-Booters made no delay to save themselves upon one of the Islands that stands in the Bay of Panama but upon their going a-shore they lost one of their Pirogues that split in Pieces and left us the other then they got upon a rising Ground with their Arms and as much Ammunition as they could save and fought stifly against us under a Flag of Defiance And as the place where we landed was exposed to their Fire from the Ground where they had posted themselves and that the Ascent on that side where we stood was very difficult we were forced to take a great round to come at them another way where we found our Passage much easier At 〈◊〉 after we had fought at least for the space of an 〈◊〉 we constrained them to flee for shelter into the Wooâ—â— took two of them Prisoners besides their Colour and found between five and twenty and thirty slaâ—â— upon the Spot We were informed by the two Prisoners thâ—â— those who had escaped could not be above an hundred men at most that we might easily masteâ— them if we pleased there being many wounded amongst them They also told us that they hiâ— an Account at Panama of a Re-inforcement thâ— was come from the North-Sea to the Fleet of Free-Booters That the President of the Town had there upon sent an Advice-Boat to Lima to engage the Vice-Roy to detain the Merchant Ships in Port 〈◊〉 further order and with all speed to send a Fleet 〈◊〉 Men of War to fight ours and drive us out of those Seas But the relation given by these two Prisoner we could not rely upon since their Party had put 〈◊〉 a Flag of Defyance they being three times the number of us After this Advantage and our rejoyning the rest 〈◊〉 our Canoes we continued to prosecute our design upon la Seppa But as we were obliged before we could come at it to go about two Leagues up a very fine and large River of the same Name and on whoâ—e Banks they have Vigies or Sentinels always set we could not chuse but be discovered and find the Town allarmed and ready to defend it self Yet for all that we fell furiously on and tooâ—â— it with the loss only of one Man but finding no great matter of Booty there because they had saved most of their Effects we returned to our Canoes again As I shall have frequent occasion to make mention of the Word Vigie it will not be improper in this place to take notice that by
of the Veins open and let it out or that the great noise and violent motion that is wrought in those Organs makes the same happen But let it come which way it will since there is no room here for a Consultation of Physicians as long as we were dying of Hunger nor to enquire what became of the English when we had so much difficulty and hardly could save our selves we continued our Course up the Current with the help of our Oars because we knew the same came from the Port of Cabinda But as the Wind was against us we could never get thither and were forced to be satisfied to get to the Cape of Corsa if we could which stands a dozen Leagues from that of Cathersna where we could not Land because of a Bar that renders the Coast unaccessible That was our Design but Hunger hindred us to put the same in Execution and we were forced even to overcome the Obstacles which Nature laid in our way by running ashoar in spight of the Bar This we performed at last after much difficulty being in hopes to find there some Negroes that might furnish us with Victuals One of our Company presently landed in order to go and seek out somewhat to satisfie our Hunger and by good Fortune found in a Pond sticking to the Branches of Trees some Oysters whereof he came presently to give us notice We went all up to the very Pond along a Channel of the Sea where we were no sooner come but we eat lustily of the Oysters with a very good Appetite We opened them with the few Knives we found in our Pockets lending the same from one to another very charitably and readily When we had spent two days in that Place I divided my Men into three small Companies and sent them up into the Country to seek for Victuals and Houses with Orders to return again in the Evening to the Shalloop I went out my self also as the rest did but we could find neither any House nor the least sign of any Men in those Parts All that we could see were great Herds of Bufflers as large as Oxen who fled so fast from us that we could not possibly come near them Wherefore having spent all the Day in this manner and got nothing we returned to our Shalloop to eat Oysters again and resolved next day to leave this Place and go to Cape Corsa to Leeward of which there is a large Port where Ships that sail that way put in to furnish themselves with Water and Wood. The Negroes that live in the Country having notice of the coming in of Ships by the firing of Cannon come thither also with Provisions and Barter the same for Brandy Knives and Hatchets They are forced to live remote from the Sea â—ecause all that Coast is very Marshy As soon as we were got to the said Cape we heard a great noise made 〈◊〉 the Negroes who came thither to sell Wood to the â—hips that lay at Anchor in the Port I looked amongst â—hem to see if I could find any one whom I knew for 〈◊〉 they had often brought me some Wood and other Refreshments in the course of my former Voyages I was in hopes to find some or other that would know me again But tho' I knew several of them it was impossible for me to perswade any of them that I was Captain Montauban so much was I disfigured with my late Misfortune and all of them took me for a Man that would impose the belief of it upon them I thought fit to tell them in their own Language whereof I understood a little that I was ready to die with Famine and prayed them to give me somewhat to eat but it signified nothing so I desired them to carry me to Prince Thomas who is Son to the King of that Country as hoping he might call to mind the favours I had formerly shewed him I carryed all my Company with me to that Prince we were first brought to the Dwellings of those Negroes where they began to be a little more tractable and gave us some Bananiers to eat which are a sort of Figs longer than a Man's Hand Next day we got to the Princes Habitation but I was in so pitiful a Condition that I could never by the signs I gave make him know me tho' I spoke to him in his own Language as also in the Portuguese Tongue which he understood very well It fortuned one day that going together to bath our selves he saw a Scar upon my Thigh that was the effect of a Wound I had received with a Musquet-ball he told me that he must immediately know whether I was Captain Montauban or no and that if I were not the Man he would cut off my Head He asked if everâ— I had a Scar with a Musquet-shot in my Thigh which when I had shewed him he presently embraced me and said he was exceeding sorry to see me in that Condition and immediately caused Victuals to be distributed among my Men and divided them into several Habitations with strict Orders to the Negroes with whom they were quartered to take the greatest care they could of them As for me he kept me with himself and made me always eat at his own Table When I was a little brought into Order he said he would carry me to see the King his Father who lived five or six Leagues off that is about ten or a dozen from the Sea-side I let him know how great the Favour and Honour was he did me and prayed him at the same time that I might have the Liberty to let my Freebooters go along with me and grant us some Pieces of Stuffs to put our selves in as good Equipage as we could in order to appear before so great a Prince all which he allowed me and three days after we went all together in a great Canoe and passed up the River of Cape Lopez because the Country is so full of Marshes that you cannot go by Land Being arrived at the King's Habitation which is a Village consisting of Three Hundred Booths covered with Palm-leaves wherein the King keeps his Wives Family Relations and some other Negro Families whom he loves best I was lodged in Prince Thomas his House and all my Men were distributed into other Habitations We found all the People in great Lamentation because the Chief of their Religion whom they call Papa had died that day when they were to begin the Funeral Obsequies which were usually to last for seven days for Priests of that Quality This same Person was had in great Esteem and Veneration by all the People they looking upon him to be an Holy Man As the King is in Mourning and sees no body all the While that this Funeral Ceremony lasts Prince Thomas bid me have patience and not to go out of my Lodgings for to see the King because that was the Custom of his Nation However I could not forbear going to see the Funeral
with her We found her to be a small Vessel commanded by Captain Willnet an Englishman whose Creâ— consisted of forty English and eleven Frenchmen 〈◊〉 whom we had never heard any thing till now Bâ— they told us they had a long time ago passed oâ—â— I and into these Seas and that lately they had takeâ— a Ship laden with Corn out of the Port of Sansonne which is on the Continent and the place of embarking from Guatimala thirty Leagues to the East oâ— the Isle of St. Iohn and that going from thence towards the South-Coast they understood that thâ— Vice-Roy of Lima had sent a Spanish Fleet on purpose to chase and beat the Free-Booters which gaâ—â— them to understand there were others besides thâ—â— in these Seas and that upon the good News thâ—â— were come in quest of us in order to have a share 〈◊〉 taking of that Fleet which they believed infallible but that they understood when they came befoâ—â— Panama where they were in hopes to meet with 〈◊〉 that the fight was already over and that we weâ—â— gone to the Isle of St. Iohn The other English who as I have already said were gone to anchor about five or six Leagues to Windward of us had also sent out a Canoe to know what this Bark was which came up with her as soon as we and this made us very uneasie for this Bark being laden with Provision those English influenced these new Commers so far that they took them to anchor in the same place where they were except the eleven Frenchmen who left them and staid with us This Island of St. Iohn Cueblo is about twelve Leagues in Circumference standing East and West and North and South five Leagues distant from the main Land and separated by a narrow Channel which is indeed no other than an Arm of the Sea running in between two Lands It is not inhabited very mountainous full of Wood and watered with very fine Rivers It stands in no stead to the Spaniards besides supplying them with Masts for their Shipping which they have here in great abundance When we stopt upon that Island we were in hopes to have fared well so well stocked it was with Deer Monkeys Agoutills Lizards and Banks full of Tortoises but we were deprived of these Advantages by two Inconveniences we laboured under The first whereof was that the English in less than fifteen Days had made such a Destruction of these Tortoises that but very few of them landed The other respected our Hunting which after we had followed for a few days at first we were bound to decline for having staid in this place longer than we designed we were under a necessity of preserving our Powder for fear should we have spent it the Spaniards would have been quickly upon us so that we staid a whole Month upon this Island to the number of three hundred and thirty Men of us with eating no more than two Tortoises in eight and forty Hours and in seeking some Fruits in the Woods wherewith to subsist and with the eating of which some of us died as not knowing the Nature of them There are a sort of Serpents upon this Island whose stinging is so dangerous that if any one has not 〈◊〉 certain Fruit by him which he is to chew an presently to apply to the Wound there is no escaping present Death for him as we found by Experience by some of our Men whom we lost in this manner and who in their dying endured terrible Pains through the Activity and Violence of that Fire which this Poison kindled in their Bodies The Tree oâ— which this Fruit grows is to be found upon the same place as well as in the other parts of this Country being as to its Leaves and Height very like unto our Almond-Trees But its Fruit resembles Sea-Chesnuts though it s of a greyish Colour and of a somewhat bitter tast enclosing a whitish Almond in the midst thereof It s chewed altogether before the Application is made and is known by no other Name than the Serpents-Seed Here also about two or three Leagues up the Country you have a great many Cayemans which are a kind of Crocodiles that live both in the Sea Rivers and on dry Land and are of that ravenous Nature that some of our Men have been devoured by them On the seven and twentieth the English who had left us sent a Quarter-Master to us to know whether we would joyn our selves with them as supposing they were too weak to go and take the Town of Leon on which they had formed a Design And here we must acknowledge that extream Misery is so terrible a thing that it is almost impossible when an opportunity presents it self of being delivered that it should be let slip notwithstanding all the Repugnancy of our Reason to the contrary We had left the English by reason of their Impieties which we could not endure and now we were ready to comply with the Proposals they had made us of rejoyning them again The Provision was on their side and this was a charming Bait for People that were ready to perish with Hunger We presently asked them for some Victuals And as we had but one Ship that could not hold us all that they should give us another because we were not willing to be dispersed on board their Ships as before but this they would not agree to In the mean while as we were resolved not to recede here-from Famine forced thirty of our Men to joyn themselves with the English as being unable to bear with the Fasts we were forced to keep And on the fourth of August four of our Men died On the ninth when we knew the English were gone we embarked to the number of an hundred and twenty Men on board five Canoes commanded by Captain Groigniet and lest two hundred on board our Ship and upon the Island whom we ordered to build more Canoes and afterwards to cross over to the Continent Having made a Descent there on the thirteenth we came to an Hatto which is a kind of a Farm where the Spaniards breed their Cattle It was in the Neighbourhood of a Town called St. Iago which is twenty Leagues distant from St. Iohn's Island The People we found in this Hatto we made our Prisoners among whom was the Master who shewed and conducted us to take a Sugar Plantation in the River of St. Iago where we were discovered We sounded our Prisoners one after another in order to know whether they understood any thing of our Separation from the English by telling them we came from the North-Sea and that they should shew us where the Free-Booters were which they said were come into these Seas They answered they were gone to St. Iohn's Island to repair the Damage the Fleet of Peru had done them together with other Circumstances which we knew better than they without telling us one word of what had hapned between the English and us Hence we
Tements as soon as we got to any Place to burn all the Provision they had which to our sorrow was but to well executed not only here but every where else and was the cause also of that Hunger and extraordinary toyl which we were forced to endure in these Seas as long as we staid there The same day about Noon came about eight hundred Men into a Savana from Leon to fight us the Sentinel which we had placed on the top of the Steeple rung the Alarum-Bell to give us notice to get together and come out of the Houses where we were dispersed Whereupon we marched in a body of an hundred and fifty Men with red Colours to fight them but as they could not endure to let us come within Musket-shot of them for they fled without any more ado we were oblig'd to retire and on the 6th went away to go on Board our Ships which we careened next day as we also cleaned our Canoes On the 9th we had a consultation together about what way we should take and here we found our selves of two Opinions one party was for going up before Panama being in hopes they had begun their Navigation again as knowing we were far enough from them But the rest represented that many times they had such Years on that Coast whereof that might be one of them that eigâ—t Months thereof was sad Weather in respect to excessive Rains and Southerly Winds which reign there and that therefore it would be more advisable to go lower Westward and winter upon some Island or other and there to wait for fair Weather Now these different Sentiments were pursued by us and every Man having made choice of his side Next day our Chirurgeons had orders to give in an account of those among the wounded who were crippled to the end we mâ—ght make them Satisfaction before we divided They told us we had four Men crippled and six hurt to which we gave six hundred pieces of Eight a Man and a thousand to those that were crippled as it was our constant custom in those Seas and it was exactly all the Money we had got together that was applyed to that use We made a Division of the Barks and Canoes on the 12th and we found our selves to be an hundred and forty eight French-Men ready to go up towards Panama without comprehending the English under Captain Townsley and the same number of French failed also to the Westward Next day our Provision was shared amongst us and now it was that we divided into two parts those who were for the Westward put themselves under the Conduct of Captain Grogniet and we that were bound for Panama were commanded by Captain Townsley And then we went to Anchor at an Island half a League distant from that we left to take in Water and Wood On the sixteenth Captain Groignet sent us his Quarter-master to desire us to put none of our Prisoners ashoar for fear they should give the Spaniards notice of our Separation for as he had a design to make a Descent upon them he was apprehensive that such a Discovery would make them more 〈◊〉 and hardy to oppose him On the 19th we made ready and sailed for Panama with Captain Townslâ—y's Ship and oâ—e Bark We steered East-South-East to South-South-East and to South-South-West till mid-night when we were overtaken with a Storm which made us lye by till the 20th at Noon when the Weather proved fair then we steered East-South-East to the 23d when we anchored in the Bay of Colebra to take in Water We spent that day there to take Tortoises which are to be found in great numbers in that little Bayâ—h They are of different sizes and we found one sort of them so large that one was enough for fifty Persons to feed upon in a day On the 24th we put an hundred and fifty Men ashoar in order to find out some Town or Burrough we having no Guide with us that knew this Country and after we had walked a League or thereabouts we alight upon three Haâ—toes very near one another where finding Edibles enough we sâ—aid till the 26th when we returned on Board Then Captain Townsley proposed we should go and take the Town of Villia which is 30 Leagues to Leeward of Panama to which all of us agreed and that Evening we weighed having a Wind blowing from the Land which served us till the 27th at Noon when it blew very hard from the South-East accompanied with Rain till the 28th in the Evening when it began to allay we were favoured all the 29th with a Westerly Wind and that Evening were brought in sight of Capâ— Blanch. On the 3â—th the Weather was fair enough but on the 31st two hours before Day light it grew very boisterous so that we were forced to put in for that Cape we had a Thunderbolt fell upon the end of ouâ— great Sail Yard which did no more then crack it Having moderate weather on the first of Iuâ—e we steered East-South-East and next day about Noon had a sight of Land but it was so hazy that we could not tell where we were however we steered East by South-East to come near The Weather being now somewhat cleared up we found we were between the Bay of Boca-del-Toro and the Point called Barica when we sailed South and by South-East to put out to Sea and then bore to the North-East that we might reach the Isle of St. Iohn de Cueblo On the 7th we put in at the Isle of Montosa six Leagues to the Southward of that of St. Iohn We set out three Canoes with which we coasted round about this last and our Ships anchored at another little Island which is half a League to the East While we were going round St. Iohn's Island with our Canoes we found nothing there but one of our Prisoners who having made his escape from us when we were there and being not able to get to the Continent returned to us On the 10th we went back to our Ships and next day took in our store of Water and Wood and cleaned our Ships There arose the succeeding Night a North Wind that tore our Cables and made us think we should be thrown ashoar But as good Luck would have it it came about and gave us an opportunity to make ready and to cast Anchor farther from the Shoar By the favour of the Lightning we discovered our Canoes and â—ound their Ropes also broken and that the Waves were throwing them ashoar also unless we had saved them though we could not hinder one of them from being sâ—aved to pieces On the 13th we made ready and sailed for La Villia with a West-South-West Wind made Land on the fifteenth and knew it to be the Cape called Morn a Puercos then we bore off to Sea with a hard Wind till the Evening when the Weather grew so very bad that we did nothing till the 18th but let our Ships drive with a South-West
cannot find a Place to tread on or walk along in the Woods for the great numbers of land Tortoises Lizards and Agoutils that retire thither The Sea thereabouts is also so fruitful in the production of Fish that they come to the very Sands to die there but these advantages on the other hand are encountred with the want of Water whereof these Islands are entirely destitute The Wind towards Evening came to North North-East and made us bear East and by South-East to keep to the Continent the Weather on the Tenth in the Morning grew very dark and we having a Southerly Blast we bore East and East and by South-East till the Eleventh when we were becalmed on the Thirteenth arose an East Wind and we bore to the South South-East upon a tack and North North-East and then lay by for some time because we did not know the Currents On the 14th having a North East Wind we bore East South-East and accordingly as it blew fresh we steered East and by South-East and East on the Fifteenth Two Hours before Day-light we had a Storm and then a South Wind we steered East all that Day but we had such bad Weather the following Night that we could not carry our Sails next Day about Noon the Weather grew better and an Easterly Breeze presented we lay by till the Eighteenth at Noon when we discovered a Ship to Windward of us to whom we gave chase till the Evening she proved to be the English Ship that had parted from us when we came out of the Bay of Caldaira who knowing who we were put into the Cape we came to Leeward of her but she spread out her Sails and got to Leeward of us after we had given one another this salutation we put out for Two Hours to see which sailed best but knowing at last they were the better Sailors and fearing they might reach Queaquilla before us we desired them to joyn with us in our Design to which when they agreed we set fail together we found our selves much perplext to know what Latitude we might be in since we had not seen the Sun for Ten Days together But it happily fell out that it appeared on the Nineteenth our Pilots computed we might be about Five and twenty Leagues to Windward of Queaquilla and Sixty Leagues from Land but the Winds varied to that degree that we could make no way and many times went contrary On the 20th we had a West Wind and steered East and by South-East till the 21st when we were becalmed On the 24th arose a South Wind and on the 26th an Easterly Breeze at last the Wind persisting to be contrary we were reduced to great want of Victuals for we had already been upon our passage longer than our Provision would allow us to which we may add that Fish had till now been so scarce and hard to catch that we had but little support from them So that having on the 28th taken an Accompt of the remainder of our Victualling we were forced to retrench our selves so far as to eat but once in Forty eight Hours we also wanted Water and had it not been for the help of Rain we had certainly died of thirst but what made us amends for one part of our wants was that we found our selves all of a sudden in a Kingdom of large Fishes such as Emperors Tunnies Germons Galdenies Negros Bonitoes and several others to whom we gave no quarter no more that to the Sea Wolfs who for all their ill smell could not escape us During that time we bore to the North-East the Wind not allowing us to keep on our designed Course that if the worst came to the worst we might by this course reach the Isle of St. Iohn pursuant to the Design we had formed upon meeting with this contrary Wind of putting in there in case the same continued all the way On the 29th after we had taken the Latitude our Pilots computed us to be opposite to the Isle of Platta Thirty Leagues to Leeward of Queaquilla on the 30th being Easter-Day we were but one degree North Latitude in the Twi light the Wind began to blow fresh and bore us East North-East next Day the Wind came South South-West we steering East East and by South-East and East South-East On the 3d. of April we were becalmed and as we had for the space of Two Days by the computation of our Pilots sailed towards Land they were of Opinion that the Currents deceived them of which we made our selves satisfied by the following manner On the Fourth the Weather being very calm we furled our Sails and put out one of our Pirogues about whose Fore-Castle we spun Sixty Fathom of our smallest Rope made fast unto a Grapling Iron and from that Coast she made from the Tide ran along her side with as much swiftness as the Current of a River and bore to the North-East on the Fifth we caulked our Ships towards Midnight a South-West Wind presented it self and we bore South-East On the 6th in the Morning we discovered Land both to Windward and Leeward of us we veered to least we should be brought too near and steered South On the 8th we were about Four or Five Leagues off and our coasting Pilots knew the Place to be Cape Pastao which is under the Line Thirty Leagues to Leeward of the Isle of Platta we had all hands aloft and steered South On the 9th we bore to the South South-East till the Evening and to the South-West till Ten at Night when we steered to the South South-East and on the IIth we were got to the heighth of the Isle of Platta Eighteen Leagues out at Sea On the 12th at Noon we saw the Point of Sancta Helena which is Fifteen Leagues to Leeward of Queaquilla and forms the beginning of the Bay that bears the Name of that Town On the 12th at Night we saw Fire to Windward of us we lay by till break of Day when we discovered a Ship Three Leagues to Windward of us and as we were becalmed we sent Three Pirogues to know what she was they found her to be a Prize laden with Wine and Corn which Captain David had taken as she came out of Nasca and which was separated from him he had put Eight English Men on Board to Conduct her who were to have their Rendezvous in case of a separation at the Isle of Platta These Men told us that after they had left St Iohn's Island they made several Descents and in several Parts of that Country among others at Sagua Arrica and Pisca that in the last of these Places a Relation of the Vice-Roy of Lima came at the Head of Eight hundred Men to attack them with Sword in hand but that they were vigorously repulsed that they had also taken a great many Ships which when they pillaged they let go again so that finding they had got to the value of Five thousand pieces of Eight a Man they
I suppose would have been to little purpose for those two Armadilla's had been sent to pay us with Cannon-Ball On the 11th we went about dividing the Gold precious Stones and Pearls we had found in Queaquilla but as these things could not be divided nor easily valued the Gold not being Coyned and the Stones of different value we put up all by way of Auction that those who had Silver might bid for them and so every Man have his part according as he bad and as there were several among us who having got considerable sums of Money at Play were sure that if it pleased God they should once get safe out of these Seas their way must be no other than over Land where the weight of their Silver must hinder or retard their going they bid for those lewels that kept but little Room and weigh'd not much so excessive a Price that the Gold alone that was Coyned was worth Eighty and an hundred Pieces of Eight an Ounce and each Pistol Fifteen of the said Pieces But though these things were sold so dear we made no more a Division of the Booty of that Town than what came to Four hundred Pieces of Eight a Man the whole might amount to about Five hundred thousand Pieces of Eight or Fifteen hundred thousand Livers which Money as we were out of hopes to carry along with us served us to play for on Board our Ships for our Diversion So that in the Descents we made we sought now for nothing but Gold and precious Stones which we did not find so plentiful as Silver of which I must be plain we made so little account that we thought it not worth our while to take along with us a great quantity of Plate and other things whereof the Town of Queaquilla was full We also neglected to send a Canoe after the hundred Caons of Coyned Silver each consisting of Eleven thousand Pieces of Eight which the Spaniards had sent away to the other side of the River when we were engaged with them and which were yet in sight of us when the Fight was over There is such a vast quantity of that rich Mettal in this Country that most of those things we make in France out of Steel Copper and Iron are made by them in Silver This indifference in us gave some of their People many times occasion to intermix with us to Pillage from their own fellow Citizens what we neglected and of which they were not so squeamish as we or rather so put to it for the Carriage of them they being in their own Country and we far from ours On the 12th Captain Davids's Frigate left us he designing to go and Careen at the Isles of Galapas and then to sail away for the Streight of Magellan in order to return for the North Sea But as for us our Vessels were so small and withal so bad that it was impossible we should get up higher than the Coast of Peru neither could they also contain such a quantity of Water as we had occasion for which is very hard to come by on that Coast where you must go two or three Leagues up the Country before you can meet with any These Difficulties made us resolve to return to the Western Coast that so we might endeavour to find out a way also to return to the North Sea but that must be no other than over Land Before I leave this Coast I cannot but take Notice that Peru is one of the richest Countries in the World not only in respect to the great quantity of Gold and Silver which the Spaniards dig out of the Mines they possess there but also upon account of the great Fertility of the Earth that produceth to the Tillers of it three Crops every Year as well of Corn as Wine and that besides those Fruits that are peculiar to all America you have also many of those here which grow in France in so much that this great Diversity of Species's is the occasion that you have continual Supplies of fresh Fruits in all the Seasons of the Year The Inhabitants of this Country reckon but two Seasons which divide the whole Year into a Summer of Nine Months and a Winter of three during which it freezes oftentimes very hard on the Mountains though the same is hardly discernable in the Plains Amongst their other Cattle they breed Sheep that weigh two hundred and fifty or three hundred Pound-weight These Animals are of great use to them having the very same Instinct as Camels They make them carry Jarrs of Water Oyl or Wine which are a sort of Earthen-ware made like Sugar-pans two of which holds about five and thirty Quarts and when empty weigh as much as the Liquor that fills them When they are minded to fill them these Sheep will kneel down and as soon as they are full get up very gently when they are come to the place whither they are to carry them they lay them down in the same manner and so continue till they are discharged of their Burthen We weigh'd on the 13th and on the 15th Anchored twenty Leagues to Windward of Point Mangla we put ashoar in a Canoe where we surprized a Watch of fifteen Spanish Soldiers who were set upon the side of a curious River the Entertainment we gave them forced them to own unto us that they were to guard the River which they called Elmeralda because of the many Rocks or great pieces of Emeralds which their Country-men take up there and that we might in the space of Eight Hours go very easily from the Mouth of it in our Canoes to surprize the Town of Quitto but not so by Land because then we must fetch a Compass of Fourscore Leagues through a Country full of Inhabitants who would not fail to oppose us and for these Reasons it was that they endeavoured all they could to keep from Strangers the Knowledge of these Advantages This Town of Quitto is well Peopled and was formerly the Capital of the Kingdom that bears its Name but now it depends upon the Government of the Vice-Roy of â—ima On the 17th we got ready and sailed away for the 〈◊〉 del Gallo which stands at the Mouth of the little Bay of Barbacoa an hundred Leagues to Leeward of Queaquilla On the 19th we discovâ—â—ed by break of Day a Ship whom we chased and towards Ten in the Forenoon took her she was a Bark come from Panama â—o go and buy Negroes which the English in Iamaica 〈◊〉 them by the way of Puerto Bello and which they were going to Trade with at Paitas they get very considerably by these Blacks for the English sell them to the Spaniards for four and five hundred Pieces of Eight a Man and are worth three and four hundred with them We Anchor'd on the 20th at the Isle of Gallapo where we examined the Prisoners we had taken in the said Bark who told us that the Galley of Panama was gone
into the Bay of Mapallo in quest of the French Men that were gone ashoar upon those Islands which I have already said are there and that in her return she was to carry the President of Guatimala and his Wife to Panama On the 25th we weigh'd and sailed for the Isle of Câ—cas which stands North and South of Realegâ—o an hundred Leagues distance We had a South-west Wind and sailed West North-west On the 30th we discovered Land we pinch'd upon the Wind that we might know what place it was we found towards Evening 't was the Isle of Malpalla that stands forty Leagues Southwards of that of St. Iohn's and from thence we sailed to the Bay of Mapalla instead of going to the Isle of Cocas from whence the Wind blew and consequently was contrary to us From this day forward to the 11th of Iuly we had the same Southwest Wind which allay'd not but when it blew from the East and South On the 13th we took our Latitude and found we were thirty Leagues out at Sea from Realegâ—o and steared North to get to Land On the 16th at Noon we discovered the Mountains and put into the Cape for fear of being discovered On the â—7th we sent two of our Canoes to endeavour to take some one Prisoner that so we might know how things were before we brought our Ships into the Bay In the Evening our Canoes having discovered what Coast it was returned and told it was St. Michael's Bay whether the Currents had driven us in making the Cape and which we took for that of Mapalla whither we would have gone and which stands fourteen Leagues to Windward of the former which might the more 〈◊〉 have been mistakâ—n from the Sea in that the Mountainâ—â— of these two Bayâ—â— are very like one another We lay by to Windward of iâ— in the Night and on the 18th 〈◊〉 out our Canoes and continuing at the Cape till the 20â—â— we made use of them to go and joyn our Friends at 〈◊〉 of the Islands As we entered in on the 23d we 〈◊〉 taken with a breeze of Wind that separated us from 〈◊〉 another and of five Sail whereof our Fleet consisted we had no more than two of the least and weakest of our Ships left together but we did not lose sight of the other three tho' they were got very far to Leeward and overtaken with a Calm In the mean time we Anchoâ—ed at the Isle of Tigers which is the nearest to the Mouth of it On the 24th about Eight in the Morning we discovered three Sail of Ships that doubled the Point of Harina which is to Windward of that Bay and Ten Leagues to Leeward of Realeguo we presently fired a Paterero to call in our Canoes who were ashoar to take in Water As soon as they were come on Board we made ready and bore up to those Ships with a full Wind though we had then but very little of it Those three Vessels which were a Galley and two Pirogues bore also towards us though they saw us 〈◊〉 but as soon as we were got out and discovered by them they doubled the Cape upon us with their Sails and Oaâ—â— and the two Pirogues that sailed better than the Galley got behind us and fired fifteen Cannon-shot upon us but as our Arms could reach them these Pirogues were forced to fall a Stern and to wait for their Galley When she had joyned them they held a Council and then put out to Attack us our Ships not being able to give us any Relief put to the Cape to wait for us we fought them all along till we had rejoyned our Vessels which we did about two in the Afternoon when the Spaniards left us to go bury their Dead upon the Island where we had been to take in Water when we first discovered them they did us some Damage in our main Mast and Rigging and wounded few of our Men Towards Evening a Wind arose from the Sea and we sailed in quest of them but they kept to the Shoar On the 25th we passed round the Island in search for our Canoes which the Enemy's Galley sought for also rightly imagining they were ashoar as not having seen 〈◊〉 with us during the Action About two in the Aâ—â—â—noon they discovered us and coming out from under their Covert gave us the Signal which we on our part answered they had hid themselves there for four Hours expecting our coming and had a full sight of the Engagement but could not possibly any more than the 〈◊〉 of our Ships come in to our Assistance The Spaniâ—â—ds who saw us take them with us durst not hinder it though they were at Anchor very near them then we attempted with one of our Ships to Board the Enemy's Galley but she saved her self upon the Flats where our Ships could not come near her On the 26th we Anchored at an Island in the Bay where we put two of our Vessels to Careen while the other three guarded them On the 28th we saw a Canoe under white Colours crossing from the main Land to the Islands where one of ours met and took her It was a Spanish Captain who believing us to be his own People came to congratulate the Commander upon the Victory which he from the Shoar thought they had got over us We put him upon the Wrack to know whether he came not by some wile or other to draw us into a Snare laid for us by the Galley 〈◊〉 the Greek Captain had formerly done But he solemnly protested it was not so and informed us that there 〈◊〉 a Pirogue with thirty Men in the same Bay where we were who were gone ashoar some time since and 〈◊〉 fought in the rase of Savannas against six hundred Spaniards whose Captain called don Albarado who was accounted the bravest and most valiant Man in the Province they had killed and that when we had met with their Galley and two Pirogues there had Eight â—â—ndred Armed Men come not with a design to look after us but to fight those thirty French Men who could not be conquered by his six hundred Country-men in admirable instance of the Valour of the Spaniards in those 〈◊〉 The Day of Mapalla is a very curious place and full of 〈◊〉 great Ilands not inferiour in Beauty to those of 〈◊〉 they were formerly Inhabited and there are still 〈◊〉 Burroughs there which the People have forsaken by 〈◊〉 of the Descents of the Free-booters As for Anchorage it 's very good here but no good shelter to be found in this place from any corner of the Wind great Blasts whereof come over those great Mountains that are at the bottom of it so that there are very few Cables that are proof against them On the 6th of August one of our Men who was Hunting upon the Island where we were Careening found two Men who had been there for the space of Eight Days to observe our Motions and who taking us to
the 25th The same day about Ten in the Morning we discovered a Ship and put out with our Canoes to know what she was she bare to the Cape and put up Spanish Colours but as the Sea ran very high and that our Canoe could not well weather it we returned again into Port. Now this Ship believed 't was her Colours that hindred us to come on Board her wherefore she took the same down and put up a white Flag in the room of them we 〈◊〉 the same time fitted up our Galley to go and hale her but she could never get out of the Port whereupon she failed away and as our Ships were much out of order we could not follow her She was undoubtedly a Frigaâ—e built in the North-Sea but it was impossible for us to know what Nation she belonged to The Sea being calm on the 26th we went with our Galley about twenty Leagues to Windward of Acapulto to see if the abovementioned Ship were not put in to Port we judging by her Rigging she wanted to put in some-where to Land But we returned without any News of her We waited till the fourth of November for the Ransom of the Governour which we did not overmuch press for as finding in this Port and Parts adjacent plenty of Victuals particularly of Tortoises which we had there in great Numbers and Hatto's that are to be met with 〈◊〉 and down frequently here furnished us with all other Necessaries besides that we had here a place of Security from the Insults of the Spaniards It 's impossible to go ashoar from Sansonat to Acapulto 〈◊〉 it be in the Ports or Bays and though that which they call the Salt-Pits be difficult of Access because of the smallness of it and that the Sea there runs very high yet they esteem it a Bay for all that It 's the next you meet with after Sansonnat and stands twenty Leagues to Windward of that of Tecoantepequa which the Spaniards set down also for a Bay in their Charts tho it be so far from being deep that it can scarce be distinguish'd from the rest of the Coast There is a Lake at the bottom of this last place bearing the same Name with which it had formerly a Communication but whose Mouth at present is stopped up by a Bank of Sand which the Waves have drove thither This Lake hems in 〈◊〉 Islands that are not far distant from one another and all of them very near the Mouth thereof Some years since the Hourqua of Acapulco that went to the East-Indies in its return entered into this Lake through the Bay and we understood that Some Spaniards had entered by the other end of it into the River of Vastaqua that discharges it self into a Bay of New Spain and consequently to the North-Sea When this Hourqua returns from the Phillipine Islands where the Spaniards drive a great Traffick 't is one of the richest Vessels that sails upon the Ocean it 's of a prodigious bigness and built so strong that she is afraid of nothing but Land and Fire she is provided with forty of pieces Cannons whereof one half is of no use to her for her Lading makes her sink so deep in the Water that her Battery between the two Decks is rendred useless She goes out yearly from the Port of Acapulco convoy'd with a Patach of Twenty-eight Guns and laden with several sorts of Merchandizes that she carries to the Inhabitants of those Islands who by way of barter for the same give a great deal of those curious China and Iapan-ware we see in Europe and what is yet more valuable Pearls Gold-Dust and precious Stones This Ship had great Advantage in making this Voyage that is that in making choice of a proper Season she goes and returns in a Twelve-Months time comprehending the while they stay in that Country without being put to the trouble of veering about and sifting the Sails 't is beyoâ—d dispute that she cannot be met with by any that wait for her before the Port of Acapulco at a certain season of the year which I shall take no notice of here for Reason I have spoken of in the beginning of this Journal I shall not forget also to remark in this place that 〈◊〉 will be so much the more easie to take her in that when she returns from those parts with the Patach all her Crew are in so sickly and dying a Condition that 〈◊〉 four hundred Men that make up the Compliment theâ—â— is not one fourth of them in a Condition to defend it and this Distemper which they call Scorbut never 〈◊〉 them in their return from the Phillipines insomuch 〈◊〉 a Ship which goes from the North-Sea with a design 〈◊〉 look after this Hourqua might in less than Eighteen Months time bating the Perils and Accidents she might be liable to at Sea return with immense Riches About twenty Leagues to Leeward of the Bay of Tecoantepequa stands the Port of Vatulco so small that it cannot contain above ten or a dozen Ships but yet they must have an Anchor fore and aft for if they had no more than an Anchor out at the Forecastle they would fall foul upon one another in endeavouring to avoid it upon the change of Wind or Tyde At the entrance into the Port which is very narrow there is a Whirlpool to Leeward which the Spaniards call Bofadera whereinto the Water enters in so violent a manner that it makes a noise that may be heard above four Leagues off Four Leagues lower there is another Port where you cannot Anchor with safety because of the Rocks whereof the bottom of it is full In the passage to it stands a great Rock called the Fourillon which is all over as well as continually so covered with those sports of Birds which we had before seen in the River of Villia that there remains nothing of the Surface of it to be seen and a little further is an Island called Sacrifice About Eight Leagues lower there are three small Ports of a Leagues distance one from another whereof that called the Angels is the best it 's no difficult matter to find the passage to it provided you â—ail along the Shoar but it 's impossible to perceive it from the Main there is a Rock stands at the Mouth of it that has an hole therein resembling a large Gate From this Port to Acapulco which is sixty Leagues off we have no Harbour The Country which extends it self from the Bay of Salt-pits as far as Acapulco is that upon the South-Sea that is best Peopled and where there are moreover several famous and very rich Towns more Gold Mines are also found there than in Peru though the Metal is not so fine and those of Tinsigal alone are more valued by the Spaniards than the Mines of Potosi and therefore 〈◊〉 not without reason that this Western Coast is called by the Name of Costa-Rica though in our Geographical Maps they bestow
we were not fully convinced of the sincerity of this Advice we sent two of our Canoes to Shear to take some other Prisoners that so we might see whether they should confirm or contradict this Information and thereby be the more fully instructed concerning those things that might be an Obstruction to our Passage and others that might facilitate the same We went a Shoar on the 18th to the number of Seventy Men and marched all day long without meeting one Soul as we did also the next day till Noon without any more discovery than in the preceding one wherewith we were so fatigu'd that we resolved to return back again And here we may add that the greatest part of our Men were not overcontent to repass by Land to the North-Sea because of the five or six thousand Men wherewith we were threaten'd wherefore we left those that were minded to return to their Canoes and Eighteen of us who found our selves less weary than the rest staid behind We followed a great Road which we met with soon after they had left us and had not walked above an hour when we took three Horse-men whom when we had asked where we were they told us that about a quarter of a League off there was a little Town called Chiloteca wherein there were four hundred white Men besides Negroes Mulaters and Indians and assured us we had not been yet discovered We had a mind to run after our Men to acquaint them with this Account and engage them to go back with us to the Town but the Apprehensions we were under of being discovered and thereby giving the Inhabitants time to put themselves into a posture of Defence hindred us to do so and made us undertake perhaps the boldest most resolute and if you will the rashest Action that could be thought of which was that being no more of us than Eighteen Men as I have said before we should adventurously enter that Town where we surpriz'd and frighten'd the Spaniards to that Degree that we took the Tenient and other Officers to the number in all of fifty Persons including the Women Prisoners They were seized with such a pannick fear supposing us to be far more numerous than we were that all the rest would doubtless have been taken and bound by us had it not been for their Horses which are always at hand which they mounted to ride away upon And so it was as we would have it for if they had had the Courage to stay behind they might have cut out Work for us whereof we had already but too much which was to watch our Prisoners We ask'd the Tenient where the Galley of Panama was who made Answer she lay at Anchor in the Embarking-place of Carthage which is Caldaira where she waited for us as hoping we would pass that way to go to the Nort-Sea and that the King of Spain's Ship the St. Lorenzo was in the Port of Realegâ—o mounted with thirty pieces of Cannon and four hundred Men on Board to hinder us to come near that place which they began to settle in again As we had a desire to lye in thâ—â— little Town where we now were we farther ask'd him what number of Men we should have occasion for to guard us if we should stay there he told us there would be six hundred Men next day there but that they had no more Fire-Arms than for two hundred The Spaniards who during this time were a little recover'd of their Astonishment being got together enter'd into the Town again and after we have several times conflicted with them we entrenched our selves in the Church where we had put our Prisoners who seeing us go in with Precipitation believed their People pursu'd us close and were just upon falling on us which made them so bold as to run to the Swords and other Arms we had got together wherewith they wounded us one Man We presently got to the Doors and from thence fired upon them so long till there were no more than four Men and their Wives left alive of them At the same time we mounted the Horses which we had taken and with our four Prisoners of each Sex went away with as little noise as we could which the other Spaniards observing they sent one to treat with us but we refused and fired upon him for fear if he came too near us he should come to know how few we went Next day which was the 20th we rejoyned our other People who had rested themselves at an Hatto they had met with in their return and who gave us Assistance against six hundred of those Spaniards who followed in the Rear of us Then we gave the Women Prisoneâ— their liberty On the 21st we went on Board our Canoes and next day reachâ—d our Ships where we interrâ—â—gated our four new Prisoners concerning the Passage wâ— had projected but they laid so many Difficulties before us that we grew almost out of conceit with it But yet when we considered we must either make our way through or end our days miserably in an horrible want of all convenient Necessaries and in an Enemâ—â— Country where we grew weaker every day by the loss 〈◊〉 our Men we resolved to hazzard all to get out of it insomuch that being no longer daunted at the dangers we were to run in this Passage and being perswaded it would be better for us to die with our Swords in our Hands than to pine away with Hunger We made all things ready for this Journey and to the end we might cut off from the most Timerous any desires they might have to return to their Ships if their Minds should alter in reference to their going along with us we ran our Vessels ashoar except our Galley and Pirogues which we reserved to carry us off the Island where we were to the Continent On the 25th we formed four Companies consisting of seventy Men each making altogether two hundred and fourscore and as for the forlorn Hope we agreed for to draw out ten Men out of each and to relieve them every Morning We also made a Contract among our selves that those who should be lamed in the Encounters we might have with the Enemy in our way should have the same Recompence as formerly that is â— thousand pieces of Eight a Man that the Horses we should take should be divided between the Companies for the ease of all our Men and for those that were incommoded above any of the rest That those that stragled and should be lamed should have no Recompence made them and that Violence Cowardice and Drunkenness should also be punish'd as formerly Before I leave these Seas I 'll spare the Reader the trouble of asking how we came to endure so much Hunger Miseries and Fatigues in these parts since I have said upon several occasions that the Country is so good and pleasant as well as fruitful in the Production of all tings necessary for the support
three Months Provisions began to be scarce before our Arrival at Barbadoes so that when we came there we had no more than what would have served us for three days longer insomuch that the Captain being concerned that he had taken our Men on Board ordered our Allowance to be lessened three fourths of what it should be When we were got to Port the Captain went to wait upon Colonel Russel who is General there related to him my whole Adventure with the Guardship of Angola and was much blamed for bringing me to Barbadoes When the Captain returned on board his Ship he told me what the Governour had said who had forbid him upon pain of Death to let me go ashoar However he said nothing to me of this Prohibition but contented himself with only desiring me not go ashoar that it might create no Suspicion in the Governour which I promised exactly to perform having no great Concern upon me of seeing a Place again that I had known so long ago and being unwilling to create my Captain any Trouble Next day several Iews that had been driven away from Martinico having heard of my Arrival came to see me and finding I was very crazy and much out of Order they sent some Physicians of their Nation to me who said I could not be cured if I were not carryed ashoar and thereupon offered to sollicite the Governour on my behalf for giving me leave to go lie in an House in the Town I drew up a Petition to him praying him to grant me that Liberty and promising I would not stir out of the Chamber where I was placed till I were to reimbark to go for Martinico The Physicians themselves were obliged to be my Securities and I was at length carryed to Mr. Iacob Lewis his House where I was very well looked after all the time I staid there Three days after I was brought thither the Major-General came to see me from Colonel Russel the Governour he very civilly offered me his Protection and all those things that could be conducive for the recovery of my Health The same Major as also the Captain of the Garrison came also to Visit me from time to time tho' I apprehended they came not so much to inspect into the state of my health as to see if I were in a Condition to be transported out of that Island Colonel Russel also himself about ten or twelve days after my Arrival came to see if I was so bad as they said I was He came again about seven or eight days after in the Evening and caused me to be carryed out of the Iew 's House where I was to an English Merchant's He told me I should be better accommodated there than at Iacob Lewis's but I thought it was to the intent I might be watched more narrowly and not converse with so many People He came to see me next day and asked how I liked my new Lodging I rendred him many Thanks for the Civilities and Kindnesses he shewed me and that he might have no occasion to suspect my Men I prayed him to shut them up in the Cittadel that they might not run about the Island and to prevent their making of their Escape He said he would take care of it but that I was to understand they were Prisoners of War as well as my self I made answer I knew that and that I thought my self an happy Man to have fallen into his hands But that the English Captain who had brought me to Barbadoes had given me his Word I should not be detained nor any of my Men That it was upon his Faith given me and the tenders of Service he made me that I had embarked as firmly relying upon those Testimonies of his Friendship he had given me Then I desired him to grant me and my Men our Liberty promising I should ever be mindful of the Favour done me whether it were by restoring of the Prisoners I might take belonging to the Islands or paying him such a Ransom as he required No said the Governour I will have neither your Ransom nor your Prisoners and you are too brave a Man for me to have no Compassion upon your many Misfortunes I desire on the contrary that you would accept of these Forty Pistoles which I present you with to supply your present occasion He gave them me in a Purse which he had doubtless brought along with him for that purpose and when he left me he said he went to give Orders for to bring my Men together Next day he sent me two of them who said they knew not what was become of the rest and that they had Orders from the Governour to stay with me I had the Liberty to send them abroad to get me Necessaries and at last finding my self somewhat recovered by the care my Landlord took of me I told the Officer that came daily to see me that I desired the Governour to let me go on board the first Vessel that was bound to Martinico Three days after came a Bark which the Count de Blenac General of the French Islands had sent thither about the exchange of Prisoners Colonel Russel sent me word she was come and that I should prepare to be gone Then it was I had the Liberty to go to his House to render him Thanks for all the Civilities he had shewed me He told me he was sorry that by the Laws of War he was bound to allow me no more Liberty than I had and that he pray'd me to use the English kindly then should happen to fall into my Hands This being done I went on board the French Bark which was commanded by the Sieur Courpon formerly an Inhabitant of St. Christophers and I could never find any more of my Freebooters than those two I have spoken of whom the Governour sent me We went ashoar at Port Royal in Martinico and I went with my Men to the Town to wait upon Monsieur de Blenac who was then sick of that Distemper he died of I gave him a Relation of all my Adventures and I am sure he was surprized to hear the Particulars of so many Misfortunes As he would have me stay at his House all the time I tarryed in Martinico he made me every day repeat unto him the manner of my Fight with the English Man of War and at last finding an Opportunity of getting me transported into France he sent for the Captain of the Ship who was bound thither and recommended me to him He would also have writ Letters by me to Monsieur Phelipeaux to recommend me to some Employ but the day before my departure he was taken so very ill that he could not write and that day which was the Tenth of Iune in the Evening he died I was mightily troubled at his Death for several Reasons He was a Person that took delight in serving every body who had great Compassion on such as had been persecuted by an Evil Fate as was my Case who