The Buccaneers and Marooners of America ... Edited by H. Pyle

Front matter

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA Sr Heist M o e g ai$ THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE MOST REMARKABLE ASSAULTS COMMITTED OF LATE YEARS UPON THE COASTS OF THE WEST INDIES BY THE BUCCANEERS OF JAMAICA AND TORTUGA (BOTH ENGLISH AND FRENCH) Wherein are contained more especially the Unparalleled Exploits oj Sir Henry Morgan, our English Jamaican Hero, who sacked Porto Bello, burnt Panama, etc. BY JOHN ESOUEMELING One of the Buccaneers who was present at those tragedies mow fattbfullY? renoereo into Englisb. Mitb facsimiles of all tbe ©riginal Engravings, etc. LONDON SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. NEW York: CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SON'S Reprinted from the Editio?i oj 1684, to which is added a reprint of the very scarce Fourth Part, by BASIL RlNGROSE (16S5), containing the " Dangerous Voyage and Bold Attempts of Captain Bartholomew Sharp and others " Edited, with an Introduction, by Henry Powell CONTENTS. PAGE

Introduction

V The Translator to the Reader xx;x CHAPTER

Part I

I. The Author sets forth towards the Western Islands, in the Service of the West India Company of France. They meet with an English frigate, and arrive at the Island of Tortuga I II. Description of the Island of Tortuga : of the fruits and plants there growing : how the French settled there, at two several times, and cast out the Spaniards, first masters thereof. The Author of this book was twice sold in the said Island. . .6 111. Description of the great and famous Island of Hispaniola . . . 16 IV. Of the Fruits, Trees and Animals that are found at Hispaniola . . 21 V. Of all sorts of quadruped Animals and Birds that are found in this island. As also a relation of the French Buccaneers 34 VI. Of the Origin of the most famous Pirates of the coasts of America. A notable exploit of Pierre le Grand ....... 53 VII. After what manner the Pirates arm their vessels, and how they regulate their voyages ........... 58

Part II

I. Origin of Francis L'Ollonais, and beginning of his robberies ... 79 1 1 . L'Ollonais equips a fleet to land upon the Spanish islands of America, with intent to rob, sack and burn whatever he met . . . . .84 III. L'Ollonais makes new preparations to take the city of St. James de Leon ; as also that of Nicaragua, where he miserably perishes . . . 101 IV. Of the Origin and Descent of Captain Henry Morgan — his Exploits and a continuation of the most remarkable actions of his life . . .120 V. Some account of the Island of Cuba. Captain Morgan attempts to preserve the Isle of St. Catharine as a refuge and nest to Pirates ; but fails of his designs. He arrives at and takes the village of El Puerto del Principe 130 VI. Captain Morgan resolveth to attack and plunder the city of Porto Bello. To this effect he equips a fleet, and with little expense and small forces, takes the said place .......... 140 VII.

Captain Morgan taketh the city of Maracaibo, on the coast of New Venezuela. Piracies committed in those Seas. Ruin of three Spanish ships, that were set forth to hinder the robberies of the Pirates . . .150 PART HI. I. Captain Morgan goes to the Isle of Hispaniola to equip a new fleet, with intent to pillage again upon the coasts of the West Indies . . -183 II. What happened in the river De la Hacha 186 III. Captain Morgan leaves the Island of Hispaniola, and goes to that of St. Catharine, which he takes ......... 19' IV. Captain Morgan takes the Castle of Chagre, with four hundred men sent for this purpose from the Isle of St. Catharine 198 V. Captain Morgan departs from the Castle of Chagre, at the head of one thousand two hundred men, with design to take the city of Panama . 206 VI. Captain Morgan sends several canoes and boats to the South Sea.

He sets fire to the city of Panama. Robberies and cruelties committed there by the Pirates till their return to the Castle of Chagre . . 223 VII. Of a voyage made by the Author, along the coasts of Costa Rica, at his return towards Jamaica. What happened most remarkable in the said voyage. Some observations made by him at that time . . . 239 VI11. the Author departs towards the Cape of Gracias a Dios. Of the Commerce which here the Pirates exercise with the Indians. His arrival at the Island De los Pinos ; and finally, his return to Jamaica . . 249 IX. The Relation of the shipwreck, which Monsieur Bertram Ogeron, Governor of the Isle of Tortuga, suffered near the Isles of Guadanillas. How both he and his companions fell into the hands of the Spaniards. By what arts he escaped their hands, and preserved his lile.

The enterprise which he undertook against Porto Rico, to deliver his people. The unfortunate success of that design 259 > a CONTENTS. II PACK ""Ta relation of what encounters lately happened at the Islands of Cayana and Tobago, between the Count de Estres, Admiral of France, in America, and the Heer Jacob Binkes, Vice-Admiral of the United Provinces, in the same parts

Part IV

I. Captain Coxon, Sawkins, Sharp and others set forth in a fleet towards the province of Darien, upon the continent of America Their designs to pillage and plunder in those parts. Number of their ships, and strength of their forces by sea and land . . • • • 275 II. They march towards the town of Santa Maria with design to take it. The Indian King of Darien meets them by the way. Difficulties ot this march, with other occurrences till they arrive at the place . . 279 III. They take the town of Santa Maria with no loss of men, and but small booty of what they fought for. Description of the place, country and river adjacent. They resolve to go and plunder for the second time the city of Panama 2°$ IV. The Buccaneers leave the town of Santa Maria, and proceed by sea to take Panama. Extreme difficulties, with sundry accidents and dangers of that voyage • • 2°9 V. Shipwreck of Mr. Ringrose, the author of this narrative.

He is taken by the Spaniards and miraculously by them preserved. Several other accidents and disasters which befel him after the loss of his companions till he found them again. Description of the Gulf of Vallona . . 293 VI. The Buccaneers prosecute their voyage, till they come within sight of Panama. They take several barks and prisoners by the way. Are descried by the Spaniards before their arrival. They order the Indians to kill the prisoners 3°° VII. They arrive within sight of Panama. Are encountered by three small men-of-war. They fight them with only sixty-eight men, and utterly defeat them, taking two of the said vessels. Description of that bloody sight. They take several ships at the Isle of Perico before Panama . 304 VIII. Description of the state and condition of Panama, and the parts adjacent.

What vessels they took while they blocked up the said Port. Captain Coxon with seventy more returns home. Sawkins is chosen in chief . 31 1 IX. Captain Sawkins, chief commander of the Buccaneers, is killed before Puebla Nueva. They are repulsed from the said place. Captain Sharp chosen to be their leader. Many more of their company leave them and return home overland . . . . . . . .318 X. They depart from the Island of Cayboa to the Island of Gorgona, where they careen their vessels. Description of this Isle. They resolve to go and plunder Arica, leaving their design of Guayaquil . . . 323 XI. The Buccaneers depart from the Isle of Gorgona, with design to plunder Arica. They lose one another by the way. They touch at the Isle of Plate, or Drake's Isle, where they meet again. Description of this Isle.

Some memoirs of Sir Francis Drake. An account of this ' voyage, and the coasts all along. They sail as far in a fortnight, as the Spaniards usually do in three months 331 XII. Captain Sharp and his company depart from the Isle of Plate, in prosecution of their voyage towards Arica. They take two Spanish vessels by the way, and learn intelligence from the enemy. Eight of their company destroyed at the Isle of Gallo. Tediousness of this voyage, and great hardships they endured. Description of the coast all along, and their sailings 342 XIII. A continuation of their long and tedious voyage to Arica, with a description of the coasts and sailings thereunto. Great hardship they endured for want of water and other provisions. They are descried at Arica, and dare not land there ; the country being all in arms before them.

They retire from thence, and go to Puerto de Hilo, close by Arica. Here they land, take the town with little or no loss on their side, refresh themselves with provisions ; but in the end are cheated by the Spaniards, and forced shamefully to retreat from thence 358 XIV. The Buccaneers depart from the Port of Hilo, and sail to that of Coquimbo. They are descried before their arrival. Notwithstanding they land : are encountered by the Spaniards, and put them to flight. They take, plunder, and fire the City of la Serena. A description CONTENTS. III chapter page thereof. A Stratagem of the Spaniards in endeavouring to fire their ship, discovered and prevented. They are deceived again by the Spaniards, and forced to retire from Coquimbo, without any ransom for the City, or considerable pillage.

They release several of their chief Prisoners 375 XV. The Buccaneers depart from Coquimbo for the Isle of Juan Fernandez. An exact account of this voyage. Misery they endure, and great . dangers they escape very narrowly there. They mutiny among themselves, and choose Watling to be their chief commander. Description of the island. Three Spanish men-of-war meet with the buccaneers, at the said island ; but these outbrave them on the one side, and give them the slip on the other 388 XVI. The Buccaneers depart from the Isle of Juan Fernandez to that of Iquique. Here they take several prisoners, and learn intelligence of the posture of affairs at Arica. Cruelty committed upon one of the said prisoners, who had rightly informed them. They attempt Arica the second time, and take the town, but are beaten out of it again before they could plunder, with great loss of men, many of them being killed, wounded, and made prisoners.

Captain Watling, their chief Commander, is killed in this attack, and Captain Sharp presently chosen again, who leads them off, and through mountains of difficulties, makes a bold retreat to the ship ..... 403 XVII. A description of the Bay of Arica. They sail hence to the Port of Guasco, where they get provisions. A draft of the said port. They land again at Hilo to revenge the former affronts, and take what they could find 414 XVIII. They depart from the Port of Hilo to the Gulf of Nicoya, where they take down their decks and mend the sailing of their ship. Forty-seven of their companions leave them, and go home over land. A description of the Gulf of Nicoya. They ta"ke two barks and some prisoners there. Several other remarks belonging to this voyage . 424 XIX. They depart from the Gulf of Nicoya to Golfo Dulce, where they careen their vessel.

An account of their sailings along the coast. Also a description of Golfo Dulce. The Spaniards force the Indians of Darien to a peace, by a stratagem contrived in the name of the English • • 434 XX. They depart from Golfo Dulce, to go and cruise under the Equinoctial. Here they take a rich Spanish vessel with37,oooPieces of Eight, besides plate and other goods. They take also a Packet-boat bound from Panama to Lima. An account of their sailings and the coasts along 442 XXI. They take another Spanish ship richly laden under the Equinoctial. They make several dividends of their booty among themselves. They arrive at the Isle of Plate, where they are in danger of being all massacred by their slaves and prisoners. Their departure thence for the port and bay of Paita, with design to plunder the said place . 44S XXII.

They arrive at Paita, where they are disappointed of their expectations, as not daring to land, seeing all the country alarmed before them. They bear away for the Strait of Magellan. Description of the bay and port of Paita, and Colan. An account of their Sailings towards the Strait afore-mentioned 454 XXIII. The Buccaneers arrive at a place incognito, to which they give the name of the Duke of York's Islands. A description of the said islands, and of the gulf, or lagoon, wherein they lie, so far as it was searched. They remain there many days by stress of weather, not without great danger of being lost. An account of some other remarkable things that happened there 4°5 XXIV. They depart from the English Gulf in quest of the Straits of Magellan, which they cannot find. They return home by an unknown way, never navigated before • ■ 47s XXV.

The Buccaneers continue their navigation, without seeing any land, till they arrive at the Caribbean Islands in the West Indies. They give away their ship to some of their companions that were poor, and disperse for several countries. The author of this Journal arrives in England LIST OF ENGRAVED PLATES. Sir Henry Morgan to face Title page Bartholomew Portugues to face page 65 Rock Brasiliano „ 69 Francis Lolonois ,. 79 The Cruelty of Lolonois ,. 104 The Town of Puerto del Principe taken and sacked „ 155 The Spanish Armada destroyed by Captaine Morgan ., 171 Map of the South Sea and Coasts of America 27S

INTRODUCTION.

. The term Buccaneer, in French Boucanier, is usually applied to certain pirates who during the seventeenth century committed great ravages upon the Spanish settlements in the West Indies, the adjacent main land, and the coast of Chili and Peru, and whose exploits it will be our province to describe in the following pages. Such term was, however, more accurately applied to a body of cattle hunters of all nations, but mainly French, who pursued their avocations in the forests of the Western and North Western districts of the Island of Hispaniola — circumstances to be described hereafter caused these hunters to combine the trade in cattle with that of piracy, and the name, in consequence, lost its first significance of hunter and acquired its modern and better known one of pirate. Our readers living in the present age of highly or ganized communications with all parts of the globe, cannot sufficiently realize the magnitude of the task un dertaken by the first explorers and colonisers of the New Continent, still less the extraordinary rapidity with which the work of exploration and colonisation was carried on by the Spanish, and Portuguese, upon means that to us would appear ludicrously inadequate to the enormous extent of the newly discovered territories.

Scant justice has been done by posterity to the enthusiastic energy and perseverance of the natives of the Iberian peninsula, who during the first half of the sixteenth century, at least fifty years in advance of any other European nation, estabb

INTRODUCTION.

. VI lished their rule over the West India Islands, Central and South America, subdued the great and powerful empires of Mexico and Peru, and filled the conquered territories with numerous and flourishing settlements, extending from Florida to the River Plate on the one side, and from California to Chili on the other. Nor does the enormous emigration consequent on the conquests and occupation the less appeal to the imagination, when we come to consider that it took place simultaneously with large discoveries and settlements in the East Indies, and with prolonged warfare upon a very large scale against the principal nations of Europe. Rapid and striking as was the success of the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors and colonists, it has in the long run proved to be ephemeral, and other nations, who entered the field many years later with inferior advantages in soil and climate, have achieved greater and more enduring results, as must be manifest upon a comparison of the United States and Canada with the Central and South American Republics.

This failure, apart from religious and racial causes, must be attributed to the commercial policy (conspicuous for its selfishness in an age of extreme selfishness) adopted by the mother country, Spain, in its relations with its colonies. Even at the present day much useful experience may be gained by the colonial ministers of the greatest powers from a study of a fiscal system specially constructed to protect the interests of a few merchants at the expense and in disregard of the expressed wishes of the colonists. Soon after the discovery of America, with a view to settle disputes between Spain and Portugal as to their title to the newly found regions, Pope Alexander the Sixth issued his famous donation by which he gave to Spain the whole of America, except the Brazils, which was assigned to Portugal, and under which the Kings of Spain claimed to exclude not merely foreigners but also their own subjects not Spanish from access to the American continent and islands, and for a time practi-

INTRODUCTION.

. VII cally succeeded in preventing all other nations from trading or even landing in the New World. This exclu sion could not however be kept up, and we find traders from the Netherlands and England visiting the islands at a very early period, followed by Hawkins, Drake, and others in their capacity of slavers and merchant adven turers, the French appearing later still. It stands to reason that the foreign traders would not have under taken voyages so long and hazardous without considerable encouragement from the colonists, who, dependent otherwise on the fleets annually despatched to Europe, found no doubt their advantage in evading the fiscal regulations of their own government, to obtain not merely European goods at low prices, but also what was to them of paramount importance, a supply of labour in the shape of negro slaves from Africa.

To put down the foreign traders or interlopers the Spanish government employed armed revenue cruisers, or guarda costas, and were accustomed to instruct their officers to destroy every strange ship they met with, and to take no prisoners ; and in the case of foreign settlements on unoccupied lands, soldiers were sent to destroy the buildings and plantations and massacre the inhabitants. Harsh measures like these produced their natural effect, and in no long time the interlopers learnt to meet force by force, to combine for mutual defence, and to treat every Spaniard as an enemy. Not unnaturally the foreign seamen, traders and colonists drifted into a state of perpetual warfare with the various local governments, and in comparatively a short time the marine carrying trade between the various colonies, ex cepting the annual fleets, which were usually strongly manned and heavily armed, was either annihilated or passed into the hands of the foreign interlopers.

To applications addressed to the various European princes for redress of injuries committed by their subjects in American waters, the usual answer was to the effect

INTRODUCTION.

. VIII that the King of Spain was at liberty to proceed as he pleased against all persons acting without their com mission. Elizabeth of England, with greater frankness, replied that the Spaniards themselves were to blame for the depredations complained of, which were brought on solely by their own severe and unjust dealing. She did not understand why her subjects should be debarred from traffic in America, nor would she acknowledge titles given by the Bishop of Rome to lands of which Spain was not in actual possession. This unsatisfactory state of affairs (further aggravated by religious differences) lasted from the early visits of Hawkins, Drake, and others, to the end of the Thirty Years' War, during which period the interlopers were continually reinforced, first by the buccaneers proper from Hispaniola, and secondly by corsairs of all nations serving under the Protestant flag, such as the Gucux de la Mer, or sea beggars, from the revolted Netherlands, French Huguenots, etc.

The island of Hispaniola, or Hayti, was described by the original discoverers in glowing terms, as being of great beauty and fertility, and containing a population of at least a million, but twenty years of Spanish government (so miscalled) reduced the aboriginal inhabitants to less than sixty thousand in number, and the land (beyond the limits of a few small towns and scattered plantations) to a state of primeval forest tenanted only by wild cattle and a few wandering Indian hunters. The foreign traders soon began to appreciate the attractions offered by the seclusion of these districts, and by the facility of vic tualling and obtaining wood and water. Among other articles of food supplied by the Indians, beef and pork cured by the boucan process obtained a high repute, and many of the sailors finding it to their interest to adopt the hunters' life, a large trade in boucaned meat soon sprang up. The charm of the wild life attracted to the region increasing numbers of Europeans, who pursued indifferently the trade of hunters and corsairs. Many

INTRODUCTION.

. IX also became planters, and the latter (among whom the French element predominated) spread over the western portion of the island. Eventually this district became en tirely French, and for a long time was the most flourish ing colonial possession of the crown of France, its pros perity lasting until the Revolution of 1789, when the negro inhabitants, under Toussaint L'Ouverture, revolted, and having massacred or expelled the whites, established a republic ; this gave way to an empire, and again to a republic ; finally the French and Spanish negroes each established republican governments of their own, which have lasted down to the present day. A few words will not be here out of place by way of description of the manners and customs of the buccaneers, and of illustration of the simple yet effective means by which they organized victory over a nation which at that period enjoyed the highest military reputation.

The term buccaneer is the English version of the French word boucanier {i.e., one who cures meat by the boucan process). It is curious that the English pirates should have adopted the term from their French com rades and made it their own, while the latter simul taneously took the title of Flibustier, which is the English word "freebooter" pronounced in the French manner. Another and very common appellation by which they were known was Brethren of the Coast, and by these rude warriors of all races, who were accustomed to work together irrespective of nationality, this last title was deemed peculiarly appropriate and expressive. For the pursuit of the wild oxen and swine that pas tured in the Haytian forests the hunters used to form parties of five or six in number, each member provided with musket, bullet-bag, powder-horn, and knife, and dressed in garments made out of the skin, and stained with the blood of the slain animals ; horses were never used, the tangled nature of the country rendering a pursuit on foot more practicable. The flesh, when obtained,

INTRODUCTION.

. X was cut into long strips (sometimes salted, when required for a long voyage). The special feature of the process consisted in laying the meat upon boucans or barbecues {i.e., gratings constructed of green sticks), and exposing it to the smoke of wood, fed with the fat, bones and offal of the carcass, and the trimmings of the hide. By this means a very appetising flavour was imparted to the flesh, which, when cured, was usually of a bright red colour, and kept good for a long time. Pork was gener ally considered the best of the boucaned meats, except by the savage Caribs of the Lesser Antilles, to whom the barbecued flesh of an enemy was thought to be the food most grateful to a warrior. The charqui or jerked beef, so frequently alluded to in contemporary accounts, was prepared by cutting the meat into strips and drying it in the sun — this process being better suited to a dry climate was chiefly made use of in Peru, Chili, and the River Plate.

Analogous in their habits to the buccaneers of His paniola were the logwood cutters and cattle hunters in the peninsula of Yucatan or Honduras. Like them they were used to vary the monotony of timber-felling and bullock-driving by an occasional foray upon the Spanish settlements in the immediate neighbourhood. It must, however, in justice to the logwood cutters be admitted that they were not the original aggressors, but for the molestation inflicted upon them by the Spanish forces they would have been content to pursue their avocation in obscurity and peace. The colony of British Honduras was founded by their descendants, who still carry on the trade in logwood and mahogany. It would be unjust to omit allusion to the Mosquito Indians, the attached friends and allies of the buccaneers, who, from their strong affec tion to the English, their knowledge of pilotage, and their extraordinary dexterity in the arts of the fisherman, particularly in the use of the fish spear, were almost in dispensable members of every expedition to the South

INTRODUCTION.

. XI Sea. Their chief Cacique usually received a kind of in vestiture from the governors of Jamaica, and numerous English planters settled among them, mostly in the neighbourhood of Blewfields. The territory has for some time past been absorbed into the adjacent republic of Honduras. Previous to embarking upon an expedition it was the universal custom of these freebooters to hold a pre liminary meeting to determine the object of attack, to raise funds, to elect officers, and generally to discuss all minor details. The next step was to draw up articles of association for signature by the adventurers, binding them to contribute a fixed minimum sum to the common fund, to observe due order and discipline, and to allot the spoil in the manner pointed out in the articles. A certain number of shares, from two to eight according to rank, was assigned to each officer, and one to each adventurer, but before apportioning the plunder among individuals preferential shares were almost invariably set aside as compensation for wounds, and losses of eyes and limbs ; the representatives of the slain were not forgotten, and generally received the share that the adventurer would have taken if he had survived.

It was not an uncommon practice for two buccaneers to swear brotherhood, to stand by each other during life, and each to make the other his heir, and these curious partnerships once entered into were observed with a fidelity almost touch ing. Rewards were also given to the first man who sighted the chase, to the first who boarded an enemy, and for other services of distinction. Great honesty and integrity usually characterized their dealings with each other, and with the Indians with whom they were frequently brought into contact ; to their prisoners also they behaved with much greater humanity than was usual at the period, and from their considerate treatment of Indians and captives they fre quently derived much information and advantage in war.

INTRODUCTION.

. XII To this rule, however, a few marked exceptions, such as Montbars and L'Ollonais, must be made, and it must also be admitted that towards the end of their career a great change for the worse took place in this respect, the ferocity and bad faith characteristic of the vulgar pirate becoming painfully conspicuous. The earlier free booters were content to wage war against Spain only, but their successors evinced no such nice discrimination, and impartially plundered and burnt the ships of all nations whenever a favourable opportunity occurred. Offensive operations were carried on for the most part in the following manner. In the early days of buccaneering notice of an intended expedition, naming a rendezvous, would be sent to the principal resorts of the pirates, and if the suggested commanders were popular the summons would be freely responded to.

The usual place of meeting was the west end of the island of Tortuga, off the northern coast of Hayti, but after the capture of Jamaica in 1654 by Cromwell's forces, the English pirates generally made that island their centre, while the French remained constant to Tortuga, their old place of resort. Nor were the Dutch, French, and English colonies in the West Indies afflicted with many scruples as to the propriety of allowing filibusters to build, fit out, and repair in their ports armed vessels intended to cruise against their Spanish neighbours, with whom their respective mother countries were nominally at peace. The traders and planters of Mar tinique, Curacoa, St. Kitts, Barbados, and especially Jamaica, greatly encouraged the trade, on account of the large profits made on the purchase of plunder from the pirates and the prodigality with which the successful adventurers scattered their hardly won spoils— to such cause doubtless was owing much of the early prosperity of these colonies. In many cases even the precise and pious New Englanders did not disdain to participate in the gains of the atrocious Blackbeard and his associates,

INTRODUCTION.

. XIII who flourished in the first quarter of the eighteenth century. But to return to the early days of buccaneering, when the aspirations of the pirates were more modest, and captains were content to start in business in a very humble way. The mode of procedure was — mutatis mutandis — nearly always the same, irrespective of the numbers engaged. A party, varying in number from twenty to fifty men, would meet to discuss ways and means, to sign agreements, and to choose officers ; this done, they would put to sea in canoes or small vessels, and cruise on the usual trade routes. If fortunate enough to discover a Spanish vessel, the pirates were not likely to be deterred from the attack by any disparity in force, however great, apparently trusting by superior seamanship and discipline to place themselves at least on an equality with the enemy.