A General History of the Pirates

directly without mercy; and I expect and demand of you to make ample restitution to Captain Chamberlain or all the Negroes which the said Brown and Winter have lately taken off from the north side of this island, and also of such sloops and other effects as they have been taken and robbed of, since the cessation of arms, and that you will deliver up to the bearer such Englishmen as are now detained, or otherwise remain at Trinidad; and also expect you will hereafter forbear granting any commissions, or suffer any such notorious villains to be equipp’d and fitted out from your port: otherwise you may depend upon it, those that I can meet with, shall be esteemed pirates, and treated as such; of which I thought proper to give you notice, and am, etc.

A Letter from Mr. Joseph Laws lieutenant of His Majesty’s ship, Happy snow, to the Alcaldes of Trinidad

Gentlemen,

I Am sent by Commodore Vernon, Commander in Chief of all His Majesty’s ships in the West Indies to demand in the King our master’s name, all the vessels, with their effects, etc. and also the Negroes taken from Jamaica since the cessation of arms; likewise all Englishmen now detained, or otherwise remaining in your Port of Trinidad, particularly Nicholas Brown and Christopher Winter, both of them being traitors, pirates and common enemies to all nations: and the said commodore hath ordered me to acquaint you, that he is surprised that the subjects of a prince in amity and friendship with another, should give countenance to such notorious villains. In expectation of your immediate compliance, I am, gentlemen,

Off the River Trinidad, Feb. 8. 1720

Your humble servant,

Joseph Laws

The Answer of the Alcaldes Of Trinidad, to Mr. Laws’ Letter

Capt. Laws,

In answer to yours, this serves to acquaint you, that neither in this city, nor port, are there any Negroes or vessels which have been taken at your island of Jamaica, nor on that coast, since the cessation of arms; and what vessels have been taken since that time, have been for trading in an unlawful commerce on this coast; and as for those English fugitives you mention, they are here as other subjects of our lord the King, being brought voluntarily to our holy Catholic faith, and have received the water of baptism; but if they should prove rogues, and should not comply with their duty, in which they are bound at present, then they shall be chastized according to the ordinances of our King, whom God preserve. And we beg you will weigh anchor as soon as possible, and leave this port and its coasts, because upon no account you shall be suffered to trade, or anything else; for we are resolved not to admit thereof. God preserve you. We kiss your hand.

Trinidad, Feb. 8, 1722

Signed,

Hieronimo de Fuentes,

Bennette Alfonso del Manzano

Mr. Laws’ Reply To the Alcaldes Letter

Gentlemen,

Your refusing to deliver up the subjects of the King my master, is somewhat surprising, it being in a time of peace, and the detaining them consequently against the law of nations. Notwithstanding your trifling pretence (for which you have no foundation but to forge an excuse) to prevent my making any enquiry into the truth of the facts I have alleged in my former, I must tell you my resolutions are, to stay on the coast till I have made reprisals; and should I meet any vessels belonging to your port, I shall not treat them as the subjects of the Crown of Spain, but as pirates, finding it a part of your religion in this place to protect such villains.

Off the River Trinidad, Feb. 8. 1720

Your Humble Servant,

Joseph Laws

The Answer of One of the Alcaldes To Mr. Laws’ Reply

Captain Laws,

You may assure yourself, I will never be wanting in the duty of my post. The prisoners that are here are not in prison, but only kept here to be sent to the Governor of the Havana: if you (as you say) command at sea, I command onshore: if you treat the Spaniards, you should happen to take, as pirates, I will do the same by every one of your people I can take up: I will not be wanting to good manners, if you will do the same. I can likewise act the soldier, if any occasion should offer that way, for I have very good people here for that purpose. If you pretend anything else, you may execute it on this coast. God preserve you. I kiss your hand.

Trinidad, Feb. 20, 1720

Signed,

Bennette Alfonso del Menzano

The last advices we have received from our plantations in America, dated June 9th, 1724, gives us the following account, viz. that Captain Jones in the ship John and Mary, on the 5th of the said month, met with, near the capes of Virginia, a Spanish guardacosta, commanded by one Don Benito, said to be commissioned by the Governor of Cuba: she was manned with 60 Spaniards, 18 Frenchmen and 18 English, and had an English captain as well as Spanish, one Richard Holland, who formerly belonged to the Suffolk man-of-war, which he deserted at Naples, and took shelter in a convent. He served on board the Spanish fleet under Admiral Cammock, in the war in the Mediterranean; and after the cessation of arms with Spain, settled with several of his countrymen (Irish) in the Spanish West Indies. This guardacosta made prize of Captain Jones’ ship, and kept possession of her from 5th to the 8th, during which time she took also the Prudent Hannah of Boston, Thomas Mousell Master, and the Dolphin of Topsham, Theodore Bare Master, both laden and bound for Virginia: the former they sent away together with three men and the mate, under the command of a Spanish officer and crew,