This was the first voyage that Mortimer had the command of a vessel, by whose death is a poor disconsolate widow made miserable, more in regard of the mutual love and fidelity they lived in, than the loss of what would have been a handsome and comfortable provision for themselves and children, which, I think, now ought to be made up by the public, since ’twas in the public service he fell; for had his attempt succeeded, in all probability he would not only have regained his own ship, but entirely subdued and destroy’d the enemy, there being several, as it afterwards proved, that would have seconded such an enterprise whenever they found a beginning made.
This affair ended without any other consequence than a strict search after a brother of Captain Mortimer, who was on board, in order to have put him likewise to death; but he had the good fortune to meet with a townsman among the crew, who hid him for four and twenty hours in a staysail, till the heat of their fury was over, and by that means happily missed of the fate designed him.
Out of the other Virginia man before spoken of, they took one Edward Cheeseman, a carpenter, to supply the place of their late carpenter, Fern. He was a modest sober young man, very averse to their unlawful practice, and a brave gallant fellow. There was one John Philmore of Ipswich, formerly taken by them, ordered to row Cheeseman aboard of Mortimer’s ship, which the pirates possess’d themselves of, who, seeing with what reluctance and uneasiness Cheeseman was brought away, told him, he would join with him, in some measures, to overthrow the piratical government, telling him withal, their present condition, what difficulties Phillips had met with to make up his company, and how few voluntary pirates there were on board, and the like. But, however specious this seemed, Cheeseman out of prudence rejected his offers of assistance, till he saw some proofs of his sincerity, which after a few days he was convinced of, and then they often consulted; but as the old pirates were always jealous of the newcomers, and consequently observant of their behaviour; this was done with the utmost caution, chiefly when they were lying down together, as though asleep, and, at other times, when they were playing at cards; both which they feigned often to do for that purpose.
The pirates went on all the while, plundering and robbing several ships and vessels, bending their course towards Newfoundland, where they designed to raise more men, and do all the mischief they could on the banks, and in the harbours.
Newfoundland is an island on the north continent of America, contained between the 46 and 53° of N. latitude, discovered first by St. Sebastian Cabot AD , but never settled till the year ; when Mr. Guy of Bristol revived the affair, and obtained a patent, and himself to be governor. The island is deserted by the natives and neglected by us, being desolate and woody, and the coast and harbour only held for the conveniency of the cod fishery, for which alone they were settled.
The bays and harbours about it, are very numerous and convenient, and being deeply indented, makes it easy for any intelligence quickly to pass from one harbour to another over land; especially the principal, St. John’s and Placentia, when the appearance of an enemy makes them apprehend danger.
They are able to cure and export about 100,000 quintals (100 weight each) of fish, annually, which returns to England in money, or the necessary commodities of Portugal, Spain and Italy. As it therefore expends abundance of rum, molasses and sugar, the product of our West India colonies, and employs a number of fishermen from home every season, by whose industry and labour only this fish is purchased, it may very well be reckon’d an advantageous branch of trade.
But the present design of this digression being not to give an exact description of the country or fishery; but rather how it accidentally contributes to raise, or support the pirates already rais’d, I shall observe,
First, that our West Country fishing ships, viz. from Topsham, Barnstable and Bristol, who chiefly attend the fishing seasons, transport over a considerable number of poor fellows every summer, whom they engage at low wages, and are by their terms to pay for passage back to England. When the Newfoundland ships left that country, towards winter, in the year , these passengers muster’d 1,100, who, during the season of business, (the hardness of their labour, and chilness of the nights, pinching them very much) are mostly fond of drinking black strap, (a strong liquor used there, and made from rum, molasses, and chowder beer;) by this the majority of them outrun the constable, and then are necessitated to come under hard articles of servitude for their maintenance in the winter; no ordinary charge, indeed, when the barrenness of the country is consider’d, and the stock of provision laid in, happen to fall short, in proportion to the computation made of the people remaining there the winter, which are generally about 17 or 1,800. The masters residing there think advantages taken on their necessities, no more
