The Viceroy of Goa, assisted by the English company’s fleet from Bombay, did attempt the reduction of Callaba, his principal place, landed 8 or 10,000 men the next year, the English squadron of men-of-war being then in those seas; but having viewed the fortification well, and expended some of their army by sickness and the fatigues of a camp, carefully withdrew again.
I return to the pirates, who, after they had sent away the gallivat’s people, resolved to cruise to the southward; and the next day, between Goa and Carwar, heard several guns, which brought them to an anchor, and they sent their boat on the scent, who returned about , and brought word of two grabs lying at anchor in the road. They weighed and ran towards the bay, till daylight gave the grabs sight of them, and was but just time enough to get under India Diva Castle, out of their reach; this displeased the pirates the more, in that they wanted water; and some were for making a descent that night and taking the island, but it not being approved of by the majority, they proceeded to the southward, and took next in their way, a small ship out of Onnore Road, with only a Dutchman and two Portuguese on board. They sent one of these onshore to the captain, to acquaint him, if he would supply them with some water, and fresh provisions, he should have his ship again; and the master returned for answer, by his mate Frank Harmless, that if they would deliver him possession over the bar, he would comply with their request; the proposal the mate thought was collusive, and they rather jump’d into Harmless’ opinion, (who very honestly entered with them,) and resolved to seek water at the Laccadive Islands; so having sent the other persons onshore, with threats, that he should be the last man they would give quarter too, (by reason of this uncivil usage;) they put directly for the islands, and arrived there in three days: where being informed by a menchew they took (with the Governor of Canwar’s Pass,) of there being no anchor-ground among them, and Melinda being the next convenient Island, they sent their boats onshore, to see if there was any water, and whether it was inhabited or not; who returned with an answer to their satisfaction, viz. that there was abundance of good water, and many houses, but deserted by the men, who had fled to the neighbouring islands on the approach of ships, and left only the women and children to guard one another. The women they forced in a barbarous manner to their lusts, and to require them, destroyed their cocoa trees, and fired several of their houses and churches. (I suppose built by the Portuguese, who formerly used there, in their voyages to India.)
While they were at this island, they lost three or four anchors, by the rockiness of the ground, freshness of winds, and at last were forced thence by a harder gale than ordinary, leaving 70 people, blacks and whites, and most of their water casks: in ten days they regained the island again, filled their water, and took the people on board.
Provisions were very scarce, and they now resolved to visit their good friends the Dutch, at Cochin, who, if you will believe these rogues, never fail of supplying gentlemen of their profession. After three days sail, they arrived off Tellechery, and took a small vessel belonging to Governor Adams, John Tawke Master, whom they brought on board very drunk, and he giving an account of Captain Mackra’s fitting out, put them in a tempest of passion: a villain, say they, that we have treated so civilly, as to give him a ship and other presents, and now to be armed against us, he ought to be hanged; and since we cannot show our resentment on him, let us hang the dogs his people, who wish him well, and would do the same, if clear. If it be in my power, says the Quartermaster, both masters and officers of ships shall be carried with us for the future, only to plague them. ⸺d ⸺n England.
Thence they proceeded to Calicut, where they endeavoured to take a large Moor ship out of the road, but was prevented by some guns mounted onshore, and discharged at them: Mr. Lasinby, who was one of Captain Mackra’s officers, and detained, was under the deck at this time, and commanded both by the captain and quartermaster of the pirates, to tend the braces on the booms, in hopes, it was believed, a shot would take him before they got clear, asking the reason why he was not there before? And when he would have excused himself, threat’ned on the like neglect to shoot him; at which the other beginning to expostulate farther, and claim their promise of putting him ashore, got an unmerciful beating from the Quartermaster. Captain Taylor, who was now successor to England, and whose privilege it was to do so, being lame of his hands, and unable.
The next day in their passage down, came up with a Dutch galliot, bound for Calicut with limestone, and aboard of her they put Captain Tawke, and sent him away, and several of the people interceeded for Lasinby in vain, For, says Taylor
