A General History of the Pirates

the company,) signifying, that the pirates were at Jaquin, seven leagues lower. The Swallow weighed at two next morning, January the 16th, and got to Jaquin by daylight, but to no other end, than frightening the crews of two Portuguese ships onshore, who took her for the pirate that had struck such terror at Whydah: she returned therefore that night, and having been strengthened with thirty volunteers, English and French, the discarded crews of the Porcupine, and the French ship they had carried from hence, she put to sea again January the 19th, conjecturing, that either Calabar, Prince’s, the River Gabon, Cape Lopez, or Annobón, must be touched at for water and refreshment, though they should resolve to leave the coast. As to the former of those places, I have before observed, it was hazardous to think of, or rather impracticable; Prince’s had been a sour grape to them, but being the first in the way, she came before the harbour the 29th, where learning no news, without losing time, steered for the River Gabon, and anchored at the mouth of it February the 1st.

This river is navigable by two channels, and has an island about five leagues up, called Popaguays or Parrots, where the Dutch cruisers, for this coast, generally clean, and where sometimes pirates come in to look for prey, or to refit, it being very convenient, by reason of a soft mud about it, that admits a ship’s lying onshore, with all her guns and stores in, without damage. Hither Captain Ogle sent his boat and a lieutenant, who spoke with a Dutch ship, above the island, from whom he had this account, viz. That he had been four days from Cape Lopez, and had left no ship there. However, they beat up for the cape, without regard to this story, and on the 5th, at dawning, was surprised with the noise of a gun, which, as the day brightened, they found was from Cape Lopez Bay, where they discovered three ships at anchor, the largest with the King’s colours and pendant flying, which was soon after concluded to be Mr. Roberts and his consorts; but the Swallow being to windward, and unexpectedly deep in the bay, was obliged to steer off, for avoiding a sand, called the Frenchman’s Bank, which the pirates observed for some time, and rashly interpreting it to be fear in her, righted the French Ranger, which was then on the heel, and ordered her to chase out in all haste, bending several of their sails in the pursuit. The man-of-war finding they had foolishly mistaken her design, humoured the deceit, and kept off to sea, as if she had been really afraid, and managed her steerage so, under the direction of Lieutenant Sun, an experienced officer, as to let the Ranger come up with her, when they thought they had got so far as not to have their guns heard by her consort at the cape. The pirates had such an opinion of their own courage, that they could never dream anybody would use a stratagem to speak with them, and so was the more easily drawn into the snare.

The pirates now drew nigh enough to fire their chase guns; they hoisted the black flag that was worn in Whydah Road, and got their spritsail yard along-ships, with intent to board; no one having ever asked, all this while, what country ship they took the chase to be; they would have her to be a Portuguese, (sugar being then a commodity among them,) and were swearing every minute at the wind or sails to expedite so sweet a chase; but, alas, all turned sour in an instant: it was with the utmost consternation they saw her suddenly bring to, and hawl up her lower ports, now within pistol-shot, and struck their black flag upon it directly. After the first surprise was over, they kept firing at a distance, hoisted it again, and vapoured with their cutlashes on the poop; though wisely endeavouring at the same time to get away. Being now at their wits end, boarding was proposed by the heads of them, and so to make one desperate push; but the motion not being well seconded, and their main-top-mast coming down by a shot, after two hours firing, it was declin’d; they grew sick, struck their colours, and called out for quarters; having had 10 men killed outright, and 20 wounded, without the loss or hurt of one of the King’s men. She had 32 guns, mann’d with 16 Frenchmen, 20 Negroes, and 77 English. The colours were thrown overboard, that they might not rise in judgment, nor be display’d in triumph over them.

While the Swallow was sending their boat to fetch the prisoners, a blast and smoke was seen to pour out of the great cabin, and they thought they were blowing up; but upon enquiry afterwards, found that half a dozen of the most desperate, when they saw all hopes fled, had drawn themselves round what powder they had left in the steerage, and fired a pistol into it, but it was too small a quantity to effect anything more, than burning them in a frightful manner.

This ship was commanded by one Skyrm, a Welsh man, who, though he had lost his leg in the action, would not suffer himself to be dressed, or carried off the deck; but, like Widrington, fought upon his stump. The rest appeared gay and brisk, most of them with white shirts, watches, and a deal of silk vests, but the gold dust belonging to them, was most of it left in the Little Ranger in the bay, (this company’s proper ship,) with the Royal Fortune.

I cannot but take notice of two among the crowd, of those disfigured from the blast of powder just before mentioned, viz. William Main and Roger Ball. An officer of the ship seeing a silver call