The Book of Pirates and Highwaymen

by Cate Ludlow

  Those who were asleep, being awakened by the dismal shrieks and groans of dying men, ran upon deck in confusion, to enquire into the cause of such unusual noises; but the same cruelty was immediately inflicted upon them, before they could be sensible of the danger that threatened.

  They were now (as Roche himself afterwards confessed) all over as wet with the blood that had now been spilt, as if they had been dipped in water, or stood in a shower of rain; nor did they regard it any more. Roche said, Captain Tartoue used many words for mercy, and asked them, if he had not used them with civility and kindness? If they were not of the same Christian religion, and owned the same blessed Jesus, and the like? But they not regarding what he said, took cords, and bound the poor master and his mate, back to back, and while that was doing, both of them begged with the utmost earnestness, and used the most solemn entreaties, that they at least allow them a few minutes to say their prayers, and beg mercy of God for the various sins and offences of their lives; but it did not move them, (although all the rest were dead, and no danger could be apprehended from those two alone) for the bound persons were hurried up and thrown into the sea.

  The massacre being finished, they washed themselves a little from the blood, and searched the chests and lockers, and all places about the ship, and then sat down in the Captain’s cabin, and refreshed themselves with some rum they found there, and (as Roche confessed) were never merrier in their lives. They invested Roche with the command of the ship, and calling him Captain, talked over their liquor, what rare actions they would perform about Cape Breton, Sable Isle, and the Banks of Newfoundland, whither they designed to go as soon as they had recruited their company, and got a better ship, which they proposed speedily to do.

  Roche taking upon himself the command of the vessel, Andrew Cullen was to pass for a merchant, or supercargo; but then they bethought themselves, that they were in danger of being discovered by the papers in the ship, relating to the cargo, as bills of landing, &c.; therefore they erased and took out the name of the French master, and instead thereof, inserted the name of Roche, so that that it stood in the ship’s papers, Peter Roche, master; that then having so few hands on board, they contrived if they met any ships, to give out, that they had lost some hands by their being washed overboard in a storm, and by that means screen themselves from being suspected of having committed some such wicked act, by reason of the small number of hands on boards; and also that they might prevail with some ship to spare them some, on consideration of their pretended disaster.

  In going to Cadiz they were in distress by the weather, and being near Lisbon they made complaint to a ship, but obtained no assistance. They were then obliged to sail back for England, and put into the port of Dartmouth; but then they were in fear lest they might be discovered; therefore, to prevent that, they resolved to alter the ship, and getting workmen, they took down the mizen-mast, and built a spar deck, and made rails (on pretence that the sailors had been washed overboard) to secure the men. Then they took down the image of St Peter at the head of the ship, and put a lion in its place, and painted over the stern of the ship with red, and new named her the May Snow. The ship being so altered that they thought it could not be known they fancied themselves pretty secure; but wanting money to defray the charge of these alterations, Roche, as master of the vessel, and Andrew Cullen, as merchant, applied themselves to the officers of the customs for liberty to dispose of some of the cargo, in order to pay the workmen; which having obtained they sold fifty-eight barrels of beef, and having hired three more hands, they set sail for Ostend, and there having sold more barrels of beef, they steered their course to Rotterdam, disposed of the rest of the cargo, and took in one Mr Annesley, who freighted the ship for England; but in their passage, in a stormy night, it being very dark, they took up Mr Annesley their passenger, and threw him into the sea, who swam about the ship a long while, calling out for life, and telling them they should have all his goods, if they would receive him again into the vessel; but in vain were his cries!

  After this, they were obliged to put into several ports, and hearing there was an enquiry made after the ship, Roche quitted her at Harve de Grace, and left the management to Cullen and the rest; who having shipped other men, sailed away to Scotland, and there quitted the vessel, which was afterwards seized and brought into the river Thames.

  Some time after this, Philip Roche came to London, and making some claim for money he had made insurance of, in the name of John Eustace; the office was apprised of the fraud, and he was arrested and flung into the Counter from whence directing a letter to his wife, she shewed it to a friend, who discovered by it, that he was the principal villain concerned in the destruction of Peter Tartoue, and the crew. Upon this an information was given to my Lord Carteret, that the person who went by the name of John Eustace was Philip Roche, as aforesaid; and being brought down by his Lordship’s warrant, he stiffly denied it for some time, notwithstanding a letter was found in his pocket, directed to him by the name of Roche; but being confronted by a Captain of a ship, who knew him well, he confessed it, but prevaricated in several particulars; whereupon he was committed to Newgate upon violent suspicion, and the next day was brought down again at his own request, confessed the whole, desired to be made an evidence, and promised to convict three men worse than himself. Two were discovered by him, who died miserably in the Marshalsea, and Roche himself was afterwards tried, (no more being taken,) found guilty of the piracy, and executed.

  The Manner Of Executing The Russian Pirates on The Volga

  The Volga is, or used to be, frequently infested with pirates, who go in gangs of thirty, forty, or sometimes eighty persons; they make use of row-boats, which carry from twenty to thirty hands, and furnish themselves with fire-arms: their general practice is to board immediately; but where they apprehend a brave resistance they seldom make an attack. Hence few of the Russian merchants transport any cargo of value down the river, without a convoy. These robbers appear mostly in the spring, when the Volga being overflowed, they can the more easily escape a pursuit. The soldiers, who are occasionally sent after them, are ordered to take them alive, from the apprehension that allowing them to kill might prove fatal to the innocent through the strong temptations to plunder with which the soldiers are actuated.

  The punishment of these wretches when taken is not less dreadful than the cruelties they commit. A float is built, whereon a gallows is erected, on which is fastened a number of iron hooks, and on these they are hung alive by the ribs. The float is then launched into the stream: and the orders are given to all the towns and villages on the borders of the river, that none, upon pain of death, shall afford relief to any of the wretches: but put off the float if it runs ashore. Sometimes they are met by their partners in wickedness, who, if they have any hopes of their recovery, take them down, otherwise they put an end to their misery by shooting them; but if they are caught in these illegal acts of mercy, they are themselves hung up without the ceremony of a trial. It is said that one of these miscreants had the good fortune to disengage himself from the hook, and though naked and trembling with pain and loss of blood, he got ashore, when the first object he saw being a poor shepherd, he had the cruelty to beat out his brains with a stone, and then to take his clothes. These malefactors sometimes hang thus, three, four, and sometimes five days alive. The pain generally produces a raging fever, wherein they utter the most horrid imprecations, and implore the relief of water, or some small liquors.

  Adventures of Morgan, The Prince Of Free-booters

  Morgan was the son of an opulent Welch farmer; who, by the ferocity of his character, the strength of his mind, the extent and duration of his achievements, as well as by his success, has perhaps surpassed all the other freebooters.

  He at first embarked as a common sailor; in which capacity he went to Jamaica, and in a short time became connected with the West Indian corsairs. By one of their commanders, an old freebooter named Mansfield (who was likewise an Englishman), he was patronised; an
d in a little time so distinguished himself by his brilliant actions, that Mansfield appointed him his vice-admiral, and died soon after, in 1688. This was the era of Morgan’s first enterprises. None of his comrades disputed the command with him; and he shortly became possessed of the means of rendering himself, in consequence of his singular genius and intrepidity, one of the most famous chieftains of the free-booters.

  After he had made some successful cruises, he persuaded his men not to squander their money foolishly, but to reserve it for great enterprises. To this suggestion many of them acceded; and, in a few months, he had a fleet of twelve sail, of various sizes, and seven hundred men; with whom he visited the southern parts of the island of Cuba, and determined to attack Puerto del Principe, which was situated in the interior of that island, at some distance from the southern coast.

  It may not be irrelevant here to state a few brief notices concerning the island in question. Cuba, the largest of the Antilles, is two hundred French leagues in length, by fifty in its greatest breadth. It contains several mountains, in which are abundant mines of copper, silver, and gold. The city, which Morgan purposed to attack, was opulent, populous, and at a distance from the shore; and, till the present period, had been preserved from being plundered by the pirates.

  There was on board their fleet a Spaniard, who was an expert swimmer, and who effected his escape by plunging into the sea. By this man the governor was informed of their plan. He therefore hastily took defensive measures, alarmed the inhabitants, and marched with eight hundred men to meet the free-booters. He merited a better fate. After four hours desperate fighting, his forces were completely defeated, and himself lay dead on the field of battle. The city continued to defend itself for some time; the inhabitants barricaded their homes, and fired from the windows. Their efforts were in vain. The free-booters threatened to set their city on fire, and massacre their women and children. They were constrained to surrender.

  Morgan was extremely vexed to find that, during the battle, they had carried off their most valuable effects. The tortures inflicted upon them could not compel them to disclose where they had concealed them. The little that remained in the town was regularly plundered. All the Spaniards of both sexes, including even children at the breast, and also the slaves, were shut up in the church, where most of them perished with hunger. The pirates required a double ransom of them; one for their persons, if they did not wish to be transported to Jamaica; and the other for their city, if they wished to save it from total destruction. Four prisoners went into the woods, there to collect the sums exacted, either from the inhabitants or by other means. They returned soon after, with assurances that the whole should be paid; they requested only a respite of fifteen days, which Morgan granted. But on the following morning a Negro was brought to him, who was the bearer of a letter, written by the governor of Santo Yago, to some prisoners; in which he recommended them not to hurry themselves in paying the ransom, but to amuse the pirates under different pretences; and promised that he would himself shortly come in person to their assistance.

  Morgan carefully concealed the contents of this letter, but announced to the prisoners that he would not wait longer than the following morning. In consequence of their representations, and under the apprehension of being continually attacked by large bodies of troops, he was content for the moment, with five hundred cattle. He took, however, six of the principal inhabitants as hostages; and the free-booters set sail.

  They were extremely displeased with the inconsiderable amount of their booty, which, exclusive of some commodities, did not exceed 50,000 piasters. Disputes arose, in consequence of which a Frenchman was killed by an Englishman. The national animosities were re-excited (for the body of the free-booters consisted entirely of English and French), the two proceeded even to blows. In order to appease this tumult, Morgan ordered the murderer to be put in irons, and solemnly promised to give him up to a court of justice at Jamaica. With this act of impartial justice the French were but imperfectly satisfied. They were inconsolable for the little profit which their last expedition had produced; and they disapproved of that to which it was proposed to conduct them. Some of them wished to act themselves: they took, therefore, one of the ships on their own account, and separated with testimonies of friendship. On their departure, Morgan offered prayers for their success, and repeated his promise that the assassin should be legally punished. He kept his word; and on arrival at Jamaica, the Englishman was tried, convicted, and executed.

  The divisions between the two nations continued, nevertheless, to prevail. It was difficult for men, whose language, sentiments, religion, and manners, were so widely different, long to agree: but as the English and the French were not on board the same ships, a separation became more easy. It was amicably effected. Most of the French left Morgan, chose one of their countrymen for their commander, and withdrew.

  The confidence of the pirates in their chieftain was boundless: among them, the separation of the French produced but little sensation. Less mixed, they became more intimately united, and promised Morgan that they would follow him every where. They sedulously applied themselves to the procuring of new recruits at Jamaica; so that, in the course of a few weeks, they had collected nine ships of various sizes, and four hundred and sixty men, all devoted to their brave commander.

  Till then, the free-booters had only landed in the Islands. Morgan conceived more extensive plans: he turned his views to the continent of America; and the great, the opulent city of Porto Bello was the place he intended to plunder.

  Porto Bello, which was defended by three forts, is situated on the shore of a gulf, on the southern side of the isthmus of Panama. For the last two centuries to the present time, it has been known as the greatest mart in the world for valuable metals. At the period now referred to, it was a city of the greatest importance, and, next to Havana, the strongest place of all the Spanish possessions in America. The entrance of its port was defended by two castles, St James and St Philip, which were reputed to be impregnable, and were garrisoned by three hundred soldiers. Notwithstanding its vast circumference, the city was inhabited by only four hundred families, on account of the unwholesomeness of the climate. It contained scarcely any thing else but warehouses for articles, the proprietors of which constantly resided at Panama, which is situated at a small distance. Thence was sent to Porto Bello on mules, at certain periods of the year, the gold and silver that arrived from Peru and Mexico. The inhabitants of the first named place, though few in number, had the character of being good soldiers: and they deserved their reputation, from the valour with which they had on various occasions defended themselves.

  Morgan had not communicated to any individual his design on Porto Bello, to prevent the Spaniards from obtaining any information concerning it. The pirates themselves were very far from suspecting it; and, when it was announced to them, were intimidated. The most intrepid among them shook their heads, and exclaimed against the smallness of their number, with which it was impossible to take so strong and extensive a city.

  ‘What signifies it,’ replied Morgan, ‘how small our number is, if our hearts are great! The fewer we are, the more intimate will be our union and the more considerable our shares of plunder.’– This short address at once aroused their cupidity and their courage. The expedition was unanimously determined to be carried into execution.

  It was accordingly executed in 1688, when the Spaniards had just concluded their treaty of peace with France, at Aix-la-Chapel. Morgan moored his ships, during the dark, at some distance from the city; a very few soldiers being left on board; the remainder went into boats and canoes, in order that they might land in silence near the port. The descent being effected, Morgan detached four men, under the command of an Englishman, who was well acquainted with the local situation, with orders to kill or bring away, without noise, the sentinel of the advanced post. Circumstances favoured the taking him prisoner. The soldier was surprised, stripped of his arms, and with his hands bound, was conducted to
the commander of the Pirates; who, by means of threats, extorted from him all the information he wanted. The first of the two forts was next approached; and they reached without detection the very foot of the wall.

  From thence the captive soldier was compelled, with a loud voice, to announce to his countrymen, in the name of Morgan, that if they did not instantly surrender, they should be cut to pieces. This menace produced no effect: the garrison began to fire upon them, and made a courageous resistance. The first was, notwithstanding, carried in a short time; when the free-booters, with a view to intimidate the inhabitants, thought it necessary to accomplish their threat. They therefore collected all the captive soldiers together, set fire to the powder magazine, and blew up both the fort and the garrison into the air. Without losing a moment, they marched towards the city.

  Trembling with terror, the inhabitants were busily engaged in concealing a part at least of their riches, either by throwing them into the wells, or burying them in the earth. The governor, not being able to prevail upon them to defend themselves, shut himself up in the second fort, from which he commenced a terrible fire upon the pirates. These, however, attempted an assault: it lasted from day break till noon, and was frustrated.

  The free-booters then tried the firing of red-hot balls against the gates of the fort. They were not more successful. These gates were almost wholly composed of iron; and, in addition to this impediment, the garrison threw down from the top of the walls so many stones, so many pots filled with powder, that the intrepid assailants could not approach without meeting with certain death. Even the headstrong Morgan began to be doubtful of victory; when he beheld the English flag flying at a small distance from the fort he had just taken. This sight re-animated his courage, as well as that of his men. He made all the religeuse, of both sexes, quit their convents; and caused twelve ladders to be hastily made, and of sufficient width to admit twelve men abreast to mount them. The wretched religeuse were obliged to plant themselves against the walls, serving as a bulwark to the free-booters, who were marching behind them. Morgan had taken for granted that the governor would not venture to fire on his countrymen, especially on persons whom superstition must render sacred to him. These monastics also impatient of their horrible situation, amid the pangs of death, with which they were threatened, cried with all their might, and conjured the governor, in the name of all the saints, to surrender the fort, and save their lives. The pirates added yet more horror to this scene, by a menace, which in their lips was never in vain, that a general massacre should take place in the case of a longer resistance. The wall, at the foot of which the assailants presented themselves, was not lofty: the batteries of the fort were so exposed, and the freebooters were such able marksmen, that every cannon shot was followed by the death of some of the Spanish artillery men. They persisted notwithstanding in their determination of holding out against the pirates.