Daniel Defoe - A General History of the Pyrates - from their first rise and settlement in the island of Providence, to the present time

‘YOUR refusing to deliver up the Subjects of the King my Master, is somewhat surprizing, 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 alledged in my former, I must tell you my Resolutions are, to stay on the Coast till I have made Reprizals; 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 Pyrates, finding it a Part of your Religion in this Place to protect such Villains.

Off the River Trinidado ,

Feb. 8. 1720.

Captain Laws,

‘YOU may assure your self, 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 on Shoar: If you treat the Spaniards , you should happen to take, as Pyrates, 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 any Thing else, you may execute it on this Coast. God preserve you. I kiss your Hand.

Trinidado ,

Feb. 20. 1720.

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 Guard del Coast , commanded by one Don Benito , said to be commissioned by the Governor of Cuba : She was manned with 60 Spaniards , 18 French Men 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 Guard del Coast made Prize of Captain Jones ’s 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, the same Day she was taken; the latter they carried off with them, putting the Master and all the Crew aboard Captain Jones ’s Ship. They plundered Captain Jones of thirty six Men Slaves, some Gold-Dust, all his Cloaths, four great Guns and small Arms, and about four hundred Gallons of Rum, besides his Provisions and Stores, computed in all to 1500 l. Sterling.

NONE of these bold Adventurers were ever so much talked of, for a while, as Avery ; he made as great a Noise in the World as Meriveis does now, and was looked upon to be a Person of as great Consequence; he was represented in Europe , as one that had raised himself to the Dignity of a King, and was likely to be the Founder of a new Monarchy; having, as it was said, taken immense Riches, and married the Great Mogul ’s Daughter, who was taken in an Indian Ship, which fell into his Hands; and that he had by her many Children, living in great Royalty and State; that he had built Forts, erected Magazines, and was Master of a stout Squadron of Ships, mann’d with able and desperate Fellows of all Nations; that he gave Commissions out in his own Name to the Captains of his Ships, and to the Commanders of his Forts, and was acknowledged by them as their Prince. A Play was writ upon him, called, the Successful Pyrate ; and, these Accounts obtained such Belief, that several Schemes were offered to the Council for fitting out a Squadron to take him; while others were for offering him and his Companions an Act of Grace, and inviting them to England , with all their Treasure, least his growing Greatness might hinder the Trade of Europe to the East-Indies .

Yet all these were no more than false Rumours, improved by the Credulity of some, and the Humour of others who love to tell strange Things; for, while it was said, he was aspiring at a Crown, he wanted a Shilling; and at the same Time it was given out he was in Possession of such prodigious Wealth in Madagascar , he was starving in England .

No doubt, but the Reader will have a Curiosity of knowing what became of this Man, and what were the true Grounds of so many false Reports concerning him; there fore, I shall, in as brief a Manner as I can, give his History.

He was born in the West of England near Plymouth in Devonshire , being bred to the Sea, he served as a Mate of a Merchant-Man, in several trading Voyages: It happened before the Peace of Ryfwick , when there was an Alliance betwixt Spain , England , Holland , &c. against France , that the French in Martinico , carried on a smugling Trade with the Spaniards on the Continent of Peru , which by the Laws of Spain , is not allowed to Friends in Time of Peace, for none but native Spaniards are permitted to Traffick in those Parts, or set their Feet on Shore, unless at any Time they are brought as Prisoners; wherefore they constantly keep certain Ships cruising along the Coast, whom they call Guarda del Costa , who have the Orders to make Prizes of all ships they can light of within five Leagues of Land. Now the French growing very bold in Trade, and the Spaniards being poorly provided with Ships, and those they had being of no Force, it often fell out, that when they light of the French Smuglers, they were not strong enough to attack them, therefore it was resolv’d in Spain , to hire two or three stout foreign Ships for their Service, which being known at Bristol , some Merchants of that City, fitted out two Ships of thirty odd Guns, and 120 Hands each, well furnished with Provision and Ammunition, and all other Stores; and the Hire being agreed for, by some Agents for Spain , they were commanded to sail for Corunna or the Groine , there to receive their Orders, and to take on Board some Spanish Gentlemen, who were to go Passengers to New-Spain .

Of one of these Ships, which I take to be call’d the Duke , Capt. Gibson Commander, Avery was first Mate, and being a Fellow of more Cunning than Courage, he insinuated himself into the good Will of several of the boldest Fellows on Board the other Ship, as well as that which he was on Board of; having sounded their Inclinations before he opened himself, and finding them ripe for his Design, he, at length, proposed to them, to run away with the Ship, telling them what great Wealth was to be had upon the Coasts of India . It was no sooner said than agreed to, and they resolved to execute their Plot at Ten a Clock the Night following.