the least Provocation given, in the Dead of the Night, the Natives came down upon them in two great Bodies, and made a great Slaughter, without Distinction of Age or Sex, before they could put themselves in a Posture of Defence; that Caraccioli (who died in the Action) and he got what Men together they could, to make a Stand; but finding all Resistance vain against such Numbers, he made a Shift to secure a considerable Quantity of rough Diamonds and Bar Gold, and to get on board the two Sloops with 45 Men: That the Bijoux being gone to cruize, and the Number of Men he had carried with him in the Victoire, weaken'd the Colony, and given the Natives the Boldness to attack them as they did, but for what Reason he could not imagine.
Tew gave him an Account of the Disaster which had happen'd; and after having mutually condol'd their Misfortunes, Tew propos'd their going to America, where Misson might, with the Riches he had, pass his Life unknown, and in a comfortable Manner.
Misson answer'd he could not yet take any Resolution, tho’ he had Thoughts of returning to Europe, and privately visiting his Family, if any where alive, and then to retire from the World.
They dined with the Quaster-Master, who press'd their Return to America, to procure a Commission for the settling a Colony.
Misson told Tew, he should have one of the Sloops, and what Volunteers would keep him Company, for his Misfortunes had erased all Thoughts of future Settlements; that what Riches they had saved, he would distribute equally, nay, he would be content, if he had only a bare Support left him.
On this Answer, four of the Quarter-Master's Company offer'd to join Captain Tew.
In the Afternoon they visited both Sloops, and Misson putting the Question to the Men, thirty went on board of one Sloop, tho’ they parted with great Reluctance from their old Commander; and fifteen staid with Misson. The four Men who join'd Tew made the Number of his Crew 34; they staid about a Week, in hopes of the Bijoux's Return upon the Coast; but she not appearing, they set sail, Captain Misson having first shared the Treasure, with Tew and his other Friends and Companions, hoping to meet the Bijoux on the Guiney Coast, for which they shaped their Course.
Off Cape Infantes, they were over-taken with a Storm, in which the unhappy Misson's Sloop went down, within a Musket Shot of Captain Tew, who could give him no Assistance.
Tew continued his Course for America, and arrived at Rhode Island without any Accident; his Men dispersed themselves, as they thought fit, and Tew sent to Bermudas for his Owners Account fourteen Times the Value of their Sloop, and not being questioned by any, liv'd in great Tranquillity; the French belonging to Misson, took different Routs, one of whom dying at Rochelle, the French Manuscript of Misson's Life was found among his Papers, and transmitted to me by a Friend and Correspondent.
Captain Tew lived unquestion'd, &c. he had an easy Fortune, and designed to live quietly at home; but those of his Men, who lived near him, having squandered their Shares, were continually solliciting him to take another Trip: He withstood their Request a considerable Time; but they having got together (by the Report they made of the vast Riches to be acquired) a Number of resolute Fellows, they, in a Body, begg'd him to head them but for one Voyage. They were so earnest in their Desire, that he could not refuse complying. They prepared a small
Sloop, and made the best of their Way to the Streights, entering the Red Sea, where they met with, and attack'd a Ship belonging to the Great Mogul; in the Engagement, a Shot carried away the Rim of Tew's Belly, who held his Bowels with his Hands some small Space; when he dropp'd, it struck such a Terror in his Men, that they suffered themselves to be taken, without making Resistance.
Chapter XXIV.
Of Capt. Halsey, And his Crew
John Halsey was a Boston Man, of New England, commanded the Charles Brigantine, and went out with a Commission from the Governor, to cruize on the Banks of Newfoundland, where he took a French Banker, which he appointed to meet him at Fyal; but missing his Prize here, he went among the Canary Islands, where he took a Spanish Barcalonga, which he plundered and sunk; from thence he went to the Island of Bravo, one of the Cape de Verd, where he wooded and watered, turn'd ashore his Lieutenant, and several of his Men here running away from him, the Governor sent them on board again, his Commission being as yet in Force; from hence he stood away then to the Southward, and doubling the Cape of Good Hope, made for Madagascar and the Bay of Augustine, where he took in Wood and Water, with some straggling Seamen, who were cast away in the Degrave India Man, Capt. Young, Commander. After this, he shap'd his Course for the Red Sea, and met with a Dutchman of 60 Guns, coming from Mocha, whom he kept Company with a Week. Tho’ he was resolved upon turning Pyrate, he intended to rob only the Moor Ships, which occasioned a Dispute between him and his Men; they insisting on the Ship's being a Moor, he as strenuously asserting she was Dutch, was positive in his Resolve of meddling with no European Ships. The Men were for boarding, but his Obstinacy not being to be conquered, they broke Halsey and his Gunner, confining both, and were ready to board the Dutchman, when one of the Crew perceiving he was about to run out his lower Tire, knock'd down the Quarter-Master (whose Business it is to be at the Helm in Time of Chase or Engagement, according to the Rules of pyrates) clapp'd the Helm hard a Weather, and wore the Brigantine: The Dutchman staid, and fired a Shot, which taking a Swivel Gun carried it aft, narrowly miss'd the Man at Helm, and shatter'd the Tafrel; the Men perceiving they had catch'd a Tartar, made the best of their Way to shake her off, and some were running down between Decks, whom the Surgeon prick'd up again with his Sword, tho’ he no Way was consenting to their design'd Pyracy. The Captain and a Gunner were again reinstated after they had seen their Mistake, and then they steer'd for the Nicobar Islands, where they met with a Country Ship, called the Buffalo, commanded by Captain Buckley, an Englishman, coming from Bengal, which they took after a short Engagement, there being only three Europeans aboard, the Captain and two Mates, the rest were Moors. This Ship fell seasonably in their Way, she being bound for Achen, with Butter, Rice, and Cloath, and the pyrates, at that Time, being in great Streights both for Provision and Cloathing. They took the two Mates to Sea with them, but left the Captain and the Moors at Cara Nicobar, at an Anchor, and then took a Cruize. Captain Buckley, who was sick, died before their Return; in the Cruize they met with Captain Collins in a Country Sloop, bound also to Achen: He had also two English Mates with him, but the rest of his Company consisted of Moors; him they carried to the same Harbour where they left the Buffalo.
Here a Dispute arose among the pyrates, some were for returning to the West Indies, others were against it, for they had got no Money, and that was what engaged their Search; they parted upon this; one Part went on board the Buffalo, made one Rowe Captain, and Myers, a Frenchman, Master, whom they had pick'd up at Madagascar. The Sloop's Deck they ripp'd up, and mended with it the Bottom of the Brigantine, which Halsey still commanded; the Ship shaped her Course for Madagascar, and the Brigantine made for the Streights of Malacca, to lie in the Tract of the Manila Ships. I must observe, that Capt. Buckley's two Mates, whom they intended to force with them, were by Strength of Intreaty, permitted to go away with a Canoe. In these Streights, they met an Europe built Ship, of 26 Guns, which they had not the Courage to attack, being sour'd by the Dutchman. They afterwards stood in Shore, and came to an Anchor; few Days after they made a Vessel, which they supposed a China Jonque, and
