the Boatswain’s Mate was advanc’d to be Boatswain, so that we are all quiet again. About eight this morning we saw Land, and found it to be Salvage’s Island, bearing S S W. distant eight Leagues, Latitude 29 deg. 45 min. Wind very little, and veerable, with fair clear Weather.
Sept. 17. Moderate Gales of Wind; the Salvages at a distance is not unlike the Island Lundy in Bristol Channel, about two miles long, a high Island. This Morning we saw the Rock, that appear’d to us a good League to the S W. of the Island, and took it to be a Sail till we came near it. Little Wind between the N N E. and the West.
Sept. 18. At four yesterday in the Afternoon we came in sight of Pico Teneriff, bearing S W by W. distant about eight Leagues; steer’d S S E. and S E by S. for Grand Canaries. This Morning about five a clock we spy’d a Sail under our Lee Bow, between the Islands of Grand Canaries and Forteventura; we chas’d her, and at 7 came up with her. Our Consort being a little a Head, fir’d a Gun, and made her bring to; she prov’d a Prize, being a Spanish Bark about 25 Tuns, belonging to Oratava on Teneriff, and bound to Forteventura with about 45 Passengers; who rejoic’d when they found us English, because they fear’d we were Turks. Amongst the Prisoners were four Fryars, and one of them the Padre Guardian for the Island Forteventura, a good honest old Fellow. We made him heartily merry, drinking King Charles the Third’s[91] Health; but the rest were of the wrong sort. We us’d them all very well, without searching them, &c. Fresh Gales and fair Weather, Wind from the N N E. to the E S E.
Sept. 19. After we had took the Prize, we stood to the Westward for Teneriff, in order to have her ransom’d; where our Agent Mr. Vanbrugh press’d to go ashoar with some of the Prisoners. At eleven last night the Wind being at N E. when we were very near the Shore, we could hardly weather Cape Nago, the Eastermost part of Teneriff, till the Wind veer’d to the Northward. We stood off till Day: In the Morning it prov’d moderate, so we stood in for Oratava, and sent the Spanish Master of the Bark to it in his Boat, being mann’d with some of the Prisoners. Mr. Vanbrugh still insisting to go ashore, I consented, tho against my Judgment, and he went with them to treat for the Ransom of the Hull of the Bark; her small Cargo, which consisted in two Butts of Wine, and one Hogshead of Brandy, and other small matters, we design’d for our own use in both Ships, the Agents of each being to take an account of it the first Opportunity. Fresh Gale of Wind at N E.
Sept. 20. About eight this Morning came a Boat off from Oratava with a Flag of Truce, and brought a Letter signifying that unless we would immediately restore the Bark and Cargo, Mr. Vanbrugh should be detain’d. I sent to Capt. Courtney, who agreed with me on an Answer. We stood in with our Ships within a League of the Town, to tow in the Boat for Dispatch, and about eleven they went ashore again. Wind at N E by E. very fresh.
The Letter sent us was as follows:
Capt. Rogers and Capt. Courtney;
Gentlemen,
Port Oratava, 20 Sept. 1708.
‘YOUR Lieutenant coming ashore, and having given an account to our Governor of your having taken a Boat belonging to this place bound to Forteventura; we must inform you that her Majesty is graciously pleas’d to allow a Trade between her Subjects and the People of these Islands, whereof we suppose you are not ignorant; and that it is approv’d of not only by his Catholick Majesty, but also by the most gracious Christian King, who has sent Amongst the Canary Isles. express Orders unto his Consul here, that none of his Men of War or others shall molest any Ship trading to these Islands: and there has been actually an Example of a Ship belonging to the Subjects of her Britannick Majesty, which was taken by a French Privateer, and upon due Application to the French Consul, the Ship was restor’d. Wherefore we are all of Opinion, that there can be no room for your making a Prize of this Spanish Bark; for it will be extremely prejudicial to her Majesty’s Subjects that reside here, and likewise to those in England trading hither, by prohibiting of all future Trade, by making more than sufficient Reprisal upon our Effects here, and perhaps on our Persons, by reason of the evident Breach on our part of the stipulated Trade which has been concerted with us. Wherefore we must once more desire you to restore the Spanish Bark, as you will answer the contrary before her Majesty, who has so far approv’d of the private Trade, that she was pleas’d to allow of two Men of War (viz. the Dartmouth Capt. Cock, and the Greyhound Capt. Hariot) the last year, who had express Orders to molest in no manner of way any Vessel belonging to the Spaniards; which accordingly they observ’d. Wherefore as you have a due Regard to what is so much the Interest of her Majesties Subjects, we expect at the return of this Boat, that you will make Restitution of the said Bark, otherwise Mr. Vanbrugh will not be permitted to go off, and there will be extravagant Reprisals made upon our Estates and Persons, which we expect you will take into your Consideration: and we cannot omit to let you know, that there is now a Spanish Bark actually in England, which is daily expected with other English Ships to load Wine, which they will not be admitted to do, in case you don’t restore this Bark. We don’t doubt but the People here out of Complaisance will make you some acknowledgment of a Refreshment.
| Gentlemen, | |
| Your very humble Servants, | |
| J. Pouldon, | Vice-Consul, J. Crosse, |
| Bernard Walsh, | G. Fitz-Gerald. |
‘Pray excuse Haste, that we have not time to transcribe.
‘The rest of the Merchants are in the City where our Governor generally resides, being about six Leagues hence.
Our Answer was thus:
On board the Duke Frigat, Sept. 20.
Gentlemen,
‘WE have yours, and observe its Contents; but having no Instructions given us with our Commission relating to Spanish Vessels trading amongst these Islands, we can’t justify the parting with this Bark on your single Opinions. It was Mr. Vanbrugh’s misfortune to go ashore; and if he is detain’d, we can’t help it. To have convinc’d us satisfactorily of what you say, you ought to have sent us a Copy of her Majesty’s Orders or Proclamation; but we doubt there’s no such thing in this case. If Mr. Vanbrugh is unjustly detain’d, we’ll carry the Prisoners we have on board to the Port we are bound to, let the Consequence be what it will. We are requir’d to be accountable no farther than we are oblig’d by our Instructions, which we have given sufficient Security already to follow, and don’t fear a Premunire when we comply with them. We know Fishing-Boats are excus’d on both sides, and all trading Vessels from Rio la Hache to the River of Chagre in the Spanish West-Indies. We admire the Master and Passengers should be so ignorant of a thing so necessary to be known by ’em, for we never had the least word or intimation from them of what you write. The Example you give us of a Trade here allow’d by the French King and Duke of Anjou, we don’t admire at, because it is for the Benefit of the Spaniards; and we know the English Ships are protected no farther than in Anchor-Ground: and since we took this Vessel at Sea, we shan’t part with her unless on our own Terms. If you are positive in what you wrote us, and conscious what detriment it will be to the English Trade, you have no way to prevent it, but immediately to ransom this Bark; and if it be her Majesty of Great Britain’s Pleasure, and we are better inform’d in England, then we can justify our Conduct to the Gentlemen that imploy’d us, and you will be again reimbursed. We shall wait but a short time for
