“This is to certify whom it may or doth concern, that we Gentlemen of Fortune have received eight pounds of gold-dust for the ransom of the Hardy, Captain Dittwitt Commander, so that we discharge the said ship.
“Witness our hands, Jan. 13, 1721-2,
“Batt. Roberts.
“Harry Glasby.”
Others were given to the Portuguese captains which were in the same form, but being signed by two waggish fellows, viz., Sutton and Simpson, they subscribed by the names of—
Aaron Whifflingpin.
Sim. Tugmutton.
But there was something so singularly cruel and barbarous done here to the Porcupine, Captain Fletcher, as must not be passed over without special remark.
This ship lay in the road, almost slaved, when the pirates came in, and the commander, being on shore settling his accounts, was sent to for the ransom, but he excused it, as having no orders from the owners; though the true reason might be that he thought it dishonourable to treat with robbers, and that the ship, separate from the slaves, towards whom he could mistrust no cruelty, was not worth the sum demanded; hereupon Roberts sends the boat to transport the negroes, in order to set her on fire, but, being in haste, and finding that unshackling them cost much time and labour, they actually set her on fire, with eighty of those poor wretches on board chained two and two together, under the miserable choice of perishing by fire or water. Those who jumped overboard from the flames were seized by sharks, a voracious fish, in plenty in this road, and, in their sight, tore limb from limb alive: a cruelty unparalleled, and for which had every individual been hanged, few, I imagine, would think that Justice had been rigorous.
The pirates, indeed, were obliged to dispatch their business here in haste, because they had intercepted a letter from General Phips to Mr. Baldwin, the Royal African Company’s agents at Whydah, giving an account that Roberts had been seen to windward of Cape Three Points, that he might the better guard against the damages to the Company’s ships, if he should arrive at that road before the Swallow, man-of-war, which he assured him, at the time of that letter, was pursuing them to that place. Roberts called up his company, and desired they would hear Phips’s speech, for so he was pleased to call the letter, and, notwithstanding their vapouring, persuaded them of the necessity of moving; for, says he, “such brave fellows cannot be supposed to be frightened at this news, yet that it were better to avoid dry blows, which is the best that can be expected if overtaken.”
This advice weighed with them and they got under sail, having stayed only from Thursday to Saturday night; and at sea voted for the island of Anna Bona, but the wind hanging out of the way, crossed their purpose, and brought them to Cape Lopez, where I shall leave them for their approaching fate, and relate some further particulars of his Majesty’s ship the Swallow, viz., where it was she had spent her time during the mischief that was done, and by what means unable to prevent it; what also was the intelligence she received, and the measures thereon formed, that at last brought two such strangers as Mr. Roberts and Captain Ogle to meet in so remote a corner of the world.
The Swallow and Weymouth left Sierra Leone, May 28, where, I have already taken notice, Roberts arrived a month after, and doubtless learned the intent of their voyage, and cleaning on the coast, which made him set down with more security to his diversion, and furnish him with such intimations as made his first range down the coast in August following more prosperous; the Swallow and Weymouth being then at the port of Princes a-cleaning.