He had the Impudence to come ashore with his Sword in Hand, threaten to burn the principal Houses of the Town, and to make Examples of many of the People; and though he committed no Murders, his Behaviour was extreamly insolent to all who were not as great Villains as himself. He reign’d here as Governor 20 Days, stopp’d all Vessels which came in, and would suffer none to go out, being inform’d of a Governor being sent from England, he swore, while he was in the Harbour, he would suffer no other Governor than himself. He clean’d and fitted the French Ship, with Intent to visit the Coast of Brazil, and design’d to sail in 3 or 4 Days; but the Governor appearing on the 24th, made him change his Resolution, and think of accepting a Pardon, if it might be granted on his own Terms, as will appear by the Letter which he sent off by a Boat to the Governor, and of which the following is an exact Copy.
July the 24th, 1718.
‘Your Excellency may please to understand that we are willing to accept his Majesty’s most gracious Pardon on the following Terms, viz.
‘That you will suffer us to dispose of all our Goods now in our Possession. Likewise, to act as we think fit with every Thing belonging to us, as his Majesty’s Act of Grace specifies.
‘If your Excellency shall please to comply with this, we shall, with all Readiness, accept of his Majesty’s Act of Grace. If not, we are obliged to stand on our Defence. So conclude
Your humble Servants,
Charles Vane, and Company.’
The Susperscription was—
To his Excellency the Governor of New Providence.
And at the Bottom of it.—We wait a speedy Answer.
The Governor could not get in that Night, but was forced to keep at Sea, so that Mr. Vane could not so speedily have an Answer as his Excellency design’d, which he intended to carry himself. About Four that Afternoon the Rose Man of War and Shark Sloop got in, and were saluted with four Shot from Vane, which, however, did no other Damage than the cutting the Rose’s Rigging. In the Evening Captain Whitney sent his Lieutenant on Board Vane, who was higher up the Harbour in the French Ship. They detained this Gentleman two Hours, and the Crew, most of which was drunk, treated him, some with Threats, shewing the black Flag, and some with Contempt and Ridicule, and order’d him back to tell his Captain their Resolution was to fight it out to the last.