Accordingly they parted, and Rackham made for the Island of Princes, and having great Quantities of rich Goods on Board, taken in the late Prizes, they were divided into Lots, and he and his Crew shared them by throwing Dice, the highest Cast being to choose first: When they had done, they packed up their Goods in Casks, and buried them on Shore in the Island of Princes, that they might have Room for fresh Booty. In the mean Time it happened that a Turtle Sloop belonging to Jamaica came in there, Rackham sent his Boat, and brought the Master on Board of him, and asking him several Questions, the Master informed him, that War with Spain had been proclaimed in Jamaica; and that the Time appointed by the general Pardon for Pyrates to surrender, in order to receive the Benefit thereof, was not expired.
Upon this Intelligence Rackham and his Crew suddenly changed their Minds, and were resolved to take the Benefit of the Pardon by a speedy Surrender; wherefore, instead of using the Master ill, as the poor Man expected, they made him several Presents, desiring him to sail back to Jamaica, and acquaint the Governor they were willing to surrender, provided he would give his Word and Honour they should have the Benefit of the Pardon; which, as extensive as it was, they apprehended they were not intitled to, because they had run away in Defiance of it at Providence. They desired the Master also to return with the Governor’s Answer, assuring him he should be no Loser by the Voyage.
The Master very willingly undertook the Commission, and arriving at Jamaica, delivered his Message to the Governor, according to his Instructions; but it happened that the Master of the Kingston, with his Passengers, being come to Jamaica, had acquainted the Governor with the Pyracies of Vane and Rackam, before the Turtler got thither, who was actually fitting out two Sloops, which were now just ready, in pursuit of them, so that the Governor was very glad to discover, by the Turtler’s Message, where Rackam was to be found.
The two Sloops, well mann’d, accordingly sailed out, and found Rackam in the Station where the Turtler had described him, but altogether in Disorder, and quite unprepared, either for Sailing or for Fight, most of his Sails being on Shore erected into Tents, and his Decks lumber’d with Goods; he happen’d to be on Board himself, tho’ most of his Men were ashore, and seeing the two Sloops at a Distance, bearing towards him, he observed them with his Glass, and fancied he saw on Board something like Preparations for fighting. This was what he did not expect, for he look’d for no Enemy, and while he was in Doubt and Suspence about them, they came so near that they began to fire.
He had neither Time nor Means to prepare for Defence, so that there was nothing to be done but to run into his Boat, and escape to the Shore, which he did accordingly with the few Hands he had with him, leaving the two Women on Board to be taken by the Enemy.
The Sloops seized the Ship Kingston, mann’d her, and brought her into Jamaica, having still a great part of her Cargoe left; when she arrived, the Master of her fell to examining what part of the Cargoe was lost, and what left; he searched also for his Bills of Lading and Cockets, but they were all destroyed by Rackam; so that the Ship being freighted by several Owners, the Master could not tell whose Property was saved, and whose lost, till he had fresh Bills of Parcels of each Owner from England. There was one remarkable Piece of good Luck which happened in this Affair; there were, amongst other Goods, sixty Gold Watches on Board, and thirty of Silver; the Pyrates divided the Silver Watches, but the Gold being packed up amongst some Bale Goods, were never discovered by them, and the Master, in searching, found them all safe.
In the mean Time Rackam and his Crew lived in the Woods, in very great Suspence what to do with themselves; they had with them Ammunition and small Arms, and also some of the Goods, such as Bales of Silk Stockings, and laced Hats, with which, it is supposed, they intended to make themselves fine; they had also two Boats and a Canoe.
Being divided in their Resolutions, Rackam with six more determined to take one of the Boats, and make the best of their Way for the Island of Providence, and there claim the Benefit of the King’s Pardon, which they fancied they might be intitled to, by representing, that they were carried away by Vane, against their Wills. Accordingly they put some Arms, Ammunition and Provision, into the best Boat, and also some of the Goods, and so set Sail. They first made the Island of Pines, from thence got over to the North-Side of Cuba, where they destroyed several Spanish Boats and Launces; one they took, which being a stout Sea Boat, they shifted themselves and their Cargoe into her, and sunk their own, and then stretched over to the Island of Providence, where they landed safely about the Middle of May 1719, where demanding the King’s Pardon, the Governor thought fit to allow it them, and Certificates were granted to them accordingly.
Here they sold their Goods, and spent the Money merrily; when all was gone, some ingaged themselves in Privateers, and others in trading Vessels.
But Rackam, as Captain, having a much larger Share than any of the rest, his Money held out a little longer; but happening about this Time to come acquainted with Anne Bonny, that made him very extravagant. Anne Bonny, as has been taken Notice of in the first Volume, was married to James Bonny, one of the pardoned Pyrates, a likely young Fellow, and of a sober Life, considering he had been a Pyrate; but Anne, who was very young, soon turned a Libertine upon his Hands, so that he once surpriz’d her lying in a Hammock with another Man. Rackam made his Addresses to her till his Money was all spent; but as he found there was no carrying on an Amour with empty Pockets, he ingaged himself with Captain Burghess, lately a Pyrate, but pardoned, who had received a Commission to privateer upon the Spaniards. This Cruize proved successful; they took several Prizes, amongst the rest, two of considerable Value, one loaded with Cocoa Nut, and another with Sugar. They brought them into Providence, and found Purchasers amongst the Factors, who came from other Places for that Purpose. The Dividend was considerable, and as soon as possible disposed of: Burghess sailed out in Quest of new Purchase; but Rackam, who had nothing but Anne Bonny in his Head, staid behind to spend his Money, and enjoy his Mistress.