Containing an Account of the Author’s being taken by Pirates, on the North part of the Coast of Guinea, in the Bird Galley of London, belonging to the late Humphrey Morrice Esq; who was sole Owner of the said Ship. Interspersed with several Instances of the Author’s many Deliverances, and narrow Escapes from Death, during the time he was detain’d Prisoner by the Pirates.
IN the beginning of November, in the Year 1718, the late Humphrey Morrice Esq; Merchant of London, appointed me Commander of the Bird Galley, and gave me Orders to go to Holland, to take on board a Cargoe for the Coast of Africa: Having so done, we were unfortunately detained by contrary Winds, at Helvoet-Sluys, till the 10th day of December, when a violent Storm arose, and in the night following forc’d our Ship on Shore, with several others. The Ship, by the Strength of the Wind, and height of the Tide, was carried with a great force against the Dike, or Bank that secures the Land from being overflowed on such high Tides, which frightened the Inhabitants thereabouts not a little. Moreover, the Waves made her work so much on the Ground where she was stranded, that when the Tide had left her, we found she set seven foot deep abaft in the Strand; but had the Satisfaction to find, on Examination, the Ship had received no damage in her bottom. Having unloaded, and hired many Boors or Peasants, to dig a Trench of near 300 Foot in length to the low water mark, we waited some time for a high Tide; and then getting the Ship off, carried her into Helvoet-Sluys Peer.
Having refitted and loaded again, we proceeded on our Voyage the latter end of January; but the Wind changing by the time we were off the Isle of Wight, and rising to a great Storm westerly, we were forced into Spithead; where having lain some time, we sailed again with a fair Wind, which carried us above 70 Leagues to the westward of the Lizard. Here a severe Storm of Wind coming up at Southwest, obliged us to lye by, under a reef’d Mainsail; and it increased to such a violent Degree, that we expected to be swallowed up every Minute, by the great Sea which ran Mountains high; but it pleased God, that after 24 Hours, it began to abate, and we received no other damage, than the loss of the Lyon from the Ship’s Cut-water, which was washed away by the Sea.
The Wind (after this Storm) remaining contrary a long time, with frequent hard Gales, obliged us at last to go for Kingsale in Ireland: Where having lain a few days, and repaired the Ship’s Head, with other things that were out of Order, we sailed from that place, with a northerly Wind, the 10th day of March 1718-19, and had a short and fine Passage to the River Sieraleon; on the North Coast of Guinea, in the Latitude of 8 Deg. 30 Min. where we arrived the first day of April 1719: We met with nothing remarkable in our Passage, except, that near the Canary Islands, we were chased by a Ship whom we judged to be a Sallec-Rover; but our Ship outsailing her, they soon gave over the Chase.
There were, at the time of our unfortunate Arrival in the above mentioned River, three Pirate Ships, who had then taken ten English Ships in that place. As it is necessary for illustrating this Story, to give an Account how these three Ships came to meet there, I must observe, That the first of them which arrived in the River, was called the Rising Sun, one Cocklyn Commander, who had not with him above 25 Men. These having been with one Captain Moody, a famous Pirate, some Months before, in a Brigantine, which sailed very well, and took the Rising Sun, they were morooned by him, (as they call it) that is forced on board that Ship, and deprived of their share of the Plunder, taken formerly by the Brigantine. These People being obliged to go away in her, with little Provision and Ammunition, chose Cocklyn for their Commander, and made for the River Sieraleon; where arriving, they surprized in his Sloop, one Segnor Joseph, a black Gentleman, who had been formerly in England, and was a Person of good account in this Country. This Man’s Ransom procured the Pirates a sufficient supply of Provision and Ammunition. Moreover, several Bristol and other Ships arriving soon after, were likewise taken; and many of their People entring with the Pirates, they had, when I fell into their hands, near 80 Men in all.
The Crue of the Brigantine, who, with their Captain Moody, had thus forced their Companions away in the Rising Sun, soon after repenting of that Action, it bred great Discontents among them; so that they quarrelled with their Captain and some others, whom they thought the chief Promoters of it; and at last forced him, with twelve others, into an open Boat, which they had taken a few days before, from the Spaniards of the Canary Islands; and as they never were heard of afterwards, doubtless they perished in the Ocean. After this, they chose one Le Bouse a Frenchman for their Commander, who carried them to the River Sieraleon, where they arrived about a Month after their parting with the Rising Sun.
At the first Appearance, of this Brigantine, Cocklyn and his Crew were under a great Surprize; but when they understood how Moody and some others had been served by them, they cheerfully joined their Brethren in Iniquity.
On the same day also arrived one Captain Davis, who had been pirating in a Sloop, and had taken a large Ship at the Cape de Verd Islands. He coming into Sieraleon with her, it put the other two Pirates into some fear, believing at first it was a Man of War: But upon discovering her black Flag at the Main-top mast-head, which Pirate Ships usually hoist to terrify Merchant-Men; they were easy in their Minds, and a little time after, saluted one another with their Cannon.
This Davis was a generous Man, and kept his Crew, which consisted of near 150 Men, in good order; neither had he consorted or agreed to join with the others, when I was taken by Cocklyn; which proved a great Misfortune to me, as will appear afterwards. For I found Cocklyn and his Crew, to be a set of the basest and most cruel Villains that ever were. And indeed they told me, after I was taken, “That they chose him for their Commander, on account of his Brutality and Ignorance; having resolved never to have again a Gentleman-like Commander, as, they said, Moody was.”