At a Committee held on board the Duke-Frigot
WE have consulted and examin’d sundry Pilots taken in Prizes, and had several Meetings on this Occasion, being provided with convenient Vessels to carry our Men, Guns, Arms, and other Necessaries to Guiaquil: We resolve to attempt it, having also consulted the most secret way of managing our Attempts on it without discovery. We do approve and appoint Capt. Tho. Dover, Capt. Woodes Rogers, and Capt. Stephen Courtney, to command the Men design’d to land in three equal Parties; except 21 Men with Capt. William Dampier and Mr. Tho. Glendall, who are to manage and take care of the Guns, Ammunition, Provisions, &c. which we agree to be lodg’d in a convenient place, as near as possible to the best Landing-place nearest the Water-side, in order to take care and help ship off the Effects that we may take in the Town; who are also to serve either Commander, where most wanted.
We leave the Management of this Expedition wholly to the prudent Conduct of the above Commanders, whom we heartily wish and desire to consult each other on all occasions, as the most promising Method to succeed and keep our Designs secret; which is the only way to prevent the Enemies removing their Wealth, or giving us a vigorous Reception. This is our Opinion; in witness whereof we have set our Hands, the 12th of April 1709.
Sign’d by all the chief Officers in both Ships.
Memorandum,
WE have considered the Opinion of the foregoing Committee sign’d this Day, and do jointly concur with them, and accordingly design to prosecute it with our Lives and Fortunes to the utmost of our Power and Judgment. Witness our Hands, this 12th Day of April 1709.
| Tho. Dover, Presid. | Stephen Courtney. |
| Woodes Rogers, |
April 13. We appointed an Officer to every ten Men, to prevent Disorders, and stragling ashore.
The Committee having agreed on our Method of Command, left it to us jointly and vigorously to attack the Enemy ashore; we knew that Misfortunes attend Sailors when out of their Element: and hearing that they began to murmur about the Encouragement they were to expect for Landing, which they alledg’d was a risque more than they were ship’d for; to prevent their Desertion, which we had reason to apprehend, since they were a mix’d Gang of most European Nations, we the Commanders agreed on the most plausible Methods we could then think of, to form a good Discipline among ’em, if possible, and to give ’em all needful Encouragement, that we might depend on their good Order and Bravery; and therefore came to the following Resolves.
WHEREAS as it is agreed to land and take the Town of Guiaquil, we fully resolve to do it with all manner of Privacy and Dispatch; and that we our selves and our Men may have full Encouragement to attempt it bravely and cheerfully, we publish this following Order.