The History of the Pyrates. Vol. II.: Containing the lives of Captain Misson, Captain Bowen, Captain Kidd, Captain Tew, Captain Halsey, Captain White, Captain Condent, Captain Bellamy, Captain Fly, Captain Howard, Captain Lewis, Captain Cornelius, Captain Williams, Captain Burgess, Captain North, and their several crewsDefoe, Daniel
History
The History of the Pyrates. Vol. II.: Containing the lives of Captain Misson, Captain Bowen, Captain Kidd, Captain Tew, Captain Halsey, Captain White, Captain Condent, Captain Bellamy, Captain Fly, Captain Howard, Captain Lewis, Captain Cornelius, Captain Williams, Captain Burgess, Captain North, and their several crews
Defoe, Daniel
Pirates -- Early works to 1800
When the Powder came, they cut down and hollowed a Tree, which they
filled with Powder, and plugg'd up very tight, and under the Protection
of their Shields and Muskets got it to the Gate, under which they dug a
Hole large enough to receive it, then setting Fire to the Fuze, it burst
with a terrible Crack, tore their Gate to Shatters, and left an open
Passage, which the Besiegers, who had been join'd with 500 more Blacks,
who came up with the Powder, enter'd, and began a very great Slaughter;
the Whites protected all they could who submitted, but notwithstanding
their Diligence, the Town was strew'd with dead and dying Men. At length
what with being tir'd, and what with Persuasion, the Slaughter ceas'd,
the Town was reduced to Ashes, and the Conquerors return'd to the Camp
with 3000 Prisoners, whom his Allies led to their own Quarters, where
calling out, the old Women, Children, and useless Slaves, they sent them
to _North_, as if by these, they thought themselves releas'd from the
Promise made to induce his Assistance.
When _North_ saw the Dishonesty of these People, he sent for their
Prince, and told him, 'According to Agreement all the Slaves belong'd to
him; nay, according to Justice he alone had a Right to them, since he
despair'd of taking the Town, so far as to dissuade his besieging it;
and that he not only owed to him their Success, but even the Safety of
his Army, and all the Plunder they should make in the Prosecution of the
War, for Reasons already given, and by himself allow'd to be good. That
he thought he had allied himself with a People of Integrity, but he was
sorry to say, he found himself quite mistaken in his Opinion, since they
were so far from making good their Treaty; that they sent him out of the
Slaves taken, instead of all, those only whom they knew not what to do
with; that they must not imagine him so blind as not to perceive how
disingenuously he was dealt with; or that he wanted either Strength or
Resolution to resent the Usage.'
He then ask'd what was become of a Number of young and handsome Women he
had seen among the Captives?
The Prince answer'd, 'That those he enquired after were his and his
Countrymens Relations, and as such they could not consent to, nor could
he require their being made Slaves.'
This Answer made, the Chief left him; as it was delivered in a pretty
haughty Tone, it did not a little nettle both _North_ and his Comrades;
the latter were for immediately doing themselves Justice, but the former
begg'd they would have Patience and rely on him; they followed his
Advice, and he sent an Interpreter, who privately enquired among the
Women what Relation they had to the People of the River; the Prisoners
answered, that some of their Forefathers had inter-married with that
Nation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
The History of the Pyrates. Vol. II.: Containing the lives of Captain Misson, Captain Bowen, Captain Kidd, Captain Tew, Captain Halsey, Captain White, Captain Condent, Captain Bellamy, Captain Fly, Captain Howard, Captain Lewis, Captain Cornelius, Captain Williams, Captain Burgess, Captain North, and their several crews — John Shaqi
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account