A General History of the Pyrates Part 4

_Teach_ goes up to the Governor of _North-Carolina_, with about twenty of his Men, surrender to his Majesty's Proclamation, and receive Certificates thereof, from his Excellency; but it did not appear that their submitting to this Pardon was from any Reformation of Manners, but only to wait a more favourable Opportunity to play the same Game over again; which he soon after effected, with greater Security to himself, and with much better Prospect of Success, having in this Time cultivated a very good understanding with _Charles Eden_, Esq; the Governor above mentioned.

The first Piece of Service this kind Governor did to _Black-Beard_, was, to give him a Right to the Vessel which he had taken, when he was a pyrating in the great s.h.i.+p called the _Queen Ann's Revenge_; for which purpose, a Court of Vice-Admiralty was held at _Bath-Town_; and, tho' _Teach_ had never any Commission in his Life, and the Sloop belonging to the _English_ Merchants, and taken in Time of Peace; yet was she condemned as a Prize taken from the _Spaniards_, by the said _Teach_. These Proceedings shew that Governors are but Men.

Before he sailed upon his Adventures, he marry'd a young Creature of about sixteen Years of Age, the Governor performing the Ceremony. As it is a Custom to marry here by a Priest, so it is there by a Magistrate; and this, I have been informed, made _Teach_'s fourteenth Wife, whereof, about a dozen might be still living. His Behaviour in this State, was something extraordinary; for, while his Sloop lay in _Okerec.o.c.k_ Inlet, and he ash.o.r.e at a Plantation, where his Wife lived, with whom after he had lain all Night, it was his Custom to invite five or six of his brutal Companions to come ash.o.r.e, and he would force her to prost.i.tute her self to them all, one after another, before his Face.

In _June_ 1718, he went to Sea, upon another Expedition, and steered his Course towards _Bermudas_; he met with two or three _English_ Vessels in his Way, but robbed them only of Provisions, Stores and other Necessaries, for his present Expence; but near the Island aforementioned, he fell in with two _French_ s.h.i.+ps, one of them was loaden with Sugar and Cocoa, and the other light, both bound to _Martinico_; the s.h.i.+p that had no Lading he let go, and putting all the Men of the loaded s.h.i.+p aboard her, he brought home the other with her Cargo to _North-Carolina_, where the Governor and the Pyrates shared the Plunder.

When _Teach_ and his Prize arrived, he and four of his Crew went to his Excellency, and made Affidavit, that they found the _French_ s.h.i.+p at Sea, without a Soul on Board her; and then a Court was called, and the s.h.i.+p condemned: The Governor had sixty Hogsheads of Sugar for his Dividend, and one Mr. _Knight_, who was his Secretary, and Collector for the Province, twenty, and the rest was shared among the other Pyrates.

The Business was not yet done, the s.h.i.+p remained, and it was possible one or other might come into the River, that might be acquainted with her, and so discover the Roguery; but _Teach_ thought of a Contrivance to prevent this, for, upon a Pretence that she was leaky, and that she might sink, and so stop up the Mouth of the Inlet or Cove where she lay, he obtained an Order from the Governor, to bring her out into the River, and set her on Fire, which was accordingly executed, and she was burnt down to the Water's Edge, her Bottom sunk, and with it, their Fears of her ever rising in Judgment against them.

Captain _Teach_, alias _Black-beard_, pa.s.sed three or four Months in the River, sometimes lying at Anchor in the Coves, at other Times sailing from one Inlet to another, trading with such Sloops as he met, for the Plunder he had taken, and would often give them Presents for Stores and Provisions took from them; that is, when he happened to be in a giving Humour; at other Times he made bold with them, and took what he liked, without saying, _by your Leave_, knowing well, they dared not send him a Bill for the Payment. He often diverted himself with going ash.o.r.e among the Planters, where he revelled Night and Day: By these he was well received, but whether out of Love or Fear, I cannot say; sometimes he used them courteously enough, and made them Presents of Rum and Sugar, in Recompence of what he took from them; but, as for Liberties (which 'tis said) he and his Companions often took with the Wives and Daughters of the Planters, I cannot take upon me to say, whether he paid them _ad Valorem_, or no. At other Times he carried it in a lordly Manner towards them, and would lay some of them under Contribution; nay, he often proceeded to bully the Governor, not, that I can discover the least Cause of Quarrel betwixt them, but it seemed only to be done, to shew he dared do it.

The Sloops trading up and down this River, being so frequently pillaged by _Black-beard_, consulted with the Traders, and some of the best of the Planters, what Course to take; they, saw plainly it would be in vain to make any Application to the Governor of _North-Carolina_, to whom it properly belonged to find some Redress; so that if they could not be relieved from some other Quarter, _Black-beard_ would be like to reign with Impunity, therefore, with as much Secrecy as possible, they sent a Deputation to _Virginia_, to lay the Affair before the Governor of that Colony, and to solicit an armed Force from the Men of War lying there, to take or destroy this Pyrate.

This Governor consulted with the Captains of the two Men of War, _viz._ the _Pearl_ and _Lime_, who had lain in St. _James_'s River, about ten Months.

It was agreed that the Governor should hire a couple of small Sloops, and the Men of War, should Man them; this was accordingly done, and the Command of them given to Mr. _Robert Maynard_, first Lieutenant of the _Pearl_, an experienced Officer, and a Gentleman of great Bravery and Resolution, as will appear by his gallant Behaviour in this Expedition. The Sloops were well mann'd and furnished with Ammunition and small Arms, but had no Guns mounted.

About the Time of their going out, the Governor called an a.s.sembly, in which it was resolved to publish a Proclamation, offering certain Rewards to any Person or Persons, who, within a Year after that Time, should take or destroy any Pyrate: The original Proclamation being in our Hands, is as follows.

By his Majesty's Lieutenant Governor, and, Commander in Chief, of the Colony and Dominion of _Virginia_,

A PROCLAMATION,

Publis.h.i.+ng the Rewards given for apprehending, or killing, Pyrates.

W_Hereas, by an Act of a.s.sembly, made at a Session of a.s.sembly, begun at the Capital in _Williamsburgh_, the eleventh Day of _November_, in the fifth Year of his Majesty's Reign, ent.i.tuled, _An Act to encourage the apprehending and destroying of Pyrates_: It is, amongst other Things enacted, that all and every Person, or Persons, who, from and after the fourteenth Day of _November_, in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, and before the fourteenth Day of _November_, which shall be in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and nineteen, shall take any Pyrate, or Pyrates, on the Sea or Land, or in Case of Resistance, shall kill any such Pyrate, or Pyrates, between the Degrees of thirty four, and thirty nine, of Northern Lat.i.tude, and within one hundred Leagues of the Continent of _Virginia_, or within the Provinces of _Virginia_, or _North-Carolina_, upon the Conviction, or making due Proof of the killing of all, and every such Pyrate, and Pyrates, before the Governor and Council, shall be ent.i.tled to have, and receive out of the publick Money, in the Hands of the Treasurer of this Colony, the several Rewards following; that is to say, for _Edward Teach_, commonly call'd Captain _Teach_, or _Black-Beard_, one hundred Pounds, for every other Commander of a Pyrate s.h.i.+p, Sloop, or Vessel, forty Pounds; for every Lieutenant, Master, or Quarter-Master, Boatswain, or Carpenter, twenty Pounds; for every other inferior Officer, sixteen Pounds, and for every private Man taken on Board such s.h.i.+p, Sloop, or Vessel, ten Pounds; and, that for every Pyrate, which shall be taken by any s.h.i.+p, Sloop or Vessel, belonging to this Colony, or _North-Carolina_, within the Time aforesaid, in any Place whatsoever, the like Rewards shall be paid according to the Quality and Condition of such Pyrates. Wherefore, for the Encouragement of all such Persons as shall be willing to serve his Majesty, and their Country, in so just and honourable an Undertaking, as the suppressing a Sort of People, who may be truly called Enemies to Mankind: I have thought fit, with the Advice and Consent of his Majesty's Council, to issue this Proclamation, hereby declaring, the said Rewards shall be punctually and justly paid, in current Money of _Virginia_, according to the Directions of the said Act. And, I do order and appoint this Proclamation, to be published by the Sheriffs, at their respective County-Houses, and by all Ministers and Readers, in the several Churches and Chappels, throughout this Colony._

Given at our Council-Chamber at _Williamsburgh_, this 24th Day of _November_, 1718, in the fifth Year of his Majesty's Reign.

G.o.d SAVE THE KING.

_A. SPOTSWOOD_.

The 17th of _November_, 1718, the Lieutenant sail'd from _Kicquetan_, in _James_ River in _Virginia_, and, the 21st in the Evening, came to the Mouth of _Okerec.o.c.k_ Inlet, where he got Sight of the Pyrate. This Expedition was made with all imaginable Secrecy, and the Officer manag'd with all the Prudence that was necessary, stopping all Boats and Vessels he met with, in the River, from going up, and thereby preventing any Intelligence from reaching _Black-Beard_, and receiving at the same time an Account from them all, of the Place where the Pyrate was lurking; but notwithstanding this Caution, _Black-beard_ had Information of the Design, from his Excellency of the Province; and his Secretary, Mr. _Knight_, wrote him a Letter, particularly concerning it, intimating, _That he had sent him four of his Men, which were all he could meet with, in or about Town, and so bid him be upon his Guard._ These Men belonged to _Black-beard_, and were sent from _Bath-Town_ to _Okerec.o.c.k_ Inlet, where the Sloop lay, which is about 20 Leagues.

_Black-beard_ had heard several Reports, which happened not to be true, and so gave the less Credit to this, nor was he convinced till he saw the Sloops: Whereupon he put his Vessel in a Posture of Defence; he had no more than twenty five Men on Board, tho' he gave out to all the Vessels he spoke with, that he had 40. When he had prepared for Battle, he set down and spent the Night in drinking with the Master of a trading Sloop, who, 'twas thought, had more Business with _Teach_, than he should have had.

Lieutenant _Maynard_ came to an Anchor, for the Place being shoal, and the Channel intricate, there was no getting in, where _Teach_ lay, that Night; but in the Morning he weighed, and sent his Boat a-head of the Sloops to sound; and coming within Gun-Shot of the Pyrate, received his Fire; whereupon _Maynard_ hoisted the King's Colours, and stood directly towards him, with the best Way that his Sails and Oars could made. _Black-beard_ cut his Cable, and endeavoured to make a running Fight, keeping a continual Fire at his Enemies, with his Guns; Mr. _Maynard_ not having any, kept a constant Fire with small Arms, while some of his Men laboured at their Oars. In a little Time _Teach_'s Sloop ran a-ground, and Mr. _Maynard_'s drawing more Water than that of the Pyrate, he could not come near him; so he anch.o.r.ed within half Gun-Shot of the Enemy, and, in order to lighten his Vessel, that he might run him aboard, the Lieutenant ordered all his Ballast to be thrown over-board, and all the Water to be staved, and then weigh'd and stood for him; upon which _Black-beard_ hail'd him in this rude Manner: _d.a.m.n you for Villains, who are you? And, from whence came you?_ The Lieutenant made him Answer, _You may see by our Colours we are no Pyrates._ _Black-beard_ bid him send his Boat on Board, that he might see who he was; but Mr. _Maynard_ reply'd thus; _I cannot spare my Boat, but I will come aboard of you as soon as I can, with my Sloop._ Upon this, _Black-beard_ took a Gla.s.s of Liquor, and drank to him with these Words: _d.a.m.nation seize my Soul if I give you Quarters, or take any from you._ In Answer to which, Mr. _Maynard_ told him, _That he expected no Quarters from him, nor should he give him any._

By this time _Black-beard_'s Sloop fleeted, as Mr. _Maynard_'s Sloops were rowing towards him, which being not above a Foot high in the Waste, and consequently the Men all exposed, as they came near together, (there being hitherto little or no Execution done, on either Side,) the Pyrate fired a Broadside, charged with all Manner of small Shot. ----A fatal Stroke to them! The Sloop the Lieutenant was in, having twenty Men killed and wounded, and the other Sloop nine. This could not be help'd, for there being no Wind, they were oblig'd to keep to their Oars, otherwise the Pyrate would have got away from him, which, it seems, the Lieutenant was resolute to prevent.

After this unlucky Blow, _Black-beard_'s Sloop fell Broadside to the Sh.o.r.e; Mr. _Maynard_'s other Sloop, which was called the _Ranger_, fell a-stern, being, for the present, disabled; so the Lieutenant finding his own Sloop had Way, and would soon be on Board of _Teach_, he ordered all his Men down, for fear of another Broadside, which must have been their Destruction, and the loss of their Expedition. Mr. _Maynard_ was the only Person that kept the Deck, except the Man at the Helm, whom he directed to lye down snug, and the Men in the Hold were ordered to get their Pistols and their Swords ready for close fighting, and to come up at his Command; in order to which, two Ladders were placed in the Hatch-Way for the more Expedition. When the Lieutenant's Sloop boarded the other, Captain _Teach_'s Men threw in several new fas.h.i.+oned sort of Grenadoes, _viz._ Case Bottles fill'd with Powder, and small Shot, Slugs, and Pieces of Lead or Iron, with a quick Match in the Mouth of it, which being lighted without Side, presently runs into the Bottle to the Powder, and as it is instantly thrown on Board, generally does great Execution, besides putting all the Crew into a Confusion; but by good Providence, they had not that Effect here; the Men being in the Hold, and _Black-beard_ seeing few or no Hands aboard, told his Men, _That they were all knock'd on the Head, except three or four; and therefore, says he, let's jump on Board, and cut them to Pieces._

Whereupon, under the Smoak of one of the Bottles just mentioned, _Black-beard_ enters with fourteen Men, over the Bows of _Maynard_'s Sloop, and were not seen by him till the Air cleared; however, he just then gave a Signal to his Men, who all rose in an Instant, and attack'd the Pyrates with as much Bravery as ever was done upon such an Occasion: _Black-beard_ and the Lieutenant fired the first Pistol at each other, by which the Pyrate received a Wound, and then engaged with Swords, till the Lieutenant's unluckily broke, and stepping back to c.o.c.k a Pistol, _Black-beard_, with his Cutlash, was striking at that Instant, that one of _Maynard_'s Men gave him a terrible Wound in the Neck and Throat, by which the Lieutenant came off with a small Cut over his Fingers.

They were now closely and warmly engaged, the Lieutenant and twelve Men, against _Black-beard_ and fourteen, till the Sea was tinctur'd with Blood round the Vessel; _Black-beard_ received a Shot into his Body from the Pistol that Lieutenant _Maynard_ discharg'd, yet he stood his Ground, and fought with great Fury, till he received five and twenty Wounds, and five of them by Shot. At length, as he was c.o.c.king another Pistol, having fired several before, he fell down dead; by which Time eight more out of the fourteen dropp'd, and all the rest, much wounded, jump'd over-board, and call'd out for Quarters, which was granted, tho' it was only prolonging their Lives for a few Days. The Sloop _Ranger_ came up, and attack'd the Men that remain'd in _Black-beard_'s Sloop, with equal Bravery, till they likewise cry'd for Quarters.

Here was an End of that couragious Brute, who might have pa.s.s'd in the World for a Heroe, had he been employ'd in a good Cause; his Destruction, which was of such Consequence to the Plantations, was entirely owing to the Conduct and Bravery of Lieutenant _Maynard_ and his Men, who might have destroy'd him with much less Loss, had they had a Vessel with great Guns; but they were obliged to use small Vessels, because the Holes and Places he lurk'd in, would not admit of others of greater Draught; and it was no small Difficulty for this Gentleman to get to him, having grounded his Vessel, at least, a hundred times, in getting up the River, besides other Discouragements, enough to have turn'd back any Gentleman without Dishonour, who was less resolute and bold than this Lieutenant. The Broadside that did so much Mischief before they boarded, in all Probability saved the rest from Destruction; for before that _Teach_ had little or no Hopes of escaping, and therefore had posted a resolute Fellow, a Negroe whom he had bred up, with a lighted Match, in the Powder-Room, with Commands to blow up when he should give him Orders, which was as soon as the Lieutenant and his Men could have entered, that so he might have destroy'd his Conquerors: and when the Negro found how it went with _Black-beard_, he could hardly be perswaded from the rash Action, by two Prisoners that were then in the Hold of the Sloop.

What seems a little odd, is, that some of these Men, who behaved so bravely against _Black-beard_, went afterwards a pyrating themselves, and one of them was taken along with _Roberts_; but I do not find that any of them were provided for, except one that was hanged; but this is a Digression.

The Lieutenant caused _Black-beard_'s Head to be severed from his Body, and hung up at the Bolt-sprit End, then he sailed to _Bath-Town_, to get Relief for his wounded Men.

It must be observed, that in rummaging the Pyrate's Sloop, they found several Letters and written Papers, which discovered the Correspondence betwixt Governor _Eden_, the Secretary and Collector, and also some Traders at _New-York_, and _Black-beard_. It is likely he had Regard enough for his Friends, to have destroyed these Papers before the Action, in order to hinder them from falling into such Hands, where the Discovery would be of no Use, either to the Interest or Reputation of these fine Gentlemen, if it had not been his fixed Resolution to have blown up together, when he found no possibility of escaping.

When the Lieutenant came to _Bath-Town_, he made bold to seize in the Governor's Store-House, the sixty Hogsheads of Sugar, and from honest Mr.

_Knight_, twenty; which it seems was their Dividend of the Plunder taken in the _French_ s.h.i.+p; the latter did not long survive this shameful Discovery, for being apprehensive that he might be called to an Account for these Trifles, fell sick with the Fright, and died in a few Days.

After the wounded Men were pretty well recover'd, the Lieutenant sailed back to the Men of War in _James River_, in _Virginia_, with _Black-beard_'s Head still hanging at the Bolt-sprit End, and fiveteen Prisoners, thirteen of whom were hanged. It appearing upon Tryal, that one of them, _viz._ _Samuel Odell_, was taken out of the trading Sloop, but the Night before the Engagement. This poor Fellow was a little unlucky at his first entering upon his new Trade, there appearing no less than 70 Wounds upon him after the Action, notwithstanding which, he lived, and was cured of them all. The other Person that escaped the Gallows, was one _Israel Hands_, the Master of _Black-beard_'s Sloop, and formerly Captain of the same, before the _Queen Ann's Revenge_ was lost in _Topsail_ Inlet.

The aforesaid _Hands_ happened not to be in the Fight, but was taken afterwards ash.o.r.e at _Bath-Town_, having been sometime before disabled by _Black-beard_, in one of his savage Humours, after the following Manner.--One Night drinking in his Cabin with _Hands_, the Pilot, and another Man; _Black-beard_ without any Provocation privately draws out a small Pair of Pistols, and c.o.c.ks them under the Table, which being perceived by the Man, he withdrew and went upon Deck, leaving _Hands_, the Pilot, and the Captain together. When the Pistols were ready, he blew out the Candle, and crossing his Hands, discharged them at his Company; _Hands_, the Master, was shot thro' the Knee, and lam'd for Life; the other Pistol did no Execution. --Being asked the meaning of this, he only answered, by d.a.m.ning them, that _if he did not now and then kill one of them, they would forget who he was._

_Hands_ being taken, was try'd and condemned, but just as he was about to be executed, a s.h.i.+p arrives at _Virginia_ with a Proclamation for prolonging the Time of his Majesty's Pardon, to such of the Pyrates as should surrender by a limited Time therein expressed: Notwithstanding the Sentence, _Hands_ pleaded the Pardon, and was allowed the Benefit of it, and is alive at this Time in London, begging his Bread.

Now that we have given some Account of _Teach_'s Life and Actions, it will not be amiss, that we speak of his Beard, since it did not a little contribute towards making his Name so terrible in those Parts.

_Plutarch_, and other grave Historians have taken Notice, that several great Men amongst the _Romans_, took their Sir-Names from certain odd Marks in their Countenances; as _Cicero_, from a Mark or Vetch on his Nose; so our Heroe, Captain _Teach_, a.s.sumed the Cognomen of _Black-beard_, from that large Quant.i.ty of Hair, which, like a frightful Meteor, covered his whole Face, and frightened _America_ more than any Comet that has appeared there a long Time.

This Beard was black, which he suffered to grow of an extravagant Length; as to Breadth, it came up to his Eyes; he was accustomed to twist it with Ribbons, in small Tails, after the Manner of our Ramilies Wiggs, and turn them about his Ears: In Time of Action, he wore a Sling over his Shoulders, with three brace of Pistols, hanging in Holsters like Bandaliers; and stuck lighted Matches under his Hat, which appearing on each Side of his Face, his Eyes naturally looking fierce and wild, made him altogether such a Figure, that Imagination cannot form an Idea of a Fury, from h.e.l.l, to look more frightful.

If he had the look of a Fury, his Humours and Pa.s.sions were suitable to it; we shall relate two or three more of his Extravagancies, which we omitted in the Body of his History, by which it will appear, to what a Pitch of Wickedness, human Nature may arrive, if it's Pa.s.sions are not checked.

In the Commonwealth of Pyrates, he who goes the greatest Length of Wickedness, is looked upon with a kind of Envy amongst them, as a Person of a more extraordinary Gallantry, and is thereby ent.i.tled to be distinguished by some Post, and if such a one has but Courage, he must certainly be a great Man. The Hero of whom we are writing, was thoroughly accomplished this Way, and some of his Frolicks of Wickedness, were so extravagant, as if he aimed at making his Men believe he was a Devil incarnate; for being one Day at Sea, and a little flushed with drink:--_Come_, says he, _let us make a h.e.l.l of our own, and try how long we can bear it_; accordingly he, with two or three others, went down into the Hold, and closing up all the Hatches, filled several Pots full of Brimstone, and other combustible Matter, and set it on Fire, and so continued till they were almost suffocated, when some of the Men cried out for Air; at length he opened the Hatches, not a little pleased that he held out the longest.

The Night before he was killed, he set up and drank till the Morning, with some of his own Men, and the Master of a Merchant-Man, and having had Intelligence of the two Sloops coming to attack him, as has been before observed; one of his Men asked him, in Case any thing should happen to him in the Engagement with the Sloops, whether his Wife knew where he had buried his Money? He answered, _That no Body but himself and the Devil, knew where it was, and the longest Liver should take all._

Those of his Crew who were taken alive, told a Story which may appear a little incredible; however, we think it will not be fair to omit it, since we had it from their own Mouths. That once upon a Cruize, they found out that they had a Man on Board more than their Crew; such a one was seen several Days amongst them, sometimes below, and sometimes upon Deck, yet no Man in the s.h.i.+p could give an Account who he was, or from whence he came; but that he disappeared little before they were cast away in their great s.h.i.+p, but, it seems, they verily believed it was the Devil.

One would think these Things should induce them to reform their Lives, but so many Reprobates together, encouraged and spirited one another up in their Wickedness, to which a continual Course of drinking did not a little contribute; for in _Black-beard_'s Journal, which was taken, there were several Memorandums of the following Nature, sound writ with his own Hand.-- _Such a Day, Rum all out:--Our Company somewhat sober:--A d.a.m.n'd Confusion amongst us!--Rogues a plotting;--great Talk of Separation.--So I look'd sharp for a Prize;--such a Day took one, with a great deal of Liquor on Board, so kept the Company hot, d.a.m.ned hot, then all Things went well again._

Thus it was these Wretches pa.s.sed their Lives, with very little Pleasure or Satisfaction, in the Possession of what they violently take away from others, and sure to pay for it at last, by an ignominious Death.

The Names of the Pyrates killed in the Engagement, are as follow.

_Edward Teach_, Commander.

_Phillip Morton_, Gunner.

_Garrat Gibbens_, Boatswain.

_Owen Roberts_, Carpenter.

_Thomas Miller_, Quarter-Master.

_John Husk_,

_Joseph Curtice_,