History of the Buccaneers of America Part 2

_Iniquitous Settlement of the Island =Saint Christopher= by the =English= and =French=. =Tortuga= seized by the Hunters.

Origin of the name =Buccaneer=. The name =Flibustier=. Customs attributed to the =Buccaneers=._

The increase of trade of the English and French to the _West Indies_, and the growing importance of the freebooters or adventurers concerned in it, who, una.s.sisted but by each other, had begun to acquire territory and to form establishments in spite of all opposition from the Spaniards, attracted the attention of the British and French governments, and suggested to them a scheme of confederacy, in which some of the princ.i.p.al adventurers were consulted. The project adopted by them was, to plant a royal colony of each nation, on some one island, and at the same time; by which a constant mutual support would be secured. In as far as regarded the concerns of Europeans with each other, this plan was unimpeachable.

The Island chosen by the projectors, as the best suited to their purpose, was one of the _Small Antilles_ or _Caribbee Islands_, known by the name of _St. Christopher_, which is in length about seven leagues, and in breadth two and a half.

[Sidenote: 1625. The Island Saint Christopher settled by the English and French.] Thus the governments of _Great Britain_ and _France_, like friendly fellow-travellers, and not like rivals who were to contend in a race, began their West-Indian career by joint consent at the same point both in time and place. In the year 1625, and on the same day, a colony of British and a colony of French, in the names and on the behalf of their respective nations, landed on this small island, the division of which had been settled by previous agreement.

The Island _St. Christopher_ was at that time inhabited by Caribbe Indians. The Spaniards had never possessed a settlement on it, but their s.h.i.+ps had been accustomed to stop there, to traffic for provisions and refreshments. The French and English who came to take possession, landed without obtaining the consent of the native Caribbe inhabitants; and, because danger was apprehended from their discontent, under pretence that the Caribbs were friends to the Spaniards, these new colonists fell upon them by surprise in the night, killed their princ.i.p.al leaders, and forced the rest to quit the Island and seek another home. De Rochefort, in his _Histoire Morale des Isles Antilles_ (p. 284.) mentions the English and French killing the Caribb Chiefs, in the following terms: '_Ils se defirent en une nuit de tous les plus factieux de cette nation!_' Thus in usurpation and barbarity was founded the first colony established under the authority of the British and French governments in the _West Indies_; which colony was the parent of our African slave trade. When accounts of the conquest and of the proceedings at _Saint Christopher_ were transmitted to _Europe_, they were approved; West-India companies were established, and licences granted to take out colonists. De Rochefort has oddly enough remarked, that the French, English, and Dutch, in their first establishments in the _West Indies_, did not follow the cruel maxims of the Spaniards. True it is, however, that they only copied in part. In their usurpations their aim went no farther than to dispossess, and they did not seek to make slaves of the people whom they deprived of their land.

The English and French in a short time had disagreements, and began to make complaints of each other. The English took possession of the small Island _Nevis_, which is separated only by a narrow channel from the South end of _St. Christopher_. P. Charlevoix says, 'the ambition of the English disturbed the good understanding between the colonists of the two nations; but M. de Cusac arriving with a squadron of the French King's s.h.i.+ps, by taking and sinking some British s.h.i.+ps lying there, brought the English Governor to reason, and to confine himself to the treaty of Part.i.tion.' [Sidenote: 1629. The English and French driven from Saint Christopher by the Spaniards.] After effecting this amicable adjustment, De Cusac sailed from _St. Christopher_; and was scarcely clear of the Island when a powerful fleet, consisting of thirty-nine large s.h.i.+ps, arrived from _Spain_, and anch.o.r.ed in the Road. Almost without opposition the Spaniards became masters of the Island, although the English and French, if they had cordially joined, could have mustered a force of twelve hundred men. Intelligence that the Spaniards intended this attack, had been timely received in _France_; and M. de Cusac's squadron had in consequence been dispatched to a.s.sist in the defence of _St. Christopher_; but the Spaniards being slow in their preparations, their fleet did not arrive at the time expected, and De Cusac, hearing no news of them, presumed that they had given up their design against _St. Christopher_.

Without strengthening the joint colony, he gave the English a lesson on moderation, little calculated to incline them to co-operate heartily with the French in defence of the Island, and sailed on a cruise to the _Gulf of Mexico_. Shortly after his departure, towards the end of the year 1629, the Spanish fleet arrived. The colonists almost immediately despaired of being able to oppose so great a force. Many of the French embarked in their s.h.i.+ps in time to effect their escape, and to take refuge among the islands northward. The remainder, with the English, lay at the disposal of the Spanish commander, Don Frederic de _Toledo_. At this time _Spain_ was at war with _England_, _France_, and _Holland_; and this armament was designed ultimately to act against the Hollanders in _Brasil_, but was ordered by the way to drive the English and the French from the Island of _Saint Christopher_. Don Frederic would not weaken his force by leaving a garrison there, and was in haste to prosecute his voyage to _Brasil_. As the settlement of _Saint Christopher_ had been established on regular government authorities, the settlers were treated as prisoners of war. To clear the Island in the most speedy manner, Don Frederic took many of the English on board his own fleet, and made as many of the other colonists embark as could be crowded in any vessels which could be found for them.

He saw them get under sail, and leave the Island; and from those who remained, he required their parole, that they would depart by the earliest opportunity which should present itself, warning them, at the same time, that if, on his return from _Brasil_, he found any Englishmen or Frenchmen at _Saint Christopher_, they should be put to the sword. [Sidenote: 1630.

They return.] After this, he sailed for _Brasil_. As soon, however, as it was known that the Spanish fleet had left the West-Indian sea, the colonists, both English and French, returned to _Saint Christopher_, and repossessed themselves of their old quarters.

The settlement of the Island _Saint Christopher_ gave great encouragement to the hunters on the West coast of _Hispaniola_. Their manufactories for the curing of meat, and for drying the skins, multiplied; and as the value of them increased, they began to think it of consequence to provide for their security. [Sidenote: The Island Tortuga seized by the English and French Hunters.] To this end they took possession of the small Island _Tortuga_, near the North-west end of _Hispaniola_, where the Spaniards had placed a garrison, but which was too small to make opposition. There was a road for s.h.i.+pping, with good anchorage, at _Tortuga_; and its separation from the main land of _Hispaniola_ seemed to be a good guarantee from sudden and unexpected attack. They built magazines there, for the lodgement of their goods, and regarded this Island as their head quarters, or place of general rendezvous to which to repair in times of danger. They elected no chief, erected no fortification, set up no authorities, nor fettered themselves by any engagement. All was voluntary; and they were negligently contented at having done so much towards their security.

[Sidenote: Whence the Name Buccaneer.] About the time of their taking possession of _Tortuga_, they began to be known by the name of Buccaneers, of which appellation it will be proper to speak at some length.

The flesh of the cattle killed by the hunters, was cured to keep good for use, after a manner learnt from the Caribbe Indians, which was as follows: The meat was laid to be dried upon a wooden grate or hurdle (_grille de bois_) which the Indians called _barbecu_, placed at a good distance over a slow fire. The meat when cured was called _boucan_, and the same name was given to the place of their cookery. Pere Labat describes _Viande boucannee_ to be, _Viande seche a pet.i.t feu et a la fumee_. The Caribbes are said to have sometimes served their prisoners after this fas.h.i.+on, '_Ils les mangent apres les avoir bien boucannee, c'est a dire, rotis bien sec_[5].' The boucan was a very favourite method of cooking among these Indians. A Caribbe has been known, on returning home from fis.h.i.+ng, fatigued and pressed with hunger, to have had the patience to wait the roasting of a fish on a wooden grate fixed two feet above the ground, over a fire so small as sometimes to require the whole day to dress it[6].

The flesh of the cattle was in general dried in the smoke, without being salted. The _Dictionnaire de Trevoux_ explains _Boucaner_ to be '_faire sorer sans sel_,' to dry red without salt. But the flesh of wild hogs, and also of the beeves when intended for keeping a length of time, was first salted. The same thing was practised among the Brasilians. It was remarked in one of the earliest visits of the Portuguese to _Brasil_, that the natives (who were cannibals) kept human flesh salted and smoked, hanging up in their houses[7]. The meat cured by the Buccaneers to sell to s.h.i.+pping for sea-store, it is probable was all salted. The process is thus described: 'The bones being taken out, the flesh was cut into convenient pieces and salted, and the next day was taken to the _boucan_.' Sometimes, to give a peculiar relish to the meat, the skin of the animal was cast into the fire under it. The meat thus cured was of a fine red colour, and of excellent flavour; but in six months after it was boucanned, it had little taste left, except of salt. The boucanned hog's flesh continued good a much longer time than the flesh of the beeves, if kept in dry places.

From adopting the boucan of the Caribbes, the hunters in _Hispaniola_, the Spaniards excepted, came to be called Boucaniers, but afterwards, according to a p.r.o.nunciation more in favour with the English, Buccaneers[8]. Many of the French hunters were natives of _Normandy_; whence it became proverbial in some of the sea-ports of _Normandy_ to say of a smoky house, _c'est un vrai Boucan_.

[Sidenote: The name Flibustier.] The French Buccaneers and Adventurers were also called Flibustiers, and more frequently by that than by any other name. The word Flibustier is merely the French mariner's mode of p.r.o.nouncing the English word Freebooter, a name which long preceded that of Boucanier or Buccaneer, as the occupation of cruising against the Spaniards preceded that of hunting and curing meat. Some authors have given a derivation to the name _Flibustier_ from the word Flyboat, because, say they, the French hunters in _Hispaniola_ bought vessels of the Dutch, called Flyboats, to cruise upon the Spaniards. There are two objections to this derivation. First, the word _flyboat_, is only an English translation of the Dutch word _fluyt_, which is the proper denomination of the vessel intended by it. Secondly, it would not very readily occur to any one to purchase Dutch fluyts, or flyboats, for chasing vessels.

Some have understood the Boucanier and Flibustier to be distinct both in person and character[9]. This was probably the case with a few, after the settlement of _Tortuga_; but before, and very generally afterwards, the occupations were joined, making one of amphibious character. s.h.i.+ps from all parts of the _West Indies_ frequented _Tortuga_, and it continually happened that some among the crews quitted their s.h.i.+ps to turn Buccaneers; whilst among the Buccaneers some would be desirous to quit their hunting employment, to go on a cruise, to make a voyage, or to return to _Europe_.

The two occupations of hunting and cruising being so common to the same person, caused the names Flibustier and Buccaneer to be esteemed synonimous, signifying always and princ.i.p.ally the being at war with the Spaniards. The Buccaneer and Flibustier therefore, as long as they continued in a state of independence, are to be considered as the same character, exercising sometimes one, sometimes the other employment; and either name was taken by them indifferently, whether they were employed on the sea or on the land. But a fanciful kind of inversion took place, through the different caprices of the French and English adventurers. The greater part of the first cattle hunters were French, and the greater number of the first cruisers against the Spaniards were English. The French adventurers, nevertheless, had a partiality for the name of Flibustier; whilst the English shewed a like preference for the name of Buccaneer, which, as will be seen, was a.s.sumed by many hundred seamen of their nation, who were never employed either in hunting or in the boucan.

[Sidenote: Customs attributed to the Buccaneers.] A propensity to make things which are extraordinary appear more so, has caused many peculiar customs to be attributed to the Buccaneers, which, it is pretended, were observed as strictly as if they had been established laws. It is said that every Buccaneer had his chosen and declared comrade, between whom property was in common, and if one died, the survivor was inheritor of the whole.

This was called by the French _Matelotage_. It is however acknowledged that the _Matelotage_ was not a compulsatory regulation; and that the Buccaneers sometimes bequeathed by will. A general right of partic.i.p.ation in some things, among which was meat for present consumption, was acknowledged among them; and it is said, that bolts, locks, and every species of fastening, were prohibited, it being held that the use of such securities would have impeached the honour of their vocation. Yet on commencing Buccaneer, it was customary with those who were of respectable lineage, to relinquish their family name, and a.s.sume some other, as a _nom de guerre_. Their dress, which was uniformly slovenly when engaged in the business of hunting or of the boucan, is mentioned as a prescribed _costume_, but which doubtless was prescribed only by their own negligence and indolence; in particular, that they wore an unwashed s.h.i.+rt and pantaloons dyed in the blood of the animals they had killed. Other distinctions, equally capricious, and to little purpose, are related, which have no connexion with their history. Some curious anecdotes are produced, to shew the great respect some among them entertained for religion and for morality. A certain Flibustier captain, named Daniel, shot one of his crew in the church, for behaving irreverently during the performance of ma.s.s. Raveneau de Lussan (whose adventures will be frequently mentioned) took the occupation of a Buccaneer, because he was in debt, and wished, as every honest man should do, to have wherewithal to satisfy his creditors.

In their sea enterprises, they followed most of the customs which are generally observed in private s.h.i.+ps of war; and sometimes were held together by a subscribed written agreement, by the English called Charter-party; by the French _Cha.s.se-partie_, which might in this case be construed a Chasing agreement. Whenever it happened that _Spain_ was at open and declared war with any of the maritime nations of _Europe_, the Buccaneers who were natives of the country at war with her, obtained commissions, which rendered the vessels in which they cruised, regular privateers.

The English adventurers sometimes, as is seen in Dampier, called themselves Privateers, applying the term to persons in the same manner we now apply it to private s.h.i.+ps of war. The Dutch, whose terms are generally faithful to the meaning intended, called the adventurers _Zee Roovers_; the word _roover_ in the Dutch language comprising the joint sense of the two English words rover and robber.

CHAP. V.

_Treaty made by the Spaniards with Don =Henriquez=. Increase of English and French in the =West Indies=. =Tortuga= surprised by the Spaniards. Policy of the English and French Governments with respect to the Buccaneers. =Mansvelt=, his attempt to form an independent Buccaneer Establishment. French West-India Company. =Morgan= succeeds =Mansvelt= as Chief of the Buccaneers._

[Sidenote: 1630.] The Spanish Government at length began to think it necessary to relax from their large pretensions, and in the year 1630 entered into treaties with other European nations, for mutual security of their West-India possessions. In a Treaty concluded that year with _Great Britain_, it was declared, that peace, amity, and friends.h.i.+p, should be observed between their respective subjects, in all parts of the world. But this general specification was not sufficient to produce effect in the _West Indies_.

[Sidenote: 1633.] In _Hispaniola_, in the year 1633, the Government at _San Domingo_ concluded a treaty with Don Henriquez; which was the more readily accorded to him, because it was apprehended the revolted natives would league with the Brethren of the Coast. By this treaty all the followers of Don Henriquez who could claim descent from the original natives, in number four thousand persons, were declared free and under his protection, and lands were marked out for them. But, what is revolting to all generous hopes of human nature, the negroes were abandoned to the Spaniards. Magnanimity was not to be expected of the natives of _Hayti_; yet they had shewn themselves capable of exertion for their own relief; and a small degree more of firmness would have included these, their most able champions, in the treaty. This weak and wicked defection from friends, confederated with them in one common and righteous cause, seems to have wrought its own punishment. The vigilance and vigour of mind of the negro might have guarded against encroachments upon the independence obtained; instead of which, the wretched Haytians in a short time fell again wholly into the grinding hands of the Spaniards: and in the early part of the eighteenth century, it was reckoned that the whole number living, of the descendants of the party of Don Henriquez, did not quite amount to one hundred persons.

[Sidenote: Cultivation in Tortuga.] The settlement of the Buccaneers at _Tortuga_ drew many Europeans there, as well settlers as others, to join in their adventures and occupations. They began to clear and cultivate the grounds, which were before overgrown with woods, and made plantations of tobacco, which proved to be of extraordinary good quality.

[Sidenote: Increase of the English and French Settlements in the West Indies.] More Europeans, not Spaniards, consequently allies of the Buccaneers, continued to pour into the _West Indies_, and formed settlements on their own accounts, on some of the islands of the small _Antilles_. These settlements were not composed of mixtures of different people, but were most of them all English or all French; and as they grew into prosperity, they were taken possession of for the crowns of _England_ or of _France_ by the respective governments. Under the government authorities new colonists were sent out, royal governors were appointed, and codes of law established, which combined, with the security of the colony, the interests of the mother-country. But at the same time these benefits were conferred, grants of lands were made under royal authority, which dispossessed many persons, who, by labour and perilous adventure, and some who at considerable expence, had achieved establishments for themselves, in favour of men till then no way concerned in any of the undertakings. In some cases, grants of whole islands were obtained, by purchase or favour; and the first settlers, who had long before gained possession, and who had cleared and brought the ground into a state for cultivation, were rendered dependent upon the new proprietary governors, to whose terms they were obliged to submit, or to relinquish their tenure.

Such were the hard accompaniments to the protection afforded by the governments of _France_ and _Great Britain_ to colonies, which, before they were acknowledged legitimate offsprings of the mother-country, had grown into consideration through their own exertions; and only because they were found worth adopting, were now received into the parent family.

The discontents created by this rapacious conduct of the governments, and the disregard shewn to the claims of the first settlers, instigated some to resistance and rebellion, and caused many to join the Buccaneers. The Caribbe inhabitants were driven from their lands also with as little ceremony.

The Buccaneer colony at _Tortuga_ had not been beheld with indifference by the Spaniards. [Sidenote: 1638.] The Buccaneers, with the carelessness natural to men in their loose condition of life, under neither command nor guidance, continued to trust to the supineness of the enemy for their safety, and neglected all precaution. [Sidenote: Tortuga surprised by the Spaniards.] In the year 1638, the Spaniards with a large force fell unexpectedly upon _Tortuga_, at a time when the greater number of the settlers were absent in _Hispaniola_ on the chace; and those who were on the Island, having neither fortress nor government, became an easy prey to the Spaniards, who made a general ma.s.sacre of all who fell into their hands, not only of those they surprised in the beginning, but many who afterwards came in from the woods to implore their lives on condition of returning to _Europe_, they hanged. A few kept themselves concealed, till they found an opportunity to cross over to their brethren in _Hispaniola_.

It happened not to suit the convenience of the Spaniards to keep a garrison at _Tortuga_, and they were persuaded the Buccaneers would not speedily again expose themselves to a repet.i.tion of such treatment as they had just experienced; therefore they contented themselves with destroying the buildings, and as much as they could of the plantations; after which they returned to _San Domingo_. In a short time after their departure, the remnant of the Hunters collected to the number of three hundred, again fixed themselves at _Tortuga_, and, for the first time, elected a commander.

As the hostility of the Buccaneers had constantly and solely been directed against the Spaniards, all other Europeans in the _West Indies_ regarded them as champions in the common cause, and the severities which had been exercised against them created less of dread than of a spirit of vengeance. The numbers of the Buccaneers were quickly recruited by volunteers of English, French, and Dutch, from all parts; and both the occupations of hunting and cruising were pursued with more than usual eagerness. The French and English Governors in the _West Indies_, influenced by the like feelings, either openly, or by connivance, gave constant encouragement to the Buccaneers. The French Governor at _St.

Christopher_, who was also Governor General for the French West-India Islands, was most ready to send a.s.sistance to the Buccaneers. This Governor, Monsieur de Poincy, an enterprising and capable man, had formed a design to take possession of the Island _Tortuga_ for the crown of _France_; which he managed to put in execution three years after, having by that time predisposed some of the princ.i.p.al French Buccaneers to receive a garrison of the French king's troops. [Sidenote: Tortuga taken possession of for the Crown of France.] This appropriation was made in 1641; and De Poincy, thinking his acquisition would be more secure to _France_ by the absence of the English, forced all the English Buccaneers to quit the Island. The French writers say, that before the interposition of the French Governor, the English Buccaneers took advantage of their numbers, and domineered in _Tortuga_. The English Governors in the _West Indies_ could not at this time shew the same tender regard for the English Buccaneers, as the support they received from home was very precarious, owing to the disputes which then subsisted in _England_ between King Charles and the English Parliament, which engrossed so much of the public attention as to leave little to colonial concerns.

The French Commander de Poincy pushed his success. In his appointment of a Governor to _Tortuga_, he added the t.i.tle of Governor of the West coast of _Hispaniola_, and by degrees he introduced French garrisons. This was the first footing obtained by the Government of _France_ in _Hispaniola_. The same policy was observed there respecting the English as at _Tortuga_, by which means was effected a separation of the English Buccaneers from the French. After this time, it was only occasionally, and from accidental circ.u.mstances, or by special agreement, that they acted in concert. The English adventurers, thus elbowed out of _Hispaniola_ and _Tortuga_, lost the occupation of hunting cattle and of the boucan, but they continued to be distinguished by the appellation of Buccaneers, and, when not cruising, most generally harboured at the Islands possessed by the British.

Hitherto, it had rested in the power of the Buccaneers to have formed themselves into an independent state. Being composed of people of different nations, the admission of a Governor from any one, might easily have been resisted. Now, they were considered in a kind of middle state, between that of Buccaneers and of men returned to their native allegiance.

It seemed now in the power of the English and French Governments to put a stop to their cruisings, and to furnish them with more honest employment; but politics of a different cast prevailed. The Buccaneers were regarded as profitable to the Colonies, on account of the prizes they brought in; and even vanity had a share in their being countenanced. [Sidenote: Policy of the English and French Governments with respect to the Buccaneers.] The French authors call them _nos braves_, and the English speak of their 'unparalleled exploits.' The policy both of _England_ and of _France_ with respect to the Buccaneers, seems to have been well described in the following sentence: _On laissoit faire des Avanturiers, qu'on pouvoit toujours desavouer, mais dont les succes pouvoient etre utiles_: _i. e._ 'they connived at the actions of these Adventurers, which could always be disavowed, and whose successes might be serviceable.' This was not esteemed _friponnerie_, but a maxim of sound state policy. In the character given of a good French West-India governor, he is praised, for that, 'besides encouraging the cultivation of lands, he never neglected to encourage the _Flibustiers_. It was a certain means of improving the Colony, by attracting thither the young and enterprising. He would scarcely receive a slight portion of what he was ent.i.tled to from his right of bestowing commissions in time of war[10]. And when we were at peace, and our Flibustiers, for want of other employment, would go cruising, and would carry their prizes to the English Islands, he was at the pains of procuring them commissions from _Portugal_, which country was then at war with _Spain_; in virtue of which our _Flibustiers_ continued to make themselves redoubtable to the Spaniards, and to spread riches and abundance in our Colonies.' This panegyric was bestowed by Pere Labat; who seems to have had more of national than of moral or religious feeling on this head.

It was a powerful consideration with the French and English Governments, to have at their occasional disposal, without trouble or expence, a well trained military force, always at hand, and willing to be employed upon emergency; who required no pay nor other recompense for their services and constant readiness, than their share of plunder, and that their piracies upon the Spaniards should pa.s.s unnoticed.

[Sidenote: 1644.] Towards the end of 1644, a new Governor General for the French West-India possessions was appointed by the French Regency (during the minority of Louis XIV.); but the Commander de Poincy did not choose to resign, and the colonists were inclined to support him. Great discontents prevailed in the French Colonies, which rendered them liable to being shaken by civil wars; and the apprehensions of the Regency on this head enabled De Poincy to stand his ground. He remained Governor General over the French Colonies not only for the time, but was continued in that office, by succeeding administrations, many years.

[Sidenote: 1654. The Buccaneers plunder New Segovia.] About the year 1654, a large party of Buccaneers, French and English, joined in an expedition on the Continent. They ascended a river of the _Mosquito sh.o.r.e_, a small distance on the South side of _Cape Gracias a Dios_, in canoes; and after labouring nearly a month against a strong stream and waterfalls, they left their canoes, and marched to the town of _Nueva Segovia_, which they plundered, and then returned down the river.

[Sidenote: The Spaniards retake Tortuga. 1655. With the a.s.sistance of the Buccaneers, the English take Jamaica: 1660; And the French retake Tortuga.] In the same year, the Spaniards took _Tortuga_ from the French.

In the year following, 1655, _England_ being at war with _Spain_, a large force was sent from _England_ to attempt the conquest of the Island _Hispaniola_. In this attempt they failed; but afterwards fell upon _Jamaica_, of which Island they made themselves masters, and kept possession. In the conquest of _Jamaica_, the English were greatly a.s.sisted by the Buccaneers; and a few years after, with their a.s.sistance also, the French regained possession of _Tortuga_.

On the recovery of _Tortuga_, the French Buccaneers greatly increased in the Northern and Western parts of _Hispaniola_. _Spain_ also sent large reinforcements from _Europe_; and for some years war was carried on with great spirit and animosity on both sides. During the heat of this contest, the French Buccaneers followed more the occupation of hunting, and less that of cruising, than at any other period of their history.

The Spaniards finding they could not expel the French from _Hispaniola_, determined to join their efforts to those of the French hunters, for the destruction of the cattle and wild hogs on the Island, so as to render the business of hunting unproductive. But the French had begun to plant; and the depriving them of the employment of hunting, drove them to other occupations not less contrary to the interest and wishes of the Spaniards.

The less profit they found in the chase, the more they became cultivators and cruisers.

[Sidenote: Pierre le Grand, a French Buccaneer.] The Buccaneer Histories of this period abound with relations: of daring actions performed by them; but many of which are chiefly remarkable for the ferocious cruelty of the leaders by whom they were conducted. Pierre, a native of _Dieppe_, for his success received to his name the addition of _le grand_, and is mentioned as one of the first Flibustiers who obtained much notoriety. In a boat, with a crew of twenty-eight men, he surprised and took the s.h.i.+p of the Vice-Admiral of the Spanish galeons, as she was sailing homeward-bound with a rich freight. He set the Spanish crew on sh.o.r.e at _Cape Tiburon_, the West end of _Hispaniola_, and sailed in his prize to _France_.

[Sidenote: Alexandre.] A Frenchman, named Alexandre, also in a small vessel, took a Spanish s.h.i.+p of war.

[Sidenote: Montbars, surnamed the Exterminator.] It is related of another Frenchman, a native of _Languedoc_, named Montbars, that on reading a history of the cruelty of the Spaniards to the Americans, he conceived such an implacable hatred against the Spaniards, that he determined on going to the _West Indies_ to join the Buccaneers; and that he there pursued his vengeance with so much ardour as to acquire the surname of the Exterminator.

[Sidenote: Bartolomeo Portuguez.] One Buccaneer of some note was a native of _Portugal_, known by the name of Bartolomeo Portuguez; who, however, was more renowned for his wonderful escapes, both in battle, and from the gallows, than for his other actions.

[Sidenote: L'Olonnois, a French Buccaneer, and Michel le Basque, take Maracaibo and Gibraltar.] But no one of the Buccaneers. .h.i.therto named, arrived at so great a degree of notoriety, as a Frenchman, called Francois L'Olonnois, a native of part of the French coast which is near the sands of _Olonne_, but whose real name is not known. This man, and Michel le Basque, both Buccaneer commanders, at the head of 650 men, took the towns of _Maracaibo_ and _Gibraltar_ in the _Gulf of Venezuela_, on the _Tierra Firma_. The booty they obtained by the plunder and ransom of these places, was estimated at 400,000 crowns. The barbarities practised on the prisoners could not be exceeded. [Sidenote: Outrages committed by L'Olonnois.] Olonnois was possessed with an ambition to make himself renowned for being terrible. At one time, it is said, he put the whole crew of a Spanish s.h.i.+p, ninety men, to death, performing himself the office of executioner, by beheading them. He caused the crews of four other vessels to be thrown into the sea; and more than once, in his frenzies, he tore out the hearts of his victims, and devoured them. Yet this man had his encomiasts; so much will loose notions concerning glory, aided by a little partiality, mislead even sensible men. Pere Charlevoix says, _Celui de tous, dont les grandes actions ill.u.s.trerent davantage les premieres annees du gouvernement de M. d'Ogeron, fut l'Olonnois. Ses premiers succes furent suivis de quelques malheurs, qui ne servirent qu'a donner un nouveau l.u.s.tre a sa gloire._ The career of this savage was terminated by the Indians of the coast of _Darien_, on which he had landed.

[Sidenote: Mansvelt, a Buccaneer Chief; his Plan for forming a Buccaneer Establishment. 1664.] The Buccaneers now went in such formidable numbers, that several Spanish towns, both on the Continent and among the Islands of the _West Indies_, submitted to pay them contribution. And at this time, a Buccaneer commander, named Mansvelt, more provident and more ambitious in his views than any who preceded him, formed a project for founding an independent Buccaneer establishment. Of what country Mansvelt was native, does not appear; but he was so popular among the Buccaneers, that both French and English were glad to have him for their leader. The greater number of his followers in his attempt to form a settlement were probably English, as he fitted out in _Jamaica_. A Welshman, named Henry Morgan, who had made some successful cruises as a Buccaneer, went with him as second in command. [Sidenote: Island S^{ta} Katalina, or Providence; since named Old Providence.] The place designed by them for their establishment, was an Island named _S^{ta} Katalina_, or _Providence_, situated in lat.i.tude 13 24' N, about 40 leagues to the Eastward of the _Mosquito sh.o.r.e_. This Island is scarcely more than two leagues in its greatest extent, but has a harbour capable of being easily fortified against an enemy; and very near to its North end is a much smaller Island. The late Charts a.s.sign the name of _S^{ta} Katalina_ to the small Island, and give to the larger Island that of _Old Providence_, the epithet _Old_ having been added to distinguish this from the _Providence_ of the _Bahama Islands_. At the time Mansvelt undertook his scheme of settlement, this _S^{ta} Katalina_, or _Providence Island_, was occupied by the Spaniards, who had a fort and good garrison there. Some time in or near the year 1664, Mansvelt sailed thither from _Jamaica_, with fifteen vessels and 500 men. He a.s.saulted and took the fort, which he garrisoned with one hundred Buccaneers and all the slaves he had taken, and left the command to a Frenchman, named Le Sieur Simon. At the end of his cruise, he returned to _Jamaica_, intending to procure there recruits for his Settlement of _S^{ta} Katalina_; but the Governor of _Jamaica_, however friendly to the Buccaneers whilst they made _Jamaica_ their home, saw many reasons for disliking Mansvelt's plan, and would not consent to his raising men.

[Sidenote: Death of Mansvelt.] Not being able to overcome the Governor's unwillingness, Mansvelt sailed for _Tortuga_, to try what a.s.sistance he could procure there; but in the pa.s.sage he was suddenly taken ill, and died. For a length of time after, Simon remained at _S^{ta} Katalina_ with his garrison, in continual expectation of seeing or hearing from Mansvelt; instead of which, a large Spanish force arrived and besieged his fort, when, learning of Mansvelt's death, and seeing no prospect of receiving reinforcement or relief, he found himself obliged to surrender.

[Sidenote: French West-India Company.] The government in _France_ had appointed commissioners on behalf of the French West-India Company, to take all the Islands called the _French Antilles_, out of the hands of individuals, subjects of _France_, who had before obtained possession, and to put them into the possession of the said Company, to be governed according to such provisions as they should think proper. [Sidenote: 1665.] In February 1665, M. d'Ogeron was appointed Governor of _Tortuga_, and of the French settlements in _Hispaniola_, or _St. Domingo_, as the Island was now more commonly called. [Sidenote: The French settlers dispute their authority.] On his arrival at _Tortuga_, the French adventurers, both there and in _Hispaniola_, declared that if he came to govern in the name of the King of _France_, he should find faithful and obedient subjects; but they would not submit themselves to any Company; and in no case would they consent to the prohibiting their trade with the Hollanders, 'with whom,' said the Buccaneers, 'we have been in the constant habit of trading, and were so before it was known in _France_ that there was a single Frenchman in _Tortuga_, or on the coast of _St.

Domingo_.'