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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
land_n	degree_n	latitude_n	minute_n	5,380	5	11.8773	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39081	Bucaniers of America, or, A true account of the most remarkable assaults committed of late years upon the coasts of the West-Indies by the bucaniers of Jamaica and Tortuga, both English and French wherein are contained more especially the unparallel'd exploits of Sir Henry Morgan, our English Jamaican hero who sack'd Puerto Velo, burnt Panama, &c. / written originally in Dutch by John Esquemeling ... ; and thence translated into Spanish by Alonso de Bonne-Maison ... ; now faithfully rendred into English.; Amerikaanse zeerovers. English	Exquemelin, A. O. (Alexandre Olivier).; Bonne-Maison, Alonso de.	1684 (1684)	Wing E3894; ESTC R21525	201,281	412

West India Company of France They meet with an English Frigat And arrive at the Island of Tortuga WEE set sail from Havre de Grace in France in a Ship called St. Iohn the second day of May in the year 1666. Our Vessel was equipp't with eight and twenty Guns twenty Mariners and two hundred and twenty Passengers including in this number those whom the Company sent as free Passengers as being in their service Soon after we came to an anchor under the Cape of Borflor there to joyn other seven Ships of the same West India Company which were to come from Diep under the Convoy of a Man of War mounted with seven and thirty Guns and two hundred and fifty men Of these Ships two were bound for Senegal five for the Cariby Islands and ours for the Island of Tortuga In the same place there gather'd unto us about twenty sail of other Ships that were bound for New-found land with some Dutch Vessels that were going for Nants Rochel and St. Martins So that in all we made a Fleet of thirty sail Here we prepared to sight putting our selves into a convenient posture of defence as having notice that four English Frigats of threescore Guns each did lie in wait for us about the Isle of Ornay Our Admiral the Chevalier Sourdis having distributed what Orders he thought convenient we set sail from thence with a favourable gale of wind Presently after some mists arising these totally impeded the English Frigats from discovering our Fleet at Sea We steer'd our course as near as we could under the Coast of France for fear of the Enemy As we sailed along we met a Vessel of Ostend who complained unto our Admiral that a French Privateer had robb'd him that very morning This complaint being heard we endeavoured to pursue the said Pirate but our labour was in vain as not being able to overtake him Our Fleet as we went along caused no small fears and alarms unto the Inhabitants of the coasts of France these judging us to be English and that we saught some convenient place for landing To allay their frights we used to hang out our Colours but notwithstanding they would not trust us After this we came to an anchor in the Bay of Conquet in Britany nigh unto the Isle of Heysant there to take in water Having stor'd our selves with fresh Provisions at this place we prosecuted our Voyage designing to pass by the Ras of Fonteneau and not expose our selves to the Sorlingues fearing the English Vessels that were crusing there-abouts to meet us This River Ras is of a current very strong and rapid which rowling over many Rocks disgorgeth it self into the Sea on the coast of France in the latitude of eight and forty degrees and ten minutes For which reason this passage is very dangerous all the Rocks as yet being not thorough ly known Here I shall not omit to mention the ceremony Baptism used by the French at Sea which at this passage and some other places is used by the Mariners and by them called Baptism altho it may seem either little to our purpose or of no use The Masters Mate cloathed himself with a ridiculous sort of garment that reached unto his feet and on his head he put a sutable Cap which was made very burlesque In his right hand he placed a naked wooden sword and in his left a pot full of ink His face was horribly blackt with foot and his neck adorn'd with a Collar of many little pieces of wood Being thus apparell'd he commanded to be call'd before him every one of them who never had passed that dangerous place before And then causing them to kneel down in his presence he made the sign of the Cross upon their foreheads with ink and gave each one a stroke on the shoulders with his wooden sword Mean while the standers by did cast a Bucket of water upon every mans head and this was the conclusion of the ceremony But that being ended every one of the Baptised is obliged to give a Bottle of Brandy for his offering placing it nigh the main Mast and without speaking a word even those who have no such liquor being not excused from this performance In case the Vessel never passed that way before the Captain is obliged to distribute some Wine among the Mariners and other people in the Ship But as for other gifts which the newly baptized do frequently offer they are divided among the old Sea-men and of them they make a Banquet among themselves The Hollanders likewise do use to baptize 〈…〉 such as never passed that way before And not only at the passage abovementioned but also at the Rocks called Berlingues nigh the coast of Portugal in the latitude of thirty nine degrees and forty minutes as being a passage very dangerous especially by night when through the obscurity thereof the Rocks are not distinguishable by reason the Land is very high they use some such ceremony But their manner of Baptizing is much distinct from that we have described above performed by the French He therefore that is to be baptized is fast'ned and hoised up three times at the main yard's end as if he were a Criminal If he be hoised the fourth time in the name of the Prince of Orange or of the Captain of the Vessel his honour is more than ordinary Thus they are dipped every one several times in the main Ocean But he that is the first dipp'd hath the honour of being saluted with a Gun Such as are not willing to fall are bound to pay twelve pence for their ransom if he be an Officer in the Ship two shillings and if a Passenger according to their pleasure In case the Ship did never pass that way before the Captain is bound to give a small Runlet of Wine which if he doth not perform the Mariners may cut off the Stem of the Vessel All the profit which accrueth by this ceremony is kept by the Masters Mate who after reaching their Port doth usually lay it out in wine which is drank amongst the ancient Seamen Some will say this ceremony was instituted by the Emperour Charls the Fifth howsoever it is not found amongst his Laws But here I leave these customes of the Sea and shall return unto our Voyage Having passed the River Ras we met with very good weather untill we came to the Cape of Finis-Terrae Here a huge Tempest of wind surprized us and separated our Ship from the rest that were in our company This storm continued for the space of eight days In the which time it would move compassion to see how miserably the Passengers were tumbled to and fro on all sides of the Ship insomuch as the Mariners in the performance of their duty were compell'd to tread upon them every where This uncouthsom weather being spent we had again the use of very favourable gales untill we came unto the Tropick of Cancer This Tropick is nothing else but

an imaginary circle which Astrologers have invented in the Heavens and serveth as a period to the progress of the Sun towards the North-pole It is placed in the latitude of three and twenty degrees and thirty minutes under the line Here we were baptized the second 〈◊〉 Ceremonious baptism time after the same manner as before The French do alwayes perform this Ceremony this Tropick as also under the Tropick of Capricornus towards the South In this part of the World we had very favourable weather at the which we were infinitely gladded by reason of our great necessity of water For Necessity of fresh water at this time that Element already was so scarce with us that we were stinted unto two half pints by man every day Being about the latitude of Barbadas we met an English Frigat or Privateer who first began to give us chase But finding himself not to exceed in strength did presently steer away from us This flight gave us occasion to pursue the said Frigat as we did shooting at him several Guns of eight pound carriage But at length he escaped and we returned to our course Not long after we came within sight of the Isle of Martinica Our endeavours Arrival at the Caribbe Islands were bent unto the coast of the Isle of St. Peter But these were frustrated by reason of a storm which took us hereabouts Hence we resolved to steer to the Island of Guadalupe Yet neither this Island could we reach by reason of the same storm and thus we directed our course unto the Isle of Tortuga which was the very same land we were bound unto We passed along the coast of the Isle of Punta Rica which is extreamly delicious and agreeable to the view as being adorned with beautiful trees and woods even to the tops of the Mountains After this we discovered the Island Hispaniola of which I shall give a description in this Book and we coasted about it until we came unto the Isle of Tortuga our desired Port. Arr●…l at the Isle of Tortuga Here we anchor'd the seventh day of Iuly in the same year not having lost one man in the whole Voyage We unladed the goods that belonged unto the Company of the West Indies and soon after the Ship was sent to Cal de Sac with some passengers CHAP. II. Description of the Island of Tortuga Of the Fruits and Plants there growing How the French settled there at two several times and cast out the Spaniards first Masters thereof The Author of this Book was twice sold in the said Island THe Island of Tortuga is situated on the D●…scription 〈◊〉 the Isle of T●…a North side of the famous and great Island called Hispaniola nigh unto the Continent thereof and in the altitude of twenty degrees and thirty minutes It s just extent is threescore Leagues about The Spaniards who gave name unto this Island called it so from the shape of the land which in some manner resembleth a great Sea Tortoise called by them Tortuga de mar The Country is very mountainous and full of Rocks yet notwithstanding hugely thick of lofty trees that cease not to grow upon the hardest of those Rocks without partaking of a softer soil From hence it cometh that their Roots for the greatest part are seen all over entangled among the Rocks not unlike unto the branching of Ivy against our Walls That part of this Island which stretcheth towards the North is totally disinhabited The reason is first because it hath proved to be very incommodious and unhealthy And secondly for the ruggedness of the coast that giveth no accesse unto the shoar unless among Rocks almost unaccessible For this cause it is populated only on the Southern part which hath one only Port that may be esteemed indifferently good Yet this harbour hath two several entries or channels which afford passage unto Ships of seventy Guns the Port it self being without danger and capable of receiving a great number of Vessels That part which is inhabited is divided into four other parts of which the first is called the Low-land or Low-country This is the cheifest among the rest because it containeth the Port aforesaid The Town is called Cayona and here do live the chiefest and richest Planters of the Island The second part is called the Middle plantation It s Territory or soil is hitherto almost new as being only known to be good for the culture of Tobacco The third is named Ringot These places are s●…ituated towards the Western part of the Island The fourth and last is called The Mountain in which place were made the first plantations that were cultivated upon this Island As to the Wood that groweth on the Island Of the Trees 〈◊〉 grow at Tortuga we have already said that the Trees are exceeding tall and pleasing to the sight whence no man will doubt but they may be applied unto several uses with great benefit Such is the yellow Saunder which Tree by the inhabitants of this Country is called Bois de chandel or in English Candle-wood being it burneth like a Candle and serveth them with light while they use their fishery in the Night Here groweth also Lignum Sanctum by others cal Guaiacum Its vertues are very well known more especially unto them who observe not the sixth Commandment and are given to all manner of impure copulations Physitians drawing from hence under several compositions the greatest antidote for all Venerel discases as also for cold and viscous humours The trees likewise that afford Gummi Elemi grow here in great abundance In like manner doth Radix Chinae or China Root Yet this is not so good as that which cometh from other parts of the Western world It is very white and soft and serveth for pleasant food unto the wild Bores when as they can find nothing else This Island also is not deficient in Aloes nor an infinite number of other medicinal herbs which may please the curiosity of such as are given to their contemplation Medicinal Herbs Moreover for the building of Ships or any other sort of Architecture here are Wood for building found in this spot of Neptune several sorts of Timber very convenient The Fruits likewise Fruits which here abundantly grow are nothing inferior as to their quantity or quality unto what the adjacent Islands produce I shall name only some of the most ordinary and common Such are Magniot Potato's Acajou apples Yannas Bacones Paquayes Carosoles Mamayns Ananaes and diverse other sorts which not to be tedious I omit to specifie Here grow likewise in huge number those trees called Palmito's or Palmites from whence is drawn a certain juyce which serveth Palmito 〈◊〉 the inhabitants instead of Wine and whose leaves do cover their houses instead of tyles In this Island aboundeth also with dayly increase Wild Bor●… the Wild-Bore The Governour hath prohibited the hunting of them with dogs fearing least the Island being but small the

towards the Western side of the Lake in little Huts that are built upon Trees which grow in the water The cause hereof being onely to exempt themselves as much as possible from the innumerable quantity of Mosquito's or Gnats that infest those parts and by which they are tormented night and day Towards the East-side of the said Lake are also to be seen whole Towns of Fishermen who likewise are constrained to live in Huts built upon Trees like unto the former Another reason of thus dwelling is the frequent Inundations of Waters for after great Rains the Land is often overflowed for the space of two or three leagues there being no less than five and twenty great Rivers that feed this Lake The Town of Gibraltar is also frequently drowned by these Inundations insomuch as the Inhabitants are constrained Inundations of Gibraltar to leave their houses and retire unto their Plantations Gibraltar is situated at the side of the Lake forty leagues or thereabouts within it and receiveth It s Situation its necessary Provisions of Flesh as hath been said from Maracaibo The Town is inhabited by fifteen hundred persons more or less whereof four hundred may be capable of bearing Arms. The greatest part of the Inhabitants keep open Shops wherein they exercise one mechanick Trade or other All the adjacent Fields about this Town are cultivated with numerous Plantations of Sugar and Cacao in which are many tall and beautiful Trees of whose Timber Houses may be built and also Ships Among these Trees are found great store of handsome and proportionable Cedars being seven or eight foot Cedars in circumference which serve there very commonly to build Boats and Ships These they build after such manner as to bear one onely great Sail and such Vessels are called Piragua's The whole Country round about is sufficiently furnished with Rivers and Brooks which are very useful to the Inhabitants in time of Drowths they opening in that occasion many little Chanels through which they lead the Rivolets to water their Fields and Plantations They plant in like manner great quantitie of Tobacco which is much esteemed in Europe and for its goodness is called there Tabaco de Sacerdotes or Priests Tobacco They enjoy nigh twenty leagues of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called Jurisdiction which is bounded and defended by very high Mountains that are perpetually covered with Snow On the other side of these Mountains is situated a great City called Merida unto which the Town of Gibraltar is subject All Merida sort of Merchandize is carried from this Town unto the aforesaid City upon Mules and that but at one season of the year by reason of the excessive Cold endured in those high Mountains Upon the said Mules great returns are made in Flour of Meal which cometh from towards Peru by the way of Estaffe Thus far I thought it convenient to make a short description of the aforesaid Lake of Maracaibo and its Situation to the intent my Reader might the better be enabled to comprehend what I shall say concerning what was acted by the Pirats in this place The History whereof I shall presently begin As soon as Lolonois arrived at the Gulf of Venezuela Arrival of Lolonois to the Gulf. he cast Anchor with his whole Fleet out of sight of the Watch-tower of the Island of Vigilia or Watch-Isle The next day very early he set sail from hence with all his Ships for the Lake of Maracaibo where being arrived they cast Anchor the second time Soon after they landed all their men with designe to attack in the first place the Castle or Fortress that commanded the Bar and is therefore called de la Barra This Fort consisteth onely of several great Baskets of Earth placed upon a rising ground upon which are planted sixteen great Guns with several other heaps of Earth round about for covering the men within The Pirats having landed at the distance of a league from this Fort began to advance by degrees towards it But the Governour thereof having espied their landing had placed an Ambuscade of some of his men with designe to cut them off behind while he meaned to attack them in the front This Ambuscade was found out by the Pirats and hereupon getting before they assaulted and defeated it so entirely that not one man could retreat unto the Castle This Obstacle being removed Lolonois with all his Companions advanced in great haste towards the Fort. And after a Fight of almost three hours wherein they behaved themselves with desperate Courage such as this sort of people use to shew they became Masters thereof having made use They take the Fort. of no other Arms than their Swords and Pistols In the mean while they were fighting those who were routed in the Ambuscade not being able to get into the Castle retired towards the City of Maracaibo in great confusion and disorder crying The Pirats will presently be here with two thousand men and more This City having formerly been taken by such kind of people as these were and sack'd even to the remotest corners thereof preserved still in its memory a fresh Idaea of that misery Hereupon as soon as they heard these dismal News they endeavoured to escape as fast as they could towards Gibraltar in their Boats and Canows carrying with them all the Goods and money they could Being come unto Gibraltar they dispersed the rumour that the Fortress was taken and that nothing had been saved nor any persons able to escape the fury of the Pirats The Castle being taken by the Pirats as was They call the Fleet. said before they presently made signe unto the Ships of the Victory they had obtained to the end they should come farther in without apprehension of any danger The rest of that day was spent in ruining and demolishing the said Demolish the Fort. Castle They nailed the Guns and burnt as much as they could not carry away burying also the dead and sending on board the Fleet such as were wounded The next day very early in the morning they weighed Anchor and directed their course all together towards the City of Maracaibo And march to Maracaibo distant onely six leagues more or less from the Fort. But the wind being very scarce that day they could advance but little as being forced to expect the flowing of the Tyde The next morning they came within sight of the Town and began to make preparations for landing under the protection of their own Guns being perswaded the Spaniards might have laid an Ambuscade among the Trees and Woods Thus they put their men into Canows which for that purpose they brought with them and landed where they thought most convenient shooting They land in the mean while very furiously with their great Guns Of the people that were in the Canows half onely went on shore the other half remained on board the said Canows They fired with their Guns from the Ships as fast as was

Orders were sufficiently divulged but the Pirats who as yet were abroad at All the Pirats fear him Sea began to fear them in so much as they dared not return home unto the said Island Hereupon they kept the Seas as long as they could and continued to act as many Hostilities as came in their way Not long after the same Pirats took and ransackt a considerable Town seated in the Isle of Cuba called la Villa de los Cayos of which we made mention in the Description of the said Island Here they committed again all sorts of Hostility and inhumane and barbarous Cruelties But the new Governour of Iamaica behaved himself so constant to his Duty and the Orders he had brought from England as that he apprehended several of the chief Actors herein and condemned them to S●…e of them hanged be hanged which was accordingly done From this Severity many others still remaining abroad took warning and retired unto the Isle of Tortuga least they should fall into his Hands Here they joyned in Society with the French Pirats Inhabitants of the said Island in whose Company they continue unto this day CHAP. IX The Relation of the Shipwrack which Monsieur Bertram Ogeron Governour of the Isle of Tortuga suffered nigh the Isles of Guadanillas How both he and his Companions fell into the Hands of the Spaniards By what Arts he escaped their Hands and preserved his Life The Enterprize which he undertook against Puerto Rico to deliver his People The unfortunate Success of that Design AFter the Expedition of Panama above-mentioned the Inhabitants of the French Islands in America in the year 1673 mean while the War was so fierce in Europe between France and Holland gathered a considerable Fleet for to go and possess themselves of the Islands belonging to the States-General of the United Provinces in the West-Indies Unto this effect their Admiral called together and levied all the Pirats and Voluntiers that would by any Inductions whatsoever sit down under his Colours With the same Design the Governour of Tortuga caused to be built in that Island a good strong Man of War unto which Vessel he gave the Name of Ogeron This Ship he provided very well with all sort of Ammunition and manned with 500 Bucaniers all resolute and couragious Men as being the Vessel he designed for his own Safety Their first Intention was to go and take the Isle of Curasao belonging to the said States of Holland But this Design met with very ill Success by reason of a Shipwrack which impeded the Course of their Voyage Monsieur Ogeron set Sayl from the Port of Tortuga as soon as all things were in a readiness with intent to joyn the rest of the said Fleet and pursue the Enterprize afore-mentioned Being arrived on the West-side of the Island of St. Iohn de Puerto Rico he was suddenly surprized with a violent Storm This increased to that degree as caused his new Frigat to strike against the Rocks that Monsieur Ogeron is cast away neighbour upon the Islands called Guadanillas where the Vessel broke into a 1000 pieces Yet being nigh unto the Land of Puerto Rico all his Men escaped by saving their Lives in Boats which they had at hand The next day all being now got on shore they were discover'd by the Spaniards who inhabit They get ashore in Boats the Island These instantly took them to be French Pirats whose intent was to take the said Island anew as they had done several times before Hereupon they alarum'd the whole Countrey and gathering their Forces together marched out to their Encounter But they found them unprovided of all manner of Arms and consequently not able to make any Defence craving And are taken by the Spaniards for Mercy at their Hands and begging Quarter for their Lives as the Custom is Yet notwithstanding the Spaniards remembring the horrible and cruel Actions those Pirats had many times committed against them would have no Compassion on their Condition But answering them Ha! ye thievish Dogs here 's no Quarter for you they assaulted them with all Fury imaginable and killed the greatest part of the Company At last perceiving they made no Resistance nor had any Arms to defend themselves they began to relent in their Cruelty and stay their Blows taking Prisoners as many as remained alive Yet still they would not be perswaded but that those unfortunate People were come thither with Design to take again and ruinate the Island Hereupon they bound them with Cords by two and two or three and three together and drove them through the Woods into the Champagne or open Fields Being come thus far with them they asked them What was become of their Captain and Leader Unto these Questions they constantly made Answer He was drowned in the S●…pwrack at Sea although they knew full well it was false For Monsieur Ogeron being unknown unto the Spaniards behaved himself among them as if he were a Fool and had no 〈…〉 common use of Reason Notwithstanding the Spaniards ●…rce believing what the Prisoners had answered used all the means they could possibly to find him but could not compass their Desires For Monsieur Ogeron kept himself very close to all the Features and mimical Actions that might become any innocent Fool. Upon this account he was not tyed as the rest of his Companions but let loose to serve the Divertisement and Laughter of the common Souldiers These now and then would give him Scraps of Bread and other Victuals whereas the rest of the Prisoners had never sufficient wherewith to satisfie their hungry Stomachs For as to the Allowance they had from the Spaniards their Enemies it was scarce enough to preserve them alive It happened there was found among the French Pirats a certain Surgeon who had done some remarkable A Surgeon 〈◊〉 Services unto the Spaniards In Consideration of these Merits he was unbound and set at Liberty to go freely up and down even as Monsieur Ogeron did Unto this Surgeon Monsieur 〈◊〉 p●…th ●…th Mons●…ur Ogeron to g●…t away Ogeron having a fit opportunity thereunto declared his Resolution of hazarding his Life to attempt an Escape from the Cruelty and hard Usage of those Enemies After mature Deliberation they both performed it by flying unto the Woods with Design there to make something or other that might be navigable whereby to transport themselves else-where Although unto this effect they had nor could obtain no other thing i' th' World that could be serviceable in building of Vessels but one only Hatchet Thus they joyned Company and began their March towards the Woods that say nearest the Sea-coast They fly into the Woods Having travelled all day long they came about Evening unto the Sea-side almost unexpectedly Here they found themselves without any thing to eat nor any secure Place wherein to rest their wearied Limbs At last they perceived nigh the Shore an huge quantity of Fishes called by the