Bartholomew Roberts was
trained to a sea-faring life. Among other
voyages which he made during the time that
he lawfully procured his maintenance, he
sailed for the Guinea cost, in November,
1719, where he was taken by the pirate
Davis. He was at first very averse to that
mode of life, and would certainly have
deserted, had an opportunity occurred. It
happened to him, however, as to many upon
another element, that preferment calmed his
conscience, and reconciled him to that which
he formerly hated.
Davis having fallen in the manner
related, those who had assumed the title of
Lords assembled to deliberate concerning the
choice of a new commander. There were
several candidates, who, by their services,
had risen to eminence among their breathren,
and each of them thought themselves
qualified to bear rule. One addressed the
assembled lords, saying, "that the good of
the whole, and the maintenance of order,
demanded a head, but that the proper
authority was deposited in the community at
large; so that if one should be elected who
did not act and govern for the general good,
he could be deposed, and another be
substituted in his place."
"We are the original," said he, "of this
claim, and should a captain be so saucy as
to exceed prescription at any time, why,
down with him! It will be a caution, after
he is dead, to his successors, to what fatal
results any undue assumption may lead;
however, it is my advice, while be are
sober, to pitch upon a man of courage, and
one skilled in navigation,--one who, by his
prudence and bravery, seems best able to
defend this commonwealth, and ward us from
the dangers and tempests of an unstable
element, and the fatal consequences of
anarchy; and such a one I take Roberts to
be: a fellow in all respects worthy of your
esteem and favor."
This speech was applauded by all but Lord
Simpson, who had himself strong expectations
of obtaining the highest command. He at
last, in a surly tone, said, he did not
regard whom they chose as a commander,
provided he was not a papist, for he had
conceived a mortal hatred to papists,
because his father had been a sufferer in
Monmouth's rebellion.
Thus, though Roberts had only been a few
weeks among them, his election was confirmed
by the Lords and Commons. He, with the best
face he could, accepted of the dignity,
saying, "that since he had dipped his hands
in muddy water, and must be a pirate, it was
better being a commander than a private
man."
The governor being settled, and other
officers chosen in the room of those who had
fallen with Davis, it was resolved not to
leave this place without revenging his
death. Accordingly, thirty men, under the
command of one Kennedy, a bold and
profligate fellow, landed, and under cover
of the fire of the ship, ascended the hill
upon which the fort stood. They were no
sooner discovered by the Portuguese, than
they abandoned the fort, and took shelter in
the town. The pirates then entered without
opposition, set fire to the fort, and
tumbled the guns into the sea.
Not satisfied with this injury, some
proposed to land and set the town in flames.
Roberts however, reminded them of the great
danger to which this would inevitably expose
them; that there was a thick wood at the
back of the town, where the inhabitants
could hide themselves, and that, when their
all was at stake, they would make a bolder
resistance: and that the burning or
destroying of a few houses, would be a small
return for their labor, and the loss that
they might sustain. This prudent advice had
the desired effect, and they contented
themselves with lightening the French
vessel, and battering down several houses of
the town, to show their high displeasure.
Roberts sailed southward, captured a
Dutch Guineaman, and, having emptied her of
everything they thought proper, returned her
to the commander. Two days after, he
captured an English ship, and, as the men
joined in pirating, emptied and burned the
vessel, and then sailed for St. Thomas.
Meeting with no prize, he sailed for
Anamaboa, and there watered and repaired.
Having again put to sea, a vote was taken
whether they should sail for the East Indies
or for Brazil. The latter place was decided
upon, and they arrived there in twenty-eight
days.
Upon this coast our rovers cruised for
about nine weeks, keeping generally out of
sight of land, but without seeing a sail;
which discouraged them so, that they
determined to leave the station, and steer
for the West Indies; and, in order thereto,
they stood in to make the land for the
taking of their departure, by which means
they fell in, unexpectedly, with a fleet of
forty-two sail of Portuguese ships, off the
Bay of Los Todos Santos, with all their
lading in for Lisbon; several of them of
good force, who lay there waiting for two
men of war of seventy guns each for their
convoy. However, Roberts thought it should
go hard with him but he would make up his
market among them, and thereupon he mixed
with the fleet, and kept his men concealed
till proper resolutions could be formed;
that done, they came close up to one of the
deepest, and ordered her to send the master
on board quietly, threatening to give them
no quarter, if any resistance or signal of
distress was made. The Portuguese, being
surprised at these threats, and the sudden
flourish of cutlasses from the pirates,
submitted without a word, and the captain
came on board. Roberts saluted him in a
friendly manner, telling him that they were
gentlemen of fortune, and that their
business with him was only to be informed
which was the richest ship in that fleet;
and if he directed them right, he should be
restored to his ship without molestation,
otherwise he must expect instant death.
He then pointed to a vessel of forty
guns, and a hundred and fifty men; and
though her strength was greatly superior to
Roberts', yet he made towards her, taking
the master of the captured vessel along with
him. Coming alongside of her, Roberts
ordered the prisoner to ask, "How Seignior
Captain did?" and to invite him on board, as
he had a matter of importance to impart to
him. He was answered, "That he would wait
upon him presently." Roberts, however,
observing more than ordinary bustle on
board, at once concluded they were
discovered, and pouring a broadside into
her, they immediately boarded, grappled, and
took her. She was a very rich prize, laden
with sugar, skins, and tobacco, with four
thousand moidores of gold, besides other
valuable articles.
In possession of so much riches, they now
became solicitous to find a safe retreat in
which to spend their time in mirth and
wantonness. They determined upon a place
called the Devil's Island upon the river
Surinam, where they arrived in safety, and
met with a kind reception from the governor
and the inhabitants.
In this river they seized a sloop, which
informed them that she had sailed in company
with a brigantine loaded with provisions.
This was welcome intelligence, as their
provisions were nearly exhausted. Deeming
this too important a business to trust to
foreign hands, Roberts, with forty men in
the sloop, gave chase to that sail. In the
keenness of the moment, and trusting in his
usual good fortune, Roberts supposed that he
had only to take a short sail in order to
bring in the vessel with her cargo; but to
his sad disappointment, he pursued her
during eight days, and instead of gaining,
was losing way. Under these circumstances,
he came to anchor, and sent off the boat to
give intelligence of their distress to their
companions.
In their extremity of want, they took up
part of the floor of the cabin, and patched
up a sort of tray with rope-yarns, to paddle
on shore to get a little water to preserve
their lives. When their patience was almost
exhausted, the boat returned, but instead of
provisions, brought the unpleasing
information, that the lieutenant, one
Kennedy, had run off with both the ships.
The misfortune and misery of Roberts were
greatly aggravated by reflecting upon his
own imprudence and want of foresight, as
well as from the baseness of Kennedy and his
crew. Impelled by the necessity of his
situation, he now began to reflect upon the
means he should employ for future support.
Under the foolish supposition that any laws,
oaths or regulations, could bind those who
had bidden open defiance to all divine and
human laws, he proceeded to form a code of
regulations for the maintenance of order and
unity in his little commonwealth.
But present necessity compelled them to
action, and with their small sloop they
sailed for the West Indies. They were not
long before they captured two sloops, which
supplied them with provisions, and a few
days after, a brigantine, and then proceeded
to Barbadoes. When off that island they met
a vessel of ten guns, richly laden from
Bristol; after plundering, and detaining her
three days, they allowed her to prosecute
her voyage. This vessel, however, informed
the governor of what had befallen them, who
sent a vessel of twenty guns and eighty men
in quest of the pirates.
That vessel was commanded by one Rogers,
who, on the second day of his cruise,
discovered Roberts. Ignorant of any vessel
being sent after them, they made towards
each other. Roberts gave him a gun but
instead of striking, the other returned a
broadside, with three huzzas. A severe
engagement ensued, and Roberts being hard
put to it, lightened his vessel and ran off.
Roberts then sailed for the Island of
Dominica, where he watered, and was supplied
by the inhabitants with provisions, for
which he gave them goods in return. Here he
met with fifteen Englishmen left upon the
island by a Frenchman who had made a prize
of their vessel; and they, entering into his
service, proved a seasonable addition to his
strength.
Though he did not think this a proper
place for cleaning, yet as it was absolutely
necessary that it should be done, he
directed his course to the Granada islands
for that purpose. This, however, had well
nigh proved fatal to him; for the Governor
of Martinique fitted out two sloops to go in
quest of the pirates. They, however, sailed
to the above-mentioned place, cleaned with
unusual despatch, and just left that place
the night before the sloops in pursuit of
them arrived.
They next sailed for Newfoundland,
arriving upon the banks in June, 1720, and
entered the harbor of Trepassi, with their
black colors flying, drums beating, and
trumpets sounding. In that harbor there were
no less than twenty-two ships, which the men
abandoned upon the sight of the pirates. It
is impossible to describe the injury which
they did at this place, by burning or
sinking the ships, destroying the
plantations, and pillaging the houses. Power
in the hands of mean and ignorant men
renders them wanton, insolent and cruel.
They are literally like madmen, who cast
firebrands, arrows and death, and say, "Are
not we in sport?"
Roberts reserved a Bristol galley from
his depredations in the harbor, which he
fitted and manned for his own service. Upon
the banks he met ten sail of French ships,
and destroyed them all, except one of
twenty-six guns, which he seized and carried
off, and called her the Fortune. Then giving
the Bristol galley to the Frenchman, they
sailed in quest of new adventures, and soon
took several prizes, and out of them
increased the number of their own hands. The
Samuel, one of these, was a very rich
vessel, having some respectable passengers
on board, who were roughly used, and
threatened with death if they did not
deliver up their money and their goods. They
stripped the vessel of every article, either
necessary for their vessel or themselves, to
the amount of eight or nine thousand pounds.
They then deliberated whether to sink or
burn the Samuel, but in the mean time they
discovered a sail, so they left the empty
Samuel, and gave the other chase. At
midnight they overtook her, and she proved
to be the Snow from Bristol; and, because he
was an Englishman, they used the master in a
cruel and barbarous manner. Two days after,
they took the Little York of Virginia, and
the Love of Liverpool, both of which they
plundered and sent off. In three days they
captured three other vessels, removing the
goods out of them, sinking one, and sending
off the other two.
They next sailed for the West Indies, but
provisions growing short, proceeded to St.
Christopher's, where, being denied
provisions by the governor, they fired on
the town, and burnt two ships in the roads.
They then repaired to the island of St.
Bartholomew, where the governor supplied
them with every necessary, and caressed them
in the kindest manner. Satiated with
indulgence, and having taken in a large
stock of everything necessary, they
unanimously voted to hasten to the coast of
Guinea. In their way they took a Frenchman,
and as she was fitter for the pirate service
than their own, they informed the captain,
that, as "a fair exchange was no robbery,"
they would exchange sloops with him;
accordingly, having shifted their men, they
set sail. However, going by mistake out of
the track of the trade winds, they were
under the necessity of returning to the West
Indies.
They now directed their course to Surinam
but not having sufficient water for the
voyage they were soon reduced to a mouthful
of water in the day; their numbers daily
diminished by thirst and famine and the few
who survived were reduced to the greatest
weakness. They at last had not one drop of
water or any other liquid, when, to their
inexpressible joy, they anchored in seven
fathoms of water. This tended to revive
exhausted nature and inspire them with new
vigour, though as yet they had received no
relief. In the morning they discovered land,
but at such a distance that their hopes were
greatly dampened. The boat was however sent
off, and at night returned with plenty of
that necessary element. But this remarkable
deliverance produced no reformation in the
manners of these unfeeling and obdurate men.
Steering their course from that place to
Barbadoes, in their way they met with a
vessel which supplied them with all
necessaries. Not long after, they captured a
brigantine, the mate of which joined their
association. Having from these two obtained
a large supply, they changed their course
and watered at Tobago. Informed, however,
that there were two vessels sent in pursuit
of them, they went to return their
compliments to the Governor of Martinique
for this kindness.
It was the custom of the Dutch
interlopers, when they approached this
island to trade with the inhabitants, to
hoist their jacks. Roberts knew the signal,
and did so likewise. They, supposing that a
good market was near, strove who could first
reach Roberts. Determined to do them all
possible mischief he destroyed them one by
one as they came into his power. He only
reserved one ship to send the men on shore,
and burnt the remainder, to the number of
twenty.
Roberts and his crew were so fortunate as
to capture several vessels and to render
their liquor so plentiful, that it was
esteemed a crime against Providence not to
be continually drunk. One man, remarkable
for his sobriety, along with two others,
found an opportunity to set off without
taking leave of their friends. But a
despatch being sent after them, they were
brought back, and in a formal manner tried
and sentenced, but one of them was saved by
the humorous interference of one of the
judges, whose speech was truly worthy of a
pirate--while the other two suffered the
punishment of death.
Captain Roberts' Crew carousing at
Old Calabar River.
When necessity again compelled them, they
renewed their cruising; and, dissatisfied
with capturing vessels which only afforded
them a temporary supply, directed their
course to the Guinea coast to forage for
gold. Intoxication rendered them unruly, and
the brigantine at last embraced the cover of
night to abandon the commodore. Unconcerned
at the loss of his companion, Roberts
pursued his voyage. He fell in with two
French ships, the one of ten guns and
sixty-five men, and the other of sixteen
guns and seventy-five men. These dastards no
sooner beheld the black flag than they
surrendered. With these they went to Sierra
Leone, constituting one of them a consort,
by the name of the Ranger, and the other a
store-ship. This port being frequented by
the greater part of the traders to that
quarter, they remained here six weeks,
enjoying themselves in all the splendor and
luxury of a piratical life.
After this they renewed their voyage, and
having captured a vessel, the greater part
of the men united their fortunes with the
pirates. On board of one of the ships was a
clergyman, whom some of them proposed taking
along with them, for no other reason than
that they had not a chaplain on board. They
endeavored to gain his consent, and assured
him that he should want for nothing, and his
only work would be, to make punch and say
prayers. Depraved, however, as these men
were, they did not choose to constrain him
to go, but displayed their civility further,
by permitting him to carry along with him
whatever he called his own. After several
cruises, they now went into a convenient
harbor at Old Calabar, where they cleaned,
refitted, divided their booty, and for a
considerable time caroused, to banish care
and sober reflection.
According to their usual custom, the time
of festivity and mirth was prolonged until
the want of means recalled them to reason
and exertion. Leaving this port, they
cruised from place to place with varied
success; but in all their captures, either
burning, sinking, or devoting their prizes
to their own use, according to the whim of
the moment. The Swallow and another
man-of-war being sent out expressly to
pursue and take Roberts and his fleet, he
had frequent and certain intelligence of
their destination; but having so often
escaped their vigilance, he became rather
too secure and fearless. It happened,
however, that while he lay off Cape Lopez,
the Swallow had information of his being in
that place, and made towards him. Upon the
appearance of a sail, one of Roberts' ships
was sent to chase and take her. The pilot of
the Swallow seeing her coming, manoeouvred
his vessel so well, that though he fled at
her approach, in order to draw her out of
the reach of her associates, yet he at his
own time allowed her to overtake the
man-of-war.
Upon her coming up to the Swallow, the
pirate hoisted the black flag, and fired
upon her; but how greatly were her crew
astonished, when they saw that they had to
contend with a man-of-war, and seeing that
all resistance was vain, they cried out for
quarter, which was granted, and they were
made prisoners, having ten men killed and
twenty wounded, without the loss or hurt of
one of the king's men.
On the 10th, in the morning, the
man-of-war bore away to round the cape.
Roberts' crew, discerning their masts over
the land, went down into the cabin to
acquaint him of it, he being then at
breakfast with his new guest, captain Hill,
on a savoury dish of salmagundy and some of
his own beer. He took no notice of it, and
his men almost as little, some saying she
was a Portuguese ship, others a French slave
ship, but the major part swore it was the
French Ranger returning; and they were
merrily debating for some time on the manner
of reception, whether they should salute her
or not; but as the Swallow approached
nearer, things appeared plainer; and though
they who showed any apprehension of danger
were stigmatized with the name of cowards,
yet some of them, now undeceived, declared
it to Roberts, especially one Armstrong, who
had deserted from that ship, and knew her
well. These Roberts swore at as cowards, who
meant to dishearten the men, asking them, if
it were so, whether they were afraid to
fight or not? In short, he hardly refrained
from blows. What his own apprehensions were,
till she hauled up her ports and hoisted her
proper colors, is uncertain; but then, being
perfectly convinced, he slipped his cable,
got under sail, ordered his men to arms
without any show of timidity, dropping a
first-rate oath, that it was a bite, but at
the same time resolved, like a gallant
rogue, to get clear or die.
There was one Armstrong, as was just
mentioned, a deserter from the Swallow, of
whom they enquired concerning the trim and
sailing of that ship; he told them she
sailed best upon the wind, and therefore, if
they designed to leave her, they should go
before it.
The danger was imminent, and the time
very short, to consult about means to
extricate himself; his resolution in this
strait was as follows: to pass close to the
Swallow with all their sails, and receive
her broadside before they returned a shot;
if disabled by this, or if they could not
depend on sailing, then to run on shore at
the point, and every one to shift for
himself among the negroes; or failing these,
to board, and blow up together, for he saw
that the greatest part of his men were
drunk, passively courageous, and unfit for
service.
Roberts, himself, made a gallant figure
at the time of the engagement, being dressed
in a rich crimson damask waistcoat and
breeches, a red feather in his hat, a gold
chain round his neck, with a diamond cross
hanging to it, a sword in his hand, and two
pair of pistols hanging at the end of a silk
sling flung over his shoulders, according to
the custom of the pirates. He is said to
have given his orders with boldness and
spirit. Coming, according to what he had
purposed, close to the man-of-war, he
received her fire, and then hoisted his
black flag and returned it, shooting away
from her with all the sail he could pack;
and had he taken Armstrong's advice to have
gone before the wind, he had probably
escaped; but keeping his tacks down, either
by the wind's shifting, or ill steerage, or
both, he was taken aback with his sails, and
the Swallow came a second time very nigh to
him. He had now, perhaps, finished the fight
very desperately, if death, who took a swift
passage in a grape shot, had not interposed,
and struck him directly on the throat. He
settled himself on the tackles of a gun;
which one Stephenson, from the helm,
observing, ran to his assistance, and not
perceiving him wounded, swore at him, and
bade him stand up and fight like a man; but
when he found his mistake, and that his
captain was certainly dead, he burst into
tears, and wished the next shot might be his
portion. They presently threw him overboard,
with his arms and ornaments on, according to
his repeated request in his life-time.
This extraordinary man and daring pirate
was tall, of a dark complexion, about 40
years of age, and born in Pembrokeshire. His
parents were honest and respectable, and his
natural activity, courage, and invention,
were superior to his education. At a very
early period, he, in drinking, would
imprecate vengeance upon "the head of him
who ever lived to wear a halter." He went
willingly into the pirate service, and
served three years as a second man. It was
not for want of employment, but from a
roving, wild, and boisterous turn of mind.
It was his usual declaration, that, "In an
honest service, there are commonly low wages
and hard labor; in this,--plenty, satiety,
pleasure and ease, liberty, and power; and
who would not balance creditor on this side,
when all the hazard that is run for it at
worst, is only a sour look or two at
choking? No,--a merry life and a short one,
shall be my motto!" But it was one favorable
trait in his character, that he never forced
any man into the pirate service.
The prisoners were strictly guarded while
on board, and being conveyed to Cape Coast
castle, they underwent a long and solemn
trial. The generality of them remained
daring and impenitent for some time, but
when they found themselves confined within a
castle, and their fate drawing near, they
changed their course, and became serious,
penitent, and fervent in their devotions.
Though the judges found no small difficulty
in explaining the law, and different acts of
parliament, yet the facts were so numerous
and flagrant which were proved against them,
that there was no difficulty in bringing in
a verdict of guilty. |
