How the Pirates arm their vessels, and how they re

[Capt.mino]

BEFORE the Pirates go out to sea, they give notice to every one that goes upon the

voyage, of the day on which they ought precisley to embark, intimating also to

them their obligation of bringing each man in particular so many pounds of powder

and bullets as they think necessary for that expedition. Being all come on board,

they join together in council, concerning what place they ought first to go to

wherein to get provisions - especially of flesh, seeing they scarce eat anything

else. And of this the most common sort among them is pork. The next food is tor-

toises, which they are accustomed to salt a little. Sometimes they resolve to rob

such or such hog-yards, wherein the Spaniards often have a thousand heads of swi-

ne together. They come to these places in the dark of the night, and having beset

the keeper's lodge, they force him to rise, and give them as many heads as they

desire, threatening withal to kill him in case he disobeys their commands or makes

any noise. Yea, these menaces are oftentimes put into execution, without giving

any quarter to the miserable swine-keepers, or any other person that endeavours

to hinder their robberies.

Having got provisions of flesh sufficient for their voyage, they return to their

ship. Here their allowance, twice a day to every one, is as much as he can eat,

without either weight or measure. Neither does the steward of the vessel give any

greater proportion of flesh, or anything else to the captain than to the meanest

mariner. The ship being well victualled, they call another council, to deliberate

towards what place they shall go, to seek their desperate fortunes. In this coun-

cil, likewise, they agree upon certain articles, which are put in writing, by way

of bond or obligation, which every one is bound to observe, and all of them, or

the chief, set their hands to it. Herein they specify, and set down very distinct-

ly, what sums of money each particular person ought to have for that voyage, the

fund of all the payments being the common stock of what is gotten by the whole

expedition; for otherwise it is the same law, among these people, as with other

Pirates, No prey, no pay. In the first place, therefore, they mention how

much the Captain ought to have for his ship. Next, the salary of the carpenter,

or shipwright, who careened, mended and rigged the vessel.

This commonly amounts to one hundred or an hundred and fifty pieces of eight, be-

ing, according to the agreement, more or less. Afterwards, for provisions and vic-

tualling they draw out of the same common stock about two hundred pieces of eight.

Also, a competent salary for the surgeon and his chest of medicaments, which usu-

ally is rated at two hundred or two hundred and fifty pieces of eight. Lastly

they stipulate in writing what recompense or reward each one ought to have, that

is either wounded or maimed in his body, suffering the loss of any limb, by that

voyage. Thus they order for the loss of a right arm six hundred pieces of eight,

or six slaves ; for the loss of a left arm five hundred pieces of eight, or five

slaves ; for a right leg five hundred pieces of eight, or five slaves ; for the

left leg four hundred pieces of eight, or four slaves ; for an eye one hundred

pieces of eight, or one slave ; for a finger of the hand the same reward as for

the eye. All which sums of money, as I have said before, are taken out of the ca-

pital sum or common stock of what is got by their piracy. For a very exact and

equal dividend is made of the remainder among them all. Yet herein they have also

regard to qualities and places. Thus, the Captain, or chief Commander, is allot-

ted five or six portions to what the ordinary seamen have ; the Master's Mate on-

ly two ; and Officers proportionate to their employment. After whom they draw e-

qual parts from the highest even to the lowest mariner, the boys not being omit-

ted. For even these draw half a share, by reason that, when they happen to take a

better vessel than their own, it is the duty of the boys to set fire to the ship

or boat wherein they are, and then retire to the prize which they have taken.

They observe among themselves very good orders. For in the prizes they take, it

is severely prohibited to every one to usurp anything, in particular to themsel-

ves. Hence all they take is equally divided, according to what has been said be-

fore. Yea, they make a solemn oath to each other not to abscond, or conceal the

least thing they find amongst the prey. If afterwards any one is found unfaith-

ful, who has contravened the said oath, immediately he is seperated and turned

out of the society. Among themselves they are very civil and charitable to each

other. Insomuch that if any wants what another has, with great liberality they

give it to one another. As soon as these Pirates have taken any prize of ship or

boat, the first thing they endeavour is to set on shore the prisoners, detaining

only some few for their own help and service, to whom also they give their liber-

ty after the space of two or three years. They put in very frequently for refresh-

ment at one island or another ; but more especially into those which lie on the

southern side of the Isle of Cuba. Here they careen their vessels, and in the

meanwhile some of them go to hunt, others to cruize upon the seas in canoes, see-

king their fortune. Many times they take the poor fishermen of tortoises, and,

carrying them to their habitations, they make them work so long as the Pirates

are pleased.

JOHN ESQUEMELING 1678