University of Virginia Library

Chapter XXVIII.
The bad life, qualities and conditions of Pyrats;

[_]

9

and how they taught the Turks
and Moores to become men of warre.

AS in all lands where there are many people, there are some
theeves, so in all Seas much frequented, there are some pyrats;
the most ancient within the memory of threescore yeares was one
Callis,

who most refreshed himselfe upon the Coast of Wales;
Clinton and Pursser his companions, who grew famous, till Queene
Elizabeth of blessed memory, hanged ∥ them at Wapping; Flemming
was as expert and as much sought for as they, yet such a friend
to his Country, that discovering the Spanish Armado, he voluntarily
came to Plimouth, yeelded himselfe freely to my Lord Admirall, and
gave him notice of the Spaniards comming; which good warning
came so happily and unexpectedly, that he had his pardon, and a
good reward; some few Pirats there then remained; notwithstanding
it is incredible how many great and rich prizes the little barques of
the West Country daily brought home, in regard of their small
charge; for there are so many difficulties in a great Navy, by wind
and weather, victuall, sicknesse, losing and finding one another, they
seldome defray halfe the charge: but for the grace, state, and defence
of the Coast and narrow Seas, a great Navy is most necessary, but
not to attempt any farre voyage, except there be such a competent
stocke, they want not wherewith to furnish and supply all things with
expedition; but to the purpose.

After the death of our most gracious Queene Elizabeth, of
blessed memory, our Royall King James, who from his infancy had
reigned in peace with all Nations; had no imployment for those men
of warre, so that those that were rich rested with that they had; those
that were poore and had nothing but from hand to mouth, turned
Pirats; some, because they became sleighted of those for whom they
had got much wealth; some, for that they could not get their due;
some, that had lived bravely, would not abase themselves to poverty;
some vainly, only to get a name; others for revenge, covetousnesse,
or as ill; and as they found themselves more and more oppressed,
their passions increasing with discontent, made them turne Pirats.

Now because they grew hatefull to all Christian Princes, they
retired to Barbary, where although there be not many good Harbours,
but Tunis, Argier, Sally,

Mamora, and Tituane, there are
many convenient Rodes, or the open Sea, which is their chiefe Lordship:
For their best harbours Massalqueber, the townes of Oran,
Mellila, Tanger, and Cuta, within the Streights, are possessed by
the Spaniards; without the Streights they have also Arzella, and
Mazagan; Mamora likewise they have lately taken, and fortified.
Ward a poore English sailer, and Dansker a Dutchman, made first
here their Marts, when the Moores knew scarce how to saile a ship;
Bishop was Ancient, and did little hurt; but Easton got so much,
as made himselfe a Marquesse in Savoy; and Ward lived like a
Bashaw in Barbary; those were the first that taught the Moores to
be men of warre. Gennings, Harris, Tompson, and divers others,
were taken in Ireland, a Coast they much frequented, and died at
Wapping. Hewes, Bough, Smith, Walsingam, Ellis, Collins, Sawkwell,
Wollistone, Barrow, Wilson, Sayres, and divers others, all these
were Captaines amongst the Pirats, whom King James mercifully
pardoned; and was it not strange, a few of these should command the
Seas. Notwithstanding the Malteses, the Pope, Florentines, Genoeses,
French, Dutch, and English, Gallies, and Men of Warre, they would
rob before their faces, and even at their owne Ports, yet seldome
more than three, foure, five or six in a Fleet: many times they had
very good ships, and well manned, but commonly in such factions
amongst themselves, and so riotous, quarrellous, treacherous, blasphemous,
and villanous, it is more than a wonder they could so long
continue, to doe so much mischiefe; and all they got, they basely
consumed it amongst Jewes, Turks, Moores, and whores.

The best was, they would seldome goe to Sea, so long as they
could ∥ possibly live on shore, being compiled

of English, French,
Dutch, and Moores, (but very few Spanyards, or Italians) commonly
running one from another, till they became so disjoynted, disordered,
debawched, and miserable, that the Turks and Moores
beganne to command them as slaves, and force them to instruct them
in their best skill, which many an accursed runnagado, or Christian
turned Turke did, till they have made those Sally men, or Moores of
Barbary so powerfull as they be, to the terror of all the Straights, and
many times they take purchase in the maine Ocean, yea sometimes
even in the narrow Seas in England, and those are the most cruell
villaines in Turkie, or Barbarie; whose natives are very noble, and
of good natures, in comparison of them.

To conclude, the misery of a Pirate (although many are as sufficient
Sea-men as any) yet in regard of his superfluity,

you shall
finde it such, that any wise man would rather live amongst wilde
beasts, than them; therefore let all unadvised persons take heed, how
they entertaine that quality; and I could wish Merchants, Gentlemen,
and all setters forth of ships, not to bee sparing of a competent
pay, nor true payment; for neither Souldiers nor Sea-men can live
without meanes, but necessity will force them to steale; and when
they are once entered into that trade, they are hardly reclaimed.
Those titles of Sea-men and Souldiers, have beene most worthily
honoured and esteemed, but now regarded for most part, but as the
scumme of the world; regaine therefore your wonted reputations,
and endevour rather to adventure to those faire plantations of our
English Nation; which however in the beginning were scorned and
contemned, yet now you see how many rich and gallant people come
from thence, who went thither as poore as any Souldier or Sailer, and
gets more in one yeare, than you by Piracie in seven. I intreat you
therefore to consider, how many thousands yearely goe thither; also
how many Ships and Sailers are imployed to transport them, and
what custome they yearely pay to our most Royall King Charles,
whose prosperity and his Kingdomes good, I humbly beseech the
immortall God ever to preserve and increase.

FINIS.