The true travels, adventures, and observations of Captaine Iohn Smith, in Europe, Asia, Affrica, and America, from anno Domini 1593. to 1629 His accidents and sea-fights in the straights; his service and stratagems of warre in Hungaria, Transilvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia, against the Turks, and Tartars ... After how he was taken prisoner by the Turks, sold for a slave ... and escaped ... Together with a continuation of his generall History of Virginia, Summer-Iles, New England, and their proceedings, since 1624. to this present 1629; as also of the new plantations of the great river of the Amazons, the iles of St. Christopher, Mevis, and Barbados in the West Indies. All written by actuall authours, whose names you shall finde along the history.

CHAP. XXVIII. (Book 28)

The bad life, qualities and conditions of Pyrats; 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 re∣freshed himselfe upon the Coast of Wales; Clinton and Pursser his compani∣ons, 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 volunta∣rily 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, & a good reward; some few Pirats there then remained; notwithstanding it is incredible how many great and rich pr••zes the little barques of the West Country daily brought home, in regard of their small charge;* 1.1 for there are so many difficulties in a great N••vy, by wind and weather, victuall, sicknesse, losing and finding one ano∣ther, they seldome defray halfe the charge: but for the grace, state, and de∣fence 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,* 1.2 of blessed memo∣ry, our Royall King Iames, 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 nor get their due; some, that had lived bravely, would not abase themselves to poverty; some vainly, only to get a name; others for revenge, cove∣tousnesse, 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,* 1.3 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 al∣so Arzella, and Mazagan; Mamora likewise they have lately taken, and forti∣fied. 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 An∣cient, and did little hurt; but Easton got so much, as made himselfe a Mar∣quesse 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, Wol∣listone, Barrow, Wilson, Sayres, and divers others, all these were Captaines a∣mongst the Pirats, whom King Iames mercifully pardoned; and was it not strange, a few of these should command the Seas. Notwithstanding the Mal∣teses, 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,* 1.4 but commonly in such factions amongst themselves, and so riotous, quarrellous, treacherous, blasphe∣mous, 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 Iewes, Turks, Moores, and whores.

The best was, they would seldome goe to Sea, so long as they could

possibly live on shore, being comp••led 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 mise∣rable, 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 run∣nagado, or Christian turned Turke did, till they have made those Sally men, or Moores of Barbary so powerfull as they be,* 1.5 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 compari∣son of them.

* 1.6To conclude, the misery of a Pirate (although many are as sufficient Sea∣men as any) yet in regard of his superflu••ty, 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 Sould••ers 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 how∣ever 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 King∣domes good, I humbly beseech the im∣mortall God ever to preserve and increase.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The d••s••∣cul••es of a great Na∣vie.
• * 1.2

  What oc∣asioneth Pirats.
• * 1.3

  Their chiefe rande∣vouz.
• * 1.4

  Their conditi∣ons.
• * 1.5

  R••nna∣••••d••.
• * 1.6

  Advertise∣ment for wilde heads.