Bucaniers of America the second volume : containing the dangerous voyage and bold attempts of Captain Bartholomew Sharp, and others, performed upon the coasts of the South Sea, for the space of two years, &c. : from the original journal of the said voyage / written by ... Basil Ringrose, Gent., who was all along present at those transactions.

CHHP. XXI. They take another Spanish ship richly laden under the Aequinoctial. They make several Dividends of their booty among themselves. They arrive at the Isle of Plate, where they are in danger of being all Massacred by their Slaves and Priso∣ners. Their departure from thence for the Port and Bay of Paita, with design to plunder the said place.

THe next morning after we had turned away the Pacquet-Boat afore-mentioned,* 1.1 the weather being very close, we espied another sail creeping close under our Lee. This vessel looked mighty big; so that we thought she had been one of their chiefest men of war, who was sent to surprize or destroy us. Notwithstanding, our brave Commander Captain Sharp resolved to fight her, and either to take the said vessel, though never so big, or that she should take us. Unto this effect, coming nearer unto her, we easily perceived she was a Merchant ship of great bulk, as most of your Spanish Vessels are, and withal, ve∣ry deeply laden. Being up with them, those within her fi∣red three or four Guns at us first, thinking to make their party good against us. But we answered them briskly, with a continual volley of small Arms, so that they soon ran down into the Hold,* 1.2 and surrendred, crying aloud for quarter. As it should seem we had killed in that Volley

their Captain, and one Seaman, and also wounded their Boat-swain; which loss of their Commander daunted them so suddenly, he being a man of good repute in those Seas. Captain Sharp, with twelve more of our Company, entered her the first. In this Vessel I saw the beautifullest woman that I ever did see in all the South Sea. The name of the Captain of this Vessel was Don Diego Lopez, and the ship was called el Santo Rosario, or the Holy Rosary. The men we found on board her, were about the number of forty, more or less.

Having examined our prisoners, they informed us, that the day before they set sail from el Callao (from which Port they were going towards Panama) our men whom they had taken prisoners at Arica, were brought in to that place.* 1.3 And that they had been very civilly entertained there by all sorts of people, but more especially by the women. That one of our Surgeons, whom we suspected to be Mr. Bul∣lock, was left behind and remained still at Arica.

We lay at anchor from Friday, July the 29th, which was the day we took this prize, until Wednesday following,* 1.4 at the same place under Cape Passao that we anchored before. Here we sunk the Bark that we had taken at the Gulf of Nicoya, being willing to make use of what rigging she had,* 1.5 and also to contract our number of men. In the mean while we took out of the prize much plate, and some mo∣ney ready coyned, besides six hundred and twenty jarrs of wine and brandy, and other things. Thus, leaving onely the fore-mast standing in the said vessel, we turned her a∣way, as we had done the others before, together with all the prisoners in her, giving them their liberty not to be encumbred with them; and withal, being desirous to spare our provisions as much as we could. We detained onely one man, named Francisco, who was a Biscainer, by reason he reported himself to be the best Pilot of those Seas. This being done, we shared all the Plate and Linnen taken in our prize, and weighed from thence, standing S.S. E. with a fresh wind that sprang up.

Friday, August the 4th. This day we shared the ready money taken in the Rosario,* 1.6 our last prize. Our dividend came unto ninety four pieces of eight each man. Cape Passao, under which all these prizes were taken, at N. E. appeareth thus.

[illustration]

Cabo Passao.

The land runneth S. E. and is for five leagues together to windward of this Cape, all mountainous and high land.

The next day, being August the 5th, we compleated our dividends,* 1.7 sharing this day all our odd money ready coined and plate, with some other things.

Saturday, August the 6th. This day perusing some let∣ters taken in the last prize,* 1.8 I understood by them that the Spaniards had taken prisoner one of the last party of our men that left us. Also, that they were forced to fight all their way over land as they went, both against the Spani∣ards and the Indians; these having made peace with the Spaniards since our departure, as was mentioned above. That our English-men had killed, amongst other Spaniards, the brother of Captain Assientos, and Captain Alonso, an Officer so named. Moreover, that ten sail of Privateers were coming out of the North Sea, with intent to march over-land into the South Sea, as we had done before, but that they were prevented, being forced back by the great rains that fell near the Islands called Zamblas.

On August the 7th we had very fair weather, and not∣withstanding sometimes strong winds from shoar,* 1.9 and also a strong Current to leeward. This ran so fierce against

us the next day, August the 8th, that in the space of the last four and twenty hours we lost three leagues.

Tuesday August the ninth,* 1.10 we saw the Port and Town of Manta; this being nothing else than sixteen or seven∣teen stragling houses, with a large and high brick Church belonging unto it. What we got in the day by the help of the wind, we lost in the night by the current. The same fortune we had the next day, for we still gained no way all this while.

Thursday August the eleventh, all the night last past we had but little wind; this day we had a violent current to windward, as before, with some gusts of wind. How∣ever, by the help of these we made shift to get to wind∣ward of the Isle of Plate.

August the 12th, in the morning, we came to an anchor at the aforesaid Isle. We sent our boat ashoar with men,* 1.11 as we had done formerly to kill Goats, but we experimented them to be extreamly shy and fugitive over what they were the last year. Here it was that our Quarter-master James Chappel and my self fought a Duel together on shoar.* 1.12 In the evening of this day our slaves agreed among them∣selves, and plotted to cut us all in pieces, not giving quar∣ter to any, when we should be buryed in sleep. They conceived this night afforded them the fittest opportuni∣ty, by reason we were all in drink.* 1.13 But they were disco∣vered unto our Commander by one of their own Compa∣nions. And one of them named San Tiago, whom we brought from Yqueque, leapt over-board; who notwith∣standing was shot in the water by our Captain, and thus punished for his Treason. The rest laid the fault on that slave, and so it passed, we being not willing to enquire any farther into the matter, having terrifyed them with the death of their companion. We lay at this Isle until Tues∣day following, and in the mean while gave our vessel a pair of boots and tops, being very merry all the while with the wine and brandy we had taken in the Prize.

On Tuesday August the 16th, in the afternoon, we weigh∣ed from thence with a S. W. wind. The Island at N. W. from us, gave us this following appearance.

[illustration]

Isla de la Plata.

Wednesday August the 17th, the Island at East, this morning and at two leagues and an half distance, appeared thus.

[illustration]

Island of PLATE.

All the day long until the evening we had a Leeward current, but then I could not perceive any.

* 1.14Thursday August the 18th, this morning we were to windward of the Island of Solango. In the night before we had continual misty rain. At noon the aforesaid Island bore N. by E. of us, and at three Leagues distance appear∣ed thus.

[illustration]

Isla de Solango.

About three Leagues from Solango are two Rocks, called Los ahorcados. They appear both high and black unto the view. Besides this N. N. E. from Point St. Helena is a high Rock, which to windward thereof runneth shoa∣ling for the space of half a mile under water. It is distant about eight leagues, more or less, from the said Point, and is called Chanduy. At this place, and upon this Rock, was lost the ship afore-mentioned, that was ordered from these Seas, to the aid of our most gracious Soveraign King Charles the First, late King of England. Said ship had on board, as the Spaniards relate, to the sum of many millions of pieces of Eight; all which quantity of Plate was sent as a present unto our King, being then in his troubles, by the worthy Merchants of Lima. The Rock afore-mentioned lyeth a∣bout two Leagues distant from the Main.

August the 29th, this day our Pilot told us, that since we were to windward,* 1.15 a certain ship that was coming from Lima, bound for Guayaquil, ran ashoar on Santa Clara, loo∣sing there in money, to the value of one hundred thou∣sand pieces of Eight; which otherwise, peradventure, we might very fortunately have met withal. Moreover, that the Viceroy of Peru had Beheaded their great Admiral Ponce, for not coming to fight and destroy us, mean while we were at Gorgona. This evening we saw the Point of Santa Helena, at the distance of ten leagues to S.S.E. from us.

August the 20th,* 1.16 this day we had both misty and cold weather. In the afternoon we saw la Punta de Santa He∣lena,

at N. E. by N. and at seven leagues distance more or less.

On Sunday, August the 21st, we had a fair and clear day. I reckoned my self this day to be about twenty five leagues to the Southward of Santa Helena.

August the 22d. This morning about two of the clock we came close in with the shoar. We found our selves to be Leeward of a certain Point called Punta de Mero,* 1.17 which is nothing else than a barren and rocky Point. Here runneth an eddy current under the shoar.

Tuesday, August the 23d. This day in the morning we had but little wind. At noon it blew fresh again. We made all day but short trips, and riffed top-sails.

Wednesday, August the 24th. This morning a great dew fell. At noon we were West from Cape Blanco. We found by observation Lat. 4 D. 13 S. We resolved now to bear up for Paita,* 1.18 and take it by surprizal if possible, there∣by to provide our selves with many necessaries that we wanted.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈…〉〈…〉 with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prize.
• * 1.2

  And take her.
• * 1.3

  They hear of their Surgeons.
• * 1.4

  They rummage the prize.
• * 1.5

  They sink their Bark.
• * 1.6

  Another divi∣dend made.
• * 1.7

  They compleat their divi∣dends.
• * 1.8

  Letters perused
• * 1.9

  A strong Cur∣rent.
• * 1.10

  Manta.
• * 1.11

  Isle of Plate.
• * 1.12

  The Author fighteth a Duel
• * 1.13

  A plot of their slaves.
• * 1.14

  Solango.
• * 1.15

  A great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vessel cast a∣way.
• * 1.16

  Point St. Helen
• * 1.17

  Punta de Me∣ro.
• * 1.18

  They resolve for Paita.